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Tall particles can easily short out the thin gate oxide in these devices, as shown under my SEM. This poses an issue for making such devices in a garage; the gate oxides must be grown thicker to mitigate shorted devices which leads to a higher threshold voltage for the FET.
Recent progress into 1um feature sizes and beyond with a LCoS projector and an infinity-corrected metallurgical microscope. Given a numerical aperture of 0.98 on the microscope objective and with an exposure wavelength of 365nm the simple calculated resolution is 0.227um however the actual resolution is probably around 0.5um due to diffraction limitations inherent in this projection system. The depth of focus @ NA = 0.98 is calculated to be approximately 1.8um but is likely worse.
Light engine mod vs stock
UV LED and red laser
Alignment
Exposure
Thermal management
Projector
Metal layer
Alignment/focus
Expose
PSU and control
PSU and control
PSU and control
PSU and control
Finished projector
Full system
Full system
Reduction optics
Projector
Projector
2″ wafer holder
2″ wafer holder
2″ wafer holder
100:1 planetary reduction
100:1 planetary reduction
Image reduction
1um Lines
Laser illumination of the projector is avoided due to interference patterns. A SMD 395nm LED is used in some tests and a standard high pressure mercury arc vapor lamp in others.
Radiometer
Probe
Test setup
365nm I-line Filter
Exposure times calculated by integration of total UV dosage measured at different wavelengths with the radiometer. To calculate exposure time for AZ4210 resist, for example, the datasheet is consulted to see a recommended dose of around 135 mJ/cm^2 for a 3.5um film thickness. If exposed with a 5x objective on my system, the exposure time @ 410nm is (135 mJ/cm^2)/(4.05mW/cm^2) = approx. 33 seconds. This is a bit longer than I would like but given that it is a positive resist that is to be expected.
Active area
Gate oxide
Source/Drain contact
Top metal
Composite image
Basic mask set for a MOSFET. Fiducials should be added to the corners for subsequent layer alignment. Active area is etched into field oxide, active area is doped, gate oxide is etched and regrown as thin a possible without pinholes, contact area is etched into oxide, then aluminum or copper is sputtered or evaporated and patterned.
A small, modular, and versatile chamber was constructed for plasma and other research experiments. The main vacuum manifold can be configured with multiple feedthroughs in either standalone vacuum mode or connected to a large chamber. The front is a 6″ CF viewport that can be swapped for a gas feedthrough assembly.
High vacuum parts
MIL-SPEC feedthrough
Viewport
Gas feedthrough
Conductance experiment
Conductance experiment
The chamber is being used right now to study simulate vacuum conductance and pressure gradients across larger chamber systems such as an ion implanter with a turbo pump on one end and an ion source and MFC gas flow far away from the pump. The gas flow creates a higher pressure in the ion source chamber and, in theory, allows for low energy beam transport and acceleration into a much lower pressure substrate/target chamber (in the case of an ion implanter).
The Micro Ion Gauge ATM is an awesome gauge that is extremely sensitive and reads from atmospheric pressure down to 1e-9 torr switching seamlessly through a range of 4 different vacuum gauges. It has an analog voltage output from 7volts down to 0.5v logarithmic to the pressure. This gauge had very bad noise issues, the voltage output moved with pressure change but was not useable due to the analog output swinging ~ +/- 0.25 volts multiple times per second.
Micro Ion Gauge
Micro Ion Gauge
Gauge assembly
High voltage transformer
High cap ESR
High cap ESR
Electrolyte Leakage
Happy Gauge
Happy Curve
The problem was found to be bad electrolytic caps, as expected. They exhibited high ESR, Low DC resistance, puffed up vent/tops, and electrolyte leakage on the PCB.
A quick attempt making a titanium sublimation pump. Ti welding rod was bent into a coil around aluminum round stock and placed across 30-50 amps in high vacuum yielding successful results. Chamber was roughed down to 20mTorr then pumped with turbo to 1e-5 and briefly baked out. More testing will be done and results will be posted along with an updated design with shielding to make it into an actual pump rather than depositing all over the chamber walls.
Pumping Curve
During testing I experienced a strange pumping curve a few times as shown in the last picture where the filament while heated at 50 amps seemed to out gas twice before reaching sublimation.
Ti Welding Rod
Ti Welding Rod
Ti Coil
30 amps
Feedthrough
Mysterious double out gas
(Click on image to enlarge)
The basic idea of a TSP or getter pump is that the filament is heated past 900 degrees c with a high current across it. The filament first out gases and raises the chamber pressure, but then reaches sublimation pressure where it begins to form a thin volatile coating of Ti on the chamber walls.
Titanium, in this heated state, will readily combine with gaseous specious in the chamber to form a more stable coating and the gas molecules in the chamber basically get incorporated into a thin film on the chamber walls and trapped. The filament current is cycled for highest effectiveness. A rewound MOT is used for high current supply.
Progress in developing the metalization process for the home chip lab. DC and RF sputtering is used and the process will be refined more and then I will move on to the wet process with etching metal through resist mask, etc.
Sample is scratched with a razor and surface roughness is measured with a KLA Tencor Stylus Profiler. Surface is extremely rough and best interpretation of the data leads me to believe the thickness of the sputtered film is approximately 0.492um.
Two internal radiant infrared heat lamps and external resistive heating elements are used to bakeout the vacuum system for 24 hours allowing for ion pump operation. Normally when the chamber is full of unwanted moisture and impurities ionizing gas in the chamber will lead to a sharp increase in pressure due to plasma cleaning of the chamber walls and subsequent release of gas molecules.
Quick prototype of a VLF/ELF receiver with two stage low noise amplifier and passive RC bandpass filtering. First stage has a gain of 180 then is fed to a lowpass and highpass filter then to another opamp with adjustable gain up to 500. Resulting signal is sent to a Focusrite Scarlet i2i 24bit USB audio interface and sampled at 192KHz.
This simple preamplifier can easily pick out the “fire crackling” of lightning strikes around the world form the noise floor and can easily resolve other natural low frequency radio phenomena such as “”whistlers”. Active bandpass filtering and 60Hz notch filter will be added as well as a shielding enclosure and low noise Analog Devices OP270 or similar opamps will be used in another iteration of the design.
Antenna used was two large screw drivers inserted into the ground soil separated by about 50 feet in the woods 1/4 mile from any house or power lines. 60Hz noise was exceptionally low considering only passive RC filtering was used which has high and low -3dB points far away from what you actually design the cutoff frequencies of the filter to be.
This frontend contained no input protection in the form of glow discharge neon lamp, clamping diodes, thermistor, MOV, fuse, etc. Next design will incorporate multiple such devices however it is not a great priority for testing because I am using the screwdriver ground probes for antenna which is less susceptible to high voltage buildup in storms as a whip or dipole antenna. |
Evaluation of carbon nanocones/disks as sorbent material for solid-phase extraction.
The potential of carbon nanocones/disks as sorbent material in solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures has been evaluated. For this aim, a model analytical problem, the determination of chlorophenols in water samples, was selected. An accurately weighed amount of 20mg of purified carbon nanocones/disks was packed in 3 mL commercial SPE cartridges. Once conditioned, up to 8 mL of water samples can be preconcentrated without analyte losses. The chlorophenols were eluted by using 200 microL of hexane. Aliquots of 2 microL of the organic extract were injected in the gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer for separation and quantification. The purification of the commercial nanocones/disks to reduce the presence of amorphous carbon has been successfully achieved by heating the carbon nanocones/disks at 450 degrees C for 20 min. Detection limits of chlorophenols were in the range 0.3-8 ng mL(-1) by using 2 mL of sample. Moreover, excellent average recovery values (98.8-100.9%) have been obtained after the analysis of water samples from different nature. Finally, the performance of the carbon nanocones/disks as sorbent material has been compared with that of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, providing the former better results under the experimental conditions assayed. |
Generally-known smart phones and other mobile communication devices, or user equipment (UEs), in the 5th generation Long Term Evolution of wireless communications (5G LTE) will employ planar antenna arrays in order to have higher directive gains over single antenna or diversity antenna configurations. The higher directive gains are needed to circumvent the increased path loss at millimeter wave (mmWave) frequencies. However, planar antenna arrays have scanning limitations. For example, a 4×4 patch array facing out the back of a user device or user equipment (UE) can scan approximately ±30 degrees off the boresight of the planar antenna. Additionally, with a planar patch antenna array facing out of the backside of a UE, there are two additional problems related to scanning incoming signals at 90 degrees from the boresight of the antenna. A first problem is the peak gain at 90 degrees is significantly lower compared to the peak gain at the boresight (0 degrees) of the antenna. A second problem is that the gain of the antenna side lobes directed away from scanned direction of interest will become larger than the gain of the desired main lobe in the desired direction. As a result, the signal to noise ratio (SNR) will be lower in the desired receive direction than in an undesired direction. |
Show HN: I'm 12, learning JS, and wrote Wolfram's cellular automaton in Node - liamilan
https://bitbucket.org/liamilan/wolfram-cellular-automata
======
sgk284
Liam, this is _incredible_!
I thought it might be useful for you to incrementally see how someone in
industry would review or change this code, so here's a little code review via
video: [https://youtu.be/UkVOrcS--04](https://youtu.be/UkVOrcS--04)
We very incrementally build up to the final code, which can be found here:
[https://gist.github.com/stevekrenzel/b490564bf1c7f98e232a6c8...](https://gist.github.com/stevekrenzel/b490564bf1c7f98e232a6c863bd066dd)
Hope you find it helpful!
~~~
hashbig
If you would start a channel where you review code of random public repos I
would definitely subscribe. Well done.
~~~
sgk284
Thanks for the kind words! Will definitely consider.
~~~
ObsoleteNerd
I would absolutely sub to this.
------
sramam
Congratulations!
I showed your project to my 12 year old son who has just started to learn
programming (in JS no less!) and his jaw dropped.
In addition to being a programmer, you are now a role-model. Really well done.
~~~
flavio81
>I showed your project to my 12 year old son who has just started to learn
programming (in JS no less!)
It would be much better if he would start with Scratch, Processing, Smalltalk,
or even Python.
On JS he'll have to lose time coping with complicated build tools, horrible
package system, async etc.
~~~
skeeterbug
Is this serious? I started programming around 9 or 10 on a Commodore 64. I
would go to the local library to get programming books for it. Now you can hit
F12 in your browser and get a powerful console into JS. JS is fine, encourage
the thirst for knowledge.
~~~
not_kurt_godel
JS is an objectively bad programming language. It is not fine, it is just
annoyingly common and convenient. The main advances in its ecosystem are
related to transpiling it from other, saner, languages. If he has fun writing
JS, then great for him. He's 12, he'll do it if he wants. But it'd be doing
him a disservice not to open his eyes to much wider, greener pastures of the
programming world.
~~~
exDM69
JS is a bad language but it's the easiest environment to set up.
Back in the day we started with Qbasic not because it is a good language but
because that was easy to set up, we all had it and our friends had it and our
school computers had it.
And JS is less bad a language than Qbasic.
~~~
kilon
That's debatable. It's not as if downloading Python and making your first app
will take you more than a few seconds, minus download time.
Set up is rarely an issue, once you set up a language even as complex as C++
its completely automated. You press a button and magic happens.
If the biggest selling point of a programming language is that it comes
preinstalled with the OS of your choice, its not much of a selling point when
the average user downloads and installs GBs of data just to play the latest
game hype like Fortnite.
The only people who mind installing stuff are predominately web devs. 99.9% of
users out there are fine with it for more than 6 decades now and that wont be
changing any time soon.
~~~
exDM69
It does make a difference especially to a beginner or a child. You might not
have admin privileges at your school or your friends may not be able to
install those tools so you can't show your work.
But you can hack away on any computer with a browser.
~~~
kilon
there are tons of services only that will allow you to code online using any
language eve C , C++ and Assembly. From inside the browser of course. Of
course I am not recommending a beginner to start from any of those languages
but it shows that JS does not have the monopoly of in browser coding. If you
have to stick with browser no matter what.
Ideone is a popular example [https://ideone.com/](https://ideone.com/)
------
jacobolus
Great work! I made a quick Observable notebook out of your code, in case
anyone wants to see what it does without downloading or running it on their
own machine:
[https://beta.observablehq.com/@jrus/wolfram-cellular-
automat...](https://beta.observablehq.com/@jrus/wolfram-cellular-automaton)
~~~
crooked-v
Dang, that's a neat tool. It's different enough from a Node environment,
though, including some of the necessary rewrites of stuff, that I wonder if a
"more Node-y" sandbox would be more useful for this particular case. An
example:
[https://codesandbox.io/s/r0kwk0o28p](https://codesandbox.io/s/r0kwk0o28p) (I
tweaked the rule number, column width, and output to print to the page, but
otherwise it's the same as the original.)
------
scottmf
Hey looks good :)! Just a few things you might not know about:
Google String.prototype.padEnd. It’s built in to JS and should be able to
replace your zero fill function.
And instead of mutating the ruleSet array you should be able to use
Array.prototype.map like this:
const ruleSet = zeroFill(8, rules.toString(2)) .split('') .reverse() .map(item
=> parseInt(item, 10));
And you can clone arrays like this, instead of using loops:
const oldArr = [...arr];
Also arrays are still mutable even if you assign them to const variables.
I’d offer more help but I’m on mobile. Sorry for the poor formatting. Hope
this helps anyway. Good luck!
~~~
erikpukinskis
Good tips if you want your code to fail randomly on older devices.
~~~
Varcht
Older devices running node?
~~~
ateesdalejr
Surprisingly there are some embedded developers who use Node. I would assume
those devices have a trimmed version of the Node stdlib.
~~~
ascorbic
I'm sure when he ports it to Espruino he can handle Babel.
------
ninjakeyboard
Good for you young jedi. I started coding around that age as well. I made the
mistake of not going through comp-sci but have still been able to work for
Google, publish books, lead teams and companies and products. You'll do just
fine.
You have the ability to write some code! If you want to get a jumpstart, you
should take the princeton algorithms course (for free!):
[https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-
part1](https://www.coursera.org/learn/algorithms-part1)
Or read the textbook by sedgewick that accompanies the course.
[https://algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home/](https://algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home/)
There is very little math in there - it may take some elbow grease and
mentorship to help to convey some of the ideas - but I believe that you could
implement and solve most everything in there. That was my path - I had a
teacher at the age of 14 who would explain to me how different algorithms
worked and I would go and implement them. Drawing a circle (in memory - it was
in C!) or sorting a list (we did bubblesort first IIRC!)
I think you could do it! I believe in you! The course material is approachable
- much more so than basically every other algorithms/data-structures material
I've found. it may take you some time but you'll be soooo far ahead with your
thinking about code.
If you ever start working with Object oriented languages like Java, another
book that may help you when you've gone down the road a bit is the Head First
Design Patterns book.
[http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596007126.do](http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596007126.do)
It's very easy to read, mostly pictures. It is made to be very easy to read
(all of the books in that series are so look around at them.)
It's helpful to do both - code and also take in some material, but at 12 I
imagine some of the material may be a bit daunting. You're doing really well -
keep it up.
------
deepaksurti
Liam, brilliant!
I am not saying you don't do this, but please please ensure you always sleep
well, follow a good diet and go out and play.
Sometimes, computers make us give up good habits!
Kudos for your great work and keep learning, keep shipping!
------
shamdasani
Woah - very cool! I'm a part of Hack Club
([https://hackclub.com](https://hackclub.com)), which is a nonprofit worldwide
network of high school coding clubs. Hack Club has an amazing community of
young developers - I actually lead a Hack Club at my high school, and I
definitely recommend that you join their slack
([https://hackclub.com/slack_invite](https://hackclub.com/slack_invite)) to
connect with other young makers!
By the way, I'm a 17 year-old developer
([https://shamdasani.org](https://shamdasani.org)), but I probably started
~14. My main project is Enlight ([https://enlight.nyc](https://enlight.nyc))
to teach others to code by building projects. If you'd like to contribute,
that would be awesome - feel free to shoot me an email :)
~~~
zachlatta
Hey Samay! To all in the thread, I started Hack Club and am happy to answer
any questions about the org.
Liam, this is super cool. I also got started young and wish I had the skills
to frontpage at 12 :-). Keep it up!
Would love to have you say hi in the Hack Club Slack. I'm @zrl.
------
rjplatte
That's awesome. What resources did you use to learn Node and JS? Just looked
at your code. Kid. You're a badass. Keep this up, you'll go places.
~~~
liamilan
Thank you! I'm watching a lot of Youtube videos. This is how I got to cellular
automata. My dad showed me git last week.
~~~
rjplatte
That's so freaking cool. Git rocks, and I remember how psyched I was when I
learned about it. What's your next project?
~~~
liamilan
I'm not sure. I'm always messing around with different projects.
I used blocklike.js to jump from Scratch to JavaScript. Then I worked for
months on this one game for the app store called Sticky Quest. You can find it
here: [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sticky-
quest/id1425679649?mt...](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sticky-
quest/id1425679649?mt=8) This how I learned how to use npm packages such as
Cordova and Eslint.
~~~
Obi_Juan_Kenobi
You could try expanding this project beyond elementary CAs.
One option is a 'totalistic' CA which looks at the average value of a given
neighborhood, and can have more than two states.
[http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TotalisticCellularAutomaton.htm...](http://mathworld.wolfram.com/TotalisticCellularAutomaton.html)
Or you could generate CAs with different starting conditions. Some beautiful
elementary CAs don't 'show up' with just one initial point.
~~~
DonHopkins
The Moveable Feast Machine is similar to cellular automata, but different in
some important ways, that make it extremely robust and fault tolerant:
It's a "Robust First" asynchronous distributed fault tolerant cellular-
automata-like computer architecture.
Robust programs running on massively parallel unreliable hardware can actually
tolerate hardware failure and repair themselves. The Demon Hoard Sort
algorithm is an inherently robust sorting algorithm for the Moveable Feast
Machine.
[http://movablefeastmachine.org/](http://movablefeastmachine.org/)
The "Distributed City Generation" video demonstrates a Movable Feast Machine
rule that builds a self-healing city that fills all available space with urban
sprawl, with cars that drive between buildings, and city streets that
adaptively learn how to route the cars to their nearest destinations, and the
city even repairs itself after disasters!
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkSXERxucPc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkSXERxucPc)
Here's some more info:
[https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14236973](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=14236973)
------
tannerwj
Looks great. I tried it and it runs fine. Nice syntax and convention.
Just a tip, you don't need to include `npm init` in your instructions. That
command only needs to run when you create a new project. It worked just fine
for me with just a `node index.js 18`
Great work!
~~~
liamilan
Thanks! You're right, I fixed it.
------
mockingbirdy
Great that you start so early, I've did the same. For me it was a great way to
gain confidence and build a skill which is very useful. I wouldn't be the same
person now if I didn't program so early.
Seeing how things come to life that you've build with your own hands is a very
empowering experience. Keep it up! :)
------
52-6F-62
Far better than I could do at that age!
I think the furthest I was getting at that time was building out really
terrible looking web pages in Notepad and making awful little animations in
BASIC and Turing (learning lang).
Keep it up!
~~~
markatkinson
I made a colourful ASCII birthday cake in Pascal that beeped happy birthday at
that age. Still one of my proudest programming moments.
~~~
vram22
writeln(chr(7)) ?
or something more (e.g. playing different frequencies to sound like the happy
birthday song)?
Related, and good fun for kids of all ages (first did something like this on
my earliest home computer [1]):
Play the piano on your computer with Python:
[https://jugad2.blogspot.com/2013/04/play-piano-on-your-
compu...](https://jugad2.blogspot.com/2013/04/play-piano-on-your-computer-
with-python.html)
[1] Lissajous hippo, retrocomputing and the IBM PC Jr.:
[https://jugad2.blogspot.com/2012/09/lissajous-
hippo.html](https://jugad2.blogspot.com/2012/09/lissajous-hippo.html)
Western classic music fans may find the comments on that post interesting -
stuff about octaves and frequencies.
------
test6554
Great job! One way to improve this code is to add comments. Use comments to
describe what each function does and what the parameters are supposed to be.
Then you can tell at a glance what the function does without having to analyze
the code later on.
Us old people tend to forget things.
~~~
kazinator
Comments in a twelve-year-old's code? For whom? Seven-year-olds? (I'm
serious.)
~~~
tchaffee
How about for a 32 year old who is just learning JavaScript and comes across
this repo? Age has nothing to do with it.
------
gilesvangruisen
This is awesome! Keep up the good work. As a fellow developer who began
writing software around your age, I have some advice that is definitely
subjective and biased, but which you may indeed find helpful.
1\. Keep practicing. Practice makes perfect. Explore different languages,
frameworks, and problem spaces (interfaces, servers, distributed systems,
statistics, etc.) to see what you find most interesting. You will make
mistakes, and that is okay. That is how you learn.
2\. Take frequent breaks. Programming is hard work. It can be truly
exhausting, and you should not be afraid to step away and go for a walk or
something.
3\. The most valuable people in the industry are called "T"s. I.e. people with
a little bit of knowledge/experience across broad range of topics (the
horizontal part of the letter T), but who have deep knowledge/experience in
one or a couple particular topics (the vertical shaft of the letter T).
4\. Begin to develop the skill of taking feedback and accepting criticism.
There's a lot of people out there who will be quick to criticize everything
you do if you put it out into the open. It's a whole skill in itself to be
able to interpret this feedback and separate the signal from the noise. Try to
empathize with the person or group providing feedback and understand that
their motives/perspective may be different from yours. Sometimes that's a
useful thing. Sometimes it's a distraction.
5\. Dn't take things too personally. You are not your code. A criticism of
your code is not a criticism of your character. The less you take things
personally, the easier it is to work with others. After all, the most
impressive systems require immense collaboration.
6\. Don't take yourself too seriously. Have some fun with it! Programming is
super fun, so you should ask yourself regularly "am I still having fun?". If
the answer is "No", maybe find something else interesting to focus on for a
bit.
7\. Broaden your perspective. Along the lines of #1 and #2, it's important to
maintain a broad perspective and push yourself to keep expanding your
perspective. This doesn't just apply to technical problem areas or languages
or frameworks. The best engineers are good problem solvers because they have a
broad perspective not just of the problem space but also more generally of the
world they inhabit. Try to learn about different industries, cultures, people,
and places. You will become a more well-rounded character for doing so, with a
higher ability to empathize with others and understand the complex mechanics
of how the world works.
8\. Be social. I made the mistake of hiding in my room on a computer for much
of my childhood, and it wasn't until high school that I really began to
understand the value of social interaction and maintaining strong solid
friendships. It's as important to spend time away from the computer as it is
too keep practicing.
All the best. Good luck!!
~~~
godelmachine
Would you please provide an example on how one proceed with T shaped learning
and expertise?
~~~
gilesvangruisen
That's a good question. I left that intentionally broad so as not to prescribe
a certain type of learning system or self-education.
There's a lot of ways to learn anything, but I would say that the first step
is pursuing a _variety_ of subjects that you find interesting, and even some
you think are boring. A lot of seemingly boring things I've found turn out to
be quite fascinating when it comes down to it. (e.g. database design)
Over time, you will pick things up, and put them back down. You will return to
some, and stay away from others, but eventually you will build a repertoire of
knowledge and experience in a variety of different fields. I would also bet
that at least one subject will interest you so much that you keep coming back
and in which you will ultimately develop expertise.
Experimentation is the name of the game!
~~~
godelmachine
Thanks for replying, Giles!
I see just dabbling in whatever interests and experimenting with them takes
one forward.
What you wrote is profoundly impactful.
------
deusofnull
This is awesome liam. im just over twice your age and am just now writing game
of life simulators.... man, what was i doing at 12???
~~~
jchw
Trust me, there can be downsides to starting early. In my case, I virtually
skipped having social interactions not on the internet until I was around 20
or so. Not everyone will have this kind of affliction, but you can't have it
all - you gotta choose what's important to you. I hope this doesn't come off
as being too negative, I mostly say this because I think you should try to
appreciate what you did learn rather than lamenting about not being able to
start with coding super early.
...that being said, this is way cleaner than any code I'd written at 12 I'm
pretty sure.
~~~
earenndil
With that said, it can also have the opposite effect. Success in online
interactions at such an age gave me the confidence I needed to be successful
in irl interactions.
------
jcrza
I guess I'm the only one here doubting that the combination of both this
project and the language used in the comment replies is coming from a 12 year
old.
Take it as a compliment if it's legitimate.
~~~
otakucode
Probably not the only one, it's very common for people to be extremely
prejudiced against the young. As with other prejudices, of course, it's wrong
and only scores accurate evaluations by chance. The only thing which prevents
any person, of any flavor or age or background or whatever, from producing
such work and comporting themselves in such a manner is not having learned it
or not practicing it themselves. Anything blamed on 'age' is normally just an
indictment of the society that hasn't provided appropriate education or
incentives.
I was a precoscious kid myself, and took to online communities with vigor
specifically because it permitted me to interact with adults as equals without
them constantly dismissing me without basis apart from my age. I've not
forgotten that, and if anything society now is even more egregiously bigoted
towards the young than ever. Next time you read an article about "kids" or
"teenagers" or "adolescents", try mentally substituting in "women" or "African
Americans" for the group identity they're talking about. You might be
surprised how identical the claims made, and the weak support given for them,
are.
~~~
jcrza
No, it's not the same as doing that for women or black people.
People lie about their gifted child to get them exposure all the time. People
doing that with art comes to mind. Or even just a parent doing assignments for
their kid.
You're not being creative enough if you can't imagine a world in which someone
would lie about something on the internet for attention.
------
jpamata
Hey man, great job! You got some great advice here from the HN crowd and I'd
just like to add one more: blog.
Set up your own site and blog about your journey and the lessons you've picked
up along the way. Learning is about working and reflection. Blogging is a good
platform for that. The very act of writing the content itself is reinforcing
your knowledge. Dive into the work, research, reflect, stay hungry and repeat.
That's what it's all about. Apart from that, you'll be expanding your network
as well. Having some amount of folks following your journey is not just a good
way of inspiring oneself, but also gives you an opportunity to inspire others
as well.
Anyways, keep it up! You're definitely going places.
------
mayneack
IANAL and all that and it doesn't bother me, but the first thing I thought of
was the age related ToS restrictions from the HBO Silicon Valley show.
From the HN "legal" page:
> If you are under 13 years of age, you are not authorized to register to use
> the Site.
[https://www.ycombinator.com/legal/](https://www.ycombinator.com/legal/)
I assume no 12 year olds actually try to follow this boilerplate on the
internet. Do sites that require a DOB to sign up reject those under 12?
~~~
otakucode
The legal restrictions are not actually on Liam, or any user. They are on the
site itself. The law in the US prevents the collection of any personal
information from anyone under 13 years of age. Once you are 13 years old, you
are a trackable, surveillable, profilable, saleable commodity. Prior to that,
though, your personal info is protected from collection.
But... HN doesn't actually collect any personal info. So, that's likely either
a reflex inclusion of such a clause or just an abundance of caution.
------
ArtWomb
Good job! I mentor college CS majors whose code is not as clean as this.
Seriously.
I would also recommend checking out The Coding Train. NYU ITP Daniel
Shiffman's lectures on creative coding. It's time to get started with graphics
;)
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjgXvBlbQiydffZU7m1_aw](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvjgXvBlbQiydffZU7m1_aw)
And to get a headstart in Artificial Intelligence, from the same author comes
the ml5.js library: friendly machine learning for the web. Best of luck!
[https://ml5js.org/](https://ml5js.org/)
------
strainer
I like how the array named 'map' reflects our original use of this word,
rather than the special meaning which it has acquired to programmers.
In Javascript and other languages 'map' has become a kind of "functional
operation" so we cant call things 'map' anymore (in public). We have to say
'space' or 'state' or 'grid' or something... but I do still think 'map' was
good.
Congratulations on a very efficient and readable project. Bravo !
~~~
FPGAhacker
Programmers got it from mathematicians. I had the impression it was a fairly
long standing use of the word.
~~~
jacobolus
Mathematicians got it directly from cartography. A “map” “maps” points from
one set of coordinates to another, for example when you want to plot latitude
and longitude on a flat paper.
------
g105b
I'm particularly fond of this because at 12 when I was learning to program I
never thought it was important to keep my work safe, or even documented at
all, and it all exists on a hard drive in landfill now.
If you pursue a career in programming, you'll look back at your early work and
have a great personal self-documentation tool to remind you of how far you've
come.
------
forthispurpose
Everything about it is optimism-inducing on a very deep level. The post
itself, the reaction, the answers, the discussion.
~~~
yeukhon
Well, you either congratulate, or you get downvoted for not being nice. Your
choice here on HN.
------
jVinc
It's amazing that at the same age Steven Wolfram himself had written his first
100 page book "concise directory of physics) and at just one year older wrote
his first book on quantum physics.
~~~
ateesdalejr
From all the amazing things Mr. Wolfram has done at such a young age almost
makes him the Chuck Norris of science.
~~~
aj7
Catching the disease of cellular automata isn’t a good thing. Fredkin was also
affected. This young person has many years to do useful things.
~~~
DonHopkins
Unfortunately it was cancer from the radiation of atomic bomb tests that
killed John von Neumann far too early, not his experiments with cellular
automata.
[https://www.hnf.de/en/permanent-exhibition/exhibition-
areas/...](https://www.hnf.de/en/permanent-exhibition/exhibition-areas/hall-
of-fame/john-von-neumann-1903-1957.html)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_cellular_automaton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_cellular_automaton)
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_universal_construc...](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann_universal_constructor)
------
jrumbut
I feel bad for all the other 12 year olds whose parents just saw this :)
~~~
onion2k
It's great to be writing code at 12 if you want to write code, and clearly
this kid has a talent for it, but that doesn't detract from what all the other
12 year olds are doing. So long as they're happy and safe to do what they want
to do it's all good. Growing up is not a competition.
Also, while it may seem great to learn early, I've worked with people who
didn't write a line of code until they were in their 50s and they were far
better at it after a few years than I am despite having 20 years more
experience. Some people have a gift. Others have to really work at it. Sadly
I'm in the second group. :)
~~~
rosege
What about those of us in the 3rd group - started late and have to work hard
at it!
------
calhoun137
This is so great and I am really impressed, and even a little inspired! When I
was 12 there was no internet and learning programming was really hard, but it
was more fun for me than anything else. Your project has reminded me how I
felt so many years ago when I was 12 and I would sneak out of bed to program
QBASIC on my APPLE 2C. Thanks for the inspiration and keep up the great work!
Keep working hard like this and you will become a master programmer of the
first rank.
------
kritixilithos
Congratulations!
Are you familiar with code golf? If not, I recommend it. In Code Golf, the
objective is to complete a programming task in the shortest program possible,
measured in bytes. While doing so, you really learn about the nuances of your
language and its obscure features.
When I was about your age, I joined the code golf community at Stack Exchange,
and since then my JS skills and general programming skills have improved
greatly. I hope that you would find it to be useful too.
------
mandeepj
Congrats.
> dimensional cellular automata in witch all possible rules are encoded into
> one byte as described here
Small typo here - should be "which" instead of "witch"
~~~
liamilan
Thanks for pointing that out. Fixed.
------
tinchox5
Hi Liam! I'm your occasional HN neighbour I live currently just below your
post :) (Show HN: A smarthome dashboard concept using zircle-ui).
It's a pleasure to see the impressive reception that your post is having. Also
I want to join all the voices of congratulations you have received for your
work at your age! Keep doing this kind of things, It is very inspiring for
all!
------
Qwertie
Nice work. I'm not a JS expert but I think I saw a bug.
Inside of animate() you are calling setTimeout() to automatically call animate
repeatedly but this is also calling setTimeout() every time animate runs but
setTimeout() should only be run once.
You should be able to take
setTimeout(() => {
animate();
}, 100);
and paste it over animate() on the last line
~~~
telcy
What you mean is setInterval and does work well for synchronous execution. His
approach is correct and would even work if the animate function is
asynchronous as the next tick gets scheduled at the end of animate function
execution.
~~~
Qwertie
Ah yes, you are right. Got those mixed up.
~~~
derrikcurran
Recursive setTimeout is a great way to allow for easy timing/speed changes on
the fly.
~~~
telcy
good point :)
------
amasad
That's really awesome. Here it is running in a Node repl in the browser if you
want to try it quickly (the code verbatim but hardcoded the rule number to 18)
[https://repl.it/@amasad/wolfram-cellular-
automata](https://repl.it/@amasad/wolfram-cellular-automata)
------
transitivebs
You're off to an amazing start!
I'd say just find stuff that genuinely interests you and try to build it. I
got my start focusing on games, but whatever gets you excited. You're already
way ahead of the curve, so have fun with it, experiment, and you'll do great
things :)
------
brianzelip
Nice work! I hacked together something similar for the browser after watching
a FunFunFunction video about automata,
[https://brianzelip.github.io/automata](https://brianzelip.github.io/automata)
(not ideal on mobile)
------
Aardwolf
Off topic for the main achievement :)
But: if I open the bitbucket link on mobile, the left part of the text is
clipped and it doesn't allow scrolling left.
With "request desktop site", it works perfect.
Why does mobile mode even exist if the desktop site works better??
~~~
ronilan
I tend to read my own code in bed on the phone after I commit.
The new Bitbucket interface really dropped the ball on this. It is almost
unusable.
I hope they’ll fix it...
~~~
vram22
Send a request ...
------
FuckOffNeemo
This has suddenly became the most wholesome thread I've ever read on HN.
This is why HN is great.
------
swat535
This is really amazing, reminds me of my childhood days..
I showed this to my girlfriend's sister whom has shown interest in
programming, today I learned that she decided to drop her art classes in
favour of some programming courses!
Well done!
------
brtknr
That’s so cool! When I was 12, the best I built was a game of Who wants to be
a millionaire in Qbasic and this is whole another level from that! You are
inspirational!
------
mbrodersen
Great work :-) I had fun programming Basic and Z80 assembler when I was 11 as
well. I always remember it as being a great time of discovery and passion.
------
lucasverra
Just stepping by to say, congrats for shipping, congrats for posting ! Im 32
and will be posting my public beta next week !
------
thieving_magpie
Congratulations Liam. This is great.
------
davekam
not sure why the age matters?
------
neelkadia
Congratulations Liam!!!
You're doing phenomenal. You'll be role model for up-coming generation.
Great!!
------
chriselles
Congrats! I have shown this to my 13 and 12 year old sons to inspire them.
------
CommanderData
Well done little one. Keep it up and hats off to your parents.
------
timmonsjg
Impressive. Keep it up!
------
wavefunction
Keep it up, this is exactly how great programmers are made!
------
slics
This tells you that talent can be discovered at any age.
------
rootw0rm
congrats! when I was 12 I was war dialling BBSes and pirating shareware games.
hopefully your future turns out bright.
------
mvpu
Great! Now redo this in Python and GoLang :)
------
stevefan1999
Wow, you really had great potentials in CS!
------
fullofsid
You are amazing, keep learning more. :)
------
mcs_
Thank you Lia. You inspired me today.
------
willbw
Well done mate, very impressive.
------
iammer
Very nice.
------
benvineyard
Holy $hit! Nice work man!
------
benvineyard
Holy $hit. Nice work man!
------
jmkni
Very nice work!
------
slolean13
its brilliant, congratulations!
------
whitepoplar
Great work!
------
adultSwim
Cool!
------
mito88
Good work!
------
ultrasounder
very inspiring!!!
------
da_murvel
Excuse my portion of scepticism, it's not the fact that a "12 year old" built
this, sure anyone can learn how to code and we can't know how much help this
person got along the way. But it's rather the person's language when writing
plain text, here in the comments for example. It doesn't feel adolescent but
more grownup to me ... But maybe it's just me realising my own shortcommings
as a 12 year old, as I only was playing with my friends and the odd computer
and video game.
~~~
kristopolous
Do kids really do their own science fair projects? We have different rules of
ownership for age-appropriate levels of mentorship.
Also, I and likely you come from a different generation (I'm aged late 30s)
where my parents knew nothing about coding and I genuinely had to learn
everything on my own reading books at a library when my parents would drop me
off.
I only had access to a very expensive family computer where my parents would
freak out if I changed something on the fancy appliance they poorly understood
and essentially every language other than qbasic needed a pricey proprietary
compiler costing hundreds of dollars.
These days with the accessibility of the internet, explosion of open source,
craigslist laptops perfect for learning going for under $75 and the
commonality of programming as a stable career, it wouldn't surprise me to find
children living in say, the silicon valley with programmer parents who
successfully get their child excited about programming early.
It's a different set of circumstances and a 12 year old able to write graphics
demos doesn't sound that implausible.
------
saagarjha
Technically, you shouldn't be using this site ;)
> If you are under 13 years of age, you are not authorized to register to use
> the Site.
But I applaud you for getting into programming this early.
~~~
ateesdalejr
When I was 12 I ignored this on pretty much any website I signed up for. Words
do little to stop a determined 12 year old.
~~~
EvangelicalPig
On the internet, nobody knows your a dog.
Nice work dude!
------
pantheon
Great work. I will give you a different piece of advice. Make sure to work out
360 out of 365 days in a year, without weights.
~~~
TaupeRanger
Ok I'll bite....where is this very specific advice coming from?
~~~
pantheon
From a guy that was doing cool things with a computer at age 12 but instead of
starting to workout at age 12, started at age 18. Any age is good to start
working out but sooner is better.
~~~
ascorbic
What bizarre advice for a programming thread. And what are those five days
for?
~~~
pantheon
Sick days. Health is the most important thing.
------
Froyoh
wow you code better than me
------
crooked-v
Good work.
For a next step, I would suggest giving a try at breaking it up into multiple
files using import/export statements (it doesn't need it but it's good
practice), and using a bundler like Parcel to build the finished file.
npm i --save-dev parcel-bundler
...then move your source JS files to a folder named src, and add to
package.json...
"scripts": {
"prepare": "parcel --target node src/index.js"
"start": " node dist/index.js"
}
In your individual files, you do like...
// file-1.js
import somethingName, { whateverName } from './file-2'
// file-2.js
export function whateverName { ... }
const somethingName = '...';
export default somethingName;
...and then run...
npm run prepare
npm run start
(The prepare script is also a "magic word" that will auto-run anytime someone
does 'npm install', so usually an end user won't have to manually run it.)
A bundler isn't strictly necessary if you plan to only run something in Node,
but it lets you make a package that's usable in both Node and web projects,
and it makes it simple to use Babel, which lets you Javascript features from
the future that aren't actually in Node proper yet.
~~~
aero142
That last thing a 12 year old needs is a complicated build toolchain.
~~~
bsg75
Hell, I'm 50 and its the last thing I need.
------
modzu
im 12 and what is this
~~~
dolessdrugs
me too thanks
|
The Khadr family, in Canada only because we are stupid enough to allow these people citizenship, are unhappy their son Omar(he killed an American medic and blinded another in a firefight in Afghanistan) has been locked up in Cuba for his actions and awaiting trail for several years now. Well cry me a river. This is the same family that had its father die fighting with the Taliban and his other brother was crippled and at Canadian taxpayer expense motors around in a spiffy new wheel chair.The mother only recently claimed Canada and the west moral wrecks full of homosexuals(not that theres anything wrong with it)and godless. For all their complaining they sure don,t mind those monthly checks they recieve as refugees.(that word just makes me gag). Now this women has the nerve to go on one of our National TV broadcasts demanding to be heard. That popping noise are my blood vessels bursting in fustration at the contempt of this family and our immigration system that allows this crap to go on.Rant over. Cheers.
Officer of Engineers
29 Oct 07,, 13:48
Exarecr,
The family is not all bad. One of the sons, now disowned, was an informant.
Adux
29 Oct 07,, 14:51
Sir,
In your opinion does the west take political correctness a bit too much,
or is it, their real strength.
Officer of Engineers
29 Oct 07,, 15:40
It's a case of the conqueror having to live with the conquered with the latter no longer being tagged as 2nd class citizens. Behave correctly or faced an internal rebellion. |
Da Ciphering Da Vinci
The Gospel of Mary Magdalene
Hot on the heels of these declarations Teabing shows Sophie another passage from The Gospel of Mary Magdalene which he uses to emphasise Jesus' special relationship with Mary and Peter's jealousy.
Once again Dan Brown is sloppy with his description of the documents. Teabing states that this revelation given to Mary was before Jesus' death and resurrection. In reality it takes place after his resurrection.
More importantly, the section read by Sophie, which appears in The Da Vinci Code as an unbroken section, is actually a selective rendering of the actual text.
Below is a comparison of Brown's quotation and the fuller text as listed in Darrell Bock's book.
Dan Brown
Darrell Bock
And Peter said, 'Did the Saviour really speak with a woman without our knowledge? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did he prefer her to us?'
And Levi answered, 'Peter, you have always been hot-tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like an adversary. If the Saviour made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Saviour knows her very well. That is why he loved her more than us.' (58:333)
But Andrew answered and said to the brethren, "Say what you (wish to) say about what she has said. I at least do not believe that the Savior said this. For certainly these teachings are strange ideas." Peter answered and spoke concerning these same things. He questioned them about the Savior: "Did He really speak with a woman without our knowledge and not openly? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to us?" Then Mary wept and said to Peter, "My brother Peter, what do you think? Do you think that I have thought this up myself in my heart, or that I am lying about the Savior?" Levi answered and said to Peter, "Peter, you have always been hot tempered. Now I see you contending against the woman like the adversaries. But if the Savior made her worthy, who are you indeed to reject her? Surely the Savior know her very well. That is why He loved her more than us. Rather let us be ashamed and put on the perfect Man, and separate as He commanded us and preach the gospel, not laying down any other rule or other law beyond what the Savior said." (Bock 2004, 25-26)
The full text indicates that Mary had received a special revelation from the Lord. Peter questions whether this would actually be the case. She is not claiming control of the Church. Notice also that her special status is not founded on her marital relationship with Jesus but upon being made worthy by him.
On top of that it is intriguing to note the reference to the 'perfect Man'. While Brown presents the early Gnostics as feminists this was not necessarily the case. For more information on this selective view of Gnosticism see Darrell Bock's book.
There are other problems with the story of Mary according to Dan Brown.
For example, if, as he suggests, references to Mary in the early records of Jesus' life were so troubling (58.329) it boggles the mind that she could be mentioned so regularly in the Constantinian Bible.
In the New Testament Gospels (supposedly commissioned by Constantine) Mary is presented as a disciple of Jesus who had experienced his healing touch and who supported him out of her own means. She was present at the cross and was the first to see the resurrected Lord.
How can it be that these references, especially her role as a key witness to the resurrection, failed to get edited out by Constantine and his team of editors?
Another is the supposed smear campaign that associated her with the prostitute in Luke 7:36-50.
The first time this was mentioned was by Pope Gregory the Great in the year 591 AD. His sermon makes it evident that he was not seeking to defame Mary but to elevate her as an example of repentance (Olson & Miesel 2004, 78-86)
Finally, we need to recognise that even if Jesus had been marriage this would not collapse the Church.
Jesus was fully human, as discussed above, and did all the things that humans do - slept, ate, drank, got angry, etc. The reason the church doesn't teach his marriage to Mary Magdalene is because there is no evidence for such a union.
There is only one thing that would spell disaster for Christianity and which is the topic of our last section. |
Crop materials, such as straw, hay or other like forage, or animal bedding, are often baled for storage and transportation. In some instances, it is necessary to break the bale apart in order to spread the crop material for animal bedding or to dispense the crop material as feed.
A machine to disintegrate bales of crop material is sometimes known as a baled crop material processor. A typical machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,292 which issued to Frey on May 16, 1989. A baled crop material processor basically comprises a container for receiving the bales, a disintegrator often in the form of a roller with cutters or flails for chopping or shredding the material from the bale, a mechanism including manipulator rollers to direct the bale to the disintegrator and a discharge slot such that the crop material is discharged from the bail processor. Any number of manipulator rollers are possible, however, the disintegrator is located between and below two of the manipulator rollers. The baled crop material is supported and rotated by the rollers. As the crop material bale rotates the disintegrator breaks apart the outer portion of the baled crop material first and then proceeds to break apart the crop material towards the centre of the bale until the crop material is completely broken apart. As the baled crop material is disintegrated, the loose crop material is driven by the flails to be discharged from the machine through the discharge slot. The discharged crop material can be formed into windrows or discharged into feed bunks to be used as feed or it may be scattered to be used as animal bedding.
One of the major problems which appears to occur with baled crop material processors is that they tend to jam. This occurs when loose crop material wraps around the manipulator rollers or passes between the manipulator rollers and the walls of the container. Jams are generally dislodged by reversing the direction of rotation of the manipulator rollers. It has been found that jamming rarely occurs when the bale is firm, the result being that the only loose crop material that is produced, is by the disintegrator in the disintegrator opening between the manipulator rollers; this loose crop material is immediately driven out of the processor through the discharge slot. Loose crop material may be created by the manipulator rollers themselves, the rotation of the bale may shake it apart or the engaging action of the rollers may tear or break the crop material bale apart.
Usually, as the crop material bale rotates, the amount of crop material disintegrated is not uniform from the outside to the inside of the crop material bale. This occurs because the outside is usually much harder than the inside, that is the inside is more loosely baled. Thus, when the exterior of the crop material bale is being disintegrated, that is at the start of the process, the crop material bale is hard. Rotating a hard crop material bale is relatively easy, and therefore uniform disintegration takes place along the periphery of the crop material bale. Furthermore, the crop material bale only breaks apart in the area of disintegration, the other parts of the periphery remain intact due to the hardness of the bale. However, once the softer, inner core of the crop material is reached, the crop material bale is often too loose to remain intact. Therefore, the softer, inner core is sometimes difficult to rotate. The softer inner core tends to break apart because of the rotation, and this loose crop material can cause jamming and impede rotation of the manipulator rollers.
Also, the teeth on the manipulator rollers engage the crop material bale to effect the rotation. This engaging action tends to grab the crop material bale. This grabbing action can be very similar to the disintegration action, and hence loose crop material can be created. Furthermore, the grabbing action may not release the crop material bale and hence pull the crop material around the roller causing a wrap around situation.
Moreover, if the crop material bale moves longitudinally and impacts the front or back wall of the container, then the crop material may be torn from the bale by the wall or the rotation of the crop material bale may be impeded by the contact with the wall of the container. Often, the result of this impeded rotation is that the teeth of the manipulator rollers tend to break the crop material bale apart, and this crop material may jam the roller, which is undesirable.
A further difficultly is to control bales of irregular shape such as rectangular bales, frozen bales or bales that have been stored for a period of time and are flat on one side. Sometimes, irregularly shaped bales can cause a jam to occur since they do not rotate properly.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need to provide a crop material processor for disintegrating baled crop material capable of keeping to a minimum the amount of loose crop material in the processor that may cause jamming. |
In a measure designed to fight racism and intolerance in the the armed forces, the British government yesterday fired the entire British army after a photo emerged of a large group of British soldiers happily posing with "hate speech" liberalist Tommy Robinson.
By posing with Robinson, the "squaddies" were implicitly endorsing the controversial activist's hard-line anti-child-rape views and possibly his admiration for the state of Israel.
As not all the servicemen could be identified, due to the fact that they were wearing similar clothing and all smiling, the Ministry of Defence decided that it would be best to let the entire army go rather than harbour a single Tommy Robinson supporter or sympathiser.
This means that Britain will be temporarily undefended until a new British army that doesn't include any racists can be recruited.
In the meantime, the UK will be defended by a force field constructed by the female Doctor Who and a crack squad of wizards from Hogwarts College, flying on broomsticks and casting spells on any approaching enemy.
Britain's new frontline defenders. |
Q:
Linear combination of DT unit impulse
Came across this example in class but I'm not sure how the expression $x(n)$ was derived.
A:
The plot that shows the sequence $x[n]$ is also called as the lollipop plot and it shows the individual samples of $x[n]$ with their weights and locations.
Each lollipop represents a discrete-time unit-impulse signal, $\delta[n]$, which is located at the position it's shown and weighted by the value of the signal there. The superposition sum of all those impulses compose the signal $x[n]$.
Now, your signal has 3 lollipops located at $n = \{-1,0,1\}$ and weighted by $\{1,2,3\}$ respectively.
Since an impulse located at the position $n=d$, and weighted by $a$, is given by
$$ a \cdot \delta[n-d]$$
by using this, you can compose the signal $x[n]$ from its lollipops as:
$$ x[n] = 1 \cdot \delta[n-(-1)] + 2 \cdot \delta[n-(0)] + 3 \cdot \delta[n-(1)] $$
$$ x[n] = 1 \cdot \delta[n+1] + 2 \cdot \delta[n] + 3 \cdot \delta[n-1] $$
Note that a generalization of this also yields the sifting-sum decomposition of any signal $x[n]$ as
$$x[n] = \sum_{k=-\infty}^{\infty} x[k] \delta[n-k] $$
|
A chromosome-level genome assembly of Pyropia haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta).
Pyropia haitanensis (Bangiales, Rhodophyta), a major economically important marine crop, is also considered as an ideal research model of Rhodophyta to address several major biological questions such as sexual reproduction and adaptation to intertidal abiotic stresses. However, comparative genomic analysis to decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms is hindered by the lack of high-quality genome information. Therefore, we integrated sequencing data from Illumina short-read sequencing, PacBio single-molecule sequencing and BioNano optical genome mapping. The assembled genome was approximately 53.3 Mb with an average GC% of 67.9%. The contig N50 and scaffold N50 were 510.3 kb and 5.8 Mb, respectively. Additionally, 10 superscaffolds representing 80.9% of the total assembly (42.7 Mb) were anchored and orientated to the 5 linkage groups based on markers and genetic distance; this outcome is consistent with the karyotype of five chromosomes (n = 5) based on cytological observation in P. haitanensis. Approximately 9.6% and 14.6% of the genomic region were interspersed repeat and tandem repeat elements, respectively. Based on full-length transcriptome data generated by PacBio, 10,903 protein-coding genes were identified. The construction of a genome-wide phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the divergence time of P. haitanensis and Porphyra umbilicalis was ~204.4 Ma. Interspecies comparison revealed that 493 gene families were expanded and that 449 were contracted in the P. haitanensis genome compared with those in the Po. umbilicalis genome. The genome identified is of great value for further research on the genome evolution of red algae and genetic adaptation to intertidal stresses. |
Issue 9, 2009 - TS Singapore - “To” Shanghai or “towards” Shanghai.
The facts of the case were rather unusual. Having loaded a cargo of containers at Yokohama, Japan the charterer instructed the TS SINGAPORE to proceed to Shanghai. However, the ship then collided with a breakwater during a typhoon. After a period of delay, the ship’s classification society imposed conditions which required the ship to proceed to Hong Kong to discharge all of her cargo and then to a repair yard in China, which the ship duly did. |
latest nba news
December 16th: the Milwaukee bucks (12 – 12) in the home court rebound. Ade Tor Quinn Bo had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 3 steals, Parke 28 points and 5 rebounds, who led the team in the first half a big score advantage, they withstand the opponent’s counterattack paratelum, bucks at home court to 108-97 victory over the Chicago bulls (13 – 12). The Bucks ended 3 defeats and the Bulls suffered a total of 2 defeats. Bucks adetokunbo had 30 points, 14 rebounds and 3 steals, Parke 28 points and 5 rebounds, Te Reto Vecchi scored 13 points, Della Vedova had 9 points and 9 assists, Snell scored 9 points, Henson had 4 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Butler of the Bulls got 21 points, with a score of 20 points and a second assist, with a score of 19 points and a rebound of up to $and a rebound of 8 points and a rebound of up to a total of 5 rebounds for the team with a score of about $6 and a total of 4 rebounds for the team. The result of the game was that of the men of the game, with a score of points and three rebounds. Home court bucks after the start is positive, adetokunbo and Parke hit three points, they led the team to lead 10-6. Butler hit the jumper, Parke scored 7 points, he led the team to split out 11-2 small high tide, the first section there are 5 minutes and 50 seconds when the bucks to lead 21-10. Gibson recovered 4 points, Ade Tor Quinn Bo fired again to respond to the 5 points, the bucks to 30-18 lead the end of the first quarter of 12 points. Te Reto Vecchi feel in the beginning of the second quarter is excellent, he dropped into 2 record three points, one 8 points, adetokunbo had 4 points, they led the team 19-4 wave of attacks, this section for 5 minutes when the Bucks 47-26 lead with 21 points. Rondo and Gibson attack succeeded, Parke struck 5 points, Snell hit a jumper, 3 minutes and 40 seconds before halftime when the Bucks 58-31 lead with 27 points. The performance of active Gibson scored 7 points, Snell hit three points, the end of the first half of the team 64-45 lead with 19 points. Bucks Ade Tor Quinn Bo scored 20 points and a total of 7 rebounds in the first half, while Parke scored a score of about $17, with a score of 10 points for the bulls and a score of $for the bulls, with a score of $for the team and a score of up to points for the team at the time of the game. The team was awarded a score of $17 and scored a score of 10 points. The third day after the start of Jiudelaweiduowa adetokunbo and led the team to win the 8 points, the team 76-50 lead with 26 points. The Bulls pause after Wade and Butler hit the jumper, they played the 8-2 against the wave, the gap between the two sides has been pulled back to 20 points. The two sides after each bit, Te Reto Vecchi and three points, the bucks in the end of the three quarter to 88-66 lead by a score of 22. Wade started in the fourth quarter after the offensive force, he scored 10 points with a fine cast, he led the team to play back the wave of 12-0, this section for 5 minutes when bulls chase 83-95. Ade Tor Quinn Bo layup, Parke two free throws, which stabilize the situation for the bucks. Butler two free throws in the lead again even after 6 minutes, Snell layup, Mcdermott and Butler hit three points, the fourth section there are 3 minutes when the bulls to 95-103 behind. The referee blew the Delaweiduowa dribble fanwan gave the Bulls a chance, henhsen cover Butler’s layup, then his hook shot, right Delaweiduowa hit three points, the fourth section there are 1 minutes and 34 seconds when the Bucks 108-97 lead with 11 points. Wade jumper, Butler ball, the bulls huitianfali lose 97-108. The Bulls lineup: Rondo, Wade, Butler, Gibson, Lopez, the Bucks’ starting lineup: della Vedova, Snell, Parke, adetokunbo, henhsen Author: Liu |
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a probe into the alleged involvement of Dr Zafar Mirza in the smuggling of 20 million face masks to the foreign countries.
The complaint read that Special Assistant to PM on Health Dr Zafar Mirza in collusion with the deputy director of DRAP Ghazanfar Ali smuggled 20 million face masks to other countries.
Young Pharmacists’ Association’s General Secretary Dr Furqan Ibrahim submitted an application to the Prime Minister’s complaint cell whose subject was:
“20 million face masks were smuggled out of Pakistan by aide of Mr Ghazanfar Ali Khan S/O Mr Maqbool Khan Deputy Director DRAP and Dr Zafar Mirza, Special Assistant to Prime Minister - complaint submitted by Pakistan Young Pharmacists Association.”
FIA’s Additional Director General has directed to submit the report within 15 days.
1,500 Cleared at Taftan
Meanwhile, in another development, 1,500 pilgrims who came from Iran and were kept in a quarantine centre, Pakistan House, at Taftan were allowed to go home as they did not show any signs of infection related to coronavirus.
Currently, there are around 5,000 pilgrims admitted to six quarantine centres including Pakistan House.
Currently, there are over 80 people in Mian Ghandi. These are those who came from Iran illegally, the PDMA said. |
Huawei might consider buying Nokia: Report
Chinese network equipment and cellphone maker Huawei Technologies Co would consider buying Finland's Nokia to help it expand its smartphone business, according to a story on the Financial Times
website.
The story quoted the head of Huawei's consumer business, Richard Yu, as saying: "We are considering these sorts of acquisitions; maybe the combination has some synergies but depends on the willingness of Nokia. We are open-minded."
Nokia and Huawei were not immediately available for comment. Nokia's US shares were up 26 cents or 7 per cent at $3.95 after the report. |
The site is an archive site for the former Lady
Warriors Girls Fastpitch Organization, a summer softball program providing a
more competitive alternative to traditional recreation league softball in the
Boulder County area.
The Lady Warriors program began in 1999 and enjoyed
tremendous success running on a shoe-string budget when compared to other
organizations. We prided ourselves with running a lean organization, promoting
sweat equity volunteerism from all participants.
We are proud of our 10 various
Colorado State Championships since our organization's inception in 1999! |
British People's Party (2015)
The British People's Party, officially registered as the British People's Party - Unity, Equality, Freedom, was a British political party that was registered with the Electoral Commission and launched in December 2015. It ceased to exist in 2016.
The party advocated British unionism, Euroscepticism, British republicanism, social justice, economic democracy, internationalism, humanitarianism and environmentalism.
Electoral performance
Ben Marshall, a member of the Pilsley Parish Council, joined the party the day after its launch to become its first councillor.
The party's first electoral contest was for a parish council by-election in Kintbury on 21 January 2016, winning 31 votes (8.2%).
The party unsuccessfully contested the North East Derbyshire District Council by-election in Tupton ward on 15 September 2016.
References
External links
(defunct)
Category:Political parties established in 2015
Category:2015 establishments in England
Category:Nationalist parties in the United Kingdom
Category:Eurosceptic parties in the United Kingdom |
Tawas City, Michigan
Tawas City is a city along Lake Huron in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,827 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Iosco County. The city is adjacent to Tawas Township but is administratively autonomous.
History
Tawas City was founded in 1854 as the first city to be located on the shores of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron north of Bay City, Michigan. Tawas City was designated as the county seat of Iosco County, and the first post office was established Jan. 6, 1856, with James O. Whittemore appointed postmaster.
Since Tawas City's founding, the community's economy has been a major factor influencing land use and development patterns. The rich natural resource base of the area: forest lands, Lake Huron and wildlife, combined with the protection offered by Tawas Bay, inspired the founding of the city and provided resources to support a lumber industry. The shoreline, as the transition zone between land and water, became the focus of the community, with the city developing in a linear fashion along the bayshore. Tawas Bay continues to serve as a harbor of refuge, used by large freighters to escape severe storms on Lake Huron.
Statements that “Tawas” is derived from the word “Ottawas” and that the Ottawa Indians once inhabited this region are false. The local Indians had made camps along the shore of the bay and near the mouth of the river. They were a band from the Saginaw, Michigan tribe of Chippewa (also known as Ojibwa). Their leader was Chief O-ta-was. As he had his camp on the shores of the bay, it was known as O-ta-was's Bay. Early map makers dropped in an extra “t"; later map makers dropped off the “s.” The name of the point dividing the bay from Lake Huron was known as Ottawa Point. Comparatively recent spelling and pronunciation for the name of these Chippewa gradually evolved to Tawas.
The Whittemores named the community they founded as Tawas City. Eight years later, the lumbering firm of Smith, Van Valkenburg and Company built a mill on the bay shore a mile or so east of the Whittemore mill and holding. When a community developed around this latter mill, the cluster of homes was, by common consent, named East Tawas. For many years, residents of both towns and the surrounding farming community often referred to Tawas City as “old town” and to East Tawas as “east town.”
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
It is considered to be part of Northern Michigan.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,827 people, 723 households, and 441 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 977 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.9% White, 0.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 723 households of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.79.
The median age in the city was 47.4 years. 17.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.6% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,005 people, 760 households, and 484 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,174.4 per square mile (452.7/km²). There were 969 housing units at an average density of 567.6 per square mile (218.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.31% White, 0.55% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 760 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city, the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,813, and the median income for a family was $37,235. Males had a median income of $28,789 versus $24,563 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,061. About 8.8% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Major highways
has been designated the Sunrise Side Coastal Highway, and runs along (or parallels) the Lake Huron shore.
is one of only three state highways that extend across Michigan's Lower Peninsula from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. Its eastern terminus is in Tawas City at the junction with US 23.
Bus
Indian Trails provides daily intercity bus service between St. Ignace and Bay City, Michigan. This route doubles as the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service for the area.
Local attractions
The City is on Tawas Bay, and Tawas Point State Park is located in nearby Baldwin Township. Both are considered to be an especially good locale for birding. and are listed as Important bird areas. It is said to be the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay area. A fairly complete list of migratory birds that frequent the area is available. In more recent years Tawas Point has been a top kite-boarding destination.
Administration
Mayor: Ken Cook
City Manager: Annge Horning
Clerk: Michelle Westcott
Treasurer: Annette Corey
Zoning Administrator: Annge Horning
Current as of April 2015
City Council
David Dickman
Dave Schantz
Carl Steinhurst
Janel Walmsley
Danna White
William Willis
Education
Tawas Area Schools is a local public school district. The public schools consist of Clara Bolen Elementary, Tawas Middle School, Tawas Junior High, and Tawas High School. Emanuel Lutheran School is a private parochial elementary school in Tawas City, serving approximately 70 students in grades K-8. It is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
Media
Area radio stations
WIOS (1480 AM) - Adult standards (Tawas City)
WJOJ (89.7 FM) - Contemporary Christian (Harrisville)
WCMB (95.7 FM) - CMU Public Radio (Oscoda)
WWTH (100.7 FM) - Classic Rock (Oscoda)
WQLB (103.3 FM) - Classic hits (Tawas City)
WKJC (104.7 FM) - Country (Tawas City)
WTZM (106.1 FM) - Hot AC (Tawas City)
Television
Tawas City and Iosco County are part of the Flint-Saginaw-Bay City television market; Charter Communications, the cable system serving Iosco County, offers most major channels from that market, along with Alpena's CBS affiliate, WBKB-TV, as well as CBC Television programming from CBMT in Montreal.
Newspapers
The Iosco County News-Herald is the newspaper of record for Iosco County.
The Oscoda Press is a weekly newspaper serving northern Iosco County and southern Alcona County
Daily editions of The Alpena News, Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News are also available throughout the area, as well as the Bay City Times and The Saginaw News.
Notes
External links
Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University, Bibliography on Iosco County
Emanuel Lutheran Church and School
Enchanted forest, Northern Michigan source for information, calendars, etc.
Tawas Area Schools
Category:Cities in Iosco County, Michigan
Category:County seats in Michigan
Category:1854 establishments in Michigan
Category:Populated places established in 1854
Category:Populated places on Lake Huron in the United States |
explorations of mindful fatherhood
Tag Archives: Orlando Informer
After months of saving and anticipation, our family was lucky enough to visit Orlando this holiday for a trip to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade! This was a trip that dad was looking forward to perhaps more than anyone.
Last winter, I had been searching for new jobs options and had some interviews. I told myself and my wife prior to one very pivotal second interview that if I didn’t get this (dream) job and found myself in the same crap job in the summer, then we were all taking a trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios as my consolation prize. As the title of this post suggests, I did not get the job and, unfortunately, my current job ramped up to a flurry over this past summer, so much so that I couldn’t even take a vacation as planned in June. So we postponed everything until December.
Needless to say, I had a lot invested emotionally in this trip. First, it felt like something I was owed. If I had to languish in my demanding and thankless job, then I was damn well going to get a fun vacation out of it. And “fun” was the key word. Although we could have saved up for the Caribbean or an overseas locale, I needed somewhere that would serve up simple, unadulterated fun, and only Harry Potter would do the trick. Secondly, if I was driving my family out (yes, driving, 20+ long hours from New England), then it had better be good. I felt like it wasn’t only me who was “owed” a good vacation, it was my entire family, and I had been the guiding force for devising this trip: scheduling the vacation package, booking the hotels, even coming up with an itinerary. And so felt that the responsibility of providing a fun time rested upon my shoulders.
I was smart enough to get a package that included early admission to the park, which felt a little crazy at first, arriving at the park in the pitch-black of 6:30am, but was well worth it. Early admissions folks got herded forward to the Wizarding World locations before the gates opened, giving us full access to the best parts of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade before the throngs. It was upon our very first entry through that brick wall that I realized we had done it, and damn was it worth it. As completed Potter nerds, my wife, son, and I reveled in every nook and cranny of Potterdom. Seeing it for the first time, and getting into the attraction without hassle caused me to drop my shoulders and relax into the experience.
And then the craziness happened. Surprisingly the Sunday after Christmas, the crowds were not that bad. We were reasonably well prepared for the amount of people we’d be seeing, but the next two days were shoulder-to-shoulder crowded. I particularly remember our second day of early admission (heading to Hogsmeade this time), and feeling the stress as folks rushed past one another, causing me to instinctively move faster and usher my family along. It was almost as though my body reacted uncontrollably to the pace of others. On one of our return visits to Diagon Alley, the crowd was so bustling, it was difficult to move anywhere without knocking into others. I recall how someone would cut me off or bump into me (“Asshole”), but the next minute I’d be cutting someone off or accidentally bumping into them (“Who’s the asshole now?”). I wasn’t intending on being opportunistic, is was just that the shear number of people made it difficult to navigate the crowd and time my movements.
What helped were these little “a-ha” moments when I could see my body and mind responding to the throng of people, whether speeding up to match the pace of the crowd or nearly crashing into some unsuspecting park attendee because I was simply trying to move forward. I wanted a good experience for my family. I wanted to make the trip worth all the trouble and “get mine.” When, in fact, everyone there held the same desire for their families. Folks had come from all over the world, investing hundreds if not thousands of dollars to give their children and families this experience, and we were all working off that same adrenaline and need to take care of our own.
When I realized this, I was able to take things in stride. This realization made it much more tolerable when someone bumped into me or seemingly cut me off. In the chaos of excitement, anticipation, and humanity, everyone wanted a good experience. They wanted to show their families a good time. This was the motivation that bonded me with them in some way, and I realized (in that very Buddhist-y way) that working solely for the betterment of our own rather than for the good of everyone truly is the root of much of the strife in the world. Sure, I still wanted a good experience for my family, but getting caught up in the competitive spirit would have only caused my trip to suffer. When I was able to see that we all wanted the same thing and reminded myself that we’d get our turn, everything fell into place, and we had a great time. Or, perhaps it wasn’t some great realization. Perhaps Harry Potter simply cast his spell on me.
I wholeheartedly recommend the experience to all my fellow Harry Potter fans. Universal has done an amazing job. And I fully recommend visiting Orlando Informer, which is an invaluable on-line resource of planning your trip to the Wizarding World! |
What is Female Viagra?
I hear about Viagra and other new pills and creams for women to function better in bed. Which works the best?
The answer is probably "none of the above." Sexual desire, arousal, and function are driven by a complex stew of factors including biology, psychology, culture, relationship, and situation.
Female Viagra
Ask the Sexpert
Female Viagra
Dear Dr. Klein,
I hear about Viagra and other new pills and creams for women to function better in bed. Which works the best?
Dear Reader,
The answer is probably "none of the above."
Sexual desire, arousal, and function are driven by a complex stew of factors including biology, psychology, culture, relationship, and situation.
Pills and creams are used on the assumption that a person's sexual difficulty is vascular (blood vessels) or neurological (nervous system) in nature. While this is undoubtedly true in some cases, no one is really sure how many. In my experience as a sex therapist, the number of such people is small--and, generally, most of them also have psychological or relationship issues to deal with.
When people have difficulty functioning in bed the way they want to, I assume that their bodies are responding appropriately to various aspects of the situation in which they're being sexual. The question is, exactly what are their bodies responding reasonably to? For example, if someone has low desire for sex that she thinks will be unpleasant, that makes sense. Or if a person has trouble having an orgasm when she keeps telling herself that sweating or yelling during sex isn't ladylike, that makes sense.
Before you try pills or creams to make sex better, ask yourself if your sexual difficulties are being influenced by frustration with your mate, your feelings about your body or sex, contraceptive difficulties, or painful events in the past. These are all issues that must be resolved to enhance sexual functioning--and there are no lotions that will help you do so.
Viagra has not been approved for women, and its manufacturer says clinical trials of it with women have been disappointing. For that matter, Viagra has been disappointing--or even aggravating--for many couples. After adjusting to a lack of erections over time, many people experience the sudden ability to get erect as quite disruptive. Men start chasing their mates around the house, wanting to use their new toy at odd hours. Women start accusing their mates of infidelity--"now that you can, I bet you are." Some couples kiss and have non-intercourse sex less, reducing the woman's chance of orgasm. Some women are ambivalent about the whole idea--"are you excited by me, or by your pill?"
Because sexual function is psychologically complicated, and most people unhappy with their functioning develop additional emotional concerns, resolving emotional and relationship issues will always be central to enhancing sexual function. To get more blood to your vulva, address your feelings, rather than your blood vessels. |
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Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy talks to an official during the first quarter of their game against the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle, Washington, Monday, September 24, 2012. (Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MCT)
At the scouting combine in Indianapolis, coach Mike McCarthy said that even without Greene his defensive staff had more than enough life and pizzazz.
“Absolutely!” McCarthy exclaimed. “A lot of juice in that room. That’s a very talented coaching staff.”
Capers begins his sixth season with the same corps of assistants, with the exception of Greene.
Moss, 48, also has served as assistant head coach since 2007. Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt, 35, arrived in 2008. Safeties coach Darren Perry, 45, and defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, 54, started with Capers.
“Everybody has great respect for Dom,” McCarthy said. “I think that’s reflected consistently through the players and coaches. That is truly an indication that they play for him.”
Capers, according to McCarthy, always has coached with his own style. He’s a portrait of focus and intensity at practice and games.
“Winston commands the most respect of any defensive coach on our staff,” McCarthy said. “That’s what the players tell me. He has outstanding presence and command.
“Joe Whitt is excellent. ‘DP’ (Perry) brings a lot of energy to the table. Scott will bring a nice dimension. ‘Trgo’ (Trgovac) is an old-school guy.
“We are not lacking in energy.”
Unlike the past, when inside linebackers watched tape and studied in one classroom while the outside linebackers were in another classroom, the linebackers will work together in one room.
“We could be more coordinated between the inside linebackers, the outside linebackers and the defensive line. Do more things together,” McCarthy said. “You can get too individualized in this deal and then communication breaks down.”
Will the outside linebackers be coached to play the same physical techniques that Greene held near and dear?
“There’s just not one way of doing it,” McCarthy said. “You got speed rush, speed to power, bull rush, the rush angle.
“What’s the primary and what’s the secondary? Is that going to adjust some? Yes.”
McCarthy declined to elaborate, saying the players would be informed of defensive adjustments April 21 when the off-season program opens.
“I really don’t want to get into specifics because we haven’t even presented it to the players yet,” McCarthy said. “Dom and I are still working through it.”
Last month, defensive end Mike Daniels conceded that the fire and physical nature the defense often showed in the off-season, training camp and first half of the season slipped down the stretch.
“The first games we flew around,” McCarthy said. “We had continuity. We had confidence.
“I hate saying injuries, but as the personnel changes we didn’t have the continuity and confidence in that middle part of the season where we needed that defense to step up.”
When the defense lost Clay Matthews, Nick Perry and Casey Hayward for long stretches, it abandoned various packages, blitzes and coverages because the backups apparently weren’t equipped to handle them.
“It’s no different than the quarterback,” McCarthy said. “Who’s your backup quarterback? If your backup quarterback does not let the rest of the offense play at some level of its capability you don’t have the right guy. They’re not going to be Aaron Rodgers, but they have to utilize the system and keep creating opportunities.
“I went through it with four quarterbacks for the second time in my career. That’s a hard deal. You can say, ‘Develop ’em.’ You play four guys in one year, that’s a big challenge.
“One thing those guys did, and I thought the (offensive) staff did a really good job, is we stayed productive. Now, we threw some interceptions, but the offense stayed productive at the hardest times.
“We didn’t get that done defensively.”
Atop McCarthy’s defensive agenda will be using even more players and even more of Capers’ ample playbook.
He was encouraged by the play of the defense despite early injuries in the 23-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC wild-card playoff game.
Linebacker Mike Neal suffered a knee injury and departed after five snaps, leaving rookie Andy Mulumba to play 57 of the defense’s 64.
At cornerback, Sam Shields bowed out with a knee injury on the second snap and Davon House came off the bench to play 61.
“We didn’t have the continuity,” said McCarthy, referring to the entire season. “The playmaking ability wasn’t quite where we needed it to be. And when you go through change like that it’s a very natural reaction to pull back.
“I think we have to accept that and be more forthcoming with what we have. I thought the last game was a clear indication of that.
“We played the last game with guys that didn’t practice but the approach didn’t change. In my opinion, the defense played well enough to win the game.
“You lost Mike and Sam in the first five plays….We need to be more prepared for those types of things, and we can do that.”
When asked about some awful showings by the defense from Games 8-12, McCarthy said, “One thing I was critical of, I thought we were really a tired team going against Minnesota and Detroit. That Thanksgiving break kind of rejuvenated us because we played good football in December.”
If McCarthy had his druthers, the Packers would play on Thanksgiving Day each year.
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WBEC (AM)
WBEC (1420 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Established in 1947, the station is licensed to serve Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States. The station is owned by Townsquare Media and features programming from ABC News Radio and Premiere Networks, including Premiere's talk network and Fox Sports Radio.
When it originally went on the air in 1947, WBEC was owned by The Berkshire Eagle Company, which is reflected in the station’s call letters. In the 1960s, WBEC’s AM and FM stations were sold to Richard S. Jackson, who held on to them until the early 1980s, when he sold them to Bob Howard Communications. Howard, according to iBerkshires.com, was a former NBC TV President, “who kept the stations until they were sold in bankruptcy,” to Joe Gallagher Associates. Gallagher later sold WBEC to Telemedia Corporation, whose parent company was sold to Vox Media in August 1999.
WBEC has a rich history of broadcasting in Berkshire County, which has included, at various times, top 40 music, local news, sports, and original programs such as Sound Off 1420, a morning talk show that was popular in the 1970s and early 1980s. Early adopters of the Marti Electronics Remote Pickup Unit (RPU), WBEC had the ability to offer live local sports and remote broadcasts during special events.
Well-known on-air personalities who have been on WBEC's airwaves include Bob Cudmore, Bill Watson, Rick Bletaire, and Larry Kratka.
On March 5, 2012, WBEC announced it would no longer carry The Rush Limbaugh Show in response to Limbaugh's derogatory remarks about law student Sandra Fluke. General manager Peter Barry told local NPR member station WFCR that he and his staff had been troubled by Limbaugh's rhetoric for many years, but his attacks on Fluke were the last straw. WBEC is believed to be the second of Limbaugh's affiliates to cancel his show; KPUA in Hilo, Hawaii had dropped Limbaugh a few hours earlier. WBEC replaced Limbaugh with The Mike Huckabee Show upon that show's launch on April 9 of the same year. The station began to run The Howie Carr Show on January 5, 2015.
In August 2013, Gamma Broadcasting reached a deal to sell its Berkshire County radio stations, including WBEC, to Reed Miami Holdings; the sale was canceled on December 30, 2013. In October 2016, Gamma agreed to sell its stations to Galaxy Communications; that sale also fell through, and in 2017 the stations were acquired by Townsquare Media.
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BEC
Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States
Category:Radio stations established in 1947
Category:Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Category:Media in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Category:1947 establishments in Massachusetts
Category:Townsquare Media radio stations |
£96.48 £67.00Save: 31% off
Model: GJTPX80243
507 Units in Stock
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Product code: D840863
Product description
Web Exclusive - Up your style game in these versatile washed black skinny jeans, featuring frayed hems to a laid back chic feel. With subtle distressing on the front for a cool, biker inspired look, this denim will take you from day to evening with ease. Model is 5`10in and wears a UK size 8L. Inside leg measures, short 63cm/25in. Regular 68cm/27in. Long 73cm/29in. |
Q:
Carregar lista de um tipo em uma View de outro tipo
Estou realizando um cadastro de profissional e claro, minha View esta tipada com este Model. Porém no cadastro preciso inserir Especialização e Tipo (outros 2 models diferentes). Estes 2 últimos models precisam vir como listas e aparecer em checkboxes dentro de um Select (HTML).
Até agora tenho o seguinte:
public ActionResult Create()
{
ProfessionalSpecializationDAO pSpecializationDAO = new ProfessionalSpecializationDAO();
ViewBag.ListProfessionalSpecialization = pSpecializationDAO.ListProfessionalSpecialization(0);
ProfessionalTypeDAO pTypeDAO = new ProfessionalTypeDAO();
ViewBag.ListProfessionalType = pTypeDAO.ListProfessionalType(0);
return View();
}
View (HTML):
<div class="editor-field">
@{
ViewBag.ProfessionalSpecialization as List<ProfessionalSecialization>;
foreach (var item in ViewBag.ProfessionalSpecialization)
{
Html.CheckBoxFor(modelItem => item.Title);
}
Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.IdProfessionalSpecialization);
}
</div>
Provavelmente deve ser por que esta faltando referência ao Model ProfessionalSpecialization. Não sei como referenciá-los.
A:
Dentro de um select não é possível, mas você pode emular isso usando uma div e setando o style com o valor overflow-y:auto;height:200px; que faz com que a div pareça com um select aberto.
Sendo assim, acredito que algumas mudanças no seu código pode resolver o problema.
public ActionResult Create()
{
ProfessionalSpecializationDAO psDao = new ProfessionalSpecializationDAO();
return View(psDao.ListProfessionalSpecialization(0));
}
E a view fica assim, no início:
@model List<ManyLife.ASP.Areas.Professional.Models.ProfessionalSpecialization>
E logo depois você complementa:
<div class="editor-field" style="overflow-y:auto;height:200px;">
@{
foreach (var item in Model)
{
Html.CheckBoxFor(modelItem => item.Title);
}
}
</div>
Caso você queira usar outro model por algum motivo especial, você pode usar ViewBag para passar os dados para a View e fazer um parse direto na View, assim:
public ActionResult Create()
{
ProfessionalUser professional = new ProfessionalUser();
professional.IdProfessionalSpecialization = 13;
professional.Name = "Teacher";
ProfessionalSpecializationDAO psDao = new ProfessionalSpecializationDAO();
ViewBag.ListProfessionalSpecialization = psDao.ListProfessionalSpecialization(0);
ProfessionalTypeDAO pTypeDAO = new ProfessionalTypeDAO();
ViewBag.ListProfessionalType = pTypeDAO.ListProfessionalType(0);
return View(professional);
}
E a View fica assim:
@using ManyLife.ASP.Areas.Professional.Models
@model ManyLife.ASP.Areas.Professional.Models.ProfessionalUser
...
<div class="editor-field" style="overflow-y:auto;height:200px;">
<label>Especialização</label>
@{
foreach (var item in (List<ProfessionalSpecialization>)ViewBag.ListProfessionalSpecialization)
{
Html.CheckBoxFor(modelItem => item.Title);
}
Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.IdProfessionalSpecialization);
}
</div>
...
<div class="editor-field" style="overflow-y:auto;height:200px;">
<label>Tipo de profissional</label>
@{
foreach (var item in (List<ProfessionalType>)ViewBag.ListProfessionalType)
{
Html.CheckBoxFor(modelItem => item.Title);
}
Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.IdProfessionalSpecialization);
}
</div>
|
how to customize items in Rust
A Tutorial for Rust
in this tutorial you will learn how to customize items for Rust using the Rust workshop.
to begin, launch the Rust workshop from the main menu of Rust. you can find the icon to the workshop in the lower right corner of the main menu. (reference image below)
after the workshop launches, click on the "NEW" icon to create a new item. (reference image below)
to begin creating a new item, select the desired item from the drop-down menu. here you can choose from almost every single item in Rust; including weapons, items, clothes, deployables, and just about anything and everything else. for this tutorial, i will demonstrate the process by customizing Pants. (reference image below)
once you have chosen your desired item of choice, you can select the "EDIT" tab at the top, and you can see all the customizable parameters of your item. you can export the items 3D mesh file to your computer and use it for reference. you can alter the mesh file, and you can even import the mesh into texturing programs such as Substance Painter 2.
for this tutorial i will not be doing any serious modifications to the item, i will just be showing you as a beginners guide, how to customize items.
as well as being able to export the 3D mesh, you can also export diffuse maps, normal maps, specular/gloss maps, occlusion maps and other maps that the items may have. (reference image below)
for this simple instructional tutorial i will just export the diffuse/color map. to export the diffuse map, click on the export icon below the maps name, and save it to the desired location on your hard drive. NOTE, when you save the desired map, be sure to add ".png" to the file name! (reference image below)
now that you have your desired map exported and ready for modification, open your map with the program of your choice. i will be using Adobe Photoshop CS6. after you have imported the map, you can modify it to your liking. as a tutorial demonstration, i simply overlayed a rainbow gradient onto the pants. (reference image below)
when you are done modifying your diffuse map, save it as a ".png" image file. now browse to upload a new diffuse map in the workshop and open up your new diffuse map. (reference image below)
when you have selected your new diffuse map it will automatically apply itself in the workshop. (reference image below)
after you have applied your new diffuse map, you can alter some of the default maps by using the Rust workshop slider modifiers to directly modify the items parameters. for this skin as an example i increased the "GLOSSINESS" parameter of the specular/gloss map to make the cloth pants appear to be leather-like.
when you are satisfied with your item, you can give it a proper name. (reference image below) |
alpha-1,3-Fucosyltransferase-VII stimulates the growth of hepatocarcinoma cells via the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1.
After the transfection of alpha-1,3-fucosyltransferase (FucT)-VII cDNA into H7721 human hepatocarcinoma cells, the protein expression of some cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDIs) p16INK4 and p21waf1/Cip1 were unchanged. However, CDI p27Kip1 protein, both the total amount and the amount that bound to CDK2, but not its mRNA, was significantly reduced. The de-inhibited CDK2 stimulated the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and facilitated the G1/S transition and growth rate of the cells. The decrease of p27Kip1 protein, the increase of CDK2 activity and Rb phosphorylation, as well as the cell growth and percentage of S phase cells were correlated to the increased amount of cell surface sialyl Lewis X (SLe(x)) antigen in cells with different alpha-1,3-FucT-VII expression. The reduction in p27Kip1 and the difference in its expression among different transfected cells were blocked by the SLe(x) antibody KM93 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that p27Kip1 expression was influenced by alpha-1,3-FucT-VII and its product SLe(x). The MEK/MAPK signaling pathway was more important than the PI-3K pathway in the regulation of p27Kip1 expression. |
Introduction {#s1}
============
The tumor microenvironment has been increasingly recognized as an important participant of tumor progression ([@B1], [@B2]) and metastasis ([@B3]). As a result, there is an escalating interest in studies involving components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its interaction with neoplastic, stromal, endothelial and immune cells, as well fibroblasts ([@B4]--[@B6]). Interaction between ECM and inflammatory cells, mostly macrophages have been shown to be involved in the progression and development of breast cancer metastasis ([@B7]).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ([@B8]). Generally, localized diseases are largely curable, whereas metastatic or recurrent diseases imply in poor prognosis. Metastatic disease may be found in broad range of organs and tissues, such as the bone, brain, liver and lungs ([@B9]). Lung metastasis may affect the pulmonary microenvironment and its function. Indeed, reduced lung function is an important risk factor for lung cancer, increasing the surgical risk of patients with advanced lung cancer, in which the low forced expiratory volume (FEV1) is strongly associated with mortality of non-small cell lung cancer patients ([@B10]).
Versican is an extracellular matrix proteoglycan that is highly expressed in early development stages, with low expression remaining in adults, increasing dramatically following tissue inflammation ([@B11], [@B12]) and neoplastic diseases ([@B13]). In cancer, versican has been identified as a modulator of cell adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis ([@B14]--[@B16]). Recent studies also have been shown that versican interacts with monocytes/macrophages promoting their activation, migration, and production of growth factors. By activating TLR2:TLR6 complexes from tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), versican induces the production of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumoral cytokines and chemokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), tumor growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), as well as versican production ([@B17]--[@B20]).
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are found in different tumor types ([@B21]--[@B23]) and are related with poor prognosis ([@B21], [@B24]--[@B26]). TAMs closely resemble the M2-polarized macrophages, which promote tumor growth and progression by several mechanisms, including the secretion of pro-tumoral growth factors and inhibitory cytokines. In fact, TAMs also induce angiogenesis, reduce effector functions of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and enhance T regulatory lymphocyte (Treg) expansion ([@B27]). The relationship between versican and TAMs in breast cancer development is still poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the expression of versican and TAMs in spontaneous primary canine mammary gland carcinomas and in the 4T1 mice model of breast cancer, further investigating their role during primary cancer progression and metastasis development in the context of breast cancer.
Materials and Methods {#s2}
=====================
Canine Mammary Tumors Samples
-----------------------------
In total, 108 cases of canine mammary tumors were selected from the archives of the Laboratory of Comparative Pathology of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). The samples derived from female dogs of different breeds and ages, which had undergone surgical excision of the mammary gland neoplasm. The neoplasms were categorized according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification scheme for canine mammary tumors ([@B28]) incorporating updated classification proposals ([@B29]). Histological grade was established according to the Nottingham system ([@B30]). All tumors were staged from I to V according to Owen ([@B31]). All procedures were performed under the guidelines and with the approval of the Ethics Committee in Animal Experimentation (CETEA/UFMG), protocol 219/2009 and 81/2013.
4T1 Mice Model of Breast Cancer
-------------------------------
The 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, USA), and the 4T1 cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (Hyclone, Logan, UT, USA). Cell cultures were maintained at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO~2.~
Female BALB/c mice (16--20 g), with 6--8 week old (specific-pathogen-free) were obtained from the Centro de Bioterismo (CEBIO) of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), in Brazil. The mice were housed in a ventilated barrier rack (Alesco Indústria e Comércio Ltda, Monte Mor, SP, Brazil) in a temperature-controlled facility on a 12-h photoperiod. The mice were given food and water *ad libitum*. Mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 2.5 × 10^6^ 4T1 cells in the right flank. They were anesthetized with a subcutaneous injection of 8.5 mg/kg of xylazine and 130 mg/kg of ketamine on the 14th, 21st, and 28th day following tumor inoculation, to perform the assessment of respiratory mechanics and blood sample collection. Assessments of respiratory mechanics were also performed in control mice (*n* = 8). Then, under anesthesia, the tumor bearing-mice and control mice were euthanized and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Tumor and lung samples were collected, weighted, and processed for biochemical and histological analysis. All research was conducted under a protocol approved (number 262/2012) by an Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) from the UFMG.
Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics
-----------------------------------
While maintaining spontaneous breathing under anesthesia, the mice were tracheostomized, placed in a body plethysmograph and connected to a computer-controlled ventilator (Forced Pulmonary Maneuver System®, Buxco Research Systems, Wilmington, North Carolina USA) as previously described by Russo et al. ([@B32]). The parameters assessed were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Functional Residual Capacity (FRC), Residual Volume (RV), Pressure × Volume curve, Forced Expiratory Volume at 50 ms (FEV50), Forced Expiratory Volume at 100 ms (FEV100), Tiffeneau-Pinelli index (FEV50/FVC), Fast Flow Volume curve, Dynamic Compliance (Cdyn), and Lung Resistance (Rl).
Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) and Lung Preparation
-------------------------------------------------
BAL was performed to obtain leukocytes from the alveolar space. The number of leukocytes was determined by total counts in a Newbauer chamber, with differential counts performed in citospin preparations stained with May-Grunwald-GiemsaLi, as previously described ([@B33]). After BAL collection, 5 mL of saline-phosphate buffer (PBS) was administered in the right ventricle so that the pulmonary blood vessels and capillaries were washed. Afterwards, the left lung (single lobe) was collected for histological analysis and the right lung was collected, weighed, and frozen for further processing and analysis of cytokines, chemokines, and N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG).
Histopathological Analysis
--------------------------
Primary tumors and lungs were excised and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin (pH 7.4) for 48 h and embedded in paraffin. One 4 μm-thick sections were obtained and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and examined under light microscopy by two pathologists blinded to the experiment. Neoplastic cellular nodules or aggregates distributed throughout the lung parenchyma or alveolar spaces were considered metastatic lesions. Vascular density was performed on primary tumor slides stained with Gomori\'s trichrome in five fields (20x objective), as previously described ([@B33], [@B34]). Collagen deposition was analyzed with the WCIF ImageJ software (NHI) (<http://www.uhnresearch.ca/facilities/wcif/imagej/>).
Immunohistochemistry
--------------------
Versican immunolabeling was performed in canine and murine tumor sections subjected to heat-induced antigen retrieval with chondroitinase ABC (Proteus vulgaris; Sigma Chemicals) digestion at 37°C for 90 min with 0.5 U/mL of the enzyme in 0.25 M Tris buffer (pH 8.0) containing 0.18 M sodium chloride and 0.05% bovine serum albumin (BSA). Next, 0.25 M Tris buffer (pH 8.0) containing 0.1 M 6-amino-n-caproic-acid and 5 mM benzamidine hydrochloride was added and the samples were incubated for 30 min to inhibit protease activity. Murine macrophage immunolabeling was performed in tumor sections subjected to antigen retrieval with pepsin (Merck, Billerica, MA, USA) (100 mg pepsin dissolved in 100 ml H~2~O and 1 ml HCl 1N) for 30 min at 37°C. Endogenous peroxidase activity was blocked with 3% hydrogen peroxidase in methanol. Slides were then washed and incubated overnight at 4°C with 12C5 (Cambridge, UK) for versican and F4/80 (BM8, Hycult Biotech, Netherlands) for macrophages, both monoclonal antibodies. A polymer detection system was used for the identification of the secondary antibody (ADVANCE HRP-ready to use, DakoCytomation). Diaminobenzidine (DAB) was used as a chromogen and sections were counterstained with Mayer\'s hematoxylin. Negative controls were obtained by substitution of primary antibody by normal serum. Tissue obtained from a newborn mouse brain and the spleen of Balb/c mice were used as positive controls for versican and macrophages, respectively. Canine macrophages immunolabeling was performed as previously described ([@B34]).
Murine macrophages stained by F4/80 were counted by selecting 10 hotspot fields at high magnification (400X). Canine macrophages stained by MAC387 were counted in 5 hotspot fields. Versican expression was evaluated in stromal areas adjacent to the neoplasm semi-quantitatively based on the system of score adapted from Skandalis et al. ([@B35]), through the overall percentage of the tissue section stained positive (0--100%) and the 4-point signal intensity scale, classified as: 1, negative or very weak staining; 2, weak staining; 3, moderate staining; and 4, strong staining. Versican expression in neoplastic cells was evaluated considering the same score of intensity and percentage only for the 4T1 tumor model.
Tissue Extraction and Determination of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase Activity and Vascularization
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The infiltration of macrophages was quantified by measuring the levels of the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) present in the lungs, as previously described ([@B36]). One hundred milligrams of primary tumors and the right lung were homogenized and centrifuged with 100 mL of the supernatant was collected and incubated for 10 min with p-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide (Sigma). The reaction was stopped with the addition of 0.2 M glycine buffer (pH 10.6). Results were expressed as nmol/mg of wet tissue. The vascularization extent in tumor samples was assessed by the amount of hemoglobin (Hb) detected in the tissue using the Drabkin method, as described by Ferreira et al. ([@B37]).
Immunofluorescence
------------------
Confocal immunofluorescence was performed as previously described, with minor changes ([@B38]). Primary antibodies used for immunofluorescence were FITC-conjugated anti-F4/80 (1:150, clone mAb BM8, FITC conjugated, Hycult Biotech, Uden, The Netherlands) and anti-TGF-β1 (1:100, polyclonal IgG, Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA), with Alexa Fluor 647 (1:1,000, Life Technologies) as the secondary antibody. Nuclei were stained with Hoechst dye 33258 (1 μg/mL, Life Technologies) before coverslip mounting for immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy (Zeiss LSM 5 Live, Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany) (40x).
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
-----------------------------------------
Primary tumor and right lung samples were homogenized and centrifuged at 4°C for 10 min at 10,000 g. Then, TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF, and CCL2 levels were quantified in primary tumor supernatants and lung homogenates were quantified for CXCL1, CCL2, VEGF, and TGF-β1 using the DuoSet ELISA kits (R&D Systems) in accordance to the manufacturer\'s instructions, as previously described ([@B32]). The results were expressed in picograms per milligram of wet tissue.
Statistical Analysis
--------------------
Data are presented as the mean ± SEM and analyzed by one-way ANOVA, with the differences between groups assessed using the Student-Newman-Keuls *post-hoc* test. Differences in versican expression in the different stages of tumor progression were evaluated by the Kruskal--Wallis test, with the differences between groups assessed using the Mann--Whitney *post-hoc* test. Correlations were analyzed by the Spearman test. Graphs and analysis were performed using the GraphPad Prism 5.0 software. Differences were considered statistically significant when *p* \< 0.05.
Results {#s3}
=======
Stromal Versican Expression Correlates With TAM Accumulation in Low-Grade and Advanced Stages of Canine Mammary Carcinomas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We first examined the expression of versican and TAMs infiltration in 108 spontaneous canine mammary neoplasms. Carcinomas in mixed tumor, the most common histological type diagnosed in neoplasm of the mammary gland of dogs ([@B30]), were used to evaluate versican expression in *in situ* and invasive areas ([Figure 1A](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). Versican expression was observed in the stroma, myxoid matrix, and endothelial cells of blood vessels, inflammatory cells, and fibroblasts. Carcinomas in mixed tumors classified as histological grade 1 presented higher versican expression in invasive areas when compared to *in situ* areas (*P* \< 0.001) ([Figure 1B](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). TAMs were evaluated in *in situ* and invasive areas of diverse histological types ([Figure 1C](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). Grade 1 tumors presented increased TAMs than grade 2 tumors ([Figure 1D](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). TAM was increased in invasive carcinomas throughout all histological types, with statistical significance in carcinomas in mixed tumors, micropapillary carcinomas, tubular carcinomas, and carcinosarcomas, when compared to *in situ* carcinomas ([Figure 1E](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). When we categorized these tumors by clinical stage, TAMs infiltration was increased in tumors with advanced clinical stage when compared to early stage tumors ([Figure 1F](#F1){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F1}
Stromal Expression of Versican Is Related With Peritumoral TAM Infiltration and Tumor Progression in Primary Mammary Tumors Using the 4T1 Murine Breast Cancer Model
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We next examined the expression of versican and TAMs infiltration evaluated in the primary tumor and metastatic lung of the 4T1 murine model of breast cancer to investigate their role during cancer progression and metastasis. Versican expression was stronger in stromal areas on the 28th day when compared with the 14th day (*P* \< 0.01) ([Figures 2A,B](#F2){ref-type="fig"}), with an increased percentage of stromal versican staining in tumors on the day 21st (*P* \< 0.01) and 28th (*P* \< 0.05) when compared with the 14th day. Similarly, in the neoplastic cells, stronger versican staining was found on day 28 when compared to day 14 (*P* \< 0.01) ([Figures 2A,B](#F2){ref-type="fig"}).
{#F2}
TAMs infiltration were also predominantly increased and distributed mainly in peritumoral areas on the 28th day when compared with the 14th day (*P* \< 0.01) ([Figures 2C,D](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). A moderate positive correlation was observed between the intensity of versican expression in neoplastic cells and TAMs density (*r* = 0.7209, *P* = 0.0036) and a moderate positive correlation with the percentage of versican expression and TAMs (*r* = 0.6299, *P* = 0.0158). No correlation was observed between stromal versican expression and TAMs ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Taken together, our data in mice and canine mammary tumors suggest an intrinsic association between stromal versican expression and TAMs infiltration with breast cancer progression and invasion.
######
Spearman\'s correlation between versican expression and macrophages, cytokines, chemokines, angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and lung metastasis in the 4T1 primary tumor.
**Versican expression in stroma areas** **Versican expression in neoplastic cells**
------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- -------- ----------------------------------------------- -------- --------------------------------------------------- -------- ---------------------------------------------------
**Macrophages**
F4/80 0.3858 0.1731 0.3204 0.2444 0.6299 **0.0158[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.7209 **0.0036[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}**
**Cytokines and Chemokines**
TNF-α 0.3314 0.2099 0.5564 **0.0204[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6730 **0.0043[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.5649 **0.0226[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}**
VEGF 0.5668 **0.0220[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6297 **0.0067[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.8489 **\<0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.7600 **0.0006[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}**
CCL2 0.5878 **0.0166[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6245 **0.0074[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.8853 **0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.8229 **\<0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}**
TGF-β1 0.5715 **0.0165[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6440 **0.0053[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.3955 0.1043 0.5232 **0.0311[^\*^](#TN1){ref-type="table-fn"}**
**Angiogenesis and Collagen**
Hemoglobin 0.4604 0.7028 0.3914 0.1202 0.7882 **0.0003[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.7977 **0.0002[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}**
N° of vessels 0.4811 0.0592 0.6440 **0.0053[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.9352 **\<0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.8184 **\<0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}**
Collagen deposition 0.4379 0.0898 0.5984 **0.0087[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6857 **0.0024[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.6619 **0.0038[^\*\*^](#TN2){ref-type="table-fn"}**
**Lung Metastasis**
N° metastatic nodules 0.4135 0.1114 0.4476 0.0716 0.8495 **\<0.0001[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.7888 **0.0003[^\*\*\*^](#TN3){ref-type="table-fn"}**
*TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; VEGF, vascular growth factor; CCL2, CC motif chemokine ligand 2; TGF-β1, tumor growth factor ß1*.
*P \<0.05*,
P \<0.01, and
*P \<0.001, respectively. The bold values mean results that are statistically significant*.
Inflammation Is Associated With Stromal Versican Expression and Peritumoral Accumulation of TGF-β1-Expressing TAMs During the 4T1 Tumor Development
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We next investigated the contribution of inflammatory mediators in the 4T1 tumor microenvironment and its relationship with versican expression. A progressive increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, pro-angiogenic protein VEGF, chemokine CCL2, and TGF-β1 levels were associated with the 4T1 tumor progression, with increases on days 21 and 28 when compared to day 14 ([Figure 3A](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). A moderate to strong positive correlation was found between versican expression intensity in neoplastic cells and VEGF (*r* = 0.7600, *P* = 0.0006), CCL2 (*r* = 0.8229, *P* \< 0.0001), TGF-β1 (*r* = 0.5232, *P* = 0.0311), and TNF-α (*r* = 0.5649, *P* = 0.0226) ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Versican expression percentage in neoplastic cells was positively associated with TNF-α (*r* = 0.6730, *P* = 0.0043), VEGF (*r* = 0.8489, *P* \< 0.0001), and CCL2 (*r* = 0.8853, *P* = 0.0001).
{#F3}
A similar trend was observed between stromal versican expression intensity and TNF-α (*r* = 0.5564, *P* = 0.0204), VEGF (*r* = 0.6297, *P* = 0.0067), CCL2 (*r* = 0.6245, *P* = 0.0074), and TGF-β1 (*r* = 0.6440, *P* = 0.0053). Stromal versican expression was also positively correlated with VEGF (*r* = 0.5668, *P* = 0.0220), CCL2 (*r* = 0.5878, *P* = 0.0166), and TGF-β1 (*r* = 0.5715, *P* = 0.0165). Since versican has been previously demonstrated to be up-regulated by TGF-β in cancer scenarios ([@B39], [@B40]), we investigated if macrophages could be the source of secreted TGF-β1. Thus, we co-stained TGF-β1 with a murine macrophage marker, the protein F4/80 ([Figure 3B](#F3){ref-type="fig"}), demonstrating that TGF-β1 and F4/80+ cells were predominantly localized in the peritumoral areas and, therefore, that macrophages might be an important source of TGF-β1 in the tumor microenvironment. However, other F4/80 negative cells, morphologically classified as spindle-cells resembling fibroblasts, were also found to express TGF-β1 (data not shown).
Higher Versican Expression Is Accompanied by Angiogenesis and Tissue Remodeling During the 4T1 Tumor Development
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 28th day was associated with a higher amount of hemoglobin and blood vessels when compared to the 14th and 21st day (*P* \< 0.05 and *P* \< 0.001, respectively) ([Figures 4A,B](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). Interestingly, 4T1 tumor progression was also associated with collagen deposition ([Figures 4A,C](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). This tissue remodeling also appeared to be progressively higher on the 28th day of tumor progression ([Figure 4C](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). On day 14, collagen deposition was observed most frequently in peritumoral and necrotic areas and less frequently in the versican-expressing tumor stroma. On the other hand, tumors on day 28 presented higher amount of collagen deposited mainly in the tumor stroma, in addition to peritumoral and necrotic areas ([Figure 4A](#F4){ref-type="fig"}). Versican expression intensity and percentage in neoplastic cells was positively associated with collagen deposition (*r* = 0.6619, *P* = 0.0038 and *r* = 0.6857, *P* = 0.0024, respectively), hemoglobin content (*r* = 0.7977, *P* = 0.0002 and *r* = 0.7882, *P* = 0.0003, respectively), and blood vessels (*r* = 0.8184, *P* \< 0.0001 and *r* = 0.9352, *P* \< 0.0001, respectively) ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). The stromal versican expression intensity was found correlated with blood vessels (*r* = 0.6440, *P* = 0.0053) and collagen deposition (*r* = 0.5984, *P* = 0.0087), while no correlation was found between stromal versican staining percentage and angiogenesis markers and collagen deposition. These results collectively indicate tissue remodeling through the development of the 4T1 tumor model associated to higher versican expression and progressive deposition of collagen.
{#F4}
Pulmonary Metastasis Is Positively Correlated With Versican Expression and Macrophage Accumulation During 4T1 Mammary Cancer Progression
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lung metastasis was correlated with versican expression in the 4T1 primary tumor. As expected, an increasing number of metastatic nodules following tumor development were observed ([Figures 5A,B](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). Lung samples collected on the 28th day-post transplant showed higher numbers of metastatic nodules when compared to the day 14 (*P* \< 0.001) and day 21 (*P* \< 0.05) ([Figures 5A,B](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). On the 28th day, all mice showed pulmonary metastasis, while only 37.5% (3/8) of day 21 mice presented pulmonary metastasis, and no pulmonary metastatic nodules were found in day 14 mice. Metastases were distributed throughout the lung parenchyma as nodules or small clusters of cells, mainly associated to vascular regions and pleura. Macrophage accumulation was also increased in the lung tissue in a time-dependent manner ([Figure 5C](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). The expression of versican in neoplastic cells from primary tumors was strongly associated with the number of metastatic nodules in the lung (intensity score: *r* = 0.7888, *P* = 0.0003 and percentage score: *r* = 0.8495, *P* \< 0.0001) ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}). Versican intensity in metastatic lung nodules was higher at day 28 when compared to day 14, while no difference was found regarding versican percentage ([Figures 5D,E](#F5){ref-type="fig"}). Versican staining percentage in lung metastatic cells had a weak positive correlation with the number of metastatic nodules (*r* = 0.7371, *P* = 0.0370) ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). No correlation was observed between NAG levels and versican expression in lung metastasis ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}).
{#F5}
######
Spearman\'s correlation between versican expression and macrophages, cytokines, chemokines, and leukocytes in the 4T1 pulmonary metastases.
**Versican expression in lung metastases**
------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- --------- ---------------------------------------------
**Macrophages**
NAG 0.2394 0.5350 0.09405 0.8098
**Cytokines and Chemokines**
CXCL1 0.1539 0.6926 0.6840 **0.0422[^\*^](#TN4){ref-type="table-fn"}**
VEGF −0.2223 0.5654 0.5643 0.1135
CCL2 0.2223 0.5654 0.7438 **0.0216[^\*^](#TN4){ref-type="table-fn"}**
TGF-β1 −0.5559 0.1950 −0.3637 0.4226
**BAL**
Total cells 0.3676 0.3304 0.3505 0.3550
Eosinophils 0.4873 0.1833 −0.4446 0.2305
Neutrophils 0.3762 0.3184 0.1624 0.6763
Macrophages 0.4959 0.1746 0.5899 0.0945
Lymphocytes 0.2052 0.5964 0.2137 0.5808
**Lung Metastasis**
N° metastatic nodules 0.7371 **0.0370[^\*^](#TN4){ref-type="table-fn"}** 0.2017 0.6319
NAG, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase; CXCL1, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1; VEGF, vascular growth factor; CCL2, CC motif chemokine ligand 2; TGF-β1, tumor growth factor ß1; BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage.
*P \<0.05, ^\*\*\*^P \<0.001, respectively. The bold values mean results that are statistically significant*.
High Versican Expression in Lung Parenchyma Was Associated With Progressive Leukocyte Influx and Pulmonary Dysfunction During 4T1 Mammary Cancer Metastasis
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cytokines and chemokines were measured in lung tissue ([Figure 6A](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). CCL2 and CXCL1 peaks were detectable from day 21, dropping slightly on day 28. VEGF was increased on days 14 and 21, decreasing on day 2. TGF-β1 was found increased in all tumor-bearing mice when compared to the control animals. Versican staining intensity was correlated with CXCL1 (*r* = 0.6840, *P* = 0.0422) and CCL2 (*r* = 0.7438, *P* = 0.0216) levels in the lung parenchyma ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}). No association was observed between versican expression and VEGF or TGF-β1 ([Table 2](#T2){ref-type="table"}).
{#F6}
Airway leukocyte influx was evaluated in BAL fluid, which revealed a progressive increase of leukocytes ([Figure 6B](#F6){ref-type="fig"}) associated to tumor development and metastasis. All inflammatory cell types were increased in BAL at days 14, 21, and 28 when compared to the control. Day 14 was marked by a predominance of macrophage, and neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocyte influx on days 21 and 28 ([Figure 6B](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). Moreover, total leukocytes peaked on day 28 when compared to day 14 and 21, with a predominance of macrophages and eosinophils during late stages of metastatic progression ([Figure 6B](#F6){ref-type="fig"}). No association was observed between versican expression in metastatic nodules and leukocytes presented in BAL.
A forced spirometry technique was used to evaluate the physiological changes in lung function caused by the metastatic development and versican accumulation in lung parenchyma during 4T1 breast cancer metastasis. High versican expression in parallel with metastatic progression leads to a progressive decline in pulmonary function, mainly highlighted on day 28, evidenced by volume loss, such as reduction in FVC, FRC, RV ([Figure 7A](#F7){ref-type="fig"}), and the Pressure × Volume curve ([Figure 7B](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). In addition, the mice presented a time-dependent decline in respiratory airway flow, with a decrease in FEV50 and in FEV100 ([Figure 7C](#F7){ref-type="fig"}), confirmed by the Flow × Volume curve, when compared to the control animals ([Figure 7D](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). Moreover, the day 28 animals presented a greater restrictive behavior of the respiratory airway flow, evidenced by the Tiffeneau-Pinelli index ([Figure 7C](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). Regarding pulmonary elasticity, through analysis of lung compliance (Cdyn) and resistance (Rl), animals transplanted with the 4T1 tumors exhibited a reduction in dynamic compliance, with a significant increase in resistance on day 28 when compared to control animals ([Figure 7E](#F7){ref-type="fig"}). Collectively, our data suggests that the lost pulmonary function may is a result from the accumulation of pulmonary metastatic nodes on day 28.
{#F7}
Discussion {#s4}
==========
Versican expression has been linked with poor prognosis and relapse-free survival in cancer patients ([@B15], [@B41], [@B42]). Interaction among versican, ECM components, and neoplastic cells are recognized as regulators of proliferation and metastatic potential ([@B16], [@B43], [@B44]). Indeed, immune cells, mostly macrophages, have an important role in ECM remodeling, including regulation of versican levels and, consequently, tumor progression ([@B3], [@B44]). A previous study described the interaction of versican with TAMs, promoting their activation, migration, and production of growth factors ([@B20]). However, in the context of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women worldwide and cancer-related deaths in women ([@B7]), the role of versican remains unexplored. Here we highlighted the correlation between versican expression, TAMs accumulation and tumor progression using two models of mammary carcinomas: spontaneous mammary carcinoma in dogs and mammary carcinoma implanted in mice. Naturally occurring cancers in canines and humans share many features, including tumor phenotype, genetic markers and molecular targets ([@B45]). Thus, studying the cancer development in canines and rodents may provide a valuable perspective, potentially useful for diagnosis and therapeutics in humans.
The tumor microenvironment is an important participant of tumor progression and metastasis ([@B3]). TAMs are important in the context of tumor biology, involved in both invasiveness and metastatization ([@B21]--[@B23]), with M2-polarized macrophages characterized as promoters of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tissue remodeling in cancer manifestation ([@B27]). We showed that TAMs were predominately localized in the peripheral areas of primary tumors, with their increase associated to stromal versican expression, as observed by Asano et al. ([@B46]). M2-polarized macrophages have been showed to produce large quantities of soluble mediators in the tumor microenvironment such as CCL2, VEGF, and TGF-β1 that interact with neoplastic cells promoting their proliferation and invasion ([@B47]--[@B51]). However, we found increased levels of CCL2, VEGF, and TGF-β1 also positively correlating with F4/80+ macrophages, high vascularization and collagen deposition during tumor progression in the 4T1 mouse model. These macrophages are the source of TGF-β1, as confirmed by microscopy. TAMs can also induce tumor angiogenesis, and have been involved in collagen deposition and linearization of the tumor stroma in more aggressive human breast cancer subtypes ([@B8]). Accordingly, we revealed that the 4T1 development evolved in a TAM-derived inflamed milieu and neovascularized tumor tissue, with increased collagen deposition in the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, these findings indicate that the 4T1 tumor progression is related with peritumoral TAM infiltration and may promote the gradual replacement of extracellular matrix and angiogenesis through its cytokines production.
Versican, an extracellular matrix proteoglycan, is also involved in TAM activation through TLRs, inducing the production of pro-inflammatory and pro-tumoral cytokines and chemokines, in addition to versican production ([@B17]--[@B20], [@B50]). In fact, these interactions between tissue microenvironment and parenchymal cells are detrimental for the maintenance of cancer progression and invasiveness. In breast cancer, the interaction between stromal versican deposition and neoplastic cells was previously shown as an important step in tumorigenesis ([@B46]). However, the authors described low proteoglycan expression in the cells, possibly justified by the secretion of soluble mediators by other cells, leading to an increase in the deposition of versican by fibroblasts during neoplastic extracellular matrix remodeling. Besides fibroblasts, macrophages have also been demonstrated to produce versican in different murine tumor models ([@B46]).
Breast cancer metastasizes through lymphatic and blood vessels mainly to lymph nodes, lungs, bones, liver, and brain ([@B52], [@B53]). The onset of metastasis in the 4T1 tumor often occurs after the second week post-transplant ([@B54]). In the present study, versican expression was observed in neoplastic cells and peripheral areas in all studied time-points. The metastatic progression of the 4T1 tumor was accompanied by the up-regulation of versican expression in neoplastic cells of the primary tumor, which was correlated with the number of pulmonary metastatic nodules. In fact, overexpression of versican has been showed to increase growth, proliferation and metastatic potential of a breast cancer murine model ([@B43]), while the versican silencing exerted an inhibitory effect on the proliferative and migratory ability of melanoma cells ([@B55]). Thus, since versican was differentially expressed in peripheral and tumor areas, we suggest a pro-tumoral role of versican, promoting tumor progression and metastasis of the 4T1 tumor model.
Versican has been shown to interact with myeloid and lymphoid cells in the tumor microenvironment, promoting their adhesion and production of inflammatory cytokines that may trigger the tumor invasion ([@B11], [@B16], [@B19], [@B56], [@B57]). Thus, the proteoglycan versican may interact with leukocytes and neoplastic cells to establish a microenvironment that favors tumor expansion in the context of the 4T1 model. Increased cytokines and chemokines, such as TGF-β1, CCL2, and VEGF, have been shown to predict metastatic disease ([@B50], [@B51], [@B53]). Furthermore, TGF-β1 has been shown to up-regulate the production of versican in cancer cells and the tumor stroma, resulting in invasiveness and metastasis ([@B39], [@B40], [@B49]). We found a marked production of CCL2 and CXCL1 in the lung, in parallel with macrophage influx, increased metastatic disease and high versican expression in the lung tissue. These chemokines are related to leukocyte recruitment and angiogenesis, which could contribute toward a pro-metastatic pulmonary microenvironment, directly stimulate the tumor progression and metastasis.
Lung metastasis may affect pulmonary microenvironment and function ([@B10]). The progression of the 4T1 breast cancer model resulted in an increased leukocyte influx in the airways, mostly composed by macrophages, also associated to a higher number of metastatic nodules and infiltrating TAMs. Pulmonary mechanical functions were altered during tumor progression. This alteration was evidenced even on day 14, when metastatic nodules were absent, and progressed to more pronounced lung dysfunction on day 28. Our data corroborates that pulmonary versican expression is associated to metastatic nodules, inflammation and alveolar edema, which impacts lung dysfunction, preceding mortality. Moreover, the number of metastatic nodes in the lung leads to a greater restrictive behavior of the respiratory airway flow in mice. Finally, future studies using cytokines- and versican-knockdown mice and macrophage-depleted mice could better explore the relationship between TAMs and versican in the metastatic development of 4T1 breast cancer mice model.
In conclusion, stromal versican expression was found in primary canine and murine breast cancer models. Increased versican expression correlates with elevated TAMs infiltration in the primary tumor preceding the metastatic progression in mice. Versican expression also correlates with increase metastasis and pulmonary dysfunction, suggesting the involvement of TAMs in regulating important steps during murine 4T1 breast cancer model development through versican signaling. Therefore, versican and TAMs might represent an attractive target for breast cancer therapy.
Ethics Statement {#s5}
================
Canine mammary tumors samples: All procedures were performed under the guidelines and with the approval of the Ethics Committee in Animal Experimentation (CETEA/UFMG), protocol 219/2009 and 81/2013). Murine 4T1 breast cancer model: All research was conducted under a protocol approved (number 262/2012) by an Ethics Committee on Animal Use (CEUA) from Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Author Contributions {#s6}
====================
GC, RR, and DdR designed the research. DdR performed *in vivo* experiments, histology image analysis, and data analysis. KD performed immunohistochemistry, score, and analyses of versican and macrophages in canine samples. EV and GP maintained the BALB/c mice used in the experiments and performed mouse necropsies. LK, MM, and PC performed BAL, cytokines, and chemokines dosages. RR executed and analyzed forced spirometry data. MR and DG were responsible by confocal image. DdR, KD, CdC, EF, RR, and GC drafted the work. GC and RR supervised the study and final approval of the version to be published.
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.
Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais---UFMG/EDITAL PRPq--02/2019. The microscopic data shown in this work was obtained using the microscopes of Centro de Aquisição e Processamento de Imagens (CAPI-ICB/UFMG). We are grateful to Prof. Mauro Martins Teixeira for assistance and support during this work.
**Funding.** This work was supported in part by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).
[^1]: Edited by: Bernd Kaina, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
[^2]: Reviewed by: Gabriele Multhoff, Technical University of Munich, Germany; Heidge Fukumasu, University of São Paulo, Brazil
[^3]: This article was submitted to Molecular and Cellular Oncology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Oncology
[^4]: †These authors have contributed equally to this work
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Donald Trump made his first campaign stop in the state of Washington on Saturday, speaking to a near capacity crowd at the Spokane Convention Center in Spokane, Washington. He is also holding one later on Saturday in Lynden, Washington.
Trump, who estimated that he had close to 10,000 supporters show up today, turned toward the general election in attacking Democrat frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
“We’re leading Hillary Clinton. It’s already happening,” Trump said, citing a recent Rasmussen poll. “Trump wins before Clinton,” he stated, referencing the primary, adding it’s because “she can’t put the deal away.”
“We can!” he proclaimed.
“I don’t think she’s going to do well in West Virginia in November,” Trump said of Hillary Clinton. “The miners endorsed me.”
He said she wants to have all miners fired, but then apologized for saying that. “Those apologies don’t work, because they know how you really feel,” Trump jabbed.
He blamed the Clintons for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he says cost manufacturing jobs and closed factories in the U.S. NAFTA went into effect in 1994 while Bill Clinton was president.
Trump encouraged his supporters to go vote during the May 24th GOP primary. “Right now, we just about surpassed every presidential nominee, every presidential candidate, in the history of the Republican primaries. We have more votes, millions and millions of votes,” Trump said. “We still have quite a few left,” Trump said of the upcoming state primaries.
“We are going to take the state of Washington,” Trump charged, saying he will be visiting again.
“Illegal immigration costs Washington state $2.7 billion a year. We will build the wall, folks. We’re going to do it right,” Trump told the supporters. “You’ve received a large influx of refugees.”
“Good luck,” Trump stated, adding, “They have no paperwork, they have no documentation.”
“We should take care of them,” Trump said, suggesting working with countries to build safe zones for them over there. “Believe me, they’ll put up money,” Trump said of the other countries.
He pointed to what is happening with migration in Germany and Europe, adding, “We don’t need it…our country has enough problems right now.”
Trump took a few jabs at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), his former competition for the GOP nomination, because they signed a pledge to support the nominee but have now said they won’t support Trump.
“When you sign a pledge, it’s supposed to mean something!” Trump exclaimed, suggesting they aren’t honorable for going back on their word.
According to Fox News, the Spokane Convention Center was near capacity and there was nearly 100 anti-Trump protesters outside the event.
Small group of protesters gathered outside the Spokane Convention Center where @realDonaldTrump will be today. pic.twitter.com/jSBsoRxHV8 — Kailani Koenig (@kailanikm) May 7, 2016 |
Association of glycoprotein B and immediate early-1 genotypes with human leukocyte antigen alleles in renal transplant recipients with cytomegalovirus infection.
Numerous risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease, or both, such as serostatus of donor and recipient, immunosuppressive regimen, or intensity of viral load, have been identified in renal transplant recipients. Additional parameters may be involved, notably, genetic variability of both host and virus, which could modulate the efficacy of the immune response. Active CMV infection was analyzed retrospectively in 634 renal transplant recipients, according to human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR alleles; CMV serostatus; presentation of the disease; and variations in the coding sequences of glycoprotein (g) B and IE1 proteins. Active infection occurred in 141 of 634 patients: seropositivity of the donor and the recipient were identified as risk factors. Patients carrying the HLA-A11, HLA-A32, or HLA-DR11 allele developed active infection more frequently, whereas none of the patients with the HLA-B16 or HLA-B55 allele was actively infected. Significant independent associations between some genotypes and particular HLA alleles were observed: gB1 was more frequent in the HLA-A24 or HLA-B7 context and underrepresented in patients with HLA-DR11; gB2 was more frequent in HLA-A32 or HLA-DR11 carriers; and an increased frequency of gB3 was observed in the HLA-A29 context. Considering the IE1-2 genotype, increased frequency was noted for HLA-A3 carriers, whereas this type was underrepresented for patients with the HLA-DR11 allele. Data strongly suggest that differential presentation of polymorphic gB or IE peptides by HLA molecules or differential recognition by host CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, or both, should modulate immunologic response and then CMV pathogenesis in renal transplant patients. |
What is the niche for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome?
This article reviews the results of case series and trials which evaluated venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for severe respiratory failure. Potential indications of the technique in this setting are discussed. Major technological improvements in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines and the positive results of the conventional ventilatory support versus extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure (CESAR) trial have reignited interest in VV-ECMO in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and persistent hypoxemia or hypercarbia on conventional mechanical ventilation. The technique has also been successfully used as a rescue therapy for the most severe ARDS cases associated with the recent Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. However, as the CESAR study was criticized for methodological limitations and because results of nonrandomized case-series of ECMO are prone to selection biases, indications for VV-ECMO remain highly controversial. Before widespread diffusion of VV-ECMO for severe ARDS, new trials should test the efficacy of early initiation of the technique with tight control of mechanical ventilation in the control group, initiation of ECMO prior to transportation to ECMO centers, and the use of ECMO in every patient randomly assigned to receive it. |
Watching the 2008 Mumbai carnage live on TV from Pakistan, terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers guided the attackers on phone and even asked them to change tactics to challenge the advancing commandos.
The strategy followed during the 60-hour siege of Mumbai emerged during the testimony of the 26/11 co-accused David Headley in a Chicago District Court on the third day of the trial of his childhood friend and Pakistani-Canadian Tawahhur Rana.
Rana has been slapped with a dozen charges in connection with the November 2008 attack in which 166 persons were killed, while Headley, a Pakistani-American and a star prosecution witness, has pleaded guilty.
Headley told the court that his LeT handler Sajid Mir was in Karachi during the Mumbai attack. Sajid Mir told Headley that a couple of people were with him. Sajid Mir was in contact with the attackers via phone and he was watching TV coverage of the siege and seeing what was going on in India, he said.
Sajid Mir was praised by Rana for his Chhabad House attack strategy and even called him Khalid bin Walid, one of the greatest Generals in history, Headley testified.
About the operation at Chhabad House in Mumbai, Headley said, Sajid Mir told the two boys (attackers) to use mattresses and ambush the Special Forces personnel, who were descending down the staircases. Six people were killed in the attack on Chhabad house, a Jewish community centre.
Headley also said he told Sajid Mir that he has received a compliment from Rana for his “tactical brilliance.”
Headley also said that Rana sent a message for him from Major Iqbal, who was his ISI handler. This was before he took the last trip to Mumbai for surveillance ahead of the attacks.
Headley said Sajid Mir expressed his frustration that he did not follow all his instructions — one was “I was not suppose to go back to India after the Mumbai attack and travel to Denmark.”
Headley told Rana his four targets were Somnath — an ancient temple in Gujarat, Bollywood (the Indian movie industry) the Shiv Sena and the Jyllands Posten, the Danish newspaper which published the controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammed.
On his discussion with Rana, Headley said, “Rana told me to stop doing what I was doing and he was offering me a job at his farm.” |
A federal appeals court on Tuesday announced it will hear oral arguments in one of the first cases challenging President Trump's energy agenda with a case focused on the environmental harm from mining coal on federal lands because of climate change.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in March in a lawsuit brought by environmentalists over the Interior Department's coal leasing program for public lands, which they say does not take into account the program's impact on climate change. The activists also challenged the program under the Obama administration.
The groups argue that the Interior Department "has never seriously accounted to itself or the public regarding the climate-change contributions of a program that singlehandedly accounts for 11 percent of total U.S. carbon emissions," according to a brief filed by the Western Organization of Resource Councils and Friends of the Earth.
The Trump Interior Department in responding to the groups' arguments said there is no significant agency action or failure to meet its obligation, suggesting that climate change does not meet the legal threshold for taking up the case.
A similar case leveled by Friends of the Earth during the Obama administration in 2015 was initially dismissed. |
Researchers working through Carnegie Mellon University's CyLab have devised a new kind of security system that aims to block observation attacks and could be used to prevent snoopers from catching a glimpse of your PIN when you use an ATM. The researchers have published a paper (PDF) that describes their prototype system and reveals the results of usability study conducted on the machine with 38 participants.
When the researchers created their prototype, which is called Undercover and was built with a Lego Mindstorms robot, they attempted to come up with a system that would be easy to use but would limit vulnerability to common attacks. Unlike many conventional security systems which use some kind of secret response like a password, the Undercover system partially obfuscates the query instead. The Undercover system does this by making the query use both visual cues from images and tactile cues which are provided by a rotating and vibrating ball that the user covers with their hand.
"Our proposal is the first to rely on the human ability to simultaneously process multiple sensory inputs to authenticate, and is resilient to most observation attacks," the study explains. "Our results show that users can authenticate within times comparable to that of graphical password schemes, with relatively low error rates, while being considerably better protected against observation attacks. Our design and evaluation process allows us to outline design principles for observation-resilient authentication systems."
Prior to authentication, the users selects a series of images for their identity portfolio. These images are displayed to the user during authentication along with other images that are randomly selected as distractors. During the authentication process, the user will be presented with a selection of images and must hit one of a series of buttons to indicate if any of the images are from their identity portfolio. The response associated with each of the buttons is variable and is revealed to the user through tactile indicators from the rotating ball. Since the system changes the user's response parameters with the obscured ball's behavior, repeated viewing of multiple authentications will not enable the attacker to ascertain which images are part of the user's portfolio.
The Undercover prototype unit
The Lego Mindstorms robot inside of the Undercover prototype unit
During extensive testing, the researchers found that the Undercover prototype system was significantly less vulnerable than conventional PINs to over-the-shoulder snooping and other similar kinds of low-tech phishing. The researchers also discovered that the system provides adequate ease of use for general adoption.
The Undercover prototype was primarily created with the ATM use case in mind, but the researchers note that it could be adapted for use in any number of authentication input scenarios including computer login and unlocking a cell phone. The researchers also point out that an image-based system is less vulnerable to conventional phishing because it precludes the possibility of creating fake authentication sessions to entrap unwary users.
Further reading |
It is our privilege to take you to the most beautiful and spectacular areas in the Queenstown and Fiordland region. To experience everything from glacial valleys and majestic mountains, to beautiful lakes and pristine rain forest. Taking the time to meet our friendly native birds along the way.
Welcome to Guided Walks Queenstown, New Zealand
Come for an invigorating guided walk with us into the beautiful New Zealand back country, and discover what really makes New Zealand different...
We’ve chosen our range of walks for their natural history, scenic beauty, remote locations and varied terrain. Our friendly and knowledgeable local guides, ensure you have plenty of time to enjoy the whole experience nature has provided.
Why choose Guided Walks NZ? The answer’s simple – it’s our privilege to make Guided Walks NZ the most memorable part of your New Zealand experience. Letting you touch, see and feel the ‘real’ New Zealand. |
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My lords, ladies, gentlemen and others
It appears that you are either intending to be an audience member in this ethereal little theatre, for at least one forthcoming performance, or you are here only for a tour.
If the latter is the case, you may merely intend to boast to your friends, subsequently, that you have been here.
Even if you are here for a performance, perhaps having attended a few earlier ones, please note that your experiences as an audience member are meant to improve your future conversational and leadership abilities.
During most performances here, however, you will be asked to remain silent, and to sit or stand still, depending upon your location. Attentiveness is very important when carefully observing what is happening.
In the 21st century, most people find it difficult to observe anything carefully. There are too many distractions. Minds wander. The volume rises. The lights flash. The fireworks explode.
There is plenty of sensation and very little perceptiveness in much entertainment elsewhere, just as there are plenty of opinions offered in the world but little rationale.
In this little theatre, only persons supplying enlightened forms of patronage are permitted to attend the private, exclusive performances. Only they are permitted to participate in the private tours.
Patrons are persons of perceptiveness. They seek explanations rather than salient sensations. They want to make sense of situations at a deeper level than is usual for most people.
If you are intending to become one of the remarkably well-informed patrons here, will you sit attentively in a beautiful box? Will you stand serenely in the impressive stands? Will you sprawl expressively in the adaptable stalls? Will you show gracious empathy from an astonishing balcony? Will you perch appropriately amongst the gods?
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Even for public performances, at least half of our usual audience members are amateur
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rest consider themselves to be arts professionals, though most other persons would consider the majority of those individuals to be amateurs, or excessively lucky.
Most of the
remainder of the audience are either business people or politicians or professionals, or
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individuals may only be here as a consequence of acquiring their
tickets as gifts.
Even the most well-informed audience member is likely to be overwhelmed here. The relatively ignorant ones, therefore, should proceed with extreme caution.
On the public tour, all sorts of persons wander through here, very few of whom are appropriately attired. They usually look like typical, bedraggled tourists in their ill-fitting leisure wear.
For all performances and presentations, whether inclusive or exclusive, audience members are encouraged to dress their best. Many do so formally, in white tie and opera hat or a diamond tiara, a suitably understated evening gown, a beautifully embroidered shawl, elegant opera gloves, properly polished footwear and properly polished speech and manners. They may occasionally be costumed in keeping with the theme presented, or they may prefer to dress simply and unobtrusively.
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Persons perceived to have impertinently perfumed themselves, thereby choking or otherwise suffocating half the occupants of the auditorium,
will be asked to remove themselves from the venue forthwith. Good
breathing is a necessary occupation here.
The front of house staff also have an ear for trouble. This is particularly useful whenever the sound engineer on duty appears to be going deaf.
The ushering assistants often have an eye for trouble, too, particularly if any audience members have decided to dress similarly to themselves.
You appear to be wearing a rust belt.
Do you believe it to be the latest, exclusive fashion or something you
borrowed merely to keep your somewhat scruffy clothing in place? Are
you dressed like a pauper for any particular reason?
Throughout Villa Twaklinilkawt, house management is a highly serious activity. Before applying for paid positions, all front of house staff, in any area of the villa, and throughout its grounds, have been required to complete rigorous training in etiquette, hospitality, security, history, diplomacy and first aid. This is meant to reassure audience members, and especially our patrons.
During the intervals in the public performances, there is a considerable rush for the free and cheap refreshments. Please queue here.
There is little rush at all for the better quality hospitality. Only a few patrons can afford that. Please show your VIPticket at the Neon-Lobby-Ruledoor.
Now, we have a lovely subscription service for anyone either able to afford it or able to obtain a loan for it. We also have a sparkling range of exclusive and prestigious VIP packages for our donors, patrons, benefactors and trustees. Do you already possess something you are able to re-mortgage?
The open access policies of Villa Twaklinilkawt have been remarkably generous for much of the past decade. The purpose of that openness has mainly been to assist scholarly research into artistic inspiration in the context of legitimate, democratic governance. This is particularly the case in relation to scientific evidence of the relationship between the production of art and political legitimacy.
You may already have noticed that corporate sponsorship is not associated with our performances and presentations though a little advertising provides suitable recompense for the musicians and support staff involved in the provision of philanthropic, free events.
In this auditorium, few visitors are likely to be aware of what happens behind the scenes. They are also unaware of how this theatre is mainly funded, until that matter is urgently brought to their attention.
That urgency is occasionally evident once the lights go down. In such instances, whilst sitting on the dark for longer than expected, with no sign of action on the stage, many audience members are likely to look longingly at the EXIT signs.
The signs of this theatre are then likely to flash. Although they may briefly become EXIST signs, as elsewhere in Villa Twaklinilkawt, the words PAY and ATTENTION are then likely to flash alternately.
Beautiful images of art are then likely to be projected onto the screen while holograms of ballerinas and angels float down from the screen, towards the proscenium art of the world stage. They disappear as the curtains open, to be replaced by a projected backdrop of various historical artworks of theatrical performances.
Do you have any identification documents, credit cards and
influential friends with you? These will be required before each use of the
specially hired, utilitarian lavatorial facilities.
The cost of entry to those is equivalent to the usual ticket prices for the private theatrical performances. There are discounts for booking in advance. There are additional charges for pre-use cleaning.
Please note that if you miss your time slot, you will be forced to join the back of the queue, or pay extra for an upgrade.
The lavatories in the foyer are for registered patrons only.
Please do not bring any food items or liquids into the auditorium. These will be confiscated. No-one wants to smell your boiled lozenges whilst listening to a sublime aria.
Neither should items indicating other bad habits be brought here, even if not directly related to the dentistry profession. The smell of tobacco and alcohol are banned in the auditorium just as much as their consumption. We must all set a good example to the performers.
As previously mentioned, strong perfumes, and any other unnecessary scents are banned, as are unacceptable standards of personal hygiene.
Talking, whispering, singing, squealing, shouting, singing, kissing, tapping the toes, dancing and percussive uses of the hands and/or mouth are not appropriate for audience members, unless invited onto one or more of the stages.
Even applause is not permitted here. Hitting one's hands together loudly is a most unseemly activity.
Silent appreciation is all that is required. Do you have adequate self-discipline?
If you consider yourself to be a critic, please ensure you have a proper, prior understanding of artistic integrity. Most self-described critics cause a great deal of annoyance by making ill-informed comments through various forms of media.
The inclusive access gained here by critics, and other ordinary members of the public, is often somewhat overwhelming for such individuals. Is that not the whole purpose of theatre?
Remove your hat and undo your large hairstyle well before the performance begins. Tall persons will be expected to lower their seats, in accordance with the instructions supplied.
Audiences can often be fickle, regardless of their predominant gender.
And some audience members have very poor taste. They may even mistake this theatre for a cinema, or even their own personal television set or channel or programme. They tend to be the same sorts of individuals who mistake essential farmland and conservation areas for golf courses.
On more exclusive occasions, crowd control is only necessary to keep out ineligible persons, unruly offspring, pets and other potential pests.
The language used here is mainly one or more varieties of English. Translations are occasionally supplied for non-native speakers of particular accents and dialects.
Foreign languages are only used here for artistic purposes, most usually with a translation supplied. Please note that the translations presented are also likely to contain elements of artistic licence.
Whether you are here mainly on a tour or in anticipation of being in the audience, what are your expectations of this venue?
Are you seeking to be here for a gig or a jig or something more refined?
As you may have noticed, the world stage here is the proscenium sort. That is due to the fact that most audience members seem to prefer viewing the world through a fixed perspective, most usually involving some sort of screen and rather large amounts of dramatic antagonism.
Please note that the technical and administrative staff and contractors here are not permitted to display their ambitions as stage performers during their normal working hours, and certainly not during the presence of audience members, tour groups or rehearsals. They may perform during auditions, especially if the standard of performance of the other persons in attendance is lower than anticipated.
The volunteers associated with Villa Twaklinilkawt are currently training for a wide range of duties, whether learning the technicalities of the fly system or the proper usage of a fly swat.
Unlike most theatres and other performance venues, and the actions associated with them, this one has a relatively low carbon footprint. No-one is expected to use much physical exertion or fossil fuel or nuclear energy to be here. The mental exertions, however, can be considerable for the unprepared.
Unless you are here expecting a lecture here, please do not take notes or make any other form of recording. As well as a considerably competent stage crew, we have a fully professional legal team. Are you familiar with the boundaries of this intellectual property?
Villa Twaklinilkawt is, of course, a location in which the harmonious interplay of beauty, understanding and magnificence can be sublimely supplied in all seriousness. Yet enlightenment also requires humour in appropriate doses in order to prevent dullness, moroseness and abusiveness.
The interpretative aspects of the performances here are the responsibility of audience members themselves. Irresponsible audience members will be removed by the very large security guards on duty.
You may be aware that inclusive theatrical occasions, sporting venues and public transportation systems have much in common, as do public libraries, parliaments, public hospitals and public schools. Yet there are people who prefer to avoid such places. They do not enjoy being in crowds.
Everyone is an actor. All education and training is mimicry. Most forms of playfulness use memory and imagination. And playfulness may or may not involve a plot.
But not everyone wants to be an overt performer, or to participate in public events in self-conscious discomfort. It is their right to be themeselves. They are likely to have other talents.
Do you prefer to attend fringe theatre acts or traditional performances? Do you prefer juried or unjuried events? Has your pride, or self-delusion, ever been injured in a competitive situation?
Anything involving paying audiences is indirectly juried. The word-of-mouth recommendations of audience members may have brought you here. Such opinions are often used in assessing whether an event is worthwhile for other people to experience.
Yet each performance and presentation here is unique. Nothing here is ever repeated, except with variations.
What are you usually expectations of your fellow audience members and what are their expectations of you?
When do you prefer daytime events and when do you prefer evening events?
When do you prefer indoor events and when do you prefer outdoor events?
When do you prefer to be a passive participant and when do you prefer to be an active one?
When do you prefer to dress casually and when do you prefer to be costumed splendidly?
As well as the world stage, there is the theatre in the round. The latter is likely to pop up unexpectedly. There are also smaller spaces in Villa Twaklinilkawt for recitals and other purposes. There are also several pavilions in the grounds, of course, as well as a lovely bandstand.
Sometimes, you may just want to fit in and go with the crowd. At other times you may prefer to be different, and even to stand out, and perhaps intend to steal the show.
Is art usually meant to involve the audience in making a wide range of comparisons?
All audience members have antecedent experiences to draw upon whilst attending events.
For a sprezzatura performance, all participants are expected to display a relaxed confidence and a believable level of competence, regardless of how they may truly be feeling. This equally applies to audience members.
How do you usually pretend to feel other than you actually do, and why do you do it?
There is much hostility and rage in the world, much of it poisoned by the evil of revenge. It is even misguidedly validated through entertainment and the arts, especially through the media, thereby reinforcing prejudices. Poor taste and immorality are often encouraged through the media if there is money to be made from them.
How often have you performed in a leading role the Social Media Show and when have you only acted as an ordinary audience member in it?
True art never causes harm. It audience members experience desire or envy or greed or lust as a consequence of it, that is not the fault of art. How audience members feel in relation to art is part of themselves.
It is not the place of art to provoke an emotion. Its purpose is to stimulate thoughts about why particular emotions are felt by a particular person at a particular moment. Emotions stimulate decisions and opinions. |
Q:
Cakephp Favicon on Internet Explorer
I'm trying to setup favicon on IE, since I allways get the warnings saying that it's not being accessed.
2017-03-06 19:43:25 Error: [Cake\Routing\Exception\MissingControllerException] Controller class Favicon.ico could not be found.
On other browsers, they are working no problem.
I have the following code
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="url/favicon/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32">
<link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="url/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16">
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="url/favicon/favicon-16x16.png" type="image/x-icon">
Yet, it stills gives the error.
Any ideias?
A:
Thanks everybody for the answers
Fixed the problem with routes
Router::redirect(
'/favicon.ico',
'url.ico', array('status' => 302)
);
|
This invention relates generally to optical disk media and more specifically to attachment of adhesive backed rings used for write protection on rewritable compact disk media and similar optical disk media.
Rewritable mass memory media is typically contained in a rigid protective cartridge during operation and the cartridge typically includes a write-protect feature to protect information on a storage medium from being destroyed. For example, many data tape cartridges have a moveable plastic tab on the cartridge that can be moved to one of two positions. Similarly, flexible diskettes in hard plastic cases have a sliding or breakaway plastic tab on the plastic case. Rewritable compact disks (CD-RW) and rewritable Digital Versatile Disks (DVD, also called Digital Video Disks), however, are not in a cartridge during operation. Compact discs are commonly stored in clear plastic containers commonly called xe2x80x9cjewelxe2x80x9d cases or jewel boxes, but the disks are removed from these boxes during operation. Therefore, write protection for CD""s and DVD""s must be implemented directly on the disk medium. Solutions have been proposed that are software based. That is, if a particular bit or data field has a particular value, software (operating system or drive controller) is not supposed to overwrite data on the medium. However, software solutions require support by all operating systems, software drivers and drives. If a disk is created by one operating system or drive controller that supports a software write-protect feature, and then is taken to a system that does not support the feature, data may be inadvertently destroyed. In addition, a software virus could bypass software write protection to delete data on the disk. There is a need for a physical write-protect feature, directly on the disk medium, that protects against writing for any software or any drive.
Industry standard CD-RW media use a phase change material having a transparency that can be reversibly changed by heating, and then cooling at a controlled rate. In CD-RW drives, a laser is used to heat, and then cool small areas at a controlled rate. Laser power must be calibrated for each disk medium. Before writing or erasing, a standard CD-RW drive must successfully calibrate laser power by writing into a Power Calibration Area on the medium. If the drive cannot read the calibration patterns in the Power Calibration Area, it will not erase or write in the data area of the disk. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/823,823, hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a write-protect device in which the Power Calibration Area is covered by a removable opaque adhesive backed ring. Optical disks of interest have a central hole. Drives grip the optical disk around the central hole using mechanisms that may be sensitive to the thickness of the optical disk. Therefore, the write protect ring preferably does not intrude in the area of the disk immediately surrounding the central hole in the disk. The permissible mechanical tolerance for positioning a write-protect ring is relatively small. However, if a write-protect ring cannot intrude into the area adjacent to the central hole in the disk, the central hole in the disk cannot be used to directly align a write-protect ring. There is a need for a low cost, easy-to-use system for precise positioning of adhesive backed write-protect rings onto optical disks. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/932,849, filed Sep. 18, 1997, hereby incorporated by reference, offers one such system. The present application offers another such system.
A write-protect ring is formed from a multilayer material. The material comprises an adhesive backed label layer and a backing layer. When installed on an optical disk, the write protect ring covers the area necessary to prevent writing to the disk. In operation, the backing layer is removed from the write-protect ring, exposing the adhesive, and the write-protect ring is pressed against the data side of the disk. The write-protect ring is left attached to the disk.
The first example embodiment of the invention provides a device that positions the write-protect ring so that it is aligned with the center hole of the disk. Aligning the write-protect ring with the center of the disk ensures that the ring is in the correct location, thereby enabling the write protect function. The device includes a hub upon which the center hole of the disk is pressed, thereby securing the disk to the device. The device also includes a support that surrounds the hub and is connected to the hub so that it may move axially along the hub. This support serves as a shelf for the write-protect ring and a press to assure good contact between the disk and the adhesive of the write-protect ring.
In operation the write-protect ring is positioned on the support with the adhesive exposed and facing upwards away from the support. The disk is then placed on the hub with its data side down. As the hole of the disk is pressed down upon the hub, the support of the device presses the write-protect ring against the disk, causing the write-protect ring to adhere to the disk. The disk is then removed from the device and it is now write-protected by the write-protect ring that is adhered to its data side.
The write-protect ring may also include a removable ring shaped alignment area. The alignment area is surrounded by the write-protect ring and forms a hole in its center that has the same diameter as the central hole of the disk. The alignment area helps the device of the present invention ensure that the write-protect ring is aligned to the center of the hole in the disk. After the disk with the write-protect ring attached is removed from the device, the alignment area is removed, leaving just the write-protect ring attached to the disk.
Multiple write-protect rings may be provided as tear-away features in an insert for the cover of the jewel case. Write-protect rings may be removable. Alternatively, if desired, permanent write-protect rings may be implemented by using a material with an adhesive that is extremely difficult to remove without damaging the disk. |
William Baxter (Nova Scotia politician)
William Baxter (1760 – November 22, 1832) was a physician, businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia. He represented Cornwallis township from 1793 to 1799 in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.
He was born in New Hampshire, the son of Captain Simon Baxter and Prudence Fox. In 1783, he married Ruth Sheffield. Baxter later married Julia Swigo. He was one of the first physicians in Kings County, Nova Scotia. He died in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.
References
A Directory of the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia, 1758–1958, Public Archives of Nova Scotia (1958)
Category:1760 births
Category:1832 deaths
Category:Nova Scotia pre-Confederation MLAs
Category:Loyalists who settled Nova Scotia |
Q:
Qt check if current process is 32 or 64 bit
I have a 32bit and a 64bit version of my application and need to do something special in case it's the 32bit version running on 64bit Windows. I'd like to avoid platform specific calls and instead use Qt or boost. For Qt I found Q_PROCESSOR_X86_32 besides Q_OS_WIN64 and it seems this is exactly what I need. But it doesn't work:
#include <QtGlobal>
#ifdef Q_PROCESSOR_X86_64
std::cout << "64 Bit App" << std::endl;
#endif
#ifdef Q_PROCESSOR_X86_32
std::cout << "32 Bit App" << std::endl;
#endif
This puts out nothing when running the 32 bit App on my 64 bit Windows 7. Do I misunderstand the documentation of these global declarations?
Since there's some confusion: This is not about detecting the OS the app is currently running on, it's about detecting the "bitness" of the app itself.
A:
Take a look at QSysInfo::currentCpuArchitecture(): it will return a string containing "64" in it when running on a 64-bit host. Similarly, QSysInfo::buildCpuArchitecture() will return such string when compiled on a 64-bit host:
bool isHost64Bit() {
static bool h = QSysInfo::currentCpuArchitecture().contains(QLatin1String("64"));
return h;
}
bool isBuild64Bit() {
static bool b = QSysInfo::buildCpuArchitecture().contains(QLatin1String("64"));
return b;
}
Then, the condition you want to detect is:
bool is32BuildOn64Host() { return !isBuild64Bit() && isHost64Bit(); }
This should be portable to all architectures that support running 32-bit code on a 64-bit host.
A:
You can use Q_PROCESSOR_WORDSIZE (or here). I'm surprised it's not documented because it's not in a private header (QtGlobal) and is quite handy.
It could be more preferable for some use cases because it doesn't depend on processor architecture. (e.g. it's defined the same way for x86_64 as well as arm64 and many others)
Example:
#include <QtGlobal>
#include <QDebug>
int main() {
#if Q_PROCESSOR_WORDSIZE == 4
qDebug() << "32-bit executable";
#elif Q_PROCESSOR_WORDSIZE == 8
qDebug() << "64-bit executable";
#else
qDebug() << "Processor with unexpected word size";
#endif
}
or even better:
int main() {
qDebug() << QStringLiteral("%1-bit executable").arg(Q_PROCESSOR_WORDSIZE * 8);
}
|
StartChar: Nacute
Encoding: 323 323 254
GlifName: N_acute
Width: 1294
VWidth: 0
Flags: W
HStem: 0 21G<180 336 946.067 1114> 1396 20G<180 347.933 958 1114>
VStem: 180 156<0 1136> 958 156<280 1416>
LayerCount: 3
Back
Fore
SplineSet
859 1830 m 1
694 1556 l 1
536 1556 l 1
690 1830 l 1
859 1830 l 1
EndSplineSet
Refer: 33 78 N 1 0 0 1 0 0 3
Validated: 1
Layer: 2
EndChar
|
Q:
C# Selenium Element Click can't find subsequent sub elements with same classname. What am I doing incorrect?
Given
When page first loads and this statement is run :
webdriver.FindElements(By.ClassName("TreeNode");
I can easily find all those elements, but after clicking on one of them to get to the sublements, that same query doesn't show the new elements even though they are all using the same class.
How do I get Selenium to cough up the new elements?
A:
I found that the test program was not waiting long enough after the click. I added an arbitrary wait and then all of the elements showed up. Apparently, the test was moving much faster than the browser was.
|
Maternal nutrition and predisposition to later kidney disease.
Although it is well-accepted that size at birth is inversely related to adult blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in humans, the majority of information available with regard to maternal nutrition, prenatal growth, and subsequent renal disease comes from animal models. Restriction of food or protein during specific windows of pregnancy leads to hypertension in adult offspring. Depending on the degree of maternal restriction, nephron number and renal function in the offspring may be reduced, and proteinuria and histological signs of renal disease are present. All of these abnormalities appear to worsen with age. Female gender is relatively protective against these prenatal insults, but with more severe maternal dietary restriction female offspring are also affected. In addition to macronutrients, roles for several micronutrients have been identified in fetal programming for hypertension and renal disease. Ongoing investigations into the roles of sex hormones, the renin-angiotensin system, and vitamin A in these developmental processes may lead to strategies for prevention of dietary programming for hypertension and renal disease in humans. |
Cochlear implant candidacy and performance trends in children.
Data from Clarion cochlear implant pediatric clinical trials were examined retrospectively to uncover trends in candidacy and postimplant benefit over time. In particular, age at implantation, educational setting, and communication mode were examined with respect to speech perception performance after implantation. The results showed that 1) age at implantation is decreasing, 2) children in oral education programs obtain more benefit from a cochlear implant than children in total communication programs, 3) children who undergo implantation before 2 years of age show greater benefit than children who undergo implantation between 2 and 3 years of age, 4) more younger children are using oral communication than older children, and 5) more children with good auditory skills before implantation and more residual hearing are undergoing implantation. In sum, in the 11 years since implants have been available to children in the United States, candidacy criteria have evolved and benefit has increased as cochlear implant technology has advanced. |
import {
CognitoIdentityProviderClientResolvedConfig,
ServiceInputTypes,
ServiceOutputTypes,
} from "../CognitoIdentityProviderClient";
import { AdminDisableUserRequest, AdminDisableUserResponse } from "../models/models_0";
import {
deserializeAws_json1_1AdminDisableUserCommand,
serializeAws_json1_1AdminDisableUserCommand,
} from "../protocols/Aws_json1_1";
import { getSerdePlugin } from "@aws-sdk/middleware-serde";
import { HttpRequest as __HttpRequest, HttpResponse as __HttpResponse } from "@aws-sdk/protocol-http";
import { Command as $Command } from "@aws-sdk/smithy-client";
import {
FinalizeHandlerArguments,
Handler,
HandlerExecutionContext,
MiddlewareStack,
HttpHandlerOptions as __HttpHandlerOptions,
MetadataBearer as __MetadataBearer,
SerdeContext as __SerdeContext,
} from "@aws-sdk/types";
export type AdminDisableUserCommandInput = AdminDisableUserRequest;
export type AdminDisableUserCommandOutput = AdminDisableUserResponse & __MetadataBearer;
export class AdminDisableUserCommand extends $Command<
AdminDisableUserCommandInput,
AdminDisableUserCommandOutput,
CognitoIdentityProviderClientResolvedConfig
> {
// Start section: command_properties
// End section: command_properties
constructor(readonly input: AdminDisableUserCommandInput) {
// Start section: command_constructor
super();
// End section: command_constructor
}
resolveMiddleware(
clientStack: MiddlewareStack<ServiceInputTypes, ServiceOutputTypes>,
configuration: CognitoIdentityProviderClientResolvedConfig,
options?: __HttpHandlerOptions
): Handler<AdminDisableUserCommandInput, AdminDisableUserCommandOutput> {
this.middlewareStack.use(getSerdePlugin(configuration, this.serialize, this.deserialize));
const stack = clientStack.concat(this.middlewareStack);
const { logger } = configuration;
const handlerExecutionContext: HandlerExecutionContext = {
logger,
inputFilterSensitiveLog: AdminDisableUserRequest.filterSensitiveLog,
outputFilterSensitiveLog: AdminDisableUserResponse.filterSensitiveLog,
};
const { requestHandler } = configuration;
return stack.resolve(
(request: FinalizeHandlerArguments<any>) =>
requestHandler.handle(request.request as __HttpRequest, options || {}),
handlerExecutionContext
);
}
private serialize(input: AdminDisableUserCommandInput, context: __SerdeContext): Promise<__HttpRequest> {
return serializeAws_json1_1AdminDisableUserCommand(input, context);
}
private deserialize(output: __HttpResponse, context: __SerdeContext): Promise<AdminDisableUserCommandOutput> {
return deserializeAws_json1_1AdminDisableUserCommand(output, context);
}
// Start section: command_body_extra
// End section: command_body_extra
}
|
About Us
Researchers in the FAMER Laboratory address objectives spanning biological oceanography, fisheries dynamics and physiological ecology. Our work is principally concerned with marine and estuarine systems, and is led by Professor Iain Suthers. The FAMER team currently consists of 3 post-docs, 7 PhD students and 3 honours students.
Recent FAMER Updates
SEPTEMBER 2013 Dr James Smith was at the controls of our new Seamor Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROV) on its maiden voyage in Sydney Harbour today. The ROV will be a game changer for us by reducing the reliance on SCUBA diving. The ROV already has work scheduled on the Sydney Offshore Artificial Reef before heading off to Antarctica with Dr Graeme Clark. The purchase of the ROV was funded through a successful UNSW Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative (MREII) Grant.
SEPTEMBER 2013
Congratulations to FAMER PhD student Teagan Marzullo who was the winner of the Cutting-edge Discovery category in the Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Competition. Congratulations Teagan.
APRIL 2013 Dr Nick Payne was interviewed by Australasian Science about his research into the daily activity of Yellowfin Bream in the Georges River, NSW. The Brean were shown to become nocturnal following heavy rainfall. Read more about the research here
FEBRUARY 2013
As part of our research into stocking density and trophic interactions, Dr James Smith has developed some software which is able to evaluate stable isotopic mixing models that incorporate uncertainty in dietary source data and in trophic enrichment factors. For more information see this page
FEBRUARY 2013 - FAMER PhD student Chris Setio recently released 300,000 post-larval prawns into Lake Tyers as part of a restocking program with Fisheries Victoria. Chris and Iain Suthers spoke to The Age newspaper about the research.
FAMER Research Themes
Biological Oceanography
We are interested in the role that oceanographic features, such as boundary currents, eddies and upwelling events, have on the distribution and production of zooplankton and larval fish. We employ a variety of techniques including CTD profiles, mid-water trawls, plankton nets, in-situ and lab-based Optical Plankton Counters, and gliders. With our collaborators we are working in waters from Queensland right down to Antarctica.
Principal Investigators: Jason Everett and Iain Suthers
Behaviour and Eco-physiology
We have a keen interest in understanding how aquatic animals interact - behaviourally and physiologically - with their environment. We use swim-tunnel respirometers, acoustic telemetry and a variety of other “biologging” approaches to predict the mechanisms responsible for driving movement and behaviour in a variety of fish and invertebrates. Lab members test predictions in animals ranging from prawns and cuttlefish to estuarine fish, stingrays and sharks.
Principal Investigators: Nicholas Payne and Iain Suthers
Fisheries Enhancement
Fisheries enhancement tools such as artificial reefs and fish stocking are becoming increasingly important for the management of coastal fisheries. Our research aims to provide a sound ecological basis for these tools, and to optimise their environmental benefits. We integrate individual, population and ecosystem processes, by incorporating stable isotope analysis and dietary studies, bioenergetics, and population and ecosystem modelling.
Principal Investigators: James Smith and Iain Suthers |
/*****************************************************************************
*
* \file
*
* \brief Abstraction layer for memory interfaces.
*
* This module contains the interfaces:
* - MEM <-> USB;
* - MEM <-> RAM;
* - MEM <-> MEM.
*
* This module may be configured and expanded to support the following features:
* - write-protected globals;
* - password-protected data;
* - specific features;
* - etc.
*
* Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Atmel Corporation. All rights reserved.
*
* \asf_license_start
*
* \page License
*
* Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
* modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
*
* 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
* this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
*
* 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
* this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
* and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
*
* 3. The name of Atmel may not be used to endorse or promote products derived
* from this software without specific prior written permission.
*
* 4. This software may only be redistributed and used in connection with an
* Atmel microcontroller product.
*
* THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY ATMEL "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
* WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
* MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT ARE
* EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL ATMEL BE LIABLE FOR
* ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
* DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
* OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
* HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT,
* STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
* ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
* POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
*
* \asf_license_stop
*
******************************************************************************/
//_____ I N C L U D E S ____________________________________________________
#include "compiler.h"
#include "preprocessor.h"
#ifdef FREERTOS_USED
#include "FreeRTOS.h"
#include "semphr.h"
#endif
#include "ctrl_access.h"
//_____ D E F I N I T I O N S ______________________________________________
#ifdef FREERTOS_USED
/*! \name LUN Access Protection Macros
*/
//! @{
/*! \brief Locks accesses to LUNs.
*
* \return \c true if the access was successfully locked, else \c false.
*/
#define Ctrl_access_lock() ctrl_access_lock()
/*! \brief Unlocks accesses to LUNs.
*/
#define Ctrl_access_unlock() xSemaphoreGive(ctrl_access_semphr)
//! @}
//! Handle to the semaphore protecting accesses to LUNs.
static xSemaphoreHandle ctrl_access_semphr = NULL;
#else
/*! \name LUN Access Protection Macros
*/
//! @{
/*! \brief Locks accesses to LUNs.
*
* \return \c true if the access was successfully locked, else \c false.
*/
#define Ctrl_access_lock() true
/*! \brief Unlocks accesses to LUNs.
*/
#define Ctrl_access_unlock()
//! @}
#endif // FREERTOS_USED
#if MAX_LUN
/*! \brief Initializes an entry of the LUN descriptor table.
*
* \param lun Logical Unit Number.
*
* \return LUN descriptor table entry initializer.
*/
#if ACCESS_USB == true && ACCESS_MEM_TO_RAM == true
#define Lun_desc_entry(lun) \
{\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _test_unit_ready),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _read_capacity),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _wr_protect),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _removal),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _usb_read_10),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _usb_write_10),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _mem_2_ram),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _ram_2_mem),\
TPASTE3(LUN_, lun, _NAME)\
}
#elif ACCESS_USB == true
#define Lun_desc_entry(lun) \
{\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _test_unit_ready),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _read_capacity),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _wr_protect),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _removal),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _usb_read_10),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _usb_write_10),\
TPASTE3(LUN_, lun, _NAME)\
}
#elif ACCESS_MEM_TO_RAM == true
#define Lun_desc_entry(lun) \
{\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _test_unit_ready),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _read_capacity),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _wr_protect),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _removal),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _mem_2_ram),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _ram_2_mem),\
TPASTE3(LUN_, lun, _NAME)\
}
#else
#define Lun_desc_entry(lun) \
{\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _test_unit_ready),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _read_capacity),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _wr_protect),\
TPASTE3(Lun_, lun, _removal),\
TPASTE3(LUN_, lun, _NAME)\
}
#endif
//! LUN descriptor table.
static const struct
{
Ctrl_status (*test_unit_ready)(void);
Ctrl_status (*read_capacity)(U32 *);
bool (*wr_protect)(void);
bool (*removal)(void);
#if ACCESS_USB == true
Ctrl_status (*usb_read_10)(U32, U16);
Ctrl_status (*usb_write_10)(U32, U16);
#endif
#if ACCESS_MEM_TO_RAM == true
Ctrl_status (*mem_2_ram)(U32, void *);
Ctrl_status (*ram_2_mem)(U32, const void *);
#endif
const char *name;
} lun_desc[MAX_LUN] =
{
#if LUN_0 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(0),
#endif
#if LUN_1 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(1),
#endif
#if LUN_2 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(2),
#endif
#if LUN_3 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(3),
#endif
#if LUN_4 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(4),
#endif
#if LUN_5 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(5),
#endif
#if LUN_6 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(6),
#endif
#if LUN_7 == ENABLE
Lun_desc_entry(7)
#endif
};
#endif
#if GLOBAL_WR_PROTECT == true
bool g_wr_protect;
#endif
/*! \name Control Interface
*/
//! @{
#ifdef FREERTOS_USED
bool ctrl_access_init(void)
{
// If the handle to the protecting semaphore is not valid,
if (!ctrl_access_semphr)
{
// try to create the semaphore.
vSemaphoreCreateBinary(ctrl_access_semphr);
// If the semaphore could not be created, there is no backup solution.
if (!ctrl_access_semphr) return false;
}
return true;
}
/*! \brief Locks accesses to LUNs.
*
* \return \c true if the access was successfully locked, else \c false.
*/
static bool ctrl_access_lock(void)
{
// If the semaphore could not be created, there is no backup solution.
if (!ctrl_access_semphr) return false;
// Wait for the semaphore.
while (!xSemaphoreTake(ctrl_access_semphr, portMAX_DELAY));
return true;
}
#endif // FREERTOS_USED
U8 get_nb_lun(void)
{
#if MEM_USB == ENABLE
# ifndef Lun_usb_get_lun
# define Lun_usb_get_lun() host_get_lun()
# endif
U8 nb_lun;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return MAX_LUN;
nb_lun = MAX_LUN + Lun_usb_get_lun();
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return nb_lun;
#else
return MAX_LUN;
#endif
}
U8 get_cur_lun(void)
{
return LUN_ID_0;
}
Ctrl_status mem_test_unit_ready(U8 lun)
{
Ctrl_status status;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].test_unit_ready() :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_test_unit_ready(lun - LUN_ID_USB);
#else
CTRL_FAIL;
#endif
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
Ctrl_status mem_read_capacity(U8 lun, U32 *u32_nb_sector)
{
Ctrl_status status;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].read_capacity(u32_nb_sector) :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_read_capacity(lun - LUN_ID_USB, u32_nb_sector);
#else
CTRL_FAIL;
#endif
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
U8 mem_sector_size(U8 lun)
{
U8 sector_size;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return 0;
sector_size =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? 1 :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_read_sector_size(lun - LUN_ID_USB);
#else
0;
#endif
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return sector_size;
}
bool mem_wr_protect(U8 lun)
{
bool wr_protect;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return true;
wr_protect =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].wr_protect() :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_wr_protect(lun - LUN_ID_USB);
#else
true;
#endif
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return wr_protect;
}
bool mem_removal(U8 lun)
{
bool removal;
#if MAX_LUN==0
UNUSED(lun);
#endif
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return true;
removal =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].removal() :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_removal();
#else
true;
#endif
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return removal;
}
const char *mem_name(U8 lun)
{
#if MAX_LUN==0
UNUSED(lun);
#endif
return
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].name :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
LUN_USB_NAME;
#else
NULL;
#endif
}
//! @}
#if ACCESS_USB == true
/*! \name MEM <-> USB Interface
*/
//! @{
Ctrl_status memory_2_usb(U8 lun, U32 addr, U16 nb_sector)
{
Ctrl_status status;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
memory_start_read_action(nb_sector);
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].usb_read_10(addr, nb_sector) :
#endif
CTRL_FAIL;
memory_stop_read_action();
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
Ctrl_status usb_2_memory(U8 lun, U32 addr, U16 nb_sector)
{
Ctrl_status status;
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
memory_start_write_action(nb_sector);
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].usb_write_10(addr, nb_sector) :
#endif
CTRL_FAIL;
memory_stop_write_action();
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
//! @}
#endif // ACCESS_USB == true
#if ACCESS_MEM_TO_RAM == true
/*! \name MEM <-> RAM Interface
*/
//! @{
Ctrl_status memory_2_ram(U8 lun, U32 addr, void *ram)
{
Ctrl_status status;
#if MAX_LUN==0
UNUSED(lun);
#endif
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
memory_start_read_action(1);
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].mem_2_ram(addr, ram) :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_mem_2_ram(addr, ram);
#else
CTRL_FAIL;
#endif
memory_stop_read_action();
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
Ctrl_status ram_2_memory(U8 lun, U32 addr, const void *ram)
{
Ctrl_status status;
#if MAX_LUN==0
UNUSED(lun);
#endif
if (!Ctrl_access_lock()) return CTRL_FAIL;
memory_start_write_action(1);
status =
#if MAX_LUN
(lun < MAX_LUN) ? lun_desc[lun].ram_2_mem(addr, ram) :
#endif
#if LUN_USB == ENABLE
Lun_usb_ram_2_mem(addr, ram);
#else
CTRL_FAIL;
#endif
memory_stop_write_action();
Ctrl_access_unlock();
return status;
}
//! @}
#endif // ACCESS_MEM_TO_RAM == true
#if ACCESS_STREAM == true
/*! \name Streaming MEM <-> MEM Interface
*/
//! @{
#if ACCESS_MEM_TO_MEM == true
#include "fat.h"
Ctrl_status stream_mem_to_mem(U8 src_lun, U32 src_addr, U8 dest_lun, U32 dest_addr, U16 nb_sector)
{
#if (defined __GNUC__) && (defined __AVR32__)
__attribute__((__aligned__(4)))
#elif (defined __ICCAVR32__)
#pragma data_alignment = 4
#endif
static U8 sector_buf[FS_512B];
Ctrl_status status = CTRL_GOOD;
while (nb_sector--)
{
if ((status = memory_2_ram(src_lun, src_addr++, sector_buf)) != CTRL_GOOD) break;
if ((status = ram_2_memory(dest_lun, dest_addr++, sector_buf)) != CTRL_GOOD) break;
}
return status;
}
#endif // ACCESS_MEM_TO_MEM == true
Ctrl_status stream_state(U8 id)
{
UNUSED(id);
return CTRL_GOOD;
}
U16 stream_stop(U8 id)
{
UNUSED(id);
return 0;
}
//! @}
#endif // ACCESS_STREAM == true
|
Texas brewers constantly experiment with new styles of beer and updated ways of making old favorites. But until recently, there had been one thing they just couldn't do.
Because the essential ingredient of hops thrives in moderate climates such as the Pacific Northwest, our steamy southern state can't grow these little plants successfully — guaranteeing that beers featuring all Texas-grown ingredients are a virtual rarity. Instead, the hops are sourced from Washington, Germany and other major hop-growing regions. (Having Texas-produced malt is much more possible.)
But a pair of entrepreneurs working out of a greenhouse on 160 acres of ranch land overlooking Lake Austin are hoping to change that, little by little. Dan Krause and Chris Redmond began growing four varieties of hops this spring through a new business they’ve dubbed the Hopperdashery. In late summer and early fall, they supplied a number of Austin-area breweries with small amounts of fresh hops, the products of their first harvest.
One of the hop varieties grows outside using recycled water from the nearby greenhouse — a completely windowless, dome-shaped structure the two friends built themselves. The other three hop varieties thrive inside this building because of hydroponic farming, a method of growing plants without soil that is probably best known as a common way to grow marijuana.
“For the first year at least, this is proving that hydroponic is just so the way to go, especially in Texas, because there’s just no way these varieties would look like this in 100-degree heat. Giving them exactly what they want, nutrientwise, it means they’re just loving their existence,” Krause said as we walked among the green bines.
Each one snakes upward on waxy twine that Krause and Redmond carefully adjust to give the climbing plants the space they need to grow. Walking into the greenhouse for the first time, visitors — including the brewers the Hopperdashery sells to — are struck by the sight of the stout stems, large leaves and lime-colored, conelike flowers dangling from them, each bine stretched diagonally upward in narrow rows down the 2,600-square-foot space.
Hop plants naturally want to grow straight into the air, but once they have committed to twirling around the lines, each one is angled by Krause and Redmond in a technique called leaning and lowering. The hops are able to do so well because of the hydroponics system that helps supply not only the plants' water but also the nutrients they would otherwise receive from soil. All of the water given to the hops comes from a well on ranch property, Krause said.
He and Redmond, a longtime homebrewer and science teacher at Bowie High School, wanted to join Austin's thriving beer industry but decided starting a brewery would be too difficult.
"How can you open a brewery in this day and age that would be unique and fun?" Krause said. "That's when we thought of, 'Hey, what if we grew the thing that makes beer smell so delicious? And what if we figured out how to do it in freaking Texas?'"
Redmond added, "Texans love Texas, so if we could help a brewery create an all-Texas beer, that would be a huge thing."
The brewers they've talked to seem to think so, too, and made the drive this year to the ranch off RR 620, in Lakeway, to take a look at the crops that hydroponics made possible. Krause's wife's family has owned the Horseshoe Bend Ranch for 70 years and once raised Angora goats on the rugged, hilly land. Now, the Hopperdashery is the main agricultural producer there. Several months into it, Krause and Redmond have big plans for their business.
The Hopperdashery's goal is to supply Texas brewers with locally grown wet hops so they can make the wet-hop IPAs popular during harvest time. For the majority of the year, beers are produced with hops in pellets, powder or other processed, dried-out forms. But during the September hop harvest in the Pacific Northwest, breweries across the country wanting to produce fresh or wet-hop beers have the hops shipped immediately after they're picked, so they come as whole hops.
The appeal of freshly harvested hops comes from their aroma and flavor. Pellet hops lend slightly different flavors than their wet counterparts, which taste grassy, lacking bitterness. And wouldn't it be cool to supply local breweries with recently picked hops originating just west of Austin, Krause asked.
"We pick the same day that we deliver. Super fresh," he said. Hops "start breaking down plant matter pretty much the second that you pick them. The breweries have had to get them overnighted from the Pacific Northwest, which is a ton of jet fuel and a ton of cost to do that. The whole premise of this was for your beautiful, fresh wet-hop needs."
The Hopperdashery might one day have an additional greenhouse four times the size of the current one and recently established an Indiegogo campaign to help raise money for the project. Although the operation may never supply all of the area's breweries, which now number close to 70 and are only growing, that's not the point.
For now, the Hopperdashery is focused on only three hop varieties — a total of 570 bines — which were chosen because of their potential for delivering the "fruity, citrusy, juicy wet-hop beers," Krause said. A relatively under-the-radar variety, Triple Pearl is on one side, Zeus on the other, with well-known, oft-used Centennial in the middle. Triple Pearl seems to love the hydroponic environment the most, he said.
And outside, the Hopperdashery has experimented with a drought-resistant variety called Neomexicana. About 110 bines were planted purely to see what would happen in the Texas heat, Redmond said; they don't seem to have the lupulin levels of the indoor hops but also might need another year to blossom properly (lupulin, a fine yellow powder, is the active ingredient in hops).
"Hops are kind of like grapes in that they mature every year. Year two or year three is when they really hit their stride," Redmond said, noting that once the harvest each year is completed, the hop plants are trimmed back to 2 feet in length so they can grow anew — at an even larger size — the next year.
He and Krause are excited for next year because, without the weather to restrict them to a particular season, they can have two harvests. So far, they are venturing into unknown territory as one of just two or three operations experimenting with growing hops in Texas. Krause and Redmond are pretty sure they're the only ones taking the hydroponics approach. And as such, they are "kind of paving new ground" and not necessarily following the usual guidelines, Redmond said.
Depending on the volume of hops each plant produces, an amount that varied in the first harvest, the Hopperdashery might be able to supply up to 20 Texas breweries with wet hops. The first harvest was passed onto three area breweries, starting with Boerne's Cibolo Creek Brewing, which released the Zeus Is Loose IPA in mid-September with a mix of Zeus and Centennial hops.
It was the first IPA to feature hops that Krause and Redmond grew, and they were ecstatic, noting in an Instagram post Sept. 15 the beer "came out with really nice pear and lemon notes."
The other Central Texas breweries to receive bags of the bright-green, recently picked hops in September and early October are both in East Austin: Lazarus Brewing and the Brewer's Table.
The Brewer's Table's head brewer, Drew Durish, knew what he had to make when the brewery and restaurant received the final bags of hops, a combined 35 pounds of Zeus and Triple Pearl, that the Hopperdashery produced this year: a hoppy lager. Though the Brewer's Table specializes in lagers, he took inspiration from Austin Beerworks' wet-hop IPA series to add layers of hoppy goodness to a clean malt base, beginning a beer that debuted on Dec. 1 (as, of course, another lager).
"I love how well Hopperdashery fits into our concept, with our intense focus on seasonality and locality in the kitchen and brewery," Durish said. "Hopefully this formula proves successful for them and ultimately inspires a new crop of beer-minded folks to continue looking for ways to make beer and brewing a more locally focused product."
The Hopperdashery is also a sign that breweries aren't the only players within the beer industry to get adventurous, push boundaries and explore new things, he said.
"From an industry perspective, it’s exciting to watch all of the peripheral and agricultural components of beer adapt and innovate," he said.
Krause and Redmond, who recently were mentored by longtime hop growers in Michigan, have chosen to launch their business at a fortuitous time — in the midst of not just a craft brewing renaissance but also a particular focus on hops, thanks to the popularity of IPAs. These ales perhaps best showcase the endless array of aromas and flavors that hops lend to beer, and both hop growers and brewers are finding fresh ways to highlight the hop.
"Even though we’ve been using hops for thousands of years to make beer, I feel like (the hop-growing industry) is just now starting to explode," Krause said. "There’s so much excitement, there’s so much technology going into it, there’s a passion for breeding. I think the next decade for hops is going to be a good one." |
663 P.2d 810 (1983)
63 Or.App. 313
Billy AMUNDSON and Donna Amundson, Petitioners,
v.
ADULT & FAMILY SERVICES, Keith Putman, Administrator, Respondent.
No. 2-2202-KLB353-3; CA A23625.
Court of Appeals of Oregon.
Argued and Submitted February 11, 1983.
Decided May 25, 1983.
Janet English-Young, Albany, argued the cause and filed the briefs for petitioners.
Christine L. Dickey, Asst. Atty. Gen., Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With her on the brief were Dave Frohnmayer, Atty. Gen., Stanton F. Long, Deputy Atty. Gen., and William F. Gary, Sol. Gen., Salem.
Before GILLETTE, P.J., and WARDEN and YOUNG, JJ.
GILLETTE, Presiding Judge.
Petitioners seek review of a final order of the Adult & Family Services Division (AFSD) sustaining a branch office's denial of their application for benefits under the state Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) program. We reverse and remand, because the agency impermissibly delegated its decision making responsibility to a group of agency employes and consultants known as the Medical Review Team (MRT).
On September 16, 1981, petitioners Billy and Donna Amundson filed a claim for ADC assistance, because Donna (Mrs. Amundson) had been "incapacitated" by surgery for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.[1] AFSD's Lebanon branch office denied the claim. After a hearing held at claimants' request, AFSD issued an order upholding the denial (Order # 1). Petitioners petitioned this court for review, but AFSD voluntarily withdrew the order for reconsideration. See ORS 183.482(6). On July 29, 1982, the agency issued a Final Order on Reconsideration (Order # 2) that affirmed Order # 1. Petitioners' amended petition for judicial review brought the case to this court.
They make seven assignments of error, most of which do not require discussion. Two assignments, however, raise serious questions about the role that MRT played in the agency's decision to deny petitioners' application for benefits. In order to understand the arguments, one must first understand the structure, function and status of MRT, both now and at the time the agency acted on petitioners' application.
Today, MRT is a body authorized by AFSD rule to assist the agency in the evaluation *811 of medical evidence submitted to support claims for assistance. The team consists of one program specialist, three registered nurses and several consulting physicians under contract with AFSD. OAR 461-05-230(1). Among its other responsibilities, MRT "is to determine * * * [i]ncapacity for ADC cases using medical and social documentation * * *." OAR 461-05-230(2). Although the MRT rules had not yet been promulgated at the time that petitioners applied for ADC, MRT apparently did the same things then that it is now authorized by rule to do. See Matthew v. Juras, 16 Or. App. 524, 527-31, n 3, 519 P.2d 402 (1974). We now turn to MRT's activity in the present case.
Petitioners' medical evidence consisted of three reports from Mrs. Amundson's doctor, Dr. Hartmann. After AFSD received the first two reports, the branch office sent the reports to MRT. MRT issued a "Medical Eligibility Decision Document" concluding that
"* * * the current medical information * * * does not represent an impairment of sufficient severity to meet requirements for incapacity/unemployability."
Petitioners then submitted Dr. Hartmann's third report. MRT reviewed this report and concluded:
"The medical report does not document physical or mental disability which would prevent Mrs. Amundson from engaging in employment within her competence.
"Vaginitis, [the post-surgery condition which Mrs. Amundson claims complicated and significantly prolonged her recuperation,] along with surgery performed, does not meet disability requirements."
As noted, the Lebanon branch office denied the claim, and petitioners requested a hearing. After the hearing, AFSD issued Order # 1, which affirmed the branch office denial with the following explanation:
"In the instant case, the State MRT made the denial decision. The hearings officer, in an independent decision, questions Donna Amundson's medical eligibility for ADC. She was released from the hospital just four days after surgery and by the Doctor's own opinion, recuperation for abdominal surgery is four to six weeks. The Doctor gives no evidence of the severity of the vaginal infection. Unless of a severe nature, that would not prevent employment. The MRT initially made the incapacity decision and the additional medical received in the hearing was reviewed by the team. The hearings officer accepts the expertise of MRT with its medical consultants and accepts the resultant decision." (Emphasis supplied.)
After AFSD withdrew that order for reconsideration, the hearings officer received a memorandum from MRT to the Lebanon branch of AFSD. The memorandum described the composition of MRT "two physicians, one of whom is an obstetrics-gynecology specialist, and five registered nurses" and stated:
"It was the unanimous determination of the group that Mrs. Amundson did not meet the criteria for incapacity as stated in Volume II-G, Rule 461-05-465.
"The surgery performed on September 15, 1981 does not indicate supportive data which would prevent Mrs. Amundson from performing child care and homemaking for a period of at least 60 days after the date of request for assistance. Vaginitis does not support a need for an extended period of disability."
Petitioners objected by letter to the admission of the memorandum into evidence. Nonetheless, the Division appended the memorandum to Order # 2, stating that the reconsideration "takes into account the makeup of the MRT and the reason for its decision." Order # 2 concluded:
"A review of the medical documentation and MRT's decision in the matter has been conducted by the Chief Hearings Officer. We conclude that the Team made the correct decision based upon the documentation and that the Team acted within the limits of its expertise and that the decision of the Team should be affirmed.
"* * *
"The final order of December 7, 1981 is hereby affirmed." (Emphasis supplied.)
*812 Petitioners object to the dominant role played by MRT in AFSD's response to their claim. They contend that AFSD violated their due process rights and statutory law by (1) "improperly [taking] official notice of the expertise of the Medical Review Team" and (2) failing to make an independent review of the evidence. Petitioners first argue that, because the hearings officer had no apparent medical expertise of her own, and because she rejected the medical evidence introduced in support of petitioners' claim, she "must have relied on the improperly noticed medical `expertise' of MRT" in finding petitioners ineligible. In other words, the hearings officer relied improperly on the expertise of staff. Petitioners' second argument is that the hearings officer "rubber stamped" MRT's decision about their medical eligibility without doing an independent review of the evidence, thereby depriving them of a decision from an impartial hearings officer, as guaranteed by agency rule (OAR 461-09-000). Taken together, these arguments constitute a complaint that AFSD improperly delegated the authority to make medical eligibility decisions to a group of "medical experts" that at the time the agency decided this claim lacked authority to make such decisions. We agree.
To begin with, we note that an agency decision-maker's acknowledgement and use of the expertise of agency staff is not per se impermissible. Agency employes may be hired because of their expertise, and an agency's decisions can, in appropriate cases, be improved by an expert's assistance in the evaluation of technical evidence that may be beyond the understanding of the decision-maker.[2] However, the expertise of agency members and staff cannot serve to inject new, extra-record evidence into the decision-making process, see Rolfe v. Psychiatric Security Review Board, 53 Or. App. 941, 633 P.2d 846 (1981); ORS 183.450(2) and (4), nor should the opinions of staff experts be accepted, at face value and without review, by the agency officer or officers with decision-making responsibility.
Order # 1 states that MRT "made the denial decision" and that the hearings officer "accepts the expertise of MRT * * * and accepts the resultant decision." Order # 2, after much discussion of MRT but no discussion of the medical evidence, states that "the Team acted within the limits of its expertise and * * * the decision of the Team should be affirmed." Although both orders pay lip service to the notion of independent review by the appropriate authority,[3] the fact is that the hearings officers did not look at the evidence and make independent assessments of eligibility, using MRT's opinions as advisory documents. Instead, they viewed MRT's recommendations as "decisions" about eligibility that should be "affirmed" unless wrong. Stating the problem in "scope of review" terminology, the hearings officers exercised a limited scope of review similar to this court's scope of review in administrative law cases, see ORS 183.482(8), when they should have conducted a de novo review of the medical evidence.
Petitioners were entitled to have their eligibility determined by an impartial hearings officer appointed by AFSD. OAR 461-09-000(2). Instead, eligibility was decided by staff experts and consultants with no legal authority to make such decisions.[4]
We therefore reverse and remand to AFSD for reconsideration of petitioners' claim for ADC due to incapacity.
NOTES
[1] Petitioners made their claim under OAR 461-05-465(1)(b). That rule provides:
"(1) Eligibility for ADC may be established when a child has been deprived of parental support or care by reason of the physical or mental incapacity of the parent or parents. Deprivation of care and support because of incapacity exists when the parent or parents, as a result of the incapacity, is limited in one of the following ways:
"* * *
"(b) Will be unemployable due to incapacity which is expected to continue for at least 60 days after the date of request for assistance;
"* * *."
[2] For an excellent discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of agency decision-makers' consultation with staff specialists, see Davis, Administrative Law Treatise, (2d ed.), ch. 17, §§ 17.8-17.10.
[3] Order # 1 states: "The hearings officer, in an independent decision, questions Donna Amundson's medical eligibility for ADC."
Order # 2 states: "A review of the medical documentation and MRT's decision in the matter has been conducted by the Chief Hearings Officer."
[4] We note again that since the time AFSD acted on petitioners' application, the agency has promulgated rules giving MRT an official existence and clearly delineated responsibilities. We express no opinion as to the effect these rules will have on similar cases that might arise in the future.
|
Calhoun, Columbia County, Arkansas
Calhoun is an unincorporated community in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States. Calhoun is located southeast of Magnolia.
References
Category:Unincorporated communities in Columbia County, Arkansas
Category:Unincorporated communities in Arkansas |
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Overweight and obesity are serious problems posing one of the most difficult public health challenges of the 21st century in many countries. The Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula regions, which include Lebanon, are not exempt from the obesity epidemic, which has reached worrying levels both among children and adults \[[@CR1]\].
Lebanon is a small middle-income country characterised by a high urbanisation rate (81%), a high literacy rate (85%) and a life expectancy close to 72 years \[[@CR2]\]. A monitoring study reporting on overweight and obesity trends in Lebanon in 1997 and 2009 showed a rapid increase in body mass index (BMI) across sex and age groups, particularly 6--19 year olds \[[@CR3]\]. This study also showed that childhood obesity which continues through adolescence occurs before age 11 \[[@CR4]\]. Children aged 13 to 15 years reported poor eating habits including skipping breakfast, a low intake of fruits and vegetables, and a high consumption of high energy foods and beverages, compared with recommended \[[@CR5]\]. Coupled with the low physical activity levels reported by these children, these risk factors help explain the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in Lebanon \[[@CR3], [@CR6], [@CR7]\].
In response, policies and strategies have been recommended to promote weight control and physical activity across Lebanon \[[@CR8], [@CR9]\]. But school-based interventions promoting healthy eating and physical activity are still lacking, and the Lebanese integrated health curriculum incorporates very little nutrition education. Several reviews have assessed the effectiveness of school-based interventions in preventing and reducing childhood obesity \[[@CR10]--[@CR12]\]. However, most of the interventions have been conducted in North America, Australia and Europe; very little research in this area has been carried out in the Middle-Eastern region. Although certain key concepts and elements of the successful interventions identified in these reviews can be translated for the Lebanese population, such as the importance of using a whole school-based approach \[[@CR10]\] which targets behaviour change at the individual level and also changing the school food environment, new or adapted interventions require pilot testing because of the distinct Lebanese cultural context.
In this realm, this study was undertaken to fulfil two objectives: (1) To develop a theory and evidence-based multi-component school intervention that is culturally appropriate, which takes a whole school-based approach, and is participatory-based (involving the school environment and parents), that aims to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children aged 9--11 years; and (2) by conducting a pilot study, to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this multicomponent school-based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity (and prevent obesity) in school children aged 9--11 years in Lebanon.
This paper reports on the process and outcomes of the pilot study. A paper reporting on the development of the intervention is published elsewhere \[[@CR13]\].
Methods {#Sec2}
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Study design {#Sec3}
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This pilot/feasibility study used a sequential explanatory mixed method study design, involving both quantitative and qualitative research methods.
Study site and population {#Sec4}
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The study was conducted in Beirut, the largest and capital city of Lebanon, comprised of a mélange of ethnic and religious sects. Following ethical approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at the American University of Beirut, we contacted the Ministry of Education, whose support helped facilitate the process of recruitment. Both private and public primary schools were sampled (primary sampling units) to include students of various socioeconomic levels, since middle-high income families in Lebanon tend to enrol their children in private schools given the high annual tuition fees, and lower income families tend to send their children to public schools for a nominal fee. The schools were purposively selected to include socioeconomically and religiously diverse catchment areas.
For this pilot study, four private and four public schools were purposively selected. The four private schools were then assigned to matched pairs, according to their socioeconomic status based on neighbourhood, and religious sect. The same principles of allocation were applied to the four public schools. Then, within each matched pair, one school was randomly assigned (by the toss of a coin) to receive the intervention, and the other school served as the control. Ultimately, four schools received the intervention (2 private and 2 public) and four others were control schools. Despite the limited number of schools (n = 8), the method of randomization distributed potential confounders equally between intervention and control groups, and students' baseline characteristics in their respective school pairs were comparable (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}).All students in Grades 4 and 5 (aged 9--11 years) were invited to take part in the pilot study. Consent forms were sent to the students' parents/guardians to obtain their approval, students also signed assent forms. All students accepted to participate resulting in a total sample of 387 students agreeing to partake in the study; after school randomization, a total of 193 students were assigned to receive the intervention and 181 served as control (i.e. received the usual curriculum during the pilot study period). Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"} is a flow diagram illustrating the progress of student recruitment and data collection in both groups from baseline to study completion.Table 1**General characteristics of students and schools included in the programme**School pair 1School pair 2School pair 3School pair 4Total SchoolsInterventionControlInterventionControlInterventionControlInterventionControlInterventionControl**No. of students**2123796651564137193181**School Type**PrivatePrivatePrivatePrivatePublicPublicPublicPublic44**Average Students /class**21232622252820192323**Gender**Male% (n)38 (8)52 (12)55(43)52 (39)59 (30)55 (31)71 (29)46 (17)57(111)53(93)Female% (n)62(13)48 (11)45 (36)48 (27)41 (21)45 (25)29 (12)54 (20)43(82)47(88)**Mean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDMean SDAge (yrs.)**9.6 0.69.3 0.510.4 0.510.2 3.510.6 1.210.4 1.210.4 1.29.9 1.110.3 0.910.1 1**BMI**20.2 3.69.3 0.520.8 419.9 3.518.9 3.817.3 3.218.4 3.818.5 3.319.7 418.8 3.5**Waist circumference**69.9 9.266.8 7.875.1 11.572.6 9.768.8 8.765 9.165.7 8.568 8.770.9 1.169.8 1Figure 1**Students flow diagram.**
Intervention design {#Sec5}
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The development and design of the intervention are described briefly in this section, more details are found elsewhere \[[@CR13]\]. The intervention used a 'whole school approach', which targeted both individual (children's) behavior change and also the school environment.
Students in the intervention schools received the programme components over three consecutive months; students in the control schools received their usual curriculum during the intervention period. The school-based multicomponent intervention was initially called 'Kanz al Soha' in Arabic which translates to "The treasure of Health". Subsequently, 'Health-E-PALS' was deduced as the acronym for: 'Intervention to promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Lebanese School children'. The intervention specifically targeted obesity-related behaviours in 9--11 year olds including: increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, favouring healthy over high energy dense snacks and drinks, increasing the habit of having breakfast daily, increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and decreasing overall sedentary behaviour.
The 'Health-E-PALS' intervention was based on the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory \[[@CR14]\], which uses a multilevel approach involving individual behaviour change and environment modifications to support individual changes. Role modelling of significant others and availability of healthy choices at home and school were the main environmental factors addressed by the programme.
Specifically, the intervention was comprised of 3 coordinated components. First, 12 culturally appropriate classroom sessions using fun and interactive activities were delivered once a week for 3 consecutive months. The activities were incorporated into the school curriculum and delivered mainly by the first author of this paper (Carla Habib-Mourad), a specialist in community nutrition, with the support of one research assistant who is also a nutritionist. Second, a family programme consisting of meetings, health fairs as well as information packets was sent home along with some food samples and recipes. Lastly, a food service intervention targeted the school shops and the lunch boxes sent by the family.
Statistical methods {#Sec6}
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### Quantitative data collection and analysis {#Sec7}
For students in both intervention and control schools, a baseline assessment (pre-test) was conducted a week prior to the start of the intervention, followed by another assessment one week after the completion of the intervention (post-test). Both assessments took place in the classroom. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and waist circumference were carried out at both time points using standardized techniques and calibrated equipment (Seca balance and Stadiometer model 11770 Germany, and plastic measuring tape).
The questionnaire used for both the pre- and post-tests was designed to provide an indication of dietary, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour habits. The questionnaire was not designed to measure dietary intake, MVPA, or sedentary behaviours. The questionnaire included three sections (1) dietary habits (13 questions), questions included regularity of intake of meals, types of snacks eaten or bought from the school shop, frequency of eating out, and eating in front of TV; (2) physical activity/sedentary habits (10 questions) questions included regularity of sessions of physical education at school, playing outdoors at school and at home, after school structured activity per week, watching TV, playing computer games during week days and week-ends; (3) nutrition knowledge (14 questions) and self-efficacy (9 questions). The questions and questionnaire (Additional file [1](#MOESM1){ref-type="media"}) were adapted from a previously developed questionnaire used in Lebanese children \[[@CR8]\].
The questions on dietary and physical activity behaviours were individually analysed. For knowledge questions, each response was recoded as either 1 (correct answer) or 0 (for an incorrect answer, including the response 'don't know'), and summed to generate a single score (range: 0--14) reflecting overall level of knowledge; the higher the score the better the knowledge. The 9 self-efficacy items were also summed into a single score (range 0--18); each question was measured on a 3-point Likert scale (0 = not sure, 1 = little sure, 2 = very sure); the higher the score, the better the self-efficacy. The internal consistency (and item-total correlations) of each set of knowledge and self-efficacy items was checked prior to creation of the overall scores; in both cases, Cronbach's alpha was 0.66 at pre assessment and 0.7 at post assessment.
Exploratory data analysis was initially conducted and descriptive statistics were calculated using Pearson's Chi-square tests and reported for all major study variables. Observed and relative frequencies are reported for categorical variables, and measures of tendency and deviation were calculated for continuous data. Regression models were then estimated, particularly Generalized Estimated Equations (GEE), in order to generate population-averaged estimates. Given that students were clustered within each school, robust standard errors were calculated to account for non-independence of student observations within each school (cluster = school). Paired t-tests were used to assess the differences in means between pre and post surveys of each group alone. Independent t-tests assessed mean change differences between intervention and control groups; the normality assumption for all continuous variables was checked and satisfied prior to undertaking the test. After recoding categorical variables to binary format (recoding methods are detailed in Additional file [2](#MOESM2){ref-type="media"}), GEE with a logit link for binary data was carried out to generate the odds ratios comparing diet and physical activity habits between children in intervention schools compared with control schools, and thus the impact of the intervention on these behaviours.
Qualitative data collection and analysis {#Sec8}
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Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with a sub-sample of the students, their parents and teachers in intervention schools only, after having completed the intervention sessions and received the post-test. Parents, students and teachers' FGDs were held separately, and lasted approximately 45 minutes each. A total of 13 focus groups and two in-depth interviews with a total number of 82 participants were completed. The aim of the FGDs and interviews was to estimate the children's, parents' and teachers' overall perception of the programme, what they liked and did not like, to understand in depth what the students felt they have gained, and to further explore and help explain the quantitative outcomes resulting from the intervention.
All FGDs and interviews were carried out in colloquial Arabic, audio taped following the participants' permission, transcribed verbatim in Arabic and analysed using thematic content analysis, a method described by Burnard \[[@CR15]\]. Thematic content analysis is adapted from grounded theory, and was carried out by the first author (Carla Habib-Mourad) using the systematic approach of immersion in the data, coding, and data reduction into themes. The researcher analysed the data and identified categories, which were then compared and contrasted to arrive at the major themes.
Process evaluation {#Sec9}
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A process evaluation was conducted to explore the implementation, receipt, and setting of the intervention and help in the interpretation of the outcome results. It aimed to examine the views of participants, parents and teachers who were involved with the intervention; study how the intervention was implemented and whether it was delivered as intended; distinguish between components of the intervention; investigate contextual factors that affected the intervention; and monitor the reach of the intervention;
Data collection was through direct researchers' observation and field notes, (from teachers and parents comments that were collected during family events and school visits), and from focus group interviews.
Results {#Sec10}
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Changes in dietary habits {#Sec11}
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Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} presents the baseline and post measures of students dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours in both intervention and control schools. Students belonging to both groups (intervention or control) were very similar (p \> 0.05) in their baseline behaviours and habits, while marked differences were observed at post-test (p *\<* 0.05).Table 2**Baseline and post measures for dietary, physical activity, sedentary habits, knowledge and self-efficacy in intervention and control schools**Baseline measuresPost- measuresInterventionControlInterventionControl(n = 193)(n = 181)(n = 193)(n = 181)% (n)**Dietary habits**Breakfast intake71.4(137)63.0(114)76.5 (143)48.0 (84)Number of snacks per day (3 or more)44.1(85)42.9(76)22.1 (41)31.9 (56)Eating in front of TV18.1(35)14.4(26)9.6 (18)16.0 (28)Eating out (3 or more times/week)15.8(30)17.7(32)13.9 (26)19.5 (34)**Snacks consumption between meals**Chips39.9(77)41.4(75)11.7 (22)40.0 (70)Chocolate49.0(94)51.9(94)27.7 (52)36.4 (64)Soft drinks†25.9(50)39.8(72)8.5 (16)26.3 (46)Sweetened drinks‡64.2(124)48.6(88)43.6 (82)52.8 (93)Fruit74.6(144)62.4(113)70.2 (132)55.7 (98)Sandwich39.9(77)40.3(73)39.9 (75)41.5 (73)**Snacks bought from School shop**Chips24.6(47)29.8(54)8.0 (15)29.5 (52)Chocolate39.8(76)48.1(87)19.1 (36)42.0 (74)Soft drinks†18.3(35)24.3(44)3.7 (7)19.9 (35)Sweetened drinks‡50.8(97)49.2(89)35.6 (67)52.8 (93)Manoushe\^44.0(84)52.5(95)36.2 (68)41.5 (73)Croissant34.6(66)21.0(38)18.6 (35)21.6 (38)**Physical Activity habit**Playing at recess83.4 (161)80.7 (146)88.3 (166)82.9 (145)After school Physical activity/ week (at least once/week)85.5 (164)89.0 (161)93.0 (176)88.6 (154)Playing at home afterschool31.6 (61)30.4 (55)47.8 (89)41.7 (73)**Screen time habit**TV viewing during school days31.2 (60)29.3 (51)30.1 (53)32.2 (55)TV viewing during week end55.9 (108)68.3 (123)53.2 (100)59.7 (104)Electronic games during schooldays59.0 (114)59.6 (108)61.1 (110)56.0 (94)Electronic games during weekend48.4 (114)50.0 (90)49.2 (92)49.5 (86)**Knowledge and self-efficacy*Determinant*Mean ± SD at BaselineMean ± SD Post InterventionIntervention group (n = 193)Control group (n = 181)Intervention group (n = 193)Control group (n = 181)Knowledge score**8.7 ± 3.08.9 ± 2.711.5 ± 3.08.5 ± 2.8**Self-Efficacy score**14.3 ± 2.713.8 ± 2.816.0 ± 2.613.7 ± 3.3*Values derived from Chi Square & independent t-test. † Include carbonated beverages‡Include artificial juices and drinks\^Lebanese pastry.*
The odds of an average student in an intervention school reporting a particular dietary habit at post-test compared to an average student in a control school was then calculated, controlling for the student's baseline responses. As shown in Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}, the odds of eating breakfast daily at post-test for an average student in the intervention group is 3.5 times greater than that of an average student in the control group, controlling for their baseline breakfast intake habits. The odds of eating in front of TV at post-test were 56% less likely in the intervention group compared with controls, again controlling for baseline habits (Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}). The intervention was also successful at reducing the odds of having chips as snacks (OR = 0.14; CI = 0.11; 0.19) and the odds of drinking soft drinks (OR = 0.31; CI = 0.19; 0.52), but no additional differences were observed for other types of snacks such as fruits, chocolate, sweetened drinks and healthy sandwiches. Purchasing habits were also compared and results showed that the odds of buying chips (OR = 0.16; CI = 0.04; 0.61), soft drinks (OR = 0.12; CI = 0.04; 0.29) and chocolate (OR = 0.286; CI = 0.12; 0.66) were much less for an average student in the intervention versus control group, controlling for their baseline habits (Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}).Table 3**Odds ratio comparing dietary habits, snack intake and snack purchase in an average student within an intervention school versus a control school at post-intervention, controlling for baseline measures†**Odds Ratio95% CI**Dietary habits** ***¥***Breakfast intake3.50\*1.80; 6.90Eating in front of TV0.44\*0.23; 0.85Number of snacks per day *£*0.620.34; 1.15Eating out per week *£*0.700.35; 1.38**Consumption of snacks between meals** ***¥***Chips0.14\*0.11; 0.19Chocolate0.540.25; 1.15Soft drinks‡0.31\*0.18; 0.51Sweetened drinks§0.470.16; 1.40Fruit1.650.87; 3.10Sandwich1.500.78; 2.90**Snacks bought from School shop** ***¥***Chips0.16\*0.04, 0.61Chocolate0.29\*0.12; 0.66Soft drinks‡0.12\*0.04; 0.29Sweetened drinks§0.400.15; 1.07Manoushe\^0.800.40; 1.50Croissant0.640.34; 1.12*†Baseline measure refers to the response provided at pre intervention \*Significant at p \< 0.05.‡Include carbonated beverages § Include artificial juices and drink. \^Lebanese pastry.¥Reference group is "No" £ Reference group is "Less than 3"*.
Changes in the physical activity and screen time habits {#Sec12}
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Students in the intervention group were 40% more likely to play at recess during post-test compared with control students, but changes in the levels of play at home, after school sports activity, and screen time habits, were not observed (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}).Table 4**Odds ratio comparing physical activity and sedentary habits in an average student within an intervention school versus a control school at post-intervention, controlling for baseline measures**†Physical Activity Habit ***£***Odds ratio95% CIPlaying at recess1.38\*1.10; 1.80After school Physical activity per week2.350.97; 5.65Playing at home after school0 .860.49; 1.52**Screen time**TV viewing during school days ¥0.860.50; 1.47TV viewing during week end*§*0.880.43; 1.80Electronic games during schooldays*\^*1.320.75; 2.34Electronic games during weekend*§*1.050.35; 1.38*†Baseline measure refers to the response provided at pre-intervention. \*Significant at p \<0.05.¥Yes, No ( a lot coded as "yes", a little and no coded as "No"), Reference "No".§A lot, a little (all day and twice a day coded as "a lot", once a day and no, coded as "a little"), Reference "a little".\^Everyday, not everyday (a little and a lot coded as "everyday", 3 times a week and no, coded as "not everyday"), Reference "not everyday".£Reference group is "No".*
Changes in students' knowledge and self-efficacy {#Sec13}
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The reported average knowledge score at baseline (range 0--14) was similar for the intervention group (8.7 ± 3.0) and control group (8.9 ± 2.7) at post-test; while the average score remained 8.5 ± 2.8 for control group students, it increased to 11.5 ± 3.0 for students in the intervention group. Controlling for baseline scores, the knowledge score increased on average by 2.86 units (95% CI = 1.7; 4.0; p \< 0.001) for the students in the intervention group. With regards to self-efficacy scores (range 0--18), they were also similar at baseline for the intervention and control groups (14.3 ± 2.7 and 13.8 ± 2.8, respectively) and higher for the intervention group at post-test (16.0 ± 2.6 versus 13.7 ± 3.3 in control groups); thus, a 2.15 unit increase was observed (95% CI = 1.47; 2.82; p \< 0.001) among students in the intervention group compared with those in the control group at post-test, controlling for baseline levels.
Changes in anthropometric indices {#Sec14}
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The student's body composition (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference) was similar in both groups at baseline (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}), and no significant changes in BMI (mean change for intervention group 0.37 ± 1.5, mean change for controls 0.19 ± 1.5) or waist circumference were observed in either group at post-test (p \> 0.05).
Student, parents and Teachers' impressions of major programme facilitators and barriers {#Sec15}
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Table [5](#Tab5){ref-type="table"} presents some of the participants' quotes from the focus groups. Overall, the facilitators that were recurrently mentioned and cited as being fundamental for the success of the intervention include: the attractive and fun activities during the educational lessons that motivated the students to increase their knowledge and skills in an enjoyable way; students' active involvement in food preparation that improved their skills and self-confidence in choosing and preparing healthy foods; parental and teacher involvement in the intervention, emphasizing the importance of role modelling; and, the continued positive reinforcements via praise and tokens. Reported possible limitations to better outcomes and repeated themes included: the length of the intervention, which was considered by all too short duration to expect any major behavioural changes; continued availability of unhealthy food choices and lack of fruits and vegetables within the school environment; small playgrounds at schools and their unavailability near homes, as well as the high and competing attractiveness of computer and video games vis-à-vis physical activity.Table 5**Summary of quotes generated during the focus groups discussions**Participants' quotes- "I am asking my mom to bake food instead of frying"- "Better if you come the whole year instead of just three months"- "I used to drink soft drinks with every meal, now I am having only half a cup a day"- "If the school shop offers fruits and fresh fruit juices, I would buy them instead of sweet drinks"- "The school shop should be closed or stop selling chips and sweetened drinks"**Teachers**- "They liked the sessions because it was not a lesson to memorize, though they memorized all messages"- "Hands-on activities helped convince the students with the information given in class"- "In spite of all your efforts, there was no cooperation from the school shop administrator"**Parents**- "They liked the idea that nothing is forbidden, as long as they eat the right servings of each food"- "My child wanted to go to school despite being sick with a high fever, she told me: today we have Mrs Carla (CHM) coming"- "Don't know what you used or what was the method, but my boy was interested"- "Our kids need follow up; they forgot the healthy messages once the program was over"- "I cannot tell my boy not to buy from the shop when he sees his friends doing so"
Discussion {#Sec16}
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'Health-E-PALS' is the first school-based intervention in Lebanese schools for the promotion of healthy eating and an active lifestyle. It is also the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of undertaking a successful school-based intervention despite the many contextual challenges that may be faced in a politically unstable context, with security threats and social unrests. The absence of a similar study from the region made it difficult for us to set benchmarks for what could be feasible and reasonable to accomplish. Notwithstanding these challenges, however, our pilot study illustrated that the intervention was culturally-relevant, promising and effective in improving many students' dietary behaviours and determinants of behavioural change.
Health-E-PALS significantly increased students' nutritional knowledge. Group discussions with students and parents revealed that this was mainly due to the classroom component being an activity rather than a didactic lesson. While increasing knowledge may be an important initial step, whether knowledge alone can directly translate to changes in behaviours remains questionable \[[@CR16]\], which is why efforts to increase students' self-efficacy is a fundamental part in personal change, as it motivates people to act \[[@CR17]\]. Students exposed to the Health-E-PALS intervention scored higher on self-efficacy compared with controls. Self-efficacy is a stronger predictor of behavioural change, and has also been found to be an important mediator of the relation between knowledge and behaviour \[[@CR18], [@CR19]\].
With respect to behavioural outcomes, Health-E-PALS was effective in increasing the odds of daily breakfast intake, mostly that skipping meals, particularly breakfast, is a major risk factor for becoming overweight or obese as they grow older \[[@CR20]\]. Daily intake of breakfast has been consistently linked to decreased BMI among children and adolescents, and a reduced risk of being overweight or obese \[[@CR21]\]. Even if our finding were partially due to the lower proportion of children eating breakfast daily in the control group at post-test, qualitative findings confirm that breakfast intake was among the main healthy changes students incorporated into their dietary habits. Students in fact reported trying to "wake up early" in order to have breakfast on a regular basis and parents noted that their children were preparing breakfast following the examples given during the class sessions.
The lack of increase of fruits intake in our study corroborates others' findings \[[@CR22]\] and as such greater efforts must be made to promote the intake of fruits as a snack, dessert or part of a meal; worth noting however that the majority of students had already reported having fruits as a snack between meals. Reviews of studies that demonstrated a positive and statistically significant increase in fruit consumption noted that the effect size was small compared to the required intake \[[@CR23]\]. However, availability and motivation were constructs that have been shown to mostly determine successful increases in fruit and vegetables consumption among children \[[@CR24]\].
In the present pilot study, perceived self-efficacy, personal skills and food preferences were enhanced through food tasting workshops and snacks preparation, in line with evidence-based recommendations favouring tasting sessions of new healthy foods and drinks \[[@CR25]\]. Interventions with parents further secured accessibility of these food items at home, and qualitative results showed that students were encouraged by their parents to consume fruits and vegetables, and that students were less resistant when offered these food items. Unfortunately, Health-E-PALS was not successful in changing the school environment, and the lack of fresh fruits and juices at the school shop was brought up during focus group interviews as one of the barriers to increased fruit intake, especially that students were willing "to buy fruits and fresh juices if offered at the school shop". Lack of availability of healthy food options at school was also pointed among the perceived barriers to eating healthy in other studies looking at insights into children's views on food and nutrition \[[@CR26], [@CR27]\].
Our programme also significantly decreased students' intake and purchase of soft drinks but not of other sweetened drinks, as others have also found \[[@CR28]\]. One possible explanation is the availability of sweetened beverages at school shops and at home as "healthy" substitutes for soft drinks. Parents and health educators mistakenly perceive them as a healthier option. Studies showed that reducing easy access to energy dense drinks could limit the chances of overconsumption \[[@CR29]\].
Snacking has lately been suggested as being one of the causes of the increased energy intake responsible for the observed growing epidemic of obesity in the world \[[@CR30]\]. Health-E-PALS effectively reduced students' consumption and purchase of some types of energy dense snacks namely potato chips, which itself has been strongly linked to long-term weight gain \[[@CR31]\]. One possible factor for this positive finding in our study might be the educational games' emphasis on added fats and sugars in the common energy dense snacks. Though not statistically significant, the consumption and purchase of chocolate and biscuits also decreased. While access to potato chips was restricted in some schools, it was more difficult to convince the shop staff to remove all types of candies, as reported in other studies \[[@CR32], [@CR33]\]. Efforts to decrease availability of energy dense snacks and drinks were only successful in few schools; as shop owners were concerned about reduced profit. A recent review article on the effectiveness of school-based interventions in low- to middle-income countries found that changing the nutritional environment in schools poses a real challenge in these countries \[[@CR34]\]. The Ministry of Higher Education in Lebanon has recently issued a law restricting the sale of competitive foods in school shops; this will hopefully improve the food environment in Lebanese elementary schools.
Health-E-PALS was not successful in raising the frequency of organised sports in schools curricula, though was effective in getting students engaged in after school sports at least once a week. Interviewed parents were reluctant to enrol their children in extracurricular activities due to budget, time, schedule constraints and homework overload, all of which have been previously reported in other studies \[[@CR35]\]. In Lebanon, free physical activity facilities are scarce. After school sports are offered in some schools for an extra fee or in private sports clubs usually at an elevated monthly membership cost. Moreover, increasing expectations about academic achievements have prompted many Lebanese schools to cut back on both recess time and gym classes. Health-E-PALS also emphasized the importance of unorganised physical activity through several means one of which is the pedometer workshop that proved to be successful in motivating children to move. Pedometer-based interventions are becoming more popular as a low-cost and effective method for promoting physical activity and increasing walking \[[@CR36]--[@CR38]\]. Group discussions unanimously pointed towards pedometers being an incentive to increase daily physical activity, as others have found \[[@CR39]\]. Health-E-PALS also positively influenced play during recess but not at home, probably due to unsafe neighbourhoods as explained by parents during the focus group discussions. The built environment in the city of Beirut prevents children from engaging in spontaneous physical activity and play. Improving the urban environments is not one of the Lebanese government's priorities, which mainly revolves around economic and political problems. Thus, short-term solutions should focus on improving the school environments by regarding the PE session as a central part of the student's wellbeing.
Mounting evidence shows that independent of physical activity levels; sedentary behaviours are associated with increased risk for many diseases and namely adiposity \[[@CR40]--[@CR42]\]. Intervention studies which helped children decrease their sedentary time reported desirable changes in body weight and BMI \[[@CR43]\]. Health-E-PALS did not achieve a decrease in students' screen time habits, despite the strict rules at home for screen time during school days in some families, as reported during focus groups. Generally, parents perceived reducing their children's TV viewing as a difficult task \[[@CR44]\] and longer follow-ups are needed to observe changes \[[@CR45]\].
The lack of any observed changes in students' BMI and waist circumference measurements in the present study is probably due to the insufficient duration between pre- and post-test (i.e.12 weeks), making it difficult to detect any noticeable changes in adiposity. Systematic reviews \[[@CR10]\] showed that the majority of studies targeting six to 12 year old children that proved effective on some indicators of adiposity, involved long-term intervention periods (\>12 months). Nonetheless, our study positively impacted major mediating variables, as well as some behavioural habits.
Since parents are fundamental to the success of any child intervention, parents were involved in Health-E-PALS both through direct (via meetings and health fairs) and indirect exposure to the programme's elements, by sending information packets and recipes home with the students. It is worth noting that direct methods to engage parents have proven to be more successful than indirect methods \[[@CR46]\] although the best way to involve parents is yet unknown. Parents helped in the success of the Health-E-PALS intervention by ensuring the availability and accessibility of healthier food options at home, and through role modelling. One of the challenges faced with parents however is their attendance in meetings, which was poor in some schools. Inviting parents to attend their children's' performances, and providing meals and tokens helped secure parents' participation in the present study, as suggested elsewhere \[[@CR47]\].
Our pilot evaluation of the Health-E-PALS, including culturally sensitive and innovative components, proved successful in increasing students' nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy, as well as improving various important behavioural risk factors to obesity. The traditional foods, rhymes, riddles and games helped children relate messages to their daily routine and local environment. Contextual influences such as social values and cultural norms were important parameters to include for the success of school-based interventions in low and middle income countries \[[@CR34]\]. Holding parents' meetings around breakfast and demonstrating how traditional foods can be served in a healthy way was key to this context since gathering around meals is intrinsic to the Lebanese culture. This secured better attendance during meetings especially with families of low socioeconomic status. Health-E-PALS was generally well accepted by students, teachers and their parents. The focus group discussions were fundamental for soliciting important feedback and verifying the intervention was indeed tailored to the Lebanese culture and context. This essential component was a driving force for the positive findings achieved in the present study. Furthermore, given this particular social and cultural context the applicability and transferability of the present study to other countries of the region ought to be considered.
Despite the positive findings and study's contribution, the results must be interpreted in light of some limitations including: the purposeful sampling of schools who were keen to take part in the study, despite the fact they were matched and randomised to intervention and control group, may have increased compliance with the intervention; the relatively low number of schools (eight) that were randomised may have limited the likelihood of distributing potential confounders equally between the intervention and control schools; the relatively short study duration (three months), which may not have been sufficient to induce proper and sustained behaviour change; failure to succeed in modifying the school's food environment due to lobbying and lack of support of some of the school authorities. Several challenges were also faced during implementation of the programme given Lebanon's political and social unrest; extra sessions were necessary to make up for the missed ones that were canceled due to unpredicted strikes and security events prevailing in the country. The health fair event that was cancelled in one of the schools could not be rescheduled as end of year final exams had begun. Nonetheless, despite these field constraints, the Health-E-PALS programme was successfully delivered as designed: the 12 educational lessons and activities were all implemented in the intervention schools along with meetings with parents and the food service management.
Conclusion {#Sec17}
==========
Health-E-PALS showed that this culturally appropriate, theory-based intervention that used a whole school approach and included interactive learning was feasible and increased students' nutritional knowledge and self-efficacy, and decreased their purchase and consumption of high energy dense snacks and beverages. Next steps entail planning for a larger scale evaluation of this intervention, to include a greater number of schools from different regions of Lebanon, for a longer duration period. The large scale trial should emphasise the physical education component, improve the quality of foods available to students in school shops, and be delivered by trained school personnel, for better sustainability of the programme.
Electronic supplementary material
=================================
{#Sec18}
######
Additional file 1: **PDF document, Showing the Student questionnaire used in this study, uploaded separately.** (PDF 805 KB)
######
Additional file 2: **PDF document presenting a table with recoded variables used for the analysis of this study, uploaded separately.** (PDF 147 KB)
**Competing interests**
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
**Authors' contributions**
CHM developed the original idea, collected and analysed the data, delivered the educational programme and drafted the manuscript. LG contributed to the writing of the manuscript. LG and KA provided statistical advice. MZ provided methodological advice. NH obtained financial support. CS, HM and NH directed the project, and provided methodological expertise. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
We thank the Ministry of Higher Education in Lebanon; the school children and their parents, and teachers, who participated in the study; Hiba Houri for data entry; Nancy Awada and Carla Maliha for referencing and proof reading.
**Funding**
This research was funded by an Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office Special Grant for Research in Priority Areas of Public Health (EMRO/WHO).
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"Text Buzz" - Jumbo Silly Bands bracelets ( CLEARANCE )
These are the Jumbo 1 inch wide Text silly bandz bracelets. Many sayings just as the kinds text on there cell phones and computers all day. Now they can wear what they write! HOT trendy selling novelty bracelet at a true wholesale price.
1.00
per dozen (clearance)
SH120
"THIS BEACH BITES" Shark Attack Pool Beach Raft Float
It looks like JAWS was in the water again. This 6 foot tall inflatable surf board shaped pool float, has a huge mite mark chunk missing. Your friends will be very jealous of you when you show up at the pool or beach with this! Great gag prank joke novelty gift item
12' Foot (144") Inflatable Mega Giant Beach Ball - HUGE
Want to be cool at the beach or next pool party? Then you need this mother of all beach balls! This giant behemoth beach ball measures 12 feet when deflated. Blow it up with a air compressor and it measures a full 10 FEET TALL ( 120 inches! ) The fun possibilities are endless!
24 Patriotic Double USA Flag clutch pins
Show your patriotism and support your country in style with this pins. Great pins for handing out as gifts, support our troops, 4th of July, Labor day, etc. All sold at wholesale
4pk of Fake "peel & win" game soda pieces
Fool your friends, family and co-workers with these realistic fake peel & win game pieces! Simply stick them onto someone?s cup and wait for them to peel and think they've won! This is one hell of a gag prank joke to do on someone.
* 4.95
eack pack of 4
RED22N
4pk Red Solo Cup Shot Glass party set
4 TOTAL Red Cup ceramic shot glasses. Now you can live up those party days at college at home with your own mini red cup ceramic shot glasses. Are these cool or what!!!
6pk NEON Adult Embarrassing Prank Envelopes Mail prank joke
These hilarious prank envelopes are a lot fun. Just address it to your favorite co-worker. Or send one to your friend's home, his wife will love to get the mail, the day one of these arrives. These are bright neon colors and huge, measuring 6 inches by 9 inches, guaranteed to get a lot of attention!
* 6.99
each package of 6
BA123
72 LOUD BOMB BAGS Exploding BOMBS - Bang! Snap! Pop!
Similar to our Fart Bombs, however, these come without the smell. Simply shake the bomb bag, squeeze to "pop" the water pouch inside the bag, toss aside, then ..."KABOOM"! After a few seconds the bomb bag explodes with a loud bang.
* 9.75
per case of 72
SOC1VV
8 Assorted - "Social Violation" Prank Gag Nasty Tickets
Have you been VIOLATED by a co-worker, friend, loved one, bartender, roommate, stranger in a parking lot, or some other thoughtless troll you'd like to scream at? Now you can save your vocal cords while saving your sanity. Simply issue one of the enclosed violation tickets
Assorted Animal Slide Puzzle Games ( CLEARANCE )
These plastic slide puzzles provide intriguing mental endeavors for inquisitive young minds. Each plastic piece slides up, down, left, and right. These are fun to use and keeps you thinking. Great to hand out to children in school, great for fundraisers, teachers, etc.
* 1.00
per dozen (clearance)
bai321
Auto Band Aid car magnet ( JUMBO )
JUMBO SIZE - 17" x 5" inches!
Does your car have an unsightly rust spot or scratch? Patch it up with a magnetic auto aid bandage! It's easy to apply and can be removed without damaging a car or truck. High quality novelty magnet at wholesale. Great gag prank joke novelty gift.
* 5.95
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700
Awesome Bright Flashlight Keychains -- by the dozen
These plastic flashlight keychains will come factory sealed. Assorted colors ( green, yellow, purple, pink, and blue ) Perfect for getting in your home or car door at night. Big profits can be made here! Great novelty gift item. These are sold by the dozen. Great gadget.
* 4.75
per dozen
PAC34343
Baby Pacifier - MUTE BUTTON - Funny! - Silicone Binky
This hysterical "Mute Button" pacifier will get your baby to shut up fast! Now you can quiet your baby down with the Mute Pacifier! You've probably secretly always want to do this and now you can! Friends and family will get a good laugh from this and hopefully your baby too.
* 9.95
each
BA878Z
BACON STRIP - Dancing Dashboard Shaker - for auto car
Our hilarious Dashboard Dancers come with an adhesive base which will stick to pretty much any surface. These are great on car dashboards, boats, or even your office desk. Any form of vibration will make these dance away
BANANA Handset - iPhone Blackberry - FUNNY PHONE GAG
New blast from the past item! The Banana Phone Handset plugs in and has plenty of cord so you can leave your device in your purse or pocket while talking on the banana. It works with most cell phones such as the iPhone, Blackberry, and even many office phones.
BARFUME - Barf Puke Vomit "Streamer Top" - Liquid Ass makers!
THE BEST PRANK ON EARTH! Barfume is an overwhelming, puke, vomit, throw up smell stink funny gag prank product. As seen on the Sirius radio Howard Stern show Bubba the love sponge & HOWIE DO IT on NBC. From the makers of Liquid Ass. Sold at wholesale
BOOBIE Grandma Knitted Boob Can Cooler Beer Holder Koozie
Nana's knitted boobies" Beer Cooler Koozie. If you want attention then this is it! This is just perfect for you on a hot summer day with your beer! Helps keep your cold can or bottle beverage super cold while keeping your hands warm and dry! This is a MUST for any of you beer drinking dudes
* 8.95
each
BOO6547
Boobies N Beer Glass Hand Crafted Stein - Large 27 oz
The NEW Boobie Beer Glass made by Big Mouth Toys. Boobs & beer now hand in hand! HIGH QUALITY beer glass and holds 27 ounces of beer! It has some nice weight to it so it is not one of those lame thin glasses. It is hard to see from picture but ours even has detailed nipples on them as well!
* 24.95
each
B9856C
Boston Sucks Toilet Paper Roll - Yankees Red Sox Fans Gag
Having guests over? Why not show them all just how much you hate those Boston Red Sox! THIS IS PERFECT for you hardcore Yankee fans! Depending on the baseball fan in your house they will either "love" or "hate" using your bathroom! Show them all just how much you love your New York Yankees!
* 4.95
each
CA341C
Camera Digital Lens - Beer Can Cooler Foam Koozie
For all you camera picture taking fans, this is just perfect for you on a hot summer day with your beer! This high quality insulated foam sleeve helps keep your cold can or bottle beverage super cold while keeping your hands warm and dry!
* 8.88
each
CR672
Cell Phone Phoney - 6 Common Ringtones! - KeyChain
The next time you're in an elevator, at a crowded restaurant, in a business meeting, at the bus stop, or just anywhere there's a group of people, play one of the six sounds on Cell Phoney and watch everyone reach for their phone. It will drive them bonkers. Great novelty gag
1.95
each ( clearance )
10003
Cell phone/ Cordless phone /Pager Antenna Booster - Generation X
Generation X Attenna cell phone atenna boosters at wholesale. These are the NEW & IMPROVED ones! Each retail for $19.99. Each factory sealed! These are being cleared out at a fraction of our cost. Our loss is your gain. These are great for gifts or promos for your business.
* 0.19
each ( clearance )
5000
CLASSIC - Million Dollar Novelty Collectible Money Bill
FAKE PRANK GAG MILLION DOLLAR BILLS. These novelty bills are: Made from heavy duty paper that feels like real money! The bills even smell like real money! They're the same size as real money! Same color as real money! Great for giving as favors! Great prank!
* 0.49
each
UMB56T4
Cocktail Umbrella Coaster (Set of 2) Beer Wine Bar Kitchen BBQ
It gives you that "relaxation away vibe" ....aka those Corona beer commercials we always see...lol Not only do these look amazing but they actually can keep your beverage cooler! Plenty of room for a can beer, bottle of beer, wine glass, and even a pint glass.
* 7.95
each ( clearanace )
45AA34
Comic Looney Soup stick on labels ( 8pk ) FUNNY!
Hysterical labels fit all standard size 15 oz cans. You get 8 different labels come with each package. Simply wrap the Looney Label around any can, remove the "peel and seal" glue strip, and press the label until its secure. Great kitchen prank gag novelty
Disguise Canoflage SODA BEER CAN WRAPS (HIDE BEER) SET OF 4
Want to enjoy some suds in the park or in an area where they frown upon the consumption of beer? Don't pay the inflated prices for a cold beer again. Simply wrap these vinyl soda can simulated wraps around you can, and party on! Great for tailgating
* 6.95
eack package of 4
bu51241
Disgusting fart burping - talking noise pen
Who's doing that!? Where is it coming from!? No one will realize that all those disgusting vomiting, burping, snorting, and farting noises are all coming from your pen. Rude & Crude
* 3.88
each (clearance)
303
Display case of 72 fart bomb bags -- These stink!
Fart bombs comes 72 per wholesale display case. Take a fart bag shake it, squeeze it and it will start to inflate, throw it and in 5 to 7 seconds later, POP, PHEW! STINKS! WHO WAS THAT! PHEW! THEY REALLY STINK! A great novelty prank item.
* 10.75
PER CASE OF 72
900
DON'T Quit Smoking!! - Use Nic-Out Instead filters instead
The alternative to quit smoking. Brand new to the market! The new Nic-Out filters.Each NicOut filter is good for 5 to 10 cigarettes. Help reduce nicotine, tar and thus the health risks associated with smoking. Amazing HOT selling item. 30 filters per pack.
* 3.50
per pack (30 filters per pack)
PN6272
Embarrassing Adult Prank Envelopes - 6 pack
These hilarious gag joke prank envelopes are a lot fun. Just address it to your favorite co-worker, and drop it in the mail. Imagine the talk around the office water cooler when these show up? Or put a stamp on it and send one to your friend's house, his wife will love reading it!
Fake Police Parking Tickets -- A great Gag Prank!
Each fake parking ticket appears to give a parking violation in the sum of $100.00. It is blaze red in color and is noticeable from 100'S of feet away. Imagine finding a $100.00 fine on your car windshield. A great novelty collectibe item for retailers!
* 1.00
each
fa10097
Fanny Bank Funny Farting Coin Drop Bank Great Gift/Gag
Stop leaving those coins on the dresser, in some old water jug tucked away in a closet, or in your car's ashtray. With our hilarious fart Fanny Bank, saving your pennies will be a real gas! It's so loud and so disgusting, you won't want to stop dropping coins in the crack!
Fart Game Ball "pass the gas" musical pooter machine - gag prank
Simply pass the soft plush butt ball from player to player and when the music stops the butt will fart. Plays a funny musical rhyme that goes faster and faster as players pass the plush "butt" around. When the song stops, the gas sounds blast and the loser hears "You Farted!"
* 16.95
each
fa565
Fart Powder - Give them Gas
What a awesome nasty gag prank trick joke to do on someone. Yes, this works GREAT! Your victim will fart and stink up the room in no time.
* 0.99
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FJ56
FISHING MAN - Dashboard Dancing Shaking Dancer for car
Gone Fishing" Fisherman Dashboard Dancer comes with an adhesive base which will stick to pretty much any surface. These are great on car dashboards, boats, or even your office desk. Any form of vibration will make these dance away. People will really get a laugh when they see this
Fully working -- High Grade-- Assorted Tool Keychains
YOU WILL GET A ASORTMENT OF ALL DIFFERENT KEYCHAIN TOOLS AS PICTURE SHOWS -(SCREWDRIVERS, PLIERS, SAWS, HAMMERS, ETC.) THE PERFECT LOT FOR RETAILERS! KEYCHAINS FULLY WORK AND MOVE! THESE ARE ALL MADE OF METAL AND ARE TOP QUALITY. GREAT COLLECTABLE NOVELTY GADGET KEY CHAIN.
Gag Funny Novelty Toilet Paper: $100 Money Toilet Paper
When you know your ass is worth more than just any old toilet paper. This toilet paper has giant $100 Bills printed across two squares of toilet paper. And you know you can afford to use two squares of toilet paper when you wipe, because you're worth it.
German Itching Powder - A Nasty Prank Gag Item!
Just a small sprinkle down someone's back or other body part and watch them itch away! ewwww is this stuff nasty! This is a great prank to do on that jerk you all hate at work. A great novelty item to retail. Please see our other gag fart items as well!
Get Bombed Shot Glass Set - 3 pk
Get Bombed shot ceramic shot glasses. Each one as shown is picture is unique and different. Getting trashed is really what you will be doing!
* 9.95
each
632838
GET OFF CELL PHONE EXCUSE MACHINE - Key Chain
Have you ever needed help getting off the phone with someone? Perhaps a long winded neighbor, or a pesky tele-marketer? Well - we have just the solution for you. Funny joke prank gag keychain.
1.95
each ( clearance )
Red127A
Giant DO NOT PRESS BIG RED SLAMMER BUTTON - 10 Sound Effects
aka "The Big Dummy Tester", who can resist pushing the bright red, shining button? Covered in warnings against it, big dummies won't be able to resist pushing the button, only to be ridiculed, poked fun at, and insulted. They will wish they had withheld the overwhelming temptation to push it!
* 9.95
each
G6282
GRENADE Army War Mug
This is awesome! Gag gift coffee & tea mug. Great for the work office or home kitchen. You get a big WOW drinking out of this awesome novelty mug.
Grow A Brain - Grows 600% in water - Joke Gift
Now this will get some funny laughs or what! Have a stupid friend? Well give them a brain that actually works... Makes a "smart" gift :) Finally you never have to lose your mind again! Funny novelty prank gag joke gift
* 1.99
each
B76H65
GROW YOUR OWN TIT BOOBS - grows in water 600%
WoW! Now this will get some funny laughs or what! If your a typical dude and boobs is all you ever think about? well look no further! Or a girl that needs that special added lift than this is for you! Funny prank gag joke novelty gift
* 1.99
each
Hap654
Happy Birthday Toilet Paper Roll
A great way to show that someone special how much ya care, even if it means the party is in the bathroom! Great party decoration. A fun way to get the "WoW" factor. A great novelty gag prank joke funny item.
HUGE BOOBIES BOOBS - Adult Pool Beach Party Raft Float
OK it's a hot summer day and you just want to rest on something comfortable. Well this huge 4 1/2 foot pool boob float may be just for you dudes! This unique float is a great pool toy that?s as much fun to show off as to use. Great novelty gag prank gift.
* 18.95
each
Q8322
HUGE Coin Inflatable Quarter - so cool!
Inflation got you down? Don't worry, we've got the inflation that will make you smile! This huge 12" inch inflatable quarter is so realistic looking, you'd think it was an actual quarter...only waaay bigger. These are really GREAT for company promos!
IRELAND Irish 3 x 5 foot - Banner Pennant Flag
Improve the looks of your home or room. Show your IRELAND IRISH pride with this new flag banner. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Lucky shamrock leprechaun fans this one is for you!
* 4.95
each
MO8282
Jumbo Inflatable $100 Money Cash Bill
Short on your rent money again? Well, you can TRY to stick one of these giant inflatable $100 bills into the mix, but we are sure your landlord won't be fooled. Hang it in your office, your bedroom, or give it as a gift to your needy family members. These are really GREAT for company promos!
JUMPING MAGIC MEXICAN BEANS - Fun Novelty Toy
The mystery in these jumping beans lie in the magnetic ball bearings inside the capsules, making them jump, tumble and dart around in all sorts of unpredictable ways. It's like magic! Use these for birthday party favors, hand out for Halloween, etc. From kids to adults this is fun for all ages
* 0.50
each 3pk
200
Large Shock Lighter - Great Novelty Gag Item
These are TOP of the line collectible novelty shock lighters. They look just like a real lighter. When person goes to use it they get a nasty shock instead. These are great sellers. Great gadget.
* 2.95
each
Le9101
Le Queefer - same as the Pooter ( female fart maker )
As seen on TV, NBC's "Most Outrageous Moments" and MTV. You can now FART whenever you'd like. The Le Queefer is a soft noisemaker that fits in the palm of your hand. Just squeeze it, and the air inside rushes out to create the most realistic fart sounds known to woman!
* 5.95
each
le3827
Le Tooter - Same as the fart Pooter
As seen on TV, NBC's "Most Outrageous Moments" and MTV with Jack Vale - You can now FART whenever you'd like. The Pooter is a soft noisemaker that fits in the palm of your hand. Just squeeze it, and the air inside rushes out to create realistic original fart sounds known to man! Gag prank joke gift
LIQUID ASS - stink prank fart spray bomb gag joke "Streamer Top"
THE BEST PRANK ON EARTH! Liquid ASS is an overwhelming, stinky, funny prank product. Liquid begins to evaporate filling the air with a genuine, foul butt crack smell with hints of dead animal and fresh poop. As seen on the Sirius radio Howard Stern show Bubba the love sponge & HOWIE DO IT on NBC.
Man Eating Shark Jaws Attack - Dashboard Dancing Dancer
Our hilarious Dashboard Dancers come with an adhesive base which will stick to pretty much any surface. These are great on car dashboards, boats, or even your office desk. Any form of vibration will make these dance away. People will really get a laugh when they see this.
* 8.95
each
890671
MIDDLE FINGER POOP POO CRAP - Turd that is rude!
This is a whole new level of fake dog poo! Our new Funny Doos are a line of fake dog poop in different fun shapes. They look so realistic, and maybe seeing these silly new Funny Doos will inspire your dog to be more artistic and expressive in his doody-laying. SOLD WHOLESALE BELOW COST
* 1.95
each (clearance)
6327372
Mini Pocket Disgusting Sound Key Chain Machine - 6 Gross Sounds
Pocket-Disgusting Sounds Machine" Key Chain in your pocket and gross out friends and strangers - with the simple touch of a button. Great for those awkwardly quiet elevators rides, or while sitting in a rest room stall. The possibilities are limited only to your imagination with this keychain.
Nic Tar Out - Nic Out cigarette smoke filters
These will help make you quit the bad habit of smoking. The alternative to quit smoking. Brand new to the market! The new Nic-Out filters.Each NicOut filter is good for 5 to 10 cigarettes. Help reduce nicotine, tar and thus the health risks associated with smoking.
* 3.50
each
6565
Novelty Combo Bracelet Pens
What a great idea - It's a pen and a bracelet in one! You will never need to look around for a pen if you wear this! Kids love them! Sold by the dozen, comes brand new/factory sealed with assorted colors.
* 3.75
per dozen
213
Novelty Shock Lighter -- Great Gadget item!
These shocking lighters are not really lighters, but you friends will think they are. This is one of the greatest gags of all time! These things give an big shock to any unsuspecting user. These shock lighters look so real!
PAPARAZZI SHADES - Hide yourself from FACEBOOK pictures
It's a FACEBOOK world, and these sunglasses is exactly what you need for those embarrassing photos of you! These are the PERFECT gag gift for a face book lover, as it shields the identity of the person in the photo. These sunglass shades are a HOT ITEM! Be like Lady GaGa
PRANK GAG OFFICE SIGN - NO GAY SEX
Hang this sign (discreetly so you don't get caught!) on the door to a local business store, office, bathroom, restaurants, street sign, back of car, in the home, or anywhere you can think of and listen for the laughs! Novelty gag prank joke sign that makes a great gift!
1.99
each ( clearance )
a11129b
Prank Restaurant Bar Bathroom Sign: HERMAPHRODITES
Hang this sign (discreetly so you don't get caught!) on the door to a local business store, office, bathroom, restaurants, street sign, back of car, in the home, or anywhere you can think of and listen for the laughs! Novelty gag prank joke sign that makes a great gift!
President Barack Obama - bathroom toilet paper roll
He wiped up the Presidential election and now you can use him to wipe up your historical messes! Love him? Hate him? Either way... you'll love this Barack Obama Funny Toilet Paper Bathroom Roll. Funny novelty gag prank political gift joke sold at wholesale
* 5.95
each
SWC516
Push Button Pocket Comb Fake Switch Blade Folding Knife Knives
Made of stainless steel and plastic. The combs where made famous by "the greasers" of the 1950's and 60's. Measures 9" inches when opened, when closed measures 5" inches. The "comb blade" stays concealed in the handle of this intimidating switchblade. Great gag prank joke gift
Rude Fake Lotto Tickets That CURSE! -- Nasty Prank!
The BEST gag item we carry by far! These lotto tickets are the best gag prank novelty on the planet called Earth! Every ticket is Curses you out!! Great adult novelty item. You will get assorted styles! Great for retailers!
Sand Art Bracelets - Kids Craft Kit with funnel
These children bracelets are designed to be filled with sand art projects. Each set consists of 12 bracelets, one funnel, and 18 bags of sand. All the stuff you need to make some really cool art bracelets. Great for school fundraisers.
SLIDE TO UNLOCK - iPhone iPod Apple Car Fridge Magnet
A magnetic strip for those who prefer to open things the magical way! Now you can turn your vehicle into a ipad ipohone or ipod. This is a high quality magnet and won't damage your paint. These look AMAZING on cars, trucks, fridges, or anywhere you cant stick a magnet on.
* 5.95
each
801
SOCCER - SPORTS BIG CAR MAGNETS - 3D LOOKING!
THESE ARE ALL TOP QUALITY AND EACH SEPERATLY FACTORY SEALED. THESE SOCCER BALL MAGNET APPEARS TO LOOK 3D LOOKING! ALL ARE WATER PROOF, UV PROTECTION, DOES NOT FADE FROM SUNLIGHT! GREAT NOVELTY GIFT COLLECTIBLE ITEM.
* 1.99
each
2011
Spooky Glow in the Dark Sticky Eyes! Halloween & Gothic looking!
That's right they glow in the dark!!! These eyes measure 1 INCH in size each!! I would say that they are same size as your own eyeball! When you hold the sticky eyes in your hand, they feel like what you would think a real eyeball would feel like!!! A great Novelty prank gag gift item.
* 2.75
per dozen
770090
Stink Perfume bottle
stinky bottle of fancy looking perfume. Open the cap & terrible odor spreads throughout the room. This stuff is NASTY !! It has the same smell as the Stink Bombs which is Rotten Eggs and some other nasty odors to go with it. Great prank gag novelty gift.
Sweet Cheeks - Bleacher Tooshie Cushy Seat Cushion
Sweet Cheeks Tooshie Cushy Stadium/Bleacher Seat. Made of foam and is made to look like a butt that is wearing a red G-String/Thong with a tramp stamp tattoo of tribal art. This is a perfect gift to give someone who loves to watch outdoor sporting events in comfort with a awesome sense of humor.
The Amazing Shock Pen ! Great Prank --- Top seller!
These pens " so the person thinks it is " will shock the hell out of them when used. Just leave it on a table and when someone uses it WAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!! Shock pens are great novelty gift items. BEST wholesale priced!
* 3.50
each
77F453A
The Beer Mitt Glove - Cooler Bottle Cup Can Holder - BBQ Koozie
This is just perfect for you on a cold winter day outside with your beer! Helps keep your cold can or bottle beverage super cold while keeping your hands toasty warm and dry! Perfect for the next time you throw your barbeque and show off your new BEER MITT.
* 15.95
each
FA5656
The Farting Fart Alarm Clock
Let's face it. Nobody likes waking up. So why not at least wake up with a smile :) This alarm clock allows you to fart your day of right! Makes fun fart turd noise sounds that will make you think you were in fart heaven! Great fun prank gag joke novelty gift.
* 14.95
each
DON56
The Gigantic Donut Pool Float Raft
It looks good enough to eat, and in fact, someone did take a bite out of this hilarious Donut shaped pool float.
The Gigantic Donut Pool Float features a strawberry donut that's generously topped with colorful sprinkles. Funnprank gag joke novelty summer beach gift.
* 18.95
each
FL67H4
The Gigantic Pool Floater - Poop Turd Crap w/ corn - GROSS!
NOW THIS IS A TURD! It even has some nice detail of some corn on the outside of the turd as well! So YES, this baby looks real and it's HUGE size will be sure to grabs someone's attention. Great to use in Pools, Hot Tubs, Shower floors, Bath Tubs, on any floor, or in the yard!
The Mini Curbside Trash & Recycle Can Set
Trash & Recycling mini storage bins. Complete with closeable tops, and real moving wheels! Great to hold all your office supplies. This is that perfect item to put on your office desk to add some fun back into your work space. Great novelty prank gag joke
* 9.95
each
RedC12
the RED CUP Kooler - College Keg Party Beer Foam Cup
Now you can look cool and keep your drink Ice cold at the same time! You can relive your college keg party drinking days with the Red Cup Kool Koozie! AKA: Cool Kool Cup Koozie Coosie Coozie Cooler Beer can bottle holder fun!
Toilet Coffee Mug - Candy dish, Dog & Cat Bowl
Why should dogs be the only ones allowed to drink out of the toilet? This silly toilet-shaped mug holds up to 12oz of your favorite hot beverage and will make your co-workers do a double take. Great novelty gift for the bathroom
* 15.95
each
sc464
Toilet Screamer - Bathroom Gag Gift Scare Joke Potty Fun
Surprise your family, friends, and coworkers with the Toilet Screamer! This little device turns an ordinary trip to the bathroom into one they'll never forget. When they lift up the lid to the toilet, it lets out a frightening scream!
* 8.95
each
TH5444
Toilet Seat Bowl Inflatable Pool Float - Outdoor Beach Raft
"Toilet Bowl Seat" pool float. Measures 3 feet across!
Everyone's biggest fear when swimming in a pool is pee in the pool. Now you can take that fear to a whole new level with this Toilet Bowl Pool Float! Sit and be mellow just don't make the pool yellow!
* 20.95
each
T021
TOXIC WASTE Toilet paper roll - funny joke gag prank crap
Having guests over? Why not warn them about your toxic bathroom habits with this Warning. That way, you can still have your guests over, but don't have to clean your bathroom before your guests arrive. Everyone wins. It is toooooo funny when someone comes over to use your bathroom!
TWIN Weazel Ball Motorized - Dog, Cat, and kids toy
It'a Alive! This fun twin weasel will bring hours of furry fun for any age. The crazy, mad weasel jumps, rolls, scoots and darts from one side of the room to the other, and won't leave the ball alone. Battery operated. A GREAT dog or cat novelty toy at wholesale price
VINTAGE TEMPORALLY TATTOO SLEEVES ( 1 Dozen )
These nylon sleeves have a invisible mesh that covers your arm to give the illusion of real looking tattoos. Mesh is fairly see through so these will work well with most skin tones Why get a real tattoo when you can just slip one of these on~! These can be worn on arms OR legs!
* 11.95
per dozen ( 12 )
wea123
Weazel Ball Motorized Appears Alive Cat Dog Toy Weasel
This fun weasel and ball partnership will bring hours of furry fun for any age. The crazy, mad weasel jumps, rolls, scoots and darts from one side of the room to the other, and won't leave the ball alone. A GREAT dog or cat novelty toy at wholesale price
Wine Bottle Glass " Finally a wine glass that fits my needs! "
You want attention, then this is it! Half Bottle, Half Glass, All Good Drunken Fun! Now you can drink straight from the bottle like you have aways wanted To, without all the judgmental looks from onlookers.. Not enough wine in that tiny glass? Never Fear! Drink Straight From the Bottle! Finally!
* 16.95
each
D9IE321
World's Easiest Diet - Joke box Fork Spoon Gag Gift
The easy and fun way to lose weight. This is the perfect gift for that friend who is always on a diet. Next time ladies you are at your favorite restaurant take this spoon an fork set out and I guarantee you will never gain weight again~!
* 6.99
each
WTF1527
WTF What the Fu%k Red Slam Button
Battery operated "WTF Red Slammer Button. Nothing in life is EASY, so your customers will love our new WTF Button. Smack the button, and 1 of 10 hilarious zingers are played loud and clear. Great novelty prank gag gift |
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
NEW Tea Book Unveiled--A Winter Wonderland of Goodness
One
autumn day I found myself getting up at 2:30 A.M. to catch a 6:00 A.M. plane to
Salt Lake City, then to Atlanta Georgia, to Montreal, Quebec. Waking up without
adequate sleep felt odd and it was the wrong hour to brew coffee. So, I made a
cup of my own blend: black and green tea. It gave me enough energy to get on
the shuttle bus without acting like a zombie from a sci-fi film.
But
while tea offers home cures, including beating sleepiness, it can also keep you
calmer than java. At the first airport counter café, I ordered a cup of hot
water and used my own chamomile tea bag to keep me calm enough for the next
fear factor: flying out of the Sierra and into Salt Lake City—two airports
known for turbulent flights.
There is a growing trend
of at-home tea cures (like I used to achieve my final destination), that’ll wow
you with their potential healing powers. I sprinkled in tea wisdom from
tried-and-true folk remedies, scientific studies, medical experts, and my own
home tea and tisane cures. It’s tea time! Read on.
1. COLDS (Warm Up Baby.) During the fall and winter
months, cold season hits more frequently. Also, though, if you are under stress
a cold can pay you a visit year-round, especially if traveling or contracting a
virus from someone else. If your immune system is under attack—a cold can be
prevented or the severity lessened with tea.
What Tea Rx to Use: Drink one 8-ounce cup of black tea
(hot or iced) with or without 1 teaspoon honey two to three times per day.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Tea researchers believe
it’s the compound antigen in black tea that bolsters the body’s immune system
and may help guard against colds. Also, the tannins may help to stave off
viruses like a cold. I recall one doctor’s story about how he turned to tea for
comfort. He was traveling in the Alaskan wilderness. While in a van traveling
with a lot of people, one had a cold as he did. The doctor had tea and drank
the liquid. And it helped the good doctor heal.
2. COUGHS
(Cease the tickle.) Coping with a cold can be annoying, but coughing which can
be caused by seasonal allergies, or linger after a cold, a bout of bronchitis,
or other things, can be pesky and make your throat and even chest ache.
What Tea Rx to Use: Opt to brew 1 12-ounce cup of
black or white tea. For an extra throat soother, add 1 teaspoon of honey. Repeat
as necessary.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Tacking a cough takes a bit of sleuth work to
discover why you are coughing—and then it’s time to be proactive and deal with
the problem. If allergens are the issue, for instance, it’s time to get an air
purifier, vacuum and dust more, and add tea with honey to your diet
repertoire—soon you’ll be doing the happy dance without stopping to cough.
3. FLU (Say good-bye to germs.) Catching the flu,
which can come on suddenly, drags you down and into bed. Viruses come in all
forms and can give you anything from a 24-hour flu bug to a super bug that’ll
spook you to the point where images from sci-fi films like Outbreak and Contagion will
haunt you as you try and shake it.
What Tea Rx to Use: Take 2 cups of tea and you won’t
be calling the doctor in the morning. Mix it up and sip 1 cup of tea (black,
green, or white) and 1 cup of your favorite vitamin C-enhanced herbal tea such
as hibiscus.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: It’s no surprise that the
functional food tea is chock-full of antioxidants—the good guys that can keep
your immune system healthy and stave off germs you could encounter from your
local grocery store to a vacation stop. By drinking tea and a vitamin-rich
tisane teamed with a nutrient-dense diet, you’ll be keeping your immune system
strong.
4. SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (Blast the blues.) Feeling down and sluggish with SAD, coined by
Dr. Norman Rosenthal, is another monster to face. I have tackled the symptoms
with an arsenal of remedies—and tea is on the list come late fall through early
spring.
What Tea Rx to Use: Brew 1 cup of hot water and use 1
teaspoon green tea leaves or tea bag. Steep for 3 minutes. Repeat 2 times per
day.
Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Green tea has 45
milligrams of caffeine (which can give you a physical and mental burst of
energy). But also, green tea contains L-theanine—a compound that enhances brain
chemicals including serotonin and that can give you a calming sense of
well-being.
5. SORE THROAT (Treat the pain.) Before a cold you can
get a telltale sore throat. Not to forget allergies and even talking too much.
Rather than run to the doctor for an allergy medication, why not take an
alternative route and turn to tea?
What Tea Rx to Use:
Dried oolong leaves combined with rose hips or hibiscus can be a perfect
pairing. Put 1 teaspoon of tea leaves and 1 teaspoon of the herbal tea of your
choice in 1 cup of hot water. Steep for a few minutes, then strain. Add honey
to taste.
Ginger and lemon go
together like salt and pepper—two of nature’s finest superfoods with an
immunity booster that can keep you healthy this winter and all year-long.
2
cups water
10
thin slices gingerroot, fresh
1
lemon sliced
3
tablespoons honey
1/3
cup lemon juice
Bring water, gingerroot,
and lemon slices to a boil for 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat, steep 10
minutes, strain. Stir in honey and lemon juice. You can also add apple peel, a
piece of onion, and one or two tablespoons of chamomile.
(Courtesy: Gemma Sanita Sciabica)
Excerpt from The
Healing Powers of Tea 2018. All right reserved. Reprinted with permission from Kensington www.kensingtonbooks.com
.
— Cal Orey, M.A. is an author and journalist.
Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate,
Honey, Coffee, and Tea) published by Kensington. (The collection has been
featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is www.calorey.com .
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Honey Book--Home Cures/Recipes
NEW Gift Book Size + TEA Book Available
West Coast Superfoods Author/Events
BIO: CAL OREY--
I'm a born and raised Californian who keeps it real. I hold two degrees in English (Creative Writing) from SFSU, and pen the "hugely successful" Healing Powers Series (on homepage), available at bookstores; (translated in 20 languages), all have been featured by book clubs, including Good Cook and Literary Guild. As a former Woman's World Weekly diet-nutrition columnist, I dish up--health perks, and fresh Mediterranean foods with a West Coast twist.
If you'd like Cal to make an appearance at your bookstore or tearoom, or magazine interview, contact Director of Publicity at Kensington Publishing Corp. [email protected] |
Assignment & Mutation
=====================
.. automodule:: glom.mutation
.. contents:: Contents
:local:
Assignment
----------
Deeply assign within an existing structure, given a path and a value.
.. autofunction:: glom.assign
.. autoclass:: glom.Assign
Deletion
--------
Delete attributes from objects and keys from containers.
.. autofunction:: glom.delete
.. autoclass:: glom.Delete
Exceptions
----------
.. autoclass:: glom.PathAssignError
.. autoclass:: glom.PathDeleteError
|
When starting an internal combustion engine, it is useful to know the rest position of the engine crankshaft prior to cranking so that fuel and spark settings can be targeted accordingly. In this way, the engine starts in less time and consumes the delivered fuel more efficiently. However, it is difficult to determine the position at which the engine crankshaft stops rotating. This is because crankshaft position sensors are not designed to indicate the direction of rotation, and the crankshaft may reverse directions one or more times due to cylinder air compression before the rest position is finally achieved. If the engine speed at turn-off is too slow for the crankshaft to continue rotating through the next compression cycle, the crankshaft will reverse directions, or “rock-back”. If the engine speed is rotating faster at turn-off, the crankshaft will rotate through the next compression cycle, or “rock-forward”.
Although it is possible to predict or estimate the final position of the crankshaft based on engine speed and crankshaft position measurements, the estimate is only accurate to within 90 crank degrees of the actual crankshaft position. This inaccuracy can cause the engine to begin fueling on the wrong cylinder when the engine is re-started. As a result, the engine must be cranked longer before starting, and the initial exhaust emissions can exceed the regulated limits. Accordingly, what is needed is a method of more accurately determining the final rest position of an internal combustion engine. |
Blog
When I think of a beautiful hat I instantly conjure images of screen icon Audrey Hepburn; sophisticated and graceful. She knew how to wear the perfect accessory to bring an outfit to life. Our outstanding collection of hats, most of which are brand new, are great fun. I encourage any guest to consider this elegant accessory to… |
The present invention relates to transport apparatus for transporting flexible sheet-like articles, for example, sheets of paper, cards and envelopes.
Known machines for bundling letter or dispatch envelopes comprise intake equipment for inducting envelopes disposed in a stack. Such intake equipment includes a cylinder, which rotates in operation and which has suction openings for applying suction to successive envelopes, drawing individual envelopes from the base of the stack and, for example, transferring the envelopes to downstream transport equipment. At the point of each transfer, the suction openings are ventilated so that the envelope is released from the cylinder.
A known form of intake equipment has a cylinder with a shaft and two cylinder body portions, which are mounted on the shaft to be rotatable therewith and the circumferential surfaces of which incorporate a series of suction openings, which open into a suction channel extending along the rotational axis. The shaft is hollow and its interior connects the suction channels of the two cylinder body portions to a suction device via a control coupling. The control coupling comprises a first part fastened to a frame of the equipment to be non-rotatable relative thereto and a second part connected to the shaft to be rotatable therewith. The two parts have air passages with openings which, in a certain rotational position of the cylinder, face each other. In this rotational position, the cylinder applies suction to successive envelopes and entrains the envelopes in succession. The control coupling is also provided with a ventilation channel in order to ventilate the suction openings in another rotational position of the cylinder.
Present between the two cylinder body portions is a groove in which is arranged a separating device. The separating device is mounted on the frame to be non-rotatable relative thereto and is provided with a suction opening, which is located in the interior of the groove below the envelope stack. The suction opening of the separating device is connected via a duct with separate suction control couplings, which in turn are connected with the suction device. Each of these control couplings comprises a first part fastened to the frame to be non-rotatable relative thereto and a second part which is mounted on a separate shaft and which is rotated synchronously with the cylinder by a gear. This separate control coupling is constructed in such a manner that the suction opening of the separating device, in a particular rotational position of the cylinder, supplies suction to suck the lowermost envelope of the stack partially into the groove. Subsequently, this envelope is released by ventilation of the suction opening of the separating device so that it can be entrained by the cylinder. The separating device ensures that only one envelope is drawn away from the stack at a time.
In the known equipment, relatively long air paths are present between the two control couplings and the suction openings of the cylinder and separating device. In operation of the equipment, these air paths must be alternately partially evacuated and then ventilated. For this purpose, a relatively large quantity of air must be sucked away or let in. This entails the disadvantages that the maximum possible operating speed is relatively limited and a considerable amount of noise is generated. The noise is to a large extent caused by the substantial quantities of air which must be sucked away from or let into the air paths. In particular, ventilation generates noise like a report on the sudden inflow of air. Furthermore, the known intake equipment has the disadvantage that the control couplings require a considerable amount of space and thereby increase the overall size of the equipment.
Transport cylinders with suction openings are used not only for intake equipment, but also for other transport and deflection purposes. For example, in the specification of Swiss Patent Application No. 10847/78, there is described a cylinder, which serves to provide a deflector and which has a number of suction channels each provided with a plurality of suction openings opening at the circumferential surface of the cylinder. The suction channels open at one of the end faces of the cylinder. The cylinder is associated with a suction control coupling comprising a ring which is nonrotatably fastened to the frame and is co-axial with the cylinder. The end face of the ring facing the cylinder end face in which the suction channels open is provided with grooves extending along a circular arc and with a radial ventilation groove. In certain rotational positions of the cylinder, the suction channel openings in the end face of the cylinder communicated with the grooves in the ring of the control coupling, so that air is either sucked out of the suction channels or else the suction channels are ventilated.
This deflector is also only capable of operation at relatively low speeds. The grooves in the stationary ring of the control coupling and the openings of the suction channels at the end face of the cylinder extend for only a relatively short distance in radial direction because only a small space is available between the shaft and the outer rim of the cylinder. Accordingly, the flow cross-sectional area for air transition from the stationary ring of the control coupling to the cylinder is relatively small, with the result that the operating speed of the deflector is correspondingly limited to a relatively low value. This is particularly so because at least a part of the air in the cylinder itself must traverse a relatively long path due to the fact that all the air is sucked away or flows in at one end face of the cylinder and thus in part must flow through almost the entire length of the cylinder. |
Choosing the Right Color for Your Roof
When you’re choosing shingles for your home, there are plenty of things you need to take into consideration. Roofing is an investment in your home, and you want to make the right decision when it comes to choosing the right color and style. Your roof’s appearance should fit well with the style of your home and your neighborhood.
At J&J Roofing, our expert roofing contractors understand the importance of choosing the right roofing shingles for your home. We’ve put together this guide to help you make the best decision when choosing the right color for your roof.
Consider Heating and Cooling
Choosing the right roof color is about more than just fashion. Selecting the right color shingle for your home can make a huge difference in your home’s heating and cooling costs. The color of your home’s shingles can actually increase or decrease the temperature in your attic by as many as 20 degrees.
In climates where the temperature can remain high for most of the year, white or light-colored shingles are a great choice because they reflect the sun’s rays. However, in Michigan, where the temperature can remain extremely cold for months at a time, retaining heat is a priority. Choosing darker tiles can help your home retain its warmth and lower your energy costs throughout the winter.
Dark shingles provide several advantages:
● Keep snow from accumulating
● Melt ice
● Absorb heat
Consider Your Siding Color
Do you live in a red brick home? These traditional looking homes tend to look best with a traditional shingle look such as dark gray or black. Similarly, white homes also look sharp with traditional dark gray or black roofs. Other types of siding work well when paired with a similar color.
Gray and blue homes look best with dark gray or black roofs, while brown, cream, and tan homes look better with brown roofing shingles. With more colorful homes, you find greater flexibility. With a green, red, or yellow home, you can choose almost any color of roof and not go wrong.
Other Roofing Considerations
When it comes time to take a look at samples, make sure you check them out next to your siding. Hold your samples up in the natural daylight and decide which work best. Sometimes what looks good in theory does not look best in application, and what seemed to not match might look fabulous in person.
At J&J Roofing, we offer a wide range of shingle colors:
● Grays like Stonegate, Colonial Slate, and Cobblestone Gray
● Browns like Shenandoah and Weathered Wood
● Reds like Terra Cotta and Georgian Brick
● Other shades like Sherwood Forest and Black Granite
Roofing Contractors in Roseville, Michigan
When it comes time to choose the right new shingles for your home, you want to make a decision you can be happy with for many years to come. At J&J Roofing, our residential roofing contractors understand how important your home’s look is. That’s why we back up our shingles with 10-year and 15-year warranties. For more information, give us a call at 586-445-6455 or contact us to schedule your new roofing installation project. |
# Docker Checkpoint & Restore
Checkpoint & Restore is a new feature that allows you to freeze a running
container by checkpointing it, which turns its state into a collection of files
on disk. Later, the container can be restored from the point it was frozen.
This is accomplished using a tool called [CRIU](http://criu.org), which is an
external dependency of this feature. A good overview of the history of
checkpoint and restore in Docker is available in this
[Kubernetes blog post](http://blog.kubernetes.io/2015/07/how-did-quake-demo-from-dockercon-work.html).
## Installing CRIU
If you use a Debian system, you can add the CRIU PPA and install with apt-get
[from the criu launchpad](https://launchpad.net/~criu/+archive/ubuntu/ppa).
Alternatively, you can [build CRIU from source](http://criu.org/Installation).
You need at least version 2.0 of CRIU to run checkpoint/restore in Docker.
## Use cases for checkpoint & restore
This feature is currently focused on single-host use cases for checkpoint and
restore. Here are a few:
- Restarting the host machine without stopping/starting containers
- Speeding up the start time of slow start applications
- "Rewinding" processes to an earlier point in time
- "Forensic debugging" of running processes
Another primary use case of checkpoint & restore outside of Docker is the live
migration of a server from one machine to another. This is possible with the
current implementation, but not currently a priority (and so the workflow is
not optimized for the task).
## Using checkpoint & restore
A new top level command `docker checkpoint` is introduced, with three subcommands:
- `create` (creates a new checkpoint)
- `ls` (lists existing checkpoints)
- `rm` (deletes an existing checkpoint)
Additionally, a `--checkpoint` flag is added to the container start command.
The options for checkpoint create:
Usage: docker checkpoint create [OPTIONS] CONTAINER CHECKPOINT
Create a checkpoint from a running container
--leave-running=false Leave the container running after checkpoint
--checkpoint-dir Use a custom checkpoint storage directory
And to restore a container:
Usage: docker start --checkpoint CHECKPOINT_ID [OTHER OPTIONS] CONTAINER
A simple example of using checkpoint & restore on a container:
$ docker run --security-opt=seccomp:unconfined --name cr -d busybox /bin/sh -c 'i=0; while true; do echo $i; i=$(expr $i + 1); sleep 1; done'
> abc0123
$ docker checkpoint create cr checkpoint1
# <later>
$ docker start --checkpoint checkpoint1 cr
> abc0123
This process just logs an incrementing counter to stdout. If you `docker logs`
in between running/checkpoint/restoring you should see that the counter
increases while the process is running, stops while it's checkpointed, and
resumes from the point it left off once you restore.
## Current limitation
seccomp is only supported by CRIU in very up to date kernels.
External terminal (i.e. `docker run -t ..`) is not supported at the moment.
If you try to create a checkpoint for a container with an external terminal,
it would fail:
$ docker checkpoint create cr checkpoint1
Error response from daemon: Cannot checkpoint container c1: rpc error: code = 2 desc = exit status 1: "criu failed: type NOTIFY errno 0\nlog file: /var/lib/docker/containers/eb62ebdbf237ce1a8736d2ae3c7d88601fc0a50235b0ba767b559a1f3c5a600b/checkpoints/checkpoint1/criu.work/dump.log\n"
$ cat /var/lib/docker/containers/eb62ebdbf237ce1a8736d2ae3c7d88601fc0a50235b0ba767b559a1f3c5a600b/checkpoints/checkpoint1/criu.work/dump.log
Error (mount.c:740): mnt: 126:./dev/console doesn't have a proper root mount
|
INTERVIEW | Way looking to take momentum into Checkatrade clash
The Glovers are looking to record a third straight win at Huish Park on Tuesday night when Fleetwood Town visit in the Checkatrade Trophy quarter-final.
Having dispatched both Grimsby Town and Cambridge United in Sky Bet League Two last week, manager Darren Way is hoping recent league form correlates into the cup.
Just two rounds from a Wembley final, Town are yet to lose in this season’s competition.
Hosting the Cod Army, Way is looking for another positive occasion on home soil.
“It’s a great opportunity to get to Wembley and I’ll never turn that down as a manager.
“As a supporter, I don’t think you’d turn down the chance to have a day out at Wembley and it’s important for me and my players.
“I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it’s a success on Tuesday night,” he told iFollow Glovers.
Fresh from two wins, the Green & Whites have scored five goals without reply to pull seven points clear of the bottom two in the league.
Added in with a positive January transfer window, Town’s boss is hoping to build on recent momentum.
“Any manager, any supporter and any chairman is trying to gather momentum, he said. “I feel proud of what the players have done since the Manchester United match because you’re always judged after that on what direction we go in.
“We’re seeing out the last 10 minutes of games now and two clean sheets is important.
“It’s nice to see we can field seven on the bench and if you’re not performing you’re going to be left out of the squad.
I don’t like doing that but with the numbers we’ve got and the direction we’re going in, everyone has got to be at the top of their game.” |
Iraq's Trickle of Oil
December 2, 1996
Iraq will soon be able to sell some of its oil abroad again. The black gold will flow not because Saddam Hussein finally came clean on hidden weaponry and got international sanctions removed, but because he accepted a deal dangling out there for months: limited oil sales to fund humanitarian relief for his people.
Saddam has clearly not relished this deal, worked out with the United Nations. Allowed sales will be small, $2 billion worth over six months. Only a part of the receipts will go to southern and central Iraq, where Saddam holds sway. A set portion will go to the Kurds in the north, and another chunk is earmarked for a compensation fund for victims of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Some of the money will also help pay for the ongoing weapons investigation being carried out by the UN in Iraq.
Moreover, the agreement calls for at least 100 monitors to be stationed in Iraq to make sure aid financed by the oil sales is effectively distributed.
Saddam would have preferred holding out for a complete lifting of economic sanctions. But information made available to the UN over recent months heightened suspicions that Saddam is still trying to conceal the true dimensions of his weapons program. The prospects for a quick removal of the embargo were growing ever dimmer.
On top of that, Saddam's Kurdish adventure in September, backing one warring faction against the other, caused the United States to temporarily withdraw its support for even limited oil sales. But things in northern Iraq have since quieted, with a cease-fire holding among the Kurds. Iraqi troops have withdrawn, but it's anyone's guess how many of Saddam's agents are active in the north.
Washington, in any case, appears happy to have the UN oil-sale deal go forward. The oil revenue should bring at least a measure of relief to average Iraqis, who have suffered under the sanctions. Food prices in Baghdad have declined a bit. But it's not likely that enough cash will flow in to substantially reduce Iraq's economic stress. The humanitarian issue, which has dogged the US and UN, is thus eased, not resolved.
The immediate outlook is for indefinite extension of this six-month oil sales arrangement, in hopes of providing better food and care for Iraq's people while its dictator remains fenced in. Saddam may hope that this opening can be widened into more and more sales as the world rediscovers its thirst for Iraqi oil. Those economic pressures will be felt, but they will be kept under control if enough world leaders stay mindful of the cost of letting Saddam rebuild his dream of military glory and conquest. |
import csv
import os
import sys
import json
import uuid
import csv
import zipfile
from io import StringIO
from arches.app.models.graph import Graph
from arches.app.models.concept import Concept
from arches.app.models.system_settings import settings
from arches.app.models.models import CardXNodeXWidget, Node, Resource2ResourceConstraint, FunctionXGraph, Value
from arches.app.utils.betterJSONSerializer import JSONSerializer, JSONDeserializer
from collections import OrderedDict
from operator import itemgetter
def export(export_dir):
"""
Exports existing graphs as Gephi nodes and edges files to a directory
"""
write_nodes(export_dir)
write_edges(export_dir)
def write_nodes(export_dir):
nodes = Node.objects.all()
entitytypeids = {}
for node in nodes:
if node.assettype not in entitytypeids:
entitytypeids[node.assettype] = []
entitytypeids[node.assettype].append([node.id, node.label, node.mergenode, node.businesstablename])
for k, v in entitytypeids.items():
with open(os.path.join(export_dir, k + "_nodes.csv"), "w") as csvfile:
writer = csv.writer(csvfile, delimiter=",")
writer.writerow(["Id", "Label", "mergenode", "businesstablename"])
writer.writerow([k + ":" + k, k, k, ""])
for node in v:
writer.writerow(node)
def write_edges(export_dir):
edges = Edge.objects.all()
entitytypeids = {}
for edge in edges:
if edge.assettype not in entitytypeids:
entitytypeids[edge.assettype] = []
entitytypeids[edge.assettype].append([edge.source, edge.target, "Directed", edge.target, edge.label, 1.0])
for k, v in entitytypeids.items():
with open(os.path.join(export_dir, k + "_edges.csv"), "w") as csvfile:
writer = csv.writer(csvfile, delimiter=",")
writer.writerow(["Source", "Target", "Type", "Id", "Label", "Weight"])
for node in v:
writer.writerow(node)
def r2r_constraints_for_export(resource_graph):
r2r_constraints = []
r2r_constraints = Resource2ResourceConstraint.objects.filter(resourceclassfrom=resource_graph["graphid"])
return r2r_constraints
def get_card_x_node_x_widget_data_for_export(resource_graph):
cards_x_nodes_x_widgets = []
nodeids = [node["nodeid"] for node in resource_graph["nodes"]]
cards_x_nodes_x_widgets = CardXNodeXWidget.objects.filter(node_id__in=nodeids)
return cards_x_nodes_x_widgets
def get_function_x_graph_data_for_export(functionids, graphid):
return FunctionXGraph.objects.filter(function_id__in=functionids, graph_id=graphid)
def get_graphs_for_export(graphids=None):
graphs = {}
graphs["graph"] = []
if graphids is None or graphids[0] == "all" or graphids == [""]:
resource_graph_query = JSONSerializer().serializeToPython(
Graph.objects.all().exclude(pk=settings.SYSTEM_SETTINGS_RESOURCE_MODEL_ID), exclude=["widgets"]
)
elif graphids[0] == "resource_models":
resource_graph_query = JSONSerializer().serializeToPython(
Graph.objects.filter(isresource=True).exclude(pk=settings.SYSTEM_SETTINGS_RESOURCE_MODEL_ID), exclude=["widgets"]
)
elif graphids[0] == "branches":
resource_graph_query = JSONSerializer().serializeToPython(
Graph.objects.filter(isresource=False).exclude(pk=settings.SYSTEM_SETTINGS_RESOURCE_MODEL_ID), exclude=["widgets"]
)
else:
try:
resource_graph_query = JSONSerializer().serializeToPython(Graph.objects.filter(graphid__in=graphids), exclude=["widgets"])
except:
# this warning should never get thrown while doing an export from the UI, but maybe it should be moved somewhere else.
print("*" * 80)
print('"{0}" contains/is not a valid graphid or option for this command.'.format(",".join(graphids)))
print("*" * 80)
sys.exit()
for resource_graph in resource_graph_query:
function_ids = []
for function in resource_graph["functions"]:
function_ids.append(function["function_id"])
resource_graph["functions_x_graphs"] = get_function_x_graph_data_for_export(function_ids, resource_graph["graphid"])
del resource_graph["functions"]
del resource_graph["domain_connections"]
resource_graph["cards_x_nodes_x_widgets"] = get_card_x_node_x_widget_data_for_export(resource_graph)
resource_graph["resource_2_resource_constraints"] = r2r_constraints_for_export(resource_graph)
graphs["graph"].append(resource_graph)
return graphs
def create_mapping_configuration_file(graphid, include_concepts=True, data_dir=None):
files_for_export = []
graphid = uuid.UUID(graphid)
nodes = []
values = {}
export_json = OrderedDict()
if graphid != False:
if graphid is None or graphid == "all" or graphid == [""]:
node_query = (
Node.objects.filter(graph_id__isresource=True).exclude(pk=settings.SYSTEM_SETTINGS_RESOURCE_MODEL_ID).order_by("name")
)
else:
node_query = Node.objects.filter(graph_id=graphid).exclude(datatype="semantic").order_by("name")
export_json["resource_model_id"] = str(node_query[0].graph_id)
export_json["resource_model_name"] = JSONSerializer().serializeToPython(
Graph.objects.filter(graphid=export_json["resource_model_id"])
)[0]["name"]
export_json["nodes"] = []
file_name_prefix = export_json["resource_model_name"]
for node in node_query:
export_node = OrderedDict()
export_node["arches_nodeid"] = str(node.nodeid)
export_node["arches_node_name"] = node.name
export_node["file_field_name"] = node.name
export_node["data_type"] = node.datatype
if node.datatype in ["concept", "concept-list", "domain-value", "domain-value-list"]:
export_node["concept_export_value"] = "label"
# export_node['value_type'] = ""
# export_node['data_length'] = ""
export_node["export"] = True
export_json["nodes"].append(export_node)
if include_concepts == True:
concept_export = {}
def get_values(concept, values):
for subconcept in concept.subconcepts:
for value in subconcept.values:
if value.type == "prefLabel":
values[value.id] = value.value
get_values(subconcept, values)
return values
if node.datatype in ["concept", "concept-list", "domain-value", "domain-value-list"]:
if node.datatype in ["concept", "concept-list"]:
if node.config["rdmCollection"] is not None:
rdmCollection = node.config["rdmCollection"]
try:
concept = Concept().get(node.config["rdmCollection"], include_subconcepts=True, semantic=False)
rdmCollectionLabel = concept.get_preflabel().value
collection_values = {}
concepts = OrderedDict(sorted(list(get_values(concept, collection_values).items()), key=itemgetter(1)))
values[rdmCollectionLabel] = concepts
except:
values[node.name] = node.name + " does not appear to be configured with a valid concept collectionid"
elif node.datatype in ["domain-value", "domain-value-list"]:
concepts = {}
if node.config["options"]:
for concept in node.config["options"]:
concepts[concept["id"]] = concept["text"]
values[node.name] = OrderedDict(sorted(list(concepts.items()), key=itemgetter(1)))
if include_concepts == True:
try:
relation_concepts = OrderedDict(
sorted(
list(
get_values(
Concept().get("00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000005", include_subconcepts=True, semantic=False), {}
).items()
),
key=itemgetter(1),
)
)
except:
relations_concepts = "You do not appear to have values for resource to resource relationships in your rdm."
values["Resource to Resource Relationship Types"] = relation_concepts
# Concept lookup file
if include_concepts == True:
file_name = os.path.join("{0}_{1}.{2}".format(file_name_prefix, "concepts", "json"))
dest = StringIO()
dest.write(json.dumps(values, indent=4))
files_for_export.append({"name": file_name, "outputfile": dest})
# Import/Export mapping file
file_name = os.path.join("{0}.{1}".format(file_name_prefix, "mapping"))
dest = StringIO()
dest.write(json.dumps(export_json, indent=4))
files_for_export.append({"name": file_name, "outputfile": dest})
if data_dir is not None:
with open(os.path.join(data_dir), "w") as config_file:
json.dump(export_json, config_file, indent=4)
file_name = Graph.objects.get(graphid=graphid).name
buffer = StringIO()
with zipfile.ZipFile(buffer, "w", zipfile.ZIP_DEFLATED) as zip:
for f in files_for_export:
f["outputfile"].seek(0)
zip.writestr(f["name"], f["outputfile"].read())
zip.close()
buffer.flush()
zip_stream = buffer.getvalue()
buffer.close()
with open(os.path.join(data_dir), "w") as archive:
archive.write(zip_stream)
else:
return files_for_export
|
Let's call it a season. Any series left could end up having games not mean anything to our target team and they could sit good players. I'm not willing to risk it in an effort to gain another betting unit or two.
Thanks everyone for following and the encouragement throughout the season. Let's all hope B2W comes back next year and we have better results. I'm going to take a well needed beach break and come back to hit pucks hard. LOL |
Tubing and Adventures
At Tubing and Adventures our privately owned 54 acre property has plenty of room for parking, tent camping, RV camping, hiking, biking, fishing, exploring, etc. T&A offers several different camping amenities, which includes outdoor game area, portable restrooms, rinse-off showers, foot-rinse stations, and a small convenience store. There are 2 stocked fishing ponds available to our guests, and there are plenty of fish in the river as well. Fishing licenses should be obtained (Scheels or the NE Game & Parks Website) prior to fishing on our property. |
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I have read many pages and not one time has there been a mention of the York models. My hvac guy carries York and Tempstar. I have used the hvac co. for 15 ears and like them very much. I am going to purchase a new heat and a/c soon and I was considering Trane, Bryant, and Carrier until I read that you all say to go with your installer. Could someone give me some feeback on the York brand?
The company I work for used to be a york distributor so I work on york on a daily basis.I have found normal problems with the 80% furnaces just like everyone elses. The 90% from say 1990 upward were a disaster. Heat exchangers cracked*(clamshell) inducers failed continuously(impellers fell apart.Erratic control boards(ghost signals). Now there design is tubular heat exchangers, same inducer but with a new trap design and better boards. I haven't seen nearly the problems. I believe Tempstar has a stainless steel heat exchanger. I have not seen a stainless steel heat exchanger crack on anybodys furnace yet!!! They discolor but don't crack. Tempstar had trouble with their recoupe covers cracking on their old units but the new covers are either stainless steel or a gray phenolic that is really versatile. Parts on a york tend to be more expensive for us to purchase than other brands.ON Tempstar I have seen mainly inducer bearing failures(sealed pearmentlylubed ball bearing). Our purchase price on parts tend to be significantly lower on Tempstar. I'm not sure about warranties. Hope that Helps.
The heat pumps are a different breed. The only problems I have seen and they were few were the temp switch that controlled low speed and high speed on the condenser fan were subject to fail after 4-5years. Every once in a while the condenser fan motor would fail. and everybody's capacitor fails with heavy thunderstorms when they get weak. I haven't worked on a tempstar heat pump as of yet. to me a heat pump with a fossil fuel kit is the way to go. You have the option of either heat pump or gas heat down to 35 degrees. The new heat pumps go even lower. The electric utility usually give people a break on their electric bill to have a heat pump. So I would do my research. You only plan to install once. |
A Vancouver data analyst crunched some data about which Canadian city is the best candidate to win the bid for Amazon's expansion, and when all was said and done, Vancouver didn't come out on top.
Jens Von Bergmann, who is a data analyst for Mountain Math, took a look at a recent New York Times article, from the Upshot blog, which analyzed which American city would be the best fit for Amazon to locate its second headquarters. However, the analysis left out Canada — despite Amazon stating it's interested in a North American site.
"I reran the New York Times analysis for Canadian cities and what came up is that Calgary is the winner for Canadian cities," Von Bergmann said on The Calgary Eyeopener.
According to a Vancouver data analyst, Calgary has the best combination of high skilled labour, affordability, lifestyle, public transit and long-term labour growth among Canadian cities vying for Amazon's HQ2. (Ed Middleton/CBC)
The criteria included:
Metropolitan areas with at least a million people where job growth was strong, which cut the choices down to six: Montreal, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa-Gatineau.
Factoring in strong job growth of at least five per cent over five years. That eliminates Montreal.
Large available labour pool, where "more than one in eight workers is in an industry related to tech, science or professional services." That eliminates Edmonton and Ottawa.
Quality of life. Calgary's relative affordability beats both Toronto and Vancouver.
Traffic and accessible public transit
Room to grow.
"One of the big requirements for Amazon was that really they wanted a high quality of life, [and also] they wanted it easy for workers to get around in, and out of town, too," said Von Bergmann.
"Also, is there space for a headquarters?" he asked. "But also, and equally importantly, for all the new employees that this headquarters might attract — so up to 50,000 in total — is what Amazon is thinking about."
Vancouver data analyst Jens von Bergmann analyzed the criteria Amazon is looking at in choosing a home for HQ2. He discovered the top Canadian city is Calgary. (Jens von Bergmann)
Space to grow
"For all these cities, space often means not necessarily having space, but making space for these," he added. "And really, the question and the willingness to create space for these employees is something where I was looking at data of developments of making residential space and also how rents developed over time.
"Where Calgary stuck out in the country is it seemed in the boom years to actually make space for new employees," he said. "Currently Calgary is in a situation where office space would be available. It would be easier to accommodate the headquarters there.
"But also the willingness of Calgary to make space for a new, big employer like this seemed much higher than that of Toronto or Vancouver, where housing prices have skyrocketed," he said.
Von Bergmann is a big fan of Vancouver, but said that it wasn't only its unaffordability and lack of room to grow that might make it unappealing for Amazon.
Two headquarters, one fault line?
"I'm not sure they'd want to have two headquarters on the same earthquake fault line, in such close proximity," he said.
Von Bergmann's pro-Calgary sentiments were echoed by Calgary Economic Development's marketing and communications vice-president, Lisa Corcoran. She appeared on The Calgary Eyeopener to promote LoveYYC Community, a new community web page where Calgarians can contribute to the campaign to woo Amazon to the city.
Crowdsourcing a killer elevator pitch
Corcoran said the LoveYYC Community website is issuing a challenge to any Calgary booster interested in helping hone the city's sales pitch to Amazon.
"You get into an elevator. Jeff Bezos from Amazon is standing there. You have 60 seconds to pitch Calgary. What would you do?' she asked. "I think the pitch itself is really solid, but it's more the [question of] how are we delivering it?"
"Calgary is a headquarters town," she said. "We've got great talent. We've got an amazing lifestyle."
Locating north of the border
As to why Amazon might prefer a Canadian headquarters over an American one, Corcoran provided several reasons.
"One is we're a very welcoming and friendly nation," she said. "Two, we've got trade agreements into Europe and Asia that are separate from the North America Free Trade agreement.
"Canada itself offers a lot of advantages (over the United States)," she said. "Calgary offers a lot of advantages, especially when you look at what Amazon is looking for."
Now, she has some data to back it up.
With files from The Calgary Eyeopener |
[Non-compliance with medication as a common reason for admission to a closed psychiatric ward].
Noncompliance with pharmacologic treatment is common amongst patients suffering from chronic diseases. In psychiatric patients compliance is extremely important in order to prevent recurrence of the disease. Recurrence is associated with readmissions and increased costs to the health system. About 70% of patients suffering from schizophrenia will relapse within a year without medication. This study evaluates the causes of admission and diagnoses of 100 patients consecutively admitted to a closed psychiatric ward between 1.4.2000 and 23.6.2000. Fifty- four of these 100 admissions were associated with medication noncompliance in the last year. Noncompliance was not associated with psychiatric diagnosis, gender, type of medication or form of administration of the medication. The problem of noncompliance should be approached on two levels: the doctor-patient relationship and reorganization of mental health services. On the doctor-patient level, the therapist has to maintain a therapeutic alliance with the patient and his family and adjust the medication accordingly, in order to maximize the benefit and minimize side effects. On the health system level, mental health should be included in the National Health Insurance Law and the Health Funds should take responsibility for mental health as in other medical fields. This may enable the psychiatric patients to be under the care of their general practitioner in continuity with the psychiatric hospital. Thereby, resources should be transferred from the psychiatric hospitals to the community. The availability of the psychiatric community services and their links to the general healthcare system would increase compliance and reduce recurrence, readmissions and the stigma of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders. |
[Glutathione disulfide inhibits degradation of substance P induced by synaptosomal plasma membranes].
The effects of phosphorylation, ribosylation of proteins and formation of protein-mixed disulfides on substance P degradation under the action of synaptosomal plasma membranes were studied. It was found that only the formation of mixed disulfides between membrane proteins and oxidized glutathione affected (inhibited) the peptide degradation process. Using an oxidized glutathione fluorescent derivative, it was shown that a 50% inhibition occurs as a result of binding of 2 nmol of the glutathione residue to 1 mg of the membrane protein. |
Trends and Outcomes of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients With Ovarian Cancer: Results From Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database 2003 to 2011.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients with malignancy. Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was analyzed to determine the trends in the rate of hospitalization and mortality from VTE in hospitalized ovarian cancer patients and assess its economic impact and resource utilization. We queried the 2003 to 2011 Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from Healthcare Cost and Utilization project (Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality) to identify all adults (age ≥18 years) ovarian cancer. Patients hospitalized with VTE as one of the top 3 discharge diagnoses were also identified. Demographic characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of this population were compared with ovarian cancer patients without VTE. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to obtain adjusted odds ratios (ORs). A total of 34,249 (3.5%) of a total of 981,386 hospitalized ovarian cancer patients had an accompanying diagnosis of VTE. Mean age of the study population was 64 years. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with those without VTE, ovarian cancer patients with VTE had significantly higher inpatient mortality (6.2% vs 4.3%; OR, 1.12 [confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.17]; P < .001), longer length of stay (5 vs 4 days; OR, 1.40 [CI, 1.36-1.43]; P < .001), higher average cost of hospitalization (US $26,000 vs US $22,000; OR, 1.10 [CI, 1.07-1.13]; P < .001), and greater disability at discharge (OR, 1.34 [CI, 1.31-1.38]; P < .001). Although the annual number of VTE admissions in ovarian cancer patients increased, in-hospital mortality declined from 10.9% in 2003 to 5.3% in 2011. Venous thromboembolism in hospitalized patients with ovarian cancer is associated with higher inpatient mortality, length of stay, higher cost of hospitalization, and disability at discharge. The hospitalization rate has increased, but the inpatient mortality rate has declined over study period. |
These vegan burgers are all kinds of healthy and delicious rolled into one. It may seem odd to add granola to a veggie burger, and I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but the Maple Granola from Golden Girl Granola has just the right amount of sweetness to complement the sweet potato and the right amount of crunch to add texture to the burger. I wanted to pack them with nutrition and I think the beans, walnuts, kale and flax seed do that quite well and add loads of flavor. The best part is these are so easy to make it’s ridiculous. Dinner on the table in no time at all 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of granola, in fact I rarely eat it, but a year ago I had a chance to try a sample of Golden Girl Granola and I was blown away. The oats are cut super thin and delicate and just perfectly spiced and sweetened, without any unnecessary crappy ingredients. I have always thought of granola as big crunchy clumps and clusters, which I really don’t like; this was revolutionary to my taste buds. And then, a few months ago, I heard they were having a recipe contest and I jumped at the chance – the winner gets a years supply of granola – yes, please!
Hope you like these burgers, and if you like lightly sweetened, delicately flavored, not-going-to-break-your-teeth-off granola, then look up Golden Girl. It’s good! This post has been added to the Plant-Based Potluck Party, Saucy Saturdays and Meat Free Mondays -all places for awesome recipe sharing and inspiration!
Granola Crusted Sweet Potato Burgers Save Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 40 mins Jenny Dunklee | The Lazy Vegan Baker: Jenny Dunklee Serves: 8 Ingredients 1 cup cooked sweet potato, lightly mashed *
1⅓ cups Golden Girl Granola Forest Maple
1 15 oz can cannellini beans, drained
1 cups walnuts
½ cup baby spinach (2 oz)
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
¾ - 1 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder Instructions In a food processor, pulse the granola several times until it is just a bit finer. Separate ground granola into two portions. 1 cup in a pie plate or shallow dish to use for crusting the burgers later on and ⅓ cup in a large bowl where you will be adding the rest of the burger ingredients. Put the cannellini beans in the food processor and pulse several times until broken up but not completely smooth. Add to bowl. Pulse the walnuts a few times in the processor and add to bowl (again, you want smaller pieces but not crumbs). Add the spinach to the processor and pulse until bite size bits and add to bowl. Add the remainder of the ingredients and mash it all together until well combined. Let chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with oil. Using a ⅓ measuring cup, scoop out the dough. Form the scoops into round patties with your hands and then gently coat the tops, bottoms and sides with the reserved granola. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, then turn patties over and bake an additional 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite burger bun and toppings. Notes * I find the easiest way to cook sweet potatoes is to bake them. Turn your oven to 375F, line a baking sheet with foil, pierce the sweet potatoes a bunch with a fork and bake for 45-60 minutes until soft and tender. Let cool and scoop the flesh out. Wordpress Recipe Plugin by EasyRecipe 3.5.3208 |
Loading So far six people have died with COVID-19 in Australia and 568 have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. NSW Health authorities are expecting 20 per cent of the population could contract the virus in the first wave - 5 per cent would need intensive care and 1 per cent would die. But Professor McVernon refused to disclose what the advisors' current modelling indicated when it came to projected mortality and morbidity rates for coronavirus in Australia. "I will not give you a number to tell you where this is going or how bad it's going to be, because we have also just implemented a suite of interventions and we will continue to monitor how that is going," she told the National Press Club on Wednesday, hours after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced unprecedented restrictions on overseas travel and restricting mass gatherings. "We converged early on the expectation that this was the worst case we were preparing for, for say an influenza pandemic, and as time has emerged that's become clear," Professor McVernon said.
“We always knew, we knew on the 3rd of February, that there [would] come a point when it would be inevitable that our capacity could not completely put out every spark. "Now we are moving to the 'flattening the curve' phase", Professor McVernon said. Professor McVernon and her Australian colleagues are parts of a global network of modellers who share information “rapidly, openly and freely … so that in these times of vast uncertainty we can together arrive at a clear understanding of the threat our world is facing”. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The Australian modellers join their counterparts around the world at least once a week for a meeting convened by the World Health Organisation.
Loading In early February, "based on what we could see of the virus we all had a pretty good idea that it was spreading very rapidly", she said. Most of their early disease intelligence came from media reports and web scraping, an unprecedented function of our interconnected and media-saturated times. Professor McVernon said it had become clear that asymptomatic people, or people who had not yet developed symptoms, could spread the virus. Quarantining was vital in concert with social distancing measures to "help those of us who do not know we might be spreading an infection to prevent making others unwell", she said.
"This is what we model in flattening the curve. It's not magical," she said. "How long that will take, we don't know. We're saying at least six months, if we do this well, it will take at least six months to keep that curve flat enough to be within our capacity." "We would like to do better than that if we could, but that will be longer. Singapore is telling its people, it will take 12 months. But what we all firmly believe is that a strategy that says we should try to keep the virus out and suppress it all together until there's a vaccine is a very risky one." On the topic of closing schools, Professor McVernon said the advisers looked to Singapore and Hong Kong. Both countries focused on aggressively looking for cases of COVID-19 and quarantining. Hong Kong closed schools and Singapore has not.
Loading Influenza modelling from Hong Kong suggested closing schools reduced transmission by 15 per cent where domestic workers stay at home with children and keep them at home. In contrast, "there is very little evidence in Australia of how well we would actually be able to reduce them mixing in other settings", Professor McVernon said. About 30 per cent of Hong Kong's success in reducing transmission was due to social distancing. "So we think the bulk of success in Hong Kong has been about wider social change," Professor McVernon said. |
Fluconazole treatment of intrauterine Candida albicans infection in fetal sheep.
Intrauterine Candida albicans infection causes severe fetal inflammatory responses and fetal injury in an ovine model. We hypothesized that intra-amniotic antifungal therapy with fluconazole would decrease the adverse fetal effects of intra-amniotic C. albicans in sheep. Sheep received an intra-amniotic injection of 10(7) colony-forming units C. albicans. After 2 d, animals were then randomized to: (i) intra-amniotic and fetal intraperitoneal saline with delivery after 24 h (3 d C. albicans group); (ii) intra-amniotic and fetal intraperitoneal injections of fluconazole with delivery after either 24 h (3 d C. albicans plus 1 d fluconazole group) or 72 h (5 d C. albicans plus 3 d fluconazole group). Controls received intra-amniotic injections of saline followed by intra-amniotic and fetal intraperitoneal fluconazole injections. Intra-amniotic C. albicans caused severe fetal inflammatory responses characterized by decreases in lymphocytes and platelets, an increase in posterior mediastinal lymph node weight and proinflammatory mRNA responses in the fetal lung, liver, and spleen. Fluconazole treatment temporarily decreased the pulmonary and chorioamnion inflammatory responses. The severe fetal inflammatory responses caused by intra-amniotic C. albicans infection were transiently decreased with fluconazole. A timely fetal delivery of antimicrobial agents may prevent fetal injury associated with intrauterine infection. |
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is primary electrical disorder characterized by ST segment elevation with right bundle branch block morphology in patients with apparent structurally normal hearts.[@b1] It predisposes affected individuals to ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD).[@b2] A number of studies have identified risk factors that are associated with a more malignant course of disease. These include male gender, syncope, a spontaneous type 1 ECG pattern, family history of SCD, family history of Brugada syndrome, loss-of-function mutations in the SCN5a gene, inducible VT/VF during programmed electrical stimulation. Of these risk factors, many studies have demonstrated that the presence of a spontaneous type 1 pattern is associated with a significantly higher risk of VT/VF or SCD, but other studies have demonstrated a lack of significant predictive value.
Three meta-analyses have addressed the prognostic value of a spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern. Firstly, Letsas, *et al*.[@b3] examined its predictive value in six studies involving 2219 asymptomatic patients only, demonstrating a 3.6-fold increase in the risk of future arrhythmic events. Secondly, Wu, *et al*.[@b4] examined only prospective studies (*n* = 8) that included 1150 patients, demonstrating a 4-fold increase in the risk. Finally, Gehi, *et al*.[@b5] examined also only prospective studies (*n* = 3) in 935 patients, demonstrating a relative risk of 4.7. In this study, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis, which includes the largest number of studies and patient numbers.
PubMed and Embase were searched for studies that investigated the association between a spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern on the ECG and ventricular arrhythmias and SCD in Brugada syndrome. The following search terms were used for both databases: "Brugada syndrome spontaneous type 1". The search period was from the beginning of the database through to 30^th^ June 2017 without language restrictions. The following inclusion criteria were used: (1) the study was a case-control, prospective or retrospective cohort study in human subjects with a Brugada phenotype; and (2) data on the relationship between a type 1 pattern and adverse events (appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks, VT/VF, and SCD) were reported.
A total of 139 and 10 entries were retrieved from PubMed and Embase, respectively. After reference trawling and excluding overlapping populations, a total of 6561 Brugada patients from 24 studies were included.[@b6]--[@b29] The mean age was 44 ± 16 years and 73% of the patients were male, with a mean follow-up of 50 ± 36 months. [Table 1](#jgc-14-10-639-t01){ref-type="table"} shows the baseline characteristics of these studies and the study populations. Quality analysis of the included studies by using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was shown in [Table 2](#jgc-14-10-639-t02){ref-type="table"}. The main finding of our meta-analysis is that the presence of a spontaneous type 1 pattern on the ECG confers 2.3 times the risk of ventricular arrhythmias or SCD in Brugada syndrome. There was a low level of heterogeneity (*I*^2^ = 42%) with significant publication bias (Kendall\'s tau = 0.37, *P* \< 0.05).
###### Characteristics of the studies included in this meta-analysis.
Studies Study design Sample size (*n*) Age Males Endpoints Follow-up duration (months) Univariate or multivariate Multivariate variables
--------------------------------- -------------- ------------------- ----- ------- -------------------------------------- ----------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kitamura T, *et al*.[@b8] R 304 30 169 VT/VF 91 U \-
Sieira J, *et al*.[@b9] P 400 41 233 SCD + ICD Shock 81 U \-
Andorin A, *et al*.[@b13] R 106 11 58 SCD + ICD Shock + VT/VF 54 M Age and ICD
Casado-Arroyo R, *et al*.[@b11] P 447 45 336 SCD + ICD Shock + VT/VF 50 U \-
Kawazoe H, *et al*.[@b12] R 143 46 140 VF 83 U \-
Rivard L, *et al*.[@b10] R 105 46 83 aSCD + appropriate ICD shocks 60 M Max Tp-e and QRS in lead 6
Conte G, *et al*.[@b16] P 176 43 118 Appropriate ICD shocks 84 U \-
Dores H, *et al*.[@b15] R 55 42 30 Appropriate ICD shocks 74 U \-
Maury P, *et al*.[@b14] R 325 47 258 SCD + appropriate ICD shocks 48 M Sp1 ST elevation, SCN5A mutation, family history of SCD, QRS duration, Max Tp-e
Okamura H, *et al*.[@b17] R 218 46 211 SCD + appropriate ICD shocks 78 M Sp1, Syncope, inducibility of VF (PES+)
Son MK, *et al*.[@b19] R 69 48 68 Appropriate/inappropriate ICD shocks 57 M Age, presence of palpitations, sVT before implantation of ICD
Tokioka K, *et al*.[@b18] R 246 48 236 SCD + ICD Shock + VF 45 U \-
Hiraoka M, *et al*.[@b20] P 460 52 432 SCD + VF 43 U \-
Daoulah A, *et al*.[@b21] R 25 32 25 Appropriate ICD shocks 41 NA \-
Delise P, *et al*.[@b23] P 320 43 258 SCD + VF 40 M Syncope, basal type 1 ECG
Nishii N, *et al*.[@b22] P 108 49 10 Appropriate ICD shocks 72 U \-
Probst V, *et al*.[@b25] R 1029 45 745 SCD + appropriate ICD shocks 32 M Symptoms at diagnosis (aSCD/asymptomatic/syncope), Sp1, age, gender, EPS
Richter S, *et al*.[@b24] P 186 43 115 aSCD + appropriate ICD shocks + VF 57 U
Giustetto C, *et al*.[@b27] P 166 42 138 aSCD + appropriate ICD shocks + VF 30 U \-
Kamakura S, *et al*.[@b26] R 330 51 315 SCD + VF 49 U \-
Benito B, *et al*.[@b28] P 384 46 272 SCD + VF 58 M Gender, previous AF, symptoms at diagnosis (syncope, aSCD), Sp1, EPS
Eckardt L, *et al*.[@b29] R 212 45 152 Appropriate ICD shocks + VF 40 U \-
Brugada J, *et al*.[@b6] P 547 41 408 SCD + VF 24 M Gender, Sp1, syncope, EPS (inducible)
Priori SG, *et al*.[@b7] P 200 41 152 Cardiac arrest 34 U \-
AF: atrial fibrillation; aICD: appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator; aSCD: aborted sudden cardiac death; EPS: electrophysiological study; ICD: implantable cardioverter defibrillator; M: multivariate; NA: not available; P: prospective; R: retrospective; sVT: sustained ventricular tachycardia; U: univariate; VF: ventricular fibrillation.
###### NOS risk of bias scale for included cohort studies.
Studies Selection Outcome
--------------------------------- ----------- --------- --- --- ----------------------------------- --- --- --- ---
Priori SG, *et al*.[@b7] 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 5
Brugada J, *et al*.[@b6] 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 6
Benito B, *et al*.[@b28] 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 6
Delise P, *et al*.[@b23] 1 0 1 1 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 8
Probst V, *et al*.[@b25] 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 6
Nishii N, *et al*.[@b22] 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 6
Daoulah A, *et al*.[@b21] 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 5
Hiraoka M, *et al*.[@b20] 1 0 1 1 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 8
Son MK, *et al*.[@b19] 1 0 1 0 1 (gender) 1 1 1 6
Tokioka K, *et al*.[@b18] 1 0 1 0 1 (family history of SCD) 1 1 1 6
Conte G, *et al*.[@b16] 1 0 1 1 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 8
Dores H, *et al*.[@b15] 1 0 1 0 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 7
Okamura H, *et al*.[@b17] 1 0 1 0 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 7
Andorin A, *et al*.[@b13] 1 0 1 1 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 8
Casado-Arroyo R, *et al*.[@b11] 1 0 1 1 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 8
Kawazoe H, *et al*.[@b12] 1 0 1 0 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 7
Rivard L, *et al*.[@b10] 1 0 1 1 1 (gender) 1 1 1 7
Kitamura T, *et al*.[@b8] 1 0 1 0 2 (gender, family history of SCD) 1 1 1 7
Sieira, *et al*.[@b9] 1 0 1 1 1 (gender) 1 1 1 7
NOS: Newcastle-Ottawa scale; SCD: sudden cardiac death.
The ECG is a simple and non-invasive test that provides information on cardiac electrophysiological properties of the test subjects. A spontaneous Brugada pattern indicates the presence of both depolarization and repolarization abnormalities at baseline, which represent substrates for re-entrant arrhythmogenesis.[@b30]--[@b32] This is in contrast to the presence of a type 2 or type 3 Brugada pattern, which can be converted to a type 1 pattern using drug challenge.[@b33] In addition to this type 1 characteristic pattern, detailed analyses of conduction and repolarization intervals from the 12-lead ECG can aid risk stratification.[@b34]--[@b37] For example, a recent meta-analysis has demonstrated that prolonged T~peak~--T~end~ intervals, which represent a higher dispersion of repolarization, whilst another showed that fragmented QRS complex,[@b38] which indicates dispersion of conduction, are associated with higher risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in Brugada syndrome. Our meta-analysis shows patients with spontaneous type 1 Brugada pattern are at a high risk of adverse events. The ECG is a valuable tool that can aid clinicians to identify such high-risk individuals, who will require primary prevention by implantable cardioverter-defibrillator insertion.
{#jgc-14-10-639-g001}
Tse G and Wong SH thank the Croucher Foundation of Hong Kong for the support of their clinical assistant professorships.
|
Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday (12 December) slammed the Congress party and its supporters for reportedly equating the Citizenship Amendment Bill with Fascism and Hitler.
Swamy in a tweet alleged that it was ironical for the Congress to make such statements as their party president Sonia Gandhi’s parents were keen followers of the Hitler and Mussolini regimes. |
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Sunday, September 12, 2010
One Postgame Take
The exorcism of JaMarcus Russell was supposed to herald a new era on offense. Alas, the new era is on indefinite hold after today's bumbling performance against the Titans.
The numbers just don't reveal how inept our offense looked at times today, particularly in the first half. The pressure on Campbell was hellacious. Does that let our receivers off the hook for their collective invisibility? Thankfully, McFadden and Miller acted as a relief valve that allowed us to occasionally move the ball downfield. Unfortunately, many of our strides were made long after the game was decided, at a point when the Titans looked disinterested.
The overall upside is that McFadden looked sharp, Miller did his part and Campbell used his legs several times to avoid added trouble. I get the feeling this won't be the last time he has to run for his life.
Before this game, I said that offensive line and wide receiver were two big areas of concern. Well, I remain concerned.
If you think about it, what is our offense, in terms of personnel? It's basically the same as last year, minus Justin Fargas, with a little more inexperience along the line, and a different quarterback who may or may not have an edge on Gradkowski in the ability department. Calibrate your expectations accordingly.
As for our defense, well, it was deja vu all over again as well. Yes, I know that Chris Johnson is a beast. But this was a time to make a statement against the league's best, and we didn't. Not only did we give up more than 200 total rushing yards again, we got gashed by the all-too-familiar big run, a 76-yarder by Johnson for a touchdown.
That wasn't a run defense today. It was a rerun defense.
I also question the call to kick a field goal on 4th and 1 while down 24-3 right before the end of the half. I guess you have to get points where you can get them at that juncture. Still, it just struck me as unecessarily timid.
Anyhow, here we are at 0-1. The crystal ball just got cloudier, and the climb to .500 just got a little harder. Our record should be 1-1 after next week's game against the lowly Rams. But "should" has become a perilous word in the Nation.
156 Comments:
JONES said...
Campbell was a reject from a losing team, of course he isn't that good. Throw him behind that O-line and he looked just like Russell, only skinnier.
Raiders play dumb ball, it's Al's same ole same ole. Crappy defensive scheme, same ole same ole. When will the "crew" come out and admit that all their bravado of a "new" defense was BS? Probably never. 17BobTrey-O, I believe I saw it a few times out there.
It's UNDENIABLE, no sane person would even try to refute it. But of course, we are talking to the "crew", so I'm sure they will still deny it.
Will this be the year that Al FINALLY goes back to the Gruden formula? Where he backs off and allows a HC to coach? or will he continue with the reaching for the past and hiring yes men he can clown around.
It's is so fucking old watching the same shit , year in, year out. Same schemes that don't work, same personel moves that have Al's ego written all over it despite the TEAM. Nothing will change as long as there is a clown "crew" keeping those old dreams alive. Whispering in Al's ear that "we can still do it like the 70's boss". And Al goes on about players from the 60's.
Can the Raiders ever move ahead with evolution? Or will they stay a dinosaur that people can point at like a Homo Erectus and say "that's how they USED to play football"? It's going to turn into historical, as in never forgotten, failure and will ruin a part of Al's legacy. Stop Al, please sit down, we want a new show in town, this one died many moons ago, give it up.
And by the way, I agree completely with Jones. Davis needs to get the hell out of dodge. It is time for someone else to call the shots for the Oakland Raiders. I am more than ready for that. The time has come.
TV coverage showed Davis in a stadium box watching the game. He looked like he'd just been mugged (and I'm not just talking about the game score). It's really tough to see him so frail. Yet, I can't help but wonder how much longer this can go on. How can bringing in qualified help be the wrong thing to do?
The Raiders have now lost 8 straight season openers. We are well on our way to an 8th straight season of double digit losses. The losing continues. It won't be long until year 10 rolls around. If Davis is still calling the shots by then, the losing will continue.
It isn't the wrong thing to do, Al should hire a qualified Op manager as soon as possible and Al needs to step down IMMEDIATELY after the hire. Those who deny this fact are Raider management and the "crew". Everyone else in the world knows it, have known it and will never believe otherwise.
Can't wait to hear "H" and his buddies explain this away. They have denied that Al's way doesn't work for DECADES, the one time the Raiders had success in 20 some odd years, they mock it. They mock it because it wasn't Al's way. This way of thinking (the crew) is archaic and will never be successful in the NFL. Time for more billboards.
Not sure I can put any of this on the WR's.. they dropped some balls but JaMarcus Campbell kept throwing everything high and behind his receivers... at least until the game was out of hand and he relaxed and pretended to be a NFL QB. He was indecisive when under pressure and hurried when not (JaMarcus). He stared down his receivers the entire time (JaMarcus). He had absolutely no touch on any of his passes (JaMarcus). He did do some good things with his feet (Not JaMarcus) but other than that I dont see much of an upgrade over JaMarcus. Why Gradkowski is sitting the bench only leads credence to the ADDSers mantra that AD is calling the shots instead of the coaches. Yes it hurts to admit that.
Oh, and I counted 3 prevent defenses as opposed to ZERO blitzes. If they blitzed even once I didn't notice it.
Guess they think we have the best secondary in the NFL or something even though our FS's would be on the practice squad of nearly any other team, and one of our CBs is starting his first game.
I've always said the NFL is coaching and QB's, and at this point I don't see much improvement. If Gannonkowski returns and our DC grows some balls soon, I still have hope.
Bama7Hey we got rid of Jemarcus, "the problem". And yet we still suck. So which player or coach do we blame it all on now? Is Vince Evans playing anywhere? Can we get him in here to play qb? Maybe we should just make Willie Brown head coach? Let's bring back Charles Philyaw to coach defense. He can stop the run. Maybe our coaching staff or upper mgt should call a player or two down to the "goodfellas" cocktail room over at hq and smack someone around after today's fiasco. I'm sure we'll take the smart approach.
BULLSHIT, nobody who is a Raider fan is happy. Don't be such an ass. Once again it is the "crew" who makes this an Al hater thing. It's about wins there Sparky. We all wish Al could succeed, he can't, that IS THE REALITY. So, in the best interest of the Team and the fans, it's time to step down. It's all it is, but the "crew" makes into a "hater" issue. They are so off base, it makes you wonder how they could get dressed in the morning.
Like I told ya, Like Warren Sapp tells ya, his BALLS ARE TIED. It's Al's defense, do you remember Aso's quote? He said in practise and preseason, they do different things on Defense. Every year, once the season starts, it goes back to what you saw today. Otherwise, they are FIRED. Is it sinking in yet? How much proof do you need?
Regarding the Clown Car, I was this close to including it...It was definitely a Clown Car game. I'm just not sure I want to reprise it for another year. Hopefully, the Raiders will make it moot by performing at a more reasonable level in the coming weeks.
I usually don't read any of your posts because they are so embarrassingly unreadable, but I couldn't help but notice how you were the first one hear HAPPILY telling everyone how right you were and how wrong everyone else was.
Where exactly did I write how happy I was? Where did I write how right I was? Nothing but FALSE comments from you and your ilk, you can never fly straight, it's why there will be no common ground. Ain't my fault I can see the TRUTH but you can't. Do you still blame your Parents for being such an ass?
Who honestly sees the OLine and WR making a complete metamorphosis into competent units anytime soon?
It is next to impossible to succeed in the NFL with a subpar Oline. When the OLine gives Campbell decent protection (which was a rarity on Sunday), Campbell is throwing to WRs who have little to no experience and production.
What is the identity of the offense? What is the identity of the defense? What exactly do we do well?
I hate to be so down but when I see the fundamentals of a team lacking so much, it is hard to put lipstick on a pig.
We don't tackle well. We don't block well. We don't run the ball well. We can't stop the run. We can't get open and catch the ball.
WTF? It's amazing how a "crew" can be so messed up. Dude, get some help, your hate, your ego is your worst enemy. You are unable to look at situations clearly because you are way out of balance. Just admit it, you know nothing about football and you love idol worship. Now go to a therapy session and figure out why you became such an ass.
Penalties (Yds) 10(77) was mostly on the "OL"..."LT"/"C"/"RG"/"RT"....
I could sorta excuse the Rookie "C" for holding -n- bad snaps but Henderson at "LT" is a real liability...He has no heart...According to what I heard on the radio broadcast he missed blocks because he stood there confused instead of going after it...He was the worst we had...The right side was also not able to hold their own...Something needs to change here and very quickly or we aren't going anywhere but down down down...
Here are some possible remedies so we can move "Vald" to "LT"....
Dolphins cut C Jake GroveSteelers cut C Justin Hartwig
"SD" has a "PB" "OT" in "Animated Suspension" that we might be able to go after...
#2...It's not going to matter much who we have at "WR" if we don't have time to throw...
The "WR"s were rarely even thrown to...Zack drew the double coverage so the rest should have been singled up in the zone...I would like to know how it looked in coverage...How much separation did they have...Was it just that "CJ" was under siege that disrupted that area of the game...
#4...Our run "D" is still very suspect...Fortunately we don't have to face too many double threats like this game had where both the "QB"-n-"RB" hurt us but damn!...This was not good and they knew exactly what was coming and had ample time to prepare for it....
#5...3rd dn "D" is vastly inadequate...
Third Down Efficiency 8/15 - 53%
#6...And in general...
Average Gain per Rushing Play 5.3Average Gain per Passing Play 7.4
We can't depend on anything with this crap on the field....
I'm not sure about adjustments...We were down and came out with "TO"s trying to play catch-up with the pass....Late in the game we slowed the run better than early on which is strange considering our "D" should have been tired...
Wait-n-See is past now we enter Wait-n-See if we can do anything about it....
Points where I agree...
#1) "FG" on 4-1 at end of half was very damn weak...
#2) "CJ" has not proven he is a capable "QB" but "GradSki" may well be...
#3) We can't keep Zack healthy is he continues to take such a beating...
#4) "OL" is not dependable and doubtful to improve sufficiently as is...
#5) PhonyFanShadowPoster Celebratingly happy to have it bad was very damn obvious...Examples to follow at end of post...
Points where I disagree...
#1 Al Davis was NOT wearing any hats was he...So what's the point in bashin his aged appearance other than to feed your damn "HateTrip"...
#2) We blitzed and it showed by "LB" play in their backfield but on plays where we needed to send extra defenders we laid back and let them take advantage...Later in the game we did better...
#3) The "WR"s were not offered an opportunity to show anything with the poor play by our "OL" -n- "QB"s inconsistency so there is still the possibility of success with that unit...
PantyRaider...Can't Say The "WR"s Were Adequate If Not Involved In The Game!!!/_-------------------------------Anonymous Anonymous said...
As J-Mac said, “A business memo would characterize Week 1 for the Raiders as ‘failure to accomplish any of the objectives and/or projections set forth by management.”
There’s a few names here I would add to management as being totally blinded from the obvious. Some here are still blaming JaMarcus Russell. Well, Russell wasn’t there yesterday.
Jason Campbell looked horrible throwing and sliding (like he didn’t want to get his pants dirty). The O-line was horrific, and, as RT said, the WRs seemed invisible (they were single-covered all day).
This is why we need Gradkowski starting at QB.
I’m not saying he’s better than Campbell (well, maybe I am), but he’s the field general this offense needs. Remember last year when he pulled the team together? He was directing the O-linemen, and yelling at players when they lost their focus. And many of the false starts seemed to disappear when Gradkowski was the single-caller.
This team needs a field general at QB, not a deer caught in the headlights.
>>>>I’m not saying he’s better than Campbell (well, maybe I am), but he’s the field general this offense needs.>>>>
I couldn't agree more. Plus I think the team wants him on the field. I'm going to see if I can get a question through to JMAC on his life chat to find out if he is hearing any grumblings from the players that Gradk. is not playing.
If so, I will have to agree that this team is built around favoritism instead of winning.
I doubt Cable can survive the season with JaMarcus Campbell as QB... certainly he has to know that.
Is his hands THAT tied where he doesn't even get to pick the QB that will save his own damn job?
A rookie, division 2 TACKLE, being asked to play CENTER, in his first NFL game, kickoff weekend, in Tennessee.
What could possibly go wrong??
10 minutes before kickoff.....
CABLE: Hey Jared! Come here for a second.
VELDHEER: Yeah Coach?
CABLE: Good Luck today kid, you’re gonna do great. Hey, by the way, you realize that you’re in charge of all the line calls today right?
VELDHEER: Line Calls?
CABLE: Yeah, you know, LINE CALLS. Using your experience and knowledge of NFL defensive schemes to call out subtle adjustments based on what you see pre-snap in order to better protect...You know what, forget it, you’ll do fine. Have a great game kid.
That business memo....‘failure to accomplish any of the objectives and/or projections set forth by management.”....Would be a reprimand sent forth to the coaching staff -n- players...
Management has done it's part to bring in a new highly regarded "OC" and insure the return of a "DL" coach who did well for us during our last episode of winning...They brought us a very good crop of draft picks as well as well regarded help at "LB"-n-"DT" on that "D" and "RB"-n-"QB" on that "O"...
Now dammit it's on these coaches and the players on that roster to do their part...Management is NOT going to suit up and go make or call plays on that football field...Al Davis was NOT wearing the "HC"s hat when seen in his booth during that damn game...So get the fu_king "BS" streight and put it squarely where it belongs...On the shoulders of the coaches-n-players...
As to new acquisitions I also see that may be necessary and posted as such but "WR" is NOT the area of huge/urgent needs...It's undoubtedly the "OL" and possibly the "D" as failures also surfaced in that side of the ball..."DB"s/"LB"s-n-"DL" was responsible as was the "DC"....
One thing of note: It was Cable who eventually shit-canned "JePurple" and refused to start him later so he must have some say....I think the deal was legitimate here with "GradSki" banged up early on and us wanting to see what we have in "JC" who better understood that "O"...But if the "QB" position continues to stumble and no changes are made we will have reason to second guess what is happening behind the scenes...
One more thing of note: With that piss poor performance by our "OL" just how much better would "GradSki" have been...We all agree it starts first with protection and there just wasn't any or most certainly not enough...
Again I have to agree and you raised a thought that hadn't crossed my mind before...Was he making bad Line calls because he was too inexperienced and could that have been disruptive to how the "OL" played...
On the radio broadcast it was said that the "DL" was jumping around in front of "C" and getting away with it...That under the new rule the "DL" is not allowed to distract attention by jumping around or making quick movements...
If this was the case both the "Zebra"s -n- our coaches are at fault...
Open the eyes again...We're improving ever so slowly "RT"...No it's NOT "Excellence"...We're coming from the pits of hell and clawing our way beck...Now I know you didn't believe the progress was real before the came so give up the "I'm So Shocked" impersonation and tell it like it was...
I'm one who felt confidant we made sufficient progress on the "D" to be able to stay in a game...So I'm legitimately shocked by our continued lack of fundamentals on that side of the ball...
The "O" is diminished also in my eyes because of the "OL" play that I warned about prior to this game as public enemy #1....
But I'm far from "Hope Is Lost"....We have a few relatively easy targets ahead to get healthy on so I'm very hopeful further progress will be made and we're ready for the tougher opponents that lay ahead....
Well NYR, when the owner/GM goes on a radio show and declares Campbell as the next Plunkett....is it going to take Russell futility for Al to swallow his pride again and let the HC play the best Qb the Raiders have right now? Al restricted Cable from playing Grad in favor of Russell. Now Al is doing it again, all in the name of his ego and trying to show the world that he can make wine out of piss. Everyone on the team, everyone outside of Raider management and the "crew", knows that Grad should be in there, he is the leader on that offense. But some are blinded by their own selfishness and just can't see it.
As far as it being the players and coaches fault, why is the "sheriff" riding those "dead horses" again? One rule for the "crew"......
"So I'm legitimately shocked by our continued lack of fundamentals on that side of the ball..."
Its (it's the scheme), 90% man to man, safety deep, rush 4, 3 on 3rd and long. Keep blitzing to a MIN. This is the scheme, it has been exploited like a child actor. It can't work, that needs to change RIGHT NOW, but once again, a certain person's ego rules over what is best for the team. And the "crew" condones it, enables it and says "I'm shocked, I just don't understand duhh".
For anyone who thinks Chaz Schilens will soon be back on the field, and that his injury situation isn't a repeat of last year, J-Mac had this to offer:
"Wide receiver Chaz Schilens, wearing black support hose on his surgically repaired left knee and walking with the help of a crutch, came into the training area entering the locker room and then thought better of it when he saw the assembled media."
That doesn't sound like the description of a player who will hit the field anytime soon... or at all this season.
So while there are a few Raiders WRs that could double their career totals in an afternoon, there's still no sign of vet help at WR.
We’ve got to play better at tackle. That’s the bottom line here. We’ll do that. We’ll keep working at it, putting it together, using different ways to help them. We’ll just coming up with a process to help those two guys with their issues.
Q: Do you think in your heart of hearts that this O-line is fixable?
Cable:Yeah, I do. It has to be. I do believe that.
Again, when you look at the film there’s a lot of guys open all over the place. It’s just in the first two series he was sacked three or four times. You stand back there with those goons chasing you like that and get hit that many times. We have to fix that first. Let him get comfortable.
Re: "C"...Play Calls May Have Been Issue...
Q: What did you think of Veldheer on film?
Cable: Very competitive. He battled and battled and battled. There were some timing issues with the whole offense, and that starts with the snap. Those are some things to work on.
Cable: How he handled himself was good. You always question yourself when you don’t win, and some of that was part of the issue, for your ability to operate offensively. So yes and no on part I, do I question whether I should have put him in there in that environment. And as for how he did, he battled his tail off.
Re: "D" Failures...
when you guys go look at this film, you’re gonna be very shocked and a little bit angry to see yourselves doing things that we used to do. Things we haven’t done all preseason. Things we kind of felt we had moved beyond. And there they are again.
But you don’t miss a tackle right in the hole and give up a seventy-something yard run. Period, end of story. That’s what it is. It reflects on all of us. It’s not good enough yet.
. We’re kind of pissed off, if I can say that. We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves.
Damn...Now my hope is they come out "Pissed-Off" and take it out on the "Lamb"s and each victim the following weeks...If NOT this team just has NO heart...
Your thoughts are I'm "Spinning" while mine are your continuing in perpetual despair...
Sense when is it a bad thing to look at where the problems lay and ask/seek answers as to why...Now that has to be labeled as "Spinning It"...Typical...Very damn typical "Doom-n-Gloom" while you continue to attempt to paste your "Censorship" stickers on any post not in agreement with your dysfunction...
New rookie converted "C" was off on timing and maybe wasn't apt at line calls...Is that something too difficult for you to acknowledge as a possible contributing factor as to why that "OL" played so damn bad yesterday while according to reports receivers were open down field but couldn't be hit while our "QB" was running for his life...
Meanwhile our "D" reverted back to old habits like taking their eyes off of receivers and not staying in gaps because they want to be too aggressive and not in control...
WoW!...Now that's really "Spinning" it out of the realm of possibilities while of course your completely correct...We just suck and are the same 7 season losing franchise we will always be...
Meanwhile "KC" wins and takes the lead in the AFCW with the 3 remaining team only one game out...Now that includes us...We kept pace with "SD" even in a loss so it just ain't all that bad Baby!!...
"while the Raiders deserve a healthy dose of skepticism based on the last seven years, visual evidence suggests that despite what happened Sunday, they’re considerably better as a passing offense than they were a year ago....so I’m going to believe my eyes and expect they’ll be upgraded to somewhere near average this year because that’s what I saw in July and August."
"Looks like 8-8 means contention, and the next three opponents are St. Louis, Arizona and Houston. With the possible exception of the Texans _ which plays the Raiders in Oakland _ none of these teams presents the kinds of challenges the Raiders faced in Nashville."
Official 1st week Standing AFCW...Stats are a partial sampling of what will actually be their real strengths -n- weaknesses....
>>>>One more thing of note: With that piss poor performance by our "OL" just how much better would "GradSki" have been...We all agree it starts first with protection and there just wasn't any or most certainly not enough...>>>>
As bad as it was on Sunday, it was just as bad if not worse last year and Gannonkowski still had some impressive wins... and threw for 300+ yards against the former SB champs.
If there is any person on the planet that is prepared to play behind a crappy line it is Gradkowski... especially since I think the OL respect and will play harder for him.
Not sure how many games I can bear to watch if we keep trotting out low-IQ QB's that for some reason EXPECT great coverage every play... and then don't even know WTF to do with it when it happens.
I see nothing from JaMarcus Campbell that makes me think he is the answer... and I didn't even see too much in practice games against vanilla defenses.
The guy is completely over his head in the NFL... and I suspect Wash completely dumbed down their playbook for him to be even a serviceable QB.
I guess Cable/Jackson has a choice to make... start the QB that gives us the best chance to win with the playbook we have, or tear it in half and start over with something a child could handle.
Gradkowksi, even under pressure, somehow gets the ball down field. There were plays Sunday that Campbell seemed to look for the checkdown before his primary target(s). Maybe that was by design, but I don't remember too many balls being thrown down field.
This week we go against what is the #27 "D" so things should be much easier...
Pass....#26Rush....#19
Our "O" at #22Pass....#25Rush....#5
So we should be able to both run -n- pass against that team...So I expect this "OL" to come out and give our "QB" some measure of protection and for that running game to give us the advantage...
The problem is that now everyone has seen the effects of getting in "JC"s face and the ease of doing that against our "OL" so no doubt they will try to bring the heat the same way...We may have just opened the door to something we are powerless to stop but I'm hoping Cable is for real and can get this crap straightened out soon...
If "JC" continues to be inept early I for one would make the change and we still have him for back-up...None of these guys are making the big bucks so either could warm the bench...
As for our "D"s failures they too should get healthy this week...
"STL" holds the #14 "O"....
Pass....#10Rush....#24
Which is a good match-up for our "D" at #21...
Pass....#5Rush....#31
But these players need to want it and want it bad...They need to come out angry and get after the Lambs early and often...NO laying back crap...
According to what I heard the routs were shortened and he thew very short -n- behind the line which is what he was known for in Washington...The "WR"s had very little opportunity to show anything intermediate to deep in that game which is why I questioned how we could even judge their abilities...
It was reported that once "JC" got rattled early on he closed up and was looking for the quick dump off...If "GradSki" can handle that kind of pressure better than he should get the chance to play...
I'm not going to start beating that drum after just the 1st week but if "JC" can't get it together this week he should hold the clipboard on the sidelines and learn while "GradSki" demonstrates how...
But notoriously most team are very reluctant to make quick changes at "QB"...
While really was proud to advance in pre season that Veldeer would break into the starting line-up, Tom Cable blew this one. If he was going to have Veldeer become the starting Center, it shouldn't have been on the first game of the season after only playing in two exhibition games for a half or less.
It was a little unfair of Cable to expect a Division II player to make that leap. It was apparent that Tennessee actually game planned to blow him up, and they succeeded, causing the whole line to collapse iin the first half. They settled down in the second half but it was too late.
I also don't think that the QB situation is completely settled. I now understand the Skins fans' discomfort with Campbell. He doesn't make mistakes, but he also doesn't make things happen. He's the type of QB Jon Gruden loves. One who lets the game come to him.
But at this point in their developement, the Raiders need to go out and take a win. They need a QB like Gradkowski. Problem is, Gradkowski may be injury prone.
Bottom line is I agree with JMac. It's one game. I expect 3-1 after four games. I can live with 2-2. If we go 1-4 or 0-4, I'll say, "Here we go again."
Tennessee presents a far more difficult problem than most teams. They have the best running QB in the league, and the best RB. I'd suggest that's a combination that at least 10 other teams this season won't stop.
I think we see it the same way...That "OL" just imploded way to fast -n- way too far to be a typical problem with blocking...It was more like what happened to us in that last "SB" when we lost Barret Robins to metal issues and had to rely on his back-up with short notice..."TB" saw the opportunity and went after it...
The radio crew reported Teen's "DL" was getting away with jumping around and making quick moves to disrupt our "OL" and no flags were being thrown...The young rookie "C" was not ready to deal with all that and his regular assignment at the same time...
It was also reported that Tenn generates the highest amount of pre-snap penalties in the NFL against anyone who plays in their stadium...Those things should have been anticipated and taken into consideration prior to sending such a rookie in there to get burned...
Panty, you and I see it exactly the same way. The center is responsible for all of the protection calls at the line, and to audible line calls. He is the QB of the offensive line.
It seemed to me that the thumb tacks were off side on about a dozen plays in the first half, but they were never called. They were in Veldeer's face the entire first half. A rookie from a Divsion II school didn't stand a chance.
I didn't get to see the game because the video stream never opened here....But this is also what was reported on the radio broadcast...Plunket -n- Flores know what's going on...they may be homers but they are also knowledgeable too...
What I don't get is that it took the entire offseason for the Raiders to realize they didn't have a starting center, so they throw in a Division II LT.
I don't blame Valdheer for Sunday, and it's hard to blame Cable because he had no viable option.
As far as the Titans defense getting off the ball so quickly, Cable was questioned by the media and downplayed it as the Titans having a propensity to jump off-sides.
The question really is whether or not Campbell and the Raiders provided the Titans D with identifiable calls and/or cadence that allowed them to react as fast or even faster than the Raiders O-line. It was ugly to watch.
I have a great deal of faith in Veldeer. From all accounts he's really, really bright and picks things up very quickly. But to ask him to play the QB of the OL without ever having played the position in college (Division II at that) in his very first pro game, when he's been given only about four quarters to understand the position, is asking too much.
He's brighter than Cable. Cable should have had Veldeer play at least the first half of the Seattle game for the added experience. Also, when he was asked if Veldeer had any prior experience at Center, he should have made something up like, "I don't know but he seems like he's been playing there all his life."
When Veldeer was asked the same question, he said he didn't want to provide so much information to Tennessee. Smart guy. You can argue that he knew what was coming and should have prepared himself better - but how do you prepare yourself for that when you're from a Division II school?
As it was, it looked to me like Tennessee actually specifically game planned for Veldeer. They seemed determined to get into his head from the very first snap, and they succeeded. Fortunately he was able to settle down, but plan on the Lambs to try exactly the same thing.
A commenter called HayesDaze left this comment on JMac's blog, thought it was compelling:
"It’s STILL a great time to be a Raiders fan. Isn’t it?
Attention panickers and bandwagoners: It’s not the end of the world. But it most certainly IS time to stop “relaxing” — and get this team’s attitude adjusted.
Yes, they were nervous…it was evident they were tight right from the start. But, handling this nervousness by playing it down is killing the personality of the team. This team lacks fire. Period.
Sometimes, keeping ones cool isn’t what we need to be doing. On the field or on the sideline. At some point somebody needs to get nasty. Nasty and mean and pi$$ed off and tough and nasty again.
A nasty-playing team doesn’t need to be dirty. Just nasty. We’ve got the bodies, and we’ve got the personalities…yet we’re timid and flat. Doesn’t make any sense.
Cable does his worst Art Shell impression during the self-destruction. Hue Jackson called a terrible game. JCampbell stayed entirely too smoove all day…he needed to light a fire in the huddle*. Mario Henderson played like the slowest Tackle in the League, also without fire. Veldheer played like a rookie in his first start in an ugly environment; sub-par but fixable. McClain called an OK game, and played it just OK, as he was too easily squared-up on and leveraged. Like him or not, it’s time to take a long look at MMitchell to see if he can live up to the hype.
We can only assume that Hue Jackson would’ve done a little more ground n’ pound early on had MBush been in there. In the very beginning of the game, the nasty, physical, a$$-kicking was handed out by the Titans D-line…on our bigger O-line. That D-line needed to be punched in their mouths hard, right from the beginning…and you do that by pounding it right at ‘em.
DMcFadden’s great effort aside, the O-line needs to be able to inflict its will on the D-line, esp on running plays…we couldn’t even do that right.
Not too late to fix anything, but it’s almost too late to get their attitudes right…it’s time for somebody ON THE FIELD saying “enough is enough.”
*Jason Campbell should start again this week… but Bruce Gradkowski wouldn’t need someone to get him fired-up. Or his Offense."
An offense takes on the personalty of its QB. We saw proof of that last year with Russell (and Gradkowski).
When a veteran QB slides a yard short of the 1st down marker on a 3rd down scramble, he more or less takes a knee and concedes. That’s what Campbell and the Raiders did on Sunday.
Clearly, “taking a knee” isn’t Gradkowski’s style.
It’s possible that Gradkowski wouldn’t take the Raiders further than 8-8 this year.
But it’s also possible that Jason Campbell will lead the Raiders to his W-L total from last year. His best game last year, hands down, was against the Raiders. And here he is, like all the one-hit wonders and Super Bowl MVPs before him.
So while he may seem fundamentally sound, Campbell will need to be much more than that to win as the Raiders QB.
While this is a little off the current thread my belief of what is happening can be anchored around what Malcolm Gladwell (Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers) has been offering lately as an argument...the difference between a puzzle and a mystery. Without going too far into it, he offers that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a puzzle; 9-11 a mystery. The journalistic research behind Watergate was a puzzle and the research behind Enron a mystery. There is far more to this but humor me in this analogy for a moment. Gladwell continues this puzzle versus mystery discussion by talking how NFL QB’s represent more of a mystery than a puzzle. If a puzzle, given all the data unearthed and investments made by NFL Franchises in these players, certainly QB’s chosen in the first 50 picks would outperform those chosen in picks 51 -150, however they do not. NFL franchises have not proven to be proficient in making these selections.
The example of this could not be closer to home for us in the Nation after JaMarcus. Clearly, there is more to just putting together a successful team in the modern NFL than just solving a puzzle. And here is what Gladwell suggests to the business world...a truly effective leader must recognize that information presents itself in a different manner than the past. What now is required of a leader is the willingness to step back from the problem and recognize that making decisions are different now than how they were made in the past.
To me this is the rub. With all due respect to Mr. Davis, the framework of organizational decision making is radically different now than it was even 10 years ago, let alone decades ago. You are who you are. People are indelibly shaped by their life experience and the decisions they make echo those experiences. No question Mr. Davis wants to win. But I would argue you that what made him a Maverick now merely makes him antiquated in a very different business. While we may experience snippets of success, a sustained approach with consistent innovation is no longer a cultural competency within the Oakland Raiders.
One’s ability to break down X’s and O’s is not a primer of success. In fact, it has proven to be nothing more than a primer of continued failure and volatility. The NFL of old represented a puzzle. The modern NFL is more of a mystery and takes a different set of skills; skills that no longer exist within the Raider culture. Rebuilding the Raiders for sustained improvement will not occur with a new center or QB or defensive scheme; it has to begin internally. All other efforts are attempts at solving a mystery like a puzzle.
While this is a little off the current thread my belief of what is happening can be anchored around what Malcolm Gladwell (Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers) has been offering lately as an argument...the difference between a puzzle and a mystery. Without going too far into it, he offers that the Cuban Missile Crisis was a puzzle; 9-11 a mystery. The journalistic research behind Watergate was a puzzle and the research behind Enron a mystery. There is far more to this but humor me in this analogy for a moment. Gladwell continues this puzzle versus mystery discussion by talking how NFL QB’s represent more of a mystery than a puzzle. If a puzzle, given all the data unearthed and investments made by NFL Franchises in these players, certainly QB’s chosen in the first 50 picks would outperform those chosen in picks 51 -150, however they do not. NFL franchises have not proven to be proficient in making these selections.
The example of this could not be closer to home for us in the Nation after JaMarcus. Clearly, there is more to just putting together a successful team in the modern NFL than just solving a puzzle. And here is what Gladwell suggests to the business world...a truly effective leader must recognize that information presents itself in a different manner than the past. What now is required of a leader is the willingness to step back from the problem and recognize that making decisions are different now than how they were made in the past.
To me this is the rub. With all due respect to Mr. Davis, the framework of organizational decision making is radically different now than it was even 10 years ago, let alone decades ago. You are who you are. People are indelibly shaped by their life experience and the decisions they make echo those experiences. No question Mr. Davis wants to win. But I would argue you that what made him a Maverick now merely makes him antiquated in a very different business. While we may experience snippets of success, a sustained approach with consistent innovation is no longer a cultural competency within the Oakland Raiders.
One’s ability to break down X’s and O’s is not a primer of success. In fact, it has proven to be nothing more than a primer of continued failure and volatility. The NFL of old represented a puzzle. The modern NFL is more of a mystery and takes a different set of skills; skills that no longer exist within the Raider culture. Rebuilding the Raiders for sustained improvement will not occur with a new center or QB or defensive scheme; it has to begin internally. All other efforts are attempts at solving a mystery like a puzzle.
raider00 said..."Keep in mind about Jason Campbell that he had a rep of being a poor red zone QB with the skins."
This simply isn't true. As a matter of fact, it is the exact opposite. Although the Skins had fewer red zone opportunities, Campbell was VERY efficient in the red zone. Look it up:
http://www.ffmastermind.com/fantasy-football-red-zone-analysis.php
Jason Campbell 2009: 42/68-284-18-0
Last 3 years:Jason Campbell: 100/181-692-40-3
That's right ... 40 TD passes and 3 INTS over the past 3 years in the red zone.
It seems that alot of people are writing off Jason Campbell. Look folks, I watched the game. He didn't play well BUT and this is a HUGE but ... the guy was running for his life on virtually EVERY single pass snap.
The "JaMarcus Campbell" barbs are totally off-base and unwarranted. I don't have any false illusions that Campbell is an elite QB but here's what I do know that is proven to date:
He is a stand-up, hard working, athletic, durable, dedicated, accurate, professional QB with the keyword being professional.
ummm did anyone watch the kc/sd game? dyam did kc looked improved. we admit that we laughed when we read some of these writers picked the chiefs to finish ahead of the raiders in the division. but they beat the freakin afc western division champion chargers man! we're supposed to be those "chiefs"!!!!
yes it's only 1 lousy game BUT can we fix what needs to be fixed and still have a good year? can someone give me a pat on the back and say everything's gonna be ok there scorp buddy? :o|
Who cares about Campbell, he is only in there because Al wants to prove a point. Grad OWNS the Offense, the team responds with glee when he is in there, HE IS A LEADER. Campbell is not, he does not inspire anyone except Al Davis and a few on here.
Grad is the guy, said it when Grad showed he was back to 100% this off season. He came in and the Offense lit up, players PLAYED BETTER. What is the definition of a good player, a leader? Someone who makes those around him better, it was clearly the case whenever Grad is in there. You have to be blind not to see it.
Anyways, not that Grad will take the Raiders to the Bowl, but he sure makes the Offense BETTER than the stinky thing it is with unispired Qb play and an O-line that is already falling apart. Grad is a PLAYER, Campbell is not, why can't the genius Al Davis see this?
Sticking the new kid at Center, whoever (Al) is making this call, get your head examined. Not only do you ruin a good prospect, but you screw up the whole Offense. It's things like this that are mind blowing, how can a "professional" franchise be run like this, it's pathetic. No WR's FOR YEARS, no O-line for years, subpar Qb's for years. Gannon was great other than that...George? Collins? Brooks? WTF.
Trading away draft picks for guys like Moss and Seymour and totally blowing draft picks that are kept(except for this year). The Raiders have no chance, no chance in hell. BLOW IT UP, get some new blood to run the damn thing and at least try something new.
Just so were are clear, I also share Jones' enthusiasm for Ski. It is Ski's intangibles, moxie, improvisational skills that gives him a chance to succeed IN SPITE of a bad OLine and WR corps.
It is also clear to me that Campbell deserves to be given a chance to prove himself next week and beyond. To judge Campbell based on 1 game with an OLine that couldn't give him decent protection and a WR corps that is unproven and unproductive is rash.
The more important issue to address is even more important than picking QBs ... the success of our offense just like any playoff caliber team relies on a competent, talented OLine. At this point, it is too late in the game to change the OLine personnel. Our current OLine will need to rise above and perhaps be reconfigured.
If Cable starts Veldheer at LT and Campbell at RG, so be it. In my mind, the current OLine minus Gallery (Walker, Carlisle, Veldheer, Henderson) are 1 more poor performance away from being replaced as necessary.
To lose to the Rams at home and go 0-2 would be devastating on many levels.
What has Campbell done to warrant that he remain the starter? Grad has shown without a shadow of a doubt that this Offense will play their heart out for him. They go to a higher level. It's crystal clear to those who can see. Look at Campbell on the bench, who does he look like? Look at Grad on the sidelines, who does he look like? Who fires up the team? Who would you rather have? There is no argument for Campbell, other than he is an Al project so it's up to him....
Excellent work Bro...Don't stay far away...I enjoyed the read even if it was a take opposite of what I typically post...
The Raiders are the last team fashioned in the image of their owner as all others have long sense passed on...One thing that has been touched on here is the attitude and that's one of the dominating traits in that owner's image that fashioned this team in it's past...Now how do we bring back that which has been lost now so long ago...
"Killer Instinct"...
The "Smell of Blood" that fires them up and makes them play above themselves...The will to just "Take It" -n- "Dictate to Them" what will be...
"Take What We Want When We Want" -n- "Damn All Who Would Object"...
The real pitiful thing is it's even been lost amongst many of the fans who once embodied those traits as much as this team did...
"CJ"....
ThankYou...Setting the record straight is always a good thing...
One thing I think I'm beginning to detect after trolling around and reading a variety of post...The fans seem a little more than just disappointed...They are starting to seem just a little angry.....
Now I hope that translates also to this team because they really need to go into their own house and destroy somebody and no better time than the now and no better target than the "Lamb"s...Just because that's the next scheduled feast on the menu...
My hope now is that after tasting the blood of domination it carries over and fills this team with the vigor needed to succeed...
PantyRaider...Just Bring Back The "Nasty" Baby!!!!/_
If not...We no longer have the will to win much less than to dominate anyone anywhere...
Cornerback Kevin Dockery has a "significant" left-hamstring strain and might not play next week at Oakland, Spagnuolo said. Rookie tight end Michael Hoomanawanui has a high left ankle sprain that could sideline him a while.
Wide receiver Laurent Robinson was in a walking cast on his right leg after aggravating an ankle injury,
Running back Steven Jackson underwent an MRI exam on an inflamed right knee, but Spagnuolo believed the veteran would be fine.
"Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones told the (Nashville) Tennessean that Campbell was leaning back a little bit before the snap on passing plays. That would partially explain the great jump the Titans were getting off the snap, and Campbell's ineffectiveness (two fumbles, one interception, four passes batted down and four sacks)."
Campbell was the Raiders worst enemy last Sunday.
PR: the "taste of blood" the Raiders got was their own. I certainly hope that doesn't carry over.
Take, I was wrong. You've still got it. I particularly liked your take at about 4:10.
Blue Monday, welcome. A very interesting point of view. From my prior posts, you'd obviously understand that I generally disagree. But I've always been of the view that Davis grants a lot more authority to his staff than he's given credit for. In fact, I've argued that their recent mess (over the last seven years) is caused more by Davis' lack of involvement. But I'm really tired of the argument.
Calico, I agree that Campbell should be given EVERY chance to succeed. I also believe that the Raiders put Campbell ahead of Gradkowski because they share your concern that he's injury prone.
Any change during the season, so long as the Raiders are competitive, should only be made naturally through injury. If that happens, however, it is my belief that Gradkowski may never relinquish the job.
This is part of what makes a season interesting, whether your team is winning or not.
But with Campbell and Gradkowski, we have two completely different NFL QB approaches. Campbell is a prime example of the type of QB Jon Gruden prefers. A QB who comes to work every day, commands the huddle, doesn't make mistakes, and stays with the play as called until the whistle. Gradkowski is the type of QB who fits more into the Raider traditional role. He avoids mistakes, but reacts to what he sees on the field, willing to step outside the play (on occassion) and improvise - always looking for a weakness.
Campbell plays it cool and calm, almost never getting rattled. Gradkowski is a gunslinger, fired with emotion.
With all of that said, since Gradkowski played last season I've had the feeling that what the Raiders really need is an emotional leader. Grad fits that bill, and Campbell does not.
But I still agree that as things are, Campbell must stay in place unless clearly beaten by Grad, or Campbell gets injured. QB controversies can be very, very destructive.
I got mine by trolling around other boards where fans were talking more angry than disappointed and how the rest of the AFCW is so weak that in reality this is only 1 of 16 and we weren't going undefeated anyway...
It very well may have been the toughest team on our schedule where before I would have listed Indy in that position...But looking at Indy now they don't look as tough or as healthy as before...
Another point is the rookie "C" play that contributed to our demise shouldn't be as great an issue this week as last...Nor in the future for that matter as they have time to develop together...
Also of note the rest of the AFCW have yet to meet Tenn on the field so likely that will count in our favor too...At least than I will be rooting for them...
Meanwhile the entire NFCW looks even weaker than anticipated with the results from "SadFran"s game against the "SeaChicken"s...
Third Down Efficiency 1/15 - 6%
So in fact we may have found more reason to celebrate than to cry...But of course...The criers will always find a way...
While I agree with you to a point I also disagree this week if we are not productive against a team like the "Lamb"s due to poor play at "QB"...Protection problems aside "JC" needs to find a way to get to his "WR"s consistently while still being productive with his "RB"s -n- "TE"...
As I see it now there is not really going to be any excuse what so ever not to have control of this contest and dominate a team like the "Ram"s...Anything short of that is an alarm going off in my scull...It shouldn't even be close unless our "D" totally collapses too...
One of the things that the Raiders Sunday performance will insure is that it will be a very sparse crowd at the Raiders home opener. Virtually every team has reported difficulty selling tickets this year - because of the economy. But losing certainly doesn't help. Folks suffering will want their favorite sports team to cheer them up. The Raiders have a lot of work to do.
Regarding Campbell leaning back before the snap on passing plays - this hasn't been shown to be a consistent problem with Campbell, and I suspect it was largely due to working with Veldeer in a game, essentially for the first time.
If the Raiders are scared to put Grad in because "he might get hurt", he shouldn't be on the roster. Who keeps a QB for fear he might get hurt? Just another absurd statement. Is it because they fear the O-line is so bad that they think "little" Grad will get killed? So Al won't have to pay for his death benefits?
Just another diversion from the fact Al Davis is starting the wrong Qb. Campbell hasn't done SQUAT, he deserves NOTHING. Grad has shown he is the leader, HE is the starting Qb, but not in Raider world.
I thought Huey was a Highly touted OC? According to the "crew" all offseason, he was going to really whip the O into shape. That writer also blames the coaches for personel moves. AHHHH, he is wrong. He blames the coaches for schemes, AHHHH wrong. We all know why Huff plays, why DHB plays, why Campbell is the starter, why the Raiders have played this Defense almost exclusively since the SIXTIES. We all know why the Defense never blitzes during the Reg season. Warren Sapp said it quite clearly on NFL network. Al slashes the coaches gameplans on Friday and the team has to learn the "new" gameplan. Deflates the team because they know there chances just got slashed. It's insane, it really is.
But I still agree that as things are, Campbell must stay in place unless clearly beaten by Grad, or Campbell gets injured. QB controversies can be very, very destructive.>>>>
JMAC answered the question I wanted asked in saying he hasn't heard any grublings favoring Gradkowski from the players... and also pointed out he had two nearly perfect drives vs the starters in two practice games... so hopefully the Tenn game was an aberration.
We shall see on Sunday... if he looks as horrible against a suspect Rams defense... especially if they are worried about McFadden after his good game... I am not going to have much patience with him.
Ask a Redskins fan if he thinks it was just an aberration. He'll tell you that he has seen it before. Question: Would you want the Qb controversy now, or at the half way point when the season is close to over? Didn't we just see that movie last year?
I want full out, best talent and playmakers on the field, no more wait and see till midseason and hope it works out. Wait and see on DHB, Dmac, Bush, Henderson, Campbell, Mitchell, Routt, Huff. Every year, it's wait and see, there is no time for wait and see, it's get it done time. This 11 year plan is just too long.
Well obviously NO "Scholarship" was there but the adverse will always be approached with fondness...
Gallery’s status the most precarious for Rams...Damn Hammy!!!...
Running back Michael Bush was in “full participation” mode, which means there’s a chance he could play against the Rams _ 20 days after surgery on his left thumb.
That "Two Headed Monster" is about to show it's fierceness and I doubt the "Lamb"s know how to deal with it...On the other hand we may not need it so save the showcasing until a difficult match-up presents itself...
Week 5...."SD""D"-#4Pass-#2Rush-#27
Signs of the right attitude...
“We have to go out there and earn it. We have to fight for what we want.’’
– Cable warned that all the Raiders ills have not been caused by the offensive line.
However he didn't give any other clear-cut examples of why we sucked...Well I guess we can't blame the "OL" for fumbled returns or getting gashed by the run...
Sense I have no way to post this bar-graph I will just post the url...It's a crying same I can't make "NRY" cry threw "CyberSpace" but Oh! Well!..Find another way...
"Bug"s favored 7-8pts at home in opener but I'm thinking possible up-set here..."BlackCat"s may be better than they look on paper and "Bug"s may be worse with loss of "PB" personnel..."LT"-n-"WR"....Their high stats were in a loss to the weak-ass "Squaw"s so don't carry much merit...
So...Were those stats including the preseasons or just regular season when it counts....Ha! Ha!....
You didn't define your account....
So In Other Words...Making it very simple...
"CJ"-n-"RT"....
Don't talk nice about these suck-ass Raiders...No posting of anything possibly positive on this here board...
"Doom-n-Gloom" shall always dominate here...
But on one point I'll agree...
"The only thing that truly counts is the performance on the field on Sundays."
Very damn true so now as that relates to the front office I'll just accept that....NO one in that damn front office is ever carrying the ball or throwing it or catching it NOR does anyone not on the roster ever miss a damn tackle...
According to general knowledge, in the minds of every NFL fan of a losing team, the BY FAR best player on the squad is the Backup QB and nobody else.....
Jeez, how long are you guys watching this game? TEN beat us fair and square in a hostile environment in the very first game of the season starting a Rookie as a center who did not play the position since high school and all you can come up with is "Fire the Management!" and "Start Gradkowski, bench JaMarcus Campbell!".
Ano moron....Grad has shown he owns the Offense, it's not a knee jerk reaction. The management has shown over a long period of time to be weak. I think you are the moron for not knowing what is ailing the team. Go back to your comic books and cartoons, you know ZIP.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Campbell. He's a by-the-numbers QB, who doesn't turn the ball over. In fact, by-the-numbers, he's a better QB than Gradkowski.
But Gradkowski has an intangeble leadership quality that sparks the players around him, and makes things happen.
Personnally, I think that Grad is probably more suited to lead the team right at the moment. Unforntunately, Gradkowski took himself out of the competition early with a string of injuries. Cable wanted a decision made on the QB before Grad became available, so Campbell was named starting QB. And it doesn't help a team at all to play musical QBs.
Pulling Campbell after one game would look like panic, and adversely effect the team. They have to stick with Campbell until he's clearly beaten out by Gradkowski or until Campbell gets injured.
This kind of thing DOES NOT represent poor or weak management. Virtually evey intelligent team in the NFL would do it the same way. That is, except for the teams that continually rotate QBs and miss the playoffs. - Like we've been for the last seven years (Gannon, Collins, Brooks, Walter, Tui, Culpepper, McGown, Russell, Gradkowski, Frye, Campbell).
In further defense of the Raider management, they can fairly argue that they don't just suspect that Grad is injury prone. They know he is injury prone. Over the course of three starts, rehab and off season workouts, he was injured over protracted periods TWICE.
Okay, so you argue any QB can be inured behind our OL. Well, the OL had NOTHING to do with Grad's pec tear. He did that all on his own, lifting weights. Further, Grad is the most mobile QB we have (other than Frye, who is injured) and gets the ball away quicker as well. He should be the least injured of all our QBs.
The feeling of the Raider management is fairly clear. Their concern about Grad's durability is also reflected by the fact they even have a qualified starter as their number three. They anticipate the possibility that if Campbell goes down, Gradkowski might shortly follow.
At this point Gradkowski will have to prove his durability. The management already knows he can move the team. But shuffling QBs every couple of weeks will get them NOWHERE.
The signing of Pear indicates that they believe Gallery will likely be out this week. That's really bad news because I think that Gallery helps to keep Veldeer grounded.
The fact that they released Figurs tends to indicate that they expect the return of either Bush or Schilens for this game. Schilens was still on crutches at the start of the week, but Bush was fully participating yesterday. If Bush can play, McFadden can cover the lost receiver's position when needed.
The biggest concern is Gallery. With a struggling offensive line, he's needed.
Keeping the wrong Qb as the starter is better than "showing panic" and switching? So out of trying not to embarrass yourself, you keep trying with the #2 Qb? That makes no sense.
The TEAM PLAYS FOR GRAD, they know it. They showed it last year and they showed it again in preseason. Playing Campbell is just another demoralizer for the team. This is very basic and wondering what others are thinking is the exact thing wrong with the Org. Head Office cares what they look like to others (ego) instead of getting the job done, be damned what others think.
Hey, JONES. Time to wake up and join the party. Not one Raider player is asking for the insertion of Gradkowski. Nice of you to decide for them what they want, but I really don't think they care what you think.
And it's nice to hear that you think I'm just like the Raiders. I suppose that means that you're a die hard Blanda fan as well.
You wished I was your fan, I'm not a fan of the way the Raiders do business or you. That was the aspect I was comparing you to. But of course, you even screw that up.
And why would any of the players be speaking about it? It would be "in house", but you screw that up as well.
Actions speak louder than words there Grandpa, actions have shown loud and clear what it is. Both you and Al have screwed that up too. All we are asking...is for competent management...sing along Balanda....All we are asking./...is for.....SING you management defenseman.
I believe that the results of any organization/company over a sustained period are a direct reflection of the state of upper management, ie: those at the top.
That is just my belief, based on personal observation. I do not believe that poor management at the top ever produces good results over a sustained period. Conversely, I don't believe that great management produces poor results over a sustained period.
So when the Raiders turn it around and produce good results over a sustained period, I will be the first to applaud the upper management. When this will happen remains to be seen.
Anon is just tuning in. He/She thinks Sunday in TN was the Raiders' first game. Yeah, first game this year, with the same exact results of the past seven years. It demonstrated their complete failure to compete.
The Raiders couldn't have been more unprepared.
BR said: "Gradkowski took himself out of the competition early with a string of injuries."
Do you really believe that? Huh?
Campbell became the starter when he became a Raider. Gradkowski's injury put him in competition for the #2 spot, which he held once Campbell was traded for.
And to suggest Grad doesn't start because he is injury-prone is insane. We keep a roster full of injury-prone players.
Maybe Cable can just set up a game of checkers on the sideline for McFadden, Bush, Schilens, Nick Miller and Grad. Cable should keep his best players healthy for the second half of the season when we're battling for a draft slot.
Which leads me to Schilens. Once again, he will not see the field until the Raiders season is practically decided, if at all.
How is that not a management problem?
Stop making excuses. Just admit there are more questions than answers.
I hear what you are saying and I'm just as (a) frustrated (b) disappointed (c) pissed off (d) all of the above.
However, I disagree with pulling the rip cord on Campbell after 1 game.
In my mind, that is a panic move that isn't justified. My viewpoint will evolve with the information on hand. IMO, 1 game is way too small of a sample size to make this kind of change. It has nothing to do with perception and everything to do with giving Campbell a reasonable chance to prove his mettle.
I know I'm not going to change your mind so we will just have to agree to disagree ... for now.
After Sundays game with the Rams, a very winnable game at home, we will all have a much better idea about Campbell and the Raiders team as a whole.
Does the team adjust or lay another egg? Do they come out flat again or come out swinging? Is Campbell dazed and confused or rock solid?
I prolley agree with that...Show your proof that he is because to date I have never seen one solitary shred of evidence linking him to anything except as hired by our US Government...But maybe a double agent with the rest of his royal oil family...Unless of course you believe all that make believe "WMD" hype -n- doctored vids of a right handed man wearing a gold wedding ban which was contrary to his life to begin with being a left handed Islamic extremest...
So now back to football...
The point was "NYR" that "CJ"s own words so stated the obvious and I was merely agreeing while pointing our the foolishness of the continued attempts to "Censor" the comments of ownership/"HC"s-n-Fans while allowing all negative tripe to be propagated on this board at will that comes from some "Mediot" -or- Disgruntled Posters...
Now moving on again....
Anno Posted Morons....9:06 AM
Right On Bro but wait just a moment here...Now that I look at it your writing seems remotely familiar...Ah!....Did you not know that the "Double" quot is used to bracket the 'Single' within itself and .... is acceptable when showing a segment of a statement has not been posted and furthermore that POSING IN ALL CAPS is the stupidity of a weak mind attempting to haler at someone...
Now ya see I misuse the English language as much as possible and some "JERK" has attempted to copy that trait and said "JERK" is also a known "SHADOW POSTER" so this brings me to the question of "JUST WHO THE HELL ARE YOU"...
Please confirm your identity...
That damn idiot might be arguing with himself...
Now movin on again...
Here I have to agree with "CJ" that it's worthwhile to wait-n-see this week before jumping to conclusions in any direction so early...
I will again post as before that if in fact the Raiders play remotely like their 1st half performance last week we can all start crying right along with "NYR" because there will be NO evidence that we can compete against the stronger competition on our schedule...
However...I also don't in the slightest expect this team to take another "Crap" on the field like that...The only "Terd's that will be seen are those kicked out of the damn "Lamb"s butts and than all the rest of the "Little Shitty VocaBlilly" can get flushed right along with all that damn habitual crying back to that "Filthy Shitty Stanky Abyss" from which it erupted...
Now wouldn't that be damn nice...A whole damn week without crying...Do any really believe that's at all possible here...
SAN DIEGO (AP)—San Diego Chargers holdout wide receiver Vincent Jackson can play in Week 5 if he’s traded by next Wednesday, the NFL and the players union decided Thursday.
Marcus McNeill "OT" "PB"erHeight:6-7 Weight:336
He is mentioned but not listed as "Trade Bait"....Yet....
In other news...
Well I hope your all pleased with yourselves for picking on "Stupid Mario" the way we have...Whoops!...Am I guilty! Man!...Well...I'm just going to shrink back in denial for a few...Why the hell not it certainly works for some of you...
"Stupid Mario" conceded he probably shouldn’t listen to all the criticism and take it to heart.
I’ve just got to block out that negativity. It’s tough, though. I ain’t going to lie. It’s tough, man.’’
Henderson’s sensitivity to outside criticism has been a regular topic of conversation.
you can get caught up in this stuff to the point where it will control you emotionally.
“He and I have spent a lot of time talking about staying away from that.’’
So see what you have done...Now I'm damn glad I just enable him to be all he hasn't been...
Did I post yet about that "OT" in "SD"....Oh! Ya!...It's up already...
In the "Context" of "OJ"s trial "Charles Manson" was driving the get away car when "Bin Laden" was seen planting bloody gloves flat down on the ground....Now how the hell did you get that corkscrewed to believe the "Earth" is still "Flat"....
Damn you can twist some shit....But is that why you have "Stanky Fingers"....
Just how the hell does that relate to what the Raiders are going to do to those sweet soft little cuttingly "Lamb"s....
I arrive back in USAirSpace on the 22nd and plan to make 2 games while staying in my RV…Weeks #4-5...Maybe week #6 is also doable in "SadFran"...
My Week #2 Prediction...What's Yours...
Final Score 12-19...
Our "D" will score in this one twice...1st off an "Int" and 2nd with the "S" after "ST"s pins them deep against their own goal.....So 9 points are accumulated as a result of our "D"s much improved play....
The "O" will struggle at times but move the ball well on the ground finding the endzone once and setting our "ST"s up for the goal posts too so accounting for 10 pts....
Meanwhile the "Lamb"s will move the ball well on the ground and threw the air but get stuffed in the RedZone so held to 4 "FG"s with a 5th one blocked/missed...
See...Bet ya all thought I was predicting a Raider loss when ya saw 12-19 but the visitor's score gets posted 1st and home team 2nd....
Damn…All that cash at the expense of the fans but they would all slap us in the face and walk/lock out…
Put The “BillBoards” Back Up Across This Nation We Need To Start Fighting NOW!!!!/_
“BillBoards” should advertise a “Million Man March” of the fans in our team colors showing solidarity against any plans the NFL-n-NFLPA may have of disrupting our sport…Stating that we will totally boycott any and all replacement teams and continue such actions against the NFL even after the teams retake the field if our season is disrupted…
Pre-Posting of the warning via the Web now to unify the fans and get that message out to the networks/advertisers who pay the bills off our backs…
Damn…All that cash at the expense of the fans but they would all slap us in the face and walk/lock out…
Put The “BillBoards” Back Up Across This Nation We Need To Start Fighting NOW!!!!/_
“BillBoards” should advertise a “Million Man March” of the fans in our team colors showing solidarity against any plans the NFL-n-NFLPA may have of disrupting our sport…Stating that we will totally boycott any and all replacement teams and continue such actions against the NFL even after the teams retake the field if our season is disrupted…
Pre-Posting of the warning via the Web now to unify the fans and get that message out to the networks/advertisers who pay the bills off our backs… |
practitioner
Gillian Laura Roberts ~ BSc, RScP, CHA
Gillian is passionate about what makes each of us unique ~ and genius. As a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner (RScP) and Certified Scientific Hand Analyst (CHA), she built her company Centre Space Spiritual Coaching on the belief that every person has a special spark inside that when revealed & empowered, can unleash some pretty passionate, tuned-in people on our planet - contributing in amazing ways. It lights her up to see this spark and to help others see it in themselves, too.
With a commitment to guiding her clients and students to experience first-hand the exciting and sacred possibilities that exist in “illuminating their unique genius & unleashing their purepower,” Gillian celebrates daily the magic of watching people come fully alive by connecting passionately with their personal awareness and creativity - and taking inspired action, on purpose.
As a coach, teacher, meditation instructor, writer and inspirational speaker, Gillian’s essential questions for you are:
What would your day look like today if you designed your life for big fulfillment & real meaning?
What special gift do you have to offer the planet that only you
can give?
Discovering these answers with you is the very heart of Gillian’s work.
Gillian brings a wealth of additional experience & knowledge to serving her clients: she holds a BSc in Psychology & Linguistics and is published in Human Communications; she is a student of Science of Mind and Tibetan Buddhism, and has received specialized training in several other spiritual, human potential, and transpersonal approaches & practices. She is the co-author of the bestselling book The Thought That Changed My Life Forever and the co-owner of The Thought Publications Inc. She also loves running by her seaside home in Vancouver. |
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
v.
DEONTE JAVON NEAL
No. COA09-312.
Court of Appeals of North Carolina
Filed December 22, 2009
This case not for publication
Attorney General Roy Cooper, by Assistant Attorney General John P. Scherer II, for the State.
Charlotte Gail Blake for defendant.
ELMORE, Judge.
Deonte Javon Neal (defendant) pled guilty to possession with intent to sell or distribute marijuana, possession with intent to sell or distribute cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for keeping and selling controlled substances, pursuant to a plea agreement. Defendant was sentenced to a minimum term of eleven months and a maximum term of fourteen months in the custody of the Department of Corrections. This sentence was suspended, and defendant was placed on supervised probation for thirty-six months. Defendant now appeals.
On 21 May 2008, Sergeant James Hafkemeyer pulled over defendant for making an illegal right-hand turn while speeding. When Sergeant Hafkemeyer asked defendant to roll down his window, defendant rolled it down only a couple of inches. In response to a second request by Sergeant Hafkemeyer, defendant lowered his window another couple of inches. When Sergeant Hafkemeyer ran defendant's license, he found that defendant had a history of drug and firearm related offenses. Sergeant Hafkemeyer radioed for assistance, and Officers James Griffinand Charles Parker arrived. Sergeant Hafkemeyer remained in his squad car, writing up a warning ticket for the illegal turn, and asked Officers Griffin and Parker to further investigate defendant. Defendant was uncooperative and hostile towards Officer Griffin's requests that he lower the window further, turn down his music, and step out of the car. Finally, after Officer Griffin opened the car door, defendant exited the car. Officer Griffin noticed that defendant was "upset and his breathing became more rapid." In response to defendant's "aggressive" attitude, Officer Griffin placed defendant in handcuffs but clarified that defendant was not under arrest. Officer Griffin informed defendant that he was going to pat defendant down for weapons. He proceeded to pat down defendant and did not find any weapons. Officer Griffin smelled marijuana on defendant and asked defendant if he had marijuana on him or if he had been near anyone with marijuana. Defendant denied possessing or having been near marijuana. Officer Griffin determined at this point that he had probable cause to search defendant for drugs, but did not yet conduct a more thorough search of defendant's person.
At this time, after Officer Griffin determined he had probable cause to search defendant but before Officer Griffin searched defendant, Officer Parker looked into the windows of the car, and saw what looked like marijuana on the floorboard. Officer Parker informed Officer Griffin of this. Then, Officer Griffin searched defendant for drugs, and found two plastic baggies containing marijuana. Following this discovery, the offers searched defendant's car and found three baggies containing marijuana and 22 grams of crack cocaine in defendant's trunk.
Defendant was indicted for possession with intent to sell or distribute marijuana, possession with intent to sell or distribute cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for keeping and selling controlled substances. Defendant moved to suppress all evidence gathered after Officer Griffin's search for drugs. The trial court denied defendant's motion. Defendant pled guilty, though he reserved the right to appeal the denial of suppression, and the charges were consolidated for punishment.
Defendant argues (1) that Officer Griffin did not have probable cause to search him for drugs at the time that Officer Griffin determined in his own head that he had probable cause, (2) when deciding whether probable cause existed to perform the search, the court could not consider the new information learned by Officer Griffin between his determination to conduct a search and the actual search, and (3) that all evidence gathered as a result of the search is fruit from the poisonous tree and, therefore, inadmissible.
"[I]n reviewing the trial court's order following a motion to suppress, we are bound by the trial court's findings of fact if such findings are supported by competent evidence in the record; but the conclusions of law are fully reviewable on appeal." State v. Smith, 346 N.C. 794, 797, 488 S.E.2d 210, 212 (1997). We employ a totality of the circumstances analysis to review the affidavit and warrant. Illinois v. Gates, 462 U.S. 213, 238, 76 L. Ed. 2d 527, 548 (1983) (citations omitted). "In adhering to this standard of review, we are cognizant that great deference should be paid to a magistrate's determination of probable cause and that after-the-fact scrutiny should not take the form of a de novo review." State v. Dexter, 186 N.C. App. 587, 592, 651 S.E.2d 900, 904 (2007) (quotations, citations, and alterations omitted).
Defendant argues that finding of fact 38 of the trial court's order is not supported by competent evidence. Finding of fact 38 states, "Officer Griffin then[, after being advised by Officer Parker of the marijuana on defendant's floorboard,] determined that he had probable cause to search the defendant's person." The only evidence of when Officer Griffin determined that he had probable cause to search defendant for drugs was Officer Griffin's testimony. Officer Griffin testified unequivocally that he made the determination of probable cause after smelling marijuana on defendant's person and before Officer Parker informed Officer Griffin of the marijuana in defendant's car. The timeline described in finding of fact 38 is not supported by the evidence and is, therefore, erroneous.
However, this finding of fact affects neither the strength of the conclusions of law nor the outcome of the order. It is uncontroverted that the officers did not search defendant for drugs until after they both were aware of the smell of marijuana, the suspicious actions of the defendant, and the presence of marijuana in the car. None of the trial court's conclusions of law reference the moment when Officer Griffin opined silently that probable cause existed, nor do the conclusions of law need to reference this subjective fact. The relevant question for this Court is whether probable cause existed at the time that the search was consummated. See State v. Phifer, 297 N.C. 216, 225-26, 254 S.E.2d 586, 590-91 (1979) (explaining that even if an officer's stated reasons for searching are invalid, so long as probable cause existed at the time the search in question began, it is a valid search). In this case, the search of defendant's person occurred after both officers knew about the odor of marijuana and the marijuana on the floorboard; as stated in the conclusions of law, these facts established probable cause. Accordingly, the searches of defendant's person and vehicle that followed were valid.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial courts denial of defendant's motion to suppress.
Affirmed.
Judges WYNN and CALABRIA concur.
Report per Rule 30(e).
|
A human glucocorticoid receptor gene variant that increases the stability of the glucocorticoid receptor beta-isoform mRNA is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
To study the occurrence and function of polymorphism in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We used single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing to study the hGR gene in 30 patients with RA, 40 with SLE, and 24 controls. A newly identified polymorphism was transfected in COS-1 cells and the stability of the mRNA containing the polymorphism was tested using real-time PCR. A polymorphism in the hGR gene in exon9beta, in an "ATTTA" motif, was found to be significantly associated with RA. Introduction of this polymorphism in the hGRb mRNA was found to significantly increase stability in vitro compared to the wild-type sequence. Our findings show an association between RA and a previously unreported polymorphism in the hGR gene. This polymorphism increased stability of hGRbeta mRNA, which could contribute to an altered glucocorticoid sensitivity since the hGRbeta is thought to function as an inhibitor of hGRalpha activity. |
After a long sabbaticalto rest from the very real emotional trauma and stress that investigative journalism inevitably placed me under, I am finally returning to my regular journalism. Even Jesus and His disciples took the time for rest from the stress of life. We all must take the time to rest, if we are to preserve our health and recover from life's many challenges and traumas.
Also, providing free health care has proven challenging but wonderfully rewarding too this past year, as I helped a recovering stage 4 cancer patient, Sylvia, in her struggle to overcome and find a meaningful life in Christ.
This sabbatical time period was filled with many major world news events that transpired and filled news headlines. As many other Christians, I took time to pray about such events, and to continue to pray against false flags leading to martial law in America. There can NEVER be a rest from PRAYER!
Christians must also keep in their prayers the extremely dangerous situation in the Ukraine, where America is foolishly meddling in their affairs and provoking Putin to deadly anger as a result.
I have noted with concern that many qualified investigative researchers are writing articles about the increasing danger of WW III erupting over America and her allies' provocation of Russia through their reckless hegemony/destabilization agenda in the Ukraine, that has cost thousands of innocent lives already and is only escalating every day.
Christians must also keep in prayer the volatile situations in the Middle East. And sadly, once again, America is meddling in the affairs of other sovereign nations, even now bringing destruction and death and war in nations like Iraq and Syria, all for US hegemony/PNAC agendas that also include a program of destabilization in various regions, to make it easier for US interests, including corporate, to take over control of resources in foreign nations.
And here in America, many concerned Americans are alarmed by the actions and word of Obama, as it becomes evident that he is now trying to increasingly rule by Executive Orders and unConstitutional, even illegal decrees, bypassing proper Congressional approval, and especially bypassing the approval of the vast majority of the American people as well.
The intentions of this administration becomes clear with every passing day, as former immigration laws and borders intended to protect the American people, are cast aside wantonly, for ominous agendas that indicate building Obama's own personal "nation within a nation" of illegals with no loyalty to America or her heritage and Constitution.
In the US military, qualified and seasoned military leaders are frequently being dismissed, to often be replaced with Islamic substitutes or those who are clearly NWO communist sympathizers. Christian freedom to practice and express a person's religious faith within the US military is increasingly being suppressed, exactly as Christian freedom is being repressed continually in communist or Islamic countries around the world.
For many Americans, the US now seems like a nation betrayed and sold out from within, ready to collapse under the weight of unceasing hegemony/regime change wars being fought in many nations abroad. America's financial debt from all these wars and hegemony agendas alone is mind blowing. Add to this the cost of relocating, housing and caring for the illegal immigrants, and you can see clearly why America is in deep trouble.
Are Christian freedoms endangered in America today?
Christians are concerned that their freedoms now stand jeopardized in part by the increasing Moslem/Islamic presence in various states and regions. It is clear through observation that Obama has a distinct Islamic agenda in America, and is deliberately encouraging MOSLEM refugees from Syria and other nations to resettle in America.
The leftist/communist strategy to use the homosexual agenda to bring greater restriction of Christian freedoms to exercise their faith in America is being deployed continually on many fronts in our nation. In our schools, in our military and government, the leftist homosexual agenda is being used to destroy Biblical Christian values we hold dear, that helped to preserve America throughout the centuries....until now.
All of the above is not only an Islamic strategy, but also a communist/leftist agenda designed for the purpose of "DIVIDE AND CONQUER". It is also being incrementally used to bring attack and persecution to CHRISTIANITY in America today. This is what communists are devoted to doing, even as are the Moslems. And America has BOTH groups, working hard behind the scenes and even openly, for their agendas to dominate the scene in America.
Obama's factual background is clearly Moslem/Islamic and communist as well. It becomes obvious that he bringing in more and more leftist and Islamic sympathizers to government and military positions of influence and control.
Neither Islam nor communism is sympathetic to the Christians and their cause in the world today. Both Islam and communism have persecuted, oppressed and terrorized Christians throughout the years, in every nation into which they have come.
Both have waged genocidal wars against Christianity in various nations previously, that continue to this very day. Tens of millions of Christians have suffered and been imprisoned and martyred under communism in Russia and the former Soviet Union alone.
Countless Christians have been raped, imprisoned, tortured, crucified and beheaded under ISLAM.
When America has a President who is clearly both, what does this mean for the American people and the Christian majority in America today?
Is it only a matter of time under Obama, before American Christians experience the same oppression, persecution and worse, right here on America soil??? And NEVER be foolish enough to say in your heart, "IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE."
When I first began to perform investigative journalism regarding alternative news and the coming NEW WORLD ORDER AGENDA for America, there were perhaps a handful of websites and alternate news broadcasts on radio or television and YOUTUBE, discussing this subject.
A quick search on the Internet reveals that there are thousands of websites publishing alternative news journalism and exposing the agenda of the NWO cabalists and their minions.
Public knowledge of such subjects has increasingly tremendously over the past 20 years since God first called me to this labor of love on behalf of my endangered nation and my fellow Americans.
However, I still feel the extreme urgency to continue to warn my fellow Christians and Americans, even years after listening to whistle blowers in the intelligence community and from the military, warning me of the covert plans to enslave America and to persecute (and actual terminate) the Christians and all other people designated by them as resisters of their NWO agenda for America.
Those dark NWO plans are closer to fulfillment in America than they were when I began. And they are even now at America's doorstep because of traitors to the Constitution, to America's sovereignty, and against America's Christian heritage and liberties we have enjoyed from our nation's founding.
I am extremely concerned for the well-being of the Christians in North America today. I do not see many pastors openly warning the people of God about the direction America is being involuntarily taken in. I have reported faithfully for 20 years now the PERSECUTION IS COMING TO THE CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA (Canada/USA).
I have networked with many Canadians throughout the years, lectured and gone on radio in Canada, and know that they have the same general agenda in place for a martial law scenario, detention camps for Canadian NWO resisters, and more.
I have faithfully documented and reported on what what insiders have consistently warned me about throughout the years. Some of the warnings I received have been so disturbing in content, that my sleep many nights was replaced with tears and intercessory prayer lasting well into the early morning.
People usually see me smiling in public. They cannot know that beneath that smile is a deep residual sadness for my nation and my people, as I watch everything I was told would happen, slowly come to pass before my eyes. I may have the joy of the Lord at times, but it is joy through inner heartache and tears nevertheless.
(However, it is NOTa "suicidal" sadness! There is nothing more faithless for a Christian, that the act of SUICIDE. Such an act indicates no faith in God whatsoever, when in fact our Bible declares that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD.)
I praise God that I HAVE HOPE in these dark times, through Jesus Christ, and I am actually excited to live in these days when I can use my prayers and Christian witness to touch countless lives for God's kingdom, and to help change my nation as well.
(The lesson is, if you ever read in the future about my untimely demise, described in the media as "a suicide" KNOW THE TRUTH! I despise such a cowardly act, and would never jeopardize my eternal soul by such a faithless action, ever. If I am ever declared to be dead by "suicide" someday, KNOW that it was a government assassination, period.)
In January of 1996, during a time of intercessory prayer and fasting, I was literally laying on my floor at my former home on the grounds of a Christian retreat, asking God to show me what was to come to our nation. I had received several words of warning from various informed sources, even as far back as 1976 during revival in Tulsa, OK, that alarmed me and led to much prayer about what was coming to America.
The Holy Spirit finally spoke to me clearly, and told me that He was ready to show me more, and that He would bring people into my life with the kind of information He wanted me to both know and to share with His people.
I do not say this lightly. Many Christians today are weary of people who frequently say "God told them,"at times obviously fabricating "prophecy" to draw away a following. I personally am weary of this as well (many of us are by now).
God Himself hates those who say "God said" when in fact His Holy Spirit did NOT. And so I am very careful when I state that the Holy Spirit communicates something clearly to me. I make sure I have heard from God before ever sharing it with others.
After this revelation, I began to pray for God to bring informed people into my life with accurate insider information He wanted me to share with His people.
And God did, gradually, as I researched and began to travel nationwide and worldwide.
I was personally warned by people working for both the intelligence community and the US military (even foreign military as well), that there were plans of persecution in place and being developed against Christians and all other "NWO resisters" (Patriotic Americans, gun owners, home schoolers, Constitutionalists, etc.)
This heinous NWO plan would include secretly placing targeted individuals on various government monitoring lists, to be singled out under MARTIAL LAW for "round-up," and then to be arrested and removed to FEMA/DHS camps to be sorted out....and for many victims to be disposed of permanently.
"Oh, all of us in the CIA know what the concentration [detention]camps are here for in America. We all know they are to TERMINATE 'the resisters of the NEW WORLD ORDER' as it comes down in America UNDER MARTIAL LAW."
-Michael Maholy, 20 years CIA/ONI, formerly under Bush Sr when he was director of the CIA
"We in the CIA hated the Christians more than any other group in America, because we knew above all that THEY would never accept our NWO under Lucifer. The very detention camps you have been investigating, I even helped to design some of them when working for Bush Sr. under the CIA."
"Although I greatly regret my former role in this, THEY STAND TO THIS DAY AND WILL BE USED UNDER MARTIAL LAW."
"I tell you...it will be BRUTAL RAPE, TORTURE and DEATH when they finally get their hands on THE HATED CHRISTIANS under martial law and take them to the camps...."
-Elaine Knost, former satanist high priestess of Indiana for 18 years, hired as a female assassin in the CIA during this time, who finally came out to become a Christian and who is mentioned in several books available in Christian bookstores today. I interviewed her in her home Florida home for a month, to gather valuable insider information on this subject. PART of her story is in the book below.
But as she told me in her Okeechobee home, she never dared to tell the whole truth about many things in her book, to avoid legal prosecution for the many murders she and her covens were involved with throughout those 18 years, and also retribution from the CIA. She parted with the original author of her testimony in 1990, after irreconcilable differences developed. Only after I confronted Elaine with the fact that she owed it to the body of Christ to tell them the truth from the inside about coming persecution, did she finally consent to my interviewing her and publishing her information.
(For those who are not aware, the CIA frequently hires actual satanists for both assassin and torture positions, since they are already skilled in murder and torture when they are hired, and essentially have no conscience. I have several friends who are former assassins in the CIA, who were convicted by God and came out to become Christians and stop the killing. Their testimonies of how Christ convicted them and saved them out of such darkness are amazing.)
Through my years of traveling and research, I was informedthat the government and military would someday use PRISONER BOXCARS WITH SHACKLES to haul innocent Americans on their hit-lists to the FEMA/DHS camps under martial law.
Using the railroad systems to transport political and religious opponents of a dictatorship to detention camps or gulags has a clear precedent in what happened both in communist Russia during the Bolshevik revolution throughout the years, and also throughout Hitler's Nazi Germany.
Military sources, including US Marines and others I interviewed, warned me that many unfortunate prisoners would not even make it alive to the camps, and would be terminated as "sheep led to slaughter" right in the boxcars. I have written an extensive report about this previously in my interview with a former drill sergeant with the US Marines in Montana.
I was warned that outspoken Christian leaders and journalists would especially be targeted in this time of enforcement of their NWO agenda. This is because the future NWO agenda for America is fueled by the true spirit of ANTICHRIST and Lucifer himself.
Anything and anyone good and holy is hated by these corrupt people behind this agenda for America. The people who support this transition are a blend of leftist/Communists, plus Nazi fascists of the Illuminati who initially came into America with the Nazi NWO agenda following WWII and through the CIA'S "OPERATION PAPERCLIP," and satanists/Illuminati in general.
The NWO agenda is determined to destroy Christianity worldwide
They NWO supporters have all putaside any historical differences and come together for the joint purpose of establishing Lucifer's manifest kingdom on earth of Revelation 13. And they equally hate THE CHRISTIANS and are under Lucifer's orders to DESTROY CHRISTIANITY FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH.Christians, are you listening???
For me, none of this research and reporting has been without a price to be paid.
ONLY my faith in God's promises gives me HOPE
As a consequence of my reporting throughout the years, I have suffered much opposition including libel and slander to try to discredit my character and my reporting, and threats and physical danger as well.
There have been several death attempts on my life, threats from the Intelligence community (even to my former webmaster) and of course the to-be-expected government COINTELPRO articles posted on the Internet to libel my Christian character and mock my journalism, so that readers would not be inclined to believe my reports.
But it has not worked, I have many readers, and in fact everything I have ever reported on has slowly been proven true. As time goes on, the truth becomes ever more clear to millions of Americans/Canadians and the world as well.
People ask me, "well, then, WHY have you remained in this work for so long, if it has put your life in danger and there is little financial support???"
I will tell you why.
"Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends..."
First of all, let me state that NO ONE should ever be involved in Christian ministry for the sake of "filthy lucre', or mere money. ONLY if God has called a person to be involved in ministry, and is walking worthy of the name of "Christian," should anyone EVER be in ministry. Too many insincere people driven by the dollar sign, have entered into "ministry," fallen into sin or heresy, and have tragically brought reproach on the name of Jesus and "Christian."
Such people have actually caused others to turn away from Christianity because of their sins and hypocrisy. If this applies to you, repent and get out of ministry now, before the judgment of God justly falls upon your life. A holy God is so weary of this in our present generation, and so are honest Christians.
I have never been in Christian ministry for filthy Illuminati currency not even worth the paper it is printed upon. In fact, 43 years of serving Christ and others in many forms of ministry has cost me everything...but Jesus Christ is worth it.
My fellow Christians, the next time you go to church, take a good look at the other Christians around you. Watch the precious children as they sing "Jesus Love Me" in Sunday school. Observe God's people as they worship God with reverence. Listen to the pastor you love and respect as he preaches an encouraging sermon. Enjoy the youth as they enthusiastically raise their hands to God in worship and praise.
ALL THIS IS A MAJOR REASON WHY I have laid my life down to publish articles such as I have written throughout the years. How I love the Body of Christ! How I love my fellow Christians in America (and that includes worldwide), and how I want to see them blessed and protected and prosper!
When former CIA and military insider sources began to inform me in person of the horrific plans to attack Christianity and our religious freedoms in the future, and even to finally arrest and send millions to the FEMA/DHS camps in North America, I realized then that I could never remain silent about this kind of information.
Not even to save my life. My love for my fellow Americans and fellow Christians was simply too great.
Oh, the power of Christian love! The legacy of true Christianity has always been LOVE from time immemorial, in that we are called to lay down our lives in love for others, especially our brethren in Christ.
This is the essence of true discipleship Christianity: every Christian is called to BE LIKE JESUS. And that means to walk in love towards other, even as He did. He loved us so much, that He laid down His life for us. And now He calls us to do the same for one another.
As frightened as I was initially by these early revelations from insiders, I knew that I could not remain silent, and had to overcome fear so I could continue in this urgent reporting to my fellow Americans and endangered Christians.
And through much prayer and standing on God's word, I did so. Some of my readers have been following my reports for 20 long years now. What a quest to uncover the truth this has been!
Finally, this brings me to the conclusion of this article.
20 years of researching this important subject has served to bring me back to SQUARE ONE: Jesus Christ remains the ONLY HOPE FOR AMERICA and for the world today. Sin is what is destroying this nation.
There is NO HOPE for America apart from returning to the God of the Bible, and repenting of SIN, and receiving God's only antidote for sin, Jesus the Savior of mankind.
Otherwise the sins of this nation and her unsaved people remain, and judgment must inevitably follow.
Yes, America is headed for judgment. But NO CHRISTIAN will ever be judged with sinners. When you have received Jesus and His forgiveness for sin, there remains no condemnation.
Though everything I and many other dedicated journalists have uncovered and written on this subject may be TRUE,there remains A GREATER TRUTH to give God's people HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
That HOPE is found throughout the Word of God and His many promises.
"And who is that person who OVERCOMES THE WORLD, but the one who believes that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD." 1 John 5:5
As tough times come to America, we must remember that Jesus Christ has overcome the world, and that as we ABIDE IN HIM,we too shall be given the power to overcome this world of wickedness as well.
Although life's circumstances are always changing, God's Word remains eternal and contains all the answers you will ever need to BRING YOU THROUGH TO VICTORY!
Let us as Christians therefore face the uncertain future BY FAITH, and overcome the world, by relying upon
3 comments:
This matches the experience of Derrel Sims when he was with some CIA special ops thing, or maybe earlier in it. Seems though he never proselytises, he considers himself a Christian and if asked will say so. Somebody asked, and he said he was a Christian. So his commander called him in and told him that they didn't want Jesus Christ being mentioned on the job or off the job time, which he knew was illegal and fought it, and this was either in the 1960s or early 1970s I forget which. I'd have to go through some videos to get the proper details, but that incident is correctly described here. This matches what Michael Mahoney says in your quote:
"We in the CIA hated the Christians more than any other group in America, because we knew above all that THEY would never accept our NWO under Lucifer. The very detention camps you have been investigating, I even helped to design some of them when working for Bush Sr. under the CIA."
Amen Pamela!You know, God has revealed the same to me. Even before I knew about it, I hadn't heard of it in any way. It was just a couple of years ago and it was like He showed me these visions. He showed me that this is the road we are on as we follow Him. This time of persecution is coming here, it will happen. It was after that that I ran into evidence like yours online, etc. so it was confirmed. I warn people all the time and advertise this site all over as well to spread the word. I could run, but I choose not to. I'm following Him to the end and I have a testimony that I can't hide either.Love and blessings to you sister!
Background of Pamela Rae Schuffert
I have been performing in-depth investigative journalism nationwide for 18 years now. My reports have become famous worldwide. My Christian testimony is also powerful as well!
I am also proud to confess I am a BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN,a true BELIEVER of Jesus Christ, which means personally that I adhere to high standards of morality and integrity, including in my research and in my personal life.
I cover urgent subjects which include the deadly emerging NEW WORLD ORDER AGENDA in America. This vitally needed hands-on undercover investigative journalism is solely reader/listener supported. ONLY your financial support can enable this work to continue. PAYPAL ADDRESS TO SEND $ SUPPORT TO: [email protected]
Please send your questions, comments, requests, recommendations,plus your observations to the address listed below, or my email: [email protected]
I am available to speak lecture, go on public radio or television by invitation.
CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION! |
To the Brennan family and our good friend Bob Murphy ...our most sincere condolences on the passing of Lillian. May your fond memories of her help you through this sad time. Sincerely, Joe and Lorraine Sullivan
Andy, Marianne, and Crista,
I am so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to loose a loved one. There are no words to take away your pain right now. She is not suffering anymore. You have your memories to help get you through this. I will keep you all in my prayers. |
import * as types from '../mutation_types';
import { sortTree } from '../utils';
import { diffModes } from '../../constants';
import { convertObjectPropsToCamelCase } from '~/lib/utils/common_utils';
export default {
[types.SET_FILE_ACTIVE](state, { path, active }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
active,
lastOpenedAt: new Date().getTime(),
});
if (active && !state.entries[path].pending) {
Object.assign(state, {
openFiles: state.openFiles.map(f =>
Object.assign(f, { active: f.pending ? false : f.active }),
),
});
}
},
[types.TOGGLE_FILE_OPEN](state, path) {
Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
opened: !state.entries[path].opened,
});
if (state.entries[path].opened) {
Object.assign(state, {
openFiles: state.openFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path).concat(state.entries[path]),
});
} else {
const file = state.entries[path];
Object.assign(state, {
openFiles: state.openFiles.filter(f => f.key !== file.key),
});
}
},
[types.SET_FILE_DATA](state, { data, file }) {
const stateEntry = state.entries[file.path];
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === file.path);
const openFile = state.openFiles.find(f => f.path === file.path);
const changedFile = state.changedFiles.find(f => f.path === file.path);
[stateEntry, stagedFile, openFile, changedFile].forEach(f => {
if (f) {
Object.assign(
f,
convertObjectPropsToCamelCase(data, { dropKeys: ['path', 'name', 'raw', 'baseRaw'] }),
{
raw: (stateEntry && stateEntry.raw) || null,
baseRaw: null,
},
);
}
});
},
[types.SET_FILE_RAW_DATA](state, { file, raw, fileDeletedAndReadded = false }) {
const openPendingFile = state.openFiles.find(
f =>
f.path === file.path && f.pending && !(f.tempFile && !f.prevPath && !fileDeletedAndReadded),
);
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === file.path);
if (file.tempFile && file.content === '' && !fileDeletedAndReadded) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], { content: raw });
} else if (fileDeletedAndReadded) {
Object.assign(stagedFile, { raw });
} else {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], { raw });
}
if (!openPendingFile) return;
if (!openPendingFile.tempFile) {
openPendingFile.raw = raw;
} else if (openPendingFile.tempFile && !fileDeletedAndReadded) {
openPendingFile.content = raw;
} else if (fileDeletedAndReadded) {
Object.assign(stagedFile, { raw });
}
},
[types.SET_FILE_BASE_RAW_DATA](state, { file, baseRaw }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
baseRaw,
});
},
[types.UPDATE_FILE_CONTENT](state, { path, content }) {
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === path);
const rawContent = stagedFile ? stagedFile.content : state.entries[path].raw;
const changed = content !== rawContent;
Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
content,
changed,
});
},
[types.SET_FILE_LANGUAGE](state, { file, fileLanguage }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
fileLanguage,
});
},
[types.SET_FILE_POSITION](state, { file, editorRow, editorColumn }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
editorRow,
editorColumn,
});
},
[types.SET_FILE_MERGE_REQUEST_CHANGE](state, { file, mrChange }) {
let diffMode = diffModes.replaced;
if (mrChange.new_file) {
diffMode = diffModes.new;
} else if (mrChange.deleted_file) {
diffMode = diffModes.deleted;
} else if (mrChange.renamed_file) {
diffMode = diffModes.renamed;
}
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
mrChange: {
...mrChange,
diffMode,
},
});
},
[types.SET_FILE_VIEWMODE](state, { file, viewMode }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
viewMode,
});
},
[types.DISCARD_FILE_CHANGES](state, path) {
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === path);
const entry = state.entries[path];
const { deleted } = entry;
Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
content: stagedFile ? stagedFile.content : state.entries[path].raw,
changed: false,
deleted: false,
});
if (deleted) {
const parent = entry.parentPath
? state.entries[entry.parentPath]
: state.trees[`${state.currentProjectId}/${state.currentBranchId}`];
parent.tree = sortTree(parent.tree.concat(entry));
}
},
[types.ADD_FILE_TO_CHANGED](state, path) {
Object.assign(state, {
changedFiles: state.changedFiles.concat(state.entries[path]),
});
},
[types.REMOVE_FILE_FROM_CHANGED](state, path) {
Object.assign(state, {
changedFiles: state.changedFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path),
});
},
[types.STAGE_CHANGE](state, { path, diffInfo }) {
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === path);
Object.assign(state, {
changedFiles: state.changedFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path),
entries: Object.assign(state.entries, {
[path]: Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
staged: diffInfo.exists,
changed: diffInfo.changed,
tempFile: diffInfo.tempFile,
deleted: diffInfo.deleted,
}),
}),
});
if (stagedFile) {
Object.assign(stagedFile, { ...state.entries[path] });
} else {
state.stagedFiles = [...state.stagedFiles, { ...state.entries[path] }];
}
if (!diffInfo.exists) {
state.stagedFiles = state.stagedFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path);
}
},
[types.UNSTAGE_CHANGE](state, { path, diffInfo }) {
const changedFile = state.changedFiles.find(f => f.path === path);
const stagedFile = state.stagedFiles.find(f => f.path === path);
if (!changedFile && stagedFile) {
Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
...stagedFile,
key: state.entries[path].key,
active: state.entries[path].active,
opened: state.entries[path].opened,
changed: true,
});
state.changedFiles = state.changedFiles.concat(state.entries[path]);
}
if (!diffInfo.exists) {
state.changedFiles = state.changedFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path);
}
Object.assign(state, {
stagedFiles: state.stagedFiles.filter(f => f.path !== path),
entries: Object.assign(state.entries, {
[path]: Object.assign(state.entries[path], {
staged: false,
changed: diffInfo.changed,
tempFile: diffInfo.tempFile,
deleted: diffInfo.deleted,
}),
}),
});
},
[types.TOGGLE_FILE_CHANGED](state, { file, changed }) {
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
changed,
});
},
[types.ADD_PENDING_TAB](state, { file, keyPrefix = 'pending' }) {
state.entries[file.path].opened = false;
state.entries[file.path].active = false;
state.entries[file.path].lastOpenedAt = new Date().getTime();
state.openFiles.forEach(f =>
Object.assign(f, {
opened: false,
active: false,
}),
);
state.openFiles = [
{
...file,
key: `${keyPrefix}-${file.key}`,
pending: true,
opened: true,
active: true,
},
];
},
[types.REMOVE_PENDING_TAB](state, file) {
Object.assign(state, {
openFiles: state.openFiles.filter(f => f.key !== file.key),
});
},
[types.REMOVE_FILE_FROM_STAGED_AND_CHANGED](state, file) {
Object.assign(state, {
changedFiles: state.changedFiles.filter(f => f.key !== file.key),
stagedFiles: state.stagedFiles.filter(f => f.key !== file.key),
});
Object.assign(state.entries[file.path], {
changed: false,
staged: false,
});
},
};
|
ALABAMA Rot is a deadly disease in dogs, which causes skin lesions and even fatal kidney disease. Here are the signs your dog may present if they have the disease.
Alabama Rot is a disease in dogs, which causes skin lesions and can cause fatal kidney disease. The disease causes damage to blood vessels of the skin and kidneys and can lead to blood to clot in the vessels which damages the lining and delicate tissues of the kidneys. Alabama Rot was first identified in the 1980s in Alabama.
Related articles
How to spot symptoms
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, said: “Although the disease is very rare, affecting an extremely low percentage of dogs in the UK, the condition is very serious and potentially life-threatening.
“It is therefore vital that owners understand and recognise the warning signs, especially as time plays a significant part in successfully treating the disease.”
The most telling sign your dog has contracted Alabama rot are skin lesions, which appear as a patch of red skin or as an open ulcer or sore.
To vets, the lesions look out of the ordinary and as a sign your dog may have caught the disease. |
<!--
Header: Content-Location: http://example.com/
Description: entry author url relative to Content-Location header
Expect: bozo and entries[0]['author_detail']['url'] == u'http://example.com/relative/link'
-->
<feed version="0.3" xmlns="http://purl.org/atom/ns#">
<entry>
<author>
<url>/relative/link</url>
</author>
</entry>
</feed |
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As said above it's going to vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction but where I live this is how it goes:
You show up at traffic court on the date on the ticket, this more or less serves as an arraignment where you either plea guilty/no contest and pay the fine. If you plea not guilty you get a court date and show up then, (usually a week or two away). There when it's your turn you offer your case against a DA and the ticketing officer and the judge will then determine what to do. When making your case you're welcome to bring in any "witnesses" or anything like that. Only you are serving as your own lawyer so only you can ask questions of witnesses/the officer.
Afterwards the judge will make a ruling. From all of the traffic court cases I've seen the judge is usually not one to give much leniency to the defense. You broke a law, you were caught. The cop is going to say he witnessed you stopped over the railroad tracks and violation of traffic laws. You're going to say... "Well, umm...."
You could argue that you weren't expecting to get stopped there due to traffic moving along at one point and then coming to a stop (some up ahead stopped short on a yellow light causing everyone behind him to stop forcing you onto the tracks) or whatever your claim is, but the deck is heavily going to be stacked against you. You're better off saving yourself the time and trouble and just paying the ticket. If its a moving violation and you're worried about points on your license/increased insurance then when you go in on the date on the ticket ask to "amend" the ticket. It'll double the fine but makes the ticket, basically, a parking ticket meaning no points go on your license and it doesn't count against you for insurance purposes.
(Though I doubt the ticket you got was a moving violation.)
If you're going to fight this it's going to suck two nights or afternoons out of your life and in both cases you're more than likely going to pay the fine anyway. Consider it lesson learned and pay it. You can pay it now by mailing it in or just going down to the courthouse and paying it in person. Unless you've got a REALLY good excuse and even witnesses to back it up you're not going to have a prayer in traffic court.
If its a moving violation and you're worried about points on your license/increased insurance then when you go in on the date on the ticket ask to "amend" the ticket. It'll double the fine but makes the ticket, basically, a parking ticket meaning no points go on your license and it doesn't count against you for insurance purposes.
We don't have this option in California. If we have the option for traffic school, it's an additional fee + the class (can be online) + cost of the class. Traffic school avoids the points and insurance hit (doesn't show up on your record) but you can only do it once every 18 months.
If there is an option to "plead down" to a lesser charge, do it. If not, pay the ticket and thank God you were not in the path of an oncoming train.
The "I had no choice" claim is not true. Unless the car behind you physically pushed you onto the train tracks (in which case they would have been ticketed, or even arrested, by the observing officer), you had a choice not to move onto the tracks.
Take your punishment like a man. If you are a moral person, do the right thing: admit your guilt and pay your fine.
__________________
“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” -Pres. Obama
"A great democracy does not make it harder to vote than to buy an assault weapon." -Pres. Clinton
This afternoon I was driving on my way home, and traffic was at a standstill, so I was stuck on a railroad track. I couldn't back up; there was no space for me to go forward.
I have no sympathy for you. We have too many terrible, terrible accidents in my country involving just this scenario. Oh Noes, I drove out onto the tracks and then I couldn't move! Jesus christ, just STOP before you drive onto them. Wait until you know that when you go forward you will have clear space for your car to get past the tracks.
Your only hope by showing up is that the citing officer isn't there. If they don't show up you win by default. Although that doesn't happen too often now as the police are paid for their time in court.
Not only that, but officer court appearances are usually all scheduled on the same day. The officer won't just have to show up for one ticket, but five or six tickets. So he's not likely to miss.
I can tell you how it works in Virginia, but I can't really tell you California without more information. It's still technically a criminal charge, so one would think a court date is required. Look at the summons/citation and see if it lists a court date.
According to this website, you can show up, have the charges read to you, and enter a plea in person. It sounds like you want to plead guilty but give an explanation so you can see if the Judge will let you do that. Alternatively, you could plead not guilty, let the officer present the evidence of guilt, testify on your behalf on your side of the story, and let the Judge convict you with the hope that he reduces the fine. You can also talk to the prosecutor before trial (explain that you are unrepresented by counsel) and see if they offer anything less than what the officer offers.
You also have an option of Trial by Written Declaration. That means you can argue your case in writing instead of orally. It doesn't sound like this would be beneficial to you.
All this being said, I'm not sensing any mitigation. It sounds like you did exactly what the statute prohibits. It sounds like the statute is designed to encourage a full stop before the railroad crossing unless traffic is light enough for you to move across it completely before you stop.
If you can prove you were wrongly charged, fight it. If not, is it worth your time off work to head to court, and most likely have to pay for parking as well, to ultimately pay the same fine? Or even a reduced fine?
I fought a ticket a couple of years back and got it reduced. But it wasn't worth the time off work.
__________________Now that I've seen it, and have also had time to mellow, to really think about it, I now find it absolutely, unbearably repulsive in every way except for some of the acting. - about The Wrath of Khan. Interstat, Issue 62: 1982
If its a moving violation and you're worried about points on your license/increased insurance then when you go in on the date on the ticket ask to "amend" the ticket. It'll double the fine but makes the ticket, basically, a parking ticket meaning no points go on your license and it doesn't count against you for insurance purposes.
We don't have this option in California. If we have the option for traffic school, it's an additional fee + the class (can be online) + cost of the class. Traffic school avoids the points and insurance hit (doesn't show up on your record) but you can only do it once every 18 months.
I don't even know if they have a traffic school option in my state after the age of 18. Between 16-18, you get a "grace period" where they just assume you're a dumb kid and can go to traffic school to get the infraction removed from your record. Once you're an adult, though, I'm pretty sure you're fucked.
I went to traffic school after my first ticket when I was 16. It as an 8-hour class on a Saturday. Fucking terrible. |
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1990Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days, Dispatched from within the UK; please allow 9-13 working days for delivery. Prompt and Friendly customer service.
Used books: 1 - 25 of 29
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1.
Better World BooksviaUnited States
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1990Very Good. US Edition. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!.
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1990Oxford University Press, USA. Used - Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1990Oxford University Press, USA. Used - Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1990 Used - Very Good. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford Univ Pr (Txt), 1990Used - Very Good, Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days, Shipped from the US -- Expect delivery in 1-2 weeks. Former Library book. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford Univ Pr (Txt), 1990Used - Very Good, Usually ships within 1 - 2 business days, Ships from UK - will arrive in 1 - 3 weeks. Used - Very Good. Ships from UK in 48 hours or less (usually same day). Your purchase helps support the African Children's Educational Trust (A-CET). Ex-library, but has been well cared for. 100% money back guarantee. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to...
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1990Used - Very Good, Usually ships in 1-2 business days, Ships same or next working day from UK. Delivered in 1 - 3 weeks (or select two-day/expedited shipping). Used - Very Good. Your purchase helps support the African Children's Educational Trust (A-CET). Ex-library, but has been well cared for. 100% money back guarantee. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to...
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1990Used - Very Good, Usually ships in 1-2 business days, Former Library book. Used but still in excellent shape. Clean pages and little wear.Great prices and great return policy! Best books around. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1990Used - Good, Usually ships in 1-2 business days, May or may not be a library edition. Satisfaction guaranteed. All inquiries answered promptly and courteously.
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1990Used - Very Good, Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days, Dispatched from the US -- Expect delivery in 2-3 weeks. Former Library books. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy!
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, 1990Used - Very Good, Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days, Used - Very Good. Ships from UK in 48 hours or less (usually same day). Your purchase helps support the African Children's Educational Trust (A-CET). Ex-library, but has been well cared for. 100% money back guarantee. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to provide a vast range of textbooks, rare and...
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1990Oxford University Press, USA. Used - Very Good. Used - Very Good. Ships from UK in 48 hours or less (usually same day). Your purchase helps support the African Children's Educational Trust (A-CET). Ex-library, but has been well cared for. 100% money back guarantee. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to provide a vast range of textbooks, rare and collectible...
Hardcover, ISBN 0195061853Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA, 1990Hardcover Used - Very Good Used - Very Good. Ships from UK in 48 hours or less (usually same day). Your purchase helps support the African Children's Educational Trust (A-CET). Ex-library, but has been well cared for. 100% |
The Broad Spectrum of Sunscreens
Dermatologist approved.
By Lauren Halpern
April 30, 2017
As temperatures climb in central Texas, it’s important to take care of your body’s largest organ: your skin. And with skin cancer rates on the rise, a major key to prevention is applying a good sunscreen. Dr. Ted Lain, Board Certified Dermatologist, shares his favorite sunscreens–from drugstore brands to high-end medical protection–so you can have a worry-free summer in the sun.
Sheer Zinc Face Sunscreen Lotion $11
Broad-Spectrum SPF 50
A 100 percent physical blocker with SPF 50, yet this sunscreen doesn't have a heavy feel or opaque appearance when applied. Using Purescreen technology, this product contains only zinc oxide in an elegant formulation. This is a great choice for those with sensitive skin or if you want to avoid chemical sunscreen ingredients. Target
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen $18
SPF 30+
Skin cancer in the U.S. occurs in one in five people. However, Down Under the rate is much higher: two out of three. Blue Lizard follows Australia’s high standards for sunscreen formulation and features a bottle that changes colors when exposed to harmful rays, reminding you to cover up. “I find this product to be extremely water-resistant, and use it on myself and family when at the pool or beach,” says Dr. Lain. It comes in three formulations: sport, sensitive and face. store.atxderm.com
La Roche Posay Anthelios 45 Face $30
SPF 45
It’s formulated with a proprietary blend of antioxidants (Cell Ox Shield™ technology) which help boost its sun protection and prevent the sunscreen ingredients from breaking down. This sunscreen is extremely lightweight and excellent under makeup for everyday use. Target
EltaMD UV Aero $35
Broad Spectrum SPF 45
Sprays are great for those hard-to-reach areas. This one sets itself apart by containing 9.3 percent zinc oxide along with a chemical sunscreen, giving it broad-spectrum protection in a water-resistant formulation. The lotion goes on white but disappears as you rub it in. It’s also paraben-free.store.atxderm.com
SkinMedica Total Defense + Repair $68
SPF 34 or 50+
Whereas nearly all other sunscreens focus on blocking the effects of ultraviolet light, this sunscreen blocks ultraviolet and infrared rays. Traditionally, the infrared spectrum of light has been ignored by sunscreen manufacturers because it was thought that they posed little harm to the skin. Recent discoveries have shown that the opposite is true, and since infrared rays comprise more than 50 percent of the sun's energy (whereas UV rays are just seven percent), more attention needs to be paid to their effect. This product does that, in both tinted and untinted formulations.skinmedica.com |
Cold field electron emitters or “cold cathode” electron sources based on field emission have been continuously researched for decades, with resurgence in recent years motivated by advances in carbon nanostructures. This research is motivated by the significant technological applications enabled by the desirable properties of field-extracted cold electrons in comparison to heat induced electron emissions. The use of carbon nanotube field emitters in display applications and its potential advantages have been known for some time. In addition though, attributes such as minimal beam spread and fast response would also allow for advances in other critical applications, including microwave electronics and x-ray sources. These attributes would lead to superior communication and radar, and new functionalities and modalities in imaging technology for medicine and security. These latter applications, however, require an emitter capable of high emission current, which so far has been in the realm of thermal sources.
Accordingly, a need exists for a cold field or “cold cathode” field emitter which could provide relatively high emission current densities without failure. Moreover, it would also be beneficial to provide methods of forming such emitters at ambient temperatures and which are amenable for large scale manufacturing processes. |
VEC for Kids
Attention geocaching fans: the Verona EC cache "The Grove" is now live, you can get the GPS coordinates HERE - This is a real-world, free outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of coordinates and then attempt to find the hidden cache (container) at that location. If you take something from the cache, leave something of equal or greater value. Write about your find in the cache logbook. The Geocaching Logo is a registered trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. Used with permission. Happy geocaching!
Tips for Kids
Kids can help to save water.Even if you do each day just one of the things listed below you’re doing the right thing! For more water conservation tips please visit The Water Page.
Don’t leave the water running while you wash your hands. Wet your hands and
turn the water off completely. Use soap and then turn the
water on to rinse.
Don’t leave the
water running while you’re brushing your teeth.Turn the faucet on to get your toothbrush and toothpaste
wet, and then again to rinse your mouth and toothbrush.
Tell adults at home and at school when faucets are dripping or toilets liking so it can be repaired.A liking toilet can waste 600 gallons each month! Suggest them to use “low-flow” toilet and shower head to conserve water. A regular shower head uses as
much as 7 gallons of water every minute!
Take short showers instead of baths. Bath use a lot of water, about 37 gallons!
Use
a wastebasket for used tissues, or things like gum wrappers or paper
towels. Don’t flush them. The average
flush uses as much as 5 gallons of water!
Do
you have plants in your house? When meals are prepared and vegetables
or other fresh produce are washed, collect that water and use it to
water the plants. Or put a barrel outdoors to catch rain water and use it to water your plants.
Do you like a drink of
cold water now and then? Rather than running the kitchen faucet for
several minutes to get cold water, keep a pitcher of water in the
refrigerator.
If
there is a dishwasher in your house, encourage everyone to scrape their
plates rather than rinse them before loading them into the machine. It
should always be full before turning it on.
In the summertime,
it’s fun to play under the lawn sprinkler. When you do, make sure it’s
when the lawn is being watered at the same time.If the adults in your home occasionally water the
lawn, encourage them to water in the cooler parts of the day (early
morning, or after sunset), and never on windy days. This prevents water being
lost to evaporation. Suggest adults to mow as high as the mower goes (3 to 4 inches). A taller cut helps
shade out weeds and conserve moisture.
Verona kids are doing their green homework!
Poster Exhibit: Every year since 2009 Verona public elementary schools' students help to improve our air quality by participating in the VEC’s Idle
Free Verona annual poster contest. All artwork submitted in 2011 is currently on display at the Essex County
Environmental Center in Roseland, NJ. Open to all and free of charge! Monday
through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm
and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. The Center is located at 621 Eagle
Rock Avenue, Roseland, NJ 07068. Pictured is Tara Casella, the center's director visiting the exhibit. For more information please call the ECEC at (973) 228-8776.
Visit the new Walk to School Day and Idle Free poster contest pages with plenty of photos from the event and continue walking throughout the year!
Green Cleaning: In early 2009, ten students from Laning Avenue School attended a Board of Education meeting to ask that "green" cleaning
products be used at Verona's schools.The students reminded us all of the health hazards
associated with traditional cleaning products. The school district is currently phasing out cleaning
Forest Avenue School celebrated Earth Day by hosting four Recycling Workshops on 2013.Students Grade 1 through 4 participated in hands-on presentations organized by the school SCA and the Verona Environmental Commission. Students demonstrated how to flatten corrugated cardboard boxes to be dropped off at the Verona Recycling Center. They sorted out items for recycling collection learning the difference between aluminum and tin cans, corrugated cardboard and paper board, etc. They learned about household hazardous waste and items made with 100% recycled content. Sometimes recycling can be a bit confusing, but now students are experts on Verona's Recycling Programs! Pictured student Stephanie Zimany sorting recyclable items.products that are not environmentally friendly. Well done!
F.N.Brown Eco Fair
F. N. Brown School holds an Annual Eco-Fair on May every year. About 250 students participate creating amazing objects with recycled materials, such as musical instruments, animals, historical figures and posters.
Students play the commission's educational games, such as “How Long it Takes to Decompose”, pictured here with the VEC member Gerard Shimonaski. All grades visit the exhibit and learn environmental facts during the school day. The exhibit remains open after school for the whole family to attend.
The three R's
To help Verona save money and go "Green" please watch our presentation about Verona's Recycling Programshere, created by
VEC members targeting third and fourth grade students.
The VEC presented this program at the
following schools: Forest Ave., Laning Ave. (pictured left), F.N.Brown,
Brookdale Ave. and Our Lady of the Lake. SEE MORE PICTURES HERE
The three R's of the environment are reduce, reuse and recycle.
Every year we throw away 50 billion of food and drink cans in the U.S.
More than 30% of our waste is packaging materials and 85% of our garbage
goes to a dump; where it can take hundreds of years to decompose. We
are running out of space! Don't buy things you don't need or items that
come in wasteful packaging. Avoid also things that cannot be recycled.
Reduce consumption, reuse manufactured products andrecyclewhatever you can.
The Verona Recycling Center located at 10 Commerce
Ct. is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Science Projects
Ready to Go to School...GREEN?
Considering that in the U.S. we throw away 2.5 millionplastic bottles
every hour and 86% of those are NOT recycled; going to school offers a
great opportunity to go "green". The first two ingredients of a low-waste lunch are a reusable lunch container and a refillable bottle. Try "I will pack my own lunch and
avoid disposable packaging" or "This
will be the year I walk to school every time". Improve your health
while you help the planet!
Ready to get greener? Check out GO TO SCHOOL GREEN!
Games and Activities
Welcome to Recycle City! This kid friendly site from the EPA has games, activities, and fun facts to show you why recycling is so important.
Soil Composting Activity
This fun activity can show you how to make fertile soil out of things
you would find in a trash can. Fertile soil helps plants grow and can
provide food for lots of people.
Sort Mania Game This game by the Enviromental Protection Agency that will show you how to sort and recycle.
Planet Protectors Club Check out how you can be a member of the Planet Protectors Club for Kids! It involves fun games and activities.
Yucky Worm World Check out the yuckiest site on the internet and how worms are professional recyclers. |
LayersMag
A Good Case for Highlighter: Karlie Kross’s Stellar Shine
is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
If it’s a little Valentines Day beauty inspiration you’re after these days , looking to a Victoria’s Secret model is a pretty good way to start. VS models are a special breed of pretty, continually blowing us away as they march the glittery runway each winter season. Karlie Kross is one of the world’s highest-paid models for a reason. Always chic and always sophisticated, the gal’s got the act of minimal makeup down to a science. Here, the model is seen looking fresh and fabulous, due in no small part to cleverly placed highlighter with the potential to make a world of difference. Reach for a cream highlighter like Karlie’s to form the perfect party-ready look this season.
You may be tempted to go full-on flashy for this special time of year, but it’s imperative to exercise some restraint in order for the fabulousness of a good highlighter to shine through. Literally. The soft, dewey look is much more appropriate for product that an attention-grabbing red lip. Keep colors neutral to avoid an overly shiny moment that’s rarely flattering, if at all. A nude lip and neutral smokey eye will do just fine to achieve a covetable beauty look in a flash. Pair this anything from a shimmery party dress to a little black dress to up the ante on the style game this season. Gather hair into a messy updo and throw a pair of statement earrings into the mix to draw attention to your gorgeous face. Sophisticated yet still completely sassy, this is one look sure to score you a Valentines Day kiss this season.
LAYERSMAG.COM is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. |
Facing Death
Nov. 23, 2010
60 minutes
How far would you go to sustain the life of someone you love, or your own? When the moment comes, and you're confronted with the prospect of "pulling the plug," do you know how you'll respond? Unfounded rumors of federal "death panels" grabbed headlines last summer, but the real decisions of how we die -- the questions that most of us prefer to put off -- are being made quietly behind closed doors, increasingly on the floors of America's intensive care units. In this film, FRONTLINE gains access to the ICU of one of New York's biggest hospitals to examine the complicated reality of today's modern, medicalized death. Here, we find doctors and nurses struggling to guide families through the maze of end-of-life choices they now confront: whether to pull feeding and breathing tubes, when to perform expensive surgeries and therapies or to call for hospice. The film also offers an unusually intimate portrait of patients facing the prospect of dying in ways that they might never have wanted or imagined. |
One would imagine that the deployment has been long planned – as was her older sister ship HMS Daring going to the Gulf several weeks ago. The move however does dramatically enhance British forces in the Falklands – a Type 45 sat off the islands, with its Sea Viper missile system and SAMPSON radar, would provide a significant deterrent to any Argentine threat. In addition, she does also carry a Lynx helicopter with anti-surface capability. She could also provide direction for the Eurofighters on the Islands. If you were an Argentine senior officer, you would think twice about sending in your obsolescent airfcraft against a Type 45 Destroyer, with four Eurofighter Tyhoons under direction. Of course, one ship is not enough to fight a war, but as was found in 1976, one ship in the right place might be enough to prevent one from occuring.
There have been some rather inaccurate comments in some media outlets about the deployment. According to the Telegraph, one navy ‘source’ claimed that Dauntless could take out all of South America’s air forces, let alone Argentinas. Well, I’m not sure whether this ‘source’ got his GCSE maths, but there are more military aircraft in Argentina than 48. Not every missile is guaranteed a hit, as the Falklands showed, and even then, missiles are often fired in salvos, ie, more than one per target. Another odd claim is that Dauntless could shoot down Argentinian aircraft as soon as they leave their bases. Well, I doubt Dauntless would be sat off the Argentine coast – too risky – and with my rudimentary knowledge of the geography
The delpoyment is bound to increase tensions with Argentina at an already difficult time – any move that comes across as inflamatory is bound to incense Buenos Aires,
HMS Dauntless, the second of the Royal Navy’s new Type 45 Destroyers, arrived in Portsmouth today.
After a short delivery from the BAe system yard at Scotstoun on Clyde, Dauntless spent last night moored at Spithead, before weighing anchor and steaming into the harbour at 11am today. Sadly there was no flypast or any kind of event made of the occasion, which would have been an ideal time to ‘fly the flag’ for the Navy. The Army or the RAF would probably not have missed such an opportunity to show off a new fighter or a new vehicle.
Dauntless is the second in a batch of six ships. The first, HMS Daring, arrived in Portsmouth earlier this year. The Royal Navy is due to take delivery of the next four ships at the rate of one a year for the next four years. The rest of the class – Defender, Duncan, Dragon and Diamond – are all under construction. They will replace the rapidly ageing fleet of Type 42 Destroyers, which first entered service almost 35 years ago.
As impressive as they look, and as great as it is to finally see some new Destroyers for the Navy, several problems still remain. Six is nowhere near enough, by anyones standards. There will only realistically ever be 2 available at any one time for deployment, maybe 3 at a push. After originally planning for 12, the order was cut first to 10, then to 8, and finally to 6. These cuts are thought to have been in order to secure funding in the long term for the planned new aircraft carriers.
Also, the new Sea Viper missile, although being trumpeted by sources as a very capable missile, has not even been test fired yet. Dauntless is due to test fire it for the first time during her sea trials. Apart from raising the obvious question of why Daring has not been tasked to test it – what else is a lead ship for? – until the missile has been proven the Type 45’s are the worlds most advanced air control ships. |
require 'open3'
require 'support/cli'
require 'fileutils'
describe "running the pact docs CLI" do
include Pact::Support::CLI
before do
FileUtils.rm_rf "tmp/docs"
end
let(:command) { "bundle exec bin/pact docs --pact-dir spec/support/docs --doc-dir tmp/docs" }
it "writes some docs" do
execute_command command
expect(Dir.glob("tmp/docs/**/*").size).to_not eq 0
end
end
|
var SriPlugin = require('webpack-subresource-integrity');
var HtmlWebpackPlugin = require('html-webpack-plugin');
var WebpackBeforeBuildPlugin = require('before-build-webpack');
var webpack = require('webpack');
var path = require('path');
var AddAssetHtmlPlugin = require('add-asset-html-webpack-plugin');
module.exports = {
// mode: "development || "production",
resolve: {
extensions: ['.js', '.jsx']
},
entry: {
alpha: ['./alpha', './a'],
beta: ['./beta', './b', './c']
},
output: {
filename: 'MyDll.[name].js',
library: '[name]_[hash]'
},
plugins: [
new webpack.DllPlugin({
path: path.join(__dirname, 'dist', '[name]-manifest.json'),
name: '[name]_[hash]'
}),
new WebpackBeforeBuildPlugin(
function(_stats, callback) {
webpack(
{
mode: 'production',
entry: {
index: './index.js'
},
output: {
path: path.join(__dirname, 'dist'),
crossOriginLoading: 'anonymous'
},
plugins: [
new webpack.DllReferencePlugin({
context: path.join(__dirname),
manifest: require(path.join(
__dirname,
'dist/alpha-manifest.json'
)) // eslint-disable-line
}),
new webpack.DllReferencePlugin({
scope: 'beta',
manifest: require(path.join(
__dirname,
'dist/beta-manifest.json'
)), // eslint-disable-line
extensions: ['.js', '.jsx']
}),
new HtmlWebpackPlugin(),
new AddAssetHtmlPlugin({
filepath: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist/MyDll.*.js')
}),
new SriPlugin({
hashFuncNames: ['sha256', 'sha384'],
enabled: true
})
]
},
function afterEmit(err, stats) {
if (err || stats.hasErrors() || stats.hasWarnings()) {
throw err || new Error(stats.toString({ reason: true }));
} else {
callback();
}
}
);
},
['done']
)
]
};
|
Rap1-mediated nucleosome displacement can regulate gene expression in senescent cells without impacting the pace of senescence.
Cell senescence is accompanied, and in part mediated, by changes in chromatin, including histone losses, but underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We reported previously that during yeast cell senescence driven by telomere shortening, the telomeric protein Rap1 plays a major role in reprogramming gene expression by relocalizing hundreds of new target genes (called NRTS, for new Rap1 targets at senescence) to the promoters. This leads to two types of histone loss: Rap1 lowers histone level globally by repressing histone gene expression, and it also causes local nucleosome displacement at the promoters of upregulated NRTS. Here, we present evidence of direct binding between Rap1 and histone H3/H4 heterotetramers, and map amino acids involved in the interaction within the Rap1 SANT domain to amino acids 392-394 (SHY). Introduction of a point mutation within the native RAP1 locus that converts these residues to alanines (RAP1SHY ), and thus disrupts Rap1-H3/H4 interaction, does not interfere with Rap1 relocalization to NRTS at senescence, but prevents full nucleosome displacement and gene upregulation, indicating direct Rap1-H3/H4 contacts are involved in nucleosome displacement. Consistent with this, the histone H3/H4 chaperone Asf1 is similarly unnecessary for Rap1 localization to NRTS but is required for full Rap1-mediated nucleosome displacement and gene activation. Remarkably, RAP1SHY does not affect the pace of senescence-related cell cycle arrest, indicating that some changes in gene expression at senescence are not coupled to this arrest. |
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The REEF and the SME fund
In the late 1990s, the IFC established the REEF to offer both equity and debt financing to commercial enterprises for a range of renewables, both on and off grid. By November 2001, US$65 million of equity plus debt had been placed with the REEF. Of this, the IFC stipulated that 20-30 per cent should be invested in the off-grid sector, of which 20 per cent should be in deals under US$5 million, and that no proposal would be too small to finance. In the rural solar sector, the REEF's investments were intended to reach businesses who wanted 'to expand their businesses' and support 'consumer financing schemes'.68
Because many investments in the off-grid sector, which included solar, would be of US$1 million or less, and because the returns would be low - not above 10 per cent69 - the GEF approved the allocation of US$30 million. This was to enable the REEF 'to consider opportunities that are not receiving attention from international investment funds, such as smaller or more complex, leading-edge projects with proportionally higher transaction costs'. Even with these funds in place, however, it was felt that the returns on solar loans might not even cover the transaction costs of negotiating the investments.70 The cost structure of the REEF was too heavy for the rural solar markets, and it generally failed to deliver its objectives before it was closed in 2003.
By contrast, the IFC's SME facility had more success in finding solar investments. This fund also used GEF funds - US$20.8 million was provided as debt and equity to the companies. By 2000, the SME facility had invested roughly US$1.6 million in solar companies as debt, equity and even partial guarantee (for banks). The three transactions that made up this amount were with the American entrepreneur's firm in Vietnam, Grameen Shakti in Bangladesh and the fee-for-service business in Central America (as profiled in Chapter 4). But of these businesses, only Grameen Shakti would have a sustainable impact, and here, as we have seen, it was a small loan. It was not sizeable enough to have the same impact as the line of credit and grant the World Bank later put into the country.
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The Kremlin’s multifaceted strategy in France
Stories in the Context section are not fakes. We publish them in order to provide greater insight for our readers about the techniques, methods and practices used by the Russian government in its information war. They appear on our site with the permission of their original publisher and reflect the views of the authors and not necessarily the position of StopFake’s editorial board.
By Nicolas Tenzer, for Disinfo Portal
France’s internal political landscape is ripe for the Kremlin’s propaganda and disinformation. From the yellow vest protests to divisive electoral politics before the recent European elections, the Kremlin targets the country’s ongoing political struggles to exacerbate social divides and shift public opinion against the EU and in favor of the Kremlin. Given France’s outsized role in both European and global affairs, the potential effects of the success of Moscow’s disinformation and propaganda strategy are considerable.
France is an ideal target for the Kremlin’s propaganda for three reasons. Firstly, parties on both extremes of the political spectrum lend their support to Vladimir Putin. Far-right parties such as Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan’s Debout la France, and François Asselineau’s Union Populaire et Républicaine (UPR) express support for Moscow. Endorsements for Putin from the radical left come from such figures as Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Additionally, the Kremlin receives backing from the traditional right, including former president Nicolas Sarkozy, former prime minister and presidential candidate François Fillon, and former leader of the conservative Party Les Républicains Laurent Wauquiez.
Secondly, the yellow vest protests have presented the Kremlin with a golden opportunity to fuel discontent and magnify some of the movement’s key figures through its official and less official channels. Many of the demonstrators have praised Russia Today (RT) on social networks such as Facebook for the outlet’s extensive and favorable coverage of the protest movement. Subsequently, reports surfaced that accounts linked to Russia had penetrated the movement’s online network. Beyond the more well-known of the Kremlin’s propaganda outlets, there are many self-proclaimed “re-information” media (TV channels, websites, blogs) and right-wing magazines, many with clear pro-Putin and pro-Assad stances, that have given a voice to purported yellow vest leaders.
Thirdly, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a guarantor of the Minsk Agreements, and key pillar of the EU, a Moscow-friendly France could be a strong asset for Putin’s regime if its leaders fail to address the threat posed by the Kremlin’s disinformation.
In order to understand how Russia’s propaganda is working in France and in the EU, one needs to comprehend the propaganda’s multifold nature. The Kremlin’s strategy combines soft and hard propaganda. On the one hand, the disinformation’s aim is to destabilize democratic institutions and the public mindset toward those institutions. On the other, it spreads disinformation on Russia-related issues and narratives. These two aims must be clearly distinguished. Additionally, sometimes the objectives of a particular propaganda campaign are two-fold. For example, propaganda and disinformation pedaled by media outlets around the yellow vest protests both denounced repression of the demonstrators and the government’s “dictatorship” while relativizing the crackdown on freedom of speech and civil liberties in Russia. Whatever the reasons for the protesters’ anger, the movement uses very common techniques to discredit the government. Many of these techniques take their inspiration from the “agit-prop” (agitation-propaganda) of the former Soviet Communist Party, which combined classical ideological influence with attempts to foment upheaval and discontent.
While the Kremlin did not create the discontent motivating the protests, Moscow has deployed a sizeable array of arguments and supporters, including useful idiots, to call into question the legitimacy of the elected government. Its strategy has also helped to undermine France’s pro-EU parties. A majority of the protesters voted for Marine Le Pen’s party in the recent European parliamentary elections. Moreover, many within the movement are Euro-Skeptics who embrace the notion that an “ultra-liberal” and market-oriented Europe is to blame for social issues on the continent.
This anti-globalization mantra has both a left- and right-wing component, the nuances of which were often glossed over by the movement’s spokespersons. Elements on either end of the political spectrum varied in their usage of the narrative, from using it to target the finance industry and the “banksters,” often with an anti-Semitic resonance, or against migrants to depict them as “invaders” and as a threat to “Christian values” as described by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Even some mainstream parties coopted this narrative and expressed strong positions against further enlargement of the EU, thereby legitimizing those more extreme stances. While the Kremlin did not invent the anti-globalization narrative, its resurgence in France has allowed Moscow to foment intolerance and closed-mindedness.
This misinformation is difficult to combat. It promotes a negative image of France, a technique used in domestic politics by opposition parties around the world. While manipulated or presented in a biased manner, it may express the feelings of certain groups who oppose the ruling government. Even if it gives voice to persons who are also propagating “fake news,” the issue is more about opinions freely expressed in a democracy than about the fakes. Observers and watchdogs certainly must debunk the outright lies and rectify the facts, but doing so will not fundamentally address the manipulation of information. To effectively handle the issue, activists must expose the meddling of a foreign power in the domestic political arena and ensure that political parties or entities disclose the foreign support they have received. Unfortunately, finding the necessary evidence can be a difficult task.
Beyond the yellow vests and internal political struggles, the Kremlin actively attempts to whitewash its war in Ukraine and Syria and distort perceptions of Moscow’s culpability. Its wars in Ukraine and Syria have lapsed out of major news headlines and most French citizens no longer follow them. Neither war played a significant role during the European elections campaign. Kremlin propaganda channels continue to propagate Moscow’s favored narratives surrounding the wars, including the fight against “terrorists” in Idlib; the “legitimate” annexation of Crimea; the lack of Russia’s responsibility for downing the MH17 flight; and the “protection” of the Russian-speaking population in the Donbas. France’s communication regulation body blamed RT France for distorting information coming from Syria. Kremlin-linked outlets regularly launch smear campaigns against the White Helmets rescuers in Syria or accuse rebel forces, and even sometimes their allies France and Belgium, of planning chemical weapons attacks.
Most worryingly, many opinion leaders and mainstream media outlets in the West further Kremlin narratives about these topics. These narratives include assertions that “we have to pass over Crimea (or Syria) by losses and gains,” “we must understand how Russia has been humiliated” (and “we must not humiliate Russia”), and “we have to reach out to Russia” (or “to reconcile with Russia”), and so on. Those who advocate for appeasement of Moscow, often doing so through admonitions of the risks of a conflict with Russia, frequently depict these narratives as “realistic.” Conversely, those who advocate for a strong stance and increased sanctions on Russia, such as a European Magnitsky Act, are labeled as “warmongers” who endanger peace.
The dissemination and normalization of these soft propaganda themes may be a more important source of concern than lobbying for Russia by French far-right Members of European Parliament (MEPs). The issue is that France simultaneously blames Russia for meddling in the elections and for its deeds in Ukraine and Syria while conceding to Russia on the world stage, for instance by re-admitting Moscow’s MPs to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) or by hesitating to impose a second round of sanctions on Russia related to Ukraine and Syria. These contradictory positions could make France appear inconsistent in its policy toward the Kremlin.
There are, therefore, two discernible aims of the Kremlin’s propaganda in France. The first is mostly domestic, though it could have ominous international consequences: undermining democracy in Europe and fueling discontent with the aim of bringing pro-Kremlin governments into power. The second, potentially subtler and more invasive, is to make Western leaders reluctant to act against Putin’s violation of international law and his destabilization of Ukraine and Syria. Conciliatory stances toward Moscow signal the West’s hesitation to stand tough against the Kremlin’s provocations.
The potential consequences of the widespread infiltration of France’s internal political discourse by these disinformation narratives are far-reaching. Some of those who spread them may have access to government circles and mainstream political parties. Thus, it is crucial for observers and activists to recognize that while the Kremlin did not create the animosity and discontent at the heart of France’s political troubles, whether concerning the European elections or the yellow vests protests, the inflammation of antagonistic political sentiments and the polarization of the debate are the Kremlin’s self-serving designs.
By Nicolas Tenzer, for Disinfo Portal
Nicolas Tenzer is a guest professor at Sciences-Po Paris, author of three official reports to the government, including two on international strategy, and of 22 books, including When France Disappears From the World. |
Pages
Requirements For A Perfect Nights Sleep*
*This is a collaborative post*
I'm gonna go all out and say this - I'm a sleepaholic! I love my bed, it's probably my favourite place to be. Ever since I was a tiny tot I've required a lot of sleep in order to function properly. If I have a bad night you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be grumpy, moody, head-achy and not at all myself the following day.
Here are my requirements for a perfect nights sleep!
Darkness
I need darkness but not a complete blackout. Ever since I was a small girl I've needed to have the bedroom door open just a crack to let the landing light in a tiny bit. I'm night blind so I really hate total darkness as it freaks me out.
Silence
I don't like any noise at bedtime because it literally prevents me from falling asleep. Once I'm actually asleep, again I have to have complete silence as the slightest thing can wake me up. It doesn't matter if it's snoring from the other bedroom, music coming from next doors garden party, chatter from a family member downstairs or even a ticking clock, if there's sound, you can guarantee I'll be lying there wide awake. The only exception (or that I've adjusted to) is the rain. I find the sound of it hitting the window rather soothing as I'm snuggled up in bed.
Comfort
I have four required essentials for optimum comfort. The temperature in my bedroom has to be right. Too hot and I get sticky and uncomfortable. Don't even suggest opening the window - I hate the notion that spiders can get in. My mum says they'll get in anyway but still, the thought makes me shudder!
I also need a good quality mattress like these from Mattress Next Day, one that is firm enough to give my back support but not so hard that I can't sink into it a little. I've had a back problem since I was a teen so if the mattress is all wrong then I'll be waking up constantly with backache. Luckily I have a fantastic mattress and so any back troubles are kept at bay!
Three squishy pillows are a must - no more and no less - to make sure I'm sleeping comfortably and at the right angle otherwise again I tend to get back and neck problems. Been there, done that, bought that t-shirt and it wasn't fun. As soon as my pillows start flagging, I invest in new ones.
Lastly in the comfort domain, I have to have a heavyweight duvet no matter what the season. I like to feel the weight of it so that I can snuggle - literally up to my chin - and feel safe and secure. Sure I might kick a leg out if it gets hot in the summer but the duvet never goes! It's just a comfort thing I guess. For more information on buying duvets, check out this guide from the The Dozy Owl.
Hydration
I try to down a pint of cordial every night before I go to bed otherwise you can guarantee that I'll wake up in the early hours gasping for a drink. I'm always thirsty. It also helps keep my headaches at bay.
Blue Light Ban
I can't believe I'm saying this after months of protesting but I think the blue light emitted from my phone is affecting my sleeping pattern. I've been reading up more on this lately and as such have set myself a goal to put my phone away for one hour every night before bedtime. I'm still adjusting to this as I literally use my phone for everything - blog related tasks, networking, social media etc etc. That said, now I've been doing this for over a week, I've already started to notice a difference. I've slept through to at least four am on a couple of occasions and this hasn't happened in as long as I can remember. When I manage to sleep through for a full night I'll be sure to update you!
What are your tips for a good nights sleep?
Thanks to Mattress Next Day for sharing the information and stats below.
2 comments
:
This is so interesting to read! What is night blind?! I've never heard of that before. I don't like pitch darkness and, in fact, before I met Chris I would sleep with the TV on to give me some light. I don't like silence either, and I usually drift off listening to music with my headphones on or, if Chris is away overnight, watching a re-run of something on TV! You're like my partner in that you must always have the duvet. If it's hot, I'd rather just have nothing tbh! x www.aimeeraindropwrites.co.uk x
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Q:
Abbreviations for hours and minutes in French?
So in English, the abbreviations for hours and minutes is hrs and mins. Is it the same in French, or are such abbreviations simply not used?
Merci beaucoup!
A:
The usual abbreviations for hours, minutes and seconds in French (heures, minutes, secondes) are the SI ones: h, min and s. These are also the abbreviations mandated by the official Québec rules. For minutes, mn is also commonly used, but less than it used to be. m is also common when used in combination with hours.
Putting an s at the end of an abbreviation to denote a plural can happen, but it's less common in French than in English.
People would probably understand the English abbreviations in context, but French people would not write hr. The official Québec rules explicitly recommend not to use hres, which is not something I've seen in France.
Thus a time interval of 2½ hours would typically be written “2 h 30 min” (spacing optional). When there are hours and minutes but no seconds, it's common to omit the unit for minutes: “2h30”.
For short intervals with minutes and seconds but no hours, you'll sometimes find something like 4’33” but this is frowned upon (’ and ” are symbols for arc minutes and arc seconds, not for units of time).
We often use this to write the time as well, but it's also common to use a colon between the hours and the minutes, e.g. 2.30pm is “14h30” or “14:30”. (Note that in France, the time of day is always written using a 24-hour clock since the beginning of the 20th century.)
A:
French follows the international standards and conventions and uses the official symbols1 which are:
a single h for hour
min for the minute.
The only official SI time unit is the second. The minute and the hour are mentioned by the standard and their usage is accepted but they are not officially defined in the SI.
By typographic rules, an unbreakable space character is mandatory before all symbols2 except °, ', and ".
11:39PM is 23 h 39 min, you might drop min here and use 23 h 39. If the context is clear, you might drop the h too and use a colon without surrounding spaces instead: 23:39.
Some people still use the legacy convention mn instead of min but it has been obsoleted in 1975 when mn was replaced by min as the official symbol for minute and m curiously accepted as a shorter form (see Journal officiel du 23 déc. 1975). The m form that collided with mètre was abandoned in 2012.
It took around 30 years for the usage of min to overcome the technically illegal mn :
Note that very few abbreviations and no symbols at all do take the plural in French so mins is incorrect and hrs is twice more.
1 They are mathematical symbols, independent of the language used, not abbreviations. As such they never have an ending dot like abbreviations built by truncation.
2 To save space, this rule is sometimes broken and no space is used but it is nevertheless considered an error.
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