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Control apparatus is provided for a medical diagnostic imaging system, such as a mobile X-ray unit. The imaging system includes a battery or like power storage device of limited capacity, and a number of components disposed to perform respective corresponding functions. The control apparatus includes a user interface for enabling an operator to generate commands which selectively direct the components to perform their respective corresponding functions. The control apparatus further includes a system control means, comprising a controller and set of control circuits, for initially placing the imaging system in a powered-up mode, wherein each component is coupled to receive power from the battery. A sleep mode activation device is included in the system control for decoupling a first set of components from the battery, while allowing a second set of components to remain coupled thereto, following a first time period during which no command is generated by the user interface. Each component of the second set performs a function which is required to enable the system control to recognize that a command has been generated.
1. Control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein said imaging system has a powered-up mode and comprises a power storage device and a number of sub-systems, each of said sub-systems disposed to draw power from said storage device to perform an associated task when a control signal corresponding to the task is generated, a given one of said sub-systems including specified components disposed to receive power from said storage device when said imaging system is in said powered-up mode, even in the absence of a control signal corresponding to the associated task of said given sub-system, and wherein said control apparatus comprises:
entry means for enabling an operator to generate input commands, at least some of said commands respectively causing said corresponding control signals to be generated;
system control means responsive to said input commands for selectively connecting said storage device to and disconnecting said storage device from respective sub-systems;
sleep mode means included in said system control means for disconnecting a sub-set of said specified components from said storage device at the end of a first time period, if said imaging system is in said powered-up mode and no command is received by said system control means during said first time period; and
power shut-off means included in said system control for taking said imaging system out of said powered-up mode after disconnection of said component sub-set from said storage device, if no command is received by said system control means prior to the end of a second time period which follows said first time period.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said system control means comprises:
a system controller for generating control signals which respectively represent said commands; and
a set of control circuits operable in response to said control signals to selectively couple power from said storage device to said sub-systems.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
said apparatus enables an operator to adjust the respective lengths of said first and second time periods.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:
said system controller is disposed to generate a first control signal to activate a first sub-system while a second sub-system remains inactive.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:
said first sub-system comprises a sub-system for acquiring X-ray images, and said second sub-system comprises a sub-system for enabling an operator to selectively move said imaging system.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:
said apparatus includes charging means for increasing the amount of power contained in said storage device, until said amount reaches a specified maximum.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:
said charging means comprises means for by-passing a battery charge operation when the energy level of the battery is at a specified percentage of maximum battery energy capacity.
8. Control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein said imaging system comprises a power storage device and a number of components disposed to perform functions respectively corresponding thereto, said control apparatus comprising:
entry means for generating commands to selectively direct said components to perform their respectively corresponding functions;
system control means for initially coupling each of said components to receive power from said storage device;
sleep mode means included in said system control means for decoupling a first set of said components from said storage device, while allowing a second set of said components to remain coupled to said storage device, following a first time period during which no command is generated by said entry means, wherein each component of said second set performs a function which is required to enable said system control means to recognize that a command has been generated by said entry means; and
means included in said system control means for decoupling said second set of components from said storage device if no command is generated by said entry means prior to the end of a second time period following said first time period.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said system control means comprises:
a system controller for generating control signals which respectively represent said commands; and
a set of control circuits operable in response to said control signals to selectively couple power from said storage device to said components of said first and second sets.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:
said imaging system comprises a mobile imaging system and said storage device comprises a battery; and
said imaging system includes a first sub-system for acquiring X-ray images, and a second sub-system for enabling an operator to physically move said imaging system.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein:
said apparatus includes charging means for increasing the amount of power contained in said battery, until said amount reaches a specified level.
The invention disclosed and claimed herein is generally directed to apparatus for conserving power in a medical diagnostic imaging system, such as a mobile X-ray unit. More particularly, the invention is directed to apparatus of such type for use with a medical diagnostic imaging system operated by power from an electric battery or other device having a limited power storage capacity.
As is well known, the term "medical diagnostic imaging system" is generally applied to equipment which uses a radiographic or magnetic technique to provide images of internal human body structures. Such equipment includes X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems, although it is not limited thereto. As is further well known, these types of systems are comparatively expensive. Accordingly, system suppliers are increasingly interested in developing diagnostic imaging equipment which is portable or mobile, so that it can be readily moved from one location of use to another. The utility of such equipment may thereby be significantly enhanced. Developments of this type are exemplified by a product of the General Electric Company, which is known as the AMX-4 X-ray unit. This product comprises an X-ray machine mounted on a wheeled carriage and provided with a drive motor and steering controls. The motor is powered by a rechargeable battery likewise mounted on the X-ray unit. The unit can thus be easily moved, for example, from one room to another in a hospital.
In mobile units of the above type, it has been found useful to employ the storage battery to operate respective X-ray imaging components, such as the generator, inverter and rotor controller, in addition to operating the unit drive motor. This arrangement minimizes components. Moreover, such arrangement enables the unit to be readily moved from one X-ray site to another, and then operated at the new site without concern about the availability of an external power source, such as an electric outlet of suitable voltage. However, the power storage capacity of a single battery is limited, and such dual use may tend to draw battery power down quickly under certain conditions. While the battery can be recharged when the X-ray unit is not in use, the needs of a health care environment are sometimes very unpredictable. For example, a series of medical emergencies could arise, requiring continuous use of the X-ray unit over an extended period of time, without opportunity to recharge the battery. If battery power was low at the beginning of the period, or if the unit consumed power unnecessarily, the battery might become depleted when power was still needed to acquire X-ray exposures of a patient. Thus, in such mobile X-ray and other diagnostic imaging equipment, it would be desirable to conserve or minimize use of battery power as much as possible. In some circumstances, it could be significantly beneficial to conserve even comparatively small amounts of power, if such conservation would enable the battery to acquire several additional X-ray exposures. It could also be desirable to minimize strain on the battery during recharging procedures.
The invention generally comprises control apparatus for a medical diagnostic imaging system, wherein the imaging system includes a power storage device of limited capacity, such as a battery, and a number of sub-systems. The sub-systems are respectively activated, when they receive power from the storage device, to perform respective specified tasks. A given one of the sub-systems includes a number of specified components disposed to receive power from the storage device when the imaging system is in a powered-up mode, even if the given sub-system is not activated to perform its specified tasks. The apparatus of the invention comprises user interface means for enabling a user or operator to generate input commands, at least some of the commands directing activation of sub-systems to perform their respective specified tasks. The apparatus further comprises a system control means receiving the commands, for coupling power from the storage device to activate sub-systems respectively corresponding to received commands. Sleep mode means are included in the system control means for disconnecting the specified components from the storage device at the end of a first time period, if the imaging system is in the powered-up mode and no command is received by the system control means during the first time period. Preferably, the sleep mode means further comprises means for reconnecting the specified components to the storage device, if a command is received after the end of the first time period, but prior to the end of a subsequent second time period. Preferably also, the system control means includes power shut-down means for taking the system out of its powered-up mode after disconnection of the specified components from the storage device, if no command is received prior to the end of the second time period.
In a preferred embodiment, the diagnostic imaging system comprises a mobile X-ray unit, which is mounted on a wheeled carriage or the like. One of the sub-systems comprises an electric drive motor, mechanically coupled to the wheels, and other components pertaining thereto. Such drive motor sub-system is activated to move the unit from one location to another. Another sub-system comprises an X-ray tube generator and related components, which are collectively operated to drive the tube to produce X-rays, and to acquire X-ray images. The power storage device comprises an electric battery of specified capacity, and the system control means comprises a controller, for generating control signals respectively representing input commands, and a set of control circuits operable in response to the control signals to selectively couple power from the battery to respective sub-systems.
It is anticipated that in the past, up to 25% of power usage was wasted in mobile units of the above type, i.e., was consumed by components drawing power when the unit was in a powered-up mode but was idle, that is, was not doing useful work. It is further anticipated that the present invention can substantially eliminate such waste.
An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for conserving or minimizing the use of power in connection with an X-ray or other diagnostic imaging unit.
Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type for use in connection with a mobile diagnostic imaging unit, wherein the power required both to move the unit and to operate its image forming sub-system must be supplied by a single storage battery or string of batteries mounted on the unit.
Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type which minimizes power consumption while the unit is in a powered-up mode but idle, e.g., during patient set up or when a user has forgotten to turn off the unit power source.
Another object is to provide apparatus of the above type wherein the battery is rechargeable, and includes a charging system which is designed to reduce stress on the battery and an associated charging circuit in the course of a battery charging operation.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an X-ray imaging unit provided with an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing certain components of the imaging unit of FIG. 1 in greater detail.
FIG. 3 is a simplified representation of a sleep mode control device for use with the unit of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4a and 4b are flow chart illustrating a battery charging technique.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a mobile X-ray unit 10 usefully employing an embodiment of the invention. Unit 10 may comprise, for example, the aforementioned AMX-4 X-ray unit, but is not limited thereto. Unit 10 generally includes a carriage or platform 12 provided with wheels 14, whereby unit 10 may be readily moved or transported over a floor or other supportive horizontal surface (not shown). A column 16 extending upward from platform 12 supports a conventional X-ray tube 18, which produces a beam of X-radiation 20 for acquiring X-ray exposures of a patient 22. Usefully, column 16 is mounted for rotation relative to platform 12 about a vertical axis. In like manner, tube 18 is mounted for rotation relative to column 16 about a horizontal axis. Thus, X-ray tube 18 may be readily positioned to project X-ray beam 20 at a desired orientation with respect to the patient 22.
Referring further to FIG. 1, there is shown an X-ray imaging subsystem 24 contained in a housing 26 mounted on platform 12. Subsystem 24 includes a conventional generator (not shown) necessary to provide the very high electrical voltage required by tube 18 to produce X-rays. Subsystem 24 further comprises other conventional components and elements necessary to operate X-ray tube 18, including an inverter, a rotor controller, and filament drive logic (not shown). Such components and elements, some of which are referred to hereinafter, are considered to be very well known in the art. Electrical power required for operating tube 18 is coupled thereto from subsystem 24 through cables 28.
FIG. 1 further shows unit 10 provided with a second subsystem 30, likewise contained in housing 26, which comprises a conventional motor drive (not shown) and related components for supplying mechanical power to controllably move unit 10. Motive power may be coupled from motor drive subsystem 30 to the wheels 14 by means of a drive belt or other conventional means for transmitting mechanical power (not shown). Some of the components and elements included in drive subsystem 30 are referred to hereinafter.
Referring further to FIG. 1, there is shown an electrical storage battery 32 in housing 26 for supplying all of the power required for operation of mobile unit 10, including the needs of subsystems 24 and 30. Power is also needed from battery 32 to operate other electrical and electronic components, such as LED indicator lights, an operator display screen and system logic. Battery 32 usefully comprises a string of sealed lead acid batteries, which is rechargeable by connecting a power cord 34 to a 110 volt or 220 volt AC source, as required.
To control operation of X-ray unit 10, a user interface console 36 is mounted on the top of housing 26. Console 36 includes a key switch 38, which is selectively turned on to enable battery 32 to supply power to respective components of unit 10, or turned off to prevent any transmission of power thereto. User interface console 36 further includes a set of buttons or switches 40 for use by an operator in controlling imaging subsystem 24.
To direct the movements of unit 10, a control bar 42 is usefully mounted at the rearward end of console 36. The bar 42 is urged toward column 16 from a center position to move unit 10 forward, and is moved away from column 16 to move the unit rearward. The bar 42 is twisted to the right or left, to steer the unit rightward or leftward, respectively. Control bar 42 and switches 40 collectively comprise a set of operator controls 56 (shown in FIG. 2) which generate various commands or instructions for the operation of unit 10, and more specifically for the respective components and subsystems thereof. These commands are coupled to a system control 44, contained in housing 26 and interactively coupled to battery 32 and subsystems 24 and 30. The system control is described hereinafter in further detail. FIG. 1 further shows user interface 36 provided with a display screen 46, Power On indicator LED 48 and a charge mode indicator LED 50.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown system control 44 comprising a controller 52 and a set of control circuits 54. The switches 40 and control 42 of user interface console 36 shown in FIG. 1 are collectively represented in FIG. 2 as operator controls 56. FIG. 2 further shows operator commands generated by means of control 56 inputted to controller 52, which generates control signals respectively corresponding thereto, as described hereinafter in greater detail.
Referring further to FIG. 2, there is shown X-ray imaging sub-system 24 and motor drive sub-system 30, respectively connected to receive power from battery 32. More particularly, a circuit or relay K2 is closed when switch 38 of console 36 is operated to turn on unit 10. Unit 10 is thereby placed in a "powered-up mode," whereupon respective components and sub-systems of unit 10 are enabled to draw power from battery 32. Power is supplied to sub-systems 24 and 30 by closing relays K4 and K5, respectively. Relay K4 is closed when an operator command to activate the X-ray imaging sub-system 24 is entered into controller 52, by means of operator controls 56. In response, a "Pwr On A" control signal is generated by the controller and coupled to the control circuits 54, which operate to close relay K4. Similarly, motor drive sub-system 30 is activated by an operator command to controller 52, which causes a "Pwr On B" control signal to be generated. Such control signal is coupled to control circuits 54, causing relay K5 to be closed.
It is to be noted that sub-systems 24 and 30 are respectively referenced in FIG. 2 as Subsystems A and B. This is to emphasize the generic nature of the interconnection of sub-systems 24 and 30 with respect to battery 32 and system control 44. That is, unit 10 could have different or additional sub-systems, which were powered and controlled in the same manner as described herein in regard to sub-systems 24 and 30, and the present invention would apply thereto.
When relays K2 and K4 are closed as described above, X-ray imaging sub-system 24 is placed in a "powered-up mode". Thereupon, sub-system 24 draws a minimal amount of power, in order to perform certain tasks in support of and preparatory to the central function of sub-system 24, i.e., X-ray imaging. Such supporting functions include, though are not necessarily limited to, software loading and the establishment and maintenance of a communications path with the controller 52. Components for respectively performing such functions are collectively represented in FIG. 2 by reference numeral 59, and receive power of voltage V from battery 32. In addition, when sub-system 24 is in a powered-up mode, other components thereof, which are directly related to and essential for the X-ray imaging task of the sub-system, are also disposed to draw power from battery 32. These components are collectively represented in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 60, and include, though are not necessarily limited to, inverter, rotor controller and filament drive logic, and operational amplifiers. It is to be understood that components 60 can draw power even if a command has not been generated by controls 56 to actually perform an X-ray imaging procedure. Delays in carrying out the imaging procedure are thereby reduced or eliminated.
In like manner, motor drive sub-system 30 is placed in a powered-up mode when relays K2 and K5 are closed. In like manner also, sub-system 30 includes two sets of components, both disposed to receive power of voltage V from battery 32, when sub-system 30 is powered-up. Such components are respectively shown in FIG. 2 as component sets 61 and 62. The components 61 perform functions such as software loading and communication with controller 52. Components 62 include, but are not necessarily limited to, drive system electronics such as operational amplifiers, motors, brakes and interface logic. Components 62 are disposed to draw power from battery 32 in preparation of a command from controls 56 to move unit 10, before such command has been generated.
Referring further to FIG. 2, there are shown displays and indicators of user interface console 36 collectively represented by the reference numeral 64. FIG. 2 also shows certain controller function components 66. When relay K2 is closed, unit 10 is generally placed in a powered-up mode whether or not a sub-system thereof is powered up by closing a relay such as K4 or K5. When unit 10 is powered-up, both display and indicator components 64 and controller components 66 draw power from battery 32. Unit 10 has a powered-up mode, of course, to avoid delay when operator commands are subsequently generated to perform useful work, such as acquiring X-ray exposures or moving the unit from one place to another. However, as stated above, up to 25% of the power usage of battery 32 can represent power drawn simply by powered up components, of the sub-systems, controller or interface, at times when none of the sub-systems have been directed to perform their respective intended work functions. Such needless use of power increases the chance that the battery, a limited capacity device, will run out of power at a time when one or more of the work functions must be performed. Such occurrence could be particularly undesirable, or even serious, in a health care environment.
Accordingly, to reduce battery usage while still allowing "powered-up" mode operation to some extent, controller 52 is provided with a sleep mode device 70. Generally, sleep mode device 70 monitors, or is responsive to, the amount of time which passes during which no commands are generated by operator controls 56, or received by controller 52. When such time exceeds a specified time period T1, device 70 generates a sleep mode (Sleep) signal. The sleep mode signal has the effect of opening a number of relays in unit 10, depicted in FIG. 2 as KW. Opening each of the relays KW causes power to be respectively disconnected from components 60, 62, 64 and 66. Unit 10 is thereby placed into a sleep mode, wherein only components such as 59 and 61 of the sub-systems and 68 of controller 52 continue to draw power.
Components 68, as well as components 59 and 61 described above, are generally limited to communication and interface logic devices necessary to monitor the generation of subsequent operator commands. Components 68 further include devices needed to support controller receipt of any subsequent operator commands, to avoid the need to reboot the system (e.g., main microprocessor), and to supply minimum power needed for such limited activities. The Power On indicator light 48 also remains on during sleep mode. By continuing to supply power to components 59, 61 and 68 during sleep mode, unit 10 is able to quickly wake up, i.e., to respond to any operator command occurring while the unit is in sleep mode. When such command occurs, the unit returns to the powered-up mode, which requires significantly less time than would be necessary to power up from a condition in which all power had been shut off to respective components of unit 10. This would happen if power switch 38 was turned off.
Usefully, sleep mode device 70 is further designed to monitor a second time period T2, commencing when unit 10 enters the sleep mode. If no command signals are generated or received by controller 52 during such second period, device 70, at the conclusion thereof, will generate a power-down signal. The power-down signal turns off key switch 38, so that no further power is drawn from battery 32 unless the system is completely restarted.
If controller 52 comprises a computer related system, sleep mode device 70 can be implemented in software. In an alternative embodiment, device 70 could comprise an arrangement of counters 72 and 74, as shown in FIG. 3. Counter 72 is set or activated by a unit ON signal, generated by turning on key switch 38 to power up unit 10. Counter 72 is configured to count for the time period T1, whereupon it generates an output. However, counter 72 is reset by each operator command. Thus, it will not generate an output unless no command occurs for the time T1. Accordingly, the output of counter 72 can be used for the sleep mode signal.
Referring further to FIG. 3, there is shown counter 74 activated by the sleep mode signal from counter 72 to time the period T2. However, counter 74 is also reset by respective operator commands. Thus, counter 74 will only time the period T2, to produce an output comprising the power-down signal, if no operator commands are received during sleep mode.
Usefully, device 70 is designed so that the time periods T1 and T2 can be selectively adjusted by a user of unit 10. For example, sleep mode period T1 could be a time selected from the range 1 minute to 30 minutes. Similarly, T2 could be a time selected from the range 1 minute to 30 minutes.
A mobile device such as unit 10 may spend twelve or more hours a day plugged into a wall outlet in a battery charging state. If charging continues longer than is necessary, undo stress may be placed on the battery and/or an associated charging circuit. Accordingly, referring again to FIG. 2, there is shown unit 10 provided with a battery charging/charge monitor circuit 76. Circuit 76 generally comprises a circuit arrangement disposed to receive power, through power cord 34, from an AC source(e.g., an "AC HI" source of 220 volts or an "AC LO" source of 110 volts) to supply power of DC voltage to recharge battery 32. Moreover, charging circuit 76 monitors the stored energy level of battery 32. Operation of circuit 76 is directed by controller 52 in accordance with the flow diagram shown in FIG. 4. As an additional measure to conserve power of battery 32, a power supply 58 is provided, which is coupled to an AC source and driven thereby, by operation of relay K3. Relay K2 is opened, and power is provided to the sub-systems from supply 58 through a diode 57. Thus, battery power is not used at all during the charge cycle, to extend battery life.
Referring to FIG. 4, there are shown preliminary steps 78 for the battery recharging process, including plugging cord 34 into an AC source and illuminating charge mode indicator LED 50 as a yellow light. Thereupon, a charge enable signal is generated by controller 52, K3 closes and power supply 58 comes up. Microprocessors residing in the controller 52 perform power up, tests, and system initialization, and also start the main code loop, if necessary. When the main code loop is running, the availability of AC power is considered. AC power is made available to battery 32 by closing relay K1. If AC power is available, the level of energy already stored in the battery is observed. If the energy level is 90% or more of the maximum energy capacity of battery 32, the charging operation may be bypassed, thereby avoiding stress associated with recharging and enhancing battery life. Otherwise, the charging cycle is started, and continues until completed. Thereupon, charge mode indicator LED 50 turns green, and the charging circuit is shut down, along with other components of unit 10. Thereafter, the only power drawn is the power required for the green LED.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the disclosed inventive concept, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
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text:
Dementia needs to be approached in the same way as diabetes, a Gold Coast psychiatrist said last week.
Professor Philip Morris appeared before a House of Representatives inquiry into early diagnosis and intervention on dementia.
According to the latest government data, nearly 175,000 Australians had dementia in 2003, a figure expected to rise to 465,000 by 2031, partly due to Australia's ageing population.
While there was no cure for dementia, Professor Morris urged the nation's approach to the disease to "emulate" the approach taken on diabetes to help more patients be able to live well.
He also encouraged doctors' negative attitude in treating the disease be changed. "I take the view that there is a lot we can do - in diabetes, certainly, there's a lot you can do," Professor Morris said.
"Now (doctors are) expected to know what are you going to do for the education of the (diabetes) patient, the rehabilitation for the individual, the potential for their vocational career. I think that's where we need to move to on dementia," he added.
Professor Morris claimed some doctors' attitudes to dementia also meant the medications available to help patients live with the disease may not be prescribed to all patients who could use the medicinal help.
He said another perception, that dementia and Alzheimer's disease was a part of ageing, was also hindering attitudes to the problems.
Do you believe doctors need to be more educated about Alzheimer's disease? Share your thoughts below.

subset: commoncrawl


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Gear Review
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text: Paul Walker's daughter Meadow is reportedly "disgusted" that her grandmother has applied to be her legal guardian.Cheryl Walker filed court documents earlier this week in a bid to be appointed Meadow's custodian, following the death of The Fast and the Furious star in a car crash in November, claiming the teenager's mother Rebecca Soteros is an alcoholic.But a source told E! News that everyone was taken by surprise, and this has been hard on everyone close to them. The source said that Meadow and her mom didn't know. There have been discussions but no one told them they were going ahead with it, the source added. The insider predicted that Rebecca wouldn't give up Meadow without a fight.


text:
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A useful compilation, but read between the lines,
This review is from: 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Hardcover)
This book embraces many fields of personal development, and in addition to the expected material on persuasion, motivation, and relationships it examines many other areas of interest. I love the idea of presenting all of these fields side by side, because while they are all connected, we generally find ourselves trawling through many books in order to get a glimpse at the larger picture. Mr Wiseman, with his entertaining and engaging style, writes with great clarity and readability as he covers a record number of psychological principles in relatively few pages.
We have to take some of this material with a pinch of salt. In his section on attraction, Wiseman tells us with certainty that if, on first meeting a woman, a man makes a point of touching her, his success rate will be higher because he is communicating high status. Hmm. Firstly, opinion is divided on the status issue, some people tell us that the toucher is communicating LOWER status because they are 'grooming' the touchee; secondly, maybe the success rate can be put down to the increased intimacy; thirdly, this idea might encourage men to touch women who do not wish to be touched.
Also, I kept on hearing that `Prof X had a hunch that Y, so he decided to conduct an experiment to see if this was so', and then, to our great surprise, we find that Prof X was indeed right. In one such experiment (p152) Wiseman describes how a scientist had a hunch that a woman with larger breasts would receive more offers at a nightclub, and to his surprise he discovered that indeed he was right. Well, I would never have guessed.
Having read many books on related topics and found a lot of this sort of research, I guess that this approach comes with the territory. With this in mind, because there is a lot of room for personal interpretation (although the results of the big boobs experiment are fairly clear), it is probably best if you play `spot the leap of faith' and keep your mind on the experiments. Judge the conclusions for yourself. If you do this, along with reading the excellent discussion in the text, you will find some very useful advice.
I had always wondered whether playing Mozart to our children really could raise their I.Q., now I know the answer. When I teach, I strive to motivate my students as much as I can - this book has given me a little more insight on how to do this.
A little experiment: If you ask any 2/3 year old child whether they prefer daddy or chips the answer will nearly always be chips.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly self help book,
This review is from: 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Paperback)
If you are reading this don't waste your time looking for any other "sef-help" book out there.
59 seconds is the book you're looking for.
Richard Wiseman approaches the topic with scientific researches and proven techniques that can help you improve in several different areas of your life.
This book is a MUST!
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A Summary of Research,
This review is from: 59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute (Paperback)
This book is essentially a summary of research on a number of complex topics, such as persuasion, goal setting, creativity, etc. Wiseman presents a number of practical studies and applies the information in clever ways. Overall the book was quite good, and I found the chapter on goal-setting particularly helpful.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!,
This review is from: 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Hardcover)
I've read dozens of self help books over the years. Most are based on theory. This book is based on the study of human behaviour.
I would recommend it first for anyone starting their journey of self discovery
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars surprised by the amount of material,
This review is from: 59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Audio CD)
I have only listened to most of the first CD (of 6!) and the purchase already feels worth the money.
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59 Seconds: Change Your Life in Under a Minute by Richard Wiseman (Paperback - Dec 28 2010)
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text:
Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more
In clinical trials, approximately 8,400 patients with type 2 diabetes have been treated with AVANDIA; 6,000 patients were treated for 6 months or longer and 3,000 patients were treated for 12 months or longer.
Trials of AVANDIA as Monotherapy and in Combination With Other Hypoglycemic Agents
The incidence and types of adverse events reported in clinical trials of AVANDIA as monotherapy are shown in Table 4.
Preferred Term
AVANDIA Monotherapy
Upper respiratory tract infection
Back pain
* Includes patients receiving glyburide (N = 514), gliclazide (N = 91), or glipizide (N = 21).
Overall, the types of adverse reactions without regard to causality reported when AVANDIA was used in combination with a sulfonylurea or metformin were similar to those during monotherapy with AVANDIA.
Events of anemia and edema tended to be reported more frequently at higher doses, and were generally mild to moderate in severity and usually did not require discontinuation of treatment with AVANDIA.
In double-blind studies, anemia was reported in 1.9% of patients receiving AVANDIA as monotherapy compared to 0.7% on placebo, 0.6% on sulfonylureas, and 2.2% on metformin. Reports of anemia were greater in patients treated with a combination of AVANDIA and metformin (7.1%) and with a combination of AVANDIA and a sulfonylurea plus metformin (6.7%) compared to monotherapy with AVANDIA or in combination with a sulfonylurea (2.3%). Lower pre-treatment hemoglobin/hematocrit levels in patients enrolled in the metformin combination clinical trials may have contributed to the higher reporting rate of anemia in these studies [see Adverse Reactions].
In clinical trials, edema was reported in 4.8% of patients receiving AVANDIA as monotherapy compared to 1.3% on placebo, 1.0% on sulfonylureas, and 2.2% on metformin. The reporting rate of edema was higher for AVANDIA 8 mg in sulfonylurea combinations (12.4%) compared to other combinations, with the exception of insulin. Edema was reported in 14.7% of patients receiving AVANDIA in the insulin combination trials compared to 5.4% on insulin alone. Reports of new onset or exacerbation of congestive heart failure occurred at rates of 1% for insulin alone, and 2% (4 mg) and 3% (8 mg) for insulin in combination with AVANDIA [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions].
In controlled combination therapy studies with sulfonylureas, mild to moderate hypoglycemic symptoms, which appear to be dose related, were reported. Few patients were withdrawn for hypoglycemia (<1%) and few episodes of hypoglycemia were considered to be severe (<1%). Hypoglycemia was the most frequently reported adverse event in the fixed-dose insulin combination trials, although few patients withdrew for hypoglycemia (4 of 408 for AVANDIA plus insulin and 1 of 203 for insulin alone). Rates of hypoglycemia, confirmed by capillary blood glucose concentration ≤50 mg/dL, were 6% for insulin alone and 12% (4 mg) and 14% (8 mg) for insulin in combination with AVANDIA. [See Warnings and Precautions and Dosage and Administration (2.2).]
AVANDIA has been evaluated for safety in a single, active-controlled trial of pediatric patients with type 2 diabetes in which 99 were treated with AVANDIA and 101 were treated with metformin. The most common adverse reactions (>10%) without regard to causality for either AVANDIA or metformin were headache (17% versus 14%), nausea (4% versus 11%), nasopharyngitis (3% versus 12%), and diarrhea (1% versus 13%). In this study, one case of diabetic ketoacidosis was reported in the metformin group. In addition, there were 3 patients in the rosiglitazone group who had FPG of ∼300 mg/dL, 2+ ketonuria, and an elevated anion gap.
Decreases in mean hemoglobin and hematocrit occurred in a dose-related fashion in adult patients treated with AVANDIA (mean decreases in individual studies as much as 1.0 g/dL hemoglobin and as much as 3.3% hematocrit). The changes occurred primarily during the first 3 months following initiation of therapy with AVANDIA or following a dose increase in AVANDIA. The time course and magnitude of decreases were similar in patients treated with a combination of AVANDIA and other hypoglycemic agents or AVANDIA monotherapy. Pre-treatment levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit were lower in patients in metformin combination studies and may have contributed to the higher reporting rate of anemia. In a single study in pediatric patients, decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit (mean decreases of 0.29 g/dL and 0.95%, respectively) were reported. Small decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit have also been reported in pediatric patients treated with AVANDIA. White blood cell counts also decreased slightly in adult patients treated with AVANDIA. Decreases in hematologic parameters may be related to increased plasma volume observed with treatment with AVANDIA.
Changes in serum lipids have been observed following treatment with AVANDIA in adults [see Clinical Pharmacology]. Small changes in serum lipid parameters were reported in children treated with AVANDIA for 24 weeks.
Serum Transaminase Levels
In clinical studies in 4,598 patients treated with AVANDIA encompassing approximately 3,600 patient years of exposure, there was no evidence of drug-induced hepatotoxicityor elevated ALT levels.
In controlled trials, 0.2% of patients treated with AVANDIA had reversible elevations in ALT >3X the upper limit of normal compared to 0.2% on placebo and 0.5% on active comparators. Hyperbilirubinemia was found in 0.3% of patients treated with AVANDIA compared with 0.9% treated with placebo and 1% in patients treated with active comparators.
In the clinical program including long-term, open-label experience, the rate of ALT increase (to >3X the upper limit of normal), per 100 patient-years of AVANDIA exposure, was 0.35 for patients treated with AVANDIA, 0.59 for placebo-treated patients, and 0.78 for patients treated with active comparator agents.
In pre-approval clinical trials, there were no cases of idiosyncratic drug reactions leading to hepatic failure. In postmarketing experience with AVANDIA, reports of hepatic enzyme elevations 3 or more times the upper limit of normal and hepatitis have been received [see Warnings and Precautions].
In addition to adverse reactions reported from clinical trials, the events described below have been identified during post-approval use of AVANDIA. Because these events are reported voluntarily from a population of unknown size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or to always establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
In patients receiving thiazolidinedione therapy, serious adverse events with or without a fatal outcome, potentially related to volume expansion (e.g., congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, and pleural effusions) have been reported [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions].
Rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema, anaphylactic reaction, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported rarely.
Reports of new onset or worsening diabetic macular edema with decreased visual acuity have also been received [see Warnings and Precautions].
Reported by a lawyer from United States on 2011-10-03
Patient: 52 year old male
Reactions: Myocardial Infarction, Cardiac Disorder
Adverse event resulted in: hospitalization
Suspect drug(s):
Administration route: Oral
Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Start date: 2004-12-18
End date: 2008-01-01
Dosage: 4mg per day
Administration route: Oral
Indication: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Start date: 2006-01-01
End date: 2006-07-01
Reported by a consumer/non-health professional from United States on 2011-10-03
Patient: 58 year old male
Reactions: Myocardial Infarction, Cardiac Disorder, Cardiac Failure Congestive
Suspect drug(s):
Other drugs received by patient: Atenolol; Loratadine; Vardenafil; Flunisolide; Quetiapine; Doxazosin Mesylate; Citalopram Hydrobromide; Glipizide; Nifedipine
Reported by a health professional (non-physician/pharmacist) from United States on 2011-10-03
Patient: 54 year old male weighing 81.0 kg (178.2 pounds)
Reactions: Weight Decreased, Lung Disorder, Heart Rate Increased, Atrial Fibrillation, Myocardial Infarction
Other drugs received by patient: Lipitor; Allopurinol; Renagel; Metoprolol Tartrate; Hemodialysis; Cpap; Flonase; Indomethacin
All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2015


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New Internal Harddrive Problem..
I have a 13inch Unibody Mac (Late 09).
I replaced the standard 2"5 250gb toshiba HD with a 2"5 500gb Seagate one.
I cloned the original HD to the new HD and it worked fine for about 24hours. The only difference being an extra 250gb free space as intended. Then the next day when I started up my mac, the apple loading screen was loading for ages then nothing happened. Can't use it anymore. Had to put the 250gb HD back in.
Is there anything i can do to do the 500gb Harddrive to make it work?
How did you clone the 250 GB drive to the 500 GB Seagate? What software did you use?
Carbon Copy Cloner
I've done the same exact procedure many times and it has always worked using the same software - CCC.
The only thing I can suggest is this: Erase and format the 500 GB drive again. Make sure you format it as HFS Extended Journaled, GUID partition scheme. Run CCC once more to clone your 250 GB to the 500 GB. Then use Disk Utility to extend the cloned portion to encompass the entire drive. In other words, make sure the 500 GB is one complete partition not just one 250 GB and 250 GB of unused space.
I hope you follow what I said above. If not, post back.
I'll attempt that later. Never done that before. Thanks for the help! Hopefully it'll sort out my problem. I'll get back to you if it fails once again. Could just be a faulty HD.
I went onto disk utility after the cloned and went onto the partition bit. Theres one partition of 499.76gb. I'm guessing thats what its supposed to be, correct? But this is what I did last week and it messed up after a day.
Yes, the one partition of 499.76 GB is correct. It looks like CCC worked OK. I can't tell you why the drive failed after a day. The drive could be defective. Try cloning it again to see what happens. If the drive fails again, return it for another.
So if this step doesn't work then it's most likely a bad harddrive?
Thanks for the help.
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On March 7th, Three Rivers Friends of NRA, held their annual banquet at Camp KYSOC. This year was another success for the future of shooting sports. Funds raised from this program stay in Kentucky and 50 percent of the funds are allocated to the Youth of Kentucky. The Three Rivers Committee Dave Huesman, Dave Watts, Kathy Watts, Tim Hotfil, and Jory Heveline would like to thank all of our sponsors, underwriters, and donors for their generosity.
Carroll County students are getting a glimpse of their futures this week. All eighth and tenth graders are participating in a joint initiative between the Kentucky Department of Education and the Department of Workforce Development, known as Operation Preparation. Two major goals of Operation Preparation are to engage the community and to provide students with the opportunity to hear about the importance of college and/or career planning from an unbiased adult – someone other than a parent or teacher.
While another round of record snow and cold kept the House and Senate from being able to meet for two days last week, both chambers nonetheless finished work on several notable bills and are poised to pass even more in the three days we meet this week.
Although it has a couple of hurdles still to clear as of this writing, one of the legislative session's most far-reaching initiatives appears destined to become law.
After a successful beginning to the week in the Senate, extreme weather conditions on Wednesday evening into Thursday prevented us from holding session on Thursday and Friday. The LRC offices were closed on Thursday, but were re-opened on Friday, so we held a caucus meeting to discuss some remaining issues facing the final days of the 2015 Session.
I would like to provide some information about a benefit we will be having for Dave Clymer, owner of Carrollton Sheet Metal. The benefit will be on March 21 from 5-8 p.m. at News Auction House. There will be a spaghetti dinner, live band and a raffle/silent auction. Tickets for the events are $10 each and kids under five are free. Each ticket purchased is a chance to win a door prize. Raffle tickets are $1 each or $5 for six.
At the recent Northern Kentucky Regional First LEGO League Robotics tournament, I marveled at the imagination and creativity displayed by so many young people. In these students, I see the spirit of ingenuity and a culture of invention that have been critical to our nation's economic success for over two centuries. I was reminded of the competitions I participated in as a young inventor, and of the American spirit of innovation that inspired me to obtain 29 patents.
As we approach the final days of the 2015 Legislative Session, we have been working diligently to complete our consideration of Senate bills while also vetting legislation that has been passed by the House. We will begin considering several additional House bills next week and, on Monday, the Senate plans to pass the first bill to receive the approval of both legislative chambers.
What if.
There is nothing quite as important as spending a few moments of our personal time asking the very basic question, "What if?"
Copyright © 2015
The News-Democrat is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Carroll County, KY and the surrounding area.


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Isles claim former Kings first-rounder Hickey off waivers
Jan 15, 2013, 12:59 PM EDT
In 2007, the Kings made Thomas Hickey the fourth overall selection — behind Patrick Kane, James van Riemsdyk and Kyle Turris — at the NHL Entry Draft.
Today, Hickey's time with Los Angeles came to an end as the New York Islanders announced they claimed the 23-year-old rearguard off waivers.
The captain of Canada's gold medal-winning Junior team from 2009, Hickey has yet to make good on the promise that made him the first defenseman drafted in '07 (ahead of Karl Alzner, Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk.)
He's also yet to make his NHL debut, having spent the last four-plus seasons playing for AHL Manchester.
Injuries (ankle, shoulder) and a deep Kings blueline have played their part in Hickey not making the NHL jump. He, along with 2008 first-rounder Colten Teubert, always seemed to be stuck on a low rung of the organizational ladder (Teubert was flipped to Edmonton in the Dustin Penner trade of 2011.)
That said, Hickey should have a slightly better shot of making the Isles roster. They're still without the services of Lubomir Visnovsky, leaving them with a crew of Mark Streit, Matt Carkner, Travis Hamonic, Matt Donovan, Ty Wishart, Radek Martinek and Andrew MacDonald on the blueline.
- elvispocomo - Jan 15, 2013 at 1:05 PM
The Isles sent Wishart down on waivers, then claimed Hickey. Different players I suppose.
- Mike Halford - Jan 15, 2013 at 1:17 PM
True, but Wishart is still with the Isles org (in AHL Bridgeport).
- elvispocomo - Jan 15, 2013 at 2:27 PM
Agreed, doesn't appear to have been claimed. But odd they wouldn't have room for Wishart if they hope to have room for Hickey. Again, just needing a different player it seems.
- islesjb - Jan 15, 2013 at 1:09 PM
This season's PA Parenteu / Matt Moulson / Michael Grabner?
Would be nice
- bcisleman - Jan 15, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Isles have also claimed former first rounder Joe Finley from Buffalo and now the KHL has said it will honor the Visnovsky contract, so the Isles should be solid on D.
- elemeno89 - Jan 15, 2013 at 3:02 PM
isle are poaching everybody's players…
- islesjb - Jan 15, 2013 at 3:07 PM
hide yo prospects hide yo wife!
- nykingfan - Jan 15, 2013 at 3:12 PM
They're doing it on the cheap
- nykingfan - Jan 15, 2013 at 3:15 PM
I think the Hickey pickup is a good one.
He never got a chance in LA because of the Kings depth at the blueline, but I remember watching him during the world junior tournament..I think it was 06 or 07. He was the captain of the Canadian team and looked really good.
Injuries have derailed his career since.
- tjvalley - Jan 15, 2013 at 10:17 PM
I love that Garth snow doesn't rest…he has taken full advantage of cast away types and makes the team better. Cheers to Garth…
- pooinyourface - Jan 15, 2013 at 11:42 PM
I like this move, Garth has a good eye. If this guy can turn it around anywhere LI is the best place to be. And hes only 23.
- hanktheking - Jan 16, 2013 at 2:34 AM
I played against Thomas Hickey growing up and he's not special. He's skilled offensively but small and is a defensive liability. There is a reason why a once team captain for Canada at the World Jr. tournament has never played a game in the pros even despite being a top 5 pick in the draft. Bust.
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Sneak Peek of Castle Season 5, Episode 11, "Under the Influence": Castle and Beckett Interrogate a Pop Star in Bed (VIDEO)
Detective Kate Beckett and her sexy sidekick Richard Castle have been called to some strange crime scenes in their five seasons on Castle, but on Monday night's episode, "Under the Influence," they'll witness the alcohol-induced aftermath of a party at a pop star's house.
In this new sneak peek, Castle and Beckett visit the house of starlet Regina Cane after her DJ is brutally murdered. After stepping over some passed out party goers in the foyer and running into a pants-less man, the investigators go straight to the source and wake Regina from her slumber.
The pop star doesn't seem too phased by the death of her former employee, in fact, she seems more concerned with the money the dead DJ owes her. It's nothing some pain pills and champagne can't wash away, though!
Watch the clip and tell us what you think below!
Castle Season 5, Episode 11, "Under the Influence," airs Monday, Jan. 14 at 10 p.m ET on ABC.


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How to Make Money off of Copper Pennies
You can make money off of pennies. Specifically copper pennies. This is because the copper penny (made of 95% copper and 5% zinc) is worth over 2x in its metal value than its face value.
Many people don't think about the penny, but the truth is, pennies have distinct advantages as an investment that are unique to themselves. There are many articles written on this site about copper pennies, copper nickels, copper in general, and more.
If you aren't sure about pricing, it may be very advantageous to search copper penny auctions and pricings via Ebay. Here is a link to a handy page on our site which will open a new window in your browser and show pricing examples:
Now that you have an idea of pricing possibilities, here is how to make money off of copper pennies:
Know someone who may be interested?
Use the social media buttons below to share the knowledge and power of copper pennies.


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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on-campus students and 30,000 online students, making us one of the fastest-growing universities in the country. Founded in 1932, we've been relentlessly reinventing higher education ever since and have gained national recognition for our dedication to helping students transform their lives and the lives of those around them.
We're proud to provide affordable, accessible education that students can pursue online, on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH, or at our regional centers in Manchester, Portsmouth, Nashua and Salem, NH, and Brunswick, Maine. We offer more than 200 online degree programs in today's most in-demand career sectors, including business, education, health care, IT and marketing, plus more than 50 specialized MBAs.
As a SNHU student, you'll get the support you need to see yourself succeed, including:
- Admission counselors to help you choose the degree that best supports your goals
- Your own dedicated academic advisor to provide the guidance and encouragement you need for academic success
- Career advisors, webinars, internships and more to prepare you to enter or advance in the workforce
- Faculty with real-world expertise in the fields they teach
- World-class student services on campus and online, including an online bookstore, online library, tutoring and 24/7 tech support
We've also earned GetEducated.com Best Buy and Best of Business – Best Online Degree awards and are consistently ranked as a Military Friendly School by G.I Jobs.
Take the first step toward transforming your life today.
Contact us to learn more about our on-campus and online programs.
Southern New Hampshire University educates intellectually and culturally enriched individuals to be successful in their careers and contribute to their communities. SNHU's educational philosophy challenges students' intellectual potential and prepares them for professional lives in an ever-changing and increasingly interconnected world. It provides a supportive and close-knit learning community, delivering engaging instruction in a flexible variety of formats. Students develop the knowledge to understand a complex world, the skills to act effectively within that world and the wisdom to make good choices. They do so within a community of teachers, staff and peers that is encouraged to add its scholarly, creative and pedagogical contributions to the larger social good.


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Is there a game plan to stop Churubusco fullback Kyle Mathewson?
If there is, no one has figured it out yet.
Not even his own coach wants to know how an opponent goes about stopping the Eagles career leading rusher.
"I have no idea," Churubusco head coach Lee Etzler said of how to stop Mathewson. "I would not want to have to figure that out."
For two full seasons, the senior back has struck fear into the hearts of North East Corner Conference foes as the latest version of Turtletown's 'Beast of 'Busco.'
Each of those two seasons have seen 1,800 plus rushing yards from Mathewson and now put him among the best at his position in the state and the Churubusco record books.
After Friday night's 226-yard rushing performance, Mathewson ranked fifth among total yards in the state.
Along with that, Mathewson has been rewriting history in the 'Busco football program breaking records set as far back as 1983.
His game against the Flying Jets in the first round of sectional play became historic. Mathewson moved to the top of the career rushing list passing Virgil Fulk with 3,934 yards and 49 career touchdowns.
Single season records fell as well for Mathewson. With a final three-yard TD plunge in the game, the rushing total for one season had Mathewson's name beside it edging Drew Bianksi by one yard at 1,876.
"When I was in middle school I remember watching Drew Bianski set those records," Mathewson said after his record setting game Friday night. "I always wanted to prove everybody wrong. I wanted to break those records and I did it tonight."
Mathewson continues to defy the odds of what a class A small school running back can do.
"You have a level of confidence when you face a good team because you know what you can do with him at the fullback position," Etzler said. "He's big and stronger than your average small school running back."
It's been 20 consecutive games since Mathewson has not seen a 100-yard rushing performance. Yards add up quickly for Mathewson for one reason. It's speed that fuels No. 24. A sprinter on the track and field team at Churubusco, Mathewson breaks out big games constantly like his record 93-yard TD run last season or his 79-yard scamper against Adams Central. It makes the task for tacklers tougher having a limited time to bring him down before he's off to the end zone.
"His first couple steps are as fast as anyone around," Etzler noted. "We noticed his junior year he was one of our fastest kids. On one of our favorite plays, our QBs were having trouble getting him the ball because he hits the hole a whole lot quicker."
Don't be fooled, however.
The power is there too according to Etzler.
"He's taken other steps forward," Etzler said. "He started running harder and lowered his shoulder more. He uses a stiff arm now that he's thrown kids down with. There's not to many people that want to step in front of him."
Mathewson individual success has come with team achievements as well. As a freshman, Mathewson was a small part of the 2007 semistate team at Churubusco.
However, Mathewson's impact has been felt in the regular season with the Eagles starting each of his four seasons off with a 7-0 record.
When Mathewson has the work load, Churubusco has been atop the NECC conference as well winning a share of the championship back-to-back seasons.
The postseason upon them, the Eagles and Kyle Mathewson are wanting more as Churubusco's all-time leading rusher sees his career coming to a close.
"All year we've been thinking about revenge and sectional," Mathewson said Friday night. "They were saying ACAC teams can't be beat by NECC teams. Obviously, we proved that we can."


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Flux:: Sound & Picture development announces the release of IRCAM Tools
08 February 2009
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French software company, Flux:: Sound & Picture Development, specialized in innovative software tools for the post-production and audio mastering industry, today announce the release of the software plug-in suite IRCAM Tools.
In March 2010 Flux:: announced a partnership with IRCAM (Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics and Music) in Paris, France. IRCAM is one of the world's leading public research institutes within the fields of musical expression, musical research, sound, and acoustics.
The first result of this partnership collaboration is the software audio plug-in suite, IRCAM Tools.
IRCAM Tools
For detailed information about the IRCAM Tools, please see the following pages.
IRCAM Tools (All) 1599.00 EUR / 1999.00 USD
SPAT (Including VERB) 1399.00 EUR / 1799.00 USD
TRAX (Three plug-ins suite) 399.00 EUR / 499.00 USD
Press images (screenshots and logotypes)
For more information
Felix Niklasson, Market Director
Direct + 33 (0) 6 99 62 07 47
Office + 33 (0) 9 72 11 95 57
Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
IRCAM SPAT - The complete Room Acoustics Simulation and Localisation Solution
With more than a decade of research performed by the Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces Team at IRCAM, being at the forefront of scientific and technological innovations, the SPAT is the most advanced and sophisticated tool for room acoustics simulation and localisation ever designed, managing both spatialisation (source localisation) and room acoustic simulation in a truly consistent and visually logical way.
Designed for surround and multi-channel use, SPAT presents the option to setup the output arrangements providing a variety of stereo and surround configurations, including subwoofer configuration. With eight input and output channels available in SPAT, configurations up to 7.1 and 8.0 are feasible.
SPAT introduce state of the art techniques for room acoustics simulation utilizing advanced perceptive models, concealing the complexity behind the actual algorithms, allowing for intuitive and accommodating user interaction capabilities.
IRCAM VERB - Room Acoustics and Reverberation
VERB is an algorithmic room acoustics and reverberation processor. It has a modular construction, employing a recursive filtering reverb engine, reproducing and synthesizing the specific acoustical characteristics of any spatial sound environment.
Following a decade of intense research by the Acoustic and Cognitive Spaces Team at IRCAM, the IRCAM VERB introduce state of the art techniques for room acoustics simulation utilising advanced perceptive models, concealing the complexity behind the actual reverb algorithms and allowing for a flexible and intuitive experience for the user.
The IRCAM VERB provides eight input and output channels, presenting the option for reverberation processing in multi-channel and surround formats. A built in Input/Output (I/O) routing matrix provides instant flexibility when setting up the I/O in relation to the physical audio monitoring in the control room.
TRAX - The Next Generation Voice and Sonic Processing Tools
A suite of three ingenious processors using advanced technology, developed during many years, by the sound analysis/synthesis team at IRCAM. These precision tools provide truly innovative signal transformation algorithms allowing the user to alter sound characteristics such as; pitch, timbre and duration, using a highly intuitive user interface.
Transformer - Real-time Voice and Sonic Modelling Processor
TRAX Transformer is based on an augmented phase vocoder technology and a cutting edge transformation algorithm, allowing for manipulating characteristic properties of a voice such as gender, age and breath, and on any other sound; expression, formant and pitch.
Cross Synthesis - Spectral Envelope Morphing Processor
TRAX Cross Synthesis utilizes a phase vocoder (the amplitude and the frequency/phase spectra), to morph the spectral characteristics of two sounds. The amplitude and frequency/phase spectra can be blended continuously and since the features that are used here are strongly nonlinear, the sound morphing is nonlinear as well, offering a way to create a wide range of new exciting and unusual sound effects.
Source Filter - Enhanced Sound Filtering Processor
TRAX Source Filter is based on a signal model decomposing the signal into a time envelope describing the energy/loudness contour of the sound, and a spectral envelope describing the spectral colour of the sound timbre. The energy contour and the spectral colour of the source sound, can be continuously blended with the spectral colour and energy contour of an arbitrary filtrating sound, allowing transformation that extend well beyond the more common source filter morphing effect.
IRCAM Tools Compatibility
IRCAM Tools, as all Flux:: plug-ins, provide
* Up to 8 channels Input/Output*
* 64-bits internal floating point processing.
* Sampling rate up to 384 kHz DXD (Pyramix DSP based).
* Sampling rate up to 384 kHz for native (AU/RTAS/VST).
*Due to the nature of TRAX CS/SF, they only support 2 channels.
All major native formats are supported
• Windows - XP, Vista, 7, all in both 32 and 64 bits.
o VST (2.4)
o RTAS
• Mac OS X - 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, all in 32 bits.
o VST (2.4)
o AU
o RTAS
*The RTAS version requires ProTools 7 or later.
Flux:: sound and picture development | 41 rue Jeanne d'Arc | 45000 Orléans | France
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Kaoru Abe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|Kaoru Abe
|Native name
|阿部 薫
|May 5, 1949
|Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
|September 9, 1978(aged 29)
|Avant-garde, free jazz
|Associated acts
|New Directions
Kaoru Abe (阿部 薫 Abe Kaoru?) was an influential Japanese avant-garde alto saxophonist, who is often regarded as having the greatest abrasive saxophone sound.[1] Self-taught at a young age, Abe performed with notables such as Motoharu Yoshizawa, Takehisa Kosugi, Yosuke Yamashita, Derek Bailey, and Milford Graves,[2] although he generally performed solo. He was married to the author Izumi Suzuki, and a cousin to singer Kyu Sakamoto. He also appeared in the film Endless Waltz by Kōji Wakamatsu. He is not to be confused with the Japanese actor Kaoru Abe, who is notable for his role as Asuka/AbareBlack in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger, the 27th installment in the long-running Super Sentai franchise.
- ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p384468
- ^ Sugiyama, Kazunori (2002). "Abe, Kaoru". In Barry Kernfeld. The new Grove dictionary of jazz (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 3. ISBN 1561592846.
- Yuko Morita (ed.). Abe Kaoru march 1980. Tokyo: Bunyusha, 1994 (Japanese)
- Soejima Teruto. Nihon furii jazu shi (日本フリージャズ史, The History of Japanese Free Jazz). Tokyo: Seidosha, 2002 (Japanese)
External links[edit]
- Kaoru Abe website, including an English discography
- Abe profile on allmusic.com
- Kaoru Abe reviews from Opprobrium magazine
- Izumi entry in the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction


text:
Frogs Lapbook Submitted by JoAnn S.
Library List:
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel (fiction)
The Frog Princess by E.D. Baker (fiction book on cd)
Why Frogs are Wet by Judy Hawes (non-fiction)
The Nature of Frogs: Amphibians with Attitude by Harry Parson (non-fiction)
Instructions for Folding Lapbooks
Resource sites:
about frogs
Anatomy of a frog - detailed
A frog's life cycle - detailed
1. vocabulary
2. frog life cycle
3. frog's anatomy
4. classification
5. habitat
6. diet
7. predators
8. defenses
9. species of frogs
10. frogs vs. toads
Lapbook Templates (pdf file)
Activity 1:
1. gills
2. webbed
3. metamorphosis
4. amphibian
5. vertebrate
6. secretion
7. gland
8. camouflage
Activity 2:
Frog's life cycle - complete the wheel book by drawing the frog's life cycle
Activity 3:
Frog's anatomy - label the frog's parts
Activity 4:
Classification - what is the classification of a frog? Describe why they fit into this class?
Activity 5:
Habitat - what kind of habitats can you find frogs? Do they all live in water?
Activity 6:
Diet - what does the frog eat?
Activity 7:
Predators/hazards - list the predators and hazards that the frog has to watch out for.
Activity 8:
Defenses - how does the frog keep itself safe? What are its special defenses?
Activity 9:
Species of frog - how many species of frog are there? Are there any that have a unique quality?
Activity 10:


text:
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|Newegg Daily Deals
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Registered User
ASUS A7N266-VM with nVidia GeForce2 Integrated GPU stability & performance probs
The problem:
Screen drawing is erratic where the maximum problem occcus while scrolling; a PageUp and/or PageDown helps to clear screen and make it legible. Title bars are sometimes broken and illegible, can't see the full windows, windows are broken and finally after sometime, intermittently, a restart happens. I'm assuming only gdm restarts since it immediately takes me to the login screen. I log back in again and the same process happens again (and again, and again, and again...)
Performance also is slow and erratic.
The info:
GnewSense DeltaH 2.3
me@i:~$ uname -a
Linux i 2.6.24-30-generic #1 SMP Mon Nov 21 14:54:07 UTC 2011 i686 GNU/Linux
I have the foll. when using "nvidia" driver:
1. In /boot/grub/menu.lst
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-30-generic root=UUID=... ro quiet splash agp=off
2. In /etc/modules
nvidia NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1 NVreg_ReqAGPRATE=4
3. In /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist :
# give nVidia proprietary drivers a chance to load
blacklist agpgart
blacklist nvidia_agp
4. In /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-kernel-nkc.conf
alias char-major-195* nvidia
options nvidia NVreg_DeviceFileUID=0 NVreg_DeviceFileGID=44 NVreg_DeviceFileMode=0660 NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1
which finally gives:
me@i:~$ sudo cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
[sudo] password for me:
Status: Enabled
Driver: NVIDIA
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Enabled
SBA: Disabled
I have these installed from the gNewSense repositories:
||/ Name Version Description
ii nvidia-glx 1:96.43.05+184.108.40.206-30.11 NVIDIA binary XFree86 4.x/X.Org driver
ii nvidia-glx-dev 1:96.43.05+188.8.131.52-30.11 NVIDIA binary XFree86 4.x/X.Org driver development files
un nvidia-glx-legacy <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-glx-legacy-dev <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-glx-new <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-glx-new-dev <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-glx-src <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-kernel-169.12 <none> (no description available)
pn nvidia-kernel-2.6.24-30-generic <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-kernel-71.86.04 <none> (no description available)
un nvidia-kernel-96.43.05 <none> (no description available)
ii nvidia-kernel-common 20080825+1ubuntu2 NVIDIA binary kernel module common files
ii nvidia-kernel-source 1:96.43.05+18.104.22.168-30.11 NVIDIA binary kernel module source
un nvidia-kernel-src <none> (no description available)
ii nvidia-settings 1.0+20080304-0ubuntu1.1 Tool of configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
un nvidia-xconfig <none> (no description available)
I have attached:
1. xorg.conf
2. Xorg.0.log
3. nvidia-bug.report.log
4. messages
5. syslog
6. kern.log
7. lspci and lsmod output
Note that I have also installed 96.43.20 the latest driver with the same result.
Multiple options in my xorg.conf and the other options listed above make no difference whatsoever to the final outcome i.e. gdm restarts.
In fact, while collecting all this information and uploading, it took about 9 - 10 restarts in a span of 30 minutes.
In addition to that, while posting itself it restarted 5 times; was fed up so modified X to use 'nv' and posted.
The driver 'nv' works. Attached the xorg.conf file when 'nv' is used.
I have cleaned my machine for eg. removed RAM modules, cleaned and refitted, etc. So, it would take some concrete testing steps to accept that it is a HW problem.
What I want:
1. A driver that works and/or guidance to how can I make my system work with nVidia drivers.
2. An optimum xorg.conf for my machine configuration when using driver 'nvidia'
3. An optimum xorg.conf for my machine configuration when using driver 'nv'
Note: Older drivers, when the driver naming convention used to be 1.0.* did work well.
Also note: I have researched before posting here, including this forum. Have tried many options and am open to trying more to get this working.
Last edited by anjal; 11-23-11 at 09:34 AM. Reason: additional info
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Black Leather Quilted Gloves with Cashmere Lining - SOLD OUT
Product Code : LEBC007
Channel your inner biker with these black Italian nappa leather gloves with quilted leather cuff and silver zip detail. The marriage of downtown chic with uptown feminine luxury makes for a classic and timeless accessory that will endure the whims of fashion. Lined with pure cashmere for added warmth and comfort these gloves will ensure that hands remain cosy and warm throughout the winter, without compromising on style. Also available (stock permitting) in tan and navy. Made in Italy
Accessorise with a black cashmere beret and black cashmere pashmina shawl.
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Seattle PI Sports Blog
Seattle sports news, covering the Seattle Sounders, Washington Huskies, college football, college basketball, NBA and other sports topics. View the Seahawks and Mariners blogs for NFL and MLB news.
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Washington runner James Alaka prepares for Olympic homecoming
The recruitment of James Alaka to the University of Washington was devoid of the boosters run amok and under-the-table payments that seem to be so prevalent in the courting of the world's best athletes. Instead, Alaka recruited himself. When the London native decided to attend college and run track in the United States, he emailed […] [Read More]


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Privacy and Cookies
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Air France has finalised its long-awaited medium capacity fleet renewal plans, with an order for up to 13 Airbus A330-200s.
The order, worth about $1.5 billion, includes eight firm orders and five options, and provides the airline with a replacement for its medium-range fleet of 10 Airbus A310s and five Boeing 767-300s. The 767-400ER had been evaluated before the A330's selection. Deliveries will begin in early 2001.
Air France has selected the General Electric CF6 to power the aircraft, providing the launch order for the latest version of the engine, the 72,000lb-thrust (320kN) -80E1A3. The new variant incorporates three-dimensional aerodynamic design improvements and a new longer-life, high-pressure "boltless" turbine initially developed for the 767-400's CF6-80C2B7F/ B8F.
Air France says the decision will help rationalise its fleet of 213 aircraft, which before the A330-200 decision numbered 12 types. According to Airbus, the new order is not linked to the 10 deferred GE-powered A330-300s ordered by Air Inter (now part of Air France) that the consortium holds on its books from 1989. Airbus claims the old contract "forms no part of the A330-200 order, which is new business". The A330-300 contract is "still valid", but Airbus admits the aircraft will never be delivered.
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Tuesday, April 10, 2007
© Copyright 2015 Gwinnett Daily Post
ATLANTA - Mike Hampton will have surgery on his left elbow on Tuesday in New York, leaving the Atlanta Braves without one of their starting pitchers for the second straight season.Hampton, who had elbow ligament-replacement surgery performed by Dr. Dave Altchek on Sept. 26, 2005, will have a torn tendon in the elbow repaired by Altchek on Tuesday. He is expected to be held out of pitching activities for at least six months. Hampton was examined in New York on Monday by Altchek, and the diagnosis was the latest in a series of medical setbacks for the left-hander. Hampton was unable to make a start in spring training after straining a muscle in his left side during batting practice. ''I guess the only silver lining is my elbow will get a little more time to rest,'' Hampton said in spring training. Hampton recovered from the oblique injury sooner than expected, and the team had planned for him to make a series of minor league rehabilitation starts and join the rotation by early May. Instead, Hampton felt more pain in the elbow when throwing in the bullpen Sunday. He met with team doctors Sunday and scheduled the appointment with Altchek. The 34-year-old Hampton has failed to meet expectations since signing a $121 million, eight-year contract with Colorado before the 2001 season. Hampton is 53-48 since agreeing to the big contract with Colorado. He is owed $14.5 million this year and $15 million in 2008. Hampton went 5-3 in 12 starts for the Braves in 2005, struggling much of the season with a sore elbow. His best season was in 1999, when he went 22-4 with the Houston Astros. After Hampton was hurt in spring training, the team signed another left-hander, Mark Redman, who struggled in Friday's loss to the New York Mets. With Hampton lost for the season, Redman, Kyle Davies and Lance Cormier are the team's top three options for the last two spots in the rotation behind John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Chuck James. Davies gave up two runs and four hits over 6 2-3 innings in a 3-2 win over the Mets. General manager John Schuerholz decided not comment until after the operation, spokesman Brad Hainje said.
More like this story
- Hampton ready to make another comeback ( February 1, 2008 )
- Braves' Hampton hurts hamstring in latest comeback attempt ( November 28, 2007 )
- Hampton to make first start since '05 ( April 3, 2008 )
- Braves notes: James ready to move into Braves' rotation ( April 5, 2008 )
- Braves have new questions to answer in '07 ( February 13, 2007 )


text:
I cover personal finance for baby boomers. full bio →
I'm a financial journalist and author with experience as a lawyer, speaker and entrepreneur. As a senior editor at Forbes, I have covered the broad range of topics that affect boomers as they approach retirement age. That means everything from financial strategies and investment scams to working and living better as we get older. My most recent book is Estate Planning Smarts -- a guide for baby boomers and their parents. If you have story ideas or tips, please e-mail me at: deborah [at] estateplanningsmarts [dot] com. You can also follow me on Twitter
SHAME ON YOU for not explaining the role of the state guaranty associations. EVERY discussion of ought to cover this. Under point #1, "Will the insurance company selling me the annuity be able to make good on its promises?" Financial strength ratings are all well and good, but A. M. Best is not going to pay you a nickel if your insurer fails. They won't even apologize if their rating was wrong.
And financial strength ratings are unstable. Fitch gave AIG Life Insurance Company its second-highest rating, AA+, in early 2008. By early 2010, it had dropped five notches to A-, almost out of the A's. That's only two years. What good does it do you to know that your insurer used to be strong three years ago? What you need to know is whether it will be strong in twenty years, and the ratings do not tell you that.
EVERY consumer should inform themselves about the protection–sketchy and limited protection, but protection–afforded by their state guaranty association. Insurance is governed by state law and the broad outlines are similar from state to state, but the amount of protection varies. A good starting point is the NOLHGA.COM website, a national organization, which will take you to individual state details; look for the "state associations" link, select your state, and look for an "FAQs" entry in the bar at the top of the screen.
If you bought an annuity from an insurance agent and they did not give you a brochure explaining the state guaranty association and its protection, ask them why not.
State guarantee associations are intended to be a protection of last resort. While state guarantees do provide some level of minimum coverage for the purchaser of an annuity contract, they vary greatly by state and should not be relied upon when making an investment. State guarantees may protect a portion of annuity proceeds in the collapse of an insurer, but only after state insurance agencies have attempted to rehabilitate and restructure lines of business.
While ratings are not infallible, we should certainly select higher rated companies and not rely on a state guarantee when making a selection.
Almost all financial advisers whom I respect advise against any kind of annuity except an immediate annuity. Many have done detailed analysis to explain why this is so. The problem is the high fees they charge, especially for all the bells and whistles that you describe as "fantastic for consumers". You do mention that these "have also made things so complex that it may be difficult to understand what you're buying". This also makes it difficult to know whether you are getting a fair deal. These additional features provide high commissions to the salesmen and are promoted heavily by the insurance companies because they are so profitable. These costs, especially early surrender fees, can seriously drain your assets. In an era when regular investments are earning only 1 or 2%, fees like those you cited will wipe out all of your gains! You cite costs as high as 3% or more. That's terrible! Anything over 1% should be avoided.
You should also have cautioned against two other things: 1) buying annuities within a tax protected account such as an IRA or 401K – the tax advantages of the annuity are not needed but you are paying for them. 2) Anyone older than about 65 buying any kind of annuity with a surrender charge. An 80-year-old relative of mine was talked into buying such an annuity by a financial "adviser" who was, like many, mainly in it for the commission. When my relative needed the money at age 85 he had to pay a stiff "early surrender" charge, and the net effect was about a 10% loss. Not exactly a good investment.
Thank you for your comments. Writing about annuities is certainly polarizing! Annuity contracts are not an absolute evil nor are they always the answer for consumers.
"Product innovation and competition can be fantastic for consumers." Innovation and competition tend to drive down costs, force companies to offer alternatives (such as Vanguard's no-load annuity contracts), increase transparency and force accessibility through terminal death benefit access, which were simply not available twenty years ago. As the article states, some bells and whistles are unnecessary, such as an income rider when a client does not plan to take income. Other contract features may be quite valuable – especially to clients who have a family history of longevity.
Tax deferral may not add any value to clients, and certainly would not in an IRA. The article links to an SEC discussion addressing tax deferral and provides additional considerations when determining if an annuity is a better option than a mutual fund for a client. Guarantees increase expense in contracts and consumers should only purchase guarantees they will benefit from.
Annuities are long-term investments. If you believe a family member was taken advantage of and was sold an unsuitable product, consider contacting the insurance agency who sold the contract to address your grievances. If unsuccessful, consider contacting the insurance commissioner in your state. I agree with your comments on transparency. Consumers should ask to know the exact commissions earned by financial advisers, and should walk away from transactions when advisers avoid transparency.
Annuities are an expensive way to manage one's finances and should be avoided except for the most timid. Investors and retirees should take the time to become educated about investments and take control of their own money. After all, who has more concern about your financial future than you? As quoted in the book "So You Want To Be Taxed As A Millionaire", "Most millionaires are prudent investors in the various securities markets and, as a general rule do their own research and make their own investment decisions." Knowledge is power, learn and take control of your own finances.
How can i be a businessman i need a help
Excellent annuity article. As more and more Americans wake up to realize that their 401(k) will not be sufficient to last throughout their entire retirement, annuities will slowly become the dominant retirement vehicle. I read that large companies like Southwest Airlines just announced that they would allow annuities inside their 401(k) plan along with companies like TD Ameritrade starting to promote them as well. See the full article here – http://blog.annuitythinktank.com/td-ameritrade-wises-up-to-annuities/
After 29 years one would think I would grow tired of softly asking individuals who write for popular journals to get EDUCATED! For one to actually craft an article titled the ABC's of annuities and NOT explain and validate the Fixed Indexed Annuity is like writing about the worlds greatest antibiotics and not mentioning penicillin! WAKE UP Professor Even Suze Ormon mentions the benefits of a Fixed Indexed annuity in an IRA. Please contact me and I will do a webinar and educate you with actual accounts! It is planners like yourself that have scared the saving community back into the market only to soon be devastated once again in the future! a few facts you evidently did not learn in your 30 minutes of research. A fee cab NEVER invade clients principle. Last 5 years return +98% with No downside exposure. Gains are locked in and can never be lost I challenge you to outperform that with the same risk tolerance. I await your conatct www.RetirementThruDesign.com
Hi Blair,
What license does an agent need to have in order to sell these fixed indexed annuities?