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Q:
Filtering filenames in PHP
I'm trying to group a bunch of files together based on RecipeID and StepID. Instead of storing all of the filenames in a table I've decided to just use glob to get the images for the requested recipe. I feel like this will be more efficient and less data handling. Keeping in mind the directory will eventually contain many thousands of images. If I'm wrong about this then the below question is not necessary lol
So let's say I have RecipeID #5 (nachos, mmmm) and it has 3 preparation steps. The naming convention I've decided on would be as such:
5_1_getchips.jpg
5_2_laycheese.jpg
5_2_laytomatos.jpg
5_2_laysalsa.jpg
5_3_bake.jpg
5_finishednachos.jpg
5_morefinishedproduct.jpg
The files may be generated by a camera, so DSC###.jpg...or the person may have actually named each picture as I have above. Multiple images can exist per step. I'm not sure how I'll handle dupe filenames, but I feel that's out of scope.
I want to get all of the "5_" images...but filter them by all the ones that DON'T have any step # (grouped in one DIV), and then get all the ones that DO have a step (grouped in their respective DIVs).
I'm thinking of something like
foreach ( glob( $IMAGES_RECIPE . $RecipeID . "-*.*") as $image)
and then using a substr to filter out the step# but I'm concerned about getting the logic right because what if the original filename already has _#_ in it for some reason. Maybe I need to have a strict naming convention that always includes _0_ if it doesn't belong to a step.
Thoughts?
A:
Globbing through 1000s of files will never being faster than having indexed those files in a database (of whatever type) and execute a database query for them. That's what databases are meant for.
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In The
Court of Appeals
Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
____________________
NO. 09-05-426 CV
____________________
IN THE INTEREST OF R.L.S.
On Appeal from the 1-A District Court
Jasper County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 9055
MEMORANDUM OPINION
On appeal, the Attorney General of Texas attacks the trial court's order confirming
a child support arrearage. In the order, the trial court found Randy Spikes's child support
arrearage to be $4,303.60 as of December 31, 2004. The sole issue presented in this appeal
concerns whether the trial court erred in crediting a Social Security disability payment
received by R.S., Randy's daughter, against Randy's accrued and unpaid support arrearage.
We hold that the trial court erred in crediting the Social Security disability payment to R.S.
against Randy's child support arrearage.
BACKGROUND
In 1988, the trial court entered a divorce decree ordering Randy to pay child support
for his minor daughter, R.S. By 2005, Randy was delinquent in meeting his child support
obligations, and after a hearing in 2005 the trial court entered findings of fact and
conclusions of law. One of the trial court's conclusions of law states, "When a lump sum
award of Social Security Disability benefits is awarded to a child as a result of the non-custodial parent's disability arising before the child emancipates, the lump sum award must
be credited toward child support arrears owed to the custodial parent and/or the state." The
trial court also found that in October 2003, the Social Security Administration paid a lump
sum award of $10,606.00 directly to the minor child, R.S. Based on its findings and
conclusions, the trial court granted judgment against Randy for $4,303.60, which sum
allowed Randy a credit for the $10,606.00 Social Security payment made directly to R.S.
because of Randy's disability.
Within thirty days of the trial court's order, the Attorney General filed a motion for
new trial. Tex. R. Civ. P. 329b (a). In the motion, the Attorney General specifically
complains that the trial court erroneously allowed a credit of $10,606.00 for the Social
Security disability payment to R.S. Within ninety days of the June 21, 2005 judgment, the
Attorney General filed a notice of appeal. Tex. R. App. P. 26.1(a)(1).
APPLICATION OF LAW TO FACTS
The Attorney General's issue claims the law does not allow Randy a credit on his
child support arrearage for a payment made to R.S. triggered by Randy's disability. We
review the trial court's ruling that credited the Social Security disability payment against
Randy's child support arrearage under an abuse of discretion standard. Attorney Gen. of Tex.
v. Stevens, 84 S.W.3d 720, 722 (Tex. App.- Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.). A trial
court's incorrect application of the law is an abuse of discretion. Walker v. Packer, 827
S.W.2d 833, 840 (Tex. 1992).
Through the Family Code, the Texas Legislature addresses the credits available to
offset a child support arrearage. Section 157.262(a) of the Family Code states, "Except as
provided by this section, in a contempt proceeding or in rendering a money judgment, the
court may not reduce or modify the amount of child support arrearages." Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. § 157.262(a) (Vernon 2002). With respect to child support arrearages, the Legislature
has not created an exception allowing the reduction of a child support arrearage to account
for Social Security disability payments. See Stevens, 84 S.W.3d at 723-24.
Several of our sister courts have held that trial courts may not credit Social Security
disability payments received by a child due to a parent's disability against a child support
arrearage. In the Interest of G.L.S., 185 S.W.3d 56, 60 (Tex. App.- San Antonio 2005, no
pet.); In the Interest of S.J.T., No. 07-03-0523-CV, 2005 WL 2385449, at *1 (Tex. App.-
Amarillo Sept. 28, 2005, no pet.); Stevens, 84 S.W.3d at 722-24. In addressing the issue the
Houston First Court of Appeals stated, "In sum, nothing in the Family Code provides for the
kind of credit given by the trial court, and section 157.262(b) indicates that counterclaims
and offsets must be found exclusively in the code." Stevens, 84 S.W.3d at 724.
The Texas Legislature has not provided a credit against a child support arrearage for
payments made to a child because of a parent's disability. Moreover, the Legislature has
expressly mandated that a trial court is not permitted to reduce or modify the amount of a
child support arrearage except as provided in Section 157.262 of the Family Code. The plain
language of the statute is clear; it does not provide for a credit for Social Security disability
payments. Further, a judicially created credit based on equitable principles encroaches on
the power of the Legislature. Through the Texas Constitution, the people have vested the
Legislature with the power to create the law of the state. Tex. Const. art. II, § 1. The role
of the courts is not "to judge the wisdom of the policy choices of the Legislature, or to
impose a different policy of our own choosing." Edgewood Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Meno, 917
S.W.2d 717, 726 (Tex. 1995) [Edgewood IV].
We hold that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing a credit toward a child
support arrearage when the Legislature has not provided for such a credit in the Family Code.
The judgment of the trial court is reversed, and we remand the cause to the trial court for
entry of a judgment consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
____________________________
HOLLIS HORTON
Justice
Submitted on March 22, 2006
Opinion Delivered May 25, 2006
Before McKeithen, C.J., Kreger and Horton, JJ.
|
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Tracer 100 Schedule
I have an old tracer 100. I am trying to schedule a unit differently. This system was setup in 1996. My question is there are three existing schedules in the unit. How do you create a new one? I know how to get to the scheduling area, just not create anything.
Its been awhile but here goes.
In its initial set-up.
You had to tell the software how many objects are in the system. For example if you new that you only needed 3 schedules then you would tell the configuration that you had 3 schedules.
If you new you were using 100 analog inputs then you would put down 100 as the amount of analog inputs.
If you needed more then you had to update the existing database.
It sounds like you were given 3 schedules and no spares.
If you go into configuration menu, which is in the set-up menu, 8s5s, then you can change the amount of objects you need.
You will be prompted to upgrade the system.
When this occurs it will knock you off the site because it will be rebooting at this point.
I believe the path I told you about was not correct.
In setup you have to aim towards the cassette tape menu and use the system expansion menu to upgrade your schedule numbers or anything else for that matter.
Don't forget to turn off building control before you expand the system and then back on when your done
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Publications
The Dilemma of Globalization and the 2000 Presidential Election
On Principle, v8n3
June 2000
by David Tucker
When it comes to foreign policy, George Bush and Al Gore have a similar problem. They do not know what to do about globalization. No one does, for that matter, which may be one reason why this problem does not get much attention. The name is another problem. Globalization sounds like something only an academic would care about. But it is, one could argue, the most important issue in the election. If either Bush or Gore embraces globalization, he will lose core supporters and possibly the election. If either rejects it, he risks leaving the country unprepared for the future and repudiating something essential about the United States.
To see the dilemma that each faces, it is necessary to understand what globalization is. In simplest terms, it means economic and political liberalization on a global scale, the freeing of trade and the spread of democracy around the world. This sounds like a wonderful thing but it produces two problems, one each for Gore and Bush.
Gore’s problem derives from the economic effect of globalization. The declining cost of communication and the increasing liberalization of trade have increased global economic competition, efficiency and productivity. This means that various kinds of economic activitymaking sports shoes, writing software, selling by phoneare shifting to where they can be done most cheaply. This process increases wealth, making everyone better off ultimately, and some people much better off, but it leaves other people, the less well-educated and those whose jobs have moved away, less well off immediately. In other words, globalization hurts a lot of Democratic voters in the short-term.
Bush’s problem derives from the political effect of globalization. As economies become free, national borders become less important. Global economic forces and not national policy exert greater control on domestic economies. As democracy and human rights become the standard of conduct around the globe, this standard is applied to relations between nations as well as to relations between governments and their citizens. The result again is a shrinking of the power of the state, now constrained by what are called international norms. National interest becomes less important. Embracing globalization, therefore, would alienate those voters who associate the Republican party with nationalism and the assertion of national interest.
Some analysts of globalization have argued that the nation-state will wither away or that workers in industrialized countries will be driven by international competition to accept wages such as those paid to the most impoverished foreign workers. These extreme claims about globalization have proven false. But this does not mean that more moderate claims for its effects, such as those made above, are also false. Global economic and political liberalization is occurring and poses a dilemma for Bush and Gore.
That globalization is occurring is one reason why the Presidential candidates should deal with it. The opportunities and problems it poses are real and if they are not dealt with, the United States and the world will be a poorer and potentially less free place. But there is another, more important reason why the candidates should address globalization: it is the culmination of the American Revolution. The United States justified its separation from Great Britain and its existence as a nation on the claim that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our national life, therefore, rests on a universal claim, a claim applicable to all men at all times. This is the basis in principle of a universal government.
In apparent fulfillment of this intention inherent in the words of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson proposed shortly after the revolution that first Great Britain and the United States and then other countries should exchange reciprocal rights of citizenship until something like universal citizenship emerged. One can see in this proposal, and in Jefferson’s support of free trade, the deliberate limiting of the power of nation-states in the name of human rights and the encouragement of something like the globalization that is now occurring about us. It is true that for good prudential reasons, one might not want to act in every instance on the universal claims of our Revolution, but this does not alter the fact that the principles of our founding point to something like globalization. In an important sense, we cannot deny globalization without denying the Declaration of Independence.
There are good reasons, then, to address globalization but, as noted earlier, in doing so each candidate incurs political costs. This dilemma is more acute for Gore than for Bush. The Democratic party is the home of both environmentalists (Gore is a prominent one) and human rights activists, as well as organized labor. The former want a global regime imposed on the United States and other nations because, for example, pollution crosses national borders and human rights are universal. The latter, on the other hand, want our national labor standards imposed around the globe so that there is no competition for their jobs. Although they can be allies on some issues (e.g., free trade agreements must include restrictions to protect the environment, which also raise the cost of imported goods and thus protect union jobs), these two constituencies are really on opposite sides of the globalization divide.
Union members traditionally and so called Reagan Democrats are more concerned with national defense, for instance, than most environmentalists and human rights activists. No matter which side he comes down on, Gore could lose votes. Globalization does not cut so cleanly through Republican ranks. While there is some danger that by espousing free trade Bush may lose the votes of businessmen who favor protectionism, for him the issue is not so much losing votes as abandoning principle. Bush wants to be a foreign policy realist and nationalist to distinguish himself from the dreamy internationalism of the Clinton-Gore administration; but America’s principles are in a decisive way dreamy and internationalist.
How have the candidates handled their respective dilemmas so far? The best response for Gore has already been tried and discredited by the Clinton administration. The most compelling and politically appealing element of Clinton-Gore foreign policy offered a two-fold response to globalization. First, it insisted that free trade must be pursued because America’s strength and well-being required it. But it insisted equally as a matter of justice and a quid pro quo for those harmed by globalization that the Federal government should undertake programs that would encourage people to support globalization by compensating them for any temporary loss they suffered because of it and preparing them to work in a globalized economy. In practical terms, this meant providing universal health care, which would allow people to move freely from job to job as the global economy restructured itself, and retraining programs to allow those who lost their jobs to get others.
In theory, the advantages of this plan appeared great. It provided an up-to-the-minute justification for some old Democratic instinctsgovernment programs to fix problemsand some goodies for traditional Democratic supporters and, even better, the vast number of independent voters worried about health care costs, while appealing to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. In practice, of course, it turned out to be something else. Hillary Clinton botched health care reform, conservative Republicans got hold of Congress, and labor and other Democratic constituencies did not buy Clinton’s version of the new world order. As his administration wore on, Clinton abandoned his grand plan, a retreat that has accelerated as his legacy and Vice-President have come closer to their electoral test.
When the World Trade Organization met in Seattle a while back to plan the next round of global trade liberalization, Clinton seemed to echo the criticisms of those in the street trying to disrupt the meeting.
Having lost the one way to resolve the tensions in the Democratic party, Gore is thus in a tight spot. In what his campaign staff assured us was a major speech on foreign policy on April 30, Gore spoke of national interest and the need for a strong military but also announced that we are now in a global age and spoke of new security challenges, such as environmental issues and human rights concerns. He proclaimed himself for free trade and against protectionism, of course, but only, paradoxically, if free trade includes protection for the environment, the interests of workers in the United States and the rights of workers overseas. If he is in a tight spot, apparently, what the clever politician does is vacillate in hopes of wiggling free. This spectacle will no doubt continue throughout the campaign and continue to prevent Gore from saying anything coherent about foreign policy.
For his part, George Bush has had an easier time being coherent about foreign policy, since there is not really a schism in his party. In his speeches, Bush has stood firmly on the ground of national interest and unambiguously supported free trade. While doing so, he admits that our principles are important and that they are universal but does not draw any conclusions from these facts. One senses, again, a shying away from the implications of our principles because they are not simply nationalistic. Our principles point beyond us but nowhere in Bush’s speeches do we hear much about how we should treat others, except in so far as it serves our security needs.
It is true that the bungling of the Clinton-Gore administration (Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans) has discredited humanitarian operations. Yet the impulse behind them should not be dismissed. How we treat foreigners is important and bears on how Americans treat each other, because America is a nation of foreigners. So far, in his effort to distinguish himself from Clinton-Gore and to shore up his base, as they say, Bush has put the emphasis on nationalism and national interest. But, unlike Gore’s, Bush’s political situation would allow him to discover a prudent blend of national interest and universal concern. America’s and the world’s well-being requires this, as we live through the age of globalization. In the final analysis, then, globalization is a problem for Gore but an opportunity for Bush.
David Tucker teaches at the United States Naval Postgraduate School, and is an Adjunct Fellow at the Ashbrook Center. He is the author of Skirmishes at the Edge of Empire: The United States and International Terrorism.
|
I was told we should know that Br2, and Hg are liquid, H2, N2, O2, F2, I2, and Cl2 are gases and their standard enthalpy of formation is 0. Besides the ones I named, any other ones should be given to us.
On Friday Lavelle went over three methods. If I understood right, he provided examples for the the 2nd and 3rd, but I am not sure how to use the first. Can someone explain how or when we'd use standard reaction enthalpy?
I have a hard time identifying what is what in wordy questions. For instance I often mix up what is the Molarity, number of moles of solute, or the volume. And I have a hard time with excluding unnecessary givens in the equation. Does anyone have any advice? Molarity is moles/Liters and is sometime...
I am having trouble understanding the how something is a lewis base/acid. I know that a Lewis base is an electron pair donor and a Lewis acid accepts an electron pair. How do they "donate" or "accept" electrons?
In lecture, the first example Lavelle went over for finding K was about a reaction that had gases but he went on to explain partial pressure. My question is, when asked for equilibrium for a reaction of gases is it in partial pressure or does it depend on what is being asked?
For a) the alphabetical letter for l=1 is p. Also the quantum/group number is given (4) So it is 4p. The most # of electrons 4p can have is six. For c, the group number is given 2. The most number of electrons that group 2 can have is 8. (2s2 4p6) 2+6=8 I am not sure how to find the others because i...
I have a question regarding the response to the question. Are velocity and the light constant the same? Because I know that c= wavelength x frequency. I did not know that wavelength x frequency=velocity?
In the Limiting Reactants module, Dr Lavelle mentioned how to get to the theoretical yield but there was no example on how to. I am not quite sure how to find it. If someone could show me with an example I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
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Actually might have found some online sources... Full moon?
7/12/13
Looking at some forums for breeders in California. Also sorry if I
wasn't supposed to contact this email for questions...
<Uhh... breeders of what? Commercial, hobbyist? Bob Fenner>
No luck finding anything online *sigh*
7/12/13
<.... Heeeeee!>
Sorry! 7/13/13
Sorry I sent an email earlier on the subject in which I said that I
couldn't find breeders since my solitary cichlid laid eggs,
but I found a cache of websites, only to find none helped.
<... what is going on here? Many cichlids have spawned solitarily; not
an issue... Several incidences are recounted on WWM. What species is
this? Try our search tool (on every page)... BobF>
All cichlid eggs are unfertile 8/7/12
Hi WWM, I had a quick question about my Jack Dempsey
cichlid eggs. The female is currently separated from the male and
she laid eggs. Every egg went white due to them being infertile
and the female didn't eat any of them up.
<Quite common, especially with the artificial "Electric Blue" JD that
(as far as I know) doesn't produce fertile offspring if bred with
another of its kind. If you're keeping regular JDs, then issues to
investigate are as follows: (1) Do you have a male and female? (2) How
well are they fed/conditioned beforehand? (3) Is water chemistry correct
for this species?>
They are starting to fungus over and I'm wondering if the fungus eggs
are bad for my adult cichlids. Can the egg fungi harm my cichlids?
<Not directly, but they're still rotting "fish", so not helping water
quality.>
Should I remove the eggs or is it OK to leave them?
<Remove. Cheers, Neale.>
Immaculate conception
Single Cichlid has Babies 4/20/12
Hello,
Our cichlid has babies. We only have one fish and it is in it's own
tank.
How is this possible?
< I have heard about this a few times and had a chance to ask the late
Dr. George Barlow about this a few years ago. It usually happens with
single Central American cichlids He said fish are born with both
sex chromosomes.
If the fish becomes aggressive then the male hormones kick in and
suppresses the other fish's male hormones and the other fish becomes a
females. In a single tank set up both sex chromosomes develop and the
fish has both sexes that enables the fish to fertilize its own eggs. It
is very rare but does happen.-Chuck><<! RMF>>
Breeding cichlids for profit
11/8/11
Hello. I would like to start off by congratulating you guys for such a
great and informative site! It has helped my countless times.
<Ah, good>
Ok, so now to my dilemma. I have a spare 29 gallon aquarium and I would
like to breed some kind of cichlid as profit.
<Okay!>
I am not expecting massive fortunes, just a little extra cash to help
out with my other tanks. Are there any species in particular that are
fairly easy to breed (I am a pretty experienced keeper) that go for a
decent price?
<Yes; there are quite a few possibilities... IF your water is very
hard and alkaline (like ours here in S. Cal.), I'd look into one of
the smaller African Great Lakes species... Perhaps a Lamprologus or
Neolamprologus species. IF instead your source water tends toward
neutral to soft and acidic, I'd try a small/dwarf South American.
Please see here re the latter: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/dwfsamcichlids.htm
and peruse the linked files above. Another route to go in selecting a
breedable/saleable species would be to ask the management at your local
fish store/s what they'd be willing to buy... That can fit in your
29. For instance, the possibility of Angelfishes (Pterophyllum)... A
breeding pair could reside in this size/shape system, but growing them
up to pairing, raising the young would take another larger system.
Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Re: Breeding cichlids for profit -- 11/08/11
Thanks for such a quick reply! Are there any specific species?
<See/read where you were referred>
The reason I am asking is because there seem to be A LOT of species
that fit your description. I have a female Krib cichlid at the moment,
would pairing her up and selling her fry do the trick?
<Not the fry and again, you'll have to check your local market
for about how many individuals of colour-size they'll pay
for>
Or would I have better luck with a
different south American or shell dweller? Thanks in advance!
<Again, the onus of research is upon you. BobF>
Two Headed Cichlid Fry 12/6/10
Is it common to have cichlid fry born with two heads? Out of 30+
fry, only one has two heads. (Picture attached) -Lisa
< This actually happens very frequently. The two headed fry
usually die after a few days but sometimes they last a very long
time.-Chuck>
Cichlid Sick or Non-compatible
12/28/09
Hello, My husband and I just got two cichlids from a pet store that got
them from a guy, so we are not sure what kind they are. I went to the
pet store owner on 12-6 of this year with my camera, cause our females
belly is
a little bigger then normal, and she said that one is a male and one is
female. And the one that is female has the bigger belly. She has been
hiding in the corner, and when the light is off the male doesn't
seem to attack her as much. We are worried as it has been close to a
month and her belly has not gone down. Please help us. Thank You
Tiffany
<If they are a pair then the female is not ready to breed and the
male will chase her until she becomes ready to breed. You did not
mention the species so it is difficult to make recommendations on how
to get her ready. If she
has an intestinal infection then the belly will become larger as the
parasites in the gut multiply and expand the gut. This can be treated
with a combination of Metronidazole and
Nitrofuranace.-Chuck>
Re: Cichlids?
Cichlid Spawning? 12/31/09
Chuck, Thank you for responding. I do not know the species of these
cichlids. He is making nests and she just hangs out in the corner most
of the time. I tried to send you a video of this, did you receive it?
He also does not like people to close to the tank, kind of like he is
protecting her. I am unsure what to do, cause it has been close to a
month of her acting like this and having a swollen belly. But when she
does swim, she seems to be swimming good. Am I missing something
though? Thanks Tiffany
< Videos take up a lot of space so a simple photo would work just
fine.
Cichlids usually have two spawning strategies. One is called substrate
spawning. The pair usually look similar except the male may be larger
and have more pointed fins. The pair usually have some spawning ritual
with flared fins and some jaw locking. Once a pair bond has been
established they settle down and prepare a spawning site, usually on
something solid like a rock, log or even the side of the aquarium. The
female lays the eggs in a row and then the male follows close behind to
fertilize them.
After a few days the eggs hatch and then a few days later the fry
absorb their egg sack and become free swimming. Both parents defend the
eggs and fry. The second method is mouthbrooding. Mouthbrooding
cichlids usually are very sexually dimorphic. Males are larger and very
colorful while females are drab and smaller. The male builds a spawning
site by usually digging a pit. He then dances around trying to attract
a fertile female to the site willing to spawn. She will lay an egg in
the pit and then pick it up in her mouth. She will then pick on the
males anal fin. When he does this he fertilizes the eggs in her mouth.
When they are finished the male chases the female away and then looks
to attract a new female. Either way it doesn't sound like you have
a spawning pair.-Chuck>
Cichlid eggs. 9/28/08 Hello, I
found out this morning that my t-bar cichlids have bred so i separated
the eggs, male and female away from the other fish. I was wondering is
it normal for the male and female to fight every now and then if the
male gets to close to the pipe were there eggs are <Yes, sometimes
pairs of cichlids will fight, even where that species is known to be a
biparental spawner. To some degree depends on the environment; do see
Paul Loiselle re: the importance of target fish in maintaining strong
pair bonds.> and how long will it take before i can sell them to a
fish shop? <Assuming the fry are moved to a big, clean tank where
they can grow quickly (i.e., nitrate levels are low) then you can
expect virtually all cichlids to reach sellable size in 3-4 months. It
is of course virtually impossible to rear them adequately in the tank
with the parents. Normally people remove the parents to the community
tank.> Thanks <Cheers, Neale.>
Re: cichlid eggs. -- 09/28/08
Thanks for your great email.
<No problem.>
Where could i find the re: the importance of target fish in maintaining
strong pair bonds?
<Almost any Paul Loiselle book will discuss the topic in depth, and
make suggestions on species suitable for this function. I recommend
"The Cichlid Aquarium" published by Tetra. The idea is to
choose a fish that elicits "fear" in the parents that their
eggs might be eaten if they don't protect them, but the species you
choose as a target fish aren't actually a threat at all. Large
herbivorous characins such as Silver Dollars work well, assuming you
have sufficient space for them. Red-tail sharks and Chinese Algae
Eaters (Gyrinocheilus spp.) can also work. Obviously anything that
actually will eat eggs, particularly at night, like catfish and
loaches, won't work. Target fish will be killed if the tank
isn't big enough for them to manoeuvre safely, so stock
wisely.>
When should i remove the male and female?
<It's normal to remove the parents around two weeks of the fry
becoming free swimming, though this depends on the species. Some degree
of experimentation is recommended.>
What is the minimum tank size for me to move the fry to when there are
free
swimming?
<Depends on the fish being reared. Dwarf cichlids can be reared for
several months in 10-20 gallon aquaria without complaint. Larger
species will require 30-50 gallon systems, depending on the species.
There are variations in aggression, in particular with young males
monopolising food, slowing down the growth of the females. So use your
common sense, and buy the biggest tank in your budget, and keep on top
of water changes as well to minimise nitrate concentration.>
Thanks again
<Do try and track down "Enjoying Cichlids" by Fohrman et
al.; I believe you'll find this a very useful reference. The
cichlid literature is vast, and with this group of fish the problems
that arise from inexperience are legion. You'll also enjoy these
intelligent fish so much more if you understand why they're doing
all these seemingly "bad" things. Cheers,
Neale.>
Re: cichlid eggs. 9/29/08
Thanks for your great email.
is it ok if there is no male in with the eggs? Because after the male
had fertilized them she was bullying him really badly and had him in
the corner so i had to put him in my main tank and every time he tries
to swim through the glass to the eggs she is at the glass trying to
kill him! So will she be ok keeping care of the eggs and fry by her
self?
Thanks
<It's absolutely fine to leave one parent in control of the
eggs, and indeed many aquarists do that or remove the eggs after
spawning and rear the eggs artificially. Having said that, many
(perhaps most) cichlids take a few "tries" before they get
all their behaviours right. So do consider leaving them together to try
and rear the broods, if you're comfortable that neither parent is
in danger. Once a pair has properly formed, they'll be breeding
every couple of months and you will have more fry than you know what to
do with! So sit back, grab a cichlid book, and enjoy watching their
behaviour develop. That's the whole point of keeping cichlids! In
theory at least, target fish will help the pair bond, if they are not
doing so already. Cheers, Neale.>
Cross Breeding Jack Dempsey Breeds With Severum 7/3/08 Hi,
I have a question about cross breeding. First off we started out
with a small catfish and a Gourami, Then we added a full grown
Severum and a Jack Dempsey that were bought from the same tank.
Since the day we brought them home they have been paired up,
anyway my Severum has laid her first batch of eggs (that I know
of) and my Jack Dempsey is, I think , fertilizing them. So my
question is will the eggs survive being cross bred? They seem to
be protecting them very well, should I take out the eggs? If so
how would I go about doing that? Thank you very much for your
time. Kim < In the wild these two fish never see each other.
The Severum is from South America and the Jack Dempsey is from
Central America. There are many weird cichlid crosses out there
but I have never heard of this one before. The eggs should hatch
in three days if the are viable. In three more days the fry
should be free swimming. The eggs can be removed at any time.
Fill an aquarium with the same water from the main tank that the
pair have spawned in. Place the eggs with object the eggs were
laid on in the tank and maintain the same water temp and provide
strong aeration too. Dead eggs will turn whits and begin to
develop a fungus.-Chuck>
Re: Cross BreedingJack Dempsey Breeds With Severum
II 07/07/08 Thanks for getting back to me, I can use any tips
I can get. Forgive me if this is a stupid question but what do
you mean by "turn whits"? Do you mean turn white? <
Sorry. Typo on my part. My wireless keyboard has batteries that
needed changing. Dead cichlid eggs that are unfertilized start to
turn white after 24 hours or so.> Some of them are white but I
was told that was the fertilized ones. Is that true? <
Fertilized eggs are usually a brownish color. This is probably an
evolutionary adaptation so predators will not see the eggs and
eat them. Sorry for the typos.-Chuck> Thanks again Kim
Hybrid Cichlids 5/6/08 Dear
Wet Web Media Crew, <Ron> I have been using your website for
years now and I find it an incredible source of wonderful reliable
information. I have never previously needed to ask a question but I
finally find a situation that I can't explain and that I need some
expert help with. I live in South Florida and I have two ponds ( I
don't know how many gallons but they are large there are 0
Nitrates, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and a ph of 7.6-7.7) outside that used
to be regularly infested with invasive Cuban tree frog tadpoles. As a
solution to the infestation I wanted fish that I had some experience
with and that would hold their own against the tree frogs which can get
up to five inches and that probably would consume goldfish. I decided
to purchase cichlids ( 1 Oscar, 1 jack Dempsey, 1 convict and a
Firemouth). All of them where left in one pond which had the tadpoles
and was the largest. The fish grew up together and enjoyed throughout
the summer a feast of thousands of tadpoles. This upcoming spring I
moved the jack Dempsey to the other pond and the convict, Firemouth and
Oscar were left in the original pond. After some time it became
apparent that the Oscar had gone unfortunately missing (he was the
largest and was finally turning into a bully to the smaller more feisty
cichlids) and the two remaining species were the convict and Firemouth.
Both of them had an interesting relationship because the convict which
was an incredibly bold and a feisty fish which easily beat up the Oscar
that was approaching three time its size, was oddly dominated by the
Firemouth which used to be the most aggressive fish but was outpaced in
growth by the other fish and thus left at the bottom of the hierarchy.
I first noticed something was odd in the pond when I temporarily added
two red eared sliders to get some exercise in the water. The convict
viciously attacked them and brutally beat one of them stopping it from
getting air at the surface. I quickly intervened to help the turtles
which where having their feet and head bit by the fanatical convict
which all the time was backed up by the Firemouth who would stand
flaring his gills in the background. I saved the two turtles but not
before having my hand savagely attacked in an absolutely ruthless
manner. I concluded that the fish where experiencing some aggressive
behavior probably triggered by a mating ritual but I purchased all
different species to stop the fish from mating and turning into
fanatical parents. <Mmm, there are crosses> A few day ago I
finally saw the different species taking turns protecting and fanning
eggs in a clay flower pot while the other parent would go and peck at
the inside of an old conch shell. Today they transferred the eggs
outside the conch shell and then placed the eggs inside the conch
shell. So what should I do with these new hybrid fish? <Enjoy or
destroy them> Is it ethical to let them live on as a hybrid species?
<Mmm, yes... IMO... But not to sell/distribute them as anything
but> What will I do with over one hundred Firemouth-convicts because
I don't have the facilities for that many fish? Will the parents
remain together forever continuing to make new hybrid babies? Thanks!
<Maybe. Bob Fenner>
This started out about stocking
fish... Jewelfish repro. 4/5/08 OK, I am sorry to bother you
nice people again, however something new and exciting happened
today... I asked about putting the Jewels in the 10 gallon tank
and you said it was too small. <Indeed it is.> SO, I put
them over in it to get them outta the 55 since they prefer the
soft/acid water. I planned to go get a 30 gallon tank to set up
since this fish thing has become so cool to us. I didn't plan
to have them in the 10 for more than a month. HOWEVER! Today I go
into my daughters room to check out the fish... it appears that
they have left some kind of "seed" like material all
over the little pink glass bubbles that she wanted to use as
gravel in her tank. I am guessing that my fish have managed to
lay eggs. <Eggs are about 1 mm across, dark grey to off-white
in colour. The fish will be guarding them carefully, likely
fanning them with their fins.> I thought that these fish were
mouthbrooders and I never expected to see eggs really. <No,
not mouthbrooders.> Not to mention I had no idea what either
of the sexes were of these fish. Its kinda cool though, they seem
to kinda take turns swimming gently around the eggs as if taking
turns guarding them even though they are the only 2 fish in the
tank. <Instinct is an amazing thing.> I am hoping that I
have a male and female, but still really not sure. I can say
this, the one that I considered petite looks like she lost quite
a bit of weight in her belly area now. She looks like she called
"Jenny" lol. Well the other fish is shaped a bit
different than what I am calling the female, and the fin just
under his tail fin is longer than the one that I am calling a
female... also he seems to change color before my eyes like A
LOT. Its crazy looking... <Sexing Hemichromis spp. is
difficult, so don't worry about it. The main difference is
the shape of the genital papillae, so if you look at those, you
should see that one is short and rounded (the female's) and
the other is long and pointed (the male's).> But the only
question I have at this point is... NOW WHAT! I would like to
give raising the babies a go but still learning about these
fish... wasn't really expecting this. I saw on the site that
it is a good idea to separate the fish once I have
"wigglers" i think it said or else my babies may become
food for the adults. I plan to get a new tank set up for the
Jewel parents but getting a new tank established takes a bit of
time. Is there anything I REALLY need to know about this now, is
there any advice that anyone can offer me of what I should do
next? <Start reading here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWsubwebindex/fwbrdgmonks.htm > I
gather that if the eggs are going to hatch it would be within the
next 3-6 days? Is the water chemistry the same as for the adults?
Can you drop the name of a good fish book to purchase? I search
the web lots about these fish but I would prefer a really nice
book if you know of one out there. Sometimes I find internet
information about the fish changes from site to site. Thanks so
much and as always you guys are great! <Rearing the fry is not
especially difficult. Buy some liquid fry food (e.g., Liquifry)
or powdered baby fish food (e.g., Hikari First Bites). Once the
eggs hatch, the fry take a few days to use up their yolk sac.
You'll see the yolk as a yellow blob. Eventually that goes,
and the "wrigglers" start moving about, looking for
food. This is when you add the food. When feeding baby fish, feed
small amounts but often. Do multiple water changes, as the
biggest killer of eggs/fish is dirty water. Changing 10% every
day wouldn't be a bad idea. If you're after a book, I
happen to like 'Fish Breeding' by Chris Andrews, but
there are many titles out there on the topic, as well as regular
articles on breeding in the fish magazines. Breeding cichlids is
pretty consistent from one species to the next, so anything you
read about, say, breeding Angelfish holds true for your Jewels.
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Fish-Breeding-Interpet/dp/1842860704/ref=pd_sim_b_title_3
Good luck, Neale.>
Re: Jewel eggs almost all gone.
4/5/08 Well, after writing in about unexpected egg laying...
today I noticed that either the 2 fish in the tank ate the eggs,
or the snail did. I forgot about the snail. I removed him just
incase it was him, I only have a few eggs left. Oh well better
luck next time ... if there is a next time.... I am still going
ahead with the bigger tank idea for the Jewel cichlids only. Any
suggestions on why the fish would have ate the eggs? They seemed
like loving parents lol! Still guarding what babies are next...
maybe I will end up with one baby and I can name it
"Nemo" lol! Thanks for all the help! <Completely
normal for cichlid pairs to eat the first few broods. They're
"practising" perhaps. It is also the case that if
something is "wrong" in their eyes, e.g., the tank is
too small or there's some nearby disturbance, they'll eat
the eggs as well. Since cichlids will produce eggs at least once
every few weeks for their entire lives, there's no reason to
be concerned. Sooner or later you'll get more than you can do
anything with! Cheers, Neale.>
African Cichlid Question(s)... fdg.,
& Cichlid repro./sex chg. beh., -- 3/18/08 I have a good old
friend who has a few interesting ideas on African rift lake cichlids,
so i was hoping you could clarify for me... OK, so first off, on
feeding brine shrimp, not as a staple mind you, but just feeding brine
shrimp in general, should be fine in my mind just due to the variety of
invertebrates that they must encounter in the wild.... However my
friend says NO NO NO!!! That will block up their intestines causing
bloat and they will die.... Just wondering... <Brine shrimp are
useful only as nauplii. Adult brine shrimp contain almost no nutrition.
They're the equivalent of empty calories. Useful as a source of
fibre, but that's about it. Actually more likely to clear
indigestion that cause it. In any event, it's important to
distinguish the fact fish eat a wide variety of foods from the idea
they can adapt equally well to all of them. Lab work on Oscars
(Astronotus spp.) has demonstrated they are very prone to Vitamin C
deficiency in captivity. Vitamin C is largely lacking from animal foods
as you probably known. In the wild, the Oscars eat some plant matter
(algae and aquatic plants, for example) and the guts of their prey are
loaded with plant material. In other words, fish compensate for a lack
in one food item by taking another one at another time. Just because an
Oscar mostly eats small fish and crayfish in the wild doesn't mean
that it can *survive* on the just those food items. Likewise with your
Mbuna: rather than worrying about the "perfect" food item,
work to vary the diet as much as possible.> Second, he has this
crazy idea that ALL cichlids have the ability to change/morph sex....
in the case of Symphysodon discus as far as my knowledge goes, i know
this not to be true. <Correct; so far as I know, the only species
proven to be a sex-changer is Crenicara punctulata, and indeed it is
the only known strictly freshwater fish I know of that does this.>
They are gonochirists (please do correct me if im wrong). At the same
time, (btw im a Reefkeeper at home but a fishkeeper at heart ... not to
mention i manage a LFS) in the marine world you do see these types of
survival mechanisms especially in Anemonefishes (protandric
hermaphrodites). <Indeed; much more common among marine
perciforms.> I do know that Metriaclima livingstonii from lake
Malawi are protogynous hermaphrodites and do change from female to male
if males are in short supply, but it would really seem far fetched that
all African rift lake cichlids have sex changing ability, however im
not throwing that out the window completely.... ALL cichlids? no
friggin way, right? <Not aware of
Maylandia/Metriaclima/Pseudotropheus spp. doing this. Where was this
published?> thanks, Mitch <Cheers, Neale.>
Breeding cichlids - 10/07/2007 Hello- This
is a silly question but one I am hoping you can give your opinion on:)
<Will try> I am getting a 40 gallon bow front tank. I would like
to put a breeding pair or harem in it. My goal is to raise fry in this
tank naturally. I would like to watch the cichlids raise the babies,
etc... <Is an enlivening experience for sure> I have the ability
to get 1 male and 3 female trewavasae all full size or close to it. I
am wondering if this would work for this group to have fry successfully
in this size tank. <Ahh, Ethylwynn's African Cichlid... Well, it
may work... if the specimens are familiar with and get along with each
other currently... Otherwise, there could be over-aggressive
behavior... resulting in even losses> Also is this the best cichlid
to choose to breed if my interest is the "process" of them
having and caring for their young? <A simple/r neotropical... Like
the Convict or xanthic variety of same, the Congo, would be an almost
sure bet here> If not what would you suggest for this tank? ( I am
not interested in doing convicts ). <Heee! Oh... I should have read
ahead of time... There are MANY choices... time to send you for a read
through WWM...> Thank you for your help!! Christie <Maybe start
here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwlivestkindex.htm
the top tray. Bob Fenner>
Re: Breeding cichlids - 10/07/2007 Ok here
are the fish that I am considering... I would love your opinion!!
Salvini, Flier, a Vieja species, Cuban (not sure of the true name),
tetracanthus, or Texas. I would only do the one pair in the tank. Do
you suggest dither fish and what about a bottom feeder? Thank you so
much for your help!! Christie <Hello Christie. Of these cichlids,
while several are fascinating animals, one stands out as being
colorful, a nice size, an excellent parent, and relatively easy to
keep: Cichlasoma salvini. Good quality adult fish have amazing colours,
especially in breeding condition. (Juveniles are rather silvery-blue
and nondescript.) They can be sexed reasonably easily: males have
pointed fins, while females have a dark spot on the centre of the
dorsal fin and another dark spot on the gill covers. Both sexes are
brilliantly coloured. They are essentially carnivores in the wild,
feeding on large insects, aquatic crustaceans, worms, and small fish.
In the aquarium they will eat all the standard cichlid foods.
Bloodworms and krill are good staples. Naturally, they don't need
to be given live fish, and for all the usual reasons I'd recommend
against it. But you can certainly give them defrosted lancefish if you
wanted. Try to vary the diet though; most fish develop their best
colours the more different things they get to eat. Wild fish apparently
eat some plant matter too, so things like tinned peas and Sushi Nori
should be added to the diet to mix things up a little. Crustaceans seem
to bring out the reds in most fish, and I'd expect this to be true
here, hence unshelled crustaceans such as krill, brine shrimp, even
daphnia for small fish would be very useful. Maximum size is said to be
20 cm (Fishbase) but I've never seen one bigger than 15 cm. As with
other Central Americans, water on the hard side with a pH around 7.5 is
what they like best. They also like slightly warmer than normal
conditions: around 26 for standard care, and up to 28 C or so for
breeding. Assuming you pick two fish that form a pair bond, breeding
will happen by itself. They are superb parents, and it is perhaps best
to leave them with the fry. For one thing, the parents are said to
produce mucous the fry eat. But more practically, when removed, the
male will try to spawn again, and often the female won't be up for
this. In a relatively small aquarium, she can end up being battered.
Leaving the parents with the fry "keeps their mind on the
job" and the female in particular can be fattened up over the
weeks. Dither fish will likely be killed or eaten, so aren't really
an issue here. In a really big tank you could try some sort of Central
American characin I suppose, like Astyanax mexicanus. Australian
rainbows of appropriate size might work too. Cichlasoma salvini are
very aggressive but also rather shy, so dither fish could serve a
purpose. But a lot depends on the size (especially depth) of your tank,
not to mention how big the Cichlasoma salvini are when introduced.
Juveniles would perhaps accept dither fish and so ignore them once
mature, but some adults might just lay right into them. Bottom feeders
are basically redundant here. The Cichlasoma salvini will harass
anything too delicate (like a loach) while an Plecostomus-type armored
catfish or medium-sized Synodontis would simply eat any fry or eggs
produced. I hope this helps, Neale>
Re: Breeding cichlids - 10/07/2007 You guys
are awesome!! Thank you for taking the time to answer my question so
thoroughly! Salvini was what I was leaning towards and you confirmed
it:) Christie <Glad we could help. Hope you have success with your
breeding project! Neale>
Cichlid Eggs, crossbred African... and
neotropical? 5/7/07 I have an aquarium with about 5 African
cichlids and one pink convict. The pink convict laid eggs, and I think
that my yellow African cichlid if the 'father'. I was just
wondering a few things. How long does it usually take the eggs to
hatch? <About four days> Will the other cichlids in the tank eat
the fry? <Will try, yes> What is the crossbreed between the
African cichlid and the pink convict cichlid called? <Mmm, make a
name up...> If you could send me a quick email back, that would be
great. Thank you! Kelsey <Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/cichlidreprofaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Breeding... cichlids4/21/07 Hi,
First I must say wonderful website. <Thank you, is a brilliant
resource> Question #1 I have a 45 gallon cichlid tank, my fish
rarely breed (4 times in 3 years) a few weeks ago I switched from
Hikari cichlid excel to frozen blood worms and within a week I have 7
new little ones!!! Also the babies were born after not feeding the fish
for four days (went away on an emergency). So what caused the babies
the new food or the not feeding for four days? <Most likely a
combination of both. Depending on the species..?'¦different
environmental and routine changes can act as triggers for spawning e.g.
raise in temperature, slight change in pH, change of food! This is
dependent on the species and the water system they are from in the
wild> Question #2 I just noticed two of the fish doing the breeding
process (eggs in mouth) should I feed the tank while this is going
on??? Or will she spit the eggs out for the food??? <She will have
to remove them to feed. There would be a much-improved chance of the
fry surviving if they were in their own tank, or a breeding vessel
inside your display tank where they will be safe and have better access
to specific food. It will take something for them to be successfully
raised in the main tank whether or not they are spat out in this
manner, other opportunities to become food> As you can tell I want
babies!! < http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/afcichreprofaqs.htm
- much written on the raising of Cichlid fry, take more time to
read> Thank you very much <Pleasure and good luck with your
endeavours, Olly>
Breeding Cichlids-Rule Number 1-You need A Pair!
9/9/06 Hi. I'll tell you about my cichlids first. I forget how
many I had last time I e-mailed you (that's a bit sad). But now I
have 2. 1 orange one and the one that described to you as a figure
eight puffer. The orange one is a male and the other is a female. He
was making a nest again but I cleaned the gravel today and kind of
destroyed it. Would they breed? < An orange cichlid will not breed
with a figure 8 puffer.> Right now I feed my fish mixed up food.
They eat cichlid pellets from the animal planet brand (I never knew
they had a brand), cichlid sticks, their old food, cut up Tubifex
worms, cut up cichlid salad, variety wafers (for my Pleco), and cichlid
flakes. I wonder if I could trade in my female for an orange female,
what do you think? < Matching up species increases the likely hood
of getting a breeding pair.-Chuck> I put a pot in the tank the male
likes it. Oh! And I gave them a plant a while ago, and it's bare
right now, some are growing back, and it's still alive so
there's nothing to worry about. My catfish. I love my catfish, no
matter how many times they stink up my room, no matter how many times
they try to kill themselves (on accident of course) I will love those
pink little fish with whiskers. So as you can see they smell and they
are suicidal. They are in a 2.5 gallon tank. Right now they are almost
longer than my cichlids (3 3/4" maybe). They have a filter but I
had to put nylon over the bottom because they would hide in it and get
sucked up. Then whenever I would catch them with the net they would
crawl up, the last time I cleaned their tank 2 of them jumped out! Last
month they started getting stripes, so that's going to help me
identify them including that they are air breathing cats. In their tank
there is 4 artificial plants (bottom lily pad-like, something tall,
something bushy, and something short, so they have many levels) and 2
ornaments. They spend most of their time under the rock in the tank.
They hate it when I turn on the light so I rarely turn it on. Food.
They have their food mixed with other food together also, but I
don't really feel like typing it all but it does have fry food and
bottom feeder food. veronica
Ways to avoid breeding?8/25/06 Hello, and thanks for a very helpful site! < Howdy!
Bob and the crew do a wonderful job! > I have set up a 20 gallon
tank, which is cycling now (no fish yet). < Good idea. > I'm
considering stocking it with some small varieties of cichlids. This is
not a hard and fast choice, but I am considering them because my tap
water is hard (about 120ppm total) and with a high pH (about 8.4). <
It is wonderful to see you have researched your water source before
purchasing the wrong types of fish. > My concern is primarily this -
I keep reading about their breeding habits, and while it sounds
fascinating, I simply do not have the real estate at my disposal to
accommodate the resulting fry. < Quite understandable. > Is there
a configuration I can keep that will be less likely to breed (like all
females)? < The idea is sound, but unfortunately, they are not easy
to determine sex at a young age. > If I did find myself with lots of
offspring, what could I feasibly do with them? < Most fish stores
will gladly accept locally grown fish as trade for food and supplies.
> And are there any other varieties of fish I could keep in my
present water conditions where this would be less of an issue? <
Possibly some brackish water fish? > I want whatever fish I end up
with to be happy and comfortable in their home, but I don't feel
like I can support an endless baby factory either! Any advice would be
greatly appreciated - thanks! < Consider some cichlids from Lake
Tanganyika. Most of them stay fairly small, and if you chose members
from different genera, they would not be as likely to breed. Good luck,
and best wishes, RichardB > -Tara Breeding Size for Convict
Cichlids 5/27/06 Hello. Your site is most amazing! I have a
question though. My question is about the size of a convict. What is
the minimum size of a convict to start breeding? < Around one
inch.> Right now I have a 20 gallon that is bare with only a few big
rocks. I will be adding rocks soon. I bought my Convicts today and the
male is already trying to breed with the female, but the female flares
back and follows a short distance to the males cave, but trails off for
some algae to graze on. I'm thinking that the male is about one
inch, and the female is also one inch. Is this size suitable for both
male and female to breed at this size? < Get ready for a
spawning.-Chuck> Thanks for your big help. Sean
Cichlids Really Breeding Or Just
Sick- 04/05/2006 Hi! I have a 40 gal tank
with a Convict pair, Jack Dempsey pair, and a Green Terror pair. They
are all about 1.5 to 2 inches each. The Green Terror female and my
Convict female both seem to be expecting. I have never seen behavior
like this. They lay on the rocks and on top of the caves almost
hovering. They are also very plump. Although I have seen not one egg
from either, their respective males are right with them. How long does
it take to lay the eggs? The convict has been this way for about a
week, but the Dempsey I just notices today. Thanks Chelle < A 2 inch
green terror is probably too small to breed. If conditions are right,
clean water, good food and good nutrition, then they should breed in a
couple of weeks. Even with eggs the females should be up and about
eating and defending a territory from the other fish. If they are not
eating or acting normal then I would start to think that they are sick
with an internal bacterial infection and need treating with
Metronidazole.-Chuck>
Green Terrors Won't get Along -
03/29/2006 Hi crew. Thank you for all the timely help. It has been
of great use for me. I have now got stuck up with a problem. I have a
pair of green terrors and the problem is that the female is being
bullied by the male. I cannot remove them from my tank as the tank is
full of decorations. How can I get them adjusted to each other. Any
help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you <Green terrors like
other large cichlids get very territorial when they get older. Other
fish compete for resources like food and shelter. Males will allow
females into their territory if they are ready to breed. If not, then
they are chased away until they are ready to breed. You could try
lowering the temp to the mid 70's and rearrange the decorations. If
that does not work then get a tank divider before he kills
her.-Chuck>
Turtle Age And Spawning Green
Terrors 3/20/06 Hi crew. Thanks for the earlier help. I have
recently purchased a red year slider turtle.1)! wanted to know how can
I calculate its age. Its about 2 inches. < It is probably a
hatchling that was hatched about a year ago last spring.> 2)My green
terrors are not spawning. What can I do to stimulate them to spawn. any
help will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you < Feed them heavily
with good food like live washed earthworms. The n do big 50% water
changes while vacuuming the gravel. Raise the water temp to 82
F.-Chuck>
About Euthanasia, Culling Frontosa -
03/13/2006 I have 7-Stripe Frontosas and when there are fry, they
are not all perfect, I try only to sell the perfect 7-stripes, so I am
stuck with the bad striped ones, I have a tank with just bad stripe
that are sizes from 1 inch to 4 or more inches I figured that I
can't keep doing this (keeping all the bad stripes) and the only
way I will cull them is with MS-222. I just received a bottle from a
company on the Internet, ( which I never thought I would be able to)
but this is what I want to know, I am not a chemist (that's why I
am writing you ha!) I wanted to know in terms, like how many
tablespoons to how many gallons, and how do I know it they are just
sleeping or dead? Do you know or do you know someone that would know
more about this? I really appreciate your time, Thank you < First of
all not all frontosa in the lake have perfect stripes. While diving in
Lake Tanganyika a few years ago we noticed that many frontosa have
variable striping patterns. Ad Konings is a world famous photographer
of rift lake cichlids. In his business he sells books, and pictures
sell books. He gets the best photos of the best fish he can find.
Aquarists often expect all the wild fish to match the photos in the
books and are disappointed when they are not. You have made a personal
choice to only sell fish that have perfect markings. Many aquarists
would try and sell them off to make a profit but it is nice to see
someone that has integrity and concerned about the fish they wish to
promote in the hobby. MS222 (tricaine methanosulfanate, 3-aminobenzoic
acid ethyl ester) is a carcinogen (causes cancer). I would recommend a
much safer alternative. Place the fish you wish to kill in 17 to 34
ounces of aquarium water and add two Alka-Seltzer tablets. The fish
will go to sleep and eventually die. Since you are not a chemist and
may not be aware of how to safely administer the MS222 please try the
WWM recommended method first. We withheld your name by request but felt
that your question was very important to other aquarists and they would
benefit by the reply.-Chuck> Thank you, I will check more, but let
me know if you find any thing out, Thanks again!
Breeding Green Terrors - 03/13/2006 I have a
young pair of green terror cichlids. About a week ago they spawned
together and the eggs hatched. At this point they dug a hole through
the gravel to the under-gravel filter and moved the
"wigglers" onto the surface of the under-gravel filter.
Obviously, the wigglers were sucked through the filter where the
immediately ceased wiggling. I have since removed the under-gravel
filter to prevent this in future spawns. I was just wondering how soon
I can expect the fish to spawn again. Also, is this problem common with
and under-gravel filter? < They will spawn again in a couple of
weeks if the conditions are right, maybe sooner. Cichlid aquarists
don't use undergravel filters for those exact reasons.-Chuck>
Thanks, Dan Breeding Flowerhorns - 1/30/2006 Hi, I've been
reading your forum and it has informed me a lot, but still there are
some questions that I have to ask. I am trying to breed my flower horn
fish. I have a 35 gallon tank that has colored pebbles on the bottom
with a 4x2 inch pot in the female side. I know that I have a pair with
me right now and I did put them together in the same tank for almost a
year now (with no divider), yes they would fight sometimes, some times
I see my female getting worked but lately I noticed that the female has
a big tummy with the straw sticking out her tummy, she was very red,
and I saw the male got worked pretty bad, he lost his tail fins and
scales. As a matter of fact he really got weak, so I divided them with
a glass divider, now they mind each others business. The female had a
big tummy for almost a month now and she lost the straw under her belly
I don't see no eggs, but I see a pebble like cocoon that I know it
came from her. My question is, how long before she would lay eggs and
what is that cocoon like thing that I see on the bottom of the tank? By
the way it is color white and is about half an inch looks like a pebble
but am sure its not. When can i take out the divider and would the eggs
mature even they are separated by a divider? Please I've me more
info on hoe to successfully breed my flower horn.. I really need a lot
of help, this is my first time to own a fish, any kind of fish. Eriq
< To get the fish ready do a 50% water change, and clean the filter.
Get the water temp up to 82 F. When you are going to be home for awhile
to watch them, pull the tank divider and watch them. If they start to
act like a couple then you can leave them alone for awhile. If they are
going at it then you will need to separate them and try again later.
Don't know what the pebble thing is. Get it out of the
tank.-Chuck> Baby Cichlid Fry Won't Stay Alive. 1/30/06
Hi I have a 50 gallon aquarium and I have a 3 male and 4 female
cichlids. They are silver with a black stripe. The problem is that when
the eggs starts to hatch and then after 2 days they will die. I have
had this problem going on for about 10th time now and I tried to
separate them in a small aquarium they died then too. I don't know
what to do. thanks , < After the eggs are laid they will usually
hatch in three days at 80 F. They are born with an egg sack and this
feeds the fry for another three days. When the eggs sack is absorbed
they need to be fed fine food many times a day or they will quickly
starve. Many aquarists hatch out some baby brine shrimp for their fry.
Go to fishbase.org and see if you can identify your fish. Some species
of cichlids have fry that are too small for baby brine shrimp and
require smaller foods.-Chuck>
Breeding Jack Dempseys 1/27/06 I had three
Jack Dempseys given to me. Two were 2 inches 1 was 3 inches. The
3" killed one of the 2". so, the small one that was left had
babies.....like 100 or so. They are now 4weeks old. Most of them
survived. The 2" inch is now latching on to the lips of the
3" jack Dempsey and won't let go unless I separate them. I
wanted to know if I could put the 3" in my larger tank 60 gallons,
with 2 orange cichlids (4in)and 1 terror (5 in.) and a catfish (8in)
and some algae eaters (3and 4 in)? and any tips on the 85 baby jack
Dempseys, they always seem to be hungry I have to feed them 3 times a
day!! They are still in a tank with the mother, the tank is 10 gallons.
(the babies are about 1/4 in to 1 inches they are all different sizes
in between) Monica Sandoval < When you move a new fish in with fish
that are already established , it is a good idea to rearrange the
aquascaping so all the fish are looking for a new territory and not
just defending the old ones. Time to move the babies to a tank of their
own. This tank is way too crowded with all the
babies.-Chuck>
Feeding Jack Dempsey Fry 1/30/06 What should
I be feeding the babies and how much? <Jack Dempsey babies are
pretty easy to raise. They do well on baby brine shrimp, microworms and
finely crushed flake food.> I am setting up a 30 gal tank today to
move the babies into a new home, what is really important to have in
the new tank to start? <Use Bio-Spira to get the bacteria going on
the filter. You have already experienced high nitrogenous waste
problems because the fish are already many different sizes. Watch for
ammonia and nitrite problems.> I have never had so many survive
before. < If you put the adults together you will have another
chance in a couple of weeks.-Chuck>
Breeding Convicts 1/26/06 Hi crew. I have
two questions? 1) I have a pair of a convicts. A pink male and black
female. They are about 3.5inches long. They have spawned about 5-6
times. The LFS keeper says that they won't spawn again as the
number of fry has decreased in the last spawn. Is it true? < They
will spawn again. It is just a matter of time and conditioning.> I
love my convicts and want them to reach the max. size of 6inches.
Should I separate the pair and grow them separately as they are 1.5 yr
old and have not reached their maximum size? < Your convicts will
either put their resources towards reproduction or growing. Separate
them and they will grow faster than if you kept them together and they
continued to spawn every few weeks.> 2)Will feeding large amount of
live brine shrimps to the fry cause gill flukes or any other disease?
<No.-Chuck> Any help will be greatly appreciated. thanking
you.
Breeding Flowerhorn Cichlids 1/20/06
Greetings! I am Leo Ilagan of the Philippines. I'm a new flower
horn hobbyist and I would really appreciate it if you could help me out
with some of my questions. First, Is it true that I can breed two
flower horns even with a divider between them and a small space beneath
it? < Yes, it is possible to breed substrate spawning cichlids using
the divider method. This is often done with plastic egg crate type
material purchased from a hardware store in 4'x2' sheets.>
Second, is it still necessary to put gravel, plants, rocks or any other
form of decoration in my tank? < Some aquarists have had better luck
using a flower pot or a rock as a focal point for the spawn. It not
used they will lay the eggs on the glass and then they cannot be
removed and hatched artificially.> Third, I have a flower horn who
remains small even after a month and I would like to ask if after
separating him from the larger ones, could he still grow to his
potential size and form? < Females stay usually smaller than the
males. You could also have a "runt" that genetically will not
grow to the size of the others.> And last, does chipped skin or
scales grow back after being bitten by fellow flower horns? <
Usually the scales will grow back but maybe not as nicely patterned as
the original scales .-Chuck> Hope you can help me and I'm glad I
found your website. Many thanks in advance. Firemouth Female Worn
Out After Breeding 12/28/05 Hi, I have a 420 litre freshwater tank
with a pair of firemouths and a pair of convicts. Recently the
firemouths have bred and the female has been guarding the fry, but she
has not been eating. Today I found her lying prostrate on the bottom of
the tank, having abandoned the fry, and only taking the occasional swim
around the tank. I have moved her into a 170 litre quarantine tank
because the convicts were beginning to attack her. The water quality is
all fine, but she does appear to have symptoms similar to an intestinal
obstruction. I was wondering if it is possible that she may have had an
obstruction with the ovipositor when she was laying eggs, possibly
leading to an infection? All the other fish are fine and healthy and
showing no signs of illness or distress and as I said the water
conditions are perfect. I am running a Sacem marathon 1500 canister
filter @ 1600l/h and a UV sterilizer and a 2000l/h internal filter.
This is also the first time she has bred, could this be a factor in
that she was too attentive to her eggs/fry and neglected her own health
by not coming out to eat ? Thanks for your help. < Breeding takes it
toll on fish , especially the females. You are probably seeing a female
that have lost a lot of body weight by laying eggs as well as guarding
them to the very end. In her weakened state she may have come down with
an internal bacterial infection. Separate her and treat her with
Metronidazole. You might try and scatter some blackworms in the tank
and get her back some body weight.-Chuck> Red Devil Cichlid
Without A Mate 12/26/05 Hello, Great Site! < Thanks, We like it
too.> I have a solitary female Red Devil in a 80 gallon tank. She
laid a LOT of eggs on her black pipe (her cave). I am curious if laying
eggs without a mate present is normal behavior? Will the eggs just sit
there forever? Will they eventually come off and get filtered out?
She's incredibly aggressive right now, and I'm concerned about
how she will be when her eggs don't hatch. < In 24 hrs or less
the eggs will fungus or die. They will decompose and be picked up in
the filter. Females in good shape will do this even without a male
present. After the eggs are gone she will calm down until she does it
again. maybe in two weeks.-Chuck>
Cichlids Breeding With Nothing To Show For It
12/22/05 Hello! I hope very much that you may be able to advise me.
I have a pair of Central American Cichlids - Fenestratum. I acquired
the large, aggressive male fish after he was introduced to a friends
established cichlid aquarium and was beaten up by the other fish when
he bullied them and they ganged up on him. He spent a few days
recovering in an "intensive care" cooler/cool box/esky and
then continued his convalescence in the new and huge tank that I bought
to accommodate him. I rather enthusiastically bought him a wife,
slightly smaller than him at 6 inches ( he is about 8 or 9 inches) When
I bought her she was full of eggs and very keen, and almost immediately
they laid a small batch of eggs and successfully nurtured them for
several weeks, displaying for my delight all the intricacies of cichlid
courtship, breeding and parental care behaviour. Eventually the babies
started to be threatened by the bored? father and I removed them to a
small tank to grow. My problem is this. My adult fish continue to
repeatedly lay batches of eggs, but none have been successful hatched
since the first "beginners luck" batch. After they have
lost/eaten a batch of eggs. He cools off towards her and can injure her
or force her into hiding so I keep them separated with a transparent
tank divider until they are ready again. It takes them 2-3 weeks before
they are "friends" again and 2-3 days to court and lay.
Usually about 90% of the eggs in a batch go white and fungus, and a
very small proportion will hatch, but I think the fish feel it is
wasteful to invest in only 10 or 20 wrigglers and eat them at this
point. These fish are and have been the only fish in the tank. They are
otherwise completely healthy, with healthy appetites. They seem to do
everything right in terms of general and breeding behaviour according
to my Central American cichlid books (Konings and Conkel) They have
both grown visibly since I have had them. I keep the tank clean and
tidy, but not over clean it. I have a good quality established external
canister filter running. I feed them a varied diet of 3 different types
of cichlid food plus meal worms, and try not to overfeed ( they are
always hungry) I keep them at the recommended temperature. In the 4
months that I have had them I have treated them once with an ich remedy
and water changed twice since, and given a handful of doses of melafix
tea tree remedy for injuries, but otherwise no meds in there. My
question is this. Has one of them become infertile, and if so which one
and why, and is there anything I can do to improve this? I was utterly
delighted when they seemed such perfect fish parents so soon after I
got them, and I have been very disappointed that everything has gone
downhill since. The original babies are now about 2 inches, and there
are very few of them left. I am reluctant to part with them if I will
never have any more to enjoy. I am so grateful for your wisdom. < Do
a 50% water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. Add carbon
to remove any left over medication. I suspect your problem is high
nitrates from only doing two water changes in 4 months. Do weekly 25%
water changes to control nitrates. The melafix may be affecting the
sperm of the male and somehow prevent them from getting to the eggs.
Cichlids usually spawn every couple of weeks when the female is ready.
Watch them closely when you put them together so he doesn't kill
her.-Chuck>
Getting the babies... Convict Cichlids
12/16/05 Hey Bob, nice website you got. I was just wondering, how
do you get the babies out of the tank? <Usually just netting them,
sometimes they can be siphoned... sometimes removing the parent/s,
other livestock instead...> Right now they're in a 40 gallon
tank with the parents and another convict. They don't really bother
each other, only till they get near each other, that when they start to
bug each other. But I did look at the article about convict cichlids,
and I read that you have to use an airline tubing to get the babies out
of there and into their own tank. Can I use the same tubing I use to
clean the tank with? <Yes... but with Convicts, best to remove the
parents, leave the young in place till they're larger... dime-sized
or bigger> Or do I use airline tubing? And how big does the tank for
the fry have to be? Can I use a one and a half gallon? Or do I buy a 5
gallon? <"Bigger"... the better> Well I hope I did not
ask to much for just getting the babies out. And your site still
rocks!!!!! Sean <Because of folks like ourselves writing back and
forth. Cheers, Bob Fenner>
Too Much Of A Good Thing, Or Be Careful What You
Wish For! 12/5/05 Hello, I wrote in July and announced the hatching
of babies for my Severum couple. I have now had 2 batches and still
have the nursery of fish in with the parents. I have relocated 75
babies and I am moving the others as possible. I have watched the
babies for the last couple of months continuously swim behind the daddy
fish. He positions himself nose down a lot of the time in the tank. He
can and does swim correctly and eats very well but is noticeably
vertical at times. What can this be? < The male is using his ventral
fins to signal the fry.> Do you know a good way of getting homes for
the approximately 150 other babies? Thanks for the help. Debbie <
When the fry are about 1 1/2 inches long you can start to call pet
shops and tropical fish stores in your area and see if you can sell or
trade some of the fry. They may take some and you can make a couple of
bucks out of the deal. Go Aquabid.com and see if you want to sell them
over the internet. Their may be a local aquarium society in which you
can place some of the fry up for auction at a meeting. Their is a
national club called the American Cichlid Association that can be found
at cichlid.org. They have a publication they put out called the Trading
Post in which members can buy and sell fish. Lots of possibilities.
Sometimes these big New World cichlids will produce thousands of fry
and take care of a market for the entire country.-Chuck>
Egg Eating Rams Moving to New tank 12/1/05
Hi there and thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I have a
25 gallon freshwater with 1 pleco, 3 gold rams, 1 curviceps cichlid
<<Chuck, or anyone else, if you get a chance, would you
provide me with the genus and species of this animal? Marina>>
<<<Flag cichlid. Used to be Aequidens curviceps, is
now Laetacara curviceps .>>> and 2 African
butterfly cichlids, 2 plants, a large rock/cave, piece of wood on slate
and a small bridge. 2 of the rams have had eggs 4 times thus far and
each time the eggs are eaten/disappeared usually when I wake up in the
morning and after usually 2 days. The butterfly cichlids I purchased
about 4 weeks ago have just laid their second batch of eggs. The first
batch had the same fate as the ram eggs. Any idea's of what I can
do to try to help them keep the eggs? Should I try an egg light (read
that on your site)? < After spawning the fish are exhausted and have
expended a lot of energy to spawn and have worked up an appetite. Try
to keep them well fed with lots of baby brine shrimp or micro worms.
Egg eating is a problem for these species and they can get into a habit
of eating eggs that is hard to break. the eggs could be removed and
hatched artificially.> I am also purchasing a 55 gallon that I would
like to move most of the occupants too, but still keep one of the mated
pairs in the old 25 gallon. What is the best way to get the new tank
safely cycled and not damage the old tank or kill any of my fish when
they get moved? < Take some of the old gravel and place it in the
new tank. The bacteria in the old tank are needed to get the bacteria
in the new tank going. Add new fish slowly over a week or so.
Quarantine any new fish from the store for at least a couple of weeks
before adding them to an established tank.> Is it possible to run
the new filter for the 55 gallon on the 25 gallon without doing any
harm to the fish and using the old 25 gallon filter with the new tank
to help the process? Should I move some of the substrate and/or plants,
ornaments? < Swapping filters for awhile will not harm anything.>
Thank you for any help you can provide, I really appreciate it. Your
site is a great resource, thanks for all the time and work you all put
into it. Troy < Thanks for your kind words.-Chuck>
Breeding Apistogramma cacatoides 12/1/05 I
have a 20G tank with 3 females and 1 male. It is planted, ph is around
6.2. Water hardness is around 4 kh. There are also 6 Flame tetras in
the tank. I have tried but cannot get the Apisto's to breed. Also
the temp is around 76f and they are fed a variety of frozen foods
(Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, White Mosquito Larvae). I also use a Hagen
CO2 system and nitrates run around 10 to 15
ppm. Is there anything else that might encourage them ? Thanks Dean
Smith < Raise the water temp to 80 F. Provide numerous small caves
at scattered locations throughout the bottom of the tank. These little
cave spawners spawn in rolled up dead leaves in the wild. When they
spawn the female will turn bright yellow and be guarding the
area.-Chuck>
White Worms With Baby Fish 12/1/05 Hi, I am
currently breeding Ps. demasoni. Tonight, when I stripped the female of
her fry (still with egg pouch attached), into a small, plastic breeding
container, what I noticed with the babies was tons of these little
white worms. They obviously came out of the mothers mouth with the
babies. My question is, is this a parasite, and if so, will it hurt the
babies or other fish, and should I expect this parasite to be in my
tanks, i.e., in my other fish as well? What do I do? < This is not
normal. I am guessing that these may be gill flukes. Treat with
Fluke-Tabs. This will get rid of any invertebrates in the
tank.-Chuck>
Fluke-Tabs With Fry 12/2/05 Really cool.
Thanks. I'll try that. But will fluke tabs hurt my babies? They
still have the egg pouch. <I have not heard of any problems with
fry, but to be safe you could put the fry in another container while
you treat the main tank.-Chuck>
Convicts and Genetics - 10/30/2005 I have 3
breeding pairs of black convict cichlids, two of which have babies at
the moment. My smallest pair have their babies right in the front of
the tank (babies are 3-4 weeks old) and I've noticed that maybe 10
of the babies seem to be pink. The other couple has all black babies
and most of the pair in fronts babies have the beginnings of black
lines too. This is their first brood so I don't have any past
experience to draw on. I'm wondering; is it possible to get
naturally occurring pinks? <Mm, by "naturally occurring"
if you mean an original natural mutation, not highly likely.> I was
told in order to get pinks I'd need one parent to be pink and that
the brood would hatch equal parts each color. <Mm, actually, I
believe this "pink" trait is recessive.... Basically, your
pair that has some pink offspring are both heterozygous for this trait
- they carry the gene for the color, but do not exhibit it. Thus,
roughly 25% of their offspring will exhibit that trait. 25% of them
will be homozygous for the black trait and not carry the pink trait.
50% of them will carry the trait but not show it. A pair consisting of
one pink fish and one heterozygous black fish would have 50%
heterozygous fry that carry the trait but do not exhibit it, and 50%
pink fry. A pair consisting of one pink fish and one fish homozygous
for the black gene would have all fry heterozygous for the trait -
they'd all carry the pink gene, but none would show it.> I have
found TONS of info on convict breeding, but nothing on natural albinos
or how the gene begins. I'd love to hear your thoughts and I'd
be happy to send pictures once they get a little bigger. -Anna
<Sounds like you're having great success with them. Wishing you
well, -Sabrina>
Moving Jack Dempsey Fry 10/13/05 I have a
question. I currently have 2 Jack Dempseys who have recently bred. The
spawn is about a week old now and are growing pretty well . They are in
a 29 gallon right now they get flake food 2 times a day and blood worms
once a day. Is there anything else I should be feeding them ? < The
fry should get some baby brine and micro worms.> Not only that but
they are still in a tank with their parents who are first time breeders
will they be ok or should they be moved. < Move them soon or they
will be eaten.> I'm a little concerned with moving them so if it
is a wise idea I was thinking of moving the parents but I don't
want to disturb their breeding grounds either what is the best
suggestions for this? < Siphon the fry out into a bucket with
airline tubing with water from the original tank.-Chuck>
Convict Basics 10/6/05 I have tried to find
book on how to breed convict cichlids, I am not a beginner on
aquariums, however I want to expand and start breeding tropical
freshwater fish! I want to find a book containing atmosphere, tank
size, temperatures, "decorations", and basically all I need
to know on breeding these "Tank Criminals", if you could help
in any way please email me back with some response, thank you very much
for you time. < To breed convicts you need a pair. Males are larger
than females with longer fins. Females often have a orange patch on the
belly area. When they are about 2 inches you can feed them very well on
some live or frozen food. Do big 50% water changes. Keep the water
around 80 to 82 F. This will get them to spawn. The eggs hatch in three
days and the fry become free swimming in another three. At this stage
they need to be fed baby brine shrimp, micro worms, and crushed flake
food. They should separated from the parents at this stage. Good
luck.-Chuck.> Reed
Strange Convict Breeding Behaviour 9/20/05
Hi, thanks for reading my post. I have a female convict that has been
with 3 males over the past 2 months but nothing has ever happened after
they each pair up, dig a site, and presumingly after they lay and
fertilize eggs. Since I doubt there is anything wrong with the 3 males.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THE FEMALE IS DROPPING FLAWED EGGS? Currently, the
poor male spends his entire waking hours with eyes glued on the eggs,
as if the eggs are going to hatch any second. But it's been 8-10
days now. Also, the female has now started to engage in some
"two-timing" by getting very friendly with her
"Original" male mate. CAN SOMEONE COMMENT ON THIS SITUATION?
Sabrina? Thank You so much. Tony < Males are usually larger than the
females and have longer fins. Most females have an orange patch on the
belly areas. At 82 F the eggs should hatch in three days. Do a 50%
water change, vacuum the gravel and clean the filter. Pick one male and
leave her with the female. Feed them heavily with black worms or small
washed earthworms. After they spawn the eggs should hatch in three
days. Unfertilized eggs turn white and soon fungus. The newly hatched
fish resemble a small wiggling mass for an additional three days. After
that they absorb their egg sac and become free swimming and require
small food like newly hatched brine shrimp. If you don't get any
fry with this male then swap him out for another after a couple of
attempts. I suspect that the males are so busy fighting over the female
that none of them has the time to fertilize the eggs.-Chuck>
Convict Breeding Question - II - 09/16/2005 Since I'm
retired, about all I do all day is take part in this interesting hobby.
<Sabrina here, in Bob's stead, and envious of your use of time!
Wish I could do that.> 14-16 inches of (cichlid) fish in a 39 gallon
tank doesn't seem like a lot. <A mating pair can terrorize and
even kill the other fish. Even if none pair up to spawn, these guys
will really peat each other up.> I have a carrying Yellow lab in my
only extra tank so I would have to buy another convict breeding tank.
But like I said, it's a pretty peaceful environment with the other
convicts rarely venturing 3/4 the way across the tank. But since
convicts don't have "egg spots" like their African
cousins, if you could just tell me how the fertilization process is
accomplished, I'd surely appreciate it. <These are not
mouthbrooders, hence no egg spots. The female will lay part of the
clutch, and the male will fertilize.... they usually will spawn in a
cave, under an overhang, or in a pit if no other suitable structure is
available. If a pair successfully spawns in this tank, the remaining
fish are likely to be quite damaged. I'm not confidant that a pair
can/will spawn, however, with the increased stress of having so many
conspecifics about. Keep in mind, a single pair's territory in the
wild can consist of several square feet of surface area.... Pack them
in like this, and they're not going to behave naturally.> Thanks
Again !! <Wishing you well, -Sabrina>
Cichlid Fry Flying Away 7/26/05 Hello,
Unbeknownst to me, my black convict and tiger cichlids have reproduced
in my 55 gallon tank. I have never experienced this joy, and have some
questions/concerns. I observed the wrigglers swim to the top, but they
proceeded to morph into insects (white in color, six legs, obviously,
and a pair of wings) at the surface. I have been feeding frozen
bloodworms, and wonder if that may be an explanation, i.e. could it be
larvae from the worms?? < Cichlid fry don't change species and
turn into insects. It is probably the worms or mosquitoes.> I
noticed the eggs yesterday and they happened to hatch today, so the
tankmates have all been moved, save for my 4-inch Pleco. I do know,
however, that this is the first spawning attempt, and am curious as to
what the process is as a whole. In other words, after the eggs hatch,
how will the fry look ( not concerned about coloring/patterns, but more
so the shape and size, primarily)? Should I move the "fry" to
a tank of their own if I find one that doesn't morph? Is it normal
for the fry to change in such a way (I assume the answer is,
"NO," but again, I have never seen such a process in action)?
< New World cichlids like your are substrate spawners and lay their
eggs on hard surface. If the eggs are fertile they usually hatch in
three days at around 80 F. After 3 days the wriggles become free
swimming and need to be fed baby brine shrimp or crushed flake food.
The fry should be removed from the parents within the next week so the
parents don't eat them.> Please understand that I am new to
this, and my philosophy is the only stupid question is the one not
asked. I have read your forum thoroughly, and really appreciate the
knowledge contained within; I did not find the answers I was seeking
and opted to e-mail to see what the heck is going on in that tank of
mine. Thanks in advance for any info you can provide. Helen Graf-Blough
< I am surprised that the cichlids don't eat the insect larva.
Use fluke-tabs to get rid of them in the aquarium.-Chuck> Green
Terror Fry 7.24.05 We had a great group of little green terrors
about 2 weeks old. The dad guarded them from the beginning. We removed
Mom and let dad take over. Once the fry were able to swim around, the
Dad ate them, all of them. Is this normal? It was the first set the mom
and dad had. Any idea how long it will be before they mate again? Any
help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks! Dana <It happens. I have
a pair of angels that like to take care of their eggs for about a week
then eat them. I'm convinced they are just raising them until the
are ripe enough to eat. Your terrors will most likely breed again in
the next few months, just provide warm clean water and they should take
care of the rest. I would try leaving both parents to raise the young
this time and see if you have more success. -Gage>
Re: green terror fry - dad ate them :(
7/29/05 Thanks a great deal. I spent the day frustrated yesterday,
felt like going fishing but decided against it and just traveled north
up 95. I had to leave or the daddy green terror was fixing to become
filleted Oscar treats. We bought a tank back in January to break the
monotony of the house and office. Now we have 4 tanks running and just
bought another one yesterday. We have an Arowana that outgrew his first
tank fairly quickly. <I see> Hopefully the Terrors will breed
again. <Almost undoubtedly> They were my favorite from the
beginning and we have 3 alone in one tank. The two bigger ones, male
and female are of a lighter colored breed, and the smaller one, the
actual dad is blue and more colorful. It would of been interesting to
see the babies and what color they would of been. <Likely a mix of
all types> It's a flip of the coin on leaving mom and dad next
time. I think once they can swim, they're going about life on their
own. Is this an ok move? <Yes, one approach> I'd hate to let
an Oscar go in that tank if they eat the babies again. If I did want to
get mean, I do have a 4 inch black convict that could teach them all a
lesson. Thanks for the input! Dana fishchairs.com <Welcome. Bob
Fenner>
Jaguar Cichlid and Jack Dempsey? 7/11/05
Hello, <Hi there> I have a 55 gallon tank that currently holds
one 5" Raphael Catfish, one 2" Red Devil, one 5"
Plecostomus, one 4" Jack Dempsey, one 3 3/4" Jaguar, and one
6" Oscar. In this tank I have a fake log which has many
hidey-holes. <You are going to need a much larger system... soon>
My Jack Dempsey has been trapping the Jaguar in one of these holes. The
Jaguar puts no resistance to the Jack at all, and when (if) the Jack
goes out of the hole the Jaguar stays. Though I have seen the Jack
'peck' the Jaguar for no apparent reason when in the hole. Is
this normal? <Yes> Or could the Jack have a fancy for the Jaguar?
<Likely not> Why would the Jaguar put up with it if it is not
normal? <To avoid damage> And is it at all possible for them to
mate? (I am pretty sure that the Jaguar is a female and the Jack
Dempsey a male) <Possible to cross, but at their sizes... this is
simple aggression. Bob Fenner> Christine
Breeding Dempseys in a Mixed Tank We have
three Jack Dempsey's in a 55 gallon tank, two are breeding together
and the female has laid eggs three times now. My question is how to
keep the eggs alive? The night before the eggs should hatch, I look in
the tank the next morning and all the eggs are gone. Also in the tank
are two Angelfish and a sucker fish and they stay away from the eggs
because they are well guarded by the parents. So I do not think that
they are being eaten by the other fish. Thank you, Chris <If that
Sucker Fish is a Pleco, he's eating the eggs at night while the
parents are asleep. It's also possible that they are hatching and
being eaten by the adults. They will take there own young if they feel
some other fish will get them. Better for them to recycle the protein
than loose it to others. The way of nature. I strongly recommend that
you get this pair their own tank. They will (not may) kill the others
in the tank at some point. Your Angelfish are very lucky to be alive
right now. Don> Texas/Convict Cross Interracial dating??? Hi,
I have a 30 gal aquarium with one Texas (about 4"), two convicts
(about 2"), and one Koi (about 5"). I recently noticed one of
them has spawned inside a tipped over pot I put in there as
'territory'. I watched for a while, and to my amazement
realized it was the Texas cichlid who laid the eggs and the convict
(who is about half the Texas' size) who was in there with her,
fertilizing. They both take turns guarding the nest and do so
aggressively. Has anyone run into this before??? < Yes, it happens
all the time.> Now I know they prooooobably are NOT going to
successfully breed (LOL), but what's the deal??? < Fish have a
need to reproduce. When the proper mate is not available they choose
the next best thing.> Do they often form weird, cross-species pair
bonds like that... or do I just have some seriously crazy fish? <
This normally does not happen when both sexes of the same species are
present.> And with Texas Cichlids forming pair bonds, will I be able
to intro a male Texas (later, in a larger tank, of course) and will
they realize and form their own pair bond? < If a male Texas is
introduced it will probably pair up with the correct female. The sooner
the better.> Will she dump her little felon man for a hearty
Texan???? < Hopefully and probably.> Will her ex con try to
murder her by slipping rat poison in her drink???? lol, OK, just going
a little Soap Opera here... ; ) But seriously.... Can someone help me
out with my weird fish? Kim < Get the proper sexes to pair your fish
up and hopefully nature will take care of itself.-Chuck>
Will my Jack Dempsey always eat her
fry? My Jack Dempsey's just had their first spawning. She
fanned, she hidden them and then when you could see them wiggling
around she ate them. Will she always eat her fry? Debbie Borolov
<Mmm, no, unlikely. Often the first batch or two of New World
cichlids go this route... eaten that is... with the parents
"learning" as successive broods come along. Bob
Fenner>
Crossing Cichlids I just wanted to know if
its possible for a red devil and a convict to breed? < There are
many cases of different Central American cichlids hybridizing with one
another.-Chuck>
Sexing Cichlids I know this is an odd
question and many expect you to know how, but how do you vent a fish? I
hear that you have to hold the fish, but wouldn't that take off the
protective slime on their body? How do you know if the fish is a female
or male if you do not have the opposite to compare 'results'
with? < Venting cichlids is an easy and reliable way of sexing many
cichlids. I catch the fish in a net take them out of the water under
strong like and simply look at the area on the belly between the pelvic
fins and the anal fin. There you should see two openings. One opening
is where the fish waste comes out. The other is a sex organ where the
eggs or sperm is released during spawning. In females that opening is
larger for eggs . In males it is usually the same size as the waste
opening. Fish with large eggs such as Tropheus are very easy to sex
this way. Fish with small eggs like Uaru are still difficult to
tell.-Chuck>
Sexing Cichlids I'm sorry, but I forgot
to add my other question, I guess I forgot when typing the first
question, but I was wondering how or if you can sex cichlids early,
like around 4 months old, because I cannot figure if my Jack Dempsey is
Male or Female same with my Oscar. < In general males are larger
with longer unpaired fins. Female jacks tend to have a very blue lower
jaw and not many blue spangles on the body. Oscars are very difficult
until they get larger. Look underneath at their ventral area. The
female will have two openings of the same size. Males should have one
opening larger than the other.-Chuck>
Flowerhorns Mating Greetings, Well, I've
got a cichlid which I called Canon. After that, I've got a flower
horn who is Dranzer. I put them in the same tank, a ten gallon tank
with a divider in it. A couple of days later, I found some eggs on
Canon's part. I didn't mind it because it might not hatch. But
three days later, it was filled with white fungus and was swept away.
Another days later she laid eggs but the eggs were also filled with
fungus. How can I keep fungus away? < The fungus is usually the
result of infertile eggs.> Can a Flowerhorn and a cichlid mate? <
A Flowerhorn is a man made cichlid that is a hybrid between three
different species. It is possible it could breed with another Central
American cichlid.> How can my Flowerhorn get good colors and a
protruding head? < With good nutrition an good water quality you can
get some pretty good results as long as the fish has the genes for
those traits you desire.> How can I breed fishes? < Breeding
cichlids is actually pretty easy. Make sure you have a pair and set
them up with warm clean water. They will usually do the rest and even
raise the fry.-Chuck> Hope for your reply, Nikki
Egg Laying Parrot cichlids How long from
laying of the eggs until hatching? < At 80 degrees F the eggs will
hatch into wrigglers. In another three days the wrigglers will become
free swimming and need to be feed baby brine shrimp and finely crushed
flake food.-Chuck>
Re: Snails and Planted Tanks Hi Mr. Fenner,
Sorry to bother you, but here is a short and last one on that topic.
Forgot to ask in the last mail. Are a Pomacea bridgesi and a Malayan
trumpet snail going to be a danger for the eggs of my dwarf cichlids
(ramirezi and Apistogramma cacatuoides)? And for discus eggs (not there
yet, but might happen eventually)? Many thanks! Dominique <Likely
not... these small and large cichlids are quite protective and aware of
such possible predators and should keep them at bay should they
approach their spawn. I have seen and kept them altogether. Bob
Fenner> MAKING A NEW APISTOGRAMMA I would like to breed a few
different color varieties of Apistogramma species together. Do you
think I could cross-breed with them an Apistogramma trifasciata, they
look almost identical! The reason I ask this is because I know some
people do not approve of cross-breeding different species. <With
close to 100+ species of Apistogramma already I am not sure what kind
of fish you want to end up with. You could line breed certain species
and develop new colors. There are already double and triple red
cacatuoides and agassizii. These are being mass produced in Asia. I
have never heard of a hybrid between two different Apistogramma species
but I suppose it is possible. Check with Neil at Apistogramma.com.-Chuck>
PARROT CICHLID EGGS In one of my tanks, I
have a pair of Parrot Cichlids who have laid eggs and I cannot find
anywhere as to how long before the fry hatch. < At 80 degrees F the
eggs should hatch in three days. In another three days the fry should
become free swimming and will need to be fed baby brine shrimp or
crushed flake food.-Chuck>
CICHLID CROSS I have a jaguar and a Jack
Dempsey. They appear to be a breeding pair. < It could happen.>
Has this happened before? < I am sure it has.> They are both
about 4" and appeared to have laid eggs before which all
disappeared before morning (gotten eaten?). A few weeks later, there
were hundreds of eggs again on the back of a rock. A few white but
mostly clear. The female Jag appears to be very aggressive towards the
Jack, chasing him away. I have only seen them together peacefully on a
few occasions but always away from the eggs. Today is day 2. How do I
know if the eggs have been fertilized and is there anything I need to
do to facilitate that if they have not been? < You can remove the
eggs and hatch them artificially to see if they are any good. The white
eggs are dead and the clear ones are still good. In a 5 gallon aquarium
you can fill it with water from the main tank. Remove the stone or rock
the eggs are laid on and place it in the 5 gallon tank. Keep the water
at 80 degrees with an airstone close to the eggs to provide
circulation. Add some Methylene blue to the water too. The eggs should
hatch in three days. the fry turn into a mass of jelly as they absorb
their egg sac. Three days later the fry are free swimming and they need
to be fed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food.> I can't
even come near the glass without the jag getting aggressive. They are
in a 125 gallon tank with 2 algae eaters and a pike which is also still
small and almost never comes out. Any suggestions? <The pair will
continue to guard the fry and eggs like all cichlids do to some extent.
It may be better to remove the pike to save him.-Chuck>
BABY CONVICTS Hi, I have a pair of Convicts
they spawned and now I have about 100 little guys swimming around.
right now there in a 10 gallon, and yes I know that the tank is to
small for them I just wanted them to grow more before I put them in my
30 gallon. My question was when do I take the babies out? As far as I
can tell they haven't started to pick them off yet, so are they
fine for now or do I need them out ASAP? Thanks - Halisha <They can
actually be taken out at any time. If they are free swimming then
siphon them out with some airline tubing and feed them baby brine
shrimp. After about two weeks the parents get ready to spawn again and
will eat the fry.-Chuck>
FIREMOUTH EGGS Our Firemouth cichlid eggs
have turned white and have been placed in a breeder net. How long
before they hatch? <Unfortunately white eggs are bad or unfertilized
and will not hatch. Normally cichlid eggs hatch in about 3 days at 80
degrees. They then turn into wigglers for another three days. When they
become free swimming they need to be fed baby brine shrimp and crushed
flake food.-Chuck>
MOVING MATED CONVICTS Hi guys. First off, I
just wanted to say again that you guys are awesome. I have a pair of
convicts that just began breeding - about 2 week old fry right now, and
it looks like they're guarding some more eggs. The tank they are in
was intended for an Oscar (he is in there with them now)... it was
supposed to be a temporary home for the convicts and then they would be
moved to their own tank - but they were too quick for me. I have 2
questions... 1 - Can I move them safely to the other tank, without
disrupting the fact that they have started breeding? (I'm pretty
sure that since they are already breeding, they will continue to, but
just want to be sure) < Move the pair to one tank and then move the
fry or eggs to another tank of their own if you want to save them.>
2 - The "nest" they have set up is inside the hollow leg of a
somewhat large tank decoration. Should I be moving this decoration with
them? Or will the decorations/hiding places in their new tank be ok? (I
would like to keep the one they are using in the current tank, but will
move it if necessary) < Convicts are pretty adaptable and will soon
find another suitable ornament or rock to spawn
on.-Chuck>
How to breed Flowerhorns Hello! I have a
pair of flower horns. When I put them in the same tank, it seems that
they are mating coz each of them are flaring to each other. After a day
or two, I saw the eggs on the hatchery. However, after laying eggs, I
noticed that my pets are now fighting? Which should I leave in the
hatchery, the male or the female? For how long should I place one of
them on the tank where the eggs were laid? Please help on this matter.
I've been experimenting 4x already and up to now, I can't them
to hatch their eggs. Hoping for your immediate response. Thanks! Dale
Dwayne < Flower horns are a man made fish that have been developed
to show certain traits that are favorable to the Asian culture. If you
want to save the eggs then they can be taken away from the parents and
hatched artificially. Fill a 5 gallon tank with the same tank water
that the parents are in. Remove the rock or stone with the eggs and
place them in the 5 gallon tank with an airstone to provide aeration
and current. Put a few drops of Methylene blue in the water to inhibit
any fungus growth. Keep the water at 80 degrees. In three days the eggs
will hatch and they will turn into a little wiggly mass of fry. At the
end of three days the fry will have absorbed their egg sack and they
will become free swimming. At this time they can be fed newly hatched
brine shrimp and finely crushed flake food. If after a few attempts all
the eggs die (Turn white) you either have two females or an infertility
problem.-Chuck>
Cichlid lovefest Dear crew.
I'm not new at fish (cichlids) but I need help with my fish.
I'm keeping many cichlids in my 250 gallon. 3.red devils, 6.adult
convicts, 4.firemouths, 7.flowerhorns, 3.parrot cichlids 5.pacus
2.oscars most of them are not very small but can handle the convicts
and Flowerhorns but soon my adult pink convict started to think
she's going to breed with one of the red devil who is the rulers of
my tank! My pink convict started to flare at the red devil and simply
don't pay attention to her! Then she started digging at a corner
and the red devil seems to help! But they are not even guarding the
spot they are digging! Is this just for fun or are they really going to
have babies?? -Sean < Your female white convict looks like she is
getting ready to breed with your red devil. They both come from central
America and have similar breeding techniques. They have been crossed
before with viable fry. Typically they are not very
attractive.-Chuck>
Mixing cichlid species repro. so
your saying that my two fishies are not going to breed!!! < It is
possible and probable that your convict would indeed cross breed with
your male red devil. Unfortunately this has been done before but the
fry have not been very attractive or commercially desirable.> That
stinks!! Should I get 2 or 3 male adult black because all my other
convicts are all females and I want to get black to see what a black
and pink breed together! < If you get a black male convict and breed
it with a pink or white female convict you will get a percentage being
like the mother and the rest will be black like the father.> so I
can stop the flaring madness!! the female pink convict almost got hurt
of the flaring!! so I just took it out and I put it in a separate tank.
no one else bred in my tank!! -Sean < If you get a male then I think
you will enjoy the courtship that central American cichlids go through
prior to spawning as well as the spawning itself.-Chuck>
Single Cichlid with Eggs! Dear
Crew, <Nicole> Thanks for the advice. We covered the front of her
tank over the weekend and by Monday morning she had (I assume) eaten
the eggs. <Happens> She was still a little more aggressive than
normal, but she's slowly calming down. Managed to get a good
scrubbing and vacuum in without getting bit, though it took some
wrangling. She's big enough to do some damage. I'm glad to hear
that she did this because she's healthy and not because there's
something wrong. Thanks again for the help. -Nicole <Welcome. Bob
Fenner>
Gold Severums have laid eggs!!! After
removing the 7 inch Bala shark and spotted African Cichlid and turning
up the heat to 82-84 degrees on the 29 ga tank, the female finally
deposited hundreds of eggs on the wall of the clay pot. Yesterday, the
eggs were clear/opaque and today they are all white. My assumption is
that the male has fertilized almost all of the eggs. I am observing
that the male is maintaining guard over the entrance of the clay pot
and keeps the female away every time she come near the eggs. Is this
normal behavior or should I separate the fish or removed all together?
Do I have to do frequent water changes? Are the eggs safe from the
parents? How long until the eggs hatch into fry? Are the fry safe?
Please make any recommendations, I appreciate your advice. < The
eggs should hatch in three days. The whitish color is an indication
that the eggs may have all died. If they hatch the fry should be free
swimming in about three days. At that time they should be fed baby
brine shrimp and finely crushed flake food. They should be removed from
the parents into their own tank in about a week. The parents will spawn
again within a couple of weeks.-Chuck> JohnB
Gold Severums have laid eggs!!! Bob's go
After removing the 7 inch Bala shark and spotted African Cichlid and
turning up the heat to 82-84 degrees on the 29 ga tank, the female
finally deposited hundreds of eggs on the wall of the clay pot.
<Neat!> Yesterday, the eggs were clear/opaque and today they are
all white. <Ohhh... fungused> My assumption is that the male has
fertilized almost all of the eggs. <Mmm, maybe... not... could be
you have two females... or even that the male is sterile or did not
participate> I am observing that the male is maintaining guard over
the entrance of the clay pot and keeps the female away every time she
come near the eggs. Is this normal behavior or should I separate the
fish or removed all together? <Not too abnormal... but... trouble
for you and them being in this small a container... need at least a
forty, better a sixty gallon tank or larger... too stressful, problems
if one beats the other...> Do I have to do frequent water changes?
Are the eggs safe from the parents? How long until the eggs hatch into
fry? <They won't... they're not viable...> Are the fry
safe? Please make any recommendations, I appreciate your advice. JohnB
<John... you need more information than can be gleaned from simply
asking here... do read through what little we have on all cichlids
posted here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwlivestkindex.htm
and consider getting a good book or two on cichlid husbandry... you can
search these on Amazon, Barnes and Noble... Bob Fenner>
Convicts breeding & whatch you gonna do?
I have a 55 gallon tank. There is a pleco, two clown knives, <What?
This fish gets about the length of this tank... four feet... in the
wild
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?ID=2078&genusname=Chitala&speciesname=chitala>
2 tiger barbs, 4 giant danios, and 3 zebra danios along with two female
convicts, and a pair of convicts. <What a mix!> The pair's
eggs hatched out on Christmas day. They have been doing really great,
there were 130 eggs or so, and there ended up being about 30 fry born.
So after they have guarded these babies well, and they have not been
too rough on the other fish because they stay on one side of the tank
and my knives on the other. <Eventually the Knives will eat all
these other fishes> They don't even pay attention to the other
fish at all because they are not really too much of a threat to them I
guess. Anyway, to make a long story short here, there have been quite a
few fry that have disappeared. I know it is bound to happen and am not
to worried about that. However, the daddy fish has decided to kick out
the mommy fish. He won't let the mommy near the babies anymore at
all. <Happens> And instead of them being black and white.
Especially the male, he is dark black and dark grey striped. <Good
description> He doesn't like the other two females either. Why
in the world is he doing this? <Uhh, because he can? Likely a
behavior that has survival value eh? Maybe he would mate with another
female next time/s... a mix of genes, mates would benefit the species
through space and time> Is it because the babies are not all there?
<Maybe... it is possible he "blames" the female> And
should I remove him from the tank for a few days so that mommy can take
over watching over the fry again or just leave them the way they are?
thank you for your input I really do appreciate it. <Depends on what
you want to do... become a breeder/supplier of convict cichlids? In
this size system (w/o the Knives... you should trade them in, otherwise
move them to other quarters), your convicts should continue to spawn,
the young be mostly consumed... You can separate the eggs, raise
elsewhere, take the fishes out... Bob Fenner> Firemouths,
Convicts and Cichlasoma nicaraguense I have a pair of nicaraguense
that seemed to have paired off... male and female, just in the last 2
weeks or so. In addition, in a "territory" of the tank real
close to them, I have a Convict and a Firemouth that seem real close to
each other... fight battles together, always hang together etc. and
have been like that for a month or two. Well, today I noticed TONS of
babies. The Firemouth and Convict are caring for them. Did they cross
breed, or are they taking care of the nicaraguense babies? < The
probably crossed.> Is that even possible that the Nicaraguense would
lay eggs and allow others to care for them? < No, other fish would
eat the baby nicaraguense.> Is it ok to have Firemouth and Convict
crossbreeding if that is what is going on? < Not really. They turn
into mutts and usually are not very attractive aquarium fish.> I
have decided to let nature take it's course in the tank, and either
the babies will survive, or they wont. There are plenty of other fish
in the tank that would more than love to have a fry snack, but so far
the Firemouth and Convict will not let anyone close. Any idea
what's going on in there? <Cichlids in general will guard their
eggs and fry for a couple of weeks until they get ready to spawn again.
This is what makes cichlids great aquarium fish.-Chuck> Not
breeding Convict cichlids Hello, I have 3 convicts, 1 baby jack
Dempsey, and 1 blood parrot in my tank I have 6 caves a clay flowerpot
and a piece of drift wood. my question is why wont my convicts lay
eggs, I know that 2 out of the 3 convicts are females I'm not sure
about the other one , (I'm pretty sure she's a female too). My
other question is, does there have to be a male convict in the tank for
the female to lay eggs. please help, I want to breed my fish very badly
and I am trying very hard, thank you. < Convicts are usually very
easy to sex. The males are larger and have longer fins. The females
usually have yellow or orange on the belly region. Try feeding some
live food for a week and raise the water temp to 80 degrees F. Do a
large water change and service the filter too. You see some results in
a week or so.-Chuck> from your fellow fish enthusiast, Jeeves
S.
Breeding convict cichlids continued thank
you, for your help, I determined that I indeed have 3 females, I have
one additional question, does there need to be a male in the tank for
the females to lay eggs . and when I got to the pet store the convicts
they have are too small and under developed for me to sex. how can I
find a male when the fish are so under developed < Females indeed
can lay unfertilized eggs without a male being present. You can only go
by external sexual dimorphism. Generally the largest fish in the group
will be a male.-Chuck> Jeeves S.
Convict fry disappearing Dear WWM crew, I
have a 65 gallon freshwater tank with a pair of Texas cichlids,
Firemouths and a breeding pair of convicts. The convicts laid eggs that
hatched about two weeks ago. At first, there seemed to be nearly 50-75
fry free-swimming. and now, two weeks later there seems to be less than
twenty. I don't think that the other fish are eating them because
the parents protect them like nobody's business. Could the parents
be eating them and what should I do about the remainder of fry? <
After 2 weeks the parents are probably getting ready to spawn again.
The female is probably picking off a few a day as she regains her
strength to prepare to spawn again. I would siphon out the remaining
fry soon as they will be eaten by the parents shortly.-Chuck>
Sincerely, Fish Fry Guy.
Baby Flowerhorn/red rose fish Hello, My
Flowerhorn and red rose bred for the 2nd time and the eggs hatched 1
Dec. I removed the parents cause the 1st time they ate the babies the
same day a few hours later. What should I feed them? < They will
become free swimming in a few days depending on the water temp. At that
time they can be fed baby brine shrimp and finely crushed flake
food.> And the best way in a 55 gal tank. < When the fry become
free swimming they will gather into a little school. The fry food can
be dropped over them. they will feed as the food slowly drops down
around them.-Chuck> Today I gave them a little red Tubifex worms.
Thanks, Leo
Convict Breeding Hey, First off, I want to
say that you guys are the best! Thanks for taking the time to share
your expertise with the rest of us! I have a pair of Black Convicts who
seem to want to mate, but I haven't seen any results. The male is
about 2-2.5" and the female is about 1.5". I have read about
their behaviors when they are pairing off and preparing to mate - and
they have done everything I have read, but nothing seems to be
happening. During the pairing off, they sort of took turns chasing each
other around - testing each other's strength, I guess. After that,
they seemed to claim their territory in the tank (but they are alone in
the tank). They then dug out several spots in the gravel, assumably to
use for the fry's hiding spots. Then the female tended to stay in
her hiding spot - which unfortunately I can't see into - the
majority of the time while the male patrolled just outside (and got
extremely territorial when I came near the tank). A few days later,
they both began swimming around as normal again with no offspring.
After about a week, it seems as though they are doing this same thing
again. Do you think they are trying, but are just being unsuccessful
their first few times (which I know is common). Or does their behavior
indicate something else? < They probably spawned but ate the
eggs.> Is there anything I can do to help them? < Clean the
filter and do a 30% water change. Get the water temp up to 80 degrees
F. Feed some live food like live brine shrimp, black worms , small
earth worms and high quality pellets. The following week do a 50% water
change and raise the water temp to 82 degrees F.> I have read that
things such as slowly increasing the temp (up to 80 or so), feeding
bloodworms, etc. can influence them and I have tried these things. Any
other suggestions? < Convicts are fairly easy to spawn. You have a
new young pair that will better with practice. They will try again very
soon.-Chuck> Thanks, Brian I need to know how to breed red x red
cichlids? If you don't know please give me a link. < Depends
on what red cichlids you want to breed. Red devils are substrate
spawning cichlids from Central America. They get about 10" + with
the male being larger and having longer fins that the female. It is
best to pick out six young fish and letting them pair up on their own
as they grow. The pair will form a pair bond and then clean off an area
and lay adhesive eggs on the surface. At 80 F the eggs will hatch and
then three days later the fry will become free swimming and need to be
fed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food. If you are trying to
breed Red Zebras from Lake Malawi then that will be entirely different.
Red Zebras are herbivores that require lots of algae in their diet. The
male will establish a territory and then try to attract a gravid female
to the site to breed. The female will lay non-adhesive eggs in the pit
and then pick them up in her mouth. The male will then fertilize them
and the female will be chased away and he will try to attract a new
female to the site. This mouthbrooding technique is very common in
cichlids from this area. After a couple of weeks the female will
release the fry in a safe area of the tank. She could be removed to
another tank to release the fry too.-Chuck>
Cichlid fry behavior Thanks in advance for
giving me your opinion. My name is Diane Scott. I am writing about my
20 gallon freshwater tank in which I have 5 cichlids (all about 1-1/2
inches in length and babies of my very healthy guys in a 55 gallon tank
elsewhere). I'm thinking something is very strange in this tank
because for the 6 months or so that I've had it set up, these fish
(1) hide behind rocks all the time and look freaked out; (2) rather
than swim, they lunge here and there to grab food but otherwise stay
hidden; and (3) the area between their eyes and to the tops of their
heads is turning brown! I have had fish for a few years and have never
seen anything so unusual. These guys seem absolutely miserable and I
have no idea why. I have an undergravel filter and two powerheads I
bought on EBay and a heater than I used previously without a problem.
Maybe there's a voltage leak in the tank? Heck I don't know.
Please tell me what you think and how to remedy the problem. You're
the best...thanks! < All cichlids are not alike. Fry usually hide to
survive from predators. They can develop stress coloration and markings
to blend in to the rocks. I would recommend some dither fish to give
the tank some activity and make the timid fry more comfortable to their
surroundings. Try adding a few barbs or rainbow fish to the tank and
see if your cichlids notice the new fish. In a few days I am confidant
that the cichlids will be out and about.-Chuck>
Flowerhorn Hello, I have a male Flowerhorn
and female Rose flower that mated and laid eggs. The Rose is swimming
across the eggs in a rubbing motion while the Flowerhorn approaches
periodically. Which eggs are fertile the white or clear and how long
will it take for the eggs to hatch? < The clear eggs are fertile and
the white ons are dead and need to be removed by the female before they
fungus up and destroy the rest of the eggs. They should hatch in three
days at 80 degrees. Three days later the fry will become free swimming
after absorbing their egg sac. At this time they need to be fed baby
brine shrimp and crushed flake food.-Chuck.> Thanks, Leo
Cichlid question Hello, I have a tank with
six cichlids, a Dempsey, African blue and two black convicts (male
& female- 3 years old) adults and 2 black convicts (2 months old).
The older female convict had babies two weeks ago and was a very dark
black. In the last two days he color returned back to a lighter gray
like she was before the babies and everything seemed fine. I came home
tonight to find her gasping with both sides of her body white, missing
scales and eyes glazed over. I have been checking various websites and
the only thing I have found is may be ich or some type of fungus but
I'm really not sure its ich since she didn't have any spots
last night and even today there were no spots on her tails or fins.
I'm concerned for the other fish in the tank, any idea of what this
is and what I need to so to not lose any of the other fish? Any
assistance is appreciated. < Sounds like the male convict decided to
spawn again but she was not ready and he beat her up. I recommend
separating her from the others until she recovers. Watch for fungus
infections and keep the water clean. Try treating the water with a
water conditioner that adds a protective slime on the body.-Chuck>
Thanks Anita
Flowerhorn pair behavior Respected sir/
madam, I recently brought a pair of flower horns from a local dealer (a
male and female), male slightly bigger than the female (the male is
about 8-10 cm long, the female 5-6cm long). Now I see the male
attacking the female and the female has some scars on her body. should
I now remove the female or is this a temporary action by the male. Hope
to get a reply soon. < Remove her to another tank or he will kill
her. Many times pair bonds are broken when fish are moved and need to
be reestablished. Try dividing the tank and keep each one on its own
side. When the female is ready to spawn she will begin to start to
flare back at the male. You can try and put them together for a short
time and see how it goes. Be aware that he can decide to kill her in
just a few hours so only put them together when you are home watching
them. Eventually when they start to breed again you can start leaving
the female with the male, but there is no guarantee when large cichlids
begin to breed.-Chuck> Thanking you , Rohan
Breeding Puffer with convicts? 8/18/04 Hi
<Hi, Pufferpunk here> I was wondering if you could breed a
Convict Cichlid with a Puffer fish? <About as easily as breeding a
cat & a dog. Just won't work.> Also I was wondering if you
could breed green Severums with Convict cichlids. <There has been
success interbreeding different species of cichlids together, but I
highly doubt you'd have much success with it.> Please email me
back with the answer Thank you. <Instead of concerning yourself with
breeding, why not try & study up as much as you can about the fish
you have & do the best you can to keep them alive, healthy &
long-lived? ~PP>
Cross-breeding or line-breeding? Hello All, Sandy here.
I have a question and not sure how to research for the answers. You
guys have helped me before and once again, I am stuck seeking for
answers. I currently have a 75 gallon cichlid tank with fake
plants....everything is fake. Inhabitants are: 1 electric yellow, 1
snow white socolofi, 1 kenyi (male) he's such a bully, 1 lab
textilis (he's worse than kenyi) 4 blood parrots, 2 Synodontis
eupterus, 1 common pleco, 1 Neolamprologus pulcher and 1 Neolamprologus
brichardi. Well I didn't know that the neo's are from a
different lake when I originally purchased them. I was so drawn in by
their fins and couldn't' resist buying them....So when I got
home, I did some research and discovered that they were not the same
species....but are from the same family. Well here's my
problem.....they had babies!!!! Obviously I was doing something right
for them to have babies, but then again I really didn't want to
breed any fish. As I discovered them, I also noticed that my parrots
also laid eggs but there's no need to worry about the parrots as
they'll never be able to have fry. =o) I know cross-breeding is
when you have 2 completely different species (i.e.: blood parrots) and
line-breeding is within the same family (kind of what they do with
bettas.) Since this case is with the same family, different race, would
it still be considered cross-breeding? < The pucher-brichardi
mixture is definitely a cross. Check and make sure that you do indeed
have two different species. The pulchers have a couple of dark half
moon markings behind the eye while the brichardi have one diagonal line
coming out towards the tail from behind the eye.> I'm still
confused. With all the research that I've done, the websites
don't really provide good examples for me to better understand.
I'm hoping you guys would know since you already know so much. The
male would be the pulcher and the female is the brichardi, they look
very identical with the exception of the gills. I originally thought
the brichardi was a male cuz it had longer fins than any other fish,
but then he started laying eggs, so he is really a she. After the 3rd
batch of eggs, I decided to remove the female to a 10 gallon tank which
I ended up buying to care for the fry which are now about 3-4 months
old. The 3 batches of eggs hatched within 2-3 weeks. I have about 100
babies or so, give or take a few dozen...and then I discovered that
when they are adult size, they can lay up to 200 eggs!!! What did I get
myself into? They've started to develop the ice blue and white on
their fins which is really beautiful to look at. Some of them have blue
fins like the pulcher and some of them have the white fins like the
brichardi. I don't want to keep them anymore and I am planning to
take the parents back to the LFS. As for the babies, I'm not sure
what to do with them. I found some places that will take them in but
haven't really decided to until I find out whether or not this
would be considered cross-breeding. Is it cross-breeding or
line-breeding or neither? < Your crosses would make an interesting
photo since you are the first person I have heard from that has crossed
these two fish.> I don't' think it would be line-breeding
would it? <NO> Please help! I'm debating whether or not I
want a Malawi tank or a Tanganyika tank.....If I decide to keep a
Malawi tank, I'm taking all the others back except for the catfish
and parrots and if I keep a Tanganyika tank, I'm taking all the
Malawians back. *sigh* I apologize if this is a bit long but I wanted
to make sure I give you guys enough information. =o) < As long as
the fish you take to the store are correctly marked as crosses then you
could either sell them there or feed them as culls to a larger fish. It
is strange that the two species never really overlap their
territories.-Chuck> Thanks, A confused Sandy...Cross-breeding Fishes... it happens 8/2/04 Could you tell me if
Texas Cichlid will spawn with a another kind of Cichlid. like a black
Convict? I have a male Texas Cichlid and a Black Female Convict in a 29
gal Tank. < A hybrid between these two fish has been done before and
is not that uncommon when a suitable mate of the same species is not
available.-Chuck> Oscar and BP cross Hi guys - just a quickie
- I've looked everywhere and can't find this info - so it's
over to you. 55 gal tank - one 8 inch tiger Oscar and one 8inch peach
coloured Blood Parrot. And one nest with lots of eggs (the BP is the
female) Is this going to work - and has it been done before ? (All of
the above was quite accidental, and I have no intention of passing any
fry on). < Hybridizing cichlids is actually quite easy and happens
all the time. Since you parrot cichlid is already a hybrid between
three different cichlids it doesn't surprise me that she would
spawn with an Oscar. I am sure it has been done before. I am not sure
what you mean when you ask is this going to work? Do you mean are the
fry going to be viable? So far no one has published any such spawn so
It is hard to say?-Chuck> Thanks Colin Ahern
Blood Parrot (cichlid) Hello, I have two parrot fish yellow
and red. they are about 2.5 in. they are with electric blue cichlid and
a lemon yellow cichlid, and 3 clown loaches. my question is my yellow
parrot fish was a pretty yellow but is getting black on his fins and
under his head. is this something I should be concerned about? thank
you, Darci < Parrot fish are a hybrid between a few different
species of cichlids. Color changes are not unheard of. If the fish look
and act OK then I think the color change is most likely from the fishes
genetics rather than environmental conditions or
diseases.-Chuck>
Oscar + Dempsey My father recently bought me an Oscar which I
already had 1 Dempsey, 1 pacu and 1 gourami in my tank for the past 6
months. As soon as I put the Oscar in, the Dempsey laid eggs. Is
crossbreeding possible or will they live if I follow the directions
that I have already read about separating the fry and adding the blue
stuff? I am very new at this.... I love fish but never had to deal with
this. please help. They were laid yesterday and today is Monday. How
long do I have? < Your Jack Dempsey is from Mexico and the Oscar is
from South America. They never see each other in the wild so natural
crosses are not possible. In the aquarium all bets are off. If the eggs
are viable then they will hatch in three days or so at 80 degrees. The
fry will need to be fed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food three
days after hatching. If they are not any good then they will turn white
and fungus or the female will eat them.-Chuck> thanks, Natalie
Parrot Cichlid Repro. Hi I have been keeping fishes all my life.
Initially I used to keep livebearers such as Mollies and guppies. It
was no problem at all to have them to breed. In fact I had so many fry
that I used to gift them to my friends. Now I have changed the scene. I
have given away all my live bearers and have 4 parrot cichlids. I want
to know which is a male and which is a female. Three of them are bright
pink coloured and one of them is yellow. Two of them have white spots
on their bodies near the tail. The third one too has them but in a very
less quantity compared to the other two. The yellow one does not have
any such spots. One of the pink one shows some kind of stripes at
times. I don't know if it is my illusion. The same fish even has
some black spots near the tail. That's all I know about them. I am
very eager to breed them. Could you please advise how? Thank you very
much. < Parrot cichlids are an artificial fish that are man made and
do not occur in nature. They are a hybrid of at least three different
species. Typically when you want to sex new world cichlids, the males
are larger and have longer fins. The colors of parrot cichlids probably
aren't very good indicators of sexual determination. In normal
cichlids you can take them in your hand and turn them upside down and
look at the ventral areas to determine the sex of many, but not all
cichlids.-Chuck>
Lots of Questions - Fresh and Salt water right now i have a
lot of problems with my fish. one is My valentine puffer is sick but
their is no dots or marks on him and it looks like he is in critical
condition. can you help < Need more info like the water conditions
and how long he has been sick.> Another Question I have 2 aquariums
1 is fresh 1 is salt water. I feed my cichlids cichlid floating
pellets. I also found out that my trigger fish like them to. is it ok
to feed them the pellets. < Even though your puffer likes the
cichlids pellets it is best to get him back on track with regular food
made for saltwater fish for long term health.> This one is a lot
simpler how do you determine the gender of a jewel cichlid and a Texas
cichlid. < Male cichlid generally have longer more pointed fins and
are larger than the females too.-Chuck>
Parrot Cichlid Reproduction Hi, I am a novice with a 14
gallon freshwater tank. I have 3 small parrots, about 6 or 7 moths old
which grew from about 3/8 inches to about 1, 21/2 and 3 inches. They
are a translucent pinkish color, but the two smaller ones have orange
bands that appear and disappear depending on the day. The largest one
never changes. It seems that the two larger paired off. Recently I
thought they were fighting a lot, but today I came home from work and
went to feed them and found I have hundreds of small swimming fish that
look like tadpoles. They seem to gravitate around a coral reef and the
gravel bottom and the two larger fish are hovering around them
constantly. Will the older fish eat them? < Your pair of parrot fish
have indeed spawned. Although they are a genetic hybrids they are
fertile. They will take care of the fry for a couple of weeks and if
they are not removed then they will be eaten by the parents.> or
protect them? < They do a good job protecting the eggs and the fry
from other fish just like most substrate spawning cichlids for a while.
It depends on how hungry the parents get.> What do I feed them?
<The fry can be feed baby brine shrimp , Microworms crushed, flake
food when they become free swimming.> Apparently, I have a male and
a female and they bred. Will they live and if so, what do I do with all
of them. < Well you can try and sell them to your local fish store.
If nothing else maybe trade them in for fish food.> My third,
smaller parrot is staying away. In fact it does not look well and is
keeping to a corner at the top of my tank. Where do I go for help? <
The other odd ball parrot fish will constantly be harassed by the
parents. They look at him as a threat to eat their fry. Maybe you can
trade him in or put him in another tank.-Chuck> Thanks, Lynne
Get the fry to eat dry? Hello, wondering if someone could
tell me how I can get my angel fish fry to start eating dry food. They
are about 3.5 weeks old and all they've ever eaten is newly hatched
brine shrimp. I've put in crushed flake and pellet but they will
not take. Even tried them on frozen daphnia- no go. Should I quit the
shrimp and they would have to eat the dry because of hunger? <Try
smaller feedings of brine shrimp once a day. Offer them crushed flake
food first thing in the morning. Make sure it is a high quality flake
food. And then try the baby brine late in the day. See if the adults
eat the flake food. Try OSI brine shrimp flake to start and then a
general flake with brine shrimp flakes in it later on. -Chuck>
Convicted to the Gravel I have two sets of 2-3 week old baby
convicts in my tank along with a few other fish. I noticed that some of
the babies were mixed in with the gravel on the bottom of the tank... I
have not tried to move anything in fear of causing more damage than
helping the little one's. Will they be able to get out of the
gravel? Is there something that I could do to help? They have never
done this before.. < At this time the fry should be mobile enough to
get around just fine. At feeding time they should be up and about out
of the gravel. The parents will be able to help them if needed. If your
gravel is so coarse that the fry have all fallen to the bottom, then I
would recommend removing the gravel or at least changing to a finer
sand so this does not happen in the future. They should spawn again in
a couple of weeks. -Chuck>
Jewel Cichlids spawning! hello again :) I had 5 jewels in a
10 gallon tank and recently moved them to a 40 hex tank. I'm having
issues trying to determine what to do when they lay eggs, its
bewildering. when they were in the 10 gallon, 2 of them paired off and
moved their "house" over a flat rock and made camp in there
for about a week. I was sitting watching them when I noticed the green
rock under their house was now a light beige. when I looked closer I
noticed lots and lots and lots of tiny round balls, eggs! and the mom
fish was still laying them so I put off doing a water change that week,
not knowing if it would hurt them or not. I separated the parents and
the eggs from the other 3 fish with a screen and just kept watch. when
I got home from work the next day though, like 75% of the eggs were
missing! I thought the parents were eating them so I put the parents on
the other side of the screen, too. dang, you should have seen them try
to fight their way through the screen to get to the eggs. anyway, the
day after that the eggs that were left on the rock turned white and
fuzzy. well I figured they were dead eggs and it was time for a water
change so I took the screen out. all the fish did the most disgusting
thing and feasted on the fuzzy eggs. so that was trial number one, on
to trial number two... now like everyone I've talked to said that
the fish will take a month to try again.. mine did the very next week.
I relocated them all to a brand new 40 hex with all the little luxuries
and the same parents as last time did their thing and dug a pit at the
back of the tank near a flat rock and moved their house on top of the
pit and the same mom fish laid the eggs. I didn't separate them
this time and again the next day almost all the eggs were gone and the
mom fish was putting them in her mouth. I've been reading up and
some say the mom fish will incubate the eggs in her mouth and some say
they relocate them to the pit. I cant see anything in the pit and the
parents are no longer guarding the site. I've tried peering into
her mouth but its just impossible to tell, but this is day 4. do mom
fish stop eating when they have eggs in their mouths? cause mine sure
didn't, she's a pig. so I guess what I'm asking is what do
I need to do better to reduce the loss of eggs and possibly fry if they
do their thing again? thanks bunches! ~Erin < Young jewelfish
usually eat their eggs the first few times. Feed the pair very well
with worms or shrimp so they won't get hungry. When they spawn try
and leave the eggs with the parents and try not to disturb them too
much. They will fan the eggs and provide oxygen for them. As you found
out when you removed the parents that the eggs soon died. If you really
want to save the eggs then when they lay the eggs on a rock you can
move the rock to another tank that has been filled with water from the
original tank. Add an airstone so the water is circulating and a
current is always over the eggs. Some antifungal medication may help
too. After 3 days at 80 degrees the eggs will hatch into a small
wriggling mass. Three days later the fish will start popping up like
popcorn. Eventually they will become free swimming and will require
food at this time.-Chuck>
Blue Acara babies Hi. i have just found a nest of Acara
babies in my tank. <Congratulations> have removed all other fish
and am wondering how to care for the little guys. what to feed?
<Baby brine shrimp will work well for free swimming fry. As they get
older and a little bigger I would try some finely crushed flake food
too.> how to get it to them as they are on the bottom? < Blue
Acaras are substrate spawners. They lay their eggs out in the open on a
piece of glass or on a stone . After three days at 80 degrees the eggs
hatch and fall into a depression excavated by the parents. After an
additional three days the fry absorb their egg sac and become free
swimming. It at this time that they need to be fed. I put the brine
shrimp into an eye dropper and shoot it into the school of fry a few
times each day.> when to separate from parents? < Keep the
parents well fed and they should leave the fry alone for a couple of
weeks if there is not too much activity in and around the tank> they
appear to be a couple days old. came home from a six day vacation and
there they were, already swimming in a little group herded by the
parents, who move them from place to place. not sure what to do next.
< If you want to save them then in the morning before you turn on
the lights they will be asleep in a little mass on the bottom of the
tank. Take a long piece or airline tubing an siphon some of the babies
out into another tank. If you want to see the parents guard their fry
for awhile then leave some in their.> just feed baby brine shrimp
and leave them alone? < You can try other foods too like Microworms
if you have access to cultures> and for how long? < After a
couple of weeks the female may begin to ripen with eggs. She will get
hungry and eat the spawn. Don't worry they have very large spawns
and you will have more fry than you will know what to do with>
thanks for your advice. < Welcome to the wonderful world of
cichlids.-Chuck> Kim
Cichlids Breeding Like Rabbits! Yes I am having some trouble
with my cichlids right now; they keep breeding like rabbits. The other
day I had a demsani have babies and I don't know how because I only
have one of these and the rest are all zebras. Please write back.
<Your fish are cross breeding. In the wild Ps. demsani comes from a
small reef in Lake Malawi and probably does not come in contact with
any Metraclima zebra types. If a female is ready to breed she will
probably accept any suitable fish that closely resembles her or her
breeding habits. The fry then should not be distributed to any of your
friends or traded to any fish stores. If your tank is large enough you
could get a Dimidichromis compressiceps or a Nimbochromis venustus or
N. livigstoni. These large Haplochromines feed on small fry in the wild
and would soon make a meal out of any fry your fish could be producing.
You bring up a very good point when keeping Lake Malawian cichlids ,
that breeding stock should be kept in a single species tank so crossing
does not happen and strains remain pure. -Chuck>
Re: my cichlids keep breeding like rabbits how do I stop them
I don't think I will be feeding these babies to any other fish as a
matter of fact I already have found like 6 fish stores that are willing
to actually pay for the fish and that is unusual < Stores are a
business and they will try and sell whatever they can to make money.
Parrot cichlids and Flowerhorns are a couple examples of these
"Designer Cichlids". Usually when two species interbreed
their fry are rather unattractive and refer erred to as
"mutts". Occasionally there is a combination that generates
an attractive offspring. You may have stumbled on to such a
combination. There are other crosses out there such as a mottled
peacock, that is a cross between a Aulonocara and a mottles zebra that
has become commercially available.> I swear they are the most
beautiful I have seen yet they actually came out with cobalt blue
stripes and some totally white with black spots but yet they kept the
body form of the demsani rather than the zebras < I would hope that
the store actually labels these fish as a cross so unsuspecting buyers
can decide if they want this fish or not. What are they going to be
called?
Something to do with cichlids: wow thanks for getting back to
me so fast! i tried the blood worm thing again after work today about
five minutes ago. they usually keep the dorsal fins flat but now
they're like full sail and they turned a mottled dark gray beige,
give em a few minutes and im sure it'll go to pink. they generally
turn pink if i put a new fish in there or when they're chasing any
of the other fish around, so once in a great while, not too often
though. i don't understand the tail thing though that's a new
one on me. i didn't think fish could put their tails at 45 and 90
degree angles like that and just sit there and keep them that way
without going anywhere. thanks for the advice and if they do anything
else weird like sing show tunes or something you'll be the ones i
come to! ~Erin :) < Keep the temperature at 80 degrees and do a 50%
water change. If they are thinking about spawning then this should do
the trick.-Chuck> Blood Parrot + Red Devil I hope to hear
from you! I have a 120 gallon tank in which I have had a green ? parrot
in. <Very unfortunately, the parrot cichlids are dyed different
colors to make them "more attractive" to prospective buyers.
This practice can cause the fish stress and harm, and is only
temporary, in any case - the fish will fade and have only its natural
color over time. A very useless, pointless practice, in my mind.
Don't be afraid when the green starts to fade - it's a good
thing.> My husband bought a red devil (juvenile) about a month ago.
I knew recently they acted like the parrot was building a nest in a
pot, but I wasn't sure if it was a territory thing or what.
<Could it be.... love??> I noticed two days ago, they are
suddenly inseparable in the pot and have laid eggs. <Love,
indeed!> They act like devoted parents but I am surprised about the
devil being so young and of course their choices of mates! <To be
honest, I'm not surprised at all that they are trying to breed. The
parrot is a crossbreed of Amphilophus citrinellum, Cichlasoma
synspilum, and others, very likely including Amphilophus labiatum, the
red devil. Now, whether the eggs are viable or not is another question
entirely - one which time will answer for you.> I have always had
African cichlids in the past, but this is new to me. I have read so
much conflicting info on both these fish, I don't know what to
believe, especially about this match up. <Do please take a look
here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/neotropcichlids.htm
> Do you think the eggs will hatch? or be in fertile because of them
being different? <I do not know. It is possible that the crossbred
parrots are infertile. Again, time will tell.> I also am having
trouble identifying the parrot, she has the exact body shape as a blood
parrot but is greenish-blue and now she is breeding she is almost a
yellow color with black stripes! <Ah, good, probably she has faded
back to her normal color. The green should not return.> and has blue
eyes. Not the typical red color that everyone talks about. <The red
ones are usually a real color, not dyed, just bred to be more vibrant
than the others, or perhaps having genetic lineage of more red-colored
species. They can be anything from brownish/yellowish on up through
orange and red. I would wager that you do, in fact, have a parrot, no
worries.> I have yet to really find a picture of her online. What
other name could she have, because she is the parrot body but totally
different in color. Any suggestions? <Look under parrot cichlid,
blood parrot, red blood parrot - a google search will probably yield
something.> Thanks so much, Lori Conrad <Wishing you well,
-Sabrina>
Blood Parrot + Red Devil, II Thank you for answering my
question about my parrot and red devil spawning. <Sure thing.>
Now at least 90% of the eggs are white. I don't know if this is
because of infertility of one of the parents or could it be because of
it being two different parents? <More likely the parrot is
infertile.> They are already preparing another nest elsewhere.
<Jeez, worse than newlyweds!> The red devil is only about4-5
inches long and without a hump. I wish I could help produce a viable
spawning. What are your suggestions? <Ah, to tell you the truth, I
am very much against crossbreeding/hybridizing fish. Beyond that,
though, if your parrot is infertile, there's really nothing that
you can do about it. At least you can sit back and enjoy their spawning
behaviour, and not have to figure out what to do with fifty small fish
later on! If you are quite interested in breeding, you might want to
consider finding a female for your red devil and setting up a separate
tank for the parrot. Could be a lot of fun!> Thanks so much, again,
Lori Conrad <I'm sorry I don't have better news for you, but
it certainly sounds like your fish are very happy. Congratulations!
-Sabrina>
Egg Eaters My breeding pair of Severums keeps eating the
eggs. What can I do to prevent this? They reside in a 75 gallon tank
with a 5 inch pleco. <Any other tankmates, or is that it?> They
are not very aggressive after they lay the eggs like most other
Severums I've seen. Anyway, what can I do to get these eggs to
hatch? <I read an account where someone had a breeding pair of
angels that ate batch after batch of eggs, and instead of raising the
fry himself, he put an African butterflyfish (Pantodon buchholzi) in
the tank with them to see if that would elicit defensive behavior from
the angels (I believe his reasoning behind using this species was that
they really pose no threat to eggs, as they only eat live fish or
insects that find their way to the surface of the water). If you try
something like this, be sure to use a fish that poses no threat to the
eggs, will keep its distance from the angels, and can be easily removed
once the eggs hatch - and even still, there's no guarantee
whatsoever that it will work, but it might be worth a try. You can
always remove the eggs once the parents are through laying and
hatching/raising them yourself. Hope all goes well, -Sabrina>
Cichlid Eggs I have a 55 gal tank with large cichlids for
about a year now. I was out of town this weekend and when I came back
there were eggs laid on the undergravel filter which was cleared of all
the gravel by my Texas cichlid. <cool, also a good example of why
under gravel filters are not ideal for cichlids.> Should I assume
all the eggs will hatch and remove all my large cichlids? <If
possible you might try to section them off in the same tank. There is
definitely a better chance of them hatching without the other cichlids
in there.> I had a convict once that laid eggs on a rock one day and
ate them all the next day. <Mine did that too the first time the
spawned.> I would like to try to keep the eggs this time and
hopefully get some fry this time. Any suggestions? <If it does not
work out this time you could try putting the pair of Texas Cichlids in
a tank of their own, maybe with some pieces of slate for them to spawn
on, if you need to hatch out the fry in a separate tank it is a lot
easier to remove the slate than the under gravel filter. Whoa, I just
noticed the date on this email, not sure what happened, but sorry for
the delayed response, your eggs have probably either hatched or been
eaten by now. If your fish spawned once, I am sure they will spawn
again. Best Regards, Gage> Thanks, Jeff
Fertilizing Oscar Eggs - 8/15/03 Can Methylene blue be used
to fertilize Oscar eggs. <Hmmm... I'm wondering if you mean to
ask if it will prevent fungus from developing on the eggs? If so, yes.
I'm assuming you already have a female that laid the eggs, and a
male that fertilized them... and now wish to improve the chances for a
successful hatch. Anthony>
Angelfish Genetic Problems and Breeding About a year ago I
swapped some large fish for smaller ones including a half dozen tiny
angel fish that had been spawned at the fish store. The angels have
grown up into gorgeous glittering fish and I am now thinking of
breeding a pair before I trade some back to the fish store for other
small fish. Of my 6 angels, 2 are genetically deficient (one has no
lower fins, one has too many lower fins), one has been single eyed (so
swims like a flounder) probably through early accident but has good
body conformation otherwise. <Okay> I am assuming that the larger
fish in each of the naturally occurring 'pairs' forming in the
tank is a different gender than the noticeably smaller other part of
the pair. <Actually, it's almost impossible to tell until they
do breed. Size does not necessarily mean much in sexing these beautiful
fish.> My most perfect large angel has paired with a fish with bulgy
eyes and puckered lips who otherwise has good form. (I think of this
smaller fish as 'she' so forgive me if I am using the wrong
pronoun here.) She has had the puckered lips and bulgy eyes for three
or four months and seems to be the equal of any other angel in the tank
in terms of eating and other behaviors. <Okay, so this sounds to be
much more likely genetic deficiencies rather than illnesses, especially
with the other deformities mentioned.> When I stopped by the fish
store the other day I noted that in the pair who are parents of my
brood, the smaller fish also has the puckered lips and bulgy eyes. When
I asked about it, the fish store owner said he didn't know why but
that the fish has been that way for as long as he can remember. My
question is whether this sounds like a disease and/or parasite to be
treated or whether I should assume the genetics are just wrong for
breeding. <I'd put my money on genetic deformities.> If
disease/parasite, I can turn the tank I am ageing for a breeding tank
into an infirmary tank if I know what/how I am treating the fish. Since
a pairing seems to have occurred, would I be wise to keep 'her'
with her mate in the infirmary tank? <Well, I don't think
there's anything to treat for, especially if she's been like
this all her life. Please, though, do reconsider breeding the fish with
obvious genetic problems. Continuing to breed deformed fish will
contribute to weakening the species. Also, since these fish are from
the same spawn, there's even more chance at deformities. And we can
only see the deformities that manifest as malformed fins, poor body
shape, etc; we can't see the other weaknesses that may be lurking
underneath all that, like a greater susceptibility to illnesses, or
malformed organs in the fish. If you do breed them, though, please do
cull any fish with obvious deformities. I know it sounds horrible, but
it really is necessary with such inbred strains of fish to try to keep
the strain healthy.> Thanks for any suggestions you may have. Cathy
<I'm sorry if I've been the bearer of bad news - but it may
still be possible to breed your most well-formed angel with another
well-formed angel from a completely different source. This would help
get some new genes into the mix, rather than strengthening bad genes
with breeding fish from the same spawn. -Sabrina>
Angelfish Genetic Problems and Breeding, Follow-up I do have
several in the batch who appear perfect enough to be worthy of
breeding--hopefully they are opposite sex :) I do recognize the need to
not breed malformed fish. When I got mine they were smaller than a dime
and you really couldn't tell that much about them yet. And since
even though not perfect they add charm and beauty to my tank they sort
of become 'family'. Certainly no deformed fish will be leaving
here to exchange back into the pet store. <Thank you very kindly for
understanding. I do very much agree that even the deformed fish are a
hundred percent of the personality of well formed fish. Thank you also
for seeing to it that no malformed fish get back into the trade, where
unsuspecting buyers may breed them and worsen the strain/species some
more.> While I would love to get a different genetic line in here I
have seen no goldens in fish stores around here that practiced enough
sanitation I would be willing to take a fish home. <Do take a look
at some of the reputable online angelfish breeders.> So we will give
this a try and if there is too high a percentage of deformed offspring,
not let it happen again. <Sounds like an excellent plan.>
Certainly appreciate the advice. Cathy <You got it. -Sabrina>
Fuzzy Eggs My red tiger Oscar has laid eggs, 2days later the
eggs turned into a white cotton-like substance this is the first time
they have laid eggs and I don't know what to expect .I am a first
time Oscar owner I have had them for a year now. please help Mr.
Curious <The white cotton-like substance, or fuzzy stuff, is most
likely a fungus from the infertile eggs, or dirty water, they are
rather messy fish. I would use a small siphon tube to suck out the bad
eggs and the fungus. If you were to remove the good eggs to a separate
tank some Methylene blue could be added to the water to help prevent
the fungus. Best of Luck, Gage>
Oscar Eggs Thanks gage, but it has spread over all the eggs.
(unable to save any) <bummer> I don't know ! maybe I have 2
females <it's possible> and then again maybe not. as I'm
typing I looked over at the tank and they have begun to lip lock all
over again and change in color a bit with their mouths open. <sounds
like flirting to me.> HOPEFULLY NEXT TIME MR. CURIOUS <I might
consider a second tank to move the eggs to. -Gage>
Breeding, supplying cichlids for profit Hello, For the past
month or so I have been researching everything I can find on breeding
and importing Cichlids. That's when I came across your website
which is great, very informative. I want to start a business supplying
the local fish stores and general public with high quality Cichlids as
the selection around me is pretty pitiful. <Where are you
located?> Eventually I may put up a website but I'm kind of far
from an airport so I'm guessing shipping would be difficult.
<Yes, possible trouble. How will you get your live product to your
customers? Have you looked into FedEx, UPS?> This is my second
attempt at breeding Cichlids for profit. The first time I tried I did
everything wrong and ended up getting out of it. This time I want to
start out right and I'm hoping you can help. In your experience is
it possible for me to make money supplying local fish stores? <Has
been done, yes> I don't need to make a fortune (it would be nice
though) I'm just looking to bring home some extra cash. Also Could
you supply me with maybe a punch list of things to do to get started.
Also maybe some tips on how to set-up my tanks and centralized filter
system to make it as maintenance free as possible without costing me a
fortune. <These items are archived on the WWM site. Do read through
the Business Index/subweb> I will continue to read the articles on
your site as I'm sure most of the information I'm looking for
is in there. But I am eager to start and was hoping you could direct me
to the right articles or provide any help you can. Thanks in advance
for your help. Thanks, Steve Bruni <Do study and keep good notes for
now... while drawing up plans, looking for used gear (in good shape).
Bob Fenner>
Induced Breeding I have a question that I am hoping you can
help me out with. I am interested in feed breeding from a pet hobbyist
point of view. Often I can raise many more fish than I can get from one
spawning - will hormone injections allow me to increase the number of
offspring or frequency of spawnings? Do both males and females need to
be injected? <Can be either or both. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hormmanfsh.htm>
On another note, I breed cichlids. Do you think that the use of hormone
injections would induce fish to interbreed which wouldn't normally
breed at all - that is, fish that are separated by special differences
based on behavior or coloration could be induced to mate and produce
young (probably sterile young - but oh well). <I strongly discourage
this (interbreeding) practice. Better for all to keep species
separated> This is very important to me- thanks for getting back as
soon as possible. Dominic Ebacher <Bob Fenner>
Re: Induced Breeding Bob, <Dominic> Thank you for your
quick reply. The reason I wanted to know about the cichlid
interbreeding wasn't for the purposes of hobby keeping, I'm
sorry I didn't make that clear. I'm a card carrying
environmentalist - and I care deeply about preserving genetic
diversity, and creating monster hybrids was not my goal. <Our values
are confluent> The reason I need to know about the interbreeding is
for my scientific endeavors. I am interested in the differences of
traits and behaviors between different (but closely related) cichlid
species. The best way to study this is through Quantitative Trait Loci
analysis, but in order to perform this experiment one must create
hybrids (an F1) generation and study them to determine the genetic
location of the genes involved in patterning the traits one is
interested in. <There is a bit about this in the scientific
literature. Am sure you are aware> So, knowing that I'm not out
to make monsters, but to benefit our fishy friends - do you think that
use of hormones could overcome the species barriers to create F1's
in related cichlid species. How far do you think it could be pushed?
<Yes, could be done with not much trouble. My MSc. work was involved
in such issues (Hormonal manipulation as an aquacultural technique)
with Mullets (Mugil cephalus)> I bet that all of the species in Lake
Malawi and Victoria could interbreed, based on strict chromosome number
comparisons and arrangements - but it is their differences which matter
and finding these out requires the experiments that I propose.
<Don't think all, but many have been crossed unintentionally by
aquarists> If you don't know for sure - could you point me in
the right direction to someone who might? <What specifically are you
seeking? Broodstock? Technique input? I would do a thorough search of
what is known currently first here. Bob Fenner> Thanks again,
you're a great help! Dominic Ebacher
Re: Jack Dempsey How can you tell the girl from the boy
<The male will have longer, more pointed dorsal and anal fins and
will have a longer body. Ronni><Actually, unlike most cichlids,
females are larger in this species. Bob>
Re: VERY IRRESPONSIBLE: looking for cichlid stock Do a google
search to find IBAMA. It has information on the agency, licensing, and
the importance of the aquarium industry to the Brazilian economy. For
further questions on how IBAMA regulates all aspects of environmental
(ambiento) issues in Brazil, contact them directly, or query Labbish
Chao who runs the Piabas program on sustainable fisheries. His email
address is [email protected]. Let me reiterate and emphasize that I was
asked for information by someone who has graciously assisted me in my
own efforts. I was not asked to advise on the project nor given any
information on the design or licensing. And I don't think it is
appropriate for me to ask unless I am a stakeholder. There are already
African cichlids in pet stores in Brazil. I assume there are fish farms
there too. I also assume that IBAMA regulates everything at least as
well as our own EPA and probably better. <Thank you for this input
Dr. G. Bob Fenner> Robert J. Goldstein, Ph.D.
VERY IRRESPONSIBLE: looking for cichlid stock Dear Bob, I
think that what your friend Marcos is planning is very irresponsible
and will be disastrous to the indigenous species. <Am very hopeful
this would/will not be the case... as you and I strongly agree...
releasing any non-indigenous life to an area where it can
"survive" is a travesty and a disaster> I am surprised
that you are getting involved with the project!! <Mmm, not
involved... only posted a call on our sites for others to assist in
providing stocks to Robert.G> I know that Tanganyikan species are
from hard water and the water in Brazil is soft, but species adapt to
all water conditions and then destroy the natural species. Tilapia are
a case in point. <A very sore one... Oreochromis spp. are spread all
over the planet> How will Marcos be breeding the African Cichlids?
Perhaps in indoor tanks to start of with, but soon it will be outdoor
ponds where escapes are inevitable every rainy season. <I would hope
that there are safeguards in place to absolutely preclude escape...
sterile triploids produced... all discharge water sterilized...>
Please, please persuade Marcos to stick with Brazilian cichlids and
fish. <A better idea for food culture for sure. I don't know
what the end purpose of their culture was/is... thought perhaps it was
scientific, or to produce ornamentals...> Please keep me informed. I
look forward to your reply. <Be chatting my friend, fellow content
provider. Bob Fenner, WetWebMedia.com> Regards, Iggy Tavares
looking for cichlid stock All - Marcos, a friend in Brazil,
is seeking SMALL stock of several kinds of cichlids for a farming
operation. Please contact me if you can provide them, or pass this on
to any cichlid chat groups or suppliers who might be able to assist.
Thanks. We can arrange shipment from your location to Brazil. - Bob
Goldstein <All right Bob. Okay to post your email re? Bob Fenner>
Exochochromis anagenys ....copper parrotfish Tropheus moori ...
pineapple monark Xenotilapia lepeli ..... blue spot sand dweller
Tropheus moorii .....yellow banded monarch Cyphotilapia frontosa
.......seven stripe frontosa small size...We show you the name from
some cichlids that we are trying to find...if you get some will be
excellent...but small size.. Best regards Marcos PS. inform us the
price....in Curitiba we have who get it to sent to us. Robert J.
Goldstein, Ph.D. Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc. 8480 Garvey
Drive Raleigh, NC 27616 tel (919) 872-1174 tel (800) 407-0889 fax (919)
872-9214 [email protected] URL www.rjgaCarolina.com
Cichlids sexing, sex Bob Thanks. How do you identify a male
or female cichlid? Never kept them before. Are they easy to breed?
<A very large, diverse family... in most of the more than one
thousand species, males are larger, as adults more colorful, with
longer, pointed unpaired fins... Some species are regularly spawned,
others more trying. Put the name "cichlid" in your search
engines... and take a while to learn. Bob Fenner> Perry
Fish parents I recently had 2 jewel cichlids lay their first
clutch of eggs. I was so proud. But sadly enough the next day the eggs
were gone. I know it is somewhat "normal" for new parents to
devour their first spawning(s) but how soon can I again expect to see
eggs if I keep up with the same feeding and cleaning regimen? <days
to weeks...usually within 2-3 weeks if they are on cycle> I was
going to ask earlier because I was due to make a water change but then
saw the eggs, so I waited. But unfortunately did not have to wait long.
Is it bad to make a water change right after eggs are laid? <many
theories...but I do think so> For future reference, and all. Thanks
for always being quick to write back! <best of luck
"grandpa". Anthony Calfo>
Oscars (spawning, rearing) I e mailed u before about my
tanks. my question for u though is that my Oscars just had there first
spawning in the trigon 350 and I am a little unsure if to leave them in
there as there is a plec and a catfish in the tank. <If this is the
first or second, third spawning, do leave them all be as they are
now... too traumatic to be moving any, all fishes, young around. And
this tank is big enough to allow the "plec and catfish" to
get out of the Oscars way... and run away. In a few spawns, I would
utilize an easy to remove spawning medium (like a large clay flower
pot, piece of slanted slate... and remove this to a rearing tank... Do
start studying up about these affairs, planning on space to raise
whatever number of young you think you might want... raising foods for
them... Bob Fenner> do u think I should set up another tank or leave
them with their proud folks any help would be much appreciated Alex
Longed Finned Albino Oscars Sir, PLEASE HELP ME!!! I have two
Longed Finned Albino Oscars in a four foot tank. The larger of the two
is about 14 inches long, the smaller is about 12 inches. I believe that
they are about 2.5 years old and we hope that are a breedable pair.
<Do keep your eyes on them... this is a very small tank for such
mature specimens and things can go sideways quick should they start
fighting> I have seen lip locking and some very industrious rock
cleaning. The rock is a flat piece of slate. The larger fish does
occasionally move small amounts of gravel. The smaller of the two
Oscars laid eggs approx 12 months ago so I know that I have at least
one female. The other fish showed no signs of interest. I feed them
mainly with barramundi pellets and live fish and occasionally crayfish.
I am disappointed that they have not bred. Could you offer any
suggestions to push along the process? e.g. water temperature, PH
level, hardness, water quality, water changes. Thank you for you time,
Brad. <It's possible you have two females... and there is a hard
fact I must convey. In order to keep the price and availability of
these hybrids controlled, the folks who produce them in the Far East
try to sterilize them (with high temperature, chemicals)... so breeding
pairs outside the area are exceedingly rare. Care is per the
"regular" Oscar, Astronotus ocellatus: pH range: 6.0 - 8.0;
dH range: 5.0 - 19.0 temp. 22-25 C. Best to condition pairs, keep
together, with large, regular water changes. Bob Fenner>
Rare Spawning Oscars please could you answer a couple of
questions for me. firstly is it ok to have my 2 Oscars in a 350 L tank?
<Yes, certainly to both> how many could I have? <Two would be
a good number for once they're about full size> secondly in my 4
foot tank is that big enough for a Volitans and a Odonus niger?
<Should be... just assure the Lion isn't large enough to swallow
the Trigger when the latter is small, and that the Trigger doesn't
harass, deprive the Lion of food when it is larger> the tank holds
about 210 L both English litres the marine tank is run by a Fluval 303
and an AMiracle trickle filter and also another Fluval with a uv
sterilizer attached to it. thanks for your help Alex <Be chatting my
friend. Bob Fenner>
Fish breeding (cichlids in a ten gallon!) Howdy, I have a 10
gal. tank with a Texas cichlid and a black convict (had a small Oscar
in there too, but the other two got too territorial). They laid eggs
about a week ago and now there are a bunch of fry. I was just curious
on how to take care of them and what exactly I need to do to keep them
alive. Thanks, Jay <Yikes... this is a very small size system for
trying to keep these fishes... let alone breeding, rearing young.
Cichlids of this sort are raised in one of two general ways, with or
w/o their parents... in such a small system, I would move the parents
out to another tank (they'll likely spawn again in a couple of
weeks...). Feed the young a few times a day... dried foods,
frozen/defrosted... most anything fed to fishes... in small pieces/bits
(run in a blender or between your fingers... I would get/use a couple
of sponge filters for inside the tank and be careful about changing the
water as well... small amounts very often would be best (a piece of
airline tubing to remove a gallon per day, replaced with
pre-conditioned, stored water is best...). And do start searching for
at least another tank to remove the larger of the juveniles to as they
get bigger than their kin... as they can/will harm each other if
greatly different in size. Take a look on the Net and bookshops... for
the general Cichlid books by Paul Loiselle... for much more... and
congratulations! Bob Fenner>
Kribs, Spawning... Dear Mr. Fenner, First and foremost, THANK
YOU SO VERY MUCH for getting back to me so incredibly quickly. Needless
to say, I've been spending my days (and nights) reading through
just about the entire WetWebMedia website. What an unbelievably
informative site - and eye-opener! <Yes... a bunch to "do"
with our interest... many lifetimes worth> Boy, I have still lots to
learn before making that plunge and setting up my future saltwater
tank, but in due time, with hopefully enough learned, I'll give it
a my best shot. This time, however, I have a question about a
freshwater fish, my absolute favorite fish of all freshwater fish - the
Kribensis. I just recently (about 4 weeks ago) added a young male and
female Krib to my already established tank (picture enclosed). Before
placing them in the tank, I had manipulated to build them a cave.
Within a few days they apparently bonded (???) and began to explore the
cave. Within 2 weeks, they began defending their "honeymoon
suite". After 3 weeks, the female laid LOTS of eggs, and both the
male and the female guarded their nest site. (Sounds as if I'm
talking about my parrot...lol) Sadly enough, 2 days later all eggs were
gone. Now I wonder which of my fish (list will follow) could have been
the culprit (Raphael Catfish is my 1st guess, even though he was fed
especially well that night). In the meantime I have
"camouflaged" their cave much more sufficient (hopefully),
and have added more plants to the tank. Could it have been the
Kribs' inexperience in guarding their nest/eggs? <Yes... Very
likely this is THE explanation... new parents... happens very
frequently.> Any help or input from would certainly be greatly
appreciated. Inhabitants of this 29 gallon tank: 3 Platies, 6 HUGE
Neons, 2 baby angelfish (they'll be moved once they get big enough
to even think about tasting the Neons), 2 Kribs, 1 Pleco, and 1 spotted
Raphael. Again, Mr. Fenner, I am looking forward to hearing from you,
your help is greatly appreciated. Thank you. Kindly, Wendy <A
pleasure my friend. Do consider moving the Raphael... and your Kribs
will likely be spawning again in a couple of weeks... and often
regularly in the future. Bob Fenner>
Cichlids Dear Bob, Hi, my name is Melissa Jenzen. In my
Science class, we have a fresh water tank with African cichlids, and I
have to do a report about them and there habitat. Could you tell me
about their breeding. How and when can you tell is the right time to
milk the female? I'm not sure what kind they are but the males are
a dark black and blue, and the females are a off white pinkish color.
They all have two dots on their bottom fins and they also have white
strips along their bodies. thank you Melissa Jenzen >> <Hmm,
wish I could... in an expedient manner... Do have a very long list of
great topics to roll out in text and images... and the Africans deserve
tomes of their own... Really interesting behaviorally, and many are
outright gorgeous. But it would take too long to relate well what
you're looking for here. Please do look for the name Paul Loiselle
and his many fine short works on African Cichlids (particularly the
ones through Tetra Press)... these should be available in larger
libraries, or Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble online... Bob Fenner>
Convicts Hi Bob, I have 5 cichlids in my tank. 3 pink
convicts, 1 black convict, and a small fire mouth. The dominant pink
and the black convict have had several clutches of eggs together. They
are very attentive parents and protect the fry very well. After a week
or so, all the baby disappear. I'm not sure what happens to them
since both parents watch over them so well and they are the biggest
fish in the tank. I have even tried one of those baby cages that hang
off to the side of the tank. I have just had another big hatch and they
seem to be doing good. Do you have any suggestions on how to keep these
fish from vanishing? Will the fry grow up to be marbled cichlids?
>> <Thanks for writing, and yes to the mixed appearance of the
young, if you ever get any to grow up! This/these fish are the same
species (hence not fish"es"), and do readily
"inter"breed... Your system is probably too small, allowing
for too-rapid a parental care breakdown, and consumption of fry by
parents and/or their tankmates... I would move the "other"
fishes for now... and if you're very interested in rearing many
young, get/use another tank to move either the young to, or better the
parents a couple of weeks after the young are free-swimming. Nah to
using a breeder trap or net.... they're way too small to be of use
here. Bob Fenner>
Excitement about baby angelfish Bob to my amazement my
angelfish laid eggs on the decorations in my aquarium. The Government
(meaning my wife and kids) want me to get these eggs into babies and
then grow them to maturity. What pointers can you give me to achieve
this successfully? I need to bring even one to maturity. I had another
aquarium with some baby swords, I took them out and carefully placed
the eggs in it now it has become the center of attraction in the home.
HELP, HELP. Patrick. >> <Congratulations... and a bunch to
state here. Wish I could either do the "Vulcan mind meld"
with you over the Net, or make my ever-growing files available through
the keyboard... Let's see, most importantly, don't do too much
with this or the next spawning... sometimes manipulating the eggs,
environment will traumatize the spawning pair when they're new. Do
plan on reading up, getting another tank if you have other types of
fishes that might eat the young in the present one... But do let the
parents try to raise these young... should hatch out to wigglers and
then free-swimming in four or five days (depending on temperature)...
and going forward, if you only want a few young, just move some to
a/the other tank at about a month... Otherwise we can talk about moving
the spawning substrate/decor and rearing the young separately. They
should be fed once swimming as frequently, very fine food, as often as
practical (several times daily ideally). Bob Fenner>
Please help: Sex and the Single Cichlid Hi I have a problem I
have a pink convict in a tank with a Oscar, a upside down catfish, some
Plecostomus, a jack Dempsey, and a fish that looks like a bass. My
cousin gave me the fish. well I have had them for about 6 months I just
bought the jack about 3 weeks ago anyway my pink convict has laid a
bunch of eggs on a rock but I only have one convict how did this
happen?? Please help if you can >> <Thank you for writing, and
strange/unusual as it may seem this "single" parent spawning
isn't all that unusual with the family of Cichlids (the Convict,
Oscar and Dempsey are). Likely all the eggs will be sterile, but do
keep an eye on your livestock at this time, as fighting can break out
that is fierce. Bob Fenner>
Copper and Cichlid Breeding/Rearing I used to be an avid
marine fish enthusiast so I have some habits concerning hospital tanks
that I brought over to the freshwater side of the hobby. I have a
Hospital tank which I treat with .15 ppm CopperSafe. And I would like
to know if this would also make a good tank to raise Aulonocara cichlid
fry in? Will the copper in the water kill the fry at all? Or would it
be better to set up a new tank as a nursery? Thanks> I would raise
the cichlids in another system that lacks the copper-based product...
there is some evidence of increased defects when fishes are reared in
exposure to copper... I have some German friends that raise Aulonocara
species commercially... they're leery of even the amount of copper
in tapwater and fish foods (a common added ingredient to retard
spoilage) Bob Fenner
Cichlids what is the best way to prepare to mate cichlids? I
have 5 cichlids in my tank they are fairly small so I don't know if
they are mature enough to mate yet, so any info you can give would be
great. what are the ways you can tell between males and females?
>> Hmm, well, I hope they're all or some of the same
species... And your tank is large enough to accommodate their growth
and "spawning" space if they pair up... Many, most cichlids
do show some sort of sexual dichromatism (difference between males and
females based on color), and dimorphism (structural, size differences)
with males generally being brighter, more colorful, larger, with
longer, more pointed unpaired fins (the dorsal on the back and anal
underneath in particular)... though there are exceptions (like the
African riverine species of the genus Pelvivachromis... like the
popular "Kribensis"... whose females are larger by far, and
much prettier than males...). There are other differences, dependent on
species, condition... so, if you want to write back with more
identification information, I may be able to tell you more. Bob
Fenner
|
The company will use the funds primarily to build operational capacity and technology, to support growth initiatives and expand its products and service offerings, the company said in a statement. "I have been actively following the Internet market here and I am thrilled to make my first direct investment," Saverin was quoted as saying in the statement.
After the investment, made in the website's holding company Hit the Mark Inc, Velos' co-founder and managing director Samrat Ganguly will be joining the company board as a director, while Saverin will join the board as an observer.
This is the second round of investment for the 2012-incorporated company, which has now cumulatively raised USD 15 million in funding. The website sells over 1,000 local and global brands across multiple product categories, including apparel, shoes, toys and accessories.
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Awards
Reviews & Commentary
This slow and subtitled French film that is based on actual events won't be one many are going to out-right enjoy although I found it to be rather interesting as I find its subject matter -- 19th century female hysteria -- to be most fascinating.
The film is about Augustine, an illiterate young French housemaid (played by French singer/actress Soko), who suffers a debilitating seizure one evening while serving dinner that leaves her partially paralyzed. She is thus admitted to the Parisian psychiatric hospital, Pitié-Salpêtriere, where she is diagnosed as a hysteric (!) and treated by renown physician Jean-Martin Charcot (Vincent Lindon - Mademoiselle Chambon).
The medical world of the 19th century was dominated by uber-intelligent men (that "intelligent" part could be debated) and it was common for a woman who experienced something that a man couldn't easily explain and/or understand to be diagnosed with "hysteria" (a "nice way" of saying a female sexual perversion). If a woman acted in any manner society found confusing or even slightly objectionable, she was a "hysteric" who could find herself institutionalized and subjected to some horrifyingly abhorrent and offensive "treatment(s)" at the hands of men who claimed a medical interest in her well-being.
The time period and "understanding" of this predominately female ailment IS genuinely fascinating and if this topic sounds even remotely intriguing, I implore people to seek out the topic and read up on it as Augustine is merely about A case -- AN instance -- in this outrageously baffling era of medical (mal)practice when many male doctors found it to be en vogue and "fashionable" to make these diagnoses! The level of quasi-ignorance shared by these male "geniuses" in the medical field who simply did not understand women is mind-blowing.
I think a better film would have focused more on the doctor and his evolving understanding of hysteria over the years that followed this brief amount of time spent with this one patient, Augustine. There is a reason the film was not entitled Charcot. Instead, the direction of Alice Winocour (a WOMAN!!!?!) has used a specific example to reveal a sad universal truth of the time and expose just how farcical this "ailment" was while subtly implying perversions may have lain elsewhere. As Winocour's first full-length feature film that is clichéd a time or two, she shows much promise. Diagnose that, Charcot!
Again, the movie is hard to simply "enjoy" but it is one that could hopefully shed some more light on this bizarre chapter of modern medicine.
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Berwyn Township, Cook County, Illinois
Berwyn Township is one of 29 townships in Cook County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 56,657. It is coterminous with the city of Berwyn.
Berwyn Township, with a population of 56,657 (2010 census) and over 22,000 households includes the area bounded on the north by Roosevelt Road, on the south by Pershing Road (39th Street), on the east by Lombard Avenue (west side of the street only), and on the west by Harlem Avenue (east side of the street only).
Berwyn Township was established by the Illinois Legislature in 1922 as one of the few coterminous townships in the state. The Berwyn Public Health District was established at the same time. The Township and the Berwyn Public Health District are two separate and distinct governmental bodies with separate governing Boards. The Township and Public Health District moved to their present headquarters at 6600 W. 26th Street in 1939. Built for $50,000, construction of the building was made possible by federal grants under the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, Berwyn Township covers an area of , all of it land.
Adjacent townships
Cicero Township (east)
Oak Park Township (north)
Riverside Township (southeast)
Lyons Township (southwest)
Proviso Township (northwest)
Stickney Township (south)
Demographics
References
United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
United States National Atlas
External links
Berwyn Township official website
City-Data.com
Illinois State Archives
Township Officials of Illinois
Cook County Official Site
Category:Townships in Cook County, Illinois
Category:Townships in Illinois
Category:1922 establishments in Illinois
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Add to IDEABOOK
Outdoor LED Digital Marquee
Outdoor digital signage is typically bright and rugged to withstand the elements. From scrolling marquee signs to full motion graphics, outdoor digital displays can make a big impact to an audience on foot, in cars or sitting still. Outdoor digital displays are an imperative part of a comprehensive communications plan at event centers, financial institutions, stadiums, schools
and more.
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EH-Net would like to thank the security community for making this second challenge, "Hack Bill!" based on the Quentin Tarantino film, Kill Bill!, even more popular than the first. With your continued support we can continue that trend when the third installment of the Skillz H@ck1ng Challenge hits newstands September 1.
The sheer nature of a challenge, with one person creating it and someone else submitting answers, is very similar to the Instructor – Student relationship. And, like taking a class, the best ROI is not from the instructor to the student. It's actually from the student to the instructor and from each student to the other. These challenges are no different.
But, even though we had a number of great answers, there can be only one! OK, there's actually 2 winning entries and a third random winner, but you get the point. Coming to the podium is Mike Poor to tell you…
… And The Winners Are…
Skillz Sponsored by Core Security Technologies
First of all I would like to thank all the readers of Ethicalhacker.net for all of your submissions and for your patience in waiting for the results. It was difficult to pick the winner for this challenge, as we had so many wonderful submissions. Even though we try to maintain two categories, we have picked a technical winner that is both accurate, informative, and very creative.
Our Technical Winner is…
Dean De Beer Dean's solution is both very creative and technically correct.
Our Creative Winner is…
I really enjoyed the answers from many readers, and learned a number of new techniques and tricks. Of course we can't forget those that tried and didn't quite make it.
Our Random Winner is…
David Smith
Note: While many people found the wikipedia entry for the word Otaku, indicating its use as to describe a manga fanatic… the word is commonly used to describe geeks of any variety This was actually a hidden message for my great friend and otaku, Ed Skoudis. He has, for quite some time, been hidding secret messages in base64, hex/ascii and other methods in his challenges.
Each winner has been contacted using the email address from their submission and gets a free copy of Counter Hack Reloaded autographed by Ed Skoudis and Mike Poor congratulating you on your victory and amazing abilities!
|
Q:
How to repeat variables twice in xargs
How can I make the second echo to echo out test in this example as well:
echo test | xargs -I {} echo {} && echo {}
A:
Just write {} two times in your command. The following would work:
$ echo test | xargs -I {} echo {} {}
test test
Your problem is how the commands are nested. Lets look at this:
echo test | xargs -I {} echo {} && echo {}
bash will execute echo test | xargs -I {} echo {}. If it runs successfully, echo {} is executed. To change the nesting, you could do something like this:
echo test | xargs -I {} sh -c "echo {} && echo {}"
However, you could get trouble because the approach might be prone to code injection. When "test" is substituted with shell code, it gets executed. Therefore, you should probably pass the input to the nested shell with arguments.
echo test | xargs -I {} sh -c 'echo "$1" && echo "$1"' sh {}
A:
Another option is to use -i flag, which is the same as -I{} (it implies that the replacement is given with {}):
$ echo test | xargs -i echo {} {}
|
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
STATE OF WASHINGTON, ) No. 77856-1 -I
)
Respondent, ) DIVISION ONE
v. ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
SEBASTIAN MARCUS GUAJARDO, )
Appellant. ) FILED: September 23, 2019
________________________________________________________________________________________ )
ANDRUS, J. — Sebastian Guajardo appeals his convictions and sentence for
second degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. First, he challenges
the trial court’s disqualification of two prospective jurors. Second, he contends that
his life sentence imposed under the Persistent Offender Accountability Act (POAA)
violates the state and federal constitutional prohibitions on cruel and unusual
punishment because he committed his first two strike offenses while a young man.
Finally, he challenges the $100 DNA collection fee.
We affirm Guajardo’s convictions and sentence but remand for a ministerial
order striking the $100 DNA collection fee under State v. Ramirez, 191 Wn.2d 732,
426 P.3d 714 (2018).
No. 77856-1-1-1/2
FACTS
The State charged Guajardo with second degree murder and first degree
unlawful possession of a firearm. The State alleged that Guajardo shot and killed
Jesse Arabos Dacanay whom Guajardo suspected had stolen a friend’s car, It
also alleged that Guajardo had a 2000 conviction for assault in the first degree for
stabbing a girlfriend in the abdomen with a knife, and a 2001 conviction for assault
in the first degree with a firearm enhancement for shooting at three people, hitting
two of them in the process. The State indicated that these convictions were strike
offenses, and a conviction for murder would constitute a third strike, requiring that
Guajardo be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
During jury selection, the State notified the trial court that two prospective
jurors, Juror 33 and Juror 42, had indicated that they had prior felony convictions.
The State did not know the context of the convictions or if the jurors’ civil rights had
been restored. Guajardo’s counsel asked the trial court to confirm with each that
they had a felony conviction and that their rights had been restored. The trial court
agreed to this procedure.
When questioned, Juror 33 confirmed that he had previously pleaded guilty
to “third degree burglary at 17 years old, [had] several drug possessions, [had
participated in] drug court, [and had] multiple DUIs.” He indicated that “[a] couple
of the drug offenses and the burglary” were felony offenses. The trial court asked
Juror 33 if he had “gone back to court or had a court expunge or address those
[felonies] since conviction?” Juror 33 answered “no.” The trial court dismissed
Juror 33:
-2-
No. 77856-1-1-1/3
I think per juror qualifications under state law here, you can’t be a
convicted felon, unless you’ve actually gone through a court process
of having those taken off your record. So as to your ability to serve
on this jury, you would not be able to serve, so I’m going to excuse
you from service on this case from service in general here today.
—
Guajardo did not object to the dismissal of Juror 33.
The trial court also questioned Juror 42, who indicated that he had a
conviction for felony drug possession from 1998 or 1999. The trial court again
inquired if Juror 42 had “taken any steps to have that [felony] expunged or to have
[his] civil rights restored?” Like Juror 33, Juror 42 answered “no.” The trial court
similarly dismissed Juror 42:
I’m sorry, there’s confusion, but per Washington State law, there’s a
list of what jury qualifications are, and one of the disqualifying factors
is if one has been convicted of a felony and hasn’t had their civil
rights restored.
So what that means is that you right now as you sit are not qualified
to serve as a juror on our case.
And entirely your call, but you can take steps if you like at some point
to have your civil rights restored.
Guajardo did not object to the dismissal of Juror 42.
The jury convicted Guajardo as charged and returned a special verdict,
finding that Guajardo was armed with a firearm at the time he committed the
murder.
At Guajardo’s sentencing hearing, the State argued that Guajardo was a
persistent offender under RCW 9.94A.030(38)1 and that the sentencing court was
RCW 9.94A.030 defines “persistent offender” as someone who has been convicted in
Washington of any felony considered a “most serious offense” and has, before the commission of
that offense, been convicted on at least two separate occasions of felonies considered to be “most
serious offenses.” This is commonly known as “three strikes.” State v. Thorne, 129 Wn.2d 736,
746, 921 P.2d 514 (1996).
-3-
No. 77856-1-1-1/4
obligated to impose a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of
parole. To prove Guajardo’s prior convictions, the State presented certified copies
of Guajardo’s 2000 and 2001 judgments and sentences, the underlying crimes of
both qualifying as “most serious offenses” under RCW 9.94A.030(33). The State
also presented copies of Guajardo’s booking photos from each arrest to verify that
each conviction was for the same individual. It then called Cynthia Zeller, a
fingerprint expert and trainer with the King County Automated Fingerprint
Identification System (AFIS), to testify that Guajardo’s fingerprint cards from his
2000 and 2001 convictions matched the fingerprints ZeIler took of Guajardo in
conjunction with the murder trial and that Guajardo’s AFIS identification numbers
on each card also matched. Guajardo’s counsel neither questioned Zeller nor
objected to her testimony. Based on this evidence, the trial court found that
Guajardo had two prior most serious offense convictions and that he was a
persistent offender for purposes of sentencing under RCW 9.94A.570.
Guajardo acknowledged that if the statutory criteria were met under the
“three strikes” statute, the only sentence available was life without the possibility
of parole and did not dispute the State’s contention that he met the criteria for
“three strikes.” Instead, Guajardo’s counsel asked the court to exercise its
discretion in imposing his sentence. Guajardo’s counsel submitted a summary of
Guajardo’s “social history,” which detailed his turbulent childhood with absentee
parents, physical possible sexual abuse by his brothers, and homelessness by age
15 or 16.
-4-
No. 77856-1-1-115
In imposing Guajardo’s sentence, the court held that it did not have the
discretion to depart from the POAA, but that even if it did, the mandatory life
sentence under the POAA was appropriate in Guajardo’s case, given that the
murder was a “senseless killing.” It sentenced Guajardo to life in prison without
the possibility of parole.2 The sentencing court also imposed a $500 victim penalty
assessment and $100 DNA collection fee.
ANALYSIS
1. Jury Selection
Guajardo argues that the trial court violated his right to random jury
selection when it disqualified Jurors 33 and 42 under RCW 2.36.070(5). We
disagree.
Both the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and article 1,
section 22 of our state constitution guarantee a defendant the right to a fair trial by
an impartial jury. State v. Latham, 100 Wn.2d 59, 62-63, 667 P.2d 56 (1983).
Under our state statutes, members of a jury panel must be randomly selected.
Statev. Roberts, 142 Wn.2d 471,518, 14 P.3d 713(2000). A defendant, however,
has no right to be tried by a particular juror or jury. State v. Williamson, 100 Wn.
App. 248, 255, 996 P.2d 1097 (2000). A defendant must show prejudice to justify
reversal if the jury selection process substantially complied with the applicable
statute or rules. jç~ at 253. We will presume prejudice only if there has been a
material departure from those statutes or rules. We review a trial court’s
2 The sentencing court also imposed a concurrent 54-month sentence for the unlawful
possession of a firearm conviction, as well as a 120-month weapons enhancement added to the
life sentence for the murder conviction.
-5-
No. 77856-1-1-1/6
decision to excuse members of the jury venire for abuse of discretion. Roberts,
142 Wn.2d at 519.
RCW 2.36.070 provides:
A person shall be competent to serve as a juror in the state of
Washington unless that person:
(1) Is less than eighteen years of age;
(2)Is not a citizen of the United States;
(3) Is not a resident of the county in which he or she has been
summoned to serve;
(4)Is not able to communicate in the English language; or
(5) Has been convicted of a felony and has not had his or her civil
rights restored (emphasis added).
RCW 2.36.072(4) requires the trial court to excuse a potential juror if the juror
declares that he or she does not meet the qualifications. State v. Marsh, 106 Wn.
App. 801, 806-07, 24 P.3d 1127 (2001) (jurors properly excused based on their
declarations that they were unable to communicate in English).
After reviewing their juror questionnaires and questioning Jurors 33 and 42,
the trial court found—based on the information each provided to the court—that
they were disqualified from jury service because they had been convicted of at
least one felony and had not had their civil rights restored. Guajardo did not object
to either the trial court’s questioning of these two jurors or to its conclusion that
they were disqualified from serving under RCW 2.36.070(5). Generally, objections
relating to a juror’s qualifications must be made in a timely manner to give the trial
court the opportunity to correct the error. See City of Seattle v. Erickson, 188
Wn.2d 721, 728, 398 P.3d 1124 (2017) (in the context of a Batson3 challenge,
~ Batson v. Kentucky, 476 u.s. 79, 106 5. Ct. 1712. 90 L. Ed. 2d 69 (1986).
-6-
No. 77856-1-1-117
objection should be raised no later than before any testimony is heard or evidence
admitted).
Even if we assume Guajardo preserved this issue for appeal, he has not
demonstrated that the trial court materially departed from the jury selection statutes
or applicable court rules. And he has failed to demonstrate that the jurors
empaneled as a result of the disqualification of Jurors 33 and 42 were not impartial.
Guajardo relies on State v. Tincidale, 117 Wn.2d 595, 600, 817 P.2d 850
(1991), and Brady v. Fibreboard Corp., 71 Wn. App. 280, 284, 857 P.2d 1094
(1993), to argue that the trial court’s disqualification of the prospective jurors was
a “material departure” from a jury selection statute. Guajardo’s reliance on these
cases is misplaced. In Tinqdale, the Supreme Court concluded that the trial court
materially departed from former RCW 2.36.090, which required the clerk to be
blindfolded and to draw names of prospective jurors from a box in the presence of
a judge or commissioner, and from CrR 6.4(c)(1), when it relied on the clerk to
determine whether three prospective jurors should be removed from the venire
based on their possible acquaintance with the petitioner. 117 Wn.2d at 597-601.
In Brady, two judges, neither of whom were the trial judge, excused 14 prospective
jurors for bias based on answers provided in mailed-in questionnaires without
requiring the jurors to appear to be questioned by the parties or the judge who
actually presided over the trial. 71 Wn. App at 282-84. Division Two of this court
held that this process violated the statutory requirement that there be proof of
actual bias and a determination of such bias by the trial judge. j~ at 284. In both
-7-
No. 77856-1-1-1/8
instances, the parties were denied the right to be heard on the question of actual
bias.
These cases are distinguishable because the trial court here did not rely on
others to determine that the jurors were disqualified and did not excuse either juror
until after they were individually questioned about their convictions in open court
in the presence of the parties, both of whom had the opportunity to be heard on
the manner in which the trial court questioned the jurors and the ultimate
qualifications of each juror to serve.
State v. Phillips is more analogous. In Phillips, our Supreme Court upheld
the trial court’s disqualification of a juror who stated he was unsure if he was a
United States citizen. 65 Wash. 324, 326, 118 P.43 (1911). Phillips challenged
the juror’s disqualification, but the Court held that “[t]he citizenship of the juror was
sufficiently doubtful to justify the trial judge in sustaining the challenge.” ki. Here,
the trial court similarly had reason to doubt that Jurors 33 and 42 had had their civil
rights restored. Both indicated on the record that their respective felonies had not
been expunged and to their knowledge, their civil rights had not been restored.
Based on this record, it is unclear what else the trial court could have done to
eliminate the doubt as to their qualifications.
Guajardo argues that the trial court erroneously stated that offenders who
had not asked to have their civil rights restored were not qualified to sit as jurors.
This statement, he contends, is an incorrect statement of the law and constitutes
a “material departure” from “our state’s law governing jury selection.” He does not,
however, identify any jury selection statute from which the trial court departed.
-8-
No. 77856-1-1-1/9
Under RCW 9.94A.637(5), a person convicted of a felony is deemed to have
their civil rights restored when they receive a certificate of discharge from the
Department of Corrections (DCC) under RCW 9.94A.637(1)(a) or a certificate of
discharge from the sentencing court under RCW 9.94A.637(1)(b) or (c). If an
offender completes all requirements of a sentence while in custody or under DCC
supervision, the Department must issue a certificate of discharge, and the offender
need not take any action. If, however, the offender fails to complete the sentence
requirements or is not under DCC supervision at the time of completion, the
offender is responsible for providing the sentencing court with verification that they
have completed the sentence requirements. RCW 9.94A.637(1)(c). There are
circumstances in which an offender does bear responsibility for seeking a
restoration of his civil rights, but Guajardo correctly notes that it is not required in
all circumstances.
But to the extent the trial court incorrectly implied that an offender’s civil
rights cannot be restored absent action on their part, RCW 9.94A.637 is
nevertheless clear that an offender should receive notice that his rights have been
restored, either from the DCC or from the sentencing court. If a prospective juror
states that he is not aware of having his civil rights restored, as was the case with
Jurors 33 and 42, then it was reasonable for the trial court to conclude that
restoration had not in fact occurred. In this case, like in Phillips, the trial court
properly relied on the prospective jurors’ answers to its inquiries about their prior
felonies and had sufficient doubt as to their qualifications to justify disqualification.
-9-
No. 77856-1-1-1/10
Moreover, a defendant ‘has no right to be tried by a particular juror or by a
particular jury.” Williamson, 100 Wn. App. at 253-54 (internal quotation marks
omitted) (quoting State v. Gentry, 125 Wn.2d 570, 615, 888 P.2d 1105 (1995)).
Guajardo has failed to establish that the jury that was ultimately empaneled was
not randomly selected, fair, or impartial. We presume the jurors chosen to replace
the ones rejected were impartial jurors. Phillips, 65 Wash. at 327. There is nothing
in the record to suggest otherwise. Because Guajardo was not entitled to be tried
by Juror 33 or Juror 42 and because he was ultimately tried by a jury deemed to
be impartial, he cannot establish a violation of his constitutional right to an impartial
jury.
Finally, Guajardo asserts that the trial court’s disqualification of Jurors 33
and 42 violated the jurors’ equal protection rights.4 We reject this argument as
well.
The constitutional right to equal protection of the law requires that similarly
situated persons receive like treatment under the law. State v. Shawn P., 122
Wn.2d 553, 559-60, 859 P.2d 1220 (1993). But states may constitutionally
prescribe qualifications for theirjurors and a court may permissibly discharge jurors
who do not meet these statutory qualifications. Marsh, 106 Wn. App. at 807-08.
Guajardo does not challenge the validity of the felony disqualification provision in
RCW 2.36.070; instead, he contends that the trial court’s interpretation of that
‘~ Guajardo asserts that he has third party standing to raise the constitutional rights of
prospective jurors under State v. Burch, 65 Wn. App. 828, 837, 830 P.2d 357 (1992). The State
does not respond to Guajardo’s standing argument so we decline to reach this issue. We note,
however, that it is arguable whether Guajardo can meet the three part test for third-party standing
ofPowersv. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 415, 111 S. Ct. 1364, 1373, 113 L. Ed. 2d 411 (1991), when the
challenge does not relate to the State’s alleged discriminatory use of peremptory challenges.
- 10-
No. 77856-1-I-I/li
provision resulted in prospective jurors being disqualified from jury service solely
because they had not proactively sought reinstatement of their civil rights. A denial
of equal protection may occur when a valid law is administered in a manner that
unjustly discriminates between similarly situated persons. Stone v. Chelan County
Sheriff’s De~’t, 110 Wn.2d 806, 811, 756 P.2d 736 (1988). But the unequal
enforcement of a statute will violate equal protection rights only if deliberately or
purposefully based on an unjustifiable standard such as race, religion or other
arbitrary grounds. j~ The disparate treatment must be the result of intentional or
purposeful discrimination. State v. Osman, 157 Wn.2d 474, 484, 139 P.3d 334
(2006). Guajardo concedes that the rational basis test applies to the trial court’s
decision to exclude Jurors 33 and 42 because the jurors are not members of a
suspect class and the exclusion did not threaten a fundamental right. We review
allegations of constitutional violations de novo. State v. Siers, 174 Wn.2d 269,
273-74, 274 P.3d 358 (2012).
Guajardo argues that the two disqualified jurors belong to a class of
prospective jurors with felony convictions. He contends that there was no rational
basis for the trial court to have treated jurors who have not proactively sought
restoration of their civil rights differently than felons who have done so. Guajardo’s
argument is flawed, however, because it is based on a false premise—that the trial
court rejected these jurors for the sole reason that they had not initiated the
restoration process. The record does not support this characterization of the trial
court’s decision. The trial court informed each juror that they were disqualified
because they had been convicted of a felony and either had not “actually gone
-11 -
No. 77856-1-1-1/12
through a court process of having [the conviction] taken off [their] record,” or had
not ‘had [their] civil rights restored.” The trial court was clearly focused on whether
the process had resulted in restoration, not whether the process was initiated by
the prospective juror. There is no evidence in this record that the trial court
deliberately excluded a particular class of prospective jurors just because they had
failed to request the restoration of their rights. Because there is no evidence to
support an assertion of dissimilar treatment of similarly situated jurors, we reject
Guajardo’s equal protection challenge.
2. Challenge to Life Sentence
Guajardo next challenges his life sentence under the POAA, claiming that
his sentence violates the prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment under the
state and federal constitutions because the first two of his three strikes occurred
when he still had characteristics of youth under State v. O’Dell, 183 Wn.2d 680,
358 P.3d 359 (2015), despite being a legal adult at the time.
Former RCW 9.94A.030 defined a persistent offender as an offender who:
(a)(i) Has been convicted in this state of any felony considered a
most serious offense; and (ii) Has, before the commission of the
offense . been convicted as an offender on at least two separate
. .
occasions, whether in this state or elsewhere, of felonies that under
the laws of this state would be considered most serious offenses and
would be included in the offender score under RCW 9.9A.525;
provided that of the two or more previous convictions, at least one
conviction must have occurred before the commission of any of the
other most serious offenses for which the offender was previously
convicted.
RCW 9.94A.030(38)(a)(i)-(ii). Under former RCW 9.94A.030, any class A felony
was considered a “most serious offense.” RCW 9.94A.030 (2016). Second degree
murder is a class A felony. RCW 9A.32.050. Under RCW 9.94A.570:
- 12-
No. 77856-1-1-1/13
Notwithstanding the statutory maximum sentence or any other
provision of this chapter, a persistent offender shall be sentenced to
a term of total confinement for life without the possibility of release
or, when authorized by RCW 10.95.030 for the crime of aggravated
murder in the first degree, sentenced to death.
(Emphasis added). Guajardo asserts that the sentencing court had the discretion
to impose a non-POAA sentence and impose a standard range sentence under
the Sentencing Reform Act (SRA) and that it should have done so based on
Guajardo’s young age at the time of his first two strike offenses. But this argument
fails in the face of the clear text of the statute, which says that a persistent offender
“shall be sentenced to a term of total confinement for life.” RCW 9.94A.570
(emphasis added).
Our Supreme Court recently rejected Guajardo’s argument in State v.
Moretti, No. 95263-9 (Wash. Aug. 15, 2019).~ In Moretti, trial courts sentenced
three defendants, Moretti, Nguyen, and Orr, to life without the possibility of parole
under the POAA after the State established that each had committed their first two
offenses while in their early 20s and committed the third offense in their 30s
(Moretti) or 40s (Nguyen and Orr). jç~ slip op. at 2-7. Each division of the court
of appeals affirmed POAA sentences.6
The defendants argued, as Guajardo does here, that article I, section 14 of
the Washington Constitution bars sentences of life in prison without the possibility
of parole for fully developed adult offenders who committed one or more of their
~ http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/952639. pdf.
6 ~ State v. Moretti, No. 47868-4-Il (Wash. Ct. App. Oct. 21, 2017) (unpublished),
https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/D2%2047868-4-l l%20U npublished%200pinion pdf; State
.
v. N~uyen, No. 74962-5-I (Wash. Ct. App. Jan. 16, 2018) (unpublished),
https:Ilwww.courts.wa.govlopinions/pdf1749625.pdf; State v. Orr, No. 34729-0-Ill (Wash. Ct. App.
April 26, 2018) (unpublished), http://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/347290_unp.pdf.
-13-
No. 77856-1 -1-1/14
prior strike offenses as young adults over age 18. The Court rejected this
argument. First, it found no national consensus against applying recidivist statutes
to adults who committed prior strike offenses as young adults. ~, slip op. at 11.
Second, it found no showing of any reduced culpability. j~, slip op. at 14. The
Court reasoned that the defendants “have not produced any evidence that their
youth contributed to the commission of the instant offenses, or even that youth
contributed to their prior offenses.” j4~ slip op. at 15. Instead, it concluded that
“[t]hese petitioners are fully developed adults who were repeatedly given
opportunities to prove they could change.” slip op. at 16. The Court disagreed
with the assumption that the POAA sentences punished the defendants for crimes
they committed as young adults. jç~ slip op. at 17. “These POAA sentences are
not punishment for the crimes the petitioners committed as young adults because
recidivist statutes do not impose ‘cumulative punishment for prior crimes. The
repetition of criminal conduct aggravates the guilt of the last conviction and justifies
a heavier penalty for the crime.” [.ç~ slip op. at 17 (quoting State v. Lee, 87 Wn.2d
932, 937, 558 P.2d 236 (1976)).
Finally, it determined that the goal of punishing recidivists justified the life
sentence. “Because Moretti, Nguyen, and Orr each committed their third most
serious offense as adults in their 30s and 40s, they have shown that they are part
of this rare group of offenders who are ‘simply unable to bring [their] conduct within
the social norms prescribed by the criminal law.” j~ slip op. at 22 (quoting
Rummel v. Estelle, 445 U.S. 263, 284, 100 S. Ct. 1133,63 L. Ed. 2d 382 (1980)).
- 14-
No. 77856-1-1-1/15
Guajardo was 19 when he committed his first strike offense, second degree
assault, and 20 when he committed the second strike offense, first degree assault.7
But he was 35 when convicted of murder in 2016. Although Guajardo presented
an unsworn report from a private investigator describing a turbulent childhood, it
does not explain how, 15 years after committing his second violent felony, his
youth impacted his decision to commit murder at age 35. Moreover, at the time of
the third felony, Guajardo had just served 15 years in prison for his 2001 assault
conviction and was still on community custody for that offense. Ex. 5. As the
Moretti court noted, the POAA “gives offenders a chance to show that they can be
reformed.” Moretti, slip op. at 17. Guajardo presented no such evidence here.
Based on Moretti, we reject Guajardo’s argument that his life sente.nce violates the
prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment.
Even if the trial court had the discretion to depart from the POAA and impose
a sentence within the SRA standard sentencing range, the trial court stated that
Guajardo’s life sentence without parole “seems appropriate here,” reiterating that
“the sentence in this particular case is appropriate, in light of the history.” Thus,
even if the trial court had the discretion to impose an SRA sentence, we are
unconvinced the trial court would have done so.
3. $100 DNA Collection Fee
Finally, Guajardo challenges the imposition of the $100 DNA fee. The State
agrees that Guajardo’s $100 DNA fee should be stricken under Ramirez.
~ According to the judgment and sentence, Guajardo was born on February 10, 1981.
- 15-
No. 77856-1 -1-1/16
Therefore, we affirm Guajardo’s convictions and sentence but remand for a
ministerial order striking the $100 DNA fee.
I
WE CONCUR:
-16-
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Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to an overflow crowd before making a scheduled appearance at Exeter Town Hall Friday evening. [Paul Steinhauser] ▲ Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg takes photos with the crowd during an appearance at the Exeter Town Hall Friday evening. [Paul Steinhauser] ▲ Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speaks to a packed crowd at the historic Exeter Town Hall on Friday evening. [Paul Steinhauser] ▲ Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg acknowledges the crowd during an appearance at the Exeter Town Hall Friday evening. [Paul Steinhauser] ▲
EXETER -- Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg took aim at Republican President Donald Trump in front of a jam-packed crowd at Exeter's historic Town Hall on Friday evening.
The South Bend, Indiana mayor, a one-time long-shot for the White House who's surged the past two months to become a very credible contender, also indirectly took a few jabs at former Vice President Joe Biden, the clear front-runner right now in the Democratic nomination race.
Buttigieg, speaking to a crowd that his campaign estimated at 680 people, criticized Trump for "chest thumping militarism" as the specter of war with Iran rises. He added that the president "now seems to be setting us on a course that could lead to violent confrontation."
And taking aim at Trump and the Republican Party, the Afghanistan War veteran who would become the nation's first openly gay president if he wins the 2020 election, highlighted that "I'm pretty sure God doesn't belong to a political party and if he did, I can't imagine it would be the one that's in charge of the White House."
In an obvious reference to Biden - who many Democratic voters feel may be the most electable candidate of the whopping two-dozen Democrats currently running for president - Buttigieg argued that "sometimes we pick somebody who is less inspiring that we think will also be less risky, and we wind up getting somebody that's neither."
Asked by a member of the crowd why they should support him, Buttigieg declared "two reasons, I'm going to make a really good president and I'm going to win."
The 37-year old candidate - the youngest in the field of White House hopefuls - briefly spoke to a large overflow crowd outside the Town Hall before he entered the building.
Inside, he made the case that his credentials of steering a smaller sized city stacks up against many of his more well-known rivals with years more elected office experience at the federal or statewide level. The candidate said that what people want in Washington today is "for it to look more like our best run cities and towns before the reverse starts to happen."
While there's still more than eight months to go until New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, many people in the crowd were leaning towards Buttigieg.
"I haven't made up my mind 100 percent," Frank Whittemore of Kensington said before adding that "I really love Buttigieg.....he's a good man, he's articulate. Everything he says makes sense to me."
His wife Lynne Monroe noted that Buttigieg "makes me feel hope and he makes me feel safe and me makes me feel mostly calm. He makes me feel better than anybody's made me feel in years."
Patrick Kamieneski of Hampton complimented Buttigieg, saying "I think he's very intelligent. I think he's a good leader. I think after Trump we're going to need someone who's a good leader to get us out of the post-Trump era and I think he's someone who could do that."
But he added that "I'm also looking at Kamala Harris. I was for Bernie in 2016 and I think times have changed quite a lot since then and the last few years have changed my mind a bit."
George Koch, a minister from Hampton Falls, said Buttigieg is "refreshing. He's smart. He thinks before he talks. He doesn't rise to the baiting of President Trump, so there's a lot to like."
But he added that he's also "looking at Kamala Harris. I am looking at Biden just to see if he's changed. I'm willing to give Cory Booker a look."
Buttigieg's stop in Exeter was his second in a two-day swing through New Hampshire.
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Thank you, Jonathan Easton
At Starbucks we relentlessly search the world for the best coffees to create a truly one of a kind experience. Every so often, we find something special in the most unlikely places—something we can't wait to bring home and share.
For these unique, small-lot coffees, we created Starbucks Reserve®, an ongoing series of our rarest and most exotic coffees. Join us as on a journey of discovering these rare and distinctive beans and learn more about each coffee's inherent flavor qualities.
On 21 July, discover exceptional Starbucks Reserve™ Rwanda Abakundakawa, Starbucks Reserve™ Rwanda Musasa and Starbucks Reserve™ Kenya Windrush Estate. Experience the evolution of its flavors through the Chemex and French Press brewing process and learn about the story behind each coffee.
Learn more about Rwanda Musasa’s washing station and the greater meaning behind it. The Rwanda Musasa washing station’s coop name means ‘let’s love coffee,’ referring to the power of coffee to improve the lives of those in the community.
Another coffee that also shines the spotlight on female coffee farmers is Starbucks Reserve™ Rwanda Abakundakawa. This coffee comes from a coffee farmer Co-Op made up of 1,961 farmers whose love of the coffee motivates them to invest in coffee. What sets them apart in both Rwanda and the coffee industry is that 46% of the Co-Op’s members are women.
Finally, we have coffee from one of Kenya’s oldest coffee estates. Originally founded as a cattle farm in 1902, Windrush began growing coffee and tea during British colonial rule. After the country gained independence, a group of local residents took over all aspects of production, maintaining impeccably high standards for every crop. This is an elegant cup meticulously grown and processed by a historic estate in Kiambu, Kenya.
Experience these two exceptional coffees in our 90-minute tasting experience with our resident Coffee Masters. Attendees will also receive a Starbucks goodie bag.
Payment accepted only with Visa or Mastercard
Transactions will not be credited to Starbucks Rewards account for accumulation of Stars
No cancellations/refunds are allowed for confirmed registrations
No replacements/re-scheduling of seminar slots are allowed in the event of absenteeism
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article
The Oakland City Council has unanimously agreed to pay the mother of Joshua Pawlik $1.4 million after police officers killed him when they found him sleeping in front of a home with a gun in his hand.
The vote came April 23, two years after Pawlik was shot to death on March 11, 2018. His death led to the city's call to fire five officers, the ouster of Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick and questions about the overuse of the department's Bearcat armored vehicle, on which officers stood and used as a perch to point their weapons at Pawlik.
The money will go to Pawlik's mother, Kelly Pawlik, who filed a wrongful death suit against the city and police.
Oakland police referred KTVU's inquiries on Monday to the city attorney's office, which did not immediately respond for comment.
"I hope this causes a sea change with OPD leadership," said the family's attorney, Adante Pointer. "The test will be when OPD face another encounter like this. Will they show restraint?"
A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against four Oakland police officers on behalf of the mother of a man shot dead by the officers last year, the plaintiff's attorney said Tuesday.
Oakland Police Commission rejects 2nd Bearcat
The settlement was put on the agenda by Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney and seconded by Councilman Noel Gallo.
In a phone interview Monday morning, Gallo said he voted for the payout because the council was told by a consultant that if the case went to trial, a jury award could cost Oakland closer to $5 million.
"We were told there was no way we'd win," Gallo said. He said he sends his condolences to the Pawlik family, but that he made his decision purely out of his desire to "keep the books balanced in Oakland," which is also facing the Ghost Ship civil suit and up to $80 million in losses by July.
On the evening he was killed, someone had called 911 to report that Pawlik, who had a history of substance abuse, was lying on the ground between two houses on 40th Street. The caller said he thought Pawlik had a pistol in his hand and that he appeared to be asleep or unconscious.
Oakland police oversight board wants stricter rules on militarized equipment
When police arrived, they shouted commands at him in English and Spanish. Pawlik awoke with the gun in his hand. Officers told their superiors that they fired at him because he would not put down his gun.
Kirkpatrick, the chief at the time, agreed with the officers' version of the story and did not discipline them.
However, a federal monitor tasked with overseeing the police department called her view of the situation "disappointing and myopic."
The Oakland Police Commission, made up of civilians, voted to terminate the officers. They found that officers Brandon Hraiz, William Berger and Craig Tanaka as well as Sgt. Francisco Negrete, all discharged their rifles resulting in Pawlik's death in violation of police policy. They also found that Officer Josef Phillips discharged a bean bag at Pawlik, which they said was a violation of the department's use-of-force policy.
And in February, the commissioners decided to fire Kirkpatrick, citing the Pawlik death as one of the many reasons they were disappointed with her leadership.
For her part, Kirkpatrick called her ouster unfair and has vowed to sue the city.
The five officers lost an important Skelly hearing earlier this month and are now fighting for their jobs through the arbitration process.
Lisa Fernandez is a reporter for KTVU. Email Lisa at [email protected] or call her at 510-874-0139. Or follow her on Twitter @ljfernandez
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Heretofore, a mold type composition of frictional material using asbestos as matrix fibers and a phenolic resin as a binder has generally been employed as composition of frictional materials for use in brake linings. This conventional molded type composition of frictional material for use in brake linings contains as a binder an organic substance which is thermally decomposed at high temperature, and therefore fadings, i.e., lowering of the frictional coefficient compared to the required coefficient, are resulted. Recently, the brake linings using glass fibers or aromatic polyamide fibers instead of asbestos have been reported, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications Nos. SHOWA 53-130742 and SHOWA 56-16579. Since aromatic polyamide fibers are organic substances as well as a phenolic resin, fadings are resulted when aromatic polyamide fibers are thermally decomposed in braking. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHOWA 57-205473 discloses the cryolite powder is blended in a composition of frictional material for use in brake linings an inorganic grain.
As described above, for the conventional composition of frictional material for use in brake linings containing asbestos as matrix fibers, there has been known such problems that the friction coefficient is substantially low or fadings are resulted when brakes are frequently operated. While, a mold type composition of frictional material for use in brake linings containing aromatic polyamide fibers as matrix fibers and a phenolic resin as a binder, possibly lowers the anti-fading performance because of containing a large quantity of the organic substances.
The object of this invention is to provide a new molded type composition for use in brake linings by using polyparaphenylene terephthalamide as matrix fibers of a superior anti-fading performance and a phenolic resin as a binder in order to exhibit a high friction coefficient and a lower wear ratio.
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Influence of CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and interaction between CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*1G polymorphisms on post-operative fentanyl analgesia in Chinese patients undergoing gynaecological surgery.
Fentanyl is metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP3A5. Our previous work demonstrated that the CYP3A4*1G polymorphism significantly affects the post-operative fentanyl analgesic effect in Chinese women undergoing gynaecological surgery. However, whether CYP3A5*3, a frequent single nucleotide polymorphism of CYP3A5 in Chinese people, affects the post-operative analgesic effect of fentanyl is unclear. In this study, we assessed the influence of the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism and the interaction of the CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*1G polymorphisms on post-operative fentanyl analgesia in Chinese women undergoing gynaecological surgery. We enrolled 203 women scheduled for abdominal total hysterectomy or myomectomy under general anaesthesia. Intravenous fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia was provided post-operatively for adequate analgesia. Pain scores and fentanyl consumption were recorded 24 h post-operatively. Midazolam was used as a probe drug, and CYP3A activity was measured by plasma ratio of 1'-hydroxymidazolam to midazolam 1 h after intravenous administration of 0.1 mg kg-1 midazolam. Blood samples were genotyped for the CYP3A5*3 polymorphism. The frequency of the CYP3A5*3 allele was 72.4% in 203 patients. CYP3A activity did not differ among CYP3A5*3 genotypes. Fentanyl consumption 24 h post-operatively was lower with CYP3A5*1/*3 and CYP3A5*3/*3 polymorphisms than with CYP3A5*1/*1, but the differences were not statistically significant. However, combined with CYP3A4*1G polymorphism, post-operative fentanyl consumption at 24 h was significantly lower for the CYP3A5*1/*3 or CYP3A5*3/*3 group than the CYP3A5*1/*1 group. CYP3A5*3 is not the main genetic factor contributing to interindividual variation in the post-operative analgesic effect of fentanyl in Chinese women undergoing gynaecological surgery; an interaction between CYP3A5*3 and CYP3A4*1G polymorphisms can significantly influence the post-operative effect.
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Jordan Hubbard has announced the release of FreeNAS 9.3, a brand-new version of the specialist FreeBSD-based operating system for network-attached storage (NAS) systems: "After months of work and close to a thousand bugs resolved, we are very proud and pleased to announce the official release of FreeNAS 9.3. Please come and get it while it's hot! We have also prepared some important upgrade notes for this release which even folks coming from 9.3-BETA may wish to read. If you are one of the folks who jumped on board with 9.3-BETA then you need merely check for and apply the update that will be waiting for you - this will update you to 9.3-RELEASE and automatically jump you to the 9.3-STABLE update train (note: if you got the very last update already, you may need to simply switch manually to the 9.3-STABLE train). If you are not currently on 9.3, then simply grab the GUI or ISO update image and update in the usual way; this is the last time you will need to do so!" See the release announcement and release notes for further information. Download: FreeNAS-9.3-RELEASE-x64.iso (381MB, SHA256).
Jordan Hubbard has announced the release of FreeNAS 9.2.1, an updated version of the project's free network-attached storage (NAS) system based on FreeBSD and the ZFS file system: "After one beta, two release candidates, and many nightly builds (which many of you tested, to our everlasting gratitude) we are, as always, proud to announce the public availability of FreeNAS 9.2.1-RELEASE. FreeNAS 9.2.0 was a great release, and we're pleased to say that FreeNAS 9.2.1 is even better. Since 9.2.0 was released, we have fixed over 189 bugs, added new features, polished the UI, and improved the performance of FreeNAS even further. The documentation has also been updated for 9.2.1, though the source code is still a useful reference for features like the web API, which comes with several examples in the source tree. For the first time, we are also publishing an errata list for 9.2.1 so people will know about known issues that were not deemed severe enough to be 'show stoppers' for this release." Read the rest of the release announcement which includes detailed release notes. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-9.2.1-RELEASE-x64.iso (215MB).
Jordan Hubbard has announced the release of FreeNAS 9.2.0, a FreeBSD-based operating system that enables the users to build networked storage: "After one early beta and two release candidates, it gives us great pleasure to announce the full and final release of FreeNAS 9.2.0. As implied from the series of pre-releases, this release has benefitted substantially from a great deal of public testing as well as several months of 'living on' testing we ourselves have done on a wide variety of hardware. This is, without a doubt, the best release of FreeNAS yet. Since 9.1.1 was released, we have fixed 268 bugs in the bug tracker, as well as countless others that were found and fixed independently of the bug tracking system. We have also made a number of enhancements to the UI and generally done our best to bring more polish to the FreeNAS system, both in usability and performance." Continue to the release announcement to find out more. Download (SHA256) from here: FreeNAS-9.2.0-RELEASE-x64.iso (163MB).
Jordan Hubbard has announced the release of FreeNAS 9.1.1, an open-source storage platform based on FreeBSD: "The FreeNAS development team is delighted to announce the general release of FreeNAS 9.1.1. This release offers small, but significant, improvements to FreeNAS 9.1.0. A number of cosmetic issues, user interface tracebacks and outright bugs (such as 32-bit plugins not working) have been addressed since 9.1 was released. A few features that were known to be broken, such as AIO in Samba 3 or IPv6 in plugin jails, were also disabled to avoid people shooting their feet off. Finally, a number of important ZFS stability fixes were also picked up from the TrueOS repo during the creation of 9.1.1-RELEASE. Thank you for all your participation and assistance during the 9.1.1 beta and release candidate process, this release benefited significantly from your suggestions and bug reports!" Here is the brief release announcement with a link to a full changelog. Download: FreeNAS-9.1.1-RELEASE-x64.iso (349MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-9.1.1-RELEASE-x86.iso (264MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 9.1.0, an open-source and BSD-based NAS solution that enables the users to build networked storage devices on a multitude of hardware platforms: "The FreeNAS development team is delighted to announce the general release of FreeNAS 9.1.0. This release offers massive improvements to the usability, extensibility, stability, and performance of FreeNAS. Everything from the web user interface, plugin management system, base operating system, ZFS file system, and even the source control used to manage the project has been substantially improved. With FreeNAS 9.1.0, iXsystems sets a new level of excellence and power in open source storage solutions... The volume creation interface has been completely replaced with a new wizard that assists the user in creating the most ideal storage pool and optimal setup for the number of disks available, also helping those unfamiliar with ZFS to make correct early configuration decisions and avoid painful rebuilds later." Check the full release announcement for more information. The ISO images as well as the PDF documentation are available from the download page (SHA256): FreeNAS-9.1.0-RELEASE-x64.iso (306MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.3.1, an open-source storage platform that supports sharing across Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems: "The FreeNAS development team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of FreeNAS 8.3.1-RELEASE. FreeNAS 8.3.1 is based on FreeBSD 8.3 with version 28 of the ZFS file system, and features volume based encryption for ZFS. There have been no major changes between 8.3.1-RC1 and RELEASE, mostly bug fixes and minor usability improvements to the GUI. Please familiarize yourself extensively with the encryption features of FreeNAS before using them. Doing the wrong thing can end up in a state where the volume is hidden behind very difficult-to-break AES 256 encryption. Many modern CPUs feature hardware support for encryption. If hardware support is available FreeNAS will use it." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information and useful links to documentation pages. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.3.1-RELEASE-x64.iso (113MB), FreeNAS-8.3.1-RELEASE-x86.iso (107MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.3.0, a free and open-source Network-Attached Storage (NAS) operating system based on FreeBSD: "The FreeNAS development team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of FreeNAS 8.3.0-RELEASE. FreeNAS 8.3.0 is based on FreeBSD 8.3 with version 28 of the ZFS file system. This is a major milestone in FreeNAS development, bringing in the plugin system with ZFS version 28. Development of the FreeNAS 8.2 branch has come to a halt, as both ZFS version 15 as well as FreeBSD 8.2 are no longer supported. There have been no major changes between 8.3.0-RC1 and RELEASE, mostly bug fixes and minor usability improvements to the GUI." See the release announcement and release notes for further information. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.3.0-RELEASE-x86.iso (103MB) FreeNAS-8.3.0-RELEASE-amd64.iso (112MB).
The fast and furious development of FreeNAS, a FreeBSD-based operating system designed to provide free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services, continues with a new beta: "The FreeNAS development team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeNAS 8.3.0-BETA3. This is the last planned public beta of 8.3.0 as it moves towards the final. This beta includes a re-factoring of the Active Directory and LDAP integration. It has a rework of serial port support, adding the ability to set the serial port speed. The NFS sharing was re-factored in BETA2 with an eye towards maintaining compatibility with sharing schemes set up in previous FreeNAS releases. The re-factored sharing is more powerful and flexible than in previous releases, while enforcing the OS-based rules. Support for the LSI 'skinny' RAID controllers was added, including the 9265/9285." Here is the full release announcement. Download: FreeNAS-8.3.0-BETA3-x86.iso (160MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.3.0-BETA3-x64.iso (170MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the first beta build of FreeNAS 8.3.0: "The FreeNAS development team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeNAS 8.3.0-BETA1. This is the first public release of the 8.3.0 branch of FreeNAS, which upgrades the underlying base system of FreeNAS to FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE-p7. This update brings with it Version 28 of the ZFS file system, as well as a number of updates to the drivers and utilities in the base system. FreeNAS 8.2.0 brought with it the ability to install plugins, this functionality is present in FreeNAS 8.3.0 as well. At the moment upgrading the plugin jail to the version included with FreeNAS 8.3.0-BETA1 will cause plugins to stop working and will require re-installation and reconfiguration of all plugins to resume normal operation. Our recommendation at this time is to avoid upgrading working components of the plugin system." See the release announcement for notes on new ZFS file system features. Download: FreeNAS-8.3.0-BETA1-x86.iso (156MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.3.0-BETA1-x64.iso (168MB, SHA256).
After four beta versions and one release candidate, FreeNAS 8.2.0 is available for download, which is a free, open-source, Network-Attached Storage (NAS) operating system based on FreeBSD. From the release announcement: "The FreeNAS development team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of FreeNAS 8.2.0-RELEASE. FreeNAS 8.2.0-RELEASE is the first release on new branch of code that incorporates tighter integration between the ZFS command line and the FreeNAS GUI. This release also features the ability to run arbitrary services and interact with them through the FreeNAS GUI in a FreeBSD jail. This jail allows a wide range of third party software to be run on top of FreeNAS, using the PBI format from PC-BSD or FreeBSD packages or ports, as well as official FreeNAS plugins. Additional features include: support for iSCSI target reload; GUI support for SAS and FC multipath hardware; WebShell accessible from the FreeNAS web interface; ZFS scrubs are configurable from the GUI...." Read the press release, the release notes, and an important update to 8.2.0-RELEASE-p1. Download: FreeNAS-8.2.0-RELEASE-p1-x86.iso (96MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.2.0-RELEASE-p1-x64.iso (104MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the fourth beta release of FreeNAS 8.2.0, a specialist FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "The development team is pleased to announce FreeNAS 8.2.0-BETA4, to upgrade plugins, as well as the plugin jail itself. There have been numerous bug fixes and improvements over previous beta releases. The GUI upgrade format changed in 8.2.0-BETA3 from xz to txz. What this means is that if you are attempting to do a GUI upgrade to 8.2.0-BETA4 from 8.2.0-BETA3 use the .txz version of the GUI_Upgrade file. If you are upgrading from any previous version use the .xz file." Read the rest of the detailed release notes for more information. Download: FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA4-x86.iso (153MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA4-x64.iso (163MB, MD5).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the third beta build of FreeNAS 8.2.0, a specialist operating systems providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I've just completed uploading FreeNAS 8.2.0-BETA3. Upgrades from BETA2 work, but most likely any plugin stuff that is working in BETA2 will stop working. You'll want to use the plugins in the BETA3 directory with this beta, don't mix and match. Notable highlights are a complete re-factor of plugins, iSCSI target reload, and the Samba security fix. The 8.2 branch of FreeNAS introduces many functional changes when compared with the 8.0.x releases. ZFS can be manipulated from the CLI, and changes for supported items tracked by FreeNAS will be reflected in the GUI. zvols, datasets, and entire volumes can be created, destroyed, or manipulated on the CLI and will be propagated to the GUI." The release announcement. Download: FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA3-x86.iso (94.5MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA3-x64.iso (101MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the second beta release of FreeNAS 8.2.0, a specialist operating systems providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "It has been a long road, and it's not anywhere close to being done, but FreeNAS is a step closer to a release with plugins. I'm pleased to announce on behalf of the FreeNAS team, FreeNAS 8.2.0-BETA2, available for immediate download from SourceForge. The 8.2 branch of FreeNAS introduces many functional changes when compared with the 8.0.x releases. ZFS can be manipulated from the CLI, and changes for supported items tracked by FreeNAS will be reflected in the GUI. Zvols, datasets, and entire volumes can be created, destroyed, or manipulated on the CLI and will be propagated to the GUI. The GUI now supports active-passive multipath capable hardware, which targets mainly SAS drives on dual expander backplanes." Read the full release announcement which includes a complete list of new features. Download: FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA2-x86.iso (95.9MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.2.0-BETA2-x64.iso (102MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.0.4, the latest update of the project's FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "FreeNAS 8.0.4-RELEASE is now available for immediate download. Changes since 8.0.3-RELEASE: update ataidle from 2.6 to 2.72 based on maintainer's recommendation due to interoperability with 2.6 and certain chipsets; fix the inadyn port so that it works on i386; fix a regression for DHCP users where /etc/resolv.conf would be nulled out if DNS servers weren't specified in the GUI; disable AIO by default and change the default AIO read / write size to 4 kB; add in logic to start lockd and mountd when NFS is enabled so that FreeNAS doesn't need to be manually prodded to start the services, or rebooted in order for the services to become effective." Read the detailed release notes for a complete list of changes and fixes. Download: FreeNAS-8.0.4-RELEASE-x86.iso (94.1MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.0.4-RELEASE-x64.iso (101MB, SHA256).
James Nixon has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.0.3, the latest update of the project's FreeBSD-based system designed to provide free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services. What's new? "Use smaller block and frag sizes for /etc and /var; import a build tweak to nuke /var/db/pkg to save 7 MB of space; other build tweaks to remove non-essential features and packages from the image; disable output to /var/log/console.log in non-debug builds to avoid unnecessary duplication in /var/log/messages; upgrade ATAidle to 2.6; upgrade Nut and net-snmp to 2.6.2 and 5.7.1, respectively; import Omnibus build system fixes to fix the fact that the 8.0.3-BETA1 image was broken due to the environment of the build machine where it was produced on; increase the /var size from 74 MB to 160 MB so that Samba will be able to service requests copying large sets of files...." Read the rest of the release notes for a complete changelog. Download: FreeNAS-8.0.3-RELEASE-x86.iso (95.0MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-8.0.3-RELEASE-x64.iso (100MB, SHA256).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.0.2, a bug-fix update of the project's FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "The FreeNAS team is proud to announce FreeNAS 8.0.2, a follow-up release to 8.0.1. Major changes since 8.0.1-RELEASE: the email subsystem was not working correctly in 8.0.1-RELEASE, which resulted in the system not being able to send mail, as well as malfunction of the alerting system in the GUI. Changes since 8.0.1-RELEASE: allow decimal numbers for a dataset quota; fix setting recursive ACLs; start ProFTPd after ix-ssl to use the correct SSL certificate; use wildcards in cron and rsync jobs instead of listing all values; fix case in iSCSI targets to match the behavior specified by RFC 3722." Here is the complete release announcement. Download (SHA256) links: FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386.iso (102MB) FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64.iso (109MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.0.1, a new stable version of the project's FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "On behalf of the FreeNAS development team I'm pleased to announce FreeNAS 8.0.1-RELEASE. Changes since 8.0-RELEASE: divorced the volume members in the database from the FreeBSD devices; support exporting ZFS zvols (virtual devices) as device extents via iSCSI; the GUI now has an event notification system; the email backend has been refactored; many many changes in the GUI to help it validate and sanitize inputs that are passed to the backend daemons; added UPS functionality; added rsync client and server functionality; added the ability to schedule cron jobs in the GUI; vastly improved and reworked snapshot replication." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and some errata notes. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0.1-RELEASE-i386.iso (102MB) FreeNAS-8.0.1-RELEASE-amd64.iso (110MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the second release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0.1, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I'm pleased to announce FreeNAS 8.0.1-RC2, available for immediate download. Major changes: the mail subsystem has been rewritten due to major interop issues with the previous implementation of the mail subsystem and various mail server setups (including gMail); the iSCSI target daemon (istgt) has been updated to address interoperability issues with VMware ESXi; fixed a bug where a failed upgrade after a config was uploaded was resulting in the system 'reverting' to using the uploaded config instead of the previous running config; save config now uses a hostname/date combination in the file name; fixed a bug with replacing devices in place; added a confirmation password field for dyndns...." The release announcement comes with a complete changelog and a list of fixed bugs. Download (MD5): FreeNAS-8.0.1-RC2-i386.iso (101MB) FreeNAS-8.0.1-RC2-amd64.iso (109MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the first release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0.1, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I'm pleased to announce that FreeNAS 8.0.1 Release Candidate 1 is available for download. This is the first release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0.1. At this point, we are no longer including new features or functionality into 8.0.1. From here on out, only bug fixes and regressions will be addressed. Major changes: there is no longer a default password: the GUI incorporates an alert system in the form of a 'stoplight' that is visible from every page in the GUI; Netatalk 2.2 is included, which provides support for Time Machine backups to OS X Lion clients; deleting ZFS volumes is now really an export operation...." Check out the full release announcement for a full changelog and errata notes. Download (MD5): FreeNAS-8.0.1-RC1-i386.iso (108MB) FreeNAS-8.0.1-RC1-amd64.iso (112MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the last (again!) beta release of FreeNAS 8.0.1, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "This is the last beta planned for the 8.0.1 release cycle. This line was present in the beta 3 release notes as well. Beta 3 contained several fairly significant bugs, and a patch release was planned to address them, unfortunately due to a myriad of issues that patch release was delayed enough that doing another beta made more sense than any sort of patch. Changes since beta 3: ACLs and UNIX file system permissions work properly on both UFS and ZFS volumes; changes to link aggregations which resulted in a regression in functionality have been reverted...." See the release announcement for a list of bug fixes completed in this release. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA4-i386.iso (107MB), FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA4-amd64.iso (111MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced that the third and final beta release of FreeNAS 8.0.1, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services, is ready for testing: "I'm pleased to announce the availability of FreeNAS 8.0.1-BETA3. This is the last beta planned for the 8.0.1 release cycle. The image size has been increased from 1 GB to 2 GB. As more features have been added to the system it has crept towards the max size. The translations have brought this to a head, the current image just barely fits in 1 GB, but the translation effort is about 50% finished. Since an image size bump is inevitable, it's happening now. Due to this size change the system now requires a 2 GB device to install to. Furthermore, the GUI upgrade is not possible. Booting from the CD will work to do the upgrade." Read the release announcement for a full list of changes since beta 2. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA3-i386.iso (107MB), FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA3-amd64.iso (110MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the second beta release of FreeNAS 8.0.1: "Hot on the tail of the first BETA I am proud to announce 8.0.1-BETA2. This is the second of three planned betas in the 8.0.1 release cycle. Most of the changes from BETA1 are bug fixes. In particular several bugs have been fixed in the migrations from 8.0-RELEASE. The system was not relabeling ZFS volumes to use the new devicename-independent naming scheme correctly in BETA1. Also the database migration scripts in BETA1 do not migrate NFS shares properly. The upgrade/migration scripts have been improved. In previous versions failure of the database upgrade was easy to miss, and it could leave the system booting to single-user mode with error messages that had nothing to do with the root issue. This has been rectified. If a database migration does fail, the error message will be clear as to what happened." Here is the complete release announcement. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA2-i386.iso (102MB), FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA2-amd64.iso (108MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the first beta release of FreeNAS 8.0.1, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I'm pleased to announce 8.0.1-BETA1, the first preview of the upcoming 8.0.1-Release for FreeNAS. The changes from 8.0-Release: upgraded software stack across the board, new version of Django, Dojo, istgt and many other software upgrades; the new version of istgt fixes issues people were having in a Hyper-V environment; vastly improved remote replication, with much better error notification as well as the ability to recover from failure situations; device names are no longer hard-wired in the database; users can now be given an email address, making them more useful for use in cron jobs; the ability to add cron jobs via the GUI is now present...." See the release announcement for a complete list of changes and errata. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA1-i386.iso (103MB), FreeNAS-8.0.1-BETA1-amd64.iso (105MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the release of FreeNAS 8.0, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I'm pleased to announce the availability of FreeNAS 8.0-RELEASE. FreeNAS 8.0-RELEASE supports NFS, CIFS, AFP, FTP and TFTP as file sharing mechanisms. It also supports exporting devices via iSCSI as an iSCSI target. Active Directory or LDAP for user authentication. The ZFS and UFS2 file systems are supported. ZFS is the primary file system and enables usage of many features, including quotas, snapshots, compression and replication that are not available in UFS2. This release is based on FreeBSD 8.2, but this version of FreeNAS is called 8.0 as there are future plans to add functionality that will get the versions catch up." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and errata. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0-RELEASE-i386.iso (103MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RELEASE-amd64.iso (105MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the fifth release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0, a FreeBSD-based system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "This wasn't supposed to happen, but we fixed so many issues in RC4 that we really wanted to push something out to the community. This image is being handed over to QA for the final run-through. In a perfect world the release will be this image with polishing work. Two major bits that are new are volume drive replacement in the GUI, and the ability to add to ZFS volumes, which also doubles as the ability to create stacked ZFS volumes, such as a stripe of RAIDZs (RAID 50) or a stripe of mirrors (RAID 10). Documentation lags behind the functionality, we'll get it updated shortly." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0-RC5-i386.iso (101MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RC5-amd64.iso (105MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the fourth and final release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "Announcing the final release candidate planned for the 8.0 release cycle. Release candidate 4 contains both bug fixes and new functionality over previous release candidates and betas. Snapshot functionality has been added; there are features to create periodic snapshot jobs, create one-time snapshots, clone snapshots (which can then be exported as shares like any other data set) and rollback to previous snapshot. VLAN interfaces are fully supported; VLANs can be created from the GUI or from the CLI menu on the console. NFS shares can be set to use the full range of maproot and mapall options." For further details please refer to the release announcement. Download (SHA256): FreeNAS-8.0-RC4-i386.iso (100MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RC4-amd64.iso (103MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the third release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0, a FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "Release candidate 3 contains both bug fixes and new functionality over previous release candidates and betas. New in 8.0-RC3: there is a volume importer in the storage application, this has been tested in scenarios that are limited to what can be devised in our labs; since the ZFS upgrade procedure is non-reversable, this must be run manually, please do not upgrade your pools unless you are absolutely sure you'll never want to go back to other systems; support for 3ware 6 Gbps RAID controllers has been added, as has the CLI utility tw_cli for managing 3ware RAID controllers; the GUI supports access via HTTP or HTTPS protocols; link aggregations can be created and configured from the CLI interface." Read the release announcement and release notes for more details. Download: FreeNAS-8.0-RC3-i386.iso (98.2MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RC3-amd64.iso (101MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the second release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0, a small FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "FreeNAS 8.0-RC2 is now available. We introduced an upgrade via the GUI feature in RC1, so with this release that can be taken advantage of. The ISO images can be used for new installs, and will also offer to upgrade existing installs they detect. The compressed xz images are suitable for the GUI upgrade in RC1, if you are using releases previous to that they are of no value. GUI firmware upgrades are supported, but due to a bug in the interaction between FreeBSD, lighttpd, and Python they work intermittently. There is a workaround which wasn't implemented in time for RC2 - the procedure involves running commands from the CLI shell." See the release announcement and release notes for further details. Download: FreeNAS-8.0-RC2-i386.iso (98.3MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RC2-amd64.iso (99.4MB).
Josh Paetzel has announced the availability of the first release candidate for FreeNAS 8.0, a tiny FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "I am pleased to announce the availability of the first FreeNAS 8.0 release candidate. More than just a huge jump in version number, FreeNAS 8.0 blends FreeBSD 8.x technology, production-ready ZFS, and a web-based GUI with x86/amd64 hardware to make a NAS device available with a lower barrier to entry. This RC provides a number of enhancements over previous beta snapshots that have been released. The show all volumes screen shows volume status if it is a RAID device. The volume wizard allows for creating ZFS volumes with cache, log, or spare devices. Email to 'root', which includes the daily status and security run reports is now aliased to the email address provided for the GUI admin user." See the release announcement and release notes for further information. Download: FreeNAS-8.0-RC1-i386.iso (97.5MB), FreeNAS-8.0-RC1-amd64.iso (101MB).
Warner Losh has announced the availability of the first beta release of FreeNAS 8.0, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "iXsystems is pleased to announce FreeNAS 8.0 beta. FreeNAS 8.0 has undergone a complete rewrite. We've redesigned the GUI to be easier to use and extend. We've upgraded many technologies in the system for improved hardware support, faster I/O, better modularity, and easier upgrades. We trust that you'll find the system easier to use and, in time, much more feature rich than the current FreeNAS offering. The base system has migrated from FreeBSD 7.x and the m0m0wall build system to FreeBSD 8.1-RELEASE and NanoBSD. The system start-up has migrated from the older PHP scripts to the standard FreeBSD rc.d boot system." Read the release announcement and release notes for a detailed description of changes in this version. Download: FreeNAS-8r5606-i386.full.iso (77.7MB), FreeNAS-8r5606-amd64.full.iso (78.0MB).
Daisuke Aoyama has announced the release of FreeNAS 0.7.1, a FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: The FreeNAS Development Team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeNAS 0.7.1. This is a maintenance release of FreeNAS 0.7. It improves the functions and the translations of WebGUI. Also it introduces a few new features. New features: AIO (asynchronous I/O) support in CIFS/SMB - Samba; ATAPI CAM with iSCSI target (device pass-through); custom script in Email Report; serial console support for headless servers/devices; a raw device, ZFS volume for the extent of iSCSI target; iSCSI removable device and control (DVD/tape emulation). Upgrade notes: before upgrade you must always backup your configuration file, your system disk and all your data." Read the rest of the release announcement which include detailed release notes. Download: FreeNAS-i386-LiveCD-0.7.1.iso (72.0MB, SHA256), FreeNAS-amd64-LiveCD-0.7.1.iso (75.4MB, SHA256).
Volker Theile has announced the availability of the first release candidate for FreeNAS 0.7, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "Today I am proud to announce the release of the first release candidate of version 0.7. It took a really long time to make this version as it is now, but i think it was worth the wait. Majors changes: upgrade to FreeBSD 7.2; include ZFS support; upgrade iSCSI initiator to 2.1.1; replace iSCSI target with istgt; add WOL patch for NVIDIA (nfe) and 3Com (xl); re-factor 'Diagnostics Log' WebGUI; add kernel patches to get ARTiGO A2000 hardware working; upgrade Transmission to 1.61; add 'iperf', a tool to measure maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth...." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download the installable live DVD images from here: FreeNAS-i386-LiveCD-0.7RC1.iso (69.3MB, MD5), FreeNAS-amd64-LiveCD-0.7RC1.iso (72.7MB, MD5).
Volker Theile has announced the availability of the second release candidate for FreeNAS 0.69, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "This will hopefully be the last release candidate before a stable release can be published. So please test this version and report any problems. Changes: upgrade to FreeBSD 6.4-RELEASE; add system firewall, please note that this is only for the local system and not for the network (this will also never be implemented, use pfSense or m0n0wall instead); upgrade Transmission to 1.40; introduce new WebGUI look (also fixes some MSIE rendering bugs); add UPS service WebGUI option to define shut-down mode; add option 'Use sendfile' to 'Services CIFS/SMB Settings'; check if configured port is already used (e.g. UPnP, BitTorrent, DAAP); fix web server security hole...." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: FreeNAS-i386-LiveCD-0.69RC2.iso (60.0MB, MD5), FreeNAS-amd64-LiveCD-0.69RC2.iso (65.4MB, MD5).
The fourth beta release of FreeNAS 0.69, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services, is ready for testing. From the release notes: "Upgrade to FreeBSD 6.4; upgrade to rsync 3.0.4, PHPMailer 2.2.1, Transmission 1.34; add new attribute 'Temporary directory' to UPnP WebGUI to define a directory used to store temporary transcoded files; modify /etc/rc.d/samba script; add 'Who' combobox to rsync client/local jobs to select user which is used to execute this job; add 'Enable' checkbox to rsync client/local jobs to enable or disable them; fix bug in zoneinfo port. Please note that due to adding many new features which have blown up the image size of FreeNAS, it is not possible to upgrade to the latest 0.69b4 from previous installations if you have chosen the embedded OS/DATA installation mode." Download (MD5): FreeNAS-i386-LiveCD-0.69b4.iso (59.3MB), FreeNAS-amd64-LiveCD-0.69b4.iso (64.7MB).
Volker Theile has announced the third beta release of FreeNAS 0.69, a minimalist, FreeBSD-based operating system providing easy-to-setup Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "Today a new beta version of FreeNAS 0.69 has been released. As soon as FreeBSD 6.4 is released, expect the next and hopefully stable FreeNAS version. Major changes: add nullfs.ko and unionfs.ko kernel modules; display warning message when user is going to delete software RAID or encrypted volume; add 'Recursive', 'Times', 'Compress' and 'Archive' checkboxes to RSYNC client in local WebGUI; add 'Delete algorithm' option in RSYNC client in local WebGUI; add 'Execute now' button in RSYNC client in local WebGUI; add NVIDIA nForce MCP on-board Ethernet support; add audio and video transcoding support to fuppes; increase mfs_root size to 74MB (32-bit) and 80MB (64-bit); CTorrent BitTorrent client has been replaced by Transmission which includes a WebGUI...." More details in the release announcement. Download (MD5): FreeNAS-i386-LiveCD-0.69b3.3821.iso (59.4MB), FreeNAS-amd64-LiveCD-0.69b3.3821.iso (64.5MB).
Volker Theile has announced the release of FreeNAS 0.686.4: "FreeNAS 0.686.4 stable was released today. It is a maintenance release so no new features have been included. Changes: Set subnet mask to 24 per default if DHCP is activated, otherwise WebGUI is not accessible in most networks when changing from DHCP to static; do not validate sync time values when pressing 'Now' on status report page; add ability to add multiple destination email addresses on status report page; display interfaces with status 'associated' in UPnP services WebGUI too; add ability to configure multiple host names for Dynamic DNS service; add patch to do a file system check on root if necessary; display correct share name for mounted ISOs on initial system page; fix CPU graph script error...." More in the release announcement. Download: FreeNAS-i386-liveCD-0.686.4.3374.iso (46.6MB, MD5).
Volker Theile has announced the third and final beta release of FreeNAS 0.686, a FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services: "FreeNAS 0.686b3 has been released. This will hopefully be the last beta before it becomes stable. Major changes: add file system check support during boot process; add attribute 'Store DOS attributes' to Samba and CIFS WebGUI; modify idmap syntax in smb.conf; upgrade Adaptec AACRAID driver to v5.2.0 Build 15317; upgrade WOL patch to version from 25.11.2007; add AFP share support; upgrade netbsd-iscsi (iscsi-target) to 20071130; upgrade PHPMailer to 2.0.0; modify rsync client and local WebGUI to define individual source and destination paths; modify rsync server WebGUI and rc-script, now it is possible to manage rsync shares...." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: FreeNAS-i386-liveCD-0.686b3.iso (43.7MB, MD5).
The FreeNAS project has announced the first beta release of FreeNAS 0.686, a tiny FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network Attached Storage (NAS) services: "Today FreeNAS 0.686b1 has been released. We skipped 0.685RC2 because all its improvements and fixes are also included in 0.686b1. Majors changes: upgrade fusefs-ntfs to 1.1004; upgrade lighttpd to 1.4.18; upgrade netbsd-iscsi to 20070925; refactor GEOM-Eli implementation + WebGUI, now it is possible to add existing encrypted disks and change passwords for a encrypted disk; improve device detection for configuration storage when booting from live CD; update zoneinfo files; add 'System/Packages' WebGUI page to administrate packages (only available in 'full' install mode); add LDAP authentication; add email status report...." Read the detailed changelog for more information. Download: FreeNAS-i386-liveCD-0.686b1.iso (43.9MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of FreeNAS 0.685, a FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage services, has been released for download: "Today FreeNAS 0.685RC1 has been released. Changes: modified build scripts; upgrade PHP to 5.2.4; upgrade lighttpd to 1.4.17; make login procedure more FreeBSD style, now we have 7 consoles available (via Alt-Fx keys), root is auto-login on ttyv0, environment is now set correctly, PATH is also correct; refactor time control used on various WebGUI pages like rsync or scheduled shutdown; restrict file access for FTP users to /mnt only; modified file permissions for configuration files to 0600; added patch for new hardware revision of D-Link DGE-528T PCI card...." See the full release announcement for more details. Download: FreeNAS-i386-liveCD-0.685RC1.iso (41.9MB, MD5).
A new beta release of FreeNAS, a tiny FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network Attached Storage (NAS) services, is now available. From the release notes and changelog: "Lot's of things has been changed in this release. The proprietary boot sequence has been replaced by the FreeBSD used sys5init system. Due this it is possible to start/stop and restart all services using the console (e.g. /etc/rc.d/lighttpd stop or /etc/rc.d/samba restart). Another change is that Samba shares has to be defined by the user..." Download: FreeNAS-i386-liveCD-0.685b.iso (41.7MB).
FreeNAS is a small FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services. A new version 0.66, fixing bugs and adding minor new features, has been released. What's new? "Upgraded to FreeBSD 6.1 RC #12; added Broadcom NetXtreme II PCI/PCIe Gigabit Ethernet adapter driver; added FreeBSD version on the main page; added iSCSI diagnostic page (useful for displaying a list of target names); permit to mount more than 1 partition on the same hard drive; permit to use numbers in the login name; add CIFS buffer configuration option; added smartd daemon on the syslog settings page." For more details please refer to the release notes. Download: FreeNAS-0.66.iso (500MB, MD5).
FreeNAS is a free NAS server based on FreeBSD. It supports CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS, RSYNC protocols, local user authentication, and software RAID. FreeNAS 0.65 is based on FreeBSD 6.1-PRERELEASE #10. New features in this release: "MS Windows Domain authentication; Apple File Protocol (AFP); Announce FreeNAS services with Zeroconf (howl); iSCSI initator (NOT TESTED)." Read the announcement and the full changelog on its home page and SourceForge. Download: FreeNAS-0.65.iso (29.1MB, MD5).
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Mobilizing for Winter
By Jenna Anderson
W
ith the busyness of summer coming to an end and the transition into the winter sports right around the corner, now is a good time to add a few stretching movements into your workout routine. Hiking, climbing, running, and exercise in general can keep you moving well, but it can also create tightness in the hips, which can pull on the back and also the knees and even the ankles, creating a host of small hurts. Coming into the winter sports season with open, mobile hips and a low back is as simple as taking a few moments after your workouts to release tight spots and create more dexterity, allowing the body to move more freely in whichever direction you decide to send it.
Add the following four stretches to the end of your workout, or at the end of your day after a brisk walk, to limber up the muscles. Find demonstrations of each stretch in the gallery above.
GORILLA SQUATS The trick to these is to place your hands really far under your toes, so the ball of your foot nestles into the palm of your hand. You should be folded at the hip for this, and your knees can be bent but while trying to keep the hip joint directly over the ankle joint, about hip width to shoulder width apart. Tilt the sit bones up and lengthen through the back of the hamstring – if you’re feeling this in the back of your knees, soften them – and think about lengthening through the back of the leg. Try to keep your weight balanced, and deepen the stretch through tension generated by using your arms to try to pull your upper body down. Reverse the motion to facilitate mobility in the hips by sitting down and back, keeping your weight in your heels and knees behind the toes, with your elbows to the inside of the knees as you drop into a low squat. At the bottom, think about keeping your weight back, using your arms to create tension as you lift your chest up and forward, as though trying to push it between your hands. Reverse the motion by driving through your heels and forward folding to return to your starting position. Do 12-15 reps.
KNEE DROPS Starting in a low lunge position with your hands on either side of your right foot, walk your right foot closer to your left hand. Part of this exercise is creating space in the hips, but also in the shoulders and back through the flexion of the spine. Press your hands into the floor like you’re trying to push it away, tuck your belly, and lift your hips just a little, with your core activated, letting the knee drop to the right side – it may go to the floor, it may not. As the knee drops, allow the body to sink with it – your back, shoulders, and hips are essentially “loading” the stretch. Then push back into the ground and pull the knee back to the starting position. Do 10 drops on each side, holding the last drop for 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side.
STRADDLE WALKS Start seated on the floor with your legs straddled. If you can’t do this without slumping or keeping the natural arch in your low back, try un-tucking your pelvis, as though trying to tilt the top of your hipbones toward the floor. If your shoulders don’t lift and stack over your hips, simply slide yourself back against the wall for support. If using the wall, your initial movement is the un-tucking of the pelvis, as though trying to lift your sit bones away from the floor back toward the wall; you’ll feel your pelvis rotate forward. For your straddle, you’ll get better results with this stretch if you find your full range of motion – where the backs of your legs and knees stay on the floor – and then back off just a tiny bit. Continue to reach out of your hip joints through your legs, and, keeping your chest high, reach out as far as you can go. Your back can come off the wall, but just don’t push yourself off the wall and let the shoulders and back collapse – we’re opening not only the hips but the low back here. Once you’ve found your range of motion, keep your chest high and walk your hands to the left foot. Once there, see if you can create just a little more range by moving as though you’re trying to put your belly on the floor first, not your chest. Maintaining all the length you’ve just created, walk your hands to the right foot. That’s one. Go back and forth 12-15 times.
CRAB REACHES Start seated on the floor with your feet under your knees, one hand back behind the hip, fingers facing away from the body. Engage your glutes by lifting your hips, and reach the opposite hand up over your head, returning to start by dropping your hips straight down. If this is hard for you, support your back by rolling over a Swiss Exercise Ball or on a bench. Do 12 on each side.
Remember to be patient with mobility and stretching. It takes time and mindfulness to allow the body to open up. Stay with it and watch how a few minutes of stretching can improve your winter sports and also your workouts.
Jenna is a trainer and competitive physique athlete with a passion for yoga. She can usually be found at Flathead Health and Fitness in Kalispell teaching classes. She also offers personal training. Contact her at www.innerpowertraining.com.
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WAR IN GAZA
A Palestinian refugee man smokes a cigarette as he rests with his son at a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, in Gaza City on January 22, 2009. The United Nations urged Israel to reopen Gaza crossings as senior officials assessed war damage and the Jewish state warned it would strike again if Hamas rearms through smuggling tunnels.
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(a) high sensitivity and slow response if they are stiff (b) low sensitivity and fast response if they are stiff (c) low sensitivity and slow response if they are stiff (d) low sensitivity and zero response
(a) dynamic forces only (b) dynamic forces and static forces provided the load cells have a small time constant (c) dynamic forces and static forces provided that the load cells have a large time constant (d) static forces only
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Monoclonal antibodies against recombinant-MAGE-1 protein identify a cross-reacting 72-kDa antigen which is co-expressed with MAGE-1 protein in melanoma cells.
The MAGE-1 gene codes for tumor-associated peptides recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes in association with MHC-class-1 molecules such as HLA-A1 and HLA-Cw16. In the course of a study aiming at the immunohistochemical detection of the MAGE-1 gene product in tumor samples, 2 mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against a full-length recombinant MAGE-1 fusion protein were found to react strongly not only with the 46-kDa MAGE-1 protein, but also with a 72-kDa product in immunoblots of lysates obtained from several MAGE-1-mRNA-positive melanoma cell lines. Pre-incubation of the antibodies with the recombinant MAGE-1 fusion protein abolished their reactivity both with MAGE-1 protein and with the 72-kDa product, thus confirming the occurrence of antigenic determinant(s) shared by the 2 proteins. The 72-kDa protein is not an alternative product of MAGE-1, since it was still detected in lysates of a MAGE-1 loss variant derived from a MAGE-1-positive melanoma cell line. Moreover, the 72-kDa protein does not appear to be a product of the other members of the MAGE gene family known to be expressed in tumors (such as MAGE-2, -3, -4 and -12). Interestingly, expression of the 72-kDa protein was found to be correlated with that of MAGE-1 protein. Thus, in 30 tumor cell lines analyzed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR, the 72-kDa protein was never detected in MAGE-1-mRNA-negative cell lines, while it was co-expressed with MAGE-1 protein in 12 out of 15 cell lines expressing MAGE-1. Furthermore, the 72-kDa protein was detected in lysates of human testis, the only normal tissue known to express MAGE-1. Finally, treatment of MAGE-1-mRNA-negative cell lines with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a hypomethylating agent known to induce MAGE-1 expression, resulted in the expression of the 72-kDa protein. Taken collectively, these findings suggest that expression of the gene encoding the 72-kDa protein identified in this study through antigenic determinant(s) shared with MAGE-1 protein is regulated in a way similar to that of MAGE-1.
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/*
* Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
* or more contributor license agreements. See the NOTICE file
* distributed with this work for additional information
* regarding copyright ownership. The ASF licenses this file
* to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
* "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
* with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
* limitations under the License.
*/
package org.apache.flink.tests.util;
import java.nio.file.Path;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
/**
* Utility class for setting up command-line tool usages in a readable fashion.
*/
public enum CommandLineWrapper {
;
public static WGetBuilder wget(String url) {
return new WGetBuilder(url);
}
/**
* Wrapper around wget used for downloading files.
*/
public static final class WGetBuilder {
private final String url;
private Path targetDir;
WGetBuilder(String url) {
this.url = url;
}
public WGetBuilder targetDir(Path dir) {
this.targetDir = dir;
return this;
}
public String[] build() {
final List<String> commandsList = new ArrayList<>(5);
commandsList.add("wget");
commandsList.add("-q"); // silent
//commandsList.add("--show-progress"); // enable progress bar
if (targetDir != null) {
commandsList.add("-P");
commandsList.add(targetDir.toAbsolutePath().toString());
}
commandsList.add(url);
return commandsList.toArray(new String[commandsList.size()]);
}
}
public static SedBuilder sed(final String command, final Path file) {
return new SedBuilder(command, file);
}
/**
* Wrapper around sed used for processing text.
*/
public static final class SedBuilder {
private final String command;
private final Path file;
private boolean inPlace = false;
SedBuilder(final String command, final Path file) {
this.command = command;
this.file = file;
}
public SedBuilder inPlace() {
inPlace = true;
return this;
}
public String[] build() {
final List<String> commandsList = new ArrayList<>(5);
commandsList.add("sed");
if (inPlace) {
commandsList.add("-i");
}
commandsList.add("-e");
commandsList.add(command);
commandsList.add(file.toAbsolutePath().toString());
return commandsList.toArray(new String[commandsList.size()]);
}
}
public static TarBuilder tar(final Path file) {
return new TarBuilder(file);
}
/**
* Wrapper around tar used for extracting .tar archives.
*/
public static final class TarBuilder {
private final Path file;
private boolean zipped = false;
private boolean extract = false;
private Path targetDir;
private int strips = -1;
public TarBuilder(final Path file) {
this.file = file;
}
public TarBuilder zipped() {
zipped = true;
return this;
}
public TarBuilder extract() {
extract = true;
return this;
}
public TarBuilder targetDir(final Path dir) {
targetDir = dir;
return this;
}
public TarBuilder strip(final int num) {
strips = num;
return this;
}
public String[] build() {
final List<String> commandsList = new ArrayList<>(4);
commandsList.add("tar");
if (zipped) {
commandsList.add("-z");
}
if (extract) {
commandsList.add("-x");
}
if (targetDir != null) {
commandsList.add("--directory");
commandsList.add(targetDir.toAbsolutePath().toString());
}
if (strips > 0) {
commandsList.add("--strip");
commandsList.add(String.valueOf(strips));
}
commandsList.add("-f");
commandsList.add(file.toAbsolutePath().toString());
return commandsList.toArray(new String[commandsList.size()]);
}
}
}
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[The medicine and drug-abusing patient].
Opioids are frequently used in chronic cancer and non-cancer pain conditions. Addiction may develop during long-term opioid treatment and illegally as intravenous "street" addiction. Benzodiazepines are frequently used for legal indications. However, due to widespread misuse efforts are being made to limit consumption. Finally, an increasing number of illegal drugs--sedatives as well as psychoactive drugs--have recently been introduced to the illegal market. This review gives guidelines for the perioperative management of patients using and misusing these drugs.
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[android-components](../../index.md) / [mozilla.components.concept.storage](../index.md) / [HistoryAutocompleteResult](index.md) / [<init>](./-init-.md)
# <init>
`HistoryAutocompleteResult(input: `[`String`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/-string/index.html)`, text: `[`String`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/-string/index.html)`, url: `[`String`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/-string/index.html)`, source: `[`String`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/-string/index.html)`, totalItems: `[`Int`](https://kotlinlang.org/api/latest/jvm/stdlib/kotlin/-int/index.html)`)`
Describes an autocompletion result against history storage.
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New Year Recipe – Namasu of Daikon & Carrot
January 2, 20110 comments
If you’ve ever been in Japan for New Year you may have indulged in some traditional Japanese New Year’s fare – osechi ryori.
Osechi ryori is made in advance as little if any housework is done during the new year’s celebrations. Pickling, smoking, marinating and simmering are common techniques of hozonshoku – foods that keep/preserve well.
There are typically at least 9 dishes which are served in a beautiful lacquerware bento box called a jubako with several tiers.
The dishes of osechi ryori are individually symbolic with vivid colours and nutritious ingredients for a good luck, health, fertility, peace and happiness.
The traditional namasu – raw vinegared dish – that is served on New Year’s Day is daikon radish & carrot pickles.
In Japan you can buy red carrots. The red of the carrot and white of the daikon symbolise good luck for the New Year.
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John Farrell again declined to make official the worst-kept secret at JetBlue Park — “We’ll have something tomorrow,” the manager said on Wednesday — but Lester will make his fourth straight Opening Day start for the Red Sox when the season opens on Monday at Camden Yards. Only three Red Sox pitchers since 1914 have made more Opening Day starts than Lester — Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens and Dennis Eckersley.
While Lester appreciates the honor, even more significant about Monday will be the chance to feel something he hasn’t felt since last October — adrenaline.
“I can’t wait for Opening Day,” Lester said, “to recreate that feeling of the adrenaline rush, fighting, grinding things out. The last we remember, we were fighting for a World Series, and that’s hard to forget, that’s hard for your body to forget. We’re out there trying to do our job with nothing behind us as far as adrenaline and consequences, and it sometimes can be difficult.”
Few scenarios generate as little adrenaline as pitching on back fields to overmatched minor-leaguers, as Lester did on Wednesday afternoon. He threw 95 pitches in six innings against High-A hitters from the Minnesota organization, striking out seven and walking three while giving up one run on three hits.
The point of the exercise was to get Lester close to 100 pitches without showing him to the Baltimore Orioles, the team he’ll be facing in five days — and the team that made the trip to JetBlue Park on Wednesday.
No matter where he pitched on Wednesday — on the back fields or in the main stadium, both under the Florida sun — it would have had little in common with pitching in Busch Stadium in Game Five of the World Series.
Monday in Baltimore figures to have a significantly different feel — something close to the feel he had last October, something that can’t help but add a sharpness to the way he pitches.
“When you get down here and you have some of our first bullpens, we’re out there cussing four pitches in,” he said. “The last we remember is when we were locked in and fighting for our lives. Then you get into situations like today, situations in games like this, where you just have to create some sort of atmosphere to where you try to get back into that.”
For Lester, Opening Day in five days also represents a potential deadline in his negotiations with the Red Sox on a contract extension. Both Lester and Boston general manager Ben Cherington have expressed their preference that the negotiations be resolved by the time the season starts.
Lester had little progress to report on Wednesday, just as Cherington had little progress to report when he met with reporters to announce the David Ortiz contract extension on Monday. Both sides have expressed vague optimism but little more.
“The biggest thing is they’re still talking,” Lester said. “We know how some of these things go — guys blow up on each other and things end pretty quickly. It’s a positive that they’re still talking, and we’ll keep going from there.”
The disintegration of talks between Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and the Detroit Tigers appeared to shed some light on the price for pitching. Various reports indicated that Scherzer turned down a six-year, $144-million offer — an offer Boston almost certainly will not make to Lester — before the Tigers issued something of an antagonistic news release ending negotiations.
If there’s an impasse between the Red Sox and the Lester camp, though, it’s almost certainly south of that number.
“That’s hard to walk away from,” Lester said when asked specifically about the Scherzer situation.
If the finish line is in sight by Opening Day, the Red Sox might continue talks with Lester’s representatives — the same agents who negotiated the team-friendly extension Dustin Pedroia signed last June. If a gulf still exists, talks might be tabled until October.
“We’re not just going to end something just to end something because it’s Opening Day,” Lester said. “If we’re close, yeah, we’ll carry it over. I don’t think that’s a distraction. But I feel like if things are nowhere near being done, that’s a good thing for both sides — you can come out and say what needs to be said about it and put it on the back burner and worry about playing baseball then.”
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Is This Surprising?
HACKENSACK, N.J. – A longtime editor claims Swank Publications and Broadway Publishing fired her because of age and sex discrimination, despite her stellar record as an editor of pornography, and despite her work on “four new publications [with] a specific fetish theme – teen pornography.”
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Directions & Lake History/FactoidDirections: Near Hesperia, 15 miles east of I-15 via CA 138 and 173.
Factoid: San Bernardino County Parks manages this project in the high desert wilderness at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains. No permanent pool, but camping and picnicking facilities are available. Access to the Pacific Crest Trail. Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area is nearby.
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Sen. Elizabeth Warren told supporters in an email on Friday that her campaign has raised just over $17 million in the final fundraising quarter of the year, about $3.5 million shy of what the Democrat raised at the same point in the third quarter.
“That’s a good chunk behind where we were at this time last quarter,” Warren said in the email.
“It will be nearly impossible to match last quarter at this point. But we need to start closing the gap as quickly as possible.”
Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, raised $24.6 million in the third quarter of 2019, just behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, who raised $25 million. Warren and Sanders have staked out a position in the Democratic field of eschewing donations from the ultra-wealthy, relying instead on small-dollar donations from grassroots supporters.
Warren has lost momentum in the race after peaking in early October, when she ran neck-and-neck with frontrunner Joe Biden. Warren picked up steam after a series of strong debate performances, and after Sanders suffered a mild heart attack. Sanders and Warren are seen as competing for a similar pool of voters given their far-left economic policies.
Sanders has bounced back in the polls, while Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind., has also seen a rise in his poll and fundraising numbers. Warren has also faded since she released a $52 trillion Medicare for All plan that called for a wealth tax on mega-millionaires and billionaires.
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cask "wintertime" do
version "0.0.7"
sha256 "b7cb5b25172e3450982d673533931e721e009677e711fffa320b5e42abee3ff3"
url "https://github.com/actuallymentor/wintertime-mac-background-freezer/releases/download/#{version}/Wintertime-#{version}.dmg"
appcast "https://github.com/actuallymentor/wintertime-mac-background-freezer/releases.atom"
name "Wintertime"
desc "Utility to freeze apps running in the background to save battery"
homepage "https://github.com/actuallymentor/wintertime-mac-background-freezer"
app "Wintertime.app"
end
|
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Hoping to make themselves heard in the power centre of the nation, thousands of farmers from across the country converged here on Thursday for a two-day protest to press for their demands, including debt relief and remunerative prices for their produce.
The farmers, who will march to Ramlila Ground on Thursday and to Parliament Street on Friday, came from different corners of the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
Traffic was disrupted in many parts of the city as they marched to Ramlila Ground in the heart of the city on four different routes -- starting at the Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Bijwasan railway stations and at Sabzi Mandi.
Banded under the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), which claims to be an umbrella body of 207 organisations of farmers and agricultural workers, many of the farmers came in trains and other packed into buses and other modes of transport.
Those from Delhi and nearby Punjab and Haryana started collecting around 10.30 am, their leaders said.
Kamla, a functionary of the All India Kisan Sabha's Delhi unit, said farmers from nearby areas converged at Majnu Ka Tila on the outskirts of Delhi from where they will start marching in groups to Ramlila Maidan.
The marchers will gather at Ramlila Ground by evening, the farmer leaders said, expecting a crowd of about one lakh.
About 1,200 members of the National South Indian River Interlinking Agriculturalists Association reached the national capital in the early hours of Thursday carrying skulls of two of their colleagues who had committed suicide, said their leader P Ayyakannu.
The group from Tamil Nadu threatened to march naked if they are not allowed to go to Parliament on Friday.
Last year, the group staged protests at Jantar Mantar with the skulls of eight farmers who killed themselves owing to farm losses. The two-day rally will be one of the largest congregations of farmers in Delhi, the AIKSCC has said.
A cultural programme would be held at Ramlila Ground on Thursday where prominent singers and poets from rural India would perform.
The AIKSCC was formed under the aegis of All India Kisan Sabha and other Left affiliated farmers' bodies in June 2017, after protests by farmers in states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for debt relief and remunerative prices Police said they have made elaborate arrangements for the rally on Friday, when the farmers will begin their march from Ramlila Ground to Parliament Street.
Support for the farmers poured in with activists taking to Twitter to ask the general public to join the march.
"Women farmers greet us this morning from Bijwasan as they are all set to embark on #KisanMuktiMarch. Join us even if you are not a farmer. Join the hands that toil to feed us. Jai Kisan!," tweeted political activist Yogendra Yadav. Lawyer Prashant Bhushan also tweeted in solidarity with farmers.
"Over 3L farmers have committed suicide in India in last 15 yrs,due to successive govts betraying them. Tomorrow 1 lakh farmers from across the country are marching to Delhi to ask for fair prices & freedom from debt. Let's stand in solidarity with them," he said.
Jamun Thakur, a farmer from Parri village of Bihar's Darbhanga district, said he arrived in the city at 8 am Thursday with over 2,000 farmers mostly associated with AIKS.
They started their journey on the Bihar Samprakranti Express on Wednesday morning.
"We grow paddy and maize. But over the years, we have been facing losses due flood and drought like situation. We demand that the government must do something for us. The Nitish Kumar government has done nothing for us. We had hopes from the Modi government but he too betrayed us," said Thakur.
Police in adjoining Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar on the outskirts of the city were on alert ahead of the rally.
Traffic was affected on the stretch between Majnu Ka Tila and Chandi Ram Akhada, ISBT, Kashmere Gate, Samalkha and NH 8, Dhaula Kuan and Noida and Delhi.
"Forces were deployed along the border areas and no tractor-trolley allowed to get into Delhi," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ghaziabad, Upendra Agarwal said.
During the mega Kisan Rally led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union on October 2, thousands of protestors were stopped by the security forces at the Delhi Gate, at the juncture of Noida-Ghaziabad-Delhi.
They were only allowed after midnight to march further to the Kisan Ghat, the memorial of former prime minister late Chaudhary Charan Singh, in the national capital.
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High-performance liquid chromatography of naturally occurring 8-, 7-, 6-, 5- and 4-carboxylic porphyrin isomers.
Naturally occurring 8-, 7-, 6-, 5- and 4-carboxylic porphyrin isomers are separated on C18 reversed-phase columns with various proportions (13-31%, v/v) of acetonitrile in 1 M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.16) as the mobile phases. Hydrophobic interaction between the porphyrin side chain substituents and the C18 hydrophobic surface is the main retention mechanism. Ion-exchange behaviour is also observed, but this does not influence the relative retention of the isomers. All possible forms of the decarboxylation intermediates of uroporphyrinogen III are detected in normal and porphyric urine, and the results provide conclusive evidence for the existence of decarboxylation pathways other than the currently accepted clockwise sequence, starting at the ring D acetic acid group of uroporphyrinogen III.
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From left to right : Preston Swafford, SNC-Lavalin’s Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice-President, Nuclear, and Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO (CNW Group/SNC-Lavalin)
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 6, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - A framework agreement of up to $400 million has been signed between two Ontario-based nuclear organizations that will create jobs and bring major long-term economic benefits to the province as Bruce Power advances its multi-year investment program.
The agreement names SNC-Lavalin's nuclear team as an important resource for Bruce Power's long-term investment program, which includes the life extension of six Bruce Power units announced last December. The agreement also establishes a framework for the provision of ongoing engineering and CANDU reactor field services activities.
"The agreement sets the stage for a project that will create jobs and enhance Ontario's energy infrastructure," said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power's President and CEO. "While we are planning for the long term, we are achieving our goals by delivering our program incrementally, and we believe this agreement will be the foundation for a long-standing arrangement with SNC-Lavalin as we work to successfully invest in our units."
SNC-Lavalin will be responsible for the tooling required to perform the removal of pressure and calandria tubes, the installation of new components, the design of feeder pipes and integral fittings, supports and related nuclear components, and the deployment and maintenance of a number of key reactor inspection tools on the Bruce Power refurbishment project, which will begin in 2020.
"We are pleased to continue our relationship with Bruce Power and we are committed to successfully delivering our scope, as what we are doing is critical to Ontario's Long-Term Energy Plan," said Preston Swafford, SNC-Lavalin's Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice-President, Nuclear. "We believe our role, if fully implemented in the first Major Component Replacement project, will create up to 150 Ontario-based jobs at SNC-Lavalin and up to another 900 direct and indirect jobs across the province."
Ontario's Energy Minister said nuclear power is the backbone of Ontario's clean, reliable and affordable electricity system.
"As Bruce Power moves forward with the refurbishment of its nuclear reactors, working with local companies like SNC-Lavalin creates jobs in Mississauga and drives our provincial economy forward," the Hon. Minister Glenn Thibeault said. "Across Ontario, the refurbishment project at Bruce Power makes up to 23,000 jobs possible and generates about $6.3 billion in annual economic benefits."
Kim Rudd, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Natural Resources and MP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, offered praise for the agreement and the positive benefits for Canada.
"Bruce Power continues to generate 6,300 megawatts of power to the supply mix in Ontario, and plays an important part in producing clean, greenhouse gas emissions-free electricity in Canada," Parliamentary Secretary Rudd said. "Bruce Power also creates significant economic benefits, including good, well-paying jobs across Ontario, which makes announcements like today's especially important."
Oakville Mayor Rob Burton was pleased with the news and offered congratulations to Bruce Power and SNC-Lavalin.
"This is a truly encouraging development for innovation and job creation within the nuclear industry," Mayor Burton said. "Nuclear component manufacturing remains a key part of our local economy here in Oakville. I am pleased to see this collaboration create highly skilled jobs and drive innovation for communities across Ontario."
About Bruce PowerBruce Power operates the world's largest operating nuclear generating facility and is the source of roughly 30 per cent of Ontario's electricity. The company's site in Tiverton, Ontario, is home to eight CANDU reactors, each one capable of generating enough low-cost, reliable, safe and clean electricity to meet the annual needs of a city the size of Hamilton. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an all-Canadian partnership among Borealis Infrastructure Management (a division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), TransCanada, the Power Workers' Union and the Society of Energy Professionals. A majority of Bruce Power's employees are also owners in the business.
About SNC-Lavalin Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices in over 50 countries, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide engineering, procurement construction, completions and commissioning services together with a range of sustaining capital services to clients in our four industry sectors: oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. SNC-Lavalin can also combine these services with its financing and operations and maintenance capabilities to provide complete end-to-end project solutions. www.snclavalin.com
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Selfies
We can’t slide into the weekend without taking a moment to consider some of the truly baffling things tech companies did this week. And with April Fools Day, you can be sure shenanigans were at an all time high. So we have no time to waste:
As an April Fools Day prank, Uber jokingly announced Uber Boat. Just in case you were interested in recreating any Gilligan’s Island fantasies you might have.
Plenty of companies thought pranks involving selfies would be funny. Can we all agree they weren’t that funny?
In a staggering example of not getting it – Jeb Bush went around this week defending a controversial bill while hitting up Silicon Valley for cash. Is there a phrase for the opposite of preaching to the choir?
Microsoft announced plans to remove “Do Not Track” as the default setting in their upcoming browsers. I am sure this will go over well with the Internet.
While we’ve all had a lot of fun Periscoping and Meerkatting through life these past few weeks, we may be in for quite a shock when our phone bills come in. These hot new apps chew through data like nobody’s business.
That wraps it up – hopefully you survived April Fools without getting pranked too hard. Check back next week for more tech and PR news.
I don’t know, we just thought this was cute. Stock photos are hard. (Thinkstock)
Whether you’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day or just boycotting the occasion entirely, we’ve collected the best news for you to digest along with all of those sugar heart candies and chocolates.
Hate Valentine’s Day with an especially fiery passion? We doubt you can top the “Revolutionary Alliance of Men That Woman Are Not Attracted To,” which writes fun poems like: “The blood-soaked conspiracy of Valentine’s Day, driven by the oppressive chocolate capitalists, has arrived once again.” Feel better yet?
TV anchors away: things escalated quickly as both social media and media alike couldn’t stop weighing the pros and cons of Jon Stewart’s departure, and then the pros and cons of Jon Stewarts’ potential successors…and then the pros and cons of Jon Stewarts 2016 presidential race?
On a more serious note, the media world lost some true greats this week. With that in mind, don’t be afraid to get out there and show some love this weekend.
Gone are the days of iris scanning and fingerprinting as human identification tactics! Here come body odor, heartbeats and even brain waves!
Professional sports leagues around the country plan to add Wi-Fi to their stadiums. They’re hoping to draw millennials from behind their TV screens and to the stadiums, where they can promptly post photos of their seats to Instagram.
Read something that made you say “Wait! What?” this week? Leave a comment or hit us up @BlancandOtus!
|
Biometrics refer to the quantifiable data (or metrics) related to human characteristics and traits. The quantifiable metrics can be gathered using various sensors and the collected data processed to identify and/or authenticate individual persons. Typically, biometric identifiers can be categorized as physiological and/or behavioral characteristics. Generally, physiological characteristics are related to the shape of the body and can include (but not limited to) fingerprint, palm print, DNA, and scent. In contrast, behavioral characteristics relate to a pattern of behavior and include (but not limited to) gait, voice, and typing rhythm. Biometric identifiers can also include characteristics that are more subtle such as respiratory and heartbeat patterns.
|
I posted this on page 2. Whether glanced over, purposely overlooked, ignored or whatever I thought it should be reposted.
Anxious to see if anyone steps up to the plate or are they just going to complain and then head off to best buy when they get their check.
Originally posted by SwatMedic
Here is an idea. Maybe all the members here who disagree with this rebate or dont want the govts money can agree on one or a couple of great
charities and you can take your rebate money and give it to those less fortunate or disabled vets or children in Africa.
It would not only show that you literally put your money where you mouth is, it would be a chance for others to benefit.
So instead of griping how the money could be better spent elsewhere, get started making a list of charities and spend that money in the places you
think its needed.
If the govt is screwing things up, then just dont talk about it, do something about it.
Originally posted by LockwithnoKey
Sounds to me like your father raised a bum...literally.
Dude, what are you trying to do?
A bum, are you that dense?
Due to cirumstances beyond my control we were forced to live in our car for a short period of time, yes. I then went on to recieve my masters and now
live in a 2 year old, 3200 sq ft house and own two PAID OFF late model luxury vehicles. I have NO CREDIT CARD debt and earn more in a year then many
do in a decade.
No, not a bumb, just an honest person who refuses to steal from you, yet you make fun of me for that?
I refuse to be a thief and you think that is funny?
Get banned.
Only in your dreams sonny...think of yourself as an example of delusions...
And as for what am I trying to do..you talk of my family and ask me what I'm doing?
Grow a pair and lay off family in the future...unless your to dense to think that much.
So you want us to be happy about the theft of peoples earnings? You want us to give it to charities?
Look Robin Hood, how about not stealing it in the first place!
And BTW, how much money I make shouldn’t concern you. I shared what I wished and kept private what I wished, however I will tell you that your
assumptions are a little off. I paid taxes even with all my dependants I have never made $500,000 in a year.
Originally posted by LockwithnoKey
And as for what am I trying to do..you talk of my family and ask me what I'm doing?
Oh, I get it, we are doing personal insults now!
If you were insulted by the FACT that you are a thief if you accept money stolen on your behalf by the IRS then that is your problem.
Dont like to be called a thief, dont send others to steal on your behalf!
So long as you steal from me I have every right to call you what you are.
And if that is how your father raised then there is nothing I can do about it, but it does not change what he did. If he didn’t raise you that way,
then I feel bad for him; it would break my heart to see one of my children stealing just because it was the status quo.
So you want us to be happy about the theft of peoples earnings? You want us to give it to charities?
Look Robin Hood, how about not stealing it in the first place!
And BTW, how much money I make shouldn’t concern you. I shared what I wished and kept private what I wished, however I will tell you that your
assumptions are a little off. I paid taxes even with all my dependants I have never made $500,000 in a year.
I didnt say you were happy or would be happy but if its such a travesty, then turn the tables on them and give it to someone or some group that could
benefit.
As far as your income, I wasnt being a smartass, if you have 6 dependants then you should be getting money back. I am not a tax attorney but I have
some experience in this arena and was actually offering to help.
Originally posted by SwatMedic
With 6 dependants you should certainly be seeing a sizeable return unless you fall into one of those 3 I listed.
Sorry, I went back over what I said and realized it didnt come out right. I put more into the system then I get back. I paid more than ten thousand
over the year in SSI and federal withholding and didnt get my ten thousand back, nowhere close to it infact.
Originally posted by LockwithnoKey
And as for what am I trying to do..you talk of my family and ask me what I'm doing?
Oh, I get it, we are doing personal insults now!
If you were insulted by the FACT that you are a thief if you accept money stolen on your behalf by the IRS then that is your problem.
Dont like to be called a thief, dont send others to steal on your behalf!
So long as you steal from me I have every right to call you what you are.
And if that is how your father raised then there is nothing I can do about it, but it does not change what he did. If he didn’t raise you that way,
then I feel bad for him; it would break my heart to see one of my children stealing just because it was the status quo.
Well, actually I was referring to your mention of my fathers parental involvement. So, as I said..lay of any mention of my family or expect a strong
rebuttal.
As far as calling me a thief...you a funny little man.
I have never had a need to ask anything of anyone. I have been well educated since childhood and as such, I am the person that creates jobs for others
to remove them as a burden on the system.
So, the fact that you couldn't do anything to correct you situation at the time, shows me that you don't have the resources to be preaching
others.
With that said, I am very against any form of welfare, food stamps or whatever. Though I know many that take their advantage.
I dont understand why you keep saying that they "took it from you." You still got the same amount of money back from the gov't as you usually did.
You got 600 dollars early, and then 2400 later in the year.....that still equals out to 3000.
I dont think that this is the same kind of thing though.....im pretty sure that we just get this money, and thats it.
I could be wrong though. I would think that they would say something about that in some of the many articles that are on TV and on the internet.
TRUE. You are right there. I understand that now. However, I didn't know that is what they were doing when they did it. So I made plans for
my money with my return and it wasn't all there. One big lump sum like I needed. I had already used the other money. I won't make that mistake
again.
Is that the reason you are posting so much anger and hatred ? Just for the
applause?
I could care less about getting applause.
Sometimes its not so much WHAT YOU SAY it's HOW you say it that gets a person's attention, but I guess you think that calling people thieves and
names is your way of getting attention.
Great we get 300-1200 dollars now.....................................OF WHICH WE WILL HAVE TO PAY BACK IN TAXES A FEW YEARS FROM NOW. I swear to God
the idiots in DC get DUMBER by the day....As do most of us.
Lewis Black once said something along the lines of " 500 dollars only makes you
realize how f***** you really are" Back during the last rebate mess. I agree..............If this passes I will stuff the money in a dancers G string
and have a awesome night....Not unlike most of the reps on the hill
This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression.
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Search and rescue underway for migrants off Greek island
September 13, 2016 6:36 AM
9
0
ATHENS, Greece – Greece's coast guard says a search and rescue operation is underway for dozens of migrants on board a boat near the Greek island of Samos, after someone on board called emergency services.
The coast guard said a helicopter and vessel from the European border patrol agency Frontex and a coast guard vessel are searching north of Samos for the vessel, which the caller said was carrying about 40 people.
|
using Microsoft.SharePoint.Client;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Schema;
using OfficeDevPnP.Core.Framework.Provisioning.Connectors;
using OfficeDevPnP.Core.Framework.Provisioning.ObjectHandlers;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace OfficeDevPnP.Core.Framework.Provisioning.Model.Configuration
{
public partial class ApplyConfiguration
{
private Dictionary<String, String> _accessTokens;
[JsonIgnore]
public FileConnectorBase FileConnector { get; set; }
[JsonIgnore]
public ProvisioningProgressDelegate ProgressDelegate { get; set; }
[JsonIgnore]
public ProvisioningMessagesDelegate MessagesDelegate { get; set; }
[JsonIgnore]
public ProvisioningSiteProvisionedDelegate SiteProvisionedDelegate { get; set; }
[JsonIgnore]
public Dictionary<String, String> AccessTokens
{
get
{
if (this._accessTokens == null)
{
this._accessTokens = new Dictionary<string, string>();
}
return (this._accessTokens);
}
set
{
this._accessTokens = value;
}
}
[JsonProperty("handlers")]
public List<ConfigurationHandler> Handlers { get; set; } = new List<ConfigurationHandler>();
[JsonProperty("parameters")]
public Dictionary<string, string> Parameters { get; set; } = new Dictionary<string, string>();
/// <summary>
/// Defines Tenant Extraction Settings
/// </summary>
[JsonProperty("tenant")]
public Tenant.ApplyTenantConfiguration Tenant { get; set; } = new Tenant.ApplyTenantConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("contentTypes")]
public ContentTypes.ApplyContentTypeConfiguration ContentTypes { get; set; } = new ContentTypes.ApplyContentTypeConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("propertyBag")]
public PropertyBag.ApplyPropertyBagConfiguration PropertyBag { get; set; } = new PropertyBag.ApplyPropertyBagConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("fields")]
public Fields.ApplyFieldsConfiguration Fields { get; set; } = new Fields.ApplyFieldsConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("lists")]
public Lists.ApplyListsConfiguration Lists { get; set; } = new Lists.ApplyListsConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("navigation")]
public Navigation.ApplyNavigationConfiguration Navigation { get; set; } = new Navigation.ApplyNavigationConfiguration();
[JsonProperty("extensibility")]
public Extensibility.ApplyExtensibilityConfiguration Extensibility { get; set; } = new Extensibility.ApplyExtensibilityConfiguration();
public ProvisioningTemplateApplyingInformation ToApplyingInformation()
{
var ai = new ProvisioningTemplateApplyingInformation();
ai.ApplyConfiguration = this;
if(this.AccessTokens != null && this.AccessTokens.Any())
{
ai.AccessTokens = this.AccessTokens;
}
ai.ProvisionContentTypesToSubWebs = this.ContentTypes.ProvisionContentTypesToSubWebs;
ai.OverwriteSystemPropertyBagValues = this.PropertyBag.OverwriteSystemValues;
ai.IgnoreDuplicateDataRowErrors = this.Lists.IgnoreDuplicateDataRowErrors;
ai.ClearNavigation = this.Navigation.ClearNavigation;
ai.ProvisionFieldsToSubWebs = this.Fields.ProvisionFieldsToSubWebs;
if (Handlers.Any())
{
ai.HandlersToProcess = Model.Handlers.None;
foreach (var handler in Handlers)
{
Model.Handlers handlerEnumValue = Model.Handlers.None;
switch (handler)
{
case ConfigurationHandler.Pages:
handlerEnumValue = Model.Handlers.Pages
| Model.Handlers.PageContents;
break;
case ConfigurationHandler.Taxonomy:
handlerEnumValue = Model.Handlers.TermGroups;
break;
default:
handlerEnumValue = (Model.Handlers)Enum.Parse(typeof(Model.Handlers), handler.ToString());
break;
}
ai.HandlersToProcess |= handlerEnumValue;
}
}
else
{
ai.HandlersToProcess = Model.Handlers.All;
}
if (this.ProgressDelegate != null)
{
ai.ProgressDelegate = (message, step, total) =>
{
ProgressDelegate(message, step, total);
};
}
if (this.MessagesDelegate != null)
{
ai.MessagesDelegate = (message, type) =>
{
MessagesDelegate(message, type);
};
}
if (this.SiteProvisionedDelegate != null)
{
ai.SiteProvisionedDelegate = (title, siteUrl) =>
{
SiteProvisionedDelegate(title, siteUrl);
};
}
return ai;
}
public static ApplyConfiguration FromApplyingInformation(ProvisioningTemplateApplyingInformation information)
{
var config = new ApplyConfiguration();
config.AccessTokens = information.AccessTokens;
config.Navigation.ClearNavigation = information.ClearNavigation;
config.Tenant.DelayAfterModernSiteCreation = information.DelayAfterModernSiteCreation;
config.Extensibility.Handlers = information.ExtensibilityHandlers;
if(information.HandlersToProcess == Model.Handlers.All)
{
config.Handlers = new List<ConfigurationHandler>();
} else
{
foreach(var enumValue in (Handlers[])Enum.GetValues(typeof(Handlers)))
{
if(information.HandlersToProcess.Has(enumValue))
{
if(Enum.TryParse<ConfigurationHandler>(enumValue.ToString(),out ConfigurationHandler configHandler))
{
config.Handlers.Add(configHandler);
}
}
}
}
config.Lists.IgnoreDuplicateDataRowErrors = information.IgnoreDuplicateDataRowErrors;
config.MessagesDelegate = information.MessagesDelegate;
config.PropertyBag.OverwriteSystemValues = information.OverwriteSystemPropertyBagValues;
config.ProgressDelegate = information.ProgressDelegate;
config.ContentTypes.ProvisionContentTypesToSubWebs = information.ProvisionContentTypesToSubWebs;
config.Fields.ProvisionFieldsToSubWebs = information.ProvisionFieldsToSubWebs;
config.SiteProvisionedDelegate = information.SiteProvisionedDelegate;
return config;
}
public static ApplyConfiguration FromString(string input)
{
//var assembly = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
//var resourceName = "OfficeDevPnP.Core.Framework.Provisioning.Model.Configuration.extract-configuration.schema.json";
//using (Stream stream = assembly.GetManifestResourceStream(resourceName))
//using (StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream))
//{
// string result = reader.ReadToEnd();
// JsonSchema schema = JsonSchema.Parse(result);
// var jobject = JObject.Parse(input);
// if(!jobject.IsValid(schema))
// {
// throw new JsonSerializationException("Configuration is not valid according to schema");
// }
//}
return JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<ApplyConfiguration>(input);
}
}
}
|
Q:
Mongo 3.6 debug validation using jsonSchema
I'm following a course from mongodb university to learn new features in the release 3.6, and I'm unable to resolve why my validator is invalid.
This is how I created the collection:
db.getSiblingDB("TSA").createCollection("claims", {
validator: {
$jsonSchema: {
bsonType: "object",
properties: {
_id: { },
airportCode: { type: "string", minLength: 3 },
airportName: { type: "string" },
airlineName: { type: "string", minLength: 5 },
claims: {
bsonType: "object",
properties: {
itemCategory: { bsonType: "array", maxItems: 3 },
amount: { type: "string", pattern: "^\$.*" }
}
}
},
required: ["airportCode", "airlineName", "claims"],
additionalProperties: false
}
}
})
Then, I try to insert this object:
db.getSiblingDB("TSA").claims.insertOne({
"airportCode": "ABE",
"airportName": "Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown",
"airlineName": "MongoAir",
"claims": {
"claimType": "Property Damage",
"claimSite": "Checked Baggage",
"itemCategory": [ "Sporting Equipment & Supplies" ],
"amount": "$180.00"
}
})
Getting the following error:
WriteError({
"index" : 0,
"code" : 121,
"errmsg" : "Document failed validation",
"op" : {
"_id" : ObjectId("5a705318d3d6c18337f07282"),
"airportCode" : "ABE",
"airportName" : "Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown",
"airlineName" : "MongoAir",
"claims" : {
"claimType" : "Property Damage",
"claimSite" : "Checked Baggage",
"itemCategory" : [
"Sporting Equipment & Supplies"
],
"amount" : "$180.00"
}
}
})
My question is, is there some way to debug the validator like "property X must be Y type" instead of getting a generic "Document failed validation"?
A:
As of MongoDB 3.6, there is no feedback mechanism that would inform what part of a document failed validation during a server-side check. A corresponding feature request is open: SERVER-20547: Expose the reason an operation fails document validation. For now, it is left to the application code to perform its own validation if detailed feedback is required.
|
Q:
Project structure recommendation for an opensource asp.net mvc project
What do you think of the project structure for an opensource CMS application built on asp.net mvc application? The project nickname is "Gol".
The basic requirements are outlined in the following posts.
Ideas for OpenSource CMS in ASP.NET MVC
Currently I am thinking of laying it down like this...
Gol.Core.Session (contains session manager both real and fake)
Gol.Core.Caching (contains caching including velocity, enterprise lib. provider)
Gol.Core.Logging (contains logging components and providers)
Gol.Core.Instrumentation (contains instrumentation related items)
Gol.Core.UI (UI helpers, and other things related to UI)
Gol.Core.Security (security,authentication related things)
Gol.Core.Utilities (common utility functions like encryption, helper methods, etc).
Gol.Core.Metadata (metadata manager).
Gol.Web.Controllers (all controllers goes here).
Gol.Cms.Contracts (contains the service contracts)
Gol.Cms.Model (contains the service model)
Gol.Cms.Services (contains the service implementation).
Gol.Web (the web project that contains the views)
Gol.Test (or Gol.Specification)
What do you think? Is the structure overloaded/bloated?
Your thoughts/suggestions welcome based on your experience (nothing specifically do with asp.net mvc).
This may help others as well who may be interested in designing the initial project structure.
A:
Start with 1 project and build something functional. Only add new projects as growth demands. I've started new projects like this, planning a grandiose VS solution with an impressive-looking number of separate projects, but it ends up being a waste of time. You'll end up trying to fit your design into your project structure, which is stupid - the project structure is there to help you. The only way to know for sure how you'll need to organize your code is by having code to organize. It's much easier to do it incrementally as you build, than try to do it all upfront.
A:
I usually structure my MVC projects with the following projects:
web
web.Controller
model
Business Logic
Data Access
Services
Any Libraries for sessions, caching etc.
You have quite a well structured project although there are a few things I think you can do to improve it.
Create a test project for each layer that you have so that you can isolate the tests. If you change your presentation layer you can dump any tests associated with them and move your bussiness logic easily. I would also create another project for integration tests for each layer I have. This is so that you can exclude them for quicker continuous integration compiles.
I would also not have the UI code in Goi.Core.UI. Your UI code is probably for presentation malipulation and should live in Goi.web
Good luck with your project
|
Q:
College Billing System - Java
I developed a college fee report generator application using Java with internet as referance,but now I need you guys help in making it more obvious and a sturdy application as I am a rookie to Java Swing.
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.ActionEvent;
import java.awt.event.ActionListener;
import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
import java.io.FileWriter;
public class College extends Frame {
JLabel l1, l2, l3, l4,
l5, l6, l7, l8,
l9, l10, l12, l13,
l14, l11, l15;
JTextField tf1, tf2, tf3,
tf4, tf5, tf6,
tf7, tf8, tf9,
tf10;
JTextArea area2, area1;
JRadioButton rb1, rb2, rb3,
rb4, rb5, rb6,
rb7;
JFileChooser f1;
// Default constructor to
// initialize the parameters
College()
{
l1 = new JLabel("Fee Report");
l1.setBounds(550, 100, 250, 20);
l2 = new JLabel(
"Name of the Student:");
l2.setBounds(50, 150, 250, 20);
tf1 = new JTextField();
tf1.setBounds(250, 150, 250, 20);
l3 = new JLabel(
"Name of the Father:");
l3.setBounds(50, 200, 250, 20);
tf2 = new JTextField();
tf2.setBounds(250, 200, 250, 20);
l4 = new JLabel("Roll Number:");
l4.setBounds(50, 250, 250, 20);
tf3 = new JTextField();
tf3.setBounds(250, 250, 250, 20);
l5 = new JLabel("Email ID:");
l5.setBounds(50, 300, 250, 20);
tf4 = new JTextField();
tf4.setBounds(250, 300, 250, 20);
l6 = new JLabel("Contact Number:");
l6.setBounds(50, 350, 250, 20);
tf5 = new JTextField();
tf5.setBounds(250, 350, 250, 20);
l7 = new JLabel("Address:");
l7.setBounds(50, 400, 250, 20);
area1 = new JTextArea();
area1.setBounds(250, 400, 250, 90);
l9 = new JLabel("Gender:");
l9.setBounds(50, 500, 250, 20);
JRadioButton r5
= new JRadioButton(" Male");
JRadioButton r6
= new JRadioButton(" Female");
r5.setBounds(250, 500, 100, 30);
r6.setBounds(350, 500, 100, 30);
ButtonGroup bg = new ButtonGroup();
bg.add(r5);
bg.add(r6);
l10 = new JLabel("Nationality:");
l10.setBounds(50, 550, 250, 20);
String nationality[]
= { "Indian","Other"};
final JComboBox cb3
= new JComboBox(nationality);
cb3.setBounds(250, 550, 250, 20);
l11 = new JLabel(
"Year of passing 10th");
l11.setBounds(50, 600, 250, 20);
String language[]
= { "2017","2016", "2015", "2014" ,"2013","2012"};
final JComboBox cb1
= new JComboBox(language);
cb1.setBounds(250, 600, 90, 20);
l12 = new JLabel(
"Year of passing 12th");
l12.setBounds(50, 650, 250, 20);
String languagess[]
= { "2020","2019", "2018", "2017","2016","2015" };
l13 = new JLabel(
"Percentage Secured in 10th:");
l13.setBounds(50, 700, 250, 20);
tf7 = new JTextField();
tf7.setBounds(250, 700, 250, 20);
l14 = new JLabel("Percentage Secured in 12th:");
l14.setBounds(50, 750, 250, 20);
tf8 = new JTextField();
tf8.setBounds(250, 750, 250, 20);
ImageIcon i2 = new ImageIcon("2.png");
JLabel l15
= new JLabel("", i2, JLabel.CENTER);
l15.setBounds(900, 50, 600, 200);
final JComboBox cb2
= new JComboBox(languagess);
cb2.setBounds(250, 650, 90, 20);
l8 = new JLabel(
"Groups Offered here are:");
l8.setBounds(800, 150, 250, 20);
rb1 = new JRadioButton("Engineering");
rb1.setBounds(550, 150, 100, 30);
rb2 = new JRadioButton("Arts");
rb2.setBounds(650, 150, 100, 30);
ButtonGroup bg1 = new ButtonGroup();
bg1.add(rb1);
bg1.add(rb2);
rb3 = new JRadioButton("Hosteller / Residential ");
rb3.setBounds(550, 200, 100, 30);
rb4 = new JRadioButton("Day-Scholar");
rb4.setBounds(650, 200, 120, 30);
ButtonGroup bg2 = new ButtonGroup();
bg2.add(rb3);
bg2.add(rb4);
String languages[]
= { "CSE", "ECE", "EEE","IT","AERO","MCT","AUTO","PROD","TEXT","CIVIL", "MECH" };
final JComboBox cb
= new JComboBox(languages);
cb.setBounds(800, 200, 90, 20);
final JLabel label
= new JLabel();
label.setBounds(600, 430, 500, 30);
JButton b = new JButton("Show");
b.setBounds(1000, 300, 80, 30);
final DefaultListModel<String> li1
= new DefaultListModel<>();
li1.addElement("CSE(2, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("ECE(2, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("EEE(2, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("IT(2, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("AERO(2, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("MCT(3, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("AUTO(3, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("CHEMICAL(3, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("BIOTECH(3, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("CIVIL(3, 50, 000)");
li1.addElement("MECH(3, 50, 000)");
final JList<String> list1
= new JList<>(li1);
list1.setBounds(600, 300, 125, 125);
DefaultListModel<String> li2
= new DefaultListModel<>();
li2.addElement(
"2 SHARE(1, 50, 000)");
li2.addElement(
"3 SHARE(1, 40, 000)");
li2.addElement(
"5 SHARE(1, 20, 000)");
li2.addElement(
"8 SHARE(1, 10, 000)");
li2.addElement(
"BUS(40, 000)");
li2.addElement("SELF(0)");
final JList<String> list2
= new JList<>(li2);
list2.setBounds(
800, 300, 125, 125);
JButton Receipt
= new JButton("Generate Receipt");
Receipt.setBounds(600, 490, 150, 30);
JButton b2 = new JButton("Reset");
b2.setBounds(750, 490, 150, 30);
JButton Print = new JButton("Print");
Print.setBounds(900, 490, 150, 30);
area2 = new JTextArea();
area2.setBounds(600, 540, 450, 240);
add(l1);
add(l2);
add(l3);
add(l4);
add(l5);
add(l6);
add(l7);
add(l8);
add(l9);
add(l10);
add(l11);
add(l12);
add(l13);
add(l14);
add(tf1);
add(tf2);
add(tf3);
add(tf4);
add(tf5);
add(tf7);
add(tf8);
add(area1);
add(area2);
add(l15);
add(rb1);
add(rb2);
add(rb3);
add(rb4);
add(r5);
add(r6);
add(cb);
add(cb3);
add(cb1);
add(cb2);
add(list1);
add(list2);
add(b);
add(label);
add(Receipt);
add(b2);
add(Print);
b.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
// Method to display the data
// entered in the text fields
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
String data = "";
if (list1.getSelectedIndex() != -1) {
data = "You had selected the Group:"
+ list1.getSelectedValue();
label.setText(data);
}
if (list2.getSelectedIndex() != -1) {
data += " and Hostel with the "
+ "facility of: ";
for (Object frame :
list2.getSelectedValues()) {
data += frame + " ";
}
}
label.setText(data);
}
});
// Reset the text fields
b2.addActionListener(
new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(
ActionEvent e)
{
area2.setText("");
area1.setText(" ");
tf1.setText("");
tf2.setText("");
tf3.setText("");
tf4.setText("");
tf5.setText("");
tf6.setText(" ");
}
});
Print.addActionListener(
new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(
ActionEvent e)
{
try {
area2.print();
}
catch (java.awt.print
.PrinterException a) {
System.err.format(
"NoPrinter Found",
a.getMessage());
}
}
});
Receipt.addActionListener(new ActionListener() {
public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
{
area2.setText(
"--------------------"
+ "-----------XYZ EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS----"
+ "--------------------"
+ "----------"
+ "---------\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Student Name: "
+ tf1.getText()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Father's Name: "
+ tf2.getText()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Register No : "
+ tf3.getText()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Email ID: "
+ tf4.getText()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Contact Number: "
+ tf5.getText()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Department Chosen : "
+ cb.getSelectedItem()
.toString()
+ "\n");
if (rb1.isSelected()) {
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Interested to join in: " + " Engineering "
+ "and Technology\n");
}
if (rb2.isSelected()) {
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Interested to join in: "
+ "Arts and Sciences\n");
}
if (rb3.isSelected()) {
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Wants to be a "
+ "Hosteller \n");
}
if (rb4.isSelected()) {
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Wants to be a "
+ "Day Scholar \n");
}
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Had chosen: "
+ list1.getSelectedValue()
.toString()
+ "\n");
area2.setText(area2.getText()
+ "Had chosen: "
+ list2.getSelectedValue()
.toString()
+ "\n");
int index2 = list2.getSelectedIndex();
area2.setText(area2.getText()+" "+" Total amount to be paid "+" will be informed to you using e-mail/post\n ");
if (e.getSource() == Receipt) {
try {
FileWriter fw
= new FileWriter(
"java.txt", true);
fw.write(area2.getText());
fw.close();
}
catch (Exception ae) {
System.out.println(ae);
}
}
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(
area2, "Data stored in Server Successfully !");
};
});
addWindowListener(
new WindowAdapter() {
public void windowClosing(
WindowEvent we)
{
System.exit(0);
}
});
setSize(800, 800);
setLayout(null);
setVisible(true);
setBackground(Color.lightGray);
}
public static void main(String[] args)
{
new College();
}
}
A:
Absolute positioning
This:
l1.setBounds(550, 100, 250, 20);
and lines like it are non-ideal. Absolute positioning will fail to scale the controls and their positions according to different window sizes. Re-think your approach after reading about layouts. Instead of setting bounds, you should specify layouts and border widths, etc.
Members
There is no reason to store these:
JLabel l1, l2, l3, l4,
l5, l6, l7, l8,
l9, l10, l12, l13,
l14, l11, l15;
as members on the class. They should just be declared at the function level. When they go out of scope they will not disappear; the Frame will keep a reference to them but you do not have to.
Variable names
Particularly for important variables like f1 - but probably all of the others, too - you're going to want to give that a more meaningful name, such as fileChooser.
Grouped add
Rather than issuing your adds all in one lump, I think it would be more legible to rearrange these such that they occur directly after the declaration of their respective control, i.e.
l1 = new JLabel("Fee Report");
l1.setBounds(550, 100, 250, 20);
add(l1);
Action listeners
Given the length of your action listener methods, you should move the body of those methods to methods on your class rather than on the anonymous ActionListener object you make.
A:
In addition to the valuable technical hints given by @Reinderien, I'd like to comment on your code structure.
You are doing everything within one class (even inside the constructor of that class):
Creating the user interface (new JLabel(), setBounds(), add() and so on)
Getting user interactions (addActionListener())
Doing the business logic (e.g. generating various reports)
Presenting results (print(), setText() etc.)
I'd typically expect an application like yours to be split into at least two major parts:
The business logic, consisting of classes corresponding to the real-world concepts you're working with, e.g. Student, Group, Course, Year. There shouldn't be any user interface elements in there (nothing coming from javax.swing, java.awt, System.out etc.). There you should find the fields that describe a student, a group etc. as well as the actions necessary (e.g. in a class Group a method like add(Student student), modifying the Group's fields to now contain one more Student).
The user interface, consisting of everything you need to show the user the current state of the application, and to get his commands. Execute them by just calling the business logic.
If you organize your code that way, you gain some benefits:
Your code is more readable. If you want to know what it means to add a student to a group, you find it in the Group business class. There's no need to skip over the Swing code where get JLabel contents and add text to other JLabels. The same is true for the UI classes. They just define how to interact with the user, e.g. when a user presses this or that button, you want to add a student to a group, no matter how that works internally. That's responsibility of the business logic.
You gain a better re-usability. Maybe you later want to deploy your app on a server and have the users interact from their browsers. Then you can keep the business logic unchanged, "just" write a fresh web-based front-end, replacing or adding to the Swing user interface.
|
Chopper pressers are the best pressers. As President Trump departed the White House to travel to Dayton, OH and El Paso, TX, he stopped to deliver remarks and answer questions from the press pool. [Video and Transcript below]
.
[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: So, we’re going to Dayton first, and then we’re going to El Paso. And we’ll be meeting with first responders, law enforcement, and some of the victims, and paying my respects and regards. I’ll be going with the First Lady. And it’s a terrific opportunity, really, to congratulate some of the police and law enforcement. The job they’ve done was incredible. Really incredible.
Q Mr. President, no doubt — I don’t think anybody will argue this is a difficult time in our country for all of us. So, from your heart, from your mind, what do you say to your critics that believe it’s your rhetoric that is emboldening white nationalists and inspiring this anger?
THE PRESIDENT: So, my critics are political people. They’re trying to make points. In many cases, they’re running for President and they’re very low in the polls. A couple of them, in particular, are very low in the polls. If you look at Dayton, that was a person that supported, I guess you would say, Bernie Sanders, I understood; Antifa, I understood; Elizabeth Warren, I understood. It had nothing to do with President Trump.
So these are people that are looking for political gain. I don’t think they’re getting it. And, as much as possible, I’ve tried to stay out of that.
Q Mr. President, Senator Ted Cruz today said that people on both sides of the political aisle need to tone down the rhetoric. Do you agree with that?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I do agree, but I think we have toned it down. We’ve been hitting — we’ve been getting hit left and right from everybody. Many of the people, I don’t know. A couple of people from Texas — political people from Texas that aren’t doing very well. I guess somebody said — the mayor — I had one very nice conversation with the mayor of Dayton; could not have been nicer. And then she goes and says I tried to call her. Well, I spoke to her, and I didn’t receive any call.
So they’re trying to make political points. I don’t think it works because, you know, I would like to stay out of the political fray.
As I was saying, and as just came out, the Dayton situation — he was a fan of Antifa. He was a fan of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Nothing to do with Trump. But nobody ever mentions that.
Q (Inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Say it?
Q (Inaudible) supported Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Should they be blamed for (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I don’t blame Elizabeth Warren, and I don’t blame Bernie Sanders in the case of Ohio. And I don’t blame anybody. I blame — these are sick people. These are people that are really mentally ill, mentally disturbed. It’s a mental problem.
And we’re going to be meeting — we’re going to be meeting with members of Congress. I’ve already got meetings scheduled. And I have had plenty of talks over the last two days. And I think something is going to be come up with. We’re going to come with something that’s going to be, really, very good — beyond anything that’s been done so far.
Q Do you support bringing the Senate back to consider legislation on —
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re going to see where we are. We’re dealing with leadership right now. And, you know, you have two sides that are very different on this issue, and, let’s say, all good people. But two sides that are very different. If we get close, I will bring them back. But it has to be — you know, we have to see where we are with leadership.
Normally, this has been, really, a decision — Congress gets together and they try and do something. But if you look over the last 30 years, not a lot has been done.
Q The background check bill already that has passed the House, what good (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m looking to do background checks. I think background checks are important. I don’t want to put guns into the hands of mentally unstable people or people with rage or hate, sick people. I don’t want to — I’m all in favor of it.
Q What about assault rifles? A lot of people would like to see them banned. What is your position?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I can tell you that there is no political appetite for that at this moment. If you look at the — you could speak, you could do your own polling. And there’s no political appetite, probably, from the standpoint of legislature.
But I will certainly bring that up. I’ll bring that up as one of the points. There’s a great appetite — and I mean a very strong appetite — for background checks. And I think we can bring up background checks like we’ve never had before. I think both Republican and Democrat are getting close to a bill on — they’re doing something on background checks.
Q (Inaudible.) South Korea and Japan exports are (inaudible.)
THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. South Korea and I have made a deal. They’ve agreed to pay a lot more money toward the United States. As you know, we’ve got 32,000 soldiers on South Korean soil, and we’ve been helping them for about 82 years. And we get nothing. We get virtually nothing. And South Korea and I have made a deal where they’re paying a lot more money, and they’re going to pay a lot more money. And the relationship is a very good one.
But I felt, all along, I felt for years it was a very unfair one. So they’ve agreed to pay a lot more, and they will agree to pay a lot more than that. And we’re with them. We’re with them.
Q Mr. President, you banned bump stocks. Would you consider a ban on these huge, large-capacity magazines?
THE PRESIDENT: So, you have to have a political appetite within Congress. And, so far, I have not seen that. I mean, I can only do what I can do. I think there’s a great appetite to do something with regard to making sure that mentally unstable, seriously ill people aren’t carrying guns. And I’ve never seen the appetite as strong as it is now. I have not seen it with regard to certain types of weapons.
Q Mr. President, how concerned are you about the rise in white supremacy? And what are you going to do about it?
THE PRESIDENT: I am concerned about the rise of any group of hate. I don’t like it. Any group of hate, I am — whether it’s white supremacy, whether it’s any other kind of supremacy, whether it’s Antifa, whether it’s any group of hate, I am very concerned about it. And I’ll do something about it.
Q Do you believe that your rhetoric has any impact on (inaudible)?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I don’t think my rhetoric has at all. I think my rhetoric is a very — it brings people together. Our country is doing incredibly well. China is not doing well, if you look at the trade situation.
China just admitted yesterday that they’ve been a currency manipulator. First time they’ve ever been called out. Companies are moving out of China by the thousands, and our country is doing very well. We’re going to see how it all works out. Somebody had to do this with China because they were taking hundreds of billions of dollars a year out of the United States. And somebody had to make a stand. So, I think our country is doing really well.
Q What’s your reaction to the market reaction to the trade war? And what’s next with China?
THE PRESIDENT: I think the market — I think the market reaction is anticipated. I would have anticipated. I would have maybe anticipated even more. But ultimately, it’s going to go much higher than it ever would have gone because China was like an anchor on us. China was killing us with unfair trade deals. The people that allowed that to happen are a disgrace. China, what they were doing to us, for years and years, taking hundreds of billions of dollars out, stealing intellectual property, targeting our farmers. All of that is ending, and they understand that.
Q Mr. President, you still believe there’s no political appetite for an assault weapons ban, but as the leader of this country, do you personally believe people should be able to buy assault weapons?
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. I’ll be — I’ll be convincing some people to do things that they don’t want to do, and that means people in Congress. But you’ve got a lot of people on one side, and you have a lot of people in the other. But I can — I have a lot of influence with a lot of people, and I want to convince them to do the right thing.
And I will tell you, we’ve made a lot of headway in the last three days. A lot of headway.
Q Mr. President, do you still believe that illegal immigration into this country is an invasion? You and the shooter in El Paso used that same language. Do you regret that?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that illegal immigration — you’re talking about illegal immigration, right? Yeah? I think illegal immigration is a terrible thing for this country. I think you have to come in legally. Ideally, you have to come in through merit. We need people coming in because we have many companies coming into our country. They’re pouring in. And I think illegal immigration is a very bad thing for our country. I think open borders are a very bad thing for our country.
And we’re stopping; we’re building a wall right now. We won the lawsuit in the Supreme Court two weeks ago. The wall is well under construction. It’s being built at a rapid pace. We need that. We need strong immigration laws. But we want to allow millions of people to come in because we need them. We have companies coming in from Japan, all over Europe, all over Asia. They’re opening up companies here. They need people to work. We have a very low unemployment rate.
So, I believe we have to have legal immigration, not illegal immigration.
Q Are you watching the stock market’s reaction to China, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: I am. I think the market reaction is to be expected. I might’ve expected even more.
At some point, as I just said, we have to take on China. They’ve been taking — look, they’ve been taking us to the cleaners for 25 years. This should’ve been done long before me as a President. You know the story better than anybody. You know it better than I do, frankly. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year taken out of our country. Stealing intellectual property.
And you know what? We, right now, we’re sitting on top. We have money pouring in. We have powerful companies, strong companies. China is losing so many — they’re losing — thousands and thousands of companies are leaving China now because of the tariffs. And we’re in a very good position as to whether or not a deal will be made. I will tell you this: China would like to make a deal very badly.
Q Mr. President, Joe Biden. Joe Biden says you have more in common with George Wallace than George Washington.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you know, Joe is a pretty incompetent guy. I’ve watched his interviews. I’ve watched what he said and how he said it. And I wouldn’t have rated him very high in the first place, but Joe Biden has truly lost this fastball, that I can tell you.
Thank you.
[Transcript End]
|
Kinetic magnetic-field effect involving the small biologically relevant inorganic radicals NO and O2(·-).
Oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) to rhodamine 123 (RH) by oxoperoxonitrite (ONOO(-)), formed through recombination of NO and O(2)(·-) radicals resulting from thermal decomposition of 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1) in buffered aerated aqueous solution at pH 7.6, represents a kinetic model system of the reactivity of NO and O(2)(·-) in biochemical systems. A magnetic-field effect (MFE) on the yield of RH detected in this system is explored in the full range of fields between 0 and 18 T. It is found to increase in a nearly linear fashion up to a value of 5.5±1.6 % at 18 T and 23 °C (3.1±0.7 % at 40 °C). A theoretical framework to analyze the MFE in terms of the magnetic-field-enhanced recombination rate constant k(rec) of NO and O(2)(·-) due to magnetic mixing of T(0) and S spin states of the radical pair by the Δg mechanism is developed, including estimation of magnetic properties (g tensor and spin relaxation times) of NO and O(2)(·-) in aqueous solution, and calculation of the MFE on k(rec) using the theoretical formalism of Gorelik at al. The factor with which the MFE on k(rec) is translated to the MFE on the yield of ONOO(-) and RH is derived for various kinetic scenarios representing possible sink channels for NO and O(2)(·-). With reasonable assumptions for the values of some unknown kinetic parameters, the theoretical predictions account well for the observed MFE.
|
Udry Drying Mat
$15.00
Color
Color
Charcoal
Linen
Quantity
A dish rack and absorbent drying mat in one. Stack and organize your dishes, glasses and cutlery, while drying at the same time. The mat and rack separate for easy cleaning and it folds up for easy storage.-Rack can be used in any orientation on the matRack can be separated from mat for easy cleaning, is dishwasher safe (top rack only) and mat is machine washableDrying mat folds up and elastic straps keep it together for easy storageDrying rack holds variety of kitchen utensils and dinnerwareBPA Free
|
Learn new jewelry-making skills with this great all-in-one-resource showcasing 40+ fashionable projects embracing a wide range of techniques. Brought to you by the trusted editors of Art Jewelry, BeadStyle, and Bead&Button, 25 new projects, along with treasured pieces from the archives, turn easy stitching, stringing, wirework, jewelry assembly and basic metalwork into wearable pieces with stylish flair.
For those who prefer to watch and learn, Beautiful Jewelry–Make It, Wear Itcomes with a DVD! containing video demonstrations of each technique and three bonus projects!
|
=======
Signals
=======
``django-friendship`` emits a number of signals after various social actions
.. admonition:: Note
These signals are only emitted when using the noted helper functions. These will not be emitted if Request or Follow objects are created manually.
* **friendship_request_created**
Sent whenever FriendshipManager.add_friend successfully created a friendship request.
Arguments sent:
``sender``
The FriendshipRequest instance that has just been created
* **friendship_request_canceled`**
Sent after FriendshipRequest.cancel deletes the ``sender`` FriendshipRequest object.
``sender``
The Friendship instance that was just canceled by it's requester.
* **friendship_request_viewed**
Sent after FriendshipRequest.mark_viewed marks ``sender`` as viewed.
``sender``
The FriendshipRequest objected viewed.
* **friendship_request_accepted**
Sent after FriendshipRequest.accept is called to mark the request as accepted, creating two Friend objects.
``sender``
The FriendshipRequest object accepted.
``from_user``
The FriendshipRequest.from_user User object
``to_user``
The FriendshipRequest.to_user User object
* **friendship_request_rejected**
``sender``
The rejected FriendshipRequest. Sent from FriendshipRequest.reject.
* **friendship_removed**
``sender``
``from_user``
``to_user``
* **follower_created**
``sender``
``follower``
* **following_created**
``sender``
``followee``
* **follower_removed**
``sender``
``follower``
* **following_removed**
``sender``
``following``
|
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a video camera which is frequently used at a home and, more particularly, to a video photographing apparatus having an infrared rays AV transmitting function. In more detail, the invention relates to a video photographing apparatus which can accurately photograph an object even in a dark state.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a video photographing apparatus having a CCD image pickup element, what is called a video camera, has a function for recording a video signal and audio signals onto a recording medium such as tape, magnetic disk, or the like and a function for reproducing those signals.
In recent years, an apparatus in which an infrared rays AV transmitting function is added to the video photographing apparatus having such a function in order to transmit the reproduced video signal and audio signals to a monitor apparatus such as a television receiver or the like installed at a position away from the video photographing apparatus has also appeared.
The video photographing apparatus has a construction such that at the time of an infrared rays AV transmission, the video signal and audio signals are modulated on the basis of an infrared rays AV transmission format determined by EIAJ or the like.
Therefore, infrared rays emitting means and modulating means for modulating the infrared rays by the reproduced video signal and audio signals are added to the video photographing apparatus having the infrared rays AV transmitting function.
The conventional video photographing apparatus can record a clear image when an ambient state of an object is bright like a daytime.
When the ambient state is dark (at the time of a low illuminance) like an evening or a night, however, there is a problem such that the image is unclear or cannot be recorded depending on the case.
Such a problem similarity occurs also with respect to a video photographing apparatus having an infrared rays AV transmitting function.
|
---
blog: https://swift.org/blog/
guide: https://developer.apple.com/swift/resources/
images:
- swift-vertical.svg
- swift-official.svg
- swift-horizontal.svg
- swift-icon.svg
- swift-ar21.svg
logohandle: swift
sort: swift
tags:
- apple
- programming_language
title: Swift
twitter: swiftlang
website: https://swift.org/
wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift_(programming_language)
---
|
Q:
Add PostgreSQL column constraint based on value in other column(s)
I have a table:
CREATE TABLE ProjectCreationTasks
(
Id text NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
ProjectName text,
ProjectCode text,
DenialReason text
);
An administrator can approve or deny a project creation request. To approve, the admin sets both a ProjectName and ProjectCode; to deny, the admin sets a DenialReason.
How can I add a constraint such that:
Name, Code, Reason can all be null simultaneously
If both Name and Code has a value then Reason must be null
If Reason has a value, then both Name and Code must be null
Thank you in advance.
A:
You could use CHECK constaint to implement this kind of logic:
CREATE TABLE ProjectCreationTasks (
Id text NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
ProjectName text,
ProjectCode text,
DenialReason text,
CONSTRAINT my_constraint CHECK
((ProjectName IS NULL AND ProjectCode IS NULL AND DenialReason IS NULL)
OR(ProjectName IS NOT NULL AND ProjectCode IS NOT NULL AND DenialReason IS NULL)
OR(DenialReason IS NOT NULL AND ProjectName IS NULL AND ProjectCode IS NULL))
);
DBFiddle Demo
|
A conventional boiling water reactor (BWR) includes a reactor core including a plurality of laterally spaced apart nuclear fuel bundles immersed in water. Each of the fuel bundles includes a plurality of fuel rods joined together in a conventional square array, for example, which are completely surrounded on four sides by a correspondingly square fuel or flow channel or tube. The bottom of the flow channel is joined to a conventional conical nosepiece through which water is channeled into the flow channel and upwardly between adjacent ones of the fuel rods and outwardly from an outlet at the top of the flow channel.
Adjacent fuel bundles are laterally spaced apart to define bypass channels between adjacent ones of the flow channels which bypass upwardly water flow around the flow channels. Furthermore, conventional cruciform control rods are also disposed in selected ones of the bypass channels and are selectively translatable upwardly and downwardly for being inserted and withdrawn between adjacent fuel bundles for controlling reactivity of the core fuel.
During operation of the reactor, water is channeled upwardly inside each of the fuel bundles within the flow channels and in parallel flow upwardly between adjacent fuel bundles through the bypass channels. The water inside the fuel bundles is progressively heated and boiled for generating steam which is conventionally used as a power source. The water channeled upwardly through the bypass channels, however, receives less heat from the fuel rods than the water inside the flow channels and does not boil or generate any substantial amount of steam. Accordingly, the bypass water is more effective as a neutron moderator than the water being boiled inside the flow channels and effects neutron flux peaking around the perimeter of the fuel bundles which varies the degree of reactivity and corresponding output power through each of the fuel bundles. In order to obtain a more uniform output power from each of the fuel bundles, a conventional fuel bundle typically includes less enrichment in the fuel rods around the perimeter of each of the fuel bundles which increases the cost of manufacturing the fuel bundles.
Furthermore, the flow channels around each of the fuel bundles are required to ensure that the water is progressively heated and boiled as it flows upwardly along the fuel rods for controlling the resulting steam void fraction. The flow channels, therefore, confine the water flow within each of the flow channels and prevent lateral crossflow of the water between adjacent fuel bundles for ensuring acceptable reactor performance. Furthermore, the spaced apart flow channels also provide the bypass channel therebetween through which the conventional cruciform control rods may be selectively translated for controlling reactivity of the core fuel.
However, the pressure within each of the flow channels varies longitudinally from the bottoms to the tops thereof, and a differential pressure exists across each of the flow channels from the inside thereof to the outside thereof in the bypass channels. The pressure of the boiling water inside the flow channels is greater than the pressure of the water being channeled upwardly through the bypass channels which produces pressure forces acting on the flow channels. Over the course of operation of the reactor core, such pressure forces typically lead to permanent distortion of the flow channels which requires the replacement thereof at periodic intervals.
Conventional flow channels are typically subject to expansion thereof from thermal expansion and from irradiation growth due to the neutrons released during nuclear reactions. For example, conventional flow channels are typically made of conventionally known Zircaloy which expands during operation of the reactor core, which expansion leads to additional permanent distortion of the flow channels during operation. Accordingly, the fuel channels are replaced relatively frequently, for example once per fuel bundle lifetime, which increases the cost of maintaining the nuclear reactor.
|
Pharmalot.. Pharmalittle.. Good Morning: We’re Catching up on Hospira, Vertex and Lots More!!
By
Ed Silverman
Jul 6, 2015 9:07 am ET
Hello, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope those of you on this side of the pond enjoyed the long holiday weekend and had a chance to hit the refresh button, because that familiar routine of meetings, deadlines and what-not has predictably returned. But you knew this moment would come, yes? After all, the world keeps on spinning. So please join us as we fortify ourselves with some cups of stimulation and dig in for another busy day. Hope all goes well and do stay in touch…
The central purchasing agency for the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris in France has decided to buy the biosimilar version of Remicade from Hospira after the drug maker offered a 45% discount from the brand-name version; The FDA approved a cystic fibrosis treatment from Vertex Pharmaceuticals called Orkambi, which could treat as many as 8,500 patients in the U. S., but with an annual wholesale cost of $259,000 per patient; Purdue last week withdrew a supplemental New Drug Application related to its abuse-deterrent formulation of OxyContin, raising questions about postmarketing requirements for the drug; and more than 760 doctors received payments from the pharmaceutical industry on more than half of the days in 2014, and more than 14,600 doctors received payments on at least 100 days in 2014.
|
Interaction between composite elements in the napA promoter: both the B-box ABA-responsive complex and the RY/G complex are necessary for seed-specific expression.
During seed maturation, the transcriptional activity of napin genes is regulated by developmental signals involving the transcriptional activator ABI3 and abscisic acid (ABA). To localize cis elements involved in the seed-specific activity of the napin napA promoter, a systematic analysis was performed focusing on two major element complexes, the B-box and RY/G. Substitution mutation analysis using promoter-reporter gene fusions in stable transgenic tobacco showed synergistic interactions between elements within these complexes. The distal part of the B-box shows similarities to abscisic acid response elements and the proximal portion contains a CA-rich element. In vitro studies involving Exonuclease III protection and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed binding by nuclear proteins to elements within the B-box. The distal and proximal parts of the B-box were found to bind distinct nuclear protein complexes. By gain-of-function analysis with a tetramer of the B-box fused to a truncated (-46) cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S minimal promoter, it was demonstrated that the B-box mediates strong activity in seeds. Further, it was shown that the elements in the B-box constitute an ABA-responsive complex, since the B-box tetramer mediates ABA-responsiveness in vegetative tissues to a construct containing the CaMV virus 35S enhancer (-343 to -90). Thus, the seed-specific activity of the napA promoter relies on the combinatorial interaction between the RY/G complex and the B-box ABA-responsive complex during the ABA response in seed development.
|
Watch Grand Launch of Bigg Boss 10 on 16th Oct 2016 Colors Hd Video Images : The commencement has started as has the weekend is coming. On Sunday, Bigg Boss 10 will arrive on your TV screens, and Salman Khan will be the host. In any case, before that happens, you are in for a lot of amazements. Salman gave us the first as he took to Twitter to share the principal pictures of the Bigg Boss house.
Bigg Boss 10 is good to go to start on Colors on Sunday, October 16, 2016. Amid the span of the appear, Salman shoots for Bigg Boss throughout the weekends and a different estate is built for him. It is richly fitted and has everything that thee star needs, best need to be given to an exercise center with every one of the installations.
While Colors have uncovered the names of shortlisted ordinary citizen applicants, celeb challengers are yet to be uncovered. Notwithstanding, we have discovered that Gaurav Chopra, Karan Chopra, and Bani J are among those liable to make it inside.Bigg Boss 10 should be the appear with a distinction as ordinary citizens will rub shoulders with celeb candidates. We just trust that the best man or lady wins!
Performing artist Deepika Padukone, will’s identity propel “Bigg Boss 10” with Salman Khan, says she needs to be bolted inside the Bigg Boss house with the entire cast of her Hollywood lady extend “xXx: The Return Of Xander Cage,” including Vin Diesel. Coordinated by D.J. Caruso, “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage” is a spin-off of the 2002 film “xXx” and 2005 film “xXx: State of the Union.” The film, slated to discharge on January 20, 2017, additionally stars Ruby Rose, Samuel L. Jackson, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa.
Salman would not just welcome Deepika inside the Bigg Boss house; he will likewise dispatch the trailer of xXx that additionally stars Vin Diesel. This will be the primary trailer of a film which will be propelled on Bigg Boss. It is a trailer we have not seen yet, and this makes Bigg Boss a significantly greater arrangement.
Salman, will’s identity facilitating Deepika for the second time on the appear, is additionally said to have made numerous jokes to the detriment of the performing artist. His pleasant ribbing needs to do with her Hollywood introduction and her co-star, Diesel.
|
Q:
mtext y-axis label that covers a two-tile plot
How do I use mtext(side = 2,text="y-axis") to place a y-axis label for both tiles in the example below? That is, instead of placing two separate y-axis labels, I want to be able to place a single label.
layout(matrix(1:2,ncol=1),widths=1,heights=c(2,2),respect=FALSE)
par(mar = c(0, 4.1, 4.1, 2.1))
plot(rnorm(100),main="Hi",type='l',ylab='',xaxt='n')
par(mar = c(4.1, 4.1, 0, 2.1))
plot(rnorm(100),main="",xlab="Hi",type='l',ylab='')
A:
The correct way to do it is to add an outer margin with par(oma=...), suppress annotations with ann=FALSE, then add them manually in the outer margin with mtext(..., outer=TRUE) etc.
layout(matrix(1:2,ncol=1),widths=1,heights=c(2,2),respect=FALSE)
par(mar = rep(0, 4), oma=c(4, 4, 4, 2), las=1)
plot(rnorm(100), type='l', ann=FALSE, xaxt='n')
plot(rnorm(100), type='l', ann=FALSE)
title("Hi", outer=TRUE)
mtext("x-axis", 1, 3, outer=TRUE)
mtext("y-axis", 2, 3, outer=TRUE, las=0)
Here's a reference: http://research.stowers-institute.org/efg/R/Graphics/Basics/mar-oma/
Also notice the las argument that turns all labels horizontal. It maks it easier to read and shows your audience you know your plotting :)
|
.. Copyright 2016 The Cartographer Authors
.. Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
You may obtain a copy of the License at
.. http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
.. Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.
=============
Configuration
=============
.. DO NOT EDIT! This documentation is AUTOGENERATED, please edit .proto files as
.. needed and run scripts/update_configuration_doc.py.
cartographer.common.proto.CeresSolverOptions
============================================
bool use_nonmonotonic_steps
Configure the Ceres solver. See the Ceres documentation for more
information: https://code.google.com/p/ceres-solver/
int32 max_num_iterations
Not yet documented.
int32 num_threads
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.pose_graph.proto.ConstraintBuilderOptions
==============================================================
double sampling_ratio
A constraint will be added if the proportion of added constraints to
potential constraints drops below this number.
double max_constraint_distance
Threshold for poses to be considered near a submap.
double min_score
Threshold for the scan match score below which a match is not considered.
Low scores indicate that the scan and map do not look similar.
double global_localization_min_score
Threshold below which global localizations are not trusted.
double loop_closure_translation_weight
Weight used in the optimization problem for the translational component of
loop closure constraints.
double loop_closure_rotation_weight
Weight used in the optimization problem for the rotational component of
loop closure constraints.
bool log_matches
If enabled, logs information of loop-closing constraints for debugging.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.FastCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions fast_correlative_scan_matcher_options
Options for the internally used scan matchers.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions ceres_scan_matcher_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.scan_matching.proto.FastCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions fast_correlative_scan_matcher_options_3d
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions ceres_scan_matcher_options_3d
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.pose_graph.proto.OptimizationProblemOptions
================================================================
double huber_scale
Scaling parameter for Huber loss function.
double acceleration_weight
Scaling parameter for the IMU acceleration term.
double rotation_weight
Scaling parameter for the IMU rotation term.
double local_slam_pose_translation_weight
Scaling parameter for translation between consecutive nodes based on the local SLAM pose.
double local_slam_pose_rotation_weight
Scaling parameter for rotation between consecutive nodes based on the local SLAM pose.
double odometry_translation_weight
Scaling parameter for translation between consecutive nodes based on the odometry.
double odometry_rotation_weight
Scaling parameter for rotation between consecutive nodes based on the odometry.
double fixed_frame_pose_translation_weight
Scaling parameter for the FixedFramePose translation.
double fixed_frame_pose_rotation_weight
Scaling parameter for the FixedFramePose rotation.
bool log_solver_summary
If true, the Ceres solver summary will be logged for every optimization.
cartographer.common.proto.CeresSolverOptions ceres_solver_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.proto.MapBuilderOptions
============================================
bool use_trajectory_builder_2d
Not yet documented.
bool use_trajectory_builder_3d
Not yet documented.
int32 num_background_threads
Number of threads to use for background computations.
cartographer.mapping.proto.PoseGraphOptions pose_graph_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.proto.MotionFilterOptions
==============================================
double max_time_seconds
Threshold above which range data is inserted based on time.
double max_distance_meters
Threshold above which range data is inserted based on linear motion.
double max_angle_radians
Threshold above which range data is inserted based on rotational motion.
cartographer.mapping.proto.PoseGraphOptions
===========================================
int32 optimize_every_n_nodes
Online loop closure: If positive, will run the loop closure while the map
is built.
cartographer.mapping.pose_graph.proto.ConstraintBuilderOptions constraint_builder_options
Options for the constraint builder.
double matcher_translation_weight
Weight used in the optimization problem for the translational component of
non-loop-closure scan matcher constraints.
double matcher_rotation_weight
Weight used in the optimization problem for the rotational component of
non-loop-closure scan matcher constraints.
cartographer.mapping.pose_graph.proto.OptimizationProblemOptions optimization_problem_options
Options for the optimization problem.
int32 max_num_final_iterations
Number of iterations to use in 'optimization_problem_options' for the final
optimization.
double global_sampling_ratio
Rate at which we sample a single trajectory's nodes for global
localization.
bool log_residual_histograms
Whether to output histograms for the pose residuals.
double global_constraint_search_after_n_seconds
If for the duration specified by this option no global contraint has been
added between two trajectories, loop closure searches will be performed
globally rather than in a smaller search window.
cartographer.mapping.proto.TrajectoryBuilderOptions
===================================================
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.LocalTrajectoryBuilderOptions trajectory_builder_2d_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.LocalTrajectoryBuilderOptions trajectory_builder_3d_options
Not yet documented.
bool pure_localization
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.LocalTrajectoryBuilderOptions
===========================================================
float min_range
Rangefinder points outside these ranges will be dropped.
float max_range
Not yet documented.
float min_z
Not yet documented.
float max_z
Not yet documented.
float missing_data_ray_length
Points beyond 'max_range' will be inserted with this length as empty space.
int32 num_accumulated_range_data
Number of range data to accumulate into one unwarped, combined range data
to use for scan matching.
float voxel_filter_size
Voxel filter that gets applied to the range data immediately after
cropping.
cartographer.sensor.proto.AdaptiveVoxelFilterOptions adaptive_voxel_filter_options
Voxel filter used to compute a sparser point cloud for matching.
cartographer.sensor.proto.AdaptiveVoxelFilterOptions loop_closure_adaptive_voxel_filter_options
Voxel filter used to compute a sparser point cloud for finding loop
closures.
bool use_online_correlative_scan_matching
Whether to solve the online scan matching first using the correlative scan
matcher to generate a good starting point for Ceres.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.RealTimeCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions real_time_correlative_scan_matcher_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions ceres_scan_matcher_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.proto.MotionFilterOptions motion_filter_options
Not yet documented.
double imu_gravity_time_constant
Time constant in seconds for the orientation moving average based on
observed gravity via the IMU. It should be chosen so that the error
1. from acceleration measurements not due to gravity (which gets worse when
the constant is reduced) and
2. from integration of angular velocities (which gets worse when the
constant is increased) is balanced.
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.SubmapsOptions submaps_options
Not yet documented.
bool use_imu_data
True if IMU data should be expected and used.
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.RangeDataInserterOptions
======================================================
double hit_probability
Probability change for a hit (this will be converted to odds and therefore
must be greater than 0.5).
double miss_probability
Probability change for a miss (this will be converted to odds and therefore
must be less than 0.5).
bool insert_free_space
If 'false', free space will not change the probabilities in the occupancy
grid.
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.SubmapsOptions
============================================
double resolution
Resolution of the map in meters.
int32 num_range_data
Number of range data before adding a new submap. Each submap will get twice
the number of range data inserted: First for initialization without being
matched against, then while being matched.
cartographer.mapping_2d.proto.RangeDataInserterOptions range_data_inserter_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions
===================================================================
double occupied_space_weight
Scaling parameters for each cost functor.
double translation_weight
Not yet documented.
double rotation_weight
Not yet documented.
cartographer.common.proto.CeresSolverOptions ceres_solver_options
Configure the Ceres solver. See the Ceres documentation for more
information: https://code.google.com/p/ceres-solver/
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.FastCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions
=============================================================================
double linear_search_window
Minimum linear search window in which the best possible scan alignment
will be found.
double angular_search_window
Minimum angular search window in which the best possible scan alignment
will be found.
int32 branch_and_bound_depth
Number of precomputed grids to use.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.RealTimeCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions
=================================================================================
double linear_search_window
Minimum linear search window in which the best possible scan alignment
will be found.
double angular_search_window
Minimum angular search window in which the best possible scan alignment
will be found.
double translation_delta_cost_weight
Weights applied to each part of the score.
double rotation_delta_cost_weight
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.LocalTrajectoryBuilderOptions
===========================================================
float min_range
Rangefinder points outside these ranges will be dropped.
float max_range
Not yet documented.
int32 num_accumulated_range_data
Number of range data to accumulate into one unwarped, combined range data
to use for scan matching.
float voxel_filter_size
Voxel filter that gets applied to the range data immediately after
cropping.
cartographer.sensor.proto.AdaptiveVoxelFilterOptions high_resolution_adaptive_voxel_filter_options
Voxel filter used to compute a sparser point cloud for matching.
cartographer.sensor.proto.AdaptiveVoxelFilterOptions low_resolution_adaptive_voxel_filter_options
Not yet documented.
bool use_online_correlative_scan_matching
Whether to solve the online scan matching first using the correlative scan
matcher to generate a good starting point for Ceres.
cartographer.mapping_2d.scan_matching.proto.RealTimeCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions real_time_correlative_scan_matcher_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions ceres_scan_matcher_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping.proto.MotionFilterOptions motion_filter_options
Not yet documented.
double imu_gravity_time_constant
Time constant in seconds for the orientation moving average based on
observed gravity via the IMU. It should be chosen so that the error
1. from acceleration measurements not due to gravity (which gets worse when
the constant is reduced) and
2. from integration of angular velocities (which gets worse when the
constant is increased) is balanced.
int32 rotational_histogram_size
Number of histogram buckets for the rotational scan matcher.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.SubmapsOptions submaps_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.RangeDataInserterOptions
======================================================
double hit_probability
Probability change for a hit (this will be converted to odds and therefore
must be greater than 0.5).
double miss_probability
Probability change for a miss (this will be converted to odds and therefore
must be less than 0.5).
int32 num_free_space_voxels
Up to how many free space voxels are updated for scan matching.
0 disables free space.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.SubmapsOptions
============================================
double high_resolution
Resolution of the 'high_resolution' map in meters used for local SLAM and
loop closure.
double high_resolution_max_range
Maximum range to filter the point cloud to before insertion into the
'high_resolution' map.
double low_resolution
Resolution of the 'low_resolution' version of the map in meters used for
local SLAM only.
int32 num_range_data
Number of range data before adding a new submap. Each submap will get twice
the number of range data inserted: First for initialization without being
matched against, then while being matched.
cartographer.mapping_3d.proto.RangeDataInserterOptions range_data_inserter_options
Not yet documented.
cartographer.mapping_3d.scan_matching.proto.CeresScanMatcherOptions
===================================================================
double occupied_space_weight
Scaling parameters for each cost functor.
double translation_weight
Not yet documented.
double rotation_weight
Not yet documented.
bool only_optimize_yaw
Whether only to allow changes to yaw, keeping roll/pitch constant.
cartographer.common.proto.CeresSolverOptions ceres_solver_options
Configure the Ceres solver. See the Ceres documentation for more
information: https://code.google.com/p/ceres-solver/
cartographer.mapping_3d.scan_matching.proto.FastCorrelativeScanMatcherOptions
=============================================================================
int32 branch_and_bound_depth
Number of precomputed grids to use.
int32 full_resolution_depth
Number of full resolution grids to use, additional grids will reduce the
resolution by half each.
double min_rotational_score
Minimum score for the rotational scan matcher.
double min_low_resolution_score
Threshold for the score of the low resolution grid below which a match is
not considered. Only used for 3D.
double linear_xy_search_window
Linear search window in the plane orthogonal to gravity in which the best
possible scan alignment will be found.
double linear_z_search_window
Linear search window in the gravity direction in which the best possible
scan alignment will be found.
double angular_search_window
Minimum angular search window in which the best possible scan alignment
will be found.
cartographer.sensor.proto.AdaptiveVoxelFilterOptions
====================================================
float max_length
'max_length' of a voxel edge.
float min_num_points
If there are more points and not at least 'min_num_points' remain, the
voxel length is reduced trying to get this minimum number of points.
float max_range
Points further away from the origin are removed.
|
Q:
How can I avoid and/or clean duplicated row in BigQuery?
How should I import data in BigQuery on a daily basis when I have potential duplicated row ?
Here is a bit of context. I'm updating data on a daily basis from a spreadsheet to BigQuery. I'm using Google App Script with a simple WRITE_APPEND method.
Sometimes I'm importing data I've already imported the day before. So I'm wondering how I can avoid this ?
Can I build a sql query in order to clean my table from duplicate row every day ? Or is this possible to detect duplicate even before importing them (with some specific command in my job definition for example...) ?
thanks !
A:
Step 1: Have a sheet with data to be imported
Step 2: Set up your spreadsheet as a federated data source in BigQuery.
Step 3: Use DML to load data into an existing table
(requires #standardSql)
#standardSQL
INSERT INTO `fh-bigquery.tt.test_import_native` (id, data)
SELECT *
FROM `fh-bigquery.tt.test_import_sheet`
WHERE id NOT IN (
SELECT id
FROM `fh-bigquery.tt.test_import_native`
)
WHERE id NOT IN (...) ensures that only rows with new ids are loaded into the table.
|
Relationship of scientists and engineers on major experiments (especially particle physics)
I am interested in other academics’ experiences with large experiments (especially something like the LHC). To what extent do the “engineers” who design and build the machine (solder electronics, assemble quadrupole magnets, etc) interact with “scientists” who determine the program (who might want to test their 11-dimensional model etc)? Do the two sides take an active interest in each other’s work and give constructive suggestions to one another? Are the technicians all hired locally? How many in the “engineering” camp have PhDs?
(It’s also possible to label the two groups “experimentalists” vs “theorists”, though for the former I really mean people involved in the construction and day-to-day operations – I’m not interested in semantics here)
While the Higgs was at a sigma of ~4, I heard that postdocs and PhD students at CERN could volunteer for maintenance and similar tasks, and that those who did would have their names on the “Higgs paper” (hence the notoriously large author lists). Was this true and is it still the case?
|
###############################################################################
# Bug#21507981: REPLICATION POSITION LOST AFTER CRASH ON MTS CONFIGURED SLAVE
#
# Problem:
# ========
# Enable MTS along with crash-safe replication tables. Make sure that the server
# is busily inserting data with multiple threads in parallel. Shutdown mysqld
# uncleanly (kill -9 or power off server without notice).
#
# Now users are restarting the server with --relay-log-recovery=1 to recover the
# crashed slave.
#
# This results in following error:
# ================================
# 2015-06-24 13:49:03 3895 [ERROR] --relay-log-recovery cannot be executed when
# the slave was stopped with an error or killed in MTS mode; consider using
# RESET SLAVE or restart the server with --relay-log-recovery = 0 followed by
# START SLAVE UNTIL SQL_AFTER_MTS_GAPS.
#
# i.e relay-log-recovery will not work in MTS mode.
###############################################################################
# Following test demonstrates that when a gap is generated because MTS has
# stopped due to an error then attempting 'relay-log-recovery' will not be
# successful. Once the route cause of the error is eliminated restarting the
# recovery with relay-log-recovery=1 should fix the issue.
#
# Testing Method:
# ===============
# It first creates two databases (d1 and d2) and setup slave to use two parallel
# workers. The test case then insert on the slave a tuple that will block
# writes on d2 and generate gaps. Now COMMIT the blocking tuple on slave so
# that workers will proceed and apply the pending transactions. This will
# result in duplicate key error and slave will stop. Now crash the slave
# server and initiate relay-log-recovery. It should fail as slave has stopped
# due to an error. Eliminate the cause of duplicate key error by removing the
# local changes on slave. Restart the recovery process it should be
# successful.
--source include/force_restart.inc
--source include/have_binlog_format_statement.inc
# Test requires master-info-repository=TABLE, relay-log-info-repository=TABLE
--source include/have_slave_repository_type_table.inc
--source include/only_mts_slave_parallel_workers.inc
--source include/only_mts_slave_parallel_type_database.inc
--source include/master-slave.inc
--source include/rpl_connection_slave.inc
call mtr.add_suppression("Duplicate entry*");
call mtr.add_suppression("The slave coordinator and worker threads are stopped, possibly leaving data in inconsistent state");
call mtr.add_suppression("Failed to initialize the master info structure");
call mtr.add_suppression("Slave failed to initialize relay log info*");
call mtr.add_suppression("MTS recovery: automatic recovery failed.*");
call mtr.add_suppression("Recovery from master pos");
--source extra/rpl_tests/rpl_generate_mts_gap.test
--source include/rpl_connection_slave.inc
COMMIT;
--let $slave_sql_errno= convert_error(ER_DUP_ENTRY)
source include/wait_for_slave_sql_error.inc;
# Restart the slave server - Recovery will fail as MTS has stopped due to an
# error.
--let $rpl_server_number= 2
--let $rpl_server_parameters= --skip_slave_start=TRUE --sync_master_info=1 --relay-log-recovery=1
--source include/rpl_restart_server.inc
--source include/rpl_connection_slave.inc
--exec echo "Relay log recovery should fail as MTS stopped due to an error"
--error ER_SLAVE_RLI_INIT_REPOSITORY
START SLAVE;
# Remove the affending rows from slave.
--exec echo "Eliminate the cause of MTS error"
DELETE FROM d2.t WHERE a=2;
DELETE FROM d1.t WHERE a=3;
--let $table=d2.t
--let $count=1
--source include/wait_until_rows_count.inc
--let $table=d1.t
--let $count=2
--source include/wait_until_rows_count.inc
# Restart the slave server this should fix the gaps.
--let $rpl_server_number= 2
--let $rpl_server_parameters= --skip_slave_start=TRUE --sync_master_info=1 --relay-log-recovery=1
--source include/rpl_restart_server.inc
--exec echo "MTS recovery should be successful. Check that gaps are filled."
--let $assert_text= Table d1.t should contain 2 rows.
--let $assert_cond= [select count(*) from d1.t] = 2
--source include/assert.inc
--let $assert_text= Table d2.t should contain 3 rows.
--let $assert_cond= [select count(*) from d2.t] = 3
--source include/assert.inc
--source include/start_slave.inc
# Check consistency
--source include/rpl_connection_master.inc
--source include/sync_slave_sql_with_master.inc
--let $diff_tables= master:d1.t, slave:d1.t
--source include/diff_tables.inc
--let $diff_tables= master:d2.t, slave:d2.t
--source include/diff_tables.inc
#
# Cleanup
#
--source include/rpl_connection_master.inc
DROP DATABASE d1;
DROP DATABASE d2;
--source include/rpl_end.inc
|
Q:
How to disable download window in firefox with watir-webdriver?
I don't want to handle download window in Firefox or IE. I want to auto download the excel file without any download window. I have tried to set several configuration parameters for Firefox, but it didn't work.
In my test I'm trying to download excel file
profile = Selenium::WebDriver::Firefox::Profile.new
profile['browser.download.lastDir'] = 'C:\\Downloads'
profile['browser.download.folderList'] = 2
profile['browser.download.dir'] = 'C:\\Downloads'
profile['download.prompt_for_download'] = false
profile['browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting'] = false
profile['browser.download.manager.addToRecentDocs'] = true
profile['browser.download.manager.useWindow'] = false
profile['browser.download.useDownloadDir'] = true
profile['browser.download.show_plugins_in_list'] = true
profile['browser.download.manager.openDelay'] = 100000
profile['browser.download.animateNotifications'] = false
driver = Watir::Browser.new :firefox, :profile => profile
Still the browser displaying download window when my script performs click operation on download button
Currently I'm using Firefox 35.0.1 on Windows-7(64bit)
A:
As per documentation, you should use the browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk preference to achieve this. Value is defined as
A comma-separated list of MIME types to save to disk without asking
what to use to open the file. Default value is an empty string.
I am not very good at Ruby, but it will probably look something like
profile["browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk"] = "text/plain, application/octet-stream"
Just use the correct MIME type.
I also found this, this and this answer.
|
lib = File.expand_path('lib', __dir__)
$LOAD_PATH.unshift(lib) unless $LOAD_PATH.include?(lib)
require 'facebook/messenger/version'
Gem::Specification.new do |spec|
spec.name = 'facebook-messenger'
spec.version = Facebook::Messenger::VERSION
spec.authors = ['Johannes Gorset']
spec.email = ['[email protected]']
spec.summary = 'Facebook Messenger client'
spec.description = 'Facebook Messenger client'
spec.homepage = 'https://github.com/hyperoslo/facebook-messenger'
spec.license = 'MIT'
spec.files = Dir[
'{lib,test,bin,doc,config}/**/*', 'LICENSE', 'README*'
]
spec.bindir = 'exe'
spec.executables = spec.files.grep(%r{^exe/}) { |f| File.basename(f) }
spec.require_paths = ['lib']
spec.add_runtime_dependency 'httparty', '~> 0.13', '>= 0.13.7'
spec.add_runtime_dependency 'rack', '>= 1.4.5'
spec.add_development_dependency 'bundler', '~> 2.1'
spec.add_development_dependency 'coveralls'
spec.add_development_dependency 'pry'
spec.add_development_dependency 'rack-test', '~> 0.6.3'
spec.add_development_dependency 'rake', '~> 13.0.1'
spec.add_development_dependency 'rspec', '~> 3.9'
spec.add_development_dependency 'rubocop', '~> 0.58.1'
spec.add_development_dependency 'webmock', '~> 3.8.1'
end
|
Submitted by Bill Bonner via Acting-Man blog,
The Most Important Change
But when he is disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader. – Plato on tyrants, The Republic
This is the last in our series on how America’s money, economy and government have changed since the collapse of the Bretton Woods agreement and the end of gold-backed money (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 here).
Today, we keep the focus on government… and what it has become. The period is hardly coincidental: On August 15, 1971, President Nixon hammered the last nail in the coffin of honest money.
It was not the only reason for the profound changes that followed. There was also the opening up of Communist China to capitalism, the fall of the Soviet Union and the rise of the Internet, to name just a few. But the new credit-based money system was the least obvious change… and probably the most important.
Ancient Greek philosopher Plato
Caution: “Deep State” at Work
The credit-based dollar brought about a new economy. It changed the way people thought and the way their government operated. Now, deep pools of money determine which candidates are presented to voters.
And there is a new branch of government: the “Deep State.” It is not mentioned in the Constitution. And it operates above and beyond the visible process of democratic government.
Americans voted for Barack Obama in 2008 because they wanted a change from the Bush-era policies. But nothing changed. Why? Because the fix was in…
Candidate Obama was a critic of the war in Iraq; he promised to bring the Pentagon under control. But under President Obama, “security” spending in the US rose to its highest level since World War II. President Eisenhower warned us about this. He called it the “military-industrial” complex. This was the “Deep State” at work.
There are always some people in a society who are more ready than others to bully, steal and make jackasses of themselves. As 18th-century political philosopher William Godwin observed, if a government has any legitimate purpose at all it is to keep those people from doing harm to their neighbors. But over time, they infest government and its related industries.
Then instead of keeping these pests under control, government gives them authority… funding even a kind of ersatz respectability. Their predations, illusions and vanities become public policy.
The all-seeing eye of the Deep State
Photo credit: Roberto A. Sanchez / Getty Images
Like a Manure Pile to a Herd of Pigs
A Diary reader describes what happens next:
“Children can no longer sell lemonade. One cannot control his/her own puddle in their yard. Our communications (Internet and phones) are being monitored. Our police forces are no longer there to help us, but are militarized and react to every situation as if it were a deadly threat. Our government is now trying to control every aspect of our lives. The most recent of course is medical – but don’t get me started there.”
All major industries – education, health care, finance – attract these bullies and jackasses. But the Deep State calls to them like a manure pile to a herd of pigs. Soon, they are rooting and wallowing in the biggest heap of misspent resources in all of history.
Today, its agents bark at you to take off your belt in airports. Try to dig a pond in your backyard… or let your teenage boy work on the family farm… and they want to make a federal case of it.
They snoop and spy, looking for secrets they can hold over you. They tax. They regulate. And they control.
But it is they who are out of control … and unstoppable.
America’s Gulag Industry
According to US civil rights attorney Harvey Silverglate, the typical American commits three felonies a day in his own home without realizing it. Former Virginia senator Jim Webb describes the police state that results:
“We have 5% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s known prison population. We have an incarceration rate that is five times as high as the average incarceration rate of the rest of the world. We have a system of mass incarceration. There are only two possibilities here: Either we have the most evil people on Earth. Or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice.”
What Webb doesn’t mention is that putting other people in jail pays – for some. America’s gulag industry makes money on every prisoner and lobbies for harsher minimum sentences.
It pays so well that, at home and abroad, the profiteers don’t merely “go abroad in search of monsters to slay,” as one of America’s founding fathers, John Adams, warned against. They create monsters.
Did you know that the FBI entices, ensnares and enables young men to plan acts of “terrorism”? Recently, FBI agents arrested three sad-sack men in Brooklyn and charged them with conspiring to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.
None of the men could have done so without FBI help. They were broke. And one was unable to follow through because his mom had taken away his passport. These were the perfect terrorists – created, nurtured and funded by the FBI.
OECD incarceration rates per 100,000 citizens, by International Centre for Prison Studies
A Super Bowl with Mortal Stakes
Overseas, the situation is much the same. In the absence of real enemies, the Deep State has created phony ones. A Bonner & Partners subscriber explains:
“The US went to war in Afghanistan to kick out a batch of radical Islamist thugs. Now the whole Mideast is fighting a batch of much more radical Islamist thugs, who have the advantage of large quantities of US-supplied arms. The last that I heard the US was still providing arms to the Islamist thugs in Syria and complaining when these arms are used in Iraq. Ron Paul recently wrote that none of the military adventures the US has been involved in in the last 25 years had done any good at all. I do not know why he didn´t extend it to 50 or 60 years. There is no question about US military power but there are a lot of very serious questions about its choice of targets. On balance it seems clear that the US does more harm than good in its foreign affairs.”
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Deep State faced its biggest threat: It no longer had a plausible enemy. Since then, it has brought the US jackboot down on a series of pseudo-enemies – all laughably inferior to the Pentagon.
But with all its firepower… all its superior military technology… and all its trillions of dollars in spending… did a single one of America’s wars since the end of the Cold War result in a clear or honorable victory?
Instead, one fumbled mess led to another. Enemies became angels; allies became devils. You’d think this would bring the American public to its senses. Maybe all this spending, blustering and bombing is not really paying off? Maybe it is creating more enemies than it defeats?
But that is just the point: For the plain people, a war is little more than a Super Bowl with mortal stakes. They holler and hoot for the Homeland team. They salute their heroes and hate the enemy, even when they’re not sure who the enemy is.
Those who do the thinking, on the other hand, have another agenda. They are just as happy with a defeat as a victory. Victory, and the peace that followed World War II, almost put them out of business. It is war, not peace, that pays. And war pays well.
The US “security” industry has about $1 trillion a year in spending power. You can buy a lot of votes with that kind of money. And you can build a lot of mansions in the Virginia suburbs.
The Deep State is now in charge. The fix is in.
American citizens ponder the weighty question which country to bomb/invade next
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The Business of Breaking Up When You're Fabulously Rich
The Business of Breaking Up When You're Fabulously Rich
In the past few years, so many Real Housewives have broken up with their husbands that one fears television has run out of things to say about rich people’s divorces. Not so! Enter
Divorce Wars
, an hourlong magazine-format special (CNBC, March 29, 9 P.M. ET) about the big business of big-money divorce. Correspondent Melissa Francis profiles four divorces, including that of Silicon Valley CEO Elon Musk and his ex, Justine, who settled
"America’s Messiest Divorce"
last year; and the story of the much less famous Margaret Spenlinhauer, a dogged housewife who spent nearly two decades searching for money her husband had hidden during their divorce (she found it, and her 1988 award of $750,000 became a $15 million settlement in 2006).
What I found fascinating about
Divorce Wars
wasn’t the breakups themselves, but the businesses that surrounded the splits of the uber-wealthy. Some are old industries that are now used in new ways (forensic accountants, private investigators, digital forensics), while others-specifically divorce financing-are businesses that have emerged to cater to extremely rich divorcing couples.
Advertisement
First there are the forensic accountants, who track hidden or misrepresented funds. The Bureau of Labor statistics estimates that, despite the economic slowdown in many financial sectors, forensic accounting will see a 22 percent increase in the decade ending in 2018. Accounting subspecialties in divorce finance are cropping up, too: the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, founded in 1993, has credentialed 5,000 "certified divorce financial analysts."
Even though no-fault divorce laws have rendered adultery irrelevant (legally speaking) and conduct doesn’t affect the bottom line in a divorce, private investigators aren’t out of the divorce business; they’ve just changed their focus. Most alimony obligations require the receiving spouse, typically the wife, to remain single. If she has shacked up, her ex-husband’s support payments could be reduced or stopped. The possibility of that kind of windfall leads one suspicious ex-husband in
Divorce Wars
to hire a private investigator.
The "digital forensics" field, developed largely to prosecute cyber crime, has in the past decade become integral to sussing out facts in the very ugliest divorces. Industry estimates say that about a third of digital forensics jobs-which include recovering deleted data and reconstructing search histories-are divorce-related. Experts are hired by divorce lawyers to go through family computer(s) in order to bolster or refute accusations of cheating or, shockingly, child porn. One particularly ugly example of the lengths to which a vindictive ex can go is Nancy Tauck of Connecticut, who
planted illegal
porn searches on a computer belonging to her husband, multimillionaire businessman Peter Tauck, in order to win sole custody of their kids. Digital forensics recovered hidden geographical and time stamps that cleared Peter and implicated Nancy, and ultimately won
him
sole custody (and $55 million).
What if you can’t afford the $13 million in legal and expert fees that the Taucks spent? Divorce financing, based on venture capital principles (the first specialized boutique was founded in 2003), is an emerging field that’s
getting plenty of attention
. Specialized divorce firms or larger funds put up "fight money"-legal fees, investigator costs, even living expenses for less-monied spouses who stand to obtain large judgments or settlements. In exchange, the financing company takes a cut of the divorce payout.
Balance Point
, a divorce finance firm founded in 2009 by divorcée Stacey Napp, says that by the end of 2010 it had invested $2 million in divorces. Asked in
Divorce Wars
whether her business model is profitable, she smiles contentedly and says that while that remains to be seen, "We think yes." About a billion dollars are invested in divorces by banks, hedge funds, and boutiques at any given time.
Florida businessman Bill Lasky blames his own romantic sensibility for his having ultimately paid a $20 million settlement to his second wife after their seven-year marriage ended. In the corporate world, "you’re typically looking at what the exit strategy would be," says Lasky in
Divorce Wars
, "but in this case I felt it was two human beings, and you don’t buy people." He’s right. But not everybody takes such a philosophical view. When an entrepreneur sees business opportunity, or an embattled spouse (like Peter Tauck) wants a fair shake, sometimes humanity takes the back seat.
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Jacques-Cartier Bridge reopens, collapsed sign removed
MONTREAL—The Jacques-Cartier Bridge was closed for four hours on the morning of Christmas Day after a large road sign fell onto the five lanes of the important crossing. Traffic was allowed back on the bridge just before 1:45 p.m.
Work crews were on the bridge throughout Tuesday morning as they cut and pulled at the large metal structure that was struck by a truck just after 9:30 a.m.
According to the Surete du Quebec, authorities had to close the bridge to traffic because the fallen road sign—which holds electronic lane signals—covered the entire roadway.
With limited volume on Christmas morning, traffic disruptions were kept to a minimum.
A large container carried by the truck also fell onto the bridge after it struck the sign.
Photos
Officers from the Montreal and Longueuil police, as well as the Surete du Quebec, routed traffic around the Jacques-Cartier bridge on Christmas Day.
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Summary:Deponia is a fast-paced comedy of errors and one of the most unusual love stories in gaming history. The twist-filled story takes its off-beat characters all over trash planet Deponia, a unique game world in the style of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Matt Groening. From Kuvaq, anDeponia is a fast-paced comedy of errors and one of the most unusual love stories in gaming history. The twist-filled story takes its off-beat characters all over trash planet Deponia, a unique game world in the style of Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Matt Groening. From Kuvaq, an improvised village built inside a giant trash heap, to the swimming black market and the dark corners of the elevated planetary railways: Deponia is brought to life with detailed hand-painted backgrounds in widescreen format and top-quality cartoon animation…Expand
A fantastic adventure game, featuring some extremely intelligent riddles that require deep thinking. At the same time, it narrates a beautiful story, one that takes place in a setting very different than those of most games. [September 2012]
Aside from the fact that some puzzle solutions can be quite far fetched sometimes, Deponia is one of the most entertaining point & click titles we've seen in the last couple of years. It's very hard not to play this game with a big smile on your face because of Rufus and his idiotic actions.
The only think we can ask for is a sequel. Recommended for everyone interested in the genre, with great puzzles and sense of humor. It offers a classic, challenging gameplay, which should be enough to keep fans of the adventures games playing till they finish it.
You´ve got to hand it to Daedalic: They know, what an expertly crafted
point and click adventure has to look like. Veterans of the genre and
newcomers alike can give this one a go without hesitation, especially
considering the low price tag.
Despite a poor beginning and ending, I can't shake off the warm feeling Deponia left me with. It's a game with a big heart and some clever puzzles that recall a special time in the history of adventure games.
The twist-filled story takes its off-beat characters all over trash planet Deponia, a unique game world!. The game shines when it comes toThe twist-filled story takes its off-beat characters all over trash planet Deponia, a unique game world!. The game shines when it comes to humor and has great in depth gameplay and storytelling. Puzzles are greatly amusing and shown with a lot of feelgood comments. Topgame!…Expand
Really fun game with lots of humor and tricky puzzles to solve. If you like point and click games and what a challange, this is a game that IReally fun game with lots of humor and tricky puzzles to solve. If you like point and click games and what a challange, this is a game that I can highly recommend.…Expand
An adventure game about a simple man, with grand ideas, trying to get odd a trash heap of a planet. Mostly fun game, some odd puzzlesAn adventure game about a simple man, with grand ideas, trying to get odd a trash heap of a planet. Mostly fun game, some odd puzzles (although it'll let you skip the hard ones if it's doing your head in). The humour works very well for a german game translated into english. Bit like a less funny, sci fi version of monkey island ish.…Expand
OVERALL: Liked it. Recommend. 7.4/10.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: two main thing. The game is still a little buggy (unpolished): for example,OVERALL: Liked it. Recommend. 7.4/10.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE: two main thing. The game is still a little buggy (unpolished): for example, there a some puzzles which after you complete them, will not move you further in the story. This happened to me twice, and second time was unacceptable (happened when i completed the puzzle with railroad track manipulation) the movie played, but after the movie sequence played all the way through, my rail-cart returned back to the garage instead of moving on in the story to the next area. I had to to initiate the puzzle 4 times, and on the 5th, after the movie played my cart moved on. Lame. Second thing which bugged me all the way through the game was the issue with sound, which is a minus to the American translation/sound design crew, and probably not to the German developers of the game. The sound sequences are not normalized in terms of sound level sometimes the main character's voice is barely audible, while the "police" voice-overs really hurt my ears. So, even though the translation is nice, there was no final mixing i assume? A job 80% done. Come on. Also, some of the sound effects were annoying to the extent of a tooth-aching pain!
WHAT I LIKED: Loved the art although it could have been deeper and better, given more detail would be added. Still cartoony (Oblongs-Style), happy, hand-drawn style. Enjoyed it a lot. Humor so, since this is a German game, i did not expect much, however, in terms of translation, and humor this game come pretty solid, and even though you will not fall down from the chair in spasms of laughter, the game will make you smile. Story a good projection of an ancient science fiction theme (don't want to spoil anything for people who are yet to play this game, but if you read, you will find references to several popular themes of current writers and writers of the past). Puzzle-wise a Normal difficulty (i've played quite a few adventures, and cannot say Deponia is a mind-twister, and it does not make you do some irrational things). Also, a ton of dialogue in this game; some pretty funny, some not very, but all pretty well-written. Characters: some characters are just thumbs up! Lonzo is my favorite one! Amazing voice-acting!
RECOMMEND to any adventure lover and a newbie who enjoys a walkie-talkie and a good smile.…Expand
Deponia is a nice adventure game about a man in a "rescue" quest, sort of. It really starts fun, but the game loses its pace at some points,Deponia is a nice adventure game about a man in a "rescue" quest, sort of. It really starts fun, but the game loses its pace at some points, and you can really see (and miss) the brilliance behind the Monkey Island series.
The graphics are good, cartonish and the text is fun, but sometimes it's really over-the-top and loses the point, but in all, it's a good game for orphans from Monkey Island like me.
I would advice buying it only in a discount. The game isn't that nice to waste a lot of money on…Expand
To start, the game has nice graphics. That is the only reason it doesn't get a zero. The main character is a disgusting jerk. I have neverTo start, the game has nice graphics. That is the only reason it doesn't get a zero. The main character is a disgusting jerk. I have never played a game with such an unlikable protagonist in all of my years of gaming. I played for about an hour, and just could not take his personality. Why somebody would want to make a character so horrible is beyond me. I suggest that you never buy this game.…Expand
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[Aiming at the chest, but hitting the back].
Gunshot injuries in the back may suggest the unjustified use of firearms. A wound in the back inflicted by a firearm should not automatically imply that the shooter aimed at the back. A previous study demonstrated that it is possible for men to turn their trunk faster than it takes for a shooter to fire or throw a hand-operated weapon. With a high speed motion camera the authors were able to demonstrate that it is also possible for women to turn their trunk fast enough, so that a shot in the back could have been aimed at the front of the body. This conclusion is also likely to apply to hand-operated or thrown weapons, since the velocity of their projectiles is considerably lower than that of firearms.
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Callas Forever
Callas Forever is a 2002 biographical film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who co-wrote the screenplay with Martin Sherman. It is an homage to Zeffirelli's friend, internationally acclaimed opera diva Maria Callas, whom he directed on stage in Norma, La traviata, and Tosca. It was his last film before his death in 2019.
Plot
The partially fictionalized film is set in 1977, the year in which Callas died, and centers on the making of a movie of Georges Bizet's Carmen. The diva, whose now-ragged voice is well past its prime, is persuaded to star in it by longtime friend and former manager Larry Kelly, who abandoned classical music to become a rock impresario. He insists by lip-synching to her old recording she will recapture her lost youth and leave behind a priceless legacy for her admirers, and his theory is supported by Callas confidante and journalist Sarah Keller.
Other characters include Michael, a handsome young painter of limited talent and ardent Callas fan with whom Larry is infatuated; Marco, the tenor who plays Don José in Carmen and flirts with his aging co-star, who responds to his advances; and Bruna, the housekeeper in Callas' Paris apartment.
Callas' passion for music and faith in herself are restored by the finished film. She refuses to lip-synch more filmed operas but agrees to star in a screen adaptation of Tosca if it is filmed live, using her own voice. When the financial backers walk out and the contract is canceled, she demands that Larry destroy Carmen, arguing its release would be contrary to her legacy of honest performances, even those she delivered on really awful nights when her fans wanted to close their ears and hide their eyes with embarrassment and disappointment.
Production notes
The film was made in Bucharest, Romania, Córdoba in Andalusia, Spain, and Paris.
The costume designs were nominated for a Goya Award in Spain and a Silver Ribbon by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists.
The film grossed $445,996 in the US, €1,249,657 in Italy, and €278,631 in Spain. It is available on DVD.
Principal cast
Fanny Ardant ..... Maria Callas
Jeremy Irons ..... Larry Kelly
Joan Plowright ..... Sarah Keller
Jay Rodan ..... Michael
Gabriel Garko ..... Marco
Anna Lelio ..... Bruna
Stephen Billington.....Brendan
Justino Díaz.....A singer (Scarpia)
Tara Marie Anderson ....Blonde Journalist
Principal production credits
Executive Producers ..... Marco Chimenz, Giovanni Stabilini
Original Music ..... Alessio Vlad
Cinematography ..... Ennio Guarnieri
Production Design ..... Carlo Centolavigna, Bruno Cesari
Art Direction ..... Luigi Quintili
Costume Design ..... Karl Lagerfeld, Anna Anni, Alessandro Lai, Alberto Spiazzi
Critical reception
In his review in The New York Times, Stephen Holden called it "the kind of what-if movie you might have expected to be made about Elvis Presley but not about the quintessential opera diva of the 20th century. A lip-synching hall of mirrors, it is essentially a piece of highbrow karaoke . . . Ms. Ardant displays an eerie command of the diva's body language: the way her lips could curl into an imperious sneer, her flame-throwing glare, her hands crossed prayerfully on her chest as she sank to her knees in agony. Yet there is something inescapably ghoulish in the spectacle of an actress (even a great one) lip-synching the role of an opera legend who is herself lip-synching to her old records to create a bogus product . . . If Callas Forever is compellingly acted . . . it is a skimpily produced movie that looks pasted together on a limited budget. The la-di-da ambience of divas and their courtiers rings true for its era, but the fussy hothouse atmosphere of unrestrained diva-worship is ultimately more than a little stifling."
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times stated, "The visual style is all Zeffirelli, and it is interesting that the opera-within-the-film is not skimped on, as is usually the case in films containing scenes from other productions. Indeed, most of the budget seems to have gone to the moments of Carmen that we see; they look sumptuous and robust, and the surrounding film looks, well, like a low-budget art movie . . . Ardant . . . [has] the fiery passion needed for Carmen . . . [and] excels at playing a temperamental diva."
In Variety, Deborah Young described the film as "an impressionistic sketch" and added, "Opera buffs may be disappointed not to see their heroine depicted in her heyday, and casual viewers may be miffed not to get a melodramatic replay of her affair with Aristotle Onassis . . . [the] main body of the movie is weighed down by flat, expository dialogue and a lot of pedestrian filming . . . however . . . the Carmen sequences, which make up a sizable chunk of the film and are far and away the pic's most exhilarating sections, are graceful and fluid."
In The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw called it "a gallant, ghastly fantasy" and added, "half a pound of Roquefort left overnight in a glove compartment could not be cheesier. It's a camp extravaganza of such exquisite awfulness, such unembarrassable silliness, that you watch it hypnotised."
Mark Kermode of The Observer said it was "directed by Zeffirelli like a man still living in the Seventies, replete with ostentatious zooms and unfashionably smouldering close-ups."
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle enthused, "For Callas lovers, it doesn't get much better than this. The movie is rich with music and more than a few moments of painful exaltation, where the breath catches, the eyes fill and the skin tingles . . . Yet a familiarity with Callas or opera in general is hardly required for appreciating this film. Though campy at times, Callas Forever is a generous offering, full of flamboyant characters and grand performances . . . [the Callas Zeffirelli] gives us [is] a woman blessed and cursed by a terrible gift that makes normal life meaningless, while giving her a glimpse into a transcendence that eludes her. There are other ways of presenting Callas, but this is an especially powerful one."
In the New York Observer, Rex Reed opined, "You will go away devastated and raving about the great French actress Fanny Ardant as Callas. It's a titanic performance that redefines the term "tour de force."
Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times called it "not only one of Zeffirelli's sumptuous productions but also a film that celebrates the sacredness of artistic integrity that to Zeffirelli Callas embodied fully . . . Ardant comes fully into her own in her portrayal of a great artist . . . [she] is a boldly striking beauty with a commanding star charisma . . . as an actress she has delved so deeply within herself that she doesn't have to resemble Callas closely because she has become her from frame one."
References
External links
Category:2000s biographical drama films
Category:2002 films
Category:Italian films
Category:French films
Category:Romanian films
Category:Spanish films
Category:Films about classical music and musicians
Category:Films directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Category:Films about opera
Category:Films set in Romania
Category:Films set in Spain
Category:Films set in France
Category:2000s musical films
Category:Cultural depictions of Maria Callas
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[A reversed phase HPLC method with pre-column derivatization to determine propafenone enantiomers in human plasma].
A reversed phase HPLC method to stereoselectively determine enantiomers of propafenone in human plasma has been developed. After extraction of 1 ml plasma with 3 ml of n-C6H14:CH2Cl2:2-C3H7OH (100:50:5, v/v) and dried under N2, the enantiomers of propafenone were allowed to react with homochiral S(+)-1-(1-naphthyl) ethyl isocyanate (5.66 micrograms in 60 microliters CH2Cl2) at RT for 30 min, to give the diastereomeric derivatives. Their separation was achieved using HPLC with a C18-column and UV-detection (220 nm) and the enantiomeric ratios were measured. The concentration of each enantiomer were then calculated using the enantiomeric ratios and the racemic propafenone concentrations previously measured. This method after validation procedures has been applied to the multisample analyses of a human pharmacokinetic study with 10 healthy volunteers after an oral dose of 300 mg propafenone hydrochloride. The method was shown to be sensitive (7.5 ng.ml-1), convenient and reproducible.
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Note: This program was
revised and updated in 2014 under the new title Paternidad Activa 4a edición. Video in the new edition is dubbed in Spanish.
Books, certificates, and other materials for the 1999 edition,
Padres Activos de Hoy, will be available while supplies
last.
Padres Activos de Hoy is the Spanish-language version
of the award-winning parenting education program Active Parenting
Today. It is not dubbed or subtitledit features all-new
video with Latino actors. To make the translation as universal
as possible, a Spanish-speaking advisory board and Spanish-speaking
parents assisted in the making of this video. It addresses concerns
unique to this audience, including:
how parenting practices
must fit the society for which we are raising our children (a
special challenge for first-generation immigrant parents)
Session III:
-winning cooperation from your child
-saying no to drugs
-how to use family meetings to solve problems
-emphasizing the family unit
Pictured: Padres Activos de Hoy Standard Program Kit
Ordering InformationClick on the title for more information
or to order.Note: This program was revised
and updated in 2014 under the new title Paternidad
Activa 4a edición. Video
in the new edition is dubbed in Spanish. Books, certificates,
and other materials for the 1999 edition, Padres Activos de
Hoy, will be available while supplies last.
Note: This program was
revised and updated in 2014 under the new title Paternidad Activa 4a edición. Video in the new edition is dubbed in Spanish.
Books, certificates, and other materials for the 1999 edition,
Padres Activos de Hoy, will be available while supplies
last.
Looking
for trustworthy, effective parent education? Active Parenting
Publishers provides video-based parenting courses and
parenting programs to help parents rear responsible children
who are able to cope with life's challenges. Whether through a traditional
parenting class or an online parenting course,
parent educators find that the research-based Active Parenting programs
provide the right mix of information and entertainment to help put families
on the right track. This is parenting education designed
by an established psychologist, Dr. Michael H. Popkin, and based on sound
Adlerian psychological principles. Explore our web site for parenting
programs, parenting books, parenting videos, and more.
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A synthetic hexapeptide designed to resemble a proteinaceous P-loop nest is shown to bind inorganic phosphate.
The hexapeptide Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Lys-Thr has been synthesized and characterized. It was designed as a minimal soluble peptide that would be likely to have the phosphate-binding properties observed in the P-loops of proteins that bind the β-phosphate of GTP or ATP. The β-phosphate in such proteins is bound by a combination of the side chain ε-amino group of the lysine residue plus the concavity formed by successive main chain peptide NH groups called a nest, which is favored by the glycines. The hexapeptide is shown to bind HPO(4) (2-) strongly at neutral pH. The affinities of the various ionized species of phosphate and hexapeptide are analyzed, showing that they increase with pH. It is likely the main chain NH groups of the hexapeptide bind phosphate in much the same way as the corresponding P-loop atoms bind the phosphate ligand in proteins. Most proteinaceous P-loops are situated at the N-termini of α-helices, and this observation has frequently been considered a key aspect of these binding sites. Such a hexapeptide in isolation seems unlikely to form an α-helix, an expectation in accord with the CD spectra examined; this suggests that being at the N-terminus of an α-helix is not essential for phosphate binding. An unexpected finding about the hexapeptide-HPO(4) (2-) complex is that the side chain ε-amino group of the lysine occurs in its deprotonated form, which appears to bind HPO(4) (2-) via an N···H-O-P hydrogen bond.
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Evan Vucci/ASSOCIATED PRESS President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence wave as they visit the Carrier factory on Dec. 1, 2016, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
President-elect Donald Trump sold bonds issued by Carrier Corporation’s parent company, United Technologies, in January, according to Trump’s presidential transition team.
Hope Hicks, the spokeswoman for the transition team who informed The Huffington Post that Trump made the sale, did not address a request to provide documentation of it.
Barring additional information, it is impossible to verify the Trump transition team’s claim until the president-elect’s next financial disclosure in May 2017, which will show asset sales made in 2016.
Trump earned $2,501 to $5,000 in interest income from bonds issued by Carrier’s parent company, United Technologies Inc., according to Trump’s May financial disclosure. That disclosure only shows income and asset sales for the previous calendar year. The Indy Star first reported Trump’s stake in the company.
Had Trump not made the sale, he would have had a modest financial stake in the health of Carrier, the company with which he just negotiated a deal to keep 800 manufacturing jobs in the United States.
Although Trump treated Carrier as a whipping post during the campaign, now that he has finalized a deal he has spoken about the company favorably, generating it positive national media attention.
A Carrier spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.
Trump is already drawing pressure from ethics experts and congressional Democrats who are calling on him to divest from his myriad global businesses, including the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., which foreign governments are already patronizing as a way to curry favor with the incoming administration. They argue that these holdings could inappropriately influence his presidential decision-making.
|
UnionHerald Looking Back for the edition of May 9, 2014
Published May 13, 2014 at 9:30 am
Iron found in Anoka
Iron ore right in Anoka! Workmen hauling dirt from the Wyman pit, lower Third avenue, found what promises to be good grade iron ore yesterday. Whether it is the outcropping of a mine, or just a pocket, remains to be seen, but the ore looks good and just such leads have led to some of the big mines of Minnesota.
-100 years ago, May 6, 1914,
Anoka County Union
Green Haven clubhouse among outstanding construction jobs
The Anoka Community Clubhouse has been selected as one of the outstanding construction jobs of its type in Minnesota and is being included in a book of pictures being sent to Washington for the attention of Colonel F.C. Harrington, Federal Works Progress Administrator. The Municipal clubhouse is situated on one of the finest and toughest golf courses in the state, with grass greens and watered fairways. It is of ultra-modern construction with shower baths, dining hall, bowling alleys, ballroom, outside playground for children, bowling green, trap and skeet shooting, archery range, horseshoe courts and fine picnic grounds.
– 75 years ago, May 10, 1939,
Anoka Herald
CRHS dedication May 17
The new Coon Rapids senior high school building, located at Northdale Boulevard, will be officially dedicated Sunday afternoon, May 17. Ceremonies will be held in the gymnasium and will start with a concert by the Coon Rapids senior high school orchestra under the direction of Raymond Blake, which will also provide music later during the program. O.C. Severson, president of the Board of Education of Anoka-Hennepin School District 11, will make the presentation of the new high school to the people of the district. Mrs. Barbara D. Puenti will sing “Bless This House,” followed by a benediction.
– 50 years ago, May 8, 1964
Coon Rapids Herald
Blocking bridge foils ‘real cruisers’
The weather notwithstanding, Anoka is apparently doing something right in getting rid of most of its cruising problem. That has been the situation the last two weekends after the Anoka City Council rejected some task force recommendations and ordered immediate and more drastic action. The council agreed to prohibit westbound traffic over the Rum River bridge starting at 10 p.m. each night over weekends. Police also continued random checkpoints for enforcement of DWI laws, monitored CB channels and ticketed moving and other active violations.
– 25 years ago, May 12, 1989
Anoka County Union
• Compiled by Sue Austreng
Editor’s note: “Looking Back” is reprinted exactly as the items first appeared.
|
Endoscopy in the evaluation of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms: indications, expectations, and interpretation.
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the most sensitive diagnostic test in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Endoscopy performed by trained examiners, however, still misses lesions. Single-contrast upper gastrointestinal x-ray adds little new information to a complete endoscopic examination by a trained endoscopist. With the availability of "skinny" endoscopes as well as the ability to obtain directed cytology and biopsy via the endoscope, a clinician may well choose upper gastrointestinal endoscopy as the first and possible only diagnostic test in the evaluation of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The cost of the procedure, however, and the limited availability of trained endoscopists may inhibit the widespread use of this procedure as the initial diagnostic test.
|
Report: Chris Brown and Drake Got Into Bar Fight
June 14, 2012 17:06:56 GMT
Backed up by their entourage, Brown and Drake were allegedly throwing each other bottles over Rihanna issue.
Just before stepping out of an NYC nightclub on Thursday, June 14 morning, Chris Brown had a brawl with Drake's entourage. They allegedly fought after throwing each other blows over Brown's ex-girlfriend Rihanna who is also rumored to have hooked up with Drake.
The incident took place at WIP nightclub slightly after 4 A.M. "They were on opposite sides of the room, Drake went over to the middle of the club to talk to someone, then words were exchanged with Chris and his entourage," a source told NY Post. "It looked like Drake's entourage started it. Both Chris and Drake had their own security with them."
It was claimed that Drake threw the first bottle which later hit Brown's chin. "Once the bottle was thrown, all hell broke loose and there were more bottles thrown," the source added. Brown was pulled out of the scene while Drake was dragged to the back of the club. A total of five people were injured in the melee.
NYPD arrived at the club after a call was made but neither Brown nor Drake was present. No arrests were made, TMZ reported.
A representative of Drake said, "It was his entourage [involved]. It's unclear if he [Drake] was there. I'm still trying to find out." Meanwhile, Brown tweeted a photo of a gash on his chin and removed it later. He wrote, "How u party wit rich n**** that hate? Lol... Throwing bottles like girls? #shameonya!"
Post Your Comments
posted by Koalaluver on Jun 20, 2012First of all Drake is totally not the one who started this! If anyone were to get arrested it would have to be Chris He started the fight just by his words in action! Drake dont listen to the News! YOUR SAFE!
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K-72 trailer
The K-72 trailer, manufactured by the A. J. Miller (Auto Cruiser Trailer Co.), was a house trailer used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during and after World War II.
Specifications
The A. J. Miller built the K-72 trailer, which has two axles, one on each end. Its net weight is 7,500 lb and it is 232¾ inches long, 124½ inches high, and 93¾ inches wide. It has four windows including the one in the door.
Use
The K-72 trailer primarily was used to house the operators of the SCR-527 radar.
See also
G-numbers (G661)
Signal Corps Radio
List of U.S. Signal Corps vehicles
K-55 trailer
References
Further reading
TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. dated 1 September, 1943
TM 9-2800 Military vehicles dated October, 1947
TM 11-227 Signal Communication Directory. dated 10 April 1944
TM 11-487 Electrical Communication systems Equipment. dated 2 October, 1944
External links
Drawing of SCR-527
Mobileradar.org
SCR-527 on deck of LST
Category:Military communications of the United States
Category:Military trailers of the United States
Category:World War II vehicles of the United States
Category:Military radars of the United States
Category:World War II radars
Category:World War II American electronics
Category:Military electronics of the United States
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//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/*
This file is part of rippled: https://github.com/ripple/rippled
Copyright (c) 2012, 2013 Ripple Labs Inc.
Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
purpose with or without fee is hereby granted, provided that the above
copyright notice and this permission notice appear in all copies.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
ANY SPECIAL , DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
*/
//==============================================================================
#ifndef RIPPLE_BASICS_COUNTEDOBJECT_H_INCLUDED
#define RIPPLE_BASICS_COUNTEDOBJECT_H_INCLUDED
#include <atomic>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
#include <vector>
namespace ripple {
/** Manages all counted object types. */
class CountedObjects
{
public:
static CountedObjects&
getInstance() noexcept;
using Entry = std::pair<std::string, int>;
using List = std::vector<Entry>;
List
getCounts(int minimumThreshold) const;
public:
/** Implementation for @ref CountedObject.
@internal
*/
class CounterBase
{
public:
CounterBase() noexcept;
virtual ~CounterBase() noexcept;
int
increment() noexcept
{
return ++m_count;
}
int
decrement() noexcept
{
return --m_count;
}
int
getCount() const noexcept
{
return m_count.load();
}
CounterBase*
getNext() const noexcept
{
return m_next;
}
virtual char const*
getName() const = 0;
private:
virtual void
checkPureVirtual() const = 0;
protected:
std::atomic<int> m_count;
CounterBase* m_next;
};
private:
CountedObjects() noexcept;
~CountedObjects() noexcept = default;
private:
std::atomic<int> m_count;
std::atomic<CounterBase*> m_head;
};
//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/** Tracks the number of instances of an object.
Derived classes have their instances counted automatically. This is used
for reporting purposes.
@ingroup ripple_basics
*/
template <class Object>
class CountedObject
{
public:
CountedObject() noexcept
{
getCounter().increment();
}
CountedObject(CountedObject const&) noexcept
{
getCounter().increment();
}
CountedObject&
operator=(CountedObject const&) noexcept = default;
~CountedObject() noexcept
{
getCounter().decrement();
}
private:
class Counter : public CountedObjects::CounterBase
{
public:
Counter() noexcept
{
}
char const*
getName() const override
{
return Object::getCountedObjectName();
}
void
checkPureVirtual() const override
{
}
};
private:
static Counter&
getCounter() noexcept
{
static_assert(std::is_nothrow_constructible<Counter>{}, "");
static Counter c;
return c;
}
};
} // namespace ripple
#endif
|
United States Court of Appeals
For the Eighth Circuit
___________________________
No. 16-4548
___________________________
United States of America
lllllllllllllllllllll Plaintiff - Appellee
v.
Reuben Stewart
lllllllllllllllllllll Defendant - Appellant
____________
Appeal from United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Missouri - St. Louis
____________
Submitted: December 11, 2017
Filed: February 21, 2018
[Unpublished]
____________
Before SMITH, Chief Judge, ARNOLD and KELLY, Circuit Judges.
____________
PER CURIAM.
Reuben Stewart appeals the district court’s1 determination that his Florida
conviction for aggravated assault qualifies as a violent felony under the Armed Career
1
The Honorable Catherine D. Perry, United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Missouri.
Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e). He argues that the mens rea element of
Florida aggravated assault is not enough to qualify as “use” of physical force. We
review the district court’s application of the ACCA de novo. United States v. Walker,
840 F.3d 477, 489 (8th Cir. 2016).
A previous conviction qualifies as a “violent felony” under the ACCA if it “has
as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the
person of another.” 18 U.S.C. § 924(e)(2)(B)(i). To determine whether Florida
aggravated assault is a “violent felony” under the ACCA, we use “the formal
categorical approach and look only to the fact of conviction and the statutory
definition of the prior offense.” United States v. Fogg, 836 F.3d 951, 954 (8th Cir.
2016) (quoting United States v. Schaffer, 818 F.3d 796, 797 (8th Cir. 2016)).
Florida law defines aggravated assault as “an assault (a) [w]ith a deadly
weapon without an intent to kill; or (b) [w]ith an intent to commit a felony.” Fla. Stat.
§ 784.021(1).2 “An ‘assault’ is an intentional, unlawful threat by word or act to do
violence to the person of another, coupled with an apparent ability to do so, and doing
some act which creates a well-founded fear in such other person that such violence
is imminent.” Fla. Stat. § 784.011(1). The Florida courts have held that the state can
satisfy the mens rea element of aggravated assault by proving that the defendant acted
with “culpable negligence,” which means:
[C]onduct of a gross and flagrant character, evincing reckless disregard
of human life or the safety of persons exposed to its dangerous effects;
or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of
indifference to consequences; or such wantonness or recklessness or
grossly careless disregard of the safety and welfare of the public, or that
reckless indifference to the rights of others, which is equivalent to an
2
Aggravated assault is a third-degree felony in Florida. Fla. Stat. § 784.021(2).
-2-
intentional violation of them. Momentary inattention or a mistake of
judgment does not constitute culpable negligence.
DuPree v. State, 310 So. 2d 396, 398 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1975) (citations omitted).
Stewart argues only that Florida aggravated assault cannot be a violent felony
because it requires mere negligence. While “merely accidental or negligent conduct”
might not be a violent felony, see Leocal v. Ashcroft, 543 U.S. 1, 11 (2004), reckless
conduct can, in certain circumstances, be a “use” of physical force. United States v.
Fields, 863 F.3d 1012, 1015 (8th Cir. 2017); see also Fogg, 836 F.3d at 956. And
although the Florida courts describe the mens rea element of aggravated assault as
including “culpable negligence,” the definition of that phrase makes clear that they
are really talking about recklessness. DuPree, 310 So. 2d at 398 (requiring “reckless
disregard,” “indifference to consequences,” or “reckless indifference to the rights of
others”).
We affirm the judgment of the district court.3
______________________________
3
Because we reject Stewart’s argument using the categorical approach, we need
not reach the district court’s alternative use of the modified categorical approach.
-3-
|
On-line 3-dimensional confocal imaging in vivo.
In vivo confocal microscopy through focusing (CMTF) can provide a 3-D stack of high-resolution corneal images and allows objective measurements of corneal sublayer thickness and backscattering. However, current systems require time-consuming off-line image processing and analysis on multiple software platforms. Furthermore, there is a trade off between the CMTF speed and measurement precision. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel on-line system for in vivo corneal imaging and analysis that overcomes these limitations. A tandem scanning confocal microscope (TSCM) was used for corneal imaging. The TSCM video camera was interfaced directly to a PC image acquisition board to implement real-time digitization. Software was developed to allow in vivo 2-D imaging, CMTF image acquisition, interactive 3-D reconstruction, and analysis of CMTF data to be performed on line in a single user-friendly environment. A procedure was also incorporated to separate the odd/even video fields, thereby doubling the CMTF sampling rate and theoretically improving the precision of CMTF thickness measurements by a factor of two. In vivo corneal examinations of a normal human and a photorefractive keratectomy patient are presented to demonstrate the capabilities of the new system. Improvements in the convenience, speed, and functionality of in vivo CMTF image acquisition, display, and analysis are demonstrated. This is the first full-featured software package designed for in vivo TSCM imaging of the cornea, which performs both 2-D and 3-D image acquisition, display, and processing as well as CMTF analysis. The use of a PC platform and incorporation of easy to use, on line, and interactive features should help to improve the clinical utility of this technology.
|
Q:
How to create instance of Swift type UnsafePointer?>! to pass to C function
I am trying to call a C function from Swift
One of the arguments to the C function is defined as the type:
const char * const * i_argv
In Xcode auto completion maps this to Swift type:
_ i_argv: UnsafePointer<UnsafePointer<Int8>?>!
All my attempts to create an instance of this type have failed
I want to pass an array of two Int8
let args: [Int8] = [ 1, 1 ]
If I pass this directly I get the error:
cannot convert value of type 'UnsafePointer<Int8>' to expected argument type 'UnsafePointer<UnsafePointer<Int8>?>'
So I then tried to wrap the array in an outer UnsafePointer
let argsp: UnsafePointer<Optional<UnsafePointer<Int8>>> = UnsafePointer(args)
But this does not appear to work as expected and gives the error:
cannot assign value of type 'UnsafePointer<Int8>' to type 'UnsafePointer<Optional<UnsafePointer<Int8>>>'
I can't figure out how to wrap the UnsafePointer type of the array with an outer UnsafePointer
Edit:
An example from the C project:
#define FIB_ARG_VALUE "40"
const char* i_argv[2] = { FIB_ARG_VALUE, NULL };
result = m3_CallWithArgs (f, 1, i_argv);
Following your comment I have managed to get the Swift code to compile with the following argument construction (just a compilation test)
let argsp: [UnsafePointer<Int8>?] = [ UnsafePointer([1,2,3]), UnsafePointer("40".cString(using: String.Encoding.utf8)) ]
This still gives a warning about creating dangling pointers
A:
As I wrote in my comment,
When the argument type is UnsafePointer<UnsafePointer<Int8>?>!, you need to pass an Array of UnsafePointer<Int8>?.
In your re-updated part, you understand the part to pass an Array of UnsafePointer<Int8>?, but you have failed to create each element of the Array.
The Swift equivalent to your example from the C project would be:
let FIB_ARG_VALUE = "40"
let result: CInt = FIB_ARG_VALUE.withCString {pointer in
let i_argv: [UnsafePointer<Int8>?] = [
pointer,
nil
]
return m3_CallWithArgs(f, 1, i_argv)
}
The right way for your compilation test code should look like:
let arg1: [Int8] = [1,2,3]
let arg2: String = "40"
_ = arg1.withUnsafeBufferPointer {arg1BufPtr in
arg2.withCString {arg2Ptr in
let argsp: [UnsafePointer<Int8>?] = [ arg1BufPtr.baseAddress,
arg2Ptr
]
//Use `argsp` inside this block.
//...
}
}
In both cases, I assume your C functions would not keep the pointers passed in i_argv for future use, otherwise you need some modification to copy the content to some stable address.
Or you many need to modify some other parts depending on the actual arguments or the functionality of the C function.
|
It looks like SocialFlow and, to a lesser extent, social media scheduling apps like Buffer, just got some more competition. Pulling back the curtain today is Echobox, the UK data and analytics startup, with a service that lets publishers intelligently share content to Twitter and Facebook.
By pairing Echobox with a site’s Google Analytics, the service mines that data, coupled with its own algorithms, to make suggestions in real-time on the best time to post a specific article to capture as much audience attention as possible.
The product launching today is also a lot narrower in scope — and, perhaps, less disruptive — than the early-look Echobox we profiled back in February, which also included editorial suggestions. But the aim remains the same: To help news publishers make sense of their data and put it to better use, increasing traffic as a result.
“We realized that the problem we were working on was much larger than we had originally conceived,” Antoine Amann, founder and CEO of Echobox, tells me. “We received email signups from any imaginable news publisher in the world and we used this opportunity to speak with many of them. We found that they were really struggling with getting to grips with their social media.”
Furthermore, Amann, who has a background in quantitative research and statistics, and has interned at the Financial Times, says that many news publishers still don’t leverage social media properly. As a result, they are missing out on a huge traffic opportunity.
“We found that they share articles at times that don’t really make sense, or they don’t share articles that should have been shared,” he says. “If news publishers shared the right articles at the right times, their traffic would increase significantly. More traffic means more revenues. And we all know how news publishers today are in dire need of additional revenues.”
Which, of course, is where the new Echobox comes in. It has a deceptively simple interface that tells a publisher (in plain English) what article should be shared now or soon, and how much traffic is estimated to increase as a result. As it stands, scheduling isn’t even automatic — although the option is coming soon — and social headlines need to be written manually. In other words, fear not, social media managers, your job is safe yet.
“Although the UI looks extremely simple (which is something we worked hard to achieve), everything in the backend is highly complex,” adds Amann. “We use our own machine learning and mathematical models to analyse audiences’ behaviour in real-time, and tailor our suggestions to each publication’s audience.”
On the surface, his pitch sounds very similar to something like SocialFlow. However, Amann is keen to stress there is a key difference because Echobox takes a deep dive into a publishers existing analytics data.
“Neither SocialFlow nor Buffer take private data of the publisher into account i.e. you don’t give SocialFlow or Buffer access to your Google Analytics for them to find sharing times,” he explains. “Instead, they use averaged proxies from public data. This is effective as well by the way. But it’s not as effective as using a publisher’s private data to tailor algorithms. The difference in performance is huge.”
Finally, I asked Amann why the new Echobox is focusing solely on social sharing and no longer makes editorial suggestions along the lines of recommending a specific article be shortened in length, for example — a feature that was both jaw-dropping and slightly frightening for this humble writer.
“Offering editorial suggestions in the right manner, without seeming too pushy, is quite a delicate matter,” he concedes. “But we will get there.”
|
For more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. That company was secretly run by the CIA, which had the ability to read all those communications for decades.
Greg Miller at the Washington Post:
The company, Crypto AG, got its first break with a contract to build code-making machines for U.S. troops during World War II. Flush with cash, it became a dominant maker of encryption devices for decades, navigating waves of technology from mechanical gears to electronic circuits and, finally, silicon chips and software. The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican. But what none of its customers ever knew was that Crypto AG was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence. These spy agencies rigged the company's devices so they could easily break the codes that countries used to send encrypted messages. The decades-long arrangement, among the most closely guarded secrets of the Cold War, is laid bare in a classified, comprehensive CIA history of the operation obtained by The Washington Post and ZDF, a German public broadcaster, in a joint reporting project.
Read more:
'The intelligence coup of the century'
[washingtonpost.com, Greg Miller Feb. 11, 2020, via techmeme, image modified from a photograph by theglobalpanorama CC BY-SA 2.0 ]
In case you've ever wondered why the US national security community is always so freaked out about Huawei… https://t.co/GjHgMUczIg — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 11, 2020
For more than half a century, countries all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. The Swiss company, Crypto AG, was secretly owned by the CIA.https://t.co/tStuLX9xgs pic.twitter.com/MBdnKK4rRm — Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) February 11, 2020
"what none of its customers ever knew was that Crypto AG was secretly owned by the CIA in a highly classified partnership with West German intelligence." Holy cow. WHAT a story. It's loooong—but a real thriller. Must read by @gregpmiller https://t.co/6ZjL5Y3F80 — C. Stelzenmüller (@ConStelz) February 11, 2020
For anyone who thinks US worries about Huawei and other Chinese tech companies is overblown… https://t.co/ctSkptA9MY — Alex Finley (@alexzfinley) February 11, 2020
The CIA monitored Iran's mullahs during the 1979 hostage crisis, fed intelligence to Britain during the Falklands War, tracked the assassination campaigns of South American dictators and caught Libyan officials congratulating themselves on the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco. https://t.co/EbVUVPaGn9 — Lynda Robinson (@WPLyndaRobinson) February 11, 2020
The CIA monitored Iran's mullahs during the 1979 hostage crisis, fed intelligence to Britain during the Falklands War, tracked the assassination campaigns of South American dictators and caught Libyan officials congratulating themselves on the 1986 bombing of a Berlin disco. https://t.co/EbVUVPaGn9 — Lynda Robinson (@WPLyndaRobinson) February 11, 2020
"The Swiss firm made millions of dollars selling equipment to more than 120 countries well into the 21st century. Its clients included Iran, military juntas in Latin America, nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, and even the Vatican." https://t.co/cfh07Icm6v — Kim Zetter (@KimZetter) February 11, 2020
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LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A little more than a month after winning the Republican nomination in a primary fight marked by heavy involvement by outside groups, attorney general candidate Leslie Rutledge said Wednesday she supports requiring more transparency about such organizations' involvement in state-level campaigns.
Speaking to the Political Animals Club, Rutledge said she'd support requiring outside groups to disclose details about their spending and donors when they campaign for or against candidates.
"We should know who is spending money in Arkansas and trying to affect our elections," Rutledge told the club, which meets regularly to hear from candidates and other political figures.
Rutledge won the GOP nomination in a runoff election last month, despite the involvement of two out-of-state groups that campaigned for her rival and tried to paint Rutledge as soft on gun rights. Both groups — the Judicial Crisis Network and the American Future Fund — are classified as nonprofits and are allowed by federal law to keep their donors secret.
Rutledge is running against Democratic state Rep. Nate Steel of Nashville in the fall election.
Ads by the Judicial Crisis Network during the primary runoff campaign compared Rutledge to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and President Barack Obama for not supporting a "Stand Your Ground" law.
Rutledge cast her victory in the June 10 runoff as a rejection of those attacks.
"I think I'm living proof that Arkansas cannot be bought and it should never be bought by outside interests," Rutledge said.
Rutledge said she doesn't plan on pushing for the additional disclosure as part of a legislative package, but said she hoped lawmakers would look at such a change during next year's session.
Steel said he agrees with Rutledge, and hopes they'll both speak out if outside groups try similar tactics in the general election.
"I was disturbed by the anonymous outside interests as well and certainly I agree there ought to be some accountability there," Steel told The Associated Press. "I don't think we disagree on that point."
Rutledge also defended her focus on fighting what she's called federal "overreach," adding she's not trying to be a seventh member of the state's congressional delegation with that pledge.
"We do need an attorney general willing and able to push back," Rutledge said.
Steel said Rutledge should be focusing more on state issues than fighting the federal government.
"I think it would be a diversion for the attorney general's office to be focusing on D.C. politics," he said.
The two are running to succeed Democratic Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, who is barred by term limits from seeking re-election. Steel is slated to speak to the club next month.
|
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A deadline has been set for Coventry City to confirm where they will play next season - or face expulsion from the league.
The board of the English Football League has today announced it has formally written to the club with a final request for details on where they will play their home matches in the 2019/20 season.
The club has less than two weeks until the deadline on March 5 to clarify its position.
If a satisfactory solution is not found by then, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Clubs will be called to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the league.
The EFL says they consider it "untenable" for a club to continue competing in the league if it is unable to stage its home matches.
How would the EGM work?
A majority vote of 75% of Member Clubs would be required to determine Coventry City's position in the League.
The meeting would be held on April 25 in advance of relegation and promotion issues being resolved during the run-in to the end of the season.
What the EFL say
Shaun Harvey, EFL Chief Executive, said: “The matter of Coventry City’s efforts to secure a home venue for 2019/20 season and beyond has been a serious concern for all parties for a significant period of time and the objective of the EFL, as it has always been, is to secure an appropriate solution for the long-term future of the club as they are a much valued member of our competition.
“The course of action taken this week is with reluctance, but the league has to ensure the integrity of our competitions is maintained and all clubs meet the obligations that come with being a member of the EFL.
“We remain in regular dialogue with the club and will provide all practical available assistance in line with EFL Regulations.”
Why the hold up?
The deadline will spark even more anxiety for nervous fans who have been calling for the impasse on the homelessness threat to the club at the Ricoh to end.
Coventry City bosses have said they would prefer to stay on at the Ricoh, and have been calling on Wasps to enter talks on a new rent deal.
The EFL says they view Coventry City staying at the Ricoh as a "sensible and suitable solution to the matter".
But Wasps, who own the Ricoh, have repeatedly said they will not consider a new rent deal for the historic football club unless legal action over the sale of the stadium ends.
And with the Supreme Court still yet to decide whether they will hear an appeal on the matter, it looks unlikely that Wasps will budge despite many calling for them to.
The EFL says the club will be given "ever opportunity to develop and present an appropriate resolution throughout the process".
The full statement from the EFL
The EFL Board has formally written to Coventry City with a final request for clarity in regard to where the Club will stage its home matches for the 2019/20 season.
In previous correspondence, the Board has been very clear about the need for Coventry City to provide absolute confirmation early in the second half of the current season. The Club will still be given every opportunity to develop and present an appropriate resolution throughout the process, but the EFL is yet to receive any indication of where Coventry City intend to play next season.
The Club has until 5 March 2019 to provide a further update to the Board, addressing the outstanding matter and should a satisfactory solution not be found over the next two months, an Extraordinary General Meeting of Clubs will be convened to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the League. This would be held on the 25 April in order to provide clarity regarding the Club’s future membership in advance of relegation and promotion issues being resolved during the run-in to the end of the season.
The EFL considers it untenable for a Member Club to seek to continue competing in its League competition if it is unable to stage its home matches. However, it understands, that despite the complex challenges facing Coventry City at this current time, it is the Club’s preference to extend their stay at the Ricoh Arena for future seasons and the EFL would view this as a sensible and suitable solution to the matter.
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “The matter of Coventry City’s efforts to secure a home venue for 2019/20 season and beyond has been a serious concern for all parties for a significant period of time and the objective of the EFL, as it has always been, is to secure an appropriate solution for the long-term future of the Club as they are a much valued member of our competition.
“The course of action taken this week is with reluctance, but the League has to ensure the integrity of our competitions is maintained and all Clubs meet the obligations that come with being a member of the EFL.
“We remain in regular dialogue with the Club and will provide all practical available assistance in line with EFL Regulations.”
Time Line Ricoh Arena row 2007 December 14: Sisu takeover Coventry City FC and appoint Ray Ranson as chairman 2011 March 28: Ray Ranson resigns as chairman 2012 March 6: CCFC, Alan Edward Higgs Charity and Coventry City Council in talks over Ricoh Arena ownership April 1: CCFC stop paying rent to ACL. CCFC make ongoing 'pay as you play' payments to ACL to complete the season April 28: CCFC relegated from Championship May: Sisu and Alan Edward Higgs in negotiations over the puchase of the charity's 50 per cent stake in ACL and agree indicative terms August: Ricoh Arena negotiations had fallen apart August 13: ACL starts court proceedings to recover unpaid rent October: Verbal offer of £2m by Sisu for charity's shares in ACL rejected December: Discussions are held between CCFC and Coventry City Council over stadium ownership 2013 January 14: Coventry City Council buys out ACL's debt with Yorkshire Bank amid financial difficulties following CCFC's withdrawal of the £1.3m annual rent. The council agrees to loan the firm £14.4m February 14: ACL calls in its debt from CCFC for the non payment of rent February 15: ACL freezes club's bank accounts March 13: CCFC Ltd placed in administration March 21: Paul Appleton appointed administrator of CCFC Ltd March 28: CCFC deducted ten points for entering administration April 20: CCFC plays final game at the Ricoh Arena before leaving the stadium May 3: CCFC announce the club needs a plan to play away from the Ricoh Arena after negotiations over reduced rent levels fall apart May 7: Coventry Telegraph launches petition to keep CCFC in Coventry May 23: Club chairman Tim Fisher announces plans for "Highfield Road 2", a stadium which would be built in three years June 27: Administrator accepts bid from Sisu firm Otium Entertainment for CCFC Ltd's assets which include the club's "Golden Share" which grants the right to field a team in the Football League. There were a total of six initial bids – including one from US tycoon Preston Haskell July 8: CCFC agrees a three-year deal to play home games at the home of Northampton Town, Sixfields July 12: ACL launches legal challenge against Northampton Town FC for agreeing Sixfields groundshare July 20: About 5,000 fans march on Coventry city centre, organised by The Sky Blue Trust in protest at plans to move CCFC out of the city August 2: CCFC hit with another ten point deduction after ACL and HMRC refuse to sign settlement agreement August 9: Sisu launches a judicial review into the £14.4m council loan to ACL August 11: CCFC play their first game at Sixfileds, beating Bristol City 5-4 in front of 1,500 fans. A charity match played on the same day at the Ricoh Arena, featuring CCFC legends, pulls in 5,000. October 5: ACL drops legal action against Northampton Town FC 2014 April 1: Alan Edward Higgs Charity persues Sisu in court for costs as a result of failed takeover negotiations April 3: High Court judge throws out Alan Edward Higgs Charity's claim and Sisu's counter-claim June 10-12: Judicial review into Coventry City Council's £14.4m loan to ACL June 30: Judge rules that £14.4m Coventry City Council loan to ACL was lawful July 7: Coventry Telegraph lauches #BringCityHome campaign July 12: 7,000 people join Sky Blue Trust protest march in Coventry city centre calling for return of club to Coventry August 7: Football League orders Sisu to pay ACL £471,00 in Ricoh Arena rent row – removing a major obstacle preventing a return August 19: CCFC play their last game at Sixfields. A 2-2 draw with Barnsley in front of 2,376 supporters August 21: The Coventry Telegraph reveals that CCFC has agreed a temporary two-year deal to return to the Ricoh Arena – with an option for two more years September 5: Sky Blues return to the Ricoh Arena for fixture with Gillingham. 27,306 fans watch CCFC win 1-0 via a Frank Nouble goal September 18: The Coventry Telegraph reveals that Wasps are in talks to takeover the Ricoh Arena November 4: Wasps agree deal to buy Coventry City Council's 50 per cent stake in ACL November 14: The Alan Edward Higgs Higgs rejects a last-ditch bid for their half share of ACL from CCFC. Wasps secure the Alan Edward Higgs charity's 50 per cent stake in ACL, giving Wasps complete control December 21: Wasps play their first game at the Ricoh Arena against London Irish, winning 48-16 in front of 28,254 fans 2015 January: Second judicial review launched by Sisu into the terms of the sale of ACL to Wasps 2016 February 3-4: Sisu appeal 2014 judicial review judgment over £14.4m Coventry City Council loan to ACL at Court of Appeal May 13: Sisu loses appeal May 18: Coventry City FC confirms Butts Park Arena ground share talks with Coventry RFC May 26: Sisu's bid to appeal the defeat at the Court of Appeal is turned down, and the CCFC owners told they must apply directly to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal August 26: Protesters call for Coventry City owners Sisu to sell the club 2017 July 14: Sisu seeks a second judicial review against Coventry City Council, this time over the sale of Ricoh Arena operating company ACL to Wasps back in 2014, saying the sale was not made on a commercial basis. The case is dismissed by judge Justice Rupinder Singh at the High Court in Birmingham September 15: The Court of Appeal allows Sisu to challenge the decision of the High Court November 28: Court of Appeal judge instructs CCFC companies, Wasps and Coventry City to take part in mediation talks to try and solve the situation 2018 March: A mediator is appointed for the peace talks between the parties, with a target for mediation to end by the end of March June 26-27: Sisu-related companies appear at the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court decision October: Coventry City chairman Tim Fisher says the club hopes to start negotiations to stay at the Ricoh Arena soon - and it was "plan A" - despite Wasps repeatedly saying they will not enter discussions until legal proceedings are closed October 12: The Court of Appeal dismisses Sisu-related companies calls for a judicial review into the sale of the Ricoh October 17: Council leaders urge Sisu not to "play Russian roulette" with the club's future and end the long-running legal action October 19: Sisu are back in the Court of Appeal to challenge the October 12 decision and try to get permission to take the fight to the Supreme Court. The challenge is not allowed November 23: Sky Blues chief executive Dave Boddy says the club’s future in the English Football League is “severely at risk” after the League tells the club it won't be allowed to play outside the city if they fail to reach a deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena November 27: Sisu-related companies apply to Supreme Court for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal's decision to dismiss a judicial review into the sale of the Ricoh 2019 January 15: The debate was taken to the top as the country's MPs debated what could be done to stop the club potentially "collapsing". Ministers again called for those who could stop Coventry City Football Club becoming homeless to "thrash" out their issues at the negotiating table February 22: Sky Blues bosses are given until March 5 to clarify where they will play home games next season or face potential expulsion from the English Football League March 4: CCFC Chairman Tim Fisher says the club are looking at a number of groundshare options if a deal cannot be done at the Ricoh March 5: CoventryLive launches the Save Our Sky Blues campaign calling on fans to share how important the club is to them March 13: Sisu issue a statement which says they are looking at building a new stadium in the city April 2: The site of the former Woodlands Academy is revealed as the site Sisu are interested in for a new CCFC stadium in Coventry April 3: Coventry City issued with a formal threat of expulsion from the English Football League after the EFL called an extraordinary general meeting of all 72 clubs to determine their future April 16: The Supreme Court refuses Sisu-related companies' request for permission to appeal the previous decision of judges not to allow a judicial review into the sale of the Ricoh Arena April 24: Coventry City announces it is in talks with Wasps over a new deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena next season. This means the English Football League's Extraordinary Meeting of Clubs due to take place the next day is postponed
What have Coventry City said?
The full statement from Coventry City is below:
Coventry City Football Club has received a formal letter from the EFL Board with a final request for clarity regarding where the Club will play home matches in the 2019/20 season.
Following receipt of the letter, we felt it was important to make Sky Blues fans and the wider community aware of this letter and the dates outlined in it.
Coventry City has until Tuesday 5th March 2019 to provide a further update to the EFL Board. Should a satisfactory solution not be found over the next two months, an Extraordinary General Meeting of EFL Clubs will be convened to consider Coventry City’s expulsion from the English Football League.
This meeting would be held on Thursday 25th April – this is to provide clarity regarding Coventry City’s future membership in advance of relegation and promotion issues being resolved during the run-in to the end of the season.
These dates show how stark the situation facing the Football Club now is and that time is running out.
Our only option is to continue to play at our home, the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry City Football Club wants to do a deal with Wasps Rugby Club as soon as possible, to resolve this impasse so that the dates above are not encountered.
All parties now need to work together for good of Coventry City Football Club, its supporters, the Ricoh Arena, the City of Coventry and our community – the continued future of the Football Club needs to be everyone’s focus to prevent more heartache and worry.
No one should be in any doubt of the significance of Coventry City to Coventry – not in the past, now or in the future.
The Westminster meeting in early March called by the Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport, inviting all of the key parties is an opportunity to resolve this issue. However, our offers to meet with both Coventry City Council, as freehold owner and the democratically elected local authority, and Wasps RFC, as landlord, still remain open - in the hope that a deal can be agreed before the Westminster meeting is necessary.
(Image: Richard Lane Photography)
What have Wasps said?
Nick Eastwood, Chief Executive of the Wasps Group, said: “We have been clear and consistent about our message to the owners of Coventry City Football Club.
“When we agreed a one year extension for them to play at the Ricoh Arena we said we would only open negotiations again once they had permanently halted their legal action.
“We hope they take that course of action as the EFL have also made their position clear. It is in the owners’ gift to resolve this for the benefit of all, especially their own supporters.”
Download the CoventryLive app Click here for iPhone and here for Android
Visit our Facebook pages for Coventry and Nuneaton or visit our Twitter pages for Coventry and Nuneaton
Watch our videos on YouTube and see our photos on Instagram
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Q:
i get the next output :The class 'misBeans.Datos' does not have a readable property 'enlace'
the source code of the bean is as follow:
http://pastebin.com/XprXdJsP
the facelet is the next one:
http://pastebin.com/Z7NKhpwe
the output that i get is the next one:
javax.el.ELException: /ajax.xhtml: The class 'misBeans.Datos' does not have a readable property 'enlace'.
at com.sun.faces.facelets.compiler.AttributeInstruction.write(AttributeInstruction.java:94)
at com.sun.faces.facelets.compiler.UIInstructions.encodeBegin(UIInstructions.java:82)
at com.sun.faces.renderkit.html_basic.HtmlBasicRenderer.encodeRecursive(HtmlBasicRenderer.java:302)
at com.sun.faces.renderkit.html_basic.TableRenderer.renderRow(TableRenderer.java:384)
at com.sun.faces.renderkit.html_basic.TableRenderer.encodeChildren(TableRenderer.java:161)
at javax.faces.component.UIComponentBase.encodeChildren(UIComponentBase.java:845)
at javax.faces.component.UIComponent.encodeAll(UIComponent.java:1757)
at javax.faces.component.UIComponent.encodeAll(UIComponent.java:1760)
at javax.faces.component.UIComponent.encodeAll(UIComponent.java:1760)
at com.sun.faces.application.view.FaceletViewHandlingStrategy.renderView(FaceletViewHandlingStrategy.java:402)
at com.sun.faces.application.view.MultiViewHandler.renderView(MultiViewHandler.java:131)
at com.sun.faces.lifecycle.RenderResponsePhase.execute(RenderResponsePhase.java:121)
at com.sun.faces.lifecycle.Phase.doPhase(Phase.java:101)
at com.sun.faces.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl.render(LifecycleImpl.java:139)
at javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet.service(FacesServlet.java:594)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapper.service(StandardWrapper.java:1550)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:281)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:175)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.doInvoke(StandardPipeline.java:655)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardPipeline.invoke(StandardPipeline.java:595)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:161)
at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.doService(CoyoteAdapter.java:331)
at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:231)
at com.sun.enterprise.v3.services.impl.ContainerMapper$AdapterCallable.call(ContainerMapper.java:317)
at com.sun.enterprise.v3.services.impl.ContainerMapper.service(ContainerMapper.java:195)
at com.sun.grizzly.http.ProcessorTask.invokeAdapter(ProcessorTask.java:860)
at com.sun.grizzly.http.ProcessorTask.doProcess(ProcessorTask.java:757)
at com.sun.grizzly.http.ProcessorTask.process(ProcessorTask.java:1056)
at com.sun.grizzly.http.DefaultProtocolFilter.execute(DefaultProtocolFilter.java:229)
at com.sun.grizzly.DefaultProtocolChain.executeProtocolFilter(DefaultProtocolChain.java:137)
at com.sun.grizzly.DefaultProtocolChain.execute(DefaultProtocolChain.java:104)
at com.sun.grizzly.DefaultProtocolChain.execute(DefaultProtocolChain.java:90)
at com.sun.grizzly.http.HttpProtocolChain.execute(HttpProtocolChain.java:79)
at com.sun.grizzly.ProtocolChainContextTask.doCall(ProtocolChainContextTask.java:54)
at com.sun.grizzly.SelectionKeyContextTask.call(SelectionKeyContextTask.java:59)
at com.sun.grizzly.ContextTask.run(ContextTask.java:71)
at com.sun.grizzly.util.AbstractThreadPool$Worker.doWork(AbstractThreadPool.java:532)
at com.sun.grizzly.util.AbstractThreadPool$Worker.run(AbstractThreadPool.java:513)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:722)
I really don't know why it doesn't work. Any ideas?
A:
Change class Datos into public class Datos
You can't access properties of inner class unless it is a public class
|
Q:
PyTorch augmentation
i'm new to machine learning and pytorch. I'm using imgaug library for images augmentation (https://github.com/aleju/imgaug)
I have this code:
class ImgAugTransform:
def __init__(self):
self.aug = seq = iaa.Sequential(
[
# Apply the following augmenters to most images
iaa.Fliplr(0.5), # horizontally flip 50% of all images
iaa.Flipud(0.2), # vertically flip 20% of all images
random_aug_use(iaa.CropAndPad( # crop images by -5% to 10% of their height/width
percent=(-0.1, 0.2),
pad_mode=ia.ALL,
pad_cval=(0.,255)
)),
random_aug_use(iaa.Affine(
scale={"x": (0.8, 1.2), "y": (0.8, 1.2)}, # scale images to 80-120% of their size, individually per axis
translate_percent={"x": (-0.2, 0.2), "y": (-0.2, 0.2)}, # translate by -20 to +20 percent (per axis)
rotate=(-45, 45), # rotate by -45 to +45 degrees
shear=(-16, 16), # shear by -16 to +16 degrees
order=[0, 1], # use nearest neighbour or bilinear interpolation (fast)
cval=(0, 255), # if mode is constant, use a cval between 0 and 255
mode=ia.ALL # use any of scikit-image's warping modes (see 2nd image from the top for examples)
))
],
random_order=True)
def __call__(self, img):
img = np.array(img)
return self.aug.augment_image(img)
train_transforms = ImgAugTransform()
train_dataset = torchvision.datasets.ImageFolder(train_dir, train_transforms)
train_dataloader = torch.utils.data.DataLoader(
train_dataset, batch_size=batch_size, shuffle=True, num_workers=batch_size)
So now i cant do this:
X_batch, y_batch = next(iter(train_dataloader))
I get error:
ValueError: some of the strides of a given numpy array are negative. This is currently not supported, but will be added in future releases.
Please, help me to deal with it. I just dont understand what i should do
A:
You should make your augmented numpy arrays contiguous again.
try modifying your augmenter code to:
def __call__(self, img):
img = np.array(img)
return np.ascontiguousarray(self.aug.augment_image(img))
|
Significance and application of melatonin in the regulation of brown adipose tissue metabolism: relation to human obesity.
A worldwide increase in the incidence of obesity indicates the unsuccessful battle against this disorder. Obesity and the associated health problems urgently require effective strategies of treatment. The new discovery that a substantial amount of functional brown adipose tissue (BAT) is retained in adult humans provides a potential target for treatment of human obesity. BAT is active metabolically and disposes of extra energy via generation of heat through uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. The physiology of BAT is readily regulated by melatonin, which not only increases recruitment of brown adipocytes but also elevates their metabolic activity in mammals. It is speculated that the hypertrophic effect and functional activation of BAT induced by melatonin may likely apply to the human. Thus, melatonin, a naturally occurring substance with no reported toxicity, may serve as a novel approach for treatment of obesity. Conversely, because of the availability of artificial light sources, excessive light exposure after darkness onset in modern societies should be considered a potential contributory factor to human obesity as light at night dramatically reduces endogenous melatonin production. In the current article, the potential associations of melatonin, BAT, obesity and the medical implications are discussed.
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Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda
Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda (Sinhala:වේයන්ගොඩ බණ්ඩාරනායක මධ්ය විද්යාලය), also known as “Veyangoda Central College (VCC)”, is a National school in Sri Lanka. The school was originally one of the three first Central Colleges established under the education reforms of late Hon. C. W. W. Kannangara, who introduced free education in Sri Lanka. Today about 2640 students are studying from grade 6 to 13 and academic staff of 135 are engaged in the teaching process.
History
C.W.W Kannangara was Sri Lanka's first Minister of Education. On 6 January 1941 three central colleges, Veyangoda, Akuramboda, and Weeraketiya were opened by C.W.W Kannangara, Sri Lanka's first Minister of Education. Veyangoda Central College was created by joining three schools. They are Veyangoda Swabasha Patashalawa (Sinhala school), English school and Paththalagethara School which were in the same place where the President College, Veyangoda situated today, in the middle of Veyangoda town.
Later the school was moved into Maligathanna Watta and first building was opened by Mr.D.S. Senanayaka on 3 September 1951.
The school originally had 20 class rooms and two hostels, one for girls and one for boys, and two buildings for Home science and Vocational Training. Now there are 51 class rooms, an agriculture unit, a computer resource center and a computer lab in the college. Every pupil is entered to the college who passes the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination or G.C.E(O/L) Examination with highest results.
The College today
Today the school educates close to 3000 students. To accomplish this task the school is fully equipped with all the required facilities such as lecture halls, science & computer laboratories, auditoriums etc. This includes the 'College Hall' which is looks like a national theatre. For many years the school has maintained an excellent academic record with its students archiving the highest grades at all national exams held annually. The main medium of education had been English, however with Sinhala becoming the official language. Since 2002 English has been reintroduced as a medium of education at the College. Students may select one of the two mediums to conduct their studies in.
Sport And School Bands are the major parts of Veyangoda Central since the olden days. Therefore, the school has developed its sports infrastructure to the finest standards.
Latest rankings of the college
Bandaranayake Central College is performing top ranks throughout all the schools in Sri Lanka.
7th place out of the all Island Schools at G.C.E(O/L) Examination - 2014
11th place out of the all Island Schools at G.C.E(O/L) Examination - 2012
7th place out of the all Island Schools at G.C.E(O/L) Examination - 2011
Inter house sports meet and houses
The yearly sports meet is a colorful event of the school in every year. This event is to be held in the first study term in each year. Grade 7 to 12 students can play in the inter-house meet and this is a great opportunity to show their skills. Teachers as well as old students of the school participate. School invites to a unique character of the school as a chief guest of the closing ceremony of the houses meet.
The students of our school are divided into four houses when they admit to the school from grade 5 scholarship examination:
Gamunu (ගැමුණු) - Color :
Vijaya (විජය) - Color :
Thissa (තිස්ස) - Color :
Parakrama (පරාක්රම) - Color :
The names are derived from distinguished past kings of Sri Lanka. The houses compete annually in all major games to win the respective inter-house games. This is a great opportunity for young students to enhance their skills.
Latest projects
The college has a play ground with 400m track. But it did not have a pavilion to suit its standard. The Past Pupils' Association(PPA) therefore embarked on building a Pavilion at a cost of Rs. 12.0 Mn. The construction commenced with the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone by Hon Bandula Gunawardane, the Minister of Education on 29 July 2010.
The first phase of the pavilion was opened in March 2015 with a charm function and Pirith chanting. The next phases are now being continued to develop the main ground of the college.
Facilities
Being a national school as well as the 1st three Central Schools in Sri Lanka, Bandaranayake Central College has been well equipped with latest facilities and functions among schools. Recent mega projects with help of Sri Lankan government, Past Pupils' Association(PPA) and well-wishers, addressed some important issues such as the project of the school main play Ground Pavilion, Balcony for the main hall, Mahindyodaya Laboratory and other infrastructuring projects.
Sports
Sports play a dominant role in the school's regular activities, apart from the academics. Being the oldest of its sort in Gampaha with a history dating back to years, and the Boxing, Cricket, National Volleyball are much anticipated events of the college fixtures.
Principals' list
Notable teachers
The College has a very big list of notable teachers since its beginning.
Some of them are;
Most Venerable Karandetiyana Gunananda Thera
Mr. Ramanayake (Combined Mathematics)
Mrs. Sandagiri (Sinhala)
Mrs Wallipuram (Science)
Mr. Ariyarathan (Geography)
Mr. Weedagama (Music)
Past Pupils' Association (PPA)
Veyangoda Central had many achievements apart from excellence in academics in the past. It had won All Ceylon Wrestling Tournament for 9 consecutive years. This is the first school to win both De Soyza Trophy and Herman Loose Trophy together for junior and senior cadet platoons at annual camps in Diyathalawa. The Past Students’ Association reorganised in 1991 had a rapid growth over the years and become the strongest PPA in all the schools in the district. It has currently a life membership of over 1350. PPA having motivated to help maintain good standing in both academic and other activities of the college, generously contributed in many ways, including annual scholarship programme during this period.
Important annual events
Gallery
References
No References yet.
External links
School's Official Website
School's PPA Union
School's Media Unit
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter Profile
Category:National schools in Sri Lanka
|
[Arquivos Brasileiros de Nutrição: a review of scientific research on nutrition in Brazil from 1944 to 1968].
This study reviews 209 original articles published in the journal Arquivos Brasileiros de Nutrição (1944/1968), a periodical edited by Josué de Castro, physician, specialist in nutrition, and founder-director of the Institute of Nutrition at the University of Brazil (now the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Our methodology was based on quantitative and qualitative analyses, aimed at summarizing both the topic itself and the authors' backgrounds. Results showed that 134 of the articles (64%) adopted a biological perspective to nutrition, mostly focusing on laboratory research concerning the chemical composition and nutritional value of Brazilian foodstuffs. On the other hand, 75 articles (36%) took a social perspective, testifying to the first efforts by Brazilian nutritional experts to create and improve specific methodological tools for investigating our population's nutritional conditions, thereby helping to consolidate the field of nutrition in the country.
|
Proteinase 3 sidesteps caspases and cleaves p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1) to induce endothelial cell apoptosis.
Emerging data raise possibilities of a complex and specific biologic role for leukocyte-derived proteases in substrate processing and in signaling pathways. Neutrophil proteinase 3 (PR3) is a caspase-like protease that enters endothelial cells, cleaves nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and induces sustained JNK activation, implying that the major cell cycle inhibitor p21 may be inactivated. Cleavage of p21 by caspase-3 is reported to be required for endothelial cell apoptosis. We hypothesized that PR3 may target p21. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with or without PR3 (5 microg/mL) from 0 hours or up to 8 hours, and analyzed for changes in cell cycle control proteins by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. PR3 exposure resulted in cleavage of p21 between Thr80 and Gly81, loss of nuclear p21 by cytoplasmic sequestration and depletion of p21 from cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes. Examination of cyclins D and E, p53, Rb, and p27 revealed a largely nonproliferative expression profile. Cells arrested in G1 were more susceptible to PR3 effects. We examined inflamed human colonic tissue and found a fragment similar in size to that generated by PR3 in HUVEC. Granzyme B, a T-cell homologue of PR3 that cleaves caspase substrates, also cleaves p21 between Asp62 and Phe63. A reported substrate of granzyme B and caspases, Bid, is cleaved by PR3 signifying commonality of substrates among these proteases. A theme is developing that the granulocyte protease, PR3, is an exogenous caspase-like molecule that can sidestep intracellular caspase functions at sites of inflammation.
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 <span id="projectnumber">0.3</span>
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1. Introduction {#sec1-healthcare-08-00108}
===============
Despite being a widely used term, e-Health has no single universally accepted definition. According to the WHO, e-Health is the transfer of health resources and health care by electronic means \[[@B1-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Another definition of e-Health states that it is "the use of electronic devices capable of creating, storing, retrieving, and transmitting of data between end users for the purpose of improving patient safety and quality of care" \[[@B2-healthcare-08-00108]\]. An e-Health system consists of not only information and communication technology (ICT) but also socio-organizational and environmental factors and processes. The increased use of ICT in medical practice has been demonstrated to offer the potential for large benefits for health care, such as improved quality of care, patient empowerment, cost savings, and the promotion of behavioral change in patients \[[@B3-healthcare-08-00108],[@B4-healthcare-08-00108],[@B5-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The U.S. Government Accounting Office (U.S. GAO) studied the benefits of e-Health in eleven public and private health care delivery organizations of varying sizes and settings that had invested significantly in e-Health. The main benefits were as follows: (1) 50--80% reduction in medication error rates; (2) more than 15% reduction in diagnostic imaging tests because of online access to results; (3) significant reduction in time to refer patients, using online scheduling and communication tools; (4) 40% increase in patient screening and preventative health care procedures; (5) 40% increase in the use of standard protocols by physicians \[[@B6-healthcare-08-00108]\].
The adoption of ICT by these elderly care organizations is an inevitable trend and may provide solutions to important problems, but these potential solutions face obstacles. For example, from the perspectives of the information systems success model (ISS model) and the clinical adoption framework (CA Framework), system quality, information quality, and service quality are considered the three critical constructs of the successful adoption of ICT for medical organizations \[[@B7-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The value of service quality has been recognized by scholars and organizers in recent years. But most empirical studies on service quality have focused predominantly on the general population rather than the elderly. The generalizations of such findings to the elderly population are rather problematic \[[@B8-healthcare-08-00108]\]. For instance, the attitudes, motivation, and expectations of using technology products in the general population and the elderly population vary. The elderly often pose resistance to and feel anxiety about these new technologies. These phenomena are worsening because modern technologies have become increasingly complex and the elderly's mental models might be not supported.
Despite the growing need to evaluate service quality in an e-Health environment, just a few evaluation instruments have been developed to date. This lack is another deficiency in the adoption of ICT by medical organizations. We believe it is necessary to develop an instrument to evaluate the service quality and guide the implementation of ICT in healthcare settings. To summarize, two main contributions are addressed in this research. First, a validated and reliable SERVQUAL (SERVice QUALity) questionnaire specific to nursing homes has been developed to measure the residents' satisfaction. This questionnaire can reveal multidimensional service defects, and is especially suitable for the pre-adoption evaluation of novel technology for nursing homes. Second, importance performance analysis (IPA) was applied to compensate for the deficiencies of the SERVQUAL in presenting the relationship between performance and importance to draw up recommendations for managers to adapt ICT technologies.
2. Literature Review {#sec2-healthcare-08-00108}
====================
2.1. The Architecture and Applications of e-Health {#sec2dot1-healthcare-08-00108}
--------------------------------------------------
e-Health systems rely on a distributed service infrastructure and the underlying end-to-end communication system for service delivery. This system is provided by multiple network communication (shown as [Figure 1](#healthcare-08-00108-f001){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@B9-healthcare-08-00108]\]. e-Health can deliver different services to users and medical staff, including telemedicine services and monitoring services, sharing both related information and available resources. The e-Health service domain varies with respect to application area, application purpose, content type, and context of use. In general, the architecture of e-Health contains a service-provider layer, a communication layer, a medical processes layer, and a database layer \[[@B9-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Hamilton proposed a set of ICT functions for the specific needs of nursing home environments, included electronic supportive documentation, point-of-care, assessment and care planning, electronic prescribing, computerized physician order entry (CPOE), medication administration records (MAR), and electronic health records (EHR) \[[@B10-healthcare-08-00108]\].
2.2. The Evaluation Framework for ICT Adoption {#sec2dot2-healthcare-08-00108}
----------------------------------------------
Depending on the content and context of the stages being evaluated, different frameworks and models can be applied. In the design stage, managers may evaluate whether the specifications of the system meet its function. The information system success model (ISS model) and clinical adoption framework (CA Framework) are two of the most widely used models and frameworks that describe the evaluations of information systems as a multidimensional construct.
The original ISS model was derived from a review of 180 conceptual and empirical information system studies in different fields by DeLone and McLean \[[@B11-healthcare-08-00108]\]. After 10 years, they updated the ISS model based on empirical findings from 285 peer-reviewed papers published in academic journals between 1992 and 2002. In the updated model, a service quality dimension was added, and the individual and organizational impact dimensions were combined as a single construct, named net benefits. The four dimensions of the updated ISS model are system quality, information quality, service quality, and net benefits (shown as [Figure 2](#healthcare-08-00108-f002){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@B7-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In this updated model, service quality refers to staff reliability, empathy, and responsiveness. Each of these dimensions successfully represents a distinct construct of adoption. The updated ISS model is one of the few models that have been empirically validated in numerous laboratory and field studies across educational, business, and healthcare settings.
Based on theories and models from information systems, organization science, and health informatics, the CA Framework allows micro-, meso-, and macro-level views of how e-Health is adopted by medical staff in different settings (shown in [Figure 3](#healthcare-08-00108-f003){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@B12-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The first level, the micro-level, focuses on the quality of the components; that is, the information, system, and service of e-Health systems. The second level, the meso-level, focuses on the dimensions of people, organization, and implementation, all of which directly affect the micro-level. The final level, the macro-level, focuses on environmental factors that directly influence the meso-level. These factors are the social trends, funding, standards, and healthcare governance. Each level has a feedback loop that allows the results of ongoing efforts to adopt the system to affect the higher levels \[[@B12-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In this framework, service quality means the responsiveness during the implementation of the e-Health system, the training, and ongoing support by medical staff, but the service empathy and assurance of the ISS model are not included. This CA framework serves as an overall model of e-Health adoption. To achieve success with an e-Health system, it is important that the micro-, meso-, and macro-level factors of this framework all be addressed. It is worth noting that, our instrument developed in this research can firm up the measurement of service quality in nursing homes. According to CA framework, service quality has impact on micro-level, user satisfaction, and net benefits in terms of care quality, productivity, and access.
2.3. The Evaluation of Service Quality in Nursing Homes {#sec2dot3-healthcare-08-00108}
-------------------------------------------------------
Service cannot be displayed, demonstrated, standardized and it needs a high degree of customer involvement in the delivery process. Nevertheless, there is a general perspective that service quality is a multidimensional construct. Based on the characteristics, it is hard for service organizations to evaluate and provide a stable service quality to customers. Thus, the development of instruments for evaluating the quality of service is a crucial step and should be highlighted by employing multiple-dimension indicators \[[@B13-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In general, service quality measurement can be carried out in three different approaches: (1) Surveys and questionnaires. The most common kind of customer insight survey for exploring service quality is the questionnaire survey. Questionnaires are inexpensive, are comparable with other research, cover numerous aspects of a topic, and offer actionable information. (2) Post service investigation. This is the practice of asking customers to rate the service right after service is been delivered. Different scales can be used for the post service rating. Many make use of a number rating from 1 to 10. (3) Objective service metrics. For instance, first response time shows how quickly a customer receives a response on her inquiry and the average queueing waiting time presents the time customers have to wait to be served. This quantitative analysis may be not enough to judge the quality of service directly, but they play a crucial role in showing the areas should be improved.
To evaluate the service quality in nursing homes is a complicated task because of the elderly subjects and complex nature of health care. Questionnaires are considered as an appropriate method. This approach is especially suitable for evaluating feelings, beliefs, and attitudes, and it is often used to measure service quality in different fields. The questionnaire survey is used by many researchers for evaluating the feelings about and attitudes toward e-Health systems applied in medical institutions \[[@B13-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Furthermore, questionnaires are inexpensive, are comparable with other research, cover numerous aspects of a topic, and offer actionable information.
To increase healthcare service quality, Taipei Medical University Hospital has implemented an e-Health system. Its primary function is to help medical staff and hospital administrators manage individual patients in a systematic fashion \[[@B9-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Questionnaires were distributed before and after the implementation of the e-Health system. The results showed that patients who adopted the e-Health system were satisfied with its functions and were willing to continue using this advanced system for illness treatment, illness prevention, and patient service dimensions. Chao and his colleague concluded that the e-Health system not only improved the quality of the healthcare service but also improved patient relationships with healthcare providers \[[@B9-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Otieno and his colleagues reported that although the use of e-Health systems in hospitals is steadily increasing, no validated instruments had been used to assess the effectiveness of these systems from the viewpoint of nurses \[[@B14-healthcare-08-00108]\]. They developed an instrument to measure nurses' views on the use, quality, and satisfaction dimensions of e-Health systems. Their results showed that the constructs of the use and quality dimensions were positively correlated with user satisfaction. Thus, a reliable and valid questionnaire with 34 items has been developed for use in evaluating e-Health systems in hospitals from nurses' perspectives \[[@B14-healthcare-08-00108]\].
To identify existing deficiencies in e-Health systems, an evaluation framework for hospitals utilizing such systems was developed by Stylianides, Antonis et al. \[[@B15-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Their framework was constructed for three main areas, identified as human factor, technology, and organization. They claimed that their instrument could provide a holistic image of e-Health by evaluating any hospital system \[[@B15-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Sabur Safi and his colleague \[[@B16-healthcare-08-00108]\] analyzed the acceptance of new health care technologies by applying the technology acceptance model to data obtained in Germany. Their survey used questionnaires to gain insight into digital health applications in a sample of 9621 patients with acute and chronic conditions and in healthy users. Significant differences were observed among the age groups and genders of the respondents. For example, relatively lower acceptance rates were observed in older individuals; also, men were more likely to accept digital technologies, while women preferred coaching and consultation apps \[[@B16-healthcare-08-00108]\].
2.4. The Service Quality Questionnaires {#sec2dot4-healthcare-08-00108}
---------------------------------------
To evaluate the acceptance of e-health in nursing homes is a complicated task because of the complex nature of health care and the high sensitivity of acceptance level to socio-cultural variations. According to Akter et al. \[[@B17-healthcare-08-00108]\], subjective satisfaction is a dynamic, multidimensional, and comprehensive indicator which can be used to evaluate the interactions between humans and systems efficiently. This viewpoint was confirmed by subsequent empirical research \[[@B14-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In current service literature, the SERVQUAL model \[[@B18-healthcare-08-00108],[@B19-healthcare-08-00108],[@B20-healthcare-08-00108]\] and health service quality scale \[[@B21-healthcare-08-00108]\] have been the two major model used to measure service quality in healthcare settings. The unique attributes of service have made it difficult to apply knowledge of physical quality measurement to the service domain. First, because of the intangibility of service, it cannot be displayed, demonstrated, or illustrated concretely. Second, service cannot be standardized. The performance of services is dependent to some extent on the level of demand. Third, there is a high degree of customer involvement in the delivery of service. Parasuraman et al. \[[@B18-healthcare-08-00108],[@B19-healthcare-08-00108],[@B20-healthcare-08-00108]\] proposed the customer's perception of service quality based on a gap model, identifying five major gaps in the service quality concept. The five major gaps are the knowledge gap, the standards gap, the communications gap, the delivery gap, and the expected and service quality gap. Service quality as defined by the gap model can be examined by comparing the customers' expectations with their perceptions of the performance of the service provider. Under this concept, the SERVQUAL questionnaire was developed by Parasuraman and his colleagues \[[@B18-healthcare-08-00108],[@B19-healthcare-08-00108],[@B20-healthcare-08-00108]\].
1. Gap1: The knowledge gap. Differences exist between the market's expected service and management's perceptions of the market's expected service.
2. Gap2: The standards gap. Differences exist between management's perceptions of customers' expectations and the translation into service procedures and specifications.
3. Gap3: The delivery gap. Differences exist between service quality specifications and the service actually delivered.
4. Gap4: The communications gap. Differences exist between service delivery intentions and what is communicated to the customer.
5. Gap5: The expected and perceived service gap. Differences exist between the customers' expectations and their perception of the actual service delivered.
This self-report questionnaire contains twenty-two items covering five dimensions (reliability, assurance, tangibles, empathy, and responsiveness). The items are scored on a seven-point Likert-type scale. The SERVQUAL is used to diagnose the strengths and weaknesses of service quality, and it is widely regarded as the most comprehensive instrument for this assessment.
However, apart from its wide use, several theoretical and operational criticisms of the measurement model have been pointed out \[[@B22-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In theoretical aspects, there is little evidence that customers access service quality in terms of perception (P) minus expectation (E) gaps. Furthermore, SERVQUAL focus on the process of service delivery, not on the outcomes of the service encounter, while process and outcome together are a better predictor than process or outcome alone. Finally, SERVQUAL five dimensions are not universal. In other words, items do not always load on to the five dimensions proposed by Parasuraman and his colleagues. In operational aspects, the term expectation is polysemic and consumers use different concepts other than expectations to evaluate service quality. In addition, the seven -point Likert scale has been criticized on several grounds, for instance, it has been criticized for its lack of verbal labeling for points two to six. This will cause respondents to overuse the extreme ends of the scale. Finally, two administration of the instrument always causes repetitiveness and confusion. Respondents appear to be confused by the two administration of the expectation and the perception versions of the SERVQUAL, which will result in imperil data quality.
A multidimensional hierarchical scale for measuring health service quality is developed and validated by Dagger and his colleague in 2007 \[[@B21-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Their model identified nine subdimensions driving four primary dimensions, which in turn were found to drive service quality perceptions. The primary dimensions were interpersonal quality, technical quality, environment quality, and administrative quality. The subdimensions were interaction, relationship, outcome, expertise, atmosphere, tangibles, timeliness, operation, and support (shown as [Figure 4](#healthcare-08-00108-f004){ref-type="fig"}).
Under their hierarchical structure, executors are able to measure service quality at overall level (with a global measure of service quality), at the primary dimension level (with overall measures of four primary dimensions), and at the subdimension level (with measures of nine subdimensions). Executors can measure service quality at any one or all of these levels depending on their information requirements. Furthermore, this model can be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying poor and excellent service performance. The scale can be used to benchmark across multiple functions, across multiple locations, or within a specific industry; in addition, any of these situations can also be compared across time.
3. Methodology {#sec3-healthcare-08-00108}
==============
3.1. Choice and Development of SERVQUAL Questionnaires {#sec3dot1-healthcare-08-00108}
------------------------------------------------------
According to Opoku, the researcher would determine the decisions of the study design based on the problem definition, the research objectives, and the researcher's interest as to the methodology that is able to provide meaningful results toward the goals \[[@B23-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The theory of how research should be undertaken, including the practical and theoretical considerations. For instance, on account of the time and costs involved, a researcher might be constrained to settle for sub-optimizing research design. Opoku has identified six elements of research design to support researchers to achieve the goals efficiently: (1) Purpose of the study; (2) type of investigation; (3) extent of researcher interference; (4) study setting; (5) unit of analysis; (6) the time horizon \[[@B23-healthcare-08-00108]\].
In this research, questionnaire is considered as an appropriate instrument based on the features of service quality and the limitations of elderly participants. Service quality is a multidimensional with hierarchical structure, whose measurement must gather the evaluation of subjective feelings and judgements. In addition, elderly people often have reduced mental and cognitive ability. It takes more time and is difficult to follow complex experimental processes.
The SERVQUAL questionnaire is an easy-to-use, multidimensional, and comprehensive instrument which can be used to evaluate the subjective feelings. It has acceptable general validity, and since its development, numerous service industries, such as finance, communications, higher education, healthcare, and information technology, have employed it \[[@B24-healthcare-08-00108],[@B25-healthcare-08-00108],[@B26-healthcare-08-00108],[@B27-healthcare-08-00108],[@B28-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Furthermore, it is widely accepted for its conceptualization and assessment of service quality. In a literature review of the SERVQUAL model from 1998 to 2013 by Wang and his colleagues, the SERVQUAL model was found to be a hot research topic of academic researchers and a significant contributor to service quality research \[[@B29-healthcare-08-00108]\].
The SERVQUAL instrument presents general quality dimensions for service industries; it does not include specific service attributes for researchers. In this study, we developed and modified our own SERVQUAL questionnaire based on the results of pilot studies and the extant literature on nursing homes. To examine the comprehensibility of the questionnaire, the pilot study included 26 attributes of service. In the end, we determined that 23 of these attributes were consistent with the dimensions of the SERVQUAL. The final version of the questionnaire consisted of five dimensions ([Table 1](#healthcare-08-00108-t001){ref-type="table"}) and 23 attributes ([Table 2](#healthcare-08-00108-t002){ref-type="table"}).
One of the most basic parts of instrument development is to consider its validity and reliability. Validity has been defined and characterized as the degree to which the instrument really does what it implies to do. Reliability means the stability or consistency of questionnaire scores over time or across raters. In this research, the reliability and validity of our SERVQUAL questionnaires is determined by Cronbach's alpha and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The standard value of Cronbach's alpha for reliability is usually 0.7 \[[@B30-healthcare-08-00108]\]. For this instrument, the Cronbach's alpha was 0.87, indicating that our questionnaire was sufficiently reliable. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between the total score and the subject real performance. In general, a coefficient \>0.7 indicates strong validity and a higher coefficient indicates a better data fit to the measurement objective the overall coefficient for our questionnaires was sufficiently validated under the general criteria. For nursing homes which are prepared to apply ICT, this questionnaire can provide a comprehensive and practical guide to adopting ICT with minimum disruptions. For nursing homes that have applied ICT technologies, this questionnaire can identify priority areas for further upgrades and enhancements.
3.2. Participants {#sec3dot2-healthcare-08-00108}
-----------------
Nursing home size, based on the number of beds in most cases, ranges from small (1--49 beds), to medium (50--99 beds), to large (100 or more beds). Total of 31 participants (18 Male and 13 Female) were recruited in a small nursing home in this research. Our study is classified as quasi-experiment design rather than experimental design. Participants' features that might affect the phenomena of interest were not randomized or controlled. Quasi-experiment design can minimize threats to ecological validity as natural environments do not suffer the problems of artificiality as compared to an experimental setting. In other words, it maximizes internal and external validity. Recruitment occurred over a 3-month time period in one nursing home in Taoyuan, Taiwan. All participants had resided in nursing homes for more than 18 months and thoroughly understood the services provided by the nursing home. As shown in [Table 3](#healthcare-08-00108-t003){ref-type="table"}, a total of 31 elderly were selected and males (74.2%) outnumbered females (25.8%). Their average age was 82.3 years old, and most of them were above 80 years old (38.7%). The average length of stay in a nursing home was 8.5 years, with most stays falling 6--10 years (41.9%). The participants were asked for their responses based on the service attributes in the questionnaire, and interviewers assisted them with the answers. The process of interviewing took around 45 min for each participant.
3.3. Procedure {#sec3dot3-healthcare-08-00108}
--------------
According to the SERVQUAL instrument proposed by Parasuraman et al. service quality is the degree and direction of discrepancy between customers' perception of what they received and their expectations of the service \[[@B18-healthcare-08-00108],[@B19-healthcare-08-00108],[@B20-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Only the customers can truly define service quality and the relative importance of attributes. First, each participant received a questionnaire that described all five of the SERVQUAL dimensions. Then they were instructed to consider how important each of the five dimensions was to them and, based on their considerations, to allocate a total of 100 points among the five dimensions. Finally, the participants evaluated their expectations of the service provided by the nursing home and the degree to which they perceived those expectations were met. To identify participants' expectations, one item asked, "How is your expectations about these service attributes?", which was scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale of "not at all expected (1)" to "very expected (5)." To identify participants' perceptions, one item asked, "How do you feel about these service attributes that are already provided?", which was scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale of "very bad (1)" to "very good (5)." The question for identifying the importance of attributes from participants' perspective was, "How important are these service attributes?", scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from "not at all important (1)" to "very important (5)". Many researches of SERVQUAL ask participants to complete all the questionnaires in one interview. Take elderly's response into account, we conducted two to three interviews with each participant to complete all the questionnaires.
3.4. Data Collection and Analysis {#sec3dot4-healthcare-08-00108}
---------------------------------
This method is descriptive statistics rather than inferential statistics. In other words, there is not any assumption for the sample size. The result drawn from multiple nursing homes has better external validity. On the other hand, the recommendations drawn from single nursing home is specific to itself. The differences between participants' scores on perception (P) and expectation (E) were calculated to determine the gap scores for each service attribute, each of which was calculated separately. For each attribute, the SERVQUAL score (SS) was calculated as the perception score (P) minus the expectation score (E), as illustrated in Equation (1): P: the individual's Perceptions of given service deliver; E: the individual's expectations of a given service delivery. The average score of each dimension was calculated to obtain the weighting factor (WF). Then the original SERVQUAL score for each attribute was multiplied by its dimension weighting factor to obtain the weighted SERVQUAL score (WSS), using Equation (2) \[[@B31-healthcare-08-00108]\]: WF: weighting scores, points divided among five dimensions; SS: SERVQUAL score on each attribute.
4. Results {#sec4-healthcare-08-00108}
==========
4.1. Results of Perception Questionnaires Analysis {#sec4dot1-healthcare-08-00108}
--------------------------------------------------
The mean score of the perception questionnaire was 3.62, indicating that the participants rated the service performance as a little higher than medium (shown as [Table 4](#healthcare-08-00108-t004){ref-type="table"}). The top three items of the perception questionnaire were RL6: "All elderly activities are well scheduled" (mean = 4.00), T9: "The scent in every room is refreshing" (mean = 3.94), and E1: "Employees are helpful, careful, and friendly" (mean = 3.89), respectively.
4.2. Results of Expectation Questionnaires Analysis {#sec4dot2-healthcare-08-00108}
---------------------------------------------------
The mean score of the expectation questionnaire was 4.40, indicating that the participants had high expectations toward the service attributes. The top three items of the expectation questionnaire were RL5: "The employees solve the elderly's problems sincerely" (mean = 4.68), T3: "Clean, adequate supplies, and well-maintained rooms" (mean = 4.68) and T9: "The scent in every room is refreshing" (mean = 4.65), respectively.
4.3. Results of SERVQUAL Questionnaires Analysis {#sec4dot3-healthcare-08-00108}
------------------------------------------------
Comparison of the mean scores of expectations and performance questionnaire, the results clearly show a negative service gap in all dimensions (shown as [Table 4](#healthcare-08-00108-t004){ref-type="table"}). The negative values indicated that the nursing homes were not meeting the expectations of their customers. Nineteen attributes were observed as significant differences with *p* \< 0.01. The top three gaps between expectations and perceptions existed in T5: "Suitable temperature in the rooms of the elderly" (gap = −1.20), A1: "Feel safe and feel at home" (gap = −1.11) and RL2: "Medical treatments are well explained" (gap = −1.02). However, raw SERVQUAL scores do not consider the relative importance of the service dimensions, so conclusions should not be drawn directly from them. To compensate, the weighted scores were calculated, and the results are presented as follows.
In terms of SERVQUAL dimensions, the nursing homes were performing quite well in the tangible and reliability dimensions. For the tangible dimension, five of the nine attributes were evaluated as high satisfaction (located in Quadrants I and IV). For the reliability dimension, three of the six attributes were evaluated as high satisfaction (located in Quadrants I and IV), and the remaining three attributes were evaluated as low satisfaction with high importance (located in Quadrant II). For the responsiveness, assurance, and empathy dimensions, most of the attributes were in Quadrants II and III and evaluated as low satisfaction.
4.4. Results of Important Performance Analysis (IPA) {#sec4dot4-healthcare-08-00108}
----------------------------------------------------
The importance-performance relationship was transformed into a grid for identification of attributes that had severe service gaps. The SERVQUAL gaps for the 23 attributes were plotted against their importance scores, where importance values form the vertical axis, while performance values form the horizontal axis. This grid presented a macro view of the quality of service delivered by the nursing home ([Figure 5](#healthcare-08-00108-f005){ref-type="fig"}). The literature on the use of IPA indicates that the selection of the crosshairs should consider management's goals for the study in question, and if possible, should force at least one attribute into each of the four quadrants \[[@B32-healthcare-08-00108]\].
The IPA grid was divided into four quadrants using the mean expectation score (3.33) and mean gap score (−0.78). Each quadrant in [Figure 4](#healthcare-08-00108-f004){ref-type="fig"} was defined by the level of importance and service gap. It can be seen that Quadrant I had 3 items (T9, E1, R1). These attributes were evaluated as low service gaps but with high importance. This evaluation implies that, for these attributes located in Quadrant I, the current practice should be continued. Quadrant II had 8 items (T3, T5, RL1, RL2, RL5, R2, E2, E3). These attributes were evaluated as high service gaps with high relative importance. These evaluations imply that these attributes in Quadrant II should be improved and more resources should be allocated. Quadrant III had 5 items (T6, T8, R3, A1, A2). These attributes were evaluated as low service gaps with high relative importance. These results imply that the attributes in this quadrant could be improved but not prioritized. Quadrant IV had 7 items (T1, T2, T4, T7, RL3, RL4, RL6). These attributes were evaluated as low service gaps with low importance, implying that these attributes may be unnecessary. The items in Quadrants II and III require corrective actions, as they have high service gaps with high and low importance, respectively. Conversely, items in Quadrants I and IV can be accorded lower priority, as the satisfaction was at an acceptable level.
5. Discussion {#sec5-healthcare-08-00108}
=============
The overall dissatisfaction of the residents was comprehensively considered in the SERVQUAL gap scores, IPA and statistical significance. The focus of the recommendations was on addressing Quadrant II of the IPA matrix, which had significant differences (*p* \< 0.01) between residents' expectations and perceptions. Attributes under these criteria were considered important by the residents, but they did not think the performance met their requirements. The e-Health system should be adopted to improve the service quality of nursing homes. The critical dissatisfactions of the elderly residents can be classified into three factors---environment, medical treatment, and staff service---and three dimensions: physical environment quality (consisting of ambient conditions, design, and facilities), interaction quality (consisting of attitude, behavior, and experience), and outcome quality (consisting of waiting time, tangibles and value) \[[@B33-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The quality of service is not an operational issue alone, for the psychological side of the residents should be considered.
Regarding the physical environment quality, the residents did not think the nursing homes provided clean, well-maintained rooms with adequate supplies (T3). In addition, the temperature in their rooms was not suitable (T5). Our in-depth interviews of the residents revealed that their needs for the living environment were varied. Even though residents could set the room temperature and call for service themselves with a service button, they always complained about the room temperature and cleanliness. A likely explanation is that the residents did not make good use of the thermostats and service button to adjust the temperature and keep the environment at their desired level of cleanliness. Elderly residents did not make good use of technology because the system designers, assuming that they had similarities with average potential users, failed to consider age-related differences (e.g., reduced working memory capacity, motor learning and performance, attention control, vision and hearing). Therefore, the mental models of the elderly on how technology works might be not supported when modern technologies become increasingly complex. Elderly residents may tend to be hesitant and have negative attitudes toward learning how to use unfamiliar technological devices; such attitudes present a barrier and limit the effectiveness of the e-Health system.
Our suggestion for reducing this gap is to understand the characteristics of elderly residents and the ways aging shapes their perceptions and behaviors in using such a system. These characteristics need to be incorporated into the design process as crucial factors of the technologies that the elderly want. On the other hand, technology training courses suitable for elderly residents need to be arranged, and the residents need to be encouraged to participate. Efficient learning could produce a sense of accomplishment. This positive feeling could promote their self-esteem regarding interactions with technological products.
Regarding the outcome quality, the elderly residents did not think the medical treatments and doctor visits were well scheduled (RL2). Our in-depth interviews of the residents revealed that they spent much time waiting for rehabilitation services. Furthermore, scheduled doctor visits were often delayed by unexpected matters, leading to long waits for medical care. Punctuality and regularity of medical services would make the elderly feel at ease and secure. Furthermore, they should be notified in advance of any changes to their medication or health care. A sense of participation would likely make the elderly residents feel highly respected and have positive self-esteem in the organization. In addition, predictability could stabilize the elderly residents' emotions efficiently, making them feel at home. ICT tools can provide remote interaction between nursing home residents and health professionals. For example, health care informatics (HCI) are software solutions for appointment scheduling, patient data management, work schedule management and other administrative tasks surrounding health. These solutions automatically provide real-time information and reminders to residents. Thus, any changes in the scheduled medical treatments and doctor visits will be known to the residents. Cases of adopting ICT to reduce waiting time and improve scheduled medical services successfully have been demonstrated in previous research \[[@B34-healthcare-08-00108]\].
Regarding the interaction quality, the residents did not think the staff solved their problems sincerely or without discrimination (RL5, E3). Furthermore, the residents indicated that the staff did not understand their needs exactly or provide appropriate and prompt services (RLI, R2). Consistent with previous research on nursing homes, this study found that it is more important for nursing staff to have a caring attitude than to have a high level of training \[[@B35-healthcare-08-00108],[@B36-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The importance of communication between nursing staff and the residents in nursing homes has also been explored by Lee and Liu \[[@B37-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Their research showed that delivering a clear message about service features and the services they provide is an efficient way to improve the residents' satisfaction in long-term care service stations. The difference between healthcare services and other services is that trust must be established between the medical staff and residents \[[@B38-healthcare-08-00108],[@B39-healthcare-08-00108]\]. Proper responses to residents' requests are crucial because a professional, friendly, and enthusiastic attitude can make residents feel the staff are reliable and increase the residents' sense of security. These service gaps may be related to the medical staff's training, experience, empathy, and understanding of the residents' psychological needs \[[@B40-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The skills for interacting with the elderly could be improved by on-the-job training and experience sharing to increase the competency levels.
Information technology has a tremendous impact on interaction quality, especially on the interactions between nurses and residents in nursing homes. First, nurses and medical staff cannot provide optimum service if their knowledge and information levels are insufficient \[[@B4-healthcare-08-00108]\]. They could obtain that information from electronic health records (EHR), which are digital records of health information containing all the information normally on paper charts. These records include medical history, vital signs, progress notes, diagnoses, medications, immunization dates, allergies, imaging reports, and even insurance information and demographic information \[[@B41-healthcare-08-00108]\]. The power of EHR lies not only in the information they contain, but in how that information is shared. EHR make health information instantly accessible to authorized staff, providing updated information on residents' conditions and facilitating the coordination of care. With the help of EHR, medical staff can understand residents' needs exactly and provide appropriate and prompt services.
Interviews of the residents also revealed that service gaps were much more likely to occur due to nursing shift changes. In healthcare, a shift report is a meeting between healthcare providers at the change of shift in which vital information about and responsibility for the residents is passed from the off-going provider to the on-coming provider \[[@B42-healthcare-08-00108]\]. An electronic shift system (ESS) can update residents' information via links to the patient database and reduce the time required for shift reports by enhancing the efficiency of information management. In addition, an ESS can generate alerts or reminders about changes in resident status. Such a system is very helpful for the medical staff in making decisions when directing care plans and delivery for nursing home residents. Previous studies have found that introducing an ESS leads to improved accuracy and completeness of documentation in a way that it is logically organized and easily retrieved \[[@B43-healthcare-08-00108]\].
6. Conclusions {#sec6-healthcare-08-00108}
==============
The various forms of e-Health systems are progressively showing their advantages over traditional healthcare, but acceptance of such systems is still a challenging issue. Evaluation is needed to uncover the actual performance and to determine the next step. The scope of e-Health evaluation can cover the entire life cycle, which spans the planning, design, implementation, use, and maintenance of the e-Health system over time. For each stage being evaluated, the focus can shift. In the pre-implementation stage, managers need information about dissatisfaction with the service quality and the organization's overall culture to prioritize the implementation. According to previous research, an estimated 80% of technology projects fail because of a lack of organizational willingness to change \[[@B44-healthcare-08-00108]\]. In addition, recent studies have suggested that nursing homes have had limited preparation for e-Health system implementation because leadership tends to have a poor understanding of ICT. Furthermore, users' comments should be addressed in the planning phase, prior to e-Health system implementation. What this indicates is that managers have a high degree of uncertainty because of their lack of sufficient information on how to adopt ICT and comments collected from users. Scholars have called for further research on the adaptation of e-Health technology in medical organizations.
In response to that call, an instrument to evaluate e-Health service quality in nursing homes was developed based on the SERVQUAL model. Furthermore, a pre-implementation analysis combining a SERVQUAL questionnaire and importance performance analysis was performed. Service quality shortfalls in nursing homes were identified, and the corresponding ICT applications and systems were recommended as solutions. Research has shown that the quality of care in nursing homes has continued to decline as funding and staffing resources have plunged in recent years. Under limited resources, our instrument and methodology proposed in this research could contribute to the efforts to stop that decline.
7. Limitations {#sec7-healthcare-08-00108}
==============
The results obtained in this research have several limitations. First, the gender distribution was not broadly symmetrical, and the participants were generally male (74.4% males vs. 25.8% females). Another limitation of the study is that it was performed in single nursing homes in northern Taiwan, and aging properties differ among various regions and socio-cultural groups. It is dubious whether recommendations drawn up in this research could be generalized to other nursing homes. Furthermore, without the criterion-related validity from third party, the criticism of pigeonholing may have occurred. The recommendations drawn from this research should be regarded as a case study. The main purpose in this study is to propose a validated and reliable SERVQUAL questionnaire specific to nursing homes. This questionnaire can reveal multidimensional service defects, and is especially suitable for the pre-adoption evaluation of novel technology for nursing homes. Our following researches will focus on the performance of medical staff and the comparison of residents' satisfaction before and after the adoption of ICT technologies.
Conceptualization, C.-H.K. and C.-M.C.; data curation, C.-H.K.; formal analysis, C.-H.K. and C.-M.C.; investigation, C.-H.K. and C.-M.C.; methodology, C.-H.K. and C.-M.C.; supervision, C.-M.C.; writing---original draft, C.-H.K. and C.-M.C.; writing---review and editing, C.-M.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
This research received no external funding.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
![The schematic diagram of e-Health \[[@B9-healthcare-08-00108]\].](healthcare-08-00108-g001){#healthcare-08-00108-f001}
![Updated information system success model \[[@B7-healthcare-08-00108]\].](healthcare-08-00108-g002){#healthcare-08-00108-f002}
![The schematic diagram of clinical adoption framework \[[@B12-healthcare-08-00108]\].](healthcare-08-00108-g003){#healthcare-08-00108-f003}
![The concept of hierarchical model of health service quality \[[@B22-healthcare-08-00108]\].](healthcare-08-00108-g004){#healthcare-08-00108-f004}
{#healthcare-08-00108-f005}
healthcare-08-00108-t001_Table 1
######
Five SERVQUAL dimensions and descriptions applied in this study.
Dimensions Descriptions Example of Nursing Homes
---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tangible The appearance of physical facilities, equipment, personnel, and communication materials. The physical facilities of health services institution would be visually attractive, e.g., buildings, medical equipment, and the appearance of staff etc.
Reliability The ability to perform the promised service dependably and accurately. Services are provide at the time they promise to do so, e.g., medical investigations, treatment, food etc.
Responsiveness The willingness to help customers and to provide prompt service. Staff shows a sincere interest in solving problems and willing to help elderly.
Assurance The knowledge and courtesy of employees and their ability to convey trust and confidence. Staff has the knowledge to answer questions and acts courteous with elderly.
Empathy The provision of caring, individualized attention to customers. Staff has the patient's best interest at heart and build with them long-term relationships
healthcare-08-00108-t002_Table 2
######
The SERVQUAL attributes applied in this study.
Dimension NO Code Service Attributes
---------------- ----- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tangible 1 T1 Medical instruments and physical facilities are visually appealing.
2 T2 Employees' uniforms are clean, nice, and neat.
3 T3 Clean, adequate supplies, and well-maintained rooms
4 T4 Good lighting in every room
5 T5 Suitable temperature in the rooms of the elderly
6 T6 Meals served are clean and hygienic.
7 T7 Meals served are delicious.
8 T8 The atmosphere of every room is cozy.
9 T9 The scent in every room is refreshing.
Reliability 10 RL1 Appropriate employee responses
11 RL2 Medical treatments are well explained.
12 RL3 Available and adequate family visiting times
13 RL4 All elderly activities are well scheduled.
14 RL5 The employees solve the elderly's problems sincerely.
15 RL6 All equipment (AC, TV, radio, lights, etc.,) works properly.
Responsiveness 16 R1 Employees give clear, understandable information
17 R2 Appropriate and prompt services
18 R3 Quick medical treatment response when the elderly need it
Assurance 19 A1 Feel safe and feel at home
20 A2 Employee behavior instills confidence in the elderly.
Empathy 21 E1 Employees are helpful, careful, and friendly.
22 E2 Nurses understand the elderly's needs.
23 E3 No discrimination against the elderly
healthcare-08-00108-t003_Table 3
######
Participants' demographics.
Demographics Categories Frequency Percentage
------------------------ ------------ ----------- ------------
Gender Male 23 74.2%
Female 8 25.8%
51--60 3 9.7%
61--70 9 29.0%
71--80 7 22.6%
\>80 12 38.7%
Length of stay (years) 1.5--5 6 19.4%
6--10 13 41.9%
11--15 7 22.6%
\>20 5 16.1%
healthcare-08-00108-t004_Table 4
######
The results of SERVQUAL analysis.
Dimension Code Performance Expectation Gap Importance Scores Pair *t*-Test
---------------- ------ ------------- ------------- ------ ------------------- --------------- ------- ------------- -------------
Tangible T1 3.87 1.29 4.19 1.38 −0.32 2.35 −0.9 0.19
T2 3.81 1.18 4.19 1.15 −0.38 2.32 −1.20 0.12
T3 3.84 1.08 4.68 0.69 −0.84 4.88 −4.82 \<0.01 \*\*
T4 3.65 1.15 4.29 1.08 −0.64 2.48 −2.65 0.01 \*\*
T5 3.35 1.23 4.61 0.66 −1.26 4.37 −5.22 \<0.01 \*\*
T6 3.39 1.29 4.23 1.10 −0.84 2.23 −2.79 \<0.01 \*\*
T7 3.48 1.36 4.23 1.10 −0.75 2.71 −2.39 0.01 \*\*
T8 3.52 0.95 4.42 0.91 −0.90 3.05 −4.32 \<0.01 \*\*
T9 3.94 0.95 4.65 0.70 −0.71 4.63 −3.32 \<0.01 \*\*
Reliability RL1 3.61 1.10 4.42 1.19 −0.81 3.60 −3.76 \<0.01 \*\*
RL2 3.48 1.29 4.58 0.75 −1.10 3.95 −5.85 \<0.01 \*\*
RL3 3.52 1.34 4.29 1.37 −0.77 2.48 −2.68 0.01 \*\*
RL4 3.77 1.13 4.13 1.36 −0.36 2.32 −1.19 0.12
RL5 3.68 1.09 4.68 0.59 −1.00 4.51 −4.95 \<0.01 \*\*
RL6 4.00 0.92 4.32 1.17 −0.32 2.71 −1.19 0.12
Responsiveness R1 3.68 1.09 4.45 1.04 −0.77 3.89 −4.08 \<0.01 \*\*
R2 3.39 1.01 4.45 1.10 −1.06 3.89 −4.79 \<0.01 \*\*
R3 3.39 0.97 4.32 1.20 −0.93 2.76 −4.21 \<0.01 \*\*
Assurance A1 3.19 1.18 4.19 1.28 −1.00 3.23 −4.23 \<0.01 \*\*
A2 3.58 1.19 4.39 1.07 −0.81 2.35 −3.32 \<0.01 \*\*
Empathy E1 3.90 0.96 4.45 0.94 −0.55 3.80 −2.53 0.01 \*\*
E2 3.58 1.16 4.58 0.79 −1.00 4.20 −4.08 \<0.01 \*\*
E3 3.68 1.12 4.48 0.98 −0.80 3.89 −3.59 \<0.01 \*\*
Note: \* *p*-value is less than 0.05; \*\* *p*-value is less than 0.01.
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Q:
Why setting a client-side timeout when using long polling?
In almost every long polling examples I see, there is something like a timeout of 30 seconds client-side. What is the precise reason for this?
A:
Some routers, proxies or whatever device there is in the middle might decide to drop TCP/IP connections being idle for extensive period of time. Also refreshing connection once in a while makes sure you'll discover server failure quicker.
|
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The formation of immune complexes in primiparous and multiparous human pregnancies.
Using a recently developed ELISA, antibodies were detected in maternal sera with reactivity directed against determinants present on the plasma membrane of the outer layer of the placenta, the syncytiotrophoblast. The anti-trophoblast antibodies were present in maternal sera in the form of "free" antibodies and "immune complex" antibodies. Examination of the sera throughout gestation and from successive pregnancies revealed that the generation of anti-trophoblast antibodies and the formation of immune complexes was predominantly a first pregnancy and early second pregnancy event, with very little activity detectable in later pregnancies. It is proposed that immune recognition occurs in a first pregnancy, which generates some form of immunosuppression that involves the activation of suppressor memory cells.
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Gets Hurricanes Season Tickets, moves to Raleigh to be close to team and watch games, team signs jordan staal and alex semin Lockout
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All relevant data are within the paper.
Introduction {#sec001}
============
Microbial products induce a shift in the innate immune system towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype by activating a family of pattern-recognizing receptors popularly known as Toll-like receptors \[[@pone.0153282.ref001]\].The downstream signaling events of these receptors are critical in the pathogenesis of many infectious disease complications, such as endotoxemia/sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref002]\]. Despite the substantial improvement in critical care, sepsis still accounts for many deaths in intensive care units globally \[[@pone.0153282.ref003]\]. A pleiotropic mediator often implicated in sepsis is the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) \[[@pone.0153282.ref004]--[@pone.0153282.ref005]\]. LPS interacts with the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), along with other accessory components, to generate a battery of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators that promote a systemic inflammatory response--the hallmark of sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref006]\]. Although LPS is a widely studied microbial product that has been targeted for the treatment of sepsis, not a single drug has been found to successfully treat sepsis in more than 100 clinical trials conducted so far \[[@pone.0153282.ref007]\]. Therefore, a better understanding is needed of sepsis in general and the role of TLR-4 agonists in this process before new therapeutics against sepsis is developed.
Some of the complications associated with the activation of TLR-4 are attributed to the endogenously generated phospholipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) \[[@pone.0153282.ref008]--[@pone.0153282.ref009]\]. PAF is chemically identified as 1-alkyl-2-acetyl*sn*-3 glycerophosphocholine \[[@pone.0153282.ref010]--[@pone.0153282.ref014]\] and was originally described as a fluid-phase lipid mediator capable of inducing anaphylactic shock \[[@pone.0153282.ref015]\]. Many structural analogs of PAF, collectively referred to as "PAF-mimetics" or "PAF-like lipids," that arise from the oxidative fragmentation of intact phospholipids have also been documented to be involved in many pathological conditions, including sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref016]--[@pone.0153282.ref019]\]. Both PAF and PAF-like lipids are recognized by the PAF receptor (PAF-R), a typical G protein-coupled receptor predominantly found on the surface of cells of the innate immune system \[[@pone.0153282.ref020]--[@pone.0153282.ref021]\], however, a separate receptor for related PAF-like lipids has also been suggested \[[@pone.0153282.ref022]\]. Inactivation of PAF and PAF-like lipids is catalyzed by the removal of *sn*-2 residues by a family of related enzymes called PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) \[[@pone.0153282.ref023]--[@pone.0153282.ref026]\]. The plasma form of PAF-AH has been thoroughly characterized. Experimental and clinical observations suggest that PAF signaling plays a critical role in sepsis and related disorders \[[@pone.0153282.ref027]--[@pone.0153282.ref028]\]. For example, blocking PAF-R activation using specific PAF-R antagonists protects animals from symptoms of endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref029]--[@pone.0153282.ref033]\]. In addition, a high level of PAF was found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from people with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a disorder associated with sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref034]\]. A role for PAF in ARDS has been supported by the results of experiments using transgenic mice that over-expressed PAF-R \[[@pone.0153282.ref035]\]. Serum levels of PAF were also found to be increased in experimental animals with endotoxemia, but these animals were protected by using PAF-R antagonists \[[@pone.0153282.ref036]\]. Graham et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref037]\] observed a 50% decrease in plasma PAF-AH activity in patients with sepsis and showed that the half-life of PAF in the plasma was prolonged in patients with the worst outcomes. Overexpression of the PAF-R makes mice hypersensitive not only to PAF but also to endotoxin \[[@pone.0153282.ref038]--[@pone.0153282.ref039]\]. Conversely, deleting the PAF-R makes mice less susceptible to anaphylaxis and inflammation in the lungs \[[@pone.0153282.ref040]\], a tissue often affected during endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref041]--[@pone.0153282.ref046]\]. Moreover, administration of exogenous PAF-AH protects animals from undergoing anaphylactic shock \[[@pone.0153282.ref047]\] and lung inflammation \[[@pone.0153282.ref048]\]. For instance, studies by Teixeira-da-Cunha et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref049]\] have shown that bacterial clearance is increased in septic mice treated with rPAF-AH. Studies by Watanabe et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref009]\] showed that neutrophils challenged with endotoxin produced PAF once they had adhered to a surface; a significant portion of this PAF was released in association with microparticles.
Thus, activated neutrophils may propagate and amplify the response to endotoxin via PAF. Contrary to these findings, a few studies have suggested a protective role for PAF and PAF-like lipids in models of endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref050]--[@pone.0153282.ref053]\], challenging the beliefs that PAF is pro-inflammatory in nature and that PAF-AH has anti-inflammatory effects.
To resolve this controversy and better understand the role of PAF in endotoxemia, we injected Swiss albino mice with PAF alone or in combination with the TLR-4 agonist LPS. PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) caused sudden death in these animals, but hyperactivating the TLR-4 with LPS delayed this event, probably by inducing endotoxin cross-tolerance, a phenomenon that is not clearly understood but has been reported to occur in several studies \[[@pone.0153282.ref054]--[@pone.0153282.ref063]\]. Endotoxin tolerance is generally defined as a situation in which previous exposure to low doses of LPS confers protection against the potentially detrimental consequences of a subsequent higher dose of LPS (homologous ligand) in animals or isolated cells. This tolerance induced by LPS pre-exposure does not only occur upon subsequent challenge with LPS, but also upon challenge with unrelated (heterologous) ligands, which is termed LPS/endotoxin cross-tolerance \[[@pone.0153282.ref059]\]. Although cross-tolerance has been previously reported, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we show that hyperactivation of TLR-4 causes temporal cross-tolerance to the lethal effects of PAF in Swiss albino mice.
To understand the molecular mechanism underlying LPS cross-tolerance, we pretreated animals with both aspirin (a non-specific COX inhibitor \[[@pone.0153282.ref064]\]) and NS-398 (a specific COX-2 inhibitor \[[@pone.0153282.ref065]\]). Aspirin (20 mg/kg body wt) partially abolished PAF-induced sudden death and amplified the effects of cross-tolerance due to TLR-4 hyperactivation on PAF-induced sudden death. In contrast, NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) conferred complete protection against the lethal effects of PAF and also enhanced the cross-tolerance exerted by LPS. These studies confirm the pro-inflammatory nature of PAF and reveal an as yet unrecognized role for the COX pathway in LPS cross-tolerance in Swiss albino mice. Understanding how the COX pathway is involved in endotoxin cross-tolerance may provide new perspectives on the treatment of sepsis and other inflammatory disorders involving multiple mediators.
Materials and Methods {#sec002}
=====================
LPS from *Escherichia coli* O111:B4 and aspirin were purchased from Sigma Chemicals Co. (St. Louis, MO). BN-52021, a Ginkgolide PAF-R antagonist, was purchased from BIOMOL Research laboratories (Plymouth Meeting, PA). PAF (C16), lysoPAF, C4 PAF, and lysoPC were obtained from Avanti Polar Lipids (Alabaster, AL). NS-398 was purchased from Cayman Chemical (Ann Arbor, MI). *o*-dianisidine and hydrogen peroxide (H~2~O~2~) were procured from Sisco Research Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. (Mumbai, India). Human serum albumin was obtained from Talecris Biotherapeutics Inc. (Duhram, NC). rPAF-AH was purchased from ICOS Corp. (Bothell, WA). Eosin was obtained from SD Fine Chemicals (Mumbai, India), and hematoxylin was obtained from Merck (Whitehouse Station, NJ). TNF-α and IL-10 ELISA kits were purchased from USCN Life Sciences Inc. (Buckingham, UK). WEB-2086, a thieno-triazolodiazepine PAF-R antagonist, was a generous gift from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals (Ridgefield, CT).
Animals {#sec003}
-------
Approval for our animal experiments was obtained from the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) of the University of Mysore, India (No. UOM/IAEC/14/2013). Swiss albino, C57BL/6J, and BALB/c mice (age, 8--10 weeks; weight, 20-25g) were used in the study. The Swiss albino mice were obtained from Central Animal Facility, University of Mysore, India, and the C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice were obtained from the National Centre for Laboratory Animal Sciences, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, India. All animals were housed with adequate ventilation, food, and water (available *ad libitum*). The mortality aspects of all the experimental protocols were specifically reviewed and approved by the IAEC of the University of Mysore, India and were in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). To determine the effects of PAF and LPS on the survival of Swiss albino mice, we administered PAF, LPS, or a combination of both in varying concentrations and monitored the animals for survival for the required time interval. During the study, the animals were visually monitored at regular intervals (every 15 min) for dehydration (as seen by loss of skin elasticity), hunched posture, increased or labored respiration, failure to explore cage when disturbed, and deteriorating body condition. Animals injected with PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) or in conjunction with LPS (5 mg/kg body wt) died in 15--20 min, probably due to enhanced coagulation of blood induced by PAF. We were unable to use an alternative humane endpoint for these experiments because death occurred so rapidly that we were not confident enough in the outcome to interfere by using pain killers or other medications or by terminating the experiment before we were sure about the lethal outcome. However, there were no unintended deaths of the animals during the study. Based on recommendations from the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (IAEC) and the animal caretaker at the Central Animal Facility, University of Mysore, India, the animals that survived to the end of the experiments (24 h or 6 days, according to experimental requirements) were euthanized by administering pentobarbital sodium salt intraperitoneally (30 mg/kg body wt), and their organs were used for histological examination.
Effect of intraperitoneal injection of PAF in mice {#sec004}
--------------------------------------------------
To determine the effect of PAF on the survival of Swiss albino mice, we divided the animals into 6 groups, each containing 6 animals. A stock solution of PAF was made in methanol, and the required aliquot was dried under a stream of nitrogen. PAF was then reconstituted in PBS containing 0.1% human serum albumin and sonicated (Vibracell, Sonic Instrument Inc, NJ, USA) before use. The bioactivity of PAF was routinely checked before the experiments by assessing platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma. Testing with 80nM PAF consistently showed \>80% platelet aggregation (although the sensitivity of platelets varied from donor to donor for unknown reasons). Generally, a standard dose of 5 μg of PAF per mouse was used for all experiments, except for the dose-response studies. Increasing doses of PAF (0--5 μg) were made in a total volume of 0.5 mL PBS containing 0.1% albumin and were administered intraperitoneally into Swiss albino mice. In some experiments, PAF (5 μg/mouse) was also intraperitoneally administered into C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice. Working PAF solutions were not stored for more than 24 h. Experiments were also performed to test the effects of lysoPAF and lysoPC at two doses: 5 and 50 μg per mouse. After each treatment, animals were monitored for up to 6 days for survival.
Effect of rPAF-AH and PAF-R antagonists on PAF-challenged mice {#sec005}
--------------------------------------------------------------
Stock solutions of WEB-2086 and BN-52021 were made in DMSO, and appropriate aliquots (20 mg/kg body wt) were injected into animals 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) was injected. In animal experiments involving pretreatment with PAF-AH (25 μg/mouse), animals were given a recombinant form (rPAF-AH) of the enzyme intraperitoneally 30 min before PAF was injected. Control animals received the vehicle used for rPAF-AH formulation (sodium citrate, sucrose, pluronic, and Tween-80). Survival time was monitored for up to 6 days.
Effect of TLR-4 agonist on PAF-induced death in Swiss albino mice {#sec006}
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To determine the effect of TLR-4 agonist on PAF-induced death, animals were intraperitoneally injected with PAF (5 μg/mouse) immediately after receiving either a low dose (5 mg/kg body wt) or high dose (10 or 20 mg/kg body wt) of LPS. In LPS cross-tolerance studies, PAF (5 μg/mouse) was co-administered intraperitoneally with LPS or administered at designated time intervals. To test the possibility that a soluble mediator may delay or provide protection against PAF-induced death during LPS cross-tolerance, we collected 100 μL of serum from mice injected with LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 1 h after treatment and intraperitoneally injected it into naive animals 30 min before injecting them with PAF (5 μg/mouse). All the animals were monitored for up to 6 days for survival. Death time was noted, and the tissues were removed and fixed as described below.
Effect of COX inhibitors on PAF-induced death and LPS cross- tolerance {#sec007}
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, to determine whether COX inhibitors have any effect on PAF-induced sudden death, we treated the animals with aspirin (10 or 20 mg/kg body wt) or NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) 30 min before administering a lethal dose of PAF (5 μg/mouse). To understand the mechanism of cross-tolerance occurring during hyperactivation of TLR-4, we intraperitoneally injected the animals with aspirin (10 or 20 mg/kg body wt) or NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) 30 min before injecting them with LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse). The animals were monitored for up to 6 days for survival.
Histological Analysis {#sec008}
---------------------
The lungs and livers excised from the euthanized animals were fixed for 24 h in Bouin's fixative (picric acid: formaldehyde: glacial acetic acid, 30:10:2 v/v), dehydrated with increasing concentrations of ethanol, and embedded in paraffin. Tissues were cut into 5-micron--thick sections using a microtome (R. Jung AG, Germany) and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
Quantification of tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) {#sec009}
----------------------------------------------
The extent of leukocyte infiltration into the organs was indirectly estimated by quantifying tissue MPO levels using the method reported by Bradley et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref066]\]. Briefly, the tissues were homogenized in 50mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 0.5% hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) and sonicated after repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The homogenates were centrifuged at 40,000 x g for 15 min at 4°C, and the protein in the supernatant was quantified using the Lowry method \[[@pone.0153282.ref067]\]. To measure MPO activity, 100 μL aliquots of the supernatants were mixed with 2.9 mL of 50mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0) containing 167 μg/mL of *o*-dianisidine and 0.0005% H~2~O~2~. The change in absorbance at 460nm was recorded with a UV-Visible spectrophotometer (Biomate 3S, Thermo Scientific, USA), and MPO activity was expressed in units (one unit of MPO activity = one micromole of peroxide degraded per milligram of protein per minute at 25°C).
Measurement of the levels of circulating TNF-α and IL-10 {#sec010}
--------------------------------------------------------
Levels of circulating TNF-α and IL-10were measured in serum samples by using ELISA kits, as per the manufacturer's instructions. The mice were anesthetized and whole blood was collected from the carotid artery using a 1 mL syringe. The serum was then separated from the whole blood. Generally, blood was collected 4 h after injection, unless stated otherwise. Animals injected with PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) or with 5 mg/kg LPS + PAF (5 μg/mouse) died in 15--20 min. Therefore, blood was collected from these animals 7 min after injection.
Statistical analysis {#sec011}
--------------------
Results for the animal experiments are representative of atleast 3 independent experiments. Statistical significance among groups was determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The values are presented as mean ± SD.
Results {#sec012}
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Intraperitoneal injection of PAF causes sudden death in Swiss albino mice within 15--20 min {#sec013}
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A variety of studies have shown that PAF has pro-inflammatory effects \[[@pone.0153282.ref010]--[@pone.0153282.ref011], [@pone.0153282.ref013], [@pone.0153282.ref029], [@pone.0153282.ref068]--[@pone.0153282.ref072]\]. However, a few reports have claimed that PAF and PAF-like lipids play a protective role in LPS-mediated endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref050]--[@pone.0153282.ref053]\]. Determining the cause of this discrepancy is critical for designing therapeutics to treat sepsis and for understanding the basic biology of PAF (reviewed in 18). To resolve the issue, we intraperitoneally injected Swiss albino mice with increasing amounts of PAF (0--5 μg/mouse) ([Fig 1](#pone.0153282.g001){ref-type="fig"}). We found that 50% of the mice died when given a 2.30 μg dose of PAF; therefore, we routinely used 5 μg as a lethal dose. At this dose, mice died within 15--20 min of injection in all the experiments performed. We also noticed that drawing blood from these mice was difficult due to enhanced coagulation of the blood. In contrast, the same dose of PAF (5 μg/mouse) was not lethal to C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice ([Table 1](#pone.0153282.t001){ref-type="table"}). The specificity of PAF-induced death in Swiss albino mice was further confirmed with 2 sets of experiments: (1) by pre-injecting the mice with 2 structurally unrelated, yet specific, PAF-R antagonists, namely BN-52021 and WEB-2086 (20 mg/kg body wt) and (2) by increasing the level of circulating PAF-AH by pretreating the mice with rPAF-AH. In both sets of experiments, the animals were protected from PAF-induced sudden death ([Table 2](#pone.0153282.t002){ref-type="table"}). Furthermore, structurally related inactive lyso analogs of PAF were unable to mimic the effects of PAF, even when the concentrations of the lyso analogs were increased by 10-fold ([Table 3](#pone.0153282.t003){ref-type="table"}). These experiments firmly establish the role of PAF-R in PAF-induced death.
{#pone.0153282.g001}
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t001
###### Strain-specific effects of PAF in murine species.
Five-microgram aliquots of PAF were taken from a stock of 5 mg/mL in methanol, evaporated under a stream of nitrogen, reconstituted to a final volume of 0.5 mL in phosphate buffered saline containing 0.1% albumin, and sonicated. Then, the 5 μg doses of PAF were intraperitoneally injected into 3 strains of mice: Swiss albino, C57BL/6J, and BALB/c (n = 6 per strain). The mice were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. All of the Swiss albino mice that received PAF died within 15--20 min, whereas none of the C57BL/6J or BALB/c mice injected with PAF died. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t001g}
Strain Treatment Death/total %Survival
-------------- ------------------ ------------- -----------
Swiss albino Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 0
C57BL/6J Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
BALB/c Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t002
###### PAF induces sudden death in Swiss albino mice.
Swiss albino mice were divided into 9 groups containing 6 animals each. The indicated amounts of WEB-2086 or BN-52021 were aliquoted from a stock in DMSO, brought up to a total volume of 0.5 mL in PBS, and injected intraperitoneally into animals 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) was injected. Animals that received rPAF-AH (25 μg/mouse) were intraperitoneally injected with it 30 min before being injected with PAF (5 μg/mouse), as were the animals that received the vehicle for rPAF-AH (sodium citrate, sucrose, pluronic, and Tween-80). All the animals injected with PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) died within 15--20 min. In contrast, all the animals that received either a PAF-R antagonist or rPAF-AH 30 min before being injected with a lethal dose of PAF survived. All animals were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t002g}
Treatment Death/total %Survival
------------------------------------------ ------------- -----------
Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 0
rPAF-AH (25 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
Vehicle for rPAF-AH 0/6 100
rPAF-AH (25 μg/mouse) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
BN-52021 (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100
BN-52021 (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
WEB-2086 (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100
WEB-2086 (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t003
###### Biologically inactive structural analogs of PAF are not lethal to Swiss albino mice.
Aliquots of lysoPAF and lysoPC were taken from a stock of 5 mg/mL in methanol, dried under nitrogen, reconstituted in PBS containing 0.1% albumin, and sonicated. The indicated doses of each were brought up to a total volume of 0.5 mL with PBS containing 0.1% albumin and intraperitoneally injected into the mice. Animals injected with the vehicle (PBS containing 0.1% albumin) received the same volume. PAF (5 μg/mouse) was used as a positive control; all the animals injected with PAF died within 15--20 min. No mortality was observed for the animals intraperitoneally injected with the lyso analogs at doses equivalent to that used for PAF or 10-fold higher (50 μg/mouse). All the animals were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t003g}
**Treatment** **Death/total** **% Survival**
----------------------- ----------------- ----------------
Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 0
LysoPAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
LysoPAF (50 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
LysoPC (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
LysoPC (50 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
Hyperactivation of TLR-4 delays PAF-induced sudden death {#sec014}
--------------------------------------------------------
In the next series of experiments, PAF (5 μg/mouse) was injected into mice concomitantly with LPS (5 or 10 mg/kg body wt). LPS alone was not lethal at these doses, unless it was given in combination with D-galactosamine, a hepatotoxicant known to sensitize animals to TLR-4 agonists (data not shown) \[[@pone.0153282.ref073]\]. PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) caused sudden death, and injecting it simultaneously with a low dose of LPS (5 mg/kg body wt) did not alter this effect of PAF ([Fig 2](#pone.0153282.g002){ref-type="fig"}). However, using a higher dose of LPS (10 mg/kg body wt) delayed PAF-induced death to 2--48 h after injection, and 66% of the animals that received the higher LPS dose survived the full 6 days.
{#pone.0153282.g002}
In the next experiments, we increased the LPS dose to 20 mg/kg body wt. Similar to the results with 10 mg/kg LPS, simultaneous injection of 20 mg/kg LPS and PAF (5 μg/mouse) delayed PAF-induced sudden death, and 50% of the animals that received this treatment survived for the full 6 days, presumably because of LPS cross-tolerance ([Fig 2](#pone.0153282.g002){ref-type="fig"}). However, 30% of the animals that received 20 mg/kg LPS alone died 5--24 h after injection ([Fig 2](#pone.0153282.g002){ref-type="fig"}). The amount of time PAF-induced death was delayed due to LPS cross-tolerance varied from animal to animal. LPS cross-tolerance was found to be time-dependent, with delay in PAF-induced death being seen when PAF was administered simultaneously or 30 min after the LPS injection but not when it was administered after longer periods ([Table 4](#pone.0153282.t004){ref-type="table"}). Furthermore, we found that LPS cross-tolerance was not due to an abundant endogenously generated secondary mediator \[[@pone.0153282.ref074]\] because injecting naive mice with 100 μL of serum from mice injected with 20 mg/kg LPS + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 30 min before giving them a lethal dose of PAF (5 μg/mouse) did not delay PAF-induced death ([Table 5](#pone.0153282.t005){ref-type="table"}). Also, injecting mice with a sublethal dose of LPS alone (50 μg) for 8 days did not protect them from a lethal dose of PAF (5 μg/mouse) given on day 9 (data not shown), suggesting the temporal nature of cross-tolerance.
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t004
###### LPS cross-tolerance to PAF-induced lethality in Swiss albino mice is temporal.
Mice were divided into 6 groups containing 6 animals per group. PAF (5 μg/mouse) was intraperitoneally injected together with LPS (20 mg/kg body wt) or at 30 min, 3 h, or 6 h after LPS was injected. All the animals injected with PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) or at 3 h or 6 h after receiving LPS (20 mg/kg) died in 15--20 min. In the group that received PAF concomitantly with LPS (20 mg/kg body wt), 33.4% of the animals died within 24 h, and 66.6% survived for 6 days. In the group that received PAF (5 μg/mouse) 30 min after LPS (20 mg/kg) was administered, the time until death was delayed to 12--24 h. All the animals were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t004g}
**Treatment** **Death/total** **Death time** **% Survival**
-------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------------
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 15--20 min 0
LPS (20 mg/kg) 2/6 40--48 h 66.6
LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) (co-injection) 2/6 30 min-24 h 66.6
LPS (20 mg/kg) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 12--24 h 0
LPS (20 mg/kg) 3 h before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 15--20 min 0
LPS (20 mg/kg) 6 h before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 15--20 min 0
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t005
###### LPS cross-tolerance is not transferable.
Mice were divided into 4 groups containing 4 animals each. In the initial phase of this experiment, animals were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL of PBS or with LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse). These animals were then anesthetized, and their blood was collected 1 h after treatment. In the second phase of this experiment, 100 μL of the serum obtained from the mice treated with PBS or LPS (20 mg/kg body wt) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) was intraperitoneally injected into the other 2 groups of mice 30 min before they were injected with PAF (5 μg/mouse). Half of the mice in the group that originally received PAF (5 μg/mouse) + LPS (20 mg/kg) survived, but the serum from these animals failed to protect the naive animals injected with PAF (5 μg/mouse) 30 min after receiving the serum. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t005g}
**Treatment** **Death/total** **% Survival**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ----------------
PBS 0/4 100
LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 2/4 50
Serum (from mice treated with PBS and collected at 1 h) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 4/4 0
Serum (from mice treated with LPS \[20 mg/kg\] + PAF \[5 μg/mouse\] and collected at 1 h) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 4/4 0
Involvement of COX pathway in PAF-induced sudden death and LPS cross-tolerance {#sec015}
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAF causes immediate mobilization of intracellular calcium with subsequent phospholipase A~2~-mediated release of arachidonic acid, which is then converted to bioactive eicosanoids by COXs \[[@pone.0153282.ref075]\]. Pretreating mice with either a 10 or 20 mg/kg body wt dose of aspirin (a non-specific COX inhibitor) 30 min before injecting them with a lethal dose of PAF prevented death in 66.6% and 71.4% of the animals, respectively ([Table 6](#pone.0153282.t006){ref-type="table"}). Administering aspirin (20 mg/kg body wt) 30 min before simultaneously injecting PAF (5 μg/mouse) and a high dose of LPS (20 mg/kg) conferred complete protection against delayed death ([Table 6](#pone.0153282.t006){ref-type="table"}). Interestingly, no mortality was observed when animals were pretreated with NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) 30 min before being injected with PAF (5 μg/mouse), LPS (20 mg/kg), or the combination of LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) ([Table 7](#pone.0153282.t007){ref-type="table"}), suggesting that the COX pathway may be involved in PAF-mediated death and the cross-tolerance exerted by hyperactivated TLR-4 in Swiss albino mice.
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t006
###### Aspirin partially protects Swiss albino mice from PAF-induced lethality and amplifies the cross-tolerance exerted by hyperactivated TLR-4.
Mice were divided into 11 groups. Three groups were intraperitoneally injected with a 10 mg/kg dose of aspirin 30 min before being injected with the indicated doses of PAF, LPS, or both. Three other groups were intraperitoneally injected with a 20 mg/kg dose of aspirin 30 min before receiving PAF, LPS, or both. The 20 mg/kg dose of aspirin partially protected the animals from PAF-induced sudden death, whereas it completely protected the animals from delayed death due to PAF (5 μg/mouse) plus a high dose of LPS (20 mg/kg). The animals were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t006g}
**Treatment** **Death/total** **% Survival**
-------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------------------------------
Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 0
LPS (20 mg/kg) 2/6 66.6
LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 2/6 66.6
Aspirin (10 mg/kg) 0/6 100
Aspirin (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100
Aspirin (10 mg/kg) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 2/6 66.6
Aspirin (20 mg/kg) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 2/7 71.4[\*\*](#t006fn001){ref-type="table-fn"}
Aspirin (10 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) 2/6 66.6
Aspirin (20 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100[^\#^](#t006fn002){ref-type="table-fn"}
Aspirin (10 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 3/6 50
Aspirin (20 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/7 100[^●^](#t006fn003){ref-type="table-fn"}
\*\**P*\<0.01 as compared with PAF-challenged mice
^\#^*P*\<0.01 as compared with LPS-challenged mice, and
^●^*P*\<0.05 as compared with LPS + PAF-challenged mice.
10.1371/journal.pone.0153282.t007
###### Specific COX-2 inhibitor confers complete protection against both PAF-induced lethality and delayed death due to PAF and hyperactivated TLR-4.
Mice were divided into 7 groups containing 6 animals each. Three groups received an intraperitoneal injection of NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) 30 min before receiving PAF, LPS, or a combination of both. NS-398 (20 mg/kg body wt) completely abolished PAF-induced sudden death and enhanced the cross-tolerance effect exerted by the high dose of LPS (20 mg/kg). The animals were monitored for survival for up to 6 days. The results are representative of 3 individual trials.
{#pone.0153282.t007g}
Treatment Death/total \% Survival
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
Vehicle 0/6 100
PAF (5 μg/mouse) 6/6 0
LPS (20 mg/kg) 3/6 50
LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 2/6 66.6
NS-398 (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100
NS-398 (20 mg/kg) 30 min before PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
NS-398 (20 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) 0/6 100
NS-398 (20 mg/kg) 30 min before LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) 0/6 100
Histological assessment of lungs and liver {#sec016}
------------------------------------------
The lungs and liver are the major organs affected by endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref076]--[@pone.0153282.ref079]\], and the extent of leukocyte infiltration and architecture distortion in these organs correlates with the severity of the damage \[[@pone.0153282.ref080]--[@pone.0153282.ref081]\]. Lung and liver tissue from the mice that received LPS alone or in combination with PAF showed substantial leukocyte infiltration and altered structural integrity, as seen in hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Such pulmonary sequestration and activation of leukocytes can be the direct effect of LPS, as shown by Haslett et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref080]\] in their rabbit model. Lung sections showed significant thickening of the alveolar septum, vascular congestion, and cytoplasmic vacuolization of the airways ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}). In the animals that received PAF alone (5 μg/mouse), we did not see much sequestration of leukocytes, probably because samples were taken at an early time point due to the fact that the animals died within 15--20 min ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}). Although LPS (20 mg/kg body wt) delayed PAF-induced death, histological assessment of tissues from these animals showed that the lungs had thickened alveolar septae with massive leukocyte infiltration and that the liver had marked necrosis and highly distorted architecture, as compared to the normal lobular architecture seen in the vehicle-treated group ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}). These findings indicate that there was no reduction in inflammation during LPS cross-tolerance.
{#pone.0153282.g003}
Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lungs and liver {#sec017}
-------------------------------------------------
To assess the extent of inflammation more quantitatively, we determined the level of MPO, which is mainly derived from infiltrating leukocytes, in tissue homogenates from the experimental animals. The lungs and liver of animals injected with LPS alone (5 or 20 mg/kg body wt) showed an increase in MPO levels, as compared to that in vehicle-and PAF-injected (5 μg/mouse) animals ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}). A substantial increase in MPO activity was observed in the lungs and liver of animals treated with LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}), which supports the histological observations of no reduction in inflammation during LPS cross-tolerance.
LPS cross-tolerance does not reduce the level of circulating TNF-α or increase the level of IL-10 {#sec018}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The levels of TNF-α, a key cytokine, are known to be elevated during many inflammatory conditions, including experimental sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref082]--[@pone.0153282.ref083]\]. In contrast, soluble factors, including anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, have been shown to contribute to the suppression of inflammation during cross-tolerance \[[@pone.0153282.ref084]--[@pone.0153282.ref085]\]. Therefore, we measured the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in mice injected with LPS and PAF. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS alone (5 or 20 mg/kg body wt) significantly increased serum TNF-α levels ([Fig 4A](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}). Because animals injected with PAF alone (5 μg/mouse) or with LPS (5 mg/kg) + PAF (5 μg/mouse) died within 15--20 min, blood could only be collected from these animals within this short time and did not show any rise in TNF-α levels ([Fig 4A](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}). Interestingly, although LPS (20 mg/kg body wt) delayed PAF-induced death, it failed to reduce circulating TNF-α levels, suggesting again that inflammation is not diminished during cross-tolerance ([Fig 4A](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}). For unknown reasons, we failed to observe an increase in anti-inflammatory IL-10 during cross-tolerance ([Fig 4B](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}).
{#pone.0153282.g004}
Discussion {#sec019}
==========
LPS is the most abundant and widely used bacterial endotoxin that activates the pattern-recognizing TLR-4 receptor, the downstream signaling events of which are critical in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref004]--[@pone.0153282.ref005]\]. PAF, one of the most potent pro-inflammatory mediators of the innate immune system, exerts its effects via the PAF-R and is believed to be partly responsible for the complications of sepsis \[[@pone.0153282.ref080], [@pone.0153282.ref086]--[@pone.0153282.ref090]\]. Given that these ligands activate the innate immune system through different receptors, one would expect that their combined actions would exacerbate inflammatory responses. Moreover, previous studies have shown that endotoxins are good inducers of PAF biosynthesis in human neutrophils \[[@pone.0153282.ref009], [@pone.0153282.ref091]\], and results from overexpressing or deleting PAF-R in animal models suggest that PAF plays a role in endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref038],[@pone.0153282.ref040]\].
Although the vast majority of studies in the literature have suggested that both PAF and PAF-like lipids are pro-inflammatory, a few studies have shown that PAF and PAF-like lipids may play a protective role in endotoxemia \[[@pone.0153282.ref050]--[@pone.0153282.ref053]\]. However, we found that PAF is lethal to Swiss albino mice at a dose of 5 μg/mouse. One possible reason for the discrepancy between our results and those of others could be differences in the mouse strain used. For example, in reports by Bochkov et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref050]\] and Jeong et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref052]\], the protective effects of PAF and PAF-like lipids were found using C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice, respectively, whereas we used Swiss albino mice---a strain that is exquisitely sensitive to PAF. When we assessed the strain-specific effects of PAF in murine species, we found that intraperitoneal administration of 5 μg/mouse was lethal to Swiss albino mice but not to C57BL/6J and BALB/c mice ([Table 1](#pone.0153282.t001){ref-type="table"}). We provide 4 lines of evidence that PAF-induced sudden death in Swiss albino mice was directly due to PAF: (1) the effect of PAF was dose-dependent ([Fig 1](#pone.0153282.g001){ref-type="fig"}), (2) two structurally different but specific PAF-R antagonists blocked the lethal effects of PAF ([Table 2](#pone.0153282.t002){ref-type="table"}), (3) increasing the circulating levels of PAF-AH, which hydrolyses PAF and PAF-like lipids, also protected mice from PAF-induced death ([Table 2](#pone.0153282.t002){ref-type="table"}), and (4) inactive lyso derivatives of PAF were unable to replicate the effects of PAF, even at a concentration 10 times higher than that required for PAF ([Table 3](#pone.0153282.t003){ref-type="table"}), suggesting that lysoPAF/lysoPC are not rapidly acetylated by PAF synthase to make lethal amounts of PAF \[[@pone.0153282.ref091]--[@pone.0153282.ref092]\] that could then cause its effects. We also noticed that a single rPAF-AH treatment (25 μg/mouse) could protect the animals from PAF-induced death for about a week, even when a lethal dose of PAF (5 μg/mouse) was given every day (data not shown). This week-long protection was probably not due to the presence of circulating rPAF-AH but may have been due to endogenously generated PAF-AH in response to PAF injection, as shown by Wang et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref093]\]. Henderson et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref048]\] have reported that exogenously administered rPAF-AH stays in circulation for 6--8 h in BALB/c mice, whereas Gomes et al \[[@pone.0153282.ref086]\] have shown that the half-life of rPAF-AH can be extended to 24 h in Swiss albino mice.
Simultaneously administering a low dose of LPS (5 mg/kg body wt) with PAF did not modulate the lethal effects of PAF ([Fig 2](#pone.0153282.g002){ref-type="fig"}), but higher doses of LPS (10 and 20 mg/kg body wt) delayed PAF-induced sudden death, probably because of endotoxin cross-tolerance ([Fig 2](#pone.0153282.g002){ref-type="fig"}). Although, higher doses of LPS temporally delayed the detrimental consequences of PAF, this cross-tolerance could not be attributed to either a decrease in circulating TNF-α levels ([Fig 4A](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}) or an increase in IL-10 levels ([Fig 4B](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}), as suggested in a few studies \[[@pone.0153282.ref059], [@pone.0153282.ref061], [@pone.0153282.ref074]\], nor could it be attributed to a reduction in leukocyte infiltration into the lungs and liver ([Fig 3](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}), as evident from our histological examination. Similarly, the levels of the leukocyte marker enzyme MPO did not decrease in the lungs ([Fig 3C](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}) and liver ([Fig 3D](#pone.0153282.g003){ref-type="fig"}), further supporting the idea that inflammation was not diminished during cross-tolerance.
LPS cross-tolerance is the hyporesponsiveness of animals/isolated cells to an immunostimulatory challenge after exposure to a sublethal dose of LPS. A few studies have attributed this hyporesponsiveness to endogenously generated anti-inflammatory mediators, such as IL-10, TGF-β \[[@pone.0153282.ref084]--[@pone.0153282.ref085]\], altered G-protein content, phospholipase D, IkB kinase, GSK-3, SOCS-1, IRAK-1, or SHIP \[[@pone.0153282.ref054], [@pone.0153282.ref060]\]. However, we tested 2 of the candidate mediators, TNF-α and IL-10, and failed to see an increase in the level of circulating anti-inflammatory IL-10 ([Fig 4B](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}) or a decrease in the level of TNF-α ([Fig 4A](#pone.0153282.g004){ref-type="fig"}) during cross-tolerance. We also found that cross-tolerance was temporal ([Table 4](#pone.0153282.t004){ref-type="table"}) and not transferable ([Table 5](#pone.0153282.t005){ref-type="table"}).
To better understand the phenomenon of cross-tolerance, we evaluated the effects of 2 COX inhibitors: aspirin and NS-398. Aspirin is traditionally used as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug \[[@pone.0153282.ref064]\], but may have other effects as well \[[@pone.0153282.ref094]\]. In our study, aspirin (20 mg/kg) partially protected mice (71.4%) from PAF-induced sudden death, whereas it completely protected the animals from the delayed death caused by LPS (20 mg/kg) + PAF ([Table 6](#pone.0153282.t006){ref-type="table"}). Aspirin is known to inhibit the activation of NF-kB \[[@pone.0153282.ref094]\], along with COX, and converts COX-2 to acetylated COX-2, which may then generate 17(R)-Resolvin D1 via its peroxidase activity \[[@pone.0153282.ref095]--[@pone.0153282.ref096]\]. Although we did not measure the levels of resolvins in our study, the aspirin may have formed resolvins, which are endogenous anti-inflammatory mediators generated to resolve inflammation. To test the possible involvement of COX-2, we used a specific COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398) that is less likely to generate aspirin-triggered resolvins. When tested at a dose equivalent to that used for aspirin, NS-398 completely protected the animals from the lethal effects of PAF and also alleviated the cross-tolerance effects of the higher dose of LPS ([Table 7](#pone.0153282.t007){ref-type="table"}). The blunting effects of COX inhibitors seen in this study suggest that COX-driven eicosanoids may be involved in PAF-induced lethality and cross-tolerance induced by LPS. This may have far-reaching implications for our understanding of the previously unrecognized role of the COX pathway in endotoxin cross-tolerance and may provide new avenues for therapeutic interventions to prevent infectious disease complications, such as sepsis. Currently, we are trying to understand the fine details of cross-tolerance and the involvement of other toll receptors in cross-tolerance in this murine model of endotoxemia.
The authors thank the University Grants Commission (UGC), India (for Non NET fellowship, Basic Science Research fellowship, Major Research Project and Special Assistance Program) and the Vision Group of Science & Technology (VGST), Government of Karnataka, India. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Shiva S and Goutham S of the University of Mysore. The authors thank Heather Leibrecht, MS, of the Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas, for editorial assistance.
[^1]: **Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
[^2]: Conceived and designed the experiments: GKM. Performed the experiments: SPJ CLL VHC. Analyzed the data: TRSK CHC TMM. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: TMM TRSK CHC. Wrote the paper: GKM TMM.
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Interventional Neuroradiology (INR) has been developing very quickly in Asia-Australasia, and particularly in South-East Asia lately. The Asian Australasian Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (AAFITN) has played an important role in promoting that development by providing one of the most academic environment for both young and experienced physicians all round Asia to get together, exchange their knowledge and discuss with the world’s top-ranking Interventionists.
With a history of only around 15 years, Interventional Neuroradiology in Viet Nam is still very young, and we still have a long way to go to catch up with the whole world. Recently, we are trying to develop quickly, with the number and quality of young Interventionists increases each and every year, and AAFITN meeting is one of the greatest chances for them to get their experience in this field. The number of patients that undergo INR treatment also increase very quickly from year to year.
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