text:
|Salt water aquarium integrated filter
|Munsch et al.
|Aquaculture filtration system employing a rotating drum filter
|Bradley et al.
|Controlled denitrification process and system
|Lee et al.
|Aquaculture system and methods for using the same
|Aquaculture system
|Reese et al.
|Reef biological filtration device
|Filter assembly for an aquarium
|Del Rosario
|Method of raising fish
|Aquaculture system
|Water purifying combination and ultraviolet lamp therefor
|System for biological purification of water containing organic materials and derivative products
|Fish rearing system
|Birkbeck et al.
This is a continuation-in-part of provisional application Ser. No. 60/022,176, filed Jun. 24, 1996.
one or more culture tanks;
a prefilter system which comprises a particulate filter, a foam fractionator and a carbon filter and is directly or indirectly connected to said one or more culture tanks;
an aerobic biofilter connected to said prefilter system;
a pump that moves water from the culture tanks through the recirculating system;
one or more sources of ultraviolet light connected to said recirculating system effective to irradiate the water in said system prior to return of irradiated water to said culture tanks, and wherein at least one source of ultraviolet light irradiates effluent from the prefilter system;
an anaerobic biofilter connected to the recirculating system; and
one or more control systems that monitor and control physical factors of the aquaculture system.
multiple sensors/transducers that convert environmental conditions into electrical signals;
communication multiplexers that convert the sensor's electrical signals into digital code;
computer hardware to receive the transmitted signals from and to the multiplexers;
computer hardware to interface to the human user; and
computer software configured to provide a graphical interface.
housing the aquatic species in one or more tanks containing water;
introducing water from the one or more tanks into a closed recirculating water system comprising a serial arrangement of filters, wherein said filters are arranged such that effluent water is contacted by the filters to effect the following order of treatment: (1) mechanical or particulate filtration, (2) physical adsorption or foam fractionation filtration, (3) chemical filtration, (4) biological filtration;
irradiating the effluent from the filters with one or more ultraviolet light sources; and
introducing irradiated effluent to the one or more tanks;
wherein the physical factors of the water system are automatically sensed and controlled.
a bead bed;
one or more in situ sensors for monitoring dissolved oxygen, differential pressure across the bead filter, water flow, pH or oxidation-reduction potential and for converting the conditions into electrical signals; and
an influent conduit below said bead bed and an effluent conduit above said bead bed;
wherein said in situ sensors are connected to a computer.
This invention relates to automated aquatic systems for the culture of aquatic species.
Conventional aquaculture systems typically require significant amounts of human intervention in order to enable a species of interest to be grown and cultured. Such systems are not "closed," instead requiring partial water changes and the like. In large systems, significant amounts of water may need to be used and disposed of. A system which is automated and truly closed would be advantageous.
This invention provides a solution to one or more of the problems and/or deficiencies described above.
In one respect, the present invention is an automated aquaculture system which comprises: a tank; a prefilter system connected to the tank which comprises a particulate filter, a foam fractionator and a carbon filter; an aerobic biofilter; a pump that receives effluent from the prefilter system and moves the effluent to the aerobic biofilter; a source of ultraviolet light that is in cooperation with the aerobic filter and that treats water from the aerobic filter, wherein the source is connected to the tank so that treated water is returned to the tank; an anaerobic biofilter that is connected to the aerobic biofilter for receiving effluent and connected to the prefilter system for introducing effluent to the prefilter system; a video camera directed into the tank for receiving information; and a computer that receives information from the cameras and other sensors in the system and that controls the operation of the system.
In another respect, this invention is a process useful for culturing an aquatic species, comprising:
housing the aquatic species in a tank containing water;
introducing water from the tank into a particulate filter;
introducing effluent from the particulate filter to a foam fractionator;
introducing effluent from the foam fractionator to a carbon filter;
pumping effluent from the carbon filter to an aerobic biofilter;
irradiating effluent from the aerobic biofilter with ultraviolet radiation;
treating effluent from the aerobic biofilter in an anaerobic biofilter and returning effluent from the anaerobic biofilter to the system; and
introducing effluent from the irradiating step to the tank.
FIG. 1 shows a closed aquaculture system including a culture raceway (tank), prefilter system, pumping means, aerobic biofilter, anaerobic biofilter, mechanical pump connected to the anaerobic biofilter, a source of UV light, and connections between the various components which are depicted by arrowed lines.
FIG. 2A depicts an end view of a culture tank which shows a trough that runs longitudinally down the middle of the tank and which shows that the floor of the tank is graded at an angle so that debris flows toward the trough when the tank is agitated appropriately.
FIG. 2B depicts a side view of an aquaculture system.
FIG. 3 depicts an example of submergence (S). The top of the vertical Air Lift (AL) is the discharge orifice (DO). The top dashed line is the water level (WL). The bottom dashed line is the injected air (IA). At the bottom of the air lift is the injector (I). The distance from WL to DO is Z1. The distance from WL to IA is ZS. The formula for submergence is S=ZS /(ZS +Z1).
FIG. 4 depicts the design of the opening that releases air into the airlift of an aquaculture system.
FIG. 5 depicts a foam fractionator.
FIG. 6 depicts a submerged aerobic biological filter.
FIG. 7 depicts an automated aerobic upflow bead filter.
FIG. 8A-FIG. 8D depicts the water quality history from the system of FIG. 1. Representative measurements are shown from the hatchery (days 1-100) and raceway (days 101-242). The biomass increased from <10 grams at day 1 to >200 gms per cubic meter in the last third of the culture period.
FIG. 8A depicts the pH measurements during the culture period. The horizontal line indicates the desired standard of >8.0.
FIG. 8B depicts the ammonia measurements during the culture period. The horizontal line indicates the upper acceptable limit.
FIG. 8C depicts the nitrite measurements during the culture period. The horizontal line indicates the upper acceptable limit.
FIG. 8D depicts the nitrate measurements during the culture period. The horizontal line indicates the upper acceptable limit.
FIG. 9 depicts a closed aquaculture system including a culture tray, prefilter means, pumping means, automated aerobic biofilter, a source of UV light and connection between the various components.
FIG. 10A-FIG. 10C depicts the water quality history from the system of FIG. 9.
FIG. 10A depicts the nitrate concentration, indicating the removal of nitrate when the denitrifying bioreactor was added. Triangles represent inflow and squares represent outflow.
FIG. 10B depicts the nitrite concentration, indicating the removal of nitrite when the denitrifying bioreactor was added. Triangles represent inflow and squares represent outflow.
FIG. 10C depicts the hydrogen sulfide concentration, indicating the removal of hydrogen sulfide when the denitrifying bioreactor was added. Triangles represent inflow and squares represent outflow.
FIG. 11 depicts a model describing the function of the closed aquaculture system.
FIG. 12 depicts an adaptive network based fuzzy inference driven machine vision classification system for aquaculture in block diagram form.
FIG. 13A-FIG. 13D depicts imaging equipment for the machine vision subsystem of the present invention.
FIG. 14 depicts image digitization and processing for the machine vision subsystem of the present invention.
FIG. 15 depicts in block by block diagram the software use and development for the machine vision subsystem of the present invention.
FIG. 16 depicts the error involved in training a traditional machine vision system. The squares indicate training error and the circles indicate checking error.
FIG. 17 depicts the error involved in training the ANFIS machine vision system. The X indicate checking error and the circles indicate training error.
This invention is the merging of artificial intelligence of established process control technology and aquatic systems design to provide closed, recirculating water filtration systems to the aquaculture/aquarium industries. Closed, recirculating aquaculture filtration systems are a collection of subsystems that provide complete ecological life support for aquatic organisms, eliminating deliberate replacement of water yet maintaining acceptable water quality. Implied in this definition is the complete removal of biologically generated soluble and suspended pollutants and conservation of water resources. The definition does not extend to water lost to evaporation. It is assumed that evaporated water is free of environmental pollutants and its replacement will not result in substantial resource depletion. The invention relates to machine/computer control of the processes that optimize the growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms in "closed-loop" biological filtration systems. The invention works by continually monitoring of physical factors affecting physiological requirements of the cultured organisms and continually adjusting necessary to meet these requirements; some factors (e.g., dissolved oxygen, pH, metabolites and salinity) will be held within critical limits while others (e.g., temperature and light cycle) may be changed to alter growth characteristics and/or periodicity of reproduction.
A closed, recirculating aquaculture system is a collection of tank(s), plumbing, filtration devices, and pumps (FIGS. 1 and 2). The culture tanks may be of any size, shape and material appropriate to the species in culture. Plumbing may be of any size, shape and material compatible with the overall tank design. The filters used in aquaculture systems generally fall into five types and may be used in any combination appropriate to the species in culture. The filter types are: (1) particulate removal-screens, settling basins, media filled traps and to some extent, physical/chemical adsorption devices (foam fractionators and activated carbon); (2) physical adsorption-foam fractionators (i.e., protein skimmers) of all designs; (3) chemical adsorption-activated carbon, zeolites and other synthetic media and membranes used to trap molecules based on size or electrical charge; (4) biological-media beds that support bacteria for oxidizing organic wastes and reducing the end product(s) to carbon dioxide and elemental nitrogen. In addition, denitrification (the conversion of nitrate into nitrogen gas) can occur in biological filter beds under anaerobic conditions; and (5) irradiation/oxidation--a group of devices producing ultraviolet light (UV), ozone or both.
Pumps may be any of a number of devices used to move water through the system at a rate compatible with the overall tank design and animals. Included in this category are water pumps, air blowers and compressors. A natural dichotomy between mechanical, pump-driven systems and airlift-driven systems occurs in the design of filtration. Airlift-driven systems operate at very low head pressure but with flow volumes equal to pump-driven systems that operate with high head pressure. There are a number of compelling reasons (e.g., economy, simplicity and durability) to use airlifts in aquaculture systems. However, aquaculture filtration systems are typically pump-driven. Filters designed for high pressure pumping are readily available and entirely adaptable to the requirements of this invention but they are not easily adapted to airlift-driven systems. Therefore, filters described as part of this embodiment are low pressure designs developed for airlift-driven systems but they are appropriate for pump-driven applications.
All systems and subsystems are integrated by an intelligent control system composed of sensors, communication devices, computer hardware, software interface and expert system. These control systems: (1) acquire real-time data directly from production systems, (2) transform the inputs mathematically into process models, (3) interface these models with expert systems that assume the role of a human expert, and (4) apply decisions of the expert system to control critical processes. Therefore, the development of automated aquaculture systems should be driven by the expansion of intensive aquaculture systems and the increased availability of affordable process control hardware and software. Success in designing a pragmatic and affordable automated control system will be widely applicable because it will greatly enhance water management, reduce costs associated with manual monitoring and reduce significantly the chance of catastrophic system failures. The modem commercial aquaculture facility has become a sophisticated network of interrelated processes and subprocesses that require the transfer of raw materials (e.g., oxygen, heat, feeds and water) into a high-quality final product (edible high protein flesh) at a rapid rate. These processes are comparable to the physical processes managed by manufacturing industries. They require many simple (step-wise) and complex (side-loop) processes to be integrated spatially and temporally in order to maximize product and minimize failures. Automation of intensive aquaculture systems will allow US companies to: (1) compete with world commodity markets by locating production closer to markets, (2) improve environmental control, (3) reduce catastrophic losses, (4) avoid problems with environmental regulations on effluents, (5) reduce management and labor cots significantly, and (6) improve product quality and consistency. The application of process control technology and the concurrent need for aquaculture-specific expert systems (a computer program that supplies answers or solutions based on available information, by attempting to duplicate the human thought process) is central to continued intensification of the aquaculture industry.
In addition, the invention includes a machine vision subsystem that is a process by which organisms may be modeled for the purposes of detection, surveillance, measurement and quality assessment in a machine vision system. The machine vision subsystem is the application of an adaptive-neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to the problems of singulation (identifying an individual in a frame) and segmentation (separating an object from the background) and intelligent continuous monitoring in an aquacultural or agricultural system.
In an automated aquaculture system, the machine vision subsystem may be used to incorporate animal data into the control parameters for the system. This animal data may include size, growth rates, activity level, activity classification (e.g., mating behavior, egg laying and molting). Animal data can be used as an environmental indicator (e.g., water quality alarms) or as a control variable (e.g., mating behavior causes an increase in feeding frequency) for an automated system. The machine vision subsystem is the necessary missing link between the theoretical use of machine vision in aquaculture and the ability for the application of machine vision technology in any production facility. Production facilities where organisms are products or producers (agriculture, aquaculture, and biotechnology) will benefit the most since this invention makes possible the use of machine vision for scenes and target objects which are irregular and complex.
The machine vision subsystem consists of a process (algorithm) whereby features (whether they are part of the a priori knowledge of target object morphology for the purposes of object recognition and classification, the results of a continuous activity monitor, or the test for animal or product marketability) are grouped with a cooperative effort of supervised learning (neural networks) and a fuzzy inference system (FIS). The supervised learning may take place in batches, with the end product being a FIS which will operate (make decisions) without the continued application of machine learning; or, the learning may take place on line whereby the Neural Network will continue to modify the FIS within predetermined parameters, and thus improve performance and the discernment capabilities of the system via unsupervised learning.
This invention, a computer automated closed, recirculating aquaculture filtration system (CACRAFS), is recognized as utilitarian to the industry and necessary to the environment. It was previously unattainable because artificial intelligence capable of the complex "decision making" to control biological filtration was lacking. Biological filtration of aquaculture water is essential to the health and survival of aquatic animals. Automated control of the denitrification subprocess was developed and patented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,630, incorporated herein by reference. The final piece is contributed by the machine vision subsystem.
The serial arrangement of filters (FIG. 1) is ordered such that effluent water is contracted in the following plug-flow order: (1) mechanical or particulate filtration (e.g., submerged bed, upflow sand or bed filter, fluidized sand filter, semipermeable membrane, flushing filter and trickling filter); (2) physical adsorption or foam fractionation (e.g., protein skimmers); (3) chemical (e.g., activated charcoal, zeolite or any chelating or sequestering compound); (4) biological (e.g., aerobic or anaerobic bacterial beds that function as heterotrophic or chemoauxotrophic bacterial assemblages); and (5) sterilization (e.g., ultraviolet light, ozone, chlorine or other chemical oxidants).
The sequence is appropriate for all forms of aquaculture filtration components as listed above. A typical arrangement of the system is shown in FIG. 2B in which the prefilter tank 22 (including the particulate filter, foam fractionator and activated carbon) have dimensions of 4'W×8'L×4'H. The culture tank 10 has dimensions of 12'W×20'L×4'H. The airlift casing 55 is 24" in diameter×13'H and the biofilter 60 is 8'W×18'L×3'H. The head tank 52 is 2'W×4'L×2'H. Also shown in FIG. 2B are two ultraviolet light sterilizers 80.
Filtration efficiency is managed by a distributed control system, DCS (using artificial intelligence) so that water quality is maintained at acceptable standards for any aquatic species in culture. The five filter types are automated in the following manner: (1) the efficiency of mechanical or particulate filtration can be improved by monitoring differential pressure across the filter, water flow through the filter, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen and filter bed expansion volume and by then controlling water flow rate or residence time, backwashing frequency and duration; (2) the efficiency of physical adsorption can be improved by monitoring water flow through the filter, total gas pressure in the effluent, gas injection and bubble height and by then controlling water flow rate or residence time, cycle time, gas source (e.g., blower air, compressed gas or ozone) and gas injection rate; (3) the efficiency of chemical filtration can be improved by monitoring water flow through the filter and differential pressure across the filter and by then controlling water flow rate or residence time; (4) the efficiency of biological filtration (e.g., aerobic or anaerobic) can be improved by monitoring water flow through the filter, differential pressure across the filter, dissolved oxygen, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, carbon dioxide and water level changes depending on the type of biological filter used (e.g., submerged, upflow, fluidized, trickling or flushing) and by then controlling water flow rate or residence time, dissolved oxygen injection, buffer injection, backwashing frequency and duration; and (5) the efficiency of sterilization can be improved by monitoring water flow through the filter, light intensity and wavelength (ultraviolet) and oxidation-reduction potential (ozone and chemical oxidants) and by then controlling water flow rate or residence time and chemical injection (ozone and chemical oxidants).
Airlift pump design and operation are improved by: (a) the design of the airlift injector. Air bubble size configuration influences airlift efficiency. The diffuser orifice is a modified tear drop shape beginning as a slit at the top to produce smaller (<1-10 mm id.), slower rising bubbles then expanding to a circular base to produce larger bubbles (10-30 mm id.) (FIG. 4); (b) the air-water slurry exiting the top of the airlift pipe is deflected away from the top of the pipe by a cone-shaped structure. The cone-shaped structure deflects water away from the top of the airlift so that it does not fall straight down and impede water flow.
In FIG. 1 there is depicted a system which includes a raceway (culture tank) 10. The culture tank 10 may have a configuration as depicted in FIG. 2, which includes a trough 12 and angled floor 14. In FIG. 1, effluent from culture tank 10 enters a prefilter system 22 that includes particulate filter 20, foam fractionator 30 and carbon filter 40. The culture tank 10 is connected to the prefilter system by a conduit which is depicted by arrowed lines 16. The particulate filter 20 serves to filter larger debris from the culture tank. Effluent from particulate filter 20 flows into foam fractionator 30 where foam is removed. The foam fractionator 30 may be of the configuration depicted in FIG. 5. Effluent from the foam fractionator 30 then enters carbon filter 40 for additional prefiltration. Effluent from the carbon filter 40 then flows through a conduit depicted by arrowed line 42 to an airlift 50. The airlift is depicted in greater detail in FIG. 5, as well as FIG. 4, which shows the design of the opening that releases air into the airlift. The airlift 50 is composed of a airlift tank 54 and a vertical pipe 55 which dimensions may vary depending on the size of the system. At the base of the pipe for airlift 55, air injector 53 introduces air which rises and thereby draws water up the airlift, thereby providing pumping action and circulation. Water from airlift 50 enters head tank 52 and then pours into aerobic biofilter 60. The aerobic biofilter 60 may contain gravel, which serves to support microorganisms which serve to perform the aerobic biofiltration. Effluent from aerobic biofilter 60 then flows into UV light source 80 via conduit 62. The UV light source 80 irradiates the water to thereby kill microorganisms and pathogens that may be found in the water. Effluent from the UV light source 80 is returned to the culture tank 10 via conduit 82. Intermittently, effluent from the aerobic biofilter 60 is sent to anaerobic biofilter 70 via conduit 64. The anaerobic biofilter 70 may be of a design as depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,630. Effluent from the anaerobic biofilter is then pumped via mechanical pump 72 through conduit 74 into particulate filter 20. The anaerobic biofilter 70 serves to remove nitrates from the system.
The foam fractionator 30 (protein skimmer) has louvered slots 31 positioned on the contact chamber 32 several centimeters below the water level of the vessel holding (FIG. 5). The louvered slots are directed inward so that water entering the contact chamber 32 is deflected to form a circular pattern as it travels downward to the exit. This design: (1) increases water residence time for more efficient organic removal; (2) allows small air bubbles to coalesce into larger bubbles that can rise faster against the countercurrent of water, and (3) concentrates the bubble mass in the center of the cylinder so that it does not escape through the louvers.
The design of the submerged biological filter bed (FIG. 6) differs from typical submerged beds in several key characteristics: (1) the bed 61 is elevated so that it is just submerged at the surface; and (2) incoming (untreated) water is injected below the bed and rises through it (FIG. 6). This configuration: (a) reduces compaction of the bed and subsequent reduction of flow; (b) forces organic laden water to contact the dark side of the bed thus limiting the growth of heterotrophs, and (c) causes the bottom of the bed to contact oxygen rich water thus preventing the development of anaerobic regions deep in the bed. The design of the automated upflow bead filter 90 (FIG. 7) is also unique in that in situ sensors monitor the bacterial metabolism in the bed 92 and are used to control the environmental parameters, residence time, and backwash schedule. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 includes a propeller 94 driven by a propeller motor 96. A valve 98 controls influent. and separate conduits are provided for the addition of oxygen 100 and buffer 102. Another valve 110 controls effluent. In situ sensors monitor dissolved oxygen 112, differential pressure 114, water flow 116, pH 118, and oxidation-reduction potential 120 in the bed 92 and at the bottom of the filter 90. A drain 122 is also provided. The configuration optimizes the upflow bead filter's ability to serve a dual action of particle filtration and nitrification filter.
The culture tank where the cultured organisms lives is self-cleaning. The floor of the tank 14 is modified so that it slopes (e.g., 2 inches/ft.) to the middle where a (e.g., 4-inch) trough 12 is located. The tank outlet is located at one end of the trough and collected wastes are removed to the particle filter. The concentration of waste in the trough and collected wastes are removed to the particle filter. The concentration of waste in the trough is also facilitated through the use of bubble screens (aeration injectors) located directly above the drain. As a result, most of the wastes are flushed from the tank, requiring no labor.
An integrated process control system is utilized for the distributed control of the aquaculture production and filtration subsystems. The distributed control system (DCS) is composed of multiple sensors/transducers that convert environmental conditions into electrical signals, communication multiplexers that convert the sensor's electrical signals into digital code, computer hardware that can receive the transmitted signals from and to the multiplexers, computer hardware that interfaces to the human user and computer software configured to provide a graphical interface for representing floor plans, trending incoming data and trending historical data. In addition, high level integration of the control loops is managed by artificial intelligence computer programs (e.g., rule-based expert system, neural nets, fuzzy-logic-based expert systems, and neural fuzzy systems). Training set parameters include dissolved oxygen levels, salinity and conductivity, water level, pumping rates, pump effort, flow rates, temperature, heating and/or cooling effort, buffer addition based on pH, oxidation/reduction potential, seawater or water addition based on water level and salinity.
The DCS is used in conjunction with appropriate mathematical models (e.g., on/off, PID, statistical models or expert systems) for environmental monitoring and control in all culture and filter tanks (FIG. 11): (a) temperature monitoring and control; (b) pH monitoring and control; (c) salinity monitoring and control; (d) oxidation/reduction potential (ORP) monitoring and control; (e) dissolved carbon dioxide monitoring and control; (f) total dissolved gases monitoring and control; and (g) dissolved oxygen monitoring and control.
The DCS is used in conjunction with appropriate mathematical models (e.g., on/off, PID, statistical models or expert systems) to manage all filtration devices (FIG. 11). Sensor inputs (e.g., pressure, level, ORP and dissolved oxygen) are used to monitor the function of the filtration systems (e.g., particle, carbon, and biological). Based on the mathematical control models, outputs control various functions such as water flow or residence time, backwashing and filter maintenance schedules.
All flow rates within and between filter components are monitored and controlled by the DCS. Changes in flow rates within and between filter components are performed by programmed machine intelligence and the DCS following evaluation of the water quality data, e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity (sea water systems only), ORP and turbidity.
The DCS is used for water level monitoring and control in all culture and filtration tanks used by the CACRAFS. Accurate control of water levels is necessary for flow rate stabilization in airlift-driven systems.
The DCS produces automated reports of critical systems functions and alarms (local and remote) when system parameters are out of setpoint. Alarms are both visual (strobe and message center) and audible (bell).
The DCS includes feed management capabilities with automated feeders as outputs and inputs from the machine vision subsystem and internal timers.
The DCS controls the photoperiod in all culture areas and is used to alter life cycles. The systems can turn lights on/off as well as control the level of lighting with rheostats.
FIG. 11 is a model for the function of a closed aquaculture system as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 9. The boxes are state variables, the spigots are transfer coefficients and the circles are effects. The model subsystem at the top is Animal Biomass 300. The state variable is grams of biomass 302. The effects are grams growth 304, growth in grams 306, number 308, weight in grams 310, kilos per cubic meter 312, tank volume I 314 and value $316.
The second model subsystem is cumulatives 340. The state variables are total feed kg 342, cumulative TAN (total ammonia nitrogen) 344 and biomass in grams 346. The effects are feed in kg 348, feed cost 350, Daily TAN gm 352, wasted feed 362, TAN biomass 354, nitrification 356, TNN biomass 358 and nitrification biomass 360.
The third model subsystem is total ammonia nitrogen 370. State variables include biomass gm 372, total ammonia nitrogen 374, bead filter 376 and sand filter 378. Effects are nitrogen content 380, feed rate 382, nitrogen feed gm day 384, assimilation rate 386, wasted feed 388, NH3 mg I 390, NH3 concentration gm I 392, Tank volume I 394, main flow rate 396, TAN to bead filter 398, bead filter nitrification 400, TAN to sand filter 402, Sand filter nitrification 404 and TAN return 406.
The fourth model subsystem is denitrification 420. State variables are TNN (total nitrate nitrogen) 422 and bioreactor 424. Effects are nitrification 426, bead filter nitrification 428, sand filter nitrification 430, NO3 concentration mg I 432, NO3 concentration gm I 434, tank volume I 436, TNN to bioreactor 438, denitrification 440, bioreactor efficiency 442, columns 444, bioreactor volume 446, bioreactor flow 448, residence time 450 and TNN return 452.
The mathematical model is as follows:
Biomass-- gm(t)=Biomass-- gm(t-dt)+(Growth-- gm)*dt
INIT Biomass-- gm=Number*0.0020 {2 mg PLs}
Growth-- gm=(Grams-- Growth/7)*Number
Kilos-- per-- cu-- meter=Biomass-- gm/Tank-- Vol-- I
Number=154800 {400 animals/m3 25 gms & 10 kg/m3}
Value-- $=(Biomas-- gm*2.2*6)/1000
Weight-- gm=Biomass-- gm/Number
Grams-- Growth=GRAPH(time) (0.00, 0.25), (7.50, 0.26), (15.0, 0.26), (22.5, 0.278), (30.0, 0.312), (37.5, 0.407), (45.0, 0.54), (52.5, 0.915), (60.0, 1.11), (67.5, 1.18), (75.0, 1.20), (82.5, 1.20), (90.0, 1.20), (97.5, 1.20), (105, 1.20), (113, 1.20), (120, 1.20), (128, 1.20), (135, 1.20), (143, 1.20), (150, 1.20)
Cum-- TAN(t)=Cum-- TAN(t-dt)+(Daily-- T-- A-- N-- gm)*dt
INIT Cum-- TAN=0
Daily-- T-- A-- N-- gm=Wasted-- Feed
Total-- Feed-- kg(t)=Total-- Feed-- kg(t-dt)+(Feed-- kg)*dt
INIT Total-- Feed-- kg=0
Feed-- kg=((Feed-- Rate/100)*Biomass-- gm)/1000 {kg}
Feed-- Cost-- $=Total-- Feed-- kg*0.6
Nitrification-- biomass=(Nitrification/Biomass-- gm)*1000
Bioreactor(t)=Bioreactor(t-dt)+(TNN-- to-- Bioreactor-Denitrification-TNN-- Return)*dt
INIT Bioreactor=0
TNN-- to-- Bioreactor=TNN*(Bioreactor-- Flow/Tank-- Vol-- I)
Denitrification=Bioreactor-- Efficiency*Bioreactor
TNN-- Return=Bioreactor-Denitrification
TNN(t)=TNN(t-dt)+(TNN-- Return+Nitrification-TNN-- to-- Bioreactor)*dt
TNN-- Return=Bioreactor-Denitrification
Nitrification=BF-- Nitrification+SF-- Nitrification
TNN-- to-- Bioreactor=TNN*(Bioreactor-- Flow/Tank-- Vol-- I)
Bioreactor-- Efficiency=0.7
Bioreactor-- Flow=Bioreactor-- Volume*(24/Residence-- Time)
Bioreactor-- Volumne=200*Columns
NO3-- Conc-- gm-- I=TNN/Tank-- Vol-- I
Residence-- Time=2{2 hours, converted to days}
Bead-- Filter(t)=Bead-- Filter(t-dt)+(TAN-- to-- BF-TAN-- to-- SF-BF-- Nitrification)*dt
INIT Bead-- Filter=0
TAN-- to-- BF=NH3-- Conc-- gm-- I*Main-- Flow-- Rate
TAN-- to-- SF=Bead-- Filter-BF-- Nitrification
BF-- Nitrification=min(Bead-- Filter,250)
Sand-- Filter(t)=Sand-- Filter(t-dt)+(TAN-- to-- SF-TAN-- return-SF-- Nitrification)*dt
INIT Sand-- Filter=0
TAN-to-- SF=Bead-- Filter-BF-- Nitrification
TAN-Return=Sand-- Filter-SF-- Nitrification
SF-- Nitrification=min(Sand-- Filter,3750)
T-- A-- N(t)=T-- A-- N-- (t-dt)+(Wasted-- Feed+TAN-- Return-TAN-- to-- BF)*dt
Wasted-- Feed=Nitrogen-- Feed-- gm-- day-(Nitrogen-- Feed-- gm-- day*Assimilation-- Rate)
TAN-- return=Sand-- Filter-SF-- Nitrification
TAN-- to-- BF=NH3-- Conc-- gm-- I*Main-- Flow-- Rate
Assimilation-- Rate=0.45
Feed-- Rate=Grams-- Growth*1.8
Main-- Flow-- Rate=(890*3.785)*3600
NH3-- Conc-- gm-- I=T-- A-- N/Tank-- Vol-- I
NH3-- mg-- I=NH3-- Conc-- gm-- I*1000
Nitrogen-- Content=0.4
Nitrogen-- Feed-- gm-- day=Biomass-- gm*(Feed-- Rate/100)*Nitrogen-- Content
Tank-- Vol-- I=387374
TAN-- Biomass=Daily-- T-- A-- N-- gm/Biomass-- gm
TNN-- Biomass=(Nitrification/Biomass-- gm)*1000
The application of an adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is used for the purpose of object classification in order to develop an object recognition model for a machine vision system. Automated image quality assessment using image quality factors (overall brightness, kurtosis features of the curve describing contrast), expert knowledge (an estimate of animal size, an estimate of thresholding values necessary to segment an animal), a model of the image quality as it relates to the ability of the machine vision system to accurately measure objects, and a model of image quality as it relates to the certainty of measurement are developed using ANFIS. Texture based image modeling uses an adaptation of the Markov random fields methods. Image modeling based on Markov random fields is well known. The present invention uses an adaptation of this method involving the addition of motion information and the use of a predictive fuzzy model of image information to determine the likelihood of a neighborhood of pixels being the target object.
A part of the present invention is the application of ANFIS for the purpose of system state classification for the purposes of developing a system state recognition model for an automated aquaculture system. Rapid object modeling: Using the input of the traditional image analysis tools such as Global Lab Image (FIG. 15), the use of ANFIS under the batch learning mode allows for the rapid development of a FIS that models the target object (FIGS. 16 and 17). The unique step taken here to rapidly model an object is the use of "natural" groupings from the world of fuzzy logic.
Another aspect of the invention is the use of machine learning (batch or unsupervised) to monitor the condition of organisms in an automated aquaculture system. This includes organism condition assessment, in which the condition of the organism may be (1) defined using a pre-existing knowledge base and/or (2) deduced based on the ANFIS process of combining target object feature analysis with other parameter data (such as water quality, temperature, light level) in an automated aquaculture system. Continuous organism activity monitoring in which the activity level of the animals, based on gross movement and shape recognition is incorporated into the automated aquaculture system is also used. A diagram of the Adoptive-Network-based-Fuzzy Inference Driven Machine Vision Classification System for Aquaculture (ANFIS) is shown in FIG. 12. The inputs to the "ANFIS" 240 include "a priori knowledge of target object morphology" 242 and "traditional image analysis of segmentation features" 244. The input/output loop in FIG. 12 is "natural groupings and operator supervision of intelligent FIS development using batch or continuous learning methods" 246 and the outputs are "ANFIS continues with unsupervised learning" 248 and "FIS alone" 250.
An aspect of the invention, therefore, may be described as the use of the results of machine vision as sensor input (i.e., control variable) in an automated aquaculture system.
Key elements in the economical use of this type of water circulation are: (1) submergence (FIG. 3) or the relationship (expressed as a percent) between the depth air is injected to the height water is raised (lifted); (2) the volume of injected air, FIG. 3; (3) the design of the injector, 1; (4) diameter of the airlift; and (5) the design of the lifted water discharge orifice DO, and head tank. The most efficient airlifts deliver water through an open vertical pipe at the water's surface. Efficiency declines as the top of the pipe is raised above the surface. Theoretically, a submergence below 80% results in very restricted water flow volumes. Pipe diameter influences the height of lift and smaller pipe diameters are more efficient at lower (below 80%) submergences. Air bubble size configuration influences airlift efficiency. Small bubbles rise slower and lift water at a slower rate than large bubbles. Uniform bubble size moves less water than mixed bubble sizes. Two types of injection are commonly used. One type injects air through a collar outside the airlift pipe and the other injects air through a pipe installed inside the airlift pipe. The first design avoids restricting water flow by limiting friction and optimizing the volume in the pipe.
The novel airlift pump included in this invention has several unique design characteristics. First, the diffuser orifice 53 is a modified tear drop shape (FIG. 4) beginning as a slit at the top to produce smaller (<1-10 mm dia.), slower rising bubbles then expanding to a circular base to produce larger bubbles (10-30 mm dia.) (FIG. 4). This produces mixed bubble sizes and broadens the range of control for automation. Three diffuser orifices are cut into smaller diameter pipe (1/2-2"). The numbers of orifices increase with pipe circumference to the maximum number that can be evenly spaced leaving enough material between the greatest horizontal diameter of the orifices to firmly connect the lower end of the diff-user. Second, for ease of access to the diffuser, all airlifts used in this invention are engineered with larger lift tubes 55 so an air pipe with the diffuser attached can be installed in the center of the lift tube. Third, the air-water slurry exiting the top of the airlift pipe is deflected away from the top of the pipe by a cone-shaped structure. If the top of the airlift were at the surface of water in a tank the cone would reduce lift efficiency. However, water must be raised some amount (.about.10-20 cm) to provide head pressure for circulation through filters. Therefore, the airlift must empty into a head tank. Several centimeters of the top must extend above the bottom of the head tank so that water does not try to flow back down the airlift before it exits the head tank. Thus, the cone-shaped structure deflects water away from the top of the airlift so that it does not fall straight down and impede water flow. The airlift and head tank can be installed anywhere in the loop. In the interest of safety, it should be down stream from the filter that plugs the easiest (i.e., particle filters; FIG. 1).
Water circulation through the system is a closed loop through the culture tank(s) and individual filters, e.g., FIG. 1. The portion of the total flow that moves through each subsequent component is adjusted using by-pass loops between components and allows control of the efficiency of filtration, the deployment of expendables and the rate of water circulation (.about.50-200 gpm). The degree of filtration efficiency must maintain water quality at an acceptable level and may be adjusted by variable-rate recirculating loops within each component, e.g., the foam fractionator. All of flow rates within and between components are monitored and controlled by the distributed control system (DCS).
Particulate removal may be accomplished by screens, settling basins, media filled traps and to some extent, physical/chemical adsorption devices (e.g., foam fractionators and activated carbon). With the exception of canister type particle traps, most solids removers can be directly plumbed into an airlift driven water circuit. The most practical designs for airlifts have large surface areas, moving screens and/or sediment traps. The cross sectional design (FIGS. 2A and 2B) of the culture tank can be such that solid wastes are massed in the flow of water circulation and carried to a solids trap 20. This effect is dependent upon a tank design that is longer than wide and configured with the water inlet at one end and the outlet at the other. Air diffused into the culture tank along the longitudinal axis creates circulation cells at right angles to the longitudinal flow of water and flushes solids particles from the bottom and sides to the center. Solids then migrate with the water flow from the inlet end of the tank to the outlet where they are picked up in the outlet stream and carried to the solids separator 20. Solids separators should be installed immediately downstream from the culture tank. The inlet to the separator should empty at the height of the water level in the culture tank so that the culture tank water level stays constant. Alternatively, a low head pressure upflow bead filter (FIG. 7) or sand filter can be used to separate particles. These latter two systems require backwashing with the loss of a fraction of system water.
Foam fractionators of all designs can be included but their position should be fixed. They should be positioned immediately after the particulate filter. The primary design constraint is that water flows down the fractionator column against a countercurrent of air bubbles. Dissolved and suspended organics adhere to the bubbles and are carried up a drying tube above the water level. It is transferred from the bubbles to the sides of the drying tube and carried up to a reservoir by the air stream that produced the bubbles.
The foam fractionator designed for the system described in the specific embodiments (FIG. 5) consists of a cylindrical (contact) chamber 32 standing on end and plumbed to an airlift near its bottom. The bottom of the cylinder is closed and the top is fitted with a shallow cone 34 pointed upward. The cone location is adjustable in the cylinder and its base is set at cylinder water level. Void volume decreases toward the top of the cone condensing foam as it is produced and floats upward. The peak of the cone opens into a section of tubing 36 that further condenses or "drys" the foam that is carried by the stream of escaping air to a foam collector . In this embodiment the top of the drying tube is fitted with a venturi 44 that assists escaping air to carry the foam to a reservoir outside the system.
Untreated water enters the foam fractionator contact chamber through louvered slots 31 positioned several centimeters below the water level of the vessel holding the fractionator (FIG. 5). The water is drawn in by an airlift 55 plumbed to the bottom of the contact chamber and the flow rate is adjusted to optimize the formation of foam in the condensing cone. The louver fins are directed inward so that water entering the contact chamber travels in a circular pattern. This design: (1) increases water residence time for more efficient organic removal; (2) allows small air bubbles to coalesce into to larger bubbles that can rise faster against the countercurrent of water, and (3) concentrates the bubble mass in the center of the cylinder so that it does not escape through the louvers. The rate at which water can be stripped of dissolved and particulate organics is dependent upon a water velocity through the contact chamber that allows air bubbles carrying the organics to rise. Therefore, the diameter of contact chamber is an important factor because as it increases, the distance traveled in each complete circle increases and the volume of water that can be stripped increases.
Activated carbon, zeolites, synthetic media and selectively permeable membranes are used to trap molecules based on size or electrical charge. Filter designs for these media all produce a water flow directed across the media. A typical embodiment for this invention is a vessel fitted with a false bottom and screen such that water enters the vessel below the false bottom and flows upward through the screen and media. The screen must be of a mesh size that retains the media but passes the largest particles that escape the particulate filter. Designs that hold media in a vertical configuration against the water flow in a high pressure, pump-driven system tend to become compacted and require more labor to operate.
Media beds support bacteria for (1) oxidizing organic wastes to NH4 and CO2, and (2) reducing the end product(s) to elemental nitrogen, N2. Oxidizing beds probably have the greatest variety of designs, media types and operating efficiencies of all the filters and conditioning devices used in aquaculture. The most common type is the submerged filter (e.g., under gravel or sand). Wet-dry filters pump water over plastic balls, synthetic and natural fiber mats and other surfaces that are exposed to the air. Fluidized beds use fine grained particles (e.g., sand or plastic beads) that are kept in suspension by the flow of water injected beneath them. All types have been adapted to function at head pressures produced by airlifts.
The design used in this embodiment of the invention is a modified submerged bed. However, the design of the bed differs from typical submerged beds in several key characteristics. First the bed is elevated so that it is just submerged at the surface 64 and incoming (untreated) water is injected below the bed 61 and rises through it (FIG. 6). This configuration: (1) reduces compaction of the bed and subsequent reduction of flow; (w) forces organic laden water to contact the dark side of the bed thus limiting the growth of heterotrophs; and (3) causes the bottom of the bed to contact oxygen rich water thus preventing the development of anaerobic regions in the bed. Second, this elevated configuration allows the area under the bed to be cleaned by extending a siphon through a manway 66. This saves down time and man hours normally spent dismantling the filter bed. In situ monitoring of filter bed function is accomplished with dissolved oxygen and pH probes above and below the bed and four oxidation-reduction probes spaced evenly over the filter bed surface area and inserted halfway into the depth of the filter bed. These inputs will be used to control water flow through the filter bed and injection of air or oxygen and buffer into the filter tank. This will optimize filter bed chemoauxotophic bacterial metabolism.
An alternative nitrifying biofilter is the upflow plastic bead filter (FIG. 7) that functions as a physical filter as well as a biological filter. This filter can perform both functions quite well when operated optimally in contrast to submerged filters that are adversely affected by particulate accumulation (e.g., channelization and biofloc mineralization). An upflow bead filter can accumulate particulates and nitrify when backwashed appropriately. However, optimizing these upflow bead filters requires an expertise that is often lacking in the personnel operating them. For this reason, automation of their function is essential. The operation of the upflow bead filter can be optimized by monitoring bacterial metabolism in the bed using in situ sensors (e.g. dissolved oxygen 112, oxidation-reduction potential 120, pH 118 and flow rate 116) and measuring the pressure drop across the bed due to particulate accumulation with pressure sensors 114. This embodiment has two oxidation-reduction sensors 120 to be placed below and above the bed as well as two more being placed within the bed at 180° intervals around the circular bed 92. In addition, two pH sensors 118 are placed in the opposite 180° configuration. These four sensors are placed in the middle of the bed height. In addition, one dissolved oxygen probe 112 is placed above and one below the bed. The differential pressure transducer 14 is connected to the filter influent 130 and effluent 132 piping. The inputs from the sensors is used to automate the water flow rate or residence time, backwash frequency, backwash duration and to inject oxygen and buffer into the bead filter to optimize the growth and metabolism of the chemoauxotrophic bacteria and inhibit the heterotrophic bacteria residing on the beads. If backwashing is too frequent or severe, the chemoauxotrophs will not be able to maintain their position on the beds and they will be removed from the filter at backwashing. If the backwashing is not frequent enough, the heterotrophic bacteria will overgrow the chemoauxotrophs and the filter will actual produce ammonia and other waste products instead of removing them. It is this fine balance that requires automation.
Another example of automated biological filtration is an automated denitrifying bioreactor described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,630. This filter makes it possible to remove the nitrogen from the water completely. It is essential to the design of a truly closed aquaculture system and is included as a component of the automated, closed recirculating aquaculture system as described herein.
This group of devices produce ozone, ultraviolet light (UV) or both for the purpose of sterilization. Ozone is highly corrosive. It is most safely used by injecting it into the water processing loop at a point where dissolved organics are most concentrated to facilitate its reduction. Ozone delivery systems can be used in closed aquaculture systems without modification. The efficiency of and responsible use of Ultraviolet (UV) light requires a design that insures that all water passing through the contactor pass over a specified section of the bulb and within a specified distance from the bulb at the specified section, i.e., a lethal contact zone. Less contact could result in the formation of UV resistant strains of bacteria. Economical UV contactor designs for pump-driven systems can not pass enough volume to be effective on airlift driven systems. At head pressures of 15-30 centimeters 1 properly configured UV bulb is needed for each 60 liters of water circulated per minute. Therefore, UV contractors for airlift systems were designed with (1) larger inlet and outlets; (2) more bulbs, and (3) air purge vents. Installation of the UV contactors in line between the last filter and the culture tank and below the water level of each minimizes flow restrictions imposed by low head pressures.
The distributed control subsystem is composed of the following elements. An industrial process control system was designed and installed on the above described tank system. The original design was based on a microcomputer supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA), linking 386/486 series personal computers (PC) with standard industrial control signal multiplexers and software. Currently, the system has become a subprocess in a more comprehensive distributed control system (DCS) that serves three separate aquaculture facilities. Every component (hardware and software) was bought off-the-shelf so that no circuits were constructed and no computer code was written.
The software used is an intuitive graphical interface product for Windows™ operating environment, DMACS™ for Windows™ by Intellution. The program can run on any 386/486 PC and includes Net DDE, allowing transfer of data between Windows™ programs. Inputs and outputs can be displayed as floor plans, graphs, charts or spreadsheets in real-time and all data can be archived to the hard disk or other media. Control functions include: set point control, PID (proportional/integral/derivative) control, batch control, statistical process control and custom control blocks. Additional modules allow networking across typical microcomputer networks and remote operation from a dial-in phone line. The computer hardware was a 486 IBM clone PC with 16 MB (Megabyte) RAM (Random Access Memory), 250 MB hard-disk, 1 MB video card and a SVGA Monitor. A Best Systems (Model 660) uninterruptable power supply (UPS) protected the computer from power surges and would power the computer and monitor for 35 min. during a power outage.
The computer software and hardware was interfaced to an unintelligent signal multiplexer network (Dutec Model IOP-AD+ and IOP-DE) composed of 16 analog and 16 digital inputs/outputs (I/O) channels. Each channel required its own signal conditioning module that could accept any voltage or current signal (i.e., 4-20 mA, 0-1 V or 0-100 mV). Many different types of I/O were connected to the multiplexer. The raceway control system included monitoring and control of temperature (i.e., chiller and heaters), pH, salinity (conductivity), dissolved oxygen, water flow rate between tank and filter and water level. In addition, photoperiod control (i.e., relay for overhead lights) and an automatic belt feeder were installed. The raceway multiplexer was one of four such multiplexers connected to the control system. The raceway system was represented on the control system's video monitor as a top view and all major functions (i.e., photoperiod, ultraviolet sterilizer state, water level, pH buffer injection and protein skimmer state) were animated for easy visual determination by the technical staff. Digital displays similar to meter displays were created for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and water flow rate; all inputs and most outputs were archived to a historical data base on the computer hard disk.
(a) An embodiment of the invention as described herein utilizes two black and white security cameras 140 (Burhel), a standard RS170 video output or two digital cameras consisting of a 1"×1" digital circuit board on which a video camera is mounted and the fixed focus lens they utilize (FIG. 13B). The output of these cameras is a standard RS170, although with fewer lines of resolution than the other cameras. The housing for these cameras will consist of a small plastic dome housing (4 inches in diameter) fixed and sealed (via a silicone greased o-ring) to a plexi backing.
(b) Each camera is contained in a glass housing comprising a 6"×16"×20" open-top, rectanguloid shape similar to a small aquarium 142 (FIG. 13A). Each housing is topped with a plexiglass lid 144. The lid has two openings, one for the cords 146 (power in, video out), the other for the forced air entry. Forced air is an integral part of the housing. It allows the electronic equipment to operate successfully in a seawater environment. The use of forced air for this purpose is believed to be a novel aspect of the invention.
(c) The camera housing is mounted on each tank by an aluminum bar 148 (FIG. 13C) referred to as the "camera mount". The main arms of the camera mount consist of solid bar aluminum, and the cross pieces are manufactured from aluminum angle iron. Solid aluminum bar was used for three reasons: (1) to maintain a rigid lever arm, (2) aluminum will not corrode dangerously with contact with sea water, and (3) the weight of the solid bar helps to compensate for the buoyancy of the housing in salt water. The angle of the mount is adjusted by four bolts which are in contact with the underside of the tanks lids.
(d) An additional weight, in the form of a plastic and epoxy coated boat anchor 149, is used to compensate for the buoyant force of the housing. Compensating for buoyancy and thus reducing the effect of wave action is a necessary part of coping with submerged or partially submerged cameras.
The image digitization and processing system is illustrated in FIG. 14. The squid or other animals in the tank 160 are visualized by two cameras 140, which are connected via RS232 cable and connectors to a Data Translation "Frame Grabbing" Board (model #DT3851) 162. This board is responsible for image digitization and some low level frame processing. The advantages of this board are that the on-board memory may be programmed and operations such as frame subtraction, may take place on the board itself, thus speeding the overall frame processing time. The Data Translation board is mounted in the Machine Vision Computer 164, which also contains an Intel 486/120 MHz motherboard and 16 Mb of RAM. The computer produces an image analysis 166, which is subject to the machine intelligence ANFIS process 167, combining target object feature analysis with other parameter data, and processed through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) connections and NetDDE 168 to link the various software packages and report 169 the vision system results to control.
For the development of the systems described herein standard, consumer level versions of the following software were used (FIG. 15):
(a) Global Lab Image 182: for image feature extraction, image enhancement, data collection and the beginning stages of the inventors' statistical recognition model.
(b) Matlab 196 & Matlab's Fuzzy Logic Tool Box 200: for producing a working fuzzy model as well as the first attempts at using ANFIS, and the beginnings of the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) connections the inventors used to link the various software packages to produce a working model of their system.
(c) Microsoft Excel: for DDE linkage as well as data storage and manipulation in the beginning stages of the work.
For the development of the final system, the inventors used the following software libraries and programs:
(d) GLIDE 184: the developer's library containing the source code and all the related functions of the Consumer version of Global Lab Image.
(e) Matlab 196: the consumer version of this product contains resources to port Matlab script files to C compilable units.
(f) Borland C++ compiler v. 4.0 186: The inventors made limited use of this compiler and development platform in order to port the Matlab generated C units to Dynamically Linked Libraries (DLL's) that could be used by the Object-Oriented Application generated using the Delphi Application Development Program.
(g) Borland Delphi 190: Delphi is an Object-Oriented, Pascal-based Development Platform. Using it allowed the generation of a unique application 188 using the programming libraries listed above and the user interface provided by Delphi. Delphi also includes a powerful library of DDE, Net DDE and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) objects (or functions). These were essential to the final development of the machine vision system which is linked across the computer network with the overall control system which uses FixDMACS software.
The final system generated using the developer's version of the described software, as shown in FIG. 15 includes the following:
The imaging system (video camera and capture board) 180 connects to the image processing global lab 182 software that produces image analysis 194, which feeds into MATLAB 196 using the neural networks toolbox 198 or the fuzzy logic toolbox 200 to produce the intelligent vision system model 202. Alternatively the image processing global lab 182 connects with the glide development library 184, and further utilizing the Borland C++ libraries to DLL's 186, and using the Delphi application development software 188 unique programming objects are authored 188 to result in continuous monitoring 192.
A 14,500 liter (3,756 US gal.) system used to culture a sensitive marine species Sepioteuthis lessoniana (squid) was fully automated and connected to an automated denitrifying bioreactor. Airlift technology was developed in 3 other system designs the largest of which consists of 2 culture tanks, 2 particle filters, 2 foam fractionators, 2 carbon filters, 1 biological filter and 2 UV sterilizers. The total volume of the system including plumbing and prefilter tanks totals 53,150 liters (16,360 gal.). All systems supported the squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) through its life cycle. The automated system maintained squid through 6 generations. Airlift-driven systems are in operation with all filtration and water conditioning devices for low-head pressure application (designed, built, tested and proven). One embodiment (a nursery system) has supported Sepioteuthis lessoniana (squid species) from incubation to late juvenile stage and another (grow-out) system supported it to the end of its life cycle, including the production of fertile eggs. The system maintained adequate water quality (FIGS. 8A to 8D) as six generations of squid were grown in the system. Another embodiment has Sepia officinalis (cuttlefish species) nearing sexual maturity in its inaugural culture run. In addition to the squid and cuttlefish production systems described above, this invention is applicable to the culture of marine fish and fingerlings.
A 5,600 liter (1,480 US gal.) culture system used to culture specific-pathogen-free (SPF) marine shrimp was fully automated and connected to the required filtration (FIG. 9). The system is composed of 2-1,900 L shrimp culture trays 210, a 1.5 hp centrifugal pump 212, a 1 m3 computer automated upflow bead filter 214 (FIG. 7), a 2.7 m3 submerged oyster shell biofilter 216 (FIG. 6), a protein skimmer/foam fractionator 218 (FIG. 5), a 0.05 m3 activated carbon filter 220, 2 ultraviolet sterilizers 222, ozone generator 224 and a denitrifying bioreactor 226. Also included in the system is a water recovery tank 228. The system has been constructed and operated for 2 years. The system has supported shrimp (Penaeus vannamei and Penaeus setiferus) densities as high as 5,000 m2 for postlarvae and 50 m2 for adult shrimp >15 g. Adult shrimp as large as 20 g have been grown in the system and water quality has been acceptable even during system start-ups (FIG. 10A-FIG. 10C). The water passes from the culture trays through the bead filter, protein skimmer, carbon filter, the submerged biofilter, UV sterilizers and back to culture trays. A side-loop is taken from the trays, passes through the denitrifying bioreactor and returns to the submerged biofilter. This type of system would be equally applicable to the culture of marine flatfish (e.g. flounder or fluke), other crustaceans (e.g. crabs, crayfish or lobsters) and bivalve mollusks (e.g. clams, scallops and oysters).


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Recognizing that there is beauty and opportunity provided in this season that won't be found anywhere else in life has helped me look at things with optimism, even though the circumstances have not changed.Read More
Growing Past Our Limitations
It's amazing to me when I grow past my own limitations how I see others living within their own. Sure, life isn't what you would have preferred, but what can you do about it? Work with what you have and make the most of it. If you want something bad enough and it's God's will, he will show you the right course, but you also have to put in the faith and hard work to get there.
There have been many times where through TSW I was tempted to let the condition be the reason I wasn't effective or an excuse for not meeting my goals. Yet there is a choice within this circumstance: to let it beat me or rise above.
I don't know your mindset, but I encourage you today to consider that you are exactly where God wants you to be right now. Ask Him to show you how to glorify him in this season, how to learn and grow from this opportunity, and to help you see what He sees when he looks at you. You are a treasure, have value, and are not forgotten. Your story is one that will inspire others and encourage them in their walk of faith. There is so much opportunity for growth and good things to spring forth: God is the ultimate gardener!
AND, there's a great VeggieTales song on this idea..."God is bigger than the boogie man. He's bigger than Godzilla or the monsters on tv. Oh God is bigger than the boogie man, and He's watching out for you and me."
Partner with God and crush your limitations. We are waiting for you to soar.
P.S. I often use the times of insomnia to write these posts. Try to take every opportunity to make the most of each time I'm awake. We never know how long we have on this earth to make an impact and leave a legacy.
P.S.S. Can you name which episode this song is from?
Topical Steroid Withdrawal - Healing Playlist
The journey of healing through Topical Steroid Withdrawal / Red Skin Syndrome can mentally take you to some dark places if you are not careful. Here is a list of songs that helped me brave the worst waves, and lean into Jesus as my source of strength and comfort. I hope this list helps you walk through the fire of whatever life throws your way. You can have joy in the midst of pain and suffering. {not easy, but it's possible} Remember, Peace has a name. Hope has a name. His name is Jesus, and he is with you always.
Miracles by Kari Jobe
Other Favorites: Good Grace, Rule, Here Now, Say the Word
Do It Again by Elevation Worship
Other Favorites: Here As In Heaven, Resurrecting, Yahweh
Reckless Love by Cory Asbury
Other Favorites: God Only Knows
I'll Find You by Lecrae (feat. Tori Kelly)
Other Favorites: Blessings, Round of Applause
Shelter by Carrollton
Other Favorites: I Shall Not Want, Be Thou My Vision
Psalm 95 - Sons of Korah
What are your go-to songs when you are facing pain and heartache?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Grace & Peace ❤
The Root & The Weed
"…having a garden worth having means pulling out the weeds."Read More
Gratitude: Normal Is A Luxury
"Willful ignorance can be extremely hurtful, but there is an opportunity to engage if we have courage.Read More
Topical Steroid Withdrawal /Red Skin Syndrome FAQ's
A guide on what Topical Steroid Withdrawal / Red Skin Syndrome is for me, my story, and how Josh and I are handling the recovery process.Read More
When I'm At My Wits End
At the foot of the Cross, my to-do lists and frustrations with life meet their match!Read More
The Discipline & Ease of Habits
Choice is an illusion when we are trying to set and achieve a new habit.Read More
Butterflies & 40 Years
Caterpillars, Israelites, and sinners given life. All must go through what doesn't make sense to see the faithfulness of God.Read More
Repeat After Me...
My challenge to you is to be intentional and proactive today in the way that you talk, think, and act. We are not meant to live in defeat: we are meant to live in victory.Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Da Nang
Da Nang
Da Nang is Vietnam's third busiest airport and the key transportation hub and economic centre for central Vietnam. Once considered just a stepping stone to Lang Co and Hoi An for travelers, Da Nang these days is attracting scores of visitors in its own right. It's a city going places, and it's going quickly with one of the fastest growth rates in SE Asia.
Da Nang's beaches are some of the finest in the world. The city is better equipped for shoppers than anywhere in central Vietnam, especially for Western goods, and its nightlife and international restaurants reveal a city with an eye to the future, a city increasingly expressing the new cosmopolitan Vietnam.


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Beronia Rueda Verdejo
Try something different from Spain
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An exceptional white wine from the up and coming Rueda region of North West Spain. Made collaboratively by two highly commended Spanish winemakers Beatriz Paniagua and Matias Calleja. Ideal with salads, fish and white meat.
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Calculate IC 50 using excel - (Nov/15/2011 )
Somebody please help me to calculate IC 50 using excel, I have MTS assay datas. I have used conc both the doubling 1uM-800uM) dilution and 10 fold dilution(1pm to 1mM) . In each case should I plot (conc) the x-axis in log scale. Should I look at 50% inhibition of cells or 50% effect of the drug. Please explain step by step.
What I do Is I plot the log of the conc. on the X axis and the ABS in Y axis, then I select a range.. where I can see a linear function and on that range I take 3(the middle and the sides) of my dilutions to repeat the test with a postive control and a negative control ... or what I'm doing is trying with the 3 dilutions and see how the assay respond (and you choose the best of those 3 dilutions)


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Think of sports-based films made in India and visuals of LAGAAN and CHAK DE INDIA flash across your mind. Will DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL fall in the same league as these immensely popular flicks, is one vital question that crosses your mind as the reels of UTV's new sport-based film [their second this year, after HATTRICK] DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL are about to unfold.
GOAL is a simple story that packs not just the sport, but also dabbles with issues like racism and fanaticism associated with this sport. Issues that Westerners can relate to more than Indians, especially racial discrimination.
As a film, GOAL has its share of highs and lows. If the first hour is strictly okay, the pendulum swings in its favour in the second hour -- in the last 20 minutes, to be precise. The sport succeeds in arousing patriotic feelings, besides involving the viewer in the fight-to-finish finale.
Conversely, there are times when you feel that the film falls back on the predictable, tried-n-tested mundane stuff. And packs in something ['Billo', the song] that's just not in sync with the mood of the film.
To sum up, GOAL is a simple story, well told. Notwithstanding the hiccups, this film hits a goal, courtesy its brilliantly executed finale.
Southall United Football Club is facing its deepest crisis ever. Bankrupt, with no stars, no coach, no sponsors, no takers, no spectators and most importantly, no owner. After the City Council sends an eviction notice, it's the last chance to save the ground, the club and their honour. Shaan [Arshad Warsi] takes up the challenge to save the club from extinction. After a disesteemed ex-player, Tony Singh [Boman Irani], joins them as the coach, Shaan and he begin work to gather the worn out team.
Sunny's [John Abraham] dreams to play for England crashes after his club does not select him. The reason is apparently not his game, but the colour of his skin. Sunny and Shaan never see eye to eye. Adding to their personal chaos is Shaan's cousin sister Rumana [Bipasha Basu], who is in love with Sunny.
Tony manages to convince Sunny to play for Southall United. It takes a while before Shaan and the team warms up to Sunny. With Sunny joining Southall United, the team gradually starts climbing the points tally. The City Council is worried. Johny Bakshi [Dalip Tahil], a commentator and a frontman of the Council, plans to lure Sunny away from Southall United.
Director Vivek Agnihotri combines style and substance in his second outing GOAL. Take the sequence at the very start, when an English woman and her frontman [Dalip Tahil] reveal their plans of coming up with a shopping complex on the ground. The director opens the cards at the very outset. But the narrative dips, rises, hits a low and ascends unfailingly till the first hour ends. The sequence prior to the intermission -- at the Manchester United Stadium -- leaves you awe-struck and makes you look forward to a powerful second hour.
Fortunately, the drama only gets exciting in the post-interval hour. The cold vibes that Arshad and John share as also John's volte-face, when he decides to abandon his club for the riches, give the film that extra dimension, camouflaging the defects that raised their head not too long back. The film dips at times in this hour too, but the journey to the finale is well structured. Yes, John's change of heart is slightly filmy and cliched, but the climax is astounding. The penultimate 20 minutes in the stadium are awe-inspiring and that's what you carry back home.
Vivek Agnihotri knows what he's talking and though you know that he got swayed by technique in his very first film CHOCOLATE, in GOAL, he never lets technique overpower content. The story is simple, but absorbing and presented stylishly. He's truly evolved into a fine storyteller.
There're just two songs in the narrative -- the anthem 'Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal'/excellent and 'Billo'/well-tuned, but the mujra doesn't go well with the mood of the film. Attar Singh Saini's cinematography is striking. The camera movements -- so difficult in a film like this -- are exemplary.
Both John and Arshad are the 'Men of the Match'. John is a revelation. Wrongly dubbed as a clotheshorse in his earlier films, he hits a goal in GOAL. John lends the right texture to his character. He not only looks right for the part, but also plays the sport like a pro. GOAL should occupy the top slot in his body of work!
Arshad Warsi is superb. An incredibly talented actor whose versatility speaks volumes. Cast in a sober, serious role this time, Arshad enacts the part with as much ease as he portrayed Circuit. Bipasha Basu may not have a lengthy role, but she adds zing to the goings-on as and when she appears. Her love story with John is really cute.
Boman Irani is top notch. Note his roar at the intermission point or the uneasiness he displays whenever his team locks horns with the rivals on field. It's a flawless performance. Raj Zutshi is first-rate. Dalip Tahil carries the venomous part well. The actor enacting the role of Arshad's wife does a commendable job.
On the whole, DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL has an ordinary first hour, but the post-interval portions, especially the exhilarating climax, makes up for everything. At the box-office, the producers [UTV] have already recovered the cost of production from various sales and in-film advertising. The theatrical business will only add to the booty, considering the film has the merits to work with moviegoers. Another factor that goes in its favour -- and it's an important one -- is the fact that the moviegoers haven't seen a new release post-Diwali. That should reap dhan for DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL.


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New Strategy Pushes DigitalTown's Userbase Up 270% YOY
Via News Release,
"DigitalTown's high school spirit websites, publishing scores and rankings of the nation's high school football teams, show solid growth.
Comparable for October 2009 to Oct 2010 shows user base grew 270% (85,824 to 318,263) and page/score views grew by 535% (98,955 to 628,452). The new format was introduced mid-October."


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One-third of the world's population doesn't have access to a suitable toilet; more people have mobile phone access. more...
November 16 , 1933 : Diplomatic relations between the US and the Soviet Union were established. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
Though still out of reach financially for most average households, a number of robotics think tanks across the globe have devised robot chefs to perform a range of preparation, cooking or baking tasks — some even entertaining as they prepare a wealth of recipes. Some of the models are more compact or versatile than others. One Chinese model of robot chef even resembles the iconic family robot, Rosie, from the popular US cartoon The Jetson's, but without the cleaning expertise and observant butleresqe comebacks.
According to a 2010 New York Times article, 17 Carnegie Mellon University faculty members have united in recent years to create a handful of robots that divide many common kitchen tasks. A teenager-sized Snackbot serves as a gopher, baker and stirrer of sorts. The Motoman kitchen robot can work a restaurant-sized grilling operation with aplomb — an advance with the potential to pique the interest of restaurant owners and pique the ire of human chefs.
China boasts of being the first country to create a robot chef, the Fanxing Science and Technology Corporation's AIC-AI Cooking Robot made in 2006. Costing about $750,000 US Dollars (USD) to make, the AIC-AI could perform most cooking operations, often with its own internal convection oven. Later models of this and other groups' robot chefs could also be taught to operate external ovens, as long as the software was compatible.
Other research and development efforts followed, such as those at Carnegie Mellon, MIT and the Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory in Switzerland, each producing robots with wide-ranging abilities to receive verbal commands and perform tasks as intricate as cracking an egg. Many other efforts have addressed more specific and mundane kitchen tasks. A Japanese restaurant named Famen features two ramen-making robots that entertain with knives during downtime. Others are designed to just make pancakes, omelets or perform unpopular preparation tasks like peeling potatoes or slicing onions.
The more advanced, multipurpose robot chef of 2011 — such as the one invented by China's Liu Changfa that was featured in 2007 at CNET's gadget blog -- will allow its users to program hundreds of recipes and command the robot chef with verbal cues to which the robot responds with often-witty comebacks. Before starting in on the meal, Changfa's robot will fix guests a drink to make the wait more bearable. The wait is then rewarded with the on-board computer's breadth of data. Some modern robots have been programmed to include every dish from several regions of China.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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The Consumer Rights Advocacy Network (CRANET), an umbrella body of all credible consumer rights advocacy organisations in Nigeria, in collaboration with Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), has held a one-day capacity enrichment workshop for consumer rights advocacy groups in the country.
The workshop, endorsed by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), held at the Excellence Hotel Ogba-Ijaiye, Lagos State. Its theme was "Exploring Strategic Alliance with Advocacy Groups for Effective Delivery of Consumerism in Nigeria."
The Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who was represented by Mr Okechukwu Aninweke, NCC Zonal Controller Lagos delivered the keynote address.
Other stakeholders in the sector including the media were fully represented. In a communiqué signed by the National President, CRANET and founder of Leadership Watch, Dr. Martins P. Iwuanyanwu; Mr. Emeka Okafor Member, Editor, Research Intelligence Magazine, Lagos; Ms Fidelia Salami, Secretary and author of Tourism in Nigeria and Chika Izuora of Leadership newspaper, the group considered various memoranda, reports and submissions presented by lead speakers, Etisalat Telecommunications and Arik Airline being service providers and other stakeholders.
The forum observed that the regulatory agencies in Nigeria namely Consumer Protection Council, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), among others have shown little or no commitment to the issue of consumerism and the interest of Nigerian consumers in general.
An exceptional case, it said, was the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) which it said had put in place innumerable and impressive programmes that protect, inform and educate the consumers in the telecommunication sector. It also praised the efforts of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in protecting bank customers.
The forum also expressed its worry over the Federal Government's lack of the appropriate mechanism to monitor and appraise the performance of CEOs of its agencies, which it said resulted in the seeming waste of budgetary allocation to such agencies.
It also noted that "lack of infrastructure, double taxation and double regulation are major challenges in providing quality and affordable service to consumers.
"Of particular reference are issues of power and security. Efforts must be made by the Federal Government to address these issues."
Another of the problems the forum noted are militating against the smooth operation of some companies is the outsourcing of some important functions within some operating companies. This it identified as part of the causes of poor services experienced by consumers.
The forum regretted that the poor and weak framework and regulations on consumerism in Nigeria are largely as a result of the incompetence of the leadership of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the sweeping corruption in the system. It recommended that round pegs should be placed in round holes in the stead of round pegs in square holes when it comes to appointments into agencies of government.
As the consumer regulatory agency, the forum expressed the urgent need for the CPC to carry out consumer education and enlightenment. This is so because most consumers in Nigeria do not know when their rights are trampled upon and taken for granted by service providers, importers and manufacturers.
The forum advocated the need for genuine collaboration among consumer rights advocacy groups and regulators in addressing the challenges of consumerism in Nigeria in order to adequately protect Nigerian consumers.
Praising the NCC as the only organisation that has shown serious commitment to consumerism from the inception of GSM in Nigeria, the forum noted that it has helped in transforming the telecommunication sector as well as protecting telecommunication consumers.
Recognising the role of the media in nation-building, the forum noted that consumer advocacy groups should partner with the media in all of their stakeholders' engagements to drive home the message of consumerism, even as it advised advocacy groups to sustain the clamour for consumer rights until all grey areas are fixed.
"Nigerian consumers must continue to agitate for better, quality and affordable services and must not shy away from this course for any reason, particularly as Nigerians are seriously complaining about the arbitrariness with which the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is billing electricity consumers.
"The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission should step up action to enforce its directive on the PHCN to issue prepaid meter free to all electricity consumers in Nigeria," it said.
The forum also condemned the unbridled manner in which sub-standard, fake and adulterated products especially food, drugs, power generating sets and spare parts flood almost all Nigerian markets. It therefore urged that those who take delight in bringing in these sub-standard goods should be made to face the law.


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The article you are about to read is told from my daughter's perspective, but is unfailingly — and unfortunately — true. Names have been omitted to protect those involved. Our house guest has promised to visit us again. When my daughter is older.
Every so often, it happens. What starts out as a normal day goes horribly wrong. As usual, mom serves you breakfast, helps you find your shoes, gets you in the car, lovingly pats you on the head, and then – "Today is the day your auntie is coming to stay for a week!"
Now I did not have nearly enough time to prepare for this visit. Sure, my mom told me every night at bedtime for five days or so leading up to the visit, but I mean c'mon! How does she expect me to remember that? If given more time, I would have been hoarding stuffed horses so I could casually sever the heads and leave them in auntie's bed. So, these tips are all ones that you can do with minimal planning and at no cost to your piggy bank contents.
- Meet any bribes with casual boredom. Grownups love to bring presents to try to ingratiate themselves into your lives. Do not fall for this, it is the oldest trick in the book. No matter how amazing the gift is, do not play with it for at least an hour after receiving it. Oh, a complete set of glittery markers that smell like fruit? Whatever. I could make these on my own with a stick and some blueberries. Get a broken crayon and start drawing.
- Do not acknowledge the guest for the first two days. Direct questions should be met with condescending stares. This is most effective when done with a face smeared with something — like Nutella, chocolate, peanut butter — that will make your guest underestimate your power. Then bring out the stare and let the tears begin.
- On day three, have one or two moments when you acknowledge your guest's existence. You want to make sure that she doesn't completely write you off. You need to dangle the hope of her winning your affections before the end of the visit. Don't go too crazy with this — you still don't want to be directly responding to her questions, just giving her a taste of what she's missing. Sing a song, retell the plot of Frozen — something pretty inane but still cute.
- When in the presence of your mother, tone things back a bit. You should save the really good stuff for when she's out of the room. This will force your guest either to be a tattletale, or to choose your mom to take sides. And we all know who your mom loves unconditionally, amirite?
- When your mom is out of the room, show your guest who is in control. A simple gesture speaks volumes, like knocking over her purse when she puts it on the floor next to you, in an attempt to join you in Lego building.
- If your guest is unable or unwilling to understand nonverbal cues, don't be afraid to be direct. I like to use a simple "Go upstairs," when my guest tries to play with me in the basement. Another good one is to say "You don't have a boyfriend" when she talks about her relationship.
- Remind your guest that this is not her home. If she makes the ridiculous mistake of saying "We're home!" when pulling into the driveway, calmly and clearly state "This is not your home."
- Keep your ear to the ground. If the first thing your guest does when entering the house is to mutter "I'm the grown up! I'm the grown up!" under her breath, you are on the right track.
- When she tries to talk to your mom, be sure to keep your mom really distracted. Especially if your mom is laughing, nodding sympathetically, or otherwise seems really engaged in the conversation. You can try: hitting your brother on the head, standing on top of a chair (not the cushion, the way top), asking repeatedly for water, saying your tummy hurts, or talking incessantly about anything at a high volume and pitch. All work nicely.
- Two days before she has to leave, be really, really nice. Say thank you when she helps you. Ask her to color with you. Really bring out all the stops.
- The day before she has to leave, revert to day one attitude. You have to keep this lady on her toes. What if she decides to extend her visit?
- The day of departure, go back to being nice. Those markers were pretty amazing and she will probably bring more for her next visit.
These tips will help to remind your guest who really wears the tights in this family. It will also lead to the largest possible cache of gifts for the return visit. Now good luck. Remember — she is YOUR mommy, not hers. You've got this.More On


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The Ascent Biplane airframe is a masterpiece of traditional Japanese build art. The whole aircraft is build up from a balsa kit by Narutech Service in Japan, the company of former twice World Champion Gichii Naruke.
The Ascent Biplane is the most perfect build and flying aircraft I ever owned. The Ascent Biplane has the capability to perform the toughest FAI schedules with ease and thanks to the noise absorbing benefits of the wooden airframe, the Ascent Biplane has a beautiful silent sound which makes him comparable to none. Indeed it is something very special to be one of just few owning such a masterpiece from Japan!
For a special aircraft only a special engine is the right choice! I decided to go with the all new Yamada YS DZ-185 CDI RED.
The benefits over the "normal" DZ-185 is that the RED-Edition got an all new injection system which makes the engine more fuel economic and eliminates the issue of broken check valves.
The equipment of the Ascent BIP is a bit of special. For the power supply I chose the proven Powerbox Digi Switch in the 7,4V version and seven Futaba BLS 173SV for throttle, aileron and elevator. The rudder is equipped with a Futaba BLS 172SV.
The servos are incredible fast, are highly accurate and have much power for crispy snaps.


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On Wednesday August 15th, I finally dropped my debut music video as a solo artist. Made in conjunction with the folks at Horse Bliss, we knocked out the video for my first solo cut 'Pot Of Gold' in a few hours in Toronto, Canada, and I'm stoked how dope it came out. We hit more than 400 views in like 5 days, which was amazing. Thanks to everyone who made this happen - Dave Dunville, Josh Telfer, Notion, Tiffany Alexis, Iskander Ben Amor, Eric, Shauna, Karsten and the rest of the crew. Watch 'Pot Of Gold (Horse Bliss Exclusive)' at the Horse Bliss Vimeo page.
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A night of triumph for Lady Gaga at the Critics' Choice Awards turned to anguish on Sunday.
After winning for best song and sharing the award for best actress for "A Star Is Born," Gaga told social media followers that she found out her horse was dying, and was rushing to the animal to say goodbye.
"My heart is exploding with pride," she wrote on Instagram. "But it saddens me to say that just after the show I learned that my dear angel of a horse, Arabella, is dying." She added: "Our souls and spirit were one."
Gaga posted a photo of her riding the horse in a 2016 Vanity Fair Italy cover and reminisced of their treks together:
"I wish for your pain to end, and the gates of heaven to open for you. I love you."
Gaga received the horse as a gift from Interscope Records in 2015. "I will ride, and care for, and love her forever," she wrote at the time.


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Hi, and welcome on this website,
I love being on and near the water. Even as a kid I was always fishing, boating, building rafts, and a bit later, kayakking or windsurfing. A few years later a friend offered me the use of his 26′ sailboat, and a passion for sailing began.
Lately the standup paddling virus has found a new 'victim'. I like paddleboarding because contrary to sailing or windsurfing you're not dependent on the wind, a since you're a bit higher above the water compared to kayakking you can see a bit more.
I love being out on the water. No matter how stressful my day has been, when I'm on the water I'm at peace. The quiet, the sun, the wind, the water, enjoying nature.
I hope that you'll enjoy this website as well. For SUP beginners it can sometimes be hard to find the right equipment. With this website I hope to give you some pointers.
Happy paddle boarding, David


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Whether you are looking for a brush-up course on successful interviewing or hiring practices, or you need access to a
COMPREHENSIVE SMALL BUSINESS UNIVERSITY the MPTL team has you covered.
We LISTEN to you. That's the only way to ensure that your organization's targets are achieved.
For more information, call 1-800-752-5446 or email email@example.com


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The Utah Jazz are in town, which means the beloved Gordon Hayward is suiting up in his hometown. Since the Jazz are in the Western Conference, he plays here just once per season.
Hayward, drafted ninth overall in 2010, is having the best season of his career — an All-Star season. He is averaging a career best 21.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He missed seven games due to a fracture of his fourth finger on his non-shooting left hand, but has since thrived as the leader of the Jazz. At 43-27, they are currently slotted fourth in the west, behind Golden State, San Antonio, and Houston.
The Jazz feature Hayward, George Hill, and Trey Lyles — all Indy products — plus Shelvin Mack, who played at Butler.
"It's been cool," Hayward said of his team being like 'Indy West.' It's been fun to have so many Indy connections. I think we play well this year together and it's going to be fun with everybody tonight — kind of like a homecoming for everybody."
The dynamic of George Hill and Hayward in the backcourt has been successful. They are 26-11 record when those two are both active and play. Hill missed 27 games, the majority due to a sprained left big toe.
"Well he's just a good basketball player, first and foremost. He makes the game easier for me and for everybody else on the team. He runs our team really well. He just plays with so much poise and control. When he's aggressive and knocking down shots, too, he adds another weapon for our team and makes us even more difficult to guard. Also defensively, he's one of the best in the league at his position. I think that's why he's out there and healthy, we've been good."
Watch what Hayward had to say below:
The Jazz, who've dropped two in a row, held Sunday's practice at Hinkle Fieldhouse. That's special, but particularly so for Hayward and Mack.
When Hayward does make his annual visit back home with the Jazz, he said "I always got to get some Donatos pizza, try to see as many friends and family as I can."
Practice today at Hinkle Fieldhouse at @butleru in Indianapolis, where Gordon and Shelvin played their college ball. ?? pic.twitter.com/k7pQLhxuq5— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 19, 2017
Last time we made #Sweet16 these guys were in @ButlerMBB uniforms. Today, @gordonhayward & @ShelvinMack were back in Hinkle w/ @utahjazz. pic.twitter.com/6y86HN5xg5— Butler Blue III (@ButlerBlue3) March 19, 2017


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when i start my pc up i have no sound,
when i go sound scheem no sound either
nothing is muted... on volum and no sound on internet either any help would be great
edited by moderator: email removed
It's not a good idea to post your email address, you will get spammed. I've removed it for you.
Are you using external speakers? If so, plug them into another device that produces sound such as an mp3 player to see if they work on there.
Also look in Device Manager and see if there is a yellow exclamation mark next to your sound device or of it is disabled.
You can check by connecting a set of headphones, whether u get sound or not.
OR you can install the drivers for audio in order to get sound from the computer. Drivers will be easily available on your computer manufacturer's support website free of cost!
Install the drivers package of sound drivers and that are easily available on your pc related website and then you can hear the sound.
Either restore form restore point or roll back the driver
I have that problem after re-booting. No sound. It happens every time I reboot. It comes up muted, without showing itself as "muted". So, I go to the sound icon in the taskbar (speaker icon), and click once. Up comes the volume and mute controls. I click the "mute" box, then un-click it, muting, then unmuting, and voila! I get sound again.
I have no idea why this happens, but it's consistent with every boot.
It's just like the rear hatch on our minivan. When I push the remote to unlock it to open it up, sometimes it won't open, and it seems the latch isn't fully disengaged. When that happens, I just use the remote to re-lock it, then unlock it again. It works every time.
Ain't technology wonderful??


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Film Series
Kino Polska: New Polish Cinema
Following the huge success of the first US retrospective of Andrzej Żuławski in 2012, BAMcinématek, the Polish Cultural Institute New York, and the Polish Film Institute present this five-day series showcasing the country's best new films. Featuring selections from this year's Gdynia Film Festival, Poland's largest annual film showcase, the series highlights a new generation of directors coming of age and the remarkable rejuvenation Polish cinema has undergone in recent years.
Andrzej Wajda's breathlessly paced biopic about the Polish national hero.
A disturbing secret wrenches young lovers apart in this sensuously shot drama.
This bold drama about a swimmer is an intimate chronicle of the coming-out experience.
A teacher's unconventional methods shake things up at a Lisbon school for the blind.
This gorgeously lensed drama confronts the haunting legacy of the Holocaust.
This gripping thriller is a crackling portrait of corruption in post-Communist Poland.
A moving account of the rich and romantic inner life of a man born with cerebral palsy.
A 30-something couple's comfortable existence is shattered in this stark, intense tragedy.
This elegiac biopic recounts the tragic life of pioneering Roma poet Bronislawa Wajs.


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Nicky Romero
"The main aim is to up my game at every possible turn without compromise." – Nicky Romero
"The word wunderkind was pretty much invented for the likes of 24-year-old producer Nicky Romero." – DJMag
Strike up a conversation about the current state of EDM and it won't be long before Nicky Romero gets an emphatic mention. The breakthrough star with the bulletproof work ethic is credited as a driving force behind the fantastic health the scene currently enjoys. Read more on Last.fm
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