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Metabolic stroke in a patient with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations.
OPA1 related disorders include: classic autosomal dominant optic atrophy syndrome (ADOA), ADOA plus syndrome and a bi-allelic OPA1 complex neurological disorder. We describe metabolic stroke in a patient with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations. A twelve-year old girl presented with a complex neurological disorder that includes: early onset optic atrophy at one year of age, progressive gait ataxia, dysarthria, tremor and learning impairment. A metabolic stroke occurred at the age of 12 years. The patient was found to harbor a de novo heterozygous frame shift mutation c.1963_1964dupAT; p.Lys656fs (NM_015560.2) and a missense mutation c.1146A > G; Ile382Met (NM_015560.2) inherited from her mother. The mother, aunt, and grandmother are heterozygous for the Ile382Met mutation and are asymptomatic. The co-occurrence of bi-allelic mutations can explain the severity and the early onset of her disease. This case adds to a growing number of patients recently discovered with bi-allelic OPA1 mutations presenting with a complex and early onset neurological disorder resembling Behr syndrome. To the best of our knowledge metabolic stroke has not been described before as an OPA1 related manifestation. It is important to be aware of this clinical feature for a prompt diagnosis and consideration of available treatment.
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Q:
formmail to email in database
Here's what I need to setup...and I am not well versed in PHP/SQL...but this is what I'm trying to do.
On the New User database, I will have a section where they can have information sent to their phone using the provider's default e-mail to text msg (i.e. [email protected].)
New User:
Input number: ______________(2225551212 format, no hyphens, etc.)
Select Provider: (Drop-down menu with proper @provider.ext...)
Then the formmail, when sent, if for specific user will get ($phone".@."$provider); or something like that and send a preset message like:
$user."requested information on ".$product."on".$date." at ".$time.".";
Is this possible?
The $user, $product, $date, $time all are generated directly from the most recent input page for a database.
Is this possible?
Please help!
A:
Assuming your question is "can I send a text message from PHP", then yes; if the server where you are running PHP is configured to send email, then within PHP you can try:
mail('[email protected]', 'New User', $user."requested information on ".$product."on".$date." at ".$time.".");
For more help with the mail() function, check out http://php.net/mail .
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Laboratory diagnostic tests for retroviral infections in dairy and beef cattle.
Detection of bovine retroviruses stretches our diagnostic creativity to its limits. The nucleic acid-based, PCR-amplified assays are finding increased clinical use as the veterinary and livestock industry seek earlier detection of infection for eventual corrective management decisions. We are evolving from a point of disease diagnosis by tumor identification through conventional histopathology, to molecular diagnostics for early identification of retroviral nucleic acid (provirus). The clinical use of antibody-based assays lies in the simplicity of testing large numbers of animals, the relative sensitivity of the assays, and the low cost of testing. Although the pathogenicity of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) for cattle has been well documented, the disease potential for bovine immunodeficiency-like virus (BIV) for cattle is still being determined. Nevertheless, pressure to test for retroviral infections of livestock and, when feasible, removal of these infected animals from the herd will be increased.
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Early sodium dodecyl sulfate induced collapse of α-synuclein correlates with its amyloid formation.
The aggregation of α-synuclein (A-syn) has been implicated strongly in Parkinson's disease (PD). In vitro studies established A-syn to be a member of the intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) family. This protein undergoes structural interconversion between an extended and a compact state, and this equilibrium influences the mechanism of its aggregation. A combination of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) has been used to study the membrane induced conformational reorganization and aggregation of A-syn. Different structural and conformational events, including the early collapse, the formation of the secondary structure, and aggregation have been identified and characterized using FCS and other biophysical methods. In addition, the concentrations of glycerol and urea have been varied to study the effect of solution conditions on the above conformational events. Further, we have extended this study on a number of A-syn mutants, namely, A30P, A53T, and E46K. These mutants are chosen because of their known implications in the disease pathology. The variation of solution conditions and mutational analyses suggest a strong correlation between the extent of early collapse and the onset of aggregation in PD.
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Psychometric Validation of the Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Symptoms and Impact (PAH-SYMPACT) Questionnaire: Results of the SYMPHONY Trial.
Disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments are important in assessing the impact of disease and treatment. The Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Symptoms and Impact Questionnaire is the first instrument for quantifying pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) symptoms and impacts developed according to the 2009 US Food and Drug Administration PRO guidance; previous qualitative research in patients with PAH supported its initial content validity. Content finalization and psychometric validation were conducted by using data from A Study of Macitentan in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension to Validate the PAH-SYMPACT (SYMPHONY), a single-arm, 16-week trial with macitentan 10 mg in US patients with PAH. Item performance, Rasch analysis, and factor analyses were used to select the final item content of the PRO and to define its domain structure. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, known-group and construct validity, sensitivity to change, and influence of oxygen on item performance were evaluated. Data from 278 patients (79% female; mean age: 60 years) were analyzed. Following removal of redundant/misfitting items, the final questionnaire has 11 symptom items across two domains (cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular symptoms) and 11 impact items across two domains (physical and cognitive/emotional impacts). Differential item function analysis confirmed that PRO scoring is unaffected by oxygen use. For all four domains, internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach's alpha > 0.80), and scores were highly reproducible in stable patients (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.84-0.94). Correlations with the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review questionnaire and the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey were moderate to high ([r] = 0.34-0.80). The questionnaire differentiated well between patients with varying disease severity levels and was sensitive to improvements in clinician- and patient-reported disease severity. The Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension-Symptoms and Impact Questionnaire is a brief, disease-specific PRO instrument possessing good psychometric properties that can be administered in clinical practice and clinical studies. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01841762; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
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Politics. Development Economics. Political Economy. General Social Science.
Main menu
Tag Archives: Christopher Blattman
A View From the Cave blogger Tom Murphy is holding the annual Aid Best Blogger Awards (ABBA). I don’t consider my blog to be an “aid blog” per se but I think I fit into the general category that Tom intended to include in his awards.
I just read Chris Blattman’s response to the UK Prime Minister’s op-ed in the Journal. It reminded me of a lot of the things that I have been reading lately in preparation for my fieldwork (My dissertation will tackle the subject of legislative (under)development in Africa, with a focus on the Kenyan and Zambian legislatures).
Cameron’s sentiments in the op-ed are emblematic of the problems of development assistance. Like in all kinds of foreign intervention, developed states often try to externalize their institutions (and more generally, ways of doing things). These attempts often ignore the lived realities of the countries being assisted.
Forgetting the history of his own country (think autocratic monarchs, monopolies, limited suffrage), Cameron thinks that democracy, human rights and free markets (all great things) will magically create jobs in the developing states of the world. They don’t. In fact, they often lag the job creation process. For development assistance to be effective it must eschew these feel-good approaches to the problem of underdevelopment.
Blattman is spot on on a number of points:
Unchecked leaders are bad for economic development (this is why I am so much into PARLIAMENTS!!!): Also, democracy is NOT synonymous with limited government. Heads of state like Queen Victoria or Hu Jintao or Bismarck or even Seretse Khama were in no measure democrats. However, they reined under systems with strong (sometimes extra-constitutional) checks to their power. That made a difference.
Institutions rule, yes, but the right kinds of institutions:1688 moments do not drop out of the sky. They are often preceded by decades if not centuries of civil strife, economic change and plain old learning. Institutional development takes time. Plus each society requires its own unique and appropriate mix of institutional arrangements to meet unique economic and social needs. A procrustean approach to institutional development (embodied in global capacity building) will inevitably fail. Institutional development must never be allowed to be captured by those who think that we can transform Chad simply by having them adopt Swedish institutions.
Growth will require creation of jobs, i.e. industrial development: The poor countries of the world need real jobs for high school-leavers and other less educated people. The present focus on the “sexy” entrepreneural sectors – whether they are small businesses for the poor or tech hubs for the very highly educated – as the engines for growth in the developing world is misguided. I reiterate, starting a business is a very risky venture that should be left to the wealthy and the occasional dare devil. The poor in the global south need stable 9-5 jobs. Lots of them.
And lastly, where do strong institutions come from? There is no easy answer to this question. What we know is:
Democracy does not always create strong institutions: Since 1945 many have chosen to forget the fact that universal suffrage is a pretty recent phenomenon in the political history of the world. For the longest time world polities were ruled by power barons who held de facto power (as opposed to the procedural de jure power in democracies). When democracy came along after the Enlightenment the resulting structures of rule often reflected these de facto configurations of power. Over time institutions in these countries were cemented enough to allow for complete outsiders like say the current president of the United States to be elected without upsetting the balance of power (in another era he would have had to have mounted a coup). This is the challenge of the democratization in the new post-WWII states. How do you make democracy serve the interests of the people, rather that purely that of the elite? How do you use democracy to create strong institutions? Is this even possible? And if not, what other options do we have?
The Economist raises an interesting question regarding approaches to “development,” claiming that the recent race for the World Bank presidency represented a contest between two broad approaches:
Michael Woolcock, a World Bank staffer, suggests that two rather different models of development have been pitted against one another in the contest for president. On the one hand is what he calls Big Development, whose aim is the transformation of entire countries through investments in national education, justice and public health. Governments are essential to Big Development because they are responsible for the overall policy. And the World Bank is pre-eminently a Big Development institution.
On the other hand is Small Development. “Inspired less by transformational visions of entire countries,” Mr Woolcock argues, “and more by the immediate plight of particular demographic groups (AIDS orphans, child soldiers, ‘the poor’) living in particular geographic places (disaster zones, refugee camps, urban slums), Small Development advocates focus not on building systems in the medium run but on compensating for the failure of systems in the short run. ‘Development’ thus becomes an exercise in advocacy, in accurate targeting, in identifying particular ‘tools’ that ‘work’”.
In this scheme of things Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister, represented Big Development; Dr Kim, a public-health advocate, Small. Dr Kim was almost certainly picked because of his passport. But if his background is any guide, his tenure as chief is likely to shift the bank more towards Small Development. Whether that is a good thing on balance remains to be seen.
Development is a giant coordination game with a million moving parts. This makes it much harder to coordinate on “scalable” “tools that work” at the micro-level. Indeed, no one has any idea what these tools really do. In addition, focus on “tools” casts the problem of underdevelopment as a technical one that can be fixed by “experts.”
This approach misses the point by miles.
This and this (highly recommended, a cogent critique of Big Development) and this are some of the reasons wby.
William Easterly continues his great crusade against the development establishment. I like his pitch for spontaneous development, but I remain skeptical of his quick dismissal of the role of the state in African development for two reasons:
1. The rest of the world has a massive head start which means that if the African entrepreneur is to survive the state must be there to provide the relevant public goods and some minimal protection from foreigners.
2. Let us not forget that stable societies are those in which capital and politics have a symbiotic relationship. The realities of the political economy of development are such that the state – and current holders of political power – must be brought on board if real and lasting development is to be achieved.
MONTREUX, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iran rejected on Tuesday as "unacceptable" U.S. President Barack Obama's demand that it freeze sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years but said it would continue talks on a deal, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday said he was "revolted" by the looming execution of two convicted Australian drug traffickers as preparations were under way to move the men to an island where they will be shot.
BRASILIA (Reuters) - A Brazilian judge has annulled the visa of an Italian former leftist guerrilla wanted for murder in his country and ordered that he be deported in a case that has long roiled relations between the two nations.
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Bundled in his raincoat, Robert Scheinoha hurries to catch the bus as he walks past a
window decorated with painted hand prints at the Manitowoc Public Library in Manitowoc,
Wis. The prints are to help raise awareness for child abuse prevention month. less
Bundled in his raincoat, Robert Scheinoha hurries to catch the bus as he walks past a window decorated with painted hand prints at the Manitowoc Public Library in Manitowoc, Wis. The prints are to help ... more
The life of Mohammad: Mohammad Anwarul plays with a stray dog inside a public park in
Dhaka, Bangladesh. Anwarul, who is homeless, makes his living by collecting trash at the
park.
The life of Mohammad: Mohammad Anwarul plays with a stray dog inside a public park in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Anwarul, who is homeless, makes his living by collecting trash at the park.
Photo: A.M. Ahad, Associated Press
The life of Mohammad: Mohammad Anwarul plays with a stray dog... Photo-6164900.83865 - Beaumont Enterprise
Image 16 of 20
I see your point: A penitent from the La Paz brotherhood gestures as he talks to a priest before an Easter Week procession in Seville, Spain.
I see your point: A penitent from the La Paz brotherhood gestures as he talks to a priest before an Easter Week procession in Seville, Spain.
Photo: Laura Leon, Associated Press
I see your point: A penitent from the La Paz brotherhood gestures... Photo-6163243.83865 - Beaumont Enterprise
Image 17 of 20
The worst person in South Euclid, Ohio: Edmond Aviv sits on a street corner in South Euclid, Ohio, holding
a sign describing himself. A Municipal Court judge sentenced Aviv, 62, to display the sign for five hours Sunday for harassing a neighbor and
her disabled children for the past 15 years. The sign reads in full: "I am a bully! I pick
on children that are disabled, and I am intolerant of those that are different from
myself. My actions do not reflect an appreciation for the diverse South Euclid community
that I live in." less
The worst person in South Euclid, Ohio: Edmond Aviv sits on a street corner in South Euclid, Ohio, holding a sign describing himself. A Municipal Court judge sentenced Aviv, 62, to display the sign for five ... more
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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers pitcher Andrew Cashner received a pain-relieving injection into his right shoulder after being examined in Dallas on Friday.
Cashner is expected to return to Arizona and begin a light throwing program on Saturday. He was shut down because of soreness in his right biceps tendon and the Rangers don't expect him ready for the start of the season.
• Spring Training info
But the Rangers are hopeful that it is not a serious issue. Normally a starting pitcher takes 6-8 weeks of a throwing program to get ready for the regular season, but it may not take that long with Cashner because he has been throwing for three months before being shut down.
"There is already some equity in his throwing program," manager Jeff Banister said.
Cashner and Tyson Ross were signed this offseason to fill the back end of the Rangers rotation. Ross is recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome and is also in the early stages of a throwing program. He is expected to throw off a mound for the third time on Saturday.
Rangers beat
• Elvis Andrus is expected to start for the first time in a Cactus League game on Saturday against the White Sox in Surprise. Andrus has been taking it slow this spring while completing his recovery from offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia.
• Catcher Brett Nicholas underwent surgery on Friday in Arlington to repair a torn medial meniscus in his left knee. Nicholas is expected to begin a rehab program immediately and could resume baseball activities in the next ten days.
• Jurickson Profar is fine after jamming the middle finger on his left hand during the Netherlands' game against Israel in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday. Profar injured the finger sliding into a base, but told the Rangers he is recovered and ready for the next round. The Netherlands play again on Sunday against Japan.
• Catcher Patrick Cantwell is taking a few days off after getting hit by a foul ball in Thursday's B game against the White Sox. Cantwell was hit in a sensitive area. He was wearing the appropriate protective gear but is still in considerable discomfort.
T.R. Sullivan has covered the Rangers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2006. Follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger and listen to his podcast.
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Finally, the current layout of the z3c.javascript repository
makes doing eggs for individual subpackages (dojo, mochikit,
etc.) a pain and I don't think anyone wants to download a
single 14mb egg for the entire z3c.javascript package. Would
it make sense to put
z3c.javascript.* subpackages into the root of the zope repository?
Advertising
Also, I'm about to send in a zope contributor agreement form
so that my packaging files can make it into the zope repository.
Is it not possible to build eggs for sub packages of
z3c.javascript? Must they be top level packages?
If so, that's a problem for other packages in z3c too?
I wonder why z3c.javascript and z3c.widget contain so many subpackages.
Having a flatter package structure would have been nicer and, I guess,
easier for individual eggification.
Paul has a point with the 14 MB egg. Also, I often find myself only
needing the DateTime widget from z3c.widget, but none of the rest. I
wish there simply was z3c.datetimewidget...
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Dissertation: The Continuity of Everyday Life: Popular Culture in Iceland 1850-1940.
This dissertation deals with the changes in the Icelandic society in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. It is argued that in spite of some structural changes in Iceland at the time, peoples everyday experience actually changed remarkably little neither in the rural nor in the urban society. The focus is at the beginning on the Icelandic rural nineteenth century society where individual experience is drawn out from birth into adulthood. (The conceptual framework is around life-course analysis). The question is how was it to be raised up in this society and what kind of child-developmental stages did every individual go through? How did work and education actually affect people perception of life and how they grew up as individuals?
It is argued that most children went through unusual hardship from an very early age. They were constantly faced with the threat of death of close relatives and friends from the moment that they started to recall their first memories. This considerably affected their outlook on life in addition to the fact that they had little or inconsistent emotional support from their closest family (parents). From the age of five or seven children were given tasks which they usually had to exicute on their own. Heavy workload and often great responsibility still added to their misery. But their salvation between the age of five and seven to approximatly ten years old was education. Their intense interest in education in this traditional society indicated that they used the Icelandic sagas to escape daily reality and into imaginary world of this rich literature. Education became in this sens their moral authority where they looked for guidance and models to conduct their life in the absens of their parents emotional support. This interaction beteen work and education made literacy rates unusually high in Iceland.
Later on, between age of ten and fourteen, the role of work and education was reversed. Children started to see the world and themselves through work. A participation in the work process did then not only increasingly become a physical necessity for the family economy, but also, it benefited children psychologically. The work was a mirror of their own existence, which allowed them to situate themselves in the home and in their general surroundings. Working with adults became the relief which they had got previously with education. Education on the other hand was incresingly focused on religious texts as a preperation for the confirmation. These texts children had to memorize by heart, and it became a distraction from their important work participation. Along with that came the pressure which they felt from all angles of the society and was focused in the confirmation ceremony itself, which was like a magic entry into adulthood. In short: we notice the absens of adolescence in the Icelandic rural nineteenth century society, because children were increasingly introduced to adult standards.
The period which was ahead, adulthood (fourteen to marriage), was often seen as providing an opportunity to repay the parents for their physical and mental support during their late childhood. This is interesting considering the fact that the parents-children relationship was often seen as distant and cold by children but the importance of work is mirrored in their yearning for supporting their parents. But the expectation to repay for parents support often caused a major tension between parents and children at this age, because it often tied them down on their parents farm. That meant that they often had to postpone their plans to get further education or to exploits some of the changes in life.
By following childrens development in the peasant society we notice a formations of two groups of distinct perosnalities. The first one was a group of very strong and independent individuals who are willing and eager to walk against their destiny with certain calm and dignity like their ancestors from the Icelandic saga. The second one contaned individuals who had a very hard time dealing with reality at large. What determined this distinction was how much emotional support children got in their early years and their social position in general.
After analyzing the everyday life experience in the nineteenth century rural society (with the help of very rich autobiographical sources) a comparison is made with the early twentieth century urban society. We see that children by their nature are a vehicles of continuity from one generation to the next (the values which they are tought) but at the same time they are the group of people who are most able to adapt to change between generations. So, despite of changes in the society like urbanization, growing mechanization, and changing class structure, there is a definite continuity in the way how ordinary people conducted their everyday life in the urban twentieth century society as it is manifested in their attitude towards work and education.
The life-course was in its basics features the same in the rural and the urban society and is most likely one of the key reasons that Iceland changed form an extremely poor peasant society into one of the most successful Western societies over a relatively short period of time. Icelandic historians have labeled this period as the revolutionary era, a period where basically every aspect of the society underwent major changes. This convencual wisdom is challange in this dissertation. As a matter of fact it is argued here that broad aspects of the popular culture was less dependent upon demographic and economic factors than most historians claim. And that is exactly the reason that the Icelandic society made the transition towards modern society so smoothly.
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Q:
Can free protons show $β^+$ decay if provided with energy?
I'm studying introductory Nuclear Physics in school and we were taught that free protons never undergo $β^+$ decay since the mass of neutron is greater than mass of proton, so the $Q$ value of the reaction is negative.
However, if suppose we provide protons with the energy via a collision or some other means, can we expect them to undergo $β^+$ decay?
If so, does this extend to any non spontaneous nuclear reaction? Will sufficient energy lead to it happening?
A:
The overall process for $\beta^+$ decay is:
$$ p \to n + e^+ + \nu_e \tag{1} $$
To supply energy to the proton we need something to collide with it, but there is no other particle on the left hand side to supply that energy. What we could do is in effect add an electron to both sides of the equation. On the right hand side the electron and positron cancel out and we're left with:
$$ p + e^- \to n + \nu_e $$
which is the closely related process of electron capture. Now we can supply the required energy by giving the incoming electron the required energy, and as it happens this process has been discussed in the question Is there a term for electron capture outside the nucleus? The problem is that this process has a very low probability and in practice it's hard to think of a situation where it could be observed. Nevertheless it is theoretically possible.
Another possibility would be to start with our initial equation (1) and add an antineutrino to both sides. This time the neutrino and antineutrino cancel on the right side and we get:
$$ p + \bar\nu_e \to n + e^+ $$
This is known as inverse beta decay and the reaction is a standard way to detect anti-neutrinos. The kinetic energy of the incoming anti-neutrino supplies the required energy.
So if you're prepared to accept electron capture or inverse beta decay as a form of $\beta^+$ decay then the answer to your question would that yes it is possible for a free proton.
There is another way energy could be supplied. Hadron have excited states, and the first excited state of the proton is the $\Delta^+$ particle. So we could imagine a process where a proton is excited to a $\Delta^+$ by a collision. The $\Delta^+$ certainly has enough energy to decay by $\beta^+$ emission, but the problem is that it has so much energy that strong force processes dominate and we typically get decay to a neutron and pion or a proton and pion. Weak force processes are so much slower that $\beta^+$ decay of a $\Delta^+$ would be fantastically unlikely.
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Do birds have teeth? Ask any biologist and the answer will be “absolutely not!”, but “absolute” is a relative term and when one stretches the definitions of what makes a bird or a tooth, birds with teeth aren’t absolutely impossible anymore.
Greylag Goose Grazes Grasses
(images via: Digital Nature Photography and Mike Milo’s Journal)
The Greylag Goose is very common in Europe and western Asia though most people haven’t seen one up close. If they did, they might back away, and quickly. This is no “silly goose”, at least not if those rows of teeth along its upper and lower jaws mean anything. It’s close relative, the Canada Goose, shares the Greylag’s disconcertingly un-birdlike choppers. If you thought a goose’s bark was worse than its bite, maybe it’s time to reconsider.
(images via: Darrell Gallant and Mark David)
Tooth-like serrations called Tomia run along the outside edges of the Greylag’s beak, top and bottom, and help it neatly clip the shoots and grasses that make up the major portion of its meals.
Domestic Goose’s Devilish Grin
(images via: The Nature of Framingham and GooseGoddessS)
Domestic Geese may be white but they’ve sure got a bite; being closely related to the Greylag Goose they share their progenitor’s toothless – but tooth-like – dentition. Just imagine the glint off these pearly… yellows?… when a gaggle of domestic geese swagger into the barnyard. You talkin’ to me??
(image via: Indiana Public Media)
Making like a snake isn’t going to improve the above goose’s popularity much… guess he’ll have to just grin and bear it. Looks like he’s doing exactly that.
Not Your Average Baby Teeth
(images via: Conservation Report and Kintired)
Awww, cute cuddly baby birds! Hear them go “cheep cheep cheep”. Gently touch their warm, soft, downy feathers. Watch them open their tiny mouths wide and… Oh. My. Gawd!! No need to adjust your screen, there’s nothing wrong with this picture… well, not visually but certainly viscerally. Many species of birds have, to a greater or lesser degree, spiky tooth-like rearward-facing spines in their mouths that ensure what goes in won’t get out. Take another look at the above images – I ensure they’ll be in your dreams tonight.
Penguins Use Tongue Fu
(images via: Allan Hansen and ChrisRay64)
Penguins are chock full of amazing evolutionary adaptations that enable them to perform as efficient fish-catching, meal-processing machines that turn speed-eating into a lifestyle. You’d think that snatching fish in mid-swim would be a challenge without a mouthful of teeth to do the snatching with, but penguins have a trick up their natty sleeves… or in their mouths, to be exact.
(images via: PenguinScience and New Zealand Penguins)
The Adelie penguin above is showing off its spine-covered tongue (left) and similarly bristly upper palate (right). The spines function much as teeth would, holding captured fish securely as the penguin prepares to swallow it. The spines are raked backwards just in case any red herrings decide they want to make a break for it. Oh, and if you’re wondering how penguins kiss, the answer is… very carefully.
Toucan Chew
(image via: Liography)
“It’s hard to soar with eagles when you’re surrounded by turkeys…” Or Toucans, for that matter. It’s hard to take toucans seriously – between their ridiculously enlarged beaks and an unfortunate association with Froot Loops breakfast cereal its a wonder they haven’t been laughed out of the rainforest by now. Then there’s this guy, who stands his ground with a hint of a grin… a sinister smile that appears to reveal a brace of bodacious bird bicuspids! We’re unsure whether flashing faux dentition works to intimidate predators but one thing’s for certain: when Toucan Sam channels Yosemite Sam, any fur-bearin’ varmints in the area had best take notice!
Take A Seat, Tooth-billed Catbird
(image via: Oiseaux.net)
The Tooth-billed Catbird is a type of Bowerbird found in the forests of Queensland in northeastern Australia. There are several different species of catbirds but only the Tooth-billed Catbird has a tooth-like bill… and a seriously badass name to go with it.
(images via: Brooklyn Arts Council, Amazon.com and BB the Renegade)
The tooth-like appearance of the Tooth-billed Catbird’s bill really puts it in the catbird seat… wait a minute, what the heck is a “catbird seat”?? Derived from a folk expression originating in the American South, to be in the catbird seat means being in an enviable or advantageous position. Depending upon who you want to believe, the expression was popularized either by humorist James Thurber in his 1942 short story “The Catbird Seat”, or by the legendary late baseball broadcaster Red Barber who often used it when describing situations in which the batter had run the count to 3 balls and no strikes. The more you know!
Breakout The Egg Teeth
(images via: Backyard Chickens, Della Micah and Honolulu Zoo)
When the going gets tough, the tough get… an egg tooth? Yes indeed, birds have evolved egg teeth (an Egg Tooth, actually) on the end of the beak to assist about-to-be-born baby birds in breaking through their eggshells from the inside. Once they’re out, however, the egg tooth either quickly falls off or is reabsorbed. Though known as an egg “tooth”, the actual structure is more like that of a horn or a bone spur.
(images via: Gravityx9 and Ugly Overload)
All birds (except Kiwis) are born with egg teeth and the protuberance is also common to other egg-laying animals including snakes, crocodiles, turtles, certain types of frogs and -wait for it – spiders!
Prehistoric Toothed Birds
(images via: Life In The Fast Lane, Dalje and EMC/Maricopa)
Birds had teeth through much of their history, from the very ancient Archaeopteryx up to the relatively recent Pelagornithidae. These pseudotooth birds, looked a lot like modern seabirds with two major differences: most species were much larger and all had jagged, bony protrusions of their upper and lower jawbones that gave them a decidedly sinister appearance. It’s thought that these tooth-like projections helped the birds grasp slippery fish and squid, but that begs the question: if today’s seabirds also eat these foods, why lose these useful pseudoteeth?
(images via: IO9 and Coolislandsong24)
The last toothed birds died out early in the Pleistocene Epoch around 2.5 million years ago, possibly their specialized lifestyles rendered them vulnerable to severe environmental changes resulting from changing ocean currents and the advent of recurring ice ages. Their huge size may have also contributed to their demise, as some of these toothed birds really pushed the envelope when it came to practical limitations of the size vs flight equation. The extinct toothed bird Pelagornis Chilensis above, for example, had an estimated wingspan of 5.2 meters (17 feet) while the wingspans of other toothed seabirds approached 9 meters (30 feet)!
Fighting, Biting Warbirds
(images via: Spitcrazy, Tomahawks.us and Amazon.com)
Though the term “warbird” can denote most any retired military aircraft, what comes to mind to most folks are the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighters flown with great distinction by the Flying Tigers in World War II. Now these birds had teeth… and were more than happy to use them.
(images via: Wikipedia and WW2Total)
As iconic as the sharkmouth P-40 may be, the actual history of the motif isn’t what most would expect. The first fighter pilots to paint their P-40s in this fashion were not Americans, but British – from RAF 112 Squadron, flying Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawks against Rommel’s Afrika Corps out of Egyptian bases in the summer of 1941. That isn’t the end of the story, either. The pilots from 112 Squadron got their inspiration from seeing Messerschmitt Bf-110 fighter-bombers from the Luftwaffe’s Zerstorergeschwader 76 “Haifisch” (shark) Group, formed in the spring of 1940.
Cartoon Birds & Mouthy Mascots
(image via: Sodahead)
Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, Heckle & Jeckle and more… these classic cartoon character birds were embodied by their creators with a wide variety of exaggerated expressions including some very expressive, toothy grins.
(images via: Upcoming Discs, Dinosaur.org, Railbirds and JohnKStuff)
No one (until now, at least) really questioned why these animated avians had teeth, let alone now you see ’em, now you don’t choppers – and there’s a very good reason: pointing it out to someone like Duckman might just get you a “What the HELL you starin’ at?!!” in return.
(images via: Seahawks Central, Tom McMahon and HD Wallpapers)
From pro sports to beer leagues to school teams, birds have always been popular mascots but the recent trend is to make them look as fierce as possible. Even historic mascots and logos have gotten buff: check out the helmet logos of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, for example.
(images via: Chris Creamer, Fiveprime, Sportslogos.net and Sportslogos.net)
Sometimes though, a frown just ain’t enough; baring teeth bestows a much greater degree of ferocity on even the most timid of songbirds. The logos above all feature toothy birds who add some bite to their beaks… just beak cause, that’s why.
(image via: Morriscourse)
Can’t handle the tooth? Saying fangs with faint praise? Think canines belong on canines and ONLY canines? Fair enough, but just remember: birds with teeth really aren’t impossible, just implausible. Or, just maybe… inci-dental.
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Looking Through the Low-E Glass Window Innovation
Posted: December 9, 2014
If you are the type who loves the outdoors, you wouldn’t mind bringing a little of the outdoor feel in—that includes fresh air and sunlight. Natural light is an asset to any home. The more sun comes in through your window or skylight, the more appealing a space will appear. Moreover, allowing more natural light and air inside your home will help cut down your daytime energy costs. The only risk is that you can become more vulnerable to external threats such as overexposure. Now this is where it pays off to invest on low-e replacement windows in Sacramento.
Low-E Window: One of the Greatest Innovations
Low emissivity or simply low-e is basically a windowpane covered in microscopic layers of metallic oxides. This transparent coating purifies the sunlight that comes in by allowing the needed natural light to come in, and keeping harmful UV rays and infrared light away from your home. This keeps the heat in during winters and out during summers, reducing your energy consumption and of course, your energy bill. It is indeed one of the greatest innovations in the window industry.
What We Offer
If you are planning on getting your windows replaced as part of your home remodeling in Sacramento CA, consider Renewal by Andersen® of Sacramento. We offer three types of high performance low emissivity glass options: High-Performance ™ Low-E4® Glass, High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ Glass, and our High-Performance™ Low-E4® Sun Glass. They come encased in our specially formulated frame material Fibrex®, which can be shaped in a wide range of style options from traditional like picture and double hung, to customized windows for your home’s particular needs.
Lower your energy consumption and save money on your energy bill through our advanced frame materials and glass packages. For more information on our low-e windows, give us a call today and we will be happy to be of service. Also get a FREE in-home inspection from our expert team.
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[Cardiac protection from myocardial ischemic postconditioning and remote postconditioning during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits].
To observe whether there are some differences between myocardial postconditioning and remote postconditioning, and whether there is additional cardiac protection when they are used combined during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rabbits. Thirty healthy New Zealand rabbits which were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 5): ischemic control group (CON), sham operation group (Sham), myocardial postconditioning group (MPostC), remote postconditioning group (RPostC), myocardial postconditioning plus remote postconditioning group (MPostC + RPostC). Acute myocardial infarction was induced by 45 minutes occlusion on left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) and 2 hours reperfusion in all anesthetized open-chest rabbits except the Sham, the coronary occlusion and reperfusion were determined by changes of ECG and cardiac color. Skeletal muscle ischemia model was induced by extrinsic iliac arteries occlusion and reperfusion with artery clamps. The condition that the extrinsic iliac arteries were occluded or reperfused could be tested by according to the distal arterial pulse. Plasma creatine kinase (CPK) activity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were measured at baseline, the end of ischemia, after 1 hour and 2 hours of reperfusion respectively. The extent of myocardial infarction was assessed by triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) staining and measured by area ratio of AN/AAR. Compared with the Con, myocardial infarct size was significantly reduced in MPostC and RpostC group (P < 0.05). But there was no significant difference between MPostC and RPostC group. Combined MPostC and RPostC markedly enhanced myocardial protection (P < 0.05). The trend of CPK and LDH release was similar to the trend of myocardial infarct size. Both MPostC and RPostC induced cardiac protection. There was no significant difference between MPostC and RPostC. Combined MPostC and RPostC induced markedly additive effect on myocardial protection.
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Entries tagged with ‘Alex’
The cycle is well under way – Perry the Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) is once again growing a titanic leaf. I wrote about the awakening last month, and the photo in this post introduces a new face on the blog, Tran Tuan, the latest Gustavus student Perry scale object in what is becoming a substantial […]
Here’s a brief comparison of Perry’s inflorescence at similar stages of growth in May 2007 and now, complete with scale objects. The human scale from May 2007 is Alex Burum, now probably the second most famous Amorphophallus titanum scale object of all time (first place goes to Hugo de Vries – see below). The current […]
Here’s a photo that I took today (Wednesday) of Alex and Perry. Interpret it as you will. Click on the thumbnail for a larger version. Here are some links for Perry: two webcams and Titan Arum web page
Here are a few shots from this highly intense afternoon and evening – Emily P., Alex, Brian, and one new face, Kevin. We roughly estimate that perhaps 1,000 people visited Perry this afternoon and evening. Links: live streaming video with audio (the lights are on in the greenhouse tonight) three webcams (distant, top-down, and close) […]
The Corpse Flower’s height topped one meter today – our measurement was 102 cm (note the enhanced stick – a two-meter stick rather than a meter stick). Alex, on the other hand, is still roughly the same size that he was a few days ago. The photos are from May 1 and May 2. Alex […]
These photos are from around noon today (April 30,2007). Emily Hoefs, our greenhouse manager and expert cultivator of Amorphophallus titanum is pictured, along with Alex and the meter stick as measuring objects. Click on the thumbnail images for larger versions. Alex and I were interviewed by a reporter from KEYC-TV (Channel 12, Mankato, Minnesota) this […]
Well, we’ve been watching this plant grow for a long time now (since 1993, when it was a seed), and its maturation is providing an elegant and beautiful show. Its appearance changes over just the period from morning to afternoon, and the rate of change seems to be increasing. Beginning with the dense lichen-mimic patterns […]
Alex and I have been making a series of measuremens of the height of the inflorescence; four of our data points (April 29, 28, 26, and 24, 2007) are represented here. Stay tuned for further developments. Click on the thmbnail images for larger versions. See the Titan Arum webcam for a live look at the […]
Alex measures the plant on April 26 (first photo). Later that evening, Alex and Emily made the first sighting of the spathe (second photo, taken approximately 8:30 on April 27). See the Titan Arum webcam for a live look at the plant. The image is renewed at five-minute intervals.
Britt Forsberg, Brian O’Brien, Alex Burum, and Emily Pelton unpot the corm. The photo descriptions are given below. 1. Note the enormous stress that the corm has put on the pot while growing. We had to cut the pot to get it off, and it burst about halfway through the cut. 2. Emily, Alex, Brian, […]
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Lightning strike sparks small fire in northern Arizona
PHOENIX -- Crews are currently working a small fire in northern Arizona.
The Steed Fire began Monday after lightning struck the burn scar from the Pumpkin Fire.
The fire has burned about two acres so far and, despite it being relatively low intensity, the terrain is forcing crews to fight the fire from a safe distance.
"Risk management drives our efforts," District Fire Management Officer for the Flagstaff District Rick Miller said in a press release. "We're actively suppressing this fire, but we're doing so on our terms. The most effective tactic for this situation is to back away and let it come to us. We'll see some gain in size, but the intensity and severity of the fire will be minimal."
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Could Australia end up in stalemate? It's less likely here than in Spain, where MPs are elected by proportional representation, so minor parties win a bigger share of the seats. But if the Coalition and Labor both rule out forming minority governments or alliances with crossbenchers, the only alternative could be a second election. Voters could head to the polls sooner rather than later. Credit:Helen Nezdropa In the old Parliament, the Coalition had 90 of the 150 seats, Labor 55, and the crossbenches five. Redistributions since and Clive Palmer's withdrawal have effectively altered the status quo to Coalition 89, Labor 57, others four. To have a majority, either side must win 76 seats. For the Coalition, that means it must lose no more than 13 seats. For Labor, it must win 19 seats. That's some gap, and it would increase if the Greens, independents or minor parties make gains on July 2. How do the punters see it? At this early stage, Sportsbet's seat-by-seat odds show they think Labor will win 11 seats from the Coalition. That implies a 78-68-4 outcome, re-electing the Turnbull government with a six-seat majority.
But the punters are not always right. Last time they called 12 seats wrong - and in nine of those they backed the Coalition to win seats it lost. They picked only two of the five victories by crossbenchers. They might be making the same mistakes now. First, the polls are less optimistic for the Coalition than the punters. For example, the punters tip the Coalition to hold Brisbane, Forde and Bonner, yet on the swings the polls report in Queensland, all three would fall. The punters tip Labor to win just eight of the 30 seats in Queensland, yet the polls give it up to 49 per cent of the state's two-party vote. The punters think Labor will gain Eden-Monaro and Macarthur in NSW (as well as gaining Barton, Dobell and Paterson from the redistribution); Deakin in Victoria; Capricornia and Petrie in Queensland; Hasluck, Swan and the new seat of Burt in Western Australia; Hindmarsh in South Australia; Lyons in Tasmania; and Solomon, the Darwin seat. Second, Sportsbet estimates that the 17 next closest contests would all be in seats held by the Coalition. It has a lot of seats at risk. By contrast, punters expect it to take no seats from Labor: its best prospects are seen as a one in three chance in the territory's outback seat of Lingiari, and less than that in McEwen, on Melbourne's northern fringe. But in inner northern Melbourne, the punters might be erring in Labor's favour. They give the Greens at best a one in three chance of taking Batman, less than that in Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler, and barely a one in five chance in the other seat in Melbourne's inner north, Wills.
Yet where the Liberals run third behind Labor and the Greens, Liberal preferences will usually decide the winner. And it's anyone's guess where they will go. In 2013, they went to Labor, which gave it easy wins in Batman (by 10.6 per cent) and Wills (15.2 per cent). But in 2010, they went to the Greens. Had Liberal voters directed preferences in 2013 as they did in 2010, the Greens would have won Batman by 0.4 per cent, and lost Wills by just 3 per cent. If the Liberals direct preferences their way in 2016, the Greens could win one or both seats. It's a different story in NSW. The Greens are much weaker, and to win Grayndler or Sydney, they would need good swings to top the Liberals, and then a very tight flow of Liberal preferences. The punters think three of the four crossbenchers are safe: Adam Bandt in Melbourne, Andrew Wilkie in Denison, and Bob Katter in Kennedy. They expect Cathy McGowan to retain Indi, beating former Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella into third place. But they rate Barnaby Joyce as 2-1 on to hold New England against former member Tony Windsor. A hung Parliament is a real possibility. Our leaders should keep their options open.
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Scott Brown got the audience laughing pretty hard when Chuck Todd asked him why he didn't run for the Senate in Massachusetts when he had two chances to do so.
Brown answered, "Because I live here," which sent the audience into paroxysms of laughter. And it wasn't laughter like "What an obvious answer" laughter. It was laughter like "Yeah, sure you do, you poser!"
Seems the people of New Hampshire aren't inclined to look at astroturf and see green grass. Scott Brown is an opportunist, and they all know it.
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Q:
Is the javadoc on String.chars() and String.codePoints() incorrect?
Looking at the String.chars() method in Java 8, we can see the following javadoc:
default IntStream chars()
Returns a stream of int zero-extending the char values from this sequence. Any char which maps to a surrogate code point is passed through uninterpreted.
If the sequence is mutated while the stream is being read, the result is undefined.
Returns:
an IntStream of char values from this sequence
Since:
1.8
As we can see, we had to find this javadoc in CharSequence, as it was not redefined in String. The same arguments here also hold for String.codePoints().
The javadoc describes that:
If the sequence is mutated while the stream is being read, the result is undefined.
But Strings (as opposed to CharSequence) are immutable, hence is the javadoc incorrect here for the String class? My feeling is that it is still correct under logic, but it also kind of implies that the chars[] in String can be mutated, which goes directly against immutability.
A:
Well, it's only a language-related, semantic problem. The javadoc applies to any char sequence, mutable or not. It says that if the sequence is modified, then the result of these methods is undefined.
It happens that when calling this method on a String, there is no way for the sequence to be modified, because Strings are immutable.
The above doesn't imply that Strings lose immutability because of this method.
Just like the sentence "if an animal has legs, then it can walk" doesn't imply that all animals have legs.
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In a new monthly version of this column, and with a tip of the cap to legendary New York newspaperman Jimmy Cannon, nobody asked me, but…
The announcement that the Bancroft family will consider Rupert Murdoch’s bid to acquire Dow Jones & Co. and the Wall Street Journal is reminiscent of the old George Bernard Shaw joke about the proper English lady at the dinner party who considers a (rhetorical) offer to sleep with him for 1,000 pounds, but is offended when he lowers the amount to 10 pounds. “What do you take me for?” she asks indignantly. “We’ve already established that,” Shaw replies. “Now we’re just negotiating the price.”
So Murdoch may be a newspaper-despoiler at $60 a share, but at $67 or $68 he may suddenly look like not such a bad chap—and no doubt Murdoch will agree to the fig-leaf “independent board” overseeing the journalistic sanctity of the WSJ. The Bancrofts will not be the first American newspaper family willing to cash out—the Chandlers in Los Angeles, the Binghams in Louisville, the Taylors in Boston, and the Knights and the Ridders all decided to exit newspapering.
That will leave the Sulzbergers of New York and the Grahams of Washington as the last public-spirited owners of great American newspapers. Both have insulated their publicly-owned companies (the New York Times Co. and the Washington Post Co.) from hostile takeovers through dual stock classes, with the family retaining controlling interest.
One colorful anecdote in a Wall Street Journal story on the situation noted that at a private family gathering in 1982 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dow Jones, 73-year-old Jessie Bancroft Cox had complained about the Boston Red Sox (“What’s the hell the matter with my Red Sox?”) before collapsing and dying of a heart attack. Sadly, Mrs. Bancroft wasn’t around to see the Curse of the Bambino lifted in 2004 when Beantown’s favorites won the World Series.
ONE OF THE “TENNESSEE TWO,†FRED THOMPSON, apparently has decided to run for the Republican presidential nomination: will his fellow Tennessean, Al Gore, also be a late entrant in the Democratic field? New York already has two presidential aspirants (Hillary Clinton and Rudolph Guiliani) with no other state fielding more than one. With 8 Democratic and 11 GOP candidates now in the field, and more threatening to come in, debate sponsors may have trouble crowding all of the candidates onto the stage.
NOW DIET COKE COMES IN A “PLUS†VERSION, with minerals and vitamins. Is this supposed to make us forget the other ingredients? Diet Coke is many famous guzzlers’ favorite Frankenfood; the New York Timesreports:
A highly public roster of Diet-Coke-alites includes Harvey Weinstein, Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Elton John drinks it at concerts. Victoria Beckham is reported in a recent issue of Newsweek to have said she drinks it all the time because she can’t stand the taste of water.
RANDOM HOUSE AND JAMES FREY, author of “A Million Little Pieces†who has copped to fabricating parts of his best-selling memoir, will be refunding angry readers up to $2.35 million—without admitting any wrongdoing. The publisher and author faced lawsuits from readers who claimed they had been defrauded.
No doubt Random House and Frey caved because their high-priced lawyers warned them it would cost more to litigate than to settle. No doubt the settlement takes care of the plaintiffs’ high-priced lawyers and their excessive fees. And exactly how were Frey’s readers damaged? Somehow I don’t think they qualify for full-blown victim status—except in their own minds. A better settlement: anyone who feels defrauded should get a free download of the Eagles’ song, “Get Over It.”
GIVE COACH JOHN DANOWSKI AND THE DUKE LACROSSE TEAM credit for reaching the 2007 collegiate championship final, which they lost to Johns Hopkins, 12-11. The Blue Devils’ run to the title game came during a “season of redemption”; Duke president Richard Brodhead cancelled the 2006 season after three Duke players were charged with rape—charges dismissed after a year of controversy.
The NCAA seeding for the tournament hurt Duke; ranked #1, the ACC team had to face undefeated Cornell—inexplicably ranked #4—in the semi-finals while Hopkins played a weaker Delaware team. The Blue Devils had to be exhausted after a last-second 12-11 victory over Cornell, while Hopkins won easily, 8-3.
AMERICAN FARMERS ARE FEEDING THEIR PIGS TRAIL MIX and other fatty snacks as the price of corn—the main feed for livestock—has soared as the ethanol industry gears up, according to the Wall Street Journal. And pig farmers say their animals are picky eaters, but like sweet snacks. I’m sure a clever trial lawyer can conjure up a civil suit out of this: perhaps a class-action on behalf of the pigs over their trans-fat heavy diet?
The thought for the month is from Canadian columnist Mark Steyn: “The great advantage of cultural relativism is that it renders argument impossible. There is no longer enough agreed reality. It’s like playing tennis with an opponent who thinks your ace is a social construct.”
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BloggerNews On The Air
We are pleased to announce our latest endeavor, Blogger News is now sponsoring some radio shows on Blog Talk Radio. You can check our full schedule, and listen to previous broadcasts here, and we hope that you will join us on the air in this new venture.
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Nurse managed occupational health services without on-site clinical care delivery: a case example.
1. In this program management/community network model of occupational health services, the occupational health nurse is responsible for managing program development and implementation, with vendors providing the clinical services. 2. Occupational health nurses' primary areas of responsibility are occupational health, disability case management, ergonomics, and health promotion. 3. Successful management of program outcomes requires the occupational health nurse to continually assess employee/business needs, maintain communication with employees and management, and partner with the environmental, health, and safety team, other functional work groups, and vendors. 4. Effective management of contracts becomes critical to the process beginning with clear service requirements through the delivery of quality services.
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News Facebook Goes Down as Bitcoin Continues Mining Blocks With 99.98% Uptime
Social media giant Facebook and its Instagram and Whatsapp platforms went down for a couple of hours highlighting the stability of Bitcoin and its decentralized architecture.
Facebook Goes Down
Social media website Facebook went down for a few hours on April 13th according to a monitoring resource downdetector.com.
Whatsapp, the popular messaging app, and Instagram, a picture-sharing social media platform, both owned by Facebook, have also experienced outages.
According to a report by Business Insider, there were more than 9,000 people complaining about the issues and it was felt mostly across Asia and Europe.
As of yet, there’s no formal statement outlining the issues for the outage. However, a spokesman from the company said:
We’re sorry for any inconvenience.
Not The First Time and Not The Only One
It’s not the first time the social media website has experienced a notable outage.
Earlier in March, Facebook, as well as the abovementioned associated apps went down for over 24 hours.
The company did come up with a formal statement then explaining:
Yesterday, as a result of a server configuration change, many people had trouble accessing our apps and services. We’ve now resolved the issues and our systems are recovering. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate everyone’s patience.
Facebook is not the only centralized company which has experienced technical issues depriving hundreds of thousands of users of its services.
Bitcoinist reported last summer that Visa, one of the leading payment solution providers with millions of people using it, experienced a “system failure”, leaving countless of its customers without access to their money.
Bitcoin Stays Up, Always
Amid events of the kind, it can’t go without mention that Bitcoin’s network boasts an uptime of 99.98% since its inception, highlighting the benefits of decentralization. If one or even hundreds of Bitcoin nodes go offline, the network will continue working unabated.
On the other hand, as showcased above, centralized solutions are much more prone to experiencing downtime given their central point of failure.
In the case of Visa, it was a “system failure,” while in the case of Facebook’s March outage it was a “server configuration change.” Bitcoin’s distributed network not only requires more resources to attack it than to defend it, but its funds are also further decentralized in wallets that are protected by private keys controlled by individual users.
What do you think of Facebook’s outage? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!
Images via Shutterstock
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Q:
How to ensure keyboard backlight is always on (at max) at boot time?
Question
How to ensure keyboard backlight is on (at max) at boot time on a Dell laptop?
Rationale
I sometimes hit the combination of keys which turns off the keyboard backlight at day time not noticing it, and then when I wake up, in the middle of the night usually, I don't want to wake up my wife by turning the lights on. Hence, I seek a solution, which would read the maximum possible value of the backlight and setting it no matter what when I boot my computer up. I always turn it off at night so the solution does not have to account for the sleep or hibernate modes.
Research
The maximum value of keyboard backlight is stored in:
/sys/class/leds/dell\:\:kbd_backlight/max_brightness
And the actual value of currently set value is stored in:
/sys/class/leds/dell\:\:kbd_backlight/brightness
A:
No matter that the maximum value should most probably be constant, I don't know why or how but at previous boot I had the maximum value of 3. Now I have 2. I'm confused and baffled at the same time.
I don't want to search for a reason, such as BIOS setting, let's just read the maximum value at boot time and set it. No matter if during the day I accidentally turned the backlight possibly off.
I came up with a direct approach using:
sudo crontab -e
And reading and setting the maximum value in one command:
@reboot /bin/cat /sys/class/leds/dell\:\:kbd_backlight/max_brightness > /sys/class/leds/dell\:\:kbd_backlight/brightness
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/*
* Copyright (C) 2008, 2011 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.
*
* This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
* modify it under the terms of the GNU Library General Public
* License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
* version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
*
* This library 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
* Library General Public License for more details.
*
* You should have received a copy of the GNU Library General Public License
* along with this library; see the file COPYING.LIB. If not, write to
* the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
* Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
*
*/
#include "config.h"
#include "HTMLPlugInImageElement.h"
#include "Frame.h"
#include "FrameLoader.h"
#include "FrameLoaderClient.h"
#include "HTMLImageLoader.h"
#include "HTMLNames.h"
#include "Image.h"
#include "Page.h"
#include "RenderEmbeddedObject.h"
#include "RenderImage.h"
#include "SecurityOrigin.h"
namespace WebCore {
HTMLPlugInImageElement::HTMLPlugInImageElement(const QualifiedName& tagName, Document* document, bool createdByParser, PreferPlugInsForImagesOption preferPlugInsForImagesOption)
: HTMLPlugInElement(tagName, document)
// m_needsWidgetUpdate(!createdByParser) allows HTMLObjectElement to delay
// widget updates until after all children are parsed. For HTMLEmbedElement
// this delay is unnecessary, but it is simpler to make both classes share
// the same codepath in this class.
, m_needsWidgetUpdate(!createdByParser)
, m_shouldPreferPlugInsForImages(preferPlugInsForImagesOption == ShouldPreferPlugInsForImages)
{
setHasCustomWillOrDidRecalcStyle();
}
RenderEmbeddedObject* HTMLPlugInImageElement::renderEmbeddedObject() const
{
// HTMLObjectElement and HTMLEmbedElement may return arbitrary renderers
// when using fallback content.
if (!renderer() || !renderer()->isEmbeddedObject())
return 0;
return toRenderEmbeddedObject(renderer());
}
bool HTMLPlugInImageElement::isImageType()
{
if (m_serviceType.isEmpty() && protocolIs(m_url, "data"))
m_serviceType = mimeTypeFromDataURL(m_url);
if (Frame* frame = document()->frame()) {
KURL completedURL = document()->completeURL(m_url);
return frame->loader()->client()->objectContentType(completedURL, m_serviceType, shouldPreferPlugInsForImages()) == ObjectContentImage;
}
return Image::supportsType(m_serviceType);
}
// We don't use m_url, as it may not be the final URL that the object loads,
// depending on <param> values.
bool HTMLPlugInImageElement::allowedToLoadFrameURL(const String& url)
{
ASSERT(document());
ASSERT(document()->frame());
if (document()->frame()->page()->frameCount() >= Page::maxNumberOfFrames)
return false;
KURL completeURL = document()->completeURL(url);
if (contentFrame() && protocolIsJavaScript(completeURL)
&& !document()->securityOrigin()->canAccess(contentDocument()->securityOrigin()))
return false;
// We allow one level of self-reference because some sites depend on that.
// But we don't allow more than one.
bool foundSelfReference = false;
for (Frame* frame = document()->frame(); frame; frame = frame->tree()->parent()) {
if (equalIgnoringFragmentIdentifier(frame->document()->url(), completeURL)) {
if (foundSelfReference)
return false;
foundSelfReference = true;
}
}
return true;
}
// We don't use m_url, or m_serviceType as they may not be the final values
// that <object> uses depending on <param> values.
bool HTMLPlugInImageElement::wouldLoadAsNetscapePlugin(const String& url, const String& serviceType)
{
ASSERT(document());
ASSERT(document()->frame());
KURL completedURL;
if (!url.isEmpty())
completedURL = document()->completeURL(url);
FrameLoader* frameLoader = document()->frame()->loader();
ASSERT(frameLoader);
if (frameLoader->client()->objectContentType(completedURL, serviceType, shouldPreferPlugInsForImages()) == ObjectContentNetscapePlugin)
return true;
return false;
}
RenderObject* HTMLPlugInImageElement::createRenderer(RenderArena* arena, RenderStyle* style)
{
// Fallback content breaks the DOM->Renderer class relationship of this
// class and all superclasses because createObject won't necessarily
// return a RenderEmbeddedObject, RenderPart or even RenderWidget.
if (useFallbackContent())
return RenderObject::createObject(this, style);
if (isImageType()) {
RenderImage* image = new (arena) RenderImage(this);
image->setImageResource(RenderImageResource::create());
return image;
}
return new (arena) RenderEmbeddedObject(this);
}
bool HTMLPlugInImageElement::willRecalcStyle(StyleChange)
{
// FIXME: Why is this necessary? Manual re-attach is almost always wrong.
if (!useFallbackContent() && needsWidgetUpdate() && renderer() && !isImageType())
reattach();
return true;
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::attach()
{
bool isImage = isImageType();
if (!isImage)
queuePostAttachCallback(&HTMLPlugInImageElement::updateWidgetCallback, this);
HTMLPlugInElement::attach();
if (isImage && renderer() && !useFallbackContent()) {
if (!m_imageLoader)
m_imageLoader = adoptPtr(new HTMLImageLoader(this));
m_imageLoader->updateFromElement();
}
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::detach()
{
// FIXME: Because of the insanity that is HTMLPlugInImageElement::recalcStyle,
// we can end up detaching during an attach() call, before we even have a
// renderer. In that case, don't mark the widget for update.
if (attached() && renderer() && !useFallbackContent())
// Update the widget the next time we attach (detaching destroys the plugin).
setNeedsWidgetUpdate(true);
HTMLPlugInElement::detach();
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::updateWidgetIfNecessary()
{
document()->updateStyleIfNeeded();
if (!needsWidgetUpdate() || useFallbackContent() || isImageType())
return;
if (!renderEmbeddedObject() || renderEmbeddedObject()->pluginCrashedOrWasMissing())
return;
updateWidget(CreateOnlyNonNetscapePlugins);
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::finishParsingChildren()
{
HTMLPlugInElement::finishParsingChildren();
if (useFallbackContent())
return;
setNeedsWidgetUpdate(true);
if (inDocument())
setNeedsStyleRecalc();
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::willMoveToNewOwnerDocument()
{
if (m_imageLoader)
m_imageLoader->elementWillMoveToNewOwnerDocument();
HTMLPlugInElement::willMoveToNewOwnerDocument();
}
void HTMLPlugInImageElement::updateWidgetCallback(Node* n, unsigned)
{
static_cast<HTMLPlugInImageElement*>(n)->updateWidgetIfNecessary();
}
} // namespace WebCore
|
Oatmeal Can Help You Feel Full Longer
Senator Orrin Hatch Explains Why CHIP, A Bipartisan Health Insurance Program He Co-Created, Is Now In Jeopardy
Instant oatmeal can help you feel full longer than equal calories of ready-to-eat oat cereal, according to a recent study.
Researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center at Louisiana State University found that eating a bowl of instant oatmeal for breakfast is more satiating and helps to manage hunger better than the same amount of calories from a leading oat-based, cold cereal, even when consumed in smaller portions than previously found.
"This study demonstrates that the unique characteristics of oatmeal have a significant impact on fullness and desire to eat - even when matched for calories and ingredients [oats] with another breakfast option," researcher Frank Greenway said in a statement.
For the study, researchers tested three different oat-based, 217.5-calorie breakfasts. The statistically significant results show that instant oatmeal enhanced satiety, feelings of fullness and reduced the desire to eat more than a RTE, oat-based cereal.
Forty-three healthy men and women completed the randomized, controlled crossover investigation. Following an overnight fast, subjects completed three breakfast trials in random order at least a week apart. Each breakfast consisted of 150 calories of instant oatmeal, old-fashioned oatmeal or a RTE cereal, plus 67.5 calories of lactose-free skim milk. After eating breakfast, subjects' hunger and satiety measures were assessed at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes.
Researchers found that subjects who ate instant oatmeal reported less hunger compared to the RTE cereal. Oatmeal also provided increased fullness and a reduced desire to eat more. Researchers state that the viscosity of oatmeal was higher than the RTE cereal - which could explain the differences in hunger and appetite control.
"We found instant oatmeal to be more effective at suppressing appetite compared to the cold cereal, even with a smaller serving size and less calories than previously investigated," Greenway said.
|
INTRODUCTION
============
Benign biliary stricture (BBS) is a common and challenging clinical problem ([@B1]). Endoscopic placement of biliary stents, which is considered first-line therapy, provides the highest long-term biliary patency rate ([@B2]). However, endoscopic management of BBS remains challenging. The main drawback of endoscopic treatment is the need for multiple procedures over one-year treatment period, which increases costs and may decrease patient compliance ([@B3][@B4]). Therefore, there is a growing interest and need for the development of new devices that are able to mitigate the disadvantages of performing endoscopic treatment. Accordingly, there is a demand for a proper animal model to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic devices.
As of now, there is no reliable BBS animal model. Previous studies of BBS models have mostly been used for surgical experiments with small animals, but the process of making a BBS model was cumbersome and laborious ([@B5][@B6][@B7]). In addition, small animal models tend not to be suitable for endoscopic experiments due to the minute size of the digestive tract. The lack of a proper large animal model can lead to errors in clinical application of new medical devices in humans. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a simple and reproducible method for making a BBS large animal model that is similar to actual clinical situations.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy has been found to be safe and effective in several gastrointestinal disorders ([@B8][@B9]). RFA can deliver heat energy to tissue that results in necrosis around the RFA probe, and eventually stricture can be induced around tissue damaged by thermal energy ([@B10]). RFA has an extended range of indication in experiments because the procedure is not technically difficult to apply, and it is easy to control the degree of thermal energy emitted by an RFA device ([@B9]). Most recently, endobiliary application of RFA has been developed, and the efficacy of this usage was reported in a pilot clinical study ([@B11]). With this reference point, we decided to conduct a study using endoscopic RFA to develop a large animal model of BBS.
The aims of the current study were to develop a large animal model of BBS using endobiliary RFA and to investigate an effective and safe energy option for application in producing bile duct stricture.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
=====================
Animals
-------
Fourteen-month-old female mini pigs (*Sus scrofa*), each weighing approximately 30 kg, were purchased from Medi Kinetics Co. Ltd. (Pyeongtaek, Korea) to be used for an in vivo experimental study. The animals were kept in specific pathogen-free animal facilities with complete substrate feeding, according to standard guidelines for laboratory animals. All animals were quarantined and acclimated in a vivarium for one week prior to the start of the experiments.
Equipment and instruments
-------------------------
An endobiliary RFA catheter (9 F, 230-cm working length; APRO Korea Inc., Gunpo, Korea) was used for the study. This catheter is a disposable, monopolar device suitable for endoluminal delivery of RFA into the biliary tree over a 0.035-inch guidewire. The distal end of the RFA catheter has a 10-mm leading tip, proximal to which there is a 10-mm steel electrode. Energy was delivered by an RFA generator (CoATherm RF-G200; APRO Korea Inc.) operating at 480 kHz and the range of the used power output was 60 to 100 W at 80°C for 60 seconds ([Fig. 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F1}
Pre-procedure preparation
-------------------------
All animals fasted overnight and were given only water for 24 hours before the endoscopic procedure was conducted. Animals were pre-medicated with an intramuscular injection of atropine sulfate (0.04 mg/kg), xylazine (2 mg/kg), and tiletamine-zolazepam (5 mg/kg). After endotracheal intubation, 0.5% to 2.0% isoflurane was administered with 70% nitrous oxide, and 30% oxygen was given via a ventilator to maintain general anesthesia. The animals were placed in the left lateral decubitus position on a fluoroscopy table and allocated randomly to three groups (60, 80, and 100 W) according to the electrical power level.
Endoscopic procedure
--------------------
An expert biliary endoscopist (S. J.) performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) on 12 swine using a standard side-viewing duodenoscope (TJF-240; Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). After duodenal intubation of the scope, a diagnostic cannula (ERCP catheter, bottle-shaped metal tip; MTW-Endoskopie, Wesel, Germany) was inserted into the bile duct using the wire-guided cannulation technique with a 0.035-inch hydrophilic-tipped guidewire (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA, USA) to obtain the cholangiogram. The endobiliary RFA catheter advanced into the distal common bile duct (CBD) over the guidewire under fluoroscopic guidance ([Fig. 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy was not required for insertion of the RFA catheter because, unlike humans, swine do not have sphincter of Oddi in major duodenal papilla, and the papillary orifice is patulous and wide. RFA applications were performed with power settings of 60, 80, and 100 W for 60 seconds.
{#F2}
Post-procedure follow-up and pathology assessment
-------------------------------------------------
During the four weeks following the procedure, the animals were fed their usual diet. Clinical signs and parameters including weight loss, daily food intake, and demeanor score were monitored daily. Biochemical tests of liver function were assessed at baseline and two weeks after the procedure. ERC was repeated two and four weeks after the endobiliary RFA to identify the bile duct stricture and procedure-related adverse events. Bile duct stricture was defined if the luminal diameter decreased by more than 50% of the baseline. When the bile duct perforation was identified in a follow-up cholangiogram, the animal was sacrificed by potassium chloride overdose immediately, and the bile duct was achieved to evaluate pathologic findings. With the exception of cases of bile duct perforation, animals were sacrificed six weeks after the procedure. Laparotomy was performed to evaluate presence of bile duct stricture. The CBD was identified and removed, and the effects of RFA on the distal CBD were assessed macroscopically during necropsy. Histological examination of the CBD was subsequently performed for all animals.
Histological examination
------------------------
The removed tissues were fixed in neutral buffered formalin and serially sectioned at 5-mm intervals. Multiple cross-sections were taken from the CBD and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome (MT) to identify stricture and fibrosis.
Ethics statement
----------------
The institutional animal care and use committee of Inha University reviewed and approved the study design before the animal experiments were conducted (INHA111004-112).
RESULTS
=======
Endobiliary RFA and clinical follow-up
--------------------------------------
Endobiliary RFA of the CBD was successfully performed on all 12 swine. No technical difficulties or adverse events were encountered during the procedures. No clinical signs of acute cholangitis (e.g., fever, weight loss, decreased daily food intake) were noted in any animal two weeks after the procedure was completed. However, a large amount of pus was gushing out of the major duodenal papilla during follow-up ERC in all animals, so that the occurrence of acute cholangitis was suspected. Laboratory tests also indicated cholestasis. Median values of the liver profiles were as follows: total bilirubin, 4.4 mg/dL (range, 0.2--7.9); alkaline phosphatase, 360 IU/L (188--1078); gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, 92 IU/L (56--150); asparatate aminotransferase, 162 IU/L (20--840); alanin aminotransperase, 31 IU/L (20--70). On the follow-up ERC two weeks after the procedure, a segmental bile duct stricture was observed in all animals ([Fig. 3A](#F3){ref-type="fig"}) ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Before the main experiment, pilot study using energy dosages of 80 W and 100 W for each mini-pig was performed to evaluate the effect and adverse event of RFA. Bile duct perforation was observed in pig that received the 100 W dosage of RFA, but those of 80 W did not occurred bile duct perforation on ERC 2 weeks after RFA. As the results of pilot study, further experimental procedures using 100 W were discontinued because of an ethical problem. We decided to modify the study that the pigs initially allocated to 100 W group were reclassified to 80 W group ([Supplementary Fig. 1](#S1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}).
{#F3}
###### Results of endobiliary radiofrequency ablation in a swine model^\*^
Dose Time Stricture Perforation
------- -------- ----------- ------------- --------- -----
100 W 60 sec 1/1 NA ^\*^1/1 NA
80 W 60 sec 7/7 6/6 ^\*^1/7 0/6
60 W 60 sec 4/4 4/4 0/4 0/4
NA, not applicable.
^\*^The animals were euthanized early.
Finally, bile duct perforations were observed in two animals (1/1 \[100%\] for 100 W; 1/7 \[14.3%\] for 80 W) on ERC two weeks after the procedure; these animals were sacrificed immediately to investigate pathologic progression. Bile duct perforation was not observed in the 60 W group (n = 4, 0%).
Biliary irrigation with normal saline and pus aspiration were performed for treatment of acute cholangitis in the remaining pigs, and follow-up ERC was performed four weeks after the initial procedure. On ERC review, the silhouette of a stricture of proximal margin was more apparent and proximal duct dilatation had progressed ([Fig. 3B](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). Bile duct perforation was no longer apparent.
Macroscopic and microscopic assessment
--------------------------------------
On the macroscopic examination of extracted CBD, the CBD had filled with yellowish sludge. In addition, there was a fibrous band at the level of stricture (distal CBD) and diffuse reddish mucosal inflammation on the proximal part of the CBD. No signs of other damage to the surrounding CBD were found. In the animals that experienced perforation, bile duct perforation with abscess formation was noted at the level of stricture.
Microscopic findings of CBD specimens in all animals, including perforation cases, demonstrated severe periductal fibrosis and luminal obliteration with transmural inflammation. These microscopic findings did not show significant difference according to the dose of thermal energy. The CBD, which was proximal to the stricture segment, maintained normal mucosa and muscular structure, but the lumen was markedly dilated ([Fig. 4](#F4){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F4}
DISCUSSION
==========
The current study demonstrated that the thermal energy induced by RFA was effective in producing bile duct stricture. A significant stricture was seen in the CBD of all animals, supporting the efficacy of endobiliary RFA for creating stricture. The results of our experiments are in agreement with previously published data. Thermal energy generated by a heat probe or a multipolar electro-cautery probe was evaluated by Rumalla et al. ([@B12]) in an animal study with nine swine that was designed to develop a BBS model of the CBD. In their study, 6 of 7 heat probe treatments and 1 of 6 multipolar probe treatments resulted in stricture. This led the authors to report that the application of intraluminal thermal injury can result in a reproducible animal model of BBS; the application of a heat probe at 15 J produced bile duct stenosis in all animals. In addition, the investigators found that strictures tend to develop more effectively as the dose of thermal energy increases (\> 10 J).
On the basis of these results, we planned to begin our endoscopic experiment with a higher level of energy power to improve the success rate of creating a BBS model. However, higher electrical power is accompanied by a high risk of bile duct perforation. Our results showed that the occurrence of CBD perforation strongly correlated with the amount of thermal energy exposure. The safest thermal energy option to develop a BBS model was 60 W for 60 seconds; the risk of bile duct perforation increases when energy beyond this level is applied. The current study used a monopolar RFA electrode, which is commonly used in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and different from the contact thermal devices used in previous relevant studies. Thermal energy options for the management of HCC range from 6 to 120 W for 6 to 12 minutes ([@B13]). Therefore, we applied electrical power of 100 W for 60 seconds to the first animal to adjust the risk of bile duct perforation and determine the threshold to create biliary stricture at the beginning of this study. The biliary stricture in this animal was formed properly, but perforation was detected two weeks after the procedure. Subsequently, the doses of electrical power were decreased sequentially down to 60 W in the other animals. All animals that received 60 W for 60 seconds survived at the end of study without bile duct perforation. In terms of the ability to create biliary stricture, this thermal energy option yielded satisfactory results. On the serial cholangiograms two and four weeks after the procedure, a tight biliary stricture with dilated proximal bile duct was confirmed in all four animals that treated with this thermal energy option. Moreover, severe fibrosis was observed at the site of injury and luminal obliteration was found on microscopic examination of CBD specimens. Therefore, we estimated that the optimal thermal energy option for creating a BBS model using RFA would be 60 W for 60 seconds. This finding will be of great benefit for future studies in that it should reduce unnecessary failure and improve the yield rate in making a BBS model.
The basic mechanism for creating BBS in this study was thermal injury. The RF waves passing through the electrode agitated tissue ions around the electrode, thus increasing the temperature by frictional heat and resulting in destruction of the normal bile duct wall located close to the electrode ([@B14]). Thereafter, biliary stricture gradually developed during the healing process. Although the mechanism for induction of biliary stricture in the current study differs from those associated with other causes of BBS ([@B15]), the histologic features of this BBS model are similar to cases of BBS in patients with concentric periductal fibrosis and luminal obliteration. The histologic features we encountered are typical end-result findings detected in BBS ([@B16]). Therefore, we estimated that our stricture model is a proper animal model that can substitute for BBS in humans, and hopefully be helpful in the development of new device, technology, or treatment strategies. However, this BBS model would not be applicable to investigate adverse events resulting from biliary endoscopy procedures. The biliary system of swine has relatively few differences from that of humans. One difference is that the biliary system of swine is not combined with the pancreatic duct. It enters the wall of the duodenal bulb right below the pylorus, and is separated from the main pancreatic duct. Thus, adverse events related to the procedure, such as post-procedure pancreatitis, cannot occur in this BBS model. To cope with this factor, another BBS model using other species will be required.
The current animal model has several advantages compared with previous BBS models. Most importantly, the high thermal energy of endobiliary RFA used in the current study is easily reproducible, stable, and has a high success rate with little injury to the animal subjects. To this date, surgical approaches such as ligation, clamping, or electro-thermal injury of the CBD have been mainly used to create a BBS animal model ([@B17][@B18]). Although these surgical approaches yielded satisfactory results in creating strictures, they require complicated preparation and postoperative care and sometimes lead to mortality of the animal, whereas establishment of a model using endobiliary RFA is straightforward and safe. All endoscopic procedures can be performed without technical difficulty within 20 minutes, and all animal subjects that underwent 60 W-RFA survived without serious adverse events until the end of the experiment. Furthermore, strictures of the CBD in all animals were found and the degree of stricture was satisfactory upon pathological examination. The second advantage of the current animal model is that the condition of the stricture in large animals is similar to the clinical manifestations seen in human patients with BBS, thus allowing surgeons to practice endoscopic therapeutic techniques or conduct preclinical experiments prior to working with humans.
The primary limitation of this study was the short observation time. Although RFA- induced bile duct strictures were maintained for four weeks in the current study, it is uncertain whether this model could be used for long-term observation experiments of therapeutic devices. These strictures have to be preserved without spontaneous improvement for a long time in order to investigate the therapeutic effect of various devices. However, the aim of our study was to establish a simple and reproducible method for making an animal model of BBS. A further long-term follow-up study will be needed to determine the long-term durability of stricture.
In conclusion, we developed a swine model of bile duct stricture using endobiliary RFA. The endobiliary RFA with proper energy settings appears to be a feasible and safe method to create a BBS model.
We thank APRO Korea Inc. for providing the RFA catheters and generators used in this animal experiment.
**Funding:** The current study was supported by the National Center of Efficacy Evaluation for the Development of Health Products Targeting Digestive Disorders (NCEED) and Inha University Research grant.
**DISCLOSURE:** The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.
**AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION:** Conception and design of the study: Park JS, Jeong S, Lee DH. Acquisition of data: Park JS, Jeong S, Park SS, Lee DH. Analysis and interpretation of data: Park JS, Jeong S. Pathologic evaluation of tissue specimens: Kim JM. Drafting of the article: Park JS, Jeong S. Critical revision: Lee DH. Final approval: all authors.
Supplementary Material
======================
###### Supplementary Fig. 1
The flow chart of study and distribution of mini-pigs
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What is a Conveyancer?
Conveyancing is a process that almost anyone will go through for both buying and selling property. A conveyancer is basically a solicitor who assists with home settlement and the transfer of titles by ensuring a client is meeting all legal obligations. They also strive to protect their client’s rights throughout the buying/selling process. It’s recommendable to seek the services of a conveyancer no matter which side of the transfer you’re on because there can often be legal technicalities that are difficult to see coming. For example, if you’re buying a home, you may understandably assume that you have the right to do anything you want with your new property. This may not be true, however, in cases where another party may have an easement over your property.
Easements are often not intrusive and may simply involve a neighbor who has to access to a small part of your land for a harmless purpose. It’s also common for water companies to have easements on land so that nothing can be built over their pipes. While those with easements over property do not have possession of it in any form, they still have legal rights to some aspect of it which may become difficult. A conveyancer can help with this situation before it starts as well as handle many other tasks. The following are some ways conveyancers make life easier in the transfer of property.
Preparing documents
From conveyancers in Brisbane to Belize, any of them will handle the preparation of all documents relevant to real estate transactions. For buyers, this will mean making sure everything is in order to ensure that the property is fully transferred to them while meeting all legal requirements for the territory.
Things can be a bit more complicated for the seller. A conveyancer will prepare a contract of sale and protect sellers from future issues by making sure all required conditions are met. They will also assist in preparation of the Vendor’s Statement. This statement will cover information related to mortgages, easements, and zoning. It does not cover the condition of the property or the accuracy of the title. While this statement and the contract of sale are the most important documents when selling a home, a conveyancer will also prepare any additional documents that may be necessary in certain circumstances.
Legal counsel
In addition to preparing the necessary documents, a conveyancer will also offer general advice about any terms or legal questions one may have. It’s always recommendable to let a conveyancer do a final read through of any documents before signing them. They can also assure that all terms of a mortgage are finalized and that everyone involved understands the situation.
When it comes to property sellers, a conveyancer can arrange dates in the desired fashion. For those buying and selling property simultaneously, this service can be useful to take care of everything at once.
Finalizing settlements
A conveyancer will, of course, ensure that all final concerns are addressed before agreeing to a settlement as well as arrange the most convenient meeting time for both parties. For buyers, the conveyancer will ensure that all necessary funds are ready to make the settlement. In the case of the seller, a conveyancer will make final arrangements to have titles, keys, and all other relevant items transferred to the buyer.
A conveyancer can also help settle arrangements with a buyer’s bank, eliminating potentially complicated processes. They will also ensure that a buyer only pays costs directly associated with the settlement, so there are no unpleasant surprises.
A professional conveyancer makes the process of property buying and selling easier for all involved. While it isn’t absolutely necessary to hire one for either process, it is highly advisable to avoid confusing processes that could lead to substantial hidden fees or other issues.
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Photosynthetic activity in relation to a gradient of leaf nitrogen content within a canopy of Siebold's beech and Japanese oak saplings under elevated ozone.
The primary objective of this study was to describe parameters related to the leaf biochemical assimilation capacity of photosynthesis, such as the maximum rates of carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax), as a function of the leaf nitrogen content throughout a canopy of Siebold's beech and Japanese oak grown under elevated ozone (O3) conditions during a growing season. To this end, we investigated the relationship between photosynthetic traits and leaf nitrogen content in various canopy positions of two tree species under free-air O3 exposure (60 nmol mol-1, during daylight hours) in June, August, and October 2012. We observed O3-induced reduction in Vcmax and Jmax without reduction of leaf nitrogen content in both tree species. In Siebold's beech, Vcmax and Jmax in leaves with higher Narea were largely decreased by O3 from August, while little effect of O3 was observed in leaves with lower Narea. On the other hand, there was no difference in the extent of O3-induced reduction in Vcmax and Jmax across the range of Narea in leaves of Japanese oak. Reduction of leaf nitrogen content under elevated O3 conditions was observed only in Siebold's beech in October. These results indicated that the decrease in the efficiency of photosynthetic nitrogen use is in an earlier step in O3-induced decline of photosynthesis in Siebold's beech and Japanese oak. Based on these results, we emphasize the importance of integration of O3 effects into the conventional estimation of Vcmax and Jmax from leaf nitrogen content for evaluating canopy photosynthesis under current and future elevated O3 conditions.
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38--Tennis/38_Tennis_Tennis_38_332.jpg
1
306.413 41.3999 90.2814 74.3649 0.999098
|
I usually like to soak my lenses in my regular contact lens solution for at least 48 hours. The solution in the vials are usually formulated for storage so it may be harmful for your eyes. After 48 hrs, I try to wear it 1-2 hrs at home just in case I encounter problems. This is especially important if you drive. (just an example)
I believe it used to be $5 but once again, this probably changed because last time I checked was in June 2010.
Review on Lens:
I've been very impressed with previous EOS Circle Lenses and these certainly did not let me down. I was able to wear them for up to 12 hours and only slowly started to have dry eyes after that. I usually wear for lenses for short periods (3-6 hours) but I had a really long day and forgot to bring my contact case. On days when I wore then for 7 hours (two lectures at school + transportation), my eyes were never dried and never had red veins appearing. I also never had a problem with them sliding around or blurring my vision. They are extremely comfortable, I love wearing them especially when I'm lacking sleep because I know these won't give me any problems during the day.
The color pay out doesn't make a whole lot of difference for me since I have natural dark brown eyes. They look extremely natural in indoor light setting as if I'm not wearing circle lenses. However, with flash photography, you can easily see that my eyes look lighter and close to an orangey-brown. The design of the lens is starwheel with a smooth gradation starting from a inner light honey brown to the outer brown-black. The outer ring does not have harsh black borders making the lenses very natural looking yet giving off a dolly effect. If you have lighter eyes, these lenses will make a difference as the colour give-off is very opaque.
The enlargement factor is significant. When comparing my eyes with and without lens, I see that there are less whites with these circle lenses. Although there are lenses with a larger diameter, I find that this size is perfect. They are large enough to create the dolly look yet not too overly large to appear alien-like. If you are looking for lenses which are not dramatic these are for you.
These are definitely my favorite pair of brown circle lenses. I love how natural they look and they are super comfortable. I noticed that I tend to grab these to wear over any of my other lenses. And since I'm a lazy person, I don't need to put much make up to pull these off :)
Customer Service:
These lenses came from the same transaction as the EOS Flower Pink. I have posted a detailed review on Kiwiberry1 here.
Overall: ♥♥♥♥
Product: 5/5 ♥ my favourite lenses
Packaging: 5/5 ♥ Nothing was broken when received. It was packed with bubble wrapped packaging.
Price: 5/5 ♥ I think that Kiwiberry1's prices are reasonable because they are at par with market and they almost always have promotions. So do check them out to see what deal suits you best =)
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Background {#s1}
==========
Bovine mastitis is frequently occurring disease affecting dairy cattle with large economic losses in dairy industries. Though bacteria are the main causative agents of bovine mastitis, still there are 20 -- 35% cases of bovine mastitis which are bacteriologically negative for the milk samples \[[@R01], [@R02]\] perhaps there may be pathogens other than bacteria causing disease, reports suggests that bovine herpes virus 4 is isolated from the milk of cows with mastitis \[[@R03]\]. Bovine herpes virus 4 is also isolated from the milk of staphylococcus mastitis. Reports suggests that there is a positive association between the bovine herpes virus 4 seropositivity of cows and the incidence of bovine mastitis caused by *S. aureus* \[[@R04]\] and *S.aureus* is found to be the main causative agent of bovine mastitis \[[@R05]\].
Bovine herpes virus 4 is a member of the family herpesviridae, subfamily gamma herpesvirinae belonging to the order herpesvirales and genes rhadinovirus. BHV 4 has an enveloped icosahedral nucleocapsid, with a diameter of 100 nm, while the overall diameter of the virus particle is approximately 150 nm. The present study was also extended for the analysis of the genome of BHV1 and BHV5 which belongs to order herpesvirales family herpesviridae, subfamily alphaherpesvirinae, genus varicellovirus. BHV1 and BHV5 are held responsible for causing the most important emerging diseases of dairy cattle in many countries of the world. The disease caused by BHV in dairy cattle is characterized by the signs of respiratory disorder, general illness, abortion and reduced quality and quantity of milk yield. Virus has a wide host range which is known to infect different ruminant species like cattle, sheep and goats \[[@R06], [@R07]\]. BHV needs dividing cells for effective virus replication as there is increase in viral DNA replication and protein expression at the S phase of the cell cycle.
The regulation of gene expression can be controlled at transcription level by a promoter region that contains a specific DNA sequence from which transcription begins and proceeds through the coding sequences and ends at the terminator site. The sequence of the promoters affects the transcription initiation event and also influences the rate at which RNA polymerase clears the promoter region to begin elongation in a typical transcription process. Therefore, identification of promoter sequences in a whole genome is crucial for regulation of gene expression in BHV. However, a limited number of data is available on the BHV. Hence, the present study was carried out through a computational method for the identification and analysis of putative promoter motifs in BHV.
Methodology {#s2}
===========
*Retrieval of genome sequence*: {#s2a}
-------------------------------
The complete genome sequences of BHV were retrived from biological database such as National centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) cited at <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/viruses.html>.
*Analysis of BHV genomes*: {#s2b}
--------------------------
The size of the genome of bovine herpes virus (BHV) was analysed in the FASTA format the G+C % was compared and total number of genes were also noted.
*Transcription promoter site*: {#s2c}
------------------------------
The putative promoter in the genome of BHV was identified by using the promoter scan programme at <http://wwwbimas.cit.nih.gov/molbio/proscan/>. The complete genome BHV1, BHV4 and BHV5 was used for the analysis of promoters in all three genomes. The program comprises three databases such as TF databases, promoter databases and non promoter set constructed from protein and RNA gene sequences. In this study we have provided a brief description of putative promoters of Bovine herpes virus. However, there are numerous methodologies available in the public domain for the analysis of promoters but still further validation is needed for a researcher before picking up the problem for investigation in the molecular biology laboratory.
Results and Discussion {#s3}
======================
In the present study complete genome sequence of BHV 4, BHV1 and BHV5 was retrieved from the accession on NC_002665.1, NC_001847.1 and NC_005261.2 and the size of genome was found to be 108.87 kb, 135.3kb and 137.87 kb respectively the highest GC % was found in 74.8% in BHV 5 followed by BHV1 72.4% and BHV4 41.4% the highest number of genes were found in BHV 4 79 followed by BHV1 and BHV5 70 genes each. Similarly reports suggest that the genome size of Kamati River and Tick borne encephalitis virus was 11 kb, Tamana bat virus was 10,053 bases and GC% of Tamana bat virus and Louping ill virus was 38.43 and 54.85 respectively \[[@R08]\]. DNA with high GC-content is more stable than DNA with low GC-content. GC base pairs are more stable than AU base pairs, due to the fact that GC bonds have 3 hydrogen bonds and AU only has 2 hydrogen bonds, which makes high-GC-content RNA structures more tolerant to high temperatures. More recently, the first large-scale systematic gene-centric association analysis demonstrated the correlation between GC content and temperature for certain genomic regions while not for others \[[@R09]\]. Further, the identification of putative promoter in the genome of BHV1, BHV4 and BHV5 was also carried out. A total of 147 types of promoters and their sequences were identified in the genomes ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}, [Figure 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"} and [Figure 3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}) most of the promoters found in all 3 genomes are similar and it is confirmed with the existing data.
A very limited data is available on the identification and charecterization of promoter in the virus genome. Transcription factor IID (TFIID) is one of the general transcription factors that make up the RNA polymerase II preinitiation complex \[[@R10]\] TFIID binds to TATA box in the core promoter of the gene. It regulates the activities of more than 70 polypeptides required for the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II and also acts as channel for regulatory signals. SRF is a serum response element -- binding transcription factor \[[@R11]\] that regulates the activity of many immediate early genes viz C-fos and thereby participates in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, cell growth and cell differentiation. SV40 is a double stranded DNA virus which causes tumors at multiple sites to wide range of vertebrates. T- Ag is a protein of proto- oncogene present in the SV 40 and is involved in viral genome replication and regulation of host cell cycle \[[@R12]\].
AP1 (activating protein1) is a collective term referring to determine transcription factor composed of Jun, Fos or ATF subunit that bind to a common DNA site. Different AP1 factors may regulate different target genes and thus execute distinct biological functions \[[@R13]\]. NF1 gene promoter harbours a hypomethylated CpG island. Hence, methylation changes may be involved in the development of different types of neurofibromas and malignant transformation \[[@R14]\].
The human neurotropic papovirus JCV contains sequences within the two 98 --bp tandum repeat which play a key role in glial -- specific transcription of the early and late stage of viral promoter sites \[[@R15]\]. TCR V beta promoter contains a highly conserved decamer homologous to cAMP response element (CRE). It has been shown that TCR beta -- chain expression immediately activated cAMP. Such induction is likely to be mediated through V beta-CRE sequence because the inclusion of V- beta -- CRE in a vector with minimum promoter (PB1 CAT2) conferred the cAMP inducibility of CAT activity \[[@R16]\].
The promoter of the early growth response gene (Egr-1) has been described to be activated by ionizing radiation it has been reported that a novel regulatory element in the human Egr-1 promoter is similar to a NF kappa-B binding site \[[@R17]\]. HNF-1 beta forms a homodimer or a hetrodimer with HNF1 alpha and regulates various target genes. HNF1 beta mutations are rare and no functional analysis has been performed in conjuction with HNF1 alpha. HNF1 beta controls liver specific and bile acid related genes as it is expressed in the liver and biliary system \[[@R18]\].
Conclusion {#s4}
==========
In the present study attempts were made to find the promoter sites and regulation of genes and their function in the genomes with the available data by computational methods. A total of 147 promoters were identified from three bovine herpes virus genome out of which 39 promoters were from bovine herpes virus 4 (BHV 4), 95 from BHV1 and 13 from BHV5. The results of the present study may help in designing of the live attenuated vaccine by site directed mutagenesis in the promoter region which could be a permanent solution for the problem bovine mastitis due to Bovine herpes virus. This present study of promoters might also help in designing of expression vectors which helps in better understanding of regulation of gene expression. In the era of large genomics and proteomics prediction of promoters in the whole genome is crucial for drug discovery and gene therapy.
The authors are grateful to Department of biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi, for funding the Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility Project, Interdisciplinary Program for Life Science Project and P. G Departments of Microbiology and Biotechnology Karnatak University, Dharwad for providing the facilities.
**Citation:**Kurjogi *et al*, Bioinformation 8(23): 1167-1170 (2012)
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of fabrication of semiconductor devices. More specifically, the invention relates to the fabrication of silicon-germanium semiconductor devices.
2. Related Art
In a heterojunction bipolar transistor (xe2x80x9cHBTxe2x80x9d), a thin silicon-germanium layer is grown as the base of a bipolar transistor on a silicon wafer. The silicon-germanium HBT has significant advantages in speed, frequency response, and gain when compared to a conventional silicon bipolar transistor. Speed and frequency response can be compared by the cutoff frequency which, simply stated, is the frequency where the gain of a transistor is drastically reduced. Cutoff frequencies in excess of 100 GHz have been achieved for the HBT, which are comparable to the more expensive GaAs. Previously, silicon-only devices have not been competitive for use where very high speed and frequency response are required.
The higher gain, speeds, and frequency response of the HBT have been achieved as a result of certain advantages of silicon-germanium not available with pure silicon, for example, narrower band gap, and reduced resistivity. In addition, silicon-germanium may be epitaxially grown on silicon wafers using conventional silicon processing and tools, and allows one to engineer device properties such as the band gap, energy band structure, and mobilities. For example, it is known in the art that grading the concentration of germanium in the silicon-germanium base builds into the HBT device an electric field, which accelerates the carriers across the base, thereby increasing the speed of the HBT device compared to a silicon-only device. One method for fabricating silicon and silicon-germanium devices is by chemical vapor deposition (xe2x80x9cCVDxe2x80x9d). A reduced pressure chemical vapor deposition technique, or RPCVD, used to fabricate the HBT device allows for a controlled grading of germanium concentration across the base layer.
Because the benefits of a high gain and high speed silicon-germanium HBT device can be either partially or completely negated by high base contact resistance, it is important that the resistance of the base contact be kept low. In addition to the contact resistance, the geometry of the base regions may also affect the base resistance. The geometry of the base region may necessitate providing a low resistance electrical pathway through a portion of the base itself between the base contact and the base-emitter junction, referred to as the extrinsic base region. The extrinsic base region is heavily doped by implantation (also called extrinsic doping) in order to provide reduced resistance from the base contact to the base-emitter junction.
During the manufacture of an integrated circuit chip there are many processing steps which involve heating the wafer in which the integrated circuit chip is included. It is normal for dopants to diffuse out from where they have been implanted into surrounding areas of the chip during these heating processes. Typically, the out diffusion of dopants is accounted for in the design of a circuit device such as the HBT. Unwanted out diffusion can have disadvantageous effects, however, especially under certain circumstances. For example, there is drive in current technology to operate the HBT at lower voltages and comparatively higher collector currents for those low voltages. When the HBT is operated in a range of low voltage and high collector current, the effects of an energy barrier at the metallurgical transition from silicon-germanium to silicon near the base-collector junction can become more pronounced. Such an operating range can be characterized, for example, by a collector-emitter voltage in the range of approximately 1.0 to 4.0 volts and a collector current in the range of approximately 0 to 3.0 milliamperes (xe2x80x9cmAxe2x80x9d). Under these operating conditions, an energy barrier at the metallurgical transition from silicon-germanium to silicon near the base-collector junction has an effect of limiting current flow through the collector.
Out diffusion of dopants from the heavily doped extrinsic base region acts to further restrict collector current flow under these conditions and there are other deleterious effects on the operating characteristics and device parameters of the HBT device. For example, the operating range over which the HBT can operate linearly as class A amplifier is reduced. Briefly stated, a device operates as a class A amplifier if output current flows for all values of the input, as opposed to, for example, class B operation in which output current flows for one-half the cycle of the input waveform. Linear operation, simply stated, is the amplification of an input signal without distortion. A wider operating range for linear class A operation, i.e. one in which the maximum and minimum voltages and currents of the device are spaced further apart, is desirable because design flexibility and reliability are increased. As another example, power output in class A operation can be reduced because the reduced collector current directly reduces power which, simply stated is the product of current times voltage.
As a further example, out diffusion of dopants from the heavily doped extrinsic base region may increase a parasitic capacitance between the base and collector. Briefly, capacitance in an electric circuit relates to an effective flow of current due to the storage of electric charge between two otherwise electrically separated conductors. Parasitic capacitance between the base and collector effectively represents a near-short circuit in the HBT for a high frequency signal being amplified and is, thus, undesirable.
Also, for example, out diffusion of dopants from the heavily doped extrinsic base region can reduce a breakdown voltage of the HBT device. Briefly, the presence of a voltage, greater than the breakdown voltage, between the base region and a conductive region below the collector can cause the intervening material, which physically and electrically separates the two, to start to conduct electricity, known as xe2x80x9cbreakdownxe2x80x9d of the intervening material. When breakdown occurs the HBT device no longer functions as intended, and can be permanently damaged. Thus, it is undesirable for breakdown voltage to be reduced.
Moreover, the effects of out diffusion on a device can limit the scalability of the device. Scalability, simply stated, refers to preserving the relative proportions of the various features of a device in such a way that the device still functions when the overall size of the entire device is reduced. As feature sizes of bipolar devices are reduced, it is important to achieve accurate control over the size of the various features in order to keep feature sizes in proportion. So for example, if out diffusion is not properly controlled the relative size of the out diffusion regions increases as the size of the entire bipolar device is reduced. An increase in the relative size of the out diffusion regions exacerbates the problems and disadvantages described above. Thus, the effects of out diffusion on the device can limit the scalability of the bipolar device. Furthermore, as feature size of CMOS devices is reduced it is important to achieve a concomitant reduction of feature size in bipolar devices on the same chip as CMOS devices.
One approach to the problem has been to use carbon in conjunction with the implant doping of the extrinsic base regions as a xe2x80x9csuppressantxe2x80x9d to control the amount of subsequent out diffusion of dopants from the extrinsic base regions. In general, the use of carbon for control of diffusion is complicated to implement from a technological viewpoint, is not generally available in the industry, and can require expensive tooling or retooling of the fabrication facility.
Thus, there is a need in the art to control out diffusion of dopants in bipolar devices. There is also need in the art for technologically simple, relatively low cost, readily available control of out diffusion of dopants in bipolar devices. There is a further need in the art for fabrication of bipolar devices which is scalable as the size of MOS and CMOS devices decreases.
The present invention is directed to a high performance bipolar transistor. The invention is used to control out diffusion of dopants in bipolar devices. The invention overcomes the need in the art for technologically simple, relatively low cost, readily available control of out diffusion of dopants in bipolar devices. The invention also provides fabrication of bipolar devices which is scalable to the size of MOS and CMOS devices as the size of MOS and CMOS devices decreases.
In one aspect of the invention a collector is deposited and a base is grown on the collector. For example, the base can be grown by epitaxially depositing either silicon or silicon-germanium on the collector. An emitter is then fabricated on the base followed by implant doping an extrinsic base region outside the emitter. For example, the extrinsic base region can be implant doped using boron with an implant dose of approximately 1015 atoms per square centimeter. The extrinsic base region doping diffuses out during subsequent thermal processing steps in chip fabrication, creating an out diffusion region in the device. The out diffusion region can adversely affect various operating characteristics of the device, such as parasitic capacitance and linearity. The out diffusion is controlled by counter doping the out diffusion region. For example, the counter doped region can be implant doped using arsenic or phosphorous with an implant dose of approximately 1013 atoms per square centimeter. Also, for example, the counter doped region can be formed using tilt implanting or, alternatively, by implant doping the counter doped region and then forming a spacer on the base prior to implanting the extrinsic base region.
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Introduction
============
Arecoline, the active component of the betel nut, comprises up to 0.12-0.24 % by weight of the ripe nut [@B1]. Arecoline has cholinergic, sialogogic, diaphoretic, and parasympathomimetic effects [@B2] and has been recognized as a possible cognition enhancer in Alzheimer\'s dementia [@B3], [@B4]. Our previous study showed that arecoline inhibited IL-6 production, induced apoptosis, and arrested cell cycle progress in basal carcinoma cells [@B5]. We also demonstrated that arecoline induced anoikis by inhibiting STAT3 and activating RhoA/Rock in HA22T/VGH hepatoma cells but it didn\'t effect on normal hepatocytes [@B6]. These results suggest that arecoline is a potential therapeutic agent for cancer.
Exacerbated glycolysis to meet the increased demand for energy and biosynthetic precursors of the most aggressive and invasive cancers is reported [@B7]. Consequently, these cancer cells need vigorous pH-regulating systems to handle the high levels of lactic and carbonic acid, which are byproducts of glycolysis. Tumor cells produce excess H^+^ due to their higher metabolic rate relative to normal cells [@B8], [@B9]. These alterations in the intracellular pH (pHi) affect the structures and activities of most enzymes, which drastically influence cell signaling and metabolic function [@B7], resulting in considerable cellular stress. According to the principle of Darwinian selection, growing tumors may create adverse microenvironments to facilitate cancer cell survival and compete with normal cells. This process favors highly selective microenvironments and genetic instability, which allow tumor cells to continuously adapt and expand [@B10]. Interrupting this process can potentially induce cancer cell-specific apoptosis.
Because intracellular acidification may lead to cell death, it is important to maintain intracellular homeostasis. Homeostasis is achieved by pHi-regulating proteins that facilitate H^+^ export. The monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) is a passive lactate-proton symporter [@B11]. MCT1-4 are located in the cell membrane. In tumor and stromal cells, MCT1 and the hypoxia-induced MCT4 are reported to be co‑transporters of lactate and H^+^ [@B11]. Carbonic anhydrases IX (CAIX) and CAXII participate in the reversible hydration of CO~2,~ a cell-permeable acidic metabolic product. CO~2~ is exported and then undergoes CAIX- or CAXII-facilitated hydration to carbonic acid followed by dissociation into to bicarbonate and a proton [@B12]. The bicarbonate is imported by the sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) and further reacts with a proton intracellularly [@B13]. In several tumor cell types, vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) is expressed at the plasma membrane, acting as an ATP dependent pump [@B13]. In cancer cells, Na^+^/H^+^ exchanger 1 (NHE1) serves as a passive proton-sodium antiporter that exports free intracellular H^+^ when the intracellular proteins have exhausted their buffering capacities [@B14], [@B15]. In contrast, NHE1 is almost inactive in normal cells which have neutral pH. However, a proton-dependent NHE1 is activated when the pHi becomes acidic [@B16]. The plasma membrane Na^+^/Ca^2+^ exchanger (NCX) senses the Na^+^ electrochemical gradient and can exchange Ca^2+^ for Na^+^ through Ca^2+^-influx or Ca^2+^-efflux, depending on the intracellular Na^+^ concentration and the membrane potential [@B17]. An active Na^+^/Ca^2+^ exchange system is present in the hepatocyte plasma membrane [@B18], and an estimated 60 % of the Ca^2+^ entering the hepatocyte passes through this exchanger [@B19]. It has also been demonstrated that NCX significantly contributes to the Ca^2+^ increase seen in hepatocytes exposed to hypoxia, Na^+^ load, or oxidative stress [@B20]-[@B22].
Accordingly, it is rational to propose that interfering with H^+^ dynamics \[both the pHi and the extracellular pH (pHe)\] coupled with metabolic disruption may provide a new strategy for anticancer therapy. In the present study, we examined whether arecoline affects glycolysis and H^+^ dynamics in HA22T/VGH hepatoma cells. We also explored which kinds of pH-regulating proteins are involved in this process and whether glycolysis is related to the induction of anoikis. Herein, only HA22T/VGH hepatoma cells were used without normal hepatocyte as control since our previous study has demonstrated arecoline did not effects on normal hepatocyte [@B6].
Materials and Methods
=====================
Reagents
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Arecoline hydrobromide (methyl 1-methyl-1, 2, 5, 6-tetrahydronicotinate hydrobromide) was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA); its purity was greater than 99.0 %. Rotenone, antimycin A, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H2DCF-DA), and BCECF AM ester were also from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Reduced L-glutathione was from Boehringer Mannheim GmbH (Mannheim, West Germany). Protein assay reagents were from Bio-Rad Laboratories (Hercules, CA, USA). Fluo-4 AM ester were from Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR, USA). TRIzol reagent was from Invitrogen Life Technologies (Carlsbad, CA, USA). All other chemicals, including calcium carbonate, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine, were of analytical grade and purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA).
Cell line, cell culture, and arecoline treatment
------------------------------------------------
HA22T/VGH (BCRC Number: 60168), a poorly differentiated human hepatoma cell line, was obtained from the Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) in the Food Industry Research and Development Institute, Hsinchu, Taiwan. These cells were cultured in Dulbecco\'s modified Eagle\'s medium (DMEM) (Gibco BRL, Grand Island, NY, USA) containing 10 % fetal bovine serum (HyClone, Auckland, NZ), 2 mM L-glutamine, 0.1 mM non-essential amino acids, 100 units/ml of penicillin, and 100 μg/ml of streptomycin (all from Gibco BRL, Grand Island, NY, USA) at 37°C in a humidified chamber with 5 % CO~2~. Our previous study [@B6] showed that 100 μg/ml arecoline could induce anoikis in HA22T/VGH cells. 100 μg/ml arecoline was added to the culture medium for either 12 hours (h) for mRNA studies or 24 h for others and then the cells were harvested and analyzed. Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted phase-contrast microscope (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) and photographs were taken at 200× magnification.
Cell viability assay
--------------------
After treatment, viable cells were counted using a dye exclusion technique. The cell suspension was centrifuged at 5000× g, the supernatant was discarded and the cell pellet resuspended in serum-free medium. One volume of 0.4 % Trypan blue (Gibco BRL, Grand Island, NY, USA) was added to one volume of cell suspension. After incubation at room temperature for 3 min, cells were counted in a hemocytometer. All counts were performed in triplicate.
ATP and lactate measurement
---------------------------
HA22T/VGH cells (2 × 10^5^) were seeded in six-well plates (Corning, Inc.) incubated with 100 μg/ml arecoline for 24 h, scraped off and centrifuged. The cell pellet was resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline and sonicated. ATP levels were measured using a commercial bioluminescence kit (ENLITEN® ATP assay, Promega, Madison, WI, USA) and a luminometer (Hidex PLATE CHAMELEON, Turku, Finland). Lactate levels were measured using a colorimetric/fluorometric assay kit (BioVision Incorporated, Milpitas, CA, USA) and a microplate reader (BioTek® PowerWave XS2).
Quantitative real-time PCR analysis
-----------------------------------
Total RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent according to the manufacturer\'s instructions. Real-time PCR was performed on a MiniOpticon™ real-time PCR detection system (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA) using iQ™ SYBR® Green Supermix (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA) according to our published procedure [@B23]. The primers and the amplified gene products are shown in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. Data were collected and analyzed using MJ Opticon Monitor Analysis software version 3.1 (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA). Each reaction mixture was amplified in triplicate and the results calculated using the ΔΔCt method [@B24]. The cycle threshold (Ct) value for the test gene was normalized using the mean Ct value for the GAPDH gene. Relative gene expression was expressed as the fold change (2^-ΔΔCt^) relative to expression in the untreated control.
ROS and ΔΨm measurement
-----------------------
The method of ROS detection was described in our previous study [@B25]. 2\',7\'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA) (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR, USA) was used to measure intercellular ROS production. The ΔΨm is defined as a change in the electrochemical gradient. The mitochondrial ΔΨm was measured using a fluorescent cationic dye, tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) (Molecular Probes). JC-1 dye exhibits potential-dependent accumulation in mitochondria and is detected by a fluorescence emission shift from green (\~529 nm) to red (\~590 nm). The mitochondrial depolarization is indicated by a decrease in the red/green fluorescence intensity ratio. HA22T/VGH cells were seeded in six-well plates (Corning, Inc., Corning, NY, USA) and incubated overnight, then underwent treatment for 24 h before being incubated with 2 μM JC-1 dye for 15 min at 37°C. The cells were subsequently trypsinized and resuspended for analysis by FACScan flow cytometry (Beckman Coulter-Epics XL) [@B26]. Data were analyzed using WinMDI 2.8 software (Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA), and a minimum of 1×10^4^ cells per sample were evaluated.
Measurement of the intracellular pH (pHi) and intracellular calcium levels (\[Ca^2+^\]i)
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HA22T/VGH cells were treated with or without 100 μg/ml arecoline for 24 h, trypsinized and centrifuged. Next, the cell pellet was resuspended in culture medium and labeled with fluorescence dye for 30 minutes. Intracellular calcium level was measured using 10 μM fluo-4 AM ester at room temperature, and the fluorescence was detected using a Coulter Epics XL cytometer with an excitation wavelength of 488 nm and an emission wavelength of 520 nm. The intracellular pH (pHi) was measured with 10 μM BCECF AM ester at 37℃, and the fluorescence was detected using a Coulter Epics XL cytometer with an excitation wavelength of 488 nm and an emission wavelength of 525/620 nm. The data were analyzed using WinMDI 2.8 software (Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA), and a minimum of 1×10^4^ cells per sample were evaluated.
Statistical analysis
--------------------
All data are presented as the mean ± SD (standard deviation). The differences between the treated and control group were analyzed using either Student\'s t test or ANOVA followed by Fisher\'s exact test. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 6.011 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). A *p*-value \<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Results
=======
Arecoline increases glycolysis
------------------------------
To examine whether arecoline affected glycolysis in HA22T/VGH cells, the glycolytic end products, lactate and ATP, were measured after treatment with 100 μg/ml arecoline for 24 h. Both lactate and ATP levels increased significantly (Fig. [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}), which indicated that arecoline augmented glycolysis in HA22T/VGH cells. We further assessed the mRNAs expression of glycolytic pathway components, including glucose transporter 1 and 3 (Glut1 and Glut3), hexokinase 1 and 2 (HK1 and HK2), phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase A and B (LDHA and LDHB). Arecoline significantly enhanced the mRNA expression of Glut3, HK1, HK2, and PK, while it had no impact on Glut1, PFK1, LDHA, or LDHB (Fig. [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Glut facilitates the glucose transport across the plasma membranes in mammalian cells. Both hexokinase and pyruvate kinase are rate-limiting enzymes of glycolytic pathway. These results indicated that arecoline augmented glycolysis in HA22T/VGH cells by modulating expression of glycolysis-related genes.
Arecoline decreases the pHe, but not the pHi
--------------------------------------------
To test whether arecoline-induced lactate production would alter the homeostasis of HA22T/VGH cells, the intracellular and extracellular pH values were measured. After treatment with 100 μg/ml arecoline for 24 h, the extracellular pH was significantly decreased but the intracellular pH remained unchanged (Fig. [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). This suggested that the intracellular H^+^ derived from the increased lactate was being exported.
Effects of arecoline on the expression of genes coding for pH-regulating proteins
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We speculated that the cellular pH-regulating systems might be altered to maintain an appropriate intracellular pH. Therefore, we examined the mRNA expression of pH-regulating genes. As shown in Fig. [4](#F4){ref-type="fig"}, MCT1, MCT4, NBCN1, CAIX, CAXII, and V-ATPase expression was significantly reduced, while NHE1 remained unaffected, after arecoline treatment. Down-regulation of pH-regulating genes was unexpected in a context where intracellular pH was unaltered. Since mRNA expression of NHE1 was the only unchanged pH-regulating gene that we tested, we speculated that NHE1 has a greater influence on H^+^ export than the others. Moreover, we proposed there might be other factors that coordinate with NHE1 in maintaining ion and pH balance between intracellular and extracellular environments.
Arecoline increases NCX mRNA expression and the \[Ca^2+^\]i
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Under normal conditions, the NHE on the plasma membrane equilibrates internal and external Na^+^ and H^+^ levels and the NCX maintains a constant cytosolic Ca^2+^ concentration. During stress conditions, such as ischemia or lactic acidosis, NHE exports H^+^ and imports Na^+^. This leads to cytosolic Na^+^ overload, and the NCX is forced to export excess Na^+^, which accompanied by import of Ca^2+^, and eventually results in elevation of cytosolic Ca^2+^ concentration [@B27]. To determine whether the NCX coordinates with NHE1 in maintaining the intracellular pH value of the arecoline-treated HA22T/VGH cells, we analyzed NCX mRNA expression and intracellular Ca^2+^ levels. This finding revealed that NCX mRNA expression (Fig. [4](#F4){ref-type="fig"}H) was significantly increased as was the intracellular Ca^2+^ (Fig. [5](#F5){ref-type="fig"}A), suggesting that the intracellular pH was maintained by both NHE1 and NCX and accompanied by increased intracellular Ca^2+^ levels.
Arecoline stimulates ROS generation and interferes with mitochondrial function
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To determine whether arecoline affected mitochondrial function either directly or indirectly, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and ROS production of arecoline-treated HA22T/VGH cells were measured. ROS was markedly elevated (Fig. [5](#F5){ref-type="fig"}B), while ΔΨm was decreased (Fig. [5](#F5){ref-type="fig"}C). Since disturbance of mitochondrial electron transfer chain leads to electron leakage and ROS generation [@B28], [@B29], we suspected that arecoline-induced ROS production originated from the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. To test this, the mitochondria complex I (rotenone, 0.3 μM) and complex III (antimycin A, 0.3 μg/ml) inhibitors were added to HA22T/VGH cells after treatment with arecoline. Both rotenone and antimycin A significantly increased ROS levels in the cells without arecoline treatment, but these inhibitors did not further enhance ROS generation in the arecoline-treated cells (Fig. [5](#F5){ref-type="fig"}D). This suggested that arecoline interferes with the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, resulting in ROS generation.
The glucose competitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose reduces the effects of arecoline
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
We previously demonstrated that arecoline induced anoikis in HA22T/VGH hepatoma cells [@B6]. We hypothesized that glycolysis triggered arecoline-induced anoikis. To test this hypothesis, 10 mM 2-deoxy-d-glucose (DG) was used to inhibit the glycolytic pathway in the HA22T/VGH cells treated with arecoline. DG is a glucose analog that inhibits glycolysis through its actions on hexokinase. Arecoline-induced lactate and ROS overproduction were significantly reduced and normal extracellular pH levels were restored in the presence of DG (Fig. [6](#F6){ref-type="fig"}A, 6B and 6C). DG also reduced intracellular Ca^2+^ concentration in the HA22T/VGH cells treated with arecoline (Fig. [6](#F6){ref-type="fig"}D). Cell morphology showed that arecoline-induced cell detachment was inhibited by DG (Fig. [6](#F6){ref-type="fig"}E). These results demonstrated that arecoline contributed to cell detachment and subsequent anoikis by trigging the glycolytic pathway.
The ROS scavenger reduces arecoline-induced cell death
------------------------------------------------------
Next, we sought to determine whether ROS was directly involved in arecoline-induced cell detachment and anoikis. Addition of the ROS scavengers, 10 mM glutathione (GSH) or 10 mM N-acetylcysteine (NAC), in the arecoline-treated HA22T/VGH cells significantly inhibited ROS generation and reduced the elevation of intracellular calcium (Fig. [7](#F7){ref-type="fig"}A and [7](#F7){ref-type="fig"}B). Both GSH and NAC prevented HA22T/VGH cells from arecoline-induced detachment and death (Fig. [7](#F7){ref-type="fig"} C and 7D). These results demonstrated that ROS played an important role in the elevation of intracellular calcium concentration and arecoline-induced cell detachment.
Discussion
==========
A summary of this study is illustrated in Fig. [8](#F8){ref-type="fig"}. This study showed that arecoline enhanced glycolysis by inducing mRNA expression of the Glut3 and glycolytic genes, including HK1, HK2, and PK, and induced ROS generation in HA22T/VGH cells. Unexpectedly, the intracellular pH was not changed even though lactate, a glycolytic end product, was increased and the pH of the extracellular medium was declined; this implied that intracellular H^+^ was exported out of the cell. We found that mRNA expression of most pH regulators (MCT1, MCT4, NBCN1, CAIX, CAXII, and V-ATPase) were reduced, while NHE1 levels were unchanged. We therefore hypothesized that NHE1 plays an important role in maintaining intracellular H^+^ levels. This finding raised the question of whether NHE1-mediated H^+^ export could lead to intracellular Na^+^ overload. To answer this question, we measured NCX mRNA levels and found that they were markedly increased. This finding suggested that excess Na^+^ could be exported while extracellular Ca^2+^ was imported, resulting in an increase in the \[Ca^2+^\]i concentrations and ROS and a decrease in ΔΨm. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the arecoline-induced effects were reversed by DG, a glucose competitor that acts as inhibitor of glycolysis. These data suggested that the effects of arecoline are dependent on the induction of glycolysis. Addition of ROS scavengers to HA22T/VGH cells almost completely eliminated the arecoline-induced ROS generation, significantly inhibited the arecoline-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration, and prevented HA22T/VGH cells from cell detachment, suggesting that ROS plays important role in the process of arecoline-induced cell death.
Cancer cells proliferate rapidly, creating a demand for increased glycolysis. This produces more lactate and H^+^ and may create an unfavorable microenvironment, leading to cancer cell-specific apoptosis. Tumor cells may produce excess H^+^ compared to normal cells leading to growth arrest or apoptosis if pH-regulating capabilities are compromised [@B7]. Targeting pH-regulating proteins, such as the NHE, CAs, MCTs, and H^+^ pumps may impair tumor progression [@B7]. Thus, agents able to disturb intracellular pH regulation or cellular metabolism have the potential to be developed as targeted cancer therapies. In the present study, we showed that arecoline enhanced glycolysis and decreased the expression of mRNAs for pH-regulating proteins, suggesting it may be developed as an anti-cancer therapeutic agent.
Ca^2+^ can enhance ROS production by stimulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, which makes mitochondria function faster and consume more oxygen [@B30]. Indeed, mitochondrial ROS generation correlates with metabolic rate [@B30], suggesting that a faster metabolism can cause more electron leakage in the respiratory chain, leading to increased ROS levels. The present study showed that arecoline decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production.
Ca^2+^ has long been known to play an important role in regulation of necrosis, apoptosis, anoikis and autophagic cell death [@B31]. It has been shown that ROS can activate RhoA to induce stress fiber formation [@B32], [@B33], as well as control apoptosis through stimulation of the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway [@B34]. Our previous study demonstrated that arecoline induced anoikis of HA22T/VGH cells by increasing RhoA/Rock activation [@B6]. This study showed that ROS scavengers attenuated the arecoline-induced ROS generation and cell detachment of HA22T/VGH. Taken together, these data demonstrated that the arecoline-induced increase of ROS contributes to its effects on HA22T/VGH cells.
Conclusions
===========
In this study, we demonstrated that arecoline enhanced aerobic glycolysis in HA22T/VGH cells and modulated the mRNA expression of pH regulators, resulting in elevated \[Ca^2+^\]i, ROS generation and subsequent cell detachment. Therefore, arecoline-induced cell detachment and anoikis is dependent on glycolysis.
This study was supported by the National Science Council, Executive Yuan (NSC 101-2320-B-037-045-MY3; NSC 101-2811-B-037-027; NSC 102-2811-B-037-021) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 103-2811-B-037-015) of Taiwan. These funding bodies had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.
pHi
: intracellular pH
pHe
: extracellular pH
\[Ca^2+^\]i
: intracellular Ca^2+^
Glut1 and Glut3
: glucose transporter 1 and 3
HK1 and HK2
: hexokinase 1 and 2
PK
: pyruvate kinase
PFK1
: phosphofructokinase 1
LDHA and LDHB
: lactate dehydrogenase A and B
MCT
: monocarboxylate transporter
CAIX and XII
: carbonic anhydrase IX and XII
NBC1
: sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1
V-ATPase
: vacuolar ATPase
NHE1
: Na^+^/H^+^ exchanger 1
NCX
: Na^+^/Ca^2+^ exchanger
DG
: 2-deoxy-d-glucose
H2DCF-DA
: 2\',7\'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate
ROS
: reactive oxygen species
ΔΨm
: mitochondrial membrane potential
GSH
: glutathione
NAC
: N-acetylcysteine.
{#F1}
{#F2}
{#F4}
{#F3}
![**Arecoline causes an increase in the \[Ca^2+^\]i, stimulates ROS production, and interferes with the mitochondrial membrane potential.** HA22T/VGH cells were treated with or without 100 μg/ml of arecoline for 24 h, then (A) the \[Ca^2+^\]i was measured by using flow cytometry. The green filled area is the untreated control and those delimited by the thick black lines is the treated group. (B) ROS levels (H2DCF-DA fluorescence) and (C) the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) (JC-1 fluorescence) were measured by flow cytometry. The blue filled area is the untreated control and those delimited by the thick black lines is the treated group. (D) or were treated with 0.3 μM rotenone or 0.3 μg/ml of antimycin A alone or together with 100 μg/ml of arecoline for 24 h, then ROS levels were measured. The quantified data are the percentage of stained cells (gate %) and the fold induction compared to the untreated control represented as the mean ± S.D. for three independent experiments; \*: *p*\<0.05 compared to the untreated control group. C: control; A: arecoline-treated; R: rotenone; Am: antimycin A.](jcav08p3173g005){#F5}
{ref-type="fig"}A-D, the data are the mean ± S.D for three independent experiments. \*: *p*\<0.05 compared to the untreated control group; \#: *p*\<0.05 compared to arecoline-treated cells. C: control group; A: arecoline-treated; DG: 2-deoxy-d-glucose.](jcav08p3173g006){#F6}
{ref-type="fig"}A, B, and D, the data are the mean ± S.D. for three independent experiments. \*: *p*\<0.05 compared to the untreated control group; \#: *p*\<0.05 compared to the arecoline-treated group. C: control group; A: arecoline-treated; GSH: glutathione; NAC: N-acetylcysteine.](jcav08p3173g007){#F7}
![**Schematic diagram of how arecoline affects glycolysis and the signaling pathway of anoikis in HA22T/VGH cells.** Arecoline induces glycolytic gene expression (Glut3, HK1, HK2, and PK), which in turn increases the production of lactate and ATP. Arecoline also enhanced the ROS generation. However, the intracellular pH (pHi) is not changed and the extracellular pH (pHe) is declined. The pH-regulating protein NHE1 expression is unchanged and NCX is up-regulated. This suggests that intracellular H^+^ is exported via NHE1 and NCX and intracellular Ca^2+^ is increased during this ion exchange process. The increase in \[Ca^2+^\]i and respiratory chain of mitochondria leads to generate more ROS and cause mitochondrial dysfunction. These results demonstrate that arecoline enhances aerobic glycolysis in HA22T/VGH cells and modulates the mRNA expression of pH regulators, resulting in an elevated \[Ca^2+^\]i, ROS generation, and subsequent cell detachment. Red🡅: increased (shown in this study); Red🡇: decreased (shown in this study); Red **=**: not changed (shown in this study); Blue🡅: enhanced (shown in a previous studies) (see Cheng et al., 2010) [@B6].](jcav08p3173g008){#F8}
######
Primers and amplified products for each test gene used in real-time PCR.
Genes Forward Reverse Product (bp)
---------- ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------- --------------
GAPDH 5\'-cgaccactttgtcaagctca-3\' 5\'-aggggagattcagtgtggtg-3\' 203
Glut1 5\'-ccgcttcctgctcatcaacc-3\' 5\'-catcatctgccgactctcttcc-3\' 124
Glut3 5\'-aactttgacggacaagggaaatgc-3\' 5\'-ccaccagtgacagccaacagg-3\' 183
HK1 5\'-ctgaatagcacctgcgatgac-3\' 5\'-ctggagaagtgtggatgaagc-3\' 194
HK2 5\'-cgagagcatcctcctcaagtg-3\' 5\'-tcaccacagcaaccacatcc-3\' 131
PFK1 5\'-ttacaggtgccaacatcttc-3\' 5\'-tgttcaggtgcgagtagg-3\' 108
PK 5\'-tcgtctttgcctcctttgtg-3\' 5\'-cttgatgccgtgtccttcc-3\' 83
LDHA 5\'-gattcagcccgattccgttacc-3\' 5\'-agagacaccagcaacattcattcc-3\' 135
LDHB 5\'-tggattctgctagatttcgctacc-3\' 5\'-aacacctgccacattcacacc-3\' 134
MCT1 5\'-gtgaccattgtggaatgctg-3\' 5\'-cctttttctgctcgtttgct-3\' 199
MCT4 5\'-ggccctactccgtctacctc-3\' 5\'-ccaatggcactggagaactt-3\' 199
NBCN1 5\'-gcaagcagccttgtgtgtta-3\' 5\'-agtttcattgctggggtttg-3\' 201
CAIX 5\'-gtctcgcttggaagaaatcg-3\' 5\'-agagggtgtggagctgctta-3\' 200
CAXII 5\'-tagggaatggcaggttcaag-3\' 5\'-ccactgacaggaggttggat-3\' 201
V-ATPase 5\'-gtgggcatgatcctgattct-3\' 5\'-tgcgcatgtacaagaccaac-3\' 207
NHE1 5\'-actggaccttcgtcatcagc-3\' 5\'-catggggaagtgcttcttgt-3\' 200
NCX 5\'-cctggagcatctttgcctac-3\' 5\'-taatcatccccctctgcttg-3\' 201
[^1]: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.
|
Q:
Enable PHP 5.5 OPCache
After configuring OPCache as recomanded, It's not working.
So, How to debug OPCache to see where is the problem?
Or I am missing something?
My config:
php.ini
php -v
And in code
opcache_get_status(); // return false
//but
extension_loaded('Zend OPcache') // return true
A:
It has been quite some time so I imagine you have moved on from this issue but in case you have not. Is noticed you are running Xdebug...
Have you checked your php.ini to make sure that the following is not an issue?
If you want to use OPcache with » Xdebug, you must load OPcache before Xdebug.
http://php.net/manual/en/opcache.installation.php
The other thing probably worth mentioning is that you do not need to specify the path to the shared library. The following should suffice:
zend_extension=opcache.so
|
In alarming move, CDC says people exposed to Covid-19 do not need testing - uptown
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/08/cdc-loses-its-mind-says-people-exposed-to-covid-19-do-not-need-testing/
======
purple-again
The headline made me very concerned but then first two paragraphs made it make
perfect sense.
The title would be infinitely less clickbait bullshit if you added one word to
the end:
“In alarming move, CDC says people exposed to Covid-19 do not need testing
immediately”
Even better:
“CDC says people exposed to COVID-19 should not be tested immediately after
exposure”.
The alarming part is why would they put out this guidance without specifying
how long to wait. Seems worse than useless as it empowers everyone to make
whatever policy they want for how long to wait and then finger point at how
they followed CDC guidance in doing so.
------
mrandish
That headline ("alarming") is just not helpful. Standard epidemic science
indicates once a virus with R0>1.5 grows past 1% community transmission,
eradication through lockdowns and full test and contact trace will be futile
and a tremendous waste of resources better focused more productively.
If someone is not in an at-risk group (elderly/frail, immuno-compromised,
multi-comorbidities) nor a medical provider or care-giver to the at-risk - as
long as they remain asymptomatic, there's no reason to test them. They should
simply stay away from the at-risk and monitor for symptoms.
It was odd to me that the CDC changed their guidance on this a few months ago
from standard best practice. Now they are just putting it back to what it was.
------
fearoffish
“More tests means more cases”. Something smells here.
------
Fjolsvith
Could it possibly be because of the new plasma transfusion treatment where a
Covid-19 sick person is given plasma from a person who has Covid-19
antibodies? Perhaps they don't want to get a huge database of possible donors.
|
The British government has come under fire from the country's top scientific organisation for failing to make proper use of science in its development aid programmes.
The criticism has come from the Royal Society in comments on the activities of the Department for International Development (DFID) submitted to a parliamentary committee that is currently investigating how science fits into British aid efforts.
The scientists' statement describes the department's current efforts in this area as being "short-term and uncoordinated", and is particularly critical of the lack of strategic thinking about the potential contribution of basic scientific research.
For example, it says, although DFID was prepared to provide practical advice to inhabitants of the island of Montserrat about how to deal with the impact of imminent volcanic eruptions, it has shown little interest in long-term research carried out by the Natural Environment Research Council into a deeper understanding of the behaviour of the island's volcano.
However, DFID has defended its position by arguing that its main activities are focused on its principal mission, namely the relief of poverty, particularly in developing countries. "We only fund science contributing to that end," a spokesman has said.
Furthermore, Paul Spray, head of research at DFID, says that a review conducted in 2002 by external consultants suggested that, in comparison to spending on research by development agencies in other countries, "DFID is one of the leaders".
The comments from the Royal Society were made in its submission to the House of Common’s Parliamentary Committee on Science and Technology, which is currently looking at how research, technology and innovation affect the government's development policies and practices (see UK parliament probes role of science in development).
The society has used the opportunity to compile a list of grievances against what it feels to be an undervaluing of the potential contribution of science to British development aid programmes.
It criticises DFID, for example, for failing to appoint a chief scientist, as all other government departments have been required to do following the reorganisation of British science at the beginning of the 1990s.
It claims that DFID suffers from inadequate in-house scientific expertise" and an "inadequate relationship" with UK research councils and government agencies. "To develop capacity in this area, the co-ordination of the use of science research across government organisations needs to be strengthened."
While praising the support given by the British government to what it describes as "a number of very limited funded exchange programmes", it continues that the United Kingdom "is not providing adequate resources for scientific training and capacity building in poorer countries".
And it takes a swipe at those who demand the rigid application of legislation on intellectual property rights by countries facing food insecurity, pandemic diseases and other major problems as an "absurd use of scarce economic, political and social resources".
"We support DFID's aim and associated objectives to eliminate poverty in poorer countries," says the society. "However by concentrating on small-scale, highly specific projects, long-term and/or underpinning scientific research are often neglected."
But when asked at a meeting of the committee on Monday (12 January) whether DFID was forced to make a compromise between long-term and short-term goals, Spray said, "Our main criteria is always the impact of the poor. Sometimes that will be long-term, and sometimes it will be quite quick."
"We recognise … the importance of science and technology," he said, adding that DFID aimed to try to facilitate access of the poor to science and technology.
DFID officials point out that the department currently has almost 500 scientists and professional advisers working for it in the United Kingdom and overseas, and is currently increasing resources for the commissioning, monitoring and dissemination of relevant scientific research.
"The absolute number of professionally qualified staff in DFID [including scientists] has been going up," said Spray.
Asked whether there should be a separate strand of funding to build up science and technology research capacities in developing countries, Jim Harvey, head of rural livelihoods at DFID, replied: "I think there is an argument for it, but it is something that will come out in the wash."
"I don't think it's something for DFID alone," Harvey added, citing the World Bank as an organisation that should also be involved.
DFID is one of the sponsors of SciDev.Net
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|
A £1.5bn package to support Britain’s struggling high street will be set out in the Budget.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to use today’s statement to announce £900m in business rates relief for almost 500,000 small retailers.
A £650m fund will help transform high streets, improving transport access and turning empty shops into homes and offices.
But Mr Hammond was warned the measures do not go far enough, with calls for fundamental reform to business rates rather than “tinkering”.
High streets have taken a battering in recent months, with major retailers struggling as shoppers shift online and firms railing against rising business rates.
The business rates relief being offered by Mr Hammond is aimed at around 496,000 small retailers and will knock a third off their bills.
While the rates relief is aimed at offering short-term help, the plan to revive town centres is aimed at having a long-term impact.
The £650 million fund will also be used to improve infrastructure, restore properties and put historic buildings back into use.
On Thursday Debenhams became the latest big-name high street retailer to announce store closures, unveiling plans to axe up to 50 shops, putting around 4,000 jobs at risk, after posting a near £500 million loss.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said the business rates announcements would not help the larger firms employing the majority of workers.
“While we hugely welcome the temporary support being given to small businesses, these measures alone are not sufficient to enable a successful reinvention of our high streets,” she said.
“Retailers are currently in the midst of a perfect storm of technology changing how people shop, rising public policy costs and softening demand.
“Struggling high streets require a broader outlook in order to thrive, particularly given the majority of the UK’s 3.1 million retail workers are employed in businesses that will not benefit from this announcement.
“The underlying issue remains that the business rates burden is simply too high and this unsustainable system needs less tinkering and more wholesale reform within the context of the wider taxation system.”
|
Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski
Jan Stanisław Jabłonowski of the Prus III coat of arms (1669 - 28 April 1731 in Lviv) was a Polish political writer who was a maternal uncle of King Stanisław I Leszczyński, under whom he served as Crown Chancellor in 1706-09. He also held the positions of Crown standard-holder from 1687, voivode-governor of Volhynia since 1693, and also voivode-governor of Ruthenia from 1697.
He was the son of Marianna Kazanowska and Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski. Through them he was the brother of Aleksander, Stanisław, Jadwiga, and Anna. Through Anna, he was the uncle of King Stanisław Leszczyński and grand-uncle of Queen Maria Leszczyńska.
Despite this family relationship, in 1704, he took part in the Confederation of Sandomierz which supported Augustus II the Strong against his nephew. After Augustus was dethroned, he was suggested as a possible candidate, but never put himself forward; as part of the Northern Wars, Stanisław I Leszczyński was already supported by Karl XII. After this he went to Saxony, only switching his support to his nephew in 1706, after which he was appointed Chancellor. On his behalf, in 1713, he sought to dethrone Augustus, for which he was arrested on 7 August and released in 1717 by the Silent Sejm.
He was an avid art patron, responsible for bringing Augustyn Mirys to the country. He was also a recipient of the Order of the White Eagle and of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece.
He is portrayed in the novel Za Sasów of Józef Ignacy Kraszewski as a philosopher concerned for the fate of his country.
References
Category:Jabłonowski family
Category:1669 births
Category:1731 deaths
Category:Voivodes of the Ruthenian Voivodeship
Category:Volhynian voivodes
Category:Ruthenian nobility of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Category:Polish political writers
Category:17th-century Polish people
Category:18th-century Polish writers
|
Rabbis to focus on Mideast at their weekend services
Few plan to mention uproar over Mel Gibson's anti-Semitic remarks
August 04, 2006|By LIZ F. KAY | LIZ F. KAY,SUN REPORTER
Rabbis conducting services around the Baltimore area today and tomorrow are choosing to focus on the chaotic and deadly events in the Middle East rather than the uproar over the anti-Semitic remarks Mel Gibson made during a traffic stop.
Several rabbis said yesterday that the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon seems to parallel the commemoration of Tisha B'Av, a day of fasting that primarily marks the destruction of the Jewish temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and 70 A.D. The holiday began last night and ends at sundown today.
"The locus of our physical power was destroyed. ... We became powerless in history," said Rabbi Steven M. Fink of the reform Temple Oheb Shalom in Northwest Baltimore. He said the commemoration offers lessons that apply today.
FOR THE RECORD - An article in yesterday's editions gave the wrong date for the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av. The fast started Wednesday and ended Thursday at sundown.The Sun regrets the error.
"It's better to have power and to wield power than to be powerless," he said, adding that power must be used with a moral sense. "That's the great difficulty."
Few rabbis said they plan to mention Gibson. Fink suggested that subject might be more appropriate for the Jewish high holiday of Yom Kippur. On that day, "we deal with repentance, forgiveness and atonement," he said.
Rabbi Mark G. Loeb of Beth El Congregation in Pikesville said people attend services for "a sense of perspective on what's happening, a sense of comfort in times of trouble, which we are certainly living through."
He said Tisha B'Av, which is marked by reflection and fasting, is fitting for a discussion of the situation in the Middle East.
When each temple was destroyed, "the Jews were almost put out of business," Loeb said. "Eventually, in history, we renewed ourselves, we recovered. We are praying that the results will be better for everybody."
After remembering the events of Tisha B'Av, this week's Shabbat celebration will focus on comfort and redemption, said Rabbi Steven P. Schwartz of Beth El.
Although Tisha B'Av was a sad day, Jews also understood that the Messiah would be born on that day, he said, bringing hope.
As a result, "despite all of the challenges ... in the end you have reason to maintain hope as well. There's continuity to the Jewish people," he said.
Cantor Jan Morrison of Columbia Jewish Congregation said she stays away from political topics, instead striving for "healing kinds of services, to look for ways for us to work together."
This week's Torah readings show that "if we don't learn from the past, we're doomed to make the same mistakes in the future," Morrison said.
|
Jared Kushner is too “spooked” to voluntarily speak with the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is probing Russian meddling in the US election and possible collusion with President Trump’s campaign, the committee’s chair said Thursday.
Sen. Chuck Grassley blamed Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein for releasing the transcript of an interview with Glenn Simpson, founder of the firm Fusion GPS, which compiled the infamous dossier on Trump that was launched by conservatives but then taken over by Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
“I had hoped to speak with all the witnesses surrounding the Trump Tower meeting before releasing any interview transcripts, but with the unilateral release of the transcript for Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson, it seems to have spooked other potential witnesses,” Grassley said, Bloomberg News reported.
“As a result it looks like our chances of getting a voluntary interview with Mr. Kushner has [sic] been shot.”
Grassley wanted the committee to interview the president’s son-in-law about the infamous June 2016 sitdown with Kremlin-connected Russians at Trump Tower he attended with first son Donald Trump Jr. and former campaign chair Paul Manafort.
The Iowa Republican said at a committee hearing Thursday that he now plans to release transcripts of his panel’s interviews with other participants in the meeting, which Trump Jr. agreed to after being promised dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Releasing the transcript could provide the public with its first glimpse of the first son’s account of the meeting, which the president’s former alt-right guru Steve Bannon called “treasonous” and “unpatriotic” in Michael Wolff’s book “Fire and Fury.”
Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Russian lawyer with connections to strongman Vladimir Putin, arranged the meeting, which also included Russian-American lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, through an intermediary.
The Russians were later spotted attending events in the capital when Trump was inaugurated a year ago.
Grassley’s announcement came a day after two committee Democrats, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, called on him to share the transcripts with special counsel Robert Mueller, particularly the Trump Jr. interview.
“I have said all along that I favor as much transparency as possible in our investigations, but at the appropriate time, so we don’t undermine our work,” he said.
Mueller’s team is scrutinizing the meeting as part of its own ongoing probe of Russian meddling.
|
Q:
Password protected PDF using Ghostscript
I need to put a password protection to PDF files using ghostscript in php.
These files will be uploading to server using simple form (I don't need any help with this), but they won't have any protection at first. So I want to put password protection to them using exec function and ghostscript in it. But I couldn't find anywhere what ghostscript query should be like.
For example, I have a PDF file called File.pdf. I upload it and then I need to put protection to it and call it File_protected.pdf.
I was trying to do it like this but '.ps' file weights too much and there is no password in the final File_protected.pdf:
exec("gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sDEVICE=pswrite -sOutputFile=File.ps File.pdf");
exec("gs -dNOPAUSE -dBATCH -sPDFPassword=password -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -sOutputFile=File_protected.pdf File.ps");
A:
OK so firstly you don't need to convert the file to PostScript. Ghostscript is perfectly capable of taking the PDF file as an input and producing a PDF file as an output, lots of people do this for many reasons.
However, you need to be aware that if you do this, Ghostscript isn't just 'stamping' the PDF file or something, it is fully interpreting it down to marking operations and then making a completely new PDF file which incorporates those marks. But if you were satisfied by converting to PostScript and back to PDF you should find this satisfactory, its actually better than doing that 2 step conversion.
Secondly, there is no 'PDFPassword' switch for the pdfwrite device, which is why its having no effect. There are 2 switches: -sOwnerPassword and -sUserPassword. You may also want to supply the -dPermissions switch.
You should read the PDF reference manual to glean the details but in short the Owner can do anything to the file, the User is limited to the Permissions (which is a bit field). If you don't supply a User password then anyone can open the file (limited to Permissions) but you need to supply the Owner password to do anything which is not allowed by the Permissions. I suspect this is what you want to do but its up to you.
A:
The switches -sOwnerPassword and -sUserPassword didn't work for me.
However, -sPDFPassword did.
|
---
abstract: 'We probe the short-range pinning properties with the application of microwave currents at very high driving frequencies (47.7 GHz) on YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ films with and without sub-micrometer BaZrO$_3$ inclusions. We explore the temperature and field ranges 60 K$<T<T_c$ and 0$<\mu_0H<$0.8 T, with the field applied along the c-axis. The magnetic field induces a much smaller increase of the microwave resistivity, $\Delta \rho_1(H)+\mathrm{i}\Delta \rho_2(H)$, in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$/BaZrO$_3$ with respect to pure YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$. $\Delta \rho_1(H)$ is slightly superlinear in pure YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (suggesting a possible contribution of thermal activation), but linear or sublinear in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$/BaZrO$_3$ (suggesting a possible suppression of thermal activation as a consequence of BaZrO$_3$ inclusions). These features persist up to close to $T_c$. We discuss our data in terms of the ratio $r=\Delta X_s''(H)/\Delta R_s''(H)$ in the framework of the models for the microwave surface impedance in the mixed state. Large $r$ are found in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$/BaZrO$_3$, with little field dependence. By contrast, smaller values and stronger field dependences are found in pure YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$. We discuss the different field dependence of the pinning constant.'
address:
- 'Dipartimento di Fisica “E. Amaldi” and Unità CNISM, Università Roma Tre, Via della Vasca Navale 84, 00146 Roma, Italy'
- 'ENEA-Frascati, Via Enrico Fermi 45, 00044 Frascati, Roma, Italy'
author:
- 'N. Pompeo'
- 'V. Galluzzi'
- 'R. Rogai'
- 'G. Celentano'
- 'E. Silva'
title: 'Change of strength of vortex pinning in YBCO due to BaZrO$_3$ inclusions'
---
,
,
,
,
YBa2Cu3O7-d, BaZrO3 inclusions, surface impedance, pinning
74.72.Bk ,74.25.Nf ,74.25.Qt
Introduction {#intro}
============
The dynamic of flux lines has shown a surprising richness in high-$T_c$ compounds [@blatterRMP94], due to the several energy scales involved, whose competition is enhanced by high operating temperatures, anisotropy, short coherence length and high $\kappa$. In particular, it was early recognized that in a very wide portion of the $H-T$ phase diagram flux lines were able to move, and very difficult to pin. Columnar defects [@civalePRL91] produced by heavy-ion irradiation have been shown to strongly pin flux lines, thanks to the much increased correlation of the fluxons along the columns. By contrast, point defects change the nature of the vortex transition in the direction of a more disordered (glassy) state [@fendrichPRL95]. Recently, a new class of pinning centers has been the subject of strong interest. In fact, it has been shown that BaZrO$_3$ (BZO) inclusions substantially increased critical currents and irreversibility fields in YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_{7-\delta}$ (YBCO) films. In particular, it was found that also in strongly pinned YBCO films the critical current density could be increased by a large factor even in fields of several tesla [@macmanusNATMAT04]. Moreover, depending on the size of BZO crystallites, the irreversibility field was raised above 10 T at 77 K [@peurlaPRB07].\
Apart the obvious practical interest for applications, the features induced by BZO inclusions in the vortex matter are of interest. It was shown by angular measurements [@macmanusNATMAT04] that such crystallites induce a columnar-like flux pinning, with a maximum of $j_c$ along the c-axis. It is then interesting to investigate the behaviour of the vortex system in YBCO/BZO materials also by different techniques.\
Up to now, the vortex properties in YBCO/BZO have been evaluated by means of dc probes: resistivity, critical current, irreversibility line. In all these cases one probes large motion of the flux lines: significant finite resistivity and critical currents are a consequence of large mean values of the vortex displacement. In this regime the vortex-vortex interactions may be very significant, and stiffness of the vortex lattice plays a major role. With increasing driving frequency, vortices are forced to oscillate for very small amplitudes around their equilibrium position. At microwave ($\omega/(2\pi)$=1-100 GHz) frequencies, the mean vortex displacement can be as small as a fractions of nm [@tomaschPRB88]. Eventually, with increasing frequency the response is dictated by single-vortex properties: pinning strength, given by the shape and the height of the pinning potential, line tension, and in general the vortex structure (if a rigid or flexible rod, a correlated or not correlated stack of pancake vortices, etc.). An example of this peculiar feature of the high frequency probe is the measurement of the surface impedance in YBCO crystals in the several tens of GHz range [@tsuchiyaPRB01], where absolutely no signature of the vortex melting was found. By contrast, in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+x}$ [@hanaguriPRL99] clear effects of the first order vortex transition on the surface impedance were observed. This is understandable within the single-vortex response: in YBCO across the transition the vortices retained their 3D, well correlated nature, while in Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CaCu$_2$O$_{8+x}$ correlation across the $c$ axis was most probably lost. Similarly, the implantation of columnar defects gave small but measurable differences in YBCO at 50 GHz [@silvaIJMPB00]. In short, a change in the vortex structure or in the interaction with pinning centers gives rise to a difference in the microwave response.\
The dynamics of flux lines at microwave frequencies has been studied by several authors [@gr; @cc; @brandtPRL91; @kv]. Here we will use the model developed by Brandt [@brandtPRL91], where the role of the activation energy is clear. There, the microwave fluxon resistivity can be written as: $$\label{eqB}
\Delta\rho_1+\mathrm{i}\Delta\rho_2=
\rho_{ff}\frac{1+\mathrm{i} \omega\tau_{r}}{1/\epsilon'+\mathrm{i} \omega\tau_{r}}\rightarrow\rho_{ff}\frac{1+ \mathrm{i} \frac{\omega_p}{\omega}}{1+\left(\frac{\omega_p}{\omega}\right)^2}$$ where $\rho_{ff}$ is the flux flow resistivity, $\tau_r=\tau_0\mathrm{e}^{U/k_BT}$ is the characteristic time for thermally activated depinning (creep), $\tau_0=\eta/k_p$ is the relaxation time for elastically pinned vortices, $k_p$ is the pinning constant, $\eta$ is the vortex viscosity, $U$ is a vortex activation energy and $\omega_p=k_p/\eta$ is the depinning angular frequency. Finally, $\epsilon'=1/(1+\mathrm{e}^{U/k_BT})\geq0$ is a dimensionless creep parameter. The latter relation in (\[eqB\]) corresponds to the Gittleman-Rosenblum (GR) model [@gr], and it holds when thermal activation can be neglected ($U, \tau_r\rightarrow\infty$). Whichever the model chosen, it is often particularly useful to focus on the so-called $r$ parameter [@halbritter], as defined by $r=\Delta\rho_2(H)/\Delta\rho_1(H)$, because this is in most cases an experimental quantity that can be obtained without the introduction of more or less invasive calibrations of the data. On the other hand, if one takes advantage of a specific model, the physical meaning of $r$ further increases. In particular, focusing on pinning-related processes it is easy to show that, according to Eq. (\[eqB\]), $r$ gives a lower bound for the normalized pinning frequency $\omega_p/\omega$ and allows to estimate the maximum value of the creep parameter $\epsilon'_{max}=1+2r^2-2r\sqrt{1+r^2}$.
Experimental results and discussion {#exp}
===================================
YBCO films were grown by high-oxygen pressure pulsed laser deposition technique on (001) SrTiO$_3$ (STO) substrate. YBCO targets pure and added with 7 mol.% BZO powder with granularity below 1 $\mu$m were used to grow the films [@galluzziIEEE07]. In films with BZO concentration similar to the one here studied the defect concentration, evaluated following [@damAPL94], was larger by a factor $\sim$ 30. The YBCO/BZO films exhibited only moderate changes of the transport properties in zero field, in dc as well as at microwave frequencies. Dc resistivity yielded $T_{c0}=90.2$ K and 89.9 K with $\Delta T_{c}(10\%-90\%)$=0.8 K and 1.2 K in YBCO and YBCO/BZO, respectively.\
A sapphire dielectric resonator technique was used to get the filed-dependent changes in the complex microwave response at 47.7 GHz [@pompeoJSUP07]. We verified that measurements were taken in the linear response regime. Care was taken to avoid the substrate resonances introduced by the strong temperature dependence of the permittivity of the substrate [@pompeoPREP07]. From the resonator parameters we obtained the microwave resistivity $(\Delta \rho_{1}+\mathrm{i}\Delta \rho_2)/d$, with the film thickness $d\sim$ 120 nm.\
![Field variation of the complex resistivity in pure YBCO (squares) and in YBCO/BZO (circles) at two temperatures.[]{data-label="fig_rho"}](fig1.pdf){width="6cm"}
Typical data of the microwave complex resistivity are reported in Figure \[fig\_rho\] for pure YBCO and YBCO/BZO. The response of the two samples is strikingly different: in YBCO/BZO the same field, at the same temperature, induces a resistivity smaller by a factor $\sim$3 than in pure YBCO (this effect is unlikely to arise from increased sample inhomogeneities: in that case, a larger magnetoresistance would be expected). Remarkably, a significant reduction of the real part persists up to high temperatures. Moreover, the imaginary part is of the same order than the real part in YBCO/BZO also at high $T$, indicating rather strong pinning. We recall that the reduction of the microwave resistivity at similar frequencies due to columnar defects was only $\sim$ 15% [@civalePRL91].\
We now focus on the field dependence of the $r$ parameter. In Figure \[fig\_r\] we report $r(H)$ at several temperatures (the numerical derivation of $r$ yields large uncertainty in the low field region, which is omitted). Again, it is readily seen the different behaviour of YBCO and YBCO/BZO. First, the absolute values of $r$ are larger in YBCO/BZO, indicating a stronger pinning. Second, the field dependence is weaker in YBCO/BZO. This is particularly significant at high temperatures: even at 87 K, close to $T_c$, $r$ saturates in YBCO/BZO at $\sim$0.5, while in pure YBCO $r$ keeps decreasing below $\sim$0.2.
![Field variation of the $r$ parameter in YBCO/BZO and YBCO. Note the different vertical scales.[]{data-label="fig_r"}](fig2.pdf){width="6.2cm"}
Making reference to Eq.(\[eqB\]), the observed field dependence on $r$ can originate from any of the fluxon parameters involved. While a field varying pinning energy $U(H)$ is a plausible candidate, one cannot a-priori attribute to it the whole field variation of $r(H)$. In order to proceed correctly, one should identify all the relevant field-dependencies. This task is hindered by the under-determination of the system of equations (given by Eq.(\[eqB\]) ) which relates the unknowns parameters with the experimentally determined $\Delta\rho_1(H)$ and $\Delta\rho_2(H)$. Nevertheless, it is possible to proceed as follows. By making no assumption about the creep parameter $\epsilon'$, one can leave it free to vary within the boundaries already highlighted in the preceding Section (i.e., $0\leq\epsilon'\leq\epsilon'_{max}$). In this way, both $k_p$ and $\eta$ (together to their ratio $\omega_p$) will vary within correspondent bounds which can easily computed from Eq.(\[eqB\]) with some algebra (full computations will be reported elsewhere [@talliotech]). In the following, we focus our attention on $k_p$, given its relevance regarding elastic and pinning properties of the fluxon system. The $k_p(H)$ allowed ranges (shaded areas) and GR limit curves (symbols) are shown in Figure \[fig\_kp\] for both samples for two temperatures; on average, the allowed ranges are $\sim$20$\%$ wide with worst case values reaching $\sim$30$\%$.
![Allowed ranges (shaded areas) and GR limit values (symbols) for $k_p(H)$ (see text) at selected temperatures for pure YBCO and YBCO/BZO. Note the very different field dependence.[]{data-label="fig_kp"}](fig3a.pdf){width="8.3cm"}
![Allowed ranges (shaded areas) and GR limit values (symbols) for $k_p(H)$ (see text) at selected temperatures for pure YBCO and YBCO/BZO. Note the very different field dependence.[]{data-label="fig_kp"}](fig3b.pdf){width="8.3cm"}
![Allowed ranges (shaded areas) and GR limit values (symbols) for $k_p(H)$ (see text) at selected temperatures for pure YBCO and YBCO/BZO. Note the very different field dependence.[]{data-label="fig_kp"}](fig3c.pdf){width="8.3cm"}
Many comments can be done. First of all, the absolute values of $k_p$ in YBCO/BZO are larger than in pure YBCO, especially at lower temperatures (panel ‘a’), confirming the strong difference in the reactive response already observed. Secondly, an apparent difference in the field dependence can be indeed observed between the two samples: while in pure YBCO $k_p(H)$ steadily decreases, with larger slopes at lower temperatures (lower curve in panel ‘a’, panel ‘b’), in YBCO/BZO $k_p(H)$ appears to be almost constant (upper curve in panel ‘a’), or slightly increasing when higher temperatures are considered (panel ‘c’). These results can find a natural explanation by considering the nature of the pinning sites in the two samples. In pure YBCO, $k_p$ suggests that, among all the available pinning sites, only a small fraction of them is steep enough to be actually effective in pinning vortices, whose oscillations have extremely small amplitudes due to our high measuring frequency. In this scenario, fluxons immediately outnumber the effective pins, so that a fixed overall pinning strength has to be averaged over an increasing number of fluxons, which determines the observed decreasing (mean-field single vortex) $k_p$ [@gr; @golosovskySUST96]. In YBCO/BZO, on the other hand, BZO inclusions give a high density of strong pins, so that in the whole field range here explored each fluxon entering in the sample can be individually pinned. As a consequence, $k_p$ is almost constant against $H$. These hypotheses can be checked by studying samples with intermediate concentrations of BZO inclusions with respect the samples here presented. In this way, by increasing the artificial pins density, one should expect a progressive reduction of the field dependence of $k_p$ as well as an increase of the absolute values.
Conclusion {#conc}
==========
We have presented data for the microwave resistivity at 47.7 GHz in YBCO films with BZO inclusions and in pure YBCO. The comparison has shown that BZO inclusions strongly reduce the field-induced microwave resistivity. Moreover, its interpretation within the Brandt model revealed that in pure YBCO the drop of elastic response necessarily requires a field dependent pinning constant $k_p$, most likely due to a small density of pinning sites. This is not the case for YBCO/BZO, where the BZO inclusions presumably provides for a high density of strong pins which allows to individually pin each vortex in the whole field regime explored.
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N. Pompeo, E. Silva, in preparation.
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|
'Captain America,' 'Thor' strike at Disney expo
ANAHEIM, Calif.
A few friends of "The Avengers" touched down at the D23 Expo.
Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins from "Thor: The Dark World" and Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie and Chris Evans from "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" appeared on stage Saturday at the celebration of all things Disney.
Hiddleston apologized for not donning his Loki costume, which he wore earlier this summer at Comic-Con.
"I'm not gonna get this crowd to kneel," he said. "We're at Disneyland."
Later, when the "Captain America" crew came on stage, Evans jokingly invited the crowd at the Anaheim Convention Center to join him at Disneyland across the street.
"Anyone wanna go?" the Captain America actor teased. "Let's go!"
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige showed footage from both the sequels, including two never-before-seen clips, and teasers for "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."
"The Dark World" is set for release Nov. 8, while "The Winter Soldier" will hit April 4, 2014.
Patterned after San Diego's wildly popular Comic-Con, the biannual D23 Expo, which Disney launched in 2009, isn't just about movies. On the show floor, attendees can snap up exclusive merchandise, trade collectible pins and meet stars from Disney Channel shows.
|
Communicating with Code
One of the original Gmail authors on benefits of using prototypes and the
ease of developing those prototypes (rather than slick presentations),
http://paulbuchheit.blogspot.com/2009/01/communicating-with-code.html
One of the wins IMO with Perl is how quickly you can bang something out that
does useful work (esp. on the command line!), whether for a demonstration or
actually solving the problem right there.
P
|
President hopes to be seen as the grown-up in 'birther' fight
President Obama hopes his release of a long-form birth certificate Wednesday will leave voters seeing him as Washington’s last standing grown-up.
It’s a continuation of a strategy the White House has employed since the midterm elections, when Democrats lost the House and saw their majority narrow in the Senate.
Since then, Obama has sought to portray himself as above politics and willing to work with both parties to reach agreements — for example, to extend the Bush-era tax cuts — and to avert a government shutdown.
ADVERTISEMENT
Those decisions, along with the move to release his long-form birth certificate, are intended to make Obama look presidential and to appeal to independent voters at a time when even Republicans are nervous about their field of 2012 candidates.
During a visit to the White House briefing room, where he scolded the media for paying attention to “carnival barkers” — presumably like Trump, whom he did not mention by name — Obama said he hoped to put an end to questions about his birthplace so that the country could move on to serious issues.
The White House said Obama personally decided on the move because he was frustrated that the story was interfering with a discussion on Medicare and the budget, which the White House views as a political winner.
“We live in a serious time right now and we have the potential to deal with the issues that we confront in a way that will make our kids and our grandkids and our great-grandkids proud,” Obama said. “And I have every confidence that America in the 21st century is going to be able to come out on top just like we always have. But we’re going to have to get serious to do it.”
White House officials and Democratic strategists believe the president will win points from voters for focusing on issues and delivering results at a time when trivial debates and “sideshows,” in the White House’s words, dominate the news.
The White House also is eager to engage in the a renewed debate over the budget with House Republicans, who Democrats believe have erred in proposing changes to Medicare that some polls suggest are unpopular with voters.
Staff undermined Obama's scolding of the media, however, by refusing to answer questions about changes in the national-security team on a day when they were focused on the birth certificate.
Re-entering the “birther” fight is also a gamble of sorts for Obama, who elevated the issue — and Trump — by addressing it personally and from the White House.
Some liberals were quick to criticize Obama for being bullied into releasing the document by Trump.
Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said the move was “brilliant,” especially as it was timed to coincide with Trump's first foray into the first-in-the-nation primary state on Wednesday.
“Now that 50 percent of all Republicans don’t believe the president was American-born in the U.S., the GOP leaders and candidates have the impossible situation of having to stand with their birther base or sound rational to the rest of America by dropping one of the looniest conspiracy stories ever hatched,” Buckley said.
Polls suggest a significant number of Republican voters doubt Obama was born in the U.S., and it’s possible those numbers have gone higher since Trump started pitching the issue.
Democratic strategist and contributor to The Hill's Pundit's Blog Karen Finney, who called Wednesday morning’s events a “smart move,” lamented that the issue had not been put to rest sooner.
“[It's] incredibly sad that it got to this point,” Finney said. “There is plenty of blame to go around on this — it should've been more vigorously fought and dismissed a long time ago.”
But Finney said it is Republicans who screwed up, allowing the issue to grow to the point that it is identified with the party.
“The GOP let it go on far too long, and despite their comments to the contrary, they let it go on and fully understood the ramifications of vague answers like 'I take him at his word' rather than outright calling it silliness,” Finney said.
A statement from the Republican National Committee (RNC) suggested it thought the birther issue was becoming a liability.
|
// Copyright Information
// ==================================
// Channel9 - EfCore - ErrorLog.cs
// All samples copyright Philip Japikse
// http://www.skimedic.com 2020/04/10
// See License.txt for more information
// ==================================
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
namespace EfCore.Entities
{
public partial class ErrorLog
{
[Key] [Column("ErrorLogID")] public int ErrorLogId { get; set; }
[Column(TypeName = "datetime")] public DateTime ErrorTime { get; set; }
[Required] [StringLength(128)] public string UserName { get; set; }
public int ErrorNumber { get; set; }
public int? ErrorSeverity { get; set; }
public int? ErrorState { get; set; }
[StringLength(126)] public string ErrorProcedure { get; set; }
public int? ErrorLine { get; set; }
[Required] [StringLength(4000)] public string ErrorMessage { get; set; }
}
}
|
"""
Given an array and a value, remove all instances of that value in place and return the new length.
The order of elements can be changed. It doesn't matter what you leave beyond the new length.
"""
__author__ = 'Danyang'
class Solution:
def removeElement_negative_index(self, A, elem):
"""
Constant space
Algorithms: Two Pointers
Partitioning the array into 3 parts, closed, open, back
Data structure: array
:param A: list
:param elem: integer
:return: "shrunk" list
"""
open_ptr = 0
back_ptr = -1 # Python style backward
while len(A)+back_ptr>=open_ptr:
if A[open_ptr]==elem:
A[open_ptr], A[back_ptr] = A[back_ptr], A[open_ptr]
back_ptr -= 1
else:
open_ptr += 1
return len(A)+back_ptr+1 # length is index+1
def removeElement(self, A, elem):
"""
Constant space
Algorithms: Two Pointers
Partitioning the array into 3 parts, closed, open, back
Data structure: array
:param A: list
:param elem: integer
:return: "shrunk" list
"""
open_ptr = 0
end_ptr = len(A)
while open_ptr<end_ptr:
if A[open_ptr]==elem:
end_ptr -= 1
A[open_ptr], A[end_ptr] = A[end_ptr], A[open_ptr]
else:
open_ptr += 1
return end_ptr
if __name__=="__main__":
A = [1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 4]
elem = 4
solution = Solution()
assert solution.removeElement(A, elem)==solution.removeElement_negative_index(A, elem)
|
Gia Allemand committed suicide on August 14, setting off a wave of grief that reached fever pitch during her funeral this week.
Friends and family of the late "Bachelor" star gathered for her funeral on Thursday, Aug. 22; including her boyfriend Ryan Anderson. The service took place in New York City at the Trinity Grace Church of Chelsea where the 29-year-old star's tragic death was mourned.
Last week, Allemand was found in her New Orleans home after an attempt to hang herself when she was taken to the hospital.
The following day, the model died when she was taken off of life support "due to a critical loss of brain and organ function," according to a statement from her family, reported People.com.
"Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend, and other lifelong friends by her side," the family continued. "As a practicing Christian, Gia did receive the sacrament of last rites."
Furthermore, disturbing details about Allemand's death were released this week.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, Allemand and her NBA star boyfriend Anderson had argued "over her suspicions that he had been unfaithful to her" hours before she tried to take her own life on Aug. 12, reported ABC News.
Later that day, Allemand's mother Donna Micheletti contacted Anderson over concerns about the model, adding that she had been on the phone with her daughter when the line went silent.
It was then that Anderson went to Allemand's home and found her with the cord of a vacuum "wrapped around her neck many times" and hanging from the rails of the spiral staircase in the house, according to ABC News.
The police report also included that the model left a handwritten note lying on the dining room table that read, "Mom gets everything."
Meanwhile, Allemand's shocking suicide attempt and death has shaken the entertainment industry.
At Allemand's funeral on Thursday, her "Bachelor" co-star Jake Pavelka urged fans to offer their support via Twitter.
Allemand's boyfriend Anderson is also grieving the star's death and was seen at the funeral Thursday. Also, last week, the Pelicans player released a statement about her tragic passing.
"I'm deeply grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends, and fans," said Anderson, according to E! News. "Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile. She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed. All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared."
|
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Linear Dispersion Codes (LDCs). More particularly, the present invention relates to generating LDCs for use in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) wireless communication systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
In wireless MIMO communication systems, there is a trade-off between spectral efficiency and a signal's robustness. The trade-off is also referred to as a rate-diversity trade-off. In order to achieve a higher reliability, redundancy has to be added to an original signal, which results in a reduction of spectral efficiency. On the other hand, if a higher spectral efficiency is maintained, the signal becomes more vulnerable due to increased level of interference. Therefore, it is beneficial to find a good trade-off which ensures both high robustness and spectral efficiency.
The reference numerals [1]-[17] made in the below description correspond to the references listed at the end of the description, contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference.
Conventional Linear Dispersion Codes (LDCs) (see references [1] and [5]) have been proven to be able to provide a good rate-diversity trade-off. The concept of LDC in reference [1] provides a space-time coding framework. Based on specific criteria, LDC disperses a transmission signal across space and time (frequency) dimensions, exploiting both spatial and time (frequency) diversity. By design, the LDC subsumes a wide range of Space-Time Codes (STC), for example an Alamouti code in reference [2], Tarokh codes in reference [3], and a Vertical Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (V-BLAST) scheme in reference [4], also generally known as Spatial Multiplexing (SM).
The existing LDC designs mainly rely on one of the following methods:
Conventional STC designs, e.g., the Alamouti code in reference [2] and the Tarokh codes in reference [3];
Gradient-based search algorithms, e.g., Hassibi et al. in reference [1], Gohary et al. in reference [6], and Wang et al. in reference [7];
Frame theory, e.g., Heath et al. in reference [5]; and
Algebraic theory, e.g., the Diagonal Algebraic Space-Time (DAST) codes in references [8] and [9], the Threaded Algebraic Space-Time (TAST) codes in references [10] and [11], a golden code in reference [12], and perfect codes in reference [13].
Constructing an LDC is equivalent to generating a set of encoding matrices. Structure of the encoding matrices has a significant impact on the code's achievable performance.
Conventional STCs, e.g., the Alamouti code in reference [2] and the Tarokh codes in reference [3], which can be perfectly represented in the LDC form, were created following a principle of orthogonal design. However, it has been shown that non-orthogonal codes generally outperform orthogonal codes in high-rate scenarios in references [1], [5] and [6].
For non-orthogonal LDCs, one can resort to frame theory as suggested by Heath et al. in reference [5], where projection-based and unitary-based parameterization algorithms are proposed. A first approach adopts QR-decomposition to generate unitary dispersion matrices. However, the result of QR-decomposition is not unique and is not distributed with Haar measure in reference [14]. The second approach in reference [5] exploits Householder reflections in reference [15] to produce candidate unitary matrices, though some implementation issues for the determination of Householder matrices need to be considered, for instance an improper choice of a sign can result in numerical instability in reference [15].
Alternatively, Givens rotations in reference [15] can also be used in reference [6]. However, Givens rotations are less numerically stable than Householder reflections. Further, Givens rotations can only generate a constrained set of unitary matrices, which slightly limits search space.
Another possibility is to exploit algebraic theory, which led to the present invention of the DAST codes in references [8] and [9], the TAST codes in references [10] and [11], and the perfect codes in reference [13]. However, the design of these codes has resulted in some constraints. For example, DAST codes may outperform orthogonal codes in high dimensions only, such as with four transmit antennas in reference [8]. Perfect codes were found only in specific scenarios, namely for dimensions of 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, and 6×6, respectively, where dimension 2×2 is representative of the Golden Code in reference [12].
Known criteria for LDC optimization include ergodic channel capacity or Mutual Information (MI) in reference [1], Pair-wise Error Probability (PEP) in reference [3], Block Error Probability (BLEP) in reference [7], and the like. Due to a non-convex nature of cost functions, numerical methods, such as, for example, gradient-based search algorithms in references [1], [6] and [7], have been proved to be more convenient and effective.
The LDC is defined by a set of dispersion matrices which have a large number of entries. Depending on the optimization criterion adopted, theoretical analysis may be possible. However, in most of the known cases, numerical methods are proved to be more effective for finding good LDCs.
Certain known methods employ gradient-based methods, either classical ones or their variations, to conduct a search for LDCs. For example, a stochastic gradient algorithm was used in reference [7], which however can only converge to a local minimum.
As mentioned above, LDCs in references [1] and [5] have been proven to be able to provide a good rate-diversity trade-off. Depending on the design method, the structure and performance of LDC can vary significantly. A new way of constructing LDCs provides a convenient way to transform a set of predefined parameter vectors to a set of linear dispersion matrices, which fully define an LDC.
In a random unitary matrix theory, certain design methods are capable of exploring unconstrained and full space of unitary matrices, where new LDCs, superior to existing solutions, can be found.
Depending on practical application scenarios, the dimensions of the new LDCs generated can be arbitrarily square or non-square, thus providing a high flexibility for design and application.
Design methods may also be conveniently combined with any appropriate numerical optimization algorithms to search for new codes.
In contrast, unitary LDCs have been shown to be asymptotic optimal in reference [6]. By construction, certain new design methods exploring an entire space of unitary matrices according to the unique Haar measure, where optimized unitary LDCs with better performance than their existing counterparts can be found. Moreover, by using the design framework, the production of LDCs with flexible dimensions for both square and non-square cases can be facilitated.
Depending on the optimization method (used to select an LDC), the performance of the LDC can vary significantly. A new way of searching for optimized LDCs (i.e., a new way of determining an optimum LDC) may be introduced, which exploit a specifically designed and tuned Genetic Algorithm (GA). Genetic Algorithms (GAs), on the other hand, provide a power global optimization method that is efficient for complicated non-linear problems.
Furthermore, taking into account the constraints of the LDC optimization problem, the GA adopted in certain optimization frameworks is based on a real matrix encoding. Compared with the widely-used binary encoding, real encoding has the benefit of providing more degree of freedom in terms of increasing search granularity.
Moreover, by exploiting a unitary matrix transformation mechanism, the customized GA-based framework in certain embodiments can provide a full search for the unitary matrix space, where better LDCs can be found.
Therefore, a need exists for a method for generating LDCs for use in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) wireless communication systems.
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LT. Nathan Pitsch & LT. Ellen Cava
Today we honor Lieutenant Nathan Pitsch of the US Navy and Lieutenant Ellen Cava of the US Coast Guard. The couple got engaged this past weekend while Lieutenant Cava was visiting Lieutenant Pitsch in Wales. The couple met in Norfolk about a year and a half ago. Pitsch is currently on an exchange tour with the British Royal Navy on a “mine counter measures” ship. Cava is currently stationed here in Hampton roads.
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Missile Defense on Offense, Congress says Nonsense
A September 10 article in the WSJ hits all the marks on missile defense. In typical Russian fashion, the Kremlin promised their response to a U.S. missile shield in Poland would go “beyond” diplomacy, even though the system is clearly ineffective against an onslaught of Russian ICBM’s. Until recently, this was tired rhetoric.
On August 28, Forbes reported that the Russians tested the latest version of the Topol RS-12M ICBM, modified to zig and zag its way past missile interceptor systems.
On September 10, the AP reported that Russia may be willing to aim ballistic rockets at the proposed U.S. base in Poland.
Yet, some members of Congress are showing the sort of resolve needed to counter Russian rhetoric. In the next few days, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Il) will introduce an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill to re-introduce funding for the European missile sites it Poland and the Czech Republic. This must be done, and quickly, as Heritage expert Mackenzie Eaglen argues in order for Congress to pass a 2009 Defense Authorization bill this year.
There are still those doubters out there, namely Rep. Ellen Tauscher, chair of the House Strategic Forces Subcommittee. Tauscher and others have continued to stall-out missile defense, claiming the systems have not been thoroughly tested (Judge for yourself… See the full test record.) Also, they say the Iranian threat has not yet fully materialized (Judge for yourself…See the threat blast off!)
This is all very distressing, considering that Polish leaders are trying to push the signed missile site agreement through their Parliament. Even if they do so, they will undoubtedly be worried about the next U.S. administration’s plans to curtail it.
Plainly put, some in Congress don’t get what the American people have understood for some time. Recently, a poll by the Opinion Research Corporation revealed that an astounding 87% of Americans support having a missile defense system to protect Americans. Although polls since the 1990’s have shown that the majority of Americans support missile defense, this latest poll has rocketed to new heights. The voice of the American people is loud and clear and should be ringing in the ears of those opposed to missile defense in Congress.
James Jay Carafano, a leading expert in national security and foreign policy challenges, is The Heritage Foundation’s Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, E. W. Richardson Fellow, and Director of the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies. Read his research.
Don’t have time to read the Washington Post or New York Times? Then get The Morning Bell, an early morning edition of the day’s most important political news, conservative commentary and original reporting from a team committed to following the truth no matter where it leads.
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“Get out of my face.” “Stop talking to me.” “I hate you.” “I wish you were dead.” “Ahhh. I’m not going to stop screaming until I get what I want.”
I often write about Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) because it is a pervasive and problematic issue in our community today. Recent surveys suggest that ODD affects between two and sixteen percent of children. Children with ODD are often classified as “explosive” because of their severe and sudden outbreaks.
“Explosive” children erupt in temper outbursts or verbal or physical aggression, which includes kicking, screaming or tantrums when certain things don’t go their way. They are inflexible and have extremely low tolerance for frustration. They are very difficult to live with. Things can really get ugly.
There are various ways to deal with children like this, but I believe strongly in the method proposed by Professor Ross W. Greene in his classic parenting guide, The Explosive Child. Greene first describes the issues that confront the children themselves thereby giving us more insight into why these children act the way they do.
The problem with “explosive” children is that they are misunderstood. When your son is screaming and kicking in shul or your daughter is throwing a tantrum in the pizza shop it’s easy to get angry and think that the child is being manipulative and controlling. He knows you’re embarrassed to pieces. She realizes that you hate having all those people staring at you. And so your child uses this to his or her advantage in order to get what they want.
“You want another slice of pizza? Sure, anything you say.”“You want to go out and play with your friends during leining? Go already.”“You want to skip your homework tonight? Okay, whatever.”
Anything to maintain the equilibrium and keep the child from creating a scene.
Dr. Ross asks us to look at this scenario from a different perspective. Sure you hate it when your child explodes. But so does he or she. And just like you’re a little bit (okay, a lot) scared of these explosions, rest assured that the child is also terrified of them. He doesn’t want it to happen. He just doesn’t know how to stop it.
According to Dr. Ross, “These children have wonderful qualities and tremendous potential. Yet their inflexibility often obscures their more positive traits and causes them and those around them enormous pain. There is no other group of children who are so misunderstood.”
The important thing to consider is that these children can’t help themselves. Just like a child with a reading difficulty cannot help himself. Just like a child who is born with a disability cannot help herself. Explosive children are simply delayed in their ability to process the skills necessary for flexibility and frustration tolerance. They’re not doing it for attention or so that they can get even with you. They’re doing it because they can’t handle conflict or disappointment any other way.
Most children learn quickly how to compromise, how to adapt when they have to, and how to accept failure and disappointment. But some kids haven’t developed the skills or the ability to do so. I’m not making excuses for them. I’m just stating the facts. And I’m offering a program that can help you walk the children through these circumstances so that they will eventually develop the proper responses. Dr. Greene calls it Plan B.
Plan A is the usual approach, where parents refuse the child’s wishes, the conflict inevitably escalates, and – voila – you have an explosion on your hands. Plan C is when you consider the alternatives, and then allow the child to have his way. You eliminate the explosion but you’re left with a kid who gets whatever he wants.
Now let’s consider Plan B. In Plan B, we walk the child through the mental process of considering his alternatives. We show empathy and understanding. And we offer solutions that could save everyone a lot of grief and aggravation.
Let’s take Yossi, for instance. Yossi likes to go on trips but he just found out that the class visit to the park was cancelled. Yossi is disappointed and frustrated and is about to explode. Yossi’s Rebbe is already experienced with Yossi’s outbursts and deals with them by using Plan B.
About the Author:An acclaimed educator and social skills specialist, Mrs. Rifka Schonfeld has served the Jewish community for close to thirty years. She founded and directs the widely acclaimed educational program, SOS, servicing all grade levels in secular as well as Hebrew studies. A kriah and reading specialist, she has given dynamic workshops and has set up reading labs in many schools. In addition, she offers evaluations G.E.D. preparation, social skills training and shidduch coaching, focusing on building self-esteem and self-awareness. She can be reached at 718-382-5437 or at [email protected].
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Inhibition of anaphylaxis like reaction and mast cell activation by Sitagliptin.
Mast cells stimulation activates degranulation process resulting in releasing of mediators, such as histamine. In this study, the effect of aqueous extract of sitagliptin, a selective dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitor, on the mast cell-mediated allergic response was studied with the possible mechanisms of action, focusing on the histamine release and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in mast cells. Sitagliptin produced dose dependent inhibition in compound 48/80-induced systemic reactions. In addition, sitagliptin attenuated IgE-mediated skin allergic reaction. Sitagliptin dose-dependently reduced compound 48/80- and IgE-induced histamine release from mast cells. Sitagliptin decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, in mast cells. So, the finding of this study provides evidence that sitagliptin inhibits mast cell derived allergic reactions, and involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in such effects.
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110 F.3d 71
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,v.Yehuda P. FRIEDLANDER, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 96-50074.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Argued and Submitted Feb. 6, 1997.Decided March 18, 1997.
1
Before: D.W. NELSON and TROTT, Circuit Judges, and BRYAN, District Judge.*
2
MEMORANDUM**
3
Yehuda P. Friedlander appeals his sentence imposed following his guilty plea to abusive sexual contact in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2243(a). At sentencing, the district court found that the victim was unusually vulnerable and adjusted the offense level upward two points pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1. Friedlander argues that this enhancement amounts to double counting because the age of the victim had already been considered under U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2.1
4
We review the district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines de novo. United States v. Caterino, 957 F.2d 681, 683 (9th Cir.1992). We accord the district court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines to the facts due deference, and we review its findings of fact in the sentencing phase for clear error. United States v. Howard, 894 F.2d 1085, 1087 (9th Cir.1990) (citing 18 U.S.C. § 3742(e)).
5
The offense of sexual abuse of a minor (18 U.S.C. § 2243(a)(1) and (2)) requires that the victim be between the ages of 12 and 16, and at least four years younger than the defendant. Here, the victim was 15 years of age, and the appellant was 44 years of age.
6
U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1(b) states as follows: "If the defendant knew or should have known that a victim of the offense was unusually vulnerable due to age, physical or mental condition, or that a victim was otherwise particularly susceptible to the criminal conduct, increase by 2 levels." Application Note 2 further explains this section:
7
Subsection (b) applies to offenses involving an unusually vulnerable victim in which the defendant knows or should have known of the victim's unusual vulnerability. The adjustment would apply, for example, in a fraud case where the defendant marketed an ineffective cancer cure or in a robbery where the defendant selected a handicapped victim. But it would not apply in a case where the defendant sold fraudulent securities by mail to the general public and one of the victims happened to be senile. Similarly, for example, a bank teller is not an unusually vulnerable victim solely by virtue of the teller's position in a bank.
8
Do not apply subsection (b) if the offense guideline specifically incorporates this factor. For example, if the offense guideline provides an enhancement for the age of the victim, this subsection would not be applied unless the victim was unusually vulnerable for reasons unrelated to age.
9
(emphasis added).
10
The text of a Guideline section and its associated application note are construed as consistent where possible. Stinson v. United States, 508 U.S. 36, 38 (1993) ("[C]ommentary in the Guidelines Manual that interprets or explains a guideline is authoritative unless it violates the Constitution or a federal statute, or is inconsistent with, or a plainly erroneous reading of, that guideline."). See also United States v. Anderson, 942 F.2d 606, 613 (9th Cir.1991) (en banc).
11
The overall policy of the Guidelines is to punish a defendant for "all harm that resulted from the acts and omission" for which he is responsible. United States v. Reese, 2 F.3d 870, 894-95 (9th Cir.1993) (quoting U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3(a)(3)). When more than one type of harm is attributable to the defendant's conduct, enhancement is appropriate to carry out the Commission's goal of proportionality. Id. at 895. So-called "double counting" is permissible "when it is necessary to make the defendant's sentence reflect the full extent of the wrongfulness of his conduct." Id. Double counting is impermissible when expressly forbidden or when "one part of the Guidelines is applied to increase a defendant's punishment on account of a kind of harm that has already been fully accounted for by the application of another part of the Guidelines." Id.
12
We applied these principles in Reese where we upheld the district court's application of the aggravated assault guideline to enhance the offense level for a conviction of deprivation of civil rights by excessive force. Id. At 896; see also United States v. Haggard, 41 F.3d 1320, 1327 (9th Cir.1994) (section 3A1.1 accounts for the defendant's choice of victims and allows extra punishment for defendants that prey on unusually vulnerable victims); United States v. Hershkowitz, 968 F.2d 1503, 1505-06 (2d Cir.1992) (vulnerable victim enhancement not impermissible double counting because not every civil rights violation involves a victim who is "particularly susceptible to the criminal conduct").
13
The district court made numerous findings of fact in this case: The offense took place on an airplane; the female victim was traveling alone from Australia to the United States; the seats were assigned; the victim could not leave the plane; Friedlander was a religious leader, "clothed with the stamp of righteousness" and the victim did not expect such conduct from him; the victim had been touched by Friedlander and by his companion, a rabbi, several times previously; the victim tried to stop the advances several times; the victim tried to hide from Friedlander; and the victim did not call for help because she was too embarrassed. The findings of fact of the district court are not disputed by the parties and are supported by ample evidence. Based on these findings, the district judge increased the offense level by two under U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1 because the victim was unusually vulnerable.
14
Friedlander argues that the district court engaged in impermissible double counting by the two-point enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1. He contends that the victim was vulnerable due to her age, which was already part of the basis for the offense level pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2. Friedlander argues that U.S.S.G. § 3A1.1 presents an either-or choice (age or unusual vulnerability), but it does not anticipate use of both factors.
15
The victim's age alone does not fully reflect the wrongfulness of Friedlander's conduct. Because of the circumstances of this offense, the victim was particularly susceptible to criminal conduct, and was unusually vulnerable for reasons unrelated to age. Therefore, the district court's application of the vulnerable victim enhancement does not amount to double counting. Such application merely carries out the Sentencing Commission's goal of proportionality. The trial court's application of the Sentencing Guidelines to the facts was appropriate. We affirm the district court's sentence.
16
AFFIRMED.
*
Honorable Robert J. Bryan, United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington, sitting by designation
**
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3
1
The Statutory Index references U.S.S.G. § 2A3.4 for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2244(a)(3). However, section 2A3.4 indicates that if the crime involves sexual abuse, rather than sexual contact, of a minor, U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2 should be applied
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Q:
How to go to Edittext when button clicked in android
I have a layout which contains button at top and some textviews and then at bottom I have edittext.When I click button, it should point to edittext. How to proceed? Thanks in advance.
A:
To show keyboard when EditText is in focus mode.
myEditText.requestFocus();
if(myEditText.requestFocus()) {
getWindow().setSoftInputMode(WindowManager.LayoutParams.SOFT_INPUT_STATE_ALWAYS_VISIBLE);
}
If you want to show some message
myEditText.setError("Please Enter Valid Value!");
You can remove message focus by Using:
myEditText.clearFocus();
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Well, that was an interesting first week in the NFL season, huh? Aaron Rodgers rose from the dead in the third quarter to complete a historic comeback, Ryan Fitzpatrick became the MVP frontrunner, and the Browns snapped a losing streak without winning. Luckily for us, we do plenty of winning here. So let’s continue our winning ways with these NFL bets.
My site choice for NFL betting is MyBookie, so I highly suggest creating your account there after this article. Put the promo code FlurrySports in so they match your deposit of $100+ all the way up to $1,000! You’ll be doubling your money before even placing a bet.
Without further ado, let’s talk money.
Current Record: 6-1
Redskins (-255)
Colts vs. Redskins
Alex Smith is set to make his Washington home debut, after completely dominating the Cardinals in Arizona last week. If you want my full breakdown of the snap counts and game flow for the Redskins, click here, but basically they ran a lot of two-TE sets and pounded the rock. This left Jamison Crowder and even Jordan Reed on the sideline a lot. Expect to see more of those two, and even more Chris Thompson in this matchup.
The Colts will again be without their starting left tackle, Anthony Castonzo, and starting defensive tackle, Denico Autry. Running back Marlon Mack will also likely be out again. This gives the Colts big holes on both of their lines that they can’t afford, and they will be without an offensive playmaker, which their lackluster unit is missing. Look for Washington to be efficient in another win, but with more passing this time around.
Chargers (-365)
Chargers vs. Bills
The Chargers offense looked good in their loss to the Chiefs, but the defense was clearly missing Joey Bosa rushing the passer. Unfortunately, he will be out again. But fortunately, they play the Bills, who were trailing by a mere 40 points to Joe Flacco last week. There should be no concerns for this Chargers offense, and there’s no way the Bills keep up.
On the Bills side of things, rookie Josh Allen will be making his first start. Allen has an absolute cannon, which should spread out the defense and help LeSean McCoy on just the threat of him throwing it alone. The reason Allen didn’t start week 1 is because he’s not ready, plain and simple. He’s too inconsistent to be a winner right now. Luckily for him, Nate Peterman may have had the worst two combined starts in NFL history. So will the Bills be better? Sure, but they could lose by 39 and still be considered better.
Texans (-165)
Texans vs. Titans
The Texans offense got shut down last week against the Patriots, and the Titans got exposed in that marathon game against the Dolphins. For Houston, receiver Will Fuller is expected to make his season debut. He went on that insane touchdown streak last season with Watson, so they are hoping to pick up where they left off. Just his presence alone should help DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Miller.
The Titans are a MESS. Let’s start with the offensive line, who is missing both starting tackles. This isn’t exactly ideal when you face JJ Watt, and Jadeveon Clowney is questionable, but expected to play. Tennessee also lost Delanie Walker for the year. Walker is a terrific blocker and the most reliable receiving option on the team. So three terrific blockers down, and Derrick Henry will be tough to trust running the ball after a poor week 1. Oh, and Marcus Mariota is not 100% healthy at quarterback. In fact, both him and Blaine Gabbert will take snaps this week apparently. Yikes.
Saints (-480)
Browns vs. Saints
The Saints are the reason I have a 1 in the loss column above. I’m extremely bitter, but they’ll bounce back this week. They have another home game, which is a huge advantage for New Orleans. The Saints also come into the game angry and embarrassed. They should look to make a statement here against a much lesser team.
The Browns will be without their most dominant receiving option, Josh Gordon, this week. He was surprisingly named inactive today, being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Jarvis Landry should have a terrific day, but it won’t be enough to match the Saints’ offense. Cleveland will also be without starting defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and starting linebacker Christian Kirksey. There’s no way the Saints go down 0-2 to the Bucs and Browns. *Knocks on wood*
Rams (-1000)
Cardinals vs. Rams
Yes, -1000. This is as lopsided as you’ll see in the NFL, but rightfully so. The Rams offense is dominant, and they have enough playmakers on defense to, well, make plays. Sam Bradford struggled last week against Washington, so look for Wade Phillips to bring the heat this week. I do think Larry Fitzgerald will do some damage out of the slot, but not enough damage to compete with Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.
None of these picks are against the spread because let’s face it, Vegas is usually pretty dang accurate with those. Instead, this article is for the beginning bettors or those looking to make some safe bets to balance out the riskier ones they have.
These are five picks against the moneyline that may seem obvious to some, and that’s because they are. Don’t overthink it! If you head over to MyBookie right now and put these five picks into, let’s say, a $100 parlay, the winnings would be $278.61.
I’ll see you back here next week for more picks. hopefully a little bit richer!
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There’s a change to the wide receiver group for the AFC Pro Bowl squad.
Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green was selected for the initial roster, but he has pulled out of the game due to an unspecified injury. Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton has been added to the team as a replacement.
Hilton had 57 catches for 966 yards and four touchdowns during the 2017 season, which are his lowest marks since his rookie season. Much of that can be attributed to playing without Andrew Luck for the entire year and his frustrations were also directed at the offensive line at one point early in the season.
With Hilton headed for Orlando on January 28, the Colts have now been represented at the Pro Bowl by at least one player every year since 1998.
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staten island city map
staten island city map NY
New York City - Staten Island City Map
New York City - Staten Island, NY
Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City in the U.S. state of New York.
In the southwest of the city, Staten Island is the southernmost part of both the city and state of New York.
The borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay.
With a 2015 estimated population of 474,558, Staten Island is the least populated of the boroughs but is the third-largest in area at 58 sq mi (150 km2).
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Introduction {#s1}
============
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become a major global epidemic that is increasing throughout the world, particularly in developing countries [@pone.0083429-Barnes1]. Goblet cell hyperplasia and excessive mucus production causes airway obstruction, which contributes to the morbidity and mortality of this disease [@pone.0083429-Fahy1]. Abnormal mucus production is now recognized as a key pathophysiological feature in COPD, including those without cough and sputum production and it should be a therapeutic target for all COPD subjects [@pone.0083429-Burgel1]. However, the therapies to target mucus effectively in asthma have either limits or no impact in COPD and they are not satisfactory to all COPD patients [@pone.0083429-Sivaprasad1]. The development of safe and efficacious intervention for abnormal mucus production in COPD is still urgently needed.
Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in lungs has been strongly implicated in COPD severity [@pone.0083429-MacNee1]. Oxidative stress increased in COPD patients [@pone.0083429-Repine1] and chronic lung oxidative damage are key contributors to the pathogenesis of COPD, which includes mucus hypersecretion, heightened apoptosis and chronic inflammation [@pone.0083429-Malhotra1]. Oxidative stress is considered to be an important therapeutic target in COPD [@pone.0083429-MacNee2]. Although some molecules such as N-acetylcysteine and its derivatives, which targeting mucin gel, can act as a precursor of reduced glutathione and as a direct reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, and regulate the redox status in cells in COPD, unfortunately, sufficient blood concentrations of them are very difficult to achieve because of the fast turnover [@pone.0083429-Sadowska1].
Hydrogen has been reported to selectively reduce hydroxyl radical and the most cytotoxicity of ROS. The reaction product is nothing else but water and might be safely applied in the clinic [@pone.0083429-Nakao1], [@pone.0083429-Hardeland1]. In recent years, basic and clinical researches have shown that hydrogen-rich saline is efficacious in treating many disorders including oxygen toxicity, sepsis and hyperoxia- or ventilator-induced lung injury because of its antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties [@pone.0083429-Huang1]. Although Liu et al [@pone.0083429-Liu1] hypothesized that hydrogen may be potentially effective for COPD by preventing its occurrence, exacerbation, and slowing its progress, it remains unknown if it has any effect on abnormal mucus production in COPD.
As cigarette smoking (CS) is the leading cause of COPD [@pone.0083429-Mannino1] and tracheal goblet cell hyperplasia as well as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mucin remained significantly elevated even when the rats were exposed to five cigarettes daily for 2 to 4 days [@pone.0083429-Stevenson1], the current study was to investigate the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on CS-induced mucus production in rats.
Materials and Methods {#s2}
=====================
Hydrogen-rich saline production and other reagents {#s2a}
--------------------------------------------------
Hydrogen was dissolved in physiological saline for 6 h under high pressure (0.4 MPa) to a supersaturated level. The saturated hydrogen-rich saline (400 ml) was freshly prepared in an aluminum bag, sterilized by gamma radiation and stored under atmospheric pressure at 4°C to maintain the concentration of hydrogen at higher than 0.6 mM. Gas chromatography was used to confirm the content of hydrogen in saline by the method described by Ohsawa et al [@pone.0083429-Ohsawa1].
Cigarettes were purchased from Guizhou Cigarette Factory (Brand Huangguoshu, Guizhou, China) (2.45 mg nicotine per cigarette, 40 mg/ml total particulate matter, nicotine content of 6%). Primary antibodies used were as follows: anti-muc5ac mouse monoclonal antibody (clone 45M1, Santa Cruz), anti-Nrf2 rabbit polyclonal antibody (Bioworld, USA), anti-total-EGFR rabbit polyclonal antibody (Proteintech, USA), anti-phospho-EGFR rabbit monoclonal antibody (Tyr1068) (Epitomic, USA) and HRP-anti-GAPDH (internal) antibody (Kangcheng, Shanghai, China). HRP-conjugated goat-anti-rabbit and rabbit-anti-mouse IgG were from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly, USA).
Ethics Statement {#s2b}
----------------
All animal experiments were performed in a humane manner, and also in accordance with the Institutional Animal Care Instructions. Animal handling and experimental procedures described herein were approved by the Ethical Committee on Animal Use of the Second Military Medical University. All animal manipulations were performed by trained personnel.
Animals and treatment {#s2c}
---------------------
Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (180--200 g) were divided into four groups randomly with 10 rats each: sham control group (Control, Con), cigarette smoke group (CS), hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment group (CS+H), and hydrogen-rich saline control group (Hydrogen, H).
The rats were placed in 20 cm×40 cm×50 cm perspex chambers (5 rats/chamber) and exposed to cigarette smoke generated from 5 unfiltered cigarettes for 30 min, twice daily for 4 weeks according to a modified procedure based on the method as described [@pone.0083429-Chen1]. Briefly, on each day of CS exposure, mainstream cigarette smoke from a burning cigarette was directly puffed into the exposure chamber by a 50 ml syringe and a special rubber catheter at a flow rate of 2 ml/s and a new cigarette was ignited after one burned up. The combustion time of a cigarette was 6 min. The CS total particulate matter (TPM) per cubic meter of air, which was used to monitor the smoke exposure (mean 450∼500 mg/m^3^ per second) in the chamber, was determined by a real-time aerosol dust monitor CEL-712 Microdust Pro (Casella, Bedford, UK). Rats in the hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment group received 10 ml/kg hydrogen-rich saline [@pone.0083429-Sun1] intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 min prior to CS exposure. Rats in the sham control or the hydrogen-rich saline control group were both exposed to air, but administrated i.p. with 10 ml/kg control saline or hydrogen-rich saline respectively each time.
All rats were housed in rooms maintained at constant temperature (21±2°C) and humidity (55±15%) with a 12-h light/dark cycle and allowed food and water ad libitum. The rats were anesthetized with an overdose of chloral hydrate i.p. followed by exsanguination 24 hours after the last treatment.
Histopathology and immunohistochemistry {#s2d}
---------------------------------------
The right lung specimens of the rats were fixed in 10% formaldehyde for 24 hours, embedded in paraffin wax, and cut into 5-µm-thick sections which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to evaluate general morphology. The degrees of lung inflammation were evaluated by two analysts blinded to the groups using a subjective scale ranged from 0 to 4 (0, normal; 1, mild; 2, moderate; 3, severe; 4, very severe inflammation). For immunohistochemistry, the sections were immunostained with anti-muc5ac antibody. The sections were developed by diaminobenzidine (DAB) solution according to the manufacturer\'s instructions. Semi-quantitative analyses of the area of muc5ac-positive staining in the airway epithelium were defined by two independent investigators using the Image-Pro Plus program (Media Cybernetics) at a magnification of 200× by examining at least 50 consecutive fields for each group. Alcian Blue/periodic acid-Schiff (AB/PAS) staining was applied to detect acidic and neutral mucosubstances. Images of lung tissues with airways were captured by a Nikon microscope. AB/PAS-positive area and total area of corresponding bronchial epithelium were measured. Data were presented as the ratio of AB/PAS-positive area to the total area.
Real-time RT-PCR {#s2e}
----------------
Total RNA was extracted from lung tissue homogenates using Trizol (Invitrogen), and real-time quantitative RT-PCR was performed by a Rotor-Gene 6000 real-time rotary analyzer (Corbett Research, Australia) using SYBR PCR Kit (Takara). PCR primers for *muc5ac* were, Forward: 5′-GCAATAACTCCACTTCCCTC-3′, Reverse: 5′-AGTCATAGCAGCATCCGTC-3′; Primers for *β-actin* were, Forward: 5′- TTACTGCCCTGGCTCCTAG-3′ Reverse: 5′-CGTACTCCTGCTTGCTGAT-3′. The transcription of *muc5ac* was normalized to that of *β-actin*.
Western blot {#s2f}
------------
Lung tissue homogenates were prepared with RIPA Buffer (Thermo Scientific) and 1 mM PMSF. Equal amount of denatured total protein (50 µg) was separated by 8% SDS-PAGE and transferred onto PVDF membranes. The membranes were incubated with appropriate dilution of primary antibodies against muc5ac, Nrf2, total-EGFR, phospho-EGFR (Tyr1068) and HRP-GAPDH respectively. After incubated with proper rabbit anti-mouse or goat anti-rabbit HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies, the intended proteins were detected using ECL kit (Invitrogen) and normalized to the corresponding GAPDH expression.
In situ apoptosis assay {#s2g}
-----------------------
Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was performed on paraffin-embedded sections using the in situ cell death detection kit (Roche) according to the manufacturer\'s instructions to determine apoptosis in the airway epithelium. Apoptosis was manifested by brownish staining in the nuclei. Six microscopic fields (400 ×) of each section were randomly examined and the cells were counted by a single blinded observer in a coded randomized order. The apoptosis rate was presented as the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells to the total epithelial cells of corresponding airways from all rats in each group.
Determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the BALF {#s2h}
----------------------------------------------------------
The left lungs of rats were repeatedly lavaged with 1 ml saline and the retrieval volume was maximized by compressing the thorax. BALF samples were stored at −80°C. MDA contents in the BALF were detected according to the protocol of a commercial kit purchased from Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute (Nanjing, China). Briefly, MDA in each sample reacted with Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) to generate the MDA-TBA adduct. And then the MDA-TBA adduct was measured at 532 nm using a spectrophotometer (SmartSpec Plus, BIO-RAD, Hercules, CA). The levels of MDA was expressed as nmol/ml.
Statistical analysis {#s2i}
--------------------
Data from all the rats in each group are presented as mean±SD. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistical significance between groups. Multiple comparisons were made by Student-Newman-Keuls post hoc test. p\<0.05 were considered significant.
Results {#s3}
=======
Hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment protected CS-induced histopathological damages of rat lungs {#s3a}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Histopathological changes in rat airways were examined by H&E staining. After four consecutive weeks of repeated cigarette smoke exposure, bronchiolar lumen obstruction by mucus and cell debris, and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in the lumen of lungs from rats in the CS exposure group. The inflammatory score of lungs from the CS exposure group was significantly higher than that from the control, but these changes induced by CS were effectively abrogated by hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment as shown in [Figure 1](#pone-0083429-g001){ref-type="fig"}.
{#pone-0083429-g001}
Hydrogen-rich saline inhibited CS-induced goblet cell hyperplasia in the rat airway {#s3b}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goblet cells, as determined by AB/PAS-staining and observed under the light microscopy, in the airway epithelium from CS-challenged rats contained large granular stores of AB-PAS-positive substances, while much lighter positive staining was observed in the hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment group ([Figure 2A](#pone-0083429-g002){ref-type="fig"}). Positive staining was sporadically seen in the epithelium of the sham control or the hydrogen-rich saline control rats. The positive rates of airway epithelium were 7.72±2.11%, 42.04±5.40%, 23.96±3.81% and 5.36±1.39% in the sham control, CS group, hydrogen pretreatment group and hydrogen control group respectively. CS exposure significantly increased AB/PAS-positive rate as compared with that in the control (p\<0.01). As expected, hydrogen-rich saline significantly decreased CS-induced positive-staining rate as compared with that in the CS group (p\<0.05) ([Figure 2B](#pone-0083429-g002){ref-type="fig"}).
{#pone-0083429-g002}
Hydrogen-rich saline inhibited CS-induced up-regulation of muc5ac expression {#s3c}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To determine the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on CS-induced expression of *muc5ac* gene, the main gel-forming mucin, realtime RT-PCR, western blot, and IHC were applied to detect the mRNA and protein levels in the rat lungs respectively. As shown in [Figure 3A](#pone-0083429-g003){ref-type="fig"}, the level of *muc5ac* mRNA increased by about 5 fold in the rat lungs of CS exposure group as compared with that in the control group (p\<0.01). Hydrogen-rich saline significantly decreased CS-induced *muc5ac* mRNA level (p\<0.01 vs. CS group).
{#pone-0083429-g003}
Meanwhile, western blot results demonstrated muc5ac protein in the lung tissue homogenates from the CS exposure group was nearly 8 fold higher than that from the control (p\<0.01). Hydrogen-rich saline significantly inhibited CS-challenged up-regulation of muc5ac expression (p\<0.05 vs. CS group) ([Figure 3B](#pone-0083429-g003){ref-type="fig"}).
Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that positive immunoreactivity for muc5ac antibody in the lung tissue especially in the airway epithelium from CS exposure rats was characterized by brown staining, while hydrogen alleviated the positive staining of muc5ac both in the alveolar wall and airway epithelium ([Figure 3C](#pone-0083429-g003){ref-type="fig"}). Semi-quantitative analyses of IHC demonstrated that the percentage of bronchial epithelium muc5ac-positive area significantly increased in the CS exposure group as compared with that in the control (p\<0.01), and this increase was significantly abrogated by hydrogen-rich saline (p\<0.05 vs. CS group) ([Figure 3D](#pone-0083429-g003){ref-type="fig"}).
Together, these results suggested CS up-regulated *muc5ac* gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels while hydrogen-rich saline attenuated this up-regulation in rat lungs.
Hydrogen-rich saline attenuated CS-induced airway epithelial cell apoptosis in rats {#s3d}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As shown in [Figure 4A](#pone-0083429-g004){ref-type="fig"}, CS stimulated airway epithelial cell apoptosis while hydrogen-rich saline protected the rat lungs against CS-induced abnormal cell apoptosis.
{#pone-0083429-g004}
The apoptosis rate of airway epithelial cells in CS exposure rats were 60.50±9.12%, which was significantly higher than that in the control (9.83±3.87%) (p\<0.01). After intervened by hydrogen-rich saline, the rate of TUNEL-positive cells in the airway epithelium reduced to 32.0±7.07% (p\<0.05 vs. the CS group). While hydrogen-rich saline alone had little effect on the apoptosis rate of airway epithelial cells (5.17±2.23%) ([Figure 4B](#pone-0083429-g004){ref-type="fig"}).
Alleviation of oxidative damage may be a critical factor in the event that hydrogen inhibited CS-induced airway mucus production {#s3e}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To explore if hydrogen-rich saline inhibited CS-induced mucus production through its ability to scavenge free radicals, we detected the level of MDA in the BALF to evaluate the change of CS-induced oxidative damage. As shown in [Figure 5](#pone-0083429-g005){ref-type="fig"}, the content of MDA in the BALF from the CS group (2.28±0.46 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than that from the sham control (0.88±0.33 nmol/ml) (p\<0.01). The MDA level in the BALF from the hydrogen pretreatment group (1.59±0.43 nmol/ml) decreased significantly as compared with that from the CS group (p\<0.05). Hydrogen alone had little effect on the production of MDA in the BALF (0.87±0.21 nmol/ml).
{#pone-0083429-g005}
EGFR signaling cascade and oxidative stress signaling might be involved in the effect of hydrogen on CS-induced airway mucus production {#s3f}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To further explore the mechanism how hydrogen-rich saline intervened CS-induced mucus production, we detected the phosphorylation of EGFR at Tyr1068, an important active site of EGFR, and the expression of Nrf2 protein, an important downstream element of oxidative stress signaling. The results showed that CS up-regulated phospho-EGFR at Tyr1068 by 5.1 fold. Hydrogen-rich saline attenuated CS-induced phosphorylation of EGFR by 51.33 percent. While total EGFR protein remained unchanged in each group ( [Figure 6A](#pone-0083429-g006){ref-type="fig"}).
{#pone-0083429-g006}
As shown in [Figure 6B](#pone-0083429-g006){ref-type="fig"}, the Nrf2 protein level increased significantly in the CS-challenged rat lungs as compared with that in the control (p\<0.01), while hydrogen-rich saline pretreatment resulted in a significant reduction of Nrf2 protein as compared with that in the CS group (p\<0.05). This revealed that hydrogen-rich saline protected rat lungs against CS damage at least in part by its potent free radical scavenging ability.
Discussion {#s4}
==========
Effective blockade of abnormal mucus production in COPD will reduce hospitalizations, morbidity and mortality, and long-term control of mucus may lessen the burden of this disease [@pone.0083429-Curran1]. In the present study, we demonstrated that hydrogen ameliorated *muc5ac* gene expression and goblet cell hyperplasia induced by cigarette smoke, the principal aetiology of COPD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to imply intraperitioneal administration of hydrogen-rich saline protected lungs from CS exposure damage in a rat model.
Mucus is composed of water, ions, lipids, proteins, and complex macromolecular glycoproteins called mucins, which render viscoelastic and gel-forming properties to mucus [@pone.0083429-Voynow1]. Airway mucus plays an important role in host defense mechanisms as a physicochemical barrier to inhaled particles and gases, bacteria and viruses, but over-production of mucus is harmful, which is a distinguishing feature of chronic inflammatory airway diseases [@pone.0083429-Shimizu1]. Mucus hyperproduction is commonly associated with goblet cell hyperplasia in the airway epithelium. In the present study, the results that goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus plugs in the bronchiolar lumen in chronic CS exposure rats were alleviated by hydrogen-rich saline demonstrated that hydrogen was efficacious against CS-induced abnormal airway mucus. Muc5ac and muc5b are major gel-forming mucins that are responsible for the biophysical properties of the mucus. Muc5b is constitutively expressed, while muc5ac is inducible from the goblet cells of airway epithelium [@pone.0083429-PerezVilar1]. Hydrogen-rich saline could down-regulate CS-induced muc5ac expression at both transcriptional and translational levels, as is consistent with the goblet cell hyperplasia. These results revealed hydrogen has the potential to treat mucus hypersecretion in COPD, however, much remains to be done to clarify the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on this disease.
It was reported that increased cell apoptosis occurred in the bronchial/bronchiolar epithelium of rats exposed to mainstream cigarette smoke [@pone.0083429-DAgostini1]. In the present study abnormal apoptosis of airway epithelial cells was also observed in the lungs from chronic CS exposure rats, but CS-induced cell apoptosis was inhibited by hydrogen-rich saline. This demonstrated the protective role of hydrogen-rich saline on CS-challenged rat lungs.
CS delivers and generates free radicals, which orchestrate the inflammation, mucous gland hyperplasia, and apoptosis of the airway epithelium within the lungs [@pone.0083429-Lin1]. Given that hydrogen could serve as a potent free radical scavenger by exclusively quenching ROS, particularly hydroxyl radical, the most devastating reactive oxygen species [@pone.0083429-Ohsawa1], we have explored whether hydrogen intervened the effect of CS on rat lungs due to its antioxidant ability. The results showed the level of MDA, a common indicator of oxidative damage to membrane lipid, in the BALF from the CS-challenged rats increased and hydrogen-rich saline significantly inhibited its propagation. This revealed that hydrogen inhibited CS-induced goblet cell proliferation and muc5ac expression at least partly due to its ROS scavenging activity to reduce CS-induced oxidative damage. It was reported that hydrogen has the potential to easily diffuse into organelles of cultured cells and no known toxic effects on human body [@pone.0083429-Rahman1]. Patients benefited from the antioxidant intervention of hydrogen by drinking H~2~-loaded water in clinical trials [@pone.0083429-Kajiyama1], [@pone.0083429-Nakao2]. These revealed the possible clinical importance of hydrogen in treating CS-induced abnormal mucus production.
Oxidative stress occurs when ROS are produced in excess of the antioxidant defense mechanisms and cannot be scavenged in time. Mammalian cells produce several antioxidant enzymes to defend them against oxidative damage. The transactivation of the majority antioxidant and defense genes is regulated by Nrf2. Cigarette smoke, which contains a variety of oxidants, can activate Nrf2 [@pone.0083429-Yageta1]. In this study, hydrogen down-regulating the expression of CS-induced Nrf2 further implied that hydrogen protected rat lungs against damage from CS exposure by its antioxidant ability.
EGFR signaling activation played a critical role in oxidative stress-induced goblet cell hyperplasia and muc5ac up-regulation expression [@pone.0083429-CasalinoMatsuda1]. Rats exposed to cigarette smoke up to 4 weeks showed increased p-EGFR-Tyr1068 protein levels in the lungs, while this phosphorylation activation was abrogated by hydrogen intervention. These results revealed that the inhibition of EGFR cascade was implicated in the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on CS-stimulated mucus production.
In conclusion, hydrogen protected airway epithelium from CS damage and abrogated CS-induced airway mucus production in rats. This protective role of hydrogen-rich saline on CS-exposed rat lungs was achieved at least partly by its antioxidant ability and the inhibition of Nrf2 and EGFR signaling pathway might be implicated in this process. Since inhaled hydrogen gas at therapeutic dose has no adverse effects on the saturation level of arterial oxygen and hemodynamic parameters [@pone.0083429-Hayashida1], hydrogen-rich saline, safer and more convenient than hydrogen gas, could be promising in treating mucus hypersecretion in COPD.
[^1]: **Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
[^2]: Conceived and designed the experiments: YN YS HH QL. Performed the experiments: JZ YD WX. Analyzed the data: YN YS. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: YN QL. Wrote the paper: YN YS HH QL.
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Vulvar congenital dysplastic angiopathy.
Congenital dysplastic angiopathy is a syndrome consisting of vascular angiomata, congenital varicosities, and trophic changes of the soft tissue and the skeleton. Frequently referred to as Klippel-Trenaunay or Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, it rarely affects the female genitalia. An 18-year-old woman underwent evaluation and treatment for Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with vulvar involvement. Preoperative evaluation included consultation with pediatric surgeons, gynecologic surgeons, and an interventional radiologist as well as individual and family psychological counseling. Attention to intraoperative detail resulted in minimal operative blood loss and preservation of normal anatomy. A postoperative hematoma was treated aggressively with surgical evacuation and drainage. Six-month follow-up revealed functionally and cosmetically normal vulvar anatomy.
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Sources: Rockets Interested in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
The Houston Rockets are emerging as a suitor for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in multi-team trade scenarios, such as with the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns, league sources told The Athletic.
In desperate search for an upgrade at the wing, the Rockets are targeting Caldwell-Pope, league sources said. The Lakers have pursued Suns forward Trevor Ariza, along with several other contenders, according to league sources.
As the trade market hashes itself out early this season, Caldwell-Pope has several interested suitors across the league, a telling sign for the 2019 free agent.
Sources: Suns to Meet with Jimmer Fredette
The Phoenix Suns will meet with former BYU star and Sacramento Kings first-round pick Jimmer Fredette on Thursday, according to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro.
Gambadoro reports the Suns could sign Fredette through the rest of the season. The Suns currently have an open roster spot.
The 30-year-old guard is currently playing for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. On Tuesday, the Sharks were eliminated from the postseason. Fredette averaged 36.9 points per game for Shanghai, the league’s top mark.
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Football
New Irish coaching staff prepares for season
Irish head coach Brian Kelly officially introduced the plethora of new faces coming to the Irish coaching staff for the 2017 season Monday.
“We made quite a few changes,” Kelly said. “It’s important to certainly look at where you are, where you were and for me, I know I’m going to always be reminded about last year, and I clearly understand that.
“Having said that, there always are going to be changes when you look hard and look at yourself and look at where your program needs to be, and we fell short of all those goals.”
After Kelly fired Brian VanGorder mid-season, finding a new defensive coordinator was at the top of the to-do list, with Kelly stating he was specifically looking for someone who could force turnovers.
“Mike Elko, one of only two defensive coordinators in the nation … to have a unit in the top 40 in total defense in the last five years at Wake and [Bowling Green],” Kelly said. “There were three teams that took the ball away as many times, 20-plus times: It was Clemson, Alabama and Wake Forest.”
“The biggest thing that we’re going to try to do is we’re going to try to put our kids in positions to be successful at what they do,” Elko said of his scheme. “ … It’s an adjustable scheme that we constantly evaluate what positions are we putting our kids in, what are we going to ask them to be able to do this week and can they do it.”
Irish defensive coordinator Mike Elko speaks with the media during the introductory press conference for new coaches Monday.
Greg Hudson took over the position on an interim basis last season and was given an interview, Kelly said. Ultimately, the head coach decided to go in another direction, but he said he is still looking into potentially finding a place for Hudson on the staff.
Elko brings Clark Lea as his linebacker’s coach, the position Lea held under Elko at Wake Forest.
“He’s a great coach, and I think he can coach this scheme really well,” Elko said of Lea. “With our ability and our need to get this thing going quickly, he’ll do a great job helping with that.”
Kelly said Mike Elston, Notre Dame’s linebackers coach last season, will move to the defensive line and also retain his position as recruiting coordinator.
After former offensive coordinator Mike Sanford left to take the head coaching job at Western Kentucky in the offseason, Kelly said his priority in the new hire was finding a “play-caller.” He said the name that kept hanging around was Memphis offensive coordinator Chip Long.
“As I looked around the country, I was able to compile a very short list of guys that called plays through my eyes. In other words, the way I like our offense to look,” Kelly said. “And the guy that kept coming to the top of the list was Chip Long.”
“ … [He] didn’t rely heavily on a passing game when he was forced to make up ground late in games. Utilized two tight ends, which was going to be a mode that we have to move towards with the great depth that we have at that position.”
Kelly fired former special teams coach Scott Booker in the days after the loss to USC, but he said he was “able to hit a home run” by hiring former Irish assistant Brian Polian, who agreed to part ways with Nevada at the end of last season.
“It’s different in every facet,” Polian said of returning to special teams coordinator after spending the last four seasons as head coach at Nevada. “It’s just something that I have to get adjusted to, and it’s no concern. It will just take a little bit of time … I want to coach football, and I’m looking forward to doing that again.”
A familiar face returns with the Irish quarterbacks, who Sanford also coached, in former quarterback Tom Rees.
Or, is it Tommy?
“Some of you may know him as Tom Rees,” Kelly said. “You can call him whatever you like. I think he would answer to either Tom or Tommy. But what I like to call him is our quarterbacks coach.”
Technically, Kelly said, Rees is only a graduate assistant, but Kelly said he expects Rees to be in full control of the quarterback room.
“He is fully empowered to coach them,” Kelly said. “He will have the room. He will coach those quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis.”
Rees joked the campus looks a little different than it did when he graduated three years ago, but said he was excited about getting the chance to coach a first-year quarterback after DeShone Kizer declared for the NFL and Malik Zaire announced his intention to transfer.
“You start with a fresh slate and a group of kids that are really eager to learn and eager to play,” Rees said of the quarterbacks. “So they’re all ears right now.”
“We’ve got a veteran wide receiver coach, well-established in his profession and in his interview was extremely detailed and organized in laying out what his role will be in developing our fairly young wide receiving core,” Kelly said.
Additionally, Kelly named Matt Balis as Notre Dame’s new strength and conditioning coach after Paul Longo had to step down for health reasons, adding Balis comes recommended from former Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco. Balis was on Diaco’s staff at UConn last season.
A History graduate, Zach spent all four of his years on campus as a resident of Knott Hall. Hailing from Belgrade, Montana, he covered a wide variety of sports in his time at Notre Dame, including Football, Hockey, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Fencing, Rowing, Women's Lacrosse and other events around campus. You can contact him in his post-graduation travels and job search at [email protected]
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Remember this one the next time you hear an Islamic apologist droning on about how Islam respects and protects women’s rights.
“‘Khula’ without husband’s consent is un-Islamic: CII,” by Qaiser Butt, Express Tribune, February 18, 2016:
The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared it un-Islamic for courts to use ‘Khula’ (right of a woman to seek divorce) without the consent of a husband to dissolve a marriage.
The powerful religious body observed on Thursday that courts were dissolving nikkahs in the name of ‘Khula’, which is not correct since only the husband has the right to grant Khula after which courts can dissolve marriage contracts.
Urging civil courts to differentiate between ‘Khula’ and a unilateral dissolution of marriage through a court order, the CII said several women who had dissolved their marriages using ‘Khula’ were still not certain if their marriage had actually been dissolved.
Khula is prerogative of husband, not courts, says CII
“While Shariah has explicitly defined the framework and procedure for Khula, it has not been defined in the country’s existing marriage laws,” the CII observed.
Therefore, a civil court decreeing dissolution of marriage on a wife’s plea without her husband’s consent, under the name of Khula, would be in violation of the Holy Quran and Sunnah, the council observed.
The council also observed that denying a husband the right to appeal against such a ‘unilateral’ court decision would also be unjust as per Islamic law.
According to a majority of ulemas, a wife has to forfeit her financial rights when ‘Khula’ is used to dissolve a marriage. However, the two can reach an agreement outside the law if a mutual understanding is established.
As per the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act passed in 1939, “Judicial khula is allowed to be authorised without the husband’s consent if the wife has agreed to forfeit her financial rights. Marriage is not considered a sacrament among Muslims but rather a civil contract with spiritual and moral undertones.”…
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Originally, we thought that sisters would make men more liberal, because daughters make men more liberal. What sisters do — they kind of structure the gender roles in the household. – Neil Malhotra
Where do political leanings come from? For men, some political beliefs may be the result of the presence of women in their home.
Several previous studies have linked daughters to fathers' increased interest in gender equality, feminism and even equal pay — a 2012 study of Danish business leaders found CEOs with daughters were more likely to pay their employees, particularly their female employees, larger wages. But according to a new study released this week, proximity to women doesn't guarantee liberal leanings. In fact, men with sisters may be more likely to consider themselves conservative.
The longitudinal study, produced by researchers from Loyola Marymount University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, found men who grew up with sisters were nearly 15 percent more likely to identify themselves as Republicans by high school when compared to their peers without sisters.
The relationship seems related to the distribution of household chores. Neil Malhotra, one of the authors of the study and an associate professor of political economy at Stanford, said that in families with sisters, the sisters were more likely to be assigned a larger portion of chores than the boys in their family. Families with all boys tended to distribute chores more evenly.
The difference was especially pronounced with dishwashing. Of study participants, 60 percent of men were expected to help with the dishes while growing up compared to 82 percent of their sisters.
Watching their sisters do extra chores probably cemented concepts of traditional gender roles in men's mind while they grew up, Malhotra said.
"Originally, we thought that sisters would make men more liberal, because daughters make men more liberal," Malhotra said. "What sisters do — they kind of structure the gender roles in the household."
However, the effect of sisters hinged on the way chores were distributed. If chores were distributed equally, Malhotra said he wouldn't expect to see the same relationship identified in the study.
While upbringing is far from the only factor that develops political beliefs, it certainly plays an important role in the process, said Jeff Peterson, executive director of the Utah Republican Party.
"Certainly one of the biggest factors in shaping political affiliation is experience in the home," Peterson wrote in an email. "My father who is Republican had no sisters, but he was taught conservative principles growing up. I have a great older sister who is very capable and talented, and she helped shape my personal outlook on life, but I would also say my parents raised us in a home centered around conservative values. "
The study's results also offer an interesting glimpse into historical attitudes about gender roles and family, Malhotra said. Malhotra and his co-author, Andrew Healy, contacted the study's participants — more than 1,500 high school students — in 1965, and continued to survey those same people over the course of several years. By the time of the last survey, the participants were about 50 years old.
Over time, as the participants went on to marry and have daughters of their own, their views on gender roles gradually drifted left, Malhotra said.
It is possible that a study started today, with current ideas about gender roles affecting family dynamics, could come out differently, Malhotra said. But he said the outcome does demonstrate how upbringing can affect a person's political views later in life.
"A lot of behavior you learn at an early age affects you later in life," he said. "How a brother treats his sister is how he will treat his wife later on."
EMAIL: [email protected]
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252 F.2d 579
Application of Marlan E. BOURNS.
Patent Appeal No. 6318.
United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.
February 18, 1958.
Raymond W. Colton, Washington, D. C., for appellant.
Clarence W. Moore, Washington, D. C., for the Commissioner of Patents.
Before JOHNSON, Chief Judge, and O'CONNELL, WORLEY, and RICH, Judges.
WORLEY, Judge.
1
This is an appeal from the decision of the Board of Appeals of the United States Patent Office sustaining the Primary Examiner's final rejection of the single claim of appellant's application for a design patent on a potentiometer, on the ground of lack of invention over prior art.
The appealed claim is as follows:
2
"The ornamental design for a potentiometer, substantially as shown."
The references relied on are
3
Radio's Master Catalog, (c) 1944, page K-74, right hand side.
4
Harvey Radio & Electronic Equipment Catalog, (c) 1948, page J-74, "Key and phones outlet box" at bottom of right column.
5
Appellant's potentiometer is in the form of an elongated rectangular prism having square ends. A U-shaped channel member of slightly less length than the potentiometer is fitted around three of the long sides thereof and recessed into the body so that it is flush with it. The straight portions of the channel are slightly shorter than the width of the long sides of the potentiometer thus providing the effect of a border on three edges of two of those sides. An eyelet appears at each of the four corners of the channel member, and the head of a screw is located near a corner of one of the end surfaces of the potentiometer.
6
Radio's Master Catalog shows a capacitor in the form of a rectangular prism similar in shape to appellant's potentiometer but somewhat shorter in proportion to its transverse cross-sectional area. The capacitator is provided on one of its long sides with a label which appears, in one of the devices illustrated, to be of such size as to provide a border along at least two of the edges of the label.
7
The Harvey catalog shows an outlet box of rectangular form provided with two openings surrounded by circular borders which give an appearance generally similar to that of eyelets.
8
The board was of the opinion that, while appellant's device presented an appearance of neatness and efficiency not fully taught by the references, it did not involve a patentable design. The board pointed out that the features which distinguish appellant's design from the prior art result largely from functional considerations, and that since a potentiometer of the kind shown by appellant is normally concealed from view when used for its intended purpose, its appearance is not a matter of concern, and protection of such devices by design patents is not encouraged, citing In re Stevens, 173 F.2d 1015, 36 C.C.P.A., Patents, 1017. Regardless of that particular consideration, we do not think appellant has made an inventive contribution.
9
The proportions of appellant's device obviously result from considerations of utility rather than of appearance, while the screw head in one end and the eyelets in the side are also functional. Even the location of the eyelets at the corners of the channel member appears to be utilitarian, since those are the logical places for securing the channel to the potentiometer body. There is nothing in the appearance of the screw head or the eyelets to suggest that they were chosen on the basis of aesthetic considerations.
10
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that the only feature on which patentability as a design could be predicated is the provision of a channel member of such size as to provide the particular border above mentioned. In our opinion that feature involves nothing more than a selection which could be made by a skilled worker without the exercise of invention. Radio's Master Catalog shows a capacitor which closely approximates appellant's potentiometer in shape, and which has on one face a label and border giving a general impression similar to that created by appellant's channel. The exact size and arrangement of such a border, and the number of faces on which it appears, are obviously merely matters of choice.
11
Moreover, appellant's potentiometer appears to be an article which would ordinarily be purchased on the basis of performance rather than appearance. In our opinion, appellant's design does not satisfy the statutory requirement for patentability.
12
The decision of the Board of Appeals is, accordingly, affirmed.
13
Affirmed.
14
O'CONNELL, Judge (concurring).
15
I fully agree with the majority of the court that the design here involved is lacking in patentable merit. It is elementary that invention must be present in order to justify the granting of a design patent and that the standard of invention is not lower in the case of design patents than in others. In re Rousso, 222 F.2d 729, 42 C.C.P.A., Patents, 910, and cases there cited.
16
In our decision in In re Stover, 146 F.2d 299, 32 C.C.P.A., Patents, 823, we pointed out that a patent may properly issue only where the faculty of invention is exercised in the combining of prior art features to produce a new result and that a change only in form, proportions or degree is not ordinarily patentable.
17
In the recent case of United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc., v. Blumenthal & Co., Inc., 156 F.Supp. 865, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island held that a substantial innovation, for which society is indebted to the inventor, must be disclosed to support the issuance of a patent, citing Sinclair & Carroll Co. v. Interchemical Corp., 325 U.S. 327, 65 S.Ct. 1143, 89 L.Ed. 1644. There the Supreme Court clearly stated in 325 U.S. at page 330, 65 S.Ct. at page 1145, the established test of patentability:
18
"A long line of cases has held it to be an essential requirement for the validity of a patent that the subject-matter display `invention,' `more ingenuity * * * than the work of a mechanic skilled in the art.' * * * This test is often difficult to apply; but its purpose is clear. Under this test, some substantial innovation is necessary, an innovation for which society is truly indebted to the efforts of the patentee."
19
In the instant case, the appellant's contribution clearly does not meet the test above set forth. As was properly held by the Board of Appeals, appellant's claim involves "no novel concept of design embellishment rising to the dignity of invention." On the contrary, it involves nothing more than a selection of features well within the skill of the ordinary worker in the art.
20
The conclusion which we have reached herein, and the reasons therefor, are nowise inconsistent with our decision in the case of In re Berger, 239 F.2d 397, 44 C.C.P.A., Patents, 714.
21
RICH, Judge (dissenting).
22
While not disagreeing with the board's holding that appellant's design "presents an appearance of neatness and efficiency that is not fully taught by the references," the majority finds that the design is not patentable. This conclusion is apparently predicated on the notion that each feature of the design, such as "the provision of a channel member of such size as to provide the particular border," the "exact size and arrangement of such a border, and the number of faces on which it appears," "the proportions of appellant's device," and "the location of the eyelets" are either the result of "considerations of utility" or "merely matters of choice."
23
Starting from the admissions that there is novelty in the design, that it is for an article of manufacture and that it is "ornamental" at least in the sense of presenting an appearance of neatness and efficiency (which to my mind is enough to meet that requirement) it remains only to decide whether the design "as a whole would have been obvious" under 35 U.S.C.A. Section 103. I think it would not and so I think it is patentable.
24
As to the holding that the design at bar is unpatentable because the selection and arrangement of its several elements are "merely matters of choice" or due to functional considerations, I would point out that the design of articles such as these potentiometers is always a mere matter of choice of size, shape, structure, materials, proportions, finishes and the like and that good modern design of the character the design patent statute should foster results from the felicitous union of function and the factors, not dictated by function, which create appearance.
25
Design must be judged solely by looking at the end result. Its presence or absence cannot be determined by a process of mental disassembly and comparison of parts with the prior art. To judge it against the prior art of record we should look at the appellant's design and at what the art shows and decide whether the latter would suggest the former. When this is done, what do we see? We see in Harvey's catalog an illustration of a "Key and Phones Outlet Box" which looks like a shallow receptacle outlet box as used for flush mounting in domestic wiring systems having a rectangular, flat cover plate in which are two phone jacks in alinement with the two mounting screws. The plate appears to have the common beveled edge of outlet receptacle cover plates bearing a decorative design. Nothing in it looks like anything in appellant's design except that the round holes in the jacks resemble the round holes in appellant's eyelets, about as trivial a resemblance as can be imagined. The other reference is a photograph of three rectangular electrolytic capacitors in cardboard containers on one side only of which there appear to be printed labels coextensive with the faces to which they are attached. To me there is no resemblance to appellant's design other than the common characteristic of rectangularity. Not even the general proportions are the same.
26
Therefore, applying the simple and only possible test of similarity of overall appearance, it is clear to me that appellant's design is new and as a whole would not have been obvious to a designer familiar with the references relied on. I would reverse the board in this case for the same reasons we reversed and held patentable the design of the "Recess Bracket for Night Light" in In re Berger, 239 F.2d 397, 44 C.C. P.A., Patents, 714. I think we should be consistent.
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HANG TIME NEW JERSEY — As Draft time rolls around and we learn about the next class of NBA rookies, there’s a desire to compare each to players we’re already familiar with.
No two players are exactly alike and some players are more unique than others. But you can find comparisons by watching video, crunching stats or matching measurements. For this exercise, we did the latter two.
Listed below are four of the top picks, along with the current NBA players they compare with most. For this exercise, we looked at 10 stats from each player’s last season in college, and eight measurements taken at the annual pre-draft combine.
Because we used college numbers and combine numbers, the only current players we could compare this year’s prospects to were the ones who played in college (so no LeBron James or Dwight Howard) and participated in the combine since 2000 (Rajon Rondo is one notable name missing in that respect).
The following comparisons aren’t gospel, of course, but they’re one way to get ready for the Draft on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Marshall is a unique player, because he had more assists (351) than he had attempts from the field (225) and trips to the line (79) combined. No current player was even close to that kind of ratio in college.
|
Q:
The specified string is not in the form required for an e-mail address, no Idea what is wrong?
I know that this question already exist, but i read all of them and I did not found answer. This is my SendEmail method.
public bool SendEmail(PostEmail postEmail)
{
if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(postEmail.emailTo))
{
return false;
}
using (SmtpClient smtpClient = new SmtpClient())
{
using (MailMessage message = new MailMessage())
{
message.Subject = postEmail.subject == null ? "" : postEmail.subject;
message.Body = postEmail.body == null ? "" : postEmail.body;
message.IsBodyHtml = postEmail.isBodyHtml;
message.To.Add(new MailAddress(postEmail.emailTo));
try
{
smtpClient.Send(message);
return true;
}
catch (Exception exception)
{
//Log the exception to DB
throw new FaultException(exception.Message);
}
}
}
I have this error in question
The specified string is not in the form required for an e-mail
address
I have no idea what could be wrong. Please any help ?
A:
put a break point on the line
message.To.Add(new MailAddress(postEmail.emailTo));
and when the debugger hits the line when you run the code
check that value of the email address in
postEmail.emailTo
its most likely in a wrong format and that's what's generating
the error.
|
Revitalizing American Bike Racing – A Talk with Michael Aisner: Part 2
In the first part of this series, Michael Aisner shared many fond and exciting memories from the old Coors Classic days. He also alluded to a number of important business lessons that can be learned from the success of that event. In fact, many of the innovative marketing approaches, organization-building tactics and operating methods that the “Classic” pioneered may be increasingly relevant today – as more and more American racing events struggle to achieve stability and profitability. In this article, we talk in more detail with Aisner about some of these key recommendations for stabilizing and revitalizing American cycling today.
Aisner firmly believes that cycling must be viewed as part of the broader entertainment business, and that sports are therefore in constant competition against all other forms of entertainment. There are now thousands of cable, satellite, and online channels available, with almost unlimited entertainment options. Hence, cycling has to find a way to become more exciting to people other than cyclists – so that sponsors can achieve wider exposure. “To survive and grow, we simply have to reach more people, and get them interested in our sport. We’ve got a lot to offer to new fans, but too often we end up just talking to ourselves,” says Aisner. “There are two basic places where we have to make cycling more interesting – live at the event on the side of the road, and on TV. Frankly, I don’t think we’ve progressed much on either count during the last couple decades.”
Aisner tells the story of when he was consulting to the Saturn Classic race in 2001, and trying to explain the basic marketing challenge to the General Motors executive team. “I went into this big corporate board room in Detroit, and I drew four concentric circles up on the blackboard. I often refer back to this, because it really encapsulates how we should look at the existing and potential cycling fan base.”
Aisner’s “bulls-eye” chart shows the four key audiences for pro cycling. The innermost circle represents the cycling fanatic – the fan who will go to any length to watch cycling anywhere. “This is the diehard, the real saddle-sniffer,” says Aisner. They know the sport inside and out, and many of them are amateur racers themselves. (Some television executives have estimated that this circle – in the U.S. – may be as small as only about 100,000 people.) The next circle out represents the casual fan – someone interested in the sport but who may not always remember to watch an event – and who hence may be particularly responsive to cycling promotions. The next outer circle is what Aisner refers to as the “friend” – people who would try watching a cycling event with a friend, or if it was promoted in the right way, and who might follow an event once they formed a connection to it. Such friends might even come back and watch another event if and when they are reminded that one is occurring. Finally, in the outermost (and by far largest) circle is the “fringe” – people who don’t have any awareness or interest in pro cycling – even when they are specifically pitched on the idea.
To sum things up, says Aisner, “We’ve done a pretty good job of pitching pro cycling to the inner two circles – the fanatic and the fan – but outside of the “Lancedom” era and the Tour de France, we’ve largely failed to draft new fans from those outer two circles.” This is the crux of the challenge facing U.S. bike racing: how to move more people from those outer two rings towards the center of the bulls-eye.
In retrospect, the Coors Classic did a striking job of converting those outer rings and creating a generation of new fans for pro cycling. “You just have to figure out how to connect with those folks,” he says. For example, he put the late Robin Williams on the cover of the Saturn cycling magazine – a widely recognized celebrity who had a passion for recreational cycling. “Our message to that outer circle should be easily shareable content – the best we have to offer – videos that show massive attacks; how the human machine burns more calories than you can possibly ingest in a crazy mountain stage; dangerous descents at terminal velocity, on paper-thin tires that cost more than your Porsche’s tires; put these kind of gems out there on social media with a youthful narrative and hot music; ‘can’t-look-away,’ juicy, bite-size cycling stories.”
“We need durable, brash young American heroes – where are the Apolo Ohnos, the Shawn Whites?” continues Aisner in a passionate stream of thought. “Where is the diversity? We’re dreadfully low on the ‘cool’ spectrum. We have to dress the sport up, get more creative, to attract new fans and draw them in.”
In looking back more generally on the Classic’s formula for success, Aisner points to six key factors that he ranks as the most critical in building a successful and sustainable race – and for bringing in those critical new fans.
(1) Don’t spend more than you bring in – always balance the costs and revenue.“This is a no-brainer,” says Aisner, “but sometimes it’s tempting for a promoter to overspend, if you have deep pockets behind you. If you need more money to put on your event, then you have to go out and find more sponsors, or figure out other ways of generating revenue. Or else you cut your costs. Period.” Aisner says that some of the more successful regional races like Redlands and Northstar understand this better. They have focused on balancing their budgets, and have creatively utilized volunteers and experienced staff to extend their successful runs. “The results speak for themselves.”
Aisner suggests that some races have developed an “upside-down” financial model. “A budget is established first and then some often-inexperienced sponsor acquisition guys try to go out and raise the funds on a compressed timetable.” Too often, we have this backwards, says Aisner. “You can’t say – we have $12 million in costs, so go raise the money. You have to say – we have $4 million to spend – now use that to go make a great race.” Another factor is that there is a competitive ceiling for the value of a title sponsorship. “The big cycling races can rival the biggest star-studded tennis or golf tourneys, in terms of title sponsorship fees,” he says. “And they’re just not comparable. We have to get reasonable, and stop promising owners a profit in a sport that has rarely ever shown one.”
Aisner also highlights the trend toward separation of race ownership and race management, and speculates that this split may have complicated the incentives and the economics of major events. He believes it can cause the race owner to lose focus on the critical importance of controlling costs – and that this factor may have led to the premature demise of some major American race events. Aisner says that if organizers own their equipment, fencing, radios, cars and logistical personnel etc., that they are more likely to keep a laser focus on expenses. Plus, you can rent that equipment out to other lesser events during the off-season. Says Aisner, “Contract firms like Medalist Sports and G4 Productions have definitely filled a niche, and they do an excellent job. “But let’s face it, they’re independent companies looking to make money for their own shareholders. If you do hire an outside contractor, you just have to make sure you can afford it.”
(2) Perseverance – don’t take no for an answer. Aisner is a veritable poster child for pushing, pestering, even “brow-beating” various parties – to get them on board and contributing to the success of the race. He cites numerous examples from the Classic days where he had to “stick with it to get what I wanted – reason, negotiate, cajole, whatever it takes,” he says, laughing. “You’re basically dealing with a hundred different parties,” he says. “Suppliers, sponsors, local communities, public agencies, and so on – not to mention the teams themselves, the riders, the UCI, USA Cycling, and whoever.” You have to walk a careful line – to balance the individual wants and needs of the various stakeholders, while maintaining the overall vision and budget of the race. “But don’t promise anything you can’t deliver,” he stresses.
“You even have to treat each town differently,” he emphasizes. “Vail and Aspen were very happy to be included in the Classic, because it helped them promote their summer activities. But I had to kiss ass with Boulder and with San Francisco. And I did it, because I needed them – for the crowds, the media, and the sponsors!
In every town they worked with, Aisner talked first with the police, with the fire departments, the churches, and the local transport system, to address their needs and get their buy-in. “Don’t make up excuses and try to figure out why something won’t work – figure things out so that it will work. Don’t run your race on assumptions – run it on vision and dreams.” Aisner believes that many of today’s promoters give up too easily, or don’t push hard enough for the things they need for a successful event.
(3) Listen – and welcome input.Aisner reminds us that the event is there for the public, and stresses the importance of carefully listening to and cooperating with the public – treating them with the same respect as the race’s other important stakeholders. “We made sure that we had advisory committees and forums for input in all of the start and finish towns, and we tried to get the right people on those committees – people that could drive the local interest. We also sought input from the media.” The organizing committee people, local authorities and the media can all be advocates, and a valued part of the effort to grow the fan base and build greater cooperation.
(4) Maximize the assets you have. In addition to making sure that every aspect of the race is thought through in detail, Aisner says you have to think how to utilize and exploit every asset to the maximum degree. “We tried to figure out ways to make the race more of a year-round event; it’s important for the race communities and the sponsors to see that the event has a scale and scope beyond just ‘race week.’” Each spring, the Coors Classic created race magazines, calendars, and other print media products that built up and maintained a level of excitement about the race, and continued the media blitz into the fall, well after the actual event. The organization sold race merchandise year-round. “You must have an on-going presence, remain relevant, and build a ‘personality’ for the race – and it has to be bigger than any individual athlete” says Aisner.
Aisner tried to make each edition of the race fresh by adding something completely novel, whether that was a new stage, a new city, a new geographic region, or new teams. Each episode of the Classic had its own unique twist “to keep the fans and the media coming back, and make them more engaged,” he says. The event pioneered the concept of the VIP cycling tour group – customized tours that allowed citizens to ride the race course as well watch the race – a value-added product which has become wildly popular in Europe for the Grand Tours today.
(5) Maximize your TV coverage.One of the Coors Classic’s greatest successes – and perhaps the biggest contrast with today’s major races – was its ability to generate the kind of broad fan interest which led broadcasters to actually pay for the rights to televise the race – a huge economic advantage, and something basically unheard of in U.S. racing today.
To develop and build this television demand, Aisner and his staff developed an imaginative and very broad-based marketing effort to expose pro cycling to the right audiences. “We had two different media elements – inbound and outbound. Inbound paid careful attention to the reporters who came to cover the race; outbound was basically us busting out stories to the entire mainstream print and broadcast media in every way we could think of. We created human interest side stories in addition to the daily race coverage, which ended up getting us more ink and airtime.”
To Aisner, media meant anything that ended up in front of the public. For example, Frontier Airlines was a sponsor for several years, and the race got major coverage in various airline magazines. “You know all those little napkins that you get with your drink on an airplane?” asks Aisner. “We had the Coors Classic logo and dates on every one of those napkins on Frontier Airlines – millions of people learned about the event through that little trick.” And of course, the Coors Company itself loved all the attention and name recognition it was receiving.
Aisner takes a radically different conceptual approach to television that speaks directly to some of the declining viewership, “cord-cutting” and selective viewing that we have discussed previously: focus less on live coverage, and more on the human interest and emotional side of the sport, trying to turn it into a “docu-drama,” or almost what we might today call reality television. “I know it sounds kind of heretical,” says Aisner, “but I really see little reason to have much live coverage in cycling. We’re just cheating our fans – and a whole world of sports junkies out there – out of some of our best dramas.”
As many observers have pointed out, even in the Tour de France – clearly the most popular and widely watched cycling event in the world – much of the coverage can be pretty boring. Many people, and particularly younger fans, just stream the last three minutes of the race on their phones – totally bypassing the first several hours of coverage. “Four hours of crank-by-crank coverage, with Phil and Paul – as great as they are – talking about 13th century cathedrals?” asks Aisner. “It’s just not the best way to showcase cycling. We need to emphasize the more dramatic and attractive elements of the sport.”
As an example, Aisner cites an event in the 1985 Tour de France, when Greg LeMond was ready to attack and win a stage, but his coaches instructed him to wait for Bernard Hinault, who later went on to win the race. At the end of the dramatic Pyrenees stage, LeMond was caught on television, weeping with rage and frustration at his coaches’ orders. “That’s the kind of drama and human story that fans love. This sport is saturated with enticing moments that we too often leave unseen.”
Aisner says that U.S. races should “turn the etch-a-sketch upside-down” and rewrite their whole approach to television. “This sport is exciting – it’s edgy, unpredictable, loaded with personality, flavor, color, and controversy. I want to see more clips like that one from 1985 – in prime time. We have to bottle up that excitement and emotion, and then figure out how to unpack all of those attributes into more interesting and digestible programming for today’s TV viewer. That’s the best way to bullet-proof ourselves against the evil DVR! Skip these kinds of stories and you lose the context,” he warns.
Another thing Aisner did was to always make sure the race occurred in the right high-visibility places, and at the right times. “You don’t run a race on Wall Street on Sunday morning; you run it Friday during the 5 o’clock news, to get it carried live on local TV,” he says.
(6) Be wildly inventive and creative. Maybe it’s easy for him to say, but Aisner insists that you have to think big and “throw out the box,” particularly from the marketing perspective. This is where his passion for bike racing really shines through. For example, “we need more exciting uniforms, we need the rider’s names on their jerseys so that fans can more easily follow their favorites, we need more celebrities involved.” He refers frequently to the need to rejuvenate the sport with a hipper, edgier persona – “We need to be a ‘Red Bull’ sport!” Aisner could seemingly go on forever, throwing out many marketing angles or pitches that could enliven existing races today.
He tried especially hard to emotionally engage that outer-circle “fringe” population, not just the diehard fans. He recounts one heart-warming story from the early days when he brought in the country’s oldest registered rider – an 86-year-old gentleman from Georgia – to go for a new national 25-mile time trial record for his age group. “The helicopters were following this old fellow,” says Aisner, describing this added finish-line drama. “We had the music stoked and the announcers were bellowing as he came into town behind a full police motorcycle escort. A misty Greg LeMond later hung a medal around his neck; this guy was so excited ….. I’m telling you, there was not a dry eye in the whole place, me included.”
Among the other ideas that Aisner believes are under-utilized: various spectator maps and guides, apps to trace the status of the race from the roadside, interactive texts and app-based radio, focus on meaningful daily “standings,” and pre-recorded video and audio pieces. He also has volumes of ideas for making better use of the volunteer labor force – how to get them more excited and engaged, and how to solicit constant improvement from them, how to turn them into promoters of the event.
Aisner frequently returns to the critical need to view cycling in the broader entertainment context, and he cites a lot of anecdotal examples. “We need more stats on the TV, like NASCAR has done. We need to get to know the individual athletes better. Figure ways to let the fans get closer to the athletes – so that they can touch them, see the sweat and dirt on their faces. We made our winners walk through a marshal-lined corridor of amped-up fans to get their awards, and we had them stay afterwards to sign autographs and take snaps with kids – there are your future fans! We need that kind of controlled mob scene, that kind of fervor, and that kind of intimacy.”
Aisner once marched the whole peloton into Folsom Field for the July 4th celebrations, holding their own country’s flags – like a mini-Olympics. “That created about 30,000 potential new fans right there,” he says. “Cycling has been sort of devoid of big personalities lately – we need more Lance Armstrongs. The sport needs a personality, its own sense of fashion, a specific ‘soundtrack.’” Aisner actually had a specific song commissioned as the race‘s musical theme that was played before every stage for a decade.
Some observers have suggested the American racing has fallen into a trap by trying to mimic the European model. “Not so,” says Aisner. “We should copy them – we should do more city center criteriums, like they do in Europe. We seem to have a shorter attention span in this country – shorter, punchier events might fit our Twitter mentality better.” Stage races are too hard to track and understand for your average sports fan, and they should definitely be Americanized, he says. “I think we had a good formula at the Classic, with nationally-branded country teams that people could connect with, and circuits and crits mixed in with the stages and time trials.” The UCI dictates professional race formats, but Aisner says, “Sometimes we just need to get out of the way of our own progress!”
Finally, one of the main takeaways from Aisner is the clear sense that someone needs to be the “carrier of the torch,” or the “orchestra director.” Someone needs to “love” the race, says Aisner, and be its heart and soul. “It can’t really be the sponsor, the hired logistics company, the committee, or the governor. There has to be someone who is the heart, soul and vision of the race. He goes on, “Utah works because the torch is carried by Steve Miller. Minnesota works because of Dave Laporte.” Every race has to have that kind of leadership and passion. Surprisingly, says Aisner, “That seems to be what a lot of events are missing today.”
Times have obviously changed a lot in the 30 years since the Coors Classic started to wind down. The circumstances then and the personalities driving that race were clearly different from today. So it’s hard to do a side-by-side comparison with today’s events. But one thing is clear – there are some important lessons to be learned from the Classic’s rich history. Although Aisner professes no interest to return to cycling as an occupation, he clearly has a dedication and love for the sport and would like to help explore ways for cycling to become more successful in the future. “I don’t want to call it a post-mortem,” says Aisner. “Let’s just say it’s time for cycling’s major stakeholders and business leaders to sit down together and really think hard about how we manage and promote the sport.”
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788 So.2d 752 (2001)
Larry Matthew PUCKETT
v.
STATE of Mississippi.
Nos. 96-DP-00867-SCT, 1999-DP-01437-SCT.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
June 28, 2001.
*755 Michael Adelman, Hattiesburg, for Appellant.
Office of the Attorney General by Leslie S. Lee, for Appellee.
EN BANC.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
SMITH, Justice, for the Court:
¶ 1. The motion for rehearing is denied. The original opinions are withdrawn, and these opinions are substituted therefor.
¶ 2. Larry Matthew Puckett was convicted of capital murder on August 2, 1996, in the Forrest County Circuit Court and sentenced to death. On direct appeal, this Court remanded the case to the circuit court for a Batson hearing. On remand, the trial court denied Puckett's Batson motion, and Puckett appeals to this Court.
¶ 3. After careful review, this Court concludes that the trial court erred in finding that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful racial discrimination. However, the State proceeded to give reasons for the strikes of certain minority jurors, and the trial court held that the reasons given were in fact race neutral. We agree that the State gave sufficiently race-neutral reasons for striking each juror. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's denial of Puckett's Batson motion.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
¶ 4. Larry Matthew Puckett was indicted for the capital murder of Rhonda Hatten Griffis on October 14, 1995, while engaged in the commission of the crime of sexual battery in violation of Miss Code Ann. § 97-3-19(2)(e) (1994 & Supp.1998). Venue was transferred from the Forrest County Circuit Court to the Circuit Court for the First Judicial District of Harrison County, Mississippi. The jury returned a unanimous verdict finding Puckett guilty of capital murder and subsequently returned a verdict imposing the death sentence.
¶ 5. On appeal to this Court, Puckett argued, inter alia, that the trial court erred in allowing the State to peremptorily strike black jurors in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), and Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 111 S.Ct. 1364, 113 L.Ed.2d 411 (1991). Puckett is a white male, and his victim, Rhonda Griffis, was a white female. Out of the entire venire totaling 112, there were eleven blacks. There were five blacks remaining prior to the exercise of peremptory challenges. The State used *756 all twelve of its available challenges, eight against whites and four against blacks. Puckett was tried by an all-white jury of six males and six females.
¶ 6. Without waiting for the trial judge to determine whether Puckett had established a prima facie case of purposeful exclusion of blacks, the State offered reasons for all peremptory strikes during jury selection. The defense counsel stated its rebuttal. The trial judge then ruled on each challenged juror, but failed to make on-the-record factual determinations or independent inquiry concerning each juror as required by Hatten v. State, 628 So.2d 294 (Miss.1993). This Court remanded the issue for the limited purpose of conducting a Batson hearing. Puckett v. State, 737 So.2d 322, 337 (Miss.1999) (hereinafter Puckett I).
¶ 7. The hearing on remand was held before Circuit Judge Richard W. McKenzie on August 23, 1999. On August 25, 1999, the circuit court entered its order finding that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful racial discrimination and that the strikes made by the State were race neutral. Puckett timely filed a notice of appeal on August 26, 1999. Puckett raises the following issue:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING PUCKETT'S BATSON MOTION.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 8. On review, a trial court's determinations under Batson are afforded great deference because they are largely based on credibility. McGilberry v. State, 741 So.2d 894, 923 (Miss.1999) (citing Coleman v. State, 697 So.2d 777, 785 (Miss.1997)). This Court will not reverse factual findings relating to a Batson challenge unless they are clearly erroneous. Id. See also Woodward v. State, 726 So.2d 524, 530 (Miss. 1998); Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346, 1349-50 (Miss.1987). "This perspective is wholly consistent with our unflagging support of the trial court as the proper forum for resolution of factual controversies." Id. at 1350.
DISCUSSION OF LAW
¶ 9. Puckett alleges that the State's use of four of its twelve peremptory challenges against black jurors constitutes a violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). The trial court found that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful racial discrimination and that the strikes made by the State were race neutral. Puckett contends that the trial court erred in denying his Batson motion.
A. The Prima Facie Case
¶ 10. Traditionally, to establish a prima facie case of purposeful racial discrimination in the exercise of peremptory challenges, the opponent of the strike was required to show:
1. That he is a member of a "cognizable racial group;"
2. That the proponent has exercised peremptory challenges toward the elimination of veniremen of his race; and
3. That facts and circumstances raised an inference that the proponent used his peremptory challenges for the purpose of striking minorities.
Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 97, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 1723, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). See also Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873, 880 (Miss.1999); Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1349. However, this test was modified by the Supreme Court's decision in Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 415, 111 S.Ct. 1364, 1373, 113 L.Ed.2d 411 (1991), in which the Court held that a defendant may object to racially-based exercises of peremptory *757 challenges whether or not the excluded jurors and the defendant are of the same race. This holding, in essence, eliminates the first two factors required by Batson. Bush v. State, 585 So.2d 1262, 1267-68 (Miss.1991). Thus, the pivotal question is "whether the opponent of the strike has met the burden of showing that proponent has engaged in a pattern of strikes based on race or gender, or in other words `the totality of the relevant facts gives rise to an inference of discriminatory purpose.'" Randall v. State, 716 So.2d 584, 587 (Miss. 1998) (quoting Batson, 476 U.S. at 94, 106 S.Ct. at 1721).
¶ 11. The record reflects that Puckett is white. The State exercised twelve peremptory challenges to the jury pool, four of which were for blacks and eight of which were for whites. As a result of these challenges, every black person was removed from the jury panel, and the jury that was eventually empaneled was composed entirely of white members. Puckett argues that by striking each available prospective black juror, the State created a pattern of strikes against black jurors giving rise to an inference of discrimination. This argument was rejected by this Court in Puckett I:
The fact that all four blacks were stricken from the jury does not necessarily create an automatic inference of purposeful discrimination. The State used all 12 peremptory strikes; 8 were used to eliminate whites. The case at bar is similar to the circumstances in Davis v. State, 551 So.2d 165 (Miss.1989). Specifically, in Davis, the defendant was black, and the all-white jury was composed of four men and eight women. However, even though the State had exercised seven of its twelve peremptory challenges to eliminate blacks, the trial court determined no pattern of discrimination was shown in view of the five challenges the State also used against whites. Thorson v. State, 653 So.2d 876, 898 (Miss.1994) (Smith, J., dissenting) (citing Davis, 551 So.2d at 170). Additionally, the case at bar is distinguishable from Conerly v. State, 544 So.2d 1370, 1372 (Miss.1989), wherein the State only used five peremptory strikes, all to eliminate black jurors. Had the State in the case at bar used only four peremptory strikes and only to eliminate black jurors, this would have been sufficient to create an inference of purposeful discrimination.
The inference of purposeful discrimination was not automatically invoked in this case.
Puckett I, 737 So.2d at 337.
¶ 12. Puckett also argues that in light of the evidence presented at the Batson hearing, this Court's recent decision in Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873 (Miss.1999), mandates that the strikes made by the State in this case give rise to an inference of discrimination. In Walker, Walker objected to the State's use of seven of nine peremptory challenges against black jurors. The final jury was composed of ten whites and two blacks, though the population of Marshall County was fifty percent black. The circuit court held that Walker had failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination based on the State's seating of two blacks on the jury. The circuit court reasoned that if the State's purpose was to excuse based on race, it could have used all twelve strikes against blacks. This Court reversed the finding of the circuit court, stating that "the mere acceptance of other black persons as jurors is no defense to a Batson claim." Id. at 880 (citing Conerly v. State, 544 So.2d 1370, 1372 (Miss.1989)). This Court concluded that Walker had presented an inference of racial discrimination and that the trial court erred in failing to conduct a Batson hearing. Id.
*758 ¶ 13. Puckett argues that he presented an inference of racial discrimination by showing that the State utilized its peremptory strikes to strike each available black juror and that the statistical probability of having an all-white jury in Harrison County is very small. At the hearing below, Puckett offered the testimony of Dr. Stephen Mallory, an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Mallory testified that the black population of Harrison County is twenty percent of the total population and that blacks constitute forty percent of the voters in the First Judicial District of Harrison County. Dr. Mallory testified that, based on a percentage range from twenty percent to forty percent, the probability of randomly selecting twelve white jurors from these populations ranged from .001 to .006. This Court finds that in light of the minute statistical probability demonstrated by Puckett below, in addition to the fact that the State exercised its challenges to strike every available black juror, the trial court erred in determining that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful racial discrimination.
B. Race Neutral Explanations
¶ 14. Once the defendant has established a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the prosecution to articulate race-neutral reasons for each challenged strike. Walker, 740 So.2d at 880 (citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 97, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69; Bush at 1268). As this Court explained in Randall v. State, 716 So.2d 584, 588 (Miss.1998), "the Supreme Court has made clear that for the purposes of step two of Batson, any reason which is not facially violative of equal protection will suffice." "The establishment of a race-neutral reason is not a difficult task." Stewart v. State, 662 So.2d 552, 558 (Miss. 1995). This Court has noted:
The second step of this process does not demand an explanation that is persuasive, or even plausible. "At this [second] step of the inquiry, the issue is the facial validity of the prosecutor's explanation. Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the prosecutor's explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race neutral."
Randall, 716 So.2d at 588 (quoting Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768, 115 S.Ct. at 1771).
¶ 15. Despite the trial judge's error in determining that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination, the trial judge's finding that the State articulated race-neutral reasons for its strikes is not clearly erroneous. The reasons supplied by the State are "neutral," related to the particular case tried, and supported by the record. The following explanations were given by the State for each challenged strike.
JUROR NO. 7, GLORIA HAWTHORNE:
MR. HELFRICH [for the State]: ... S2 would be Gloria Hawthorne; she was not responsive on her questionnaire; she was one way and not responsive in open court; on her off days, she likes to sleep half the day; I don't think she would be attentive. S3.
MR. ADELMAN [Puckett's attorney]: Before we move from S2, note for the record that Gloria Hawthorne is a black female.
* * * *
MR. ADELMAN: Our position is that the reason given is not sufficiently a race neutral reason.
MR. HELFRICH: The fact that she sleeps half a day when she is off. I am afraid she will be sleeping here. She was not responsive to questions.
MR. JONES [for the State]: She was not responsive to the death penalty *759 questions, and her questionnaire is totally different in regard to the death penalty.
* * * *
MR. ADELMAN: On her questionnaire, there is no issue about it. First of all, on her off time, she can sleep 100 percent of the time. There is no indication that it has ever interfered with her employment. She is fully employed. As far as death penalty, she stated, "I feel if you take another person's life and the Court can prove that you did it, then you should get the death penalty."
MR. JONES: If the Court please, our objection on the death penalty goes back, in open court she was totally unresponsive, because she didn't indicate when we asked if she was for the death penalty; and she was totally unresponsive to our voir dire, and it is contradictory to what she says in her questionnaire, and for that reason we feel it is race
MR. ADELMAN: His question on the voir dire was whether or not they could put aside any feelings they had and view the evidence in light of the law.
THE COURT: The Court is of the opinion that cause has been exercised without regard to race or gender and as such would not be challenged under Batson. Who is next?
¶ 16. Also, at the Batson hearing the prosecutor also stated that Hawthorne's questionnaire indicated that she had an inaccurate view of the law. In response to the question "What is your opinion of the death penalty," Hawthorne responded, "I feel if you take another person's life and the court can prove you did it, then you should get the death penalty." The prosecutor stated that this view is uncertain as to what is required in that the court does not have to prove anything.
JUROR NO. 23, MARTHA BRIDGES:
MR. HELFRICH: ... We would strike juror 23, Martha Bridges. In her questionnaire says, Yes, I am sick with back and knee problems, cannot sit or stand a long time; try to work two or three days a week to survive, working by myself so my business would be closed; please excuse me; she does not want to serve; she has medical problems.
THE COURT: That is S6.
MR. ADELMAN: Your Honor, we would note for the record this is a black female, and they have struck the next tendered black as well as another female. This juror did not indicate at any time during voir dire that she would be unable to perform her duties as juror. Her opinion as to the death penalty, It depends on the circumstances. We would submit that the reason given is not race neutral in light of Batson nor is it gender neutral.
THE COURT: The Court is of the opinion that the juror was not struck for the basis of race or gender and as such will not be excused under Batson.
JUROR NO. 36, GLORIA GRAYER:
MR. HELFRICH: No. 36, we would strike Gloria Grayer. Her brother was a victim of a shooting, and she did not want to know the outcome of the case, and for that reason we would strike her.
MR. ADELMAN: For the record, we note that she is a black female. She is the third black tendered and of course the third strike of a black by the prosecution in this case. She was very open. Her opinion of the death penalty was: In some cases justified; in some cases life with no parole is best; she was an open juror. I remember her vividly saying that none of the things would affect her and she could keep an open and clear mind.
*760 THE COURT: Note for the record that she is a member of the African American race; however, for the reasons tendered to the Court, the Court will rule she was not stricken for racially motivated reasons under Batson versus Kentucky.
JUROR NO. 43, HARVEY WESBY:
MR. HELFRICH: Juror 43, we will strike, Harvey Wesby.
THE COURT: S-10.
MR. ADELMAN: Your Honor, for the record we note that Mr. Wesby is a black male. They have now struck all four blacks on the jury panel.
THE COURT: Let me hear your reasoning on the strikes.
MR. HELFRICH: For the record, Your Honor, the Defendantbefore I get into my reasoning, the Defendant is white and the victim is white. I don't know if that has been clear in the record; I would like that in the record. On his questionnaire, where he says he is pro on the death penalty it's okay. He is flippant, and he was not responsive to the question in open court, and for those reasons we would strike him.
MR. ADELMAN: For the record, under Batson and subsequent progeny including Powers versus Ohio it is irrelevant whether or not the Defendant is white and the victim is white. We submit that Mr. Wesby in his questionnaire is totally open; he said the death penalty was okay. I would like to know what is flippant about that. He works regularly in shipping and receiving. They have not given a race neutral reason.
MR. JONES: If the Court please, his answer on here, he says, It is okay. He did not respond in court about the death penalty. The death penalty is a race neutral reason to strike based upon that, and I am satisfied with the response.
MR. ADELMAN: Jones asked; were there any jurors who could not set aside whatever their opinion was and apply it to the facts and law.
THE COURT: The Court is of the opinion that strike was not based along racially motivated lines and as such will not be excluded under Batson.
¶ 17. In asserting that the State has not' offered race-neutral explanations for the challenged strikes, Puckett argues that the explanations offered by the State are not supported by the record and that the strikes resulted in the disparate treatment of similarly situated jurors. Such considerations, however, are not applicable under step two of Batson. The sole inquiry under step two is whether the explanations given are facially violative of equal protection. The Supreme Court has noted that it is error to "combine Batson's second and third steps into one, requiring that the justification tendered at the second step be not just neutral but also at least minimally persuasive." Purkett, 514 U.S. at 767-68, 115 S.Ct. at 1771. Only in the third step does the persuasiveness of the explanation become relevant. Id.
¶ 18. Examining the explanations offered by the prosecutor, it is clear that the State gave sufficiently race-neutral reasons for striking each juror. Regarding the strike against Gloria Hawthorne, the prosecutor stated that because Hawthorne prefers to sleep half a day on her days off, he feared she would be inattentive at trial. This Court has accepted inattentiveness as a race-neutral explanation for the exercise of peremptory strikes. See Mack v. State, 650 So.2d 1289, 1299 (Miss.1994); Abram v. State, 606 So.2d 1015 (Miss.1992); Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1356-57 (citing United States v. Mathews, 803 F.2d 325, 331 (7th Cir.1986); Townsend v. State, 730 S.W.2d 24, 26 (Tex.Ct. App.1987)). Certainly discriminatory intent *761 is not inherent in a prosecutor's fear that a juror may prove inattentive. The prosecutor also stated that Hawthorne's responses to death penalty questions on her written questionnaire differed from her oral statements to the court during voir dire, and that Hawthorne was not responsive during voir dire. This Court included unresponsiveness and inconsistent statements in its listing of acceptable race-neutral explanations in Lockett. Id. at 1356 (citing Rodgers v. State, 725 S.W.2d 477, 480 (Tex.Ct.App.1987) (inconsistency between oral responses and juror's card)). Finally, the prosecutor stated that Hawthorne's questionnaire demonstrated that she held an inaccurate view of the law. Though this Court has never addressed such an explanation, and though, arguably, Hawthorne's misunderstanding could be cured upon the reading of jury instructions, discriminatory intent is not inherent within the explanation itself.
¶ 19. Regarding the strike against Martha Bridges, the prosecutor explained that Bridges stated on her written questionnaire that she wished to be excused for medical problems. Though this Court has never addressed a juror's health as a race-neutral explanation of the exercise of a peremptory strike, numerous other jurisdictions have held that the State's concerns about inattentiveness of a potential juror because of a medical condition, and about his or her inability to sit through course of trial because of the condition, is a race-neutral reason. See, e.g., United States v. Dawn, 897 F.2d 1444, 1447 (8th Cir.1990); Jackson v. State, 640 So.2d 1025 (Ala.Crim.App.1992); Alen v. State, 596 So.2d 1083, 1091 n. 11 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1992); Scott v. State, 240 Ga.App. 50, 522 S.E.2d 535, 538 (1999); Malone v. State, 939 S.W.2d 782, 784 (Tex.Ct.App.1997).
¶ 20. The prosecutor stated that the State struck Gloria Grayer because her brother was the victim of a shooting, and she did not care to know the outcome of the case. In Lockett, this Court included within its list of racially neutral reasons an indication by a juror that he or she lacks commitment to the importance of the proceedings. Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1357 (citing United States v. Mathews, 803 F.2d at 331). In Mathews, the juror arrived late, and the prosecutor stated that such indicated a lack of commitment to the importance of the proceedings. Certainly, an admission by a juror that she did not wish to know the outcome of even the proceeding in which the defendant was tried for the murder of her own brother indicates the potential for a lack of commitment to the outcome of a proceeding in which the juror has no personal interest. Discriminatory intent is not inherent in such an explanation.
¶ 21. Finally, the prosecutor stated that the State struck Harvey Wesby because Wesby's answer to death penalty questions on his written questionnaire differed from his oral responses during voir dire and that Wesby did not respond to questions during voir dire. At the Batson hearing, the prosecutor explained that this was what the State meant when it called Wesby "flippant." As explained above regarding the State's explanations for the strike exercised against Gloria Hawthorne, this Court has recognized that a juror's unresponsiveness and inconsistent answers are sufficient race-neutral reasons for the exercise of peremptory strikes.
C. Pretext
¶ 22. Of course, a facially neutral explanation under step two is not necessarily a non-pretextual explanation under step three. Henley v. State, 729 So.2d 232, 240 (Miss.1998). After a neutral explanation *762 has been articulated by the proponent, the trial court must determine whether the opponent of the strike has carried his overall burden of establishing purposeful discrimination. Walker, 740 So.2d at 880 (citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 98, 106 S.Ct. at 1724; Bush, 585 So.2d at 1268). This determination turns primarily on whether the proponent's proffered reasons are pretextual. Henley, 729 So.2d at 240. The burden remains with the opponent of the strike. Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768, 115 S.Ct. at 1771. Again, this Court accords great deference to the trial court in determining whether the offered explanation is truly a race-neutral reason. McFarland v. State, 707 So.2d 166, 172 (Miss.1997) (citing Stewart, 662 So.2d at 558). "One of the reasons for this is because the demeanor of the attorney using the strike is often the best evidence on the issue of race-neutrality." Id. (citing Stewart, 662 So.2d at 559).
¶ 23. Again, the prosecutor gave three reasons for the strike against Gloria Hawthorne: he feared that her penchant for sleeping on her days off demonstrated that she would prove inattentive at trial, her response to the question "What is your opinion of the death penalty" on the questionnaire demonstrated an inaccurate view of the law, and her response (or lack thereof) during voir dire was inconsistent with her written questionnaire. Puckett does not rebut the first two reasons offered by the State. Puckett argues only that the State's reason for excluding Hawthorne was pretextual because there is no support in the record for the prosecutor's explanation that Hawthorne's "questionnaire is totally different in regard to the death penalty question."
¶ 24. Specifically, in answer to the question "What is your opinion of the death penalty" on the juror questionnaire, Hawthorne responded, "I feel if you take another person life and the court can prove you did it, then you should get the death penalty." During voir dire, the prosecutor first asked of the venire, "How many of you have a firm opinion as to the death penalty when inflicted according to the law?" There was apparently some confusion between the prosecutor and defense attorney as to what was being asked. The prosecutor rephrased the question, asking which potential jurors "have your minds made up that you could vote for the death penalty if the evidence justified it?" Hawthorne did not respond to the question. The prosecutor asked whether everyone understood the question. The question was repeated a third time, and, again, Hawthorne did not respond. And finally, the prosecutor asked whether anyone with a fixed opinion, for or against the death penalty, could not set aside that opinion, consider the facts and render a fair verdict. Again, Hawthorne did not respond, despite the fact that she had stated on her questionnaire that she would impose the death penalty if "the court can prove" the defendant took another's life.
¶ 25. Puckett argues that the prosecutor's line of questions was confusing to the jurors. During the questioning, defense counsel repeatedly objected, and the questions were discussed in chambers. The judge allowed the questioning. On several occasions, the prosecutor clarified his questions, repeated them several times, and even asked whether the members of the venire understood the questions. There is no indication that Hawthorne failed to respond because she did not understand the questions asked.
¶ 26. Given the deference due the findings of a trial court in determining whether race-neutral explanations offered by the proponent of peremptory strikes are pretextual, it cannot be said that the finding that the prosecutor's explanation that *763 Hawthorne's response to the death penalty questions on voir dire was inconsistent with the answer given on her questionnaire was clear error. Furthermore, the prosecutor offered two other race-neutral reasons for the strike against Hawthorne which are not rebutted by Puckett.
¶ 27. Puckett also argues that the State's explanation that Hawthorne's responses on voir dire were inconsistent with her questionnaire was pretextual because a white juror similarly situated to Hawthorne was not challenged by the State. Puckett contends that Danny Earl Griffin, Juror No. 2, responded in a manner similar to Hawthorne on his juror questionnaire, yet failed to respond to the death penalty questions during voir dire. Specifically, to the question "What is your opinion of the death penalty" on the questionnaire, Griffin responded, "I agree with it as long as there is certain proof." Like Hawthorne, Griffin did not respond to the death penalty questions during voir dire.
¶ 28. One of the recognized indicia of pretext is "disparate treatment, that is, the presence of unchallenged jurors of the opposite race who share the characteristic given as the basis for the challenge." Mack v. State, 650 So.2d at 1298. This Court has explained that while such use of challenges is a factor which may be considered by the trial court, where multiple reasons led to the strike of the State to strike one juror, the existence of another juror with one of his or her individual characteristics does not demonstrate that the reasons assigned were pretextual. See Davis v. State, 551 So.2d 165, 172 (Miss. 1989). Here, the State presented three race-neutral explanations for the strike against Hawthorne. Not only does Griffin possess only one of those characteristics, Puckett rebuts only one of those explanations. He has not demonstrated that the reasons assigned were pretextual.
¶ 29. The prosecutor's explanation for the strike against Harvey Wesby was that Wesby's response to death penalty questions on voir dire was also inconsistent with his juror questionnaire. To the question "What is your opinion of the death penalty" on the questionnaire, Wesby responded, "It's okay." However, Wesby responded to none of the death penalty questions asked by the prosecutor during voir dire. Again, Puckett argues that the prosecutor's questions were confusing and that the jurors were not all given an opportunity to answer the questions. Such an assertion, however, is unsupported by the record. Though the prosecutor rephrased his questions several times pursuant to the objections of defense counsel and the court's request, the questions were ultimately made clear. The prosecutor asked if all the jurors understood the questions, and no juror responded in the negative. The jurors were all given the opportunity to answer the questions as clarified. As with the trial court's finding that the explanation for striking Hawthorne was not pretextual, it cannot be said that the trial court's finding that Wesby's response to the death penalty questions on voir dire was inconsistent with the answer given on his questionnaire was clear error.
¶ 30. Puckett also asserts that the explanations offered for the strikes against Martha Bridges and Gloria Grayer were pretextual due to disparate treatment of similarly situated white jurors. Again, the prosecutor explained that the State struck Grayer because her brother was a victim of a shooting, and she did not want to know the outcome of the case. The State struck Bridges because of her request to be excused for medical problems. Puckett compares the State's explanation for the strike against Grayer and the State's failure to strike Lavern Moran, a white female whose mother-in-law was *764 murdered. Puckett overlooks the fact that the State struck Grayer not solely because her brother was a victim of a shooting, but because she also expressed a lack of concern over what happened to her own brother's murderer. Moran expressed no such lack of concern.
¶ 31. Puckett compares the explanation for the strike against Bridges and the State's failure to strike Mary Ann Golbski, a white female who stated on her written questionnaire in response to the question "Is there any other information that you believe might be important for the Court or for the lawyers to know about you as a potential juror," "weight: 341 pounds." Bridges stated on her questionnaire, "Yes, I am sick with back and knee problems, cannot sit or stand a long time; try to work two or three days a week to survive, working by myself so my business would be closed; please excuse me." The prosecution attempted to strike Bridges for cause, arguing that her medical problems would render her inattentive. The strike for cause was overruled, and the prosecution exercised a peremptory strike against Bridges. Clearly, Bridges' response differs substantially from that of Golbski. Golbski in no way indicated that her weight would impede her serving on the jury or that she had any reservations about serving.
¶ 32. On remand, following the presentation of evidence and argument by both sides, the trial judge gathered all the exhibits and reviewed them in chambers. Following a brief recess, the judge reconvened the hearing and recited his review of the evidence and argument and his review of the three prong criteria under Batson, and stated his opinion based "on a review of the trial transcript and of my trial notes taken during the course of the trial, as well as the evidence produced in this evidentiary hearing today" and found no violation of Batson. He did not make an on-the-record, juror-by-juror review of the specific reasons why he found each peremptory challenge to be acceptable, which clearly would have been the better route to take. However, "where a trial judge fails to elucidate such a specific explanation for each race neutral reason given, we will not remand the case for that Batson-related purpose alone. This Court is fully capable of balancing the Batson factors in cases such as this one. Continued remand of such cases only wastes the trial court's limited resources and acts to further delay justice." Gary v. State, 760 So.2d 743, 748 (Miss.2000). Also, no objection was made by defense counsel, nor was any request made for the judge to make an on-the-record, juror-by-juror finding at that point. This is a classic situation where the wisdom of the law requiring contemporaneous objection to be made is quite apparent. The failure of defense counsel to raise the issue at that point, when elaboration and more detailed information could easily have been provided by the trial judge, precludes another remand as requested. The law is well settled that failure to make a contemporaneous objection waives the right to subsequently raise the issue.
¶ 33. Beyond that procedural bar, we note that a motion for rehearing is to state with particularity the points of law or fact that the Court has allegedly overlooked or misapprehended. It is to identify specific errors of law or fact the opinion is thought to contain and is not to merely repeat arguments already considered. This Court has now twice considered Puckett's Batson argument, in depth. We find no merit to Puckett's claim of a violation of Batson.
CONCLUSION
¶ 34. Applying the deferential standard of review and after careful scrutiny of the *765 record, this Court concludes that, though the trial judge erred in finding that Puckett failed to establish a prima facie case of discrimination, the trial judge correctly determined that the explanations offered by the State were race-neutral and that Puckett failed to demonstrate that the State's proffered reasons were pretextual. The record, both from the initial trial and from the Batson hearing, reflects that the trial judge participated attentively in the discourse regarding these challenged strikes. The trial judge specifically found that the State's peremptory challenges were not used in a racially discriminatory manner. The record buttresses the trial court's findings, and they should be given deference accordingly. In light of the deference accorded these factual findings, this Court holds that the judge acted well within his discretion in denying Puckett's Batson motion. Therefore, the judgment of the Forrest County Circuit Court is affirmed.
¶ 35. CONVICTION OF CAPITAL MURDER AND SENTENCE OF DEATH AFFIRMED.
MILLS, WALLER, COBB, DIAZ and EASLEY, JJ., concur.
BANKS, P.J., dissents with separate written opinion joined by McRAE, P.J.
PITTMAN, P.J., not participating.
BANKS, Presiding Justice, dissenting:
¶ 36. I respectfully disagree with the majority's conclusion that there has been no violation here of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). In my view, the trial court plainly erred in failing to find that there was a prima facie case of discrimination and subsequently erred in failing to conclude that reasons asserted were pretextual. Therefore, I would reverse the trial court's judgment and remand this case for a new trial.
¶ 37. First, I see no reason to rely upon the statistical probability testimony to find a prima facie case. We recognized long ago that using peremptory challenges to eliminate all or almost all black jurors is a sufficient prima facie case of a Batson violation. Conerly v. State, 544 So.2d 1370, 1372 (Miss.1989)("[T]he fact that the prosecution used all of the peremptory strikes necessary (five) to remove all but one black person from the jury satisfies the requirement of raising an inference of racial discrimination."). Other jurisdictions have also noted that using challenges in this manner is a sufficient prima facie case. See Ex parte Floyd, 571 So.2d 1234, 1236 (Ala.1990)(defendant made prima facie case showing that prosecutor used eleven peremptory challenges to remove all eleven blacks from jury); Reynolds v. State, 576 So.2d 1300, 1301 (Fla.1991)("By eliminating every member of the minority, a `strong likelihood' is created that shifts the burden to the state to provide justification"). United States v. Cartlidge, 808 F.2d 1064, 1070 (5th Cir.1987)(Prosecutor's challenges of four black jurors and one black alternate, resulting in a trial jury composed of eleven white and one black person evidenced racial discrimination in making out a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination.). To the extent that it suggests otherwise, the majority misspoke in Puckett I. Moreover, given the fact that all black prospective jurors were eliminated, the trial court clearly erred in failing to find a prima facie case and that failing must color consideration of its findings with regard to the reasons proffered.
¶ 38. We must keep in mind that the reason offered may be fanciful, as long as it is race neutral. At a point, however, it should become obvious that certain reasons are pretextual, especially where there is a strong prima facie case. Mack v. State, 650 So.2d 1289, 1297 (Miss.1994). *766 Gloria Hawthorne is a case in point. The prosecutor suggested that he was concerned about Gloria Hawthorne's view of the death penalty where he was seeking the death penalty and that Hawthorne's response indicated that she was pro-death penalty. It is the rare prosecutor who exercises a peremptory strike in a capital case based on a view that the prospective juror is pro-death penalty. The suggestion that she slept on her days off as an additional reason for the exercise of the strike appears even more specious given the death penalty suggestion. With all deference to the trial court, I find his failure to find pretext in this instance clearly erroneous.
¶ 39. Furthermore, the trial court accepted the reasons given by the State for Harvey Wesby. Specifically, the State asserted that Wesby was "flippant" and unresponsive as the race neutral reasons for striking him. A close review of the record reveals otherwise. The questions asked by the State during voir dire did not require Wesby to say anything about the death penalty. Wesby stated in his questionnaire that he thought the death penalty was "okay." While succinct, such a response is not necessarily flippant. One could readily suppose that Wesby was not opposed to though not necessarily enthusiastic about, the death penalty. As to unresponsiveness, the prosecutor asked the prospective jurors to raise their hands if they had a firm belief in favor of the death penalty. Likewise he asked those who could not vote for the death penalty or were in between to raise their hands. Finally, he asked everyone if there was anyone that could not keep their opinion from interfering with their duty to deliberate. Wesby did not raise his hand to any of these questions. This does not make him unresponsive. Because of the way the State phrased the question, Wesby did not have to raise his hand, regardless of his opinion on the death penalty. His reaction to these questions is perfectly in keeping with his response to the questionnaire concerning his views. There were others who did not raise their hands to the questions who were empaneled on the jury: juror no. 2 Danny Griffin; juror no. 12, Steve Savarese; and juror no. 20, Lavern Moran. However, the record does not contain their responses to the death penalty questionnaire. In my view, the trial court erred in deeming Wesby's failure to raise his hand as a non-pretextual, race-neutral reason for the State's strike.
¶ 40. I also reject the majority's contention the Puckett suffers a procedural bar for the failure to "object" to a ruling made by the trial court. One need not object to a court's ruling. Finley v. State, 725 So.2d 226, 230-31 (Miss.1998); see also Duplantis v. State, 708 So.2d 1327, 1339-40 (Miss. 1998). We dispensed with the necessity to take exception to a court's ruling decades ago. Carmichael v. Agur Realty Co., Inc., 574 So.2d 603, 613 (Miss.1990). Nor is a defendant duty bound to request findings of fact with regard to peremptory challenges which have been contested. We have placed the independent duty of fact finding on the trial courts. Johnson v. State, 754 So.2d 1178, 1180 (Miss.2000); Bounds v. State, 688 So.2d 1362, 1366 (Miss.1997); Hatten v. State, 628 So.2d 294, 298 (Miss.1993). Indeed, as the majority notes, it is precisely for this reason that his case was remanded to that court in the first place. There is no procedural bar here.
¶ 41. Finally, I reject the majority's contention that the motion for rehearing is somehow deficient because it allegedly repeats arguments already made. First the motion for rehearing cites Johnson and Bounds which are not cited in the majority opinion nor distinguished in any way. Morever, to the extent that this Court continues *767 to overlook the obvious merit of those arguments, a litigant may appropriately, in my view, continue to press them in order to give the Court an opportunity to cure its error.
¶ 42. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.
McRAE, P.J., joins this opinion.
APPENDIX
DEATH CASES AFFIRMED BY THIS COURT
Goodin v. State, 787 So.2d 639 (Miss. 2001).
Eskridge v. State, 765 So.2d 508 (Miss. 2000).
McGilberry v. State, 741 So.2d 894 (Miss.1999).
Puckett v. State, 737 So.2d 322 (Miss. 1999). *remanded for Batson hearing.
Manning v. State, 735 So.2d 323 (Miss.1999).
Hughes v. State, 735 So.2d 238 (Miss. 1999).
Turner v. State, 732 So.2d 937 (Miss. 1999).
Smith v. State, 729 So.2d 1191 (Miss. 1998).
Burns v. State, 729 So.2d 203 (Miss. 1998).
Jordan v. State, 728 So.2d 1088 (Miss. 1998).
Gray v. State, 728 So.2d 36 (Miss.1998).
Manning v. State, 726 So.2d 1152 (Miss. 1998).
Woodward v. State, 726 So.2d 524 (Miss. 1997).
Bell v. State, 725 So.2d 836 (Miss.1998).
Evans v. State, 725 So.2d 613 (Miss. 1997).
Brewer v. State, 725 So.2d 106 (Miss. 1998).
Crawford v. State, 716 So.2d 1028 (Miss. 1998).
Doss v. State, 709 So.2d 369 (Miss.1996).
Underwood v. State, 708 So.2d 18 (Miss. 1998).
Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307 (Miss. 1997).
Wells v. State, 698 So.2d 497 (Miss.1997).
Wilcher v. State, 697 So.2d 1123 (Miss. 1997).
Wilcher v. State, 697 So.2d 1087 (Miss. 1997).
Wiley v. State, 691 So.2d 959 (Miss. 1997).
Brown v. State, 690 So.2d 276 (Miss. 1996).
Simon v. State, 688 So.2d 791 (Miss. 1997).
Jackson v. State, 684 So.2d 1213 (Miss. 1996).
Williams v. State, 684 So.2d 1179 (Miss. 1996).
Davis v. State, 684 So.2d 643 (Miss. 1996).
Taylor v. State, 682 So.2d 359 (Miss. 1996).
Brown v. State, 682 So.2d 340 (Miss. 1996).
Blue v. State, 674 So.2d 1184 (Miss. 1996).
Holly v. State, 671 So.2d 32 (Miss.1996).
Walker v. State, 671 So.2d 581(Miss.1995).
Russell v. State, 670 So.2d 816 (Miss. 1995).
Ballenger v. State, 667 So.2d 1242 (Miss. 1995).
*768 Davis v. State, 660 So.2d 1228 (Miss. 1995).
Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824 (Miss.1995).
Mack v. State, 650 So.2d 1289 (Miss. 1994).
Chase v. State, 645 So.2d 829 (Miss. 1994).
Foster v. State, 639 So.2d 1263 (Miss. 1994).
Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239 (Miss. 1993).
Hansen v. State, 592 So.2d 114 (Miss. 1991).
*Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313, 112 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990) reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State, 595 So.2d 1323 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
Davis v. State, 551 So.2d 165 (Miss. 1989).
Minnick v. State, 551 So.2d 77 (Miss. 1989).
*Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S.Ct. 1800, 108 L.Ed.2d 931 (1990) vacating and remanding Pinkney v. State, 602 So.2d 1177 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
*Clemons v. State, 535 So.2d 1354 (Miss.1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738, 110 S.Ct. 1441, 108 L.Ed.2d 725 (1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So.2d 1004 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
Woodward v. State, 533 So.2d 418 (Miss. 1988).
Nixon v. State, 533 So.2d 1078 (Miss. 1987).
Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365 (Miss.1987).
Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346 (Miss. 1987).
Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1317 (Miss. 1987).
Faraga v. State, 514 So.2d 295 (Miss. 1987).
*Jones v. State, 517 So.2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230, 108 S.Ct. 2891, 101 L.Ed.2d 925 (1988) vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So.2d 1170 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
Wiley v. State, 484 So.2d 339 (Miss. 1986).
Johnson v. State, 477 So.2d 196 (Miss. 1985).
Gray v. State, 472 So.2d 409 (Miss.1985).
Cabello v. State, 471 So.2d 332 (Miss. 1985).
Jordan v. State, 464 So.2d 475 (Miss. 1985).
Wilcher v. State, 455 So.2d 727 (Miss. 1984).
Billiot v. State, 454 So.2d 445 (Miss. 1984).
Stringer v. State, 454 So.2d 468 (Miss. 1984).
Dufour v. State, 453 So.2d 337 (Miss. 1984).
Neal v. State, 451 So.2d 743 (Miss.1984).
Booker v. State, 449 So.2d 209 (Miss. 1984).
Wilcher v. State, 448 So.2d 927 (Miss. 1984).
Caldwell v. State, 443 So.2d 806 (Miss. 1983).
Irving v. State, 441 So.2d 846 (Miss. 1983).
Tokman v. State, 435 So.2d 664 (Miss. 1983).
*769 Leatherwood v. State, 435 So.2d 645 (Miss.1983).
Hill v. State, 432 So.2d 427 (Miss.1983).
Pruett v. State, 431 So.2d 1101 (Miss. 1983).
Gilliard v. State, 428 So.2d 576 (Miss. 1983).
Evans v. State, 422 So.2d 737 (Miss. 1982).
King v. State, 421 So.2d 1009 (Miss. 1982).
Wheat v. State, 420 So.2d 229 (Miss. 1982).
Smith v. State, 419 So.2d 563 (Miss. 1982).
Johnson v. State, 416 So.2d 383 (Miss. 1982).
Edwards v. State, 413 So.2d 1007 (Miss. 1982).
Bullock v. State, 391 So.2d 601 (Miss. 1980).
Reddix v. State, 381 So.2d 999 (Miss. 1980).
Jones v. State, 381 So.2d 983 (Miss. 1980).
Culberson v. State, 379 So.2d 499 (Miss. 1979).
Gray v. State, 375 So.2d 994 (Miss.1979).
Jordan v. State, 365 So.2d 1198 (Miss. 1978).
Voyles v. State, 362 So.2d 1236 (Miss. 1978).
Irving v. State, 361 So.2d 1360 (Miss. 1978).
Washington v. State, 361 So.2d 61 (Miss. 1978).
Bell v. State, 360 So.2d 1206 (Miss.1978).
*Case was originally affirmed in this Court but on remand from U.S. Supreme Court, case was remanded by this Court for a new sentencing hearing.
DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO GUILT PHASE AND SENTENCE PHASE
Flowers v. State, 773 So.2d 309 (Miss. 2000).
Edwards v. State, 737 So.2d 275 (Miss. 1999).
Smith v. State, 733 So.2d 793 (Miss. 1999).
Porter v. State, 732 So.2d 899 (Miss. 1999).
Kolberg v. State, 704 So.2d 1307 (Miss. 1997).
Snelson v. State, 704 So.2d 452 (Miss. 1997).
Fuselier v. State, 702 So.2d 388 (Miss. 1997).
Howard v. State, 701 So.2d 274 (Miss. 1997).
Lester v. State, 692 So.2d 755 (Miss. 1997).
Hunter v. State, 684 So.2d 625 (Miss. 1996).
Lanier v. State, 684 So.2d 93 (Miss. 1996).
Giles v. State, 650 So.2d 846 (Miss.1995).
Duplantis v. State, 644 So.2d 1235 (Miss. 1994).
Harrison v. State, 635 So.2d 894 (Miss. 1994).
Butler v. State, 608 So.2d 314 (Miss. 1992).
Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171 (Miss. 1992).
Abram v. State, 606 So.2d 1015 (Miss. 1992).
Balfour v. State, 598 So.2d 731 (Miss. 1992).
*770 Griffin v. State, 557 So.2d 542 (Miss. 1990).
Bevill v. State, 556 So.2d 699 (Miss. 1990).
West v. State, 553 So.2d 8 (Miss.1989).
Leatherwood v. State, 548 So.2d 389 (Miss.1989).
Mease v. State, 539 So.2d 1324 (Miss. 1989).
Houston v. State, 531 So.2d 598 (Miss. 1988).
West v. State, 519 So.2d 418 (Miss.1988).
Davis v. State, 512 So.2d 1291 (Miss. 1987).
Williamson v. State, 512 So.2d 868 (Miss.1987).
Foster v. State, 508 So.2d 1111 (Miss. 1987).
Smith v. State, 499 So.2d 750 (Miss. 1986).
West v. State, 485 So.2d 681 (Miss.1985).
Fisher v. State, 481 So.2d 203 (Miss. 1985).
Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195 (Miss. 1985).
Fuselier v. State, 468 So.2d 45 (Miss. 1985).
West v. State, 463 So.2d 1048 (Miss. 1985).
Jones v. State, 461 So.2d 686 (Miss. 1984).
Moffett v. State, 456 So.2d 714 (Miss. 1984).
Lanier v. State, 450 So.2d 69 (Miss. 1984).
Laney v. State, 421 So.2d 1216 (Miss. 1982).
DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED FOR RESENTENCING TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Reddix v. State, 547 So.2d 792 (Miss. 1989).
Wheeler v. State, 536 So.2d 1341 (Miss. 1988).
White v. State, 532 So.2d 1207 (Miss. 1988).
Bullock v. State, 525 So.2d 764 (Miss. 1987).
Edwards v. State, 441 So.2d 84 (Miss. 1983).
Dycus v. State, 440 So.2d 246 (Miss. 1983).
Coleman v. State, 378 So.2d 640 (Miss. 1979).
DEATH CASES REVERSED AS TO PUNISHMENT AND REMANDED FOR A NEW TRIAL ON SENTENCING PHASE ONLY
King v. State, 784 So.2d 884 (Miss.2001).
Walker v. State, 740 So.2d 873 (Miss. 1999).
Watts v. State, 733 So.2d 214 (Miss. 1999).
West v. State, 725 So.2d 872 (Miss.1998).
Smith v. State, 724 So.2d 280 (Miss. 1998).
Berry v. State, 703 So.2d 269 (Miss. 1997).
Booker v. State, 699 So.2d 132 (Miss. 1997).
Taylor v. State, 672 So.2d 1246 (Miss. 1996).
*Shell v. State, 554 So.2d 887 (Miss. 1989), Shell v. Mississippi, 498 U.S. 1, 111 S.Ct. 313, 112 L.Ed.2d 1 (1990) reversing, in part, and remanding, Shell v. State 595 *771 So.2d 1323 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
*Pinkney v. State, 538 So.2d 329 (Miss. 1989), Pinkney v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 1075, 110 S.Ct. 1800, 108 L.Ed.2d 931 (1990) vacating and remanding, Pinkney v. State, 602 So.2d 1177 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
*Clemons v. State, 535 So.2d 1354 (Miss.1988), Clemons v. Mississippi, 494 U.S. 738, 110 S.Ct. 1441, 108 L.Ed.2d 725 (1990) vacating and remanding, Clemons v. State, 593 So.2d 1004 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
*Jones v. State, 517 So.2d 1295 (Miss. 1987), Jones v. Mississippi, 487 U.S. 1230, 108 S.Ct. 2891, 101 L.Ed.2d 925 (1988) vacating and remanding, Jones v. State, 602 So.2d 1170 (Miss.1992) remanding for new sentencing hearing.
Russell v. State, 607 So.2d 1107 (Miss. 1992).
Holland v. State, 587 So.2d 848 (Miss. 1991).
Willie v. State, 585 So.2d 660 (Miss. 1991).
Ladner v. State, 584 So.2d 743 (Miss. 1991).
Mackbee v. State, 575 So.2d 16 (Miss. 1990).
Berry v. State, 575 So.2d 1 (Miss.1990).
Turner v. State, 573 So.2d 657 (Miss. 1990).
State v. Tokman, 564 So.2d 1339 (Miss. 1990).
Johnson v. State, 547 So.2d 59 (Miss. 1989).
Williams v. State, 544 So.2d 782 (Miss. 1989); sentence aff'd 684 So.2d 1179 (1996).
Lanier v. State, 533 So.2d 473 (Miss. 1988).
Stringer v. State, 500 So.2d 928 (Miss. 1986).
Pinkton v. State, 481 So.2d 306 (Miss. 1985).
Mhoon v. State, 464 So.2d 77 (Miss. 1985).
Cannaday v. State, 455 So.2d 713 (Miss. 1984).
Wiley v. State, 449 So.2d 756 (Miss. 1984); resentencing affirmed, Wiley v. State, 484 So.2d 339 (Miss.1986), cert. denied, Wiley v. Mississippi, 486 U.S. 1036, 108 S.Ct. 2024, 100 L.Ed.2d 610 (1988); resentencing ordered, Wiley v. State, 635 So.2d 802 (Miss.1993) following writ of habeas corpus issued pursuant to Wiley v. Puckett, 969 F.2d 86, 105-106 (5th Cir. Miss.1992); resentencing affirmed,Wiley v. State, 95-DP-00149, 691 So.2d 959, ([Miss.]February 13, 1997) (rehearing pending).
Williams v. State, 445 So.2d 798 (Miss. 1984).
* Case was originally affirmed in this Court but on remand from U.S. Supreme Court, case was remanded by this Court for a new sentencing hearing.
|
State Dept: Global terror attacks dip; Iran still main state sponsor
The U.S. said the number of global terrorist attacks declined slightly between 2014 and 2015, although the Islamic State group expanded its reach.
Iran remained the leading state sponsor of terrorism despite sealing a nuclear deal with world powers, the State Department said in its annual survey of worldwide terrorism released Thursday.
The department reported a 13 percent decrease in attacks in 2015 from the year before -- the first such decline since 2012 -- but said the threat from extremists keeps evolving as groups exploit lawlessness in ungoverned areas and seize on corruption to recruit members.
"The global terrorist threat continued to evolve rapidly in 2015, becoming increasingly decentralized and diffuse," it said. "Terrorist groups continued to exploit an absence of credible and effective state institutions, where avenues for free and peaceful expression of opinion were blocked, justice systems lacked credibility, and where security force abuses and government corruption went unchecked."
Statistics compiled for the report by researchers from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism showed that there were 11,774 attacks that resulted in 28,328 deaths in 2015, compared with 13,463 attacks in 2014 that killed 32,727 people. Of those killed in 2015, 19 were private American citizens, compared with 24 in 2014.
The report attributed the decline to fewer attacks and deaths in Iraq, Pakistan and Nigeria but noted that attacks increased in number between 2014 and 2015 in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, the Philippines, Syria and Turkey.
The report said that while the Islamic State's control of territory in Iraq and Syria ebbed toward the end of 2015, it remained the greatest worldwide terrorist threat with a "formidable force" of fighters in those two countries.
It noted that IS group followers also carried out deadly attacks in Turkey, France and Lebanon, demonstrating international capability. It said that those attacks may have been part of "an effort to assert a narrative of victory in the face of steady losses of territory in Iraq and Syria."
Al-Qaida and affiliates also remained active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of west and north Africa, where it continued to stage mass casualty strikes, including on hotels in Burkina Faso, Mali and Tunisia as well as the bombing of a Russian passenger jet over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, it said. In East Africa, the report noted that Somali group al-Shabab remained a serious threat in 2015 not only in Somalia but in neighboring Kenya where the group attacked a university in April, killing nearly 150 people.
Along with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, the Sinai, Somalia and Syria, the report designated Libya, the southern Philippines, the Sahara, Yemen and portions of Colombia and Venezuela as "terrorist safe havens" where groups are able to operate with relative ease due to poor or inadequate governance.
Meanwhile, as it has done in numerous previous years, the report identified Iran as the world's "foremost state sponsor of terrorism in 2015" through its provision of financial support, training and equipping of various extremist groups, notably Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
In addition to Iran, Syria and Sudan were again tagged as state sponsors of terrorism in the report, which is the first to be released since the Obama administration removed Cuba from the list last year as Washington and Havana moved to normalize ties.
Although it achieved a diplomatic resolution to concerns over its nuclear program, Iran in 2015 continued to use the Quds Force of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to implement foreign policy goals, which include creating instability throughout the Middle East, according to the report. In addition to arming the Hezbollah and the Assad government, it also provided weapons and other assistance to militants in Bahrain and remained active in supporting anti-Israel groups such as Hamas, the report said.
Iran is also widely suspected of helping Houthi rebels in Yemen, although the report did not mention the alleged connection.
|
Q:
Better way to build XML string via Javascript
I currently have the below to build up a XML string which will get sent via a socket and was wondering if there was a better way to build it in terms of readability.
I thought I had read somewhere where you can have shortcut type ways of adding elements to the DOM but didn't know if this applied to strings/XML objects.
var jqInputs = $('input', nRow); //Get all inputs
var updatedValues = [];
jqInputs.each(function (idx) {
updatedValues.push($(this).val()); //Put values into array
});
//Get table columns
var cols = $('th').filter(function (index) {
return $(this).text() != "" && $(this).text() != "Edit";
});
var colnames = [];
//Get table column names and put into array
$.each(cols, function () {
colnames.push($(this).text());
});
//Build up XML and send to server
if (updatedValues.length == colnames.length) {
//******************************
//** IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS?????**
//******************************
var xmlvalue;
for(var i = 0; i < updatedValues.length;i++)
{
xmlvalue = xmlvalue + '<' + colnames[i] + '>' + updatedValues[i] + '<\' + colnames[i] + '>'
}
socket.send('<Root>'+ xmlvalue +'<UserID>1</UserID></Root>');
}
A:
Can you use e4x? If so, xml is a piece of cake:
var xmlv = <Root />;
for(var i = 0; i < updatedValues.length;i++)
xmlv.appendChild(<{colnames[i]}>{updatedValues[i]}</{colnames[i]}>);
xmlv.appendChild(<UserID>1</UserID>);
socket.send(xmlv.toXMLString());
|
Accommodation summary
תיאור
Wimdu Verified
Translated by Google Translate
Show original version.
Enjoy a 1 bedroom flat in the heart of Montmartre ! Ideally located, it is 5 minutes by walk from the Moulin Rouge and the Sacred Heart (You can see the rooftop from the window in the bedroom :-))
It is a nice, quiet and cosy place, 32sqm, fully equiped. A typical Parisian style apartment that can welcome up to 4 people.
You'll find all the amenities (fridge, oven, microwave, washing machine, coffee machine in the kitchen) and a new sofa cum bed.
In addition bed linen, Tv with cable and Internet (Wifi) is provided.
The decoration is very personal, as it is mainly based on all the trips and the place I had the chance to travel to.
With 2 stations just 3 minutes’ walk away from the apartment (Pigalle or Abbesses), guests have convenient access to the Paris metro system. Trains run from there to the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées in 10 minutes. Direct buses go to the Champs Elysées (15 minutes), the Eiffel tower (20 minutes) and the Louvre Museum (15 minutes). The beautiful walk up to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica takes only 10 minutes. The flat is one hour far from both main airports by public transportations.
I can't count the number of restaurants and bars in the street and the area. It is a very animated area, full of Parisian people in the morning, tourists in the afternoon and everyone in the evening !
In the neighborhood, I suggest you go to the restaurants located just down the street (not upwards, closer to the "Sacred Heart" is more touristic and not so good). For example, "the Fourmi" at the corner is always crowded and cheap, full of Parisians! I go there very often :) Also the "Marmite" is nice, they have huge salads!
כללי הבית
Smoking is allowed except in the bedroom.
No pets allowed.
A security deposit is required based on the length of the stay and will be given in hands at arrival.
If more guests than initially expected and booked, please let me know!
ביקורות
With nice people nice deal!
Fanny was very good to us, very correct and polite. The apartment is fully consistent with the description, is located in a convenient location, all logistics are literally at the door.
If back in Paris, only to Fanny!
We really enjoyed our stay in Fanny's apartment. It was a great Carrefour just down the road, we loved strolling around Montmartre, we had our morning coffee at KB Cafeshop 5 minutes away, where we also picked up our velib bikes on a station across the road from the cafe. Everywhere we went on bike was sort of downhill from Montmartre and everything felt easy and accessible. Fanny gave us all the information we needed before our stay and was easy to contact also during our stay - she took great care of us and the apartment had everything we needed. Thank you, Fanny! We might come back to our home away from home - in Paris! :)
Fannys Apartment is very well located with easy Access to public Transport. The Apartment is calm, clean small and cozy. You feel, that it is Fannys Apartment and not a unpersonal holiday flat. Fanny is a really nice owner, no Problem, that we came late in the evening, no Problem, that we could let our luggage in the apartment the last day for some hours.
Absolute perfect location. Nice appartment, good bed, easy handling with the owner Fanny, water in the shower is strong, even on the 6th floor. Lots of bars, restaurants, bistros, etc around and very close to metro. A few steps to Sacre Coeur. Anytime again when I am in Paris. Thanks Fanny
The apartment was perfect for us. Situated a few minutes walk from the Sacre Coeur and located within 5 minutes walk of approx 3 metro stations. Plenty of restaurants, supermarkets & boulangeries within the vicinity too.
It is homely, as Fanny describes. It's on the sixth floor ( don't worry there is a small lift).
Fanny was very welcoming and met us on arrival. We were around 45 minutes late due to Friday afternoon Paris traffic, but rang ahead to let her know. There is pretty much zero free street parking around so we had booked ahead. The nearest parking is probably Next to Anvers Metro station and was €59 for 48 hrs. However we parked at St Lazare (4 metro stops away - 10 minutes) as it was €21 for secure modern underground parking. We would happily stay here again!
|
Q:
How to deal with promises in loop?
This is what I would like to do
var response = [];
Model.find().then(function(results){
for(r in results){
MyService.getAnotherModel(results[r]).then(function(magic){
response.push(magic);
});
}
});
//when finished
res.send(response, 200);
however it returns just [] because the async stuff is not ready yet. I am using sails.js that uses Q promise. Any ideas how to return a response when all async calls are finished?
https://github.com/balderdashy/waterline#query-methods (promise methods)
A:
Since waterline uses Q, you can use the allSettled method.
You can find more details on Q documentation.
Model.find().then(function(results) {
var promises = [];
for (r in results){
promises.push(MyService.getAnotherModel(results[r]));
}
// Wait until all promises resolve
Q.allSettled(promises).then(function(result) {
// Send the response
res.send(result, 200);
});
});
A:
You simply can't do that, you have to wait for the asynchronous functions to complete.
You can either create something yourself, or use the async middleware, or use built in features, as noted in Florent's answer, but I'll add the other two here anyway :
var response = [];
Model.find().then(function(results){
var length = Object.keys(results).length,
i = 0;
for(r in results){
MyService.getAnotherModel(results[r]).then(function(magic){
response.push(magic);
i++;
if (i == length) {
// all done
res.send(response, 200);
}
});
}
});
or with async
var response = [];
Model.find().then(function(results){
var asyncs = [];
for(r in results){
asyncs.push(function(callback) {
MyService.getAnotherModel(results[r]).then(function(magic){
response.push(magic);
callback();
})
});
}
async.series(asyncs, function(err) {
if (!err) {
res.send(response, 200);
}
});
});
|
(y) = y**2 - 56*y - 389. Let u(r) = h*c(r) + 6*i(r). Factor u(v).
4*(v + 14)**2
Suppose -458*z - 256 = -522*z. Suppose 0*j + 0 + 0*j**3 - 2/11*j**z + 8/11*j**2 = 0. What is j?
-2, 0, 2
Let q(f) be the first derivative of -f**4/12 - 7*f**3/6 - 6*f**2 + 19*f + 56. Let i(z) be the first derivative of q(z). Factor i(u).
-(u + 3)*(u + 4)
Let d(x) be the second derivative of x**4/54 + 98*x**3/9 + 2401*x**2 - 1404*x. Let d(s) = 0. What is s?
-147
Let y(m) be the third derivative of 3*m**6/80 + 173*m**5/8 - 201*m**4 - 292*m**3 - 9*m**2 + 7*m + 10. Find r such that y(r) = 0.
-292, -1/3, 4
Let c = 175842 + -175836. Factor 3 + 3*v**2 + 6*v**3 - c*v**4 - 15/2*v + 3/2*v**5.
3*(v - 2)*(v - 1)**3*(v + 1)/2
Let z(r) be the third derivative of r**5/60 - 433*r**4/24 + 72*r**3 + 435*r**2 + 3*r. Let z(l) = 0. Calculate l.
1, 432
Find b, given that 90*b**2 - 19258*b**5 + 101*b**4 - 285*b**3 + 179*b**4 + 19178*b**5 = 0.
0, 3/4, 2
Find o, given that -49 - 1/6*o**3 - 133/6*o - 10/3*o**2 = 0.
-7, -6
Let v(t) = -t**3 + t**2 + 64*t - 163. Let k(n) = n**3 - n**2 - 120*n + 327. Let a(g) = -3*k(g) - 7*v(g). Factor a(z).
4*(z - 4)*(z - 2)*(z + 5)
Let n = 23767 - 71296/3. Let r(b) be the first derivative of -5*b**2 - 29 + 5/4*b**4 + n*b**3 + 0*b. Factor r(q).
5*q*(q - 1)*(q + 2)
Let w(p) = -13*p**2 - 153*p - 696. Let g(s) = -16*s**2 - 155*s - 695. Let a(b) = 8*g(b) - 10*w(b). Factor a(j).
2*(j + 5)*(j + 140)
Let t be 6/2 + 8/24*-3. Let d(r) be the second derivative of 4/3*r**3 - 9*r + 0 + 5/6*r**4 + 0*r**t + 1/10*r**5. Find c, given that d(c) = 0.
-4, -1, 0
Factor -1/4*k**4 - 13/2*k - 41/4*k**2 - 4*k**3 + 0.
-k*(k + 1)*(k + 2)*(k + 13)/4
Find f such that 3/7*f**2 - 1/7*f**4 - 162/7 - 171/7*f + 11/7*f**3 = 0.
-3, -1, 6, 9
Let k(l) be the second derivative of -l**6/180 + 5*l**5/12 - 275*l**4/24 + 1250*l**3/9 - 2500*l**2/3 - 633*l. Suppose k(x) = 0. Calculate x.
5, 20
Factor 5/3*y**3 + 6355/3*y + 24025/3 + 335/3*y**2.
5*(y + 5)*(y + 31)**2/3
Let b(f) be the third derivative of f**6/420 - f**5/42 - 11*f**4/42 + 8*f**3/3 - 321*f**2 + f. Let b(s) = 0. What is s?
-4, 2, 7
Factor 0 - 8/7*w**2 + 2/7*w**3 + 6/7*w.
2*w*(w - 3)*(w - 1)/7
Let o(d) be the second derivative of -8/3*d**3 + 70*d + 0*d**2 + 0 - 1/3*d**4. Factor o(l).
-4*l*(l + 4)
Let a be 2*(-1)/(-3)*(26 + -23). Suppose -8 = -3*c - 2*r, 6*c - a*r + 8 = 5*c. Factor 8/5*i**2 + 6/5*i + 2/5*i**3 + c.
2*i*(i + 1)*(i + 3)/5
Let z(y) be the third derivative of y**2 - 3/20*y**6 + 1/3*y**5 + 0*y - 1/336*y**8 + 0*y**3 + 21 - 1/3*y**4 + 1/30*y**7. Factor z(v).
-v*(v - 2)**3*(v - 1)
Determine b, given that -5*b**3 + 11*b + 0 + 1/2*b**4 - 13/2*b**2 = 0.
-2, 0, 1, 11
Let h = -95 - -99. Solve -2*i**h - 11*i - 13*i + 32*i - 3*i**3 - 16*i**2 - 2*i**3 + 15*i**3 = 0 for i.
0, 1, 2
Let n(c) = -c**3 + 35*c**2 - 15*c + 37. Let x be n(34). Let z = x - 1359/2. Factor -1/6*b**3 + 4/3*b**2 + 3 - z*b.
-(b - 3)**2*(b - 2)/6
Let h be ((-155)/(-2))/(33/(-44)*-38). Let v = h - 20/19. Factor -v + 4/3*m + 1/3*m**2.
(m - 1)*(m + 5)/3
Suppose -4*y - 5*m = -2, y = -m - 3*m - 5. Suppose -5*j = -y*j - 22. Factor -9 + 25*g**3 - j - 64*g**2 + 80*g - 21*g**2.
5*(g - 2)*(g - 1)*(5*g - 2)
Let q(v) be the second derivative of 0*v**3 + 1/8*v**4 + 1/40*v**6 + 0*v**2 - 11/80*v**5 + 0 - 74*v. Determine f, given that q(f) = 0.
0, 2/3, 3
Let x(b) = -b**2 + 3*b**4 + 23*b**4 + b**3 + 2*b**4 - 21*b**4 - b. Let i(l) = 6*l**4 + 2*l**3 - 2*l**2 - 2*l. Let c(k) = -3*i(k) + 2*x(k). Factor c(z).
-4*z*(z - 1)*(z + 1)**2
Let p(t) be the second derivative of -6*t**4 - 432*t**2 - 72*t**3 + 0 - 1/5*t**5 - 58*t. Let p(x) = 0. What is x?
-6
Factor 27/5*a**3 + 18/5 + 57/5*a + 63/5*a**2 + 3/5*a**4.
3*(a + 1)**3*(a + 6)/5
Let v(j) = 29*j**2 - 20*j + 20. Let m(k) = -5*k**2 + 2*k. Let i(q) = 6*m(q) + v(q). Factor i(u).
-(u - 2)*(u + 10)
Determine s, given that -1/2*s**2 - 27*s - 153/2 = 0.
-51, -3
Let d be (-6648)/(-9) + (-1)/(-3). Suppose 8*z**3 - 3 - z**2 + 741*z - d*z + 14*z**2 = 0. What is z?
-1, 3/8
Let v(b) = -1323*b**4 - 5313*b**3 + 87*b**2 + 9. Let c(w) = -331*w**4 - 1328*w**3 + 22*w**2 + 2. Let y(u) = 9*c(u) - 2*v(u). Factor y(r).
-3*r**2*(r + 4)*(111*r - 2)
Let q(s) be the first derivative of 2*s**3/63 + 491*s**2/21 - 1972*s/21 - 5088. Determine n so that q(n) = 0.
-493, 2
Let s be -2 + -2 + (-2 - -10). Solve -4*r**4 - 4*r**2 + s + 127*r**2 + 128*r**3 - 4 + 9*r**2 = 0.
-1, 0, 33
Let f be (-20)/(-8)*(-14)/(-7). Suppose 2*s**4 + s**f + 7*s**5 + 0*s**4 - 4*s**3 + 2*s**4 = 0. What is s?
-1, 0, 1/2
Let p = 1/20496 - 20455013/102480. Let r = p + 200. Suppose 0*n - 1/5 - r*n**3 + 3/5*n**2 = 0. What is n?
-1/2, 1
Let k(t) = 18*t**2 - 18*t + 64. Let c(j) = 788*j**2 + 0*j + 0*j + j - 790*j**2. Let u(g) = -10*c(g) - k(g). Let u(v) = 0. Calculate v.
-8, 4
Let q(c) be the second derivative of -c**5/40 + 11*c**4/24 - 10*c**3/3 + 12*c**2 + 70*c - 2. Factor q(r).
-(r - 4)**2*(r - 3)/2
Suppose 0 = -3*s + 3*z + 21, 40*s + 2*z = 45*s - 26. Let j(m) be the second derivative of -1/6*m**3 - 1/48*m**s - 3/8*m**2 - 20*m + 0. Factor j(g).
-(g + 1)*(g + 3)/4
Let v be (-2 - (-13)/2)*(-32)/896. Let q = v + 251/168. Suppose q*y**2 + 2/3*y + 2/3*y**3 + 0 = 0. Calculate y.
-1, 0
Let c(z) = -10*z**2 - 2536*z + 781238. Let o(q) = q**2 + 3*q + 1. Let b(r) = -c(r) - 12*o(r). Let b(s) = 0. What is s?
625
Let t be (2/10)/((46851/(-105))/23 + 20). Determine q, given that t*q**2 + 11/3*q - 4 = 0.
-12, 1
Let w(t) be the first derivative of t**5/20 - 51*t**4/16 + 247*t**3/4 - 361*t**2/8 - 20577*t/2 + 4575. Factor w(y).
(y - 19)**3*(y + 6)/4
Suppose 0 - 27/2*r**5 + 101/2*r**3 + 42*r**4 - 4*r - 9*r**2 = 0. What is r?
-1, -2/9, 0, 1/3, 4
Let m be 8/(-20) - (-4)/10. Let y(t) = -220*t + 14082. Let v be y(64). Suppose 0*g - 3/2*g**3 + m - 3*g**4 + 0*g**v = 0. Calculate g.
-1/2, 0
Let x(i) = 12*i**4 + 35*i**3 + 70*i**2 + 64*i + 20. Let z(v) = -22*v**4 - 68*v**3 - 139*v**2 - 129*v - 41. Let q(n) = 7*x(n) + 4*z(n). Factor q(j).
-(j + 2)**3*(4*j + 3)
Suppose -24*n + 20*n = -32. Suppose 7*i - n = 3*i. Factor -16*v**3 + 0*v**3 + 43*v**4 - 4*v**i - 8*v**5 - 63*v**4.
-4*v**2*(v + 1)**2*(2*v + 1)
Factor -2/7*u**4 + 8/7*u + 8/7*u**2 - 2/7*u**3 + 0.
-2*u*(u - 2)*(u + 1)*(u + 2)/7
Let d(i) = -5*i**2 - 494*i + 243. Let q(k) = -11*k**2 - 987*k + 484. Let c(p) = 7*d(p) - 3*q(p). Solve c(a) = 0 for a.
-249, 1/2
Let z = -339 + 342. Suppose 40*g - 35*g**2 + g**3 + 80 + 16*g**z - 12*g**3 = 0. What is g?
-1, 4
Find q such that 0 + 27/8*q**2 - 267/8*q**4 - 45/8*q**5 + 0*q - 387/8*q**3 = 0.
-3, 0, 1/15
Let k = 110 - 82. Suppose 5*s = 4*n - k, -14 = 6*n - 5*n + 4*s. Find q such that 8*q**n + 10*q**3 - 41*q**3 + 16*q**3 - 4*q + 11*q**3 = 0.
0, 1
Let w(z) = -3*z**4 + 5*z**3 + 3*z**2 - 3*z. Suppose 5*s + 89 = 79. Let t(y) = -y**3. Let f(b) = s*t(b) - w(b). What is k in f(k) = 0?
-1, 0, 1
Factor -372/13*h**2 - 376/13*h - 126/13 + 2/13*h**4 - 120/13*h**3.
2*(h - 63)*(h + 1)**3/13
Let z(a) be the first derivative of -a**6/5 + 14*a**5/5 - 18*a**4/5 - 64*a**3/3 + 192*a**2/5 + 32*a - 964. Determine m so that z(m) = 0.
-2, -1/3, 2, 10
Let b(t) = 3*t**2 + 538*t - 13286. Let p be b(22). Factor -56/9*w + 44/3 + 4/9*w**p.
4*(w - 11)*(w - 3)/9
Suppose -2*n - n - 11 = -5*h, 0 = -h + 5*n - 11. Let 2*i + 10*i**2 - h*i - 8*i**2 + 0*i**2 = 0. Calculate i.
0, 1
Let 12535*c**5 - 6228*c**5 + 38660*c**3 + 5120 + 38720*c - 6062*c**5 + 83360*c**2 + 6020*c**4 = 0. Calculate c.
-16, -4, -2/7
Determine a, given that -29*a**2 + 31*a**2 - 62 - 52*a + 8 = 0.
-1, 27
Factor 2947592/5 + 2/5*o**2 - 4856/5*o.
2*(o - 1214)**2/5
Suppose 0 = 3*l - 0 - 6. Let b be ((-4)/20)/((-77)/(-13750)*-5). Factor b - 18/7*j**l + 2/7*j**3 + 30/7*j.
2*(j - 5)**2*(j + 1)/7
Let s(x) be the second derivative of x**5/100 - 7*x**4/15 + 26*x**3/15 + 775*x + 2. Factor s(f).
f*(f - 26)*(f - 2)/5
Let c(s) be the third derivative of -s**6/80 + 7*s**5/10 - 167*s**4/16 + 35*s**3 + 869*s**2 + 2. Let c(p) = 0. What is p?
1, 7, 20
Solve -224*t - 3 + 431*t**2 + 3 - 435*t**2 = 0 for t.
-56, 0
Let q(r) be the third derivative of r**8/784 - 311*r**7/490 - 6*r**2 + r + 1. Factor q(b).
3*b**4*(b - 311)/7
Let v(i) = 40*i**2 - 2*i**3 - 4*i + 3 - 41*i**2 + 0*i**3. Let p be v(0). Solve -35 - 15 + o**2 - p*o**2 - 44*o + 64*o = 0.
5
Let l = -290 + 290. Let m(h) be the second derivative of 1/70*h**5 - 2/21*h**4 + l - 23*h + 0*h**3
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PLA2R antibodies, glomerular PLA2R deposits and variations in PLA2R1 and HLA-DQA1 genes in primary membranous nephropathy in South Asians.
Antibodies to M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) correlate with clinical activity of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). Risk alleles in PLA2R1 and HLA-DQA1 genes are associated with PMN. Whether these alleles are associated with the development of anti-PLA2R is unknown. In this prospective study we evaluated anti-PLA2R, enhanced glomerular staining for PLA2R and variations in PLA2R1 and HLA-DQA1 genes in Indian patients with PMN and examined their association with response to treatment. A total of 114 adult PMN patients were studied. Anti-PLA2R was estimated before treatment and after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Enhanced glomerular staining for PLA2R was assessed on fresh frozen tissue. Genotype analysis was done on recruited patients and 95 healthy controls by TaqMan assays for six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs4664308, rs3749119, rs3749117, rs4664308, rs3828323 and rs2187668). Patients were followed up monthly for a period of 12 months. Of 114 patients, 66.7% showed elevated serum anti-PLA2R by ELISA and 64.9% by indirect immunofluorescence. About 75% had enhanced glomerular staining for PLA2R. A total of 82% of patients had PLA2R-related disease. Reduction in serum anti-PLA2R titer had a significant association with remission of nephrotic syndrome (P = 0.0003) at 6 and 12 months. More than 85% of patients showing >90% reduction in the anti-PLA2R titer achieved remission of the nephrotic state, whereas of those showing <50% reduction in titers, 87.5% had persistent nephrotic state. The SNPs rs3749119, rs3749117, rs4664308 in PLA2R1 and rs2187668 in HLA-DQA1 were significantly associated with PMN. The SNP rs2187668 was associated with anti-PLA2R positivity. Patients with a high-risk genotype had higher anti-PLA2R levels. To conclude, anti-PLA2R and enhanced glomerular PLA2R staining are found in more than two-thirds of Indian PMN cases. A reduction in the anti-PLA2R titer correlated with response to therapy.
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A fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy and some thermal energy by means of a chemical reaction between a fuel (e.g., hydrogen gas or a hydrogen-containing fluid) and an oxidant (e.g., oxygen or air). A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell uses hydrogen or hydrogen-rich reformed gases as the fuel, a direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) uses methanol-water solution as the fuel, and a direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) uses ethanol-water solution as the fuel, etc. These types of fuel cells that require utilization of a PEM layer as a proton transport electrolyte are collectively referred to as PEM-type fuel cells.
A PEM-type fuel cell is typically composed of a seven-layered structure, including (a) a central PEM electrolyte layer for proton transport; (b) two electro-catalyst layers on the two opposite primary surfaces of the electrolyte membrane; (c) two fuel or gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs, hereinafter also referred to as diffusers) or backing layers stacked on the corresponding electro-catalyst layers (each GDE comprising porous carbon paper or cloth through which reactants and reaction products diffuse in and out of the cell); and (d) two flow field plates (or a bi-polar plate) stacked on the GDEs. The flow field plates are typically made of graphite, metal, or conducting composite materials, which also serve as current collectors. Gas-guiding channels are defined on a GDE facing a flow field plate or, more typically, on a flow field plate surface facing a GDE. Reactants (e.g., H2 or methanol solution) and reaction products (e.g., CO2 at the anode of a DMFC, and water at the cathode side) are guided to flow into or out of the cell through the flow field plates. The configuration mentioned above forms a basic fuel cell unit. Conventionally, a fuel cell stack comprises a number of basic fuel cell units that are electrically connected in series to provide a desired output voltage. If desired, cooling channels and humidifying plates may be added to assist in the operation of a fuel cell stack.
In one common practice, a fuel flow field plate and an oxidant gas flow field plate are separately made and then assembled together to form a bipolar plate (one side of a bipolar plate serving as a negative terminal and the other side as a positive terminal, hence the name). In some cases, an additional separator is sandwiched between the two flow field plates to form a bipolar plate. It would be highly advantageous if the flow filed plates and the separator can be mass-produced into an integrated bipolar plate assembly. This could significantly reduce the overall fuel cell production costs and reduce contact ohmic losses across constituent plate interfaces. The bipolar plate is known to significantly impact the performance, durability, and cost of a fuel cell system. The bipolar plate, which is typically machined from graphite, is one of the most costly components in a PEM fuel cell.
Fluid flow field plates have open-faced channels formed in one or both opposing major surfaces for distributing reactants to the gas diffuser plates (the anode and cathode backing layers, typically made of carbon paper or fabric). The open-faced channels also provide passages for the removal of reaction products and depleted reactant streams. Optionally, a bipolar plate may have coolant channels to manage the fuel cell temperature. A bipolar plate should have the following desirable characteristics: high electrical conductivity (e.g., preferably having a conductivity no less than 100 S/cm), low permeability to fuel or oxidant fluids, good corrosion resistance, and good structural integrity.
Conventional methods of fabricating fluid flow field plates require the engraving or milling of flow channels into the surface of rigid plates formed of a metal, graphite, or carbon-resin composite. These methods of fabrication place significant restrictions on the minimum achievable fuel cell thickness due to the machining process, plate permeability, and required mechanical properties. Further, such plates are expensive due to high machining costs. The machining of channels into the graphite plate surfaces causes significant tool wear and requires significant processing times.
Alternatively, fluid flow field plates can be made by a lamination process (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,370, issued Apr. 5, 1994), wherein an electrically conductive, fluid impermeable separator layer and an electrically conductive stencil layer are consolidated to form one open-faced channel. Presumably, two conductive stencil layers and one separator layer may be laminated to form a bipolar plate. It is often difficult and time-consuming to properly position and align the separator and stencil layers. Die-cutting of stencil layers require a minimum layer thickness, which limits the extent to which fuel cell stack thickness can be reduced. Such laminated fluid flow field assemblies tend to have higher manufacturing costs than integrated plates, due to the number of manufacturing steps associated with forming and consolidating the separate layers. They are also prone to delamination due to poor interfacial adhesion and vastly different coefficients of thermal expansion between a stencil layer (typically a metal) and a separator layer.
A variety of composite bipolar plates have been developed, which are mostly made by compression molding of polymer matrices (thermoplastic or thermoset resins) filled with conductive particles such as graphite powders or fibers. Because most polymers have extremely low electronic conductivity, excessive conductive fillers have to be incorporated, resulting in an extremely high viscosity of the filled polymer melt or liquid resin and, hence, making it very difficult to process. Bi-polar plates for use in PEM fuel cells constructed of graphite powder/fiber filled resin composite materials and having gas flow channels are reviewed by Wilson, et al (U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,467, Jun. 19, 2001). Injection-molded composite-based bipolar plates are disclosed by Saito, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,512, Apr. 19, 2005 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,638, Sep. 6, 2005). These thermoplastic or thermoset composites exhibit a bulk conductivity significantly lower than 100 S/cm (the US Department of Energy target value), typically not much higher than 10 S/cm. The plates produced tend to be relatively thick.
Besmann, et al. disclosed a carbon/carbon composite-based bipolar plate (U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,720 (Jan. 9, 2001) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,073 (Mar. 14, 2000)). The manufacture process consists of multiple steps, including production of a carbon fiber/phenolic resin preform via slurry molding, followed by a compression-molding step. The molded part is then pyrolyzed at a high temperature (1,500° C.-2,500° C.) to obtain a highly porous carbon/carbon composite. This is followed by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) of a carbon matrix into this porous structure. It is well-known that CVI is a very time-consuming and energy-intensive process and the resulting carbon/carbon composite, although exhibiting a high electrical conductivity, is very expensive.
Instead of using pyrolyzation and CVI to produce carbon/carbon composites, Huang, et al. (US Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0229993, Nov. 18, 2004) discloses a process to produce a thermoplastic composite with a high graphite loading. First, polymer fibers, such as thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers or polyester, reinforcing fibers such as glass fibers, and graphite particles are combined with water to form a slurry. The slurry is pumped and deposited onto a sieve screen. The sieve screen serves the function of separating the water from the mixture of polymer fibers, glass fibers and graphite. The mixture forms a wet-lay sheet which is placed in an oven. Upon heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the polymer fibers, the wet-lay sheet is allowed to cool and have the polymer material solidify. Upon solidification, the wet-lay sheet takes the form of a sheet material with reinforcement glass fibers held together by globules of thermoplastic material, and graphite particles adhered to the sheet material by the thermoplastic material. Several of these sheets are then stacked, preferably with additional graphite powder interspersed between sheets, and compression-molded in a hot press. After application of heat and pressure in the press, one or more formed bipolar plates are obtained, where the bipolar plates are a composite of glass fibers, thermoplastic matrix and graphite particles. Clearly, this is also a tedious process which is not amenable to mass production.
Alternatively, fluid flow field plates can be made from an electrically conductive, substantially fluid impermeable material that is sufficiently compressible or moldable so as to permit embossing. Flexible graphite sheet is generally suitable for this purpose because it is relatively impervious to typical fuel cell reactants and coolants and thus is capable of isolating the fuel, oxidant, and coolant fluid streams from each other. It is also compressible and embossing processes may be used to form channels in one or both major surfaces. The “flexible graphite” is the exfoliated reaction product of rapidly heated natural graphite particles which have been treated with an agent that intercalates into the crystal structure of the graphite to expand the intercalated particles at least 80 or more times (up to 1000 times) in the direction perpendicular to the carbon layers in the crystal structure. The exfoliated graphite may be compressed together into flexible sheets which, unlike the original graphite flakes, can be formed and cut into various shapes. These thin sheets (foils or films) are hereinafter referred to as flexible graphite. Flexible graphite can be wound up on a drum to form a roll of thin film, just like a roll of thin plastic film or paper.
Although highly conductive, flexible graphite sheets by themselves do not have sufficient stiffness and must be supported by a core layer or impregnated with a resin. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,363 (Jun. 18, 1996) discloses a fluid flow field plate comprising a metal sheet interposed between two flexible graphite (FG) sheets having flow channels embossed on a major surface thereof. These FG-metal-FG laminates are also subject to the delamination or blistering problem, which could weaken the plate and may make it more fluid permeable. Delamination or blistering can also cause surface defects that may affect the flow channels on the plate. These problems may be difficult to detect during fabrication and may only emerge at a later date. In particular, thermal cycling between frozen and thawed conditions as are likely to be encountered in an automobile application of the fuel cell, often results in delamination between a flexible graphite layer and the metal layer. Alternatively, Mercuri, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,728, Mar. 23, 1999) discloses a flexible graphite sheet having embedded fibers extending from its surface into the sheet to increase the resin permeability of the sheet for the preparation of a resin-impregnated flexible graphite bipolar plate. The step of adding ceramic fibers significantly increases the process complexity and cost.
The flow field plate should be constructed from inexpensive starting materials, materials that are easily formed into any plate configuration, preferably using a continuous molding process, and materials that are corrosion resistant in low temperature fuel cells and that do not require further processing such as high temperature pyrolization treatments. Any laminated or multi-layer plate should have adequate bonding between layers to ensure structural integrity and reduced contact resistance (reduced power loss due to joule heating).
In our earlier applications, we provided a sheet molding compound (SMC) composition for use as a fuel cell flow field plate or bipolar plate [Bor Z. Jang, “Sheet Molding Compound Flow Field Plate, Bipolar Plate and Fuel Cell,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,540 (Dec. 5, 2005) and Bor Z. Jang, A. Zhamu, Lulu Song, “Method for Producing Highly Conductive Sheet Molding Compound, Fuel cell Flow Field Plate, and Bipolar Plate,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/293,541 (Dec. 5, 2005)]. This SMC composition comprises a top flexible graphite (FG) sheet, a bottom FG sheet, and a resin mixture sandwiched between the two FG sheets. The resin mixture comprises a thermoset resin and a conductive filler. The flexible graphite sheet has a planar outer surface having formed therein a fluid flow channel. This SMC structure is simple and the production process is fast and continuous. However, commercially available FG sheets can be expensive. Furthermore, a FG sheet tends to have their constituent graphene platelets (exfoliated graphite platelets) being parallel to the FG sheet plane. The graphite crystal is known to have a high electrical conductivity on the basal plane (graphene plane), but not perpendicular to it. As a consequence, the in-plane electrical conductivity of a FG sheet is much greater than its thickness-direction conductivity. Unfortunately, it is the thickness-direction conductivity of a FG-based SMC that is important for a bipolar plate, rather than the in-plane conductivity. It would be highly desirable if the top and bottom graphite sheets have a higher thickness-direction conductivity (e.g., with graphite platelets oriented perpendicular to a bipolar plate plane).
In another earlier invention [Bor Z. Jang, A. Zhamu, and Lulu Song, “Highly Conductive Composites for Fuel Cell Flow Field Plates and Bipolar Plates,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/324,370 (Jan. 4, 2006)], we provided an electrically conductive polymer composite as a bipolar plate. The composite is composed of (A) at least 50% by weight of a conductive filler, comprising at least 5% by weight reinforcement fibers, expanded graphite platelets, graphitic nano-fibers, and/or carbon nano-tubes; (B) a thermoplastic matrix at 1 to 49.9% by weight; and (C) a thermoset binder at 0.1 to 10% by weight; wherein the bulk electrical conductivity of the flow field or bipolar plate is at least 100 S/cm. The thermoset binder resin is used to hold the reinforcement elements (platelets, fibers, nano-tubes, etc.) together to form a composite preform. This composite preform that has a thermoplastic matrix material is at a later time molded into a thermoplastic composite. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, we suggested a bipolar plate that comprises such a thermoplastic composite having a skin layer less than 100 μm in thickness wherein the skin layer has a polymer volume fraction less than 20% and a conductive filler greater than 80%. This composite composition provides a high conductivity, which is a highly desirable feature of a bipolar plate. However, such a composite composition (containing at least 50% conductive reinforcements) tends to result in a thick or bulky molded structure and, hence, is not suitable for the fabrication of thin bipolar plates. A high filler proportion also means a high mixture viscosity and can present processing difficulty. The composite is limited to thermoplastic matrix materials and it requires the use of a thermoset binder to hold the filler particles together first prior to a shape molding operation. A simpler chemical formulation that enables simpler, more convenient, and faster processing of bipolar plates (hence, lower costs) is highly desirable.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fuel cell flow field plate or a bipolar plate that is a well-integrated, non-SMC component and can be made by using a simple, fast and cost-effective process. The process can be automated and adaptable for mass production. In particular, the bipolar plate has a thin, conductive composite core layer cladded between two carbon/graphite coating (clad) layers. The composite core layer provides some excess resin to help hold the carbon/graphite particles in the clad layers together. The clad layers can be very thin; they can be as thin as 1 μm or thinner and typically can be as thick as 20 μm. The resulting fuel cell system is highly conductive and well suitable for use as a current collector. This instant invention represents a significant improvement over and above the prior art bipolar plates, including our own previously invented plates.
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Integral scale histogram local binary patterns for classification of narrow-band gastroenterology images.
The introduction of various novel imaging technologies such as narrow-band imaging have posed novel image processing challenges to the design of computer assisted decision systems. In this paper, we propose an image descriptor referred to as integrated scale histogram local binary patterns. We propagate an aggregated histogram of local binary patterns of an image at various resolutions. This results in low dimensional feature vectors for the images while incorporating their multiresolution analysis. The descriptor was used to classify gastroenterology images into four distinct groups. Results produced by the proposed descriptor exhibit around 92% accuracy for classification of gastroenteroloy images outperforming other state-of-the-art methods, endorsing the effectiveness of the proposed descriptor.
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Inhibitory effect of various organophosphorus esters on rat liver malathion carboxylesterase in vitro: role of mixed-function oxidases.
6 Structurally related trialkyl phosphorothioates were assessed for their inhibitory effects on rat liver malathion carboxylesterase in vitro. IC50 values indicate that all these compounds, except compound III, a phosphorodithioate, inhibited the activity of the enzyme progressively with increasing incubation time of the compounds with the enzyme preparation. Compounds with an ethyl substitution were more potent than the corresponding methyl-substituted inhibitors. There was cytochrome P-450-mediated oxidative deactivation of all compounds tested, this was especially profound with inhibitors containing an ethyl thiolate moiety.
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Analysts and media will be commenting various aspects of the speech UK Prime Minister Theresa May gave in Florence on Friday (22 September 2017) in an attempt to give a new impetus – or to salvage – the ongoing Article 50 negotiations towards Britain’s exit from the EU. On …
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The UK could end up being grateful to the EU for refusing to talk about their future trade deal just now. This gives Britain some time to start thinking about a real economic and trade policy strategy. By Iana Dreyer.
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As a ‘hard’ Brexit looms, reviving TTIP could help bridge the gap between the EU, the UK and the US, argues Peter Chase. As the United Kingdom edges towards a ‘hard Brexit’ in 2019, incoming United States president Donald Trump’s curious embrace of Brexit and the much-maligned but yet-to-be …
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2. On a large aluminium foil, place 1/3 of the herbs in the chicken, 1/3 of the herbs at the bottom and place the chicken on the top.
3. Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and the rest of the herbs over the chicken.
4. Half wrap the chicken with aluminum foil and put it on the steaming rack in a wok.
5. Pour in the 1 cup water and then fully wrap up the chicken with the foil.
6. Add some water in the wok, cover and steam on medium high heat for 2 hours. Check occasionally to make sure that the water for steaming does not dry up. Add more water if necessary.
7. Open the foil and serve with white or brown rice.
Additional Information:
As the name of this Chinese dish suggest, it is fit for Emperor. It is also a very healthy dish. I like it with a little bit of soup after it is cooked, and thus I added 1 cup water.
We had this dish during our recent home visit Singapore and decided that I will try to make it myself when we are back with Denmark. I made it today. We had Yang Li and Amy over for dinner after daycare. Amy remarked that it tasted really good (though she did not finished her portion). Joshua (2Y10M9D) did not really say if he liked it, but he ate up all his portion and asked for more. We were just laughing that Amy expressed that she liked the dish in words, and Joshua expressed it in action.
Do not fret if you could not gather the number of Chinese herbs listed above. It is a full list, but it is not necessary to have every one of them. Just do in the herbs that you have at home or could find and it will still taste good. You also do not really need to follow the quantity of each herbs to be put in. Just an estimate would be fine.
Some people wrap the chicken with an inner plastic sheet as well, but it is not necessary.
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# Source: olm/templates/0000_50_olm_14-packageserver.subscription.yaml
#! validate-crd: ./deploy/chart/templates/05-subscription.crd.yaml
#! parse-kind: Subscription
apiVersion: operators.coreos.com/v1alpha1
kind: Subscription
metadata:
name: packageserver
namespace: olm
spec:
source: olm-operators
sourceNamespace: olm
name: packageserver
channel: alpha
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Salam,
On Friday 13 February 2004 23:54, Nadim Shaikli wrote:
> > now everything is saved in PDFs (or JPGs or PNGs) locally, except:
> > > > The articles I could not find are:
> > > > 1/ "Al Jazeera" one.
> >
> > Still searching...
>
> Was this found ?
Not yet. The link is pointing to a totally different article and I searched on
their site for "arabeyes.org" and did not find anything... I'll try something
else, unless someone beats me to it.
> > > > 2/ "Click.ae" one
> >
> > I found a .txt file in some old directory... For now, the link is
> > pointing there. But it would be better to have some nicer layout.
>
> Was anthing better found ? There was a video on their site, is it still
> there - I can now capture it locally.
No, the website has totally changed.
> > PS: Where's that german article found by Arafat ?
>
> Here's the german article (a search revealed it on our archives). You
> can always ask 'Arafat.Medini' for a better copy (the one noted is a bit
> too grainy).
Thanks. I tried to use swishe on the website but there's something strange...
I already filed a bug report to Anmar two days ago ;)
http://bugs.arabeyes.org/cgi-bin/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=138
> Hope that helps - now we are down to just the newsforge articles ?
Yeah, only them and the 2 above.
Salam,
- --
Youcef R. Rahal
Arabeyes.org
http://www.arabeyes.org/~rahal
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"When you do a show like this, sometimes people get mad." "And rather than arguing rationally," "They sometimes make ridiculous, impossible, accusations." "We were debunking conspiracy theory." "We get accused of being CIA agents" "On the payroll of the zionists." "They had proof." "It's on the Internet." "We say vaccinating children is important," "And before the show even airs, we get accused of being paid off" "By the pharmaceutical industry." "Fuck!" "We want to tell u right now, our integrity cannot be bought." "Anyway, today's show is about fast food, and well" "Bashing fast food is bullshit!" "Is that my uh, shake machine?" "Oh, thank you." "Penn:" "Fast food." "What's the big deal?" "We sent our crew out to interview people on the street, and..." "They went to the beach." "But at least they asked people the right question" "Is fast food good for you?" "It's not healthy for you at all." "There's nothing healthy about fast food." "I really don't think any fast food places are good for you." "Definitely very fattening." "Fast food is in no way healthy." "Unhealthy." "Penn:" "Yep, hold on to your hot wings." "Fast food is the new public enemy number one," "And it's being blamed for an obesity epidemic." "Health agencies, food activists, and special interests groups" "Are hungry for war." "And if they have it their way," "There'll be more government regulations and higher taxes on fast food." "Fuck!" "Even Obama's 2010 health care bill forces fast food restaurants" "To put calorie counts on menus." "But is that fair?" "Is fast food really to blame?" "Tonight, we'll meet a woman who's declared an all out war on fast food..." "If you're in America, you don't think of reason, you just eat." "Penn:" "A man who wants to regulate fast food..." "We the American people want the government to do something." "Penn:" "And a woman who's exercising her right" "To choose what she..." "Chews." "Nobody's cramming the big Mac down my throat." "I want to eat that big Mac." "We'll conduct a hidden camera fast food taste test... [slurps]" "And we'll meet a man who, well," "All he is saying is "give grease a chance."" "You can have a burger." "It's ok." "Yep, this show is bound to be a whopper..." "With cheese." "For 2.2 billion years," "Living things have evolved with 2 things in mind" "Food and fucking." "The animal that scarfs down the most calories" "Lives the longest and reproduces the most." "But in the last 50 years," "Food has gotten so cheap and plentiful" "For a small number of humans" "That we now have more than enough." "But our monkey brains, our lizard brains," "Our amoeba brains, whatever," "Are still telling us to eat everything in sight." "Nowadays those of us who would have been most successful" "At surviving 5,000 years ago get fat." "And those skinny, fussy, picky eaters?" "They would have died in the fucking wild, and they know it!" "Now they're gonna screw us over" "By getting the government to take away our cheeseburgers." "Can I just have a little taste of that?" "[growls] Aah!" "Fast food makers count on the American public to be stupid." "And we don't disappoint." "I'm Meme roth," "President and founder of national action against obesity." "Penn:" "Meme knows knows what what is is good good for for you you." "[chuckles] and she's one skinny fucking anti-fat crusader" "And president of national action against obesity." "Today's average American woman, 5'4", 163 pounds," "And here's her ass." "Penn:" "Fuck!" "Somebody call that woman." "Meme's got her pants." "The average American is eating 3 cheeseburgers a week" "And, on average, an order of fries every day." "Penn:" "Meme says fast food is the biggest contributor to obesity." "Obesity is associated with type ii diabetes," "And 30% of the most common cancers, and heart disease," "And dementia, and incontinence," "And erectile dysfunction, and" "Penn:" "Whoa, whoa!" "We get it." "We get it." "Fat people bug the shit out of you." "But come on!" "We love big macs." "Does fast food really represent a public health problem?" "Yeah, I'm quite sure it represents a public health problem." "Penn:" "Another skinny bastard telling us we're too fat." "No hypocrisy here." "Rogan Kersh, associate dean" "And Professor of public policy, n." "Y.U. Wagner school." "It is the case now that the current generation of children," "Born now to age 14 or so," "Are likely to be the first in American history," "Going all the way back to the founding" "To live shorter life spans than their parents did." "They're gonna die sooner than their parents," "And a big part of that is the American diet" "Based, organized significantly around fast food." "Penn:" "Wow." "That's a really scary sound bite." "Thanks a lot." "And meme believes fast food companies" "Know exactly how to rope us in." "They put together a beautiful combination of fat, sugar, and salt." "When you put together fat, sugar, and salt..." "Wow." "Penn:" "So they're tricking us by making things that taste good." "Those monsters!" "Watch a husband and wife eat." "Their faces are all stuffed." "They have grease all over themselves." "They're bloated." "They're like making out with their hamburger." "What are we doing?" "Penn:" "I'd rather make out with a hamburger than you, Ms. Hateful." "Let's find one of those slovenly, bloated husband and wife pig teams" "And see if meme's revulsion is deserved deserved." "Hi, I'm Becca Badillo." "And I'm Steve Badillo." "And we love fast food." "Penn:" "Aw, hell." "They don't seem gross at all." "Now what are we gonna do?" "We're a really busy family." "We're really active and always on the go." "Uh, the boy is in high school." "He's got to be there every single morning at 7:30." "Then I usually will come home, pick up the baby, take her to pre-school." "Then I go to school." "Penn:" "How does Becca find time for cooking and feeding her children?" "[gulps]" "I don't know where this family would be without drive-throughs." "Can I please get a kid's meal with chicken" "And orange juice?" "I think fast food gets a bad rap." "I think it's one of the necessities of life today." "You've gotta just be moving and be on the go all the time." "Penn:" "But Becca's well aware of the message" "Our government and the media are relentlessly putting out:" "Anyone eating fast food should be ashamed of themselves." "You know, it's not the kind of thing" "You want to be proud of or happy about" "Or, you know, can't wait to tell everyone" "About the great burger you had at the drive-through today." "But, you know, it is what it is." "Penn:" "Meme lives on the upper West Side of Manhattan" "And enjoys a lifestyle that's much different than Becca's." "So is she trying to stigmatize people like Becca?" "Everyone gets all teary eyed when you use the word stigmatization." "Well, stigmatization works." "To get the needle moved in a country that's very slow to make changes," "Sometimes it takes demonizing of industries" "To get some kind of movement" "In the direction of positive public health." "Yes, we should be stigmatizing eating around the clock." "Yes, we should be stigmatizing the 100-ounce soft drink." "Yes, yes, yes." "Penn:" "I hear meme talk," "And I want to eat the biggest fucking burger I can find!" "Yeah!" "Like that one!" "Fast food has a bunch of things going for it" "That really make it attractive to people." "Hi, I'm Dr. Brian Wansink," "Professor and director of the Cornell university food and brand lab." "Penn:" "And guinness world record holder" "For longest continuous conference table." "Not only is it tremendously convenient for those of us" "Who don't really know how to cook." "Not only is it pretty darn tasty compared to a lot of things" "We would cook for ourselves." "But it's also really fun." "Penn:" "Now you're talking." "We like fun." "Dr. Wansink is the author" "Of "mindless eating:" "Why we eat more than we think."" "He's made a career out of studying our eating habits" "From his most excellent lab on the Cornell university campus." "It's like a Hollywood hidden camera studio..." "Except it's in ithaca." "Within 3 hours, we can transform it to look like a bedroom," "A dining room, a kitchen, a den" "Penn:" "Or a snazzy little restaurant." "Make that a bistro." "With 2-way mirrors." "You get the idea." "Here's the good doctor doing what he does best." "Ok, bring in the soup." "Penn:" "Serving delicious culinary delights," "And fucking with people for us..." "And for science." "We wish it were just us." "And here we have the Southern chicken corn bisque for you." "Penn:" "Southern chicken corn bisque." "High falutin' food for sure." "But here's the catch-- all of the ingredients of that exquisite dish" "Are actually courtesy of the colonel." "Yeah, that colonel." "It was either Sanders or klink, right?" "This is all from KFC." "Not just the chicken, but the coleslaw, biscuits," "And even the corn on the cob." "The soup they're eating is made from those ingredients and nothing more." "And what do they think of it?" "Food is the biggest mystery in most of our lives." "Most of what influences what we eat or how much we eat" "Doesn't have to do with reason or logic" "Or what we know about nutrition." "It has to do with the subtle things that are around us." "It has to do with the name of a food." "Penn:" "In other words, if these people knew they were eating fast food," "They wouldn't be responding to Dr. Wansink's test like this." "So on a scale of 1 to 10," "With like 1 being fast food" "And 10 being really, really gourmet food," "Where would you put that bisque?" "How do you think tonight's meal compares to fast food?" "Penn:" "Fuck yeah, this is fun!" "Er, I mean, enlightening demonstration, doctor." "We'll rejoin these proceedings later." "Since we're calling this the fast food episode," "We should really go to a real fast food place" "Yeah, like this one" "And try to get some answers." "Maybe lunch, too." "Is it time for lunch yet?" "Uh, I'm gonna get a $6.00 cheeseburger combo." "I like the burger simple-- just cheese, dill pickles," "Mustard, ketchup, and that black Angus beef." "That works great or me." "Penn:" "Well, thanks for volunteering, pal," "But we were hoping we could speak to someone in charge." "My name is Andy Puzder, and I am the ceo of CKE restaurants." "Penn:" "You're the ceo of Carl's Jr.?" "What the hell are you doing on our show?" "Didn't they tell you the title?" "Penn:" "We really try and sell the best quality fast food." "We use black Angus beef, whole leaf lettuce," "You know, thick tomato slices" "Penn:" "Yeah, yeah, yeah." "Only the best stuff." "We get it." "Attention, citizens!" "Attention, citizens!" "Who among us has not puzzled" "Over the curiously placed apostrophe in Carl's Jr.?" "Is it a mistake?" "Is it some obsolete artifact of latin usage?" "No!" "It is absolutely logical." "Carl Karcher built a restaurant." "It was called Carl's drive-in barbecue." "Then he built a smaller restaurant." "It was called Carl's Jr." "The junior refers to the restaurant, not Carl." "Carl was not a junior." "Carl was Leo's son." "Now, Carl had 12 children, and he did eventually run out of names" "And called one of his sons Carl." "But this son had a different middle name," "So he was not a junior." "If he had been," "He could of had a restaurant called "carl junior's."" "And if he had restaurants of different sizes," "The smaller ones could have been called" "Carl junior's juniors." "We hope we've cleared this up for you." "Carry on, citizens." "Carry on." "So, ceo of Carl apostrophe "s" junior, sir," "Put down than Angus beef and confess the truth about your evil food." "We're proud to do what we do." "We're not at all ashamed of what we're doing." "There are a lot of things you can eat" "That contribute to a healthy lifestyle." "You don't have to eat bark and nuts." "You want to go some place where you can get everybody happy," "Get everybody filled up, and not have to break the bank." "Penn:" "What?" "You believe in your product?" "That's disappointingly heartfelt," "Rational, and Frank." "You can have dessert now." "Let's be honest, people love this stuff because it's good." "And sometimes we just crave it." "No one really knows why." "Oh, oh, oh, wait." "Meme does." "Well, it's called the bliss point." "What the fast food joints do is they put fat, sugar and salt together." "And it makes you eat it, and it makes you crave it," "So it sets you up for the dopamine craving." "So every time you drive by, you're gonna want more of it." "And that's what the fast food makers know." "There's--there's no way that we put" "Anything in our food to make it addictive to people." "We use Angus beef 'cause it tastes better." "Salt--we put salt in 'cause people like salt." "It tastes good." "And in that sense, if what you're talking about is trying to get the food" "To taste good so people want to eat it," "Well, we absolutely do that." "Penn:" "Of course you do!" "And so what?" "Meme?" "The fast food makers just take advantage of the fact" "That we are willing victims," "And we keep eating non-stop." "And that is why fast food is making us fat" "Because we're letting it make us fat." "You really can't blame an industry for people being overweight." "Fast food isn't-- we're not here" "To try and sell people high fat products." "We have low fat products." "People just don't buy 'em." "Penn:" "It's true!" "Ask Becca." "If I'm going through a drive-through," "Do I really want to get the salad on the menu?" "Penn:" "But Becca, what about your health?" "Nobody has diabetes or has obesity," "At least not in our household." "We all seem to be really physically fit," "And we feel well." "And the reason for that is we make good choices." "And when we're full, we stop eating." "Penn:" "But can't your choices include eating at home more often?" "I would love it if I could hang out all day long" "Making beautiful food for my family" "And laying it out on a wonderful table," "And we could sit around eating it at our leisure" "And discussing, you know, the ideas of the world." "Wouldn't that be fantastic?" "It would be great." "Not gonna happen." "Penn:" "Meanwhile, back in ithaca," "They're getting ready for another hidden camera experiment." "So if you can just please have a seat." "Penn:" "This next test revealed the bias against fast food." "Dr. Wansink gave these Guinea pigs" "A Western chicken salad from taco bell." "Let's hear how they liked it, knowing it was fast food." "Welcome to our food study." "Penn:" "But then..." "Go ahead and bring down the salads now." "Dr. Wansink gave the exact same salad to these folks" "But told them it was from a healthy-sounding restaurant," ""the California garden cafe."" "He was bullshitting." "It's the exact same taco bell salad." "Let's hear what they thought." "What the hell is going on?" "Exact same dish, 2 diametrically different reactions." "That's the fast food stigma at work." "So what have we learned, besides never to use the word" ""diametrically" again?" "Our expectations have this tremendous influence" "On how we interpret the taste of a food." "Penn:" "But meme doesn't care about taste." "She's all about that literal pantload of calories we're consuming." "You know, the biggest thing is in the past few decades" "Our average calorie intake per day" "Has increased more than 500 calories." "Penn:" "Ok." "The food makers produce 3,900 calories a day per person." "That's more than double what any of us needs to be eating." "And we're just stupid enough in our country to fall for it." "Penn:" "She says "we," but clearly she isn't included in this." "She thinks we tubby fucks are stupid and without a clue." "But are we?" "Let's see how our fast food eating tubby brethren" "Who knew they were eating fast food" "Estimated the calories of their meal." "[whispering] hint--the answer is 970." "You know how many calories were actually in that?" "Woman:" "Un-uh." "970." "Penn:" "Wow, that's pretty good." "But how accurate were the people who ate the same exact fast food salad" "But thought it was from a healthy restaurant?" "[whispering] remember, the answer is still 970." "How many calories do you think were in the salad?" "400, ok." "What about" "If I told you it had closer to 1,000 calories?" "Penn:" "Sucker punch!" "These folks had no fucking clue." "It's a phenomenon Dr. Wansink calls the "health halo."" "The basic idea behind the health halo is that we evaluate a food" "In the context of where it's served." "Penn:" "Hold on." "Hold on." "It's um, getting kind of dark in here." "Can we do something about that?" "Ah, that's better." "People who thought they were eating at a healthy restaurant" "Would've been a lot better taking their best guess" "Of how many the calories they've eaten..." "And doubling it." "When people eat at a fast food restaurant," "They end up being a lot more accurate in estimating" "The number of calories at those restaurants." "They know they're being indulgent." "People who want to outlaw fast food are just fucking snobs." "The proof is simple." "They aren't coming down on expensive gourmet restaurants." "[french accent] are you enjoying your appetizer?" "Penn:" "Oui. [chuckles] [speaking french]" "And a spinach souffle." "Oh, spinach souffle." "Spinach is good for you, teller." "[speaking french]" "I love this place, teller." "It's so, uh, authentic." "Meanwhile, in their upper westside apartment," "Meme and her children are cooking up a hearty breakfast" "Of spinach and egg whites." "I take care to make sure my kids are healthy," "But the rest of America is blowing it" "And making it so government's getting involved." "Penn:" "That's right." "Meme isn't content with running her own family." "She wants to manage all of our lives." "I want to see the soda tax." "I would like to see junk food away from school zones." "I would like to see fast food marketing against the law" "When it's directed at children." "Penn:" "I figured it out." "You're a skinny asshole" "Because you can't stop yapping long enough to eat." "You're too busy bossing people around." "You and that fucking weasel Kersh." "There's lots of ways in which government" "Can try to encourage healthy behavior." "Penn:" "Encourage?" "Don't you mean regulate?" "Regulating it has-- sounds bad." "It's much more nudgy, encouraging kinds of sets of policies" "That will change eating behavior" "In ways that make people live healthier lives." "Penn: "nudgy"?" "That's the code for social engineering laws" "Forcing us to live the way someone else chooses," "Including laws restricting our choices of where we can eat." "Meme:" "So you're seeing zoning laws out in California." "You're seeing, you know, look we, we don't want" "We don't want it to be nothing but junk food establishments." "So we're looking at things like that." "We're also looking at taxes on sweetened drinks." "Penn:" "We?" "!" "Sounds like you and the fucking skinny squad." "You food fascists will be picking and choosing" "The acceptable businesses for a neighborhood" "Instead of letting the free market decide." "And on top of that, of course, new taxes." "But the calorie cops don't even want small taxes." "They want big taxes." "Why?" "You'd have to have a tax that's high enough" "To actually make a difference in what people consume," "Or at least make them stop and think," ""do I really want to pay this much for essentially" ""a big shot of sugar?"" "I think the tax on soda is probably one of the worst ideas" "That anybody's ever come up with." "It's just gonna make people pay more for soda." "You can't legislate people" "Into wanting or not wanting something." "Know one of my concerns when it comes" "To taxing fast food items, for instance," "Ends up being who exactly is it taxing?" "It's probably taxing the people who need the money the most." "Hey, guys." "Penn:" "Including hard-working families like the badillos." "In this day and age where everybody is struggling" "To pay their bill, and their mortgage," "And put food on their table..." "Into the hanger!" "It really has helped take off some of the pressure, I'm sure," "For a lot of families, my own included." "[imitating chicken]" "I can feed a family of 4" "For under 20 bucks, and we're full." "Soft drinks are not healthy." "Most are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup," "Which, like sugar, has been linked to obesity and diabetes." "In fact, hfcs is an ingredient in a lot of the stuff" "You get at a fast food restaurant." "Why?" "Because it's a dirt cheap way" "To add sweetener and extend shelf life." "And why is it so cheap?" "Because we fucking subsidize fucking corn farmers." "Our government gives about 10 billion of our tax dollars" "To corn farmers every year" "So they can produce more corn than we need." "They then sell the corn at artificially low prices." "They spend our money to make corn syrup cheap." "And now the same government" "That uses our tax money to keep soft drinks cheap" "Wants more of our tax money to make soft drinks more expensive!" "Does anyone else think this is incredibly fucked up?" "I mean, fuck you people who think the government should intervene more!" "Really, really." "No kidding." "Fuck you!" "Fuck you!" "Teller's been trying to think of a magic trick" "That would illustrate how illogical this is," "But so far he can't find anything in magic" "Quite that stupid." "Steve and Becca Badillo are adults" "Who love their children" "And are making their own choices in how to care for them." "What kind of an asshole could possibly say the government" "Would be helping them by adding to their tax burden?" "This kind." "Government stepping in to try to encourage, nudge," "Help these kids and their parents and the rest of us eat more healthfully" "Doesn't seem to me like some kind of misplaced reformer's" "Wild-eyed crusade." "Penn:" "Of course you don't think it's wild and stupid!" "That's exactly what every fucking wild-eyed crusader says!" "It's your fucking crusade, you nudgeweed!" "And nudge you for not having the nudges to say "regulate."" "And stop fucking saying "nudge!"" "So you look for the next level of intervention" "Where you're actually trying to nudge people in a reasonable way" "Penn:" "Wait a second." "Isn't he the same jerk" "Who said something about today's children dying young?" "[harp music playing]" "They're gonna die sooner than their parents," "And a big part of that is the American diet" "Based, organized, significantly around fast food." "[harp music playing]" "Penn:" "Huh." "Well, Professor of public policy," "It turns out the center for disease control" "You know, those medical doctors?" "Their latest study says..." "So go drum up some public policy somewhere else." "What kind of presumptuous meddler asshole" "Thinks he has the right to tell parents" "How to raise their own children?" "If parents are making their kids fat," "And all evidence says parents who love their kids" "Are making their kids fat," "Then shit!" "You're making it so the government has to get involved." "Penn:" "Oh, that kind." "A lot of this opposition to fast food" "Does arise out of sort of an elitism or a snobbery." "There seems to be this group of people" "Who think that they know what people need" "And what's best for people" "More than those people themselves know," "And that they should be able to tell us what to do" "Really in almost every aspect of our lives." "That snobbery ignores the people to who we provide benefits." "You know, the people that we feed." "I absolutely think that's just wrong." "Penn:" "Hear, hear, Mr. CEO!" "And look, he even throws away his own trash." "You know, at least when the cameras are running." "Let's let mom Becca Badillo sum it up." "I think it's up to everybody to choose what they want to eat." "That's like one of life's most basic choices" "To choose what you want to eat." "Obesity is a hard problem," "But solve it with zoning and taxes?" "We eat too much." "Doesn't matter whether it's home, fancy restaurant, or fast food," "We eat too much, and we eat too often." "We just need to eat less." "It can't be that hard, right?" "Teller doesn't have to eat that whole steak." "He can eat a quarter of it and be perfectly satisfied." "And this burger is delicious," "But now I have had enough." "See?" "It just takes a little knowledge and a little will power." "What it doesn't take is a village." "Star:" "Cut!" "Perfect." "Mmm." "I think" " I think I baubled one of the words" "There during the home, the fast food, that section." "Let's do another one, ok?" "Star:" "We'll run it back and check." "No, no, don't bother." "We'll just" "We'll just do another one right here." "Yeah, we're all set here." "I'm gonna start with eating for a little while, and then we'll go into it." "So before you give an "action," let me get a few bites..." "Out of this." "Then bring the camera up," "And then give me a countdown and "action," and I'll already be eating."
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In January of 1993, the then 22 year-old Anne found her mother Anne Scripps Douglas, 47, beaten and unconscious in the master bedroom of her New York home. Her mother never regained consciousness and died in the hospital a few days later. Anne’s step-father, a suspect, was not formally charged at the time for beating his wife to death with a hammer. He eventually committed suicide 3-months later jumping to his death from the exact same place that Anne Morell Petrillo chose to end her life.
In 1989, 5 years earlier, in Chicago, Roberta Murphy, also 47 years of age, would be discovered by her daughter, on the kitchen floor, dead with a bullet to the head. Philip Murphy, a decorated violent crimes detective, was in the bedroom dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
The question is, years after her mother’s murder why did Anne Morell Petrillo take her own life? Unfortunately, I know the answer.
The world expects surviving family members of homicide victims to transition the all consuming pain of loss into one of “getting on” or getting over the grief.” When a loved one dies under tragic circumstances the human mind plays the game of “if only I had gotten to the aid of that person” I could have saved them from being killed. If only I did not go out with my friends or not stopped for gas I could have somehow prevented the tragedy. A crime victim plays out the day, hour and moment leading up where the hands on the clock stopped moving to when they received the news or discovered the bloody body as if they were watching their lives while glued to a chair playing on a movie screen. The tragedy is paralyzing. Learning how to get out of one's one way in the aftermath becomes a daily struggle.
There are those who seemingly move past the grief like John Walsh whose son Adam was abducted and killed, Marc Klaas whose daughter Polly was sexually assaulted and murdered. But the truth is, they have not, instead each man has bravely channeled their energies to implement laws and hold the legal system accountable for those who prey on innocent and helpless children. Their “purpose driven life” is what allowed them to keep the grief and pain manageable, moving forward to help others.
As a society, there simply is no embrace in the aftermath of tragedy. Society dictates we all move on and as much as we try it is not possible to accomplish. Long after the lines of friends and family surround us in our darkest hour before our loved one is laid to rest, we as homicide victims are forced to proceed with our lives. Promises of remaining in contact by friends and family vanish when we attempt to talk about the tragedy or how much we miss the person. We are not invited out to dinner, nor called to see how we are doing. Instead, the survivor is pointed towards or referred to those in the mental health profession for guidance to assist them with the pain, because they too, those who knew us best prior to the tragedy, do not want to be reminded.
Many years have passed since the murder of my mother and suicide of my father. For me and thousands of others, each day is a constant struggle to find the hope and light that fuels our very existence.
Anne Morell Petrillo did not opt out of life because it was easy. She took her own life because society, those who initially surrounded and loved her, evacuated, taking with them the hope and light that she so desperately needed to survive.
As human beings we have an incredible ability to reach out to the others in our community, family, friends and strangers whose lives have been changed by events out of their control. The cost to us perhaps a cup of coffee and our time. This simple act of kindness is often the reason for those without hope to get up in the morning, because someone took time out of their day and acknowledged their existence.
Susan is the author of "Time's Up: A Guide on How to Leave and Survive Abusive and Stalking Relationships,"Moving out, Moving on, and Defending Out Lives. Susan is the host of The Susan Murphy Milano Show, "Time's Up!" . She is a regular contributor to the nationally syndicated "The Roth Show" with Dr Laurie Roth and a co-host on Crime Wire.
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Former Vice Pres. Joe Biden says in 2016 he and Pres. Obama would routinely ask one another, 'What the hell are we going to do' about Russia? Fmr. Ambassador Michael McFaul reacts.
|
require File.expand_path('../spec_helper', __FILE__)
module Pod
describe DSLError do
before do
@dsl_path = fixture('standard_error_podspec/Three20.podspec')
backtrace = [
"#{@dsl_path}:2:in `error line'",
"#{@dsl_path}:127:in `block (2 levels) in _eval_podspec'",
"lib/cocoapods-core/specification.rb:41:in `initialize'",
]
exception = stub(:backtrace => backtrace)
description = 'Invalid podspec'
@err = DSLError.new(description, @dsl_path, exception)
lines = ["first line\n", "error line\n", "last line\n"]
File.stubs(:read).returns(lines.join(''))
end
it 'returns a properly formed message' do
@err.message.should == <<-MSG.strip_heredoc
[!] Invalid podspec.
# from #{@dsl_path.expand_path}:2
# -------------------------------------------
# first line
> error line
# last line
# -------------------------------------------
MSG
end
it 'parses syntax error messages for well-formed messages' do
code = "puts 'hi'\nputs())\nputs 'bye'"
# rubocop:disable Eval
syntax_error = should.raise(SyntaxError) { eval(code, nil, @dsl_path.to_s) }
# rubocop:enable Eval
@err.stubs(:description).returns("Invalid `Three20.podspec` file: #{syntax_error.message}")
@err.stubs(:underlying_exception).returns(syntax_error)
File.stubs(:read).returns(code)
@err.message.should == if Pod::Version.new(RUBY_VERSION) >= Pod::Version.new('2.7.0')
<<-MSG.strip_heredoc
[!] Invalid `Three20.podspec` file: syntax error, unexpected ')', expecting end-of-input
puts())
^
.
# from #{@dsl_path.expand_path}:2
# -------------------------------------------
# puts 'hi'
> puts())
# puts 'bye'
# -------------------------------------------
MSG
else
<<-MSG.strip_heredoc
[!] Invalid `Three20.podspec` file: syntax error, unexpected ')', expecting end-of-input.
# from #{@dsl_path.expand_path}:2
# -------------------------------------------
# puts 'hi'
> puts())
# puts 'bye'
# -------------------------------------------
MSG
end
end
it 'uses the passed-in contents' do
@err.stubs(:contents).returns("puts 'hi'\nputs 'there'\nputs 'bye'")
File.expects(:exist?).never
@err.message.should == <<-MSG.strip_heredoc
[!] Invalid podspec.
# from #{@dsl_path}:2
# -------------------------------------------
# puts 'hi'
> puts 'there'
# puts 'bye'
# -------------------------------------------
MSG
end
it 'includes the given description in the message' do
@err.message.should.include?('Invalid podspec.')
end
it 'includes the path of the dsl file in the message' do
@err.message.should.include?("from #{@dsl_path}")
end
it 'includes in the message the contents of the line that raised the exception' do
@err.message.should.include?('error line')
end
it 'is robust against a nil backtrace' do
@err.underlying_exception.stubs(:backtrace => nil)
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
end
it 'is robust against a backtrace non including the path of the dsl file' do
@err.underlying_exception.stubs(:backtrace).returns [
"lib/cocoapods-core/specification.rb:41:in `initialize'",
]
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
end
it "is robust against a backtrace that doesn't include the line number of the dsl file that originated the error" do
@err.underlying_exception.stubs(:backtrace).returns [@dsl_path.to_s]
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
end
it 'is against a nil path of the dsl file' do
@err.stubs(:dsl_path => nil)
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
end
it 'is robust against non existing paths' do
@err.stubs(:dsl_path => 'find_me_baby')
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
end
it 'can handle the first line of the dsl file' do
@err.underlying_exception.stubs(:backtrace).returns ["#{@dsl_path}:1"]
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
@err.message.should.include?('first line')
@err.message.should.not.include?('last line')
end
it 'can handle the last line of the dsl file' do
@err.underlying_exception.stubs(:backtrace).returns ["#{@dsl_path}:3"]
lambda { @err.message }.should.not.raise
@err.message.should.not.include?('first line')
@err.message.should.include?('last line')
end
end
end
|
3D printing technology continues to evolve and become more mainstream, and you don't get much more mainstream than Amazon.com. The online retailer has partnered with 3D print specialist company Sandboxr, and now allows customers to create figurines based on the Smite (PC/Xbox One), Infinity Blade (iOS) and Primal Carnage (PC) video game properties.
If you're interested in acquiring a figure, simply browse the Amazon storefront, choose the character you'd like, and click "personalize now." From there, you can change various options depending on which video game your character belongs to. Pick an Infinity Blade character and you can change their armor, helmet, weapon and pose, while Smite and Primal Carnage characters can have their base and pose customized.
Unlike amiibo, Skylanders, or any of the other various "toys to life" however, these figures do nothing special in-game. They're just there to look cool (and maybe fight with He-Man and the Ninja Turtles when you're bored).
Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!
|
Miitomo is initiating a new collaboration with another Nintendo IP. To celebrate the release of Federation Force and the series’ 30th anniversary, the app is featuring new items based on Metroid.
First, all Miitomo users can receive a Metroid hat and the 8-bit Samus tee. The former reward can be obtained for 0 Platinum points on My Nintendo until September 15 at 12 AM PT, while the latter will be distributed when opening Miitomo by September 15 at 4 AM PT.
Samus’ various suits are also now available in Miitomo Drop. You can attempt to earn these until September 15 at 8 PM PT.
Nintendo also has the Mech Suit from Federation Force up on My Nintendo. The Mech suit (set) and Metroid logo tee can be redeemed until September 15 at 12 AM PT. The Mech suit helmet costs 50 Platinum Points while the Mech suit body is 200 Platinum Points.
Finally, the Samus emblem pin can be found in Miitomo Shop until September 15 at 7 AM PT. It’s emblazoned with a Samus emblem.
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|
Q:
BizTalk - Routing failure on a delivery notification
I've run into a very weird issue with delevery notifications lately. Here is the scenario :
I have an orchestration which sends a message to a one-way send-port configured with delivery notification = Transmitted (btw the send port uses the FTP adapter, but I think it doesn't matter what the adapter is).
When there is a messaging error, the error is trapped by the orchestration (therefore meaning that the delivery notification mechanism worked as expected), which does some logging and then terminates programatically (Terminate shape). The messaging instance still exists and is suspended and resumable.
After solving the problem that caused the messaging error, I resume the suspended messaging instance.
At this point I get 2 very suspicious messaging instances : a routing failure for the ACK and the messaging instance still active (but doing nothing...). I am sure that the routing failure instance is the delivery notification related to the active messaging instance since they have the same CorrelationToken.
One more detail : if I terminate the active instance, it gets suspended (not resumable), and the error message says that the instance completed without consuming all of its messages!
Last but not least, I get this problem only on certain environments...
UPDATE : It seems like the problem appears on BizTalk boxes that run BizTalk 2006 R2 SP1. It never occured on the boxes that run BizTalk 2006 R2 without SP1. I'll try and confirm this ASAP
UPDATE 2 : It appears I was right in my last update : the problem appears after installing SP1 CU1... So next step : I will try and find if one of the following CUs corrects the problem.
A:
Actually no CU corrects the described problem. But there is more : it seems like all the newer BizTalk versions are concerned : I have made tests on BizTalk 2009 with all CUs and BizTalk 2010 with all CUs, the problem still exists!!!
The only solution I have found was to create an orchestration that subscribes to all Delivery Notifications... Not very clean, but it does the job - well at least most of it.
As a matter of fact I have identified 1 more problem when you enable routing for failed messages with delivery notifications : the AckRequired property AND the correlation token are copied to the routed failed message, which means that an ACK will be published if this failed message is consumed by a send port (eg : the ESB exception send port), and that this ACK can be routed to the originating orchestration if it is still executing. If so, that will end in a classic zombie message situation, since the orchestration doesn't consume this ACK!
Now, try and explain to your clients that your devs are not to be blamed... :p
|
[article Non-existant version of quickbook
[quickbook 0.1]
]
This should fail...
|
(b) -0.2 (c) w (d) r
a
Let r = -139 - -141. Suppose -4*q - r*q = 0. Let w = 8 + -13. Which is the biggest value? (a) q (b) w (c) -0.1
a
Suppose 5*h = 2*h + 231. Suppose 4*s + 27 = 2*z + h, -5*s - 2*z = -76. Let x be ((-7)/7)/(s/4). Which is the second biggest value? (a) -6 (b) 1/5 (c) x
c
Let b = 0.3 - -0.2. Let c be 13 + 3762/(-189) + (-28 - -35). What is the second biggest value in 2/7, c, b?
2/7
Let b = -135673/7 - -19382. What is the second smallest value in 4/5, b, -2, -3.9, 11/5?
-2
Let j = -51 - -6.5. Let q = -120.8 - j. Let l = 76 + q. Which is the third biggest value? (a) l (b) -3/8 (c) -5 (d) 2
b
Let y(f) be the third derivative of -f**4/12 + 5*f**3/6 + 12*f**2. Let s be y(2). Let t = -122 - -1829/15. Which is the biggest value? (a) t (b) -2 (c) s
c
Let s = 0.4 + 2. Let o = -62.46 + 65.46. Which is the biggest value? (a) s (b) -4 (c) o
c
Let i = 0.049 + -0.049. What is the fifth smallest value in -1/11, -7, -4, i, 0.1?
0.1
Suppose -3*j + 37 - 4 = 0. Let w be (-13)/11 - (-2)/j. Let y be 76/28 + 886/(-18606). Which is the third smallest value? (a) y (b) w (c) -0.2
a
Let d = 27.816 + -0.816. Which is the third biggest value? (a) -2/11 (b) d (c) 0.5
a
Let g be 6*1/(-174) + 3822/4872. Let i = -7.79 + -0.21. Let o = i - -6. What is the second biggest value in g, o, 0.4?
0.4
Let j(l) = 1 - 2*l - 12*l + 2*l**2 - 5 - 6*l. Let s be j(10). Let q = 0.2 - 0.1. What is the third biggest value in q, s, -5?
-5
Let x be 6/20 + (-2472)/(-2060). Which is the fourth biggest value? (a) 1/6 (b) -2/15 (c) -29 (d) x (e) -5
e
Let i be 13/21 + (-3)/9. Let k = -7600 + 7603. Which is the third biggest value? (a) k (b) i (c) 38
b
Let u = -3 + -1. Let s = 32487/2 + -16244. What is the biggest value in 0.04, 5, u, s?
5
Let h = -0.12 + 0.17. Let j = 869 + -870.6. What is the second biggest value in 1, h, j, -1?
h
Let i be 21452/(-49305) - (-2)/5. Let d = -0.09 + 4.09. What is the fourth biggest value in -2/11, d, i, -3?
-3
Let y = 558 + -712. Let u = -154.089 - y. Which is the third biggest value? (a) 2/3 (b) u (c) 0.1
b
Suppose -2*x - 4 = 6. Let l = -0.06501 - 0.23499. Which is the smallest value? (a) l (b) -2/15 (c) x (d) 1
c
Suppose -53*u - 39*u = 92. Which is the second smallest value? (a) u (b) 2 (c) 1/5 (d) 1/9
d
Let b = -175.14 - -336.14. What is the fifth biggest value in -0.1, -2, 1/6, b, -3?
-3
Let r(z) = -315*z + 2210. Let y be r(7). What is the second biggest value in -0.2, -25, 59, y?
y
Suppose -1588 = 28*v + 3648. Which is the smallest value? (a) -4 (b) 0 (c) -2/11 (d) 0.5 (e) v
e
Let p = -0.51 + 0.5. Let x = 0.41 + p. Let f be ((-23)/25 - -1)*(-60 + 50) - 0. Which is the smallest value? (a) x (b) -4/3 (c) f (d) -0.4
b
Let z = -2.0551 - -168.0651. Let q = z - 166. Which is the third smallest value? (a) q (b) 0.5 (c) 1
c
Let w(l) = -l**3 - l**2 + l + 1. Let f be w(-1). Let c = -14 - -14.2. Let s be 6*(-6)/(-6) + 3 - 5. What is the biggest value in f, -1, s, c?
s
Let h(k) = -12*k**2 - 75*k - 16. Let s be h(-6). Let q = 22.9 - 23. Which is the biggest value? (a) s (b) 2/3 (c) q
a
Let q = -6743 + 6748. Which is the smallest value? (a) q (b) -1/3 (c) 0.5 (d) -0.085
b
Suppose -3*o - 3*o = 81 - 87. Which is the fourth biggest value? (a) 1/12 (b) -2 (c) o (d) 70
b
Suppose 0 = 151*l - 39*l. What is the smallest value in -3/2, l, -1/35, -19?
-19
Let y = 32.961 + -33. Let l = 9.329 + -14.368. Let n = y - l. Which is the second biggest value? (a) 1 (b) n (c) -1
a
Let x(m) = 5*m + 134. Let i be x(-25). Let l be i/54*(-2 + -3 + 3). What is the second biggest value in -0.115, l, 0.1?
-0.115
Let s = -2.6 - 0.4. Let t = -5024 - -5036.9. Which is the third smallest value? (a) s (b) 0.3 (c) t
c
Suppose 30281 + 15169 = 45*m. Let n = m - 5053/5. Let o = 0.4 + -2.4. Which is the biggest value? (a) o (b) n (c) -1/6
c
Let q = 13.3 - -29.7. Let o = q - 46. Which is the second smallest value? (a) -2/3 (b) o (c) 4 (d) -0.3
a
Let l = -44.492 - -42.8. Let p = 0.308 - l. What is the smallest value in -16, -3/4, p?
-16
Let c = 36.38 + -36.44. What is the third smallest value in -1/10, -59, c?
c
Let v = -15.5 - -15. Suppose 0 = -46*u + 4*u - 84. Which is the third smallest value? (a) v (b) u (c) 7 (d) -1
a
Let m = 13216 + -13182. What is the third smallest value in 23, 0.1, m, -4?
23
Let s = -41 + 18. Let g = 43 + s. Let f = g + -19.7. Which is the second biggest value? (a) -2 (b) -0.1 (c) f
b
Let g = -8 - -5. Let v = -5 - g. Let t = 804.4 + -807.4. Which is the third biggest value? (a) t (b) v (c) 1/3
a
Let v = 41663 - 41662.9. Let k = 125/2 + -61. Which is the smallest value? (a) k (b) 2.4 (c) v
c
Let m = -0.02977 - -0.02177. Which is the fifth smallest value? (a) 5 (b) 17 (c) m (d) 5/3 (e) 0.1
b
Let l = 11 + -7. Let u = 0.0672506 + 0.3327494. What is the second smallest value in l, 1/8, u, 24?
u
Let z = 98 + -102. Let b = 0.4 + 0.6. What is the third smallest value in b, -9, z?
b
Let u = 0.8 + -1. Suppose 2*j + 3*w + 2 = 0, 7*j - 3*j - 5*w = -26. Let q = 1234 + -1233. Which is the smallest value? (a) q (b) -19 (c) u (d) j
b
Let k = 55.2 - 29.5. Let y = k + -24.7. Which is the third biggest value? (a) -8 (b) -0.5 (c) 0.3 (d) y
b
Suppose 4*w - 8 = 0, 4*i - i - 2*w - 2 = 0. Let f be 2/(-32)*36/27*i. Which is the second smallest value? (a) -1/2 (b) 1 (c) f (d) 1.6
c
Let j = 2141 + -2125. Which is the fourth smallest value? (a) -0.01 (b) j (c) 8 (d) -5
b
Suppose 7*n = -42*n - 49. Which is the third smallest value? (a) 5 (b) 2 (c) n (d) 319
a
Let v = 445 + -444.7. Let o be (-2 - -2) + (-7)/(-56)*2. Which is the second smallest value? (a) -21 (b) 0.1 (c) o (d) v
b
Suppose -5*h + 34*g - 33*g - 25 = 0, -3*h - 2*g - 2 = 0. What is the second biggest value in h, -0.03, -2/3, 10, -8?
-0.03
Let p = -8525.5 + 8526. What is the second smallest value in p, 1/4, -1.448?
1/4
Let p be 3/(-4)*(-8)/2. Suppose -1 + 4 = p*d. Let q = 22542/7 + -3220. Which is the second smallest value? (a) d (b) 0 (c) q
c
Let r = 0.04 - 2.04. Let k = -89251.8 - -89250. Which is the third smallest value? (a) -0.1 (b) r (c) k
a
Let z = 136.9 - 136.4. Which is the fifth biggest value? (a) -1 (b) 0.0398 (c) -3 (d) -0.1 (e) z
c
Let b = 341 - 350. Let x be (13 + b)*2/(-52). What is the second biggest value in 0.1, 8/15, x?
0.1
Let l = -0.3 + 1.3. Let i = 7534 - 670524/89. Which is the third biggest value? (a) i (b) l (c) -2
c
Let v = 656.46 + -651. Let u = v - 7.46. What is the fourth biggest value in u, 2/9, -7/6, 1?
u
Let v = -341.58 + 330.58. What is the second biggest value in v, 4, -81?
v
Let p = 83.2 + -84.4. Which is the smallest value? (a) p (b) 0.5 (c) -4
c
Let h be ((-6)/5)/(48/120). Let m = 79 - 88. Which is the biggest value? (a) m (b) h (c) 0
c
Let u = 3 - 5. Let z(t) = -t**3 - 2*t**2 - 4*t - 3. Let x be z(u). Let l = -46925/198 + 5209/22. Which is the third smallest value? (a) 2 (b) x (c) l
b
Suppose -1303*n + 1301*n = -3*t - 654, -n = -2*t - 435. Which is the smallest value? (a) -5 (b) -4 (c) t
c
Let u = 3276 + -3284. Which is the second biggest value? (a) 2 (b) u (c) 0.004
c
Let w = -7.2 + 7.46. Let u = 1.42 - 2.68. Let q = w + u. Which is the second biggest value? (a) q (b) -2/11 (c) 1 (d) 2
c
Let i = -233 + 253.4. Let u = i - 1.4. Let d = u + -23. Which is the third biggest value? (a) d (b) 3.1 (c) -1
a
Let p = 48.027 - 48. Let v = -2.973 - p. Let h = -6/5 + 1. Which is the fourth biggest value? (a) h (b) v (c) 4/5 (d) 11
b
Let i = -10858 + 10871. Which is the fourth biggest value? (a) i (b) 4 (c) -1/4 (d) 0 (e) 1.4
d
Let k = 115 - 325. Let a be 4/(-30) + (-658)/k. Let d = -219 + 219.4. What is the third smallest value in d, a, -23?
a
Let k = 80 - 82.2. Let l = k - -1.7. Let t = -14 - -9. What is the fourth biggest value in -4, l, t, -5/4?
t
Let w be (56 - 1653/29)/((-38)/(-108)). Which is the second biggest value? (a) 2/15 (b) -0.4 (c) w
b
Let n be 3/(-3) - 5/(-7). Suppose -10*z + 8*z + 8 = 0. Suppose 4*m + k + 19 = -2*k, 5*m - z*k - 15 = 0. What is the second smallest value in n, -1/5, m?
n
Let v = -69.642 - -70. Let w = v - 0.058. Let p = -0.1 - -1.1. Which is the fourth biggest value? (a) -0.2 (b) w (c) -1/7 (d) p
a
Let n = 26236
|
Chisoro takes Rocks home in last-ball finish
Southern Rocks won their first game in three matches as they defeated Matabeleland Tuskers by four wickets off the last ball in Masvingo. Rocks needed nine off the final over bowled by Chris Mpofu. Only three runs came off the first four deliveries, but Tendai Chisoro hit the last two for fours to seal the win.
Tuskers had earlier been kept to 119 for 8 after Rocks chose to field. Craig Ervine made a steady 49 off 55 deliveries at No. 3 while opener Terry Duffin contributed 28 off 24 but none of the other Tuskers batsmen managed a score in double figures. Brian Vitori claimed 3 for 22 while Trevor Garwe and Cuthbert Musoko picked up two wickets each.
Rocks kept losing wickets regularly in the chase with Peter Burgoyne top-scoring with 36 off 32. It came down to 22 needed off the last two overs. Chisoro hit Glen Querl for a four and a four in the penultimate over to help them win the match, off the last ball of the game.
Mashonaland Eagles remained top of the table with a six-wicket win over Mid West Rhinosat the Kwekwe Sports Club. Vusi Sibanda and Brendan Taylor put on 133 upfront for Rhinos but Stuart Matsikenyeri responded with a swift fifty, and Forster Mutizwa's blows towards the end sealed Eagle's second win in as many games.
The stand between Sibanda (66 off 50) and Taylor (59 off 44) lasted nearly 15 overs before being ended by Kyle Jarvis, who removed Sibanda. Ray Price dismissed Taylor two balls later and ended with economical figures of 1 for 24 in four overs. That did not stop Rhinos from amassing 183 for 3.
Eagles were in trouble early when they lost two wickets for 23 but Chamu Chibhabha (39 off 28) revived the chase along with Matsikenyeri (67 off 44). Graeme Cremer dismissed the duo but by then, Matsikenyeri had struck seven boundaries and left Eagles with 31 to get off 19 balls. Mutizwa, unbeaten on 44 off 24 balls, hammered three sixes, including two off Ed Rainsford in the 18th over, to ensure Eagles were home by the start of the final over. Elton Chigumbura had a role to play at the finish as well, as he hit three boundaries in an unbeaten 19 off only seven deliveries.
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|
Q:
How do you display that a map grid square has a certain property?
I have a map that I've divided up into a grid. I want to be able to show whether a grid sector contains at least one point. Due to the volume of points, it's impossible to render each point on screen, perform some sort of clustering, or get a count of the number of points in each grid.
Currently, if a sector has at least one point, it's shaded green. However, this approach isn't aesthetically appealing (see attached image). Any ideas on a better way to do this?
A:
If I understand you correctly, you can distinguish the sectors by "contains one or more points" or "does not contain any point". In such case instead of marking the sectors with point(s) I'd rather "unmark" the point-less sectors by making them pale or grayed-out.
However, if you could get at least the number of points in each sector, there would be much more possibilities. If I may ask - what's the problem there?
|
Q:
How to select the nearest value for two columns?
I need to retrieve the row with the nearest value using two columns.
the example below work for one column, but how about two columns?
order by abs(Column_X - myvalue_X) limit 1
I need to something like this:
order by abs(Column_X - myvalue_X),abs(Column_Y - myvalue_Y) limit 1 //wrong row
I´m using postgres with postgis
A:
I'm not sure with postgre syntax and what you really up to, but if you want to compare with 2 field, how about using Euclidean distance
Some thing like
order by ((Column_X - myvalue_X)*(Column_X - myvalue_X) + (Column_Y - myvalue_Y)*(Column_Y - myvalue_Y)) limit 1
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Fibroproliferative disorders are common, progressive and refractory to available therapy. Fibroblasts derived from fibroproliferative lesions manifest an unexplained autonomy for growth and survival signals. In this revised proposal, we propose to study lung fibroblasts from patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), a prototype fibroproliferative disease, and elucidate the mechanism of autonomous function using our recent discoveries in cancer biology as a guide. In studies of human breast carcinoma, we discovered that autonomy is conferred by deregulation of the cap-dependent translation initiation machinery, designated eIF4F. In normal cells, eIF4F receives signals from matrix and growth factor receptors and their downstream intermediates, and orchestrates these inputs into a physiological growth response. In cancer cells, eIF4F serves to integrate and amplify diverse growth and survival signals emanating from a plethora of growth-related genes to confer autonomy. Here we show preliminary data indicating that aberrant activation of eIF4F is a property of IPF fibroblasts; that activating eIF4F in fibroblasts stimulates cell cycle entry in the absence of growth factors; and that mice genetically engineered to lack negative regulators of eIF4F have an exaggerated fibrotic response. We therefore hypothesize that deregulated translational control of transcripts governing cell cycle transit lies on the causal pathway to fibrosis; and propose 2 specific aims to test this hypothesis: Specific Aim 1: Classify transcripts in IPF fibroblasts that display coordinate changes in translational efficiency into discrete groups based on shared chemical and biological characteristics. A. Chemical: Nucleotide sequences that comprise known or candidate RNA regulatory elements. B. Biological: Assigned function. Specific Aim 2: Focusing on transcripts encoding cell cycle regulators, determine whether disrupting regulatory element function attenuates IPF fibroblast proliferative autonomy. A. Known regulatory elements. B. Newly discovered regulatory elements. If successful, our studies will precisely identify derangements in the translational step of gene expression that confer IPF fibroblasts with proliferative autonomy, thus revealing new classes of molecular targets for antifibrotic therapy in the lung and other organs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE. Many human diseases are characterized by scar tissue accumulation that leads to organ dysfunction and death. Scarring, also called fibrosis, can affect many different organs including the lung, liver, kidney, heart, vasculature and skin; and is often very difficult to treat. Here we propose to study the cell producing scar tissue, the fibroblast, in a deadly form of lung scarring that afflicts more than 35,000 people in the US, termed idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Our pilot experiments point to abnormal activation of the cellular machinery that produces protein, in a pattern similar to that seen in cancer. Our goal in this study is to understand how the biology of fibroblasts can be redirected by abnormalities in the protein synthesis machinery in a manner that leads to lung fibrosis. This information has the potential to lead to new treatments for all scarring diseases by revealing new molecular targets for antifibrotic therapy. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable]
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Agnes Thulean dedicates estate to youth ministry
Friday
Jul 30, 2010 at 12:01 AMJul 30, 2010 at 8:27 PM
Agnes Thulean's gifts to children went full circle after she died last year.
She taught the 3-year-old Sunday school class at Grace Presbyterian Church for 62 years. After she died, proceeds from her estate went to renovate headquarters of the South Side Mission's youth ministries and Sunday school.
Pam Adams
Agnes Thulean's gifts to children went full circle after she died last year.
She taught the 3-year-old Sunday school class at Grace Presbyterian Church for 62 years. After she died, proceeds from her estate went to renovate headquarters of the South Side Mission's youth ministries and Sunday school.
The South Side Mission will dedicate its new Agnes Thulean Pavilion and playground improvements at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the mission, 1127 S. Laramie.
Though Thulean never had direct involvement with South Side Mission programs, her son and daughter-in-law wanted to tithe part of their inheritance to the mission's youth programs.
"That's where Mom's heart was, with young people," her son, Dick Thulean of Peoria, said Thursday.
Her son would not disclose the amount of the donation. But the money was used to build a pavilion on the mission's Youth Breakout Center behind the main building, as well as to resurface the playground, add playground games and to install a drinking fountain.
"This makes it much nicer for our day camp and Sunday school kids," said Phil Newton, director of the South Side Mission.
Agnes Thulean had worked in the admissions office of Bradley University for 25 years. She was 90 years old when she died last May.
One of the people who will see the benefits of her gift daily was one of her Sunday school students. Sue Murphy, a former Sunday school student at Grace Presbyterian, is director of King's Kids, the mission child-care center.
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The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coral Bells in the Saxifragaceae family and given the cultivar name of ‘Smoke and Mirrors’. Heuchera ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ was hybridized by the inventor on Apr. 18, 2013 at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA and assigned the breeder code 13-610-1. The seed or female parent was the proprietary, unreleased and unnamed hybrid assigned the breeder code 12-242-08 (not patented) and the male parent was the proprietary unreleased and unnamed hybrid assigned the breeder code K11-52-15 (not patented).
Heuchera ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ was first selected in the fall of 2015 and passed final evaluation in the fall of 2017 from among thousands of other seedlings from the same cross and hundreds of other crosses. Heuchera ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ has been asexually propagated by division at the same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. in 2015 and by careful shoot tip tissue culture propagation, and the resultant plants have remained stable and continued to exhibit the same characteristics as the original plant for multiple generations.
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Q:
Playing sound in Apple Watchkit
I'm trying to play a sound through the watchkit extension using WKAudioFilePlayer however no sound gets played. I'm using the haptic feedback code as a sort of debug to be sure it executes it (which it does). As a side note, mute is not on and the filename is correct.
NSURL *falcon = [NSURL fileURLWithPath:[[NSBundle mainBundle]
pathForResource:@"falcon"
ofType:@"mp3"]];
WKAudioFileAsset *asset = [WKAudioFileAsset assetWithURL:falcon];
WKAudioFilePlayerItem *sound = [WKAudioFilePlayerItem playerItemWithAsset:asset];
audioPlayer = [WKAudioFilePlayer playerWithPlayerItem:sound];
[audioPlayer play];
WKInterfaceDevice *device = [WKInterfaceDevice currentDevice];
[device playHaptic:WKHapticTypeClick];
A:
I implemented as follows and it worked fine. (Sorry, it's Swift)
1) Define a property for the player object
var player: WKAudioFilePlayer!
2) Setup the asset and player when it's awaking
override func awakeWithContext(context: AnyObject?) {
super.awakeWithContext(context)
let filePath = NSBundle.mainBundle().pathForResource("se_tap", ofType: "m4a")!
let fileUrl = NSURL.fileURLWithPath(filePath)
let asset = WKAudioFileAsset(URL: fileUrl)
let playerItem = WKAudioFilePlayerItem(asset: asset)
player = WKAudioFilePlayer(playerItem: playerItem)
}
3) Play if the player is ready to play.
@IBAction func playBtnTapped() {
switch player.status {
case .ReadyToPlay:
player.play()
case .Failed:
print("failed")
case .Unknown:
print("unknown")
}
}
In addition, it needed to connect a Bluetooth Headset with watch.
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