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Progress
A drizzling zamboni-like rain fell yesterday, polishing Munson Hills into perfectly sticky race track conditions. After 2 weeks of travel, I was finally home. Finally suiting up for a run at the Grand Old Lady of local trails.
I was a little disappointed to see that in my absence she was roughed up, knocked around, out-right abused. The place is trashed. 400 square miles of National forest containing exactly (1) 7.5 mile mountain bike trail and the Forest Service sold off the anemic, measly timber from that sector, or quadrant, or whatever language is used to signal the arrival of progress.
Call me a conspiracy-theory whacko, but the Forest Service efforts to see the local community develop a mountain bike advocacy group coinciding with the destruction of a Tallahassee landmark trail seems highly suspect. The Forest Service had some bad medicine to deliver and they needed some noses to pinch and some throats to rub.
So, I will put on my investigative vest with the many pockets and seek clues.
Was the cut announced in the papers, and if so, when?
Did my local bicycle advocacy group understand fully the level of decimation (to reduce by 10’s) the Forest Service had in store for the area?
Since they cut in new Forest roads doesn’t that imply that they have moved in permanently like our troops in Baghdad?
How did the discussion go from “miles of new forest trails” to “preserving what is left of our one actual trail?”
For all of you living beyond the borders of Leon county I apologize, but I hope this is a cautionary trail. The thing you think will never happen is probably lying on someone’s desk awaiting approval right this moment.
I saw one of our local fast-boys, Mr. Slayer, out there and he was lost and disoriented like a seagull covered in an oil slick. I washed him off and sent him flapping away.
I’m not going for the conspiracy theory on this one. It seems more likely that the Forestry Service’s interest in connecting with local riders was motivated by the stepped-up Forestry Service management that was coming anyway, and I don’t think J.S. was running interference for the logging boys. I don’t think J.S. has a whole lot to do with the logging boys. I think J.S. is genuinely interested in more and better mountain biking trails for everyone, including himself.
However, the decision to just run rough-shod over Munson with axe and machine is a Lorax issue. The story goes that there was plenty of warning and even requests for citizen input years before this thing happened, when it first went on the books, and nobody protested except for the Audubon Society, and they calmed down when they heard the cut would be good for the woodpeckers.
I wish we had gotten a bigger Heads-Up on this one, like someone had said, “Hey, do you realize the Forestry Service is going to FUCK MUNSON UP, for real and for sure, in two months!” I never heard this, in spite of spotty attendance at our meetings with lots of bike folks and a representative of the forest service. I don’t think anyone at the meetings really realized how bad it would be. I hope they didn’t, anyway, because that would have been more important to me than ANYTHING else on the agenda, including getting new trails.
Anyway, it’s done now, so I’m hoping we can move on with adding the two new trails, getting a new parking lot, and doing whatever we can to fix Munson Blue trail, which is a local landmark and should NEVER have been trashed in the first place.
It ain’t personal! The only conspiracy is one to restore the long-leafhabitat and remove the non-native pulp wood trees. To take backthe space fornormal wildlife populations. Don’t be distracted by the awful messyness offorestry and the length of time it takes to grow a tree. Instead rememberthat change happens whether we want it or not, and sometimes it’s good.See ya out there someday when my knee ever stops hurting.Peace, | 2024-07-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1236 |
Q:
Can $f(x)$ defined on an open interval have limits at the endpoints? Can $f(z)$ defined on an open disk have limits at the boundaries?
For suppose $f$ a function from $(0,1)$ onto $(0,1)$ defined by $f(x)=x$, then is the limit of $f$ exist as $x$ tends to $0$ or $1$, I know there only one side limit is finitely defined, but from the other side, it is not defined. Now my question is that is the limit exist still (as vacuously)?
Also for a linear complex function $f$ defined on a region $\{ z : |z|<1\}$, does $f$ have limit value at the boundary points? Since, we can't reach the boundary points from all the directions, as it is not defined! Now what about the existence of limit, is it vacuously exist from all the othe directions(not defined in domain!).
And my last question is little different from above.
For suppose limit of function have existed at all points of its domain. Then is it possible to find such function that have limit value as limit point of codomain or outside of codomain?
Please anyone help , any kind of help would be appreciated!
A:
I think your question is related to an extension of a continuous function to limit points of its domain. This problem is investigated, for different topological spaces, see the references. A general problem is the following. Given a continuous function $f$ from a subspace $D$ of a topological space $X$ to a topological space $Y$, whether $f$ can be extended to a continuous function from $X$ to $Y$.
From now we shall consider a particular interesting case when $D$ is dense in $X$. In this case each point of $X\setminus D$ is a limit point of $X$. If $Y$ is Hausdorff, then is well-known (see, for instance [Eng, Theorem 1.5.4]) and easy to show that if an extension $\bar f$ of $f$ exists then it is unique. It follows that $f’(X)\subset f(X)$ for any extension $f’$ of $f$ iff $\bar f(X)\subset f(X)$ for some extension $\bar f$ of $f$.
A characterization of extendable maps $f$ is provided in lemmas in this my answer. They follows that when both spaces $X$ and $Y$ are metric (for instance, when they are subspaces of the real line or the plane), $f$ can be extended from $D$ to $X$ is iff for each sequence $\{x_n\}$ of points of the set $D$ convergent in $X$, a sequence $\{f(x_n)\}$ is also convergent in $Y$. If $Y$ is a complete metric space then the latter condition is equivalent to $\{f(x_n)\}$ is a Cauchy sequence. In particular, if $f$ is uniformly continuous then it is extendable. The completeness of $Y$ is essential here. Indeed, if $X=[0,1]$ and $D=Y=(0,1)$ then although the identity function $f$ from $D$ to $Y$ keeps Cauchy sequences but it cannot be extended to $X$.
An other important case takes place when $D$ is Tychonoff, $Y=[0,1]$ and each continuous map from $D$ to $Y$ can be extended to $X$. Then $X$ is equivalent to a Stone-Čech compactification of $D$, see [Eng, Corollary 3.6.3]. This follows that each continuous map from $D$ to any compact space $Y$ can be extended to $X$.
References
[Ano] Anonymous et al., An extension of a continuous function onto the closure.
[Eng] Ryszard Engelking, General Topology, 2nd ed., Heldermann, Berlin, 1989.
[Pau] Paul et al., Extending continuous function $D\to I$, where $D$ is a dense subspace of a separable Tychonoff space.
| 2024-01-21T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4562 |
Q:
How to control the width of columns in Case list in CommCare
I'd like to make the width of a column in a case list wide enough to make the column header appear on one line. This column has icons in it, is there anyway to control the width of the column via multimedia size or by some other means?
A:
Unfortunately it is not currently possible to control the width of the column in the case list in CommCare.
| 2024-03-15T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7327 |
/*
* Copyright (c) 2018 MariaDB Corporation Ab
*
* Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License included
* in the LICENSE.TXT file and at www.mariadb.com/bsl11.
*
* Change Date: 2024-08-24
*
* On the date above, in accordance with the Business Source License, use
* of this software will be governed by version 2 or later of the General
* Public License.
*/
#pragma once
#include <maxscale/ccdefs.hh>
#include <list>
#include <string>
#include <memory>
#include <maxscale/service.hh>
#include <maxscale/session_command.hh>
#include <maxbase/stopwatch.hh>
namespace maxscale
{
class Backend
{
Backend(const Backend&);
Backend& operator=(const Backend&);
public:
/**
* How is the backend being closed
*/
enum close_type
{
CLOSE_NORMAL,
CLOSE_FATAL
};
/**
* What type of a response we expect from the backend
*/
enum response_type
{
EXPECT_RESPONSE,
NO_RESPONSE
};
/**
* @brief Create new Backend
*
* @param ref Server reference used by this backend
*/
Backend(SERVER_REF* ref);
virtual ~Backend();
/**
* @brief Execute the next session command in the queue
*
* @return True if the command was executed successfully
*/
virtual bool execute_session_command();
/**
* @brief Add a new session command to the tail of the command queue
*
* @param buffer Session command to add
* @param sequence Sequence identifier of this session command, returned when
* the session command is completed
*/
void append_session_command(GWBUF* buffer, uint64_t sequence);
void append_session_command(const SSessionCommand& sescmd);
void append_session_command(const SessionCommandList& sescmdlist);
/**
* @brief Mark the current session command as successfully executed
*
* This should be called when the response to the command is received
*
* @return The sequence identifier for this session command
*/
uint64_t complete_session_command();
/**
* @brief Get number of session commands
*
* @return Number of session commands
*/
size_t session_command_count() const;
/**
* @brief Check if there are session commands waiting to be executed
*
* @return True if there are session commands waiting to be executed
*/
inline bool has_session_commands() const
{
mxb_assert(in_use());
return !m_session_commands.empty();
}
/**
* @brief Get the first session command
*
* Returns the first session command in the list of session commands
* to be executed.
*
* This should only be called when at least one session command has been
* added to the backend. If no session commands have been added, behavior
* is undefined.
*
* @return The first session command
*/
const SSessionCommand& next_session_command() const;
/**
* @brief Get pointer to server reference
*
* @return Pointer to server reference
*/
inline SERVER_REF* backend() const
{
mxb_assert(m_backend);
return m_backend;
}
/**
* @brief Get pointer to server
*
* @return Pointer to server
*/
inline SERVER* server() const
{
mxb_assert(m_backend);
return m_backend->server;
}
/**
* @brief Check if a connection to this backend can be made
*
* @return True if the backend has not failed and a connection can be attempted
*/
inline bool can_connect() const
{
return !has_failed() && m_backend->server->is_connectable();
}
/**
* @brief Create a new connection
*
* @param session The session to which the connection is linked
* @param sescmd Pointer to a list of session commands to execute
*
* @return True if connection was successfully created
*/
bool connect(MXS_SESSION* session, SessionCommandList* sescmd = NULL);
/**
* @brief Close the backend
*
* This will close all active connections created by the backend.
*/
virtual void close(close_type type = CLOSE_NORMAL);
/**
* @brief Get a pointer to the internal DCB
*
* @return Pointer to DCB or NULL if not connected
*/
inline DCB* dcb() const
{
return m_dcb;
}
/**
* @brief Write data to the backend server
*
* @param buffer Buffer containing the data to write
* @param expect_response Whether to expect a response to the query
*
* @return True if data was written successfully
*/
virtual bool write(GWBUF* buffer, response_type type = EXPECT_RESPONSE);
/**
* @brief Write an authentication switch request to the backend server
*
* @param buffer Buffer containing the authentication switch request
*
* @return True if request was successfully written
*/
bool auth(GWBUF* buffer);
/**
* @brief Mark that a reply to a query was received and processed
*/
void ack_write();
/**
* @brief Store a command
*
* The command is stored and executed once the session can execute
* the next command.
*
* @param buffer Buffer to store
*/
void store_command(GWBUF* buffer);
/**
* @brief Write the stored command to the backend server
*
* @return True if command was written successfully
*/
bool write_stored_command();
/**
* @brief Check if backend is in use
*
* @return True if backend is in use
*/
inline bool in_use() const
{
return m_state & IN_USE;
}
/**
* @brief Check if the backend server reference is active
*
* @return True if the server reference is active
*/
inline bool is_active() const
{
return server_ref_is_active(m_backend);
}
/**
* @brief Check if backend is waiting for a result
*
* @return True if backend is waiting for a result
*/
inline bool is_waiting_result() const
{
return m_state & WAITING_RESULT;
}
/**
* @brief Check if the backend is closed
*
* @return True if the backend is closed
*/
inline bool is_closed() const
{
return m_closed;
}
/**
* @brief Check if the server is a master
*
* @return True if server is a master
*/
inline bool is_master() const
{
return m_backend->server->is_master();
}
/**
* @brief Check if the server is a slave
*
* @return True if the server is a slave
*/
inline bool is_slave() const
{
return m_backend->server->is_slave();
}
/**
* @brief Check if the server is a relay server
*
* @return True if the server is a relay server
*/
inline bool is_relay() const
{
return m_backend->server->is_relay();
}
/**
* @brief Check if the backend has failed fatally
*
* When a fatal failure occurs in a backend, the backend server can no longer
* be used by this session. Fatal failures can occur when the execution of
* a session command fails on the backend but the expected result is different.
*
* @return True if a fatal failure has occurred in the backend server
*/
inline bool has_failed() const
{
return m_state & FATAL_FAILURE;
}
/**
* Is the backend replaying session command history
*
* @return If a list of session commands was provided at connect time, the function returns true as long
* as the backend has not completed those session commands.
*/
inline bool is_replaying_history() const
{
return m_history_size > 0;
}
/**
* @brief Get the object name of this server
*
* @return The unique object name of this server
*/
inline const char* name() const
{
return m_backend->server->name();
}
/**
* @brief Get the address and port as a string
*
* @return The address and port combined into one string
*/
inline const char* uri() const
{
return m_uri.c_str();
}
void select_started();
void select_ended();
int64_t num_selects() const;
const maxbase::StopWatch& session_timer() const;
const maxbase::IntervalTimer& select_timer() const;
/**
* Get verbose status description
*
* @return A verbose description of the backend's status
*/
std::string get_verbose_status() const;
/**
* Add explanation message to latest close reason
*
* The message is printed in get_verbose_status() if the backend is closed.
*
* @param reason The human-readable message
*/
void set_close_reason(const std::string& reason);
/**
* Get latest close reason
*
* @return A human-readable reason why the connection was closed
*/
const std::string& close_reason() const
{
return m_close_reason;
}
private:
/**
* Internal state of the backend
*/
enum backend_state
{
IN_USE = 0x01, /**< Backend has been taken into use */
WAITING_RESULT = 0x02, /**< Waiting for a reply */
FATAL_FAILURE = 0x04 /**< Backend references that should be dropped */
};
/**
* @brief Clear state
*
* @param state State to clear
*/
void clear_state(backend_state state);
/**
* @brief Set state
*
* @param state State to set
*/
void set_state(backend_state state);
// Stringification function
static std::string to_string(backend_state state);
bool m_closed; /**< True if a connection has been opened and closed */
time_t m_closed_at; /**< Timestamp when the backend was last closed */
std::string m_close_reason; /**< Why the backend was closed */
time_t m_opened_at; /**< Timestamp when the backend was last opened */
SERVER_REF* m_backend; /**< Backend server */
DCB* m_dcb; /**< Backend DCB */
mxs::Buffer m_pending_cmd; /**< Pending commands */
int m_state; /**< State of the backend */
SessionCommandList m_session_commands; /**< List of session commands that are
* to be executed on this backend server */
std::string m_uri; /**< The combined address and port */
maxbase::StopWatch m_session_timer;
maxbase::IntervalTimer m_select_timer;
int64_t m_num_selects {0};
int64_t m_history_size {0};
};
typedef std::shared_ptr<Backend> SBackend;
typedef std::list<SBackend> BackendList;
}
| 2023-12-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9914 |
The dissolved organic matter as a potential soil quality indicator in arable soils of Hungary.
Although several authors have suggested that the labile fraction of soils could be a potential soil quality indicator, the possibilities and limitations of using the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction for this purpose have not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that DOM is an adequate indicator of soil quality. To test this, the soil quality indices (SQI) of 190 arable soils from a Hungarian dataset were estimated, and these values were compared to DOM parameters (DOC and SUVA254). A clear difference in soil quality was found between the soil types, with low soil quality for arenosols (average SQI 0.5) and significantly higher values for gleysols, vertisols, regosols, solonetzes and chernozems. The SQI-DOC relationship could be described by non-linear regression, while a linear connection was observed between SQI and SUVA. The regression equations obtained for the dataset showed only one relatively weak significant correlation between the variables, for DOC (R (2) = 0.157(***); n = 190), while non-significant relationships were found for the DOC and SUVA254 values. However, an envelope curve operated with the datasets showed the robust potential of DOC to indicate soil quality changes, with a high R (2) value for the envelope curve regression equation. The limitations to using the DOM fraction of soils as a quality indicator are due to the contradictory processes which take place in soils in many cases. | 2023-11-27T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8469 |
Q:
Google Analytics - Tracking Unknown
I have created a testing Google Analytics sample app as directed in on Google Analytics SDK for Android documentation and I have initiated Tracking in my code using:
tracker = GoogleAnalyticsTracker.getInstance();
tracker.trackEvent(
"Clicks", // Category
"Button", // Action
"clicked", // Label
77);
And
tracker.trackPageView("/HomeScreen");
tracker.dispatch();
I have created a Google Analytics account, In my account if go to Analytics setting tab. I am getting the status as "Tracking Unknown"
I tried clicking on the edit and clicked check status, Then too I am Getting "Tracking Not Installed"
For Reference My code is:
public class GAnalytics extends Activity {
GoogleAnalyticsTracker tracker;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
tracker = GoogleAnalyticsTracker.getInstance();
tracker.start("UA-19487404-1",20, this);
setContentView(R.layout.main);
Button createEventButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.NewEventButton);
createEventButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
tracker.trackEvent(
"Clicks", // Category
"Button", // Action
"clicked", // Label
77); // Value
}
});
Button createPageButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.NewPageButton);
createPageButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
tracker.trackPageView("/HomeScreen");
}
});
Button quitButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.QuitButton);
quitButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
finish();
}
});
Button dispatchButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.DispatchButton);
dispatchButton.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View v) {
tracker.dispatch();
}
});
}
@Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
super.onDestroy();
tracker.dispatch();
tracker.stop();
}
}
Please point me where I am doing wrong.
A:
Have you started the tracker after your call to .getInstance()?
Like this:
tracker.start("UA-YOUR-ACCOUNT-HERE", this);
You also need to call the following to send the data to Google Analytics:
tracker.dispatch();
| 2023-09-30T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7303 |
Body fat distribution predicts cardiac risk factors in older female coronary patients.
After myocardial infarction, women have higher rates of recurrent coronary events than men. This is caused, at least in part, by a higher prevalence of obesity-related coronary risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, and diabetes. We studied the relationship between measures of body fat distribution, body composition, aerobic fitness, and dietary intake and several coronary risk factors including lipids, glucose, and insulin levels. The study population included 20 women > 60 years of age with recently diagnosed coronary heart disease and a comparison group of 50 healthy women with low-risk coronary risk profiles. Dependent variables included lipid subfractions (fasting, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol), glucose levels, and serum insulin levels. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was the best predictor of serum triglyceride levels (r = .65, P = .002), HDL cholesterol level (r = .46, P = .05), and fasting serum insulin levels (r = .76, P < .001) whereas peak oxygen consumption (Peak VO2) was the best predictor of LDL cholesterol (r = .73, P < .001). In a combined population of the 20 coronary patients and 50 healthy age-matched controls, WHR remained the best predictor of serum triglyceride levels (r = .57, P < .001) and insulin levels (r = .63, P < .001) and Peak V02 was the best predictor of HDL (r = .40, P < .001) and LDL cholesterol (r = .57, P = .004). Body fat distribution and peak aerobic fitness, both modifiable factors, are significant predictors of risk factors for second coronary events in older female coronary patients. | 2024-03-16T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4814 |
Fluid Preservation of Zoological Specimens.
Preservation of organic materials in fluids for later dissection and education in biobanking stems from the need to prevent their degradation by the action of decomposers. Decomposers can be endogenous (e.g., enzymes) or exogenous (fungi, bacteria, protists, etc.) to the organism. In this chapter, we discuss the different causes of decomposition and methods to prevent decay of zoological specimens, for the purpose of biobanking, using taxidermy and fluid preservation. | 2024-07-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9144 |
1. Background {#sec1}
=============
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been the focus of basic science and translational-clinical research, resulting in the exponential growth of knowledge regarding its predisposing factors, possible cause(s), and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. To a large extent, this indisputable progress is due to a much improved understanding of IBD pathogenesis and the identification of its major components. Variations in the composition of gut microbiota and the reactivity of the intestinal mucosal immune response, along with dietary changes, have been extensively studied in the previous years in the pathogenesis of IBD. However, the majority of studies have eluded the integrative approach, so the knowledge acquired in one area does not efficiently translate and apply to the benefit of other components \[[@B1]\].
Among the consequences of dietary changes, restrictive diets, and absorption deficiencies, malnutrition, whether it only includes protein malnutrition or micronutrient deficiencies as well, is a frequent diagnosis that can persist further on, as a consequence of altered intake, use of various drugs, or hypercatabolic state in this patient category \[[@B2]\].
The systemic inflammatory response related to either acute or chronic inflammation is responsible for altering the concentration of a wide range of trace elements and vitamins in the serum. The presence of micronutrient deficiency is associated with a higher risk of poor outcomes, due to prolonged hospitalization \[[@B3]\], perioperative evolution, and growth deficit \[[@B4]\].
Among micronutrients, selenium (Se), particularly as a component of selenoproteins (mainly selenoproteins S and K), has been shown to impact the inflammatory signaling pathways involved in IBD pathogenesis, including the inflammatory cytokine production \[[@B5]--[@B7]\].
Zinc deficiency is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), during both active and remission phases, with a prevalence ranging from 15% to 40% \[[@B8], [@B9]\]. Studies on animal models and translational studies proved that decreased serum zinc concentrations may enhance inflammation through various pathophysiological mechanism, including disruption of epithelial barrier, altered mucosal immunity, and increased proinflammatory cytokines \[[@B10]--[@B12]\].
Most micronutrient status evaluations were performed by assessing serum levels \[[@B13], [@B14]\], although the presence of chronic inflammation determines a high variability among these, independently of tissue stores \[[@B15], [@B16]\]. Consequently, serum levels do not offer an accurate measure of trace element stores and trace element levels in hair have been proposed as a more reliable measurement of the chronic microelement nutritional status, considering that the systemic inflammatory response has been shown to independently decrease serum levels of micronutrients, including zinc, selenium, copper, and various vitamins, without any correlation to the actual nutritional status \[[@B2]\].
There is pathophysiological background for micronutrient deficit during inflammation, especially in the suppression of carrier proteins synthesis in the liver, due to proinflammatory cytokines; this leads to the sequestration of some trace elements in the liver as a consequence of the inflammatory response. This type of deficiency is common at diagnosis, obviously due to impaired absorption, but may also persist throughout the course of the disease due to various factors, such as poor intake in the context of restrictive diet, direct intestinal loss, or a hypercatabolic state in IBD patients. Given the significant role of zinc and selenium deficiency in determining poor outcome for IBD patients, which suggests that these micronutrients could be potential therapeutic candidates for IBD, this review will focus on various pathophysiological manners in which micronutrient deficiency could result in impaired evolution of IBD patients and how research into these mechanisms could impact IBD therapy.
2. Trace Elements Deficiency and Oxidative Stress in IBD {#sec2}
========================================================
2.1. Inflammation and Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress (IO&NS) Pathways in IBD {#sec2.1}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the gut is a large interface with the environment, it is natural for it to be under high immune surveillance, including macrophages and important networks of dendritic cells, with important roles in adaptive immune responses \[[@B17]\]. Experimental studies on IBD have shown an increase in these immune cell populations together with an increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, of which IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 proved to have an important share in the evolution of IBD. \[[@B18]--[@B23]\]. IBD is characterized not only by an increased immune-inflammatory response, but also by a reduced activity of suppressive cytokines TGF-*β* and IL-10 \[[@B24], [@B25]\]. There is also substantial evidence that the chronic inflammatory process in the intestine is closely related to oxidative and nitrosative stress, with impact on oxidative injury biomarkers, including lipid peroxidation products and protein changes in both UC and CD patients \[[@B26], [@B27]\]. The cellular sources of oxidative and nitrosative stress identified on animal models of IBD include macrophages and neutrophils, which generate important quantities of nitric oxide and superoxide \[[@B26]\]. The presence of proinflammatory cytokines enhances the production of NADPH-oxidase (NOX) and iNOS by the epithelial cells, consequently amplifying oxidative stress \[[@B28]\]. Several other reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing pathways are shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of IBD, such as xanthine oxidase, 5-lypoxigenase, and cytochrome P450 enzymes. The impact of prooxidative status is further accentuated by decreased antioxidant levels, which is also present during remission, suggesting that oxidative stress plays an important part in disease recurrence \[[@B26], [@B29]\]; this idea is further reinforced by the clinical efficacy of antioxidant therapy, such as melatonin, which is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant \[[@B30]\].
Another hypothesis states that mitochondrial dysfunction could also be an important source of ROS, ergo the factors influencing mitochondrial functioning could enhance the inflammatory response by means of variations in terms of production or response to melatonin \[[@B31], [@B32]\].
2.2. Zinc Deficiency and Oxidative Stress in IBD {#sec2.2}
------------------------------------------------
Zinc deficiency was recently shown to correlate with inflammatory status in IBD. A possible explanation for zinc playing an anti-inflammatory role in IBD could be related to its role in reducing the trans-mucosal leak in Crohn\'s disease, by decreasing the number of proinflammatory cells and reducing proinflammatory cytokine production \[[@B33], [@B34]\].
Zinc is a trace element known for its role in cell turnover and repair systems, with studies showing that correcting zinc deficiency can lead to restoring intestinal permeability in CD patients, probably due to its ability to modulate tight junctions both in the small and the large bowel \[[@B35]\].
In terms of immunity, zinc is essential for cell proliferation and influences both the acquired and innate immunity by also acting as a coenzyme in many key reactions of the immune response, being essential for antioxidant response and thymic hormone function \[[@B36]\]. Zinc deficiency leads to impairing or even completely suppressing the phagocyte and lymphocyte activity, determining an inefficient cytokine response \[[@B37]--[@B39]\]. Moreover, it has been reported that, in activated macrophages, zinc, as a component thereof, suppresses the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) by about 90%, preventing the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and cellular damage \[[@B36]\]. Together with zinc, copper (Cu) plays a more important role among micronutrients in terms of inflammation, with increased Cu/Zn ratios being identified in cases of chronic inflammation and free radical overproduction \[[@B40]\], although serum Cu concentrations were inconsistent across various studies on IBD patients compared to healthy controls \[[@B36], [@B40], [@B41]\]. The differences registered between the studies may in part be due to various degrees of disease activity. However, one study showed significant serum Cu elevation in women with IBD compared to healthy subjects \[[@B36]\].
The Cu/Zn-SOD is considered the main isoform active in IBD and its expression had been previously reported \[[@B42]\]. Various studies confirmed the reduction of Cu/Zn-SOD activity in IBD patients, which means a reduced ability to scavenge free radicals in IBD patients. The reduction of this SOD isoform may be in part due to Zn deficiency and partly due to chronic inflammation, but the underlying mechanisms are yet to be clarified \[[@B36], [@B43]\].
Moreover, a study on*in vitro* cell culture has shown that zinc deficiency leads to increased interleukin1b and interleukin-6 responses following lipopolysaccharide stimulation, underlining a potential pathway between microbiota components with immune response and micronutrient deficiency \[[@B44]\].
Considering the role of Zn in offsetting oxidative stress, Zn supplementation has been considered in IBD patients. However, one study highlighted that although zinc supplementation, in the form of zinc gluconate, improves the homeostatic condition of this trace element, it did not change SOD activity, as a marker of oxidative stress in patients with ulcerative colitis \[[@B45]\].
In the pursuit to use zinc as part of the therapeutic approach to IBD, another strategy applied in experimental studies was to incorporate Zn in cross-linked blend microspheres; this used Zn for its dual effect, both as a cross-linker to form drug delivery carriers in colon-specific drug delivery systems and for its anti-inflammatory role, delivered together with 5-aminosalycilate derivates (5-ASA), which proved to alleviate colonic inflammation and promote mucosal healing in a mouse model of TNBS-induced colitis. Consequently, Zn ion cross-linked alginate/N-succinyl-chitosan blend microspheres could emerge as suitable candidates for the codelivery of zinc and 5-ASA into the colon, with potential therapeutic effects in IBD \[[@B46]\].
In the attempt to counteract the oxidative stress by excessively scavenging generated ROS, the efficacy of zinc in the form of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO np) has been investigated on an animal model of ulcerative colitis. Using a model of DSS-induced colitis, there is evidence to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of ZnOnps in suppressing ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) production, increasing GSH levels, and suppressing proinflammatory cytokines IL-1*β* and TNF-*α* and myeloperoxidase. The proposed mechanism is the activation of the Nrf2 pathway in the cellular antioxidant defense system. The novel finding of this study using a DSS-induced colitis model is the synergic potential of ZnOnp with mesalazine, with greater therapeutic efficacy than mesalazine alone, and also the ability of ZnOnp to restore the colonic microbiota of the DSS-mice, while mesalazine alone cannot \[[@B47]\].
2.3. Selenium and Oxidative Stress in IBD {#sec2.3}
-----------------------------------------
Another micronutrient and trace element with involvement in antioxidant response is selenium (Se), exerting its biological effects through selenocysteine, an amino acid which is incorporated into proteins \[[@B48]\]. Se deficiency has been recorded in both UC and CD patients, and its deficit was correlated to an increased risk for multiple chronic inflammatory conditions, such as cardiovascular or endocrinological (thyroid) disease \[[@B49]\].
Se deficiency was found to occur in IBD patients even during remission, and consistently low Se serum levels were associated with increased severity of the UC and CD activity index, even suggesting that Se might become a noninvasive biomarker for IBD activity and severity \[[@B50], [@B51]\].
In this context, this trace element is particularly important due to its incorporation in selenoproteins with potential to modulate local inflammatory response. Among selenoproteins, the most intensively studied for their role in ROS reduction were the four isoforms of glutathione peroxidases (GPx), which are expressed in the gut \[[@B5]\]. While GPx1 is expressed by all intestinal cell types, GPx3 is secreted and found in plasma. GPx2 is mainly expressed in the epithelial cells, including the Paneth cells, and GPx4 is found both in intestinal epithelial cells and in the lamina propria \[[@B52]\]. GPx isoforms GPx1 and GPx2 are differentially regulated, with GPx2 being upregulated as part of a compensatory response for protection against oxidative damage during inflammation \[[@B53]\]. However, there is evidence on animal models of GPx2 knock-out mice, which were fed with Se, that there is increased GPx1 activity within the colon and ileum crypts, supporting the hypothesis that these proteins may have a partial compensatory role \[[@B54]\]. Furthermore, the absence of both GPx1 and GPx2 leads to a severe inflammatory response, exhibited as spontaneous ileocolitis \[[@B55]\]. As for the other isoforms with antioxidant role in the gut, the loss of GPx3 was linked to inducing severe colitis, while plasma GPx3 showed potent tumor suppressor role in colitis-associated carcinoma through abrogation of ROS \[[@B56]\]. GPx4 has an important role in reducing lipid peroxidation, consequently preventing membrane disruption due to oxidative stress and helping maintain cellular integrity. Although GPx4 is uniformly expressed in the colon, its expression is variable throughout the crypt-villus axis \[[@B57]\].
Except for GPx4, there is another quite similar selenoprotein, but with significantly lower activity, namely, selenoprotein P. This is one of the major plasmatic selenoproteins, with a high sensitivity to changes in serum Se level, considering its high content of Sec residues and its role in antioxidant response, mainly responsible for delivering selenium to different tissues \[[@B58]\]. However, its levels are inversely associated with the development of IBD, which may be due to the association of low Se absorption and IBD development; another related aspect might be the fact that low plasma levels of selenoprotein P impact selenoprotein expression in target cells such as macrophages \[[@B52], [@B59]\].
Another type of selenoprotein, selenoprotein S (seleno S), highly expressed in Paneth cells and macrophages in the gut, is a marker of endoplasmic reticulum stress at this level but does not regulate the process. Seleno S is thought to have two main roles: supplying tissues with Se and acting in the antioxidant defense network. In the context of IBD, increased production of inflammatory cytokines has been reported concurrently with a decrease in the expression of several selenoproteins, including seleno S \[[@B60]\]. Studies on animal models have reported that Se in the form of selenoproteins can influence macrophage activity, by preventing the arachidonic acid pathway to generate proinflammatory mediators such as PGE2 and preventing interleukin- (IL-) 1 to generate more anti-inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and some of its metabolites \[[@B61]\]. The reduction of Se plasma level was also shown to be correlated with increased plasma level of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in ulcerative colitis patients, an increase in prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the plasma of patients with ulcerative colitis, therefore with a proinflammatory response \[[@B62]\]. Interestingly, an indirect proinflammatory effect has been reported for selenoprotein K, its absence determining a decrease in inflammatory cytokines \[[@B6]\]. These changes are context-dependent and require further research.
Furthermore, a few experimental studies using models with DSS-induced colitis and associated colon cancer suggest that Se and selenoproteins play an essential role in regulating inflammatory microenvironment and tumorigenesis \[[@B63], [@B64]\]. In addition, experimental studies have also demonstrated that there is reduction of cytokines known for their proinflammatory effect, such as IL-1, TNF*α*, and IFN*γ* and concomitant increased level of anti-inflammatory markers expression, including arginase 1 proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interferon gamma (IFNgamma), and increased anti-inflammatory markers such as arginase 1, secondary to Se supplementation in mice with DSS-induced colitis \[[@B65], [@B66]\].
Regarding the relevance of effector cells in oxidative stress, the M2 type macrophages, the alternatively activated macrophage subtype, are of particular interest \[[@B67]\]. In contrast to M1 macrophages, which are considered proinflammatory due to their involvement in ROS production and activation by tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) *α*, lipopolysaccharide, and other Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands \[[@B68]\], M2 macrophages are considered anti-inflammatory due to their increased expression of arginase-1, which competes for[l]{.smallcaps}-arginine; L-arginine is a substrate for inducible nitric oxide synthase, diverting nitric oxide synthesis and leading to the production of[l]{.smallcaps}-ornithine and urea instead \[[@B69]\]. The role of Se supplementation in switching from M1 to M2 type, ergo from pro- to anti-inflammatory status, could reside in the epigenetic changes \[[@B52]\]. Kudva et al. demonstrated the ability of Se, dependent on the selenoprotein-mediated shunting of arachidonic acid pathway, to inhibit the acetylation of nonhistone and histone proteins and therefore to affect the expression of proinflammatory genes in macrophages, including NF-*κ*B member p65 \[[@B52], [@B70], [@B71]\]. Therefore, Se (through selenoproteins) seems to effectively shunt the eicosanoid pathway, driving the production of PGD~2~ and its metabolites that potentially influence NF-*κ*B- and PPAR*γ*-dependent pathways, thus constituting one of its many anti-inflammatory functions \[[@B52], [@B72]\].
Although the influence of Se and PPAR*γ* on the evolution of IBD and the mechanism of Se impact on oxidative stress in this context have not represented the focus of many studies, to our knowledge, there has not been a research core on the effect of Se and PPAR*γ* on IBD and, based on the available data, one could infer, using murine models of IBD \[[@B73], [@B74]\], that given the reduction in PPAR*γ* in IBD, as well as the potential of Se to enhance PPAR*γ* and its ligand 15d-PGJ2 \[[@B75]\], Se supplementation would significantly decrease disease activity. This outcome could be interceded: it is plausible that under supplemented Se status the disease activity would be significantly decreased. This effect could be mediated through several pathways, including the upregulation of PPAR*γ*, which acts as inhibitor of NF-*κ*B activation in various cell types, such as intestinal epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, influencing the production of proinflammatory cytokines, involved in the pathology of IBD \[[@B66]\]. Moreover, PPAR*γ* has been shown to regulate T cell activation \[[@B76]\] by inhibiting the differentiation of Th1 cells or the potential of these cells to produce cytokines.
In this context, it is important to note that Tregs expression during IBD is heterogenous and that PPAR*γ* has been shown to lead to an increased expression of Foxp3+ Tregs. This suggests that in IBD this could lead to an increased number of FoxP3+ Tregs in the colon, although Tregs are not the only T cells expressing FoxP3. Through the proven effect of selenium in activating PPAR*γ*, Se supplementation could exert its effects by inhibiting certain pathways or immune cell functions, which could lead to the active resolution of inflammation in the gut.
Therefore, several potential beneficial effects of Se supplementation become apparent. Various types of dietary and supplemental Se have been studied. However, using animal models leads to obtaining conflicting results in terms of Se supplementation under various forms (sodium selenite, selenomethionine) \[[@B77]--[@B79]\]. Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) seem to be more effective than other forms of Se in scavenging free radicals and therefore in preventing DNA oxidative damage, having low toxicity levels and acceptable bioavailability \[[@B80], [@B81]\]. There have been attempts to use SeNP directed into the gut mucosa for the treatment of IBD, mainly for local (rectal) use, due to their low adverse effects \[[@B82], [@B83]\].
Continuing these studies, Zu et al. found that there are several advantages to capping SeNP with agents such as ATP and vitamin C, such as enhanced cellular uptake, prolonged circulation of SeNP, as well as advantages related to the size and stability of SeNPs \[[@B84]\]. It is difficult to state whether Se supplementation is a feasible component of IBD therapeutic strategy and this debate requires further research. \[[@B52]\].
3. Microbiota and Trace Elements {#sec3}
================================
There have been extensive studies on microbiota changes in IBD, suggesting that the relationship between dysbiosis and IBD is complex and dynamic, certainly not limited to the cause-effect relationship type. Consequently, assuming that dysbiosis is the response of a complex microbial community to the environmental inflammatory stress or medication might overlap with the hypothesis that it plays a direct role in IBD pathogenesis \[[@B85]--[@B87]\]. A microbiota imbalance might not actually be among the events involved in triggering inflammation, but it could develop later in the course of IBD and contribute to disease progression and chronicity; alternatively, dysbiosis could play a critical role in disease onset, but the window for such an effect occurs early in life. These aspects could be supported by studies of more targeted probiotics and by larger controlled trials on the use of fecal microbiota transplantation, supporting this hypothesis \[[@B85]\].
Since the composition of the gut microbiota can be altered by various exogenous factors such as infections, antibiotics, and diet, micronutrient deficiency could also play a part in affecting the gut mucosal immune response. It has already been stated that metal availability is among the critical factors influencing the outcome of host-microbe interactions \[[@B88]\]. Diet is a factor that is very likely to play a major role in metal availability, particularly during infections. Altered dietary microelement levels are associated with increased susceptibility to various infections; nonetheless, there is scarce data on how altered dietary metal levels affect the gut microbiome \[[@B89]\].
A previous report demonstrated that the composition of gut microbiota in mice affected host Se levels and therefore the selenoprotein expression in the host \[[@B90]\]. There is likely to be a competition between intestinal microbiota and the host for available selenium, exacerbating host selenium deficiency and increasing the vulnerability of the gut to disease. On the other hand, Se levels were shown to also alter the composition of gut microbiota in mice \[[@B73]\]. One aspect of particular interest would be studying the underlying mechanisms of Se influence on dysbiosis and whether this trace element deficiency correlates with incidences of IBD, modifying disease severity. Furthermore, in the attempt to translate basic research into clinical application, it would be useful to see whether there is a protective effect of Se supplementation mediated via microbial metabolite(s), not only by generating species selection, but also by assisting in diminishing inflammation or enhancing mucosal healing by modulating the host\'s immune response \[[@B52]\].
*Clostridium difficile* (CDiff) was studied among particular bacterial influence, also due to its high prevalence among IBD patients. The preliminary steps of CDiff infection include loss of colonization resistance and development of susceptibility, usually mediated by use of antimicrobial therapy, altering the gut microbiota and generating the respective susceptibility. On top of CDiff\'s virulence factors, host characteristics also play a role in this process. There are distinct risk factors for CDiff infection in IBD patients, including younger age, outpatient care, and lack of antibiotic exposure immediately preceding CDiff infection onset \[[@B74]\]. One study on a mouse model reported that excess dietary Zn exacerbates CDiff-associated disease, by decreasing the threshold of antibiotics needed to confer susceptibility thereto; this was shown using CFU analysis for the CDiff strain R20291 following low-level cefoperazone treatment \[[@B91]\].
Due to the anti-inflammatory effect \[[@B92]\] and the established low richness of mucosa-associated*Faecalibacterium prausnitzii*(FP) in IBD \[[@B93]\], its role in the evolution of this disease has also been studied. On animal models and using FP strains, its potent anti-inflammatory role was shown to be exerted via interaction with various immune pathways, by means of inhibiting IL-17 \[[@B94]\], inducing anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10 in dendritic cells \[[@B95]\], influencing Th17 differentiation \[[@B92]\], as well as by butyrate production and consequent inhibition of NF-*κ*B activation, leading to the activation of different genes involved in enterocyte differentiation, proliferation, and regeneration \[[@B96]\].
SeNP proved to increase SCFA production and FP abundance, with current major efforts underway to produce FP probiotics for the treatment of colitis. The increase rate in FP achieved using animal models, supplemented with nanoSe, exceeded expected levels of enrichment in the gut via orally delivered probiotic. This warrants further investigation in the use of nanoSe to enrich FP in order to improve both animal and human intestinal conditions using higher sample sizes and multiple trials. These results also encourage further investigation into optimal nanoSe concentrations for obtaining other benefits, which may have resulted from increases in SCFAs, such as reduced intestinal permeability and integrity \[[@B97]\]. Nevertheless, there may be difficulties in adding FP and including it in nanoparticles on the Qualified Presumption of Safety list due to no current information of safe use; furthermore, toxicological assays are required for regulatory approval \[[@B96], [@B98]\]. This might be difficult due to its lack of a history of safe use; moreover, full toxicology assays and characterization of the strain are still needed for regulatory approval \[[@B96], [@B98]\].
Based on our current knowledge, it is difficult to state whether there is a bilateral influence/link between the deficit of trace elements, especially regarding Se deficit and dysbiosis \[[@B73]\]. Some studies point to the use of some common immunological pathways, including regulation of both NF-*κ*B and PPAR*γ*, since commensal microbiota, which can be involved in IBD pathogenesis in the presence of epithelial barrier dysfunction and increased intestinal permeability and may also influence the activation of and can also regulate the activation of both pathways \[[@B99], [@B100]\]; consequently, further studies are required to clarify this aspect.
4. Conclusions and Future Directions {#sec4}
====================================
Selenium and zinc are essential micronutrients with a variety of roles in mediating immune response. Although IBD pathophysiology is multifactorial in origin, dietary zinc and selenium deficiency exacerbates experimental colitis by affecting various signaling pathways involved in inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as by altering the gut microbiota. For Se, this may be partially due to its ability to change macrophage phenotype, from a M1- to M2-dominant expression, therefore alleviating inflammation and reducing intestinal epithelial damage. Among the various cellular pathways, the ability of selenoproteins to lead to eicosanoid pathway shunting contributes to decreasing inflammation along with enhanced wound healing \[[@B52], [@B65]\]. Some authors reported that its form of administration and the duration of supplemental therapy may be significant for imparting the beneficial effects; however, since results are inconsistent, further research in this direction is required \[[@B77]\]. Considering the potential activation of NF-*κ*B and PPAR*γ* through both the action of Se at cellular level and some commensal bacteria with potential involvement in IBD pathogenesis, this trace element has an emerging role in activating several cellular types, including macrophages, Th1, Th17, as well as in microbiota modulation, with potential therapeutic approach \[[@B73], [@B100]\]. Zinc deficiency is related at least to altering phagocyte activity, by suppressing antioxidant response and lymphocyte activity, consequently disrupting cytokine response \[[@B36]\]. A question that remains highly debated is whether changes in Se and Zn concentrations are among the causes or effects of IBD. Therefore, the cause and effect relationship between trace elements, dysbiosis, and IBD requires further examination through the development of appropriate animal models, considering a broader variety of factors (including changes in microbiota and environmental factors such as diet), in addition to understanding the molecular basis of inflammatory response modulation, in order to identify new therapeutic approaches. Such studies may ultimately provide a solid foundation and better biomarkers to identify patient populations that could benefit from micronutrient supplementation therapy, as well as from the new generation of probiotics using nanoparticles.
Conflicts of Interest
=====================
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
[^1]: Academic Editor: Swaran J. S. Flora
| 2023-12-04T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7354 |
Identification of the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers in adipose tissue from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Sweden.
We have recently reported increased concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and chlordane compounds in adipose tissue from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) compared with surgical controls. As a feasibility project we have now studied the occurrence of polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDE) in the same study population. Four samples of adipose tissue were selected at random from the case and control series. We were able to identify PBDEs in all samples. PBDEs are environmental contaminants and the levels are increasing in sediment and biological samples. Our results indicate that human beings are also exposed, mainly through the food chain, resulting in ng/g concentrations of PBDEs in the adipose tissue. This has not been previously reported from Sweden. Any health consequences are so far not studied. The environmental situation for PBDEs is thus similar to that of PCBs a few decades ago. | 2024-05-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4942 |
.. _a_first_example:
A first example
===============
This tutorial will guide you through the steps of your first SeisSol
simulation. We will use the `SCEC TPV33
benchmark <http://scecdata.usc.edu/cvws/tpv33docs.html>`__ as an example
in this tutorial. We assume that you have successfully compiled SeisSol
with the options ``parallelization=hybrid`` and ``generatedKernels=yes``
(see :ref:`compiling-seissol`).
Setup
-----
- Follow steps 1. - 3. from the [[configuration
documentation|configuration]].
- Download the `parameter file and additional setup
files <https://github.com/SeisSol/Examples/tree/master/tpv33>`__ and
put them in your launch directory, hereafter named
``launch_SeisSol``.
- Download the mesh `binary
file <https://syncandshare.lrz.de/getlink/fi72mQiszp6vSs7qN8tdZJf9/tpv33_gmsh>`__
and the associated `xml
file <https://syncandshare.lrz.de/getlink/fiEi52Xiwwqkf2sNpTrCHjhw/tpv33_gmsh.xdmf>`__
and store them in ``launch_SeisSol``.
**Optional:** For performance reasons, we suggest that you store the
mesh file in a scratch file system (if one is available at your
cluster) and create symbolic links in your launch directory (e.g.
``ln -s <path/to/tpv33_gmsh> launch_SeisSol/tpv33_gmsh;``). You may
not see a huge difference in this small test case but for larger
meshes, this is the recommended strategy.
- Create the output directory: ``mkdir launch_SeisSol/output``. For the
output files it might also be beneficial to store them in a scratch
file system. In this case, create the output directory in your
scratch file system and a symbolic link ``launch_SeisSol/output`` to
this directory.
Execution
---------
To execute SeisSol, change to the ``launch_SeisSol`` directory and run:
``OMP_NUM_THREADS=<threads> mpiexec -np <n> ./SeisSol_<configuration> parameters_master.par``,
where:
- ``<configuration>`` depends on your compilation setting (e.g.
SeisSol_release_generatedKernels_dsnb_hybrid_none_9_4 for a Sandy
Bridge architecture and order 4 accuracy in space and time).
- ``<n>`` is the number of processes/ the number of partitions used.
- ``<threads>`` is the number of OpenMP threads per process (we usually
use the number of CPU per core).
**Hint:** Depending on the system you are using, the MPI launcher might
be different from ``mpiexec`` (e.g. ``mpiexec.hydra``).
Result verification
-------------------
The outputs of your simulation can be compared with our outputs (using SeisSol) and the outputs of other codes by checking out the uploaded files for this SCEC benchmark on the SCEC Code Verification Project `website <http://scecdata.usc.edu/cvws/cgi-bin/cvws.cgi>`__.
| 2023-12-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9808 |
Few Defense Advocates Named to Super Committee
Despite the hopes of U.S. defense industry advocates to stave off steep cuts to the Pentagon, the military-minded have scant representation so far on a new 12-member congressional panel tasked with finding $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction this year.
That is not to say congressional military policy-making committees were completely shut out.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) tapped Ohio Republican Rob Portman. But Portman, a freshman and newcomer to the Senate Armed Services Committee, was named for his expertise on budget matters. He was President George W. Bush’s budget director.
McConnell also named Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), who led a fight against the Obama administration last year over the New Start nuclear arms treaty with Russia and is a frequent advocate of spending on strategic missile defense and nuclear programs. But Kyl, part of Senate GOP leadership, has announced his pending retirement after this term. Sen. Pat Toomey (Pa.), another freshman and a tea party darling, was McConnell’s other choice.
In his statement announcing the members, McConnell stressed the importance of entitlements and taxes—not defense.
“My main criteria for selecting members was to identify serious, constructive senators who are interested in achieving a result that helps to get our nation’s fiscal house in order,” McConnell says. “That means reforming entitlement programs that are the biggest drivers of our debt, and reforming the tax code in a way that makes us more competitive and leads to more American jobs.”
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) did not heed appeals from the House Armed Services Committee to appoint one of its members to the so-called super committee. His three choices include House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (Texas), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (Mich.) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (Mich.).
So far, the biggest defense supporters come from the Democratic side of the aisle. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) appointed Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), a member of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee and staunch supporter of Boeing. Reid also chose Sen. John Kerry (Mass.), a Vietnam combat veteran who has been on the defensive over military matters since his bruising presidential campaign against Bush in 2004, and Sen. Max Baucus (Mont.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
As of midday Aug. 10, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had yet to announce her three appointees to the super committee. All appointees are supposed to be named within the coming days.
The super committee, as it was quickly nicknamed in Washington, was set up in the deal struck early this month by Congress and the White House to raise the debt ceiling.
The ad hoc committee must forward legislation to Congress by Nov. 23 that lawmakers in both chambers must pass by Dec. 23. If Congress or the committee fails to act, automatic reductions that are unpalatable to both Republicans and Democrats will be handed down. That includes an additional $500 billion or more to security programs, meaning the total, 10-year reduction to security budgets—starting with the Pentagon’s—could reach about $880 billion. | 2024-07-06T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4727 |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data processing systems and more particularly relates to data processing system architectures which are arranged in a cluster/lock processing configuration having efficient techniques to recover from system component failures involving the aging out of validity objects.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known in the prior art to increase the computational capacity of a data processing system through enhancements to an instruction processor. It is also known that enhancements to instruction processors become extremely costly to design and implement. Because such enhancements tend to render the resulting system special purpose in nature, the quantities of such enhanced processors needed within the market place is quite small, thus tending to further increase per unit costs.
An early approach to solving this problem was the “super-computer” architecture of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Using this technique, a single (or small number of) very large capacity instruction processor(s) is surrounded by a relatively large number of peripheral processors. The large capacity instruction processor is more fully utilized through the work of the peripheral processors which queue tasks and data and prepare needed output. In this way, the large capacity instruction processor does not waste its time doing the more mundane input/output and conversion tasks.
This approach was found to have numerous problems. Reliability tended to rest solely on the reliability of the large capacity instruction processor, because the peripheral processors could not provide efficient processing without it. On the other hand, at least some of the peripheral processors are needed to provide the large capacity instruction processor with its only input/output interfaces. The super computer approach is also very to costly, because performance rests on the ability to design and build the uniquely large capacity instruction processor.
An alternative to increasing computational capacity is the employment of a plurality of instruction processors into the same operational system. This approach has the advantage of generally increasing the number of instruction processors in the market place, thereby increasing utilization volumes. It is further advantageous that such an approach tends to utilize redundant components, so that greater reliability can be achieved through appropriate coupling of components.
However, it is extremely difficult to create architectures which employ a relatively large number of instruction processors. Typical problems involve: non-parallel problems which cannot be divided amongst multiple instruction processors; horrendous management problems which can actually slow throughput because of excessive contention for commonly used system resources; and system viability issues arising because of the large number of system components which can contribute to failures that may be propagated throughout the system. Thus, it can be seen that such a system can decrease system performance while simultaneously increasing system cost.
An effective solution is the technique known as the “cluster/lock processing system”, such as the XPC (Extended Processing Complex) available from Unisys Corporation and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,826, entitled “Dual XPCs for Disaster Recovery in Multi-Host Environments”, which is incorporated herein by reference. This technique utilizes a relatively large number of instruction processors which are “clustered” about various shared resources. Tasking and management tends to be decentralized with the clustered processors having shared responsibilities. Maximal redundancy is utilized to enhance reliability.
Though a substantial advance, the cluster/lock systems tend to solve the reliability problems but remain relatively costly to implement, because virtually all of the hardware and firmware are specifically designed and manufactured for the cluster/lock architecture. This is necessary to enable each of the system components to effectively contribute to system reliability, system management, and system viability As a result, demand volumes remain relatively low. Furthermore, the logic necessary to provide efficient operation tends to be implemented within special purpose hardware and firmware, thereby further exacerbating the problems associated with low volume production. Operational times become highly important in real time and near real time applications even though there tends to be a substantial amount of data which must be processed to accomplish the cluster/lock operations. | 2023-11-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/5568 |
<?php
/**
* Zend Framework
*
* LICENSE
*
* This source file is subject to the new BSD license that is bundled
* with this package in the file LICENSE.txt.
* It is also available through the world-wide-web at this URL:
* http://framework.zend.com/license/new-bsd
* If you did not receive a copy of the license and are unable to
* obtain it through the world-wide-web, please send an email
* to license@zend.com so we can send you a copy immediately.
*
* @category Zend
* @package Zend_Tool
* @subpackage Framework
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Zend Technologies USA Inc. (http://www.zend.com)
* @license http://framework.zend.com/license/new-bsd New BSD License
* @version $Id: Exception.php 20096 2010-01-06 02:05:09Z bkarwin $
*/
/**
* @see Zend_Exception
*/
require_once 'Zend/Exception.php';
/**
* @category Zend
* @package Zend_Tool
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2005-2010 Zend Technologies USA Inc. (http://www.zend.com)
* @license http://framework.zend.com/license/new-bsd New BSD License
*/
class Zend_Tool_Project_Exception extends Zend_Exception
{
}
| 2023-09-24T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/5452 |
Great charts. At the risk of sounding too bullish, the form resembles early to mid 1999... with IoT providing the new market for the next big growth spurt.
If someone had infinite time, it would be interesting to do charts back to the 1980s showing the total chip sales for
PCs
Autos (we started selling chips and fiber optic to auto market in the late 80s I believe)
Calculators and Palm Pilot information devices
Printers
Laptops
Cell phones
Wifi connected devices like surveillance cameras and Nest thermostats
Wearables (20 or so months ago I bought a $600 Garmin triathlon smart watch with two wireless heart rate monitors that I love and use now to help me get more sleep - measure something and it improves.)
IoT - Mites? and other tiny devices that somehow expand and connect to the internet but use low power.
Self driving autos so you can text or watch video (illegally but....) while the car drives
Robots to make coffee and other tasks such as drive you to work.
Intuitively, I know this is just going to keep expanding which is why I got into the business back in the late 1970s... and started to invest extra funds into the industry in the 90s.....
The next purchase on my radar screen is an OLED TV. Ideally, I'd like to get it from Costco but Frys has the latest models and good prices if you buy on their special flyer sale days. | 2024-03-26T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4335 |
Q:
How do you characterize dividends for equity options?
While many systems like to treat dividends as a continuous yield when pricing equity options, it works quite poorly for short-dated options.
In the short run, deterministic dividends are clearly the way to go, since the upcoming dividend is usually known with fairly high precision. In the medium term, we may start to think of those dividends as being linked to the stock price, but still want to treat them discretely so as to get early exercise dates right. In the long term, tracking all those discrete dividends becomes a pain and it feels nicest to go back to a yield.
Advanced option pricing frameworks allow for mixtures of these 3 treatments. What are some good ways of selecting a reasonable mixture of dividend treatments in any given circumstance?
A:
Time to expiration is what should guide the choice.
A tractable approach is to make the distinction between discrete and yield at the LEAP boundary (or simpler options with expiration more than 1yr into the future).
When the options are long dated, like LEAPs for example, then the simplicity of the yield approach is usually 'good enough'.
It usually makes sense for to ONLY use the the discrete dividend approach for options near expiration.
| 2024-03-31T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9868 |
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Smoking prevalence in the UK is 18.5 % and has remained between 18 % and 20 % since 2012 \[[@CR1], [@CR2]\]. This is despite the introduction of a nationwide ban on smoking in public places in 2007, and the continued provision of evidence-based behavioural and pharmacological support \[[@CR3], [@CR4]\] through specialist smoking cessation services \[[@CR5], [@CR6]\]. One possible reason for the plateauing in smoking prevalence is that although smoking cessation services can be accessed in a variety of ways (e.g. directly by phone or email, or through a referral from a health care professional (HCP)), they are only free at point of contact for the minority (8 %) of UK smokers who want to quit smoking in the next 30 days \[[@CR7]\]. As part of the World Health Organisation's guidelines for supporting smoking cessation it is recommended that if smokers contact any HCP for any reason then they should be asked about their smoking and offered brief advice \[[@CR8]\]. Individual countries have expanded on these guidelines to recommend that HCPs provide motivational counselling, direct smokers to appropriate support services, or provide brief behavior change interventions \[[@CR3], [@CR9]\]. Contrary to this WHO guidance, \~49 % of UK smokers who visited a healthcare professional reported not receiving any advice to quit \[[@CR10]\].
Findings suggest there are a number of factors that influence HCPs' decision to raise smoking during a consultation, for example; the anticipated response from the patient, the patient's perceieved motivation to quit, and whether the consultation is due to a smoking-related health problem \[[@CR11], [@CR12]\]. The stepped approach to providing advice and support to smokers has been criticized because the level of intervention provided is heavily influenced by the smoker's readiness to quit at the time they are speaking to the HCP \[[@CR13]\]. Thus, even if providers do raise smoking during the consultation, as there are few options for treatment of smokers who are not ready to quit within 30 days it is currently unclear how these smokers would be engaged in cessation. A qualitative exploration of the experiences, views and ideas of these smokers would help researchers to understand this sub-population of smokers and provide insight into how to engage them in an intervention.
Previous qualitative research has explored the views of different sub-populations of smokers, such as disadvantaged smokers or smokers with mental illness \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\]. However, to our knowledge there is only one other focus group study that describes the views of smokers who are not planning to quit in the near future \[[@CR16]\]. As part of their sample, Uppal et al. \[[@CR16]\] recruited smokers who were not ready to quit 'in the immediate context' (p.4) and found that these smokers placed high importance on 'wanting' to quit and the presence of cognitive dissonance through the identification of positive and negative attributes of smoking and being a smoker. In addition, those lower in motivation to quit reported they were less likely to contact stop smoking services than those with higher motivation to quit. However, Uppal et al.'s study is limited by not specifying a time limit on 'the immediate context' (p. 4), which is important in the context of UK services being offered only to those smokers who do not plan to quit within 30 days. The present study focuses only on smokers who do not plan to quit within 30 days, and also seeks to explore what approaches may be useful in promoting smoking cessation in this population.
The aims of the present study are to answer: (a) what are the experiences of smokers with no plans to quit within 30 days?; and (b) what are these smokers' views on existing smoking cessation approaches and what might engage them in smoking cessation?
Methods {#Sec2}
=======
Design {#Sec3}
------
Focus groups were used as they can facilitate a deep understanding of the experiences of a population through the interaction between participants with a shared background \[[@CR17]\]. A focus group interview guide was developed by the research team, based on previous work by one of the authors. As recommended in previous literature, the guide consisted of introductory, transition and key questions \[[@CR18]\]. See Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"} for the key questions asked.Table 1Questions from the focus group scheduleQuestion typeQuestionsIntroductory questionsWhat do you like about smoking?What about the other side...what don't you like about smoking?How does it feel to be a smoker in today's world?Transition questionsFor you, what got in the way of quitting in the past?What is holding you back from quitting now?Key questionsWhat do you think about the currently available options for quitting smoking?a) What are the good things about these options?b) What is lacking in these options?We would like to develop a programme for smokers who are not ready to quit, what should we include in this programme?Final questionWhat do you think are the most important points we should take away from the group to design a smoking cessation intervention for smokers like you
Participants {#Sec4}
------------
Participants were recruited through newspaper advertisements across Greater Manchester, posters, leaflets, online noticeboards/mailing lists, and face-to-face in local shopping areas. Interested participants were screened for inclusion by telephone. Study inclusion criteria were: i) aged 18 years or older, ii) smoked cigarettes in the last 7 days, iii) currently smoke ≥3 cigarettes per day, iv) smoked ≥ 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, and v) did not plan to quit smoking in the next 30 days. The exclusion criteria were: i) unable to speak/read fluently in English, ii) self-reported serious mental illness, iii) self-reported heavy drinking, and iv) current involvement in any other smoking related research. Eligible participants were scheduled for a focus group and sent information sheets and consent forms. The final data set consists of a sample of those who contacted the researchers, were eligible, able to attend a group, and attended the group. Convenience sampling was used, we aimed to recruit both males and females to attend each group.
Procedure {#Sec5}
---------
Focus groups were conducted in Manchester, UK with regular smokers who did not plan to quit smoking within 30 days. The university research ethics committee provided ethical approval. Thematic saturation was reached after five focus groups. Focus groups were held between September 2014 and January 2015 and were conducted in line with recommendations \[[@CR19]\]. Participants gave informed consent prior to any research activities. Consented participants completed a background questionnaire, which assessed demographic and smoking-related information. Groups were conducted at the authors' UK University and lasted between 100 and 120 min (including consenting procedures and questionnaire completion), participants were given a £20 (\~\$31) gift card and offered refreshments at the group as reimbursement for their time. Three members of research staff attended each group: i) a moderator who guided the group, asked key questions and encouraged discussion between participants, ii) a co-moderator who asked additional questions or probed for further detail, and iii) a note-taker. At the end of each group the moderator provided a summary of the main points, and comments were invited from participants, the co-moderator and the note-taker. Following the group, the moderator, co-moderator and note-taker held a short debriefing where key points made by the group were noted as well as any suggested changes to the questions asked, the order, or the amount of time spent on each to ensure thematic saturation was reached for key questions. Groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and the transcripts anonymized.
Analysis {#Sec6}
--------
Structured analysis followed by interpretation of the themes was used to gain an understanding of the experiences and perceptions of the participants \[[@CR20], [@CR21]\]. Anonymized transcripts were analyzed thematically following six steps: i) familiarization, ii) generating initial codes, iii) searching for themes, iv) reviewing themes, v) defining and naming themes, and vi) writing results \[[@CR22]\]. Two researchers identified themes and sub-themes independently then formed a consensus on the overall structure of the themes through discussion. As outlined in Braun and Clarke (2006), the aim at this stage of the analysis was to summarise the sub-themes into internally consistent and distinctive themes that would allow for a coherent presentation of the data \[[@CR22]\]. Any disagreements that could not be resolved were discussed with a third researcher. Two researchers coded all five transcripts independently according to the agreed thematic structure using NVivo 10 software. Any discrepancies at this stage were resolved through discussion. The content of the themes was summarised and interpreted iteratively within the research team and the final report was checked against the original themes to ensure consistency and that any divergent cases were reported. To enhance the accuracy of interpretation, all researchers involved in the analysis had also been involved in collecting the data \[[@CR23]\].
Results {#Sec7}
=======
The final sample included 32 participants who were aged between 20 and 79 years old (*M* = 43.2, *SD* = 18.1) and 44 % (*n* = 14) were women (see Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}).Table 2Participant characteristicsCharacteristicParticipants *n* = 32N (%)/Mean (SD)DemographicsAge43.2 (18.1)Women14 (44 %)Caucasian/White22 (73 %)Less than a university level education16 (53 %)EmploymentEmployed full or part-time10 (31 %)Unemployed9 (28 %)Student7 (22 %)Retired4 (13 %)Homemaker1 (3 %)Unable to work due to disability or long-term illness1 (3 %)Smoking characteristicsYears smoked23.8 (16.4)Smoke within 30 min of waking17 (53 %)Previous quit attempt longer than 24 h16 (50 %)
Eleven sub-themes were identified and structured into three over-arching themes: i) experience of being a smoker; ii) views of smoking in the context of social groups and wider society; and iii) quitting: past attempts and future approaches (see Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"} for thematic structure). The results are presented under the main theme headings with representative quotations.Table 3Thematic structureThemesSub-themesExperience of Being a SmokerAmbivalence towards smokingPerceptions of self as a smokerViews of Smoking in the Context of Social Groups and Wider SocietySocial influence and interferenceAutonomyQuitting: Past Attempts and Future ApproachesPlans to quit and past experiences of quittingPerceived effects of quittingViews of quit methodsInformation needsSuggestions for a smoking cessation program for smokers who are not ready to quit.Intrinsic motivationIndividualisationSubstitutionUsing technology to quit
Experience of being a smoker {#Sec8}
----------------------------
Very few participants were wholly positive or wholly negative about continuing to smoke, but rather the majority of participants expressed ambivalence towards their continued smoking. Reasons for smoking included habit, boredom and enjoyment, whereas health effects, financial cost and smell were identified as negative aspects of smoking. Participants often stated that smoking was something they did without much thought."'*You*'*re just that used to opening the packet and just lighting it. It just becomes a habit*... *you*'*re just not even realizing* \[*you*'*re*\] *lighting another one*.' Female, aged 33."
The balance between positive and negative views about smoking was different for each individual, and was described as influencing their current motivation to quit smoking."'*The enjoyment of cigarettes*, *at the moment it outweighs any constant health considerations*.' Male, aged 69"
Some participants said that if they experienced negative impacts of smoking, they might be more inclined to change:"*I think conversely one of the things that stopped me from having a real go at stopping is that I*'*ve never had a bad cough or anything*' Male, aged 71."
The above views were expressed in a passive way, however some participants expressed strong negative emotions towards themselves, such as anger and shame, due to the conflict of continuing to smoke while being aware of the negative impacts."'\[*My father had*\] *been debilitated by smoking*...\[*the family*\] *all smoked while he was there on the bed*, *dying of smoking. It*'*s a form of insanity*.' Male, aged 52."
In contrast, a minority of participants expressed positive emotions towards themselves such as pride in being rebellious or free."'\[*Smoking is*\] *like you have the freedom to do whatever you want*.' Female, aged 23."
In both cases the risk inherent in smoking seems to be acknowledged. In the former, the participant sees themselves as illogical for taking this risk (and therefore expresses anger); in the latter, the participant sees themselves as a risk taker and therefore their position as a continuing smoker does not cause any negative emotions.
Views of Smoking in the Context of Social Groups and Wider Society {#Sec9}
------------------------------------------------------------------
Several younger participants mentioned the social aspects of smoking had been strengthened since smoking had been banned in enclosed public places. This was due to smokers being grouped together more often to smoke. However, participants who were older described smoking as an anti-social activity, one that took them away from their friends, or was looked down on."'*Well for me*, *personally*, *as a student*, *it*'*s actually very acceptable to be a smoker*.' Male, aged 24'*I*'*m outside having a ciggie*, *and can*'*t mix with decent society*!' Male, aged 69"
Wider societal perceptions of smoking were also discussed. For example, in each group, participants mentioned how the general public's perception of smoking has changed over time. Some participants expressed frustration that cigarettes had been advertised freely, and were so widely used when they were growing up. Others expressed frustration that society had become more negative towards smoking, and judgemental of those who smoke."'*It*'*s hard now*, '*cause everywhere is no smoking areas*...*you*'*re stigmatized. You feel stigmatized anyway*.' Male, aged 53"
However, while the perceived stigmatization of smoking was seen as negative, it rarely motivated participants to want to quit smoking, and in fact was acknowledged as counterproductive, making them want to smoke more."'*The more the media try to bully me into giving up*, *the more I feel*, *sod them*[1](#Fn1){ref-type="fn"}*I*'*m not going to do it*.' Male, aged 69"
This was sometimes expressed as a statement of the participants' autonomy in their choice to smoke:"'*It*'*s my business*, *it*'*s my body*, *it*'*s my money*.' Female, aged 79"
Smoking cessation policies introduced by the government were seen to perpetuate a negative view of smoking and were met with skepticism by some participants. Many mentioned the large amount of tax paid on cigarettes, and questioned whether the government is truly motivated to reduce smoking rates."'*It produces so much revenue for the government*, *so they have got to be careful* \[*encouraging cessation*\].' Male, aged 64"
Participants who felt stigmatized for smoking had negative feelings towards non-smokers and the government; contending that the stigmatization decreased (rather than increased), their motivation to quit. The negative feelings expressed suggest participants recognised non-smokers and governmental campaigns as threatening to their position as continuing smokers who do not plan to quit in the next 30 days and could therefore be reacting defensively.
Quitting: Past Attempts and Future Approaches {#Sec10}
---------------------------------------------
### Plans to quit and past experiences of quitting {#Sec11}
Very few participants indicated they enjoyed smoking and planned to continue, but many stated they would like to quit but did not think they could."'*I don*'*t know*, *basically*, *I just don*'*t think I can stop*, *although I really want to try*, *eventually*.' Male, aged 53"
Some individuals provided examples of events or situations that might motivate them to quit in the future, including diagnosis of a health condition, giving up smoking for their children or quitting smoking after completing their their university education. For others, future plans to quit were based on more general intentions and feelings that they 'should quit' for their health.
Almost all the participants reported making at least one previous quit attempt (although in the background questionnaire, only half of the participants reported that they had made a previous quit attempt lasting more than 24 h). Some individuals were very positive about their previous quit attempts, recommending treatments they had used to other group participants. However, a previous quit attempt that was perceived as successful conversely made some participants believe that they could quit at any time."'*The trouble is*, *because I don*'*t find it a great strain to stop*, *I think*, *oh I can stop*, *so I start again*.' Male, aged 52"
We also asked participants about their views of currently available options for quitting smoking. Most participants had views regarding nicotine replacement therapies (NRT). Price was frequently mentioned as a barrier to procuring these treatments, although it was argued by others that the money saved from not buying cigarettes could be used to purchase NRT. In some groups, participants were unsure whether NRT was available through the National Health Service (NHS) or which NRT treatments were available[2](#Fn2){ref-type="fn"}.
E-cigarettes were discussed by each group without prompting by the moderator. Some participants were skeptical about them, believing the lack of endorsement by the NHS was evidence that e-cigarettes were no better for one's health than tobacco cigarettes. Others viewed e-cigarettes very positively and disagreed with proposals to ban them in public places, arguing that it is the closest substitute for smoking and should be promoted as a tool for helping people quit smoking. Participants called for more research and clearer advice about the safety of e-cigarettes. Some participants viewed replacing smoking with either NRT or e-cigarettes as not 'fixing the problem' of nicotine addiction, and there was uncertainty about whether this would benefit health compared to continued smoking.
On the whole, smoking cessation advertisements were not thought to motivate quit attempts. Some participants thought shocking advertisements would help smokers who are not motivated to quit smoking:"'*I think you need actually something*...*either something really shocking or like something worthwhile*, *to make you want to do it* \[*quit smoking*\].' Female, aged 21"
The majority of participants believed current advertisements had no effect on motivation to quit because they reiterated well known information (e.g., health effects of smoking)."'*It*'*s just making you think*, *well that*'*s disgusting I*'*m going to turn that off. I want to give up*, *I know it*'*s bad for me*, *you don*'*t need to tell me that. Tell me how to give up*, *tell me easy ways*, *tell me good ways of giving up*.' Male, aged 21"
### Suggestions for a smoking cessation program for smokers who are not ready to quit {#Sec12}
In general, participants did not believe external influences could directly affect their motivation to quit smoking. The importance of intrinsic motivation for quitting was emphasized in every group. Some participants argued that intrinsic motivation and willpower alone would be sufficient to quit smoking; for others, intrinsic motivation was seen as a necessary addition to other smoking cessation approaches. A few participants argued that, because they did not want to quit, no program would be able to help them until this changed."'*I*'*m going to stop on my own because I have the willpower to do it or I*'*m just going to keep smoking*.' Female, aged 23"
However, participants did describe external influences affecting smoking behavior. For example, participants stated that when in a non-smoking situation (e.g. on an airplane) or performing particular tasks and activities where they habitually did not smoke (e.g. sports) they did not experience nicotine cravings."'I'm a godfather, and when I go round to their house, obviously it's a non-smoking household, but I don't feel the need to smoke. Once I'm in that space I know I can't smoke, so there's almost like this little switch goes on in my head that says, you can't smoke, no need to smoke.' Male, aged 43"
Furthermore, participants described changing the patterns of their smoking depending on living arrangements and jobs."'*The only reason I had quit smoking was because the entire environment around me*-*I was so busy*, *and the people around me were just non*-*smokers*.' Male, aged 22"
In general, participants did not believe these short-term environmental changes would influence their motivation to quit or reduce their smoking in the long-term because returning to situations associated with smoking would trigger a relapse to their original smoking habits. There was a sense that participants were waiting for a *magic bullet* to provide an extra push for them to quit smoking, with some describing this as needing to really want to (intrinsic motivation) whereas others thought if smoking cessation interventions were more shocking this would provide the push needed.
When participants were asked about what kinds of programs might engage smokers who are not ready to quit, some participants suggested that keeping smokers busy and engaged, both mentally, and in terms of doing something with their hands may be an effective approach. This was conceptualized not as a substitution for smoking, but rather as a method of distracting someone from smoking."'*So I know the health issues and financial issues don*'*t really matter to people who smoke. So I think making a person feeling* \[*sic*\], *or getting them busy into something else which makes them feel better*, *that*'*s all*.' Male, aged 22."
Some participants suggested financial incentives such as money, vouchers or discounted gym membership as a reward for smoking cessation. However, there were concerns raised that once the rewards stopped, people would start smoking again and that if cessation was not verified, people would claim the rewards without changing their smoking behavior.
Participants in each group were clear that any smoking cessation program designed for smokers like them would need to be individualized or tailored to be effective, respecting differences in reasons for smoking, smoking history, interests and social context. Furthermore, personal choice in intervention content was seen as necessary to get people interested, allowing individuals to tailor the programme themselves."'*I think that it does need individual treatment*, *because we are all individuals*.' Male, aged 71."
In terms of accessing smoking cessation programmes some participants mentioned they would like to attend a group, but others thought it would take up too much time. One participant mentioned that they had used a mobile phone application ('app') during a previous quit attempt; some thought they would like a smoking cessation app because it would be available whenever they needed it, while others thought it would be too easy to switch off. The frequency with which individuals wanted to interact with a programme varied, with some expressing a desire for frequent meetings, reminders or messages whereas others thought this would become annoying or even counter-productive as it may remind them to smoke.
Discussion {#Sec13}
==========
This is the first study, to the authors\' knowledge, to have explored the experiences and views of smokers who are not eligible to receive treatment from UK specialist smoking cessation services (i.e., not planning to quit in the next 30 days). The key findings were that smokers not planning to quit in the next 30 days were ambivalent about their continued smoking but that current approaches to encouraging smoking cessation fail to meet their needs. An individualized approach that keeps smokers busy has the potential to engage this group. The following discussion considers the theoretical and public health implications of the work.
The feeling of ambivalence towards smoking and the individual pros and cons identified by our groups are similar to those that have been identified in smokers with a wide range of levels of motivation to quit \[[@CR24]\]. That these have been found in this population of smokers who are not ready to quit within 30 days could indicate that smokers' feelings towards smoking, and themselves as smokers may not be associated with their readiness to quit smoking. A minority of participants were 'pro-smoking', and therefore not motivated or ready to quit at any point, however the majority of our participants indicated a desire to quit someday, but not in the immediate future.
Some participants indicated they did not think they would be able to quit, which in turn, had an impact on their motivation and readiness to make a quit attempt. Other participants reported that their high confidence in their ability to quit meant there was no need to immediately quit smoking. This was described as the result of previous quit attempts that were perceived by participants as successful. As all participants were current smokers it would be interesting to explore further how previous quit attempts are perceived as successes or failures by continuing smokers with no immediate plans to quit. Self-efficacy has previously been identified as a key component of reduction in smoking \[[@CR25]\], avoiding relapse \[[@CR26]\], and a mediator of smoking cessation \[[@CR27]\]. However, our qualitative findings indicate that high self-efficacy may only be beneficial if accompanied by high motivation and readiness to quit. It could be suggested that those with high self-efficacy but low motivation and low readiness to quit may feel confident they would be able to quit smoking, but still do not expect to quit in the near future. This study did not ask explicitly about participants' expectations in terms of quitting smoking, but expectations have been found to be a better predictor of behavior change than intentions (even when controlling for self-efficacy, and the effects of past behavior), potentially because asking about expectations elicits more reflective processing \[[@CR28]\]. Future research could explore the relationships between self-efficacy, motivation, readiness to quit, intentions and expectations in more detail to ascertain whether expectations to quit differ in smokers who express a desire to quit, but have no immediate plans to do so.
For many participants, smoking was seen as an anti-social activity, which took them away from their friends. However, amongst some participants (particularly students aged in their 20s), smoking was seen as a social activity. Previous research has indicated that students perceive health messages around smoking as appropriate for teens and older adults, but not for themselves \[[@CR29]\]. Future interventions could explore targeting content for social groups to take account of different social norms.
Some participants perceived reduced societal acceptance of smoking, through both governmental campaigns and the opinions of non-smokers. This was seen to increase the perceived pressure to quit smoking. However, rather than increasing their motivation or readiness to quit, it was reported that this perceived pressure produced a counter-productive defensive response. When discussing smoking cessation campaigns in the media it is interesting that participants focused only on the negative campaigns (those that focus on the negative health effects of smoking). In the UK, between 2005 and 2010 44 % of campaigns were negative, whereas 52 % of campaigns were positive (focused on hope and happiness as a result of quitting), the remainder being neutral \[[@CR30]\]. This could indicate that although participants reported the campaigns were not effective, the negative campaigns did result in an emotional response and increased discomfort between processing the messages and continuing to smoke (making them more memorable). Self-affirmation (encouraging individuals to elaborate on values that are important to them) has been found to reduce this defensiveness in response to graphic warnings on cigarette packets \[[@CR31]\] and amongst smokers with low socio-economic status \[[@CR32]\] and could have the potential to decrease defensive processing in smokers who are not ready to quit. It could also be the case that amongst a peer group of smokers, participants were unwilling to admit the effects these campaigns have had on their smoking. While this cannot be discounted, all participants were current smokers, so even if they have had more of an effect than disclosed in the groups, they have not been effective in terms of encouraging and supporting these participants to quit.
Participants reported confusion and misinformation around the currently available options for quitting smoking. There was clear interest in e-cigarettes (evidenced by the topic being spontaneously broached by each group), but there was little knowledge of how continued use of nicotine compares with continued smoking in terms of health effects. The confusion associated with different approaches to quit meant participants were less likely to want to use interventions such as NRT. A recent review published by Public Health England \[[@CR33]\] aimed to address the need for clear evidence related to e-cigarettes. However, the report has generated controversy \[[@CR34]--[@CR36]\]. Therefore the need for clarification of the role e-cigarettes could play in smoking cessation is ongoing for smokers, non-smokers, and the HCPs who support smoking cessation.
Participants acknowledged that their smoking was often habitual and was not necessarily motivated by a desire to smoke, but was triggered by being in a circumstance where one usually smokes. Conversely, there were circumstances identified where the habitual response was not to smoke. This can be understood in terms of participants reacting to cues from their environment. Situational cues to smoking have formed part of smoking models for many years, and these include internal cues such as negative affect and external cues such as drinking alcohol (see \[[@CR37]\] and \[[@CR38]\] as examples). Previous research has found that smokers are less likely to smoke while working (than at leisure) and more likely to smoke when they were inactive and described themselves as 'between activities' \[[@CR39]\]. Participants in the current sample recognised that 'keeping busy' could be an effective approach to encouraging cessation.
The idea of keeping busy, in combination with the description of tasks and activities that participants undertook where they habitually did not smoke (e.g. participating in sports) could suggest that encouraging smokers to increase the amount of time spent doing activities that are not associated with smoking may help increase the time between cigarettes, and encourage the formation of 'non-smoking habits' in those who are not ready to quit at present. It could be speculated that this approach could have the potential to be more acceptable to individuals who are not ready to quit than decreasing environmental cues to smoke (such as removing ashtrays from the home) as it is less focused on smoking related behavior (which an individual may be unwilling to target), and more focused on non-smoking behavior, which may be less likely to provoke a defensive response. Previous work has utilized situational cues in a number of ways. For example, successful non-smoking habit formation has been encouraged by asking participants to link smoking situations with non-smoking solutions in if-then plans (e.g. 'If I am tempted to smoke when I need a lift, then I will do something instead of smoking') \[[@CR40]\]. Additionally, it has been suggested that situational cues for smoking could be utilised to identify situations where someone is at risk of relapse to enable provision of tailored 'just in time' interventions to those who have quit smoking \[[@CR41]\]. The present research could suggest that encouraging smokers to engage in activities not associated with smoking, thereby utilising situational cues associated with non-smoking may present an opportunity to engage people who do not want to quit smoking within 30 days.
Strengths and limitations {#Sec14}
-------------------------
The present research included a wide range of recruitment approaches, which resulted in a diverse population in terms of smoking history, age and employment status. This diversity led to lively discussion between participants during the focus groups, and a wide range of views expressed. It also highlighted the need for smoking cessation approaches for this population to be tailored, and for the diversity within smokers who do not want to quit within 30 days to be recognised. As all the participants were current smokers who were not ready to quit this seemed to allow for open discussion without fear of judgement. Conversely however, this similarity may have led to fear of judgement when voicing anti-smoking views. The range of opinions given in the groups suggests this was not the case, but the findings should be interpreted with this potential in mind. The screening process successfully identified smokers who were not planning to quit within 30 days in all but one case. One participant became ready to quit smoking between the phone screening and group attendance; in the future, screening could be repeated on the day of the group to avoid this. In addition, the present convenience sample was self-selected: The information sheet outlined the purpose of the research and therefore may have resulted in greater attendance by those who had strong opinions either about continuing to smoke, or about quitting, and were willing to share them in a group. Finally, the authors who worked on the analysis had all attended at least one of the focus groups, while this provided valuable context to the interpretation \[[@CR23]\], a researcher with no prior knowledge of the research aims or groups may have been able to provide a different perspective.
Conclusions {#Sec15}
===========
Many smokers who are not planning to quit in the next 30 days would like to quit at some point. Current smoking cessation services are not available to this population of smokers, and interventions that could provide support outside of a HCP consultation should be explored. This research explored the views of smokers who are not planning to quit within the next 30 days and found that this population of smokers reported a lack of information about available treatment options, however, until they become more ready to quit it is unlikely that they would seek this information independently. Therefore, novel methods for delivering this information in a way that does not increase perceived pressure to quit are needed. One possible way to do this is to focus on activities or situations that are not associated with smoking to try and encourage breaking habits around smoking and, forming habits that are not associated with smoking.
Abbreviations {#Sec16}
=============
HCP, Health Care Professional; NHS, National Health Service; NRT, Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Dismissive colloquialism
In the UK, NRT is available by prescription and obtained at no cost if individuals are on a low wage, receiving benefits, or have certain health conditions
The authors would like to thank Cancer Research UK, the School of Psychological Sciences, for supporting this work and Dr Christine Rowland for advice and practical help during the focus groups.
Funding {#FPar1}
=======
This work was funded by Cancer Research UK (Grant \# C1005 A17906) and internal funds from the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester. Neither of these organisations were involved in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, interpretation or writing the manuscript.
Availability of data and materials {#FPar2}
==================================
The data will not be shared at this time as it is part of an ongoing project.
Authors' contributions {#FPar3}
======================
KB and NG conducted the analysis with support from BB, CA and AW. KB drafted the initial manuscript. All authors were involved in the conception of the study, design of materials, data collection and manuscript revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Competing interests {#FPar4}
===================
None of the authors have competing interests.
Consent for publication {#FPar5}
=======================
Applicable statement was included on the study consent form, information about how the data would be used for publication was included in the information sheet.
Ethics approval and consent to participate {#FPar6}
==========================================
The university research ethics committee provided ethical approval (UREC 2; ref: 14318). All participants provided informed consent.
| 2023-11-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2162 |
Gaming Bullets
Simon & Schuster Interactive has launched the official site for upcoming Star Trek title, ‘Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars’. It contains a fair amount of information including details on the various captains and ships you can play as. To visit, please follow this link.
Still with ‘Dominion Wars’, Mike Wallis has updated his .plan file, announcing that the project’s hit alpha phase as of this week, with the Federation and Dominion campaigns up and running and the missions themselves ranging from between 50% and 90%.of completion
GA Strategy also has five new screenshots from the game, all of which can be found here.
The official ‘Bridge Commander’ site has released another screenshot of the week showing off their new damage modelling system.
A number of more new ‘Bridge Commander’ screen shots can be found at Sci-Fi Gaming.
UK PC Zone’s Andrew Wright has posted his review of ‘Star Fleet Command II –Empires at War‘. Rating it 75%, he called it “great if you're a Trekkie, and totally mind-boggling if you're not”
Meanwhile there’s a somewhat belated review of Voyager title, ‘Elite Force’ over at The BackBurner. It’s rated a 92% and called a “must for any Star Trek fan, and a must for and FPS addict”. | 2024-07-03T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6387 |
-- ============================================================================
-- Copyright (C) 2002-2004 Rodolphe Quiedeville <rodolphe@quiedeville.org>
-- Copyright (C) 2004-2012 Laurent Destailleur <eldy@users.sourceforge.net>
-- Copyright (C) 2005-2012 Regis Houssin <regis.houssin@inodbox.com>
--
-- This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
-- it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
-- the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
-- (at your option) any later version.
--
-- This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-- but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-- MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-- GNU General Public License for more details.
--
-- You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-- along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
--
-- ============================================================================
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD UNIQUE INDEX uk_facture_ref (ref, entity);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_soc (fk_soc);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_user_author (fk_user_author);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_user_valid (fk_user_valid);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_facture_source (fk_facture_source);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_projet (fk_projet);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_account (fk_account);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_currency (fk_currency);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD INDEX idx_facture_fk_statut (fk_statut);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD CONSTRAINT fk_facture_fk_soc FOREIGN KEY (fk_soc) REFERENCES llx_societe (rowid);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD CONSTRAINT fk_facture_fk_user_author FOREIGN KEY (fk_user_author) REFERENCES llx_user (rowid);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD CONSTRAINT fk_facture_fk_user_valid FOREIGN KEY (fk_user_valid) REFERENCES llx_user (rowid);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD CONSTRAINT fk_facture_fk_facture_source FOREIGN KEY (fk_facture_source) REFERENCES llx_facture (rowid);
ALTER TABLE llx_facture ADD CONSTRAINT fk_facture_fk_projet FOREIGN KEY (fk_projet) REFERENCES llx_projet (rowid);
| 2024-06-16T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3162 |
BERKELEY — A University of California Berkeley spokesman denied reports Wednesday that a student group’s speaker has been blocked from coming to campus.
On the same day last week that Berkeley College Republicans asked the university to schedule a venue for former Breitbart News editor-at-large and current Daily Wire editor-in-chief, Ben Shapiro, they began posting to social media about their invite, asking if he could do what other conservatives had not.
UC spokesman Dan Mogulof acknowledged recent events that led to cancellation of speeches by figures Milo Yiannopolous and Ann Coulter.
“Until these most recent events, we’ve hosted dozens and dozens of events across the political spectrum without issue. It is clear that things have changed in terms of security, in terms of planning for certain speakers and types of events,” Mogulof said late Wednesday.
“Having said that, our police department has yet to conduct a review, and the possibility remains that Shapiro could speak without any extraordinary measures.”
The university recently debuted a draft of a policy meant to address security concerns, and its publicly available draft.
“What has to be done first is a security assessment, and we also have to understand requirements Shapiro has for security,” Mogulof said. “Milo came with a long list. The police department and other law enforcement organizations will do an assessment of everything to do with intelligence they can dig up on the possibility of disruption, and we will put in place whatever security measures are necessary for a safe and successful event.”
Shapiro, a UCLA and Harvard Law graduate turned author, columnist and podcaster, last spoke on campus in April 2016. In a statement to the Young America’s Foundation on Wednesday, he insisted he would speak at Berkeley again.
“Using ridiculous pretexts to keep conservatives from speaking is unsurprising but disappointing,” Shapiro said. “We’ll find a way to get this event done, and UC Berkeley has a moral and legal obligation to ensure we do so.”
Mogulof reiterated the university’s twin commitments to free speech and campus security in responding to Berkeley College Republicans’ efforts.
“We would much rather be able to work with them rather than respond to press releases,” Mogulof said. “Press releases don’t take the place of good discussion and collaboration.”
Options to factor, which non-campus based organizations such as alumni groups are also asked to consider, include not just days and locations, but hours, crowd sizes, and possible rental fees. Mogulof said the university has reached out to College Republicans with three dates next week to discuss security options.
“To say that the university is doing anything to make it difficult for Mr. Shapiro to come to campus is simply false. All we are doing is following the exact same process that applies to every other organization on campus,” Mogulof said.
“We welcome him to campus, but they need to sit down so we can work through all the details and options given.”
George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. | 2024-07-22T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4423 |
// Created by: CKY / Contract Toubro-Larsen
// Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Matra Datavision
// Copyright (c) 1999-2014 OPEN CASCADE SAS
//
// This file is part of Open CASCADE Technology software library.
//
// This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
// the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2.1 as published
// by the Free Software Foundation, with special exception defined in the file
// OCCT_LGPL_EXCEPTION.txt. Consult the file LICENSE_LGPL_21.txt included in OCCT
// distribution for complete text of the license and disclaimer of any warranty.
//
// Alternatively, this file may be used under the terms of Open CASCADE
// commercial license or contractual agreement.
//--------------------------------------------------------------------
//--------------------------------------------------------------------
#include <IGESDimen_BasicDimension.ixx>
IGESDimen_BasicDimension::IGESDimen_BasicDimension () { }
void IGESDimen_BasicDimension::Init
(const Standard_Integer nbPropVal,
const gp_XY& thell, const gp_XY& thelr,
const gp_XY& theur, const gp_XY& theul)
{
theNbPropertyValues = nbPropVal;
theLowerLeft = thell;
theLowerRight = thelr;
theUpperRight = theur;
theUpperLeft = theul;
InitTypeAndForm(406,31);
}
Standard_Integer IGESDimen_BasicDimension::NbPropertyValues () const
{
return theNbPropertyValues;
}
gp_Pnt2d IGESDimen_BasicDimension::LowerLeft () const
{
gp_Pnt2d g(theLowerLeft);
return g;
}
gp_Pnt2d IGESDimen_BasicDimension::LowerRight () const
{
gp_Pnt2d g(theLowerRight);
return g;
}
gp_Pnt2d IGESDimen_BasicDimension::UpperRight () const
{
gp_Pnt2d g(theUpperRight);
return g;
}
gp_Pnt2d IGESDimen_BasicDimension::UpperLeft () const
{
gp_Pnt2d g(theUpperLeft);
return g;
}
| 2024-04-06T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2730 |
Synaptic distribution of afferents from reticular nucleus in ventroposterior nucleus of cat thalamus.
This study was aimed at determining the synaptic circuitry that contributes to the alterations in thalamic function that accompany changes in behavioral states. The somatosensory sector of the thalamic reticular nucleus (RTN) was identified by microelectrode recording in cats and injected with Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L). The axons of labeled RTN cells gave rise to collaterals within the RTN and continued into the dorsal thalamus where they terminated predominately in the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL). After small injections in the upper limb representation of RTN, most labeled terminations in VPL were confined to its medial part, suggesting the presence of a topographic organization in the projection. Terminations were concentrated in localized, focal aggregations of boutons. Combined electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, using immunogold labeling for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), showed that the PHA-L labeled boutons were GABA-positive terminals that ended in symmetrical synapses. Eighty-two percent of these synapses were on dendrites of relay neurons, 8.5% on dendrites of interneurons, and 9.3% on somata. The terminals of RTN axons form the majority of axon terminals ending in symmetrical synapses in VPL. Their concentration on relay neurons probably underlies the capacity of the RTN projection to reduce background activity of VPL relay neurons in the awake state and to maintain oscillatory behavior of these neurons in drowsiness and early phases of sleep. | 2024-06-25T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1072 |
rhinestone charger plates for sale
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Detailed crystal rhinestone We ensure a steady adhere quality, the lowest broken rate and the highest perfect rate give you best experien crystal rhinestone: crystal rhinestone can be used to many places. | 2024-05-26T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7519 |
package com.strobel.decompiler.patterns;
import com.strobel.core.VerifyArgument;
import com.strobel.decompiler.languages.java.ast.AssignmentExpression;
import com.strobel.decompiler.languages.java.ast.AssignmentOperatorType;
import com.strobel.decompiler.languages.java.ast.Expression;
import java.util.ArrayDeque;
public class AssignmentChain extends Pattern {
private final INode _valuePattern;
private final INode _targetPattern;
public AssignmentChain(final INode targetPattern, final INode valuePattern) {
_targetPattern = VerifyArgument.notNull(targetPattern, "targetPattern");
_valuePattern = VerifyArgument.notNull(valuePattern, "valuePattern");
}
public final INode getTargetPattern() {
return _targetPattern;
}
public final INode getValuePattern() {
return _valuePattern;
}
@Override
public boolean matches(final INode other, final Match match) {
if (other instanceof AssignmentExpression) {
final ArrayDeque<AssignmentExpression> assignments = new ArrayDeque<>();
INode current = other;
final int checkPoint = match.getCheckPoint();
while (current instanceof AssignmentExpression &&
((AssignmentExpression) current).getOperator() == AssignmentOperatorType.ASSIGN) {
final AssignmentExpression assignment = (AssignmentExpression) current;
final Expression target = assignment.getLeft();
if (!_targetPattern.matches(target, match)) {
assignments.clear();
match.restoreCheckPoint(checkPoint);
break;
}
assignments.addLast(assignment);
current = assignment.getRight();
}
if (assignments.isEmpty() || !_valuePattern.matches(assignments.getLast().getRight(), match)) {
match.restoreCheckPoint(checkPoint);
return false;
}
return true;
}
return false;
}
}
| 2023-10-02T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1113 |
Molded Plastic Shell For Chair
We have been offering a range of plastic chair parts to our client that are used in the fabrication of chairs and other furnitures .Our plastic parts are known for its durability and longer functional life | 2023-09-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7331 |
The objective of this research is to characterize the cerebral sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a function of age, in a basic science animal model. TBI is one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term morbidity in adults and children. In infants, the consequences of head injury are particularly severe and the clinical course is different from adults. Although the effects of TBI have been well documented in adult animal models, less data have been reported on these effects in the infant/juvenile or the mechanisms underlying such changes. Cerebral blood flow is thought to contribute to neurologic outcome, thus often is an important therapeutic target. The Aims of the proposed studies will include a characterization of the age dependent effects of TBI on cerebral blood flow and mechanisms contributory to such changes in an animal model designed to mimic concussive brain injury. Outcome measures will include physiologic parameters (blood flow), biochemical (brain parenchymal changes in putative modulators/mediators of injury), histopathologic (neuronal cell loss), molecular (expression of modulators/mediators of injury), and pharmacologic parameters (receptor density/regulation). These studies may lead to new therapies for brain-injured individuals. [unreadable] [unreadable] | 2024-05-26T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9267 |
Mese: Aprile 2018
Did Danny manage to take down his enemy?
That was addressed on Blue Bloods Season 8 Episode 20 when an opportunity popped up that he did not want to refuse.
Watch Blue Bloods Season 8 Episode 20 Online Meanwhile, Frank tried to convince Jamie to take a sergeant's test, but did it allow her to realize her full potential?
Also, Erin planned to go on a date with her ex-husband, but how did Anthony feel about this sea change?
Use the video above to watch Blue Bloods online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: CBS Cheat Sheet: What Will Be Renewed? Get caught up with all the latest drama from the team right now.
It all comes crashing down on the next The Resident.
No, we're being serious. On The Resident Season 1 Episode 12, one of their own takes a near-deadly fall through the skyline of the hospital and has to fight for his life.
Meanwhile, a new doctor is coming to Chastain Memorial, and he's ready to shake some things up.
The season is winding down, if you need to catch up on it before the last few episodes, you can watch The Resident online via TV Fanatic!
Check out the stills for an all-new The Resident below!
1. An Enlightening Tour - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 Mina is assigned to show Dr. Austin around the hospital, but she quickly discovers that he has a volatile personality that makes him an acquired taste. It appears as though the other members of the medical dream team aren't sure what to make of him either. 2. Dr. AJ Austin - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 Malcolm-Jamal Warner guest-stars as Dr. AJ Austin. He's the new rockstar cardiothoracic surgeon at Chastain Memorial. Austin may have an abrasive personality that doesn't gel well with others, and Mina will be the first to take notice. 3. A Bored Board - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 Bell is pitching his new vision to the hospital board in his new position as CEO. It's too bad that they appear to be bored out of their minds. Fortunately, a little excitement may be hitting them sooner than they think. 4. Crash! - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 The best way to start off a meeting is by having someone come crashing through the skyline and landing on the table. Just another day at Chastain Memorial! How does something like that happen? Tune into The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 to find out! 5. Crash Victim - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 Bell's meeting may have been interrupted in the most shocking way imaginable, but he soon goes into action trying to treat one of their own doctors who sustained serious injuries after the fall. 6. Rooftop Conversations - The Resident Season 1 Episode 12 Conrad and Devon talk about Dr. Bradley who fell through the window. Will Devon and Conrad work together to figure out what really happened to Bradley? They probably will, but they also have to figure out the cancer treatment business with Lane and save Nic. View Slideshow
Did the team manage to help Duke out of a tough spot?
That was revealed on Hawaii Five-0 Season 8 Episode 22 when he was forced to steal crucial evidence from the police locker in order to save his granddaughter.
Watch Hawaii Five-0 Season 8 Episode 22 Online Meanwhile, Jerry went undercover at a mental health facility in order to solve a murder that divided a community.
However, he quickly learned that the perpetrator could have been linked to several other murders.
Use the video above to watch Hawaii Five-0 online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: 13 Notable Male Roles Rewritten as Amazing Women Get caught up with all the latest twists and turns right now.
Did a conspiracy theorist prove to be the right person to help the team?
That was the big question on Blindspot Season 3 Episode 19 when the team had to partner with the man to help stop the weapon from getting into Crawford's hands.
Watch Blindspot Season 3 Episode 19 Online Meanwhile, Roman struggled to maintain his personal with Blake when a string of wild things made him question everything.
He also had to contend with what was going on in his work life.
Use the video above to watch Blindspot online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: 16 Exciting TV Predictions for 2018 Get caught up with all the latest developments now.
Did Cristal decide it was time to end her marriage to Blake?
That was revealed on Dynasty Season 1 Episode 20 when the duo continued to argue over what happened with Culhane's father.
Watch Dynasty Season 1 Episode 20 Online Meanwhile, Alexis turned to Jeff Colby in order to get the upper hand in the battle against Blake to get the mansion back.
Also, Fallon had to make a decision about whether she should save the company or help Culhane's family.
Use the video above to watch Dynasty online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: 13 TV Characters Who Need Some Major Lovin' Get caught up with all the latest developments right now.
Who did not make it out of the latest big battle in one piece?
That was the big question on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 Episode 19 when the different factions joined forces engage in one final battle.
Watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5 Episode 19 Online However, when the good guys showed up at the Lighthouse to do battle, they were shocked to learn that someone was waiting to confront them with a face from the past.
Who won?
Use the video above to watch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: 18 Powerful TV Moments of 2017 Get caught up with all the latest wild twists on this hit ABC drama.
Did Tilly manage to save the lives of everyone close to her?
That was addressed on Once Upon a Time Season 7 Episode 19 when Eloise showed up with a shocking offer that put Rogers and others in danger.
Watch Once Upon a Time Season 7 Episode 19 Online Meanwhile, Henry and Jacinda continued to get closer together, but Lucy's meddling presented them with another hurdle.
Also, Gothel sought revenge in the Enchanted Forest when her home was destroyed.
Use the video above to watch Once Upon a Time online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: Once Upon a Time: Who's Returning?! Get caught up with all the latest twists and turns right now.
Did Stella and Wes manage to keep telling each other the truth?
That was revealed on Life Sentence Season 1 Episode 6 when they made a pact, and struggled to keep the honesty flowing.
Watch Life Sentence Season 1 Episode 6 Online Meanwhile, Lizzie and Diego tried their hand at getting things back to normal with the kids, but was it all just a pipe dream?
Also, Aiden was put on the spot when it emerged that something from his past could ruin his present.
Use the video above to watch Life Sentence online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: DC TV Photos: Gypsy Returns, Lance Learns The Truth & So Much More! Get caught up with this cute CW drama series.
Did Mac and Riley manage to find the people who attacked them?
That was the big question on MacGyver Season 2 Episode 22 when the government called the duo in to help them with a mysterious object that crash-landed in the desert.
Watch MacGyver Season 2 Episode 22 Online Meanwhile, Riley uncovered shocking new information about Mac's father, but did she give it to him?
Mac had previously said he did not want anything else to do with the investigation.
Use the video above to watch MacGyver online right here via TV Fanatic.
View Slideshow: CBS Cheat Sheet: What Will Be Renewed? Get caught up with all the latest developments right now.
Salem seems to be the world's most violent place lately.
On Days of Our Lives during the week of 4-23-18, Chad beat Stefan almost to death after interrupting his rape of Abigail, Brady was drugged, and Chloe was kidnapped. Plus Gabi was beaten unconscious in prison.
Meanwhile, the Salem PD was so incompetent that the only person to find Abigail -- twice -- was Steve, a blind retired PI, even though she was hanging out in public places like the park and the hospital.
How can anyone in Salem feel comfortable living in such a violent community?
Gabi's beating was the most gratuitous and hard to watch out of all the violence in Salem during the week of 4-23-18.
Prison stories where someone has it in for an inmate and bullies her have been done to death on Days of Our Lives. Hope went through this not that long ago, and now Gabi's life hangs in the balance after a bloody beating that we did not need to see on screen.
The entire scene was nothing but cliches, from the guard who was conveniently absent (and supposedly corrupt) during the beating to the supposed reason for it.
It felt like the writers decided that they wanted to beat Gabi up and then went searching for a reason for someone to do it. We've never even heard of Raines' girlfriend before, nor did we know she was in jail or that anyone had a vendetta against Gabi.
If there had to be a beatdown story, it would have made a lot more sense for Diane to be someone that Eli put away. At least then there would be some logic to this, since Eli had just visited Gabi!
It also made little sense that Gabi was so entirely helpless and unable to fight back. She's tough and feisty, and I recall that a couple of years ago she broke up a fight between two models backstage at an event and commented that she'd learned how to do that in prison.
So how come she couldn't do anything except threaten to call for the guard and then stand there getting beaten up? I'm so tired of women in Salem becoming helpless when the plot calls for it, and this was no exception.
Related: Get Shudder Via Prime Video Channels for Spine-Tingling & Provocative Films, TV Series, & Originals!
Even worse, this beating appears to be nothing but a plot point. It was random and over-the-top violent, and its purpose seems to have been to get Rafe and JJ to jail to see Gabi and Hope to run off when she heard the news.
This had better not be a vehicle to reunite Hope and Rafe!
Hope has already been softening far too much towards Rafe for my liking after allowing him to manipulate her into helping him with the investigation into who really killed Andre, and I really don't want them bonding over Gabi's injuries.
Gabi's false imprisonment should be about her, not about Hope and Rafe finding their way back to each other, and I really hope her character isn't getting locked up and beaten up just to give the worst excuse for a couple in Salem a reason t.. | 2024-04-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1033 |
Alfred Miller is a journalist based in New York City. A recovering engineer, he writes about business and politics.
During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump frequently pointed to the press corps covering his rallies and implored them to pan the audience to show the size of the crowds he was drawing. When the cameras remained fixed on him, Trump labeled the news media “dishonest.”
One camera, however, dutifully began to pan the audience. The clunky, black Panasonic PS2 belonging to Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN), a year-old conservative media startup based in Alabama, made a habit of filming the teeming crowds at Trump rallies and developed a cult following in the process, with Trump supporters regularly holding up makeshift “I love RSBN” signs and seeking out the RSBN cameramen to wave. “The way to tell an RSBN camera is it moves,” says the company’s founder and CEO Joe Seales. “The rest of them stay straight.”
Starting last July, RSBN started regularly sending cameramen to film Trump rallies around the country. Today, the resulting videos, which streamed live on YouTube, have racked up a combined 116 million views, and RSBN’s YouTube channel—the most comprehensive collection of Trump political footage anywhere—boasts 244,000 subscribers, rivaling MSNBC’s 252,000, and CBS News’ 307,000. Type “right” into YouTube’s search bar and “right side broadcasting” is one of the first automatic suggestions to appear.
RSBN’s willingness to do Trump’s bidding—or its “positivity,” as Seales puts it—has won it more than just viewers. During the campaign, the Trump team gave RSBN prime real estate in press risers at rallies and a direct line to its social media team, still active today. Seales says he messages regularly with Trump’s Director of Social Media Dan Scavino (who was just named to the White House communications team), Digital Director Brad Parscale and Assistant Director of Data Analytics Avi Berkowitz, the mastermind behind the Trump campaign’s own pre- and post-debate talk show, “Trump Tower Live,” which streamed on Facebook. At Berkowitz’s request, RSBN provided the manpower and streaming expertise to produce that talk show. On Halloween, when the Trump press team decorated pumpkins for its traveling press corps, it gave RSBN’s logo equal footing with those of NBC, Fox, CBS, CNN and ABC. And next week, RSBN cameras and reporters will be at the inauguration and inaugural balls—including the so-called “Deplora-Ball,” whose guests include far-right radio host Alex Jones and former Trump adviser Roger Stone.
At the same time, the openly pro-Trump RSBN—which bills itself as a “ragtag bunch of media outsiders” seeking to deliver news to the common man—has been quietly attempting to transform itself from a small live-stream operation into a major and diverse digital media outlet, just in time to cover the Trump White House. Over the past eight weeks, the network has been hiring a lineup of conservative talk show hosts and television presenters, running the gamut from two preppy college students who urge young conservatives to get involved on their campuses to former Infowars reporter Joe Biggs, who heavily promoted the false Pizzagate rumors. On January 16, RSBN will open an office on 2nd Street SE in Washington D.C., one block from the U.S. Capitol. The network is even banking on its coziness with the Trump campaign to win it a coveted seat in the White House briefing room. “I have been told that we’re OK and they’ll get us in,” Seales says.
Already, RSBN politics reporter and on-air host Liz Willis won entry to the president-elect’s first press conference, at which Trump refused to take questions from CNN’s Jim Acosta, labeling his network “fake news.” Willis was not selected for a question either, but RSBN’s live streamed video of the event has received over 750,000 views on YouTube and was one of the site’s top “Trending” videos that day. This was helped, no doubt, by The Drudge Report’s linking to RSBN’s feed in its headline banner. “My wife is making a collage of all the Drudge headlines,” Seales says. “We’ve been on headline at least 30 times and on Drudge overall over 80 times. One time, we got the headline in red with the siren, which is like gold.”
It all makes one wonder whether liberal worries that conservative Breitbart News is fast becoming “the official propaganda arm of the Trump campaign” might be a bit premature. After all, it’s not Breitbart whose feed the Trump team chose to project on the jumbotron at a recent rally in Mobile, Alabama, or that received a public thank you from Trump social media director Dan Scavino on Twitter for playing “a major role in the success of @realDonaldTrump and @TeamTrump.”
***
When I visit Seales, 36, in early December at his east central Alabama studio, located behind a gas station on the border between Auburn and Opelika, Trump is still on his “Thank You Tour,” a circumstance that has sparked a mini-crisis in the office.
Trump is scheduled to give a speech at the Dow Chemical Hangar in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in five minutes and Brad Savage, RSBN’s number two cameraman—RSBN only has two cameramen, and number one is currently en route to Michigan—is calling Seales to say he’s locked out of the event. The Louisiana GOP doesn’t recognize Savage as a member of Trump’s traveling press corps, he explains over the phone to his boss.
On Halloween, when the Trump press team decorated pumpkins for its traveling press corps, it gave RSBN’s logo equal footing with those of NBC, Fox, CBS, CNN and ABC. | Photo courtesy of RSBN
Seales, sitting at the first of six cubicles that fill a 1,500-square-foot office adorned with framed copies of the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and a “Make America Great Again” poster, consults a second smartphone that he has pulled from the back pocket of his jeans. He explains to me that “Mr. Trump” is often late. There’s plenty of time to get a pass for Savage, a 27-year-old North Carolina native who variously worked as a firefighter, an EMT, a tow truck driver and a driver in Trump’s motorcade before he answered Seales’ plea for cameramen on YouTube. Indeed, after a few calls to the Louisiana GOP, Savage is in.
An hour later, Seales gets on the phone again. This time it’s with Berkowitz, Trump’s data guru, as the two prepare to link up RSBN’s video feed to Trump’s Facebook page. Seales is preoccupied with the poor video quality of the feed and asks his friend-turned-employee Adam Taxin, who has just walked into the studio, to lend a hand. The son of a Philadelphia-area radiologist, Taxin is the proud holder of three Ivy League degrees: an AB from Harvard and a JD/MBA from Columbia. Sporting a baseball cap emblazoned with the RSBN microphone logo and a tucked-in button-down shirt, he’s too busy perusing conservative news site Gateway Pundit (which he describes as “sloppy,” but reads anyway) to be of much help. (Taxin considers Rush Limbaugh to be the gold standard in conservative media.)
The RSBN operation, which now employs 14 full-time employees and three contractors, began in July 2015, when Seales, a stay-at-home father at the time, grew frustrated with the lack of raw Trump rally footage online. He hired a freelancer to film what became the network’s first Trump rally broadcast and posted it on YouTube. When the video quickly amassed a million views, Seales realized that there was a robust demand for pure Trump footage—a feed that wasn’t clipped or talked over by mainstream outlets. “Show the full context,” he says. “People are smart enough to make up their own mind.” That was when, borrowing from a phrase he’s fond of using—“being on the right side of history”—Seales started Right Side Broadcasting Network, originally a livestream operation airing on YouTube. He later added two call-in talk shows to the network’s YouTube channel, one hosted by conservative commentator Wayne Dupree, the other hosted by televangelist Pastor Mark Burns, a Trump surrogate.
Sensing that internet infrastructure would be important to his new venture, Seales moved his family from Pensacola, Florida, to Opelika, Alabama. (The rusting industrial town had recently spent $43 million to wire itself with super high-speed fiber optic cables.) He roped his wife into running RSBN’s back office—handling taxes and “legal stuff”—and their house quickly morphed into a full-blown news studio, with newly hired producers and on-air talent often crashing there when the evening’s work was done. In December, Seales opened a separate RSBN headquarters in Opelika. “We were growing too fast,” he says. “I had to get the dang thing out of my house.”
Left: Joe Seales, in his new Opelika offices. Right: Seales and his brother Jacob prepare the chyron for Pastor Mark Burns' show. | Alfred Miller
The expansion hasn’t been cheap. The network’s only sources of cash are YouTube ad revenue and donations from viewers. The contributions are mostly in the range of $25—though two children once sent RSBN $7 inside a handmade card that Seales considers invaluable. In October, small donations totaled $40,000, allowing RSBN to travel to each rally during Trump’s frenzied run-up to Election Day as well as to open the new studio. More recently, however, as Trump has scaled back his rally schedule, donations have started to run dry, and Seales has had to dip into his own savings.
Seales, who says he felt an obligation to RSBN’s donors to continue spreading Trump’s message regardless of who became president, doesn’t think his work is done. He wants RSBN to be the source conservatives can turn to for a break from the “pre-packaged narrative.” “We’re outsiders and we don’t know what we’re doing and to a degree that’s appealing to a lot of people who are used to stiff, scripted mainstream stuff,” he says.
The new D.C. office is part of this plan. It’s also a sizeable expense—but one that Seales hopes will pay off. Various members of Trump’s team have already promised RSBN entry to daily White House press briefings, Seales says, though he admits neither he nor Trump’s team realized how complicated fulfilling that promise actually is. (It would ordinarily require approval from the White House Correspondents' Association.) Even if RSBN does not gain access, the CEO hopes the D.C. office will be useful for conducting interviews with members of Congress. “We want to have a presence there to stay relevant,” he says. “It’s advantageous to have a base there.”
***
At the studio, another RSBN broadcast has just wrapped up. In it, conservative commentator Dennis Michael Lynch walked breathlessly around his native Long Island neighborhood while presenting his take on the news of the day to his front-facing smartphone camera. On this particular day, Lynch is upset about comments from the NAACP that proposed voter identification laws in Michigan would suppress minority votes. “If you can’t get yourself an ID, I don’t want your vote. You shouldn’t even be allowed to vote,” he says into the camera before allowing his alter ego to respond in a calmer voice. “DML, you’re going off the farm.” “I’m not going off the farm,” Lynch No. 1 responds. “Think about this. Seriously. These people are claiming that they don’t have the wherewithal, they don’t have the intelligence to get an identification. Seriously? It’s comments like that that hold back the black community.” Despite their low-budget production value, Lynch’s “Walk and Talk” videos routinely earned 100,000 views when he posted them on Facebook, but he was not able to monetize the attention there. In December, he signed a deal with RSBN to allow his videos to be simulcast on RSBN’s YouTube channel for a share of any ad revenue they generate.
The deal with Lynch is part of Seales’ dream of turning RSBN into the 24/7 news outlet of the common man. “It’s normal people giving normal people the news,” Seales says. When RSBN covered early reports of the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting last week, writer Steve Lookner read updates for the camera dressed in a hoodie and asked gun enthusiast Savage, dressed in a white t-shirt and winter jacket, to come out from behind the camera to give his opinions on the weapon used and the gunman’s training. The video quickly racked up nearly 64,000 views on YouTube. “If somebody killed and injured this many people that fast, does that suggest anything about the amount of ammo that might have been in there?” asks Lookner. “Well, there are what you would consider high capacity magazines that would hold, say, 14 rounds,” Savage responds, with the air of someone who regularly empties high capacity magazines at the shooting range.
Other ideas in the works include a conservative alternative to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show (for which Lookner, who has a Seinfeld credit to his name, will be responsible), short documentary films glorifying small town America and cartoons about America’s Founding Fathers intended for children. “There's a lot of issues in the way kids are being taught history,” Seales says. “It’s revisionist history. They have a negative view of the Founders. The kids need to be told the whole story.”
Other RSBN hosts with deals like Lynch’s revenue-sharing gig include the young conservative campus activists Kassy Dillon and Will Nardi, as well as the two originals—Burns and Dupree. And more hosts are coming. Former SiriusXM host Dino Costa will have a late night variety show, and former Infowars reporter Biggs is piloting a gun and outdoors show, though a recent Media Matters blog post highlighting tweets in which Biggs joked about date rape and assault may have put his chances for full-time employment at RSBN in jeopardy. “We’re learning as we go,” says Seales, who indicates that Biggs will be producing shows on a freelance basis.
There seem to be two major themes that tie the varied programming together: Patriotism and love of Trump. “I see an ungodly number of stories that are negative about Trump,” says Seales, gesturing to a television on which CNN is playing. “Why not see what Trump’s got and give him a chance?”
In RSBN’s office, pictures of the president-elect fill the desktop backgrounds. But Seales insists the network is not a propaganda outlet and says he would risk his hypothetical White House press access to prove it. “It’s not like we’re Trump super-fans and we worship him,” he says, without a trace of irony. The desktop backgrounds, according to Seales, were a practical joke hatched by his brother Jacob, who was until recently an Iowa-based guitar teacher before he was pulled into composing original music for RSBN’s videos. (The next time I visit the studio, the Trump desktop backgrounds are gone.)
“We believe in a certain set of principles,” says Seales. Those principles largely include tight borders and an insistence that immigrants be proud to assimilate into American society. Seales isn’t concerned that Trump appears to be backing away from campaign promises to have Mexico pay for a border wall. He explains that Trump is new to politics—that’s part of his appeal. Trump may have to “change course” on some campaign promises once he’s in office and has more complete information. (Even so, Seales thinks Mexico will eventually pay.)
Adam Taxin strikes a pose with his Donald Trump desktop background. | Alfred Miller
That doesn’t mean RSBN considers itself part of the so-called “alt-right,” which Seales says he’s not sure how to define. “The white supremacists on the fringe? We disavow,” he says. “That’s why I found moderators for the chat rooms, because they’d get in there sometimes and say things and everybody would get really upset.” For a while, the sole moderator was Seales’ own mother, whose job it was to boot the foul-mouthed and racist from her son’s website and YouTube channel. Today, RSBN has 25 volunteer moderators and Mother Seales receives $200 per month to supervise them.
Seales also points to the diversity of his small team as evidence of his repudiation of the alt-right. Two of his talk show hosts are black, as is a producer. Kassy Dillon is a female millennial. And Taxin is an Orthodox Jew. “Do you not realize you’re calling people neo-Nazis who are Jewish?” asks Taxin, taking off his RSBN baseball cap to reveal a yarmulke. “Yeah, bring it on. Make me the face of the alt-right.”
Despite this diversity, ensuring that his own employees don’t tweet anything that might be considered offensive to minorities has at times been a struggle. Seales recently reprimanded Savage for suggesting on Twitter that Islam is an inherently inferior religion, as evidenced by the treatment of women and homosexuals in some Muslim countries. “That’s not what we stand for,” says Seales. “That is not how we feel at all. I am conservative, but I love everybody.”
Seales will admit that Trump has faults. He acknowledges the president-elect “said things that are very bad,” referring specifically to Trump’s comments about sexually assaulting women. But he considers Hillary Clinton’s actions worse. “They weren’t getting as much time as the ‘Trump is a sexual predator and he’s going to be in the White House’ narrative,” he tells me. Seales hasn’t been 100 percent satisfied with the transition so far, either. The selection of Betsy DeVos as Trump’s education secretary, for example, disappointed him because of her ties to a group that supports the Common Core education standards. “Maybe they talked and she’s changed her mind on it, and if so, that’s fine,” he says. “Other than that I’m pretty happy so far, and if I am unhappy I’ll let it be known.”
Indeed, as the network prepares to cover the inauguration and the pending Trump presidency, Seales insists that RSBN will cover Trump objectively.
“If Trump goes back on his word,” he tells me, “we have hours and hours worth of video we can go back to if we need to keep him honest.” | 2024-04-15T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3218 |
import PlaceRewards from './fragments/place-rewards';
export { PlaceRewards };
export {
moduleName,
shortcutReducer,
extensionReducer,
} from './redux';
| 2024-01-18T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1163 |
Q:
Python3 - Count number of occurences of each pair between two lists
I have two lists, for example:
lst1 = [0, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 2]
lst2 = [1, 3, 7, 9, 9, 11, 8, 3]
and I want to count, for elements at the same index, how many times they appear together, so the result should be something like a dictionary:
{ [0, 1] : 1,
[2, 3] : 2,
[4, 7] : 1,
[5, 9] : 2,
[6, 11] : 1,
[5, 8] : 1 }
Is there a way to do this without looping, that would scale nicely? I need to run it for very large lists (~ 20k elements in each).
A:
Use collections.Counter:
Counter(zip(lst1, lst2))
Output:
Counter({(0, 1): 1, (2, 3): 2, (4, 7): 1, (5, 8): 1, (5, 9): 2, (6, 11): 1})
| 2024-03-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6530 |
Placing advertisements in public environments is a multi-billion dollar business. Traditional advertising is based on placing large billboards over highways, next to streets, or just in shop-floor windows.
Due to the digital disruption of our everyday's life, the trend in advertising goes from placing big static posters and large billboards to installing fully digital screens and flexible and interactive displays. This gives rise to new and interesting opportunities using Augmented Reality (AR) to bring the actual advertising content to life and to engage the observer.
AR visualizes virtual information, which is registered with respect to the given environment, in the real view of the observer as seen through devices like head-mounted displays (HMDs), or through smartphones treated as “magic lenses”, using the back-facing camera.
Registration is essential and denotes the knowledge of a pose of a camera of the device with respect to a known asset in the real world. ‘Pose’ denotes the position and orientation of a camera in 6 degrees of freedom (3 for the translation, x, y, z, and 3 for the rotation, pan, tilt, roll) with respect to a given environment, i.e. in this case a 2D planar target. The pose is usually denoted as a 3×4 matrix P.
To estimate the pose of a camera with respect to a known static 2D target, several approaches are known from the literature. A well-known algorithm is to capture the target appearance through local visual features, extracting them from the live image and comparing those local visual features to a set of features previously extracted from the given template.
Approaches to be used for feature extraction are Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) as described in D. G. Lowe. Distinctive image features from scale-invariant keypoints. Int. J. Comput. Vision, 60(2):91-110, November 2004, or Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF) as described in H. Bay, A. Ess, T. Tuytelaars, and L. Van Gool. Speeded-up robust features (surf). Comput. Vis. Image Underst., 110(3):346-359, June 2008, for example. Feature matching is facilitated through exhaustive or approximated methods, which is discussed in S. Arya, D. M. Mount, N. S. Netanyahu, R. Silverman, and A. Y. Wu. An optimal algorithm for approximate nearest neighbor searching fixed dimensions. J. ACM, 45(6):891-923, November 1998.
Image retrieval or video indexing approaches use this technique for rapid retrieval of images or frames of interest, discussed e.g. in D. Nister and H. Stewenius. Scalable recognition with a vocabulary tree. In Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition—Volume 2, CVPR '06, pages 2161-2168, Washington, D.C., USA, 2006. IEEE Computer Society. However, pose estimation is disclaimed.
A method to identify a target from a database of previously known 2D targets on mobile devices was shown in A. Hartl, D. Schmalstieg, and G. Reitmayr. Client-side mobile visual search. In VISAPP 2014—Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Computer Vision Theory and Applications, Volume 3, Lisbon, Portugal, 5-8 Jan., 2014, pages 125-132, however, without calculating a pose after identification.
To perform pose estimation for 2D targets in general, algorithms leveraging the planarity assumption can be employed, as e.g. discussed in G. Schweighofer and A. Pinz. Robust pose estimation from a planar target. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 28(12):2024-2030, 2006. Such algorithms estimate the pose P, which correctly projects real-world 3D points into their 2D image coordinates, usingxi=K·P·(1Xw) (1)
where K is a 3×3 calibration matrix describing the internal camera characteristics, xw is a 3×1 vector describing a 3D world point, xi is a 3×1 vector describing the projection in the image space.
The 2D image coordinate (x,y) is finally given byx=xi(1)/xi(3), y=xi(2)/xi(3)). (2)
Detecting and tracking a 2D target in images is an already well-understood problem. However, approaches leverage the static nature of the 2D targets and do not take into account any modifications during runtime.
For video streams, basically every frame is different, changing rapidly at 25-50 Hz. This means that any algorithm has to detect and track the corresponding frame within a very limited amount of time, e.g. within 20-40 ms. Detecting and tracking dynamic 2D targets, like in video sequences, hence requires huge computational effort with conventional techniques. | 2023-12-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7519 |
Poorly differentiated colon carcinoma cell lines deficient in alpha-catenin expression express high levels of surface E-cadherin but lack Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion.
Studies on several different types of carcinomas, with the notable exception of colon carcinoma, have shown that poorly differentiated tumors are frequently deficient in E-cadherin dependent cell-cell adhesion. In this study, we examined Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion in colon carcinoma cell lines. Five poorly differentiated (Clone A, MIP 101, RKO, CCL 222, CCL 228) and four moderately-well differentiated (CX-1, CCL 235, DLD-2, CCL 187) colon carcinoma cell lines were assayed for their ability to form cell-cell aggregates and for their levels of E-cadherin expression. All of the poorly differentiated cell lines exhibited low levels of Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell aggregation, in contrast to the moderately-well differentiated cell lines. Contrary to most previous studies, however, we observed that three of the five poorly differentiated cell lines examined expressed E-cadherin by FACS analysis and immunoprecipitation using an E-cadherin mAb. In fact, two of these cell lines expressed a 3- to 4-fold higher level of E-cadherin than that found in the moderately-well differentiated cell lines. mRNA levels for E-cadherin, as evaluated by both RT-PCR and Northern hybridization, corresponded to the levels of protein expression in each of the cell lines. Immunoprecipitation with an E-cadherin mAb, which is known to co-precipitate the catenins, demonstrated that the three poorly differentiated cell lines expressing E-cadherin did not co-precipitate alpha-catenin, although all of the moderately-well differentiated cell lines expressed both alpha- and beta-catenin. RT-PCR confirmed the absence of the alpha-catenin mRNA from two of these cell lines. Stable expression of an alpha-catenin cDNA in one of the poorly differentiated cell lines lacking alpha-catenin expression resulted in a 5-fold increase in its level of Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell aggregation, providing evidence that alpha-catenin is directly responsible for the loss of cell-cell adhesion in some cell lines. The alpha-catenin transfectants also exhibited a marked reduction in migration on collagen I. These data indicate that loss of alpha-catenin expression, as well as E-cadherin expression, can lead to a phenotype associated with poorly differentiated colon carcinomas. | 2023-10-08T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7008 |
<?php declare(strict_types = 1);
namespace SlevomatCodingStandard\Sniffs\Exceptions;
use Exception;
use PHP_CodeSniffer\Files\File;
use PHP_CodeSniffer\Sniffs\Sniff;
use SlevomatCodingStandard\Helpers\CatchHelper;
use SlevomatCodingStandard\Helpers\NamespaceHelper;
use SlevomatCodingStandard\Helpers\ReferencedNameHelper;
use SlevomatCodingStandard\Helpers\SuppressHelper;
use SlevomatCodingStandard\Helpers\TokenHelper;
use Throwable;
use function array_key_exists;
use function array_merge;
use function in_array;
use function sprintf;
use const T_BITWISE_OR;
use const T_CATCH;
use const T_EXTENDS;
use const T_FUNCTION;
use const T_INSTANCEOF;
use const T_NEW;
use const T_OPEN_PARENTHESIS;
use const T_OPEN_TAG;
class ReferenceThrowableOnlySniff implements Sniff
{
public const CODE_REFERENCED_GENERAL_EXCEPTION = 'ReferencedGeneralException';
private const NAME = 'SlevomatCodingStandard.Exceptions.ReferenceThrowableOnly';
/**
* @return array<int, (int|string)>
*/
public function register(): array
{
return [
T_OPEN_TAG,
];
}
/**
* @phpcsSuppress SlevomatCodingStandard.TypeHints.ParameterTypeHint.MissingNativeTypeHint
* @param File $phpcsFile
* @param int $openTagPointer
*/
public function process(File $phpcsFile, $openTagPointer): void
{
if (TokenHelper::findPrevious($phpcsFile, T_OPEN_TAG, $openTagPointer - 1) !== null) {
return;
}
$tokens = $phpcsFile->getTokens();
$message = sprintf('Referencing general \%s; use \%s instead.', Exception::class, Throwable::class);
$referencedNames = ReferencedNameHelper::getAllReferencedNames($phpcsFile, $openTagPointer);
foreach ($referencedNames as $referencedName) {
$resolvedName = NamespaceHelper::resolveClassName(
$phpcsFile,
$referencedName->getNameAsReferencedInFile(),
$referencedName->getStartPointer()
);
if ($resolvedName !== '\\Exception') {
continue;
}
$previousPointer = TokenHelper::findPreviousEffective($phpcsFile, $referencedName->getStartPointer() - 1);
if (in_array($tokens[$previousPointer]['code'], [T_EXTENDS, T_NEW, T_INSTANCEOF], true)) {
// Allow \Exception in extends and instantiating it
continue;
}
if ($tokens[$previousPointer]['code'] === T_BITWISE_OR) {
$previousPointer = TokenHelper::findPreviousExcluding(
$phpcsFile,
array_merge(TokenHelper::$ineffectiveTokenCodes, TokenHelper::getNameTokenCodes(), [T_BITWISE_OR]),
$previousPointer - 1
);
}
if ($tokens[$previousPointer]['code'] === T_OPEN_PARENTHESIS) {
/** @var int $openParenthesisOpenerPointer */
$openParenthesisOpenerPointer = TokenHelper::findPreviousEffective($phpcsFile, $previousPointer - 1);
if ($tokens[$openParenthesisOpenerPointer]['code'] === T_CATCH) {
if ($this->searchForThrowableInNextCatches($phpcsFile, $openParenthesisOpenerPointer)) {
continue;
}
} elseif (
array_key_exists('parenthesis_owner', $tokens[$previousPointer])
&& $tokens[$tokens[$previousPointer]['parenthesis_owner']]['code'] === T_FUNCTION
&& $tokens[$previousPointer]['parenthesis_closer'] > $referencedName->getStartPointer()
&& SuppressHelper::isSniffSuppressed(
$phpcsFile,
$openParenthesisOpenerPointer,
sprintf('%s.%s', self::NAME, self::CODE_REFERENCED_GENERAL_EXCEPTION)
)
) {
continue;
}
}
$fix = $phpcsFile->addFixableError(
$message,
$referencedName->getStartPointer(),
self::CODE_REFERENCED_GENERAL_EXCEPTION
);
if (!$fix) {
continue;
}
$phpcsFile->fixer->beginChangeset();
for ($i = $referencedName->getStartPointer(); $i <= $referencedName->getEndPointer(); $i++) {
$phpcsFile->fixer->replaceToken($i, '');
}
$phpcsFile->fixer->addContent($referencedName->getStartPointer(), '\Throwable');
$phpcsFile->fixer->endChangeset();
}
}
private function searchForThrowableInNextCatches(File $phpcsFile, int $catchPointer): bool
{
$tokens = $phpcsFile->getTokens();
$nextCatchPointer = TokenHelper::findNextEffective($phpcsFile, $tokens[$catchPointer]['scope_closer'] + 1);
while ($nextCatchPointer !== null) {
$nextCatchToken = $tokens[$nextCatchPointer];
if ($nextCatchToken['code'] !== T_CATCH) {
break;
}
$catchedTypes = CatchHelper::findCatchedTypesInCatch($phpcsFile, $nextCatchToken);
if (in_array('\\Throwable', $catchedTypes, true)) {
return true;
}
$nextCatchPointer = TokenHelper::findNextEffective($phpcsFile, $nextCatchToken['scope_closer'] + 1);
}
return false;
}
}
| 2024-03-14T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3636 |
Injuries caused by Veress needle insertion for creation of pneumoperitoneum: a systematic literature review.
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, risks, and outcomes of injuries caused by the Veress needle described in the literature. Iatrogenic injuries caused by Veress needle insertion during diagnostic or therapeutic laparoscopies in humans were researched, with no language restriction, in the Medline, Lilacs, Embase, Scielo, and Cochrane Library databases. The following words were combined: "Veress" or "insufflation needle" or "pneumoperitoneum needle," and "complications" or "injuries" or "lesions." The bibliographic references of the selected articles were also analyzed. We considered the following: (1) number of injuries described in the literature, (2) relationship between number of injuries and number of patients who underwent Veress needle insertion in the studies that reported Veress needle injury, (3) organs and structures injured (retroperitoneal vessels, digestive tract, and self-limited, minor injuries), and (4) outcome (death, conversion to laparotomy, laparoscopic repair, spontaneous resolution). Thirty-eight selected articles included 696,502 laparoscopies, with 1,575 injuries (0.23%), 126 (8%) of which involved blood vessels or hollow viscera (0.018% of all laparoscopies). Of the 98 vascular injuries, 8 (8.1%) were injuries to major retroperitoneal vessels. There were 34 other reported retroperitoneal injuries, but the authors were not specific as to which vessel was injured. Of the 28 injuries to hollow viscera, 17 were considered major injuries, i.e., 60.7% (0.0024% of the total cases assessed). The insertion of the Veress needle in the abdominal midline, at the umbilicus, poses serious risk to the life of patients. Therefore, further studies should be conducted to investigate alternative sites for Veress needle insertion. | 2023-08-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3236 |
Impact of untreated major depressive disorder on cognition and daily function.
Cognitive symptoms are an emerging clinical focus in patients with major depressive disorder. Deficits in executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed, as well as negative cognitive bias, can contribute to low mood symptoms and reduced occupational and social functioning. Both patient reports and objective measures demonstrate that cognitive symptoms are common in patients with depression. Cognitive dysfunction may be present even before the first depressive episode and may remain after mood symptoms have remitted. Clinicians must assess cognitive symptoms in their patients with major depressive disorder, monitor symptoms throughout the course of the disorder and after remission, and understand how these symptoms affect daily function. | 2024-07-04T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6510 |
class CreateCustomEmojiCategories < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.2]
def change
create_table :custom_emoji_categories do |t|
t.string :name, index: { unique: true }
t.timestamps
end
end
end
| 2024-05-13T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6678 |
Betting tip Serie A: Juventus Turin - SSC Neapel
Saturday, 29.10.2016 at 20:45 o’clock (CET)
Juventus Turin - SSC Neapel Tip 29.10.2016
Juventus Turin
Juventus Turin
SSC Neapel
2 : 1
SSC Neapel
Analysis
The top match of Serie A
There is not only a top derby in the German Bundesliga this weekend, but also in Italian Serie A. On Saturday league leader Juventus Turin plays against third ranked Napoli. Kick-off is October 29 at 8.45 PM.
Current form Juventus Turin
The top teams of Italian Serie A have gotten closer together again, mostly due to Juventus Turin’s loss against AC Milan last weekend (0:1). Even though Massimiliano Allegri’s team went back on the road of success with a 4:1 win against Sampdoria Genua last Wednesday, the game against Milan showed that Juve is currently struggling against stronger teams. One could also see that in the game against Inter Milan, which was also lost 1:2. In difficult games Turin is not efficient enough. Against Milan they shot at the goal 18 times, but weren’t able to score. So their 55% ball possession has been left unused. Paolo Dybala, who is one of the most dangerous players on the team, is questionable for Saturday’s game. That’s why Juve will mainly count on Gonzalo Higuain, who wants to overcome his jam against his former club. It’s also not sure, whether captain Gianluigi Buffon will be able to play against Napoli. The Allegri-Eleven has been dangerous in standard situations lately though. Giorgio Chiellini was successful twice after such in the game against Sampdoria. It’s also positive that Juventus has not lost a point at home in the league yet. They only had to take one draw in the Champions League against Sevilla.
Current form SSC Napoli
SSC Napoli also lost a very important game in the last couple of weeks. We are talking about the 1:3 loss to AS Rome, which enabled the club from the capital to surpass the Sarri-Eleven in the rankings. Before that they also weren’t able to win against Atalanta Bergamo (0:1). At least Napoli could win their last two league games against Crotone (2:1) and FC Empoli (2:0). Performance wise the team from South Italy has already been better this season however. Coach Sarri especially needs to improvise on offense currently, because Milik’s (injured) replacement Gabiadini is suspended. Against Empoli Dries Mertens played at the front and was able to score a goal immediately. Like their opponent Juventus Napoli also is strong in standards. The fact that both goals against empoli were scored after out of standard situations proves that. It’s also positive that the southern Italians have performed pretty well in away games so far. They only lost one of six away games in 2016/2017. Last season’s balance against Juve is even. Napoli won their home game and lost in Turin.
Betting forecast
Napoli has not been very successful lately from the game and they lost two of their last four league games. Juventus on the other hand even was the better team in the lost game against Milan, but they didn’t reward themselves for the effort. We believe that they will be able to that on Saturday however. Our recommendation: Tip 1. | 2024-03-22T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1366 |
Good Condition. Some shelf and corner wear, with tear at top of hinge, has been repaired with clear tape, is minor, Some marking. Text only. Also listed under 0195155246 Quantity Available: 1. ISBN: 053453550x. ISBN/EAN: 9780534535506. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1560780259.
Very Good Condition. Some shelf and corner wear, Some marking. Possible creasing on cover. Text only. Also listed under 0195155246 Multiple copies available this title. Quantity Available: 6. ISBN: 053453550x. ISBN/EAN: 9780534535506. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1560780255.
Alibris, the Alibris logo, and Alibris.com are registered trademarks of Alibris, Inc.
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited, Baker & Taylor, Inc., or by their respective licensors, or by the publishers, or by their respective licensors. For personal use only. All rights reserved. All rights in images of books or other publications are reserved by the original copyright holders. | 2023-12-24T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9355 |
CL: Milan take down Barcelona!
By Football Italia staff
Milan were clinical to wait for the right moment, as they beat Barcelona 2-0 with goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari.
The Rossoneri could not count on the cup-tied Mario Balotelli or injured Robinho, Mathieu Flamini, Antonio Nocerino, Daniele Bonera, Luca Antonini and Nigel De Jong. Stephan El Shaarawy and Giampaolo Pazzini shook off knocks to start with Boateng in a flexible 4-3-3 system. Barcelona only missed David Villa and Adriano, as Xavi Hernandez returned from a two-match absence.
This was the third year running that the two giants faced off in the Champions League, but Barca were unbeaten against Milan in seven matches. Coach Tito Vilanova is undergoing cancer treatment, so assistant manager Jordi Roura was on the bench for the Blaugrana.
Muntari volleyed over from distance, then Leo Messi shrugged off Philippe Mexes with a moment of magic only for his shot to be charged down. From that corner, Massimo Ambrosini shinned his clearance out again, but a promising counter-attack was ruined when Muntari got the pass wrong for El Shaarawy.
The Little Pharaoh did spring the offside trap, but his touch let him down so Carles Puyol was able to clear. From that corner, Boateng’s sweeping finish was inches past the back post with nobody ready to get the final touch.
Mexes went into the book for a foul on Messi, while Giampaolo Pazzini would’ve been clear on goal if the El Shaarawy through ball had been more accurate. Moments later El Shaarawy at full stretch just failed to get his toe to a Boateng assist across the face of goal.
Barca continued to keep possession, but at a snail’s pace and making little impact on Milan, who waited for the odd counter-attack.
Ignazio Abate flew down the right and his cross for El Shaarawy was well captured by Victor Valdes.
After the restart Dani Alves shoved over El Shaarawy for a free kick. It was touched on for Riccardo Montolivo, whose shot was charged down and Boateng smashed the follow-up in from the edge of the box. The ball did strike Cristian Zapata on the hand, but it ricocheted on to him from point-blank range and could not be considered intentional.
Milan’s tails were up and Boateng’s pass for El Shaarawy was intercepted, so ex-Udinese starlet Alexis Sanchez replaced a quiet Cesc Fabregas.
A Messi free kick was blasted well over the bar, but Pazzini was down in agony after a nasty clash of heads with Puyol. He recovered to test Victor Valdes with an acrobatic attempt with his back to goal, but was then replaced by M’Baye Niang.
Andres Iniesta unleashed a screamer from distance, but it whistled wide of the far post. Xavi also curled a free kick over the bar, as Barcelona continued to not trouble Christian Abbiati.
Milan doubled their lead with a well-worked goal. Niang was sent down the right, turned and crossed for El Shaarawy, who flicked it on again to the left where Muntari was unmarked to thump a volley into the ground across Victor Valdes.
Kevin Constant did brilliantly to cut off Pedro’s dangerous run in the box, but there was a big scare from a corner when Puyol was allowed a free header wide.
It could’ve been 3-0 in stoppages when Messi lost the ball to spark a counter, but Bakaye Traore’s finish was charged down.
Milan 2-0 Barcelona
Scorers: Boateng 57 (M), Muntari 81 (M)
Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Mexes, Zapata, Constant; Ambrosini, Montolivo, Muntari; Boateng, Pazzini (Niang 75), El Shaarawy (Traore 88)
Barcelona: Victor Valdes; Dani Alves, Piqué, Puyol (Mascherano 88), Jordi Alba; Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas (Sanchez 62); Pedro, Messi, Iniesta
Ref: Thomson (SCO)
Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow | 2024-07-12T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7170 |
"This year we knew we were going to be recruiting basically right up until the last day we could get student-athletes in just because of our unusual circumstances," Golden told reporters Saturday. "We're pleased with those guys that they could join our team -- and obviously at positions that we just don't have enough depth right now."
Golden said King arrived Friday. Wells has been with the team for two days. Golden said Alexis "has already been fully integrated" -- meaning he's been here for more than five days.
Of Alexis, Golden said: "Real tough kid. Obviously [defensive line coach] Jethro and [recruiting coordinator] Brennan [Carroll] knew about him and had a chance to evaluate him and knew a lot about him. He was at Crenshaw, a kid we thought really hard about bringing in January. We had the room to bring him in now. So we chose to have him here and train him rather than a JUCO, community college or prep school. He looks great is closing in on 270 right now. I'm sure he'll be at 285 by the time close in on the spring."
Of Wells, Golden said: "Hunter is a big, physical kid. He's over 300 pounds, about 6-foot-5. He can really run well."
Golden confirmed what we and other outlets reported last night that February signees Antonio Kinard and Kevin Grooms won't be playing for the Hurricanes because they didn't qualify in time.
Asked if Grooms, a star running back from South Broward High, won't be on the team at all, Golden said: "Not at this point. He's not going to be able to join us at this point and we're still working through that."
A FEW MORE TIDBITS...
> Asked which players pushed to be the last to make it on the travel bus to Maryland, Golden said: "Well, Kacy Rodgers did. Then he got a little head injury, which he'll be fine, but that was really disappointing. Eduardo Clements made a fantastic push down the end. Rashawn Scott made a great push down the end, Dallas Crawford, some of the young linebackers. There was a lot of push down the end, especially from a special teams standpoint, to get on that plane. We'll have a couple empty seats than normal. But we're excited about the group going."
> Golden said safety Andrew Swasey, who is not on the two-deep, "is doing great. He's starting for us on two or three special teams. He is clearly in the mix at safety. Andrew has done a great job, obviously still learning the job."
> Golden said former defensive tackle Jeremy Lewis is making a nice transition to offense. "He's doing great. He made the travel squad. He's shown a lot of progress. He's had as good a camp as anybody. He's in good shape and he's really doing a nice job for us at guard." | 2024-03-14T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9741 |
An 11-year-old boy died after he fell into a volcanic crater in Italy and his parents also died when they tried to help him, police said. | 2023-08-03T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4706 |
ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences
Liam Fox is “seething” after No 10 issued a draft EU deal that Tories fear would bar him from signing future trade deals in a post-Brexit transition period, sources have told the Evening Standard.
The row was revealed as Theresa May headed for Chequers for a critical Cabinet committee meeting intended to forge a united front on Brexit with rebellions breaking out on all sides.
Mr Fox, the International Trade Secretary, was taken by surprise when the latest text was circulated to Cabinet ministers in their red boxes on Tuesday night, sources disclosed.
Crucially, it would stop him reaching free trade agreements even if they were “post-dated” and only due to come into effect after the transition period ends in around 2021, which will mark Britain’s final departure from EU rulings.
Downing Street insisted that Mr Fox would be able to sign trade deals during the transition, saying: “That is the position of the Government and I don’t believe there is anything from the European Commission to suggest otherwise.”
Asked why the text did not state that clearly, the PM’s spokesman said it was “simply the case”.
Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg sounded the alarm, warning against “the perversion of democracy that BRINO [Brexit in name only] would be”.
He added: “Anyone can negotiate but for deals to be real they must be capable of being signed.” He called the draft “a perversion of democracy”.
Fewer Eu citizens moving to UK for work A big fall in the number of EU citizens moving to Britain to either work or look for a job has led to a new drop in the overall inflow of Europeans, official figures revealed today. The Office for National Statistics said that 122,000 Europeans came to the UK for employment during the 12-month period to the end of last September. That was 58,000 down on the equivalent total a year earlier. Most of the decline was down to fewer EU citizens coming to search for a job, although there was also a fall in the number arriving to take up a definite post. At the same time the number of Europeans leaving this country has also risen with the latest total of 130,000 departures at a level not seen since 2008 during the financial crisis. But despite these changes, there were still 90,000 more arrivals during the year from the EU than departures. There was also a net inflow from the eight east European countries that joined the EU in 2004 and the older “EU15” nations. Arrivals from Romania and Bulgaria also outstripped departures. Statisticians also published their latest update on net migration into the UK. It showed an overall net inflow of 244,000 people during the 12 month period. This was down by 29,000 on the total a year earlier.
A senior Conservative source said: “Liam is seething about this. Everyone knows that real negotiations only get going as you come up to signing a deal. That’s why it is vital to be able to sign post-dated deals during the implementation period.”
Mr Fox wants to make deals with America and India to be implemented after the transition. But the text issued by No 10 said: “During the [transition] period, the UK may not become bound by international agreements entered into its own capacity in the areas of exclusive competence of the Union.”
A source close to Dr Fox said: “He is not seething — as always he is being very loyal and supportive of the PM.”
The issue is bound to be raised at today’s Cabinet away-day. Two other Brexiteer ministers have told the Standard they think Britain should be free to make deals during the transition.
The Prime Minister faced trouble on several fronts before opening the meeting, which is scheduled to take eight hours including dinner.
Brexiteers strongly opposed a No 10 document that left the door open to a longer transition period. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said there must be a fixed end date for all countries to plan for.
An ex-Tory Cabinet minister warned of Government defeats in the Lords. Viscount Hailsham said peers would “do our duty” to keep the benefits of the customs union and single market.
The European Commission rejected Mrs May’s “three baskets” approach to future regulations, under which there will be broad alignment of rules in most areas for two years.
Labour announced that Jeremy Corbyn will make a significant speech on Brexit policy on Monday — raising speculation he would announce a policy shift to unite with Tory rebels to keep the UK in a customs union.
Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam, warned of additional expense and delays to trade with the UK as a result of Brexit. | 2024-05-03T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2151 |
Luna Bella Serum
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Ingredients in Lunabella
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Pros of Using Luna Bella Serum
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How To Use Lunabella?
Wash your face before applying Lunabella serum to make it clean. Now take generous amount of Lunabella serum and apply it on your face. Massage it gently on your skin till it gets absorbed in your skin completely. You will see a noticeable change in your skin within four weeks of the daily use of Lunabella.
Where to Buy Luna Bella Serum?
Luna Bella Serum is available on its official website with trial bottle offer. Just go for the full size bottle once you are satisfied with the trial bottle. Get beautiful and lovely skin within few weeks with Lunabella anti-wrinkle serum. | 2024-02-17T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8153 |
National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared UGC NET 2018 result on 5 January, 2018 on its official website ntanet. nic. in. Candidates, who had appeared for UGC NET 2018 examination, can check their results from official website.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has agreed to free Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) from its regulations for higher education institutions offering open & distance learning programmes in various streams.
UGC in compliance with its Under Graduate Act (UGCA), seeks Online Application Forms once in a Year through Advertisement in leading Newspaper & Employment Newspaper from Candidates belonging to Minority Category fulfilling Eligibility Conditions under Fellowship Scheme. | 2024-03-25T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8710 |
# The Sun & Moon is a game made by Daniel Linssen that won the 29th edition of Ludum Dare. It is a platformer with a unique mechanic: you can dive into the ground. Momentum is conserved but gravity is reversed, letting you fling yourself high into the air or deep beneath the surface. The goal is always straightforward - collect the three orbs in the level and jump into the wormhole - but spikes, endless drops and impossible heights make this more and more difficult.
The soundtrack is an endless loop that expands as you progress through the game. At first it bears a strikingly repetitive yet charming 8-bit tone but as you advance through the game's levels, it evolves as more adventurous compositions are layered into the mix and draw you into the expanding challenge of the game. This cassette features the full forty minutes of the original soundtrack as it sounds if you have unlocked al the worlds in The Sun And Moon. We really hope that you enjoy it as much as we did making it.
Dubmood – The Sun And Moon: Audio Cassette
10,00$
Out of stock
Limited Edition Cassette with full color 6 page fold out. The cassette includes two more minutes of cassette exclusive material compared to the digital release, never heard before and not in the original game. These are real factory-made cassettes and NOT pre-made cassettes with music recorded onto them afterwards. Limited edition of 50. Made in the USA, Shipping from France | 2023-09-21T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8641 |
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Good gut health is fundamental to our physical and mental well-being, yet digestive disorders are more prevalent than ever. We need to make proactive efforts to protect our digestive systems from damage caused by pervasive environmental toxins like glyphosate sprayed on non-organic crops, GMOs, heavy metals, biotoxins like mold, and lifestyle factors like emotional and physical stress and poor sleep habits.
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"Now, there is a way to support your bodyto remove toxins safely and effectively!" | 2024-01-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4562 |
General Principles {#Sec1}
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Definition/Background {#Sec2}
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Viral infections of the respiratory tract are common events in all age groups and are the leading cause of mortality in children under 5 years of age in developing countries \[[@CR1]\]. These infections cause significant economic burden, with estimated direct and indirect medical costs in the US exceeding \$70 billion annually \[[@CR2], [@CR3]\]. Children under the age of 5 have an average incidence rate of four to six viral respiratory infections/year and the rate gradually decreases to one to two/year in most adults \[[@CR4]\].
Epidemiology {#Sec3}
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Respiratory viruses spread mainly through direct contact with infected individuals, predominantly through respiratory droplets. While respiratory infections tend to be present throughout the year in warmer areas, in temperate climates these are seen most often in the winter months (see Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@CR5]\] Although some of the new and emergent infections may arise from an animal host, the majority of the respiratory viral infections are spread from other humans. Most of the illnesses are introduced to families by young, school-age children or other caregivers with secondary infections occurring following these initial cases.Fig. 1Weekly laboratory test data of respiratory viruses in the USA, 2014 (Data from CDC National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System. <http://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/>)
Pathophysiology {#Sec4}
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Respiratory infections caused by viruses are transmitted primarily by droplets. These viruses can attach to the upper or lower respiratory tract and induce an IgA-mediated immune response in the mucous secretions of the respiratory tract and an IgG-mediated response in serum. Respiratory viral infections generally induce adaptive immune responses that should be protective. However, repeated respiratory infections are due to the large numbers of serotypes of each virus, or antigenic variations in viruses such as the influenza virus, and their ability to induce similar, non-specific clinical signs.
The clinical presentation of respiratory viruses can vary, however their clinical symptoms are often very similar. Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"} describes common clinical presentations and the viruses that cause these \[[@CR4], [@CR6]--[@CR8]\]. Table 1Clinical presentations and causes of viral respiratory syndromes \[[@CR4], [@CR6]--[@CR8]\]Clinical conditionCommon causesOccasional causesInfrequent causesCommon coldRhinovirusCoronavirusRSVInfluenzaParainfluenzaMetapneumovirusesEnterovirusesAdenovirusLaryngitisParainfluenzaRhinovirusInfluenzaAdenovirusAcute bronchitisInfluenzaAdenovirusRSVParainfluenzaCoronavirusRhinovirusEnterovirusMetapneumovirusInfluenza like illness^a^Influenza AInfluenza BEnterovirusAdenovirusCroupParainfluenzaInfluenzaRSVPneumoniaRSVInfluenzaAdenovirusRhinovirusCoronavirusHerpes Simplex virusPharyngotonsillitisAdenovirusHerpes Simplex VirusEnterovirusInfluenza BBronchiolitisRSVHuman metapneumovirusInfluenzaParainfluenzaBocavirusCoronavirusAdenovirus^a^Influenza includes -- fever, cough, myalgia and malaise
Laboratory Testing {#Sec5}
==================
Respiratory viruses may be identifiedusing viral cultures or by rapid tests identify antibodies to the virus \[[@CR9]\]. Viral cultures are reserved primarily for research purposes given the time for culture growth, the cost, and often their relatively low sensitivity. Clinical diagnosis of respiratory viral infections remains the standard in clinical practice. Rapid tests are being used more frequently in the clinical setting to identify influenza and RSV infections and initiate targeted treatments, however rapid virus detection does not reduce antibiotic use or cost \[[@CR10]\].
Laboratory tests are increasingly being used to differentiate viral from bacterial infections, since early use of antibiotics may be advantageous in the latter. C reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin levels in blood are two of the tests used. While procalcitonin-guided treatment algorithms have been shown to decrease antibiotic use \[[@CR11]\], CRP is neither specific nor sensitive enough to differentiate a bacterial respiratory infection from one that is caused by a virus \[[@CR12]\].
Common Cold {#Sec6}
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Definition/Background {#Sec7}
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The common cold, an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract that is usually self-limited, is the most frequent human infection \[[@CR13], [@CR14]\]. There are over *one billion* colds every year in the United States, and it is estimated that the common cold results in 20 million days of absence from work and 22 million days of absence from school each year \[[@CR14], [@CR15]\]. Typical common cold symptoms consist of nasal congestion and discharge, sore throat, cough, sneezing, and sometimes headache, with symptoms usually lasting less than 10 days in duration. These symptoms are fairly nonspecific and can easily be confused with allergies or early symptoms of more serious diseases. However, taking a detailed history, particularly identifying sick contacts, is usually helpful in distinguishing the common cold from other illnesses.
Causes {#Sec8}
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Although numerous viruses have been identified as etiologies of the common cold (see table of viral prevalence by illness presentation), rhinoviruses are by far the most common viruses detected across all age groups in the setting of common cold symptoms, accounting for 30--50 % of all cases \[[@CR4], [@CR14], [@CR16]\]. Coronaviruses account for 10--15 % of cold cases, and influenza viruses are detected 10--15 % of the time. Given that cold viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus also are responsible for many flu-like illnesses, there is significant overlap in viral etiologies of the common cold and flu syndromes \[[@CR4], [@CR14]\].
Clinical Manifestations {#Sec9}
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Rhinovirus infections typically begin with a sore throat, soon followed by nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, cough, and sneezing. As the illness progresses, sore throat symptoms tend to resolve quickly, and the initially watery rhinorrhea becomes increasingly purulent. Fever is uncommon among adults with colds, but is more frequent in children with viral respiratory infections. Common cold symptoms peak in severity within 2--3 days of onset, and have a mean duration of 7--10 days \[[@CR14]\].
Diagnosis {#Sec10}
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The diagnosis of the common cold is primarily based on clinical symptoms alone, and is often correctly made by adult patients themselves. Diagnosis in children and infants can be more difficult, especially in the early course of a febrile illness. Streptococcal pharyngitis can resemble early common cold symptoms, but the nasal congestion and drainage usually seen in common cold are atypical in streptococcal pharyngitis \[[@CR14], [@CR16]\]. Given the wide range of overlap in symptoms caused by different respiratory viruses, influenza included, it is often impossible to identify a specific viral etiology for cold symptoms in a particular patient. Although rapid detection of viral pathogens with real-time polymerase chain reaction can increase diagnostic accuracy, it has not been shown to reduce antibiotic use or costs, and therefore is of limited use in everyday clinical practice \[[@CR10]\].
Treatment {#Sec11}
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The approach to treatment for the common cold focuses on symptomatic relief as well as prevention. Antibiotics are ineffective and inappropriate treatment for the common cold and should be avoided in adults and children \[[@CR17], [@CR18]\]. Over the counter cough and cold medications should be avoided in all children younger than 4 years due to the potential for harm and lack of benefit. Products shown to improve cold symptoms in children include vapor rub, zinc sulfate, extract, and buckwheat honey, although the quality of the evidence varies. Ineffective treatments for children include both inhaled and oral corticosteroids and *Echinacea*. Among adults, decongestants, antihistamine/decongestant combinations, and intranasal ipratropium have been shown to improve cold symptoms \[[@CR17], [@CR18]\]. Additionally, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to relieve discomfort due to colds but not to improve respiratory symptoms \[[@CR19]\]. When taken within 24 h of symptom onset, zinc has been shown to reduce the duration of common cold symptoms in healthy adults \[[@CR20]\]. plant preparations have not proven effective in treating common colds among adults \[[@CR21]\]. In supplementation trials, regular use of vitamin C did not decrease the incidence of common colds, but did have a positive effect on symptom duration and severity. Therapeutic trials of vitamin C during a cold have not shown a significant effect on common cold symptom reduction, but it may be worth considering in individual cases given its favorable safety profile and low cost \[ [@CR22]\].
Laryngitis {#Sec12}
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Definition/Background {#Sec13}
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Inflammation of the larynx can be caused by a variety of conditions, including: viral or bacterial infection, acid reflux, voice misuse and overuse, toxic inhalation or ingestion, postnasal drainage, or coughing from any cause. Acute laryngitis, defined as inflammation of the larynx or vocal cords lasting less than 3 weeks, is one of the most common disorders of the larynx. Symptoms include lowering of the normal pitch of the voice or hoarseness, usually lasting from 3 to 8 days. Other symptoms of an upper respiratory infection are common along with laryngitis, and the condition has been linked to changes in the weather \[[@CR23]\].
Treatment {#Sec14}
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Although acute laryngitis is usually caused by a viral infection, there are no useful clinical criteria to distinguish between viral and bacterial causes such as , , or . Viral laryngitis is likely caused by the same viruses as the common cold (i.e., rhinovirus, coronavirus). Treatment is largely supportive, and includes voice rest, corticosteroids, and proton pump inhibitors \[[@CR24]\]. Antibiotics are often prescribed for acute laryngitis. However, a recent systematic review concluded that antibiotics are of no benefit in the treatment of acute laryngitis \[ [@CR23]\].
Influenza {#Sec15}
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Definition/Background {#Sec16}
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Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. In temperate climates, seasonal epidemics of influenza occur annually during the winter months, while in tropical climates influenza cases occur intermittently throughout the year \[[@CR24]\]. Worldwide, three to five million people develop influenza each year and approximately 250,000--500,000 die of influenza-related illness \[[@CR25]\]. The Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the Influenza Division at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks and reports influenza activity in the United States in a weekly report throughout the influenza season \[[@CR26]\]. In the USA, influenza can peak in the colder weather months with most peaks occurring in February (see Fig. [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@CR28]\]. Influenza results in significant economic costs as well as morbidity and mortality. Between 1976 and 2007 in the USA, estimated deaths attributable to influenza ranged from 3,000 to 49,000 per year, with the majority of deaths occurring in those aged \>65 years \[[@CR28]\].Fig. 2Peak month of flu activity 1982--1983 through 2013--2014 \[[@CR27]\]
Causes {#Sec17}
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The influenza virus is a single stranded RNA virus from the Orthomyxoviridae family that comes in three subtypes: A, B, and C. Human influenza virus types A and B cause the epidemics of human disease, while influenza virus type C causes a mild respiratory illness similar to the common cold \[[@CR29]\]. The influenza A virus is further classified by the type of surface hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) antigens that are expressed \[[@CR30]\]. The appearance of new combinations of the H and N antigens results in " antigenic shifts" that have the potential to cause pandemics of human illness due to a lack of pre-existing immunity \[[@CR29]\]. Within the last decade, two new strains of influenza A have emerged and resulted in pandemics- the H1N1 strain in Mexico in 2009 and the H7N9 strain in China in 2013 \[[@CR31]\].
Prevention {#Sec18}
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Vaccination is the preferred public health method for prevention of influenza. Both inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are available each season and are created from the circulating influenza A and B virus isolates that are anticipated to circulate in the following season according to recommendations of the World Health Organization \[[@CR32]\]. Current recommendations call for annual influenza vaccination for all individuals greater than 6 months of age. The LAIV is recommended over the IIV for children ages 2--8 when immediately available if the child has no contraindications to the live attenuated vaccine. When vaccine supply is limited, preference should be given to those at higher risk, including children age 6--59 months, adults \>50 years of age, those with immunosuppression or other severe chronic disease including morbid obesity, women who are or will become pregnant during the influenza season, residents of long-term care facilities, and Native Americans/Native Alaskans \[[@CR32]\]. At this time, vaccination demonstrates a minimal effect on symptomatic influenza in otherwise healthy adults, with one case prevented for every 71 adults vaccinated \[[@CR33]\]. However, universal vaccination is encouraged to improve herd immunity to influenza thus protecting high-risk individuals \[[@CR34]\].
In certain situations, the antiviral medications oseltamivir or zanamivir can be used as an adjunct to vaccination for prevention of influenza. In a meta-analysis of prophylaxis trials, both medications demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of symptomatic influenza in individuals and in households \[[@CR35]\]. However, due to concern for increasing viral resistance, the CDC does not recommend the routine use of chemoprophylaxis for prevention of influenza, but rather recommends judicious use for those with known exposure who are at high risk for influenza complications or for whom the influenza vaccine is contraindicated \[[@CR34]\].
Clinical Manifestations {#Sec19}
-----------------------
Infection of the respiratory tract by influenza virus classically results in acute onset of systemic and respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, headache, myalgias, or malaise \[[@CR32]\]. However, infection by influenza virus can be asymptomatic or cause other syndromes such as the common cold, pharyngitis, or pneumonia. Other viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, or coronavirus can also cause an influenza-like illness \[[@CR30]\]. The majority of those who get influenza will recover within 3--7 days, but cough and fatigue may persist beyond 2 weeks. Some develop complications such as pneumonia (either viral or a secondary bacterial infection), which can be life threatening, particularly for those at high risk. Influenza infection can also exacerbate other underlying chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD, and congestive heart failure.
Diagnosis {#Sec20}
---------
If influenza is suspected clinically and the patient would benefit from antiviral treatment (see below), a presumptive clinical diagnosis of influenza should be sought. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most sensitive and specific method of influenza diagnosis according to the Infectious Disease Society of America, however the test is slow and can often take several days for a definitive result. Rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) are antigen tests with results often available quickly enough to be clinically relevant. However, the results have poor sensitivity: in a meta-analysis of 159 studies of RIDT's compared to RT-PCR or viral culture, the RIDT's demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 62.3 % (95 % CI 57.9--66.6 %) and a pooled specificity of 98.2 % (95 % CI 97.5--98.7 %) \[[@CR36]\]. For this reason, a positive RIDT result can be considered adequate to make the diagnosis, but a negative RIDT result should not be used to exclude the diagnosis of influenza when clinically suspected.
Treatment {#Sec21}
---------
Four pharmacologic agents are available to treat influenza in the United States: the neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir, and the adamantanes amantadine and rimantadine. Amantadine and rimantadine are only effective against influenza A, and due to high rates of resistance (\>99 % for influenza A H3N2 or H1N1) their use is not currently recommended \[[@CR34]\]. Zanamivir (inhaled) and oseltamivir (oral) are effective against both influenza A and B and still demonstrate low rates of resistance \[[@CR37]\]. Treatment with one of these agents is recommended as soon as possible for patients with known or suspected influenza who are hospitalized, manifest severe, complicated, or progressive illness, or are at high risk for complications, including adults \>64 years of age, children \<2 years of age, persons with severe underlying chronic illness or immunosuppression, or several other high risk groups (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}) \[[@CR34]\]. One recent meta-analysis demonstrated small, non-specific effects on reducing the total duration of influenza symptoms without a demonstrated reduction in complications for otherwise healthy adults with influenza treated with oseltamivir or zanamivir \[[@CR35]\]. The use of a neuraminidase inhibitor for treatment of proven or suspected influenza in an otherwise healthy adult without risk factors for severe disease should be determined by clinical judgment and shared decision making. Table 2Persons at high risk for complications from influenza \[[@CR34]\]Children aged \<5 years (especially those aged \<2 years)Adults aged ≥65 yearsPersons aged ≤18 years who are receiving long-term aspirin therapyIndividuals with chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension alone), renal, hepatic, hematologic (including sickle cell disease), metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus) or neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions (including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury)Immunosuppressed individuals, including that caused by medications or by HIV infectionPregnant or postpartum women (within 2 weeks after delivery)American Indians/Alaska NativesMorbidly obese individuals (i.e., BMI ≥40)Nursing home, or other chronic-care facility residents
Acute Bronchitis {#Sec22}
================
Definition/Background {#Sec23}
---------------------
Acute bronchitis is a self-limited infection of the epithelial cells of the bronchi characterized by the presence of cough, with or without sputum production. The symptoms of acute bronchitis can overlap with other clinical syndromes of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Symptoms generally last for 2 weeks, but the associated cough may persist for up to 8 weeks \[[@CR38]\]. In the USA, acute bronchitis is the ninth most commonly encountered diagnosis in the outpatient setting \[[@CR39]\].
Causes {#Sec24}
------
The majority (\>90 %) of cases of uncomplicated acute bronchitis are due to a viral infection \[[@CR40]\]. Influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, coronavirus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, and human metapneumovirus have all been identified, though in the majority of cases no causative agent is isolated \[[@CR41]\]. , *Mycoplasma pneumoniae*, and *Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumonia* cause acute bronchitis in approximately 5--10 % of adult cases \[[@CR40]\]. Though pneumonia-causing pathogens such as *Streptococcus pneumoniae*, *Haemophilus influenzae*, or *Moraxella catarrhalis* are sometimes isolated from patients with acute bronchitis, their role is unclear and they do not appear to be etiologic agents of bronchitis in otherwise healthy adults \[[@CR40], [@CR41]\].
Diagnosis {#Sec25}
---------
The diagnosis of acute bronchitis is based on clinical evidence of a lower respiratory tract infection with a cough persisting at least 5 days without evidence of pneumonia \[[@CR41]\]. In the absence of abnormal vital signs or physical exam findings consistent with pneumonia, a chest radiograph is not necessary unless the patient is elderly or otherwise immune suppressed \[[@CR41]\]. Other alternative diagnoses such as asthma, pharyngitis, sinusitis, influenza, and pertussis should be ruled out when clinically appropriate.
Treatment {#Sec26}
---------
Antibiotic treatment of acute uncomplicated bronchitis is not recommended \[[@CR40]\]. Systematic reviews of the available evidence have demonstrated that, though there may be a modest reduction in duration of cough-related symptoms, this is unlikely to be clinically significant \[[@CR38]\]. Overall there is no benefit to using antibiotics for acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy individuals, unless there is clinical suspicion for pertussis as the etiologic agent \[[@CR40]\]. Clinical judgment should guide the determination of antibiotic use for those who are elderly or who have chronic respiratory comorbidities.
In spite of this recommendation, approximately two thirds of patients with acute bronchitis are prescribed antibiotics in the United States \[[@CR42]\]. Procalcitonin-guided therapy has been shown to safely reduce antibiotic use in lower respiratory tract infections (including pneumonia, asthma, COPD, and uncomplicated acute bronchitis) in the primary care setting and can help guide treatment if bacterial infection is a concern \[[@CR43]\].
Special Populations: Children, Elderly, and the Immunocompromised {#Sec27}
=================================================================
Children tend to have more episodes of respiratory infections than adults and, while many have 4--6 infections/year, 15 % of children may have up to 12 infections in a year. Children who attend daycare have a 50 % more respiratory infections than those who do not \[[@CR44]\]. The majority of infections in children are self-limiting with supportive care the only treatment required.
Viral respiratory infections are particularly concerning in the elderly and the immunocompromised. Secondary infections including pneumonia and sepsis cause increased morbidity and mortality in these populations. All-cause mortality is also increased with influenza in this population \[[@CR45]\]. Among the institutionalized elderly, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza, and influenza are important causes of respiratory illness. Along with respiratory precautions and hand hygiene, increased efforts towards immunization of the elderly and their caregivers are important to decrease morbidity in this population.
New and Emergent Respiratory Infections {#Sec28}
=======================================
The ease of travel and the interdependency of markets have brought new challenges of spreading infectious pathogens. It is in this context that the practicing physician should be aware of the growing threats of emergent respiratory infections and their pandemic potential. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus ( SARS-CoV), avian influenza viruses H5N1, H7N9, and H10N8, swine-origin influenza A H1N1, human adenovirus-14, and the Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus ( MERS-CoV) are a few of the viruses that are concerning for relatively high mortality rates and the potential to result in pandemics \[[@CR46]\]. Some of these are zoonotic, affect the lower respiratory tract, and have high morbidity and mortality rates. The most effective methods of preventing these emerging viruses at this time include the scrupulous adherence to respiratory precautions and an awareness of regional spread and outbreaks \[[@CR32]\].
Prevention {#Sec29}
==========
Respiratory viral infections are predominantly transmitted through infected droplets. Following general hygienic practices helps to decrease transmission. These include regular hand hygiene, minimizing contact with sick individuals, and avoiding the sharing of personal items. Following " cough etiquette," including covering the nose and mouth with a tissue while coughing, proper disposal of tissue, and prompt hand washing, is also shown to decrease spread of respiratory infections \[[@CR47]\]. Currently, an effective vaccine is available only for influenza. Other measures of prevention include antivirals for close contacts of those with influenza and use of palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody, in high-risk individuals to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.
Family and Community Issues {#Sec30}
===========================
Antibiotic resistance in the healthcare setting is a growing threat to public health, and, as of 2013, two million people become infected and 23,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections \[[@CR48]\]. In part, antibiotic-resistant infections stem from the prescribing of antibiotics when they are not needed, as in the case of viral respiratory tract infections. To avoid inappropriate use of antibiotics for viral infections, physicians should strive to adhere to clinical guidelines and decision-support tools combined with laboratory testing when indicated to determine risk for a bacterial infection.
Commonly, patients or parents will request antibiotics for viral infections, and physicians can feel pressured to prescribe antibiotics to address social stressors such as school or work absences. In this situation, family doctors need to clearly communicate that treating viral infections with antibiotics is ineffective and may be harmful. Additionally, pointing out negative or reassuring findings on exam and giving a specific diagnosis ("viral pharyngitis" or "viral upper respiratory infection" instead of "just a virus") can help with counseling patients. Lastly, it is important to acknowledge the suffering and discomfort caused by viral infections, to proactively offer treatment for symptoms, and to outline the normal course of the illness with clear indications for follow-up if symptoms do not resolve within an expected timeframe \[[@CR49]\].
| 2024-02-04T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3056 |
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway Kellyanne Elizabeth ConwaySpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report George and Kellyanne Conway honor Ginsburg Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE said Monday she would attend the upcoming House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing if House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff to subpoena top DHS official, alleges whistleblower deposition is being stonewalled Schiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE (D-Calif.) is called to testify.
Conway told reporters at the White House that Schiff was a “fact witness” in the impeachment inquiry and criticized the Judiciary panel’s plans to have constitutional lawyers testify at Wednesday's hearing. The White House on Sunday rejected an invitation from Democrats to participate in the event.
“Is Adam Schiff going to testify? Because he is a fact witness. That would be great. I’ll tell you what: If Adam Schiff testifies, I’ll show up on behalf of the White House,” Conway told reporters.
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Her remarks came one day after the House Judiciary panel’s top Republican, Rep. Doug Collins Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsDemocrats ramp up pressure on Lieberman to drop out of Georgia Senate race The Hill's Campaign Report: Biden on Trump: 'He'll leave' l GOP laywers brush off Trump's election remarks l Obama's endorsements GOP, Democrats look to galvanize women with SCOTUS fight MORE (Ga.), said Schiff should be called to testify. Schiff led the fact-finding phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act MORE’s dealings with Ukraine, and his committee is drafting a report on its conclusions that will be delivered to the Judiciary panel to kick off the next phase of the proceedings.
Trump, who seized on revelations that the whistleblower who raised concerns about the Ukraine issue contacted Schiff’s committee before filing a complaint, has similarly argued Schiff should be called to testify at a Senate trial if the House approves articles of impeachment.
Schiff said on CNN’s “State of the Union” last week that it would show “a fundamental lack of seriousness, a willingness to try to turn this into a circus, like the president would like” if the Senate were to call him as a witness.
Asked why the White House would not send its own lawyers to Wednesday's hearing, Conway suggested on Monday that Democrats would be wasting their time listening to constitutional lawyers rather than working on legislative issues like drug pricing and infrastructure.
“What is the process? What will they be discussing? They have constitutional law experts coming in. How is that beneficial?” Conway asked. “I don’t even understand what they’re doing.”
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She added that the Judiciary Committee hasn’t informed the White House of the names of the witnesses or other details about the hearing, echoing points made by White House counsel Pat Cipollone in a letter to Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) Sunday in declining to participate.
“We cannot fairly be expected to participate in a hearing while the witnesses are yet to be named and while it remains unclear whether the Judiciary Committee will afford the President a fair process through additional hearings,” Cipollone wrote.
Conway said Cipollone has made clear “that this is an unconstitutional, illegitimate process and we stand by that.”
“They have to been more definitive about what they’re doing,” she added. | 2023-11-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8784 |
---
abstract: 'Many pulsars are observed to “glitch”, i.e. show sudden jumps in their rotational frequency $\nu$, some of which can be as large as $\Delta \nu/\nu\approx 10^{-6}-10^{-5}$ in a subset of pulsars known as giant glitchers. Recently Pizzochero (2011) has shown that an analytic model based on realistic values for the pinning forces in the crust and for the angular momentum transfer in the star can describe the average properties of giant glitches, such as the inter-glitch waiting time, the step in frequency and that in frequency derivative. In this paper we extend the model (originally developed in Newtonian gravity and for a polytropic equation of state) to realistic backgrounds obtained by integrating the relativistic equations of stellar structure and using physically motivated equations of state to describe matter in the neutron star. We find that this more detailed treatment still reproduces the main features of giant glitches in the Vela pulsar and allows us to set constraints on the equation of state. In particular we find that stiffer equations of state are favoured and that it is unlikely that the Vela pulsar has a high mass (larger than $M\approx 1.5 M_\odot$).'
author:
- |
S. Seveso$^{1,2}$, P. M. Pizzochero,$^{1,2}$[^1], B. Haskell$^{3}$\
$^{1}$Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy\
$^{2}$Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, sezione di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 20133 Milano, Italy\
$^{3}$Astronomical Institute “Anton Pannekoek”, University of Amsterdam, Postbus 94249, 1090 GE Amsterdam, the Netherlands
nocite: '[@*]'
title: 'The effect of realistic equations of state and general relativity on the “snowplow” model for pulsar glitches.'
---
\[firstpage\]
stars:neutron - pulsars:general - pulsars:individual:PSR B0833-45
Introduction
============
Many pulsars are observed to “glitch”, i.e. they show sudden increases in their spin frequency that are instantaneous to the accuracy of the data. To date several hundreds of glitches have been detected [@Espinoza], with relative increases in the spin frequency $\nu$ that range from as low as $\Delta\nu/\nu\approx 10^{-11}$ to $\Delta\nu/\nu\approx 10^{-5}$. In particular a class of pulsars, of which the Vela pulsar is the prototype, exhibit what are known as “giant” glitches [@Espinoza], large steps in the spin frequency ($\Delta\nu/\nu\approx 10^{-6}$) which are accompanied by an increase in the spindown rate $\dot{\nu}$ and exhibit a rough periodicity in their recurrence rate (for example giant glitches in the Vela occur roughly every three years).
Shortly after the first glitches were observed it was suggested that they could be due to a superfluid component in the stellar interior, weakly coupled to the normal component and to the electromagnetic emission, that could store angular momentum and then release it catastrophically, giving rise to a glitch [@Baym; @AndItoh75; @Alpar77; @Alpar84]. Large scale superfluid components are, in fact, expected in Neutron Star (NS) interiors on theoretical grounds given that the temperature of the star will drop below the superfluid critical temperature (typically $\approx 10^9$ K) soon after birth. Furthermore recent observations of the cooling of the young NS in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A have provided the first direct indication of superfluidity in NS interiors [@CASA1; @CASA2].
A superfluid rotates by forming an array of quantised vortices which carry the circulation of the fluid. In the NS crust the vortices can be strongly attracted, “pinned”, to the nuclear lattice [@AndItoh75; @Alpar77; @Pines80; @Anderson82] and cannot move outward. If the superfluid cannot remove vortices it cannot spin down and it therefore acts as an angular momentum reservoir. As the crust spins down due to electromagnetic emission a lag will develop between the superfluid and the normal component, leading to a hydrodynamical lift force (Magnus force) acting on the vortices. Eventually when the lag reaches a critical value the pinning force will no longer be able to contrast the hydrodynamical lift and the vortices will unpin, transferring their angular momentum to the crust and giving rise to a glitch.
Although there is some evidence that smaller glitches in young active pulsars such as the Crab may be related to crust quakes [@Crow; @Mid06], there is a growing consensus that the basic picture outlined above can be used to describe the main features of pulsar glitches. There is still considerable debate on the “trigger” for vortex unpinning and several mechanisms have been proposed (including crust quakes [@Rud76; @Rud], heat release [@LL] and hydrodynamical instabilities [@kglitch]), but recent work by @Melatos1 (see also @Melatos2 [@Melatos3]) has been very successful in using cellular automaton simulations that can track the movement of a large number of vortices, to reproduce the distribution of glitch sizes and waiting times, and @Hask12 have produced the first hydrodynamical simulation that can follow all stages of a giant glitch, from the rise to the relaxation.
One of the main difficulties in performing such calculations, up to now, has been the relative scarcity of realistic estimates of the pinning force between vortices and nuclei in the crust. However the recent calculation of @Gpaper1 (see also @Gtesi [@Gpaper2]) has filled this gap and produced physically consistent pinning profiles that can be used to study pulsar glitches. In fact @Pizzochero has shown that these forces can be incorporated into a simple analytical model, the so-called “snowplow” model, that predicts the size, step in frequency derivative and waiting time of Vela glitches. The same forces were used by @Hask12 in a hydrodynamical model to reproduce also the post-glitch relaxation of Vela glitches and show that the model is consistent with the size and waiting times of other pulsars that exhibit giant glitches.
We shall discuss the details of the snowplow model in the following sections, the main assumption, however, is that vortices close to the rotational axis of the star will only be weakly pinned at their extremities. The Magnus force can thus easily unpin them and move them towards the equator, where they will repin as they are now immersed in the strong pinning region of the inner crust. This creates a vortex sheet that moves close to the maximum of the pinning potential as the star spins down. Once the maximum critical lag is reached the pinning force can no longer balance the Magnus force, and all the vorticity that has been accumulated is free to go, giving rise to a giant glitch. This also gives rise to a natural periodicity for giant glitches, although crust quakes or vortex avalanches can unpin part of the vorticity and give rise to smaller glitches before the maximum.
In this picture we implicitly assume that vortices that cross the core of the star are immersed in a low drag environment, i.e. that there is no pinning in the core and vortices are free to move out. This would not be the case if the protons in the interior are in a type II superconducting state and there is a strong interaction between magnetic flux tubes and rotational vortices [@Rud; @Link03]. Note, however, that a large portion of the star may be in a type I superconducting state [@Jones06] in which the magnetic field is not organised in flux tubes, but rather in macroscopic regions of normal matter, and the interactions may be much weaker [@Sedrakian05] (although see @Jones06 for a discussion of strong interactions in type I superconductors). Furthermore recent calculations suggest that even if the superconductivity is of type II, the interaction between vortices and flux tubes will be weak in the presence of strong entrainment or superfluid $\Sigma^{-}$ hyperons [@Babaev]. In this paper we thus take the view that pinning in the core will be weak, although strong pinning of vortices to flux tubes is an intriguing possibility and will be the focus of a future publication (Haskell, Pizzochero & Seveso, in preparation).
@Pizzochero and @Hask12 developed the model for an $n=1$ polytrope in Newtonian gravity, in order to obtain simple analytical estimates for the glitch size. In this paper we investigate the effect on the snowplow model of @Pizzochero of using realistic Equations of State (EoSs) and relativistic equations for the stellar structure. We will see that in general the model is consistent with observations and that less massive NSs (in the region of $1.2 M_\odot-1.5 M_\odot$) are favoured to describe the Vela pulsar. The inclusion of realistic backgrounds and equations of state in the hydrodynamical models will be the focus of future work.
Stellar structure
=================
As outlined above the model proposed by @Pizzochero relies on calculating the amount of vorticity that can be stored in the inner crust before the Magnus force overcomes the maximum pinning force and then calculating the amount of angular momentum exchanged between the superfluid component and the crust. In order to obtain realistic estimates of the moment of inertia of the different components and of the strength of the density-dependent pinning force per unit length, it is thus important to use a realistic equation of state (EoS) for dense matter that describes the relation $P(\rho)$ between density and pressure. The stellar structure and density profile can then be obtained by integration of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equations: $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{dm(r)}{dr} & = & 4\pi r^2 \rho(r) \\
\frac{d\phi(r)}{dr} & = & \left( \frac{Gm(r)}{r^2} +4\pi G r\,\frac{P(r)}{c^2} \right) \left( 1 - \frac{2Gm(r)}{c^2r} \right)^ {-1}\\
\frac{dP(r)}{dr} & = & -\left(\rho(r) + \frac{P(r)}{c^2} \right) \, \frac{d\phi}{dr},
\label{eqn:TOV}\end{aligned}$$ where $m(r)$ is the mass contained in a sphere of radius $r$, $\rho(r)$ is the density profile and $P(r)$ is the pressure. These differential equations model the hydrostatic equilibrium inside the star with relativistic approach and, of course, require the $P(\rho(r))$ function. The last two equations can be combined in one that gives an expression for the mass and pressure derivatives and the system can be solved with valid initial conditions. We obtain the functions that describe the star with the fourth–order Runge–Kutta method, starting at $r=0$ with $m(0) = 0$ and $\rho(0) = \rho_c$, for a valid choice of the central density $\rho_c$. The integration stops when we reach the condition $\rho(R) = 10^{-8} \rho_c$ and we take $R$ as the radius of the star. Of course the mass of the star is $M = m(R)$. As a result of this integration we have $m(r$), $\rho(r)$ and $P(r)$ of the star as showed in Fig. \[fig:tov\].
![Mass, pressure and density profiles of 1.4 $M_\odot$ neutron star for the EoSs considered: with fixed mass, a stiffer EoS produce a star with larger radius and lower central density.[]{data-label="fig:tov"}](tov14_v)
We use two different EoSs:
1. SLy [@DH01] is a moderate EoS, based on a non–relativistic parametrisation; this equation describes the whole star with a single analytical expression and so it is more convenient to integrate;
2. GM1 by @GM1 is a stiff $P(\rho)$ relation that is very similar to SLy in the crust of star, but not in the core due to different microscopic approach used to describe hadrons at densities higher than $\rho_0$.
Fig. \[fig:maxmass\] shows the different mass–central density relations for the two equations of state.
![This plot shows the mass–central density relation for the EoSs considered. As expected, we find a maximum mass value above $2 M_\odot$ for each equation of state (see table \[tab:maxmass\]).[]{data-label="fig:maxmass"}](maxmass)
This figure clearly identifies also the presence of a limit for the mass for a neutron star. The existence of a maximum mass $M_{\rm max}$ is an effect of the relativistic nature of the TOV equations, where pressure contributes to the gravitational field. Of course $M_{\rm max}$ depends on the EoS: a stiffer equation of state gives a higher $M_{\rm max}$. The evidence of the existence of a $2M_\odot$ neutron star [@Dem] allows, in fact, to reject soft equations of state that predict a maximum mass below this value. Table \[tab:maxmass\] shows the different values of $M_{\rm max}$ for the equations of state considered.
------------- ------------ ------------- ------- ------- --------------
[**EoS**]{} $\rho_c$ $M$ $R$ $R_c$ $R_{\rm ic}$
($\rho_0$) ($M_\odot$) (km) (km) (km)
SLy 10.2 2.05 9.98 9.68 9.86
GM1 7.1 2.36 11.98 11.57 11.82
------------- ------------ ------------- ------- ------- --------------
: This table shows, for each EoS, the maximum allowed mass with the corresponding central density $\rho_c$ (in units of nuclear saturation density $\rho_0$), radius of the star $R$, radius of the core $R_c$ and radius of the inner crust $R_{ic}$.[]{data-label="tab:maxmass"}
In this work we consider stars with masses from $1M_\odot$ to $M_{\rm max}$. With the density profile $\rho(r)$ it is possible to identify, for each star, the structural regions that are relevant for the model and important for the pinning. In particular we calculate the radius of the core $R_c$ as the distance from the center of the star where $\rho_{\rm core} = \rho(R_c) = 0.5\rho_0$ ($\rho_0 = 2.8 \times 10^{14} \,\mbox{g}\,\mbox{cm}^{-3}$ is the nuclear saturation density); the inner crust–outer crust interface $R_{\rm ic}$ corresponds, on the other hand, to the density value $\rho_d = 0.0015\rho_0$ that is the neutron drip point: this means than in the outer crust there are no free neutrons. It is easy to calculate the moment of inertia of a shell delimited by radii $r_1$ and $r_2$: $$I(r_1, r_2) = \frac{8\pi}{3} \int_{r_1}^{r_2} r^4\rho(r) \,dr.
\label{eq:inertia}$$ We can then calculate also the moment of inertia of every region, considering that $I_{\rm core} = I(0, R_c)$, $I_{\rm ic} = I(R_c, R_{\rm ic})$ and $I_{\rm oc} = I(R_{\rm ic}, R)$.
Table \[tab:stars\] shows all the relevant parameters for the considered stars, obtained from the integration of the TOV equations with SLy and GM1.
------------- ------------- ------- ------- -------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
[**EoS**]{} $M$ $R$ $R_c$ $R_{\rm ic}$ $I_{\rm tot}$ $I_{\rm core}$ $I_{\rm ic}$ $I_{\rm oc}$
($M_\odot$) (km) (km) (km) ($10^{45}$ g$\,$cm$^2$) ($10^{45}$ g$\,$cm$^2$) ($10^{43}$ g$\,$cm$^2$) ($10^{40}$ g$\,$cm$^2$)
[**SLy**]{} 1.0 11.86 10.35 11.23 0.739 0.697 4.181 6.638
[****]{} 1.1 11.83 10.49 11.28 0.827 0.788 3.923 5.945
[****]{} 1.2 11.80 10.60 11.31 0.914 0.878 3.652 5.317
[****]{} 1.3 11.76 10.69 11.32 0.999 0.965 3.370 4.738
[****]{} 1.4 11.71 10.75 11.32 1.079 1.048 3.078 4.198
[****]{} 1.5 11.64 10.79 11.29 1.154 1.126 2.777 3.685
[****]{} 1.6 11.55 10.79 11.24 1.222 1.197 2.469 3.194
[****]{} 1.7 11.42 10.76 11.16 1.279 1.258 2.150 2.718
[****]{} 1.8 11.26 10.68 11.03 1.322 1.303 1.818 2.248
[****]{} 1.9 11.03 10.54 10.83 1.339 1.324 1.463 1.769
[****]{} 2.0 10.62 10.23 10.47 1.299 1.289 1.042 1.233
[**GM1**]{} 1.0 13.94 11.79 13.02 1.021 0.896 12.505 19.061
[****]{} 1.1 13.94 12.01 13.12 1.146 1.025 12.068 17.532
[****]{} 1.2 13.94 12.19 13.20 1.271 1.156 11.555 16.108
[****]{} 1.3 13.93 12.35 13.27 1.395 1.285 10.991 14.780
[****]{} 1.4 13.91 12.47 13.32 1.516 1.412 10.382 13.530
[****]{} 1.5 13.89 12.58 13.34 1.634 1.536 9.738 12.340
[****]{} 1.6 13.85 12.66 13.35 1.747 1.657 9.062 11.198
[****]{} 1.7 13.79 12.71 13.35 1.854 1.771 8.362 10.099
[****]{} 1.8 13.72 12.74 13.32 1.954 1.878 7.635 9.031
[****]{} 1.9 13.62 12.74 13.26 2.043 1.974 6.885 7.987
[****]{} 2.0 13.49 12.70 13.17 2.118 2.057 6.107 6.956
[****]{} 2.1 13.33 12.63 13.05 2.173 2.120 5.292 5.922
[****]{} 2.2 13.10 12.48 12.85 2.194 2.150 4.411 4.851
[****]{} 2.3 12.71 12.20 12.51 2.146 2.113 3.371 3.631
------------- ------------- ------- ------- -------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Pinning and vorticity
=====================
One of the most important ingredients of the model is clearly $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$, the pinning force per unit length that acts on the vortex line as a result of its interaction with the lattice (in the inner crust). Although the pinning force per pinning site can readily be evaluated from the knowledge of the pinning energy [@Alpar77; @EB; @DP03; @DP04; @DP06], the force per unit length of a vortex, which is the quantity that must be equated to the Magnus force in order to understand whether a vortex is pinned or free, is much more complex to evaluate, as it depends on the rigidity of a vortex and on its orientation with respect to the crustal lattice.
@Gpaper1 (see also @Gtesi [@Gpaper2]) have performed numerical simulations to evaluate this quantity, taking into account different orientation of the bcc lattice. They found that the order of magnitude of the maximum pinning force ${{f_{\rm PM}}}$ is approximately $10^{15}\,\mbox{dyn}\,\mbox{cm}^{-1}$ and that there is no significant difference for the pinning force per unit length in considering vortex–nucleus interaction attractive or repulsive in different regions. Another interesting result found by @Gpaper1 regards the position of the maximum ${{f_{\rm PM}}}$. In this paper the authors use a density–dependent pairing gap $\Delta(\rho)$ obtained with a realistic microscopic nucleon–nucleon interaction. It is known that the polarization effects of the neutron medium reduce the paring gap, but there is yet no agreement on how strong this suppression will be, although it seems reasonable to divide the $\Delta(\rho)$ by a factor $\beta$ between 2 and 3. @Gpaper1 consider the case $\beta = 1$ and $\beta = 3$ and find that for the two corresponding profiles $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$ the maximum is shifted at different densities, even if the parameter $\beta$ is, of course, only a scaling factor on the same pairing gap profile. The precise height of the maximum thus depends on the vortex tension used in the model (although the order of magnitude remains $10^{15}\,\mbox{dyn}\,\mbox{cm}^{-1}$) and does not affect the location of the maximum (once $\beta$ is fixed). In this work we therefore constrain the exact value of the maximum amplitude of the pinning force by fitting the average waiting time between giant glitches in the Vela pulsar, as will be explained in the next sections. In figure \[fig:pinning\] we show the two pinning profiles $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$ used in this work for $\beta = 1$ and $\beta = 3$ (plotted here with the choice of ${{f_{\rm PM}}}= 10^{15}\,\mbox{dyn}\,\mbox{cm}^{-1}$).
![The profile of the pinning force $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$ for the two cases $\beta = 1$ and $\beta = 3$, with a choice for the maximum of ${{f_{\rm PM}}}= 10^{15}\,\mbox{dyn}\,\mbox{cm}^{-1}$.[]{data-label="fig:pinning"}](pinning)
The case $\beta_1$ has a maximum at $\rho \approx 0.325\rho_0$, while in the $\beta_3$ case the maximum is at $\rho \approx 0.14\rho_0$. In both configurations we take the pinning force to vanish at $\rho_{\rm core}$ and $\rho_d$, due to the fact that the lattice exists only in the crust and that in the outer crust there are no free neutrons to produce vortices.
A single vortex line will be described parallel to the rotational axis and distant from this axis by a distance $x$, that represent the cylindrical radius. We consider also the vortex line to be continuous throughout the core: there is, in fact, no theoretical evidence for the existence of an interface of normal matter between the core and the inner crust, that can justify the hypothesis of a core with vorticity separated from the crust [@Zhou]. Naturally the vortices may not be straight and parallel to the rotational axis, as turbulence may develop in the stellar interior, especially in the presence of strong pinning [@Link11; @Link11b]. We will not consider this possibility here, but will discuss some of its likely consequences in the following.
With the above hypothesis, we can identify two (cylindrical) pinning regions based on the strength of the pinning interaction. The [*strong*]{} pinning region is defined by $x > R_c$ and corresponds to the part of the star in which the vortices lie entirely in the inner crust region, and are therefore subject to pinning for their whole length. On the other hand, in the [*weak*]{} pinning region ($x < R_c$), a vortex line is pinned only at its extremities that are immersed in the crust, while there is no pinning interaction in the core (see figure \[fig:schema\]).
![A schematic representation of the geometry of our problem (out of scale). The whole shaded area represents the inner crust of the NS, where vortices are pinned to the lattice. The darker part indicates the strong pinning region, where the vortices are subjected to pinning for their whole length. The star is threaded by straight continuous vortices.[]{data-label="fig:schema"}](schema){width="7cm"}
The model
=========
Thanks to the axial symmetry of the problem, we can describe the macroscopic quantities of the rotating superfluid in terms of the variable $n(x)$ that represents the number of vortices per unit area, at a distance $x$ from the rotational axis of the star. The angular velocity ${\Omega_s}(x)$ of the superfluid component of the star is in fact proportional to the number $N(x)$ of vortices enclosed in a cylindrical region of cylindrical radius $x$, and can be expressed as: $${\Omega_s}(x) = \frac{\kappa}{2\pi}\frac{N(x)}{x^2} = \frac{\kappa}{2\pi x^2}\int_x n(x')\,da'
\label{eq:os}$$ where the integration is performed on the area enclosed by the radius $x$. This result follows from the quantization of the circulation per vortex line that is encoded in the constant $\kappa = \pi \hbar / m_N$.
Once a star has been fixed by the choice of an EoS and the integration of the TOV equations, the model requires, as a first step, the evaluation of the pinning force for the whole length of a generic vortex line. This can be obtained starting from the function $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$ discussed previously. Let us imagine a vortex line parallel to the rotational axis of the star and distant $x$: the total pinning acting on it is given by the integration of $f_{\rm pin}(\rho)$ over its length: $$F_{\rm pin} (x) = 2\int_0^{\ell(x)/2} f_{\rm pin}\left[ \rho\left(\sqrt{x^2 + z^2} \right)\right] \, dz$$ where $\ell(x) = 2 \sqrt{R_{\rm ic}^2 - x^2}$ is the length of the vortex line, obtained considering that the vortex line ends at the inner–outer crust surface. To understand better the role of the pinning force, we choose a neutron star of $1.4M_\odot$ with SLy equation of state and we plot the function $F_{\rm pin}(x)$ for $x$ from $0$ to $R_{\rm ic}$ (fig. \[fig:totalpinning\], corresponding to $\beta = 1$ and ${{f_{\rm PM}}}= 10^{15}\,\mbox{dyn}\,\mbox{cm}^{-1}$).
![The total pinning force $F_{\rm pin}(x)$ integrated on the whole length of a vortex line distant $x$ from the rotational axis of the star. This plot is obtained taking a star of $1.4M_\odot$ and SLy EoS. The pinning profile used is the $\beta = 1$ case plotted in figure \[fig:pinning\].[]{data-label="fig:totalpinning"}](fpin)
The pinning interaction is not the only force that acts on a vortex line. As shown in @RudSut, pinning prevents the vortex line from moving with the local superfluid velocity because the vortex line is compelled to have the velocity of the normal matter component (the normal component rotates as a rigid body with angular velocity ${\Omega_c}$). This fact give rise to a Magnus force: $$\mathbf{f}_{m} = \kappa \rho_s \, \mathbf{e}_z \times (\mathbf{v}_v - \mathbf{v}_s)
\label{eq:magnus}$$ where $\mathbf{v}_v$ is the velocity of the vortex line and $\mathbf{v}_s$ is the superfluid velocity; here $\mathbf{f}_{m}$ must be intended as force per unit length.
In this expression $\rho_s$ is the density of the superfluid fraction of the star. In fact the whole star can be divided in two components: the normal one (which includes also the protons in the core as they are coupled with the crust by the magnetic field) and the superfluid one, on which the Magnus force will act. It thus follows that $\rho_s = (1 - x_p) \rho$ where $x_p$ is the proton fraction at a given density. Of course this quantity is a microphysical property of matter and for this reason is strictly dependent on the EoS used. As this information is not provided with the EoSs used, we use the results of [@Zuo] who give the proton fraction $x_p(\rho)$ as a function of the total density in the case of two–body interactions and also in the case of three-body forces. We use both the $x_p(\rho)$ relations of [@Zuo] but we consider also a third case where the proton fraction is a constant that does not depend on the total density. We also introduce the parameter $Q$ that represent the superfluid fraction of the star. It is defined for the general case as $$Q = I_s / I_{\rm tot} = \frac{\int_0^R r^4 (1-x_p(\rho))\rho(r)\,dr}{\int_0^R r^4 \rho(r) \,dr}
\label{eq:Q}$$ where we have used eq. \[eq:inertia\]; $I_{\rm tot}$ is the total moment of inertia and $I_s$ is the moment of inertia of the superfluid component. In the case of a constant proton fraction it then follows that $Q = 1 - x_p$. The average value is $Q \approx 0.95$ and therefore we shall test our model also with this prescription.
The Magnus force in \[eq:magnus\] has only one component in the radial direction ($\mathbf{v}_v$ and $\mathbf{v}_s$ are, in fact, directed along $\mathbf{e}_\theta$, so the cross product is directed along $\mathbf{e}_x$) and therefore can be rewritten as: $$\mathbf{f}_{m}(x, z) = f_m(x, z)\,\mathbf{e}_x = - \kappa \rho_s(x,z) x {\Delta\Omega}(x) \, \mathbf{e}_x$$ where the difference of the two velocities is written as $\Delta v(x)=x {\Delta\Omega}(x) = x \left[ {\Omega_c}- {\Omega_s}(x)\right]$ and depends only on the coordinate $x$, as described by equation \[eq:os\]. This quantity is negative between two glitches because the normal component spins slower that the superfluid one; indeed the Magnus force is a hydrodynamical lift that pushes the vortex outward from the rotational axis. The key point here is the fact that the normal component spins down as a consequence of the loss of energy by electromagnetic radiation of the star: the result is an increase of $f_m(x,z)$ in the time interval between glitches.
The same integration performed with $f_{\rm pin}$ over the length of the vortex can be done with the Magnus force. We can consider the total Magnus force acting on a vortex line distant $x$ from the rotational axis: $$\begin{aligned}
F_m(x) & = & 2 \int_0^{\ell(x)/2} f_m(x,z)\,dz \nonumber \\
& = & 2\kappa x {\Delta\Omega}(x) \int_0^{\ell(x)/2} \rho_s \left(\sqrt{x^2 + z^2} \right) \, dz.\end{aligned}$$
The basic idea here is to compare the pinning force and the Magnus force to find the critical lag ${{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x)$ that represents the depinning condition: when the actual lag between the two components of the stars reaches the value ${{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}$ at some point with cylindrical radius $x$, the vortices here are unbound from the lattice, as the Magnus force now exceeds the pinning interaction that held the vortices in place: $$F_{\rm pin}(x) = F_m(x) = {{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x) F^*_m(x) $$ Here $F^*_m(x) = F_m(x) / {{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x)$ and it is plotted in fig. \[fig:magnus\] using the same reference star as in fig. \[fig:totalpinning\].
![Plot of the expression $F^*_m(x) = F_m(x) / {\Delta\Omega}(x)$ as a function of the cylindrical radius $x$. This plot is obtained taking a star of $1.4M_\odot$ and SLy EoS.[]{data-label="fig:magnus"}](magnus)
The important quantity is therefore the critical lag that can be easily evaluated as: $${{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x) = \frac{\int_0^{\ell(x)/2} f_{\rm pin}\left[ \rho\left(\sqrt{x^2 + z^2} \right)\right] \, dz}{\kappa x \int_0^{\ell(x)/2} \rho_s \left(\sqrt{x^2 + z^2} \right) \, dz}.$$
In figure \[fig:criticallag\] we plot the critical lag for sample stars from table \[tab:stars\].
It is important to point out that the critical lag shows a peak ${{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}= {{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}({x_{\rm max}})$ in a region that corresponds to the inner crust, that is the region where the pinning is stronger. In this region our estimate of ${{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x)$ is reasonable since pinning is continuous along the whole single vortex. This is not the case for the critical lag in the core, because here pinning acts on vortices only at their extremities: as explained by @Pizzochero this fact is responsible of the [*weak*]{} pinning in this region, even though we can assume that the system maintains axial symmetry due to the collective rigidity of vortex bundles [@RudSut].
As the star slows down, the depinning condition $\Delta\Omega(x) \ge {{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}}(x)$ is first reached in the [*core*]{}: as shown by @Linkn, in this region repinning is dynamically possible if the lag falls below a critical value (smaller than the one for depinning). This suggest the following interpretation: in the [*core*]{}, as the star slows down, the vortices are continuously depinned and repinned, establishing a dynamical creep that removes the excess vorticity on short timescales. Furthermore the Magnus force in the interior is likely to overcome the tension of vortices and depin them long before the unpinning condition in the crust is met [@Glaberson; @Hask12]. The conclusion is thus that vortices in the core can essentially be considered free. In this region the scattering of electrons off magnetised vortex cores is mainly responsible for the drag forces and for the short relaxation timescale $\tau_c \sim 1-10 \mbox{s}$ [@ALS; @AndSid]: this means that we can consider the normal and the superfluid components in the core as coupled with a lag of order $|{\dot{\Omega}}|\tau_c$.
In the time between glitches, the depinning region becomes larger, involving also the crust: in the inner crust the excess vorticity is repinned and creates a thin vortex sheet that moves toward the peak: this sheet is pushed outward by the increasing Magnus force and it stores angular momentum. When the peak is reached, there is no more pinning interaction that can block the excess vorticity: this vorticity is suddenly released and reaches the outer crust. At this moment the angular momentum stored by vortices is transferred to the normal component of the star, and this causes the glitch.
It is straightforward now to evaluate the time interval between two glitches: this is given by the time needed to create a lag ${{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}$ $${\Delta t_{\rm gl}}= \frac{{{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}}{|{\dot{\Omega}}|}
\label{eq:tgl}$$ where ${\dot{\Omega}}$ is the deceleration of the normal component referred to the pre–glitch steady–state condition.
The above arguments indicates that, immediately before a glitch, a lag of ${{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}$ will have been created for $x = {x_{\rm max}}$. This means that we can use equation \[eq:os\] to express the number of vortices stored at the peak in the sheet just before a glitch: $${N_{\rm v}}= \frac{2\pi}{\kappa} {x_{\rm max}}^2 {{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}.
\label{eq:nv}$$ Due to the particular shape of the critical lag in figure \[fig:criticallag\], we can assume that in this moment the excess vorticity in the region $x > {x_{\rm max}}$ has been entirely removed by the Magnus force, and therefore the ${N_{\rm v}}$ vortices are the only ones responsible for the transfer of angular momentum to the normal component of the star. To evaluate the angular momentum transfer we start from the definition $dL = {\Omega_s}(x)\,dI_s$. As we are interested in the angular momentum stored by ${N_{\rm v}}$ vortices at the peak of the pinning potential, we use the relation in \[eq:nv\] and perform the integration on the cylindrical region ${x_{\rm max}}< x < R_c$ to obtain the requested quantity (the integration on the coordinate $x$ stops at $R_c$ due to the fact that in the outer crust there is no superfluid component): $${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}= 2\kappa {N_{\rm v}}\int_{{x_{\rm max}}}^{R_c} x \, dx \int_0^{\ell(x)} \rho_s(\sqrt{x^2 + z^2}) \, dz.
\label{eq:dlg}$$
Following the arguments above, at the moment of a glitch only a fraction of the core superfluidity is coupled to the normal component of the star: in fact, the rise time of a glitch ($\tau_{\rm gl}$) is very short and only the instantaneously depinned fraction of vorticity in the core can respond to the variation of the angular velocity of the crust. We introduce the parameter ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ to encode this fractional quantity. In fact the best observational upper limit is of $\tau_{\rm gl} < 40\mbox{ s}$ for the Vela 2000 glitch [@Dod], while an interesting lower limit of $\tau_{\rm gl}> 10^{-4}$ ms can be set by the non–detection of gravitational waves from the Vela 2006 glitch [@Andrewnew]. Theoretical estimates suggest that $\tau_{\rm gl}\approx 1-10$ s [@Hask12].
In the pre–glitch steady–state condition, due to the long timescales involved, we can assume $Y_\infty = 1$; but during a glitch this quantity cannot be calculated with the snowplow model as it depends on the detailed short–time dynamics of the vortices, and must thus be determined with hydrodynamical simulations such as those in @Hask12. As this is beyond the scope of the current paper, the quantity ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ is taken as a parameter of this model, and must be inferred from the observational data as shown in the next section.
The value ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ is needed for the evaluation of ${\Delta\Omega_{\rm gl}}$, the jump in angular velocity of the normal component of the star due to a glitch. This corresponds to the ratio between the angular momentum transfer ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ and the effective moment of inertia $I_{\rm eff}$ of the coupled fraction of matter during the glitch. One thus has that $I_{\rm eff} = (1 - Q) I_{\rm tot} + Q {Y_{\rm gl}}I_{\rm tot}$ and the requested quantity is therefore: $${\Delta\Omega_{\rm gl}}= \frac{{\Delta L_{\rm gl}}}{I_{\rm tot} \left[ 1 - Q \left( 1 - {Y_{\rm gl}}\right) \right]}.
\label{eq:DOgl}$$ A further parameter of the glitch that can be calculated is the relative acceleration of the crust. As illustrated in @Pizzochero the desired relation follows from variation at the glitch of the Euler equation for the normal component and angular momentum conservation: $${\frac{{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}}}{\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}= \frac{Q(1 - {Y_{\rm gl}})}{1 - Q(1 - {Y_{\rm gl}})}.$$
[@lrrrrrcrrrr@]{} & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ & & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) & & & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) &\
& 1.0 & 10.530 & 0.938 & 1.562 & 0.203 & & 10.724 & 0.955 & 0.697 & 0.027\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 10.654 & 0.945 & 1.581 & 0.148 & & 10.829 & 0.960 & 0.704 & 0.009\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 10.753 & 0.951 & 1.595 & 0.106 & & 10.910 & 0.965 & 0.709 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 10.827 & 0.956 & 1.606 & 0.074 & & 10.968 & 0.968 & 0.713 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 10.875 & 0.961 & 1.613 & 0.048 & & 11.001 & 0.972 & 0.715 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 10.897 & 0.965 & 1.616 & 0.027 & & 11.010 & 0.975 & 0.716 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 10.889 & 0.969 & 1.615 & 0.011 & & 10.990 & 0.977 & 0.715 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 10.847 & 0.972 & 1.609 & – & & 10.937 & 0.980 & 0.711 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 10.759 & 0.975 & 1.596 & – & & 10.838 & 0.982 & 0.705 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 10.600 & 0.979 & 1.572 & – & & 10.667 & 0.985 & 0.694 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.279 & 0.982 & 1.525 & – & & 10.332 & 0.987 & 0.672 & –\
& 1.0 & 12.129 & 0.932 & 1.798 & 0.493 & & 12.447 & 0.956 & 0.809 & 0.078\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 12.315 & 0.939 & 1.825 & 0.389 & & 12.604 & 0.961 & 0.819 & 0.051\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 12.473 & 0.945 & 1.849 & 0.307 & & 12.737 & 0.965 & 0.827 & 0.031\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 12.604 & 0.950 & 1.868 & 0.242 & & 12.844 & 0.968 & 0.834 & 0.015\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 12.710 & 0.955 & 1.884 & 0.190 & & 12.929 & 0.971 & 0.840 & 0.003\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 12.792 & 0.959 & 1.896 & 0.148 & & 12.992 & 0.974 & 0.844 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 12.852 & 0.962 & 1.905 & 0.113 & & 13.034 & 0.976 & 0.847 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 12.890 & 0.966 & 1.910 & 0.083 & & 13.055 & 0.978 & 0.848 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 12.901 & 0.969 & 1.912 & 0.060 & & 13.052 & 0.980 & 0.848 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 12.885 & 0.972 & 1.910 & 0.040 & & 13.022 & 0.982 & 0.846 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 12.836 & 0.974 & 1.902 & 0.023 & & 12.960 & 0.984 & 0.842 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 12.744 & 0.977 & 1.889 & 0.007 & & 12.854 & 0.985 & 0.835 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 12.586 & 0.980 & 1.865 & – & & 12.683 & 0.987 & 0.824 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.287 & 0.982 & 1.821 & – & & 12.367 & 0.989 & 0.803 & –\
[@lrrrrrcrrrr@]{} & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ & & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) & & & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) &\
& 1.0 & 10.530 & 0.938 & 1.618 & 0.212 & & 10.724 & 0.955 & 0.727 & 0.029\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 10.654 & 0.945 & 1.637 & 0.152 & & 10.829 & 0.960 & 0.735 & 0.007\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 10.753 & 0.951 & 1.652 & 0.105 & & 10.910 & 0.965 & 0.740 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 10.827 & 0.956 & 1.663 & 0.067 & & 10.968 & 0.968 & 0.744 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 10.875 & 0.961 & 1.671 & 0.036 & & 11.001 & 0.972 & 0.746 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 10.897 & 0.965 & 1.674 & 0.010 & & 11.010 & 0.975 & 0.747 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 10.889 & 0.969 & 1.673 & – & & 10.990 & 0.977 & 0.745 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 10.847 & 0.972 & 1.666 & – & & 10.937 & 0.980 & 0.742 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 10.759 & 0.975 & 1.653 & – & & 10.837 & 0.982 & 0.735 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 10.600 & 0.979 & 1.628 & – & & 10.666 & 0.985 & 0.723 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.279 & 0.982 & 1.579 & – & & 10.332 & 0.987 & 0.701 & –\
& 1.0 & 12.129 & 0.932 & 1.861 & 0.522 & & 12.446 & 0.956 & 0.843 & 0.099\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 12.315 & 0.939 & 1.890 & 0.415 & & 12.605 & 0.961 & 0.854 & 0.070\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 12.473 & 0.945 & 1.914 & 0.330 & & 12.736 & 0.965 & 0.863 & 0.048\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 12.604 & 0.950 & 1.934 & 0.262 & & 12.844 & 0.968 & 0.870 & 0.029\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 12.710 & 0.955 & 1.951 & 0.207 & & 12.929 & 0.971 & 0.876 & 0.014\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 12.792 & 0.959 & 1.963 & 0.162 & & 12.992 & 0.974 & 0.880 & 0.002\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 12.852 & 0.962 & 1.972 & 0.124 & & 13.034 & 0.976 & 0.883 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 12.888 & 0.966 & 1.978 & 0.092 & & 13.055 & 0.978 & 0.884 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 12.900 & 0.969 & 1.980 & 0.064 & & 13.052 & 0.980 & 0.884 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 12.885 & 0.972 & 1.977 & 0.039 & & 13.022 & 0.982 & 0.882 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 12.836 & 0.974 & 1.970 & 0.018 & & 12.960 & 0.984 & 0.878 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 12.744 & 0.977 & 1.956 & – & & 12.854 & 0.985 & 0.871 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 12.586 & 0.980 & 1.931 & – & & 12.683 & 0.987 & 0.859 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.286 & 0.982 & 1.885 & – & & 12.367 & 0.989 & 0.838 & –\
[@lrrrrrcrrrr@]{} & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ & & ${x_{\rm max}}$ & ${{x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}}$ & ${{f_{\rm PM}}}/10^{15}$ & ${Y_{\rm gl}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) & & & (km) & & (dyn$\,$cm$^{-1}$) &\
& 1.0 & 10.530 & 0.938 & 1.619 & 0.197 & & 10.724 & 0.955 & 0.728 & 0.011\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 10.654 & 0.945 & 1.638 & 0.133 & & 10.829 & 0.960 & 0.735 & –\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 10.753 & 0.951 & 1.653 & 0.080 & & 10.910 & 0.965 & 0.740 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 10.827 & 0.956 & 1.664 & 0.036 & & 10.968 & 0.968 & 0.744 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 10.875 & 0.961 & 1.672 & – & & 11.001 & 0.972 & 0.746 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 10.897 & 0.965 & 1.675 & – & & 11.010 & 0.975 & 0.747 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 10.889 & 0.969 & 1.674 & – & & 10.990 & 0.977 & 0.746 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 10.847 & 0.972 & 1.667 & – & & 10.937 & 0.980 & 0.742 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 10.759 & 0.975 & 1.654 & – & & 10.837 & 0.982 & 0.735 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 10.600 & 0.979 & 1.629 & – & & 10.666 & 0.985 & 0.724 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.279 & 0.982 & 1.580 & – & & 10.332 & 0.987 & 0.701 & –\
& 1.0 & 12.129 & 0.932 & 1.862 & 0.521 & & 12.446 & 0.956 & 0.843 & 0.095\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 12.315 & 0.939 & 1.891 & 0.413 & & 12.605 & 0.961 & 0.854 & 0.065\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 12.473 & 0.945 & 1.915 & 0.326 & & 12.736 & 0.965 & 0.863 & 0.042\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 12.604 & 0.950 & 1.935 & 0.257 & & 12.844 & 0.968 & 0.870 & 0.022\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 12.710 & 0.955 & 1.952 & 0.200 & & 12.929 & 0.971 & 0.876 & 0.006\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 12.792 & 0.959 & 1.964 & 0.153 & & 12.992 & 0.974 & 0.880 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 12.852 & 0.962 & 1.973 & 0.112 & & 13.034 & 0.976 & 0.883 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 12.888 & 0.966 & 1.979 & 0.077 & & 13.055 & 0.978 & 0.885 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 12.900 & 0.969 & 1.981 & 0.046 & & 13.052 & 0.980 & 0.884 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 12.885 & 0.972 & 1.978 & 0.017 & & 13.022 & 0.982 & 0.882 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 12.836 & 0.974 & 1.971 & – & & 12.960 & 0.984 & 0.878 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 12.744 & 0.977 & 1.957 & – & & 12.854 & 0.985 & 0.871 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 12.586 & 0.980 & 1.932 & – & & 12.683 & 0.987 & 0.859 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.286 & 0.982 & 1.886 & – & & 12.367 & 0.989 & 0.838 & –\
[@lrrrrrcrrr@]{} & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & $R$ & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$ & & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) & & & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) &\
& 1.0 & 11.855 & 3.041 & 3.889 & 3.124 & & 3.154 & 1.216 & 12.184\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 11.830 & 3.113 & 3.425 & 4.242 & & 3.216 & 1.059 & 15.950\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 11.797 & 3.171 & 2.996 & 5.622 & & 3.265 & 0.919 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 11.758 & 3.215 & 2.601 & 7.331 & & 3.299 & 0.792 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 11.705 & 3.244 & 2.235 & 9.476 & & 3.319 & 0.677 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 11.635 & 3.257 & 1.903 & 12.166 & & 3.325 & 0.570 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 11.545 & 3.252 & 1.595 & 15.629 & & 3.313 & 0.477 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 11.422 & 3.227 & 1.304 & – & & 3.280 & 0.387 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 11.260 & 3.175 & 1.033 & – & & 3.221 & 0.304 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 11.025 & 3.082 & 0.771 & – & & 3.121 & 0.226 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.620 & 2.898 & 0.498 & – & & 2.928 & 0.147 & –\
& 1.0 & 13.940 & 4.034 & 11.480 & 0.931 & & 4.249 & 2.741 & 7.086\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 13.943 & 4.159 & 10.433 & 1.384 & & 4.357 & 2.456 & 9.128\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 13.940 & 4.267 & 9.429 & 1.927 & & 4.449 & 2.180 & 11.657\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 13.930 & 4.357 & 8.481 & 2.570 & & 4.524 & 1.958 & 14.462\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 13.913 & 4.430 & 7.599 & 3.330 & & 4.584 & 1.743 & 17.882\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 13.885 & 4.488 & 6.764 & 4.242 & & 4.629 & 1.542 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 13.845 & 4.530 & 5.977 & 5.344 & & 4.660 & 1.355 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 13.788 & 4.557 & 5.198 & 6.744 & & 4.674 & 1.184 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 13.715 & 4.565 & 4.543 & 8.336 & & 4.672 & 1.020 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 13.620 & 4.553 & 3.895 & 10.385 & & 4.651 & 0.869 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 13.495 & 4.519 & 3.284 & 12.999 & & 4.606 & 0.727 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 13.330 & 4.455 & 2.688 & 16.541 & & 4.532 & 0.593 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 13.095 & 4.345 & 2.104 & – & & 4.411 & 0.460 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.713 & 4.140 & 1.481 & – & & 4.195 & 0.327 & –\
[@lrrrrrrcrrr@]{} & & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & $R$ & $Q$ & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$ & & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) & & & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) &\
& 1.0 & 11.855 & 0.948 & 3.041 & 4.048 & 2.962 & & 3.154 & 1.272 & 11.609\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 11.830 & 0.945 & 3.113 & 3.565 & 4.036 & & 3.216 & 1.108 & 15.210\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 11.797 & 0.942 & 3.171 & 3.119 & 5.362 & & 3.265 & 0.961 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 11.758 & 0.938 & 3.215 & 2.708 & 7.005 & & 3.299 & 0.828 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 11.705 & 0.934 & 3.244 & 2.327 & 9.065 & & 3.319 & 0.708 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 11.635 & 0.930 & 3.257 & 1.981 & 11.650 & & 3.325 & 0.596 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 11.545 & 0.925 & 3.252 & 1.660 & – & & 3.313 & 0.499 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 11.422 & 0.920 & 3.227 & 1.357 & – & & 3.280 & 0.405 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 11.260 & 0.913 & 3.175 & 1.076 & – & & 3.221 & 0.321 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 11.025 & 0.905 & 3.082 & 0.803 & – & & 3.120 & 0.239 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.620 & 0.890 & 2.898 & 0.518 & – & & 2.928 & 0.153 & –\
& 1.0 & 13.940 & 0.966 & 4.034 & 11.939 & 0.856 & & 4.248 & 2.874 & 6.713\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 13.943 & 0.964 & 4.159 & 10.850 & 1.292 & & 4.357 & 2.559 & 8.719\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 13.940 & 0.962 & 4.267 & 9.805 & 1.814 & & 4.448 & 2.303 & 10.982\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 13.930 & 0.961 & 4.357 & 8.820 & 2.433 & & 4.524 & 2.047 & 13.792\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 13.913 & 0.959 & 4.430 & 7.903 & 3.164 & & 4.584 & 1.822 & 17.063\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 13.885 & 0.956 & 4.488 & 7.034 & 4.041 & & 4.629 & 1.612 & 20.994\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 13.845 & 0.954 & 4.530 & 6.216 & 5.101 & & 4.660 & 1.416 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 13.788 & 0.952 & 4.556 & 5.463 & 6.367 & & 4.674 & 1.237 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 13.715 & 0.949 & 4.564 & 4.743 & 7.943 & & 4.672 & 1.066 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 13.620 & 0.946 & 4.553 & 4.051 & 9.948 & & 4.651 & 0.909 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 13.495 & 0.942 & 4.519 & 3.415 & 12.463 & & 4.606 & 0.760 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 13.330 & 0.938 & 4.455 & 2.796 & – & & 4.532 & 0.620 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 13.095 & 0.933 & 4.345 & 2.188 & – & & 4.411 & 0.481 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.713 & 0.925 & 4.140 & 1.552 & – & & 4.195 & 0.342 & –\
[@lrrrrrrcrrr@]{} & & & & & &\
\
[**EoS**]{} & $M$ & $R$ & $Q$ & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$ & & ${N_{\rm v}}$ & ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ & ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$\
& ($M_\odot$) & (km) & & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) & & & ($10^{13}$) & ($10^{40}$ erg$\,$s) &\
& 1.0 & 11.855 & 0.931 & 3.041 & 4.049 & 2.960 & & 3.154 & 1.272 & 11.607\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 11.830 & 0.924 & 3.113 & 3.567 & 4.034 & & 3.216 & 1.108 & –\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 11.797 & 0.916 & 3.171 & 3.120 & 5.360 & & 3.265 & 0.961 & –\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 11.758 & 0.908 & 3.215 & 2.708 & 7.002 & & 3.299 & 0.828 & –\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 11.705 & 0.899 & 3.244 & 2.328 & – & & 3.319 & 0.708 & –\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 11.635 & 0.888 & 3.257 & 1.981 & – & & 3.325 & 0.597 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 11.545 & 0.876 & 3.252 & 1.661 & – & & 3.313 & 0.499 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 11.422 & 0.862 & 3.227 & 1.358 & – & & 3.280 & 0.405 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 11.260 & 0.844 & 3.175 & 1.076 & – & & 3.221 & 0.321 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 11.025 & 0.820 & 3.082 & 0.803 & – & & 3.120 & 0.239 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 10.620 & 0.779 & 2.898 & 0.518 & – & & 2.928 & 0.153 & –\
& 1.0 & 13.940 & 0.962 & 4.034 & 11.944 & 0.856 & & 4.248 & 2.874 & 6.712\
[****]{} & 1.1 & 13.943 & 0.959 & 4.159 & 10.854 & 1.292 & & 4.357 & 2.559 & 8.718\
[****]{} & 1.2 & 13.940 & 0.957 & 4.267 & 9.809 & 1.813 & & 4.448 & 2.303 & 10.981\
[****]{} & 1.3 & 13.930 & 0.953 & 4.357 & 8.824 & 2.432 & & 4.524 & 2.047 & 13.791\
[****]{} & 1.4 & 13.913 & 0.950 & 4.430 & 7.906 & 3.163 & & 4.584 & 1.822 & 17.061\
[****]{} & 1.5 & 13.885 & 0.946 & 4.488 & 7.037 & 4.039 & & 4.629 & 1.612 & –\
[****]{} & 1.6 & 13.845 & 0.942 & 4.530 & 6.218 & 5.099 & & 4.660 & 1.416 & –\
[****]{} & 1.7 & 13.788 & 0.937 & 4.556 & 5.465 & 6.365 & & 4.674 & 1.237 & –\
[****]{} & 1.8 & 13.715 & 0.931 & 4.564 & 4.744 & 7.939 & & 4.672 & 1.066 & –\
[****]{} & 1.9 & 13.620 & 0.925 & 4.553 & 4.052 & 9.944 & & 4.651 & 0.909 & –\
[****]{} & 2.0 & 13.495 & 0.917 & 4.519 & 3.416 & – & & 4.606 & 0.760 & –\
[****]{} & 2.1 & 13.330 & 0.907 & 4.455 & 2.797 & – & & 4.532 & 0.620 & –\
[****]{} & 2.2 & 13.095 & 0.894 & 4.345 & 2.188 & – & & 4.411 & 0.481 & –\
[****]{} & 2.3 & 12.713 & 0.873 & 4.140 & 1.553 & – & & 4.195 & 0.342 & –\
Results and observations {#sec:results}
========================
In this section we test the model proposed here against observations. As the model has been developed for giant glitches we shall compare our results to observations of giant glitches in the Vela pulsar. The Vela (PSR B0833-45 or PSR J0835-4510) has a spin frequency $\nu\approx 11.19$ Hz and spin-down rate $\dot{\nu}\approx -1.55 \times 10^{-11}$ Hz s$^{-1}$; from relation \[eq:tgl\] this value correspond to a maximum critical lag of ${{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}= 8.6\times 10^{-3} \mbox{ rad}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$, where we have considered that the average time between glitches for this pulsar is $2.8$ years. The glitch is usually described in terms of permanent steps in the frequency and frequency derivative and a series of transient terms that decay exponentially. It is well known that at least three transient terms are required, with decay timescales that range from months to hours [@Flanagan]. Recent observations of the 2000 and 2004 glitch have shown that an additional term is required on short timescales, with a decay time of approximately a minute. Given that the detection in 2004 was only barely above the noise we shall refer to the January 2000 glitch. In this case the jump in angular velocity was of ${\Delta\Omega_{\rm gl}}= 2.2 \times 10^{-4} \mbox{ rad}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$ [@Dod; @dodson2]. This is a fairly typical value for giant glitches in the Vela, and we take it as our reference value. The relative step in frequency derivative corresponding to the transient term with the shortest decay timescale (1 minute) for this glitch is ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}\approx 18 \pm 6$ (1$\sigma$ error), and we assume that this is a good approximation to the [*instantaneous*]{} step in frequency derivative at the time of the glitch.
As explained in the previous section, the model has two free parameters that are the maximum value of the pinning force value ${{f_{\rm PM}}}$ and ${Y_{\rm gl}}$: this means that, once a star has been fixed (by choosing the EoS, the mass $M$, and the superfluid fraction relation) we can use two observational quantities to constrain the parameters of the model and compare further observables to the quantities predicted by calculations. In particular, for each fixed star, we rescale the maximum of the pinning force in order to produce the maximum critical lag ${{{\Delta\Omega_{\rm cr}}_{\rm max}}}$ required to reproduce the average waiting time between glitches in the Vela. This allows us to calculate directly and univocally the angular momentum ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ from equation \[eq:dlg\]. As we want to reproduce a glitch of amplitude ${\Delta\Omega_{\rm gl}}= 2.2 \times 10^{-4} \mbox{ rad}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$, relation \[eq:DOgl\] can be rewritten in the following form $${Y_{\rm gl}}= \frac{1}{Q}\left[\frac{{\Delta L_{\rm gl}}}{I_{\rm tot} {\Delta\Omega_{\rm gl}}} + Q -1 \right],$$ and therefore can be used to fix the coupled fraction of matter during the glitch. Tables \[tab:A095\], \[tab:AZU1\] and \[tab:AZU2\] give the fitting parameters for all the configurations tested. We can see that the value of the maximum pinning force ${{f_{\rm PM}}}$ does not change significantly with the total mass of the star. In these tables negative values of ${Y_{\rm gl}}$ are not given as they would not be physically acceptable: a negative value would mean that there is not enough angular momentum to produce the required jump in angular velocity, even if we consider the core vorticity completely decoupled from the normal component of the star at the time of the glitch.
The remaining tables, numbered \[tab:B095\], \[tab:BZU1\] and \[tab:BZU2\], show the physical quantities that the “snowplow” model permits to evaluate. These are of course the angular momentum ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ transferred to the crust during the glitch and the relative step in frequency derivative. We can see that the order of magnitude for ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ is $10^{40}\,\mbox{erg}\,\mbox{s}$, that is compatible with the upper limits on the glitch energy obtained from observations of the power wind nebula surrounding Vela [@Helfand] and with the results found in @Pizzochero, where the same model is applied analytically with a polytropic EoS in Newtonian gravity. From these tables one can see that, for a particular choice of EoS and proton fraction, the angular momentum ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ stored by vortices decreases with the total mass of the star. This behaviour can be easily explained, as shown by @Pizzochero, in terms of the quantity ${x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}$ shown in the tables: ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ is obviously related to the number ${N_{\rm v}}$ of vortices stored at the peak (in tables \[tab:B095\], \[tab:BZU1\] and \[tab:BZU2\]; see also eq. \[eq:dlg\]) – that however doesn’t change significantly with the mass – but it depends strongly on the ratio ${x_{\rm max}}/R_{\rm ic}$ which increases at higher masses. In @Pizzochero (fig. 4) it is clearly shown that the angular momentum stored by the vortices at the peak decreases rapidly moving the position of the peak towards the outer crust. The quantity ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$ also depends on the equation of state used (a stiffer EoS produces higher values of ${\Delta L_{\rm gl}}$) and on the pinning profile: the $\beta= 3$ condition, when other variables are fixed, gives lower values for the angular momentum, accordingly to the fact that the relative position of the peak with respect to the inner crust radius is higher.
The “snowplow” model permits to calculate also the step in spin–down rate immediately after a glitch, and this quantity is given in our tables as ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}$. It has been calculated only for acceptable values of ${Y_{\rm gl}}$, and must be compared with the reference value of ${{\Delta\dot{\Omega}_{gl}/\dot{\Omega}_\infty}}= 18 \pm 6$, taken from the Vela 2000 glitch [@Dod]. These values suggest that the $\beta = 3$ configurations are preferred and this can be considered in reasonable agreement with the microscopic results found by @Gandolfi: they find that a realistic suppression factor for the pairing gap $\Delta(\rho)$ is $\beta \approx 1.5$ but, crucially, also that the maximum for $\Delta(\rho)$ is shifted at lower densities. This leads to a profile close to what we obtain for $\beta=3$ in our model.
Finally let us remark that the results in tables \[tab:B095\], \[tab:BZU1\] and \[tab:BZU2\], for the (microscopically favoured) case $\beta=3$, seem to indicate that a stiffer equation of state (GM1) is preferred as is a lower mass (possibly in the region of $1.4 M_\odot$) for the Vela pulsar. Naturally such a quantitative conclusion is difficult to make on the basis of one observation and it would be highly desirable to have information on the short-timescale post-glitch behaviour not only of other Vela giant glitches, but also of other glitching pulsars. Note that short term components of the relaxation have not been measured for other giant glitchers, however the “snowplow” model can be used to predict waiting times, obtaining results which are consistent with observations [@Hask12].
Conclusions
===========
In this paper we have extended the “snowplow” model for giant pulsar glitches of @Pizzochero to incorporate relativistic background stellar models and realistic equations of state. In particular we test the model for the SLy and GM1 equations of state. Unfortunately these equations of state do not include information on beta equilibrium, so we use the proton fractions calculated by @Zuo. It would of course be highly desirable to use proton fractions that are consistent with the individual equations of state in future work, in order to set stringent constraints. Furthermore we use, for the first time, the realistic profiles for the pinning forces per unit length calculated by @Gpaper1 (see also @Gtesi [@Gpaper2]), in order to evaluate the amount of angular momentum that can be transferred to the crust during a glitch.
The model contains three free parameters, the mass of the star $M$, the fraction of superfluid that is coupled to the crust during a glitch $Y_{gl}$, (which can only be estimated with dynamical simulations such as those of @Hask12), and the maximum amplitude of the pinning force, ${{f_{\rm PM}}}$. Note in fact that while the location of the maximum is precisely determined by the microphysical calculations of @Gpaper1 (see also @Gtesi [@Gpaper2]), the actual value of the maximum can vary by factors of order unity or more as it depends on the poorly constrained value of the vortex tension. We thus treat it as a normalization and determine its value by requiring that the waiting time between glitches is of 2.8 years, as is approximately the case for Vela glitches. We then fit the size of the glitch to an average Vela glitch to obtain the value of $Y_{gl}$. In particular we take the value of the Vela 2000 glitch, $\Delta\Omega=2.2\times10^{-4}\mbox{ rad}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}$ [@Dod].
Having determined the free parameters in our model, except for the mass of the NS which is free, we compare our results to the post glitch step in frequency derivative. Unfortunately the changes in $\dot{\nu}$ on short time scales after a glitch are observationally challenging to detect and it has been possible to fit for transient steps in frequency and frequency derivative on timescales of minutes after a glitch only for the Vela 2000 and 2004 glitch [@Dod; @dodson2]. Given that the detection is only barely above the noise for the 2004 glitch [@dodson2] we fit to the values obtained for the 2000 glitch, which we assume to be a good approximation of the instantaneous post glitch behaviour. This justifies our choice of also fitting to the value of the jump in frequency of the Vela 2000 glitch.
The comparison of the model to the observational constraints first of all highlights that the general results of the analytic model of @Pizzochero remain valid even in our more physically realistic approach and the results are in general consistent for both equations of state for a reasonable range of neutron star masses. The glitch model presented here thus appears robust and compatible with the observations of giant glitches in the Vela and is, as shown in @Hask12, compatible with the average waiting time between giant glitches in other pulsars. This further reinforces the hypothesis that giant glitches are approximately periodic phenomena that occur close to the maximum lag that the pinning force can support in the crust, while smaller glitches may be triggered by random events such as crust quakes [@Rud76; @Rud] or vortex avalanches [@Melatos1; @Melatos2; @Melatos3; @Andrewnew]. Furthermore our results favour lower masses for the Vela pulsar (smaller than $1.5M_{\odot}$) and stiffer equations of state. Note however that such a quantitative conclusion is difficult to draw as not only are we comparing to a single observation but dynamical simulations have also shown that superfluid mutual friction will contribute significantly to the short term post-glitch spindown [@Hask12] as may friction at the crust/core interface [@vE1]. In will thus be necessary to further develop hydrodynamical glitch simulations to truly constrain the equation of state and the stellar mass.
Finally let us remark that in this paper we have assumed straight vortices that cross cross the core of the neutron star and are only weakly pinned at their extremities. Although the assumption of vortices that pass through the star appears to be justified by microphysical estimates, that do not predict an interface of normal matter between the crust and core superfluid [@Zhou], it may be the case that if the protons in the core are in a type II superconducting state this could lead to strong pinning also in the stellar interior [@Rud; @Link03]. In this case not only would vortex motion be impeded, but it is also likely that turbulence will develop [@Link11; @Link11b]. Note, however, that a large portion of the star may be in a type I superconducting state [@Jones06] in which the magnetic field is not organised in flux tubes, but rather in macroscopic regions of normal matter, and the interactions may be much weaker [@Sedrakian05] (although see @Jones06 for a discussion of pinning in type I superconductors). Furthermore @Babaev has recently shown that in the presence of strong entrainment or superfluid $\Sigma^{-}$ hyperons, the interaction between vortices and flux tubes may be much weaker than generally assumed in the presence of type II superconductivity. In this paper we thus take the view that pinning in the core will be weak, although strong pinning of vortices to flux tubes is an intriguing possibility and will be the focus of a future publication (Haskell, Pizzochero & Seveso, in preparation).
Turbulence, on the other hand, is well known from laboratory superfluids and may play an important role in pulsar glitches [@Peralta06; @Peralta07; @Peralta09] and could couple the superfluid and the normal component on inter-glitch timescales in the presence of core pinning [@Trev07]. The inclusion of turbulence in a hydrodynamical glitch simulations is, however, a complex matter as not only is the nature of the turbulence not known (see e.g. @Trev07 [@Link11; @Link11b]) but also the definition of pinning force per unit length must be revisited in the presence of a turbulent tangle. Such a fundamental issue should clearly be the focus of future work.
Acknowledgments {#acknowledgments .unnumbered}
===============
This work was supported by CompStar, a Research Networking Programme of the European Science Foundation. BH acknowledges support from the European Union via a Marie-Curie IEF fellowship and from the European Science Foundation (ESF) for the activity entitled “The New Physics of Compact Stars” (COMPSTAR) under exchange grant 2449.
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Jones P.B., 2006, MNRAS 371, 1327 Larson M.B., Link B., 2002, MNRAS, 333, 613 Link B., 2003, Phys.Rev.Lett. 91 ,10110 Link B., 2009, Phys.Rev.Letters 102, 131101 Link B., 2011a, preprint: arXiv:1105.4654 Link B., 2011b, preprint: arXiv:1111.0696 Melatos A., Peralta C., 2007, ApJ. 662, L99 Melatos A., Warszawski L., 2009, ApJ. 700, 1524 Middleditch J., Marshall F.E., Wang Q.D., Gotthelf E.V., Zhang W., 2006, ApJ, 625, 1531 Page D., Prakash M., Lattimer J.M., Steiner A.W., 2011, Phys.Rev.Lett. 106, 081101 Peralta C., Melatos A., Giacobello M., Ooi A., 2006, ApJ. 651, Peralta C., Melatos A., 2009, ApJ. 701, L75 1079 Pines D., Shaham J., Alpar M.A., Anderson P.W., 1980, Prog.Theor.Phys., Suppl. 69, 376 Pizzochero P.M., 2011, ApJ. 743, L20 Ruderman M.A., Sutherland P.G., 1974, Ap.J. 190, 137 Ruderman M., 1976, Ap.J. 203, 213 Ruderman M., Zhu T., Chen K., 1998, Ap.J. 492, 267 Sedrakian A., 2005, Phys.Rev.D 71, 3003 Shternin P.S., Yakovlev D.G., Heinke C.O., Ho W.C.G., Patnaude D.J., 2011, MNRAS 41, L108 Warszawski L., Melatos A., 2008, MNRAS 390, 175 Warszawski L., Melatos A., 2011, MNRAS 415, 1611 Warszawski L., Melatos A., 2012, preprint: arXiv:1203.4466
Zhou X.-R., Schulze H.-J., Zhao E.-G., Pan F., Draayer J. P., 2004, Phys. Rev. C, 70, 048802 Zuo W., Li Z.H., Lu G.C., Li J.Q., Scheid W., Lombardo U., Schulze H.-J., Shen C.W., 2004, Phys.Lett.B 595, 44
\[lastpage\]
[^1]: E-mail:pierre.pizzochero@mi.infn.it
| 2023-10-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4547 |
Susceptibility of freshwater snails to the amphistome Calicophoron microbothrium and the influence of the species on susceptibility of Bulinus tropicus to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mattheei infections.
The susceptibility of Bulinus tropicus, B. globosus, Biomphalana pfeifferi, Lymnaea natalensis, and Melanoides tuberculata to Calicophoron microbothrium was examined. Bulinus tropicus had the highest prevalence (65.0%), followed by B. pfeifferi (37.5%), B. globosus (6.8%), and M. tuberculata (5.9%). Lymnaea natalensis was refractory to infection. Bulinus tropicus snails infected with C. microbothrium alone or coinfected with either Schistosoma haematobium or S. mattheei 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after exposure to C. microbothrium produced C. microbothrium cercariae only. | 2024-07-24T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4903 |
Methylphenidate delivery mechanisms for the treatment of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: heterogeneity in parent preferences.
Extended-release therapies avoid the need for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to take medication at school. Recently a transdermal delivery system has been developed which can allow symptom control all day long but with greater dosing flexibility. This study explored the parents' preferences regarding oral and transdermal therapy. A nonsystematic and qualitative literature review and in-depth interviews with parents and physicians helped identify salient treatment attributes for a discrete choice experiment. Treatment attributes included mode of administration (tablet or transdermal), speed of onset (30-90 min); duration (lasts until 3-9 pm) and ability to tailor the drug to different needs (no flexibility, limited flexibility, easy to adjust to different days). A convenience sample of parents of children treated for ADHD (n = 200) were recruited using a recruitment agency. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Parents' preferred once-a-day oral therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 1.76 [95 percent confidence interval {CI}, 1.43 - 2.18]); rapid speed of onset (OR = 1.22 [95 percent CI, 1.07 - 1.39]), and symptom control until 9 pm (OR = 3.79 [95 percent CI, 2.98 - 4.82]). Analyses identified that 30 percent of parents preferred transdermal treatment and this subgroup preferred treatments with a fast onset of action. This survey demonstrates that parents of ADHD children have different preferences for the ADHD treatments prescribed for their children. A distinct subgroup of parents prefer the transdermal therapy. These parents were less likely to be working and so monitoring compliance and doing after school activities may have been easier. | 2024-03-22T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9761 |
Category Archives: Uncategorized
SPECIAL OFFER: We have four nights available from Thursday 4th April to Monday 8th April for £500. Come to see spring in Snowdonia. Perfect conditions for walking and mountain biking.
Maes-yr-eglwys-wen (The Field of the White Church in Welsh) is a holiday house about 4 miles north of Dolgellau in the Snowdonia National Park, accommodating up to 6 people and 2 children in four bedrooms. More details here.
It sits alone in fields forming a large clearing high in the Coed-y-Brenin forest, best known for its world-famous mountain bike trails. Excellent walks are available from the front door and the spectacularly beautiful Mawddach estuary is 15 minutes away by car and sandy beaches a little further. All the adventures of Snowdonia – recently described by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 holiday locations in the world – are within reach.
Recently refurbished, the house is very well-equipped and comfortable, something all our visitors note. From July 2018, there is an electric car charging point at the house. Prices range from £600 to £1,190 a week, depending on season. We welcome weekenders in the autumn and winter periods. Unfortunately we cannot accept pets.
Full details of availability are available on the Bookings page. We can sometimes move bookings around if the week you require is not available.
Please ring Karen, who manages the house, on 07581 176943 (mobile reception sometimes poor) or 01341 450384 or write to karen@holiday-cottage-services.co.uk. If your enquiry is urgent, please also try Chris Goodall on 07767 386696 or chrisgoodall2@gmail.com
Maes-yr-eglwys-wen
Maes yr Eglwys Wen from woods one kilometre to the east, March 2016.
Originally built by the Forestry Commission in the 1920s, Maes-yr-eglwys-wen was without vehicular access or electricity until 2013. Over the period August 2013 to May 2014 our wonderful builders created a light, tranquil and comfortable house, transforming the original cottage. An oak-clad extension with a vaulted roof now provides a large living and kitchen area, warm and light throughout the year, and the house has been completely renovated, redecorated and refurnished. The surrounding garden has been landscaped and French windows from the new extension open onto a sheltered south-facing patio.
The main living room, taken from the kitchen area
Since June 2014 the house has been available for holiday rentals, with housekeeping and maintenance managed by Karen Pendragon of Holiday Cottage Services. The house has four bedrooms (three with king-size or double beds, one with twin beds) and two bathrooms, one of which is en-suite. There’s also a separate toilet.
We are about half a mile from the nearest property and a couple of hundred yards from the public road. So there’s no noise or background light. On a clear evening you can stand outside the house and watch as many stars as you are ever likely to see in the UK. Deer can sometimes be spotted in the evening, bounding gracefully in the fields and forest surrounding the house and feeding on leaves and grass, while at dawn and dusk you can hear owls calling.
View from nearest roadMain bedroom with en-suite bathroom behindThe terrace area, looking into the main room
That doesn’t mean Maes-yr-eglwys-wen is remote. It’s about 15 minutes to the nearest market town. Dolgellau has supermarkets, a Boots, banks, restaurants, cafes and pubs. And, thanks to the miracles of satellite, the house has access to all modern media, including a full range of TV and radio channels, wi-fi and a phone. Water comes from a borehole drilled over 100 metres down into the volcanic rocks underneath the cottage.
We’ve made the house as warm, comfortable and energy-efficient as possible. So along with the solar panels, thick insulation on the old walls and air-tight new living room, we’ve put in a wood pellet stove that blazes away in winter and heats both house and water throughout the year.
The house is surrounded by grazing land and has a small private garden for children to play in. The garden area isn’t huge but extends right around the house.
Maes-yr-eglwys-wen is high up in Snowdonia National Park. The sun doesn’t shine all the time – and we’ve included some photographs that show overcast weather – but even in heavy rain the house is light and welcoming. We think this is an idyllic place to stay. If you need any more information, please do get in contact with us. | 2023-09-27T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8213 |
"I haven't enjoyed any part of this," he said. "I feel embarrassed. When I was interviewed by Matt Lauer once, I was actually embarrassed knowing that there were millions of people out there just rolling their eyes going 'this guy is just a nutcase.' But I had to do what I believed in." | 2023-08-02T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8324 |
Role of alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptors in cardiomyocyte differentiation from murine-induced pluripotent stem cells.
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes are a promising source of cells for regenerative heart disease therapies, but progress towards their use has been limited by their low differentiation efficiency and high cellular heterogeneity. Previous studies have demonstrated expression of adrenergic receptors (ARs) in stem cells after differentiation; however, roles of ARs in fate specification of stem cells, particularly in cardiomyocyte differentiation and development, have not been characterized. Murine-induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs) were cultured in hanging drops to form embryoid bodies, cells of which were then differentiated into cardiomyocytes. To determine whether ARs regulated miPSC differentiation into cardiac lineages, effects of the AR agonist, epinephrine (EPI), on miPSC differentiation and underlying signalling mechanisms, were evaluated. Treatment with EPI, robustly enhanced miPSC cardiac differentiation, as indicated by increased expression levels of cardiac-specific markers, GATA4, Nkx2.5 and Tnnt2. Although β-AR signalling is the foremost signalling pathway in cardiomyocytes, EPI-enhanced cardiac differentiation depended more on α-AR signalling than β-AR signalling. In addition, selective activation of α1 -AR signalling with specific agonists induced vigorous cardiomyocyte differentiation, whereas selective activation of α2 - or β-AR signalling induced no or less differentiation, respectively. EPI- and α1 -AR-dependent cardiomyocyte differentiation from miPSCs occurred through specific promotion of CPC proliferation via the MEK-ERK1/2 pathway and regulation of miPS cell-cycle progression. These results demonstrate that activation of ARs, particularly of α1 -ARs, promoted miPSC differentiation into cardiac lineages via MEK-ERK1/2 signalling. | 2024-04-14T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3669 |
/*****************************************************************************
* Copyright (c) 2014-2020 OpenRCT2 developers
*
* For a complete list of all authors, please refer to contributors.md
* Interested in contributing? Visit https://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2
*
* OpenRCT2 is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3.
*****************************************************************************/
#pragma once
#include "../../../sprites.h"
#include "../../RideData.h"
#include "../../ShopItem.h"
#include "../../Track.h"
// clang-format off
constexpr const RideTypeDescriptor MerryGoRoundRTD =
{
SET_FIELD(AlternateType, RIDE_TYPE_NULL),
SET_FIELD(Category, RIDE_CATEGORY_GENTLE),
SET_FIELD(EnabledTrackPieces, 0),
SET_FIELD(ExtraTrackPieces, 0),
SET_FIELD(CoveredTrackPieces, 0),
SET_FIELD(StartTrackPiece, FLAT_TRACK_ELEM_3_X_3),
SET_FIELD(TrackPaintFunction, get_track_paint_function_merry_go_round),
SET_FIELD(Flags, RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_HAS_SINGLE_PIECE_STATION | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_CANNOT_HAVE_GAPS | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_HAS_LOAD_OPTIONS |
RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_HAS_NO_TRACK | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_VEHICLE_IS_INTEGRAL | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_TRACK_NO_WALLS | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_FLAT_RIDE |
RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_HAS_VEHICLE_COLOURS | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_MUSIC_ON_DEFAULT | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_ALLOW_MUSIC |
RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_HAS_ENTRANCE_EXIT | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_SINGLE_SESSION | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_INTERESTING_TO_LOOK_AT | RIDE_TYPE_FLAG_LIST_VEHICLES_SEPARATELY),
SET_FIELD(RideModes, (1ULL << RIDE_MODE_ROTATION)),
SET_FIELD(DefaultMode, RIDE_MODE_ROTATION),
SET_FIELD(OperatingSettings, { 4, 25, 0, 0, 0, 0 }),
SET_FIELD(Naming, { STR_RIDE_NAME_MERRY_GO_ROUND, STR_RIDE_DESCRIPTION_MERRY_GO_ROUND }),
SET_FIELD(NameConvention, { RIDE_COMPONENT_TYPE_CAR, RIDE_COMPONENT_TYPE_STRUCTURE, RIDE_COMPONENT_TYPE_STATION }),
SET_FIELD(EnumName, nameof(RIDE_TYPE_MERRY_GO_ROUND)),
SET_FIELD(AvailableBreakdowns, (1 << BREAKDOWN_SAFETY_CUT_OUT) | (1 << BREAKDOWN_CONTROL_FAILURE)),
SET_FIELD(Heights, { 12, 64, 3, 2, }),
SET_FIELD(MaxMass, 255),
SET_FIELD(LiftData, { SoundId::Null, 5, 5 }),
SET_FIELD(RatingsCalculationFunction, ride_ratings_calculate_merry_go_round),
SET_FIELD(RatingsMultipliers, { 50, 10, 0 }),
SET_FIELD(UpkeepCosts, { 50, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0 }),
SET_FIELD(BuildCosts, { 115, 2, 1, }),
SET_FIELD(DefaultPrices, { 10, 0 }),
SET_FIELD(DefaultMusic, MUSIC_STYLE_FAIRGROUND_ORGAN),
SET_FIELD(PhotoItem, SHOP_ITEM_PHOTO),
SET_FIELD(BonusValue, 45),
SET_FIELD(ColourPresets, DEFAULT_FLAT_RIDE_COLOUR_PRESET),
SET_FIELD(ColourPreview, { 0, 0 }),
SET_FIELD(ColourKey, RideColourKey::Ride),
};
// clang-format on
| 2024-01-15T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7294 |
/*
* QUANTCONNECT.COM - Democratizing Finance, Empowering Individuals.
* Lean Algorithmic Trading Engine v2.0. Copyright 2014 QuantConnect Corporation.
*
* 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.
*/
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using QuantConnect.Util;
namespace QuantConnect.Data.Custom.SEC
{
public class SECReportSubmission
{
/// <summary>
/// Number used to access document filings on the SEC website
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("ACCESSION-NUMBER")]
public string AccessionNumber;
/// <summary>
/// SEC form type
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("TYPE")]
public string FormType;
/// <summary>
/// Number of documents made public by the SEC
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT")]
public string PublicDocumentCount;
/// <summary>
/// End date of reporting period of filing. Optional.
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("PERIOD"), JsonConverter(typeof(SECReportDateTimeConverter))]
public DateTime Period;
/// <summary>
/// Identifies 1 or more items declared in 8-K filings. Optional & Repeatable.
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("ITEMS"), JsonConverter(typeof(SingleValueListConverter<string>))]
public List<string> Items;
/// <summary>
/// Date report was filed with the SEC
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("FILING-DATE"), JsonConverter(typeof(SECReportDateTimeConverter))]
public DateTime FilingDate;
/// <summary>
/// Date when the last Post Acceptance occurred. Optional.
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("DATE-OF-FILING-CHANGE"), JsonConverter(typeof(SECReportDateTimeConverter))]
public DateTime FilingDateChange;
/// <summary>
/// Exact time the report was filed with the SEC and made available to the public (plus 10 minute delay).
/// This field is NOT included with the raw SEC report, and should be added during post processing of the data
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("MADE-AVAILABLE-AT")]
public DateTime MadeAvailableAt;
/// <summary>
/// Contains information regarding who the filer of the report is.
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("FILER"), JsonConverter(typeof(SingleValueListConverter<SECReportFiler>))]
public List<SECReportFiler> Filers;
/// <summary>
/// Attachments/content associated with the report
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("DOCUMENT"), JsonConverter(typeof(SingleValueListConverter<SECReportDocument>))]
public List<SECReportDocument> Documents;
}
} | 2023-12-12T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9923 |
Q:
JComboBox determine if Items are/aren't visible in drop-down list
I tried to determime for every Items if are or not visible in the JViewPort from JComboBox drop-down list
(my Friday OT)
EDIT: I don't want to implements MouseListener for Repeats events to System.out.print(...)
isn't possible pass JComboBox with JList, declared by JCombo#Model by using SwingUtilities http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/javax/swing/SwingUtilities.html , but this APi is out of my...
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ItemVisibleRecCombo extends JFrame {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
private JComboBox fontsBox;
public ItemVisibleRecCombo() {
String[] numbers = {"one", "two", "three", "four", "five", "six", "seven"};
fontsBox = new JComboBox(numbers);
fontsBox.setSelectedItem(0);
fontsBox.addItemListener(new ItemListener() {
@Override
public void itemStateChanged(ItemEvent e) {
if (e.getStateChange() == ItemEvent.SELECTED) {
manItemInCombo();
}
}
});
fontsBox.setModel(new DefaultComboBoxModel(numbers));
fontsBox.setMaximumRowCount(3);
add(fontsBox, BorderLayout.CENTER);
setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
setPreferredSize(new Dimension(400, 60));
setLocation(200, 105);
pack();
setVisible(true);
}
private void manItemInCombo() {
if (fontsBox.getItemCount() > 0) {
final Object comp = fontsBox.getUI().getAccessibleChild(fontsBox, 0);
if ((comp instanceof JPopupMenu)) {
final JList list = new JList(fontsBox.getModel());
final JPopupMenu popup = (JPopupMenu) comp;
final JScrollPane scrollPane = (JScrollPane) popup.getComponent(0);
final JViewport viewport = scrollPane.getViewport();
final Rectangle rect = popup.getVisibleRect();
Point pt = viewport.getViewPosition();
for (int i = 0; i < list.getModel().getSize(); i++) {
pt = list.indexToLocation(i);
System.out.print(pt + " - ");
rect.setLocation(rect.x - pt.x, rect.y - pt.y);
System.out.println(new Rectangle(viewport.getExtentSize()).contains(rect));
}
}
}
}
public static void main(String arg[]) {
java.awt.EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
@Override
public void run() {
ItemVisibleRecCombo ivrc = new ItemVisibleRecCombo();
}
});
}
}
A:
Basically, you'r looking for list.locationToIndex (if I understood you correctly), something like
Accessible a = fontsBox.getUI().getAccessibleChild(fontsBox, 0);
if (a instanceof javax.swing.plaf.basic.ComboPopup) {
JList list = ((javax.swing.plaf.basic.ComboPopup)a).getList();
Rectangle rect = list.getVisibleRect();
int first = list.locationToIndex(rect.getLocation());
// similar for last, at the lower edge of the visible rect, left as exercise <g>
// Edit: as of @Boro's comment, last is easier calculated with maxRowCount
int last = first + fontsBox.getMaximumRowCount() - 1;
....
BTW, yet another property that's not passed on to the list: would have expected
list.getVisibleRowCount() == combo.getMaximumRowCount()
To answer the question: all items between first/last, inclusively, are visible, all items above first and below last not visible ;-)
| 2024-03-03T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2526 |
De Leon tossed three perfect innings in his return from the minor league DL. Final line: 3.0IP 0H 0R 0BB 6K. | 2023-09-04T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3682 |
Factors predicting oncologic outcomes in patients with fewer than 12 lymph nodes retrieved after curative resection for colon cancer.
The aim of this study was to determine which clinicopathological factors influenced the long-term survival after potentially curative resection of patients with colon cancer having fewer than 12 retrieved lymph nodes. Prospective data were collected from 179 patients who had fewer than 12 resected lymph nodes after curative resection for stages I-III colon cancer. The oncological outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence were analyzed, focusing on lymph node ratio (LNR). The median number of harvested lymph nodes was 7 (range, 1-11). The LNR was associated significantly with T category and lymphovascular invasion. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor diameter (P = 0.006), perineural invasion (P = 0.043), LNR (P = 0.002), and preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level (P = 0.013) were the independent predictors for 5-year disease-free survival; T category (P = 0.032), postoperative chemotherapy (P = 0.001), LNR (P = 0.007), and preoperative CEA level (P = 0.023) were the independent predictors for 5-year overall survival. The LNR and preoperative CEA level may be reliable predictors of recurrence and survival after curative surgery in patients with colon cancer who have less than 12 lymph nodes examined. | 2023-12-22T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6293 |
Eluxadoline has a dual mechanism of action in the gut, acting as both a mu and kappa opioid receptor agonist and a delta opioid antagonist, slowing down GI transit and thus increasing absorption and reducing defaecation.
Further information
"IBS-D can have a significant and profound impact on patient quality of life, often manifested through dietary restrictions, emotional distress and activity limitations," said Professor Jan Tack, Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Leuven. "Truberzi, as the only licensed treatment for IBS-D, is a welcome new treatment option for patients in Europe."
Reduced abdominal pain and diarrhoea
Researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of eluxadoline in two double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trials, IBS-3001 and IBS-3002, in adults with IBS-D (n=2427).
Patients met Rome III criteria for IBS and were required to report an average worst abdominal pain score of >3 on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 indicating no pain and 10 the worst imaginable pain), an average score for stool consistency of ≥5.5 on the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) which ranges from 1 to 7 (1 indicating hard stools and 7 watery diarrhoea), a score of ≥5 on the BSFS for at least 5 days and an average IBS-D global symptom score of ≥2 (0 indicating no symptoms of IBS-D and 4 very severe symptoms).
For the collection of efficacy data, patients were randomised to receive eluxadoline 75mg or 100mg or placebo, twice daily for 26 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who recorded a reduction of ≥30% from their average baseline score for their worst abdominal pain for at least 50% of the treatment days and, on the same days, a daily stool-consistency score of <5.
At week 26, the proportion of patients who experienced an endpoint response in IBS-3001 was 23.4% with the 75mg dose and 29.3% with the 100mg dose compared to 19.0% with placebo (p=0.11 and p<0.001, respectively). The corresponding rates in IBS-3002 were 30.4% and 32.7% versus 20.2% (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).
Risk of pancreatitis
The most common adverse effects seen in the two trials were nausea, constipation and abdominal pain. Owing to its limited bioavailability, the pharmacodynamic activity of eluxadoline is based predominantly on local action within the GI tract, reducing the risk of CNS-mediated adverse effects.
Five cases of pancreatitis (0.3%) and 8 cases of abdominal pain with elevated levels of hepatic enzymes (0.5%) occurred in the studies. Nine of these 13 cases were judged to be associated with spasm of the sphincter of Oddi.
Eluxadoline is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, those with biliary tract or pancreatic disease, and those who are missing a gallbladder.
Patients receiving the drug should be instructed to stop treatment and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms suggestive of sphincter of Oddi spasm or pancreatitis, such as acute worsening abdominal pain. Prescribers should advise all patients taking eluxadoline to avoid excessive alcohol use during treatment.
Register or Subscribe to MIMS
GPs can get MIMS print & online and GPonline for free when they register online – take 2 minutes, and make sure you get your free MIMS access! If you're not a GP, you can subscribe to MIMS for full access. | 2024-03-28T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8692 |
Q:
Android Studio SVN 1.8 This client is too old to work with the working copy
Hoping someone can help with this...
I downloaded SmartSVN and opened a working copy (Android project) in it. It asked me to upgrade the working copy to 1.8.
This causes me no problems while using the svn client. However I did need to upgrade my command line svn client (Running OSX Yosemite).
Now when I type svn --version on the command line it is pointing at version 1.8... Bonus!
However, in Android Studio, when I run assembleProductionRelease, I have a stage which runs svn info and extras the revision number.
This is the code
def getSvnRevision() {
new ByteArrayOutputStream().withStream { os ->
def result = exec {
executable = 'svn'
args = ['info']
standardOutput = os
}
def outputAsString = os.toString()
def matchLastChangedRev = outputAsString =~ /Last Changed Rev: (\d+)/
return "${matchLastChangedRev[0][1]}"
}
}
This doesn't run anymore and reports;
svn: E155021: This client is too old to work with the working copy at xxx
EDIT
I have also amended the path in Preferences -> Version Control -> Subversion which is called 'Use command line client' to point at the svn file in the correct path.
I have also invalidated cache in Android studio to see if that helped, still no luck.
A:
After Hours of searches I've finally found a solution for Mac OsX (I've got Yosemite, but I think it's the same for other versions of OSx).
It's all explained in this link: http://andowebsit.es/blog/noteslog.com/post/how-to-upgrade-subversion-on-osx/
Edit: here the solution in case the link expires
First, you have to be sure that the installed version of the SVN Client is 1.8 using svn --version. The result should be similar to this:
svn --version
svn, version 1.8.13 (r1667537)
compiled Jun 5 2015, 19:21:21 on x86_64-apple-darwin14.3.0
If your svn version is not 1.8, use brew to install the new version of subversion.
Then in order to get the correct path of the svn executable you have to use the which command:
which -a svn
/usr/bin/svn
/usr/local/bin/svn
Finally go to Android Studio Preferences -> Version Control -> Subversion and put the /usr/local/bin/svn string in the Use command line client option.
A:
There is default SVN of Android Studio in Mac, that locate at /usr/bin/svn. Until now, it still version 1.7, but most of SVN client (such as SmartSVN) use 1.8 that locate at /usr/local/bin/svn.
To fix for your Android Studio, you can change from Preferences -> Version Control -> Subversion and set the path /usr/local/bin/svn.
To make sure which SVN is chosen by your command line, just type which svn, it will show full path of svn command is pointed to. You should change to there.
Hope this help.
Update 04/19/2016
I share screenshot:
| 2024-04-07T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3010 |
Q:
Timeout reached on firefox on any platform
My test runs successfully for chrome but it fails for firefox. Why is that?
>> PASS: chrome on any platform - sort column (21268ms)
>> 0/2 tests failed
>> 0/2 tests failed
>> FAIL: firefox on any platform - sort column (30015ms)
CancelError: Timeout reached on firefox on any platform - sort column
at null._onTimeout <node_modules/intern/lib/Test.js:132:20>
at Timer.listOnTimeout <timers.js:119:15>
at Command.target.(anonymous function) [as getVisibleText] <node_modules/intern/node_modules/leadfoot/Command.js:674:11>
at EnhSearchTable.getTableData </home/trex/Development/Siren/kibi-integration/tests/functional/support/page/EnhSearchTable.js:32:9>
at Test.sort column [as test] </home/trex/Development/Siren/kibi-integration/tests/functional/community/index.js:32:11>
at <node_modules/intern/lib/Test.js:181:24>
at <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/Promise.ts:393:15>
at runCallbacks <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/Promise.ts:11:11>
at <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/Promise.ts:317:4>
at run <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/Promise.ts:237:7>
at <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/nextTick.ts:44:3>
at process._tickCallback <node.js:355:11>
at Command.then <node_modules/intern/node_modules/leadfoot/Command.js:542:10>
at Command <node_modules/intern/node_modules/leadfoot/Command.js:566:15>
at <node_modules/intern/lib/Test.js:206:37>
at Promise.cancel <node_modules/intern/browser_modules/dojo/Promise.ts:343:37>
at null._onTimeout <node_modules/intern/lib/Test.js:134:21>
at Timer.listOnTimeout <timers.js:119:15>
>> 1/2 tests failed
>> 1/2 tests failed
Part of my page object:
return this.remote
.setTimeout('implicit', 5000)
.get(require.toUrl(kibiUrl))
.sleep(5000)
.findAllByLinkText('Dashboard')
.click()
.sleep(1000)
.end()
.findByXpath('//ul[@class="nav nav-tabs"]/li[' + tabNum + ']')
.click()
.sleep(10000)
.end()
.findByXpath('//span[@title="' + tableName + '"]/../../visualize//table/thead/tr/th[6]')
.moveMouseTo()
.sleep(1000)
.findByXpath('./span/i')
.click()
.sleep(1000)
.end()
.findByXpath('//span[@title="' + tableName + '"]/../../visualize//table/tbody')
.getVisibleText()
.then(function (body) {
return body;
});
My OS:
cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.2.0-36-generic (buildd@lgw01-42) (gcc version 5.2.1 20151010 (Ubuntu 5.2.1-22ubuntu2) ) #42-Ubuntu SMP Thu May 12 22:05:35 UTC 2016
I use Firefox 46.0.1 and Selenium 2.53 from this package https://www.npmjs.com/package/selenium-standalone
A:
I used setFindTimeout() method and now it works.
return this.remote
.get(require.toUrl(kibiUrl))
.setFindTimeout(5000)
.findAllByLinkText('Dashboard')
.click()
.end()
.findByXpath('//ul[@class="nav nav-tabs"]/li[' + tabNum + ']')
.click()
.end()
.findByXpath('//span[@title="' + tableName + '"]/../../visualize//table/thead/tr/th[6]')
.moveMouseTo()
.findByXpath('./span/i')
.click()
.end()
.findByXpath('//span[@title="' + tableName + '"]/../../visualize//table/tbody')
.getVisibleText()
.then(function (body) {
return body;
});
| 2023-12-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9326 |
// Distributed under the terms of the MIT license
// Test case submitted to project by https://github.com/practicalswift (practicalswift)
// Test case found by fuzzing
protocol c {
{
{
}
{
}
}
typealias d: Range<d>
| 2024-01-11T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9662 |
Many members of Chola Naika, one of the last surviving forest hunter tribes of Kerala, have been moved to relief camps in the aftermath of floods.
But the head of the tribe, Cheriya Velutha, refuses to leave his ancestral home.
Produced by Pramila Krishnan and Kinjal Pandya-Wagh.
Filmed and Edited by Sharique Ahmad. | 2024-06-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2095 |
Driving News
The city has had police do enforcement in the past, especially on Mercer Street. Before the city can begin using cameras to give out tickets to people who “Block the Box,” they need to get permission from the state legislature.
“Gridlock starts when people ‘block the box’ and so we need to prevent that as much as possible,” said Heather Marx, SDOT’s Director of Downtown Mobility. “It’s a similar camera-oriented enforcement mechanism where they’d snap a picture of you in the box, not at your turn. What we’re also going to ask for permission to enforce transit lanes, the lanes that are clearly marked only for transit, to be enforced by cameras as well.”
The enforcement is a priority especially during the “Time of Maximum Constraint,” the next five years when the city will be undergoing major road and construction projects at once. | 2024-05-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3494 |
Digital computer systems have been developed for storing and processing information in a plurality of structured forms. Problems arise, however, when it is desired to process information which can have a variety of structures, such as textual information, to determine its semantic content. Several systems have been developed to enable computers to attempt to process textual information in relatively narrow and limited fields. For example, in some systems, the textual information is scanned to identify key words or their synonyms and their relationships, from which the system attempts to determine the semantic content of the textual information, in response to which the computer may perform some predetermined operation. In other systems, the textual information is parsed using a syntactic grammar, and a parse tree developed. Using the parse tree, the system also attempts to determine the semantic content of the textual information, in response to which the computer may perform some predetermined operation. Both types of systems are generally useful only in connection with textual information of relatively well-defined structure and content, and are difficult and expensive to maintain. | 2023-12-10T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7861 |
Euro crisis far from over, stock analysts warn
A slim victory for the main conservative party in an election in Greece should relax fears that a country will stop using the euro for the first time and possibly unleash global financial turmoil.
But when it comes to Greek politics _ and European economic policy _ it's never that easy. So the bumpy ride for financial markets isn't over yet.
The conservative New Democracy party, which supports a bailout agreement Greece agreed to earlier this year, appeared to win enough votes Sunday to form a ruling coalition with another pro-bailout party.
The result forestalled what financial analysts had most feared _ a victory for Syriza, a leftist party that objects to the bailout terms. That could have sped Greece toward an exit from the euro and the world economy toward an unpredictable shock.
Dow Jones industrial average futures were up 34 points early Monday morning, suggesting the market could open higher. But analysts cautioned that any surge is likely to be brief. Asian stock markets rallied Monday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average up 1.8 percent. The euro rose to $1.2686 from $1.2637 late Friday in New York.
Neil MacKinnon, global macro strategist at the investment bank VTB Capital, told his clients that the election result, combined with a Federal Reserve meeting this week at which investors hope for measures to stimulate the U.S. economy, could lift stocks.
MacKinnon cautioned, however, that there are still too many problems in Europe, particularly in Spain, plus evidence that the global economy is cooling, to justify a celebration.
"I think investors should treat any sort of knee-jerk rally with caution," MacKinnon said in an interview.
Investors learned that lesson last week. On June 9, European countries agreed to lend Spain up to $125 billion to save its banks. That was a Saturday. On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average opened up almost 100 points but closed down 142.
Borrowing costs for the Spanish government crept closer to 7 percent, the level beyond which economists say countries can no longer finance their debt, throughout the week. They also inched higher for Italy. Those countries have the fourth- and third-largest economies among the 17 countries that use the euro.
So when stock and bond markets open around the world on Monday, a Greek doomsday will have been avoided, but there will still be plenty for investors to fret about.
"How long is it going to take for people to worry about Spain again?" wondered Peter Schiff of the brokerage Euro Pacific Capital.
The next two weeks could prove critical if any grand solution to the crisis is to be achieved. The leaders of the world's 20 largest economies gather Monday in Los Cabos, Mexico, for a summit, with Europe sure to be a major point of discussion.
And on June 28 and 29, leaders of the 27 member countries of the European Union will hold perhaps the most important meeting since the body was created two decades ago.
"This crisis is not over," said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo. "The crisis will wax and wane for years. Maybe it will wane for the time being."
For that matter, the problems of Greece are far from solved.
The rest of Europe will "lean over backward" to support a coalition led by New Democracy, said Douglas Elliott, a fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution.
The Socialist party of French President Francois Hollande also swept that country's parliamentary election Sunday, another victory for European unity.
Polls have shown that Greeks overwhelmingly want to stay in the euro and avoid a return to Greece's old currency, the drachma, which would sink in value immediately against the euro. Greece relies heavily on imports, so costs would rise sharply and living standards sink further.
But Greeks remain outraged by the public spending cuts demanded by European neighbors, notably Germany, in exchange for a total of $300 billion in bailout loans. Greek unemployment is almost 22 percent.
Syriza, the anti-bailout party, signaled on Sunday that it wants no part of a coalition government. And while New Democracy and Pasok, another pro-bailout party, have enough seats to form one, it could disintegrate quickly.
Greek politics has become extreme and fractious, MacKinnon said, and it is not clear whether a new administration in Greece could implement the wishes of its lenders, the EU and the International Monetary Fund.
With most of the vote counted, official results showed New Democracy would win 30 percent of the vote and 130 of the 300 seats in Parliament. Syriza had 27 percent and 71 seats, and the pro-bailout PASOK party had 13 percent and 33 seats.
"Basically, all this does is keep the patient on life support, but doesn't resolve the basic problem," he said. "So whatever the reaction in the stock market in the next couple of days, I would say treat with caution."
One market strategist, Paul Christopher of Wells Fargo Advisors, said last week that a Syriza victory could have led to a 15 percent decline in the Standard & Poor's 500 index within weeks.
That is because no one is sure how bad a Greek exit from the euro would be. Greece would almost certainly default on its debt, triggering losses for European banks that own its government bonds.
The worst case envisions a worldwide lending freeze similar to what happened after the investment bank Lehman Brothers went under in September 2008, during the U.S. financial crisis.
That threat has been dodged at least for now. But another investment bank, RBC Capital Markets, warned its clients on Sunday afternoon that Europe still lacks a "grand solution" for its debt crisis, and that "domestic fixes will always disappoint."
Even if Europe finds an answer, investors have to contend with other big problems in the world economy. Job growth in the United States is slowing, and China's white-hot economic growth is cooling.
Central banks of countries around the world have signaled they are ready to step in if the international financial system comes under severe stress or if the world economy gets much worse.
That prospect was enough to trigger a 270-point rally in the Dow on Thursday and Friday. But the sentiment of stock analysts heading coming out of the weekend was still decidedly negative.
"I think investors can only end up being disappointed," MacKinnon said. | 2023-09-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2774 |
The Excel file is absent from the published [S5 File](#pone.0138743.s001){ref-type="supplementary-material"}. Please view the complete [S5 File](#pone.0138743.s001){ref-type="supplementary-material"} here.
###### Supporting Tables.
Table A. The expression profiles of all expressed genes in developing fruit of *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'. Table B. List of novel transcripts, alternative splicing and genes extended identified through analysis of the \'Hongyang\' transcriptome. Table C. Verification of RNA-seq results by qPCR in *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'. Table D. Differentially expressed genes between two neighboring stages of fruit development in *A*. *chinensis* cv. 'Hongyang'. Table E. List of genes involved in ABA, CK, AUX and GA3 biosynthesis and signal transduction in developing fruit of *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'. Table F. List of genes involved in biosynthesis and metabolism of sugar and starch in developing fruit of *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'. Table G. List of genes involved in L-ascorbic acid biosynthesis and metabolism in developing fruit of *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'. Table H. List of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and regulation in developing fruit of *A*. *chinensis* cv. \'Hongyang\'.
(XLS)
######
Click here for additional data file.
| 2023-08-31T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7364 |
Hot Topics:
Dept. of Health: The $7 test and other ways to stay healthy
Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted:
01/22/2014 09:24:19 AM MST
Our weekly newspaper column usually tackles its subjects one at a time here at the New Mexico Department of Health, but this week, two things came across my desk I think you should know about. Both are subjects that can sneak up on you if you're not careful.
The first is odorless and invisible: Radon.
The New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Environment Department this month have been encouraging New Mexicans, especially smokers and former smokers, to test their homes for radon.
January for years has been National Radon Action Month because radon testing is easiest and most effective in cooler weather months because our homes tend to be closed up for warmth.
Breathing in radon can increase the risk of lung cancer. This risk is much higher when a person is exposed to radon and also smokes. This is why it's especially important for current and even former smokers to test for radon.
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
This gas can build up to dangerous levels inside new and old homes. The only way to know if radon gas is seeping into your home is testing for it. The great thing is testing is easy, inexpensive and takes only a few minutes.
Advertisement
You can buy radon test kits at local hardware and home improvement stores. Typically, they cost around $25, but the New Mexico Environment Department this month is offering test kits for only $7. To learn more about radon and this special offer, visit https://nmtracking.org.
If your test shows evidence of radon gas at levels of health concern in your home, call the Environment Department at 505-476-8608 to get information about ways you can reduce radon gas in your home and minimize your exposure.
Our other subject this week isn't near as hard to uncover as radon. In fact, it's probably all around you, even if you're lucky up to now not to contract it: It's the flu.
Yes, we're telling New Mexicans again it's not too late to get your flu vaccination, and that's particularly important after the Department of Health did some numbers crunching and found more young people and middle-aged adults are being hospitalized with the flu.
We're talking about people between the ages of 18 to 64. Usually, it's the very young and the very old that are hit hardest by the flu, but not this season. For the week ending Jan. 11 in 2013, adults 18 to 49 were hospitalized at a rate of six people per 100,000 in New Mexico. This year that rate is even higher: 7.2 per 100,000.
The numbers are more concerning if you're in the 50 to 64 age bracket. The hospitalization rate this year is 4.8 per 100,000 compared to 3.0 per 100,000 just one year ago.
The reason? Not enough people in this age range are getting their flu shot to protect themselves, their family and the community. The flu shot is always the best way to protect yourself from the flu. This flu season, most hospitalizations are because of H1N1, one of the strains covered by the flu vaccine. The vaccine often can protect you from getting sick, but even if you do become ill, the shot can make the illness and complications less severe.
So, if you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, it's not too late. Remember you can always call the Department of Health's Immunization Hotline toll free at 866-681-5872. There you can learn about flu vaccination clinics in your area.
So remember these two things to put on your 'to do' list this week: test for radon and get vaccinated for the flu.
David Morgan writes for the New Mexico Department of Health Learn more about NMDoH by logging onto healthynm.org. New Mexico Department of Health can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+.
ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A West Texas man has been charged with impersonating an officer by using sirens and flashing lights to skip to the head of the drive-thru line at a fast-food restaurant. Full Story
Sufjan Stevens, "Carrie & Lowell" (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the distinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens' latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. Full Story | 2024-06-30T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6227 |
Anthony Forde (darts player)
Anthony Forde (born July 6, 1962 in Bridgetown) is a former Barbadian professional darts player.
Career
Forde won the 2004 Caribbean and South American Masters which earned him a place in the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship where he lost in the first round to John Verwey. He won the tournament again in 2007, which earned him a place in the 2008 PDC World Darts Championship. He defeated Japan's Akihiro Nagakawa in the preliminary round and faced reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld in the first round where he lost 3-0.
Forde was denied a third visit to the World Championship after losing in the final of the 2009 Caribbean and South American Masters to 2003 champion Norman Madhoo of Guyana.
Forde runner up the 2018 WDF Americas Cup beat to Robin Albury 1–4.
World Championship Results
PDC
2005: Last 48 (lost to John Verwey 2–3)
2008: Last 64: (lost to Raymond van Barneveld 0–3)
External links
Profile and stats on Darts Database
Category:1962 births
Category:Barbadian darts players
Category:Living people
Category:Professional Darts Corporation players | 2024-03-08T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1160 |
Timepieces having a mechanical movement, including mechanical wristwatches, are often equipped with a number of functions, in particular where fine watchmaking pieces are concerned, and thus normally has a control device having three positions, corresponding for example to the winding of the watch, the fast correction of the date, and the setting of the time, thus requiring a coupling in order to attribute the different functions to the corresponding positions of the control device. The conventional coupling used in this case consists of a corrector yoke controlled by a control stem and displaceable by a pivot motion over a short distance that amounts to a translation. The yoke comprises a mounted coupling and setting wheel adapted to mesh with, respectively be disconnected from a corrector wheel, depending on the position of the yoke. The coupling by translation, however, has the disadvantage that it may induce, in some circumstances, a parasitic rotation of the corrector wheel associated with the displacement of the mounted setting wheel along the circumference of this corrector wheel. This may produce, for example, a slight jump, forwards or backwards, of the minutes hand when the user of the timepiece pushes the control stem after having set the time, which is clearly an inconvenience. In addition, this type of coupling takes up a fair amount of space and therefore is not suitable for use in extra-flat movements. An additional feature, with which numerous timepieces are provided, consists of a chronograph mechanism. This feature also requires a coupling, the conventional coupling mechanism used for this application likewise being based on a movement equivalent to a translation of a mounted coupling and setting wheel. In this case the translation of the mounted coupling and setting wheel produces the start, respectively the stopping of the measurement of the measured time by establishing, respectively by interrupting the kinematic connection between the geartrain of the movement of the timepiece and the chronograph train. This, however, brings problems due to the fact that, as in the case described above of setting the time, the translation of the mounted coupling and setting wheel can, in some circumstances, cause a parasitic rotation of the chronograph train and, consequently, a jump forward of the chronograph hand. Although this does not influence the reading of the measured time because the gear play is made up subsequently, it is an aesthetical problem at the moment of actuation of the chronograph that should be eliminated. There are also other applications that require a coupling in a timepiece that are affected by similar problems.
In this context, solutions have been proposed in order to reduce or eliminate the above-mentioned problems. For example, European patent application EP 2 060 958 discloses, within the scope of a coupling for a chronograph mechanism, a gearwheel comprising a toothing of specific form, in particular having teeth having a foot and a head of particular form. In addition, the axis of the coupling and setting wheel is placed, by contrast with the arrangement of a conventional chronograph, over the line between the axes of the seconds wheel and the chronograph wheel, and the shape of the coupling yoke, disposed such as to be adapted to bring said setting wheel into engagement with the chronograph wheel or to distance same, allows to obtain a translation of the coupling and setting wheel during the movement thereof between the two decoupled and coupled positions thereof oriented almost perpendicularly to the circumference of the chronograph wheel. Thus, the coupling and setting wheel does not move in translation along the circumference of the chronograph wheel, which limits the above-mentioned parasitic rotation. This layout, however, requires a complicated toothing on the coupling device setting wheel and increases the production cost. At the same time, the space occupied by this mechanism remains considerable, and the mechanism requires a specific arrangement of the parts thereof relative to one another, which limits the use thereof both for functions other than a chronograph and in extra-flat movements.
As a result, other types of coupling have also been proposed in the past. Amongst others, U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,157 discloses a time correction device comprising a winding stem cooperating on the one hand, as is conventional, with a minutes hand and hours hand correction train, by means of a first correction wheel. On the other hand, the device comprises a second correction wheel, which is mounted on a fixed axis partially having the form of a cone so that the second correction wheel can be inclined about this axis, depending on the position of a control spring controlled by the stem and cooperating with another spring exerting a prestressing force onto the second correction wheel. Depending on its inclination, the second correction wheel may or may not mesh with part of said correction train, and, when it is in the meshing position, the winding stem does not mesh with said first correction wheel. Although this device can, in principle, be used for several applications such as the fast adjustment of the hours hand independently of the minutes hand or for the correction of the date, the mechanism is even more bulky than a conventional coupling and does not lend itself to integration in a flat movement. In addition, the use of a fixed truncated conical axis of rotation in combination with a control of the inclination of the coupling pinion mounted on this axis by a number of springs does not appear to ensure reliable operation.
Further designs using a tilting coupling wheel, either by being mounted on a fixed axis of rotation or by other similar means, are disclosed in documents DD 127 363 and U.S. Pat. No. 413,654. The time correction device according to DD 127 363 comprises a coupling pinion which, under the influence of the winding stem, can tilt about the axis thereof so as to be in contact either with the winding-mechanism wheel or with the time-setting wheel. Due to the fact that the coupling pinion is mounted on a pivoting lever in a cage, it is oriented substantially vertically relative to the winding-mechanism wheel and the time-setting wheel, which directly implies a significant bulk in the height direction. The mechanism is thus unsuitable for integration in extra-flat movements. In addition, this coupling, respectively the corresponding correction device, can only control two functions and therefore is not suitable for high-end timepieces having a number of functions. Document U.S. Pat. No. 413,654 describes a winding and time-setting system which comprises a coupling wheel adapted to tilt about a fixed axis of rotation. This coupling wheel makes it possible to transmit the movement of the winding stem either to the winding-setting wheel or to a wheel of the time-setting train, depending on the inclination of said coupling wheel, which is controlled by the winding stem with the aid of a ring mounted concentrically relative to the coupling wheel and comprising a lip for cooperating with the stem. Again, this device can only control two functions, and the operation of said device does not appear to be reliable, given that the inclined position of the coupling wheel, following the release of the coupling wheel, is not obtained by stress, but by the action of the force of gravity, which changes in accordance with the orientation of the corresponding timepiece.
The solutions of the prior art mentioned above have the common feature, apart from document DD 127 363, which proposes a rather particular arrangement having a coupling pinion mounted substantially vertically relative to the winding wheel and to the time-setting wheel, that the coupling pinion is arranged substantially in the plane of rotation of the entry wheel, for example the seconds wheel or the winding wheel, and the exit wheel, for example the chronograph wheel or the time-setting wheel. In spite of this layout the devices according to these documents do not lend themselves, for the reasons mentioned above, to integration in an extra-flat movement and are often affected by other disadvantages as explained above. Another type of devices according to the prior art is disclosed for example in documents FR 436 356, CH 2 547, EP 0 261 243, and EP 1 288 743. The common feature of these devices is that the entry wheel and the exit wheel are not arranged in the same plane of rotation, but in two different planes, such that the coupling pinion serving as a kinematic connection between these two wheels must be formed by a double pinion, of which one pinion cooperates with the entry wheel and the other pinion with the exit wheel.
For example, document FR 436 356 proposes a device having a double tilting pinion fixed to an inclinable axis perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the entry and exit wheels, arranged in two different planes, the inclination of the axis being caused by the displacement of a spring controlled by a movable part. The device clearly is not suitable for use in an extra-flat movement, and the control of said device does not appear to be very reliable. The document CH 2 547 also discloses a double tilting pinion fixed to an inclinable axis perpendicular to the distant parallel planes of rotation of the entry and exit wheels, the ends of the inclinable axis being fixed in a fork housed rotatably and perpendicularly relative to said axis. This system must have pinions of very small diameter in order to function, but also is unsuitable for integration in an extra-flat movement. Documents EP 0 261 243 and EP 1 288 743 also disclose a double tilting pinion fixed to an inclinable axis perpendicular to the distant planes of rotation of the entry and exit wheels, the inclination of the axis being caused in both cases by the displacement of a movable control member. The latter either carries, according to EP 0 261 243, an end of the inclinable axis, or constrains, according to EP 1 288 743, this end, otherwise mounted freely, by pressure. Similarly to the devices according to documents FR 436 356 and CH 2 547, these devices are not suitable for integration in an extra-flat movement, document EP 0 261 243 also specifying a condition on the minimal length of the inclinable axis so as to allow correct operation of the coupling. These devices in addition can only control a single function, which can be engaged or disengaged.
It must therefore be stated that, in spite of the significant number of pre-existing devices, the solutions of the prior art currently known for providing such a coupling, whether of the type having a coupling pinion in the same plane of rotation as the entry and exit wheels or of the type having a double coupling pinion on account of the distant planes of rotation of the entry and exit wheels, are not entirely satisfactory, are not suitable for certain applications, and cannot be used for any type of movements, in particular are not suitable for extra-flat movements. | 2024-04-15T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9150 |
The town of Canandaigua is nestled in the Finger Lakes region of central New York State, five hours and a world away from New York City. It is here, in a nondescript, unmarked warehouse that Tom Fargnoli runs his small gun fabrication business, Just Right Carbines.
As the child of a father who was vehemently anti-gun, Tom saw firearms as a forbidden fruit. His profound curiosity about them may be one of the reasons the 67 year old is today regarded as a gifted designer, fabricator and assembler of them. His 6 1/2 pound semi-automatic carbine has just 44 parts. He sells 75 of them a week on average. Tom speaks in the same way that buyers describe his carbines – simple, reliable, and accurate.
"In 2013, I was at the shot show in Las Vegas, and everything was fine on Monday. Tuesday morning, when I woke up, my gun was illegal in New York State," he said.
New York State's passage of the SAFE Act – the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 – was heralded as one of the strictest in the country. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's comments at the time, coming in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre, might have well been spoken today after yet another mass shooting.
"Mentally ill people should not have access to guns. Criminals should not have access to guns. You should limit these high capacity magazines. Why? Because if, God forbid, the gun winds up in the wrong hands of someone you want to limit the danger," he said.
A growing number of gun manufacturers are leaving states like New York and California, which have unleashed a wave of strict gun control laws the past few years. Companies like Fargnoli are now becoming a rare breed in the Empire State as many flee to more gun-friendly states.
Fargnoli believes many of the SAFE Act restrictions were arbitrary and random. No more pistol grip. No more threaded barrel. It meant redesigning components, and finding new out-of-state-suppliers. Asked if he lost a lot of business, he replied, "If 10 percent is a lot. It hurt us."
Yet, the SAFE Act mandated no changes to the working parts of what critics call "assault" weapons – the very types of carbines Fargnoli and his staff of seven employees assemble.
"They are literally identical, they are interchangeable," said Scott Braum, counsel to Just Right Carbines. "They're all the same function, they're all the same operation. They're all the same caliber. They just look different."
One of the sponsors of the SAFE Act disagrees.
"These cosmetic changes are not cosmetic at all," says Jeff Klein, who represents parts of the Bronx and Westchester County. He described them as "features that enhance one-handed shooting comfort and rapid reloading capabilities that no sportsman needs."
Just Right Carbines has found that even changing the color of its rifles, from black to a wood-grained metal, or to an American flag design, appeases some anti-gun legislators.
The ever increasing costs of compliance has driven many gunsmiths out of New York and other states southward to more gun friendly states. Remington, in business here since the 19th century, recently relocated to Alabama. Beretta pulled out of Maryland for Tennessee. KAHR Arms moved to Pennsylvania. So far, Fargnoli is resisting.
"I have 11 grandchildren and one on the way. And I can tell you my wife’s not leaving them. So moving the business isn't going to happen for me," he said.
And he ponders whether more laws will work when existing ones didn't. He notes that concerned citizens raised countless red flags about Nicolas Cruz. Most were ignored or casually dismissed by authorities, in what amounts to an utter failure by government institutions. A reality, he believes, that reinforces a citizen’s right – and need – to keep and bear arms.
"What they take away will never give back," he said. | 2023-08-23T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/6324 |
The issue impacting 32 bit Windows users who attempted to update to Viewer 5.1.5.515811 has been resolved
Posted about 2 months ago. Jun 21, 2018 - 15:08 PDT
Identified
We are currently aware of an issue where 32 bit Windows users are unable to update to the latest version of Second Life. For more information on how to resolve the issue and free yourself from an update loop please view this post on the Community page: | 2023-11-01T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/5311 |
Metabonomics study of the protective effects of green tea polyphenols on aging rats induced by d-galactose.
This article was designed to study metabonomic characters of aging induced by d-galactose (d-gal) and the protective effects of green tea polyphenols (GTP). Plasma samples from control, d-gal and GTP treated rats were analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) in positive mode. Coupled with biochemistry and histopathology results, the significant difference in metabolic profiling between d-gal treated group and the GTP treated group by using the principal components analysis (PCA) indicated that changes in global plasma metabolites were occurred. Some significantly changed metabolites like lysophosphatidylcholines, tryptophan, dihydrosphingosine and phytosphingosine have been found and identified. These changes in plasma metabolites are related to the perturbations of lecithin metabolism, amino acid metabolism and phospholipids metabolism, which may be helpful to further understand the action mechanisms of GTP. | 2024-04-24T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4626 |
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<<first energy brokers fee agmt.doc>> | 2024-06-23T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3440 |
Q:
Finding the point of intersection between a line and a QPainterPath
I'm trying to determine the point where a hitscan projectile's path (basically a line, but I've represented it as a QPainterPath in my example) intersects with an item in my scene. I am not sure if there is a way to find this point using the functions provided by QPainterPath, QLineF, etc. The code below illustrates what I'm trying to do:
#include <QtWidgets>
bool hit(const QPainterPath &projectilePath, QGraphicsScene *scene, QPointF &hitPos)
{
const QList<QGraphicsItem *> itemsInPath = scene->items(projectilePath, Qt::IntersectsItemBoundingRect);
if (!itemsInPath.isEmpty()) {
const QPointF projectileStartPos = projectilePath.elementAt(0);
float shortestDistance = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
QGraphicsItem *closest = 0;
foreach (QGraphicsItem *item, itemsInPath) {
QPointF distanceAsPoint = item->pos() - projectileStartPos;
float distance = abs(distanceAsPoint.x() + distanceAsPoint.y());
if (distance < shortestDistance) {
shortestDistance = distance;
closest = item;
}
}
QPainterPath targetShape = closest->mapToScene(closest->shape());
// hitPos = /* the point at which projectilePath hits targetShape */
hitPos = closest->pos(); // incorrect; always gives top left
qDebug() << projectilePath.intersects(targetShape); // true
qDebug() << projectilePath.intersected(targetShape); // QPainterPath: Element count=0
// To show that they do actually intersect..
QPen p1(Qt::green);
p1.setWidth(2);
QPen p2(Qt::blue);
p2.setWidth(2);
scene->addPath(projectilePath, p1);
scene->addPath(targetShape, p2);
return true;
}
return false;
}
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
QApplication app(argc, argv);
QGraphicsView view;
view.setViewportUpdateMode(QGraphicsView::FullViewportUpdate);
QGraphicsScene *scene = new QGraphicsScene;
view.setScene(scene);
view.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(Qt::ScrollBarAlwaysOff);
view.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(Qt::ScrollBarAlwaysOff);
QGraphicsItem *target = scene->addRect(0, 0, 25, 25);
target->setTransformOriginPoint(QPointF(12.5, 12.5));
target->setRotation(35);
target->setPos(100, 100);
QPainterPath projectilePath;
projectilePath.moveTo(200, 200);
projectilePath.lineTo(0, 0);
projectilePath.lineTo(200, 200);
QPointF hitPos;
if (hit(projectilePath, scene, hitPos)) {
scene->addEllipse(hitPos.x() - 2, hitPos.y() - 2, 4, 4, QPen(Qt::red));
}
scene->addPath(projectilePath, QPen(Qt::DashLine));
scene->addText("start")->setPos(180, 150);
scene->addText("end")->setPos(20, 0);
view.show();
return app.exec();
}
projectilePath.intersects(targetShape) returns true, but projectilePath.intersected(targetShape) returns an empty path.
Is there a way to achieve this?
A:
As the answer to Intersection point of QPainterPath and line (find QPainterPath y by x) points out, QPainterPath::intersected() only accounts for paths which have fill areas. The rectangular path trick which is also mentioned there can be implemented like this:
#include <QtWidgets>
/*!
Returns the closest element (position) in \a sourcePath to \a target,
using \l{QPoint::manhattanLength()} to determine the distances.
*/
QPointF closestPointTo(const QPointF &target, const QPainterPath &sourcePath)
{
Q_ASSERT(!sourcePath.isEmpty());
QPointF shortestDistance = sourcePath.elementAt(0) - target;
qreal shortestLength = shortestDistance.manhattanLength();
for (int i = 1; i < sourcePath.elementCount(); ++i) {
const QPointF distance(sourcePath.elementAt(i) - target);
const qreal length = distance.manhattanLength();
if (length < shortestLength) {
shortestDistance = sourcePath.elementAt(i);
shortestLength = length;
}
}
return shortestDistance;
}
/*!
Returns \c true if \a projectilePath intersects with any items in \a scene,
setting \a hitPos to the position of the intersection.
*/
bool hit(const QPainterPath &projectilePath, QGraphicsScene *scene, QPointF &hitPos)
{
const QList<QGraphicsItem *> itemsInPath = scene->items(projectilePath, Qt::IntersectsItemBoundingRect);
if (!itemsInPath.isEmpty()) {
const QPointF projectileStartPos = projectilePath.elementAt(0);
float shortestDistance = std::numeric_limits<float>::max();
QGraphicsItem *closest = 0;
foreach (QGraphicsItem *item, itemsInPath) {
QPointF distanceAsPoint = item->pos() - projectileStartPos;
float distance = abs(distanceAsPoint.x() + distanceAsPoint.y());
if (distance < shortestDistance) {
shortestDistance = distance;
closest = item;
}
}
QPainterPath targetShape = closest->mapToScene(closest->shape());
// QLineF has normalVector(), which is useful for extending our path to a rectangle.
// The path needs to be a rectangle, as QPainterPath::intersected() only accounts
// for intersections between fill areas, which projectilePath doesn't have.
QLineF pathAsLine(projectileStartPos, projectilePath.elementAt(1));
// Extend the first point in the path out by 1 pixel.
QLineF startEdge = pathAsLine.normalVector();
startEdge.setLength(1);
// Swap the points in the line so the normal vector is at the other end of the line.
pathAsLine.setPoints(pathAsLine.p2(), pathAsLine.p1());
QLineF endEdge = pathAsLine.normalVector();
// The end point is currently pointing the wrong way; move it to face the same
// direction as startEdge.
endEdge.setLength(-1);
// Now we can create a rectangle from our edges.
QPainterPath rectPath(startEdge.p1());
rectPath.lineTo(startEdge.p2());
rectPath.lineTo(endEdge.p2());
rectPath.lineTo(endEdge.p1());
rectPath.lineTo(startEdge.p1());
// Visualize the rectangle that we created.
scene->addPath(rectPath, QPen(QBrush(Qt::blue), 2));
// Visualize the intersection of the rectangle with the item.
scene->addPath(targetShape.intersected(rectPath), QPen(QBrush(Qt::cyan), 2));
// The hit position will be the element (point) of the rectangle that is the
// closest to where the projectile was fired from.
hitPos = closestPointTo(projectileStartPos, targetShape.intersected(rectPath));
return true;
}
return false;
}
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
QApplication app(argc, argv);
QGraphicsView view;
QGraphicsScene *scene = new QGraphicsScene;
view.setScene(scene);
view.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(Qt::ScrollBarAlwaysOff);
view.setVerticalScrollBarPolicy(Qt::ScrollBarAlwaysOff);
QGraphicsItem *target = scene->addRect(0, 0, 25, 25);
target->setTransformOriginPoint(QPointF(12.5, 12.5));
target->setRotation(35);
target->setPos(100, 100);
QPainterPath projectilePath;
projectilePath.moveTo(200, 200);
projectilePath.lineTo(0, 0);
projectilePath.lineTo(200, 200);
QPointF hitPos;
if (hit(projectilePath, scene, hitPos)) {
scene->addEllipse(hitPos.x() - 2, hitPos.y() - 2, 4, 4, QPen(Qt::red));
}
scene->addPath(projectilePath, QPen(Qt::DashLine));
scene->addText("start")->setPos(180, 150);
scene->addText("end")->setPos(20, 0);
view.show();
return app.exec();
}
This has pretty good precision (± 1 pixel, since QLineF::length() is an integer), but there might be a neater way to achieve the same thing.
| 2023-11-16T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9156 |
---
author:
- 'D. Stamatellos'
- 'D. Ward-Thompson$^,$'
- 'A. P. Whitworth'
- 'S. Bontemps'
date: 'Received 13 September, 2006; accepted 6 November 2006'
title: A VLA search for young protostars embedded in dense cores
---
[Four dense cores, L1582A, L1689A, B133 and B68, classified as prestellar in terms of the absence of detectable NIR emission, are observed at radio wavelengths to investigate whether they nurture very young protostars.]{} [We perform deep radio continuum observations at 3.6 cm and 6 cm using the VLA.]{}
No definite young protostars were discovered in any of the four cores observed. A few radio sources were discovered close to the observed cores, but these are most likely extragalactic sources or YSOs unrelated to the cores observed.
In L1582A we discovered a weak radio source near the centre of the core with radio characteristics and offset from the peak of the submillimeter emission similar to that of the newly discovered protostar in the core L1014, indicating a possible protostellar nature for this source. This needs to be confirmed with near- and/or mid-infrared observations (e.g. with [*Spitzer*]{}). Hence based on the current observations we are unable to confirm unequivocally that L1582A is starless.
In L1689A a possible 4.5-$\sigma$ radio source was discovered at the centre of the core, but needs to be confirmed with future observations.
In B133 a weak radio source, possibly a protostar, was discovered at the edge of the core on a local peak of the core submm emission, but no source was detected at the centre of the core. Thus, B133 is probably starless, but may have a protostar at its edge.
In B68 no radio sources were discovered inside or at the edge of the core, and thus B68 is indeed starless.
Four more radio sources with spectral indices characteristic of young protostars were discovered outside the cores but within the extended clouds in which these cores reside.
[We conclude that the number of cores misclassified as prestellar is probably very small and does not significantly alter the estimated lifetime of the prestellar phase. ]{}
Introduction
============
The identification of the youngest protostars is important for understanding how dense cores in molecular clouds collapse and form stars. The initial conditions for star formation are provided by dense cores in molecular clouds in which there is no evidence that star formation has occurred (starless cores; Myers et al. 1983). Some of these cores are thought to be close to collapse or already collapsing, and they are labelled prestellar cores (e.g. Ward-Thompson et al. 1994; Ward-Thompson et al. 2002). Prestellar cores evolve to Class 0 objects, which represent the youngest protostars (André et al. 1993).
The presence of a protostar in a core is inferred by one or more of the following criteria (André et al. 2000): (i) compact centimeter radio emission, (ii) a bipolar molecular outflow, (iii) NIR or MIR emission. These criteria depend on the sensitivity of the telescope used, and how young and embedded the protostar is in its parent cloud. Additionally, the amount of radio emission from young protostars is uncertain and probably very low (e.g. Curiel et al. 1987; Rodríguez et al. 1989b; Neufeld & Hollenbach 1996; Harvey et al. 2002; Eiroa et al. 2005). Finally, in many cases the complexity of star forming regions (e.g. dense environment, multiple sources, inflow of material) does not allow a clear identification of all the outflows in a given region. Thus, a null detection with a particular telescope does not necessarily mean that a source does not exist inside a core.
The need for very sensitive observations to discover young protostars residing inside dense cores was demonstrated recently by Young et al. (2004), who, using the space telescope, detected a NIR source embedded in L1014 (L1014-IRS), a dense core that was previously classified as starless. This suggests that L1014 is in fact a young Class 0 object. Since the Young et al. discovery, the protostellar nature of L1014-IRS has been confirmed by the detection of a very weak bipolar outflow emanating from the IR source (Bourke et al. 2005) that affects the geometry of the observed scattering light nebula around the source (Huard et al. 2006). Additionally 2 more NIR sources have been discovered inside cores previously thought to be starless: in L1521F in the Taurus molecular cloud (Terebey et al. 2005; Bourke et al. 2006), and in L1148 in the Cepheus flare (Kauffmann et al. 2005). These recently discovered low-luminosity protostars are similar to the previously known Class 0 protostars VLA1623 (André et al. 1993) and HH24MMS (Ward-Thompson et al. 1995; Bontemps et al. 1996). These discoveries of low-luminosity, young protostars, open up the possibility that other cores previously classified as prestellar may in fact contain very young protostars.
Radio observations are suitable for detecting deeply embedded protostars, as long wavelength radiation can escape the large column density of the envelope practically unattenuated. Previous studies (e.g. André et al. 1987; Leous et al. 1991; Bontemps et al. 1995) have identified a large number of young protostars exhibiting detectable radio emission. However, very young and low luminosity protostars are believed to produce very weak radio emission (e.g. Harvey et al. 2002; Neufeld & Hollenbach 1994, 1996), and thus deep observations are needed to detect them.
Young protostars exhibit a positive or almost flat ($>-0.1$) spectral index (defined as $\alpha$, where $S_\nu\propto \nu^a$) between e.g. 3.6 cm and 6 cm (André et al.1987; Anglada et al. 1998; Beltrán et al. 2001). This behaviour of the radio spectral index is characteristic of free-free thermal emission from ionised gas. This is most likely produced by a partially ionised jet that propagates into the collapsing envelope producing shocks (e.g. Curiel et al. 1987). It could also be produced by an ionised disc wind (e.g. Martin 1996) or by the accretion shock that develops on the surface of the protostar, and/or on the surface of the disc that surrounds the protostar, which heats and ionises the infalling gas (Winkler & Newman 1980; Cassen & Moosman 1981). However, the latter two mechanisms produce radio emission that is at too low a level to be readily detected.
A negative ($<-0.1$) radio spectral index indicative of non-thermal gyro-synchrotron emission has also been observed in some T Tauri stars (e.g. André et al. 1988; André 1996; Rodríguez et al. 1999), in a possible Class I object (Feigelson et al. 1998), and even in a possible Class 0 object, the triple radio continuum source in Serpens (Rodríguez et al. 1989a; Curiel et al. 1993; Curiel 1995; Raga et al. 2000). The non-thermal emission of more evolved protostars (Class II, III) is believed to be associated with the magnetic fields around these objects and the star-disc interaction region (e.g. André 1996). The non-thermal emission from younger protostars is thought to be the result of particle acceleration behind a diffuse shock wave (Rodríguez et al. 1989a; Curiel et al. 1993 and references therein).
Stamatellos et al. (2005a,b) performed 3-dimensional radiative transfer calculations on simulations of the collapse of a star-forming core and studied the transition from a starless core to a core with an embedded young protostar. These simulations suggest (i) that cores with young protostars appear to be cold ($T\sim15-30$ K) but still hotter than starless cores ($T<15$ K), and (ii) that cores with young protostars appear more circular (at least in their central regions) than starless cores (see also Goodwin et al. 2002). Based on this study, we identified 4 cores classified as starless (L1582A, L1689A, B133, B68) that might in fact contain very young protostars. These cores were selected in terms of their circular appearance and their relatively high estimated temperatures ($\sim15$ K). These cores were observed with the VLA in the continuum at 3.6 cm and 6 cm.
In this paper we present the results of these radio observations aiming to detect very young embedded sources in dense cores. In Section 2 we describe the observational details and the properties of the detected radio sources, and in Section 3 we summarize our results.
Observations and results
========================
L1582A, L1689A, B133 and B68 were observed at 3.6 cm using the VLA. The observations were performed in July/August 2005, in the VLA C configuration. The total integration time was about $\sim 4$ hours for each core including time spent on the calibrators. These cores (except B68) were also observed at 6 cm in October/November 2005, in the DnC configuration. L1582A was observed for $\sim 5$ hours, B133 for $\sim 5$ hours, and L1689A for $\sim 1$ hour. The data were calibrated using the AIPS package of the NRAO.
-------- --------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Core $d$ [^1] (pc) R.A. [^2] (2000) Dec. $^b$ (2000)
L1582A 400 $05^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 01.0^{\rm s}$ $+12\degr\ 30^\prime\ 23^{\prime\prime}$
L1689A 130 $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 13.2^{\rm s}$ $-25\degr\ 03^\prime\ 45^{\prime\prime}$
B133 200 $19^{\rm h}\ 06^{\rm m}\ 08.4^{\rm s}$ $-06\degr\ 52^\prime\ 52^{\prime\prime}$
B68 130 $17^{\rm h}\ 22^{\rm m}\ 39.2^{\rm s}$ $-23\degr\ 50^\prime\ 01^{\prime\prime}$
-------- --------------- ---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
: Distances and positions of the dense cores observed[]{data-label="tab:cores0"}
-------- ------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------ -- ---------------- ------------------- -- -------- ------ -- --------- --------- --
Core
Calibrator $S_{\rm 3.6\ cm}$(${\rm Jy}$) $S_{\rm 6\ cm}$ (${\rm Jy}$) 3.6 cm 6 cm 3.6 cm 6 cm 3.6 cm 6 cm
L1582A $0530+135$ $2.905\pm0.002$ $3.08\pm0.09$ $3.3\times2.7$ $12.4\times6.6$ 13 29 4 (2.1) 2 (2.7)
L1689A $1522-275$ $1.210\pm 0.006$ $1.06\pm0.07$ $5.5\times2.9$ $17.1\times 10.4$ 12 60 6 (2.3) 5 (1.3)
$1626-298$ $2.602\pm0.015$ -
B133 $1939-100$ $0.566\pm0.002$ - $3.7\times3.0$ $16.9\times9.6$ 11 60 4 (2.3) 2 (1.3)
$1939-154$ - $0.55\pm0.01$
B68 $1743-309$ $0.233\pm0.001$ - $5.3\times3.0$ - 12 - 4 (2.3) -
$1751-253$ 0.259$\pm0.001$ -
-------- ------------ ------------------------------- ------------------------------ -- ---------------- ------------------- -- -------- ------ -- --------- --------- --
[lcccccccc]{} Source & & $S_{\rm 3.6\ cm}$[^3] & $S^{\rm peak}_{\rm 3.6\ cm}$[^4]& $S_{\rm 6\ cm}$ & $S^{\rm peak}_{\rm 6\ cm}$ & $\alpha$[^5] & Offset[^6]\
& RA (2000) & Dec. (2000) &($\mu{\rm Jy}$) & ($\mu{\rm Jy/beam}$) & ($\mu{\rm Jy}$)& ($\mu{\rm Jy}$/beam)& & ()\
L1582A & & & & & &\
1 ……& $05^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 00.5^{\rm s}$ & $+12\degr\ 30^\prime\ 40^{\prime\prime}$ & $142\pm23$ &$139\pm13$& $280\pm530$ & $280\pm30$ &$-1.3\pm0.5$ & 18\
2 ……& $05^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 06.3^{\rm s}$ & $+12\degr\ 32^\prime\ 41^{\prime\prime}$&$200\pm60$&$137\pm26$ &-&-&- & 165\
3 ……& $05^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 08.9^{\rm s}$ & $+12\degr\ 29^\prime\ 34^{\prime\prime}$ &-& - & $300\pm100$ &$180\pm40$ &-& 138\
L1689A & & & & & & & &\
1 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 23.3^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 00^\prime\ 34^{\prime\prime} $ & $8610\pm130$& $8180\pm70$ & $5800\pm600$ & $ 4600\pm 500$ & $\ \ 0.8\pm0.2$& 235\
2 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 25.4^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 02^\prime\ 16^{\prime\prime} $ &$830\pm70$& $490\pm30$ & $1100\pm400$ &$ 640\pm 170$ & $-0.6\ \ \pm0.7$& 188\
3 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 13.9^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 02^\prime\ 25^{\prime\prime} $ &$544\pm26$& $496\pm14$ & $750\pm70$ & $ 740\pm 70$ &$-0.63\pm0.21$ & 80\
4 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 14.2^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 02^\prime\ 04^{\prime\prime} $ &$520\pm30$& $347\pm15$ & $550\pm70$ & $ 550\pm 70$ & $-0.11\ \ \pm0.28$& 101\
5 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 13.8^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 02^\prime\ 38^{\prime\prime} $ &$440\pm40$& $174\pm13$ & $660\pm60$& $ 640\pm 60$ &$-0.79 \pm0.25$& 67\
6 ……& $16^{\rm h}\ 32^{\rm m}\ 13.3^{\rm s}$ & $-25\degr\ 03^\prime\ 45^{\prime\prime} $ &$58\pm12$& $58\pm12$ &- &-&- & 1\
B133 & & & & & &\
1 ……& $19^{\rm h}\ 06^{\rm m}\ 05.7^{\rm s}$ & $-06\degr\ 50^\prime\ 06^{\prime\prime} $& $31850\pm50$ & $28730\pm30$ &$67800\pm300$ &$66550\pm150$& $-1.48\pm0.01$& 171\
2 ……& $19^{\rm h}\ 06^{\rm m}\ 14.0^{\rm s}$ & $-06\degr\ 49^\prime\ 35^{\prime\prime} $& $730\pm130$&$420\pm50$&- &-&$>1.7\pm0.3$& 214\
3 ……& $19^{\rm h}\ 06^{\rm m}\ 08.4^{\rm s}$ & $-06\degr\ 53^\prime\ 32^{\prime\prime} $& $120\pm30$&$71\pm12$&- &- &-&40\
4 ……& $19^{\rm h}\ 06^{\rm m}\ 07.0^{\rm s}$ & $-06\degr\ 53^\prime\ 58^{\prime\prime} $& $100\pm25$&$81\pm13$&- &-&-&69\
B68[^7] & & & & & & &\
1 ……& $17^{\rm h}\ 22^{\rm m}\ 35.0^{\rm s}$ & $-23\degr\ 47^\prime\ 58^{\prime\prime} $& $9310\pm40$ &$8550\pm21$ & - & - & - &136\
2 ……& $17^{\rm h}\ 22^{\rm m}\ 31.8^{\rm s}$ & $-23\degr\ 48^\prime\ 18^{\prime\prime} $& $223\pm24$&$223\pm24$ & - & -&- & 145\
3 ……& $17^{\rm h}\ 22^{\rm m}\ 28.0^{\rm s}$ & $-23\degr\ 50^\prime\ 32^{\prime\prime} $& $410\pm26$&$410\pm26$ & - &-&- & 157\
4 ……& $17^{\rm h}\ 22^{\rm m}\ 35.4^{\rm s}$ & $-23\degr\ 52^\prime\ 34^{\prime\prime} $& $150\pm50$& $143\pm27$ & - &-& - & 166\
In Table \[tab:cores0\] we list the positions of the cores taken from Kirk et al. (2005). These positions correspond to the peak of the 850 $\micron$ and 450 $\micron$ emission detected using SCUBA with a beam size FWHM of 14.8. [ We use these positions as phase centres.]{} In Table \[tab:cores\] we list the phase calibrators used, their bootstrapped flux densities, the VLA beam size, and the achieved RMS noise for each field. Finally, we report the number of radio sources detected and the number of background, extra-galactic sources expected in each field (see below). [The amplitude calibrators used were 3C286 ($F_{\rm 3.6 cm}=5.26$ Jy, $F_{\rm 3.6 cm}=7.34$ Jy) and 3C48 ($F_{\rm 3.6 cm}=3.25$ Jy, $F_{\rm 3.6 cm}=5.32$ Jy).]{}
The number of background sources expected in our field is determined using the Anglada et al. (1998) calculation. Assuming that extra-galactic sources have the characteristics described by Condon (1984), the expected number of background sources $\langle N\rangle$ in a field of angular diameter $\theta_{F}$ is $$\langle N\rangle=1.4\ \left[1-e^{-0.46\
\left(\frac{S_0}{\rm mJy}\right)^{-0.75}
\left(\frac{\theta_{F}}{500^{\prime\prime}}\right)^2 \left(\frac{\nu}{5 {\rm GHz}}\right)^2}\right]
\left(\frac{\nu}{5 {\rm GHz}}\right)^{-2.52},$$ where $S_0$ is the minimum detectable flux density at the centre of the field. Each of the fields has an angular diameter of $\theta_{F}\approx500\arcsec$, so the expected number of background sources at $3.6$ cm is $$\label{eq:back1}
\langle N\rangle_{\rm 3.6cm}=2.6\ \left(\frac{S_0}{\rm 50\ \mu Jy}\right)^{-0.75}\,,$$ and at 6 cm, $$\label{eq:back2}
\langle N\rangle_{\rm 6cm}=3.0\ \left(\frac{S_0}{\rm 100\ \mu Jy}\right)^{-0.75}\,.$$ Thus, we expect a total number of $\sim 9\pm3$ background sources in all our fields at 3.6 cm, and $\sim 5\pm2$ sources at 6 cm. We detected 16 sources at 3.6 cm and 8 sources at 6 cm, thus the expected number of Galactic sources detected, possibly associated with the star forming regions observed, is $7\pm3$.
In Table \[tab:radiosources\] we list the detected radio sources, their positions, flux densities and peak fluxes, their spectral indices $\alpha$ (in cases where a source has been detected both in 3.6 cm and 6 cm), and their offsets from the peak of the submm emission of the core. [The fluxes were corrected for the effect of primary-beam response. We assume a detection limit of 5-$\sigma$ (however we make reference to a possible 4.5-$\sigma$ detection). ]{} Most of the sources do not correspond to any sources listed in the SIMBAD astronomical database and are new sources.
In the next subsections we describe in detail the observed radio sources and their characteristics, for each of the cores observed.
L1582A
------
In L1582A we discovered a weak radio source (VLA1) close ($\sim18\arcsec$) to the peak of the submillimeter core emission. The source is observed both in 3.6 cm and 6 cm (see Figs. \[fig:al1582a\], \[fig:bl1582a\]). The spectral index of the source is $\alpha=-1.2\pm 0.5$. This spectral index is not what is expected for Class 0 protostars. For example, for the prototypical Class 0 object VLA1623 (André et al. 1993) $\alpha=0.6$ . The spectral index of the radio emission from protostars is thought to be between $-0.1$ and $2$, consistent with thermal free-free emission, whereas for extra-galactic sources it is expected to be $<-0.1$, characteristic of non-thermal emission due to optically thin synchrotron emission (e.g. André et al. 1987; Anglada et al. 1998; Beltran et al. 2001). Thus, L1582A-VLA1 is most probably an extragalactic source.
However we note that recent observations of the confirmed low luminosity protostar L1014-IRS (Shirley et al., VLA proposal) indicate a similar spectral index. The unusual negative spectral index may be due to non-thermal (synchrotron) emission. The similarities of L1582A-VLA1 to L1014-IRS (similar 3.6 cm and 6 cm fluxes, similar offsets from the peak of the submillimeter emission of the core) are suggestive that L1582A-VLA1 may also be a very young protostar embedded in the core, but this cannot be confirmed with the current observations.
Two more sources were detected in the field. VLA2 was detected only at 3.6 cm but a negative spectral index cannot be excluded. This source is outside the core but within the extended CO ($J=1-0$) line emission (Dame et al. 2001; see also Kirk et al. 2005). VLA3 was detected only at 6cm and thus has a negative spectral index and should be a background source.
Thus, we are unable to confirm unequivocally that L1582A is starless.
![[**L1582A:**]{} 6 cm VLA observations (solid thick contours) overlaid on 850 $\micron$ SCUBA observations from Kirk et al. (2005) (grayscale and solid thin contours). 6 cm solid contours are plotted at 145 $\mu$Jy (5-$\sigma$) $\times$ (1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8). 850 mm dashed contours are plotted as in Fig. \[fig:al1582a\]. The VLA beam size is mentioned in Table \[tab:cores\]. The SCUBA beam size at 850 $\micron$ is 14. []{data-label="fig:bl1582a"}](6387fig1.ps){width="10.5cm"}
![[**L1582A:**]{} 6 cm VLA observations (solid thick contours) overlaid on 850 $\micron$ SCUBA observations from Kirk et al. (2005) (grayscale and solid thin contours). 6 cm solid contours are plotted at 145 $\mu$Jy (5-$\sigma$) $\times$ (1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8). 850 mm dashed contours are plotted as in Fig. \[fig:al1582a\]. The VLA beam size is mentioned in Table \[tab:cores\]. The SCUBA beam size at 850 $\micron$ is 14. []{data-label="fig:bl1582a"}](6387fig2.ps){width="10.5cm"}
L1689A
------
In the L1689A field we discovered 6 sources, 5 of which were detected both at 3.6 cm and 6 cm, and 1 marginally detected only at 3.6 cm.
VLA1 has a positive spectral index, indicative of free-free thermal emission from ionised gas. It is outside the main core but within the extended CO line emission of the Ophiuchus GMC (Dame et al. 2001; Kirk et al. 2005). It coincides with a local column density peak of the cloud (see Fig. \[fig:al1689a\] and Nutter et al. 2006), although the dust emission is rather weak.
VLA2 is also outside the core but within the extended CO emission. The sign of its spectral index cannot be determined; it could be either a young star or a background source.
Sources VLA3, VLA4 and VLA5 were detected in both wavelengths and they seem to be related, as they are aligned. They are located outside the L1689A core but they are coincident with a submm filament adjacent to the core. The total projected extent of the structure is $\sim 46\arcsec$ (i.e. $\sim$ 6000 AU if they are physically located close to L1689A). The central (VLA3) and the southern (VLA5) source have negative spectral indices (characteristic of non-thermal synchrotron emission), whereas the northern source (VLA4) may have positive or marginally negative spectral index (characteristic of optically thin thermal emission). Thus, these sources are probably extragalactic.
![[**L1689A:**]{} 6 cm VLA observations (solid thick contours) overlaid on 850 $\micron$ SCUBA observations from Nutter et al. (2006) (grayscale and thin solid contours). 6 cm solid contours are plotted at 300 $\mu$Jy (5-$\sigma$) $\times$ (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 6, 9). 850 mm dashed contours are plotted as in Fig. \[fig:al1689a\]. The VLA beam size is mentioned in Table \[tab:cores\]. The SCUBA beam size at 850 $\micron$ is 14.[]{data-label="fig:bl1689a"}](6387fig3.ps){height="8.3cm"}
![[**L1689A:**]{} 6 cm VLA observations (solid thick contours) overlaid on 850 $\micron$ SCUBA observations from Nutter et al. (2006) (grayscale and thin solid contours). 6 cm solid contours are plotted at 300 $\mu$Jy (5-$\sigma$) $\times$ (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 6, 9). 850 mm dashed contours are plotted as in Fig. \[fig:al1689a\]. The VLA beam size is mentioned in Table \[tab:cores\]. The SCUBA beam size at 850 $\micron$ is 14.[]{data-label="fig:bl1689a"}](6387fig4.ps){height="8.3cm"}
The last source in this field, VLA6, was marginally detected at 3.6 cm (4.5-$\sigma$ detection). It is located at the centre of the core. It was not detected at 6 cm but a negative spectral index cannot be ruled out. The presence of this source in the centre of the core, if indeed it is real, would explain the temperature increase toward the centre of the core suggested by the observations of Ward-Thompson et al. (2002). Thus, there is the possibility that L1689A may not be starless.
B133
----
In the B133 field we discovered 4 radio sources. The strongest one, B133-VLA1, is located outside the core. It has a negative spectral index between 3.6 and 6 cm, indicating non-thermal emission due to optically thin synchrotron emission characteristic from an extra-galactic source. This source was the only one from this field that was detected at 6 cm. A search in the SIMBAD database reveals a match with PMNJ1906-0650 of the Parkes-MIT-NRAO (PMN) Surveys (Griffith et al. 1995) at 4.85GHz ($S_\nu=65\pm11$ mJy) . The source has been detected by the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (Condon et al. 1998) at 1.4 GHz ($S_\nu=295.5\pm8.9$ mJy), and by the Texas Survey of Discrete Radio Sources (Douglas et al. 1996) at 365 MHz ($S_\nu=1216\pm41$ mJy). These fluxes are also consistent with thin synchrotron emission from an extra-galactic source.
![[**B133:**]{} 3.6 cm VLA observations (solid contours) overlaid on 850 $\micron$ SCUBA observations from Kirk et al. (2006) (grayscale and dashed contours). 3.6 cm solid contours are plotted at 60 $\mu$Jy (5-$\sigma$) $\times$ (1, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3). 850 mm dashed contours are plotted at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 of the maximum 850 mm flux (170 mJy/beam). The VLA beam size is mentioned in Table \[tab:cores\]. The SCUBA beam size is 14. []{data-label="fig:ab133"}](6387fig5.ps){height="8.3cm"}
The second strongest source in the field, B133-VLA2, is located outside the core and it is not associated with any column density peak. The absence of detectable 6 cm emission at the 300 $\mu$Jy level indicates a positive spectral index ($\alpha>1.7\pm0.2$). This suggests free-free thermal emission. B133-VLA2 may be associated with the Aquila Rift, where B133 is thought to reside (Kirk et al. 2005).
The B133-VLA3 source is located inside the core within a local column density peak. It has been marginally detected (at the $\sim$ 6-$\sigma$ level) and it could be a very young protostar embedded in the core. Unfortunately, although it is not detected at 6 cm a negative spectral index cannot be excluded, so it may also be an extragalactic source.
Finally, B133-VLA4 is marginally detected at 3.6 cm. It is not detected at 6 cm but a negative spectral index is possible.
Thus, based on the VLA observations B133 appears to be a starless core with a possible protostar (B133-VLA3) at its edge.
B68
---
Four radio sources were discovered in the B68 field at 3.6 cm. All of them are outside the core and they are not associated with the core but they are within the extended CO emission (Dame et al. 2001; Kirk et 2005) around the core. This core was not observed at 6 cm, and thus the spectral indices of these sources and their nature cannot be determined. We conclude that B68 is starless.
Summary
=======
We conducted continuum VLA radio observations of 4 dense cores previously classified as prestellar, searching for radio emission from deeply embedded protostars. 17 radio sources were detected in the observed fields, i.e. more than the expected number of background sources. Thus at least a few of them may be associated with the star forming regions observed.
Two radio sources were discovered near the centres of the cores. L1582A-VLA1 is located within 18of the peak of the submm emission of the core, and its similarity with the source embedded in L1014 suggests that this may also be a very young protostar embedded in the core, despite its negative spectral index between 3.6 and 6cm, and its offset from the centre of the core. L1689A-VLA6 is located within 1of the peak of the submm emission, and it may also be a very young protostar embedded in the core. However, this detection was only at the 4.5-$\sigma$ level. Future [*Spitzer*]{} data should confirm whether these are young protostars or not. [If these two sources indeed are associated with the observed cores then they are similar to the recently discovered low-luminosity protostars, such as that in L1521F, which are young Class 0 objects, e.g. like VLA1623 (André et al. 1993) and HH24MMS (Ward-Thompson et al. 1995; Bontemps et al. 1996). However, based on the current observations and the locations of the radio sources, we conclude that L1582A and L1689A are most likely starless.]{}
Two radio sources were discovered close to edges of cores. L1689A-VLA345, at the edge of the L1689A, is probably an extragalactic source. B133-VLA3, at the edge of B133, coincides with a local peak in the core submillimeter emission, and it may be a young protostar.
Four radio sources with positive spectral indices were detected outside the cores (L1689A-VLA1, L1689A-VLA2, B133-VLA2, B133-VLA4) and, thus could also be young protostars or stars associated with the extended star forming regions where these cores reside.
All of the candidate protostars reported are expected to be detectable in the NIR by the [*Spitzer*]{} space telescope and such observations are needed to confirm whether these sources are indeed protostars. Additionally, sensitive molecular line radio observations, with e.g. the Submillimeter Array (SMA) should be able to detect molecular outflows emanating from these objects, if they are protostars.
Conclusion
==========
In this paper we presented deep radio observations of 4 prestellar cores, which are relatively warm and almost circular (in their inner regions). According to the Stamatellos et al. (2005) criteria these cores are, among cores presently classified as prestellar, the ones most likely to nurture very young protostars. [However, we find no definite protostars at the centres of these cores. Two radio sources that could be very young embedded protostars were discovered near the centres of L1582A and L1689A, but further near- or mid-infrared observations (e.g. with [*Spitzer*]{} or the upcoming [*Herschel*]{}) are needed for safe conclusions on the nature of these sources.]{} Hence, based on the current observations, similarly to Kirk et al. (2006) we conclude that the number of cores misclassified as prestellar is probably very small and does not affect significantly the estimated lifetime of the prestellar phase.
We thank C. Chandler for her help in reducing and calibrating the VLA data at NRAO Sorocco, and J. Kirk and D. Nutter for providing the SCUBA data. The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope is operated by The Joint Astronomy Centre on behalf of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, and the National Research Council of Canada. The JCMT data shown in this paper were taken during observing runs M96BU56, M97BU88, M99AU34 and M00AU32. This work was carried out while DWT was on sabbatical at l’Observatoire de Bordeaux and CEA, Saclay, and he wishes to thank both institutions for the hospitality accorded to him. We also acknowledge support by PPARC grant PPA/G/O/2002/00497.
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[^1]: Distances taken from Kirk et al. (2005)
[^2]: Peak of the 450 $\micron$ & 850 $\micron$ emission (Kirk et al. 2005)
[^3]: Flux density ($\mu{\rm Jy}$) and 1-$\sigma$ errors, corrected for the primary beam response.
[^4]: Peak flux density ($\mu{\rm Jy/beam}$) and 1-$\sigma$ errors, corrected for the primary beam response.
[^5]: Spectral index between 3.6 and 6 cm
[^6]: Angular displacement of the source from the peak of the submm emission
[^7]: B68 was not observed at 6 cm
| 2023-11-28T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4887 |
[ABO blood grouping of crushed hair sample using immunohistochemical method with a mesh pack].
An elution technique for ABO blood grouping from hair samples is in wide use. However, difficulties may be encountered when identifying the ABO blood grouping using monoclonal antibody. In the present study, we have shown excellent results in ABO blood grouping from crushed hair samples using an improved immunohistochemical technique with a mesh pack. | 2023-09-25T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3054 |
Paul Egan, Kathleen Gray and Chris Haxel
Detroit Free Press and Lansing State Journal
LANSING — A state representative from Marquette was found dead from an apparent suicide Tuesday at his Lansing home, hours after he was released from jail following a Monday arrest for suspected drunken driving, officials said.
A Lansing police crime scene investigation unit was outside a Chestnut Street home that records show is owned by John Kivela, 47, a Democrat from Marquette.
Kivela's manner of death was not released.
As the news began to trickle through the Legislature, the House took on a hushed and somber tone as lawmakers embraced and shed tears.
"This is probably the toughest day that we’ll experience this term," said a tearful Speaker of the House Tom Leonard, R-DeWitt. "I truly have no words about the loss of our dear friend John Kivela. As we go forward over the next couple of days, please keep his wife, Sandy, and his children in your prayers."
Gov. Rick Snyder praised Kivela and said he was praying for the late lawmaker's family.
"It's a very sad day," Snyder said. "He had a number of issues in his life and apparently he took his own life."
House Minority Leader Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, said his thoughts and prayers were with Kivela's wife and two children, Shelby and Andrew, both in their 20s.
“He was a champion for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and a strong advocate for working people throughout Michigan," Singh said. "He was my friend, and I will miss him."
Kivela, a former mayor of Marquette, was remembered as a lawmaker who invited members from both sides of the political aisle to his house in Lansing to enjoy a meal. He enjoyed acting as a tour guide when colleagues would travel to Marquette.
"He was a good friend. John just wanted to bring everyone together," said state Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing. "He was going through stuff and we knew it and we thought he was doing OK. You never know what the person next to you, what's going on in their life. We just have to start talking to each other more."
Related:
Michigan Sen. Bert Johnson indicted by grand jury
State Rep. Brian Banks resigns in plea deal over falsified documents
There will be plenty of regret in the coming days, Schor added. "We didn't see his demons. We knew long ago, but he was doing all the right things..Everyone is going to kick themselves right now for not trying to get a hold of him this morning and show him that we love him."
Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, R-West Olive, said he was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the death of Rep. Kivela. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children at this very difficult time. I cannot begin to understand what the Kivela family must be going through. They deserve privacy and respect as they grieve.”
The House adjourned without taking up any items Tuesday and won't be back in session until Thursday.
Kivela’s is the third untimely death of House members in the past year. On June 25, 2016, state Rep. Julie Plawecki, D-Dearborn Heights, died of an apparent heart attack while hiking with her daughters in Oregon. And Rep. Peter Pettalia, R-Presque Isle, died Sept. 12, 2016, when a truck pulled out in front of his motorcycle.
(Continue reading below)
For the second time in less than two years, Kivela was arrested outside of Lansing on Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Kivela, who was in his third and final term in the House and had announced he would seek a state Senate seat, acknowledged a lifelong drinking problem after his 2015 arrest and said he was seeking help.
At about 4:45 p.m. Monday, a man was stopped on U.S.-127 after the Clinton County Sheriff's Office received 911 calls about a vehicle driving erratically, Sheriff Lawrence Jerue told the Free Press on Tuesday.
The man, who had been arrested before for the same offense, was put through field sobriety tests, arrested, and housed in the county jail overnight, Jerue said. Jerue would not disclose the breath readings the man gave, but said they were high enough to potentially justify a "super drunk charge."
The man was released on bond Tuesday morning and was to return for an arraignment on May 18, he said.
Jerue would not identify the man pending arraignment, but the Free Press confirmed it was Kivela.
In the Nov. 9, 2015, incident, Kivela was speeding at 80 m.p.h., swerving in and out of lanes, and was confused about where he was coming from when a sheriff’s deputy stopped him just north of Lansing, according to records obtained by the Free Press.
Also read:
Woman admits driving drunk with kids in car
In that incident, Kivela, was charged under the state's "super drunk" law, which is still a misdemeanor but carries higher potential penalties, including jail time for a first offense. He later pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated, first offense, and the "super drunk" charge was dropped.
In the 2015 incident, Kivela had an open bottle of whiskey in his pickup, identified himself as a state representative and pleaded to be let off before blowing nearly three times the legal limit in a series of breath tests, according to a report from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office obtained under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. A blood alcohol content of .08 is considered the level at which someone can be convicted of drunken driving in Michigan. A reading of at least .17 is required for a "super drunk" charge.
The lawmaker from the Upper Peninsula issued a statement on Nov. 10, 2015, that said he was seeking treatment for alcoholism.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. | 2023-10-15T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9357 |
Q:
Babun's git and Windows' git don't work together
I have two gits installed on my computer,
One is used in babun(which is basically cygwin with a bunch of nice addons), the git is installed via pact install
One is used in Command Prompt, it's the official git binary for Windows.
The interesting thing was, the commits made with babun's git didn't reflect on git for Windows. For example, for the same git repository, this is the result of babun's git.
git status ~/apps/med-prerate-general
On branch dev
Your branch is ahead of 'origin/dev' by 1 commit.
(use "git push" to publish your local commits)
nothing to commit, working directory clean
This is the result of git for Windows
git status
On branch dev
Your branch is ahead of 'origin/dev' by 1 commit.
(use "git push" to publish your local commits)
Changes not staged for commit:
(use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
(use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)
modified: somefile.iml
no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")
What could cause this? I need the result to be consistent because intellij can only work with native git, it couldn't see the changes I made with babun's git.
A:
The problem was that babun didn't process line endings correctly. The following line solved my problem.
git config --global core.autocrlf input
| 2023-08-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9859 |
Charles Fleming (ornithologist)
Sir Charles Alexander Fleming, KBE, FRS, FRSNZ, FRAOU (9 September 1916 – 11 September 1987) was a New Zealand geologist, ornithologist, avian palaeontologist and environmentalist. He spent the last twenty years of his life studying the evolution and systematics of New Zealand cicadas.
He was active in the Save Manapouri Campaign, was a spokesperson for Native Forest Action Council and the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand. In 1974 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union.
In 1988 the Royal Society of New Zealand established the Charles Fleming Award which is awarded to individuals who have achieved distinction in the protection, maintenance, management, improvement, or understanding of the environment.
In 1997, Trevor H. Worthy commemorated Charles Fleming in the species' epithet of the prehistoric rail Pleistorallus flemingi from the mid-Pleistocene of New Zealand.
In the 1964 New Year Honours, Fleming was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1977 New Year Honours, for services to science and conservation.
References
Further reading
Royal Society of New Zealand - The Charles Fleming Award for environmental achievement.
National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Biography of Fleming in an exhibition of 20th Century New Zealand Scientists.
Fleming, Charles Alexander in the DNZB
Charles Alexander Fleming at http://www.nzbirds.com
Category:1916 births
Category:1987 deaths
Category:New Zealand environmentalists
Category:New Zealand ornithologists
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Category:20th-century zoologists
Category:New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Category:New Zealand Fellows of the Royal Society
Category:20th-century New Zealand scientists
Category:Presidents of the Royal Society of New Zealand | 2023-08-14T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9662 |
/**
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* license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed
* with this work for additional information regarding
* copyright ownership. JumpMind Inc licenses this file
* to you under the GNU General Public License, version 3.0 (GPLv3)
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*
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package org.jumpmind.metl.core.runtime.component;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
import org.jumpmind.metl.core.model.FlowStep;
public class ComponentSettings {
Map<String, String> flowParameters;
FlowStep flowStep;
public ComponentSettings() {
this.flowParameters = new HashMap<>();
this.flowStep = new FlowStep();
}
Map<String, String> getFlowParameters() {
return flowParameters;
}
void setFlowParameters(Map<String, String> flowParameters) {
this.flowParameters = flowParameters;
}
FlowStep getFlowStep() {
return flowStep;
}
void setFlowStep(FlowStep flowStep) {
this.flowStep = flowStep;
}
}
| 2024-03-24T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3934 |
1. Introduction {#sec1-viruses-09-00255}
===============
The newly emerging pathogen Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first recognized in Saudi Arabia in June 2012 \[[@B1-viruses-09-00255]\]. MERS-CoV causes severe respiratory disease in the lower respiratory tract and is often accompanied by renal failure, showing similar clinical, epidemiological, and virological features to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) which widely spread in China in 2003 \[[@B2-viruses-09-00255],[@B3-viruses-09-00255],[@B4-viruses-09-00255],[@B5-viruses-09-00255],[@B6-viruses-09-00255]\]. As of June 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been notified of 2037 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV and at least 710 deaths related to MERS-CoV, showing a much higher fatality rate (about 35%) \[[@B7-viruses-09-00255]\] compared to SARS-CoV (less than 10%) \[[@B2-viruses-09-00255],[@B3-viruses-09-00255]\]. Since September 2012, 27 countries have reported cases of MERS-CoV globally while most cases were found in Saudi Arabia \[[@B8-viruses-09-00255],[@B9-viruses-09-00255]\]. Various therapeutics including peptide inhibitors, neutralizing antibodies, and vaccines are under development for the treatment and prevention of MERS-CoV \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B11-viruses-09-00255],[@B12-viruses-09-00255],[@B13-viruses-09-00255],[@B14-viruses-09-00255],[@B15-viruses-09-00255]\]. However, there are still no licensed vaccines or antiviral agents against MERS-CoV approved for human use. Therefore, development of efficient countermeasures to curb the spread of MERS-CoV is of great importance.
MERS-CoV is an enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus and belongs to the lineage C betacoronavirus in the family *Coronaviridae* \[[@B16-viruses-09-00255]\]. Its spike glycoprotein (S) is a class I membrane fusion protein, and contains a surface subunit (S1) and a transmembrane subunit (S2). S1 is in charge of receptor binding, while S2 mediates membrane fusion. MERS-CoV initiates infection through the interaction between the receptor-binding domain (RBD) in S1 and the receptor dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4, also known as CD26) \[[@B17-viruses-09-00255],[@B18-viruses-09-00255],[@B19-viruses-09-00255],[@B20-viruses-09-00255]\]. Then, S2 changes conformation by inserting its N-terminal fusion peptide into the host cell membrane, after which three heptad repeat 1 (HR1)segments and three heptad repeat 2 (HR2) segments form a six-helix bundle (MERS-6HB) fusion core \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\]. The three HR1s constitute the central homotrimeric core, and the three HR2s surround the core at the HR1 side grooves in an antiparallel manner. This strong interaction of HR1s and HR2s brings the viral and cell membranes close to each other which triggers fusion. Disrupting the process of MERS-6HB formation can inhibit cell--cell fusion, which leads to abortion of the viral infection. Based on this mechanism, several peptide inhibitors against MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV derived from HR2 have been identified, such as P1 \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255]\], HR2P \[[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\] and CP-1 \[[@B21-viruses-09-00255]\], which prevent the formation of the fusion core by competitively binding to HR1 and blocking the native interaction between HR1 and HR2. Hence, we have put forward an idea that the blockage of fusion core formation could also be achieved through binding to native HR2 by a foreign inhibitor. Therefore, we designed a potential inhibitor named MERS-five-helix bundle (MERS-5HB) including three HR1s and two HR2s. Since MERS-5HB lacks one HR2 segment when compared to MERS-6HB, it is intended to bind with native HR2 in S2 and prevent the formation of the fusion core. A series of experiments were performed to verify our rational design.
2. Materials and Methods {#sec2-viruses-09-00255}
========================
2.1. Design, Expression and Purification of MERS-5HB {#sec2dot1-viruses-09-00255}
----------------------------------------------------
In accordance with the two predicted heptad repeat regions of MERS-CoV S protein (AFS88936.1) \[[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\] from the Learn coil-VMF website \[[@B22-viruses-09-00255]\] and the solved crystal structures of MERS-6HB \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\], we used the sequences of HR1 from amino acid 984 to 1062 and HR2 from amino acid 1245 to 1289 for our construction. The gene of MERS-5HB was synthesized as a codon of HR1--SGGRGG--HR2--GGSGGSGG--HR1--SGGRGG--HR2--GGSGGSGG--HR1 and subcloned into the vector pET-28a(+) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) for expression in the *Escherichia coli* strain BL21 (DE3) (Invitrogen). The bacteria were grown at 37 °C in 2× to an optical density (OD~600~) of 0.8 and induced with 1 mM isopropyl-β-[d]{.smallcaps}-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) at 22 °C for 8 h. The cells were harvested and re-suspended in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) containing 500 mM NaCl, then lysed with 1% Triton X-100 by ultrasonication on ice. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation and the supernatant was passed over a nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) Resin (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) column pre-equilibrated with PBS containing 500 mM NaCl. The protein was eluted with different concentrations of imidazole. Purified protein was concentrated to a proper concentration determined by the experimental requirements and stored at −80 °C for further analysis.
2.2. Binding Assay by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) {#sec2dot2-viruses-09-00255}
---------------------------------------------------------------
In order to determine the interaction between MERS-5HB and HR2, we synthesized a biotin-labeled peptide MERS-HR2P representative of HR2 by the standard solid phase peptide synthesis method with purity above 95% (ChinaPeptides, Shanghai, China).
As reported previously \[[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\], the sequence of synthesized MERS-HR2P is Biotin-GGGSLTQINTTLLDLTYEMLSLQQVVKALNESYIDLKEL. An irrelevant peptide HIV-HR2P derived from HR2 in gp41 was used as control. We tested and compared the reactivity by ELISA in two ways which are described as follows.
### 2.2.1. Binding of MERS-5HB to Immobilized Peptide {#sec2dot2dot1-viruses-09-00255}
A 96-well half-area plate (Costar, New York, NY, USA) was coated with 100 ng/well (50 μL) of Streptavidin (Sangon Biotech, Shanghai, China) in PBS at 4 °C overnight. After blocking with 3% non-fat milk, biotin-labeled MERS-HR2P and HIV-HR2P (100 ng/well) were pipetted into each well for 1 h of incubation at 37 °C. For the binding assay, MERS-5HB (in a 3-fold dilution, with highest concentration of 0.1 μM) was added and incubated for 2 h. Bound MERS-5HB was detected by horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled 6× His Monoclonal Antibody (Proteintech, Wuhan, China). The absorbance was read at 405 nm with a Synergy 2 Multi-Mode Reader (BioTek, Winooski, VT, USA).
### 2.2.2. Binding of Peptide to Coated MERS-5HB {#sec2dot2dot2-viruses-09-00255}
A microtiter plate was coated with 100 ng/well (50 μL) of MERS-5HB in PBS at 4 °C overnight. After blocking, serially diluted MERS-HR2P and HIV-HR2P were added and incubated for 1 h. The initial concentration was 1 μM and the subsequent was diluted by a 5-fold gradient. Peroxidase-conjugated Streptavidin (Proteintech) was used for detecting the bound peptide. Absorbance was recorded at 405 nm by a Synergy 2 Multi-Mode Reader (BioTek).
2.3. Affinity Measurement by Biolayer Interferometry {#sec2dot3-viruses-09-00255}
----------------------------------------------------
Real-time binding assay between peptide MERS-HR2P and MERS-5HB was carried out on an Octet QK system (Fortebio, San Francisco, CA, USA) at 25 °C using biolayer interferometry technology. Specifically, biotin-labeled 500 ng/mL MERS-HR2P was loaded into streptavidin biosensors and then MERS-5HB was added at a series of concentrations: 64 nM, 32 nM, 16 nM, 8 nM, 4 nM, 2 nM. Protein dilutions were dissolved in PBS containing 0.02% Tween (Sangon Biotech), which is better for reducing nonspecific adsorption. Association and dissociation time were both set as 1200 s. The affinity of MERS-HR2P to MERS-5HB was (calculated automatically using the Octet QK software package) (Fortebio) by a 1:1 binding model, and the equilibrium dissociation constant (*K*~D~) value was equal to the kinetic dissociation rate constant divided by the kinetic association rate constant.
2.4. Pseudovirus Preparation and Titration {#sec2dot4-viruses-09-00255}
------------------------------------------
The MERS-CoV pseudovirus was prepared by cotransfecting 293T cells (Shanghai Guidance of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China) (2 × 10^5^ cells/well in a 24-well plate) with 125 ng/well of the plasmid pNL4-3.luc.RE (encoding an Envelope (Env)-defective, luciferase-expressing HIV-1 genome) and 375 ng/well of the plasmid pcDNA3.1-MERS-S (the full-length S gene was cloned from plasmid pUC57-MERS-S kindly provided by Zhengli Shi), using Lipofectamine 3000 Reagent (Invitrogen). Seventy-two hours after transfection, the supernatant containing the pseudovirus was harvested and stored at 4 °C in 1 mL aliquots for short-term use \[[@B23-viruses-09-00255],[@B24-viruses-09-00255]\]. The 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID~50~) of the pseudovirus was determined in Huh-7 (Shanghai Guidance of Science and Technology) cells as reported previously \[[@B25-viruses-09-00255],[@B26-viruses-09-00255]\]. Briefly, serial 3-fold dilutions of the pseudovirus were made: 50 μL/well pseudovirus was mixed with 50 μL/well culture medium in quadruplicate in a 96-well white opaque plate (1 × 10^4^ cells/well) with 8 dilution steps in total. The plate was incubated at 37 °C in 5% CO~2~ air environment for 12 h. Then pseudovirus culture was replaced with 100 μL/well fresh medium for an additional 72 h incubation. Bright-Glo Reagent (Promega, Beijing, China), in a quantity of 100 μL, was added directly to cells in 100 μL of culture medium. After 2 min to allow cell lysis, the luminescence was measured with a Synergy 2 Multi-Mode Reader (BioTek).
2.5. Inhibition of Pseudotyped MERS-CoV Infection {#sec2dot5-viruses-09-00255}
-------------------------------------------------
The assay of MERS-CoV pseudovirus entry inhibition was performed on the basis of previously described methods \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B27-viruses-09-00255]\]. To detect the inhibitory activity of MERS-5HB, 100 TCID~50~ of MERS-CoV pseudovirus was pre-incubated with 3-fold serially diluted MERS-5HB in quadruplicate from the highest concentration of 15 μM at 37 °C for 1 h. The virus--protein mixture was then transferred to a 96-well white opaque plate seeded with Huh-7 cells (1 × 10^4^/well). Twelve hours later, cells were re-fed with fresh medium (100 μL/well), which was followed by luminescence measurement after a 72-h incubation period. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudovirus was prepared as a control. The inhibition of MERS-CoV pseudovirus was presented as percent inhibition.
2.6. Cytotoxicity Assay {#sec2dot6-viruses-09-00255}
-----------------------
The cytotoxicity of MERS-5HB to Huh-7 cells was tested by a Cell Counting Kit-8 (Beyotime, Nantong, China) following the manufacturer's instruction. MERS-5HB (50 μM) was added to Huh-7 cells (1 × 10^4^/well) in quadruplicate and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h, then the medium was removed and the cells were washed with PBS. Finally, 10 μL of CCK-8 Cell Counting Kit-8 (Beyotime) solution mixed with 100 μL medium was added to each well. Four hours later, the absorbance was measured at 450 nm with a Synergy 2 Multi-Mode Reader (BioTek).
2.7. Inhibition of MERS-CoV S Protein-Mediated Cell--Cell Fusion {#sec2dot7-viruses-09-00255}
----------------------------------------------------------------
MERS-CoV S protein-mediated cell--cell fusion was assessed by a modified method \[[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\]. The plasmid pcDNA3.1-MERS-S (500 ng/well) was transfected to 293T cells (293T/MERS-S) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression plasmid pEGFP-C3 (500 ng/well) was transfected to Huh-7 cells (Huh-7/EGFP) in a 24-well plate, respectively. Six hours later, freshly trypsinized cells of Huh-7/EGFP and 293T/MERS-S were mixed at ratios of 1:1, 3:1, and 9:1. The number of Huh-7/EGFP cells was constant at 1 × 10^5^, while the number of 293T/MERS-S cells was decreased to 1 × 10^5^, 1/3 × 10^5^, and 1/9 × 10^5^. The 293T cells transfected with vector pcDNA3.1 (293T/pcDNA3.1) were used as a negative control. The co-cultured cells were seeded in a 24-well plate, in absence or presence of MERS-5HB, with an initial concentration of 5 μM followed by 3-fold dilutions. After 48 h, the obvious syncytial formation was observed and photographed in light as well as a fluorescence field under an inverted fluorescence microscope Olympus IX71 (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).
2.8. Biophysical Characterization of MERS-5HB {#sec2dot8-viruses-09-00255}
---------------------------------------------
### 2.8.1. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) Analysis {#sec2dot8dot1-viruses-09-00255}
The purified MERS-5HB was loaded onto a Superdex 75 10/300 GL column (GE Healthcare, Uppsala, Sweden) connected to an ÄKTA purifier chromatography system (GE ÄKTA avant 25) (GE Healthcare) to evaluate its molecular weight (M.W.). PBS was used as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The ultraviolet absorbance at 280 nm was recorded. A gel-filtration of standard proteins consisting of Bovine serum albumin (67 kDa), β-lactoglobulin (35 kDa), Cytochrome C (13.6 kDa), Aprotinin (6.5 kDa), and Vitamin B12 (1.35 kDa) was used to define the standard curve.
### 2.8.2. Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy {#sec2dot8dot2-viruses-09-00255}
The secondary structure of MERS-5HB was determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Purified protein was diluted in PBS and adjusted to the final concentration of 1 mg/mL before data collection. The CD spectra from 190 nm to 260 nm were recorded on an Applied Photophysics Chirascan-SF.3 spectrophotometer (Applied Photophysics Ltd, Surrey, UK) at 25 °C in a 0.1 cm path length cuvette (Applied Photophysics Ltd). Thermo-induced unfolding was measured by recording the spectra at 222 nm in temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 95 °C at a ramp-rate of 1 °C/min for evaluation of the thermodynamic stability. The CD data were shown as mean residue ellipticity.
3. Results {#sec3-viruses-09-00255}
==========
3.1. Design of MERS-5HB {#sec3dot1-viruses-09-00255}
-----------------------
As mentioned in Materials and Methods, the designed MERS-5HB contains three copies of HR1 (residues 984 to 1062) and two copies of HR2 (residues 1245 to 1289), by using flexible SGGRGG and GGSGGSGG as the linkers for connection of HR1 to HR2 and HR2 to HR1 respectively ([Figure 1](#viruses-09-00255-f001){ref-type="fig"}A). Therefore, MERS-5HB could be expressed as a single polypeptide. MERS-6HB exists as a coiled-coil trimer that consists of three copies of HR1 forming a central core, and three copies of HR2 packing into the grooves on the surface of the central core as a solved crystal structure ([Figure 1](#viruses-09-00255-f001){ref-type="fig"}B left) \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255]\]. The predicted structure of MERS-5HB was similar to MERS-6HB although lacking one HR2 ([Figure 1](#viruses-09-00255-f001){ref-type="fig"}B right). The absence of one HR2 may reserve a hydrophobic groove in MERS-5HB for binding to a native HR2 in the MERS-CoV S protein.
3.2. Interactions between MERS-5HB and MERS-HR2P {#sec3dot2-viruses-09-00255}
------------------------------------------------
The binding between MERS-5HB and MERS-HR2P was tested using ELISA. Firstly, the biotinylated MERS-HR2P was immobilized overnight on a plate coated with streptavidin. Then, MERS-5HB was added with a series of dilutions. The calculated 50% effective concentration (EC~50~) of binding of MERS-5HB to MERS-HR2P is 5.4 nM ([Figure 2](#viruses-09-00255-f002){ref-type="fig"}A). To confirm the binding, the ELISA assay was performed in the reverse way. MERS-5HB was coated onto a plate overnight and MERS-HR2P was added. In this case, the calculated EC~50~ of binding of MERS-HR2P to MERS-5HB is 31.8 nM ([Figure 2](#viruses-09-00255-f002){ref-type="fig"}B). No significant interactions were found between MERS-5HB and HIV-HR2P. In order to accurately determine the binding affinity of MERS-HR2P to MERS-5HB, biolayer interferometry was conducted. The optical sensors were prepared in advance, and consisted of a small length of optical fiber with streptavidin modified on the top. The biotinylated MERS-HR2P was immobilized on the top of the streptavidin biosensors, and the interactions with MERS-5HB at six different concentrations were monitored ([Figure 2](#viruses-09-00255-f002){ref-type="fig"}C). The interaction kinetics result showed that the *K*~D~ value was 2.4 × 10^−10^ M, the association rate constant was 5.26 × 10^4^ ± 1.41 × 10^2^ M^−1^ s^−1^, and the dissociation rate constant was 1.26 × 10^−5^ ± 7.78 × 10^−7^ s^−1^. This demonstrated that the interaction between MERS-5HB and MERS-HR2P is strong and specific, which could make it possible for MERS-5HB to inhibit virus entry as we expected.
3.3. Inhibition of Pseudotyped MERS-CoV Infection {#sec3dot3-viruses-09-00255}
-------------------------------------------------
The inhibitory efficacy of MERS-5HB was evaluated in the pseudotyped virus system. Gradient concentrations of MERS-5HB were incubated with the MERS-CoV pseudovirus, and the inhibitory effect was tested in cultured Huh-7 cells. As shown in [Figure 3](#viruses-09-00255-f003){ref-type="fig"}A, MERS-5HB displayed a notable inhibitory effect for the MERS-CoV pseudovirus but not for the VSV pseudovirus, even at the highest concentration (15 μM), demonstrating the inhibitory specificity of MERS-5HB. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC~50~) for the inhibition by MERS-5HB of a MERS-CoV infection was about 1 μM, which is comparable to other peptide inhibitors reported previously \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\]. We then measured the potential cytotoxicity of MERS-5HB to Huh-7 cells which were used for the inhibition assay. No significant cytotoxicity to cell-growth was observed of MERS-5HB at the concentration up to 50 μM ([Figure 3](#viruses-09-00255-f003){ref-type="fig"}B), which proved that MERS-5HB has low or no toxic effect in vitro.
3.4. Inhibition of S Protein-Mediated Cell--Cell Fusion {#sec3dot4-viruses-09-00255}
-------------------------------------------------------
To determine whether MERS-5HB was able to inhibit cell--cell fusion mediated by the MERS-CoV S protein, we developed a syncytial formation assay as described in Materials and Methods. Line 293T cells that can instantaneously express MERS-CoV S protein (293T/MERS-S) were co-cultured with Huh-7 cells expressing EGFP (Huh-7/EGFP) as a reporter, using 293T cells with a transfected vector as the control (293T/vector). Forty-eight hours later, effective cell--cell fusion was observed ([Figure 4](#viruses-09-00255-f004){ref-type="fig"}A). The maximum syncytia happened in a proportion of Huh-7/EGFP cells and 293T/MERS-S cells at a ratio of 1:1. In contrast, the syncytial formation was reduced when 293T/MERS-S cells decreased at the ratios of 3:1 and 9:1. In addition, no syncytium was shown when Huh-7/EGFP cells were co-cultured with 293T/vector cells. These results indicated that the MERS-CoV S protein played an important role in cell--cell fusion.
We then tested the inhibitory activity of MERS-5HB in cell--cell fusion. The formation of syncytia was completely inhibited in the presence of 5 μM MERS-5HB and the inhibition effect was dependent on the concentration of MERS-5HB ([Figure 4](#viruses-09-00255-f004){ref-type="fig"}B). The estimated 50% inhibition occurred at a concentration of 0.56 μM, which was consistent with the result of the pseudovirus entry inhibition by MERS-5HB. Because MERS-5HB could effectively bind to the MERS-HR2P representative of viral HR2, it may destroy the native interaction between viral HR1 and HR2, blocking the six-helix bundle fusion core formation.
3.5. Biophysical Characterization of MERS-5HB {#sec3dot5-viruses-09-00255}
---------------------------------------------
### 3.5.1. MERS-5HB Exists as a Monomer {#sec3dot5dot1-viruses-09-00255}
The M.W. of MERS-5HB in PBS was analyzed using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis ([Figure 5](#viruses-09-00255-f005){ref-type="fig"}A). According to the standard curve, the calculated M.W. of MERS-5HB was 43.4 kDa while the theoretical M.W. of monomeric MERS-5HB was 37.9 kDa, indicating that MERS-5HB existed as a monomer.
### 3.5.2. MERS-5HB Exhibits Thermo Stable α-Helical Conformation {#sec3dot5dot2-viruses-09-00255}
CD spectra of MERS-5HB at 1 mg/mL in PBS exhibited double negative peaks at 208 nm and 222 nm ([Figure 5](#viruses-09-00255-f005){ref-type="fig"}B), illustrating that MERS-5HB adopts the classic α-helical secondary structure. Thermo-induced unfolding of MERS-5HB was monitored at 222 nm in temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 95 °C. As the temperature increased, the structure was slightly destroyed but with no obvious S- shaped curve appearing ([Figure 5](#viruses-09-00255-f005){ref-type="fig"}C). This helical bundle showed strong thermal stability and appeared to be folded very well, which laid a physiochemical foundation for further study.
4. Discussion {#sec4-viruses-09-00255}
=============
MERS-CoV S is an effective target for antiviral agents including prophylactics and therapeutics. The RBD in S1 has already been used for development of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and vaccines \[[@B28-viruses-09-00255],[@B29-viruses-09-00255],[@B30-viruses-09-00255]\]. However, the virus may mutate in RBD to escape antibody neutralization, and the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of viral infection also needs to be considered \[[@B31-viruses-09-00255],[@B32-viruses-09-00255]\]. Since S2 is responsible for membrane fusion, it is also an attractive target, especially the fusion core region. In the early 1990s, several synthetic peptides from gp41 in the HIV-1 envelope protein (which is equal to S2 in the MERS-CoV S protein) were identified to inhibit viral entry with high potency through disruption of native interactions between HR1 and HR2 \[[@B33-viruses-09-00255],[@B34-viruses-09-00255]\]. One peptide, T20 (enfuvirtide), is the first HIV-1 entry inhibitor on the market \[[@B35-viruses-09-00255]\]. Following a similar rule, several peptides derived from S2 in the MERS-CoV S protein, as mentioned above, also have been identified as MERS-CoV inhibitors.
Interestingly, besides the short peptide inhibitors from HR2 that could bind to native HR1, a well-designed five-helix protein showed promising activity against HIV-1 through binding to native HR2 but not HR1 \[[@B36-viruses-09-00255],[@B37-viruses-09-00255]\]. Here, we reported that MERS-5HB, designed by us, could bind to HR2 in MERS-CoV S2 to inhibit viral entry as well as S protein-mediated syncytial formation. The inhibition activity is similar to the previously reported short peptide inhibitors \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255],[@B11-viruses-09-00255]\]. Although both MERS-5HB and other peptide inhibitors (e.g., HR2P) block viral entry though disruption of the formation of the fusion core, the detailed mechanisms of their inhibition activities are different. Peptide inhibitors derived from HR2 could interact with HR1 with strong binding force and therefore they are competitors against native HR2. However, due to the absence of one HR2, our MERS-5HB displays high efficacy in binding with HR2 and hence it is a competitor against native HR1. These interesting issues are worthy of being further elucidated.
After MERS-CoV RBD binding to the receptor DPP4, HR1 and HR2 undergo conformational changes to form a fusion core. In this process, MERS-5HB interacts with native HR2 in MERS-CoV S2, thus blocking the fusion core formation and preventing virus entry ([Figure 6](#viruses-09-00255-f006){ref-type="fig"}). In conclusion, MERS-5HB could be a potential inhibitor against MERS-CoV infection, and it also helps us to throw light upon the mechanism of S protein-mediated membrane fusion.
We are very grateful to Zhengli Shi (Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS) for generously providing the pUC57-MERS-S plasmid. We thank Ding Gao (Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS) for the technical assistance on biolayer interferometry. We are thankful to The Core Facility and Technical Support, Wuhan Institute of Virology; Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology as well as Wuhan Key Laboratory on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Biosafety for the supports. This work was funded by Key Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (ZDRW-ZS-2016-4) and the China Mega-Project for Infectious Disease (Grant No. 2014ZX10004001).
Y.S. performed the major experiments and analyzed the data; H.Z., J.S. and Z.Z. offered help in circular dichroism and size exclusion chromatography experiments; R.G. conceived the research; Y.S. and R.G. wrote the paper.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
![Design of the MERS-five-helix bundle (MERS-5HB) inhibitor. (**A**) Schematic representation of MERS-5HB based on the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) (S2) subunit. Heptad repeat 1 (HR1) (residues 984 to 1062) and heptad repeat 2 (HR2) (residues 1245 to 1289) are from the major parts of HR1 (residues 984 to 1105) and HR2 (residues 1246 to 1296) domains in the S2 subunit. MERS-5HB contains three HR1 segments and two HR2 segments. The linker of HR1 to HR2 is SGGRGG and the linker of HR2 to HR1 is GGSGGSGG. (**B**) Models of the MERS-CoV fusion core (MERS-6HB) (PDB: 4MOD \[[@B10-viruses-09-00255]\]) (**left**) and MERS-5HB (**right**). As a solved crystal structure, the six-helix bundle contains three HR1 segments (shown in blue) which form a central core, and three HR2 segments (shown in cyan) which pack into the HR1 side grooves.](viruses-09-00255-g001){#viruses-09-00255-f001}
{#viruses-09-00255-f002}
{#viruses-09-00255-f003}
######
Inhibition by MERS-5HB of MERS-CoV S protein-mediated syncytium formation. (**A**) Images of S protein-mediated cell--cell fusion. Huh-7/EGFP cells and 293T/MERS-S cells were co-cultured at the ratio of 1:1, 3:1, 9:1; 293T/vector cells were tested as control. (**B**) Inhibition of MERS-5HB on cell--cell fusion, with decreasing syncytium formation in the presence of MERS-5HB in a dose-dependent manner. The highest concentration was 5 μM, followed with three-times dilution. The syncytial formation was observed with fluorescence (**top**) or visible light (**bottom**).
######
Biophysical characterization of MERS-5HB. (**A**) SEC analysis of MERS-5HB. The elution volume of MERS-5HB was 10 mL indicating that MERS-5HB existed as monomer. (**B**) Secondary structure of MERS-5HB in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Circular Dichroism (CD) spectra illustrates double minima at 208 nm and 222 nm indicating that MERS-5HB adopted a typical α-helix structure. (**C**) Thermal denaturation of MERS-5HB. CD signals at 222 nm were recorded from 25 °C to 95 °C with a scanning rate of 1 °C/min.
{#viruses-09-00255-f006}
| 2024-01-30T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8417 |
Revved-up reporting.
As federal quality reporting mandates and noncompliance penalties add up, experts say registries can help take the sting out of the process and rev up quality improvement for physician practices. The online reporting tool is also taking a front seat over claims-based reporting as Medicare signals its plans to eventually phase out that less efficient and less clinically accurate option. | 2024-04-09T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2107 |
import {getContext, render} from 'malevic/dom';
import {isStringifying} from 'malevic/string';
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const overlayNodes = new Map<any, HTMLElement>();
const clickListeners = new WeakMap<HTMLElement, () => void>();
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node.classList.add('overlay');
node.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
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const listener = clickListeners.get(node);
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return overlayNodes.get(key);
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return getOverlayDOMNode(props.key);
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key?: any;
onOuterClick?: () => void;
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function Portal(props: OverlayPortalProps, ...content: Malevic.Child[]) {
const context = getContext();
context.onRender(() => {
const node = getOverlayDOMNode(props.key);
if (props.onOuterClick) {
clickListeners.set(node, props.onOuterClick);
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render(node, content);
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context.onRemove(() => {
const container = getOverlayDOMNode(props.key);
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return context.leave();
}
export default Object.assign(Overlay, {Portal});
| 2024-05-09T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/5850 |
Elizabeth City, North Carolina micropolitan area
The Elizabeth City Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in the Inner Banks region of eastern North Carolina, anchored by the area of Elizabeth City. It is part of a bigger Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Combined Statistical Area.
As of the 2010 census, the Micropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 64,094.
Counties
Pasquotank
Perquimans
Camden
Communities
Belvidere (unincorporated)
Camden (unincorporated)
Elizabeth City (Principal city)
Hertford
Nixonton (unincorporated)
Morgan's Corner
Weeksville (unincorporated)
Winfall
Woodville (unincorporated)
Demographics
As of the census of 2014, there were 64,754 people, 24,229 households, and 17,120 families residing within the μSA. The racial makeup of the USA was 63.9% White, 31.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.
The median income for a household in the USA was $33,158, and the median income for a family was $39,000. Males had a median income of $31,199 versus $21,752 for females. The per capita income for the USA was $16,408.
See also
North Carolina census statistical areas
References
Category:Geography of Camden County, North Carolina
Category:Geography of Pasquotank County, North Carolina
Category:Geography of Perquimans County, North Carolina | 2024-03-16T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9509 |
In recent months the Internet has been buzzing about the prospect of a United Nations "takeover" of the Internet, including responsibility for governance of the domain name system. The concern hit a fever pitch late last month when the U.S. Congress held hearings on the issue. A steady stream of technology companies and consumer groups expressed fears with potential U.N. and foreign government involvement, and members of Congress pledged to take a strong stand against the takeover.
New Rules for Web Domain Disputes read more
Announcements, Events & more from Tyee and select partners John Horton’s Paintings Preserve History. His Seamanship Saves Lives Meet the fascinating Order of BC winner who also happens to be a Tyee supporter.
While a U.N. takeover would indeed be cause for serious concern, the reality is far more complex and somewhat less ominous. This issue has been festering for over 15 years and is less about whether there will be efforts at governmental control and more about which government controls.
US vs UN
The U.S. government established the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a private, non-profit entity based in California in 1998, granting it responsibility for Internet governance leadership. ICANN was created with a vision of an open, transparent and multi-stakeholder approach, where Internet users, companies, interest groups, and governments could all participate in the development of policies such as the creation and management of new domain name extensions, the privacy rules associated with registration information, and the development of dispute resolution policies for contested domain names.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a U.N. body, was never happy with U.S. leadership and the ICANN model, embarking on several efforts to assert greater influence over Internet governance issues.
In 1996, it attempted to take control over the management of the domain name system but failed to do so (leading to the creation of ICANN). Several years later, it was the engine behind the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which raised the prospect of dramatic change to the Internet governance model and a far more assertive role for national governments. The ITU-backed WSIS initiative had support from many countries around the world, but the U.S. and its supporters (which included Canada) were able to keep the existing system largely intact.
The latest concerns arise from the World Conference on International Telecommunications, scheduled for Dubai later this year. The ITU is rumoured to be ready to take another shot at Internet governance control, a fear fueled by the notorious secrecy associated with the conference documents (the actual proposals were leaked on the Internet last week).
Given past history, there is little reason to believe the ITU will succeed. Yet the issue is likely to recur for as long as the U.S. treats the Internet as its own.
Missing the point
Successive administrations have regularly pressured ICANN on various policy matters, including efforts to get it to drop plans to create a dot-xxx domain (after years of global consultation and the development of a neutral process for approval) and expressed serious reservations with the introduction of hundreds of new domain name extensions. While a multi-stakeholder approach means that governments have an opportunity to express their views on policy issues, the U.S. seems to believe that some views count more than others.
In fact, some of the same U.S. politicians who expressed outrage over the ITU plans only months ago were supporters of the Stop Online Piracy Act, the now-defeated controversial anti-piracy bill that included provisions that meddled with the domain name system.
The current controversy misses the bigger point that Internet governance still lacks a strong, universal commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach that includes governments, business, and civil society groups working together to develop policies that best reflect the views of the global Internet community.
Developing such policies is frustratingly time consuming and difficult – as any policy that implicates billions of people and the world's most important communication system would be. Yet an inclusive and transparent system offers far more than the current unappealing alternatives of either secretive U.N. involvement or U.S. assertion of greater control whenever challenging policy issues arise. | 2024-03-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9302 |
The Justice Department invited a group of reporters to its offices on Tuesday night to view private text messages.
The messages were sent during the 2016 campaign by former investigators on the special counsel Robert Mueller's team, and some expressed a negative sentiment toward President Donald Trump.
The department's invitation was "highly unusual," one source said, since the texts are the subject of an ongoing investigation by its inspector general.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department invited a group of reporters to its offices on Tuesday night to view private text messages sent during the 2016 campaign by Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, former investigators on the special counsel Robert Mueller's team, Business Insider has learned.
President Donald Trump's allies have seized on the texts, which were critical of Trump, describing them as evidence that Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in last year's election, including whether members of Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow, has been tainted.
The texts were obtained as part of an investigation this year by the DOJ's inspector general into how the FBI handled the probe into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state.
Strzok, a veteran counterintelligence agent who was among those overseeing the Clinton investigation, was abruptly removed from Mueller's team in late July and relegated to the human-resources department. Page left over the summer for unrelated reasons.
It is "highly unusual" for the DOJ to release private correspondences that are the subject of an ongoing investigation to Congress, let alone to the press, a source on one of the congressional committees investigating Russia's election interference told Business Insider on Wednesday.
The source emphasized that none of the leaks came from Capitol Hill, which obtained the texts from the DOJ separately on Tuesday.
"It's appalling behavior by the department," said Matthew Miller, a former DOJ spokesman. "This is an ongoing investigation in which these employees have due-process rights, and the political leadership at DOJ has thrown them to the wolves so Rosenstein can get credit from House Republicans at his hearing today."
One source close to the process who requested anonymity to discuss internal DOJ deliberations said the texts were given to reporters in case they did not leak in time for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's public hearing on Wednesday morning.
"It is at least debatable whether it was appropriate to turn them over to the Hill in the middle of an ongoing investigation," Miller said. "Under no circumstances was it appropriate to leak them to the press."
It is not clear who invited the reporters to view the texts.
Asked by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday who authorized the invitation, Rosenstein demurred — but he said there had been a decision that the texts turned over to Congress were fit for public consumption.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin asked Rosenstein whether he knew "of any other occasions in which material in an ongoing investigation was released to reporters."
Rosenstein replied: "We consulted wtih the inspector general to determine that he had no objection to releasing the material. If he had, we would not have released it."
A DOJ official provided a statement to Business Insider on Wednesday: "We often provide information we give to Congressional committees to avoid any confusion."
Asked whether that also applies during investigations by the inspector general, the official replied, "Statement stands."
It is true that the DOJ will sometimes give documents to reporters that it is already going to hand over to Congress. But it is not clear that the DOJ has ever released private text messages to the press that are the subject of an ongoing OIG investigation.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein pauses while testifying before a House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 in Washington. Andrew Harnik/AP
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell asked Rosenstein on Wednesday whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions played any role in inviting the reporters over to the DOJ.
"Not to my knowledge," Rosenstein replied.
Asha Rangappa, a former FBI counterintelligence agent, said that if the invitation was approved by Sessions' office, it could be "a violation of his recusal" from investigations in which he has a conflict of interest.
Rangappa said she had "never heard of DOJ interfacing directly and privately with reporters, outside of an official press conference."
"Especially when there is still an ongoing internal investigation," she added. "Both FBI and DOJ have press offices that should be fielding questions from reporters on behalf of the agency."
Stephen Boyd, a former communications director for Sessions who's now the assistant attorney general for the Office of Legislative Affairs, provided the correspondences to Congress.
Former FBI agents who spoke to Business Insider last week emphasized that the nature of FBI investigations makes it impossible for one employee to exert outsize influence over others.
"It would be literally impossible for one human being to have the power to change or manipulate evidence or intelligence according to their own political preferences," said Mark Rossini, a former FBI unit chief who spent 17 years at the bureau.
"FBI agents, like anyone else, are human beings," he added. "We are allowed to have our political beliefs. If anything, the overwhelming majority of agents are conservative Republicans."
Rangappa echoed that sentiment.
"The FBI investigators who are working on any given day will probably be mostly politically conservative," Rangappa said, drawing from her interactions with agents under President George W. Bush.
That is one reason, she said, Republicans should "think carefully" about the precedent they're setting in pointing to agents' political leanings as evidence of a tainted investigation. | 2023-12-27T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3308 |
When the conductors in a flat cable must be removably connected to conductors on a circuit board, it is common practice to use multi-contact electrical connectors of the type comprising an insulating housing having a cable-receiving face and a rearward face, upper and lower sidewalls and endwalls extending between the faces, a cable-receiving trough extending into the housing from the cable-receiving face, and a plurality of contact terminals mounted in the trough, the terminals being arranged in a row extending between the endwalls so that the side-by-side conductors in the flat cable are contacted by the terminals when the cable is inserted into the trough. U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,336, U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,787 and U.S. Application Ser. No. 214,859, filed Dec. 10, 1980, all disclose such connectors.
An essential performance requirement of these connectors is that the flat cable not be damaged during insertion into the connector by an excessive resistive force produced by the contact terminals. Providing a connector with low insertion force, however, undesirably reduces the cable retention capacity of the connector, thereby permitting the cable to be disengaged from the connector upon application of a relatively small tensile pull on the cable. This may be unsafe under certain operating conditions.
One solution has been to incorporate strain relief means into the connector. The connector shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,336 has strain relief ears on a flap which is hinged to the connector housing. These ears extend into cable openings to secure the cable in the connector housing. While this type of strain relief is undoubtedly effective, it is relatively complex and would be expensive to manufacture. Also, because strain relief is not required in all applications, fabrication of two types of connectors, one with and one without strain relief, would be necessitated. In addition, when a connector without strain relief is chosen for a particular application, but it is later discovered that strain relief is required, the entire connector must be removed and a new one installed having the strain relief feature. The present invention is directed to the achievement of a strain relief and connector for flat cable in which the strain relief is separable from the connector housing.
A strain relief and connector in accordance with the invention comprises a rigid body portion which is disposed against the upper sidewall of the connector housing. The body portion has ends which are adjacent to the housing endwalls and a forward edge adjacent to the cable-receiving face. Disposed against the endwalls are latching arms that have latching portions which are in engagement with latching shoulders on the endwalls. Flexible neck portions connect the latching arms to the ends of the body portion and permit outward movement of the latching portions from the endwalls so that the latching portions can be disengaged from the latching shoulders. At least two cable-retaining ears extend laterally from the forward edge of the body portion to free end portions which are received in openings in the cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,626 discloses a strain relief that is separable from a connector for flat cable. The connector is a connector clip having a row of cantilever springs resiliently biased against the circuit board connectors. A strain relief halter used with this connector clip as disclosed, however, is not adaptable to a connector of the type comprising an insulating housing having a plurality of terminals mounted therein.
A further advantageous feature of the present invention not available in any prior art connector having a strain relief is an overload release mechanism. Upon application of a tensile pull on the cable of a prior art connector, the strain relief retained the cable in the connector until the cable, the connector, and/or the strain relief were damaged. The present invention provides a mechanism whereby the strain relief disengages from the connector housing upon application of a predetermined tensile pull so that such damage is prevented. | 2024-06-05T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/1479 |
# Foremast - Pipeline Tooling
#
# Copyright 2018 Gogo, LLC
#
# 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.
from .destroy_iam import *
| 2023-11-06T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3192 |
Q:
Google password compromised?
A few days ago I noticed my phone notify me about my Google play account as if I had changed my password. Yesterday I found out I had been infected with a rootkit and a packet sniffer. I was able to access my Google account. Found no weird logins to my account. So I checked "Devices" and it said "Unable to connect to phone, last time connected April the 6th". So it means someone did something to my account? I mean it's not that easy to log out of my account on my phone is it? I changed my password and my password rest email, so I should be safe?
A:
You should immediately factory reset your phone, then go to Google and go through the Google Security Check-up and verify EVERYTHING (don't skip any checks), and I would also recommend enabling 2-Step Authentication.
After that, setup your phone again and make sure to enable a lockscreen password, and possibly device encryption as well. Do not enable "Unknown Sources" without somekind of quality security package installed.
I would also go through everything on the Sign In & Security page and look for any anomalies.
| 2024-05-23T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9517 |
Purification of pimplin, a paralytic heterodimeric polypeptide from venom of the parasitoid wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca, and cloning of the cDNA encoding one of the subunits.
We have previously detected a paralytic factor in gel filtration-separated venom from the endoparasitoid wasp Pimpla hypochondriaca which is active against the fly Musca domestica. Now we have further purified this factor, which we have called pimplin, by reverse phase chromatography, and established using SDS-PAGE that it has a molecular mass of approximately 22 kDa. A 40 ng dose of pimplin administered to adult M. domestica by intrahaemocoelic injection was sufficient to kill all flies tested. Treatment of pimplin with beta-mercaptoethanol prior to SDS-PAGE analysis resulted in the appearance of two polypeptides of approximately 15 and 6 kDa, indicating that pimplin is a heterodimer whose polypeptides are linked through a disulphide bond. Subunit masses of 10.544 and 6.318 kDa were determined using MALDI-TOF analysis indicating that the larger subunit migrates anomalously in SDS-PAGE. Using an oligonucleotide probe designed from N-terminal sequence obtained for the 15 kDa polypeptide, we have isolated a cDNA (pim1) encoding this larger pimplin subunit. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of pim1 occurred 28 residues beyond a predicted signal peptide cleavage site, indicating that pim1 is synthesised as a pre-propolypeptide which is secreted and proteolytically cleaved to yield the mature polypeptide stored in the venom sac. Beginning at the fourth residue of the mature pim1 venom polypeptide is a stretch of 46 residues consisting of alternating prolines, the significance of which is discussed in terms of possible host processing. | 2024-06-23T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/4361 |
Modern inventory-control, billing, distribution, and other types of similar systems identify an item of merchandise by means of a machine-readable label affixed to the item. Such a label might show a combination of one or more bar codes, QR (Quick Response) codes, alphanumeric strings, graphics, or other identifiers that allows a reading device to identify information from which a characteristic of the labeled item may be retrieved or inferred.
Some items are so labeled upon manufacture or prior to being shipped to a distribution channel. Others, however, are not labeled or are labeled in a manner that does not facilitate identification by a machine-reading mechanism. In some cases, a sales, distribution, or other facility might use a machine-readable method, but that method may not be fully compatible with a particular type of labeling mechanism used on a particular item.
There is thus a need for a way to automatically identify, classify, and label items that are either unlabeled or labeled in a manner that is incompatible with a particular labeling format, medium, or identification mechanism. | 2023-10-07T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9003 |
Surfing with Spirit
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To those unfamiliar with surfing, it may come as a surprise to learn that much of your time is spent sitting on your board in the water waiting—waiting for the next set of waves to come in. There are those days when the waves seem to roll in continuously one after another, and those sessions are never to be forgotten. But during one of those waiting periods, I found myself wanting to use the time more wisely. And it occurred to me that I could spend that time in prayer.
I have always found that prayer begins with turning to God and listening for His voice, for spontaneous and uplifting direction and inspiration. As I began to reach out to God, sitting on my surfboard in the ocean, I found myself being grateful for Christ Jesus, Mary Baker Eddy, and the prophets, whose lessons and inspirations are available to us today. I wanted to understand their lessons better, to become more familiar with the spiritual discipline they so clearly expressed.
Of course, I had none of my Christian Science literature with me, and so I had to rely on memory to recall passages from the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings that I could ponder. I started with the Lord’s Prayer with its spiritual sense from the Christian Science textbook (see Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, pp. 16–17). I could recall and ponder the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:3–17) and the Beatitudes from the Bible (see Matthew 5:1–12).
I was also especially grateful to discover that I could remember many of the hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal, especially the ones that were Mrs. Eddy’s poems set to music. And although I prayed with the 23rd Psalm, I felt compelled to modify it slightly. Instead of, “He leadeth me beside the still waters” (verse 2), I would say, “He leadeth me to good waves in safe waters.” A surfer’s prayer!
As I prayed with these passages, I came to appreciate the faculty of memory as an expression of divine Mind, and how valuable it is to commit passages of spiritual insight to memory so that they can be recalled and pondered no matter what we may be doing. At one point I decided to memorize the first paragraph of Mrs. Eddy’s answer to the question “What is man?” on page 475 of Science and Health.
She writes in part, “Man is not matter; … Man is idea, the image, of Love; he is not physique. He is the compound idea of God, including all right ideas; ….” Praying with these ideas helped clarify my thoughts about myself. I could also claim these spiritual truths for my family, for the other surfers out at the break, and any others in my experience.
During one of those waiting periods, I found myself wanting to use the time more wisely.
At one point, after a number of less-than-satisfying experiences of either missing a perfectly good wave completely or wiping out, I decided to prepare myself for the next wave by identifying the key moves I needed in order to surf it better. I came up with an “FDR” (Forward-Down-Right) approach—lean forward, go down the wave, turn right on the break. I trained myself to recall this acronym as I took off on succeeding waves, and there was immediate improvement.
This experience came to mind some time later as I was pondering how I could better respond to certain personal interactions, specifically situations where I felt someone had offended me or disappointed me in some way. As I pondered this, I realized that although there is no formula for inspiration, I could go through a few basic and helpful prayer “moves.”
Just as I did for my plan to improve my surfing, I was inspired to form an acronym—“FPL” for forgiveness, patience, and love. I trained myself to remember this acronym and to put these qualities into practice. Prepared with this spiritual discipline, I found I was better able to resist the temptation to be upset or condemn. I could forgive in the spirit of not indulging resentment against another individual.
This freed me to take the next step, patience—patience with the other person, patience with myself. For me, that was the essential step to the final goal—love. I knew I had reached it when I no longer felt offended or disappointed, but found myself yielding fully to God’s plan.
His plan, while uniquely expressed in each situation, was always the same: God wanted me to have nothing but love in my heart, love for myself as an idea that could never be offended, hurt, or disappointed—because God was always meeting my every need—and love for the other individual, who, as an idea of divine Love, could in reality never do anything unloving or thoughtless. This was my assignment, and as I performed it, interactions with others improved, and I found freedom.
This is just some of the spiritual progress that has come about through relying on what I’ve learned while surfing. As the Christ touches us and causes us to turn to our dear Father for guidance, we find Him leading us in unexpected ways, in just the language we can understand, and in just the context that best moves us closer to Him. Truly it can be said, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea” (Psalms 93:4).
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You have entered the name of a "new folder" but have not yet saved the change. Select "OK" and then select the "Add Folder" option to complete this step. Select "Cancel" to save this bookmark without creating a new folder. | 2024-01-18T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/8341 |
Taking a break from commissions to draw this cutie. I've realised I haven't made any other Steven Universe Squishies - should I make more? Which character should I do next?
Bend those knees!
Taking a break from commissions to draw this cutie. I've realised I haven't made any other Steven Universe Squishies - should I make more? Which character should I do next?
All artworks are © Melissa Caruso 2019. Please do not use, edit or redistribute in any way without my permission. Thank you ♥
All artworks are © Melissa Caruso 2019. Please do not use, edit or redistribute in any way without my permission. Thank you ♥
I do love a good bendy-kneed Squishy, and I hear Spinel has the bendiest knees around! | 2024-05-29T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2239 |
Business Fashion Makeover – Better Design for Better Business
Ask a fashion creator what design is and the likely answer involves fabric and flow. A gardener may define design in terms of plant material and placement. Ask business owners and business executives to define design and the answers may stagger the mind. In other words, business design to one executive may be very different from another.
Design in business often focuses on brick and mortar structures with halls and walls and office compartments. Let us excuse for that definition as the fabric of business; However, does it allow flow? Office compartments define placement; Yet, do they define proper use of people, the material of business?
This discussion moves from the traditional concept of design as the physical plant in which business operates and moves toward contemporary business where knowledge professionals are uninhibited by physical structure. This discussion uses texts from leadership professionals and observations of and interviews with knowledge workers in education, politics, and business. The goal of this discussion is enlightening current and future leaders of design possibilities that promote and encourage professional bilateral relations.
Vision the Future from the Past
A Business Communication student shared her desire of writing a term paper on outsourcing of US industrial jobs to offshore and overseas locations. Her email contention being, the US needs to secure its industrial strength at home. In a reply email agreeing this is a good topic, we shared an exchange offering another view that US business is no longer dependent on industrial strength. The might of US business shifted to knowledge as a product.
Supporting this were examples of US based organizations, having a major global impact, and net knowledge producers. Major companies as Microsoft, SUN, INTEL, Apple, and even Omaha based Berkshire-Hathaway are major players in knowledge generation. The proliferation of online knowledge providers places vast amounts of data in one person's hand faster than in any previous generation.
Part of the exchange included Camrass and Farncombe's (2004) view of knowledge products. At the center of their view is the paradigm shift, and paradox of behaviors. Handy (1995) explains as we become more secure in our use of online services, we act as our own customer service agent providing information previously collected in person. Business has retrained us to do their work. Subsequently, business can shift from expensive infrastructures to lean operations.
Finally, the student acknowledged the US is less industrial than past generations. However, she could not link losses of industrial jobs off shore and the gain of knowledge producing jobs.
Another observation comes in the form of education. A local community college founded in 1974 as a technical community college shifted emphasis in 1992 to a fully accredited community college offering educational opportunities in business, the arts, healthcare, social sciences, and awarding associate degrees. The college web site provides some student statistics that emphasize a shift from technical skills to academic skills. Of over 44,500 full and part-time students, more than 27 thousands are in academic pursuits 17,300 in technical trade education. Another statistic shared on the college web site is that after completing an associate degree, 54 percent continue their education beyond the Associate Degree. These observations support the email conversation noted earlier that net industrial jobs have shifted to net academic or knowledge generating occupations.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (2005) released national employment statistics indicating over130.3 million Americans employed. It is difficult to identify carers as specifically industrial or specifically knowledge generating. However, a cursory attempt to identify them finds about 35.6 million Americans working in industrial trades. Approximately 33.0 million Americans work in net knowledge generating fields. The service industry in the US shows to account for the remaining almost 53 percent of American wage earners.
Therefore, it must appear as though contemporary business finds itself in a paradox. The paradox involves managing business today while envisioning the future. Davis (1996) tells of people in their offices watching the time hiring for 5:00 o-clock. These people are waiting for the future to reach them in their stagnant office environments. They may have a strategic plan that has marked their path and they seem unable to consider alternatives. A careful or even casual observer will probably conclude that this business is either prepared for the future nor looking forward to it approaching. Also kindly, this organization is in need of radical change or faces extinction.
In a business across the street, people know the time and realize an opportunity for brainstorming. These people, according to Davis (1996), are unafraid of the future, embrace it, anticipate it, and manage it rather than wait for it. Rather than holding to a strategic plan, this group thinks in terms of strategic vision. They scan their horizon for opportunities to change and grow into new markets and products. Is this organization expecting to grow beyond its walls into a new arena where office is a place but not required for work?
Achieving Design Makeover
How do leaders use design to their organizational advantage in a rapidly changing global environment? Taylor and Wacker (2000) share an answer in what they call the age of possibilities. Today, as never before we are free from traditional bonds of work, we are free to choose our futures as well as shape them to suit our own desires and needs. Hoffman (2006) suggested that workers now have ways to shape their destiny and their future in ways past generations of workers could not imagine.
Leaders in contemporary organizations making a design change are active in the middle of the organization, often from the middle of workers and sharing the workload with them. Maxwell (2005) advises leaders not to forget the people. Forgetting them, he says, leaves the leader risking having leadership erode. Leadership demands often force leaders to operate at a speed faster than the organization. Maxwell's point is to slow down, "To connect with people, you travel at their speed" (pg. 214). Leaders may heed the Harper's Bizarre (1967) song lyric, "Slow down, you move too fast."
Yet, slowing down is another paradox for leaders who want to change organizational design. Leaders believe they must keep moving to keep the organization moving. By contrast, slowing the pace allows a leader to scan the horizon for new opportunities, sense or see a vision that had not been there before. Budman (2004) wrote in The Conference Board that the future of business would continue to "need trainers, and researchers and economists and teachers … and executive to manage them all" (pg. 1). He continues to sell the idea of a new business design that acquaints knowledge workers because workers want to be part of the new design. Thus, the paradox of slowing down may help propel the leader, workers, and the organization forward.
Contemporary design no longer depends on halls and walls and offices as traditional business once did. Budman (2004) continues his discussion on leading knowledge workers. New leaders often find themselves operating in a system of workers separated by thousands of miles. He tells leaders to educate them on new technology and global business operations. As Hoffman (2007) observed, "In 21st century organizations, leaders have a responsibility towards knowledge networks; Granting them resources necessary to develop common capabilities, develop incentives for membership, as well as standards and protocols for sharing information. "
Are we observing a shift from the days of going to the office, putting in our eight or ten or twelve hours, punching the time-clock, and calling that work? Is contemporary business shift from supervised hours to process completed? The fabric of change invites flow of processes completed rather than hours spent at or in the office. Nurturing leaders recognize the value of placement and proper use of people to reap a bountiful harvest. A new reality is emerging; Work no longer depends on a physical structure to house workers. There is something new in the business fashion design to improve productivity and business.
The New Design
There are new designs appearing on the thresholds of contemporary businesses. The concepts tear at the fabric of traditional thinking and reorder theories of worker placement. Let us examine one example.
This example is one we are familiar and comfortable with. It is a global business with extensive multilingual Internet presences. Upon reading the organization name, almost everyone has a cognitive reaction. Perhaps, many members of their networks of buyers, sellers, and marketers. Their Internet home page offers a view of their operational design with this statement:
[We are] pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. [We] bring together millions of people every day on a local, national and international basis through an array of websites that focus on commerce, payments and communications. [Our] Marketplace creates a powerful online platform for the sale of goods and services by a passionate community of individuals and small businesses. On any given day, there are millions of items available through auction-style and fixed-price trading. With millions of buyers and sellers worldwide, [we] offer localized sites in the following markets.
No more suspense, this company is The eBay Company. Among the eBay Company family of businesses are PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com, and Rent.com. The eBay Company uses linking with Mercado Libre to realize its Latin American presence. The executive team is just ten people. They are founders, CEOs, and other officers of the diverse group of companies, broadly diverse in professional backgrounds, and not centralized in the Santa Clara, California home office. They operate automatically from locations around the world.
Galbraith (2000) addresses organizations like The eBay Company calling them virtual clusters. The eBay Company is a large network of "small specialized companies. [I] t attains scale and specialization through the network, and it attains speed, innovation, and responsiveness through the small companies "(Galbraith 2000, pg. 272). The eBay Company provides an operational example of how business can operate successfully across geo-political boundaries providing global commerce and customer access to goods and service seamlessly, without interruption, 24 hours a day / seven day a week (24/7), and without Internal sales or shipping and handling.
Analysis
At the outside, the approach was towards internal components that organization's control. Specifically addressed were flow of business and proper placement of human resources. The evolution of this business design advanced beyond traditional halls and walls to a contemporary business environment not dependent on physical structure.
One consideration involves anticipating the future and embracing the paradox of change. Organizations that determine their strategic plan as the map to the future may not see the changing horizon. They may become unable to adapt as the chaos of change and business disruption overtakes them. Conversely, organizations that seek the future by scanning the ever-changing horizon for opportunities embrace chaos and grow.
Leaders in organizations that anticipate change know the answer to how, when, why, and where change happens. They know the collective answer is when it is least expected. Leaders often operate at a faster pace than the rest of their organizations. However, when leaders slow down and make connections with people, they may attract new workers with new ideas and visions. Thus slowing down may propel the business forward.
As business moves from traditional boundaries to contemporary operations without boundaries, new opportunities exist for virtual business clusters of smaller agile groups located in areas that maximize the small group's business activity. Whether the business is a group wholly owned subsidiaries, a group of local enterprises in a consortium, or clusters of small agile specialized companies, product development now involve consumers sitting at the same table with research and development. Involving consumers and customers shift new products from sequential building blocks to simultaneous product definition (Galbraith, 2000).
Conclusion
The image of a clothing designer using fabric to create flow is important to business. Flow allows ideas to leap across voids where walls once stood. Flow helps business recognize that information between people and groups move without the structure of office. The image of the gardener selecting the best material for planting in the right place is also important for business. Selecting the right people and placing them in an environment where they will grow, may help business move beyond the present-now to the future-now.
Business, seeking a road map to the future, will discover the map is harder to unfold than those paper route maps are to refold. Yet, achieving a better business design achieves a better business environment. It is all in the makeover.
References
Budman, Matthew. (2004). Will We All Be Unemployed? Looking ahead to our place in the next economy. The Conference Board.
Camrass, Roger & Farncombe, Martin (2004). Atomic: Reforming the Business Landscape into the new Structures of Tomorrow. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
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Chemokines and atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the vessel wall, characterized by the accumulation of leukocytes, especially macrophages and T-cells. Chemokines are small heparin-binding polypeptides, whose main function is to attract cells to the areas of developing inflammation. They function by ligating G-protein coupled chemokine receptors initiating different signaling cascades. In vivo and in vitro investigations showed that chemokines are produced by a variety of cells and play important roles in the development and progression of many physiological and pathological conditions including atherosclerosis. Chemokines such as MCP-1, MCP-4, MIP-1 and RANTES may mediate leukocyte trafficking to, and their retention in, the plaque while CXCL16 seems to fulfill the dual function of a chemokine and a scavenger receptor. Chemokine and chemokine receptor homologues are secreted by several viruses, which may also play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Expression levels and gene polymorphisms of some chemokines may become useful clinical markers of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Modulation of chemokines and chemokine receptors' expression as well as their signaling pathways may provide important anti-atherogenic strategies. | 2023-12-18T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/3277 |
Q:
parse json based on dynamic value
I have a json that I'd like to parse based on the 'zone' field in order to get a list of region etc through a select input.
var data = {
"zone01": [{
"region": "North",
"state": "New York",
"county": "Albany",
"code": "01"
}, {
"region": "North",
"state": "New York",
"county": "Albany",
"code": "05"
}, {
"region": "North",
"state": "Maine",
"county": "Auburn",
"code": "07"
}],
"zone02": [{
"region": "South",
"state": "Florida",
"county": "Gainseville",
"code": "82"
}, {
"region": "South",
"state": "Florida",
"county": "Macclenny",
"code": "73"
}]
};
I can parse it by using:
function setValues(range, zone, region, state, country){
if(range === 'zone'){
var getRegions = _.groupBy(data.zone02, 'region');
$.each(getRegions, function(k, v){
var region = JSON.stringify(k);
region = region.replace(/"/g,'');
$('select#region').append('<option value="'+region+'">'+region+'</option>');
});
}
}
But what I really need is _.groupBy(data.zone02, 'region') with data.zone02 being data + the function's variable zone
UPDATE
Here's my finished product, sans readability and re-usability: jsFiddle
A:
Use bracket notation to reference a property using a variable.
data[zone]
| 2024-05-07T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/7041 |
(Natural News) In addition to the State of Washington now admitting to testing just 25 people for coronavirus while refusing to test 712 people who are high-risk possible carriers, the State of Florida is now concealing all testing numbers from the public, then lying about the reason why.
We have now entered the phase of pandemic secrecy where state governments are deliberately concealing the number of tests and infections in order to “pull a China” and pretend that coronavirus outbreaks aren’t happening in the United States. It is the clearest evidence yet that coronavirus outbreaks are happening in America and are being desperately covered up. (No story can be believed to be true until it is officially denied.)
According to the Tampa Bay Times, “state health officials say they can’t disclose how many people have been tested for the virus… state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said the Florida Department of Health is not authorized to publish the number of people in the state being tested for the virus out of privacy concerns.”
But that’s a lie.
Publishing aggregate numbers without any personally identifiable information doesn’t violate any law or regulation related to personal health privacy. In fact, as the Tampa Bay Times reports:
Senators pressed Rivkees, recalling that during the mosquito-born Zika infection outbreak in 2015 and 2016, the state frequently published the number of specimens that were being tested.
Coronavirus numbers don’t have to be published, claims Rivkees, because he says the coronavirus isn’t airborne like Zika.
Wait, what?
First of all, what does the “airborne” argument have to do with his initial claim that no aggregate data can be released because it somehow violates patient privacy? Does the airborne nature of an infectious disease nullify the privacy regulations? Of course not. His argument is nonsensical.
Secondly — and more importantly — if the coronavirus isn’t airborne as he claims, then why is every other scientist and doctor in the world warning that it’s airborne? And how did the coronavirus infect over 500 passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship who were locked in their rooms but sharing the same recirculated air?
Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees seems to be the only person in the world who hasn’t yet learned the coronavirus is airborne, and he’s running the pandemic response team for the State of Florida!
He’s not just dishonest, he’s incompetent. It sort of reminds me of the Broward County law enforcement officials in Florida who waited outside the school while a mass shooting was going on inside. What did they think their job was, to count the bodies after the massacre?
Sadly, Rivkees appears to have adopted the same terrifying philosophy when it comes to the coronavirus. Welcome to Florida, the Sunshine State that has zero transparency when it comes to deadly pandemics. Enter at your own risk.
Why would Florida try to conceal the number of people being tested?
Not only is Florida deliberately concealing the number of people being tested, they’re lying about why. It’s a cover-up of the cover-up, in other words, which underscores the fact that they really do have something to cover up.
If they had run 500 tests and all 500 were negative, why not just announce that?
There are really only two possible answers to this:
Option #1) Florida isn’t testing anyone and Rivkees doesn’t want to admit that Florida is now the Indonesia of America, where the entire response to the coronavirus can be summed up as, “What, me worry?”
Option #2) Florida is testing lots of people and finding lots of infections, and they don’t want to admit the coronavirus is loose in Florida because it would hammer Florida tourism. (It’s the same reason Hawaii is also likely concealing a Honolulu-based outbreak hub, too.)
Either way, it’s bad news for Floridians. You now live in a state that has the same level of public health honesty as communist China. At least Florida officials aren’t (yet) welding you into your own apartment building and demanding you murder your pets to stop the spread, but given the way things are going so far, that day might not be far off.
Outbreaks now look likely in Honolulu, Seattle and Florida
So if we’re keeping track of the emerging data on all this, it now looks like we have outbreaks in Honolulu, Seattle and somewhere in Florida.
Flights from Honolulu keep turning up confirmed infected patients once they reach their destinations (amazing, isn’t it, how the State of Hawaii never confirms them as positive, but they’re confirmed as soon as they land somewhere else). We also have the State of Washington now just blatantly refusing to test over 700 high-risk people and even bragging about it by publishing those numbers on their own official website:
Now, added to all that, we have the State of Florida brazenly lying to the public about why they are operating in total secrecy when it comes to the number of people there who have been tested for the coronavirus.
It’s not difficult to see the truth behind all this: There are, without a doubt, sustained outbreaks in the United States of America and local officials are frantically trying to conceal this fact for as long as possible in order to avoid “causing panic.”
But imagine the panic when millions of Americans find out they’ve been lied to by incompetent, criminally negligent state health authorities who, by their own secrecy, are contributing to the spread of a deadly pandemic that may ultimately infect millions of people in the USA.
And then they whine and complain about how the independent media is causing the public to lose trust in government “authorities.”
Seriously?
I don’t see any authorities at work. All I see is a bunch of clowns with official government titles.
Listen to my new daily podcasts at the H.R. Report channel on Brighteon.com: | 2024-02-21T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/9357 |
Q:
Are there limits on the schema size for a BigQuery table?
Beyond the per-row limits at https://cloud.google.com/bigquery/preparing-data-for-bigquery?hl=en#dataformats (which would likely influence the maximum useful schema), is there an explicit limit on the size of a JSON-encoded table schema?
A:
There is a hard limit of 10K fields per table. This, I guess, can indirectly be a limit on schema size
| 2023-11-26T01:26:58.646260 | https://example.com/article/2390 |
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