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1. Introduction {#sec1-insects-09-00056}
===============
Trees are modular organisms consisting of repetitive multicellular semi-independent units, such as leaves, shoots, branches, stems and roots. The theoretical and practical importance of studying the effects of herbivory on individual modules has long been appreciated \[[@B1-insects-09-00056]\]; however, little is known regarding the consequences of localised herbivory on the resulting performance of both the affected module and the whole plant.
Previous studies demonstrated that local damage experienced by one leaf or several leaves of the same shoot may cause shoot-specific responses in the year following the damage, and that these responses can contribute to intra-plant heterogeneity in leaf quality for insect herbivores \[[@B2-insects-09-00056],[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. In particular, insect damage inflicted on leaves of an individual shoot can decrease the probability of herbivore attack on the next year's foliage produced by the same shoot, compared with attacks on shoots of the same tree that had not suffered insect damage in the previous year. In other words, the following year's leaves, from shoots that previously experienced herbivore damage, exhibit a higher level of antiherbivore defences \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. However, the cues used by plant-feeding insects to avoid these shoots that have been damaged in the previous year remain to be established.
Leaves on an individual plant can differ greatly in many traits \[[@B4-insects-09-00056]\], including leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA), which is defined as the magnitude of the random deviations in symmetry of the leaf shape. Many researchers have explored correlations between average levels of leaf FA (based on 10--20 leaves per plant) and different indices of insect herbivory. These observational studies did not reach an agreed conclusion; some of them reported higher herbivory on plants with higher FA \[[@B5-insects-09-00056],[@B6-insects-09-00056],[@B7-insects-09-00056]\], while others discovered the opposite pattern \[[@B8-insects-09-00056]\], or reported the absence of any correlation between plant FA and herbivory \[[@B9-insects-09-00056],[@B10-insects-09-00056],[@B11-insects-09-00056]\].
In contrast to among-plant variation, only a handful of studies explored the link between the FA of individual leaves of the same plant individual and their preference by insects and/or performance of insects fed with these leaves. Specialist leafmining and defoliating insects generally distinguish between nearly symmetric and highly asymmetric leaves of the same plant \[[@B12-insects-09-00056],[@B13-insects-09-00056]\], but surprisingly, do not distinguish between identically sized disks cut from these leaves \[[@B13-insects-09-00056]\]. Many insects evaluate leaf shape when selecting feeding or oviposition sites \[[@B14-insects-09-00056],[@B15-insects-09-00056]\], raising the possibility that leaf asymmetry serves as a cue in the selection of individual leaves by herbivores within a plant crown. This selection could optimise a herbivore's feeding strategy, because insect preference for either low-FA or high-FA leaves matches the insect performance when fed with these leaves \[[@B13-insects-09-00056]\].
In several study systems, plants that undergo severe defoliation due to insects demonstrate an increase in leaf FA in the year following the damage \[[@B8-insects-09-00056],[@B16-insects-09-00056],[@B17-insects-09-00056]\]; this effect is directly proportional to the degree of the previous year's herbivory, at the scale of individual trees \[[@B18-insects-09-00056]\]. At the same time, we are aware of only two studies that explored the consequences of localised damage on subsequent leaf FA at the scale of individual shoots \[[@B18-insects-09-00056],[@B19-insects-09-00056]\]; both reported a general lack of any effect of herbivore feeding on leaf size or FA in the subsequent year. The shortage of information on the shoot-specific effects of herbivory on subsequent leaf asymmetry prompted the present study. Here, we have tested the hypothesis that shoots damaged by insects produce leaves with higher FA in the year following the damage than is observed in leaves of neighbouring shoots that were not damaged in the previous year.
2. Materials and Methods {#sec2-insects-09-00056}
========================
2.1. Study System {#sec2dot1-insects-09-00056}
-----------------
Downy birch, *Betula pubescens*, is widely distributed in Eurasia and forms stable climax forests at the northern edge of its range. In contrast, in more southern regions, birches are colonists in natural and human-induced secondary successions. Birch leaves are damaged by several hundreds of insect species \[[@B20-insects-09-00056]\], but we restricted our study to the effects caused by the following insects: (1) *Deporaus betulae* (Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae); (2) *Eriocrania semipurpurella* (sensu lato) and *E. sangii* (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae); (3) *Stigmella* spp. (Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae); (4) *Parornix* spp. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae); (5) leafrolling/leaf-tying larvae---several species of small moths building nests from birch leaves (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae and Gelechiidae); and 6) several species of mining sawflies from the genera *Fenusa*, *Profenusa*, *Fenusella* and *Scolioneura* (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae). For characteristics of damage imposed by these herbivores consult \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\].
2.2. Data Collection {#sec2dot2-insects-09-00056}
--------------------
The study was conducted in two localities in southwestern Finland, near Turku (Jäkärlä: 60°32′ N, 22°33′ E; Raisio: 60°29′ N, 22°09′ E). Turku is surrounded by boreo-nemoral forests, and the mean July temperature is +17.5° C. The study sites (ca. 50 × 200 m each) were chosen in sparse mixed forests with abundant young (up to 3 m tall) birch trees. During the study years (2008--2009), the proportion of birch foliar biomass removed by insects by the end of the growth season at our study sites was about 10%, and the densities of all herbivorous insects were at their background levels.
We tagged current-year vegetative shoots of downy birch damaged by the selected groups of herbivores (experimental shoots hereafter) on 18--23 August 2008. The shoots included in our study had to fit the following criteria: (1) the leaf mine or roll/nest produced by a target herbivore was of its final size (i.e., we excluded uncompleted mines and nests where a herbivore died at an early developmental stage); (2) foliar losses due to damage of the selected shoot by nontarget herbivores were less than 1%; and (3) a control (undamaged or nearly undamaged) shoot of the same type was available on the same tree, and it resembled the corresponding experimental shoot in size, leaf number, and position within the crown. Data collection in 2008 was non-destructive: we measured the length of each leaf in selected experimental and control shoots, and visually estimated the percentage of leaf area injured by herbivores.
The year after the damage occurred (2009), we collected all the shoots that developed from buds of the tagged shoots after the termination of shoot growth (21--23 July). Leaf size and biomass were measured as described in \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. At that time, we had not planned to conduct measurements of leaf FA, but the leaves were preserved in small envelopes, and the larger part of the leaves remained flat and unbroken after drying and weighing.
In 2017, M.V.K. selected 1--2 of the best preserved leaves from each of 50 experimental shoots and from 50 paired control shoots and coded these leaves (184 in total) in a blinded fashion that prevented the determination of the leaf origin from the leaf code. This procedure assured that leaf measurements were not prone to confirmation bias \[[@B21-insects-09-00056]\]. The leaves were mounted on strong paper and scanned at 600 dpi resolution. The width of the left and right halves at the midpoint between the base and the apex of leaf lamina was measured from images of these leaves by D.E.G., following a protocol described in an earlier study \[[@B22-insects-09-00056]\]. In brief, the middle of the midrib was identified using a distance tool in Image J 1.49 V, and the perpendicularity of measurement line to the midrib was achieved by placing a new layer with an image of a cross over the measured image. The second measurement was performed two weeks after the first, and blinded to the results of the first measurement.
2.3. Data Analysis {#sec2dot3-insects-09-00056}
------------------
We first conducted a mixed-model ANOVA to detect any evidence for directional asymmetry and FA relative to measurement error \[[@B23-insects-09-00056],[@B24-insects-09-00056]\]. In this analysis, the leaf side was considered a fixed factor, and the individual leaf a random factor (SAS MIXED procedure \[[@B25-insects-09-00056]\]). We evaluated the reproducibility of measurements by calculating the index ME5 = \[MS~i~ − MS~m~\]/\[MS~i~ + MS~m~\], where MS~i~ and MS~m~ are the interaction and error mean squares from a sides × individuals ANOVA \[[@B23-insects-09-00056]\]. This index expresses FA variation as a proportion of the total variation between leaf sides, which includes the variation due to both FA and the measurement error calculated from two independent measurements.
The size-corrected FA values were calculated from the width of the left and right leaf halves (WL and WR, respectively) as follows: FA = 2 × abs(WL − WR)/(WL + WR). This index was widely applied in earlier studies of plant leaf FA \[[@B26-insects-09-00056],[@B27-insects-09-00056],[@B28-insects-09-00056],[@B29-insects-09-00056]\], and its use is justified by the significant positive correlation between the absolute difference in the measured character between the left and right leaf halves and leaf size, whereas size-corrected FA values were independent of leaf size (data not shown).
The FA values were square-root transformed to meet a normality assumption, averaged between two subsequent measurements of the same leaf, and then between two leaves collected from the same shoot. The shoot-specific values of foliar damage measured in the year preceding leaf sampling were log(1 + √x) transformed prior to analysis. Both FA and foliar damage were analysed with a linear mixed model (SAS GLIMMIX procedure). We considered treatment (experimental vs. control shoots), herbivore identity (six groups, see above), and their interaction as fixed effects, whereas the study site and the sampled tree (nested within a site) were treated as random effects. We facilitated accurate *F* tests of the fixed effects by adjusting the standard errors and denominator degrees of freedom using the latest version of the method described in \[[@B30-insects-09-00056]\]. This analysis showed that insect identity did not explain the variation in leaf FA; therefore, at the final stage, we combined shoots damaged by all groups of insects and compared untransformed FA values between paired experimental and control shoots by the conservative non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test (SAS UNIVARIATE procedure \[[@B25-insects-09-00056]\]).
3. Results {#sec3-insects-09-00056}
==========
3.1. Identification of Fluctuating Asymmetry {#sec3dot1-insects-09-00056}
--------------------------------------------
Analysis of our data demonstrated a highly significant side × leaf interaction (*F*~183,368~ = 398.8, *p* \< 0.0001), confirming the existence of FA in our sample and our ability to identify FA using repeated measurements of the given accuracy. The left half of the analysed leaves was, on average, 1.8% wider than the right half (*F*~1,183~ = 6.13, *p* = 0.01), whereas the average absolute difference in width between leaf halves was much greater (8.5% of leaf half-width). Variance components from the mixed model ANOVA indicated that measurement error (ME5) accounted for 0.5% of the variation in FA.
3.2. Effects of Previous-year Herbivory on Fluctuating Asymmetry {#sec3dot2-insects-09-00056}
----------------------------------------------------------------
The previous year's losses of foliage to insects ([Table S1](#app1-insects-09-00056){ref-type="app"}) were significantly higher in the experimental shoots than in the control shoots ([Table 1](#insects-09-00056-t001){ref-type="table"}; mean ± S.E.: 16.3 ± 1.9% and 2.0 ± 0.4%, respectively). Mixed model ANOVA demonstrated that the FA ([Table S1](#app1-insects-09-00056){ref-type="app"}) tended to be lower in leaves collected from the experimental shoots than from the control shoots ([Table 1](#insects-09-00056-t001){ref-type="table"}). This difference in FA between the experimental and control shoots did not depend on the identity of the insects that had inflicted damage in the previous year ([Figure 1](#insects-09-00056-f001){ref-type="fig"}, [Table 1](#insects-09-00056-t001){ref-type="table"}), but reached statistical significance only for the damage caused by the birch leaf roller, *D. betulae* ([Figure 1](#insects-09-00056-f001){ref-type="fig"}). The paired Wilcoxon test confirmed that leaf FA was significantly lower in experimental shoots (all herbivores combined) than in control shoots (*S* = 271.5, *p* = 0.0074).
4. Discussion {#sec4-insects-09-00056}
=============
Our study is the first to demonstrate that local and relatively minor damage (on average, a 16% loss of foliar biomass to insects) may change the symmetry of leaves produced by the affected shoots in the year following the damage. This result was predictable, because herbivory was previously reported to increase leaf FA at the plant-specific and site-specific scales \[[@B8-insects-09-00056],[@B16-insects-09-00056],[@B17-insects-09-00056]\]. However, the direction of the effect observed here, namely, the *decrease* in FA as a response to herbivory, was unexpected. Typically, FA either increases or remains unchanged with an increase in environmental stress \[[@B23-insects-09-00056],[@B31-insects-09-00056],[@B32-insects-09-00056]\], whereas its decrease is usually observed following alleviation of stress \[[@B33-insects-09-00056],[@B34-insects-09-00056]\]. Assuming that a larger FA reflects greater developmental instability resulting from environmental or genetic stress \[[@B23-insects-09-00056],[@B35-insects-09-00056]\], our result suggests that the minor damage inflicted to an individual shoot by insect herbivory caused a partial alleviation of the stress routinely experienced by plant shoots, and/or it imposed an increased stress on nearby undamaged shoots on the same plants.
We recognise that our study design poses some limitations on the interpretation of the results. Indeed, the distribution of damage between shoots was not random, but resulted from shoot selection by ovipositing females. However, we are not aware of any data showing that insects can recognise and preferentially infest shoots that have the potential to produce leaves with low FA during the year following oviposition. Furthermore, we did not plan measurements of leaf FA when we established this experiment, so our selection of experimental or control shoots was not affected by leaf asymmetry. Therefore, we believe that our result was not influenced by a non-random selection of experimental or control shoots.
The damage imposed by a community of plant-feeding insects when at their 'normal' low population densities is termed background insect herbivory \[[@B36-insects-09-00056]\]. The direct losses of foliar biomass due to background herbivory are relatively minor, so these losses are often considered negligible (e.g., \[[@B37-insects-09-00056]\]). However, steadily accumulating data now reveal that minor damage can have major effects when acting continuously, due to activation of plant defences, triggering of premature leaf abscission, and disturbance of plant growth and reproduction (reviewed in \[[@B38-insects-09-00056]\]). A recurring suggestion is that the mechanisms underlying plant resistance and tolerance to episodic severe damage versus minor chronic damage due to insects are likely to differ \[[@B3-insects-09-00056],[@B39-insects-09-00056],[@B40-insects-09-00056]\]. Our results corroborate this hypothesis, as we found that the leaf FA decreases in the affected shoots in the year following minor local damage, in contrast to a reported \[[@B8-insects-09-00056],[@B16-insects-09-00056],[@B17-insects-09-00056]\] increase in leaf FA in a year following severe defoliation of the entire plant.
Our finding of a decrease in leaf FA in the year after shoot damage by insects looks less anomalous when compared with data on shoot performance. In the year following the damage, the damaged shoots of downy birch (the same shoots from which we measured FA in the current study) produced 13.8% more biomass than that of undamaged shoots from the same tree \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. This pattern, as well as the decrease in leaf FA, were most pronounced in shoots damaged by birch leaf roller, *D. betulae*, which inflicts the most extensive damage upon birch leaves of all our study species \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. This compensatory growth was previously interpreted as a consequence of an increase in primary metabolism in the affected shoot and/or in translocation of assimilates to the site of damage, and these effects were suggested to occur due to hormonal mechanisms triggered by insect damage \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\]. This redistribution of resources may be a proximate mechanism that could explain the observed differences in leaf FA between shoots that were and were not damaged by insects during the previous year. Thus, substantial variation in leaf FA observed among individual leaves of a plant \[[@B41-insects-09-00056]\] at least partly reflects the previous-year distribution of damage inflicted by insects within the plant crown. However, the ecological and/or evolutionary significance of this variation remains to be established.
A previous (yet unpublished) study demonstrated that specialist defoliators distinguish between nearly symmetric and highly asymmetric leaves of the same plant \[[@B13-insects-09-00056]\]. Thus, leaf asymmetry could conceivably serve as a cue in the selection of individual leaves by herbivorous insects within a plant crown. Controlled experiments demonstrate that insects prefer high-FA leaves to low-FA leaves of downy birch \[[@B13-insects-09-00056]\], and that insects show higher growth rates when consuming leaves from high-FA than from low-FA trees \[[@B42-insects-09-00056]\]. Our current finding of a lower FA of leaves produced by previously damaged birch shoots is in line with these results, because the leaves of these shoots which grew in the following year were less frequently damaged by insects than were the leaves of shoots that had experienced little or no previous-year damage \[[@B3-insects-09-00056]\].
Studies exploring the impacts of insect herbivory on plants usually control for plant-specific losses of leaf biomass, while commonly ignoring the distribution of damage within a plant. At the same time, a specific spatial pattern of damage may be more detrimental to plant fitness than other patterns \[[@B4-insects-09-00056]\]. Therefore, selection of leaves based on their asymmetry may not only increase the fitness of insect herbivores, especially those that cannot change their feeding sites in the course of larval development (like miners and gallers), but may also decrease the susceptibility of the whole plant to background insect herbivory. In particular, some observations suggest that evenly distributed herbivory results in a smaller decrease in growth and reproduction of the whole plant, when compared to the same level of herbivory concentrated on only one part of the crown \[[@B43-insects-09-00056]\]. We now extend this hypothesis to between-year differences in the distribution of damage, and we suggest that insect preference for shoots that have not been damaged in the previous year allows their damaged neighbours to recover prior to the next damage event, thereby improving overall plant performance.
5. Conclusions {#sec5-insects-09-00056}
==============
Minor and local insect damage may reduce leaf FA of the affected plant shoot in the year following the damage, in contrast to severe defoliation that frequently increases plant FA. Thus, damage by insects contributes to within-plant variation in leaf asymmetry, and may influence the distribution of herbivory in the following year.
The study was supported by the Academy of Finland through projects 122133, 268124, and 276671.
The following are available online at <http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/9/2/56/s1>, Table S1: Shoot-specific values of leaf FA and of previous-year losses of leaf area to insects.
######
Click here for additional data file.
M.V.K. and E.L.Z. planned the study; V.Z. conducted field work; D.E.G. measured leaf images; M.V.K. analysed the data and prepared the first draft of the manuscript; D.E.G., V.Z. and E.L.Z. revised the first draft and contributed to writing of the final version of the manuscript.
Academy of Finland: 122133; Academy of Finland: 268124; Academy of Finland: 276671.
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The founding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.
{#insects-09-00056-f001}
insects-09-00056-t001_Table 1
######
Sources of variation in leaf fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and in percentage of leaf area damaged by insects in experimental and control shoots during the previous year.
Effect Type Source of Variation FA (2009) Leaf Damage (2008)
------------- -------------------------- ------------------ -------------------- ------------------- ----------
Fixed Treatment ^1^ *F*~1,61~ = 3.40 0.07 *F*~1,61~ = 117.4 \<0.0001
Insect group *F*~5,40~ = 0.33 0.89 *F*~5,40~ = 2.24 0.06
Treatment × Insect group *F*~5,61~ = 0.69 0.63 *F*~5,61~ = 0.85 0.52
Random Site *χ*~1~ = 0.00 0.99 *χ*~1~ = 0.00 0.99
Tree (Site) *χ*~1~ = 0.07 0.80 *χ*~1~ = 2.86 0.09
^1^ Experimental vs. control shoots.
|
The invention relates generally to a steerable drive axle for a motor vehicle and more specifically to such an axle having increased ground clearance and requiring few universal joints.
In order to equip motor vehicles with a steerable drive axle wherein two drive shafts are arranged in a single axle housing, the two shafts are angled rearwardly with respect to a horizontal plane so the vehicle's wheelbase will be decreased for a shorter turning radius and the front-end width will be reduced. The two drive shafts are connected to a differential, each through a universal joint, such that a transversely continuous drive assembly is formed having a V-shaped configuration which opens rearwardly. The end of each drive shaft carries a universal joint which in turn is connected to the axle shaft of a corresponding wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is connected to the axle housing for pivoting about a substantially vertical axis by a steering mechanism. A differential is located at the point of the V-shaped configuration, and the centerline of the differential is generally on the same level as the centerline of the wheels connected to the drive axles. Ground clearance between the wheels is therefore limited by the wheel centerline, and one or more universal joints are commonly required between the transmission and the differential. |
Molecular insights into paediatric breast fibroepithelial tumours.
This study aims to examine the molecular genetics of paediatric breast fibroepithelial tumours through the targeted sequencing of 50 genes. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of fibroepithelial tumours diagnosed in a cohort of patients aged 18 years and below were subjected to next generation sequencing using the Haloplex Target Enrichment System. Twenty-five conventional and 17 juvenile fibroadenomas were studied, with MED12 mutations found in 53.8 and 35% of the tumours, respectively. There was also one benign fibroepithelial neoplasm with hybrid features of juvenile papillomatosis and infarcted benign phyllodes tumour-like areas. Most tumours did not have mutations in well-known cancer driver genes, none harboured TERT promoter mutations, while 25.6% (11 of 43) showed no mutations. Metachronous and synchronous tumours were found to have mutational heterogeneity with some containing mutations in MED12; other genes or no mutations were detected at all. Four of eight giant fibroadenomas (size 5 cm or larger) had no mutations detected, suggesting that there are other molecular mechanisms driving their growth. Tumours with MED12 mutations incidentally had a significantly higher stromal mitotic count compared with those without. While paediatric fibroepithelial lesions can have cellular stroma potentially raising concern for phyllodes tumour, their lack of TERT promoter and cancer driver mutations is reassuring. The absence of mutations in a significant proportion of tumours, especially the giant fibroadenomas, warrants investigation of pathogenetic mechanisms beyond those involving the 50 genes. |
Renal transplantation in patients with endstage diabetic nephropathy.
Eighty-six renal transplantations were performed in 69 patients with endstage diabetic nephropathy. Cadaveric kidneys were used in 77 of the transplantations. Most of the patients had severe retinopathy. Patients with severe cardiopathy and neuropathy were not accepted for transplantation. After one year 61% of the patients were alive, after three years 43%, all except one with functioning graft. The quality of life of the survivors was acceptable, only two requiring nursing care. It is concluded that renal transplantation in patients with diabetic nephropathy is justified in selected patients. |
Spark plugs for internal combustion engines have been known for more than 100 years. Although the design of spark plugs has improved considerably during that time, there is a continuing need for spark plugs which will further enhance engine performance and, hopefully, reduce the rate of fuel consumption.
The need for spark plugs which yield improved engine performance is especially acute in the racing industry, where even small increases in engine performance and/or small decreases in engine fuel consumption can mean the difference between winning and losing. |
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A SAS/IML program for simulating pharmacokinetic data.
Data simulation can be an invaluable tool for optimizing the design of bioequivalence trials. It can be particularly useful when exploring alternative approaches for assessing product comparability especially in the context of encountering various complex experimental situations that can occur in veterinary medicine. With this in mind, we designed a novel SAS/IML program to generate pharmacokinetic datasets that reflect the various kinetic, population, and study design characteristics that complicate the bioequivalence evaluation of animal health products. Developing this simulation program within SAS provides an opportunity to utilize the statistical capabilities of this software platform. |
The top US diplomat in Caracas, Venezuela and his deputy have been ordered to leave the country after allegedly conspiring against the government, President Nicolas Maduro announced.
"I have declared him persona non grata and I announce the exit of the US chargé d'affaires in 48 hours," Maduro said on Tuesday, referring to Todd Robinson. His deputy, Brian Naranjo, was also expelled.
The expulsion comes after Washington denounced Maduro’s victory in Venezuela’s elections on Sunday as a “sham.” Maduro won 4 million votes more than the second-placed opposition candidate Henri Falcon, but the turnout was just over 46 percent.
Read more
Washington insists that Maduro is running a socialist dictatorship, with US Vice President Mike Pence calling the election “neither free nor fair” and saying the “fake process” was a blow to the “proud democratic tradition” of Venezuela.
The Trump administration sanctioned all purchases of Venezuelan debt on Monday, but stopped short of blocking oil sales.
Maduro slammed the sanctions as “arbitrary and unilateral measures” that constitute a “crime against humanity.”
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry also criticized the “systematic campaign of aggression and hostility” from the United States, which it said was aimed at punishing the Venezuelan people “for exercising their right to vote.”
The EU has followed Washington’s lead in condemning the Venezuelan elections, saying that the presidential and regional polls "went ahead without a national agreement on an electoral calendar and without complying with the minimum international standards for a credible process.”
The US has been piling on punitive measures against the Venezuelan government while claiming to be looking out for the people of that Latin American country. On Friday, the US Treasury blacklisted influential Maduro supporter Diosdado Cabello, his wife Marleny and his brother Jose, alleging they were running a “corruption network” based on illegal drug trade. Cabello, the vice president of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), has rejected the accusations as false.
Venezuela has not had a proper US ambassador since July 2010, after the authorities in Caracas withdrew the agreement for the appointment of Larry L. Palmer, nominated by then-President Barack Obama. His predecessor, Patrick Duddy, was expelled by President Hugo Chavez in 2008, but was able to return and serve out the rest of his term the following year, after the Obama administration restored diplomatic relations with Caracas.
Robinson, a career diplomat, took over the embassy in Caracas in September 2017. Prior to that, he was US ambassador to Guatemala.
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«¿Por qué las fuerzas israelíes disparan a matar a los manifestantes en Gaza?» «Bueno, no podemos meter a tanta gente en la cárcel». Esa es la respuesta que Michal Maayan, portavoz del Gobierno de Israel, daba a un periodista irlandés de la cadena RTÉ.
En las últimas horas, ante las continuas condenas internacionales por la matanza en Gaza, el Gobierno israelí ha tratado de justificar de una forma u otra el asesinato de 62 palestinos en las protestas de este lunes y martes en la Franja. Las vergonzosas palabras de la portavoz no han pasado desapercibidas y se han viralizado a través de un vídeo difundido por redes sociales.
Sol Sánchez @abrazopartio – ¿Por qué disparaban a matar a los Palestinos en Gaza?
– No podemos meter a tanta gente en la cárcel.
Maayan trata de defender a los soldados israelíes y asegura que disparan para «disuadir» a los manifestantes y obligarles a moverse. La mayoría de los muertos, entre los que al menos ocho menores, una de ellos una bebé de apenas ocho meses, fue por disparos. Y de los más de 2.700 heridos presentaban lesiones de bala o metralla.
Las palabras de la portavoz van en la línea de las declaraciones públicas realizadas por el Ejecutivo hebreo: defender la actuación de su Ejército y culpar a las víctimas. Sin ir más lejos, el mismo primer ministro, Benjamín Netanyahu, ha declarado este miércoles en una entrevista con la cadena de televisión estadounidense CBS que«los métodos no letales» no funcionan para Gaza.
El líder israelí culpa al movimiento palestino Hamás de los muertos, al acusarlos de buscar víctimas. «Nosotros intentamos minimizar las víctimas. Ellos intentan que las haya para poner presión sobre Israel», asegura Netanyahu. «Empujan a civiles, a mujeres a niños a la línea de fuego con el objetivo de obtener víctimas», añadió el primer ministro israelí, que también acusó a Hamás de «pagar» a los palestinos para participar en las protestas. «Desafortunadamente, estas cosas son evitables. Si Hamás no los hubiese empujado, no hubiese pasado», añade Netanyahu.
Entre otras declaraciones de miembros del Gobierno israelí, cada cual más beligerante, destaca la del ultraderechista Gilad Erdan, ministro de Asuntos Estratégicos y Seguridad Pública, que ha llegado a comparar a equiparar a los palestinos muertos con los nazis. Para Erda, el número de fallecidos «no indica nada» al igual que «el número de nazis que murieron en la Guerra Mundial no hace que el nazismo sea algo que uno pueda explicar o comprender», ha escrito en Twitter.
Enlace con la noticia |
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'''変更するには、フィールドの宣言をデザイナー ファイルから分離コード ファイルに移動します。
'''</remarks>
Protected WithEvents lblResult As Global.System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label
'''<summary>
'''lvwListView1 コントロール。
'''</summary>
'''<remarks>
'''自動生成されたフィールド。
'''変更するには、フィールドの宣言をデザイナー ファイルから分離コード ファイルに移動します。
'''</remarks>
Protected WithEvents lvwListView1 As Global.System.Web.UI.WebControls.ListView
'''<summary>
'''DataPager1 コントロール。
'''</summary>
'''<remarks>
'''自動生成されたフィールド。
'''変更するには、フィールドの宣言をデザイナー ファイルから分離コード ファイルに移動します。
'''</remarks>
Protected WithEvents DataPager1 As Global.System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataPager
'''<summary>
'''btnButton1 コントロール。
'''</summary>
'''<remarks>
'''自動生成されたフィールド。
'''変更するには、フィールドの宣言をデザイナー ファイルから分離コード ファイルに移動します。
'''</remarks>
Protected WithEvents btnButton1 As Global.System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button
'''<summary>
'''lblResultOfItemCommand コントロール。
'''</summary>
'''<remarks>
'''自動生成されたフィールド。
'''変更するには、フィールドの宣言をデザイナー ファイルから分離コード ファイルに移動します。
'''</remarks>
Protected WithEvents lblResultOfItemCommand As Global.System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label
End Class
End Namespace
|
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a condition induced by a number of diverse factors, ranging from genetic abnormalities to accidental limbal injuries. It develops when the epithelial stem and precursor cell systems of the limbal zone undergo numerical or functional degradation, thereby compromising the regenerative capacity of the corneal epithelium \[[@CR1]--[@CR5]\]. Ensuing central corneal epitheliopathy results in reduced visual acuity, chronic inflammation, corneal pain, photophobia, epiphora, and blepharospasm, which when bilateral, may progress to full blindness. A consensus for the classification and grading of LSCD has been recently proposed \[[@CR6]\]. Worldwide, the prevalence of LSCD is estimated to be between 1 to 9 cases per 100,000 individuals \[[@CR7]\]. For unilateral LSCD the autologous transplantation of culture-expanded limbal epithelial cell (CLET) from these biopsies, represents a promising treatment with success rates of about 70--80% \[[@CR8]--[@CR17]\]. For the more critical bilateral LSCD in spite of the hindrance presented by potential immune-rejection, allografts from semi-compatible donors are being implemented \[[@CR18], [@CR19]\]. To date, no specific international consensus on standards for the use of objective clinical parameters has been established. To contribute to the development of such standards, we have now subjected our clinical CLET work, completed under the guidelines for good laboratory practices (GLP) to a battery of recognized objective and patient-declared subjective outcome criteria.
Methods {#Sec2}
=======
Clinical metrics {#Sec3}
----------------
Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined using a standard printed Snellen eye chart with the patient 6 m away. Results are presented as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) scale; the 0 and 1 LogMAR values correspond to 20/20 and 20/200 BCVAs in the popularly known Snellen scale, respectively. Slit-lamp photos were obtained from all patients during each pre and postoperative visit. Ocular surface score (OSSs) were calculated using the Clinical Outcome Assessment in Surgical Trials (COASTL) assessment tool \[[@CR19]\]. We used the sum of scores for four parameters, corneal epithelial haze, superficial corneal neovascularization, corneal epithelial irregularity, and corneal epithelial defect. Each parameter was graded between 0 and 3, thus rendering OSS values from 0 (best) to 12 (worst). All OSS parameter determinations were performed by a single researcher (OBS) according to the slit lamp examination and anterior segment photography. For the Schirmer's test without topical anesthesia, we measured the advance of fluid on the filter paper 5 min after insertion of the filter paper into the conjunctiva. Recommended cutting values are 5 and 10 mm \[[@CR20]\]. Subject evaluation of changes in the extent of visual loss in the affected eye and in ocular pain was graded separately by using a 0--10 scale in response to the question "Using the endpoints that are marked as guides, how would you rate overall diseased eye's visual quality / pain?". In these grading scales, for subjective visual loss zero means perfect vision and for ocular pain zero means no pain.
Finally, we used two wide scope questionnaires for subjective patient evaluation of outcomes. The Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) \[[@CR21]\] is a 12- question set that provides a quick evaluation of the ocular discomfort symptoms according to dry eye and their effect on vision-related functioning in the past 2 weeks. It includes assesses the severity of symptoms, functional problems, and environmental factors. Each answer is scored on a 5-point scale, resulting in a total OSDI score ranging from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (maximum symptoms). OSDI The Turkish version of OSDI \[[@CR22]\] was applied in order to obtain OSDI scores. OSDI was applied preoperatively and postoperative 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th month. At The 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25, part-1, questions regarding general health; part-2 questions, related to difficulty with activities and quality of life and part-3 questions related to vision, was applied with a modification for Turkish medical practice at preoperatively and postoperative 12th month \[[@CR23]\]. In parts 1 and 2 (questions 1 to 16) best to worse condition is graded on a 1 to 5 or 6 scales, yielding ranges of between 4 and 21 and 9 and 455, respectively. In part 3 the 9 questions (17 to 25), though, gradation is on a 1 to 5 worse to best scale, establishing a 9--45 range.
Statistics {#Sec4}
----------
Friedman and Wilcoxon's tests were used to generate a probability (p) value, where *p* \< 0.05 is taken as statistically significant.
Patient recruitment {#Sec5}
-------------------
Inclusion criteria were; unilateral LSCD due to an ocular chemical burn, a minimum duration after injury of 12 months with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) equal or worse than 0.4 LogMAR units and Ocular surface score (OSS) equal or exceeding 5 out of 12. Exclusion criteria were; the concomitant existence of any systemic diseases or other ocular conditions and pregnancy or lactation. The study was approved by the University Research Ethics Committee and the Turkish Ministry of Health. The experimental sample comprised nine males and one female, mean age 40.1 representing all needed cases at the Ege University School of Medicine, Ophthalmology Department between 01/10/2015 and 01/09/2017. The mean period between chemical injury and surgical intervention was 121 months (range, 12--504 months).
Human amniotic membrane (hAM) collection and processing {#Sec6}
-------------------------------------------------------
Human placentas were obtained under sterile conditions from planned, uneventful cesarean sections. Immediately after surgery, under sterile conditions, the hAM was bluntly dissected from the chorion, rinsed with buffered saline containing penicillin, streptomycin, and amphotericin B. Square hAM sections (2.5 × 2.5 cm) were placed epithelial side up into 35 mm Petri dishes containing a Dulbecco Modified Minimal Essential Medium (DMEM): glycerol 1:1 solution. The dishes were transferred to a − 80 °C freezer and subsequently to liquid nitrogen for long term storage. Thawing was performed by letting the hAM rest at room temperature until the substance became liquid. To remove the hAM epithelium and expose the basal lamina, hAMs were incubated in for 1 h at 37 °C in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, pH 7.4, followed by light scraping with a dull steel tool. To ensure the absence of transmissible infectious agents in the hAM, blood samples collected from the placental donor, following written consent, 2 weeks before parturition and 6 months afterward and prior to hAM utilization, were serologically examined for HIV-1/2, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and, syphilis. Autologous serum was generated from 10 ml of blood extracted by phlebotomy from the antecubital fossa of the transplant recipient. After spontaneous coagulation, cells were spun down and the serum supernatant was passed through a 0.2 μm filter.
Limbal tissue collection and culture {#Sec7}
------------------------------------
A small corneal-limbal biopsy (2 × 1.5 mm, approximately 100 μm thick) was taken from the contralateral healthy eye of the patient at 0°, with care to exclude conjunctival tissue and immediately transported to the cell culture facility in corneal storage medium. Biopsy tissues were divided in to two parts and each part placed epithelial-side up at the center of a 2 cm- diameter preserved human amniotic membrane (hAM) and overlaid with 1.7 ml of epithelial medium consisting of a 1:1 mix DMEM and Ham F-12 (D/F12) complemented with 20% autologous serum and 1% PS. Explants were examined daily and fed with 2 ml of the medium on alternate days. In all cases (at least one outgrowth) an epithelial outgrowth was observed after 3--4 days and it was allowed to expand for between 12 and 14 days, to reach full hAM coverage. In 5 cases, both culture outgrowths were expanded. These parallel five culture tissues were used to evaluate the growth potential of the cultivated outgrowth by determining the percent of basal cells that are overtly positive for p63α, the nuclear protein that marks the extended proliferative potential of ectodermal-derive stratified epithelial cells \[[@CR23], [@CR24]\]. Finally, to protect patients for the implicit risks in the contact with animal-derived components or poorly monitored culture environments, all our procedures adhered to the GLP guidelines \[[@CR25]\].
Histology and immunochemistry {#Sec8}
-----------------------------
Cultures were fixed in formalin for 48--72 h embedded in paraffin and sectioned. Sections were alternative stained with H&E or immune-stained. Sections within 1 mm of the explant were permeabilized with 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS for 30 min, blocked with 1% BSA-PBS for 2 h and incubated for 18 h at 4 °C with a rabbit monoclonal antibody against p63α (ThermoFisher, Fair Lawn, NJ), After three PBS washes, the sections were incubated with an Alexa 488-conjugated goat anti-rabbit antibody for 30 min and, following 3 PBS washes in PBS- 1% Tween 20, the sections were mounted in DAPI complement VectaShield (Vector Labs. CA). The Alexa 488 and DAPI fluorescent emissions were captured in an epifluorescent microscope and the percent of p63α-positive cells were determined from counts that included at least 100 basal cell nuclei.
Transplantation surgery {#Sec9}
-----------------------
After conjunctival peritomy with Vannas scissors, pannus tissue was removed by blunt dissection to expose the underlying corneal stroma and a superficial keratectomy was achieved by polishing the affected areas with a diamond burr. Occasional bleeding was arrested by topical cautery of the episcleral vessels. The epithelium-covered hAM was then affixed over the prepared stroma by 8 symmetrically spaced conjunctival 10.0 nylon sutures. A second protective, freshly thawed-out hAM was secured by interrupted 8.0 vicryl sutures as a dressing over the transplanted epithelia-hAM sheet. All surgical procedures were performed by a single surgeon (AY).
Post-operative management {#Sec10}
-------------------------
Patients were treated daily with a combination of preservative-free drops of moxifloxacin (0.5%) (Vigamox®, Alcon, USA), 1% loteprednol etabonate (Lotemax®, Bausch &Lomb, U.K) and artificial tears. Moxifloxacin was stopped 10 days after the surgery and loteprednol was tapered slowly in 3 months according to the severity of ocular surface inflammation. Once the overlaying hAM waned away cyclosporine eye drops (Restasis®, Allergan, USA) were added to reduce the risk of dry eye-related inflammation. Topical artificial tear and cyclosporine treatment were continued for the duration of the study. Donor and recipient eyes were examined after 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 30 days and 2, 3, 6 and 12 months. Extra visits were performed in case of clinical need. Bio-microscopic anterior segment photographs were taken at each visit. The parametric test values described below were collected Preop and at the 1, 3, 6 and 12-month Postop visits.
Results {#Sec11}
=======
All contralateral limbal donor eyes showed no change in visual acuity during the follow-up period or resulted in reports of pain or discomfort by the subjects. Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"} depicts representative results of the characterization of the six successful, in-parallel cultures that were not used for transplantation. Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}, a shows an H&E staining in the proximity of the biopsy. The epithelium consists of 2--3 layers of cells. There were no visible flattened cell profiles typical of the stratified cell when the epithelium is at rest. Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}, B shows an immunofluorescence micrograph of p63α (green) stain side-by-side with its corresponding nuclear DAPI blue counterstain. The percent of p63α-positive cells within the basal cell layer was high and quite similar for all six explants. The highest and lowest percentiles were, 56 and 47%, respectively. A clear feature of the staining pattern was the complete absence of protein staining in suprabasal cells; either p63α-positive cells were resilient to the upward mobility pressures. A second possibility, an extremely rapid down-regulation and degradation upon stratification seem less likely. Figure [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"} shows micrographs of pre-operative (Preop) and 12 months post-operative (Postop) corneal surfaces for 5 of the treated subjects. The corresponding BCVAs (VA) are stated in the micrographs. Fig. 1Immuno-histology of the limbal explant outgrowth. **a**. H&E stain. **b**. p63α (left side) and DAPI (right side) stains. Note that the immunogen is present exclusively on basal cellsFig. 2Preop and 12-months Postop ocular surface micrographs and respective BCVA values. VA = BCVA
Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"} displays the score ranges and average ± SD scores for all six criteria used. Pre- (control), and postoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity at 3, 6 and12-month were 1.15 ± 0.70; 0.28 ± 0.07; 0.29 ± 0.21 and 0.21 ± 0.13 LogMAR, respectively (*n* = 10; *p* \< 0.05 vs all other times). Corresponding mean OSSs were 7.40 ± 2.01; 2.60 ± 0.84; 2.40 ± 0.96; 2,50 ± 1.08, (p \< 0.05 vs. control). Pre-, and 1st year post-operative mean subjective visual losses were 7.30 ± 1.49 and 3.50 ± 1.92, respectively (*p* = 0.018). Patients' responses to all parts of the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (Turkish version) were consistent with significant visual improvement (p \< 0.05). Ocular pain score had no significant difference. In brief, objective visual criteria, BCVA and OSS, were significantly improved from the first determination after 1 month onward and continued to improve over the next 2 months. Three months after the surgery the LogMAR has undergone a 75% decrease (corresponding to a change from 20/290 to 20/35 in the Snellen scale) with a corresponding decrease of 60% in OSS. Notably, there were no further statistically significant improvements over the next 9 months. Lacrimation as measured by the Schirmer's test was in the normal range prior to the surgical intervention and was not modified by it. Overall, in line with the changes in the objective criteria, the patient's perceptions of vision and pain decreased by half from by the third Postop month. The scores of the OSDI and first two subparts (P1 and P2) of the NEI-VFQ criteria underwent moderate decreases. The high standard deviation intrinsic to these subjective tests, though, impacted the chances for statistically significant differences at many time points. The changes in two BCVA and OSS, for each individual patient, are shown in Fig. [3](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"} A. and the correlation between the preoperative scores and the average for 3, 6 and 12-month scores is shown in Fig. [3](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"} B for both BCVA (top) and OSS (bottom). These latter panels clearly show that there was no correlation between Preop scores and Postop outcome (*p* \> 0.5). Table 1Average scores and significance relative to the PreOp status for objective and subjective parameters used to evaluate the outcome of treatment of LSCD by autologous CLET***Scoring Range**PreOp**PostOp**p-value Preop-Postop month**1st month**3rd month**6th month**12th month**1st**3rd**6th**12th**Objective tests**BCVA***N-01.15 ± 0.700.51 ± 0.190.28 ± 0.070.29 ± 0.210.21 ± 0.131.0000.0060.0350.000***OSS***0--127.40 ± 2.012.9 ± 0.992.60 ± 0.842.40 ± 0.962,50 ± 1.080.1070.0100.0010.000***Schirmer's***21.9 ± 11.6NM21.2 ± 8.417.7 ± 5.518.5 ± 4.7NM0.9050.2850.369***Subjective tests**Vision loss***0.107.30 ± 1.493.70 ± 1.563.60 ± 1.503.50 ± 1.710.0470.0190.005***Pain***0--103.60 ± 2.981.20 ± 1.030.90 ± 1.281.80 ± 1.680.0400.0500.206***OSDI***0--10071.7 ± 26.552.97 ± 19.253.0 ± 15.452.5 ± 20.850.9 ± 22.60.1280.1810.0750.042***NEI-VFQ-P1***4--2114.70 ± 2.66\*9.50 ± 2.500.00***NEI-VFQ-P2***13--8139.90 ± 13.4525.40 ± 10.370.00***NEI-VFQ-P3***9--4520.60 ± 7.2937.20 ± 7.710.00Fig. 3Visual loss and ocular surface scores for all the patients included in this study. **a**. Raw data of ten patients. Overall both parameters follow a coincident trend. **b**. Scatter plots of the Preop score and the average for the scores obtained at 3, 6 and 12 months. The regression lines are shown
Discussion {#Sec12}
==========
CLET is an advanced treatment method for LSCD. In autologous transplantations, where systemic immunosuppression and its attendant sequel are avoided, success rates approach 80% \[[@CR6]\]. Since its first reports in the late nineties, there have been raising amounts of publications reporting the clinical outcomes of the modality. However, the self-reporting of outcomes in these studies, are usually based on subjective grading, or do not depend on clear criteria, which causes bias of the success dependability. Given the increased frequency of this limbal stem cell transference procedure and its expansion to an increasing number of countries as national regulatory organisms approve its implementation, the development of universally accepted outcome criteria becomes essential to objectively compare the relative advantage of alternative CLET approaches for patient safety, vision improvement, and cost-effectiveness.
Shortt and collaborators have proposed and exemplified a scoring system for evaluating the LSCD inter-, and intra-observer agreements to evaluate the outcome of allogeneic CLET treatment for Steven Johnson Syndrome-induced LSCD \[[@CR19]\]. In the present study, to evaluate the outcomes of autologous tissue-based CLET interventions, we applied an expanded system of scoring that incorporates that scoring approach and a battery of widely accepted criteria in ophthalmic practice. The objective criteria used objective provided a sound manner to quantitate the improvement in patient vision. In addition, our scoring system and its analysis identified several valuable features for future scoring improvement and surgical decision-making. The first observation to be made is that within the first year of follow up, the lion share of vision improvement occurred during the first trimester. The second notable, and somewhat counterintuitive observation was that the Postop score attained by the surgical intervention was not dependent on the degree of initial visual and ocular surface degradation These two features suggest that while the loss of function is primarily related to the catastrophic changes on the corneal epithelium/ supra stromal zone, stromal changes that affect vision occur simultaneously in a manner not directly correlated with the degree of changes at the corneal surface. Additionally, in the present study, other parametric tests were included such as OSDI, NEI-VFQ, subjective pain and visual loss scale in order to evaluate the outcomes. The meager improvement in pain sensation may relate to the latter concept. Although, the availability of a robustly documented set of scores will be very useful in the comparison across implementation of cell expansion, surgical methods and assessment of patient status over long periods in patients with LSCD due to ocular surface burns, it may not be applied to other causes of LSCD including aniridic keratopathy.
Conclusions {#Sec13}
===========
Objective clinical metrics demonstrate that in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency, cultivated limbal epithelial cell transplantation improves vision and ocular surface health and subjective visual perceptions.
BCVA
: Best-corrected visual acuity
OSS
: Ocular surface score
NEI-VFQ 25
: National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire
OSDI
: Ocular surface disease index
LSCD
: Limbal stem cell deficiency
CLET
: Transplantation of culture-expanded limbal epithelial cell
GLP
: Good laboratory practices
LogMAR
: Logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution
COASTL
: Clinical outcome assessment in surgical trials
hAM
: Human amniotic membrane
DMEM
: Dulbecco Modified Minimal Essential Medium
**Publisher's Note**
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
N/A
Ozlem Barut Selver: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp, Sur, Wrt, Stat.* Mehmet Gurdal: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp.* Ayse Yagci: *Fnd, Sur, Wrt, Stat.* Sait Egrilmez: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp, Sur, Wrt, Stat.* Melis Palamar: *Fnd, Dsg Wrt, Stat.* Turker Cavusoglu: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp,* Ali Veral: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp, Stat.* Cagri Guven: *Fnd, Dsg.* Utku Ates: *Fnd, Dsg.* Zheng Wang: *Exp, Wrt, Stat.* J. Mario Wolosin: *Fnd, Dsg, Exp, Wrt, Stat.* Keys: *Fnd:* fund procurement; *Dsg:* Exp plan design; *Exp:* Cell culture/histology; *Sur:* surgery; *Wrt:* Article writing. The author(s) read and approved the final manuscript.
*OBS: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)(Project number:115S423); JMW: USPHS RO1-EY 029279 and RO1-EY014878.*
The funding agency had no role or input in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article \[and its supplementary information files.
The study was approved by the University Research Ethics Committee and the Turkish Ministry of Health and written consent was obtained from patients. Data gathering was anonymized,
N/A
None.
|
---
description: "Automatically generated file. DO NOT MODIFY"
---
```csharp
GraphServiceClient graphClient = new GraphServiceClient( authProvider );
var attachment = new ItemAttachment
{
Name = "Holiday event",
Item = new Event
{
Subject = "Discuss gifts for children",
Body = new ItemBody
{
ContentType = BodyType.Html,
Content = "Let's look for funding!"
},
Start = new DateTimeTimeZone
{
DateTime = "2016-12-02T18:00:00",
TimeZone = "Pacific Standard Time"
},
End = new DateTimeTimeZone
{
DateTime = "2016-12-02T19:00:00",
TimeZone = "Pacific Standard Time"
}
}
};
await graphClient.Me.Messages["AAMkpsDRVK"].Attachments
.Request()
.AddAsync(attachment);
``` |
Q:
Windows Phone 8 canvas not displaying text when FlowDirection is RightToLeft
I am creating a User control which has a canvas and within which I have a Textblock. I need to enter hebrew text so I set the FlowDirection of canvas to RightToLeft but when I change flow direction to RightToLeft The text is not getting displayed. The XAML and snapshot is as below, why is it happening?
<Canvas x:Name="canvas"
FlowDirection="RightToLeft"
>
<TextBlock x:Name="textBlock1"
Height="{Binding Height}"
FontSize="50"
TextWrapping="NoWrap"
Foreground="{Binding Foreground}"
Text="AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
/>
</Canvas>
Snapshot when Flowdirection of canvas is RightToLeft
Snapshot when Flowdirection of canvas is LeftToRight
A:
Set Horizontal Alignment of TextBlock to Left and width of the textblock
<TextBlock x:Name="textBlock1"
Height="46"
FontSize="50"
HorizontalAlignment="Left"
FlowDirection="RightToLeft"
TextWrapping="NoWrap"
Foreground="White"
Text="AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" Width="434"
/>
|
# Copyright 2015 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
# Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
# found in the LICENSE file.
"""Processes tests and creates new Anomaly entities.
This module contains the ProcessTest function, which searches the recent
points in a test for potential regressions or improvements, and creates
new Anomaly entities.
"""
from __future__ import print_function
from __future__ import division
from __future__ import absolute_import
import logging
from google.appengine.ext import deferred
from google.appengine.ext import ndb
from dashboard import email_sheriff
from dashboard import find_change_points
from dashboard.common import utils
from dashboard.models import alert_group
from dashboard.models import anomaly
from dashboard.models import anomaly_config
from dashboard.models import graph_data
from dashboard.models import histogram
from dashboard.models import subscription
from dashboard.sheriff_config_client import SheriffConfigClient
from tracing.value.diagnostics import reserved_infos
# Number of points to fetch and pass to FindChangePoints. A different number
# may be used if a test has a "max_window_size" anomaly config parameter.
DEFAULT_NUM_POINTS = 50
@ndb.synctasklet
def ProcessTests(test_keys):
"""Processes a list of tests to find new anoamlies.
Args:
test_keys: A list of TestMetadata ndb.Key's.
"""
yield ProcessTestsAsync(test_keys)
@ndb.tasklet
def ProcessTestsAsync(test_keys):
# Using a parallel yield here let's the tasklets for each _ProcessTest run
# in parallel.
yield [_ProcessTest(k) for k in test_keys]
@ndb.tasklet
def _ProcessTest(test_key):
"""Processes a test to find new anomalies.
Args:
test_key: The ndb.Key for a TestMetadata.
"""
# We're dropping clank support, which goes through the old recipe_bisect
# system. For now, we're simply disabling alert generation and stopping
# bisects from getting kicked off. We'll follow up with a more thorough
# removal of all old bisect related code.
# crbug.com/937230
if test_key.id().startswith('ClankInternal'):
raise ndb.Return(None)
test = yield test_key.get_async()
config = yield anomaly_config.GetAnomalyConfigDictAsync(test)
max_num_rows = config.get('max_window_size', DEFAULT_NUM_POINTS)
rows_by_stat = yield GetRowsToAnalyzeAsync(test, max_num_rows)
ref_rows_by_stat = {}
ref_test = yield _CorrespondingRefTest(test_key)
if ref_test:
ref_rows_by_stat = yield GetRowsToAnalyzeAsync(ref_test, max_num_rows)
for s, rows in rows_by_stat.items():
if rows:
logging.info('Processing test: %s', test_key.id())
yield _ProcessTestStat(config, test, s, rows, ref_rows_by_stat.get(s))
def _EmailSheriff(sheriff, test_key, anomaly_key):
test_entity = test_key.get()
anomaly_entity = anomaly_key.get()
email_sheriff.EmailSheriff(sheriff, test_entity, anomaly_entity)
@ndb.tasklet
def _ProcessTestStat(config, test, stat, rows, ref_rows):
test_key = test.key
# If there were no rows fetched, then there's nothing to analyze.
if not rows:
logging.error('No rows fetched for %s', test.test_path)
raise ndb.Return(None)
# Get anomalies and check if they happen in ref build also.
change_points = FindChangePointsForTest(rows, config)
if ref_rows:
ref_change_points = FindChangePointsForTest(ref_rows, config)
# Filter using any jumps in ref
change_points = _FilterAnomaliesFoundInRef(change_points, ref_change_points,
test_key)
anomalies = yield [
_MakeAnomalyEntity(c, test, stat, rows) for c in change_points
]
# If no new anomalies were found, then we're done.
if not anomalies:
raise ndb.Return(None)
logging.info('Created %d anomalies', len(anomalies))
logging.info(' Test: %s', test_key.id())
logging.info(' Stat: %s', stat)
# Get all the sheriff from sheriff-config match the path
client = SheriffConfigClient()
subscriptions, err_msg = client.Match(test.test_path)
subscription_names = [s.name for s in subscriptions or []]
# Breaks the process when Match failed to ensure find_anomaly do the best
# effort to find the subscriber. Leave retrying to upstream.
if err_msg is not None:
raise RuntimeError(err_msg)
if not subscriptions:
logging.warning('No subscription for %s', test.test_path)
for a in anomalies:
a.subscriptions = subscriptions
a.subscription_names = subscription_names
a.internal_only = (
any([
s.visibility != subscription.VISIBILITY.PUBLIC
for s in subscriptions
]) or test.internal_only)
a.groups = alert_group.AlertGroup.GetGroupsForAnomaly(a, subscriptions)
yield ndb.put_multi_async(anomalies)
# TODO(simonhatch): email_sheriff.EmailSheriff() isn't a tasklet yet, so this
# code will run serially.
# Email sheriff about any new regressions.
for anomaly_entity in anomalies:
if anomaly_entity.bug_id is None and not anomaly_entity.is_improvement:
deferred.defer(_EmailSheriff, anomaly_entity.subscriptions, test.key,
anomaly_entity.key)
@ndb.tasklet
def _FindLatestAlert(test, stat):
query = anomaly.Anomaly.query()
query = query.filter(anomaly.Anomaly.test == test.key)
query = query.filter(anomaly.Anomaly.statistic == stat)
query = query.order(-anomaly.Anomaly.end_revision)
results = yield query.get_async()
if not results:
raise ndb.Return(None)
raise ndb.Return(results)
@ndb.tasklet
def _FindMonitoredStatsForTest(test):
del test
# TODO: This will get filled out after refactor.
raise ndb.Return(['avg'])
@ndb.synctasklet
def GetRowsToAnalyze(test, max_num_rows):
"""Gets the Row entities that we want to analyze.
Args:
test: The TestMetadata entity to get data for.
max_num_rows: The maximum number of points to get.
Returns:
A list of the latest Rows after the last alerted revision, ordered by
revision. These rows are fetched with t a projection query so they only
have the revision, value, and timestamp properties.
"""
result = yield GetRowsToAnalyzeAsync(test, max_num_rows)
raise ndb.Return(result)
@ndb.tasklet
def GetRowsToAnalyzeAsync(test, max_num_rows):
# If this is a histogram based test, there may be multiple statistics we want
# to analyze
alerted_stats = yield _FindMonitoredStatsForTest(test)
latest_alert_by_stat = dict(
(s, _FindLatestAlert(test, s)) for s in alerted_stats)
results = {}
for s in alerted_stats:
results[s] = _FetchRowsByStat(test.key, s, latest_alert_by_stat[s],
max_num_rows)
for s in results.keys():
results[s] = yield results[s]
raise ndb.Return(results)
@ndb.tasklet
def _FetchRowsByStat(test_key, stat, last_alert_future, max_num_rows):
# If stats are specified, we only want to alert on those, otherwise alert on
# everything.
if stat == 'avg':
query = graph_data.Row.query(projection=['revision', 'timestamp', 'value'])
else:
query = graph_data.Row.query()
query = query.filter(
graph_data.Row.parent_test == utils.OldStyleTestKey(test_key))
# The query is ordered in descending order by revision because we want
# to get the newest points.
if last_alert_future:
last_alert = yield last_alert_future
if last_alert:
query = query.filter(graph_data.Row.revision > last_alert.end_revision)
query = query.order(-graph_data.Row.revision)
# However, we want to analyze them in ascending order.
rows = yield query.fetch_async(limit=max_num_rows)
vals = []
for r in list(reversed(rows)):
if stat == 'avg':
vals.append((r.revision, r, r.value))
elif stat == 'std':
vals.append((r.revision, r, r.error))
else:
vals.append((r.revision, r, getattr(r, 'd_%s' % stat)))
raise ndb.Return(vals)
def _FilterAnomaliesFoundInRef(change_points, ref_change_points, test):
change_points_filtered = []
test_path = utils.TestPath(test)
for c in change_points:
# Log information about what anomaly got filtered and what did not.
if not _IsAnomalyInRef(c, ref_change_points):
logging.info('Nothing was filtered out for test %s, and revision %s',
test_path, c.x_value)
change_points_filtered.append(c)
else:
logging.info('Filtering out anomaly for test %s, and revision %s',
test_path, c.x_value)
return change_points_filtered
@ndb.tasklet
def _CorrespondingRefTest(test_key):
"""Returns the TestMetadata for the corresponding ref build trace, or None."""
test_path = utils.TestPath(test_key)
possible_ref_test_paths = [test_path + '_ref', test_path + '/ref']
for path in possible_ref_test_paths:
ref_test = yield utils.TestKey(path).get_async()
if ref_test:
raise ndb.Return(ref_test)
raise ndb.Return(None)
def _IsAnomalyInRef(change_point, ref_change_points):
"""Checks if anomalies are detected in both ref and non ref build.
Args:
change_point: A find_change_points.ChangePoint object to check.
ref_change_points: List of find_change_points.ChangePoint objects
found for a ref build series.
Returns:
True if there is a match found among the ref build series change points.
"""
for ref_change_point in ref_change_points:
if change_point.x_value == ref_change_point.x_value:
return True
return False
def _GetImmediatelyPreviousRevisionNumber(later_revision, rows):
"""Gets the revision number of the Row immediately before the given one.
Args:
later_revision: A revision number.
rows: List of Row entities in ascending order by revision.
Returns:
The revision number just before the given one.
"""
for (revision, _, _) in reversed(rows):
if revision < later_revision:
return revision
assert False, 'No matching revision found in |rows|.'
def _GetRefBuildKeyForTest(test):
"""TestMetadata key of the reference build for the given test, if one exists.
Args:
test: the TestMetadata entity to get the ref build for.
Returns:
A TestMetadata key if found, or None if not.
"""
potential_path = '%s/ref' % test.test_path
potential_test = utils.TestKey(potential_path).get()
if potential_test:
return potential_test.key
potential_path = '%s_ref' % test.test_path
potential_test = utils.TestKey(potential_path).get()
if potential_test:
return potential_test.key
return None
def _GetDisplayRange(old_end, rows):
"""Get the revision range using a_display_rev, if applicable.
Args:
old_end: the x_value from the change_point
rows: List of Row entities in asscending order by revision.
Returns:
A end_rev, start_rev tuple with the correct revision.
"""
start_rev = end_rev = 0
for (revision, row, _) in reversed(rows):
if revision == old_end and hasattr(row, 'r_commit_pos'):
end_rev = row.r_commit_pos
elif revision < old_end and hasattr(row, 'r_commit_pos'):
start_rev = row.r_commit_pos + 1
break
if not end_rev or not start_rev:
end_rev = start_rev = None
return start_rev, end_rev
@ndb.tasklet
def _MakeAnomalyEntity(change_point, test, stat, rows):
"""Creates an Anomaly entity.
Args:
change_point: A find_change_points.ChangePoint object.
test: The TestMetadata entity that the anomalies were found on.
stat: The TestMetadata stat that the anomaly was found on.
rows: List of Row entities that the anomalies were found on.
Returns:
An Anomaly entity, which is not yet put in the datastore.
"""
end_rev = change_point.x_value
start_rev = _GetImmediatelyPreviousRevisionNumber(end_rev, rows) + 1
display_start = display_end = None
if test.master_name == 'ClankInternal':
display_start, display_end = _GetDisplayRange(change_point.x_value, rows)
median_before = change_point.median_before
median_after = change_point.median_after
suite_key = test.key.id().split('/')[:3]
suite_key = '/'.join(suite_key)
suite_key = utils.TestKey(suite_key)
queried_diagnostics = yield (
histogram.SparseDiagnostic.GetMostRecentDataByNamesAsync(
suite_key,
set([
reserved_infos.BUG_COMPONENTS.name, reserved_infos.OWNERS.name,
reserved_infos.INFO_BLURB.name
])))
bug_components = queried_diagnostics.get(reserved_infos.BUG_COMPONENTS.name,
{}).get('values')
if bug_components:
bug_components = bug_components[0]
# TODO(902796): Remove this typecheck.
if isinstance(bug_components, list):
bug_components = bug_components[0]
ownership_information = {
'emails':
queried_diagnostics.get(reserved_infos.OWNERS.name, {}).get('values'),
'component':
bug_components,
# Info blurbs should be a single string, and we'll only take the firs
# element of the list of values.
'info_blurb':
queried_diagnostics.get(reserved_infos.INFO_BLURB.name,
{}).get('values', [None])[0],
}
# Compute additional anomaly metadata.
def MinMax(iterable):
min_ = max_ = None
for val in iterable:
if min_ is None:
min_ = max_ = val
else:
min_ = min(min_, val)
max_ = max(max_, val)
return min_, max_
earliest_input_timestamp, latest_input_timestamp = MinMax(
r.timestamp for unused_rev, r, unused_val in rows)
new_anomaly = anomaly.Anomaly(
start_revision=start_rev,
end_revision=end_rev,
median_before_anomaly=median_before,
median_after_anomaly=median_after,
segment_size_before=change_point.size_before,
segment_size_after=change_point.size_after,
window_end_revision=change_point.window_end,
std_dev_before_anomaly=change_point.std_dev_before,
t_statistic=change_point.t_statistic,
degrees_of_freedom=change_point.degrees_of_freedom,
p_value=change_point.p_value,
is_improvement=_IsImprovement(test, median_before, median_after),
ref_test=_GetRefBuildKeyForTest(test),
test=test.key,
statistic=stat,
internal_only=test.internal_only,
units=test.units,
display_start=display_start,
display_end=display_end,
ownership=ownership_information,
earliest_input_timestamp=earliest_input_timestamp,
latest_input_timestamp=latest_input_timestamp)
raise ndb.Return(new_anomaly)
def FindChangePointsForTest(rows, config_dict):
"""Gets the anomaly data from the anomaly detection module.
Args:
rows: The Row entities to find anomalies for, sorted backwards by revision.
config_dict: Anomaly threshold parameters as a dictionary.
Returns:
A list of find_change_points.ChangePoint objects.
"""
data_series = [(revision, value) for (revision, _, value) in rows]
return find_change_points.FindChangePoints(data_series, **config_dict)
def _IsImprovement(test, median_before, median_after):
"""Returns whether the alert is an improvement for the given test.
Args:
test: TestMetadata to get the improvement direction for.
median_before: The median of the segment immediately before the anomaly.
median_after: The median of the segment immediately after the anomaly.
Returns:
True if it is improvement anomaly, otherwise False.
"""
if (median_before < median_after
and test.improvement_direction == anomaly.UP):
return True
if (median_before >= median_after
and test.improvement_direction == anomaly.DOWN):
return True
return False
|
Conventionally, as bearings usable with a long period of greasing interval or without greasing, oil-containing slip bearings prepared by allowing pores in a Cu-based or Fe-based porous sintered alloy to contain a lubricating oil are widely put into practical use. Selection of the Cu-based or Fe-based porous sintered alloy is determined depending on conditions such as oil lubricating state, sliding speed, contact surface-pressure and the like, and under light-load and high-speed sliding conditions, a bronze-based oil-containing slip bearing is suitably utilized, whereas under high-surface-pressure and low-speed sliding conditions, a Fe—C, Fe—Cu or Fe—C—Cu-based oil-containing slip bearing is suitably utilized (see, for example, Japan Powder Metallurgy Association ed. Parts—Their design and manufacture”, Gijutsu Shoin Co., Ltd., Oct. 20, 1987, p. 327-341). On one hand, there are widely utilized also slip bearings produced by orderly arranging graphite fragments as a solid lubricant on a bearing material made of high tensile brass and bronze, and allowing the graphite fragments to contain a lubricating oil (for example, 500 SP manufactured by Oiles Corp.). On the other hand, prior technologies aiming at improvement in a sliding property under high surface pressure and low speed sliding are shown in the following various patent literatures.
Japanese Patent No. 2832800 adopts a composite sintered alloy having a porosity of 5 to 30 vol % and composed of a copper powder and an iron powder, as an iron-based sintered body in a slip bearing in which a lubricating oil having a kinematic viscosity of 240 cSt to 1500 cSt is impregnated on an iron-based sintered body oil-containing bearing used under sliding conditions of a high surface pressure of 600 kgf/cm2 or more and a sliding speed of 1.2 to 3 m/min, and discloses that it is preferable to perform a carburizing, nitriding or sulfurizing nitriding treatment on a contact surface.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-246230 discloses that a slip bearing produced by filling a lubricant composition containing a solid lubricant or an extreme-pressure additive having a dropping point of 60° C. or more in semi-solid condition or solid condition at ambient temperature, into pores in an iron-based sintered alloy containing martensite in an iron-carbon alloy base and in which at least one of copper particles and copper alloy particles are dispersed, shows excellent slip bearing performance under a surface pressure of 30 MPa or more.
Japanese Patent Publication (JP-B) No. 6-6725 discloses that a sintered copper alloy having self lubricity suitable for use on a ware plate of a press machine and the like is obtained by sintering under pressure a mixed powder prepared by mixing a copper alloy powder containing 5 to 30 wt % of Ni, 7 to 13 wt % of Sn and 0.3 to 2 wt % of P with 1 to 5 wt % of Mo and 1 to 2.5 wt % of a graphite powder.
JP-A No. 8-109450 discloses a wear resistant sintered alloy for oil-containing bearing characterized in that Cu particles or Cu alloy particles are dispersed in an iron-carbon alloy base having martensite present therein, the content of Cu is from 7 to 30 wt % and, alloy particles having a specific composition as a phase harder than the above-mentioned iron-carbon alloy base are dispersed in an amount of 5 to 30 wt % and the porosity is from 8 to 30 vol %. In this wear resistant sintered alloy for oil-containing bearing, by dispersing a large amount of soft Cu particles in a martensite phase, conformability is improved, and by dispersing alloy particles harder than the martensite of the base, plastic deformation of the base is decreased and load applied on the base alloy in sliding contact state is lowered, to obtain excellent wear resistance even under high surface pressure. Here, this patent literature mentions, as the above-mentioned alloy particles, {circle around (1)} Fe-base alloy particles (high speed steel (Highss) powder particles) containing 0.6 to 1.7 wt % of C, 3 to 5 wt % of Cr, 1 to 20 wt % of W and 0.5 to 6 wt % of V, {circle around (2)} Fe-base alloy particles (high speed steel (Highss containing Mo, Co) powder particles) containing 0.6 to 1.7 wt % of C, 3 to 5 wt % of Cr, 1 to 20 wt % of W, 0.5 to 6 wt % of V and 20 wt % or less of Mo and/or Co, {circle around (3)} Mo—Fe particles (ferro-molybdenum) containing 55 to 70 wt % of Mo, {circle around (4)} Co-base alloy particles (heat resistant and wear resistant alloy powder for build up spraying, trade name: COBAMET manufactured by Cabot) containing 5 to 15 wt % of Cr, 20 to 40 wt % of Mo and 1 to 5 wt % of Si; and the like.
JP-A No. 2001-271129 which is a prior application of the applicant discloses a slip bearing characterized in that hard dispersion materials such as various intermetallic compounds and the like, solid lubricants such as graphite and the like may be contained in an (alpha+beta) two-phase structure having at least a beta phase dispersed in the structure, or a beta phase structure constituting a Cu—Al—Sn-based sintered contact material, and in which, further, the Cu—Al—Sn-based sintered contact material is integrated on the inner circumferential surface of an iron-based backing metal, so as to maintain bearing rigidity and press fit force in press-fitting on a work implement connecting apparatus. In this slip bearing, the above-mentioned Cu—Al—Sn-based sintered contact material is soft as compared with the bearing material containing martensite according to the above-mentioned patent literature 4, and excellent in conformability with a contact opposite member (work implement connecting pin or the like). Therefore, this sliding bearing is an extremely excellent sliding bearing which can be suitably used at extremely low sliding speed (0.6 m/min or less) and a high surface pressure of up to 1200 kgf/cm2.
JP-A No. 7-166278 discloses that a sintered contact material having an excellent lubricating ability, affinity to oil, low friction coefficient and high wear resistance can be obtained by adding 0.5 to 5 wt % of Mo or 0.5 to 15 wt % of Fe—Mo into a bronze-based and/or lead bronze-based sintered contact material containing 4 to 12 wt % of Sn or this and 0.1 to 10 wt % of Pb.
On one hand, comparatively soft lead bronze ingot materials (for example, LBC 2 to 5) are often used as, for example, a contact material for floating bushing of a turbo charger used under high speed, high temperature and oil lubrication conditions, however, from the standpoint of corrosion resistance under high temperature sliding condition (sulfur attack property), free-cutting brass-based and high tensile brass-based alloys containing Pb are suitably used (see, for example, JP-B No. 5-36486). Additionally, Al bronze-based ingot materials are also investigated as the contact material for floating bushing (see, for example, JP-A No. 5-214468).
On the other hand, in the case of, for example, engine metals used under high surface pressure and high speed sliding conditions, an overlay layer made of a soft metal such as Sn and the like is formed on a contact surface of a lead bronze-based sintered bushing to improve conformability and to obtain improved fluid lubricity.
Further, in parts sliding under high surface pressure and high speed conditions (hereinafter, referred to as “sliding part”) of constituent parts of hydraulic pumps/motors used under high surface pressure and high speed sliding conditions likewise, a material containing lead bronze integrated by a cast wrapping method and the like is used as a constituent material, and in sliding parts used under particularly severe sliding conditions, materials having high strength, and excellent seizure resistance and wear resistance such as high tensile brass are used as a constituent material (see, for example, Japan Non-ferrous Metal Casting Association ed., “ENGINEERING DATA BOOK FOR COPPER BASED ALLOY CASTING”, Issued by Materials Process Technology Center (SOKEIZAI CENTER), Jul. 30, 1988, p. 134-155).
In general, it is extremely rare to attain fluid lubricating condition on an oil-containing slip bearing, and particularly under extremely low sliding speed and high surface pressure conditions, the film thickness of a lubricant oil on a bearing surface (contact surface) becomes, due to escape of oil pressure through pores in a sintered material, approximately the surface roughness of the bearing surface or smaller, and in many cases, boundary lubricating sliding conditions including solid friction (adhesion) are provided. Consequently, in slip bearings (bushing, thrust bearings and the like) used under sliding conditions of a surface pressure of 300 kgf/cm2 or more and a sliding speed of 0.01 to 2 m/min, in a work implement connecting portion of construction machines such as, for example, a hydraulic excavator and the like, its seizure resistance and Wear resistance are significantly ruled by material functions of the sliding bearing (composition and structure).
However, the Cu-based and Fe-based porous sintered alloy material according the above-mentioned literature (Japan Powder Metallurgy Association ed. “P/M Parts—Their design and manufacture”, Gijutsu Shoin Co., Ltd., Oct. 20, 1987, p. 327-341) has a problem that it cannot be adapted to extremely low sliding speed and high surface pressure conditions of a sliding speed of 0.01 to 2 m/min and a surface pressure of 300 kgf/cm2 or more, as apparent from FIG. 21 showing the application range of an oil-containing slip bearing generally used (Japan Powder Metallurgy Association ed. “P/M Parts—Their design and manufacture”, Gijutsu Shoin Co., Ltd., Oct. 20, 1987, p. 337, FIG. 6. 19 “Sintered bearing application example”, is cited).
Even a composite sintered alloy material according to Japanese Patent No. 2832800 in which surface treatments such as carburization, nitriding and the like are performed on a composite sintered alloy composed of a copper powder and an iron powder, and an iron-base sintered alloy material according to JP-A No. 10-246230 in which pores are filled with extreme-pressure additives and the like and a martensite structure is contained have a problem that there is a possibility that a sufficient sliding ability is not manifested under extremely low sliding speed (0.01 to 2 m/min), too.
In the sintered copper alloy material according to JP-B No. 6-6725 having self lubricity suitable for use on a ware plate or the like of a press machine, local metal contact with an opposite member tends to occur under sliding conditions in which a lubricating oil film is not easily formed due to extremely low sliding speed and high surface pressure, resultantly there is a problem that sufficient seizure resistance and wear resistance are not obtained easily. Further, there is also a problem that when the addition amount of soft solid lubricants such as graphite, MoS2 and the like dispersed in the sintered copper alloy material is over 2.5 wt %, its strength decreases remarkably.
In the above-mentioned wear resistant sintered alloy for oil-containing bearing according to JP-A No. 8-109450, the plastic deformation of a base is reduced and load applied on a base alloy in sliding contact state is decreased by dispersing a large amount of soft Cu particles in a martensite phase and dispersing alloy particles harder than the martensite in a base, however, it has a problem that an effect of improving adhesion resistance is not sufficient since co-existence of dispersion of soft Cu particles and dispersion (5 to 30 wt %) of hard alloy particles in one alloy is limited and load applied on the base alloy in sliding contact state is concentrated on its hard alloy particles. Further, there is also a problem that by addition of a large amount of alloy particles harder than a martensite in a base and having no self lubricity, a contact opposite material is remarkably attacked by adhesion wearing, and the temperature of a contact surface increases to easily cause a seizure phenomenon. Furthermore, there is a problem that a bearing bushing made of this wear resistant sintered alloy for oil-containing bearing as a constituent material is expensive. There is also an investigation of lowering cost, increasing a sliding ability, improving maintenance and the like by sharing the role of a sliding function to a cheap contact material constituting mutual slip pair, however, a solution is not attained yet.
The Cu—Al—Sn-based sintered contact material suggested in JP-A No. 2001-271129 which is a prior application of the applicant is an extremely excellent bearing material which can be used at extremely low sliding speed (0.6 m/min or less) and a high surface pressure of up to 1200 kgf/cm2, which cannot be attained by conventional bearing materials of iron-carbon alloy base, however, it has a problem that, due to somewhat lack in pressure resistance required in use environments in which earth and sand invade, wearing progresses easily under such use environments.
The sintered contact material according to JP-A NO. 7-1662778 has, when a lubricating function formed by Mo of 5% by area or less or Fe-55 to 70 wt % Mo (ferro-molybdenum phase) of 15% by area or less based on the contact area using a bronze alloy phase as a mother phase is singly performed, problems that, under extreme low sliding speed and high surface pressure conditions such as for the above-mentioned work implement connecting portion, formation of an adhesion portion by local metal contact with an opposite member is not sufficiently prevented and adhesion wearing progresses, and conformability resistance, seizure resistance and wear resistance are not sufficiently attained, and hard MoFe (ferro-molybdenum) particles remarkably attack a contact opposite material. It is easily envisaged to be able to improve a sliding property by regulating the addition amount of Mo at 5 wt % or more, however, there occurs, in this case, a new problem that the structure strength of the sintered contact material is decreased.
The high tensile brass-based and Al bronze-based contact materials containing a lead bronze-based material and lead according to JP-B No. 5-36486 and JP-A No. 5-214468 suitably used as a constituent material of a floating bushing in a turbo charger are recently required to improve seizure resistance and wear resistance under higher speed and higher temperature sliding and to manifest excellent seizure resistance, wear resistance and corrosion resistance even under poor lubrication condition in starting of a turbo charger and the like, however, these contact materials have a problem that (1) a Pb-lack layer after elution of Pb is formed near a contact surface (see, FIG. 22 (a) to (c)), and (2) even after stop of operation of a turbo charger, the temperature at a bearing portion increases to high temperatures around 300° C. due to heat conduction from a turbine and consequently a layer of accumulation of CuS and sludge formed by reaction with S in a lubricating oil is formed on a trace of Pb connecting to the contact surface (see, FIG. 23 (a) to (b)), therefore, a lubricating ability by Pb decreases, and essential improvement against seizure resistance and durability (elongation of life) is impossible. Further, from the standpoint of recent environmental problems, there is a problem that a large amount of Pb contained in a material is not preferable.
Regarding hydraulic pumps/motors, there is recently a tendency of increase in pressure and further decrease in size, therefore, improvement in seizure resistance and wear resistance is desired for sliding parts constituting the hydraulic pumps/motors, however, the conventional lead bronze, bronze and brass-based contact materials according to the above-mentioned literature (Japan Non-ferrous Metal Casting Association ed., “ENGINEERING DATA BOOK FOR COPPER BASED ALLOY CASTING”, Issued by Materials Process Technology Center (SOKEIZAI CENTER), Jul. 30, 1988, p. 134-155) have a problem that they are insufficient in strength, seizure resistance and wear resistance for higher output and further decrease in size.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a thermal spray membrane contact material contact member and contact part, and an apparatus to which they are applied, excellent in seizure resistance and wear resistance under extremely poor lubrication conditions such as high surface pressure and low speed sliding and swinging and the like, and excellent in conformability in sliding and showing excellent seizure resistance and wear resistance even under high speed and high temperature sliding and high surface pressure and high speed sliding. |
Mechanisms of mucin production by rhinovirus infection in cultured human airway epithelial cells.
Mucus hypersecretion relates to exacerbations of bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by rhinovirus (RV) infection. We examined the mechanisms of RV infection-induced mucin production in human tracheal surface epithelial cells and submucosal gland cells. RV14 up-regulated the mRNA expression of MUC2, MUC3, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6, and increased MUC5AC and total mucin concentration in supernatants and lysates of the surface cells. An inhibitor of the nuclear factor kappaB caffeic acid phenylethyl ester, inhibitors of selective p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase PD98059 and U0126, and a selective Src inhibitor PP1 attenuated MUC5AC mRNA expression, and secretion and production of MUC5AC and total mucin glycoprotein in the surface cells. In the gland cells, RV14 also increased mRNA expression of MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC7, and the inhibitors attenuated the secretion of total mucin glycoprotein. Src-related p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway may be associated with RV-induced mucin hypersecretion in human airways. |
Haiti Makes Biggest Cocaine Bust In Over A Decade
Haiti has seized 925 pounds (420 kg) of cocaine in the impoverished country's biggest drug bust in more than a decade.
Haiti has seized 925 pounds (420 kg) of cocaine in the impoverished country's biggest drug bust in more than a decade, authorities said on Friday.
Ten people, including four Haitian police officers and two Colombian nationals, were arrested, said Claudy Gassant, a top Haitian prosecutor.
The cocaine was discovered on Thursday near the town of Leogane, about 19 miles (30 km) south of the capital Port-au-Prince, Gassant said. It was stashed in three vehicles, including one with official license plates.
Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, has long been billed as an increasingly important trans-shipment point for South American cocaine making its way into the United States and other markets.
Police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said Thursday's cocaine haul was the biggest in Haiti, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, since 1996. |
Re: transpose leadsheet (chords + melody)
To transpose a song down a whole step, say from F major to Eb
major, the
syntax would be:
\transpose c bes (or however the language you are using
signifies a Bb)
Be careful here, because both pitches are taken absolute, so being bes
in the same octave as c, this transposing has the effect of raising a
minor seventh up.
Use
\transpose d c
or
\transpose c bes,
(note the comma), to transpose a whole step down. |
Q:
Locking method only for 2 threads
I have following code:
public void Execute(IJobExecutionContext context)
{
lock (_lockObj)
{
// ... some HTTP job that can take 5 to 30 seconds ...
}
}
When an active job is working and a second thread enters the same method, I want it locked for second thread and wait.. However, when it is already locked for a second thread, and then a 3rd thread enters the code, I want it exit the method instead of waiting and entering job execution.
I could use a static counter variable and increase/decrease its value by the thread count within job execution. But I wonder if there is already a better practice to solve this issue.
A:
You are looking for System.Threading.Semaphore.
var sem = new Semaphore(0, 2);
That creates a semaphore with an initial value of zero and a maximum of two. Up to two threads will be able to call sem.WaitOne() without blocking. After that, threads that call sem.WaitOne() will block until another thread calls sem.Release().
There is an overload WaitOne(int timeout) that accepts a timeout parameter. If zero is passed for the timeout, the call will not block, and return immediately. The boolean return value indicates whether or not you successfully acquired the semaphore. In your case, if it returns False, you simply abort the operation.
|
AP
The Vikings may not be the only team in the NFC North counting on a tailback who’s recovering from a torn ACL.
In Green Bay, 2011 third-rounder Alex Green likely will enter the season at No. 2 on the depth chart, even though he suffered the ultimate ligament tear in November. With Ryan Grant gone and no rookies arriving via the draft, Green should be getting a meaningful chance to contribute.
“Not drafting a running back showed they have some faith in me,” Green said, via Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “We’ll see how things turn out when training camp comes around.”
When training camp comes around, the Packers could, in theory, have another veteran running back, especially if Green starts things off on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
“I’m not sure,” Green said regarding whether he’ll be ready for camp. “That’s something we’ll determine as we get closer to the regular season. This is going to be an important month to really progress a lot and have no setbacks.”
The Packers currently have four other tailbacks: starter James Starks, 2011 undrafted free agent Brandon Saine, and 2012 undrafted rookies Du’ane Bennett and Marc Tyler. Fullback John Kuhn also handles the tailback duties from time to time, in one-back sets.
Plenty of veterans are available (like Cedric Benson), if that’s what the Packers choose to do. If nothing else, an extra set of legs will help the Packers get through the reps of camp and the preseason while Green gets himself back to 100 percent. |
Project overview
The West Calgary Ring Road, running between Highway 8 and the Trans-Canada Highway, is the final section of the Calgary Ring Road to be completed.
The road will be built on the existing Transportation Utility Corridor, established in 1976. The land is owned by the Government of Alberta. Some additional small parcels of land will be purchased.
The West Calgary Ring Road project will be completed in 3 parts — the north project (DB1), south project (DB2) and the West Bow River bridge (WBRB). It will include:
building about 9 km of 6- and 8-lane divided freeway
reconstructing about 5 km of the Trans-Canada Highway
improving Stoney Trail from the Bow River to Scenic Acres
6 interchanges
24 bridges
On March 5, 2019, contracts were awarded for DB1 ($463 million) and WBRB ($89 million). Construction is underway.
On June 2, 2020, the final contract for the West Calgary Ring Road - for the South project – was awarded to Calgary Safelink Partners.
Once complete, the entire Calgary Ring Road will provide more than 101 km of free-flow travel around the city. It will improve access to hospitals, schools, workplaces and recreation, and help reduce congestion within the city.
North project
3 km of 6- and 8-lane divided freeway between Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and the Old Banff Coach Road.
Reconstructing 5 km of Highway 1
18 bridges
2 interchanges
1 flyover – 1 Avenue SW
South project
5 km of 6- and 8-lane divided freeway between Old Banff Coach Road and Highway 8.
7 bridges
4 interchanges Old Banff Coach Road SW Bow Trail SW 17 Avenue SW Highway 8
The Government of Alberta selected three groups to submit proposals to develop the south section of the West Calgary Ring Road using a Design-Build delivery model. Submissions were evaluated based on several factors including experience, and past performance from:
Calgary Safelink Partners
EllisDon Construction Services Inc.
PCL Construction Management Inc.
Bow River Bridge twinning |
991 F.2d 800
NOTICE: Seventh Circuit Rule 53(b)(2) states unpublished orders shall not be cited or used as precedent except to support a claim of res judicata, collateral estoppel or law of the case in any federal court within the circuit.Joseph E.L. SULLIVAN, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 92-2262.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Submitted April 14, 1993.*Decided April 22, 1993.
Before CUMMINGS, CUDAHY and MANION, Circuit Judges.
ORDER
1
Joseph Sullivan, an inmate at the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, brought this action under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2671 et seq., seeking damages for an assault and battery against him by several correctional officers and for the prison's negligent failure to provide him with reasonable medical care for his resulting injuries. The district court gave judgment for the government, and this appeal followed.
2
Sullivan first contends there was insufficient evidence to support the district court's conclusion, following a bench trial, that the prison guards did not assault and batter him. Sullivan, however, failed to submit a copy of the transcript from the trial, as was his duty under Fed.R.App.P. 10(b). In the absence of a transcript, it is impossible to review the rulings of the district court on the assault and battery claim. Fisher v. Krajewski, 873 F.2d 1057, 1060 (7th Cir.1989), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 1020 (1990); see also Rodriguez v. Anderson, 973 F.2d 550, 552 (7th Cir.1992). We thus cannot say that its judgment was erroneous.
3
Sullivan next contends the district court abused its discretion in admitting into evidence the July 21, 1989 clarification memorandum from the Institution Disciplinary Committee. This contention is undercut by the exhibit list from the bench trial which indicates that the memorandum was not a government exhibit nor was it admitted as evidence.
4
Sullivan also contends the district court improperly granted summary judgment on his negligent medical care claim because he did not have an expert witness. Sullivan does not dispute that Illinois law controls. 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b); United States v. Muniz, 374 U.S. 150, 153 (1963). To prove a claim of negligent medical care, the plaintiff must produce evidence of the applicable standard of care, the defendant's deviation from that standard, and the resulting injury. Addison v. Whittenberg, 529 N.E.2d 552, 556 (Ill.1988). Because jurors are unskilled in the practice of medicine, the plaintiff must present expert testimony to establish those elements. Id. Compare Lech v. St. Luke's Samaritan Hospital, 921 F.2d 714 (7th Cir.1991) (applying Wisconsin law). Here, Sullivan made clear his intention not to present any expert testimony at trial, and therefore summary judgment was warranted.
5
Sullivan finally contends the district court abused its discretion in denying his motions for appointment of counsel because he had no trial experience and was tripped up by legal technicalities. We conclude there was no abuse of discretion in the district court's application of the five-factor standard for the appointment of counsel outlined in Maclin v. Freake, 650 F.2d 885 (7th Cir.1981). See also Jackson v. County of McLean, 953 F.2d 1070, 1072-73 (7th Cir.1992).
6
AFFIRMED.
*
After preliminary examination of the briefs, the court notified the parties that it had tentatively concluded that oral argument would not be helpful to the court in this case. The notice provided that any party might file a "Statement as to Need of Oral Argument." See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); Circuit Rule 34(f). Sulivan has filed such a statement and requested oral argument. Upon consideration of that statement, the briefs, and the record, the request for oral argument is denied and the appeal is submitted on the briefs and record
|
Capacitive-sense touchscreens have become widely available as a user interface component of user devices. In particular, touchscreens have become extremely popular in mobile phones, cellular phones, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), laptops, and other portable computing devices. Touchscreens are also widely employed in Point Of Sale (POS) terminals, inventory management systems, security systems, and the like.
One reason for the increased popularity of touchscreens and specifically capacitive-sense touchscreens in user devices is their ability to simultaneously act as a user input device and a user output device. More particularly, touchscreens enable a user to interact with the data that is presented to the user rather than interact with a set of separate buttons. This helps minimize the size of the user device and/or maximize the size of the output screen used to present information to the user. In other words, capacitive-sense touchscreens can be utilized as an intuitive method of obtaining input for user devices.
Two principal capacitive sensing and measurement technologies are currently employed in most capacitive touchscreen devices. The first such technology is that of self-capacitance. Many devices manufactured by SYNAPTICS™ employ self-capacitance measurement techniques, as do Integrated Circuit (IC) devices such as the CYPRESS PSOC™. Self-capacitance involves measuring the self-capacitance of a series of electrode pads using techniques such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,588 to Bisset et al. and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2010/0302201 to Ritter et al. and 2008/0297174 to Narasimhan et al., each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Self-capacitance may be measured through the detection of the amount of charge accumulated on an object held at a given voltage (Q=CV). Self-capacitance is typically measured by applying a known voltage to an electrode, and then using a circuit to measure how much charge flows to that same electrode. When external objects are brought close to the electrode, additional charge is attracted to the electrode. As a result, the self-capacitance of the electrode increases. Many touch sensors employed in touchscreens are configured such that the grounded object is a finger. The human body is essentially a capacitor to a surface where the electrical field vanishes, and typically has a capacitance of around 100 pF.
Electrodes in self-capacitance touchscreens and/or touchpads are typically arranged in rows and columns. By scanning first rows and then columns the locations of individual disturbances induced by the presence of a finger, for example, can be determined.
Typically, rows and columns of electrodes in self-capacitance sensing devices such as touchscreens or touchpads comprise electrically conductive traces or strips of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) laid down on a glass or plastic substrate. Although ITO is the material of choice in most capacitive-sense touchscreens, other known materials or compositions which are functionally equivalent to ITO may also be used.
During and after the process of forming such traces on a suitable substrate, defects in such traces or strips will arise, at least in some of the self-capacitance sensing devices. It is desirable to minimize the number of defects in a batch of sensing devices (e.g., increase the yield rate), but it is difficult if not impossible to completely eliminate the occurrence of faults in the touchscreens. Common defects in ITO traces in touchscreens include shorting between traces, shorting between one or more traces and ground, broken traces, traces that are too thin, too narrow, too thick or too wide, unintended irregularities in the geometries of individual traces, and the like.
Defects in ITO traces can significantly negatively impact the performance of a touchscreen or touchpad. Because of this fact, testing is often carried out on individual self-capacitance sensing devices after the manufacturing process has been completed. Once such testing method for self-capacitance touch sensing devices is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0278453 to Reynolds et al., the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
There are several problems with testing the integrity of ITO or other types of electrodes in a self-capacitance sensing device; however, testing is still an important production step to ensure product quality.
The second primary capacitive sensing and measurement technology employed in capacitive touch sensing devices is that of mutual capacitance, where measurements are typically performed using a crossed grid of electrodes. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,875 to Gerpheide, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. In mutual capacitance measurement, capacitance is measured between two conductors, as opposed to a self-capacitance measurement in which the capacitance of a single conductor is measured, and which may be affected by other objects in proximity thereto.
In some mutual capacitance measurement systems, an array of sense electrodes is disposed on a first side of a substrate and an array of drive electrodes is disposed on a second side of the substrate that opposes the first side, a column or row of electrodes in the drive electrode array is driven to a particular voltage, the mutual capacitance to a single row (or column) of the sense electrode array is measured, and the capacitance at a single row-column intersection is determined. By scanning all the rows and columns a map of capacitance measurements may be created for all the nodes in the grid. When a user's finger or other electrically conductive object approaches a given grid point, some of the electric field lines emanating from or near the grid point are deflected, thereby decreasing the mutual capacitance of the two electrodes at the grid point. Because each measurement probes only a single grid intersection point, no measurement ambiguities arise with multiple touches as in the case of some self-capacitance systems.
A current problem with testing touchscreen devices or touchpads, regardless of whether or not they utilize mutual capacitance technologies or self-capacitance technologies, is that separate testing equipment is required to perform the tests. In particular, an external stimulus has to be applied to the drive and sense columns to test whether a fault exists. Application of the external stimulus often requires the need for additional test circuitry in the facility which is manufacturing the touchscreens or touchpads. This implies additional costs to touchscreen manufacturers. It would be desirable to minimize or eliminate these additional costs. |
362 F.3d 418
Rufino PENA, German Alvarado, Rosa Ayala, et al., Plaintiffs-Appellants,v.AMERICAN MEAT PACKING CORPORATION, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 03-2396.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Argued January 23, 2004.
Decided March 25, 2004.
Jorge Sanchez (argued), Despres, Schwartz & Geoghegan, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Julie Gottshall (argued), Katten Muchin Zavis Rosenman, Chicago, IL, for Defendant-Appellee
Before BAUER, DIANE P. WOOD, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
BAUER, Circuit Judge.
1
The American Meat Packing Corporation ("AMPAC") closed its Chicago facility on November 16, 2001 without giving its 350 employees prior notice of the plant closing. The employees filed a class action suit against AMPAC for violations of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act ("WARN Act"). At issue was whether AMPAC could have reasonably foreseen the plant shutdown so as to provide the employees prior notice. The district court found for AMPAC on summary judgment. Plaintiffs appeal; we reverse.
I. Background
2
AMPAC acquired its Chicago plant in 1998. Daniel Ochylski was the president of AMPAC; Paul Espinosa was AMPAC's director of operations. The plant conducted the slaughtering, butchering and packing of between 3,000-3,400 "butcher hogs" per day until November 16, 2001 when it closed. The daily processing of the hogs began with the delivery of live hogs and ended with the shipping of neatly packaged, chilled meat to cold storage facilities. In the year prior to its closing, AMPAC's Chicago plant suffered from two problems: it had repeated difficulty maintaining sanitary conditions for the slaughtering and butchering of the hogs, and it was operating at a loss due to recent expenditures to renovate the facility. Ultimately, the plant shut down due to its inability to bring the plant into compliance with United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") regulations.
3
According to USDA regulation, "[e]ach official establishment must be operated and maintained in a manner sufficient to prevent the creation of insanitary conditions and to ensure that product is not adulterated." 9 C.F.R. 416.1 (2004). In order to insure compliance with USDA regulation, during its operation, AMPAC had five full-time USDA inspectors at its plant to monitor sanitary conditions. Each morning the inspectors would look over the various areas of the plant to detect insanitary conditions. A reporting system was set up so that plant management was aware of any insanitary conditions that existed, and had a chance to remedy them.
4
On occasion, the USDA inspectors would issue Noncompliance Records ("NR") to document conditions that were not compliant with USDA standards. When an inspector issued a NR it would identify the date and time the insanitary condition was found, and the name of the supervisor notified of the condition. The NRs contained standard language stating, "this document serves as written notification that your failure to comply with regulatory requirements could result in additional regulatory or administrative action," in addition, AMPAC received a handwritten note to the same effect on September 17, 2001. When AMPAC received NRs it was required to respond formally to the USDA. No product could be shipped unless the USDA approved of the production process.
5
Prior to the plant's shutdown, AMPAC received numerous NRs. Specifically, during 2001 it received one in January, one in February, three in March, four in May, one in July, six in September, eight in October, and at least seven in November. The NRs cited such insanitary conditions as: water dripping onto the product, the presence of grease and oil on hams, rust, hog carcasses on the floor, flaking paint, rodent droppings, and the presence of meat with an open abscess on cutting tables. On September 20, as a result of the NRs, production was stopped temporarily; product was also retained on September 14, 17 and 19.1 In response, AMPAC took the following corrective actions: it wiped the condensation away, counseled its employees to monitor sanitary conditions at the plant, welded shut a breach in the exhaust system, and installed a new door to reduce airflow.
6
On October 31, 2001 the USDA withheld inspection after observing a third incident of rodent droppings at the facility; this resulted in a stop in production. In response that same day AMPAC hired a new exterminating service, Ecolab. It also retained a private food safety consultant to audit conditions at the plant. Neither Ecolab nor the new consultant told AMPAC that its building had structural problems, and both represented that they could fix AMPAC's problems. AMPAC sent a report to the USDA on November 1. The USDA resumed inspection only to withhold it again on November 2 after citing AMPAC with an additional four NRs; AMPAC was forced to cease production. In response, AMPAC continued to try to improve its facilities. It requested its employees help keep the facility clean, retained an attorney to communicate with the USDA on its behalf, asked the Chicago Department of Public Health to rodent-proof an abandoned building adjacent to the facility, and invested 1500 man hours in an intensive cleaning over the weekend at a cost of $34,000.2 The USDA was unpersuaded; it suspended its assignment of USDA inspectors at the facility on November 5, 2001. AMPAC was unable to ship some one million pounds of meat, valued at $638,000.
7
AMPAC continued its efforts to bring the facility into compliance with USDA regulations. It took the following actions: AMPAC retained another outside expert to assess the facility, had Ecolab visit the facility and install over one-hundred additional traps, retained the American Igloo company to study and identify airflow problems that could be causing the condensation problems, had management review and update policy for meeting USDA requirements, solicited quotes for the cost of testing the retained product for contamination, assessed the cost for possibly repairing a cooler, and it formed a crisis team to identify and correct regulatory issues.
8
On November 7, AMPAC requested permission from the USDA to ship its product; the USDA denied the request and ordered the product be destroyed. On November 14, AMPAC received information that repairs to its coolers would cost $3 million and would take six months to complete. On November 15, Ochylski again corresponded with the USDA, detailing its efforts to improve the facility and outlining its plan to spend the $3 million to upgrade the cooler if USDA allowed them to continue operating. The USDA responded that the measures taken up to that point were unsatisfactory, and AMPAC could not resume operations. The USDA also ordered AMPAC to destroy an additional 1.2 million pounds of previously inspected and approved product, worth about $545,500. On November 15, Ochylski decided to close the plant the following day; notice was sent to employees on November 16.
II. Discussion
9
The district court granted AMPAC's motion for summary judgment, stating that the USDA's actions, resulting in the closure of the plant, were not reasonably foreseeable. We review the district court's decision to grant summary judgment de novo. Brademas v. Indiana Hous. Fin. Auth., 354 F.3d 681, 685 (7th Cir.2004). Summary judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c). In determining whether summary judgment was appropriate we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs.
10
The WARN Act requires employers, such as AMPAC, to give its employees 60 days' advance notice of a plant closing. 29 U.S.C. § 2102(a). The purpose of the statute is to provide workers transition time to seek alternative jobs and, if necessary, seek retraining to allow them to successfully compete in the job market. 20 C.F.R. § 639.1 (2004). Under WARN, the required 60-day notice period may be reduced or eliminated if the closing was caused by "business circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable as of the time that notice would have been required." 29 U.S.C. § 2102(b)(2)(A). Such unforeseen business circumstances must be, "caused by some sudden, dramatic, and unexpected action or condition outside the employer's control." 20 C.F.R. § 639.9(b)(1).
11
The Department of Labor has been hesitant to create per se rules as to what constitutes unforeseen business circumstances, and encourages a case-by-case examination of the facts. Hotel Employees and Rest. Employees Int'l Union Local 54 v. Elsinore Shore Assocs., 173 F.3d 175, 180 (3d Cir.1999); 54 Fed.Reg. 16,062, 16,062-63 (April 20, 1989). In these situations, the Third Circuit has aptly noted, "[w]hat is a harbinger of disaster in one context may be an everyday occurrence in another." Elsinore, 173 F.3d at 186. In determining whether business circumstances were "unforeseeable" we do not consider the employer's own subjective assessment, but rather whether it had exercised, "such commercially reasonable business judgment as would a similarly situated employer." 20 C.F.R. § 639.9(b)(2) (2004). In this case we consider whether a similarly situated meat packing facility would have foreseen heightened USDA actions in November given AMPAC's experiences during the prior months.
12
The Federal Regulations contemplate the situation before us and explicitly state that "[a] government ordered closing of an employment site ... may be an unforeseeable business circumstance." 20 C.F.R. § 639.9(b)(1) (2004).3 The commentary to the regulations instructs that, "[d]epending on the length of the notice given, a claim that [indirect government] closings qualify for reduced notice under the unforeseeable business circumstances exception may be available." 54 Fed.Reg. 16,042, 16,053-54 (April 20, 1989) (emphasis added).
13
AMPAC argues that it was excused from its notification requirement because the actions taken by the USDA in mid-November were sudden and "not reasonably foreseeable" in September. AMPAC believes the following three actions by the USDA led to its decision to close the plant: its November 5 suspension of inspection, its combined November 7 and 15 orders to destroy over 2 million pounds of meat, and its November 15 insistence on costly repairs to the cooler at the facility. Whether these actions were reasonably foreseeable depends on how a similarly situated manager of a meat packing facility would react armed with the knowledge of the conditions of its facility, the extent of its attempts to repair the facility, and how the USDA generally operates with regard to non-compliance with sanitation regulations. We know that by mid-September (60 days prior to the closing) AMPAC was receiving an escalating number of NRs. Plaintiffs contend that AMPAC's President, Ochylski, was aware of the problematic conditions of the facility as far as a year earlier, as evidenced by plans in 2000 to improve the coolers that were later scrapped. Record at 23, ¶ 145-47 (Statement of Uncontested Facts). They also assert that he knew the remedial actions he was taking in response to the NRs were ineffective to correct the underlying problems due to the receipt of multiple citations for the same problems, and the relatively small amount of money expended to correct the conditions. Br. of Plaintiffs-Appellants at 16, 20. Finally, Plaintiffs believe that Ochylski was unfamiliar with USDA procedures and the seriousness of NRs. Record at 30, ¶ 34 and 184. In short, they contend that a similarly situated business person, exercising reasonable commercial judgment would have foreseen in September the escalating NRs would result in the USDA's November actions, causing the plant to close.
14
Case law on this topic is sparse and offers us little guidance. The most similar fact pattern arose in the Third Circuit. Elsinore, 173 F.3d at 175. In that case a casino was shut down when a government agency refused to renew its license due to the casino's ongoing financial difficulties. The court held that the shutdown was unforeseeable because the commission in question had never before refused to renew a casino license "even for applicants in serious financial distress." Id. at 186. In this case, AMPAC hopes to align itself with Elsinore by asserting that Ochylski and Espinosa had a combined fifty years of experience operating slaughterhouses, and had never experienced similar harsh actions on the part of the USDA following the issuance of NRs. In our case the waters are further muddied by the fact that beginning in January 2000 the USDA implemented new rules regarding sanitation requirements for meat and poultry establishments. The new rules were to be results-driven standards, rather than a list of dos and don'ts. The Commentary to the Regulations contemplates such situations and states that changes in agency rules are not always unforeseeable because "regulatory changes are often preceded by lengthy notice and comment procedures, [and] often have delayed effective dates." 54 Fed.Reg. 16,042, 16,062-63 (April 20, 1989). This analysis seems appropriate to our situation, given the fact that the USDA published its proposal for these changes in 1997. So, even though Ochylski and Espinosa had not previously experienced a plant shutdown due to USDA withholding of inspection following its issuance of multiple NRs, a reasonable, similarly situated business person might have foreseen that the new USDA rules would result in such actions, especially given the fact that the new rules focused on results (rather than efforts), and AMPAC had been unable to provide effective remedies to its sanitation problems.
15
Viewed in a light most favorable to Plaintiffs, we think that there exists a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the business conditions that caused AMPAC to close its facility were unforeseeable. Further, if the conditions were unforeseeable, it is unclear whether this qualifies AMPAC for merely a reduction in its required notice period or the complete elimination of it. We believe these questions are best answered by a finder of fact. For this reason, we REVERSE.
Notes:
1
That product was ultimately reconditioned and shipped
2
The cleaning effort included purchasing a new stainless steel augur belt, plugging holes, covering previously uncovered floors and beams, removing unused overhead apparatus and cleaning the rendering building
3
In discussing such government actions, the Department of Labor differentiated government actions thatdirectly order the closing of a business (as contemplated in the Regulations) and government actions that indirectly do so (as discussed in the Commentary). Indirect closings occur in such situations where an agency, "take[s] enforcement actions which might result in the closing of a plant by the employer either to remedy the violation or because it cannot continue to operate." 54 Fed.Reg. 16,042, 16,053-54 (April 20, 1989). The commentary goes on to state, "[s]uch [indirect] closings, although they may result from a government action, are not government ordered and are not subject to the same treatment." Id. The USDA's actions are properly classified as an indirect closing of AMPAC's facility in Chicago.
|
Hehe... I guess "Miss Weasly" had a little mishap and is seing stars or something?
But honestly I figured Derpy for the role of Ron: Loyal, good willed, kind of clumsy but "in luck when being unlucky"! XD |
Hemofiltration in diabetic uremic patients.
The increasing number of Diabetic Uremic Patients (DUP) starting the substitutive treatment (ST) constitutes a difficult and often disappointing problem in terms of efforts, clinical results and side-effects. While treatment of these patients by C.A.P.D. is well documented, the adoption of Hemofiltration (HF), has been, up to now scarcely considered. In order to define the potentialities of a HF policy in the treatment of these patients, data from 6 DUP treated with postdilutional HF for a 10.6 months/patient period were collected on a multi-center basis and retrospectively examined. Good results were achieved in terms of vascular stability, control of arterial hypertension and of retinopathy, clinical complications and hospitalization rate. Although C.A.P.D. may represent a first choice treatment for DUP with residual function, satisfactory glicemic control, difficult blood access and a motivation to full autonomization, HF may constitute a logical alternative when C.A.P.D. should be unmanageable (visus impairment, history of repeated peritonitis and dismetabolism, considerable weight gain): an integration of HF and C.A.P.D. can assure PDU with a continuative treatment. |
1. Introduction {#sec1-ijerph-17-00610}
===============
Changes in the labor market, evolution of production processes, new technologies, and competitiveness on a global scale have significantly transformed the work environment and demands on workers \[[@B1-ijerph-17-00610],[@B2-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Some of these transformations may be associated with negative consequences on the psychophysical health of workers \[[@B3-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Literature on the dysfunctions of work organizations and their subsequent degenerative manifestations is huge, and it is therefore difficult to find a way amongst clearly vexatious phenomena such as mobbing or bullying and stress situations that are rather related to strategic, environmental, or relational conditions \[[@B4-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Judicial references \[[@B5-ijerph-17-00610]\] as well as literature references \[[@B6-ijerph-17-00610],[@B7-ijerph-17-00610]\] seem to clearly indicate the need to pay attention to a series of work situations that are detrimental to the dignity of workers (demotion, de-skilling, isolation, degenerated conflicts, etc.) \[[@B8-ijerph-17-00610]\] and that are currently classified as straining and not attributable to other degenerative phenomena.
Workplace bullying is the systematic, repetitive, and intended undesirable behavior of one employee or group of employees targeting another employee or group of employees. Such behavior might consist of public humiliation and condemnation, social segregation, verbal exploitation, intimidation, inaccurate allegations, ignoring someone for a long period of time, and repeated reminders of someone's errors. Workplace bullying is also referred to as abuse in the workplace, mobbing, harassment, and mistreatment. Often, bullying is a reflection of a systemic malfunction of a given institution rather than of direct personal animosities. Considering the spread of the phenomenon and the adverse effects it generates for both victim employees and employer, research on workplace bullying is thriving \[[@B9-ijerph-17-00610],[@B10-ijerph-17-00610],[@B11-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The focus of institutions and the scientific community on occupational health and safety is progressively increasing, leading to a continuous regulatory evolution and the development of good practices in safety and prevention, with the aim of reducing costs for businesses and the society.
Within this frame, this study aimed to explore the impact that perceptions of being a victim of straining actions at work have on individual consequences and the role of personality in the interpretation of negative actions and in its impact on a person.
1.1. Straining between Stress and Mobbing {#sec1dot1-ijerph-17-00610}
-----------------------------------------
The term straining derives from the verb "to strain" which means "to become stretched, to experience pressure, or to make something do or experience this" and refers to a phenomenon of both psychological and legal value, mainly resulting from an organizational conflict \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Straining is a psychological condition halfway between mobbing and simple occupational stress \[[@B10-ijerph-17-00610]\]: it is in fact a type of "forced" stress, i.e., higher than that related to the nature of work and targeting a victim (or a group of victims) in an intentional and discriminatory way, so as to cause a permanent worsening of the working condition of the worker, even before impacting his/her psychophysical health \[[@B13-ijerph-17-00610],[@B14-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Straining is an attenuated form of mobbing, in which the continuity of vexatious actions, deliberately imposed by the hierarchical superior, does not show a discriminatory intent \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\]. The interest in straining stems from the need to give a precise name and a specific compensation profile to situations of work discomfort, which nevertheless risk being unfairly bypassed as they do not fall within the definition of mobbing \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\].
For a conduct to be defined as straining, even a single action is sufficient, provided its effects are long-lasting, as in the case of demotion or relocation \[[@B14-ijerph-17-00610],[@B15-ijerph-17-00610],[@B16-ijerph-17-00610],[@B17-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The victim of straining is at a disadvantage compared to the strainer and must have suffered at least one negative action that has an effect at the occupational level in the long term and in a constant manner \[[@B18-ijerph-17-00610],[@B19-ijerph-17-00610]\].
In addition to the affinities with mobbing, the term straining is also very close to the verb "to stress": in a situation of straining, the aggressor will systematically tend to make his/her victim fall into a specific condition of stress; in this case, the type of stress could be defined as higher than the stress of work and of normal organizational interactions \[[@B20-ijerph-17-00610],[@B21-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Therefore, and as initially said, straining, which according to some interpretations would be placed halfway between occupational stress and mobbing, in some situations becomes a prodromal phenomenon of mobbing \[[@B18-ijerph-17-00610],[@B22-ijerph-17-00610]\]. When we talk about straining, we can distinguish different protagonists: as in mobbing, there are actors, victims, and spectators \[[@B13-ijerph-17-00610]\].
In the literature, overall, straining is associated both with forms of occupational stress due to poor work organization and with forms of forced stress resulting from discriminatory acts \[[@B23-ijerph-17-00610],[@B24-ijerph-17-00610],[@B25-ijerph-17-00610],[@B26-ijerph-17-00610]\].
1.2. Negative Actions at Work and Personality {#sec1dot2-ijerph-17-00610}
---------------------------------------------
Numerous papers have sought to investigate organizational and role factors that are related to adverse health outcomes and other occupational outcomes \[[@B27-ijerph-17-00610],[@B28-ijerph-17-00610],[@B29-ijerph-17-00610],[@B30-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Part of the literature has focused instead on individual variables and personality traits in order to understand if and how the worker's personality could affect the perceived negative actions and the impact these have on well-being \[[@B31-ijerph-17-00610],[@B32-ijerph-17-00610],[@B33-ijerph-17-00610],[@B34-ijerph-17-00610],[@B35-ijerph-17-00610],[@B36-ijerph-17-00610],[@B37-ijerph-17-00610],[@B38-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Some studies, on the other hand, have focused on the exploration of personality characteristics associated with the role of victim or mobbing agent \[[@B31-ijerph-17-00610]\], such as, for instance, personality disorders: paranoid, narcissistic, borderline traits would be more likely associated with the mobber profile; vice versa, profiles of whining, sad, rigid, prickly personality would be more frequently associated with people who perceive themselves as victims of mobbing or straining \[[@B20-ijerph-17-00610],[@B39-ijerph-17-00610],[@B40-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Overall, the contribution of mobbing researches does not seem to clarify the personality differences between victims and non-victims \[[@B41-ijerph-17-00610]\]. In fact, if on the one hand some personality traits (anxiety, depression, somatization, etc.) are more frequently found in victims of mobbing \[[@B36-ijerph-17-00610],[@B38-ijerph-17-00610],[@B42-ijerph-17-00610],[@B43-ijerph-17-00610],[@B44-ijerph-17-00610],[@B45-ijerph-17-00610]\], other studies show a rather limited role of personality characteristics in situations of conflict at work \[[@B29-ijerph-17-00610],[@B30-ijerph-17-00610],[@B46-ijerph-17-00610],[@B47-ijerph-17-00610],[@B48-ijerph-17-00610]\].
As far as straining is concerned, some indications point out that it can have strong negative effects on the victim's personality and, more specifically, on conscientiousness, friendliness, and open-mindedness \[[@B38-ijerph-17-00610]\]. The victim's personality traits, therefore, could represent the outcomes of negative actions perceived at work rather than the causes of the harassment suffered \[[@B49-ijerph-17-00610],[@B50-ijerph-17-00610],[@B51-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Although some studies have focused on the contribution and role of personality factors in relation to mobbing actions' effects on health consequences, very few researches have explored the effects of straining, mediated through personality, on HCWs.
1.3. Negative Actions and Healthcare Workers {#sec1dot3-ijerph-17-00610}
--------------------------------------------
Healthcare works (HCWs) are one of the categories of workers that are most at risk of work-related stress \[[@B52-ijerph-17-00610]\]. According to the survey conducted by the European General Practice Research Network (2019) on a group of 100,000 doctors operating in 12 countries, Italian doctors showed stress rates (43%) almost twice as high as the average stress rate of their European colleagues (22%).
The Medscape Lifestyle Report, produced by the Medscape National Physician Burnout, Depression & Suicide \[[@B53-ijerph-17-00610]\] scientific portal, focused primarily on burnout and depressive symptoms and on how they affect the activity of HCWs and their approach to the patient. In this report, 15,000 U.S. white coats from 29 different specializations were interviewed, and 50% stated that burnout significantly affects the quality of care offered to patients.
This is the case of "hostile or sporadic discriminatory actions, lacking the continuity requirement, and exerting effects that are continuous in time". Among these: "groundless deprivation of work tools; assignment of tasks that are not compatible with the personal condition of the worker; unjustified displacement to a distressing site; underestimation of the work delivered by the worker".
1.4. The Present Research {#sec1dot4-ijerph-17-00610}
-------------------------
Reviewing the literature, on the one hand there is a definite need to more accurately investigate the effect of straining actions (in terms of duration and intensity) on the psychophysical health of workers; on the other, the need to test the role of personality factors in the interpretation of negative actions and in its impact on the individual \[[@B41-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Straining is an attenuated form of mobbing that does not show continuity of vexatious actions. However, actions not only are stressful but also lead to enduring and constant consequences that may indeed cause serious psychosomatic, psychophysical, or psychic disorders to the worker. Straining intentionally targets one or more people in a discriminatory way, and the victim suffers at least one action exerting a negative effect on his/her work environment. The worker, in a constantly inferior position in relation to the strainer, is subject to hostile actions, though limited in number and distant in time (i.e., not tout court compliant with mobbing parameters), that produce a negative, constant, and permanent change of the work situation and may likely affect the right to health, as stated by law. Such "stressful" situations can give rise to a condition which, due to its characteristics, severity, personal or professional frustration, or other specific circumstances, can presumably lead to damage, i.e., straining, even without proof of a precise persecutory aim \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\].
When compared with mobbing, straining may result from even a single discriminatory action when the effect is permanent and existing (absence of systematicity)---whereas mobbing requires discriminatory actions to occur at least a few times a month for at least six months---and from a single type of action (absence of variability)---whereas mobbing requires at least two categories of hostile actions of the Leymann Inventory of Psychological Terrorism (LIPT) to occur. Therefore, mobbing creates a situation of conflict due to persecution, while straining generates a situation of forced stress due to discrimination \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Taking previous studies as a reference \[[@B42-ijerph-17-00610],[@B54-ijerph-17-00610],[@B55-ijerph-17-00610]\] and highlighting the link between straining and mobbing as the occurrence of negative actions causing devastating consequences for the employees, we decided to test the potential mediation effect of personality on the relationship between perception of straining at work and consequences in terms of health (physical and psychological) in a sample of HCWs.
Moreover, referring to literature results \[[@B54-ijerph-17-00610],[@B56-ijerph-17-00610],[@B57-ijerph-17-00610],[@B58-ijerph-17-00610]\], this paper aims to investigate the role of some demographic variables (gender, age, marital status, schooling) and organizational variables (structure, area, position) in the emergence of a discriminatory conduct and its consequences.
Starting from the abovementioned observations, this research aims to verify the impact that straining actions have on the psychophysical health of workers and the role of personality in the interpretation of negative actions and in its impact on the psychophysical health of an individual.
In this vein, we designed a correlational study with a sample of HCWs to measure the following variables: straining perceptions and personality and individual consequences (psychological and physical). For the personality structure, we referred to the Big Five model \[[@B59-ijerph-17-00610],[@B60-ijerph-17-00610]\] that identifies five principal personality factors (openness, neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness) and successfully used it to explore the impact of personality on behaviors, dispositions, and attitudes in different contexts \[[@B61-ijerph-17-00610],[@B62-ijerph-17-00610],[@B63-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Extending the literature indications to the relationship between Big Five personality traits and behaviors at work \[[@B55-ijerph-17-00610],[@B64-ijerph-17-00610],[@B65-ijerph-17-00610],[@B66-ijerph-17-00610]\], as well as to the effect of negative actions on health and personality \[[@B42-ijerph-17-00610],[@B54-ijerph-17-00610]\], we designed a research model (see [Figure 1](#ijerph-17-00610-f001){ref-type="fig"}) intended to verify the following hypotheses (Hp): Personality traits have an effect on individual consequences (Hp1); Since openness (Hp1a) and agreeableness (Hp1b) are expected to be positively related to individual consequences, extraversion (Hp1c), conscientiousness (Hp1d), and emotional stability (Hp1e) are negatively related to individual consequences (Hp1b); Negative act perceptions (personal bullying, social and work-related bullying) are positively related to individual consequences (Hp2a), while straining duration is negatively related to individual consequences (Hp2b).
More specifically, we wanted to test the hypothesis that personality has a mediation role in the relationship between perceptions of straining at work and individual consequences (Hp3).
Finally, we wanted to test the effect of demographical and job factors on S-NAQ, personality, and individual consequences (Hp4) (see [Figure 1](#ijerph-17-00610-f001){ref-type="fig"}).
2. Materials and Methods {#sec2-ijerph-17-00610}
========================
2.1. Sample {#sec2dot1-ijerph-17-00610}
-----------
This research is part of a project aimed at evaluating organizational stressors and was commissioned by the peer departments of two public hospitals, co-partners of the project.
In this study, 416 (100%) HCWs of the two hospitals were invited by the management to complete a questionnaire during working hours, after attending a brief training about stress at work; 10% (n = 42) of them refused to participate in the survey, which, therefore, was administered to 374 workers (response rate 90%). Workers were invited by the researcher to participate on a voluntary basis and were informed about the aim of the study. All participants signed an informed consent form before taking part in the study.
Respondents were asked not to mention their name or the name of their organization anywhere in the questionnaire, in order to ensure privacy and anonymity. Data were collected in November 2018 in one hospital and in March 2019 in the other. The Internal Review Board (IRB) of the Department of Educational Sciences---University of Enna, Italy, approved the research (23/11/2018). All the data were processed according to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Of the 374 HCWs, 55% (n = 207) were females, and 45% (n = 167) were males. [Table 1](#ijerph-17-00610-t001){ref-type="table"} and [Table 2](#ijerph-17-00610-t002){ref-type="table"} highlight the main sample and sub-samples characteristics. Age ranges: 51--60 (31%), 41--50 (24%), 31--40 (23%), \<30 years (12%), and \>60 (9%); 43% (n = 160) of HCWs had a degree; 56% (n = 210) of HCWs were married, and 26% (n = 96) were single; 65% (n = 243) of HCWs had children; 49% (n = 184) of HCWs were nurses, and 45% (n = 169) were physicians. The mean length of service was 18.9 ± 12.1 years; 81% (n = 302) of the participants declared to have a permanent contract, and more than half of them 74% (n = 276) were on shift work, with an approximate daily service of 7 h (7.1 ± 1.3 h).
2.2. Measures {#sec2dot2-ijerph-17-00610}
-------------
Big Five Inventory---Italian Short Version (BFI-10) \[[@B67-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Personality was measured with a total of 10 items rated on a response scale ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (fully agree). Dimensions of the Italian BFI-10 are measured with 2 items each: agreeableness (AGR), conscientiousness (COS), emotional stability (EMS), extroversion (EXT), openness (OPEN). We re-phrased some items to reflect direct statements. An example is "Tends to find fault with others and does a thorough job". Cronbach's alpha = 0.85.
Short Negative Actions Questionnaire (S-NAQ)---Italian Version \[[@B68-ijerph-17-00610],[@B69-ijerph-17-00610]\]. The S-NAQ is one of the most widely used instruments to evaluate any form of negative behavior \[[@B30-ijerph-17-00610],[@B31-ijerph-17-00610],[@B32-ijerph-17-00610],[@B33-ijerph-17-00610],[@B34-ijerph-17-00610],[@B35-ijerph-17-00610],[@B36-ijerph-17-00610],[@B37-ijerph-17-00610],[@B38-ijerph-17-00610],[@B39-ijerph-17-00610],[@B40-ijerph-17-00610],[@B41-ijerph-17-00610]\]. All items in the NAQ-R scale are developed in behavioral terms, with no reference to bullying or harassment. The total score was intended as a measure of the power of the perceived straining. The number of suffered discriminatory actions was measured with a total of 9 items with a three-factor structure, namely, work-related bullying (WB), personal bullying (PB), and social bullyng (SB), rated on a 5-point response scale ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always). Examples are, "They raised their voice" or "He was the target of instinctive rage attacks, and they have constantly criticized his work and his commitment". Cronbach's alpha = 0.91.
The perceived duration of the negative actions was intended as a measure of the straining duration and was assessed with 1 item, rated on a 9-point response scale ranging from 1 (never) to 9 (for over 5 years).
Occupational Stress Indicator---Italian Version \[[@B70-ijerph-17-00610],[@B71-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Psychological consequences were assessed with the PSYT sub-scale of the Individual Consequences of Stress dimension of the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI); 18 items were rated on a 6-point response scale ranging from 1 (completely false) to 6 (absolutely true). Examples of PSYT items are, "During the day, there are moments when you feel worried, upset, useful, confident". We re-phrased some items to reflect direct statements. Cronbach's alpha = 0.77.
Physical consequences were assessed with the PHIT sub-scale of the Individual Consequences of Stress dimension of the OSI; 18 items were rated on a 6-point response scale ranging from 1 (completely false) to 6 (absolutely true). Examples of PHIT items are, "Did you notice any symptoms over the last 6 months, such as lack of appetite, headache, or noise?". The response scale ranged from 1 (hardly ever) to 6 (almost always). Cronbach's alpha = 0.92.
Socio-Demographic Variables. Participants were asked to provide information on socio-demographic characteristics, such as gender, age, school grade, education, marital status, and work details, including type of contract (such as long-term or fixed-term contract), working hours (full time or part-time), work position, shift work, seniority, hours of service per day.
2.3. Data Analysis {#sec2dot3-ijerph-17-00610}
------------------
In order to verify the hypotheses, correlation and regression analyses with SPSS 21.0 were conducted. Moreover, the research intended to test the hypothesis that personality has a mediation role in the relationship between perceptions about straining at work and individual consequences, using structural equation modeling analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with SEM via maximum likelihood estimation methods (along with the indicators' covariance matrix) were used to evaluate the measurement and structural models concerning study variables and their associations, through AMOS 22 statistical package. With regard to the models' goodness-of-fit evaluation, we relied on both absolute and relative goodness-of-fit indices. In addition, in order to refer to the chi-square and the degrees of freedom to evaluate possible significant differences between alternative nested models, we reported the following indices: root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA; acceptable values lower than 0.08;) \[[@B72-ijerph-17-00610]\] standardized root-mean-square residual (SRMR; acceptable values lower than 0.08;) \[[@B73-ijerph-17-00610]\] comparative fit index (CFI) and incremental fit index (IFI), for which scores higher than 0.90 are acceptable \[[@B74-ijerph-17-00610],[@B75-ijerph-17-00610]\]. All study variables were measured through a single questionnaire; we addressed common method variance and response bias according to methods outlined by Podsakoff et al. \[[@B76-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Different scale endpoints and formats for the predictor and criterion measures were used in order to reduce method biases caused by commonalities in scale endpoints and anchoring effects. Moreover, we randomly inserted items into the questionnaire, and the scales were graphically separated from each other. Finally, two slightly different versions of the questionnaire, containing a different scales' sequence (and mixed through the 2 different sub-samples), were used for data collection.
3. Results {#sec3-ijerph-17-00610}
==========
To corroborate this research aimed at verifying the impact that straining actions have on the psychophysical health of a sample of HCWs and the role of personality in the interpretation of negative actions and in its impact on the psychophysical health of individuals, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed.
Dysfunctions of work organizations and the subsequent negative actions related to psychological and physical consequences in health care professionals are relevant concerns for the scientific community concerned with occupational health and safety, considering that, in Europe, this sector employs about 10% of the entire workforce \[[@B34-ijerph-17-00610]\].
In order to evaluate possible violations of the assumptions of normality, linearity, and multicollinearity, initial analyses (including Mahalanobis distance, and skeweness/kurtosis indices) were implemented ([Table 3](#ijerph-17-00610-t003){ref-type="table"}).
[Table 4](#ijerph-17-00610-t004){ref-type="table"} reports the zero-order correlations among the variables of the study. The analysis of the different measurement models was conducted in order to assess the construct validity of the study measures using CFA.
Regarding the nine items of S-NAQ, CFA supported a three-factor---WB, PB, and SI---structure (χ^2^ = 79.21, df = 30, *p* \< 0.001, χ^2^/df = 2.64, CFI (comparative fit index) = 0.940, GFI (goodness of fit index)= 0.946, SRMR = 0.038, RMSEA = 0.103, IFI = 0.941), and the composite reliability (CR) value was satisfactory (CR = 0.83).
CFA did not support the assumed five-factor structure of the 10-item BFI, because of its unsatisfactory model fit and its unacceptable factor loading of items of some specific scales (AGR and OPEN). Exploring other factor solutions of BFI with 10 items, a nearly acceptable result supported by CFA was a three-factor structure (χ^2^ = 161.7, df = 18, *p* \< 0.001; GFI = 0.926; CFI = 0.908, TLI = 0.844, SRMR = 0.044, RMSEA = 0.097, IFI = 0.843), but with the AGR and OPEN items saturating on other expected factors and with not acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha \< 0.60). The best factor solution was highlighted by CFA for the one-factor solution of the 10-item BFI: χ^2^ = 79.21, df = 30, *p* \< 0.001, χ^2^/df = 2.64; GFI = 0.938; CFI = 0.890, SRMR = 0.08, RMSEA = 0.071, IFI = 0.897), although it revealed a sufficient reliability (CR = 0.69). Considering the results, we proceeded to test measurement models with six items, excluding the OPEN and AGR sub-scales. CFA supported the assumed three-factor structure of the six-item BFI (EXT, COS, EMS), with an excellent model fit (χ^2^ = 31.17, df = 12, *p* \< 0.001, χ^2^/df = 2.59; GFI = 0.989; CFI = 0.9670, SRMR = 0.08, RMSEA = 0.039, IFI = 0.942 and excellent factor loadings). The openness and agreeableness scales were excluded in the following analyses.
Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a two-factor structure for the OSI PSYT and PHIT consequences: χ^2^ = 1417.8, df = 559, *p* = 0.000, χ^2^/df = 2.53; GFI = 0.943; CFI = 0.910, SRMR = 0.062, RMSEA = 0.067, IFI = 0.902). Composite reliability was good (CR = 0.73).
3.1. Impact of Personality Factors on Psychological and Physical Consequences {#sec3dot1-ijerph-17-00610}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The correlation analysis (see [Table 4](#ijerph-17-00610-t004){ref-type="table"}) clearly showed that only a few personality factors are related to psychological and physical consequences. Moreover, the regression analysis highlighted that emotional stability is the only Big Five subscale that clearly predicts both individual consequences (F (1, 374) = 42.90; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.103; ß = −0.268). This seems to stress that only specific personality factors have an impact on individual consequences. However, the assumed direction of the relationship between personality and consequences was confirmed for emotional stability (negative, Hp1e), conscientiousness (negative, Hp1d), and extraversion (negative, Hp1c). Overall, even if many of the sub-hypothesis were partially confirmed, the results corroborated the macro hypotheses Hp1 only for emotional stability; because of these results and because of the parallel lack of relationship with straining measures, only emotional stability was considered as a personality factor in the subsequent analysis.
3.2. Impact of Straining Perceptions on Psychological and Physical Consequences {#sec3dot2-ijerph-17-00610}
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The multiple regression analysis (see [Table 5](#ijerph-17-00610-t005){ref-type="table"}) highlighted that straining intensity predicts psychological (F (1, 374) = 28.09; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.098; ß = −0.281) and physical consequences (F (1, 374) = 73.24; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.17; ß = 0.544). Straining duration slightly predicted psychological consequences (F (1, 374) = 20.28; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.05; ß = −0.053) and physical consequences (F (1, 374) = 32.13; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.08; ß = −0.083). Analyzing the different sub-scales of S-NAQ with multiple regression analysis, the results highlighted that personal straining, compared to social and work straining, is the best predictor both for psychological consequences (F (1, 374) = 156.09; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.085; ß = 0.280) and physical consequences F (1, 374) = 26.99; *p* \< 0.001; R^2^ = 0.17; ß = 0.407).
3.3. Impact of Socio-Organizational Variables on Psychological and Physical Consequences {#sec3dot3-ijerph-17-00610}
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The initial analysis also revealed that demographic and organizational variables (sex, age, tenure, and professional role) were not substantially related to the study variables, with the exception of gender (with males coded as 1, and females coded as 2).
Regression showed gender differences only for physical consequences: women reported significantly higher physical symptoms compared with men (t = −3.57, *p* \< 0.001; physical consequences: men = 1.97; women = 2.33) assessed with the PHIT sub-scale of the Individual Consequences of Stress dimension of the OSI. Smaller subjective age differences in physical consequences (r = 0.133; *p* = 0.05) were found. The analysis underlined that schooling has a slight significant effect on both psychological and physical consequences.
3.4. Mediation Role of Personality {#sec3dot4-ijerph-17-00610}
----------------------------------
The Structural Equation Models (SEMS) allow to test the set of relationships described by a theoretical model through the analysis of the deviation or fit between the model supported by data and an ideal one.
In order to test if the effect of perceived straining on individual consequences is mediated by personality, starting from the initial model ([Figure 1](#ijerph-17-00610-f001){ref-type="fig"}) and taking into account regression analysis, we developed a model (Model 1) with straining perceptions (intensity and duration) as independent variables and emotional stability and individual consequences as dependent variables.
The model contained all the possible relationships between the described model's variables. Fit indices were not acceptable: χ^2^/df = 41.17; RMSEA = 0.327; CFI = 0.893; NFI (Normed Fit Index) = 0.893; NNFI (Non-Normed Fit Index) = 0.826; SRMR = 0.049.
We then revised the model, removing non-significant relationships (straining duration on psychological and physical consequences) (Model 2). The fit indices were overall acceptable: RMSEA = 0.088; CFI = 0.924; NFI = 0.942; SRMR = 0.060; χ^2^/df = 14.3, *p* \< 0.001. The path diagram is shown in [Figure 2](#ijerph-17-00610-f002){ref-type="fig"}.
Overall, the effect of straining power on consequences was mediated by emotional stability (indirect β on psychological consequences = 0.21, *p* \< 0.001; indirect β on physical consequences = 0.34, *p* \< 0.001); the effect of straining duration on consequences was mediated by emotional stability (indirect β on psychological consequences = 0.08, *p* \< 0.001; indirect β on physical consequences = 0.14, *p* \< 0.001) ([Table 6](#ijerph-17-00610-t006){ref-type="table"}).
Thus, straining perceptions predicted emotional stability, which in turn determined better consequences. Straining explains only 8% of the variance of psychological consequences and 17% of the variance of physical consequences, while, together with emotional stability, it explains respectively 15% (for psychological consequences) and 26% (for physical consequences) of the variance. Altogether, SEM results seem to confirm that straining perceptions especially impact, through emotional stability, psychological consequences.
4. Discussion {#sec4-ijerph-17-00610}
=============
The profound changes that have affected the occupational world in recent years have contributed to the emergence of new risk situations for the health and safety of workers \[[@B77-ijerph-17-00610],[@B78-ijerph-17-00610],[@B79-ijerph-17-00610],[@B80-ijerph-17-00610]\].
In a highly precarious and highly conflictual work environment, workers' situations of psychophysical discomfort tend to grow exponentially, undermining not only the physical integrity of a worker but, above all, his/her balance and emotional stability \[[@B81-ijerph-17-00610],[@B82-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The focus of research on negative actions at work has progressively shifted from strictly organizational models to models that take into account dynamics and social interactions between workers, and subjective, inter-subjective, and cultural aspects that are involved in the processes of perception of straining, mobbing, and work-related stressors \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Straining is defined as a situation of attenuated mobbing, characterized by isolated but repeated actions over time that lead the worker to suffer constant stress and a progressive debasement of his/her working position \[[@B12-ijerph-17-00610],[@B13-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The aim of straining is to marginalize the worker, often considered as an inconvenience or a hindrance to the career of the preferred people. The repercussions that such types of conduct produce on the subject are numerous and potentially very serious: from medium-level psychophysical disorders to more complex forms of depression and identity disorders.
However, few in the literature have investigated the effects of straining on health and the possible role of personality factors \[[@B10-ijerph-17-00610],[@B41-ijerph-17-00610]\]. In this scenario, the role played by the personality factors of the straining victim is currently much debated and still far from being clarified, although it is the subject matter of many researches.
In general, research shows that personality factors can play the role of mediators in the relationship between the adverse situation experienced and the stress response, but that a specific profile of the mobbing victim cannot be described \[[@B10-ijerph-17-00610],[@B30-ijerph-17-00610],[@B33-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Generally, our study found support in other works for the research hypotheses and is in line with the scientific literature \[[@B27-ijerph-17-00610],[@B83-ijerph-17-00610],[@B84-ijerph-17-00610],[@B85-ijerph-17-00610]\] regarding the identification of the variables that are mostly involved in degenerative events in the workplace \[[@B86-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Emotional stability has been examined and recognized as a personality representation in human mind \[[@B59-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Under the paradigm of the self-organizational theory, emotional stability indicates whether a complex emotional system can automatically maintain its equilibrium efficiently. It was suggested to include two dimensions: threshold of emotional response and emotional recovery from the methodology of self-organizations \[[@B60-ijerph-17-00610]\].
Threshold of emotional response represents the sensitivity of the emotional response, i.e., whether the individual experiences chaotic emotions (e.g., upset, anxiety, panic) easily. From the perspective of the evolutionary aspect, affect is an indicator attracting intentions on the adaptiveness of behaviors. Threshold of emotional response will determine whether an emotional system can be easily disordered \[[@B64-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The analyses conducted showed that HCWs are at risk of discriminatory actions. Straining intensity and duration predict psychological consequences and physical consequences. Our results highlighted that personal bullying, i.e., negative actions defined as attacks against the person (such as reputational aggressions), is the most frequent form of violence and the best predictor of both psychological and physical consequences to the HCWs who took part in this study; it tends to increase with the years of service (*p* = 0.012) and to consolidate the social and marital status (single, married).
Regarding the individual personality variables, conscientiousness is inversely proportional to WB, and agreeableness to PB. The effect of straining power on consequences is mediated by emotional stability. Emotional stability negatively correlates with the three component scales of S-NAQ: WB, PB, and SB. The role of the SB, as regards the correlation with outcomes in both the psychological and the physical health of HCWs, and the possible effect of mediation on the relationship between straining and consequences on psychological and physical health, appears, however, somewhat scaled down \[[@B87-ijerph-17-00610],[@B88-ijerph-17-00610],[@B89-ijerph-17-00610],[@B90-ijerph-17-00610]\].
The results of this research should, in this sense, be considered in the light of some methodological limitations. This study is among the first to investigate the phenomenon of straining in healthcare professionals also in relation to personality traits. The references, in this case, were very poor and not intercountry, thus it was difficult to improve the discussion.
Data, in this sense, showed that only emotional stability is a personality factor that predicts individual consequences related to psychological and physical health. This seems to underline that only specific personality factors have an impact on individual consequences, and only emotional stability was considered in the subsequent analysis.
Some limitations need to be addressed in future research. The results should be interpreted with caution because of the type of sample and its size, which was not large enough; they may be generalized only to HCWs working in the same type of structure (public healthcare establishment). It will therefore be appropriate to extend this research to other types of workers and organizations. Drawbacks of the present study derive from getting results from a single sample, therefore they might not reflect attitudes and concern in other samples, even though the results are comparable to those observed in other surveys. Secondly, the information produced from this study is descriptive and correlational, and causation cannot be inferred.
Moreover, the personality measurement model did not provide the necessary reliability characteristics, and a significant part of the results might have been affected by this problem. In the future, it will certainly be useful to validate these results using samples from different work domains or to test differences between clinical (victims of straining) and non-clinical samples. The analysis of the different variables (organizational and personality) involved in straining and its effects must certainly be expanded through meticulous studies and tools. Future researches should better explore the role of personality (mediation, moderation, outcomes, etc.) in the perception of straining actions and in the effects on the individual.
Several indications in the literature have shown that, apart from socio-demographic factors and personality traits, circumstantial emotional states especially condition the perception of risk at work \[[@B78-ijerph-17-00610],[@B79-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Some authors have described risk perception as a cognitive process mediated by an emotional component: emotions would represent heuristics (or mental shortcuts) that allow people to assess risks in a way that is certainly not rational, but functional \[[@B80-ijerph-17-00610],[@B81-ijerph-17-00610],[@B91-ijerph-17-00610]\]. Clearly, these temporary emotional states are mainly conditioned---and somehow managed---by our personality structure, but it will be the task of future research to clarify the weight of the different variables in the perception of negative actions and work-related stressors.
5. Conclusions {#sec5-ijerph-17-00610}
==============
The discontinuous and flexible nature of contemporary work requires companies to develop forms of intervention aimed at the development of individual and interpersonal resources that are able to support workers in coping with situations of stress and difficulty at work.
When it comes to straining, as well as mobbing, part of the literature considers that the onset of many degenerative processes in the workplace is related to the personality traits of the victim \[[@B36-ijerph-17-00610],[@B43-ijerph-17-00610],[@B44-ijerph-17-00610],[@B45-ijerph-17-00610]\]. This has led to a proliferation of works with a focus on the search for psychological traits typical of the victim and the aggressor \[[@B87-ijerph-17-00610],[@B92-ijerph-17-00610],[@B93-ijerph-17-00610]\]. As far as mobbing is concerned, for instance, several studies have identified MMPI, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profiles of victims \[[@B38-ijerph-17-00610],[@B42-ijerph-17-00610]\], but only few papers have used Big Five profiles.
The overall results, in line with the scientific literature, show that HCWs suffer in the workplace especially in terms of personal discrimination, which has an impact on their psychophysical health. Comparing discriminating actions with personality traits, emotional stability, among all, correlates negatively with the three component scales of S-NAQ.
As to the practical consequences of this study, it seems clear that all these assumptions take on a remarkable role. Our results indicate that straining may cause major consequences also on job security, in terms of health and safety of workers and their performance. In managing straining behaviors, the management should implement training and monitoring policies that take account of individual differences, arranging ad hoc interventions and outlining a framework of risks that defines their borders within the company. In practice, the planning of straining risk interventions should focus on group activities that have a greater impact on individual behavior and, when they are able to increase the internal cohesion of work groups, can allow a greater prevention of conflicts and of the propensity for straining behaviors.
All authors have read and agree to the published version of the manuscript T.R. and V.R. conceived and designed the experiments; F.V., P.S., E.C., A.S. done through questionnaires to target groups investigation; M.B. analyzed the data; C.L. and A.D.G. contributed analysis tools; V.R. critically reviewed the manuscript; T.R. and M.B. wrote the paper.
This research received no external funding.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
{#ijerph-17-00610-f001}
{#ijerph-17-00610-f002}
ijerph-17-00610-t001_Table 1
######
Description of the sub-samples.
Gender Profile Corporate Seniority Work Seniority
-------------- ----- -------- --------- --------------------- ---------------- ----- --------------- ---------------
Hosp. A 207 100 107 78 87 42 21.37 (11.57) 15.59 (10.21)
Hosp. B 167 107 60 38 66 63 15.87 (11.95) 10.48 (10.04)
Total sample 374 207 167 116 153 105 18.9 (12.1) 12.97 (10.1)
ijerph-17-00610-t002_Table 2
######
Description of the sample.
Age *f* (%) Marital Status *f* (%) Profile *f* (%)
---------------- ------------ ------------------ ------------ ------------- ------------
Up to 30 years 44 (11.8) Unmarried 96 (25.7) Doctors 169 (45.2)
31--40 years 87 (23.3) Married 210 (56.1) Nurses 184 (49.2)
41--50 years 91 (24.3) Domestic partner 26 (7.0) Technicians 21 (5.6)
51--60 years 117 (31.3) Other 42 (11.2) TOT 374 (100)
\>61 years 35 (9.4) TOT 374 (100)
TOT 374
ijerph-17-00610-t003_Table 3
######
Descriptive statistics for different scales of the study. S-NAQ: Short Negative Acts Questionnaire.
N° of Items M (*SD*) Skew. Kurt. Alpha
---------------- ------------- ------------ -------- -------- -------
Extraversion 2 3.2 (0.87) 0.746 −0.641 0.921
Conscientious. 2 4.3 (0.84) 0.908 0.512 0.909
Agreeableness 2 2.9 (0.71) −0.843 −0.772 0.720
Neuroticism 2 3.6 (0.91) −0.521 0.895 0.936
Openness 2 3.2 (0.94) −0.937 −0.719 0.731
S-NAQ power 9 1.6 (0.72) 0.466 −0.367 0.91
S-NAQ duration 1 5.8 (3.3) −0.401 0.550 n/a
Psych. Conseq. 18 3.4 (0.76) 0.834 −0.767 0.77
Phys. Conseq. 17 2.1 (0.96) 0.722 0.511 0.92
ijerph-17-00610-t004_Table 4
######
Zero-order correlations among the different scales of the study.
M (±) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
------------------ ------------ ------------ -------------- ------------- -------------- ---------- -------------- ------------- --------------
1 Extraversion 3.2 (0.87)
2 Conscientious 4.3 (0.84) 0.162 \*\*
3 Agreeableness 2.9 (0.71) −0.016 0.017
4 Neuroticism 3.6 (0.91) 0.116 \* 0.332 \*\*\* 0.051
5 Openness 3.2 (0.94) 0.101 \* 0.124 \* −0.143 \*\* 0.013
6 Strain (S-NAQ) 1.6 (0.72) 0.043 −0.091 −0.060 −0.235 \*\* 0.046
7 Durat. (S-NAQ) 5.8 (3.3) −0.057 0.032 0.101 0.231 \*\* −0.088 −0.59 \*\*\*
8 Psych. Conseq. 3.4 (0.76) −0.18 \*\* −0.034 −0.165 \*\* −0.33 \*\*\* 0.132 \* 0.275 \*\* −0.237 \*\*
9 Phys. Conseq. 2.1 (0.96) −0.07 −0.132 \*\* −0.094 −0.39 \*\*\* 0.035 0.405 \*\*\* −0.281 \*\* 0.451 \*\*\*
\* *p* \< 0.05; \*\* *p* \< 0.01; \*\*\* *p* \< 0.001.
ijerph-17-00610-t005_Table 5
######
Multiple regression of S-NAQ different sub-scales as predictor of health consequences.
Psychological Consequences Physical Consequences
----------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- ------- -------------
Work-related Bullying −0.055 −0.580 0.057 0.638
Personal Bullying 0.354 3.861 \*\*\* 0.384 4.47 \*\*\*
Social Bullying −0.021 −0.229 −0.01 −0.108
R^2^ 0.098 0.17
\*\*\* *p* \< 0.001.
ijerph-17-00610-t006_Table 6
######
Standardized path coefficient (regression weights).
Estimate
----------------- --------- -------------------- ---------------
Emot. Stab. \<\-\-- Straining power 0.143 \*\*\*
Emot. Stab. \<\-\-- Straining duration 0.124 \*\*
Psych. Conseq. \<\-\-- Straining power 0.214 \*\*\*
Physic. Conseq. \<\-\-- Straining duration 0.078
Physic. Conseq. \<\-\-- Straining power 0.341 \*\*\*
Psych. Conseq. \<\-\-- Straining duration 0.069
Psych. Conseq. \<\-\-- Emot. Stab. −0.282 \*\*\*
Physic. Conseq. \<\-\-- Emot. Stab. −0.323 \*\*\*
\*\* *p* \< 0.01; \*\*\* *p* \< 0.001.
|
Chamois BUTT'r Her' Chamois Butt'r
Details
Newsflash: guys and gals have different anatomies and different skin, so maybe they should have different chamois creams, too. That's the theory behind Chamois Butt'r's Her' Butt'r, a chamois cream that's specially formulated for ladies to kick friction out of the saddle for good. By using ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and tea tree oil, Her' Butt'r provides long-lasting comfort without stinging or serving up excessive scent, and can even be worn by the fellows, if they're looking for something a little more sensitive.
View
Amazing!
Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I got this for Cycle Oregon and it saved me. We road 400 miles in 7 days and I had no chaffing. My husband also used it and loves it. And in addition to preventing chaffing, it smells great. I would definitely recommend this to anyone putting in some decent saddle time.
Post a Comment
chamois butter > chaffing
Familiarity: I've used it several times
It only takes one time to realize chaffing isn't really what you'd ever want to find yourself dealing with again. One bad experience after hours of riding in Moab is all it took for me to discover this stuff. It works great, doesn't have a froo-froo odor and you get a hefty amount for a decent price(insert bang for your buck pun here). If you've experienced trail chaffing before, grab some of this stuff, and if you already know what's up- still grab some of this stuff !
Post a Comment
Works for guys too
Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
I have sensitive skin and a lot of these types of products make me feel like I have some scary ass STD. So, gave this stuff a try at the recommendation of the local shop. Works well, doesnt make my skin react badly. Definitely a big help when youre putting lots of time in the saddle.
Post a Comment
Great!
Familiarity: I've used it several times
I started using Her' when I started putting in the hard miles in the saddle. During cross season is when I used it the most. The nature of the beast, cross season is mostly done in the cold, snowy, rain. I didn't wet bibs in contact with my skin. This product worked great. I did not have a skin reaction and it doesn't have a overkill smell.
Just like any topical product, you should try a small amount to make sure you don't react. |
Q:
Create a custom View by inflating a layout?
I am trying to create a custom View that would replace a certain layout that I use at multiple places, but I am struggling to do so.
Basically, I want to replace this:
<RelativeLayout
android:id="@+id/dolphinLine"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_centerInParent="true"
android:background="@drawable/background_box_light_blue"
android:padding="10dip"
android:layout_margin="10dip">
<TextView
android:id="@+id/dolphinTitle"
android:layout_width="200dip"
android:layout_height="100dip"
android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"
android:layout_marginLeft="10dip"
android:text="@string/my_title"
android:textSize="30dip"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:textColor="#2E4C71"
android:gravity="center"/>
<Button
android:id="@+id/dolphinMinusButton"
android:layout_width="100dip"
android:layout_height="100dip"
android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/dolphinTitle"
android:layout_marginLeft="30dip"
android:text="@string/minus_button"
android:textSize="70dip"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:gravity="center"
android:layout_marginTop="1dip"
android:background="@drawable/button_blue_square_selector"
android:textColor="#FFFFFF"
android:onClick="onClick"/>
<TextView
android:id="@+id/dolphinValue"
android:layout_width="100dip"
android:layout_height="100dip"
android:layout_marginLeft="15dip"
android:background="@android:drawable/editbox_background"
android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/dolphinMinusButton"
android:text="0"
android:textColor="#2E4C71"
android:textSize="50dip"
android:gravity="center"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:inputType="none"/>
<Button
android:id="@+id/dolphinPlusButton"
android:layout_width="100dip"
android:layout_height="100dip"
android:layout_toRightOf="@+id/dolphinValue"
android:layout_marginLeft="15dip"
android:text="@string/plus_button"
android:textSize="70dip"
android:textStyle="bold"
android:gravity="center"
android:layout_marginTop="1dip"
android:background="@drawable/button_blue_square_selector"
android:textColor="#FFFFFF"
android:onClick="onClick"/>
</RelativeLayout>
By this:
<view class="com.example.MyQuantityBox"
android:id="@+id/dolphinBox"
android:layout_width="fill_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:myCustomAttribute="@string/my_title"/>
So, I do not want a custom layout, I want a custom View (it should not be possible for this view to have child).
The only thing that could change from one instance of a MyQuantityBox to another is the title. I would very much like to be able to specify this in the XML (as I do on the last XML line)
How can I do this? Should I put the RelativeLayout in a XML file in /res/layout and inflate it in my MyBoxQuantity class? If yes how do I do so?
Thanks!
A:
A bit old, but I thought sharing how I'd do it, based on chubbsondubs' answer:
I use FrameLayout (see Documentation), since it is used to contain a single view, and inflate into it the view from the xml.
Code following:
public class MyView extends FrameLayout {
public MyView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyle) {
super(context, attrs, defStyle);
initView();
}
public MyView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
super(context, attrs);
initView();
}
public MyView(Context context) {
super(context);
initView();
}
private void initView() {
inflate(getContext(), R.layout.my_view_layout, this);
}
}
A:
Here is a simple demo to create customview (compoundview) by inflating from xml
attrs.xml
<resources>
<declare-styleable name="CustomView">
<attr format="string" name="text"/>
<attr format="reference" name="image"/>
</declare-styleable>
</resources>
CustomView.kt
class CustomView @JvmOverloads constructor(context: Context, attrs: AttributeSet? = null, defStyleAttr: Int = 0) :
ConstraintLayout(context, attrs, defStyleAttr) {
init {
init(attrs)
}
private fun init(attrs: AttributeSet?) {
View.inflate(context, R.layout.custom_layout, this)
val ta = context.obtainStyledAttributes(attrs, R.styleable.CustomView)
try {
val text = ta.getString(R.styleable.CustomView_text)
val drawableId = ta.getResourceId(R.styleable.CustomView_image, 0)
if (drawableId != 0) {
val drawable = AppCompatResources.getDrawable(context, drawableId)
image_thumb.setImageDrawable(drawable)
}
text_title.text = text
} finally {
ta.recycle()
}
}
}
custom_layout.xml
We should use merge here instead of ConstraintLayout because
If we use ConstraintLayout here, layout hierarchy will be ConstraintLayout->ConstraintLayout -> ImageView + TextView => we have 1 redundant ConstraintLayout => not very good for performance
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<merge xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
tools:parentTag="android.support.constraint.ConstraintLayout">
<ImageView
android:id="@+id/image_thumb"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
tools:ignore="ContentDescription"
tools:src="@mipmap/ic_launcher" />
<TextView
android:id="@+id/text_title"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="@id/image_thumb"
app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="@id/image_thumb"
app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@id/image_thumb"
tools:text="Text" />
</merge>
Using
activity_main.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent"
android:orientation="vertical">
<your_package.CustomView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#f00"
app:image="@drawable/ic_android"
app:text="Android" />
<your_package.CustomView
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:background="#0f0"
app:image="@drawable/ic_adb"
app:text="ADB" />
</LinearLayout>
Result
Github demo
A:
Yes you can do this. RelativeLayout, LinearLayout, etc are Views so a custom layout is a custom view. Just something to consider because if you wanted to create a custom layout you could.
What you want to do is create a Compound Control. You'll create a subclass of RelativeLayout, add all our your components in code (TextView, etc), and in your constructor you can read the attributes passed in from the XML. You can then pass that attribute to your title TextView.
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/custom-components.html
|
/*
* Copyright 2008-present MongoDB, Inc.
*
* Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
* you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
* You may obtain a copy of the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
* limitations under the License.
*/
package org.bson.io;
import org.bson.BsonSerializationException;
import org.bson.ByteBuf;
import org.bson.types.ObjectId;
import java.nio.ByteOrder;
import java.nio.charset.Charset;
import static java.lang.String.format;
/**
* An implementation of {@code BsonInput} that is backed by a {@code ByteBuf}.
*
* @since 3.0
*/
public class ByteBufferBsonInput implements BsonInput {
private static final Charset UTF8_CHARSET = Charset.forName("UTF-8");
private static final String[] ONE_BYTE_ASCII_STRINGS = new String[Byte.MAX_VALUE + 1];
static {
for (int b = 0; b < ONE_BYTE_ASCII_STRINGS.length; b++) {
ONE_BYTE_ASCII_STRINGS[b] = String.valueOf((char) b);
}
}
private ByteBuf buffer;
/**
* Construct an instance with the given byte buffer. The stream takes over ownership of the buffer and closes it when this instance is
* closed.
*
* @param buffer the byte buffer
*/
public ByteBufferBsonInput(final ByteBuf buffer) {
if (buffer == null) {
throw new IllegalArgumentException("buffer can not be null");
}
this.buffer = buffer;
buffer.order(ByteOrder.LITTLE_ENDIAN);
}
@Override
public int getPosition() {
ensureOpen();
return buffer.position();
}
@Override
public byte readByte() {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(1);
return buffer.get();
}
@Override
public void readBytes(final byte[] bytes) {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(bytes.length);
buffer.get(bytes);
}
@Override
public void readBytes(final byte[] bytes, final int offset, final int length) {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(length);
buffer.get(bytes, offset, length);
}
@Override
public long readInt64() {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(8);
return buffer.getLong();
}
@Override
public double readDouble() {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(8);
return buffer.getDouble();
}
@Override
public int readInt32() {
ensureOpen();
ensureAvailable(4);
return buffer.getInt();
}
@Override
public ObjectId readObjectId() {
ensureOpen();
byte[] bytes = new byte[12];
readBytes(bytes);
return new ObjectId(bytes);
}
@Override
public String readString() {
ensureOpen();
int size = readInt32();
if (size <= 0) {
throw new BsonSerializationException(format("While decoding a BSON string found a size that is not a positive number: %d",
size));
}
ensureAvailable(size);
return readString(size);
}
@Override
public String readCString() {
int mark = buffer.position();
skipCString();
int size = buffer.position() - mark;
buffer.position(mark);
return readString(size);
}
private String readString(final int size) {
if (size == 2) {
byte asciiByte = buffer.get(); // if only one byte in the string, it must be ascii.
byte nullByte = buffer.get(); // read null terminator
if (nullByte != 0) {
throw new BsonSerializationException("Found a BSON string that is not null-terminated");
}
if (asciiByte < 0) {
return UTF8_CHARSET.newDecoder().replacement();
}
return ONE_BYTE_ASCII_STRINGS[asciiByte]; // this will throw if asciiByte is negative
} else {
byte[] bytes = new byte[size - 1];
buffer.get(bytes);
byte nullByte = buffer.get();
if (nullByte != 0) {
throw new BsonSerializationException("Found a BSON string that is not null-terminated");
}
return new String(bytes, UTF8_CHARSET);
}
}
@Override
public void skipCString() {
ensureOpen();
boolean checkNext = true;
while (checkNext) {
if (!buffer.hasRemaining()) {
throw new BsonSerializationException("Found a BSON string that is not null-terminated");
}
checkNext = buffer.get() != 0;
}
}
@Override
public void skip(final int numBytes) {
ensureOpen();
buffer.position(buffer.position() + numBytes);
}
@Override
public BsonInputMark getMark(final int readLimit) {
return new BsonInputMark() {
private int mark = buffer.position();
@Override
public void reset() {
ensureOpen();
buffer.position(mark);
}
};
}
@Override
public boolean hasRemaining() {
ensureOpen();
return buffer.hasRemaining();
}
@Override
public void close() {
buffer.release();
buffer = null;
}
private void ensureOpen() {
if (buffer == null) {
throw new IllegalStateException("Stream is closed");
}
}
private void ensureAvailable(final int bytesNeeded) {
if (buffer.remaining() < bytesNeeded) {
throw new BsonSerializationException(format("While decoding a BSON document %d bytes were required, "
+ "but only %d remain", bytesNeeded, buffer.remaining()));
}
}
}
|
Endoscopic and histologic resolution of gastric pseudolymphoma (reactive lymphoid hyperplasia) following treatment with bismuth and oral antibiotics.
Gastric pseudolymphoma is a rare disorder of unknown etiology that can undergo transformation into malignant lymphoma. This report describes the first case of a gastric pseudolymphoma associated with Helicobacter pylori infection that underwent complete clinical, endoscopic, and histologic resolution following treatment with bismuth subsalicylate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. The eradication of Helicobacter pylori may have eliminated ongoing antigenic stimulation that has previously been postulated to be responsible for the development and subsequent progression of gastric pseudolymphoma. |
Schemes lead to charges against 24, some mobsters, officials say
By Anthony M. DeStefano [email protected]
Twenty-four men, several with
reputed links to some New York Mafia families, were charged with running
numerous schemes, including the diversion of marijuana legally grown in
California and clandestinely sold in the city and on Long Island, officials
said late Tuesday.
The two-year probe, run by the
NYPD, the Waterfront Commission and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office,
led to arrests for oxycodone distribution, gambling and tax fraud, in addition
to the marijuana smuggling, according to a statement issued Tuesday by the law
enforcement agencies.
Police estimated the suspects
pulled in close to $20 million in profits over 24 months from the various
schemes, an NYPD official said.
Among those charged are Michael
Paradiso, 74, of Staten Island, a reputed captain in the Gambino crime family,
as well as reputed Gambino associate William Oliva, 55, of Brooklyn, said the
official. Officials said they played a role in distributing the marijuana.
Also arrested were Richard Sinde,
51, of New Jersey, a reputed Bonanno crime family associate and Lawrence Dentico,
33, of California, whose grandfather is a Genovese crime family captain, police
said.
In all, members or associates
from four of the five Cosa Nostra families in New York City were involved in
some aspects, which police called unique.
According to law enforcement
officials, Sinde and John Kelly, 52, of Sacramento, California, were
ringleaders of the marijuana operation that coordinated and shipped hundreds of
pounds of the plant from legal growers in Northern California’s “emerald
triangle.” The growers were able to legally harvest the marijuana for their own
prescription use but overgrew the crop and diverted some to the ring,
prosecutors charged. Barry Sussman, 56, of Rutherford, New Jersey, was also
charged and allegedly allowed the ring to unpack the marijuana at his Long
Island warehouse.
The marijuana was sold here under
such brand names as “Pineapple Haze,” “Girl Scout Cookies” and “Blue Dreams,”
NYPD Insp. John Denisopolous said. |
The present invention relates to a device for in-vessel treatment of material, particularly for dispersion or homogenisation of liquids, or for suspension of solids in liquids, of the kind comprising a treatment element that is rotationally mounted in the vessel.
In mixing liquids in a vessel, a rotary stirrer usually is used, for example a stirrer having radially outwardly directed vanes. A stirrer of this kind is adapted to transfer energy to the liquid in two ways. Firstly, the liquid is set in motion as the vanes are drawn through liquid, whereby a laminar flow is created. Secondly, the liquid is affected by shearing forces at the vane edges, which causes turbulence.
In some situations, the mixing process is dependent on the presence of extremely strong shearing forces. This is true in the dispersion or homogenisation of liquids that do not spontaneously form a solution (for example oil in water) and in suspending powdered solids in a liquid (such as flour in water). The considerable shearing forces are required to break up for example drops of oil or lumps of flour into atomised particles through xe2x80x9cwhippingxe2x80x9d. When conventional stirrers are used, a very large moment of force is required to deliver shearing forces of this magnitude.
U.S. Pat. No. A 5,205,647 suggests a solution to the above problem. The mixing apparatus described therein has a cylindrical casing, in which is attached a sleeve formed with oblong slots, and a cylinder rotationally mounted in the casing. The cylinder is formed With through-botes extending in the cylinder material in parallel with the cylinder axis, and apertures extending between the bores and the exterior of the cylinder. The mixing apparatus operates by introducing liquids through two inlets while the cylinder is rotating. The liquids are introduced into the bores and thereafter are passed through the apertures to the exterior of the cylinder and thereafter through the oblong slots in the casing to finally exit through an outlet in the casing. On their route, the liquids are exposed to shearing forces.
In accordance with another prior-art apparatus two concentric cylinders are arranged to rotate relative to one another, for example inside a tank. The cylinders are formed with through-outlets and are disposed sufficiently closed to one another to ensure that a scissors-like force is produced, when they rotate relative to one another. Liquid subjected to this scissors-like force is affected by considerable shearing forces.
Several disadvantages are connected with the prior-art technique described above. The apparatuses comprise several components, which are movable relative to one another and between which the spacing by necessity must be extremely narrow if the large shearing forces are to be produced. The manufacturing tolerances as well as the assembly and mounting tolerances with respect to the discrete components therefore are extremely small.
Should some components happen to come into contact with one another during the rotation, there is a risk that particles may separate from the contacting components and pollute the liquid to be mixed therewith. In case of heavy contact, there is also a risk that the apparatus may be seriously damaged.
Considering the large number of components that must be produced, mounted and made to co-operate with a high degree of precision in order to produce the desired effect, the apparatuses become expensive to manufacture and to maintain.
In addition, the narrow spaces formed between the various components are difficult to clean. Particles and viscous liquid may get trapped in these narrow spaces and form obstructions, which impairs the functional ability of the apparatus
One object of the present invention is to provide a device for in-vessel treatment, which is capable of efficiently mixing, dispersing and/or homogenising liquids under the conditions outlined above without requiring a large moment of force. By xe2x80x9cliquidxe2x80x9d as used herein should be understood all fluid substances (media?) as also liquids/fluids containing solid particles.
A second object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-clean apparatus for in-vessel treatment.
A third object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for in-vessel treatment that does not require a large number of components that are movable relative to one another.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for in-vessel treatment that is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.
These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by means of an apparatus of the kind define in the introduction hereto and which is characterised in that the treatment element essentially is of tubular configuration and is formed with a plurality of cuts formed with sharp edges which are drawn through the material in the vessel as the treatment element rotates, in order to transfer shearing forces to said material.
Upon rotation of the treatment element in liquid, the sharp edges thereon generate a resistance force, as they move through the liquid. Because of the sharpness of the edges, the motion of the latter affects the liquid by means of shearing forces, and the moment of force required to rotate the treatment element consequently is transferred to a very high extent to the liquid in the form of shearing forces.
The treatment element preferably is cylindrical and is mounted for rotation about its centre axis. Resistance against the rotary motion then is generated almost exclusively from the sharp edges, since the rest of the treatment element is configured as a rotationally symmetrical element.
In addition, the treatment element can be configured as a multi-piece element. For example, it may be designed in the form of several cylinder sectors, or in the form of several concentric cylinders. In addition one or both ends of the treatment element may be formed with inwardly directed flanges. Alternatively, the treatment element may be formed with a barrel-shaped contour configuration, presenting smaller radii at its ends than in its in-between parts. Owing to this configuration, it becomes more difficult for liquid that is forced against the jacket of the treatment element to flow axially along the jacket of the treatment element and across the edge of the latter, and in consequence thereof the liquid is instead forced to pass through the cuts.
In addition, the cuts may be formed with shovel means the mouths of which are orientated in the direction of rotation of the treatment element, which mouths are formed with sharp edges. Preferably, the shovel means are formed on the inner face of the treatment element. In the course of rotation of the element, the shovel means urge liquid to pass from the inner face of the treatment element, through the cuts to the external face of the treatment element. In addition, the shovel means contribute to setting the liquid in a rotary motion, whereby the centripetal force will convey liquid radially outwards, towards and through the cuts formed in the jacket of the treatment element. Altogether, a pumping action is produced, which makes liquid flow past the sharp edges.
Preferably, the treatment element is fitted on a stirrer or mixer having several radially outwardly directed vanes. Preferably, the treatment element is mounted on the tips of the vanes, whereby the treatment element will form a cylindrically shaped enclosure around the stirrer/mixer. The vanes generate a rotary motion of the liquid in consequence whereof the centripetal force will transport liquid and particles radially outwards, away from the hub of the stirrer/mixer. The flow through the cuts, and thus the flow past the sharp edges, therefore will be larger. |
#
# Copyright (C) 2011 - present Instructure, Inc.
#
# This file is part of Canvas.
#
# Canvas is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
# the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by the Free
# Software Foundation, version 3 of the License.
#
# Canvas is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
# WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Affero General Public License for more
# details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License along
# with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
#
module LtiOutbound
class VariableSubstitutor
attr_accessor :substitutions
attr_reader :substitution_objects
def initialize()
self.substitutions = {}
end
def add_substitution(key, value)
substitutions[key] = value
end
def substitute!(data_hash)
data_hash.each do |k, v|
if has_key?(v)
data_hash[k] = substitution_value(v)
end
end
data_hash
end
def has_key?(key)
substitutions.has_key? key
end
private
def substitution_value(key)
value = substitutions[key]
if value.is_a?(Proc)
value = value.call
substitutions[key] = value
end
value
end
end
end |
Q:
Flutter :[ERROR:flutter/lib/ui/ui_dart_state.cc(166)] Unhandled Exception
I have this error and i can't understand where is my mistake
[ERROR:flutter/lib/ui/ui_dart_state.cc(166)] Unhandled Exception:
NoSuchMethodError: The getter 'output' was called on null. E/flutter
(16491): Receiver: null E/flutter (16491): Tried calling: output
the error refer to this function but i have no error syntax on it
import 'dart:convert';
BluetoothConnection connection;
void _sendOnMessageToBluetooth() async {
connection.output.add(utf8.encode("1" + "\r\n"));
await connection.output.allSent;
setState(() {
deviceState = 1;
});
}
and this is where i'am calling it
FlatButton(
onPressed: _sendOnMessageToBluetooth ==null? "": _sendOnMessageToBluetooth,
child:Text("ON",
style:TextStyle(color:Colors.red[400]),,),
can any one help !
A:
You are using the 'connection' variable without first initializing or assigning it to something. Hence when called 'connection.output', it is causing an error. Try to find where the 'connection' variable is initialized and use from there or take it as a parameter to function.
This might work:
void _sendOnMessageToBluetooth() async {
BluetoothConnection connection = new BluetoothConnection();
connection.output.add(utf8.encode("1" + "\r\n"));
await connection.output.allSent;
setState(() {
deviceState = 1;
});
}
|
26 best budget electric guitars in the world today
Updated for 2015: big tones for small prices
26 of the best budget electric guitars in the world today
Big tones for small prices
Beginner guitarists and those on a tight budget have never had it so good. Whereas once the budget electric guitar market was awash with poorly made knock-offs, rising standards and production innovations have seen the big brands' Korea- and China-based factories turning out stunning models for the money.
Elsewhere, micro-brands like Chapman and Manson (the latter in alliance with Cort) have been putting Far East facilities to their own use, designing affordable instruments in response to players' feedback - offering great value for money, without the big name premium.
In this gallery, we've gathered a selection of electric guitars that we reckon offer the best bang for the buck in the sub £500 / $750 market. You may recognise some of perennial budget classics (hello - again - to the trusty Yamaha Pacifica), but there's a raft of high-scoring options out there for the more adventurous...
Kramer Pacer
MSRP £269 / $650
The original Pacer was born in 1983 at the height of the shred boom, and Kramer - now owned by Gibson - has reissued the original thousand-note-per-minute hero.
Great looks, phenomenal playability (thanks to a slim and wide maple neck), and perfect for hardcore shredders (check out the Floyd Rose, for all your dive-bombing needs,) players in search of speed will certainly want to try this one.
LTD TE-212
MSRP £315
The TE-212 is hardly going to win any points in the originality department, but this guitar possesses an unassuming charm that will win over many naysayers.
The TE-212 playing experience impresses, too. Aside from a touch of buzz around the lower frets, the maple neck and fingerboard are smooth and satisfying to whip around, and combined with the resonant body, the overall feeling is one of robustness - this is a guitar that's built for the road.
MusicRadar's verdict:
"This UK-exclusive guitar has tweaks and tradition in all the right places, and that's just our cup of T."
Sterling by MusicMan SUB AX3
MSRP £289 / $386
Just look at it: the Sterling is a thing of beauty, with jaw-dropping looks (check out that quilted top-style finish) and the sort of playability that will make any shredder worth their salt have to give it some serious consideration.
The Axis remains a classic design that's well worthy of your attention. And thanks to Sterling by Music Man's thrifty SUB series, almost any guitarist can afford a slice of the action.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The AX3 is a joy to play, and we'd heartily recommend it for a beginner who wants to hone their chops on an quality value axe with an 80s vibe."
Epiphone SG400
If you're a sucker for Gibson looks (as most of us are) but can't quite stretch to the occasionally wallet-shattering prices of American made guitars, then Epiphone is the brand for you.
Epi has been turning out affordable, toneful guitars for a long time, and has become extremely good at replicating high-end Gibsons. Take the SG400: a heartbreaking, hard-rocking budget SG that wouldn't do Angus a disservice.
Epiphone Les Paul Special II
MSRP £159 / $282
A Les Paul stripped of all frills and boiled down to the basics, the Special II is the sort of guitar that garage band dreams are made of.
Quite apart from being mind-bendingly affordable, it's a massive sounding guitar that retains everything that is rock-worthy about a Les Paul but shedding any shiny extras. Check out our review of the recent Slash 'AFD' signature version below...
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"What it lacks in tone, it more than makes up for in value for money. Beginners could do a lot worse than this affordable Slash-er."
Squier Bullet Strat
MSRP £119 / $199
Need a Strat but are strapped for cash? The Squier Bullet is right this way, sir...
With all the iconic Leo Fender design, build quality and tone - but none of the pesky Morth American build costs - you can bring a Bullet Strat home for less cash than you'd spend on a good night in the bar. A no brainer for anyone in need of instant mojo.
Epiphone ES-339
MSRP £399 / $748
Essentially a re-sized version of the iconic ES-335 shape, the ES-339 is an archtop that oozes class (if class was low-rent enough to do something like ooze).
A proper, beautifully crafted archtop with pinup good looks and the sort of tones that shouldn't be legal in guitars priced at this level, you'd be mad not to give it a go if you're on the hunt for something new.
Epiphone ES-335 Dot
MSRP £279 / $499
Probably the best semi-acoustic around for the money, The Dot is becoming a legend in its own right.
Taking the ES-335 formula and making it an affordable reality for players who can't get enough f-holes in their lives, The Dot, simply put, needs to be played to be believed. A beast of an instrument with a veneer of respectability.
MusicRadar verdict
"If you fancy a no-nonsense semi with more than a whiff of background and expertise, cast your eyes in Epiphone's direction. The Dot is a gem."
Yamaha Pacifica 112V
MSRP £119 / $453
One of the longest-standing, all-out brilliant budget guitars out there, the Pacifica remains one of the guitars to beat at this price point.
A brilliant player with a tone that sparkles, finished with attention to detail and wrapped up in a very pretty looking package, it's essentially the perfect beginner guitar. Don't make the mistake of not trying one.
MusicRadar verdict
"The Pacifica 112V remains not only the perfect start-up guitar for the serious student, but also a solid, reliable choice whatever your age or ability."
Squier Vintage Modified '72 Telecaster Thinline
MSRP £406 / $499
For a lot of players, 1972 was the year the Telecaster Thinline grew up; the model was originally introduced to bring down the weight of the Tele, following a shortage of Fender's go-to light ash bodies, but the addition of two Fender Wide Range pickups transformed it into its own entity.
Squier has now seen fit to introduce the '72 to its own range, and it looks the business, with white pearloid scratchplate, finely carved f-hole and Fender-embossed humbuckers.
MusicRadar verdict
"We can't fault the Thinline. Its price tag is seriously competitive, and considering the guitar's attention to detail and expensive-sounding tones, we implore you to give it a go."
Chapman ML-1
MSRP £369 / $550
Created by Youtube sensation Rob Chapman, Chapman guitars has been a phenomenon, and it was the ML-1 that led the charge.
Described as a 'Swiss Army knife' of a guitar that will give you everything from shimmering clean tones through to brutal riffage (thanks in no small part to the Chapman-designed pickups), expect first-rate build quality and plenty of bang for your buck.
MusicRadar verdict
"The ML-1 is a worthy competitor to similarly spec'd guitars from the likes of LTD and Schecter. It's beautifully put together and finished, and represents some great ideas, well executed."
PRS SE Tremonti Standard
MSRP £399 / $839
As the second artist to receive a PRS signature model (after Carlos Santana), Mark Tremonti has become an important ambassador for the brand, and the Tremonti SE's debut in 2003 bestowed an affordable weapon on guitarists of a heavier inclination.
The Tremonti Standard retains the key features of the SE model, with black binding around the Platinum-finished body and PRS SE Treble and Bass humbuckers.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The SE Standard may have the versatility, but when the Tremonti Standard rocks hard, there's little in this price range that can touch it."
PRS SE Standard 24
MSRP £399 / $812
You might expect PRS' Korean-built SE Standard to pale in comparison to the American-made S2 Standard 24, but on first impression, that certainly isn't the case.
The tones are here: searing solos, toasty rhythms and coil-split quack are all within reach, and while they don't quite have the shimmering top-end of the S2's pickups, at this price it's an impressive performance.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The SE Standard 24 delivers, equipping its owner with a comfortably playable guitar and a huge range of tones, which you're unlikely to outgrow in a hurry."
Manson MBC-1 Matthew Bellamy Signature
MSRP £499 / $745 (approx.)
The MBC-1 is designed to hit a completely different price point to Mr Bellamy's upper-tier Manson creations, and although still designed by both Matt Bellamy and Hugh Manson, it's made in Indonesia by guitar-making giant Cort.
However, a quick strum lets you know this is a Manson through and through: it rings like a bell, the sort of acoustic response you'd expect from a quality guitar, but not always at this price. Game on.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Bellamy, Manson and Cort have created one of the finest rock axes at this price. Let's hope this is just the beginning of a significant partnership."
Squier Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster
MSRP £394 / $549
However you feel about its giraffe-esque appendage, the Baritone Jazz is one suave axe. The Antigua Burst finish is divisive, sure, but the matching scratchplate, vintage-style headstock decal and block inlays give the guitar a touch of 60s mojo.
We've played a lot of Squiers and a lot of baritones, and the Vintage Modified Baritone Jazzmaster is the perfect marriage of the two. This 60s-inspired design just feels right, from the knurled chrome knobs to the pickup selector placement.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"Considering the faultless build quality, toneful Duncan Designed pickups and reasonable street prices, you'll struggle to find a baritone that offers more for the money."
Schecter Stealth C-1
MSRP £449 / $699
With its Satin Black finish and black hardware, Schecter's Stealth C-1 certainly lives up to its name.
You'll be well aware of it when you strap it on, though, thanks to the slim yet weighty slab of mahogany that makes up the flawlessly finished body. Combine that with the mahogany set neck, and even unplugged, sustain is impressive.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"All in all, this is an impressively well-made and great-playing axe at any price - and one you won't want to keep hidden."
DiVill By Italia M100
MSRP £399 / $594 (approx.)
Wits smooth single-cut contours and twin humbuckers, you might think you already know what the M100 plays and sounds like. Picking the guitar up shatters any preconceptions. Its agathis body makes for a lightweight guitar that's ready to swing around on stage - and trust us, you'll want to take this one out on the road.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"The neat tonal touches and body tweaks could just make the M100 the single-cut for players who don't like single-cuts."
Squier Vintage Modified Cabronita Telecaster w/ Bigsby
MSRP £346 / $599
Following the wonderfully simple, ultra-desirable Custom Shop La Cabronita Especial's launch in 2009, demand has dictated the availability of lower priced options and now we find ourselves surrounded by Cabronitas in a variety of different orientations and denominations.
If you like raunchy retro rock 'n' roll, Squier's Vintage Modified Cabronita Telecaster w/ Bigsby is a no-brainer and a worthy addition to your collection. You might even find yourself picking it up more often than some of your more expensive toys...
Jackson Adrian Smith SDX
MSRP £430 / $666.65
When Adrian Smith's signature model was released by Jackson, few could have possibly denied its workmanlike aura or its 'girl next door' good looks. As a USA Jackson, its price was on the thick end of £1,800, leaving the guitar out of reach for all but the most well-heeled of Maiden fanatics.
Luckily for us, the good folks at the pointy headstock company have come up with a more affordable version. It's a versatile guitar capable of covering many bases - and perfect for nailing your favourite 'Maiden tunes.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"A bit of a game changer in the sub-£500 guitar market. The SDX could convince you it's worth double the street price: no small feat."
Peavey AT-200
MSRP £499 / $999
Since it was launched in 2012, there's been massive interest in Peavey's AT-200: the first digital guitar to tune itself at the push of a knob. The technology used to achieve this has been developed by Antares.
It seems more than logical to apply this tuning system to an electric guitar, and the Peavey AT-200 proves scarily accurate, even if the real-world guitar is out of tune and intonated incorrectly.
Ibanez SA160FM
MSRP £285 / $425 (approx.)
Well-heeled purists might sneer about the 'jack of all trade' nature of HSS electrics, but for mere mortals, the versatility and value is a major draw and with the Ibanez SA160FM splicing sounds for under £300, we've got plenty of both.
The humbucker offers a joyous, woody, character-rich thump, but what's really cool is when you take advantage of Ibanez's flexible switching system.
MusicRadar’s verdict:
"It's a little pricey for an entry-level axe. But if you're serious about braving the road or studio with just one electric, this is well worth the wedge." |
Bubble Bobble
is a platform game by Taito, first released in arcades in 1986 and later ported to home systems by Toei Company. The game, starring the twin Bubble Dragons Bub and Bob, tasks players with traveling through one hundred stages, blowing and bursting bubbles, jumping on and off blown bubbles to navigate level obstacles, dodging and eliminating enemies, and collecting a variety of items including some that carry power-ups and significant bonuses. For example, the red shoe allows Bub and Bob to move faster, while wrapped candies cause Bub and Bob to blow bubbles faster, and blow bubbles at greater distances. Other items, such as umbrellas, allow to skip numerous levels, moving closer to the final level. The game became popular and led to a long series of sequels and spin-offs. The main goal of the game is to rescue Bub and Bob's girlfriends from the Cave of Monsters. The game has multiple endings, which depend on the player's performance and discovery of secrets.
The creator of Bubble Bobble, the late Fukio Mitsuji (MTJ), went on to create other games such as Rainbow Islands, Syvalion, and Volfied.
Gameplay
In the game's plot, "Baron Von Blubba" has kidnapped the brothers Bubby and Bobby's girlfriends and turned the brothers into Bubble Dragons, Bub and Bob. Bub and Bob have to finish 100 levels in the Cave of Monsters in order to rescue them.
In the game, each player controls one of the two dragons. Players can move along platforms, fall to lower ones, and jump to higher ones and over gaps. Each level is limited to a single screen, with no scrolling; however, if a screen has gaps in its bottom edge, players can fall through these and reappear at the top. Each level has a certain number of enemies that must be defeated in order to advance. The players must blow bubbles to trap the enemies, then burst these bubbles by colliding with them. Each enemy defeated in this manner turns into a food item that can be picked up for extra points. Defeating multiple enemies at once awards higher scores and causes more valuable food items to appear. All bubbles will float for a certain length of time before bursting on their own; players can jump on these and ride them to otherwise inaccessible areas. Magic items appear from time to time and grant special abilities and advantages when picked up. Special bubbles occasionally appear that can be burst to attack enemies with fire, water, or lightning. Furthermore, if a player collects letter bubbles to form extend, a bonus life is earned and both players immediately advance to the next level.
A player loses one life upon touching any free enemies or their projectiles (rocks, fireballs, lasers, bottles). Enemies turn "angry"—turning pink in color and moving faster—if they escape from a bubble after being left too long or the players spend a certain amount of time on the current level. They return to normal if either player loses a life. After a further time limit expires, an additional invincible enemy appears for each player, actively chasing them using only vertical and horizontal movements. These disappear once the level is cleared, or when a player loses a life. When there is only one enemy left, it immediately becomes angry and remains in this state until defeated.
In the 100th and final level, players face a boss. This is one of the first games to feature multiple endings. Completing Level 100 in single-player mode reveals a message stating that the game has not truly ended and a hint to the player: "Come here with your friend." If two players complete the game, they see a "happy end", in which the brothers are transformed to their human selves and reunited with their girlfriends. This ending also includes a code that, when deciphered, allows the game to be played in the faster and more difficult "super" mode. If this mode is completed with two players, a second "happy end" is displayed in which Super Drunk (the defeated boss) is revealed to be the brothers' parents under the control of some outside influence. The brothers return to normal and are reunited with their parents and girlfriends.
Development
Bubble Bobble was designed by Fukio Mitsuji, a Japanese game designer at Taito. A fan of arcade games by Namco, specifically Xevious, Mitsuji felt that Taito's output by comparison were lackluster and of poor quality, hoping that he could help push the company to produce higher-quality arcade titles. His first game was the four-screen racer Super Dead Heat in 1985, followed by the shoot'em up Halley's Comet the same year. After work on these two games was completed, Mitsuji set out to make his next project a platform game, featuring cute characters and a more comical setting compared to his previous works.
Mitsuji wanted the game to exhilarating and to appeal towards a female audience. Thinking about what kind of things women like to draw or sketch, Mitsuji created an extensive list of over 100 ideas, and after a process of elimination selected bubbles as the core game mechanic. He liked the idea of the screen being filled with bubbles, and thought that popping them would provide a thrilling sensation to the player, fueling them to keep going. The player originally controlled a robot with a spike on its head to pop bubbles — Mitsuji disliked it for not being "cool", instead replacing them with dinosaurs due to them possessing rigid plates along their back. He liked to write down ideas on paper as soon as he thought of them, often flooding his office with stacks of paper filled with potential ideas for game mechanics.
Mitsuji constantly tried to think of new ways to make the game better than it was before, saying to have lost sleep while trying to figure out how he could improve it. He often worked on holidays and late at night to come up with new ideas for the game and to perfect it. Several of the enemies were taken from Chack'n Pop (1983), an older Taito game that is often considered a precursor to Bubble Bobble. Mitsuji intended the game to be played by couples, leading to the creation of the multiple endings, which differ based on player performance. Bubble Bobble was released in Japan in September 1986. Alongside Arkanoid, Taito licensed the game to Romstar for distribution in the United States later that year, and to Electrocoin Automatics for Europe.
Conversions
Bubble Bobble was ported to many home video game consoles and computers, including the Commodore 64, Amiga, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX2 and Sega Master System — the last of these has two hundred levels as opposed to the arcade version's 100 levels, and was released in Japan as Final Bubble Bobble. A version for the Sharp X68000 was developed by Dempa and released in 1994, which includes a gamemode paying homage to Mitsuji's later arcade game Syvalion, titled Sybubblun. Conversions for the Game Boy and Game Boy Color were respectively released in 1991 and 1996, the GBC port being named Classic Bubble Bobble. A version of Bubble Bobble was also produced for the unreleased Taito WOWOW console. In 1996, Taito announced that the source code for Bubble Bobble had been lost, leading to all subsequent home conversions to be reverse-engineered from an original arcade board.
Reception
Mean Machines gave the Game Boy port of the game a score of 91%, noting that while some changes had been made, the game played identical to the original arcade port and "provides much addiction and challenge". The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly stated that the Game Gear version is a faithful conversion of the original which works well in portable form. They particularly praised the simplicity of the gameplay concept and the graphics, and the two-player link option.
Bubble Bobble has been listed by numerous publications among the greatest video games of all time. Your Sinclair magazine ranked the ZX Spectrum version at #58 in their "Top 100 Games of All Time" in 1993 based on reader vote. Yahoo! ranked it at #71 in their "100 Greatest Computer Games Of All Time" in 2005 for its charming premise and cute character designs. Stuff magazine listed it as part of their "100 Greatest Games" in 2008, while GamesTM magazine listed it in their "Top 100 Games" in 2010. Stuff.tv ranked it at #47 in their Top 100 Games in 2009, saying "today’s kids might laugh, but this was gold in 1986". GamesRadar+ ranked it at #95 in their "100 Best Games Of All Time" list in 2011, praising its multiplayer and secrets. GamesRadar+ also labeled it the 24th greatest Nintendo Entertainment System of all time in 2012 for its advancements over other games of its genre and its usage of multiple endings. Hardcore Gaming 101 listed it in their book The 200 Best Video Games of All Time in 2015. Game Informer placed it in their "Top 300 Games of All Time" in 2018 for its long-lasting appeal and multiplayer.
Legacy
Re-releases
In October 2005, a version was released for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows as part of the Taito Legends compilation.
At the end of 2006, a new port for mobile phones in Europe and Japan was released.
On December 24, 2007, the NES version of Bubble Bobble was released in North America on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii. The Famicom version of Bubble Bobble was also released for the Nintendo eShop on October 16, 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS and on January 29, 2014 for the Wii U.
On November 11, 2016, the game was included in the NES Classic Edition.
Sequels
Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2 (1987)
Rainbow Islands Extra Version (1988)
Parasol Stars (1991 originally released for TurboGrafx-16, converted for NES (Europe only), Amiga, Atari ST, and Game Boy (Europe only))
Bubble Bobble Part 2 (1993 Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy)
Bubble Bobble II (worldwide) / Bubble Symphony (Europe, Japan, U.S.) (1994 Arcade, Sega Saturn (Japan only))
Bubble Memories - The Story of Bubble Bobble III (1995 Arcade)
Packy's Treasure Slot (1997 Medal Game)
Bubble'n Roulette (1998 Medal Game)
Bubblen No KuruKuru Jump! (1999 Medal Game)
Rainbow Islands - Putty's Party (2000 Bandai WonderSwan)
Bubble Bobble EX (2001 Pachislot)
Bubble Bobble Old & New* (remake, 2002 Game Boy Advance)
Bubble Bobble Revolution (2005 Nintendo DS, called Bubble Bobble DS in Japan)
Rainbow Islands Revolution (2005 Nintendo DS)
Bubble Bobble Evolution (2006 PlayStation Portable)
Rainbow Islands Evolution (2007 PlayStation Portable)
Bubble Bobble Plus! (2009, WiiWare on the Wii) also known as Bubble Bobble Neo! (2009 Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360)
Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure (2009 WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade)
Bubble Bobble Double (2010 iOS)
Bubble Bobble for Kakao (iOS, Android) - June 15, 2015 (this game was published for KakaoTalk messaging app and fully Taito licensed)
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends (2019, Nintendo Switch in Europe; 20 February 2020 in Japan; March 31, 2020 in North America)
Many of the characters and musical themes of Bubble Bobble were used by Taito in a tile-matching video game Puzzle Bobble (also known as Bust-a-Move) and its sequels.
Notes
References
External links
Bubble Bobble for the Atari ST at Atari Mania
Category:1986 video games
Category:Amiga games
Category:Amstrad CPC games
Category:Apple II games
Category:Arcade games
Category:Atari ST games
Category:Commodore 64 games
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:DOS games
Category:Famicom Disk System games
Category:Game Boy Color games
Category:Game Boy games
Category:Sega Game Gear games
Category:Mobile games
Category:MSX2 games
Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games
Category:Nintendo hard games
Category:FM Towns games
Category:Platform games
Category:PlayStation (console) games
Category:PlayStation 4 games
Category:Romstar games
Category:Master System games
Category:Sharp X68000 games
Category:Taito games
Category:Video games scored by David Whittaker
Category:Virtual Console games for Wii U
Category:ZX Spectrum games
Category:Bubble Bobble
Category:Square Enix franchises
Category:Video games scored by Tim Follin
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games with alternate endings
Category:Taito arcade games |
Q:
Alerting the selection from a textarea in CKEDITOR
i am trying to alert the selection that i choose from the textarea in CKEDITOR.
when i run, just "No text is selected." comes out.
i want to see the alert "The current selection is: "+ selection.
i think i need to change here var textarea = document.getElementById('editor1');
could anyone help me with the problem??
setup:
function ()
{
var selection = "";
var textarea = document.getElementById('editor1');
if ('selectionStart' in textarea)
{
// check whether some text is selected in the textarea
if (textarea.selectionStart != textarea.selectionEnd)
{
selection = textarea.value.substring(textarea.selectionStart, textarea.selectionEnd);
}
}
else
{
// Internet Explorer before version 9
// create a range from the current selection
var textRange = document.selection.createRange();
// check whether the selection is within the textarea
var rangeParent = textRange.parentElement();
if (rangeParent === textarea)
{
selection = textRange.text;
}
}
if (selection == "")
{
alert("No text is selected.");
}
else
{
alert("The current selection is: " + selection);
}
}
A:
To obtain the selection use the following code:
CKEDITOR.instances.youEditorInstance.getSelection().getSelectedText();
This method however returns text only (no HTML markup).
To save HTML markup, you can try something like this:
var range = CKEDITOR.instances.editor1.getSelection().getRanges()[ 0 ];
var rangeClone = range.clone();
range.collapse();
var el1 = range.getCommonAncestor( true, true );
range.splitElement( el1 );
rangeClone.collapse( true ); // to beginning
var el2 = rangeClone.getCommonAncestor( true, true );
rangeClone.splitElement( el2 );
var html = '';
var newRange = CKEDITOR.instances.editor1.getSelection().getRanges()[ 0 ];
var children = newRange.cloneContents().getChildren();
var element;
for( var i = 0 ; i < children.count() ; i++ ) {
element = children.getItem( i );
html += element.$.innerHTML ? element.getOuterHtml() : '';
}
html will store your selection HTML.
|
Wisconsin lawmaker proposes resolution honoring white people, among others, during Black History Month
Molly Beck , Patrick Marley | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MADISON - A white lawmaker is proposing a resolution to recognize Black History Month in Wisconsin without the input of black lawmakers, leading one to compare him to a slave owner.
"If this was intended to be without controversy you failed," Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor, who also is running for mayor of Milwaukee, wrote in an email to GOP Rep. Scott Allen of Waukesha.
"Thank you Massa Allen for pickin’ whose we should honuh suh. We sho ain’t capable of thinkin’ fo ourselves, suh," she wrote.
Allen's resolution honors 10 Wisconsinites — most of whom are not black — and members of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians. The honorees were either black slaves or were integral in helping slaves escape to Canada through the Underground Railroad network between 1842 and 1861.
"As we approach February, which has historically been recognized nation-wide as Black History Month, we should all recognize the importance of highlighting the history of black Americans in a way that raises the prominence of that part of our mutual history so that it is the center of our attention," Allen wrote in a memo to colleagues.
In an interview, Taylor called Allen hypocritical and disingenuous for offering a resolution that honored many white people without talking to black lawmakers, particularly because he has not signed onto legislation by black lawmakers aimed at ending racial disparities.
“Who is he to determine how we recognize black history who as someone every day — every day — does not sign onto a piece of legislation to do the things that he’s proclaiming he wants to do in the resolution?” Taylor said.
“The first few people he recognizes are white guys," she said.
Allen said he didn’t see a need to talk to black lawmakers about his resolution in advance. He said issuing the resolution was a “first step” that would lead to conversations with other lawmakers about what the final resolution should look like. He said he was operating the same way lawmakers do with other resolutions.
“I don’t recall Sen. Taylor speaking to me about any of the resolutions or any of her bills ... before she’s circulated them for co-sponsorship,” Allen said.
He said he didn’t understand the opposition to his resolution.
“What is so controversial within there?” he said.
He said the white people honored in his resolution “exhibited tremendous courage to fight for just causes.”
Allen in his memo seeking support for the resolution said it "attempts to honor and recognize significant individuals in Wisconsin’s history, black and white, who had the courage to pursue just and righteous actions through the Underground Railroad."
"It recognizes the important principle of the governed acting against the strong arm of the government when the laws of said government violate the inalienable rights of the people," he said. "In 2020 let us demonstrate our unity by highlighting an aspect of American history that has made and continues to make us stronger together."
But Taylor said Allen's actions seek to define for black lawmakers what the recognition means.
"Rep. Allen should not be trying to redefine the purpose of Black History Month, redefine who should be honored, choosing and speaking for who should be honored in the state of Wisconsin and his own caucus, quite candidly, should put him in check — his own leadership," she said.
Taylor said she was being hyperbolic when she referred to him as “Massa Allen” and did so “to highlight what he sounds like.”
Allen said he thought Taylor was trying to get press attention by referring to him as “Massa Allen” but he wasn’t offended by it.
“I think she’s intentionally using language to be provocative to get your attention,” Allen told a reporter. “Am I offended by it? No. I’m saddened perhaps by it, that we can’t have meaningful dialogue.”
The episode is the third time white lawmakers have intervened in how black lawmakers should honor their own history.
The state Assembly passed a resolution in February drafted by the Legislature's black caucus to honor prominent black Americans during the month — but only after Republicans blocked it until black Democratic lawmakers agreed to remove the name of controversial National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
In 2018, Allen pushed back against a Black History Month proposal from Taylor and Milwaukee Reps. David Crowley and Jason Fields to honor contributions from 14 prominent black state residents.
Allen said the resolution should not be limited to the proposed list of honorees
Democratic Rep. David Bowen of Milwaukee called Allen's new resolution "pre-emptive."
“As a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, I want to ensure that I acknowledge Rep. Allen’s passion for Black History, and I will propose to my caucus that he will officially be the first white man to receive all information pertaining to the Black History Month activities so that he can be educated by Black people,” Bowen said in a statement.
Contact Molly Beck at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck. |
/*
* Copyright 2016-2020 the original author or 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
*
* https://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.springframework.data.cassandra.core.mapping;
import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.*;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
import org.springframework.data.annotation.Id;
import org.springframework.data.cassandra.core.cql.Ordering;
import org.springframework.data.cassandra.core.cql.PrimaryKeyType;
import org.springframework.data.mapping.MappingException;
/**
* Unit tests for {@link org.springframework.data.cassandra.core.mapping.BasicCassandraPersistentEntityMetadataVerifier}
* through {@link CassandraMappingContext}
*
* @author David Webb
* @author Mark Paluch
*/
class BasicCassandraPersistentEntityMetadataVerifierUnitTests {
private BasicCassandraPersistentEntityMetadataVerifier verifier = new BasicCassandraPersistentEntityMetadataVerifier();
private CassandraMappingContext context = new CassandraMappingContext();
@BeforeEach
void setUp() throws Exception {
context.setVerifier(new NoOpVerifier());
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void shouldAllowInterfaceTypes() {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(MyInterface.class));
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void testPrimaryKeyClass() {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(Animal.class));
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void testNonPrimaryKeyClass() {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(Person.class));
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void testNonPersistentType() {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(NonPersistentClass.class));
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void shouldFailWithPersistentAndPrimaryKeyClassAnnotations() {
try {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(TooManyAnnotations.class));
fail("Missing MappingException");
} catch (MappingException e) {
assertThat(e).hasMessageContaining("Entity cannot be of type @Table and @PrimaryKeyClass");
}
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void shouldFailWithoutPartitionKey() {
try {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(NoPartitionKey.class));
fail("Missing MappingException");
} catch (MappingException e) {
assertThat(e)
.hasMessageContaining("At least one of the @PrimaryKeyColumn annotations must have a type of PARTITIONED");
}
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void shouldFailWithoutPrimaryKey() {
try {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(NoPrimaryKey.class));
fail("Missing MappingException");
} catch (MappingException e) {
assertThat(e).hasMessageContaining("@Table types must have only one primary attribute, if any; Found 0");
}
}
@Test // DATACASS-258
void testPkAndPkc() {
try {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(PrimaryKeyAndPrimaryKeyColumn.class));
fail("Missing MappingException");
} catch (MappingException e) {
assertThat(e).hasMessageContaining("@Table types must not define both @Id and @PrimaryKeyColumn properties");
}
}
@Test // DATACASS-213
void shouldFailOnIndexedEntity() {
try {
verifier.verify(context.getRequiredPersistentEntity(InvalidIndexedPerson.class));
fail("Missing MappingException");
} catch (MappingException e) {
assertThat(e).hasMessageContaining("@Indexed cannot be used on entity classes");
}
}
private interface MyInterface {}
private static class NonPersistentClass {
@Id String id;
String foo;
String bar;
}
@Table
static class Person {
@Id String id;
String firstName;
String lastName;
}
@Table
@Indexed
private static class InvalidIndexedPerson {
@Id String id;
String firstName;
}
@Table
private static class Animal {
@PrimaryKey AnimalPK key;
String name;
}
@PrimaryKeyClass
static class AnimalPK {
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 0, type = PrimaryKeyType.PARTITIONED) String species;
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 1, type = PrimaryKeyType.PARTITIONED) String breed;
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 2, type = PrimaryKeyType.CLUSTERED, ordering = Ordering.DESCENDING) String color;
}
@Table
private static class EntityWithComplexTypePrimaryKey {
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 0, type = PrimaryKeyType.PARTITIONED) Object species;
}
@Table
@PrimaryKeyClass
private static class TooManyAnnotations {}
@Table
private static class NoPartitionKey {
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 0) String key;
}
@Table
private static class NoPrimaryKey {}
@Table
private static class PrimaryKeyAndPrimaryKeyColumn {
@PrimaryKey String primaryKey;
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 0) String primaryKeyColumn;
}
@Table
private static class OnePrimaryKeyColumn {
@PrimaryKeyColumn(type = PrimaryKeyType.PARTITIONED, ordinal = 0) String pk;
}
@Table
private static class MultiplePrimaryKeyColumns {
@PrimaryKeyColumn(type = PrimaryKeyType.PARTITIONED, ordinal = 0) String pk0;
@PrimaryKeyColumn(ordinal = 1) String pk1;
}
private static class NoOpVerifier implements CassandraPersistentEntityMetadataVerifier {
@Override
public void verify(CassandraPersistentEntity<?> entity) throws MappingException {}
}
}
|
Coupling microbial fuel cells with a membrane photobioreactor for wastewater treatment and bioenergy production.
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and membrane photobioreactors are two emerging technologies for simultaneous wastewater treatment and bioenergy production. In this study, those two technologies were coupled to form an integrated treatment system, whose performance was examined under different operating conditions. The coupled system could achieve 92-97 % removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and nearly 100 % removal of ammonia. Extending the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the membrane photobioreactor to 3.0 days improved the production of algal biomass from 44.4 ± 23.8 to 133.7 ± 12.9 mg L(-1) (based on the volume of the treated water). When the MFCs were operated in a loop mode, their effluent (which was the influent to the algal reactor) contained nitrate and had a high pH, leading to the decreased algal production in the membrane photobioreactor. Energy analysis showed that the energy consumption was mainly due to the recirculation of the anolyte and the catholyte in the MFCs and that decreasing the recirculation rates could significantly reduce energy consumption. The energy production was dominated by indirect electricity generation from algal biomass. The highest energy production of 0.205 kWh m(-3) was obtained with the highest algal biomass production, resulting in a theoretically positive energy balance of 0.033 kWh m(-3). Those results have demonstrated that the coupled system could be an alternative approach for energy-efficient wastewater treatment and using wastewater effluent for algal production. |
Characterization of a new leiurotoxin I-like scorpion toxin. PO5 from Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus.
Three novel peptide inhibitors of the SKCa channels were purified to homogeneity from the venom of the scorpion Androctonus mauretanicus mauretanicus using one step of RP-HPLC and competition assays with [125I]apamin to rat brain synaptosomes. PO1, PO2 and PO5 have K0.5 of 100, 100 and 0.02 nM, respectively, for the apamin binding site. The sequence of PO5 was established and compared to that of other scorpion toxins active on K+ channels: it contains 31 residues and has a free carboxyl end. it shares sequence similarity with apamin and leiurotoxin I. |
Pace-maker activity in the myometrium of the oestrous rat: in vivo studies using video-laparoscopy.
Female rats had one oviduct, or the cranial tip of one or both uterine horns, lesioned by coagulation, or separated from the remainder of the uterus. After recovery and return to oestrous cycles, myometrial activity at oestrus was analysed by video-laparoscopy. Lesioning the oviduct had no effect on myometrial activity. Coagulating the cranial tip of one horn initially reduced the frequency of ipsilateral longitudinal contractions propagating caudally, but this returned to normal after 14 days. Separating the cranial tip of the uterus had permanent effects on myometrial activity. Separation of one tip reduced the frequency of ipsilateral longitudinal contractions propagating caudally, had no effect on ipsilateral contractions propagating cranially, but reduced the frequency of contralateral contractions propagating cranially. The effect of a lesion near one uterotubal junction on contractions originating contralaterally near the cervix results from communication between uterine horns at the cervical junction; arrival of a caudally propagating contraction in one horn frequently generates a cranially propagating contraction in the other. Separating both uterine tips reduced the frequency of longitudinal contractions propagating in both directions. We conclude that, at oestrus, most spontaneous myometrial contractions are generated by pace-makers in the cranial tip of each uterine horn. The pace-makers are close to the uterotubal junction and regenerate after destruction by coagulation. When their influence is permanently removed, new pace-makers do not develop in myometrium caudal to the lesion. We conclude that most myometrial cells do not exhibit spontaneous pace-maker activity in vivo. |
Q:
Showing Busy loading Indicator during an AJAX Request using jQuery
I have status active/Deactive Buttons when user clicks on active status it turns into deactive with red color and vice versa
currently i'm able to update my status @backend but everytime i should refresh to see my changes!!
my requirement is during active/deactive process of changing status i want to load ajax image loader where loader image should overlay entire screen. and my status should be updated in mysql db!!
please any help is appricated Thanks!
Php Code
<?php
include 'db.php';
$sql = "select * from sections order by id asc";
$data = $con->query($sql);
$str='';
if($data->num_rows>0)
{
while( $row = $data->fetch_array(MYSQLI_ASSOC))
{
$str.="
"?>
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-1">
<?php
if ($row['status'] == '1')
{
?>
<a href="#" class="btn btn-success btn-sm active" ida='<?php echo $row['id'];?>'></a>
<?php }
else if($row['status'] == '0')
{
?>
<a href="#" class="btn btn-danger btn-sm deactive" idde='<?php echo $row['id'];?>'></a>
<?php } ?>
</div>
</div>
<?php
}
}
else
{
$str .= "<p style='text-align:left;'>No Data Available</p>";
}
echo $str;
?>
Jquery Code
<script type="text/javascript">
$('body').delegate('.active','click',function(e){
var IdStatus = 0;
var id = $(this).attr('ida');
$.ajax({
url:"pages/status1.php",
data:{
status:IdStatus,
id:id
},
dataType:'html',
success:function()
{
alert('success');
}
});
e.preventDefault();
return false;
});
$('body').delegate('.deactive','click',function(e){
var IdStatus = 1;
var id = $(this).attr('idde');
$.ajax({
url:"pages/status1.php",
data:{
status:IdStatus,
id:id
},
dataType:'html',
success:function()
{
alert('success');
}
});
e.preventDefault();
return false;
});
</script>
PHP Updation Code
<?php
if(isset($_REQUEST['status']))
{
$status = $_REQUEST['status'];
$id = $_REQUEST['id'];
$sql = 'update sections set status='.$status.' where id='.$id.'';
$result = mysql_query($sql);
if($result)
{
echo 'updated successfully';
}
else
{
echo 'failed to update';
}
}
?>
A:
Try this script with mentioned changes:
Changes:
Keep same attribute as data-id for both the operations
loaderElem will be the loader container which should be there in your DOM
BODY is nothing but a body selector, just to avoid redundant selectors
var elem = $(this); is used as I need this reference after success callback
Also make habit of using error callback as you might need to handle that case
var BODY = $('body');
var loaderElem = $('#loader');
BODY.delegate('.active', 'click', function(e) {
loaderElem.show();
var IdStatus = 0;
var elem = $(this);
var id = elem.attr('data-id');
$.ajax({
url: "pages/status1.php",
data: {
status: IdStatus,
id: id
},
dataType: 'html',
success: function() {
elem.removeClass('active').addClass('deactive');
loaderElem.hide();
alert('success');
}
});
e.preventDefault();
return false;
});
BODY.delegate('.deactive', 'click', function(e) {
loaderElem.show();
var IdStatus = 1;
var elem = $(this);
var id = elem.attr('data-id');
$.ajax({
url: "pages/status1.php",
data: {
status: IdStatus,
id: id
},
dataType: 'html',
success: function() {
elem.removeClass('deactive').addClass('active');
loaderElem.hide();
alert('success');
}
});
e.preventDefault();
return false;
});
|
Denny Felsner
Denny Walter Felsner (born April 29, 1970) is a retired American professional ice hockey winger.
Biography
Felsner was born in Warren, Michigan. As a youth, he played in the 1982 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Detroit. He is the brother of hockey player, Brian Felsner.
Playing career
He played college hockey for the Michigan Wolverines. After turning professional, he played for the St. Louis Blues in the NHL; the Peoria Rivermen, Chicago Wolves, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Detroit Vipers of the IHL; the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL; and the Chesapeake Icebreakers and Jackson Bandits of the ECHL. Dennis is a graduate of Warren Woods Tower High.
Career statistics
Awards and honors
References
External links
Category:1970 births
Category:Living people
Category:American men's ice hockey right wingers
Category:Chesapeake Icebreakers players
Category:Chicago Wolves players
Category:Detroit Vipers players
Category:Ice hockey people from Michigan
Category:Jackson Bandits players
Category:Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey players
Category:Milwaukee Admirals players
Category:Sportspeople from Warren, Michigan
Category:Peoria Rivermen (IHL) players
Category:Syracuse Crunch players
Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks
Category:St. Louis Blues players |
Assessment of visual outcome after cataract surgery in patients with uveitis.
To assess the outcome of cataract surgery in eyes of patients with uveitis. Prospective, noncomparative case series. A total of 90 eyes of 76 patients fulfilled the enrollment criteria. All patients had their surgery performed using standard cataract extraction techniques. Unless contraindicated, preoperative systemic steroids were administered to all patients with posterior disease, chronic anterior uveitis, with known macular edema, and those in whom outcome of cataract surgery on the fellow eye had been poor. Patients were divided into those with anterior disease (n = 53) and those with posterior disease (n = 37). Overall, 81 (90%) of 90 eyes showed improvement in vision (median +4 Snellen lines). In those with anterior disease, the development of severe uveitis in the first week postsurgery was associated with a greater incidence of macular edema (P = 0.014). The single largest diagnosis in those with posterior disease was that of panuveitis (n = 24). This group showed the poorest visual outcomes in this study. The majority of patients, however, were noted to have visual loss secondary to conditions present before surgery. Cataract surgery in eyes with uveitis leads to an improvement of vision in the majority of cases. Severe postoperative uveitis is the most common postoperative complication and is associated with a significant risk of macular edema in those with anterior disease. In the posterior group, poor visual outcome after surgery is most commonly the result of preoperative vision-limiting conditions. |
Laser microdissection and pressure catapulting: combining LMPC with IHC to investigate NMDA receptor subunit composition.
Laser microdissection and pressure catapulting (LMPC) has allowed investigators the opportunity to look at enriched cell populations from heterogeneous tissues. Selection of cells is routinely based upon morphological or histological criteria. The inclusion of an immunohistochemistry step prior to LMPC potentially allows investigators to classify cell populations both morphologically and functionally. Practical limitations with regard to RNA integrity following IHC steps have meant that the value that this combination brings has been reduced. Here, through the use of RNA preserving buffers, we have been able to successfully label, dissect and extract RNA from NK1 expressing cells. RT-PCR was carried out to confirm the expression of NK1, NR2A and NR2B subunit expression. Our data confirmed the expression of NK1 in cells labelled with the antibody, and the absence of expression in cells absent of staining. As well as this, relative expression of both NR2A and NR2B was determined. Furthermore, the RNA was of high enough quality to allow these methods to be used for studies involving RNA amplification steps, such as microarray analysis. |
César Andrade
Cesar Andrade is a Brazilian professional vert skater. Andrade started skating when he was 15 in 1994 and turned professional in 2002. Andrade has attended many competitions in his vert skating career.
Best Tricks Double Backflip 180
Vert Competitions
2002 Latin American X Games Medalists
References
External links
skatelog.com
rollernews.com
kiaxgamesasia.com
actionsportstour.com
espneventmedia.com
Category:Vert skaters
Category:1979 births
Category:Living people
Category:X Games athletes |
Wanshengwei station
Wanshengwei Station () is an interchange station between Lines 4 and 8 of the Guangzhou Metro, and also the terminus of Line 8. It started operations on 26 December 2005. It is an underground station and located near the junction of Xingang East Road () and Xinjiao South Road () in Haizhu District.
This station, like the others on Line 8 (except Changgang station, Baogang Dadao station, Shayuan station, and Fenghuang Xincun station, which were added after the dividing of Line 2), ran as part of a single route with the current Line 2 until the extension to both lines opened in late 2010.
The station is the terminus of the Haizhu Tram line of Guangzhou Trams, which runs to Canton Tower Station.
Station layout
Exits
References
Category:Railway stations opened in 2005
Category:Guangzhou Metro stations in Haizhu District |
Lee So-dam
Lee So-dam (; born 12 October 1994) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hyundai Steel Red Angels and the South Korean national team.
Club career
Lee joined Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels before the start of the 2018 season.
Honours
Asian Games Bronze medal: 2014
References
External links
Category:1994 births
Category:Living people
Category:South Korean women's footballers
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:South Korea women's under-17 international footballers
Category:South Korea women's under-20 international footballers
Category:South Korea women's international footballers
Category:2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:WK League players
Category:Asian Games medalists in football
Category:Footballers at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for South Korea
Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games
Category:Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels players
Category:2019 FIFA Women's World Cup players |
North Carolina lawmakers override historic Perdue budget veto
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s General Assembly completed its override of Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue’s historic budget veto today, and a state spending plan that cuts sales taxes — and, the governor argues, could lead to thousands of lost education jobs — became law.
The Republican-led Senate agreed to overturn the veto on a party-line vote of 31-19. Earlier, in a vote taken just after midnight, the House mustered a three-fifths majority required to cancel the first-ever veto of the state budget by a North Carolina governor.
The override means the two-year budget that spends $19.7 billion next year will take effect. It lets temporary taxes expire, meaning the base sales tax consumers pay will be cut by a penny, from 7.75 percent to 6.75 percent. Additional taxes for the highest wage earners and corporations, approved in 2009 by Democrats during the depths of the Great Recession, also won’t be renewed.
Eliminating the temporary taxes was a top priority of the first Republican majority in 140 years. Their insistence on ending the taxes became a key reason why enough House Democrats agreed to cut a deal and the GOP won a significant victory over Perdue in what’s become a divided state government.
“I don’t think we’ve done any more than what we promised the people of the state we would do,” said Sen. Don East, R-Surry, during the override debate.
But Perdue, fellow Democrats and a chorus of allied groups argued that extending the sales tax would have prevented all the deep spending cuts in the Republican budget. State education officials said the budget would lead to the elimination to 13,000 public education jobs. Perdue said in her veto message Sunday the bill will do untold damage to the public schools and higher education, damage the environment and make people less safe because fewer state troopers and police officers will be on their beats.
“Someday we’re going to be looking at some of these cuts and we’re going to say this is the time where we turned away” from education, said Sen. Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, former budget-writing chief under Democratic rule. “I never thought I’d see the day when it would come to this.”
The Senate override vote came a few hours after a midday rally by the North Carolina Association of Educators, whose members brought jars of pennies, a symbolic gesture of what they see is a small price to pay to preserve education.
Republicans argue their opponents overstate job losses and don’t take into account more than $250 million in federal funds the local districts have yet to spend for preserving education positions. The tax breaks alone in the budget will generate nearly 15,000 jobs, the GOP has said.
“A lot of the rhetoric has gotten to be overblown,” said Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham.
The spending plan for the next two years will be in place two weeks before the fiscal year begins July 1, the earliest date for its enactment since 1979, according to General Assembly records. It also clears the way for the General Assembly to complete its regular annual session by this weekend. |
/*
* ==============================================================================
*
* Filename: ECmdLauncher
* Description:
*
* Version: 1.0
* Created: 2020/8/9 3:42:01
* Compiler: Visual Studio 2019
*
* Author: zsh2401
*
* ==============================================================================
*/
using AutumnBox.OpenFramework.Extension;
using AutumnBox.OpenFramework.Extension.Leaf;
using AutumnBox.OpenFramework.Management;
namespace AutumnBox.Extensions.Essentials.Extensions
{
[ExtName("Launch ADB-CMD", "zh-cn:启动ADB命令行")]
[ExtRequiredDeviceStates(AutumnBoxExtension.NoMatter)]
[ExtIcon("Resources.Icons.cmd.png")]
class ECmdLauncher : LeafExtensionBase
{
[LMain]
public void EntryPoint(IBaseApi baseApi)
{
baseApi.UnstableInternalApiCall("open_command_line", "cmd.exe");
}
}
}
|
Florida Atlantic receiver has only six catches last two seasons because of injuries, self-esteem
BOCA RATON — The only thing strong enough to stop Florida Atlantic redshirt junior John Mitchell isn’t a hulking linebacker or a hard-hitting defensive back.
John Mitchell’s problem, he believes, has been John Mitchell. When Mitchell wasn’t battling various injuries, including back problems that cost him all of the 2017 season, he was fighting self-esteem issues.
But if the confident John Mitchell that’s shown up to the start of FAU’s fall camp sticks around, the Owls may have found their next star receiver.
"My teammates, my coach, [wide receivers] coach DJ [McCarthy] has really helped bring that out," said Mitchell, who had six catches for 66 yards last season. "It’s just a matter of going and doing what you know you can do."
Mitchell has always stood out in FAU’s practices. He’s capable of turning any throw, accurate or wild, into a long gain by using his 6-foot-4 frame and an impressive vertical jump.
But the dominant plays Mitchell made in practice or scrimmages rarely translated to games because he found himself always overthinking things on the field. He only has one touchdown in three years, a 33-yard score against Rice in November 2016.
FAU head coach Lane Kiffin said Mitchell suffered from "classic" confidence issues.
"When you have some success, you get some confidence and you start to play better and feel better," Kiffin said. "I think that’s definitely been the case with him."
Mitchell can surely feel confident about his health. He’s been a full participant in all five fall camp practices.
Mitchell also stayed healthy for most of spring ball earlier this year. He missed the Owls’ final scrimmage in April with an undisclosed injury but shared spring game offensive MVP honors with all-conference tight end Harrison Bryant.
"We trust him," quarterback Chris Robison said. "We know he’s gonna run the right route and if we give him a chance with the ball, he’s more than likely gonna come down with it."
Mitchell’s newfound confidence and maturity partly come from acceptance. He’s shrugged off any concerns about being brittle or injury-prone because he knows the majority of injuries are out of players’ hands.
"You gotta just play, go out, and just do what you can, stretch off the field, recover off the field, and just trust yourself," Mitchell said. "Then it’s up to God after that."
Safety Teja Young said Mitchell is a dangerous receiver because of his "aggressive" routes.
"He’ll hand fight with you," Young said. "Like at the top of the routes, he’ll nudge a little bit."
FAU needs Mitchell at his best this fall. The Owls lost leading receiver Jovon Durante to the NFL Draft before injuries and transfers decimated the rest of the unit in spring camp.
FAU added numerous transfers, including Alabama’s Chris Herring and USF’s DeAngelo Antoine, this offseason. Antoine and freshman Eyin Cole have stood out early and will have a chance at earning first-team snaps in Saturday’s scrimmage at FAU Stadium.
But one of the few — and only — constants has been Mitchell thriving with the starters. If his confidence stays, so will Mitchell’s chances for a career year.
"I really like the connection that we have," Mitchell said of the receivers. "In the meetings, everybody seems to mesh really well. We’ve added a lot of weapons."
Follow @JakeElman97 on Twitter |
Now the Talk is that Microsoft may invest 1 to 3 billion. I personally doubt Microsoft is going for majority ownership but it would be a significant stake. Dell is worth around 22b to 25b. Speculation is that investors would put up 5 to 7b in equity, borrowing the rest. You can do the math to determine the ownership percentage. As a point of reference, Michele Dell’s stock is worth 3.6b
We know about Microsoft’s relationship with Nokia – both in terms of ownership, swap of key personal, and the Window’s phone. Is this a repeat? |
Slideshow ( 15 images )
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s Prince William offered his sympathy to victims of recent disasters in Japan as he officially opened a new Japanese cultural center in London on Thursday.
Western Japan was hit last week by the strongest typhoon to strike the country in 25 years, and then just days later by an earthquake that paralyzed the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and left more than 40 dead.
“In recent weeks you have seen nature at its cruellest and on behalf of my family I wanted you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected,” William said at the official opening of Japan House London where he was joined by Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso.
The cultural center, which opened to the public in June, brings together food, art, design and technology, with items such as 100 pound ($135) handcrafted nail clippers, traditional tea cups and Japanese whisky on display.
The center bills itself as a new home for Japanese creativity and business in Britain, where more than 1,000 Japanese companies operate, according to the country’s ambassador to Britain Koji Tsuruoka.
Other Japan House centers are in Los Angeles and Sao Paolo, Brazil. |
On March 29, 1965, Richard J. O'Brien, Esq., age 44, committed suicide. Like his daughter Christine, O’Brien lived with a debilitating mental illness. The justice and health care systems had failed him. On this past Friday, June 24, 2011, O’Brien would have been 90. He gifted his daughter with a rich legacy- a passion for justice. This win is for him.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Please join us at United for Justice by sending correspondence to Post Office Box 2181, Wheeling WV 26003-2181. If you do not act now, when will you do it? I am being called a hero by several of my clergy - a real hero wakes up in the morning and loves life no matter the circumstances.
What each of us chooses to do or not to do affects our communities. That's a heavy responsibility, but it is the truth. Join with me now. Do it.
There will be much more to describe next week. Just ponder the truth that a company who recently made 24% profits for the 4th quarter 2009 and who, in 2004, paid their former CEO Dale Wolf $32, 000.000, denied me medically necessary surgery for 22 months. How many other vulnerable citizens of one of the best countries in the world have paid for that 24% profit with denials of rightful benefits?
Please keep me in your prayers on March 15th and 16th. For you who have some appreciation of the depths of despair of the mentally ill at times, you will understand. You will join me as so many have done to date. |
Born in Worthington, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, Rachael Harris attended her local high school and then, staying in her home state of Ohio, progressed to Otterbein University in Westerville where she... |
The subject invention relates to the design of a broadband imaging spectrometer for use in thin film measurement and general spectroscopic applications. The invention is broadly applicable to the field of optical metrology, particularly optical metrology tools for performing measurements of patterned thin films on semiconductor integrated circuits.
The use of thin film measurement technologies such as spectroscopic ellipsometry [SE], broadband reflectometry [BBR] and visible light reflectometry [VR] is well established. These technologies typically use a spectrometer to simultaneously gather information about the sample under test at different wavelengths. Examples in the prior art include U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,519 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,842 incorporated herein by reference. For optical wafer metrology the wavelength region of interest spans the vacuum ultra-violet [VUV] and near infrared [NIR].
Ideally the spectrometer has the following characteristics:
a) High efficiency over the desired wavelength range. This implies large dynamic range and high wafer throughput. This may permit low power light sources to be used reducing thermal loading of the optical system permitting a simplified design for the thermal management system and the optical mounts. All of these effects combine to improve metrology system performance at reduced cost of ownership.
b) Low spatial distortion. This implies that the detected light comes to sharp focus and forms a small spot size on the detector. Low spatial distortion implies good chromatic separation. This in turn helps minimize xe2x80x9ccross-talkxe2x80x9d between detected wavelengths and improves the accuracy and resolution of the spectrometer.
c) Low chromatic distortion. Low chromatic distortion implies the spot size is consistently small over the desired wavelength range typically from VUV to IR. This minimizes the potential for xe2x80x9ccross-talkxe2x80x9d between detected wavelengths and improves the accuracy and resolution of the spectrometer.
d) Low scatter. Scatter modifies the spatial dependence of the optical intensity striking the detector. Light is removed from one spectrally separated channel (channel A) and is, potentially, deposited into an adjacent channel (channel B). This artificially reduces the channel A signal and artificially increases the channel B signal. This acts to wash-out the chromatic separation and produces measurement error.
e) The spectrometer design should employ a small number of individual components that are maintained in a robust arrangement that is easy to align optically. This insures high performance, simplifies fabrication, minimizes required maintenance and reduces capital costs.
It is a challenge to design a spectrometer that meets all of these requirements. There are three notable prior art spectrometer designs that do not meet all of the above listed requirements but satisfactorily address at least a subset of the requirements.
The simplest of the prior art designs forms the spectrometer with a single element. The most common implementation employs holographic techniques to form the grating on a concave, usually spherical, surface. In these systems the grating has two functions since it focuses and diffracts the incident light. Since the design has a single element it is relatively easy to align. But, the design suffers from high spatial and chromatic distortions over the wavelength range of VUV to IR.
FIG. 1 illustrates another prior art design, the Fastie-Ebert spectrometer 40 that uses two elements, one large spherical mirror 30 and one plane diffraction grating 32 to focus and disperse the light. Different portions of the mirror 30 are used to (1) reflect and collimate light entering the spectrometer onto the plane grating and (2) focus the dispersed light, diffracted from the grating, into chromatically separated images of the entrance slit in the spectrometer exit plane. It is an inexpensive and commonly used design, but exhibits limited ability to maintain off-axis image quality due to system aberrations including spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, and a curved focal field.
FIG. 2 illustrates another prior-art design, the Czemy-Turner (CZ) spectrometer 50, that is an improvement over the Fastie-Ebert design. The CZ spectrometer employs three elements, two concave mirrors, 33 and 35, and a single plane diffraction grating 32. The two mirrors function in the same separate capacities as the single spherical mirror of the Fastie-Ebert configuration, i.e., mirror 33 collimates and reflects light entering the spectrometer onto the diffraction grating 32, and mirror 35 focuses the dispersed light diffracted from the grating into chromatically separated images of the entrance slit in the spectrometer exit plane, but the geometry of the mirrors in the Czerny-Turner configuration is flexible. By using an asymmetrical geometry, the Czemy-Turner configuration may be designed to produce a flattened spectral field and good coma correction at a single wavelength. However, spherical aberration and astigmatism will remain at all wavelengths. The design has the further advantage that it can accommodate very large optics.
Each of the three elements in the Czemy-Turner spectrometer must be aligned precisely. In designs that utilize off-axis aspheric mirrors, alignment can be a daunting task. Furthermore, conventional optical fabrication methods cannot be used to fabricate off-axis aspherics. More complex and less robust optical fabrication techniques must be employed which can both increase fabrication costs and reduce performance. For example, diamond turning as the preferred method for manufacturing off-axis aspherics. Diamond turned optics exhibit higher optical scatter than conventionally figured surfaces.
Accordingly it would be desirable to provide a compact spectrometer employing the minimum number of elements exhibiting low optical scatter, reduced spatial distortion and reduced chromatic distortion over the wavelength range spanning the VUV-NIR.
A design for a compact imaging spectrometer for use in thin film metrology and general spectroscopic applications is described. In comparison to prior art designs the spectrometer has reduced spherical aberration, coma and astigmatism. The spectrometer includes an entrance aperture arranged to receive light, a wavelength dispersive element, a single, axially rotationally symmetric, aspheric mirror, a detector and a processor. The use of an aspheric mirror permits the correction of spherical aberration. Coma is corrected by system symmetry. The plane of the detector may be tilted to substantially compensate for residual astigmatism.
Diamond turning is a popular method for fabricating off-axis aspheric surfaces. However, unwanted surface features generated in the diamond turning process limit the optical performance of diamond turned optics. Axially rotationally symmetric aspheres, however, can be fabricated using conventional optical polishing techniques. These techniques produce low scatter surfaces at lower cost than diamond turning. Consequently, the spectrometer of the present invention offers enhanced optical performance at reduced cost. |
Q:
SQL statement between date
This is driving me crazy and not sure what I'm missing here..
so here is my data column looks like:
StartDateTime:
---------------
2012-01-17 11:13:46.530
2012-01-17 11:17:22.530
2012-02-17 11:31:22.223
here is my query trying to get:
select * from tablName
where convert(varchar(10), startDateTime, 101) between '2012-01-17' and '2012-01-17'
based on the above I should be getting TWO rows? but it does not, it return zero rows. what will be the correct way of doing?
PS:
I've looked at the MSDN site too:
A:
Your query would only match dates that are between 2012-01-17 00:00:00 and 2012-01-17 00:00:00. So, the only matches would be when the date is exactly 2012-01-17 00:00:00.
Instead, I would do this:
declare @dateInput as DateTime
set @dateInput = '2012-01-17'
select *
from tablName
where startDateTime >= @dateInput
and startDateTime < dateadd(day, 1, @dateInput)
Note: SQL Server 2008+ has a new data type Date with no time component that can make these types of queries more readable.
|
Q:
Swift Charts X-Axis Not Displaying?
I am using Swift Charts to create charts for an app but I cant seem to get the X-Axis labels to display.
The chart is configured as follows:
func configure (dataPoints: [String], values: [Double]) {
ChartIMG.noDataText = "Please Insert Some Data!"
ChartIMG.xAxis.valueFormatter = IndexAxisValueFormatter(values: dataPoints)
ChartIMG.xAxis.granularityEnabled = true
ChartIMG.xAxis.granularity = 1
ChartIMG.animate(xAxisDuration: 2.0, yAxisDuration: 2.0, easingOption: .easeInBounce)
print(dataPoints)
var dataEntries: [BarChartDataEntry] = []
for i in 0..<dataPoints.count {
let dataEntry = BarChartDataEntry(x: Double(i), y: values[i])
dataEntries.append(dataEntry)
}
let chartDataSet = BarChartDataSet(values: dataEntries, label: nil)
ChartIMG.chartDescription?.enabled = false
self.ChartIMG.legend.enabled = false
let chartData = BarChartData(dataSet: chartDataSet)
ChartIMG.data = chartData
}
and the datasets are as follows:
datapoints: moodList = ["Great", "Good", "Meh", "Sad", "Awful"]
Values: valueList = [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 1.0, 3.0]
The chart X-Axis currently shows nothing and I cant seem to figure out why? Any help is much appreciated.
A:
You have to use IAxisValueFormatter to show the values on xAxis
I have created Following class
class BarChartFormatter: NSObject,IAxisValueFormatter,IValueFormatter {
var values : [String]
required init (values : [String]) {
self.values = values
super.init()
}
func stringForValue(_ value: Double, axis: AxisBase?) -> String {
return values[Int(value)]
}
func stringForValue(_ value: Double, entry: ChartDataEntry, dataSetIndex: Int, viewPortHandler: ViewPortHandler?) -> String {
return values[Int(entry.x)]
}
}
Update your method like below
for i in 0..<dataPoints.count {
let dataEntry = BarChartDataEntry(x: Double(i), y: values[i])
dataEntries.append(dataEntry)
}
let chartDataSet = BarChartDataSet(values: dataEntries, label: nil)
ChartIMG.chartDescription?.enabled = false
self.ChartIMG.legend.enabled = false
let formatter = BarChartFormatter(values: dataPoints)
let xAxis = XAxis()
xAxis.valueFormatter = formatter
ChartIMG.xAxis.valueFormatter = xAxis.valueFormatter
let chartData = BarChartData(dataSet: chartDataSet)
ChartIMG.data = chartData
Hope it is helpful
OR
I have created a extension that is ready to use Just copy and paste it new swift file
import Charts
extension BarChartView {
private class BarChartFormatter: NSObject,IAxisValueFormatter {
var values : [String]
required init (values : [String]) {
self.values = values
super.init()
}
func stringForValue(_ value: Double, axis: AxisBase?) -> String {
return values[Int(value)]
}
}
func setChartValues (xAxisValues : [String] , values : [Double],label : String) {
var barChartDataEntries = [BarChartDataEntry]()
for i in 0..<values.count {
let dataEntry = BarChartDataEntry(x: Double(i), y: values[i])
barChartDataEntries.append(dataEntry)
}
let chartDataSet = BarChartDataSet(values: barChartDataEntries, label: label)
chartDataSet.colors = ChartColorTemplates.colorful()
let chartData = BarChartData(dataSet: chartDataSet)
let formatter = BarChartFormatter(values: xAxisValues)
let xAxis = XAxis()
xAxis.valueFormatter = formatter
self.xAxis.valueFormatter = xAxis.valueFormatter
self.xAxis.labelPosition = .bottom
self.data = chartData
self.data?.notifyDataChanged()
self.notifyDataSetChanged()
self.animate(xAxisDuration: 2.0, yAxisDuration: 2.0, easingOption: .linear)
}
}
You can use it like
@IBOutlet weak var barChartView: BarChartView!
let months = ["Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun", "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec"]
let unitsSold = [20.0, 4.0, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 16.0, 4.0, 18.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0, 4.0]
self.barChartView.setChartValues(xAxisValues: months, values: unitsSold, label: "Monthly Sales")
|
.-
In a dramatic turn of events Thursday, a Canadian premier abruptly axed a controversial proposed sex-ed curriculum due to the overwhelmingly negative response it received within his province.
Premier Dalton McGuinty of Ontario previously backed a sex education curriculum which came under fire for its subject matter. The curriculum scheduled lessons on body parts in Grade 1, discussed homosexuality in Grade 3, and explicitly mentioned “vaginal and anal intercourse” in Grade 7. The curriculum also taught that homosexuality and transgenderism are normal and that masturbation is “one way of learning about your body.”
According to the Ottawa Citizen, Premier McGuinty said the government failed to properly consult and communicate with parents about the revamped curriculum.
“I think for most parents, it came out of nowhere,” he said Thursday. “We spent a good 24, 48 hours listening to parents and caucus – and parents through our caucus – and it's become pretty obvious we should give this a serious rethink.”
Though the premier on Tuesday of this week spoke of his unflinching support of the curriculum, within 54 hours his position drastically changed.
“(Parents) are obviously not comfortable with the proposal that we put forward,” he said Thursday. “So we're going to improve on that.”
The curriculum had sparked outrage among Catholic leaders in Ottawa as Premier McGuinty previously claimed that the program applied to “all students in publicly funded schools, including Catholic schools,” the Ottawa Citizen reported.
Archbishop of Ottawa Terrence Prendergast stressed on Thursday that parents are children’s “first teachers of faith and moral issues,” and he urged parents to voice their thoughts on the curriculum to officials, saying the government would have to react to “a firestorm of response.”
In a phone interview with CNA on Thursday, Archbishop Prendergrast explained that, “There’s quite a bit of controversy in public, by ordinary parents, who don’t want people, teachers, the state, the province, imposing a particular view of sexuality on their children.”
Archbishop Prendergast advised parents to “speak up” to their MPs and representatives. They need to take seriously their responsibilities, while the government should cooperate with parents to ensure children are raised in a “healthy and wholesome” way.
The archbishop explained that some non-Catholic parents send their children to Catholic public schools because of a “moral quality to their teaching.”
One non-Catholic mother he knows feels that “she and her husband should have authority in delicate matters, not things presented by Planned Parenthood.”
Parents going to non-Catholic public schools need to say this is not suitable instruction for their children either, he noted.
Rather than promote greater sexual expression, he suggested, Canadians “need to think about restoring a certain moral character to the educational system.”
“It’s not easy, but I think we need to say that.”
|
Monocenter Experience with 532 Nm-Laser Photoselective-Vaporization of the Prostate by GreenLight XPS Laser: Is It Really an Endourological Joker Card?
In our study, we reported on our monocenter experience with GreenLight (GL) Xcelerated Performance System (XPS) /MoXy laser fiber (American Medical Systems Inc., Minnetonka, Minnesota), examining its efficacy, safety, and its ability to effectively treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in benign prostate obstruction (BPO). We also explored and compared the three different endoscopic approaches used for GL treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), standard photovaporization (PVP), anatomical PVP, and GreenLight XPS enucleation of the prostate. Between February 2013 and April 2017, 140 patients, with an average age of 67.7 years (range 47-85), were treated using the XPS/MoXy system in a single-operative urologic center. The data were retrospectively analyzed with an assessment of the main intra- and postoperative outcomes at three, six, 12, and 18 months comparing both subjective (international prostate symptom score [IPSS]) and objective (uroflow [Qmax] parameters and prostate volume) parameters to the preoperative data. Patients underwent standard PVP, anatomical PVP, or prostate photo-selective en-bloc enucleation (PEBE) according to surgeon preferences. Median prostate volume (MPV) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were 69cc and 3.24 ng/dl, respectively. An indwelling catheter, at the time of surgery, was observed in 15% of men. Median operative-laser time and energy applied were 56.4 minutes, 26.5 minutes, and 245813 kJ. Outpatient surgery was feasible with median length of stay at 48 hours. Significant improvement in IPSS and Qmax are observed at all endpoints. No significant intraoperative complications were reported. When stratifying postoperative complications according to the Cavien-Dindo classification, only two cases of high-degree emerged (grades III-IV). Our data confirm that in treating men with symptomatic benign prostate disease, the GreenLight XPS/MoXy laser fiber is safe and able to achieve challenging results in terms of clinical outcomes and prostate volume reduction. Balance between functional outcomes and complications was great without statistically significant differences, in terms of outcomes, between the different surgical techniques. |
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Sym_name: top
Sym_lineno: 0
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namespaces: [
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|
Now you are just rambling, completely off from your original topic that it is acceptable to you for the President to to have his decisions influenced by the leader of an enemy nation. You can't even say that TREASON is wrong. This had NOTHING to do with the 2016 election, which is where you are trying to turn the conversation. This is why I stopped replying to your posts for the longest time. It becomes pointless when you can't stay on topic and shift from here to there, and it usually lands on some topic about Clinton.
The_Noble_Cause wrote:
Monker wrote:Are you actually saying it is OK for our leaders to commit treason?
History points to yes (Nixon undermining Vietnam peace talks, Reagan's October Surprise). Additionally, in US history, treason charges have been brought less than fifty times. So this is all meaningless. When Kennedy wrote secret letters to Khrushchev at the height of the Cold War was that treason? I wonder what his top generals thought...
Monker wrote:YOU are the one who said you would rather have the President of this country under the influence of Putin, than Haliburton, or whatever.
Absolutely.
Monker wrote:If it is a conspiracy theory, it is one that you bought into and wrote on this forum for me to reply to. Posting the Constitutional definition of treason is NOT a conspiracy theory...that is bizarre talk from you.
Of course it's a conspiracy theory. Anyone entertaining the idea that Trump and Russia somehow swung the election with FB ads like this is an idiot.
If you guys hate it here so much, why do you still come here and read the forum? The dozen of you can't hold a conversation without bringing up mr.com? Why don't you all just delete your accounts in protest and be done with it? You and LtVanish look like you are just taking the piss and actually would rather keep posting here.
At the behest of another user here, I took a few minutes to read some of the comments at the new exiles board recently created.
Just a couple of comments. No, there’s been no difference to traffic here since you folk leaving. No, there was no difference when the Trump thread was temp locked.
The hate. Wow, I can’t believe how many comments there are about me, the site, speculation and crap. You all hated it here so much, so you created your own board where you seem to be spending most of your time discussing myself and this board. Sorry, but that’s just sad.
To the few vitriol throwing assholes, if I understand correctly, you hate this board and me...so your accounts here will no longer be needed. Glad you spent so much of your time here over the last decade or so, but the descriptive hatred is worse than anything seen on here....so in the spirit of your own comments - go fuck yourselves and good riddance.
Monker wrote:Now you are just rambling, completely off from your original topic that it is acceptable to you for the President to to have his decisions influenced by the leader of an enemy nation.You can't even say that TREASON is wrong.
Already covered this.In the eyes of many, JFK's secret attempts at detente with Khrushchev was "treason." Nixon's sabotage of Johnson's peace talks was considered treason. The world is complicated and I do not subscribe to your black-and-white cartoon version of it.
Monker wrote:This had NOTHING to do with the 2016 election, which is where you are trying to turn the conversation.
The allegations of treason revolve around the 2016 election being influenced by the Russians. You cannot separate the two. If you want to discuss other stories (ex. Trump hiding interpreter notes), then say so.
Monker wrote: This is why I stopped replying to your posts for the longest time.
Riiiight. Or maybe it's because every time you lie (ex. Colbert Report is not an O'Reilly parody. ex. Hillary had permission to use a secret server) you get blown up with facts. Reply or don't. You have no credibility whatsoever.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
Andrew wrote:The hate. Wow, I can’t believe how many comments there are about me, the site, speculation and crap. You all hated it here so much, so you created your own board where you seem to be spending most of your time discussing myself and this board.
I'd just like to chime in that when I created my own board in 2007 or so it was never about hating this one. I just wanted to post porn.
AR is just a longtime net troll who is bored with trolling just Journey most of the time so he's looking for other places to troll and get reactions.
"StillStanding" from the karaoke Boston forum and night manager at Home Depot
Andrew wrote:The hate. Wow, I can’t believe how many comments there are about me, the site, speculation and crap. You all hated it here so much, so you created your own board where you seem to be spending most of your time discussing myself and this board.
I'd just like to chime in that when I created my own board in 2007 or so it was never about hating this one. I just wanted to post porn.
Why should I lookee your porn board when Xh@mst3r has it all?
Last edited by verslibre on Thu Jan 17, 2019 8:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Andrew wrote:The hate. Wow, I can’t believe how many comments there are about me, the site, speculation and crap. You all hated it here so much, so you created your own board where you seem to be spending most of your time discussing myself and this board.
I'd just like to chime in that when I created my own board in 2007 or so it was never about hating this one. I just wanted to post porn.
Why should I like at your porn board when Xh@mst3r has it all?
There was no Both Xh@mst3r , P*rrnHub , R*dTube, Tube8, xv*deos or any of those other great sites (at least I don't think) when The Annex opened.
(edit: I had to look it up out of curiosity. Xh@mst3r was established same year as my forum board.)
AR is just a longtime net troll who is bored with trolling just Journey most of the time so he's looking for other places to troll and get reactions.
"StillStanding" from the karaoke Boston forum and night manager at Home Depot
Monker wrote:The Colbert Report was NOT a parody of the O'Reilly Factor. It is The Daily Show with a fake conservative host. That is all.
Sorry. You're just uninformed. Even Colbert's opening "The Word" was a direct parody of O'Reilly's opening "Talking Points Memo" right down to the graphics.
As Colbert himself has said: "I owe a lot to Bill O'Reilly," Colbert said Wednesday. "I spent over nine years playing a character based largely on him — and then 12 months in therapy, to de-bloviate myself."
From the book Satire TV by Professor Jonathan Gray: "Although the aesthetic of The Colbert Report has changed drastically since its first conception on The Daily Show, it’s central premise remains Colbert’s parody of O’Reilly."
Rolling Stone discussing The Colbert Report: " Plenty of Colbert fans probably never knew the segment was a spoof of Bill O'Reilly's 'The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day.' "
From The New Yorker: "The Colbert Report, on Comedy Central, broadcasts what is essentially a full-dress parody of The O’Reilly Factor. Stephen Colbert has obviously made a close study of O’Reilly’s mannerisms and opinions, just as Colbert’s producers have made a close study of the overblown red-white-and-blue swirled graphics that open The O’Reilly Factor."
NYTimes: "When The Colbert Report debuted in 2005, a nightly show satirizing Bill O’Reilly seemed like it would eventually be a dead end."
Talking to you is a waste of time. You're wrong on pretty much everything.
Monker wrote:I get the feeling that you never even watched the show.
And I get the feeling you never understood what the hell you were even watching.
Monker wrote:The FACTS completely prove you wrong. Colbert has over three million viewers each daily episode. Trevor Noah gets around two million viewers per episode. People watch these shows or they wouldn't be renewed...over and over again. It's no different than if nobody was going to a ___________ concert, they wouldn't be able to afford to tour.
Umm, Carson used to pull in 9 million viewers. Those ratings just prove what I said from the beginning. Broadcast TV has cratered and most Americans have cut the chord.
You just don't know what you are talking about and are simply posting Google searches. Yes, the character he is playing was based on O'Reilly. Yes, "The Word" is his version of "Talking POints".
There are around 40 recurring segments on the Colbert Report. Only TWO of them were spoofing Papa Bear. As I have tried to say, most of them could have been on the Daily Show. 95% of them have NOTHING TO DO WITH O'REILLY.
And, that doesn't even get into the guest interviews, which are also NOTHING LIKE O'Reilly.
Here is a list of most of his segments from Wiki. Some of these are hillarous just to read...and remember seeing all of them:
Alpha Dog of the Week is a segment in which Colbert heaps praise on one specific news maker from the previous week for, as Colbert himself puts it, being "such an imposing presence that people automatically fall in place behind you, deferentially sniffing your butt."[1] The irony of the segment comes from the fact that the honoree has typically fallen from grace as a result of the supposed alpha behavior Colbert is celebrating.
Atone PhoneThe Atone Phone was introduced in the 2007 season during the Jewish High Holidays. Stephen interprets the Ten Days of Repentance to mean that Jewish people should apologize specifically to him, and introduces a hotline (1-888-OOPS-JEW) that Jews can call to apologize for anything that they may have done to "wrong" Stephen. The phone occasionally rings during the show, with an old style bell ringer that rings to the tune of Hava Nagila. The segment is reintroduced every season during the High Holidays, and each subsequent season it is revealed that the number to call has to be shared with another hotline that shares the same number, first 1-888-MOPS-KEY and later 1-888-MOSS-LEW.,[2] 1-888-MOS-PLEX, 1-888-NORS-LEZ, 1-888-O-MRS-LEX, and 1-888-O-NPR-LDY.
Better Know a DistrictMain article: Better Know a DistrictBetter Know a District is a recurring segment where Colbert interviews members of Congress from specific districts, hoping to fill all 434 spaces on his map. (The missing 435th district is California's 50th, which was declared dead to Stephen in 2005 following the Duke Cunningham scandal, because it had "let Duke down." [3] On Ash Wednesday in 2006, its status was changed to "never existed to me," making it the only item in that category.[4]) The segment features Colbert first giving a short history lesson on the district, then interviewing the representative and asking them "loaded" questions.
SpinoffsBetter Know a Challenger, a segment during the 2006 Congressional Elections where Colbert interviewed challengers because the incumbent declined to appear on his show.Better Know a Protectorate, a 4-part series focusing on the protectorates of the United States.Better Know a Founder, a 56-part series focusing on the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.Better Know a President, a 43-part series where Colbert interviews former Presidents by speaking to impersonators.Meet an Ally, a series focusing on the nations in the Coalition of the Willing.Betterer Know a District, features extended versions of previously shown interviews.Better Know a Memory, a "recap" of sorts following the 2006 elections, showing "better known" representatives that had been returned to Congress.Better Know a Presidential Candidate Who'll Talk to Me, an indefinite series featuring interviews with presidential candidates from the 2008 presidential election. To date, only Republicans Mike Huckabee (who asked Colbert to be his running mate) and Ron Paul have appeared for such interviews, although Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards have all made appearances on the Report.Better Know a Governor, a series focusing on state governors (starting with Mark Sanford)Better Know a Lobby, a 35,000-part (originally infinite-part) series, introduced on the February 6, 2008 episode, focusing on lobbyists that work on Capitol Hill.Better Know a Beatle, a 4-part series focusing on the members of The Beatles.Better Know a Cradle of Civilization, a 1-part series about the history of Iraq shown during Operation Iraqi Stephen.Better Know a Made Up District, a [unintelligible] part series about made up districts; a reference to inaccurate submissions to the United States government's website that tracks the spending of stimulus money, by business people who made up congressional districts.Better Know a Stephen, a segment introduced December 16, 2009 in which Colbert interviews other prominent men named Stephen (specifically spelled with a "ph").Better Know an Enemy, a series focusing on the terrorist enemies.Better Know a Riding, a 1-part segment focusing on the Canadian Electoral District held by Member of Parliament Ujjal Dosanjh which took place on February 22, 2010 during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The riding profiled was Vancouver South, where the Olympics took place.Better Know a Kissinger, A one part series on Henry Kissinger prior to Colbert's interview of Henry Kissinger.Better Know a Salinger/Hemingway, One-part series on whoever he profiles in the Colbert book club.Better Know a America, A one part series in which Stephen Colbert interviews President Obama.
The Blitzkrieg on GrinchitudeA segment that is featured around Christmas season. He (Colbert) covers stories that involve people suggested to be attacking Christmas getting foiled in various ways.
The BoardsOriginating from phrases used by Colbert as a warning or condemnation, the On Notice and Dead to Me boards are giant blue boards listing people and things that have angered Colbert. When the On Notice board is full, Colbert is forced to either remove an item or transfer it to the Dead to Me board, which is reserved for his most hated nemeses. One-off variations have included a Called Out white board on August 14, 2006, a red Fantasies board on January 31, 2007, a Do Not Say board on April 25, 2007 and a pocket-sized "On Notice" board on October 2, 2007.
Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.Cheating Death is a medical and health-related segment. During Cheating Death, Colbert refers to himself as Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., a reference to the Honorary Fine Arts Doctorate that was awarded to him by Knox College.
The introduction graphic to this segment is a reference to the chess game with Death in Ingmar Bergman's film The Seventh Seal, with Colbert wearing scrubs as he uses trickery to literally cheat Death and win (another variant has him conning Death out of its money at three card monte). Colbert usually then prefaces each segment by noting that he is not a medical doctor, but a Doctor of Fine Arts, followed by a joke about what he is allowed to do (example: delivering babies through Georgia O'Keeffe paintings). The segment usually features accounts of actual medical and health news, including recent breakthroughs and announcements of the type found on other medical and health segments which then segue into plugs for the (fictional) sponsor, Prescott Pharmaceuticals, and their highly dubious "Vaxa" product line. (Prescott Pharmaceuticals is apparently part of a large, rather shady company known as the Prescott Group, whom Colbert frequently promotes. Their other divisions include Prescott Oil and Prescott Finance.) This health advice is generally dangerous or unhelpful, and said products also cause bizarre side effects such as "Skeletal Xylophoning",[5] or "REO Speedlung".[6] The segment always ends with Colbert saying, "I'll see you in health!," a play on the phrase, "I'll see you in hell!"
On the April 25, 2011 episode, Colbert renamed his product line "Vacsa", after he received a cease-and-desist letter from a company whose line of homeopathic products is actually called Växa. He insisted that any similarities between the two names was purely "axidental".
The segment was used as the culmination of the program's series finale; Death (who is referred to as Grimmy), who was intended to be the show's final guest, does not fall for Colbert's tricks and strangles him upon watching him actually cheat. This results in a struggle that ends with Colbert accidentally killing Death with his pistol Sweetness and becoming an immortal.[7]
Colbert Platinum (CP)Colbert Platinum is The Colbert Report's version of High Net Worth (HNW) on CNBC. It profiles expensive and high-profile items, like personal submarines and $750,000 pens, which only the "super rich" could afford. In the introduction, Colbert reminds viewers that the segment is for billionaires "only," instructing "poor" millionaire viewers to change the channel. On October 20, 2008, Colbert Platinum was spun off as Colbert Aluminum, due to the economic crisis of 2008. Its focus was the formerly wealthy, Colbert telling viewers not to watch "if you haven't had a yacht repossessed in the last six months." As of August 20, 2009, Colbert announced that the recession was over and that Colbert Platinum had been reinstated.
Cold War UpdateCold War Update is a segment where Colbert dismisses "rumors" that the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The segment covers news from former Soviet Bloc countries, such as Cuba, North Korea, Russia, China, and Yugoslavia.[8]
The Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever HeardThe Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard is a segment in which Colbert highlights a "bizarre" recent news item. It likens to The O'Reilly Factor's "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day." Variants include "The Most Poetic F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard."
The DaColbert CodeA parody of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, "The DaColbert Code" is an occasional segment in which Colbert uses his mysterious code (actually an elaborate word association game) to uncover past and future events. This typically leads Colbert to form absurd conclusions, such as that Mike Myers was responsible for the Hurricane Katrina debacle — although in 2006 and 2009 he used the DaColbert Code to accurately predict the five top Oscar winners and shortly before the 2008 elections, the code repeatedly said that Barack Obama would be the next US president. The segment uses Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa as its opening graphic, with Colbert's face edited in. On every occasion, he illustrates how it works by giving a test of it by predicting who killed John F. Kennedy, which at each time had led to a different suspect, including Jacqueline, Johnson, Nixon, and Kennedy himself.
Democralypse Now!Democralypse Now! was introduced during the 2008 presidential primaries and covered how the Democratic party was "destroying itself" through Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's competing bids for the presidential nomination. The title is a portmanteau, combining the title of left-leaning progressive syndicated news program Democracy Now! with that of the film Apocalypse Now. (The opening sequence alludes to the film with the song "Ride of the Valkyries" and a cutout of John McCain's head quoting the film's famous line "The horror ... the horror!")
Difference MakersDifference Makers pays tribute to ordinary Americans whom Colbert deems to be making a difference, usually in promoting a passionate cause of dubious value, such as a woman who believes that teaching pole dancing is a feminist cause. The Difference Maker being profiled is described in heroic superlatives, and the segments feature patriotic background music, but the interviews shown invariably contradict the narrator's praising statements. This is one of the few segments in which Colbert does not feature at all, except as the narrator. The name bears a similarity to that of the NBC Nightly News human interest segment "Making A Difference".
The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within is part of a series of segments labeled as Colbert Report Special Reports. The intro features a seemingly ordinary family taking a picture, only for aliens to pop out at the end. In the segment, Stephen uses a faux narration style to label a seemingly benign thing that has bended a law (like toddlers and unicycles) as an enemy.
Formidable OpponentFor the Formidable Opponent, Colbert debates a topic against the only person he deems truly worthy of his opposition: himself. The segment gives the appearance that there are two Stephen Colberts, each facing the other, wearing different colored ties (usually a blue tie for the liberal Colbert and red for the conservative) and standing against different backdrops, an illusion attained through use of a green screen and chroma-key technology to change the color of Colbert's tie. One of the Colberts will generally take a more liberal position, while the other will take a more characteristic ultra-conservative view. The conservative Colbert will almost always win, generally posing an extremely unlikely hypothetical situation (either concerning special circumstances or hypothetical fallout), and using that for his justifications.
To date, the only time the 'liberal' Colbert has won was on the episode airing on November 4, 2009. In this episode, the 'liberal' Colbert called on Al Gore (who was there in person) to help him argue. The ultra-conservative Colbert then called his own version of Al Gore (also played by the real Al Gore). However, unlike the two debating Stephens, "both" Al Gores were of the same opinion, and convinced the conservative Colbert that they were right.
The final installment of Formidable Opponent aired on December 15, 2014. During a debate on the United States' use of torture — the same topic the two had debated during the show's first month — the liberal Colbert convinced his conservative counterpart to admit to being an imaginary character. As the segment ended, the conservative Colbert faded from existence, leaving only the liberal Colbert.
Four Horsemen of the A-Pop-calypseIn the Four Horsemen of the A-Pop-calypse segment Colbert criticizes the media (radio, film, television, and books) for hastening the end of civilization. The name of the segment is a reference to the biblical characters of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Freedom TriviaThese short messages frequently appeared on screen immediately before or after commercial breaks during the show's first season. The titles were typically portmanteaux, ranging from Fracts (Freedom Facts), to Friddles (Freedom Riddles), Franagrams (Freedom Anagrams) and Frnaps (Freedom Snaps). Drinking games and Freedom Trivia were also offered. The messages displayed were typically reflective of Colbert's exaggerated patriotism and inflated ego, for instance, "Did you know… In 1983, Stephen legally changed his middle name to 'Gettysburg Address'." They were discontinued soon after the commencement of the show's second season; the last Freedom Trivia message appeared in the January 26, 2006 episode of the Report.
Indecision 2010: Revenge of the FallenCoverage of the 2010 midterm elections. Republicans were poised to re-take the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. The segment subtitle is from the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. In this case, the "fallen" are the Republicans. Senator Mitch McConnell is shown as transforming from a turtle, and Minority Leader John Boehner is shown as transforming from an orange traffic cone.
Monkey on the Lam
The opening graphic of Monkey on the Lam Wikinews has related news: Police capture escaped monkey in Wisconsin, USAMonkey on the Lam first appeared in August 2007 after a monkey escaped and went "on the lam" in Wisconsin. It has recurred occasionally, featuring stories of escaped monkeys, but mostly revolving around Colbert's disappointment upon the discovery that whatever story is being profiled has been resolved and will not need follow up, giving him no excuse to use the graphic featuring a monkey riding a lamb and firing a gun. A "Lobster Edition" of the segment was also featured, using the same graphic.
Movies That Are Destroying AmericaMovies That Are Destroying America is a film review segment in which Colbert provides his opinions on recently released movies—often, he admits, without actually having seen anything more than the trailers (which he claims "give you the best part of the movie anyway"). This often leads to a humorous and mistaken impression of the movies being reviewed as Colbert viciously attacks films that most would consider to be benign (such as Over the Hedge and Pride and Prejudice), then praises a movie that conservatives have found objectionable (such as Brokeback Mountain). The segment has featured an "Awards Edition," a "Christmas Edition," and a "Summer Blockbuster Edition."
Nailed 'EmNailed 'Em is a segment where Colbert covers a dubious triumph of "Order & Law". The segment involves someone breaking a minor or absurd law, and being brought to justice - for example, a man who was charged for allowing his spouse to eat from his plate at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The segment is narrated by Colbert, who uses various dramatic rhetoric and strange metaphors to portray the law-breaker as a horrid criminal. In certain cases, Colbert follows up a story on this segment by "punishing" the "criminal" in a way that sarcastically underscores the absurdity of the crime for which they were "nailed." An example of this is when a young boy who loved to read had his library card revoked because his family lived in a different borough than their library of choice, and as such did not pay taxes that supported that library. He was featured on this segment, and Colbert responded by "forcing" the boy to read even more books, which he enacted by sending him a box full of books previously featured on his show, as well as a collector's box-set of the entire Harry Potter series, signed by Colbert himself.
People Destroying AmericaIn a similar style to that of Nailed 'Em and Difference Makers, People Destroying America features interviews surrounding a person who has committed some sort of trivial action or offense that Colbert deems to be "destroying America." The narration, usually read by Colbert, tends to describe the subject and their supposed offense in ominous superlatives which are invariably contradicted by the benign responses of the interviewees.
Sam Waterston Says Things You Should Never Believe in a Trustworthy MannerSam Waterston Says Things You Should Never Believe in a Trustworthy Manner is a brief segment featuring Law & Order star Sam Waterston, who, as the title suggests, says things you should never believe in a trustworthy manner—things such as, "I'm from the future. Come with me if you want to live." It was introduced in January 2008 to illustrate the perils of relying on the "folksy" charms of then-presidential candidate and Law & Order costar Fred Thompson, who, to the distress of Colbert, was frequently hailed as a "Reagan figure" by the press. The segment ran three times (although Colbert claimed that he has proven the case "dozens of times"), and was discontinued after Thompson withdrew from his campaign for the presidency.
Smokin' Pole: The Fight for Arctic Riches Wikinews has related news: Russia claims North Pole by planting flag on seabedSmokin' Pole: The Fight for Arctic Riches is a segment in which Colbert recaps news surrounding the world's nations laying claim to the resources of the Arctic Circle. This segment was originally titled "Arc! Who goes there?"
Stephen Colbert's Balls for KidzStephen Colbert's Balls for Kidz is an "educational" children's segment providing lessons on what Colbert deems to be important issues. It features a panel of four children interviewing adult "experts" whose typically absurd answers elicit bemused or horrified reactions from the young panel. The segment is filmed in two separate parts - field interviews with, or re-cut news footage of the "experts"; and the children's questions and reactions - which are then edited together to create the final piece.
Stephen Colbert's Bears & BallsA financial advice segment in the style of Mad Money, Bears and Balls features an over-sized red button that, when pressed, bleats out simplistic answers (frequently "Bees!") to finance-related questions, although Colbert will sometimes have to press it several times (each time emitting irrelevant and often comedic answers) before eliciting a response relevant to the question. The button occasionally gives an answer before Colbert even presses it.
Stephen Colbert's Fallback PositionA segment in which Colbert searches for a job other than being a political pundit, such as a spy or a Thunderbird. In each of these segments, he interviews someone in the profession he is considering and asks them why he should choose that job. At the end of the interview, Colbert becomes convinced and tries out his fallback position.
Stephen Colbert's Skate ExpectationsStephen Colbert's Skate Expectations: Kicking Ice and Taking Donations On the Slippery Slope Down the Icy Path to the Frozen Road Up to Vancouver '010 was a four-part series where Colbert would profile a sport in the 2010 Winter Olympics and try out for the corresponding US team. In each of the segments, skeleton, bobsledding, curling, and speed skating were all profiled. Luge was passed upon, due to it being considered the "gayest sport".[9] The final segment featured the race between Colbert and Olympic skater Shani Davis, which was issued after Davis called Colbert "a jerk" for slamming Canada for not allowing the US speedskating team to practice in their arena.[10]
Stephen Colbert's Sport ReportStephen Colbert's Sport Report (both pronounced with silent "t"s) was originally created to cover the Saginaw Spirit, an Ontario Hockey League junior ice hockey team whose secondary mascot, Steagle Colbeagle, was named after Colbert. The Spirit was the driving force of the segment at its inception, with Colbert recapping games, trash-talking upcoming opponents and advising the team's coach, but it later became a segment for general sports-related topics, once taking up an entire show on its own during the writer's strike.
Stephen Hawking is Such an A-HolePresented as covering stories regarding astro physicist Stephen Hawking, by which Colbert portrays him in a light that suggests that he is a jerk.
Stephen's Sound AdviceStephen's Sound Advice is an advice segment during which Colbert offers absurdist remedies for problems such as taxes, power blackouts and identity theft.
Tek JansenMain article: Tek JansenFully titled: Stephen Colbert Presents: Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: The New Tek Jansen Adventures, the Tek Jansen shorts are animated adventures, purportedly of the main character of Colbert's (fictional) unpublished book, Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: Lady Nocturne: A Tek Jansen Adventure. The shorts could be said to be formulaic and over the top, with each one featuring Jansen taking part in heroic adventures, becoming amorous with every woman (human and otherwise) he meets, spouting one-liners, and falling into mortal danger in a cliffhanger ending. Invariably the real Colbert will react to the animated goings-on as if he, too, finds it as exciting as the narrator does.
Americans are always reaching for the stars...in our boxes of Lucky Charms.The Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest is the most patriotic observance of the Fourth of July short of a hot dog shooting contest.The Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt is "like your lunch, and two other people's lunches are having a three-way in your mouth.What if you had a grilled cheese sandwich, where the bread was two other grilled cheese sandwiches? And then, what if those two grilled cheese sandwiches also had grilled cheese sandwiches for bread, and so on, in an endlessly recursive series of dual-state cheese sandwich bread cheese sandwiches, extending into infinity? Prepare yourself nation, for I have invented the Mobius Melt: You'll never want to stop eating it, and in theory, you never could.ThreatDownThe ThreatDown is one of the show's longest running segments, listing the five biggest threats to Americans as identified by Stephen Colbert. Bears and robots (and, occasionally, robot bears) each frequently feature high on the list, either as their own entry or in connection with another entry. The threats posed are often a threat to no one but Colbert himself; for example, in January 2006, Colbert declared the Associated Press the number one threat to America for failing to credit him with the coining of the word "truthiness". Variations on this segment have included a GreatDown, in which Colbert listed the five greatest things in America; a Mini ThreatDown that featured a single "threat number .5", which Colbert had neglected to mention in the previous night's ThreatDown; a ShredDown, the title given to the guitar solo competition between Colbert and Chris Funk; a Threat StandDown, the antithesis of the ThreatDown, in which viewers are told to stop being afraid;[11] and a number of themed ThreatDowns, including an all animal, science and technology, and most frequent threats editions.
The Xbox Live Arcade game Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge has an achievement referencing the ThreatDown. You have to destroy all the bears in the level 'Number One Threat to America'[citation needed]
Tip of the Hat, Wag of the FingerTip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger (Also referred to as "T-Dubs" or "Tip/Wag") is a segment in which Colbert expresses approval or disapproval of people or news items. It is not uncommon for Colbert to praise someone with a "Tip of the Hat", only to immediately turn around and condemn them with a "Wag of the Finger", sometimes for the same reason. In one such instance, Colbert lavished approval on then-Prime Minister of Australia John Howard for his criticism of Barack Obama, expressing agreement with the remarks, before showering Howard with abuse for daring to speak ill of an American citizen. He also has tipped his hat to Roe v. Wade, the abortion case, because he wants to be able to "Roe" across a lake in a boat, not "Wade" across and ruin his jacket.
Un-American NewsUn-American News is a segment in which Colbert reports on news from around the world.
Where in the World and when in Time is Stephen Colbert Going to be in the Persian Gulf?Where in the World and when in Time is Stephen Colbert Going to be in the Persian Gulf? was a segment that was created in response to both the cancellation of Matt Lauer's Today Show segment Where in the World is Matt Lauer? and Colbert's announcement that he would take his show to the Persian Gulf for a week of shows. The segment profiles a random region in the Persian Gulf using the Press Your Luck board. On the May 6, 2009 airing, Colbert changed the title to Where in the When and Who in How is Stephen Someone Going to be in the Something Where? per Pentagon's request, as it was stated that the segment's theme song gave out too much information about the location of where the show would be taping. On June 8, 2009, The Colbert Report aired from the Al-Faw Palace (Also known as the Water Palace), at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. He interviewed Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. Senator John McCain and President Barack Obama made special appearances, as did Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush on day two.
Who's —ing Me Now?Variants of this segment include Who's Honoring Me Now? and Who's Not Honoring Me Now?, where Colbert brings attention to a media outlet that is recognizing him for something, or failing to recognize him for something he feels he should be recognized for respectively, playing on the character's self-centered nature. Who's Attacking Me Now? parodies the tendency of conservative pundits to portray themselves as besieged by foes in order to rally supporters to their defence. Who's Riding My Coattails Now? is another variation.
The WørdThe Wørd is a frequently recurring segment during which Colbert chooses a word or phrase as a theme for a rant on a topical subject or news item, while messages displayed in a sidebar either highlight or sarcastically undercut what he is saying. This segment is a parody of The O'Reilly Factor segment Talking Points Memo and can also be likened to Mark Hyman's The Point conservative commentaries for Sinclair Broadcasting Group's former News Central concept.[12] The Wørd was the longest running segment on the Colbert Report, having been a feature since the first episode on October 17, 2005. The first "The Wørd" was the originator of the now famous word/concept Truthiness.
As Colbert himself explains it:[13]
I'm speaking a completely self-sufficient, standalone essay, hopefully comedic... The bullet points [excerpt] parts of what I said, or [comment] on what I just said. And the bullet points end up being their own character. Sometimes they're reinforcing my argument, sometimes they're countermanding my argument. It's a textual addition of jokes or satire to the verbal essay I'm doing at the moment.
In the episode aired on April 17, 2008, former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards appeared on The Report and performed his own variation of The Wørd, called EdWørds. The April 22, 2010 episode, where Colbert attacked William Gheen for accusing Stephen's home state's senator Lindsey Graham of being a homosexual, featured a Bønus Wørd.
On the December 8, 2014 episode, President Barack Obama appeared on The Report and performed his own variation of The Wørd, called De¢ree.
On July 18, 2016, Colbert briefly revived his Colbert Report persona in an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert covering the 2016 Republican National Convention, which included a The Wørd segment about "Trumpiness."[14] On the July 27, 2016 episode, after stating that another company—implied to be Viacom, had threatened CBS over his use of aspects from The Colbert Report on Late Show, Colbert introduced a character that is the twin cousin of the Colbert character and also named Stephen Colbert, and brought back the segment once more as the WERD.[15]
Wrist WatchFollowing a July 2007 wrist injury, Colbert took up wrist injuries in general as a "pet cause" debuting Wrist Watch on July 31. The segment purports to expose "Hollywood's 'glamorization' of wrist violence." Generally the segment shows scenes from television and film featuring someone either hurting their arm or wrist in some way or having it removed. Colbert also wore and marketed "Wriststrong" gel bracelets, a parody of Lance Armstrong's Livestrong wristbands. The cast that he wore afterwards was removed on the show on August 23, 2007.
Yahweh or No WayIn this segment, Colbert determines whether various news events were influenced by divine intervention (Yahweh) or run contrary to what he thinks would be God's will (No Way). One example was the news story stating that Mormons may have baptized President Barack Obama's relatives.[16] Colbert labeled this "No Way", explaining that Mormons are teetotalers and Obama uses even the flimsiest excuse to have a beer. Another was the story of Dinosaur Adventureland, a Creationist dinosaur theme park whose owner claimed that he was not required to pay the $600,000 in payroll taxes he owed to the IRS[17] because he was employed by God. Colbert labeled this "Yahweh", and then said that God should not be imagined as He was by Hollywood films such as King of Kings, but more like Mr. Six of the Six Flags television commercials. He also claimed that the manna that fell in the desert was funnel cake. Rarely, Colbert used a "Middle Way' or 'Maybewey, because he was unsure if an event was in "Yahweh or "No Way" territory, or in one case where he refused to take sides, "I Don't Know Weh."
Monker wrote:You just don't know what you are talking about and are simply posting Google searches.
No, I'm providing additional facts to bolster my facts - since you clearly like to invent your own. I realize the idea of introducing facts into an argument may seem strange - even scary - to you.
I watched the show from the very first episode. It's clear you weren't even aware what it was satirizing.
Monker wrote: Yes, the character he is playing was based on O'Reilly. Yes, "The Word" is his version of "Talking POints".
That's not what you said. You said: "The Colbert Report was NOT a parody of the O'Reilly Factor. It is The Daily Show with a fake conservative host. That is all."Make up your mind.
Monker wrote:There are around 40 recurring segments on the Colbert Report. Only TWO of them were spoofing Papa Bear. As I have tried to say, most of them could have been on the Daily Show. 95% of them have NOTHING TO DO WITH O'REILLY.
So what? Since when do parodies match their source material 100%? Is Young Frankenstein not a Frankenstein parody because it also features a showtune? Is Airplane not a disaster film satire because it includes a disco scene? You are now attempting to argue against reality.
Monker wrote:And, that doesn't even get into the guest interviews, which are also NOTHING LIKE O'Reilly.
He did them in his O'Reilly persona and made them confrontational. Seemed very very O'Reilly-like to me.
Monker wrote:Here is a list of most of his segments from Wiki. Some of these are hillarous just to read...and remember seeing all of them:
Alpha Dog of the Week is a segment in which Colbert heaps praise on one specific news maker from the previous week for, as Colbert himself puts it, being "such an imposing presence that people automatically fall in place behind you, deferentially sniffing your butt."[1] The irony of the segment comes from the fact that the honoree has typically fallen from grace as a result of the supposed alpha behavior Colbert is celebrating.
Atone PhoneThe Atone Phone was introduced in the 2007 season during the Jewish High Holidays. Stephen interprets the Ten Days of Repentance to mean that Jewish people should apologize specifically to him, and introduces a hotline (1-888-OOPS-JEW) that Jews can call to apologize for anything that they may have done to "wrong" Stephen. The phone occasionally rings during the show, with an old style bell ringer that rings to the tune of Hava Nagila. The segment is reintroduced every season during the High Holidays, and each subsequent season it is revealed that the number to call has to be shared with another hotline that shares the same number, first 1-888-MOPS-KEY and later 1-888-MOSS-LEW.,[2] 1-888-MOS-PLEX, 1-888-NORS-LEZ, 1-888-O-MRS-LEX, and 1-888-O-NPR-LDY.
Better Know a DistrictMain article: Better Know a DistrictBetter Know a District is a recurring segment where Colbert interviews members of Congress from specific districts, hoping to fill all 434 spaces on his map. (The missing 435th district is California's 50th, which was declared dead to Stephen in 2005 following the Duke Cunningham scandal, because it had "let Duke down." [3] On Ash Wednesday in 2006, its status was changed to "never existed to me," making it the only item in that category.[4]) The segment features Colbert first giving a short history lesson on the district, then interviewing the representative and asking them "loaded" questions.
SpinoffsBetter Know a Challenger, a segment during the 2006 Congressional Elections where Colbert interviewed challengers because the incumbent declined to appear on his show.Better Know a Protectorate, a 4-part series focusing on the protectorates of the United States.Better Know a Founder, a 56-part series focusing on the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence.Better Know a President, a 43-part series where Colbert interviews former Presidents by speaking to impersonators.Meet an Ally, a series focusing on the nations in the Coalition of the Willing.Betterer Know a District, features extended versions of previously shown interviews.Better Know a Memory, a "recap" of sorts following the 2006 elections, showing "better known" representatives that had been returned to Congress.Better Know a Presidential Candidate Who'll Talk to Me, an indefinite series featuring interviews with presidential candidates from the 2008 presidential election. To date, only Republicans Mike Huckabee (who asked Colbert to be his running mate) and Ron Paul have appeared for such interviews, although Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards have all made appearances on the Report.Better Know a Governor, a series focusing on state governors (starting with Mark Sanford)Better Know a Lobby, a 35,000-part (originally infinite-part) series, introduced on the February 6, 2008 episode, focusing on lobbyists that work on Capitol Hill.Better Know a Beatle, a 4-part series focusing on the members of The Beatles.Better Know a Cradle of Civilization, a 1-part series about the history of Iraq shown during Operation Iraqi Stephen.Better Know a Made Up District, a [unintelligible] part series about made up districts; a reference to inaccurate submissions to the United States government's website that tracks the spending of stimulus money, by business people who made up congressional districts.Better Know a Stephen, a segment introduced December 16, 2009 in which Colbert interviews other prominent men named Stephen (specifically spelled with a "ph").Better Know an Enemy, a series focusing on the terrorist enemies.Better Know a Riding, a 1-part segment focusing on the Canadian Electoral District held by Member of Parliament Ujjal Dosanjh which took place on February 22, 2010 during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The riding profiled was Vancouver South, where the Olympics took place.Better Know a Kissinger, A one part series on Henry Kissinger prior to Colbert's interview of Henry Kissinger.Better Know a Salinger/Hemingway, One-part series on whoever he profiles in the Colbert book club.Better Know a America, A one part series in which Stephen Colbert interviews President Obama.
The Blitzkrieg on GrinchitudeA segment that is featured around Christmas season. He (Colbert) covers stories that involve people suggested to be attacking Christmas getting foiled in various ways.
The BoardsOriginating from phrases used by Colbert as a warning or condemnation, the On Notice and Dead to Me boards are giant blue boards listing people and things that have angered Colbert. When the On Notice board is full, Colbert is forced to either remove an item or transfer it to the Dead to Me board, which is reserved for his most hated nemeses. One-off variations have included a Called Out white board on August 14, 2006, a red Fantasies board on January 31, 2007, a Do Not Say board on April 25, 2007 and a pocket-sized "On Notice" board on October 2, 2007.
Cheating Death with Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A.Cheating Death is a medical and health-related segment. During Cheating Death, Colbert refers to himself as Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., a reference to the Honorary Fine Arts Doctorate that was awarded to him by Knox College.
The introduction graphic to this segment is a reference to the chess game with Death in Ingmar Bergman's film The Seventh Seal, with Colbert wearing scrubs as he uses trickery to literally cheat Death and win (another variant has him conning Death out of its money at three card monte). Colbert usually then prefaces each segment by noting that he is not a medical doctor, but a Doctor of Fine Arts, followed by a joke about what he is allowed to do (example: delivering babies through Georgia O'Keeffe paintings). The segment usually features accounts of actual medical and health news, including recent breakthroughs and announcements of the type found on other medical and health segments which then segue into plugs for the (fictional) sponsor, Prescott Pharmaceuticals, and their highly dubious "Vaxa" product line. (Prescott Pharmaceuticals is apparently part of a large, rather shady company known as the Prescott Group, whom Colbert frequently promotes. Their other divisions include Prescott Oil and Prescott Finance.) This health advice is generally dangerous or unhelpful, and said products also cause bizarre side effects such as "Skeletal Xylophoning",[5] or "REO Speedlung".[6] The segment always ends with Colbert saying, "I'll see you in health!," a play on the phrase, "I'll see you in hell!"
On the April 25, 2011 episode, Colbert renamed his product line "Vacsa", after he received a cease-and-desist letter from a company whose line of homeopathic products is actually called Växa. He insisted that any similarities between the two names was purely "axidental".
The segment was used as the culmination of the program's series finale; Death (who is referred to as Grimmy), who was intended to be the show's final guest, does not fall for Colbert's tricks and strangles him upon watching him actually cheat. This results in a struggle that ends with Colbert accidentally killing Death with his pistol Sweetness and becoming an immortal.[7]
Colbert Platinum (CP)Colbert Platinum is The Colbert Report's version of High Net Worth (HNW) on CNBC. It profiles expensive and high-profile items, like personal submarines and $750,000 pens, which only the "super rich" could afford. In the introduction, Colbert reminds viewers that the segment is for billionaires "only," instructing "poor" millionaire viewers to change the channel. On October 20, 2008, Colbert Platinum was spun off as Colbert Aluminum, due to the economic crisis of 2008. Its focus was the formerly wealthy, Colbert telling viewers not to watch "if you haven't had a yacht repossessed in the last six months." As of August 20, 2009, Colbert announced that the recession was over and that Colbert Platinum had been reinstated.
Cold War UpdateCold War Update is a segment where Colbert dismisses "rumors" that the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The segment covers news from former Soviet Bloc countries, such as Cuba, North Korea, Russia, China, and Yugoslavia.[8]
The Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever HeardThe Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard is a segment in which Colbert highlights a "bizarre" recent news item. It likens to The O'Reilly Factor's "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day." Variants include "The Most Poetic F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard."
The DaColbert CodeA parody of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, "The DaColbert Code" is an occasional segment in which Colbert uses his mysterious code (actually an elaborate word association game) to uncover past and future events. This typically leads Colbert to form absurd conclusions, such as that Mike Myers was responsible for the Hurricane Katrina debacle — although in 2006 and 2009 he used the DaColbert Code to accurately predict the five top Oscar winners and shortly before the 2008 elections, the code repeatedly said that Barack Obama would be the next US president. The segment uses Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa as its opening graphic, with Colbert's face edited in. On every occasion, he illustrates how it works by giving a test of it by predicting who killed John F. Kennedy, which at each time had led to a different suspect, including Jacqueline, Johnson, Nixon, and Kennedy himself.
Democralypse Now!Democralypse Now! was introduced during the 2008 presidential primaries and covered how the Democratic party was "destroying itself" through Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama's competing bids for the presidential nomination. The title is a portmanteau, combining the title of left-leaning progressive syndicated news program Democracy Now! with that of the film Apocalypse Now. (The opening sequence alludes to the film with the song "Ride of the Valkyries" and a cutout of John McCain's head quoting the film's famous line "The horror ... the horror!")
Difference MakersDifference Makers pays tribute to ordinary Americans whom Colbert deems to be making a difference, usually in promoting a passionate cause of dubious value, such as a woman who believes that teaching pole dancing is a feminist cause. The Difference Maker being profiled is described in heroic superlatives, and the segments feature patriotic background music, but the interviews shown invariably contradict the narrator's praising statements. This is one of the few segments in which Colbert does not feature at all, except as the narrator. The name bears a similarity to that of the NBC Nightly News human interest segment "Making A Difference".
The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within is part of a series of segments labeled as Colbert Report Special Reports. The intro features a seemingly ordinary family taking a picture, only for aliens to pop out at the end. In the segment, Stephen uses a faux narration style to label a seemingly benign thing that has bended a law (like toddlers and unicycles) as an enemy.
Formidable OpponentFor the Formidable Opponent, Colbert debates a topic against the only person he deems truly worthy of his opposition: himself. The segment gives the appearance that there are two Stephen Colberts, each facing the other, wearing different colored ties (usually a blue tie for the liberal Colbert and red for the conservative) and standing against different backdrops, an illusion attained through use of a green screen and chroma-key technology to change the color of Colbert's tie. One of the Colberts will generally take a more liberal position, while the other will take a more characteristic ultra-conservative view. The conservative Colbert will almost always win, generally posing an extremely unlikely hypothetical situation (either concerning special circumstances or hypothetical fallout), and using that for his justifications.
To date, the only time the 'liberal' Colbert has won was on the episode airing on November 4, 2009. In this episode, the 'liberal' Colbert called on Al Gore (who was there in person) to help him argue. The ultra-conservative Colbert then called his own version of Al Gore (also played by the real Al Gore). However, unlike the two debating Stephens, "both" Al Gores were of the same opinion, and convinced the conservative Colbert that they were right.
The final installment of Formidable Opponent aired on December 15, 2014. During a debate on the United States' use of torture — the same topic the two had debated during the show's first month — the liberal Colbert convinced his conservative counterpart to admit to being an imaginary character. As the segment ended, the conservative Colbert faded from existence, leaving only the liberal Colbert.
Four Horsemen of the A-Pop-calypseIn the Four Horsemen of the A-Pop-calypse segment Colbert criticizes the media (radio, film, television, and books) for hastening the end of civilization. The name of the segment is a reference to the biblical characters of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Freedom TriviaThese short messages frequently appeared on screen immediately before or after commercial breaks during the show's first season. The titles were typically portmanteaux, ranging from Fracts (Freedom Facts), to Friddles (Freedom Riddles), Franagrams (Freedom Anagrams) and Frnaps (Freedom Snaps). Drinking games and Freedom Trivia were also offered. The messages displayed were typically reflective of Colbert's exaggerated patriotism and inflated ego, for instance, "Did you know… In 1983, Stephen legally changed his middle name to 'Gettysburg Address'." They were discontinued soon after the commencement of the show's second season; the last Freedom Trivia message appeared in the January 26, 2006 episode of the Report.
Indecision 2010: Revenge of the FallenCoverage of the 2010 midterm elections. Republicans were poised to re-take the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. The segment subtitle is from the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. In this case, the "fallen" are the Republicans. Senator Mitch McConnell is shown as transforming from a turtle, and Minority Leader John Boehner is shown as transforming from an orange traffic cone.
Monkey on the Lam
The opening graphic of Monkey on the Lam Wikinews has related news: Police capture escaped monkey in Wisconsin, USAMonkey on the Lam first appeared in August 2007 after a monkey escaped and went "on the lam" in Wisconsin. It has recurred occasionally, featuring stories of escaped monkeys, but mostly revolving around Colbert's disappointment upon the discovery that whatever story is being profiled has been resolved and will not need follow up, giving him no excuse to use the graphic featuring a monkey riding a lamb and firing a gun. A "Lobster Edition" of the segment was also featured, using the same graphic.
Movies That Are Destroying AmericaMovies That Are Destroying America is a film review segment in which Colbert provides his opinions on recently released movies—often, he admits, without actually having seen anything more than the trailers (which he claims "give you the best part of the movie anyway"). This often leads to a humorous and mistaken impression of the movies being reviewed as Colbert viciously attacks films that most would consider to be benign (such as Over the Hedge and Pride and Prejudice), then praises a movie that conservatives have found objectionable (such as Brokeback Mountain). The segment has featured an "Awards Edition," a "Christmas Edition," and a "Summer Blockbuster Edition."
Nailed 'EmNailed 'Em is a segment where Colbert covers a dubious triumph of "Order & Law". The segment involves someone breaking a minor or absurd law, and being brought to justice - for example, a man who was charged for allowing his spouse to eat from his plate at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The segment is narrated by Colbert, who uses various dramatic rhetoric and strange metaphors to portray the law-breaker as a horrid criminal. In certain cases, Colbert follows up a story on this segment by "punishing" the "criminal" in a way that sarcastically underscores the absurdity of the crime for which they were "nailed." An example of this is when a young boy who loved to read had his library card revoked because his family lived in a different borough than their library of choice, and as such did not pay taxes that supported that library. He was featured on this segment, and Colbert responded by "forcing" the boy to read even more books, which he enacted by sending him a box full of books previously featured on his show, as well as a collector's box-set of the entire Harry Potter series, signed by Colbert himself.
People Destroying AmericaIn a similar style to that of Nailed 'Em and Difference Makers, People Destroying America features interviews surrounding a person who has committed some sort of trivial action or offense that Colbert deems to be "destroying America." The narration, usually read by Colbert, tends to describe the subject and their supposed offense in ominous superlatives which are invariably contradicted by the benign responses of the interviewees.
Sam Waterston Says Things You Should Never Believe in a Trustworthy MannerSam Waterston Says Things You Should Never Believe in a Trustworthy Manner is a brief segment featuring Law & Order star Sam Waterston, who, as the title suggests, says things you should never believe in a trustworthy manner—things such as, "I'm from the future. Come with me if you want to live." It was introduced in January 2008 to illustrate the perils of relying on the "folksy" charms of then-presidential candidate and Law & Order costar Fred Thompson, who, to the distress of Colbert, was frequently hailed as a "Reagan figure" by the press. The segment ran three times (although Colbert claimed that he has proven the case "dozens of times"), and was discontinued after Thompson withdrew from his campaign for the presidency.
Smokin' Pole: The Fight for Arctic Riches Wikinews has related news: Russia claims North Pole by planting flag on seabedSmokin' Pole: The Fight for Arctic Riches is a segment in which Colbert recaps news surrounding the world's nations laying claim to the resources of the Arctic Circle. This segment was originally titled "Arc! Who goes there?"
Stephen Colbert's Balls for KidzStephen Colbert's Balls for Kidz is an "educational" children's segment providing lessons on what Colbert deems to be important issues. It features a panel of four children interviewing adult "experts" whose typically absurd answers elicit bemused or horrified reactions from the young panel. The segment is filmed in two separate parts - field interviews with, or re-cut news footage of the "experts"; and the children's questions and reactions - which are then edited together to create the final piece.
Stephen Colbert's Bears & BallsA financial advice segment in the style of Mad Money, Bears and Balls features an over-sized red button that, when pressed, bleats out simplistic answers (frequently "Bees!") to finance-related questions, although Colbert will sometimes have to press it several times (each time emitting irrelevant and often comedic answers) before eliciting a response relevant to the question. The button occasionally gives an answer before Colbert even presses it.
Stephen Colbert's Fallback PositionA segment in which Colbert searches for a job other than being a political pundit, such as a spy or a Thunderbird. In each of these segments, he interviews someone in the profession he is considering and asks them why he should choose that job. At the end of the interview, Colbert becomes convinced and tries out his fallback position.
Stephen Colbert's Skate ExpectationsStephen Colbert's Skate Expectations: Kicking Ice and Taking Donations On the Slippery Slope Down the Icy Path to the Frozen Road Up to Vancouver '010 was a four-part series where Colbert would profile a sport in the 2010 Winter Olympics and try out for the corresponding US team. In each of the segments, skeleton, bobsledding, curling, and speed skating were all profiled. Luge was passed upon, due to it being considered the "gayest sport".[9] The final segment featured the race between Colbert and Olympic skater Shani Davis, which was issued after Davis called Colbert "a jerk" for slamming Canada for not allowing the US speedskating team to practice in their arena.[10]
Stephen Colbert's Sport ReportStephen Colbert's Sport Report (both pronounced with silent "t"s) was originally created to cover the Saginaw Spirit, an Ontario Hockey League junior ice hockey team whose secondary mascot, Steagle Colbeagle, was named after Colbert. The Spirit was the driving force of the segment at its inception, with Colbert recapping games, trash-talking upcoming opponents and advising the team's coach, but it later became a segment for general sports-related topics, once taking up an entire show on its own during the writer's strike.
Stephen Hawking is Such an A-HolePresented as covering stories regarding astro physicist Stephen Hawking, by which Colbert portrays him in a light that suggests that he is a jerk.
Stephen's Sound AdviceStephen's Sound Advice is an advice segment during which Colbert offers absurdist remedies for problems such as taxes, power blackouts and identity theft.
Tek JansenMain article: Tek JansenFully titled: Stephen Colbert Presents: Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: The New Tek Jansen Adventures, the Tek Jansen shorts are animated adventures, purportedly of the main character of Colbert's (fictional) unpublished book, Stephen Colbert's Alpha Squad 7: Lady Nocturne: A Tek Jansen Adventure. The shorts could be said to be formulaic and over the top, with each one featuring Jansen taking part in heroic adventures, becoming amorous with every woman (human and otherwise) he meets, spouting one-liners, and falling into mortal danger in a cliffhanger ending. Invariably the real Colbert will react to the animated goings-on as if he, too, finds it as exciting as the narrator does.
Americans are always reaching for the stars...in our boxes of Lucky Charms.The Coney Island Hot Dog eating contest is the most patriotic observance of the Fourth of July short of a hot dog shooting contest.The Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt is "like your lunch, and two other people's lunches are having a three-way in your mouth.What if you had a grilled cheese sandwich, where the bread was two other grilled cheese sandwiches? And then, what if those two grilled cheese sandwiches also had grilled cheese sandwiches for bread, and so on, in an endlessly recursive series of dual-state cheese sandwich bread cheese sandwiches, extending into infinity? Prepare yourself nation, for I have invented the Mobius Melt: You'll never want to stop eating it, and in theory, you never could.ThreatDownThe ThreatDown is one of the show's longest running segments, listing the five biggest threats to Americans as identified by Stephen Colbert. Bears and robots (and, occasionally, robot bears) each frequently feature high on the list, either as their own entry or in connection with another entry. The threats posed are often a threat to no one but Colbert himself; for example, in January 2006, Colbert declared the Associated Press the number one threat to America for failing to credit him with the coining of the word "truthiness". Variations on this segment have included a GreatDown, in which Colbert listed the five greatest things in America; a Mini ThreatDown that featured a single "threat number .5", which Colbert had neglected to mention in the previous night's ThreatDown; a ShredDown, the title given to the guitar solo competition between Colbert and Chris Funk; a Threat StandDown, the antithesis of the ThreatDown, in which viewers are told to stop being afraid;[11] and a number of themed ThreatDowns, including an all animal, science and technology, and most frequent threats editions.
The Xbox Live Arcade game Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 Commander's Challenge has an achievement referencing the ThreatDown. You have to destroy all the bears in the level 'Number One Threat to America'[citation needed]
Tip of the Hat, Wag of the FingerTip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger (Also referred to as "T-Dubs" or "Tip/Wag") is a segment in which Colbert expresses approval or disapproval of people or news items. It is not uncommon for Colbert to praise someone with a "Tip of the Hat", only to immediately turn around and condemn them with a "Wag of the Finger", sometimes for the same reason. In one such instance, Colbert lavished approval on then-Prime Minister of Australia John Howard for his criticism of Barack Obama, expressing agreement with the remarks, before showering Howard with abuse for daring to speak ill of an American citizen. He also has tipped his hat to Roe v. Wade, the abortion case, because he wants to be able to "Roe" across a lake in a boat, not "Wade" across and ruin his jacket.
Un-American NewsUn-American News is a segment in which Colbert reports on news from around the world.
Where in the World and when in Time is Stephen Colbert Going to be in the Persian Gulf?Where in the World and when in Time is Stephen Colbert Going to be in the Persian Gulf? was a segment that was created in response to both the cancellation of Matt Lauer's Today Show segment Where in the World is Matt Lauer? and Colbert's announcement that he would take his show to the Persian Gulf for a week of shows. The segment profiles a random region in the Persian Gulf using the Press Your Luck board. On the May 6, 2009 airing, Colbert changed the title to Where in the When and Who in How is Stephen Someone Going to be in the Something Where? per Pentagon's request, as it was stated that the segment's theme song gave out too much information about the location of where the show would be taping. On June 8, 2009, The Colbert Report aired from the Al-Faw Palace (Also known as the Water Palace), at Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq. He interviewed Gen. Raymond T. Odierno. Senator John McCain and President Barack Obama made special appearances, as did Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush on day two.
Who's —ing Me Now?Variants of this segment include Who's Honoring Me Now? and Who's Not Honoring Me Now?, where Colbert brings attention to a media outlet that is recognizing him for something, or failing to recognize him for something he feels he should be recognized for respectively, playing on the character's self-centered nature. Who's Attacking Me Now? parodies the tendency of conservative pundits to portray themselves as besieged by foes in order to rally supporters to their defence. Who's Riding My Coattails Now? is another variation.
The WørdThe Wørd is a frequently recurring segment during which Colbert chooses a word or phrase as a theme for a rant on a topical subject or news item, while messages displayed in a sidebar either highlight or sarcastically undercut what he is saying. This segment is a parody of The O'Reilly Factor segment Talking Points Memo and can also be likened to Mark Hyman's The Point conservative commentaries for Sinclair Broadcasting Group's former News Central concept.[12] The Wørd was the longest running segment on the Colbert Report, having been a feature since the first episode on October 17, 2005. The first "The Wørd" was the originator of the now famous word/concept Truthiness.
As Colbert himself explains it:[13]
I'm speaking a completely self-sufficient, standalone essay, hopefully comedic... The bullet points [excerpt] parts of what I said, or [comment] on what I just said. And the bullet points end up being their own character. Sometimes they're reinforcing my argument, sometimes they're countermanding my argument. It's a textual addition of jokes or satire to the verbal essay I'm doing at the moment.
In the episode aired on April 17, 2008, former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards appeared on The Report and performed his own variation of The Wørd, called EdWørds. The April 22, 2010 episode, where Colbert attacked William Gheen for accusing Stephen's home state's senator Lindsey Graham of being a homosexual, featured a Bønus Wørd.
On the December 8, 2014 episode, President Barack Obama appeared on The Report and performed his own variation of The Wørd, called De¢ree.
On July 18, 2016, Colbert briefly revived his Colbert Report persona in an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert covering the 2016 Republican National Convention, which included a The Wørd segment about "Trumpiness."[14] On the July 27, 2016 episode, after stating that another company—implied to be Viacom, had threatened CBS over his use of aspects from The Colbert Report on Late Show, Colbert introduced a character that is the twin cousin of the Colbert character and also named Stephen Colbert, and brought back the segment once more as the WERD.[15]
Wrist WatchFollowing a July 2007 wrist injury, Colbert took up wrist injuries in general as a "pet cause" debuting Wrist Watch on July 31. The segment purports to expose "Hollywood's 'glamorization' of wrist violence." Generally the segment shows scenes from television and film featuring someone either hurting their arm or wrist in some way or having it removed. Colbert also wore and marketed "Wriststrong" gel bracelets, a parody of Lance Armstrong's Livestrong wristbands. The cast that he wore afterwards was removed on the show on August 23, 2007.
Yahweh or No WayIn this segment, Colbert determines whether various news events were influenced by divine intervention (Yahweh) or run contrary to what he thinks would be God's will (No Way). One example was the news story stating that Mormons may have baptized President Barack Obama's relatives.[16] Colbert labeled this "No Way", explaining that Mormons are teetotalers and Obama uses even the flimsiest excuse to have a beer. Another was the story of Dinosaur Adventureland, a Creationist dinosaur theme park whose owner claimed that he was not required to pay the $600,000 in payroll taxes he owed to the IRS[17] because he was employed by God. Colbert labeled this "Yahweh", and then said that God should not be imagined as He was by Hollywood films such as King of Kings, but more like Mr. Six of the Six Flags television commercials. He also claimed that the manna that fell in the desert was funnel cake. Rarely, Colbert used a "Middle Way' or 'Maybewey, because he was unsure if an event was in "Yahweh or "No Way" territory, or in one case where he refused to take sides, "I Don't Know Weh."
Who the hell cares? I don't think you know what a parody is. Gotta say, the idea of you watching this show religiously, considering yourself a massive fan, and not even understanding it is pretty hilarious.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
Reading today that Trump pulled the military aircraft for Pelosi's 7 day trip. Trump shut that hag down! And she thought she was going to be out of town as to confirm that she wouldn't be here to work a deal so the federal employees wouldn't go another pay period without pay. Hahaha
God better be wearing his titanium cup when I arrive to be judged, cause the very first thing I'm going to do is break my foot off in his balls. Liberals and Dems are proof that Satan has, to some extent, a sense of humor.
Chapter I"Well, Prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now just family estates of the Buonapartes. But I warn you, if you don't tell me that this means war, if you still try to defend the infamies and horrors perpetrated by that Antichrist- I really believe he is Antichrist- I will have nothing more to do with you and you are no longer my friend, no longer my 'faithful slave,' as you call yourself! But how do you do? I see I have frightened you- sit down and tell me all the news."
It was in July, 1805, and the speaker was the well-known Anna Pavlovna Scherer, maid of honor and favorite of the Empress Marya Fedorovna. With these words she greeted Prince Vasili Kuragin, a man of high rank and importance, who was the first to arrive at her reception. Anna Pavlovna had had a cough for some days. She was, as she said, suffering from la grippe; grippe being then a new word in St. Petersburg, used only by the elite.
All her invitations without exception, written in French, and delivered by a scarlet-liveried footman that morning, ran as follows:
"If you have nothing better to do, Count [or Prince], and if the prospect of spending an evening with a poor invalid is not too terrible, I shall be very charmed to see you tonight between 7 and 10- Annette Scherer."
"Heavens! what a virulent attack!" replied the prince, not in the least disconcerted by this reception. He had just entered, wearing an embroidered court uniform, knee breeches, and shoes, and had stars on his breast and a serene expression on his flat face. He spoke in that refined French in which our grandfathers not only spoke but thought, and with the gentle, patronizing intonation natural to a man of importance who had grown old in society and at court. He went up to Anna Pavlovna, kissed her hand, presenting to her his bald, scented, and shining head, and complacently seated himself on the sofa.
"First of all, dear friend, tell me how you are. Set your friend's mind at rest," said he without altering his tone, beneath the politeness and affected sympathy of which indifference and even irony could be discerned.
"Can one be well while suffering morally? Can one be calm in times like these if one has any feeling?" said Anna Pavlovna. "You are staying the whole evening, I hope?"
"And the fete at the English ambassador's? Today is Wednesday. I must put in an appearance there," said the prince. "My daughter is coming for me to take me there."
"I thought today's fete had been canceled. I confess all these festivities and fireworks are becoming wearisome."
"If they had known that you wished it, the entertainment would have been put off," said the prince, who, like a wound-up clock, by force of habit said things he did not even wish to be believed.
"Don't tease! Well, and what has been decided about Novosiltsev's dispatch? You know everything."
"What can one say about it?" replied the prince in a cold, listless tone. "What has been decided? They have decided that Buonaparte has burnt his boats, and I believe that we are ready to burn ours."
Prince Vasili always spoke languidly, like an actor repeating a stale part. Anna Pavlovna Scherer on the contrary, despite her forty years, overflowed with animation and impulsiveness. To be an enthusiast had become her social vocation and, sometimes even when she did not feel like it, she became enthusiastic in order not to disappoint the expectations of those who knew her. The subdued smile which, though it did not suit her faded features, always played round her lips expressed, as in a spoiled child, a continual consciousness of her charming defect, which she neither wished, nor could, nor considered it necessary, to correct.
In the midst of a conversation on political matters Anna Pavlovna burst out:
"Oh, don't speak to me of Austria. Perhaps I don't understand things, but Austria never has wished, and does not wish, for war. She is betraying us! Russia alone must save Europe. Our gracious sovereign recognizes his high vocation and will be true to it. That is the one thing I have faith in! Our good and wonderful sovereign has to perform the noblest role on earth, and he is so virtuous and noble that God will not forsake him. He will fulfill his vocation and crush the hydra of revolution, which has become more terrible than ever in the person of this murderer and villain! We alone must avenge the blood of the just one.... Whom, I ask you, can we rely on?... England with her commercial spirit will not and cannot understand the Emperor Alexander's loftiness of soul. She has refused to evacuate Malta. She wanted to find, and still seeks, some secret motive in our actions. What answer did Novosiltsev get? None. The English have not understood and cannot understand the self-abnegation of our Emperor who wants nothing for himself, but only desires the good of mankind. And what have they promised? Nothing! And what little they have promised they will not perform! Prussia has always declared that Buonaparte is invincible, and that all Europe is powerless before him.... And I don't believe a word that Hardenburg says, or Haugwitz either. This famous Prussian neutrality is just a trap. I have faith only in God and the lofty destiny of our adored monarch. He will save Europe!"
She suddenly paused, smiling at her own impetuosity.
"I think," said the prince with a smile, "that if you had been sent instead of our dear Wintzingerode you would have captured the King of Prussia's consent by assault. You are so eloquent. Will you give me a cup of tea?"
"In a moment. A propos," she added, becoming calm again, "I am expecting two very interesting men tonight, le Vicomte de Mortemart, who is connected with the Montmorencys through the Rohans, one of the best French families. He is one of the genuine emigres, the good ones. And also the Abbe Morio. Do you know that profound thinker? He has been received by the Emperor. Had you heard?"
"I shall be delighted to meet them," said the prince. "But tell me," he added with studied carelessness as if it had only just occurred to him, though the question he was about to ask was the chief motive of his visit, "is it true that the Dowager Empress wants Baron Funke to be appointed first secretary at Vienna? The baron by all accounts is a poor creature."
Prince Vasili wished to obtain this post for his son, but others were trying through the Dowager Empress Marya Fedorovna to secure it for the baron.
Anna Pavlovna almost closed her eyes to indicate that neither she nor anyone else had a right to criticize what the Empress desired or was pleased with.
"Baron Funke has been recommended to the Dowager Empress by her sister," was all she said, in a dry and mournful tone.
As she named the Empress, Anna Pavlovna's face suddenly assumed an expression of profound and sincere devotion and respect mingled with sadness, and this occurred every time she mentioned her illustrious patroness. She added that Her Majesty had deigned to show Baron Funke beaucoup d'estime, and again her face clouded over with sadness.
The prince was silent and looked indifferent. But, with the womanly and courtierlike quickness and tact habitual to her, Anna Pavlovna wished both to rebuke him (for daring to speak he had done of a man recommended to the Empress) and at the same time to console him, so she said:
"Now about your family. Do you know that since your daughter came out everyone has been enraptured by her? They say she is amazingly beautiful."
The prince bowed to signify his respect and gratitude.
"I often think," she continued after a short pause, drawing nearer to the prince and smiling amiably at him as if to show that political and social topics were ended and the time had come for intimate conversation- "I often think how unfairly sometimes the joys of life are distributed. Why has fate given you two such splendid children? I don't speak of Anatole, your youngest. I don't like him," she added in a tone admitting of no rejoinder and raising her eyebrows. "Two such charming children. And really you appreciate them less than anyone, and so you don't deserve to have them."
And she smiled her ecstatic smile.
"I can't help it," said the prince. "Lavater would have said I lack the bump of paternity."
"Don't joke; I mean to have a serious talk with you. Do you know I am dissatisfied with your younger son? Between ourselves" (and her face assumed its melancholy expression), "he was mentioned at Her Majesty's and you were pitied...."
The prince answered nothing, but she looked at him significantly, awaiting a reply. He frowned.
"What would you have me do?" he said at last. "You know I did all a father could for their education, and they have both turned out fools. Hippolyte is at least a quiet fool, but Anatole is an active one. That is the only difference between them." He said this smiling in a way more natural and animated than usual, so that the wrinkles round his mouth very clearly revealed something unexpectedly coarse and unpleasant.
"And why are children born to such men as you? If you were not a father there would be nothing I could reproach you with," said Anna Pavlovna, looking up pensively.
"I am your faithful slave and to you alone I can confess that my children are the bane of my life. It is the cross I have to bear. That is how I explain it to myself. It can't be helped!"
He said no more, but expressed his resignation to cruel fate by a gesture. Anna Pavlovna meditated.
"Have you never thought of marrying your prodigal son Anatole?" she asked. "They say old maids have a mania for matchmaking, and though I don't feel that weakness in myself as yet,I know a little person who is very unhappy with her father. She is a relation of yours, Princess Mary Bolkonskaya."
Prince Vasili did not reply, though, with the quickness of memory and perception befitting a man of the world, he indicated by a movement of the head that he was considering this information.
"Do you know," he said at last, evidently unable to check the sad current of his thoughts, "that Anatole is costing me forty thousand rubles a year? And," he went on after a pause, "what will it be in five years, if he goes on like this?" Presently he added: "That's what we fathers have to put up with.... Is this princess of yours rich?"
"Her father is very rich and stingy. He lives in the country. He is the well-known Prince Bolkonski who had to retire from the army under the late Emperor, and was nicknamed 'the King of Prussia.' He is very clever but eccentric, and a bore. The poor girl is very unhappy. She has a brother; I think you know him, he married Lise Meinen lately. He is an aide-de-camp of Kutuzov's and will be here tonight."
"Listen, dear Annette," said the prince, suddenly taking Anna Pavlovna's hand and for some reason drawing it downwards. "Arrange that affair for me and I shall always be your most devoted slave- slafe wigh an f, as a village elder of mine writes in his reports. She is rich and of good family and that's all I want."
And with the familiarity and easy grace peculiar to him, he raised the maid of honor's hand to his lips, kissed it, and swung it to and fro as he lay back in his armchair, looking in another direction.
"Attendez," said Anna Pavlovna, reflecting, "I'll speak to Lise, young Bolkonski's wife, this very evening, and perhaps the thing can be arranged. It shall be on your family's behalf that I'll start my apprenticeship as old maid."
Chapter IIAnna Pavlovna's drawing room was gradually filling. The highest Petersburg society was assembled there: people differing widely in age and character but alike in the social circle to which they belonged. Prince Vasili's daughter, the beautiful Helene, came to take her father to the ambassador's entertainment; she wore a ball dress and her badge as maid of honor. The youthful little Princess Bolkonskaya, known as la femme la plus seduisante de Petersbourg,* was also there. She had been married during the previous winter, and being pregnant did not go to any large gatherings, but only to small receptions. Prince Vasili's son, Hippolyte, had come with Mortemart, whom he introduced. The Abbe Morio and many others had also come.
*The most fascinating woman in Petersburg.
To each new arrival Anna Pavlovna said, "You have not yet seen my aunt," or "You do not know my aunt?" and very gravely conducted him or her to a little old lady, wearing large bows of ribbon in her cap, who had come sailing in from another room as soon as the guests began to arrive; and slowly turning her eyes from the visitor to her aunt, Anna Pavlovna mentioned each one's name and then left them.
Each visitor performed the ceremony of greeting this old aunt whom not one of them knew, not one of them wanted to know, and not one of them cared about; Anna Pavlovna observed these greetings with mournful and solemn interest and silent approval. The aunt spoke to each of them in the same words, about their health and her own, and the health of Her Majesty, "who, thank God, was better today." And each visitor, though politeness prevented his showing impatience, left the old woman with a sense of relief at having performed a vexatious duty and did not return to her the whole evening.
The young Princess Bolkonskaya had brought some work in a gold-embroidered velvet bag. Her pretty little upper lip, on which a delicate dark down was just perceptible, was too short for her teeth, but it lifted all the more sweetly, and was especially charming when she occasionally drew it down to meet the lower lip. As is always the case with a thoroughly attractive woman, her defect- the shortness of her upper lip and her half-open mouth- seemed to be her own special and peculiar form of beauty. Everyone brightened at the sight of this pretty young woman, so soon to become a mother, so full of life and health, and carrying her burden so lightly. Old men and dull dispirited young ones who looked at her, after being in her company and talking to her a little while, felt as if they too were becoming, like her, full of life and health. All who talked to her, and at each word saw her bright smile and the constant gleam of her white teeth, thought that they were in a specially amiable mood that day.
The little princess went round the table with quick, short, swaying steps, her workbag on her arm, and gaily spreading out her dress sat down on a sofa near the silver samovar, as if all she was doing was a pleasure to herself and to all around her. "I have brought my work," said she in French, displaying her bag and addressing all present. "Mind, Annette, I hope you have not played a wicked trick on me," she added, turning to her hostess. "You wrote that it was to be quite a small reception, and just see how badly I am dressed." And she spread out her arms to show her short-waisted, lace-trimmed, dainty gray dress, girdled with a broad ribbon just below the breast.
"You know," said the princess in the same tone of voice and still in French, turning to a general, "my husband is deserting me? He is going to get himself killed. Tell me what this wretched war is for?" she added, addressing Prince Vasili, and without waiting for an answer she turned to speak to his daughter, the beautiful Helene.
One of the next arrivals was a stout, heavily built young man with close-cropped hair, spectacles, the light-colored breeches fashionable at that time, a very high ruffle, and a brown dress coat. This stout young man was an illegitimate son of Count Bezukhov, a well-known grandee of Catherine's time who now lay dying in Moscow. The young man had not yet entered either the military or civil service, as he had only just returned from abroad where he had been educated, and this was his first appearance in society. Anna Pavlovna greeted him with the nod she accorded to the lowest hierarchy in her drawing room. But in spite of this lowest-grade greeting, a look of anxiety and fear, as at the sight of something too large and unsuited to the place, came over her face when she saw Pierre enter. Though he was certainly rather bigger than the other men in the room, her anxiety could only have reference to the clever though shy, but observant and natural, expression which distinguished him from everyone else in that drawing room.
"It is very good of you, Monsieur Pierre, to come and visit a poor invalid," said Anna Pavlovna, exchanging an alarmed glance with her aunt as she conducted him to her.
Pierre murmured something unintelligible, and continued to look round as if in search of something. On his way to the aunt he bowed to the little princess with a pleased smile, as to an intimate acquaintance.
Anna Pavlovna's alarm was justified, for Pierre turned away from the aunt without waiting to hear her speech about Her Majesty's health. Anna Pavlovna in dismay detained him with the words: "Do you know the Abbe Morio? He is a most interesting man."
"Yes, I have heard of his scheme for perpetual peace, and it is very interesting but hardly feasible."
"You think so?" rejoined Anna Pavlovna in order to say something and get away to attend to her duties as hostess. But Pierre now committed a reverse act of impoliteness. First he had left a lady before she had finished speaking to him, and now he continued to speak to another who wished to get away. With his head bent, and his big feet spread apart, he began explaining his reasons for thinking the abbe's plan chimerical.
"We will talk of it later," said Anna Pavlovna with a smile.
And having got rid of this young man who did not know how to behave, she resumed her duties as hostess and continued to listen and watch, ready to help at any point where the conversation might happen to flag. As the foreman of a spinning mill, when he has set the hands to work, goes round and notices here a spindle that has stopped or there one that creaks or makes more noise than it should, and hastens to check the machine or set it in proper motion, so Anna Pavlovna moved about her drawing room, approaching now a silent, now a too-noisy group, and by a word or slight rearrangement kept the conversational machine in steady, proper, and regular motion. But amid these cares her anxiety about Pierre was evident. She kept an anxious watch on him when he approached the group round Mortemart to listen to what was being said there, and again when he passed to another group whose center was the abbe.
Pierre had been educated abroad, and this reception at Anna Pavlovna's was the first he had attended in Russia. He knew that all the intellectual lights of Petersburg were gathered there and, like a child in a toyshop, did not know which way to look, afraid of missing any clever conversation that was to be heard. Seeing the self-confident and refined expression on the faces of those present he was always expecting to hear something very profound. At last he came up to Morio. Here the conversation seemed interesting and he stood waiting for an opportunity to express his own views, as young people are fond of doing.
AR is just a longtime net troll who is bored with trolling just Journey most of the time so he's looking for other places to troll and get reactions.
"StillStanding" from the karaoke Boston forum and night manager at Home Depot
TNC, you're far too smart to fall for this shit. Who the fuck hijacked your account?
What, exactly, have I changed my views on? Numerous news outlets (including the NYTimes) have been in touch with and published material from Wikileaks over the years - and they were right to do so. Am I now to turn off my brain and pretend that any contact with Wikileaks is tantamount to treason? Even *IF* Wikileaks is aligned with a foreign entity (still unproven) are the facts they disclosed any less true? Wikileaks was previously celebrated by liberals when they exposed things like the Iraq War Logs. People like YOU have changed. You have gone from defenders of free speech to critics of it. You have gone from anti-war advocates to hawkish military-industrial dupes.On Friday, Bill Maher was defending things like the Monroe Doctrine and regime change in Venezuela. Total craziness.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
On Friday, Bill Maher was defending things like the Monroe Doctrine and regime change in Venezuela. Total craziness.
That's just not true. What he was saying is the US is supporting an opposition group in Venezuela, and Russia told us not to. So, WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE BEING ORDERED AROUND BY RUSSIA FOR? THAT was his point, which I agree with, not supporting war in Venezuela, or defending the Monroe doctrine.
When we were a great nation, we followed through on policy like the Monroe doctrine and were not treated like pussies on this side of the ocean. Trump has weakened America's standing in the world...and actions like Russia trying to bully us prove it. He has NOT made America 'great' again. Whoever follows him will have to do that.
Monker wrote:That's just not true. What he was saying is the US is supporting an opposition group in Venezuela, and Russia told us not to.
Who am I going to believe? You or my lying eyes? I watched it. He said "This was the Monroe Doctrine. This is our backyard!"Like I said, liberals are now defending imperialism and by extension, military coups.
Monker wrote: So, WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE BEING ORDERED AROUND BY RUSSIA FOR?
Both China and Russia support Maduro. How is their respective spokespersons releasing statements criticizing US policy the same as "ordering us around"?
Monker wrote:THAT was his point, which I agree with, not supporting war in Venezuela, or defending the Monroe doctrine.
Yea, sure. Just like Colbert is not doing an O'Reilly impersonation. Just like Hillary had permission to use a private server. Everything you say is an uninformed lie.
Monker wrote:When we were a great nation, we followed through on policy like the Monroe doctrine and were not treated like pussies on this side of the ocean.
And now you are defending the Monroe doctrine - just like Maher is.
Maybe next you will defend Bush's preemptive war doctrine. How about Andrew Jackson's trail of tears? Or the CIA assisted overthrow of Mosaddeq in Iran? Or the Vietnam Domino Theory?
Both you and 7 Wishes have sacrificed any shred of ideological integrity to bash Trump.
Monker wrote: Trump has weakened America's standing in the world...and actions like Russia trying to bully us prove it.
You are detached from reality. Russia, and other countries, have been criticizing Washington long before Trump was elected. The Russian foreign minister criticized Washington repeatedly on Syria and Iran under Obama. Get a grip.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
Monker wrote:That's just not true. What he was saying is the US is supporting an opposition group in Venezuela, and Russia told us not to.
Who am I going to believe? You or my lying eyes? I watched it. He said "This was the Monroe Doctrine. This is our backyard!"Like I said, liberals are now defending imperialism and by extension, military coups.
What are you doing, watching clips from alt-right news sites? Yeah, that is what he said - taken COMPLETELY out of context. I have it on DVR. Bill Maher said to Ann Coulter, following a conversation about her boyfriend Ronald Reagan talking tough about Russia, which we don't do any longer:
"Today Venezuela, OK, this was on the front page of the New York Times today. Ok, Venezuela has a guy, an opposition leader who finally stood up and we are backing him. And, Russia who backs the dictator, Russia warned us to back off. This was the Monroe Doctrine. This is our backyard. And, Russia is now telling us to back off of what goes on in Venezuela, because they know they can, because they are so emboldened. That doesn't bother you?"
You are TOTALLY misrepresenting the point Bill Maher was making...which is Russia sees us as so weak they can bully us about our policies in the Americas.
Monker wrote:THAT was his point, which I agree with, not supporting war in Venezuela, or defending the Monroe doctrine.
Yea, sure. Just like Colbert is not doing an O'Reilly impersonation. Just like Hillary had permission to use a private server. Everything you say is an uninformed lie.
Yes, I am sure. And, you said the Colbert Report was a parody on The O'Reilly Factor, which it isn't....not the crap you now say above, which I agreed with - several times.
[
quote="Monker"]When we were a great nation, we followed through on policy like the Monroe doctrine and were not treated like pussies on this side of the ocean.
And now you are defending the Monroe doctrine - just like Maher is. [/quote]
Oh, please. I am adding my own commentary...it is NOTHING like what Bill Maher said. Yes, I believe that Russia and all Eurasia countries should keep the fuck out of the Americas. And, yes, that is defending the Monroe doctrine. I don't care.
Both you and 7 Wishes have sacrificed any shred of ideological integrity to bash Trump.
No I haven't. These are things I have believed for decades. It has nothing to do with Trump. As I have said, I am not a Democrat, and I am not as liberal as people here think I am. You just don't like it because you are a liberal wearing the suit of an alt-right supporter.
Monker wrote: Trump has weakened America's standing in the world...and actions like Russia trying to bully us prove it.
You are detached from reality. Russia, and other countries, have been criticizing Washington long before Trump was elected. The Russian foreign minister criticized Washington repeatedly on Syria and Iran under Obama. Get a grip.
Critiquing policy is not the same as trying to threaten us out of own back yard.
This country has become WEAKER under Trump, not stronger, and definitely not "great".
Monker wrote:What are you doing, watching clips from alt-right news sites? Yeah, that is what he said - taken COMPLETELY out of context. I have it on DVR. Bill Maher said to Ann Coulter, following a conversation about her boyfriend Ronald Reagan talking tough about Russia, which we don't do any longer:
As I said twice now, Maher is defending the Monroe Doctrine, even claiming that it is our backyard. It's not. This is pax americana imperialism at its worst. Who's backyard were we in when we pledged to support Georgia in 2008?
Monker wrote:You are TOTALLY misrepresenting the point Bill Maher was making...which is Russia sees us as so weak they can bully us about our policies in the Americas.
As I already asked you, where is the bullying?
China, Russia, and Turkey all expressed their support for Maduro. Releasing statements through a foreign ambassador is "bullying"? You are not entitled to your own facts.
Monker wrote:Yes, I am sure. And, you said the Colbert Report was a parody on The O'Reilly Factor, which it isn't....not the crap you now say above, which I agreed with - several times.
You said it was the Daily Show with a fake conservative host. You were oblivious to the fact that it was an O'Reilly factor spoof. Which begs the question, what else are you oblivious to? Given your track record ("Hillary had permission to use a private server!") why should anybody listen to ANYTHING you say, bazinga boy?
Monker wrote:Oh, please. I am adding my own commentary...it is NOTHING like what Bill Maher said. Yes, I believe that Russia and all Eurasia countries should keep the fuck out of the Americas. And, yes, that is defending the Monroe doctrine. I don't care.
So Russia and other countries are not entitled to express support for their ally? What are you talking about?
Monker wrote:You just don't like it because you are a liberal wearing the suit of an alt-right supporter.
You just throw these terms around to try to stifle actual discussion. If different political factions can come together on certain issues (anti-war, anti-free trade) that's a good thing imo.
Monker wrote:Critiquing policy is not the same as trying to threaten us out of own back yard.
Both China and Russia have vowed to support their ally. We release statements like that all the time. Big deal.
Monker wrote:This country has become WEAKER under Trump, not stronger, and definitely not "great".
Foreign ambassadors have released statements criticizing US policy since time immemorial. You are not well.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
It is a FACT that Maher was saying Russia feels embolden and that they can bully us around and dictate to us what our policy in the Americas is. It is ironic that you removed the full quote of Maher...because it PROVES my point. He's not arguing the Monroe Doctrine, but how much we are viewed as pussies by Russia. And, it followed an argument about how Ronald "tear down this wall" Reagn would view today's view of Russia by the Republican party. He was furthering that arguing by example.
"Today Venezuela, OK, this was on the front page of the New York Times today. Ok, Venezuela has a guy, an opposition leader who finally stood up and we are backing him. And, Russia who backs the dictator, Russia warned us to back off. This was the Monroe Doctrine. This is our backyard. And, Russia is now telling us to back off of what goes on in Venezuela, because they know they can, because they are so emboldened. That doesn't bother you?"
What you are saying makes NO SENSE, unless you are buying into alt-right propaganda bullshit and ignore the reality of what was said in context.
It is also a FACT that the Colbert Report was NOT a parody of The O'Reilly Factor. You posted ONE segment. I posted the entire list of repeating segments and out of the 50 or so, only TWO had anything to do with the Factor. It can't be a parody of the Factor when he is parodying the likes of MSNBC segments more often.
There is no debate there. These are proven FACTS that you are arguing against.
The_Noble_Cause wrote:
Monker wrote:What are you doing, watching clips from alt-right news sites? Yeah, that is what he said - taken COMPLETELY out of context. I have it on DVR. Bill Maher said to Ann Coulter, following a conversation about her boyfriend Ronald Reagan talking tough about Russia, which we don't do any longer:
As I said twice now, Maher is defending the Monroe Doctrine, even claiming that it is our backyard. It's not. This is pax americana imperialism at its worst. Who's backyard were we in when we pledged to support Georgia in 2008?
Monker wrote:You are TOTALLY misrepresenting the point Bill Maher was making...which is Russia sees us as so weak they can bully us about our policies in the Americas.
As I already asked you, where is the bullying?
China, Russia, and Turkey all expressed their support for Maduro. Releasing statements through a foreign ambassador is "bullying"? You are not entitled to your own facts.
Monker wrote:Yes, I am sure. And, you said the Colbert Report was a parody on The O'Reilly Factor, which it isn't....not the crap you now say above, which I agreed with - several times.
You said it was the Daily Show with a fake conservative host. You were oblivious to the fact that it was an O'Reilly factor spoof. Which begs the question, what else are you oblivious to? Given your track record ("Hillary had permission to use a private server!") why should anybody listen to ANYTHING you say, bazinga boy?
Monker wrote:Oh, please. I am adding my own commentary...it is NOTHING like what Bill Maher said. Yes, I believe that Russia and all Eurasia countries should keep the fuck out of the Americas. And, yes, that is defending the Monroe doctrine. I don't care.
So Russia and other countries are not entitled to express support for their ally? What are you talking about?
Monker wrote:You just don't like it because you are a liberal wearing the suit of an alt-right supporter.
You just throw these terms around to try to stifle actual discussion. If different political factions can come together on certain issues (anti-war, anti-free trade) that's a good thing imo.
Monker wrote:Critiquing policy is not the same as trying to threaten us out of own back yard.
Both China and Russia have vowed to support their ally. We release statements like that all the time. Big deal.
Monker wrote:This country has become WEAKER under Trump, not stronger, and definitely not "great".
Foreign ambassadors have released statements criticizing US policy since time immemorial. You are not well.
Monker wrote:It is a FACT that Maher was saying Russia feels embolden and that they can bully us around and dictate to us what our policy in the Americas is. It is ironic that you removed the full quote of Maher...because it PROVES my point.
If I wanted to, I could post the link to the entire interview with Coulter. None of that matters. What matters is, Maher invoked the Monroe Doctrine and then said "This is our backyard!" That certainly sounds to me like he is claiming territorial ownership over Venezuela. Just a few years ago, John Kerry said the "era of the Monroe doctrine is over!" Now brainless liberal mouthpieces, like Maher, defend it on TV. Unreal.
Monker wrote: He's not arguing the Monroe Doctrine, but how much we are viewed as pussies by Russia.
Maher might have a point - except that foreign ministers have publicly criticized US policy forever. Are you denying that Russia criticized US policies under prior administrations? Also, why do you let China and Turkey off the hook so easily for supporting Maduro?
Monker wrote:And, it followed an argument about how Ronald "tear down this wall" Reagn would view today's view of Russia by the Republican party. He was furthering that arguing by example.
Again, Maher might have a point - except that Reagan went against hardliner militarists within his own party to meet Gorbachev at Reykjavík. I think he would be saddened by elements within our own government trying to re-ignite the Cold War. Maher has no idea what he is talking about and neither do you.
Monker wrote:What you are saying makes NO SENSE, unless you are buying into alt-right propaganda bullshit and ignore the reality of what was said in context.
Anybody who reads this thread knows who the unwitting pawn of propaganda is. Should I post some examples to refresh your memory?
Monker vs. Hillary - Can you tell the difference?
HILLARY: “We have 17 intelligence agencies, civilian and military, who have all concluded that these espionage attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of the Kremlin, and they are designed to influence our election."
MONKER: “This has nothing to do with Democrats but the entirety of our intelligence community saying that it happened. If you want to argue against it, you are arguing against the: FBI, CIA, NSA, Homeland Security...and on and on.”
HILLARY: "There's no doubt they influenced the election."MONKER: "Yes, if Putin had not been trying to influence the election, including hacking, I don't think Trump would have won."
HILLARY: "What I did was allowed by the State Department. It was fully above board."MONKER: "That's just not true. She had permission to use it."
Monker wrote:It is also a FACT that the Colbert Report was NOT a parody of The O'Reilly Factor. You posted ONE segment. I posted the entire list of repeating segments and out of the 50 or so, only TWO had anything to do with the Factor. It can't be a parody of the Factor when he is parodying the likes of MSNBC segments more often.
Better take it up with these people (including Colbert himself).
Colbert: "I owe a lot to Bill O'Reilly," Colbert said Wednesday. "I spent over nine years playing a character based largely on him — and then 12 months in therapy, to de-bloviate myself."
Daily Beast: "The US Army confirmed on Saturday that Comedy Central star and Bill O’Reilly parody Stephen Colbert will be in Iraq for a week to film episodes of television show The Colbert Report."
From the book Satire TV by Professor Jonathan Gray: "Although the aesthetic of The Colbert Report has changed drastically since its first conception on The Daily Show, it’s central premise remains Colbert’s parody of O’Reilly."
Rolling Stone discussing The Colbert Report: " Plenty of Colbert fans probably never knew the segment was a spoof of Bill O'Reilly's 'The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day.' "
From The New Yorker: "The Colbert Report, on Comedy Central, broadcasts what is essentially a full-dress parody of The O’Reilly Factor. Stephen Colbert has obviously made a close study of O’Reilly’s mannerisms and opinions, just as Colbert’s producers have made a close study of the overblown red-white-and-blue swirled graphics that open The O’Reilly Factor."
NYTimes: "When The Colbert Report debuted in 2005, a nightly show satirizing Bill O’Reilly seemed like it would eventually be a dead end."
Dude, now you are arguing about the details of what Maher said. But, in doing so you are admitting he was not defending the Monroe doctrine. I don't care if you think his politics are right or wrong.
Almost all of your Colbert quotes, including the one by Stephen himself, are saying he was doing a parody of O'Reilly. You said the Colbert Report was a parody of The Factor, which it's not...and your quotes do not even back that up. And, even if they were saying The Colbert Report was a parody of The Factor, they have the right to be stupid and be wrong. I've posted the facts already, and the show is NOT a parody of the Factor, regardless of who says it.
Again, these are FACTS...and all you are doing is dancing around trying to argue about something else.
Monker wrote:Dude, now you are arguing about the details of what Maher said. But, in doing so you are admitting he was not defending the Monroe doctrine. I don't care if you think his politics are right or wrong.
Once again, Maher referenced the Monroe Doctrine and then exclaimed "This is our backyard!" He is defending imperialism. He has become the very thing he criticized during the Bush years.
Monker wrote:Almost all of your Colbert quotes, including the one by Stephen himself, are saying he was doing a parody of O'Reilly. You said the Colbert Report was a parody of The Factor, which it's not...and your quotes do not even back that up. And, even if they were saying The Colbert Report was a parody of The Factor, they have the right to be stupid and be wrong. I've posted the facts already, and the show is NOT a parody of the Factor, regardless of who says it.
Man, you're really tying yourself into knots here. So just to be clear....you're saying the show starred and revolved around a Bill O'Reilly impersonation. The show's opening ("The Word") and other segments ("The Craziest F#?king Thing I've Ever Heard") were direct spoofs of O'Reilly's show.But because the program did other bits, it doesn't qualify as an O'Reilly parody? By that logic, is Young Frankenstein not a Frankenstein parody because it also features a showtune?
Here's a few more sources that you can have a rhetorical jerk-off argument with...NPR: "This is a guy who turned a parody of Bill O'Reilly into one of television's most surprising and impactful shows."
NBC Today: “The Report was then seen (and largely still is) as a parody of Bill O’Reilly’s The O’Reilly Factor on Fox.
Time Out New York: "Sarcastic correspondent Stephen Colbert’s parody of Bill O’Reillys right wing political talk show tells viewers why everyone else’s opinions are just plain wrong. "
NBC Chicago: "Colbert, after all, built a show around a parody of Bill O'Reilly, who, nearly five years after the debut of "The Colbert Report," comes across as a moderate compared to some of his Fox News colleagues."
Monker wrote:Again, these are FACTS...and all you are doing is dancing around trying to argue about something else.
The only person doing a soft shoe routine around the issues is YOU, bazinga boy.You said Russia is bullying the US, when they only released a statement through their foreign minister - which they have done forever. You also seemingly give China and Turkey a pass for supporting Maduro. Maybe when Bill Maher mentions those countries you'll start pretending to give a shit.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
I was doing my annual check for Journey (Augeri) news and saw you have thread about President Trump.
This man will be remembered as the greatest American President of modern times.
It's amazing that he's gotten so much done in such a short time.
Anyway, God Bless and MAGA!!
Thanks for checking in, JeremyP. While I will support Tulsi or Bernie in the primaries, I most likely will vote Trump in 2020. On a range of issues (getting out of dumb wars, re-doing NAFTA) he has delivered. Plus, he makes me laugh.
"I think we should all sue this women for depriving us of our God given right to go down with a clear mind, and good thoughts." - Stu, Consumate Pussy Eater
I was doing my annual check for Journey (Augeri) news and saw you have thread about President Trump.
This man will be remembered as the greatest American President of modern times.
It's amazing that he's gotten so much done in such a short time.
Anyway, God Bless and MAGA!!
Thanks for checking in, JeremyP. While I will support Tulsi or Bernie in the primaries, I most likely will vote Trump in 2020. On a range of issues (getting out of dumb wars, re-doing NAFTA) he has delivered. Plus, he makes me laugh.
I was doing my annual check for Journey (Augeri) news and saw you have thread about President Trump.
This man will be remembered as the greatest American President of modern times.
It's amazing that he's gotten so much done in such a short time.
Anyway, God Bless and MAGA!!
Thanks for checking in, JeremyP. While I will support Tulsi or Bernie in the primaries, I most likely will vote Trump in 2020. On a range of issues (getting out of dumb wars, re-doing NAFTA) he has delivered. Plus, he makes me laugh.
Kathy Griffin makes ME laugh.
What did she do to make you laugh?
God better be wearing his titanium cup when I arrive to be judged, cause the very first thing I'm going to do is break my foot off in his balls. Liberals and Dems are proof that Satan has, to some extent, a sense of humor.
Andrew wrote:Apparently I am scheduled to come in here and say something outrageous to kick start this thread.
Ok, so...
With all the nutjobs gone, the thread is beautifully peaceful. Just shows what bias was devouring this topic. Racism and conspiracy. Proudly brought top you by Fuckoff News.
PS. Trump blows.
This truly sums up the new left. I mean - in a fucking nutshell. Hear what you are saying. After you insulted everyone with childish name calling and pranks, you pushed out people who are decent and hard working to a place where they can discuss what are often very common-sense thoughts (not all, but many). They were willing to engage you on real discussion, even though they disagreed with you. They did not sink to your low (most, not all). You closed the thread. You changed words. You pushed people away. And then, when nearly everyone you disagree with is gone and you have an empty, soulless thread, you claim peace and insinuate that it must be the crazy people that left that has created this peace. This is not peace. This is silence. This is your bubble. This is what's wrong with politics today. But there were more of them than there are of you. It's called the silent majority. Shut them up when you are near, but they are not quiet.
Also, fuck you very much for saying any of those folks are racist. Find me a racist comment. Find me a racist person in there. I never saw any of that and I read most of the thread. Just because you call someone racist does not mean they are racist. It is your childish inability to listen and process what people who do not agree with you have to say. Trump isn't racist. The governor of Virginia isn't racist. And we aren't racist.
In the end, you pushed people away, even if you hate those people I don't think it was right. As for me, I have been around since the beginning and I lost a tremendous amount of respect for you. Not because we disagree on some things. I suspect we all agree on a lot more than we admit. But because of the way you treated people just because they disagreed with you. And you wielded power just because you could. Also, don't fucking call me a racist because I want lower taxes and an immigration system that is fair and just and lawful and you know, like every other fucking country on earth. You owe all of us an apology, or at least you need to recognize what you did wrong.
Andrew wrote:Apparently I am scheduled to come in here and say something outrageous to kick start this thread.
Ok, so...
With all the nutjobs gone, the thread is beautifully peaceful. Just shows what bias was devouring this topic. Racism and conspiracy. Proudly brought top you by Fuckoff News.
PS. Trump blows.
This truly sums up the new left. I mean - in a fucking nutshell. Hear what you are saying. After you insulted everyone with childish name calling and pranks, you pushed out people who are decent and hard working to a place where they can discuss what are often very common-sense thoughts (not all, but many). They were willing to engage you on real discussion, even though they disagreed with you. They did not sink to your low (most, not all). You closed the thread. You changed words. You pushed people away. And then, when nearly everyone you disagree with is gone and you have an empty, soulless thread, you claim peace and insinuate that it must be the crazy people that left that has created this peace. This is not peace. This is silence. This is your bubble. This is what's wrong with politics today. But there were more of them than there are of you. It's called the silent majority. Shut them up when you are near, but they are not quiet.
Also, fuck you very much for saying any of those folks are racist. Find me a racist comment. Find me a racist person in there. I never saw any of that and I read most of the thread. Just because you call someone racist does not mean they are racist. It is your childish inability to listen and process what people who do not agree with you have to say. Trump isn't racist. The governor of Virginia isn't racist. And we aren't racist.
In the end, you pushed people away, even if you hate those people I don't think it was right. As for me, I have been around since the beginning and I lost a tremendous amount of respect for you. Not because we disagree on some things. I suspect we all agree on a lot more than we admit. But because of the way you treated people just because they disagreed with you. And you wielded power just because you could. Also, don't fucking call me a racist because I want lower taxes and an immigration system that is fair and just and lawful and you know, like every other fucking country on earth. You owe all of us an apology, or at least you need to recognize what you did wrong.
Agree.
Sad part is, you might get banned. One thing I've learned over the years, disagree with people who are the gate keepers and they will close you out.
God better be wearing his titanium cup when I arrive to be judged, cause the very first thing I'm going to do is break my foot off in his balls. Liberals and Dems are proof that Satan has, to some extent, a sense of humor. |
170 P.3d 471 (2007)
2007 MT 267
HOGENSON CONSTRUCTION OF NORTH DAKOTA, Plaintiff and Appellant,
v.
MONTANA STATE FUND, Defendant and Appellee.
No. DA 07-0015.
Supreme Court of Montana.
Submitted on Briefs September 12, 2007.
Decided October 22, 2007.
*472 For Appellant: Scotti M. Gray and Joe C. Maynard, Crowley, Haughey, Hanson, Toole & Dietrich, Billings, Montana.
For Appellee: Charles E. McNeil and Kathryn S. Mahe, Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, Missoula, Montana.
Justice BRIAN MORRIS delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶ 1 Hogenson Construction of North Dakota (Hogenson) appeals from an order of the First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, granting Montana State Fund's (State Fund) motion for summary judgment. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶ 2 Hogenson is a construction company located in North Dakota. Hogenson performed construction work in Montana. Montana law required Hogenson to have workers' compensation coverage for any employees working in Montana. Section 39-71-402(5), MCA. Hogenson maintained coverage in Montana through State Fund and paid premiums for the policy period from July of 2000 through July of 2001.
¶ 3 Hogenson's policy incorporates all the provisions of the workers' compensation laws of Montana "as fully and completely as if written herein." The policy requires State Fund to assume Hogenson's liability "under the Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Acts of Montana. . . ." State Fund agrees to defend "claims and actions which may at any time be instituted against the insured under the Workers' Compensation or Occupational Disease Acts of Montana. . . ." The policy states that "State Fund has no duty to defend a claim, proceeding or suit that is not covered by this insurance."
¶ 4 Hogenson interviewed Harold Reynolds (Reynolds) in Oklahoma concerning a work detail in Montana. Hogenson hired Reynolds to assemble a crew to perform work in Glendive, Montana. Reynolds and his crew proceeded to Montana. Reynolds slipped on some ice on January 16, 2001, while working for Hogenson at the Glendive job site. Reynolds fell onto his right elbow and injured his right shoulder, back, and lower neck. Reynolds claims that he reported his injury to Hogenson the day of the accident by submitting an Accident Investigation Report to Hogenson.
¶ 5 Hogenson denies receiving notice of Reynolds's injury on January 16, 2001. Hogenson maintains that it first received notice of Reynolds's injury and claim more than one year later on July 15, 2002. Hogenson faxed an Employer's First Report of Injury to State Fund on that same day. State Fund sent both Reynolds and Hogenson a letter on July 16, 2002, denying liability. State Fund denied liability due to Reynolds's failure to notify his employer of his injury within thirty days as required by § 39-71-603, MCA. State Fund also denied liability due to Reynolds's failure to file his claim within twelve months from the date of the accident as required by § 39-71-601, MCA.
¶ 6 Reynolds filed a complaint in the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court. He filed his complaint by submitting a document labeled Form 3. Form 3 bears the following heading: "Employee's First Notice of Accidental Injury and Claim for Compensation." Reynolds signed the form and dated it July 12, 2002. Reynolds's Oklahoma counsel, Jack Tracy (Tracy), also signed the form. The filing date stamped on the Form 3 submitted by Reynolds is July 25, 2002.
¶ 7 Tracy notified Hogenson of the Oklahoma claim in a letter dated September 9, 2002. Neither party indicates when or if State Fund received this letter or prior notification from Tracy. State Fund's records do indicate, however, that State Fund contacted Tracy on September 23, 2002. Tracy called State Fund on September 27, 2002, to inform it that Reynolds would pursue his claim in Oklahoma.
¶ 8 Hogenson retained its own Oklahoma counsel, Arlen Fielden (Fielden), to represent *473 it in the Oklahoma workers' compensation claim. Fielden sent State Fund a letter on January 7, 2005. The letter notified State Fund of the January 13, 2005, trial date for the Oklahoma claim. Fielden attached the Form 3 filed by Reynolds to this letter. Fielden sent another letter by both overnight mail and fax on January 11, 2005. The second letter demanded that State Fund defend Hogenson in the Oklahoma case. Fielden urged State Fund to acknowledge coverage and to enter an appearance in the case by January 13, 2005. State Fund did not respond to these letters.
¶ 9 Hogenson moved to join State Fund as a party to the Oklahoma case. The Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court denied the motion for lack of jurisdiction over State Fund. The Oklahoma court awarded Reynolds $22,732. Hogenson appealed. An appellate panel of the Oklahoma Workers' Compensation Court upheld the award.
¶ 10 Hogenson filed suit against State Fund in Montana District Court on January 24, 2006. The amended complaint sought relief for breach of contract and common law bad faith. The parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The District Court granted summary judgment in favor of State Fund. Hogenson appeals.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶ 11 We review de novo a district court's decision to grant summary judgment, using the same criteria applied by the district court under M.R. Civ. P. 56. Farmers Union Mut. Ins. Co. v. Staples, 2004 MT 108, ¶ 18, 321 Mont. 99, ¶ 18, 90 P.3d 381, ¶ 18. We must determine whether the district court correctly applied the law. Staples, ¶ 18.
DISCUSSION
¶ 12 Hogenson argues that State Fund's refusal to defend Hogenson in Oklahoma frustrates the purposes behind the Montana Workers' Compensation Act, Title 39, Chapter 71, MCA. Hogenson asks this Court to construe broadly the insurer's duty to defend to encompass Reynolds's claim in Oklahoma. An insurer has a duty to defend unless the claim against the insured unequivocally falls outside the policy coverage. Staples, ¶ 24. The insurer must resolve any relevant factual disputes in favor of coverage. Staples, ¶ 24. The insurer looks at facts beyond the allegations in the complaint at the insurer's risk. Staples, ¶ 24.
¶ 13 Our decision in Staples reveals that Reynolds's claim triggered State Fund's duty to defend unless the claim unequivocally fell outside of the policy coverage. The policy requires State Fund to assume only the "liability of the insured to his employees under the Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Acts of Montana. . . ." Hogenson's policy expressly states that "State Fund has no duty to defend a claim, proceeding or suit that is not covered by this insurance."
¶ 14 The Workers' Compensation Act of Montana requires all claimants to present their claims in a signed writing to the employer, insurer, or department within twelve months from the date of the accident. Section 39-71-601, MCA. These requirements are mandatory. Grenz v. Fire and Cas. of Connecticut, 260 Mont. 60, 64, 857 P.2d 730, 732 (1993). We stated in Grenz that "compliance with the time limits is essential to the action." Grenz, 260 Mont. at 64, 857 P.2d at 732. We have described § 39-71-601, MCA, as "unequivocally" requiring presentment of claims within twelve months. Grenz, 260 Mont. at 63, 857 P.2d at 732. Hogenson's policy insures it only for liability under the Workers' Compensation Act of Montana. The policy therefore covers only claims presented in writing within twelve months of the accident.
¶ 15 Hogenson alleges that it first learned of Reynolds's injury on July 15, 2002. Hogenson informed State Fund of Reynolds's injury on that same day. The date on the Form 3 that Reynolds submitted in Oklahoma indicates that he filed his initial complaint no earlier than July 12, 2002. Neither party provides the exact date that State Fund first received notice of this claim. State Fund did have notice of Reynolds's claim, however, by September 27, 2002. Reynolds's lawyer notified State Fund at that time of Reynolds's intention to pursue his claim in Oklahoma.
*474 ¶ 16 Reynolds claims that his injury occurred on January 16, 2001. Montana law required Reynolds to present his claim by January 16, 2002. Section 39-71-601, MCA. Hogenson's policy expressly incorporates Montana's workers' compensation laws. Hogenson's policy therefore obligates State Fund to defend the claim only if Reynolds had filed it by January 16, 2002. Reynolds filed his claim more than five months after the twelve month deadline. His claim unequivocally fell outside of the policy. State Fund did not have a duty to defend Hogenson under these circumstances. Grenz, 260 Mont. at 63, 857 P.2d at 732; Staples, ¶ 24.
¶ 17 Hogenson asserts that even if the policy does not cover the claim, State Fund impermissibly resolved this factual issue contrary to Hogenson's interests. Hogenson cites Staples for the proposition that an insurer must construe factual assertions from the perspective of the insured. Staples, ¶ 22. Indeed, a reviewing court must construe liberally the allegations of liability set forth in a complaint to resolve any doubts in favor of imposing a duty to defend. Staples, ¶ 22. Hogenson argues that State Fund should have resolved the factual dispute regarding Reynolds's notice of injury as imposing a duty to defend.
¶ 18 Hogenson's dispute, however, concerned only the assertion that it had knowledge of Reynolds's injury before July 15, 2002. Reynolds submitted his first notice of accidental injury and claim for compensation on July 12, 2002, when he filed the Form 3 "Claim for Compensation." This filing served as a signed writing claiming benefits and constituted the functional equivalent of a complaint. Form 3 alleged that Reynolds received his injuries on January 16, 2001.
¶ 19 Hogenson, Reynolds, and State Fund do not dispute the date of the injury. The parties also do not dispute the filing date of the initial complaint through Reynolds's filing of the Form 3 in Oklahoma. The lack of dispute surrounding these dates relieved State Fund from having to resolve a factual issue. State Fund simply looked at the alleged date of injury and the filing date of the complaint and correctly determined that the claim fell outside the policy's coverage. Grenz, 260 Mont. at 63, 857 P.2d at 732.
¶ 20 Reynolds's claim, filed after the twelve month limit required by § 39-71-601, MCA, clearly fell outside Hogenson's coverage under the policy. We conclude that the belated filing of Reynolds's claim absolved State Fund of any duty to defend Hogenson in the Oklahoma action.
¶ 21 Affirmed.
We Concur: KARLA M. GRAY, C.J., JOHN WARNER, PATRICIA COTTER, W. WILLIAM LEAPHART, JAMES C. NELSON and JIM RICE, JJ.
|
Red Dead Online: beta, news and multiplayer features
Bang bang
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The early access of Red Dead Online kicked off last week. But with such a massive open-world to explore in Red Dead Redemption 2's single-player story, why should you be excited about the game's online mode?
Rockstar's open-world Western game, a prequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption, was released to wide critical acclaim and is basically all anyone in our office – or yours, probably – has been talking about for weeks.
While you might have expected an online mode to be live from the game's launch, it makes sense that Rockstar wants you to focus on the main story – and boy is there a lot of it – before waltzing into a less narrative-driven multiplayer experience in Red Dead Online.
Rockstar has proved itself at converting a massive single-player game into a lively online experience, as shown in the launch of GTA Online in 2013, which has become almost as massive a phenomenon as the mainline GTA V game it spun off from.
So what can you expect from Red Dead Online, and when does the beta actually start?
Cut to the chase
What is Red Dead Online? The online component of Rockstar's open-world Western
What can I play it on? PS4 or Xbox One
When can I play it? Beta is live - full release is expected some time in 2019
Red Dead Online beta access
Yes, Rockstar are easing in with a Red Dead Online beta – the company warns to expect "turbulence" at launch while it optimizes the gameplay – but the public beta is live now, and it gives us our first look at what to expect from online multiplayer ahead of the full launch of Red Dead Online to come some time in early 2019.
A week after the public beta went live, Rockstar released a statement on the game's status, which stated the developer's main focus right now is improving the in-game economy and bugs.
"Your feedback from these early days will be instrumental in helping formulate updates to every aspect of the experience," the statement read. "Our current areas of focus include the in-game economy, which will require some additional balancing in order to ensure all activities are appropriately rewarding and fun, as well as some persistent bugs that are causing some players to be kicked from sessions.
"The game has been developed so that we will be able to quickly make any adjustments like these, and we plan to get updates out as early as the end of this week with more updates to come next week. Feedback from the community has been invaluable, and we will continue to keep you regularly updated as things progress."
Rockstar has now rolled out its first set of "adjustments" to the Red Dead Online beta which aim to a create a "more balanced, fun and rewarding overall experience, across all modes and missions". This includes increasing cash and gold payments, reducing prices of weapons and balancing the values of select pelts, skins and fish.
Red Dead Online features
Multiplayer modes
There will be five competitive multiplayer modes at launch, however the beta currently doesn't allow you to pick which mode to partake in. The five modes are as follows:
Shootout / Team Shoutout - Essentially classic Deathmatch, which sees you aiming to get the most kills either individually or as a team.
Most Wanted - Sees you battling against opponents to get the most kills and become the 'Most Wanted' person on the leaderboard.
Make It Count - Red Dead Redemption 2 Battle Royale mode.
Name Your Weapon - You are awarded more points for killing enemies with more difficult weapons (either played as a team or individual).
Hostile Territory - Capture the flag except you get points for capturing territories.
Character customization
Red Dead Online's character customization is very detailed, with options to adjust everything from your age to your facial dimensions - allowing you to make your perfect cowboy or cowgirl.
A range of activities
Now that we've been able to take part in the beta, we know Red Dead Online allows you to take part in a variety of activities such as co-operative story missions, treasure maps, PvP, hunting, fishing and free-roam missions.
Based on Red Dead Redemption 2 gameplay
An official announcement for the online service read: "Using the gameplay of the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2 as a foundation, Red Dead Online will be ready to be explored alone or with friends, and will also feature constant updates and adjustments to grow and evolve this experience for all players."
Red Dead Online: what we want to see
We definitely hope the minigames will be playable online with your friends – card games, knife games, drinking games, and all that other wholesome fun you cowboys get up to.
A slow, slow pace
One of the things we love about Read Dead Redemption 2 is the thoughtful pace – so we're hoping the online mode doesn't go too octane for the rustic cowboy setting. We want to take a slow trot to the saloon before beating our friends at poker, or lying in the undergrowth while we wait to rob an incoming train – not a 6v6 deathmatch on flaming ponies.
Maybe some zombies though
Okay, as much as we love the core Read Dead experience, the last game's Undead Nightmare DLC was a fantastic adventure in its own right, raising the dead in what felt like a serious Western blended with a camp horror movie. It was too good an experiment not to resurrect this time around – we hope.
Cross-platform play
We haven't seen cross-platform play for a Rockstar game before, though the CEO Strauss Zelnick has been open about his desire to overcome traditional console distinctions for online play.
We'd love to see PS4 and Xbox One owners play together in Red Dead Online's wild west, though Sony have also proven themselves a stickler on this point in the past – even if it eventually succumbed to pressure on Fortnite cross-platform play. |
Carolinas preparing for Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence is making its way to the US East Coast. It was a potentially catastrophic Category 4 storm but was expected to keep drawing energy from the warm water and intensify to near Category 5, which means winds of 157 mph or higher. (Sept. 12) |
Weather Underground, our favorite weather site, offers a faster, ad-free paid membership that also comes with longer radar animations. New and current users can upgrade to this premium membership for free by entering a gift code.
Most Popular Weather Site: Weather Underground Looking outside to get the forecast is great if you want to know current conditions in your… Read more
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For existing members, click the "renew my membership for $10.00 per year" link in your account.
Update: It looks like there's something wrong with the code, as it's logging people into a specific user's account. We've removed the code and the link and emailed Weather Underground to fix the problem. We'll update this post with any new information as we get it. Sorry about the trouble.
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We will remove all the ads from our site offering you cleaner, faster site access. No banners, no sponsor links, and this works for all pages including Favorites, Radar, and Severe Weather. You can then use your wunderground.com account from any location, disabling ads from your home, workplace, or other computers you use. Ad-Free U.S. Forecasts & Alerts Through E-Mail
Our new email forecast and alert service is included with every membership. As a member, you select cities where you want weather updates, and we'll send you alerts immediately after they are issued by the National Weather Service. Forecasts are reformatted for text, or html devices, and can be sent whenever you choose as a paid member.
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Study claiming some NH welfare recipients get $37k a year raises eyebrows
By MICHAEL COUSINEAUNew Hampshire Union Leader
MANCHESTER - A new study says some welfare recipients receive $37,160 in benefits a year in New Hampshire, but a state welfare official says few, if any, get that much because they aren't eligible to collect from every available program.
"The study is structurally unsound," Terry Smith, director of the state Division of Family Assistance, said Friday.
Smith said the state doesn't track how much an individual welfare recipient collects in total from the various government assistance programs, but he said it was "very unlikely" that someone would collect from the seven different programs cited by the study.
The study, conducted by the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, concluded that welfare recipients in New Hampshire receive the equivalent hourly wage of $19.11, and someone working a job here would need to make nearly $40,000 a year to receive as much as a welfare recipient collects."They should be consolidating these programs and then put a cap in," said Michael Tanner, the study's co-author. "Some people may be getting a whole lot, and the states don't know and the federal government doesn't know."
Smith agreed a streamlined system would benefit states and the poor.
"I think that would be an ideal," he said. "A one-stop shop would determine eligibility, and clients would only go to one place."
But Smith said there is "nil" chance that Congress would make the necessary changes.
The study said New Hampshire notched the third-highest hike in benefits among states since Cato conducted a similar study in 1995, when adjusting for inflation. The overall benefits rose by $6,994 during that time, greater than everywhere else but Vermont ($9,367), the District of Columbia ($8,730) and Hawaii ($7,265).
The study acknowledged that not every welfare recipient would collect from every program, but included all of them to calculate an overall benefits total for every state.
Tanner said he didn't know how many people collect from all seven programs because states don't track such information, but he said they should.
Smith said programs have different eligibility requirements and only 19.5 percent of welfare recipients, for instance, receive housing assistance, which the study said amounts to $13,296. Smith said only half the people on welfare receive federal fuel assistance.
The primary cash program for the poor, according to the study, is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Smith said TANF provides a monthly cash payment of $675 for a household of three in New Hampshire. Last week, there were 7,926 people in the program spread among 3,652 families, including 5,551 children, he said.
In 2011, the Legislature made cuts to the TANF program by making eligibility more difficult, saving about $5.5 million in state funds yearly. The number of families on the program dropped from 6,108 in June 2011 to 4,144 in March 2012.
Food stamps, meanwhile, are calculated to provide 70 percent of what a family needs to spend minimally on food, Smith said. The maximum grant for food stamps for a household of three people is $526 a month.
"The question is: How can you buy more food if you can't pay the rent?" Smith said.
New Hampshire had 115,691 people on food stamps last week, with a median household benefit of $327.93 a month.
New Hampshire residents collected more than $165.2 million in food-stamp benefits for the year ending June 2013.Tanner said almost everyone using the TANF program gets food stamps and Medicaid medical coverage.
"The one that's questionable, and I grant that, is housing," Tanner said, referring to the number of people eligible for the $13,296 in housing assistance cited in the Cato study.
Smith said Medicaid "doesn't help them get enough food in the house and doesn't pay them for gas to get for a job. It keeps them from diverting those monies to medical-related costs."The study ranks New Hampshire's overall welfare benefits package ninth-highest in the nation, behind seven other states and the District of Columbia. Hawaii tops the list with a total benefit of $49,175. Massachusetts ranked third at $42,515.
The study also said that less than 42 percent of adult welfare recipients are actually working.
"Despite welfare reform back in '96, we're not doing a very good job of moving people from welfare to work," Tanner said.
Smith said New Hampshire's figure is around 47 percent, as low as it is because disabled adults are also included in that pool of people. Welfare recipients receiving TANF are required to be involved in work-related activities for at least 30 hours a week, or 20 hours a week for parents with children younger than 6.
"We find job settings for them to go to, so they learn job skills and they're in practice of getting up in the morning and going to a job," Smith said.
Individuals not doing that are penalized a portion of their benefits and are completely cut off after 10 weeks unless they have a good reason, Smith said.
"While the emphasis of the report seems to be on work, remember all of the vulnerable citizens who can't work are included," Smith said.
Manchester Welfare Commissioner Paul Martineau said Manchester residents receive about $24 million a year in welfare assistance from various programs, including food stamps and fuel assistance.
That doesn't include medical care the two major hospitals write off for uninsured patients or the millions of dollars more given by social service agencies.
He said the city helps people in emergency situations.
"We're like the last resort," Martineau said, for help responding to eviction notices or getting needed medication. "There's money given to needy people in Manchester."
If you have a bad case of cabin fever, we've searched for a cure across the state from Jackson to Keene and everywhere in between. So shake off the blues with our picks of the Top 10 Things to Do in... |
Obama, Boehner to meet on 'fiscal cliff'
Thursday
Dec 13, 2012 at 4:27 PMDec 13, 2012 at 4:30 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — With time growing short and no "fiscal cliff" progress evident, President Barack Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner set face-to-face negotiations for late Thursday at the White House.
The meeting comes shortly after Boehner publicly accused Obama of dragging out negotiations on a federal tax-and-spending agreement that would avoid an economy-threatening series of wide-ranging tax increases and spending cuts that could come in less than three weeks. Other Republicans say such a tactic seems to be working when it comes to a deal forcing up tax rates for the wealthy.
The two sides appear far apart on the issues, and Boehner is scheduled to return home to Ohio on Friday.
An impasse between Obama and Boehner, R-Ohio, over the president's demand for higher tax rates on income over $250,000 continues to be a main obstacle in negotiations to avoid broad tax increases and spending cuts that will be triggered automatically on Jan. 1. Boehner says the president refuses to offer spending cuts to popular benefit programs like Medicare whose costs are rapidly rising.
"Unfortunately, the White House is so unserious about cutting spending that it appears willing to slow-walk any agreement and walk our economy right up to the fiscal cliff," Boehner told reporters Thursday.
But there's increasing resignation within the GOP that Obama is going to prevail on the rate issue since the alternative is to allow taxes on all workers to go way up when Bush-era tax cuts expire on Dec. 31.
"I think it's time to end debate on rates," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. "It's exactly what both parties are for. We're for extending the middle-class rates. We can debate the upper-end rates and what they are when we get into tax reform."
"He's got a full house and we're trying to draw an inside straight," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. When it was observed that making a straight would still be a losing hand, Isakson said: "Yeah, I know."
Boehner remains the key figure, though, caught between a tea party faction and more pragmatic Republicans advising a tactical retreat. He dodged a question Thursday on whether he would be willing to schedule a vote that would permit the top two tax brackets on family income exceeding $250,000 and individual income over $200,000 to rise back to 1990s levels.
Meanwhile, one of Obama's top Senate allies said Thursday that an increase in the Medicare eligibility age is "no longer one of the items being considered by the White House" in negotiations.
Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters that he did not get the information directly from the president or the White House. But as the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, Durbin is regularly apprised of the status of negotiations by key players such as Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Senior White House aide Gene Sperling briefed Senate Democrats on the talks Thursday and declined to tell them whether the administration was taking the issue off the table, said a senator who was present. That senator spoke only on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to describe a meeting that was confidential.
Increasing the eligibility age is a key demand by Republicans seeking cost curbs in popular benefit programs in exchange for higher tax revenues.
Durbin's comments on the Medicare eligibility age were surprising, since negotiators including Reid have been careful to not preclude the possibility of agreeing to such an increase — perhaps as a late-stage concession in a potential deal between Obama and Boehner.
At a news conference, Reid again called on House Republicans to allow a vote on renewing Bush-era tax cuts for the 98 percent of taxpayers whose incomes are below $250,000. Obama vows to force rates on family income exceeding $250,000 from a top rate of 35 percent to the Clinton-era rate of 39.6 percent. He said the alternative is to allow tax cuts for everyone to expire.
"At some point, reality should set in," Reid said.
Reid cited comments by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas to Politico.com, in which Cornyn, soon to be the No. 2 Senate Republican, said, "I believe we're going to pass the $250,000 and below sooner or later, and we really don't have much leverage" because those rates are going to expire anyway on Dec. 31.
On Thursday, Sen. Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican and leading conservative figure, predicted that Obama would prevail in the fight over taxes.
"He's going to get his wish. I believe we're going to be raising taxes, and not just on the top earners," DeMint, who is leaving the Senate to become president of the Heritage Institution think tank, said in an appearance on "CBS This Morning."
Communities
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Moray Group
The Moray Group is a stratigraphic group, a set of geological rock strata of Paleocene to Eocene age, found beneath the North Sea and in the Faroe-Shetland Basin. Two sequences are recognised, a shelf succession consisting of sandstones and siltstones of the Dornoch Formation and a thicker basinal succession consisting of mainly mudstones of the Sele Formation and the Balder Formation.
References
Category:Geological groups
Category:Paleogene System of Europe |
Update on animal models developed for analyses of estrogen receptor biological activity.
Targeted disruption of the different ER genes has generated experimental animal models that are very useful in evaluating the distinct and cooperative roles of the two estrogen receptors, ERalpha and ERbeta, in reproductive but also non-reproductive tissues of both sexes. Phenotypic analysis has provided definitive experimental findings for estrogen receptor mediated physiological actions, involving ERalpha in uterine, mammary gland and neuroendocrine sites. ERbeta is involved most dramatically in the ovary as is ERalpha. More detailed studies in combination with tissue specific or inducible ER knock outs will be important for future research. |
Just days after someone stole the van Dorothy Delemes uses to take the kids at Wee Willie's Child Development Center on field trips, she's been given a new one thanks to an anonymous donation.Watch the video above to see the full story.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Just days after someone stole the van Dorothy Delemes uses to take the kids at Wee Willie's Child Development Center on field trips, she's been given a new one thanks to an anonymous donation. |
753 F.Supp. 148 (1990)
Carmella GIANGOLA and Mario Giangola, Plaintiffs,
v.
WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPANY, Walt Disney Company, Inc., John Doe, and XYZ Corporations, Defendants.
Civ. No. 90-2497 (DRD).
United States District Court, D. New Jersey.
November 27, 1990.
*149 *150 Hogger and Sheeler by Charles F. Sheeler, Closter, N.J., for plaintiffs Carmella Giangola and Mario Giangola.
Richard A. Tanner, P.C., Cedar Grove, N.J., for defendants Walt Disney World Co.
OPINION
DEBEVOISE, District Judge.
Defendant Walt Disney World Company [hereafter "Disney"] moves to dismiss this personal injury action for lack of personal jurisdiction over the defendant pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In the alternative, defendant moves for transfer of venue to the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1404. Plaintiffs contend that this case is no longer pending in this court, having been remanded to state court as improperly removed, and thus argue that I am without jurisdiction to decide this motion.
FACTS
This case came before the District Court on removal from the New Jersey Superior CourtLaw Division. The petition for removal predicated federal jurisdiction on the complete diversity between the litigants pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Plaintiff Carmella Giangola, a citizen of New Jersey, was injured while attending EPCOT Center, a facility owned and operated by defendant Walt Disney World Company, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Defendant has no place of business or employees in the State of New Jersey nor does the record indicate that it had any direct contact or executed any agreement with the plaintiff in the State. An action was filed on or about May 31, 1990 in the New Jersey Superior Court, Law Division naming Walt Disney World Company [the defendant herein] and Walt Disney Company[1] seeking recovery for personal injuries against defendant Disney. That action was removed to this Court on June 21, 1990 on the petition of defendant. The Magistrate assigned to this case raised the issue of the sufficiency of the petition for removal sua sponte and issued an Order *151 to Show Cause why the case should not be "dismissed" or "transferred". After considering memoranda of law submitted by the parties, the Magistrate ordered the case remanded to the Superior Court. An Order of Remand to this effect was prepared and entered by the Magistrate.
Defendant moved for reconsideration of the Magistrate's determination of the removal issue on August 8, 1990. On September 24, 1990, the Magistrate held a hearing on the motion for reconsideration of the ruling and found in defendant's favor. An Order was to have been prepared restoring the case to the jurisdiction of the District Court and ensuring return of the case file from the Superior Court.
Defendant filed this motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction November 15, 1990. In opposition, plaintiff claims that the merits of the motion cannot be reached because this case has been remanded. Once an Order of Remand has been filed it cannot be undone.
DISCUSSION
I. THE MAGISTRATE'S AUTHORITY TO REMAND.
The threshold jurisdictional issue in this matter is whether the case is still within the jurisdiction of this Court. Unfortunately, defendant has not even bothered to respond to plaintiffs' argument that an Order of Remand cannot be reconsidered and vacated once entered. While this is not a sterling example of diligent lawyering, I must conclude that this case is still within the jurisdiction of this Court for reasons not touched upon in plaintiffs' brief.
I find that the Magistrate acted outside the scope of his authority as defined by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) & (B) and the Local Rules of the District Court. For the Court's jurisdiction to have been destroyed by the Order of Remand, the Magistrate must have been empowered to issue such an Order in the first place. A federal magistrate's authority to act derives from federal statute and the Local Rules of this Court. In passing the Federal Magistrates Act, Congress conferred only limited powers on the magistrates who would wield them.[2] Sections 636(b)(1)(A) & (B) of the Federal Magistrates Act state
(A) a judge may designate a magistrate to hear and determine any pretrial matter pending before the court, except a motion for injunctive relief, for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to dismiss or quash an indictment or information made by the defendant, to suppress evidence in a criminal case, to dismiss or to permit maintenance of a class action, to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and to involuntarily dismiss an action. A judge of the court may reconsider any pretrial matter under this subparagraph (A) where it has been shown that the magistrate's order is clearly erroneous or contrary to law.
(B) a judge may also designate a magistrate to conduct hearings, including evidentiary hearings, and to submit to a judge of the court proposed findings of fact and recommendations for the disposition, by a judge of the court, of any motion excepted in this subparagraph (A), of applications for posttrial relief made by individuals convicted of criminal offenses and of prisoner petitions challenging conditions of confinement.
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) & (B) (emphasis added).
The Local Rules of this Court also define the scope of a magistrate's powers with respect to nondispositive and dispositive motions. See Local Rules 40(A) & (B). Tracking the language of 28 U.S.C. § 636(B)(1)(A) to a significant degree, Local Rule 40(A)(2) provides that a magistrate may
*152 Hear and conduct such evidentiary hearing as are necessary or appropriate and submit to a Judge proposed findings of fact and recommendations for the disposition of motions for injunctive relief ..., for judgment on the pleadings, for summary judgment, to dismiss or permit the maintenance of a class action, to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, to involuntarily dismiss an action, for judicial review of administrative determinations, for review of default judgments, and for review of prisoners' petitions challenging conditions of confinement, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C) and Rule 72 of the [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure]. Any party may object to the Magistrate's proposed findings, recommendations or report issued under this Rule by serving and filing an objection in accordance with subsection D.5 below, entitled "Objections to Magistrate's Proposed Findings."
Local Rules of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Rule 40(A)(2) (emphasis added) [hereafter "Local Rules"].
In the instant case, the scope of authority granted to the Magistrate by both the Congressional statute and the Local Rules was exceeded as to the substance of the matter adjudicated and the manner of disposition of the jurisdictional issue did not accord with the procedure mandated by both the statute and the Local Rules. First, the issue decided by the Magistrate was dispositive.[3] Perhaps no issue is so accurately described as dispositive as a determination which will destroy or uphold the Court's jurisdiction. While neither the statute nor the Local Rules specifically remove an order of remand from the jurisdiction of a magistrate, a remand order is the equivalent of a dismissal. The Magistrate's Order thus sought to effect an "involuntary dismissal" of the action. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A). As such, the Magistrate was not empowered to hear the matter without being so designated by a District Judge. The Magistrate, though able to hold a hearing on the issue of whether removal was proper in this case given proper authorization, was restricted to submitting proposed findings of fact and a recommendation for the disposition of the matter. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B); Local Rule 40(A)(2). Thus the Magistrate could not enter a valid Order remanding the case to the Superior Court. The Order to remand was without legal effect and was null and void ab initio. Therefore, this case never left the jurisdiction of the Court and is not in "limbo" as plaintiffs suggest.
Second, and closely related to the first error, the Magistrate was not empowered, by statute or under the Local Rules, to render the final reconsideration of his ruling. Since he was without the authority to issue an Order in this matter, the Magistrate could not properly reconsider a determination he had no power to make in the first place. The procedure provided for by the Local Rules, in accord with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), permits the Magistrate to conduct a hearing on a dispositive motion and thereafter submit proposed findings and recommendation for the disposition of the motion. Id.; and see Applegate v. Dobrovir, Oakes & Gebhardt, 628 F.Supp. 378, 381 (D.D.C.1985), aff'd 809 F.2d 930 (D.C.Cir.1987). The parties may thereafter submit any objections they may have to the trial judge presiding over the case for final reconsideration pursuant to Local Rules 40(A)(2) and (D)(5). See also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Devore & Sons, Inc. v. Aurora Pacific Cattle Co., 560 F.Supp. 236, 238-239 (D.Kan.1983). The final determination, and the issuance of any enforceable court Order, must derive from an Article *153 III judge who remains ultimately responsible for the exercise and declination of a federal court's jurisdiction.
Accordingly, I find that the Magistrate committed a clear error of law and that no effect can be given his Order to Remand this case to the state court. This conclusion is not reached by way of "review" in the sense that term is employed by 28 U.S.C. § 1447(d). Plaintiffs correctly note that pursuant to § 1447(d) a remand of a case to the state court of origin is not "reviewable on appeal or otherwise." Id. However, all the cases plaintiffs cite in support of that proposition do not support the position advanced here: that a District Court cannot declare a magistrate's attempt to remand a case contrary to the law authorizing him to act and thus legally ineffectual. Plaintiffs cite Monger v. Brown for the principle that a court cannot review a determination to remand a case even if an order to remand has not yet been entered. See 817 F.2d 13, 14 (3d Cir.1987). In that case, in contrast to the one here, there was a decision by the competent adjudicator a district court judge. See id. Here, there was nothing to review as no legally valid determination had been made.
II. THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE PETITION FOR REMOVAL.
The question that now must be decided is whether removal jurisdiction exists in this case. Plaintiffs challenge the sufficiency of defendant's petition for removal by alleging that it fails to state the citizenship of both defendants and also does not state a jurisdictional amount.[4] The petition did state the defendant Disney's state of incorporation as Delaware and its principal place of business as Florida. The absence of any allegation concerning the citizenship of a co-defendant is a defect that precludes taking jurisdiction over a case on removal. See Lewis v. Rego Co., 757 F.2d 66, 68 (3d Cir.1985) (citing Northern Illinois Gas Co. v. Airco Indus. Gases, 676 F.2d 270 (7th Cir.1982)); Baldwin v. Perdue, Inc., 451 F.Supp. 373 (E.D.Va.1978); Sun Oil of Pennsylvania v. Pennsylvania Dept. of Labor and Industry, 365 F.Supp. 1403 (E.D.Pa.1973).
A petition that has failed to allege the citizenship of both parties may yet survive an attack on its sufficiency to effect removal from a state court. First, as the Third Circuit stated in Lewis:
There are exceptions to the rule requiring all defendants join in the removal petition. One exception arises when a non-resident defendant has not been served at the time the removing defendants file their petition. In that situation the removal petition will be effective provided that it alleges that the defendants who did not join in it were not served in the state proceeding. DiCesare-Engler Productions, Inc. v. Mainman, Ltd., 421 F.Supp. 116 (W.D.Pa.1976).
757 F.2d at 68. The record indicates that co-defendant Walt Disney Company has never been served in this action. See Certification of Richard Tanner, Esq. ¶ 13-14; n. 1, supra. I find that the information contained in the record corrects the defect identified by plaintiffs and that no jurisdictional defect now exists with respect to diversity of citizenship between the parties.[5]
*154 III. PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER DISNEY.
This court has personal jurisdiction[6] over a defendant if (a) the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the party comports with the law of the state in which the District Court is situated, and (b) due process is not violated. See Provident Nat'l Bank v. California Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n, 819 F.2d 434, 436 (3d Cir. 1987); Max Daetwyler Corp. v. Meyer, 762 F.2d 290, 293 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 980, 106 S.Ct. 383, 88 L.Ed.2d 336 (1985); cf. Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(e). These dual considerations are collapsed under New Jersey law since the State's long-arm statute extends "to the outermost limits permitted by the United States Constitution." DeJames v. Magnificence Carriers, 654 F.2d 280, 284 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1085, 102 S.Ct. 642, 70 L.Ed.2d 620 (1981). Consequently, the issue of whether this court has personal jurisdiction over Disney must be determined by recourse to a due process analysis under the United States Constitution.
In International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310, 66 S.Ct. 154, 90 L.Ed. 95 (1945), the United States Supreme Court ushered in the modern era of personal jurisdiction law by adopting a rule of law that restricted personal jurisdiction to cases where a party has "minimum contacts" with the forum state "such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend the traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice." 326 U.S. at 316, 66 S.Ct. at 158. The Court cautioned, however, that "[t]he due process clause protects an individual's liberty interest in not being subject to binding judgments in a forum with which he has established no meaningful contacts, ties or relationship." Id. at 319, 66 S.Ct. at 160. Defendant claims that it has no connections to New Jersey that satisfy this standard.
When a defendant challenges an action for lack of personal jurisdiction, the plaintiff bears the burden of demonstrating that the defendant's contacts with the forum state are sufficient to confer personal jurisdiction on the court. See Compagnie Des Bauxites De Guinee v. L'Union Atlantique S.A. D'Assurances, 723 F.2d 357, 362 (3d Cir.1983). To carry this burden, plaintiff must show "with reasonable particularity" that the forum, and thus the court, has either: (1) specific jurisdiction (where the cause of action arose from the defendant's activities within the forum state), or (2) general jurisdiction (derived from defendant's continuous and systematic conduct in the forum state). See Provident National Bank v. California Federal Savings & Loan Assoc., 819 F.2d 434, 437 (3d Cir.1987) (citing Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S.A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408, 414, 104 S.Ct. 1868, 1872, 80 L.Ed.2d 404 (1984)); Gehling v. St. George's School of Medicine, Ltd., 773 F.2d 539, 541, 542 (3d Cir.1985).
A court obtains general jurisdiction over a party when a defendant's presence in that state is unrelated to the subject matter of the lawsuit. The plaintiff seeking to overcome the challenge to general jurisdiction must show substantially more than mere minimum contacts to establish this form of personal jurisdiction. See Provident National Bank, 819 F.2d at 437. The non-resident's contacts must be continuous and substantial for general jurisdiction to exist. Id. (citing Gehling, 773 F.2d at 541 (3d Cir.1985)). This rigorous burden ensures the fairness of treating a non-resident identically to a resident in terms of amenability to suit in the jurisdiction. *155 No facts even remotely suggesting the existence of general jurisdiction have been pled or otherwise alleged; therefore, this opinion will concern itself solely with the issue of whether specific jurisdiction is proper in this case.
Specific jurisdiction extends to parties whose acts in the forum state give rise to the cause of action brought in that forum. Since jurisdiction in the forum exists only as to the legal consequences of acts committed there by the defendant, a lower threshold burden is imposed on the plaintiff to establish the propriety of jurisdiction; that burden is carried by establishing minimum contacts between defendant and the forum. See Paolino v. Channel Home Center, 668 F.2d 721 (3d Cir.1981). In determining whether minimum contacts exist, a court must focus on "the relationship among the defendant, the forum, and the litigation." Shaffer v. Heitner, 433 U.S. 186, 204, 97 S.Ct. 2569, 2580, 53 L.Ed.2d 683 (1977). A party's minimum contacts with a state are "purposeful acts by that party, directed toward a state, which make it reasonable for the defendant to anticipate being haled into court there." Wide World Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, 444 U.S. 286, 297, 100 S.Ct. 559, 567, 62 L.Ed.2d 490 (citing Kulko v. California Superior Court, 436 U.S. 84, 97-98, 98 S.Ct. 1690, 1699-1700, 56 L.Ed.2d 132 (1978)); see Shaffer, 433 U.S. at 216, 217-219, 97 S.Ct. at 2586, 2586-88.
The central concern in a question of personal jurisdiction is the predictability and fairness of the court taking jurisdiction over the defendant. To ensure this predictability and fairness "it is essential that there be some act by which the defendant purposely avails itself of the privilege of conducting activities within the forum state, thus invoking the benefits of its laws." Hanson v. Denckla, 357 U.S. 235, 253, 78 S.Ct. 1228, 1240, 2 L.Ed.2d 1283 (1958) (quoted in Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. 462, 475, 105 S.Ct. 2174, 2183, 85 L.Ed.2d 528 (1985)). The requirement of "purposeful availment" "ensures that a defendant will not be haled into a jurisdiction solely as a result of `random,' `fortuitous,' or `attenuated' contacts, Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S., at 774; World-Wide Volkswagen Corp. v. Woodson, [444 U.S.] at 299, or of the `unilateral activity of another person.' [Helicopteros, 466 U.S.] at 417." Burger King Corp., 471 U.S. at 475, 105 S.Ct. at 2183 (parallel citations omitted).
The only ground on which plaintiffs attempt to establish personal jurisdiction is the fact that "[a] viewing of newspaper and television advertisements displayed Walt Disney World as a must visit on our vacation agenda. The message in these ads was the inducement for us to arrange our vacation at Walt Disney World." Certification of Carmella Giangola ¶ 8. In addition, paragraph 9 of plaintiff's Certification states that "the swaying factor to visit [sic] Epcot Center was due to the numerous advertisements in the Bergen Record Travel Section and advertisements on television. Both of these forms of advertisement were extremely persuasive in our final selection to vacation at Walt Disney World." Plaintiffs' travel plans were arranged by Somes World Travel, located in Emerson, New Jersey.
Hence, the question presented is whether advertising can constitute minimum contacts in satisfaction of the requirements of due process. I find that they do not. See Scheidt v. Young, 389 F.2d 58, 60 (3d Cir. 1968); Wright v. American Standard, Inc., 637 F.Supp. 241, 244 (E.D.Pa.1985); cf. Hendrickson v. Reg O Co., 657 F.2d 9, 13 (3d Cir.1981); Rutherford v. Sherburne Corp., 616 F.Supp. 1456, 1460-61 (D.N.J. 1985). The record shows no direct contact between plaintiffs and agents of the defendant in New Jersey. No negotiations were conducted or agreements executed in New Jersey by defendant or its agents or representatives. No communications are alleged to have been directed to plaintiffs individually, or alleged to have induced plaintiffs to contact specific agents of the defendant, in or out of the forum state. See Scheidt, 389 F.2d at 60; Wright, 637 F.Supp. at 244; cf. Hendrickson, 657 F.2d at 13; Vencedor Mfg. Co. v. Gougler Industries, Inc., 557 F.2d 886, 891 (1st Cir.1977). The advertisements *156 were not in the form of direct mail solicitations but were merely to spread knowledge of defendant's facilities among the general public.
As previously stated, a party must have purposely availed itself of the benefits or protection of the laws of the forum in which the plaintiff seeks to establish personal jurisdiction. See Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz, 471 U.S. at 475, 105 S.Ct. at 2183; Keeton v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 465 U.S. 770, 774, 104 S.Ct. 1473, 1478, 79 L.Ed.2d 790 (797); World-Wide Volkswagen Corp., 444 U.S. at 299, 100 S.Ct. at 568; Hanson, 357 U.S. at 253, 78 S.Ct. at 1239; Scheidt, 389 F.2d at 60-61. The facts in this case do not show any legal benefit or protection accruing from defendant's advertising campaign. In an age of modern advertising and national media publications and markets, plaintiffs' argument that such conduct would make a defendant amenable to suit wherever the advertisements were aired would substantially undermine the law of personal jurisdiction. Courts generally have refused to adopt such a standard and embark on such a course.
The case of Makopoulos v. Walt Disney World, Inc., 221 N.J.Super. 513, 535 A.2d 26 (App.Div.1987), found that advertising in and of itself may provide the basis for personal jurisdiction and does lend some support to plaintiffs' assertion that personal jurisdiction is proper here. I conclude that this case should not be followed. It does not appear to be in accord with Supreme Court precedents and I, of course, am bound by these precedents.
Plaintiffs have thus failed to establish that defendant has minimum contacts with the State of New Jersey. I therefore find personal jurisdiction lacking over defendant.
IV. TRANSFER OF THE CASE TO THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
Having found that this court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendant in this action, the suit cannot continue in this forum. It is obvious, and both parties agree, that dismissal would be burdensome to all involved and rather pointless since plaintiffs could simply refile the action in the District where jurisdiction and venue clearly existsthe Middle District of Florida. Plaintiff having consented, transfer will be effected pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a) rather than § 1404(a). See Carteret Savings Bank, F.A. v. Shushan, 919 F.2d 225 (3d Cir.1990), rev'g in part 721 F.Supp. 705 (D.N.J.1989).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, defendant's motion to dismiss the Complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction pursuant to Rule 12(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is hereby granted and the matter transferred to the Middle District of Florida pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1406(a).
NOTES
[1] Walt Disney Company is a California corporation and has not been served as a defendant in this matter. See discussion, infra.
[2] Indeed, Article III of the United States Constitution requires that the powers delegated to federal magistrates by Congress be limited to preserve the authority and integrity of Article III courts. See United States v. Saunders, 641 F.2d 659, 663 (9th Cir.1980); Horton v. State Street Bank & Trust Company, 590 F.2d 403, 404 (1st Cir.1979). As the issue treated here can be disposed of on statutory grounds, I need not reach issues of Constitutional dimension.
[3] Indeed, the Order to Show Cause issued by the Magistrate indicated that the issue to be argued was whether the action should be "dismissed" or "transferred". It is therefore reasonable to conclude that even the Magistrate viewed the question he had raised as dispositive.
Furthermore, the fact that the issue of the petition's deficiency was raised sua sponte and not by motion is immaterial. Where a magistrate cannot hear an issue properly raised and brought to the court's attention by a parties's motion, she cannot arrogate to herself the power to raise the issue independently.
[4] Although plaintiff filed and then withdrew her motion for remand, given the confusion sown by the Magistrate's actions I will consider the substance of plaintiff's motion as properly before the Court. It appears that plaintiff withdrew the motion when she discovered that the Magistrate had already granted the relief for which she had moved. Moreover, 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c) provides that if "at any time before a final judgment it appears that the case was removed improvidently and without jurisdiction, the court shall remand the case ..." Under this provision, a consideration of the Court's basis for jurisdiction, the petition, is appropriate.
[5] The information submitted after the issue of the removal's propriety was raised constitutes an amendment of the petition. Because diversity of the parties was alleged in the original petition, defendant could amend by providing allegations of greater specificity even after the thirty day limit to file a new petition had expired. See generally C. Wright, A. Miller, E. Cooper, 14A Federal Practice and Procedure § 3733 (nn. 11 & 15-16 and accompanying text); see also Roper Corp. Newark Division v. Farrow, 300 F.Supp. 103 (S.D.Ohio 1969) (the Court "is not limited to an examination of the original petition" in determining jurisdictional questions) (citing Roper Corp. v. Local Union No. 16, 279 F.Supp 717 (S.D.Ohio 1968)).
Moreover, the parties have stipulated that the jurisdictional amount has been satisfied in this case. Plaintiff has suffered an injury which she claims has required serious orthopedic surgery, including the implantation of an artificial hip. She also alleges substantial economic losses. Given these facts, I find the agreement of the parties on the issue of damages sufficient to establish an amount in controversy exceeding the $50,000 and curative of any defect in the petition as to jurisdictional amount.
[6] For purposes of this opinion, "personal jurisdiction" means in personam jurisdiction only. No issues of in rem or quasi in rem jurisdiction are implicated or have been raised in this litigation.
|
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Congressmen hunt for secret Obamacare repeal/replace bill
Sarah Kliff / Twitter
The GOP has drafted some portion of a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, which reportedly was being kept in Capitol room H-157 for Republican House members to stop in and view today. Rand Paul then made it his mission to track down and release the bill — only to be stopped at H-157's door.
He then held an impromptu press conference outside of "the secret office for the secret bill" and vowed to "keep pressure up all day today" to get House leadership to release the bill.
Democrats including Minority Whip Steny Hoyer and Paul Tonko smelled blood in the water as they showed up at the room to try to get a peek at the bill. Hoyer said Republican secrecy around the bill was"not good order for the American people." Tonko said he wants to read the bill "because it's affecting one-sixth of our nation's economy."
A twist! Reporters were let into H-157 to confirm that the bill was not being held there.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky: "Well, we're on a treasure hunt, I guess." She added that lawmakers might need a sniffer dog to find the bill. |
import setuptools
with open("README.md", "r") as fh:
long_description = fh.read()
setuptools.setup(
name="autoviz",
version="0.0.68",
author="Ram Seshadri",
# author_email="[email protected]",
description="Automatically Visualize any dataset, any size with a single line of code",
long_description=long_description,
long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
license='Apache License 2.0',
url="https://github.com/AutoViML/AutoViz",
packages=setuptools.find_packages(exclude=("tests",)),
install_requires=[
"ipython",
"jupyter",
"pandas",
"matplotlib",
"seaborn",
"scikit-learn",
"statsmodels",
"xgboost"
],
classifiers=[
"Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
"Operating System :: OS Independent",
],
)
|
The Internet of Things is going to solve climate change, fix our political system, and ensure that you can always find a parking spot. Some see a future of 15 billion connected devices.
Now, just the tiny matter of deploying them. There's a long way between all IoT's utopian promises and the reality. We've never attempted anything like this before.
The challenges are immense. How do those devices work autonomously? How do they work together? How do you balance the energy overhead of sending data from a low-powered sensor against processing it locally? What's the best format for your data and how can you use it when it arrives back at base?
Data is seen as one of IoT's biggest payoffs – generating and gathering it to help your business. But get IoT wrong, and you stand to be overwhelmed by that data wave. Cisco estimates IoT will generate 500 zetabytes of data by the end of 2019 while Gartner has warned of a data tsunami at the network's edge. Security, meanwhile, has consistently been one of the largest inhibitors to rollouts. The use of open systems running often low-priced chips coupled with sheer proliferation has made IoT vulnerable to hackers.
So what's the best way to deploy IoT and stay secure?
The biggest mistake is to become simply enamoured with data. It's a problem Ben Howes, founder of IoT specialist Zoetrope, sees all too often. People often skip the part where they think about the data that they need and what they will use it for, he told us. "There's a perception that you can get any and all data and then think about it later. You need use cases."
Richard Soley, chair and CEO of the Object Management Group, warns against looking for oft-touted idea of big-data magic. His advice is to design systems that are constrained to produce good results. Start small and with clearly defined data points and build from there, he says. "If you feed it into a machine learning algorithm, those programs can't explain how they decide things," Soley told The Register. "You'll screw it up eventually because you'll feed it data that you won't understand later."
Security and protection of data consistently top the reasons why companies have yet to roll out an IoT strategy. It's not difficult to see why: in 2016, websites including Twitter were taken down by a DDoS attack on DNS provider Dyn launched from millions of devices compromised using the Mirai malware.
Designers must therefore think about the security early on. After all, we're meant to be doing security by design and default, right? All the usual security thinking and practices apply, like encryption and use of passwords, but you'd be wrong to think you can forklift existing traditional security policies into an IoT environment.
John Moor, managing director of the IoT Security Foundation, explains: "If you talk to people who have a passion for data security they tend to be traditional infosec types that concentrate on the CIA triangle." That's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. "In IoT, it's more the 'I' and the 'A' that become dominant."
Ensuring that no one has tampered with your data – either incoming data for analytics or outgoing data for controlling devices in the field – should be a top priority for IoT teams. What kinds of things could attackers do to mess with your system? Imagine a factory that uses IoT data to report on production. Moor says competitors could – and have – interfered with that data to alter things just enough that it throws off a company's yield and inventory reporting. It's an excellent way to snarl up a supply chain and annoy your competitors' customers.
Encrypting traffic en route helps to stop attackers. One way to do that is to use digital keys so that they can sign their communications. Unfortunately, we're talking about hordes of devices here, which presents a fundamental management problem. Some vendors solve it by sharing private keys across thousands of devices. That is the wrong answer.
"You need unique keys on each device," says Howes. Even large clients have had trouble grasping how to do that, though, he admits. Responsible manufacturers will help with this process.
One promising development is physically unclonable functions (PUFs) that are being realised as hardware security modules (HSMs). PUFs analyse the random electrical properties of individual integrated circuits to create a unique key on demand without having to store it on the device. A major challenge in IoT is that hackers have been able to bypass the crypto keys.
Traditionally, if power to HSMs is cut, data is lost. Researchers in Germany, however, claim to have developed HSM technology that is self-powered so not dependant upon a battery. HSMs do, however, remain relatively expensive to implement.
In many ways, though, security will come not purely from technology but from the processes and practices you install. That should include ongoing risk assessment and threat detection and response. That ongoing aspect is important, because the nature of IoT means the threats and attacks are constantly evolving while you will often be acting without all the information.
But then there's transit, too
Two types of data are open to attack: the device's log data, which shows how well it's working, and the production data it creates to serve a business need. One of Howes' common complaints is that deployment teams often want to leave the log data on the device itself, rather than send it back to headquarters. When the data does move, organisations will SSH into a device – often only when something has gone wrong. "That's a big attack vector, and you can only get logs when the device is on," he points out. "There is no trend analysis, and they can't set up alerting when something goes wrong. There's no proactivity."
Configuring devices to communicate their log data regularly can help to flag problems in the infrastructure, he suggests.
What about that other data – the data supposed to let your organisation do all that useful, digital business stuff? This is the data you'll want to crunch and analyse. The big question here is: do you send it all home in its raw state, or do you process it locally first? Is your IoT data to be harvested centrally, or treated at the edge? Or somewhere in the middle, via some aggregator device? And how do you make that decision?
Sometimes, your answer will be driven by practical considerations like the volume of data and network capacity.
"Sometimes it's just a question of low bandwidth. So how much data am I generating and do I have the bandwidth to move it elsewhere," Soley says. 'If I can, then I will do it because then I can correlate that data."
There are times, though, when you won't have the bandwidth or you may lose connectivity altogether. In mining or on an oil rig, wearables might need to keep track of where personnel are and what they're doing but might not have connectivity. You could document that data on the device or maybe aggregate it somewhere in a local mesh network, and then upload a small, processed file at the end of each day for reporting.
You may not have the latency to communicate data for actionable decisions, either. Autonomous vehicles don't have the time to talk to the cloud when deciding how to drive, so the time-critical data is handled on board, while the non-time-sensitive information used for AI training and analytics can be processed and uploaded later.
The Industrial Internet Consortium has been looking at this. It has been operating more than two-dozen testbeds, in which it assesses real-world IoT deployments in industrial settings. The idea is to learn more about what works in industrial IoT settings.
One of these testbeds tracked the usage of tools at Bosch and at a large, unnamed aircraft manufacturer. Smart tools containing sensors could feed back data including their location and current usage patterns. Tools might stop working until a user was holding them correctly and in the right part of the factory for that task, for example.
"We had to write device drivers for every tool. That would have been easier if there was a semantic framework for them," Soley says. "Now, Object Management Group is working on that."
Your choice of where and how to process data could, then, contain hidden complications. Standardising interfaces at a low enough level, though, and applying them across multiple devices and applications, could mean companies in the future can deploy their IoT without having to reinvent the wheel at a deep level.
Devices in the workplace are not a new phenomenon. They've existed in sectors such as oil and gas and healthcare for decades. What is new is the fact devices are now being made of industry-standard hardware and software, connected to the internet, and rolled out on such a massive scale – including to the home.
Managing the devices and the data in these deployments is more difficult than it looks, and the pioneers are still navigating uncharted territory.
Getting real on the data myth and also tackling security fundamentals remain two of the biggest common issues in IoT – regardless of sector.
Armed with some basic best practices and knowledge of the common pitfalls, though, you can at least proceed with a rough map – even if you do find yourself filling in some gaps yourself along the way. ® |
c banded5x5.f
c
c This Fortran library contains implementations of the
c differential equation
c dy/dt = A*y
c where A is a 5x5 banded matrix (see below for the actual
c values). These functions will be used to test
c scipy.integrate.odeint.
c
c The idea is to solve the system two ways: pure Fortran, and
c using odeint. The "pure Fortran" solver is implemented in
c the subroutine banded5x5_solve below. It calls LSODA to
c solve the system.
c
c To solve the same system using odeint, the functions in this
c file are given a python wrapper using f2py. Then the code
c in test_odeint_jac.py uses the wrapper to implement the
c equation and Jacobian functions required by odeint. Because
c those functions ultimately call the Fortran routines defined
c in this file, the two method (pure Fortran and odeint) should
c produce exactly the same results. (That's assuming floating
c point calculations are deterministic, which can be an
c incorrect assumption.) If we simply re-implemented the
c equation and Jacobian functions using just python and numpy,
c the floating point calculations would not be performed in
c the same sequence as in the Fortran code, and we would obtain
c different answers. The answer for either method would be
c numerically "correct", but the errors would be different,
c and the counts of function and Jacobian evaluations would
c likely be different.
c
block data jacobian
implicit none
double precision bands
dimension bands(4,5)
common /jac/ bands
c The data for a banded Jacobian stored in packed banded
c format. The full Jacobian is
c
c -1, 0.25, 0, 0, 0
c 0.25, -5, 0.25, 0, 0
c 0.10, 0.25, -25, 0.25, 0
c 0, 0.10, 0.25, -125, 0.25
c 0, 0, 0.10, 0.25, -625
c
c The columns in the following layout of numbers are
c the upper diagonal, main diagonal and two lower diagonals
c (i.e. each row in the layout is a column of the packed
c banded Jacobian). The values 0.00D0 are in the "don't
c care" positions.
data bands/
+ 0.00D0, -1.0D0, 0.25D0, 0.10D0,
+ 0.25D0, -5.0D0, 0.25D0, 0.10D0,
+ 0.25D0, -25.0D0, 0.25D0, 0.10D0,
+ 0.25D0, -125.0D0, 0.25D0, 0.00D0,
+ 0.25D0, -625.0D0, 0.00D0, 0.00D0
+ /
end
subroutine getbands(jac)
double precision jac
dimension jac(4, 5)
cf2py intent(out) jac
double precision bands
dimension bands(4,5)
common /jac/ bands
integer i, j
do 5 i = 1, 4
do 5 j = 1, 5
jac(i, j) = bands(i, j)
5 continue
return
end
c
c Differential equations, right-hand-side
c
subroutine banded5x5(n, t, y, f)
implicit none
integer n
double precision t, y, f
dimension y(n), f(n)
double precision bands
dimension bands(4,5)
common /jac/ bands
f(1) = bands(2,1)*y(1) + bands(1,2)*y(2)
f(2) = bands(3,1)*y(1) + bands(2,2)*y(2) + bands(1,3)*y(3)
f(3) = bands(4,1)*y(1) + bands(3,2)*y(2) + bands(2,3)*y(3)
+ + bands(1,4)*y(4)
f(4) = bands(4,2)*y(2) + bands(3,3)*y(3) + bands(2,4)*y(4)
+ + bands(1,5)*y(5)
f(5) = bands(4,3)*y(3) + bands(3,4)*y(4) + bands(2,5)*y(5)
return
end
c
c Jacobian
c
c The subroutine assumes that the full Jacobian is to be computed.
c ml and mu are ignored, and nrowpd is assumed to be n.
c
subroutine banded5x5_jac(n, t, y, ml, mu, jac, nrowpd)
implicit none
integer n, ml, mu, nrowpd
double precision t, y, jac
dimension y(n), jac(nrowpd, n)
integer i, j
double precision bands
dimension bands(4,5)
common /jac/ bands
do 15 i = 1, 4
do 15 j = 1, 5
if ((i - j) .gt. 0) then
jac(i - j, j) = bands(i, j)
end if
15 continue
return
end
c
c Banded Jacobian
c
c ml = 2, mu = 1
c
subroutine banded5x5_bjac(n, t, y, ml, mu, bjac, nrowpd)
implicit none
integer n, ml, mu, nrowpd
double precision t, y, bjac
dimension y(5), bjac(nrowpd, n)
integer i, j
double precision bands
dimension bands(4,5)
common /jac/ bands
do 20 i = 1, 4
do 20 j = 1, 5
bjac(i, j) = bands(i, j)
20 continue
return
end
subroutine banded5x5_solve(y, nsteps, dt, jt, nst, nfe, nje)
c jt is the Jacobian type:
c jt = 1 Use the full Jacobian.
c jt = 4 Use the banded Jacobian.
c nst, nfe and nje are outputs:
c nst: Total number of internal steps
c nfe: Total number of function (i.e. right-hand-side)
c evaluations
c nje: Total number of Jacobian evaluations
implicit none
external banded5x5
external banded5x5_jac
external banded5x5_bjac
external LSODA
c Arguments...
double precision y, dt
integer nsteps, jt, nst, nfe, nje
cf2py intent(inout) y
cf2py intent(in) nsteps, dt, jt
cf2py intent(out) nst, nfe, nje
c Local variables...
double precision atol, rtol, t, tout, rwork
integer iwork
dimension y(5), rwork(500), iwork(500)
integer neq, i
integer itol, iopt, itask, istate, lrw, liw
c Common block...
double precision jacband
dimension jacband(4,5)
common /jac/ jacband
c --- t range ---
t = 0.0D0
c --- Solver tolerances ---
rtol = 1.0D-11
atol = 1.0D-13
itol = 1
c --- Other LSODA parameters ---
neq = 5
itask = 1
istate = 1
iopt = 0
iwork(1) = 2
iwork(2) = 1
lrw = 500
liw = 500
c --- Call LSODA in a loop to compute the solution ---
do 40 i = 1, nsteps
tout = i*dt
if (jt .eq. 1) then
call LSODA(banded5x5, neq, y, t, tout,
& itol, rtol, atol, itask, istate, iopt,
& rwork, lrw, iwork, liw,
& banded5x5_jac, jt)
else
call LSODA(banded5x5, neq, y, t, tout,
& itol, rtol, atol, itask, istate, iopt,
& rwork, lrw, iwork, liw,
& banded5x5_bjac, jt)
end if
40 if (istate .lt. 0) goto 80
nst = iwork(11)
nfe = iwork(12)
nje = iwork(13)
return
80 write (6,89) istate
89 format(1X,"Error: istate=",I3)
return
end
|
Evaluation of efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI for elderly patients with gastric cancer: a first-line phase II study.
Current chemotherapy protocols for gastric cancer present high toxicity. The FOLFIRI regimen has shown promising results with elderly colorectal cancer patients and for gastric cancer patients but this is the first report on elderly gastric cancer patients. In this multicenter non-randomized phase II trial, we administered the FOLFIRI chemotherapy protocol (irinotecan [180 mg/m(2)], fluorouracil [5-FU] [400 mg/m(2)] and folinic acid 400 mg/m(2) or 200mg/m(2) of l-folinic acid) to patients aged over 70 years with locally-advanced or metastatic gastric cancer combined with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA). Responses were assessed at 2 months. Forty-two patients received eight cycles of the FOLFIRI regimen, with 82.5% of patients showing disease control: 10 patients (26%) showing objective (partial or complete) responses and 23 (57.5%) showing stable disease. One-year overall survival (OS) was 41.5% [95%CI 26.5-56.0] and one-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 31.8% [95%CI 18.4-46.1%]. We observed 10 Grade 3/4 hematologic toxicities with one febrile neutropenia. CGA data demonstrated that geriatric functions were not altered by treatment and that nutritional status improved over treatment. Results show excellent disease control and relatively high survival rates with limited toxicity similar to younger patients indicating that this regimen should be considered as a possible treatment in advanced gastric cancer of the elderly. |
Q:
How can lines with other characters than letters be removed from output?
I have a code where I extract bigrams from a large corpus, and concatenate/merge them to get unigrams. 'may', 'be' --> maybe. The corpus contains, of course, a lot of punctuations, but I also discovered that it contains other characters such as emojis... My plan was to put punctuations in a list, and if those characters are not in a line, print the line. Maybe I should change my approach and only print the lines ONLY containing letters and no other characters, since I don't know what kinds of characters are in the corpus. How can this be done? I do need to keep these other characters for the first part of the code, so that bigrams that don't actually exist are printed. The last lines of my code are at the moment:
counted = collections.Counter(grams)
for gram, count in sorted(counted.items()):
s = ''
print (s.join(gram))
And the output I get is:
!aku
!bet
!brå
!båda
These lines won't be of any use for me... Would really appreciate some help! :)
A:
If you want to check that each string contains only letters you can probably use the isalpha() method.
>>> '!båda'.isalpha()
False
>>> 'båda'.isalpha()
True
As you can see from the example, this method should recognize any unicode letter, not just ascii.
|
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Investors Holding T-Bills Due Tomorrow Get Nervous
Rates on the shortest Treasury bills surge as Fitch places U.S. credit rating on negative watch.
Investors holding $120 billion of Treasury bills coming due tomorrow are increasingly worried that they won’t get paid.
Rates on the bills, maturing the same day that Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew has said the U.S. will exhaust its borrowing capacity, have surged 16 basis points, or 0.16 percentage point, to 0.36 percent this week, according to Bloomberg Bond Trader prices. The securities, issued a year earlier, traded at a rate of negative 0.01 percent as recently as Sept. 26.
“That is how fear manifests itself,” said Marc Fovinci, head of fixed income at Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. in Portland, Oregon, who helps invest $3.5 billion and holds about $500,000 of Oct. 31 bills in one account. “The market is discounting a day, or several days delay in payments.”
Lew told Congress last week the extraordinary measures being used to avoid breaching the debt ceiling “will be exhausted no later than Oct. 17” and the department will have about $30 billion to pay obligations if Congress fails to reach an agreement to lift the cap. Fitch Ratings placed the U.S.’s AAA credit rating on a negative watch yesterday, citing the government’s failure to raise its borrowing limit as the deadline approaches.
The Treasury should have enough money to pay off the Oct. 17 bills, according to Ira Jersey, an interest-rate strategist in New York at Credit Suisse Group AG, one of the 21 primary dealer obligated to bid at Treasury auctions. The U.S. raised $13 billion in “new cash” through yesterday’s sale of $65 billion in three- and six-month bills, which should leave the government with about $40 billion once the Oct. 17 bills mature, he said.
“After that the government is running on its last gallon of financial gas,” Jersey wrote in an e-mail. “After Oct. 24, the government will be running on fumes.”
The next securities maturing after the Oct. 17 debt are $93 billion of bills due Oct. 24. Rates on those bills have risen 20 basis points to 0.47 percent this week and touched 0.53 percent, the highest since they were sold in April. The rate was negative as recently as Sept. 27.
‘Close Enough’
“We are close enough to the deadline that, even if the latest headlines suggest the talks are progressing, there will be those risk-averse investors who decide they don’t want to hold those bills,” said John Davies, a U.S. interest-rate strategist at Standard Chartered Plc in London. “For many Treasury bill holders, a delayed payment can cause major problems and that means you have to shift your positioning, which creates selling pressure.”
The Treasury is scheduled to sell $68 billion in bills today, including $20 billion of four-week securities, $22 billion in one-year debt and $26 billion in 189-day cash management bills.
The sizes of the four-week and 27-week bills indicates the Treasury has “slightly more room left under the debt limit” than previously estimated, according to Wrightson ICAP LLC, an economic advisory company specializing in government finance.
“There is very little chance that the Treasury will have any trouble rolling over the Oct. 24 bills even if -- as seems quite possible -- the debt ceiling dispute drags into next week,” according to a commentary on the Jersey City, New Jersey-based company’s website yesterday.
The three-month bills sold yesterday drew a bid-to-cover ratio of 3.13, below the 4.52 average over the past 10 auctions. The high rate of 0.13 percent was the most since February 2011. The bid-to-cover ratio at the six-month bill auction was 3.52 versus an average of 5.07 at the previous 10 sales. It drew a rate of 0.15 percent, the highest since November 2012.
This was the second-consecutive week bill that auctions attracted lower-than-average demand amid the budget wrangling in Washington.
“The bill auctions were very poor,” said Thomas Simons, a government-debt economist in New York at primary dealer Jefferies LLC. “Unless there is some type of agreement in Washington, the bill market will continue to trade choppily and auctions will not go well.”
Senate leaders resumed talks aimed at avoiding a default and ending the government shutdown after the Republican-controlled House scrapped a vote on its plan.
Initial Conditions
Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, had suspended their talks earlier while the House was considering its own bill. The House proposal contained almost none of Republicans’ initial conditions for ending the shutdown and raising the debt ceiling.
The emerging Senate agreement would fund the government through Jan. 15, 2014, and suspend the debt ceiling through Feb. 7, 2014. The Treasury Department could use its extraordinary measures to delay default for about another month beyond that, said a Senate Democratic aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the plan.
“Although Fitch continues to believe that the debt ceiling will be raised soon, the political brinkmanship and reduced financing flexibility could increase the risk of a U.S. default,” Fitch analysts Ed Parker, Tony Stringer and Douglas Renwick wrote in a report published yesterday. Fitch said it expects to resolve its rating watch negative outlook on the U.S. by the first quarter of 2014.
Moody’s Investors Service, which rates the U.S. a stable Aaa grade, reiterated that it expects the debt ceiling to be raised, averting a default. The company also anticipates “that the U.S. government will pay interest and principal on its debt even if the statutory debt limit isn’t raised.”
Standard & Poor’s stripped the U.S. of its top credit grade on Aug. 5, 2011, citing Washington gridlock and the lack of an agreement on a way to contain its increasing ratio of debt to gross domestic product. The ratio of public debt to GDP is projected to decline to 74.6 percent in 2015 after peaking next year at 76.2 percent, according to a Congressional Budget Office forecast in May.
“We do think what’s going on right now validates our decision to lower the rating one notch,” John Chambers, a managing director of sovereign ratings at S&P, said yesterday in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Surveillance.” “We think there will be an 11th hour deal, and that is our working assumption.”
Record Low
While the S&P downgrade didn’t result in investors charging the U.S. more to borrow, as 10-year yields fell to a record 1.38 percent in July 2012, the move contributed to a global stock-market rout that erased about $6 trillion in value from July 26 to Aug. 12, 2011.
Citigroup Inc. is bracing for a possible U.S. default by avoiding some short-term Treasury investments amid what Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat called “a dangerous flirtation with the debt ceiling.”
Corbat made the remark during a conference call yesterday to discuss third-quarter results at New York-based Citigroup. The bank doesn’t own Treasuries that mature in October and holds few with terms ending before Nov. 16, Chief Financial Officer John Gerspach said.
Although rates on bills have risen, they are lower than historical levels. One-month rates have averaged 1.5 percent in the past 10 years. During that time they touched a high of 5.26 percent in November 2006 and dropped to a low of negative 0.09 percent in December 2008.
Two years ago, one-month rates climbed to a 29-month high of 0.18 percent as the Aug. 2, 2011, deadline set by Treasury to avoid a default approached. They traded at negative 0.046 percent in December 2012 before a year-end trigger that forced automatic spending cuts and tax increases.
The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based nonprofit research group, estimates that the Treasury will actually be unable to pay all the government’s bills on time at some point between Oct. 22 and Nov. 1. While the Treasury will probably be able to delay the true drop-dead date for a few days, it is unlikely to be able to do so beyond Nov. 1 because several large payments are due before then, the center says.
“There’s just a general interest in the market to be out of any paper in the market that could potentially be impacted by the debt ceiling in any way,” said Andrew Hollenhorst, fixed-income strategist at Citigroup in New York. “That’s just general concern around the debt ceiling and concern around something the market doesn’t feel it completely understands.”
Treasury & Risk
Treasury & Risk is an online publication and robust website designed to meet the information needs of finance, treasury, and risk management professionals. Our editorial content, delivered through multiple interactive channels, mixes strategic insights from thought leaders with in-depth analysis of best practices, original research projects, and case studies with corporate innovators. |
#
# Copyright (C) 2006-2016 OpenWrt.org
#
# This is free software, licensed under the GNU General Public License v2.
# See /LICENSE for more information.
#
include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
PKG_NAME:=ca-certificates
PKG_VERSION:=20161130+nmu1
PKG_MAINTAINER:=Christian Schoenebeck <[email protected]>
PKG_SOURCE:=$(PKG_NAME)_$(PKG_VERSION).tar.xz
PKG_SOURCE_URL:=http://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/c/ca-certificates
PKG_MD5SUM:=a09e8b63126188fd0ed77f6fbaf5d35f
PKG_BUILD_DIR:=$(BUILD_DIR)/$(PKG_NAME)-20161130
PKG_INSTALL:=1
include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/package.mk
define Package/ca-certificates
SECTION:=base
CATEGORY:=Base system
TITLE:=System CA certificates
PKGARCH:=all
endef
define Package/ca-bundle
SECTION:=base
CATEGORY:=Base system
TITLE:=System CA certificates as a bundle
PKGARCH:=all
endef
define Build/Install
mkdir -p \
$(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/sbin \
$(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/share/ca-certificates
$(call Build/Install/Default,)
endef
define Package/ca-certificates/install
$(INSTALL_DIR) $(1)/etc/ssl/certs
$(INSTALL_DATA) $(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/share/ca-certificates/*/*.crt $(1)/etc/ssl/certs/
for CERTFILE in `ls -1 $(1)/etc/ssl/certs`; do \
HASH=`openssl x509 -hash -noout -in $(1)/etc/ssl/certs/$$$$CERTFILE` ; \
SUFFIX=0 ; \
while [ -h "$(1)/etc/ssl/certs/$$$$HASH.$$$$SUFFIX" ]; do \
let "SUFFIX += 1" ; \
done ; \
$(LN) "$$$$CERTFILE" "$(1)/etc/ssl/certs/$$$$HASH.$$$$SUFFIX" ; \
done
endef
define Package/ca-bundle/install
$(INSTALL_DIR) $(1)/etc/ssl/certs
cat $(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/share/ca-certificates/*/*.crt >$(1)/etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt
endef
$(eval $(call BuildPackage,ca-certificates))
$(eval $(call BuildPackage,ca-bundle))
|
Q:
How to detect if fetch cursor returned no value?
I have this:
declare
toStoreA varchar2(10);
toStoreB varchar2(10);
toStoreC varchar2(10);
cursor c1 is
select a, b, c
from table1
where login = 'myLogin';
begin
open c1;
fetch c1 into toStoreA,
toStoreB,
toStoreC
close c1;
if toStoreB = NULL then
dbms_output.put_line('OK, we are in if, toStoreB is null');
end if;
dbms_output.put_line('toStoreA:' || toStoreA || '_');
dbms_output.put_line('toStoreB:' || toStoreB || '_');
dbms_output.put_line('toStoreC:' || toStoreC || '_');
end;
My target is to detect if fetch cursor returned no value.
If I will query my sql statement in sql window I will get this:
> select a, b, c from table1 where login = 'myLogin';
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ some val + + +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is what I get in DBMS Output window:
toStoreA:some val_
toStoreB:_
toStoreC:_
As you see, I don't get string OK, we are in if, toStoreB is null in DBMS Output. Why? Well, obvious if is not passed. The question is how to correctly check if fetch cursor returned null value (no value)?
I'd also tried if toStoreB = '' then but it didn't help.
A:
You can't test for null with equality; null is never equal to (or not equal to) anything, including itself. And the empty string '' is indistinguishable from null, so you can't use equality tests for that either. See the explanation in the documentation. You can fix the immediate problem by using the is null operator instead:
if toStoreB is NULL then
With that change you see:
anonymous block completed
OK, we are in if, toStoreB is null
toStoreA:some val_
toStoreB:_
toStoreC:_
I slightly misinterpreted the question initially, thinking you meant that you wanted to check if the fetch returned no rows, rather than that a specific column had no value; so the rest of this isn't directly relevant. If you're always expecting a single row then you can use select into ... instead of a named cursor; but with a cursor you can test for what was fetched more flexibly...
That only tells you that the fetch didn't find anything if b cannot be null; even if you think that's the case now it isn't something you should necessarily rely on, and isn't a generic solution.
You can check whether anything was fetched with the `%notfound' cursor attribute:
open c1;
fetch c1 into toStoreA,
toStoreB,
toStoreC;
if c1%notfound then
dbms_output.put_line('No row was fetched');
end if;
close c1;
Note that it has to be checked before you close the cursor, usually straight after a fetch. It will error if you try to check it after the close. This is often used to break out of a loop that fetches, once all data has been retrieved.
So with both changes and a modified query that finds no data, you see:
anonymous block completed
No row was fetched
OK, we are in if, toStoreB is null
toStoreA:_
toStoreB:_
toStoreC:_
|
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photoelectric converter for converting a received optical signal to an electric signal, an image sensor provided with the photoelectric converter and used in an image reader, and a signal reading circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of an image sensor used in a conventional image reader. FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram of a shift register and light receiving elements for the image sensor. FIG. 11 is an equivalent circuit of the light receiving elements. FIG. 12 is an operation timing chart of the image sensor.
As shown in FIG. 10, the image sensor changes resolutions by switching connections of the shift register based on a MODE signal. Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, at a low resolution mode, the image sensor simultaneously reads plural pixel signals into a common signal line. When the resolution is 1/2 for example, the image sensor simultaneously reads two pixel signals into the common signal line (see JP 11-234473 A: pages 7 to 11 and FIGS. 1 to 4).
However, such a conventional image reader requires many elements to form a switching circuit for switching data signals and has a problem of increase in chip area. In particular, when three or more kinds of resolutions are switched, still more elements are needed for switching data signals. Also, when signals of plural light receiving elements are simultaneously read into the common signal line, offsets of amplifiers for amplifying an output of each light receiving element differ from each other, so levels of signals to be read vary depending on resolutions. Thus, a problem occurs in that a circuit for correcting the variation is necessary. |
Q:
Kafka: In what situation will message for a topic be out of order, if order for each partition is preserved
The author of the article "Kafka in a Nutshell" (at https://sookocheff.com/post/kafka/kafka-in-a-nutshell/) states that:
Kafka makes the following guarantees about data consistency and availability: (1) Messages sent to a topic partition will be appended to the commit log in the order they are sent, (2) a single consumer instance will see messages in the order they appear in the log, (3) a message is ‘committed’ when all in sync replicas have applied it to their log, and (4) any committed message will not be lost, as long as at least one in sync replica is alive.
The first and second guarantee ensure that message ordering is preserved for each partition. Note that message ordering for the entire topic is not guaranteed. ...
I'm curious as to what the author meant when he said:
Note that message ordering for the entire topic is not guaranteed.
A:
Kafka topic consists of multiple partitions where message get appended to each partition based on key hashing or partitioner rule (random, round-robin, custom etc.)
Topic partition basically parallelize process by distributing message across partition
Hence Kafka guarantee order on each partition but since message get distributed across partition we can not guarantee order globally or per topic
As above diagram producer publishing message to topic but it get appended sequentially to any of the partition hence
E.g. assume partition selection is round-robin
message 1 -> publish to p1 in position 1
message 2 -> publish to p2 in position 1
message 3 -> publish to p2 in position 3
message 4 -> publish to p1 in position 2
message 5 -> publish to p2 in position 2
and so on
so consumer can consumer message but could not be in same order as producer.
If you want to have a global ordering, you will need to have only 1 partition.
|
Modulating gene expression by transfection or RNA-interference (RNAi) is a powerful means for studying the functions of genes. Realization of both techniques depends on delivery of the corresponding nucleic acids into cells in a tissue. The existing methods for localized delivery, e.g. microcapillary injection and electroporation, are laborious, invasive and often damaging.
Several techniques for introducing nucleic acids into cells and tissues are currently in use, including viral transformation, lipofection, electroporation, direct injection through microcapillaries and ballistic carrier particle delivery. In the latter technique, termed “biolistic”, the molecules to be delivered are carried by micron-size particles of a heavy metal that are accelerated to high speeds and launched into the target cells. Substances injected into cells using the biolistic method have included DNA, fluorescent dyes, and RNA. The particle-mediated delivery is not sensitive to permeability of the cell membrane to particular reagents and lacks the potentially deleterious effects of viruses and lipofection. It can also be particularly advantageous for live tissue applications, because it does not depend on molecular diffusion within tissue and can target cells in internal layers. Nevertheless, the application area of the particle -mediated delivery has been limited by the current design of “gene guns” used for particle acceleration.
Gene gun operation can be based on a variety of different principles. In one method, a shock wave can be generated by a chemical explosion (dry gunpowder), a discharge of helium gas under high pressure, by vaporization of a drop of water through a electric discharge at high voltage and low capacitance, or at low voltage and high capacitance. Most of the original work on this technique is described in patents by inventors from Cornell University and Agracetus, Inc. of Middleton, Wis. Another technique is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,525,510, incorporated herein by reference, and falls in the class of “fluid effects” for achieving high power with little damage to the tissue. This patent describes a gene gun using the “Coanda Effect” to accelerate the projectiles. The Coanda Effect is a passive design using the geometry of the diverter of the gas stream to pull the accelerant away from the nozzle by having it follow a curved surface.
Existing gene guns, including the table-top PDS-1000 and the popular hand-held Helios (both available from Bio-Rad Laboratories of Hercules, Calif.), deliver particles to relatively large areas (cm2) with limited accuracy and reproducibility. In addition, the tissue targeted by a Helios™ gun may be damaged by the jet of gas emerging from the gun nozzle. An image of the Helios™ gun and a diagram showing the basic components of the device are provided in FIGS. 1a and 1b, respectively. Beads coated with genetic material are glued to the internal wall of the cartridge using a preparation available from the manufacturer. The gene gun uses compressed helium at pressures of 7-20 atm. Particles are accelerated by helium flow in the “acceleration channel”, which is followed by an opening cone, “barrel liner”, and a spacer, illustrated in FIG. 1b. The two latter elements are intended to vent the helium gas away from the target to minimize cell surface impact. Nonetheless, unlike the narrow holes perforated by the micron size particles, the impact of the high speed helium jet emerging from the barrel may inflict significant damage to the tissue located in front of the barrel. Therefore, the problem of stopping/diverting the flow of the gas accelerating the particles has been a major concern with the gene gun design.
With current methods, there is a trade off between penetration depth and tissue damage. The Helios™ device is limited in that the range of bead penetration into the tissue is less than ˜50 μm. To increase the penetration depth, the particles must be accelerated to a higher velocity, which can only be achieved by increasing the helium jet pulse velocity which, in turn, increases damage to the tissue.
Both in-vivo and in slice preparation would greatly benefit from a method for delivery of dyes or genetic material into the cells that lie as deep as 200-400 μm. A technique for delivery fluorescent dyes into living tissue is described by Gan, W. B., J. Grutzendler, et al. (2000), “Multicolor “DiOlistic” Labeling of the Nervous System using Lipophilic Dye Combinations,” Neuron 27(2): 219-25. A Bio-Rad gene gun was used to deliver multiple fluorescent dyes into neuronal tissue for anatomical study. The described method had limited effect, however, due to the low penetration depth of the beads. Efforts to reduce damage caused by the gas flow have led to deceleration of the particles and a resulting reduction of their penetration depth. This limits the usefulness the current technology for applications in mammalian brain tissue, where most of the cell bodies lie 100 μm or more below the surface.
Tests using an agarose gel to emulate brain tissue showed that it is possible to obtain a major increase in the depth of penetration with a more focused jet of helium, however, there was a concomitant increase in damage to the gel surface. Accordingly, the need remains for a gene gun that can reproducibly achieve large penetration depths with minimal damage. Moreover, there is demand for new techniques of localized, accurate, reproducible and non-damaging delivery of substances such as nucleic acids and dyes into live tissue. The present invention is directed to such a device and method. |
Hotel beer brewing equipment is a good choice for ginshop,
barbecue, restaurant who brew beer for customer at scene. Small
floor coverage makes it possible to show consumers the whole
process of beer brewing. The luxury and sanitary process comforts
the consumers and give them impressed experience.
Product Description
Bright beer tanks are used to store beer.
These tanks are used for the storage of the beer prior to being
served or packaged.
Depending on their application the beer serving tanks can be glycol
jacketed or can be
located in a cold room.For brewpubs serving is often done by
pumping or
pressurizing the beer toward the serving location.
Heating method
advantages
disadvantages
Direct fire
Less costly to buy and install
Slower heating times,
more caramelization of sugars in the wort
Electric
Easy to operate
High energy comsumption
Steam
Faster heating times,
more diversity and control,
more energy efficiency,
and almost no caramelization of sugars
added cost of a steam boiler and install
Parameter
main technical parameters
MW-
2BBL
MW-
5BBL
MW-
7BBL
MW-
8.5BBL
MW-
10BBL
MW-
15BBL
MW-
20BBL
MW-
25BBL
MW-
30BBL
MW-
40BBL
MW-
50BBL
working volume(bbl)
2
5
7
8.5
10
15
20
25
30
40
50
Material
high quality sus304, high precision. polishing.
Recommend the bar, hotel for visiting could choose copper for
outside skin
inner tank diameter(mm)
800
1000
1150
1300
1200
1500
1600
1700
1700
1900
2150
Cylindrical Height (mm)
600
750
750
750
1000
1000
1220
1220
1500
1500
1500
The external diameter of tank(mm)
The inner cylinder diameter+Insulation*2
The reference height (mm)
The whole system is designed on the basis of beautiful appearance
Inner surface roughness
Mirror polish,Ra≤0.22μm
Head surface roughness
Mirror polish/Matt wiredrawing processing
Top head type
DHA/DHB
Bottom head type
Flat bottom or 120º～185º cone
Heating type
Heating type:Electric heating,gas heating or steam heating
Heating area
To meet the requirements of boiling process
The material of insulation
Anti - aging polyurethane Pearl(PU)
Insulation thickness(mm)
50/80/100
Outside skin
Stainless steel 2B board/Mirro polish/Matt wiredrawing processing,
Exhaust funnel
Specifications:Tri-clampΦ76/Φ89/Φ102/Φ133/Φ159/Φ219/Φ300,Outlet
condensate water
Top manhole
DN300,DN350,DN400,DN500,DN600 could be chose,with sight glass,
Adjustable feet
3 or 4,Round legs,Adjustable height
Could be chose
Paddle mixing(Whether you need to mix should be based on
requirements)
Bulk cargo: standard wooden case which can avoid any clash during the sea or
air transportation in case of causing damage to the equipment’s
surface.
Container cargo: the equipment will be bound firmly and won’t easily swing to the
side, or up, or down.
WHY CHOOSE OUR PRODUCT
1. Short lead time: the equipment will be delivered within 60 days
after the deposit is received.2. Pipe welding: using automatic pipe
welding machine, reduce dead corner of pipes.
3. Ferrule treatment: adopting cold-drawing technique, makes sure
of dimensional accuracy and surface quality. The surface of nozzles
will be smooth, and it will avoid sharp edges.3. Best Service. From
the time customer release the order till customer get the products,
we will provide on-time service, and willing to solve any problem
at the first time.4. The products has two year Warranty from the
time when the customer received the tanks.5. Customer special
design is available.
Company Information
Our company’s advantages over other companies:
We have a modernized standard factory and employ more than 100
employees. DYE is a high-tech enterprise which combines design,
developing, selling and after-sale service as a whole.
Our company has more than 7 technicians from R&D department, so
we can provide a special scheme for the customer and beer
production line’s design and developing.
Besides, our company has a professional technical team with more
than 10 employees and 20 employees in our company hold passports,
thus, they can visit customers and help customers
install and debug machine at any time and solve after-sale problems
timely.
Moreover, our company has a professional sales team with more than
20 employees and 15 of them specialize in foreign trades (English
and Russian). Those foreign trade salesmen can go
abroad to attend the exhibition and communicate with foreign
customers successfully. We are specialized in brewing equipment and
distillation equipment which are designed and put into use
gradually.
Our Services
Pre-sale service:
1. Free of making offers, craft and technical guidance.
2. We can provide company’s qualification certification and the
drawings.
3. We can also make customized products according to customer’s
needs.
After-sale service:
1. We provide long-term after-sale service.
2. Owing to the quotation of our equipment is FOB price which
excluded charges of door-to-door service. Thus, if necessary, we
can appoint our technician to debug the
machine with air ticket, visa, accommodation and labor cost
provided by your party. Or you can send your technician to our
company to learn techniques.
3. Meanwhile, you can call or e-mail to consult any relevant
questions since we have a special line of after-sale service. Or
you can communicate online and solve the problems.
FAQ
You can DIY the product you wanted to reduce the operating costs
and meet your branding needs.
Of the Public Accounts
All the payment will be received by our company bank account and
all the transaction is monitored by unionpay. Also, alipay and O/A
are acceptable too.
Convenient Transportation
We cooperated with efficient logistics which ensure the goods can
be reached you timely and save more time for your party.
Choose
All the discussion and terms will be showed in our contract, which
ensure your interests legally. Also welcome to visit us at any
time.
Pre-consultation
Please contact us before you place an order, or need any technical
support or guidance.
Specialty
We have a team of sales, our own factory, long term cooperated
logistics and after-sale workers.
All the Time
We will be waiting for you all the day, including the holidays. We
are ready to serve you at any time. |
This article is more than 1 year old
This article is more than 1 year old
This article is more than 1 year old
The politician spearheading efforts to force Nicolás Maduro from power has vowed to step up his “fight for freedom” amid reports Venezuelan special forces had visited his home in the capital Caracas.
Addressing a packed theatre at the city’s Central University of Venezuela on Thursday lunchtime, Juan Guaidó said the opposition was determined to end Venezuela’s “tragedy” and lead the country into a new era of stability and prosperity.
The 35-year-old former student leader – at the centre of a growing political storm since declaring himself Venezuela’s interim president last week – summoned new protests for Saturday in an effort to increase pressure on Maduro’s embattled regime.
Q&A Why is Venezuela in such a bad way? Show Hide Venezuela’s current plight can be traced to a revolution that went terribly wrong. When Hugo Chávez, a former military officer, was elected president in 1998, he inherited a middle-income country plagued by deep inequality. Chávez had led an abortive coup attempt in 1992 and after winning power through the ballot box he set about transforming society. Chávez drove through a wide range of social reforms as part of his Bolivarian revolution, financed with the help of high oil profits – but he also bypassed parliament with a new constitution in 1999. The muzzling of parliamentary democracy – and the spread of corruption and mismanagement in state-run enterprises – intensified after 2010 amid falling oil prices. Chávez’s “economic war” against shortages led to hyperinflation and the collapse of private sector industry. The implosion in the economy between 2013 and 2017 was worse than the US in the Great Depression. In an attempt to stabilise the economy and control prices of essential goods, Chávez introduced strict controls on foreign currency exchange, but the mechanism soon became a tool for corruption. When Chávez died of cancer, his place was taken by his foreign minister, Nicolás Maduro, who has intensified his mentor’s approach of responding to the economic downward spiral by concentrating power, ruling by decree and political repression. Photograph: HANDOUT/X80001
“The dictatorship believes it can scare us,” Guaidó told an audience of supporters, announcing that he had received reports of his home being visited by members of the Special Actions Force (FAES) police unit. His baby daughter and grandmother were reportedly at home at the time.
Guaidó insisted Venezuelan citizens would fail to be intimidated and had grown tired of the humanitarian emergency into which their country has fallen under Maduro.
“It isn’t through … repression that they will manage to tame a brave people that seeks freedom, democracy, food, medicine and above all a better future for their children,” Guaidó said, to loud cheers from the crowd.
“We are in the streets and we will remain in the streets until the usurpation ends.”
As the opposition leader spoke the crowd erupted in cheers of “¡Sí se puede!” (“Yes we can) – the Obama-era slogan the young politician has sought to adopt in his struggle to bring down Maduro.
One woman shouted: “You’re not alone Guaidó! We’re all with you!”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Juan Guaidó launches his party’s Plan País (Plan for the Country) to lift Venezuela out of economic depression. Photograph: Carlos García Rawlins/Reuters
Guaidó was speaking at the launch of Plan País (Plan for the Country) a wide-ranging opposition blueprint that claims it can rescue Venezuela’s economy and end a humanitarian crisis that has seen around a tenth of the population flee overseas.
The plan – a direct challenge to Maduro’s six-year Plan de la Patria (Homeland Plan) – includes projects to revive the country’s once great oil company PDVSA, fix Venezuela’s broken health service and feed its starving people by guaranteeing them access to basic food stuffs and offering grants to the poorest 48% of families.
“[The plan is] a joint effort. There is no one spokesperson. There is no messianic leader. This is a team, a big team of leaders who are committed to [Venezuela’s development],” said Guaidó, who had been a little-known politician until the crisis catapulted him to national and international prominence this month.
“People say that this is a problem of left or right in Venezuela. No. It’s a problem of humanity,” he added.
Elizabeth Guerrero, a 59-year-old retired teacher, had come to watch with a poster that read: ‘Juan Guaidó. Thank you for giving us hope and faith’.
“I’m here because Juan Guaidó has given us back hope and filled us with faith that, yes, we can get out of this chaos. The people were resigned because it seemed like there was neither a plan, nor a strategy. But [the opposition] are showing that [they can] … help us out of this disaster.”
Profile Who is Juan Guaidó? Show Hide The opposition leader Juan Guaidó was almost unknown both inside and outside Venezuela until the start of this year. Guaidó was made chairman of the national assembly in January because it was the turn of his party, Voluntad Popular (People’s Will). At 35, he was a junior member of his party but its leaders were either under house arrest, in hiding or in exile. He declared himself "interim president" that month, resting his claim on a clause in the constitution that allows the legislature to take power temporarily and call new elections if it deems the president to be failing to fulfil basic duties or to have vacated the post. Guaidó's relative obscurity initially proved an advantage in a country where the opposition has generally failed to distinguish itself, losing its nerve at critical moments, succumbing to infighting, and getting involved in a failed coup against Hugo Chávez in 2002. He inspired a huge wave of protests inside Venezuela with a message of peaceful change, and won widespread international support. Countries from Europe to the US and regional powers recognised him as Venezuela's legitimate president, handing him control of bank accounts and Venezuelan assets along with the formal recognition. As months dragged on however, Guaidó's hope of winning a wave of military defections that would end the rule of Nicolás Maduro seemed to fade, leaving his movement in an uneasy limbo - self-declared president but with no power. He raised concerns inside Venezuela and internationally when he appeared to hint at the possibility of military intervention after a failed attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country in February. Questions have also been raised about the bedfellows Guaidó has chosen in what he calls his bid to rescue Venezuela. His main international backer is Donald Trump.
Another key regional supporter is Brazil’s far-right firebrand president, Jair Bolsonaro, known for his hostility to human rights and his fondness for dictatorship. Despite these characteristics, Guaidó has praised what he called Bolsonaro’s “commitment to and for democracy [and] human rights”. Photograph: Luis Robayo/AFP
Yon Goicoechea, a prominent opposition leader, said: “We are closer to democracy than ever before.”
Guaidó urged the Venezuelan security forces to throw their weight behind his bid to unseat Maduro, which has received backing from the United States, and regional heavyweights including Brazil and Colombia. Leading European states including France, Germany and Britain have declared Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate interim leader.
“I say to FAES [Venezuela’s special forces] and I say to the armed forces: you still have time to put yourselves on the right side of history and to respect the constitution,” Guaidó said.
Outside the university’s tree-lined entrance, hundreds of riot police had gathered and students chanted anti-Maduro songs.
Pro-Guaidó graffiti artists had taken to the nearby walls with red paint.
“The dictatorship is hunger and terror,” read one message. “Enough misery and repression,” said another.
Maduro, crucially, continues to enjoy the backing of both Beijing and Moscow.
But on Thursday Guaidó urged them to cut loose his political rival – who came to power following Hugo Chávez’s death in 2013 and was returned to office in disputed elections last year – and embrace a new government he claimed would reintroduce the rule-of-law and stabilise Venezuela’s collapsed economy.
Play Video 2:46 Why is Venezuela in crisis? – video explainer
“China and Russia would also benefit from a change in government in this country,” he argued.
What next for Venezuela? The four most likely outcomes Read more
Maduro has accused Guaidó of being a puppet in a US-backed coup attempt. In a video released on Tuesday morning he accused Donald Trump and the “group of extremists around him” of plotting to topple him in order to seize Venezuela’s oil.
Trump risked transforming the South American country into a new Vietnam, Maduro claimed.
“We will not allow a Vietnam in Latin America. If the US intends to intervene against us they will get a Vietnam worse than they could have imagined,” he said.
Additional reporting by Patricia Torres in Caracas |
Identification of Ten Additional Susceptibility Loci for Ulcerative Colitis Through Immunochip Analysis in Koreans.
Recent genetic association studies identified more than 160 susceptibility loci for inflammatory bowel disease in Caucasian populations, but studies in Asian populations are limited. We have previously reported 3 loci associated with Korean ulcerative colitis (UC). Using the Immunochip custom single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) array designed for dense genotyping of 186 known disease loci from 12 immune-mediated diseases, we analyzed 705 patients with UC and 1178 controls for 536,821 SNPs (89,057 genotyped and 447,764 imputed) in the discovery stage followed by replication in additional 980 affected individuals and 2694 controls in a Korean population. We confirmed the associations of 10 known UC risk loci in Koreans: rs76418789 in IL23R (combined P = 1.25 × 10), rs4728142 in IRF5 (combined P = 3.17 × 10), rs1830610 near JAK2 (combined P = 2.28 × 10), rs1555791 near TNFRSF14 (combined P = 1.62 × 10), rs880790 between IL10-IL19 (combined P = 3.73 × 10), rs10185424 between IL1R2-IL1R1 (combined P = 1.54 × 10), rs6478108 in TNFSF15 (combined P = 9.28 × 10), rs861857 between UBE2L3-YDJC (combined P = 3.05 × 10), rs1801274 in FCGR2A (discovery P = 1.54 × 10), and rs17085007 between GPR12-USP12 (discovery P = 3.64 × 10). The percentage of phenotype variance explained by the 13 risk loci (including 3 previously reported loci) was 5.61% in Koreans (on the liability scale, population prevalence = 0.0308%). Our study increased the number of UC susceptibility loci in Koreans to 13 and highlighted the extensive sharing of genetic risk across populations of UC. |
AMRITSAR: Pakistani Sikh politician Radesh Singh Tony, who had contested the 2018 general polls as an Independent candidate but lost, has fled the country along with his wife and three sons due to threats from fundamentalists The move comes barely a year after Tony, chairman of the Khalsa Peace and Justice Foundation , fled to Lahore in November 2018 from his native city of Peshawar , leaving behind his business and property. Tony told TOI on Wednesday that minority communities in Pakistan, including Sikhs, Hindus and Christians, were living under constant threats from fundamentalists who he claimed enjoyed the Pakistan government's sup port.After the gunning down of Peshawar's prominent Sikh leader Charanjit Singh in May 2018, a large number of Sikhs and Hindus had migrated from Peshawar to safer places in Pakistan with sizeable populations of their communities. |
Q:
Regex.Split pattern: How to split a string into repeating pattern blocks?
Let's say we have a string:
"somethinghere%C3somethinghere%83%C3%A8%C3%AF%C3%AD%C3%AEsomethinghere%C3%A7somethinghere"
What would be the Regex.Split pattern to get the following list of values:
%C3
%83%C3%A8%C3%AF%C3%AD%C3%AE
%C3%A7
NOTE: somethinghere - can be any text that has no value and it does not contain the '%' char;
Thanks in advance!
A:
Looks like you need Regex.Matches instead of Regex.Split. If you want result to be list of strings you could use linq:
List<string> result = Regex.Matches(source, "(%[A-Fa-f0-9]{2})+").OfType<Match>().Select(s => s.Value).ToList();
|
Transcriptional Regulation in the Ethylene Response
===================================================
Like all living organisms, plants must respond to a wide variety of environmental stimuli. Plant hormones, produced in response to environmental stimuli, regulate almost all aspects of plant growth and development. Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone that plays pleiotropic roles in plant growth, plant development, and stress responses. Histone acetylation, which is modulated through ethylene-mediated signaling, regulates dynamic changes in chromatin structure that result in transcriptional regulation in responses to ethylene.
Ethylene is perceived by a family of receptors bound to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane ([@B7]; [@B5]; [@B20]; [@B21]; [@B43]). Each receptor binds ethylene via a copper cofactor that is provided by the copper transporter *RESPONSIVE-TO-ANTAGONIST 1* (RAN1)([@B19]). In the absence of ethylene, ethylene receptor ETHYLENE RECEPTOR 1 (ETR1) interacts with CONSTITUTIVE TRIPLE RESPONSE 1 (CTR1), a downstream negative regulator of ethylene signaling ([@B7]; [@B25]; [@B15]; [@B46]). CTR1 is a protein kinase that phosphorylates ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 (EIN2), a key positive regulator of ethylene signaling ([@B1]; [@B23]), preventing the ethylene response. In addition, in the absence of ethylene, EIN2 protein levels are regulated by EIN2 TARGETING PROTEIN 1 and 2 (ETP1/2) via ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated degradation ([@B38]).
In the presence of ethylene both ethylene receptors and CTR1 are inactivated, and the C-terminal end of EIN2 is dephosphorylated and cleaved by unknown mechanisms. The cleaved C-terminal end of EIN2 translocates to the nucleus ([@B39]; [@B55]; [@B22]) where it facilitates the acetylation of histone 3 at K14 and K23 (H3K14 and H3K23, respectively) to regulate ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 LIKE1 (EIL1) -- dependent transcriptional regulation ([@B58]). The cleaved EIN2 C-terminal end also translocates into the P-body through associating with 3′UTRs of EIN3 BINDING F-BOX1 (EBF1) and EBF2, further repressing their translation ([@B18]). EBF1 and EBF2 in turn stabilize EIN3 and EIL1, resulting in activation of EIN3- and EIL1-dependent transcription and the activation of an ethylene response ([@B28]; [@B32]).
Both genetic and molecular studies have demonstrated that EIN3 and EIL1 are positive regulators that are necessary and sufficient for the ethylene response ([@B9]; [@B18]; [@B8]). The *EIN3* gene encodes a nuclear-localized protein that is essential to the response to ethylene ([@B9]). In the absence of EIN3, plants are partially insensitive to ethylene both at the morphological and molecular levels ([@B9]; [@B18]). The EIN3 binding motif was identified after analysis of the promoters of the genes that are highly up-regulated by ethylene and followed by validation using an electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) ([@B33]; [@B10]; [@B31]; [@B45]; [@B47]; [@B44]; [@B48]). Using the EMSA assay, EIN3 was shown to form a homodimer in the presence of DNA *in vitro* ([@B48]). However, whether the homodimer is formed *in vivo* and whether the homodimer is required for EIN3 to function in the ethylene signaling are unknown. A number of transcription factors are known to form homodimers or heterodimers, which have different specificities and affinities for certain DNA motifs ([@B14]). Finding out whether the dimerization is necessary for EIN3′s function *in vivo* will be an interesting question in the transcriptional regulation of the ethylene response.
To explore the transcription regulation in response to ethylene, Chang et al characterized the dynamic ethylene transcriptional response by identifying targets of EIN3, the master regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway, using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and transcript sequencing during a time course of ethylene treatment ([@B8]). They found that the number of genes bound by EIN3 does not change significantly in response to ethylene. The amount of EIN3 bound increases upon ethylene treatment, and the expression of most of EIN3-bound genes is up regulated by ethylene, which is consistent with a role of EIN3 as a transcriptional activator. Chang et al. also analyzed the sequences of EIN3-bound regions identified by ChIP-seq ([@B33]; [@B10]; [@B31]; [@B45]; [@B47]; [@B44]; [@B48]). A motif similar to that previously identified in the promoter regions of ethylene up-regulated genes was present in EIN3-bound regions ([@B33]; [@B10]; [@B31]; [@B45]; [@B47]; [@B44]; [@B48]). Intriguingly, Chang et al. also found that ethylene-induced transcription occurs in temporal waves that were regulated by EIN3 with the potentially distinct layers of transcriptional control ([@B8]). EIN3 binding was found to modulate a multitude of downstream transcriptional cascades, including a major feedback regulatory circuitry of the ethylene signaling pathway, as well as most of the hormone-mediated growth response pathways, which indicates that network-level feedback regulation results in overall system control and homeostasis ([@B8]). This type of study can be applied to identify novel components in signaling pathways ([@B41]; [@B2]; [@B53]; [@B3]; [@B11]; [@B57]).
Although the transcriptional activation has been the main focus in the ethylene response, transcriptome analysis in Chang's study clearly showed that nearly 50% of ethylene-altered genes are down regulated and that a subset of ethylene-repressed genes are bound by EIN3 ([@B8]). Notably, most of the genes are down regulated by ethylene within 1 h of treatment. This result strongly suggests that transcriptional repression plays a critical role in early ethylene response. Interestingly, a recent study from the Qiao lab showed that transcriptional repression dose plays important roles in ethylene response. We identified two histone deacetylases (HDACs) SIRTUIN 1 and 2 (SRT1 and SRT2) that regulate ethylene-repressed genes ([@B59]). Notably the study found that SRT2 binds the target promoter regions to inhibit acetylation of histone 3 at K9 (H3K9Ac), repressing gene expression in response to ethylene ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F1}
Transcriptional repression by chromatin modification is one of the principal mechanisms employed by eukaryotic active repressors ([@B52]; [@B24]). The importance of HDACs in transcriptional repression during plant growth and development has been well established ([@B49]; [@B27]). For example, in *Arabidopsis*, the EAR motif containing class II ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTORS (ERFs), such as ERF3 and ERF4, which are known to function as active repressors *in vitro* and *in vivo*, have been shown to physically interact with AtSAP18, which in turn interacts and forms a repression complex with AtHDA19 ([@B13]; [@B34]; [@B30]; [@B50]). AtERF7, another EAR motif-containing class II ERF protein, is also known to recruit AtHDA19 via a physical interaction with AtSIN3 ([@B49]). *In planta*, coexpression of AtERF3, AtSAP18, and AtHDA19 or AtERF7, AtSIN3, and AtHDA19 results in greater transcriptional repression of reporter genes as compared to when these proteins are expressed alone suggesting a role for AtSAP18, AtSIN3, and AtHDA19 in ERF-mediated transcriptional repression possibly via histone deacetylation ([@B49]; [@B50]). Yet, whether EAR containing proteins are also required for SRT1 and SRT2 mediated transcriptional repression in response to ethylene is unknown ([@B59]). It also remains unclear whether the ethylene response has a molecular mechanism of transcriptional repression similar to that induced by other plant hormones. Exploring the molecular mechanism of transcriptional repression will provide more insight into ethylene signaling and ethylene response.
Histone Acetylation in Ethylene-Mediated Transcriptional Regulation
===================================================================
In eukaryotes, the binding of transcription factors is mainly determined by chromatin structure, namely the state of the genome's packaging with specific structural proteins, mainly histones. Chromatin undergoes different dynamics structure changes, further influences transcription factor binding. Among all the regulations, histone acetylation results in a switch between repressive and permissive chromatin. In general, acetylation neutralizes the positive charges of lysine residues and decreases the interaction between histone and DNA, leading to a more relaxed chromatin structure, which is associated with transcriptional activation. In contrast, deacetylation induces a compact chromatin structure, which is associated with transcriptional repression ([@B12]; [@B51]; [@B29]).
A Number of studies have shown a tight link between histone acetylation and plant hormone responses ([@B62]). In the studies of ethylene signaling, authors found that GENERAL CONTROL NON-REPRESSED PROTEIN 5 (GCN5), which belongs to a family of histone acetyl transferases (HATs), promotes transcriptional activation ([@B6]; [@B17]; [@B4]; [@B54]; [@B42]). The *Arabidopsis gcn5* mutant shows hypersensitivity to ethylene treatment. In the *gcn5* mutant, the histone acetylation at H3K9 and H3K14 in the promoter regions of ethylene response genes is elevated, and the elevation is associated with the up-regulation of gene expression ([@B37]). In *Arabidopsis*, the HAC family, which are the homologs of CREB-binding protein (CBP) and p300, the mammalian family of HAT domain containing transcriptional coactivators, play pleotropic roles in plant growth and development ([@B35]; [@B26]). The *hac1hac5* double mutant was found to have a constitutive triple response phenotype ([@B35]; [@B26]). It was expected that gene expression would be down regulated in the *hac1hac5* double mutant due to the reduction of histone acetylation levels; however, similar to that in *gcn5* mutant, the downstream ethylene responsive genes are elevated in *hac1hac5* double mutant ([@B26]), suggesting an indirect regulation of ethylene responsive genes by HAC1 and HAC5.
Expression of two HDACs, *HAD6* and *HDA19*, are specifically elevated by ethylene treatment. The expression of ethylene responsive gene *ERF1* is anti-correlated with the levels of histone H3 acetylation in *35S*:*HDA19* transgenic plants, showing that HDA19 indirectly influences *ERF1* gene expression ([@B61]). It is possible that HDA19 induces ERF1 expression by preventing binding of an unknown transcription repressor that regulates ERF1 expression ([@B61]). JAZ proteins recruit HDA6 to deacetylate histones and obstruct the chromatin binding of EIN3/EIL1, therefore repressing EIN3/EIL1-dependent transcription and inhibiting jasmonic acid-mediated signaling ([@B63]). This provides evidence that histone acetylation regulates EIN3 target genes.
H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac, but not H3K9Ac, H3K18Ac, or H3K27Ac, are elevated by ethylene treatment at the molecular level ([@B58]; [@B56]). Interestingly, even though the levels of H3K9Ac are not regulated by ethylene, the levels of H3K9Ac in the promoters of ethylene up-regulated genes are higher than that in those ethylene down-regulated genes both with and without ethylene treatments ([@B58]; [@B56]). Presumably, H3K9Ac is a pre-existing mark that labels genes regulated by ethylene, whereas the elevation of H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac is positively associated with gene activation. Most importantly, the ethylene-induced change of histone acetylation is EIN2 dependent. However, EIN2 is not a histone or a DNA binding protein, and the biochemical function of EIN2-C remains unknown. Yeast two-hybrid screening and ChIP-re-ChIP suggests that EIN2-C is associated with histones at least in part through EIN2 NUCLEAR ASSOCIATED PROTEIN 1 (ENAP1), which has histone binding activity ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}; [@B60]). It is possible that EIN2-C is a scaffolding protein that is important for the formation of HAT-containing protein complexes in response to ethylene. Identification of HAT or HDAC that functions in cooperation with EIN2-C would validate this assumption. In contrast to transcriptional activation, histone acetylation of H3K9Ac was found to be involved in the transcriptional repression, and the regulation is partially mediated by histone deacetylase SRT1 and SRT2 ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
Taken together, currently available data suggest that in the absence of ethylene ENAP1 binds to histones to keep chromatin in a relaxed state poised for a rapid response to ethylene ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). In the presence of ethylene, EIN2-C is translocated to the nucleus where it interacts with ENAP1 and potentially HATs resulting in histone acetylation. This causes an uncompacting of chromatin, resulting in more EIN3 binding to target genes and ultimately transcription activation ([Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). It is not known how the histone acetylation targets are determined in the presence of ethylene. Zhang et al. showed that EIN3 is partially required for the ethylene-induced elevation of H3K14Ac and H3K23Ac ([@B35]), suggesting that EIN3 might mark histone acetylation targets. Multi-protein assemblies have been shown to determine the substrate specificities and targeting of integral HAT subunits. The molecular mechanism of how EIN3, ENAP1, and EIN2-C coordinate to integrate the histone acetylation and transcription regulation remains to be elucidated. Beside histone acetylation regulation in transcriptional activation, histone acetylation has been shown to be involved in transcriptional repression in ethylene response. As mentioned above, SRT1 and SRT2 mediate transcriptional repression that requires a low level of H3K9Ac ([@B57]). How the H3K9Ac levels are determined in the desired targets in the first place is an interesting and important question that needs to be addressed.
Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives
==========================================
Plants must respond accurately and quickly to hormones, and this necessitates a flexible and rapid way to control gene expression. The acetylation of histone tails by HATs neutralizes positive charges on these proteins that would otherwise interact with negatively charged DNA, facilitating nucleosome unwrapping for rapid transcription activation. How plants utilize a limited number of HATs and HDACs to specifically regulate responses to different hormones is largely unknown. Presumably, the specificity relies on the partners of HATs and HDACs. Identification of the HAT- and HDAC-containing complexes upon ethylene treatment will reveal details of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the ethylene response. Recent studies have clearly shown that different tissues respond to plant hormones differently ([@B16]; [@B36]; [@B40]). Most available data on histone acetylation induced by plant hormones come from analyses of the whole plant. Studies of histone acetylation in individual tissues and in different cell types will provide more detailed insight into how histone acetylation controls responses to plant hormones. Transcription factor binding in eukaryotes is highly dependent on the context of binding sites on chromatin, but little is known about how EIN3 determines histone acetylation sites in target genes. A more complete understanding of the molecular mechanism of determination of transcriptional activation and transcriptional repression during the ethylene response will facilitate development of methods to improve crop production.
Author Contributions
====================
Both authors listed have made a substantial, direct and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.
Conflict of Interest Statement
==============================
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
**Funding.** This work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (R01GM115879-01) to HQ.
We thank the members of the Qiao laboratory for critical reading of this manuscript.
[^1]: Edited by: Caren Chang, University of Maryland, United States
[^2]: Reviewed by: Gyeong Mee Yoon, Purdue University, United States; Jose M. Alonso, North Carolina State University, United States
[^3]: This article was submitted to Plant Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Plant Science
|
Ewald Hering (1834--1918) famously claimed that an object could not be simultaneously red and green all over. (From this, he developed his theory of opponent processes.) Yet, although no single surface can look greenish red, it is possible to perceive red and green in the same visual direction when transparent red and green surfaces are superimposed. [@bibr4-2041669516667629] laid out the rules governing the perception of transparency, and [@bibr1-2041669516667629] and [@bibr2-2041669516667629] discussed the roles played by X- and T-junctions. X-junctions can trigger transparency relationship (ambiguous or unambiguous, depending on the direction of the luminance contrast), whereas T-junctions normally suggest occlusion by an opaque surface ([@bibr1-2041669516667629]; however, see [@bibr5-2041669516667629] and [@bibr2-2041669516667629] for examples of T-junctions leading to transparency perception).
We now show that small local changes can cause the appearance of a stimulus to alternate between a single surface painted with an opaque color and two transparent surfaces of different colors. When Movie 1 is running, the green area at first looks filmy and transparent and one can see the red bars moving behind it. But every few seconds, the striped green area freezes in place, so that the stripes on the green are now stationary and no longer line up with the moving red bars. This breaks up the informative X-junctions into T-junctions; the transparency vanishes, and the green area now looks like a single opaque, chalky surface painted with light and dark green stripes, and appearing to lie in front of the background grating. As soon as the stripes line up again with the moving red bars, they again start to move in synchrony and the perception of two transparent surfaces is immediately restored.
Movie 1.Green area looks transparent when the stripes move in step with the red bars, and opaque when they do not.SAGE-Journals-Accessible-Video-Player10.1177/2041669516667629.M1sj-vid-1-ipe-10.1177_2041669516667629
Movie 2.Green area looks transparent when the random dots contained within it move in step with the background dots, and opaque when they are stationary. Even without intersections, motion can drive transparency.SAGE-Journals-Accessible-Video-Player10.1177/2041669516667629.M2sj-vid-2-ipe-10.1177_2041669516667629
Movie 2 shows similar effects, but with a straight-edged green region covering a texture of moving sparse random dots instead of vertical bars. The alternation between transparency and opacity is still very clear. Note that Movie 2 contains no T- or X-junctions at all. This shows that although intersections may be sufficient to drive transparency ([@bibr1-2041669516667629]; [@bibr2-2041669516667629]), they are not necessary. Motion alone can generate transparency.
[@bibr3-2041669516667629] have demonstrated an impressive, somewhat analogous effect in 3D. They display a movie whose first half simulates a shiny chrome teapot rotating in mid-air. Half way through the movie, the reflection gets painted on to the teapot making a "sticky reflection." The painted-on pattern moves around with the body of the teapot, which now loses its shine and looks like a painted matte object. If the movie is suddenly stopped, the teapot reverts to its shiny appearance.
[@bibr3-2041669516667629] demonstration shows that motion can be a strong aid for material perception. Our demonstration, that two surfaces can look transparent when their motions are correlated, likewise suggests the strong role of motion (not just junctions) in transparency perception and in the subjective scission of visual stimuli into layers.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests {#sec1-2041669516667629}
====================================
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding {#sec2-2041669516667629}
=======
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Stuart Anstis was supported by a grant from the USCD Department of Psychology, Sae Kaneko by a fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS KAKENHI Grant number 15J03815), and Alan Ho by a Professional Development Fund from Ambrose University.
**Dr Stuart Anstis** was born in England and was a scholar at Winchester and Cambridge. Since his PhD at Cambridge with Richard Gregory, he has taught at the Universities of Bristol (UK), York (Toronto), and California, San Diego (UCSD). He is a Visiting Fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford, and a Humboldt Fellow, and received the Kurt-Koffka Medal in 2013.
**Sae Kaneko** received BA, MA, and PhD from The University of Tokyo. She is currently a Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
**Alan Ho** was born in Hong Kong. He did his post-doctoral work with Stuart Anstis at UCSD after obtaining his PhD in Psychology from The Florida State University. His primary research interest is in visual motion perception. The "Coyote Illusion" that Alan and Stuart reported in 2013 was selected to be a Top 10 Illusion of the Year. He is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at The Ambrose University, Calgary, Canada.
|
import unittest
from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, create_autospec
from discord import CategoryChannel
from bot.constants import Roles
from bot.exts.utils import jams
from tests.helpers import MockBot, MockContext, MockGuild, MockMember, MockRole, MockTextChannel
def get_mock_category(channel_count: int, name: str) -> CategoryChannel:
"""Return a mocked code jam category."""
category = create_autospec(CategoryChannel, spec_set=True, instance=True)
category.name = name
category.channels = [MockTextChannel() for _ in range(channel_count)]
return category
class JamCreateTeamTests(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
"""Tests for `createteam` command."""
def setUp(self):
self.bot = MockBot()
self.admin_role = MockRole(name="Admins", id=Roles.admins)
self.command_user = MockMember([self.admin_role])
self.guild = MockGuild([self.admin_role])
self.ctx = MockContext(bot=self.bot, author=self.command_user, guild=self.guild)
self.cog = jams.CodeJams(self.bot)
async def test_too_small_amount_of_team_members_passed(self):
"""Should `ctx.send` and exit early when too small amount of members."""
for case in (1, 2):
with self.subTest(amount_of_members=case):
self.cog.create_channels = AsyncMock()
self.cog.add_roles = AsyncMock()
self.ctx.reset_mock()
members = (MockMember() for _ in range(case))
await self.cog.createteam(self.cog, self.ctx, "foo", members)
self.ctx.send.assert_awaited_once()
self.cog.create_channels.assert_not_awaited()
self.cog.add_roles.assert_not_awaited()
async def test_duplicate_members_provided(self):
"""Should `ctx.send` and exit early because duplicate members provided and total there is only 1 member."""
self.cog.create_channels = AsyncMock()
self.cog.add_roles = AsyncMock()
member = MockMember()
await self.cog.createteam(self.cog, self.ctx, "foo", (member for _ in range(5)))
self.ctx.send.assert_awaited_once()
self.cog.create_channels.assert_not_awaited()
self.cog.add_roles.assert_not_awaited()
async def test_result_sending(self):
"""Should call `ctx.send` when everything goes right."""
self.cog.create_channels = AsyncMock()
self.cog.add_roles = AsyncMock()
members = [MockMember() for _ in range(5)]
await self.cog.createteam(self.cog, self.ctx, "foo", members)
self.cog.create_channels.assert_awaited_once()
self.cog.add_roles.assert_awaited_once()
self.ctx.send.assert_awaited_once()
async def test_category_doesnt_exist(self):
"""Should create a new code jam category."""
subtests = (
[],
[get_mock_category(jams.MAX_CHANNELS - 1, jams.CATEGORY_NAME)],
[get_mock_category(jams.MAX_CHANNELS - 2, "other")],
)
for categories in subtests:
self.guild.reset_mock()
self.guild.categories = categories
with self.subTest(categories=categories):
actual_category = await self.cog.get_category(self.guild)
self.guild.create_category_channel.assert_awaited_once()
category_overwrites = self.guild.create_category_channel.call_args[1]["overwrites"]
self.assertFalse(category_overwrites[self.guild.default_role].read_messages)
self.assertTrue(category_overwrites[self.guild.me].read_messages)
self.assertEqual(self.guild.create_category_channel.return_value, actual_category)
async def test_category_channel_exist(self):
"""Should not try to create category channel."""
expected_category = get_mock_category(jams.MAX_CHANNELS - 2, jams.CATEGORY_NAME)
self.guild.categories = [
get_mock_category(jams.MAX_CHANNELS - 2, "other"),
expected_category,
get_mock_category(0, jams.CATEGORY_NAME),
]
actual_category = await self.cog.get_category(self.guild)
self.assertEqual(expected_category, actual_category)
async def test_channel_overwrites(self):
"""Should have correct permission overwrites for users and roles."""
leader = MockMember()
members = [leader] + [MockMember() for _ in range(4)]
overwrites = self.cog.get_overwrites(members, self.guild)
# Leader permission overwrites
self.assertTrue(overwrites[leader].manage_messages)
self.assertTrue(overwrites[leader].read_messages)
self.assertTrue(overwrites[leader].manage_webhooks)
self.assertTrue(overwrites[leader].connect)
# Other members permission overwrites
for member in members[1:]:
self.assertTrue(overwrites[member].read_messages)
self.assertTrue(overwrites[member].connect)
# Everyone and verified role overwrite
self.assertFalse(overwrites[self.guild.default_role].read_messages)
self.assertFalse(overwrites[self.guild.default_role].connect)
self.assertFalse(overwrites[self.guild.get_role(Roles.verified)].read_messages)
self.assertFalse(overwrites[self.guild.get_role(Roles.verified)].connect)
async def test_team_channels_creation(self):
"""Should create new voice and text channel for team."""
members = [MockMember() for _ in range(5)]
self.cog.get_overwrites = MagicMock()
self.cog.get_category = AsyncMock()
self.ctx.guild.create_text_channel.return_value = MockTextChannel(mention="foobar-channel")
actual = await self.cog.create_channels(self.guild, "my-team", members)
self.assertEqual("foobar-channel", actual)
self.cog.get_overwrites.assert_called_once_with(members, self.guild)
self.cog.get_category.assert_awaited_once_with(self.guild)
self.guild.create_text_channel.assert_awaited_once_with(
"my-team",
overwrites=self.cog.get_overwrites.return_value,
category=self.cog.get_category.return_value
)
self.guild.create_voice_channel.assert_awaited_once_with(
"My Team",
overwrites=self.cog.get_overwrites.return_value,
category=self.cog.get_category.return_value
)
async def test_jam_roles_adding(self):
"""Should add team leader role to leader and jam role to every team member."""
leader_role = MockRole(name="Team Leader")
jam_role = MockRole(name="Jammer")
self.guild.get_role.side_effect = [leader_role, jam_role]
leader = MockMember()
members = [leader] + [MockMember() for _ in range(4)]
await self.cog.add_roles(self.guild, members)
leader.add_roles.assert_any_await(leader_role)
for member in members:
member.add_roles.assert_any_await(jam_role)
class CodeJamSetup(unittest.TestCase):
"""Test for `setup` function of `CodeJam` cog."""
def test_setup(self):
"""Should call `bot.add_cog`."""
bot = MockBot()
jams.setup(bot)
bot.add_cog.assert_called_once()
|
Wang Sicong, the only son of Wanda Group founder Wang Jianlin, has landed on the country’s list of debtors this week.
A Beijing court announced that the Prometheus Capital chairman owes at least 150 million yuan, equivalent to at least $21.5 million, according to a notice published in the official website of the Chinese Supreme Court.
Wang, 31, was hailed as “China’s richest kid” when his father became the country’s — and even Asia’s — richest man a few years ago.
However, Jack Ma overtook Wang Jianlin as China’s richest man in May 2017, and since then, the latter has suffered a downturn that ranked him 14th this year, a descent from fourth in 2018.
Prometheus Capital, a private equity company, was founded in 2012 with 500 million yuan ($71.5 million) Wang had received from his father, according to Reuters.
A Shanghai court, however, froze the fund’s equity last month, according to records from corporate database Tianyancha.
Wang generously flaunted his wealth in the past.
In 2016 alone, he spent nearly $400,000 at a karaoke bar and bought his dog eight iPhone 7 units.
Wang is now listed in China’s national database for debt recovery as an “enforced person,” but his creditors have not been identified. The move reportedly followed a court case in the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court.
“The court has not yet enforced measures such as spending restrictions against Wang Sicong nor added [him] to the list of defaulters. Therefore, Wang Sicong is only an ‘enforced person’ and not a defaulter,” said a Weibo post from People’s Court Daily, a newspaper affiliate of the Supreme People’s Court, according to the South China Morning Post.
Wang is personally liable for the amount owed. Should he fail to pay his debt in time, the court could seize his assets, according to lawyer Zhang Weiwei from Guangdong Xinggong Law Firm.
“From a business perspective, his reputation would be affected negatively by this case. He is now a debtor and the media has reported widely about this,” Zhang told SCMP.
Wang has reportedly made his social media accounts private and declined media inquiries as of this writing.
Feature Image via Sohu |
News
Initially Launching a Novel, High-Affinity BCMA CAR Targeting NK
Cell Development Candidate for Multiple Myeloma, with an Option for up
to Five Additional CAR Targeting Sequences
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 4, 2019--
NantKwest,
Inc.(Nasdaq:NK),
a leading clinical-stage Natural Killer (NK) cell based therapeutics
company, and ProMab Biotechnologies today announced the establishment of
a worldwide license to a B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) targeted
antibody sequence for multiple myeloma along with an option for up to
five undisclosed targeting sequences for exclusive use in the
development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) based NK cell therapies.
“We are pleased to announce this collaboration with ProMab
Biotechnologies, marking another milestone for NantKwest in the
development of targeted, next generation, NK cell therapeutics against
multiple myeloma and other cancers,” said Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, CEO
of NantKwest. “With an estimated five-year survival rate of around 49%
and accounting for 10% of all hematological malignancies, patients with
multiple myeloma are in critical need for more effective treatment
options. We believe, NantKwest’s CAR-based NK cell therapy may represent
a much needed new treatment option for these patients. We eagerly
anticipate growing our relationship with ProMab and accelerate the
development of these new and innovative, next-generation off-the shelf,
CAR-based NK cell therapies.”
“ProMab’s strategic focus is on the development of monoclonal antibodies
and their application in cell therapy through the integration of next
generation sequencing, bioinformatics, high-throughput screening
technologies, and novel in vitro in vivo validation tools. This new
partnership allows NantKwest to leverage the breadth of our monoclonal
antibody generation and validation platform, our human antibody library
screening capabilities, together with NantKwest’s strong NK cell
engineering, manufacturing, and clinical expertise,” said John Wu,
President and CEO of ProMab Biotechnologies. “We look forward to working
together with the NantKwest team to more rapidly bring new NK cell
therapeutics into the clinic.”
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a debilitating blood cancer that while treatable is
usually considered incurable, resulting in over 100,000 deaths annually
on a worldwide basis. Representing a significant unmet medical need,
without treatment, survival is typically less than one year. Even with
treatment, which typically involves the use of chemotherapy, steroids,
targeted therapy, and in some cases, stem cell transplant, survival
often can only be extended to 4 to 5 years. The BCMA protein is
important in B cell development and preferentially expressed in mature B
lymphocytes. BCMA protein is also believed to be involved in the
development of multiple myeloma and other blood cancers and is an
important target for drug development.
About NantKwest Inc.
NantKwest, a
member of the NantWorks ecosystem of companies, is an innovative
clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on harnessing the power of
the innate immune system by using the natural killer cell to treat
cancer and virally induced infectious diseases.
NantKwest is uniquely positioned to implement precision cancer medicine,
with the potential to change the current paradigm of cancer care.
Natural Killer (NK) cells are a safeguard in the human body designed to
recognize and detect cells under stress due to cancer or viral
infection. NantKwest’s “off-the-shelf” activated NK cell platform is
designed to destroy cancer and virally infected cells from the body. The
safety of our NK cells as well as their activity against a broad range
of cancers has been tested in phase I clinical trials in Canada and
Europe as well as in multiple phase I and II clinical trials in the
United States. In addition to being a universal cell-based therapy that
does not require individualized patient sourcing or matching, our NK
cell products have been largely administered in the outpatient setting
as an “off-the-shelf” living drug.
With the capacity to grow active killer cells as a living cancer
therapy, our NK cells have been designed to induce cell death against
cancers and virally infected cells by several mechanisms, including:
innate killing, whereby all of our NK platforms recognize the stress
proteins typically found on cancer cells, which, upon binding, release
toxic granules to immediately kill their targets; antibody-mediated
killing with our haNK® platform, which are NK cells engineered to
express antibody receptors that can bind to therapeutic antibody
products, thereby enhancing the cancer cell killing effect of that
antibody. All three modes of killing (innate, antibody-mediated, and CAR
directed killing) are employed by our t-haNK™ platform, which is an
innovative combination of our aNK, haNK® and taNK® platforms in a single
product.
Our haNK®, and t-haNK™ platforms have been designed to address certain
limitations of CAR T-cell therapy including the capability to infuse
cell therapy in an outpatient setting which allows for potential
reduction of risk for serious cytokine storms and protracted serious
adverse events. In Phase I and II clinical trials in patients with late
stage cancer, our NK cells have been administered as an investigational
outpatient infusion safely with greater than 300 infusions to date at a
dose of 2 billion cells per infusion.
By leveraging an integrated and extensive genomics and transcriptomics
discovery and development engine, together with a pipeline of multiple,
clinical-stage, immuno-oncology programs, we believe NantKwest is
uniquely positioned to be the premier immunotherapy company and
transform medicine by delivering living drugs in a bag and bringing
novel NK cell-based therapies to routine clinical care.
ProMab Biotechnologies is a biotechnology company located in Richmond
California, that focuses to develop and commercialize mouse, rabbit,
human monoclonal antibodies as well as chimeric antigen receptor-T Cell
(CAR-T) products. ProMab’s CAR-T platform covers both hematological and
solid cancers with intensive in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical
validation designed for safer and better treatment. As a CRO in the
immunology field for 18 years, ProMab offers standard laboratory
procedures and animal studies for the antibody discovery through the
integration of the newest techniques in antibody library construction,
next generation sequencing, unique humanization modeling,
high-throughput screening, and artificial intelligence analysis
systems. ProMab aims to out-license antibodies validated in CAR-T
therapy or bring the CAR-T technologies to the early stage market of
clinical study. ProMab has partnered with top biotechnology startups,
medical institutions, and pharmaceuticals to advance the development of
cell therapies as well as bispecific antibodies across multiple cancers.
For more information, visit www.promab.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.Forward-looking
statements include statements concerning or implying the Company will be
successful in improving the treatment of cancer.Risks and
uncertainties related to this endeavor include, but are not limited to,
obtaining FDA approval of our NK cells as well as other therapeutics as
part of the NANT Cancer Vaccine platform as a cancer treatment.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly,
these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future
performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
These and other risks regarding our business are described in detail
in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including in our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof,
and we disclaim any obligation to update these statements except as may
be required by law.
The Natural Killer Cell platform consists of investigational agents that are restricted by federal law to investigational use only.
The Natural Killer Cell platform is being investigated in multiple clinical trials across tumor sites.
The content of this website is protected by Title 17 of the U.S. Code and may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means. |
Boundary Roundabout Improvement Scheme
Boundary Roundabout is the focus of a major infrastructure improvement and investment scheme.
Works to improve Boundary Roundabout are due to commence in 2020. Some preliminary works have already been started on Wallisdown Road, making use of the closure put in place for the carriageway reconstruction works. The improvements all form part of a wider scheme to create better transport links across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
The main objectives of the scheme are to reduce collisions, improve cycle and pedestrian facilities to encourage sustainable travel at Boundary Roundabout and adjoining Roads; Talbot Avenue, Boundary Road, Wallisdown Road and Gillett Road, Bournemouth.
These works will include:
Removing the existing roundabout and replacing it with a smaller one to reduce traffic speeds and improve safety
Installing Toucan Crossings on Wallisdown Road and Boundary Road near to the roundabout to provide safer controlled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists
Installing combined footpaths/cycleways around the roundabout
Removing the existing pedestrian crossing on Talbot Avenue and replacing it with a toucan crossing closer to the roundabout
Widening the footpath on the north-side of Talbot Avenue to create a combined footpath/cycleway between Boundary and Talbot Roundabouts
Improving the existing footpath/cycleway on the south-side of Talbot Avenue
Installing a side road entry treatment across White Farm Close
Installing new central island with green living fence on Talbot Avenue
landscaping areas and tree planting
Digital Exhibition
Providing local residents with an indication of what the scheme will look like when completed, a 3D visualisation for the future Boundary Roundabout is available to view here.
A detailed plan for works happening in the area is also available. You can download it here.
Funding
Boundary Roundabout is being transformed thanks to a £1.6 million in funding secured by Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund.
Local Growth Fund
Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone. That’s why by 2021 Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders. Analysis has shown that every £1 of Local Growth Fund invested could generate £4.81 in benefits.
Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership
Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP deliver projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website. |
Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)
The Ministry of Education and Culture (, ) is one of the twelve ministries in Finland. It prepares laws and oversees the administration of matters relating to education (such as daycare, schools and universities), and culture (such as museums, libraries and arts), as well as sports and science.
The Ministry of Education and Culture is one of the oldest ministries in Finland. It was started as the Ecclesiastical Department in 1809, when the Grand Duchy of Finland was an autonomous part of the Russian Empire.
See also
Education in Finland
References
Category:Government of Finland
Education |
Diamond memo documents BoE's phone call over Libor
Barclays boss Bob Diamond has released a memo documenting a phone call he had with the Bank of England's deputy governor about the bank's submissions regarding Libor.
The memo was sent on 30 October, 2008 to the then-chief executive John Varley and Jerry del Missier, who was president of Barclays Capital. The memo from the Bank of England's Paul Tucker said:
Further to our last call, Mr Tucker reiterated that he had received calls from a number of senior figures within Whitehall to question why Barclays was always towards the top end of Libor pricing. His response was "you have to pay what you have to pay".
I asked if he could relay the reality, that not all banks were providing quotes at the levels that represented real transactions, his response "oh, that would be worse.
I explained again our market rate driven policy and that it had recently meant that we appeared in the top quartile and on occasion the top decile of the pricing.
Equally, I noted that we continued to see others in the market posting rates at levels that were not representative of where they would actually undertake business.
This latter point has on occasion pushed us higher than would otherwise appear to be the case. In fact, we are not having to 'pay up' for money at all.
Mr Tucker stated the levels of calls he was receiving from Whitehall were 'senior' and that while he was certain we did not need advice, that it did not always need to be the case that we appeared as high as we have recently. |
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