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Advances in Mechanical Engineering
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 603071, 12 pages
Performance Assessment for a Fleet of Machines Using a Combined Method of Ant-Based Clustering and CMAC
1Research Institute of Robotics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
2NSF Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
Received 2 April 2013; Revised 15 July 2013; Accepted 17 July 2013
Academic Editor: Liang Gong
Copyright © 2013 Lei Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This paper proposes a combined method of ant-based clustering and cerebellar model articulation controller for performance assessment for a fleet of machines. A novel ant-based clustering algorithm with kernel method is used to cluster machines in a fleet. The algorithm has two features. First, a projection based on kernel principal component analysis replaces random projection to improve the efficiency. Second, the clustering is performed on the feature space after kernel mapping to improve the clustering accuracy. The algorithm can cluster machines in a self-organizing way to achieve the horizontal assessment. The vertical assessment for the single machine based on CMAC is presented. Then, how to combine the vertical and horizontal assessment results is discussed. The outlier mining method to detect abnormal machines based on the clustering results is also proposed. Cluster-based global outlying factor is suggested to measure the outlying degree of abnormal machine. Finally, the case study on axial fans shows that the combined method can give a more comprehensive assessment for fans' performance monitoring.
1. Introduction
Intelligent Maintenance (IM) of machine is emerging as a replacement of traditional reactive maintenance style. Different from traditional "fail and fix (FAF)" maintenance practice, IM focuses on "predict and prevent (PAP)" methodology to achieve near-zero downtime performance. Usually, the machine and components go through a series of degradation states before failure. The predictive tools are needed to monitor degradation states rather than detect the faults [1]. Once the degradation has been detected, the remaining useful life of machine could be predicted. Therefore, the key challenges of implementing IM are machine degradation assessment and prediction.
Many efforts have been made to develop methods and tools for these challenges. Yan and Lee [2] proposed a logic regression method to assess performance degradation of an elevator door system. They [3] also presented the further study combining logic regression and fuzzy logic for nozzle life prediction in gas turbine. Logistic regression can easily represent the daily maintenance records as a dichotomous problem. However, this method is applicable only when both normal and failure behavior are available. Yu et al. [4] presented a machine performance assessment approach based on Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). Experimental results of real industrial run-to-failure bearing had shown that the model was efficient. Gaussian Mixture Model integrated with locality preserving projection was also suggested to assess the bearing performance degradation [5]. Mixture of Gaussian can be utilized to approximate an arbitrary distribution, while the number of the mixtures is not easy to be determined and the optimization parameters can be affected by different initialization methods. Lee [6] first proposed a pattern discrimination model based on the Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller (CMAC). Experiments on the stepping motor and the robot had proven the feasibility of the model. Lin and Wang [7] also used enhanced CMAC in performance analysis of rotating machinery. Zhang et al. [8] suggested a modified CMAC algorithm for performance degradation assessment of self-maintenance machine. Xu et al. [9] proposed a fuzzy based extension of CMAC to analyze two types of machine degradation severities. In one case, the network was trained by signals from different levels of machine degradation states. In the other case, the network was only trained by signals of normal state. The generalization ability of CMAC makes it very suitable for performance degradation assessment. It can be trained only using the data in the normal state. Wu et al. [10] proposed an online adaptive condition-based maintenance method with pattern discovery and fault learning capabilities. The method was mainly based on Self-Organizing Map (SOM). An experiment on the machine tool test bed validated the proposed approach. SOM provides a way of representing multidimensional feature space in a one- or two-dimensional space while preserving the topological properties of the input space. It is an unsupervised learning and no prior outputs are needed. Qiu et al. [11] proposed an adaptive wavelet filter method for hazard rate prediction of bearing. Further, they developed a robust performance degradation assessment method for rolling bearing [12]. This method was based on a combination of wavelet filter and SOM for fault identification and assessing performance degradation, respectively. Pan et al. [13] suggested a Fuzzy C-means (FCM) method for bearing performance degradation assessment. Lifting wavelet packet decomposition was used to create feature vectors.
Due to the complexity of the machine, the combination of multiple methods is usually used for identifying working condition. Lapira et al. [14] proposed a systematic framework that utilized multiregime modeling approach to trend and assess wind turbine degradation. Three methods composed by SOM, GMM, and neural network were combined and chosen to handle condition data with multiple operating regimes. Caesarendra et al. [15] proposed the combination between Relevance Vector Machine (RVM) and Logistic Regression (LR) for bearing performance assessment. Liao and Lee [16] presented a novel machine performance degradation scheme based on Fixed Cycle Features Test (FCFT). FCFT introduced a new testing method which obtained data during the transient periods of different working loads. Wavelet packet analysis, PCA, and mixture model were combined. A case study for chiller system was used as an example. A comparative study of maintenance data classification based on neural networks, logistic regression, and support vector machines was also provided [17].
Remaining Useful Life (RUL) prediction methods are important to extrapolate the machine's process behavior over time and predict its life in the future. Autoregressive Moving Average (ARMA) model is usually used for modeling and predicting future values in time series. Yu et al. [18] presented Elman Recurrent Neural Network (ERNN) for predicting the behavior of a boring process during its full life-cycle. This prediction was achieved by the fusion of the predictions of three principal components extracted from the spindle load. Liu et al. [19] proposed a match matrix method for manufacturing process performance prediction and diagnosis. By constructing a match matrix, the similarity between two feature series can be represented by the best match index. Siegel et al. [20] suggested a robust regression curve fitting approach for Remaining Useful Life prediction for the helicopter oil-cooler bearings. Tran et al. [21] presented a three-stage method for both performance degradation assessment and RUL prediction. In the first stage, ARMA model was generated by using only normal operating data to identify the behavior of the complex system. In the second stage, the Cox' proportional hazard model was established to estimate the system survival function. In the last stage, SVM for regression [22], with multistep ahead prediction ability, was utilized to forecast the RUL. Huang et al. [23] suggested a new scheme for the prediction of a ball bearing's RUL based on self-organizing map (SOM) and back propagation neural network. Gebraeel et al. [24] also suggested a neural network approach for RUL predictions of bearing from vibration-based degradation signals. Two classes of neural network models, single-bearing model, and clustered-bearing model were developed.
A toolbox named as Watchdog Agent [25] has been developed, which integrated many algorithms mentioned above. The toolbox has been embedded in the Labview software for public usage.
Reviewing all the assessment and predicting methods above, we can see that most methods use time-domain comparison, which means machine's current condition is compared with its historical data to assess various degradation states. All these methods are used for single machine or system. This kind of methods can be concluded as vertical assessment and prediction. But in IM, there is also a need for peer to peer comparison for a fleet of machines. So-called "a fleet of machines" means that many machines, with the same or similar structures and working condition, compose a fleet. For example, many pumps in a factory or several elevators in a building can be taken as a fleet of machines. The running information of a fleet of machines can be exchanged or collected easily for analysis. Machines in the fleet can be compared to each other to assess their performance degradation. We call this comparison as horizontal assessment and prediction. Table 1 shows the features of vertical and horizontal assessment methods. The horizontal comparison of a fleet of machines presents the chance and innovation brought by Internet to the maintenance style. But now the relevant research and report on this field are few.
For this purpose, this paper proposed a horizontal method based on ant-based clustering. This kind of ant-based clustering algorithm imitates the ant's behavior of clustering their corpses [26]. The object with attributes can be looked as a point in -dimensional space. The objects are projected into a low dimensional space (often a two-dimensional plane). Then the ants compute the similarity of the objects and decide to pick up or drop them. Compared with traditional clustering methods, such as partition-based methods, hierarchy-based methods, and density-based methods, ant-based clustering algorithm does not need any prior knowledge. This is an important merit which makes it suitable in our application. Because we usually do not know how many clusters there are in a fleet of machines, it should be created by a self-organizing way. Second, ant-based clustering process is visible on the projecting plane. This is very helpful in the monitoring of machine performance. The visible clustering results can be directly integrated into the interface of the monitoring software.
In our application, on one hand, the efficiency of the algorithm should be improved because some maintenance decisions or actions are dependent on the results of clustering analysis. On the other hand, the algorithm should have the ability to cluster the datasets with different structures. We have proposed a novel ant-based clustering algorithm using the kernel method to overcome these problems [27]. In this paper, we will show how this algorithm is applied in performance assessment for a fleet of machines.
The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 described the system framework of proposed methods. Section 3 proposed the methods for performance assessment for a fleet of machines, including horizontal assessment, vertical assessment, and the fusion method. Section 4 gave the case study and analysis. Finally, Section 5 gave the conclusion and further research directions.
2. The System Framework of Proposed Methods
In this paper, we will propose a combined method of ant-based clustering and CMAC for performance assessment for a fleet of machines. As shown in Figure 1, data acquirers can get the data of fans in monitoring nodes. The data can be collected and transferred by router to the database server by the Ethernet. The following analysis can be performed.(i)Machines in a fleet are clustered using ant-based clustering method.(ii)Performance assessment for the single machine is conducted based on CMAC. (iii)The horizontal and vertical assessments are combined to get the final conclusion. (iv)The outliers are detected based on outlying factor in a very small cluster.
3. The Assessment Method for a Fleet of Machines
3.1. Ant-Based Clustering Algorithm with the Kernel Method for Horizontal Assessment
3.1.1. The Basic Ant-Based Clustering Algorithm
The algorithm introduced by Lumer and Faieta [28] represents the basic ant-based clustering method. Some important concepts are firstly introduced through Figure 2.
The projection plane: the objects and ants are initially projected onto a two-dimensional plane. Each object or ant is projected randomly. The size of the plane can be determined based on the number of objects.
The local neighbourhood of object : it is a neighbouring region of the object and written as Neigh(). It is often a square with size , where is the radius of Neigh(). The center of Neigh() is the position of .
The local similarity: it is the similarity of the object with other objects in Neigh(). It is often measured by the distance between objects. In Figure 2, the object is assumed to locate at the coordinate . The local similarity of is given by where is the distance between two objects. Typically Euclidean distance is used. is a factor that defines the scale for dissimilarity.
The probability conversion function: it is a function that converts the local similarity of into the probability of being picked up (or dropped) by ants. The probability that an ant will pick up or drop the object is where , are two constants. and adjust the probabilities of picking up and dropping objects. and are compared with a random real number (), and the results determine whether the object should be picked up or dropped.
The process of LF algorithm can be generalized as the following steps.(1)Projection: all objects and ants are randomly projected onto the grid.(2)Calculating the similarity: each ant calculates the object's similarity to others in the object's local neighbourhood. (3)The similarity is transformed to the probability to pick up or drop object.(4)Ants pick up or drop objects.(5)Ants move.(6)Repeat (2)–(5).
A number of modifications have been introduced to the basic LF algorithm to improve clustering quality and convergent speed. A latest review of ant-based clustering can be referred to [29].
3.1.2. Ant-Based Clustering Algorithm with the Kernel Method
To improve the algorithm's efficiency and clustering quality, we incorporated the kernel method into ant-based clustering and created the novel ant-based clustering with the kernel method (ACK) [27]. The applications of kernels in ACK are shown in two ways. First, Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) is used to modify the random projection of all objects. Second, the Euclidean distance in the feature space is applied as a measure of the similarity between the objects.
Projection of the Objects Based on KPCA. In ant-based clustering algorithms, the objects are randomly projected onto the plane. One pattern corresponds randomly with a pair of coordinates. This random projection leads to few similarities between the objects in the local neighbourhood at the early stage. It takes a long time for an object to be similar to nearby objects from the inception of the algorithm. We have suggested a modified projection based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) [30]. Then we applied KPCA to replace PCA. Compared with linear PCA, KPCA can extract features that are more useful for classification.
The Ant Movement Model Operating in the Feature Space. In ACK algorithm, we applied the ant movement model suggested by Xu et al. [31], where each object is taken as an ant. Each ant has two states: movement and sleep. If the ant finds that a location is suitable for it to rest, it will stop moving and enter a sleeping state; otherwise, it will continue to move to another place. The fitness of the local neighbourhood is computed as (4), which is similar to (1) in Section 3.1.1. Consider where is the average distance between and other objects.
If we apply a kernel function to map the objects into the feature space, then the clustering can be performed according to the similarities of the objects in the feature space. The fitness becomes where and is the distance between and in the feature space. can be obtained by the kernel function according to
A Gaussian kernel is applied in this study as follows:
For an ant, the probability of being activated by the local neighbourhood is where is the threshold of the ant's active fitness. Equation (8) is also similar to (2) in Section 3.1.1. When , is close to 1. Thus, if the fitness of is much smaller than the threshold, has a high probability of being activated. The active moves in the plane and searches for a more comfortable place to sleep. When , is close to 0. Therefore, does not wake up and continues to sleep. The principle of the ant movement model is the same as that in the LF algorithm [28]. The big difference is that the passive movement of objects is transformed into active movement.
The pseudocode of the main body of the ACK algorithm is given in Pseudocode 1.
3.2. CMAC for Vertical Assessment and Comparison
CMAC neural network has been employed to evaluate machine performance degradation states [7, 9]. The main advantages of CMAC against other neural networks are its local generalization, extremely fast learning speed, and easy implementation in software and hardware.
As shown in Figure 3, CMAC can be considered as an associative memory network, which performs two mappings: where is the -dimensional input space. The input variable . is an -dimensional memory cell vector. Every input variable in only activates elements in A. is called as generalization parameter ( in Figure 3). is one-dimensional output space. The weights in the activated memory cells are added to create the output. Before the mapping, each dimension in input variable should be quantized as where is the minimum of the th dimension of is the quantization parameter of the th dimension of . The mapping address of will be determined according to its quantization value. Then, the first mapping combines all -dimensional mapping address and projects the point in the input space into a binary associative vector . The elements in are defined as
The second mapping calculates the output of the network as scalar product of and the weight vector, , as shown in
The weights are updated as where is the th sample. is the real output at the th sample. is the th element in the weight vector . is the th cycle. is the learning rate. is the desired output at the th sample. The initial value of can be set to zero. The initial value of should be in (0, 2) and can be reduced with the learning cycle increasing.
The mapping in CMAC model assures local generalization, which means that similar inputs create similar outputs while different inputs create nearly independent outputs. This generalization ability is a significant reason that CMAC can be used as a powerful tool for machine performance assessment. As shown in Figure 4, the features extracted from the normal condition of machine are used as the input of CMAC. The output in normal condition is set to 1. Then CMAC can be trained. After CMAC is trained well, the features in current operation can be inputted into CMAC. If the output is close to 1, this means that the running condition is near to normal. On the contrary, the running condition will be abnormal if the output deflects from 1 seriously. Therefore, the output of CMAC can be taken as a confidence value (CV), which can reflect the deflecting degree of machine's current condition from normal condition.
3.3. The Fusion of Horizontal and Vertical Assessment Results
When horizontal and vertical assessment results are gotten, they can be fused to create a more comprehensive assessment for machine performance. We will discuss two possible conditions. The first is that only one machine in the fleet has enough historical data. The second is that all machines' historical data in the fleet are collected sufficiently.
3.4. The Outlier Mining for Abnormal Machine Detection Based on Clustering Results
Cluster analysis can create some outliers as side products. As for the performance analysis of a fleet of machines, the outliers may represent the machines in fault states. Therefore, outlier detection is very important to find abnormal machines. He et al. [32] presented a definition of cluster-based local outlier factor (CLOF) for identifying the physical significance of an outlier. The definition can be briefly described as follows.
Let the data set be a set of points. After is analyzed by a clustering algorithm, the clustering result is described as , where is the number of the clusters. They then defined Large Cluster (LC) and Small Cluster (SC) based on two parameters [32]. For the limit of the space, we will not describe in detail. Suppose that is the set of clusters with the sequence , where that is the number of the points in cluster . As for each data point , the CLOF of is defined as where is the distance between and , which can be calculated by any distance formula in the clustering algorithm.
CLOF gives the way to measure the degree of the data point being an outlier. CLOF can indicate the degree of the abnormal machine departing from its nearest large cluster. But this nearest large cluster may represent machines with degradation performance. In fact, people are more interested in the degree of the outlier departing from machines with normal performance. A factor is needed to measure not only local but also global departing degree of outliers. So we suggest a definition of cluster-based global outlier factor (CGOF). Consider where is the mean confidence value of all objects in the cluster , which can be obtained by any vertical assessing method. CGOF is gotten by CLOF multiplying a factor. The factor is the degree which describes that the outlier's nearest cluster degrades from the normal state. CGOF can measure not only local outlying degree but also global outlying degree of abnormal machine, which is very helpful to assess machine's performance.
4. Case Study and Analysis
We then used the ACK algorithm in a dataset which came from the monitoring data of the axial fans in one water cooling plant. There are 32 fans which are distributed in different places of the plant. The data of the fans are collected by the field bus to the server. These fans are of the same structure and work in the similar condition. They can compare each other to assess their performance. Three attributes to describe the fan's performance are gotten. They are the bearing temperature, the motor current, and the vibration of the spindle.
4.1. The Horizontal Assessment Based on ACK
We design two algorithms to compare with ACK. One applies random projection, and the other applies PCA projection. The clustering parts of two algorithms are the same as those in ACK. Figure 5 shows the comparison of three algorithms on the initial projections and the results after 600 cycles. Random projection needs a long time to create rough clusters. Some small rough clusters can be found after about 600 cycles. Compared with random projection, PCA and KPCA projection can create rough clusters at the initial stage. KPCA projection can create more separate and compressed clusters compared with PCA projection. These rough clusters can provide bases to create larger clusters around them, so the clustering time will be saved significantly.
Table 2 shows the comparison of clustering time. All the algorithms are run 10 times to get the average clustering time. The saved time is computed based on the time of random projection. Both PCA and KPCA projections can save time because of the creations of rough clusters at initial stage. KPCA can save more time compared with PCA. Compared with random projection, KPCA can save almost a half part of time.
The parameters of ACK in this case are listed as follows , , , . Figure 6 shows the final clustering results. The fans are clustered to three different groups. The features of each group are listed in Table 3.
To compare and validate the clustering results, we use other three methods, -means, -means (Kernel -means), and SOM, to cluster the data. As for -means and -means, we set the number of cluster centers as three. SOM does not need this prior knowledge. Actually, SOM gets the number of the clusters as four. But there are only two fans in the fourth cluster. For certain points, these four methods get disputable results, which are listed in Table 4. We can see that ACK gets the similar results with -means. The reason is that these two algorithms cluster the data in the feature space after kernel mapping. Except for fans number 3 and number 10, the clustering results of ACK are consistent with the final possible conclusions.
Through above analysis, we can see that the performance assessment of the axial fans can be achieved by ant-based clustering algorithm in a self-organizing way. The number of the clusters is not needed as a prior knowledge here. In the present condition monitoring system, a lot of data created by a fleet of machines, like fans and motors, are not used sufficiently. The common style to process these data is showing them in the display screen, or giving the diagrams of certain important parameters. The comparison among machines in a fleet has not been performed.
Figure 7(a) shows the radar chart of the temperature feature of axial fans. Around the circumference is the number of fans, and the corresponding radial value is its temperature. The advantage of radar chart is that it can compare one single feature for machines clearly. Some special points, such as the minimum and maximum points, can be easily detected for each feature. But it cannot show the comparison of the general performance including all the features. Figure 7(b) shows the combination of ant-based clustering assessing results with the radar chart of the temperature. Different signs and colors are used to identify the different clusters. So we can easily recognize which group the fan belongs to and pay more attention to its difference with its similar ones. But this chart still cannot show the comprehensive performance of each machine. We will show the final assessing results of radar chart in Section 4.3 where the clustering results are fused with the vertical assessing results of the single machine.
4.2. The Vertical Assessment Based on CMAC
If the historical data of one fan for a long time can be gotten, CMAC can be used to assess the fan's performance degradation during its running. In this case, we can get the full monitoring data of fan number 7. Figure 8 shows the averaged features every day. The initial running states of 46 days are taken as the normal states. The Confidence Values (CVs) at these days are 1. Then the features and CVs are inputted to CMAC to train it. The training parameters in this case are , , and Max_cycle = 1000. After CMAC is trained, the features at the operational condition are inputted to CMAC to get the CVs outputs. Figure 8 shows the CV outputs from CMAC. The CVs at different time can show the degree of performance degradation based on the normal state.
As for the single machine's performance assessment, the best way is that the machine's historical data can be collected. But the historical data may be not rich enough for every machine in a fleet because of all kinds of reasons. In our case, if only the data of fan number 7 is full and collected for a long time, can we assess the other fans' performance based on these data? In the next section, we will discuss how to fuse horizontal and vertical assessments to answer this question.
4.3. The Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Assessment Results
In Section 4.1, horizontal comparison of all fans is conducted using ant-based clustering algorithm. The used data are the average features at the 240th day (which is shown as the horizontal assessing time in Figure 8). In this section, we will discuss how to combine horizontal and vertical assessment results in two possible conditions. The first is only that fan number 7 has a full historical data. The second is that all fans' historical data are collected sufficiently.
4.3.1. The Fans Have no Enough Historical Data except Fan number 7
The conclusion of vertical assessment is that fan number 7 has a confidence value 0.804. The conclusion of horizontal assessment is that fan number 2 and number 7 are clustered in the same group. Then the simplest combined conclusion is the confidence value of fan number 2 is around 0.804. If we can have another fan's full historical data, for example, fan number 6, then the confidence value of fans number 2 can be gotten by averaging the confidence values of fan number 7, and fan number 6 (fan number 2, fan number 7 and fan number 6 are clustered in the same group). By this combination, although fan number 2 has no historical data, we can also assess its performance based on its same machine in a fleet.
Moreover, we can set up another CMAC model. Use the normal features of fan number 7 to train it (the output CV is 1); then the features of other fans at the horizontal assessing time are inputted to CMAC to get the corresponding CV outputs. Figure 9 shows a radar chart of all fans' CVs in the horizontal assessment time in Figure 8. Different clusters are fitted in different circles. The figure can give a clear display of the comprehensive performance comparison of fans. The confidence values smaller than 0.5 should be paid more attention because these machines are more likely to degrade to a failure state. Although this assessment is only based on one machine's normal data, it is still a good way to assess a fleet of machines especially in the case that the historical data for most machines are not sufficient.
4.3.2. All Fans' Historical Data Are Collected Sufficiently
If all fans' data can be collected sufficiently, the results of horizontal and vertical assessments can be used to test whether the assessing conclusion is consistent. For example, the conclusions of vertical assessment are that fan number 7 has a confidence value 0.804 and fan number 2 has a confidence value 0.798. The conclusion of horizontal assessment is that fans number 2 and number 7 are clustered in the same group. Then the results of horizontal and vertical assessments are consistent. If fan number 2 has a confidence value 0.398 (degraded seriously) while fans number 2 and number 7 are still clustered in the same group in horizontal assessments, the results of horizontal and vertical assessment are contradictory. Then further analysis should be conducted to make sure which conclusion is correct. For example, other clustering methods or vertical assessing methods should be used to analyze data again.
4.4. Discussion on Outlier Mining Based on Assessing Results
We use an example to show how to detect the outliers by ant-based clustering. During the operation of the fans, an artificial interference is added to three fans to make their vibration higher than normal operation. The clustering results of the fans are shown in Figure 10.
Three outliers are obviously clustered to a single cluster C4. C4 is a small cluster. Based on the analysis of Section 3.1.3, we get that the local neighborhood cluster of C4 is C3. Actually, based on the assessment results, the cluster C3 is a group with degradation state. The average CV of C3 is 0.677. Then the outlier factors can be computed using (15) and (16) in Section 3.4. The outlier factors are listed in Table 5. We can see that the factors can quantitatively represent the outlying degree of each outlier. The outliers should be paid more attention because they may mean that the abnormal behavior has happened.
5. Conclusions
A combined method of ant-based clustering and CMAC is suggested to assess the performance of machines in a fleet. Machines in a fleet can be compared to each other because they have the same structures and work in the same condition. Ant-based clustering algorithm does not need any prior knowledge. It is proper to cluster machines in a self-organizing way. The application of kernel in ant-based clustering can improve the efficiency and clustering accuracy, which is achieved by modifying projection based on KPCA and clustering in feature space. The paper also described vertical assessment method based on CMAC for the single machine. The confidence value of the machine can indicate its degradation degree compared with historical normal data.
The suggested method was finally used for assessing the performance of axial fans. The results show that the method performs well. The method gives performance assessment for the machines in time domain and space domain. Even if the historical data of one machine is not available, the performance analysis can be conducted based on its similar ones in the fleet.
The following items are needed to be further studied:(i)the adaptive adjusting method of the parameters in ACK algorithm,(ii)the applications of the method in more datasets,(iii)the deep fusion of vertical and horizontal assessing results.
This paper is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 50705054) and the Key National Project of ITER China (no. 2011GB113005).
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- X. Xu, L. Chen, and Y. Chen, "A4C: an adaptive artificial ants clustering algorithm," in Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CIBCB '04), pp. 268–275, October 2004. View at Scopus
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text:
Fountains of Wayne, 'Welcome Interstate Managers' (S-Curve/EMI)
- SPIN Rating:9 of 10
Here's to the artisanal-cheese-makers, the carpenters, the cobblers, the power-pop songwriters--dedicated craftsmen who still make high-quality products for an ever-shrinking clientele. Case in point: Fountains of Wayne.
Welcome is the quartet's third album, yet Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood's shimmering songs are evergreen, perpetual No. 1 hits on Matthew Sweet's iPod. The lyrics explore suburban everyguyism (mowing the lawn, subpar waitress service), but the choruses ("Stacy's Mom," "Mexican Wine") explode like fireworks over a church picnic.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The National Flag.
The meaning of the colours of the flag.
Black represents the people
Green the Land
Blue the Adjoining Ocean
Yellow the mineral wealth
Kiswahili version
1. Mungu Ibariki Afrika
Wabariki viongozi wake
Hekima, umoja na amani
Hizi ni ngao zetu
Afrika na watu wake.
Ibariki, Afrika Ibariki, Afrika
Tubariki, watoto wa Afrika
Dumisha uhuru na umoja
Wake kwa waume na watoto
Mungu, Ibariki
Tanzania, na watu wake.
English translation
1. God Bless Africa
Bless its leaders
Let Wisdom Unity and
Peace be the shield of
Africa and its people
2. God Bless Tanzania
Grant eternal Freedom and Unity
To its sons and daughters.
God Bless Tanzania and its People.
Bless Africa
Bless the Children of Africa.
The central feature of the Coat of Arms is a Warriors Shield which bears a Golden portion on the upper part followed underneath by the United Republic of Tanzania flag and a red portion under which are wavy bands of blue and white.
The Golden portion represents minerals available in the country; the red portion underneath the flag symbolizes the red soil of Africa; while the wavy bands represent the land, sea, lakes and coastal lines of Tanzania.
Superimposed features on the Shield are flames of a burning torch which signifies freedom, enlightenment and knowledge; a spear signifying defence of freedom and crossed axe and hoe being tools that the people of the United Republic of Tanzania use in developing the country.
The Shield is set upon a representation of Mount Kilimanjaro. On each side of the Shield there is an elephant tusk supported by a man on the left and a woman on the right. At the feet of the man is a clove bush and at the feet of the woman is a cotton bush, thus indicating the theme of co-operation.
The United Republic of Tanzania motto Uhuru na Umoja is written in Kiswahili and it means Freedom and Unity.
The Uhuru Torch symbolizes freedom and light. It was first lit on top of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1961. Symbolically to Shine the country and across the borders to bring hope where there is despair, love where there is enemity and respect where there is hatred. Yearly there is the Uhuru Torch race, starting from different regions throughout Tanzania, to remind Tanzanians of their duty to jealously guard their cherished freedom, unity and peace.


text:
Trend of the Year
Burgers, burgers, burgers. The humble hamburger represents a full-fledged trend in the Houston dining scene. Always a popular choice, we've seen it elevated to new heights by both fine dining establishments and neighborhood joints. It seems that every other new restaurant features a signature burger, and the result is that diners can enjoy a superb meal for an amazingly modest tariff.
Annoying Trend of the Year
Foodie Backlash. During 2010, we saw an increasing number of pundits attack foodies and their enthusiasm for great meals, talented chefs, and the whole experience of dinner-as-theater. Granted, some foodies brought this upon themselves, but we thought it was a bit disingenuous to attack an entire group based on the antics of a few overly self-serious standouts.
Closing of the Year
Tesar's. One of the most promising restaurants outside the loop fell victim to the slow economy, a seemingly hexed location, and inexperienced management. But out of the ashes of the restaurant's failure arose two talented young chefs who will be making their mark on the Houston restaurant scene in the coming years.
Honorable Mentions: Amici, Sabetta, La Trattoria, The Rockwood Room
Caffe Bello. Tony Vallone has been the master of fine dining in Houston for decades, and many an eyebrow was raised when he announced plans to open a restaurant in Montrose. This was not the playground of his usual crowd, but Tony, son Jeff, and savvy young partner Scott Sulma quickly charmed the denizens of Montrose with their spin on modern Italian cuisine, including the tasty, thin-crust pizzas that left all the critics swooning.
Honorable Mentions: Samba Grille, The Burger Guys, Cinq.
Burger of the Year
Hubcap Decker at Hubcap Grill. This category was a tough one in 2010 - we sampled dozens of fantastic burgers, and didn't even work our way to the end the list of places we wanted to try. But one burger stood out for us among all the rest - Ricky Craig's superlative Hubcap Decker, perhaps the finest incarnation of a traditional double cheeseburger we've ever encountered.
Honorable Mentions: Samba Grille Burger, Bleu Cheese Burger at Hubble & Hudson Kitchen, Beaver Burger
Foodie of the Year
Dr. Ricky. Anyone following the Houston food scene knows that Houston has no shortage of people who are willing to share their experiences and opinions about food and dining. But we think that Dr. Ricky goes above and beyond, and educates his audience with every post. His knowledge of food is vast, and we had the pleasure of dining with him and learning that the man is just as insightful and interesting in person as he is online.
Honorable Mentions: Robb Walsh, J.C. Reid, Nishta Mehra
Critic of the Year
Katharine Shilcutt. When Robb Walsh stepped down as critic for the Houston Press, a vacuum was formed, and we were very curious to find out who would fill it. Enter Katharine Shilcutt, a popular local blogger and foodie who had recently started making great contributions to the Press's Eating Our Words blog. Shilcutt had big shoes to fill, but her engaging writing style, quick wit, and genuine love of exploring new places made her the right choice for the Press.
Honorable Mentions: Alison Cook, Sarah Rufca
Restaurateur of the Year
Bryan Caswell. We've watched Bryan Caswell expand his sphere of influnce from the kitchen of Hotel Icon to the living rooms of foodies across America. Along the way, he's opened what many consider to be the best seafood restaurant in the United States (REEF), an outstanding slider joint (Little Bigs), and a unique spin on Texas Italian cuisine (Stella Sola). Between all this he had a chance to represent Houston on The Next Iron Chef, and explain to up-and-coming cooks why they need to work in a Waffle House. Next up? Opening a classic Tex-Mex place in Montrose with Robb Walsh. After that, we expect a run for the Governor's Mansion.
Honorable Mentions: Monica Pope, Jeff Vallone, Cary Attar
Chef of the Year
Cesar Rodriguez. Houston is a town with a lot of churrascarias. But one, Samba Grille, stands above them, with an impressive slate of composed dishes alongside the savory grilled meats. Chef Rodriguez has brought his years of experience (with both the Vallone and Cordua organizations) to this new restaurant, and right out of the gate the new kitchen was firing on all cylinders. We attended the soft opening, and can't remember a new organization ever executing so well. The result was that after being open for only a month, Samba was on every critic's short list for 2010, and deservedly so. From unique soups to a top-notch burger, the kitchen at Samba Grill delivers, thanks to Chef Rodriguez's watchful eye at the helm.
Honorable Mentions: L.J. Wiley, Jeramie Robison, Austin Simmons, Bryan Caswell
Restaurant of the Year
Hubcap Grill. There are tens of thousands of restaurants in Houston, and the safe choice would be one of the city's superb fine dining establishments. But to us, Hubcap Grill sums up what a great restaurant is all about: A superlative product delivered with vision and passion, making its guests very happy. A tiny location in the shadow of the tall buildings downtown, Hubcap Grill has become Houston's go-to spot for great burgers, due to the hard work and brilliant insight of Ricky Craig, the chef and proprietor. Ricky's approach to designing a burger is as meticulous as the work of any Cordon Bleu-trained chef, and the results speak for themselves: Hoardes of satisfied guests, and a list of accolades including three coveted stars from Alison Cook. We concur with the esteemed Ms. Cook; Hubcap Grill has succeeded, and is among the very best restaurants to be found in the city.
Honorable Mentions: Samba Grille, RDG+Bar Annie, Chez Roux


text: The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (UDMSD) invites applications for full-time faculty, clinical- or tenure-track position at the Associate/Professor level in orthodontics, Department of Orthodontics. Responsibilities for instruction to pre-doctoral students and post-graduate residents include: clinical education, preparation of course materials, administration/grading examinations, and evaluation of student/resident progress. The position may also include directorship of the postgraduate orthodontic residency program. Opportunity for one day per week intramural/extramural private practice is available. UDMSD seeks diverse applicants with a passion for excellence who are distinguished clinicians. Qualified applicants must have a D.D.S./D.M.D. or foreign equivalent, and be eligible for dental licensure in the State of Michigan. Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae, and the names of three professional references to: Dr. Robert M Trombly, Associate Dean for Academic Administration, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Detroit, MI 48208-2576 or via email to email@example.com. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.The University of Detroit Mercy is independent and Catholic with Jesuit and Mercy co-sponsors. The University emphasizes academic excellence, ethics, personal attention to students, and the University Mission and Core Values. The University has a culturally diverse faculty and student body, and encourages applications from women and other underrepresented groups. EO/AA Employer.


text:
C.A.R. Offers You Smartphone Apps to Help Conduct Your Business Anywhere You Go!
zipForm® Mobile Web Edition
Connect Right Where You are with zipForm® Mobile Web Edition!
zipLogix along with CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are proud to offer zipForm® Mobile Web Edition with TouchSign for the Apple® iPad™ and iPhone®, Blackberry®, and Android™ devices. Immediately connect to important information contained in your zipForm® Plus account. The TouchSign feature allows users to sign transactions on the touchscreen tablet with their finger or capacitive stylus. Now managing transactions "on the go" has never been faster or easier.
Visit our zipForm® Mobile webpage to learn more.
zipForm® Mobile Web Edition with TouchSign provides a versatile solution for today's busy real estate professional to interface with their zipForm® Plus account and stay connected to their clients for $12.95 annual subscription. Download the app for iPad or iPhone by searching for "zipform" in the iTunes store. Other devices can visit m.zipformonline.com from the internet browser on that device.
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text:
For Strong Arming the Opposition |
I will say I worked on a simple sticker design that came close to the mark on what I was trying for. It's an anthropomorphic style image of a once common household item that I'm trying to poke ironic fun at of its recent extinction.
I also worked on a drawing for a larger stencil which turned out pretty cool even though it's only a sketch. It's a little more original than the "no soliciting" eyes since I relied on real photos that I could use for modeling references.


text:
ISIS Threatens Jack Dorsey
By Lindsay Toler
Drowning Still Baffles Family, Friends, Witnesses
By Danielle Marie Mackey
Move This Cat to the Suburbs
Loop Trolley Construction Starts in March
Report: Locals Conspired with Isis
Local Drug Ad Gets National Attention
Conflict in MO's Pro-Pot Movement
By Danny Wicentowski
Conan's Invisible Girlfriend Ad
(Click here to see the full strip.)
Did You Know!?!? Go the Amazing Facts and Beyond blog to further follow the exploits of our trivial hero.
Sponsor Content


text:
Does PTSD contribute to Atrial Fibrilations and/or Right Bundle Block? I have been diagnosed with both and I did not have these prior to PTSD.
I am sorry you are going through this, as any event that triggers PTSD is obviously traumatic, and yes...PTSD is associated with many other health conditions.
In fact, there is a recent article at EmpowHER, written about recent research finding an association between PTSD and cardiovascular disease: The Link Between PTSD and Cardiovascular Disease.
Please keep us updated on how you are doing, and we are here if you have any additional questions.
January 20, 2011 - 10:50amAll user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.


text:
- Top Of The World
- Make Money
- My Life Feat. Zebulun
- I Made It Feat. G-Starr and Kollateral
- Blame Game
- Black And Yellow Remix
- A Million And One
- I'm Coming Home ft J. Cole
- On My Mind [First R&B]
- Brand New For Christmas [Prod. By Sym.Fa.Ni]
- Can I Hit It
- No Worries
- The Life - KG [Prod by M.R.I]
- If I Die Today Verse - KG
- Space Ship Verse
- How To Love Verse
- Marvin's Room Verse [Kevin's Room]
- Black Mans Dream Verse
- 01First Song
- 02Track Number Two
- 03Third Song
- 04Composition #Four
- 055th
- 06Song
Kevin Eric Grant : Kevin Grant aka KG, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, back and forth to New York, birthday on the 22nd December 1990. As a boy, Kevin always had dreams of becoming an actor, musician, football player and an engineer. As the time went by, some of those goals disappeared and it all narrowed down to just one MAIN goal or dream, which was becoming an Hip-Hop artist . Always been a fan of hip-hop and music as an art form on the hold. From many influences such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Dr.Dre, Ludacris, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Musiq Soulchild, Linkin Park, Mario, Dru Hill.. Just to name a few. He started off making music by using other songs and slightly changing the lyrics to pertain to his own life. Being from a Caribbean island he faces the hardships as an Hip-Hop artist, since the art was not very accepted as it is now. Today KG is making a name for himself, with his immaculate flow and breath taking punch lines with awesome delivery! We all would agree that he's a breathe of fresh air. He performed in various clubs and house parties. Now that more of the world is getting to know about him slowly but surely. The Journey begins. Ride with him!


text:
Nuvilex's Medical Marijuana Subsidiary To Focus On Development Of Treatments For Brain Cancer
SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), international biotechnology and clinical stage provider of natural products and cell and gene therapy solutions for the treatment of human diseases, announced today its subsidiary, Medical Marijuana Sciences, Inc., is focusing on developing treatments for brain cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme, that are based on cannabinoids .
Over the past few years, a significant amount of data in the scientific literature has indicated that cannabinoids, including Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), can inhibit the growth of brain cancer cells in the laboratory and in animals. Recent evidence points to their potential value when used in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. In a pilot clinical study in which patients with glioblastoma multiforme were treated with "safe" levels of THC, the median survival of patients was 24 weeks, equaling that of the "benchmark" drug (temozolomide) at that time.
According to American Cancer Society estimates, about 23,000 people will be diagnosed with malignant brain and spinal cord tumors in 2013 and about 14,000 people will die from them in the US alone. At present, no recommended tests are available to screen for brain tumors and many of these tumors are only detected when symptoms of their presence manifest themselves.
Glioblastoma multiforme spreads easily throughout brain tissue making it difficult to remove surgically. Other options for its treatment include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Only about 10 cancer drugs have been used to treat such brain tumors. Given the "life expectancy" statistics noted above, it is apparent that new drugs and new treatment options for brain tumors, such as glioblastoma multiforme, are urgently needed. Dr. Gerald Crabtree, Nuvilex's COO commented, "Because of the information already available regarding the use of cannabinoids against glioblastoma multiforme, we believe that this class of therapeutic molecules will enable us to advance new treatments for this form of brain cancer." About Nuvilex Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX) has been a provider of all-natural products for many years. The company has been expanded to increase its natural product-based footprint through medical marijuana studies. We are an international biotechnology provider of live, therapeutically valuable, encapsulated cells and services for research and medicine. New developments by our company and subsidiaries will be substantial as we have been working on many fronts to move us forward. Our company's offerings will ultimately include cancer, diabetes and other treatments using the Company's natural product knowledge, product base, cell and gene therapy expertise, and live-cell encapsulation technology in addition to other new products currently under development. The Nuvilex, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13494 Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements described within the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act involving risks and uncertainties including product demand, market competition, and meeting current or future plans which may cause actual results, events, and performances, expressed or implied, to vary and/or differ from those contemplated or predicted. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Nuvilex is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, reflect events or circumstances afterward, or disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact: Marlin Molinaro Marmel Communications, LLC Ph: (702) 434-8692 email@example.com
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text: The Hermosa project is located about 80 kilometres southeast of Tucson, Arizona, and is about 13 kilometres north of the U.S. border with Mexico. Wildcat land holdings now consist of patented mining claims totalling about 154 acres and unpatented mining claims totalling approximately 13,500 acres. Hermosa is located in the Patagonia Mountains that form the western edge of the Mexican Highland section of the Basin and Range Physiographic Province of the southwest United States, with a prominent northwest-trending structural grain. Elevations in the area range up to about 2,800 metres above sea level, the Property is situated at about 1,600 metres above sea level.


text:
There's been a number of requests for a peanut punch recipe, so I caved in today and finally got around to putting one together. My dad who's one of my go-to people when I've never made something before, is wintering in the Caribbean so this recipe cost me a long distance call. And though his recipe calls for using custard, which I didn't use… you'll be amazed at how simple, quick and how delicious this drink is. Peanut punch is one of those drinks that we tend to associate with sexual prowess in the Caribbean and it's said to be good "for the back"… thoughts?
This recipe will yield enough for two people or one greedy person You can always make more by doubling the recipe.
You'll Need…
8-10 cubes of ice
2 tablespoon peanut butter (smooth or chunky – your choice)
1 cup milk (again your choice – I used 2%)
1 tablespoon condensed milk (Sweetened)
Note: Once you've made this basic or traditional peanut punch you can experiment a bit by adding some of these ingredients…
– dash vanilla essence
– ripe banana
– dash nutmeg
– honey
– granola
* If you don't have condensed milk, you can add sugar or honey as your sweetener or a combination of both.
You'll need a blender or as I did, a magic bullet. Start by placing the ice in first. This way the condense milk and peanut butter will go on top of it and not settle on the bottom where the blades will not reach.
After the ice I put in the peanut butter, followed by the condense milk and milk. Then blend for about 30-40 seconds until everything breaks down and is incorporated evenly.
You'll have a delicious, very filling, creamy and frothy drink. Serve immediately to make use of that ice we crushed during blending. Above you'll notice that I listed some additional ingredients you can use as you become a bit more experimental. I would suggest adding one or two to start and go from there. For a more filling peanut punch, you can add the ripe bananas and/or granola I mentioned above.
My favorite memory of peanut punch other than the tetra packs my mom would have in her parlor, was going to visit my god father on Saturdays at his "chinee" shop in Princess Town, where he had peanut punch in the sort of fountain that had all the freshly made drinks. His fruit punch was also deadly!
Do leave me your comments below and don't forget to join us on Facebook and Twitter and how can we forget the huge selection of cooking videos you can watch.
I really love peanut punch…Can't wait to try your method.
I remember drinking peanut punch from a bottle when we used to go to the movies, as a child, it was so good.
I tried this recipe and it came out terrible. There was too much ice and it wasn't sweet enough and the peanut flavour was mild.
A little of strong rum in there would make a great drink for party celebration
Hi Chris.. This is a yummy recipe!! You said your dad use custard? I would love his version cause my grandmother made it like that and I'm always wondering where to find that recipe.. seems like it's nowhere to be found!!
So i made this again last night for my dad, who is a typical old-school, don't show his feelings type of fellow! Not prone to compliments at all lol…but he loved the peanut punch and was raving about it! He even asked for another one so I made it for him and watched him closely as he downed it in the same rapid succession as the first glass lol…i bet he would've had a 3rd glass if only i hadn't run out of peanut butter…but i can attest, Chris, this recipe is definitely a winner!! Thank you thank you!!
Hey Chris this recipe is the best!! I decided to try it out last night and it was a big hit–perfectly smooth and just the right amount of sweetness! Yum! Am definitely going to make this again…thanks for this!
Hi Chris Greetings Thanks for the peanut punch recipe I will like it
Hi Chris.Greetings. Thanks for the peanut recipe. We are in spring and with summer just around the corner, I think i will need a cool punch for the hot days. Guess I will give it a bit of extra punch with a shot of Mount Gay Rum or Jim Beam. What do you say ?? Thanks for the nice recipe, will try it soon. Cheers, keep up the good work.
i was looking for the recipe with the raw peanuts for peanut punch
Haven't tried the recipe as yet however I will . Where in Princes Town did your Godfather have shop?
This is amazing im drinking right now………FINISHED!!!!!
I thought this was supposed to have rum?????
Yup, drank the whole thing alone, needs more peanut butter though, maybe 4 tbsp and I no longer have to ask mum to make it for me, Thank you tramedously for this website…I'm a cook! who knew?
Sounds cool. I have tired it and it is great but add the cinnamon and nutmeg. It will taste great


text:
What's New
Fixed a draw issue that occurred on some devices, improved gameplay controls, and updated game icon.App Description
How many people can you rescue with your fleet of super cool helicopters?Copter Rescue refines a gameplay style you may know from games like the classic Copter and the recent Flappy Bird. In addition to the insanely difficult gameplay you've come to expect, Copter Rescue introduces a unique collection aspect that makes the game even more addictive. Try it for yourself and let us know if you agree!
App Changes
March 10, 2014 New version 1.1
February 21, 2014 Initial Release


text:
A three-week summer workshop will be offered at the Takoma Park campus of Montgomery College for teachers in grades 6 through 12. The teachers will learn not only astronomy, but the physics, mathematics, and technology necessary to understand and teach. The interdependence of astronomy on other sciences, such as chemistry and even biology, will be stressed. The visual, historical, religious (astrology), multicultural, and artistic roots of astronomy will be explored, as well as the modern scientific approach. Hand-held, inexpensive celestial spheres, holographic high resolution diffraction grating spectrometers, astrolabes, and other devices will be used during the workshop and become the property of the teacher. A significant part of the workshop will be conducted in the planetarium under the stars and in an adjacent computer laboratory were all of the machines are connected to the Internet. A visit to the Goddard Space Flight Center, the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carniege Institution of Washington (the oldest non-profit research organization in the country), and the United States Naval Observatory, and the University of Maryland Observatory will be made during the workshop. At the conclusion of the workshop the teachers will return to their classrooms with astronomical knowledge, reference materials, simple laboratory equipment, computer programs, video tapes, and astronomical modules written by them and other teachers in previous workshops designed to meet the needs of their students.
Personal teaching at the workshop:
The workshop will be offered form July 5 though July 23 from 9AM
to 3:30 PM Monday through Friday. There will also be three one day Saturday
workshop in the 1999-2000 school year for teachers to share how things
are working out. Teachers will be paid $80 per day,
for attending all workshop meetings.
graduate credits in astronomy are available through the University
of Maryland for teachers that need graduate credit. Unfortunately
if you want graduate credit you will have to pay for it or get your school
system to pay for it. Your stipend for the workshop would cover the
in state graduate tuition with a small bit left over. The workshop
is supported under Title II of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professional Development
Program (public law 103-382; CFDA Number 82.281B) awarded by the Maryland
Higher Education Commission grant number 99-20-217.
If you are interested in applying for this program and your browser is form capable please click here. Netscape and Microsoft's Internet Explorer are form capable. Extra preferred consideration is given to teachers who apply via the web.
If you are interested in applying for this program and your browser
is not form capable, answer the enclosed
Mail to: | Dr. Harold Williams | |
Montgomery College | ||
Takoma Ave. and Fenton St. | ||
Takoma Park, MD 20912 |


text: As any falconer quickly learns, the federal government has numerous regulations regarding birds of prey. Most of the laws serve a good purpose: to protect these noble creatures as the precious natural resource they are. But when combined with zealous tax enforcement, sometimes the rules can can result in bizarre consequences. The case of the illegal stuffed eagle as art is a case in point. Read all about it in this Wall Street Journal article by Eric Gibson. As Gibson puts it: "Only in the fantasy bazaar of the U.S. government's imagination can an item that is worthless carry a multimillion-dollar price tag."


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BioMed Research International
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 981372, 6 pages
Research Article
Effect of Perilla frutescens Fixed Oil on Experimental Esophagitis in Albino Wistar Rats
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (Central University), Vidya Vihar, Rai Bareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
Received 3 April 2013; Revised 22 June 2013; Accepted 29 June 2013
Academic Editor: Akihiro Asakawa
Copyright © 2013 Ekta Arya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Linked References
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text: I have a problem. I have installed LFS (CVS20020918). Now i want to have the german keys for my keyboard. I have set the link /usr/sharekbd/keymaps/defkeymap.map.gz to /usr/share/kbd/keymaps/i386/qwertz/de-latin1-nodeadkeys.map.gz But i have the following problem. I ´z´ leter and the other symbols on the right place but i could not write some " ä ö ü ß ". How doas i can corect this error? I hope you can help me and please write back! MFG Stefan Riha -- Unsubscribe: send email to listar at linuxfromscratch.org and put 'unsubscribe lfs-support' in the subject header of the message


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Carol Burnett returns to Des Moines Performing Arts' Civic Center for a one-day event on May 19.
"LAUGHTER AND REFLECTION WITH CAROL BURNETT: A Conversation with Carol where the Audience Asks the Questions" will be held at 3 p.m.
Burnett was the star of "The Carol Burnett Show" for 11 years and won six Emmy Awards.
Tickets go on sale to the general public at 9 a.m. on Feb. 4. Performing Arts members can purchase tickets on Jan. 21.
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.
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How can I get the jeweler in Vastares to talk?
my perse..... is 30. but she wont talk Last edited by pka4916; 07-04-2010 at 06:01 PM.. |
What's your persuade skill level--that isn't all it's based on but it would help me. : ) Did you talk to the Nogur?
This looks delightfully retro.. Insta-buy
It doesn't mean the pc/palm/ppc versions are inferior--only that the iphone/ipod version are different to make them not ho hum for those who had already played them on pc/palm/ppc but wanted to play them on their new devices and still have some easter eggs to find. : ) However, Asteroids is completely different and so will be Ratz, Tower in Your Pocket because I got some really cool new graphics and wanted to showcase them--so we did a little bit of a rewrite. : ) I hope the new monsters in Ratz work--I won't know until iphone/ipod testing is over. |
As it turns out I have enough testers. : ) But thank you so much for your view. The problem is that I could not have more iphone testers because there is some kind of limit. And I needed new ones because many of my old testers had new commitments. Whether you are aware or not and probably most people are not aware, the Zarista expansions have always evolved in part based on creative input from the testers and the community. You can see that in the game. So I need to encourage new testers so the game evolves in that same creative way. Because we try to make a circle with you the community so you are involved. Do we need to do it that way? NO. We have enough creativity I think on our own but it's not the same thing. Our expansions are infused with the breath of our players. And we want to keep it that way no matter what we have to do. It's a community of creativity that keeps giving back to those involved and to the players. It's a circle of creativity. If we can't do that there is no point in our making new expansions. We will have to stop. But I'm not Redshift so I can't give away free copies of the Quest for PC to my testers. : ) I bought a few licenses. I wouldn't mind buying more but I think it's wonderful for someone to have a copy of the Quest for PC and you support Redshift by buying it. I know I made a big hole and put my foot in it somehow. Thanks for getting the drift and helping me pull my foot out. : ) I started out making free expansions for Redshift's Legacy and then got involved in the Quest and then I got involved in a partnership with Dr. Vlad that turned out to be Zarista and it was always my great joy to involve as many people as wanted to get involved. So the day I can't involve people in that way is the day I can't make any more expansions. I have to be able to continue the joy or it won't work for me anymore. Some of my closest friends are people I've met betatesting. : ) And they have had, I think, a chance to express themselves in a way that was important to them and you, the players, got a lot out of it as much as they did--but they got more. Because not everyone can do what they love and they got that chance and we gave it to them. And I'm thankful I was able to do that and have that kind of circle of joy. I know it's important to do what you love and what interests you cause Redshift gave me that chance---to do what I love. ; ) So I try to give it back to others who are interested in that type of creativity. Last edited by Catacomber; 07-05-2010 at 01:38 AM.. |
Not to be short-listing, but mentioning:
Argimon (made his dungeons) Martelius (made his dungeon) Silvergirl (wrote her dialogues and quests) OldShaman (is still coding fantastic new dungeons) Gbol (whose music is superb--it was a side file on the pc) Myrobotwillneverdie (testing superb) Hawkfire with his nice priest graphics Dea Firstianty for her nice quests Lord Yuz for his fantastic quests and stories Liz for her fantastic stories and quests MulderzSiS (for her delightful dungeon) Imran (for his delightful quest) PointofLight (for his challenging quest) Roland (for his fantastic testing and ideas) DemanK (for his fantastic testing and ideas) DetlevH (for his wonderful German language quest) Demonstar (for his thoughts about evil items and wonderful testing) Tux1212 (for his site that has so many maps and quest lists and hints) Ghosthunter (for her wonderful quests) Goldenghost (for her wonderful ideas) Aslmentor (for his wonderful ideas) Cfsdoc (for his delightful addition of having a doctor with certain presents for you) Vaterguy for his personality : ) Freckles (for her best testing ever) MamaOwl (for her best spelling errors and dialogue errors ever) Michele_L (for her delightful puzzle and guides and overall commitment to helping in forums wherever they are) and I could go on....you just have to read the credits books That's what my testers do and that's why I need them. : ) And that's why I wanted you to be a part of it all. But I'm OK thankfully. : ) I had a nice response. : ) Last edited by Catacomber; 07-05-2010 at 01:33 AM.. |
Wow, looking nice.. Lot's of women seems like it. Good job ladies
Bought the PC version also, and starts indeed different as the Itouch version. as far as the 1 quest. I forgot Noghur.. talked to him, and now I'm on my way again. It's not easy to start from scratch. Hopefully things will work out. |
I wonder how PC version would play on Windows 7 with touch enabled. : )
Anyway our next expansion for iphone/ipod---Ratz, Tower in Your Pocket will start from Matras and you should develop a new character to play it. You will not have to play the Quest through again to play it but you might want to go to Ratz--go back to Quest and back to Ratz. If you use a more-developed, high-power character you can play it for the story and for the joy of being a god/goddess. I always liked that. : ) The value of starting over with a new character is that game response time should be very good and you can play as a magic fighter and actually kill with magic. The higher levels somehow compromised this and game response time got a little slower. I know some people would say a lot slower. : ) Last edited by Catacomber; 07-05-2010 at 11:52 PM.. |
No pressure. : ) |
Sure, I can do that.
btw. The new 8.2 enables file sharing for your save games. I can't find it? I have Itunes 9.2 IOS 4.0 Itouch 3rd gen. Windows PC. there is no Sharing ? and all versions are v8.2 this was the message Greetings Quest Fans, We are pleased to announce that with the new update (version 8.2), we have enabled File Sharing in The Quest / The Quest Gold / The Quest Lite (and all expansions)! With this you can now freely copy your save files from/to the game using iTunes. What you need: - version 8.2 of The Quest (or Gold or any expansion) - iOS 4 or an iPad (with iOS 3.2) - iTunes 9.1 (version 9.2 is the latest) If all the requirements are satisfied, just plug in and select your device in iTunes, go to the Apps tab and then to the File Sharing section. If you select a Quest app on the left, you can now save ("Save to...") or restore ("Add...") your save files. The Quest save files are called "TheQuestSaveX.pdb", where X can be any number from 0 to 20. Number 0 is the autosave, the rest are the regular saves. (Please ignore all other files. They are used by Playhaven or Crystal.) Regards, The Redshift Team |
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Our approach to preparing for retirement is not a "one-and-done" method. A successful strategy requires a comprehensive, ongoing approach that takes into consideration the various stages of life and one's changing needs. At Acute Financial, we are committed to providing the expertise and guidance you need to navigate the stages of retirement and preserve wealth.
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WorkshopsAt Acute Financial, we focus on those individuals preparing for, entering into, or enjoying retirement. This "focused-approach" allows us to better understand the various issues you face and how to properly prepare.
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Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh to seek Senate seat in 2014
From: Fox News | October 3, 2013
Montana Lt. Gov. John Walsh will run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, his campaign said Thursday, giving Democrats the high-profile candidate they've been scrambling for in a bid to keep the seat they've held for decades.
Filed Under The Wire
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Georgia Aquarium Welcomes Manta Ray
Nandi is first manta ray ever displayed at U.S. aquarium
Atlanta, GA (August 25, 2008) –
The Georgia Aquarium announced today the addition of a manta ray to the 6.3 million gallon Ocean Voyager gallery, built by The Home Depot. The addition of the female manta ray, Nandi, makes Georgia Aquarium the only aquarium in the
"As the Georgia Aquarium grows as a tourist destination, our opportunity to promote conservation and education grows," said Mike Leven, chief executive officer of the Georgia Aquarium. "The addition of Nandi, who inspired hundreds of thousands of people in
Nandi, who measures more than nine feet across and weighs approximately 456 lbs, flew 9,000 miles on a chartered 747-200 aircraft from
"The Georgia Aquarium's success in moving whale sharks across the world gave us confidence that this was the right thing to do," said Dr. Mark Penning, executive director of uShaka Marine World. "We see this as a perfect opportunity to create an international partnership and continue Nandi's incredible story, raising worldwide awareness about manta rays."
Nandi was rescued from shark nets off the coast of
Manta rays are the largest rays in the sea, but Nandi was young when she was rescued, measuring just more than eight feet across and weighing around 245 lbs. She had since outgrown her 580,000 gallon exhibit. In order to raise world-wide awareness about manta rays, Georgia Aquarium and uShaka created an international partnership to bring Nandi from
"No one has ever done this before," said Leven. "Flying the world's largest ray, a manta ray, from one side of the world to the other and housing it in a
About manta rays
The manta ray is the largest of all rays, weighing up to 6,000 lbs and measuring up to 26 feet in width. It has a unique body shape, with an extremely broad head and an enormous, wide mouth flanked by two broad, flexible lobes. These fins are kept rolled and pointed forward, except when the manta is feeding. Its tail is whip-like, but short, and does not have a barb or spine. The manta ray is primarily a plankton feeder, but also consumes small and moderate-sized fishes. It is listed as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List.
About the Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium in


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Fairly new brewer here: I just did this partial mash really early in the morning, and as I had purchased my specialty grains by the pound, I threw in the whole pound of each instead of 0.5lbs of each as intended. Grain bill: 5lbs Maris Otter, 1lb Crystal 80, 1lb Cara-Pils, 1lb Munich. Since I did not realize the mistake until after pitching, I went ahead and did my boil, hop and DME additions as intended. (9.75AA Centennial @60min, 4lbs DME @15min, 6.2AAU Cascade @2min) Question: If I brew another 5gal batch of this recipe with no specialty grains and blend the two batches before bottling, will the result be anything like the initially intended recipe? Subquestion: Should I even bother or is this batch likely to be tasty as-is? Surely somebody out there has made a similar mistake in the past. Lesson: Coffee first, mash second.
I say just forget about it. The beer will be a little darker and have a little higher FG but it won't ruin things. Next time go slow and be more careful with your measurements.
PLEASE don't throw out beer! You would be surprised how good, even mistakes can taste. Your beer will finish higher than you'd like and should keep a HUGE head on it. But it will still taste good. Give your yeast enough time to clean up and that sucker will be tasty.
You'll end up with a more flavorful beer. If you find the taste undesirable when it finishes fermenting, you could always brew more all maris otter wort and add until you reach something you would be happier with.
Your beer is likely ruined. By the way. Do you happen to know the shipping charges between your home town and Oklahoma? When I am not working at my chosen profession, I run a beer disposal service. We'll get rid of the "mistake" in question. If you send a money order with the beer, I'll even return your bottles/


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DCCCD has partnered with Higher One, a financial services company, to process and distribute refunds and disbursements to most Financial Aid and credit students through the DCCCD Money Card program.
To ensure that you receive your card, you are required to VERIFY YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND OTHER CONTACT INFORMATION and set up an "activation word" on eConnect (login required). For security reasons, you will also be required to answer your challenge question each time you access this screen.
After you verify your information and set up your "activation word", your card should arrive in the mail within 5-7 business days. Follow the activation instructions provided in the envelope containing your card.


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The Premier 80 X 280 Ultimate Party Tent - Pole Tent - Red and White Striped with Solid White Sidewalls is a commercial grade tent built with innovative craftsmanship and design. It is made of American manufactured materials that are of the best quality. The convenient storage bag will make it easier for you to transport the whole tent. Get these Premier 80 X 280 Ultimate Party Tents - Pole Tent - Red and White Striped with Solid White Sidewalls today.
Specs: Fire retardant pole tent � NFPA 701 Certified One year manufacturer's warranty 1.5-inch to 2-inch webbing - 3,000 lb. to 6,000 pounds tested Side Poles: 16-gauge steel | 1.660-inch dia. Center and Quarter Poles: 16-gauge and 14-gauge steel tubing Tent Top: weight � 14 to 15 oz. | material � standard laminated vinyl
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