text stringlengths 12 4.76M | timestamp stringlengths 26 26 | url stringlengths 32 32 |
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Q:
Handle selectedchange event in user control from aspx page?
I have a filterControl on Main.aspx page , and this filterControl has another control called filterList.
I want to handle for listbox in filterlist control from main.aspx.
how can do it ?
need your helps.
A:
Try this:
User control code behind
public event Action<string> MyHandler = delegate { };
protected void myListBox_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, Eventargs e)
{
// ....
this.MyHandler(this.myListBox.SelectedValue);
}
ASPX
<uc1:YourControl OnMyHandler="myPageHandler" ....
ASPX code behind
protected void myPageHandler(string customMessage)
{
// your awesome stuff goes here
}
| 2024-07-24T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9758 |
Q:
How to effectively drain frozen vegetables?
When using frozen vegetables, even if I let them unfreeze overnight, I am finding that they then render quite a bit of water when cooking. How can I drain vegetables more effectively, especially when I need to use them right out of the freezer?
A:
You can't drain them while they're frozen. If you need to use them quickly, consider thawing them in the microwave, then draining them.
As for how to drain them, it depends on the type of vegetable. Greens like spinach should be squeezed out. Chunky vegetables should be drained in a colander and then dried with a towel.
Some of the water you get may be coming from inside the vegetables, though, in which case it's still going to come out only when cooking. In that case, the only solution is not to overcrowd the pan.
| 2023-09-04T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2386 |
He was detained by the police who made use of handcuffs. He spent the night of 11 to 12 September in a police office.
Two administrative protocols were drawn up against Anton Strunin – for disobedience to the lawful demand of a law enforcement officer and violation of established order of organizing or holding a public event.
The first protocol was considered by the Zheleznodorozhny district court of Penza on September 12 in the presence of police officers, lawyer Igor Zhulimov, journalists and those who came to support the opposition activist; the second protocol was considered in the Leninsky district court.
Anton Strunin was brought there late in the evening immediately after he had received 10 days of arrest. At the same time, according to the activist's lawyer, nobody informed him on the date and time of consideration of the second protocol by another court, which resulted in a fine of 18,000 roubles.
Anton Strunin is serving the administrative arrest in the special detention centre in the village of Lesnoy. | 2024-01-19T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5284 |
What is a HTTP HEAD request good for? — Some uses - ochronus
http://blog.mostof.it/what-is-a-http-head-request-good-for-some-uses/
======
iuguy
Head can also sometimes get around restrictions in place. Some web servers
place access control restrictions on GET and POST requests only, and when
combined with other silliness (such as returning 200 OK or 404 errors for
almost everything) then the HEAD will usually tell you what's what.
Of course sometimes it's the other way around and the HEAD request will give
you 200 for everything.
~~~
forgotusername
Conversely, HEAD sometimes doesn't accurately reflect the headers for a
resource available via GET. For example this is the case with App Engine's
broken webapp framework (and every app that consumes it):
$ curl -sD- http://appengine-cookbook.appspot.com/|head -1
HTTP/1.1 200 OK
$ curl -s --head http://appengine-cookbook.appspot.com/|head -1
HTTP/1.1 405 Method Not Allowed
| 2024-07-31T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8192 |
Q:
How to insert/remove a new row(node) in a jXtreetable?
I'm trying to use JXTreeTable from the SwingLabs library org.jdesktop.swingx.JXTreeTable. I've a problem when I try to insert/remove a node into/from the table.
The fact is that I was expected to have a method that could fire the JXTreeTable when the data in its model change. But I didn't find anything like this. Could anyone tell me how to add or remove a node (parent or child) in a JXTreeTable?
PS: my model class extends AbstractTreeTableModel. I pass in its constructor a LinkedList and populate the JXTreeTable with the data contained in this List
A:
The AbstractTreeTableModel has a protected member variable modelSupport of the type TreeModelSupport, which offers you a variety of such event methods:
fireNewRoot()
fireTreeStructureChanged(TreePath)
firePathChanged(TreePath)
fireChildChanged(TreePath, int, Object)
fireChildrenChanged(TreePath, int[], Object[])
fireChildAdded(TreePath, int, Object)
fireChildRemoved(TreePath, int, Object)
fireChildrenAdded(TreePath, int[], Object[])
fireChildrenRemoved(TreePath, int[], Object[])
addTreeModelListener(TreeModelListener)
removeTreeModelListener(TreeModelListener)
| 2023-09-01T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2028 |
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today adopted new sportfishing rules for the 2004-05 season that include a two-year moratorium on retaining any wild steelhead caught in state waters.
The moratorium, adopted on a 5-3 vote, will require anglers to release any steelhead caught from April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2006 that is not marked as a hatchery fish by a missing adipose fin and a healed scar.
Drawing from a list of 463 proposed changes - 336 of them submitted by the public - the commission also adopted new handling requirements for releasing salmon and steelhead that cannot be retained, additional protection for Columbia River sturgeon and fixed starting dates for recreational crab fishing.
Commissioners also declined to take action on several proposals, including one to ban treble hooks in saltwater fisheries and another to prohibit the use of motorized vessels on the Satsop and Wynoochee Rivers.
Commissioner R.P. Van Gytenbeek of Seattle initiated the discussion about requiring the release of wild steelhead by calling for a permanent ban on wild steelhead retention. When that motion failed, the commission considered and rejected the idea of a six-year moratorium before scaling it back to two years.
"In this case, I think a half a loaf is better than no loaf at all," Van Gytenbeek said. "A lot of people in this state are concerned about the decline of our wild steelhead stocks and I think a moratorium gets us started down the right path."
Commission Chair Will Roehl of Bellingham did not share that view, noting that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is currently working on a new comprehensive plan for steelhead management, tailored to specific stocks.
"I can't support banning retention of wild steelhead on rivers where stocks are healthy and returns are strong," Roehl said. "I don't think this broad-brush action is warranted, but that appears to be the will of commission."
When releasing steelhead or salmon that cannot be retained under state law, anglers will have to follow new handling procedures approved today by the commission. Measures adopted by the commission prohibit completely removing salmon or steelhead caught in lakes or streams from the water or pulling them into a boat in Puget Sound prior to release.
To provide greater protection for Columbia River sturgeon, the commission extended the closed area below Bonneville Dam approximately two miles downstream to Marker 85 from May 1 to July 31. All sturgeon fishing - whether from a boat or from the bank - will be prohibited in the expanded closure area, where the fish tend to congregate.
In addition, the annual harvest of sturgeon for personal use was reduced from 10 fish to five statewide, and sturgeon seasons recently developed in conjunction with Oregon were adopted as permanent rules for the 2004-05 season.
Recreational crabbers, meanwhile, can expect greater certainty in the timing of their seasons in the coming year. For the first time since 2000, the commission set opening dates for each marine area rather than relying on tests to determine when the crab have finished their molt.
Improved data on molting periods provided by WDFW allowed the commission to set opening dates this year for crab fisheries in all 13 marine areas of Puget Sound and the Washington coast, Roehl said.
"We're pleased that we've reached this point," Roehl said. "Now we have the data we need to protect the resource, while allowing people to plan their vacations."
In other matters the commission:
· Clarified rules prohibiting snagging, making it illegal to hook and retain a fish (other than forage fish) to the rear of its gill plate.
· Adopted a three-month catch-and-release fishery for trout and other gamefish on the Cedar River in King County.
· Adopted permanent regulations banning retention of canary rockfish and prohibited spearfishing for any species of rockfish.
· Set new daily hours (9 .m. to 1 p.m. on days open to shrimp fishing) for designated Puget Sound shrimp districts such as Port Angeles Harbor and Discovery bay. It also extended the Port Townsend Shrimp District north of the Port Townsend ship canal to include Kilisut Harbor.
· Extended the Octopus Hole Conservation Area in Hood Canal to include the adjacent tidelands.
· Set new hours for harvesting clams and oysters on a number of beaches and set new bag limits and seasons for rivers and lakes throughout the state.
These and other measures adopted by the commission will appear in WDFW's 2004-05 Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Brian Simonseth
02-07-2004 12:47 AM
Wild Steelhead
Thanks WSC:smokin:
NrthFrk16
02-07-2004 12:54 AM
I think some tears will be shed by the night's end...
I think I need to go enjoy a couple Mack & Jack's in honor of what transpired today.
Thank You!
Leland Miyawaki
02-07-2004 01:11 AM
Savor the victory boys. Now let's make it permanent!
Leland.
sean
02-07-2004 01:19 AM
Sweet!!!!!!
that cohiba I have been saving is gonna taste mighty sweet tonight:cool:
And like Leland says lets make it permanent!
-sean
Plunker
02-07-2004 01:52 AM
Gytenbeek and the WSC Suck!!!
This is the most biased and idiotic decision the commission has ever made.
It is resource allocation based upon political favoritism and has no basis in conservation reality. There is nothing to indicate that over harvest has caused the current declines of the inland steelhead stocks. Those rivers where no harvest and in some cases no fishing is allowed have equally reflected the current steelhead cycles.
They have lied and blindsided us with their public statement that the total ban on steelhead harvest would not be considered this rule cycle.
Washington and Idaho are now the only two places in the Pacific Northwest with a total prohibition on wild steelhead harvest including stocks with adult returns as much as twice that required for spawning escapement.
Thanks to the scumbags in the Wild Steelhead Coalition I will never again purchase another fishing license in this state!
I'm outa here - Plunk
MJC
02-07-2004 02:17 AM
I rather like this ruling and I raise my glass in a toast to the members of the WSC as well as the members of the commission that voted for this measure.
beau purvis
02-07-2004 07:56 AM
wild steelhead
It is about time. something I staarted doing as a college kid in the 60's. only took our brilliant leaders 40 yrs to realize.My thanks to everyone involved!!!! Beau
juro
02-07-2004 09:27 AM
Congratulations to the WSC who by the way is not some elite political force but it's you and it's me, and it's America - a country forged by it's people. And in America we look after our national treasures, and by God the steelhead is such a treasure - not meat.
To my dear friends and former neighbors in the pacific northwest if there is one thing that I have been enlightened to since my move to the birthplace of our nation - that is our incredible history since the pilgrims fled from religious persecution and landed not far from where I live. And one town over, an admiral built a wooden ship 40 years before Lewis and Clark and sailed around Cape Horn and up the pacific coast to discover a river which he named after his boat, the SS Columbia. It's all about individuals who hold strong convictions despite the odds and opposition, despite old thinking with deeply buried roots in incumbent positions, to believe in the face of non-believers, and to in their own way change the world.
For a steelhead angler, or any true sportsman this is no less of a day than any that history can compare. For the first time in our history we've have acted to turn the tide on the damage we've done for centuries against this national treasure, the wild Washington state steelhead.
In recent years striped bass along the east coast were gravely endangered and a rare sight for recreational and commercial anglers in the 80's. Such a moratorium was put in place and the stocks rebounded to healthy levels, it was a complete success. The vigil is held by groups like the Coastal Conservation Association and countless others today to make sure we do not fall back into the abyss. Two years may not be enough to solve the problem but it will provide enough feedback to extend the study to a full life cycle, which I believe is critical to measuring it's success for the statistical types who are the majority in these things. My one comment would be why two years and not life-cycle? Number of years is a human decision, this can not be measured in human terms. The study should be implemented and measured in terms of the steelhead's life cycle.
In any case - Ryan, the officers of the WSC and my friends in the fraternity of the steelhead... it's a good thing I can type this out, because I sure can't talk with this lump choking my throat.
The fish in the logo I designed swims upon an infinity symbol. That's not just graphics, that is a deeply rooted dream of mine as a dedicated Washington steelhead angler. I am proud to be a small part of this and to those who carried this out I am indebted to you for having fulfilled a huge step forward toward this dream we share.
DLoop
02-07-2004 10:15 AM
Very cool!
sinktip
02-07-2004 10:26 AM
Thanks are owed
I want everyone to take a moment and thank Rich Simms, Jack Berryman, Dick Burge, Jeff Johnson and the rest of the WSC BOD. They would not keep quiet on this issue when many people, myself included, were advising them to let the fight rest and focus on other issues. They kept fighting and fighting and fighting. This victory is for thye fish but the people mentioned above are to thank.
Way to go guys!
And Plunk, don't let the door...
sinktip
kush
02-07-2004 01:07 PM
Way to go guys.
Fish politics are passionate, hard to deal with and very frustrating. That you stuck with it and realized this success is an inspiration to all of us involved in this fight. Congratulations and keep up the good work - there is more to be done.
Tyler Kushnir
Steelhead Society of B.C., Director.
DLoop
02-07-2004 02:37 PM
...and also thanks to
Sparkey. Didn't he lead the petitioning for the wild fish handling changes?
Interceptor
02-07-2004 04:56 PM
Great news !
:D
Leland Miyawaki
02-07-2004 10:17 PM
Making Wild Steelhead Release Work
The stars must have aligned for this one.
We now have mandatory statewide wild steelhead release and also a way through "Streamwatch at Eyes in the Woods" at: eyesinthewoods.org to help with enforcement. If you are serious about your love for this precious resource, now is the time to commit. So far these discussions on this and other boards amount to "preaching to the choir." The release of wild steelhead needs to be forced onto the masses. It doesn't do us any good to pass rules and laws without the means to enforce them. So get with your fishing clubs (I know I will with my club) and learn to report and prosecute poachers. If you don't belong to an organized club, I'm sure Eyes in Woods would accept members of this group as an organization. | 2023-10-11T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7494 |
Background
==========
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has been shown to be one of the best technologies for the evaluation of cardiovascular pathologies. However, its widespread adoption has been held back by the lack of software infrastructure and specific pulse sequences that can provide a feasibly quick, comprehensive cardiac examination. We have developed an intuitive software package that can perform a comprehensive CMR examination in 30 to 45 minutes.
Methods
=======
Our clinical protocol is built within the RTHawk real-time environment, which interfaces with a GE scanner and allows for intuitive localization and real-time scanner interaction. It comprises all the applications needed for a comprehensive CMR examination: real-time localization, left ventricular function, black blood, quantitative valvular flow, myocardial perfusion, delayed enhancement, and coronary angiography. Free-breathing, not ECG-gated options exist for the applications that assess ventricular function and flow. These work well even with uncooperative patients and are robust against arrhythmia.
Results
=======
Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"} provides example images acquired using our protocol in patients under local IRB approval and consent. Figure [1a](#F1){ref-type="fig"} demonstrates a color flow short-axis view and the peak velocity plot of the selected region of interest (ROI) in the aortic valve, both of which were acquired and displayed in real time (flow encoded through-plane, 22 fps effective temporal resolution). The intuitive scan interaction allows for easy localization of the valve. Figure [1b](#F1){ref-type="fig"} displays the first 16 temporal frames of one slice of a 3-slice perfusion acquisition (1.5 mm in-plane resolution, 1 temporal frame per heartbeat, free breathing). Real-time imaging is used to track the contrast bolus in an area of interest prior to starting the scan. Figure [1c](#F1){ref-type="fig"} shows all 11 slices of a 3D delayed-enhancement scan (1.8 × 1.8 × 8 mm3 resolution, 8-heartbeat breath-hold). Non-Cartesian SPIRiT reconstruction is implemented for both the perfusion and delayed-enhancement applications, with a reconstruction time of a few seconds on the RTHawk scan console (dual quad-core Xeon, 64GB). Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"} compares similar short-axis views obtained on a patient suffering from arrhythmia, either (a) using a traditional CINE SSFP sequence (14 slices, 20 cardiac phases, 1.3 × 2.6 mm2 in-plane resolution, 17-heartbeat breath-hold per slice) or (b) using our non-gated multi-slice SSFP sequence (12 slices, 50 cardiac phases, 2.3 × 2.3 mm2 resolution, 24-heartbeat scan duration, free breathing). Our non-gated, free-breathing sequence is immune to arrhythmia, whereas the traditional approach fails.
{#F1}
{#F2}
Conclusions
===========
We have implemented a comprehensive cardiac MR system, which performs an examination in less than 45 minutes and provides alternative solutions to traditional sequences when a patient suffers from arrhythmia or is unable to hold his breath. Initial clinical results are encouraging.
| 2024-02-19T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6564 |
The objective of this research is to learn more about the mechanisms underlying both normal eye movement control and human oculomotor disorders. The research strategy is to make quantitative measurements of oculomotor function in both humans and monkeys and to use systems approaches to interpret findings. The latest techniques for measuring and analyzing eye motion around all three axes and imaging the eye muscles will be used. The focus is on mechanisms that maintain oculomotor accuracy with emphasis on binocularity and the problem of acquired paralytic strabismus. The study of adaptive mechanisms will be emphasized - specifically the capability to maintain eye alignment around all axes (horizontal, vertical, torsion) of eye rotation during steady fixation and during eye movements. The superior oblique eye muscle palsy model will be used 1) to understand better the mechanical properties of orbital structures and the central innervation necessary to move the eyes rapidly and hold them steady during fixation and 2) to investigate adaptation to vertical and torsional misalignment. The role of ocular proprioception and the patterns of monocular versus binocular visual inputs in the immediate and long-term adaptive control of these mechanisms will be explored in detail since preliminary findings have shown surprising and counterintuitive changes in eye alignment related to patching after onset of a paralytic strabismus. The effects of surgical correction of experimentally-induced trochlear nerve palsies will also be studied and compared with results of corrective surgery in humans with acquired superior oblique palsy. Parallel and complementary human and monkey experiments are proposed. These results will provide new information about adaptive control of eye alignment relative to strabismus and have the potential to alter clinical practice related to strabismus treatment. The findings will be particularly relevant to the important clinical ophthalmologic problem of long-term increases in ocular misalignment with the increasingly bothersome double vision that so commonly plagues patients with strabismus, and the all too frequent need for multiple surgical procedures for strabismus. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] | 2024-04-03T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9631 |
/**
@file AsyncAudioDevice.cpp
@brief Handle audio devices
@author Tobias Blomberg
@date 2004-03-20
This file contains an implementation of a class that handles
hardware audio devices.
\verbatim
Async - A library for programming event driven applications
Copyright (C) 2003-2008 Tobias Blomberg / SM0SVX
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 2 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, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA
\endverbatim
*/
/****************************************************************************
*
* System Includes
*
****************************************************************************/
#include <cstring>
#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>
/****************************************************************************
*
* Project Includes
*
****************************************************************************/
/****************************************************************************
*
* Local Includes
*
****************************************************************************/
#include "AsyncFdWatch.h"
#include "AsyncAudioIO.h"
#include "AsyncAudioDevice.h"
#include "AsyncAudioDeviceFactory.h"
/****************************************************************************
*
* Namespaces to use
*
****************************************************************************/
using namespace std;
using namespace Async;
/****************************************************************************
*
* Defines & typedefs
*
****************************************************************************/
/****************************************************************************
*
* Local class definitions
*
****************************************************************************/
/****************************************************************************
*
* Prototypes
*
****************************************************************************/
/****************************************************************************
*
* Exported Global Variables
*
****************************************************************************/
/****************************************************************************
*
* Local Global Variables
*
****************************************************************************/
map<string, AudioDevice*> AudioDevice::devices;
int AudioDevice::sample_rate = DEFAULT_SAMPLE_RATE;
int AudioDevice::block_size_hint = DEFAULT_BLOCK_SIZE_HINT;
int AudioDevice::block_count_hint = DEFAULT_BLOCK_COUNT_HINT;
int AudioDevice::channels = DEFAULT_CHANNELS;
/****************************************************************************
*
* Public member functions
*
****************************************************************************/
AudioDevice *AudioDevice::registerAudioIO(const string& dev_designator,
AudioIO *audio_io)
{
string::size_type colon_pos = dev_designator.find_first_of(':');
if (colon_pos == string::npos)
{
cerr << "*** ERROR: The audio device name must be given on the form "
"\"devtype:devname\".\n";
return 0;
}
string dev_type(dev_designator.substr(0, colon_pos));
string dev_name(dev_designator.substr(colon_pos+1, string::npos));
AudioDevice *dev = 0;
if (devices.count(dev_designator) == 0)
{
dev = AudioDeviceFactory::instance().create(dev_type, dev_name);
if (dev == 0)
{
cerr << "*** ERROR: Unknown audio device type \"" << dev_type << "\" "
"given. Valid device types: "
<< AudioDeviceFactory::instance().validDevTypes() << endl;
return 0;
}
devices[dev_designator] = dev;
}
dev = devices[dev_designator];
++dev->use_count;
dev->aios.push_back(audio_io);
return dev;
} /* AudioDevice::registerAudioIO */
void AudioDevice::unregisterAudioIO(AudioIO *audio_io)
{
AudioDevice *dev = audio_io->device();
if (dev == 0)
{
return;
}
assert(dev->use_count > 0);
list<AudioIO*>::iterator it =
find(dev->aios.begin(), dev->aios.end(), audio_io);
assert(it != dev->aios.end());
dev->aios.erase(it);
if (--dev->use_count == 0)
{
// The device designator isn't available here, so we have
// to iterate through the map to find the device instance.
map<string, AudioDevice*>::iterator it;
for (it = devices.begin(); it != devices.end(); ++it)
{
if (it->second == dev)
{
devices.erase(it);
break;
}
}
delete dev;
}
} /* AudioDevice::unregisterAudioIO */
bool AudioDevice::open(Mode mode)
{
if (mode == current_mode) // Same mode => do nothing
{
return true;
}
if (mode == MODE_NONE) // Same as calling close
{
close();
}
if (current_mode == MODE_RDWR) // Already RDWR => don't have to do anything
{
return true;
}
// Is not closed and is either read or write and we want the other
if ((current_mode != MODE_NONE) && (mode != current_mode))
{
mode = MODE_RDWR;
}
if (openDevice(mode))
{
current_mode = mode;
return true;
}
return false;
} /* AudioDevice::open */
void AudioDevice::close(void)
{
list<AudioIO*>::iterator it;
for (it=aios.begin(); it!=aios.end(); ++it)
{
if ((*it)->mode() != AudioIO::MODE_NONE)
{
return;
}
}
closeDevice();
current_mode = MODE_NONE;
} /* AudioDevice::close */
/****************************************************************************
*
* Protected member functions
*
****************************************************************************/
AudioDevice::AudioDevice(const string& dev_name)
: dev_name(dev_name), current_mode(MODE_NONE), use_count(0)
{
} /* AudioDevice::AudioDevice */
AudioDevice::~AudioDevice(void)
{
} /* AudioDevice::~AudioDevice */
void AudioDevice::putBlocks(int16_t *buf, int frame_cnt)
{
//printf("putBlocks: frame_cnt=%d\n", frame_cnt);
float samples[frame_cnt];
for (int ch=0; ch<channels; ch++)
{
for (int i=0; i<frame_cnt; i++)
{
// no divisions in index calculation (embedded system performance !!!)
samples[i] = static_cast<float>(buf[i * channels + ch]) / 32768.0;
}
list<AudioIO*>::iterator it;
for (it=aios.begin(); it!=aios.end(); ++it)
{
if ((*it)->channel() == ch)
{
(*it)->audioRead(samples, frame_cnt);
}
}
}
} /* AudioDevice::putBlocks */
int AudioDevice::getBlocks(int16_t *buf, int block_cnt)
{
unsigned block_size = writeBlocksize();
unsigned frames_to_write = block_cnt * block_size;
memset(buf, 0, channels * frames_to_write * sizeof(*buf));
// Loop through all AudioIO objects and find out if they have any
// samples to write and how many. The non-flushing AudioIO object with
// the least number of samples will decide how many samples can be
// written in total. If all AudioIO objects are flushing, the AudioIO
// object with the most number of samples will decide how many samples
// get written.
list<AudioIO*>::iterator it;
bool do_flush = true;
unsigned int max_samples_in_fifo = 0;
for (it=aios.begin(); it!=aios.end(); ++it)
{
if (!(*it)->isIdle())
{
unsigned samples_avail = (*it)->samplesAvailable();
if (!(*it)->doFlush())
{
do_flush = false;
if (samples_avail < frames_to_write)
{
frames_to_write = samples_avail;
}
}
if (samples_avail > max_samples_in_fifo)
{
max_samples_in_fifo = samples_avail;
}
}
}
do_flush &= (max_samples_in_fifo <= frames_to_write);
if (max_samples_in_fifo < frames_to_write)
{
frames_to_write = max_samples_in_fifo;
}
//printf("### frames_to_write=%d do_flush=%s fragsize=%u\n",
// frames_to_write, do_flush ? "TRUE" : "FALSE", fragsize);
// If not flushing, make sure the number of frames to write is an even
// multiple of the frag size.
if (!do_flush)
{
frames_to_write /= block_size;
frames_to_write *= block_size;
}
// If there are no frames to write, bail out and wait for an AudioIO
// object to provide us with some.
if (frames_to_write == 0)
{
return 0;
}
// Fill the sample buffer with samples from the non-idle AudioIO objects.
for (it=aios.begin(); it!=aios.end(); ++it)
{
if (!(*it)->isIdle())
{
int channel = (*it)->channel();
float tmp[frames_to_write];
int samples_read = (*it)->readSamples(tmp, frames_to_write);
for (int i=0; i<samples_read; ++i)
{
int buf_pos = i * channels + channel;
float sample = 32767.0 * tmp[i] + buf[buf_pos];
if (sample > 32767)
{
buf[buf_pos] = 32767;
}
else if (sample < -32767)
{
buf[buf_pos] = -32767;
}
else
{
buf[buf_pos] = static_cast<int16_t>(sample);
}
}
}
}
// If flushing and the number of frames to write is not an even
// multiple of the frag size, round the number of frags to write
// up. The end of the buffer is already zeroed out.
if (do_flush && (frames_to_write % block_size > 0))
{
frames_to_write /= block_size;
frames_to_write = (frames_to_write + 1) * block_size;
}
return frames_to_write / block_size;
} /* AudioDevice::getBlocks */
/****************************************************************************
*
* Private member functions
*
****************************************************************************/
/*
* This file has not been truncated
*/
| 2024-04-25T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8293 |
Lakshminarayan Temple, famously known as Birla Mandir. While crossing the 60 ft. high statue of Lord Hanuman and riding through the green belt of the Ridge Road we will reach Birla Mandir to take the blessings of almighty. Will have our early morning tea break with traditional snacks at a 78 years old tea stall. This tea will take you back in 1939.
From Lakshminarayan Temple we will proceed towards The President House. The downhill ride from the top of Raisena Hill, where the President House is located, towards Amar Jawan Jyoti, India Gate is as if, someone is landing on an air run strip. The view and the feel of floating with the bike is amazing. A short halt at Amar Jawan Jyoti for a group pic. Rakabganj Gurudwara will be on our way.
The ride proceeds towards Qutab Minar. It’s a World Heritage Site. It was built by King Qutab UD-Din-Aibak. Construction started in 1192 and was completed in 1220. It’s a stone tower of 5 storeys with the famous Iron Pillar and a mosque. It’s a real treat to see this marvelous architectural marvel.
Now the destination is Suraj Kund. It’s a heritage site with a kund or pond built 900 years ago by King Suraj Pal. The lawns cover a huge area and are perfect for a relaxing break after the ride. Brunch / Lunch will be served here. More surprises will also welcome you at this spot. Just wait and watch.
For the continuity or discontinuity of the tour or any decision which has to be taken for the safety of the group the DECISION OF THE TOUR LEADER WILL BE FULL AND FINAL.
For any accidents or thefts TONY BIKE CENTRE shall not be held responsible.
In case of any accident or illness all the medical charges or travel &transporting charges will be borne by the rider himself.
It’s a package tour so in case of any natural calamity, human made calamity, accidents, illness or any personal circumstances if, the rider starts or ends the tour at any place then the tour money will not be refunded & the charges to transport bike back till Tony Bike Centre will be on the client’s side.
Minimum age of the rider should be 21 years.
Up to Sixty (60) days or more before the tour departure; 100% of the tour amount is refunded
Between Forty-five (45) days to Fifty-nine (59) days before the tour departure; 75% of the tour amount is refunded
Between thirty to forty four days before the tour 50% of the tour amount is refunded.
Twenty-nine (29) days or less before the tour departure; No refunds
The above are subject to a deduction of Rs.1,000.00 towards registration charges. | 2023-12-18T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8391 |
Xamarin now free in Visual Studio, and Xamarin SDK being open-sourced - ingve
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/03/xamarin-now-free-in-visual-studio/
======
natfriedman
We've also re-released Mono under the MIT license: [http://www.mono-
project.com/news/2016/03/31/mono-relicensed-...](http://www.mono-
project.com/news/2016/03/31/mono-relicensed-mit/)
~~~
cLeEOGPw
Looks like MS made a decision to make Windows as attractive to developers as
possible.
~~~
giancarlostoro
I've said this before and I'm sure others have noticed. Microsoft's focus is
'developers developers developers' whether it's for Visual Studio, or Azure
Cloud, if you want software built for your platform you should cater to
developers. I also said if I were JetBrains I'd worry about Microsoft's new
agenda, they're going to have to take on Microsoft's new route. If Visual
Studio itself (not Code) becomes cross-platform in the future that would be a
huge blow for IntelliJ and other IDE's that JetBrains makes, maybe not at
first but eventually. From my own experience Python Tools for Visual Studio
and PyCharm are two of the best IDE's I've ever had the pleasure of using for
Python, if that level of detail went into other IDE's that would be fantastic.
Not to down other work others have done.
~~~
devsquid
Yea, I agree that the IntelliJ IDEA and VS (not code) are the two best IDEs
out there.
The three major factors I would rank the IDEA over VS.
1\. Extensibility, its more likely to support X language
2\. Crossplatform, it actually runs on my platform
3\. Its UI doesn't change drastically every few years. This is such an
underrated thing IMO. Neither VS or IDEA are pretty IDEs, they both are
actually butt ugly. They don't need to be. But VS goes thru so many visual
changes and reorganizations, its the same reason why I don't use Office. I'm
not sure many ppl view this as a bad thing however. I often find MS fans
loving to brag about how "modern" their software always looks, even if it
still looks just as shitty as the old one lol.
~~~
usrusr
#3 must be the most underrated software feature ever. Too bad that it is at
odds with the model of making money by selling new software revisions. Maybe
the slow move to paid subscriptions will spare us the hassle of re-learning
UIs for no good reason when we are old and grey :)
(How much would i pay for a carefully maintained subscription of Office 97?
Well, not that much, but that is more than i paid for office software since)
~~~
toyg
It's at odds with employees' own agendas as well -- nobody gets promoted for
fixing a few bugs. Rearranging buttons, _that_ is something your manager will
notice.
~~~
newjersey
I don't understand this hostility. Some change in design is OK. Nobody knows
the future so when major new features get introduced or excised, some
reorganization makes sense. The "What would you like to do?" In Microsoft
office is a simple little textbox that adds a lot of value for casual users
I'd say enough to warrant them paying $5 a month for an Office subscription.
The ribbon makes it seem easy to surface features that would otherwise be
hidden deep in menus and sub menus.
Of course, UI design is difficult just as doing any work for consumption by
others is difficult _especially when there is no complete spec_. I am not a UI
designer but even I can make a UI that I will think is good enough. However,
making a UI for others is tough.
Maybe it is just my luck but project managers or owners have always been
hesitant to support UI changes. Maybe I've just been lucky to have good
managers but I can't recall a single time I've had to make a UI change that
wasn't driven by what I thought was a valid business need.
Also maybe why I'm not employed now :P
------
j_s
Coincidentally: PacktPub, HN-famous for 'quantity over quality'¹, is offering
the e-book _iOS Development with Xamarin Cookbook_ (4+ stars @ 10 reviews²) as
their daily free e-book for 5.5 more hours.
[https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-
learning](https://www.packtpub.com/packt/offers/free-learning)
¹
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6933716](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6933716)
² [http://amzn.com/B00KJX443C](http://amzn.com/B00KJX443C)
~~~
victorantos
Thank you! To download the book you have to register first.
Or you could take it directly from here if you are one of my HN friends, this
is a temporary link
[http://victorantos.com/IOS_DEVELOPMENT_WITH_XAMARIN_COOKBOOK...](http://victorantos.com/IOS_DEVELOPMENT_WITH_XAMARIN_COOKBOOK.pdf)
~~~
frsandstone
Bad form
------
natfriedman
Thanks for the kudos everyone! This is a very exciting day for those of us who
have been working on Mono and Xamarin for many years.
We have some more details on our blog: [https://blog.xamarin.com/xamarin-for-
all/](https://blog.xamarin.com/xamarin-for-all/)
------
networked
Some analysis:
\- Having an open source alternative like this will be a blow to
Phonegap's/Apache Cordova's use for new apps.
\- The change in Mono's licensing means Unity may finally upgrade to a newer
version of Mono.
\- Let's not forget Microsoft now owns RoboVM. I wonder what this event
implies for it.
~~~
alexc05
I'm leading a small team in building an ionic app right now.
The edge that cordova/phonegap/ionic will retain is the HTML and CSS part. As
well as, at least for a little while, a more robust plugin ecosystem. Though
that second one will change VERY rapidly.
The other developers on my team are very much frontend & CSS types.
I would be too much of a bottleneck if I were the only developer able to write
the code for the app.
If xamarin were free when I started, I may have given it more time in
evaluation, but at the end of the day, I think that the choice would have
remained ionic.
Even react-native isn't ready yet if you're a windows based shop. But maybe
that's come along in the last couple months too.
~~~
hydromet
> Even react-native isn't ready yet if you're a windows based shop.
Don't forget, Facebook's annual developer conference F8 is coming up next
(April 12th 2016). They will surely have some new announcements in a few
weeks.
~~~
alexc05
True! And as I realized in another thread... Having an Ubuntu space on Windows
actually makes "native" react-native totally plausible.
------
yoodenvranx
Can somebody please explain to me why Microsoft is suddenly being so open? Are
they afraid to lose relevancy due to Linux/OSX/Android and this is their way
to fight back? What is the long-term strategy behind all of this?
edit: Thank you for all your answers!
~~~
judah
Software-wise: The open source advocates (Scott Hanselman, Scott Guthrie,
Damien Edwards, and many others) won the internal struggle. Microsoft is more
open because they recognize this is a superior model over the proprietary
closed systems they had built in the past.
Business-wise: The answer is Azure. While Microsoft wants you to run Windows,
they care even more that you're running in their cloud.
~~~
justinclift
Will they Open Source the windows spyware... er... "metrics collection" code?
~~~
justinclift
Guess by the downvoting that there's a reason people feel the "metrics
collection" shouldn't be Open Sourced?
I'd like to hear what that is, as it seems (to me) to be a stellar example of
what really should be.
~~~
jasonlotito
> Guess by the downvoting that there's a reason people feel the "metrics
> collection" shouldn't be Open Sourced?
It was a childish and immature comment, not appropriate for HN. That's why it
is getting downvoted. In addition, this comment talking about the downvotes
will get downvoted as well. Not only for the fact that you are talking about
downvotes in your comment, but by the fact that your comment is effectively
"begging the question."
Rather than make one-off snide comments, actually contribute something that is
respectful to other people's time.
~~~
justinclift
What's a better way to point out MS should be Open Sourcing the parts of their
codebase which people don't trust (eg their spyware)?
They seem to be making large numbers of moves trying to get people to use
their platform... and at the same time, shooting themselves in the foot-head-
foot with trust-destroying moves... and ignoring everything in relation to
that. :(
~~~
vulpino
How about:
"Maybe Microsoft should consider open sourcing the components of their system
which track users. It's possible that this would help rebuild the trust that
was eroded with the release of Windows 10."
~~~
justinclift
Thanks. Tried to change it... but the "edit" link was gone by that time. Oh
well, next time. :)
------
api
Wow. Very, very nice!
If anyone from MS is listening:
All you need to do to potentially convert me from a Mac user is to address
some of the privacy/security and "user exploitation" concerns around Windows
10.
When I heard that Windows 10 would serve ads to users, just hearing that
blacklisted it for me. Anything that serves ads is a low-end bargain-basement
crap product, period. You are pegging your entire ecosystem as discount bin
trash with those moves. I don't mind paying for good stuff, but I won't even
use that kind of crap for free. Apple would never serve me ads on my login
screen.
I'm also very concerned about the total lack of user control over telemetry
and phone-home features in Windows. Mac also has this problem, but less. You
could leapfrog Mac by making this stuff visible and configurable to the user
in an easy way via some kind of control panel. There is an opportunity to do
better than Apple here.
It's not that I would turn it all off. I'm not a total paranoid in that
respect. But I want to see what it is, what it is doing, and have the
_ability_ to control my privacy/security "envelope." Obviously if I am doing
anything security critical like... oh... I dunno... _developing software_ to
be distributed to millions of endpoint devices... then I care a lot about
security. Security is not just for huge "enterprise" customers.
(Privacy equals security equals privacy, since privacy invasion exposes
information that can be used to violate security.)
Honestly, the fact of the matter is that Microsoft has a significantly weaker
reputation for security and privacy than Apple. That makes me _more_ concerned
about MS software phoning home than Apple software. This is a major problem
and you have to do something about it, and in the 21st century that means
_actually fixing the problem_ rather than relying on PR to con people into
thinking you've fixed the problem.
The sorts of power users you are trying to convert with all this dev outreach
stuff are not morons and they will see through any shallow commitment to
security or privacy instantly. Pure PR plays in these areas will make you look
worse, not better.
That is all.
~~~
ZenoArrow
Same situation for me. I like everything about the way Microsoft is currently
going except in terms of privacy, and it's a massive dealbrealer. Windows 10
has a lot of strengths but I'll never willingly use it until the privacy
controls allow for all the 'phone home' features to be turned off. I just hope
either Microsoft sorts it out before Windows 7 is no longer supported or an
open source platform is polished enough to take its place.
~~~
api
It's enough to give me the impression that MS and other tech companies
(Google, Apple, Facebook) are leveraging superiority in certain areas (with
_user experience_ and UI being chief among these) to try to ram privacy
invasions and other very undesirable features down the market's throat.
Why? Some suspect a government push behind the scenes, but personally I think
the answer is simpler and more economic: that data is extremely valuable to
advertisers and advertisers are willing to pay a _lot_ for ultra-fine-grained
targeting services. Sure governments can piggy-back on all this to implement
panopticon type surveillance, but the primary driver is demand for user data
in the private sector.
The new business model of the tech industry is: give away free stuff and use
it to productize the user. Maybe MS is extending this model to developers.
(Facebook too with things like wit.ai.)
OSS can't compete. The problem with the OSS ecosystem is this: a product that
works is only 10% done. The other 90% is making it work well and making it
easy to use. It's not done until I can use it in minutes, not hours or days,
and that takes a _lot_ of painful work.
An example hit home for me today:
Today I was evaluating Microsoft LUIS and wit.ai and I realized that for
simpler use cases a lot of what they do could be done with OSS like the
Stanford Parser. The problem is that to make those work I'd spend at least a
few days just getting that ball of twine up and running, let alone figuring
out how to represent my app's intents and entities and such and actually get
to something useful. But with LUIS or wit.ai I can do it in minutes to hours
and have a ready to go app.
It's incredible. I can get natural language command and control in _minutes!_.
The catch? Facebook or Microsoft get to mine every single bit of data I send
and get a strong degree of lock-in.
There are OSS alternatives but they'd take days, weeks, or months to
integrate... therefore they do not exist.
~~~
ZenoArrow
With regards to Microsoft's business model when it comes to Windows, you could
be right about the advertising angle, but I believe some people would pay a
premium to not have the advertising in their OS. If Microsoft offered the
enterprise version of Windows 10 to the general public at a premium price then
at least individuals who cared about privacy would have a valid upgrade
option.
------
evo_9
What's the plan regarding better documentation? That's the number one reason
I've lost interest in Xamarin. Outwardly, esp. coming from a C# background, it
seems awesome. Then you try to build something other than a todo list and you
quickly find out how lacking the docs are. You might find a decent sample for
Android, but then nothing for iOS, or vice verse. Forget about OS-X
development, the docs are even worse when you get outside of iOS/Android.
I would reconsider Xamarin if the docs improved greatly. Maybe with MS
involvement this will finally happen?
MS at this point would be better served by integrating React and React-Native
in Visual Studio 2015 and Community. I know they recently came out with
support for VS Code, but that's a different beast if you are a traditional
C#/.Net/VS guy. From my experience with both, React is a pleasure to use,
while Xamarin often had me cursing my decision to use the platform.
~~~
cubano
What I've found lately is that almost all the docs and examples for the
various "hybrid" mobile platforms are out-of-date or flat-out don't work.
My guess it's just that things are moving so damn fast in that space that it's
impossible to keep up with the churn.
~~~
vibrato
I agree with you about the documentation not being very useful, but Xamarin
isn't what's usually referred to as "hybrid". It's fully native code, no
webviews needed.
~~~
cubano
So with that logic, Telerik's Nativescript can be called "fully native code"
as well? Or Appcelerator's Titanium?
Sorry I just don't see it like that.
------
douche
Fantastic. Xamarin was very slick, but the licensing costs to actually be able
to use it was pretty hefty
------
ditados
Went ahead and downloaded Xamarin Studio for the Mac. Still has an "Enterprise
Trial" button, and apparently I still have to login to activate it.
It annoys me to no end that I have to log in to Visual Studio as well (even
Community) for it to even open a project, and I wish both Microsoft and
Xamarin were more respectful of our privacy.
~~~
andysinclair
They're providing brilliant developer tools for _free_ and all they are asking
for is an email address- give them a break.
~~~
blub
It's not about a crummy e-mail address, it's about privacy, trust and freedom,
things which you get by default with libre software tools and things which
Microsoft has not proven that they can deliver.
And that software is not really free, it comes with a nice lock-in in the form
of .NET and C#, two technologies under Microsoft's control. After MS has a
track record of at least ten years of doing this open source stuff they will
get a break.
This thread is proof that for many getting stuff for free is enough to forget
a long corporate history and throw their caution to the wind.
~~~
knocte
I agree with you. That's why I prefer to use Xamarin Studio than Visual
Studio.
------
billpg
I could feel inclined to take up iOS/Android app development if I could use
Visual Studio. Last time I considered moving into mobile development, I had a
"life is too short" reaction.
Why would I still need an OS X machine for iOS development though? If MS could
eliminate whatever that last link in the chain is, I'd have to give going into
mobile development some serious reconsideration.
~~~
ickler
Apple still sells hardware. Their TOS require it be compiled on their
hardware.
~~~
VikingCoder
Ughh....
They are THE WORST. Why do people support Apple?
Remember when they said everything had to be written in Objective-C?
Gah.
------
abdelhadikhiati
Microsoft being amazing again, what a time to be alive, I can't wait to see
other things that MSFT will do in the future .
------
edandersen
They finally did it. Thank you! Literally just got approval to buy Xamarin
licenses at work which was a hard sell - now we get to go and deliver the good
news that it will be free after all.
Words cannot express how big this is for the .NET community.
------
llomlup
This is cool. They updated the pricing page:
[https://store.xamarin.com/](https://store.xamarin.com/). Hint, it's free.
~~~
mwcampbell
Strange that the section about Visual Studio Professional says "contact us for
a quote". Can't you just purchase that from the Microsoft online store?
~~~
addicted
I think VS Professional has been discontinued. The contact us for a quote is
probably to cover legacy users.
~~~
JonathonW
VS Professional is not discontinued:
[https://www.visualstudio.com/products/how-to-buy-
vs](https://www.visualstudio.com/products/how-to-buy-vs)
You can buy both it and Enterprise online. Not sure why Xamarin says to
contact them for a quote, except that Xamarin's sales people really like to
talk to people.
~~~
iolothebard
It's free in your MSDN if you're subscribed. I downloaded them all :-)
So if you're a VS user already, it's likely bundled with an MSDN subscription.
Just link it to your Xamarin account and you're done.
------
CodeWithCoffee
You can download Xamarin Studio for OS X or Visual Studio with Xamarin here
[https://www.xamarin.com/download](https://www.xamarin.com/download)
------
gokhan
How does it compare to React Native, anyone using both? I was just starting a
project with RN, will be my first React project. But I have years of C#
experience, so Xamarin way would be faster.
~~~
kcorbitt
I haven't used Xamarin, so take this with a big grain of salt. But my
understanding is that its API is similar to that of the underlying platform,
meaning that it's mostly imperative and you write and interact with views in
much the same way you would in Objective-C or Java, just in a different and
arguably better language (C#).
React Native has a different philosophy -- it intentionally abstracts away the
platform APIs entirely, and unless you're writing a native plugin you're
_only_ able to access a React-centric API. This is a lot more ambitious and
leads to a great developer experience when it works. Some people however feel
that it's a misguided effort and that you can't expect to write fluid mobile
applications without interacting with the platform primitives directly. The
jury is still out on how well it will scale and there definitely still are
pain points with both the developer experience and app performance, but many
people including myself have written production apps in it and in my opinion
it largely delivers on its promise.
~~~
nbevans
Correct. The Xamarin API is 1:1 aligned with the native platform. To the point
that it is almost entirely generated from automatic tooling with the odd "fix
up" here and there.
Xamarin Forms however is a framework that performs abstraction, in a similar
vein as React Native. Xamarin Forms is built upon the Xamarin API.
~~~
nxh
The great thing about Xamarin Forms is you can use Dependency Injection [1] to
access the Native features. I started with Xamarin Forms without any pre-
knowledge of iOS or Android development. I use Xamarin Forms on a daily basis
and share 99% of my code.
[1] [https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-
forms/dependenc...](https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-
forms/dependency-service/)
~~~
pc86
Is it on GitHub? I've been working with C# for a decade and will be getting
into Xamarin now that it won't cost me thousands of dollars to do so. It would
be great to have some Open Source examples to look at!
~~~
nxh
There are some good tutorials about Xamarin Forms, e.g.
[https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-
forms/getting-s...](https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/xamarin-
forms/getting-started/introduction-to-xamarin-forms/).
Xamarin Forms Labs is a great open source project for controls and services
using Xamarin Forms: [https://github.com/XLabs/Xamarin-Forms-
Labs](https://github.com/XLabs/Xamarin-Forms-Labs)
------
swalsh
The thing that makes me most excited about microsoft buying xamarin, is I have
high hopes that mono + core will improve. While libraries are being ported,
there's still a bunch of dependencies on 4.5, which I understand dnx uses mono
for. I've wasted several hours trying to deploy my MVC app to a linux server
only to learn that the fix is to downgrade the version of mono i'm using :(
------
ZenoArrow
> "Microsoft will also be open sourcing the Xamarin SDK over the next few
> months." ... "Included in this open sourcing is the Xamarin Forms library
> that provides a cross-platform toolkit for building user interfaces."
This is great news! For those that aren't familiar...
[https://www.xamarin.com/forms](https://www.xamarin.com/forms)
------
grabcocque
I'd like to see a really thorough comparison of the advantages and
disadvantages of React Native vs Xamarin, but I doubt there are enough people
out there with in-depth experience of both to do the comparison justice.
------
fizzbatter
I don't know anything about Xamarin, but i've been needing to learn C# so this
is really nice timing for me! Learning Rust for my local server, and
C#+Xamarin for the mobile app interacting with it, exciting!
------
_wmd
Sweetness, the license change means anyone can use mkbundle with --static.
Essentially you can produce a single executable containing an embedded copy of
the mono runtime, this wouldn't have been possible been possible under the
previous open source license.
(edit: previous comment mentioned AOT, actually mkbundle doesn't support this
in a single step, you still need to manually AOT the assemblies inside your
executable and ship them side-by-side)
------
minimaximus
That's some incredible news. Thanks Miguel!
------
ZanyProgrammer
I still want a full IDE for Mac that is equivalent to VS and that is more
mature than Xamarin Studio (VS Cose doesn't count). Is rather have Visual
Studio for Mac than Xamarin Studio.
~~~
babuskov
I tried using VS some time ago and didn't find anything I don't already have
in other IDEs like Eclipse (I mostly write C++ and Java code). Except that it
is faster.
Perhaps I missed something that could increase my productivity... Would you
care to tell what features make VS so powerful for you?
~~~
pearle
IMO, being faster is a significant feature that increases productivity and it
shouldn't be casually dismissed.
~~~
babuskov
The difference is not really big and if that's the only thing, I think I will
stay on Linux/Mac.
------
melling
What's the status of F# on the Mac? Is it usable as a scripting language? I've
got a few tasks I'd like to automate. That'll give me a reason to give F# a
try.
~~~
0xFFC
Using functional ml-like programming language for developing Apps ? It is like
dream comes true , count me in . I am literally sick of Java.
~~~
SureshG
Have you tried any other JVM langs, especially kotlin -
[https://kotlinlang.org/](https://kotlinlang.org/) ?
------
nbevans
We just spent almost £2k in February renewing our licenses, doh!
~~~
natfriedman
We'll give you a full refund. Drop a note to hello@xamarin.com.
~~~
llomlup
Like I said. Brilliant.
------
zura
With all these MS open sourcing stuff stuff - any plans for Visual FoxPro? :)
------
molteanu
So how would I use this on Linux? I'm seeing different versions of VS to
download from the official website. Only VS Code is available on Linux?!
Does/will that contain Xamarin?!
~~~
nathankunicki
Visual Studio _proper_ is still a Windows only product. Microsoft's aim here
is to make Windows and Visual Studio the only solution you'll ever need to
develop for every platform under the sun, be it iOS, Mac OS, Android, Linux,
Windows, or web.
Visual Studio Code is a very lightweight semi-open source IDE for writing
code, and not much else.
~~~
svick
In what way is it semi-open source? The code is on GitHub under MIT:
[https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode](https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode).
~~~
louhike
I think the "semi" was for "IDE", to compare it to Visual Studio.
------
Keats
Amazing news! I was looking for how to make cross-platform apps and the best
one was React Native and I already do enough React/JavaScript on the web to
want to do it elsewhere.
Looking at
[http://www.monodevelop.com/download/](http://www.monodevelop.com/download/)
though, does that mean that you can't write android/ios apps while on linux?
What's the reasoning behind that?
------
mwcampbell
Now that the full runtime and, presumably, the AOT compiler are being open
sourced, I wonder if someone will port them to Apple tvOS. I'm disappointed
that 6 months after the first beta of tvOS, Xamarin still doesn't support it.
Edit: Never mind; tvOS support has been in preview since October. I wonder why
it isn't in the stable release yet, but I guess it's just a low priority.
~~~
documan
[https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/ios/tvos/](https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/ios/tvos/)
~~~
mwcampbell
Thanks. Clearly I didn't research enough.
------
mikecu
Exactly what I was hopping for! I have about 7 Obj-C/Swift iOS apps but any
new one will be built with C#/Xamarin!
------
euroclydon
As someone who's never used Mono or Xamarin, but who has played around with
CoreCLR and the DNX tooling. I can't figure out whether to start developing
with Mono, or wait for CoreCLR to mature. I don't understand the roadmap.
~~~
ZenoArrow
CoreCLR is the future. If you're playing around because you want to build
something now, use the classic CLR or Mono. If you're playing around to build
up skills you can use in the future, go with CoreCLR.
------
feylikurds
Woah, I use NativeScript right now, but I will definitely download this and
try it out!
------
code_research
Kirigami! Kirigami! Kirigami!
[https://dot.kde.org/2016/03/30/kde-proudly-presents-
kirigami...](https://dot.kde.org/2016/03/30/kde-proudly-presents-kirigami-ui)
[https://subsurface-divelog.org/2016/03/announcing-
subsurface...](https://subsurface-divelog.org/2016/03/announcing-subsurface-
mobile-for-android/)
------
derFunk
That's awesome, and very fast indeed after Microsoft's acquisition of Xamarin.
Thanks to all involved, I was waiting a long time for these moves!
------
Zigurd
This is a testament to Miguel de Icaza and his team's ability to take on the
insanely tough and often thankless task of creating a cross-platform SDK. You
have to keep up with the changes in three native SDKs and develop your own
APIs, too. It will be interesting to have this code base available as open
source. I'd read it just for the comparative anatomy of native APIs.
------
systems
hope they port the full thing to linux (i mean xamarin studio, not visual
studio)
i was kinda always turned off, that xamarin treated linux as a second class
citizen
------
partiallypro
I would love to start messing around with Xamarin, and I definitely plan to
because of this news. However, I'm using Microsoft's Bizspark, and I have
Visual Studio Professional through MSDN. So it doesn't appear that I can
download Xamarin for free unless I go down to the Community version. Is this
correct?
------
0xFFC
I am thinking about buying new phone and it is _really_ tempting to buy
windows phone now. This Microsoft is not going to lose and better to make
investment on windows phone now rather than later.
------
Sindrome
Too bad I am already neck deep in react-native.
------
LLLukeJ
This is fantastic news. Hopefully a wider userbase and Microsoft support leads
to faster turnover on bugs and niggling issues.
------
_pmf_
Google should really, really be worried about Microsoft acquiring Jetbrains.
Like, shitting-their-pants worried.
------
SureshG
It will be interesting to see what happens to RoboVM (because it acquired by
Xamarin)?
------
bithush
I wonder what odds I would get on MS bringing the UWP to OS X and Linux and
maybe even Android?
~~~
casualviking
Xamarin already has tools to create Mac apps from .Net/MonoDevelop.
The work has been started - it's just a matter of time.
~~~
bithush
Indeed. To be honest I would be shocked if Microsoft don't make the Universal
Windows Platform a true Universal App Platform available on as many platforms
as possible.
It seems to be the way they are going. Then every MS product will become a
Universal App and Microsoft can deliver their software anywhere the UWP/UAP is
available.
------
vespergo
Best news I've seen all year! +10 microsoft
------
kelvin0
"...though iOS development continues to need access to an OS X machine..."
Now if MS could do the same thing they did with Ubuntu and add native support
for OSX, I'd be in heaven.
~~~
tinza123
That mostly depends on Apple, which is not likely to happen
~~~
oblio
"Likely" is an understatement. Apple will have to go into 90's style decline
before they let that happen :)
~~~
alkonaut
Would be more likely that Apple allowed compiling iOS applications on non-OS X
machines.
I can't understand why they don't want to maximize the number of developers
and the number of apps they produce for Apples stores. What would be the
drawback for them if I could build my iOS app directly in Windows?
~~~
dohboy
Perhaps quality? Having developers who know the environment they are
developing for instead of a lot of one-size-fits-all apps.
You can do it if you're the only supplier of a given service but as a customer
you will not get my money in a multi player game if I smell you took the
shortcut or have no idea what my platform is capable off.
------
Ryuuke
Thank you, guys at MS, you're awesome !
------
danburgo
omg omg omg - thx msft :)
------
radicalman
so should you use react-native or xamarin now?
how much 'write-once-run-everywhere' is available in xamarin vs react-native?
I've long avoided .net and c# but now I'm getting interested because these
things are becoming open source.
------
golergka
Inb4 "embrace, extend, extuingish": regardless of whether it's it or not, the
"embrace" step like thos one benefits everyone.
~~~
oblio
Plus at this point Microsoft should be more afraid of the "extinguish" part
coming from the OSS community, than vice versa.
------
ddon
Super news, but I think more and more people will go React Native way...
Especially after React Native Mac OS X recent release!
~~~
cableshaft
I don't know. I've been spending some time learning React-Native, but it's in
fits and starts. There are several things that trip me up. I've got the basics
pretty much down now, but now I'm banging my head against local storage and
wrapping my head around Redux in general. It is interesting, but time
consuming. And I don't have much leisure time right now.
I've made stuff in Xamarin before, and it was a pretty smooth experience,
except for needing to have separate UI code for each platform. The language
and syntax never got in the way, it was more just having to look up the
corresponding UI elements (especially Android, where I have less experience)
and get those working from time to time. As such, I could generally code like
a fiend and get tons accomplished in a short period of time.
That being said, I really, really like how most of the React Native code is
the same, and it's quite possible I'll get to that point with React Native
also.
~~~
jinjin
> but now I'm banging my head against local storage and wrapping my head
> around Redux in general.
Have you tried using Realm for the local storage?
[https://realm.io/docs/react-native/latest/](https://realm.io/docs/react-
native/latest/)
It worked really well for us and removed the need for Redux.
~~~
cableshaft
Do you ever have to be connected to the internet to use local storage? I'd
like my app to be totally usable offline. I've heard of Realm, but something
made me think that it needed to be online. If not, I'll look into it.
Also why did it allow you to skip Redux altogether? I thought that was
necessary for anything remotely complicated.
------
sickbeard
Has the damage already been done though? Previous Xamarin pricing killed off
any investment in that product/ecosystem when the mobile game was hot
~~~
nbevans
It certainly killed off investment by people that had no money to invest in
the first place. Which enabled Xamarin to create a base of over 500,000 of
paying customers which tends to help when your business plan stretches about 5
years, to bump up the value as much as possible, before the planned sale to
Microsoft.
------
astrange
Does anyone remember why Mono was created in the first place? There was no
reason to take C# seriously back then, and if we'd all just ignored it it
would've gone away or been replaced by something other than a copy of Java.
------
jarcane
_Xamarin also supports development on OS X using Xamarin Studio. This too is
now available for free as a community edition for small teams, and is included
in MSDN Subscriptions._
This would explain the message I got on my Macbook the other day.
Sadly Xamarin isn't supported for F#, so it's still basically useless to me.
~~~
nbevans
Our entire Xamarin codebase is written in F# so not quite sure what you mean
by that.
~~~
saosebastiao
Wow! I tried, but with minimal .NET knowledge I ran into roadblocks everywhere
due to lack of documentation. Do you know of any standard/idiomatic ways of
defining viewmodels in F#? What about HTTP calls and JSON parsing?
~~~
nbevans
HTTP and JSON are well catered for on .NET and Xamarin. Newtonsoft.Json is the
most popular. And then HttpClient has first class support in Xamarin.
In terms of view models... how long is a piece of string? There are literally
dozens of approaches one could take. Or you could use Xamarin.Forms which is a
MVVM framework (amongst other things).
| 2023-10-27T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3674 |
In which Marco makes his final delivery, an old lady is in danger, a fifteen-year old tale is recounted, the tragic fate of Lavabo’s siblings explained, and our young squire must contend with a choice of right and wrong.
Chapter Text
Marco had spent the last hour portalling between the Wash and the various mansions and estates of the knights and nobles of Mewni. At least, those of them with deliveries due that day. A rushed salute, a quick greeting, a handful of clean folded clothes, and then off he was. It wasn’t the most polite delivery service ever rendered, but it would have to do.
He had let himself become delayed far too much inside the castle, what between Ruberiot’s antics, Etheria’s threats, Eclipsa’s tea, and Tom’s, um… Tom-ness?
In the end, he had had to make two hours worth of long distance deliveries in only one. Even with dimensional scissors, that had been quite the challenge. Still, unwilling to disappoint Sir Lavabo, the Squire of the Wash had pushed himself harder than ever, and just about managed to accomplish his quest...
Now there was one final delivery to be made, though it wasn’t really the last name on his list. Marco had actually skipped over it repeatedly until now, trying to postpone the inevitable and unpleasant encounter as much as possible.
Well, he no longer had that option! He sighed, grabbed the heavy wooden basket - heavy because it included, among other items, a full chainmail armor and breastplate set - and cut his last outgoing portal of the evening.
Normally, he’d have Artax Ed by his side to carry the clothes, but, for this final trip, the squire had decided to leave the young foal back in the Wash with Lavabo. After all, the tiny horse might get recognized by the man who, um… actually purchased him, and then Marco would really be in trouble!
‘Sir Stabby: One suit of armor, three pants, five shirts, nine sets of undergarments, one skirt,’ Marco had counted, marking those off in his master list.
He had been somewhat surprised when he first read the last item, but then he realized, upon closer inspection, that it probably belonged not to the knight, but to his squire. So did one of the pants, one shirt, and two pairs of underwear. There was no way any of those would fit the broad muscular man, particularly the two bras.
That said, if it turned out that the skirt was somehow actually Sir Stabby’s, then all the more power to him. Princess Turdina was all up for defying stereotypes!
Marco wondered what kind of place Stabby and Higgs would live in. Would it be similar to Sir Lavabo’s estate in the outskirts of the kingdom? Or perhaps a smaller but more elegant urban manor near the royal mile, like Sir Dashing’s had been?
It was curious, though, of all the knights homes he had visited that day, none of them roommed with their squires. How weird was it that Higgs and Marco had that, of all things, in common?
Speaking of finding the place, well, that was the next challenge. Mewnian addresses were weird. There was a system to them, of course, but other than the royal way - and the royal mile in particular - it wasn’t the streets that carried names. It was the plazas and neighborhoods. The best way to find where to deliver the clothes was, often enough, to portal to a high vantage point (say, one of the castle’s balconies), find the right plaza, then portal down there and look for the fanciest house around.
Except, well, this particular address couldn’t possibly be right!
Marco looked at his list, then at his map, then at the view before him. ‘Queen Comet’s Third Memorial Plaza, Western Rat’s End’ was the address. It looked, well… like you’d expect a place called ‘Rat’s End’ to look like. Not to be unkind to Sir Stabby, but just from up here, Marco could see that the place was a slum!
No, literally, it was a slum. A big sprawling one, too.
Marco portaled into a narrow dirt street between two leaning houses, which looked less like a planned construction and more like stacks of room-sized wooden boxes that had been thrown one atop another. The ground level windows were boarded up, and the street itself smelled heavily of piss. High above him, clotheslines hung between the upper windows, none of which had any glass panes, broken or not.
A few of these second and third floor windows had tattered rags for curtains. The rest, Marco could see through, into the sparse yet chaotic rooms within. A few ‘apartments’ were empty, but many more were veritably crowded: families of eight or more mashed together in what in the castle might have well been one of the servant closets. As the squire glanced inside, dozens of despondent eyes watched him in return, with confusion and muted curiosity.
Queen Comet’s Third Memorial Plaza turned out to be a tiny patch of grass by the end of the narrow closed alleyway. It held a lonely looking bust of Star’s grandmother atop a stone column standing near the far wall. Not counting the somewhat dismal statue, the mini-park would have been large enough to hold maybe four people sitting down for a picnic. If they were willing to end up leaning against the building walls on either side, that is.
Not that such seating would be possible right this moment, however, as the park’s ground was entirely covered with garbage. Rotten food scraps for the most part, but also tons of wooden debris. It stank horribly, and yet the odor of urine remained the stronger of the two.
Now, Marco wasn’t blind, or naive. He had been around Mewni long enough to know that this is how a lot of the kingdom probably lived. If anything, the people here seemed far less, well, dirt-poor than the farmers further away from the main city. There were, for example, iron pots and pans hanging from the clotheslines, along with other such modest possessions - no actual clothes, though, after all, there were only two people in all the kingdom that regularly did any laundry.
Yet, while these people obviously had more material wealth than the corn farmers did, they were also certainly crammed far closer together, and in far more unpleasant, if perhaps safer, conditions. Marco wondered which of the two lives he’d chose, if those were his only options. Neither seemed particularly bearable. Would the squire have had to endure this rough lifestyle if Lavabo hadn’t been so willing to share his home with him?
It was very much unlike the other areas he had delivered to during that same day, that was for sure. After all, only nobles and knights got deliveries, plus the castle staff. Most mewmans simply queued each morning along the Wash’s pick-up window for their clothes.
Usually, this was the part where Marco would look at the different houses, starting with the nicest-looking one, and inspect the name plates hung on them to indicate their owner. But, down here, houses had no name plates. They barely had anything to distinguish one from another, except for the different patterns of rot in their wooden walls. Several windows did have some basic graffiti plastered right above them, but the boy wasn’t sure if this was to indicate a person’s home or their association with a gang. There was simply no way Sir Stabby lived in this dump!
Marco’s prospects of finding the right home didn’t get any better after he tried wandering around for a bit, attempting to find some larger street or plaza. If anything, Comet’s Third Memorial was the more upscale section of the Rat’s End, if only in that at least the buildings near it were all in one piece.
Just around the corner from that same alley were two apartment-stacks for which half the second and third floor had collapsed. The box-like rooms that remained on those floors had been ‘reinforced’ with a series of thick nautical ropes, but it was clear that was a temporary solution at best.
Further afield, Marco found two full blocks that had completely burned down. Instead of being rebuilt, they now hosted some sort of semi-permanent encampment within the blackened husks of the former structures. The streets around were impassable, blocked by piles of broken wooden beams and planks. Even where they hadn’t actually broken down yet, plenty of homes showed signs of fire or water damage along their walls.
Marco thought about Star’s letters, and about her talk about rebuilding Mewni. For the first time since he came back, the squire finally understood the truly herculean scope of such a task!
Eventually, he made it back to where he had begun, feeling half-convinced that he had simply mistaken the address in his list. He briefly considered yelling at one of the windowless rooms, asking about Sir Stabby’s home. It seemed like a sure way of getting laughed at in response.
Instead, Marco shook his head and took out his scissors again. He began cutting a portal back to the Wash. Perhaps Lavabo knew where his fellow knight lived?
“Ugh! I thought I recognized that flash of light the first time around!” came a voice from above. “What the hell are you doing in the goddamn rat ass… prince?”
He really didn’t need to look up to figure out who that was. The tone, not to mention the nickname, were unmistakable signs. Still, he did venture a weary glance towards the voice. There, standing by a tiny irregular hole, in one of the second floor wooden boxes, was Higgs.
Her box did have a curtain, and now that Marco was looking directly at it, he realized that it ought to have identified the house as well as any name plate would. It was a long blue cloth, made of what had, a long time ago, been finely-dyed velvet. If it weren’t so washed out and half-burned, the human would have immediately recognized the heraldry in it. It was clearly one of Sir Stabby’s old capes! It covered a window so misshapen that Marco half-wondered if Higgs had simply punched it into the wooden wall.
“Oh, so you guys do live here!” Marco exclaimed, in relieved surprise.
It was only a second afterwards that he realized that was about the worst thing he could have said!
Higgs face turned red. For an instant, perhaps, red with embarrassment. By the time she jumped down, landing right in front of Marco, it had clearly transmuted into red with rage. She pulled him by the collar of his hoodie and lifted her other hand to form a threatening fist, looming far above the clothes basket that Marco was still carrying.
“And what is that supposed to mean!?” she asked in a quiet but angry tone, almost as if she was trying to yell at him and whisper at the same time. “Not all of us live in the castle, prince. And, again, what the hell are you doing here!?”
Marco, blinking, realized that walls were probably pretty thin around here, and that his earlier shout, loud enough for her to hear from the second floor, had probably had half the neighborhood for an audience. He also realized how Higgs had interpreted it: as if he was amazed that people, in general, lived in a place like this.
He hadn’t meant it that way though!
Had he?
“I, I am looking for Sir Stabby,” Marco protested. “I was beginning to think he didn’t live here, because there are no signs in the houses. So I was relieved to see that you two do live around here. That’s all!” He defended himself.
Also, he technically didn’t live in the castle, nor it’s basement or sub-basement, but in Sir Lavabo’s estate. Somehow, he doubted that clarification would make Higgs any less angry at him, though.
The squire considered letting down the basket to be ready to block Higgs’ punch, just in case she didn’t buy his explanation, but his sense of duty prevented him from doing so. After all, defending oneself against a strong assailant was one thing, but letting clean laundry fall so near to the piss-smelling ground was unacceptable. Lavabo would never allow something like that to happen, and neither would Marco!
“I do live here. He doesn’t,” Higgs replied, dialing the tone down from murderous back to merely annoyed. To Marco’s relief, she also lowered her fist and let go of his hoodie.
“But, the list said…” Marco began musing aloud. “Look, do you know where he lives? It’s official Wash business. I am just trying to deliver his clothes.”
Higgs looked down at the basket for the first time since they began their, um, conversation. She seemed to reassess the situation. “Ok, fine! Just hand them to me, prince.”
She took a step back, and extended a single arm, palm up, beckoning him to pass the clothes basket.
“Um, well, I mean, I could, but... I am supposed to deliver to him in person,” the boy protested.
“One, I always get Sir Stabby’s clothes. He really doesn’t trust your laundry-knight, so he insists that I polish his armor a second time, before handing it over to him, that’s why this stuff gets delivered here. Two, I thought you guys just sent the mail mewman to do the deliveries,” she paused for a moment and glared down at the pile of clothes. “And, three, some of those are my clothes, and I’d appreciate if you’d deliver those to me in person!” she demanded.
Marco raised an eyebrow. “Because Sir Stabby doesn’t know you have been requesting delivery for your own stuff as well as his?” he ventured a guess.
“So? What of it!?” Higgs asked, testily.
“Well, delivery is supposed to be only for nobles, knights, and those living in the castle,” Marco pointed out. “So look who is getting favorable treatment now, your highness!” he added, making good use of Etheria’s lessons in protocol.
Frankly, the human didn’t give a rat’s… end if Higg’s was getting her clothes delivered when she shouldn’t. But after all the crap she had given him for getting unfair advantages via his association with royalty, well, he certainly wasn’t going to let this little hypocrisy of hers slide!
Higgs frowned.
“Yeah, well, whatever. You know what? Go hand Sir Stabby his stuff and go return mine to the Wash. I’ll just pick it up tomorrow like everyone else.” She crossed her arms in front of herself. “Good luck with handling his stabby-ness as he complains about ‘the shoddy polishing job of those incompetent laundrymen’, though!” Higgs added, in her best impression of her knight.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Marco protested. “Lavabo himself polished that armor! You could use it as a mirror!” In fact, that’s what Sir Dashing had done with his own, right after the squire had delivered it earlier that evening…
“I know,” Higgs grinned victoriously. “That’s why I never actually bother trying to polish it again when it just came back from cleaning. But if you hand those clothes directly to Sir Stabby, I guarantee you he will find fault with it, whether real or imaginary. So, this is me doing you a favor, prince, not the other way around.”
“Ugh. Fine,” Marco relented. There was no winning with Higgs, and the prospect of doing one more trip carrying the huge suit of armor was becoming less and less appealing by the second. “But, um, are you sure you want me to just hand it to you like this? This is pretty heavy…” he warned her.
Higgs just rolled her eyes and extended her hand again. Marco, obligingly, pushed up the wooden basket with both arms and let it fall on Higgs outstretched palm. He had expected the girl to at least struggle to keep her balance, if not to topple forward altogether. She just smiled at him and pulled the basket closer, holding it level with one arm.
She did end up grabbing onto it from both sides, but only so she could then throw it flying through her second-floor window. From the sound of that ‘thud!’ and how rickety the homes around here looked, the human boy was surprised the basket hadn’t just broken through the wooden floor on impact. Marco, apparently, had once again underestimated how strong Higgs truly was.
Thinking about it now, Star was also pretty strong. The squire pondered what would happen if the two mewmans ever had to fight each other in magicless hand-to-hand combat. Which girl would be more likely to win in that scenario? His friend or his rival? Marco would have been really curious to see that! But, uh, not in like a weird way or anything...
“Alright, prince, thanks for your service,” Higgs added, rolling her eyes in a way the belied the appreciation. “It’s been… whatever the opposite of a pleasure is.”
Marco shrugged tiredly and prepared to head back to the Wash, glad to see this day, and this meeting, come to an end.
KRA-THACK!
The squire’s plans were interrupted by a sudden booming sound, like two ships crashing one against the other, and then a noise like a cracking whip, but ten times stronger. It was followed by a panicked cry.
Marco reacted on instinct, running towards the source of the noise, only to discover, to his surprise, that he was following Higgs, who had reacted even faster. The two squires raced out of the alleway holding Comet’s Third Memorial, turning around the connecting street just in time to see the tragedy in progress.
The first noises had both come from one of the two partially-collapsed buildings he had seen before, the ones that had been missing half their third and second floor. Predictably, the supports for the remaining half hadn’t been entirely stable either, and one of the apartment-boxes, currently still on the third floor, was now in the process of sliding down and crashing through the second. Most of the ropes ‘holding’ the falling apartment had snapped instantly, with two more currently straining to keep the wooden enclosure from falling down altogether.
Below the crumbling structure, was the origin of the terrified cry: an old lady, slowly trying to move out of the way of the impending disaster! Too slowly, Marco realized.
Higgs raced towards the woman, disregarding her own safety, just as focused as she had been during their own race for the vorpal sword. Marco looked at the straining ropes, and realized she wouldn’t make it on time…
“Higgs! Stop!” he cried, hoping that, for once, the redhead squire would listen to him, would trust him.
Just as he shouted, Marco began cutting with his dimensional scissors. He stuck his arms through the portal and grabbed the elderly woman by the shoulder. He pulled her through as fast as he thought he could without hurting her, and closed the portal right after.
By the time he glanced back towards Higgs, the girl was already sprinting back. Whether because she had heard him, or because she had seen the blue vortex open besides the old lady, Marco didn’t know. But he was relieved to see that his fellow squire was also well out of the range of the collapsing building.
Using an arm to protect the back of his head, Marco positioned himself to cover the lady he’d just rescued from any flying debris. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Higgs catch up with them and do the same. It took barely a second after that before the entire thing came crashing down behind them.
Fortunately, the only thing that reached them, as far as they now were from the falling structure, was the thunderous din of the crash. The old woman whimpered, startled by the noise more than anything else.
“It’s ok, ma’am. You are safe now,” Marco reassured her. “Just, breathe.”
“Nice save there, Marco,” Higgs noted, this time without sarcasm. “And, um, thanks,” she mouthed quietly after a short pause, like she didn’t actually want him to hear it.
Rather than being an ass this time around, Marco just nodded, and turned around to the old woman.
“It’s alright ma’am. Please take all the time you need. Afterwards, we’ll both be happy to escort you home,” he offered.
“T… t… that was my home…” the lady muttered.
Marco didn’t really know what to say to that.
“Marco,” Higgs explained, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t think we have time to walk her anywhere, either. She knows where the encampments are. We need to look and see who else was in the crash’s radius.”
And just like that, the full magnitude of what had happened began to sink in.
----
Marco spent the entire night in the Rat’s End, helping Higgs push aside wooden debris, and coordinate the neighborhood's ad-hoc relocation.
It turned out that the redhead squire was well known and, surprisingly, well liked, by the people living in this section of the Western Rat’s End. It further turned out that buildings crashing down around these parts, if not exactly a common occurrence, was not a rare event either.
Fortunately, no one had been badly hurt. No one else had been out on the street at that time, and the walls of the other box-apartments had held against the assault of the bits and pieces of the falling one.
Still, there were plenty of doors that had become obstructed, and a good chunk of the homes near the collapse area had gone from barely livable, to unlivable altogether.
“So, every few weeks something like this happens!?” Marco asked shocked, as he helped Higgs move a wooden beam away from a box apartment's first floor door.
“For the past few months, yeah,” she muttered. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, buildings around here were always crap. But, it’s way worse now a days. There was a big fire, back during the whole Ludo thing. Those damn rats probably started it! Not to mention that huge monster trampling all over town before the invasion.”
“A fire?” Marco asked, dumbly.
“Yeah, well, we put it out,” Higgs remarked, resignedly. “We’re not too far from the lake.”
“Not that water helped these putrid wooden walls any, did it, Higgs?” asked Old Guy, pensively, as he stroked his beard.
He had arrived at some point during the night, possibly after somehow hearing about the accident. It didn’t seem like he was doing much to actually move stuff around, on account of how he was, well, an old guy. But the fact that he was around was more than either of the two squires could say about, for example, the actual knights of Mewni!
Ok, fine, Sir Lavabo’s duties seemed to start and end with the Wash - and, that itself was plenty, whether others believed it or not!
But where were Sir Stabby, or Sir Dashing, or, um, Lady Jaya, for that matter? Maybe they each had their own specific areas of expertise, their particular posts, so to speak. But, if so, then why the hell did Mewni not have, say, a knight of civil engineering or something!?
Marco wasn’t sure whose job was to help these people. But, well, it certainly should be someone’s...
“I thought Queen Moon and Star were in the process of rebuilding Mewni,” Marco mussed, more to himself than to anyone else around. “Wouldn’t it make sense to start with this place? It certainly looks the most damaged…”
Higgs raised an eyebrow.
Old Guy just began laughing. It quickly degenerated into a dry cough. “Start with the Rat’s End!? Good one, kid!” he exclaimed once he had recovered from his coughing fit. “Why rebuild what’s a ruin to begin with? No offense, Higgs.”
“Look, prince,” she spoke, ignoring Old Guy’s comment and subsequent mis-apology. “There are a lot of places in the kingdom in need of rebuilding. Places people in power care about, and also places like this. Guess which ones get fixed first, and which last? If at all…”
“That doesn’t sound right,” Marco observed. Did it? He didn’t really know Moon well enough to be entirely sure of what her order of priorities would be, to be honest. He knew she was a good person, but also somewhat set in her ways on matters of tradition. On the other hand…. “Star wouldn’t think that way, like, at all!”
“Oh, really? Ok, kid, tell us about how your ex-girlfriend is going to sweep in to save us all. That’s bound to be an entertaining tale, for sure,” Old Guy chuckled. “Isn’t that right, Higgs?”
Marco braced himself for the redhead squire’s cutting response, particularly after the way her elderly-looking friend had just set her up for it.
“You know what? Nevermind that,” Higgs simply sighed, tiredly. Clearly the work of lifting plank after plank, and wooden beam after wooden beam, had begun exhausting even her. Or perhaps it was just the situation itself that drained her. “You know my opinion of Princess Star already, prince. But, then again, I also think you are a pampered idiot, and yet here you are, helping out. I… am grateful for that, actually. So, tell you what, if you can get her to come here and fix this one mess, I am willing to reconsider that opinion as well. Or, at the very least, I am willing to be grateful to her too.”
Uh. Marco had certainly not been expecting that!
Then again, why not? He was sure that Star would be right here with him if she knew what was going on, that she would help them rebuild even if she had to do so by hand. Besides, wasn’t she saying that she could make houses with magic these days? Singing houses, sure, but still, better than literal boxes that were falling apart!
It’s not like he thought she would be able to fix the entirety of the Rat’s End by herself. But this one street? This one house? And it would show Higgs, and anyone else who doubted it, that the princess of Mewni truly did care about her people!
But, how to get her here? Portal into her room? In the middle of the night? Definitely not! Write her a letter? Not fast enough! Call her?
Marco hadn’t called Star since he left Mewni the first time, actually. She had called him after, once, when he was back on Earth, but he had missed the call. He hadn’t called her after becoming a squire, either, not even as he tried to catch her in person. Somehow it hadn’t felt right. The letters had seemed… safer.
He pushed the power button of his phone. His palm was sweating as the phone vibrated and beeped on. Higgs and Old Guy gave the device amazed and confused stares.
“Figures you’d have a magic compact mirror,” Higgs commented with disdain, too exhausted to add anything else.
Higgs and Old Guy just stared at the boy, as he remained frozen there, his finger hovering over his best friend’s picture inside the phone’s contacts address book.
What if Star didn’t want to talk to him still? After all, she kept promising that she would find a way to meet him, but never did actually settle on a time. What if she was still annoyed at him for interrupting her date a month ago? For showing up on her life, unannounced?
Marco looked away from his phone, and saw the old woman sitting by a fallen wooden beam, crying softly. He saw the young boys, in filthy broken down rags, staring at the damaged front of their nearby home, looking lost and confused. They probably didn’t know where they would spend the night. Another woman was trying, in vain, to comfort them.
The Squire of the Wash sighed. This went beyond whatever was going on between him and Star. It was not about the two of them. It was about these people, and about Star doing her job. Wasn’t that what she said was keeping her busy? Being the best princess she could be?
Marco tapped on the screen and pulled the cellphone to his right ear. It rang for a quick second and then-
“I am sorry. The mirror you have dialed has been disconnected. Please check the number and dial again. If this does not work, then perhaps the person you are calling does not wish to speak to you,” came through a recorded gangly male voice. “Reflectacorp Mobile apologizes for the inconvenience. Everything is possible with Reflectacorp Mobile technology, except for completing this call!”
“So…?” asked Higgs impatiently.
So, Star had changed her mobile number? How did you even change numbers in a magic mirror? And, had she changed her number… because of him?
“It’s ringing,” Marco lied. “She is just, um, not answering. Let me try again.”
He did. Even though he knew he would just hear the same recording again. He stood through it, in silence, trying to compose himself. The other squires would have a field day, exhausted or not, if he told them about the missing line. If they knew about how Star had basically blocked him!
“No answer,” he lied again, in a daze. “I guess maybe she’s asleep? I mean, it’s pretty late…”
“Figures,” sneered Higgs. “The princess sleeps in her queen sized bed while her people suffer… and you,” She jabbed her finger at Marco’s chest. “You make promises you can’t deliver on. I guess my first impression was right, then, prince, on both of you!”
Marco looked down sheepishly in response to that. She was technically right, after all. He felt quite guilty about letting everyone down like that.
“You know, kid,” Old Guy noted. “Maybe you shouldn’t have been so quick to save that lady before. Without a home, she is just going to freeze to death come winter.”
He sounded matter of fact about it too, like it wasn’t even his problem.
Well, it was Marco’s problem! He would go to the castle tomorrow morning. Then find Star, or Moon, or River, and show them the sorry state of this street. Hell, he would drag Tom into this somehow if he needed to. Someone had to help these people…
“Could we… Higgs, could we rebuild that house?” he asked.
“Do you know carpentry, prince?” she countered.
Marco shook his head. He wouldn't know where to begin learning, either.
“Besides… we don’t have any supplies, or any money with which to buy them.”
Higgs and Old Guy exchanged a strange look then. It was as if she was asking the elderly squire for permission for something.
“How about this?” Marco extended out a hand, showing the redhead squire and her friend a stack of bills.
Higgs quickly pushed it back inside Marco’s hoodie. “Don’t show that around here!” she whispered rushedly into his ear. “Can’t believe what kind of an idiot you are sometimes, prince! This is the Rat’s End, people are desperate, they will take it if they have half the chance…”
“Yeah, sure, but, um, isn’t that the idea?” he asked.
She gave him a quizzical glance.
“I mean, is not like I’d blame them. And I don’t need this money. There’s plenty of food at Lavabo’s place to live off of, and I can always go to my parents if I really need to.” he explained. “If this can help these people survive the winter, then I’d say they should take it.”
“‘It’s not like you would blame them’?” Higgs asked, pensive. “For robbing you?”
Old Guy snickered. “Either way, it’s not going to be the old lady that takes it from you, or from her, for that matter. Look, kid, if you are going to be that naive, why not give the money to me… for, um… safe keeping?”
Marco got the point and closed the zipper of his hoodie, eyeing Old Guy suspiciously.
“How much do you have there anyways?” the redhead squire asked, curiously.
Marco looked at the two of them, uneasy. He then whispered into her ear. “Six hundred and fifty dollars.”
She gave him a dirty look. “More than I’ll probably see from Sir Stabby until the day I get knighted. And yet not nearly enough to rebuild even one of these shambling stacks…”
“Isn’t there anything we can do? Anything at all!?” Marco asked, angrily. What was the point of becoming a squire if he didn’t have the power to help a single old lady?
Higgs seemed to hesitate for a second.
“Tell me, prince, if you wouldn’t blame these people for robbing you to repair their homes, would you blame them for robbing someone else?” she asked. “Someone richer? Someone who owes them a duty that was never paid? Someone who basically had it coming?”
Old Guy gave her a look, and Marco was sure he was telling her to shut up. There was something going on here, and how he responded was likely to determine how much he would learn about it.
“I’d say…” Marco whispered back, uncertain. “... it depends.”
He half couldn’t believe what he was saying!
“Ok, say there existed such a person,” Higgs explained in hushed tones. “And say someone planned to try to rob them and then… and this is important… then spend every single speck of gold, corn, silver, or extra-dimensional currency, into helping rebuild the Rat’s End. What would you do?”
“Who is this person?” Marco asked. “The one you are planning to rob.”
Marco shut up immediately, realizing he said too much a little louder than he intended. At the same time, it wasn’t like there were any knights patrolling around to report them. Higgs still gave him the stink eye.
“There you go! Told you trusting him with the information was a bad idea, Higgs. His Majesty probably can't keep a secret to save his life,” Old Guy commented. “Too late to go back on this now, I suppose.”
Truth to be told, Marco really wasn’t sure about any of this. If they were going to ask him to steal from Star or her mom, then they could shove it. He’d find another way. But, considering what he had seen of some of the other nobles... if it were, say, Etheria, well... would he really be right to say no outright?
He had witnessed first hand how a lot of the castle nobles lived, contrasted with the lives of these people. It did seem mightily unfair, especially since the nobles barely worked at all, from what Marco gathered.
“We didn’t say we’d be robbing them. But if that were the case, what would you do?” Higgs pushed.
“Look, it depends,” he answered, still in hushed tones. “There is a story, a story from where I am from, in which a group of people rob the rich to give to the poor. But, even in that story, that’s only moral because the rich were robbing the poor already, through impossibly high taxes and…”
He wasn’t about to explain the tale of Robin Hood to the mewmans. The point was, it was sometimes the right thing to do, but not always! And didn’t they sign up to defend the law as knights, rather than break it? What would Lavabo do in this situation?
“How about stealing from a man who stole from heroes? Heroes who saved the Butterfly Kingdom?” asked Old Guy suddenly.
“What do you mean?” Marco asked, more curious than ever.
“Look, prince, I know you care about these people, and you really could help them, if you wanted to,” she spoke. “You don’t need to be with us on this. But, before we say anything else, you need to swear, at the very least, that you won’t rat us out.”
“I…” Marco didn’t know what to say to that.
“On your honor as a squire, and I am taking a big leap of faith here in assuming you have any,” Higgs sighed. “I need your word that you won’t talk.”
Marco looked around, once more. This seemed wrong. It seemed like the kind of decision he would later regret. But, which of the two choices would he regret the most? Keeping Higgs’ secret? Or telling other knights about the fact that she was planning a robbery, without even knowing who she planned it against, when it could in fact help the people of Rat’s End stay alive to the end of the year?
Besides, he had to admit, this all felt like he had gained some serious points with Higgs tonight, if she was willing to trust him with something like this...
“On my honor as a squire, I swear that I won’t say a word about this to anyone,” he finally said.
He had intentionally left the option open, if it was really, really bad, of writing a letter to Star.
Higgs looked in every direction, and brought the other two squires close in a circle. “His name… is Count Mildrew.”
It didn’t ring any bells for Marco. It certainly sounded like a noble, but it wasn’t one of the ones in today’s delivery list.
“He owns a minor castle within the kingdom, and came across his fortune, and subsequent retirement, when his men saved Mewni from a dragon,” she continued.
“Wait. That sounds pretty heroic to me,” Marco noted. “What was that business about a duty he’s never paid?”
Higgs motioned towards Old Guy with her eyes. The elderly squire nodded and cleared his throat.
“Look, this all happened about fifteen years ago,” he begun. “A mighty dragon descended upon the southern corn fields one night, burning them to the ground, demanding tribute from all mewmans. He was a monster among monsters. The queen and king raised an army to fight him, and marched out through the Forest of Probable Itchiness, all the way to the skirts of the Musty Mountains, inside which caves the beast had made a lair upon a hoard of gold and silver…”
Marco mentally pictured Moon and River, followed by Lady Jaya, Sir Scarsguard, and, perhaps, a younger Sir Lavabo and the rest of the knights, marching south to face the monster.
“So, was this anything like the dragons Higgs tried to have assault me during the Squire Blowout?” Marco asked, eyeing the redhead. She smirked unapologetically in response.
“Oh, not even close,” Old Guy said. “Let me put it this way, kid, There are ‘dragons’, like the domesticated ones wandering Quest Buy, and then there are dragons.”
Yeah, so, probably a lot scarier. “Fair enough, but I imagine Moon still managed to kill it?” he asked.
“No, she didn’t. But, despite what some might think of royalty,” Old Guy looked at Higgs with an open grin, “she did have an excuse. You see, the queen was pregnant at the time. She went into labor just as they were within a few hours march of the lair of the beast. It was the worst timing imaginable.”
Wait. Fifteen years ago? That had to be Star! Holy Crap! Moon was pregnant with Star and still marched forward to defend her kingdom from a freaking dragon! How did Higgs not see how much the queen cared about her people, from that fact alone?
“With the queen out of commission for the night, and the king by her side, it was up to the knights of Mewni to coordinate the attack. If they waited until morning, the dragon might attack their camp, and the royal family would be killed,” Old Guy explained. “The highest ranking person there, other than the queen and king, was Count Mildrew. He was chosen to march his men first, to scout the area. And march them he did… right back towards the Butterfly Kingdom! The coward abandoned his people and his queen, out of fear of confronting the dragon without magic by his side.”
“Wait. If he deserted, then how come you said his men saved Mewni from the dragon?” Marco asked.
Of course, if the story so far was right, he already didn’t like that guy, and would have agreed to anything Higgs was planning to do to him. Abandoning Star to danger as a newborn baby was enough to put anyone on Marco’s permanent shit list!
“Heh. Well, the next morning the dragon didn’t go for the camp,” Old Guy continued. “It flew directly at Count Mildrew and his retreating contingent, and he was forced to fight. And by ‘fight’ I mean cower under a tree, whimpering as his men slayed the dragon. They won that day, but only one in four made it out alive. While he took the dragon’s treasure hoard and the glory for his 'leadership’, their families barely got their sons and husbands’ corpses back.” The elder squire shrugged.
“That sounds horrible!” Marco exclaimed. “Sure, if that’s true, I’d see why someone like that would have it coming, but, um, why tell me?”
“Corn, you are slow, prince!” Higgs interjected. “Mildrew has his own castle. He keeps the treasure there. We need a way in, and, more importantly, a way out, with as many coins as we can carry. Believe me, he won’t even notice them missing…”
Oh. Of course! Higgs knew he had…
“My dimensional scissors?” he confirmed.
She nodded.
Marco paused for a moment. Was he seriously considering it? Becoming a thief? Was that proper behavior for one who wished to become a knight? Would Star approve of that? Marco thought that she might have, if she knew the full story. Then again, maybe if she knew the whole story, she could just seize the guy’s funds and use them to repair the Rat’s End. But, that assumed Marco would be able to contact her. And, if that story was true, then why had Moon not punished the man… did she just not know?
“Wait, I need some time to think,” the Squire of the Wash explained. “Besides, I need to know that this is all true. Is this public knowledge? Why hasn’t the queen done anything about it before?”
Higgs rolled her eyes. “It is not public knowledge. The queen never talked to the men who were with Mildrew, she just talked to the count, and he sold her a very different tale, I am sure. But while he has his own castle, some of the soldiers that actually slayed the dragon now live in places like this. For many, that fight ended their careers. Those who didn’t lose an arm or a leg, ended up too terrified to ever leave the city. But nobody talks to us, nobody that can do anything about the injustices of today or of fifteen years ago. Do you think the knights of today would care about an incident that happened more than a decade ago?”
“Ok, ok. But, um, can I maybe meet one of those men who fought the dragon?” Marco asked. “Just to confirm this version of the story.”
“You already have, Marco,” Higgs whispered.
“I was there,” Old Guy explained, the years seeming to weight heavily on him all of a sudden. “In Mildrew’s entourage, fifteen years ago. Barely made it alive.”
----
It wasn't until late that night, or, rather, early next morning, that Marco made it back home. He could've used the scissors to portal to his room, but the squire really needed the long walk. It gave him time alone to think about the decision he now had to make.
He thought the contemplation would calm his nerves, but it had only succeeded at putting him further on edge.
The walk, and the full day and night of work before, had also caused the young squire to work up quite an appetite. Before retreating into his room in the eastern annex, he really wanted something to eat, and that meant going into the main building's kitchen.
Actually, screw that! Marco was still a jumbled mess of anxiety and didn't want to risk running into Lavabo. It was probably safer portaling to some 24/7 convenience store in Echo Creek somewhere. Not to steal food, of course, but to purchase it with the money he had legally obtained…
“What troubles you, Marco Diaz?”
Marco jumped to the side, startled. He glanced around nervously, looking for roaming Elmbeasts or the like, before he realized no such creature would have called his name. Instead, he spotted a shadowy bearded figure, slowly standing up from within the tall grass. As the man lifted himself from his crouching position, the dimly lit silhouette revealed itself to be… Sir Lavabo?
“It was not my intention to startle you, Marco Diaz. I apologise.”
“Sir? What are you doing here?” Marco asked, confused and slightly annoyed.
Lavabo lifted an eyebrow, which Marco could barely see thanks to how dark it was.
“I suppose I could be asking you the very same question…”
Marco gulped. He walked right into that one. If only he had kept his stupid mouth shut.
The old knight suddenly started chuckling at his charge. “Do not look so guilty, my young squire. It does not suit you. I may be your superior under Butterfly Castle, but here you are your own man, and how you spend your nights away from the Wash is, frankly, none of my business!”
Marco gave a sigh of relief. Still, he had to ask… “I mean, I was gone for awhile, Sir. You must have been somewhat concerned for where I was?”
“Perhaps I was, but you had already left with the last of the laundry that needed to be delivered. You performed you duty admirably, and that's all I ask of you. Thankfully, Artax Ed and I cleaned the garment goblins' mess and managed to deliver all the specialty articles of clothing before 6:00, with twenty-seven seconds to spare!”
As Lavabo said that, the elder got on his knees and began roaming his hands through the tall courtyard grass, presumably to resume whatever he was doing before Marco came through.
Well, at least things had worked out on Lavabo's end. Marco had been concerned for his mentor the entire day, actually, even while evacuating the Rat's End denizens away from the collapsed building. Going overtime was apparently a fate worse than death to the man, so Marco would have hated himself if his absence had cause such an event, even if he was away for the noblest of causes.
“Ah, Ha! Found another one!” Lavabo shouted exuberantly as he lifted a metal device off the ground.
It was one of the many active bear traps that we're scattered throughout the sprawling property. Lavabo grabbed both sets of metal teeth with his protective gloves, and separated both ends of the trap from each other. The iron contraption creaked, it’s spring tensed to its limit under the knight’s vigorous pull. A moment later, the entire thing was torn apart into two motionless pieces.
“You’re… going around dismantling animal traps?” Marco asked. I mean, it's not like he minded those safety hazards finally being taken care of. The squire was getting a little sick of treating his front yard like a game of minesweeper.
“Aye, I believe this is long overdue. Some of these traps go all the way back to the earliest skirmishes between the Butterfly knights and the Johansen warriors many decades ago, but, they serve no purpose today.”
Lavabo picked up the pieces of the trap and threw them into a bag that was nearly filled to the top. Had he been doing this all night!?
“Sir, or uh, Lavabo. I don't want to be a nag, but we're going back to work in a few hours. I think this can wait another day.” He had already worked himself to the bone cleaning up the day's mess with one less squire.
Lavabo didn't respond right away. He simply sighed and sat down, looking over at the main building.
“I’m well aware, Marco Diaz, but recently I find myself restless all the same. The Wash demands so much from us, both physically and mentally, yet, instead of using the few precious hours we’re granted to sleep, I've become increasingly worried about the state of our home.”
“The state of our home? You mean the manor?” Marco asked.
“Everything inside and out.” Lavabo answered. “Artax Ed may be small, but as he grows into a stallion, he'll need more open space in which to run around. That is why finding every last one of these ancient traps is paramount! And after that, I planned on clearing out the area of all this unpleasant overgrown grass.”
Marco smiled. Okay, that made sense, and was awfully nice of Lavabo to do that for the Wash's official steed.
“As for the manor itself, I feel ashamed for letting it's condition deteriorate so much over the years. All the furniture needs to be replaced, I've been overly cordial to the cockroaches who keep stealing our food, and certain parts of the roof are ready to collapse at any given moment.”
This was probably a bad time to mention how there was already a giant hole in Marco's ceiling…
“I have lived this way for a long time and never minded it, but... things are different now. The Wash's family has grown in an unprecedented amount of time, and as the head of the household, I feel that it is my sole responsibility to provide the best shelter possible for my new companions…”
“I-it's not that bad, Lavabo,” Marco said, in a lame attempt to comfort his mentor. “I’m not disgusted with living here or anything!” Um, that had sounded way better inside his head. He hadn’t meant to sound ungrateful, doubly so after he remembered the houses in the Rat’s End. “It’s all super roomy, and fresh smelling, and remarkably solid. Even the annex... and, hey, I can help you fix the place up if you want.”
Lavabo looked up at the human. “I would appreciate that greatly, Marco Diaz. Housekeeping has never been my strong suit. My sisters were always the ones in charge of that responsibility, until…” he suddenly went quiet.
Marco took an uneasy breath. He had been wondering what became of Lavabo's family ever since he told the story of his first Squire Blowout. After hearing Eclipsa's words regarding the dangers of the Wash, well, Marco had a pretty good idea of what happened to them.
“Did your sisters… lose their lives in the line of duty?” Marco asked nervously, gripping the sides of his hoodie. It was an awkward question to ask, but, well, Lavabo was his friend, and of course the boy wanted to be there for his grieving friend!
Lavabo blinked. “Pardon?”
“Um… you know. Did your siblings... die... while fighting off some monster in the Wash that was too much for them?”
“Marco Diaz! I’ll have you know that I visit my brothers and sisters every Stump Day without exception,” Lavabo exclaimed, crossing his arms. “Are you alright? It isn’t like you to make such morbid assumptions like this. Perhaps I should be worried about where you go and who you associate with after hours? I fear they may be a bad influence to you.”
Lavabo had no idea. But, more to the point. “I'm sorry! It's just, I don't know, you never receive any mail that's addressed to you specifically, and you sometimes have this solemn expression whenever you talk about your time with them. I just assumed that if your family was alive today, they'd be working in the Wash alongside their brother. I’m sorry I took it that far...” In a way, with that and the risks already associated with the Wash, Lavabo had the perfect setup for a tragic backstory.
The elder sighed. “Death is not the only way one can leave the Wash, you know. Contact with my siblings is indeed limited, due to them leaving this world, but not in the way you have imagined.”
'Leaving this world?’ Could he mean…?
“It’s true, we were all raised by Sir Hanger to one day take over the Wash as a family, and for a short few years after my promotion, we were all fellow laundry knights, sharing both blood and a common cause.”
For a moment, Lavabo's face glowed with a warm expression of nostalgia, visible even through the darkness, before grimacing into a sullen frown.
“But that joyous era did not last long. Eventually, my oldest sister saved up enough money to purchase a pair of dimensional scissors. She bought them from the local descendants of a brave hero who had earned them generations earlier. They were simple farmers, who were more than happy to let go of their family heirloom for the generous amount she was offering. As soon as the transaction was complete, she announced to us her retirement from the Wash.”
“Where did she go with the scissors?” Marco asked curiously.
“I am not even sure Iscrubella herself knew where she wanted to go initially, but she always had such an adventurous spirit. I imagine she spent the first few years exploring the worlds that were described in the books she read as a squire. As her journey went on, she met a fellow who partook in map making, and together they charted undiscovered dimensions and would sell their work to the Magic High Commission. They have been married for forty-five years now.”
“Well, Iscrubella seemed like a woman who lived her life to the fullest.” Marco said, trying to ignore how ridiculous the name was.
“Ah, I would have to agree with you, Marco Diaz. Soon after Iscrubella left, the rest of my siblings shared their collective desire to one day leave the Order of the Wash. To pursue other possible careers. Careers outside Mewni, that is.”
Lavabo once again looked over at the manor.
“My father didn't take this well. He desperately wanted to keep the family together, but there was nothing he could do. He understood, more than anyone, that this was a long time coming. Once my two brothers and remaining sister located another pair of scissors, they left the Wash together. Sir Hanger cursed Quest Buy for cleaving us apart.”
“Quest Buy?” Marco said, confused at the seemingly random non sequitur.
“That is where it all began, during their respective squire blowouts,” Lavabo said. “While I feared the strange and unfamiliar, my siblings embraced it! Craved it even. As they were exposed to the obscurities and chaos of Quest Buy, they realized just how big and varied the multiverse was, and how, perhaps, there was a special lifelong post out there awaiting them. They wouldn't know unless they tried.”
“Wow,” Marco said. It really put into perspective how many mewmans probably had no idea what was outside their kingdom. Then again, Marco himself wasn't much different from them until the day he met Star. If he hadn't been assigned to be Star's Earth guide, he would still be ignorant of the wider multiverse today.
“That is probably the real reason I was blindfolded for my blowout,” Lavabo confessed after a short pause. “In a desperate attempt to keep at least one of his children in the Wash, so he could leave some kind of legacy, Sir Hanger gave me a much harder task, but, to him, my continued ignorance was well worth the risk of failure.”
Marco stayed silent, though he wondered if this was something Lavabo had only just realized about his father's motivations. Maybe the old knight knew all along, and was either finally coming to terms with it, or had just gotten to the point of trusting Marco enough to admit the darker side of his father’s own devotion to the Wash.
Thinking about it, Lavabo's life could have been a lot different if he was allowed to look into and pursue other interests, instead of being tethered to the Wash by Sir Hanger. It was kind of sad when you thought about it.
But... no! Marco shouldn't think of it that way! Lavabo was never forced to stay in the Wash for the rest of his life! Sir Hanger may have been pushy, sure, but ultimately it was the laundry knight's sense of honor and duty that kept him in the Wash. Right?
“It's the most peculiar thing, Marco Diaz,” Lavabo began. “Based on past experiences, I always assumed the Wash lacked a certain something to those with means of dimensional travel, not that I could blame them. Yet, here you are, with your own pair of scissors. You could go anywhere in the universe, and yet, you choose to spend your time here. I… am greatly honored.”
Marco couldn't help but get a little flustered at that.
“There’s nowhere else I'd rather be, Sir.” the Squire said, feeling even more confident about the decision he had made back on the morning of this incredibly long day.
Marco would prove Janna wrong. He was in Mewni, not to escape from his problems and go on an adventure, but to embrace his new duties, to serve the kingdom, and to do good by its people.
Which only begged the question: Higgs’ plan… which one was it?
Was it his duty to the people of Mewni to help those who lived in the Rat’s End, no matter the means? Was it a selfish adventure and a betrayal of his duties to the Wash if he willingly committed a crime, even against a deserving target, even for a good cause? The decision to stay had been the right one, but his other choice seemed far less clear.
He looked up, to Sir Lavabo, still beaming proudly at his squire’s response. As much as the old knight had trusted him with that family story, Marco still couldn’t quite bring himself to ask him in return for guidance with his other choice.
There was only one person he could trust with something like that...
----
Hey Star. Oh man, talk about a crazy day I just had. A lot went on. It’s actually a little overwhelming trying to process it all, but I guess the main thing is that I got to see a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a while, in addition to a few new faces. Being a replacement Delivery Mewman for a day does that to you, I guess.
He stared at the full moon through his bedroom ceiling for a moment as he thought of what to say first. It probably wouldn’t do to jump straight to the issue. Would it? A lot of things had indeed happened that day. Maybe he ought to start with some of those, and then transition into the complicated stuff?
So, let's see... Well, you already saw Janna before you sent your letter this morning, so of course she swung by the Wash to basically mess with me for half an hour. The reunion ended on a bit of a sour note, actually. Turns out Janna misses us on Earth more than I reasonably expected, and she didn’t take kindly to the fact I was serious about becoming a knight and staying here for the whole year. I’m sure she’ll get over it eventually, but man was she not happy about it! I also ran into Ruberiot during my deliveries. Is him still working in the castle just something completely out of your control? Nah, just kidding! That was a joke, obviously. I don't think you'd be petty enough to fire him over that stuff he pulled for your Song Day. You were never the type to hold a grudge that badly, for most people anyway... I saw Tom too. I guess you also know that by now, and it’s not like it lasted that long but it was still nice to talk to him again. Hope things are going well between you two. Speaking of ‘talking to people again,’ I tried calling you a few hours ago and apparently you switched your mirror number? You never gave me your new number. So, could you remedy that, please? I was kind of in an emergency tonight and could have really used some help! Also being able to call you again will make planning a meet up a lot more feasible. Something to consider, I guess.
Ugh, Marco didn’t know how to make it better, but that paragraph was just dripping with desperation. Though he couldn’t be blamed for being a little peeved at Star. He really was in the middle of an emergency when he called her! Um, moving on...
I digress. I finally got to meet Eclipsa for the first time. Nice lady. Very weird, but she also had a lot of good qualities. She’s very charming, funny and also… surprisingly not racist? Okay, that last one is less a compliment and more something you’d expect from any decent person, but I guess there’s something refreshing about her position on certain topics. I definitely see why you’d put your trust in her while the rest of your family wouldn’t. Like, crap, I also met your grand-aunt Etheria again, can’t imagine what her opinion is on monsters, not would I want to…
Marco struck-out that last sentence, then blotted it out completely with ink. He had no love for that woman, but he also wasn’t sure he wanted to go off on a mean-spirited written rant to Star about someone who was, after all, family. Besides, he had more urgent things he wanted to write to his best friend about tonight.
Anyway, Star, I have something serious I need to discuss. I'd prefer doing this over the phone with you or, God forbid, in person, but I'm working with what I got. If you get this before going to bed I won't mind if you wait til tomorrow to respond like always.
Marco took a deep breath and began writing his scattered thoughts.
So there’s this place in Mewni I went to called Rat’s End. Suffice to say, it’s a neighborhood that has seen better days. It received a good chunk of the damage during the weeks Ludo took over the kingdom, and the buildings there never really recovered from that time. Have you been there? These aren’t just random businesses either, Star. These are people’s entire homes, and a lot of them are barely standing or were destroyed entirely. Now look, I know you’re doing your part to help your kingdom, and I understand that you're only one person, and are doing the best you can. You have limited time and resources, and I can’t really offer anything that proves Rat’s End should be a higher priority than the districts you’ve already restored. There might even be a few neighborhoods that are worse off. I don’t know. But, from what I saw, there’s a lot of people in Rat’s End that don’t believe in you, or the Queen, for that matter. They’ve given up on waiting for the throne to help them in their time of need, and are either in a state of giving up, or are planning to make things better on their own terms. There’s this person that you may have heard of. They own their own castle, and haven’t worked in a very long time. They’re considered a hero, but that’s apparently a lie. This person never was who they claimed to be, and has been living off of stolen valor for over fifteen years. Some of the people in Rat’s End have decided to steal from this phony, in order to pay for repairs to people’s homes, and to make things more complicated: they’re also squires! People who have dedicated their lives to defending the laws of Mewni are preparing to disregard them, so they can steal from a person they deem unworthy of their wealth. And they’re doing this not because they’re evil, but because they think it’s the only conceivable way most mewmans can survive winter in Rat’s End. This whole situation is messed up, and I’m constantly struggling to decide if what my fellow squires are doing *is* the right thing. They certainly picked someone who is, well, deserving of losing a few gems and gold bars, and it’s not like it would destroy their livelihood. But if he really didn’t slay that dragon, then let’s bring him to trial instead!
Shit! Marco just realized he forgot to use ‘they’ and ‘them’ in that last sentence, and had accidentally referenced the dragon! Whatever. He could always edit that later.
I do think the squires are doing what they think is right, but does that really matter? Everyone thinks they’re doing the right thing all the time. Even Toffee, in his own fucked-up head, probably thought he was doing the right thing by trying to destroy magic and your kingdom. I guess I’m just upset this is happening to begin with. People should be able to have faith in their rulers, especially squires! They shouldn’t feel the need to resort to stealing from each other. I see a lot of potential in these squires, too. One in particular I begrudgingly look up to, and I don’t want them to make a mistake that may possibly ruin their life. So, I don’t know, could you make it so they don’t have a reason to steal in the first place? I know I’m asking a lot, but all you have to do is come to Western Rat’s End tomorrow, give a little speech or two, and then use your new house magic to reconstruct the buildings that have fallen. I’ll even gather all the wood that’s been scattered around so you have materials to work with. I’ll
Marco stopped writing.
What was he doing!?
Was he really in the process of begging Star via written letter to fix a bunch of buildings on the grounds that it may prevent a robbery by his peers?
Going into the letter, Marco assumed that as long as he explained himself, Star would help him no matter what. But... was that really the case?
Even if he intentionally opted to leave out names, what if Star demanded that he spill the beans afterwards? After all, if stopping a robbery from happening was the main concern, then why not just arrest the traitorous mewmans instead of jump starting a whole new construction project? It was a simple solution that she could reasonably come up with. It wasn’t even, necessarily, wrong.
Star was the future queen of Mewni, and had her own way of doing things. She didn’t need someone to intrude on her life again, and dictate how she should do things. Marco wasn’t asking his best friend for help, he was a squire making demands to the Princess of Mewni (who was now, at best, a distant pen pal!).
And what about Higgs? Even if Star decided to help out in Rat’s End, was it really worth the risk of destroying the trust the other squire had given him. He had promised not to say a word. As to the conceit that he was writing, rather than speaking? That was still basically riding a freaking warnicorn through the spirit of that promise!
With a final, exhausted, sigh, Marco used his scissors to open a portal, and threw the unfinished incriminating letter through the swirling gateway. He heard the distinct sound of paper burning to smoke almost instantly, as it fell to the lava in the middle of Quest Buy’s tropical volcano feature, the same one from which he had eventually failed to rescue Star’s palm tree costume. As soon as he was certain the letter was gone, he closed back the portal..
The squire got up from his desk and fell on his bed. As he drifted into sleep, he reminded himself how he still had three days. Three days to figure this all out. Three days to make sure he knew right from wrong.
It was harder than he would have thought. | 2024-01-03T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1997 |
Q:
Want to insert data in two tables using one controller file in CakePhp
I want to add data in two tables form one controller file when I call function for add data in second one table ..error comes Error: Call to a member function save() on a non-object
Here is my controller file
<?php
class CountryController extends AppController {
var $name = 'Country';
var $helpers = array('Html', 'Form' );
// called index function
public function index() {
$this->render();
}
// Function for add countries in database
public function addCountry() {
if (empty($this->data)) {
$this->render();
} else {
// $this->cleanUpFields();
if ($this->Country->save($this->data)) {
$this->Session->setFlash('The Counrty has been saved');
$this->redirect('/country/index');
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash('Please correct errors below.');
}
}
}
public function addCity() {
$cities = $this->set('country', $this->Country->find('all'));
$this->set(compact('cities'));
if(empty($this->data)){
$this->render();
} else {
print_r($this->data);// die();
if ($this->City->save($this->data)) {
$this->Session->setFlash('The City has been saved');
$this->redirect('/country/index');
} else {
$this->Session->setFlash('Please correct errors below.');
}
}
}
}
?>
A:
var $uses = array('Main model name' , '2nd model name' .......so on);
Eg:
<?php
class CountryController extends AppController {
var $name = 'Country';
var $helpers = array('Html', 'Form' );
// $uses is where you specify which models this controller uses
var $uses = array('Country', 'City');
// ... here go your controller actions (methods)
}
?>
| 2024-03-18T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8914 |
This invention relates to vacuum cleaners. More particularly, it relates to an airflow shut-off mechanism for a vacuum cleaner that is convertible for on-the-floor and above-the-floor vacuuming operations.
One way of increasing the amount of suction power available at a distal end of a suction airflow pathway (such as at a floor nozzle, or at an above-the-floor cleaning tool) for a given source of suction power is to reduce the length of the suction airflow pathway.
In the case of vacuum cleaners having a single source of suction power and multiple (e.g. two) suction airflow pathways (such as vacuum cleaners that are convertible between on-the-floor and above-the-floor cleaning operations), a further way of increasing the amount of suction power available at the distal end of an airflow pathway being used (e.g. from an above-the-floor cleaning tool) is to shut-off the suction airflow through the unused pathway (e.g. from the floor nozzle).
It is known to pivot a dirt passage door around a horizontal axis extending generally lateral across a vacuum cleaner floor nozzle to shut-off suction airflow through a floor nozzle airflow passage. However, such a pivoting arrangement limits the ability to reduce the length of the suction airflow pathway.
Accordingly, it is considered desirable to develop a new and improved vacuum cleaner having a airflow shut-off mechanism that meets the above-stated needs and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous results.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a floor nozzle for a vacuum cleaner including a brushroll chamber having an outlet aperture; and an airflow shut-off mechanism including an airflow passage that communicates with the outlet aperture and that extends away from the brushroll chamber at an angle in the range of about 50xc2x0 to about 75xc2x0 relative to a surface to be vacuumed.
Another floor nozzle arrangement according to the present invention includes a housing, a nozzle inlet defined in the housing, and an airflow passage extending from the nozzle inlet through a wall of the housing, wherein the airflow passage has an axis oriented at an angle of about 50xc2x0-75xc2x0 in relation to a plane of the nozzle inlet.
Still another floor nozzle arrangement of the present invention includes a brushroll chamber having an outlet aperture, and includes an airflow shut-off mechanism having a housing with a airflow passage therethrough. A first end of the airflow passage communicates with the outlet aperture and a second end of the airflow passage communicates with an associated discharge duct. A door is connected to the housing for pivotal movement within the airflow passage. The door has an arcuate surface that conforms substantially to a contour of the airflow passage in a door open position, and the door substantially blocks the airflow passage in a door closed position.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner including a floor nozzle having an inlet opening, a first airflow passage extending in the floor nozzle from a first end communicating with the inlet opening to a second end located at a periphery of the floor nozzle; an upper assembly mounted on said floor nozzle; and a second airflow passage extending in said upper assembly and communicating with the second end of the first airflow passage, wherein the second airflow passage is positioned along a leading edge of upper assembly.
Yet another vacuum cleaner arrangement according to the present invention includes an upper assembly, and a floor nozzle pivotally connected to the upper assembly. The floor nozzle includes a brushroll chamber and a dirty airflow shutoff mechanism. The brushroll chamber includes an outlet aperture, and the dirty air shut-off mechanism includes a housing with a airflow passage therethrough wherein a first end of the airflow passage communicates with the outlet aperture and a second end of the airflow passage communicates with a discharge duct leading to the upper assembly. The dirty air shut-off mechanism further includes a door connected to the housing for pivotal movement within the airflow passage wherein the door has an arcuate surface that conforms substantially to a contour of the airflow passage in a door open position and the door substantially blocks airflow through the passage in a door closed position. | 2023-10-06T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3024 |
Archive for the ‘Current Events’ Category
Recently I left an internship. Basically I just quit, but it felt really good. I was working full time at a new job and trying to make it to church for youth group every Wednesday night. It was crazy, honestly. I made it from May until just a month ago. My family suffered; my job suffered. Then why do I feel like I should be going back?
As you all have probably seen I updated my blog. What do you think? I really like the way that the colors look and Lacey approves, so thats nice.
Also I am launching my own game design company soon. It will be called MM Pub Games. We have a few titles in Alpha testing and quite the list waiting for further development. I am really excited to get that moving. I don’t think that it will a financial powerhouse, really I just want to publish something. I might write a book. Who knows.
…the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their prosperity…– Thomas Jefferson
A system of capitalism presumes sound money, not fiat money manipulated by a central bank. Capitalism cherishes voluntary contracts and interest rates that are determined by savings, not credit creation by a central bank. – Ron Paul
Here is a video that should be informative if you are interested in the recent actions of Wall Street this last week.Also I watched Maxed Out last night and that is a very interesting movie for anyone with credit card debt. | 2024-04-21T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5894 |
---------------------- Forwarded by Vince J Kaminski/HOU/ECT on 12/19/2000
08:47 PM ---------------------------
Sandeep Kohli@ENRON_DEVELOPMENT
12/17/2000 06:42 AM
To: Vince J Kaminski@ECT
cc:
Subject: DPC Memo
Vince,
I am in Houston (rrived Satruday), and will be in office on Monday (though
officially, I am on vacation). Would like to catch up with you if possible.
It looks like your team will be getting involved in some form on the DPC
side. I have already made a recommendation to Wade.
I am attaching a small memo that I have addressed to Wade on the DPC position
and possible workout. This is still a draft and will likely get shared later
with others. I would love to get your comments on the same. At the same
time, this also will give you some idea of the problem, in conjunction with
the other Plan presentation I had sent you.
Look forward to touching base with you.
Regards,
Sandeep. | 2024-05-27T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8256 |
---
abstract: 'The $k$-secant degree is studied with a combinatorial approach. A planar toric degeneration of any projective toric surface $X$ corresponds to a regular unimodular triangulation $D$ of the polytope defining $X$. If the secant ideal of the initial ideal with respect to $D$ coincides with the initial ideal of the secant ideal, then $D$ is said to be delightful and the $k$-secant degree of $X$ can be easily computed. All delightful triangulations of toric surfaces having sectional genus $g\leq1$ are completely classified and, for $g\geq2$, a lower bound for the $2$- and $3$-secant degree, by means of the combinatorial geometry and the singularities of non-delightful triangulations, is established.'
address: 'Centre of Mathematics for Applications, University of Oslo - P.O. Box 1053 Blindern, N0-0316 Oslo, Norway'
author:
- Elisa Postinghel
title: Secant Degree of Toric Surfaces and Delightful Planar Toric Degenerations
---
[^1]
Introduction {#introduction .unnumbered}
============
There is a long tradition within algebraic geometry that studies the dimension and the degree of $k$-secant varieties. Let $X\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^r$ be a projective, irreducible variety of dimension $n$. Its $k$-*secant variety* $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ is defined to be the closure of the union of all the ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-1}$’s in ${\mathbb{P}}^r$ meeting $X$ in $k$ independent points. If $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ has the expected dimension $kn+k-1$, what is the number $\nu_k(X)$ of $k$-secant ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-1}$’s to $X$ intersecting a general subspace of codimension $kn+k-1$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^r$? This is a problem which is unsolved in general.
Our approach to the problem of computing the number $\nu_k$ for toric varieties is the one of Ciliberto, Dumitrescu and Miranda [@CDM] that is close to that of Sturmfels and Sullivant [@SS]. Given a projective toric surface $X$, we perform *planar toric degenerations*, i.e., we consider *regular unimodular triangulations* $D$ of the polytope $P$ which defines $X$. The ideal $\mathcal{I}_0$ of the central fiber is the monomial initial ideal of the ideal $\mathcal{I}_X$ of $X$ with respect to a suitable term order $\prec$ which corresponds to the triangulation $D$ (see [@St Theor. 8.3]): $\mathcal{I}_0=\textrm{in}_{\prec}(\mathcal{I}_X).$
In Section \[toric definitions\] and Section \[secants def section\] we introduce the objects of our study: convex lattice polytopes, toric varieties, toric degenerations and $k$-secant varieties, with particular attention to the problem of computing the $k$-secant degree of toric surfaces.
In Section \[delightfulness\] we introduce the notion of $k$-delightful planar toric degenerations of toric varieties: if the $k$-secant ideal of the initial ideal $\mathcal{I}_0$ of $X$ with respect to the degeneration coincides with the initial ideal of the $k$-secant ideal of $X$, then the degeneration is $k$-delightful. Sturmfels and Sullivant proved in [@SS Theor. 5.4] that if there exists a triangulation $D$ of the polytope $P$ defining $X$ with at least one *skew* $k$-*set*, i.e., a subset of $k$ triangles of $D$ that are pairwise disjoint, then the $k$-secant variety of $X$ has the expected dimension. Moreover the number of such skew $k$-sets is a lower bound for the number $\nu_k(X)$, see Theorem \[old lower bound\]. If equality holds, then $D$ is $k$-delightful and the flat limit of the $k$-secant variety is a union of linear subspaces of dimension $kn+k-1$, hence the $k$-secant degree is computed. This bound is almost never sharp, indeed $k$-delightful degenerations are rare.
In Section \[results secant\] we approach the secant degree computation and we give a lower bound for $\nu_k$, for $k=2,3$. The main tool is keeping into account the singularities of the configuration $D$ and explaining how they produce $k$-delightfulness defect. Our results can be regarded as the beginning of a similar study for the $k$-secant varieties of toric surfaces for $k\geq 4$ and, in higher dimension, for $k\geq2$.
The problem of finding delightful triangulations of polytopes was raised by Sturmfels and Sullivant [@SS Sect. 5]. They explored the existence of such triangulations for Veronese varieties, Segre varieties and rational normal scrolls. In Section \[classification delightful g=0,1\] we provide a classification of all delightful triangulations for toric surfaces with sectional genus $0$ and $1$.
Convex lattice polytopes and toric varieties {#toric definitions}
============================================
Census of polytopes in ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ with $g\leq1$ {#class pol}
-----------------------------------------------------
A lattice point in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ is a point with integral coordinates. A lattice polytope in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ is a polytope whose vertices are lattice points. The *normalized Ehrhart polynomial* of a lattice polytope $P$ in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ is the numerical function $E_P: {\mathbb{N}}\rightarrow{\mathbb{N}}$, $ t \mapsto \#(tP\cap {\mathbb{Z}}^n)$. It is known that $E_P$ is a polynomial of degree $\dim(P)$: $
E_P=\sum_{i=0}^{\dim(P)} \frac{c_i}{i!}t^i.
$ The leading coefficient $c_{\dim(P)}$ is denoted by $\textrm{Vol}(P)$ and it is called the *(normalized) volume* of $P$. If $\dim(P)=n$, we have $\textrm{Vol}(P)=n! \cdot{V(P)},$ where $V(P)$ is the usual Euclidean volume of $P$ (see [@St p. 36]). If $\dim(P)=1$, $Vol(P)+1$ turns out to be equal to the number of lattice points enclosed by $P$. If $\dim(P)=n=2$, we denote by $Area(P)$ the normalized volume of $P$.
Set $n=2$ and denote by $g$ the number of interior lattice points of a plane polytope. In this section we recall the classification of all convex lattice polytopes in ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ with $g\leq 1$, due to Rabinowitz [@Ra]. To this end, we need to define an equivalence relation between planar polytopes (see [@Du p. 18] or [@Ra p. 1]). An integral unimodular affine transformation, also known as an *equiaffinity*, in the plane is a linear transformation followed by a translation such that, furthermore, the corresponding matrix has determinant $1$ and integral entries. For example the matrix $$\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 \end{array}\right)$$ acts on a polytope by sending the point $(x,y)^T\in{\mathbb{R}}^2$ to the point $(x+y,y)^T\in{\mathbb{R}}^2$: the points on the $x$-axis are fixed, while the points on the axis $y=k$ are shifted by $k$ on the right as for example in the picture:
(40,40)(0,0)(0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}
$\ \ \ \longrightarrow\ \ \ $
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[40]{}]{} (40,40)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(1,1)[40]{}]{}
Normalized area, number of lattice points and convexity of a plane polyotope are preserved under these transformations. Two plane polytopes are said to be *lattice equivalent* if one can be transformed into the other via an equiaffinity, look for example to the above picture.
We will refer to [@Ra] for the proofs of the following results.
Let $q_1, q_2$ be the vertices of an edge of length $m$ of a polytope. There exists an equiaffinity that maps $q_1$ into the origin, maps $q_2$ into the point $(m,0)$ on the positive x-axis, and maps all the other vertices into points above the x-axis.
\[census0\] If $P$ is a polytope with $g = 0$, then $P$ is lattice equivalent to one of the following:
(100,30)(0,-10) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(0,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{}(-10,5)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$1$</span>]{}(20,-10)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$\delta$</span>]{}(70,0)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$\delta\geq1$,</span>]{}
(60,50)(0,-10) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(-7,15)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$2$</span>]{}(15,-10)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$2$</span>]{}(50,0)[,]{}
(140,30)(0,-10) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(40,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(-10,5)[$1$]{}(-10,5)[$1$]{}(20,25)[$\delta_1$]{}(20,-10)[$\delta_2$]{}(90,0)[<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">$\delta_2\geq\delta_1\geq1$.</span>]{}
\[census1\] If $P$ is a polytope with $g = 1$, then $P$ is lattice equivalent to one of the following:
- Triangles:
(80,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,40)[(2,-1)[80]{}]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(57,-3)[$\circ$]{}(77,-3)[$\circ$]{} (-3,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,40)[(3,-2)[60]{}]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(57,-3)[$\circ$]{} (-3,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (40,0)[(-1,2)[20]{}]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{} (17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}
- Quadrilaterals:
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,-3)[$\circ$]{} (-3,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(37,37)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (40,20)[(-1,1)[20]{}]{} (40,20)[(-1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (40,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (0,40)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(37,37)[$\circ$]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(57,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(57,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
- Pentagons
(40,45)(0,0) (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(-1,1)[20]{}]{} (0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (-3,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
- Hexagons
(40,45)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,-3)[$\circ$]{}(37,-3)[$\circ$]{}(17,17)[$\circ$]{}(17,37)[$\circ$]{}(-3,17)[$\circ$]{} (37,17)[$\circ$]{}(-3,37)[$\circ$]{}
The last quadrilateral was missing in the published paper [@Ra] and was later added to the classification.
We will use the notation $P^g(l,d,m)$ for these polytopes, where $g$ is the number of interior lattice points, $l$ is the number of edges (or vertices), $d$ is the normalized area and $m$ is the normalized maximal edge length. Actually we will denote in this way both the equiaffinity class and the representatives of the class, each time specifying what representative we are dealing with. The two quadrilaterals with $g=1$ and $l=d=4$ are not distinguished by this notation, because they both have $m=1$. So one could write $P^1(4,4,1)$ for the first one and $\tilde{P}^1(4,4,1)$ for the second one, but actually it does not matter since we will not deal with them in this paper.
Toric varieties via polytopes and toric degenerations
-----------------------------------------------------
A convex lattice polytope $P$ in ${\mathbb{R}}^n$ defines a *toric variety* $X_P$ of dimension $n$ endowed with an ample line bundle ${\mathscr{L}}$ and therefore a morphism in ${\mathbb{P}}^r$, where $r+1$ equals the number of lattice points of $P$. Let $P \cap {\mathbb{Z}}^n=\{\underline{m}_0,\dots ,\underline{m}_r\}$ be the set of the lattice points of $P$, with $\underline{m}_i=(m_{i1},\dots,m_{in})$, $i=0,\dots,r$. Consider the monomial map $$\begin{array}{llll}
\Phi_P: & ({\mathbb{C}}^{\ast})^{n} & \to &{\mathbb{P}}^r\\
\ & \underline{x}&\mapsto &[\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_0},\dots,\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_r}]
\end{array}$$ where $\underline{x}=(x_1,\dots,x_n)$ and $\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_i}=x_1^{m_{i1}}\cdots x_n^{m_{in}}$. The projective toric variety $X_P\in {\mathbb{P}}^r$ is defined to be the closure of the image of $\Phi_P$. The degree of $X_P$ equals the normalized volume $\textrm{Vol}(P)$. Lattice equivalent polytopes in ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ define the same toric surface. A *subdivision* $D$ of $P$ is a partition of $P$ given by a finite family $\{Q_i\}_{i\in I}$ of convex sub-polytopes of maximal dimension such that
- $\bigcup_{i\in I}Q_i=P$,
- $Q_i\cap Q_j$, with $i\neq j$, is either a common face or it is empty.
A subdivision $D$ is said to be *regular* if there exists a piecewise linear positive function $F$ with values in ${\mathbb{R}}$ defined over $P$, verifying the following requests:
- each $Q_i$ is the orthogonal projection of the $n$-dimensional faces of the graph polytope $G(F):=\left\{(x,z)\in P\times {\mathbb{R}}: 0\leq z\leq F(x)\right\}$ of $F$ on $z=0$;
- $F$ is *strictly convex*.
We will call such an $F$ a *lifting function* as in [@Hu]. Given a regular subdivision $D$ of $P$, we define the associated morphism as follows: $$\begin{aligned}
\label{morph D}
\begin{array}{llll}
\Phi_D: & ({\mathbb{C}}^{\ast})^{n}\times{\mathbb{C}}^\ast & \to &{\mathbb{P}}^r\times {\mathbb{C}}\\
\ & (\underline{x},t)&\mapsto &([t^{F(\underline{m}_0)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_0}:\cdots:t^{F(\underline{m}_r)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_r}],t)
\end{array}\end{aligned}$$ The closure of $\Phi_D(({\mathbb{C}}^{\ast})^{n}\times\{t\})$, for all $t\neq 0$, is a variety $X_t$ projectively equivalent to $X_P$. Let $X_0$ be the flat limit of $X_t$, when $t$ tends to zero: such a variety is the union of the varieties $X_{Q_i}$, $i\in I$. Indeed, the restriction $F_{|Q_i}$ of $F$ to $Q_i$ has equation $a_1 x_1+\cdots a_n x_n+b,$ for some $a_1,\dots,a_n,b\in {\mathbb{R}}$; we can always compose $\Phi_D$ with a reparametrization action of the torus ${\mathbb{C}}^{\ast}$, $
x_1,\dots,x_n,t \mapsto t^{-a_1}x_1,\dots,t^{-a_n}x_n,t,
$ getting $$\begin{array}{lll}
({\mathbb{C}}^{\ast})^{n+1}& \to &{\mathbb{P}}^r\times{\mathbb{C}}\\
(\underline{x},t)&\mapsto &([\cdots:t^{F(\underline{m}_i)-F_{Q_i}(\underline{m}_i)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_i}:\cdots],t).
\end{array}$$ By letting $t\rightarrow0$, one sees that $X_{Q_i}$ sits in the flat limit $X_0$ of $X_t$. The map (\[morph D\]) can be extended to a map $$\begin{array}{lll}
X_P\times{\mathbb{C}}^{\ast} & \to &{\mathbb{P}}^r \times{\mathbb{C}}\\
(\underline{x},t)&\mapsto &([t^{F(\underline{m}_0)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_0}:\cdots:t^{F(\underline{m}_r)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_r}],t)
\end{array}$$ and the flat morphism $
\pi_D:([t^{F(\underline{m}_0)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_0}:\cdots:t^{F(\underline{m}_r)}\underline{x}^{\underline{m}_r}],t) \mapsto t
$ provides a $1$-dimensional embedded degeneration of $X$ to $X_0$. $\pi_D$ is said to be a *toric degeneration* of the toric variety $X_P$ and we will use the notation $X_0=\lim_D X$. The reducible central fiber $X_0$ is given by the subdivision $D$ of $P$: the irreducible components of $X_0$ are the $X_{Q_i}$’s. Notice that if $i\neq j$ and $Q_i$ and $Q_j$ have a common face $Q_i\cap Q_j$, then $X_{Q_i}$ and $X_{Q_j}$ intersect along $X_{Q_i\cap Q_j}$. If $n=2$ and the reducible central fiber $X_0$ is a union of planes, i.e. if the subdivision $D$ of the polytope $P$ is a regular unimodular triangulation of it, we say that $\pi_D$ is a *planar toric degeneration* of $X_P$. In this case the family $D$ of sub-polytopes of $P$ is a simplicial complex, whose maximal simplices are the $Q_i$’s. The notion of toric degeneration to union of ${\mathbb{P}}^n$’s leads to the notion of term order. In fact there is a one-to-one correspondence between regular triangulations and term orders. Let $\prec$ be any term order in ${\mathbb{C}}[x_0,\dots,x_r]$ and let $\mathcal{I}_0 := \textrm{in}_\prec(\mathcal{I})$ be the initial ideal of the ideal $\mathcal{I}$ of $X$. The radical of $\mathcal{I}_0$ is a squarefree monomial ideal whose corresponding simplicial complex $\Delta_\prec(\mathcal{I}_0)$ is a regular triangulation of the polytope $P$ defining $X$. Conversely any regular triangulation of $P$ is of that form, for some $\prec$, see [@St Theor. 8.3].
Secant varieties {#secants def section}
================
Let $X \subset {\mathbb{P}}^{r}$ be an irreducible, non-degenerate, projective variety of dimension $n$. Fix an integer $k\ge2$ and consider the $k$-th symmetric product $\textrm{Sym}^k(X)$. We define the *abstract* $k$-*th secant variety* of $X$, $S^k_X \subseteq \textrm{Sym}^k(X)\times {\mathbb{P}}^r$, as the Zariski closure of the set $$\{((x_1,\dots,x_k),z)\in \textrm{Sym}^k(X)\times {\mathbb{P}}^r : \textrm{dim}(\pi)=k-1 \textrm{ and } z \in\pi\}$$ where $\pi=\langle x_1,\dots,x_k\rangle$. It is irreducible of dimension $kn+k-1$. Consider the projection $p^k_X$ on the second factor and define the $k$-*th secant variety* of $X$, $\textrm{Sec}_k(X):=p^k_X(S^k_X)$, as the image of $S^k_X$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^r$. It is an irreducible algebraic variety of dimension $\textrm{dim}(\textrm{Sec}_k(X))\leq \textrm{min}\{kn+k-1,r\}$. The right hand side is called the *expected dimension* of $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$. If strict inequality holds, $X$ is said to be $k$-*defective*.
The general fiber of $p^k_X$ is pure of dimension $kn+k-1-\textrm{dim(Sec}_k(X))$. Denote by $\mu_k(X)$ the number of irreducible components of this fiber. If $\textrm{dim(Sec}_k(X))=kn+k-1 \leq r,$ then $p^k_X$ is generically finite and $\mu_k(X)=\textrm{deg}(p^k_X)$, i.e., $\mu_k(X)$ is the number of $k$-secant ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-1}$’s to $X$ passing through the general point of $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ and it is called the $k$-*secant order* of $X$, see [@CC2]. This number is equal to one unless $X$ is $k$-*weakly defective*. The weakly defective surfaces are classified in [@CC]. Let $L$ be a general linear subspace of ${\mathbb{P}}^{r}$ of codimension $kn+k-1$: $X$ has $$\nu_{k}(X)=\mu_{k}(X)\cdot \textrm{deg}(\textrm{Sec}_{k}(X))$$ $k$-secant ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-1}$’s meeting $L$. Let $\pi_L$ be the projection of $X$ from $L$ to ${\mathbb{P}}^{kn+k-2}$: the image of $X$ has $\nu_k(X)$ new $k$-secant ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-2}$’s that $X$ did not have. The number $\nu_{k}(X)$ is called the *number of apparent* $k$-*secant* ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-2}$’*s to* $X$. In particular $\nu_2(X)$ corresponds to the number of double points that $X$ acquires in a general projection to ${\mathbb{P}}^{2n}$, $\nu_3(X)$ is the number of trisecant lines in a general projection of $X$ to ${\mathbb{P}}^{3n+1}$ and so on. Notice that if $\nu_{k}(X)=1$, then $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)={\mathbb{P}}^r$ and $\mu_{k}(X)=1$ which means that for a general points of $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ there is a unique $k$-secant ${\mathbb{P}}^{k-1}$.
Let $X$ be a smooth surface. Severi’s *double point formula* gives the number of nodes of a general projection of $X$ to ${\mathbb{P}}^4$: $$\nu_2(X)=\frac{d(d-5)}{2}-5g+6 p_a -K^2+11,$$ where $d$ is the degree, $g$ is the sectional genus, $p_a$ is the arithmetic genus and $K$ is the canonical divisor of $X$. In particular, if $X=X_P$ is a projective toric surface, then $$\nu_2(X)=\frac{1}{2}(d^2-10d+5B+2V-12),$$ where $d$ is the normalized area of the polytope $P$, $B$ is the number of lattice points on the boundary and $V$ is the number of vertices of $P$, see [@CS Cor. 1.6].
If $X$ is a surface not containing lines, a formula for $\nu_3(X)$, known as *LeBarz’ trisecant formula for surfaces in* ${\mathbb{P}}^7$ (see [@LB p. 7] or [@Le p. 202]), is $$\nu_3(X)=\frac{1}{6}(d^3-30d^2+224d-3d(5HK+K^2-c_2)+192HK+56K^2-40c_2)$$ where $H$ is the hyperplane divisor and $c_2$ is the second Chern class of $X$. Moreover, if $X$ contains a finite number of lines, the contribution of each line to $\nu_2(X)$ is $
-{{4+a}\choose{3}},
$ where $a \in {\mathbb{Z}}$ is its self-intersection.
There are similar, but more complicated, formulas for the number $\nu_k(X)$ in the curve case (see [@ACGH Chapt. VIII]), and in the surface case, if $X$ does not contain any line, for $k \leq 5$ (see [@LB; @Le]).
Unfortunately, the Severi’s formula for $\nu_2(X)$ does not apply if $X$ is a singular surface. Moreover, in order to apply the formulas for $\nu_k(X)$, $k\geq3$, one needs to know how many lines are contained in $X$. In this paper we present a combinatorial framework for the study of the $k$-secant varieties to any projective toric surface, that makes the computation of $\nu_2$ and $\nu_3$ easier.
The $k$-secant degree of toric surfaces with $g\leq1$ {#secant degree}
-----------------------------------------------------
In this section we will deal with the toric surfaces defined by the polytopes of Theorem \[census0\] and Theorem \[census1\]. They are all minimal $k$-secant degree surfaces, $\mathcal{M}^k$-surfaces (see [@CR]), i.e. $$\deg({\operatorname{Sec}}_k(X))={{r-\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_k(X))+k}\choose{k}}.$$
### $g=0$
The Veronese surface $V_2$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^5$ is described by the triangle $P^0(3,4,2)$. Its $2$-secant variety is a hypersurface of degree $3$. Moreover ${\operatorname{Sec}}_k(V_2) ={\mathbb{P}}^5$, $k\ge3$.
Consider the rational normal surface scroll $S=S(\delta_1,\delta_2)\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^{\delta_1+\delta_2+1}$, $\delta_1\leq\delta_2$, whose polytope is either the triangle $P^0(3,\delta_2,\delta_2)$ or the trapezium $P^0(4,\delta_1+\delta_2,\delta_2)$. If $k\leq \delta_1$ and $3k-1\leq \delta_1+\delta_2+1$ then $S$ is non $k$-defective and has minimal $k$-secant degree, namely $
\deg({\operatorname{Sec}}_k(S))={{\delta-2k+2}\choose{k}}
$ and $\mu_k(S)=1$, $k\geq 2$. The ideal of these surfaces is generated by the $2\times2$-minors of a Hankel matrix. A determinantal presentation for the ideals of their $k$-secant varieties is known, see [@CJ Prop. 2.2].
### $g=1$
The $k$-secant varieties of the three quartic toric surfaces in ${\mathbb{P}}^4$ defined by $P^1(3,4,2)$, $P^1(4,4,1)$ and $\tilde{P}^1(4,4,1)$ fill up ${\mathbb{P}}^4$, for each $k\geq2$.
Let $V_3$ be the $3$-ple Veronese embedding of ${\mathbb{P}}^2$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^9$, described by the polytope $P^1(3,9,3)$. It is well known that it is non $k$-defective and is minimal $k$-secant degree for $k=2,3$. In particular ${\operatorname{Sec}}_2(V_3)$ has dimension $5$ and degree $15$, while ${\operatorname{Sec}}_3(V_3)$ has dimension $8$ and degree $4$. Moreover ${\operatorname{Sec}}_k(V_3)={\mathbb{P}}^9$, $k\geq 4$.
The $i$-internal projections of $V_3$, i.e., the surfaces obtained from $V_3$ as projections from $i$ general points on it, $1\leq i\leq4$, are del Pezzo surfaces of degree $9-i$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^{9-i}$. They are the ones defined by the subpolytopes of $P^1(3,9,3)$: $P^1(4,8,3)$, $P^1(4,7,3)$, $P^1(5,7,2)$, $P^1(3,6,3)$, $P^1(4,6,2)$, $P^1(5,6,2)$, $P^1(6,6,1)$, $P^1(4,6,2)$, $P^1(5,5,1)$. For $k=2$, we have $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(X))=5$ and $\nu_2(X)={{d-3}\choose2}$. For $k\geq3$, ${\operatorname{Sec}}_3(X)={\mathbb{P}}^{9-i}$. In particular for the del Pezzo surface of degree $8$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^8$, that corresponds to $P^1(4,8,3)$, we have $\nu_3(X)=1$. All of them have ideals which are generated by quadrics and given by the $2\times2$ minors of a known matrix. Also the $k$-secant varieties, for $k=2,3$, have a nice determinantal presentation: the equations are given by the $(k+1)\times(k+1)$ minors of the same matrix. For an overview see [@CGG; @tesi].
Let now $X,Y\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^8$ be respectively the embedding of the smooth quadric ${\mathbb{P}}^1\times{\mathbb{P}}^1\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^3$ and of the cone in ${\mathbb{P}}^3$ over a rational normal conic via the $2$-Veronese embedding. They correspond to $P^1(4,8,2)$ and $P^1(3,8,4)$ respectively. They both have $2$-secant variety of dimension $5$ and degree $10$. Moreover for both of them, the $3$-secant variety has dimension $7$ and degree $4$, see [@CR Theor. 9.1].
$k$-delightful planar toric degenerations {#delightfulness}
=========================================
Let $\mathcal{I}$ be an ideal in the polynomial ring $K[x_0,\dots,x_r]$. The *secant* $\mathcal{I}^{\{2\}}=\mathcal{I}\ast\mathcal{I}$ of $\mathcal{I}$ is an ideal in $K[x_0,\dots,x_r]$ defined in the following way: take the polynomial ring $K[\underline{x},\underline{y},\underline{z}]=K[x_0,\dots,x_r,y_0,\dots,y_r,z_0,\dots,z_r]$ and let $\mathcal{I}(\underline{y})$ and $\mathcal{I}(\underline{z})$ be the ideals obtained as images of $\mathcal{I}$ in $K[\underline{x},\underline{y},\underline{z}]$ via the maps $x_i\mapsto y_i$ and $x_i\mapsto z_i$,
for $i=0,\dots,r$. Then $\mathcal{I}^{\{2\}}$ is the elimination ideal $\left(\mathcal{I}(\underline{y})+\mathcal{I}(\underline{z})+\left\langle y_i+z_i-x_i:0\leq i\leq r\right\rangle\right)\cap K[x_0,\dots,x_r]$. Similarly, we define the $k$-*secant* of $\mathcal{I}$ as $\mathcal{I}^{\{k\}}=\mathcal{I}\ast\cdots\ast\mathcal{I}$.
For homogeneous prime ideals, the $k$-secant ideals represent the prime ideals of the $k$-secant varieties of irreducible projective varieties.
Let now $\prec$ be any term order. The initial ideal of the $k$-secant ideal $\mathcal{I}^{\{k\}}$ of $\mathcal{I}$ is contained in the $k$-secant of the initial ideal of $\mathcal{I}$, for $k\geq 1$: $$\begin{aligned}
\label{delightfulness SS}
\textrm{in}_{\prec}(\mathcal{I}^{\{k\}})\subseteq (\textrm{in}_{\prec}(\mathcal{I}))^{\{k\}}.\end{aligned}$$ For a reference see [@SS Cor. 4.2]. If equality holds in (\[delightfulness SS\]), then $\prec$ is said to be $k$-*delightful* for the ideal $\mathcal{I}$. It is said to be *delightful* for $\mathcal{I}$ if it is $k$-delightful for $\mathcal{I}$, for every $k\geq1$.
For toric varieties this leads to the notion of delightful triangulations of polytopes. Let $\pi_D$ be a toric degeneration of a toric variety $X$ of dimension $n$ to a union of ${\mathbb{P}}^n$’s. Any subset of $D$ of $k$ pairwise skew ${\mathbb{P}}^n$’s, i.e. $k(n+1)$ vertices of $D$ such that they form the vertices of $k$ disjoint tetrahedra of $D$, $k\geq1$, will span a linear subspace of ${\mathbb{P}}^r$ of dimension $kn+k-1$. A subset of this type is said to be a *skew* $k$-*set*; we denote by $N_k(D)$ the set of such skew $k$-sets and by $\bar{\nu}_k(D)$ its cardinality, see [@CDM; @SS]. Consider the following result, due to Sturmfels and Sullivant, which gives a lower bound to the number $\nu_k(X)$ for toric varieties.
[@SS Theor. 5.4] \[old lower bound\] If there exists a toric degeneration $\pi_D$ of $X$ to a union of ${\mathbb{P}}^n$’s for which there exists at least one skew $k$-set, then $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ has the expected dimension and $\nu_k(X)$ is bounded below by the number of skew $k$-sets: $$\label{formula delightful}
\nu_k(X)\geq \bar{\nu}_{k}(D).$$
Notice first of all that $kn+k-1\leq r$. Let $\mathcal{I}$ be the ideal of $X$ and let $\mathcal{I}_0$ be the ideal of the central fiber $X_0$ with respect to the toric degeneration $\pi_D$. The simplicial complex of $X_0$ is $D$; let $D^{\{k\}}$ be the simplicial complex of $\mathcal{I}_0^{\{k\}}$: the simplices in $D^{\{k\}}$ are the unions of $k$ simplices in $D$, see [@SS Remark 2.9]. Notice that the simplices of $D^{\{k\}}$ of maximal dimension are the skew $k$-sets and the subspaces they span sit in the flat limit of $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$. Therefore, if there exists at least one skew $k$-set in $D$, then $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ has the expected dimension $kn+k-1$.
Notice that different skew $k$-sets could span the same subspace $\pi$ of ${\mathbb{P}}^r$ and that for the general point of $\pi$ there is a unique subspace of dimension $k-1$ meeting the $k$ planes each in a point, for each skew $k$-set spanning $\pi$. The toric variety described by $D^{\{k\}}$ is the reduced union of the coordinate subspaces in ${\mathbb{P}}^r$ given by the skew $k$-sets. Furthermore, the limit of the $k$-secant variety of $X$ contains the variety defined by the $k$-secant of $\mathcal{I}_0$ by (\[delightfulness SS\]). This concludes the proof.
Sturmfels and Sullivant in [@SS] conjectured that if equality holds in the lower bound in (\[formula delightful\]), then the term order corresponding to the triangulation $D$ is $k$-delightful. We will call such degenerations $k$-delightful, according to [@CDM].
Let $P$ and $D$ be as above. If $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_k(X_P))=kn+k-1\leq r$ and equality holds in (\[formula delightful\]), then $D$ is said to be $k$-delightful. Moreover $D$ is said to be delightful if it is $k$-delightful for every $k$.
Now, consider the examples in Figure \[esempi non-del\].
$D$
(30,30)(0,0) (15,0)[(1,0)[15]{}]{} (0,30)[(1,0)[15]{}]{} (0,15)[(0,1)[15]{}]{} (30,0)[(0,1)[15]{}]{} (0,15)[(1,-1)[15]{}]{} (15,30)[(1,-1)[15]{}]{} (15,0)[(0,1)[30]{}]{} (0,15)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (30,0)[(-1,1)[30]{}]{} (13,13)[$\bullet$]{}
$D'$
(45,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(1,0)[45]{}]{} (0,15)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (0,30)[(1,0)[15]{}]{} (0,0)[(0,1)[45]{}]{} (15,0)[(0,1)[30]{}]{} (30,0)[(0,1)[15]{}]{} (0,45)[(1,-1)[45]{}]{} (0,30)[(1,-1)[30]{}]{} (0,15)[(1,-1)[15]{}]{} (13,13)[$\bullet$]{}
The first picture represents a triangulation $D$ of the hexagon $P^1(6,6,1)$, i.e., a degeneration of the smooth del Pezzo surface $X\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^6$ to a union of six planes intersecting at a point. Since $\bar{\nu}_2(D)=0$ and $\nu_2(X)=3$, $D$ is not $2$-delightful. The second one represents a triangulation of the polytope $P^1(3,9,3)$ defining the Veronese surface $X'$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^9$. $\bar{\nu}_2(D')=12$ and $\nu_2(X')=15$ hence $D'$ is not $2$-delightful. Notice that in both cases there is a $2$-delightfulness defect equal to $3$. It is natural to wonder if the cause has to be sought in the sextuple central point, marked in the figures, that of course prevents the presence of disjoint triangles in the configurations. More generally, how do the singularities of the configuration influence the delightfulness property? This question was asked by Ciliberto, Dumitrescu and Miranda [@CDM]. Our aim is to give an explanation of this phenomenon. In the next section we will propose our results in this direction.
A lower bound for $\nu_k$, $k=2,3$ {#results secant}
==================================
Let $P\subseteq{\mathbb{R}}^2$ be the defining polytope of a projective toric surface $X$ and let $\pi_D$ be a (planar) toric degeneration of $X$ to a union of planes $X_0$. Let $p\in P\cap{\mathbb{Z}}^n$ be a lattice point of $P$ and let $Q^1,\dots,Q^\delta \in D$ be the triangles in $D$ covering $p$: $Q^1\cap \cdots \cap Q^\delta=\{p\}$. Suppose that the union of the $Q^i$’s is a convex planar figure, namely a sub-polytope $Q_p$ of $P$. $Q_p$ has (normalized) area $\delta.$
Let $Z=Z_p$ be the projective toric surface of degree $\delta$ defined by $Q_p$ and let $Z_{0}$ be the union of $\delta$ planes defined by the $Q^i$’s. If $p$ is a boundary lattice point, i.e. $Q_p$ has $g=0$, we will call it a *rational singularity* for $D$ because $Z_{0}$ is a reduced chain of planes intersecting at a point (corresponding to $p$). If $p$ is an interior point, i.e. $Q_p$ has $g=1$, we will say that $p$ is an *elliptic singularity* for $D$ since the general hyperplane section of $Z_{0}$ is a cycle of lines. In Table \[caso razionale sec 1\] and Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\] all these singularities are classified. This section is devoted to the proof of the following result that improves the lower bound for $\nu_k$ of Proposition \[old lower bound\] for the case $n=2$, $k=2,3$.
\[general sum\] Let $k\in\{2,3\}$. Let $X=X_P$ be a projective toric surface such that $\dim(\textrm{Sec}_k(X))=3k-1$. Let $D$ be any triangulation of $P$. Let $\{p_i\}_{i \in I}\subseteq P\cap{\mathbb{Z}}^n$, $\{Q_{p_i}\}_{i \in I}$ and $\{Z_{p_i}\}_{i \in I}$ be as above. Assume that
1. $\dim\textrm{Sec}_k(Z_{p_i})=3k-1$, for $i\in I$,
2. there exists a regular subdivision $D^1_i$ of $P$ containing $Q_{p_i}$.
Then $D$ is not $k$-delightful. Moreover $$\begin{aligned}
\label{senza overlap}
\nu_k(X)\geq \bar{\nu}_{k}(D)+ \sum_{i \in I} \nu_k(Z_{p_i}).\end{aligned}$$
This result can not be generalized to the higher-order secant case. Let $k\ge4$. The expected dimension of $\textrm{Sec}_k(X)$ is $\min\{3k-1,r\}$, when $X\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^r$ is a projective toric surface. None of the rational or elliptic sub-polytopes is interesting in this case, because $\dim(\textrm{Sec}_k(Z_p))<\dim(\textrm{Sec}_k(X))$, for any $Z_p$ as in Table \[caso razionale sec 1\] or Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\].
Proof of Theorem \[general sum\]
--------------------------------
### $k=2$
Let $X=X_P$ be a projective toric surface such that $\dim\textrm{Sec}(X)=5$. Let $\pi_D$ be a planar toric degeneration of $X$ and let $p$ be a rational or elliptic singularity for $D$. Let $Q=Q_p=P^0(l,\delta,m)$ be the sub-polytope of $P$ corresponding to $p$ and let $Z=Z_p$ be the projective toric surface of degree $\delta$ defined by $Q$: $Z\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^{\delta'}\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}^r$, where $$\delta'=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}
\delta+1 & \textrm{if } p \textrm{ is rational}\\
\delta & \textrm{if } p \textrm{ is elliptic.}\\
\end{array}\right.$$
We are going to prove that the flat limit of the secant variety of $X$ has a $5$-dimensional component of degree $\nu_2(Z)$. For this reason, we assume that $\delta'\geq 5$ so that $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(Z_p))=5$ (cf. Section \[secant degree\]). Furthermore we assume that a lifting function $F_{D^1}$ over an intermediate partition $D^1$ of $P$, that contains $Q$ and other polytopes obtained as union of triangles of $D$, exists. We propose a couple of examples in Figure \[decomposed deg lati=1\] and in Figure \[decomposed deg razio\]. The existence of such an $F_{D^1}$ will be discussed in Subsection \[existence D\^1\]. $D^1$ defines a degeneration $\pi_{D^1}$ of $X$ to a reducible surface that has $Z$ as component.
(40,40)(0,0) (20,0)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(-15,18)[$P:$]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (20,0)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(20,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(20,30) [(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,2)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,40)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{}(10,30)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{}(10,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(0,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(-17,18)[$D^1:$]{}(18,18)[$Q_p$]{} (10,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (20,0)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(20,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(20,30) [(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,2)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,40)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{}(10,30)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{}(10,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(10,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(18,18)[$\bullet$p]{} (10,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(0,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(20,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(-15,18)[$D:$]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (10,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (-15,18)[$P:$]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (10,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(30,30)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(10,20)[(2,1)[20]{}]{} (10,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(2,1)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-2)[10]{}]{}(10,10)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,3)[$Q_p$]{}(27,17)[$S_1$]{}(10,17)[$S_{1,1}$]{} (10,10)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(10,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(10,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (-17,18)[$D^1:$]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (10,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,40)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(40,10)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(10,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(30,10)[(0,1)[30]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,0)[(2,1)[20]{}]{}(30,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,20)[(-1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,30)[(-1,-1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(10,20)[(2,1)[20]{}]{}(10,10)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(20,10)[(1,2)[10]{}]{} (10,30)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,30)[(2,1)[20]{}]{} (30,40)[(1,-2)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(10,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(10,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (18,-2)[$\bullet$p]{} (-15,18)[$D:$]{}
Let $\pi_{D^2}$ be the degeneration of the central fiber of $\pi_{D^1}$ to $X_0$.
\[new lower bound\] Keeping the same setting as above, if there exists in $D$ a singularity $p$ as in Table \[caso razionale sec 1\] or Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\] and if there exists a regular subdivision $D^1$ of $P$ as above, then $$\begin{aligned}
\label{our formula}
\nu_2(X)\geq \bar{\nu}_{2}(D)+ \nu_2(Z).\end{aligned}$$
Consider first the degeneration $D^1$ of $X$. Let $X^1_t$ be the fiber of $D^1$: $X^1_t\cong X$, for $t\neq 0$, while $X^1_0$ is the reduced union of the toric surfaces given by $D^1$. We have that the secant variety of $Z$ and all the joins between components of $X^1_0$ sit in the flat limit $\lim_{D^1}\textrm{Sec}(X)$ of the secant variety of $X$, with respect to $D^1$. We consider now the second degeneration $D^2$ which has as general fiber $X^2_s\cong X^1_0$, $s\neq 0$, and as central fiber the reduced union of planes $X^2_0\cong X_0$. The flat limit, with respect to $D^2$, of $\lim_{D^1}\textrm{Sec}(X)$, that is $\lim_D\textrm{Sec}(X)$, contains as component the flat limits, with respect to $D^2$, of all the components of $\lim_{D^1}\textrm{Sec}_2(X)$, namely the following: $\lim_{D^2}\textrm{Sec}_2(Z)$, which is a $5$-dimensional component of degree $\nu_2(Z)$ and the flat limit, with respect to $D^2$, of all the joins between components of $X^2_s$, $s\neq 0$. The union of these components contains the ${\mathbb{P}}^5$’s spanned by the elements of $N_2(D)$.
The contributions in terms of degree given by these components can be summed up. Indeed none of the ${\mathbb{P}}^5$’s spanned by the skew $2$-sets are contained in $\lim_{D^2}\textrm{Sec}_2(Z)$.
If $\{p_i\}_{i \in I}$ are singularities of $D$ satisfying the hypotheses of Theorem \[new lower bound\], then the contributions given by $\nu_2(Z_{p_1})$’s do not interfere with each other. To see this, let us decompose the degeneration $D$ by taking subdivisions $D^1_i$ and $D^2_i$, for each $i$. The flat limit of the secant variety of $Z_{p_i}$ with respect to $D^2_i$ sits in the flat limit of the secant variety of $X$ with respect to $D$, for every $i$, by Theorem \[new lower bound\]. Furthermore, let ${\mathbb{P}}_i\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^r$ be the projective subspace where $Z_{p_i}$, ${\operatorname{Sec}}_k(Z_{p_i})$ and their limits live, namely the space whose coordinate are given by the lattice points of $Q_{p_i}$. Notice that $\dim({\mathbb{P}}_i\cap{\mathbb{P}}_j)\leq 3$, for all $i\neq j$. Indeed there are at most two coplanar triangles with vertices at two distinct points $p_i,p_j$. Since $(\lim_{D^2_i}{\operatorname{Sec}}_2(Z_{p_i}))\cap(\lim_{D^2_i}{\operatorname{Sec}}_2(Z_{p_i}))\subseteq {\mathbb{P}}_i\cap{\mathbb{P}}_j $, they have no common $5$-dimensional component. Therefore these limits are distinct components of $\lim_D\textrm{Sec}_2(X)$, for all $i,j \in I$, $i\neq j$. Furthermore all of them do not contain any element of $N_2(D)$, hence the respective degrees sum up to $\bar{\nu}_2(D)$. This proves Theorem \[general sum\] for the case $k=2$.
Let $X$ be the quadric ${\mathbb{P}}^1\times{\mathbb{P}}^1$ embedded in ${\mathbb{P}}^{11}$ via $\mathcal{O}(2,3)$: $\nu_1(X)=\deg(\textrm{Sec}(X))=35$. Consider the two planar degenerations of $X$ shown in Figure \[ex2 sum\].
$D:$
(30,20)(0,0)(0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(2,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (8,8)[$\bullet p_1$]{}(18,8)[$\bullet p_2$]{}(8,-2)[$\bullet p_3$]{}
$D':$
(30,20)(0,0)(0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[30]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{}(0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(10,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{}(10,0)[(2,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{}(30,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (8,8)[$\bullet p'_2$]{}(18,8)[$\bullet p'_3$]{}(8,-2)[$\bullet p'_4$]{}(8,18)[$\bullet p'_1$]{}(28,8)[$\bullet q$]{}
In the first case, the sum of the number of skew $2$-sets and of the contributions of the singularities restores the secant degree: $
\bar{\nu}_2(D)+\nu_2(X_{p_1})+\nu_2(X_{p_2})+\nu_2(X_{p_3})=28+3+1+3=35.
$ In the second case we have: $v_2(D')+\nu_1(X_{p'_1})+\nu_1(X_{p'_2})+\nu_1(X_{p'_3})+\nu_1(X_{p'_4}) = 29+1+1+1+1
= 33<35$. In $D'$ there is a lattice boundary point $q$ which is the common vertex of five triangles: certainly it causes an obstruction to the presence of skew $2$-sets, but the polygon given by the triangles around it is not convex and our argument does not apply.
### $k=3$
Let $X=X_P$ be a toric surface such that $\dim(\textrm{Sec}_2(X))=8$. Let $D$ be any triangulation of $P$.
There are only two types of elliptic singularities we are interested in, namely the ones such that $Z_p$ is either the Veronese surface $V_3$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^9$ or the del Pezzo surface $X_8$ of degree eight in ${\mathbb{P}}^8$. Indeed in all remaining cases (see Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\]) the $3$-secant variety has dimension less than $8$. On the other hand, the only toric surface with $g=0$ such that its $3$-secant variety has dimension $8$ and such that there exists a toric degeneration of it to a union of planes all of them intersecting at a single point is the rational normal scroll $S(2,\delta-2)\subseteq{\mathbb{P}}^{\delta+1}$, with $\delta\geq7$, (see Table \[caso razionale sec 1\]).
\[new lower bound 2\] Let $X=X_P$ be a toric surface such that $\dim\textrm{Sec}_3(X)=8$ and let $D$ be a triangulation of $P$. Let $p$ be a multiple point such that the corresponding surface $Z$ is either $V_3$, or $X_8$, or $S(2,\delta-2)$, with $\delta\geq 7$. Assume furthermore that there exists an intermediate regular subdivision $D^1$ of $P$ containing $Q_p$. Then $$\begin{aligned}
\label{our formula}
\nu_3(X)\geq \bar{\nu}_{3}(D)+ \nu_3(Z_p).\end{aligned}$$
It is easy to see that $\textrm{Sec}_3(Z)$ and $J(Y_i,J(Y_j,Y_l))$, where $Y_i,Y_j,Y_l$ are components of $\lim_{D^1}X$, are in the flat limit $\lim_{D^1}\textrm{Sec}_2(X)$.
Then, looking at the second degeneration $D^2$, we see that the ${\mathbb{P}}^8$’s spanned by the skew $3$-sets of $D^2$ (that are the skew $3$-sets of $D$) and the limit $\lim_{D^2}\textrm{Sec}_3(Z)$ are $8$-dimensional of $\textrm{Sec}_3(X)$ with respect to $D$.
Finally, the contributions $\bar{\nu}_3(D)$ and $\nu_3(Z)$ do not interfere with each other, following the same argument as in Theorem \[new lower bound\].
If there are more than one singularity in $D$, $\{p_i\}_{i \in I}$, satisfying the hypotheses of Theorem \[new lower bound 2\], arguing as for the case $k=2$, we get inequality (\[senza overlap\]) for $k=3$.
### On the existence of an intermediate regular subdivision of a given triangulation {#existence D^1}
Let $P$, $D$ and $Q$ be as previously defined. To conclude this section we explore the existence of an intermediate regular subdivision $D^1$ containing $Q$.
Assume first of all that either the edges of $Q$ have (normalized) length equal to one or they lie on the boundary of $P$ (under this assumption $p$ must be an elliptic singularity). The family of sub-polytopes of $P$ given by $Q$ and by the $\textrm{Area}(P)-\delta$ remaining triangles of $D$ form a subdivision of $P$ (see Figure \[decomposed deg lati=1\]). Such a subdivision is regular. Indeed, given a lifting function $F_D$ over $D$, one can always find a lifting function $F_{D^1}$ over $D^1$, exploiting the fact that strict convexity is a local property: it is enough to flatten $F_D$ over $Q$. More precisely, one can always assume that $
F_D(\underline{m})\gg 2, \textrm{ for } \underline{m}\notin Q
$ and that $$F_D(\underline{m})=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}
1-\epsilon & \textrm{ if } \underline{m}=p\\
1 & \textrm{ if } \underline{m}\in Q\cap{\mathbb{Z}}^2\setminus \{p\}\\
\end{array}
\right.,$$ with $0<\epsilon \ll 1$. Hence, a lifting function for $D^1$, $F_{D^1}$, is the following: $$F_{D^1}(\underline{m}):=\left\{\begin{array}{ll}
1 & \textrm{ if } \underline{m}=p\\
F_{D}(\underline{m})& \textrm{ if }\underline{m}\neq p\\
\end{array}
\right.$$
Suppose now that $Q$ has edges $L_1\dots,L_s$, $s\leq l$ of length $>1$. Let us construct a partition of $P$ containing $Q$, triangles and convex polytopes given as union of triangles of $D$, using the following algorithm.\
<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Input</span>: a regular unimodular triangulation $D$ of $P$.\
<span style="font-variant:small-caps;">Output</span>: a regular subdivision $D^1$ of $P$ containing $Q$.
- Let $S_i$ be the minimal convex union of triangles of $D$ such that $S_i\cap Q=L_i$, for $i=1,\dots,s$. If all the $S_i$’s have *external* edges (i.e., all the edges except $L_i$) either of length one or lying on $\partial P$, we stop.
- Otherwise, let $L_{i,1},\dots,L_{i,s_i}$ be the external edges of $S_i$ of length $>1$, for $i\in\{1,\dots,s\}$. Let $S_{i,j}$ be the minimal convex union of triangles of $D$ such that $S_{i,j}\cap S_i=L_{i,j}$, $i=1,\dots,s$, $j=1,\dots,s_i$. If all the $S_{i,j}$’s have external edges either of length one or contained in $\partial P$, then we stop.
- Otherwise we go on as above, until all the polytopes obtained in this way have external edges either of length one, or contained in $\partial P$.
This process is finite. The output is a complex $D^1$ whose maximal polyhedra are $Q$, the $S_{i}$’s, the $S_{i,j}$’s, etc., and the remaining triangles of $D$. If one is able to flatten the lifting function $F_D$ over $Q$, the $S_{i}$’s, the $S_{i,j}$’s, etc., by rescaling it in such a way that the resulting piecewise linear function is strictly convex over $P$, one has found a lifting function $F_{D^1}$ for $D^1$ to be regular.
At this point it is not difficult to define $D^2$: it is sufficient to take unimodular triangulations $D_Q$ of $Q$, $D_{S_i}$ of $S_i$, $D_{S_{i,j}}$ of $S_{i,j}$, etc., such that, combining them, one obtains the full regular unimodular triangulation $D$ of $P$. See for example Figure \[decomposed deg razio\] to get an idea.
Classification of delightful triangulations of polytopes with $g\leq1$ {#classification delightful g=0,1}
======================================================================
In this section we classify all delightful triangulation of $g\leq1$ polytopes in ${\mathbb{R}}^2$. A necessary condition for the degeneration to be $2$-delightful is that it contains no lattice point as in Table \[caso razionale sec 1\] or Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\] in its configuration. Surprisingly we will see that the triangulations verifying this property turn out to be $k$-delightful, for any $k$.
The rational case
-----------------
The $g=0$ polytopes are classified in Theorem \[census0\]. In this section we are going to prove the following theorem.
\[delightful class g=0\] The trapezium $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$ admits delightful triangulations if and only if $0\leq i\leq3$.
The unique delightful triangulations of $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$, up to lattice equivalence, are the ones represented in Figure \[delightful rational\].
[ll]{} $i=0:$ & $D_{\delta,\delta}\ \ $
(140,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(60,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(100,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(75,5)[$\cdots$]{}
$D'_{\delta,\delta}\ \ $
(120,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(80,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(80,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(65,5)[$\cdots$]{}
\
$i=1:$ & $D_{\delta,\delta+1}$
(140,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(60,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(100,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(75,5)[$\cdots$]{}
$D'_{\delta,\delta+1}$
(140,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(80,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(80,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(65,5)[$\cdots$]{}
\
$i=2:$ & $D'_{\delta,\delta+2}$
(160,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(120,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[160]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(80,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(80,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(65,5)[$\cdots$]{}
\
$i=3:$ & $D'_{\delta,\delta+3}$
(180,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(120,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[180]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(120,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(100,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(80,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(80,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(65,5)[$\cdots$]{}
The outline of the proof will be the following. As a first step we fix $k=2$ and we construct triangulations without rational singularities at the (boundary) lattice points for the polytopes $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$, $\delta\geq2$, $i\geq0$. Then we will investigate their $k$-delightfulness.
The unique triangulations of $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+1)$ without rational singularities occur when $0\leq i\leq 3$ and are the ones in Figure \[delightful rational\].
Consider the rectangle $P^0(4,2\delta,\delta)$ with bases of length $\delta$. We start the triangulation in the only possible way (up to equiaffinity), as follows
(80,20)(0,0)(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(80,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(80,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
Then there are only two distinct possibilities to add a further triangle that is adjacent to the previous one:
(a)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(b)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}
In case $(a)$, the ways of putting another triangle adjacent to the previous are the following:
(a.1)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(a.2)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
The second possibility must be excluded, otherwise we would get at least four triangles covering the point with coordinates $(1,0)$ and this certainly will generate a rational singularity (see Table \[caso razionale sec 1\]). On the other hand, starting from the case (a.1) and adding a triangle in the subdivision, we get
(a.1.1)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(a.1.2)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}
The second configuration is excluded once again, otherwise the point $(1,1)$ would be covered by a chain of at least four triangles. So, iterating this argument, we obtain $D_{\delta,\delta}$.
In case (b), the possibilities are:
(b.1)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(b.2)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{}
As above, the case (b.2) is excluded, otherwise $(0,1)$ would be a rational singularity. Then from (b.1) we obtain
(b.1.1)
(120,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}
(b.1.2)
(120,30)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
We exclude the case (b.1.2) and iterating the process we get $D'_{\delta,\delta}$ from (b.1.1). The subdivisions $D_{\delta,\delta}$ and $D'_{\delta,\delta}$ do not contain any rational singularity and they are the unique triangulations of $P^0(4,2\delta,\delta)$ with this property.
Consider $P^0(4,2\delta+1,\delta+1)$. One has two distinct ways (up to equiaffinity) to start a triangulation of this polytope:
(a)
(140,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(140,0)[(-1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(b)
(140,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(140,0)[(-1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
From (a), arranging the argument of above to this case, we arrive to $D_{\delta,\delta+1}$ or $D'_{\delta,\delta+1}$. Instead, from (b) we get either
(140,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(60,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(100,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(100,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(75,5)[$\cdots$]{}
that is lattice equivalent to $D'_{\delta,\delta+1}$, or
(140,20)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(80,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(80,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(120,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[140]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[120]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(100,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(120,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(65,5)[$\cdots$]{}
that is excluded; in fact a singularity at the point $(\delta,1)$ has been generated.
Finally, arguing as above, we get $D'_{\delta,\delta+2}$
for the trapezium $P^0(4,2\delta+2,\delta+2)$ and $D'_{\delta,\delta+3}$
for $P^0(4,2\delta+3,\delta+3)$. The details are easy and left to the reader.
If $i\geq 4$, it is not possible to find a triangulation without generating a rational singularity, because a chain of four triangles around a boundary lattice point will inevitably be created.
Let now $P'\subseteq P$ be polytopes with $\textrm{Area}(P')+1=\textrm{Area}(P)=d$, $g(P)=g(P')=0$ and such that $P\setminus P'=T$ is a triangle of normalized area $1$. Let $D$ and $D'=D \setminus T$ be regular triangulations of $P$ and $P'$ respectively. Assume moreover that $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(X_P))=\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(X_{P'}))=5$. Notice that, under these hypotheses, if $P$ belongs to the class $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$, $0\leq i\leq 3$, with $d=2\delta+i$ for some $\delta,i$, then $P'$ has also the form $P^0(4,2\delta'+i',\delta+i')$, $0\leq i'\leq 3$, with $d-1=2\delta'+i'$ for some $\delta',i'$. Notice moreover that if $D$ is lattice equivalent to one of the configurations in Figure \[delightful rational\], then $D'$ is.
Define $D''=\{T''\in D': T''\cap T=\emptyset\}\subseteq D'\subseteq D$. $D''$ is given by those triangles of $D$ which do not intersect $T$. Using these notations we can describe $N_{k}(D)$ as the set given by the skew $k$-sets contained in $D'$ and by those involving $T$, namely $N_k(D)=N_k(D')\cup \{(T,(T''_1,\dots,T''_{k-1})):(T''_1,\dots,T''_{k-1})\in N_{k-1}(D'')\}$.
\[D’ del implica D del\] In the above notation, $D$ is $k$-delightful if and only if $D'$ is $k$-delightful and $D''$ is $(k-1)$-delightful.
Since $D''$ contains at most $d-3$ triangles, then $\bar{\nu}_{k-1}(D'')\leq {{(d-3)-2(k-2)}\choose {k-1}}$. Hence $\bar{\nu}_{k}(D)=\bar{\nu}_{k}(D')+\bar{\nu}_{k-1}(D'')\leq {{(d-1)-2(k-1)}\choose{k}}+{{(d-3)-2(k-2)}\choose {k-1}}={{d-2(k-1)}\choose{k}}$. Since the number on the right equals $\nu_k(X_P)$ the thesis follows.
This argument allows to use induction on $d=2\delta+i$ and $k$ to prove that the degenerations depicted in Figure \[delightful rational\] of the trapezia $P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$, $0\leq i \leq 3$, are $k$-delightful, for $k$ such that $3k-1\leq d+1$.
The triangulations in Figure \[delightful rational\] are delightful.
Let $D$ denote one of the triangulations of Figure \[delightful rational\] and let $d=2\delta+i$ be the number of triangles of $D$.
Fix $k=2$. We first prove that $D$ is $2$-delightful by induction on $d$ and exploiting the fact that $D$ is $2$-delightful if and only if $\bar{\nu}_2(D')={{d-3}\choose{2}}$ and $\bar{\nu}_1(D'')=\#(D'')=d-3$ (see the proof of Lemma \[D’ del implica D del\]), for each $D$ as in Figure \[delightful rational\]. Then we consider the case $k\geq3$.
For $d=4$, the degenerations $D_{2,2}$, $D'_{2,2}$ of $S(2,2)$ and $D'_{1,3}$ of $S(1,3)$ are clearly $1$-delightful indeed each of them contains exactly one pair of disjoint triangles and $\nu_2(S(2,2))=\nu_2(S(1,3))=1$. The same holds in the case $d=5$ for $D_{2,3}$, $D'_{2,3}$ and $D'_{1,4}$: one can easily check that each contains exactly three pairs of disjoint triangles and it is $\nu_2(S(2,3))=\nu_2(S(1,4))=3$.
For $d\geq6$, assume the thesis true for any degree $\leq d-1$. If $d$ is even, write $d=2\delta$. The degeneration $D_{\delta,\delta}$ (or $D'_{\delta,\delta}$) of $P^0(4,2\delta,\delta)$ is obtained from $D'=D_{\delta-1,\delta}$ ($D'=D'_{\delta-1,\delta}$ respectively) by adding a triangle on the right. Now $\bar{\nu}_2(D)\leq\bar{\nu}_2(D')+\bar{\nu}_1(D'')={{d-2}\choose{2}}+d-3={{d-3}\choose{2}}=\nu_2(S(\delta,\delta))$. In the same way, the degeneration $D=D'_{\delta-1,(\delta-1)+2}$ of $P^0(4,2(\delta-1)+2,(\delta-1)+2)$ is obtained by adding a triangle to $D'_{\delta-1,(\delta-1)+1}$ and computing the number $\bar{\nu}_2(D)$ we get the same conclusion. If $d$ is odd, write $d=2\delta+1$. The degenerations $D_{\delta,\delta+1}$ and $D'_{\delta,\delta+1}$ are obtained respectively from $D_{\delta,\delta}$ and $D'_{\delta-1,\delta+1}$ by adding a triangle on the right end and the computation done in the case $d$ even also works. Similarly, $D=D'_{\delta-1,(\delta-1)+3}$, which is obtained from $D'_{\delta-1,(\delta-1)+2}$, turns out to be $2$-delightful.
Now, fix $k\geq 3$, and consider $d$ such that $3k-1\leq d+1$. Let $D$ be one of the degenerations of $P=P^0(4,2\delta+i,\delta+i)$ in Figure \[delightful rational\]. We prove the statement by induction on $d$ and $k$ using an argument similar to that of above. Let $D'$ and $D''$ be as above and assume $D'$ is $k$-delightful and $D''$ is $(k-1)$-delightful. Then $\bar{\nu}_{k}(D)=\bar{\nu}_{k}(D')+\bar{\nu}_{k-1}(D'')={{d-2(k-1)}\choose{k}}$.
This proves Theorem \[delightful class g=0\].
Our result fits with the ones obtained by Sturmfels and Sullivant. In [@SS Prop. 5.8] they proved that if a delightful term order exists for a rational normal scroll $S(\delta_1,\dots,\delta_n$) of dimension $n$, then we must have $\delta_j\in\{m,m+1,m+2,m+3\}$ for some $m$. They also proved in [@SS Prop. 5.11] that the converse holds in the $n=2$ case. With our approach we have proved the same result in the case $n=2$ and we have also constructed these delightful triangulations.
The elliptic case
-----------------
Here we prove a classification result for the $g=1$ case. The polytopes we are dealing with are depicted in Theorem \[census1\].
\[delightful class g=1\] All polytopes with $g=1$ and $5\leq d\leq 8$ admit delightful triangulations. They are lattice equivalent to the ones in Figure \[delightful elliptic\].
[ll]{} $l=3$: &
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(3,-2)[60]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(3,-2)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}
(80,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(3,-2)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,40)[(2,-1)[80]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
\
$l=4$: &
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(-1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
\
&
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,11)[40]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
(60,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,00)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
\
$l=5$: &
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,11)[40]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
\
$l=6$: &
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
We need a preliminary remark. Notice that if $D$ do not contain an elliptic singularity of multiplicity $d$, then $D$ must contain at least a triangle $T$ that do not have any vertex at the interior lattice point and $P\setminus T$ is convex. Define $P':=P\setminus T\subseteq P$: $\textrm{Area}(P')+1=\textrm{Area}(P)=d$, $g(P)=g(P')=1$ and assume that that $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(X_P))=\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_2(X_{P'}))=5$. Consider the triangulation $D'\subseteq D$ of $P'$ obtained from $D$ by deleting that $T$, $D'$ is still regular. Set $D''=\{T''\in D': T''\cap T=\emptyset\}\subseteq D'$: we have that $\#(D'')\leq d-4$. From this follows that $\bar{\nu}_{2}(D)=\bar{\nu}_{2}(D')+\#(D'')\leq {{d-4}\choose 2}+(d-4)={{d-3}\choose 2}=\nu_2(X_P)$. We get the following lemma.
\[lemma g=1 delightful\] In the notation of above, $D$ is $2$-delightful if and only if there exists a triangle $T$ such that $D'=D\setminus T$ is $2$-delightful and such that there are exactly $d-4$ triangles in $D$ not intersecting $T$.
Assume $k=2$. We start from the base case, $d=5$ and then we increase the degree by adding a triangle. In this way we can exploit Lemma \[lemma g=1 delightful\] and cover all cases $5\leq d\leq9$.
We first consider the sub-polytopes of the triangle $P^1(3,9,3)$, i.e. the ones corresponding to internal projections of the $3$-ple Veronese embedding of ${\mathbb{P}}^2$ in ${\mathbb{P}}^9$. Fix $d=5$.
There are finitely many (regular) triangulations of each of these polytopes, up to equiaffinity. A part from the cases with five triangles covering the interior lattice point (see Table \[caso ellittico sec 1\], first row), and from the case
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
,
the remaining configurations contain a unique skew $2$-set, so they are $2$-delightful. It is easy and left to the reader.
Now fix $d=6$. The only possible way to get $2$-delightful triangulations of $P^1(4,6,2)$ is adding a triangle $T$ to the $2$-delightful triangulations of subpolytopes with $d=5$ such that there are $2$ triangles in $D$ not intersecting $T$, by Lemma \[lemma g=1 delightful\]. The candidates have to be chosen among the following configurations
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
and
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(-1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
.
The first set was obtained by adding a triangle to the $2$-delightful triangulations of the quadrilateral $P^1(4,5,2)$ in Figure \[delightful elliptic\]. Instead, to get the second set of configurations we first chose representatives of the equiaffinity class of the $2$-delightful triangulations of $P^1(5,5,1)$ depicted in Figure \[delightful elliptic\], namely
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}
$\cong$
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}
and
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(-1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
$\cong$
(40,45)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}
,
and then we added a triangle, as shown in the pictures. There are two triangles not intersecting $T$ in the first, the forth and the sixth triangulation of $P(5,6,2)$ depicted above, so in these cases there are in all three skew $2$-sets and we have $2$-delightfulness.
Similarly, for $P¹(5,6,2)$ we may choose among the following configurations
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
and
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
The second triangulation is $2$-delightful and the same holds for the third and the fifth which are lattice equivalent. While the remaining configurations contain less than $3$ pairs of disjoint triangles.
For the hexagon $P^1(6,6,1)$, the candidates are
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(2,1)[40]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
and
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(40,0)[(-1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}
Just the first and the third, which are lattice equivalent, are $2$-delightful.
For $d=7,8$, namely for the polytopes $P^1(4,7,3)$, $P^1(5,7,2)$ and $P^1(4,8,3)$, the proof is similar and the details are left to the reader.
Consider finally the triangle $P^1(3,9,3)$. If there was any $2$-delightful triangulation, it would be obtained by adding a triangle to some $2$-delightful triangulation of $P^1(4,8,3)$, i.e.,
(60,60)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[60]{}]{}(0,60)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,60)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(60,60)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[60]{}]{}(0,60)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,11)[40]{}]{}(40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,60)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
but they both are not $2$-delightful. Now we analyze the remaining polytopes. To get possible $2$-delightful triangulations of $P^1(4,8,2)$ we add a triangle to the $2$-delightful triangulations of $P^1(5,7,2)$ in Figure \[delightful elliptic\]:
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
(40,40)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,11)[40]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,40)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(40,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}
.
The second is the unique that is $2$-delightful since $T$ is disjoint from four distinct triangles and we have six more skew $2$-sets from the subdivision of $P^1(5,7,2)$. So $\bar{\nu}_2(D)=10$.
Consider $P^1(3,6,3)$. The candidates are the configurations obtained by adding a triangle to the $2$-delightful triangulations of $P^1(4,5,2)$. We get:
(60,40)(-20,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,2)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (-20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(-20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(00,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(60,40)(-20,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,0)[(0,1)[40]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (-20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(-20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(00,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
(60,40)(-20,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(20,40)[(1,-2)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}(20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (-20,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{}(-20,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{}(00,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{}
.
The first and the second are $2$-delightful, since we have two skew $2$-sets coming from the triangulation of $P^1(4,5,2)$ and one more pair involving $T$.
Finally, for $P^1(3,8,4)$ the proof is similar and left to the reader.
Now assume $k\geq3$. If $P=P^1(4,8,3)$, then ${\operatorname{Sec}}_3(X_P)$ fills up the space ${\mathbb{P}}^8$. The subdivisions of $P$ depicted in Figure \[delightful elliptic\], that are $2$-delightful, are also $3$-delightful since a (unique) skew $3$-set exists in both of them. In all other cases, namely for $P$ not belonging to the class $P=P^1(4,8,3)$ and $D$ as in Figure \[delightful elliptic\], we have $\dim({\operatorname{Sec}}_3(X))<8$, see Section \[secant degree\].
Tables
======
In the following tables, we collect the triangulations of polytopes with $g\leq 1$, in which all the triangles have a common vertex $p$. They are non-delightful and in particular correspond to the singularities that cause $k$-delightfulness defect, for $k=2,3$, see Theorem \[general sum\].
In the first column we draw the subdivision of the polytope $Q=Q_p$; the degree of $Z=Z_{p}$, which corresponds to the number of triangles, is written in the second column, while the numbers $\nu_2(Z)$ and $\nu_3(Z)$ are collected respectively in the third and in the fourth column.
[|l|l|c|c|c|]{} & triangulation of $Q$ & $\deg(Z)$ & $\nu_2(Z)$ & $\nu_3(Z)$\
1.&
(60,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
(60,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{}(0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{}(0,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (-3,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 4 & 1 & /\
2.&
(60,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (40,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 4 & 1 & /\
3.&
(80,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
(80,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(4,-1)[80]{}]{} (20,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (-3,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 5 & 3 & /\
4.&
(60,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (40,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 5 & 3 & /\
5.&
(100,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[100]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (20,20)[(4,-1)[80]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
(110,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[100]{}]{} (20,20)[(4,-1)[80]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (0,20)[(4,-1)[80]{}]{} (0,20)[(5,-1)[100]{}]{} (-3,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 6 & 6 &/\
6.&
(80,25)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[80]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (20,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (40,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (20,20)[(3,-1)[60]{}]{} (17,16)[$\bullet$]{}
& 6 & 6 &/\
7.&
(80,20)(0,-5) $S(1,\delta-1)$
&
(20,20)(0,-5) $ \delta\geq 7$
&
(20,20)(0,-5) $ {{\delta-2}\choose{2}}$
&
(5,20)(0,-5) /
\
8.&
(80,20)(0,-5) $S(2,\delta-2)$
&
(20,20)(0,-5) $ \delta\geq 7$
&
(20,20)(0,-5) $ {{\delta-2}\choose{2}}$
&
(20,20)(0,-5) $ {{\delta-4}\choose{3}}$
\
[|l|l|c|c|c|]{} & triangulation of $Q$ & $\deg(Z)$ & $\nu_2(Z)$ & $\nu_3(Z)$\
1. &
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (10,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,10)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (20,0)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-2)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 5 & 1 & /\
2.&
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,10)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (10,0)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (8,8)[$\bullet$]{}
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,10)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (20,0)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
(35,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (0,20)[(3,-2)[30]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 6 & 3 & /\
3. &
(25,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
(35,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (10,10)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (30,0)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 7 & 6 & /\
4. &
(25,22.5)(0,0)(0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (20,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[20]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
(45,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[40]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[10]{}]{} (0,20)[(2,-1)[40]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (10,10)[(3,-1)[30]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 8 & 10 & /\
5.&
(35,22.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,0)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (30,0)[(-1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,20)[(1,-1)[10]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 8 & 10 & 1\
6.&
(35,32.5)(0,0) (0,0)[(0,1)[30]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,0)[30]{}]{} (0,30)[(1,-1)[30]{}]{} (0,0)[(1,1)[10]{}]{} (0,10)[(1,0)[20]{}]{} (10,0)[(0,1)[20]{}]{} (0,20)[(1,-1)[20]{}]{} (10,10)[(2,-1)[20]{}]{} (10,10)[(-1,2)[10]{}]{} (8.5,8.5)[$\bullet$]{}
& 9 & 15 & 4\
Acknowledgements {#acknowledgements .unnumbered}
================
I would like to thank C. Ciliberto for introducing me to the problem of studying secant varieties and suggesting to me the idea of using toric degenerations as a tool to compute the secant degrees, while I was a PhD student of him. I also want to thank B. Sturmfels for suggesting me to classify the delightful triangulations. Finally, I am deeply grateful to R. Piene for many helpful and stimulating discussions during the preparation of this paper.
[10]{}
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M. V. Catalisano, A. V. Geramita, and A. Gimigliano. On the ideals of secant varieties to certain rational varieties. , 319(5):1913–1931, 2008.
L. Chiantini and C. Ciliberto. Weakly defective varieties. , 354(1):151–178 (electronic), 2002.
L. Chiantini and C. Ciliberto. On the concept of [$k$]{}-secant order of a variety. , 73(2):436–454, 2006.
C. Ciliberto, O. Dumitrescu, and R. Miranda. Degenerations of the [V]{}eronese and applications. , 16(5, Linear systems and subschemes):771–798, 2009.
C. Ciliberto and F. Russo. Varieties with minimal secant degree and linear systems of maximal dimension on surfaces. , 200(1):1–50, 2006.
D. Cox and J. Sidman. Secant varieties of toric varieties. , 209(3):651–669, 2007.
O. Dumitrescu. . PhD thesis, Colorado State University, 2010.
S. Hu. Semistable degeneration of toric varieties and their hypersurfaces. , 14(1):59–89, 2006.
P. Le Barz. Formules pour les trisécantes des surfaces algébriques. , 33(1-2):1–66, 1987.
M. Lehn. Chern classes of tautological sheaves on [H]{}ilbert schemes of points on surfaces. , 136(1):157–207, 1999.
E Postinghel. . PhD thesis, Università degli Studi Roma Tre, 2010.
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[^1]: The author was partially supported by Marie-Curie IT Network SAGA, \[FP7/2007-2013\] grant agreement PITN-GA- 2008-214584.
| 2023-08-13T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5809 |
Q:
C++ use traits like in PHP
I am searching a solution how I can define reusable code in C++ like traits in PHP.
Description of the problem:
I have three classes (Class, Customer, Admin) and each class must sometimes perform the same action like inserting a new child, adding a new address or adding a new class (same with update and remove action). I want to avoid too develop these functions in every class again.
Further more I would be very nice if these functions are separated from the class "product_name". I don't want to write all these functions into the class "product_name" or "product", because otherwise the class becomes too confusing for too many functions.
Edit
The name of the class "product_name" is a placeholder for my product. At the moment I don't know the name of my product :). And the parent class "product" is a collection point for all products that I would like to develop in the future. I created this class, because I want to use Single-Sign-On and the same user database... So I must develop these parts only once!
Class Diagram of my wish:
A:
C++ is differ from the PHP in many aspects. This is how you can design your domain driven DAO in C++.
This example uses POCO library for database connectivity. You can use any another library for the same propose.
enum class Role {
ADMIN,
CUSTOMER,
SCHOOL_ACCOUNT
}
class User {
protected:
constexpr User(Role role) noexcept:
role_(role)
{}
public:
User(const User&) = delete;
User& operator=(const User&) = delete;
Role role() const noexcept {
return role_;
}
virtual const char* id() const = 0;
virtual ~User() = 0;
private:
Role role_;
};
User::~User()
{}
class MyIDGenerator {
public:
static std::string generate() {
static POCO::UUIDGenerator gen;
return gen.create().toString();
}
};
class Customer final: public User {
public:
Customer() noexcept:
User(Role.CUSTOMER),
id_( MyIDGenerator::generate() )
{}
virtual const char* id() const override
{
return id_.data();
}
virtual ~Customer() override
{}
private:
std::string id_;
}
...
// define your Admin and School
...
class Product {
public:
Product():
id_( MyIDGenerator::generate() )
{}
void insertUser(const User* user, const Poco::Data::Session& session) {
// execute your SQL hire i.e. something like
POCO::Data::Statement insert(session);
insert << "insert into product_allowed_user values(?,?) << use(id_) << use(user->id());
insert.execute();
}
private:
std::string id_;
}
| 2023-12-03T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5572 |
= 7 mm
****
REEXAMINATION OF STANDARD SOLAR MODEL
TO THE SOLAR NEUTRINO PROBLEMS
K. FUKASAKU and T. FUJITA
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology
Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan
[ABSTRACT]{}
We examine the calculation of the solar neutrino flux based on the standard solar model (SSM). It is found that the solar neutrino data ( KAMIOKANDE experiment ) can be well described by the SSM with careful employment of nuclear data of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$. The main point is that the simple-minded product ansatz of Coulomb plus nuclear parts should have a few percent uncertainties which induce the large reduction of the neutrino flux from $^8 B$. Also, if the electron capture of $^7 Be$ inside the sun is suppressed, then the GALLEX experiment can be understood by the SSM calculation.
1. [Introduction]{}
The solar neutrino problem is a long standing puzzle. The discrepancy between theoretical predictions of the neutrino flux by the standard solar model (SSM) and the observed data is still believed to be a factor of 2 or more \[1\]. This problem, however, has produced many different kinds of refinements of solar internal structure model as well as new ideas in neutrino physics such as neutrino oscillations \[2\].
In this paper, we reexamine the calculation of the standard solar model by carefully considering the nuclear reaction data. To this claim, we may face criticisms that the nuclear reaction parts must have already been examined very carefully by all of the previous calculations. This is certainly right. The nuclear reaction data have been improved a lot and only those refined data have been employed.
However, there is one important point which is required to reconsider in the previous calculations. That is, the Coulomb part calculated by the WKB method. The Coulomb coefficients can be calculated quite reliably if it is only one body problem. However, if it involves many body nature in the nuclear reaction, it is not very clear to what accuracy one can believe the WKB results even though we know that they cannot be very bad.
Also, one knows in nuclear physics that the Coulomb problem is not as simple as one at first thinks. The Nolen-Schiffer anomaly is a good example \[3\]. The Coulomb displacement energy is not well described if one wants to discuss it to a very high accuracy \[4\].
Here, the problem is that the high energy neutrino flux is very sensitive to the Coulomb coefficients. In fact, the few percent change of the Coulomb coefficients may sometimes induce a large effect on the neutrino flux, leaving most of the solar structure quantities unchanged. In particular, the nuclear reaction data of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ is most sensitive to the high energy part of the solar neutrino flux. As we will see below, a few percent increase of the Coulomb coefficient is enough to reduce the neutrino flux by a factor of 5. Furthermore, the choice of the new Coulomb coefficient is perfectly consistent with the existing reaction data of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ \[5\]. At the same time, we reproduce all of the physical quantities of the solar internal structure at the same level of accuracy as the previous calculations of SSM.
To summarize our results of the neutrino flux, we obtain the following neutrino capture rates for GALLEX \[6\], KAMIOKANDE \[7\], SAGE \[8\] and Homestake (Davis et al. \[9\] ). Here, BP95 and DS96 denote the recent calculations by Bahcall and Pinsonneaul \[10\], and Dar and Shaviv \[11\], respectively. We present the two different calculations ( Case I and Case II ) which will be explained below in detail.
\
------------------------------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -----------------------------------------
\[0pt\] \[0pt\] \[0pt\][BP95]{} \[0pt\][DS96]{} \[0pt\][Experiment]{}
\[0pt\][Homestake(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][4.5]{} \[0pt\][3.4]{} \[0pt\][$9.3\pm1.4$]{} \[0pt\][$4.1\pm1.2$]{} \[0pt\][$2.55\pm0.17\pm0.18$]{}
\[0pt\][KAMIOKANDE]{}
\[0pt\][(10$^{6}$cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{} \[0pt\][2.9]{} \[0pt\][1.9]{} \[0pt\][6.62]{} \[0pt\][2.49]{} \[0pt\][2.73$\pm$0.17$\pm$0.34]{}
\[0pt\][GALLEX(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][116]{} \[0pt\][114]{} \[0pt\][137$\pm$8]{} \[0pt\][115$\pm$6]{} \[0pt\][77.1$\pm$8.5$^{+4.4}_{-5.4}$]{}
\[0pt\][SAGE(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][116]{} \[0pt\][114]{} \[0pt\][137$\pm$8]{} \[0pt\][115$\pm$6]{} \[0pt\][69$\pm$10$^{+5}_{-7}$]{}
------------------------------------------ ---------------- ---------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -----------------------------------------
2. [The Standard Solar Model]{}
The internal structure of the sun is by now described reasonably well by the standard solar model. The chain of nuclear reactions is well understood. The description of the sun reduces to several couples of differential equations which should be solved mostly by numerical calculations. Among the parameters that enter in the equations, the opacity coefficient must be most ambiguous. However, recent studies to refine the SSM enable us to remove the ambiguity of the opacity fairly well. In connection with the solar neutrino problems, the ambiguity of the opacity may lead to a correction of a few tens of percents to the neutrino flux. In this respect, we have only a very little freedom left for neutrino flux \[1\].
The energy of the sun is governed by the nuclear reaction cross sections. The energy production rate $\epsilon_{12}$ for $1+2 \rightarrow 3+4+Q$ reaction is described by
$$\epsilon_{12} = {QN_1 N_2 < \sigma v >
\over{ \left( 1+\delta_{12} \right) \rho}}
\quad {\rm erg/g} \cdot {\rm s}$$
where $N_1$ and $N_2$ are the number of particles in the reactions.
Further, the $ < \sigma v > $ can be parametrized for nuclear reactions in the following way except $^7 Be ( e,\nu_e ) ^7Li $ reaction,
$$N_A < \sigma v > = C_1 T_9^{-{2\over 3}} \exp \left( -C_2T_9^{-{1\over 3}}
- \left( {T_9\over{T_0}} \right)^2 \right)$$ $$\times
\left( 1+C_3T_9^{{1\over 3}}+C_4T_9^{{2\over 3}} +C_5T_9+C_6T_9^{{4\over 3}} +
C_7T_9^{{5\over 3}} \right) +C_8T_9^{-{2\over 3}}
\exp \left( -C_9T_9^{-1} \right) \eqno{(2.1)}$$
For the $^7 Be ( e,\nu_e ) ^7Li $ reaction, we employ the following form, $$N_A < \sigma v > = 1.34\times 10^{10} T_9^{-{1\over 2}}$$ $$\qquad \times
\left(1 -0.537T_9^{{1\over 3}}
+3.86 {T_9^{2\over3}}+1.2T_9+0.0027T_9
\exp \left( {0.002515\over{T_9}} \right) \right) \eqno{(2.2)}$$
Here, $N_A$ denotes Avogadro number. $T_9$ is measured by $10^9$ $K$.
The values of the parameters $C_1,..., C_9, T_0 $ are determined from the nuclear reaction data and are listed in ref.\[1,12\].
The temperature $T$ and the density $\rho$ of the sun are determined by solving the following coupled equations,
$${dP\over{dr}}= - {GM\rho \over{r^2}} \eqno{(2.3a)}$$
$${dM\over{dr}}= 4\pi r^2 \rho \eqno{(2.3b)}$$
$${dL\over{dr}}= 4\pi r^2 \rho \epsilon \eqno{(2.3c)}$$
$${dT\over{dr}}= - {3\kappa\rho L \over{16\pi acr^2 T^3}} \qquad
{\rm for \ \ radiative} \eqno{(2.3d)}$$
$${dT\over{dr}}= {1\over{(n+1)_{ad}}}{T\over{P}}{dP \over{dr}} \qquad
{\rm for \ \ convective} \eqno{(2.3e)}$$
where $P$, $M$ and $L$ denote the pressure, the interior mass and the luminosity, respectively. Also, $a$ and $c$ are radiation density constant and the velocity of light. Further, $\kappa$ and $(n+1)_{ad}$ denote the opacity and adiabatic coefficient, respectively.
3. [$^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ reaction]{}
Now, we want to discuss the nuclear reaction $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ since this is obviously the most important reaction to produce high energy neutrinos. In particular, we want to focus on the penetration factor $P_{Coul}$. This is expressed in terms of the WKB calculation as
$$P_{Coul} ={C_0\over{\sqrt{E}}} \exp \left( -2\pi \eta \right)
\eqno{(3.1)}$$
where $C_0$ is a constant and $\eta$ can be described as
$$\eta = {Z_1 Z_2 e^{2}\over{\hbar v}} =
{Z_1 Z_2 e^2 \sqrt{\mu}
\over{\hbar \sqrt{2} }}{1\over{\sqrt{E}}} \eqno{(3.2)}$$ where $\mu$ denotes the reduced mass of the interacting particles. To the first order approximation, one may assume that the cross section can be described as a product of $P_{Coul}$ and the nuclear part $P_{Nucl}$ that is connected to the probability to make nuclear reactions.
$$\sigma (E) = {1\over{v}} P_{Coul} P_{Nucl} = {S(E)\over E}
\exp (-2\pi \eta) \eqno{(3.3)}$$
where $S(E)$ is a nuclear spectroscopic factor.
Now, the question is to what accuracy we can believe the product ansatz of eq.(3.3) even though the WKB estimation is taken to be reliable. This is connected to the fact that the nuclear reaction of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ should be treated as a many body problem. Recent calculations by Brown et al.\[13\] show rather a large value of $S(0)$.
On the other hand, Xu et al. \[14\] claim that the $S(0)$ value extracted from $^8 B \rightarrow p+Be$ decay vertex constant is consistent with the observed value of Filippone et al. ($S(0) \sim 17.5 \ eV$ ) \[5\]. Thus, it is still far beyond determining the Coulomb coefficient to the accuracy of a few percent in the realistic nuclear many body calculations.
Here, we do not want to rely on the simple-minded product ansatz of eq.(3.3). Instead, we assume the following form for $\sigma (E)$,
$$\sigma (E) = {B\over{E}} \exp \left[
{-{A\over{\sqrt{E}}}} \right] \eqno{(3.4)}$$
where $A$ and $B$ are free parameters which should be determined by reproducing the nuclear reaction data. We stress that our aim is not to reproduce theoretically the cross section data, but to find out some parameter sets that reproduce the observed cross section \[5\].
In fig.1, we show the comparison of the observed cross section of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ with that reproduced by eq.(3.4) with two choices of the parameter set $A$ and $B$. The first case (Case I) is the best fit to the nuclear cross section with the fixed value of $A$ which is estimated by the WKB method. They are $A=4.70\times 10^{-3}$ $ {\rm erg}^{1\over 2}$ and $B=17.5 \ eV$. In the second case (Case II), we make the best fit to the nuclear cross section varying the values of the parameters $A$ and $B$ freely. We find that the best fit values of $A$ and $B$ are $A=4.80 \times 10^{-3}$ $ {\rm erg}^{1\over 2}$ and $B=20.0 \ eV$.
As can be seen, there are obviously some ambiguities which arises from the difficulty of the Coulomb cross sections once we want to understand it to a very high accuracy. With these two cases of the parameters, we can calculate the neutrino flux in the sun.
4. [The solar structure]{}
In the previous section, we have determined the parameters of the cross section $< \sigma v >$ for the $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ reaction. For other reaction cross sections, we have used the same values of parameters as those used in the calculation of Bahcall et al \[15\].
Here, we want to show our calculated result of the solar structure quantities. In fig.2, we show the luminosity and the temperature of the sun as the function of the solar radius. The solid lines are the calculated results where the reaction cross section of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$ is used with the parameters $A$ and $B$ ( Case I ) as determined above. All the other nuclear data are the same as those used in the calculations of Bahcall et al. On the other hand, the dashed lines indicate the calculated luminosity and temperature by Bahcall et al. As can be seen from these figures, the shape of the luminosity and the temperature are almost the same between the two calculations.
Therefore, we can conclude that the solar structure quantities are not so much influenced by the change of nuclear reaction data of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$, as expected.
5. [The neutrino flux]{}
Since we know now how many reactions occur inside the sun, we can calculate the neutrino flux.
In table 1, we show the neutrino fluxes as well as the capture rates at the Earth for GALLEX, KAMIOKANDE and Homestake experiments. In table 1a, we show the calculated results by Bahcall et al. \[15\] while, in table 1b, the calculations by Dar and Shaviv \[11\] are shown. In table 1c, we show our calculated results with the Case I while, in table 1d, the results with the Case II are shown.
As can be seen from the table 1, the present calculations with the Case I are very similar to the ones by Dar and Shaviv. Therefore, it is confirmed that the KAMIOKANDE experiment is indeed consistent with the SSM calculations with the careful employment of the nuclear reaction cross section of $^7 Be (p, \gamma) ^8 B $.
Further, the case II indicates that the ambiguity of the coulomb coefficient is so large that one has to be very careful for drawing any conclusions on the solar neutrino problems. At least, the result of the case II suggests that, once the $^7Be$ neutrino flux is suppressed, then there is a fairly good chance that all the neutrino experiments fall into the range of the SSM predictions.
For the Case II, one sees that the cross section of $^7 Be (p, \gamma) ^8 B $ is best fitted. Here, the Coulomb coefficient is slightly different from the WKB value. In this parameter set, we find that the neutrino flux for KAMIOKAMDE is a little bit too small compared to the data. Instead, the Homestake and GALLEX experiments will be in the range of the present calculation once the $^7Be$ neutrino flux is suppressed.
Also, in the Case II, the $S(0)$ value is found to be $S(0)=20 \ eV$. This suggests that the $S(0)$ factor depends on the factorization ansatz of eq.(3.3).
6. [Conclusions]{}
We have presented a new calculation of the standard solar model with the emphasis on the careful considerations of the nuclear reactions of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$.
We show here that the solar neutrino capture rates are consistent with the observed data for the KAMIOKANDE experiments. We believe that possible refinements may improve the accuracy of the neutrino capture rates by $20 \sim 30$ % so that the GALLEX experiments may well be in the range of the SSM picture. In particular, the suppression of the $^7 Be$ electron capture inside the sun will lead to the understanding of the GALLEX and Homestake experiments in a natural way.
Therefore, we conclude that the solar neutrino fluxes are mostly consistent with the standard solar model with careful considerations of the nuclear reactions of $^7Be (p,\gamma ) ^{8} B$.
In the course of the present study, we received a preprint of the new calculation by Dar and Shaviv which shows very similar results to the present calculations. This confirms that the present result does not so much depend on the modeling of the sun as far as we take into account the gross structure of the sun.
Acknowledments: We thank C. Itoi for discussions and comments.
[Reference]{}
1\. J.N. Bahcall and M.H. Pinsonneault, Rev. Mod. Phys. [**64**]{} (1992), 885
J.N. Bahcall, Neutrino Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,1989)
2\. P. Mikheyev and A.Y. Smirnov, Yad. Fiz. [**42**]{} (1985), 1441
L. Wolfenstein, Phys. Rev. [**D17**]{} (1978), 2369
3\. J.A. Nolen and J.P. Schiffer, Ann. Rev. Nucl. Sci. [**19**]{} (1969), 471
4\. S. Shlomo, Rep. Prog. Phys. [**41**]{} (1978), 957
5\. Fillippone, B.W. et al., Phys. Rev. [**C 28**]{} (1983), 2222
6\. GALLEX Collaboration, P. Anselmann et al., Phys. Lett. [**B 327**]{} (1994) 377
\(1995) 440, [**357**]{} (1995), 237
7\. K.S. Hirata et al., Phys. Rev Lett. [**63**]{} (1989), 16
T. Kajita, ICRR-Report, 332-94-27 (December 1994)
8\. SAGE Collaboration, S.R. Elliott et al., Nucl. Phys. [**B 48**]{} (1996), 375
9\. B.T. Cleveland et al., Nucl. Phys. [**B 38**]{} (1995), 47
R. Davis, Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys. [**32**]{} (1994), 13
10\. J. Bahcall and M. Pinsonneault, Rev. Mod. Phys. [**67**]{} (1995), 1
11\. A. Dar and G. Shaviv, Ap. J. [**468**]{} (1996), 933
12\. K.R. Lang, Astrophysical Formulae (Springer, Berlin, 1980)
13\. B.A. Brown, A. Csoto and R. Sherr, Nucl. Phys. [**A597**]{} (1996), 66
14\. H.M. Xu, et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. [**73**]{} (1994), 2027
15\. J.N. Bahcall and R. Ulrich, Rev. Mod. Phys. [**60**]{} (1988), 297
: We plot the calculated neutrino flux from various nuclear reactions together with the experiments. Table 1a shows the calculation by Bahcall and Ulrich \[15\] while Table 1b plots the calculation by Dar and Shaviv \[11\]. Tables 1c and 1d are the present calculations with the parameter sets of Case I and Case II, respectively.
[Figure captions]{}
: We show the nuclear cross section of $^7 Be (p,\gamma) ^8 B$. The black circles with error bars are the observed data by Filippone et al \[5\]. The solid line is our calculation with the Case I parameters while the dashed line with the Case II parameters.
: The properties of the internal structure of the sun are shown as the function of the radius. The solid lines show the present calculations while the dashed lines the ones by Bahcall et al \[15\]. The $L$, $M$, $T$, $\rho$ and $P$ denote the luminosity, the mass, the temperature, the density and the pressure of the sun.
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----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
\[0pt\][source]{} \[0pt\][Flux]{} \[0pt\][Homestake]{} \[0pt\][GALLEX]{} \[0pt\][SAGE]{} \[0pt\][KAMIOKANDE]{}
\[0pt\][(cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(10$^{6}$cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{}
\[0pt\][$pp$]{} \[0pt\][$6.0\times10^{10}$]{} \[0pt\][—]{} \[0pt\][70.8]{} \[0pt\][70.8]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$pep$]{} \[0pt\][$1.4\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.2]{} \[0pt\][ 3.0]{} \[0pt\][ 3.0]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{7}$Be]{} \[0pt\][$4.7\times10^{9}$]{} \[0pt\][1.1]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{8}$B]{} \[0pt\][$5.8\times10^{6}$]{} \[0pt\][6.1]{} \[0pt\][14.0]{} \[0pt\][14.0]{} \[0pt\][5.8]{}
\[0pt\][$^{13}$N]{} \[0pt\][$6.1\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.1]{} \[0pt\][ 3.8]{} \[0pt\][ 3.8]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{15}$O]{} \[0pt\][$5.2\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.3]{} \[0pt\][ 6.1]{} \[0pt\][ 6.1]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][Total]{} \[0pt\][7.9]{} \[0pt\][132]{} \[0pt\][132]{} \[0pt\][5.8]{}
\[0pt\][Experiment]{} \[0pt\][$2.55\pm0.25$]{} \[0pt\][$77.1\pm8.5^{+4.4}_{-5.4}$]{} \[0pt\][$69\pm10^{+5}_{-7}$]{} \[0pt\][$2.73\pm0.17\pm0.34$]{}
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
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\
\
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
\[0pt\][source]{} \[0pt\][Flux]{} \[0pt\][Homestake]{} \[0pt\][GALLEX]{} \[0pt\][SAGE]{} \[0pt\][KAMIOKANDE]{}
\[0pt\][(cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(10$^{6}$cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{}
\[0pt\][$pp$]{} \[0pt\][$6.1\times10^{10}$]{} \[0pt\][—]{} \[0pt\][72.0]{} \[0pt\][72.0]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$pep$]{} \[0pt\][$1.43\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.20]{} \[0pt\][3.06]{} \[0pt\][3.06]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{7}$Be]{} \[0pt\][$3.71\times10^{9}$]{} \[0pt\][0.87]{} \[0pt\][27.1]{} \[0pt\][27.1]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{8}$B]{} \[0pt\][$2.49\times10^{6}$]{} \[0pt\][2.62]{} \[0pt\][6.01]{} \[0pt\][6.01]{} \[0pt\][2.49]{}
\[0pt\][$^{13}$N]{} \[0pt\][$3.82\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.06]{} \[0pt\][2.38]{} \[0pt\][2.38]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{15}$O]{} \[0pt\][$3.74\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.22]{} \[0pt\][4.39]{} \[0pt\][4.39]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][Total]{} \[0pt\][4.1]{} \[0pt\][115]{} \[0pt\][115]{} \[0pt\][2.49]{}
\[0pt\][Experiment]{} \[0pt\][$2.55\pm0.25$]{} \[0pt\][$77.1\pm8.5^{+4.4}_{-5.4}$]{} \[0pt\][$69\pm10^{+5}_{-7}$]{} \[0pt\][$2.73\pm0.17\pm0.34$]{}
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
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\
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
\[0pt\][source]{} \[0pt\][Flux]{} \[0pt\][Homestake]{} \[0pt\][GALLEX]{} \[0pt\][SAGE]{} \[0pt\][KAMIOKANDE]{}
\[0pt\][(cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(10$^{6}$cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{}
\[0pt\][$pp$]{} \[0pt\][$5.7\times10^{10}$]{} \[0pt\][—]{} \[0pt\][67.3]{} \[0pt\][67.3]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$pep$]{} \[0pt\][$1.4\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.20]{} \[0pt\][3.00]{} \[0pt\][3.00]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{7}$Be]{} \[0pt\][$4.7\times10^{9}$]{} \[0pt\][1.10]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{8}$B]{} \[0pt\][$2.9\times10^{6}$]{} \[0pt\][3.05]{} \[0pt\][7.00]{} \[0pt\][7.00]{} \[0pt\][2.9]{}
\[0pt\][$^{13}$N]{} \[0pt\][$3.7\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.06]{} \[0pt\][2.30]{} \[0pt\][2.30]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{15}$O]{} \[0pt\][$2.2\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.13]{} \[0pt\][2.58]{} \[0pt\][2.58]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][Total]{} \[0pt\][4.5]{} \[0pt\][116]{} \[0pt\][116]{} \[0pt\][2.9]{}
\[0pt\][Experiment]{} \[0pt\][$2.55\pm0.25$]{} \[0pt\][$77.1\pm8.5^{+4.4}_{-5.4}$]{} \[0pt\][$69\pm10^{+5}_{-7}$]{} \[0pt\][$2.73\pm0.17\pm0.34$]{}
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
\
\
\
\
\
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
\[0pt\][source]{} \[0pt\][Flux]{} \[0pt\][Homestake]{} \[0pt\][GALLEX]{} \[0pt\][SAGE]{} \[0pt\][KAMIOKANDE]{}
\[0pt\][(cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(SNU)]{} \[0pt\][(10$^{6}$cm$^{-2}$sec$^{-1}$)]{}
\[0pt\][$pp$]{} \[0pt\][$5.7\times10^{10}$]{} \[0pt\][—]{} \[0pt\][67.3]{} \[0pt\][67.3]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$pep$]{} \[0pt\][$1.4\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.20]{} \[0pt\][3.00]{} \[0pt\][3.00]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{7}$Be]{} \[0pt\][$4.7\times10^{9}$]{} \[0pt\][1.10]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][34.3]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{8}$B]{} \[0pt\][$1.9\times10^{6}$]{} \[0pt\][1.95]{} \[0pt\][4.47]{} \[0pt\][4.47]{} \[0pt\][1.9]{}
\[0pt\][$^{13}$N]{} \[0pt\][$3.7\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.06]{} \[0pt\][2.30]{} \[0pt\][2.30]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][$^{15}$O]{} \[0pt\][$2.2\times10^{8}$]{} \[0pt\][0.13]{} \[0pt\][2.58]{} \[0pt\][2.58]{} \[0pt\][—]{}
\[0pt\][Total]{} \[0pt\][3.4]{} \[0pt\][114]{} \[0pt\][114]{} \[0pt\][1.9]{}
\[0pt\][Experiment]{} \[0pt\][$2.55\pm0.25$]{} \[0pt\][$77.1\pm8.5^{+4.4}_{-5.4}$]{} \[0pt\][$69\pm10^{+5}_{-7}$]{} \[0pt\][$2.73\pm0.17\pm0.34$]{}
----------------------- ---------------------------------- -------------------------- --------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
| 2024-05-13T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5350 |
Semiconductor light emitting circuits may include one or more semiconductor Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). As is well known to those having skill in the art, a light emitting diode includes a plurality of semiconductor layers that are configured to emit light upon energization thereof.
In order to increase the light output of a semiconductor light emitting circuit, it may be desirable to provide multiple LEDs in the circuit. Multiple LEDs may be connected in parallel. However, to reduce or prevent current hogging by one of the LEDs, it may be desirable to provide voltage matched LEDs. Unfortunately, voltage matched LEDs may increase the cost of the semiconductor light emitting circuit. In other semiconductor light emitting circuits, a plurality of LEDs are connected in a series string. Unfortunately, if one LED in the string fails and becomes an open circuit, the entire string may fail to light due to the open circuit.
It is known to shunt one or more Zener diodes across an LED, to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2001/0032985 A1 to Bhat et al. and 2002/0139987 A1 to Collins, III et al., and European Patent Application No. EP 1 020 935 A2 to Maeda et al. | 2023-08-12T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5403 |
Aspergillus spp are ubiquitous fungi acquired by inhalation of airborne spores and may cause life-threatening infections especially in immunocompromised hosts. Aspergillus spp are commonly isolated from the soil, plant debris, and the indoor environment, including hospitals. Aspergillus can effect different organ systems. The most frequently involved organs are the lungs. Pulmonary aspergilloma (PA) is an infectious disease originating from colonization of Aspergillus fumigatus in lung cavities and it is frequently and concomitantly present with pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis cavity, sarcoidosis, cavitary neoplasia, bronchiectasia, lung abscess, bronchial cyst and pulmonary infarct.[@ref1]--[@ref3] Aspergillus cause three different groups of diseases in lungs including allergic, colonized and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Demonstrating specific hyphae in tissue specimens histopathologically is diagnostic for aspergillus. If it is not treated, mortality of invasive aspergillosis reaches up to 100%. Long term antifungal therapy is generally required.[@ref1]--[@ref4]
Although IPA is seen in neutropenic patients or in immuncompromised patients due to any reason, it may rarely appear in immun competent patients.[@ref4] This paper presents an IA case with fatal course determined on the follow up of a patient in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) clinic. The patient had no immundeficiency condition in the clinic\'s intensive care unit (ICU).
Case Report {#sec1-1}
===========
A 77-year-old male patient with previous history of tuberculosis, followed up with diagnoses of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Hyperthyroidism and *Diabetes Mellitus* (DM) for 10 years referred to emergency service with complaints of confusion, shortness of breath, tachycardia, hypothermia and hypotension. He was admitted to ICU with pre-diagnoses of acute respiratory failure and SIRS. The patient was intubated and connected to ventilator. There was a decrease in respiratory sounds, being more marked on the right lung, coarse rales, prolongation of expirium and bilateral biphasic expiratory ronchi on physical examination. An obstructive pattern was seen on the pulmonary function test of the patient\'s history. Other system findings were normal. Glascow Coma Score was 6, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II): 34, Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS): 8, and pulse: 122/min., arterial blood pressure: 82/41 mmHg, respiratory rate: 30/min., temperature: 35°C, Leukocyte: 27600/mm^3^, C-reactive protein (CRP): 52 mg/L, and remaining values were normal. He was also compatible with thyrotoxicosis \[free thyroxine (FT4) = 8.5 ng/dL (NR = 0.8-2.0), thyrotropin (TSH) \< 0.05 μIU/mL (NR = 0.3-4.0), thyroid receptor antibodies (TRAb) = 0.9 IU/mL, (NR \< 1.8)\]. Thyroid ultrasonography revealed a solid, hyperechoic nodule of 8.5 mm diameter in the right lobe. The patient was diagnosed as having Hyperthyroidism associated with Graves' thyrotoxicosis. Treatment with propranolol and methimazole was initiated. Pneumonic infiltration and increase in ground glass density were seen at the middle zone of right lung on chest X-ray ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). There was no pathology belonging to cardiac ischemia on ECG, except for diastolic dysfunction in *Echocardiography* (ECHO). He was 38.4°C at 2^th^ day, but no growth occurred on all cultures collected. So, Ampicilline-Sulbactam and Levofloxacin were given as empirical therapy. A*cid resistance bacteria* (ARB) were studied 3 times for excluding active tuberculosis and result came to be negative. No response could be obtained from the patient. Treatment of patient was substituted by Piperacilline/Tazobactam, Trimetoprim/Sulfametaxazol and Claritromycin at 7^th^ day, when his temperature did not decrease, had more severe clinical course and showed no regression of pneumonic infiltration. A bronchoscopy was performed due to a fungus ball seen on thoracic computed tomography (CT) ([Figure 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Lumens of the trachea and bronchi have become narrow and there were diffuse white-colored plaques. The thin-walled necrotic lesion, located in tuberculosis cavity at the middle lobe of right lung on thorax CT and having infiltration around was interpreted as crescent sign. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimens taken by bronchoscopy from the bronchiectatic lobe or segment bronchi showed areas of mixed active inflammation and fibrous scarring with microscopic abscess cavity and central bronchiectasis with dense peribronchial inflammation, fibrosis, and fungus ball and septate hyphae of Aspergillus fumigatus in hematoxylin-eosin-stained section ([Figure 3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). Aspergillus fumigatus grew on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture collected, and voriconazole treatment was started with loading dose of 1×400 mg i.v., and maintenance dose was given as 2×200 mg i.v. The patient\'s disease became more severe on 18^th^ day of therapy and he was lost due to multiple organ failure (MOF).
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{#F2}
{#F3}
Discussion {#sec1-2}
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Invasive fungal infections have started to be determined as cause of gradually increasing infection rates in non-immunsuppressed patients and patients admitted in ICU. There is a pulmonary involvement in 90% of Aspergillus infections, and in 70% of cases lungs are the only localization.[@ref2][@ref3] It is chronic and silent, but may rarely have fulminating and fatal course. Diffuse or localized cavity or infiltrative lesion may be seen on chest X-rays.[@ref4] Early diagnosis and therapy of the infection having high mortality is important in cases such as SIRS, because clinical condition of the patient may show more severe course if diagnosis is delayed, and the patient may be lost from MOF. While mortality is 100% in untreated cases, this ratio has decreased to 34% in cases taking am-photericin-B therapy. Mortality is between 20%-100% in major organ involvement or in disseminated cases.[@ref4]--[@ref6]
Beginning of PA is clinically insidious, and first symptoms are generally fever, cough, respiratory failure, chest pain, weight loss and hemoptisis. Local finding may not be present in physical examination, or findings of respiratory distress and consolidation are determined.[@ref4] Our patient had confusion, shortness of breath, hypothermia and hypotension. The patient was admitted to ICU with the pre-diagnosis of acute respiratory failure and SIRS.
Diagnosis is generally made radiologically. Differential diagnosis includes chronic pulmonary diseases such as tuberculosis, actinomycosis, histoplasmosis, and lung cancer. These diseases may appear with persistent segmental or lobar consolidation or masses with or without an internal low-attenuation area. When fungus ball formed, opacity belonging to ball is seen inside the cavity. When fungus ball does not fill the cavity completely, air remains between wall and ball, and this image is named air-crescent sign.[@ref3]--[@ref7] Bronchoscopy with BAL is generally helpful in the diagnosis of IPA, especially in patients with diffuse lung involvement. In addition to obtaining samples for fungal stain and culture, it may also be useful in detecting Aspergillus antigens in the BAL fluid, and excluding other infections.[@ref1][@ref3] Existence of previous tuberculosis in the private history of our patient has made us think that aspergillosis may present in diagnosis. Aspergillus fumigatus was determined on bronchoalveolar lavage culture obtained. Thorax CT was consistent with fungus ball and air-crescent sign located in tuberculosis cavity at the middle lobe of right lung seen on chest X-ray ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
Although no complete consensus could be obtained in treatment of Aspergilloma up to now, conservative approaches with antifungal agents and surgical approach forms the base of therapy. Although antifungal drugs are available as the first choice in treatment of PA, eradication is rare due to the presence of residual lesions, and therefore, recurrence is potentially possible in case of a new immunosupression.[@ref4][@ref5][@ref8] Surgical management is successfully provided by surgical excision of infected tissues in presence of Aspergillus sinusitis, cerebral mychetoma, infected prosthetic valve and localized pulmonary infection.[@ref4][@ref8] Our patient did not have any hemoptisis, and his poor general condition and his respiratory functions being at the boundary determined our selection for conservative approach. Amphotericin-B deoxycholate, the most frequently used drug in invasive aspergillosis and the oldest one in Polyene group drugs, is an approved standard drug, and efficiency and safety of newly developed antifungal agents are determined by comparing them with it. Infusion-related toxicity or nephrotoxicity develops in 80% of cases. Two randomized controlled study on conservative approach to Aspergilloma have shown that voriconazole is better than amphotericin-B considering survival and side effects.[@ref4] This also was effective for choosing voriconazole for our patient. The patient\'s complaints partially regressed with voriconazole therapy, but he was lost due to MOF resulted from gradually worsening septic clinic.
First findings such as fever, shivering, hyperventilation, hypothermia, skin lesions and change of conscious suggesting an infection as the cause of SIRS show the existence of complications such as hypotension, bleeding, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, organ failure (cyanosis, acidosis, oliguria, anuria, icterus, congestive heart failure).[@ref9] The patient had hypothermia, tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea and change of conscious, which were consistent with SIRS clinic.
Many factors such as underlying disease, requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation, high APACHE II score, presence of arrhythmia, development of ventilator-related pneumonia (VİP), hypoalbuminemia, hypotension requiring inotropic agent, advanced age, concomitant diseases and duration of stay in ICU influence mortality in cases with respiratory failure and in patients thought to have SIRS.[@ref9]--[@ref12] Most of these indicated factors were present in our patient. Because our patient had an advanced age, APACHE II of 34, MODS score of 8, existence of an endocrine problem such as thyrotoxicosis, requirement for ino-tropic agents due to long term diastolic function disorder, presence of hypoalbuminemia, existence of previous COPD, DM and previous history of tuberculosis, we think that determination of PA infection observed in SIRS picture aggravated his sepsis and caused his death. Vasilyev et al[@ref8] has reported that the lowest survival rate (46%) has been in sepsis group, which develop acute respiratory failure.
Because mortality dramatically decreases when urgent diagnosis is made and treatment is given, diagnosing whether the cause of SIRS is an infection is of great importance in SIRS patients. Despite advances in therapy, the invasive forms of aspergillosis are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, in diagnosis of patients presenting with SIRS clinic it should also be considered that causative factor may be aspergillus located in an old tuberculosis cavity, and this may have a fatal course in an old patient having previous pulmonary and systemic diseases.
Authors' Contributions {#sec1-3}
======================
All authors contributed to the medical management of the patient and preparation of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the content of the manuscript.
**Conflict of Interests**
Authors have no conflict of interests.
| 2023-08-28T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5150 |
Featured
Senators Debate Obamacare Bill, Move It Forward
Senators debated a bill to reject all aspects of Obamacare Monday night, passing by a mostly party-line vote. The bill comes up for final vote Tuesday.
By Rose Hoban
State senators voted on a proposal to reject aspects of the Affordable Care Act Monday night and calendared the bill for final consideration for Tuesday, despite a call from Governor McCrory to slow down on the bill.
With the chamber gallery populated with doctors wearing white coats and scrubs, senators voted 31-17 to move the bill forward after about an hour of debate. A final vote on the bill will be held Tuesday, according to Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R-Winston-Salem).
The Senate chamber at the General Assembly where senators debated a bill Monday night that would reject all aspects of the Affordable Care Act.
“I think we’ll take action on it tomorrow, and finish it up,” Brunstetter said.
An identical bill was proposed last week in the House of Representatives, although debate on that bill has not been scheduled.
The Monday night debate was unusual in that mostly, Monday evenings tend to be used for procedural votes and to accomplish legislative business.
Governor calls for slow down
The governor sent a letter to every senator Monday afternoon expressing concern about some of the costs of updating the state’s Medicaid computer systems. North Carolina would end up bearing more of the costs as a result of rejecting federal funds to create a health benefits exchange that’s been in the works since the fall.
In December, former governor Perdue decided to partner with the federal government to create the state’s exchange, required under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
But bills put forth in both chambers of the General Assembly last week would reject the state-federal partnership and instead have the federal government run the exchange, the main mechanism that individuals will have to get insurance once the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented in 2014. The bills also reject the possibility of an expansion of the Medicaid program and order state agencies to turn down federal grants that would help pay for the planning process.
In his letter, McCrory expressed concern over the $43 million price tag for a new computer system that is planned to track eligibility for Medicaid and help detect fraud and abuse. The North Carolina Families Accessing Services Through Technology (NC FAST) system would have been paid for completely by federal planning grants. Some federal money will could be available to help with implementation of the federally mandated system, but more of the burden will fall on North Carolina.
“This bill would force the state to apply for a new funding stream for NC FAST, which is not a guarantee, and may delay NC FAST and generate additional costs through labor-intensive manual workarounds,” wrote Fred Steen, McCrory’s legislative liaison.
“We believe additional time is necessary to evaluate the serious financial ramifications of Senate Bill 4 to North Carolina taxpayers,” the letter said.
Senators also received letters from the North Carolina Hospital Association Monday afternoon, asking them to reject the bill, and making the point that “the decision to not expand Medicaid will harm your community hospitals’ ability to meet our patients’ and community’s health needs.”
“Hospital will be foreced to eliminate services and lay-off employees. Hopefully, none will be forced to close,” the letter read.
White coat syndrome
About 75 doctors and medical students came to observe the debate, filling one half of the gallery that overlooks the Senate chamber.
Doctors waited for Senators outside the chamber doors after the vote to reject aspects of the Affordable Care Act.
“We see these people that our representatives are voting on every day,” said Loren Robinson, chief pediatric resident at UNC-Chapel Hill’s medical school. “There’s power in numbers and there’s power in us showing up here tonight.”
Robinson said she sent about a thousand emails to other residents and doctors encouraging them to contact their legislators about the bills, and show up at the legislature.
The doctors were admonished at one point after they applauded comments opposing the bill by Sen. Josh Stein (D-Wake).
“I see people every day who could benefit from North Carolina expanding Medicaid,” said Melissa Bishop a the lead physician at the Piedmont Health Services clinic in Moncure. She said 59 precent of the patients at her clinic are uninsured.
Bishop described a call she received over the weekend from a patient who was having seizures, and his blood sugar and blood pressure were both dangerously high.
“And they had to decide which medication to give him because he couldn’t afford to treat his seizure disorder and his high blood pressure and his diabetes, so they opted to give him the seizure medicine,” Bishop said.
“These are decisions that people are having to make.”
Slatkoff was there with her old instructor, Susan Slatkoff, who teaches residents at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Slatkoff called the idea of not expanding Medicaid “an outrageous idea, especially when there’s gonna be money from the federal government that would not be out of North Carolina’s pockets to cover 500,000 people who aren’t covered right now. And it will not cost the state a penny.”
Both women said they had never been to the legislature but said they may be making their ways back this year.
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[…] North Carolina Health News: Senators Debate Obamacare Bill, Move It Forward State senators voted on a proposal to reject aspects of the Affordable Care Act Monday night and calendared the bill for final consideration for Tuesday, despite a call from Governor McCrory to slow down on the bill. With the chamber gallery populated with doctors wearing white coats and scrubs, senators voted 31-17 to move the bill forward after about an hour of debate. A final vote on the bill will be held Tuesday, according to Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R-Winston-Salem) (Hoban, 2/5). […]
[…] North Carolina Health News: Senators Debate Obamacare Bill, Move It Forward State senators voted on a proposal to reject aspects of the Affordable Care Act Monday night and calendared the bill for final consideration for Tuesday, despite a call from Governor McCrory to slow down on the bill. With the chamber gallery populated with doctors wearing white coats and scrubs, senators voted 31-17 to move the bill forward after about an hour of debate. A final vote on the bill will be held Tuesday, according to Sen. Pete Brunstetter (R-Winston-Salem) (Hoban, 2/5). […] | 2024-04-16T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7851 |
Dennis Alas
Dennis Jonathan Alas Morales (born 10 January 1985 in San Salvador) is a Salvadoran association football player, who plays as a midfielder for Santa Tecla F.C..
He is the older brother of El Salvador national team member Jaime Alas.
Club career
Nicknamed Pitbull, Alas came through the youth ranks at Academia La Chelona and joined San Salvador F.C. in 2001.
After sparking interest with his Gold Cup performance, Alas trained with MLS club CD Chivas USA in contemplation of a potential move there. Nothing came of this and he return to El Salvador. On December 27, 2007, it was announced that Dennis Alas had signed a one-year contract with USL-2 side Real Maryland F.C.. On July 14, 2008, it was announced by Real Maryland F.C. have terminated Dennis Alas’ contract by mutual consent with the player. The Salvadoran international played a total of 14 games and scored 3 goals and was also selected to the USL-2 team of the week twice including a USL-2 Player of the Week honor for his two-goal performance in the 3-2 win over Cleveland. The Salvadoran was on loan to Real Maryland from his former club San Salvador F.C.
Due to a clause in his contract he became free when the capital club was relegated to El Salvador’s second division. Alas jumped at the chance to join Salvadoran champions C.D. Luís Ángel Firpo.
In September 2014, thanks to the Football Superleague of Kosovo not being recognised by FIFA, Alas joined KF Feronikeli. His fellow banned Salvadoran teammates Cristian Castillo and José Henríquez joined Dohuk SC of the Iraqi Premier League, a league also not recognised by FIFA, while Ramón Sánchez subsequently joined Zakho FC of the same league.
International career
Alas made his debut for El Salvador in an October 2001 friendly match against Mexico and has, as of August 2011, earned a total of 63 caps, scoring 3 goals. He has represented his country in 7 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at several UNCAF Cups as well as at the 2007 and 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cups.
On the night of June 7, 2007, he scored the game-winning goal against Trinidad and Tobago to give El Salvador their first win of their 2007 Gold Cup campaign. That night, Alas was named by Univision as the Miller Light Player Of The Match.
On September 20, 2013, Alas was one of 14 Salvadoran players banned for life due to their involvement with match fixing.
International goals
Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.
References
External links
Fan Website Profile
El Grafico Profile
Profile - La Furia Pampera
Category:1985 births
Category:Living people
Category:Sportspeople from San Salvador
Category:Association football midfielders
Category:Salvadoran footballers
Category:El Salvador international footballers
Category:2003 UNCAF Nations Cup players
Category:2005 UNCAF Nations Cup players
Category:2007 UNCAF Nations Cup players
Category:2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:2011 Copa Centroamericana players
Category:2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup players
Category:San Salvador F.C. footballers
Category:Real Maryland F.C. players
Category:USL Second Division players
Category:C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo footballers
Category:Expatriate soccer players in the United States
Category:Expatriate footballers in Kosovo
Category:Salvadoran expatriate footballers
Category:Sportspeople involved in betting scandals
Category:Sportspeople banned for life | 2024-03-05T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9893 |
Vitamin D metabolism in human adipose tissue: could it explain low vitamin D status in obesity?
Obesity and a low vitamin D (VD) status, as well as a positive association between them, are prevalent worldwide. Additionally, a low VD status has been positively correlated with metabolic dysfunction (although not so convincingly as for obesity). The VD receptor (VDR) mediates VD biological actions in adipose tissue (AT), where VD can be activated or inactivated/degraded through specific hydroxylation steps. Additionally, AT can also store and release VD when needed. A lower VD activation/VD inactivation ratio and an impaired VDR signaling in AT could contribute to metabolic dysfunction besides the aforementioned association between obesity and VD status. However, subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral AT (VAT) are not expected to be similarly accountable as these two fat depots play differential roles in metabolic regulation/dysfunction. To our knowledge, only three articles disclose the evaluation of the expression of VDR and/or VD hydroxylating enzymes in human SAT and VAT. A clear dependence on the subcutaneous and/or the visceral fat depot is missing for the relationships of a) obesity and/or metabolic dysfunction with VD status and b) adipose VDR signaling and adipose VD activation/VD inactivation ratio with VD status, obesity and/or metabolic dysfunction. Further studies are warranted to unravel the influence of adipose VD metabolism on VD status. | 2024-04-26T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6047 |
[Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials in response to bone-conducted sound stimuli: results of measurements in healthy adults].
This study aims to determine the normal values of ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMP) in response to bone-conducted sound stimuli in healthy adults. The study included 42 healthy adult volunteers (18 males, 24 females; mean age 39.7±11.2 years; range 20 to 60 years) (84 ears) with pure tone mean thresholds better than 20 dB, no detected nystagmus during positional tests, and no complaint involving the ear. The participants were performed otorhinolaryngologic examination, audiologic evaluation, and positional tests. Ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were measured using air-conducted and bone-conducted sound stimuli and results were compared. No statistically significant difference was detected between the side of the ear tested and sex in terms of the latency and amplitude values (p>0.05). There was no correlation between n1, p1 latency and amplitude values with age and (p>0.05). Mean n1 latency was 9.9±1.87 milliseconds and p1 latency was 12.75±1.41 milliseconds. Mean amplitude was 5.06±1.97 µV. Interaural asymmetry ratios were 4±3% for p1, 4±3% for n1, and 8±6% for amplitude. Data obtained in this study may be accepted as normal values for healthy adults and used as reference in oVEMP studies with bone-conducted sound stimuli. | 2024-04-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4014 |
“Even if you stumble, you’re still moving forward”
Every person has a voice in their head telling them what to do/feel in any given situation. This is the same voice you’re using to read this post Positive self-talk(ST) and affirmations can be the next step towards overcoming feelings of anxiety. Adding positive affirmations to your daily routine can help you deal with negative thoughts and anxiety. Positive self-talk(ST) influences your actions and helps you set and achieve higher goals in your career and personal relationships. A positive ST routine is part of developing a growth mindset.
What are Positive Affirmations?
A positive affirmation is a phrase that you say to yourself that describes your ideal outcome, or the person you want to be. Turning positive ST into a daily habit will result in your subconscious mind to believe what you say. If you are fortunate enough to have supportive people around you, then you have probably been on the receiving end of many positive affirmations.
How does Positive Self-Talk Help my Anxiety?
Anxiety is the body’s natural response to stress, but becomes an issue when it affects, work, relationships, finances, and decision making. Positive affirmations can help with your anxiety, but also the decisions that you make because of your anxiety.
There was a meta-analysis of 47 medically reviewed studies that proved positive affirmations(ST) to be effective in treating anxiety. The study proved positive ST(e.g. keep calm), was far more effective than negative ST(e.g.There’s no use). An interesting thing is that people who practiced positive ST seen reduced anxiety increased attention span.
Other benefits of positive self-talk include
Increased Self-Confidence
Improved Immune System
Improved Cardiovascular Health
Reduced Anxiety
Goal Achievement
Emotional Regulation
Positive Versus Negative Affirmations
Scenario Positive Affirmation Negative Affirmation Failing a Driving Test I’ll do better next time I’ll probably fail Before a presentation I’m gonna do very well Who cares Dealing with a setback at work I am going to learn from this Everybody will know I’m a screw-up Feeling Anxious This will be over soon I’m doomed Getting a Makeover I’m gonna feel so good after I’m not worth it
Here are some positive affirmations you can practice saying to yourself every day:
Today, I will learn and grow from the challenges I face
Many people realize my worth
I will release myself from panic
My breaths are deep and refreshing
Every day will get me closer to my goals
I am lovable
I am responsible and can stand up for myself
Every setback is a challenge to make me stronger
My Life is just starting
I deserve to be happy
I deserve to be respected
This video below has many helpful examples of spoken word affirmations for anxiety.
Causes of Negative Self-Talk
Sonja Lyubomirsky, the author of The How of Happiness, says that pessimistic ST can be related to genetics, but most of the time negative self-talk is learned. Research from the Journal of Family Psychology shows that children growing up with parents that have anxious self-talk are more likely to have negative self-talk patterns in the future. Having poor self-talk patterns is a symptom of having an anxiety disorder.
Panic Attacks
The high anxiety and stress levels caused by panic attacks may cause you to feel intense fears that are irrational. Panic attacks are able to alter your perception, making you feel as if the worst-case scenario is about to happen. For instance, people with a social anxiety disorder may feel nervous meeting new people at a party. People finding themselves in that situation may believe that nobody finds them interesting, or thinks highly of them.
Abusive Childhood
Negative self-talk can stem from childhood. Unfortunately, many people grew up with verbally abusive authority figures. An abusive childhood is one of the leading factors for anxiety risk.
You can take an Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACE) quiz to measure the types of abuse that you may have endured during childhood. An Ace score of 4 or more is when things start getting serious.
This could stem from being raised by a parent that screams, insults, shamed, negatively compares and threatens their children. A good place to read is the Reddit forum ¨raised by narcissists¨ for more examples, and a community you may relate to.
Anxiety Disorders
Once your anxiety is affecting your ability to lead a happy functional life, it’s time to speak to a medical professional or therapist. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in America affecting over 40 million Americans. Thus, 20% of Americans struggle with some kind of anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders listed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) include:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
OCD
Selective Mutism
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Like this: Like Loading... | 2023-08-26T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7987 |
Melanoma account for <10,000 deaths annually in the United States alone and current therapies for advanced-stage melanoma do not provide durable clinical benefit. Therefore, improved molecular understanding of melanoma initiation and progression is essential for developing effective therapies against melanoma. Metabolic deregulation due to the alterations in metabolic pathways is one of the key hallmarks of cancer cells. However, the role of metabolic alterations in melanoma has neither been comprehensively analyzed nor fully understood. The central hypothesis is that metabolic alterations are crucial regulators of melanoma initiation, progression and therapy response. Therefore, to identify metabolic drivers of melanoma, we developed an integrative genomics approach by combining patient-derived melanoma sample gene expression profiling with the functional genomics approach of an in vivo RNAi screening and identified N-Acylsphingosine amidohydrolase (ASAH1) as a gene necessary for melanoma growth and metastasis. The overall objective is to determine the role of ASAH1 in melanoma initiation and progression, ascertain its mechanisms-of-action and determine its role in oncogenic BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib resistance. Specifically, in Aim 1, we will determine the role of ASAH1 in melanoma initiation and progression and ascertain whether ASAH1 is necessary for oncogenic BRAF- and NRAS-induced transformation and tumor progression. To do so, we will use cell culture-based models of immortalized human melanocytes, established and patient-derived short-term melanoma cultures as well as mouse models of melanomagenesis and melanoma metastasis. In Aim 2, we will determine the mechanism(s) of ASAH1 action. First, we will perform structure-function analyses to determine whether the lipid hydrolase activity of ASAH1 is necessary for its ability to promote melanoma initiation and progression. Additionally, guided by our preliminary results, we will test whether ASAH1 promotes melanoma initiation and progression by reducing cellular ceramide level and/or by activating MAP kinase pathway. The experiments will include biochemical, genetic, cell culture and in vivo mouse model-based approaches. In Aim 3, we will determine the role of ASAH1 in oncogenic BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib resistance. We will test whether inhibition of ASAH1 can restore vemurafenib sensitivity in BRAF mutant melanoma cells and determine if ASAH1 induced vemurafenib resistance depend upon its ability to regulate cellular ceramide level and/or MAP kinase pathway. Finally, using melanoma patients-derived short-term melanoma culture and primary sample of pre- and post-vemurafenib treatment we will establish the clinical significance of our results. Collectively, the results of ur experiments will uncover novel driver genes and pathways of melanoma initiation and progression, improve the molecular understanding of melanoma and reveal new therapeutic targets and mechanisms of resistance to melanoma therapies. | 2023-09-01T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1015 |
Even if you use Spring and Hibernate there are many things that I would hope you find useful: * The discussion of the various design options for business logic organization and encapsulate, database access and concurrency: their benefits, drawbacks and when to use them. * Developing a rich domain model using test-driven development techniques. * Designing Spring-based DAOs for testability * Testing strategies for an ORM-based persistent layer including how to speed up tests by testing as much as you can without a database * Comparison of EJB 3 with Spring/Hibernate/JDO * Using iBATIS for database access * The discussion of database concurrency options including optimistic offline locking and pessimistic offline locking. | 2024-06-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4644 |
Saturday, September 13, 2008
even more lately (another list)
Alive and well, just busy. The itchiness that was plaguing me has mostly (mostly) gone away, now that I'm back on all my meds properly (I kept running out of things, and not managing to replace them for a week or two -- not prescription things, but things that help.)
We never heard a peep from anyone after DD's audition, as expected. What surprised me is how completely she forgot all about the whole thing the minute we walked out of the place. She is now obsessed with the idea of getting a turtle for her birthday.
Back on track with my schoolwork, but very annoyed and frustrated by the content (so far)... and that's all I'll say on that.
Work is busy, much more busy than I had anticipated for this time of year. I'm glad to be earning but some days I just want to stay home. I'm doing 2 weeks+ at the end of September in the same classroom, that should be fun. We have only 14 days of school left until Fall Break. Yay!
RE (religious ed) starts Monday, and I have a class of 24 third-graders this year. It's a First Communion/Confirmation class, so most of my material from last year -- when I had a teeny tiny class of fifth- and sixth-graders making Confirmation only -- is out the window. My goal is to do a syllabus and welcome letter before Monday, just so we know what we're doing. I think I've tracked down a good prayer to St. Paul for us to use, too. We'll be studying his life all year, along with learning our prayers, the practice of daily prayer, and everything else they need to know before thy make their First Communions and are confirmed. *whew*
Camera's still broken. (sigh)
Still no word on a location for a more-local thyroid cancer support group, but I've been doing phone support at least once or twice a week all month. It seems as if everything has reverted to the status quo ante, and for now I'm letting that go.
Two observations: I seem much less willing to be deferential, and much more OK with the idea of pissing people off, in expressing my opinion the past month or two. I don't think I'm a total bitch but there's definitely something going on in the attitude department. Second, chronic daily headaches are plaguing me, and the only thing I can link them to was one night, goofing around with DD, she hung her entire weight (about 54 pounds) off my neck, which wasn't good. Ibuprofen takes the edge off, but it's not perfect. I noticed today that carrying any sort of bag or strap over my shoulder (either one) seems to make it worse.
I have various doctor appointments (skin check, annual GYN) coming up, but I'd ditch them in a heartbeat if I could get rid of this headache torment.
The decrepit and dangerous wooden swingset is being dismantled hauled off tomorrow by The Junk Guys. (I was inspired to call them because their ad specifically says you don't have to bring your junk to the curb, they'll get it for you.) It's almost 10 years old to the day, and it really should have lasted longer. I'm pretty sure that's our fault, though, although I thought they said the wood was treated in such a way that it didn't need to be sealed? Way too late now, but it did provide the children a lot of fun times. | 2024-03-24T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2605 |
’Batkid’ fighting crime in San Francisco
Terrence Valen, president of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, center, talks on the phone next to Joey Elacion as they sit behind bottles of water donated by Elacion for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippine islands last week, at the Filipino Community Center in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 11, 2013. Valen said they are concentrating on monetary donations for the victims. Typhoon-ravaged Philippine islands faced a huge relief effort that had barely begun Monday, as bloated bodies lay uncollected and uncounted in the streets and survivors pleaded for food, water and medicine. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
By PAUL ELIAS
Associated Press
Published: November 15, 2013;Last modified: November 15, 2013 03:49PM
SAN FRANCISCO — Crooks beware! Batkid is fighting crime Friday on the mean streets of San Francisco.
With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the city, 5-year-old Miles Scott, aka Batkid, took off from Union Square in the morning in one of two Batmobiles — black Lamborghinis with Batman decals. Police escorted the Lamborghinis and closed off roads as they sped to their first caper: a damsel in distress on a cable car track.
By midday, the Batkid’s adventure had become a sensation on Twitter, with even the White House chiming in with its support.
At the cable car rescue, hundreds of people jostled for space, as the boy dressed in a Batman costume and accompanied by an adult Batman impersonator emerged from the Lamborghini to rescue a woman. Miles is a leukemia patient who’s now in remission.
He looked overwhelmed and was bashful, though he was seen later in the day giving high-fives to onlookers. The damsel sat on the street in a dress and thigh-high black boots. She had a handkerchief around her mouth and her hands were bound behind her back. Batman and Batkid sprang into action, with the aid of a trampoline, as the crowd roared.
They rescued the woman and disabled a plastic replica bomb she was tied to.
The two masked superheroes then took off to nab the Riddler as he robbed a downtown bank.
A flash mob will summon Batkid later in the day for another crime — the diabolical kidnapping of the San Francisco Giants mascot — Lou Seal — by the Penguin. A grateful Mayor Ed Lee will give Miles a key to the city after the crooks are corralled.
“When you have an illness, it’s very important to know you have a support system,” said Gina Futrell, 51, who was going to take part in the flash mob. Futrell has multiple sclerosis. “I have an extremely strong support system, and I hope he does too. He’s such a little hero.”
Miles, who lives in Tulelake in far Northern California, didn’t know what was in store for him and thought he was in San Francisco just to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favorite superhero, KGO-TV reported.
He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old and ended treatments in June.
His father, Nick Scott, thanked the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation and the estimated 7,000 people who will help make his son’s wish come true.
“All the doctors, nurses and all the other parents that have to deal with the same thing we’re going through. I hope they get a conclusion to their illnesses like we’re getting,” Nick Scott told KGO-TV.
Make-A-Wish has fulfilled similar wishes across the country. In Anaheim, a child became Batman’s sidekick, Robin; and in Seattle a child was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson, a spokeswoman for the local organization.
The San Francisco Chronicle, KGO-TV and thousands of volunteers were participating in the event. Miles was supposed to see a broadcast in the morning with Police Chief Greg Suhr calling for his help.
The Chronicle planned to distribute special-edition newspapers with the headline, “Batkid Saves City,” in Union Square, where the flash mob was set to gather. | 2024-01-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2248 |
Q:
Generic mapper instead of having numerous individual mappers
I am using ASP.NET MVC 3 with Razor and Autofac for dependency injection.
I am thinking of creating a generic mapper. Currently I am using AutoMapper for the mapping between my domain and view model. It can be any mapping framework, but I am using AutoMapper .
Here is my IMapper interface:
public interface IMapper
{
object Map(object source, Type sourceType, Type destinationType);
}
I then have an IBankMapper interface that implements this IMapper interface. The reason why I did it like this is because I can have many different mappers. Using dependency injection I can know what instance I can inject. So for IBankMapper I will inject BankMapper, ICategoryMapper I will inject CategoryMapper.
IBankMapper interface:
public interface IBankMapper : IMapper
{
}
BankMapper class:
public class BankMapper : IBankMapper
{
static BankMapper()
{
Mapper.CreateMap<Bank, EditBankViewModel>();
Mapper.CreateMap<EditBankViewModel, Bank>();
}
public object Map(object source, Type sourceType, Type destinationType)
{
return Mapper.Map(source, sourceType, destinationType);
}
}
As the program grows so will the mapper classes. Is there a way that I can create a generic mapper, one that can be used in the whole application? Is this possible?
A:
There is absolutely no need for you to create any mapper classes at all.
All you need to do is be sure that you call Mapper.CreateMap at the beginning of your application. You can then use Mapper.Map to do your mapping.
Typically, I create a static class with a single method to handle the creation of my Maps. It looks something like:
public static class Transformers
{
public static void Register()
{
Mapper.CreateMap<Bank, EditBankViewModel>();
Mapper.CreateMap<EditBankViewModel, Bank>();
Mapper.CreateMap<Account, EditAccountViewModel>();
Mapper.CreateMap<EditAccountViewModel, Account>();
// And so on. You can break them up into private methods
// if you have too many.
}
}
I then call that method inside Global.asax do ensure that it runs when necessary. In any other spot in my application, I'm free to call Mapper.Map for any of the configured mappings:
protected void Application_Start()
{
Transformers.Register();
}
A:
It looks like you are creating these interfaces to be able to mock AutoMapper in your unit tests. You can simply use IMappingEngine from AutoMapper for this purpose.
Your classes would have a dependency on IMappingEngine which would be injected. IMappingEngine has the same methods as the static class Mapper to map your objects.
In your composition root you would configure the mapper and register the mapping engine with the DI container.
Something like this:
// composition root:
Mapper.CreateMap<Bank, EditBankViewModel>();
Mapper.CreateMap<EditBankViewModel, Bank>();
builder.Register(Mapper.Engine);
// your classes:
class YourClass
{
public YourClass(IMappingEngine mappingEngine)
{
}
}
| 2023-09-12T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4953 |
What to make of Clinton polls
Joseph Farah is founder, editor and CEO of WND and a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators News Service.. He is the author or co-author of 13 books, including his latest, "The Tea Party Manifesto," and his classic, "Taking America Back," now in its third edition and 14th printing. Farah is the former editor of the legendary Sacramento Union and other major-market dailies.
If any of the national public opinion polls are to be taken seriously, it seems that the more President Clinton is beleaguered by scandal, the more popular he gets.
Many, including myself, have criticized the polls. As a respondent in one recent survey, I can attest that the process tends to be badly skewed in favor of the status quo. But even the acclaimed Zogby poll shows Clinton with an approval rating of about 2 to 1. How do we explain this? Have the American people collectively gone mad? Are they simply rebelling against a press establishment they trust even less than the president? Are they playing tricks on the pollsters?
I don’t think any of those ideas fully explains the phenomenon we are witnessing. In fact, what we may be seeing could be a trend far more threatening to the foundation of the country. We just may have reached the point at which a majority of Americans have been bought off.
For these people, freedom means comfort and security, not liberty. Statists have long dreamed of a time in which they would create a large enough dependency class that could virtually dictate a new set of rules to the minority productive class. That time may have arrived.
Think about it. The top 5 percent of earners in this country pay most of the taxes. In fact, the top 1 percent pay more than 30 percent of the bills. At least in theory, that means 95 percent of the public can get more from Washington than they contribute. Because of the inherent and gross inefficiency of government, of course, the actual percentage of beneficiaries is considerably lower. But you see the point.
Suppose it’s actually only 51 percent of Americans who are on the dole.
We’re surely on the road to serfdom. Statists, with the masterful politician Bill Clinton leading the way, have succeeded in convincing far too many people — maybe even a majority — that America guarantees a certain standard of living to all of its citizens. The American Dream and the promise of opportunity have been supplanted in many minds by the government’s promise of economic entitlement.
America once promised there would be no government impediments to individual achievement. Everyone had the right to strive for success, for the pursuit of happiness. Now, we are told that our happiness lies in seizing the fruits of others’ achievements. It’s easy, too. The government does all the work and all of the coercion. So you don’t want to contribute to the National Endowment for the Arts? Try convincing the Internal Revenue Service you’re a conscientious objector to obscene art. It won’t work.
The real unalienable rights Americans enjoy, as delineated in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights have been watered down by the introduction of a whole new set of phony, government-granted rights to low-cost housing, public subsidies, health care, government education, even food.
Most of the federal budget today consists of what we call “entitlements.” These are taxpayer funds to which many Americans, some needy, some not, believe they are entitled. In other words, they feel they have a right to them – a right to other people’s hard-earned money. They don’t have to pay it back. They’re not grateful for it. They don’t have to do any work for it. They don’t even have to write a thank-you note. In fact, it’s not even their birthright as Americans that qualifies them for this entitlement. Plenty of newcomers – some legal, some not – get the money and the services, too.
Clinton is, understandably, seen as a protector of these programs – especially at a time when Republicans control Congress. Ironically, however, very few Republicans have enough courage to challenge entitlements. But Clinton understands this is his constituency and he actively and zealously guards its interests and seeks to expand it in the most clever ways.
Could this be one of the underlying sub-currents driving the polls? Scary. But, if so, it’s all the more reason to demand a massive restructuring of our federal government. If not now, when? Otherwise, the job is only going to get more difficult. | 2024-05-08T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7901 |
[Mobilization of circulating hematopoietic stem cells by granulocyte colony stimulating factor after chemotherapy in multiple myeloma].
Due to the relatively low tumour cell contamination of peripheral blood in patients with multiple myeloma, autologous transplantation of circulating stem cells may have theoretical advantages over autologous bone marrow transplantation. In four patients with multiple myeloma who where considered potential candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation G-CSF (600 micrograms/day) was administered following chemotherapy in order to maximally increase the number of circulating progenitor cells during haematopoietic rebound and to facilitate progenitor cell harvest by leukapheresis. In two previously untreated patients the administration of G-CSF following chemotherapy according to the UVA protocol (ultralan, vincristine, adriamycin) greatly increased circulating haematopoietic stem cells from 247 to 7552 CFU-GM/ml in patient 1 and from 173 to 6361 CFU-GM/ml in patient 2, which by far exceeded the increase in progenitor cells following chemotherapy alone, namely only to 594 and 317 CFU-GM/ml in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively. In two repeatedly pretreated patients, the combination of UVA and G-CSF was much less effective. Progenitor cells increased from 144 to 735 CFU-GM/ml in patient 3 and only from 222 to 232 CFU-GM/ml in patient 4. In both cases, however, mobilization of haematopoietic progenitor cells by G-CSF following cyclophosphamide (50 and 70 mg/kg body weight, respectively) led to much higher CFU-GM peak values (5324 in patient 3 and 2245 in patient 4), thus allowing an adequate harvest of mononuclear cells and CD 34+ cell numbers to achieve, in all probability, the prompt and complete reconstitution of haematopoiesis in case of transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 2024-02-07T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3539 |
The Long, Final Goodbye of the VCR
Many new technologies are born with a bang: Virtual reality headsets! Renewable rockets! And old ones often die with a whimper. So it is for the videocassette recorder, or VCR.
The last-known company still manufacturing the technology, the Funai Corporation of Japan, said in a statement Thursday that it would stop making VCRs at the end of this month, mainly because of “difficulty acquiring parts.”
The Japanese newspaper Nikkei reported on the impending demise earlier this month.
The news represented the death rattle of a technology that was considered revolutionary when it was introduced in the 1950s. It took several decades for VCRs to make their way into consumers’ homes, but in its heyday it was ubiquitous and dominant.
According to the company — which said in the statement, “We are the last manufacturer” of VCRs “in all of the world” — 750,000 units were sold worldwide in 2015, down from millions decades earlier.
In 1956, Ampex Electric and Manufacturing Company introduced what its website calls “the first practical videotape recorder.” Fred Pfost, an Ampex engineer, described demonstrating the technology to CBS executives for the first time. Unbeknown to them, he had recorded a keynote speech delivered by a vice president at the network.
“After I rewound the tape and pushed the play button for this group of executives, they saw the instantaneous replay of the speech. There were about 10 seconds of total silence until they suddenly realized just what they were seeing on the 20 video monitors located around the room. Pandemonium broke out with wild clapping and cheering for five full minutes. This was the first time in history that a large group (outside of Ampex) had ever seen a high-quality, instantaneous replay of any event.”
At the time, the machines cost $50,000 apiece. But that did not stop orders from being placed for 100 of them in the week they debuted, according to Mr. Pfost. “This represented an amount almost as great as a year’s gross income for Ampex,” he wrote.
The first VCRs for homes were released in the 1960s, and they became widely available to consumers in the 1970s, when Sony’s Betamax and JVC’s VHS formats began to compete. VHS gained the upper hand the following decade; but Sony stopped producing Betamax cassette tapes only in 2016.
Image
A Sony Videocassette player in 1970.
By the 1980s, the VCR was catching on with ordinary Americans. In June 1984, The New York Times wrote that analysts expected 15 million homes to have the machines by the end of the year, up from five million in 1982.
A consumer guide published in The Times in 1981 — when the machines ranged in price from $600 to $1,200 — explained the appeal:
“In effect, a VCR makes you independent of television schedules. It lets you create your own prime time. You set the timer and let the machine automatically record the programs you want to watch but can’t. Later, you can play the tape at your convenience. Or you can tape one show while watching another, thus missing neither.”
But only a decade after the technology became common in American households, the introduction of the DVD, in 1995, sounded the older technology’s death knell.
A Times article in 1997, when DVD players were first released to consumers, did not disguise its excitement for a new horizon: “Sound the trumpets, and roll the drums. The digital video disk, or DVD, is here.” Within five years, sales of DVDs had surpassed those of video cassettes.
But less than a decade after DVDs began their reign, the shadow of streaming video loomed. A 2011 headline in The Times made the decline of the hardware explicit, as technology’s circle of life continued its churn:
“Goodbye, DVD. Hello, Future.”
Correction:
A headline on July 25 with an article about the end of manufacturing of videocassette recorders, or VCRs, misstated the device that cost $50,000. That was the price of the first videotape recorder, or VTR, a forerunner to the VCR — not the price of the first VCR. | 2024-07-06T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1424 |
1. In the beta version, screenshots prove that all four characters were to fight Bowser at the exact same time. Others show that every character could utilize the power of wings, not just Mario.
2. A mysterious purple rabbit was shown in a beta screenshot. The purpose was unknown, and why it was removed is unclear.
3. A co-op mode was planned for the game, which allowed two players to use Wi-Fi connectivity to play the normal star-collecting mode together.
Now those were some interesting elements (at least I think so.) But the truth and speculation behind them is just as interesting as the elements theirselves.
Element 1 (SM64). Well first of all, it's not all too significant that the game would use and FX Chip or be called Super Mario FX, but Luigi as a playable character? That is what is important here. Being a natural Luigi fan, I would buy this game in a heartbeat on the Virtual Console. But he was taken out of the game probably due to memory restraints. Thankfully, the sequel allowed him and twoothers to be playable characters.
Element 2 (SM64). Now two removed enemies isn't much, but why they were removed is really unclear. They probably wouldn't take up much data space, so why exactly were they taken out? My belief is the fact that they may have been hard to avoid enemies that take your life away faster. Having Blargg swallow you or a Cheep-Cheep on your tail wouldn't exactly be easy to avoid, right?
It's true, all four of them.
Element 1 (DS). All four characters could battle Bowser? I wonder how that would work. Maybe you'd have to alternate characters while beating him, or maybe it's just a fancy way of making a character select. But either way, it would be pretty easy using Luigi with his super-backflip-helicopter move to get through the last level. As for all four characters flying, that'd make the game all too easy. With already cheap moves like Luigi's backflip, having all four fly is just not right. But the spirit of this element lives on in Multi-player mode.
Element 2 (DS). One word, Waluigi! No, probably not, but the idea behind it is fascinating. I, personally believe it's just a neutral rabbit, somewhat like the silver rabbit idea; find all of them and you get a star. But why would it be purple? Well readers, what do you think?
So purple!
Element 3 (DS). Like New Super Mario Bros, (ironically was my last beta element subject.) the idea of co-op play was removed due to data restraints. But it would've been epic to play the game with another person, am I right? The multi-player idea was able to stay with the game, and their were actual in game areas used. But that's nothing compared to getting 150 stars with your best friend.
Alright, enough talk, let's get to buisness. So for the original game, both elements seem tempting and interesting. Luigi as a playable character is always awesome, and those removed enemies would be really cool to see. I still wonder on the Cheep-Cheep, though. A replacment was done though. As for the remake, option 3 is the only good one to me. Every character battling Bowser would be tough, and all characters flying would be too cheap. And who cares about some purple bunny? But co-op play is always epic, and this game would be no different. So that's all for now. And thanks to Blitzwing for suffering through all this time as director! | 2024-05-20T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3889 |
Holiday home mh8977
Holiday home
6 Sleeps
3 Bedrooms
1 Bathrooms
Spacious holiday cottage located in the scenic area Munkens Klit just south of Løkken. From the house, grounds and terrace is a nice view of the dune area. The house was built in 1973, renovated in 2010 and includes a living room/open kitchen, three bedrooms, bathroom (from 2010) with shower and covered and open terrace. The decor is personal and tasteful. The living room is large and spacious with brick fireplace for both additional heating and cosiness. The furnishings are known rustic, Danish cottage style with an emphasis on well-being and functionality. There is south facing terrace throughout the length of the house, partly covered. The plot is an open hilly dune plot overlooking the dunes. Access to water and beach is along trails through the nature and dune area. No letting to youth groups. | 2024-01-30T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4700 |
+12.73(+0.85%)
+1.11(+1.92%)
-1.10(-0.09%)
-0.05(-0.36%)
0.0000(-0.0000%)
Brazil's BRF rules out additional asset sales -CEO
SAO PAULO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Brazilian food processor BRF SA will not pursue additional asset sales after falling short of reaching a target of 5 billion reais ($1.34 billion) from divestitures and other initiatives to raise cash, management said on Thursday.
After announcing the sale of units in Europe and Thailand to Tyson Foods Inc. for $340 million, the company said asset sales had been completed and it will now consider partnering with other firms to operate overseas units, Chief Executive Pedro Parente said on a conference call. | 2023-08-22T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1244 |
Semiconductor modules are used for vehicular motor control and the like, and there is a continuing demand for size and weight reduction of such modules. In order to realize size reduction, a structure for efficiently cooling semiconductor devices is indispensable. Therefore, development of a direct cooling structure, in which semiconductor devices are directly joined onto cooling fins and directly cooled, has been advanced.
A semiconductor module in which semiconductor devices are directly cooled with fins has been suggested (see, for example, PTL 1). However, since there are a total of three connection ports, namely, two inflow ports and one outflow port, the mounting process can be complicated. Further, cooling of the fins advances in a path connecting the inflow port and the outflow port, but it is difficult for cooling water to flow to the outside of the path, and the cooling performance is lowered. As a result, more uniform cooling performance cannot be obtained.
A cooler-integrated semiconductor module has also been suggested (see, for example, PTL 2). However, since cooling water collides, without being divided, with fins, a long flow path in one direction is realized, and a large difference occurs in the cooling performance between a device on the upstream side and a device on the downstream side.
In addition, a cooler-integrated module in which cooling water is divided has also been suggested (see, for example, PTL 3). However, the jets of cooling water collide directly against the fins, dynamic pressure is generated, and the fins are subjected to large stress. For this reason, high strength is required for the fins. Increase in pressure loss due to dynamic pressure generation is also a concern. Furthermore, since water flow is greatly disturbed in the flow path when water is jetted from a plurality of jet openings, the process is difficult to control and eventually a large difference in cooling performance occurs between the inflow side and the outflow side. | 2023-11-12T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2280 |
Sanguinarine blocks cytokinesis in bacteria by inhibiting FtsZ assembly and bundling.
Bacterial diseases are among the leading causes of human death. The development of antibiotic resistance greatly contributes to the high mortality rate, and thus, the discovery of antibacterial drugs with novel mechanisms of action is needed. In this study, we found that sanguinarine, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, strongly induced filamentation in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and prevented bacterial cell division by inhibiting cytokinesis. Sanguinarine did not perturb the membrane structure in Escherichia coli. However, it perturbed the cytokinetic Z-ring formation in E. coli. In addition, sanguinarine strongly reduced the frequency of the occurrence of Z rings/micrometer of Bacillus subtilis length but did not alter the number of nucleoids/micrometer of cell length. The results suggested that sanguinarine inhibited cytokinesis in B. subtilis by inhibiting Z-ring formation without affecting nucleoid segregation. Sanguinarine inhibited the assembly of purified FtsZ and reduced the bundling of FtsZ protofilaments in vitro. Further, the interaction of sanguinarine to FtsZ was investigated using size-exclusion chromatography, an extrinsic fluorescent probe 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid, and tryptophan fluorescence of mutated FtsZ (Y371W). Sanguinarine was found to bind to FtsZ with a dissociation constant of 18-30 microM. The results together show that sanguinarine inhibits bacterial division by perturbing FtsZ assembly dynamics in the Z ring and provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that the assembly and bundling of FtsZ play a critical role in bacterial cytokinesis. The results suggest that sanguinarine may be used as a lead compound to develop FtsZ-targeted antibacterial agents. | 2024-07-29T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6028 |
// Copyright (c) 2019, the Dart project authors. Please see the AUTHORS file
// for details. All rights reserved. Use of this source code is governed by a
// BSD-style license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
// This file contains test functions for the dart:ffi test cases.
// This file is not allowed to depend on any symbols from the embedder and is
// therefore not allowed to use `dart_api.h`. (The flutter/flutter integration
// tests will run dart tests using this library only.)
#include <stddef.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <cmath>
#include <iostream>
#include <limits>
#if defined(_WIN32)
#define DART_EXPORT extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
#else
#define DART_EXPORT \
extern "C" __attribute__((visibility("default"))) __attribute((used))
#endif
namespace dart {
#define CHECK(X) \
if (!(X)) { \
fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", "Check failed: " #X); \
return 1; \
}
#define CHECK_EQ(X, Y) CHECK((X) == (Y))
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Tests for Dart -> native calls.
//
// Note: If this interface is changed please also update
// sdk/runtime/tools/dartfuzz/ffiapi.dart
int32_t globalVar;
DART_EXPORT void SetGlobalVar(int32_t v) {
globalVar = v;
}
DART_EXPORT int32_t GetGlobalVar() {
return globalVar;
}
// Sums two ints and adds 42.
// Simple function to test trampolines.
// Also used for testing argument exception on passing null instead of a Dart
// int.
DART_EXPORT int32_t SumPlus42(int32_t a, int32_t b) {
std::cout << "SumPlus42(" << a << ", " << b << ")\n";
const int32_t retval = 42 + a + b;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Tests for sign and zero extension return values when passed to Dart.
DART_EXPORT uint8_t ReturnMaxUint8() {
return 0xff;
}
DART_EXPORT uint16_t ReturnMaxUint16() {
return 0xffff;
}
DART_EXPORT uint32_t ReturnMaxUint32() {
return 0xffffffff;
}
DART_EXPORT int8_t ReturnMinInt8() {
return 0x80;
}
DART_EXPORT int16_t ReturnMinInt16() {
return 0x8000;
}
DART_EXPORT int32_t ReturnMinInt32() {
return 0x80000000;
}
// Test that return values are truncated by callee before passed to Dart.
DART_EXPORT uint8_t ReturnMaxUint8v2() {
uint64_t v = 0xabcff;
// Truncated to 8 bits and zero extended, or truncated to 32 bits, depending
// on ABI.
return v;
}
DART_EXPORT uint16_t ReturnMaxUint16v2() {
uint64_t v = 0xabcffff;
return v;
}
DART_EXPORT uint32_t ReturnMaxUint32v2() {
uint64_t v = 0xabcffffffff;
return v;
}
DART_EXPORT int8_t ReturnMinInt8v2() {
int64_t v = 0x8abc80;
return v;
}
DART_EXPORT int16_t ReturnMinInt16v2() {
int64_t v = 0x8abc8000;
return v;
}
DART_EXPORT int32_t ReturnMinInt32v2() {
int64_t v = 0x8abc80000000;
return v;
}
// Test that arguments are truncated correctly.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMaxUint8(uint8_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMaxUint8(" << static_cast<int>(x) << ")\n";
return x == 0xff ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMaxUint16(uint16_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMaxUint16(" << x << ")\n";
return x == 0xffff ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMaxUint32(uint32_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMaxUint32(" << x << ")\n";
return x == 0xffffffff ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMinInt8(int8_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMinInt8(" << static_cast<int>(x) << ")\n";
const int64_t expected = -0x80;
const int64_t received = x;
return expected == received ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMinInt16(int16_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMinInt16(" << x << ")\n";
const int64_t expected = -0x8000;
const int64_t received = x;
return expected == received ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMinInt32(int32_t x) {
std::cout << "TakeMinInt32(" << x << ")\n";
const int64_t expected = INT32_MIN;
const int64_t received = x;
return expected == received ? 1 : 0;
}
// Test that arguments are truncated correctly, including stack arguments
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TakeMaxUint8x10(uint8_t a,
uint8_t b,
uint8_t c,
uint8_t d,
uint8_t e,
uint8_t f,
uint8_t g,
uint8_t h,
uint8_t i,
uint8_t j) {
std::cout << "TakeMaxUint8x10(" << static_cast<int>(a) << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(b) << ", " << static_cast<int>(c) << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(d) << ", " << static_cast<int>(e) << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(f) << ", " << static_cast<int>(g) << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(h) << ", " << static_cast<int>(i) << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(j) << ", "
<< ")\n";
return (a == 0xff && b == 0xff && c == 0xff && d == 0xff && e == 0xff &&
f == 0xff && g == 0xff && h == 0xff && i == 0xff && j == 0xff)
? 1
: 0;
}
// Performs some computation on various sized signed ints.
// Used for testing value ranges for signed ints.
DART_EXPORT int64_t IntComputation(int8_t a, int16_t b, int32_t c, int64_t d) {
std::cout << "IntComputation(" << static_cast<int>(a) << ", " << b << ", "
<< c << ", " << d << ")\n";
const int64_t retval = d - c + b - a;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Used in regress_39044_test.dart.
DART_EXPORT int64_t Regress39044(int64_t a, int8_t b) {
std::cout << "Regress39044(" << a << ", " << static_cast<int>(b) << ")\n";
const int64_t retval = a - b;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t Regress40537(uint8_t x) {
std::cout << "Regress40537(" << static_cast<int>(x) << ")\n";
return x == 249 ? 1 : 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t Regress40537Variant2(uint8_t x) {
std::cout << "Regress40537Variant2(" << static_cast<int>(x) << ")\n";
return x;
}
DART_EXPORT uint8_t Regress40537Variant3(intptr_t x) {
std::cout << "Regress40537Variant3(" << static_cast<int>(x) << ")\n";
return x;
}
// Performs some computation on various sized unsigned ints.
// Used for testing value ranges for unsigned ints.
DART_EXPORT int64_t UintComputation(uint8_t a,
uint16_t b,
uint32_t c,
uint64_t d) {
std::cout << "UintComputation(" << static_cast<int>(a) << ", " << b << ", "
<< c << ", " << d << ")\n";
const uint64_t retval = d - c + b - a;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Multiplies pointer sized intptr_t by three.
// Used for testing pointer sized parameter and return value.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t Times3(intptr_t a) {
std::cout << "Times3(" << a << ")\n";
const intptr_t retval = a * 3;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Multiples a double by 1.337.
// Used for testing double parameter and return value.
// Also used for testing argument exception on passing null instead of a Dart
// double.
DART_EXPORT double Times1_337Double(double a) {
std::cout << "Times1_337Double(" << a << ")\n";
const double retval = a * 1.337;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Multiples a float by 1.337.
// Used for testing float parameter and return value.
DART_EXPORT float Times1_337Float(float a) {
std::cout << "Times1_337Float(" << a << ")\n";
const float retval = a * 1.337f;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums many ints.
// Used for testing calling conventions. With so many integers we are using all
// normal parameter registers and some stack slots.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t SumManyInts(intptr_t a,
intptr_t b,
intptr_t c,
intptr_t d,
intptr_t e,
intptr_t f,
intptr_t g,
intptr_t h,
intptr_t i,
intptr_t j) {
std::cout << "SumManyInts(" << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << ", " << d
<< ", " << e << ", " << f << ", " << g << ", " << h << ", " << i
<< ", " << j << ")\n";
const intptr_t retval = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums many ints.
// Used for testing calling conventions. With small integers on stack slots we
// test stack alignment.
DART_EXPORT int16_t SumManySmallInts(int8_t a,
int16_t b,
int8_t c,
int16_t d,
int8_t e,
int16_t f,
int8_t g,
int16_t h,
int8_t i,
int16_t j) {
std::cout << "SumManySmallInts(" << static_cast<int>(a) << ", " << b << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(c) << ", " << d << ", " << static_cast<int>(e)
<< ", " << f << ", " << static_cast<int>(g) << ", " << h << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(i) << ", " << j << ")\n";
const int16_t retval = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Used for testing floating point argument backfilling on Arm32 in hardfp.
DART_EXPORT double SumFloatsAndDoubles(float a, double b, float c) {
std::cout << "SumFloatsAndDoubles(" << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << ")\n";
const double retval = a + b + c;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Very many small integers, tests alignment on stack.
DART_EXPORT int16_t SumVeryManySmallInts(int8_t a01,
int16_t a02,
int8_t a03,
int16_t a04,
int8_t a05,
int16_t a06,
int8_t a07,
int16_t a08,
int8_t a09,
int16_t a10,
int8_t a11,
int16_t a12,
int8_t a13,
int16_t a14,
int8_t a15,
int16_t a16,
int8_t a17,
int16_t a18,
int8_t a19,
int16_t a20,
int8_t a21,
int16_t a22,
int8_t a23,
int16_t a24,
int8_t a25,
int16_t a26,
int8_t a27,
int16_t a28,
int8_t a29,
int16_t a30,
int8_t a31,
int16_t a32,
int8_t a33,
int16_t a34,
int8_t a35,
int16_t a36,
int8_t a37,
int16_t a38,
int8_t a39,
int16_t a40) {
std::cout << "SumVeryManySmallInts(" << static_cast<int>(a01) << ", " << a02
<< ", " << static_cast<int>(a03) << ", " << a04 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a05) << ", " << a06 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a07) << ", " << a08 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a09) << ", " << a10 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a11) << ", " << a12 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a13) << ", " << a14 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a15) << ", " << a16 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a17) << ", " << a18 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a19) << ", " << a20 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a21) << ", " << a22 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a23) << ", " << a24 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a25) << ", " << a26 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a27) << ", " << a28 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a29) << ", " << a30 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a31) << ", " << a32 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a33) << ", " << a34 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a35) << ", " << a36 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a37) << ", " << a38 << ", "
<< static_cast<int>(a39) << ", " << a40 << ")\n";
const int16_t retval = a01 + a02 + a03 + a04 + a05 + a06 + a07 + a08 + a09 +
a10 + a11 + a12 + a13 + a14 + a15 + a16 + a17 + a18 +
a19 + a20 + a21 + a22 + a23 + a24 + a25 + a26 + a27 +
a28 + a29 + a30 + a31 + a32 + a33 + a34 + a35 + a36 +
a37 + a38 + a39 + a40;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Very many floating points, tests alignment on stack, and packing in
// floating point registers in hardfp.
DART_EXPORT double SumVeryManyFloatsDoubles(float a01,
double a02,
float a03,
double a04,
float a05,
double a06,
float a07,
double a08,
float a09,
double a10,
float a11,
double a12,
float a13,
double a14,
float a15,
double a16,
float a17,
double a18,
float a19,
double a20,
float a21,
double a22,
float a23,
double a24,
float a25,
double a26,
float a27,
double a28,
float a29,
double a30,
float a31,
double a32,
float a33,
double a34,
float a35,
double a36,
float a37,
double a38,
float a39,
double a40) {
std::cout << "SumVeryManyFloatsDoubles(" << a01 << ", " << a02 << ", " << a03
<< ", " << a04 << ", " << a05 << ", " << a06 << ", " << a07 << ", "
<< a08 << ", " << a09 << ", " << a10 << ", " << a11 << ", " << a12
<< ", " << a13 << ", " << a14 << ", " << a15 << ", " << a16 << ", "
<< a17 << ", " << a18 << ", " << a19 << ", " << a20 << ", " << a21
<< ", " << a22 << ", " << a23 << ", " << a24 << ", " << a25 << ", "
<< a26 << ", " << a27 << ", " << a28 << ", " << a29 << ", " << a30
<< ", " << a31 << ", " << a32 << ", " << a33 << ", " << a34 << ", "
<< a35 << ", " << a36 << ", " << a37 << ", " << a38 << ", " << a39
<< ", " << a40 << ")\n";
const double retval = a01 + a02 + a03 + a04 + a05 + a06 + a07 + a08 + a09 +
a10 + a11 + a12 + a13 + a14 + a15 + a16 + a17 + a18 +
a19 + a20 + a21 + a22 + a23 + a24 + a25 + a26 + a27 +
a28 + a29 + a30 + a31 + a32 + a33 + a34 + a35 + a36 +
a37 + a38 + a39 + a40;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums an odd number of ints.
// Used for testing calling conventions. With so many arguments, and an odd
// number of arguments, we are testing stack alignment on various architectures.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t SumManyIntsOdd(intptr_t a,
intptr_t b,
intptr_t c,
intptr_t d,
intptr_t e,
intptr_t f,
intptr_t g,
intptr_t h,
intptr_t i,
intptr_t j,
intptr_t k) {
std::cout << "SumManyInts(" << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << ", " << d
<< ", " << e << ", " << f << ", " << g << ", " << h << ", " << i
<< ", " << j << ", " << k << ")\n";
const intptr_t retval = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums many doubles.
// Used for testing calling conventions. With so many doubles we are using all
// xmm parameter registers and some stack slots.
DART_EXPORT double SumManyDoubles(double a,
double b,
double c,
double d,
double e,
double f,
double g,
double h,
double i,
double j) {
std::cout << "SumManyDoubles(" << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << ", " << d
<< ", " << e << ", " << f << ", " << g << ", " << h << ", " << i
<< ", " << j << ")\n";
const double retval = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums many numbers.
// Used for testing calling conventions. With so many parameters we are using
// both registers and stack slots.
DART_EXPORT double SumManyNumbers(intptr_t a,
float b,
intptr_t c,
double d,
intptr_t e,
float f,
intptr_t g,
double h,
intptr_t i,
float j,
intptr_t k,
double l,
intptr_t m,
float n,
intptr_t o,
double p,
intptr_t q,
float r,
intptr_t s,
double t) {
std::cout << "SumManyNumbers(" << a << ", " << b << ", " << c << ", " << d
<< ", " << e << ", " << f << ", " << g << ", " << h << ", " << i
<< ", " << j << ", " << k << ", " << l << ", " << m << ", " << n
<< ", " << o << ", " << p << ", " << q << ", " << r << ", " << s
<< ", " << t << ")\n";
const double retval = a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m + n +
o + p + q + r + s + t;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Assigns 1337 to the second element and returns the address of that element.
// Used for testing Pointer parameters and return values.
DART_EXPORT int64_t* Assign1337Index1(int64_t* a) {
std::cout << "Assign1337Index1(" << a << ")\n";
std::cout << "val[0] = " << a[0] << "\n";
std::cout << "val[1] = " << a[1] << "\n";
a[1] = 1337;
std::cout << "val[1] = " << a[1] << "\n";
int64_t* retval = a + 1;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
struct Coord {
double x;
double y;
Coord* next;
};
// Transposes Coordinate by (10, 10) and returns next Coordinate.
// Used for testing struct pointer parameter, struct pointer return value,
// struct field access, and struct pointer field dereference.
DART_EXPORT Coord* TransposeCoordinate(Coord* coord) {
std::cout << "TransposeCoordinate(" << coord << " {" << coord->x << ", "
<< coord->y << ", " << coord->next << "})\n";
coord->x = coord->x + 10.0;
coord->y = coord->y + 10.0;
std::cout << "returning " << coord->next << "\n";
return coord->next;
}
// Takes a Coordinate array and returns a Coordinate pointer to the next
// element.
// Used for testing struct arrays.
DART_EXPORT Coord* CoordinateElemAt1(Coord* coord) {
std::cout << "CoordinateElemAt1(" << coord << ")\n";
std::cout << "sizeof(Coord): " << sizeof(Coord) << "\n";
std::cout << "coord[0] = {" << coord[0].x << ", " << coord[0].y << ", "
<< coord[0].next << "}\n";
std::cout << "coord[1] = {" << coord[1].x << ", " << coord[1].y << ", "
<< coord[1].next << "}\n";
Coord* retval = coord + 1;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
typedef Coord* (*CoordUnOp)(Coord* coord);
// Takes a Coordinate Function(Coordinate) and applies it three times to a
// Coordinate.
// Used for testing function pointers with structs.
DART_EXPORT Coord* CoordinateUnOpTrice(CoordUnOp unop, Coord* coord) {
std::cout << "CoordinateUnOpTrice(" << &unop << ", " << coord << ")\n";
Coord* retval = unop(unop(unop(coord)));
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
typedef intptr_t (*IntptrBinOp)(intptr_t a, intptr_t b);
// Returns a closure.
// Note this closure is not properly marked as DART_EXPORT or extern "C".
// Used for testing passing a pointer to a closure to Dart.
// TODO(dacoharkes): is this a supported use case?
DART_EXPORT IntptrBinOp IntptrAdditionClosure() {
std::cout << "IntptrAdditionClosure()\n";
IntptrBinOp retval = [](intptr_t a, intptr_t b) { return a + b; };
std::cout << "returning " << &retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Applies an intptr binop function to 42 and 74.
// Used for testing passing a function pointer to C.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t ApplyTo42And74(IntptrBinOp binop) {
std::cout << "ApplyTo42And74()\n";
intptr_t retval = binop(42, 74);
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Returns next element in the array, unless a null pointer is passed.
// When a null pointer is passed, a null pointer is returned.
// Used for testing null pointers.
DART_EXPORT int64_t* NullableInt64ElemAt1(int64_t* a) {
std::cout << "NullableInt64ElemAt1(" << a << ")\n";
int64_t* retval;
if (a != nullptr) {
std::cout << "not null pointer, address: " << a << "\n";
retval = a + 1;
} else {
std::cout << "null pointer, address: " << a << "\n";
retval = nullptr;
}
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// A struct designed to exercise all kinds of alignment rules.
// Note that offset32A (System V ia32) aligns doubles on 4 bytes while offset32B
// (Arm 32 bit and MSVC ia32) aligns on 8 bytes.
// TODO(37271): Support nested structs.
// TODO(37470): Add uncommon primitive data types when we want to support them.
struct VeryLargeStruct {
// size32 size64 offset32A offset32B offset64
int8_t a; // 1 0 0 0
int16_t b; // 2 2 2 2
int32_t c; // 4 4 4 4
int64_t d; // 8 8 8 8
uint8_t e; // 1 16 16 16
uint16_t f; // 2 18 18 18
uint32_t g; // 4 20 20 20
uint64_t h; // 8 24 24 24
intptr_t i; // 4 8 32 32 32
double j; // 8 36 40 40
float k; // 4 44 48 48
VeryLargeStruct* parent; // 4 8 48 52 56
intptr_t numChildren; // 4 8 52 56 64
VeryLargeStruct* children; // 4 8 56 60 72
int8_t smallLastField; // 1 60 64 80
// sizeof 64 72 88
};
// Sums the fields of a very large struct, including the first field (a) from
// the parent and children.
// Used for testing alignment and padding in structs.
DART_EXPORT int64_t SumVeryLargeStruct(VeryLargeStruct* vls) {
std::cout << "SumVeryLargeStruct(" << vls << ")\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(a): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, a) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(b): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, b) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(c): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, c) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(d): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, d) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(e): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, e) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(f): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, f) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(g): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, g) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(h): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, h) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(i): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, i) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(j): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, j) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(k): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, k) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(parent): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, parent)
<< "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(numChildren): "
<< offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, numChildren) << "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(children): " << offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, children)
<< "\n";
std::cout << "offsetof(smallLastField): "
<< offsetof(VeryLargeStruct, smallLastField) << "\n";
std::cout << "sizeof(VeryLargeStruct): " << sizeof(VeryLargeStruct) << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->a: " << static_cast<int>(vls->a) << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->b: " << vls->b << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->c: " << vls->c << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->d: " << vls->d << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->e: " << static_cast<int>(vls->e) << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->f: " << vls->f << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->g: " << vls->g << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->h: " << vls->h << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->i: " << vls->i << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->j: " << vls->j << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->k: " << vls->k << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->parent: " << vls->parent << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->numChildren: " << vls->numChildren << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->children: " << vls->children << "\n";
std::cout << "vls->smallLastField: " << static_cast<int>(vls->smallLastField)
<< "\n";
int64_t retval = 0;
retval += 0x0L + vls->a;
retval += vls->b;
retval += vls->c;
retval += vls->d;
retval += vls->e;
retval += vls->f;
retval += vls->g;
retval += vls->h;
retval += vls->i;
retval += vls->j;
retval += vls->k;
retval += vls->smallLastField;
std::cout << retval << "\n";
if (vls->parent != nullptr) {
std::cout << "has parent\n";
retval += vls->parent->a;
}
std::cout << "has " << vls->numChildren << " children\n";
for (intptr_t i = 0; i < vls->numChildren; i++) {
retval += vls->children[i].a;
}
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Sums numbers of various sizes.
// Used for testing truncation and sign extension of non 64 bit parameters.
DART_EXPORT int64_t SumSmallNumbers(int8_t a,
int16_t b,
int32_t c,
uint8_t d,
uint16_t e,
uint32_t f) {
std::cout << "SumSmallNumbers(" << static_cast<int>(a) << ", " << b << ", "
<< c << ", " << static_cast<int>(d) << ", " << e << ", " << f
<< ")\n";
int64_t retval = 0;
retval += a;
retval += b;
retval += c;
retval += d;
retval += e;
retval += f;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Checks whether the float is between 1336.0f and 1338.0f.
// Used for testing rounding of Dart Doubles to floats in Pointer.store().
DART_EXPORT uint8_t IsRoughly1337(float* a) {
std::cout << "IsRoughly1337(" << a[0] << ")\n";
uint8_t retval = (1336.0f < a[0] && a[0] < 1338.0f) ? 1 : 0;
std::cout << "returning " << static_cast<int>(retval) << "\n";
return retval;
}
// Does nothing with input.
// Used for testing functions that return void
DART_EXPORT void DevNullFloat(float a) {
std::cout << "DevNullFloat(" << a << ")\n";
std::cout << "returning nothing\n";
}
// Invents an elite floating pointptr_t number.
// Used for testing functions that do not take any arguments.
DART_EXPORT float InventFloatValue() {
std::cout << "InventFloatValue()\n";
const float retval = 1337.0f;
std::cout << "returning " << retval << "\n";
return retval;
}
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Tests for callbacks.
// Sanity test.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSimpleAddition(intptr_t (*add)(int, int)) {
CHECK_EQ(add(10, 20), 30);
return 0;
}
//// Following tests are copied from above, with the role of Dart and C++ code
//// reversed.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t
TestIntComputation(int64_t (*fn)(int8_t, int16_t, int32_t, int64_t)) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(125, 250, 500, 1000), 625);
CHECK_EQ(0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLL, fn(0, 0, 0, 0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLL));
CHECK_EQ(((int64_t)-0x8000000000000000LL),
fn(0, 0, 0, -0x8000000000000000LL));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t
TestUintComputation(uint64_t (*fn)(uint8_t, uint16_t, uint32_t, uint64_t)) {
CHECK_EQ(0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLL, fn(0, 0, 0, 0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLL));
CHECK_EQ(-0x8000000000000000LL, fn(0, 0, 0, -0x8000000000000000LL));
CHECK_EQ(-1, (int64_t)fn(0, 0, 0, -1));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSimpleMultiply(double (*fn)(double)) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(2.0), 2.0 * 1.337);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSimpleMultiplyFloat(float (*fn)(float)) {
CHECK(::std::abs(fn(2.0) - 2.0 * 1.337) < 0.001);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestManyInts(intptr_t (*fn)(intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t,
intptr_t)) {
CHECK_EQ(55, fn(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestManyDoubles(double (*fn)(double,
double,
double,
double,
double,
double,
double,
double,
double,
double)) {
CHECK_EQ(55, fn(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestManyArgs(double (*fn)(intptr_t a,
float b,
intptr_t c,
double d,
intptr_t e,
float f,
intptr_t g,
double h,
intptr_t i,
float j,
intptr_t k,
double l,
intptr_t m,
float n,
intptr_t o,
double p,
intptr_t q,
float r,
intptr_t s,
double t)) {
CHECK(210.0 == fn(1, 2.0, 3, 4.0, 5, 6.0, 7, 8.0, 9, 10.0, 11, 12.0, 13, 14.0,
15, 16.0, 17, 18.0, 19, 20.0));
return 0;
}
// Used for testing floating point argument backfilling on Arm32 in hardfp.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSumFloatsAndDoubles(double (*fn)(float,
double,
float)) {
CHECK_EQ(6.0, fn(1.0, 2.0, 3.0));
return 0;
}
// Very many small integers, tests alignment on stack.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSumVeryManySmallInts(int16_t (*fn)(int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t,
int8_t,
int16_t)) {
CHECK_EQ(40 * 41 / 2, fn(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28,
29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40));
return 0;
}
// Very many floating points, tests alignment on stack, and packing in
// floating point registers in hardfp.
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestSumVeryManyFloatsDoubles(double (*fn)(float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double,
float,
double)) {
CHECK_EQ(40 * 41 / 2,
fn(1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0,
13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0, 17.0, 18.0, 19.0, 20.0, 21.0, 22.0, 23.0,
24.0, 25.0, 26.0, 27.0, 28.0, 29.0, 30.0, 31.0, 32.0, 33.0, 34.0,
35.0, 36.0, 37.0, 38.0, 39.0, 40.0));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestStore(int64_t* (*fn)(int64_t* a)) {
int64_t p[2] = {42, 1000};
int64_t* result = fn(p);
CHECK_EQ(*result, 1337);
CHECK_EQ(p[1], 1337);
CHECK_EQ(result, p + 1);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestReturnNull(int32_t (*fn)()) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(), 42);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestNullPointers(int64_t* (*fn)(int64_t* ptr)) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(nullptr), reinterpret_cast<void*>(sizeof(int64_t)));
int64_t p[2] = {0};
CHECK_EQ(fn(p), p + 1);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestReturnVoid(intptr_t (*return_void)()) {
CHECK_EQ(return_void(), 0);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestThrowExceptionDouble(double (*fn)()) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(), 42.0);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestThrowExceptionPointer(void* (*fn)()) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(), nullptr);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestThrowException(intptr_t (*fn)()) {
CHECK_EQ(fn(), 42);
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestTakeMaxUint8x10(intptr_t (*fn)(uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t,
uint8_t)) {
CHECK_EQ(1, fn(0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF));
// Check the argument values are properly truncated.
uint64_t v = 0xabcFF;
CHECK_EQ(1, fn(v, v, v, v, v, v, v, v, v, v));
return 0;
}
DART_EXPORT intptr_t TestReturnMaxUint8(uint8_t (*fn)()) {
std::cout << "TestReturnMaxUint8(fn): " << static_cast<int>(fn()) << "\n";
CHECK_EQ(0xFF, fn());
return 0;
}
// Receives some pointer (Pointer<NativeType> in Dart) and writes some bits.
DART_EXPORT void NativeTypePointerParam(void* p) {
uint8_t* p2 = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(p);
p2[0] = 42;
}
// Manufactures some pointer (Pointer<NativeType> in Dart) with a bogus address.
DART_EXPORT void* NativeTypePointerReturn() {
uint64_t bogus_address = 0x13370000;
return reinterpret_cast<void*>(bogus_address);
}
// Passes some pointer (Pointer<NativeType> in Dart) to Dart as argument.
DART_EXPORT void CallbackNativeTypePointerParam(void (*f)(void*)) {
void* pointer = malloc(sizeof(int64_t));
f(pointer);
free(pointer);
}
// Receives some pointer (Pointer<NativeType> in Dart) from Dart as return
// value.
DART_EXPORT void CallbackNativeTypePointerReturn(void* (*f)()) {
void* p = f();
uint8_t* p2 = reinterpret_cast<uint8_t*>(p);
p2[0] = 42;
}
DART_EXPORT int32_t PassStruct(void*) {
return 42;
}
} // namespace dart
| 2024-07-25T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1192 |
[An integrated model for examination of aphasic patients and evaluation of treatment results].
This article is an overview of the literature on integrated, multidisciplinar examination of aphasic patients, its consequences for treatment and the evaluation of the results thereof; the need of virtually standardized methods of investigation for each language is stressed. | 2024-03-27T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5424 |
Q:
WPF - Stackpanel won't wrap
I have a stackpanel that I dynamically add 50x50 rectangles to. I want it display 6 in per line and automatically add a line as it approaches the threshold per. (i.e. 12 rectangles == 2 lines.) I can't seem to get it to properly wrap though. here's my XAML code (I've cut off the stuff in the other rows as I suspect they are not relevant):
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="60"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="140"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="2*"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="auto"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="80"/>
<RowDefinition Height="80"/>
<RowDefinition Height="230"/>
<RowDefinition Height="auto"/>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<TextBlock FontWeight="Bold" FontSize="14" Grid.ColumnSpan="3">Swatch Thumbnails</TextBlock>
<StackPanel x:Name="sp_Thumbnails" Width="300" Grid.Row="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,15,0,0">
</StackPanel>
<StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Grid.ColumnSpan="3" Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="0,0,0,10">
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Margin="0,0,4,0" >
<TextBlock.Background>
<SolidColorBrush Color="{DynamicResource {x:Static SystemColors.ActiveCaptionColorKey}}"/>
</TextBlock.Background></TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
A:
Use a UniformGrid and set its Columns property to 6:
<UniformGrid Columns="6">
...
</UniformGrid>
| 2024-05-22T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7842 |
Different distribution of T cell receptor beta-chain haplotypes in mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are autoimmune diseases with a genetic background, and it is reasonable to suggest that aberrations in T cell receptor (TCR) genes could contribute to these diseases, as they play an important role in immune regulation. We studied TCR beta-chain gene segments V beta 8, V beta 11 and C beta with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in MCTD and SLE patients and controls. Haplotypes could be assigned in individuals who were homozygous for two or three of these three loci, whereupon the haplotype 2/25/10 (V beta 8/V beta 11/C beta) was found to be under-represented in MCTD (P = 0.029). The frequencies of individual alleles in both groups were similar to those of the controls, whereas the number of homozygotes within V beta 8 gene (23/23 kb and 2/2 kb) was increased in MCTD (P = 0.028). It is concluded that the distribution of TCR beta-chain genes could be aberrant in MCTD and could play a role in susceptibility, whereas the TCR beta-chain gene distribution in the SLE patients did not differ from that of the controls. | 2024-01-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4254 |
Friday, March 27, 2009
Question by Mr. Jim,Terry. I am glad that the sisters could get together like this. I thought I might have to ask you for an organization chart but I think I got it straight. They are a nice family.I missed Dad Golden, was he upset at something and stayed home? Really, I hope he is okay.wedding picture of Mom and Dad Golden, created by Betty
Bernie, Sandra, Gail and Dad Golden
Dad Golden with his favourite daughter.But.....Betty, Sandra, Gracey, Gail, Karen and me are ALL his "favourite daughter"!
Answer by Terry,
Dear Mr. Jim,Although Dad Golden was married to the prettiest waitress in the Blue Star, he has never been one that likes to dine out. He is truly a home body, but he did leave the apartment long enough [after he had given everyone an ice cream stick], for me to snap a picture of him with his two girls, and Bernie!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
This Saturday two Golden sisters came to visit Dad and Mom Golden.Sandra from Toronto and Gail Golden M. from New Market.With them were Gail and Ross's two boys, Daniel and Philip.Special boys they certainly are to their Welland aunties.Above is the Blue Star Restaurant where Sandra gathered as many of the family as she could for a "family" meal!
Now Blue Star holds a special interest to Mom Golden's children.This restaurant started its business in 1947 and Mom Golden worked there as a waitress in 1954.She was 24 at the time and Dad Golden was out of a job.She had four small kids to feed!I have put her picture in the Blue Star sign.She sure was one pretty waitress, eh?I just bet she got a lot of tips!
Oh! She is STILL kind of cute!
Here is the blue room where we dined!
Here sits just a small part of the Golden family.Around the table starting at the front left is Sandra Golden, Daniel M and his mother Gail, Mom Golden peeking around Gail, Bernie and who know who?, Karen Golden,[ Mom and Dad Golden's 43 year old baby], Betty B and finally Philip M, Gail and Ross's boy.
Philip has always been some what of a dreamer.He is always thinking about what he can invent and invent he surely does!He creates many things with hundreds of Popsicle sticks that Grampa Golden mails to him and he makes picture frames from waxed paper or foil rolls.He is also an excellent photographer.
Oh boy this character sure looks like a real party pooper!Maybe in two weeks from now when she is fitted up with a pace maker, she will be doing cart wheels, eh?But in the meantime she will be one drag!!
This is my baby sister Karen.Karen and David are Mom and Dad Golden's Manitoba babies!Karen lives in St Catharine's now in a cozy little apartment.
Now our sister, Sandra is a Toronto girl but the owner of the Blue Star who had once had a date with Sandra, maybe thirty years ago came to have a little chat and of course we all got our cameras going for this shot!Sandra has always been a beautiful girl, inside and out!She and Mom Golden are very close!
Did you ever hear the song that there will be no mister that can come between me and my sister?Well in this case, judging by this picture, there will be no mister that can come between me and my camera!
This is a sweet picture of my sister Gail Susan and her son and her baby, Daniel.I have called my sister "Hortense" for several years now.Daniel is not the inventor that Philip is but he has a great interest in well constructed buildings and in good furniture.
All of Mom and Dad Golden's twenty-six grand children love their Aunt Betty.Betty is the oldest of the children and she had to babysit us a lot when we were growing up and I am telling you, we were a bad bunch.Betty always used to say that when she grew up, and got married, she would never have kids because they were so BAD!Well, she had five children...Ha!Philip does love his auntie!
Another picture of our sweet Karen.In all of her years growing up, we have never heard her say a bad word about anybody!
Here is a picture of the guy that I let be the boss!Ha! I always tell him that he is the head but I am the neck!Turn this way!Turn that!..Ha!
The kids always have a camera in Mom Golden's face and Gail is no exception!Mom Golden is just a lovin' it!
Aunt Sandra and Daniel seem to be having a good time.
Philip likes to talk and here Uncle Bernie is giving him a willing and a listening ear!
I always hate good byes and here is Daniel and Uncle Bernie and the little red car saying their farewells!
Oh Daniel has an attractive ruby coloured jacket!
Philip is waiting for his Mama and his Auntie Sandra.They will be going over to see Grampa Golden, who will shower them with ice cream sticks!
Oh these are just two gorgeous girls, my beloved sisters, Sandra Leigh Golden and Karen Dianne Golden!!Both of them natural blonds!
About Me
I grew up in a family of nine children and each week my mother didn't just send us to Sunday School,she came with us.
We heard the gospel week after week from the year 1956 but were not saved until 1967.
The summer of 1967 my mother,my sister, Betty and I were all gloriously saved.
From that year until now several of my brothers and sisters were saved, but my dad still remains on the outside.
It has been our prayer that he will be saved soon and then the family circle will be unbroken and we will all be on our way to heaven where we will meet the Lord and see our brother, David who has gone on before. | 2023-11-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4167 |
Q:
Multiple columns with NAs, impute NAs by grouped linear interpolation
I have several columns with NAs, I want to impute the NAs of columns based on the state the row belongs to using linear interpolation.
I'd also like in the same code to create new column names that are interp_[variable name] formatted.
A:
We can do a group by interpolation
library(dplyr)
library(forecast)
df1 %>%
group_by(state) %>%
mutate_at(vars(-group_cols()), list(interp= ~ na.interp(.)))
If the columns are not all numeric, use mutate_if(is.numeric, list(interp= ~ na.interp(.)))
| 2023-08-09T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4096 |
اللغات
Mubarak
As a young Egyptian woman who participated in the revolution and who has been involved with several women’s groups and initiatives that have proliferated during the past two years, I do not wish to talk about how great the participation of Egyptian women was during the revolution, how they were marginalized afterward, or how they faced violence and a setback in political rights and freedoms despite their numerous contributions. These are all issues that I am sure can be addressed by experts in a more holistic and professional way. | 2024-03-21T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6013 |
Q:
Space at bottom of div containing image
For this fiddle, why is there a space at the bottom of div#imageDiv?
JSFiddle
<div>
<div>
<div>
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SIPI_Jelly_Beans_4.1.07.tiff/lossy-page1-256px-SIPI_Jelly_Beans_4.1.07.tiff.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="text"><div id="inner">text goes here</div></div>
html {
line-height: 1.5em;
}
#text {
background-color: grey;
margin-top:-7px;
}
A:
Set your image to img { display: block; }. And please next time add your code here on SO to prevent link rot and lets us easily review your code here.
| 2023-10-07T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2253 |
Predicted long-term persistence of pertussis antibodies in adolescents after an adolescent and adult formulation combined tetanus, diphtheria, and 5-component acellular pertussis vaccine, based on mathematical modeling and 5-year observed data.
In a clinical trial, adolescents who had received a booster dose of reduced dose diphtheria-tetanus-5-component acellular pertussis vaccine (Adacel, Tdap) 5 years earlier maintained increased antibody concentrations to all antigens compared with pre-vaccination values. Observed data were applied to several mathematical models designed to predict further antibody decay for pertussis antigens. A linear mixed model including a random-intercept term provided the best fit for the observed data and was used for predictions. The predicted times for sufficient antibody decay to reach pre-vaccination levels were 15.3 years (95% CI: 7.0-28.0) for pertactin, 11.0 years (5.7-18.9) for fimbriae types 2 and 3, 10.5 years (3.6-24.7) for pertussis toxoid and 9.5 years (4.2-24.6) for filamentous hemagglutinin. For at least 87% of subjects, the 10-year predicted antibody concentration was higher than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for each pertussis antigen measured. These results support Tdap booster doses every 10 years, following the current schedule for Td vaccination. | 2024-07-30T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5190 |
@REM Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
@REM Licensed under the MIT license. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
setlocal
set build-root=%~dp0..
rem // resolve to fully qualified path
for %%i in ("%build-root%") do set build-root=%%~fi
REM -- Build Java Binding --
cd %build-root%\bindings\java\gateway-java-binding
call mvn clean install
if errorlevel 1 goto :eof
cd %build-root% | 2024-03-08T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9348 |
After thirty years of marriage Danny DeVito separated from Rhea Perlman and he’s now dating… Kirstie Alley.
After thirty years of marriage Danny DeVito separated from Rhea Perlman and he’s now dating… Kirstie Alley.
DeVito, 67, and Perlman, 64, married in January 1982 and have three children together. They met in 1970 after Perlman went to see a friend in the Broadway play “The Shrinking Bride” and ended up charmed by DeVito, who was also in the production.
In a 1983 interview with People Magazine, Perlman said DeVito “was a lot more fun and a lot more sexy” than men she had previously dated. DeVito recalled, ”She was vibrant, with a great sense of humor, and real warm.” The two moved in together after two weeks.
After 13 years as a couple, Perlman told People their relationship was so solid, “you’d really have to work hard at breaking us up at this point.”
Years later, when asked about the secret to his enduring marriage, DeVito reportedly replied, “Love. Love. I mean, really. You know what? Who knows. The secret to success is to try to never figure that out.”
But now… WWN has learned that DeVito, former star of Taxi, is already dating former Cheers star, Kirstie Alley (61). “They’ve always had a thing for each other and Danny didn’t waste any time trying to hook up with Kirstie. For fans of Cheers and Taxi, it’s heaven,” said a longtime fan of Cheers and Taxi.
Kirstie, who continues to struggle with her weight, has recently revitalized her career with stints on Dancing With The Stars and Celebrity Pie Eating.
She met Danny on the set of his new movie, Christopher Columbus. She plays Christopher’s harolot.
In unrelated new, there are rumors floating around Hollywood that DeVito is Honey Boo Boo’s real father. | 2023-09-04T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3983 |
Recommended Articles
After the delivery of T-62Ms, BMP-1s, BMP-2s and at least one 2S9 to the Syrian Arab Army since early 2017, new imagery and combat footage coming out of Syria's Idlib Governorate has now revealed that more variants of these types have been sent to the country onboard Russia's 'Syria Express'.In accordance with Russia's role in the reinstatement of the Syrian Arab Army, it is also Russia that is responsible for training and equipping the new force. Although this led some to believe that Syria would receive additional T-72Bs, T-90s or even BMP-3s, all of which would be more advanced than the current armour composition of the regime forces, the deliveries until thus far have mostly included older weaponry excess to Russian requirements.Nonetheless, many of these delivered vehicles and weaponry are ideally suited for the Syrian Arab Army for their simplicity and ease of operating. In addition to the delivery of small arms and large numbers of Ural, GAZ, KamAZ and UAZ trucks and jeeps, other deliveries so far have encompassed T-62Ms, BMP-1(P)s and World War II-era 122mm M-1938 (M-30) howitzers in addition to smaller numbers of T-72s, T-90s and BMP-2s delivered in 2015.Although the newly-delivered T-62s are less advanced than some of the more modern T-72 variants also employed by the Syrian military, the delivery of these AFVs are still a welcome addition to the badly-depleted vehicle park of the Syrian Arab Army. While not equipped with any active protection systems such as the Shtora found on the T-90, the capabilities of the T-62M are a vast improvement over those of the T-55 and earlier T-62 variants. The BRM-1s and BRM-1Ks offer little novel in the area of offensive or defensive capabilities, but could well end up being valuable assets for the reconnaissance capabilities they bring with them.The T-62M is an upgrade programme aimed at upgrading several variants of the T-62, which by the early 1980s had become severely outmatched by their more modern Western counterparts, to a common standard. The programme aimed to adress the T-62's shortcomings in the field of firepower, protection and mobility, greatly improving the capabilities of the until then underperforming tank.To utilise the full potential of the powerful 115mm gun the 'Volna' fire control system module with a KTD laser rangefinder (LRF) was installed. The tank also gained the capability to launch the tube-fired 9M117 (9K116-2) Sheksna ATGM, which are unlikely to have been delivered to Syria. For this purpose, both the gunner and commander received new sighting systems, now also allowing for much increased efficacy during night combat. The increased armour protection was achieved by the installment of BDD appliqué armour on the turret front and upper and lower glacis plates, increased armour protection against anti-tank mines, rubber side skirts and anti-radiation lining on parts of the turret. The T-62MV received Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armour (ERA) on the turret, side skirts and glacis plate instead of the BDD appliqué armour installation. The resulting increased weight was compensated by a new 620hp V-55U diesel engine. In addition to all this, the tank was equipped with a new stabiliser, a thermal sleeve for its 115mm gun, a new radio and a block of smoke grenade launchers on the right side of the turret.While several variants such as the T-62 Obr. 1967 and T-62 Obr. 1972 were upgraded to the common T-62M standard, both are still easily discernible by the lack of the 12.7mm DShK on the T-62 Obr. 1967. Interestingly, Syria received both Obr. 1967s and Obr. 1972s upgraded to T-62M standards but also non-upgraded T-62 Obr. 1972s and now T-62MVs. At least one of the non-upgraded T-62 Obr. 1972s, still complete with the Russian H22-0-0 rail transit marker that was applied in Russia before shipment to Syria, was already captured by rebel forces near Barsah, Idlib Governorate in mid-January this year. Also note the protective cover around the TSh-2B-41 gunner sight, a local modification more often seen fitted to T-72s.Despite its age, the T-62M(V) has only just been retired from active service by the Russian Army after decades of counter-terrorism operations in the Caucascus. Following their active-duty career, the remaining tanks joined those already stored in Russia's massive military depots located in the Central and Eastern Military Districts, most notably in the Republic of Buryatia, suggesting most were never to see service again.Nevertheless, a sizeable number of T-62s are being restored to working conditions to take part in military exercises simulating Russia's capability to reactivate large numbers of tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles in case of an all-out war. With literally thousands of more modern tanks currently in reserve status, there is little reason in returning the tanks to their storage depots. And with an ally that suffers a high attrition rate in combat operations, a match was found.Before their appearance in Syria, some of the T-62Ms were already spotted throughout Russia while underway to a harbour for transport to Syria. These vehicles were then shipped onboard the 'Syria Express' towards Tartus. [1] [2]While images coming out of Russia suggest that the first shipment of T-62MVs was already prepared for transport to Syria in May 2018 [3], it wouldn't be until August 2019 when the first evidence of the T-62MV's presence in Syria surfaced, when a single T-62MV was damaged and then captured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). [4] The eventual fate of this vehicle remains unknown, and it's entirely possible that the (also Russian-delivered) MRO-A RPG fired at it damaged it beyond repair.The image below, dating from October 2019, shows desert-camouflaged T-62M(V)s in Syria that likely belonged to a batch of some 40 tanks seen in Tartus harbour in September 2019. [5] Contrary to these tanks, most of the unpainted tanks operating in Syria can still be seen with the H22-0-0 rail transit markers that were applied in Russia before shipment to Syria.In addition to the T-62M(V)s, a limited number of BRM-1K reconnaissance variants were received from Russia in early 2017 to take part in operations near Tadmur, which was successfully recaptured from Islamic State in early March 2017.The delivery of BRM-1s and BRM-1Ks is notable as this vehicle type was previously not in service with the Syrian Arab Army. The BRM-1(K) is armed with the same 73mm 2A28 cannon of the BMP-1, but has a wider turret moved further to the rear, not unreminiscent of the one seen on the BMP-2. In accordance with its new role, the BMP-1's autoloader and ATGM launcher were foregone and the ammunition loadout for its 73mm cannon was reduced from 40 to 20 rounds. In their place, a laser rangefinder, a range of navigation and detection devices, a mine detector, and additional radios and day/night observation devices are fitted. In case of detection by the enemy, six 81 mm 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers can temporarily mask the BRM-1Ks location, potentially allowing it to escape.The BRM-1K also comes with a PSNR-5K "Tall Mike" ground surveillance radar that can detect armoured fighting vehicles from roughly 7 kilometres away and movement of personnel from 2 kilometres. The addition of the new equipment necessitated an increase to 6 crewmembers, as a result of which its infantry capabilities are greatly diminished to two just soldiers (which would take the place of the observators). How much of the original equipment is still fitted to the vehicles shipped to Syria, or if the vehicle is actually used in its intended role rather than as a light tank is unknown, but the latter scenario appears likeliest.While the number of BRM-1s and BRM-1Ks delivered to Syria is unknown, three have already been captured by opposing forces in Idlib, two of which in the raid on Barsah that also rewarded its capturers with the Russian-delivered T-62 Obr. 1972 described earlier in this article. One of the BRM-1Ks and the single BRM-1 captured were then put to use by HTS on the 6th of February this year, ironically in role of IFV/APC with no less than four people cramped into the rear compartment. [6]In an effort to provide some additional protection to the BRM-1(K)'s weak side armour, slat armour was installed by HTS prior to its use on the battlefield. Note that the driver of the vehicle already wrecked the right door within minutes after heading out to the battlefield. While keeping the doors (which also function as the vehicle's fuel tanks) open is common practice on BMP-1s in Syria, the lack of space in the BRM-1(K) makes it a definite requirement in order to hold four or possibly even six men.The third example, likely the desert-camouflaged BRM-1K captured in late August 2019, was first seen in action on the 11th of February 2020 during a rebel counteroffensive on the town of al-Nayrab, for which it received a well-matching paintjob. Upgraded along the lines of the vehicle seen above, it also received slat armour fittings on the sides of the vehicle. More intesteringly, this BRM-1K has also been modified with two unknown devices installed on the turret front, one of which closely resembles an ATGM launch rail. Ironically, the vehicle is still called 'BMB' (the 'P' sound and letter doesn't exist in Arabic) by the fighters operating it. Also note the Turkish-delivered M113 in the image at the bottom, which carries a similar paintjob.For Syria, the delivery of additional T-62M(V)s and BRM-1(K)s is possibly much less significant than the trend it represents. With an ally that is capable of indefinitely replenishing the Syrian Arab Army's stocks and bring about its return as a coherent fighting force, eventual victory for government forces in Idlib seems certain, barring any unexpected twists and turns in the future course of the war.Special thanks to Dan Morant Mathieu and Calibre Obscura from calibreobscura.com [1] #PutinAtWar: Soviet Tanks Reactivated in Russia’s East https://medium.com/dfrlab/putinatwar-soviet-tanks-reactivated-in-russias-east-a81a111051a1 [2] Russia has dug out another trainload of T-62M and T-62MV tanks from their depots. This time near Ulan-Ude https://russia.liveuamap.com/en/2019/27-may-russia-has-dug-out-another-trainload-of-t62m-and-t62mv [3] https://twitter.com/MathieuMorant/status/1193848312283185152 [4] https://twitter.com/calibreobscura/status/1167187591843733505 and https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1166616999801315329 [5] https://twitter.com/obretix/status/1185924505413308423 [6] https://twitter.com/Danspiun/status/1225539780118827009 | 2024-06-21T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2069 |
Affiliation
Scientific and Statistical Computing Core, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
Figures
Abstract
Individuals with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) tend to exhibit disadvantageous risky decision-making not only in their real life but also in laboratory tasks. Decision-making is a complex multifaceted function and different cognitive processes are involved in decision-making for gains and losses. However, the relationship between impaired decision-making and gain versus loss processing in the context of IGD is poorly understood. The main aim of the present study was to separately evaluate decision-making for risky gains and losses among college students with IGD using the Cups task. Additionally, we further examined the effects of outcome magnitude and probability level on decision-making related to risky gains and losses respectively. Sixty college students with IGD and 42 matched healthy controls (HCs) participated. Results indicated that IGD subjects exhibited generally greater risk taking tendencies than HCs. In comparison to HCs, IGD subjects made more disadvantageous risky choices in the loss domain (but not in the gain domain). Follow-up analyses indicated that the impairment was associated to insensitivity to changes in outcome magnitude and probability level for risky losses among IGD subjects. In addition, higher Internet addiction severity scores were associated with percentage of disadvantageous risky options in the loss domain. These findings emphasize the effect of insensitivity to losses on disadvantageous decisions under risk in the context of IGD, which has implications for future intervention studies.
This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication
Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.
Funding: This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31170990 and No. 81100992), the fundamental research funds for the central universities (No. 2012WYB01), and the National Innovative Foundation Programs for College Students of China (No. 201310027028). SWY received salary support from the grant from NIDA (T32 DA007238-23). The funders had no role in the study design, collection and analysis of the data, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Introduction
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is defined as excessive and uncontrolled gaming online despite the experience of negative consequences, including insomnia, poor academic performance, and social isolation [1,2]. IGD is increasingly recognized as a mental health issue worldwide [3], as highlighted by its recent including in Section III of the DSM-5 as a topic deserving more future studies [4]. Moreover, since Internet is freely available in campuses, majority of college students play Internet games for recreations, which, however, make them as one of the most susceptible populations to IGD [5,6].
Maladaptive decision-making is one of the key symptoms of addition [7–9]. Previous findings suggest that individuals with substance abuse or dependence have impaired performance on a range of decision-making tasks [10–14]. Recent studies indicate decision-making deficits in IGD. For instance, researchers found that individuals with IGD made more disadvantageous choices on the Game of Dice Task relative to healthy non-playing comparison subjects [15], and that such impairments may be partly a result of a failure to utilize feedback [16]. Evidence also suggests that individuals with Internet addiction are impaired in decision-making under ambiguity measured by the Iowa Gambling Task [17,18]. Neuroimaging studies using other paradigms (e.g., guessing task, probability discounting task) also suggest alterations in neural responses among individuals with IGD during decision-making processes, involving anticipating and processing rewards and punishments [19–21] and evaluating risks [22].
Decision-making is a complex cognitive function, and accumulating evidence suggests that different processes are involved in decision-making for gains and losses [23–26]. Some researchers have found that individuals with addiction-related disorders made significantly more disadvantageous choices primarily in the gain—as compared to loss—domain [27,28], whereas existing data also suggest that insensitivity to losses play an essential role in decision-making deficits among individuals with substance dependence [29,30]. However, the extent to which impaired decision-making among IGD subjects is attributable to alterations in gain versus loss processing remains poorly understood. Separately investigating the characteristics of reward seeking and loss avoidance among individuals with IGD will advance current understanding of the mechanisms underlying decision-making deficits in this population, and may be help in the development of more effective interventions for IGD.
In the current study, we sought to separately evaluate decision-making for gains and losses among college students with IGD. For this purpose, we adopted the Cups task [26], which isolates decision making for the gain and loss domains. In addition, we further sought to examine the effects of two essential components, outcome magnitude and probability level, on decision-making related to risky gains and losses. Based on previous studies [15,16,21], we hypothesized that: (1) IGD subjects, compared to matched healthy controls (HCs) would make significantly more risky choices overall; (2) IGD subjects, in comparison to HCs, would perform worse on risk disadvantageous trials in both the gain and loss domains; (3) decision-making deficits among IGD subjects were associated to insensitivity to outcome magnitude and probability level; and (4) IGD severity scores were positively associated with disadvantageous risky options made on the Cups task.
Methods
Ethics Statement
The protocol of this study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University. All participants provided written informed consent before the experiment and received monetary compensation for their participation.
Participants
A total of 102 college students (60 IGD subjects and 42 HCs) were recruited from universities by online advertisement in Beijing, China. Given the higher prevalence of IGD in men versus women [1,31–33], only male subjects were selected. No participants reported previous experience with illicit drugs (e.g., cocaine) or gambling (including online gambling). Additionally, participants who reported any history of psychiatric or neurological diseases, use of psychotropic medications that affect the central nervous system were excluded from further study.
The diagnosis of IGD was established by weekly Internet gaming time and the Chen Internet addiction scale (CIAS) [34]. The CIAS consists of 26 items, based on a 4-point Likert scale, which evaluates 5 dimensions of Internet addiction: compulsive use, withdrawal, tolerance, problems of Interpersonal relationships, and time management. The reliability and validity of the CIAS among college students has been demonstrated previous [33]. The inclusion criteria for IGD subjects were: (1) scored 67 or higher on CIAS [33,35], (2) spent more time on Internet gaming than any other Internet applications, and (3) spent at least 14 hours a week for at least one year. To further confirm that IGD subjects were addicted to Internet gaming and to rule out the effects of other online activities (especially online gambling) on decision-making, IGD subjects were asked to list first three Internet activities which occupied most of their online time. All of them ranked Internet gaming the first and indicated that they are ‘addicted’ to Internet gaming, but none of them included online gambling or poker games in their lists. The inclusion criteria for HCs were: (1) rating ≤ 50 on CIAS, (2) occasionally Internet gaming (≤ 2 hours per week) or never playing online games in their lifetime.
The Cups Task
The computerized Chinese version of Cups task was adapted from the original task developed by [26]. The task consists of 54 trials divided into gain and loss domains equally. In each trial, participants were asked to choose between a risky option and a safe option, and the safe option is represented by a single cup and is associated with a 100% probability of either winning or losing 100 yuan. The risky option is represented by 2, 3 or 4 cups and is associated with 50%, 33% or 25% of winning or losing a larger amount of money (possible outcome: 200 yuan, 300 yuan, or 400 yuan). Within each domain, every combination of probability level and outcome level occurs three times, thus gain and loss domains are presented as two separate blocks of 27 random trials. Participants indicated their choice by pressing the left or right button. After each choice, participants were given feedback immediately about the outcome of the trial. The twenty participants who achieved the highest total scores would be provided with an additional bonus.
Based on an independent manipulation of probability level and outcome level, combinations are either: (1) risk advantageous (RA), meaning that the expected value (EV) of risky option is more favorable than that of the safe option; (2) risk disadvantageous (RD), meaning that the EV of risky option is less than that of the safe option; or (3) risk neutral, meaning that the risky and safe options have equal expected values (EQEV).
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 20.0 and R version 3.1.0. All tests were two-tailed and the criterion of significance was set at P < .05. First, we used independent-sample t-tests to explore group differences in demographic variables. Second, in order to compare the performance of IGD subjects and HCs on the Cups task, we used analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measurements. In order to explore interaction effects, simple effect analyses were performed. Where Mauchly tests showed violation of the sphericity assumption, Greenhouse-Geisser corrections were used. Post-hoc analyses were conducted using t tests with Bonferroni correction. Third, we separated EV into two components: probability level and outcome magnitude, in order to explore the effect these two components on decision-making for each trial, using the R lmer function of the lme4 library. Finally, to investigate the relationship between Internet addiction severity and decision-making performance of achieving gains and avoiding losses, Pearson’s correlations were used to explore associations between CIAS scores and the percentage of risky choices made during the three EV levels (RA, EQEV, RD) for the gain and loss domains respectively.
Rate of tobacco and alcohol use were low for both groups: three IGD subjects and one HCs reported occasional (less than once a month) cigarette smoking. Nineteen IGD subjects and 12 HCs reported lifetime alcohol use but all with low frequencies (once a week or less), and these rates did not differ between groups, t (29) = 1.27, P = .216.
Separate ANOVAs for each domain were further conducted. For the loss domain, in addition to significant main effects of group and EV level, there was a significant interaction effect of EV level × group interaction, F (2, 200) = 6.90, P = .002, partial η2 = .07. Findings from simple effect analyses indicated that IGA subjects made more risky choices than HCs on the RD trials, F (1, 100) = 15.11, P < .001, partial η2 = .13, but did not differ from HCs in the number of risky choices on the RA and EQEV trials (Fig. 1). In contrast, for the gain domain, there was no significant main or interaction effects of group or EV level × group (P = .092 and P = .138, respectively).
Sensitivity to Outcome Magnitude and Probability Level
We further separated the EV into two components: outcome magnitude and probability level. In order to examine the effect of these two components on risky decision-making, we conducted logistic hierarchical models using the R lmer function of the lme4 library to take into account trial-by-trial variance in subjects’ risk taking, following the procedure described in a previous study [37]. Two base models respectively for the gain and loss domains included group (0 = HCs, 1 = IGD subjects), probability level (represented probability of winning or losing for risky options: 0.25, 0.33, 0.50), outcome magnitude (2, 3, 4 represented 200, 300, 400 in risky options) and interactions of group × probability level and group × outcome magnitude as fixed-effects predictors, and individual differences in choice as random-effects. The dependent variable was subjects’ choice for each trial (0 = safe option, 1 = risky options).
As shown in table 2, there were significant main effects of probability level and outcome magnitude in both the gain and loss domains. These effects indicated, for both the gain and loss domains, that across both IGD subjects and HCs, subjects took fewer risks as the probability of the risky option became less favorable (main effect of probability level) and that subjects took more risks as the outcome magnitude of the risky option increased (main effect of outcome magnitude).
In the gain domain, there were no significant interaction effects between any of the three variables explored. In contrast, in the loss domain there were significant interactions between group × probability level and between group × outcome magnitude, indicating that IGD subjects, relative to HCs, were less likely to adjust their decisions based on probability level and outcome magnitude in the loss domain.
Correlation between Internet Addiction Severity and Decision-making
Pearson’s correlations were also conducted between CIAS scores and the number of risk choices for the three EV levels (RA, EQEV, RD) separately for the gain and loss domains. In the loss domain, the results indicated that CIAS scores were positively associated and risky choices made on RD trials, r = .22, P = .001. The association between CIAS scores were marginally correlated with the number of risky choices in RD trials for the gain domain, r = .19, P = 0.056.
Discussion
To our knowledge, the current study is the first to evaluate risky decision-making among IGD subjects separately for potential losses and gains. Consistent with our first hypothesis, IGD subjects demonstrated generally greater risk taking tendencies on the Cups task, in comparison to HCs. Partially consistent with our second and third hypothesis, IGD subjects made significantly more risky choices than HCs on the RD trials for the loss—but not the gain—domain, and the impairment was associated to insensitivity to changes in outcome magnitude and probability level for risky losses among IGD subjects. Consistent with our fourth hypothesis, correlational analyses further demonstrated significantly positive associations between Internet addiction severity scores and disadvantageous options in the loss domain. Taken together, these data provide further evidence of impairments on decisions under risk among individuals with IGD, and additionally suggest that alterations loss (versus gain) processing may underlie decision-making deficits in this population.
In the loss domain, IGD subjects made more risky decisions on the RD trials relative to HCs, and the trial-by-trial analysis further indicated that IGD subjects were less likely to adjust their decisions based on probability level and outcome magnitude in this domain. These findings are consistent with those from previous studies using similar decision-making tasks and demonstrating impairments in decision-making related to loss avoidance among individuals with substance addictions [38], eating disorders [39], and IGD [16, 19]. One possible explanation for these findings is that, through the repetition of their gaming behaviors, individuals with IGD may more frequently engage in loss-related problem solving, which may render them more tolerant to punishment. In addition, our finding of altered loss-related decision-making is consistent with the clinical presentation of individuals with IGD that they tend to undervalue potential real life negative consequences in order to persist in playing online [2,40,41].
Previous studies have demonstrated elevated disadvantageous risk-taking behaviors in the gain domain among individuals with addiction-related disorders characterized by impairments in impulse control, such as pathological gambling [28] and alcohol dependence [27]. However, neither the results of ANOVA nor trial-by-trial analyses indicated increases in risky decisions on gain trials among IGA subjects. Several possible explanations for these differences exist. Specifically, individuals with pathological gambling exhibit heightened reward responses to monetary versus non-monetary rewards [42], and this may result in greater disadvantageous risk-taking in the gain (versus loss) domain, as has been reported previously [28]. For individuals with alcohol dependence, long lasting and excessive alcohol consumption may alter brain structures and related functions, including key regions in reward processing such as amygdala [43,44]. Evidence indicated that patients with amygdala lesions demonstrated decision-making deficits mainly in the gain domain [26]. Although further research is needed to confirm these hypotheses, the absence of increased risk taking for gains among the IGD subjects could reflect relatively normative processing of monetary rewards (but not losses) in this population. In addition, these findings highlight the importance of assessing different aspects of decision-making across different addiction-related disorders.
Internet addiction severity scores were positive associated with the number of disadvantageous risky choices made on the Cups task, indicating that subjects with higher Internet addiction severity scores made more disadvantageous decisions related to risky losses during RD trials. These findings are in keeping with the previous studies which also reported the preference for disadvantageous risky alternatives was associated with the severity of IGD using similar paradigms, such as the Game of Dice Task [15,16] and the probability discounting task [22]. These findings support the hypothesis that impairments on decision-making related to risky losses are related to the level of Internet addiction severity (i.e., CIAS scores) and may therefore be an appropriate therapeutic target for the treatment of IGD.
Overall, our findings suggest impairments in risky decision-making within the context of loss avoidance among individuals with IGD. Further research is needed to establish the neurobiological basis for these alterations. One hypothesis is that disadvantageous decision-making in the loss domain may relate to alterations in cortico-striatal functioning among individuals with IGD, as has been reported among individuals with behavioral and drug addictions [45–47]. In particular, the insula plays a critical role in the biology of both addiction and decision-making [9,48,49] and is implicated in loss anticipation and avoidance learning [50]. Thus one speculative hypothesis is that impairments in loss avoidance-related decision-making may be related to insular functioning among individuals with IGD.
Several limitations of this study should be noted. First, given that IGD is most prevalent among men [1,32], this study did not include female participants. Thus further studies are needed to assess decision-making for gains and losses among women with IGD. Second, our recruitment of only college students limits the generalizability of our findings. Although college students are one of the most susceptible populations to IGD [5,33], future studies are required to explore the association between the risk-taking for potential gains and losses and IGD within clinical samples. Finally, studies with longitudinal designs are needed in order to investigate whether decision-making alterations are a consequence or a precursor of IGD.
In conclusion, this study is the first to assess decision-making in the gain and loss domains separately among college students with IGA using the Cups task. IGD subjects demonstrated greater risk taking tendencies than HCs. Furthermore, IGD subjects made significantly more risky choices than HCs on the RD trials in the loss but not gain domain, and such impairment was associated with insensitivity to outcome magnitude and probability level related to risky losses. In addition, Internet addiction severity scores were positively associated with disadvantageous risky options made in the loss domain. Taken together, these findings suggest that alterations loss (versus gain) processing may underlie decision-making deficits in this population. | 2023-10-16T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8924 |
Even with the immaturity of the impulse center of the brain and the unbalanced hormonal fluctuations that they face on a daily basis, adolescents need to be able to understand, manage and use their emotions effectively. This discussion will focus on a teen’s Emotional Intelligence (EI). According to Wikipedia, Emotional Intelligence is “the capability of individuals to recognize their own, and other people’s emotions, to discern between different feelings and label them appropriately, to use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and to manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt environments or achieve one’s goals.”
Having fine-tuned Emotional Intelligence skills often predicts a person’s success in social and emotional situations. This skill helps people build strong and positive relationships, make good decisions, and deal with difficult or challenging situations. In other words, it’s the ability to read social or emotional cues and be ‘people-smart’. If a person can get along well with others, use appropriate feelings, have empathy, control impulses and cope with negative emotions, then it is highly probable that he or she will be successful in most areas of life. Some people have naturally high EI abilities while others do not. The good news is that for those who have trouble with social and emotional situations, there are things they can do to improve these skills.
In a recent study called ‘Early Social-Emotional Functioning and Public Health: The Relationship Between Kindergarten Social Competence and Future Wellness’, researchers found that “the kindergarteners who were regarded by their teachers to be more socially competent – as measured by helpfulness to others, willingness to share and a capacity to resolve their own peer problems – were, by age 25, more likely to have graduated from college, be in full-time employment, less likely to have been arrested and less likely to be in public housing or on a public housing waitlist than students who weren’t as socially able.” This research implies that it is never too early to help foster the emotional intelligence of children, and that it is important to continue doing so throughout adolescence.
It is human nature to want to understand the world around us as well as the people we encounter each day. It is important to be able to imagine how others might feel in certain situations or why they feel the way they do. This is called being empathetic. Empathy helps people care about others as well as build good friendships and relationships. Learning to be empathetic can help guide adolescents on what to say and how to behave around someone who is feeling or showing strong emotions. By teaching children how to be kind, how to listen, how to forgive, and how to agree to disagree, parents are helping build the framework for the future emotional and social successes of their children.
Managing emotional reactions means choosing how and when to express the emotions being felt. Good emotional managers react to situations in positive and productive ways. Most things in life revolve around choices. People who manage their emotions well know they can choose the way they react instead of letting emotions influence them to do or say things they may regret later. They know how to gauge when it is better to wait before acting on or reacting to their feelings. And finally, they know that their reactions influence how other people respond in various situations.
Being able to regulate, or use, emotions gives adolescents the power to decide what emotion is right for a situation, and then to get into that mood. Choosing the right emotion can help with motivation, concentration, and determination in various situations. Adolescents need to know that emotions are not just things that happen to them, and that they can control their emotions by knowing how to use which mood is best for a particular situation.
Remember that words can be interpreted as positive and uplifting or as critical and demeaning. People don’t always remember the exact words that are spoken, but they usually remember how those words made them feel. It is their interpretation of these words that will influence the feelings with which they connect and relate to the rest of the world.
Children and teens need to be aware of their own emotions as well as the emotions of others. There are no good or bad emotions, but there are good and bad ways of expressing them appropriately. Rather than simply reacting emotionally to a situation, youngsters can learn to watch for emotional cues, reflect and use their words to solve problems.
Parents as well as other important adult figures should focus on being supportive coaches and role models for their children when it comes to expressing and interpreting emotions effectively. Paying attention to emotions is a way to build self-awareness, and help us to understand other people, our reactions, and ourselves.
Life skills: preparing adolescents for adulthood is part of a 10-week series that will run in the Caloosa Belle.
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You are encouraged to leave relevant comments but engaging in personal attacks, threats, online bullying or commercial spam will not be allowed. All comments should remain within the bounds of fair play and civility. (You can disagree with others courteously, without being disagreeable.) Feel free to express yourself but keep an open mind toward finding value in what others say. To report abuse or spam, click the X in the upper right corner of the comment box. | 2024-07-05T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9536 |
Frances Cranmer Greenman
Frances Cranmer Greenman (June 28, 1890 – May 24, 1981) was an American portrait painter, critic and columnist.
Life
Frances Willard Cranmer was born on June 28, 1890 in a log cabin in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Her parents were Hon. Simeon Harris Cranmer, and the suffragist, Emma Amelia Cranmer. She was named for suffragist Frances Willard. At 15, she attended the Wisconsin Academy of Art. At 16, she attended the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. In the 1900s, she studied with William Merritt Chase and Robert Henri in New York City. She won a gold medal from Corcoran in 1908. She moved to Minneapolis in the 1910s. She had her first major exhibition in 1913 at the Handicraft Guild. She went back to New York for several years before settling at the Hampshire Arms Hotel. Her permanent studio was on the fifth floor of the building and was painted completely black for her portraiture.
She was awarded a gold medal at the 1915 Minnesota State Fair for a group of three portraits.
Greenman was an established society painter in Minneapolis by the early 1920s and made portraits for Hollywood stars, politicians and socialites.
Her 1921 exhibition at the Bradstreet Gallery in Minneapolis was described in American Art News as "alternately gay and serious, prismatic and tonal." Greenman was awarded first prize in painting at the seventh and eighth annual exhibitions of Twin City Artists. Her portrait Jane won the prize for the eighth exhibition in 1922.
Greenman was replaced as a judge during the 1925 Iowa State Fair's Art Salon due to her modernist inclinations. Painter and exhibit head Charles Atherton Cumming postponed the art judging, first claiming that Greenman was ill. Greenman herself disputed this and Cumming went on to describe how she had been "converted to what she calls 'modern' art since I last viewed her exhibit." He explained that Iowa artists were "followers of 'white man's art'" and Greenman was replaced by one J. Laurie Wallace.
Following the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Greenman left New York and supported her family by painting portraits for wealthy clients.
Greenman taught at the Minneapolis School of Art from 1941 to 1943. She also taught at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Her style was bold and informed by modernism. Her painting Pink Lotus depicted one David Painter and in a severe, flattened, and unflattering manner. While her earlier portraits were more adventurous, they became more conservative and conventional over time. Her 1922 work A Moment's Rest for Mrs. Hoscovics and her portraits of Polish immigrants in Wisconsin show that Greenman wanted to use her art to explore social issues.
Greenman painted portraits of many famous people, including conductor Emil Oberhoffer, Dolores Del Rio, and Mary Pickford. She painted the official governor's portrait of Karl Rolvaag. It is hung in the Minnesota State Capitol.
She wrote her autobiography, Higher Than the Sky in 1954. She also worked for the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune as a critic, writing the art column "Frances Greenman Says".
Greenman died in Medina, Minnesota on May 24, 1981.
References
Further reading
Frances Cranmer Greenman papers, 1925-1957, Archives of American Art.
Pioneer Modernists: Minnesota's First Generation of Women Artists by Julie L'Enfant
Category:1890 births
Category:1981 deaths
Category:20th-century American painters
Category:American portrait painters
Category:American women painters
Category:Corcoran School of the Arts and Design alumni
Category:People from Aberdeen, South Dakota
Category:Students of Robert Henri
Category:Students of William Merritt Chase
Category:Artists from Minneapolis
Category:Painters from Minnesota
Category:20th-century American women artists
Category:School of the Art Institute of Chicago faculty | 2023-10-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1096 |
Q:
.htaccess: Redirect all pages to a new domain, except certain pages
I have a blog website with a Wordpress instalation. The blog author will now start posting for the local newspaper. Basically, I want this:
All the articles/pages should redirect to the new blog home at the newspaper's website.
A few articles should not redirect to the home page, but to its new URL at the newspaper's website.
So far I have this:
RewriteEngine On
# Redirect specific articles
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} article-slug-goes-here
RewriteRule .* http://www.newspaper.com/theblog/588433/article-slug-goes-here.html [R=301,L]
# Redirect all other stuff to the home
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^(.*)$
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.newspaper.com/theblog/ [R=301,L]
The first part works, but no the other part. I should be able to add other articles to the redirect list so that they are redirected to their corresponding new URL.
A:
You can have your rules like this:
RewriteEngine On
# Redirect specific articles
RewriteRule ^(article1|article2|article3) http://www.newspaper.com/theblog/588433/article-slug-goes-here.html [R=301,L]
# Redirect all other stuff to the home
RewriteRule ^ http://www.newspaper.com/theblog/ [R=301,L]
| 2024-01-23T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8951 |
Ms. Sorn Sievmey: the modern heroine of Cambodia in a controversial context
Her first speech after championing gold medal of Taekwondo match from her rival in Asian Games 2014 at South Korea, Sievmey proudly said:“First of all, I would like to thank my mom who gave me life, who breastfed and raised me, and who has encouraged me all the time….” Her brilliant and vivid words are reflecting tough stature of Khmer women, and one of them is her mom who is a widow after her husband died several years leaving 6 children as a family burden for her to bear with. In Cambodian society, and like many other societies, children are taken care by mother; but the most challenging motherhood in Cambodia is there are many single-moms who must take care many children by her own responsibility without having support or subsidy from the government. Ms. Seavmey is her last daughter among those six children. She is only 18 years old. She failed the first BAC II exam this year, while she is busy in training to bring back both personal achievement and national fame, her second exam laid out by the Ministry of Education might be possibly unsuccessful. However, the prospect to give her BAC II pass for free from the Ministry is feasible and indisputable.
Ms. Sorn Chanty who is Siev Mey’s mother is very proud of her daughter’s achievement. In the news interview, she suddenly exclaimed that her daughter is bringing fame for the Cambodian people. Ms. Sievmey, who was trained out of the Olympic Stadium under South Korean coach Choi Yong-Sok, beat fighters from Uzbekistan, the Philippines and Iran to take the women’s under-73kg gold.
The national heroine of gold medalist Siev Mey landed home with the warmest welcome from Khmer compatriots. She is greeted in person by the Minister of Sport and Education, and the Minister of Tourism. Ms. Sorn Siev Mey must be supported by both short term and long term plan. Many thousands dollars shall be handed to her from personal pocket of Khmer millionaires including the Prime Minister Hun Sen. This action is considered a short term welcoming. At a long term support and modeling, the Cambodian Assembly through Commission for Women Affairs and Labors etc. led by Mrs. Ke Sovannaroath, must set up an agenda to approve for her status of at lease Special National Ambassador for Sport and Education of Cambodia with salary and recognition of not lower than Secretary of State. This action would encourage and empower the merit-based culture in Cambodian society.
Ms. Sorn Siev Mey has involved in many sport matches in both national and international arenas. Currently, she is possessing 7 medals of three gold medals, three copper medals, and one silver medal. In the future, she must be a national icon. The responsible government must be able to allow her to using her own potential at the highest such as to instruct and lead millions of Cambodian youths with genuine prize of merit.
Wisdom
Inner Strength
អ្វីដែលគេត្រូវមានគឺភាពជាប្រធានពីខាងក្នុង មានគោលបំណងមុតមាំចំបងដែលចាក់ប្ញស គល់ក្នុងតំលៃគុណធម៌ មានសមត្ថភាពបញ្ចុះ បញ្ចូល ភាពជំនាញរឿងកិច្ចការក្នុងប្រព័ន្ធ ផ្តើមកិច្ចការរហ័យ រឹងប៉ឹង មានក្រុមការងារដ៍ មានប្រសិទ្ធិភាព និងពលវសទ្ធាឬសទ្ធាមុះមុត ដែលញ៉ាំងអ្នកដ៍ទៃ អោយរក្សាអណ្តាតភ្លើង ឆេះជាប់ជានិច្ច។"What they must have are: inner mastery; a central, compelling purpose rooted in moral values; a capacity to persuade; skills in working within the system; a fast start; a strong, effective team; and a passion that inspires others to keep the flame alive." - David Gergen, Eyewitness to Power
“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” | 2023-11-13T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6232 |
Q:
XPath NodeSet in Java
I have this code in eclipse
NodeSet nodes = (NodeSet) xPath.evaluate(expression,inputSource, XPathConstants.NODESET);
and its giving me compile time error on NodeSet.
These are the stuff that I have imported. Can you tell me why it's doing this?
import javax.xml.xpath.*;
import org.xml.sax.InputSource;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.util.*;
A:
As indicated NodeSet is not part of the standard libraries. However, from the documentation, NodeSet maps to a NodeList, so you could just use that instead. So it would become:
NodeList nodes = (NodeList) xPath.evaluate(expression,inputSource, XPathConstants.NODESET);
You would have to import org.w3c.dom.NodeList.
| 2024-06-06T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6972 |
Nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors clinical stage I: differentiated therapeutic approach in comparison with therapeutic approach using surveillance strategy only.
Surveillance after orchiectomy alone becomes popular for the management of clinical stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testicular tumors (CS I NSGCTT). Effort to identify patients at high risk of relapse leads to searching for risk factors of CS I NSGCTT. The aim of the study was to analyse own long-term experiences with different therapeutic approaches in CS I NSGCTT patients according to risk factors of the disease progression and to correlate these results with the group of patients who were treated with surveillance strategy only. From 11/1984 to 12/1991 a total of 145 patients with CS I NSGCTT were treated with surveillance strategy only (group A) and were followed-up to 1/2007. Patients, who had the disease progression, were treated with systemic chemotherapy. The disease progression was experienced in 52 patients (35.9 %). The overall survival rate of the patients in this group was 130/145 (89.7 %). From 1/1992 to 1/2007 a total of 323 patients with CS I NSGCTT were stratified to different risk-adapted therapeutic approaches (groups B1-3) according to histopathologic findings of primary tumor removed by inguinal orchiectomy. 111 patients (group B1) with vascular invasion and majority of embryonal carcinoma component in the primary tumor were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy (2 cycles of BEP). Disease progression developed in two patients (1.9 %). Other patients live without evidence of disease (NED). None of them died. Among 11 patients (group B2) with vascular invasion and majority with teratomatous elements in the primary tumor underwent primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND), 9 were found to be pathological stage I. The disease progression was observed in two patients (18.2 %), they died 87-122 months following orchiectomy. Two patients (18.2 %) with pathological stage II received adjuvant chemotherapy. Other 7 patients live with NED following RPLND. 201 patients (group B3) without vascular invasion have been followed after orchiectomy alone. They were kept under close surveillance, consisting of regular follow-up with tumor markers, chest x-ray and CT of the retroperitoneum. The disease progression was observed in 39 patients (19.4 %), who were treated with BEP chemotherapy. Three of them (7.7 %) died after a mean follow-up of 32.7 months following orchiectomy. The overall survival rate of all patients in group B1-3 was 98.4 %. Introduction of different therapeutic approaches in CS I NSGCTT patients according to risk factors of the disease progression might reduce the overall relapse rate of these patients from 35.9 % (group A) to 19.4 % (group B3) (P< 0.001). Surveillance procedure is recommended only in patients without vascular invasion in the primary tumor. | 2023-10-30T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2593 |
Obama's Los Cabos trip
President Barack Obama participates in a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia at the Esperanza Resort in San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico, June 18, 2012.
(Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) | 2023-10-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6976 |
Pro-apoptosis effects of protocatechuic acid in the early stage of infectious bursal disease virus infection.
Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a very important small RNA virus in the family of Birnaviridae, which can cause severe immunosuppressive effects and pathological damages in young chickens. It can replicate in bursal lymphocytes and impede the growth and development of B cells, finally causing bursal lymphocytes apoptosis. Previous results have shown that protocatechuic acid (PCA) as an important phenolic compound could effectively improve the survival rate of chickens infected with IBDV. The current study aimed to explore how PCA influenced the pathogenesis of IBDV, especially lymphocyte apoptosis in the process of IBDV infection. The results showed that PCA could effectively alleviate bursal pathological changes at the early stage of IBDV invasion. Moreover, bursal lymphocyte apoptosis for tissue section samples was largely elevated by PCA by using the terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method while the bursal lymphocyte apoptosis ratio was also increased by PCA by flow cytometry in the early stage of IBDV infection in vivo. Meanwhile, PCA could promote non-lymphocyte apoptosis in vitro. Further study displayed that the potential mechanisms mainly relied on regulation of the expressions of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, thus speeding up the process of IBDV-infected cell apoptosis and preventing virus infection. Meanwhile, the results displayed that the PI3K/Akt and NF kappa B signal pathways might play an important role in promoting cell apoptosis after IBDV infection. Overall, PCA as a potent antiviral drug precursor is expected to be applied in the poultry industry as a substitute for clinical antiviral application. | 2024-06-12T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3430 |
Released: 3rd May
Seen: 5th May
No one really expects much from a teen rom-com. Not really, they’re so formulaic at this point that the second I say a teen romcom there’s only a certain amount of things that are going to happen. It’s going to involve either seniors or people between high school and college, all of whom are played by TV actors in their twenties. Every plotline revolves around this couple who were a cute pair of friends as children but now they have hormones so, therefore, they’re into each other, they go on several dates that they never actually call dates and talk on the phone until eventually, the conflict happens that’s brought on by one of them withholding an arbitrary bit of information that leads to a temporary break up that’s undone 7 minutes later with some massive gesture of affection that warms the broken heart just enough for it to mend itself and bring them back together. If you go through any of these teenage romcoms, that’s just a series of events that will happen and films stand out when they put a twist on that plot or add interesting characters with a lot of well-written jokes… or you could just not bother, that works too.
The Last Summer follows several people throughout their final break between high school and college and all of them have such different stories that it would be foolish to even try to go through them all, but I’m a fool so I’m going to try. Griffin (K.J. Apa) and Phoebe (Maia Mitchell) are the main couple having innocent meet cutes while Phoebe works on making a film and Griffin works on his music, much to the chagrin of his father who may also be having an affair. Meanwhile, Alec (Jacob Latimore) and Foster (Wolfgang Novogratz) are spending their summer refurbishing driveways while dealing with their romantic lives where Alec is stuck in an unfulfilling relationship and Foster is trying to bang every woman on a checklist. Meanwhile, Reece (Mario Revolori) and Chad (Jacob McCarthy) get mistaken for adults in a bar because they wore suits and so get beers without being carded and end up going on dates with fully grown adults despite them being 18. Meanwhile there’s another plot about Audrey (Sosie Bacon) who is babysitting a kid who has the worst stage mom ever and MEANWHILE there’s this other plot with Erin (Halston Sage) and Ricky (Tyler Posey) dating because he’s a baseball player and he happened to land on top of her while jumping for a fly ball… oh god I know I missed something, there’s like 12 plots and none of them matter.
Not only do none of these plots really matter besides the one with Griffin and Phoebe but none of them even connect with each other. I wouldn’t be shocked if it turned out the first time the cast met each other was on the red carpet because none of these plot threads link up. This isn’t just a group of friends and they’re all having adventures, it’s a dozen people who tangentially happen to be having their summer break in the same general location but they don’t in any way really relate to each other. There was a large chunk of the movie where I didn’t even know that these characters were in the same town until literally one scene where they’re all on a beach at the same time, not even talking or interacting in any way but they just happened to all be on this same strip of sand around the same time.
They also just happen to not really have anything important to do with their plots. Basically, the film circles around and everyone ends where they began. There’s no pact, no plan, no big growth moment for anyone except Griffin and Foster and both of those characters big growth moments are not even really that big, one just chooses to be themselves and the other has sex… congrats, that’s your character growth moment for the movie. Hope it was worth waiting 90 minutes to get there… spoilers, it wasn’t.
We don’t even really get that much comedy out of this romantic comedy, which is a shame because these are pretty good actors who could’ve really delivered some good jokes. There’s a lot of genuine charm with the talent on screen, I actually like a lot of the actors involved and the ones I haven’t seen before were pretty good, but when you’re given nothing to work with there’s only so much that you can do. When they do get a joke or a moment of physical comedy, even that doesn’t quite work. The jokes are just not really there, which would shock me if I didn’t also know this film was written by two of the people who made The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature… Oh, by the way, we’re getting a third movie in that franchise because clearly, we did something horribly wrong at some point.
It’s clear that this movie is made for a very specific audience of teenagers who like watching Riverdale and Teen Wolf and want to see what the leads of those shows look like when they do a movie and that’s great, I did the same thing with far worse movies (Date Movie had Willow from Buffy in it, you better believe I was seeing that thing in cinemas and pretending I liked it because an actor I liked was in it) but this movie just has nothing to it. It’s not even that it’s badly made, it’s not. It’s average and seems to revel in staying average, never pushing for greatness and never falling into being awful. The Last Summer is a movie you put on when you need to have sound in the background and don’t want to actually pay attention to the movie. That’s it; it’s a big ball of “This exists” and nothing more.
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| 2023-10-12T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2382 |
We do not get to claim “ally” without putting in the work it takes to actually be an ally. As a woman and a feminist, I know what it’s like to deal with people who claim being “ally” to my cause only to disappoint me (sometimes multiple times over). As a feminist I realize that I must also be an ally; I am a white woman who is ally to the anti-racist cause. Fighting against inequality is not enough, life is more complicated than that. Being female means being part of a marginalized group. Being a woman of colour, or a disabled woman, or a queer woman means being part of a marginalized group within a marginalized group. For true equality, for true freedom, to ever exist we must recognize the struggles of those who are facing marginalization for various reasons: sex, race, gender, economic status, disability, age. Without allying ourselves to those who are facing added marginalization because of any of these factors, our causes will never fully succeed.
If one claims to be an ally then they also need to be prepared to walk the walk. Here are some tips so you don’t make an ass of yourself:
1. Call out oppressive ideas and language within your group(s) of privilege
Do not let oppressive ideas towards marginalized groups go unchallenged. Let them know that they are using language that is harmful, tell them their ideas are perpetuating continued marginalization of a targeted group. One on one confrontation is usually the most effective, but if that does not work or is not an option you may need to do it in a public arena. This also means honest self-reflection when you find yourself wanting to shrug off the complaints of an oppressed group as being “over-sensitive” or “irrational”.
2. Acts of solidarity do not grant anyone a permanent seat at the ally table
Calling people out on their oppressive ideas is fantastic, thank you for your solidarity. But those few acts of solidarity alone do not make an ally. We want equality, we want fairness, we want freedom… and all that shit is an ongoing process. Going on Facebook or your blog to tell your racist/sexist/homophobic cousin that they were wrong for saying something stupid does not mean you get to pat yourself on the back forever. A single act is not enough. As long as you are claiming to be an ally you need to be doing the work of an ally.
3. Recognize your own privilege
Privilege comes in many forms, and knowing where you are privileged and how this affects the way you understand the world is key in being an effective ally. Being part of a marginalized group means that society as a whole will treat you differently based on your marginalizing factor. Being privileged means that you will never have to experience life from that particular positive of oppression. Often, this will mean that people in a privileged position cannot understand the complaints, the anger, the reactions, of the marginalized group. If you are an ally then you will recognize that there are times that you just do not understand, but that does not mean that their complaints are invalid. Do not minimize the feelings of an oppressed group by telling them that they should not be so angry/sad/upset – this is a betrayal to the marginalized group that you are claiming to be an ally, it is a break in trust that can be very difficult to repair.
4. Your feelings are not priority number one
Someone from a marginalized group said you are not an ally, and they called you out on saying something that aligns with maintaining oppressiveness. Often this will cause the ally to react in defensiveness: they will trot out examples of when they acted as an ally, they will tell the accuser that by publicly calling out an ally they are simultaneously pushing away other allies, they will tell the accuser that they do not understand the complaint therefore accuser is being over-sensitive or they are concentrating on the wrong issue. The supposed ally is facing cognitive dissonance – they think of themselves as an ally, it has become a part of their identity which is now being challenged. They take the easier road of denying any wrongdoing on their part, but this always leads to minimizing the issues of the marginalized group. Worse, it often leads the “ally” to utilize silencing techniques (though it is not typically a conscious move).
If a person accuses you of acting in a manner that does not align with being an ally, the best thing to do is listen. Most people want to be heard, but sometimes your voice, your feelings, are not the most important. When someone is telling you that you have hurt their feelings, the appropriate response is not “but what about *my* feelings?”. As much as you want to respond and be heard in that moment, the best thing you can do is take time to really think about the complaint being made about you. This is potentially the greatest test to face any ally, and this can be a make or break test in trust between the ally and the marginalized group they claim to stand in solidarity with. If one takes the time to be introspective, to consider the complaints, research the issue, to listen to the person who has challenged your position as an ally – yet after all that they still feel like they were in the right – then approach that person in private to talk about it. Do no risk alienating yourself from an entire group by shifting the blame – basically this makes you look like an asshole (see, “You’re Not Being A Team Player“) who would rather remain blind to their own privilege than to self-reflect to benefit others.
5. You will not do it for a Scooby Snack
This is important: if you call out oppressive ideas with the hopes or expectations of getting acknowledgement from the marginalized group – you are doing it wrong. People of marginalized groups do not owe you anything for being an ally. If you are waiting for acknowledgement from the people you are standing in solidarity with, then you are not actually an ally: you are being a user – you are using oppressed people to reassure you that you are a good person, and that is a total bullshit move. If you are an ally for any other reason besides wanting to end oppression, creating equality, and wanting a better society, then go home. Come back when you are ready to put your self-indulgent crap to the side, and be a real ally.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, it is just a few tips based on behaviors I have noticed in my experience as a woman and a feminist, and that piss me off about self-proclaimed allies. These tips can are not limited to being an ally to feminism, they should be applied to any caused where one is an ally. Are you willing to do the work that it takes to be an ally? Before you call yourself “ally” please recognize the responsibility involved in standing in solidarity. | 2023-09-18T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1084 |
Human-induced nitrogen (N) input increased over tenfold with respect to one century ago[@b1][@b2]. Excessive N fertilization caused accumulation of significant amounts of N beyond crop absorption in soils, largely in the form of nitrate (NO~3~^−^)[@b3][@b4]. Surplus NO~3~^−^ in soil is problematic because it is susceptible to loss by leaching or denitrification[@b2][@b5], which is both economically and environmentally undesirable[@b4][@b6]. High nitrification potential and low NO~3~^−^ immobilization are responsible for NO~3~^−^ accumulation in agricultural soils[@b7]. Long-term N fertilization and tillage greatly increase the population and alter the community structure of ammonia oxidizing bacteria, as well as the nitrification capacity[@b4][@b8][@b9][@b10]. This is confirmed by the significant positively relationship between nitrification potential and soil NO~3~^−^ content[@b7][@b11].
Co-application of N fertilizer with organic materials is especially common in high-input cropping systems, and it is considered to be a good agronomic practice as it is thought to elevate microbial bioavailability of the applied N and reduce N loss to the environment[@b12]. Much of immobilized N was speculated to be rapidly transformed to microbial residues or necromass as the average life cycle of N in microbial biomass was just several days[@b13][@b14]. While a recent study shows that soil newly synthesized amino acids are relatively easier to decompose in contrast with original soil amino acids[@b15], the fate of newly immobilized N in various soil N pools is generally not well quantified.
In recent years, large areas of conventional cereal cultivation in China have been transferred to intensive greenhouse cultivation due to fast economic development and increased consumer demand[@b3]. Greenhouse soil cultivated with vegetables represents typical high NO~3~^−^ soil in agricultural system[@b3][@b16]. Constant monoculture, excessive fertilization, and high-intensity anthropogenic interference during greenhouse cultivation change the process of soil N transformation and accelerate the accumulation of NO~3~^− ^[@b10][@b16]. Thus, special attention is required to pay on N transformation in the NO~3~^−^ polluted soil (e.g., greenhouse soil) after the application of ammonium-based fertilizers.
Isotope ^15^N tracing technology is widely used to study the fate of chemical fertilizers and other N amendments in ecosystems. Previous studies on the fate of soil added ^15^N mainly focused on its transformation to extractable NH~4~^+^ and NO~3~^−^ pools, as well as N retention during a certain period (either short-term or long-term mostly)[@b7][@b9][@b17][@b18]. Due to the difficulties in experimental operation, dynamic and systematic studies on the fates of soil added ^15^N entering into various N pools (e.g. microbial biomass N, extractable organic N, mineral fixed N, non-extractable organic N) are rare, while these forms of N may play significant roles as important intermediates in biogeochemical N transformation processes in soil[@b15][@b19].
Altering the fate of chemical fertilizer N to lessen NO~3~^−^ loss by manure co-application largely relies on the scale and the stability of manure-enhanced immobilization of fertilizer N. In this study, we conducted a 120-day incubation experiment to trace the fates of the inorganic fertilizer N alone or in combination with a green manure (as ryegrass in this study) to a greenhouse soil, using a ^15^N trace technique. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of co-application of green manure on the fates of applied N entering into seven different N pools. Specifically, we examined if co-application of green manure promoted the incorporation of soil newly immobilized N into relatively stable organic N pools instead of remineralization, and in a long run, reduced NO~3~^−^ accumulation and loss risk in high-input greenhouse soil. We expected that green manure co-application would increase the stable immobilization of fertilizer N in the studied soil.
Results
=======
Dynamics of soil extractable N (NH~4~ ^+^-N, NO~3~ ^−^-N, EON)
--------------------------------------------------------------
In the control treatment, NH~4~^+^ concentration was 0.6 to 4.9 mg N kg^−1^, and did not change much over the 120-day incubation, while NO~3~^−^ concentration increased somewhat from 152 mg N kg^−1^ at the beginning of incubation to 199 mg N kg^−1^ at the end of incubation ([Fig. 1a,c](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). In the N addition treatment, NH~4~^+^ decreased by 93--97% within 3 days from \>80 mg N kg^−1^ to background level of 2.7--4.5 mg N kg^−1^. In contrast, NO~3~^−^ concentration increased rapidly to 225--244 mg N kg^−1^ from 152 mg N kg^−1^ in the first 3 days ([Fig. 1b,d](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). From the 7 to 120 days, NO~3~^−^ concentration slightly increased, and ^15^N recovery in NO~3~^−^ pool, however, was relatively constant. Co-application of ryegrass significantly decreased the proportion of applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ conversion to NO~3~^−^. During the days from day 3 to day 120, 56--70% of the applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ was recovered as NO~3~^−^ in the +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatment, being significantly lower than that (87--92%) in the +^15^NH~4~^+^ treatment ([Fig. 1d](#f1){ref-type="fig"}).
Extractable organic N (EON) was 8.4 to 25.3 mg N kg^−1^ and accounted for 3--11% of total extractable nitrogen (TEN, NH~4~^+^-N + NO~3~^−^-N + EON) ([Fig. 1e](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). Ryegrass addition slightly increased EON concentrations. Less than 2% of the applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ was recovered as EON, and there was no significant difference in the ^15^N recovery in EON between the two ^15^NH~4~^+^ addition treatments ([Fig. 1f](#f1){ref-type="fig"}).
Dynamics of soil microbial biomass N (MBN) and mineral fixed N (MFN)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In the control treatment, MBN concentrations was relatively constant, being 32.9 to 52.0 mg N kg^−1^ ([Fig. 1g](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). NH~4~^+^ addition increased MBN concentration slightly only in the first 3 day of incubation. However, co-application of ryegrass with NH~4~^+^ increased MBN significantly in the first 30 days. After 60 days, there was no significant difference in MBN concentrations among the three treatments. In the +^15^NH~4~^+^ treatment, 1.5--2.9% of the applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ was recovered to microbial biomass ([Fig. 1h](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). In the +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatment, the proportion to microbial biomass changed over the incubation, from 5% in the 0.1 day increased to a maximum of 22% in the 1 day and decreased to 4% at the end of incubation.
MFN concentrations were comparable to NO~3~^−^ concentration, but were not different among the three treatments ([Fig. 1i](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). The ^15^N recovery in MFN pool did not change and stabilize at 2--3% in the two N addition treatments during day 1--120 ([Fig. 1j](#f1){ref-type="fig"}).
Incorporation into soil organic matter (SOM) and N loss
-------------------------------------------------------
The two ^15^N addition treatments yielded different ^15^N recoveries in TEN and non-extractable N (NEN) pools ([Fig. 2b,d](#f2){ref-type="fig"}). The ^15^N recoveries in TEN pool were 88--99% for the +^15^NH~4~^+^ treatment and 57--81% for the +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatment during the 120-day incubation, and showed a slight increase after an initial sharp drop. A reverse trend was found for the ^15^N recovery in NEN pool ([Fig. 2](#f2){ref-type="fig"}).
We defined the ^15^N recovery in NEN pool minus in MFN and MBN pools (NEN-MFN-MBN) in the unfumigated post-extracted soil as incorporation into SOM, and defined the unrecovered ^15^N (neither in TEN nor NEN pools) as loss ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}). During day 3--120 in the +^15^NH~4~^+^ treatment, only 0.1--2% and 3--6% of the applied fertilizer N was incorporated into SOM and lost, respectively. When ryegrass was co-applied, 8--17% of the applied fertilizer N was incorporated into SOM and 6--15% of applied N was lost, respectively ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}).
Discussion
==========
Nitrification
-------------
Our results show that the studied greenhouse soil is characterized by high NO~3~^−^ accumulation (\>150 mg N kg^−1^) and very fast nitrification. The net nitrification rates (net NO~3~^−^ change) of the applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ were 28.7 and 27.7 mg N kg^−1^ d^−1^ for the +^15^NH~4~^+^ and +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatments respectively during day 0.1--1, and 17.9 and 8.3 mg N kg^−1^ d^−1^ during day 1--3 ([Fig. 4](#f4){ref-type="fig"}), much higher than the reported values for many other ecosystems[@b4][@b11][@b20]. Nitrifiers were acclimatized with high quantity and improved function in the tested soils due to high-rate fertilization and long-term vegetable cultivation but limited C input[@b20][@b21]. In contrast, in N-limited forest soil, low N input and sufficient available C to fuel high denitrification and immobilization, prevents the NO~3~^−^ accumulation[@b7][@b22][@b23].
The relative strength of N mineralization and immobilization mainly depends on the C/N of added organic material as well as the incubated soil[@b24][@b25][@b26]. The total rate of nitrification (including ^14^N and ^15^N) in the ryegrass co-applied soil was not reduced in this study ([Figs 1](#f1){ref-type="fig"}c and [4](#f4){ref-type="fig"}), primarily due to the supply of non-labelled NH~4~^+^ from relatively fast mineralization of the ryegrass with a C/N ratio only 12.4 (soil C/N ratios were 10.5, 10.0 and 10.2 respectively after the addition for Control, +^15^NH~4~^+^ and +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatments). The total nitrification rate and N release would get reduced if organic material with a higher C/N than ryegrass was applied[@b27]. But the use of organic material with a wider C/N ratio (e.g. crop straw) may not really favor transformation of NH~4~^+^ into organic N pool instead of NO~3~^−^ pool, due to the desynchrony between slow release of available C from crop straw and fast nitrification of applied NH~4~^+^ in greenhouse soil. Therefore, reducing nitrification of applied fertilizer N by co-application of organic material in high-input agricultural soils should well consider the quality (e.g. C/N, carbon availability) of added organic material[@b22][@b26][@b27].
Incorporation into MBN and SOM
------------------------------
Our study dynamically evaluated the stability and further transformation of microbially assimilated N using the indicator "non-extractable organic ^15^N". The results suggest that co-application of green manure led to effective NH~4~^+^ immobilization and stabilization in soil ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}). During day 1--120, 23--28% of the applied fertilizer N was incorporated into non-extractable organic N, initially primarily as MBN, and eventually primarily as SOM. According to the low soil NH~4~^+^ concentration after day 3, and the low microbial assimilation to NO~3~^−^ in agricultural soils[@b7][@b28], we propose that the slow decline of ^15^N recovery in non-extractable organic N pool (^15^N incorporated into MBN and SOM) after day 3 was dominated by the remineralization of newly immobilized organic ^15^N ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}). Our results also show that newly immobilized organic ^15^N is a relatively stable N pool that can accumulate rapidly but is not readily accessible to microbial mineralization.
Studies of soil organic matter after ^15^NH~4~^+^ or ^15^N-urea addition by nuclear magnetic resonance technique (NMR) confirm that the immobilized organic ^15^N is concentrated as the form of peptide or amide[@b17][@b29][@b30], which is regarded as a microbial source[@b19][@b31]. In this study, the ryegrass-induced rapid up-down change of ^15^N recovery in MBN ([Fig. 1h](#f1){ref-type="fig"}), as well as the trade-off changes of ^15^N recoveries in MBN and "incorporated into SOM" pools ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}), indicate that the initial immobilization of ^15^NH~4~^+^ and its subsequent transformation in the soil should be mainly microbially mediated[@b32][@b33][@b34], and the disappeared MB^15^N was mainly further incorporated into SOM, a stable soil organic N pool that hard to decompose[@b35]. Appel *et al*.[@b36] confirmed that almost no extractable ^15^N was extracted from soils when ^15^N-labelled bacterial biomass was added prior to extraction. This goes against usual understanding that the newly immobilized N will release to bioavailable N after the death and breakdown of live microbes. It is expected that the soil N immobilized by microbes may contribute a lot to the low but long availability of residual fertilizer-N (residual effect) to subsequent crops[@b37][@b38].
The biotic immobilization of added NH~4~^+^ was mainly initiated and regulated by active microorganisms[@b39]. MB^15^N was too variable within a short period[@b26] as also evidenced by this study to reliably reflect the scale of ^15^NH~4~^+^ immobilization, especially in a relatively long period. In contrast, newly immobilized organic ^15^N, composed of ^15^N incorporation into both MBN and SOM, can be fast accumulated but slowly mineralized in the long-term process ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}), and may be a better indicator versus MB^15^N to more reliably quantify the microbial assimilation of added ^15^NH~4~^+^ in a long period.
Immobilization of N in soils might also be a result of abiotic reaction[@b40][@b41], but the proportion is generally low in agricultural soil[@b42] and in our study soil ([Fig. 1j](#f1){ref-type="fig"}). Nevertheless, no matter how much the immobilization of applied ^15^NH~4~^+^ is biotically or abiotically regulated, the evidence provided by the present study suggested that applying green manures (e.g. ryegrass) to soil could significantly enhance the stable immobilization of applied NH~4~^+^. This is very significant for N management in intensive cultivation systems (e.g. greenhouse cultivation, orchard, vineyard, etc.), where large amounts of N fertilizer are applied.
Incorporation into EON, MFN and N loss
--------------------------------------
Compared to NO~3~^−^ and MBN, the proportions of ^15^N entering into EON and MFN pools were low in this study ([Figs 1](#f1){ref-type="fig"} and [3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}), which was consistent with previous studies[@b26][@b43][@b44]. Because most of EON in soils is resistant to decomposition, rapid turnover of easily degradable EON released from fresh organic matter will lead to the low contribution of added organic material to the total EON pool[@b44]. With the decline of the recovery of MB^15^N, the EO^15^N recovery kept continuously low ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}), reflecting indirectly a low contribution of the disappeared MBN to EON during the 120-day incubation. The content of clay-fixed ammonium depends on the degree of K saturation of the interlayers of 2:1 clay minerals[@b45][@b46]. Low ^15^N recovery in MFN pool in this study may be due to the block of sufficient K^+^ and NH~4~^+^ resulting from high rate fertilization of K and N in greenhouse vegetable cultivation process. Available K in the greenhouse soil is up to 201.7 ± 2.8 mg kg^−1^, being much higher than that in nearby cropland soil (74.4--127.0 mg kg^−1^)[@b35][@b47] Still, low moisture change during the first three days of the incubation may also contribute a part to the low fixation as soil dry-wet cycle is also thought to be an important factor controlling NH~4~^+^ fixation[@b45].
Co-application of ryegrass might increase the loss of applied fertilizer NH~4~^+^ ([Fig. 3](#f3){ref-type="fig"}), in the forms of nitrogenous gases (NH~3~, N~2~, N~2~O, NO, HONO, etc.). The quantity of loss via ammonia volatilization in the soil was low (measured by absorption with dilute H~2~SO~4~, Kjeldahl distillation and titration) and the difference was not significant among treatments (\<0.5 mg N kg^−1^ during the 120-day incubation period, detailed data was not shown here). Compared to the treatment with only NH~4~^+^ addition, we suggest that denitrification was fueled by available C from ryegrass and thereby increased the loss of gaseous N. Also, fast ryegrass mineralization rapidly stimulated aerobic microbial activity, likely reducing the permeability and availability of oxygen in soil pores to increase denitrifying loss of ^15^NO~3~^−^ in the very initial period, which was verified by the observation of lower water perviousness (need more time to completely infiltrate) in the soil with ryegrass addition than that without ryegrass addition when we added deionized water at regular intervals.
Methods
=======
Soil and ryegrass samples preparation
-------------------------------------
In the present study, Fluvo-aquic soil (silty loam, *Hapli-Udic Cambisols* in Chinese soil taxonomy) samples were collected from the surface layer (0--20 cm) of a greenhouse field planted with pepper (*Capsicum annuum L.*) in Damintun town, Xinmin county, Liaoning province (122°50´E, 41°59´N). The greenhouse soil had a 7-yr history of vegetable cropping (cucumber, tomato, pepper, etc.), and before that it was under maize cultivation for decades. The soil had a low C/N ratio of 10.5, and a high NO~3~^−^ accumulation (152 mg N kg^−1^, [Table 1](#t1){ref-type="table"}).
In this study, ryegrass (*Lolium multiflorum* Lam.) samples was applied as a green manure in the greenhouse soil, which was obtained by culturing ryegrass in pots (21 cm in diameter and 20 cm in height filled with 3.5 kg soil) until it matured. Each pot was applied with 1 g of non-labelled urea.
Experimental design
-------------------
Three treatments were set with 4 replicates for each treatment: (1) Control, soil without additions; (2) +^15^NH~4~^+^, adding as ^15^N-labelled ammonium sulfate ((NH~4~)~2~SO~4~); (3) +^15^NH~4~^+^ + Ryegrass, adding as ^15^N-labelled (NH~4~)~2~SO~4~ and non-labelled ryegrass. ^15^N abundance of (NH~4~)~2~SO~4~ was 50.17 atom%, and (NH~4~)~2~SO~4~ was added at a rate of 80 mg N kg^−1^ dry soil, being equivalent to the addition of 200 kg N ha^−1^ into the 0--20 cm soil layer in the field. The ryegrass was smashed to powder and sieved through 0.5 mm before use, and added at a rate of 4.21 g kg^−1^ dry soil. Selected properties of the soil and ryegrass were listed in [Table 1](#t1){ref-type="table"}.
For the laboratory incubation, soil was sieved through 2 mm and mixed homogeneously after gravimetric soil moisture was lowered to approximately 15%, and then pre-incubated at 25 °C for 7 days. Thereafter, 25 g soil (on an oven-dried basis) was weighed into polyethylene plastic centrifuge cups (60 mm in diameter and 81 mm high, n = 64 for each treatment). After mixing the soil thoroughly with ryegrass for the +^15^NH~4~^+^+Ryegrass treatment, aqueous solution of (^15^NH~4~)~2~SO~4~ or deionized water was added over the soil surface with a pipette to bring the gravimetric soil moisture uniformly to 25.3% (corresponded to 60% water filled pore space). The application was made drop-wise to the soil in the cup and the soil then mixed to ensure the application was even. Finally, the soil was mechanically compressed to field bulk density (1.25 g cm^−3^) using a small disc with a handle. All cups were covered with parafilm punctured with a needle to maintain aerobic conditions and incubated in an automatically controlled incubator (25 °C). Distilled H~2~O was added at regular intervals (4 days) to maintain the soil moisture and prevent from decreasing the microbial activity due to water limitation during the 120-day incubation.
Sample processing and chemical analysis
---------------------------------------
Approximately 0.1 (2.5 h), 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 120 days after adding (^15^NH~4~)~2~SO~4~, eight replicates of each treatment were destructively sampled, extracted directly (four cups) or after fumigation (four cups) with 100 ml 0.5 mol l^−1^ K~2~SO~4~ for 30 minute on a shaker (220 rev min^−1^) ([Fig. 5](#f5){ref-type="fig"}). The fumigation was carried out with alcohol-free chloroform in a desiccator lined with wet filter paper at 25 °C for 24 h in the dark[@b48]. After centrifugation (5000×g, 10 min), the supernatant was filtered through cellulose acetate membranes (0.45 μm, Xinya, Shanghai) that had been prewashed with 0.5 mol l^−1^ K~2~SO~4~. The extracts were determined immediately or stored at −20 °C until future analysis. The soil residue was extracted two more times with K~2~SO~4~ solution (100 ml each, supernatant was discarded) to remove extractable N thoroughly from soil particles. All residual soil was carefully recovered, air-dried, ground, and sieved (\<0.15 mm).
Soil extracts (20 ml) were distilled after the addition of MgO and Devarda's alloy respectively for quantifying the content of NH~4~^+^-N and NO~3~^−^-N[@b49]. A modified micro-diffusion procedure using Teflon strips was performed to prepare samples for analysis of ^15^N abundance in the NH~4~^+^ and NO~3~^−^ pools[@b50]. After distillation above, the remaining samples were digested with H~2~SO~4~ and H~2~O~2~ to convert all organic N to NH~4~^+^, and subsequently distilled with excess NaOH solution to determine extractable organic N (EON) concentration. Similarly, after conversion of EON (after diffusion above) to NH~4~^+^, the digested solution was transferred to plastic container (resistant to acid and alkaline solutions), kept frozen at −20 °C overnight, and then diffused with excess NaOH solution (4 °C) to prepare samples for analysis of ^15^N abundance in the EON pool[@b51]. The ^15^N abundances in the prepared samples were obtained by an elemental analyzer (Flash EA1112, Thermo Finnigan, USA) coupled with an Isotope-Ratio Mass Spectrometer (Delta plus XP, Thermo Finnigan, USA) (EA-IRMS). The standard deviation of ^15^N abundance measurements (δ^15^N) for the standard sample is less than 0.3‰ (8 replicates).
Concentrations of non-extractable N (NEN) and mineral fixed NH~4~^+^-N (MFN), and their ^15^N abundances in residual soil after extraction mentioned above were determined by the EA-IRMS. Organic N in residual soil was removed by excessive fresh prepared alkaline KOBr solution before determining MFN[@b52][@b53]. Soil and ryegrass total organic carbon (TOC) was measured using the solid module of TOC/TN analyzer (Multi N/C 3100, Analytikjena, Germany). Soil and ryegrass total N were determined by the Kjeldahl method. Soil available potassium (K) was determined by a flame photometer (6400A, Shanghai) after extraction with 1 mol l^−1^ ammonium acetate (v/w = 10:1).
Calculation
-----------
The soil microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) was quantified using the following formula with a K~EN~ = 0.45 [@b54].
The ^15^N recovery in each N pool was calculated based on the simple mass balance and a mixing model in each pool, as follows[@b41]:
where, TEN (total extractable N) = NH~4~^+^-N + NO~3~^−^-N + EON. Letters of "f" and "uf" respectively mean "fumigated" and "unfumigated"; *N*~*\_x*~ is the amount of soil N components (NH~4~^+^-N, NO~3~^−^-N, EON, MFN or NEN, mg kg^−1^); ^15^*N*\_~*x*~ is the amount of ^15^N (mg kg^−1^) from labelled ammonium sulfate added in related N pool; , and are the atom percent excesses (%) of N component in related N pool, background and ammonium sulfate added, respectively; *Recovery*~*x*~ is the percentage of the ^15^N tracer recovered in the labelled N pool; *Input*^15^*N* is the amount of ^15^N in ammonium sulfate added (mg kg^−1^).
Net nitrification rates were calculated as the difference between final and initial NO~3~^−^-N concentrations for three time intervals, days 0.1--1, days 1--3 and days 3--7 .
Statistical analyses
--------------------
Data are expressed on oven-dried soil basis, and subjected to analyses of variance using SPSS for Windows v16.0 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). All figures were obtained from SigmaPlot 12.5. Error bars in figures represented standard errors. The differences between means of variables for different treatments were statistically tested by ANOVA procedure with least significant difference (LSD) test. The standard errors of composite variables (the concentration of MBN; the recoveries of ^15^NH~4~^+^, ^15^NO~3~^−^, EO^15^N, MB^15^N, MF^15^N, TE^15^N, NE^15^N, and the net change of NO~3~^−^) were calculated through the formula of Gaussian error propagation[@b55]. Confidence intervals (95%) of ^15^N recoveries in different pools were expressed as ±1.96 times of standard error.
Additional Information
======================
**How to cite this article**: Quan, Z. *et al*. The fate of fertilizer nitrogen in a high nitrate accumulated agricultural soil. *Sci. Rep.* **6**, 21539; doi: 10.1038/srep21539 (2016).
This research was supported by grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China \[grant number 41001176\], the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences \[grant number XDB15020200\], and the Liaoning Science and Technology Project Program \[grant number 2011215003; 2014215016\]. We thank Ci Sun from the test center of Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences for assistance with N stable isotope analysis.
**Author Contributions** Z.Q. and C.L. designed the experiment. Z.Q. conducted the measurements, data analyses. Z.Q., B.H. and Y.F. wrote the manuscript. Y.S., X.C. and H.Z. assisted with the experiments. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
{#f1}
{#f2}
{#f3}
{#f4}
{#f5}
###### Chemical properties of the tested soil and ryegrass.
Soil Ryegrass
------------------------------------- ------- ----------
pH^ξ^ 6.41 --
Total organic C (TOC, g kg^−1^) 14.9 440
Total N (TN, g kg^−1^) 1.41 35.5
TOC/TN 10.5 12.4
Extractable organic C (g kg^−1^)^§^ 0.13 77.7
Extractable NO~3~^−^-N (mg kg^−1^) 152 1917
Extractable NH~4~^+^-N (mg kg^−1^) 5 593
Extractable organic N (mg kg^−1^) 8 7760
Extractable N/TN (%) 11.7 28.9
Available K (mg kg^−1^) 201.7 --
^*ξ*^1:2.5 (soil: deionized water). ^§^Extractable C and N were extracted by 2 mol l^−1^ KCl (1:5 for soil and 1:20 for ryegrass, w/v).
| 2023-08-04T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7705 |
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio communication equipment, a transmission power control method therefor, and a program therefor, and more particularly to radio communication equipment for generating transmission power control information corresponding to a comparison result between receiving quality of a signal received from a communication counterpart and target quality, and for transmitting the transmission power control information to the communication counterpart, and to a transmission power control method therefor and a program therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a mobile communication system using a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, plural channels share the same frequency band. Each channel is distinguished by a diffusion code added thereto. Each channel becomes interference noise for other channels, and when a signal transmitted with power more than necessary exists, receiving quality of the other stations is deteriorated. Further, in general, power of a radio wave is attenuated more as a propagated distance thereof gets longer. Still further, a fluctuation of an instantaneous value of received power occurs owing to multipath phasing or the like. Accordingly, it becomes important to control the transmission power of user equipment wirelessly connected to a base station.
In order to follow a change of the number of users and the fluctuation of the instantaneous value of the received power owing to the multipath phasing, which cause the interference as described above, the CDMA system measures a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) at the receiving side. A measurement-SIR (M-SIR) as a measurement value of the SIR and a target-SIR (T-SIR) as a target value of the SIR are compared with each other, and a transmission power control (TPC) is thus performed by a closed loop to approximate the M-SIR to the T-SIR.
However, the SIR necessary to obtain a block error rate (BLER) representing desired quality changes depending on a change of a moving speed of the user equipment under communication and a change of a propagation environment, which is caused by such a movement. In order to follow the change of the necessary SIR, the CDMA system measures the block error rate BLER, and when the measurement-BLER (M-BLER) as the measurement value of the block error rate BLER is lower than the target-BLER (T-BLER) as the target value of the block error rate BLER, the T-SIR is increased. Meanwhile, when the M-BLER is higher than the T-BLER, the T-SIR is decreased.
The adaptive control on the T-SIR as the target value of the SIR to the block error rate BLER, which is as described above, is referred to as an outer loop power control. A method for the outer loop power control is described, for example, in “W-CDMA Mobile Communication System (original title is in Japanese), Maruzen Co., Ltd., Jun. 25, 2001, pp. 126-128”.
As described above, in the conventional outer loop power control, when the M-BLER is lower than the T-BLER, the T-SIR is increased, and when the M-BLER is higher than the T-BLER, the T-SIR is decreased.
However, there is a channel, in which the block error rate BLER of the control information between the base station and the user equipment cannot be measured, for instance, the channel including a dedicated control channel (DCCH), a stand-alone DCCH, and the like for speech communications. In the channel as described above, the receiving side does not use a transport format combination indicator (TFCI), so the receiving side cannot judge whether or not C-Plane data as the control information is being transmitted from the base station. Here, the C-Plane refers to a call control channel for controlling position registration, transmission, reception, and the like.
For example, it is assumed that a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) for inspecting an error of the C-Plane data is judged to be no good (NG) on the receiving side. In this case, it cannot be judged whether the CRC becomes NG because the C-Plane data is not transmitted or the CRC becomes NG because an electric field is deteriorated though the C-Plane data is transmitted. In the channel as described above, the block error rate BLER calculated based on a CRC judgment result cannot be measured.
Hence, in the case of the channel in which the block error rate BLER cannot be measured, the T-SIR cannot be increased by the conventional outer loop power control even if the quality of the control information between the base station and the user equipment is deteriorated. If it becomes impossible to exchange the control information, the communication is to be disconnected. | 2024-02-22T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8706 |
A Song for the Moonlight
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The second part of our interview with Peter H. Gilmore focuses on a couple of hypothetical situations. By explaining how one might maneuver these situations from a Satanist perspective, Magus Gilmore further illustrates the differences between the Satanic Rule and the Golden Rule. To read the first part of the interview, click here.
Joe Jarvis: Let’s look at a hypothetical example. My neighbor and I share garage parking. Although our spaces are clearly marked, my neighbor always parks with his tires over the line, forcing me to park at awkward angles and sometimes climb over my car’s console to exit on the passenger side. I spoke to my neighbor about the situation and he explained that because he drives an SUV, he needs more room. On one hand, I know that I should continue to attempt to resolve the situation peacefully. But what I really want to do is smack the side of his gas guzzler with my car door every time I’m forced to squeeze my way out.
First, would I be entitled, according to the Satanic Rule, to disregard -- and thus physically damage -- my neighbor's property because he disregards my own property (a deeded parking space that belongs to me)?
Peter H. Gilmore: No, since our approach is to follow the ancient Roman concept of Lex Talionis, wherein the punishment must fit in both kind and degree the crime. Physical damage to his vehicle would be an over-reaction.
JJ: I also daydream about stashing rat carcasses under his SUV’s hood and even cutting his brake lines. These reprisals, however, might be disproportionate to the original offense. If I am to do unto others as they do unto me, how do I make sure that I do not go overboard when I exact revenge, that my response is proportionate to the offense?
PHG: Most Satanists I know have a refined sense of give-and-take and like many other secular people we marvel over the folks who claim that they need God, religion, or some socio-political parental figure to keep them in line lest they behave in an out-of-control manner. I think the "going overboard" reaction seems to be primarily found in people who only behave properly if they fear some form of supernatural censure for grossly inappropriate acts. They act on these impulses if they think their actions are not being observed by whatever they consider to be their über-regulator.
In the hypothetical you offer, it appears to me that frustration is the source for the escalated emotional reaction, but it should be something that would arise only should more rational means of resolution have failed. Wouldn't it be wiser to take the gripe to the people responsible for managing the parking spots and seek redress from them? Perhaps there are some larger spaces for SUVs? Sometimes diligence is required if the management does not respond with a proper solution in a time frame that is acceptable. But to jump to such feelings immediately seems a bit unstable if other options have not been explored.
However, controlled fantasies are a fine way of releasing unwanted emotions that put your life out of balance, and Satanism offers a solution - the release of these feelings in a ritual. Our concept of Greater Magic is a means for self-therapy, using a formalized ritual to experience and thus release unwanted or unbalanced feelings. So Satanism would offer you the cathartic experience of entertaining the revenge scenario, of picturing it happening with all the vividness you can muster, and once that satisfaction is reached you have then purged your system of the need to go beyond what is required in reality to handle this dispute.
JJ: How do you, in your everyday life, put the Satanic Rule of Engagement into action when confronted with rude behavior? Specifically, could you describe any memorable situation from your own life in which you were able to thus overcome rude behavior?PHG: When out in public I consider people around me to be "possible hostiles" so I do my best to avoid interaction beyond anything required. The folks I encounter on a regular basis, I treat with respect and I have found that people who must deal with the public in their jobs are usually delighted to be seen as being a person rather than an automaton, and thus they often go out of their way to do more for me. So, for the most part, I don't regularly experience much rudeness. When I find it appropriate, I can be quite verbally tart in dealing with someone who is willfully misbehaving. Since it does not happen to me that frequently, nothing of note comes to mind. But it is important to understand that part of the mix is knowing when aggressing back is worthwhile. A retort, aside from being satisfying, might get someone who was discourteous to catch themselves and apologize for an act which is not part of their regular conduct. But, some people are on a knife-edge of sanity, and riling a lunatic could engender worse than additional boorishness. A Satanist never responds in a knee-jerk fashion. Since another of our principles is "responsibility to the responsible," we always consider the consequences which might follow any of our actions.
Joe Jarvis: If someone bumps into me on the bus and doesn’t apologize, am I duty-bound by the Satanic Golden Rule to respond in kind? Do I have to, in each instance, do unto others as they do unto me? Is there room in a Satanist worldview for mercy and forgiveness? If yes, under what circumstances? If no, why not?
PHG: Since Satanism is based on individuality, each Satanist determines his own hierarchy of values. Our rules are guidelines, not duties, and automatic responses are not our way. In Satanism, we cultivate a sense of discrimination, which to us means selectivity based on educated appraisal. We judge people and situations based on a thorough examination of whatever evidence might be available. And subsequent additional information could lead to a revision of one's decision. Thus, accidents are understood as being non-intentional and evaluated accordingly. Forgiveness is certainly an option for a Satanist, meaning that one would consider the mitigating factors of an action that led to an un-merited negative experience, judgment being tempered by a broader understanding of the situation. The final decision would be one thought to be equitable by the Satanist. Mercy to us is understood as the act of abandoning justice for the idealistic notion that punishment should not be rendered for some nebulous "greater good", or for possible punishment being dealt to the offender in an afterlife we consider to be a myth. We don't think anyone should be given a "free pass" for no concrete reason. In some trivial situations the Satanist might find it his responsibility to act (wisely), but in serious situations we would rely upon the mechanisms in our society intended to regulate such situations. Hence Satanists support the idea of a criminal justice system that is diligent and efficient, enforcing laws which are rational and fair. While a Satanist is his own greatest good, Satanists also recognize that we have accepted a social contract, which is a means for peaceful mingling with others, rendering the greatest benefits that can be had from our society.
JJ: Any additional comments?
PHG: For Satanists, basically the "Golden Rule" is rejected as it tends to be linked to the idea of "turning the other cheek," and that to us is cowardly behavior allowing miscreants to never be held accountable and it serves as a recipe that will turn one into a perpetual victim. Satanists abhor being placed in an unwillingly servile position. While masochism for personal sexual satisfaction is an option for those to whom it comes naturally in Satanism, we never accept with docility unbidden aggression against us.
We are happily part of a social order, but our goal is to always amend it through available mechanisms so that we have the maximum amount of personal freedom and autonomy. Since we expect others to keep out of the way of our pursuit of personal bliss, we also do our best to refrain from interfering in their search for the same. Where conflicts arise, we expect the legal systems to help reach a resolution, and to that end whatever laws exist must be examined regularly so that they function to maintain equity in the current practices of society at large. Not surprisingly, in addition to many of our members being artistically inclined, we do have a number of lawyers who have affiliated.
chocolat: All your suggestions are good. I should have been clearer that the scenario itself was hypothetical. I actually don't own a car, although that parking scenario was inspired by a friend's real-life situation. I must admit, James's mayo revenge does sound particularly satisfying.
An exemplary conclusion from the High Priest. Brings to mind the chapter 'Love & Hate' from The Satanic Bible, a contemplative recollection of the 4th Satanic Statement, 'My Dark Satanic Love' by Magistra Nadramia, and My own 'Evilove' from The Devil's Scroll. Makes one proud to be a part of this Cabal. Hail The Infernal Empire!
Based on this interview with Gilmore, the Church of Satan looks more like a atheistic parody of Christianity than an actual religion. Gilmore seems to equate spirituality with theism and theism with weak-minded conformity. His philosophy is something like "Seek pleasure within reason. If others harm you, harm them. Otherwise let them be."
They seem to embrace materialism and reject spirituality, even atheistic spirituality. It's a very reductionist philosophy, reminiscent of Ayn Rand's thought. It is also derivative. The Golden Rule without altruism. Religion without God. Satanism describes human behavior as is but doesn't advance any ideas about how it should be.
I disagree with Gilmore that the Golden Rule is weak. The important and oft overlooked aspect is that the Golden Rule doesn't ask you to treat rude people nicely. It asks you to treat them as you would want to be treated if you were being offensive. The question is, how would you want to be treated in that instance?
I believe that I would want to be treated kindly, but also informed firmly but politely that my behavior is unacceptable. Everyone commits a faux-pas now and then, including the Satanists. The rules of etiquette are more complicated and subtle than Gilmore believes. Sometimes both parties are wrong. Sometimes both are right. It is important to not contribute to the negativity.
The Satanic Golden Rule assumes that the person enforcing it has perfect knowledge of etiquette. It does not allow for a mutual misunderstanding. Does it serve anyone's interest to amplify the anger? Reducing tension and educating others about etiquette is enlightened self-interest.
Part of living in a community is exercising patience. Without a principle of charity, we would all be at each other's throats all the time. The Satanists do not allow for charity. They only allow for some form of vengeance. It strikes me as poor leadership on their part. If they are abandoning the concept of spiritual leadership, I am not sure what the objective of their movement is. | 2024-05-09T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1336 |
CHICAGO, IL — The James Beard Foundation announced its list of Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists for the 2018 James Beard Foundation Awards, and six semifinalists in Logan Square made the cut. The Logan Square restaurant Mi Tocaya Antojería was nominated for the awards' 'Best New Restaurant' category. The bar Lost Lake in the neighborhood was nominated for 'Outstanding Bar Program.'
Jennifer Jones Enyart of Dos Urban Cantina was named a semifinalist for 'Outstanding Pastry Chef.' Three chefs working at Logan Square restaurants were named in the 'Best Chef in Great Lakes' category: Abraham Conlon of Fat Rice, Diana Davila of Mi Tocaya Antojeria and Jason Hammel of Lula Cafe. Selected from a list of more than 20,000 online entries, the semifinalists represent a wide range of culinary talent. The foundation recognizes the best new restaurants, outstanding bar programs, bakers and rising star chefs 30 or younger.
The foundation holds an online open call for entries beginning in mid-October of each year. This year, more than 20,000 entries were received. The list of semifinalists is then sent to a panel of more than 600 judges from across the country, who will determine the final five nominees in each category, and ultimately select the winners. The foundation will announce the final nominees for all award categories Mar. 14 during a press conference at Parc, hosted by James Beard Award–winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, in Philadelphia. The James Beard Foundation Awards Gala will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago May 7.
Here are the Chicago semifinalists, with the Logan Square nominations in bold: Best new restaurant:
HaiSous
Mi Tocaya Antojería Outstanding baker:
Greg Wade, Publican Quality Bread Outstanding bar program:
Lost Lake Outstanding chef: Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia
Carrie Nahabedian, Naha Outstanding pastry chef: | 2024-01-08T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2709 |
What is the r'th term of 63, 151, 309, 537, 835, 1203?
35*r**2 - 17*r + 45
What is the c'th term of -2399, -9663, -21771, -38723, -60519, -87159, -118643?
-2422*c**2 + 2*c + 21
What is the p'th term of 5809, 5808, 5807, 5806, 5805, 5804?
-p + 5810
What is the o'th term of 2877, 2878, 2881, 2886?
o**2 - 2*o + 2878
What is the j'th term of 15053, 15027, 14947, 14783, 14505, 14083, 13487, 12687?
-5*j**3 + 3*j**2 + 15055
What is the t'th term of 26547, 26512, 26477, 26442, 26407, 26372?
-35*t + 26582
What is the v'th term of -13599, -27205, -40837, -54507, -68227, -82009, -95865, -109807?
-2*v**3 - v**2 - 13589*v - 7
What is the a'th term of -3661, -7281, -10899, -14515, -18129?
a**2 - 3623*a - 39
What is the z'th term of -2322031, -4644066, -6966101, -9288136?
-2322035*z + 4
What is the n'th term of 280, 1127, 2542, 4525, 7076?
284*n**2 - 5*n + 1
What is the l'th term of 16254265, 16254269, 16254275, 16254283, 16254293, 16254305?
l**2 + l + 16254263
What is the u'th term of -11861, -11867, -11875, -11885, -11897?
-u**2 - 3*u - 11857
What is the s'th term of -40251, -80503, -120755, -161007, -201259?
-40252*s + 1
What is the n'th term of 63, 347, 1127, 2655, 5183, 8963?
42*n**3 - 4*n**2 + 2*n + 23
What is the y'th term of 1316, 11415, 38830, 92219, 180240, 311551?
1443*y**3 - 2*y - 125
What is the z'th term of -141771, -141822, -141875, -141930, -141987, -142046?
-z**2 - 48*z - 141722
What is the v'th term of -5588276, -11176550, -16764824?
-5588274*v - 2
What is the q'th term of -149, -1022, -3337, -7814, -15173, -26134, -41417?
-120*q**3 - q**2 - 30*q + 2
What is the d'th term of 212, 205, 184, 143, 76, -23?
-d**3 - d**2 + 3*d + 211
What is the m'th term of 519, 572, 673, 822, 1019, 1264, 1557?
24*m**2 - 19*m + 514
What is the i'th term of 9066, 9060, 9054, 9048, 9042?
-6*i + 9072
What is the x'th term of -17, -61, -107, -155?
-x**2 - 41*x + 25
What is the v'th term of 2052, 8176, 18360, 32586, 50836, 73092, 99336?
-3*v**3 + 2048*v**2 + v + 6
What is the u'th term of 2, 107, 402, 983, 1946, 3387, 5402?
16*u**3 - u**2 - 4*u - 9
What is the a'th term of 138, 138, 156, 204, 294?
2*a**3 - 3*a**2 - 5*a + 144
What is the r'th term of -6777, -27081, -60909, -108255, -169113?
r**3 - 6768*r**2 - 7*r - 3
What is the i'th term of 1294, 6110, 14144, 25402, 39890, 57614, 78580, 102794?
i**3 + 1603*i**2 - 310
What is the j'th term of 1191, 4715, 10589, 18813?
1175*j**2 - j + 17
What is the u'th term of -7101, -28432, -63993, -113784?
-7115*u**2 + 14*u
What is the d'th term of -237, -387, -565, -771, -1005, -1267?
-14*d**2 - 108*d - 115
What is the a'th term of -341, -800, -1259?
-459*a + 118
What is the p'th term of 520, 527, 516, 481, 416, 315, 172, -19?
-p**3 - 3*p**2 + 23*p + 501
What is the k'th term of -64, -73, -52, 11, 128, 311?
2*k**3 + 3*k**2 - 32*k - 37
What is the f'th term of -10069, -20124, -30177, -40228?
f**2 - 10058*f - 12
What is the v'th term of -138, -278, -418, -558, -698?
-140*v + 2
What is the u'th term of -128, -262, -412, -590, -808, -1078, -1412, -1822?
-2*u**3 + 4*u**2 - 132*u + 2
What is the k'th term of 98605, 98604, 98603?
-k + 98606
What is the k'th term of -5391, -43084, -145411, -344694, -673255?
-5387*k**3 + 5*k**2 + k - 10
What is the v'th term of 4830, 9713, 14596, 19479, 24362?
4883*v - 53
What is the g'th term of -89, -90, -81, -62, -33, 6, 55?
5*g**2 - 16*g - 78
What is the g'th term of 49800, 49886, 49972, 50058?
86*g + 49714
What is the k'th term of 7151, 7121, 7117, 7151, 7235, 7381?
2*k**3 + k**2 - 47*k + 7195
What is the n'th term of 2447, 2277, 2007, 1649, 1215, 717, 167?
2*n**3 - 62*n**2 + 2*n + 2505
What is the r'th term of 9307, 18593, 27879, 37165, 46451?
9286*r + 21
What is the b'th term of -679, -4852, -16069, -37852, -73723?
-587*b**3 - 64*b - 28
What is the m'th term of -638, -2528, -5658, -10022, -15614, -22428, -30458?
m**3 - 626*m**2 - 19*m + 6
What is the n'th term of 1617, 6413, 14391, 25551, 39893, 57417?
1591*n**2 + 23*n + 3
What is the u'th term of 5977, 5994, 6049, 6160, 6345?
3*u**3 + u**2 - 7*u + 5980
What is the u'th term of 344, 684, 1020, 1352, 1680?
-2*u**2 + 346*u
What is the w'th term of -132, -201, -310, -459, -648?
-20*w**2 - 9*w - 103
What is the b'th term of 1273, 1253, 1219, 1165, 1085, 973, 823?
-b**3 - b**2 - 10*b + 1285
What is the m'th term of 69, -28, -111, -180, -235?
7*m**2 - 118*m + 180
What is the r'th term of -66792, -133582, -200372, -267162, -333952, -400742?
-66790*r - 2
What is the j'th term of -143, -193, -317, -551, -931?
-6*j**3 - j**2 - 5*j - 131
What is the x'th term of -44191, -88390, -132589, -176788?
-44199*x + 8
What is the q'th term of -42, 363, 768, 1173, 1578?
405*q - 447
What is the u'th term of -6377, -6446, -6515, -6584, -6653, -6722?
-69*u - 6308
What is the j'th term of 3912, 7812, 11712?
3900*j + 12
What is the n'th term of -1366, -1391, -1454, -1573, -1766, -2051, -2446?
-3*n**3 - n**2 - n - 1361
What is the d'th term of 2406, 4767, 7110, 9435, 11742, 14031, 16302?
-9*d**2 + 2388*d + 27
What is the k'th term of -4532, -7685, -10826, -13949, -17048?
k**3 - 3160*k - 1373
What is the x'th term of 13996, 14343, 14690, 15037, 15384?
347*x + 13649
What is the m'th term of -30706, -122816, -276330, -491248, -767570, -1105296?
-30702*m**2 - 4*m
What is the p'th term of -9035, -8971, -8867, -8723?
20*p**2 + 4*p - 9059
What is the p'th term of -1295888, -1295884, -1295880?
4*p - 1295892
What is the g'th term of -23586, -23591, -23600, -23613, -23630, -23651?
-2*g**2 + g - 23585
What is the c'th term of 247596, 247595, 247594, 247593, 247592, 247591?
-c + 247597
What is the l'th term of -9564, -9573, -9580, -9585, -9588, -9589?
l**2 - 12*l - 9553
What is the m'th term of 955, 2103, 3251, 4399?
1148*m - 193
What is the f'th term of 377, 486, 733, 1172, 1857, 2842, 4181?
9*f**3 + 15*f**2 + f + 352
What is the h'th term of -16, -73, -140, -217, -304?
-5*h**2 - 42*h + 31
What is the m'th term of 4636, 9268, 13900, 18532, 23164?
4632*m + 4
What is the i'th term of 24471, 48945, 73407, 97851, 122271, 146661, 171015?
-i**3 + 24481*i - 9
What is the a'th term of -74, -41, 36, 175, 394, 711, 1144, 1711?
3*a**3 + 4*a**2 - 81
What is the h'th term of 63565, 63605, 63645, 63685?
40*h + 63525
What is the i'th term of -1096, -2157, -3202, -4225, -5220, -6181?
i**3 + 2*i**2 - 1074*i - 25
What is the l'th term of -6422, -6365, -6272, -6143?
18*l**2 + 3*l - 6443
What is the d'th term of -2873124, -2873125, -2873126, -2873127, -2873128?
-d - 2873123
What is the t'th term of -1045, -1036, -1011, -964, -889?
t**3 + 2*t**2 - 4*t - 1044
What is the b'th term of -1093, -4381, -9869, -17563, -27469, -39593, -53941, -70519?
-b**3 - 1094*b**2 + b + 1
What is the x'th term of -161291, -161290, -161289?
x - 161292
What is the m'th term of -1202, -1523, -1848, -2177, -2510, -2847?
-2*m**2 - 315*m - 885
What is the l'th term of 1589, 3161, 4733, 6305, 7877, 9449?
1572*l + 17
What is the z'th term of -8184, -32581, -73244, -130173, -203368, -292829, -398556?
-8133*z**2 + 2*z - 53
What is the f'th term of -68, -322, -922, -2012, -3736, -6238, -9662, -14152?
-24*f**3 - 29*f**2 + f - 16
What is the t'th term of 22326, 44651, 66976?
22325*t + 1
What is the o'th term of 3808, 3943, 4078?
135*o + 3673
What is the h'th term of 23175, 46416, 69703, 93060, 116511, 140080, 163791?
4*h**3 - h**2 + 23216*h - 44
What is the k'th term of -348, -1363, -3054, -5421, -8464, -12183?
-338*k**2 - k - 9
What is the w'th term of -1734, -3468, -5200, -6930, -8658, -10384, -12108?
w**2 - 1737*w + 2
What is the x'th term of -7824, -7868, -7944, -8058, -8216, -8424?
-x**3 - 10*x**2 - 7*x - 7806
What is the j'th term of -7568, -15134, -22696, -30254, -37808, -45358?
2*j**2 - 7572*j + 2
What is the m'th term of -422643, -422639, -422631, -422619?
2*m**2 - 2*m - 422643
What is the p'th term of 442580, 442589, 442600, 442613, 442628, 442645, 442664?
p**2 + 6*p + 442573
What is the g'th term of -21235, -21233, -21241, -21265, -21311, -21385?
-g**3 + g**2 + 6*g - 21241
What is the o'th term of 8531, 8532, 8545, 8576, 8631, 8716, 8837, 9000?
o**3 - 6*o + 8536
What is the b'th term of 194088, 388176, 582264?
194088*b
What is the d'th term of 1759594, 1759593, 1759592, 1759591, 1759590, 1759589?
-d + 1759595
What is the z'th | 2023-10-04T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6788 |
Q:
Calculating Confidence Interval for a Proportion in One Sample
What would be a better way to calculate Confidence Interval (CI) for a proportion when the sample size is small and even the sample size is 1?
I am currently calculating CI for a Proportion in One Sample w/:
However, my sample size is very small, sometimes it is even 1. I also tried
An approximate (1−α)100% confidence interval for a proportion p of a small population using:
Specifically, I'm trying to implement those two formulas to calculate the CI for proportion. As you see on the graph below, at 2018-Q1, the blue group has no CI around it because there is 1 out of 1 ppl choosing that item at 2018-Q1. If using the Finite Population Correction (FPC), it doesn't correct the CI if N is 1.
So, my question is that what would be the best statistical way to solve this small sample size issue with 100% proportion.
It would be great if you can provide a package in python to calculate it? Thanks!
A:
Try
statsmodels.stats.proportion.proportion_confint
http://www.statsmodels.org/devel/generated/statsmodels.stats.proportion.proportion_confint.html
According to their documentation, you use it like this:
ci_low, ci_upp = proportion_confint(count, nobs, alpha=0.05, method='normal')
Where the parameters are:
count (int or array_array_like) – number of successes, can be pandas Series or DataFrame
nobs (int) – total number of trials
alpha (float in (0, 1)) – significance level, default 0.05
method (string in ['normal']) – method to use for confidence interval, currently available methods:
normal : asymptotic normal approximation
agresti_coull : Agresti-Coull interval
beta : Clopper-Pearson interval based on Beta distribution
wilson : Wilson Score interval
jeffreys : Jeffreys Bayesian Interval
binom_test : experimental, inversion of binom_test
| 2023-08-09T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4258 |
http://www.MelJoulwan.com/2013/05/25/balkan-cevapcici-aka-cute-sausages/
I’ve been eating grilled, flavorful, luscious, case-less sausages called ćevapčići (say it like “ch-VOP-chee-chee”) all over the place since we departed Prague to explore Slovenia and Croatia. These tasty little nuggets are available from street vendors and at sit-down restaurants, and can be served with kaymak cheese, chopped salad, french fries, and ajvar (a roasted pepper condiment that currently tops my list of “recipes to figure out when I get home”).
Just in case you want to try your hand at making these sausages right this minute — and I kinda think you should! — I’ve adapted a recipe on the fly from I Want To Cook That. When we return home, I’ll be working up my own recipe and sharing our photos of eating adventures.
This photo is from I Want To Cook That. Be sure to visit; there are some great recipes there!
Cevapčići, a.k.a., Balkan Sausages | 2023-12-19T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3997 |
TxOH provide organisations in the Northwest with help to reduce absenteeism, stress and workplace injury, whilst increasing productivity, health and happiness at work.
We help organisations in the North West maximise productivity, health and happiness at work whilst minimising absenteeism, stress and injury. We achieve that by providing an effective high quality multidisciplinary service that increases employees health and happiness.
Based in Liverpool and Manchester we provide our clients with a personable and local service. As a result we deliver a bespoke service and achieve effective results. Our goal is to make you and your employees happy.
We provide and evidence based, results focused service from an experienced multidisciplinary team. We are based in the North West and work with local companies to provides access to specialist occupational health services that reduces costs, increase employee happiness, increased retention, and reduce absenteeism
Whatever your sector, we can help
We provide occupational health and wellness services to the majority of sectors that are prevalent in the North West including:
Public services
Performing arts
Entertainment
Manufacturing
Transport
Office working
See what results we have achieved for your clients
We are evidence based and results driven, and we promise a consisten and reliable service to our clients.
See how we have helped businesses in the North West maximise productivity, health and happiness at work whilst minimising absenteeism, stress and injury.
95%
Said they are better able to cope with the demands of their job
81%
Were satisfied with the service they received
87%
Saw results at early stages of treatment
Providing organisations with value for money services
We provide organisations with value for money and deliver them a high return on investment.
We listen to the needs of organisations to develop bespoke solutions and provide a professional clinical service. We consider the holistic needs of organisations to maximise employee wellbeing and happiness at work.
1. About the client
Liverpool Philharmonic orchestra is one of the oldest continuing professional symphony orchestras and includes strings, woodwind, brass and timpani musicians.
2. The intervention
Following an initial consultation with TxOH regular massage treatment was deemed a appropriate and beneficial occupational health service to introduce.
3. The results
Following the introduction of regular onsite massage therapy the HR manager at the liverpool philharmonic orchestra reported a significant reduction in the level of absenteeism due to musculoskeletal conditions.
Next steps...
We are always happy to speak to businesses and organisation to listen to their needs and offer solutions to their problems. We have locations in Liverpool and Manchester and would welcome the opportunity to speak with businesses and organisations in the North West.
We are always happy to speak to businesses and organisation to listen to their needs and offer solutions to their problems. We have locations in Liverpool and Manchester and would welcome the opportunity to speak with businesses and organisations in the North West. | 2023-08-07T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9744 |
Attorney for Texas A&M's Kirk Merritt blames 'jock itch' for indecent exposure
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COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M sophomore receiver Kirk Merritt has pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent exposure from last fall.
Merritt has requested a delay of arraignment, which was originally scheduled for earlier this week at the Brazos County Courthouse.
In one count, an alleged victim accused Merritt of exposing and touching himself "while sitting in arm's reach" of her "on or about" Oct. 24. About a day later according to a court document, another alleged victim claimed Merritt pulled down his shorts and held himself also "while sitting in arm's reach" of her. The document describes both alleged victims as "offended or alarmed by the act of exposure."
Both of the victims were tutors at A&M in the Bright Football Complex, two people with knowledge of the case said. Merritt's attorney Rick Davis responded to the Chronicle on Friday afternoon citing a "bad case of jock itch" as Merritt's defense.
"Kirk Merritt has been charged with Indecent Exposure under Section 21.08 of the Texas Penal Code because of two incidents during tutoring sessions that happened on two consecutive days," Davis wrote. "While Kirk is very embarrassed about this situation, and has apologized to the two tutors that he offended, he did not intend to gratify anyone by exposing himself.
"The fact is that Kirk had a bad case of jock itch. The statute Kirk has been accused of violating requires that the Defendant have an intent to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person and that the Defendant is reckless about whether another may be present who will be offended or alarmed by his conduct.
"We think that Kirk's conduct falls squarely under the Disorderly Conduct statute ... That statute requires only that a Defendant is reckless about whether another may be present who will be offended or alarmed by his act."
A&M responded on Friday evening with a statement claiming Merritt had been suspended indefinitely from athletics following his arrest on Nov. 8, but following a "university conduct process" the suspension was lifted on Feb. 1. The statement said Merritt will not play in Saturday's spring game.
PHOTOS: Texas A&M football players in trouble with the law Texas A&M sophomore receiver Kirk Merritt has pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent exposure from last fall. See what other Aggie football players have been arrested since 2010 ... less PHOTOS: Texas A&M football players in trouble with the law Texas A&M sophomore receiver Kirk Merritt has pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent exposure from last fall. See what other Aggie ... more Photo: Twitter Photo: Twitter Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Attorney for Texas A&M's Kirk Merritt blames 'jock itch' for indecent exposure 1 / 32 Back to Gallery
Courthouse records show Merritt pleaded not guilty on March 27, according to a courthouse clerk, and Davis said a new hearing date has yet to be set. Merritt has been taking part in spring drills, with the Aggies' annual Maroon & White spring game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday to wrap up spring drills.
Merritt, 20, transferred to A&M from Oregon last year and sat out the 2016 season under NCAA transfer rules. The former four-star and highly sought recruit originally signed with Oregon out of Destrehan, La. He played sparingly for the Ducks in 2015, with five catches in 11 games. | 2024-03-06T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8853 |
News in a nutshell
This week's news includes word that the Global Fund has halted millions of dollars in grants to China amid allegations of misuse and abuse, the publication of the first sequences from the Human Microbiome Project, the World Health Organization punting on a decision to preserve remaining smallpox strains, doctors use Google as a tool to track the spread of MRSA, Monsanto's drought-resistant corn trials stymied by rain, and the top 10 new species of 2010.
2010's top new species Copyright Arizona Board of Regents
Foundation money pulled from China
A major international funder of research and public health efforts on debilitating infectious diseases has frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money to China amidst questions about the country's use of the funds. In November, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria halted payment of $283 million in AIDS grants to China after discovering that the government had breached an agreement by sharing too small a chunk of the money with independent community groups. Then, earlier this month, the Global Fund decided to freeze all funding to the communist nation because an internal investigation turned up evidence of further misuse of the money and fuzzy financial record keeping on local government levels. The Chinese government has until June 7th to respond to the Global Funds concerns or it risks losing $300 million in funding over the next few years for programs aimed at fighting disease in the country.
Your gut online
Sequences from a US government-funded program to paint a genomic picture of the human gut's complex ecosystem are going public for the first time since the effort started in 2008. Researchers sequenced thousands of samples taken from 300 healthy volunteers as part of the Human Microbiome Project, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health. The genomic information -- results from shotgun sequencing of 690 metagenomes from 300 individuals and targeted 16S sequencing of 5034 microbiomes -- appeared online last week. You can access the whole metagenome data linkurl:here;http://www.hmpdacc.org/HMASM/ and the 16S reads here.
WHO punts on smallpox
The World Health Organization is remaining mum on the issue of maintaining laboratory stocks of the smallpox virus, which the US government wants to preserve for the next five years. The WHO originally slated the two remaining stocks, one at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the other at a federal lab in Russia, for disposal in 1993, 13 years after the disease was essentially wiped from the face of the earth in 1980. That deadline was pushed back due to pressure from the US and other developed nations, which claimed the stocks were necessary to continue research on the disease should it reappear. The WHO's policy arm, the World Health Assembly, decided this week to defer a decision on the issue until 2014. The sticking point appears to be Iran's opposition to a clause in the US resolution stating that each country must affirm to the WHO that they do not maintain undeclared stocks of the virus, according to __Nature__.
Google, epidemiology tool
Researchers have found a nifty new use for Google -- the popular search tool may be able to track the spread of the deadly bacterial disease, MRSA (methicillin-resistant __Staphylococcus aureus__). In a linkurl:paper;http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/17/6/1068.htm published last week on the website of __Emerging Infectious Diseases__, University of Chicago epidemiologist Diane Lauderdale and colleagues compared Google searches for information on MRSA from 2004 to 2008 to hospital records of the disease. They found a strong correlation between the online searches and the disease's spread. "Potentially, we can get from Google a more timely measure of trends," Lauderdale told __Wired__.
Drought-tolerant corn trials underwater
Agribusiness giant Monsanto is finding out that it's difficult to conduct field trials of drought-resistant corn when it won't stop raining. The company hopes to launch a new line of corn seed that's been genetically engineered to thrive in drought conditions by 2013, with plans to distribute it royalty-free to impoverished African farmers. But rainy summers since 2008 in the US western Plains, where Monsanto is conducting field trials of the seed, have muddied results. "We had about three good years where we could do field trials in Kansas. It was nice and dry," Monsanto regulatory affairs manager Bill Reeves told the Des Moines Register. "And then it started raining."
2010's best new species
This Monday (May 23), which happens to be the birthday of famed naturalist and species namer extraordinaire Carolus Linnaeus, researchers at Arizona State University listed their picks of the top 10 newly-described species of 2010. Without further ado, here are your winners (in no particular order):
Darwin's bark spider (__Caerostris darwini__)
Eternal light mushroom (__Mycena luxaeterna__)
A bacterium from the __Titanic__ (__Halomonas titanicae__)
Sierra Madre Forest Monitor (__Varanus bitatawa__)
Pollinating cricket (__Glomeremus orchidophilus__)
Walter's Duiker (__Philantomba walteri__)
Leech (__Tyrannobdella rex__)
Rogue mushroom (__Psathyrella aquatica__)
Leaproach (__Saltoblattella montistabularis__)
The Louisiana Pancake Batfish (__Halieutichthys intermedius__)
Check out pictures and descriptions of the species here.
**__Related stories:__***linkurl:Gut microbes influence behavior;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57968/ [31st January 2011]*linkurl:The Profits of Nonprofit;http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/57891/ [January 2011]*linkurl:Relief for parched plants;http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/57745/ [14th October 2010]
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Interesting news this week! I hope that everyone had a great weekend, is having a great week and I hope that they have another great week! I also hope that they have a great Armed Forces Day! I'm sorry that I didn't say anything about this last week,but it slipped my mind. I also hope that everyone has a nice Memorial Day! That goes for last year and all the other years that I've missed. | 2023-09-06T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1272 |
Individual differences in pavlovian autoshaping of lever pressing in rats predict stress-induced corticosterone release and mesolimbic levels of monoamines.
Pavlovian autoshaping CRs are directed and reflexive consummatory responses targeted at objects repeatedly paired with rewarding substances. To evaluate the hypothesis that autoshaping may provide an animal learning model of vulnerability to drug abuse, this study relates individual differences in lever-press autoshaping CR performance in rats to stress-induced corticosterone release and tissue monoamine levels in the mesolimbic dopamine tract. Long-Evans rats (n = 14) were given 20 sessions of Pavlovian autoshaping training wherein the insertion of a retractable lever CS was followed by the response-independent presentation of food US. Large between-subjects differences in lever-press autoshaping CR performance were observed, with group high CR frequency (n = 5) performing many more lever press CRs than group low CR frequency (n = 9). Tail-blood samples were obtained before and after the 20th autoshaping session, then 24 h later the rats were sacrificed and dissection yielded tissue samples of nucleus accumbens (NAC), prefrontal cortex (PFC), caudate putamen (CP), and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Serum levels of postsession corticosterone were elevated in group high CR frequency. HPLC revealed that group high CR frequency had higher tissue levels of dopamine and DOPAC in NAC, lower levels of DOPAC/DA turnover in CP, and lower levels of 5-HIAA and lower 5-HIAA/5-HT turnover in VTA. The neurochemical profile of rats that perform more autoshaping CRs share some features of vulnerability to drug abuse. | 2024-05-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7802 |
Enhanced antitumor efficacy by blocking activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway during anti-angiogenesis therapy.
Anti-angiogenesis has been a promising strategy for cancer therapy. However, many signal pathways are activated during anti-angiogenic treatment to counteract the therapeutic efficacy. Among these pathways, evidence has directly pointed to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway, whose activation resulted in tolerance to the absence of nutrients and oxygen when tumor angiogenesis has been inhibited. In the present study, we investigated the effects of blocking activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway on cell survival in vitro and tumor growth in vivo during anti-angiogenesis therapy. In modeled microenvironments in vitro, we observed that the phosphorylation of Akt in tumor cells was increased gradually in the absence of serum and oxygen in a time-dependent manner. The specific inhibitors of PI3K inhibited the proliferation of tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, inhibition was enhanced gradually with increased serum deprivation and/or hypoxia. In a mouse tumor model, we found the phosphorylation of Akt obviously increased following anti-angiogenic therapy using plasmids encoding soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, but significantly reduced after treatment with LY294002. Consequently, the combinational treatment exhibited better antitumor effects compared with single treatments, presenting larger necrosis-like areas, more apoptotic cells, less microvessel density and less phosphorylated Akt in tumors. These results suggest that blocking activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway during anti-angiogenesis therapy could enhance antitumor efficacy. Thus, targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway might be a promising strategy to reverse tumor resistance to anti-angiogenesis therapy. | 2024-07-02T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2626 |
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<com.fanxin.huangfangyi.main.uvod.ui.widget.URotateVideoView
xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
android:id="@+id/videoview"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:background="@color/color_transparent"
android:layout_gravity="center" /> | 2024-06-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/3785 |
Q:
Measure quality of new born major
How should I go about determining the quality of an undergraduate program that is just starting given that the field in general is relatively young?
To be more specific, I am considering a new cyber security program at the University of Tampa. It starts Fall 2015. There aren't many other programs i can compare to, or accreditations to look for.
How can I measure the quality of a program that hasn't even started?
A:
My best advice would be to look at the faculty who are signed up to teach the program. A program is likely to be good if:
The faculty are of scientific high quality in their field, and
The faculty are also generally well-regarded in their student evaluations
The first years of any new educational venture are likely to have a lot of glitches, but also have some compensating advantages: it is also the time when a program is likely to be most flexible and when the faculty are likely to be investing especially hard in their students as they try to get the program off the ground.
| 2024-01-03T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4944 |
Q:
How to get datatable column value on xPage?
I have a datatable on my xPage that uses page datasource (jdbcQuery). By clicking on some form button I want to read one entire column into scopevariable either from datatable or datasource itself. How to do that? Thanks.
OK, let's say I have a combobox on my page. And it should have unique values one of datatable column. Datatable updates - then combobox updates with column values
A:
From what I get from both your topic description and your discussion with Steve I assume that you are building a datasource using jdbc and passing that into a datatable control. In addition you want to be able to access what finally is displayed in one of the datatable columns using some other control like a comboBox - did I get this right?
In that case I would use some kind of temporary datastore (e.g. inside a javabean object or a scoped variable) to store your collected and probably filtered SQL data. Then both your datatable and any other set of controls would get their data from that data store; this should be way more effective than what I think you tried to accomplish.
Edit:
assuming that your SQL querying code is written in Java you can import javax.faces.context.FacesContext and javax.faces.context.ExternalContext. Then instantiate your objects like this
private FacesContext facesContext = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
private ExternalContext externalContext = facesContext.getExternalContext();
From here you can access all 4 scopes as objects of java.util.Map (as you can see viewScope is a bit different from the others):
private Map applicationScope = externalContext.getApplicationMap();
private Map sessionScope = externalContext.getSessionMap();
private Map requestScope = externalContext.getRequestMap();
private Map viewScope = facesContext.getViewRoot().getViewMap();
Hope this helps.
| 2023-12-20T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4446 |
/*
* login.go - Checks the validity of a login token key against PAM.
*
* Copyright 2017 Google Inc.
* Author: Joe Richey (joerichey@google.com)
*
* Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not
* use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of
* the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
* WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
* License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
* the License.
*/
// Package pam contains all the functionality for interfacing with Linux
// Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM). Currently, all this package does is
// check the validity of a user's login passphrase.
// See http://www.linux-pam.org/Linux-PAM-html/ for more information.
package pam
import "C"
import (
"fmt"
"log"
"sync"
"github.com/pkg/errors"
"github.com/google/fscrypt/crypto"
"github.com/google/fscrypt/util"
)
// Pam error values
var (
ErrPassphrase = errors.New("incorrect login passphrase")
)
// Global state is needed for the PAM callback, so we guard this function with a
// lock. tokenToCheck is only ever non-nil when tokenLock is held.
var (
tokenLock sync.Mutex
tokenToCheck *crypto.Key
)
// userInput is run when the callback needs some input from the user. We prompt
// the user for information and return their answer. A return value of nil
// indicates an error occurred.
//export userInput
func userInput(prompt *C.char) *C.char {
fmt.Print(C.GoString(prompt))
input, err := util.ReadLine()
if err != nil {
log.Printf("getting input for PAM: %s", err)
return nil
}
return C.CString(input)
}
// passphraseInput is run when the callback needs a passphrase from the user. We
// pass along the tokenToCheck without prompting. A return value of nil
// indicates an error occurred.
//export passphraseInput
func passphraseInput(prompt *C.char) *C.char {
log.Printf("getting secret data for PAM: %q", C.GoString(prompt))
if tokenToCheck == nil {
log.Print("secret data requested multiple times")
return nil
}
// Subsequent calls to passphrase input should fail
input := (*C.char)(tokenToCheck.UnsafeToCString())
tokenToCheck = nil
return input
}
// IsUserLoginToken returns nil if the presented token is the user's login key,
// and returns an error otherwise. Note that unless we are currently running as
// root, this check will only work for the user running this process.
func IsUserLoginToken(username string, token *crypto.Key, quiet bool) error {
log.Printf("Checking login token for %s", username)
// We require global state for the function. This function never takes
// ownership of the token, so it is not responsible for wiping it.
tokenLock.Lock()
tokenToCheck = token
defer func() {
tokenToCheck = nil
tokenLock.Unlock()
}()
transaction, err := Start("fscrypt", username)
if err != nil {
return err
}
defer transaction.End()
// Ask PAM to authenticate the token.
authenticated, err := transaction.Authenticate(quiet)
if err != nil {
return err
}
if !authenticated {
return ErrPassphrase
}
return nil
}
| 2024-06-16T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4578 |
Screening for Down syndrome pregnancy using beta-core fragment: prospective study.
Two recent publications by Cuckle et al., and one each by Canick et al. and Kellner et al., describe the use of urine beta-core fragment measurements as a screening test for Down syndrome pregnancies. Median levels of over 5.4 MOM were reported for cases of Down syndrome, with an over 72 per cent detection rate for a 5 per cent false-positive rate. Urine beta-core fragment was suggested as a superior screening test for Down syndrome pregnancies. These four studies were retrospectives, with samples from affected cases collected at different sites from those from normal cases. In the present study, prospective data were collected for 726 pregnancies over a 9-month period at a single medical centre. Fresh samples were assayed continuously, without knowledge of the karyotype. Urinary beta-core fragment levels in 709 unaffected samples continually declined from 12 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. A logarithmic fit was optimal for the median curve. The log standard deviation of unaffected samples was 0.368. All 13 Down syndrome cases had levels exceeding 1.0 MOM, with a median value of 4.1 MOM. Eight of 13 Down syndrome cases (62 per cent) had levels exceeding the 95th centile. Results have not been adjusted for maternal age, which may improve the detection rate. The results reported here, while less impressive than those reported previously, confirm the usefulness of urine beta-core fragment as a screening test for Down syndrome. Because of the prospective nature of this study, the 62 per cent sensitivity suggested here might be more representative of the true performance of urinary beta-core fragment in clinical practice than the higher rates observed in previous studies. Results for this single urine test are similar to those for triple screen and other serum combination tests. Single analyte urine beta-core fragment tests, or beta-core fragment combination protocols, may eventually replace serum analytes in screening for Down syndrome pregnancies. | 2024-01-17T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5505 |
The Vampire Diaries S 3 E 7 type TV Show network The CW
Was this my favorite episode of season 3? No. I liked the concept a lot — ghosts with unfinished business return and make the things that we’ve been waiting to see happen, happen: Bonnie broke up with Jeremy, Alaric forgave Damon for killing him (again), Stefan is now in (temporary?) Ripper Detox, and Mama Lockwood has a reason to like Caroline. But something felt off to me. The dialogue seemed a bit ho-hum at times (though Elena’s final talk with Stefan was top-notch), and shots that should have been monumental looked almost cheesy (e.g. Bonnie’s spell and Alaric’s discovery of the Lockwood cave drawings, though Anna’s reunion with her mother had me SOBBING). It was like watching Charmed more than The Vampire Diaries in some scenes. Maybe I’m just used to every moment of an episode being intense and this one, for all that had to be crammed into the hour, had a lot of whoomp, there the ghost is downtime. We were getting a lot of cuts to different scenes, but the scenes themselves were slow. Did that make any sense? Maybe I should just stick to talking about torsos. Did you notice how hairy Alaric’s heavage looked this episode? And where was Tyler? Even if Carol Lockwood isn’t like Revenge‘s Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe) who insists her children attend the events she hosts, wouldn’t Caroline have forced Tyler into volunteering to hang lanterns for the Night of Illumination? That’s probably a beautiful event (if there’s no dead man hanging in a tree), but I’m still gonna have to vote Gilmore Girls‘ Festival of Living Art as the most picturesque town affair. Let’s dig in.
So Damon woke up chained and skewered in the same seated position he once tortured Mason Lockwood. Still, Damon thought it was a twisted Ripper game that Stefan was playing until the blinds were opened and, without his ring on, Damon started to burn. So are we to assume Stefan saved him or that Mason did that himself because he didn’t really want Damon to die? Regardless, Damon got in his convertible and found Bonnie so he could tell her to fix this ghost problem because he doesn’t have time for it. “When I kill someone, they’re supposed to stay dead.” Bonnie dropped her grimoire (Charmed-like, right?), which magically turned to a page with a manifestation spell used to reveal veiled matter, meaning ghosts. “Okay, please tell me that’s a recipe for witch cookies,” Caroline said. Okay, that was snappy.
Bonnie and Caroline went back to former Witch Central, where Jeremy had been brought back to life. Candles were lit, the spell was chanted, we saw the magic wind through the cobwebs, and it worked: Caroline could see Grams standing there, holding Bonnie’s hands. Alaric could see Mason Lockwood at the bar as he slammed his glass into Damon’s forehead. Stefan could see Lexi, who slammed his face into a car window and knocked him out. Elena could see Anna finishing kissing Jeremy. Grams explained that when Bonnie did the spell to block the magic giving Vicki a foothold in this world, the old witch on the other side wedged a door wide open giving a free pass to anybody with unfinished business. (Sure, why not.) They need to close that door. The Original Witch’s talisman, Elena’s necklace, allows her to draw power from this side. Bonnie needed to destroy it.
The catch, of course, is that if Bonnie destroyed the necklace and revoked the ghosts’ all-access pass, whatever good they were doing here in this world would also end. And, it turns out, most of them were doing good. Let’s continue with Mason. Damon told him to cut to the chase: “I killed you. You want revenge. Get in line.” (Great delivery by Ian Somerhalder.) Mason said he didn’t want revenge, he wanted an apology. Alaric laughed, but things turned serious when Mason said he’d help Damon find a weapon to kill Klaus if he apologized. Damon admitted he didn’t have to kill Mason. He does a lot of things he doesn’t have to do. How is that at all an apology? I guess he was trying to say he does idiot things? But it was good enough for Mason. He told Damon to meet him at the old Lockwood cellar and to come alone.
NEXT: Goonies reference
The question was whether Mason could be trusted — and if there’s ever been a prettier closeup on this show than Mason and Damon peering into the cave. Mason knew about Mikael, and said there wasn’t much to do on the other side than sit around and watch other people screw things up. (So does that mean he knows that Mikael chowed down on Katherine, or did he cross over to this side and start tailing Damon before that happened? I’m still confused about who all the ghosts were visible to once Bonnie did the spell. But if the storyline is over, I’m okay not knowing the rule.) Mason also knew that Damon would do anything to save Stefan from Klaus, just like he would do anything to save hybrid minion Tyler from his sire. As long as they had that in common, they could work together.
When Mason told Damon to go down one tunnel and he got pinned by three booby-trap stakes (like a dark Goonies), you thought he had lied. But no, his motives were pure. He’d just abandoned Damon to go fetch the shovel they’d use to make their way into the cave to free him. It’s not revenge Mason wants, he said, it’s redemption. He’s alone on the other side, too. You watch the people you left behind and regret your decisions. He can’t change the mistakes he made, but he can help correct Tyler’s course. The two continued on until Damon got stopped by an invisible force field. Mason had found something…which he was looking at when Bonnie sent the ghosts bye-bye. In my mind, Mason had peace. He’d found something that could help Tyler.
He’d also helped bring Alaric and Damon back together. Damon had to call Alaric to get him to see what Mason had discovered. Next to Elena, Alaric is the only human he trusts, Damon said. AH. Damon issued the same “crapass” non-apology — “Well, sometimes I do things I don’t have to do” — only this time, he meant it. Meant what? He’s acknowledging that he needn’t have faux-killed Alaric because Alaric will always do right by him? (And that maybe he didn’t have to kill Mason because he was, or could have been, a decent guy?)
Now, let’s move onto Anna. I know it was cheating, but Jeremy holding her hand at the Night of the Illumination pre-festivities was so sweet. It was as normal as their strange courtship would get, her cracking jokes about the event celebrating the newfound prosperity of the founding fathers after the Civil War AND AFTER THEY STOLE FROM VAMPIRES . The townsfolk had hung lanterns over their doors so that their neighbors knew they were safe to come outside AND SAFE FROM VAMPIRES . Elena had been reading Stefan’s journal and remembering how Lexi had always brought back his humanity when he went off the rails. She wanted Jeremy to try to contact Lexi and ask her how she did it, but Jeremy wasn’t sure he could. He had no connection to her, and Anna wasn’t sure that all supernatural beings end up where she was — some may find peace. Jeremy left the conversation he was having with Elena and Alaric when Anna told him not to tell Elena that she was there. He took her to the Grill bathroom — always romantic! — and asked her why she’d wanted him to lie. It was just because Elena’s Bonnie’s best friend, she said. She promised she wasn’t a danger to him or to anyone.
Jeremy was torn. He had the power to send her away, Anna said. She was almost begging him to do it because when you’re that alone, the only power you think you have is to make yourself feel even worse. He said he doesn’t know why this is happening to them or when it will stop, and before it does, he had something he had to do. And that was kiss her as the music swelled! I rewound, but only once. Okay, twice. Jeremy makes me wish I was a teen again. The crush I would have on him…
NEXT: “This Woman’s Work” gets me every time, but especially this time
As previously mentioned, Elena walked in on Jeremy and Anna after Bonnie’s manifestation spell worked. She said she’d let Jeremy tell Bonnie about the kiss after they got the necklace back from Damon, destroyed it, and sent the ghosts away. But instead, Elena told Caroline, who told Bonnie. Caroline and Bonnie were looking for the necklace, which wasn’t where Damon said it would be. Elena told Caroline to hold off on destroying it anyway, because Lexi was there to try to help Stefan. Caroline said they’d find the necklace, then choose which boyfriend ghost drama to solve. Bonnie overhead the use of plural “dramas” on the call, and Caroline came clean about the kiss. They kept looking for the necklace. I loved that Caroline looked in the soap dish. Smart. We know Damon used it before!
The need to find the necklace took on a new urgency when Frederick and the other tomb vampires appeared in the town square to settle their unfinished business with the founding families. How very appropriate for the Night of Illumination. When the lanterns were lit, someone noticed Alaric’s boss, Tobias Fell, had been brutally killed and displayed in a tree. Jeremy tried to call Bonnie to tell her to get a move on, but she wasn’t about to answer her phone, so Caroline did. She told him since they couldn’t find the necklace, someone must have taken it — Anna. Anna denied it. Eventually, Elena and Jeremy had it out, and he admitted that he loved Anna. Elena asked him if he was going to be in love with a ghost for the rest of his life. (YOU ARE ELENA, I wrote in my notes. Turn that tough love on yourself!) Elena told Anna that Jeremy was at the beginning of his life, and she was just holding him back.
Anna had taken the necklace. But she had a good reason: With the tomb vampires materialized, she thought she might be able to find her mother, Pearl. She didn’t want to be alone anymore. She cried, and Jeremy hugged her and promised he wouldn’t let that happen. The 13-year-old in me swooned. He would so be plastered all over the inside of my junior high locker. Jeremy was supposed to bring the necklace to Bonnie at former Witch Central. On Bonnie’s drive there, she and Caroline saw Mrs. Lockwood’s car wrecked and Frederick and other tomb vamps closing in on her. Caroline told Bonnie she was getting out to save her boyfriend’s mother, and Bonnie was to do the spell to send the ghosts away. Caroline’s vamp face going into the fray — awesome. Mrs. Lockwood coming to, and hopefully having caught the sight of Caroline kicking major (albeit invisible) ghost vamp ass for her — even better. Jeremy got the necklace to Bonnie, who was not happy to see him.
Bonnie threw the necklace into the fire and started chanting, along with Grams. Grams’ hand slipped out of Bonnie’s after she told her, “You are stronger than all of this. I’m so proud of you” — right as the lyrics “Make it go away” were sung in “This Woman’s Work.” That montage was also when Frederick disappeared, Mason went poof, and Lexi got gone (more on her shortly). That song, originally performed by Kate Bush, has the ability to make me tear up anytime it wants to thanks to She’s Having a Baby. But when Anna, walking alone, saw her mother on the empty street and said, “Mama?” I wept. Not to get too serious here, but I lost my father on Sept. 22 after a six-year illness. I’d actually been doing okay this week (meaning I finally learned not to try to listen to “The Final Bell” from Rocky, a song that reminds me of him and his fight, on public transportation), but that just blindsided me. It was the silent, heaving kind of cry where tears don’t run down your cheeks, they puddle under your eyes. I’m sharing this incase any of you have recently lost a parent, or someone close to you, and had a similarly strong reaction. You’re not alone. We got to see Anna and Pearl embrace before they disappeared. What a comforting exit for Anna. That was done perfectly.
I will not cry again. I will not cry again.
NEXT: Elena says she won’t wait for Stefan forever, and the cool thing is, I believe her
In the end, Jeremy wanted to explain to Bonnie what happened with Anna, but she wouldn’t let him. She’s pissed because Matt was able to let go of Vicki, his sister, before Jeremy was able to let go of Anna. Truth: Bonnie is pissing me off right now. I get that she feels betrayed — which makes for beautiful Kat Graham tears — but let’s not forget that Anna was ripped away from Jeremy less than a year ago. I think he’s allowed to take a beat, especially since he wasn’t under the gun like Matt was. Anna wasn’t in the process of killing Elena as Vicki had been. Am I wrong? With Bonnie and Jeremy done (I presume), could this open the door for Bonnie and Matt? Have we seen the last of the ghosts? Why did the necklace/talisman resume its shape in the fire? I’d like to think that was to symbolize hope for Stefan, but I’m thinking it means something bad.
Speaking of Stefan, he was all set to attend the Night of Illumination because he looks out for Elena, who was going, and, as he told her and Alaric, “Besides, there’s gonna be people everywhere tonight, so there’s gonna be lots to eat. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Loosen up.” Lexi nabbed him on the street and chained him up in the city jail. She found Elena in the Grill and told her to come with her for Ripper Detox 101. The plan is to starve away the bloodlust and strip away the temptation. I didn’t know what kind of mind compulsion Lexi was doing at first, but apparently, she was making him hallucinate so he’d feel like he’d gone months, no years, without blood. Like any addict, he tried to prey on Elena’s feelings. He was hurting, he loved her, she had to make it stop. Lexi made her hold strong, and Stefan snapped back to his Bad Stefan self. Once he’s weak enough, Lexi said, you have to cause him pain, make him feel things — anger, rage, anything. You have to make him see past the blood. In short, she staked him a bunch. I guess her detox regimen makes sense: Klaus had to wait until Stefan was weakened so he could force him to turn off his humanity. Stefan needs to be that weak again so it can be reversed.
When it was Lexi’s turn to get gone, she told Elena that Stefan’s still in there. She just has to break through. Elena told her she knew what to do now. Lexi could be free. Elena, meanwhile, was getting ready to leave Stefan unattended (is that smart, Elena?) and do what else she had to do — take care of Jeremy, be there for Bonnie, probably some homework. Stefan thought she was finally giving up on him. Lexi had shown her what her future would be, and she was bailing. Elena said she hadn’t given up hope, but there was nothing she can do until Stefan gets his back. He needs to fight to feel something. “Because if you don’t, you’re gonna lose me forever,” she told him. “I won’t love a ghost for the rest of my life.” So she had listened to herself lecture Jeremy! To me, that was the best scene of the episode. That’s Elena being strong.
Your turn. What did you think of the episode? Are you happy with how the ghost story line panned out? What do you think Tyler and Rebekah were doing that whole time? How excited are you to see what story the cave drawings tell about the Originals? (Hi, Elijah!) And just how Indiana Jones (or Richard Castle pretending he’s Indiana Jones) should Alaric go next week?
RATE THIS EPISODE: | 2023-11-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6368 |
Because it shows two of the most vile, reprehensible propagandists in the world.
Susan Rice and Barack Obama.
But it lets them speak.
The film lets Rice and Obama make fools of themselves.
[and it doesn’t take these two idiots long]
Then we are immersed in a richness of inquiry which befits the home country of our director.
Spain.
But Álvaro Longoria’s film is about a wholly different place.
North Korea.
I was lucky enough once to visit Mr. Longoria’s hometown of Santander.
Though I was not there long, I found it odd that we (me and my traveling companions) boarded our plane on the runway.
A Boeing 737, I believe it was.
So we are talking about perhaps 200 people.
On a runway in Spain.
With a little control tower.
I must admit.
The operation was not heartening.
But then again, I’ve taken a propeller plane from Sacramento to San Francisco.
The world likes to think of America as filthy rich.
But we still have propeller planes for some of our shorter routes.
Flying over San Francisco Bay in a propeller plane wasn’t exactly my idea of relaxation either.
But so then…what do we think of North Korea?
If we listen to people like Susan Rice and Barack Obama (neither of whom, categorically, can be trusted), then we are to shudder at the thought of the DPRK.
Well, our director Mr. Longoria has given the most fair, measured approach to a very controversial subject.
And his final product (the film) is so much the better for it.
To wit, Mr. Longoria does not presume to think for his viewers.
He lets you decide.
If you are looking for bias in this film, you will have to look pretty hard.
Perhaps, you will reason, Mr. Longoria is a Spanish leftist and therefore he gives North Korea the benefit of the doubt.
On the contrary, one might reason that the director is a very (VERY) savvy propagandist himself…and therefore, his documentary is largely an exercise in reverse psychology.
I must admit.
When I heard the voices of Rice and Obama, my internal monologue of opprobrium almost caused me to lose my lunch.
But I stuck with it.
And I’m so glad I did.
What is at issue in this film, and in the frozen conflict zone of which North Korea is half, is the discipline/technique/art of propaganda.
If you are very dumb (and I doubt you are, as you are reading this illustrious blog), you will believe everything you hear about North Korea.
You will believe CNN.
You will believe Martha Raddatz.
You will believe George Stephanopoulos.
To call these two “presstitutes” is really being too kind.
They make Rice and Obama look like saints.
Those of the Raddatz/Stephanopoulos ilk in the United States journalistic community are really worthless individuals.
Mostly because they have ceased to BE individuals.
They aren’t even drones.
They are more like little Lego pieces of poisonous honeycomb.
Inhuman.
But they’re not alone.
Throw in Diane Sawyer.
Actually (and I’ll throw the lefties a bone), throw in Bill O’Reilly.
All of these journalists are generally less than nothing when it comes to their global contributions.
And so it only makes the case of the DPRK stronger (for better or worse) when such née-individuals (including emasculated presstitutes) insult North Korea.
And so it is very clear that North Korea is the target of an immense amount of propaganda.
HOWEVER,
the DPRK seems itself to be quite prodigious in the art of manipulative communication.
Or, propaganda.
So our director lets the two sides go at it.
It’s almost like two Charlie Brown schoolteachers (Othmars both) having a verbal altercation.
The West: “Blah blah blah blah HUMAN RIGHTS blah!”
North Korea: “Blah blah blah blah IMPERIALISTS blah.”
We must credit North Korea with restraint.
The people.
Polite.
Keep in mind, this is a focus on the people.
What kind of people live in North Korea?
[well, Koreans…obviously]
Adults, children…male, female…
And so the cynic will cry “Potemkin village” very early on in this one.
But it is worth watching till the end.
Most intriguing is the figure Alejandro Cao de Benós de Les y Pérez.
Here’s an idealist if ever there was one.
But that’s what we must remember about North Korea.
It is a country of extreme idealism.
Let me frame it with slightly different diction.
It is a country of immense idealism.
[ah…we even got some alliteration there!]
Mr. Cao is, or was, Spanish.
Now he is a North Korean.
He is a spokesman for the DPRK.
As we say here in the West, he’s “all in”.
He digs their chili.
He’s drinking the Kool-Aid.
We want some of whatever he’s smoking.
[you get the picture]
But I must say…
Mr. Cao is an extremely (immensely) articulate individual.
To hear him tell it (and he does so with genuine conviction), North Korea is the last bastion of communism.
China has sold out to market forces (capitalism).
The Soviet Union sold out Stalin (Cao actually makes this claim).
[and, he asserts, China sold out Mao]
Vietnam is now thoroughly capitalist.
[that might be a direct quote]
So does Mr. Cao have a point?
Well, perhaps he does.
But there are doubtless few self-respecting communists [more to this sentence after brackets] who would hold up North Korea as a beacon of socialist governance.
Communist, socialist, Trotskyist…
It all begins to run together for us heathen imperialists.
Ah!
There’s that other buzz word.
Imperialism.
Indeed, if you look at the U.S. military bases in South Korea and Japan (which this documentary illustrates as a sort of “ring of fire” [pun intended]), the imperialism charge is not without evidence.
But this is really the quintessence of what Nick Tosches calls “intellectual parlor games”.
Meaning, we could be here all day.
I’m at nearly a thousand words (and so are you, if you’re still with me) and I haven’t even begun to truly scratch the surface of the imbroglio that is the 38th parallel.
North latitude.
Simply put, the U.S. has a vested interest in creating and propagating propaganda about North Korea.
[which does not mean that all of the reportage is made-up…indeed, the best propaganda has a kernel or modicum of truth…sometimes even a heaping spoonful…North Korea certainly does not seem to have the whole “public relations” thing down yet]
And conversely, North Korea has a vested interest in creating and propagating (mostly for internal, domestic purposes) propaganda about the United States and capitalist economies in general.
[and granted…the United States has done some incredibly daft stuff…the likes of which could be spun into a thousand tales of horror for 10,000 years]
What really complicates matters are nuclear weapons.
North Korea, we are told, has twenty (OH MY GOD! 20!!!) nuclear weapons.
The United States has sixty-eight-hundred (6,800) nuclear warheads in various states of readiness.
I hate to sound like Ted Turner (and it’s sad when Mr. Turner becomes a voice of reason), but there seems to be a rather glaring discrepancy there.
Oh!
But one side is responsible (I’ll let you guess) and the other side is reckless (guess again).
Of course, nuclear weapons have never been used in war…except by the United States.
Twice.
And so every society has its propaganda.
I will never feel very good that my country nuked two Japanese cities.
Somewhere between approx. 125,000 and 250,000 Japanese people (at least half of them civilians) were vaporized and/or bombarded with lethal radiation by Fat Man and Little Boy.
I know that the U.S. Department of Defense (then known as the Department of War and Department of the Navy, respectively) isn’t selling Girl Scout cookies.
But Harry S. Truman’s “display” on live targets is a rather hard pill to swallow.
We are supposed to think statistically.
Think of how many lives we saved (by, counterintuitively, squelching perhaps a quarter million OTHER souls).
I guess maybe after six years of war, we were insane.
They say it only takes 100 days.
Of warfare.
Any man (or woman).
No matter how mentally strong.
Literally insane.
Beyond that point.
But we were talking about North Korea…
Mr. Longoria is more of a scientist than me.
Our director, Mr. Longoria.
He meditates on the problem.
He is not rash.
Granted, his access to the “hermit kingdom” compels him to be open-minded (if only for the duration of his stay [and in strictly “apparent” diplomacy]).
It seems evident to me that Álvaro Longoria is a very formidable filmmaker.
Lot of people drawing a check at Hulu and turning out a subpar service.
The name Hulu comes from two Mandarin Chinese words…both of which translate roughly to “shite”.
Now, just to be fair…I wouldn’t sign up for Netflix if my life depended on it.
iTunes is a horribly antiquated business model (and offers very little value for consumers).
Amazon Prime Video was petty to disallow MacBooks (as incompatible devices) as late as last year. Not to mention that Jeff Bezos is just a wannabe Rupert Murdoch who bans books like Nobody Died at Sandy Hook. [And yes, Virginia, Murdoch is the great Satan.]
And so, with such a paltry selection of movies on Hulu, I’ve been forced to examine its television offerings. The prospects are not much better.
But I will give credit where credit is due.
Mr. Bean was an excellent pickup.
If you want a tight, seamless work of art (unlike this rambling, frothing review), then check out the episode under consideration.
You know, not even the childlike Rowan Atkinson was above making fun of old people (in this episode) or suggesting that continental Europeans be purposefully killed by British drivers (tourists). Check out his standup comedy album from 1995 for the latter bit.
Which just goes to show…we all lose our heads.
We all exercise poor judgment. We all have poor taste now and then.
You may not believe it, but I have put my own sorry butt on the line to stand up for world Jewry.
I will be the first to admit that my term “Judeo-Nepotistic” is incredibly crass and insensitive.
And still, I would ask that Jews (who are no doubt hard-pressed on all sides) please exercise some judgment of their own. Transparent nepotism is really tasteless. It goes against our better Jeffersonian principles.
So there you have it. Bobby Fischer was a jerk. The Holocaust really happened. Not so sure about the gas chambers. You’re welcome Faurisson. The Earth is not flat. 9/11 was an inside job (and therefore not an Israeli job). Insofar as it was an Israeli job, the U.S. government was at least half-responsible. It was much more likely an Israeli job than a Saudi job. Much more likely a purely self-inflicted inside job (no substantial Israeli involvement) than an Israeli job. And finally, Israel is a criminal country oppressing the Palestinians in a most disgusting manner.
And for good measure, yes Donald Trump is a bigot. And he’s horribly wrong about immigration (both in regards to our Mexican brothers and sisters and our Islamic brothers and sisters). But he’s still the only real choice for President.
Sanders has been right about one thing: Snowden. Snowden’s a hero. But America is not a socialist country. Sanders would actually be a bigger step backwards than Trump.
And now we ostensibly enter the schlock of true B-movie Brucespoitation. Eight years after his death, producer Raymond Chow and distributor Golden Harvest were still trying to milk money from the cutting-floor scraps of their cash cow. But someone kept things fairly interesting: director See-Yuen Ng.
Though there is little to no continuity between Game of Death and Game of Death II, both films share a watchable quality which teeters on the edge of this viewer’s incredulous ennui. Put simply, this film is better than it has any right to be. Which is not to say this is a great (or even good) film.
The most hilarious midnight movie aspects are the contrasts between film fidelity and definition circa 1973 (the actual footage of Lee) and 1981 (the footage of everyone else). I almost feel sorry for director Ng for the sleight-of-hand editing and shooting necessary to even attempt this picture. Back to the film stocks not matching…much of that is also evident in the lack of deft color correction. Occasionally a background matches and we must hand it to the technicians who found just the right shade of puke green to provide a shred of matching in the shot-reverse-shots.
Fortunately for all involved, Lee’s character meets his demise about halfway through the film. It’s smooth sailing from there regarding the different eras of film stock.
This film is not without messages. Some, apparently, have not been interpreted the same by all viewers. Whereas I distinctly heard the Ginza district of Tokyo mentioned as Lee’s (and his on-screen brother’s) destination, English Wikipedia tells us that the action moves to Korea. Of course, the astute spectator who added this bit of plot synopsis to the aforementioned site seems to have been oblivious that another contributor has Lee active before the end of the paragraph (the initial contributor giving away Lee’s character’s death along with the Korea location). So to clarify, Lee does not resurrect during the course of the film.
Roy Horan plays a significant role as a raw-venison-eating, deer’s-blood-drinking, bearded kung fu nut. As the name implies, Horan’s character is of white European lineage (not Chinese). There is a subtle undercurrent which implies that Lee’s friend (and consequently his own character as well) died for teaching kung fu to non-Chinese. This, of course, has some parallels in Lee’s actual life story.
For all of the professional attributes in this film, the “lion” attack (obviously a human in a lion costume) does not pass muster. It is, again, the stuff of midnight movies. Perhaps they were over budget by that point…
Tong Lung is actually pretty darn good as Lee’s brother (the hero of the film) Bobby Lo.
I won’t give away the ending, but suffice it to say that a multinational organization turns out to be the ultimate culprit of the two film murders in question. There are all sorts of strange strings waiting to be pulled here…fake deaths, the aforementioned cartel (this particular multinational is illegal in nature), etc.
The most interesting takeaway (take out?) was the revelation (somehow…perhaps due to the less than enthralling screen drama) that one political entity would have stood to gain from the actual Lee’s real life death. That entity would be China. Made before Hong Kong rejoined the PRC, Bruce Lee’s films and fame might have posed a significant threat to China in that (had he lived) he might well have been a unifying figure which could have fired the flames of revolution for those residents of HK not particularly excited about joining a country with such a totalitarian approach to dissent. But then again, any country which blocks the Internet (not counting Hong Kong and Macau) has far less to worry about. No information dissemination, no 21st-century speed of dissent. And it would just happen that today was July 4th… | 2023-11-10T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8232 |
Q:
Compile node.js module to a single file
After using npm to install module
npm install discord.js
a folder with name discord.js was created but I want to compile this node module to a single javascript file and use it in my project require("./discord.js");.
A:
The simplest solution would be to use the webpack builds of discord.js, available here. Note that there are some restrictions when using these files. (you can also compile the files yourself using another tool so everything will work).
| 2023-09-23T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5427 |
Laryngeal papillomatosis: immunologic and viral basis for therapy.
The distressing nature of laryngeal papillomatosis and lack of clinical progress in its treatment are reviewed. Presently accepted and investigative methods of therapy are reviewed with special attention being given to immune therapy. Support for the concept of a viral etiology is discussed and other etiologic agents considered. Known and possibly significant roles of wart virus antibodies are discussed and the importance of complex interplay between maternal and fetal immune systems explored as a possible explanation for some puzzling aspects of laryngeal papillomatosis. Finally, a proposed experimental design is outlined, the purpose of which is to provide a useful animal model to investigate immune changes in laryngeal papillomatosis, as well as effects of surgical or medical therapy. | 2024-06-03T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2756 |
Studies in geriatric education: II. educational materials and programs.
There has recently been an increase in educational programs and materials in geriatrics, but their quality and content have not been adequately assessed. This study concerns important objectives and core contents in geriatric education, with a review of training programs, books, and audiovisual materials. Specific areas of need for printed and audiovisual materials are identified. Medical student and graduate level programs were found to address relatively few objectives. Geriatric fellowship programs, although having more extensive coverage, had some notable deficiencies. This information may be of use to those conducting training programs or preparing educational material in geriatrics. | 2023-10-05T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6427 |
Lisa Montgomery makes first appearance before judge
Below:
Next story in Crime & courts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A woman accused of killing an expectant mother and cutting the baby from her womb made her initial appearance Tuesday before a federal judge in Missouri.
Federal prosecutors have charged Lisa Montgomery, 36, of Melvern, Kan., with kidnapping resulting in death. She is accused of strangling eight-months-pregnant Bobbie Jo Stinnett and cutting the baby from her womb during a Dec. 16 attack at Stinnett's home in Skidmore.
Tuesday's hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer lasted less than 10 minutes. Montgomery answered a series of questions about whether she qualifies financially for a public defender, and Maughmer said it appeared she would.
It wasn't clear if the two public defenders who appeared with Montgomery during the hearing would continue to handle her case.
Montgomery is scheduled to return to court Thursday for a detention hearing, and prosecutors have already asked she be denied bond.
Stinnett, 23, was found by her mother in a pool of blood on Dec. 16. Officials said Montgomery, on that same day, called her husband from Topeka, Kan., and told him she had just delivered a baby.
Authorities said the baby was found Dec. 17 with Montgomery and her husband in Melvern. The infant, named Victoria Jo Stinnett, spent that weekend in a Topeka hospital before going home with her widowed father, Zeb Stinnett. | 2024-02-25T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/6681 |
# -*- python -*-
licenses([
"notice", # BSD-3-Clause AND MIT
"restricted", # LGPL-2.1+
])
cc_library(
name = "nlopt",
srcs = ["include/nlopt.h"],
hdrs = ["include/nlopt.hpp"],
includes = ["include"],
linkopts = [
"-L/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu",
"-lnlopt",
],
visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
)
| 2024-01-22T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1081 |
Analysis of an L-histidinol-utilizing mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Transductional analysis was applied to the Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant PAO14 (hnc-1). This mutant can utilize L-histidinol as sole source of carbon and nitrogen and has a 60-fold increased histidinol dehydrogenase (HDH) content (Dhawale, Creaser & Loper, 1972). Transductional analysis was carried out using 18 histidine-requiring mutants to see where the hnc-1 locus maps in relation to the structural genes of histidine biosynthesis. The hnc-1 marker cotransduced with group IV genes at 97 to 100 % and not at all with group I, which is known to be the structural gene for HDH. The data obtained in the studies of Km (histidinol) and Km (NAD), and the effect of pH and temperature on the HDH activity from PAO1 and PAO14 are in full agreement with the genetic data that the hnc-1 mutation is not in the structural gene for HDH. It is suggested that hnc-1 may be a mutation in a regulatory gene affecting HDH synthesis in PAO14 and may map close to his-IV whose function in histidine biosynthesis is not known. | 2023-12-05T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4421 |
Q:
HTML JavaScript: using popup window?
I trying to create a popup window for changing the password.
The following is what I tried:
<form name="passwd" action="passwd.php" method="POST" >
Old Password:<input type="text" id="oldpwd" name="old_password" ><br>
New Password:<input type="text" id="newpwd" name="new_password" ><br>
Confirm Password:<input type="text" id="conpwd" name="confirm_password" ><br>
<input type="submit" value="Change password" width="5" id="cp">
</form>
A:
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script>
function Ajax(Form)
{
$.ajax({
cache: false,
type: 'post',
url: 'ChangePasswordPhpScript.php',
data: $(Form).serialize(),
success: function(result) {
$('#info').html(result);
}});
return false;
}
</script>
<form onsubmit="return Ajax(this)">
<div id="info"></div>
<input type="text" name="email"><br/>
<input type="text" name="old"><br/>
<input type="text" name="new"><br/>
<input type="text" name="confirm"><br/>
<input type="submit" name="update" value="update"><br/>
</form>
| 2023-12-19T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/7543 |
Breakfast and lunch were OP. I was in a meeting during my normal snack time and my choice was to eat my snack or to change clothes and get down to Pilates and only be a couple of minutes late. Pilates won!! Big credit for that.
It was an interesting 'class'--the trainer held it in the exercise room and had 5 of us in there--at different levels doing different things! She wanted to be sure that another woman and I who are new to her class would be comfortable with the movements. She was running one of the guys ragged. Another guy was not quite as strenuous and the third woman was also "getting back into things". It was fun--and although I think my abs will complain tomorrow, I feel confident that I'll be able to keep up and benefit from the classes.
I started adding more spontaneous walking to my day and my FitBit says I'm barely under 5000 steps for the day. 10,000 seems unattainable right now, but I'm sure I can work my way up to it. I tend to be 'efficient' with my tasks, including moving from one spot to another. I decided today to focus on increasing steps, so I took the roundabout way to every meeting and the restroom (even to the point of going to a different floor). So, my goal is to be less efficient and more motion-y. (not a word, I know) As soon as the weather breaks, I'll start parking at the far end of the parking lot--I claim a pass as long as it's in the teens and single digits!
Dinner wasn't as planned (change in an evening meeting) but I made pretty good choices with a last minute choice. (Chinese takeout, and I measured my portions so I wouldn't overeat.) (I picked up two meals--one would have been enough for the two of us.)
Diet Coaches
I was not under the 197.4 - but I wasn't over either so hope continues to burn. I want one dancing vegetable or being sometime real soon now.
Credits for today:
Ate on plan
Met my exercise goal
Planned food for today and defrosted and organised (a downsized) dinner before I left for work
Checked out my Advantage / Response cards - I have them on iPad
Reduced my To Do list
AZtricia - I hope you like the dill-pickles. You can make cheese or lebneh out of the kefir but I haven't gone there yet but it is a good idea. At the moment I am trying to get the timing right depending on the temperature. When I get there I will look at other things to do! Yay for lost another pound - really worth a celebration. Not sure if you are sad about the reduced calories or...? MFP keeps upping my calories based of exercise but I ignore it because I want to stick to less than 1500 and might even lower that. Can't wait to see your tracker!
BillBlueEye - I liked the fact that the Sears catalogue gave me the price of a snow thrower in $AUD! That would be useful to about 1 square KM of Australia (I am exaggerating of course). They look like very useful beasts - and surprisingly inexpensive! Ouch for a gift of chocolate brownies - good you have a plan for spreading them over weeks.Yay for back to pecans and normalcy
ForMyGirls - exemplary report card - great that you could forego hot chocolate for fruit - mind you what were you thinking wanting hot chocolate in this weather?!
FLNU - Welcome and thanks for the introduction. You seem to be really organised! and yes it is lovely to have all these people who are maintaining and can show the way. Not many rules here that you can inadvertently break - you will get the hang of it in no time. I will leave it to our list moderator to properly welcome you
Nationalparker - your food sounds really on track. Great that you recognised the difference between wanting more versus being full. Mashed potatoes beckon so you did well
BethFromDayton - Great choice between snack or pilates. The class sounds interesting and well structured. Adding in incidental exercise is a great way to increase your steps and credit for using "the long way" to achieve it. You are avoiding walking in teens and single digits, and I am trying to walk before 6.30am because it is too hot and humid after that. Can't beat the planet really
GardenerJoy - waving - I can't remember if you were going away but I notice your absence? I had to go back 7 pages to find that you were going to drive 4 hours each way to do a family meeting - hope all is well
Credits for my day:
- felt like i was really "in the groove" with planning today - actually checked my plan to see what was on the menu and doing the planning tonight was superfast as i am establishing a bunch if standard meals in MFP
- the big stress in my life required some attention today and i quickly and decisively put paid to the "it's been a draining day therefore i deserve ..." Thought. In fact i didn't even get as far as filling in the dots before i sent that thought packing.
Flnu - welcome - and for the record i think you are posting just the right amount. I laughed a lot reading your post, especially about the bed time business. I sooooo know that deal! You sound like you are well and truly in the Beck zone so am glad you found us.
Beth - woohoo for choosing Pilates. It sounds like you have scored a great trainer! And i hear you in the challenge of 10,000 steps. The only time in my life i have realiably achieved the step count was when i was home with a 10 month old and a 2 year old.
Seadwaters - hot chocolate appears to be unrelated to the weather for me. Same as icecream - i am sure i could crave it in the midst of a blizzard :-)
__________________
Part 1 July 2013 106.4kg to Feb 2014 90.4kg Part 2 Aug 2014 97.3kg to ?? Part 3 Jan 2015 102.3kg to
Diet Coaches/Buddies – Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, including snacks incrementing the streak to 64. DW offered a portion of brownie as part of dinner but I declined - two days in a row would be too much indulgence in baked stuff. She went ahead. I'm happy with that - glad to see the volume decreasing. Sometimes marriage just works out. I had an orange for evening snack - one that was juicy and tasty.
Running the new snow thrower was primary exercise, CREDIT moi. It isn't the same exercise for the back as shoveling, but it exercises muscles controlling the machine. About an equal amount of time was spent with a shovel for the places that required it. Took a walk, CREDIT moi, in the fresh snow to the library to swap some books. They were quiet since the schools were closed.
Cheryl (seadwaters) – It's a Kudos day when you reduce your to-do list. [LOL at Sears pricing snow throwers in $AUD - perhaps to sell them at a freak show.]
nationalparker – Apparently, getting to sleep on time is today's topic. Good luck coming to grips with that. Kudos for a nice dinner. (I'm a fan of Midnight in Paris.)
Motion-y Beth (bethFromDayton) – Impressed that your Pilates trainer kept five of you going at different levels. Kudos for your openness to new exercises.
ForMyGirls - Neat to exchange fruit for hot chocolate. Super Kudos for recognizing the Sabotaging Thought, "it's been a draining day therefore i deserve ..."
AZtricia - LOL at the thought of your scale approving of your dinner choice. 1.5 lbs per week is a healthy trend. I found that my trend slowed as I approached my final weight. It took me several weeks to know that I had stopped.
flnu - The group here has learned to serve as Diet Coach for each other and welcome you to join that process. Huge Kudos, indeed, for following an eating plan for the fancy hotel dinner - that's a big one.
Super insight, "getting good sleep is my lynchpin" - it's so easy to get involved in a book and ignore higher priorities - done that many times myself. Glad that you've joined us.
Readers -
Quote:
day 11Differentiate Between Hunger, Desire, and Cravings
Think about times in the past when you've leisurely finished a rather large meal, perhaps when eating out at a restaurant or during a family celebration. I wonder if you ever had such thoughts as, I'm still hungry ... I think I'll have seconds ... I'm hungry for dessert.
Thanks for the welcome! I am trying to remember what prompted me 7 days ago to pick up the book, and I'm failing. I've been overweight and not dieting for many years, so you'd think I'd remember a change like that. For the forum, that's easy. On Day 6, I went a-googling. I picked this one because it is active, long-standing, and explicitly references the Beck diet. So we're all coaches here, not just particular people?
Streak days for bed/exercise/diet: 1/11/11.
My current sabotaging thought is, yeah, yeah, you're doing well...for now. Just wait until the honeymoon's over then you'll see. Helpful response: Why assume the worst? I'm learning and practicing new skills that I didn't have before. It will make a difference. Besides, I already committed to the program. Just enjoy the honeymoon for as long as it lasts, and don't borrow trouble.
Day 7 is about changing your environment. My home environment is already great. My work environment is not so bad. I will not be asking the other 50 some odd people in my office to look for their communal snacks in the cupboards, but I will route myself away from the snack tables. This was an easy day.
Beth: You pushed me over the edge, and I just bought a fitbit. Thanks for the nudge.
AZtricia: I'm sending you mojo for pizza night. Pizza is a really, really hard one for me.
'Supurb Satisfies" is so true. I was able to have just one slice of pizza yesterday, choose my favorite, and ate with small bites and paying attention...found one was definately enough and it was pleasent to not end up over full. When I arrived back home, saw the pizza boxes and my tongue wanted more! Credit for recognizing craving vs hunger and exercising my resistance muscle. Still no siggy option, maybe tomorrow. My dh is getting a cold, doggie is still coughing/fighting kennel cough, and tomorrow/Friday is going to be a crazy run-around, need to be two places at once kind of day.
Did exercise yesterday, will walk the dog today at least twice, should do my exercise DVD but for some reason my mind is resistant. Eating OP, Exercise OP, still strugling with ARC reading & maybe that is why I dont want to exercise, or is it just because I'm tired?
bethFromDayton WhooHoo for exercise over snack Sounds like you had a great trainer. Congrats for nearing 5000 steps/day. Love your new word, I need to be more motiony too! Brrr to your weather
seadwaters Congrats for planning and sticking to it! Sorry about the discouraging scale #'s. I'm OK with reduced calories, I just needed not to see that 3000 was ok! That made it too easy too eat 2000 and think it was still good. I know from experience that 1700 or under is best for me to loose.
ForMyGirls Hurray for the planning groove . Great job for recognizing your thoughts and dismissing them for more helpful ones. Congrats on your streak!
BillBlueEyes Hurray for the strong brownie resistance muscle Good thought about weight loss slowing nearer the goal, I will keep that in mind and try not to get discouraged.
flnu We are coach/buddies to each other from what I can tell. An opportunity to get involved in daily accountability and encourage others on the same path. Great helpful response, love it! As long as you never quit, you will reach your goals. You will have tough spots and even fail sometimes, but the sooner you get back on the better...Beck is very practical that way.
Comp day today and day off tomorrow so I have big plans. I am tackling my - wait for it - sewing room. (She runs in circles screaming in the living room). This is my plan: I have been disciplined in donating clothes as I have lost weight. Since my first day with Beck till today I have gone from a size 12 to a size 8. What a terrific journey. I have only kept what fits perfectly and makes me feel happy. I have read lots of Project 333 posts on minimalist wardrobes. I am now ready to empty my huge chest of drawers in my room, organize the little that was left in there into my walk in, and move ALL my sewing and craft stuff into the drawers. That will leave the deacon's bench my father built empty for all my scrapbooks and personal items which I have heretofore ignored because they were literally stuffed into all nooks and corners.
Just another example of how freeing myself from food addiction has freed up space for other things in my life.
Yesterday was OP. Plan is for Pilates workout this afternoon as a break from organizing.
AZTricia: I remember my amazement when Beck talked about hunger in the mouth vrs stomach. I had never been that self aware. It is very helpful information.
Flnu: Welcome. There is a lot of recovery here. Some of us have one on one coaches. I use this bog as my coach.
We went for sushi for dinner--and I ate too much :-(. I did my best to record it, though. I probably would have eaten more, but I don't use chopsticks often enough for it to come easy so that slowed me down!
No extra exercise today--it was too cold to be outside. Ended up with 4100 steps. Tomorrow is the circuit training class at lunch time--I'm looking forward to it!
I've got my gym bag packed, a note on my purse to remind me to grab my lunch (which I'll go pack after this), and then I'll pack for our big weekend party. I intend to report in on Sunday night as being successful with my approach--record everything, eat only sitting down, and no sweets until after dinner.
Cold day here, too. Drain froze up again, along with some pipes. DH spent the past few hours after getting home from work sawing through a cabinet to see what the situation was and how it was plumbed. I steer clear. Now he'll rent a blower to blow insulation in (my idea) after he said we'd need to pull out the tub and all tile, etc. I'm counting a point for myself on the home improvement idea chart. I never get points there
Food has been okay today - on track and satisfied. I planned an ind. bag of real potato chips - nothing baked or faked and it hit the spot.
Eye dr. appt. tomorrow and then working the rest of the day from home. Looking forward to being able to be cozy. Going down to -5 tonight - we're almost there already. Wind chill warning still in place. Hard to breathe when walking outside.
Bill - Thank you for that note on hunger/desire/cravings. I saw the whipped cream in the fridge and thought, oh, small sundaes would be a nice treat. Even if I did just the half cup of ice cream, light choc drizzle, whip cream and cherry, that's still 200 calories we don't need. I'll save that for the weekend. It was a desire. Not a craving or being hungry. Good to recognize that.
Beth - We do the one Chinese meal for two as well from a place near us, and have a leftover serving for DH to take to work. All for $7.75. Now and then we do separate because he wants to venture away from my routine chicken
This morning I was under 197 (196.8) which meant I had lost 5 pounds - I was very quick to change my signature. I don't care if my weight is up tomorrow morning - i am in ONEderland and I have lost 5lb at last!
I am going out to breakfast tomorrow morning and it will be difficult. I haven't eaten with these people since last Chinese New Year and I am seeing them tomorrow and the following Saturday for Yum Cha. Tomorrow it is breakfast at a dog park up where i used to live. They are lovely people but they are food pushers! One of the group has had gastric banding and they keep encouraging her to eat. No matter how often I say I am on a diet and can't have wheat it falls on deaf ears. I will need to starve the rest of the day to deal with the calories, and then deal with the after affects of food sensitivities after that. They are special people and I need them in my life so I need to find a lifetime plan.
I was totally derailed by Maryann's posting about Project 333 - I had to go and find out about it and then I was hooked! I need to fix my wardrobe
Good topic for today - hunger vs craving vs desire. It caused me to think about what and how much I should eat today. And I reduced the amount of dinner and lunch
Credits for today
Had a plan and stuck to it
Ate less than usual
Completed my steps - just!
Did some more things off my to do list
Diet Coaches/Buddies – At the time I wished that I was at the gym, I was dealing with why my old Toyota won't pass inspection when I took it in last week. Ouch. Maybe a tiny CREDIT moi for dealing with reality as required from time to time even when it's not what I want. Life would be easier if I shifted the month of my inspection to summer when it was more comfortable to hang around a gas station. I'm not done yet; there's another round.
Eating was on plan, CREDIT moi, including snacks to get my streak to 65. My only snack was a so-so orange for evening snack. (No brownie. I'm not even thinking about them. Not on my mind.) There's only three oranges left in the fridge to work through so that I can go buy a new bag of California's best. Dinner was white bean soup so I was a vegetarian for the day. My Beck event was when I was cutting slices of cheese to make the cheese-toast we sometimes have with soup. I had the urge to pop a slice into my mouth - as I used to do before my Journey. It wasn't hunger, hardly even desire, just habit!
Cheryl (seadwaters) – Congrats for that dancing carrot. Ouch for having to face food pushers with Kudos for making a plan to stay your path anyway.
nationalparker – Ouch for the continuing problems with frozen plumbing. Congrats for choosing a DH was jumps right in to solve them. Kudos for skipping the small Sundays - though they would seem to contradict the notion of so cold the pipes are freezing.
Beth (bethFromDayton) – I used to believe that chopsticks were the real secret of thin Asians - until I watched some using chopsticks faster than I could use my fork. Kudos for attitude per, "I intend to report in on Sunday night as being successful."
AZtricia - Kudos, indeed, for "for recognizing craving vs hunger and exercising my resistance muscle." Loved reading that you enjoyed one slice of pizza - seems important to me that we continue to have the foods that we love but in planned quantities.
flnu - Yep, you're a Coach for us; we're all in this together. Perhaps someday Dr. Judith Beck will write about being an on-line Diet Coach. Until then, we all just wing it. Kudos for the "Helpful response: Why assume the worst?" Find myself doing that one more than I want.
Readers -
Quote:
day 11Differentiate Between Hunger, Desire, and Cravings
If so, you confused hunger with a desire to eat. Today's task will help you figure out when you're truly hungry, so you can tell yourself, Okay, I've finished the food I planned to eat for this meal, and I'm still hungry ... But that's okay ... It might take my brain 20 minutes to send a message to my body that I'm full ... I'll wait to see how I feel in 20 minutes.
High five to AZtricia for enjoying pizza night. Well-done. So what's your plan to break through on the ARCs? You could post a few here every day to get over the hump. I would join you. You could make a commitment here to read them at a specific time tomorrow. What's your reminder system? Anything to tweak there? I have my iPad play chimes at me twice a day. (The first day I forgot I had done that, and I actually went looking for the really persistent and annoying wind chime that would not shut up! Inconsiderate neighbors! Oh. Never mind.)
I’m very glad that Cheryl got her dancing carrot. Even if your weight does bounce around tomorrow, it’s bouncing around at a new, lower weight. I also like Project 333 that Maryann mentioned. I’m not implementing to the letter but I did put away a bunch of my least favorite clothes. It was great! I had to dig out something from the put-away-drawer (my girls wanted me to put fancy play clothes on) and saw a pair of pants that I hate but was determined to wear because there’s absolutely nothing wrong with them, and I was so glad that they’re not in my closet, being ugly, and luring me into dressing ugly on principle. Really, what was I thinking? And it’s made me more creative with what’s left in my closet. Win. Cheryl: Credit for meeting your steps goal. How many do you shoot for? Maryann and BBE: I am so inspired by you maintainers. And really all the people that keep sticking to it.
Beth: Credit for tracking it, credit for laying down the plans for tomorrow and taking actions, credit for just moving on from eating more than you wanted (and not letting be an excuse for derailing completely, although since you’ve been at this for a year I imagine you are very good at persisting. I hope to be as persistent.)
Nationalparker’s comment on hunger makes me thinking of learning, “Hunger is not an emergency.” If you had asked me, I wouldn’t have said that I thought it was, but it is such a calming thought for me that I think I must have just been deluding myself previously.
Day 8 is make time for dieting. Ok. 7-8 am is for exercising. 12-12:30 (last half of my lunch hour) is for reviewing the book and working on my workbook. I will put that on my work calendar right after this post. 8-9 pm is for talking with my coaches, and when I get to Day 14, for writing down my meal plans (I already track using my fitness pal, advanced tracking shouldn’t be too hard I hope), and reviewing my check lists.
I would really like to get back in the habit of regular posting, but with my work schedule, I am not sure that is realistic. I have a bad pattern of setting up unrealistic expectations in about every area of my life and then disappointing myself.
I have gained back a bunch of weight that I had gotten rid of "forever". But, it only is "forever" if you stick with the healthy habits. I got up early this morning, which felt great, but then over indulged in an off-plan breakfast. Oh Well! I am being accountable here! I have been trying to decide if I should go back on my fairly restricted eating plan or not. It may not be the best time, but I AM impatient for the weight to be gone!
Since I haven't been around, can someone point me to a post or explain what the days/points that you are counting are?
AZTricia: Great job for you on savoring your bite of the best. That is wonderful! Also, credit for the OP day.
BethfromDayton: You deserve major credit for prepping for today so well! Great job! Sushi always throws me off when trying to track it. I've never found a great nutrient breakdown for the different types, in spite of the fact you find pretty much the same thing at different places.
BillBlueEyes: I am sorry to hear about your car woes. We had similar inspections when I lived in the Chicago-area. But, here in Indiana, I just feel guilty not having it done. Great job keeping your new habits at hand with the cheese slicing!
FLNU: Welcome! I like your response to the thought of "wait until the honeymoon's over". I need to incorporate something like that in to my ARC too. I have a BodyMedia Fit. I have found it helped me get real about my skewed perceptions about the physical activity I get in a day. I hope you enjoy your FitBit.
Maryann: How did the clean out go? I cleaned out my closet, but the boxes never made it to Goodwill. When I gained back some weight, it was helpful to have it there, but, I was sad to sift through those clothes again. I get hung up with sewing, because I always think I am going to change size as soon as I make something. The truth is, my weight loss is so slow, I am sure I would still get use out of the clothes made from my huge stash of hand-me-down fabric. How do you handle that?
Nationalparker: Credit to you for hanging in there with your food plan in the midst of household chaos. I hope you have an easy time at the optometrist today.
Seadwaters: CONGRATULATIONS! That is fantastic news to read. Good luck on eating out with food pushers. I've read other posters that suggest you should remember that celebrations aren't about the food, but about the event. (I've not gotten that to work for me in practice though.) Good luck!
Today’s Essentials:
Weigh-in: +0.5 lbs.
Read Advantage Cards two times: not yet
Read Response Cards at least two times: not yet
Ate slowly, sitting down, noticing every bite: ½ credit; I was seated, but read while I ate
Gave myself credit when I engaged in helpful eating behaviors: yes
Did spontaneous exercise: *
Did planned exercise: not yet
Wrote out food plan for tomorrow: not yet
Tracked today’s food: yes, so far
Left food on my plate: no
Ate only to normal fullness: ehh, I could have done better eating more slowly
Identified and responded to a self-deluding thought: identified, but still ate more of my breakfast treat
* Exercise right now is pre-hab (PT). I fell skiing just before Christmas, fractured my tibia, completely tore my ACL, partially tore my MCL and meniscus, and damaged the surrounding muscles. Surgery is next week...
__________________
Things I'm Most Looking Forward To:
More E-N-E-R-G-Y
Buying stylish, not oversized clothes
Being a healthy role-model for my nephews, students, and godson
Horsebackriding without guilt
Glad that my Wardrobe Organizing Project resonated with some of you. I am happy to say I finished Phase 1 Yesterday. Two more bags were donated (and that was after I had been ruthless last month). But I was just overcome with willingness.
A good example of the willingness is I have one draw for workout clothes in my walk in. 4 pairs of yoga pants would not fit. One of those pants I wore last week and I thought "Wow, I always choose this pair last because they are faded and ten years old but there is nothing really wrong with them." I realized three pairs fit my laundry cycle. So out the faded pants went. The whole day was like that. Is it old? Is it ugly. Maybe someone else is just waiting for my new, gapping button down. It felt terrific.
I am ashamed to say that when I clean my husband's half of the closet (usually untouched because he is a mini hoarder and I just let him deal with it) there was 1 inch of dust. A visual for you: his red beret from his eagle scout days was GRAY. So everything that needed to be preserved is now going to the dry cleaners. And all other memorabilia is in acid free boxes.
To answer FutureFitChick's question about tossing larger sizes: I had a huge awakening when I first started Beck. I realized that hanging onto clothes that were too big was my mind's subconscious belief that I could never be small. I started to let this belief go by saying to myself "I will only have clothes in my closet that look good." When I starter Beck I deliberately bought two brand new pairs of size 12/14 capris knowing I would be out of them soon. But they looked nice and got me through summer and fall. Because of Project 333, I knew I didn't have to buy much else. I felt well dressed for three whole months and was back down to a 10 by winter. I donated those new pants even though they were hardly worn to show my commitment to never going back.
This started me on my slow road. It took me another year and a half to move to a solid 8 but I got there and loved it. This winter I found the perfect Talbot size for me - curvy 6 dress pants. I invested in two nice, seasonless pairs and those,when paired with my Jones New York suit pants (which were listed on my advantage cards ), make me all set for work. | 2024-03-07T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2927 |
Q:
Issues installing Tensorflow on mac
I am following instructions from tensorflow website using virtualenv to install and having following issue when validating installation using import tensorflow as tf in python interactive shell.
Please note, I am running Python 3.7
Here are list of packages I have installed.
Can someone help?
I also tried to remove protobuf suggested by stackoverflow issue using pip uninstall protobuf, but doesn't help.
A:
I was able to resolve above issue after some research. It looks like, tensorflow is not compatible with python 3.7 (as of July 30th 18) which is what I had installed on my computer .
Following github issue helped me resolved the issue.
I installed python 3.6.6 using pyenv and setup virtualenv. Here is what I did:
# Install python 3.3.6 and create virtualenv
$ pyenv install 3.6.6
$ pyenv virtualenv 3.6.6 tensorflow_image_recognition_3_6_6
$ pyenv activate tensorflow_image_recognition_3_6_6
# update pip
$ easy_install -U pip
#Install tensorflow
$ pip3 install --upgrade tensorflow
# Test if tensorflow is installed properly
# open python interactive shell
$ python
import tensorflow as tf
hello = tf.constant('Hello, TensorFlow!')
sess = tf.Session()
print(sess.run(hello))
| 2023-12-30T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8630 |
Breast Augmentation Boston
At Volpe plastic surgery in Boston, breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed procedures. Breast augmentation with implants, also known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure that most effectively enhances the size and shape of a woman’s breast for a number of reasons:
– To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small.
To enhance the body contour of a woman who, for personal reasons, feels her breast size is too small. – To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy.
To correct a reduction in breast volume after pregnancy. – To balance a difference in breast size.
To balance a difference in breast size. – As a reconstructive technique following breast surgery.
Understanding Breast Augmentation
By inserting an implant behind the muscles deep to each breast, Boston plastic surgeon Dr. Volpe is able to increase a woman’s bustline by one or more bra cup sizes. If you’re considering breast augmentation whether you want a modest improvement or a dramatic change in your figure, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure – when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect.
Choosing the Right Surgeon for Your Breast Augmentation
Dr. Volpe is considered by his patients as one of the top plastic surgeons in New England and offers a natural-looking breast augmentation, Boston residents can rely on. At Volpe Plastic Surgery, we focus on understanding the unique aesthetic needs of our patients so that we can provide the best breast augmentation Boston residents can depend on.
“I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am” 5 –
“I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the “twins”. by— Anonymous
Who Is The Best Candidate for Breast Augmentation?
Breast augmentation can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence. Before you decide to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Volpe. In general, you should have no or mild sagging of your breasts. If your nipples are lower than the creases under your breasts, a breast lift (with or without implants) could be a better choice. Differences in sizes from one breast to another are very common and can be dramatically improved with augmentation. If you’re physically healthy and realistic in your expectations, you may be a good candidate. Dr. Volpe can let you know if a breast augmentation with lift or a breast lift without implants is the right choice for you.
What Are The Types of Breast Implants?
A breast implant is a silastic silicone shell filled with either a salt-water solution known as saline, silicone gel, or a cohesive silicone gel often referred to as gummy bear implants. There are some small differences between the types of implants- for some women either may work well. For other women, the choice between implant types may make a difference in the outcomes. Implants also come with different types of coverings and shapes. such as high-profile breast implants. Except in special specific circumstances, Dr. Volpe utilizes smooth-walled round implants placed behind the muscles.
Implant sizes range from small breast implants for women who want more subtle breast enlargement to large breast implants for more noticeable results. Breast implant sizes also vary in small and large increments, like 400cc breast implants to 450cc breast implants, or 600cc breast implants to 800cc breast implants. There are also different implant manufactures like Allergan implants and Natrelle implants.
Implant Types
There are two types of breast implants- saline breast implants (saline is sterile water with a dash of salt equal to the normal concentration of the body) and silicone gel-filled implants. There are different advantages with each implant type. Click here to learn more about the differences between saline and silicone implants.
Breast augmentation can also be combined with a breast lift procedure if you have noticed considerable sag and loss of breast volume after pregnancy or weight loss. It is also a useful technique for correction of asymmetries of the breasts.
Are Breast Implants Safe?
Because of concerns that there was insufficient information demonstrating the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) placed a moratorium on silicone gel filled implants on women undergoing first-time cosmetic breast augmentation from 1991 to 2006. Studies performed during that time and ongoing studies have not shown an increase in either breast cancer or autoimmune disease with smooth-walled saline or silicone gel implants. More recently studies have linked textured implants with a rare lymphoma (ALCL) which is a type of blood cancer. Although certain brands of textured implants are still in use, Dr. Volpe does not use this type of implant for augmentation. Studies will continue to be performed to ensure that your choice for breast augmentation is a safe one.
* Individual results may vary. The following images contain nudity. User discretion is adviced.
Click to View Photo Gallery View before-and-after pictures of real patients of George Volpe, M.D., F.A.C.S. View Before & Afters
Planning Your Surgery
During your initial consultation, Dr. Volpe will evaluate your health and explain which surgical techniques are most appropriate for you, based on the condition of your breasts and skin tone. If your breasts are sagging, he may also recommend a breast lift. Be sure to discuss your expectations frankly with him. Marcela, our plastic surgery coordinator will go over with you scheduling details, preparations, and costs for the procedures including financing options. There are no fees for any future follow-up visits.
Your Consultation
During your initial consultation, you and board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Volpe will discuss all of your options, from sizes to implant types. A typical consultation lasts about an hour in which we will review your body frame, your desires, and all of your options. Bring lots of questions.
What Breast implant Size Should I choose?
One of the most important questions and discussed issues during your consultation is sizing. There is no perfect sizing method. We have sizes available and before and after photos to view. However, sizers have their limitations and no two individuals are identical, as height, weight, shoulder and chest width, skin type and such often are different. We also utilize the Crisalix 3D imaging system to help determine the right implant size choice. It is helpful to bring in photos of models from magazines or the Internet to give an idea of your expectations. Dr. Volpe will go over all aspects of choosing the best size for you.
How Much Does Breast Augmentation Cost in Boston
The pricing for breast augmentation can vary. As an experienced Boston breast augmentation surgeon, Dr. Volpe will meet with you in his office to discuss all options and pricing.
Preparing For Your Surgery
Dr. Volpe will give you instructions to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.
While making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days, if needed.
Where Your Surgery Will Be Performed
Most surgeries are performed at The Boston Center surgicenter or at Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center of Boston and are typically a day procedure.
The Surgery
The method of inserting and positioning your implant will depend on your anatomy, desires and Dr. Volpe’s recommendation. The incision can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, around the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple), or rarely in the armpit. Every effort will be made to assure that the incision is placed so resulting scars will be as inconspicuous as possible. Resulting scars improve tremendously with time.
All Surgery Carries Some Uncertainty and Risk
Breast augmentation is relatively straightforward. But as with any operation, there are risks associated with surgery and specific complications associated with this procedure.
These include capsular contracture, infection and implant leakage. Capsular contracture is a build up of deep scar tissue and is minimized by placement of the implant under the muscle and also using an incision below the breast in the crease, the preferred placement site.
As with any surgical procedure, excessive bleeding following the operation may cause some swelling and pain. To help avoid this we have you stop all medications that can contribute to this such as aspirin and ibuprofen for 2 weeks before the surgery. There is no evidence that breast implants will affect fertility, pregnancy, or your ability to nurse. We do recommend waiting at least 3-4 months after breastfeeding.
Occasionally, breast implants may break or leak. If a saline-filled implant breaks, the implant will deflate over several days and the body will harmlessly absorb the saltwater. Silicone gel implants can also develop breaks in the outer envelope. The newer style implants use cohesive gel, which some call “gummy bear” filling. In most cases, this will keep the implant from deflating. We will discuss with you all aspects of implant rupture and the warranties the implant makers have for this. While there is no evidence that breast implants cause breast cancer, they may change the way mammography is done to detect cancer. When you request a routine mammogram, be sure to go to a radiology center where technicians are experienced in the special techniques required to get a reliable x-ray of a breast with an implant. Additional views may be required. Ultrasound or MRI examinations may be of benefit in some women with implants to detect breast lumps or to evaluate the implant.
While the vast majority of women do not experience these complications, you should discuss each of them with Dr. Volpe to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of breast augmentation.
After Your Surgery
You’re likely to feel tired and sore for a few days following your surgery, but you’ll be up and around in 24 to 48 hours. Most of your discomfort can be controlled by medication prescribed. Stitches are underneath the skin and dissolve.
Getting Back To Normal
For most women, the result of breast augmentation can be satisfying, even exhilarating, as they appreciate their fuller appearance. Your decision to have breast augmentation is a highly personal one. The important thing is how you feel about it. If you’ve met your vision, and you are happy, then your surgery is a success.
Your New Look
You should be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the level of activity required for your job. Dr. Volpe will give you advice on when to begin exercises and normal activities. Although most swelling subsides within several weeks, your final shape may not be appreciated for 3 to 6 months. Follow up appointments and examinations by Dr. Volpe will help assure that any complications if they occur, can be detected early and treated.
Schedule A Consultation
Contact Dr. Volpe Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation in our Newton or Boston offices for your breast augmentation. We are here to provide you with the attentive excellent care you need throughout the entire process and we are dedicated to providing you with the larger, fuller, and more attractive-looking breasts you want. | 2024-07-16T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4682 |
1. Introduction
===============
SARS is a severe acute respiratory infective disease. A safe and effective vaccine would be an important complement to the existing SARS control strategies [@bib1]. Neutralization antibodies against SARS virus in immunized animals are measured by potential serological assays. A well-characterized SARS reference antiserum is of great necessity to provide reliable standardized evaluation and quality control for the assay, and moreover to instruct the development of inactivated vaccine against the SARS virus.
The current report summarizes preparation, characterization and calibration of a SARS reference antiserum, according to the WHO biological reference requirements [@bib2].
2. Materials and methods
========================
2.1. Viral strains and virus manipulation
-----------------------------------------
Viral strains: SARS viral strains Sino1, Sino2, Sino3 and Sino6 were isolated from pharyngeal swabs of clinically confirmed SARS patients at Peking Union Hospital.
SARS virus was propagated on Vero cells in a culture flask cultivated at 37 °C until 75% cells showed cytopathic effect. After three freeze--thaw cycles, virus was harvested and well characterized. The batch of virus was stored at −80 °C as reference virus (manuscript in preparation) for neutralization assay.
After harvest, the SARS virus was inactivated and the total protein was purified by centrifugation, ultrafiltration and gel filtration. The gel filtration elutent was used for Western blot assay.
2.2. Cell line
--------------
Vero cells, a line of African green monkey kidney cells, were obtained from ATCC (American Type Culture Collection). Vero cells were grown at 37 °C in minimum essential medium (MEM), containing 10% (w/v) fetal calf serum and 1% (w/v) glutamine.
2.3. Serum
----------
A panel of positive sera, collected from 20 patients in the convalescent stage of SARS, was heat inactivated at 56 °C for 30 min and stored at −20 °C. In order to verify the inactivation efficiency, Vero cells were inoculated with the inactivated serum and cultivated for three generations. No cytopathic effect was detected. In addition, a panel of serum samples was collected from 10 healthy people for negative control.
2.4. Titration of infective virus
---------------------------------
Vero cells were cultivated in 96-well plates at 37 °C to form confluent monolayer. Cells were inoculated with 200 μl per well of viral suspension that was reconstituted and diluted serially in tenfold steps in MEM containing 2% new-born calf serum and 50 μg/ml penicillin (pH 7.2), with each dilution filling 8-well. The 96-well plates were incubated at 37 °C in 5% CO~2~ incubator. Virus titre was expressed as cell culture infectious dose (CCID), which is the dilution of virus causing half of the cultured cells to produce CPE (cytopathic effect).
2.5. Neutralization assay [@bib3], [@bib4]
------------------------------------------
Heat inactivated sera (two-fold serial dilution from 1:2 to 1:2048, 100 μl for each dilution) were added to equal volume of virus (diluted to 100CCID~50~/μl) and incubated for 1h at 37 °C before being added to confluent monolayers of Vero cells in 96-well plates and incubated at 37 °C in 5% CO~2~ incubator for 1--4 days. During the incubation period the cell cultures were checked for development of CPE.
2.6. Western blot assay
-----------------------
Proteins from SDS-PAGE gels were transferred onto nitrocellulose membrane. For immunostaining of the transferred proteins, the blocked membrane was incubated with convalescent serum. Anti-human antibody conjugated with HRP (horseradish peroxidase, Sigma) was used as the second antibody, and the color developing substrate was DAB.
2.7. ELISA
----------
The convalescent serum of SARS was identified and confirmed by a commercially obtained enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit (Beijing WanTai). The antigenic protein employed in the ELISA kit was part of the recombinant N protein of the SARS CoV (the polypeptide product of the third ORF of the N protein coding region) expressed in an *Escherichia coli* strain. The purified SARS virus protein was immobilized on a 96-well plate. The antiserum against SARS virus was added to the coated wells and incubated. HRP-labelled SARS antigen was then added to react with the bound antiserum. TMB was used for color development.
2.8. Preparation of reference antiserum
---------------------------------------
The serum STS-D-Zhang-05 was mixed thoroughly and filled into ampoules (0.5 ml/ampoule). The serum was freeze-dried and the ampoules were sealed.
2.9. Moisture content
---------------------
The moisture content of freeze-dried reference antiserum was detected by Karl Fischer method described as previously [@bib5]. The moisture content of at least three ampoules was tested separately.
2.10. Stability test
--------------------
The stability of the reference antiserum was tested by an accelerated degradation test using temperature at −20, 37 and 56 °C, for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage, respectively. Potency was determined by neutralization assay. All samples were monitored against the −20 °C stored samples.
3. Results
==========
3.1. Identification of SARS corona virus
----------------------------------------
The viruses were electron microscopically visualized, and appeared to have clearly Corona virus typical characteristics. Cytopathic changes could be seen when the viruses were inoculated on Vero cells, which are susceptible to SARS virus infection. The two virus strains, Sino1 and Sino3, which we used extensively for our research have been sequenced (they have more than 99% similarity with the available SARS CoV virus sequences) and have been accepted by GenBank with the accession number of [AY485277](AY485277) (Sino1) and [AY485278](AY485278) (Sino3). The virus could neutralize convalescent sera. All the above evidence has proved that the virus we used is SARS corona virus.
3.2. Epidemiological identification
-----------------------------------
The antiserum was from a male SARS patient with clear epidemiological history and was confirmed clinically. This male patient was identified as a SARS probable case according to the WHO criteria and was confirmed to be SARS case according to the diagnosis criteria of the Chinese Ministry of Health. He had been infected SARS through contact with a SARS patient at Zhangjiakou No. 2 Hospital affiliated with Zhangjiakou Medical Institute. There were two other patients who had had close contact with him. They also showed SARS symptoms such as fever, cough and dyspnea and pulmonary could be detected by X-ray check. They were also confirmed to be SARS probable cases according to the WHO criteria and were confirmed to be SARS cases according to the diagnosis criteria of the Chinese Ministry of Health. All patients were interviewed to ascertain their contacts with each other.
3.3. Serological assays
-----------------------
Convalescent serum was collected from the patient in 3.2, and was named STS-D-Zhang-05 after inactivation process. Antibody specificity of the serum was identified by ELISA, Western blot assay, and neutralization assay.
The convalescent sera were collected from 20 SARS patients (probable cases according the WHO criteria) in the Inner Mogolia Autonomous Region (NeiMengGu, thus the three letter initial code Nei), the cities of Beijing and Zhang Jiakou (thus the three letter initial codes Jing and Zhang, respectively). The collection was arranged by Chinese Ministry of Health and China CDC. Sera were collected 1--5 months post the onset of the symptoms.
Nineteen sera from the above 20 sera tested gave positive results and all negative ones proved negative. Results are given in [Table 1](#tbl1){ref-type="table"} . The serum STS-D-Zhang-05 had strong positive reaction, confirming SARS antibody specificity. The serum volume of STS-D-Zhang-05 is sufficient for reference preparation and its neutralization potency is close to the potency GMT (1:54) of all the 19 positive sera.Table 1Neutralization test results for 20 convalescent sera from SARS patientsSerum codeNT potencySerum codeNT potencySerum codeNT potencySTS-D-Nei-011:25STS-D-Jing-061:203STS-D-Jing-091:51STS-D-Nei-021:32STS-D-Jing-071:64STS-D-Jing-101:51STS-D-Nei-031:128STS-D-Zhang-011:64STS-D-Jing-171:16STS-D-Nei-041:80STS-D-Zhang-02[a](#tbl1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}\<1:8STS-D-Jing-251:32STS-D-Nei-051:64STS-D-Zhang-031:128STS-D-Jing-261:16STS-D-Nei-061:51STS-D-Zhang-041:80STS-D-Jing-271:51STS-D-Jing-051:64STS-D-Zhang-051:51[^1][^2]
Western blot assay was further performed to identify the SARS antibody in the serum STS-D-Zhang-05. A band of 48 kDa corresponding to the SARS N protein (Nucleocapsid protein) was detected, suggesting the existence of specific anti-SARS antibody. No bands were detected for the negative control serum. The result is shown in [Fig. 1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"} .Fig. 1Western blot assay. Lane a, pre-stained protein marker (New England BioLabs), the bands from the upmost to the downmost corresponds to 83 kDa, 62 kDa, 48 kDa, 33 kDa, 25 kDa, 17 kDa and 7 kDa, respectively. Lane b, total SARS virus proteins (about two micrograms were applied). The antiserum STS-D-Zhang-05 was used as the primary antibody.
Neutralization assay demonstrated that the serum is capable of neutralizing four SARS-CoV strains ([Table 2](#tbl2){ref-type="table"} ).Table 2Neutralization potency of the serum STS-D-Zhang-05 for four SARS CoV strainsSARS CoV viral strainNeutralization potencySino11:64Sino21:32Sino31:16Sino61:64
3.4. Preparation of SARS reference antiserum
--------------------------------------------
After the above identification, STS-D-Zhang-05 was designated to be SARS reference antiserum candidate. The serum, which had a volume of about 100 ml, was filled into ampoules, freeze-dried, sealed, and tested for residual moisture following the WHO requirements [@bib2]. In total 163 ampoules were obtained. This batch of reference antiserum, assigned a lot number of 20031009, was stored at −20 °C and was in the charge of a special keeper.
3.5. Calibration of SARS reference antiserum
--------------------------------------------
Neutralization assay was used to calibrate the reference antiserum. Repetitive titrations were performed by different persons at three different times. Statistic analysis identified the range and GMT (geometric mean titre) of the antibody potency. Results are given in [Table 3](#tbl3){ref-type="table"}, [Table 4](#tbl4){ref-type="table"} .Table 3Results from titration by different persons at different timesTestNumber of experimentsGMTA111:52.3B41:50.6C61:54.8Table 4Results from titration by the same person at the same time (intra-test) or at different times (inter-test)Test number[a](#tbl4fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}ResultIntra-testInter-test11: 801: 5121: 441: 4031: 641: 644--1: 645--1: 516--1: 517--1: 328--1: 51Geometric mean1: 60.81: 49.4Coefficient of variance0.2880.214[^3]
3.6. Potency definition of SARS reference antiserum
---------------------------------------------------
The potency of SARS reference antiserum is defined to be 52.7 U. The geometric mean titre is 1:52.7, which is derived from 21 independent experiments. The 95% confidence interval was found to lie between 1:47.6 and 1:62.2. The Inter-laboratory GCV is 29%.
3.7. Moisture content
---------------------
The moisture of the freeze-dried SARS reference antiserum was determined to be 0.5%.
3.8. Stability test on SARS reference antiserum
-----------------------------------------------
Results on the stability of SARS reference antiserum at 37 and 56 °C are given as [Table 5](#tbl5){ref-type="table"} . More experiments on stability are still in progress.Table 5Results on the stability of SARS reference antiserum[a](#tbl5fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}Experimental duration (day)0714212835Neutralization Antibody Potency at different temperatures −20 °C1:651:451:451:451:451:45 37 °C1:651:511:32[a](#tbl5fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}1:511:511:51 56 °C1:651:231:231:161:161:13[^4]
Results in [Table 5](#tbl5){ref-type="table"} show that neutralization antibody potency has not decreased substantially after SARS reference antiserum was kept at 37 and 56 °C for 0--35 days. Therefore, the storage condition for SARS reference antiserum is designated to be −20 °C in the dark, and the time period before expiration is primarily designated to be 1 year.
4. Discussion
=============
The world has to be prepared to face a possible resurgence of local SARS epidemic. Although progress has been made worldwide to develop a safe and effective human vaccine for SARS prevention, there still lacks international references for and quality control and expressing test results. A recent WHO SARS laboratory workshop has agreed on the urgent need for quality control, standardization of test protocols and reagents, the need for verification of initial cases/clusters in non-epidemic periods, and the establishment of international reference and verification laboratories [@bib6]. Antibody capable of neutralizing the virus has been discovered in the convalescent serum from SARS patients, suggesting its role in the immunity to SARS infection. In order to fulfill the needs for standardization, we have been working on a potential reference antiserum in an effort to search for a vaccine to combat SARS.
A SARS reference antiserum, which will serve as a reference in different serological methods in immunized animals, has been successfully prepared, tested and calibrated.
Qualitative tests including ELISA and Western blot assay and neutralization assay have made it clear that the reference antiserum has satisfied the basic criteria for references. According to the titration results, the neutralization antibody unit of the reference antiserum is 52.7 U. Primary results on stability showed that neutralization antibody potency of the reference antiserum has not decreased substantially up to 3 weeks. The stability test is still in progress.
This newly developed reference antiserum is so far only for in-house use. For acceptance to become an international reference candidate, more has to be done to comply with the WHO regulations on references, such as collaborative titration of the serum and methodology verification.
[^1]: The potency GMT of all the 19 sera is 1:54.
[^2]: This is the negative serum.
[^3]: Test number indicates independent measurements.
[^4]: The results in this table are from single test with no repetition, and there might be deviation in results, as the neutralizing activity on day 14 at 37 °C is lower than that on days 21, 28 and 35.
| 2023-11-04T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/5392 |
Erythrocyte transfusion causes immunosuppression after total hip replacement.
A prospective study of 34 patients undergoing total hip replacement was done to determine whether homologous erythrocyte transfusion causes postoperative immunosuppression. In the transfused patient group (14 patients), there was a reduction in CD3+ and CD3+4+ cell numbers at Day 2, returning to preoperative levels by Day 7. In contrast, in the untransfused patient group (20 patients), there was no significant depression in these lymphocyte subgroups at Day 2 and an increase in total lymphocyte, CD3+, CD3+4+, and CD3+4-8- cell numbers at Day 7. In both patient groups there was postoperative leukocytosis, granulocytosis, and monocytosis at Days 2 and 7, with no significant change in postoperative B (CD19+) cell numbers, natural killer cells, or the minor T cell populations of CD3+4+8+ and CD3+25+. The lymphocyte functional test of Candida recall was significantly impaired at Day 7 in the transfused patient group, where Candida recall is a memory T cell response to an antigen extracted from the yeast Candida Albicans. These findings suggest that homologous erythrocyte transfusion after hip replacement surgery causes cell mediated immune suppression. The main clinical implication of the current study is that perioperative homologous erythrocyte transfusion may place patients at greater risk of infectious complications, including infection of the prosthesis. | 2024-02-29T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/9627 |
Q:
Class is not annotated or on the whitelist, so cannot be used in serialization
In Corda, I have defined the following flow:
object Flow {
@InitiatingFlow
@StartableByRPC
class Initiator(val otherParty: Party) : FlowLogic<Unit>() {
override val progressTracker = ProgressTracker()
@Suspendable
override fun call() {
val otherPartyFlow = initiateFlow(otherParty)
otherPartyFlow.send(MyClass())
}
}
@InitiatedBy(Initiator::class)
class Acceptor(val otherPartyFlow: FlowSession) : FlowLogic<Unit>() {
@Suspendable
override fun call() {
val unregisteredClassInstance = otherPartyFlow.receive<MyClass>()
}
}
}
However, when I try and run the flow, I get the following error:
Class com.example.flow.MyClass is not annotated or on the whitelist,
so cannot be used in serialization
How can I annotate or whitelist the class to allow it to be sent within the flow? Why do I need to do this?
A:
By default, for security purposes, only classes present on the default serialization whitelist can be sent within flows or over RPC.
There are two ways to add a specific class to the serialization whitelist:
1. Annotating the class as @CordaSerializable:
@CordaSerializable
class MyClass
2. Creating a serialization whitelist plugin:
Define a serialisation plugin as follows:
class TemplateSerializationWhitelist : SerializationWhitelist {
override val whitelist: List<Class<*>> = listOf(MyClass::class.java)
}
Then list the serialization whitelist plugin's fully-qualified class name (e.g. com.example.TemplateSerializationWhitelist in a file called net.corda.core.serialization.SerializationWhitelist in the src/main/resources/META-INF/services folder of your CorDapp.
Why are there two ways to add a class to the serialization whitelist?
The first approach is easier, but is not possible when you're not able to add the annotation to the class you wish to send.
| 2024-06-27T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8862 |
Q:
Change image in MainWindow from class
I'm trying to change place of display image in my MainWindow, so in it I have:
<Grid Grid.ColumnSpan="2" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58" Margin="2,0,0,0" Grid.Row="1" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="100">
<Image Name="BartenderX1X1Image" Source="/Images/KelnerZTaca.gif" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58" VerticalAlignment="Stretch" Width="100"/>
<Image Name="BartenderX1X2Image" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58" VerticalAlignment="Stretch" Width="100"/>
</Grid>
And I have created class control, with method:
public void BartenderMooveRight()
{
foreach (Window window in Application.Current.Windows)
{
if (window.GetType() == typeof(MainWindow))
{
(window as MainWindow).BartenderX1X1Image.Source = null;
(window as MainWindow).BartenderX1X2Image.Source = bartenderImage.Source;
}
}
}
When I call it from my MainWindow nothing is happening. Why does the image from BartenderX1X1Image not disappear and the one from BartenderX1X2Image.Source not appear?
A:
Which panel had you placed the two Images, if its inside a Panel chances are they overlay on each other. Try using StackPanel.
Like this,
<StackPanel Grid.ColumnSpan="2" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58"
Margin="2,0,0,0" Grid.Row="1" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="100">
<Image Name="BartenderX1X1Image" Source="/Images/KelnerZTaca.gif"
HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
Width="100"/>
<Image Name="BartenderX1X2Image" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="58"
VerticalAlignment="Stretch" Width="100"/>
</StackPanel>
| 2023-08-28T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/2206 |
THE SCUMMIEST GUYS IN THE ROOM [VIDEO]- JUSTIFYING TORTURE
From Alex Gibney, the maker of “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room,” and Sidney Blumenthal, comes Taxi to the Dark Side, an exploration of American torture since 9/11.
The gist, from today’s Blumenthal column:
Through the film runs the story of an Afghan taxi driver, known only as Dilawar, completely innocent of any ties to terrorism, who was tortured to death by interrogators in the U.S. prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. “Taxi to the Dark Side” traces the evolution of the Bush policy from Bagram (Dilawar’s interrogators speak in the film) to Guantánamo (we filmed the official happy tour) to Abu Ghraib; its roots in sensory deprivation experiments decades ago that guided the CIA in understanding torture; the opposition within the administration from the military and other significant figures (the former general counsel of the Navy, Alberto Mora, and former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, Lawrence Wilkerson, explain how that internal debate went, while John Yoo, one of its architects, defends it); the congressional battle to restore the standard of the Geneva Convention that forbids torture (centered on John McCain’s tragic compromise); and the sudden popularity of the Fox TV show “24” in translating torture into entertainment by means of repetitious formulations of the bogus ticking-time-bomb scenario.
Yet “Taxi to the Dark Side” is more than an exposé of policy. Its irrefutable images are the counterpoint to the peculiar aesthetics propagated in the age of George W. Bush, in which, through the contradictory styles of softening nostalgia and hardening cruelty, the president and his followers seek to justify their actions not only to the public but also to themselves. WATCH VIDEO | 2023-08-11T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/8527 |
Using greywater for irrigation so that regular tap water need not be used is an excellent way to save water. The amount of greywater captured and available for irrigation is a function of the greywater system itself and how much water is used indoors.
Simple greywater systems that utilize a bucket in the sink and shower or a hose hooked to the bathtub drain can save a maximum of the capacity of the bucket or bathtub each time it is filled. A carefully designed greywater system that is connected to sinks, tubs, showers, and the clothes washer can create approximately 35 gallons per capita per day or 12,775 gallons per capita per year. A family of four could potentially create an additional 50,000 gallons for use outdoors. This of course assumes that the system works perfectly, all possible fixtures are connected to the system, there is sufficient storage, and very little water is lost in the filtration process.
More realistically, a family of four with a well designed greywater system with nearly all potential fixtures connected could save 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of water per year and in many cases it may be less than this. | 2024-06-29T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/4135 |
Q:
javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamException: ParseError at [row,col]:[X,X] - JavaFX
While starting my new JavaFX application with a simple code down below
<BorderPane fx:id="borderPane" minHeight="200"minWidth="200" prefHeight="250" prefWidth="320" xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml/1" fx:controller="AudioVideoController.FXMLDocumentController">
</BorderPane>
I have encountered following exceptions:
Exception in Application start method
java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException
Caused by: javafx.fxml.LoadException
Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: Exception in Application start method
Caused by: javax.xml.stream.XMLStreamException: ParseError at [row,col]:[9,62]
However, even though I am programming for 4 years in JavaFX these exceptions showed me for the first time and I was quite amazed to see some new tricks old JavaFX pulls out.
So what is causing it?
A:
As I was rushing creating simple gui for my application, I accidentely put two parameters one to another,
without an empty space, therefore XMLStreamReader objected while reading params
minWidth="200"prefHeight="200"
bundled together in the next() method not validated against DTD.
Therefore, for all future situations, make sure empty space exist between params called in your XML file which follows DTD, as shown below:
minWidth="200" prefHeight="200"
| 2023-08-01T01:27:17.760571 | https://example.com/article/1095 |
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