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Yes, Chapel Hill, we do have a history museum
What happened to our town's history museum?
People are asking that question again as Chapel Hill's Town Council considers options for selling the former library building that housed the Chapel Hill Museum. Many residents remember sadly its closing on July 11, 2010.
Some day, perhaps, we will understand better how and why the town lost its museum four years ago.
In the meantime, remember another history museum in our town with a group of permanent exhibits that draws visitors from all over the world.
This museum, known as the North Carolina Collection Gallery, occupies a suite of rooms on the main floor of the Wilson Library on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. It is the classic white building between South Building and the Bell Tower.
Linda Jacobson, keeper of the gallery, gave me a tour recently. We looked at permanent exhibits about Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colony, beautiful gold coins from the Bechtler Mint and the U.S. Mint in Charlotte in the days before the California Gold Rush, when North Carolina was known as the Gold State, displays of original prints by Audubon and other important early artists of natural plants and wildlife.
The most popular permanent exhibit, she told me, is "Chang and Eng." It tells the history of the Bunkers, the original Siamese Twins, who moved to Surry County when they retired from show business, married, had large families, and became the ancestors of many of today's North Carolinians.
While only a few hundred objects can be displayed at any one time, the gallery has at least 22,000 different items in its collection. So there is a deep well that gives Jacobson the ability to curate several new and important exhibits every year.
Its current exhibit, "The Art of North Carolina Money: The Stories Behind the Symbols," features more than 80 examples of money, tokens, and medals.
In the time before the Civil War, various banks throughout the country issued paper money. To counter the efforts of counterfeiters, the bills typically featured various scenes. The exhibit celebrates the wide variety of artworks that were featured on the money.
One banknote issued by a Boston bank features a Santa Claus figure. Dated in 1857, the note was issued years before Thomas Nast began drawing his classic portraits of the jolly old elf. Another note, from Philadelphia in 1837, Jacobson calls the "Elvis note" because the main figure looks a lot like Elvis Presley.
Civil War students will find a variety of North Carolina paper money items, including one showing the young Civil War governor, Zebulon B. Vance.
The exhibit continues until the end of September. Summertime, when the campus is less crowded, is a good time to visit.
The gallery is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m. It is closed on state holidays. (Today, it is closed as part of the July 4 holiday weekend.)
D.G. Martin's regular weekly column appears on The Herald-Sun's editorial page on Wednesdays and online at http://www.heraldsun.com/opinion/opinioncolumnists/martin. Martin hosts "North Carolina Bookwatch," which airs Sundays at noon and Thursdays at 5 p.m. on UNC-TV. Viewers with access to UNC-TV's digital channel UNC-MX can preview the program on the preceding Friday at 9 p.m. For information or to view prior programs visit the webpage at www.unctv.org/ncbookwatch.


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I was at that meeting,and first of all,this is not a racial issue and I am tired of people throwing that card down. Now,the story fails to report ( as reporters usually do) and I expected this,is that the people are concerned about their children having to ride the bus over an hour to school,and being forced to go to school outside of their neighborhood where they have grown up. Also,we had issues about our children,who have been going to these schools on transferees, not being allowed to go to Satsuma on transfer for the next two years. This issue was addressed and dealt with. We are just concerned about what will happen to our children who will be going into high school next year and where they will attend. The superintendent did his best to answer questions and keep order,and I believe that he did a pretty good job considering how we (parents) tend to get upset when it comes to our children's; welfare. I also spoke with Dr.Foster,and he assured me that they were going to do everything possible to make sure that our children would not suffer in any way during this transition. I believe him and I trust them as I have all the confidence in the school system (MCPSS). I was told that there are ideas about making NMCMS a 6-12 school,if this is true,my children will be attending. I hate how reporters don't tell the entire story,only parts to get attention or a rise out of the community. As a matter of fact,I was interviewed,and I was told my the superintendent himself that my issue was one that defiantly needed to be addressed at that meeting and he came back to me several times...do you see anything about that issue? No,not a word was mentioned in here about that. Please,gather your facts before jumping to conclusions. And NEVER trust a reporter to give you accurate information about ANYTHING.
What does race have to do with any of this?! I was there because my daughter who has worked very hard her entire k-8 years is now having to worry about being forced to go to Vigor or Blount school,where she does not want to go. She has the right to attend school with the children,her friends,whom she has been with most of her life. She also has the right to the best education that is available to her,and we do not feel like Vigor is the best choice for her to receive the best education. I am sorry but my girls have been riding the bus with children from the village for the past two years and they have made friends,and they have been just fine. The issue here is NOT RACE as some people love to throw that card down to justify the behaviors of certain children from certain neighborhoods. When in fact it has nothing to do with race,but environment. I would have no problem with my daughter attending Vigor if it were the best choice for her to be able to receive the education in which she deserves,but the issue is that we want our children to be able to attend school in the neighborhood and with the friends that they have grown up with. Please do not try to put race into this,as some of my best friends,who happen to be black,were also at that meeting.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Meadowbrook NYSDEC Campground is the best bargain in the Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area. Check out the prices of any of the local motel/hotel/lodges/resorts; some are grand, some are flea-bag, but you will spend big bucks. Also check out some of the private campgrounds: you will pay at least twice as much and not get much more. We have stayed at... More


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Method and apparatus for identification of chemical compounds in a sample based on differences in ion mobility, wherein the filter and detector electrodes are formed radially spaced on facing substrates.
1. A system for analyzing one or more ion species of a sample, the system comprising,
a first ion mobility filter associated with a first flow path for passing first ions of an ion species of the sample,
a second ion mobility filter associated with a second flow path for passing second ions of the sample, the second flow path receiving the first ions from the first flow path,
a third ion mobility filter associated with a third flow path for passing third ions of the sample, the third flow path receiving the first ions from the first flow path, and
a first ion detector in the first flow path.
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20. A method for analyzing one or more ion species of a sample, the system comprising,
filtering first ions of a first ion species of the sample within a first flow path,
filtering second ions of the sample within a second flow path, the second flow path receiving the first ions from the first flow path, and
filtering third ions of the sample within a third flow path, the third flow path receiving the first ions from the first flow path, and
detecting ions in the first flow path.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application No. 09/929,273, filed Aug. 14, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,496. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to chemical detection, and more particularly, to devices that enable analysis of compounds by high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility.
Spectrometers are used in chemical analysis for identification of compounds in a sample. These systems may take samples directly from the environment, or they may incorporate a front end device to separate or prepare compounds before analysis and detection. In some cases a quick indication of presence of particular compounds in a sample is needed, while at other times the goal is complete identification of all compounds in a chemical mixture.
The mass spectrometer is generally considered one of the most accurate detectors for compound identification. Mass spectrometers are expensive, easily exceeding $100K, and are difficult to deploy in the field. Mass spectrometers also suffer from the need to operate at low pressures, resulting in complex systems; mass spectrometers often require a highly trained operator and tend to require frequent maintenance. This presents a need for low cost, high quality, and compact chemical instruments that are capable of making a wide range of chemical identifications, as an alternative to a mass spectrometer.
There are several species of ion mobility spectrometer, all of which distinguish between chemical compounds based on ion mobility techniques. In a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer (FAIMS), ion filtering is achieved based on accentuating differences in mobility of ions of compounds being identified. The asymmetric field between the filter electrodes alternates between a high and low field strength that causes the ions to separate according to their mobility. Typically ion mobility in the high field differs from that in the low field. That mobility difference produces a net displacement of the ions as they travel in the gas flow through the flter. This results over time in a trajectory which, in absence of a compensation bias, causes the ions to hit one of the filter electrodes and to be neutralized. In the presence of a specific compensation bias, a particular ion species will be returned toward the center of the flow path and will pass through the filter without neutralization.
The amount of change in mobility between high field and low field and the amount of change in trajectory is compound-dependent. This permits separation of ions from each other according to their species by applying appropriately compensated filter drive signals.
In a typical FAIMS device, a gas sample, composed of a carrier gas and chemical compounds to be analyzed, is subjected to an ionization source and this ionized sample is carried by the carrier gas flow between the FAIMS filter electrodes. Application to the filter electrodes of a known asymmetric periodic voltage along with a known compensation bias, generates strong electric fields between the filter electrodes with the intent that selected ion species having a specific mobility in these known compensated high fields will flow through the FAIMS filter, if present in the sample, and these passed ions can then be detected and identified based on historical data for the device and with knowledge of the applied felds.
A planar FAIMS spectrometer with electrodes disposed over an essentially planar flow path has been disclosed which achieves a longitudinal flow and filtering of ions according to mobility differences. As well, a cylindrical FAIMS device with coaxial electrodes for longitudinal flow and filtering of ions according to mobility differences is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,424.
While the foregoing arrangements are adequate for a number of applications, it is still desirable to have a low cost and compact spectrometer that can render real-time or near real-time detection of chemical compounds, whether for the laboratory, the battlefield or in other environments, and whether as a stand alone detector or in cooperation with other devices such as a GC or an MS. It is also desirable to have a low-profile and portable spectrometer.
Furthermore, it is also desirable to have real-time or near real-time indication of compounds. This is important where fast indication is required to cooperate with fast sample input to the spectrometer, or possibly because of the dangers that arise from delay in detection of dangerous compounds in the environment. It is also desirable that the foregoing be achievable at low cost.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a functional, small, low-cost spectrometer.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a spectrometer with multiple flow paths that cooperate for fast and accurate sample processing and identification.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a chemical sensor that features the benefits of FAIMS and is able to operate rapidly, affording real-time or near real-time detection.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chemical sensor that features the benefits of FAIMS and can complete spectral scan in less than one second.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a chemical sensor that features the benefits of FAIMS and is able to detect multiple ion species simultaneously.
The present invention provides a pancake FAIMS spectrometer with enhanced resolution and fast response time. The FAIMS apparatus and method provides for radial filtering and detection of selected ion species in a compact pancake package. The spectrometer of the invention is a simple and low cost device that nevertheless can perform substantive quantitative analysis of complex mixtures.
In practice of the invention, a sample containing a mixture of compounds is ionized in a chamber and then ion species representing the various compounds in the sample are passed to a FAIMS ion filter. Compensated FAIMS filter fields dictate passage through the filter of ion species of a certain mobility behavior and trajectory. The detector detects ions that have passed through the FAIMS filter.
In one embodiment of the invention, a pancake FAIMS spectrometer provides a radial system for identification of compounds in a carrier gas, the system having a pair of substrates mated facing each other to form at least one radial flow path. The substrates define at least one ion filter in the flow path with at least one filter electrode on each substrate facing each other across the flow path. The substrates further define at least one ion detector in the flow path. Ions representative of the compounds being carried in the carrier gas are flowed into the ion filter. Ions are passed by the ion filter according to ion mobility behavior. The carrier gas carries the passed ions to the detector located radially separate from the ion filter within the flow path for detection of the passed ion species.
It is a general principal in FAIMS operation that for a given electric field condition applied across the ion filter electrode pairs, only one species of ions, defined by ion mobility, makes it out the other end of the filter and into the detector. In practice of FAIMS spectrometers, the electric field required to allow the ions through the ion filter is dependent on the physical/chemical properties of the ions and the operational characteristics of the spectrometer. In general, a catalog of detection data for known compounds for the spectrometer can be generated and this knowledge can be used to operate the spectrometer and to enable identification of specific compounds in a sample. In general, as will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, driver/controller must be enabled, such as with catalog information, and this may take the form of a look-up table in an on-board memory for a microprocessor part of the controller. In one use, a user might be interested in the presence of a certain species of compounds X, and might set driver/controller to run scan "X", which runs the filters through a range of compensated asymmetric fields and applies appropriate biases to the detector electrodes, to be able to detect the presence species X, in view of stored information in the look-up table, for example.
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for identification of compounds in a mixture based on ion mobility. The system includes at least a pair of substrates mated together facing each other over a gap. The substrates form at least one radial flow path in the gap. The ion filter electrodes on the substrates face each other over the gap and define at least one ion filter.
Ions representing compounds in the chemical mixture are filtered by the ion filter according to ion mobility characteristics as the ions travel radially along the flow path between the filter electrodes in the gap, with ion species having the mobility characteristics of interest passing radially through the filter.
Various embodiments of the invention are defined. The system may include wherein the filter filters ion species based on differences in ion mobility, wherein the substrates define at least one filter electrode on each substrate facing each other over the gap in the radial flow path, and wherein the flow path accommodates the flow of the ions, the ions traveling in the radial flow path between the filter electrodes, and selected species of the ions being passed by the ion filter according to differences in ion mobility behavior. The passed species travel radially in the flow path out of the filter for detection. A detector separate from the ion filter preferably performs ion detection.
In one embodiment, the gap is defined by a spacer. The spacer and the substrate surfaces define a plurality of radial flow paths, wherein the ions are introduced in the flow paths at one end thereof. Embodiments further feature a plurality of ion filters, wherein the filters filter ion species based on differences in ion mobility, wherein the substrates define a plurality of filter electrodes on each substrate facing each other over the gap in the radial flow path, and wherein the flow path accommodates flow of the ions, the ions traveling in the radial flow path between the filter electrodes, selected species of the ions being passed by the ion filters according to differences in ion mobility behavior, the passed species traveling radially in the flow path out of the filter for detection.
Embodiments may include a system drive-controller configured to apply a compensated asymmetric periodic voltage to each the ion filter electrode for generating fields across the gap, the ion filter filtering the ions according to their mobility in the fields.
Electrodes may be formed as rings on the substrates, enabling forming a plurality of filter and detector electrodes.
The substrates may be planar or non-planar. In one embodiment, the substrates define planar electrode-carrying surfaces facing each other across the gap, the substrates defining a detector in the radial flow path with at least one detector electrode on each substrate facing each other over the gap, wherein the filter electrodes are formed radially separate from the detector electrodes, wherein the electrodes are formed in arrays.
In other embodiments, the substrates define a plurality of electrodes, including detector electrodes and the ion filter having arrays of the electrodes as filter electrode pairs, further with a system drive-controller for generating fields at the filter electrode pairs across the gap, the ion filter filtering the ions according to their mobility in the fields. In one embodiment, each filter electrode is independently controlled by the drive-controller.
In an embodiment with a spacer, the gap is defined by the spacer and the substrate surfaces and the spacer define a plurality of radial flow paths. The array of filter electrodes, the detector electrodes, and the plurality of flow paths form a plurality of filter-detector combination paths. Each combination path is independently controllable by the drive-controller.
In practice of the invention, the flow paths are operable as a plurality of parallel ion filtering and detection paths for detection of a plurality of ion species simultaneously. Also, the electrode arrays may be formed as rings of electrodes on the substrate surfaces and the arrays may be formed as a series of unlike electrodes with differing filtering characteristics.
The detectors may include detector electrodes that are independent of each other, the driver-controller simultaneously outputting signals representing ion species detected on each of the detector electrodes independently.
In various embodiments, the substrates form electrode-carrying surfaces facing each other across the gap, the substrates mated together and forming an electronic spectrometer assembly. The substrates may be discrete ceramic substrates separated by a discrete spacer, mated with a bonding material to form the at least one flow path. In one embodiment the substrates are insulated disks, at least one of the substrates defining a central opening for forming an inlet for receipt of the compounds in the mixture under test. A collar seals the substrates at their outer circumference. The collar may include a port for the flow of carrier gas, with the substrates spaced apart to accommodate the flow.
In another aspect of the invention, the substrates form a housing, the filter and at least one flow path formed within the housing. The spacer cooperates with the substrates and the collar to define a plurality of enclosed flow paths in the housing. Preferably the substrates are insulated. The system has a system drive-controller which can be configured to apply a compensated asymmetric periodic voltage to each the ion filter electrode for generating fields across the gap, the ion filter filtering the ions according to their mobility in the fields, wherein the electrodes extend to contact pads accessible by the drive-controller.
Where ions are carried in a carrier gas flow, a pump is coupled to the substrates and communicates with the flow path for flow of ions through the filter electrodes.
In one embedment, a field asymmetric waveform ion mobility detection system has an input part and an output part, at least a pair of substrates defining between them at least one radial flow path for the flow of ions from the input part to the output part, a plurality of electrodes opposite each other and defined in the flow path, the plurality including at least one filter electrode ring array associated with each substrate, and an electronics part configured to apply controlling signals to the electrodes, the electronics part applying a compensated asymmetric periodic signal across the filter electrodes for changing the flow of ions in the flow path for filtering ion species.
In this embodiment, the electronics part may be further configured to sweep the applied controlling signals through a predetermined range according to the species being filtered.
Arrays of electrodes can form filter electrode pairs, and it is possible to adjust the filter pairs to filter desired ion species, or parts of a spectrum, according to an electronics control part configured to sweep controlling signals through a predetermined range according to the desired species to be filtered.
In another embodiment of the invention, an ion mobility spectrometer system includes a least two substrates joined together, the substrates defining a spectrometer housing having a sample inlet and a sample outlet, the housing forming at least one internal radial flow path connecting the sample inlet and sample outlet for the flow of ions to be filtered and detected, and an ion filter is disposed in the radial flow path and includes a pair of spaced filter electrodes for filtering of the ions in the flow path and radially passing ion species of interest for detection. In this system an array of electrode pairs can be provided wherein ones of the pairs have different filtering characteristics.
In another embodiment of the invention, a spacer is provided for establishing the gap and a collar is provided for joining the substrates at their outer circumference to close in the flow path.
An array of electrodes may form a ring of discontinuous electrodes. These may have various dimensions, such as rectangular or arcuate sectors formed on the substrates.
In some practices of the invention, the electrodes include electrical contacts for application of an asymmetric periodic voltage across the filter electrodes for controlling the filtering according to ion mobility. A control circuit can selectively adjusting a characteristic of the voltage, wherein the asymmetric periodic voltage is properly compensated, an ion species having a specified mobility characteristic can be passed through the filter for detection.
Ion flow may be slowed by forming an ion trap such as by forming a non-uniform spacing of the gap.
The radial flow of sample in the spectrometer of the invention enables simultaneous formation of many flow paths, depending upon the number of filter electrode pairs that have been formed on the substrates. Preferably each filter is formed with a filter pair. Any number of electrodes can be formed on the substrates. As a rough statement, preferably, if the number of flow paths is an integer I, the total number of filter electrodes is at least 21.
The electrodes can be defined on the substrates as a plurality of electrode rings, and pairs of the rings forming ion filter electrodes. The rings can be formed with discontinuous electrode arrays. The electrodes may each have similar or dissimilar filtering characteristics.
Where a first set of rings forms the spectrometer filter, a second set of rings can be formed as detector electrodes. The rings can be formed with discontinuous electrode arrays. The electrodes may each have similar or dissimilar filtering characteristics.
In a further embodiment of the invention, a pair of substrates form a first filter stage, further comprising a second filter stage, wherein the ions filtered by the first stage are inputted to the second stage, and ions passed by the second stage are detected and identified according to species.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows.
The present invention provides a low-profile spectrometer. Embodiments of the invention are volume-manufacturable and low-cost.
In an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, shown in
Referring to the plan view of working surface 24 of substrate 11 shown in
In the present illustrative embodiment, the working surface 26 of substrate 11′ is identical to working surface 24 of Substrate 11. Substrates 11 and 11′ are mated and spaced apart with some precision such that working surfaces 24, 26 form the operative sections of spectrometer assembly 10, by forming operational pairs of electrodes along parallel flow paths Fa, Fb, Fc. These operational pairs of electrodes include filter electrode pairs 16 a—16 a, 16 b—16 b, and 16 c—16 c, and detector electrode pairs 18 a—18 a, 18 b—18 b, and 18 c—18 c, on the respective cooperating working surfaces 24, 26.
It will be appreciated that these pairs of electrodes cooperate and are controlled to form working components of the spectrometer. For example, electrode 16 a on substrate 11 faces electrode 16 a of substrate 11′ and together are driven to form FAIMS filter 16A, with filters 16B and 16C being similarly formed in this embodiment. Likewise, electrode 18 a on substrate 11 faces electrode 18 a of substrate 11′ and together form a FAIMS detector 18A of the invention, with detectors 18B and 18C being similarly formed in this embodiment.
The operational regions of the spectrometer include a gas sample inlet region 12 r, an ionization region 14 r, an ion filter region 16 r, an ion detector region 18 r and a gas outlet region 20 r, which are defined by and between the working surfaces 24 and 26 of substrates 11, 11′ and collar 22, as assembled.
In this embodiment, gas sample S is flowed, as a carrier gas carrying compounds to be detected, from sample inlet region 12 r to outlet region 20 r, as parallel sample flows Sa, Sb, Sc along flow paths Fa, Fb, Fc, respectively, radially through filter region 16 r and detector region 18 r. In another embodiment, gas flow may be from outside to in, and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In the embodiment of
In this embodiment, spacer bars 36 a–c are provided on working surface 24 of substrate 11, and extend radially between rim 32 and outer circumference 34, and working surface 26 of substrate 11′ being identical. The substrates are mated together and precisely spaced apart by cooperation of the spacer bars. As shown in
In this embodiment, the spacers are formed with uniform height "h" and therefore easily and precisely define the separation distance "h" of the working surfaces 24, 26, and thus the spacing and parallelism of the electrodes formed thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the spacer bars 36 a–c are not formed on the substrates. Instead, as shown in
The spacer part 40 is mounted between the substrates, with the substrate working surfaces 24, 26 supported against support surfaces 45 of spacer bars 44. In this embodiment, with spacer bars 36 a–c not formed on the substrates, the spaces 36 a–c now become double wide spaces on the substrate surfaces, such as space 36 as' shown in
Ring 42 is seated snugly within rim 32 of one substrate, such as substrate 11, and acts as a mount 14 m for mounting ionization source 14. An open region 40 r is defined inside of where the spacer bars 44 descend from ring 42, leaving an open area that forms the ionization region 14 r. In this embodiment, substrate 11 receives and is sealed at rim 32 to ring 42. Substrate 11′ is joined to and sealed with the ring base 43.
In the disclosed embodiments, the cylindrical collar 22 is formed over the ends of substrates 11, 11′, in any conventional bending or forming manner, whereby a hermetic seal is formed at joints 50, 50′ where the substrates and collar meet. In general, the collar may be a discrete component or it may be formed as part of the spacer part 40 or as part of the substrates.
In the further alternative embodiment of
Collar 22 provides one or several outlet tubes 52, 52 at outlet region 20 r of spectrometer 10. A pump may be applied at the sample inlet 12, but more likely pump 54 is applied to the sample outlet tubes 52, 52 to create the gas flow through spectrometer 10.
In operation spectrometer 10, some ions will be driven into the filter electrodes and will be neutralized. These ions can be purged by heating. This heating may be accomplished in one embodiment by heating the flow path, such as by applying a current to filter electrodes, or to the spacers. For example, the spacers may include a heater electrode 44 e shown in
In operation of the illustrative embodiment of
In operation, adjustments are made to compensate the electric fields on the filters in order to filter a specific ion type of interest, depending upon the compensation signal applied. Ions that do not make it through the filter hit the ion filter electrodes and become neutralized. Once neutralized, these ions are not affected by the electric field and are carried out of the instrument by the carrier gas flow without being detected.
The ions that do make it through the filter with their charges intact, are detected as they strike and deposit their charges on the electrodes 18 a, 18 b, 18 c that form detectors 18 a, 18B, 18C. Any or all the detector electrodes may be used for such detection purposes. Alternatively, one detector electrode of each detector pair, for example detector electrode 18 a on substrate 11, may be used as a deflector electrode 18 a′, to concentrate the detection signal onto the cooperating opposed detector electrode 18 a on substrate 11′, thus forming a detection electrode pair 18 a–18 a′ with improved sensitivity.
In another alternative embodiment of the invention, shown in
In practice of embodiments of the present invention, the gas flow, ionization, electric signals and filtering/detecting are under direction and control of system driver-controller 60, shown in
As shown in
In practice of one embodiment of the invention, the asymmetric electric signal is applied in conjunction with a compensating bias voltage, and the result is that the filter passes a predicted ion species. In another embodiment, the asymmetric electric signal enables passing of the desired ion species where the compensation is in the form of variances in the duty cycle of the asymmetric electric signal, without the need for compensating bias voltage. Other variances in dimensions and electrical properties permit other compensation schema. As well, the detector electrodes, or electrode pairs, may be held at different potentials to broaden the range of detection, such as where each flow path Fa, Fb, Fc, etc., is tuned to a different portion of a spectrum of interest. In addition, the detector electrodes may be physically configured with different electrical properties or area dimensions that further enable manipulating the ions.
It will therefore be appreciated that spectrometer 10 can be operated in a number of different modes. In one mode, with Fn flow paths, the filter electrodes can be set at particular electric fields for a given flow path (Fl–Fn) and the presence and concentration of species of ions can be continuously monitored at the detector electrodes. The advantage of this mode is that it requires a very simple data acquisition system and the response time of such a system can be very fast, around a millisecond or less. In a second mode, multiple ion species can be monitored, by changing electric field conditions. The control electronics and data readout are somewhat more complex, but multiple ion species can be detected rapidly. In a third mode, a complete spectra of the sample can be obtained. This is accomplished by sweeping the electric field conditions of each flow path, such as by sweeping the compensation voltage, over a large range. This produces a spectra with peaks corresponding to particular ion species present in the gas for each flow path that is scanned.
In practice of one embodiment of the invention, by sweeping the compensation bias over a predetermined voltage range, a complete spectrum for sample S can be achieved. By intelligent control of the system driver/controller 60 it is possible to select different operating regimes and as a result it is possible to allow ion species of interest to pass through the filter. In another embodiment, the compensation bias is in the form of varying electrical characteristics, such as the duty cycle of the asymmetric field, without the need for compensating bias voltage. This is supplied under direction and control of driver/controller. By means of these features, the apparatus is tunable, i.e., it can be tuned to pass only desired selected species according to mobility, trajectory and polarity, ion one or parallel radial flow paths.
The present invention may be used for simultaneous transport and detection of positive and negative ion species through each filter of the filter arrays in the parallel flow paths F. While multiple flow paths of the present invention enables each flow path to be tuned to pass different ions, still the ability to separate positive and negative ions in a single flow path affords an additional dimension of discrimination beyond compensation control alone. This makes possible identification of a wide range of compounds, including compounds that are difficult to identify by conventional means, all in a single spectrometer of the invention.
In one embodiment, positive and negative ions having the same mobility are passed through an ion filter in flow path F, and then these ions are detected by the two opposed detectors in each flow path, with one detector electrode being negatively biased and the other being positively biased in that flow path. The detected ions hitting each detector then are processed by driver-controller 60 to indicate the simultaneously detected compounds. If each flow path is tuned to a different spectrum, then a broad sample of compounds can be analyzed quickly and efficiently.
Because parallel radial flow paths are possible in practice of the invention, the filters may simultaneously pass different ion species (by control of the applied signals for each filter electrode pair). In addition, it is possible to sweep the control component for each filter pair over a voltage range for filtering a spectrum of ions. With an array of filters, a complete spectral range of compensation voltages can be more rapidly scanned than with a single filter pair. In an array configuration, each filter pair can be used to scan over a smaller voltage range. The combination of all of these scans results in sweeping the desired full spectrum in a reduced time period. If there are three filters, for example, the spectrum can be divided into three portions and each is assigned to one of the filters, and all three can be measured simultaneously. It will be appreciated that the number of filter and or detector pairs is by choice and is not limited to any particular number. In practice of the invention, the filter and detector arrays may include any number of electrodes depending on the size and use of the spectrometer.
The ion filter and ion detector of the invention may be formed with single electrode pairs (each electrode formed as continuous ring on the cooperating substrate surfaces 24, 26), although the electrodes are shown in
Embodiments of the invention therefore may have various electrode arrangements, possibly including pairs, arrays and segments.
Thus operation of embodiments of the invention may include a single pair of filter and detector electrodes but performance may be enhanced by using an array of filters, detectors and flow paths, such as, for example, the filter array 16 a–16 c, and detector array 18 a–18 c, in flow paths Fa–Fc, as described above. It will be further appreciated that these multiple filters and detectors in parallel flow paths may be independently driven so as to be able to achieve a full spectral scan within a single detection cycle.
Any number of electrodes and arrays may be utilized in practice of the invention. In the illustrative embodiment of
Use of arrays is important when there is a desire to measure a number, perhaps even a dozen or so, compounds in a very short amount of time. Furthermore, if a fast GC is used as the front end to a FAIMS spectrometer, the widths of the chemical peaks eluting from the GC can be short. In order to obtain a complete spectral sweep over the required compensation voltage range in time to capture the information contained in the GC peal, the spectral range can be subdivided amongst the flow paths and ion filters in the array. This allows a simultaneous detection of all the constituents in the given GC peak in a shortened time frame.
In one mode, the filter array may include pairs of filter electrodes and may simultaneously enable detection of different ion species by applying a different compensation or bias voltage to each filter pair of the array, without sweeping. In this case, only an ion species that can be compensated by this fixed compensation voltage will pass through each filter, and the intensity will be measured.
It will be further appreciated that a filter or detector array may also include a sequence of electrodes. For example, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the electrodes may be formed with the same or different physical or electrical characteristics, and the flow path itself may be planar or non-planar, with uniform or non-uniform spacing between the substrates and electrodes. These differences will effect ion travel time through the spectrometer as well as resolution and other filter and detector characteristics. As well, controller 60 may drive any electrode as desired for fixed filtering or scanned filtering. Furthermore, the electrodes themselves may be formed all the same or with different performance characteristics, such as shown in
Meanwhile ring array 72 is shown with all the same electrodes. In this case, ion filtering will transpire entirely as controlled by driver/controller 60. This makes for a more versatile spectrometer. If sets of filter and detector electrodes between these rings each define separate flow paths, then each flow path can perform a part of an entire scan, driven by driver/controller 60, with appropriate compensated asymmetric signals being applied. The detection signals can be combined and correlated by driver/controller 60 to obtain a complete scan.
There foregoing invention achieves a simple, volume-manufacturable, low-cost spectrometer device that can perform fast and accurate scans, and with good resolution.
The spectrometer 10 is shown above as a single module, where multiple filtering and detection tasks can be performed in a single device. This arrangement is adequate for many applications. However, where the species that arrives at the detector region includes multiple compounds that cannot be easily differentiated by ion mobility, rather than performing detection at that moment, they can be passed along to a second filter process, more finely tuned to a narrower range or operating under a different regime, which may then be able to separate the otherwise unseparated compounds. An example of such multi-stage spectrometer is shown in
It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the invention feature a multi-functional use of substrates 11, 11′. These substrates are preferably made of insulating material such as glass, plastic, polymers or ceramic, and act as platforms for the definition and location of the component parts or regions of the device, in cooperation with a spacer and collar. The substrates, spacer and collar may all be formed as an integrated whole or a discrete parts and form a device housing 10′, enclosing the flow paths, filters and detectors. This multi-functional design reduces parts count while also precisely locating the component parts so that quality and consistency in volume manufacture can be achieved. As well, having optional identical working surfaces on the substrates, and the snap fit spacer 40, further enables cost-effective volume manufacture of an embodiment of the invention.
Spectrometer 10, with insulated substrate/flow path, achieves excellent performance in a simplified structure. The small size of the spectrometer 10 also provides unexpected improvements in performance and response time. Power requirements are reduced because of the reduced volume and size and shortened flow path. The use of an electrically insulated flow path also enables the applied asymmetric periodic voltage to be isolated from the detector electrodes. The result is a more sensitive spectrometer in a compact and low cost volume manufacturable package with good discrimination and fast response time. Sensitivity of parts per billion and parts per trillion can be achieved in practice of the invention.
It is also noted that use of the substrates as a support/housing does not preclude yet other "housing" features and functions. For example, collar 22′ and covers 38, 38′ enclose the substrates 11, 11′ and can provide a further hermetic seal that limits gas flow to the flow paths and flow of sample/gas at the inlet and outlet. As well, additional components, like batteries, can be mounted to the outside of the substrate/housing, e.g., in an enclosure adjacent to the ionization source 14. Furthermore, still other components can be on the housing surface, such as thermocouples, heaters, circuits, and the like.
Nevertheless, embodiments of the presently claimed invention stand over the prior art by virtue of performance and unique structure generally, as well as the substrate insulation function, support function, multi-functional housing functions, and in addition to the structure and features of spectrometer 10 discussed above.
Driver/controller 60 regulates the ion flow by controlling the ionization source and ion flow (e.g. a pump), and also regulates operation of the electrodes. In one practice of the invention, the asymmetric voltage applied to the ion filter electrodes ranges from about 900 to about 1.5 kV (high field condition), and a low voltage of about −400 to −500 V (low field condition). The frequency ranges 1–2 MHz and the high frequency has an approximate 30% duty cycle, although other operating ranges are possible. Amplifiers, such as Analog Devices model 459 amplifier, which exhibit linear response time and have a bandwidth of 7 ms and 140 Hz, respectively, may be used. The signal may be processed in a conventional manner, such as with a National Instruments board (model 6024E) to digitize and store the scans and with software to display the results as spectra, topographic plots or graphs of ion intensity versus time. The ionization source may be a radioactive source or a UV lamp, corona discharge, or the like.
It will now be appreciated that the present invention discloses method and apparatus for high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry in a pancake device configuration. A preferred system includes an input section, an ion filter and detection section and a control section. Ideally ion filtering proceeds in a flow path under influence of high field asymmetric periodic signals, with detection integrated into the flow path, for producing accurate, real-time, data for identification of a broad range of chemical compounds.
Spacers can be used to fix the spacing between the electrodes on the substrates 11, 11′. While the substrates are shown above separated uniformly, it is also within the scope of the invention to have non-uniform spacing. For example, some electrodes may be closer together than others, or the substrates may be convex or concave, or other purposeful variations that impact on ion filtering and detection in spectrometer 10. For example, substrate 11 of Stage I in
Whether the substrates of the invention have disk-like, rectangular or other surfaces, the flow paths herein are described as radial so as to distinguish from the axial flow path of cylindrical FAIMS devices and longitudinal flow paths of planar FAIMS devices. The present invention features a pancake spectrometer with radial flow paths, whether IMS or FAIMS or the like, and with substrates that may be uniform or non-uniform, arched, domed, skewed, canted, tilted or the like.
In the embodiment of
The spacers of the invention may be formed as an extension of one of the substrates or as separate components, by etching or dicing silicon wafers or may be made of patterned Teflon, ceramic, or other insulators, or in any similar manner.
Other embodiments may have greater or fewer electrodes, depending upon a desired application, and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Various modifications of the specific embodiments set forth above are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to essentially planar pancake FAIMS, other techniques of FAIMS or ion mobility or other discrimination techniques may also be practiced within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, having independent contact pads for each filter electrode enables each filter electrode to be driven independently to achieve a highly tuned apparatus with each flow path being independently controlled and driven, but this is an option and not essential to practice of the invention. Likewise, having independent contact pads for each detector electrode enables each detector electrode to be independently controlled and driven, but this too is an option and not essential to practice of the invention.
It will be appreciated that the terms detector, spectrometer and sensor may be used interchangeably for purposes of this disclosure within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The terms drift tube, flow channel and flow path may be used interchangeably and remain within the spirit and scope of the invention. The terms upper, lower, inner and outer are relative, and are used by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.
It will be further appreciated that the present invention is operable with liquid samples, such as by using electrospray, while for convenience the illustrative examples above describe operation of a gas sample however generated.
The examples and embodiments disclosed herein are shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. While a few electrodes or electrode rings or arrays of electrodes are shown in these illustrative embodiments, any practical number may be formed and used as the application demands. The scope of these and other embodiments is limited only as set forth in the following claims.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.
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It is an incredible honor to be chosen to lead the Oconomowoc Area School District. The OASD is regarded around the state as a high achieving district with progressive instructional practices and excellent faculty and staff. I have found Oconomowoc to be a supportive community that values its schools. It is a community that is proud of its schools and its children, that has high expectations for academic growth and instructional improvement, is supportive of the arts and co-curricular activities, and has a strong desire to move to even higher levels in every area.
We just posted our 2013-14 Annual Report to the website. The long list of accolades and successes within those pages is a celebration of the strength of our faculty, staff, building leadership, and the students in our schools. It also reflects the support and thoughtful planning of our school board. Most importantly, it reflects the strong support for the OASD by our parents and greater Oconomowoc community. Strong schools and healthy, vibrant communities are closely linked. As such, our quality schools are very much a product of our community.
This past year was a busy one in the OASD. We continued our work to personalize learning for every child every day through our implementation of Universal Design for Learning. We developed a strategic plan that will chart our course over the next three years in the District. We built a framework for continuous improvement that will be implemented district-wide in conjunction with our strategic plan to monitor progress toward our desired outcomes and improve processes across all departments. And we completed the final work on the Athletic Fields Forever project with the construction of the new football field and track at Rux Stadium, the new soccer stadium, and new baseball field. All of this was done with a continued focus on strong fiscal management and wise stewardship of the community's resources.
It is our vision for the Oconomowoc Area School District to become an unrivaled learning community, seeking wisdom, honoring the past, and shaping the future. We look forward to continuing to work together during the 2014-15 school year to help make that vision a reality for our students and our community.


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Continued violation of traffic laws is an easy way to identify city employees who should be terminated since they are a danger to public safety and pose a much greater risk to the city of having to pay damages for accidents caused by them. I suggest they implement this policy too.
Some of these details are just moot points. You would not think this was funny if you lost your construction job over this boondoogle and your wife who has cancer lost her insurance coverage. These people are pawns. This is NOT A SENSIBLE WAY TO DO BUSINESS. Karl Rove/ Grover Norquist et al are just out to prove that they can force the country into failure and bankruptcy over false tax issues, abortion issues and gay marriage issues. Republicans seem able to get lots of idiots to vote against their best interests and those of their grandchildren. I still think there is a lot of not-so-veiled racist in all this.
How about a complete list Brett? You missed more than a few: Acme (2 locations), Cooter Brown, La Cote Brasserie. Acme's food is way, way better than Felix. La Cote's raw oysters are way better than Grand Isle or Drago's at the Hilton.
Charlie Sheen Jr?
The space looks good for an upscale restaurant or SLICE pizza. My favorite would be for it to return to its prior use as a funeral home--I miss Bultman's.
We could go on and on. Does anyone really have the "right" to have 17 children or even 8? That in itself is so wrong and evidence of someone who shares no values with society. What solution to that? And who was the father of all these kids? One wonders how custody was maintained?
Another reason DADT needs to go is it's very bad effect on straight women troops. They live under constant threat of being accused of being gay or investigated for suspicion of being gay. Such threats are used to manipulate them in many ways, not the least of which is sexual.
Is this Katrina #2? Are we going to see another slow, inadequate Federal response to this now HUGE EMERGENCY? How does no specks, no reds, no snapper, no shrimp, no oysters for 5-10 years sound.
Someone tell me what to do.
Why is this happening? Apparently some "fail-safe" part has failed miserably--who is responsible? Everyone who insists on cheap oil is who. Now we are going to find out what our oil addiction really costs.
Is there any place to find out all the areas that are flooding and what street to avoid if you have to go out?
Not so sure about this one...tourist trap is more like it. Last we went--admittedly a year ago, raws were luke warm and tres cher. Rest of menu about the same. Too bad.
Cajunyat--you sure have an appropriate name. Your comment doesn't even make sense--you oppose him but he could have united the country? Except for you?
The article is about a HEALTHCARE HYSTERIA protest by selfish people who must not know anyone who has been bankrupted by no insurance or who has been denied coverage or can't afford coverage or whose job doesn't offer coverage or who is unemployed. A lot of the upset people are already on MEDICARE which is government sponsored universal coverage for those over 65. None of them are unhappy with their coverage--why can't the rest of us be guaranteed coverage?
1. Why has this taken so long to come to attention? Tell me it didn't take them 2+ months to figure out what happened?
2. Why wasn't the officer suspended during the investigation?
3. Since his partner died, why wasn't this a NOPD Intergity Division investigation.
4. Why was this officer allowed to transfer instead of going to jail, glad I don't live in the 2nd district.
5. What exactly are K-9 procedures? I do not think it's OK on any level to leave the dog in the running car while you are out of eyesight.
6. Ignoring offenses like this (which are indicative of a much bigger problem) is one of the reasons NOPD has such a bad reputation.
7. Wanton disregard for the welfare of an animal indicates probable wanton disregard for others, like your teenage son, etc.
Step up to the plate, NOPD and thanks to TP for bringing this to light.
Everyone (except Jindal and Levine) thinks we need more mental health beds in New Orleans. What drummer are they marching too?
LEGALIZE DRUGS and TAX DRUGS
And most of these problems go away.
Nothing going to happen until we do. We have been doing the same thing for a really long time. This is crazy--try something new.
Times Pic...really dropping the ball on this one. No news for a couple of days. Please do a follow-up story. Why has no arrest been made. License number is known. Also the cars must be visible on multiple surveillance cameras--bowling alley, Jeff Parish red light cameras, CCC cameras.
Why has no arrest and why no follow-up story?
This is an outrage!!
Ever curious why Nagin continues to defend the obviously incompetent Ms White? Makes you wonder what else he is getting out of their alliance.
Where is the District Attorney and where is the Attorney General? Why have they not pounced on these legal gaffs by the Nagin administration. Are they in on it too?
And actually this last gaff is so blatantly racist that maybe our savior the US Attorney can find an excuse to become involved (especially since the AG and DA seem toothless or disinterested).
Come on folks! How long can this go on?
Retracting prior post: looked at www.saintandrewsvillage.org and only see pictures of white disabled people in their organization. Their families probably all have good transportation and all live on the Northshore anyway.
Why on the Northshore? A development like this would be great in LNW or NOE. This sort of development would be better located either closer to these folks relatives and closer to actual mass transit, which is non-existant on the Northshore. This makes as much sense as putting juvenile detention facilities far away from poor people's families.
1. All the FQ trash needs to be picked up all the time.
2. There is no way that sanitation workers have to figure out which trash to pick up
3. So, simple city ordinance to assess addresses (on utility bills) for trash pick-up if they don't qualify for "free" trash pick-up. And huge business have to show evidence of active contract (no allegations heard that this isn't already being done. If you don't pay your trash bill, business is padlocked closed until paid.
It is senseless and wasteful to have more than one contractor in the FQ.
Let's stop all this and talk solutions:
1. If the profit motive were removed from the drug scene, we all know that most of this killing and other bad behavior would stop eventually.
2. The only way to take the profit out of the drug trade is to legalize and tax those drugs.
3. New Orleans is isolated enough geographically to reasonably be an experimental lab for a LEGALIZED DRUG ZONE. What are the obstacles to this idea?
4. A side benefit is that the tax revenues would allow us to lower or eliminate property and sales taxes. New Orleans would be a very attractive place to live, work and invest with no taxes.
5. All drug sales would be like gun sales--I.D. and background check required. Limited amounts for sale at one time--like the controls on pseudoephedrine sales.
6. Most drug crimes would be tax violations and much easier to prosecute (a la Al Capone who went down on a tax rap).
7. Personally, I think everything else would fall into place. I would suggest a simlutaneous legalization of prostitution. Then the tourist trade would really pick up.


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PhD student Anne Leonard talks through her latest research paper, which shows that people who take part in coastal water sports could be at risk of exposure to antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Read More
This episode: Cable bacteria and algae set up electric grid in sediments!
(6 MB, 6.5 minutes)
Show notes:
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Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler
Unable to embed Rapid1Pixelout audio player. Please double check that: 1)You have the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. 2)This web page does not have any fatal Javascript errors. 3)The audio-player.js file of Rapid1Pixelout has been included.
The TWiVsters explore mutations in the interferon pathway associated with severe influenza in a child... Read More
Scientist has described the possible existence of sixth DNA base, the methyl-adenine (mA) this week.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a polymer of nucleotides, which encodes every genetic information of living existence. The entire genetic information are stored within DNA as the form of millio... Read More
A major goal of viral oncotherapy – the use of viruses to destroy tumors – is to design viruses that kill tumor cells but not normal cells. Two adenoviruses provide perfect examples of how this specificity can be achieved.
Adenovirus CG0070, designed to treat bladder cancer, and adenovirus O... Read More
I am a big believer that different pedagogical approaches can "reach" different students. In most of my classes, I give students an optional assignment: come up with a creative project that explores some aspect of class. This takes several steps. First, I make the students come up with an ide... Read More
Chromobacterium violaceum is a gram negative bacterium known to produce a natural antibiotic violacein which has other additional properties as well.
Here I was testing the MIC for a range of antibiotics and found a amazing result wherein i could clearly see "persisters" which will at a later s... Read More
Researchers at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute have identified a protein on the surface of human red blood cells that serves as an essential entry point for invasion by the malaria parasite. The presence of this protein, called CD55, was found to be critical to... Read More
Monrovia, 8 May 2015 – A week-long campaign to vaccinate more than 600,000 children against polio and measles kicks off today in Liberia, led by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the ... Read More
Bailey writes:
Hey Vincent, Elio, Michele and Michael!
I'm a first year microbiology graduate student at UC Berkeley and an avid listener of twim. Elio's snippet from the most recent podcast reminded me of a personal anecdote that might be useful to share with... Read More
Smartphone adapted for use as a video microscope to detect parasites in blood in under resourced communities
This is a good news story all around. UC Berkeley engineers, Michael D'Amrosio and Matthew Bakalar (UC Berkeley Bioengineering) with medical personal from NIAID, Dr. Thomas Nutaman and his collaborators from Cameroon and France collectively took the omni-present global resource, a standard smar... Read More
As greater atmospheric carbon dioxide boosts sea temperatures, tropical corals face a bleak future. New climate model projections show that conditions are likely to increase the frequency and severity of coral disease outbreaks. Read More
"The WHO, largely unchanged since its creation, is ill-equipped to deal with the disease threats that this new world creates...the recent Ebola outbreak is a case in point. Even the WHO's director-general, Margaret Chan, said her organisation was "overwhelmed" and admitted that a crisis on that ... Read More
Bacteria that feed on methane can control its concentration once it is released from the ocean floor. This can potentially stop the greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere. But ocean currents can easily disturb dinner, according to new study in Nature Geoscience.
There is a large, and rel... Read More
JMBE Profiles with Kari Wester is an interview series that highlights the volunteers that comprise the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education (JMBE) Editorial Board, the authors who contribute their work, and the education innovations that bring them together.
In this third episode of th... Read More
In what is a major step towards the prevention of recurring bouts of Clostridium difficile (Cdiff) infection, an international team led by Dale Gerding, MD, Hines Veterans Administration (VA) research physician and professor of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, ha... Read More
A new study has found high levels of infection with hepatitis C (HCV) across Africa, particularly in people infected with HIV. Read More
Unknown fungal contaminant seen on Casein media after 1 month at refrigerated temperatures. Green spore formation is seen throughout the colony with white hyphal growth on the outer edge of the colony. The center was raised and had deep groves. Read More
An unknown fungal contaminant growing on Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) plate. The fungal colony shows a number of interesting features where it takes up or interacts with they dyes in the medium. Some of the colonies illustrate interesting inhibitory effects on adjacent colonies or appear the inf... Read More


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Thursday, March 13, 2014
On Thursday, those who were interested to see what the Aiken County School District has in mind for the next five years met at North Augusta Elementary School.
The event was part of a number of stakeholder meetings that occurred around the county, with others taking place at Leavelle McCampbell Middle, Aiken Middle, Ridge Spring-Monetta Elementary and Silver Bluff High. The district also has another scheduled before its regular school board meeting on Tuesday night.
Peggy Trivelas, elementary school academic officer for the area, led the meeting.
"We are getting ready to go through some exciting times," she said. "We are about ready to have our visit, which we get every five years, from AdvancED. That is our accrediting organization and it is important to us that our schools are accredited. Through this process, we are able to make sure our standards are where they need to be for our kids to graduate from accredited high schools. We do a districtwide process, and we are all working together to make sure we get input from all of the stakeholders."
That visit is scheduled for Nov. 16 to 19. Trivelas said the team coming in will be from out of the state. The information from the meeting showed that Aiken County has a large number of strengths, including highly qualified teachers, course offerings and programs, among other things.
However, the weaknesses are familiar to those who have kept up with the school district in recent years. Many of the school buildings are older, have a number of problems and need major renovations.
Also, many teachers and personnel are leaving for more prosperous horizons. Funding has been an issue for many districts, but in Aiken County, a larger percent of dollars have to go into maintenance and upkeep. Three-fourths of the schools in the county are more than 40 years old, half are older than 50 and three are at least 65 years old.
The renovations at North Augusta High School are one example of the district making the best of its budget, but it's facing a timetable that could stretch more than 30 or 40 years. Hammond Hill Elementary, despite having won state and national awards, has many portables on its campus. Belvedere Elementary is turning 60 this year and has maintenance issues in connection with its age. North Augusta Elementary has problem areas and a lack of curb appeal.
Board of Education members Ray Fleming and Keith Liner attended the event and pointed out that the problems are not in the classroom.
"Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that a large portion of our students are earning millions of dollars of scholarships," Fleming said. "They go off to good-paying jobs or college. We are doing well by a large segment of our student body. Not to say that there isn't work to be done, but we don't want to lose sight of the good that's being done."
Another challenge stems from one of the major strengths of the district. Liner pointed out that all of the county schools have done great jobs at identifying and helping students who may need tutoring or other aid in their early high school years. However, one thing that can be improved is noticing those students sooner – possibly at the middle school level.
"If you can capture them before they get disinterested in high school, you can graduate them on time," Liner said. "Getting further down into the middle schools to capture them and say that, 'Hey, college may not be for me, but I can be a welder, plumber or carpenter' and keep their attention in high school."
The district continues to invite public input, and it can be done by going to the website at acps.schoolfusion.us. From that page click on "Community Input Opportunity for the District's Five-Year Strategic Plan" and fill out the form.
Scott Rodgers is the news editor at The North Augusta Star.
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At .07 these lashes are thin and lightweight for those who like to "stack" lashes for the Volume effect. Soft and more subtle than the conventional Synthetic Mink lashes, these are a great lash for those looking for a fuller look and a softer feel. With just a "touch" of glue used at the base you can apply 3,4,5 or more of these lashes to the base of the natural lash and its still lighter than a .20mm lash. (5) .07mm Lashes are the same weight as (1) .20mm lash so stacking the lashes is not adding any weight. Assorted Lengths in the case are 6,8,10,11,12,13,14 mm.


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By Andy Choi
With this newly added lamp, the EnhanceLite MR16-35L, 11° spot has been upgraded, providing customers with a wide range of lamp choices. The entire range of MR16-35L has been designed for replacement, usually the halogen lamps of 35 W.
The EnhanceLite MR16-35L narrow-flood landscape lamp has been designed for application with IP66 rated outdoor fixtures. Its sturdy configuration enables it to withstand harsh environments. The EnhanceLite MR16-35L ensures high-quality, energy-efficient LED light used for interior spaces in exterior locations. The MR16-35L narrow-flood is capable of generating light at 3000K color temperature.
The new 35 W-equivalent narrow-flood landscape is a fine quality lamp among a comprehensive range of EnhanceLite LED MR16 products, representing a centerpiece in solid-state lighting. The entire versions of the EnhanceLite MR16-35L are compatible with any standard MR16 fixture and can be used with a majority of transformers.
The EnhanceLite MR16-35L Narrow-Flood (LEDL-MR16-35-12-30D-INF) features 350 Lumen Output (lm), 24° Beam Angle, CBCP (cd) of 1301, dimmable to 5% on most dimmers, extensive life time of up to 35,000 h, utilizes 4.7 W of power, GU 5.3 base, shows 74 lm/W efficacy, and generates brilliant 3000K color temperature with CRI of 82 .
All LEDnovation lamp models undergo assessments for photometric performance according to IES LM-79 requirements in accredited third-party labs. The EnhanceLite MR16-35L narrow flood is expected to be available by early April 2012.
Source: http://www.lednovation.com/
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MILWAUKEE — Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson says a published report that he is about to fire his entire Washington D.C.-based staff is "laughable" and "incredibly false."
An article published Thursday, April 12th in the Washington D.C. insider newspaper "Roll Call," reported multiple unnamed Republican sources said the move was imminent.
CLICK HERE to view the article via "Roll Call's" website.
"It's grossly inaccurate. It was a hit piece. It's unfortunate. It seems to be planted by somebody in Republican leadership which is not a good thing, but no, it's laughable. It's so incredibly false," Johnson said.
Johnson says he is not pondering motives regarding the article's sources, but says the story allows him to show who he is really working for. "Bottom line I guess, what it does prove is that I am certainly an independent voice here for Wisconsin. I'm not part of the establishment, and I have just been pushing hard," Johnson said.


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One of my many winter skin woes is dry, dull skin. Add a lot of travelling during the winter months to that equation and my skin takes a beating. I honestly feel like I need a weekly peel to help my skin look refreshed, bright and smooth, but going into a spa every week for a peel is just not in my budget at the moment so I have to opt instead for at home skin renewing treatments. This, can of course, also get expensive depending on how you well you expect them to work.
Thanks to my amazing sister, I have in my possession a renewing face mask that is only $12 and works great on my skin. I am visiting my family in Minnesota at the moment and noticed the Pumpkin Renewing Face Mask by True Blue Spa in her beauty stash. I, of course, had to try it. Especially since she seems to be crazy in love with it. Read more


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The 5:2 Fast Diet: Recipe Book
by Jacqueline Whitehart
Paperback: 148 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
List Price: $9.99
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Product Description
US Edition of the UK best-selling 5:2 Fast Diet Recipe book.
Now with all US measurements and ingredients.
Over 100 recipes specially crafted to be filling, healthy and calorie controlled.
This recipe book has a full range of over 100 fantastic, filling recipes all suitable for your 5:2 diet days. From breakfasts to snacks, light lunches and dinners. The recipes are expertly balanced with plenty of protein and moderate complex carbohydrates. They're all designed to fill you up and stave off hunger pangs.
This practical guide provides detailed menu plans and plenty of advice and encouragement to get you started. Jacqueline demystifies the latest medical research into The 5:2 Diet and Intermittent Fasting.
The 5:2 Diet will revolutionise the way you think about food. By dieting just two days a week you can lose weight and potentially lower your risk of age-related diseases.
Related Titles
- The FastDiet Cookbook: 150 Delicious, Calorie-Controlled Meals to Make Your Fasting Days Easy
- The Skinny 5:2 Diet Slow Cooker Recipe Book: Skinny Slow Cooker Recipe And Menu Ideas Under 100, 200, 300 And 400 Calories For Your 5:2 Diet (Kitchen Collection )
- The 5:2 Diet: Feast for 5 Days, Fast for 2 Days to Lose Weight and Revitalize Your Health
- The Fast Diet Cookbook: Low-Calorie Fast Diet Recipes and Meal Plans for the 5:2 Diet and Intermittent Fasting
- The FastDiet: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Live Longer with the Simple Secret of Intermittent Fasting
Scribendi offers Books and Software in association with Amazon.com. Portions copyright Amazon Inc. and its affiliates used under license.


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My apologises if this has already been posted, but when I post a comment on a video the page turns white and goes to a different webpage with different formatting. It's basically just a bunch of text and a picture here or there, no video, it's just strange.
I'll try to upload a screenshot soon. It also asks me if I want to resubmit the form and if I select yes my comment posts twice.


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New Highs
84 new all-time highs among stocks that gained 1% or more: AXDX HGSH GPOR AMBA BXE WOR ANGI DLPHI ADUS
181 stocks reached new all-time highs while gaining 1%+ today. Some of the notable movers include:
- Window dressing must be kicking in, because many of the Q1 leaders have started to break out – outsourcing and staffing agencies ($TMH, $RHI), regional banks ($IBCP), movie theaters ($LGF) etc.
- Oil, Oil, Oil – some big moves in the sector: $GPOR $BXE…Oil & gas equipment and svs stocks $FTI $TTI $OII followed up on their breakouts from yesterday
- $V and $MA cleared new all-time highs again – exceptional performance from both since they went public.
- Other notable breakouts: $ALKS (drug delivery), $WOR (metal fabrication), $ACOR (biotech), $STE (medical appliances)
StockTwits 50 Highlights
- 3D-printing play $PRLB gained 4% and it is already above its 20dma
- $GWRE bounced from its rising 20dma and it is back near all-time highs
- $OPEN attempted a breakout in the morning, but gave back most of it in the second half of the day
related posts
» Daily Update » Momentum Wrap – Window Dressing Kicks...


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August 2, 2015
AUSTIN, Texas -- A powerful committee chairman has promised to provide funding for an increase in public school enrollment over the next two years.
Texas adds about 80,000 new public school students a year. When the Legislature last met in 2011, they did not provide funding for new students and cut $5.4 billion in school funding. Democrats have made restoring school funding a major priority this year and proposed setting a rule Monday requiring the House to fund school growth.
The rule proposed by Houston Democrat Armando Walle was voted down, but Waxahachie Republican Jim Pitts, who chairs the appropriations committee, said during debate that he would introduce a budget bill on Tuesday that would increase school funding at least as much as is required to pay for school growth.
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Results 1 to 1 of 1
Registered Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2002
- Posts
- 2
Posted On:
8/31/2007 11:15am
Bankart lesion and recovery
I sustained a series of shoulder dislocations during the last few months and just three days ago had surgery to repair a so called "Bankert lesion". That means that the head of my upper arm bone torn part of a cartilage ring which surrounds the shoulder joint.
Im just wondering if anybody else had experience with this kind of injury and how the recovery went in terms of martial arts(muay thai) functionality.
I did ask multiple doctors and the answers ranged from "You can never train again" to "100% recovery of function".
Thank you.


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Dr. Ratliff's Experience
Research training, expertise and qualifications
Dr. Ratliff's Specialties
- Anesthesiology
More About Dr. Ratliff's Background
Hospital Quality
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- Lexington, KY 40508
9 Facts About Hospital Quality
Patients' risk of dying during a hospital stay for heart bypass surgery could be 85.2% lower, on average, at a hospital rated 5 stars compared to a hospital rated 1 star for that procedure. Choosing the right hospital is critical to your health. View Slideshow
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Jul 29, 2015 - Peter Hayes
nightman1965 / iStock / Thinkstock
This much we know: Puerto Rico has more debt than it can afford. Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla told us so in late June when he pronounced the commonwealth's $72 billion in debt was "not payable."
After years of band aids and significant borrowing to meet its obligations, the time has come for meaningful reform. The question now is, what exactly will the island need to do to stay afloat, and what will it mean for creditors, particularly bondholders?
The only option
Given its multi-year recession, high unemployment, dwindling population, high energy costs (the list goes on), it seems clear to us that Puerto Rico is in no position to grow itself out of debt any time soon. Absent growth, the only other option for restoring some measure of financial integrity and standard of living for its citizens is to enact fiscal and structural reforms and restructure the existing burdensome debt, with the long-term goal of putting the island on a sustainable growth trajectory.
As the governor alluded June 29, "sacrifices" will be necessary to dig Puerto Rico out of its hole. Those concessions could be substantial for some creditors.
Sizing up the haircuts
By our estimates, the commonwealth needs to cut its current debt of $72 billion to roughly $40 billion. Our analysis suggests this would be a more sustainable level of debt for the commonwealth to carry relative to its potential gross national product (GNP). That's a reduction of 44 percent.
Does that mean bondholders can expect to be paid back roughly 60 cents on every dollar of Puerto Rico debt owned? Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The variables are many. In fact, we've looked at a series of scenarios (assuming a two-year settlement period) and arrived at a broad range of outcomes. We estimate recoveries could potentially range from 30 percent or less for subordinate, unsecured or appropriated debt to as high as 100 percent for bonds that are deemed by the courts as secured.
Also to be determined is the structure of bondholder haircuts. They might come in the form of a debt moratorium or potentially outright principal reductions, albeit the former is more likely. While much is uncertain, this is for sure: The total debt must be cut to a level more manageable given the island's growth prospects. Current economic conditions, we believe, support the view that debt should be cut approximately 44 percent.
Making strides without Chapter 9
Complicating the commonwealth's road to recovery is the fact that U.S. territories have no mechanism for restructuring debt. Puerto Rico does not have access to Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, the process by which U.S. municipalities renegotiate their debt. The lack of formal procedures for implementing a broad-based restructuring could make it difficult to get creditors to the negotiating table. The result may be cramdowns vs. more conciliatory agreements. Undoubtedly, this will all be a long and contentious process, with the likelihood of many legal battles along the way.
Notably, two U.S. senators recently sponsored a bill seeking to extend Chapter 9 provisions to Puerto Rico. While that proposal is gaining some support in Congress, it is unlikely to come about in any timeframe that would facilitate the immediate needs.
Expect volatility, look for value
Puerto Rico will continue to make headlines. It's a near certainty with the island likely to record its first default on August 1st (the commonwealth failed to make the necessary deposit to cover debt of its Public Finance Corporation due August 1st), and with the governor's Economic Recovery Working Group expected to make reform recommendations by August 30th. The news flow will most certainly stoke volatility.
But make no mistake, the overall municipal market is on solid footing. Creditworthiness is strong and attractive relative yields should continue to draw demand for the asset class. The broad market notched negative returns in four of the past five months, but is up in July, notwithstanding Governor Padilla's announcement.
We expect high yield funds could be most affected by events in Puerto Rico, as commonwealth debt makes up some 28 percent of the S&P High Yield Municipal Index. The potential for wider market disruption seems fairly muted, perhaps stemming only from investor overreaction to headlines. As such, Puerto Rico-related unease could produce value elsewhere in the market.
Even in Puerto Rico itself, all debt is not created equal. Some value could arise out of the melee. This points to the importance of thorough credit research to discern the differences between individual issuers and credits.
I invite you to read our monthly Municipal Market Update, credit commentaries and special reports for more insight on Puerto Rico and the broader municipal bond market.
Peter Hayes, Managing Director, is head of BlackRock's Municipal Bonds Group and a regular contributor to The Blog.
This material represents an assessment of the market environment as of the date indicated; is subject to change; and is not intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. This information should not be relied upon by the reader as research or investment advice regarding the funds or any issuer or security in particular. This document contains general information only and does not take into account an individual's financial circumstances. This information should not be relied upon as a primary basis for an investment decision. Rather, an assessment should be made as to whether the information is appropriate in individual circumstances and consideration should be given to talking to a financial advisor before making an investment decision. Bonds and bond funds will decrease in value as interest rates rise and are subject to credit risk, which refers to the possibility that the debt issuers may not be able to make principal and interest payments or may have their debt downgraded by ratings agencies. Non-investment-grade debt securities (high-yield/junk bonds) may be subject to greater market fluctuations, risk of default or loss of income and principal than higher-rated securities. A portion of a municipal bond fund's income may be subject to federal or state income taxes or the alternative minimum tax. Capital gains, if any, are subject to capital gains tax. ©2015 BlackRock, Inc. All rights reserved. iSHARES and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock, Inc., or its subsidiaries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. iS-16185


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Tyler Perry's Gonna Be a Daddy!
Topping the gossip headlines is news that SOMEBODY is expecting Tyler Perry's first child.
Now, while maternity has not been confirmed, Perry has been dating 28-year-old Ethiopian Gelila Bekele off and on for aboout 5 years. Come on mathematicians! That means they started dating when she was just 23 and he was 40. Nice little age gap, but who am I to talk? Been there, done that.
Most critics are saying that this is just a ploy in attempt to mask his homosexuality. I don't know. What I DO know is that he's admitted to having issues with his sexuality, stemming from being abused at a young age.
Personally, I don't think that because a person has issues to overcome, he becomes what his issue is. For instance, if a woman has issues with her dad that result in her WANTING to search for love, and she sleeps with a few men in that search, I wouldn't call her a woman of ill repute. Similarly, if a person has financial problems that causes him to live check-to-check for a few months, I wouldn't call that person "broke." I'd say he's a man with financial difficulties.
The reason I feel this way is because I wholeheartedly believe The Bible and Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." This passage describes those who are stingy and offering of their food and drink but do not mean it when they offer. Kinda like when you have food and offer it to those around you but secretly hope they decline the offer. We ALL know how that is. LOL
Anyway, I do not count it impossible for those who have issues to be torn, not leaning to either particular side but walking the fine line between desire and morality/spiritual belief. I think it is when one chooses one side over the other when a solid determination is made, when one willfully chooses to develop a pattern of "being." So, as for me, I won't speculate about whether or not Mr. Perry impregnated his "beard" or if he's found a surrogate. Instead, I say, "Congratulations, Mr. Perry! I think you're going to be an awesome father!"


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Earthly Delights
Life's Little Luxuries
7001 Crestwood Blvd.
Suite 1202
Birmingham, AL 35210
We're Right Next To
The Edge Theater
, on the
Home Depot
Contact us at
Specializing in our own Earth Garden Naturals line of Handmade Soaps, Body Products, and Botanicals
Our Regular hours:
Monday - Saturday 10-6
Other Times may be available by appointment
Soapmaking classes
may be available soon.
Class size will be limited and fees will apply. Email
for details and to express interest.


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John Karl Johnson, 49
John Karl Johnson
of Port Orchard
Aug. 3, 1963
to June 21, 2013
John was an aerospace graduate of Middle Tennessee State and flew helicopters and served as a Captain in the Army National Guard. Following his military service, most of his career was in commercial trucking, relocating to Washington in 2001. He loved spending time with family and friends, boating, the outdoors, cooking and entertaining others.
John is preceded in death by his father, Norm Johnson; and birth mother, Angie. He is survived by his mother, Claudia Johnson; children, Alex and Julianna; and sisters, Karyl Bartlett and Dodie Greaves.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date.
Subscribe to the Kitsap Sun
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Snoop Dogg, Marriage Counselor (NSFW)
Snoops advice is bulletproof. Don't try to make a hoe a housewife.
Of course smoking a blunt in a pig hat surrounded by open 40s only solidifies his credibility as a marriage counselor. Don't even worry about the fact that this happened 3 months ago. Snoop's on it.
Props to KP for the find
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I spent several days looking at different ways to post-process images to redo some of the art work at home. I came up with the following using a combination of Photoshop, filters and Nikon Capture NX. {wp-gallery-remote: gallery=0; rootalbum=78682; showalbumtitle=true; showsubalbums=true; showimagesheader=true; imagefilter=include:78683,78687,78690,78693;} My personal favourite is the last image. Something about the nature of […]
Entries from June 2008
On a more artistic theme
June 9th, 2008 · No Comments
Tags: Photography


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GNU products can only be shipped within the U.S.
(based on 4 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Love my pickle!
By Sabrina
from San Diego, CA
About Me Advanced
Comments about GNU Park Pickle PTX Snowboard - Women's 2012:
This board actually helped me get better at jibs!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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By Ggirl21
from New York, NY
About Me Intermediate
Awesome board, i love everything about it! Carving was a breeze! every time i thought i'd catch snow, the magnetraction kept me standing! Great Flex especially for a small board(140). Light, glides over powder, carves over ice, however i had a bit of trouble with the heavy slush out here on the east coast. all around, perfect board! i'll be sad when i get my first ding..
Gnu Park Pickle womens 2012
By Saddie Mae
from Muskegon, MI
I must say this snowboard has every feature I was looking and hoping for. Fit for park aspects but can handle just riding very well. When I first used this board I immediately noticed it's speed, flimsyness and manuvering qualities. But, unfortunately the one thing that was not to great about this board was the ability to get damaged easily. Such as, scraches or small dents. I believe most of the dents were caused by a lack of an edge on the top and bottom tail. Besides the damage ability, this board is perfect for an all around rider who enjoys the terrain park more than anything else!
Fab board!! Love it!!
By pigboyking
from Hong Kong
I ordered a 144cm - this is the second board I've owned...first one was a demo Burton I've had for 7 years so it was time for an upgrade. Have no regrets whatsoever choosing this rocker. It is so much more responsive, flexible and easy to control compared to my old board (even though I was getting so comfortable with my old one) and I would've never been able to push my ability further without this board. Definitely more comfortable going into terrain parks and doing tricks with this baby. Took a bit of getting used to going into powder but it was fine after conciously leaning back slightly before entering. Was a little unstable on the flats but could be because I was getting used to some new bindings as well. Would definitely recommend this baby to anybody wanting to take their riding to the next level. Loving it and can't wait for our next trip to the snow.


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Open Thread: How Do You Define a Dive Bar?
Is a dive bar defined by smell alone? More
Is a dive bar defined by smell alone? More
New York's an exciting drinking town, full of creative cocktail dens, innovative wine and beer bars, and old-school dives. We polled 14 of New York's top bartenders, including Joaquín Simó of Pouring Ribbons, Dan Greenbaum of The Beagle, Leo Robitschek of The Nomad, Maxwell Britten of Maison Premiere, and more to find out where we should drink when we want to drink like the pros. More
Other than the crowd of little league soccer players and their parents after Saturday morning practice, Buff's biggest claim to fame are their wings ($4.95 per half order; 8.95 per whole). You can get them on or off the bone, and doused with one of 10 different hot sauces. It's not actually the variety that impresses me; call me a curmudgeon, but Buffalo wings are Buffalo wings, and I start to wonder about a place that offers as many different flavor varieties as Baskin-Robbins. More
"Seely's naked contempt for Jager-bombs and the people who drink them is as refreshing as a frosty schooner of Vitamin R." Dive into the Sloop and you might catch a glimpse of a crew member from "Deadliest Catch." Photograph by Cary Melton Mike Seely, managing editor of the Seattle Weekly, writes like Ernest Hemingway in his new book, Seattle's Best Dive Bars. He's Papa for the PBR crowd, exploring the gritty, working class watering holes that are the antithesis of the geeky chic image the city has embraced. He doesn't candy coat his close-to-the-ground reports on these off-the-radar spots. For instance, he says The Waterwheel Lounge looks like the kind of place "where you might get your head bludgeoned on... More