text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|PCT number
|Publication date
|Oct 31, 1989
|Filing date
|May 27, 1987
|Priority date
|May 27, 1986
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Cornelius J. Schram
|Original Assignee
|National Research Development Corporation
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (8), Non-Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (109), Classifications (27), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention relates to the manipulation of particulate matter in a fluid medium by the use of ultrasonic wave energy, including the segregation of dissimilar particles from a mixture of particles.
Standing waves generated by acoustic energy sources have been used in a variety of ways to influence the behaviour of particles suspended in fluids, it being known that particles can be attracted to the nodes of the standing wave. In essence the attracted particles becomes concentrated at the nodal planes lying normal to the axis of propagation of the standing wave. At this juncture it should be said that the detailed theory underlying the observed phenomenon of standing waves and their effect of particles is not fully understood, in particular the factors influencing whether any given particle type tends to accumulate at the nodes or at the antinodes are unclear. However, this lack of theoretical understanding has no bearing on the practical application of the present invention and throughout this specification the terms nodes and nodal planes are used to include references to both nodes and antinodes, because in practice it does not appear to matter whether any given particle type collects at one or the other.
If a standing wave is moved along its axis, the particles attracted to the nodes can be carried through the fluid while they remain attached to the standing wave: this is proposed, for example, in G.B. 2098498A. In addition, it is found that particles with different acoustic properties, in particular particles with different sizes and densities, can be differently affected by the acoustic energy of a standing wave and it has been proposed to use ultrasonic frequencies to manipulate particles in a chromatographic analytical procedure, to separate different particle types. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,823 it is suggested that a standing wave can function as the plates of a conventional chromatographic column by retaining different particles at its nodes for different times, the particles being carried through the standing wave by a gas flow directed axially along it.
There may also be mentioned the apparatus described in U.S. Pat No. 4,523,632 (Barmetz et al) in which particles of different types are separated to some degree as they are carried by a liquid flow along the length of a horizontal chamber in which a standing wave is established with a wavelength that is half the height of the chamber. This results in a so-called force potential well in the mid-height region of the chamber in which the particles will tend to concentrate. The gravity forces on the particles cause some degree of vertical separation of the different types of particle, i.e. each type of particle will be located at a particular height representing an equipotential plane, dependent upon the influence of gravity on that particle type.
It is a characteristic of all these earlier proposals that controls or manipulation of particles attracted to the nodes relies on the acoustic forces acting on the particles in dependence upon the distance from each node, i.e. axially along the standing wave. One of the difficulties which exists in such a system and which becomes particularly acute at the higher ultrasonic frequency ranges suitable for processing smaller particles is that attenuation occurs in the energy propagated from the ultrasound source. Divergence of the beam accentuates this effect. There is therefore an energy density gradient experienced by the fluid as a undirectional force, in effect a radiation pressure, which above a minimal value, produces movement of the fluid away from the radiation source. This movement of fluid, referred to herein as acoustic streaming, clearly can have a disturbing influence on any attempt to control the movement of particles by means of the acoustic forces acting directly on them, and especially if those acoustic forces are employed to discriminate between different particle types.
If a standing wave is formed in a body of fluid by a coaxial reflection of ultrasonic radiation from a single source, there will be a radiation pressure acting on the fluid throughout the field of the standing wave generating acoustic streaming. By using two opposed ultrasonic transducers to establish a standing wave by the interference between their outputs it is possible to balance out radiation pressure in substance, over a minor part of the distance between the sources. For a standing wave in water at 20� C., the following Table shows the total working distance available in mm with three different tolerance levels of imbalance for different frequencies, assuming a parallel acoustic beam:
TABLE 1______________________________________ Total working distance available (mm) Percent imbalanceFrequency MHz 596 296 1%______________________________________0.3 11,400 4,400 2,2001.0 1,000 400 2003.0 114 44 2210.0 10.3 4 2______________________________________
Thus, at 3 MHz in water, 22 mm is available on either side of the point of exact energy balance if a maximum imbalance of 2% is acceptable, giving a maximum total working distance of 44 mm. As is clear from the Table the working distance available is increasingly restricted with rise of frequency, and this is the most significant single limitation on the use of higher frequencies.
Another factor is that while experimental work shows that, although it is possible to accept a degree of imbalance before this causes noticeable acoustic streaming, the volume available for a continuous process of discrimination between different types of particles by the use of ultrasound is inevitably limited by this phenomenon. It therefore becomes impractical to reduce the separation time for different particle types by increasing the volume of the working vessel, since the separation rate can only be increased in proportion to the square of the linear dimension.
The present invention is based upon the novel concept that, by means of non-uniform acoustic energy intensities in a nodal plane of a standing wave, it is possible to provide an alternative method of manipulating particles in a fluid medium which alleviates the problem of acoustic streaming and allows other advantages to be achieved as compared with the previously proposed methods which relay on controlling movement of the particles normal to a nodal plane.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manipulating particles in a fluid medium in which an ultrasonic standing wave is establishd in the fluid, said standing wave having a varying energy intensity in its nodal plane or planes in the fluid, the standing wave characteristics being chosen so as to accumulate at least a portion of the particles at the nodal plane or planes and the movement of said particles in the nodal plane or planes being controlled by means of the fluid viscous forces and/or field forces having at least a component acting in the direction of said plane or planes.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for manipulating particles in a fluid medium comprising a chamber for containing the fluid with the particles suspended in it and means for generating an ultrasonic standing wave in the chamber, means for giving said standing wave a non-uniform energy intensity in its nodal plane or planes in at least a part of the volume of said chamber, whereby to control the movement of at least a proportion of the particles in a direction parallel to said nodal plane or planes by the action of said varying energy density in conjunction with fluid viscous forces and/or field forces having at least a component acting on the particles in the direction of said nodal plane or planes.
Convenient means of creating the non uniform energy intensity include the use of screens which create acoustic shadows, or generate diffraction or focusing effects. It may be sufficient, however, simply to rely on the non uniformity of an acoustic beam, in particular at its edges.
In practice the variation of energy intensity will usually be produced as a repeated pattern moving relative to the fluid medium in the nodal plane, which will be termed herein a "nodal wave".
Nodal waves will be generated by providing an array of energy gradients normal to the ultrasound propagation axis and moving the array along a nodal plane relative to the fluid in which the waves are propagated. The particles influenced by the acoustic energy thus move normal to the axis of the ultrasonic radiation which means that the length of the active zone in a working vessel is not limited by the ultrasound frequency. Attenuation does not occur in the direction of displacement of the energy gradients, so that with increase of scale the rate of separation can match the increase of working volume. Moreover, attenuation is less critical because a greater degree of imbalance will generally be acceptable in opposing beams operating normal to the plane of particle movement, since the residual streaming of the fluid does not act in the direction in which separation is occurring.
The use of nodal waves can allow considerable freedom in terms of variation of the level of the acoustic forces acting in different parts of a space, i.e. it is possible for nodal waves to be moved at different rates and operate with different intensities in different regions. Both temporal and spatial variations in velocity may be used.
The nodal plane or planes will usually lie parallel to opposed walls of a working vessel normal to the ultrasound propagation axis, and the geometry may be so arranged that these walls--possibly formed by the acoustic transmission plates themselves--coincide with planes where the standing wave is 180� out of phase with the nodes. Particles responsive to the ultrasound are therefore automatically held away from the walls, so as to inhibit the trapping of particles by adhesion and/or boundary layer effects.
The use of non-uniform energy densities in a nodal plane has so far been discussed in terms of energy density gradients that occur only along one axis, but it is possible to generate and make use of two-dimensional nodal waves. Thus, with a standing wave having an axis of propagation in the y direction, energy density gradients may be produced in a nodal plane in both the z and x directions.
In practical embodiments the nodal waves do not necessarily need to move rectilinearly. Particles in nodal waves may be moved in a curve and thus the working vessel may be in the form of a coil or a body of revolution. In general, however, very long working paths will not be necessary since the nodal waves will have the all-or-none discrimination character of any ultrasonic standing wave not unduly influenced by side effects such as acoustic streaming, as the following discussion illustrates.
In an ideal (i.e. non-viscous) fluid in which an array of nodes is generated by the propagation of ultrasound such that each nodal surface has a uniform acoustic energy density, movement of a particle parallel to a nodal surface can occur without changing the net free energy of the system, that is, no work is done in the movement of the particle, assuming no field forces (e.g. gravitational or electromagnetic) are acting on the particle. If the energy density is not uniform, a force proportional to the energy density gradient acts on the particle at the node in a direction co-planar with the node to urge the particles in the direction of increasing energy density.
In a real fluid, movement of the particle relative to the fluid will always be opposed by the Stokes forces (which term is used herein to include all drag forces experienced by the particle as a result of their movement relative to the carrier fluid). Taking the case of a particle suspended in a uniform fluid which is flowing normal to the axis of a standing wave, i.e. parallel to the nodes of the standing wave, against an acoustic energy density gradient, a particle at a node will be moved in the direction of the fluid flow if the Stokes forces are greater than the acoustic forces in the opposite direction caused by the local energy density gradient. If the energy gradient fluctuates across the nodal plane the particle will sometimes move faster as it approaches a high energy zone and sometimes slower as it leaves such a zone but in traversing the node the mean velocity of the particle in the direction of the fluid flow will be identical to that of the fluid. Similar considerations apply of course if the body of fluid is stationary and the standing wave is displaced normal to its axis.
To consider now the case in which the fluid flow and the displacement of the high energy zone are mutually perpendicular in the nodal plane, assuming that the Stokes forces attributed to the fluid flow remain greater than any acoustic forces on the particles in the direction of the fluid flow, as the particle encounters an energy density gradient in the direction of displacement of the high energy zone, one of two conditions will obtain, as follows:
(1) When the acoustic forces on the particle due to the movement of the gradient exceed the opposing Stokes forces, the particle will move with the velocity of displacement of the high energy zone so that when the fluid flow carries it out of the standing wave it will have undergone a displacement due to its entrainment by the acoustic forces acting in the direction of displacement of the high energy zone.
(2) If movement of the particle at the rate of displacement of the high energy zone would produce Stokes forces greater than the acoustic forces the particle experiences from the steepest energy gradient in the high energy zone, the particles can no longer be entrained by the movement of the zone relative to the standing wave. When the high energy zone has crossed its path, the particle will have undergone no net displacement with it.
Thus, by regulation of the parameters and independently of a flow of carrier liquid along a nodal plane, it is possible to control the movement within the nodal plane of particles influenced by the acoustic energy, employing the movement of a non-uniformity in the acoustic energy density of the node, or an array of such non-uniformities giving a nodal wave.
If a population of similar particles are subjected to a nodal wave under conditions in which the acoustic and non-acoustic forces are virtually in balance individual particles will at different moments either move with the wave or will be given no net displacement by the wave. Over a period of time it will therefore move with an average velocity less than that of the wave. This property can be termed the nodal mobility (Mn) of the particle and will have a value between 0 and 1 inclusive since it is made up from a series of instantaneous mobilities of 0 or 1. The range of conditions in which a specific particle type will have a nodal mobility less than unity and greater than zero will be small, and in fact it is only the inevitable presence of minor disturbances that will prevent an abrupt changeover between these two end values.
Nodal mobility is dependent on the relative velocity between the field force and the nodal wave, so that a particle may simultaneously have different nodal mobilities in two mutually perpendicular directions in the nodal plane, since both the acoustic gradients and any opposing forces (e.g. Stokes forces or field forces such as gravity or electromagnetic fields) may be different in each direction. For example if in an orthogonal system an xz plane defines the nodal plane and the nodal wave is moving in the x direction, while there is a fluid flow in the z direction perpendicular to it, a particle can be differently and independently influenced in each of these directions and so have two nodal mobilities Mnx and Mnz.
This may be contrasted with an arrangement, as in the prior art referred to above, in which to control a group of particles the balance of the acoustic and non-acoustic forces acting simply in the axial direction of the standing wave is utilized. The nodes of the wave are treated as essentially uniform acoustic force regions. Although this holds good only for the main cross-sectional area of the standing wave and there is an acoustic energy gradient at marginal regions, it has not been suggested, nor indeed would it be practical to make use of that variation to control the movement of particles, if only because such energy density gradients are too low.
The present invention can be applied in the manipulation of a wide variety of particulate matter, in which term is intended primarily to denote biological particles ranging from macromolecules (e.g. globular proteins) through viruses, bacteria and yeasts to tissue cell (e.g. plant cells, animal cells and all aggregates), and also inorganic and organic materials, such as dispersions, suspensions, finely-divided precipitates, colloidal and miscella-like systems.
By way of further illustration, aspects of the present invention will be discussed and exemplified by reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the effects of a changing energy gradient on nodal mobility,
FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate, respectively, a non-uniform acoustic energy gradient with a stepped profile, and the use of this profiled gradient to separate dissimilar types of particles,
FIGS. 3 and 4 are, respectively, a cross-section of an apparatus according to the invention and a shadow screen of the apparatus,
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a focussing screen for a modified form of the apparatus in FIG. 3,
FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sections of two further forms of apparatus according to the invention,
FIG. 9 illustrates a transducer array for generating a nodal wave,
FIGS. 10 and 11 are graphical representations of acoustic energy distributions and gradients in a nodal wave,
FIGS. 12 and 13 are side and plane views of a form of screen intended to produce asymmetric energy density gradients, and
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of another form of apparatus according to the invention.
FIG. 1 is a plot of the change of nodal mobility of a series of different particle types A, B, C, D in relation to acoustic energy density gradient G. Type A particles are least influenced by the acoustic energy and can move against an energy density gradient in the nodal plane more easily than the other particles types. Particle types B, C, D are successively more easily held by the standing wave but around a critical value of the energy density gradient the nodal mobility of each type will change from 0 to 1, there being some spread at the critical value because of minor disturbances and non-homogeneities, the latter being likely to be significant among biological particles.
Purely for the sake of illustration, numerical values are indicated in FIG. 1 and associated FIGS. 2a and 2b. The nodal mobilities of the different particle types at particular acoustic energy density gradients fall within bands, the widths of which for each particle type can be tabulated as follows:
TABLE 2______________________________________ Acoustic energy density gradientParticle type 30 40 50 60______________________________________A 1 1 1 0.9 1 1 1 0.8B 1 1 0.9 0.1 1 1 0.7 0C 1 0.9 0.1 0 1 0.8 0 0D 1 0.3 0 0 0.9 0.2 0 0______________________________________
FIG. 2a represents an acoustic energy gradient pattern in a nodal plane xz of a standing wave in which a nodal wave is produced having at intervals in the z direction a series of stepped changes between the numerical values given in Table 2 for acoustic energy gradients Gx and Gz in the x and z directions. Consider such a pattern with reference to FIG. 2b where a mixture of the particle types A, B, C, D is introduced into the standing wave by a liquid flow in the direction x and the maximum energy density gradient is above the critical values of the particle types B, C, D but not that of type A. As will be apparent from FIG. 1 and Table 2, at each change of energy density gradient, the magnitude of the gradient drops below the critical value for a further particle type.
When the mixed particle types A, B, C, D enter the standing wave at point P the particles of type A are immediately able to pass through the standing wave with the liquid flow. The remaining particle types B, C, D are retained by the acoustic energy gradients Gx, Gz but some weakening of the effect on the particles B will cause them to begin to spread in the x direction and slow down in the z direction. When the acoustic energy gradient value then drops below the critical value of the B type particles they are released from the standing wave to be carried away in their turn by the liquid flow, and the particle types C and D are carried off separately in a similar way.
This process thus allows specific particle types to be separated in sequence substantially at right angles to a stream of particles, the extent of that stream not being limited by the physical properties of the acoustic radiation.
Although the change in energy density gradients along the working path is shown decreasing in discrete steps to release successive particle types, in particular instances it may be preferred to employ a continuous variation, which may be linear or non-linear.
To separate different particle types it is in principle sufficient if they are sequentially released by the Gz forces to be entrained by the liquid flow. If still held by the Gx forces they will also move with the liquid but at a slower rate than if released simultaneously by the change of gradient in both directions, because they then have to fall back in the z direction relative to the nodal wave until they reach zones of smaller Gx gradients.
For maximum discrimination between the different particle types the two gradients Gx, Gx are equal so that for any particle type both Mnx and Mnz tend to 0 to 1 together, and the nodal wave velocity (Vnw) in the z direction should match the mean liquid flow velocity (V1) in the x direction, i.e. ##EQU1##
A variety of means may be employed to generate and move nodal waves, both mechanical and electronic. A simple mechanical method is to cast a set of acoustic shadows which pass along a vessel, the shadow edges moving in the nodal plane, whether perpendicular or parallel or obilque to the fluid flow. At frequencies appropriate for a liquid medium such as water (i.e. upwards of about 500 KHz) relatively sharp shadows are obtainable; the higher the frequency the sharper the acoustic shadows, and frequencies in the MHz range will be usually be preferred.
An example of the use of a screen to produce such shadows is shown in the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3 can be seen in cross-section a tank 10 containing a suitable liquid to provide an acoustic coupling for barium zirconate titanate transducers 12 mounted at parallel opposite sides of the tank are at a suitable distance from a working column 14 immersed in the tank liquid and extending parallel to said sides of the tank within the length of the tank. The column has sides walls 16 transparent to the ultrasound frequency of the transducers. To facilitate observation, the end walls 18 and possibly also the side walls are transparent to light. The column is located within a shadow screen 20 that has side walls parallel to and almost touching the side walls 16 of the column.
The side walls of the screen comprise a series of parallel alternating vertical tongues 22 and slots 24 and the screen is of a material that reflects the ultrasound frequency employed. The tongues of opposite side walls are coincident with respect to the axis of propagation of the transducers 12. The screen thus provides alternate sections in which either the column is shielded from the ultrasonic transmission by opposite pairs of tongues 22, or is exposed to the ultrasound transmission passing unimpeded into the column through the intervening slots 24. An array of sharp-edged acoustic shadows are thereby formed in the standing wave produced by interference of the ultrasound transmissions entering the column through the slots. The shadows will be given a width and a spacing such as to ensure a series of spaced column-like standing waves is created in the working chamber between the successive spaces. Of particular importance is the sharpness of the shadow edges which determines the energy gradient. Since an ultrasonic beam is never fully collimated, some of the energy passing through the slots 24 will reflect off the inside surfaces of the tongues 22. If it is necessary to prevent the formation of a standing wave between opposing tongues by mutual reflection, the distance between the facing surfaces of the tongues should be an odd multiple of the quarter wave length.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show, for an apparatus otherwise similar to that in FIG. 3, a screen 40 enclosing opposite sides of the column 14 with its transparent side walls 16. In this instance, the screen is one with which nodal waves can be formed by refracting or focussing acoustic energy to produce a non-uniform energy density. It has walls 42 which are continuous and of a material having different acoustic transmission properties to those of the bath liquid at the wavelength of the ultrasound transmission. Formed on one or both of the surfaces of walls 42 is a grid of depressions 44, which may be spherical, the radius of curvature being chosen so as to cause a uniform incident transmission of ultrasound to form sharply converging beams as it passes through to the column 14. The spherical depressions in the opposing walls of the screen are aligned with each other so that the opposed converging beams in the column 14 are coaxial.
Focussing screens to provide the required acoustic energy gradients may of course have many different surface configurations, e.g. with part-cylindrical depressions to produce non-uniform acoustic densities in one direction only in the nodal plane.
Movement of screens such as those described above at an appropriate constant velocity (or such movement of the liquid carrying the particles) will allow the acoustic energy gradients to move particles relative to the liquid. Depending upon the form of the apparatus and the process to be operated in it, that may be a suitable form of displacement to employ, but other forms of displacement can be provided if required. Thus, after a movement over a distance equal to or exceeding the spacing between successive elements of the array of elements in the walls of the screen, the screen can be returned at a faster rate to its starting position. The object of this quick return is to transfer particles to the energy gradients associated with a succeeding element when their return movement with the screen is opposed by the great Stokes forces related to the increased return velocity. The conditions are such that the particles are swept from the energy gradients on which they have been held. The particles are thus progressed along the length of the screen by continued repetition of this cycle of movement. As will be appreciated in the numerical example given with FIGS. 3 and 4, the screen may need an oscillation of only one or two millimeters.
Since a screen such as that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be static if the liquid column 16 is moved instead, it will be clear that a discrete screen element is not then required. This leads to the possibility of coupling the ultrasonic transducer to the working liquid through an acoustic coupling block that is configured to provide the required focussing effect. Acoustic coupling blocks of metal, e.g. aluminium alloy, are themselves known; to provide a focussing effect similar to that described with reference to that described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 the interface between the distal end of the coupling block and the liquid is given a series of, e.g. spherical, depressions corresponding to the depressions A4 of FIG. 5, whereby each such depression similarly focusses the ultrasound entering the liquid. A wall at the opposite side of the liquid column has similar depressions, coaxial with those of the coupling block. With that wall surface at an appropriate spacing from the coupling block, the nodal surfaces of the standing wave will contain sharp energy gradients. It should be noted that the dimensions of the lens elements must be longer than the wavelength of the ultrasound in the metal.
Ceramic transducers can be easily and cheaply produced in a wide range of sizes and shapes, and these ferroelectrics require only modest voltages to provide useful power. It is therefore practical to use relatively large scale cylindrical transducers to provide cylindrical nodal surfaces. FIG. 7 shows in cross-section a tubular column 50 having concentric cylindrical side walls 52 spaced apart a short distance, say 5 mm, but enclosing an annular space of much greater depth. A septum 54 completely blocks the annular space at one point in its circumferential extent. Cylindrical ceramic transducers 56 (shown in the first quadrant only) extend coaxially around the column. A cylindrical shadow screen 58 (shown in the second quadrant only), also coaxial with the column, has slotted walls as previously described, the slots extending axially of the column. Means (not shown) are provided to oscillate the screen about the axis of the column.
Ports 60 are positioned as required, at various points around the circumferential extent of the column to provide liquid inlets and outlets for establishing different liquid flow velocity regimes in different parts of the column so that the differential separation effect already described with reference to FIG. 1 can be obtained without varying the rate of progression of the nodal waves.
The cylindrical configuration may also be used if it is required to produce a continuously moving train of nodal waves, this being possible by a continuous, uniform displacement of the screen.
Where the apparatus employs a shadow screen, as in the examples of FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIG. 7 it is possible to combine the screen and the working chamber walls, the opposed walls through which the acoustic energy is to be transmitted then being formed from alternate strips of transmitting and reflecting materials, e.g. polymethyl methacrylate or polystyrene for the former and tungsten or aluminium for the latter. The ports can be set in the reflecting strips to extend over at least a substantial part of the axial length of the column. As another alternative, it may be desirable to position a shadow screen within the working column. Putting an oscillating screen at the side walls of the column the movement of the screen can help to prevent particles becoming attached to the side walls and can generate sharper shadows than if outside the walls.
The preceding examples use two opposed transducers, which allow the energy intensity of the transmissions forming the standing wave to be matched sufficiently closely in a limited region to avoid acoustic streaming in substance, but as already indicated a greater degree of acoustic streaming can be tolerated if the particles are not being manipulated by acoustic forces acting along the axis of the standing wave. Thus, it is possible to operate with an ultrasonic transducer only at one side of a working space, if that space is not too wide and a high efficiency reflection surface is placed close to its opposite side.
FIG. 8 shows in cross section a column 70 set in a liquid bath 72 at some distance from and parallel to a ceramic transducer 74 extending the full length of the column, the bath liquid providing acoustic coupling between the transducers and the column. The column has a side wall 76 transparent to ultrasound at the operating frequency of the transducer and an opposite side wall 78 which is a highly efficient reflector. Conveniently, the side wall 78 is also transparent to light to allow the interior of the column to be viewed; for example, it could be composed of a glass plate 80 of a thickness to reflect the ultrasound and backed by an air space 82 formed with a further glass plate 84. Alternatively, side wall 76 and screen 86 can be transparent to light, if the reflector is opaque.
Immediately in front of the column 70 is a shadow screen 86 arranged to be displaced as already described by means (not shown). The transmission from the tranducer is thus reflected from the plate 80 to form a standing wave by interaction with the incident transmission from the transducer with only a moderate degree of acoustic streaming resulting from the inevitable imbalance of the incident and reflected waves.
It will be understood that the geometry of the device can be varied, e.g. to the cylindrical configuration already described.
Nodal waves may also be generated and displaced electronically by control of an array of transducers set side by side and, indeed, a single ultrasonic transducer can produce different oscillations in a sequence of zones electrically isolated from each other. FIG. 9 shows a surface of a rectangular ceramic transducer 90 in which the elctrically conductive coating on the reverse side is continuous but that on the front face is divided into strips 92 electrically isolated from each other. The whole transducer is of uniform thickness and thus has a uniform resonant frequency, i.e. the resonant frequency of each strip 92 is the same.
When two such transducer mosaics are arranged parallel and face to face with opposing strips electrically energised, a standing wave is generated between them by the two interfering beams. These beams exhibit a small degree of divergence, and the width of each strip must be somewhat narrower than the diverging fringe of the ultrasonic beam overlapping it from an adjacent strip. The divergence angle depends on the geometry of the strip, the frequency of the ultrasound and the distance between the transducer face and the working volume.
The individual strips have separated electrical switching connections 94 so that a selected group of the strips can be energised together, and the energised regions can be displaced along the array by appropriate switching means (not shown) acting through the electrical connections to bring the strips into and out of operation sequentially. When the arrays on either side of a working space are energised synchronously in such a sequence, it is possible to generate a standing wave that effectively moves along the column.
This may be exemplified by reference to FIG. 9 with the series of strips 92 numbered 1 to 9. It can be assumed that a corresponding transducer mosaic is directly opposite this illustrated mosaic. Opposed pairs of strips of the two mosaics are controlled to switch simultaneously, and the following description will refer, for simplicity, to the operation of only one series.
If initially the strips 3 and 4 are operating, the divergence of the beams generated by these strips generates energy gradients in the space adjacent to the volume that lies directly between them, that is, these gradients extend to the space opposite strips 2 and 5. If strip 3 is de-energised, particles held in the standing wave in the volume between this strip and its opposite number are no longer in a high energy field, but are in the energy gradient associated with the periphery of the beam generated by the strip 4. The particles influenced by the acoustic energy will therefore move up the energy gradient towards the areas of maximum energy density, that is, towards the middle of the field generated by a strip 4. Strip 5 is next energised, and then strip 4 is deenergised so that the energy gradient is again displaced. This procedure is continued along the successive strips to progress the particles through the working volume.
The transducers shown in the preceding examples have been spaced some distance from the working volume which can thus be assumed to be in the far field of the energy propagation from the transducers. However, it is also possible to make use of the pheomenon that at a point in space close to a radiating surface the emissions from that surface will have significant phase differences due to the Fresnel diffraction pattern. This creates in the near field a complex pattern of domains of high and low acoustic energy density. With increase of distance from the radiation source, that no longer happens and in the far field, in which a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern is established, the acoustic field is uniform, decreasing slowly depending on beam spread and attenuation. Since the operation of a device according to the present invention requires acoustic energy density gradients in a nodal surface, by matching of the energy distribution in the near Fresnel field with that from a second transducer placed closed to and in face to face relation with the first transducer, a standing wave is produced. In that standing wave there are acoustic energy gradients which, acting on particles responsive to these gradients, group the particles in planar regions that can be identified as the nodal planes of the field, albeit that there are wider variations of energy intensity in these planes by virtue of the Fresnel diffraction fields that prevail. Similarly, the Fresnel field form a simple transducer can be reflected back to that transducer to produce like acoustic energy density gradients. Near field systems such as these containing appropriate energy density gradients may be employed, e.g., with the cylindrical configuration shown in FIG. 6.
The sharp lateral variations in acoustic intensity in the near field may also be employed to form a standing wave by reflection. A reflector is placed parallel to the emitting surface of the transducer and in its near field such that the high intensity regions of the primary radiation coincide with other intensity regions of the reflected radiation, and there is a similar conicidence of low intensity regions.
The forces acting on a particle on either side of a nodal plane in a standing wave are necessarily symmetrical in magnitude but opposite in direction. However, a nodal wave, being a progression of variations in the energy density of the standing wave in the plane of a node, can have asymmetric energy density gradient and that can be put to use in the operation of the present invention.
FIG. 10 shows in its upper part a symmetrical distribution of acoustic energy density in the z direction to either side of a point of maximum energy density. Below this is shown the magnitude and direction of the gradients in the energy density distribution, these energy density gradients being a measure of the net acoustic force on a particle.
On the left hand side of the gradient plot the scale shows the size and the direction of the forces on the particle when no relative motion exists between the high energy zone and the liquid. On the right hand side the scale shows the net forces on a particles when a Stokes force due to a constant velocity fluid flow from left to right is added to the acoustic forces. In the latter instance, the particle will come to rest in position z1 along the z axis. By reversing the direction of the liquid flow without changing its magnitude, the particle will move to position z2.
In contrast to FIG. 10, FIG. 11 shows an example of an asymmetric distribution of energy density in the z direction about a point of maximum energy density, and also shown are the magnitude and direction of the gradients and thus the acoustic forces on a particle.
With no relative motion between the high acoustic energy domain and the liquid, the particle will move to position z on the z axis wherein the energy density is greatest. If a positive Stokes force is added to the acoustic force by relative movement of the liquid to the right, the particle will move to position z1 where the net forces acting on it are now zero. It is clear from FIG. 11 that by reversing the relative movement without changing its magnitude, the particle will be released from the nodal wave and will move to the left and out of the region of higher energy density. There is therefore a means of moving particles in one direction even when there are equal cyclic movements in opposite directions between the standing wave and the liquid.
Thus, to move particles using nodal waves by the ratchet method as described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4 it is possible to employ either symmetrical energy gradients and asymmetric motion, or asymmetic energy gradients and symmetrical motion, e.g. sinusoidal, or a combination of both.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate an example of the use of asymmetric gradients produced by a shadow screen whose leading and trailing edges are not equally sharp. It shows a part of a column 102 having side walls 104 which are transparent to ultrasound at the frequency used. An acoustic shadow screen 106 comprises opposed arrays of walls 108 set obilquely to the axis of column 102 such as to provide in effect to a set of slots formed between the inner edge 110 of each wall 108 and the outer edge 112 of the wall immediately above it. The inner edges 110 are close to the column 102. Short flanges 114 projecting from the outer edges prevent sound reflecting from most of the length of each wall into the column. Strip ceramic transducers 116 set at an appropriate distance parallel to the column and energised by a common signal source provide a standing wave through the slots in the screen to generate a series of nodal planes within the column which have asymmetric energy density gradients.
By moving the screen upwards, particles are moved with the nodal waves, but when the screen is moved downwards, particles are not moved. If the screen oscillates symmetrically about a mean position with an amplitude which equals or exceeds the distance between the slots in the screen, particles will progress upwards. Alternatively, the screen may remained fixed while the column oscillates symmetrically with the same amplitude.
As a further example, FIG. 14 illustrates an apparatus according to the invention using a standing wave set up in the near field by reflection.
A water-filled vessel 120 is shown mounted on supports 122. Projecting into one side of the vessel is a housing 124 of Dural (British Standard HE15HF) for a 25 mm diameter transducer type PC5 (Unilator Limited, Wrexham Clwyd, Wales) acoustically coupled to a 17 mm diameter block 128 that is an integral part of the Dural housing. The operating frequency of the transducer 126 is 2.100 MHz. The block has a thickness of 9.09 mm, with a sonic velocity in the alloy of 6400 m/s. This corresponds to 5.97 halfwave lengths, i.e. sufficiently close to an integral number of halfwave lengths to provide essentially maximum transmission, while the distance is short enough to ensure that the block occupies less than half the axial length of the near field (in which Fresnel diffraction determines the spatial distribution of energy). The acoustic coupling between the transducer and the water is obtained using a water-based couplant (Ultragel from Diagnostic Sonar Limited, Houston, Scotland).
Into the opposite side of the vessel there projects a Dural rod 132 on the face of which is mounted a tungsten plate 134, 17 mm diameter and 1.00 mm thick, with its face at a spacing of 4.947 mm from the coupling block, the opposed faces of the plate and the block being parallel and coaxial. As the sonic velocity in the water of the vessel if 1484 m/s at 20� C., at the transducer frequency the gap between the block and the plate accommodates 14 halfwave lengths, so promoting a standing wave having a standing wave ratio of 1.0.
On the mounting 140 above the vessel there is suspended a rectangular chamber 142 having acoustic windows of 3-micron mylar polyester film facing the block and the plate. The chamber is provided with inlet and outlet porting (not shown) for a continuous through-flow but in the experiment to be described the porting was closed after a suspension of 1% by weight of 6 micron polystyrene microspheres in water was placed in the chamber.
This mounting 140 comprises guides 144 running between rollers 146 for linear movement of the chamber into and out of the vessel parallel to the block and the plate.
With the transducer energised the chamber was displaced on the rollers to pass through the resonant cavity between the block and the plate. The walls of the vessel and of the chamber parallel to the plane of the drawing were transparent, permitting observation of the contents of the chamber through a tele-microscope and it was observed that the particles in the chambers retained their positions relative to the acoustic field, independently of the movement of the chamber. Thus, as the chamber was withdrawn vertically from the vessel at a speed of 1 mm/s the particles resisted the Stokes forces of the carrier fluid to remain fixed in space and thus separate from the suspension to collect as a dense deposit at the base of the chamber.
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|Ultrasound treatment device for water or other fluid
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|Aviva Biosciences Corp
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|Acoustic separators
|U.S. Classification
|209/155, 209/210, 209/590, 209/20, 209/2, 210/748.05
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Aug 22, 1989
Owner name: NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UNITED
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:SCHRAM, CORNELIUS J.;REEL/FRAME:005123/0149
Effective date: 19890707
|Aug 11, 1992
Owner name: BRITISH TECHNOLOGY GROUP LIMITED, ENGLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:NATIONAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:006243/0136
Effective date: 19920709
|Mar 9, 1993
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Mar 26, 1997
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8
|May 22, 2001
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Oct 31, 2001
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Jan 1, 2002
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20011031


text:
Lives in United Kingdom
Joined on Nov 25, 2006
|Total: 1, showing: 1 – 1
On Canon EOS 6D Hands-on Preview (1035 comments in total)
In reply to:
Richard Murdey: "Overall, though, it's difficult to shake the feeling that the EOS 6D somewhat lacks the 'wow' factor of its main rival."
I wonder if this disappointment comes from being a review site. You guys thrive off flashy new gimmicks and long feature lists, it makes for good copy after all.
Photographers, not so much.
It seems to me Canon has made a great camera, perhaps a classic even, in the 6D not by what it chose to include, but what it chose to leave out, leaving a very clean, light, small, straightforward, and very beautiful picture taking machine.
Now it all makes sense. Having less features is actually a feature.
Thanks Canon!
|Total: 1, showing: 1 – 1

subset: commoncrawl


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Silver Spring, MD
Posted: 670 days ago
DescriptionAre you graduating Spring 2014?
Do you like a fast-paced, "un-boring" and dynamic work environment where the learning (and fun) never stops? Do you REALLY love people and enjoy helping customers out on a daily basis? Then you'll definitely want to read this job description!
We are a fast-growing IT support company who services small- to medium-sized businesses around the Washington DC area. We're in search of ONE smart and enthusiastic "rock star" to quarterback our IT support service team and take care of our customers with a smile. Working hours are Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM at our office in downtown Silver Spring. Our office is Metro accessible.
ResponsibilitiesNOTE: This is NOT a technical position; this is a customer-service oriented position.
Job Title: IT Support Service Coordinator
The Service Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the activities and responsibilities of the service desk team, also for attaining maximum utilization of internal and field technical resources through daily coordination of service requests.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Manage the service desk team's daily activities
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text:
Tag: Justice League
by Erik "Superfriend" Skov
April 30, 2015
I've just gotten into this game. Yeah, I'm at least 6 months (and as of today, 5 releases late, but this combination of deck building (think Dominion) and monster attacking (think Magic) is pretty cool and just released my favorite license! So you get 8 characters to choose from, 8 trap/spells to choose from, and…
by Erik "Superfriend" Skov
February 28, 2015
by Daniel Pickett
February 16, 2015
I stayed up late to make sure all of our Day 3 Toy Fair 2015 are live in our Toy Fair Gallery. Adding all the companies I visited today we are up to almost 50 galleries! Check out the 2015 Toy Fair Gallery for pictures of all the latest offerings from: Bandai QMx Factory Entertianment Toynami Schleich…
by Cesar Zamora
January 13, 2015
Earlier tonight I attended the premiere of the new Warner Bros Animated film "Justice League Throne of Atlantis". The story tells Aquaman's origin and how he joins the League as well as picking up where the team left off in "Justice League War". The movie will be available in all forms January 21st. Here are…
"LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League" coming to Blu-ray/DVD on February 10, 2015
by Daniel Pickett
November 13, 2014
ENTER A WACKY REALM AS WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND THE LEGO GROUP RELEASE LEGO® DC COMICS SUPER HEROES: JUSTICE LEAGUE vs BIZARRO LEAGUE ON BLU-RAYTM COMBO PACK, DVD and DIGITAL HD, ON FEBRUARY 10, 2015 All-New Original LEGO® DC Comics Movie Featuring Exclusive Batzarro LEGO Minifigure Burbank, CA (November 13, 2014) – In the…
by Daniel Pickett
August 7, 2014
In this installment of AFi's Blind-Boxing, Daniel and Cash the Boxer check out one of the first series of Tech4Kids DC Comics "Mash'ems" blind bagged super-deformed figures. They come in several different varieties of packouts including "blind-boxed" capsules. These were found in the trading card isle at a local Target store. They were $3.99….
by Daniel Pickett
August 4, 2014
Below you will find links to an all-new clip from "Batman: Assault on Arkham ," the next entry in the popular DC Universe Original Movie series. The film is now available to own via Digital HD, and will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on August 12. The clip features Amanda Waller giving…
by Erik "Superfriend" Skov
July 9, 2014
This round of retirement hurts theme teams in so many ways the pain is difficult to describe. Superman means the LSH members from that set (9 I think) will no longer available to play with the ones in SLOSH. Galactic Guardians means the Guardians of the Galaxy characters in that set will never be available…
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June 12, 2014
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by Daniel Pickett
June 1, 2014
by Daniel Pickett
May 21, 2014
Principal photography is underway in Metro Detroit, Michigan BURBANK, CA, May 21, 2014 – Filming is underway on Warner Bros. Pictures' "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," the highly anticipated action adventure from director Zack Snyder, starring Henry Cavill in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, and Ben Affleck as BruceWayne/Batman. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of…
by Danny "CantinaDan" Neumann
April 22, 2014
I don't think any one of us predicted exactly how "Unlimited" Mattel's Justice League action figure line would prove to be. Debuting in 2003, the line didn't quit unit the end of 2012. Just about 10 years. That's nuts. What started out as a line dedicated to "The Big 7" eventually delivered well over 200 figures….


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iTable Football
Finally a well designed, addictive and fun game app of table football / fussball / foosball!We've all played it, but never like this!It's very similar to Soccer, but on a "table". You have to move group of players so you can send the ball closer to the "GOAL"… sound easy? Try it, its not!Just slide your finger left-right to move your selected "row" of players accordingly. And Swipe up-down to rotate your players.You can play in 2 different modes:1. You against computer2. 2 player mode.Its very easy to make an AUTO-GOAL against yourself so be careful! Are up for some fun?Please email firstname.lastname@example.com if you have any question.


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Wrestling Cookie Bouquet
- Uploaded By cait8390
- 2010-08-28 01:48:14
This was done for my boyfriends birthday. He is a wrestler at Newberry, S.C and wanted to do something special for his 21st birthday. No Fail Sugar Cookies with Antonia royal icing. Both are really great recipes! This was my first cookie bouquet and i think it turned out fairly well.
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General Info
Looking for dominant disciplinarian
Eager and playful sub here. Sub at heart who is always excited at the prospect of taking a real punishment. Always have been, even before my first sexual experience that began with a neighbor boy whipping me with a belt. I feel complete when you are in control and will ask you to please make me take what you decide is in order. Us bonded by the total truth of the experience.
i am also very much into cock worship and deep throating aggressive and demanding facefuckers, gagging on your cock, and taking it completely down my throat and swallowing your sweet reward.
Turn Ons
hairy strong men, leather gloves, manly hands, submission to dom man for ball torture, cock torture, inescapable bondage, being gagged, whipping, caning, strapping, real nip torture, pushing past limits, a sadist who enjoys hearing me scream and beg and takes that as a signal to make it hurt more, skullfucking/facefucking/deepthroat
Turn Offs
knives, kicking, scat
About myself
Marital Status
Time spent online?
An hour or so a day
English, Spanish/Espanol
Clever, Dry/Sarcastic, Anything
About my Partner
Ideal partner
masculine, dominant, intelligent, sense of humor, physically fit
Looking for
Male, Bi-Couple, Gay-Couple, Group
For Activities
Bondage & Discipline, Sadism & Masochism
Whole package matters more
Does size matter?
What he does with it is what matters
Physical Profile
Best Feature
Body Type
5 ft 7 in
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Hair Length
Body Hair
Pubic Hair
Unshaved; Normal
Hairy Bodyzones
Chest, Treasure trail, Pits, Tummy, Legs
Glasses or Contacts
Sexual Interests
Sexual Orientation
Sexually Daring
I'll try most anything once
Sexual Activities
Butt Play, Breast/Nipple Clamps, Dominance/Discipline, Fisting, Gangbangs, Group Sex, Handcuffs/Shackles, Leather, Massage, Mutual Masturbation, Piss Play, Receiving Anal Sex, Receiving Oral Sex, Rubber/PVC/Latex, Sadomasochism, Threesomes, Toys
Sex, When?
Mornings, Weekends, Evenings
Sex, How often?
At least once a week
Practice Safe Sex
Most Erogenous zones?
Ears, Neck, Nipples
Dirty talk during sex?
I'll do it if my partner enjoys it
Making home videos/pics
Have a growing collection
Sexual Accessories
Toys, Which?
Butt plugs/probes, Cock ring, Dildos/Vibrators
Bondage Gear
Chastity devices, Cock and Ball Toys, Collar and leash, Gags, Handcuffs/shackles, Harnesses, Masks, Medical gear, Nipple clamps, Paddles, Penis/Scrotum clamps, Whips, Got it all, and more!
Porn Movies, Which?
Amateur, Anal, Bisexual, Bondage, Cumshots, Fetish, Gay, Gonzo, Hard
Porn Movies, With?
By myself, Wish my partner would watch with me, With a partner, With someone else
Porn Movies, How often?
Once or twice a week
All Comments
Thanks for the add. Tim
thank you for your compliment i have red in masofun´s profile
Hot profile. Thank you for your friendship. I hope you enjoy the videos I do with Sacred Seieki and the ones we post on our amateur profile Seieki_slurper. We always love to read what others think, so your comments are very welcome. Enjoy.
Thanks for the invite.
thank's for friend's request...
Would really enjoy working you over, boy.
thank you for the friend request
Thank you for your friend request. My pleasure to accept it.
Thanks for the friend request. Good, experienced maso's are a good find, especially those that endure extremes.
thanks for adding me man! amazing pics! u r amazing!!!!
sexy profile ummmm add me skype: torre1970
sexy pain,does turn you on and on,mm
thanks for the request. :-)
Thank so much for Admiting here!
thanks for friendship ;]
Hot, adoro bere sborra, piscio e leccare piedi, sono una vera cagna ITALIANA ..
hot I love drink cum, piss and lick feet .. I'm a real ITALIAN bitch.
thanks for following me.
CHEERS MATE!!! = U turn me on BIG TIME
thanks for the friend request sexy!
Thanks for the friend request!
Thanks for adding me.
Thanks for the friend request!
Thanks for accepting our friendship. Hot profile... Your videos keep my slave drooling. It's fairly inspiring. Hugs from France!
Thanks 4 Xcepting my friend request. Your vids are awesome.
thanks for accepting
Like your pics of your ASS well and tuly caned
new vid added today no:19
added a new vid :-)
hi! thanks for the add!
Thanks for the friend request
Danke für die Verlinkung - ich freu mich :-)
Dein Profil hier ist aber ebenfalls ziemlich heiss .... *sabber*


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The Oneida Tribe of Indians, along with individual tribal members, has 1,515 acres of land placed in federal trust.
- Filed Under
In Brown County, Green Bay isn't the only community with a lot of property not contributing to its budget. Every community in the county has at least some tax exempt property. While Green Bay has the largest amount of acreage, the little village of Pulaski has the largest percentage of tax-free land, at 23 percent.
The county's largely unsettled rural communities generally have the fewest tax exempt acres. Glenmore, the county's ninth-largest community in acreage, has just 48 acres of tax exempt property. Most of that is owned by the state Department of Transportation.
Pulaski Village ...


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Graphic Design Internship at Energetic Silicon Valley StartupBookmark This
Posted: 642 days ago
DescriptionNameCoach (www.name-coach.com) is looking for a creative, entrepreneurial Design intern to help develop and execute design and marketing projects, both print and online. This is a great opportunity to both take on discrete projects and gain the sort of design experience unique to the ground-floor of a small, agile Silicon Valley startup, based at the Stanford Venture Studios.
NameCoach (www.name-coach.com) is a new Silicon Valley start-up led by a small team of Stanford students, as part of the Stanford Venture Studios. It's vision is unique: solve a single, niche problem, and expand fully into all relevant markets. NameCoach allows individuals to voice-record their names online so that announcers and players in a variety of important settings - graduation ceremonies, wedding receptions, sports announcing, radio announcing, diplomatic settings, international business settings, conferences, etc - know how to say these names correctly. Our initial launch has received rave reviews, and we aim to quickly scale up our presence - especially in the educational market.
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- Experience with print and online design and visual messaging
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- School credit where available
This is an unpaid internship, part-time or full-time. The standard duration will be12 weeks (but flexible), starting as soon as possible.
ResponsibilitiesJOB DESCRIPTION
The Design interns will work with the Founder, Product Manager, Business Development team, and Engineering team on any of a number of projects:
- Designing logos (print and web)
- Designing graphics for marketing collateral (print and web)
- Designing postcards,brochures, and flyers for marketing campaigns
- Website front-end design, email design
- Publication layout
- Research other successful branding, promotions and design material
- Assist in brainstorming and creating cutting edge concepts for upcoming projects
Specific tasks will be determined in collaboration with the Founder and other senior team members, but there is much flexibility to develop your own creative vision. This internship will be especially rewarding to those with an entrepreneurial spirit who enjoy taking initiative and increasing responsibility.
- We work with you to determine what sorts of projects you would find most beneficial, and to develop skill development goals for the internship and experience goals.
- Hours are flexible
- Majority of work can be done remotely if desired, but some in-person meetings required at the Stanford Venture Studios
Submit resumes, cover letters, and portfolio to:
- Creative thinker
- Entrepreneurial spirit, ability to take initiative
- Demonstrated passion for conceiving and executing design projects
- Desire to work in collaborative, fast-paced, agile start-up environment
- Excellent organizational skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Attention to detail, reliable, punctual
- Facility with InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, or other graphics programs
- Desire to learn new skills
Submit resumes, cover letters, and portfolio to:


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Strong, credible, competitive campaigns for state and local Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Affordably.
There are 38,911 state and municipal general purpose governments and 12,881 school boards.
Our state legislatures and municipal governments are where so many decisions are being made that affect our lives everyday. But far too many Democratic candidates lack the resources and support to run strong, competitive campaigns.
Bold Blue Media Alliance has set out to change that.
We're proud to deliver our campaign services exclusively to smaller, lower-profile Democratic candidates and progressive cause campaigns. Through the grassroots support of people who care about advancing progress in our states and communities, these candidates and causes have access to resources normally reserved for high-profile, deep-pocketed campaigns.
Whether you're running for office, thinking of running for office, have ballot initiative campaign or a community issue you need help amplifying; or whether you believe, like we do, that we must fight in every race, in every state and district in America - you've found the right place.


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LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE(OR WE'LL REFUND DOUBLE THE DIFFERENCE!) We want to give you the best deal available online, so if you can find the same bed for less within 24 hours of booking with us we will refund double the difference.
Overview to Wellington: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Tucked away at its southernmost tip, New Zealand's capital Wellington is the first point of call for the many backpackers who come to the North Island. A fairly compact city, it still manages to pack in more than some other cities twice its size.
The 'Miracle Mile' of Lambton Quay forms the backbone of the city. A bustling thoroughfare, it snakes through the Central Business District and, along with Cambridge Terrace and Civic Square, provides some of the best shops and the city's cultural pulse.
To the north of the CBD, Thorndon is the city's historic quarter and home to the attractive Old St Paul's Cathedral. The area is also New Zealand's political heart, with the parliamentary building of the Beehive (on Bowen St), a notable city landmark.
Down on Cable St, Te Papa, the country's preeminent museum, is housed in a remarkable modern building looking out across the Harbour. High above the city, on the other hand, Mount Victoria and the Botanic Gardens (reached by cable car) compete for the best views.
Wellington has some excellent cheap places to eat; the food court at Wellington Market on Wakefield St and the BNZ Centre Food Court, have a dizzying array of different Asian cuisines to choose from. Nearby Cuba St, meanwhile, is home to a number of cafés.
While Auckland might claim otherwise, Wellington holds itself up as the country's nightlife hub. And it's with this firmly in mind that the bars and clubs of Courtenay Place turn up the energy levels and hum with activity most nights.
Out along the coast, there's great windsurfing at Plimmerton (the city's not called 'Windy Wellington' for nothing) and surfing at Palliser Bay. For a more relaxed time sunbathing on the sands, Days Bay is just a short ferry journey from the city.
The Red Rocks coastline is particularly stunning. A dramatic rocky strip of shoreline, it gives the visitor just a small taste of what lies in store throughout the rest of the country: awe-inspiring scenery and natural beauty.


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Made by: Sweet'S Candy Company
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Peace Frog Birthday Cake
- Uploaded By bamagirl92
- 2006-08-06 21:20:20
This is a cake I made for my daughter's 13th Birthday. She loves Peace Frogs so I took this pattern from a shirt of hers. This is my first attempt at using the Wilton Spray Mist also and I really liked it!!
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As well as getting feedback on Yachting Pages, users were happy to provide reviews on other superyacht suppliers and services, both good and bad. According to the team, the results were very interesting.
Earlier this year, Yachting Pages officially launched YachtingPages.com, which now includes the contact details of over 12,000 superyacht businesses. However, it is more than simply a search engine; the website includes news, ports/marinas, events and reviews.
Steve Crowe, managing director of Yachting Pages explained, "The reviews are becoming a popular feature of the website. People often use our directories to find the contact details of businesses they have never used before, so to be able to see what fellow captains and crew have said about them is important to our users.
"They want to use suppliers and services that come recommended and equally, if they have received an excellent service or a poor one, they want an outlet to express those views, which they can do on YachtingPages.com;
"From talking to captains and crew at the Cannes and Monaco shows, and walking the docks in just about every marina throughout the French Riviera, we have now almost doubled the number of business reviews on YachtingPages.com."
Michelle Williams, digital marketing executive who formed part of the Yachting Pages team explained, "The captains and crew were really passionate about Yachting Pages and some were also extremely animated recording stories of excellent products and services, where businesses had really gone out of their way to help.
"There were also some recollections of poor service, mainly companies being unfriendly and taking a long time to deal with enquiries; anything in between was forgotten. Only the truly amazing and poor were recalled."
Neil, second engineer of M/Y Audacia, 49M from Monaco was happy to give a five-star review of Palapa Marina and said, "We enjoyed our berth; there are lots of useful services there including the provisioning service, which we found to be one of the best in the Caribbean. They would get anything we asked for as quickly as they could. Highly recommend them!"
Birgit Winter of M/Y Sherakahn, 69.7M from Monaco gave Dolphin Wear five stars and commented, "They have a great understanding of what is needed regarding uniforms for yachts. Very helpful and creative. We would recommend their services."
Michelle continued, "The reviews were a welcomed feature by everyone we spoke to. In order for Yachting Pages to develop as a company, we need to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our users and advertisers, and we can only do that by talking to them directly.
"We appreciate feedback and people are happy to leave it. One person commented on the VHF numbers in the printed directories and asked if we could make them stand out more. Another captain asked for more exciting and picturesque front covers. Brilliant, all feedback is welcome.
"We also obtained 50 testimonials, including some video testimonials from happy customers."
Second stewardess, Jenny Gatenby of M/Y Galaxy, 56m commented, "Yachting Pages is always helpful to have in the crew mess for easy access to information. It has plenty of details on all subjects in yachting. I would say it is a must have."
Bosun, Mark of M/Y La Mascarade, 30m explained, "Yachting Pages is a useful publication;
Yachting Pages annual printed directory is a highly anticipated publication in the superyacht industry and YachtingPages.com is the online search engine for all things yachting.
To search the superyacht industry and read business reviews visit, http://www.yachting-
To look at some of the video testimonials visit, http://www.youtube.com/


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November 28, 2015
A woman who is nine-months pregnant was sentenced for the death of her 3-month old baby.
Sarah Davenport was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
She accepted a plea deal back in May and was back in a Whitley County courtroom Monday.
She was originally charged with manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to reckless homicide.
Investigators say Davenport allowed her three month old son to take cocaine and cough medicine.
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Author has written 22 stories for Kingdom Hearts, and Sword of Mana.
--> Previously Known as BeehiveOneThreeZer0
Semi Active wOrKs:
Ketchup 2.0
PoSsIble FUtuRe W0rkS:
Anything predating November 2013, is DEAD.
I leave up old stuff to prove, that I have improved over the years, as anyone can. I don't LIKE any of them, but I leave them there for the newer writers sakes to see my mistakes. There are some TOS violations in them, I am aware. So if you happen to be reading this, and are from Critics United or another similar group, I will not argue with their removal. Just know they are only here now to serve as example, as it's upsetting to be ashamed of our past.
Anything after November '13 is considered to be decently sound, and is active unless stated as complete
THE KH SURVEY! in My Deviantart Stash hidden away.


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- Filed Under
Are you ever too old to go back to school? Of course not. Education is eternal, right?
But, here's another question: Are you ever too broke in your 30s or 40s to go back to school? Well, this answer is more complicated.
Most of us in the United States and throughout the Western Hemisphere are of the thought that education for all people - regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and more - is needed in our society. ...


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3 to 6 days
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Will be calculated at checkout
Everyday - Black
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Long sleeve top by FWSS. V-neck. Textured material.
Made of 100% Linen.
Free delivery when you spend over £75. Standard shipping £3.95. Delivery time: 3-6 days. We deliver with UPS.
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SPEARMAN SHOWED UP EARLY at the hotel dock to rent some fins. He had decided to explore around some of the points bordering Turtle Bay and had been advised to wear fins to protect against swift currents. His swimwear that day was typical of what continentals took to be stylish attire for the Caribbean. But actually his garb was more fitting for Hawaii. On his five-foot-three physique his swimsuit gave the appearance of baggy bermudas.
The equipment steward was occupied in preparing aqualungs for the hotel's more adventuresome guests, who used them to explore the outlying coral reefs. Hearing Spearman enter the shed, the tall, boney attendant look up inquiringly. "I want to do some snorkeling and was told at the desk that I could acquire a pair of fins here."
"What size shoe do you wear?" the equipment steward asked.
Spearman scrutinized the selection of fins in the shed before replying. "Size six, but I would like to try some on to get a proper fit. Are they all the same price?"
The attendant finished putting a regulator on a pair of tanks as he replied: "The fins are free, but there's a thirtydollar deposit. If you want a mask and snorkel, that's another twenty dollars down. You pay the deposit in cash now and you get it back when you return them."


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Suite 10 60 Four Mile Drive
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 756-2241
1297 Burns Way Suite 1
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 752-1404
40 Four Mile Drive Suite 5
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 758-6888
Disclaimer: The ASPS provides this service to assist you in finding a plastic surgeon who can address your particular surgical needs. ASPS cannot warrant or guarantee that you will be completely satisfied with the quality of care or the suitability for your needs of the particular surgeon that you decide to select.
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- Filed Under
Walled Lake Northern 6, Lake Orion 5: Scott Zychowski pitched 2 1/3 innings with no hits, one run, two walks and four strikeouts for Walled Lake Northern. On base, Zychowski was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a double and scored one run. Corey Williams was 2-for-3 with one RBI, a double and scored one run. Brennan Williams was 2-for-4 and scored two runs. Devin Hager was 2-for-5 and scored two runs. Lake Orion's Jacob Christiansen was 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run. Lake Orion is 22-13.
Walled Lake Northern 8, Lowell 7: Danny Gieselman, the winning pitcher, went 1 2/3 innings ...


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So my son has finally been diagnosed with asthma and after our big scare on thursday he was prescribed singulair. One of the side effects is a greater chance of infection. So now I am scared to put him daycare. I read Pneumonia was a side effect...I am so scared/worried.
Day Care and Asthma - should I take him out?
Comments (6)
We've been on Singlulair since August, and we've actually seen the pediatrician less this year than last year. I believe it's because his drainage is now under control which means no ear infections and fewer breathing issues. My son is in day care, btw. He's never had pneumonia, but had RSV last January (he wasn't on Singulair then, though) .
Mom to Vana 9/26/1994 and Vail 4/20/1999 and
* Sparkling Ruby *Vance7/26/2010
sspring...that really makes me feel so much better. Thanks! I am so new to this.
That's kind of weird that that is listed as a side effect of Singulair, because it's not a steroid or anything that suppresses the immune system.
Keep in mind that drug companies are required to list every possible issue reported as a possible side effect, even if only one or two people had it out of millions of users.
Okay i am feeling better :) Thanks guys! So glad this group is here. I would be so confused/scared without you guys
Yes I agree those package inserts for these asthma/allergy drugs are absolutely terrifying. I read the Flovent one cover to cover and was literally shaking. DD's docs reassured me about the cost/benefit of the drug and I felt much better. The only side effect she had was a dry roof of mouth/throat clearing for the first 3 weeks she was on it and nothing since. I don't have experience with Singulair but the Flovent package lists "greater chance of infection" also and DD's frequency of colds/etc has not increased after starting it (and she's in preschool 4 days a week and tons of activities so she's exposed to everything as well).
Thanks ladies!! I am starting him tonight and he is off to daycare tomorrow. Wish me luck :)