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Logical and analytic issues in dental/oral product comparison research.
Possible meanings of "superiority" and "equivalence" in comparative dental studies are considered. A proposed refinement of vocabulary is introduced to precisely distinguish between these meanings. Implications for data analysis of different interpretations of "superiority" and "equivalence" are explored, as are implications for study design where design and analytic considerations are inseparable. Conceptual problems of equivalence studies are stressed. Choice of analytic unit(s), scaling of dependent variables, use of surrogate variables, and validity checking are discussed as they pertain to comparative studies. Analytic methods for correlated responses and categorized responses are briefly surveyed, particularly with reference to periodontal research. |
In the first study to compare all available IVF treatments and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, researchers find that IVF treatments for the most severe forms of male infertility are associated with an increased risk of intellectual disability and autism in children.
Autism and intellectual disability remain a rare outcome of IVF, and whilst some of the risk is associated with the risk of multiple births, the study provides important evidence for parents and clinicians on the relative risks of modern IVF treatments.
Published in JAMA today, the study is the largest of its kind and was led by researchers at King's College London (UK), Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York (USA).
By using anonymous data from the Swedish national registers, researchers analysed more than 2.5 million birth records from 1982 and 2007 and followed-up whether children had a clinical diagnosis of autism or intellectual disability (defined as having an IQ below 70) up until 2009. Of the 2.5m children, 1.2% (30,959) were born following IVF. Of the 6,959 diagnosed with autism, 103 were born after IVF; of the 15,830 with intellectual disability, 180 were born after IVF. Multiple pregnancies are a known risk factor for pre-term birth and some neurodevelopmental disorders, so the researchers also compared single to multiple births.
Sven Sandin, co-author of the study from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry says: "IVF treatments are vastly different in terms of their complexity. When we looked at IVF treatments combined, we found there was no overall increased risk for autism, but a small increased risk of intellectual disability. When we separated the different IVF treatments, we found that 'traditional' IVF is safe, but that IVF involving ICSI, which is specifically recommended for paternal infertility is associated with an increased risk of both intellectual disability and autism in children."
Compared to spontaneous conception, children born from any IVF treatment were not at an increased risk of autism, but were at a small increased risk of intellectual disability (18% increase - from 39.8 to 46.3 per 100,000 person years). However, the risk increase disappeared when multiple births were taken into account.
Secondly, the researchers compared all 6 different types of IVF procedures available in Sweden - whether fresh or frozen embryos were used; if intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was used, and if so, whether sperm was ejaculated or surgically extracted. Developed in 1992, ICSI is recommended for male infertility and is now used in about half of all IVF treatments. The procedure involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg, rather than fertilization happening in a dish, as in standard IVF.
Children born after IVF treatments with ICSI (with either fresh or frozen embryos) were at an increased risk of intellectual disability (51% increase - 62 to 93 per 100,000). This association was even higher when a preterm birth also occurred (73% increase - 96 to 167 per 100,000). Even when multiple and pre-term births were taken into account, IVF treatment with ICSI and fresh embryos was associated with an increased risk of intellectual disability (66% increase for singleton birth, term birth following ICSI with fresh embryos- 48 to 76 per 100,000).
Children born after IVF with ICSI using surgically extracted sperm and fresh embryos were at an increased risk of autism (360% increase - 29 to 136 per 100,000) but the association disappeared when multiple births were taken into account.
Dr Avi Reichenberg, who led the study from King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, adds: "Our study shows that treatments developed to manage male infertility are associated with an increased risk for developmental disorders in the offspring. The exact mechanism is unclear, but there are a number of risk factors, from selection of IVF procedures, to multiple embryos, and to preterm birth. Whilst intellectual disability or autism remain a rare outcome for IVF, being aware of the increased risk associated with specific types of IVF means offspring at risk can be identified and potentially monitored for developmental disorders, ensuring they receive early detection and appropriate support and care."
Dr Karl-Gösta Nygren, co-author from Karolinska Institutet, says: "It's important to remember that the majority of children are born perfectly healthy following IVF. Our study provides much needed information for parents and clinicians on the relative risks of modern IVF treatments, enabling them to make the most informed choice possible. Our study also provides further evidence for the need to minimize multiple embryo transfer. However, more research is needed to elucidate the reasons behind our findings."
The authors add that within the context of this study, it was not possible to determine the exact mechanism by which IVF treatment following ICSI is associated with an increased risk of intellectual disability. However, the authors did extend their study to consider possible explanations for the increased risk, such as parental age, temporal trend, hormonal treatment or length of infertility problems, but found no further explanations to the results.
The study was conducted in Sweden but the findings are applicable to most countries where IVF and ICSI are used but there may be differences in choice of procedure.
###
The study was funded by Autism Speaks and the Swedish Research Council.
Notes to editors:
Please note: the research paper uses the terminology "mental retardation" which is commonly used in the United States. In the UK, the term most commonly used is "intellectual disability."
Paper reference: Sandin, S. et al. "Autism and Mental Retardation Among Offspring Born After In Vitro Fertilisation" JAMA (3rd July 2013)
For copies of the paper or interviews with the authors, please contact:
Seil Collins, Press Officer
King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry
Tel: (+44) 0207 848 5377/Mob: (+44) 07718 697 176
Email: [email protected]
About King's College London:
King's College London is one of the top 30 universities in the world (2012/13 QS international world rankings), and was The Sunday Times 'University of the Year 2010/11', and the fourth oldest in England. A research-led university based in the heart of London, King's has more than 25,000 students (of whom more than 10,000 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and more than 6,500 employees. King's is in the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King's has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top 10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £525 million (year ending 31 July 2011).
King's has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of radio, television, mobile phones and radar.
King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts are part of King's Health Partners. King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering global collaboration between one of the world's leading research-led universities and three of London's most successful NHS Foundation Trusts, including leading teaching hospitals and comprehensive mental health services. For more information, visit: http://www. kingshealthpartners. org .
The College is in the midst of a five-year, £500 million fundraising campaign - World questions|King's answers - created to address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity as quickly as feasible. The campaign's five priority areas are neuroscience and mental health, leadership and society, cancer, global power and children's health. More information about the campaign is available at http://www. kcl. ac. uk/ kingsanswers .
About Karolinska Institutet:
Karolinska Institutet is one of the world's leading medical universities. It accounts for over 40 per cent of the medical academic research conducted in Sweden and offers the country's broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. Since 1901 the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has selected the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine. More on ki.se/English . |
Elucidating the origins of enhanced CO2 reduction in manganese electrocatalysts bearing pendant hydrogen-bond donors.
Complexes of the general form [Mn(X)(CO)3bpy] (X = a variety of monodentate ligands, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) have been reported to act as electrocatalysts for the reduction of CO2 to CO. In this work, a series of phenol and anisole substituted bipyridine ligands were synthesized and ligated to a manganese metal center in order to probe for an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interaction in the transition state of CO2 reduction. Ligands without the ability to intramolecularly hydrogen bond displayed decreased catalytic current density compared to those with the ability to hydrogen bond with CO2. Electrocatalysis was studied by performing voltammetric and bulk electrolysis experiments under argon or CO2 environments. Measurements of catalytic rates using hydrogen vs. deuterium for the intramolecular H/D-bonding step show that there is an isotope effect associated with the catalysis. The data presented herein suggest a mechanism involving two subsequent equilibrium isotope effects in combination with a primary kinetic isotope effect. |
I don't collect modulars. I don't build modulars. I hear about them a lot though. When I do hear about them, one set seems to be spoken about more than any others. The Green Grocer pops into conversations about modulars seemingly more often than any other. Whether it's the difficulty in getting the Sand Green pieces or how good it looks, or how expensive it is, it's a popular topic of conversation.
Wait, you might say. If I have no experience with this set, why should anyone want my opinions about it? Well, that's a fair question. I'm not really going to be presenting my opinions about the set, about its looks or the difficulty level of building it. Instead, I am providing analysis of the parts. I get curious when I read about an expensive set and want to know what makes it something unique. Many people have totes and bins of parts laying around. Most of them wonder why they couldn't just build the expensive sets with what they have on hand.
When the Green Grocer was released in 2008, it carried a retail price of $149.99. This is actually a fairly reasonable price considering the high piece count and size of the set. I would expect closer to $249.99 based upon my experience with Star Wars and Super Hero licensed sets. However, Modulars seem to fall into this price range though, so not really a surprise. What may be a surprise to some is the current cost to acquire this set. A used copy can be found in the $600-$700 range. Depending upon your patience or your need for the box or instructions, you may pay more. Looking at completed auctions on Ebay, some people have paid as much as $850 for a used set. If you insist on new, you're going to be spending more than $1000. Usually the prices are closer to $1200-$1300 for a new copy on Ebay. The Brickpicker price guide shows a similar range as does Bricklink.
The Green Grocer is a large set, the piece count, as listed on the box is 2352 (2335 if you go by the piece count on Bricklink which incorporates the minifigures.) Many LEGO buyers have more extra pieces than that laying around, but it is not an insignificant number. I would think that your kids would notice if you took that many pieces from their collection. Random pieces are not going to build this set, however. There are around 300 different elements (depending on whether you include the minifigures in your count or not.) An element in this situation refers to the unique part/color combination of the parts. I am not going to analyze every single part for this article. Instead I will focus upon 2 types of parts. The first type of part that I will analyze are the parts that are most numerous in the set. I've found that while I may have some of the parts for a large set, I rarely have the quantity needed of certain pieces. The first segment will include every element that you need 25 or more of. The second segment are the more specialized pieces. There are pieces that are expensive and there are pieces that are rare. Usually there is a correlation between the two. I will be listing all of the parts that cost more than $1.50 each and/or appear in 10 or less sets. Some pieces may qualify as both most numerous and rare, I will only list them once, making sure to note that they are to prevent bloating.
If I take an average sold price for all of the pieces including minifigures, but excluding box and instructions, I get $713. This is our base cost and only goes up when we think about the multiple orders needed to complete the set and the shipping charges that will be added on. Unless you already have a half completed set or know where to find most of the parts cheap, you're better off just buying a complete set. If you like the challenge though, don't let me dissuade you.
So, of our parts that appear 25 or more times, we have 25. Many of them are common pieces that won't cost much individually, but may be a significant cost when you factor in how many you need. Some parts though are expensive and numerous. Most images below will represent the part/color combination that is being talked about. In some cases I couldn't find a good image that matches the exact combination, so the image will represent the part but not the color.
The first part in the list actually belongs in both categories. Kind of a bad start if you are thinking of building this on your own. You need 56 sand green Brick, Modified 1 x 2 with Groove. Element 4216 appears in 2 sets, this one and 10217 Diagon Alley. This set requires more than twice as many of this piece. It averages $3 each, but to get the quantity you need, you'll be about $3.50 each. You're looking at $170-$200 just for this before shipping.
Significantly cheaper and easier to find, element 3069b occurs 55 times in this set. Light bluish gray Tile 1 x 2 with Groove appears in 305 sets and averages $.10 each,although several sellers on Bricklink have the quantity required for $.08
The sand green 1x3 brick appears 54 times in this set. Element 3622 appears in 9 sets. Be thankful that you are not making Statue of Liberty because you would need 220 of these. They average about $.30 each,but to get the quantity you need, you're probably closer to $.38
Back to common pieces, you need 51 element 3023. Light bluish grey 1x2 plates occur in 600 sets and may be found in the quantity you need for $.03 each.
Did I hear someone say that they wanted more rare parts that you need a lot of? Well I thought I did. Coming in at an average of $3.50, you need 50 element 3008. Sand green 1x8 bricks appear in 5 sets. The Statue of Liberty only needs 25 of them and UCS Yoda only needs 2.
It's quite a roller coaster here. Element 3062b occurs in 232 sets and averages $.05. Although, you can get the 46 Light Bluish Gray Brick, Round 1 x 1 Open Stud for$.02 or $.03 each.
Sand Green 1x4 bricks appear in 16 sets including some fairly recent Ninjago ones. You need 41 element 3010 and they're going to cost you about $.34 each.
I've been hearing so much talk lately about how much value the magical cheese slope adds to a set. This set must have a lot of value since it has 40 Light Bluish Gray Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3. Element 54200 appears in 260 sets and can be easily found for $.03 in volume.
I wonder what kind of a grocery store stocks black skeleton legs. This set has 37 element 6266. It appears in 53 sets and costs about $.12 each.
Next, we need 37 light bluish grey element 3070b. Tile 1 x 1 with Groove in this color appears in 160 sets. The average Bricklink price is $.09, but there are plenty available for less.
Light bluish grey 1x6 tiles are next most prevalent. You need 36 element 6636 which appears in 234 sets. You can find all that you need for $.09.
Element 3024 appears 36 times. Light bluish grey Plate 1 x 1 is in 226 sets. There are sellers that have the quantity that you need for $.02 each.
Just in case you were missing the sand green bricks, we're back with element 3005. The 1x1 brick appears in 24 sets and I think it appeared fairly recently in the pick a brick walls. This caused the price to drop significantly to around $.07-$.08 each. You need 35 of them.
You need 33 tan 1x2 plates. Element 3023 shows up in 331 sets. Several sellers have the quantity that you need for as low as $.01 each.
Appearing in 403 sets, you need 32 element 3004. The light bluish grey 1x2 brick costs an average of $.07, but can also be found in volume for as low as $.03.
Tan 1x1 plate element 3024 occurs in this set 29 times. This piece is in 126 sets. It averages $.08 but you can find all you need for about $.04.
Much cheaper than the earlier sand green version, the light bluish grey 1x8 brick can be had for $.27. Element 3008 appears in 107 sets. You need 29 of them.
29 light bluish grey 2x2 corner plates follow. Element 2420 is going to cost you about $.07 each. It appears in 186 sets.
464 sets have the light bluish grey 1x4 plate. You need 28 element 3710 for this set. They average $.08 each.
The next most numerous piece in the set is the white 1x2 tile with groove of which you need 28. I see a lot of these available in the $.04 range. 649 sets have element 3069b.
I expected element 3009 to appear in more than 191 sets. You need 28 light bluish grey 1x6 bricks for this set. You can get what you need for $.12 each, while the average is $.16.
Medium blue seems like a rare color. You need 27 1x2 tiles in that color. Element 3069b averages about $.08 and can be found in 56 sets
Element 3070b is called for 26 times in this set. 246 sets have 1x1 black tile with groove. You'll be able to find them fairly easily for $.04.
26 light bluish grey 1x1 bricks are next. You should be able to get them all for $.03-$.04 each. 288 sets have element 3005.
The last part to make the cut of most numerous is element 4216. The white 1x2 brick modified with groove shows up in 31 sets. It's only going to average about $.08. You need 25.
We've already seen the largest proportion of the parts cost of this set. Sand green pieces are not common and this set has a lot of them. For the rare/expensive section, I run into only 11 pieces that fall within the criteria that I set. As I mentioned earlier, I am not going to repeat the parts listed earlier, so this is what else is noteworthy. Of the remaining parts, only 11 fall within the bounds of costing more than $1.50 and/or appearing in 10 or fewer sets.
The most expensive piece that I found was element 4035. This part appears in 6 sets including 6990 Monorail Transport System. You need 4 White Window 1 x 2 x 3 Train that average $4.60 each.
This next part is really fairly common. It is part of 76 sets. At $4.50 each the Green Baseplate 16 x 32 is not cheap, but won't break the bank like the earlier sand green pieces. You need 2 element 3857.
The next piece, I like and you only need 1. Element 2039, White Lamp Post, 2 x 2 x 7 with 6 Base Flutes is almost a staple of the Modular theme. It appears in 21 sets and runs about $3.60, although some can probably had for cheaper.
For about $2.40 each, you need 4 dark red Slope, Inverted 75 2 x 1 x 3. Element 2449 appears in 11 sets including 10196 Grand Carousel.
Also requiring 4 is element 6005. The Brick, Arch 1 x 3 x 2 Curved Top in blue is part of 5 sets and averages $2 each.
The Dark bluish grey Door Frame 1 x 4 x 6 Type 1 Element 30179 is posted as being a part of this set,but an alternate is give of element 60596. I honestly don't know which one is more proper, but the primary one costs almost 6x as much as the alternate. $2 vs.$.30. You need 5.
The set is called the green grocer, so here's another sand green piece. 7 Hinge Brick 1 x 2 Base are going to cost you about $1.95 each. Element 3937 appears in 6 sets.
Appearing in 4 sets, the reddish brown Tile 1 x 4 with Viking Snakes Pattern seems like an odd choice to me. Just because the other 3 sets it appears in are Hogwarts or Viking ships, it would seem out of place in a grocery store. You're going to spend about $1.75 each for the 3 element 2431pb043 that you need.
No fears of crazy cat ladies in this set,you only need 1 white Cat Crouching with Black Eyes, Eyelashes, and Nose Pattern. Element 6251px1 appears in 14 sets and will cost you about $1.60.
Just like the other door frame, the white Door Frame 1 x 4 x 6 Type 1 Element 30179 is posted as being a part of this set,but an alternate is give of element 60596. The difference in rarity is 10 sets vs. 76 and $1 vs. $.22. Whichever way you go, you need 2.
(Note: While you also need black doors and the same parts are listed as primary and alternate, the cheaper, easier to find version is listed as primary. That is why I am not listing it here.)
The last piece on my list is element 3003. You need 3 Dark Green 2x2 bricks which can be found for $.05 each. It appears in only 8 sets.
As a subset of the Rare/expensive parts, I'd like to take a look at the minifigures. Each of the minifigures is unique to this set. How unique are they? I mean, sure these figures only appear in this set, but are the parts that make them up also unique?
Our first minifigure is twn073 descriptively known as Plain White Torso with White Arms, Sand Green Legs, Reddish Brown Female Hair Mid-Length, but I'm going to call her Jane. She's plain Jane, no torso printing or unique head and the only part of her that is vaguely rare are her legs. Bricklink says that she sells in the $6 range which I think is crazy because her parts are half that cost.
Next up is twn072 Overalls with Tools in Pocket Blue, Reddish Brown Hair Female Short Curled Ends. It seems like the only way you can tell these townies gender is by their hair. We're looking at a figure which sells in the $7-$8 range. What makes this minifigure expensive is the hair. It only appears in one other set 5378 Hogwart's Castle and is part of a $60 minifigure Professor Dolores Umbridge. The hairpiece sells for about $5-$6 by itself and the rest of the pieces wouldn't cost $1.
I'm going to call this kid Boy Scout. twn074 is described as Shirt with 2 Pockets No Collar, Reddish Brown Short Legs, Red Cap, Red Bandana (10185), hence why I call him Boy Scout, the other one is a mouthful. Coming in at $4-$5, this figure is not terribly expensive. The most expensive portion of this figure is the torso. Coming in at $2 it's not a very expensive piece and relatively common since it is shared by 8 minifigures, the only thing that bumps the price is that one of those minifigures is sw103 Luke Skywalker (Cloud City). (most of the other figures that share the torso part can be had for less than the cost of the torso.) Otherwise, his parts all tally for less than $1.
The last guy, I'll call Jim. I have no good reason to, but he looks like a Jim to me. Jim has Suit Black, Top Hat, Sand Blue Legs (10185). The mayor of townie town twn071 sells in the $4 range. You're looking at maybe $2 in parts if you decide it's easier to buy his pieces separately. His Torso is the most expensive part, coming in at about $1. Jim's a good guy, just not terribly exciting.
It's interesting to me that there's not a single unique piece in this entire set. Every piece can be found in at least one other set. There are no unique prints or even a sticker that would make the pieces stand out.
If you feel like your set is not complete without instructions, you can find them, but they're going to cost you about $75-$100. Be sure that what you are buying is a complete set of all 3.
If you feel that you need the box it's going to cost you another $100 or more.
This article is by no means a complete inventory of the set. It is only meant as an a analysis of the parts of the set that will make it the most difficult and/or expensive to complete on your own. In some cases, it is useful to have an idea of which parts make up a set if you are purchasing a bulk lot or evaluating a used set. If you want to see a complete inventory check out Bricklink or Rebrickable.com.
There are some people who make changes, substituting parts to make this set cheaper for themselves. We are not going to discuss those substitutions here, this article is only to understand what makes up a set as originally released by the LEGO Group.
Check out this article written by @Ed Mack in 2012 and see if it has performed to his expectations.
If you want to talk with others about the Green Grocer discuss it here.
All images are the property of Rebrickable.com , Bricklink.com , and the LEGO Group.
If you liked this article, please check out the others in the series:
10123 Cloud City
7181 UCS TIE Interceptor
10212 UCS Imperial Shuttle
10182 Cafe Corner |
{ lib, buildPythonPackage, fetchPypi
, requests, websocket_client, python_magic
, pytest, mock }:
buildPythonPackage rec {
pname = "pushbullet.py";
version = "0.11.0";
src = fetchPypi {
inherit pname version;
sha256 = "aa9dc7bb46e083e3497d46241154f12944a8f540e29d150330ca94db0b453b8d";
};
propagatedBuildInputs = [ requests websocket_client python_magic ];
checkInputs = [ pytest mock ];
checkPhase = ''
PUSHBULLET_API_KEY="" py.test -k "not test_e2e and not test_auth"
'';
meta = with lib; {
description = "A simple python client for pushbullet.com";
homepage = "https://github.com/randomchars/pushbullet.py";
license = licenses.mit;
};
}
|
Lasinski Slams Gutting of Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave Laws:
Friday, December 14, 2018
LANSING — Today, Governor Snyder signed into law two Republican proposals to gut citizen-initiated laws to improve economic security for working families. Over the objections of Democrats and activists, the Legislature voted to gut the minimum wage increase and guaranteed paid sick leave proposals last week during lame duck. Senate Bills 1171 and 1175, signed into law today, dramatically reduce the strong wage and sick leave benefits that Michigan voters voiced their support for through the ballot initiative process. In response to today’s bill signing, state Rep. Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township) issued the following statement:
“When the people in my community signed on to these initiatives, they expected to get stronger paychecks and better benefits, not to have the rug pulled out from under them. By signing these bills, which set back wages and benefits to even lower levels, the governor sent every Michigander the message that their choices and their voice do not matter, and that is unacceptable. I will continue fighting to guarantee every family has the freedom to earn the strong paychecks and benefits they deserve.”
###
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Lansing, MI 48933
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P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
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Keep up to date on the latest news from the Michigan House Democratic Caucus |
The City of Jersey City is moving forward with plans for a new $120 million public safety complex at Jackson Square, which will offer a centralized location for the police and fire departments, as well as 911 dispatch operations.
“Police, fire and parking all used to be separate: they had separate missions, and they supported each other, but really – they were separate. With the new challenges that are going on in the world: terrorism, active shooters, everything else – they work together a lot more,” Public Safety Director James Shea said during a small media sit down yesterday.
“Even fires have become more complex as we have more high rises, which require crowd control, which require safety [measures]. So putting all of our chiefs, decision makers, in the same building, is going to make them interact on a daily basis, and if there is a critical incident, we have everybody together.”
When asked if having all the high-ranking public safety officials in one place could actually be a detriment in the case of a natural disaster, terroristic threat or any other type of imminent danger, Shea said that the public safety department has “redundancy” – meaning that a number of people in the chain of command are familiar with contingency plans if necessary.
Mayor Steven Fulop, who also sat in on the question and answer session, said that the goal of Jackson Square Hub, which already includes the $24 million City Hall annex on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, is to turn the area into an “employment central.”
The City Hall Annex will contain the departments of Housing Economic Development and Commerce, Health and Human Services, with the Women, Infants and Children program set to have an office behind that – along with a parking deck and additional offices – the new public safety building, as well as the Holloway Building and Housing Office.
While the campus will end up costing approximately $188 million overall, the mayor explained that the city has already come up with a plan to save money in the long run.
“We’re paying about $350,000 now in rent and then we have properties that are not used to their best case scenarios. Look at where the fire headquarters is, we’re gonna put ratables on there, which will be substantial for the city,” said Fulop.
“Look at where the property the fire department has on Newark Avenue: not best use for what we want to see on a restaurant row on Newark Avenue. This will ultimately put everyone under one roof, we’ll no longer be renting space, we’ll be owning our own assets.”
The city is also projecting that by selling their fire headquarters, South Street Fire Union Offices and the Gong Club they will receive around $30 million in new revenue.
Furthermore, the public safety complex is expected to initially staff 200 people on a daily basis, according to Shea.
Construction is slated to begin in roughly six months and be completed by 2022.
The Jersey City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance on the new building at last night’s meeting by a vote of 7-1, with Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano voting no and Ward D Councilman Michael Yun absent. |
Josh Miller (filmmaker)
Josh Miller (born 23 September 1978), sometimes credited under the alias Worm Miller, is an American writer, director, and actor. He often collaborates with his high school friend Patrick Casey. He is best known for creating the Fox animated series Golan the Insatiable and writing the Sonic the Hedgehog film, as well as directing the cult horror-comedy Hey, Stop Stabbing Me!. He is the host and co-founder of the long-running Los Angeles-based horror screening series Friday Night Frights.
Filmography
Writing
The Movie from the Future (2000)
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein's Roommate (2002)
National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze (2003)
Magma Head (2003)
Hey, Stop Stabbing Me! (2003)
Gamebox 1.0 (2004)
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 (2006)
Transylmania (2009)
Let's Big Happy (2012)
Bad Samaritans (2013)
Golan the Insatiable (2013)
Sledgehammers at Dawn (2013)
Shotgun Wedding (2013)
Team Hot Wheels: Build the Epic Race (2015)
Team Hot Wheels: The Skills to Thrill (2015)
12 Deadly Days (2016)
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Directing
The Movie from the Future (2000)
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein's Roommate (2002)
Hey, Stop Stabbing Me! (2003)
Magma Head (2003)
Sledgehammers at Dawn (2013)
12 Deadly Days (2016)
Acting
The Movie from the Future (2000) .... Mojo, Mojo 2
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein's Roommate (2002) .... Monster
National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze (2003) .... Brady
Hey, Stop Stabbing Me! (2003) .... Icky, Perkutzitwuzzel
Magma Head (2003) ...
Special Studies Film II (2003) .... Man 2
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2 (2006) .... Brady
Transylmania (2009) .... Brady
Golan the Insatiable (2013) .... Golan the Insatiable, The Mayor
Sledgehammers at Dawn (2013) .... Prince William Wisdorf
Shotgun Wedding (2013) .... Neil
Wolfman's Got Nards (2018) ... documentary, appears as self
References
External links
Amazon.com Author Page
Category:1978 births
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:Living people
Category:Male actors from Minneapolis
Category:Writers from Minneapolis
Category:Film directors from Minnesota
Category:Screenwriters from Minnesota |
Surgical correction of aesthetically deformed eyebrows using local transposition flaps.
Eyebrow positions differ in many ways. They vary in shape, thickness, length, and distance between the eyebrows, making the face more or less harmonious. When a large distance exists between the eyebrows and the medial brow is slanting downward, the glabellar area is larger, giving the face an awkward appearance. To correct this deformity, the authors propose using two Z-plasties to allow transposition of flaps in the region of the medial brow. The Z-shaped flap is outlined at the medial third of the brow, in the glabellar region, with the eyebrow centered in the lower portion of the "Z" and the hairless skin in the upper portion. The flaps then are transposed and sutured. Transposition of the flaps, lifting the brow flap to the glabellar region, results in horizontal positioning of the medial and central third of the eyebrow. The proposed transpositioning of "Z" flaps in this region corrects this type of deformity of the medial and central portions of the eyebrows, with an aesthetically satisfactory result. |
NanoLab is proposing to develop a new biomolecule delivery technique named "nanospearing", based on its previously published work. DNA plasmids are immobilized on magnetically susceptible, needle-like nanostructures. These needles can be magnetically accelerated to penetrate ('spear') the cell membrane. The plasmid DNA bound to the nanotubes can be released and expressed in the cells. Two pieces of equipment, called GeneBlender and GeneHammer, are proposed for spearing cells in suspension and on substrates respectively. Theoretical analysis is to to be used for optimizing the system configuration so that nanotubes can be driven to their highest speed for spearing. Different molecular immobilization strategies will be tested to achieve the efficient plasmid loading. Upon ressolving the potential pitfalls, the process will be universalized and packaged into a transfection kit. The development will be focused on plasmid DNA delivery at this phase. It is enasaged for applications in vivo, such as drug delivery and vaccination. [unreadable] [unreadable] [unreadable] |
The price of growth
San Francisco is booming, but will its infrastructure be able to keep up with its population growth?
The problem is acutely illustrated in the southeast part of San Francisco, where long-stalled development plans were finally greenlit by the adoption of the Eastern Neighborhoods Community Plan a few years ago.
The Mission, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, and Mission Bay districts have attracted more attention from developers than any other sector of San Francisco, according to the Planning Department. Bayview and Hunters Point are also now attracting lots of investment and building by developers.
But when development projects don't pay the full cost of the infrastructure needed to serve those new residents — which is often the case in San Francisco and throughout California, with its Prop. 13 cap on property tax increases — then that burden gets passed on the rest of us.
Mayor Ed Lee's recent call to build 30,000 new housing units by 2020 and the dollar sign lures of waterfront development have pressed the gas pedal on construction, while giving short shrift to corresponding questions about how the serve that growth.
Infrastructure needs — such as roads, public transit, parks, and the water and sewer systems — aren't as sexy as other issues. But infrastructure is vital to creating a functional city.
That kind of planning (or lack thereof) impacts traffic congestion, public safety, and the overall livability of the city. And right now, the eastern neighborhoods alone face a funding gap as high as $274 million, according to city estimates highlighted by area Sup. Malia Cohen.
That's why Cohen went looking for help, though that's not exactly what she found.
MEETING DEMAND
Cohen has asked Mayor Lee about the lack of adequate investment in critical infrastructure again and again. She asked his staffers, she asked his aides. At the Feb. 11 Board of Supervisors meeting, during the mayor's question time, she was determined to ask one more time.
Cohen asked the mayor about how to fund infrastructure needs in the eastern neighborhoods and whether the city should use a new, rarely used fundraising option called an Infrastructure Financing District, or IFD.
"When the city adopted the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan, we were aware of a significant funding gap that existed for infrastructure improvement," she said to the mayor. She asked if he would slow down development while the city caught up with infrastructure improvements, or commit more funding.
Cohen asked pointedly, "Would you support an IFD for the eastern neighborhoods?"
The mayor's answer was in the foreign language known as bureaucratese, offering a firm "only if we have to."
"Strategically planning for growth means making long-term investments in infrastructure," he said. "And the most important thing that we can do right now is to work together to place and pass two new revenue generating bonds measures on the November 2014 ballot."
But his proposed $500 million general obligation bond and $1 billion local vehicle license fee increase would just go to citywide transportation projects, where the city faces $6 billion in capital needs over the next 15 years, according to a task force formed by the mayor.
That's small comfort for the people of the eastern neighborhoods, who are already ill-served by Muni and will have other needs as well. It's a situation likely to get worse as the population there increases, unless the city finds a way to make serious new investments. |
In the next-generation mobile communication network, the introduction of an additional low power node is being considered, or traffic offloading to another RAT (radio access technology) (for example, a WiFi access point that is a local area network) is being considered because the number of users who use a mobile communication network is increasing and a higher transmission rate is required. In addition, in the latest 3GPP standard, the standardization of MAPCON, IFOM, or SaMOG is in progress, which can distribute traffic by using both the mobile communication network and WiFi, as well as the WiFi offloading.
In the case in which the electronic device uses one or more RATs (for example, WiFi), in order to minimize power consumption, the electronic device is required to efficiently search for an optimal nearby access point while the electronic device uses the mobile communication network. Although next-generation WiFi standard technologies have been actively proposed in the WiFi standard, such as 802.11k/r for performing the traffic loading balancing between access points or 802.11u for determining and notifying of the load occupation rate in the access point in advance, it is impossible to properly determine the load status, such as the congestion status in WiFi, with the current WiFi technology. As a result, optimized traffic offloading cannot be achieved.
As a temporary solution before the optimized traffic offloading is completed and implemented, many providers and electronic device manufacturers currently optimize a call manager at the access point end in the electronic device as much as possible to then efficiently select the available access point.
In the future, it is predicted that the WiFi access point will evolve to recognize a nearby interference channel or the activities of related users by using more intelligent functions and to estimate the traffic load of the access point in order to thereby enable the electronic device to connect to the optimal available access point. |
The Greatest Minor League Baseball Blog of All Time
Sputtering To A Halt
One of the benefits of my chosen niche is that there is almost always something to write about. Note that I said “almost”. Because I’m going to be honest with you here — today, I got nothin’.
So, help me out, people. As I’ve mentioned before, I want this blog to be as interactive as possible. So, get in touch with all manner of news and notes from the Minor Leagues, your opinions, or whatever else you see fit to get in touch with. I know you’re out there — according to the fine folks at statcounter, my page views are higher than they’ve ever been. In the latest MLBlogs rankings, I’m sitting relatively comfortably at #23 on the “Pro Blogs” chart. So come feel the sun. Get in touch.
[email protected]
Now, as mentioned previously, I was a guest on Minor League Baseball Radio this past Wednesday night. It seemed to go well, although the fear of my own voice has kept me from listening. It is currently streaming right here. Give it a listen and let me know what you think (for those in a hurry, my segment begins right about the six-minute mark). Also, you know, I know I said “you know” way too often, you know.
Also, I would like to stress that I am always happy to do this sort of thing, be it a radio show, TV program, podcast, college lecture, town hall meeting, congressional hearing, or anything else. Just send me an email.
Well, that does it for me this week. Come Monday, I hope to make this blog less about me and more about, you know, Minor League Baseball. To quote Jack London:
“Atmosphere always stands for the elimination of the artist. That is to say, the atmosphere is the artist; and when there is no atmosphere and the artist is yet there, it simply means that the machinery is creaking and the reader hears it.”
Time to oil up the machinery, tone down the volume, and look into some affordable soundproofing options! Your continued support and assistance in these matters is greatly appreciated.
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3 Comments
I’m hardly an expert on Minor League teams but my family and I enjoy going to see to see the PawSox – the Triple AAA affiliate of the Red Sox. I think it’s great that there are blogs like yours that push the minor league experience – anyone who has a minor league park should make sure to visit. The prices are right, the atmosphere in the parks is great and you always see a great game! We love it!
Hi Ben,
Well, fear not the sound of your own voice. You sounded fabulous. In fact, I thought to myself as I chuckled, what a shame Ben hates his job so much. BTW, if you head out to Stockton without stopping in SLC to say “hello!” I will NOT be amused. . .BeesGal ;-)
Meta
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Can States Effectively Regulate Fracking?
Sep 29, 2010 | Parker Waichman LLP
How To Regulate Fracking Effectively?
Ever since Congress exempted the gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, from the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2005, regulation of the industry has been left up to individual states. According to a report on Stateline.org, some states regulate more aggressively than others.
Colorado and Wyoming for example, have demanded gas companies disclose the chemicals they use in fracking fluids. However, Colorado only has 15 full-time inspectors for 43,000 wells, or a ratio of 2,867 wells for each inspector, Stateline.org said.
In Pennsylvania, by contrast, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has 193 enforcement staff for more than 70,000 wells. Better than Colorado, but to conduct a statewide review of drilling, Pennsylvania inspectors would have to visit more than 300 wells per day.
Environmentalists Worry About Cozy Relationships
Many environmentalists also worry about the cozy relationships between drillers and regulators in many states. Stateline.org points out that in many states, regulatory salaries are paid for by drilling permit fees, meaning that inspectors’ jobs may depend on the number of wells being drilled. And on top of that, the industry is a major political donor, and regularly lobbies the state regulatory bodies that oversee it. For instance, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the national organization for state oil and gas regulators, regularly hosts conferences that are sponsored by energy firms doing business in their states.
And finally, there is always pressure to lessen regulations in the states. Gubernatorial candidates in New Mexico, New York and Colorado, for example, are advocating less regulation.
Gaps in state regulations are one reason environmentalists want to see the federal government regulate fracking. Some momentum does seem to be pointing that way. For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just embarked on a major study to investigate the impact of fracking on health and the environment. In addition, the so-called FRAC Act, which is currently being considered in the US Congress, would eliminate the exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Please note that you are not considered a client until you have signed a retainer agreement and your case has been accepted by us.Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. | Attorney Advertising. |
While peaceful moose slimes and al qaeda will get a pass on being monitored.
For years, the United States has used drones to track foreign terrorists overseas and catch outlaws along the border. But now, thousands of drones are heading to the homeland. Drones are already used for certain purposes here in the United States, but the FAA will soon dramatically expand the use of drones to operate nationwide by the year 2015. It is estimated, by 2020, 30,000 of them will be flying in American skies. Who and what will all of these new eyes in the sky be looking at? No one really knows. But whether we like it or not, the drones are coming.
Who will operate these drones, and what will be their mission? Could it be a suspicious government agent who thinks someone looks kind of funny? The EPA bureaucrat who wants to snoop on somebody’s farm and watch Bessie the cow graze in the pasture? Or a nosy neighbor who wants to make sure someone’s shutters are pretty and the flowers don’t violate the homeowners’ association rules? This is the kind of world that Americans could face as we enter this uncharted and unprecedented world of drone technology. Just because Big Brother can look into someone’s back yard with a drone doesn’t mean they should. That’s why we have the Fourth Amendment. Congress has the legal obligation to ensure that the Fourth Amendment rights of private citizens are protected in this new “drone world.” You see, the Fourth Amendment says that “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated…” The Founders wrote the Fourth Amendment to stop this kind of government intrusion into our lives.
The Constitution limits eavesdropping, snooping, and spying on American citizens. While there are some legitimate uses for drones domestically, such as monitoring forest fires, floods and hurricanes, tracking an escaped bank robber, and other law enforcement uses, it is up to Congress to define and limit their use so that the Fourth Amendment and the right of privacy are protected.
That is why I am introducing the Preserving American Privacy Act. Now is the time for Congress to act, not in 2015. With the increased technology of surveillance, Congress must be proactive in protecting civilians from drone surveillance by law enforcement and other private citizens. This bill will ensure the privacy of Americans is protected by establishing guidelines about when and for what purpose law enforcement agencies, private citizens, and businesses can use drones.
First, it would prevent the FAA from issuing a permit for the use of a drone to fly in the United States airspace for the law enforcement purposes unless it is pursuant to a warrant and in the investigation of a felony. This would apply to Federal, State, and local jurisdictions. The warrant exceptions and exigent circumstances rules that are already the law of the land would be the same as those that are applicable in the Federal, State, or local jurisdiction where that surveillance occurs. The bill also includes a clear statement so that it does not prevent the use of drones for border security purposes. Bottom line: no one should be spying on you unless they have the legal authority to do so.
It would also prevent the FAA from issuing a permit to any private individual for the use of a drone for the surveillance of a U.S. citizen or the property of a U.S. citizen unless that person under surveillance has consented or the owner of the property has consented. There may be some other lawful exceptions as well. No one should be looking at another citizens’ private property unless they have permission to do so.
Lastly, this bill would ensure that no evidence obtained from the use of a drone may be used at an administrative hearing. This means that the EPA can’t spy on Bessie or claim that the water on a Nebraska farm is not clean enough.
Americans expect their constitutional rights, privacy and property will be protected by their government—after all that is the reason we have government in the first place. So, Congress must decide now when drones can and cannot be used in order to ensure constitutional safeguards. This decision cannot be left up to government agencies, special interest groups, or others. And it’s a decision that can’t wait. |
Palaszczuk Government intends fast tracking key elements of its reform measures to help ensure subcontractors are paid in full and on time.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni, who has been running consultation sessions on building industry reforms through regional Queensland, said that there was a clear mood for Government to get on with the historic building industry reforms.
“Last year the Premier and I announced that we will introduce project bank accounts on government projects between $1 Million and $10 Million, and this reform is still on track.” Mr. de Brenni said.
“But to back-in our active approach to strengthening protections I will be looking to introduce complimentary measures that will take effect as soon as the laws pass the Parliament this year.”
“New reforms will significantly increase protection for subcontractors, by increasing penalties for non-payment and rewarding builders who consistently do the right thing by the industry.”
Measures being developed include increased demerit points for non-payment, a more transparent and simplified payment adjudication system, the removal of the second chance rule for builders and an easy method for lodging subcontractor charges.
Residential builders who consistently fail to pay subcontractors or suppliers would also attract higher home warranty scheme premiums.
Government will also consider strengthen the definition of an influential person as a way of tackling illegal phoenixing.
Mr. de Brenni said he would also work closely with Queensland Building and Construction board to rebuild the Minimum Financial Requirements regime for construction business, giving added protections for subbies and consumers.
“Our Government will make sure that the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) has the powers it needs to investigate wrong doing. This will include a closer working relationship with ASIC.”
“Under the previous Liberal National Party (LNP) Government subcontractors lost most of the limited protections they had when it came to payments.” Mr. de Brenni said.
“LNP stacked the deck against the little guy, making the processes for chasing payments difficult, expensive and time consuming.”
“They should be held to account for those decisions that have ruined Queensland businesses and subbies’ lives.” Mr. de Brenni said.
Mr. de Brenni said that the consultation sessions, held in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Maryborough, Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast, had all reinforced the need to level the playing field across the industry and do it quickly.
“A minority of players have been using non-payment or delayed payment as a business model, which has allowed them to undercut legitimate builders.”
“No builder should have to compete against someone who is deliberately doing the wrong thing, and these added measures will help get the industry back on the level.” Mr. de Brenni said. |
Estádio Anacleto Campanella
Estádio Municipal Anacleto Campanella, usually simply Estádio Anacleto Campanella - between 1964 and 1989 known as Estádio Municipal Lauro Gomes de Almeida, or for short Lauro Gomes, is an association football stadium in São Caetano do Sul, on the outskirts of São Paulo, Brazil. The stadium holds 16,744 people. It was inaugurated in 1955. The stadium is owned by the Municipality of São Caetano do Sul, and its formal name honors Anacleto Campanella, who was São Caetano do Sul's mayor from 1953 to 1957, and from 1961 to 1965.
History
São Catano football club, Associação Atlética São Bento, created by the fusion of São Caetano Esporte Clube and Comercial Futebol Clube (a club from São Paulo city) in 1954 and not to be confused with other clubs of the same name, acquired a groundplot at Monte Alegre Novo where the stadium construction was completed in 1955. The inaugural match was played on January 2, 1955, when São Bento defeated XV de Piracicaba 1–0 with a goal by Gilmar.
After two seasons, São Bento was relegated to the Campeonato Paulista second division folded before the end of the decade. Afterward, the stadium was managed by the Municipal Prefecture of São Caetano do Sul. From 1961 to ca. 2008 – when the club moved to Campo Grande (MS) - the stadium was the home ground of Saad EC, which played two seasons in the first state division in the 1970s. The women's side of the club won there between 1989 and 2003 three national championships.
On July 28, 1964, the stadium was renamed to Lauro Gomes de Almeida, after a local politician. In 1989, the stadium was reformed again, returning to its previous name, Anacleto Campanella, and two matches were played on its reinauguration on May 7 of that year. In the first match, Associação Atlética São Caetano and Ribeirãopirense Futebol Clube drew 3–3. In the second match, a Brazilian team formed by veteran players defeated a São Caetano do Sul city team 2–0.
Since 1991 AD São Caetano founded in 1989 and Copa Libertadores finalist of 2002, uses the stadium as its home ground. On December 23, 2001, the second leg of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A final was played at Estádio Anacleto Campanella. Atlético Paranaense beat AD São Caetano 1–0, and won the competition.
In 1999 and 2000, the stadium was modernized, with the bleachers being expanded, and the field being reformed. The stadium's attendance record currently stands at 19,805 people, set on December 9, 2001 when AD São Caetano beat Atlético Mineiro 2–1.
References
Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro, Volume 2 - Lance, Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A, 2001.
External links
Templos do Futebol
AD São Caetano Official Website
São Caetano Fansite
Stadium images
Anacleto Campanella |
Introduction {#Sec1}
============
Over a period of 40 years from 1949 to 1989, the former Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics (USSR) conducted more than 450 nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS), Kazakhstan; 26 of them were above ground, 87 in the atmosphere and 346 underground \[[@CR1], [@CR2]\]. Considerable efforts have been devoted to investigate the consequences of radiation exposures to the residents living in the area, particularly in villages contaminated heavily by fallout of the radioactive cloud \[[@CR1]--[@CR3]\].
We have also investigated the present situation of radioecology in and around the SNTS since 1994, and measured long-lived radionuclides ^137^Cs and Pu isotopes in large number of soil samples from various areas \[[@CR4]--[@CR7]\]. From these measurements, settlements around the SNTS we visited were found to be contaminated by ^239,240^Pu with levels from several to a few hundred times higher than those (40--120 Bq/m^2^) for global fallout observed in Japan, while ^137^Cs contamination is not so high \[[@CR8]\]. Furthermore, as for an external radiation dose in the air, it has been gradually clarified that residents of Dolon, where is well known to have been highly contaminated by radioactive fallout due to the first USSR nuclear detonation on 29 August 1949, received around 0.5 Gy \[[@CR9]\].
On the other hand, information concerning internal doses experienced by village residents is still very limited around the SNTS. Recently, Tanaka et al. \[[@CR10]\] reported that frequencies of unstable-type chromosome aberrations and micronucleus in lymphocytes were higher in residents of contaminated areas such as Dolon, Sarzhal and Kainar than those of the non-contaminated area. They point out that such a higher incidence may be caused mainly by internal exposure, although factors such as age, habitation, smoking, drinking water, medical exposure, life style and so on must be further considered in the interpretation of data from contaminated area.
To serve as an aid to resolve such problem, the present work was aimed at clarifying the present situation of radionuclide levels in well waters as local sources of drinking waters. Among naturally occurring radionuclides, uranium belongs to the most chemical and radiological toxicity of elements for human. Here, we report the present U isotope (^234^U, ^235^U and ^238^U) levels in well waters collected mainly from the settlements around the SNTS and the associated annual effective doses to adults resulting from consumption of the investigated waters.
Experimental {#Sec2}
============
Samples {#Sec3}
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The settlements where well waters were collected are shown in Fig. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}. These areas are semiarid plains with a low mean annual precipitation (200--300 mm). Total of 35 well water samples was collected from the contaminated settlements such as Dolon, Sarzhal and Karaul around the SNTS. The pH measurement in the water was carried out on a potable pH meter (Model-D-24, Horiba Ltd.) that was calibrated in situ before each set of measurement. The samples were taken in two 200 mL polyethylene bottles without filtration. In addition, about 100 mL of water was collected in light-tight glass bottle for measuring alkalinity; diluted mercuric chloride solution was added to the bottle to prevent decomposition of dissolved organic matter and then the bottle was tightly sealed. For comparison, river surface water sample was also collected from the Irtysh River, which is the largest one among them and flows into the Ob River after leaving this area.Fig. 1Map showing sampling locations of well waters around Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site, Kazakhstan
Measurement of uranium {#Sec4}
----------------------
Uranium isotopes were determined by α-particle spectrometry after radiochemical separation \[[@CR11]\]. The sample water was at first acidified to less than pH 1 by adding a small amount of HNO~3~. After shaking and standing for overnight, the water was transferred into a 500 mL beaker with the addition of known amount of ^232^U as a yield tracer, and evaporated to dryness. The obtained residue was dissolved in 10 M HCl and the solution was passed through an anion-exchange resin column (Dowex 1 × 8 of 100--200 mesh, Cl^−^ form, 0.8 cm^ϕ ^× 5 cm). The column was washed with a small amount of 8 M HNO~3~ to remove adsorbed iron and then by a sufficient amount of 10 M HCl to remove most of the other elements. Uranium was eluted from the column with 2 M HCl and the solution was evaporated to dryness. The separated U was electroplated onto a polished stainless steel disc (2 cm^ϕ^), and its activity was measured by α-particle spectrometer with measuring time of 3--4 days (Tennelec TC256 spectrometer coupled to a 1k-channel pulse height analyzer). The counting efficiency is about 30% and the lowest limit of detection is about 0.2 mBq for ^238^U.
Analysis of major chemical compositions {#Sec5}
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Major dissolved ions (Na^+^, K^+^, Mg^2+^, Ca^2+^, Cl^−^, NO~3~^−^ and SO~4~^2−^) of water samples were determined by ion chromatograph (Dionex ICS-1000). The alkalinity was measured by titration method with 0.1 M HCl down to pH 4.8 \[[@CR12]\].
Results and discussion {#Sec6}
======================
Chemical composition {#Sec7}
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The chemical composition of 35 investigated waters is listed in Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}. The pH of water samples ranges from 7.0 to 8.1, and is mostly neutral. The cation/anion balance ((Σ~cation~ − Σ~anion~)/(Σ~cation~ + Σ~anion~) in meq/L) for most of samples measured is smaller than 5%, although some samples have values over 10%. Total dissolved salt (TDS) concentrations are in the range 189--936 mg/L. As a whole, the TDS seems to be higher in Dolon, Mostik, Budene, Znamenka, Salzhal and Karaul than in other settlements. Those water samples contain large amounts of Na^+^, Ca^2+^, Mg^2+^, HCO~3~^−^ and SO~4~^2−^.Table 1Chemical composition of the investigated well and river watersSettlementSampling dateIon concentration (mg/L)Ion balance (%)^a^pHNaKMgCaClNO~3~SO~4~HCO~3~TDSKanoneruka 00Y7108.11.008.14.77n.d.6.753.2351.10.7538.173228−0.4Dolon 05D109.20.057.793.619.324.262.733.971.21142606795.1 05D209.20.057.41204.028.476.748.61141322938173.2 04D111.11.047.692.74.621.866.039.755.71162736701.7 04D211.11.047.21163.726.981.766.01041382367735.2 04D311.11.047.293.117.322.961.346.570.21192696990.5 04D411.11.047.481.52.717.551.028.548.897.12425690.0 04D511.11.047.573.64.016.749.719.910.365.23015410.9 00D108.11.007.461.5n.d.23.210710011.5129266699−0.8 00D208.11.007.4134n.d.30.912194.115.52532949425.2Mostik Y6908.12.047.814.3n.d.17.412295.217.462.41995284.2Cheryomocyki 03CH110.20.037.414.30.310.821.27.15.017.21131891.8 03CH210.20.037.537.029.521.538.334.725.648.212936314.6 03CH310.20.037.520.86.318.937.215.917.129.511726215.8 03CH410.20.037.629.16.512.122.911.15.321.312122911.8Bodene 03BW110.22.037.52011.961.147.611139.521117484719.0 03BW210.22.037.92311.338.030.012113.026118087410.1 03BW310.22.038.12191.438.019.11097.22801768516.8Znamenka 05Z109.22.057.01111.437.541.750.41061302086864.1Tailan W-710.10.99n.a.2268.835.7130118n.d.399n.a.Sarzhal 05S109.22.057.61142.429.970.359.218.72282147363.6 05S209.22.057.81172.340.792.984.665.52222718962.4 99S110.10.99n.a.131n.d.40.81421023.5252n.a. 99S210.10.99n.a.10210.835.211972.5n.d.189n.a. 95S110.05.95n.a.95.55.340.113110436.2203n.a. 95S210.05.95n.a.1405.258.814716281.6272n.a.Kainar 99KA110.11.99n.a.16.34.67.173.710.5n.d.50.4n.a. 99KA210.11.99n.a.25.610.410.787.825.42.453.1n.a.Karaul 04K111.12.047.984.36.137.613284.21771982169362.4 04K211.12.047.762.92.331.411044.669.01852627671.5 04K311.12.048.023.72.116.276.49.17.91112034501.6 04K411.12.047.235.73.222.310128.147.11092235696.5 04K511.12.047.530.82.620.186.016.618.61142425311.7 04K611.12.047.923.72.116.176.29.28.01122104570.5 99K110.10.99n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.Irtysh River 05R109.20.058.020.01.57.331.921.21.320.7140244−4.4 04R108.12.048.311.6n.d.8.258.924.7n.d.52.01102666.9Error shows 1σ standard deviation from counting statistics^a^(Σcation − Σanion)/(Σcation + Σanion) × 100*n.d.* not detected, *n.a.* not analyzed
Uranium levels and isotopic ratios {#Sec8}
----------------------------------
The result of the uranium analysis of well water samples is summarized in Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}, together with those of river water samples from the Irtysh River. It is apparent from Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} that concentrations of ^238^U in the investigated waters vary in a wide range 3.6--356 mBq/L (0.3--28.7 μg/L), with a factor of about 100. The lowest concentration (3.6 mBq/L) of ^238^U was detected in the well water from Kainar and the highest concentration (356 mBq/L) of ^238^U was observed in the well water samples from Karaul. In Dolon and Karaul, the ^238^U contents change widely even within the area of each settlement. For waters from other settlements, the concentrations of ^238^U do not change largely. Such variation of ^238^U concentrations may be connected with the different local, geological and hydrological conditions of the original places of the investigated waters, although the ^238^U levels seem to increase with increasing mineralization as a whole. Literature values of ^238^U in freshwater have been reported in the range 0.002--5 μg/L, and the median was 0.4 μg/L \[[@CR13]\]. Global means, 0.04 and 2.0 μg/L, were reported \[[@CR14]\]. The ^238^U contents found here are several to several tens of times higher than the reported values. Kawabata et al. \[[@CR15], [@CR16]\] have also observed similarly high ^238^U concentrations for well water samples collected from some areas in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is worth noting that the ^238^U concentrations in some well samples from Dolon, Tailan, Sarzhal and Karaul settlements are comparable to or higher than the World Health Organization's restrictive proposed guideline of 15 μg (U)/L \[[@CR17]\]. Most of the measured ^234^U/^238^U activity ratios are higher than 1, and vary from 1.5 to 7.9, with most from 1.5 to 3. Those higher ratios of ^234^U/^238^U may be explained by preferential leaching of ^234^U due to the α-recoil effect \[[@CR11], [@CR18]\]. No clear relationship is observed between ^238^U concentration and ^234^U/^238^U activity ratio. On the other hand, all of the measured ^235^U/^238^U activity ratios show the value of around 0.046 with a relatively large counting error of about 10%. It is probable that the elevated concentration of ^238^U found in some settlements around the SNTS is not due to the close-in fallout from nuclear explosions at the SNTS, but rather to the intensive weathering of rocks including U there.Table 2Results of uranium measurements of the investigated well and river watersSettlement^238^U concentrationActivity ratio(mBq/L)(μg/L)^234^U/^238^U^235^U/^238^UKanoneruka 00Y7111.4 ± 0.70.921.63 ± 0.120.047 ± 0.008Dolon 05D1189.9 ± 6.815.31.63 ± 0.030.044 ± 0.002 05D2157.2 ± 8.712.61.64 ± 0.060.043 ± 0.002 04D199.8 ± 5.08.031.44 ± 0.05 04D2194.6 ± 12.115.71.54 ± 0.06 04D3197.9 ± 11.415.91.48 ± 0.05 04D445.1 ± 1.43.621.65 ± 0.05 04D551.4 ± 2.84.131.51 ± 0.07 00D1135.6 ± 6.310.91.42 ± 0.060.040 ± 0.005 00D2117.1 ± 5.49.421.36 ± 0.060.048 ± 0.004Mostik Y6949.2 ± 2.23.961.54 ± 0.070.050 ± 0.010Cheryomocyki 03CH142.3 ± 1.93.401.36 ± 0.060.047 ± 0.006 03CH225.1 ± 0.72.021.44 ± 0.05 03CH322.6 ± 0.71.811.38 ± 0.050.043 ± 0.006 03CH428.9 ± 0.72.331.53 ± 0.04Bodene 03BW1144.3 ± 4.811.62.93 ± 0.060.048 ± 0.005 03BW2114.2 ± 4.99.192.98 ± 0.080.043 ± 0.005 03BW3139.9 ± 5.211.22.67 ± 0.060.049 ± 0.006Znamenka 05Z136.5 ± 2.52.946.80 ± 0.380.045 ± 0.005Tailan W-7274.0 ± 10.922.01.97 ± 0.060.049 ± 0.003Sarzhal 05S1144.4 ± 6.111.62.42 ± 0.060.044 ± 0.003 05S2213.9 ± 12.017.22.41 ± 0.070.043 ± 0.003 99S1206.4 ± 14.116.62.35 ± 0.130.048 ± 0.003 99S2127.8 ± 6.910.32.19 ± 0.110.052 ± 0.006 95S1156.1 ± 8.312.62.15 ± 0.100.050 ± 0.006 95S2172.4 ± 10.013.92.26 ± 0.120.045 ± 0.005Kainar 99KA13.56 ± 0.590.297.88 ± 1.28 99KA24.14 ± 0.670.335.51 ± 0.87Karaul 04K182.8 ± 4.96.662.34 ± 0.10 04K290.8 ± 6.67.302.16 ± 0.110.048 ± 0.005 04K352.1 ± 3.64.192.53 ± 0.14 04K4116.8 ± 7.49.391.51 ± 0.070.045 ± 0.004 04K597.6 ± 5.17.851.73 ± 0.070.048 ± 0.005 04K648.6 ± 2.83.912.35 ± 0.11 99K1355.6 ± 23.428.61.09 ± 0.060.047 ± 0.009Irtysh River 05R131.0 ± 1.32.491.77 ± 0.070.044 ± 0.005 04R137.0 ± 1.52.981.65 ± 0.06Error shows 1σ standard deviation from counting statistics
The ^238^U concentrations for river water samples collected from the Irtysh River are 31--37 mBq/L (2.5--3.0 μg/L). The levels in the Irtysh River are close to the values in well water samples from Mostik and Cheryomocyki. The ^234^U/^238^U activity ratios (1.7--1.8) are nearly the same as those found at settlements around the Irtysh River.
Radiological annual dose {#Sec9}
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Assuming that a man drinks 2 L of water per day, the annual effective doses (*D*) resulting from consumption of the investigated waters can be calculated using the following formula:$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$ D\,\left( {\upmu {\text{S}}\upnu/{\text{y}}} \right) = \sum Ii \cdot Fi \cdot 365 $$\end{document}$$where *Ii* is the concentration of the given U isotopes (Bq/day), and geometric mean values of ^238^U and ^234^U concentrations were used as representative values for each settlement. The ^235^U contents were estimated by using the value (0.046) of ^235^U/^238^U activity ratio for natural uranium. The values of *Fi* are the ingestion dose coefficients (dose equivalent per intake of unit activity, Sv/Bq) reported by the International Commission on Radiological Protection \[[@CR19]\]; 4.4 × 10^−8^ for ^238^U, 4.9 × 10^−8^ for ^234^U and 4.9 × 10^−8^ for ^235^U. In this case, fractional transfer to blood is assumed to be 0.02 for all uranium isotopes. The effective dose for adults caused by ingestion of uranium isotopes of the investigated well waters are presented in Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}, except the settlements where only one well water sample was measured. The calculated effective doses vary from 1.0 to 18.7 μSv/y. The dose (18.7 μSv/y) estimated for the adults living in the Sarzhal region is comparable to the value of 16 μSv/y (range 9--20 μSv/y) reported recently by Vintró et al. \[[@CR20]\]. Those doses are lower than WHO and IAEA reference value (100 μSv/y) for drinking water \[[@CR21], [@CR22]\].Table 3Annual effective dose to adult arising from U ingestion (consuming 2 L of water daily) through well water in each settlementSettlementAnalyzed number of samplesRangeGeometric meanEffective dose (mSv/y)^238^U (mBq/L)^238^U (mBq/L)^234^U (mBq/L)^235^U^a^ (mBq/L)Dolon945.1--197.9117.3177.95.410.3Cheryomocyki422.6--42.328.941.11.32.4Bodene3114.2--144.3132.1377.46.118.0Sarzhal6127.8--213.9167.3365.47.718.7Kainar23.56--4.143.825.30.21.0Karaul748.6--355.694.6181.94.49.8^a^Contents of ^235^U were calculated by using the value (0.046) of ^235^U/^238^U for natural U
Conclusion {#Sec10}
==========
The concentrations of ^238^U in the well water samples from some settlements around the SNTS vary in a wide range 3.6--356 mBq/L (0.3--28.7 μg/L). The ^238^U concentrations in some samples from Dolon, Tailan, Sarzhal and Karaul settlements are comparable to or higher than the World Health Organization's restrictive proposed guideline of 15 μg (U)/L. The measured ^234^U/^238^U activity ratios are higher than 1, and are mostly from 1.5 to 3. The ^235^U/^238^U activity ratios show the value of around 0.046, indicating that U in the wells is of natural origin. It is probable that the higher ^238^U concentrations are not due to the close-in fallout from nuclear explosions at the SNTS, but rather to the intensive weathering of rocks including U there. The calculated annual effective doses arising from the ingestion of U isotopes (^234^U, ^235^U and ^238^U) are in the range 1.0--18.7 μSv/y, and are lower than the recommended value of 100 μSv/y for drinking water.
We would like to express our gratitude to the research staff of the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Radiation Medicine and Ecology for their help with sampling. This work was supported by a Grand-in-Aid (M. Y. and M. H.: 1995--2005) for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.
Open Access {#d30e3202}
===========
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
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We invite you to travel China & Mongolia and explore its natural, historical and cultural wonders. You will visit Beijing, Xian - the most important 2 cities in Chinese history and Karakorum - ancient capital of Mongol Empires and admire the wonders. China has an ancient and abundant history that dates back more than 3000 years.Beijing, an elegant modern city has been their capital for more than 800 year after Mongolian Khaan Khubilai made it the capital during the Mongols rule. Today Beijing has many historical memories like the Great Wall, Summer Palace, The Forbidden city and the famous Tiananmen square, where the hundreds of tragic students were killed in the late 20th century. Xi'an is another big place of the Chinese history. The Terracotta warriors, Wild Goose Pagoda, The Bell Tower and the Shaanxi Museum are considered the highlights of China as well.In 1220 Genghis Khaan decided to move his capital from Khentii province to Karakorum, ~ 380 km southwest of modern day Ulaanbaatar. Permanent structure we only erected after Genghis death by his son Ogoodei Khaan. Karakorum served as the political, cultural and economic capital of the Mongols for only 40 years, before Khubilai Khaan moved in Kanbalik, in what is now Beijing. In the history modern Beijing was the Mongolian capital in the 14th century and now it’s not only a highly development city of China, but also one of most attractive tourist destination of the World. You will have very great chance to visit historical cities of Mongolia and China.
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Daily Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in BeijingUpon arrival at Beijing International Airport or Railway Station, you will be picked up by your private English-speaking guide at the luggage claim area or exit and transferred to your hotel. You will have the remainder of the day at leisure. Good 3* Hotel
Day 2: Sightseeing tour in Beijing
Today you will visit Tiananmen Square that is the biggest square and also the most important in the world. Walking through it, you will come to the Forbidden City, the residence of Chinese emperors for more than 500 years. It’s the largest imperial palace and an UNESCO object. In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of Heaven. Dating to the 15th century, the Temple of Heaven was where the emperor made an annual pilgrimage to pray for good harvests. Occupying an area of 273 hectares with four gates at the cardinal points, and walls to the north and east, it is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings. After that go to the Silk Market to make some cloths and shopping if you are interested. Good 3* Hotel B+L
Day 3:Sightseeing tour in Beijing
The highlight today is to conquer the Badaling Great Wall, a symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization and is the spirit of Chinese people: Hardworking, Brave and Clever. You will have a walk up to the Wall and enjoy the views there (cable car is available but optional). After that you will stopover at Bird Nest and Water Cube on the way to downtown. You could take some photographs of them. Good 3* Hotel B+LDay 4: Beijing-Xi’an by overnight soft-sleeper train Z19, 20:50/08:00+1The first highlight of today is to visit the largest and the best preserved royal park in China--- Summer Palace, which was a summer resort of Empress Dowager Cixi in Qing Dynasty. It is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design, integrating the natural landscape of hills and open water with man-made features into a harmonious and aesthetically exceptional whole. After that, you will have a Hutong Tour by taking a rickshaw through the various Hutongs to know more about old Beijing’s manners and customs. Finally, the guide will take you to stroll in the Houhai Park area. In the evening, take the overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi’an.On the train B+L
Day 5: Xi’an arrival
Arriving at Xi’an railway station in the morning. Be met and transferred to Xi’an hotel. Today, you will visit the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum firstly. It is the first huge state museum with modern facilities in China, and given the reputation of "bright pearl of ancient city, treasure house of China." Exhibited in the main exhibition hall are 2,700 pieces works of art selected from all periods and show the development of civilization in this region. Then, ahead to the Xian Ancient City Wall, which is the best preserved, oldest and largest ancient city defense system in China. It is also one of the most important landmarks of the Xian city. The original foundation of the Xian City Wall was based on the ruins of the Imperial City Wall of Chang'an City--the capital of the Tang Dynasty (Bicycling on the City Wall is available but optional). After that, the guide will take you to stroll in the Muslim Street. Xian Moslem Street is a fascinating region to wander around. It is well known for serving Muslim food for centuries, with a wide diversity of tastes and strong ethnic delicacies. Good 3* Hotel B+L
Day 6: Xi’an-Beijing by evening flight
The highlight of today is Terra Cotta Army. Located east of Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum, the well-known Terra-cotta was buried underground to protect the afterlife of Emperor Qinshihuang from 2200 years ago. There are more than 8,000 life-size terra cotta figures of soldiers and horses excavated from this area. They are all displayed in the practical battle formation in 3 pits respectively. The Terra Cotta Army is now regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World. After that, you will visit the Terra Cotta Warriors making factory . Finally, you will be transferred to Xi’an airport for your departure flight to Beijing. Upon arrival at Beijing Airport, you will be picked up by the guide at the luggage claim area and transferred to your hotel. Good 3* Hotel B+L
Day 7: Beijing
Today you are free to explore the Beijing City by yourself. Good 3* Hotel B
Day 8: Beijing departure - Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
In the early morning, you will be transferred to the Beijing International airport to catch flight to Mongolia. Arrive in Ulaanbaatar after 2 hr flight, your guide and driver will meet you at the airport. We take a tour of the city, including the Gandan Monastery, Mongolian National Museum and Genghis Monument on the Sukhbaatar Square. Centrally located excellent hotel 3*B+L
Day 9: Ulaanbaatar - Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes
After breakfast we will drive to one of beautiful picturesque place of Mongolia - Elsen Tasarkhai. It's a beautiful combination of rocky mountain and sand dunes. Visit the sand dunes and hiking there. Having some camel riding. Admire the beauty of the Gobi and Khangai natural zones combination. Overnight at Mongolian traditional accommodation which is called "Ger". Ger camp overnight B+L+D
Day 10: Elsen Tasarkhai sand dunes - Karakorum
Today we will drive to Ancient capital Karakorum for seeing them most famous monastery of Mongolia - we visit legendary monastery Erdene Zuu, the first Buddhist monastery in Central Mongolia founded in 1586, Museum of Karakorum and its surroundings the Turtle Rock and the phallic stone etc. enjoy dinner and rest at the ger camp. Ger camp overnight B+L+D
Day 11:Karakorum - Hustai national park
After breakfast we will drive to Hustai National park. Watch the documentary about the Takhi wild horses and the small museum. View the Wild horses from the closest dirtance in the wild nature, also and other wildlife such as the Red Deer etc are seen. We will overnight in ger camp. Ger camp overnight B+L+D
Date & Price - not set departure tour
Full-time services of your English speaking local guide throughout the tour except in the international flight
Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary.
Twin/double share at local 3-star accommodations with daily breakfast in Beijing, Xian and Ulaanbaatar.
Twin share at ger camps for 3 nights in Mongolia
Meals as listed (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
Flight ticket—economic class: Xi’an/Beijing(One-way)
Overnight soft-sleeper train: Beijing/Xi’an(One-way)
Air-conditioned vehicles served in all transfers and tours.
2 bottle of water per person per day in China
0.5 l x 3 bottled water per day
Government tax and city construction fee where applicable in China
Visa support invitation letter where applicable
Exclusive China & Mongolia tour souvenir
Not included in the Price:
International airfare to/from China and to/from Mongolia
Visa fees
Meals not mentioned.
Personal expense.
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, camera or video fees at any sites etc.
Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary).
Optional activities such as camel riding, archery, fishing etc
DISCOUNTS:
Low season discount 5% - Nov - May 15
Accommodation on Selena Travel tours in Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia has many hotels ranging from basic 1* to high-end 5*. Some international hotel chains have opened such as Kempinski, Ramada, and Best Western to name a few. Some of Selena Travel Mongolia tours do not include hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, where clients are advised to take care of their own accommodation in Ulaanbaatar. Please refer to your tour program (Included services and Exclusions section) for more details. Your Selena Travel advisor is happy to assist you with hotel booking on your request. Below you will find some suggested hotels in Ulaanbaatar:
Best Western Gobi Kelso ***
Springs hotel ***
Ramada hotel ****
Kempinski Khan Palace ****
Best Western Premier *****
Outside Ulaanbaatar: Please take in mind that traveling in the countryside of Mongolia is often tough, a trip is conducted in remote areas where there’s no hotel and paved roads exist.
Outside of Ulaanbaatar, tourist Ger camps are the best accommodation for travelers. A Ger is Mongolian traditional dwelling made of felt layers and wooden construction, and the Mongols have lived in Gers since the time immemorial. Tourist Ger camps offer comfortable Gers with 1-4 beds with good bedding, and also have western style showers and WCs (mostly shared). A few Ger camps offer en-suite Gers at additional charge (please ask your Selena Travel advisor for this). Due to remoteness some tourist Ger camps may not excel in service, so travelers may not always expect high pressure showers, bubble baths or gourmet food etc.
Food on Selena Travel tours - in Mongolia
During your tour in Mongolia you will be eating in good restaurants in Ulaanbaatar, we have a great variety in restaurants in the capital city. Once you are outside the capital, Ger restaurants in Ger camps and local cafes in the small towns and villages will be the places where you will be eating. Ger restaurants often have set menu, but their food is usually very good (Ger camps provide mostly continental breakfast, lunches consist of salad, soup, main course and dessert, whilst, dinners are usually salad, main course and dessert).
During your longer driving days you will take packed lunch from Ger camps (often vegetable salad, main course such as fried chicken/noodles/dumplings and a chocolate bar etc). Vegetarians are well taken care of both in Ulaanbaatar restaurants and tourist Ger camps.
Luggage allowance on Selena Travel tours
When you travelling overland in a vehicle (minivan & jeep), it would be suitable if you have 20kg luggage per person (max). However, please kindly note that domestic flight luggage allowance per person is 15 kg (10 kg for the check in luggage and 5 for the carry on luggage). For 1kg extra luggage you pay US$2 - 5.
DESTINATION & ATTRACTIONS BRIEF INFO
The Great Wall of China, one of the eight ancient wonders of the world and the only man-made construction on earth that the astronauts can see in the moon. Starting out in the east on the banks of Yalu River in Liaoning Province, the Wall stretches westwards for 12,700 kilometers to Jiayuguan in the Gobi Desert. It was built as a defensive structure and gradually become the symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization. Then visit the Ming Tombs, which is a group of mausoleums of 13 Ming emperors and their empresses and concubines. Two of the tombs are open to the public. The most famous is the Dingling, an underground palace. The Tian An Men square, which is probably the biggest one of its kind in the world. With a total area of 440,000 square meters, the Tiananmen Square found in the center of Beijing boasts the largest of its kind. Over a hundred years, many ceremonies and demonstrations have been held here. Forbidden city (Gugong) the emperor's palace which was built between 1406 and 1420 with 9000 halls and rooms, containing many precious relics. Facing south and rising from a terrace, the largest palace in the world represents the supreme power and authority emperors enjoyed during the feudalistic dynasties as well as best exemplifies the elements of palace architecture.
Summer Palace in Beijing which was built in 1153 in northwest of Bejing. It is an outstanding example of imperial gardens in classical Chinese style, housing tens of thousands of precious cultural relics. Xi'an locates with an elevation of 500 metres, the Weihe Plain extends between Baoji in the west and Tongguan in the east and borders the Qinling Mountains in the south and the Huangtu Plateau in the north. Xi'an lies in the centre to the south of this plain, a favourable geographical location surrounded by water and hills. Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - one kilometre north-west of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian's southern suburb, the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum - a striking Tang-Dynasty style pavilion, houses a large collection of 113,000 historic and cultural artefacts unearthed in Shaanxi. It is an absolute must for every visitor to the city. The main complex is a mixture of ancient palaces and courtyard buildings, harmonious and graceful in hue, in simple and elegant style.
Terracotta warriors museumin Xi'an - The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi province. It is a sight not to be missed by any visitor to China. Upon ascending the throne at the age of 13 (in 246 BC), Qin Shi Huang, later the first Emperor of all China, had work begun on his mausoleum.\
The Karakorum was flourished in the IV-IX century by the Kirgis tribe and in 1220 the great Emperor Chinghis Khaan declared it as the capital city of his vast Empire. Many other Mongolian Khaans used Karakorum as the capital of Great Mongolian Empire, however, the Chinese Ming soldiers burnt the city several times in 15-17th century. Today there are many interesting sites left to visit; the legendary turtle rock sculptures, Buddhist stupas and the ruins of this once great city to name a few. This is one of the best place for Mongolian cultural tours.
Erdenezuu ("One Hundred Treasures") was the first Buddhist monastery in the Mongolian Empire. It was established in 1586 on the orders of Abtai Sain Khaan, a direct descendent from Genghis Khaan. The monastery has a massive square wall, 420 meters in length each side, a total of 108 Stupas and 17 temples. Today Erdenezuu monastery still shows its glory with collections of many priceless religious objects and incredibly beautiful Mongolian arts."Elsen tasarhai" is a part of the Great Mongolian Sand dunes and extends about 80 km. The scenery is a perfect combination of desert, picturesque mountains, river and green grassland and makes you feel like you are in heaven.
Hustai National park is the place where the wild Takhi- Przewalski horses have lived peacefully since 1993 when they were reintroduced to their native land Mongolia. Here we are able to see and photograph these beautiful wild horses at pasture and Red Deer, Wolf, Asian Marmot, various species of waterfawls and prey birds etc., as well.
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With time running out on the legislative session in Albany, Gov. Andrew Cuomo , the State Senate and the Assembly should set aside their differences and find common ground on a climate bill that would greatly reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. This would be enormously beneficial to the country and to the planet, and would ensure that, as the federal government slides backward, New York remains in the forefront of increasingly aggressive efforts by state governments to address the dangers of global warming.
At issue are two bills. One is the Climate and Community Protection Act, much favored by environmental activists. It passed the Assembly three years in a row but never the Senate, which until this year was dominated by Republicans. The other is the governor’s Climate Leadership Act, introduced early this year. As is often the case in Albany, the argument has not been helpful, and suggests that the sides are miles apart. On Tuesday, protesters invaded the State Capitol, demanding that Mr. Cuomo sign the first bil l and suggesting that he simply didn’t care about climate change. Mr. Cuomo sniffed that he had already put in place a host of regulatory measures reducing power plant emissions , promoting energy efficiency and building out wind and solar power. He said he had no intention of playing politics.
Both sides agree on one major point: Some form of legislation is necessary to codify existing regulations, to encourage new ones and to give the new regulations the force of law. And both bills point in the same direction, toward a steady reduction in fossil fuel use in New York’s power sector and in its economy as a whole. The governor’s bill would ramp up renewable energy sources somewhat more quickly. The Assembly bill sets a more ambitious target of eliminating all statewide greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury, which would require the electrification of the entire transportation sector. The Assembly bill also includes a provision similar in spirit to the Green New Deal requiring that 40 percent of the funds collected from ratepayers for energy efficiency and renewables be invested in “ disadvantaged communities .” Mr. Cuomo says this is too rigid and could restrict investments in other emissions-reducing strategies, like new technologies.
These are not insurmountable differences. Action to combat climate change is taking place in the states right now, and New York should get in on it. Despite all the talk about the Green New Deal in Washington, the odds of major national climate legislation passing before the next election are vanishingly small, given Republican control of the Senate, the Trump administration’s denial that a problem even exists and its relentless work to undo all of President Barack Obama’s efforts to address the issue. |
The Liberal Democrats ventured into one of the most controversial areas of British politics yesterday by offering a conditional amnesty to migrants who entered Britain illegally 10 years or more ago.
The Conservatives immediately attacked the plan, claiming the Lib Dems were encouraging lawbreaking.
Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, admitted the proposals were contentious, but said: "I do not think our party should be cowed into silence by fear of controversy. Of course the politics of substance will be attacked by the merchants of spin. I say this: we cannot and should not close the door on the world."
He added: "The issue of immigration has become the dog-pit of British politics, a place where only the political rottweilers are happy to enter. Today's motion is intended to drag the debate back to where it belongs: governed by facts, not prejudice, by fairness, not vitriol."
The earned citizenship proposals advanced by Mr Clegg are conditional on a clean criminal record and an ability to speak English. The applicant would initially receive a two-year work permit and would also be required to pay a small fee or carry out some form of community work. Some estimate that there are as many as 600,000 migrants living in the country illegally, but Mr Clegg conceded the figure may be higher.
Critics such as the Migration Watch pressure group questioned how an illegal migrant would be able to prove he or she had been in the country for 10 years in the shadows, a point also made by Lord Roberts, a Liberal Democrat peer in the Lords. But Mr Clegg rejected suggestions that his proposal amounted to a blanket amnesty, and insisted it did not have the pitfalls of recent amnesties in Italy and Belgium. He said: "Our proposal is for a case by case, qualified process of legalisation that boosts integration whilst depriving people traffickers of a flow of new victims.
"Britain currently has an underclass of half a million people who are here illegally. They don't pay tax. They lack any employment rights, citizen rights or access to services from healthcare to banking."
He accused the government of having no idea how to implement its deportation policy, describing it as "absurd and a mirage".
Alongside the earned citizenship, Mr Clegg also proposed tighter exit controls and a rise in the cost of work permits for businesses. He presented the proposal, largely developed by the IPPR thinktank, as a development of existing government policy of "a long residence concession", a policy which gives permanent residence on a discretionary basis to those who have lived in Britain continuously for longer than 14 years, or seven years for children. During the 1990s, the IPPR reports, concessions were granted to only about 2,000-3,000 applicants a year, fewer than are likely to come forward under the Clegg proposal.
Mr Clegg also claimed it would be practicable to identify the length of applicants' illegal residency in Britain, probably through the date of their initial visa or asylum application. He said if it was not possible to show when the applicant entered Britain, he or she would not qualify for citizenship.
During the debate, Kate and Gerry McCann's former spokeswoman backed the Clegg plan for the reintroduction of exit checks at ports to boost child protection. Justine McGuinness said: "If we want to protect our children we have to make sure that children cannot be moved out of Europe, as well as in. That's why I feel very strongly that we must have exit checks at all ports."
The immigration minister, Liam Byrne, rejected the Clegg plan, saying: "I believe those here illegally should go home - not go to the front of the queue for jobs and benefits. That's why we're now deporting someone every eight minutes and doubling our frontline enforcement resources."
He said compulsory ID cards were being introduced for foreign nationals from next month, which would make it "tougher still" for illegal migrants to work or access benefits. "An amnesty for immigrants illegally in the UK is unnecessary and would simply create a strong pull for waves of illegal migration," Mr Byrne added.
Mr Clegg rejected as total and unqualified nonsense reports that he had come to a secret deal with Sir Menzies Campbell to take over the leadership after the next election.
Today's agenda
· Debate on constitutional package designed to rival proposals from Gordon Brown
· Setpiece speech from David Laws, new shadow education secretary, and Lynne Featherstone, shadow international development secretary
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Introduction {#mpp12887-sec-0001}
============
The actin cytoskeleton is crucial for various eukaryotic cellular processes, such as cell division, cytokinesis, endocytosis, vesicle trafficking and motility (Pollard and Borisy, [2003](#mpp12887-bib-0032){ref-type="ref"}; Pollard and Cooper, [2009](#mpp12887-bib-0033){ref-type="ref"}). For the progression of these cellular processes, cells must rapidly regulate the turnover between the monomeric form of actin and its filamentous form, F‐actin, in response to environmental stimuli (Cooper and Schafer, [2000](#mpp12887-bib-0009){ref-type="ref"}; Rohatgi *et al.*, [1999](#mpp12887-bib-0036){ref-type="ref"}). A number of actin‐interacting or related proteins are involved in modulating actin dynamics, including the actin‐depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin family, Arp2/3 complex and capping proteins (CAPs) (Cooper and Schafer, [2000](#mpp12887-bib-0009){ref-type="ref"}).
Actin filaments are polar double‐helical polymers of globular subunits and have two ends, referred to as the barbed and pointed ends. The barbed end, compared with the pointed end, plays a major role in filamentous dynamics, as it has higher association and dissociation rate constants for actin subunits (Wear and Cooper, [2004](#mpp12887-bib-0041){ref-type="ref"}). Specialized proteins bind to the ends of actin to regulate the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments (Cooper and Schafer, [2000](#mpp12887-bib-0009){ref-type="ref"}; dos Remedios *et al.*, [2003](#mpp12887-bib-0035){ref-type="ref"}). CAPs are important for the assembly of various actin structures by tightly capping the barbed end of actin filaments to prevent the addition or loss of actin subunits (Cooper and Schafer, [2000](#mpp12887-bib-0009){ref-type="ref"}; Shekhar *et al.*, [2016](#mpp12887-bib-0038){ref-type="ref"}; Wear and Cooper, [2004](#mpp12887-bib-0041){ref-type="ref"}). CAPs are ubiquitous and highly conserved in all eukaryotic organisms from yeasts to mammals. CAPs exist in cells in a stable heterodimeric form consisting of alpha (α) and beta (β) subunits that have similar secondary structures but lack sequence similarity (Cooper and Sept, [2008](#mpp12887-bib-0010){ref-type="ref"}; Wear and Cooper, [2004](#mpp12887-bib-0041){ref-type="ref"}). Studies have demonstrated that deletion mutants or loss‐of‐function of CAPs cause defects in several cellular and developmental processes in various organisms. CAPs participate in stereocilia widening by preventing newly elongated actin filaments from depolymerizing in mice (Avenarius *et al.*, [2017](#mpp12887-bib-0003){ref-type="ref"}). Silencing CAPs in both cultured mammalian B16F10 cells and neurons of developing neocortices impairs cell migration (Sinnar *et al.*, [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0039){ref-type="ref"}). In the apicomplexan parasite *Plasmodium*, the β subunit of the CAP is an essential regulator of sporozoite motility and malaria transmission (Ganter *et al.*, [2009](#mpp12887-bib-0014){ref-type="ref"}). In *Arabidopsis,* CAP mutants have an abnormal cell morphology and have 10--20% longer hypocotyls than wild type (Li *et al.*, [2012](#mpp12887-bib-0024){ref-type="ref"}). In *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*, deletion of either the *CAP1* or *CAP2* gene leads to an abnormal actin distribution with fewer actin cables and an increased number of actin patches. The mutant cells appear round and enlarged and exhibit growth defects with a heterogeneous size distribution (Amatruda *et al.*, [1990](#mpp12887-bib-0002){ref-type="ref"}; Kovar *et al.*, [2005](#mpp12887-bib-0022){ref-type="ref"}). In the plant pathogenic fungus *Magnaporthe oryzae*, the CAP homologues MoCapA and MoCapB are important for endocytosis and actin dynamics and are directly linked to fungal growth, conidiation and pathogenicity (Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}).
Fusarium head blight (FHB), predominately caused by *Fusarium graminearum*, is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide (Xu and Nicholson, [2009](#mpp12887-bib-0042){ref-type="ref"}). FHB epidemics cause yield losses in FHB‐prone regions of the world (Nganje *et al.*, [2004](#mpp12887-bib-0031){ref-type="ref"}). In addition to severe yield losses, FHB leads to harmful mycotoxin contamination in infested grains, such as deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol and zearalenone (Chen *et al.*, [2019](#mpp12887-bib-0008){ref-type="ref"}). Among them, DON is the most frequently detected mycotoxin in cereal grains (Lee and Ryu, [2017](#mpp12887-bib-0023){ref-type="ref"}). The biosynthetic enzymes and regulators encoded by 15 *TRI* genes have been well characterized (Alexander *et al.*, [2009](#mpp12887-bib-0001){ref-type="ref"}; Gale *et al.*, [2005](#mpp12887-bib-0013){ref-type="ref"}). Under DON induction conditions *in vitro* and during the infection process *in planta*, the mRNA expression of *TRI* genes is highly induced, and subsequently translated proteins localize on a perinuclear organized smooth endoplasmic reticulum (OSER). The OSER is considered the DON biosynthesis compartment and designated the 'DON‐toxisome' (hereafter called 'toxisome') (Boenisch *et al.*, [2017](#mpp12887-bib-0005){ref-type="ref"}). Recently, we found that the myosin I‐actin cytoskeleton participates in DON‐toxisome formation and the production of DON in *F. graminearum* (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}).
Although the myosin‐actin cytoskeleton has been suggested to play an important role in DON biosynthesis, the actin *CAP* genes have not yet been functionally characterized in *F. graminearum*. Additionally, our previous study found that CAPs were captured using either FgMyo1 or the DON biosynthetic enzyme Tri1 as a bait in affinity capture‐mass spectrometry assays under DON‐inducing conditions (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). This prompted us to decipher the biological function of CAPs in DON biosynthesis. In this study, two *CAP* genes were identified and genetically analysed in *F. graminearum*. The results indicate that CAPs play an important role in mycelial growth, toxisome formation, DON biosynthesis and virulence in *F. graminearum.*
Results {#mpp12887-sec-0002}
=======
Capping proteins interact with Tri1 and FgMyo1 in *F. graminearum* {#mpp12887-sec-0003}
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The toxisome is considered the DON biosynthesis compartment in *F. graminearum*, while proteins that participate in toxisome formation are still under investigation (Boenisch *et al.*, [2017](#mpp12887-bib-0005){ref-type="ref"}). DON biosynthetic enzymes such as Tri1, Tri4 and the class I myosin FgMyo1 have been identified as components of the toxisome (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). To identify other proteins involved in toxisome formation, we previously performed affinity capture‐mass spectrometry (AC‐MS) assays using Tri1 and FgMyo1 as baits (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). Two proteins (loci FGSG_08621 and FGSG_01226) encoding homologues to fungal F‐actin CAP subunits were captured in both AC‐MS assays. A phylogenetic analysis of the putative CAPs, including *F. graminearum* and seven other tested fungi, demonstrated that the fungal CAP α and β subunits were highly conserved. Interestingly, the CAP subunit homologues in filamentous fungi and yeasts were notably divided into two groups. Based on the phylogenetic tree, we named FGSG_08621 FgCapA (α subunit of CAP) and FGSG_01226 FgCapB (β subunit of CAP) in *F. graminearum* (Fig. [S1](#mpp12887-sup-0001){ref-type="supplementary-material"}).
To further determine the interaction patterns between FgCAPs and FgMyo1 or FgTri1, we conducted coimmunoprecipitation (Co‐IP), colocalization and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays under DON‐inducing conditions. As shown in Fig. [1](#mpp12887-fig-0001){ref-type="fig"}A,B, FgCapA interacted with FgMyo1 and Tri1 in the Co‐IP assay. A strain bearing FgCapA‐mCherry (red fluorescent protein) and Tri1‐GFP (green fluorescent protein) was constructed in the wild‐type background and cultured in liquid trichothecene biosynthesis induction (TBI) medium to observe colocalization. The red fluorescence signals (FgCapA‐mCherry) were diffuse throughout the cytoplasm and partially colocalized with Tri1‐GFP at the toxisome (Fig. [1](#mpp12887-fig-0001){ref-type="fig"}C). Moreover, the direct interaction between FgCapA and Tri1 was verified by BiFC (Fig. [1](#mpp12887-fig-0001){ref-type="fig"}D). Similar to FgCapA, FgCapB also interacted with FgMyo1 and Tri1 (Fig. [S2](#mpp12887-sup-0002){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Combining the AC‐MS, Co‐IP, colocalization and BiFC assays, these results indicate that CAPs interact with Tri1 and FgMyo1 in *F. graminearum.*
{#mpp12887-fig-0001}
FgCapA and FgCapB form a heterodimer {#mpp12887-sec-0004}
------------------------------------
FgCapA and FgCapB are predicted to encode proteins of 316 and 282 amino acids and share 37% and 45% sequence identity, respectively, with counterparts in *S. cerevisiae*. However, FgCapA and FgCapB share only 10% amino acid sequence identity.
It has been shown that CAPs exist in a more stable heterodimer form consisting of α and β subunits in cells. To test whether FgCapA and FgCapB also interact with each other to form a heterodimer in *F. graminearum*, a yeast two‐hybrid assay was performed. The results indicated that FgCapA and FgCapB indeed interact with each other (Fig. [2](#mpp12887-fig-0002){ref-type="fig"}A). Subsequently, the localization patterns of FgCapA and FgCapB were visualized by confocal microscopy. The *FgCAPA‐GFP* and *FgCAPB‐mCherry* fusion constructs were co‐transformed into the wild‐type strain. As shown in Fig. [2](#mpp12887-fig-0002){ref-type="fig"}B, the FgCapA‐GFP and FgCapB‐mCherry fused proteins were mainly distributed in a similar patch pattern in hyphae grown in potato dextrose broth (PDB) medium. Importantly, the colocalization of FgCapA‐GFP and FgCapB‐mCherry was clearly observed. Additionally, a Co‐IP assay showed that FgCapA and FgCapB interact with each other (Fig. [2](#mpp12887-fig-0002){ref-type="fig"}C). A homology model of the *F. graminearum* CAP, based on the structure of the chicken CAP (Yamashita *et al.*, [2003](#mpp12887-bib-0043){ref-type="ref"}), yielded a mushroom‐like structure (Fig. [2](#mpp12887-fig-0002){ref-type="fig"}D). The stalk was formed by a six α‐helix bundle (three α‐helices from N‐terminal regions of each subunit). The mushroom cap consisted of a ten‐stranded anti‐parallel β‐sheet (five strands from each subunit), on top of which was two long C‐terminal α‐helices (one helix from each subunit) running perpendicular to the β‐sheet strands (Fig. [2](#mpp12887-fig-0002){ref-type="fig"}D).
{#mpp12887-fig-0002}
CAPs interact with actin and participate in actin organization {#mpp12887-sec-0005}
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CAPs bind the ends of actin filaments and play a critical role in regulating the addition and dissociation of actin subunits (Rao *et al.*, [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0034){ref-type="ref"}). Therefore, we determined whether the FgCAPs also interacted with actin. First, the colocalization patterns were observed in the wild‐type strain dual‐labelled with FgCapA‐GFP or FgCapB‐GFP and the actin reporter, Lifeact‐RFP. As shown in Fig. [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}A,B, signals of FgCap‐GFP mostly colocalized with the red fluorescence signals of actin patches, especially in the cells of hyphal tips, suggesting that the FgCaps potentially interacted with actin. Next, we conducted Co‐IP assays and confirmed that the CAPs interacted with actin in *F. graminearum* (Fig. [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}C,D).
{#mpp12887-fig-0003}
To investigate whether or not CAPs are involved in the actin organization, we constructed deletion mutants Δ*FgcapA*, Δ*FgcapB* and double‐mutant Δ*FgcapA/B* in the wild‐type strain expressing the actin reporter, Lifeact‐RFP, and observed the actin patterns in these strains. Most of the wild‐type strain generally showed several long actin cables in the hyphae, while fewer and shorter cables were formed in the hyphae of mutants (Fig. [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}E). Meanwhile, the actin patches were reduced at the top of the mutant hyphae compared with wild type (Fig. [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}E). Taken together, FgCapA and FgCapB physically form a heterodimer, interact with actin and participate in actin organization in *F. graminearum*.
FgCaps are important for hyphal growth and fungal reproduction {#mpp12887-sec-0006}
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Our in‐house RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) data indicated that *FgCAPA* and *FgCAPB* had similar transcriptional patterns in all five tested conditions, including on conidiation medium (carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC), carrot agar (sexual reproduction), PDB, TBI and during plant infection. Notably, their expression was increased under DON‐inducing conditions and *in planta* (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}A).
{#mpp12887-fig-0004}
To characterize the function of FgCapA and FgCapB, we constructed single and double deletion mutants, Δ*FgcapA*, Δ*FgcapB* and ΔΔ*FgcapA/B* in the wild‐type strain using homologous recombination. The deletion mutants were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and Southern blot analysis (Fig. [S3](#mpp12887-sup-0003){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). At least three independent transformants of the Δ*FgcapA*, Δ*FgcapB* and ΔΔ*FgcapA/B* mutants were obtained, and all transformants showed similar defective phenotypes under the tested conditions. Therefore, the phenotypes of one representative transformant for each mutant are shown in the following experiments. To confirm that phenotypic defects of mutants were directly related to the deletion, we complemented single deletion mutants with the corresponding open reading frame (ORF) fused with *gfp*, encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), at the carboxyl terminus under the native promoter and generated the complementation strains Δ*FgcapA*‐C (*FgcapA::*P*~CAPA~FgCAPA‐GFP*) and Δ*FgcapB*‐C (Δ*FgcapB::*P*~CAPB~FgCAPB‐GFP*).
The CAP mutants demonstrated obvious hyphal growth defects on CM, PDA and minimal medium (MM) compared with the wild‐type strain PH‐1. The mutants grew significantly slower and with more compacted aerial hyphae than the wild‐type strain (Figs [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}B and [S4](#mpp12887-sup-0004){ref-type="supplementary-material"}A). Furthermore, microscopic observation showed that the hyphae of the mutants were highly branched and misshapen (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}C).
The CAP mutants produced fewer conidia than the wild‐type strain after 4 days of incubation in CMC. Quantification data showed that the Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB* mutants produced 10^4^ conidia per millilitre, which was 30 times fewer than that produced by the wild‐type strain (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}D). To further examine conidial morphology, conidia were stained with calcofluor white (CFW) and observed under a fluorescence microscope. The average size of the conidia produced by the mutants was shorter than that of the wild‐type strain (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}E). Moreover, the conidia of the mutants harboured fewer septa. Most of the mutant conidia (75%) had only two or three septa, whereas the majority of conidia produced by the wild‐type strain had five septa (Fig. [S4](#mpp12887-sup-0004){ref-type="supplementary-material"}B,C). Meanwhile, the abnormal conidia of the mutants germinated more slowly than the conidia of the wild‐type strain in the presence of 2% sucrose (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}F). Moreover, the Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB* mutants formed fewer perithecia compared with the wild‐type (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}G). The double ΔΔ*FgcapA/B* mutant showed similar phenotypes to the single gene mutant. Phenotypic defects of mutants were completely rescued in complementation strains. Thus, our results indicate that both FgCapA and FgCapB are critical for hyphal growth, asexual and sexual reproduction in this fungus.
FgCaps are required for endocytosis and adaption to abiotic stress {#mpp12887-sec-0007}
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In a previous study, we found that deletion mutants of the actin cytoskeleton‐related genes *FgPRK1* and *FgEND3* caused endocytic defects in *F. graminearum* (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). Given that the FgCaps interacted with actin, we tested whether deletion of the *CAP* genes also affected the endocytosis process using the FM4‐64 staining assay. The plasma membrane and septa were quickly stained with FM4‐64 in both the conidia and mycelia of all tested strains. The FM4‐64 dye was endocytosed and generated clear fluorescence signals on the membrane of intracellular organelles, such as vacuoles and endosomes, after a 10 min staining of the wild‐type conidia and mycelia. However, the endocytosis of the fluorescent dye was dramatically hindered in all mutants under the same conditions (Fig. [5](#mpp12887-fig-0005){ref-type="fig"}). These results suggest that the FgCap proteins are important for the endocytosis process in *F. graminearum*.
{#mpp12887-fig-0005}
Eukaryotic cells rapidly regulate the turnover of actin forms in response to environmental stimuli, which require actin CAPs (Cooper and Schafer, [2000](#mpp12887-bib-0009){ref-type="ref"}; Rohatgi *et al.*, [1999](#mpp12887-bib-0036){ref-type="ref"}). Therefore, we were interested in determining the sensitivities of the *FgCAP* gene mutants to various abiotic stresses, including cell membrane stress, cell wall and oxidative stresses generated by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), Congo red and H~2~O~2~, respectively. The sensitivity assays showed that the CAP mutants demonstrated significantly decreased sensitivity to all three tested abiotic agents compared to the wild‐type strain PH‐1 (Fig. [6](#mpp12887-fig-0006){ref-type="fig"}). The complementation strains Δ*FgcapA*‐C and Δ*FgcapB*‐C exhibited similar sensitivities to that of the wild‐type strain (Fig. [6](#mpp12887-fig-0006){ref-type="fig"}), indicating that the complementation strains successfully rescued the defects of the corresponding mutant to abiotic stresses.
{#mpp12887-fig-0006}
F‐actin‐capping motifs are essential for the function of FgCapA but not FgCapB {#mpp12887-sec-0008}
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Sequence analysis indicated that FgCapA contains two conserved F‐actin‐capping motifs and FgCapB contains one F‐actin‐capping motif (Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}A). To analyse the role of the F‐actin‐capping motifs in FgCapA and FgCapB, we constructed the Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA1, Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA2 and Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB strains. The native promoter and ORF of *FgCAPA* lacking the F‐actin‐capping A1 motif was fused with a GFP fragment, and the resulting cassette was transformed into a Δ*FgcapA* strain background. The resulting transformant was identified and designated as Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA1. Using a similar procedure, Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA2 expressing *FgCAPA‐GFP* and lacking the F‐actin‐capping A2 motif in the Δ*FgcapA* strain and Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB expressing *FgCAPB‐GFP* and lacking the F‐actin‐capping B motif in the Δ*FgcapB* strain were generated.
{#mpp12887-fig-0007}
As shown in Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}B, Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA1 and Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA2 failed to complement the growth defects of Δ*FgcapA*, indicating that both motifs A1 and A2 are important for the function of FgCapA on vegetative growth. In these two strains, the GFP signals diffused evenly in the cytoplasm of mycelia without an actin localization pattern (Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}C). Further investigation indicated that the complementation strains lacking motif A1 or A2 showed similar defects in conidiation, sexual reproduction and endocytosis to those of Δ*FgcapA* strain (Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}D--G). However, FgCapB‐GFP lacking F‐actin‐capping motif B still exhibited actin localization in the Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB strain (Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}C). Moreover, the Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB strain demonstrated similar mycelial growth rates and all tested phenotypes to those of *ΔFgcapB*‐C and the wild‐type strain PH‐1 (Fig. [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"}B,D--G).
To further verify whether the F‐actin‐capping motifs are essential for interaction between CAPs and actin *in vivo*, the actin‐RFP fusion construct was individually introduced into the Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA1, Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA2 and Δ*FgcapB‐*C‐ΔB. Total protein was isolated from the positive transformants and Co‐IP analysis was performed. As shown in Fig. [8](#mpp12887-fig-0008){ref-type="fig"}A,B, FgCapA lacking either the F‐actin‐capping A1 or A2 motif was unable to interact with actin protein. In consistence with phenotypes of Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB, FgCapB lacking F‐actin‐capping B motif did not affect the interaction between FgCapB and actin (Fig. [8](#mpp12887-fig-0008){ref-type="fig"}C). Taken together, these results indicated that the F‐actin‐capping motifs were essential for the functions of FgCapA but not for FgCapB in *F. graminearum*.
{#mpp12887-fig-0008}
FgCAP deletion mutants have attenuated DON production and virulence {#mpp12887-sec-0009}
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FgCapA and FgCapB interacted with Tri1 and FgMyo1 and were localized partially to the toxisome (Figs [1](#mpp12887-fig-0001){ref-type="fig"} and [S2](#mpp12887-sup-0002){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). Additionally, both *FgCAPA* and *FgCAPB* showed relatively high transcriptional levels in the DON‐inducing TBI medium and during the infection process *in planta* (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}A). Thus, we were interested in investigating the function of FgCapA and FgCapB in toxisome formation, DON production and virulence.
As described previously, Tri1‐GFP can be used as an indicator for DON‐toxisome formation (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}), thus Tri1‐GFP was transformed into the wild‐type and CAP mutant strains. As shown in Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}A, expression of Tri1‐GFP was highly induced, and typical spherical toxisomes were formed in the mycelia of the wild‐type strain after 2 days of incubation in TBI. In contrast, the Tri1‐GFP signals in Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB* mutants dramatically decreased, and very faint toxisomes were observed (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}A). Western blot analysis confirmed that the amounts of the Tri1‐GFP protein in the CAP mutants were also considerably lower than that in the wild‐type strain (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}B). Meanwhile, the transcriptional levels of the *TRI* genes in the deletion mutants were assayed by RT‐qPCR after incubation in TBI medium. Three selected *TRI* genes (*TRI1*, *TRI5* and *TRI6*) were dramatically down‐regulated in the Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB* mutant, compared to those in the wild‐type (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}C). Consistent with toxisome formation and expression of *TRI* genes, CAP mutants produced less DON than the wild‐type strain after 7 days of incubation in TBI (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}D). These results suggest that FgCaps participated in expression of *TRI* gene and toxisome formation, and were important for DON biosynthesis in *F. graminearum*.
{#mpp12887-fig-0009}
DON is a key virulence factor in *F. graminearum*, thus the virulence of the CAP mutants was evaluated by point‐inoculating conidial suspensions in flowering wheat heads and mycelial plugs on the leaves of wheat seedlings. On wheat heads inoculated with the wild‐type strain PH‐1, scab symptoms first developed on the inoculated spikelets and rapidly spread to the neighbouring wheat head. Fifteen days after inoculation, severe and typical scab symptoms were caused by the wild‐type and complementation strains. In contrast, scab symptoms caused by mutants were restricted to the inoculated spikelets and failed to spread from the inoculated floret to the rachis (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}E). Additionally, all mutants demonstrated attenuated virulence on seedling leaves (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}F). The complementation strains Δ*FgcapA*‐C and Δ*FgcapB*‐C exhibited wild‐type levels of DON production and virulence (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}D--F). Moreover, F‐actin‐capping motif truncated mutant Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA1 and Δ*FgcapA*‐C‐ΔA2 demonstrated similar reduction of DON production and virulence as Δ*FgcapA* mutant. The pathogenicity and DON biosynthesis of Δ*FgcapB‐*C‐ΔB mutant was the same as that of wild type, as other tested phenotypes (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}C--F). Collectively, our results suggest that CAPs are important for toxisome formation, DON production and virulence in *F. graminearum*.
Discussion {#mpp12887-sec-0010}
==========
The actin cytoskeleton plays an important yet poorly understood role during cellular development in eukaryotes. Remodelling of the actin cytoskeleton in response to internal signals or environmental stimuli is controlled by a plethora of actin‐binding proteins, including the CAP proteins (Cooper and Sept, [2008](#mpp12887-bib-0010){ref-type="ref"}). Although CAPs have been investigated in yeast, *Arabidopsis* and mammalian cells (Amatruda *et al.*, [1990](#mpp12887-bib-0002){ref-type="ref"}; Huang *et al.*, [2003](#mpp12887-bib-0019){ref-type="ref"}; Kim *et al.*, [2004](#mpp12887-bib-0021){ref-type="ref"}; Sinnar *et al.*, [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0039){ref-type="ref"}), the function of CAPs in filamentous fungi is still largely unknown. Here, we identified and genetically characterized two CAPs, FgCapA and FgCapB, in the plant pathogenic fungus *F. graminearum*. FgCapA interacted with FgCapB. Deletion of *FgCAPA* and *FgCAPB* resulted in various defects, including a reduction in hyphal growth and conidiation, sexual reproduction and decreased endocytosis, DON biosynthesis and virulence in *F. graminearum* (Figs [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}, [5](#mpp12887-fig-0005){ref-type="fig"}, [6](#mpp12887-fig-0006){ref-type="fig"}, [7](#mpp12887-fig-0007){ref-type="fig"} and [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}). The double gene deletion mutant exhibited similar phenotypes to the single gene deletion mutants, supporting the hypothesis that the two CAP proteins form a heterodimer. These results were consistent with studies of other eukaryotes (Amatruda *et al.*, [1990](#mpp12887-bib-0002){ref-type="ref"}; Blanchoin *et al.*, [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0004){ref-type="ref"}; Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}). In yeast and *M. oryzae,* the F‐actin‐capping motifs of CapA were required to interact with actin (Amatruda *et al.*, [1990](#mpp12887-bib-0002){ref-type="ref"}; Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}). Similarly, in the current study, we found that FgCapA interacted with actin, and the interaction depended on its F‐actin‐capping motifs (Figs [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"} and [8](#mpp12887-fig-0008){ref-type="fig"}). Unexpectedly, although FgCapB also interacted with actin, Δ*FgcapB*‐C‐ΔB completely rescued the defects of the Δ*FgcapB* mutant, indicating that the F‐actin‐capping motif B was not required for the function of FgCapB, which was different from the results of previous studies in other fungi (Amatruda *et al.*, [1990](#mpp12887-bib-0002){ref-type="ref"}; Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}). Other unidentified motif(s) in FgCapB may be responsible for its interaction with actin. Taken together, these results indicate that CAPs may have species‐specific interaction patterns with actin in different organisms.
The DON biosynthetic organelle, the toxisome, is a remodelled perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum in *F. graminearum* (Boenisch *et al.*, [2017](#mpp12887-bib-0005){ref-type="ref"}, [2019](#mpp12887-bib-0006){ref-type="ref"}; Flynn *et al.*, [2019](#mpp12887-bib-0012){ref-type="ref"}; Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). The assembly of toxisomes is mediated by the myosin‐actin cytoskeleton (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). Inactivation of FgMyo1 by the fungicide phenamacril or disruption of F‐actin formation using latrunculin A dramatically inhibited toxisome formation and DON biosynthesis (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}; Zhang *et al.*, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0047){ref-type="ref"}; Zheng *et al.*, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0048){ref-type="ref"}). Additionally, deletion of the actin‐associated protein genes *FgPRK1* or *FgEND3* also hindered toxisome formation and reduced the concentration of trichothecenes that accumulate in cultures (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). In this study, we further found that actin CAPs interact with actin (Fig. [3](#mpp12887-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}) and the deletion of *FgCAPA or FgCAPB* leads to defects in toxisome formation and subsequent DON production (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}), indicating that FgCaps are required for toxisome formation. Moreover, previous studies have shown that the trichothecene efflux pump Tri12 interacts with toxisomes and may participate in DON transport through vesicles and vacuoles. The motility of vesicles containing Tri12 was largely dependent on filamentous actin (Menke *et al.*, [2012](#mpp12887-bib-0029){ref-type="ref"}, [2013](#mpp12887-bib-0030){ref-type="ref"}; Roze *et al.*, [2011](#mpp12887-bib-0037){ref-type="ref"}), suggesting that the actin cytoskeleton may be involved not only in toxisome formation but also in DON export. Thus, it is likely that the actin cytoskeleton can be used as a potential target for the development of new fungicides to inhibit DON biosynthesis.
Emerging evidence has demonstrated that the actin cytoskeleton plays an important role during plant--microbe interactions. In *Arabidopsis* epidermal cells, cortical actin was remodelled within minutes for defence responses in response to pathogenic and nonpathogenic microbes and diverse microbe‐associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) (Henty‐Ridilla *et al.*, [2013](#mpp12887-bib-0017){ref-type="ref"}, [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0018){ref-type="ref"}). Capping proteins integrate multiple MAMP signalling pathways to modulate actin dynamics for plant resistance against bacterial and fungal phytopathogens (Li *et al.*, [2012](#mpp12887-bib-0024){ref-type="ref"}, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0025){ref-type="ref"}, [2017a](#mpp12887-bib-0026){ref-type="ref"}). Moreover, the actin cytoskeleton is critical for virulence in plant pathogens. For example, assembly of an F‐actin network was required for initiation of the infection process in *M. oryzae* (Kankanala *et al.*, [2007](#mpp12887-bib-0020){ref-type="ref"}). CAP mutants in *M. oryzae* dramatically reduced fungal virulence *in planta* (Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}). In *Botrytis cinerea*, deletion of the capping gene *BcCAP1* impaired the ability of the pathogen to penetrate host tissue and its subsequent invasive growth in the leaves of *Phaseolus vulgaris* (Gonzalez‐Rodriguez *et al.*, [2016](#mpp12887-bib-0016){ref-type="ref"}). Here, we found that the deletion mutants of CAP genes attenuate the disease symptoms, although they could successfully penetrate the hosts, indicating that CAPs play an important role in *F. graminearum* growth during invasion (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}E,F). DON has been well characterized as a critical virulence factor for the spread of *F. graminearum* within wheat spikelets (Desjardins *et al.*, [1996](#mpp12887-bib-0011){ref-type="ref"}), therefore the reduced spread of the capping gene mutants during invasion could primarily result from the defect in DON production (Fig. [9](#mpp12887-fig-0009){ref-type="fig"}D). Additionally, the growth defect of the mutants may affect the development of disease symptoms *in planta* (Fig. [4](#mpp12887-fig-0004){ref-type="fig"}B). Taken together, the defects of hyphal growth and DON biosynthesis contributed to the attenuated virulence of the *F. graminearum* actin capping mutants on the host plants.
Experimental Procedures {#mpp12887-sec-0011}
=======================
Fungal strains and culture conditions {#mpp12887-sec-0012}
-------------------------------------
As a parental strain, the *F. graminearum* strain PH‐1 was used in this study. The wild‐type and mutant strains were grown at 25 °C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) (200 g potato, 20 g glucose, 10 g agar and 1 L water), minimal medium (MM) (10 mM K~2~HPO~4~, 10 mM KH~2~PO~4~, 4 mM (NH~4~)~2~SO~4~, 2.5 mM NaCl, 2 mM MgSO~4~, 0.45 mM CaCl~2~, 9 mM FeSO~4~, 10 mM glucose, 1% agar and 1 L water, pH 6.9) and complete medium (CM) (1% glucose, 0.2% peptone, 0.1% yeast extract, 0.1% casamino acids, nitrate salts, trace elements, 0.01% vitamins and 1 L water, pH 6.5) to determine the growth rate and colony morphology.
For conidiation assays, ten mycelial plugs (5 mm in diameter) of each strain were taken from the periphery of a 3‐day‐old colony and inoculated in a 50‐mL flask containing 20 mL of CMC liquid medium (15 g carboxylmethyl cellulose, 1 g yeast extract, 0.5 g MgSO~4~, 1 g NH~4~NO~3~, 1 g KH~2~PO~4~ and 1 L water) (Cappellini and Peterson, [1965](#mpp12887-bib-0007){ref-type="ref"}). The flasks were incubated at 25 °C for 4 days in a shaker (180 rpm), and the resulting conidia were germinated in distilled water with 2% sucrose. Perithecium formation was assayed on carrot agar medium (CA) (200 g carrot, 20 g agar and 1 L water) at 25 °C under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle. Mycelia were grown on CA for 7 days and then rubbed with a glass spreader after applying 0.1% sterilized Tween 20 solution to induce sexual reproduction. Liquid trichothecene biosynthesis induction (TBI) medium (30 g sucrose, 1 g KH~2~PO~4~, 0.5 g MgSO~4~.7 H~2~O, 0.5 g KCl, 0.01 g FeSO~4~.7H~2~O, 1.47 g putrescine hydrochloride, trace elements and 1 L water, pH 4.5) were used for toxisome formation and DON production (Gardiner *et al*., [2009](#mpp12887-bib-0015){ref-type="ref"}; Menke *et al.*, [2012](#mpp12887-bib-0029){ref-type="ref"}). Strains were grown at 28 °C in the dark for 2 days before toxisome observation.
The sensitivity of the strains to stress agents was determined as described previously (Liu *et al.*, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0028){ref-type="ref"}). The final concentrations of SDS, H~2~O~2~ and Congo red in PDA are indicated in the figure. The mycelial growth inhibition rate (MGIR) was calculated using the formula MGIR% = \[(*N* -- *C*)*/C*\] × 100, where *C* is the colony diameter of the control without treatment and *N* is that with treatment. Each experiment was repeated three times independently.
Construction of gene deletion mutants and complementation strains {#mpp12887-sec-0013}
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The deletion mutants Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB* were generated using a previously described protocol (Yun *et al*., [2013](#mpp12887-bib-0046){ref-type="ref"}). To generate the double mutant of *FgCAPA* and *FgCAPB*, *FgCAPA* was knocked out in the Δ*FgcapB* mutant and the resulting double mutant was designated ΔΔ*FgcapA/B*. The primers used to amplify the flanking sequences for each gene are listed in Table [S1](#mpp12887-sup-0005){ref-type="supplementary-material"}. Deletion mutants were identified by PCR with relevant primers and a Southern blot assay (Fig. [S3](#mpp12887-sup-0003){ref-type="supplementary-material"}).
To construct the *FgCAPA‐GFP* fusion cassette, the *FgCAPA* fragment containing the native promoter and ORF (without the stop codon) was amplified with primers P17 and P18 (Table [S1](#mpp12887-sup-0005){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). The resulting PCR products were co‐transformed with *Xho*I‐digested pYF11‐GFP plasmid into *S. cerevisiae* XK1‐25 using the alkali‐cation yeast transformation kit (MP Biomedicals, Solon, USA). The recombined pYF11‐*FgCAPA‐GFP* plasmid was recovered from the yeast transformant using a yeast plasmid extraction kit (Solarbio, Beijing, China) and then transferred into *Escherichia coli* strain DH5α for amplification. The recombinant plasmid pYF11‐*FgCAPA‐GFP* was transformed into the Δ*FgcapA* mutant for complementation, and the resulting transformant was designated Δ*FgcapA*‐C. Using the same strategy, the pYF11‐*FgCAPB‐GFP* recombinant plasmid was constructed and transformed into the Δ*FgcapB* mutant and generated the complementation Δ*FgcapB*‐C.
Microscopic examinations {#mpp12887-sec-0014}
------------------------
For toxisome observation, each strain labelled with Tri1‐GFP was grown in liquid TBI medium at 28 °C in darkness for 2 days prior to examination under a Zeiss LSM780 confocal microscope (Gottingen, Niedersachsen, Germany). The following confocal microscopy settings were used for GFP observation: laser 488 nm at 50% power, pinhole 90 μm, master gain 580. Conidial germination was stained with CFW at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL for 30 s before confocal observation. To observe endocytosis, fresh conidia or mycelia were collected and strained with FM4‐64 at a concentration of 7.5 μM for 1, 5 or 10 min in the dark at room temperature (Li *et al.*, [2017b](#mpp12887-bib-0027){ref-type="ref"}). The laser excitation wavelength was set at 561 nm for FM4‐64, mCherry and RFP (red fluorescence).
Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay {#mpp12887-sec-0015}
----------------------------------------------
For BiFC strain construction, the ORF fragments of *TRI1* and *FgCAPA* were respectively fused into *Xho*I‐digested pHZ65 vector harbouring YFP^N^ and the hygromycin B resistance cassette, and pHZ68 vector that carries YFP^C^ and the zeocin resistance cassette. The final plasmid constructs of pYFP^N^‐Tri1 and pFgCapA‐YFP^C^ were verified by sequencing and then co‐transformed into the protoplasts of PH‐1 in pairs. Transformants resistant to both hygromycin and zeocin were isolated and confirmed by PCR. The recombination plasmid pYFP^N^‐Tri1 or pFgCapA‐YFP^C^ was individually transformed into PH‐1, and resultant transformants were used as negative controls. YFP signals in the mycelia grown in TBI for 48 h were examined under a confocal microscope.
Western blot assay {#mpp12887-sec-0016}
------------------
Protein isolation was performed as previously described (Yun *et al.*, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0045){ref-type="ref"}). The resulting proteins were separated by 10% SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and transferred onto an Immobilon‐P transfer membrane (Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). Monoclonal anti‐GFP (ab32146, Abcam, Cambridge, UK), anti‐mCherry (ab125096, Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA), anti‐RFP (ab65856, Sigma) and anti‐Flag (A9044, Sigma) antibodies were used at a 1:10 000 dilution for immunoblot analyses. The samples were also detected with monoclonal anti‐GAPDH antibody (EM1101, HuaAn Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China) as a control.
Coimmunoprecipitation assay {#mpp12887-sec-0017}
---------------------------
The GFP, RFP, 3 × Flag or mCherry fusion constructs were verified by DNA sequencing and transformed in pairs into PH‐1. Transformants expressing pairs of fusion constructs were confirmed by western blot analysis. In addition, the transformants expressing a single fusion construct were used as references. For Co‐IP assays, total proteins were extracted and incubated with anti‐GFP or anti‐Flag agarose. Proteins eluted from agarose were analysed by western blot detection with a polyclonal anti‐Flag or an anti‐GFP antibody. The protein samples were also detected with monoclonal anti‐GAPDH antibody as a reference. Each experiment was repeated twice.
Yeast two‐hybrid assay {#mpp12887-sec-0018}
----------------------
To construct plasmids for the yeast two‐hybrid analysis, the ORFs of the *FgCAPA* and *FgCAPB* genes were amplified using PH‐1 cDNA as a template. The PCR product was inserted into the yeast GAL4‐binding domain vector pGBKT7 or GAL4 activation domain vector pGADT7 (Clontech, Mountain View, CA, USA). The pairs of yeast two‐hybrid plasmids were co‐transformed into the *S. cerevisiae* strain AH109 following the LiAc/ss‐DNA/PEG (lithium acetate/single‐stranded DNA/polyethylene glycol) transformation protocol (Yu *et al*., [2014](#mpp12887-bib-0044){ref-type="ref"}). In addition, the plasmids pGBKT7‐53 and pGADT7 served as positive controls, while the plasmids pGBKT7‐Lam and pGADT7 served as negative controls. Transformants were grown at 30 °C for 3 days on synthetic medium (SD) lacking Leu and Trp and then transferred to SD lacking His, Leu, Trp and Ade to assess interaction. Three independent experiments were performed to confirm the results.
Plant infection, *TRI* gene expression and DON production assays {#mpp12887-sec-0019}
----------------------------------------------------------------
The conidia of each strain formed in CMC medium were collected and suspended in sterile distilled water to a final concentration of 10^5^ conidia/mL. A 10 μL suspension of fresh conidia of each strain was injected into a floret in the central section spikelet of single flowering wheat head of the susceptible cultivar Zimai22. At 15 days after inoculation, the infected spikelets in each inoculated wheat head were recorded. For wheat leaf infection, fresh mycelial plugs of each strain were inoculated in the middle of the leaves and incubated in a growth chamber at 25 °C. Images were taken 6 days after inoculation. There were 15 replicates for each strain in each experiment, and these experiments were repeated three times.
To compare the *TRI* genes expression, the wild‐type and CAP mutant strains were inoculated into TBI medium and cultured at 28 °C in a shaker (150 rpm). After 2 days of incubation, mycelia of each sample were harvested and the total RNA was extracted. The mRNA expression of *TRI1*, *TRI5* and *TRI6* in PH‐1 and the mutants was determined using a quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR) method as described previously (Liu *et al.*, [2015](#mpp12887-bib-0028){ref-type="ref"}). The experiment was repeated three times. To quantify DON production, each strain was grown shaking (150 rpm) in TBI medium at 28 °C for 7 days in darkness. The supernatant was collected by filtration through three layers of gauze and then purified and quantified using the LC‐MS/MS system (Tang *et al.*, [2018](#mpp12887-bib-0040){ref-type="ref"}). The experiment was repeated three times.
Supporting information
======================
######
**Fig. S1** Phylogenetic analysis of the putative CAPs from *Fusarium graminearum*, two yeasts and five filamentous fungi. Amino acid sequences of CapA and CapB orthologues were aligned using CLUSTALW, and a neighbour‐joining tree was generated by MEGA 5.0. The names or loci of proteins are indicated in the figure.
######
Click here for additional data file.
######
**Fig. S2** FgCapB interacts with FgMyo1 and Tri1. (A) The interaction of FgCapB‐GFP and FgMyo1‐Flag was verified by the co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assay. Total protein (Input) extracted from the strain bearing FgCapB‐GFP and FgMyo1‐Flag constructs or a single construct (FgCapB‐GFP or FgMyo1‐Flag) were subjected to SDS‐PAGE and immunoblots were incubated with anti‐FLAG and anti‐GFP antibodies, as indicated (Input panel). Each protein sample was pulled down using anti‐Flag agarose and further detected with anti‐GFP antibody (Flag pull‐down panel). Protein samples were also detected with anti‐GAPDH antibody as a reference. (B) The interaction of FgCapB‐mCherry and Tri1‐GFP was verified by the Co‐IP assay. Protein samples were pulled down using anti‐GFP agarose and further detected with an anti‐mCherry antibody. Protein samples were also detected with anti‐GAPDH antibody as a reference. (C) FgCapB‐mCherry was partially colocalized with Tri1‐GFP on DON‐toxisomes at 48 h of incubation in trichothecene biosynthesis induction (TBI) medium. Bar = 10 µm.
######
Click here for additional data file.
######
**Fig** **.** **S3** Identification of deletion mutants. (A) PCR identification of deletion mutants Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB*. (B) Southern blot analysis of the deletion mutants of Δ*FgcapA* and Δ*FgcapB*using the hygromycin fragment as the probe. Δ*FgcapA*had an anticipated 4539 bp band, but lacked the 4539 bp band presented in *Fusarium graminearum* wild‐type PH‐1. Δ*FgcapB* had an anticipated 5172 bp band, but lacked the 5172 bp band presented in the wild‐type PH‐1.
######
Click here for additional data file.
######
**Fig. S4** Deletion mutants of*FgCAP* genes reduced the rate of hyphal growth and altered the morphologies of conidia. (A) Colony diameter of *Fusarium graminearum* wild‐type PH‐1, Δ*FgcapA*, Δ*FgcapB* and ΔΔ*FgcapA/B*grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA), complete medium (CM) and minimal medium (MM) agar plates for 3 days at 25 °C. Bars denote standard deviations from three experiments. Columns labelled with the same letter are not significantly different according to the least significant difference (LSD) test at *P* = 0.05. (B) Ratio of the different number of conidial septa in PH‐1, mutants and complemented strains harvested from 4‐day‐old carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) cultures. (C) The representative conidial morphology of the wild‐type PH‐1 and mutants. The septa were stained with calcofluor white and imaged with a fluorescence microscope. Bar = 20 µm.
######
Click here for additional data file.
######
**Table S1** A list of primers used in this study.
######
Click here for additional data file.
The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31672064), the International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China (2016YFE0112900), the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province for Distinguished Young Scholar (LR17C140001), the China Agriculture Research System (CARS‐3‐29) and the Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program (2017QNRC001). The authors declare no conflict of interest.
|
from typing import Collection, List, Optional, Type
from ..error import GraphQLError
from ..language import DocumentNode, ParallelVisitor, visit
from ..type import GraphQLSchema, assert_valid_schema
from ..pyutils import inspect, is_collection
from ..utilities import TypeInfo, TypeInfoVisitor
from .rules import ASTValidationRule
from .specified_rules import specified_rules, specified_sdl_rules
from .validation_context import SDLValidationContext, ValidationContext
__all__ = ["assert_valid_sdl", "assert_valid_sdl_extension", "validate", "validate_sdl"]
class ValidationAbortedError(RuntimeError):
"""Error when a validation has been aborted (error limit reached)."""
def validate(
schema: GraphQLSchema,
document_ast: DocumentNode,
rules: Optional[Collection[Type[ASTValidationRule]]] = None,
type_info: Optional[TypeInfo] = None,
max_errors: Optional[int] = None,
) -> List[GraphQLError]:
"""Implements the "Validation" section of the spec.
Validation runs synchronously, returning a list of encountered errors, or an empty
list if no errors were encountered and the document is valid.
A list of specific validation rules may be provided. If not provided, the default
list of rules defined by the GraphQL specification will be used.
Each validation rule is a ValidationRule object which is a visitor object that holds
a ValidationContext (see the language/visitor API). Visitor methods are expected to
return GraphQLErrors, or lists of GraphQLErrors when invalid.
Optionally a custom TypeInfo instance may be provided. If not provided, one will be
created from the provided schema.
"""
if not document_ast or not isinstance(document_ast, DocumentNode):
raise TypeError("Must provide document.")
# If the schema used for validation is invalid, throw an error.
assert_valid_schema(schema)
if type_info is None:
type_info = TypeInfo(schema)
elif not isinstance(type_info, TypeInfo):
raise TypeError(f"Not a TypeInfo object: {inspect(type_info)}.")
if rules is None:
rules = specified_rules
elif not is_collection(rules) or not all(
isinstance(rule, type) and issubclass(rule, ASTValidationRule) for rule in rules
):
raise TypeError(
"Rules must be specified as a collection of ASTValidationRule subclasses."
)
if max_errors is not None and not isinstance(max_errors, int):
raise TypeError("The maximum number of errors must be passed as an int.")
errors: List[GraphQLError] = []
def on_error(error: GraphQLError) -> None:
if max_errors is not None and len(errors) >= max_errors:
errors.append(
GraphQLError(
"Too many validation errors, error limit reached."
" Validation aborted."
)
)
raise ValidationAbortedError
errors.append(error)
context = ValidationContext(schema, document_ast, type_info, on_error)
# This uses a specialized visitor which runs multiple visitors in parallel,
# while maintaining the visitor skip and break API.
visitors = [rule(context) for rule in rules]
# Visit the whole document with each instance of all provided rules.
try:
visit(document_ast, TypeInfoVisitor(type_info, ParallelVisitor(visitors)))
except ValidationAbortedError:
pass
return errors
def validate_sdl(
document_ast: DocumentNode,
schema_to_extend: Optional[GraphQLSchema] = None,
rules: Optional[Collection[Type[ASTValidationRule]]] = None,
) -> List[GraphQLError]:
"""Validate an SDL document.
For internal use only.
"""
errors: List[GraphQLError] = []
context = SDLValidationContext(document_ast, schema_to_extend, errors.append)
if rules is None:
rules = specified_sdl_rules
visitors = [rule(context) for rule in rules]
visit(document_ast, ParallelVisitor(visitors))
return errors
def assert_valid_sdl(document_ast: DocumentNode) -> None:
"""Assert document is valid SDL.
Utility function which asserts a SDL document is valid by throwing an error if it
is invalid.
"""
errors = validate_sdl(document_ast)
if errors:
raise TypeError("\n\n".join(error.message for error in errors))
def assert_valid_sdl_extension(
document_ast: DocumentNode, schema: GraphQLSchema
) -> None:
"""Assert document is a valid SDL extension.
Utility function which asserts a SDL document is valid by throwing an error if it
is invalid.
"""
errors = validate_sdl(document_ast, schema)
if errors:
raise TypeError("\n\n".join(error.message for error in errors))
|
Then there is mine remediation. For Peabody, there are $US713 million in company assessed remediation liabilities against which surety bonds of $568 million are held to cover overall clean-up costs as at December 2013. Peabody appears better covered than others on this front, though. Throughout Australia, there are tens of thousands of abandoned mine sites left for taxpayers to clean up on a multitude of old companies' behalf. Some, such as the Mount Morgan goldmine in Queensland, have already cost taxpayers $50 million as toxic sludge contaminated rivers and killed fish 50 kilometres downstream. The Queensland Auditor-General has put the cost of cleaning up the state's 15,000 abandoned mines at $1 billion. However, financial analyst Tim Buckley, of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, says the eventual figure could be 10 times higher. That is just Queensland. Collectively, the other legacy costs in the wake of the biggest resources boom in history and its slather of top-of-cycle acquisitions will surely run into the dozens of billions. Much will depend on whether the sharp decline in coal prices is structural rather than cyclical. The government and the coal fraternity say it is cyclical, that demand will rebound. There is a good deal of hope factored into this view, hope that appears to also be the basis for the government to provide taxpayer subsidies to back the giant Galilee coal project in Queensland.
Figures out of China last week showed thermal coal consumption fell 2.1 per cent year on year in 2014. Demand for electricity, however, still rose 3.9 per cent, an unassailable indicator that coal is losing significant market share in the battle against cleaner forms of energy. That 6 per cent loss in market share in China alone in one year can be viewed against the 10 per cent growth every year for the first 10 years of this century. Unfortunately, most of the profits of this boom found their way overseas. The clean-up will be funded at home. Yet companies such as Peabody Energy continue to fork out dividends for their shareholders while their liabilities are increasingly at risk. This company, as of yesterday, had an Altman Z-Score (global measure of financial distress) of 0.76. It is in distress zone (anything less than 1.81), implying possible bankruptcy in the next two years. Peabody is in better shape, though, than the Indian coal producers. A research report by IEEFA's Tim Buckley suggests all three big players in Australia – Adani, GVK and Lanco Infratech (owner of Griffin Coal in WA) – are showing Z-Scores suggesting a real risk of distress. As described here three months ago, http://www.smh.com.au/business/mining-and-resources/wise-investment-or-fossil-fools-queensland-backs-coal-as-g20-moves-the-game-on-20141117-11odkq.html GVK's net debts stand at 10 times its market cap.
Its Galilee colleague Adani Mining P/L is an Adani subsidiary with $1 billion in debt, negative shareholders funds, zero revenue and high cash burn with many billions still to spend. It is no wonder the Indians have their arms outstretched for taxpayer subsidies. Unless the coal price bounces substantially, this is not a viable project without state support.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/adanis-galilee-basin-project-not-commercially-viable-20140905-10cyc3.html#ixzz3N9vSfwSZ As for the third company, the central subject of Buckley's report, Lanco Infratech is already a year into a corporate debt restructuring with its many banks. "The imminent of Lanco Infratech's Griffin Coal business points to an increasingly urgent need for federal and state government planning to prepare for the economic and social impacts of the structural decline in coal." The government of WA is in a bind. It needs Griffin's thermal coal to fire its grid. While taxpayers are likely to be tapped to prop up yet another distressed mining company, the sheer survival of the mine will render mine remediation a minor issue for future generations to worry about.
"IEEFA notes the absence of any material environmental remediation bond protection at Griffin Coal. West Australian taxpayers could well end up with yet another significant unfunded mine remediation liability". The Indian power and infrastructure companies were last to the party. All three bought into Australian coalmining projects in 2011 – the very peak of the boom. All were already excessively leveraged. All three paid big prices with borrowed money. Since then the seaborne price of thermal coal has more than halved. For its part, Griffin Coal is operating negative cash-flow and struggling even to pay the interest on its $600 million to $800 million in acquisition-related debts. Lanco paid way over the top for Griffin. Rival Chinese group Yancoal acquired the Premier coal asset for $300 million, just after Wesfarmers had spent $90 million on its upgrade. Lanco in contrast paid $750 million for a slightly smaller business that was loss making and in need of capital expenditure. It paid 2.5 times the price Yancoal paid. Yet Yancoal recently picked up a $240 million subsidy from the WA government. Meanwhile, in Queensland the government is pondering a suite of taxpayer assistance for the Galilee partners: equity funding for the railway, water, dredge and spoil removal and/or a holiday on coal royalties. Coal is a mature industry and should hardly be a candidate for big taxpayer handouts, especially since it is already a recipient of state largesse in many forms. Governments, however, will come under intense lobbying pressure – especially the threat of job losses – to shield mining companies from tumbling commodity prices.
What is required to protect future generations in this country is a concerted plan to deal with the fallout. There isn't one. NSW for one does not even properly report remediation liabilities. Eventually, these may be in the tens of billions of dollars so an audit of all environmental liabilities is in order before – should the mining sector fail to regain its former glories – the country is left with a slew of insolvent mining companies and even more thousands of toxic holes in the ground. |
Duke of York launches scathing attack on 'hopeless' MoD
The Duke of York has launched an extraordinary attack on the “hopeless”
Ministry of Defence for failing to order an armoured vehicle that could save
British soldiers’ lives.
The Duke of York slammed the Ministry of Defence's "hopeless" procurement processPhoto: AP
By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter
1:54PM GMT 05 Nov 2010
The Duke accused defence chiefs of sitting on their “fat backsides” and stalling on bringing in the British-built Ranger vehicles, which are said to have three times the blast resistance of troop carriers currently in use.
His controversial comments were made at the factory which manufactures the Ranger, which the Duke was visiting in his capacity as an ambassador for UK Trade and Industry.
Last year the MoD said it had no immediate plans to order Rangers, but had asked for independent tests to establish the vehicle’s resistance to roadside bombs of the type used by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Duke told executives at Universal Engineering in Weymouth, Dorset: “Why do they have to do blast tests? It's just increasing the cost.
“It just seems that because it takes time to get these things done - I would say to you that regrettably they will not get off their fat backsides.
“The MoD are completely hopeless at these kind of things.”
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the remarks were made in a private meeting and declined to comment further.
It is understood that the Duke was addressing members of the company’s board, and was unaware that a local journalist had been invited to witness the meeting.
The 50-year-old Duke, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot and Colonel-in-Chief of five Army regiments, has regularly visited Afghanistan to see for himself the challenges faced by British service personnel.
After being shown a presentation of the Ranger in action, he agreed it should sell well internationally, adding: “This is supposed to be an export led Government recovery and this seems to be an excellent export product. I don't think I need convincing.”
But he suggested that if the armed forces pull out of Afghanistan by 2015, as the Government has suggested, the company will have “a problem” getting orders.
The £1 million Ranger has a unique “floating” crew capsule suspended above the V-shaped hull that gives it superb protection from roadside bombs. In tests, its armour plating withstood the impact from explosives equivalent to double the average amount found in a Taliban bomb.
Universal Engineering says it could have the vehicles in Afghanistan within six months of an order being placed.
The MoD argues it has already spent billions on US-built Mastiff and Ridgback trucks, which are less agile than Rangers.
John Scott, the Ranger program director, diplomatically said the company enjoyed a good relationship with the MoD and they understood the processes required for all procurement.
John Runyard, chairman of Universal Engineering, said: "He (the Duke) saw the export opportunities and thought the Ranger was a fantastic piece of kit.
“And it will help with the sustainability of jobs in the area.”
An MoD spokesman said the ministry had not ruled out ordering Rangers, adding: “The size and weight of the prototype Ranger vehicle is similar to that of our Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles that are already being used in Afghanistan.
“In the event that future operational requirements are identified for a vehicle of its type then the Ranger could be considered.” |
Thursday, 15 August 2013
2Greensted Church is the oldest wooden church in the world. It was built in 1081 AD
(It's about time they replaced it with something more durable, like concrete)
3BBC Essex is the most listened to non commercial local radio station in the UK. Highest audience figures are between 06:00 and 12:00 noon Monday to Friday
4Manningtree near Colchester is the UK’s smallest town
5Tiptree near Chelmsford is the UK’s largest village
(Perhaps they should just change names with Manningtree)
6There are more speed cameras per linear mile of road inEssex than anywhere else in the world
7The mystery of Thomas Richman’s buried treasure has gone unsolved since 1780. It is suppose to be buried somewhere in Essex
(Honey, put that adder down and start digging)
8Layer Marney tower near Colchester is the tallest Tudor gatehouse in the UK
9The first crocodile to be brought to the UK was in 1701 by Richard Bradley who kept it in the lake and grounds of his home in Braintree
(Has anyone seen my dog?)
10
In May 1943 in the skies above Hornchurch aerodrome an altitude record
was set for a propeller driven plane. Professor Montague Hill on
secondment from Durham University
was working on a specially modified Spitfire. In order to overcome
engine failure due to oxygen starvation at altitude, Hill concocted a
special gas that was carried in two torpedo shaped tanks attached to the
wings. This gas had a noxious smell and as such the Spitfire was
referred to by the pilot and ground crew as “old farty”. To this day the
exact altitude and gas formula are still classified as Top Secret
(Are you sure it was the engine. If I was going to attempt an altitude record in one of those I think I would make a noxious gas
11The sunniest place in the UK is Ashingdon village
(Don’t care. I’m still going to Spain)
12During the witch hunt in the Middle Ages there were more reported witches in Essex than Devon and Cornwall combined
(Ah, nothing changes)
13The hit song “Billy don’t be a hero” by Paper Lace was written in the lounge bar of The Old Dog Inn Herongate near Brentwood
(May I suggest you spend 2 hours in the bar before listening to it)
14People living in Essex are 38% more lightly to be hit by falling aeroplane parts than anywhere else in Britain
(Put that turbine down kids, dinners ready)
15The first ice making machine in the UK was built in Romford in 1871 by James Ernest Lighthouse using the vapour evaporation method(Shortly followed by the Gin and Tonic)
16
Argon gas was discovered in 1894 by Richard Henry Noble of Wickford.
Unfortunately for Noble the discovery was credited to Sir William Ramsay
and John William Strutt (Lord Raleigh). However because of his enormous
contribution Argon along with Helium, Neon, Krypton, Xenon and Radon
are now called the Noble Gases.
17NASA’s
space shuttle has only ever had one report of theft. That was in 1983
whilst on display atop a Boeing 747 at Stansted Airport Essex. In total
seventeen items of value were stolen along with a further fifty three
items from the Jumbo jet used to carry it. Nobody was ever charged by Essex police in connection with the theft.
(Too busy putting film in their speed cameras)
18In 1651 Henry Joist, an amateur cartographer from Ilford attempted to measure various distances between Essex
villages. Unfortunately for Joist he failed to calibrate his equipment
first. As a result Joist’s mile was in fact just over a mile and a half.
Using his calculations would have put Clacton about thirty miles into the English Channel. From then on distances that appeared further than imagined were called “an Essex mile” later changed to “a country mile”
This lunch time I put some of the finishing touches to my army build for Adolf Don't Surf on the 27th-28th July.
2 Hogs and 1 M113 ACAV, once everything is fully ready for spraying I will get a full army shot taken and then some work in progress.
Looking at my list agian whilst away on holiday certainly means that I have a very mobile and fast moving army. So tactically I am hoping this will enable me to bring the considerable firepower from the M113 ACAVs to where it is needed before the PAVN player get a foothold on the battlefield. Hopefully I can get a couple of test games in before the weekend. Or it might come down to live fire at the event:)
http://www.nationalexpress.com Takes you to the coach company, the jounery times show as nearly 5 hours, this is due to that it goes into London with a change at Victoria, So a good opporunity to maybe catch some of the free museums.
www.nationalexpress.com Takes you to the coach company, the jounery times show as nearly 4
hours, this is due to that it goes into London with a change at
Victoria, So a good opporunity to maybe catch some of the free museums.
http://www.nationalexpress.com/ Takes you to the coach company, the jounery times show as nearly 4
hours, this is due to that it goes into London with a change at
Victoria, So a good opporunity to maybe catch some of the free museums.
Thursday, 30 May 2013
It suffered one of the first air raids of the First World War. Bombs were dropped by hand from giant Zeppelins LZ38 airships
How many beaches are there in Southend?.....They run from Shoeburyness to Leigh on Sea, starting with East Beach, Shoebury Common Beach, Jubilee Beach, Three Shells' Beach, Chalkwell Beach and Bell wharf Beach.
Southend is located in the driest part of the country,
The mystery of Thomas Richman’s buried treasure has gone unsolved since 1780. It is suppose to be buried somewhere in Essex
People living in Essex are 38% more lightly to be hit by falling aeroplane parts than anywhere else in Britain
During the witch hunt in the Middle Ages there were more reported witches in Essex than Devon and Cornwall combined
So after such pieces of history the question on everybodies mind is: Where to Stay?
I have placed some links below for accommodation near the venue.
If in the search boxes for Holiday
Inn, Park Inn and Premier Inn, type in the following post code SS5 4AD and it
will bring up the closest hotel to the venue. |
Term of the Day
The Sinclair ZX Spectrum was a considerably popular personal computer during the 1980s. Developed in Britain, it is often credited for popularizing use of the personal computer in Europe. It featured a screen resolution of 256 by 192 colored pixels (unprecedented at the time for a household computer). It was also known for its multifunction rubber...
Read more
IT Business
MERA VoIP Key System (MVKS)
Definition - What does MERA VoIP Key System (MVKS) mean?
The MERA VoIP key system (MVKS) is an LAN-based private branch exchange developed by MERA Systems Inc. and built mainly for small- to medium-sized enterprises. MVKS also provides large conglomerates with various satellite facilities and office services. The system provides interoperability with several other existing network systems.
Techopedia explains MERA VoIP Key System (MVKS)
The MERA VoIP key system was designed to ensure an easy, quick and money-saving transition to IP telephony. MVKS is a softswitch that combines conventional private automatic branch exchanges (PABX) into a structured corporate communications system that includes a common numbering system and a wide range of enhanced features.
It facilitates growth in the number of new subscribers and offices serviced by the system.
It integrates the network into a single structure for both data and voice.
It provides a complete set of common PABX services for distant branches.
It offers free telecommunication between company offices and branches.
It reduces long-distance and international long-distance call costs.
It provides better performance and quality of service.
It provides information about direct operating costs.
MERA Systems is a key contributor in the field of VoIP switching solutions and information security systems for carriers and service providers. In 2010, the company changed its name to ALOE Systems Inc. |
Quiévrain
Quiévrain is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut. On 1 January 2006, the municipality had 6,559 inhabitants. The total area is 21.22 km², giving a population density of 309 inhabitants per km².
The municipality contains the following population centres: Quiévrain proper, Baisieux, and Audregnies.
Quiévrain is the border crossing point on the old main Paris-Brussels railway line. As a result, Belgians humorously refer to France (and vice versa) as outre-Quiévrain (beyond Quiévrain).
In the closing days of the First World War, Quiévrain was liberated by the Canadian Expeditionary Force on November 7, 1918, and marks the starting point of the Canadian Route of Remembrance in Belgium.
Revolutions of 1848
Shortly after the French Revolution of 1848, Belgian migrant workers living in Paris were encouraged to return to Belgium to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. Around 6,000 émigrés, coming from Paris, formed the "Belgian Legion". The legion was armed by some of the administrative authorities of Lille, and intended to penetrate into Belgium to "raise the people" and overthrow the Belgian monarchy. It is likely that the revolutionaries had the support of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Second Republic, which had only recently been installed and was still very militant.
The first group, travelling by train, was stopped and quickly disarmed at Quiévrain on 26 March 1848. The second group crossed into Belgium and was defeated in the Risquons-Tout incident.
References
External links
Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)
Category:Populated places in Hainaut (province)
Category:Populated places in Belgium
Category:Belgium–France border crossings |
#pragma once
#ifndef ANDRES_FUNCTIONAL_HXX
#define ANDRES_FUNCTIONAL_HXX
#include <cassert>
#include <cmath>
#include <stdexcept>
namespace andres {
template<typename T>
struct Identity {
typedef T argument_type;
typedef T result_type;
#ifndef _MSC_VER
constexpr
#endif
result_type operator()(const argument_type& x) const
{ return x; }
};
template<typename T, typename U>
struct NegativeLogProbabilityRatio {
typedef T argument_type;
typedef U result_type;
NegativeLogProbabilityRatio(const argument_type epsilon = static_cast<argument_type>(1) / static_cast<argument_type>(255))
: epsilon_(epsilon),
oneMinusEpsilon_(static_cast<argument_type>(1) - epsilon)
{
if(epsilon <= 0 || epsilon * 2 >= 1) {
throw std::out_of_range("epsilon out of range (0, 0.5).");
}
}
result_type operator()(argument_type x) const
{
assert(0 <= x && x <= 1);
if(x < epsilon_) {
x = epsilon_;
}
else if(x > oneMinusEpsilon_) {
x = oneMinusEpsilon_;
}
return std::log( (1-x)/x );
}
private:
const argument_type epsilon_;
const argument_type oneMinusEpsilon_;
};
template<typename T, typename U>
struct NegativeLogProbabilityToInverseProbability {
typedef T argument_type;
typedef U result_type;
result_type operator()(argument_type x) const {
return 1-::exp(-x );
}
};
template<typename T, typename U>
struct ProbabilityToNegativeLogInverseProbability {
typedef T argument_type;
typedef U result_type;
result_type operator()(argument_type x) const {
return -::log( 1-x );
}
};
template<typename T, typename U>
struct ProbabilityToLogit {
typedef T argument_type;
typedef U result_type;
result_type operator()(argument_type x) const {
return ::log( (1-x)/x );
}
};
} // namespace andres
#endif // #ifndef ANDRES_FUNCTIONAL_HXX
|
Introduction {#s1}
============
Mitochondrial complex III (CIII, ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase or cytochrome bc1 complex, E.C.1.10.2.2) is a multiprotein enzyme complex that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from reduced coenzyme Q to cytochrome c, with a concomitant translocation of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane [@pone.0012801-Baum1]. The purified bovine complex is a symmetric homodimer with a combined molecular mass of ∼450 kDa [@pone.0012801-Xia1], [@pone.0012801-Iwata1]. Each monomer is composed of 11 subunits, of which ten are encoded in the nucleus and one (cytochrome b) in the mitochondrial genome. Respiratory chain complex III deficiency \[MIM 124000\] is a relatively rare cause of mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in the cytochrome *b (MT-CYB)* gene constitute a major cause of complex III deficiency, and underlie a wide range of neuromuscular disorders [@pone.0012801-Benit1]. These include mitochondrial encephalomyopathy [@pone.0012801-Keightley1], hypertrophic or histiocytoid cardiomyopathy [@pone.0012801-Andreu1], [@pone.0012801-Valnot1], or sporadic mitochondrial myopathy, where exercise intolerance is the predominant symptom [@pone.0012801-Andreu2]. Additional features include blood acidosis, muscle weakness or myoglobinuria. Defects in *MT-CYB* are also documented in patients with multisystem disorders in cases of exercise intolerance accompanied by deafness, mental retardation, retinitis pigmentosa, cataract, growth retardation, and epilepsy [@pone.0012801-Schuelke1], [@pone.0012801-Wibrand1]. Mutations in *MT-CYB* have also been associated with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) \[MIM: 535000\], a maternally inherited disease resulting in acute or subacute loss of central vision due to optic nerve degeneration [@pone.0012801-Brown1].
When a new mutation is detected in the mtDNA of a patient with a mitochondrial defect, a strict association between the mutation and the cellular dysfunction must be established before assuming pathogenicity. Although many mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes and coding regions have been shown to cause diseases, the high rate of evolution of mtDNA creates many new polymorphic sites. For this reason, a number of useful criteria have been proposed in order to avoid the mistake of incorrect assignment of pathogenicity to a mutation [@pone.0012801-Montoya1]. These criteria generally include the following aspects: i) the mutation should be preferably found in heteroplasmic state; ii) there should be a strong association between heteroplasmic levels, clinical symptoms, biochemical data, and family history; iii) the mutation should be highly conserved among species; and iv) transmitochondrial cybrids should not restore the cellular and biochemical defects in mitochondrial function found in the original tissue; when a defective mitochondrial function is maintained in cybrid cells bearing mutated mtDNA, it is generally assumed that the mutation is likely to be a pathogenic cause of disease. Additionally, in recent years a number of studies emphasize the importance of the mtDNA genetic background that hosts a primary pathogenic mutation in the clinical expression of mitochondrial disorders. The clearest example is the preferential association of the Eurasian haplogroup J with the 11778/*ND4* and 14484/*ND6* LHON pathogenic mutations [@pone.0012801-Hudson1].
In this work we report a complex III-deficient patient with early-onset metabolic acidosis and seizures, who harboured a novel m.15533 A\>G homoplasmic mutation in the *MT-CYB* gene. Although this genetic variant did not easily fulfil the pathogenicity criteria for mtDNA mutations, by forcing the *de novo* functioning of the OXPHOS system in mutant transmitochondrial cybrids we have demonstrated a direct functional effect of the mtDNA genetic background on the biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.
Materials and Methods {#s2}
=====================
Ethics Statement {#s2a}
----------------
This study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain), and was in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki for Human Research. The patient\'s mother has given written informed consent (as outlined in the PLoS consent form) to publication of the case details.
Case Report {#s2b}
-----------
The proband was a male born to non-consanguineous parents, delivered at full term by caesarean after an uneventful pregnancy. At age 23 days he presented with abnormal movements of his arms, and generalized hypertonia. He also showed central cyanosis with episodes of apnea that required intubation and mechanical ventilation for twelve days, and a convulsive status with tonic-clonic seizures, which were recurrent during the following two days. After treatment with antiepileptic drugs, the paroxysmal movements finally remitted. Brain computerized tomography scans and brain ultrasonography revealed no abnormalities. Laboratory examinations revealed persistent metabolic acidosis that was treated with bicarbonate, elevated anion gap, and moderate increase of resting plasma lactate (3.4 mmol/L; normal \<2). At age two years a muscle biopsy was taken, which showed a single mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III defect. Other studies discarded pyruvate decarboxylase deficiency and organic acidemia. At three years of age brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) displayed small abnormal signals in both thalami, and diffuse hypersignals in T2-weighted sequence in the white matter of the peripheral area of atrium as a consequence of myelination delay. At the age of six he presented with developmental delay affecting his speech skills, which started to be treated by language therapy. He also developed behaviour disturbances and a functional clubfoot. Brain MRI and MR spectroscopy were normal. At present, at age nine years, he has a mild mental and developmental delay, functional clubfoot, cognitive abnormalities, attention difficulties and hyperactivity, initiating treatment with methylphenidate. His parents and a maternal aunt were all asymptomatic. His mother suffered a previous miscarriage at two months of gestation. A maternal aunt was referred to die at two months of age from an unknown disease.
Cell Cultures {#s2c}
-------------
Fibroblasts were obtained from skin biopsies and cultured in DMEM medium (Life Technologies) supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum (FCS) and 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 IU/ml streptomycin. Transmitochondrial cybrids were obtained by fusion of 143B206 TK^-^ rho zero cells with control or patient-derived enucleated fibroblasts or platelets as previously described [@pone.0012801-King1]. To block mitochondrial translation, 15 µg/ml doxycycline were added to the culture medium. Cells were grown in exponential conditions and harvested at the indicated time points.
Enzyme activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes {#s2d}
--------------------------------------------------------------
Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities were measured in muscle (quadriceps muscle biopsy), skin fibroblasts, and cybrids as described before [@pone.0012801-Martinez1], and expressed relative to the citrate synthase activity in muscle, and as their specific activities in fibroblasts and cybrids ([Table 1](#pone-0012801-t001){ref-type="table"}).
10.1371/journal.pone.0012801.t001
###### Residual enzyme activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in different tissues from the index patient.
{#pone-0012801-t001-1}
Muscle[\*](#nt102){ref-type="table-fn"} Fibroblasts[\*\*](#nt103){ref-type="table-fn"} Cybrids[\*\*](#nt103){ref-type="table-fn"}
---------- ----------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------ ----------- -------------------------------------------- ----------
CI 17,1 10--30 35,1 26--50 10 4--17
CII 16,3 4,5--17,4 10 10--17 12 11--27
CI+CIII 14,5 8.5--26 **122** 223--750 37 32--96
CII+CIII nd \- **2,7** 4,4--18,5 2,8 2,6--7,3
CIII **14,6** 28--98 **15,1** 29--87 **74** 13--71
CIV 22,7 16--80 **15,2** 49--128 **39** 20--36
CS 194 78--250 61 60--160 142 108--175
Enzyme activities are expressed as
\*cU/U citrate synthase (CS) and
\*\*nmol.min^−1^.mg prot^−1^. CS activity is expressed as mU/mg protein. Abnormal values are indicated in bold. nd, not determined. Complex I, CI; Complex II, CII; Complex III, CIII; Complex IV, CIV.
Genetic analyses {#s2e}
----------------
Total DNA was extracted from blood, muscle, fibroblasts and cybrids by standard methods. The whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from patient\'s muscle was sequenced by SECUGEN S.L. (Madrid, Spain). The complete mtDNA was amplified from total DNA in 24 overlapping 800--1,000 bp-long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments. The PCR fragments were sequenced in both strands in an ABI 3730 sequencer using a BigDye v3.1 sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), and were compared with the revised Cambridge reference sequence, CRS [@pone.0012801-Andrews1] ([Table 2](#pone-0012801-t002){ref-type="table"}). Discrepancies were analyzed in the human mitochondrial genome databases MITOMAP ([www.mitomap.org](http://www.mitomap.org)), mtDB ([www.genpat.uu.se/mtDB/](http://www.genpat.uu.se/mtDB/)), and GiiB-JST mtSNP (<http://mtsnp.tmig.or.jp/mtsnp/index_e.shtml>). To quantify the heteroplasmy levels of the m.15533 A\>G mutation, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was performed in the proband\'s family using the following primers: 5′-CACTATTCTCACCAGACCTC-3′, (forward) and 5′-ACGCCTCCTAGTTTGTTAGG-3′ (reverse), and digestion with the restriction enzyme *Dde*I (New England Biolabs). Two hundred healthy control subjects of Spanish background obtained from the Blood Bank of our Institution were screened to rule out the presence of mutations in the healthy population.
10.1371/journal.pone.0012801.t002
###### Haplogroup affiliation and non-synonymous nucleotide changes of the mtDNA sequence from the index patient.
{#pone-0012801-t002-2}
Genbank ID HAPLOGROUP Non-synonymous polymorphisms relative to rCRS[a](#nt104){ref-type="table-fn"} Amino acid Change
------------ ------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
HM046248 H2 A8860G (*ATP6*) Thr\>Ala
G9477A (*CO3*) Val\>Ile
C14766T (*CYB*) Thr\>Ile
A15326G (*CYB*) Thr\>Ala
A15533G (*CYB*) Asn\>Asp
rCRS refers to the revised Cambridge reference sequence [@pone.0012801-Andrews1], which belongs to haplogroup H2a.
Additionally, sequencing ruled out mutations in the coding regions of the following complex III nuclear genes: *CYC1*, *UQCRFS1*, *UQCRQ*, *UQCRH*, *UCRC*, and *BCS1L*.
Bioinformatic analyses {#s2f}
----------------------
Cytochrome b protein sequences from diverse vertebrate species were downloaded from Uniprot (The Uniprot Consortium, 2010)[@pone.0012801-The1] [@pone.0012801-The1], and aligned with MUSCLE v3.2 [@pone.0012801-Edgar1]. The potential effect of the N263D and N260D mutations was evaluated by homology modelling of the mutated sequences using the 3D structure of bovine complex III stored in PDB (1NTM) as a template. Modelling was performed at the Swiss model server [@pone.0012801-Schwede1]. 3D models were visualized using Chimera [@pone.0012801-Pettersen1].
Quantification of the mtDNA copy number {#s2g}
---------------------------------------
Relative quantification of mtDNA versus nuclear DNA (nDNA) was performed by real-time PCR in a HT 7500 Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) as previously described [@pone.0012801-Pello1], except that the forward primer used for mtDNA amplification was: 5′-CCA CGG GAA ACA GCA GTG AT-3′. Results were presented as mean ±SD values.
Mitochondrial Protein Isolation and Blue Native Analysis {#s2h}
--------------------------------------------------------
Blue native methods were performed as previously described [@pone.0012801-Pello1]. Primary antibodies (Molecular Probes) were raised against the complex I NDUFS3 and NDUFA9 subunits, complex III core2 protein, complex IV COX2 and COX5A subunits, and complex II SDHA subunit. Peroxidase-conjugated anti-mouse IgG was used as secondary antibody (Molecular Probes). The signal was detected with ECL® plus (Amersham Biosciences).
Results {#s3}
=======
Genetic and biochemical analyses of the *MT-CYB* m.15533A\>G mutation {#s3a}
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities showed a single complex III defect in the patient\'s skeletal muscle (52% of the lowest control value), and a combined deficiency of complexes III and IV in fibroblasts (52% and 31% of the lowest control values respectively) ([Table 1](#pone-0012801-t001){ref-type="table"}). Sequencing of the entire mitochondrial genome in patient\'s muscle enabled easy identification of haplogroup-specific polymorphisms and novel private substitutions ([Table 2](#pone-0012801-t002){ref-type="table"}), and confirmed that the patient belonged to the European haplogroup H2 (GenBank sequence accession number HM046248). Comparison of the sequence with the revised Cambridge reference sequence (rCRS) revealed 12 synonymous substitutions, 5 non-synonymous substitutions, and 19 substitutions either in mitochondrial rRNAs, tRNAs or in the mtDNA D-loop region. One missense mutation in *MT-CYB* (m.15533A\>G) was not previously reported in the mtDNA sequence databases, and it was not detected in 200 ethnically-matched controls ([Figure 1A](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}). The relative mutant load for this new nucleotide variant was measured by PCR-RFLP analysis in blood (not shown), muscle and fibroblasts of the patient ([Figure 1B](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}), and showed homoplasmic levels of the mutation in all tissues. *Dde*I-RFLP analysis also showed that the *MT-CYB* mutation was homoplasmic in blood from the proband\'s mother and maternal aunt, both clinically unaffected (not shown).
![Genetic and structural analysis of the m.15533A\>G mutation.\
(A) Electropherogram showing the nucleotide change in patient\'s muscle DNA, indicated by arrowheads. (B) PCR-RFLP analysis of the *MT-CYB* mutation. Uncut (wild-type) DNA consists of a 150 bp PCR product. The mutated sequence contains one *Dde*I restriction site that results in two products of 90 and 60 bp after digestion. The control sequence contains one *Mse*I restriction site that results in the same two products after digestion. C, wild-type control; F, proband\'s fibroblasts DNA; M, proband\'s muscle DNA; Cy, control cybrid; 1, 2 and 3 refer to three independent mutant cybrid clones. (C) Alignment of cytochrome b amino acid sequences from selected species. Asparagine at amino acid position 263 is indicated with an arrow. (D) Partial 3D-images of the cytochrome b protein. The left panel shows the interaction site between the asparagine 263 (indicated in red) of cytochrome b and the aspartate 2 of the cytochrome c1 subunit (coloured in green). This is the closest negatively charged side-chain of cytochrome c1, which is facing the same aqueous pocket at a distance of 11.25 Armstrongs. Asparagine at position 260 of cytochrome b is indicated in blue. The central panel shows the 3D-structure of the asparagine 263 (in blue) in controls. The right panel shows the predicted structural effect of the N263D substitution (in red) in the patient. The images were obtained using the Chimera software [@pone.0012801-Pettersen1].](pone.0012801.g001){#pone-0012801-g001}
To discriminate between a nuclear or mitochondrial origin of the disease, transmitochondrial cybrids were constructed by transferring mitochondria from patient\'s fibroblasts into 143B206 TK^-^ rho zero (ρ°) cells, which lack mtDNA. Ten independent cybrid clones retained homoplasmic loads of the m.15533A\>G mutation ([Figure 1B](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}). The enzyme activities of all respiratory chain complexes were normal in six independent mutant clones ([Table 1](#pone-0012801-t001){ref-type="table"}), which would in principle indicate that the main genetic defect should be located in the nuclear genome.
Features of the *MT-CYB* m.15533A\>G mutation {#s3b}
---------------------------------------------
The m.15533A\>G transition changes an asparagine into aspartate at amino acid residue 263, within an amino acid stretch relatively conserved amongst mammals, but not further on in evolution ([Figure 1C](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}). Based on its crystal structure [@pone.0012801-Xia1], [@pone.0012801-Iwata1], the cytochrome b subunit consists of eight intramembrane spanning domains (helixes A--H). Asn 263 is located between the E--F transmembrane helixes, within the second half of loop ef of cytochrome b, in close contact with functional domains of the RISP and cytochrome c1 subunits. The N263D amino acid substitution would exchange a positive for a negative charge within this region, possibly affecting the interaction between cytochrome b and the RISP and cytochrome c1 subunits ([Figure 1D](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}). These findings suggested that the N263D mutation could have an effect on the structural integrity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III. However, a structural analysis of the N263D substitution only predicted a mild effect on the interaction between complex III subunits. As shown in [Figure 1D](#pone-0012801-g001){ref-type="fig"}, residue 263 (shown as red or yellow residues on the pink-coloured chain) is facing an aqueous pocket, and the distances to the closest residues of cytochrome c1 (coloured in green) are larger than 7 Armstrongs. Several other charged residues, an arginine and three aspartates, are present at close distances, suggesting that the relative charge introduced by the mutation is not large. A similar asparagine to aspartate substitution at amino acid position 260 of cytochrome b (shown in blue in the figure) was previously reported as a polymorphism [@pone.0012801-Fuku1]. The side chain of this residue is facing the same aqueous pocket in a very close position to that of 263. Altogether, these data do not plead in favour to consider the N263D as a true pathogenic mutation.
Normal steady-state levels of respiratory chain complexes in MT-CYB mutant cells {#s3c}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To analyze the respiratory chain content in digitonin-extracted mitochondria from patient\'s fibroblasts and cybrids, 1D-BN-PAGE analysis was combined with complex I *in-gel* activity assay and western blot with antibodies raised against specific OXPHOS subunits ([Figure 2](#pone-0012801-g002){ref-type="fig"}). In patient\'s fibroblasts low steady-state levels of respiratory chain complexes III and IV were observed, suggesting an impaired assembly/stability defect. Consequently, decreased enzyme activities of these complexes were found in this tissue ([Table 1](#pone-0012801-t001){ref-type="table"}). As expected from their restored enzyme activities, the mutant cybrids displayed normal steady-state levels of respiratory chain complexes relative to the controls.
{#pone-0012801-g002}
Delayed assembly kinetics of respiratory chain complexes in mutant cybrids {#s3d}
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, we reversibly blocked for 6 days mitochondrial protein translation with doxycycline, thus depleting the cells of OXPHOS complexes that contained mitochondrial-encoded subunits [@pone.0012801-Ugalde1]. After the release of drug inhibition, mitochondrial translation resumed and the assembly of newly-synthesized mitochondrial complexes was investigated by collecting cells at different time points (0, 6, 15, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours). Digitonin-isolated mitochondria were analyzed by BN-PAGE electrophoresis in combination with *in-gel* activity assays ([Figure 3A](#pone-0012801-g003){ref-type="fig"}) or Western-blot using antibodies against subunits from different OXPHOS complexes ([Figure 3B](#pone-0012801-g003){ref-type="fig"}). The signals obtained from the Western-blots were quantified, normalized for the expression levels of mitochondrial complex II, expressed as a percentage of the untreated cells (which correspond to the steady-state expression levels), and calculated the average numerical values for the restoration curves of the respiratory complexes in control and mutant cybrids ([Figure 3C](#pone-0012801-g003){ref-type="fig"}). A significant delay in the recovery kinetics of respiratory chain complexes I, III and IV was observed in the two independent mutant cybrids relative to two controls of the same haplogroup ([Figure 3C](#pone-0012801-g003){ref-type="fig"}).
{#pone-0012801-g003}
The mtDNA copy number was calculated for control and mutant cybrids in order to exclude the possibility that the differences observed in the assembly kinetics of respiratory chain complexes could be due to variations in the mtDNA content. No significant differences were found in the mtDNA/nDNA ratio between the controls (292±35) and the mutants (289±38) belonging to haplogroup H. Taken as a whole, our results demonstrate a functional effect of the mtDNA genetic background of the mutant clones in the assembly kinetics of respiratory chain complexes.
Discussion {#s4}
==========
In this work we have shown the pathogenic role of the novel m.15533A\>G genetic variant in the *MT-CYB* gene in a patient with metabolic acidosis and hyperlactacidemia, seizures, mild mental delay, behaviour disturbances and a single enzyme defect of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III. Based on the current standard pathogenicity criteria for mtDNA mutations, the mutation would have been easily excluded as potentially deleterious. Our patient harboured the mutation in homoplasmic state, as did his clinically unaffected mother and maternal aunt. The mutation was not highly conserved along evolution and the predicted structural data did not plead in favour of a deleterious effect of the N263D substitution on the structure of cytochrome b. Although he showed defective respiratory chain enzyme activities and protein levels in muscle and cultured fibroblasts grown in exponential conditions, these respiratory chain enzyme activities and assembly defects were restored to normal in transmitochondrial cybrids harbouring the homoplasmic m.15533A\>G mutation, when these cells were grown in a favourable glucose-containing medium under no stress conditions. Only when the mutant cybrids were forced to the *de novo* building up and functioning of the OXPHOS system by treating the cells with doxycycline, we were able to observe a drastic functional effect of the mtDNA genetic background on the assembly kinetics of the respiratory chain complexes.
Similar observations were previously made by our group in cybrid cell lines bearing the three classical homoplasmic LHON mutations [@pone.0012801-Pello1]. These cells neither showed respiratory chain enzyme defects nor decreased steady-state levels of OXPHOS complexes, but displayed differentially-delayed assembly rates of respiratory chain complexes I, III, and IV amongst mutants belonging to different mtDNA haplogroups. Likewise, the mtDNA genetic background was recently shown to play an important role in modulating the bioenergetics and biochemical defects in cybrids bearing the *ATP6* NARP/MILS mutation [@pone.0012801-DAurelio1]. This is in agreement with the proposed effect on protein function of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are located in the coding region, which could affect protein stability, ligand binding, catalysis, allosteric regulation and post-translational modifications [@pone.0012801-Wang1]. Basal differences in OXPHOS capacities such as mitochondrial transcription and replication, protein synthesis, and bioenergetics have recently been demonstrated in control cybrids from different mtDNA haplogroups [@pone.0012801-Suissa1], [@pone.0012801-GomezDuran1]. These results reveal that specific mtDNA polymorphisms may modify the pathogenic potential of mtDNA mutations by affecting the overall biogenesis and function of the OXPHOS complexes.
In our *MT-CYB* mutant cybrids, the m.15533A\>G mutation most likely hampers the proper assembly of respiratory chain complex III, which would further affect the formation of complex I [@pone.0012801-AcinPerez1]. In addition, the mutant clones showed, besides strong complex I and complex III assembly defects, a severe impairment of complex IV and supercomplex CIII~2~+CIV assembly rates. This effect could be explained by the presence of two mtDNA polymorphisms in the *MT-CO3* and *MT-ATP6* genes, G9477A and A8860G respectively, plus two additional mtDNA polymorphic variants in the *MT-CYB* gene, C14766T and A15326G, ([Table 2](#pone-0012801-t002){ref-type="table"}) which could add a deleterious effect to that caused by the m.15533A\>G mutation. Our results, however, do not explain the differences in the clinical expression of the m.15533A\>G mutation among members of the proband\'s family. Although reduced penetrance is a relatively common feature of homoplasmic mtDNA mutations leading to mitochondrial disorders [@pone.0012801-McFarland1], [@pone.0012801-Carelli1], it suggests the requirement of additional contributors to the clinical manifestations of the disease. For instance, most patients with LHON disease carry homoplasmic mtDNA mutations. Although all offspring inherit the mutation, often only some family members will develop the disease [@pone.0012801-Carelli1], which emphasizes the importance of nuclear genetic, epigenetic or environmental factors as phenotypical modulators of mitochondrial disorders.
In general, the mutations that have the most deleterious effect on mitochondrial function will cause obvious clinical phenotypes. The m.3243A\>G mutation, for example, usually causes a devastating multisystem disease and fulfils all the criteria for pathogenicity [@pone.0012801-Sproule1]. The problems may arise when a mutation causes disease only in the presence of an additional factor, or when it only causes a mild clinical phenotype as it occurs in our patient. In these cases the 'conventional' criteria might not be applicable, and deeper functional tests should be performed in cybrid cell lines that harbour the mutation of interest, including i.e. oxygen consumption and mitochondrial protein synthesis analyses, or *de novo* restoration of enzyme activities and assembly of the various components of the oxidative phosphorylation system. In this sense our study describes a useful mechanism to unveil potentially deleterious mutations in patients with signs of mitochondrial disease but apparently normal respiratory chain enzyme activities. Besides, our results point to possible pitfalls in the detection of pathogenic mitochondrial mutations, and highlight the potentially important effects of the genetic mtDNA background in the development of mitochondrial disorders, which should be taken into account when defining the pathogenicity criteria for mtDNA mutations.
Authors want to acknowledge Dr. Eduardo Ruiz Pesini for his kind gift of the control cybrid clones, and Pilar del Hoyo for her excellent technical support.
**Competing Interests:**The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
**Funding:**This study was partially supported by Fundacion de Investigacion Biomedica del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre/Agencia Pedro Lain Entralgo, and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) to C.U. (grant numbers PI05-0379 and PI08-0021), and to M.A.M. (PI09-01359). T.G. was supported by grants from the ISCIII (PI06-0213) and the Spanish Ministry of Science (MICINN) (BFU2009-09168). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
[^1]: Conceived and designed the experiments: TG CU. Performed the experiments: MCGB DML MGH MM AB RP LMB. Analyzed the data: MM TG JJGP MM JA CU. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MM JA CU. Wrote the paper: CU.
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SITUATION
We are currently processing the feedback from the Release Candidate for the upcoming 1.68 Update (which includes the 64-bit executables). If these final tests come back positive, we intend to release the update to Main-Branch within the next few weeks. In addition, our development team is working on the various DLC listed on our 2016-17 Roadmap, which will bring new assets, playable content, and engine features and other platform improvements.
INTELLIGENCE
We've reached the submission deadline for the #Armachinima Awards. Now it is time for you to help us select the 10 nominees! There are more than 100 videos to watch, and everyone has 3 votes in total to distribute. So grab a drink (or two) and head over to the #Armachinima web page. You can vote, and change your vote, up until the deadline on February 27th, 09:00 CET (GMT+1). Afterwards, the Arma 3 development team will select 3 winners from the nominees. Have fun everyone!
Mudspike.com, a web portal specialized in writing articles on aviation, published an elaborate piece on drones in Arma 3. Taking a detailed look at Arma 3's UAVs, the author describes the handling, armament, and gameplay of these unmanned vehicles. It is certainly an interesting article to read if you are interested in an outsider's perspective on some of the flying mechanics.
OPERATIONS
Some of the new engine features that are being developed in anticipation of the upcoming Jets DLC are starting to surface on Dev-Branch. One of these is Dynamic Loadouts, which allows for in-game customization of a vehicle's armament, which changes the way that airplanes operate in different situations. The ability to select the loadout for each pylon was requested by our community for a long time, and we're glad to finally be able to implement this alongside Jets' new premium assets. You can find the Work-In-Progress documentation on the Community Wiki, and please let us know your feedback on the forums.
Another new platform feature coming alongside the Jets DLC is Datalink, which was also recently added to Dev-Branch. Designer Ondřej Kuel explains what it is: "Datalink is a new feature that expands the Sensor Overhaul. It allows vehicle operators to automatically transmit and/or receive information about targets to/from other vehicles of the same side." Additionally, new config parameters (receiveRemoteTargets, reportRemoteTargets, reportOwnPosition) will help community content creators to include this new feature in their assets. Head over to the forums to chat with our devs and provide your feedback. It's much appreciated!
That said, not all of the recent additions are directly associated with the Jets DLC. Our developers are working tirelessly on improving the game overall. For example, a new "hasUnderbarrel" weapon animation source has landed to Dev-Branch recently and offers more possibilities for modders. Also, the well-known Dammaged Event Handler was extended with additional arguments (documented on the Community Wiki). Aside from that, the enableEnvironment script command was optimized to work more reliably. Last but not least, Senior Programmer Jakub Horyna fixed a longstanding issue with flags, which now can be used in CTF scenarios in the same way as in the early days of Arma.
LOGISTICS
The Arma 3 Feedback Tracker now allows for logging in via existing accounts like Facebook or Google Account. We hope this will help decrease the barrier of entry for registering and submitting issues. The goal being of course to make Arma 3 even more splendid! |
Q:
Prevent WCF Service AppDomain from being unloaded
We have a WCF service that we would like to remain "long lived". For whatever reason though, IIS seems to be unloading our AppDomain whenever we are idle for ~20 minutes.
I can attach a method to the AppDomain.CurrentDomain.DomainUnload event, is there any way to cancel the unload in code? Or perhaps a configuration in IIS that I can use?
A:
And of course I just found another question with what is presumably the answer:
How to keep ASP.NET assemblies in AppDomain alive?
I had looked at all the settings for recycling AppPools, but missed the vital "Idle Timeout" property.
Its default is of course 20 minutes and it can be changed to zero to stop this behaviour.
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54 S.W.3d 191 (2001)
John D'AGOSTINO, Respondent,
v.
Paul D'AGOSTINO, Appellant.
No. WD 58903.
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.
August 14, 2001.
Rehearing Denied October 2, 2001.
*194 Michelle M. Suter, Leakwood, KS, Attorney for Appellant.
Michael A. Preston, Kansas City, Attorney for Respondent.
Before LOWENSTEIN, P.J., ULRICH, J. and KENNEDY, SR. J.
LOWENSTEIN, Presiding Judge.
Overview
The litigants are brothers who own equal shares in a corporation that has two divisions, construction and service. One of the brothers filed suit to dissolve the corporation judicially under §§ 351.494 and 351.502, RSMo 2000. The main disagreement during the proceedings involved the equitable distribution of equipment and inventory, much of which were linked to both divisions. The brothers reached an agreement on the bulk of the property, but disagreed over some of the property and allocation of the corporation's bills to each of the respective divisions. The trial court, sitting as a court of equity, and with the aid of a special master, inventoried all of the property, attempted to distribute the property pursuant to an agreement, allocated responsibility for company bills, and effectuated the dissolution into two separate entities. The trial judge's frustration with the excessive time taken in the legal proceedings due to wrangling by the litigants is echoed by this court. The presentation of the facts, procedural history, and understanding of the points raised by the Appellant have been most diffuse.
*195 It is only because this court desires to allow the parties to bring resolution to their differences that some of the deficiencies with regard to Rule 84.04 have been overlooked.
Factual and Procedural History
John D'Agostino (hereafter John or Respondent) and Paul D'Agostino (hereafter Paul or Appellant) are brothers and equal owners of Anthony, Inc. Anthony, Inc. has essentially two divisions: one division, which is supervised by Paul, provides service for residential and commercial plumbing, heating and cooling; the other division, which is supervised by John, provides commercial and industrial construction of plumbing, heating and cooling. In 1998, John filed a petition for the dissolution of the corporation. Paul filed an answer and counterclaim. A notice of dismissal was filed by Paul with regard to three of the counts in the counterclaim and an order was entered by the trial court dismissing those claims without prejudice. Count IV of Paul's counterclaim remained. In Count IV, Paul sought specific performance of a settlement between the parties, which was agreed to after a meeting conducted by a third party on March 3, 1998.
Both parties filed motions for summary judgment as to Count IV, and the trial court issued an entry of partial summary judgment and order. The trial court found that the parties had made a valid and enforceable agreement entitling Paul to a partial summary judgment on Count IV of his counterclaim, requesting specific performance of the parties' agreement. The trial court also ordered, among other things that: 1) further court review would be necessary to divide the "shared equipment" listed on "Exhibit A," as it had not actually been divided, and to finalize the division of accounts payable and receivable agreed to by the parties; 2) the parties were to make an agreement to divide the "shared equipment" as identified on "Exhibit A"; 3) the parties were to appear before the court for a hearing to allocate the remaining equipment or assets not provided for by the trial court or "Exhibit A"; and 4) John was granted judgment on the claims contained in Paul's petition and the claims were dismissed with prejudice.
In January of 1999, a hearing was held on John's motion for new trial to clarify or amend its entry of partial summary judgment and order. The trial court denied John's motion for a new trial, but decided to amend the entry of partial summary judgment and order. Pertinent here, the trial court determined:
To the extent a division of all equipment inventory is not included thereon, each party is hereby awarded that inventory which it solely uses, free and clear of all claims, demands or interest of the other division. Any inventory purchased for use on a specific project or job shall be identified and remain with that division. All remaining inventory not otherwise designated or identified shall be divided equally between Plaintiff and Defendant.
In March of 1999, a hearing was held on Paul's motion to amend the partial summary judgment and order. The trial court subsequently issued an order to amend the judgment, ordering the parties to meet at their earliest convenience to divide any shared equipment, inventory or supplies, and, if the parties could not agree, they were to submit a sealed bid for those shared assets.
The trial court issued an order on August 5, 1999, listing property to be set over to the construction (John) or service division (Paul) that had been listed as "shared property" in "Exhibit A." On September 2, 1999, the trial court appointed a Master, pursuant to Rule 68.01, to implement the August 5, 1999 order, and to aid the parties *196 in reaching a finalized order. The Master held an evidentiary hearing on December 2, 1999, to determine each party's rights to the disputed inventory. The Master filed his report on April 12, 2000. On July 12, 2000, the trial court filed its judgment and on September 25, 2000, filed its amended judgment, substantially adopting the Master's report. Paul appeals.
This appeal concerns issues arising from the division of Anthony Inc.'s inventory and issues arising from the possession of a backhoe, trailer, and truck. The following language from the judgment describes the tone of this case:
The parties themselves were in the best position to make determinations of fairness and equity with respect to remaining inventory and equipment issues. However, the parties have consistently been unable to resolve their differences on almost any issue. Therefore, the Court and Master have attempted to make these determinations with respect to highly technical and specialized inventory and equipment consistent with the goals of being fair to both sides and effectuating their previous agreement. It is important to note that the Court and Master's jobs have been made much more difficult by the parties' conflicting accounts, charges of malfeasance and criminal conduct, mistrust, vituperation and absolute refusal to abide by procedures, agreements and orders previously entered into by the parties in front of the Court and the Master. Both parties are responsible to some degree for this atmosphere. (emphasis added).
Standard of Review
On appeal from the decision of a trial court which appointed a Master pursuant to Rule 68.03, this court reviews the decision of the trial court, not the findings and recommendations of the master. M.F.M. v. J.O.M., 889 S.W.2d 944, 957 (Mo.App.1995). The standard of review of a court-tried case is enunciated in Murphy v.. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo. banc 1976).[1]Rasse v. City of Marshall, 18 S.W.3d 486, 489 (Mo.App.2000). The trial court's judgment will be sustained by the appellate court unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, unless it is against the weight of the evidence, unless it erroneously declares the law, or unless it erroneously applies the law. Id. This court accepts the evidence and inferences most favorable to the trial court's decree and disregards all contrary evidence. Smith v. Smith, 985 S.W.2d 836, 840 (Mo.App.1998).
I.
Paul's first argument on appeal contains two sub-points. This court will not review sub-point A due to its disregard of the requirements of Rule 84.04(d). Rule 84.04(d) requires that each point relied on: (1) identify the trial court's ruling or action that the appellant is challenging on appeal; (2) state the legal reasons for the appellant's claim of reversible error; and (3) explain in summary fashion why, in the context of the case, those legal reasons support the claim of reversible error. Wilson v. Carnahan, 25 S.W.3d 664, 666 (Mo.App.2000). Although Paul identified the trial court's ruling that he is challenging on appeal, he did not state the legal reasons for his claim and in turn, did not explain why his legal reasons support his claim of reversible error. "`Insufficient *197 points relied on preserve nothing for this court to review.'" Id. at 667 (quoting Hall v. Missouri Bd. of Probation and Parole, 10 S.W.3d 540, 544 (Mo.App.1999)). Because sub-point A of Paul's first point relied on preserves nothing for appellate review, this court declines to address it. Id. at 667. Sub-point B of Paul's first point relied on is difficult to discern; however, this court will review it.
Paul argues that some of the trial court's findings in its June 27, 2000 judgment,[2] referring to the division of inventory, were in contravention of the trial court's December 10, 1998, "Entry of Partial Summary Judgment and Order." Paul contends that because the order was final and it was never appealed from by John, it became the law of the case. Paul further argues that the trial court's finding, that his request for an $80,000 credit was not supported by the evidence, was against the weight of the evidence.
Paul claims that because Exhibit A was incorporated into the partial summary judgment and order, the values and amounts listed for inventory and equipment were binding on the court and the parties for further proceedings. As indicated supra, Exhibit A did not address the inventory shared by the service and construction divisions, and the division of such inventory has been a main issue of contention since the issuance of the partial summary judgment and order.
It must first be noted that the December 10, 1998, "Entry of Partial Summary Judgment and Order" was not final and, therefore, not appealable. This court only has jurisdiction over final judgments. Perniciaro v. McDonald, 974 S.W.2d 620, 621 (Mo.App.1998). A judgment, order or decree is final and appealable only when it disposes of all the issues for all parties in the case and leaves nothing for future determination. Jackson v. Jackson, 970 S.W.2d 391, 392 (Mo.App.1998). Under Rule 74.01(b), in cases involving multiple claims, a trial court can enter judgment on fewer than all of the claims and certify the judgment for appeal upon finding that there is "no just reason for delay." However, even when the trial court certifies its judgment as final for purposes of appeal, the trial court's determination is not conclusive and this court must still decide whether the partial judgment actually qualifies as a final judgment. Lumbermens Mut. Cas. v. Thornton, 36 S.W.3d 398 (Mo.App.2000).
Here, however, the trial court's order did not resolve all the issues as to all the parties or expressly find there was no reason for just delay. Rather, it is apparent from the language in the trial court's order that it was not intended to be a final order:
[W]hile the parties specifically intended to incorporate the schedule, attached hereto as Exhibit A into their agreement, the "shared" equipment was not actually divided between them, further, due to the continued operation of the business, further court review is required to finalize the division of accounts *198 payable and receivable agreed to by the parties. The retention of equitable jurisdiction by the Court is necessary to effect a full and complete adjudication between the parties.....
The trial court also recognized in its order the need for a hearing "to allocate the remaining equipment or assets of the corporation not provided for herein...." Thus, until a final judgment was reached in this case, the trial court was free to "open, amend, reverse or vacate an interlocutory order." Englezos v. Newspress and Gazette Co., 980 S.W.2d 25, 36 (Mo.App.1998). As stated in State ex rel. Schweitzer v. Greene, 438 S.W.2d 229, 232 (Mo. banc 1969):
Logic and justice would seem to indicate that a trial court should be permitted to retain control of every phase of a case so that it may correct errors, or, in its discretion, modify or set aside orders or judgments until its jurisdiction is extinguished by the judgment becoming final and appealable.
Furthermore, even if the trial court's determinations were final and appealable, they did not constitute the law of the case as Paul suggests.
The "law of the case" is a doctrine which applies when a reviewing court has already decided an issue in a case. Angoff v. Am. Fin. Sec. Life Ins. Co., 891 S.W.2d 833, 836 (Mo.App.1994). It governs successive appeals involving substantially the same issues and facts. Bandy v. State, 847 S.W.2d 93, 94 (Mo.App.1992). "The decision of an appellate court is the law of the case on all points presented and decided and remains as such throughout all subsequent proceedings both in the trial and the appellate courts....." Brooks v. Kunz, 637 S.W.2d 135, 138 (Mo.App.1982). Here, a reviewing court has yet to rule on any issue in this case and, as such, the law of the case doctrine is not applicable.
Finally, Paul argues that the trial court's finding, that his request for an $80,000 credit was not supported by the evidence, was against the weight of the evidence. The $80,000 credit Paul sought was for reimbursement of inventory purchased by the service division. Paul claims John did not allow him to remove some of the service division's inventory when he moved the service division out of the shared location. Generally, the service division would order materials weekly, the shelf-life ranging from one week to six months. The construction division, on the other hand, would bid on jobs and routinely overestimate its need of generic materials. After the completion of a construction job, eight to ten percent of the generic materials purchased for a job would be returned to inventory.
In January of 1999, after a hearing, the trial court issued an order stating that each party was entitled to the inventory used solely by its division or purchased for use in a specific project. The remaining inventory was to be divided equally.
In August of 1999, Paul moved his division from the company's shared location. He moved some, but not all, of the inventory the service division used solely and/or had purchased for use in a specific project. Paul took a large portion of the service division's inventory that was located in the warehouse, but was prevented from taking some of the items that belonged to his division. After Paul vacated the shared location of the company, the ownership of the inventory that remained was in dispute.
The Master held an evidentiary hearing on December 2, 1999, to determine each party's rights to the disputed inventory. At the hearing it was determined that both divisions had the right to use any of the *199 company's inventory, even though there was inventory each division used exclusively and inventory that was contributed by only one of the divisions. The company never formally separated or identified the inventory by division, and there was never any accounting of the inventory used or contributed by either division. No documents reflect the contribution by each division of the materials inventory that existed on the shelves at the shared location at the time Paul moved his division the week of August 9, 1999.
Paul testified concerning the service department's invoices for purchases of inventory. He claimed that the invoices showed he had purchased inventory "in excess of $80,000." Dan Croslin, the service manager, testified and provided to the Master a list of items refused to be provided to the service division. Ed Burnett, who ordered stock for the company, testified that he continued ordering the same amount of product after the division of the company until the service division moved out of the shared location. The trial court was free to believe or disbelieve all or any portion of this evidence. Stangeland v. Stangeland, 33 S.W.3d 696, 702 (Mo.App.2000). "[T]he credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony is a matter for the trial court." Morris v. Nat'l Refractories & Minerals, 21 S.W.3d 866, 868 (Mo.App.2000). Based on this evidence, the trial court's judgment, with regard to its denial of Paul's request for an $80,000 credit, was not against the weight of the evidence.
Paul's first point is denied.
II.
Paul argues in his second point that the trial court exceeded the scope of its authority by including in paragraph 24 of the conclusions of law section of its judgment that "[i]n exchange for this final and complete separation of Anthony, the parties release each other from any and all liabilities regarding any claim in relation to the division and separation of Anthony unless otherwise reserved by order of the Court." Specifically, Paul refutes the trial court's ability to order him to release John from claims arising from John taking a truck, backhoe and trailer.
This court's research produced no authority for the proposition that a trial court has the authority to release further claims of parties in a judgment. See In re Marriage of Perkel, 963 S.W.2d 445, 454 n. 8 (Mo.App.1998). Further, the parties did not include any release language in their agreement. See also Emerick v. Mut. Benefit Life Ins. Co., 756 S.W.2d 513 (Mo. banc 1988) (evidence was insufficient to establish that insurer and one of its general agents had entered into settlement agreement releasing insurer from future claims prior to agent's resignation; neither agent nor insurer discussed release prior to agent's resignation, and agent had refused to sign agreement containing release provision after his termination). "A release is a matter of agreement and is governed by contract principles." Hatfield v. Cristopher, 841 S.W.2d 761, 766 (Mo.App.1992). "[E]quity will not create a contract for the parties if they themselves have not agreed." Emerick, 756 S.W.2d at 518. The trial judge's sense of frustration with the acrimony and time spent in this suit is evident, however, the court cannot decree an end to the hostility. Thus, the cause is remanded solely for the purpose of removing paragraph 24 of the conclusions of law portion of the trial court's judgment.
III.
Paul argues in his third point that the trial court erred in finding in paragraph 68 of the judgment that Paul did not *200 make a payment on the debt found to be owed to John in the accountant's amended report because: 1) the trial court never entered an order finding Paul owed John until June 27, 2000; 2) an accountant's report was never finalized and provided as set out in the December 1998 judgment; and 3) the trial court acknowledged in paragraph 69 that a final determination as to any amounts owed other than rent and the judgment rendered December 10, 1998, had yet to be made.
Paul cites no authority in support of this point. "When an appellant cites no authority and offers no explanation why precedent is unavailable, appellate courts consider the point waived or abandoned." Jordan v. City of Kansas City, 972 S.W.2d 319, 322 (Mo.App.1998). Point III is therefore considered abandoned.
IV.
Paul argues in his fourth point that the trial court erred in its amended judgment: 1) by finding in paragraphs 58 and 79 that the truck, backhoe and trailer belonging to Paul and taken by John are collectively valued at $37,000; 2) by finding in paragraph 12 that upon Paul's failure to make any payment as ordered, those three items would become the property of John for the value of $37,000 because the order was against the weight of the evidence and because it failed to consider the possession and use of those items for one year by John at the exclusion of Paul; and 3) because the restriction on any credits to any judgment entered against Paul for an offset on equipment in paragraph 12 misapplies the prior order of the trial court which stated that any offset would be at the option of the party indebted.
Paul also cites no authority in support of this point. "When an appellant cites no authority and offers no explanation why precedent is unavailable, appellate courts consider the point waived or abandoned." Id. Point IV is therefore considered abandoned.
V.
Paul argues in his fifth point that the trial court erred by incorporating and adopting the Master's findings into the judgment of the court because the findings are not supported by substantial evidence in that the judgment erroneously declares and misapplies the law in that neither the testimony nor the exhibits were retained by the Master or requested to be provided to the court for its review.
Specifically, Paul argues that the trial court's judgment "amounted to a rubber stamp of the Master's findings," because the transcript of the Master's proceedings was obtained by his counsel and was not a part of the court file, no portions of the transcript were appended to the Master's Report, and none were referenced in the judgment.
"Masters are appointed to `aid judges in the performance of specific judicial duties, as they may arise in the progress of a cause.'" S.K.B. v. J.C.B., 867 S.W.2d 651, 658 (Mo.App.1993). A court cannot delegate or abdicate, in whole or in part, its judicial power. Id. The trial court must examine and consider the evidence for itself and determine whether the law and the facts of the case justify entry of the judgment recommended by the master. Id. Under Rule 68.01(g)(3), the trial court "may adopt the report or may modify it or reject it in whole or in part or may receive further evidence or may recommit it with instructions."
In September of 1999, the trial court issued an order appointing a Master, pursuant to Rule 68.01, "to aid the parties in implementing the Court Order dated August 5, 1999, and to aid the parties in reaching a finalized order." The Master *201 held an evidentiary hearing in December of 1999 and filed his report in April of 2000. The trial court's judgment and amended judgment substantially adopted the Master's report. It is apparent in the judgments, however, that the trial court reviewed the law and facts of the case in reaching its conclusions. Paul argues that the trial court issued its judgments without viewing the transcripts or exhibits and that portions of the transcript were not referenced in the judgment. This is simply not the case. The judgments identify portions of the hearing transcript in several of its findings of facts and also references evidence produced in the hearing in its findings of facts and conclusions of law. As Paul can show no evidence of his allegations, this point is denied.
Conclusion
The judgment is in all respects to be affirmed except for the portion pertaining to paragraph 24 of the conclusions and the judgment language pertaining to the release and indemnification of the litigants. The judgment is reversed and remanded for action by the trial court pursuant to this opinion.
All concur.
NOTES
[1] The parties do not seek review of the issuance of partial summary judgment granting Paul specific performance of the agreement. As such, ITT Commercial Fin. Corp. v. Mid-Am. Marine Supply Corp., 854 S.W.2d 371, 376 (Mo. banc 1993) is not the applicable standard of review.
[2] Specifically, Paul complains of paragraphs 40 and 41, which state:
40. That the request by [Paul] for credit for inventory purchased prior to the move from the Oliver location, but allegedly not taken, in the amount of $80,000 is not supported by the evidence. Further that the affidavits, and information supplied in those affidavits, supportive of this request, should have been submitted at the December 2, 1999, hearing.
41. That the Master has reviewed the affidavits and finds specifically that the affidavits and the evidence presented at the December 2, 1999, hearing do not supply sufficient evidence for a credit of $80,000 for inventory purchased by [Paul] and allegedly appropriated by [John].
|
10 Free Original Hi-Res Fully Stained Paper Textures
This is the second attempt to get these textures on the blog, since i scanned them in months ago the electricity cut out while i was about to save them and i lost the scanned images! so ive sat down and got them all scanned back in for you.
These were created by soaking A4 pieces of paper in a tray filled with food colouring and then left to dry in the sun. The edges are most concentrated while the middle of the paper has a sort of tie-dye effect.
I am the creator and editor of Design Shard, I created this blog to post my inspirations, work and free resources. I hope you find them as interesting and useful as I do. By day I am a UX focused product designer. |
Tag: acc
SAF x Ease x Chiste x Twist One et al (photo by Luna Park) The Italian city of Venice is something of a living museum, with historic buildings and monuments almost everywhere one looks. I had been warned there was next to no graffiti and had set my expectations on that front low. While it was true that I saw no productions or burners – with the exception of a piece that zipped past on an Trenitalia train on its way out of Venezia Santa Lucia train station – I was surprised to see a lot of tags I recognized, some of which had been running for over 10 years. Within minutes of leaving the train station, I picked up a trail of shiny, silver Twist tags that marked the path to San Marco Square.
Winding my way through the city’s narrow alleyways, I scanned all surfaces as usual. A pedestrian city geared heavily towards tourists, the shutters and gates of Venice’s many shops were a popular target. The astute eye will spot KR and Espo tags. |
Searching for the one-eyed currency
It is very rare these days to meet a policymaker in an advanced economy who is after a strong currency. A weaker currency can help revitalize a country’s export sector without the need for painful reforms or boosting competitiveness through other measures. This was again evident in the first two months of 2016, particularly because manufacturing was weak across many countries and some policymakers believed that a weaker currency might provide some relief to this problem. As aggressively easy monetary policies are being pursued by various countries, it is perhaps little surprise that zero-yielding gold benefitted, while trying to find the currencies that are appreciating in this environment has proven difficult.
The main previous answer to the question of finding the outperforming currency has been the US dollar, but it should be kept in mind that despite the bullishness surrounding the greenback, the dollar index has not been able to break new highs since March of 2015 – one year ago. Furthermore, the Fed’s path to higher interest rates is not yet so clear so as to inspire the bulls to push the currency even higher. No interest rate increase is expected during the March meeting of the Federal Reserve despite some better-than-expected data regarding US GDP, inflation and durable goods orders. This could mean that the earliest a rate hike could take place is probably June. The President of the New York Fed, a permanent voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee, sounded rather dovish in his latest speech, which was perhaps another indication that the Fed isn’t going to raise rates soon.
Selling the euro, but against what?
The latest Eurozone inflation numbers on the other hand boosted the chances that the ECB is going to take some stimulus action in its meeting on 10th March. The real question is whether Draghi will go beyond the widely anticipated cut of the deposit rate deeper into negative territory and expand the Quantitative Easing program. Perhaps the ECB would do well to look at Japan’s example where a QE program which was much bigger than the Eurozone’s did not have much impact in boosting inflation. Instead the program did lead to much higher stock prices and a lower currency – both of which appear vulnerable to very steep corrections.
Despite the euro’s obvious weaknesses, selling it against some of its major counterparts such as the US dollar or sterling is less clear. The dollar’s drawbacks and its inability to break to new highs were discussed above, whereas sterling is expected to be very volatile ahead of the June referendum on EU membership. Currencies influenced by commodity prices on the other hand such as the Australian dollar and the Canadian dollar, despite some recent impressive gains, may find it difficult to extend their winning run unless key commodities such as oil and iron ore, also stabilize.
The one currency that has posted impressive gains against the euro so far this year has been the yen, as euro / yen traded at near 3-year lows. The pair touched the 122 level again today. It appears that the yen is preferred as a safe haven compared to the euro as Japan, despite its massive public debt, is not facing serious challenges such as Brexit, the migration issue, a sovereign debt crisis, high non-performing loans and high unemployment. Furthermore, the country has been a net exporter of capital in the past and at times of crisis Japanese investors often repatriate capital by selling foreign investments. Therefore, despite running the biggest Quantitative Easing program in the world, the yen has apparently weakened enough until end-2015 and has bounced higher in the first two months of the year. The yen was very much disliked going into 2016 but it looks like currencies might continue to defy predictions for the next few months, which will make trends difficult to spot.
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Risk Disclosure: GuruTrade assumes no liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information contained within this website including data, quotes, charts and forex signals. Operations in the international foreign exchange market contain high levels of risk. Forex trading may not be suitable for all investors. speculating only the money you can afford to lose. GuruTrade remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time and may not be accurate. All stock prices, indexes, futures are indicative and not appropriate for trading. Thus, GuruTrade assumes no responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data. Version of the document in English is a defining and shall prevail in the event that there are discrepancies between the English and Russian languages. Seeking stocks, quotes, charts and forex? Take a look at the portal GuruTrade.com - the best directory of brokers and modern economic calendar for your service! |
Q:
C++ Create a job container that you can add functions too, that will start in a thread, and then be removed once it is done
I want to create a container that I can push functions into, that will instantly be started in a thread. Once the function is complete, it should automatically be removed from the container so that the container does not grow indefinitely.
Here is my attempt so far:
#include <thread>
#include <future>
#include <iostream>
#include <map>
class j_thread {
std::thread thread;
public:
j_thread() {}
template<typename F>
j_thread(const F& f) : thread(f) {}
j_thread& operator = (j_thread&& other) {
this->thread.swap(other.thread);
return *this;
}
virtual ~j_thread() {
thread.join();
}
};
class jobs {
std::map<size_t, j_thread> threads;
public:
template<typename F>
void add_job(const F &function) {
size_t job_id = threads.size();
auto wrapped_function = [&function, job_id, this]() {
function();
threads.erase(job_id);
};
threads[job_id] = j_thread(wrapped_function);
}
void wait_for_all() {
while(threads.size() != 0) {}
}
};
int main() {
jobs j;
j.add_job([](){std::cout << "hello" << std::endl;});
j.add_job([](){std::cout << "world" << std::endl;});
j.wait_for_all();
}
But when run gives the error:
terminate called after throwing an instance of 'std::system_error'
what(): Invalid argument
hello
terminate called recursively
12:15:44: The program has unexpectedly finished.
A:
Calling join within the body of thread is undefined behaviour.
Look at error conditions for join:
Error Conditions resource_deadlock_would_occur if this->get_id() ==
std::this_thread::get_id() (deadlock detected)
Your body is:
auto wrapped_function = [&function, job_id, this]() {
function();
threads.erase(job_id);
};
where you call erase, dtor of jthread is being called which calls join on joinable thread.
Instead of join, in dtor you should call detach.
To avoid dangling reference function must be captured by value.
Also you have to add some mutex to avoid data race on map, when calling size and erase:
std::mutex m;
int size() {
std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock{m};
return threads.size();
}
auto wrapped_function = [f = function, job_id, this]() {
f();
std::lock_guard<std::mutex> l(m);
threads.erase(job_id);
};
void wait_for_all() {
while(size() != 0) {}
}
Demo
|
History
The Arbroath and Forfar Railway opened initially as a single track on 3 January 1839. In common with the Dundee and Arbroath Railway, it had a gauge of . This was a compromise, by the engineer Thomas Grainger, between the Broad gauge of the GWR and the Scotch gauge in use at that time. Apart from the terminal stations, there were six intermediate stops though, at the start, they were not provided with buildings.
The line proceeded roughly north west to Frockheim then curved westwards through Lunan Head where it turned southwestwards to Forfar, covering a distance of some fifteen miles. There were few sharp curves and the maximum gradient was 1 in 130 (0.85%) and there were five long substantially level stretches. In general very little in the way of earthworks was necessary except where the line crossed Rostennet Moss.
The line was extremely successful from the start, carrying around 500 passengers and 120 tons of freight a week, well in excess of expectations. The fares were set unusually low, such that ordinary workers, such as reapers, found it cheaper than walking, since the time saved could be applied to earning money.
At the beginning there were three locomotives, Victoria, Britannia and...Read More |
FILE(GLOB RAWSPEED_BENCHS_SOURCES
"DefaultInitAllocatorAdaptorBenchmark.cpp"
)
foreach(SRC ${RAWSPEED_BENCHS_SOURCES})
add_rs_bench("${SRC}")
endforeach()
|
Houses of Parliament report on women in science
A report published today by the UK Houses of Parliament on Women in STEM Careers, featuring evidence submitted by Portia, stated: "It is astonishing that despite clear imperatives and multiple initiatives to improve diversity in STEM, women still remain under-represented at senior levels across every discipline." We applaud the thoroughness of the collected evidence that the report has put together showing that women continue to have a harder time advancing in science than men. The compelling nature of the evidence, however, is not reflected with an equal impact in the proposed recommendations, which lack both specificity and strength in advising what needs to be done to shift the proportion of women in senior roles above the current 17%. More comprehensive and detailed recommendations can be found in the Roadmap for Action for North America, which will be published very soon and will be available through the US National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as Portia's website. The Roadmap is a product of an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation and collaboration, that took place at the 3rd Gender Summit, to identify specific short-, medium- and long-term actions for the respective stakeholder groups to take. Read the full report and more on the Houses of Parliament website. |
Virgin Galactic's president announced that all major hurdles have been completed with its rocket-powered spaceship and the company expects to begin testing its SpaceShipTwo in 2011. Paying customers will have to wait awhile longer, however.
Will Whitehorn, the president of Virgin Galactic, announced at a spaceflight conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that most of the major hurdles have been completed for its testing of its rocket-powered spaceship in 2011.According to the March 4, 2010 Sydney Morning Herald article ' Virgin to test rocket-powered spaceship next year ,' Mr. Whitehorn stated, "We're not looking at a huge amount of time.'He added, "As the year breaks into next year, we'll start moving into rocket motor testing and then into space.' Thus, testing of their spacecraft in space is only about one year away.However, operational flights for paying customers are several more years away, with a length of time until such flights occur being as far off as 2015.Whitehorn quipped, "If it's not [by 2015], I'll be retiring.'However, Virgin Galactic announced earlier, in late 2009, that customers could possibly be going up on suborbital flights as early as 2011.Page two continues.December 7, 2009's Wired.com article ' SpaceShipTwo Christened VSS Enterprise ' states, 'Sub-orbital passenger flights could start as early as 2011 from Virgin Galactic's space port in New Mexico which is currently under construction.'So, this announcement by Virgin Galactic shows a bit of a delay in the development of its commercial spacecraft business. However, they are playing it extra cautious and not getting ahead of the game.Mr. Whitehorn suggests that they will fly customers when it is safe to do so. He stated that the company will fly: 'when we're ready.' [Sydney Morning Herald]Virgin Galactic has received almost 330 reservations from paying customers, totally up to US$200,000 per person. In total, the company states it has secured about US$45 million from customer deposits.The Virgin Group, its parent company headed by Sir Richard Branson, has invested over US$100 million in the company since 2004.In addition, the Aabar Investments, an investment group backed by the capital city of Abu Dhabi (in the United Arab Emirates), contributed US$280 million to the company in July 2009 for an approximate one-third share of the profits. |
Combined surgical approach to coexistent carotid and coronary artery disease.
Combined coronary artery bypass and carotid endarterectomy were performed in 52 patients (mean age 61 years) between 1981 and 1990. Of these, 36 (69%) had functional class III-IV angina pectoris, 33 (63%) had triple-vessel disease, 36 (69%) had one, or more, previous myocardial infarctions, and 33 (63%) had an abnormal left ventricular function. In 4 cases, additional cardiac procedures were performed. Asymptomatic carotid stenosis was documented in 29 patients (56%) and the remaining 23 (44%) had experienced cerebrovascular symptoms. All patients had hemodynamically significant stenosis of at least one carotid artery, 17 (33%) had severe bilateral carotid artery stenosis, and 6 (11%) had an additional occlusion of the contralateral internal carotid artery. There were no early deaths. Perioperative morbidity included: myocardial infarction in 4 patients (7.7%) and neurological deficit in 3 (5.7%) but functional impairment was not permanent. Late results have been obtained for all 52 patients at a mean postoperative interval of 35 months. Four patients (7.7%) have died, and the 5 year life-table survival rate was 83%. At five years, actuarial curves showed 67% of patients to be free of all serious events or death. Late mortality and morbidity were related above all to the progression of the coronary artery disease. We concluded that simultaneous endarterectomy of significant carotid artery stenosis in candidates for coronary bypass can be done safely and considered as more practical for the patient. |
Thursday, 10 June 2010
Future trends at S. Magnus....
I think you can guess where this is going.....apparelled amices and pear-shaped chasubles are already making inroads in the Parish, and more than one person has suggested we crown the Pieta, add some tears of real crystal and parade her on Good Friday under the title "La Santisima Virgen de los Dolores La del Puente"....
11 comments:
Well, the gold set we got from Nashdom has an aparelled amice which was allegedly worn by the celebrant, although it does look a bit odd with the stole on too.
Do you approve of the tunicled ministers? I'm in the mood to support things the SCR thinks are an abuse. The thin-sleeved surplice?/cotta? thing in the first photo is quite elegant and certainly more practical than loose sleeves dripping with Brussels lace.....
I most certainly approve of tunicled ministers. The late Fr. Quentin Montgommery-Wright was one of the few Roman clergy who had any real sense of liturgical celebration. He had virtually all his serving team in tunciles and cantors in copes. Very effective.
As a golden rule of thumb whatever the SRC decreed about a subject should be ignored and the opposite carried out.
I wonder whether the first photo actually shows a variant of a rochet. Surplices should have full, bell-shaped, sleeves. If Ecclesial circumstances so dictate they can then be dyed black and be reworn as the riassa.
If the Ordinariate does not work out no amount of pretty surplices will save the situation. In face of the inevitability of women bishops there is no further opportunity of developing its precepts and principles within the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. The game is up.
Nonsense. There are plenty of Anglo-Catholic parishes in ECUSA and they have had women bishops for ages. I find it highly unlikely that the whole Anglo-Catholic wing of the C of E will start going to Fr. O'Casey's folk mass on a Saturday evening at 6....
There may be fewer folk masses, but you still have to believe that folk masses (past or present) in full communion with the Bishop of Rome are valid whereas a reverent, orthodox and beautiful celebration of the Mass in an Anglo-Catholic parish is not. The 'smoke of Satan' entered the Roman church some time ago, and it is not gone just because maniples are now in and guitars are out.
And here I am looking at the first picture and wondering whether a heavy truck passing in the street could knock one of those candles over and set the whole place ablaze. Obviously I am not good A-C material.
Women bishops or not, two hundred years from now there will still be Anglo catholic parishes in the Anglican Communion . The "see of Peter" cannot confer any validity whatsoever to Anglican, Old Catholic or Orthodox liturgies, because to be a Catholic one does not have to be in communion with Rome, the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental churches being a historical witness to that. |
Q:Ott, it is very déjà vu to last year: a win in Finland, a win here in Germany. This is now your third win at Rally Germany, and it seemed like a completely faultless weekend out there. Has it been a perfect one for you?OT: Almost. I would say that my only target was to avoid any kind of mistake. Since the very beginning, the competition was really tight with Thierry Neuville. On Friday, we were normally one or two tenths faster per stage than he was but on Saturday, it was actually the opposite – Thierry was actually a bit faster than I was. It was looking difficult, so I must say that if it had continued the same way, I would have accepted second place. Of course, I tried to be on my limit all the time without any mistake. In the end, we managed to do it. So, sure, I am happy to finish.
Q:And it’s a great team result. It’s a Toyota one-two-three. That is the first time we have seen that in this generation of Toyota. 1993 was the last time that three Toyotas were on the podium, in Safari Rally. That is a long time back. How satisfying is it to have a great team result like this?OT:It is important to have this kind of result. Only a short time ago, we had quite a dramatic end to the rally in Sardinia, and these situations always bring some tension into the team. We had two cars on the podium in Finland and now three here, so I believe it is important to have this kind of result for the team. Especially for every member in the team, to give them this motivation. I am sure they can also understand that their hard work is paying off and I hope it keeps the motivation high to push forward.
Q:We were wondering whether you would go for maximum points in the Power Stage. We have seen it before when you have taken a win, but you mentioned at the end of the previous one that you weren’t too sure. You said “maybe not”. Was the feeling not there, or did you know from the beginning of the day, that was not going to be the objective?OT:To be honest, something happened on the penultimate stage, on the long stage. At the end, I started to lose braking stability and then, I only had one-wheel braking at the front. We tried to do many different things on the road section, but we couldn’t understand what was happening. I tried for the first two corners of the Power Stage but in the end, there was no chance for us to really push with this car, so it was important to bring it home.
Q:You extend your lead in the Drivers’ Championship, which I am sure is very satisfying as we head to Turkey – another event you won last year, which made it three in a row. I am sure, in your mind, that there is nothing against you doing that again.OT:Yes. But, as we know, Turkey is definitely the hardest event of the season. We can also say that last year, it was, in a way, our weakest event of the season. We really didn’t have performance and we were slow but in the end, we were smarter and had a one-two there. This year, we have been working really hard and I really hope that our performance is on a better level. Our team has been trying to prepare really hard for this rough event. I still know that this event needs the same approach, maybe, as we had here: to be consistent with no puncture. Let’s say, no stopping on the stage: that would be the best way to finish this rally. I believe we need to try to do the same as we did last year, but some extra speed would help.
Q:Martin, congratulations on the win, and a third win overall here at Rally Germany. Very different conditions this year: It has been beautifully sunny, completely dry. Tell me how that has changed the work with the gravel crew. Has there been less information coming in? Has it been a little bit easier, maybe?MJ:Yes. Coming from the fast Finland roads to the tarmac here, it may look the same speed but actually, I think that, on tarmac, these cars are even faster on the braking and the acceleration. Basically, I also have to do all my work a little bit faster. It is always intense to work with the gravel crews, because there is lots of communication. This year, the weather was pretty stable, so it was a little bit easier.
Q:We talk very much about Ott’s confidence growing, and we can see that in the drive. What about your confidence, Martin, in the role you are doing? Obviously, you are getting it absolutely “bang on the money” as well. It is two of you achieving the wins, not just one. How big is your confidence right now?MJ:I’m okay (he laughs).
Q:Kris Meeke, congratulations on a podium position with Toyota – your best result this year, your first podium with the team and with Seb as well. Talk to me about the feeling at the end of it, now that this result has been achieved.KM:It’s nice. It is special to be part of a one-two-three, to be honest. It doesn’t happen that often. We had a strong weekend – obviously, coming off the back of Finland, where a one-two-three might have been possible, but we tripped up there. So, coming here I was not particularly full of confidence. But we started and picked up the pace gradually. It seemed like we were in a battle with Sébastien Ogier throughout Friday and then into Saturday morning. I haven’t so much experience of the stages on Saturday morning – I had only done them once in the wet, in 2017. So, I was happy to keep him at bay on Saturday morning. Then, on Panzerplatte, we were able to make a difference and he picked up his puncture there. The result certainly came to us and it is nice to be a part of this one-two-three.
Q:We saw a great stage time from you on the final run of Panzerplatte yesterday. Obviously, feeling good within the stage, with yourself and the car. Did you expect it to be as quick as it was?KM:Yes. It is always a little cleaner on Panzerplatte on the second pass. It wasn’t so much to try to pull a gap on Jari, it was to try to make a difference to Seb. I felt good in the car. When you have a good feeling, there is no reason not to take profit from it. As we saw with Thierry and Seb, it is easy to pick up a puncture in there, so you have to be extra careful as well. We’ve had a clean rally, strong stage times, and I think we deserved the second place we got.
Q:You mentioned your confidence was a little bit low heading into this, after Finland. It has obviously been boosted now. We head to an event which is going to be brand-new for you in Turkey. A massive challenge ahead. What is going to be the plan?KM:I’ll have to wait and see. Everyone says how rough it was last year. Obviously, I’ve only seen the TV images, so we will have to wait until we get there and see the recce. As Ott said, they got the result last year from being smart and clever, and not necessarily chasing the stage times. Let’s see. It’s for sure going to be a little bit more difficult for me, not having been there last year, but that’s the way it is. Maybe that could play into my hands.
Q:Seb Marshall, congratulations on the result here. It is special to be part of a one-two-three, how are you feeling at the end of it?SM:Yes, like Kris and the guys said, it is an amazing feeling to be up there on the podium and with the whole team there as well. It has been a fantastic effort from everyone the whole weekend. It has been a tough weekend. I am quite relieved to be here, to be honest. On Panzerplatte, in particular, you feel every bump. You think: oh no, is that a puncture? It is so easy to make a mistake and there are such fine margins with these stages. I am delighted with the result.
Q:We’ve seen you guys on form this year – very much on pace and almost getting the podium result, and then having it snatched away, so how satisfying is it to finally be here?SM:Like I said, it is a relief. I think it is three times that we could perhaps have been on the podium and, for one reason or another, have not quite been able to make it. But, to be here now is a dream result.
Q:Jari-Matti Latvala, let’s turn to you. A Toyota one-two-three in 1993. Come on, you are the encyclopaedia of knowledge. Who was on the top step of the podium?JML:Juha Kankkunen, Markku Alén and Ian Duncan.
Q:There is just no flooring him, is there?OT:Who is this Duncan?JML:It’s a local guy from Kenya
Q:He knows everything. Talk to me about the weekend because, as I mentioned a few times during it, we have seen many different characters to you. You over-thought a lot during this weekend. You studied times at the stage end, which may not have been what you wanted. It’s a call from Mr Mäkinen telling you to just relax, which made the difference. Has that been the case?JML:Yeah, he called me twice (he laughs). I realise that when I just focus on the driving, it seems to be working the best. But when I start to think too much about the driving techniques – you know, being smooth, thinking about tyres, trying to carry the speed through the corners – then that just seems to go a bit over. Maybe I am not clever enough to think (he laughs)! Luckily, Tommi called us and then I relaxed my shoulders, tried not to think and just to focus on the driving, and it started to get better.
Q:If the first call was to relax, was the second one to slow down?JML:No. It was this morning, the second one. After the first stage. I thought I was driving okay, but it was too cautious. Dani got quite close – I think he was getting to within twelve seconds. Tommi just called and said: “No panic. Everything is okay. I know you were just taking it too easy. No worries. There is no panic.”
Q:You said at the stage end: “no panic, it’s all okay, I’m fine”. But then, on the end of the next stage, you said you did feel a bit under pressure. Were you fibbing to us?JML:I knew that that kind of pace was not going be enough to keep him behind. So, of course, I needed to raise the pace. But, in a way, when you are relaxed and focused and you sort of have a target, then it is easier to concentrate.
Q:Miikka, second podium in a row. We saw you in Finland. Does this mean the Latvala-Anttila battleship is back in action?MA:Yeah, for sure we want to carry on like this, not like we did the first half of the season. This was better and it feels better.
Q:I want to know how much of an influence you are in the car? Because, when he is overthinking, and we could see that on the TV screen, what do you say to him? Do you tell him: “come on, chill out”?MA:I try, but like on Saturday evening, there were, I would say, 7,000 people telling him to cool down. Then maybe I was the 7,001th! Of course, I said the same thing. But there were so many others saying the same thing.
Q:Obviously, it’s Mr Mäkinen who has the special touch. Thank you Miikka. Tommi, congratulations, this must be a very proud moment to see your team archive a one-two-three. You must be a very happy man right now.TM:Yes, very, very happy. Thanks to all of you. It’s going to go down in history, it will be written in history, what you did. I am so absolutely proud of the whole team and what they have done.
Q:It has almost been achieved a few times – a one-two-three. Were there tense moments in there today, watching you drivers, or did you know that they would achieve it today?TM:Of course, it was a tough time. I was very confident. Luckily, nothing more serious with Ott. We will investigate carefully what happened with the brakes. That was my biggest worry: that some technical failures could happen.
Q:You edge closer in the Manufacturers Championship with this. It all seems to be coming together at the moment?TM:At the moment, it’s looking very good. I am sure Jari-Matti and Kris, you can do good relaxed driving.
Q:Congratulations to you on your results. Jan, let’s kick-start with you, the FAI WRC 2 Pro winner. You know what it takes to win here in Germany, of course, but we saw a really good battle between you and your team-mate Kalle Rovanperä. Germany bites back, though, doesn’t it? It has its own challenges, as you discovered yesterday. Are you satisfied to be on the top step of the podium?JK:Actually, there was no battle between us because he was so much faster than we were today. We were just looking at his back, but I think he was driving a bit over the limits and he made two mistakes, that’s it. Anyway, it was a challenging rally in these conditions; I think everyone had a little bit higher motivation, because it was dry, so the grip was quite high. But there were some places with loose gravel where, if you were too quick, you were out.
Q:I was trying to be kind there when I mentioned the battle. He was very quick, your team-mate Mr Rovanperä. Were you surprised by the pace he was setting?JK:No. He is still young, very young, and he’s hungry too.
Q:He certainly is. You mentioned the condition of the stages. We’ve seen beautiful sunshine all weekend. You’ve seen this rally in all kinds of different conditions over your ten years competing here. How much of a challenge did it represent this time around?JK:I’d have to say that maybe we were a bit lucky that there was no rain, because the roads were a little bit messy this year, with a lot of loose gravel and a lot of dry mud, so if the rain had come, it would’ve been really challenging.
Q:We saw frustration from you at the end of the day yesterday, when you damaged a tyre. You weren’t a happy boy there.JK:Yes, because this Panzerplatte stage is getting rougher and rougher every year. We had the puncture and we were irritated in a way because there were huge blocks of concrete lying the middle of the road. But what can you do? I was a little bit frustrated.
Q:But you’re in a much better mood today, obviously.JK:Yes.
Q:Thank you very much, Jan. Pavel, let’s turn to you now. From your perspective, how much of a challenge has it been out there?PD:The first day of the rally was very challenging with Kalle. He made a mistake on the second day, so then we got some time, which was a little bit better for us, because we could really use our strategy. For me, it was almost the same strategy as at Barum Rally, and we finished first like at Barum Rally, so it is working.
Q:It has certainly been a busy couple of weeks for you guys, so I’m sure you’ll be glad to get home.PD:Yes, we’re very much looking forward to spending time with our families after these two weeks.
Q:But you’re satisfied with the result this weekend…PD:Yes, for sure.
FIA WRC 2 CHAMPIONSHIP
Present:1st – Fabian Kreim (GER)1st – Tobias Braun (GER)Q:Now, Fabian, let’s turn to you. Congratulations on the FIA WRC 2 win. We’ve seen quite a few leaders of FIA WRC 2 over the weekend and quite a lot of drama. Tell me about your weekend out there. Are you happy with your performance and the pace that you’ve shown?FK:Yes, at the end, I’m quite happy with our performance. It was a really tough and challenging rally, especially yesterday. It was quite hard on the Panzerplatte. We lost a little bit too much time on the first one, but at the end, we had no punctures. That was our target, to keep the pressure on, and today we made no mistakes. It was quite a good weekend and now we’re really happy.
Q:Obviously, you’re going to be happy at winning FIA WRC 2, but going into this morning with those four challenging stages ahead of you, knowing that you had to keep it clean out there, were you a little bit nervous at all?FK:Yes, of course, I was really nervous in the morning. Our plan was to try to push a little bit in the first stage and it was good. In the last three stages, we managed to drive safely through, which was quite good.
Q:And, obviously, it’s a win at home as well, so that’s quite special.FK:Yes, of course.
Q:Tobias, let’s turn to you now, then. Congratulations on a brilliant result this weekend. How much of a challenge has it been? How stressful has it been throughout the weekend for you?TB:Yes, it’s the first year for Fabian and me together as driver and co-driver, and our first FIA WRC event together, so it was quite challenging. But to do it the first time, to win here in Germany, is quite special and I think we did quite well in the end.
Q:And how has the relationship worked, then? Especially when you’re going through such challenging stages as Panzerplatte, with so many notes and 89 junctions. Was it all good?TB:In the end, I would say it was quite good. Of course, it wasn’t the same as with his old co-driver, whom he worked with for five years. It is our first year together and just four rallies into the season. It’s not 100% perfect but I think we’ve done quite well and I’m happy with the rally.
Q:Fabian, what did you think of his performance, then? Is it shaping up?FK:Yes. |
New research has suggested that employers need to maintain a focus on making employees feel engaged with their company, if they are to retain talent and remain as competitive as possible during the recession and beyond.
Conducted by an independent research company on behalf of Taleo Research, the ‘Engaging Times’ study found that of 1,020 workers surveyed, half feel that their career appraisals aren’t constructive and only 45% are aware of the job opportunities within their company.
According to the researchers such findings indicate that employee engagement strategies are not being implemented by many organisations and that visibility of personal career opportunities is needed to engage staff.
The report considers the engagement levels of UK employees and some of the factors that can influence employee engagement. Employees who have a restricted view of personal development, career progression and alternative job openings can struggle to see a future with their employer, according to Taleo. One in five employees said that despite the economic downturn, they are still interested in looking for a new job.
Alice Snell, Vice President of Taleo Research, commented:
“HR directors need to ensure a higher level of employee engagement in these challenging times. Otherwise they risk losing talented employees. In 2008, the average staff turnover rate in the UK was still 17.3%. If employees aren’t engaged, they will look for opportunities, especially among competitors that provide better assurances of a structured career path and job security.
“In the current climate, competition between companies to survive, succeed and grow will only become more intense. To improve employee engagement and productivity, organisations need to take action. Steps include ensuring employees can manage their career goals, have a clear career path, receive constructive appraisals and have good visibility into other job roles and promotion opportunities in the company. On top of these employee engagement benefits, this will also provide the employer with a strong and well structured employee base to grow from once an upturn starts.”
I was just talking about this kind of thing in another discussion strand. That was concerning employers who freeze salaries when they don't need to. Well, it was a hypothetical question but along the same lines as loyalty.
I agree but isn't "the bottom line" ultimately more important than anything to the majority of businesses anyway? I mean without the profits there would be no employees so perhaps some might see this as a necessary evil? |
Q:
history.pushState URL interaction with jquery load causing page fetch failure?
I'm using history.pushState to set a URL, while at the same time using a jquery .load to actually load the page content. I'm new to the history API, but I understand that this is the normal way to get back-button/etc functionality in dynamic sites.
The problem is that the spoofed address I'm setting with pushState is being used by .load in some way when it fetches pages, which means that .load is trying to fetch non-existant pages, and so fails. DocumentRoot is at /var/www/bar on the server. In this example, the user is attempting to navigate between two points in a single html file on the server, which is located at dir1/dir2/p1.html under DocumentRoot on the server.
When the user clicks on link 1, the server should return dir1/dir2/p1.html #Container1, and the address bar should show foo.com/a/b/c
When the user clicks on link 2, the server should return dir1/dir2/p1.html #Container2, and the address bar should show foo.com/a/b/d
So how exactly do I do this? This is what I've tried with relative URLs, and it fails:
$("#mainContent").load("dir1/dir2/p1.html #container1"); // good: XHR fetch foo.com/bar/dir1/dir2/p1.html
history.pushState(null, null, "a/b/c"); // good: shows 'foo.com/a/b/c' as the URL
...
$("#mainContent").load("dir1/dir2/p1.html #container2"); // bad: XHR fetch foo.com/bar/a/b/dir1/dir2/p1.html
history.pushState(null, null, "a/b/d"); // bad: shows 'foo.com/a/b/a/b/d' as the URL
And this is what happens when I use absolute URLs:
$("#mainContent").load("/dir1/dir2/p1.html #container1"); // good: XHR fetch foo.com/bar/dir1/dir2/p1.html
history.pushState(null, null, "a/b/c"); // good: shows 'foo.com/a/b/c' as the URL
...
$("#mainContent").load("/dir1/dir2/p1.html #container2"); // bad: XHR fetch foo.com/a/b/dir1/dir2/p1.html
history.pushState(null, null, "a/b/d"); // good: shows 'foo.com/a/b/d' as the URL
Note that the absolute paths are even worse, in that the XHR fetches don't even use DocumentRoot (bar) any more. Thanks.
EDIT 1
relative case tested on Chrome/Windows and Firefox/Linux with the same results; absolute case tested only on Firefox/Linux.
EDIT 2
I've been experimenting and found two ways to fix this, but I don't really understand what's going on, so I won't post this as an answer:
Keep all URLs set by history to one level deep, so a/b/c becomes a-b-c. All the stuff I've googled on the history API shows only one-level-deep URLs, so maybe this is common
Add a base tag to the site's <head> (<base "href=http://example.com/" target="_blank">
A:
Changing the history state will change the document's URL and thus its baseURI if there is no other things that did already change it, like a <base> element.
So all future network requests will indeed be made from this new base URI.
To workaround that, you can manually set back the baseURI after you changed you history state,
console.log( document.baseURI ); // /js
history.pushState(null, null, '/foo');
console.log( document.baseURI ); // /foo
// manually set document's baseURI via <base>
const base = document.createElement('base');
base.href = 'bar';
document.head.append(base);
console.log( document.baseURI ); // /bar
As a jsfiddle for users facing StackSnippet's null origined iframes restrictions
Or you could even just append this <base> element only once in your document from the first page load.
|
456 P.2d 830 (1969)
The STATE of Montana, Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
John Ray BOULDIN, Defendant and Appellant.
No. 11656.
Supreme Court of Montana.
Submitted June 10, 1969.
Decided July 8, 1969.
Jack Yardley, David W. DePuy, Livingston, William Dee Morris (argued), Helena, for defendant and appellant.
Robert L. Woodahl, Atty. Gen., Douglas J. Wold, Asst. Atty. Gen. (argued), Helena, Byron L. Robb, County Atty., John W. McDonald, Jr., Deputy County Atty., Livingston, for plaintiff and appellee.
HASWELL, Justice.
This is an appeal by defendant, John Ray Bouldin, from conviction of the crime of forcible rape and from denial of his motion for a new trial. The case was tried by jury in the district court of Park county before the Hon. Jack D. Shanstrom, district judge, who sentenced defendant to a term of 12 1/2 years in the state prison.
Broadly speaking, defendant was charged with the forcible rape of an adult female; his defense admitted the intercourse but claimed the prosecutrix consented to it.
The essential facts disclosed by the evidence indicate that on the evening of July 20, 1968 the defendant, his neighbor Dennis McLane, and their wives, visited at least four Livingston bars where they engaged in various activities, including drinking and dancing, returning to the McLane apartment about 2:00 a.m. on July 21.
At the apartment defendant suggested to his neighbor that they leave their wives there and go back uptown, get some beer and girls, and finish their party. Defendant's wife was nine months pregnant at the time, and the couple had not engaged in sexual relations for approximately one month. After leaving the apartment the evidence is conflicting but it is agreed that at about 3:00 a.m. both men were back at their respective apartments.
The prosecutrix states that at some time prior to 3:00 a.m. the defendant entered her apartment, grabbed her, threatened her, dragged her into the bedroom of her apartment, took off her clothes, and his, and forcibly raped her, during which time she slipped into unconsciousness.
She testified that she did everything she could to resist defendant's attack. At no time did she encourage him or consent to his advances, she tried to kick him "where it hurts", but despite her words and actions the act was completed. During the act, or immediately before penetration, defendant told her he had laid a knife on the bed and he would use it on her if she did not satisfy him. Prosecutrix further testified that, although she never saw a knife, she was afraid for her life and she blacked out.
When prosecutrix awoke, defendant was gone. She saw a wallet laying on the bed, which was later identified as belonging to the defendant by his name and picture on a Montana driver's license. She picked up the wallet and was about to go for help when she saw and heard defendant's wife knocking on her front door. She hid until Mrs. Bouldin left.
On the other hand, defendant states that he saw a light on as he passed the apartment of the prosecutrix and he stepped up on the front porch. The door was open and the prosecutrix was sitting in the living room. Defendant contends she recognized him, talked with him and invited him inside; that he had previously known her and a few years earlier had dated her, and on one occasion they had engaged in sexual intercourse.
Defendant testified they talked about old times for a few minutes, after which they had a short period of "making out". Both then decided to go into the bedroom, there disrobed and had intercourse, with the consent of the prosecutrix. Defendant denies having a knife in his possession, threatening the prosecutrix, or any physical or verbal resistance on her part. After the act, he left the apartment and returned to the McLane house. Defendant was with the prosecutrix admittedly for approximately twenty minutes and does not deny the act of intercourse.
After realizing he had lost his wallet, defendant ordered his wife to retrieve it. Upon knocking on prosecutrix's front door and getting no response, and then going to the back door with similar results, defendant's wife returned to where he was waiting, and they then went to their own apartment.
Prosecutrix then left her apartment and aroused a near-by neighbor, Mrs. Bruning. As the neighbor came to the door, a male friend of the prosecutrix arrived and subsequently took the prosecutrix to the Livingston police station where a complaint was made. A short time later the male friend went to the home of the defendant and took him to the police station where he was identified by the prosecutrix as the one who had attacked her.
At the preliminary hearing, in the presence of the defendant and his counsel, Mrs. Bruning testified under oath that prosecutrix had awakened her from sleep and she had gone to the door thinking it was the defendant's pregnant wife. She further testified she heard prosecutrix yell something as she ran to her friend's car. On cross-examination Mrs. Bruning testified as to what she later learned of the incident. This testimony was taken by a court reporter at the preliminary hearing and later reduced to writing. Upon the trial, when the witness could not be located by the state, proper foundation was laid for admission of the testimony given at the preliminary hearing. It was read to the jury at defendant's trial in the district court without objection by defendant.
Defendant has raised four issues on appeal which will be discussed in the order set out below:
1. Whether the absence of counsel at the pre-trial identification of the defendant by the prosecutrix in a single person lineup tainted her in-court identification so as to constitute reversible error.
2. Whether it was reversible error to admit the testimony of Mrs. Bruning taken at the time of the preliminary hearing.
3. Whether there was error in the giving of court's instruction No. 24 defining and explaining the elements of the crime.
4. Whether there was an insufficiency of the evidence to support the conviction.
Directing our attention to the first issue whether the absence of counsel at the pre-trial identification of defendant by the prosecutrix in a single person lineup tainted her in-court identification depends on the "totality of circumstances" which surround the identification process (Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199), and unless this Court is able to declare a belief that it did not contribute to defendant's conviction beyond a reasonable doubt, defendant is entitled to a new trial (Chapman v. State of California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705).
In the absence of evidence that the in-court identification of defendant had an independent origin or that the error in any event was harmless, a pre-trial identification of the defendant in a single person lineup in the absence of counsel constitutes reversible error (United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149). However, the circumstances reflected by the record in this case show the identification in question was based on several independent sources sufficient to remove it from the strictures of the Wade case, supra. We therefore hold that, in view of the totality of circumstances, the admission of the in-court identification constituted harmless error beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant's defense here asserted that he knew the prosecutrix, having had, according to his version, previous intercourse with her. Thus defendant by his own defense asserts that the identification could not have contributed to his conviction.
The identification by the prosecutrix at the trial was based on no less than three independent sources. There was sufficient light in her bedroom so that she could see her assailant clearly enough to positively identify him. During the act they were face to face with sufficient light for her to get a good look at his physical appearance and his facial features. After the act she could see the wallet which itself provided ample evidence that the defendant had been in the room. It is uncontested that the wallet belonged to the defendant.
One further fact demonstrates that the error, if any, was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendant admits his presence in the bedroom, his ownership of the wallet, and his sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix. Under such circumstances, what possible bearing could the prosecutrix's identification of defendant have upon his conviction ? Additionally, defendant, having raised the defense of consent, did not object at the trial to the admission of the pre-trial identification.
Proceeding to the second issue whether it was reversible error to admit the testimony of Mrs. Bruning taken at the time of the preliminary hearing depends on the application of section 95-1802(e), R.C.M. 1947, and compliance with its terms.
In State v. Zachmeier, Mont., 453 P.2d 783, Justice Bonner, speaking for a unanimous Court, stated:
"In our opinion, what the United States Supreme Court said in [Mattox v. United States, 156 U.S. 237, 15 S.Ct. 337, 39 L.Ed. 409] with regard to deceased witnesses should also apply with regard to any sworn testimony where the defendant has been afforded an opportunity to cross-examine the witness and where it has also been shown that after due diligence the witness cannot be found, and his absence was not procured by the party offering the testimony."
Again, as in Zachmeier, we can see no error in the use of sworn testimony of an absent witness where the accused has had an opportunity to cross-examine and test the recollection and testimony of the witness at a prior judicial proceeding.
The admission of the testimony of a witness given at a preliminary hearing in defendant's presence, which witness has been cross-examined by defendant's counsel, and which testimony has been recorded and transcribed by a court reporter, is expressly admissible in evidence under the provisions of section 95-1802(e), R.C.M. 1947, proper foundation having first been laid. Insofar as they are inconsistent with this holding, the cases of State v. Storm, 127 Mont. 414, 265 P.2d 971 and State v. Piveral, 127 Mont. 427, 265 P.2d 969, and cases following, are expressly overruled.
One reason for the rule of confrontation is to prevent ex parte charges by faceless informers. The constitutional guarantee seeks to assure that one accused of crime will at some point in time be afforded an opportunity to confront all witnesses who will testify in open court. Such guarantees are protected under section 95-1802, R.C.M. 1947.
At the trial the county attorney was sworn as a witness and testified in detail establishing the statutory requirements for the admission of the testimony. This testimony was received at defendant's trial without objection and defense counsel agreed to its use. Here a real effort was made to locate the witness, and when that failed proper foundation was laid by the state as to the search. The record shows that defendant was represented by counsel at the taking of the testimony and completely exercised his right of cross-examination.
Defendant next contends it was error for the court to give to the jury instruction No. 24 defining and explaining the elements of the crime. The instruction was given as follows:
"You are instructed that rape in an act of sexual intercourse accomplished with a female, not the wife of the perpetrator, under either of the following circumstances:
"(1) Where she resists but her resistance is overcome by violence or force.
"(2) Where she is prevented from resisting by threats of immediate and great bodily harm, accompanied by apparent power of execution, or by any intoxicating narcotic, or other anestetic (sic) substance, administered by or with the privity of the accused.
"The words `threat of immediate and great bodily harm, accompanied by apparent power of execution' as used in these instructions can mean either oral threats or threats made by the conduct and behavior of the person charged with the crime of rape.
"The essential guilt of rape consists in the outrage to the person and feelings of the female. Any sexual penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete the crime. Proof of emission is not necessary.
"Rape is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two years, nor more than ninety-nine years."
Paragraphs one and four are extracted directly from sections 94-4101 and 94-4104, R.C.M. 1947, respectively and need no further comment. However, defendant contends that paragraphs two and three are not the law in Montana. With this contention we cannot agree. Paragraph three, with the exception of the last sentence is a verbatim recital of section 94-4103, R.C.M. 1947. The last sentence i.e., that proof of emission is not necessary, is clearly the law. See People v. Edwards, 173 App.Div. 375, 159 N.Y.S. 410; 75 C.J.S. Rape § 10(c); 44 Am.Jur., Rape, § 4. The only portion of the instruction which is not phrased in statutory terms is the second paragraph which, while not necessary to the instruction, represents a helpful explanation of the elements of threat required which may be evidenced either by oral statements or by conduct of the assailant. This Court has not had the opportunity to specifically approve the language of paragraph two; however other jurisdictions have given effect to the statement "A threat may be expressed by acts or conduct as well as words." People v. Winters, 163 Cal. App.2d 619, 329 P.2d 743, 745 (1958); People v. Harris, 108 Cal. App.2d 84, 238 P.2d 158 (1952); People v. Flores, 62 Cal. App.2d 700, 145 P.2d 318 (1944). We believe this to be a proper statement as to the law in Montana, and therefore find the instruction to be correct.
The last issue assigned for review is whether there was sufficient evidence to support the conviction. Whether prosecutrix offered resistance or consented to the intercourse is patently a jury question. State v. Whitmore, 94 Mont. 119, 21 P.2d 58. It has long been the law in this state that a rape conviction may be sustained by the uncorroborated testimony of the prosecutrix. State v. Moe, 68 Mont. 552, 219 P. 830. Further, this Court has frequently observed that disputed questions of fact and the credibility of witnesses will not be considered on appeal but that determination of such matters is within the province of the jury. As long as there is substantial evidence to support the verdict, it will not be disturbed on appeal. State v. Doe, 146 Mont. 501, 409 P.2d 439; State v. Lagge, 143 Mont. 289, 388 P.2d 792; State v. Pankow, 134 Mont. 519, 333 P.2d 1017. Here the testimony of the prosecutrix and the surrounding circumstances constitute substantial evidence to support the conviction.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.
JAMES T. HARRISON, C.J., and CASTLES, JOHN C. HARRISON and BONNER, JJ., concur.
|
Lancets are used in the sense of the invention as blood withdrawal systems which are used to puncture an appropriate part of the body in order to remove a small amount of blood from a part of the body for analytical or diagnostic purposes. The blood is frequently drawn from a finger or earlobe. In medical practices lancets are used for this which are inserted into an appropriate part of the body by a doctor or laboratory staff either manually or with the aid of a simple apparatus. The lancet must of course be sharp and sterile. Otherwise there are no especially stringent requirements for medical practices since blood is collected from individual patients at large time intervals and the puncture is carried out by specially trained staff. Nevertheless the puncture is frequently associated with considerable pain.
If the blood withdrawal system should be suitable for operation by the patients themselves, this makes much higher demands on the system especially with regard to pain-free and reliable blood withdrawal. The independent use of blood withdrawal systems by patients is carried out especially for so-called home monitoring. In this case the aim is to enable groups of patients that are at special risk to regularly monitor certain analytical values of their blood. This applies among others to diabetics who frequently and regularly check their blood sugar level and adapt it to the requirements by injecting insulin. The insulin requirement depends among other factors on the food intake and physical activity and must be kept as continuously as possible within certain set limits. This is important for the health of the patients and to avoid serious secondary damage such as loss of sight and amputation of parts of the body.
Blood withdrawal systems have been used for a long time which consist of a lancing device and associated lancets that are specially adapted for the respective instrument. A housing of the lancing device contains a lancet drive which mechanically punctures the skin with a lancet. A spring is usually used as a drive element for the lancing movement. In the initial phase of development very simple constructions were commonly used in which the lancet was directly attached to one end of a pressure spring arranged in an elongate housing. Such a blood withdrawal device is disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,110. However, the use of the described systems show that in particular the requirement for a less painful blood withdrawal cannot be fulfilled.
Recently small, simple-to-operate and relatively low-cost analytical systems have been developed to reduce the pain of puncture which are usually composed of blood test strips and an accompanying evaluation instrument. Such modern blood withdrawal systems are intended to ensure that blood withdrawal is as painless as possible for the patient and is simple to handle. Therefore in the recent prior art numerous different blood withdrawal systems are known which are suitable for generating the incisions required for blood collection in a simple and relatively painless manner.
Such blood withdrawal systems usually comprise a housing with an exit opening for the tip of a lancet and a lancet holder for holding the lancet which can be moved relative to the housing along a predetermined straight puncturing path. The lancet holder is moved during the puncturing and return movement by a lancet drive which has an elastic drive element which is usually a metal spring. In a first position in which the elastic drive element is in a tensioned state, the lancet holder is usually locked by means of a locking device. After such a locking device is released, the elastic drive element relaxes so that the movement of the drive element is converted into a puncturing movement of the lancet drive which moves the lancet held by the lancet holder at high speed along the predetermined lancing path in a puncturing direction until the tip of the lancet emerges from the exit opening of the blood withdrawal system. A wound is generated in a part of the body pressed against the exit opening. Immediately afterwards the lancet is usually retracted by the lancet drive into the housing. The drive units of the modern lancing devices which reduce pain due to a high lancing speed and the retraction of the lancet after the lancing consequently ensure that in the case of the modern lancing devices the blood withdrawal is considerably more pleasant for the patient.
Such blood withdrawal systems of the prior art are described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,442,836, 4,535,769 and 4,924,897. In the design described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,879 a spiral drive spring acts on a wheel whose rotation is converted by means of a lever connected to the wheel into a lancing and retraction movement. It is claimed that the pain is reduced by among others the fact that this movement proceeds very rapidly. However, the construction using precisely manufactured metal parts is complicated and involves many parts. Another disadvantage is that the lancet emerges from the exit opening when the lancet drive is tensioned resulting in a risk of injury for the user.
European Patent No. 0 582 226 describes another lancing device which is suitable for withdrawing blood samples. A piston driven by a spring means is movably mounted within the lancing device. A lancet which emerges through an opening provided in the housing during a lancing process is located at one end of the piston. The outer periphery of the piston has wings of only limited strength which bear against the housing wall of the lancing device. When the lancing process is carried out the piston is moved in the puncturing direction by means of the spring elements thereby destroying the wings of the plunger so that they no longer rest against the housing.
A disadvantage of this prior art device is that the spring elements for driving the piston have to apply sufficient force to first destroy the wings of the piston before the piston can be moved in the lancing direction. Furthermore if the wings are not completely destroyed, this can cause frictional effects when the piston moves within the housing in the lancing direction. Hence the conditions of a lancing process are changed depending on the frictional effects so that undefined force curves act during the lancing process. This influences among others the puncturing speed of the lancet into a part of the skin so that the patient has to expect different levels of pain caused by the puncturing.
In addition the lancet has a sterile protector which has to be removed from the needle tip before use. However, the wings may be damaged as a result of a strong pulling motion and this may accidentally trigger a lancing process. Since the described mechanism is only suitable for disposable lancing devices and it is not possible to retension the lancet due to the destroyed wings on the piston, the unused lancet has to be consequently discarded.
Furthermore U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,279 discloses a blood withdrawal system in which the lancet holder is moved along an inclined ramp located in the housing in an opposite direction to the lancing direction by rotating an external part of the housing. This movement tensions a spring member which serves as the drive element for the lancet holder. The sloping surface protruding into the housing has a plateau on which the lancet holder can be temporarily held after a first rotary movement of the external housing member. In this position the lancet holder is pulled back in the opposite direction to lancing to such an extent that the lancet can be removed from the lancet holder and exchanged. By continuing the rotation the lancet holder is moved further along the sloping surface in the opposite direction to lancing, further tensioning the spring element until the lancet holder is moved beyond the sloping surface and is driven by the force of the spring in the puncturing direction. The lancet tip emerges from the housing.
A disadvantage of the prior art is that the rotational movement of the outer housing member makes it more difficult for the user to handle the blood withdrawal system. In order to tension the blood withdrawal system and simultaneously position the finger pad at the exit opening of the blood withdrawal system, the patient has to position his finger in a holder provided. The holder also serves to fix the position of the blood withdrawal system on the finger tip while the user rotates the outer housing member with the other hand. The said blood withdrawal system proves to be extremely unwieldy and is very difficult to operate particularly by elderly persons. |
#include <BulletCollision/CollisionDispatch/btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm.h>
#include <BulletCollision/NarrowPhaseCollision/btConvexPenetrationDepthSolver.h>
#include "btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_wrap.h"
btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_new(
btVoronoiSimplexSolver* simplexSolver, btConvexPenetrationDepthSolver* pdSolver)
{
return new btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm::CreateFunc(simplexSolver, pdSolver);
}
int btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_getMinimumPointsPerturbationThreshold(
btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj)
{
return obj->m_minimumPointsPerturbationThreshold;
}
int btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_getNumPerturbationIterations(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj)
{
return obj->m_numPerturbationIterations;
}
btConvexPenetrationDepthSolver* btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_getPdSolver(
btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj)
{
return obj->m_pdSolver;
}
btVoronoiSimplexSolver* btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_getSimplexSolver(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj)
{
return obj->m_simplexSolver;
}
void btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_setMinimumPointsPerturbationThreshold(
btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj, int value)
{
obj->m_minimumPointsPerturbationThreshold = value;
}
void btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_setNumPerturbationIterations(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj,
int value)
{
obj->m_numPerturbationIterations = value;
}
void btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_setPdSolver(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj,
btConvexPenetrationDepthSolver* value)
{
obj->m_pdSolver = value;
}
void btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc_setSimplexSolver(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_CreateFunc* obj,
btVoronoiSimplexSolver* value)
{
obj->m_simplexSolver = value;
}
btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm* btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_new(btPersistentManifold* mf,
const btCollisionAlgorithmConstructionInfo* ci, const btCollisionObjectWrapper* body0Wrap,
const btCollisionObjectWrapper* body1Wrap, btVoronoiSimplexSolver* simplexSolver,
btConvexPenetrationDepthSolver* pdSolver, int numPerturbationIterations, int minimumPointsPerturbationThreshold)
{
return new btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm(mf, *ci, body0Wrap, body1Wrap, simplexSolver,
pdSolver, numPerturbationIterations, minimumPointsPerturbationThreshold);
}
const btPersistentManifold* btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_getManifold(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm* obj)
{
return obj->getManifold();
}
void btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm_setLowLevelOfDetail(btConvex2dConvex2dAlgorithm* obj,
bool useLowLevel)
{
obj->setLowLevelOfDetail(useLowLevel);
}
|
Q:
Processing Outlook .msg messages on AWS
I do have Outlook message in .msg file (Microsoft OLE Structured Storage databases) and need to extract data from message.
Is there any AWS service which could help? For example I send request to API and as response receive message in JSON format incl attachments?
Similar way as https://pypi.org/project/msg-parser/ works.
A:
There is none that serve the specific purpose of parsing Outlook .msg and return it's content.
You can, however, deploy the library you mentioned (or another one) on Lambda - API Gateway and get the result you desired for minimal cost
|
struct GlobalDescriptor {
mutable: bool,
ty: Type,
}
|
Q:
How can I download entire dropbox folder using Dropbox API?
I'm using Dropbox REST API to perform different operations on users' Dropbox Acount (using Google App Engine). But folder download using files (GET) is giving 404 error: File Not Found. Whereas the same method is working if I try to download a single file, say a .txt or .docx file.
A:
Just add ?dl=1 to the end of a Dropbox folder share URL and you'll trigger downloading a .zip of the folder in question. So, https://www.dropbox.com/sh/123456789 for regular folder access becomes https://www.dropbox.com/sh/123456789?dl=1 to downlaod the zip.
|
#!/usr/bin/env python
# coding=utf-8
# vim:ts=4:sts=4:sw=4:et
#
# Author: Hari Sekhon
# Date: 2018-08-15 23:18:55 +0100 (Wed, 15 Aug 2018)
#
# https://github.com/harisekhon/nagios-plugins
#
# License: see accompanying Hari Sekhon LICENSE file
#
# If you're using my code you're welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn
# and optionally send me feedback to help steer this or other code I publish
#
# https://www.linkedin.com/in/harisekhon
#
"""
Nagios Plugin to check Nifi is online via its API
Tested on Apache Nifi 1.7
"""
from __future__ import absolute_import
from __future__ import division
from __future__ import print_function
from __future__ import unicode_literals
import os
import sys
import traceback
srcdir = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
libdir = os.path.join(srcdir, 'pylib')
sys.path.append(libdir)
try:
# pylint: disable=wrong-import-position
from harisekhon.utils import isInt, CriticalError
from harisekhon import RestNagiosPlugin
except ImportError as _:
print(traceback.format_exc(), end='')
sys.exit(4)
__author__ = 'Hari Sekhon'
__version__ = '0.1'
# pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
class CheckNifiStatus(RestNagiosPlugin):
def __init__(self):
# Python 2.x
super(CheckNifiStatus, self).__init__()
# Python 3.x
# super().__init__()
self.name = 'Nifi'
self.path = '/nifi-api/system-diagnostics'
self.default_port = 8080
self.json = True
self.auth = 'optional'
self.msg = 'Nifi message not defined'
def parse_json(self, json_data):
processors = json_data['systemDiagnostics']['aggregateSnapshot']['availableProcessors']
if not isInt(processors):
raise CriticalError('availableProcessors \'{}\' is not an integer!!'.format(processors))
processors = int(processors)
if processors > 0:
self.ok()
self.msg = 'Nifi status = OK, processors available'
else:
self.critical()
self.msg = 'Nifi status = CRITICAL, no processors available'
if __name__ == '__main__':
CheckNifiStatus().main()
|
Q:
Java script: how to get Workflow Id from Workflow Task Form
I need to get the Workflow Id with java script after editing a Workflow Task. What I have this far is only a script that gets the Task Id when the EditForm is opened:
$(document).ready(function () {
JSRequest.EnsureSetup();
var xId = JSRequest.QueryString["ID"];
//need to get the Workflow Id here
Any suggestions? All help would be appreciated!
Edit: tried to look for the Workflow Id with REST and Postman on the Workflow Task List but also there I can't find the Workflow Id Does this mean it's impossible?
A:
I guess you mean Workflow Instance Id, right?
It depends on SharePoint version.
SharePoint 2010 or SharePoint 2013 (Platform Type: SharePoint 2010 Workflow)
Workflow Instance Id is stored in field WorkflowInstanceID (Type: SP.Guid)
Example:
var listId = _spPageContextInfo.pageListId;
var itemId = parseInt(GetUrlKeyValue('ID'));
getListItem( listId,itemId,
function(item){
var workflowInstanceId = item.get_fieldValues()['WorkflowInstanceID'].toString();
console.log(workflowInstanceId);
},
function(sendera,args){
console.log(args.get_message());
});
SharePoint 2013 (Platform Type: SharePoint 2013 Workflow)
Workflow Instance Id is stored in field WF4InstanceId
Example
var listId = _spPageContextInfo.pageListId;
var itemId = parseInt(GetUrlKeyValue('ID'));
getListItem( listId,itemId,
function(item){
var workflowInstanceId = item.get_fieldValues()['WF4InstanceId'];
console.log(workflowInstanceId);
},
function(sendera,args){
console.log(args.get_message());
});
getListItem function
function getListItem(listId,itemId,success,error)
{
var ctx = SP.ClientContext.get_current();
var web = ctx.get_web();
var list = web.get_lists().getById(listId);
var item = list.getItemById(itemId);
ctx.load(item);
ctx.executeQueryAsync(
function() {
success(item);
},
error);
}
|
N OWHERE HAS covid-19 hit a country’s leaders harder than in Iran. Two vice-presidents, ministers and 24 members of parliament (almost 10% of the total) have contracted the virus. Two of those parliamentarians, as well as two former high-ranking diplomats and a member of an advisory council to Iran’s supreme leader, have been killed by it. Hassan Rouhani, the president, now hosts sparsely attended cabinet meetings, as questions mount about the absence of other senior officials.
According to the government, the virus has infected 9,000 people and killed over 300. That would make it the second-biggest outbreak outside China (see chart). But no one believes the government’s numbers. The outbreak is probably much worse than it is letting on.
Trust in the regime was already low as a result of its killing of protesters in November and its attempt to cover up the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane over Tehran in January. When the virus struck, officials hid news of it so that voters would turn out for a rigged parliamentary election on February 21st. Visibly sick, the deputy health minister denied a cover-up on February 24th. He tested positive for the virus a day later. The number of infected officials alone suggests an enormous outbreak. So do public surveys and other indicators. Some in the government think the actual number of cases is closer to 100,000. Outside estimates go even higher.
The government has closed schools, universities and theatres, and told people not to attend large gatherings. Some 300,000 soldiers and volunteers have been mobilised to fight the disease. But these measures have come late and are incomplete. There was no thought of quarantining the holy city of Qom, where the outbreak started. As fear of the virus grew, sick residents fled to other parts of the country, spreading it to every province. Hospitals, dubbed “virus factories” by locals, are overloaded. Yet the mullahs still refuse to close the popular (and lucrative) holy shrines in Qom and elsewhere. Two men even filmed themselves licking the shrines (and were arrested). By contrast Saudi Arabia, with many fewer cases, has banned foreign pilgrims from its holy sites. Before the virus, Iran’s economy was largely isolated, thanks to American sanctions. Now it is even more cut off. Neighbours including Iraq, its main trading partner, are restricting the passage of people and goods. Religious, medical and leisure tourism, worth almost $12bn last year, has dried up. Iranians themselves are not spending ahead of Nowruz, the new-year festival on March 21st. Restaurants, concert halls and hotels have shut for want of business. Shopping malls and bazaars are empty. Some businesses have cut the work week in half, but many employees are not showing up at all. March 8th was the Tehran metro’s quietest day in a decade. As imports become harder to get, inflation is likely to rise. The collapsing price of oil has cut into the profits of smugglers. With little hard currency entering the country, market-watchers expect another run on the rial, whose value has plummeted over the past year. Jamshid Edalatian, an economist, thinks GDP could shrink by 25-30% as a result of the virus. In February the government said it would punish anyone spreading rumours about a serious outbreak. Officials have blamed America for fearmongering. But the regime’s own ailing members have made the scale of the crisis impossible to conceal. And it could get worse for Iran’s rulers. Many of them are old, infirm and especially at risk of dying from covid-19. ■
Dig deeper: |
Temporal resolution requirements for left ventricular time-activity curves.
To investigate framing rate requirements for left ventricular (LV) time-activity curves, ECG-synchronized blood pool studies of 33 patients were compared to independent techniques for evaluation of LV function. There were no significant differences in LV ejection fractions determined using different framing rates. Systolic time intervals calculated from 64- and 32-point curves were similar and correlated well with those obtained by standard methods (r = 0.81, p less than 0.001). Results from 16-point curves were worse (p less than 0.02). There were no differences between peak ejection and filling rates obtained with 64- and 32-point curves compared to angiography, but the rates calculated using 16-point curves were significantly slower (p less than 0.05). The findings suggest that LV time-activity curves acquired at 16 frames per RR interval do not provide optimum quantification of LV function indexes other than the ejection fraction. |
Cara Nugraha
Buy Resin Patio Furniture for a Cleaner and Greener Earth
The things you purchase for your home also has a significant impact on your surroundings. Nowadays, people are more conscious about the relative condition of our environment and they are finding ways to help save it from total degradation. Buying resin patio furniture is one way in which homeowners can contribute to a cleaner and greener earth. Not only can they provide a wonderful outdoor space for their family but they are also able to help save the environment.
You’re probably wondering how simple purchases of resin patio furniture pieces can help save the environment. Well, it’s easy because you get involve in buying recycled materials. Resin is made up of recycled plastic. It is widely known that plastic will take several years to decompose. We certainly couldn’t burn them else they pollute our air and contribute to the greenhouse gases.
By buying resin-outdoor tables and chairs, you are giving out a clear message to the outdoor furniture manufacturers that there is a demand for this type of materials. This can then lead them to concentrate more on utilizing these tons of raw used plastic materials rather than using lumber and wood. Resin can be utilized to manufacture whatever design or color you want. You can replicate that cedar picnic table you dream of having or that mahogany patio bench that you like. In this process, you help put a stop in the cutting down of the trees. Our natural resources will be conserved and you can still enjoy that great “wooden and outdoorsy look” through your resin patio furniture.
Furnishing your outdoor spaces with resin furniture will also turn you to become an ambassador of a clean and greener earth. Whenever you have guests and friends who come over to your house, you can educate them about the importance of using recycled materials when they ask about your resin furniture. |
414 P.2d 911 (1966)
INTERMOUNTAIN RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION, Inc., a non-profit corporation of the State of Colorado, Petitioner,
v.
The DISTRICT COURT OF the FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, State of Colorado and Patrick M. Hinton, District Judge of Said Court, and the Board of County Commissioners of the County of El Paso, Colorado, Respondents,
Neva P. Williams, M. E. Williams and W. Barry Hill, Intervenors.
No. 21995.
Supreme Court of Colorado, En Banc.
May 31, 1966.
Rehearing Denied June 20, 1966.
Cecil R. Ditsch, Littleton; Murphy & Morris, Colorado Springs; and Donaldson, Hoffman & Goldstein, Alan A. Armour, Denver, for petitioner.
Strand, Holst & Hilbert, Colorado Springs, for respondent, Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County.
Laura & James, Colorado Springs, Raphael J. Moses, Boulder, for intervenors.
SCHAUER, Justice.
On September 28, 1965, a petition was filed in this court praying for a writ and order in the nature of prohibition, directed to the respondent district court, with relation to a certain temporary restraining order theretofore issued by the court on September 10, 1965, and a civil action therein pending. This court entered an order to show cause and in response thereto the respondents filed their answer to the petition and petitioner filed a reply to respondents' answer. The landowners also appeared as intervenors and filed an answer in this court. All the parties submitted briefs. We elected to determine the issues thus joined and for that purpose heard oral arguments of respective counsel.
The factual background relative to a determination of the case is as follows:
Petitioner is a public utility, certified and regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado, and qualified for financing under the Federal Rural Electrification Act. Its primary purpose is to serve rural, sparsely populated, areas which do not receive central station service, with electric power. As a part of its over-all operation, it is authorized to serve areas in Teller, Douglas and El Paso counties, including a 720-acre tract in El Paso County described in the petition by legal subdivisions. To that end, it has obtained, or is in the process of obtaining, by eminent domain proceedings and otherwise, the necessary rights of way. The line in question is to bring service up to date with modern requirements and modern expectations *912 where service from other lines is now on a limited basis.
The petitioner commenced the installation of poles and H-type fixtures to support a 44,000 KV transmission line over such rights of way and through and beyond the tract specifically described in the petition, to connect its power transmission line now in operation between Woodland Park, Green Mountain Falls and Castle Rock, Colorado. Sixteen miles of the proposed fifty-four mile transmission line are to be located in El Paso County. All of the work has been completed except four and one-half miles in El Paso County which are in issue here.
No building permit had theretofore been required of any public utility performing its functions in this area, as is sought in this instance pursuant to C.R.S.1963, 106-2-9. The building inspector of the county, acting under instructions of the board of county commissioners, demanded that the work of installation and connection of the transmission line be halted until a building permit should be issued by him. Petitioner, although denying the authority of the building inspector, did file application for a building permit, which was denied by this inspector, who referred petitioner to the planning commission of El Paso County. This commission also refused the permit and advised petitioner to appeal to the board of county commissioners, which petitioner proceeded to do. The latter board denied the permit on July 29, 1965.
Section 106-2-9(1)(c), C.R.S.1963, reads as follows:
"If the public way, grounds, space, building, structure, or utility be one the authorization or financing of which does not, under the law governing the same, fall within the province of the board of county commissioners or other county officials or board, then the submission to the commission shall be by the body or official having such jurisdiction, and the commission's disapproval may be overruled by said body by a vote of not less than a majority of its entire membership or by said official." (Emphasis supplied.)
After denial of the application submitted as hereinabove described, the petitioner attempted to overrule the decisions of the respective boards, based on its interpretation of its power to do so under the statute above quoted. Pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of petitioner, unanimously adopted, its manager, as the official in charge of the proposed construction, issued his order overruling the resolution of the board of county commissioners denying the permit, and notified the latter board of his action. Thereafter, the action was filed in the district court, which issued a temporary restraining order to which the petition filed here is addressed.
The petitioner alleges that at a hearing before the respondent board of county commissioners of El Paso County, engineering studies were referred to, suggesting that the subject tract is the only location at which the transmission lines could be installed, in view of the mountainous character of the terrain through which they were to run and the problems of maintenance and repair thereof during periods of inclement weather.
We have examined the record of the hearings before the El Paso County Planning Board and before the El Paso Board of County Commissioners in regard to statements made in the original petition, which are set forth in a factual context at paragraph 15, page 9, of the original petition. The statements made at the hearings reveal a conflict of opinion as to the factual inference raised in paragraph 15 of the original petition filed in this court.
The hearings conducted before the respective boards were of an informal nature consisting primarily of arguments made by various attorneys and consisting also of some oral statements made by property owners and neighbors to the property owners. In other words, we have no sworn testimony, no findings of fact and no conclusions before us for consideration. *913 Moreover, it was not shown that other routes would not be equally acceptable, as implied in the petition.
The record which was made before the board of county commissioners contains a statement to the effect that one of the engineers involved in the construction of this line actually recommended a different route than the one which is sought here. Inconsistencies are apparent between what is alleged in the petition and what appears in the record. None of the allegations nor any statements at the board hearings were in the form of sworn testimony, and a serious question is presented whether they rise to the dignity of acceptable evidence.
It was further contended that the installation was necessary to provide adequate, economical and efficient service to the areas which petitioner was authorized to serve; that the Public Utilities Commission had approved petitioner's loans for the installation of the line, and loans had been obtained from the Rural Electric Association for that purpose. From the record and briefs before this court we glean that there has been no authorization by the Public Utilities Commission for the specific route in question. Apparently this specific issue was not before the commission when the certificate was obtained. Moreover, it appears that the area to be served pursuant to this certificate is not in El Paso County. Thus, the question of full compliance with Chapter 115 of C.R.S.1963 becomes a serious consideration.
Counsel did make issue during argument that construction was permitted over a major portion of the area through El Paso County before demand was made for compliance with the statute requiring a building permit. It is apparent in the record that the board of county commissioners did advise petitioner in May of 1964, before any construction was commenced, of their intent to apply the statute giving authority for the county planning committee to exercise power in regard to the selection of a route of the public utility.
On September 10, 1965, the board of county commissioners obtained from the respondent court an ex parte temporary restraining order, directing the petitioner to refrain and desist from any further construction or the use of the subject tract for transmission lines or other purposes connected with petitioner's electrical operations. The board also filed in respondent court its complaint in Civil Action No. 49138, praying that petitioner be permanently enjoined from continuing construction of its transmission line until the route should be approved by the county planning commission, not disapproved by petitioner, and a valid building permit issued.
The petitioner alleges that the action of the building inspector, the planning commission and the board of county commissioners, in denying its application for a building permit was arbitrary, capricious, in excess of jurisdiction and in violation of duty. Further, that the temporary restraining order is void and of no effect, and the respondent court was without jurisdiction to grant it for the reason that the order itself, the affidavit supporting the same, and the complaint on which it was issued do not comply with Rule 65, R.C.P.Colo., and was issued without notice.
In Renner v. Williams, 140 Colo. 432, 344 P.2d 966, an identical restraining order was declared to be a nullity. We quote from page 434 of the opinion, 344 P.2d page 967:
"First Question to Be Determined:
"Is a restraining order which fails to comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure void?
"This question is answered in the affirmative.
"The restraining order was completely devoid of virtually all of the requirements of R.C.P. 65(b)(c) and (d). Having been issued without notice, it did not define the injury to the applicant or state why it was of such nature as to be irreparable; the reason for issuance without notice; the time or date of its expiration *914 or the date of hearing for a preliminary injunction. More significant was the failure of the court to set or require any security to be given by the applicant. Any one of the deficiencies noted was sufficient to render the order a nullity. * * *"
The order in the case at bar simply recites: "It satisfactorily appearing to the Court, from the Plaintiff's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order on file herein, that sufficient grounds exist therefor." Every deficiency noted in the restraining order in the Renner case, supra, is present in this case, and in view of the opinion in that case we must now hold that the instant temporary restraining order is void, and a nullity.
The pertinent statutes in this case now under consideration vest jurisdiction exclusively in the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado under Article XXV of our State Constitution and Sections 115-1-3, 115-4-2(1), C.R.S.1963, over the adequacy, installation and extension of the power services of petitioner, and the facilities necessary to supply, extend and connect the same. It follows, therefore, that the jurisdiction of the respondent court extends only to a review of the decision of the Public Utilities Commission in appropriate proceedings. The respondents did not avail themselves of the remedy pursuant to the statutes which are controlling in this situation. The temporary restraining order issued by respondent court was and is void for the reasons above given, and the court has no jurisdiction to proceed with Civil Action No. 49138, now on file.
The rule to show cause is made absolute and the cause remanded with directions to respondent court to vacate its temporary restraining order of date September 10, 1965, herein referred to, and to dismiss Civil Action No. 49138, pending in that court, without prejudice.
McWILLIAMS, J., concurs in the result.
|
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Q:
Difference between anonymous class and IDictionary for htmlAttributes in ASP.NET MVC?
For example if you check these two extension methods the only difference is type of htmlAttributes so you can pass your htmlAttributes in two different ways:
public static MvcHtmlString TextBoxFor<TModel, TProperty>(
this HtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
IDictionary<string, object> htmlAttributes);
public static MvcHtmlString TextBoxFor<TModel, TProperty>(
this HtmlHelper<TModel> htmlHelper,
Expression<Func<TModel, TProperty>> expression,
object htmlAttributes);
And use them in either of these ways:
@Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.TagLine,
new { @placeholder = "We live to make art." })
@Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.TagLine,
new Dictionary<string, object> {
{ "placeholder", "We live to make art." } })
I have checked MVC source code and I know in the background they use same method, but the one which accepts the anonymous object uses HtmlHelper.AnonymousObjectToHtmlAttributes(htmlAttributes) to make the anonymous object a dictionary.
In my point of view, views are cleaner to use anonymous object. What do you think guys? Are there any drawbacks to using an anonymous object?
A:
There's not too much difference, however using the anonymous object is a cleaner and more readable syntax for the caller, and now considered more standard practice. There might be a slight, negligible performance benefit to using IDictionary if you're a fan of micro-optimisation.
The IDictionary overload option has probably stuck since ASP.NET MVC 1.0 CTP days when C# 3.0 and anonymous objects were still quite new. Eilon Lipton's blog post proposing Using C# 3.0 Anonymous Types as Dictionaries gives some background.
|
I just discovered the design group Palau from the Netherlands, and they have some pretty inspiring work.
“Made in The Netherlands, the Wave features environmentally-friendly Kvadrat fabrics. These fabrics bear the EU’s environmental “flower” label that can only be awarded when the product’s life cycle is among the best in the market.” |
Tag Archives: New Physics Syllabus for UHS MCAT
Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) is one of the biggest test in Pakistan. That is conduct for the Medical Programs Admissions. It conduct every year and its arrange by the UHS University of Health Sciences Lahore. All the medical colleges are under the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council PMDC. All the universities have set the MDCAT test for the Admissions. But the problem facing by the students is how to prepare for the MDCAT. But its so simple, students can start preparation by one click and take the tips and guidance for the test preparation.
Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) which is also known as “MCAT” is a standardized Test conducted by the University of Health and Sciences (UHS) in admission Lahore. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM and DC) has directed this two and half i.e (150) minutes paper based test to be held once a year and is mandatory for candidates to be able to take admission in ‘MBBS’ and ‘BDS’ degree programs in all the Private and Public Sector Medical and Dental Institutions. Pakprep.com provide complete material for the preparation of MCAT test. We have more than 15000+ MCQ’s with answers and explanation which helps students in getting good marks in MDCAT test. Click here to start your preparation today. Continue reading →
University of Health Sciences officially announced test result of MDCAT test held on 29th October. In 2017 more than 48,000 candidates appeared in UHS MCAT test to get admission in Public sector medical colleges of Punjab. Only 61% candidates gets more than 60% marks in MDCAT test. To download MCAT/MDCAT test result of MBBS and BDS admissions CLICK Here. To get admission in public sector medical colleges of Punjab UHS also announced application process dates. Pakprep.com provide complete material for the preparation of MCAT test. We have more than 15000+ MCQ’s with answers and explanation which helps students in getting good marks in MDCAT test. Click here to start your preparation today. Here is the details of how to apply for Public sector medical Colleges.
Last chance to apply for MDCAT test announced by University of Health Sciences (UHS) for 2017-18 session. Last date to apply for the registration of MDCAT test is 28th July 2017. Students willing to get admission in Public sector medical colleges of Punjab must register them before last date to avoid inconvenience. MDCAT test for MBBS and BDS will held on 20th August 2017. Students will to appear in MDCAT/MCAT test have to prepare Biology, Physics, Chemistry and English MCQ’s. MDCAT test is very conceptual so students need to clear concepts in detail. Pakprep.com provide good quality MCQs according to MDCAT/MCAT new syllabus announced by UHS in 2017. We have more than 15000+ MCQ’s with solution which help students to get good marks in MDCAT/MCAT test. To start your preparation for MDCAT Click here.
University of Health Sciences (UHS) is the main body which organize entry test for Public sector medical colleges of Punjab every year. This test is known as Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT/MCAT). MDCAT test will consist of MCQ’s type question from Biology (88), Chemistry (58), Physics (44) and English MCQ’s (30). Expected registration dates of MDCAT test are starting from 10th July 2017 and last date of Registration will be 28th July after that no application will be entertained. Test for MDCAT/MCAT will held on Sunday 20th August 2017. There are very limited seats in MDCAT/MCAT test so only those students can get admission in desired Medical colleges who will perform well in entry test. Pakprep.com provide vast range of MCQs according to MDCAT/MCAT new syllabus announced by UHS in 2017. www.pakprep.com offer more than 15000+ fully explained MCQS with complete explanation which help students to get good marks in MDCAT/MCAT test. To start your preparation for MDCAT Click here.
Pakistan Army has announced the registration dates for Commissioned Officers through Army Medical (AM Cadet) Course. This is opportunity to join Pakistan Army as Commissioned Officer through Medical branch. Registration has started from 5th of June 2017 and will last till 4th of July 2017. AM Cadet Test for Commissioned Officer would be based on MCQs type test, which includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English test. Pakprep.com provide more than 15000+ fully explained MCQ’s and MOCK test for AMC and all other medical colleges. You can start your test preparation today by using Pakprep.com. Register Here for free!!!!. Here are further details on how to apply.
University of Health Sciences (UHS) organized entry test for Public sector medical colleges of Punjab every year. This test is commonly known as Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), however UHS has given a new name to that test. Now MCAT is also known as Medical and Dental College admission test (MDCAT). MCAT/ MDCAT test is consist of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and English MCQ’s. MDCAT/MCAT is very competitive due to limited number of seats available in 19 Public sector medical colleges of Punjab. English portion for MCAAT/ MDCAT is very hard UHS also announced new list of vocabulary for English portion. Every year more than 55,000 students appear in MCAT/MDCAT test only for almost 3500 seats for MBBS and BDS. Students willing to appear in MCAT/ MDCAT test must prepare smartly to get desired result. Pakprep.com can provide you a platform where you can prepare for MDCAT/MCAT test and can also monitor your performance. We have MCQ’s from all subjects which are included in MCAT/ MDCAT test along with their correct answers and explanations. To start your preparation Click here. Here are the new list of vocabulary for English portion;
Medical college admission test commonly known as MCAT, which is conducted in Punjab for admission in Public Sector medical colleges of Punjab. University of Health and Sciences (UHS) conduct this test for MBBS & BDS admission in Public Sector medical colleges of Punjab. Every year more than 50000 students try their luck by taking this test but few of them succeed. UHS arrange this test for students once in a year all over the Punjab.
MCAT test is very difficult and you need a lot of preparation in order to pass it. Their test consist of MCQ’s from Chemistry, Physics, Biology and English. MCAT test is consist of concept based questions. Every student’s admission is based on MCAT test results and FSC marks. In MCAT test there is a negative marking. There are 5 marks for every correct answer and -1 for every wrong answer.
Pakprep.com can provide you a platform where you can prepare for this test and can also monitor your progress. We have MCQ’s from all subjects which are included in MCAT test along with their correct answers and explanations. To start your preparation Click here. Here are the some of the sample questions of Chemistry with explanation for MCAT preparation;
UHS MCAT has revised its syllabus for entry tests for 2017. Most of the changes are in Physics syllabus with minor changes in chemistry and biology. Pakprep.com is the first source to revise its whole syllabus for UHS MCAT as per the new test syllabus. Register now to prepare for UHS MCAT 2017. http://pakprep.com/account/register.aspx |
Q:
when does inner product with fixed vectors determine joint distribution?
Given a random vector $(X_1,X_2)$. If $aX_1 + bX_2$ is Gaussian for all pairs $a,b$, then $(X_1,X_2)$ is jointly normal. More generally, is the following statement true?
If $aX_1 + bX_2$ has the same distribution as $aY_1 + bY_2$, for all $a,b$, then $(X_1,X_2)$ has the same distribution as $(Y_1,Y_2)$. I know this is true if $(Y_1,Y_2)$ is the pullback under some diffeomorphism of a jointly normal vector. But is it true in general?
Also if I have total variation bound on the difference between $aX_1 + bX_2$ and $aY_1 + bY_2$ for all $a,b$, say above by $\epsilon$, does that give any total variation bound between the joint distributions?
A:
The first question has an affirmative answer. If two 2-dimensional distributions have the same (2-dim) characteristic functions they coincide. The characteristic function of the 2-dimensional distribution of (X,Y) is determined only by the distributions of aX+bY for all a and b.
The proof of that fact (Fourier inversion formula) may help to solve the second question as well.
A:
The answer to the second question is no. I heard the following counterexample indirectly from Yitzhak Katznelson. Let $X=(X_1,X_2)$ be a standard Gaussian random vector. One can construct $Y=(Y_1,Y_2)$ with a rotationally symmetric distribution supported on (many) circles centered at the origin such that the total variation distance between $X_1$ and $Y_1$ is arbitrarily small (which by symmetry implies the same for all 1-dimensional marginals). But the distributions of $X$ and $Y$ are mutually singular, so their total variation distance is 2 (or 1, depending on your normalization).
|
Glacier Media hasn't added a story.
On October 22, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed as he stood on guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
The war memorial is a place where people gather to pay their respects to the men and women who have sacrificed their lives, and their future hopes and dreams, for their country. He too has paid the ultimate sacrifice for a country that he loved. He stood there for all Canadians who value and honour the ideals that make us proud to call this great nation home.
Cpl. Cirillo leaves behind a six-year-old son. Glacier Media, which owns newspapers across Western Canada, as well as FundAid, is inviting its staff and readers to donate to this crowdfunding campaign in honour of Cpl. Cirillo. The money will be given to a trust fund for his son. It's a way for us to join people from coast to coast to coast to honour and pay tribute to a man who represented all that was good about Canada.
Both Glacier Media and Fundrazr, our FundAid partner, have waived the service fees as their contribution to the campaign.
Stories about Nathan Cirillo:
"When you are dying, you need to be told how loved you are." An incredibly moving story about Cpl. Cirillo's final moments.
“One of those people with a beautiful soul.” This story explores how much he loved being a father. |
Q:
How to center HTML elements vertically
I am trying to center vertically two arrows. One on the left and one on the right. The end goal is to try to make a slider of HTML and javascript content as a learning tool. I can't seem to get the arrows to center vertically. Below is the code I'm using. I've tried the vertical-align and top: 50% but that does not seem to work. Thank you.
#wrapper {
width: 800px;
height: 400px;
background-color: black;
}
#slide1 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide2 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide3 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide4 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide5 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#right-button {
color: white;
float: right;
padding-right: 2px;
font-size: 5em;
}
#left-button {
color: white;
float: left;
padding-left: 2px;
font-size: 5em;
}
<h3>Presentation Slider</h3>
<div id="wrapper">
<div id="left-button"><strong><</strong>
</div>
<!--
<div id="slide1"></div>
<div id="slide2"></div>
<div id="slide3"></div>
<div id="slide4"></div>
<div id="slide5"></div>
-->
<div id="right-button"><strong>></strong>
</div>
</div>
A:
Yo can make it like this:
#wrapper {
width: 800px;
height: 400px;
background-color: black;
position: relative;
}
#slide1 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide2 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide3 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide4 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#slide5 {
width: 700px;
height: 350px;
background-color: green;
}
#right-button {
color: white;
float: right;
padding-right: 2px;
font-size: 5em;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
right: 20px;
transform: translateY(-50%);
}
#left-button {
color: white;
float: left;
padding-left: 2px;
font-size: 5em;
position: absolute;
top: 50%;
left: 20px;
transform: translateY(-50%);
}
<h3>Presentation Slider</h3>
<div id="wrapper">
<div id="left-button"><strong><</strong>
</div>
<!--
<div id="slide1"></div>
<div id="slide2"></div>
<div id="slide3"></div>
<div id="slide4"></div>
<div id="slide5"></div>
-->
<div id="right-button"><strong>></strong>
</div>
</div>
|
[Age and changes in the structure of the neurohypophysis of the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L].
The results are given of histophysiological study of neurohypophysis in sexually mature sterlets (Acipenser ruthenus L.) of different age. An attention is paid to the age morphological changes of neurohypophysis and, in particular, to the number, size and topography of large and giant widenings of neurosecretory fibers, so-called Gerring bodies. The relation between the frequency of Gerring bodies and the age of fishes was followed. A suggestion is put forward to the effect that the appearance of Gerring bodies, widenings of axons of highly differentiated and strongly "weared" neurosecretory cells, is due to frequency of stress situations in ontogenesis. |
##
# This file is part of WhatWeb and may be subject to
# redistribution and commercial restrictions. Please see the WhatWeb
# web site for more information on licensing and terms of use.
# http://www.morningstarsecurity.com/research/whatweb
##
Plugin.define "Astaro-End-User-Portal" do
author "Brendan Coles <[email protected]>" # 2012-04-12
version "0.1"
description "Astaro End User Portal - A complete end-user tool suite for managing SMTP and POP3 quarantine. - Homepage: http://www.astaro.com/"
# Matches #
matches [
# JavaScript
{ :text=>'<script src="eup/eup_50_change_password.js" type="text/JavaScript"></script>' },
# /jape/ellipsis.xml
{ :url=>"/jape/ellipsis.xml", :md5=>"9639763b8c7f8caef097be4f3ffe5106" },
]
end
|
Vaginal cancer
What is vaginal cancer?
Primary vaginal cancer is any cancer that starts in the vagina. There are several types. Some cancers of the vagina have spread from a cancer elsewhere in the body. These are called secondary vaginal cancers.
The vagina
The vagina is part of the female reproductive system, which also includes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vulva.
Sometimes called the birth canal, the vagina is a muscular channel about 7–10 cm long that extends down from the cervix (neck of the uterus) to the vulva. The vaginal opening is where menstrual blood flows out of the body, sexual intercourse occurs, and a baby is born.
The vulva
The vulva is a general term for a woman’s external sexual organs (genitals).
labia minora – two inner lips (may be smaller or thinner than the labia majora)
clitoris – the main organ for sexual pleasure in women. It is located where the labia minora join at the top of the vulva. During arousal, the clitoris fills with blood and becomes erect, and its stimulation can lead to sexual climax (orgasm)
Bartholin glands – two small glands near the opening of the vagina. They produce mucus to lubricate the vagina.
Urethra, anus and perineum
Below the clitoris is the urethra, for passing urine. Further down is the entrance to the vagina, and behind that is the anus. The area of skin between the vagina and the anus is called the perineum.
Female sexual anatomy
Who gets vaginal cancer?
Vaginal cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer affecting the female reproductive system (gynaecological cancer). Each year in Australia, about 80 women are diagnosed with vaginal cancer, and it is more common in women over 60. However, vaginal cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma, can sometimes occur in younger women.
Types of primary vaginal cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
starts in the thin, flat (squamous) cells lining the vagina
most likely to occur in the upper vagina
usually grows slowly over many years
makes up about 85% of vaginal cancers
Adenocarcinoma
develops from the mucus-producing (glandular) cells of the vagina
more likely to spread to the lungs and lymph nodes
makes up 5–10% of vaginal cancers
includes clear cell carcinoma
Vaginal (mucosal) melanoma
starts in the cells that give the skin its colour (melanocytes), also found in the vagina’s lining
a rare form of vaginal cancer
Sarcoma
develops from muscle, fat and other tissue deep in the wall of the vagina
a rare form of vaginal cancer
Secondary vaginal cancer
Secondary cancer in the vagina is more common than primary vaginal cancer. This means the cancer has spread from another part of the body, such as the cervix, uterus, vulva, bladder, bowel or other nearby organs. Secondary vaginal cancer is managed differently to primary vaginal cancer.
For information on treating the original cancer, see our Cancer Types and speak to your treatment team. You may also find information about Advanced cancer useful.
What causes vaginal cancer?
The exact cause of vaginal cancer is unknown, but factors known to increase the risk of developing it include:
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
This is a precancerous condition that often has no symptoms. It means that the cells in the lining of the vagina are abnormal and may develop into cancer after many years. However, most women with VAIN do not develop vaginal cancer.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Also known as the wart virus, HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause women to develop VAIN. It can be many years between the initial infection with HPV and the first signs of VAIN or vaginal cancer. HPV is a common virus and most women with HPV don’t develop vaginal or any other type of cancer.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking doubles the risk of developing vaginal cancer. This may be because smoking can make the immune system work less effectively.
History of gynaecological cancer
Vaginal cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in women who have had cervical cancer or early cervical cell changes that were considered to be precancerous. For more on this, see Cervical cancer.
Radiation therapy to the pelvis
If you have had radiation therapy to the pelvis for another reason, you are at a slightly higher risk of vaginal cancer. This complication is very rare.
Diethylstilboestrol (DES)
This synthetic hormone drug has been identified as a cause of a type of vaginal adenocarcinoma called clear cell carcinoma.
Between 1938 and 1971 – and occasionally beyond – DES was prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriages. It is no longer prescribed to pregnant women in Australia.
The female children of women who took DES (called DES daughters) have an increased risk of developing a range of health problems. About one in 1000 DES daughters develops clear cell carcinoma of the vagina or cervix. If you are concerned about this risk, see your GP.
Vaginal cancer is not contagious and it can’t be passed to other people through sexual contact. It is not caused by an inherited faulty gene. For more on the risk factors, call Cancer Council 13 11 20.
Click on the icon below to download a PDF booklet on vulvar and vaginal cancers.
Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices
EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:
download the PDF directly onto your computer.
connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.
Android and PC
You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.
The cancer information on this website is based on the Understanding Cancer series booklets published by Cancer Council. This information is reviewed and updated every two years or as new information comes to hand. Cancer Council works with cancer doctors, specialist nurses or other relevant health professionals to ensure the medical information is reliable and up to date. Consumers also check the booklets to ensure they meet the needs of people with cancer. Before commencing any health treatment, always consult your doctor. This information is intended as a general introduction and should not be seen as a substitute for your own doctor’s or health professional’s advice. All care is taken to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication.
Support services
Coping with cancer?Speak to a health professional or to someone who has been there, or find a support group or forum
Amazon Kindle 2nd Generation devices
EPUB files can’t be read on the Amazon Kindle™. However, like most eReaders, Kindle™ 2nd Generation devices are able to display PDFs. We recommend that you download the PDF version of this booklet if you would like to read it on a Kindle™.
To transfer a PDF to your Kindle™ via USB cable from your computer or Mac:
download the PDF directly onto your computer.
connect the USB cable to your computer’s USB port, and the micro USB end of the cable to your Kindle™. Note: the Kindle™ won’t be available as a reading device while it is connected to your computer until it has been disconnected.
open the Kindle™ drive and several folders will appear inside. The “Documents” folder is where you will need to copy or drag the PDF to.
safely eject your Kindle™ from your computer and unplug the USB cable. Your content will appear on the Home Screen.
Android and PC
You can also download and open eBooks on Android devices and PCs with appropriate apps or software installed. Suitable eReader apps for Android include Google Play Books, FBReader and Moon+ Reader. Suitable software for PCs include Calibre and Adobe Digital Editions.
Cancer Council NSW would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work.We would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal people.
Cancer Council NSW would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work.We would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal people.
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Gaming device manufacturers strive to make gaming devices that provide as much enjoyment and excitement as possible. Providing a secondary or bonus game in which a player has an opportunity to win potentially large awards or credits in addition to the awards associated with the primary or base game of the gaming device is one way to enhance player enjoyment and excitement.
Gaming devices having bonus games generally employ a triggering event that occurs during the base game. The triggering event temporarily stalls or halts the base game play and enables a player to enter a second, different game, which is the bonus game. The player plays the bonus game, likely receives an award and returns to the base game.
One known bonus game enables players to accept or decline multiple award offers. The TOP DOLLAR® gaming device which is manufactured and distributed by the assignee of this application, provides the player with three offers and a final award. When an offer is given, the player may accept or reject it by pushing an accept button or a reject button, respectively. If the player accepts an offer, the player receives the accepted bonus amount and the bonus round terminates. If the player declines an offer, the game generates another offer for the player. The player is automatically provided with the last selected offer if the player rejects the three previous offers. In this game, each offer can include one or more illuminated amounts. If an offer is rejected, the gaming machine terminates the illumination of such amounts and one or more amounts are illuminated to make the next offer. The previously illuminated amounts of the previous offer are not saved.
In this known offer/acceptance game, when the player rejects an offer, the player risks a current or guaranteed award for a higher value award. The game may instead provide a lower award. The game thus creates a risk for the player. Enabling a player to pick from different risk based alternatives and then enabling the player to accumulate awards or offers from the selected alternatives provides excitement and enjoyment to the player. Therefore a need exists to provide an offer/acceptance game that enables a player to weigh options and explore the consequences of selecting those options where the player may accumulate awards or offers. |
Harry S. Truman Announces the Truman Doctrine to Congress Ca. 1947
Unknown
- 1947
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On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman announced the Truman Doctrine to Congress, pledging to support Greece and Turkey against encroachment by the Soviet Union. The Truman Doctrine, which stated that the United States would support the efforts of noncommunist countries to resist the influence of the Soviet Union, became a crucial component of the cold war. Containment of communism was eventually used as justification for the Vietnam War. |
When 'Akbar the Great' begged an Indian Queen to spare his life: Congress scraps the glorious history of Kiran Kumari, a Symbol of Bravery and Honour
Kiran Kumari, the Queen of Bikaner, is one Legend who grounded and humiliated the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who tried to violate the modest of women under the guise of anonymity in Meena Bazar
Agnima Sharma, Jaipur
Congress, over the years, has been scrapping the glorious history of Indian royals such as Kiran Kumari, the queen of Bikaner who made a mark in Indian history for her act of bravery. Her story should be known by one and all as she is one woman whose story speaks of woman valour, self-respect, dynamism and empowerment. Once upon a time, she single-handedly grounded the Mughal emperor, Akbar, under her feet who begged her to spare his life. In fact, India has many such inspiring stories of Indian kings and queens which are still to be known by its people. However, Congress seems busy glorifying the acts of a few of its leaders, says a veteran leader Bajrang Singh Shekhawat from Bikaner.
Shekhawat in Bikaner represents many social organisations and feels proud to be born in India which is the land of warriors.
However, presently he feels equally pained at the way the stories of brave soldiers are slowly losing their name under Congress rule.
“We remember this brave queen on every festival and occasion as it was because of her brave act that Meena Bazaar being organised in Delhi was stopped,” he says adding that he wants her story to symbolise woman power.
The story of Kiran Devi recently went viral soon after BJP state president Madanlal Saini on the occasion of Maharana Pratap Jayanti, quoted Akbar as a characterless man in Jaipur.
Saini claimed that Mughal emperor Akbar once attempted to misbehave with Bikaner queen in the women-run market, Meena Bazaar in Delhi. However, the Bikaner queen, Kiran Devi, saw through his ill intentions and pushed him to the ground and pointed a knife to his chest. She asked who he was and Akbar told her that the emperor of Hindustan was lying on her feet begging for his life. Meena Bazaar was closed since that day, said Saini.
He also said that comparing Maharana Pratap with the Mughal emperor is like making a mockery of history.
Saini further claimed that the misdeeds of Akbar have been recorded in history and he used to organise Meena Bazaar with the same purpose.
Akbar “was never great” and was visiting Meena Bazaar just to “exploit” women, said Saini. Adding that “world is well aware of the fact that Akbar organised ‘Meena Bazaars’ a market meant only for women. Surprisingly, men were not allowed to visit the market. However, Akbar visited them hiding his identity to commit ‘dushkarm’,” claimed Saini.
Meanwhile, another resident of Bikaner Lokendra Singh claims that the story of Queen Kiran Kumari should stand for woman empowerment which stand strong in historical pages of India. She was one brave lady who single-handedly dragged the Mughal emperor under her feet and brought Meena Bazaar to an end. Let the world know her story, he says. |
Finally builds up courage to talk to girl of his dreams Girl moves out of town the next day Caption 3 goes here
158 shares |
Burkina Faso
Up to 10 million people across the Sahel region are at risk of food insecurity in 2013 and 1 million children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition, according to the United Nations. The U.N. regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel, David Gressly, talks to AlertNet about preventing malnutrition, building resilience and other priorities for the region this year. He says getting the money for these activities is likely to be a challenge – without a drought being the rallying point for raising funds.
Despite good rains across much of the Sahel this year, 1.4 million children are expected to be malnourished - up from one million in 2012, according to the 2013 Sahel regional strategy. (..) But humanitarians worry of donor fatigue and many are concerned possible military intervention in Mali will distract donors from the chronic food insecurity and malnutrition crises in the region. (..) Alain Cordeil, head of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mauritania, voiced his fears. “If we only have political interest from donors for refugees, we will not solve the problems for this region…This could be very chaotic,” he told IRIN.
Addressing a meeting at the FAO headquarters in Rome – attended by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on the Sahel, Romano Prodi, and other senior UN officials and mediators dealing directly with the Sahel crisis – FAO’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, noted that the relation between food insecurity, hunger and the dispute over natural resources and conflicts was particularly evident in the Sahel.
As this year's emergency winds down, the question on aid workers' minds is, "How can the Sahel break from its recurring cycle of food crises?" U.N. Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, David Gressly, said now is the time to end chronic food insecurity. Aid agencies say they are working to build the "resilience" of the most vulnerable communities, but more needs to be done. (..) Aid agencies also say that prevention is cheaper than treatment.
Ariane Waldvogel, WFP’s deputy director in Burkina Faso, told IRIN: “We are in the third phase of the food crisis and the most critical - the lean period. We need to feed the population until the end of the harvests in October now that food reserves have been depleted.” WFP feeds some 1.7 million people in Burkina Faso.
An active monsoon and above normal temperatures triggered heavy downpours and flash floods during this year’s rainy season across West Africa and the Sahel, killing hundreds of people, displacing hundreds of thousands more and devastating farms in some of the countries already hit by a severe drought and acute food shortages.
The growing regularity of droughts across the Sahel region has left millions in need of emergency food assistance, the UN humanitarian food agency announced today, while also warning that malnutrition was still rampant in Senegal, Chad, Niger and Mauritania. A spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP), Elisabeth Byrs, told reporters in Geneva that the UN agency already assisted six million people in the Sahel during the month of July – but cautioned that humanitarian needs still remained “huge” ahead of the October harvest.
Fighting between government forces and Tuareg fighters in Mali has forced tens of thousands of people to flee across the border into Burkina Faso. But Burkina Faso itself is experiencing a severe drought, and resources to cope with the influx of more than 60,000 Malians are increasingly scarce.
With nearly 20,000 Malian refugees now in Burkina Faso, according to Burkina Minister of Communications Alain Traore, and up to 800 more crossing the border each day, the government says it urgently needs more help. (..) Bibata Sankara, humanitarian officer with the World Food Programme (WFP) sub-office in Dori, capital of Sahel Region, said WFP had set up food distribution centres in 723 schools and 74 health centres in the region. WFP is working closely with the Burkina Faso Red Cross to help refugees too weak to reach health centres.
The international community must urgently aid tens of thousands of people who have fled fighting in northern Mali and prevent their displacement from burdening host communities already hit by food insecurity, an official of the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has said. (..) More than 55,000 people have fled Mali into neighbouring Niger, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso while another 60,000 are internally displaced within Mali since fighting erupted, the official said. |
[Study of different types of chlorophyll a aggregates in solutions and films by absorption and luminescence derivative spectroscopy].
The second derivative of absorption, fluorescence and fluorescence excitation spectra of chlorophyll a in concentrated solutions and films was investigated. More than 14 forms of pigment aggregates, which can be divided into two types--with narrow 8-10nm) and wide (25-40nm) low temperature (-196 degrees C) spectra bands, were found. For the most part of the aggregated forms, the position and half width of the bands, as well as the Stokes shift and relative quantum yield were determined. The comparison of the spectral characteristics points to the indentity of the aggregates and corresponding native forms of Chl. a. It is shown that the universal relationship between absorption and fluorescence bands in applicable to the aggregates of the two types and the energy of resonance interaction between monomers in the aggregates is evaluated. |
This year in February I and a few friends spent four weeks in Japan. It’s always hard to sum up a long trip in a few sentenses in anything other than “it was fanstastic”.
Travelling with some friends we spent our first two weeks in Hakuba, Nagano for a snowboarding trip. Best snow I have ever experienced, best runs, best people and best friends! From here we visited the cities of Kanazawa’s old samurai area, Matsumoto to see the ‘Crow Castle’ or properly known as Matstumoto-jo. We also did fun things like visit the snow monkey park, found an abandoned pachinko parlor, went to an Onsen, dinners at an Izakaya and several snowboarded at as many ski resorts in the region as we could.
I have split the trip up into two main sections, Hakuba – Nagano and Tokyo to Hiroshima – its easier that way. |
p75 Co-receptors regulate ligand-dependent and ligand-independent Trk receptor activation, in part by altering Trk docking subdomains.
Neurotrophins signal via Trk tyrosine kinase receptors and a common receptor called p75. Nerve growth factor is the cognate ligand for TrkA, brain-derived neurotrophic factor for TrkB, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) for TrkC. NT-3 also binds TrkA and TrkB as a heterologous ligand. All neurotrophins bind p75, which regulates ligand affinity and Trk signals. Trk extracellular domain has five subdomains: a leucine-rich motif, two cysteine-rich clusters, and immunoglobulin-like subdomains IgG-C1 and IgG-C2. The IgG-C1 subdomain is surface exposed in the tertiary structure and regulates ligand-independent activation. The IgG-C2 subdomain is less exposed but regulates cognate ligand binding and Trk activation. NT-3 as a heterologous ligand of TrkA and TrkB optimally requires the IgG-C2 but also binds other subdomains of these receptors. When p75 is co-expressed, major changes are observed; NGF-TrkA activation can occur also via the cysteine 1 subdomain, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor-TrkB activation requires the TrkB leucine-rich motif and cysteine 2 subdomains. We propose a two-site model of Trk binding and activation, regulated conformationally by the IgG-C1 subdomain. Moreover, p75 affects Trk subdomain utilization in ligand-dependent activation, possibly by conformational or allosteric control. |
#include "mupdf/fitz.h"
#include "curl_stream.h"
#include <assert.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <ctype.h>
#include <curl/curl.h>
#ifdef _WIN32
#include <windows.h>
#else
#include <pthread.h>
#endif
#undef DEBUG_BLOCK_FETCHING
#ifdef DEBUG_BLOCK_FETCHING
#ifdef _WIN32
#include <varargs.h>
static void
output(const char *fmt, ...)
{
va_list args;
char text[256];
va_start(args, fmt);
vsnprintf(text, sizeof(text), fmt, args);
va_end(args);
OutputDebugString(text);
}
#else
#define output printf
#endif
#define DEBUG_MESSAGE(A) do { output A; } while(0)
#else
#define DEBUG_MESSAGE(A) do { } while(0)
#endif
#define BLOCK_SHIFT 18
#define BLOCK_SIZE (1<<BLOCK_SHIFT)
#define HAVE_BLOCK(map, num) (((map)[(num)>>3] & (1<<((num) & 7))) != 0)
typedef struct curlstate
{
fz_context *ctx;
CURL *easy;
/* START: The following entries are protected by the lock */
CURLcode curl_error;
int data_arrived;
int complete;
int kill_thread;
int accept_ranges;
int head;
/* content buffer */
size_t content_length; /* 0 => Unknown length */
unsigned char *buffer;
size_t buffer_fill;
size_t buffer_max;
/* map of which blocks we have */
unsigned char *map;
size_t map_length;
/* outstanding curl request info */
size_t next_fill_start; /* The next file offset we will fetch to */
size_t current_fill_start; /* The current file offset we are fetching to */
size_t current_fill_end;
/* END: The above entries are protected by the lock */
void (*more_data)(void *,int);
void *more_data_arg;
unsigned char public_buffer[4096];
/* We assume either Windows threads or pthreads here. */
#ifdef _WIN32
void *thread;
DWORD thread_id;
HANDLE mutex;
#else
pthread_t thread;
pthread_mutex_t mutex;
#endif
} curlstate;
#ifdef _WIN32
static int locked;
static void
lock(curlstate *state)
{
WaitForSingleObject(state->mutex, INFINITE);
assert(locked == 0);
locked = 1;
}
static void
unlock(curlstate *state)
{
assert(locked == 1);
locked = 0;
ReleaseMutex(state->mutex);
}
#else
static void
lock(curlstate *state)
{
pthread_mutex_lock(&state->mutex);
}
static void
unlock(curlstate *state)
{
pthread_mutex_unlock(&state->mutex);
}
#endif
static size_t on_curl_header(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, void *state_)
{
struct curlstate *state = state_;
lock(state);
if (strncmp(ptr, "Accept-Ranges: bytes", 20) == 0)
{
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("header arrived with Accept-Ranges!\n"));
state->accept_ranges = 1;
}
if (strncmp(ptr, "Content-Length:", 15) == 0)
{
char *s = ptr;
state->content_length = fz_atoi(s + 15);
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("header arrived with Content-Length: %d\n", state->content_length));
}
unlock(state);
return nmemb * size;
}
static size_t on_curl_data(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, void *state_)
{
struct curlstate *state = state_;
size_t old_start;
size *= nmemb;
lock(state);
if (state->data_arrived == 0)
{
/* This is the first time data has arrived.
* If the header has Accept-Ranges then we can do byte requests.
* We know the Content-Length from having processed the header already.
*/
if (state->content_length == 0)
{
/* What a crap server. Won't tell us how big the file
* is. We'll have to expand as data as arrives. */
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("have no length!\n"));
}
else if (state->accept_ranges)
{
/* We got a range header, and the correct http response
* code. We can assume that byte fetches are accepted
* and we'll run without progressive mode. */
size_t len = state->content_length;
state->map_length = (len+BLOCK_SIZE-1)>>BLOCK_SHIFT;
state->map = fz_malloc_no_throw(state->ctx, (state->map_length+7)>>3);
state->buffer = fz_malloc_no_throw(state->ctx, len);
state->buffer_max = len;
if (state->map == NULL || state->buffer == NULL)
{
unlock(state);
return 0;
}
memset(state->map, 0, (state->map_length+7)>>3);
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("have range header content_length=%d!\n", state->content_length));
}
else
{
/* We know the length, and that we can use ByteRanges -
* we can run as a progressive file. */
state->buffer = fz_malloc_no_throw(state->ctx, state->content_length);
if (state->buffer == NULL)
{
unlock(state);
return 0;
}
state->buffer_max = state->content_length;
}
state->data_arrived = 1;
}
if (state->content_length == 0)
{
size_t newsize = (state->current_fill_start + size);
if (newsize > state->buffer_max)
{
/* Expand the buffer */
size_t new_max = state->buffer_max * 2;
if (new_max == 0)
new_max = 4096;
fz_try(state->ctx)
state->buffer = fz_realloc_array(state->ctx, state->buffer, new_max, unsigned char);
fz_catch(state->ctx)
{
unlock(state);
return 0;
}
state->buffer_max = new_max;
}
}
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("data arrived: offset=%ld len=%ld\n", state->current_fill_start, size));
/* Although we always trigger fills starting on block boundaries,
* code this to allow for curl calling us to copy smaller blocks
* as they arrive. */
old_start = state->current_fill_start;
memcpy(state->buffer + state->current_fill_start, ptr, size);
state->current_fill_start += size;
/* If we've reached the end, or at least a different block
* mark that we've got that block. */
if (state->map && (state->current_fill_start == state->content_length ||
(((state->current_fill_start ^ old_start) & ~(BLOCK_SIZE-1)) != 0)))
{
old_start >>= BLOCK_SHIFT;
state->map[old_start>>3] |= 1<<(old_start & 7);
}
unlock(state);
return size;
}
static void fetch_chunk(struct curlstate *state)
{
char text[32];
size_t block, start, end;
CURLcode ret;
ret = curl_easy_perform(state->easy);
if (ret != CURLE_OK) {
/* If we get an error, store it, and kill the thread.
* The next fetch will return it. */
lock(state);
state->curl_error = ret;
state->kill_thread = 1;
unlock(state);
return;
}
/* We finished the header, now request the body. */
lock(state);
if (state->head)
{
state->head = 0;
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_NOBODY, 0);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_HEADERFUNCTION, NULL);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_WRITEHEADER, NULL);
if (state->accept_ranges)
{
fz_snprintf(text, 32, "%d-%d", 0, BLOCK_SIZE-1);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_RANGE, text);
state->next_fill_start = BLOCK_SIZE;
}
unlock(state);
return;
}
/* We finished the current body. If not accepting ranges, that's the end. */
if (!state->accept_ranges)
{
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("we got it all, in one request.\n"));
state->complete = 1;
state->kill_thread = 1;
unlock(state);
return;
}
/* Find the next block to fetch */
assert((state->next_fill_start & (BLOCK_SHIFT-1)) == 0);
block = state->next_fill_start>>BLOCK_SHIFT;
if (state->content_length > 0)
{
/* Find the next block that we haven't got */
size_t map_length = state->map_length;
unsigned char *map = state->map;
while (block < map_length && HAVE_BLOCK(map, block))
++block;
if (block == map_length)
{
block = 0;
while (block < map_length && HAVE_BLOCK(map, block))
++block;
if (block == map_length)
{
/* We've got it all! */
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("we got it all block=%d map_length=%d!\n", block, map_length));
state->complete = 1;
state->kill_thread = 1;
unlock(state);
return;
}
}
}
else
{
state->complete = 1;
state->kill_thread = 1;
unlock(state);
return;
}
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("block requested was %d, fetching %d\n", state->next_fill_start>>BLOCK_SHIFT, block));
/* Set up fetch of that block */
start = block<<BLOCK_SHIFT;
end = start + BLOCK_SIZE-1;
state->current_fill_start = start;
if (state->content_length > 0 && end >= state->content_length)
end = state->content_length-1;
state->current_fill_end = end;
fz_snprintf(text, 32, "%d-%d", start, end);
/* Unless anyone changes this in the meantime, the
* next block we fetch will follow on from this one. */
state->next_fill_start = state->current_fill_start+BLOCK_SIZE;
unlock(state);
/* Request next range! */
DEBUG_MESSAGE(("requesting range %s\n", text));
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_RANGE, text);
}
static int cs_next(fz_context *ctx, fz_stream *stream, size_t len)
{
struct curlstate *state = stream->state;
size_t len_read = 0;
int64_t read_point = stream->pos;
int block = read_point>>BLOCK_SHIFT;
size_t left_over = (-read_point) & (BLOCK_SIZE-1);
unsigned char *buf = state->public_buffer;
assert(len != 0);
stream->rp = stream->wp = buf;
lock(state);
/* If we got an error from the fetching thread,
* throw it here (but just once). */
if (state->curl_error)
{
CURLcode err = state->curl_error;
state->curl_error = 0;
unlock(state);
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "cannot fetch data: %s", curl_easy_strerror(err));
}
if ((size_t) read_point > state->content_length)
{
unlock(state);
if (state->data_arrived == 0)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "read of a block we don't have (A) (offset=%ld)", read_point);
return EOF;
}
if (len > sizeof(state->public_buffer))
len = sizeof(state->public_buffer);
if (state->map == NULL)
{
/* We are doing a simple linear fetch as we don't know the
* content length. */
if (read_point + len > state->current_fill_start)
{
unlock(state);
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "read of a block we don't have (B) (offset=%ld)", read_point);
}
memcpy(buf, state->buffer + read_point, len);
unlock(state);
stream->wp = buf + len;
stream->pos += len;
if (len == 0)
return EOF;
return *stream->rp++;
}
/* We are reading from a "mapped" file */
if (read_point + len > state->content_length)
len = state->content_length - read_point;
if (left_over > len)
left_over = len;
if (left_over > 0)
{
/* We are starting midway through a block */
if (!HAVE_BLOCK(state->map, block))
{
state->next_fill_start = block<<BLOCK_SHIFT;
unlock(state);
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "read of a block we don't have (C) (offset=%ld)", read_point);
}
block++;
memcpy(buf, state->buffer + read_point, left_over);
buf += left_over;
read_point += left_over;
len -= left_over;
len_read += left_over;
}
/* Copy any complete blocks */
while (len > BLOCK_SIZE)
{
if (!HAVE_BLOCK(state->map, block))
{
/* We don't have enough data to fulfill the request. */
/* Fetch the next block from here. */
unlock(state);
state->next_fill_start = block<<BLOCK_SHIFT;
stream->wp += len_read;
stream->pos += len_read;
/* If we haven't fetched anything, throw. */
if (len_read == 0)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "read of a block we don't have (D) (offset=%ld)", read_point);
/* Otherwise, we got at least one byte, so we can safely return that. */
return *stream->rp++;
}
block++;
memcpy(buf, state->buffer + read_point, BLOCK_SIZE);
buf += BLOCK_SIZE;
read_point += BLOCK_SIZE;
len -= BLOCK_SIZE;
len_read += BLOCK_SIZE;
}
/* Copy any trailing bytes */
if (len > 0)
{
if (!HAVE_BLOCK(state->map, block))
{
/* We don't have enough data to fulfill the request. */
/* Fetch the next block from here. */
unlock(state);
state->next_fill_start = block<<BLOCK_SHIFT;
stream->wp += len_read;
stream->pos += len_read;
/* If we haven't fetched anything, throw. */
if (len_read == 0)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "read of a block we don't have (E) (offset=%ld)", read_point);
/* Otherwise, we got at least one byte, so we can safely return that. */
return *stream->rp++;
}
memcpy(buf, state->buffer + read_point, len);
len_read += len;
}
unlock(state);
stream->wp += len_read;
stream->pos += len_read;
if (len_read == 0)
return EOF;
return *stream->rp++;
}
static void cs_close(fz_context *ctx, void *state_)
{
struct curlstate *state = state_;
lock(state);
state->kill_thread = 1;
unlock(state);
#ifdef _WIN32
WaitForSingleObject(state->thread, INFINITE);
CloseHandle(state->thread);
CloseHandle(state->mutex);
#else
pthread_join(state->thread, NULL);
pthread_mutex_destroy(&state->mutex);
#endif
curl_easy_cleanup(state->easy);
fz_free(ctx, state->buffer);
fz_free(ctx, state->map);
fz_free(ctx, state);
}
static void cs_seek(fz_context *ctx, fz_stream *stm, int64_t offset, int whence)
{
struct curlstate *state = stm->state;
stm->wp = stm->rp;
if (whence == SEEK_END)
{
size_t clen;
int data_arrived;
lock(state);
data_arrived = state->data_arrived;
clen = state->content_length;
unlock(state);
if (!data_arrived)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_TRYLATER, "still awaiting file length");
stm->pos = clen + offset;
}
else if (whence == SEEK_CUR)
stm->pos += offset;
else
stm->pos = offset;
if (stm->pos < 0)
stm->pos = 0;
}
static void
fetcher_thread(curlstate *state)
{
/* Keep fetching chunks on a background thread until
* either we have to kill the thread, or the fetch
* is complete. */
while (1) {
int complete;
lock(state);
complete = state->complete || state->kill_thread;
unlock(state);
if (complete)
break;
fetch_chunk(state);
if (state->more_data)
state->more_data(state->more_data_arg, 0);
}
if (state->more_data)
state->more_data(state->more_data_arg, 1);
}
#ifdef _WIN32
static DWORD WINAPI
win_thread(void *lparam)
{
fetcher_thread((curlstate *)lparam);
return 0;
}
#else
static void *
pthread_thread(void *arg)
{
fetcher_thread((curlstate *)arg);
return NULL;
}
#endif
fz_stream *fz_open_url(fz_context *ctx, const char *url, int kbps, void (*more_data)(void *,int), void *more_data_arg)
{
struct curlstate *state;
fz_stream *stm;
CURLcode code;
state = fz_malloc_struct(ctx, struct curlstate);
state->ctx = ctx;
code = curl_global_init(CURL_GLOBAL_ALL);
if (code != CURLE_OK)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "curl_global_init failed");
state->easy = curl_easy_init();
if (!state->easy)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "curl_easy_init failed");
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_URL, url);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, 1);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_MAXREDIRS, 12);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYPEER, 0);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_SSL_VERIFYHOST, 0);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_MAX_RECV_SPEED_LARGE, kbps * 1024);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_HEADERFUNCTION, on_curl_header);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_WRITEHEADER, state);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_WRITEFUNCTION, on_curl_data);
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_WRITEDATA, state);
/* Get only the HEAD first. */
state->head = 1;
curl_easy_setopt(state->easy, CURLOPT_NOBODY, 1);
#ifdef _WIN32
state->mutex = CreateMutex(NULL, FALSE, NULL);
if (state->mutex == NULL)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "mutex creation failed");
state->thread = CreateThread(NULL, 0, win_thread, state, 0, &state->thread_id);
if (state->thread == NULL)
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "thread creation failed");
#else
if (pthread_mutex_init(&state->mutex, NULL))
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "mutex creation failed");
if (pthread_create(&state->thread, NULL, pthread_thread, state))
fz_throw(ctx, FZ_ERROR_GENERIC, "thread creation failed");
#endif
state->more_data = more_data;
state->more_data_arg = more_data_arg;
stm = fz_new_stream(ctx, state, cs_next, cs_close);
stm->progressive = 1;
stm->seek = cs_seek;
return stm;
}
|
Category:Sys.txt
From OpenKore Wiki
Revision as of 05:56, 15 December 2009 by EternalHarvest(Talk | contribs)(Created page with 'Openkore system configuration file. == Syntax == Entries in this file follows the key-value format. The key-value format is outright simple. Each line contains a configuration k…')
Syntax
Entries in this file follows the key-value format. The key-value format is outright simple. Each line contains a configuration key as the first word, followed by the value:
<sys key> <value>
Details
<sys key>
This is one of the system configuration variable names used by Kore. See the system configuration list below for a list of available system config variables.
<value>
This sets the value for the corresponding configuration variable that will be used by Kore. The type of meaningful values vary with each configuration key. The proper values for each system config key are described in the system configuration list below.
Examples
The following example will make Openkore run using the English translation, load only the macro plugin: |
This article is incomplete because it lacks depth or is unfinished. Help by expanding it.
What is a rabbit's field of vision?
The rabbit cornea is large and occupies 30% of the globe, and their eyes are directed more laterally than most mammals. These two features give rabbits a panoramic field of vision to detect predators easily.[1]
However, their eyes cannot visualize the small area beneath the mouth, and rabbits depend on their lips and whiskers for food discrimination in this blind spot.[1]
Do rabbits see color?
Rabbits are not color-blind but their color perception is limited. The retinas of mammals contain two kinds of light-senstive cells -- cones and rods. Cones detect bright light and contain pigments that give the ability to see color while rods are activated under low light and lack the color-vision pigments.[2]
The retinas of the domestic European rabbit have been studied to hold many more rods than cones -- rods in the domestic rabbit retina reach a peak density of about 300,000 per square millimeter in contrast with cones which reach a peak density of about 18,000 per square millimeter. These cones are sensitive to either green or blue light but not to red, so rabbits are limited to dichromatic (two-color) vision. Most of the retina is dominated by green-sensitive cones, but there is a small area with no green cones and many blue cones. It is unknown what this means for a rabbit's color vision, but rabbits do not seem to pay much attention to color.[2] Note: The study that this information comes from used the New Zealand breed of rabbits. 2–3 kg and 2–3 months old.
Do rabbits blink?
Rabbits blink approximately 10 to 12 times an hour.[3] They also possess a third eyelid (nictating membrane) that does not actively blink (nictate) but passively covers the cornea when the globe is retracted in its socket. The third eyelid does not move more than two-thirds of the way past the cornea and partially closes with sleep or under anesthesia.[3][4]
Problems
Below are some resources about rabbit problems with eyes.
Further reading
See also |
Updating the NIH BRAIN Initiative: A Dialogue with the AAN
Research Methodology, Education, and History, Experiential Learning Area, General Neurology
Director(s):
Walter Koroshetz MD, FAAN
Description:
Launched in 2014, the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative is revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. Guided by its strategic plan BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision (https://www.braininitiative.nih.gov/strategic-planning/brain-2025-report), NIH has invested over $950 million to fund over 500 projects at more than 100 research institutions accelerating the development of new technologies to identify all cell types in the brain, map out their circuit connections, observe circuit activity in real time, manipulate circuit function to understand how the brain works, and, ultimately, to treat the many neurological and psychiatric disorders that arise from circuit malfunction.
A new external scientific working group, the Advisory Committee to the Director of NIH (ACD) BRAIN Initiative Working Group, is reaching out extensively to the research community to assess progress and identify how the Initiative can best invest to realize its vision through the second half of the Initiative. This WG hopes to release their draft report in the spring of 2019 for public comment, making the May AAN meeting an ideal moment for an interactive session to get feedback and insight into how the BRAIN Initiative can maximize opportunities to meet its audacious goal: understanding how the brain works, and how brain disorders occur. Presentations will include an overview, panel introductions and remarks, perspectives from the BRAIN researcher working with clinical patients, perspectives from the BRAIN collaborator and clinician-researcher, and panelist discussions and audience engagement.
The Advisory Committee to the Director on the BRAIN Initiative has recently issued a draft report which can be found here: https://www.braininitiative.nih.gov/strategic-planning/acd-working-group/brain-research-through-advancing-innovative-neurotechnologies
There is an open call for responces and comments. The request for feedback can be found here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-NS-19-041.html |
Fan Service Stunts the Growth of Anime
Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com
Fan service, it exists as a way for creators to pander to their audience, forcing a series of sexual scenes into their work. These sequences are typically sexist, misogynistic, and hinder the growth of anime as a medium.
It's normal for someone to enjoy their fair share of sexually suggestive anime. Similar to pornography, there's nothing wrong with indulging in something that's meant to satisfy a natural human urge. This is where the ecchi genre comes in, existing as a less sexual, high-budget alternative to regular pornography. While the creation of this genre may sound unproblematic, the reality is far more troublesome.
When studios realized how much money the ecchi genre was bringing in, they had no reason to stop. To make matters worse, creators figured they could sneak the tropes of the genre into their more serious works for the sake of building up a larger audience.
Now, we're subjected to a seasonal line-up full of effortless, generic, and sexist fan service anime. Ecchi has evolved far beyond an alternative to pornography. The genre’s consumption of the anime industry has made it difficult to watch anything without having boobs and butts thrown in your face.
Source: https://avvesione.files.wordpress.com
The Characters
It should be made clear that there's a huge difference between the repetitive fan service of modern anime and a natural, sexual theme. One issue has to do with how a series portrays its characters. It's no coincidence that almost all ecchis are full of brain-dead women being treated like nothing more than a walking pair of breasts. Popular anime like High School DxD portray this most appropriately, where every character is naked half of the time, and each interaction and conversation is sexualized to appease the ecchi demographic.
These problems aren't a rare occurrence in anime, either. A huge chunk of seasonals display these tropes, where they objectify every female character for their fanbase.
However, some shows do incorporate nudity and sexuality in more appropriate ways. To properly do this, a writer has to develop their characters first. There's nothing more important than creating a convincing character that the audience can actually become invested in. This is because there's nothing interesting about a walking sex toy. That's what modern anime consists of, walking objects that speak. If only genuine characters were what's necessary for a show to have intriguing sexual themes, but it seems the average fan is more than okay with the walking sex toy.
Source: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net
The Consumers
A huge problem here is not the creators, it's the audience. Sure, the writers, artists, and directors are the ones actually responsible, but there's a lot more to the ecchi genre than one might think. In 2016, AnimeNewsNetwork reported that more than half of young animators can't support themselves financially, and nearly forty percent live with their families. Studios can barely survive, unable to pay their workers livable wages. It's not hard to imagine that these companies would do anything necessary to bring in a larger audience. This begs the question, what does the average fan want to see? Mindless fan service, and nothing more.
One example was the downfall of Artland, a studio well known for creating beloved series' like Legend of the Galactic Heroes and Mushishi. The company was having financial trouble, listed with 298 million yen in debt at the end of 2016. Six months later, the studio shut down, filing for bankruptcy. Their final anime, Seven Mortal Sins, was strongly disliked by a large chunk of the anime community. Unsurprisingly, it was a jarringly sexual ecchi, one that's known for some of the most overwhelming fan service in the medium.
The more worrisome issue is when the fan service infects the anime that are meant to be serious. In hindsight, having a series meant solely for the sake of appeasing ecchi fans isn't a big deal. However, when a show that actually tries to invest the viewer with characters and a story pulls the same gimmicks, things get obnoxious.
Source: http://www.citi.io
Sexual Misplacement
Similar to what was stated earlier, there's a difference between mindless fan service and sexual themes. This is an especially huge factor when the series aims for quality. An example of this is best illustrated in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, a nice, cute, and fun series meant to warm the heart. That's until its obsession with breasts and a creepy portrayal of children ruins it.
Sexual misplacement creates such a huge conflict with the viewer. Someone who genuinely loves what this series does can't help but be put off by these scenes. Thankfully, it only happened a few times during the show, but even then, it's still incredibly uncomfortable to watch.
A huge part of this has to do with its relevance to the genre. If you're creating a show about teenage angst, it's no surprise that it will be full of sexual themes. However, when you create something that's meant to be heartwarming and soothing to the soul, sexual themes seem out of place.
Source: http://i0.kym-cdn.com
Execution
Another problem has to do with execution. Most anime have their characters react to sexual scenes in some of the most bizarre ways. For example, there's a scene in Shakugan no Shana where the female protagonist, Shana, is suddenly found in the male protagonist's bed in her underwear. Apparently, she climbed into his bed without realizing it, and when she wakes up, she blushes, pointing her sword at him, screaming at the top of her lungs.
What's even more jarring about this is how Shana is portrayed throughout the whole anime. She's supposed to be a cold, mature badass, and yet the writer was willing to betray her character entirely for the sake of a sexual scene.
In the same anime, there's a scene where Shana has to change her clothes so the male protagonist hides in a closet in respect of her privacy. As soon as Shana removes all of her clothing, the closet door breaks, having him rolling out onto the floor. Who thinks of this stuff?
Source: https://myanimelist.cdn-dena.com
However, there are ways to appease this demographic without being obnoxious. In the Monogatari Series, there's a scene where one of the female characters, Karen, comes home from her daily running. She tells her brother, Koyomi, that she's going to take a bath. This scene shows Karen removing her clothes as she has a conversation with her brother, but her brother doesn't react to her being naked. The two continue to talk normally as the director focuses attention on Karen removing her clothing.
While this may still be annoying to some viewers, it's certainly the more mature alternative. Most anime would have the brother blush, super embarrassed by her sisters naked body. Then, the two would probably proceed in a conversation about how large her breasts are or something ridiculous along those lines.
Instead, the ecchi demographic is satisfied without risking the integrity and accuracy of Karen's character. The creators of Shakugan no Shana were willing to destroy Shana's character for the sake of appeasing the audience, while the Monogatari Series had a better alternative.
Source: https://medievalotaku.files.wordpress.com
It's Destroying Anime
Most importantly, the ecchi genre is ruining anime. New fans of the anime medium will be put off if the first thing they see is nothing but lifeless objectification. Not only that, but female viewers will easily learn to hate it. No one would become a fan of something if they're constantly being portrayed in such awful ways. Additionally, these tropes are normalizing sexist objectification. While the ecchi genre may not seem like a big deal, it's the reason why anime is having so much trouble becoming a respected medium.
Conclusion
In the end, it's no surprise that anime has such a bad reputation when it's currently plagued by ecchi. If anyone expects the medium to be taken seriously, a lot of work needs to be done to refine it. The underlying problem is that most fans would feel no need for it to change. They're satisfied with a plethora of seasonal ecchi and harem anime, regardless of how mindless, sexist, and offensive they are. |
GAS-1: a mitochondrial protein controls sensitivity to volatile anesthetics in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
Mutations in several genes of Caenorhabditis elegans confer altered sensitivities to volatile anesthetics. A mutation in one gene, gas-1(fc21), causes animals to be immobilized at lower concentrations of all volatile anesthetics than in the wild-type, and it does not depend on mutations in other genes to control anesthetic sensitivity. gas-1 confers different sensitivities to stereoisomers of isoflurane, and thus may be a direct target for volatile anesthetics. The authors have cloned and characterized the gas-1 gene and the mutant allele fc21. Genetic techniques for nematodes were as previously described. Polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and other molecular biology techniques were performed by standard methods. Mutant rescue was done by injecting DNA fragments into the gonad of mutant animals and scoring the offspring for loss of the mutant phenotype. The gas-1 gene was cloned and identified. The protein GAS-1 is a homologue of the 49-kDa (IP) subunit of the mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone-oxidoreductase (complex I of the respiratory chain). gas-1(fc21) is a missense mutation replacing a strictly conserved arginine with lysine. The function of the 49-kDa (IP) subunit of complex I is unknown. The finding that mutations in complex I increase sensitivity of C elegans to volatile anesthetics may implicate this physiologic process in the determination of anesthetic sensitivity. The hypersensitivity of animals with a mutation in the gas-1 gene may be caused by a direct anesthetic effect on a mitochondrial protein or secondary effects at other sites caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. |
Q:
Javascript - replace same occurence in a string value with an array
I would like to replace the occurences of "?" with the values in an array
Example :
var s = "hello ? , my name is ?";
I would like to use something like that
var result= s.replace('?',['john','david']); /** does not work **/
console.log(result) /** "hello john, my name is david" **/
A:
It is possible to achieve this by using .replace with a regular expression and a function. You'll also need an outside variable to increment. I called it i.
var s = "hello ? , my name is ?";
var i = 0;
var result = s.replace(/\?/g, function() {
return ['john','david'][i++];
});
console.log(result);
|
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xliff xmlns="urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:1.2" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.2" xsi:schemaLocation="urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:1.2 xliff-core-1.2-transitional.xsd">
<file datatype="xml" source-language="en" target-language="ja" original="../PerformanceSensitiveAnalyzersResources.resx">
<body>
<trans-unit id="AnonymousNewObjectRuleTitleAndMessage">
<source>Explicit new anonymous object allocation</source>
<target state="translated">明示的な新しい匿名オブジェクトの割り当て</target>
<note />
</trans-unit>
<trans-unit id="LetCauseRuleTitleAndMessage">
<source>Let clause induced allocation</source>
<target state="translated">let 句が割り当てを発生させました</target>
<note />
</trans-unit>
<trans-unit id="NewArrayRuleTitleAndMessage">
<source>Explicit new array type allocation</source>
<target state="translated">明示的な新しい配列型の割り当て</target>
<note />
</trans-unit>
<trans-unit id="NewObjectRuleTitleAndMessage">
<source>Explicit new reference type allocation</source>
<target state="translated">明示的な新しい参照型の割り当て</target>
<note />
</trans-unit>
</body>
</file>
</xliff> |
Q:
Error trying to set the url for a JEditorPane
I have the following code:
JEditorPane pane = new JEditorPane();
pane.setPage("http://www.google.com");
the setPage gives me the following error:
Caused by: java.io.IOException: Server returned HTTP response code: 403 for URL: http://www.google.com
Does anyone know why?
A:
Ok, posting as answer:
This can be a firewall or proxy block. I've tried the code here and works fine.
|
Movie Review: 'Kick-Ass 2'
The biggest reason why I quite enjoyed watching 'Kick-Ass 2' is that Hit Girl watches a boy band music video in disgust and mumbles ‘I would rather be waterboarded that listen to the songs of One Direction’. Hit Girl kicks ass. Even if there is little else in the film to appreciate, Hit Girl makes it a fun and entertaining watch.
'Kick-Ass 2'
A significantly lesser film than the original 2010 hit, 'Kick-Ass 2' offers more of the same, with an amped up sense of nastiness and a smaller heart. That doesn’t necessarily make it an uninteresting movie, given the film’s premise, the characters that inhabit it. The film picks up a year post the events of the previous film, Dave (Aaron Taylor) has had enough of getting his ass kicked and asks Mindy (Chloe Moretz) to train him to be a proper fighter and become a real superhero instead of a mugging embarrassment. Mindy is forced to deal with the choice of being a normal school girl and a crime fighter. Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) is bitter and becomes a supervillain named The Mother*****r to avenge the death of his father. It’s a relatively clichéd plot but the film knowingly employs the familiar story just to suspend it in the crazy whacked out teenage setting.
The previous film had Nicholas Cage in the best role of his career, and Jim Carrey fills the void this time to somewhat middling results. It’s great to see him back on the screen after his decade long slump, but it is sad to see that his star power has been reduced to a sidekick role in a sequel to a minuscule budget film. Director Jeff Wadlow takes over from Matthew Vaughn and offers a lot of the edgy violence but little of the absurdist humor the first film became famous for. The original film established the brash and mean spirited tone, the shock value of kids swearing and punching people, and the interesting theme of the world needing the reassurance of superheroes being around to keep things afloat.
The problem with the sequel is that it banks on the very same things to sell itself. More of the same is passable fun, but not satisfying enough to people who loved the first film and look forward to an expanded universe in the sequel. Given the 'Kick-Ass''s relatively tiny profit it was a miracle that the sequel got made, and in a way the filmmakers wasted a golden opportunity to create something truly great.
There’s a scene where Hit Girl shoots her crush in his bullet proof vest clad back, and another scene where a villain is defeated by being impaled on shards of glass. You could take these scenes on face value as satiric social commentary, but these sequences give one the impression that the film actually becomes an example of the social issues rather that satirizing the issues. That said, there are plenty of laughs courtesy of Chloe Moretz as Hit Girl. Perhaps one day we’ll see a movie that stars Moretz and Jennifer Lawrence and witness the theater screen explode due to excessive awesomeness. |
Lagunitas
Lagunitas or Lagunita may refer to:
Lagunitas, California, an unincorporated community in Marin County
Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, California, a census-designated place in Marin County
Lagunitas Brewing Company, a brewery founded in Lagunitas, California
Lagunitas Creek, in Marin County, California
Lake Lagunitas, a reservoir on Lagunitas Creek
Lagunita, an ancient Mayan city
Lake Lagunita, a dry artificial lake on the Stanford University campus in California
Lagunitas Formation (disambiguation), several geological formations
See also
Laguna (disambiguation)
Lagunas (disambiguation) |
I don’t presume to draw connections between what are truly, from the stance of obvious probability, entirely unrelated acts of murder, mayhem, inexplicable nudity, and high-strangeness; still, there seems to have been far more of all-of-the-above occurring lately than can be easily accounted for. These range from today’s lead story, that of a 28-year-old Bulgarian transient who inexplicably (and savagely) murdered a woman in her sixties, to a now ridiculous number of instances where people have either had “spiritual epiphanies” or simply gone bonkers, tore off their clothing, and wandered around in the buff for all to see. As I often begin to ask of such things, this recent rash of so-called “madness” has me wondering “what is the meaning of all this?!”
The first story, as mentioned above, dealt with a 28-year-old homeless Bulgarian man who had been living presently in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands (thanks to Keith for the correction. -The Editor). This individual, whose full name had not yet been released by the press, was said to have been released from a mental hospital only three months ago, and seemed to show agitation and hostility toward those who passed him on the street. Sadly, it was more than either of these that he showed one victim, a 62-year old woman, whom he had allegedly stalked for days. Obtaining a sword (or a machete according to some accounts) from a novelty store, the man followed the victim into an area supermarket, where he stabbed her several times, then beheaded her, and left the scene mumbling to himself and brandishing the severed head. He was finally stopped when a motorcyclist stopped and launched his helmet at the gruesome killer, allowing police to tackle and apprehend him. This disturbed individual was already under suspicion for murder, according to the Daily Mail, and even claimed to be “a messenger from God,” known for citing loudly that “God is on Earth.” He had also referred to the poor woman’s severed head as “my treasure,” and had allegedly shouted at police trying to apprehend him that they, “could not take his treasure” from him.
This entire incident is shocking, sickening, and utterly frightening; after all, you just never know who might be sitting around you day-to-day, “gesticulating” and mumbling to oneself as this man had done. Our greatest sympathies are with the victim, as well as family members.
But there are other, more mundane reports of “madness” that have all been occurring around this time just as well. Consider the scads of reports of spontaneous nudity cropping up from all over the place, such as this: Harlan Porter, an elementary school teacher in Georgia, claimed he reached a “spiritual epiphany” where his third eye had opened, prompting him to desire for “everyone to be free.” He removed his clothing at around 3:20 PM on April 22, while still in the school where he taught, and began strolling the halls in the nude. He was subsequently arrested in the teacher’s lounge, and arresting officers found he had been diagnosed schizophrenic nearly two months beforehand. Porter was also a practicing vegan with interests in spirituality.
Also, a 47-year-old man was arrested for “nude sunbathing” in Palm Beach on May 7th, after being found tanning in the buff near South Ocean Boulevard. Then there’s 19-year-old Jonathan Palmer, who also wasn’t under the influence when he decided to strip naked and walk down the street in Boise, Idaho, to help others “overcome their fear of public nudity.” Maribel Gomez of Pompano Beach was arrested after “flashing” school children, and even asking one to stop running from her so she could “get him.” Then there’s the bizarre story of a man on a New York subway who stripped down and began attacking people, shouting a slew of racial slurs while doing so.
Nudity, air madness, and beheadings aren’t the end of it. In fact, increases in irrational behavior and, more specifically, violent crime, have a lot of experts wondering if there isn’t truly something else at play. For instance, what is described as “a sudden five-percent spike in killings” has Dallas officials concerned, apparently on the upswing after “years of declines.” According to Dallas area Fox News affiliates, the area had “hit a 50-year low in 2010.” Now increased killings, amounting roughly to one homicide each day, have caused concern among area law enforcement. “Detectives can’t explain it, though some have suggested that the economy might be to blame,” a report read yesterday.
Are economic woes indeed the cause behind rising turmoil around the world, potentially responsible for everything from increased homicides, to increased UFO sightings in China and the East? And speaking of UFOs, Gralien Report correspondent Mobius notes that he’s “lost count of UFO reports, they no longer can be counted and some of them have video cannot explain or debunk. High strangeness is at hand!” High Strangeness indeed…
UPDATE: After being linked to the Coast to Coast AM website, this story has received tremendous attention, and many similar instances of “madness” have been brought to our attention. Among these are a similar beheading incident that transpired earlier this week in southern California, as well as an Australian man boarding a commercial airliner and disrobing at some point during the flight. According to a conversation I had with Aaron Wright of Mysterious Universe, the man “had to be taped to his seat” until the aircraft had landed, at which time authorities intervened. Nonetheless, it is our official view that these incidents do not represent any kind of interconnected phenomenon, though their similarity and consistency are at times worth noting.
Crime Scene image by Alan Cleaver via Flickr.
by |
Worm Your Way Out of Cabbage and Broccoli
By Ray Novitske, Fairfax Master Gardener
From Europe we import many fine wines, cheeses, chocolates, olive oil and truffles. Once in the later half of the 1800s, eastern Canada also accidentally imported a pest that spread throughout North America in later decades — the imported cabbage worm (Pieris rapae). Also known as the white cabbage butterfly, it is the caterpillar or larva phase of the insect that causes damage to cabbage… or broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, kale or collards.
White cabbage butterfly
You have most likely seen the small white cabbage butterflies drifting among flowers in the spring and summer sipping on nectar. They are about 1 inch in size with white wings with a black spot on the wings, or two on females’ wings. They often get confused with other species similar in appearance to other cabbage white butterflies, like the Southern cabbage butterfly (checkered white wings) and the mustard white (green veined wings.) The larvae of both can cause similar damage, too.
Adults appear in mid-spring and begin by laying solitary eggs on the underside of cabbage leaves and other plants in the brassica or mustard family. They hatch in about a week. The caterpillars are green with one lighter stripe lengthwise down their backs. As soon as the eggs hatch, the little beasties begin munching their way through the leaves, leaving increasingly larger and larger holes as they mature. They prefer to hang out on the bottom of the leaves and are often concealed next to the veins or midrib on the underside of leaves.
Imported cabbage worms will pupate on any nearby materials or debris. After about a week, the butterfly emerges to fly from flower to flower and feed on nectar like other butterflies. There can be several generations in a season, which is why we always see them from spring, through the summer, until September. The pupae set in the fall will survive the winter with the butterflies emerging in the spring.
Two cabbage worms hiding on leaf underside
We are not helpless, as there are a few controls for such a pest. First, they can be physically removed from the underside of leaves, but sometimes they are hard to locate given their color and blending in with the plant’s leaf and leaf rib structure. We can use row covers to protect our plants and prevent the butterflies from laying eggs on our plants. It was also found that red cabbage is not as attractive to the egg-laying butterflies.
The caterpillars can be parasitized or preyed upon by biological enemies. There are parasitic wasps and tachinid flies that lay their eggs on the cabbage worms. A few lethal insect pathogens and viruses are known to attack both the worms’ eggs and larvae.
Bt, Bacillus thuringiensis is a bacteria that lives in soil and produces crystal-like toxic proteins that kill mostly caterpillars when eaten. It can be purchased in stores and comes in powder or liquid form. Its toxin paralyzes the insect’s digestive tract which causes it to stop feeding. Death occurs in one to four days. It does not harm mature insects or natural enemies, is not toxic to pets or animals and does not kill parasitoids.
Leaf damage
Bt does have some drawbacks. It has reduced toxicity on older more mature caterpillars, so we need to use it when the larvae are young. It also needs to be applied correctly so the caterpillars eat it; incomplete coverage can be a problem. It can break down in ultraviolet light quickly, making it effective for only a short period of time. Tests done at Ohio State University show that the rate (amount) of application had little bearing on test outcomes, while the frequency of application produced the most effective control. Reports from various sources indicate reapplication is needed every 6 to 10 days, but pesticide labels must be followed for applications.
I always see the imported cabbage worm on the cabbage (I love fresh cole slaw) and broccoli I grow. It is a very common pest of the cabbage family of plants, but it can be controlled in the home garden without the use of pesticides toxic to beneficial insects, animals, or us. |
**Specifications table**SubjectPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science: ToxicologySpecific subject areaEnvironmental Contaminants in Sea Turtle EggsType of dataData of contaminants in TableHow data were acquiredGBC 906 AA model atomic absorption spectrophotometer complete with inbuilt window-based 906 program software was used in this analysisData formatRaw\
\[Kind and content of contaminants in sea turtle eggs\]Parameters for data collectionContaminants (mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, zinc, iron, and copper) in sea turtle eggsDescription of data collectionEggs were analysed for contaminants using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)Data source locationInstitution: Research Centre of Pacific Marine Resources (RCPMR) -- University of Papua (UNIPA)\
City/Town/Region: Venu Island, Kaimana -- South of Bird\'s Head Seascape -- West Papua\
Country: Indonesia\
Latitude and longitude: 04^o^ 7'35S; 134^o^36'40EData accessibilityRepository name: University of Papua (UNIPA) Library\
Data identification number: 063.PS/X/2016\
Direct URL to data: <http://repository.unipa.ac.id:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/433>Related research articleRicardo F. Tapilatu, Hengki Wona and Petrus P. Batubara. 2017. Status of sea turtle populations and its conservation at Bird\'s Head Seascape, Western Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Vol. 18, Number 1, January 2017 Pages: 129-136. DOI: 10.13057/biodiv/d180119
Value of the data {#sec0001}
=================
•These data are the first reported environmental contaminants in sea turtle eggs in Kaimana, south of the Bird\'s Head Seascape (BHS) -- Papua, Indonesia.•These data are beneficial to provide recommendations that harvesting of turtle eggs and adults and juveniles of all four species of sea turtle at Kaimana be totally prohibited.•These data have value. The health risk of consuming eggs contaminated with chemical compounds could potentially reduce the number of eggs collected for human consumption.•These data allow further analysis to understand the connections between the foraging and nesting habitats and the pelagic phase of sea turtles in Kaimana and their relationships to contaminants.
1. Data description {#sec0002}
===================
Kaimana is one of several areas of the Bird\'s Head Seascape that sea turtles use during the nesting season [@bib0001]. Local villagers reported seeing sea turtles nesting on beaches in Lakahia and Venu Island. Sea turtles in Kaimana likely face a high risk of being harvested because of the nesting beach\'s proximity to human settlements [@bib0001]. In environmental assessments of heavy metals: cadmium and mercury warrant special attention because of their vast global distribution and high potential toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans. Data from numerous studies of these metals in sea turtles have indicated that their concentrations vary greatly by species, region, and tissue type. Cadmium, mercury, and lead have been documented in sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in concentrations known to cause toxic effects in other vertebrates \[[@bib0002],[@bib0003]\].
The mercury content found in eggs from two subsets of nests exceeds safety limits for human consumption, 0.5 mg/kg [@bib0004] ([Table 1](#tbl0001){ref-type="table"}). The World Health Organisation has adopted the United States Environmental Protection Agency guideline levels for mercury and recommends that food with mercury concentrations of 0.5 mg/kg or more should not be sold for human consumption. This suggests that the levels found in sea turtle eggs (up to 8.15 ppm) could be hazardous to human health. The cadmium levels found in eggs from five subsets of sea turtle nests from Venu Island exceeded established safety standards for seafood products, 0.5 mg/kg [@bib0004] ([Table 1](#tbl0001){ref-type="table"}) and may warrant concern for people who consume sea turtle tissue with high cadmium concentrations in the Kaimana region. In addition, arsenic levels found in eggs from five subsets of sea turtle nests from Venu Island exceeded established safety standards for seafood products, 0.5 mg/kg [@bib0004] ([Table 1](#tbl0001){ref-type="table"}) and may warrant concern for people who consume sea turtle tissue with high arsenic concentrations in the Kaimana region.Table 1Assessment of contaminant content in a subset of sea turtle eggs collected from nests at Venu Island.Table 1NoParameterDetection LimitLevel detected in green turtle eggs (unit: mg/kg)Level detected in hawksbill turtle egg (unit: mg/kg)Analysis Method1.Mercury (Hg)0.0040.421[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}0.326[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}APHA, 2012 3112-B, 3030-E2.Cadmium (Cd)0.402.12[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}2.31[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}APHA, 2012 3111-B, 3030E3.Arsenic (As)0.0030.875[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}0.569[\*](#tb1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"}APHA, 2012 3114-B, 3030E4.Lead (Pb)0.23\<0.23\<0.23APHA, 2012 3111-B, 3030-E5.Zinc (Zn)0.6770.3658.83as above6Manganese (Mn)0.53\<0.530.80as above7.Copper (Cu)1.24.333.65as above8.Iron (Fe)5.0015.6542.78APHA, 2012 3500-Fe-B[^1]
Other contaminants such as lead, zinc, manganese, copper and iron were found below the established safety standard ([Table 1](#tbl0001){ref-type="table"}).
2. Experimental design, materials, and methods {#sec0003}
==============================================
Large scale contaminants studies of sea turtles eggs have often been avoided because they require the sacrifice of eggs in a threatened and/or endangered population [@bib0005]. In 2016, three fresh sea turtle eggs each from a recently laid nest of green (*Chelonia mydas*) and hawksbill (*Eretmochelys imbricata*) sea turtles were collected randomly to be analyzed for contaminants ([Table 1](#tbl0001){ref-type="table"}). The six collected eggs were stored in a refrigerator at the Research Centre of Pacific Marine Resources -- University of Papua (UNIPA) in Manokwari. The eggs were then shipped to ProLing Laboratory -- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science -- Bogor Agricultural University, an accredited Environmental Laboratory in Bogor, West Java for heavy metals analysis. The analysis was undertaken using the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2012 Protocols on Metals by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry: Mercury (3112-B, 3030-E)\[[@bib0006],[@bib0007]\]; Cadmium, Lead, Zinc, Manganese and Copper (3111-B, 3030-E) \[[@bib0008],[@bib0007]\]; Arsenin (3114-B, 3030-E) \[[@bib0009],[@bib0007]\]; and Iron (3500-Fe-B) [@bib0010].
Declaration of Competing Interest
=================================
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships which have, or could be perceived to have, influenced the work reported in this article.
Appendix. Supplementary materials {#sec0005}
=================================
Image, application 1
The PI and survey team members are very grateful for the support provided by our donors, including the support of the Kaimana Government with research permit No. 005/243-SEKDA. The research (including experimental protocol and its animal use) was fully approved by the University of Papua (UNIPA) granted by Indonesia Science Authority and Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education (Kemenristek-Dikti) -- Republic of Indonesia. We are grateful to the lead donor: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) - Canada for providing the survey grant. Wonderful friends and committed staffs who we wish to fully acknowledge include Seiya Saleda, Piet Batubara, and boat crews at CI Kaimana. All contaminants analysis was conducted at ProLing Laboratorium -- Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science -- Bogor Agricultural University in Bogor, while all field logistics details were efficiently taken care of by Heni Hokhumala.
Supplementary material associated with this article can be found, in the online version, at [doi:10.1016/j.dib.2020.105778](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2020.105778){#interref0002}.
[^1]: Exceeding safety limits.
|
Israel strikes 12 Iranian targets in Syria over downed fighter jet
Hours after an Israeli F-16 fighter on a raid to destroy Iranian facilities was shot down, the world power has attacked some Iranian targets in Syria.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel’s chief military spokesman, Brigadier General Ronen Manelis, said he believes Iran was directly responsible for the incident.
“This is a serious Iranian attack on Israeli territory. Iran is dragging the region into an adventure in which it doesn’t know how it will end,” he said.
“Whoever is responsible for this incident is the one who will pay the price.”
Reuters reports that Israel has kicked off implementation of the threat.
The country’s military has struck 12 Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria in what it described as “large-scale” attacks.
“A few minutes ago, [Israeli aircraft]…targeted the Syrian Aerial Defense System and Iranian targets in Syria,” a military statement said.
“Twelve targets, including three aerial defense batteries and four Iranian targets that are part of Iran’s military establishment in Syria were attacked.”
The statement added that “during the attack, antiaircraft missiles were fired towards Israel, triggering alarms that were heard in northern Israel.”
Syrian state news agency SANA said Syrian air defenses were responding to a “new Israeli aggression” and a military source said the defenses had thwarted attacks on military positions in the south of the country.
“The Israeli enemy has resumed aggression on some military positions in the southern region and our air defenses have responded to them and thwarted the aggression,” Syrian military said in a statement.
“Reports of downing an Iranian drone flying over Israel and also Iran’s involvement in attacking an Israeli jet are so ridiculous…Iran only provides military advice to Syria,” Iranian TV quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi as saying.
However, Russia has voiced serious concern about the latest developments in Syria and called on all sides to avoid an escalation of the situation.
“We urge all sides to exercise restraint and to avoid any actions that could lead to an even greater complication of the situation,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday
“It is necessary to unconditionally respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and other countries in the region”.
“It is absolutely unacceptable to create threats to the lives and security of Russian soldiers that are in the Syrian Arab Republic on the invitation of the legal government to assist in the fight against terrorism,” it added. |
Whole exome sequencing is an efficient and sensitive method for detection of germline mutations in patients with phaeochromcytomas and paragangliomas.
Genetic testing is recommended when the probability of a disease-associated germline mutation exceeds 10%. Germline mutations are found in approximately 25% of individuals with phaeochromcytoma (PCC) or paraganglioma (PGL); however, genetic heterogeneity for PCC/PGL means many genes may require sequencing. A phenotype-directed iterative approach may limit costs but may also delay diagnosis, and will not detect mutations in genes not previously associated with PCC/PGL. To assess whether whole exome sequencing (WES) was efficient and sensitive for mutation detection in PCC/PGL. Whole exome sequencing was performed on blinded samples from eleven individuals with PCC/PGL and known mutations. Illumina TruSeq (Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA) was used for exome capture of seven samples, and NimbleGen SeqCap EZ v3.0 (Roche NimbleGen Inc, Basel, Switzerland) for five samples (one sample was repeated). Massive parallel sequencing was performed on multiplexed samples. Sequencing data were called using Genome Analysis Toolkit and annotated using annovar. Data were assessed for coding variants in RET, NF1, VHL, SDHD, SDHB, SDHC, SDHA, SDHAF2, KIF1B, TMEM127, EGLN1 and MAX. Target capture of five exome capture platforms was compared. Six of seven mutations were detected using Illumina TruSeq exome capture. All five mutations were detected using NimbleGen SeqCap EZ v3.0 platform, including the mutation missed using Illumina TruSeq capture. Target capture for exons in known PCC/PGL genes differs substantially between platforms. Exome sequencing was inexpensive (<$A800 per sample for reagents) and rapid (results <5 weeks from sample reception). Whole exome sequencing is sensitive, rapid and efficient for detection of PCC/PGL germline mutations. However, capture platform selection is critical to maximize sensitivity. |
Parisian Sandwich
Ingredients
1 Baguette
Several slices of your favorite Brie
Several slices of Ham (Black Forest or Homemade)
Spicy Mango Chutney
MEMBER RECIPE
Total Time:
10 Minutes
Makes:4 Sandwiches
Well I had this sandwich in an airport, not a great endorsement, but the idea and flavors were really great. I’m not sure how well known this type of sandwich is, but it is truly a gourmet spin on the old ham and cheese. |
Detecting Living Eyeballs During Retinal Scan - 11thEarlOfMar
http://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/imaging/biometric-researcher-asks-is-that-eyeball-alive-or-dead
======
posterboy
What about abuse of the person bearing the eyeball while still attached and
living. Have a second camera verify the whole picture, the number of persons
involved etc.
~~~
benologist
What about coercion via phone and internet?
~~~
niccaluim
What about "this was never a good idea." Can't remember where I read this, but
biometrics are a username, not a password!
~~~
personjerry
[http://blog.dustinkirkland.com/2013/10/fingerprints-are-
user...](http://blog.dustinkirkland.com/2013/10/fingerprints-are-user-names-
not.html)
------
bitwize
So Doomguy's "mash the corpse's head into the bioscanner" trick won't actually
work in the future?
------
eridius
Even if the pupil dilation response to light is not consistent over time (or
affected by drinking/stress), wouldn't the mere fact that it responded at all
be proof of a living eye?
~~~
tonmoy
Someone could play a video
~~~
eridius
But a video would have the characteristics of a photograph rather than a
physical eyeball, so the other techniques used to try and detect photographs
from eyeballs would catch the video.
------
therobot24
iris not retinal...very different
|
Lindy,
We are meeting on Tues at 10:00 in 1336 to discuss how TW may handle a storage point on our system with respect to how we contract for this point (given that contracts will want to receive and deliver to this point on a firm basis) as well as how we schedule gas at this point. Will you be able to attend and give us your advise?
Many thanks, Kim. |
Vice President Joe Biden’s aides in recent days called Democratic donors and supporters to suggest he is more likely than not to enter the 2016 race, and their discussions have shifted toward the timing of an announcement, said people familiar with the matter.
While the Biden team is still debating the best time to jump in, the vice president met Monday with his political advisers and talked about the merits of an early entry that would assure him a place in the Democratic debate scheduled for Oct. 13. They also are honing his campaign message and moving ahead with plans to raise money and hire staff, the people said.
The vice president could still back out if he finds the emotional toll from the death of his elder son, Beau Biden, too much to overcome. But the shift in the deliberations to the timing of an announcement is a fresh sign that he is moving closer to a bid.
“It’s my sense that this is happening, unless they change their minds,” said one person who spoke to Biden aides last weekend.
Mr. Biden’s entry would coincide with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s ramped-up efforts to reassure her backers that the probes into her use of a personal email server while she was secretary of state won’t derail her candidacy. That controversy has produced a month of bad headlines for Mrs. Clinton and helped boost her chief rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the polls. A Biden bid could make her road to the Democratic nomination even tougher. |
Controller medication use and sleep problems in pediatric asthma: a longitudinal case-crossover analysis.
To determine the effect of asthma controller medication use, choice, and adherence on sleep in children with asthma. A case-crossover analysis examining within-subject differences in controller use between time points with and without sleep problems, based on survey data from 3 time points (baseline, 6 months, and 1 year) of a randomized trial. Families were recruited from 2 area practice networks; all assessments were completed by parents online. Children with asthma, aged 2 to 10 years, as identified by asthma-related medical encounters and prescription fills. Parent report of asthma controller medication use (yes/no), type (inhaled corticosteroid or leukotriene inhibitor), and adherence (daily use, nonadherent use, or nonuse). Children's sleep problems, as defined by parent report regarding how often the child had difficulty falling asleep or experienced daytime sleepiness. The analysis included 482 children; 82.6% and 75.9% completed the 6-month and 1-year follow-up visits, respectively. Sleep problems were common, with 19.4% of parents at baseline reporting frequent problems with the child falling asleep and 12.1% reporting frequent daytime sleepiness. Compared with children who did not use a controller medication, children had a decreased risk of problems falling asleep during periods with daily controller use (odds ratio [OR], 0.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-0.92), with a trend toward an effect in those with nonadherent use (0.47; 0.20-1.12). Any controller use, regardless of adherence, was also associated with decreased odds of daytime sleepiness (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.51-0.94). When controller class was examined, leukotriene inhibitors were associated with significantly decreased odds of problems falling asleep (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.78), with or without concomitant use of inhaled corticosteroids, but the results for use of inhaled corticosteroids alone were not statistically significant (0.69; 0.32-1.53). Controller medications appear to be effective in reducing sleep problems in children with asthma, and leukotriene inhibitor medications may be especially effective in this population. |
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Lexington,
MI
48450
If you love the sun & surf, consider this Majestic 2 story 4 bedroom home located on secluded 2.3 acre lot with 196 feet of sandy Lake Huron shoreline. This home features a first floor Master Bedroom overlooking Lake Huron, 2 full Baths, Living Room with natural fireplace, and a Family room leading to a wrap-around deck with views of Lake Huron. BONUS: For Family Gatherings there is a guest house with a full eat-in Kitchen, 3 bedrooms and a Full Bath. Kick back and enjoy the solitude and great views of the lake.
Home Estimate History
Price History
Houses for Sale Nearby
This advertisement does not suggest that the broker has a listing or has done a transaction in this property or properties, nor does it suggest, directly or indirectly that the advertising broker was involved in the transaction. |
Ethnic / cultural / gender studies
“Having had to cut the book nearly in half for the final proof,” writes Benjamin Kline Hunnicut in the introduction to Free Time: The Forgotten American Dream (Temple University Press), “I am keenly aware of things omitted, still on my computer’s hard drive awaiting publication.” This is offered as an apology, though none is needed. Excessive leanness must be the least common fault in scholarly prose – and Free Time deserves laurels for not imposing too much on the scarce resource in question.
The author teaches at the University of Iowa, where he holds the enviable post of professor of leisure studies. He has devoted the better part of 40 years – including two previous books – to investigating the sources and implications of something both obvious and overlooked about the American work week.
Throughout the 19th and into the early 20th centuries, working people fought for, and won, more free time -- despite the dire mutterings by the pundits, who announced that economic collapse and social turmoil were sure to follow if employees worked for only, say, 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. By the 1930s, the combination of increased industrial productivity and collective bargaining made the trend for an ever-shorter work week seem irreversible. The demands of war production didn’t erase the expectation that the 40-hour week would shrink to 30, after peace came.
It did, in some places. For example, Hunnicutt and his students have interviewed retired factory workers from Akron, Ohio and Battle Creek, Michigan who won the six-hour day, once the war was over. And the social forecasts and magazine think-pieces from the 1960s and ‘70s made it sound like the great challenge of the future would be coping with all the free time created by automation and computerization.
Like hover-car collisions and overbooked hotels on the moon, the extremely shortened work week turns out not to be a major 21st-century social issue, after all. “Since the mid-1970s,” Hunnicutt says, “we have been working longer and longer each year, about a half a percentage point more from year to year….” It adds up. Americans now log an average 199 hours -- almost five 40-hour work weeks -- more per year than they did in 1973 – putting in “longer hours than those of other modern industrial nations, with the exception of South Korea,” according to the findings of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009.
The point here is not that extrapolation is unreliable -- or even that seriously regressive trends can begin to seem normal after a generation or two. Hunnicutt begins his broad narrative of how things got like this in the 18th century, with a comment by Benjamin Franklin: “If every man and woman would work for four hours each day on something useful, that labor would produce sufficient to procure all the necessaries and comforts of life, want and misery would be banished out of the world, and the rest of the 24 hours might be leisure and happiness.”
Tracing this sentence back to its original context, I found it appeared in a letter expressing Franklin’s criticism of how much labor and effort went into producing luxury goods for conspicuous consumption. Millions, he wrote, were “employed in doing nothing, or in something that amounts to nothing, when the necessaries and conveniences of life are in question.” It is a good thing the man is dead; five minutes in an American shopping center would kill him.
In Hunnicutt’s reading, the passage is a particularly blunt expression of a perspective or set of values he calls the Higher Progress. The goal of economic development was not just to produce “necessaries and comforts of life” in abundance and affordably – that, too, of course -- but to give people the free time to enjoy what they’d made, as well as one another’s company, and to secure the general welfare through lifelong education and civic involvement. The same vision is expressed by Walt Whitman, Frank Lloyd Wright, “factory girls” writing to newspapers in the 1840s, and Robert Maynard Hutchins’s proposals for university reform. In a book published when he was president of the University Chicago, Hutchins described progress as having three stages:
“We want our private and individual good, our economic well-being… Second, we want the common good: peace, order, and justice. But most of all we want a third order of good, our personal or human good. We want, that is, to achieve the limit of our moral, intellectual, and spiritual powers.”
That “we” is not aristocratic. The examples of Higher Progress thinking that Free Time cites are profoundly democratic in temper. For every patrician worrying that more leisure would just lead to drunkenness and loutish habits, Hunnicutt seems to quote five plebians saying they wanted the time for “the ‘wants’ that were being repressed by long hours: reading newspapers and books, visiting and entertaining at home, writing letters, voting, cultivating flowers, walking with the family, taking baths, going to meetings, and enjoying works of art.”
The Higher Progress was hardly inevitable. Following the Civil War, Walt Whitman, whose poetry often seems the outpouring of a blithe spirit with a caffeine buzz, sounded almost desperate at the scene before him. Despite the country’s technological progress and material abundance, “our New World democracy … is, so far, an almost complete failure in its social aspects, and in really grand religious, moral, and literary results.”
As was his wont, Whitman seems to speak directly to the reader, across the decades, in warning about the danger of fetishizing all our stuff and gizmos: “a secret silent loathing and despair.” A steadily growing GNP would not necessarily prevent the Higher Progress, but consumerism (in the form Franklin criticized as “luxury”) was all too likely to substitute itself for leisure, in the richest possible sense of the word.
So where did things go off track? Why is it that one of the arguments made for the sheer practicality of a shorter work week – that it would reduce joblessness – seems never to have been made given recent unemployment figures? What did the men and women who won 30-hour week in the 1940s respond to the free time?
Free Time addresses all of these questions, or at least points in directions where the answers might be found. But in honor of the author’s own sacrifice – and in hopes of encouraging you to read the book – I am going to make this column half as long as it might well be. It deserves wide attention, and would provoke a more meaningful conversation about the past, present, and future than we’re likely to have otherwise.
Among the mountains of literature dedicated to "best practices" in pedagogy, the consensus has emerged that engagement is key, and that we teachers can no longer – as we did throughout history – willfully try to drag students violently by the ear into our own umwelt and call it learning. Rather we need to create an active halfway space between world-bubbles, thus allowing learning to happen more organically, through a mutual reorientation.
This is precisely what I tried to do in a recent course exploring the topic of reality TV. Here I was either brave or foolish enough to structure the class like an actual reality TV competition. And while I admit the initial thrill of conception involved the perverse prospect of voting students "off the island," I could not have anticipated the pedagogical benefits of such a novel format until I tried them out. The first half of the course was quite traditional, with scholarly readings about the history of the genre, and related themes such as narcissism, exhibitionism, attention economies, surveillance, and the new employment option of simply being watched (There is an excellent book on this topic by Mark Andrejevic, which served as the main textbook). It is truly remarkable how much more conscientious students suddenly become when they are informed that an A on the dreaded midterm paper will earn them "immunity" from the first challenge.
The competition section was loosely based on "Project Runway," which emerged from my own institution, the New School, in New York City (specifically the design school, Parsons). Students would be given a challenge a week – some individual, some in groups – and then face a revolving group of expert "judges" to see how well their response connected to the critical aspects of the readings. (I tried to juggle the dual roles of Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum in this scenario, dispensing equal parts encouragement and fear with each alternate comment.) Examples of challenges include, "pitch your own (progressive) reality TV show," "create your own (self-reflexive) reality TV persona," and "report back from your own Thanksgiving holiday as if it were a reality TV show.”
After each challenge the “contestants” would reflect on the competition via "confession cams" recorded on their own laptops or phones, and posted to the blog (a meta-meta exercise in self-reflection, given that reality TV is already a meta-phenomenon). Instead of running around a fabric store, trying to buy enough satin or leather to make an edgy, fashionable dress in less than an hour, my students were running around the library, trying to find appropriate readings to supplement the syllabus. (Those who were voted off switched to the "production" side of the competition: some helping with filming, sound, editing, etc. Others worked on publicity around the college and online, as well as making their own commentaries on the unfolding events. It was therefore possible to be voted off early, but still get an A.)
One of the most striking differences between the students’ umwelt and my own became clear from the very beginning, when I initially took great pains to reassure the class that while we would be filming sections of the competition for archival purposes – and to heighten the sense of being on TV – these would not be made public in any way. To my surprise, all the students were disappointed, going so far as to say, "Well what’s the point in filming it then?!" This emphatic question – and the new Facebook-saturated Zeitgeist that it distils – then became a touchstone for the whole semester, concerning naive assumptions about identity, action, performance, and modes of witnessing. Why is it that the millennial generation does not think anything is worth doing or experiencing unless it is immediately "shared" and "liked" online? How might this backfire when it comes to friends or future employers? And who benefits most from this automatic compulsion?
So what began as a "so-crazy-it-might-work" idea soon revealed itself to be a new way for students to critically reconstruct their own relationship to the media – and thus to themselves – while also shaking up all my cherished notions about traditional modes of teaching the humanities. Whereas the host of "Project Runway" encourages the contestants to "make it work," I exhorted the students to "think it through" (indeed, I was tempted to call the course "So You Think You Can Think?"). And in one of those perfect moments of synchronicity, I could even offer the perfect prize to the winner: a paid internship to work on a film about reality TV by one of my former students, Valerie Veatch (whose first film, "Me at the Zoo," on viral celebrity and its discontents, recently premiered at Sundance).
What’s more, I am almost grateful that the National Security Agency global spying scandal did not erupt during the first run of this course, even as it would have spectacularly underscored the social and political tendencies which the class was designed to question. Even if we loathe reality TV, and claim to never watch it, that doesn’t mean we haven’t all been engulfed in its logic, mannerisms, motifs, conventions, and conceits. One reason I designed the course was to test my theory that even young people who feel themselves to be far above televisual trash are still exposed to, and shaped by, the emotional currents in creates in the world. Reality TV threatens to eclipse reality itself, even in those rare moments when the cameras aren’t running.
Quite simply, identity is now influenced by things like the confession cam, the idea of immunity, and the asymmetrical power dynamics of "the judges." Even as our most significant political figures threaten to become little more than grotesque characters in the latest installment of "The Real Housewives of Congress" or "The Vatican’s Next Top Pontiff." So while the challenge of education is to almost literally burst each other’s bubbles, the bigger challenge is to figure out – across the generations – how to stop our collective umwelt being shaped by this omnipresent model of thought and behavior.
Dominic Pettman is professor of culture and media at Eugene Lang College and New School for Social Research, where he recently won the University Distinguished Teaching Award. His most recent book is Look at the Bunny: Totem, Taboo, Technology.
Tamerlan Tsaernev was in my College Writing I class at Bunker Hill Community College in the spring of 2007. My pinhole view of his life, including a couple of e-mails about why he missed some classes, adds nothing to either the pathological or the geopolitical debates about the bombs Tamerlan and his brother are accused of setting off two weeks ago at the 2013 Boston Marathon.
What I can tell you is that I’ve felt like crying most of the time since Bloody Friday, the Friday after the Marathon Monday bombings that killed three and wounded 264, when police shut down Boston and Cambridge. Disclaimer 1: Of course the dead and the injured and their families are the only focus of our love and prayers. I have no words. This is a column about education reform -– or the lack of it.
Everyone I know of every profession in Boston reported feeling about the same. I now know that these feelings have a name: Secondary Trauma. You don’t have to be one of the injured to feel numb or want to cry.
How to treat myself for secondary trauma? I had no idea that was a skill I'd learn and need at a community college.
Hydrate – lots of water. Fresh air. No caffeine. Breathe. Have a good cry. J.S. Bach, always. Keep in mind that the national policy debate about the central issue for community colleges, completion, makes no mention I’ve heard of secondary trauma expertise as necessary professional development. Here’s my bookmarked reference web site, Trauma Stewardship.
Here’s my list of student primary traumas I’ve been second to, in a few short years: murder, rape, shootings; sudden and prolonged homelessness; memories of wars in Somalia, Eritrea, El Salvador, the Congo; a father killed in the civil war in Mali; a student for whom I was buying a sandwich at 5 p.m. saying, “I guess you could tell I haven’t eaten since yesterday.” Domestic violence. Stories from veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. All but a few arise from teaching, remember, College Writing I. To this list, I can now add a terrorist attack. Perhaps ribbons for each trauma, as in the military, would cause the completion critics to include consider trauma a factor.
Let me be perfectly clear. Withering completion accountability is fine by me. The solutions just need a load factor for the days that community college teachers need a good cry.
Disclaimer 2: The worst days of my own silver-, no, platinum-spooned life are miles from the everyday trauma of the millions of students in community colleges, and the secondary traumas of their professors. I do not teach full-time. With occasional slippage, I am a generally happy and optimistic person. I have family, friends, health and, more, health insurance, food, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the love of Friends Meeting Cambridge for three years of cancer that my wife survived. (Thank you STEM disciplines.) My trauma requires no help.
My point for this column is that at the nation’s 1,200 community colleges, thousands of instructors have a traditional workload, unopposed by any of our unions, of four and five classes a semester with classes of 20, 30 and more students all subject to the primary traumas I’ve described.
I have no words for how these colleagues survive. I have plenty of words, for another day, for the policy makers, legislators, trade associations, and union chiefs who won’t admit to these traumas while whining about low community college completion rates.
The 1 a.m. Friday bomb explosion and shootout that killed Tamerlan was about a mile from my home. My wife heard the bomb and the gunfire that I slept through. By morning, Cambridge was shut down, and we were ordered to stay at home. After a day with helicopters chopping overhead and Doppler-effecting sirens in all directions, my wife and daughter heard the shooting Friday evening when police arrested Tamerlan’s brother, again about a mile from our home. I didn’t hear the gunfire.
I’ve discovered I am learning, too, about relative secondary trauma rankings on my Emotional/Trauma Richter Scale (patent pending). What I can tell you is that my urge to cry last week, and even now, is higher by a bit on my E/T Richter scale reading than when Cedirick Steele, a student in that same class that spring of 2007, was shot seven times and killed. I learned Cedirick’s death was called a premeditated random murder. The shooters planned to kill someone, it didn’t matter who. Perhaps tertiary trauma is when we discover a new term for something too terrible to be true. (Click here for my report on Cedirick’s killing.)
Here’s what I don’t understand in my rankings. I knew Cedirick very well. I wouldn’t have recognized Tamerlan on the street. He missed most classes and didn’t complete the course. Why I do I feel sadder after Bloody Friday than I did right after Cedirick’s death?
I didn’t make the Tamerlan connection until late Friday morning. I hadn’t known the suspects’ names when I went to bed Thursday. The cat woke me up Friday morning about 5:30 a.m. with a left paw “Breakfast!” to the nose.
I let the dog out in the yard and looked out the front door. No newspaper. Odd but ok. I fed the cats, made coffee, changed the laundry, put out breakfast for my wife. Still no newspaper. Not ok. Another 15 minutes, and I would call in the missed delivery. I had another cup of coffee and read a book. My wife was asleep. I hadn’t turned on the radio. Still no paper.
Then, the day began. A text message from someone at work. “The MBTA is closed. How can I get to work? Do you know what’s going on?” I had no idea. Another text message. Bunker Hill Community College closed for citywide emergency. I turned on the radio and learned why no newspaper delivery that morning. My neighborhood was the news. Police were looking for the suspects right here. And the news said that one of the suspects had gone to Bunker Hill Community College.
In the next hour, friends e-mailed. Did I know this student? “No,” I said. After the third e-mail, something stirred. I put “Tamerlan” in the search box of my computer. There he was on a class list from 2007, along with two innocuous e-mails about missing class. As a comedy and to raise money for students like mine, two years ago, I ran -– well, completed, the Boston Marathon. (My report.) Oh, can I see the blocks to the finish line where the bombs went off. I guess all this factors into my E/T Richter Scale, terrorist bombing versus premeditated random murder.
Now, the Iraq tank-driving student in that same class graduated from Dartmouth last spring, and he is on his plan, teaching at-risk high school students.
Of course that cheers us up on a bad day. We, the people, have to chuck the way we mistake such stories for success. Along with head-in-the-sand union chiefs, policy makers and too many education trade associations, do we let ourselves believe that these feel-good, albeit individually triumphant, community college to Ivy League stories are progress? I did, for years.
Back to my secondary trauma professional development. Our refusal as a nation to face down the truth about the lives of so many students and their traumas every day in so many of our schools and colleges? The trauma professionals would call our refusal denial and avoidance. An unhealthy strategy.
On the E/T Richter scale, though, my urge to cry was lower this week than it was back in 2011, when I was called to testify at the third trial of the Cedirick’s murderers. (Click here for my report on the trial.) On the morning of my testimony, the Suffolk County Victim/Witness Advocate sat me down and asked how I felt. Did she really want to know? She did. I said I’d felt like crying about Cedirick every day since she’d called three weeks before, to ask me to testify. Normal, she said. My education on secondary trauma began. After the trial, she made me go see a trauma counselor.
After the trial, four years after Cedirick’s random, premeditated murder, at last, I had a good cry. Today, I’ll help any student I can. And I’ll say a prayer again, and again, for the three dead and the 264 injured at the Boston Marathon Massacre.
"Mad Men" returns to cable television this coming Sunday, continuing its saga of mutable identities and creative branding at a New York advertising firm during the 1960s. Or at least one assumes it will still be set in the ‘60s. How much narrative time lapses between seasons varies unpredictably. Like everything else about the show, it remains the network’s closely guarded secret. Critics given an early look at the program must agree to an embargo on anything they publish about it. This makes perfect sense in the context of the social world of "Mad Men" itself: the network is, after all, selling the audience’s curiosity to advertisers.
A different economy of attention operates in Mad Men, Mad World: Sex, Politics, Style & the 1960s, a collection of 18 essays on the program just published by Duke University Press. It’s not just a matter of the editors and contributors all being academics, hence presumably a different sort of cultural consumer from that of the average viewer. On the contrary, I think that is exactly wrong. Serialized narrative has to generate in its audience the desire for an answer to a single, crucial question: “And then what happens?” (Think of all the readers gathered at the docks in New York to get the latest installment of a Dickens novel coming from London.)
Of course, the contributors to Mad Men, Mad World write with a host of more complex questions in mind, but I don’t doubt for a second that many of the papers were initially inspired by weekend-long diegetic binge sessions, fueled by the same desire driving other viewers. At the same time, there’s every reason to think that the wider public is just as interested in the complex questions raised by the show as any of the professors writing about it. For they are questions are about race, class, gender, sexuality, politics, money, happiness, misery, and lifestyle – and about how much any configuration of these things can change, or fail to change, over time.
Many of the essays serve as replies to a backlash against "Mad Men" that began in the third or fourth season, circa 2009, as it was beginning to draw a much larger audience than it had until that point. The complaint was that the show, despite its fanatical attention to the style, dress, and décor of the period, was simple-mindedly 21st century in its attitude toward the characters. It showed a world in which blunt expressions of racism, misogyny, and homophobia were normal, and sexual harassment in the workplace was an executive perk. Men wore hats and women stayed home. Everyone smoked like a chimney and drank like a fish, often at the same time. Child abuse was casual. So was littering.
And because all of it was presented in tones by turn ironic and horrified, viewers were implicitly invited to congratulate themselves on how enlightened they were now. Another criticism held that "Mad Men" only seemed to criticize the oppressive arrangements it portrayed, while in reality allowing the viewer to enjoy them vicariously. These complaints sound contradictory: the show either moralistically condemns its characters or inspires the audience to wallow in political incorrectness. But they aren’t mutually exclusive by any means. What E.P. Thompson called “the enormous condescension of posterity” tends to be a default setting with Americans, alternating with periods of maudlin nostalgia. There’s no reason the audience couldn’t feel both about the "Mad Men" vision of the past.
See also a comment by the late Christopher Lasch, some 20 years ago: “Nostalgia is superficially loving in its re-creation of the past, but it invokes the past only to bury it alive. It shares with the belief in progress, to which it is only superficially opposed, an eagerness to proclaim the death of the past and to deny history’s hold on the present.”
At the risk of conflating too many arguments under too narrow a heading, I’d say that the contributors to Mad Men, Mad World agree with Lasch’s assessment of progress and nostalgia while also demonstrating how little it applies to the program as a whole.
Caroline Levine’s essay “The Shock of the Banal: Mad Men's Progressive Realism” provides an especially apt description of how the show works to create a distinct relationship between past and present that’s neither simply nostalgic nor a celebration of how far we’ve come. The dynamic of "Mad Men" is, in her terms, “the play of familiarity in strangeness” that comes from seeing “our everyday assumptions just far enough removed from us to feel distant.” (Levine is a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.)
The infamous Draper family picnic in season two is a case in point. After a pleasant afternoon with the kids in a bucolic setting, the parents pack up their gear, shake all the garbage off their picnic blanket, and drive off. The scene is funny, in the way appalling behavior can sometimes be, but it’s also disturbing. The actions are so natural and careless – so thoughtless, all across the board – that you recognize them immediately as habit. Today’s viewers might congratulate themselves for at least feeling guilty when they litter. But that’s not the only possible response, because the scene creates an uneasy awareness that once-familiar, “normal” ideas and actions came to be completely unacceptable – within, in fact, a relatively short time. It eventually became the butt of jokes, but the famous “Keep America Beautiful” ad from about 1970 -- the one with the crying Indian -- probably had a lot to do with it. (Such is the power of advertising.)
The show's handling of race and gender can be intriguing and frustrating. All the powerful people in it are straight white guys in ties, sublimely oblivious to even the possibility that their word might not be law. "Mad Space" by Dianne Harris, a professor of architecture and art history at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offers a useful cognitive map of the show's world -- highlighting how the advertising firm's offices are organized to demonstrate and reinforce the power of the executives over access to the female employees' labor (and, often enough, bodies), while the staid home that Don Draper and his family occupy in the suburbs is tightly linked to the upper-middle-class WASP identity he is trying to create for himself by concealing and obliterating his rural, "white trash" origins. A handful of African-American characters appear on the margins of various storylines -- and one, the Drapers' housekeeper Carla, occupies the especially complex and fraught position best summed up in the phrase "almost part of the family." But we never see the private lives of any nonwhite character.
In "Representing the Mad Margins of the Early 1960s: Northern Civil Rights and the Blues Idiom," Clarence Lang, an associate professor of African and African-American studies at the University of Kansas, writes that "Mad Men" "indulges in a selective forgetfulness" by "presuming a black Northern quietude that did not exist" (in contrast to the show's occasional references to the civil rights movement below the Mason-Dixon line). Lang's judgment here is valid -- up to a point. As it happens, all of the essays in the collection were written before the start of the fifth season, in which black activists demonstrate outside the firm's building to protest the lack of job opportunities. Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce hires its first African-American employee, a secretary named Dawn. I think a compelling reading of"Mad Men"would recognize that the pace and extent of the appearance of nonwhite characters on screen is a matter not of the creators' refusal to portray them, but of their slow arrival on the scene of an incredibly exclusionary social world being transformed (gradually and never thoroughly) by the times in which "Mad Men" is set.
There is much else in the book that I found interesting and useful in thinking about "Mad Men," and I think it will be stimulating to readers outside the ranks of aca fandom. I’ll return to it in a few weeks, with an eye to connecting some of the essays to new developments at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. (Presumably the firm will have changed its name in the new season, given the tragic aftermath of Lane Pryce’s venture in creative bookkeeping.)
When things left off, it was the summer of 1967. I have no better idea than any one else when or how the narrative will pick up, but really hope that Don Draper creates the ad campaign for Richard Nixon. |
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