text:
Mexico Reports Mixed Progress in Campaign to Reduce Tobacco Usage
Navarro, Carlos, SourceMex Economic News & Analysis on Mexico
Mexico's tough anti-smoking campaign and a corresponding increase in federal tobacco taxes have had mixed results in the effort to reduce tobacco-related illnesses in Mexico. The campaign has significantly reduced the level of second-hand smoke in public areas, since smoking is now banned in office buildings, restaurants, taxis, and other sites.
But authorities lament that the number of Mexicans who smoke remains relatively high, particularly among youth.
Indoor ban helps reduce second-hand smoke
On May 31, the UN's World No Tobacco Day, the Secretaria de Salud (SSA) provided an update on Mexico's progress in reducing the population's dependence on tobacco. Health Secretary Salomon Chertorivski Woldenberg said Mexico has made great strides in ridding second-hand smoke from public places during the past several years because of legislation approved by Congress in 2008. The law prohibited smoking in all enclosed areas, although restaurants and bars were allowed to designate special areas for smokers (SourceMex, Feb. 27, 2008). In addition to protecting the public from second-hand smoke, the law was intended to reduce tobacco-related illnesses in Mexico. "Today, there are many spaces that are free from smoke," said Chertorivski.
The SSA did not release data comparing the number of smokers before and after the 2008 legislation and the tax increase were approved. Some observers noted that one measure is the decline in the number of cigarettes manufactured in Mexico. In mid-May, the government's statistics office (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e Informatica, INEGI) said cigarette production declined by more than 27% in just one year. In 2010, tobacco companies produced 2.4 billion cigarette packets, but that number fell to 1.6 billion in 2011.
Still 11 million smokers
The Comision Nacional Contra las Adicciones (CONADIC) estimates that there are still close to 11 million smokers in Mexico, and the addiction contributes to about 60,000 deaths each year. The statistics show a gender disparity, with men far outnumbering women among smokers in Mexico. About 8 million men smoke, compared with 2.8 million women, said CONADIC.
Chertorivski and other officials acknowledged that smoking remains prevalent among many young people in Mexico. In a recent interview, former Mexico City education secretary Mario Delgado raised concerns that the Mexican capital ranks second in the country, after the city of Toluca, in the number of smokers between the ages of 13 and 15. The data was obtained from a national survey (Encuesta Global de Tabaquismo en Jovenes).
"We are working on [reducing youth smoking], and the results will be reflected in a few years," said Chertorivski. "[World Health Organization director Margaret Chan], who was in Mexico at the start of April, emphasized that the best way to keep youth from consuming tobacco, besides education, is to increase the cost of a pack of cigarettes."
In 2010, the Congress also moved to increase the cost of tobacco products and raise revenues for the federal Treasury by adding a tax on tobacco products to the federal budget for 2011 (SourceMex, Nov. 17, 2010).
In addition to banning smoking in enclosed public places and raising the tax on cigarettes, the government has taken other actions to discourage tobacco consumption, including increased controls on imports and exports of tobacco products, stringent regulations on cigarette advertisements and sponsorships, and guidelines for packaging tobacco products.
"I am convinced that with these measures we have planted the seeds for a better future," said Chertorivski.
The Mexico City daily newspaper Excelsior said smoker Patricia del Castillo provides an example of how some consumers have changed their habits because of the prohibitions against smoking in public places and the higher costs of cigarettes.
"Sometimes I only buy one cigarette at a time," del Castillo told the newspaper. …


text:
"It was scary, I can tell you that." The words of a truck trailer salesman in Richland, Mississippi, one of the communities hit by strong storms that pummeled parts of the South with strong winds, heavy rain, hail and possible tornadoes.
Tate Moudy says the storm flipped a number of 18-wheelers parked
outside and ripped away the sales office roof. He says employees
stayed inside because of downed power lines.
Thousands of people are without power from yesterday's storms.
Out-of-state crews are being brought in to help but utility
officials say it could be Monday before all the power is back on. A
Louisiana utility hopes to have service restored by this afternoon.
Authorities in Jackson, Mississippi, say ambulances responded to
at least 75 emergency calls in the area last night. More than 20
people were taken to hospitals.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Up to 60% off in Sale + Extra 40% off at Urban Outfitters Today only. Urban Outfitters is taking an extra 40% off sale items when you sign up for their free Urban On membership. Items are already reduced up to 60% off or more. Shipping is free on orders $50+. Deal has expired SET DEAL ALERT EXPIRED Posted 185 days ago by Barbarossa Report Report this deal Report an Error Close Up to 60% off in Sale + Extra 40% off at Urban Outfitters Deals can expire unexpectedly at any time. Problem: Out of Stock Deal Expired Other Error (please explain) Comments: (Optional) Submit


text: My Baby who will be 11 months on the 17th has a condition called Progressive Pulmonary Vein Stenosis. Doctors say the medical option we have is a catheterisation and lung transplant some time later. I really need advise from parents who have been in the same situation and can tell me about post transplant care, how successful is it in babies and how do the medications affect babies.Thanks.


text:
We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. If you need to return merchandise, you may return it to one of our Buckle store locations or to buckle.com via mail. Some online merchandise is not available for return. These items are noted on the product description page.
View Buckle's Return Policy.
If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may request a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). Returns must be within 60 days from the date of purchase, in original condition with vendor and price tags attached.
Unfortunately, buckle.com cannot refund your original shipping and handling fees. Any fees for shipping your returned order back to our Returns Department will be subtracted from your refund total. Due to recent US customs policy changes, there will be a surcharge applied to each returned order that has a dutiable value greater than $200 USD.
Corporate Guest Services:
Phone: 800-607-9788
Mon-Fri: 8 am - 9 pm CT
Sat: 9 am - 9 pm CT
Sun: 12 pm - 6 pm CT
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fax: 308-236-4493
Buckle Credit Card Questions?
Comenity Bank
Phone: 888-427-7786
Corporate Office:
The Buckle, Inc.
2407 W. 24th Street
Kearney, NE 68845
Phone: 800-626-1255


text:
As part of AP&T's peer-review process, a technical check of this meta-analysis was performed by Dr. P. Collins.
Meta-analysis: the use of carbon dioxide insufflation vs. room air insufflation for gastrointestinal endoscopy
Version of Record online: 27 MAR 2012
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2012.05078.x
© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Volume 35, Issue 10, pages 1145–1154, May 2012
Additional Information
How to Cite
Wang, W. L., Wu, Z. H., Sun, Q., Wei, J. F., Chen, X. F., Zhou, D. K., Zhou, L., Xie, H. Y. and Zheng, S. S. (2012), Meta-analysis: the use of carbon dioxide insufflation vs. room air insufflation for gastrointestinal endoscopy. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 35: 1145–1154. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2012.05078.x
Publication History
- Issue online: 15 APR 2012
- Version of Record online: 27 MAR 2012
- Manuscript Accepted: 7 MAR 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 6 MAR 2012
- Manuscript Revised: 13 SEP 2011
- Manuscript Received: 15 AUG 2011
Funded by
- National Natural Science foundation of China. Grant Number: 30901787
- Major Program of the Science and Technology Bureau of Zhejiang Province. Grant Number: 2009C03012-1
- National S&T Major Project. Grant Number: 2008ZX10002-026
- Projects of International Cooperation and Exchanges NSFC. Grant Number: 30731160620
Carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation has been proposed as an alternative to air insufflation to distend the lumen in gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.
To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which CO2 insufflation was compared with room air insufflation in GI endoscopy.
Electronic and manual searches were combined to search RCTs. After methodological quality assessment and data extraction, the efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation were systematically assessed.
Twenty-one RCTs [13 on colonoscopy, four on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), two on double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE), one on oesophagogastroduodenoscopy, and one on flexible sigmoidoscopy] were identified. For colonoscopy, CO2 insufflation resulted lower postprocedural pain intensity, and increased the proportion of patient without pain at 1 h (RR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.37–2.47) and 6 h (RR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.14–1.44) postprocedure. For ERCP, the pain-releasing effect of CO2 insufflation was not obvious (SMD: −1.48, 95% CI: −3.56, 0.59). CO2 insufflation revealed no consistent advantages in the RCTs of DBE, but was shown as safe as air insufflation in oesophagus/stomach endoscopic submucosal dissection in one study. pCO2 level showed no significant variation during these procedures.
Compared with air insufflation, CO2 insufflation during colonoscopy causes lower postprocedural pain and bowel distension without significant pCO2 variation. More RCTs are needed to assess its advantages in other GI endoscopic procedures.


text:
* Renzi takes nearly 70 pct of vote - preliminary results
* Renzi will have significant influence over govt
* Tricky relationship looms with centre-left PM Letta
* Source close to Renzi says "government will last"
By Steve Scherer
ROME, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi won aprimary vote to become leader of Italy's centre-left DemocraticParty (PD), preliminary results showed on Sunday, giving himinfluence over the fragile coalition government and the timingof the next elections.
As secretary of the PD, the brash 38-year-old will likelyhave to tone down the rhetoric calling for the ouster of theparty's top brass that has helped make him one of the country'smost popular political figures in the past two years.
As head of the group, his challenge will be to reconciledeep party divisions that undermined what polls suggested wouldbe a certain victory in the February national election, leavingthe bloc without control of both houses of parliament.
Data from two-thirds of the 9,000 polling booths showedRenzi took 68 percent of the vote in a three-way race to leadthe largest party in parliament and in the ruling coalition.
About two-and-a-half million people cast a primary ballot,Renzi said, which was far more than envisioned and is a clearsign voters want to renew the party founded six years ago bymerging elements of the former communist party and left-leaningcentrists.
Renzi will not join the government, but is likely to leadthe PD into the next election as its candidate for primeminister. Primary rivals Gianni Cuperlo, a former communist, andthe web-savvy Pippo Civati acknowledged Renzi's leadership intheir concession speeches.
"This is the end of group of party leaders, not of theleft," Renzi told his supporters in a victory speech inFlorence, after promising to unify the party. "Now it's up to anew generation, my friends. It's our turn to drive the car."
For his charisma and goal to remodel Italy's left, theFlorence mayor is sometimes compared to Britain's Tony Blair,but his direct speaking style and media savvy also drawcomparisons to the 77-year-old centre-right leader SilvioBerlusconi.
With the centre right in disarray after former primeminister Berlusconi's tax-fraud conviction and a subsequentparty split, Renzi has the opportunity to recast the PD toattract some disillusioned right-wing voters.
Polls have shown Renzi is popular even among centre-rightvoters. Lower taxes - a warhorse for Berlusconi for two decades- are a central part of his programme, as are promises to changethe electoral law, overhaul labour rules, and eliminate theprivileges of the political class.
Two weeks ago, Renzi said that if he won the primary hewould call on the government to step up its reform efforts orelse declare it "finished". But few, even among his loyalists inparliament, say it would be to Renzi's advantage to seekelections now, as he needs time to unify the party behind him.
For his part, Letta has insisted that the primary will makehis government stronger, and Renzi and the premier will meet asearly as Monday, government and party sources told Reuters.
"The government will last until at least 2015, if notlonger," one source close to Renzi told Reuters.
"With the new secretary, Matteo Renzi, we will work togetherwith team spirit that will be productive for the country and thecentre left," Letta said in a statement after Renzi's victory.
Apart from many still-pending economic reforms, thegovernment faces an unpredictable new challenge following lastweek's move by the Constitutional Court to reject parts of thecurrent voting law.
The ruling leaves Italy with a proportional voting structurethat would virtually guarantee short-lived coalitions and worsenthe stalemate that has afflicted the system in recent years. Itwill take careful negotiations to build support, also outsidethe PD, for new election rules.
Though Renzi appears to have won a decisive victory with thegeneral public, inside the party he will still need to buildsupport among those suspicious of his unabashed ambition, hiscentrist past and his forceful and - for the left - unorthodoxmedia presence.
Earlier this year, Renzi went on a TV talent show popularwith teenagers and broadcast by Berlusconi's network. Dressed ina black leather jacket, at one point he gave a thumbs-up thatearned him the nickname "Fonzie", a reference to the laid-backhero of the U.S. sitcom "Happy Days".
Renzi embraced it, posing in a leather jacket for a magazine and explaining: "I want everyone to hear my message".
- Board & Management Changes
- Politics & Government
- Matteo Renzi


text:
Top Definition
A fictious animal made up to scare people who are not very outdoors savy, such as women in general, yankees, retards, small children. Wapus cats are said to be three times the size of normal cats and live in the tops of tall pine trees. Their sole mission in life is to jump down on unsuspecting people in the woods at night and beat the hell out of them and leave as fast as they came.
Hey Pam you better watch out for the Wapus cat, I hear they go for the blondes first.
by Randy Lahi April 04, 2012


text:
U.S. troops and military families say they have mixed feelings about President Barack Obama's plan to send 30,000 more American troops into Afghanistan.
The Associated Press interviewed service members and their families Tuesday as Obama laid out his strategy in a televised address.
Bill Thomas, who watched the speech at his home near Camp Lejeune, N.C., said he supports Obama's plan as long as he doesn't send extra troops in vain. Thomas has a son headed to Afghanistan with the Marines next year.
Jamie Copeland, the wife of a Marine at Camp Lejeune, said she wishes the war was over. But she said Marines need reinforcements in Afghanistan.
Army Pfc. Jeff Williams, a soldier at Fort Drum, N.Y., said he's "more than ready" to go.


text:
Rolinda Manufacture Co.,Ltd.
wooden chair, chiavari chair, folding chair, knock down table, folding table, Manufacturer and Supplier - China
Wood Wine Box 1 Bottle
Wooden wine bottle box with hinged lid and brass-coloured clasp
Dimensions: 335 x 93 x 93mm
Number of bottles: 1 bottle
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Wooden wine boxes add extra value and impact to any bottle of wine.... - Update: 2011-04-28
Our folding chair have many unique safety features to increase reliability and obdurability - Update: 2011-04-28
1)Unique design
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Wooden cabinet with willow drawer - Update: 2011-04-28
Material: Solid Birch
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Maximum strength, 100% premium glue construction for long life
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Unlike other Chair suppliers, Rolinda... - Update: 2011-04-28
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Rolinda™ garden wedding chairs are the best choice for use on lawns. The reception chairs are best used over hard floor surfaces. Bamboo chairs provide a natural esthetic suitable for both summer and winter use. The brown Samsonite chairs offe... - Update: 2011-04-28


text:
Hello everyone,
I am the proud owner of a european 2007 prophet SL, ie a prophet with a shorter shox that gives 120mm of rear travel. The fork is a 120mm revelation 426 dual air and I am considering buying a second-hand lefty 110 speed dlr carbon to replace it.
Living in the middle of nowhere, I will most certainly buy it through a well-known auction site, and I have the following questions:
- what are the most important things to check/ask?
- is it easy to change a lefty spring by myself?
- last but not least, what price should I expect to pay for a 2007 model?
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Results 1 to 2 of 2
Thread: Need advice before buying lefty
Hot Deals See All Hot Deals >>
Latest Mountain Bike Articles


text:
Caller Name Announcer
Arun Kumar Rai
- June 10, 2013
( 1,387)
Caller Name Announcer speaks out the Incoming caller name if the caller is already in contact database of the device other wise it will announce only unknown number. so that you can identify who is calling without looking into your phone.It uses the built-in Android text-to-speech engine to voice the caller. When you run this application first time, then it check's whether text-to-speech engine is installed or not, if not then it redirect,s you on Google play for TTS engine, you have to install only once.
Bad After the update Voice changed Not getting silent Unknown caller number announcing method suck Duration Oh god when you'll fix this owner
Can not change settings! I have installed this app in my smartphone that is Sony Xperia P. Initially during installing, I chose calling unsaved number announcing. I thought it would tell the number like: "zero one seven one three...". But later I found that it starts telling as "One billion three hundred and twenty seven million....". it is really embarrassing. Now I tried a lot to disable announcing unsaved numbers, but I could not find any way to go to the control panel or something like that to do that. Can anyone help me out from this? To Developer: You have made a good one, please try to make it more user friendly and put more and more options to customize it as much as possible. Regards.
Hi I have installed successfully but not announcing name while getting call. Kindly help me for same.
Sucksss!!! NOTE:- DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT WIFI. Pros:- If you select one time and all time as your options it works great. Compared to other apps it announces names rather immediately. Con's:- Two times and four times does not work. There should be some interval, when we select multiple no of tyms rather than immediately. Doesn't work without WiFi.
Announces new numbers wrongly Announces non saved numbers as NINETY BILLION TWENTY MILLION and it continues. Can you please fix this problem so that it can announce it as NINE NINE SEVEN ZERO... Otherwise the App is very good.
Mind blowing app. Nice one. Great app.works good in my hTC desire HD
What's New
Added new feature:
1: User can select from the settings the number of times caller name has to announced.
a- one time
b- two times
c- three times
d- four times
e- five times
f- all times
Issues Fixed:
1: In Silent mode, announcer will not announce the caller name.
2: Once the user picked the phone, announcer will automatically stopped.
If you likes the application please click the add on setting screen


text:
Folder Marker FreeFree
Quick Specs
Total Downloads:15,299
Date Added:May 20, 2014
Price:Free; paid upgrade available
File Size:4.34MB
Downloads Last Week:20
From ArcticLine Software: Folder Marker is one of those little utilities that once you have it you wonder how you ever did with out it. It lets you mark your Windows Explorer folders in a couple of different ways, either using the context menu (right click) or by starting the Folder Marker program and browsing. It enables you to quickly change folder icons to indicate a priority level or project status (high, low, done, half-done, planned) or you can use it to mark a folder with a special icon or color of your choice. Folder Marker supports single and multiple folder selections, and includes an option to restore the original icon(s). Do you fear that someone might unintentionally delete information necessary to you? Mark a folder, and other users will notice at once that that folder contains important information for you. Changing folder icons, Folder Marker will help you to cope with the standard yellowness. Download Folder Marker now and change folder icons!
read more +
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- Bring back "Start" menu for Windows 8/8.1 and advanced start...Return the Windows 7 style Start menu to Windows 8.Clean up icon clutter on your desktop.Set unlimited numbers of alarm clocks on Windows.
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- Personalize your Windows 8/8.1 start and lock screens with y...Hide selected folder and its entire contents.Change an icon or color of any folder you want.Access favorite folders quickly.
- Create and stick electronic notes on your Windows desktop.Back up files and folders to different media types.Set an icon, background image, and description for your fold...Restore windows to its previous positions.


text:
- ParaguayAgricultureFunding via Fundación Paraguaya
Nueva Esper...ParaguayAgricultureFunding via Fundación Paraguaya
6 De Enero ...ParaguayFoodFunding via Fundación Paraguaya
San Miguel Group
Inés is group president. She defines herself as a person who always strives to get ahead and give her family everything they need. She sells natural remedies, that is, herbal products. She is very proud of what she does because it's dignified, honest work. She's requesting the loan to buy natural remedies to resell and be able to stay in business earning her daily bread.
Ines es la presidenta del grupo, ella se define como una persona que siempre se esfuerza por salir adelante y dar todo lo que su familia necesita. Se dedica a la venta de remedios naturales, es decir remedios yuyos. Esta muy orgullosa de lo que hace ya es un trabajo digno y honesto.
Ella solicita el crédito para la compra de remedios naturales para revenderlos y de esa forma poder seguir trabajando y ganándose el pan de cada día.
Additional Information
About Fundación ParaguayaFundación Paraguaya is a financially self-sustaining social enterprise that promotes entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas through microfinance, education programs, and more. Its focus on agriculture has helped many farmers boost their crop yields. And a number of other borrowers have taken out loans to start and grow social businesses that have helped deliver eyeglasses, medicines and other helpful services in their local communities.
This is a Group Loan
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a larger group of individuals. The group is there to provide support to the members and to provide a system of peer pressure, but groups may or may not be formally bound by a group guarantee. In cases where there is a group guarantee, members of the group are responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members in the case of delinquency or default.
Kiva's Field Partners typically feature one borrower from a group. The loan description, sector, and other attributes for a group loan profile are determined by the featured borrower's loan. The other members of the group are not required to use their loans for the same purpose.
About Paraguay
43View loans »
Success!! The loan was 100% repaid
- Repayment Term
- 6 months (Additional Information)
- Repayment Schedule
- Monthly
- Pre-Disbursed:
- Aug 20, 2012
- Listed
- Sep 19, 2012
- Currency Exchange Loss:
- Covered
- Ended:
- Jan 15, 2013


text:
Solution Overview
Ubuntu Security Notice (C) 2007-2015 Canonical, Inc. / NASL script (C) 2007-2015 Tenable Network Security, Inc.
Synopsis :
The remote Ubuntu host is missing one or more security-related patches.
Description :
It was discovered that the hpssd tool of hplip did not correctly
handle shell meta-characters. A local attacker could exploit this to
execute arbitrary commands as the hplip user.
Solution :
Update the affected packages.
Risk factor :
High / CVSS Base Score : 7.6
CVSS Temporal Score : 6.6
Public Exploit Available : true
Family: Ubuntu Local Security Checks
Nessus Plugin ID: 28135 ()
Bugtraq ID: 26054
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text:
The Office of Emergency Management will facilitate a full-scale exercise on Friday to test campus plans for working with local response partners in the event of a serious emergency on campus or the surrounding area.
UT Police Department News
Community Invited to Public Forum for UT Police Department Reaccreditation
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Police Department is preparing for its second reaccreditation review and is asking the campus and surrounding community for input.
Paciello Named UT's Clery Act Compliance Coordinator
Jillian Paciello has been named the university's Clery Act compliance coordinator. Paciello, formerly the records manager for the UT Police Department, will monitor and ensure Clery Act compliance at the university.
UTPD leaders chosen for Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women
The International Association of Chiefs of Police has selected UT Police Chief Troy Lane and Lieutenant Donnie Ross to take part in its National Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Violence Against Women. The association is bringing campus law enforcement leaders together to focus on violent crimes against women and to support best practices within campus police departments.
2013 Campus Security Booklet Available Online
The campus 2013 security booklet is now available. The booklet meets the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policies and Campus Crime Statistics Act, regarding the reporting of crime statistics and policies by the university.
Today's UT Alert Test
Earlier this afternoon, the university tested the text messaging and e-mail messaging portions of its UT Alert notification system. If you did not receive the messages, visit the UT Alert page and verify your account information. UT Alert messages are sent only during serious emergencies that require you to act immediately or to be aware of an imminent threat to your safety. The UT Police Department also will use the system to let you know about major disruptions in campus schedules.
University Center Reopens After Robbery
The University Center is now open after authorities evacuated the building following a robbery at the UT Federal Credit Union branch inside the UC. No other changes have been made to campus operations today. At around 11:30 a.m today, a black male wearing white scrubs, a white apron, and a white mask entered the bank branch and demanded money. He left a suspicious package at the scene which prompted the evacuation of the building. There were no injuries. Law enforcement bomb squad members have cleared the package and determined the building can reopen. The bank will remain closed for the rest of today.
Robbery at the University Center
A robbery occurred at the Carolyn P. Brown University Center at around 11:30 a.m. today. The University Center has been evacuated. The campus community should avoid the area until further notice. The suspect is a black male, wearing white scrubs, a white apron, and a white mask. An investigation into the situation is ongoing. Anyone with information should call the UT Police Department at 865-974-3114.
UT Police Force Welcomes Two Explosive-detecting Dogs
The UT Police Department has its first-ever police dogs—two Belgian Malinois that are trained to detect explosives.
Emily Simerly Named UTPD Chief of Administration
University of Tennessee Police Department Lieutenant Emily Simerly has been named Deputy Chief of Administration, Chief Troy Lane announced today. Simerly began serving in her new role on Tuesday.


text:
2 Parks near Kirby, Arkansas
Murfreesboro, Arkansas 12.58 miles SW
Norman, Arkansas 16.93 miles NW
Mt. Ida, Arkansas 22.22 miles NE
Bismarck, Arkansas 23.66 miles NE
Kirby, Arkansas (map) | (870) 398-4487
Sites: 103 | Latest Rate: $21.00 | 11 Reviews
|Clean Restrooms:
|Clean Showers:
Feb 2016 - $21.00
This is our second time in 4 months to stay here. Very clean and quiet at this time of year. Lots of open spaces. Beautiful lake right below our site. Loved walking our dog along the shoreline. Not any stores close by for groceries. 15 miles to closest food store in Murfreesboro. Will come again. - JamesCROC
Oct 2015 - $26.00
This is a typical state park with the normal amenities. Electric and water at the site with a centrally located dump station. Nice quiet, clean park. Our pad was concrete and fairly level and had a view of the lake. Antenna TV reception was fair, no cable or WiFi. Had picnic table and fire ring. Did not use public restrooms. Roads are a little tight in places due to trees. But manageable. We stayed only one night as we were just passing through. Will stay here again if back this way. - Tooljunke
Jul 2015 - $25.00
Stayed in a Class A site, #17. Sites were very, very close together and small. Not much room for chairs or extra equipment. Sound from boats travels on this lake, making boat motors very loud. If we ever come back - which we probably won't - we would get a site further from the lake, since you can't access the lake from the sites anyway. - MT Nest
Kirby, Arkansas (map) | (870) 285-2151
Sites: 105 | Latest Rate: $9.00 | 1 Reviews
|Clean Restrooms:
|Clean Showers:
Jun 2013 - $9.00
This was an overnight stop but it is not an ideal location for that since it is 30 miles off I-30 and over country roads. The park has three different CGs. I used Weston because it was more big rig friendly. There is a mix of gravel pull through and back ins with picnic table, fire pit, grill, and fish cleaning table. Water pressure and voltage was good. VZW 3G was three bars. I came thinking that I would get peace, quiet, a lake view, and fresh air. I was not disappointed. That is the reason that I did not check out OTA TV or Wi-Fi. Satellite reception will depend on the sites with the least trees. The bath house was only adequate and there were no electrical outlets in it. None of the sites in Weston are reservable. The entire park has a mix of FHU and W/E plus a marina, boat launches, and a swim beach. The staff was courteous and helpful. Rate is based on A.T.B Acess Card. - RLM


text:
A vice president duels for honor, the Marine Corps is re-established, a folk singer debuts, a space station plummets to Earth, and Martin Luther King earns a posthumous honor, all on this day.
2008: Michael E. DeBakey, the world-renowned cardiac surgeon, innovator and scientist, dies at age 99 in Houston, Texas. A pioneer in the development of an artificial heart, DeBakey also was one of the first to perform coronary artery bypass surgery and performed the first successful carotid endarterectomy in 1953. He also led the team that completed the first simultaneous multi-organ transplant from one donor to four recipients in 1968.


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Vancouver police responded Tuesday to a report that two masked men tied up a 27-year-old woman and stole some plants from a medical marijuana garden at a residence in the 15700 block of Northeast Sixth Circle.
The report was made at 3:56 p.m., about 30 minutes after the 3:20 p.m. incident; the delay presumably was the time in which the woman freed herself, said Vancouver police Sgt. Mike Schylack.
One of the robbers had a handgun, Schylack said. No one was injured, he said.
Vancouver police Sgt. Mike Davis said a preliminary investigation indicated that the victim knows the robbers.
A police dog was called to the scene but was not needed, Schylack said.
Police did not yet have a description of the suspects. Detectives were investigating.


text:
I have an old Specialized Hard Rock. It needs a new rear wheel, but all I can find are 135mm width wheels. I need a high quality wheel as I commute 20 miles a day. I'm against using a tool to spread the stays, I've seen it done and it's butchery. The bike shop was able to squeeze a 135 mm wheel in with some struggle, but it seems like adding that stress to what I would guess is already the most stressed part of the bike is like asking to break a stay and ruin the frame.
What is the best way to go about getting a good 130mm setup? Have a wheel custom made? If so, with what components? Or do I take a 135 mm wheel and have a machine shop cut the axle down and reduce the outer nuts from 4mm to 2mm or so in thickness?


text:
Now Foods, Better Stevia Liquid Sweetener, Coconut, 2 fl oz (60 ml)
By Now Foods
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Expiration Date:?Nov 2018
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Our receiving department does its best to verify and then enter the correct expiration dates for all incoming products. However, discrepancies do occur from time to time. This being said, the exceptionally high turnover at iHerb ensures that our inventory is among the freshest in the industry.
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- Product Code: NOW-06930
- UPC Code: 733739069306
- Package Quantity: 2 fl oz (60 ml)
- Dimensions: 1.375 x 1.375 x 3.5 in, 0.2 lbs (0.09 kg)
Product Overview
- Zero Calories
- Vegetarian/Vegan Product
NOW Better Stevia is a zero-calorie, low-glycemic, natural sweetener that makes a perfectly healthy substitute for table sugar and artificial sweeteners. Unlike chemical sweeteners, NOW BetterStevia contains pure stevia extract. NOW Foods takes special measures to preserve stevia's natural qualities in this unique, pure, better-tasting stevia.
Suggested Use
Use to naturally sweeten your favorite beverages and food. Use 1 to 5 drops as desired daily. Sweeten to taste. Remember a little BetterStevia goes a long way. Sedimentation may occur. Shake well before using.
Other Ingredients
Vegetable glycerin, certified organic stevia extract (stevia rebaudiana) (leaf) and natural coconut flavor (in an alcohol base).
Contains 13% alcohol
Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Store in a cool, dry place after opening.
|Supplement Facts
|Serving Size: 5 Drops (0.15 ml)
|Servings Per Container: about 400
|Amount Per Serving
|% Daily Value*
|Total Fat
|0 g
|0 mg
|Total Carbohydrate
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|0 g
|0 g
|Not a significant source of calories from fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium or iron.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
iHerb Customer Reviews
A very thick and sticky formula, with quite a fake coconut flavour. It's not horrible but it's not something I'd purchase again.
I like using stevia above all sweeteners. Add to my yogurt in the morning.
Posted by 5205132965502561513 on May 14, 2016
Perfect service. Very fast shipping|
not my favourite
Posted by 5425809659250642773 on Feb 01, 2016
I am usually a big fan of this brand if stevia. This flavour was unfortunately just sweet, and I could barely taste any coconut flavour at all.
Coconut Flavored Stevia
Posted by 4916897926991587914 on Dec 14, 2015
This is a really good product without the aftertaste some sweeteners give you. It's flavor is just the right level and I use it in my coffee. Really good
Delicious and thick - easy to use too much! Has some aftertaste but doesn't deter me any!
Posted by 5749517917484952392 on Sep 05, 2015
I didn't think this would be so wonderful but it really is! It makes water taste out of this world! Smells great too.
I really like this product
Posted by 4794467387716871256 on Jul 28, 2015
Have purchased twice before and will buy again. You only need a few drops to get a nice coconut flavour and it's especially good in coffee and cake icing. Just ensure you don't use too much because it will be unbearably sweet.


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Mitt now receiving massive increase in campaign contributions. Looks like you loons bashing is not working too well.
Maybe this year we'll finally get a definitive answer to that age-old question: "Can a corrupt empty suit (albeit a Fioravanti) actually just PURCHASE the presidency of the United States?"


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Identifying a Probable Cause
A lot of times sleep problems are related to mood problems, says Conroy. So you should ask yourself: Has my mood changed? Do I feel more depressed? Am I more irritable than usual?
If you're prone to worry, anxiety can be making your sleep worse. But sleep problems also develop without any associated mood problems.
Sometimes you can point to a primary stressor like losing a job or worrying about the mortgage. But there doesn't have to be a particular stressor associated with insomnia. Just worrying about sleep can snowball over time, says Conroy.
Other reasons for insomnia include an underlying medical condition, pain, medications, sleep disorders, and poor sleep habits.
What You Can Do
If you've noticed signs of insomnia and the problem has been going on for a few weeks, set up an appointment with your doctor to discuss your sleep concerns. The doctor can assess your medical condition and make any needed changes to your meds if they're possibly causing the problem. If your doctor suspects an underlying sleep disorder like sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, he or she may refer you to a sleep specialist.
Keep a sleep log to see if you can identify any patterns to discuss with your doctor. Track when you go to bed, how long it takes you to fall asleep, how many times you awake at night, what time you get up, how you feel when you wake up, and if you take a nap during the day.
Depending on the cause of insomnia, your doctor may prescribe a sleep medication to provide short-term relief. He or she may also refer you to a mental health professional who practices cognitive behavioral techniques and other strategies to improve your sleep hygiene.
Sleep is important for your overall health and lack of sleep has been shown to contribute to illness, including heart disease and diabetes.
"We hear so much about diet and exercise," says Conroy. "Sleep is as important as your nutrition."
Boost Your Sleep Hygiene
Many Americans have poor sleep habits. Marks, the Atlanta psychiatrist,shares tips for getting a good night's sleep:
- Keep your bedtime the same each night (even on the weekend) for consistency's sake.
- Cut out caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol 4-6 hours before bedtime.
- Don't exercise right before bed.
- Only use your bed for sleep and sex. Don't bring work or gadgets into bed.
- Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature, usually 68-74 degrees.
- Turn the lights off and use eye covers to keep the room dark.
- If it's taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep, don't stay in bed. Go to another quiet room and engage in relaxing activity until you feel drowsy.
- If your mind is busy, write down your thoughts on a problem-solving worksheet.


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by Duncan Larkin
She is only 20 years old and needs to win races to support her family.
by Duncan Larkin, Published Jul. 19, 2011
She also beat the second-place finisher by nearly three minutes.
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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
The NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms features 7,899 terms related to cancer and medicine.
Browse the dictionary by selecting a letter of the alphabet or by entering a cancer-related word or phrase in the search box.
- cold knife cone biopsy
- listen (kold nife kone BY-op-see)
- A procedure in which a cone-shaped piece of abnormal tissue is removed from the cervix using a scalpel or laser knife. Some of the tissue is then checked under a microscope for signs of disease, such as cervical cancer. Cold knife cone biopsy may also be used to treat certain cervical conditions. Also called cold knife conization.


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ALBANY, Ga. (AP) -- Those who encounter the Dougherty County
Police officers should be ready for their close up.
The department is now using tiny pocket cameras to record audio and video every time they talk to people in a case.
The devices are clipped to the front of the officers' uniforms and are also used to record crime scenes.
Chief Don Cheek said the cameras provide great evidence and protects officers against false complaints of misconduct.
The camera works with memory cards and officers have to download footage it into computers after their shift.
Cheek said at least one complaint against an officer has been proven false using the cameras and other agencies are considering using them too.
He said the devices were purchased for less than $100 each.


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The mauling by pit bulls of a 71-year-old woman in SeaTac raises the issue of whether "fighting" dog breeds should be allowed in urban areas.
The mauling by pit bulls of a 71-year-old woman in SeaTac raises the issue of whether "fighting" dog breeds should be allowed in urban areas.
Pit-bull owners argue vehemently otherwise — that it is the errant owners who are the problem, not the dogs. When a savage attack happens — and the victim, Huong Le, had her arm and wrist crushed and both ears ripped off — other dog owners will blame the owner. In the SeaTac case, both pit bulls were males, and the owner had not neutered them. That was his fault. He had not kept the dogs in his yard or on leash, which was also his fault. Therefore, don't blame the dogs.
For a pit-bull owner, this may sound reasonable. For the public, it does not. The person confronted by a mean dog is not worrying about the cause of the dog's bad attitude. His concern is not fairness to the dog. His concern is the dog.
Human safety and civil streets require restrictions on dangerous dogs. Such restrictions exist already — in SeaTac and in most places. The pertinent question is whether restrictions should be based on a dog's behavior only, or also on its breed.
- Designed in Seattle, this $1 cup could save millions of babies
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Current restrictions tend to focus on behavior only. Consider Seattle's law. It does not ban pit bulls, as Denver's law does, or mandate pit bulls be neutered, as San Francisco's law does. It generally bans dangerous dogs. But in order to be a dangerous dog, an animal has first to act dangerously and be known to the authorities.
The SeaTac pit bulls had been complained about, but the animal-control people had not come out to investigate. The son of the dog owner didn't think his dad's animals were threatening. "I just don't understand why they'd go and attack," he said. "They've never attacked anybody."
Until they did. And when pit bulls decide to attack, they can kill.
Breed-based laws also have problems. It's not always clear whether a dog is a pit bull or something close to it. Denver, which bans American pit bull terriers and two kinds of Staffordshire terrier, has confiscated some 1,000 dogs — sometimes with an impassioned argument from the owner.
The owner has an argument, but ultimately the victims, and would-be victims, have a stronger one.
The control of pit bulls is a question to be resolved in favor of public safety and not in favor of the breed or the breeders.


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Graduates give Escondido High students a peek at college life
ESCONDIDO Graduates from Escondido High School's Class of 2008 returned to campus this month to share stories and offer advice gleaned from their first semester of arduous, albeit gloriously autonomous, college life.
Nine alumni spoke to more than 500 students during two sessions in the school's performing arts center.
Physics and oceanography teacher Dan Howard started the annual forum when he was a teacher at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley, then continued it when he came to Escondido High three years ago.
"I've had students tell me that they've considered college more seriously after hearing (the presentation) – especially when they hear about all the fun stuff," Howard said.
Panelist Lacey Bridges, who is studying architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, said that while there is a lot of fun to be had, "the most important thing is to study."
"Studying is a huge deal," said Bridges, 18. "You study in high school, but in college it's so much different. You have to put in tons of hours. I stay up till probably 3 a.m. working (on) my projects most nights of the week.
"Once finals are over, it's like this huge sigh of relief. It feels so good to just look back on what you've accomplished in one quarter. It's amazing."
Lindsay Levin, 18, a nursing major at Azusa Pacific University near Pasadena, said, "The main thing is just to be open to everything, willing to step out of your comfort zone and meet people that you wouldn't necessarily think you'd have a lot in common with, or try things you don't think you'll be good at."
A series of seven questions posed to the nine college freshmen included, "Is studying more fun in college?"
Most of the panelists agreed that though the intensity and quantity of study is greater, it is in many ways easier and more productive.
"I'm not going to lie," said Ashley Cascio, 19, a math major at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. "Studying is never fun, but I guess it's more fun studying in college because you're studying with other people."
Miles Grimes, a theater arts major at Azusa Pacific, said, "College is great because you have people down the hall that are taking the same classes you are and can help you with your work."
Asked what he wished he had known in high school that he knows now, Grimes said he should have applied for more scholarships and grants.
Jenny Pasch, who is studying physical education at Azusa Pacific, agreed that education is not cheap.
"I wish I'd known how expensive college life is," she said, noting the strain that tuition has put on her family and how quickly daily expenses, such as food and entertainment, add up.
Several panelists said time management was something they had to learn in college. Levin noted how important that becomes when more than one project or term paper is due on the same day.
"You have to be able to plan ahead and see when things are due," she said.
Cascio said she wishes she would have "researched majors more."
Between studying, extracurricular activities and social events, most of the alumni have little down time, they said.
"I call my parents as often as I can, which isn't very often," Grimes said with a laugh.
Asked how well their Escondido High education prepared them for college, several panelists said Advanced Placement courses, and the college credit it afforded them, offered a big boost.
To a mix of groans and applause from the audience, one panelist suggested that the songs teacher Jan Komancheck writes to help students remember math concepts gave her an edge.


text:
Pokes Preview: Oklahoma State takes on Oklahoma in Bedlam, aims for second Big 12 championship in three seasons
It's going to be a chilly (OK, freezing) day at Boone Pickens Stadium, where Oklahoma State will try to capture its second Big 12 championship in three seasons with a win against Oklahoma in Bedlam.
The links
Berry Tramel examines how the talent gap between OU and OSU has virtually disappeared
Cowboy linebacker Caleb Lavey opens up about his key missed tackle in Bedlam last year and how that's fueled him this season. He's now a serious contender for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Did we mention it's going to be cold today? But not Ice Bowl cold. Jenni Carlson looks back on that game.
Our staff picks for the game, with a lot of weather puns.
Three questions
We've got way more than that in our reporter roundtable, where all four OSU/OU beat writers weigh on on what they'll be watching for in this game.
Key matchup
Again, we've got you more than covered here. Jason Kersey and I examine five of them.
Uniform prediction: Black helmet, orange jersey, black pants
This is what the Cowboys wore in their 44-10 rout two years ago. And it may be their very best look overall. Time to break it out again.
Final score prediction: OSU 35, OU 23


text:
|Numéro de publication
|Type de publication
|Numéro de demande
|Date de publication
|7 mars 2006
|Date de dépôt
|20 juil. 2001
|Date de priorité
|20 juil. 2001
|État de paiement des frais
|Autre référence de publication
|Numéro de publication
|Krishnamurthy Vaidyanathan
|Cessionnaire d'origine
|Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
|Exporter la citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Citations de brevets (13), Citations hors brevets (3), Référencé par (22), Classifications (14), Événements juridiques (5)
|Liens externes: USPTO, Cession USPTO, Espacenet
The present invention is directed, in general, to signal processing for wireless receivers and, more specifically, to decision feedback equalizers employed for channel equalization within wireless receivers.
In any receiver system, the channel equalizer is an essential component, improving the bit error rate (BER) by correcting the received signal for the effects of the channel. Channel equalization is typically best performed using a decision feedback equalizer (DFE), especially if the channel has deep fades. Decision feedback equalizers consist of a forward adaptive transversal filter and a feedback adaptive transversal filter, with the equalized signal being the sum of the outputs of the two filters. The base-band received signal corrupted by multi-path interference is fed into the forward filter while decisions made on the equalized signal are fed back through the feedback filter.
As with virtually all channel equalizers, decision feedback equalizers are characterized by high computational complexity dependent on date rate, spectral efficiency, and rate of change for multi-path channels. Moreover, better decision feedback equalizer implementations employ large transversal filter lengths. Accordingly, decision feedback equalizers within high throughput systems such as digital television are typically designed as fixed-function application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) cores processing data on a sample-by-sample basis.
Fixed function ASIC implementation necessitates expensive redesign when an applicable standard evolves due to either new service requirements or the need for performance enhancement. Moreover, some applications such as software radio (SWR) require significant flexibility to adapt to different modulation formats and receiver signal processing algorithms. Combined with high throughput requirements and computationally expensive algorithms, such need for reconfigurability precludes economically viable hardware implementation of software radio.
There is, therefore, a need in the art for an improved decision feedback equalizer for use in channel equalization lowering computational complexity for the hardware employed while allowing improved reconfigurability.
To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide, for use in a channel decoder, a block decision feedback equalizer designed by deriving, from first principles, a block exact decision feedback equalizer and then systematically applying simplifying assumptions to obtain several block approximate decision feedback equalizers, each suitable for multipath channel equalization and having error convergence insensitive to filter length. The resulting block decision feedback equalizer is software definable and may be dynamically adapted by choosing whether to update error correction coefficients.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words or phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, whether such a device is implemented in hardware, firmware, software or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that such definitions apply in many, if not most, instances to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:
The present invention may also be employed for any receiver such as, for example, a broadband wireless Internet access receiver, a cable, satellite or terrestrial broadcast television receiver unit for connection to a television, or any other video device receiving encoded video information such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) or digital versatile disk (DVD) player. Regardless of the embodiment, however, receiver 101 includes a demodulator 103 employing a block adaptive decision feedback equalizer for improved channel equalization in accordance with the present invention, as described in further detail below.
Those skilled in the art will perceive that
To improve flexibility while minimizing hardware implementation costs, a software decision feedback equalizer or combined software/hardware decision feedback equalizer would be desirable. However, current hardware decision feedback equalizer implementations are inherently sequential sample-by-sample processing algorithms, while software components are efficient for block-based algorithms where data is processed in blocks to reduce overhead, maximize parallelism, and make possible transformation of operations to forms having lower computational requirements.
In the subsequent description, the following notations are employed: matrices and vectors are represented by boldfaced characters, with boldfaced uppercase characters (e.g., H) identifying a matrix while a boldfaced lowercase character with an overbar (e.g., {overscore (h)}) identifies a vector and lowercase italicized characters without an overbar (e.g., h) identify a scalar quantity. Discrete time varying variables (e.g., x) are represented either as x(n) or xn. A point-wise inner product matrix operator
The design of a block adaptive decision feedback equalizer in the present invention begins with the equations governing sample-by-sample decision feedback equalization, in which L is the length of the forward filter and M is the length of the feedback filter, while {overscore (h)}f is the coefficient vector of the forward filter, {overscore (h)}b is the coefficient vector of the feedback filter, x(n) is the input sample at the nth time-index and y(n) is the output of the decision feedback equalizer at the nth time-index. The filter update is then given by:
{overscore (h)} f(n)={overscore (h)} f(n−1)+μe n−1 {overscore (x)} n−1 (1a)
{overscore (h)} b(n)={overscore (h)} b(n−1)+μe n−1 {overscore (d)} n−1 (1b)
and the filtering equation is given by:
y(n)=y n ={overscore (h)} f(n){overscore (x)} n +{overscore (h)} b(n){overscore (d)} n−1 (2)
{overscore (x)} n =[x(n)x(n−1) . . . x(n−L+1)]
{overscore (d)} n =[d(n−1)x(n−2) . . . d(n−M+1)]
{overscore (h)} f =[h f,0 h f,1 . . . h f,L−1]
{overscore (h)} b =[h b,0 h b,1 . . . h b,M−1]
and d(n)=dn=ƒ(yn) (where ƒ( ) is a constellation de-mapping function) while en=g(u(n),dn,yn) is an error term being minimized according to some known criteria which may or may not use a known transmitted symbol u(n). For example, a least means square (LMS) adaptive equalizer would calculate en=u(n)−yn. A blind Godard algorithm, on the other hand, may use en=−yn(y2 n−λ).
The total number of computations for the filter update and the filtering, ignoring the multiplication by μ in equations (1a) and (1b) and the calculation of the error itself, is 2 (L+M) multiplications and (2L+2M−1) additions, respectively, in one sample period Ts. The number of storage elements is proportional to L+M, the size of the state vector.
Assuming that the input and the output of the desired block adaptive decision feedback equalizer are blocks of N samples, a "direct form" block decision feedback equalizer may be implemented utilizing the equations of a sample-by-sample decision feedback equalizer repeated on every sample of the block. The number of operations and the performance remains the same, except that more storage is required and a pipeline delay of NTs is introduced. The filtering equations for the direct form block decision feedback equalizer may be written as:
Substituting the update equations (1a) and (1b) into equation (3) recursively:
Equation (3) may therefore be rewritten as:
Terms C and D within equation (5) may be re-written as:
The block update equation is derived from equations (4a) and (4b) by setting k=0:
Equations (5), (7a) and (7b) fully define an exact block implementation of the sample-by-sample adaptive decision feedback equalization algorithm, which may be referred to as a "block exact" decision feedback equalizer.
for the N samples within the subject block. The filter starts with an initial state [x(n−1) . . . x(n−N)], with buffers 201 a–201 x holding the N samples received for the subject block. When the corresponding error vector [e(n−1) . . . e(n−N)] has only one element for each sample, equation (7a) reduces to a sample-by-sample decision feedback equalizer update equation. Accordingly, signal multipliers 202 a–202 x multiply each sample within the block by the corresponding error vector element. The results are then added by summing unit 203, producing the differential forward filter update term.
In reviewing the block update equations, it is important to note that the first two terms A and B in equation (5) are implemented by finite impulse response (FIR) filters with fixed coefficients over the entire block and therefore may be implemented with fast FIR algorithms. Terms C and D may be viewed as intra-block time varying filters.
Evaluating the computational complexity of the block exact decision feedback equalizer is complex. Facially, the block exact decision feedback equalizer requires more computation since the terms C and D in equation (5) add an additional O(N2) multiplication. However, if the block size N is small compared to the feed-forward and feedback filter lengths L and M, respectively, then the savings provided by fast FIR algorithms for terms A and B more than compensates for the additional overhead. On the other hand, if N is sufficiently large, the block exact decision feedback equalizer consumes more computations than the sample-by-sample decision feedback equalizer.
In order to employ fast FIR algorithms, the filter coefficients must be fixed, which is achieved by the block exact decision feedback equalizer formulation. To remove the overhead due to the correction terms C and D, simplifying assumptions drawn from the problem domain for which the block decision feedback equalizer is being applied are examined in hope of reducing the complexity while retaining the simplicity of the FIR structure. In this regard, the signal processing structures implied by equations (5), (7a) and (7b) are of interest. Starting from the block update equation (7a), which may be written as:
Let Δ{overscore (h)}f(n)=[Δh0 . . . ΔhL−1], where
Therefore, the new filter coefficient vector {overscore (h)}f(n) of the forward filter may be interpreted to be the sum of {overscore (h)}f(n−N) and the result of filtering the state vector {overscore (x)}n−i T through a filter whose coefficients are the elements of the error vector. The same procedure may also be applied to the feedback filter.
The requisite structure 204 may therefore be viewed as a filter R with coefficients R1 through RN. In this case, the filter 204 starts with a zero state every buffer block 205 a–205 x and stops when all the error values have been shifted in. The error values are multiplied by coefficients R1 through RN by signal multipliers 206 a–206 x, the outputs of which are accumulated by summing unit 207. The output of summing unit 207 is sequenced starting with CN−1 or DN−1 and ending with C0 or D0.
It is known that the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) digital television standard vestigial sideband modulation (VSB) reception is multi-path limited, requiring typically long feed forward and feed back sections of the decision feedback equalizer, typically a forward filter length L=128 and a feedback filter length M>256. In equation (6), {tilde over (R)}x:i={overscore (x)}n{overscore (x)}n−i T and for large forward filter lengths L, {tilde over (R)}x:i/L can be treated as an estimate of the auto correlation of x. Normally, the statistic of the received signal changes slowly relative to the signal itself. Therefore {tilde over (R)}x.i/L may be computed at a much lower rate than the rate at which the adaptive filter works. In the case of the ATSC signal, the symbol rate is 10.76 MHz whereas the multi-path channel characteristics is expected to change slowly, in the order of 100 Hz. By the preceding analysis, {tilde over (R)}x:i/L may be computed almost once in 104 samples and therefore the forward filter 200 in
At the next step of simplification, setting one or both of the {tilde over (R)}:i terms to zero is examined. Once the equalizer has converged at T∞, almost all of the multi-path interference may be assumed to have been cancelled. Accordingly the output autocorrelation function is an impulse. Therefore at T∞, {tilde over (R)}d:i≈0, and hence the term D can be dropped from equation (5) without affecting the residual error. However, in the transient or the tracking phase, the absence of this term is like adding an error into the input of the decision device, which is expected to contribute to an increase in the error propagation of the decision feedback equalizer.
Since, the decision device is typically non-linear, this error term is non-zero if and only if D >δmin, where δmin depends on the choice of the forward section. For example, if the forward section compensates fully for the channel, then δmin=∞. Therefore, one way to minimize the error propagation due to this approximation will be to start the forward equalizer before the feed back filter. However, careful consideration of noise amplification by the feed forward filter in a deep fade is required. Start the decision feedback equalizer with a smaller μ for the feedback section may therefore be better.
Equation (8) below is the governing equation for the filtering part of the block approximate decision feedback equalizer 300 depicted in
The structure and operation of the block approximate decision feedback equalizer (BA-DFE-I) 300 is essentially the same as the structure and operation of the block exact decision feedback equalizer except: (1) the intra-block time varying filter 212 b with coefficients {tilde over (R)}d:i for the feedback filter 211 is eliminated, and (2) the intra-block time varying filter 212 a is computed with coefficients {tilde over (R)}x.i, which is updated at very low rates, from measurements on input samples.
In addition, this embodiment serves to keep the error propagation of the decision feedback equalizer at the same levels as the embodiment in
Block approximate decision feedback equalizer 500 is related to the Block approximate decision feedback equalizer 400 in
{tilde over (d)} n=ƒ({tilde over (y)} n) (10c)
Analytically determining the effect of the modified input to the decision device is difficult since the effect depends on the signal characteristics. While this approximation may lead to divergence in the presence of correlated noise, in the case of a multipath channel with slowly varying channels, the approximation is expected to hold as long as the error propagation in the feedback section is sufficiently small.
Since the block update algorithm is already formulated as a filtering operation on the input and decision vectors with the error vector as the coefficients, the update portions (blocks U-1 501 c and U-2 501 d) of the block approximate decision feedback equalizer 500 may be implemented using the fast Fourier transforms (FFTs). With the forward filter 200 (block A 501 a) also implemented using FFTs, a frequency domain equalizer equivalent to the time domain block equalizer may be derived. Such implementation of these blocks as FFTs is straightforward. This means that based on the size of the filters or other appropriate cost criteria, one implementation may be chosen over the other, with similar performance.
Each of the simulations was performed with the 8-level VSB (VSB-8) constellation, with the multipath channel modeled as an FIR filter
where u(n) is the transmitted signal and x(n) is the received signal. A channel having three paths with two close-in reasonably strong echoes is assumed:
An important feature of the block approximate decision feedback equalizer 300, 400 and 500 is the separation of the error calculation algorithm from the filtering and update portions of equalization, so that the assumptions employed in designing the respective equalizers apply equally to any of the various least squares adaptive algorithms that exist for FIR transversal filtering. Using the block adaptive decision feedback equalizer 500 of
While the simulations of
The ability to perform block updates to a decision feedback equalizer without losing performance has significant architectural implications. The block decision feedback equalizer may be implemented using fast Fourier transforms because all involved structures, except the feedback filter, are FIR filters and convolution may be efficiently performed using FFTs. More significantly, block decision feedback equalizer structures enable efficient design of the FIR filter array for time domain implementation, providing the following advantages over the sample-by-sample update strategy:
Given the advantages detailed above, the block decision feedback equalizer structure may advantageously be mapped to an Adaptive Filter Array Processor (AFAP) for multi-standard channel decoding. Since the update is independent of the filtering, various hardware/software partitions may be feasible.
Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, substitutions and alterations herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention it its broadest form.
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|375/233, 708/319, 714/792, 375/232, 375/341
|Classification internationale
|Classification coopérative
|Classification européenne
|20 juil. 2001
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The Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders at Cincinnati Children's is changing the outcomes for our patients and their families battling these disorders. As part of our belief in the compassionate, respectful family-centered care of every patient and family, we understand that the best reassurance and support for our families comes from stories shared by other families in similar situations. Here are some stories of Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorders' patients and their families:
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Using global tracking systems for your benefits is outstanding. These gadgets can be useful to perfectly track and monitor positions of objects on the surface. The main applications for these equipments include to keep track of valuable assets. This involves the prevention of priced items like precious objects and jewelry. Using mini GPS trackers for tracing your assets, it is important to make sure that you have chosen the right one. As the tracker receives data continuously, it stores them using a system of modified methods. This involves interfaces and applications. It provides counter measurements against abductions and theft for unidentified and dangerous assets.
How this technology is relevant and why it must be used in every automobile. If you consider events occurred in the previous decades, there were a number of natural calamities. Most of the natural calamities result in loss of property, missing individuals and accidents. Though, rescue individuals faced a difficult time to search for the people that were missing during this period. Floods, high intensity storms and earthquakes swept off vehicles from the road that was not just a challenge for rescuers rather some were never traced. This happened, where mini GPS trackers were not so beneficial and were not effective to assist the rescuers.
Also, the GPS trackers have proven to be the most influential inventions of science. Its relevancy with rescue work is not just a factor that is able to make it formidable. This invention is versatile and can also be combined with radar technology to provide ships, aircrafts, automobiles, and submarines outstanding navigational features in low line of sight. Due to various mini GPS tracker benefits, aircraft modules are flawlessly integrated with Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). These modern equipments adjust glide slopes of aircrafts before landing by managing their altitudes along with speed in some situations.
Ships as well can navigate properly in turbulent weather conditions using these systems. The applications of these mini GPS trackers are well observed in vehicles and automobiles. Using these gadgets, automobile owners are able to get the destination of their preference using directions and maps narrating applications. A number of mobile phones can accompany build in personal mini GPS trackers that are really sensitive to lots of conditional factors and would not give accurate position results. They are independent modules fitted in various vehicles and it provide right positioning data.
The size of mini GPS tracker might be different based on its use. The modules utilized in these mini GPS trackers to track data from moving vehicles might be heavy and large in comparison to those used by pets and individuals. A better reason of this might be the quantity of data that requires to be sent out when it comes to vehicles. Being large sized tracking devices, they provide speed and power. Also, the trackers plot altitude. These modules that are fitted in automobiles require to be built up with remarkable amount of shocks, G-force and stress. A number of vehicle owners are attracted towards these devices just because of outstanding mini GPS tracker benefits.


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Athens Creative Theatre will hold auditions 7-9 p.m. Jan. 7 for its upcoming production of "Old Time Radio Show Reader's Theatre." Show dates are Feb. 12-14 and 19-21.
Auditions will be held at Quinn Hall at Memorial Park, 293 Gran Ellen Drive.
No appointment necessary to audition. Everyone is asked to arrive at the theater by 7 p.m. All ages are welcome. Children's roles are cameo roles.
For more information, call (706) 613-3628 or visit athenscreativetheatre.com.
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Serge Ibaka plays as Thunder downs Lakers
While addressing reporters 75 minutes before tipoff, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni tried to keep a straight face when asked if he was surprised Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka had not been suspended for Tuesday night's game at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
D'Antoni insisted he wanted OKC to be at full strength.
"I want them all to be there and see where we are, and see where we have to go," D'Antoni said, trying to gauge exactly where his .500 team stood against one of the league elite teams.
Where the Lakers stood was on the lower end of a 122-105 final as the Thunder improved to 27-4 at home on the season.
OKC (44-16) never trailed and led by as many as 18, but the game actually was much closer than the final. The Thunder closed out the game with a 12-0 run after the Lakers (30-31) had pulled to within 110-105 with 6:14 remaining.
It wasn't known until roughly 5½ hours before Tuesday's 8:40 p.m. start that Ibaka was cleared to play after punching Los Angeles Clippers forward and former Oklahoma standout Blake Griffin in the groin during OKC's 108-104 victory Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.
Rather than being sidelined with a one-game suspension, Ibaka was fined $25,000 and his Flagrant I foul was upgraded to a Flagrant II.
The first basket of the game was a running hook in the lane from Ibaka that bounced high off the rim before going through.
Ibaka finished with 13 points (6 for 8 from the field), six rebounds and two blocked shots in 28:22.
Both blocks came during the same possession 2½ minutes into the game when Ibaka rejected inside attempts from Dwight Howard and then Earl Clark.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant was asked Sunday night what he would do if Ibaka had struck him in the groin area. "I probably would have smacked him in the mouth," Bryant said. "I would have dealt with the pain after."
There were no incidents between Ibaka and Bryant, or Ibaka and anybody, during Tuesday's game.
Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant said he didn't fear anyone retaliating against Ibaka.
"No, I don't think guys are going to retaliate for no reason," Durant said. "Serge plays physical and everybody knows that. It was an unfortunate play. Serge is not a dirty player. Him and Blake Griffin always battle hard. It was just a tough play. I'm glad nobody was hurt, first off. Serge kept his cool and played well after that."


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'Fireproof Your Marriage' conference builds on movie's theme, offers marital advice
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (BP)--"Fireproof Your Marriage," a two-day event sparked by the popular movie "Fireproof," drew nearly 800 participants to hear a lineup of speakers ranging from veteran relationship guru Gary Smalley to the movie's executive producer Michael Catt.
Modeled after a similar event at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., where Catt is pastor, the goal of the conference at First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., March 27-28 was for couples to find hope, conference leader Ted Cunningham said.
Pastor of Woodland Hills Community Church in Branson, Mo., and coauthor of "The Language of Sex" with Gary Smalley, Cunningham said some people came to the conference thinking "the grass is greener on the other side" or actively contemplating separation or divorce.
"Where the grass is greener, there is a septic leak," Cunningham said. On the other hand, marriage can be a beautiful picture of what God meant it to be, and it takes only one person to turn a marriage around, he said.
"You begin to ask God to work on you and change your heart and allow Him to be the source," Cunningham said.
Joining Catt from Sherwood Baptist were Alex Kendrick, director and co-writer of Fireproof; Stephen Kendrick, producer and co-writer of Fireproof; and Mark Willard, the senior associate pastor of music.
Asking couples to participate in role playing and drawing names for giveaways as well as lively speeches with bright illustrations on two large jumbotrons kept the audience's attention.
And, of course, it wouldn't be Fireproof without showing selected scenes of the movie in several of the conference's six sessions.
One of the country's best-known authors on family relationships, Smalley, 68, who has been married 43 years, shared about life-changing experiences in a four-year period in which he had a serious heart attack and a kidney transplant.
Opening his clenched fist to show a heart drawn with a red marker, Smalley said education, quality of life and material goods cannot measure up to an individual's heart.
"All that stuff means nothing compared to guarding your own heart," Smalley said. Equating fear, frustration and hurt feelings to anger, he said "you can never bury anger dead; you always bury it alive."
Telling a story about accidentally running over the family cat, Puff, Smalley described the aftermath in his family's home involving apologies to his children, a burial in the backyard and encountering his wife behind a closed bedroom door.
"I know you didn't mean to murder Puff," she told him. He told her he felt horrible. Their conversation illustrated the elements of anger -- the things he used to say about the cat that were not so nice came to mind -- but his remorse was genuine, he said.
"Frustration is anger," Smalley said, noting that stress is synonymous with the word anger. Ultimately, even in relationships like his and his wife's where they respond to things differently, he is responsible for his own level of anger.
"She is one of the key people in my life that frustrates me, that hurts my feelings," Smalley said.
"If you are married to an irritating person, you are greatly blessed," Smalley said, citing Matthew 7. "When you are irritated, it is simply an expression of the logs in our own eyes."
When an individual offends his or her mate, it is important they take it seriously, Smalley said. But each person is responsible, ultimately, for their own heart's condition and not that of their spouse.
"Everyday I guard my heart and I don't let anger take root," he said. "Allowing anger to take any kind of root in our heart closes our heart off immediately."
Several years ago, Smalley said he felt compelled to begin sharing with his wife some things he felt she needed to correct, especially the need for exercise. His son invited him outside and reminded his father it would create an unsafe place and he needed instead to work on himself.
As a result, Smalley said he told his wife he realized he had been sinning against her for 38 years and trying to change her.
"I have been trying to work on you and making you better," Smalley told her. "Would you forgive me all these years for working on you and not me?"
Four years later, Smalley's wife asked him to walk with her. She had been walking every day, he said, in spite of severe arthritis in her knees.
"She's dragging her leg down the road," he said to laughter. "I stopped nagging her about the things that's between her and God and not me. The responsibility is my own heart."
Showing a clip from Fireproof where the characters take the first step toward reconciling their marriage, Smalley said there are five essential things which illustrate steps necessary for a person seeking forgiveness:
Recognition of a person's high value, listening to and understanding why a person is angry, admission of error, asking for a response/forgiveness, reaching out to touch in a positive way.
"If we are angry, we open the door to the enemy," Smalley said. "Don't plan on your mate loving you very well if they stay angry."
Alex Kendrick, coauthor of "The Love Dare" (B&H Publishing), which plays a role in the movie's central plot, said he knows of one man who completed the book three times before his wife finally responded. They are now back together and have renewed their vows.
"Marriage takes work," Kendrick said.
Showing a clip where the characters discuss faith, Kendrick said a woman can tell when a man is genuine. Quoting partially from Matthew 12:34, he said "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."
Discounting the world's advice to follow your heart, Kendrick said that goes against Proverbs and is the source of countless divorces.
"Our hearts are basically selfish and sinful," he said, unless God is the one leading a person's heart.
"You can direct your heart," Kendrick said. "Let your heart be devoted to the Lord."
In the final session, Michael Catt showed a clip of an Andy Griffith show in which a couple is forced -- nearly at gunpoint -- to exchange a simple "good morning" greeting.
"I'm not the marriage expert," Catt said, but in writing a book on how to "Fireproof Your Life," he has tried to answer the question of what to do when you go through a fire, knowing everyone goes through fires.
Catt told the story of a traveling salesman who killed himself because he was caught in an affair. His distraught widow sat sobbing after finding a stash of receipts for flowers he bought for women all around the country in a box underneath the bed they slept in.
"Self-indulgence is costly," he said.
Catt, a Mississippi native, said he and his wife Terri; daughter Erin, who costars in Fireproof, 26; and daughter Hayley, 23, together are two Georgia peaches, a Texas rose and Mississippi mud.
"I am within the bounds of Jesus Christ, and I have everything I need to live in the bounds of Jesus Christ," Catt said. "I have all I need to be sufficient with Him personally as a parent and as a husband and as a man."
Holding a thick file folder of letters he pulled from a collection of four boxes, Catt said they were copies of correspondence between his adoptive mother and father written every day in a four-year period of time during World War II.
Catt said his father, who was in the Army National Guard in Jacksonville, Fla., when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese, wrote the letters while serving with the Army Air Corps.
In the first letter from November 1942, his father wrote, "How's my pretty little wife?"
"He kept every letter she sent him, and she kept every letter he sent her," Catt said. "Every day they reminded themselves, 'I have given my heart to another.'"
Catt remembered that his father said he had always been faithful to his wife of 54 years, and after she died he continued reading her letters. At one point, Catt said his dad told him, "You know, some of those letters are sexy."
Holding the letters and a Bible, Catt lowered his voice nearly to a whisper.
"It was a love that continued, didn't wane. And by the way, this is God's love letter to you. If you want to know how love responds, read this book. There's some sexy stuff in here," Catt said of the Bible.
"But there's some great truth in here about how you can love somebody with the love that only God can give you, how you can care for somebody, how you can walk through the valley of the shadow of death or you can walk through illness or whatever it is, whatever comes your way....
"This book right here will get you through it because ... God says 'I love you with an unconditional love, I forgive you,' and you can love your spouse the way that God loves you," Catt said.
Joni B. Hannigan is managing editor of the Florida Baptist Witness (www.floridabaptistwitness.com), newsjournal of the Florida Baptist State Convention. Resources related to Fireproof, including the DVD of the movie, are available at LifeWay Christian Stores and online at www.lifeway.com.


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Maritime Today
The Maritime Industry's original and most viewed E-News Service
U.S. shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO hosted a keel laying ceremony on Thursday, May 26 for the Liberty, one of three new ECO Class Jones Act tankers under a
SAFE Boats International (SBI), a manufacturer of aluminum boats located in Bremerton, Wash., has completed the first Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) on contract from U.
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee's FY2017 Defense Appropriations Bill has included $1 billion in funding to accelerate construction of a new polar icebreaker for the U.
A global Train-the-Trainer workshop on energy efficiency has been delivered in China (23-27 May), preparing the personnel needed to cascade knowledge on energy
Fitch Ratings, one of the top three U.S. credit analysis agencies, has affirmed the Port of Long Beach's "AA" rating on its outstanding debt.
Fitch stated the AA rating — its highest for U.
Leonhardt & Blumberg was founded in 1903 and has managed more than 180 vessels, the majority of which were general cargo vessels and bulk carriers. Today the company