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CASanDRA: A framework to provide Context Acquisition Services ANd Reasoning Algorithms for Ambient Intelligence Applications
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1 2009 International Conference on Parallel and Distributed Computing, Applications and Technologies CASanDRA: A framework to provide Context Acquisition Services ANd Reasoning Algorithms for Ambient Intelligence Applications Ana M. Bernardos, Paula Tarrío, José R. Casar Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Madrid, Spain {abernardos, paula, Abstract The development of ambient intelligence (AmI) applications usually implies dealing with complex sensor access and context reasoning tasks, which may significantly slow down the application development cycle when vertically assumed. To face this issue, we present CASanDRA, a middleware which provides easily consumable context information about a given user and his environment, retrieving and fusing data from personal mobile devices and external sensors. The framework is built following a layered service oriented approach. The output data from every CASanDRA s layer are fully accessible through semantic interfaces; this allows AmI applications to retrieve raw context features, aggregated context data and complex images of context, depending on their information needs. Moreover, different query modes subscription, event-based, continuous and on-demand- are available. The current mobile-assisted version of CASanDRA is composed by a CASanDRA Server, developed on an applications container and hosting the system intelligence, and CASanDRA Lite, a mobile client bundling a set of sensor level acquisition services. How an AmI application may be effortlessly built on CASanDRA is described in the paper through the design of an Ambient Home Care Monitor. Keywords-context-aware systems, ubiquitous frameworks, ambient home care systems, sensor networks I. INTRODUCTION Ambient Intelligence applications, those conceived to work in an environment populated with sensors and aiming at adapting their performance to their users personal characteristics and needs, are intensive consumers of data coming from both physical and virtual sensing sources. Accessing those data and inferring useful and reliable information may be a complex process, which usually hinders the development of AmI services. For this reason, since 1994, when Schilit and Theimer coined the term context-awareness, different solutions to manage context data have been proposed. In this paper, we describe CASanDRA, our framework to provide Context Acquisition Services and Reasoning Algorithms to be directly consumed by any type of application needing to handle context information. CASanDRA decouples the acquisition and inference tasks from the application development by offering a set of interfaces for information retrieval. The framework design is based on a data fusion-oriented architecture. CASanDRA has been designed to be easily scalable; it simplifies the integration of both new sensor access interfaces and fusion algorithms deployment, as it also aims at serving as a testbed for research. CASanDRA is able to offer its services (presence, location, ambient data, agenda information, biometric diagnosis, etc.) under the assumption that a given infrastructure is available (WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, pressure mats, RFID tags, etc.) and that the user is carrying a mobile device with connectivity capabilities and, if necessary, other personal wireless devices (such as biometric sensors). Nevertheless, the framework is able to adapt its service offer depending on the technologies availability. Section 2 explains what makes CASanDRA different from some other frameworks in literature. In Section 3, CASanDRA s features are detailed. Section 4 describes the middleware architecture and the acquisition services currently available. Section 5 shows how CASanDRA may be used to build contextaware applications through an example. Conclusions and further work are in Section 6. II. CONTEXT-AWARE PLATFORMS: CURRENT SITUATION AND CHALLENGES In the last decade, a good number of middleware proposals to handle context information have appeared in literature. As stated below, they differ in their architecture approaches, data modeling and reasoning systems. One of the first frameworks was the Context Toolkit [1]. It is based on widgets, uses tuple data modeling and does not provide reasoning capabilities (although subsequent works [2] propose to use Dempster-Shafer theory to handle uncertainty and derive complex contexts). Gaia [3] aims at providing a meta-operative system, built on the concept of active space, which coordinates and combines information from heterogeneous devices in a physical space. It uses a Context File System, a virtual file hierarchy based on /09 $ IEEE DOI /PDCAT
2 context information tags, which structures directories on the context predicates. Solar [4] is an event-based architecture, composed by stars and planets. Stars handle external application subscriptions to event and planets execute Solar s operators (filters, transformers, mergers and aggregators). Each application needs to be able to build an operation tree to gather and aggregate the context information it needs. CoBrA [5] is an agentbased architecture. The context broker agent maintains a shared context model for the rest of agents in the space. It performs rule-based inference on OWL language. The Context Manager Framework [6] has a central context manager which uses a blackboard and fuzzy logic for reasoning purposes. SOCAM [7] uses ontologies for context modeling and reasoning, as it aims at converting physical spaces into semantic ones. CORTEX [8] configures distributed sentient objects, independent software components capable of acquiring context data and performing inference. These components share information with nearby objects which are dynamically discovered. CoCA [9] and MARKS [10] faces context management in ad-hoc networks. There are also some proposals of device-centric middlewares. MobiPADS [11] proposes an architecture based on mobilets, structures composed by a master (in the phone) and a slave (in a central server). Citron [12] is conceived to be fully operative in the mobile device: it uses a blackboard approach to handle information from workers (which access sensors), which is represented in tuples in the citron space. Apart from these contributions, many other exists: ALICE, Aura, CARMEN, CARISMA, Capnet, Cooltown, EasyLiving, LIME, MiddleWhere, MiLaN, Mobiware, one.world, Oxygen, TSpace, CASS, TEA, WildCAT, XMIDDLE, MoCoA or CoSAr. In spite of diversity, there is not an accepted methodology to handle the development of contextaware applications, even if it has been recognized that a unified treatment both of data models and architectures would accelerate the production of AmI context-aware services. CASanDRA is built following a serviceoriented application-centric approach, aiming at providing simple semantic interfaces. That means that on-line access to its services, just by using http queries, making possible to connect a whole environment and its inhabitants transparently to the Internet. III. CASANDRA DESIGN PRINCIPLES A. CASanDRA philosophy for cloud context aware services CASanDRA aims at facilitating the deployment of AmI applications hosted by external service providers in remote servers. The framework provides a set of functionalities that simplify the access to context data which are gathered through mobile and personal devices and the networks around them. That means that third parties developing context-aware software do not have to deal with acquisition, communications and general inference tasks, but just define their context information needs to receive context data updates, or query the system for specific data. With this approach, we are assuming that context-aware services will not necessarily be natively installed in the device, but will be developed as Internet services, accessible through a data connection. Nevertheless, native applications may also profit from CASanDRA services. B. Components The framework is shaped into two different components: CASanDRA Server and CASanDRA Lite. CASanDRA Server is the infrastructure component, which hosts inference, user registry and consumer application registry. The structure and interfaces defined for CASanDRA Server make its replication easy, so it is possible to have a cluster of distributed servers to host different fusion and inference algorithms. Additionally, CASanDRA Lite is a client performing acquisition tasks enabled by the mobile device sensing capabilities (e.g. acceleration measurements from in-device inertial systems, nearby networks signal strength measurements, etc.). This component may also perform light inference functions (e.g. in-device activity estimation, etc.). C. Service Oriented Architecture The architecture of CASanDRA is inspired in the SOA paradigm, following its key concepts of visibility, interaction and effect for the framework s capabilities and basing on services to build these capabilities. As defined in the standard [13], a service needs to be able to perform work for another, specifying the work offered for another and also offering to another to perform the work. CASanDRA services have interfaces to be externally invoked, and publish their functionalities for applications to use them. D. User-centric approach In CASanDRA, the control of data acquisition and transfer procedures always remain in hands of the target user, as he/she will have control over CASanDRA Lite functionalities and will handle which applications can access CASanDRA services, and when and how they will be able to do it. Moreover, the user will be able to set external context providers to enrich his personal context data. CASanDRA is also prepared to deal with external sources of context data in a transparent way for data providers. 373
3 Figure 1. CASanDRA architecture. E. Fusion services CASanDRA is conceived to host different data fusion services, which may compute both simple context features (such as location or activity) but also complex context images, describing, for example an emergency status. F. Data interfaces Standardized interfaces at different levels of abstraction allow applications to access context data in their raw form but also in an aggregated way. For example, it may be possible to access three-axis acceleration data coming from a mobile device to externally compute the user s activity, but also to use CASanDRA s user s activity estimation service. Semantic technology (XML) makes data access possible in a standardized way. G. Information retrieval methods CASanDRA facilitates a consumer application to recover context information through different procedures. The first mode is by querying a particular service for information whenever the application requires it, in a continuous or in an occasional call. For example, the first mode is suitable to receive heart rate samples from a wireless heart monitor to build an electrocardiogram, while the latter is suitable to query for location in a given moment. Apart from these modes, it is also possible to subscribe to a service in order to receive periodic updates for a given context information. Moreover, the application may also establish conditions for CASanDRA to evaluate and trigger notifications to the consumer applications when context changes (events) are detected. H. Quality of context Dealing with uncertainty is a fundamental issue when handling context information, so being aware of the information quality is needed to allow the consumer applications correctly reason on their own purpose. As a consequence, quality of service is directly related to quality of context in context-aware applications. CASanDRA aims at handling quality of context by offering context data together with a reliability parameter. For example, see Figure 2b for the case of a proximity ZigBee location method providing its probability of estimation correctness. IV. THE CASANDRA FRAMEWORK A. Architecture description CASanDRA structure is represented in Figure 1. It partially implements the fusion architecture described in [14] The CASanDRA stack is composed by three main layers: the acquisition layer, the fusion layer and the presentation layer. 374
4 The acquisition layer is divided into the Server and the Lite components, and it hosts the lowest access functions to sensors, preprocessing and signal adequacy functions. The fusion layer performs feature extraction and upper level context inference. The presentation layer includes the notification processes. Additionally, a vertical control layer hosts the functionalities needed to handle the query methods (ondemand, event-based, subscription and continuous modes). Available services are implemented into servlets, which may be invoked and executed from and external consumers (see Figure 2b for an example). The CASanDRA Service Registry makes easier to retrieve the information of the deployed services through XML interfaces: sensor type, service description, standard input, communication port for socket connectivity and information retrieval methods may be consulted by invoking < CASanDRA s fusion layer is prepared to dynamically generate/activate the available services to check if a certain condition is fulfilled. When using subscription or continuous modes of information retrieval, consumer applications show their needs and the system configures the services to deliver the requested data. For example, if an application needs to watch out if a given user is moving into a specific zone, and this location monitor service is not available, CASanDRA automatically activates it. Afterwards, if other consumer application also needs it, the Subscription Manager will deliver the information to both applications. This process of incremental service composition is represented in Figure 2a, which shows a view of an operational moment in CASanDRA. In the next section, a brief description of some of the available acquisition and fusion services is done. B. Basic context information services CASanDRA system bases on an infrastructure which enables retrieving signal strength, beacon events, accelerometers data or biometric signals. On this information, the acquisition layer provides context estimators and the fusion layer is able to enhance them and, additionally, use them to dynamically configure application-specific inference services. Following there is a review of the basic context estimation services integrated in CASanDRA: 1. Location estimation. Indoor location data are provided through algorithms built on top of WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee networks and RFID (Near Field Communications) beacon based systems. Depending on the available technologies and the needed accuracy, the Location Manager decides which of them to use. When outdoors, GPS and cell-id are the location technologies. By now, CASanDRA provides signal strength location algorithms (based on real and simulated fingerprinting and propagation models), offering symbolic location (zone-based) and physical location (coordinates). The average error is 2.5 meters for physical location. In Figure 2b, the standard output for the ZigBee location service is shown. 2. Proximity detection. Based on the availability of RFID (NFC) tags which only allow short distance readings, a proximity detection algorithm is offered in CASanDRA. This type of event detection facilitates the use of calibration methods for the location algorithms above. For example, a Least Mean Squares method which aims at adapting a general propagation model to the particularities of the environment may use these fixed tags as beacons. 3. Kinetic information. CASanDRA Lite have a set of functions to access the accelerometers in the mobile device. Those acceleration data are afterwards sent to CASanDRA server. Speed and acceleration are available from this service. 4. Activity inference. CASanDRA aims at having a set of activity inference algorithms, capable of determining if a person is standing, sit, walking, going upstairs or downstairs, in the elevator, etc. CASanDRA server hosts a service which integrates acceleration and positioning data in order to estimate activity. 5. RFID readings detection. NFC tags may contain information embedded in. This service manages readings events and forwards them to upper inference levels in order to manage the content in the tags. 6. Ambient information. Ambient information is acquired from a ZigBee (IEEE ) wireless network, which is composed by a number of nodes capable of managing multihop routing. 7. Biometric data access. For some ambient intelligence applications, biometric data from a given user are requested. For this reason, CASanDRA allow to get heart beat rate and oxymetry information from two different Bluetooth sensors. In these cases, the mobile device acts as a gateway, forwarding the data streams into CASanDRA server. When an application is willing to build the electrocardiogram signal, it is necessary to continuously retrieve data. In this case, the mobile device enables a server in one of its ports and CASanDRA server is able to get data from it. 8. Access to virtual sensors. There are many external providers which may store context-related information, which is retrievable through semantic interfaces. It is the case of weather information or services enabling to connect and share real time sensor data from objects. CASanDRA offers an API to register and query those services to opportunistically use the information they provide in upper inference layers. 9. Calendar service. Information about the user agenda may be available both in-device and through virtual sensors (web calendars). This service merges the agenda data coming from both sources. Each service is described through an HTTP XML API which contain the connection data which to retrieve the context features (Figure 2). 375
5 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso "?> <!--id, zone & error probability--> <proxiprobabilities> <id>"5"</id> <objectzone> <Zone>"living room"</zone> <idzone>"6"</idzone> <probability>" %"</probability> </objectzone> <objectzone> <Zone>"bathroom"</Zone> <idzone>"4"</idzone> <probability>"1.5503%"</probability> </objectzone> <objectzone> <Zone>"corridor"</Zone> <idzone>"5"</idzone> <probability>"0.7752%"</probability> </objectzone> </proxiprobabilities> Figure 2. a) Service composition. b) Example of the ZigBee location service XML interface. It is the response to the HTML query C. Implementation technologies CASanDRA Server is implemented in Java, into an application container (Apache Tomcat) running on a Linux server. Databases are built on MySQL. CASanDRA Lite runs in a mobile device, and clusters different type of acquisition software, dealing with low level sensor access (such as RSS measurement, accelerometer access, RFID and ZigBee SD cards access) and acting as a server for special cases. CASanDRA Lite prototype is built for Windows Mobile devices, using different programming languages for sensor access (C#, C++) and the J9 as Java Virtual Machine. V. CASE OF USE: AN AMBIENT HOME CARE MONITOR BASED ON CASANDRA By now, CASanDRA has been used to develop a number of context applications on top of it. For example, CASanDRA has served as a basis for an Ambient Home Care Monitor (AHCM). An AHCM is a system designed to check and give up-to-date information about an elderly to his caregivers. The AHCM service contains the logic to monitor the elderly state, and takes the decision on when it is necessary to deliver an alarm. When no-emergency status is registered, the AHCM periodically generates different messages to be sent and published in the elderly s microblog website (eg. Twitter style), which is available to authorized readers through common mobile widgets and web interfaces. ZigBee equipped pressure mats (placed at the house entrance and on seats and beds), biometric devices (such as an oxymeter or a heart rate monitor) and RFID tags (in a near future, capable of enabling automatic activation of appliances and services). Figure 4. Map of an elderly s simulated home. Table 1 shows some messages that the AHCM posts to the microblog site on the information from CASanDRA. In this case, the AHCM application, demands CASanDRA to configure different services to detect events (see the E legend in Table 2) or receive periodic updates on different sensors (legend S). Figure 5a shows the XML which defines the AHCM needs for information. Afterwards, the AHCM logic decides which messages to post in the microblogging site (Figure 5b). TABLE I. EXAMPLE OF AHCM LOGIC FOR MESSAGE POSTING. QUERY MODE: (E) EVENT SERVICE, (S) SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE. Figure 3. Components flow for the AHCM service. The AHCM service has been deployed in our laboratory (Fig. 4), under the assumption that a realistic ambient intelligence home network will count on ZigBee wireless sensors (suitable for location and ambient data acquisition), Event Action Microblog message (E) Stepping on the pressure mat at the entrance of the house (outdoors). On the event detection, the service retrieves the weather forecast from an external provider to complete the post. I am leaving. 34º outside! I m back home 376
6 (S) Detecting sustained pressure (over 1hour) in a mat on an armchair. (E) Detecting that the user s location has changed. (S) Normal data from an oxymeter. (S) Data from ambient sensors. (E) Lights on unneededly or irregularly. (E) RFID tag reading detection. (S) The time for an appointment or medication intake is approaching. Generate a message in order to suggest the caregiver to ask the user to move. (1) Posting a message (2) If no location change has been detected in an hour, the system posts a special message. Post biometric data three times a day if the values. Location-aware ambient info posted each 3h. If any light in the house is switched on when the user is not there, a special post is generated. Post a message identifying the appliance which has been activated. Each hour, the system will publish the agenda for the next hour. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso "?> <session> <applicationid>ahcm</applicationid> <user>00:13:02:5f:9a:08</user> <info> <location> <event>zonechange</event> </location> <pressuremats> <matid>entrance</matid> <event>pressed</event> <subssampling>1</subssampling> </pressuremats> <oxymeter> <subssampling>8</subssampling> </oxymeter> <ambient> <subssampling>3</subssampling> </ambient> <light> <event>onuserlocation</event> </light> <NFCTags> <event>on</event> </NFCTags> <calendar> <calendarid>google</calendarid> <calendaruser>[user]</calendaruser> <calendarpwd>[pwd]</calendarpwd> <event>1</event> </calendar> </info> </session> I have been sit for more than an hour (1) I m in the kitchen (2) I am still in the living room I have a heartbeat of 70 (bpm) and my oxygen blood sat. level is 98 24ºC at the living room The kitchen light is on. I m in front of my computer Rehab time! Aspirin at 19:00h Doctor at 17:30 Figure 5. a) AHCM request for information and b) Messages in a standard off-the-shelf mobile interface. VI. DISCUSSION AND FURTHER WORK CASanDRA is still evolving and enhancing its capabilities. In particular, quality of context management and sensors feedback control mechanisms are currently in the research agenda. CASanDRA s architecture is applicable both to network-based and device-based implementation approaches. A device-based design to make possible autonomous mobile middleware context acquisition and reasoning is currently being developed under the concept of CASanDRA Mobile. Light inference strategies are being addressed, and different options to face the general architecture are being evaluated. In particular, mobile OSGi is being considered as an option to facilitate the maintenance of the services life cycle. Moreover, CASanDRA Mobile will be oriented to facilitate ad-hoc context-sharing among mobile devices and direct interaction with augmented objects. The objective is to facilitate the exploration of the Internet of Things paradigm. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work has been supported by the Government of Madrid under grant S-0505/TIC-0255 and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under grant TIN C REFERENCES [1] A.K. Dey, G.D. Abowd, D. Salber. A Conceptual Framework and a Toolkit for Supporting the Rapid Prototyping of Context-Aware Applications, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Journal, Vol. 16 (2-4), pp , [2] H. Wu. Sensor Data Fusion for Context-Aware Computing Using Dempster-Shafer Theory. PhD Dissertation, Tech. report CMU-RI- TR-03-52, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, [3] M. Román, C. Hess, R. Cerqueira, A. Ranganat, R.H. Campbell, K. Nahrstedt. Gaia: A Middleware Infrastructure to Enable Active Spaces. IEEE Pervasive, Vol. 1, pp , [4] G. Chen, D. Kotz. Solar: A pervasive-computing infrastructure for context-aware mobile applications. Dartmouth Computer Science Technical Report TR , Dartmouth College, [5] H. Chen, T. Finin, A. Joshi. An Intelligent Broker for Context- Aware Systems. Adjunct Proceedings of Ubicomp 2003, pp , UbiComp, [6] P. Korpipää. Blackboard-based software framework and tool for mobile device context awareness. PhD Dissertation, 225p. VTT Publications 579. Espoo, Finland, [7] T. Gu, H.K. Pung, D.Q. Zhang. A Middleware for Building Context-Aware Mobile Services. IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference, Vol. 5, pp , IEEE Computer Society, [8] C. Sørensen, M. Wu, T. Sivaharan, G.S. Blair, P. Okanda, A. Friday, H. Duran-Limón. A Context-Aware Middleware for Applications in Mobile Ad Hoc Environments. Proc. 2 nd Workshop on Middleware for Pervasive and Ad hoc Computing, pp , NY: ACM, [9] D. Ejigu, M. Scuturici, L. Brunie, Hybrid Approach to Collaborative Context-Aware Service Platform for Pervasive Computing, Journal of Computers, Vol. 3, No. 1, [10] M. Sharmin, S. Ahmed, S.I. Ahamed, MARKS for Mobile Devices of Pervasive Computing Environments. Proc. of the Third Int. Conf. on Information Technology, pp , [11] A.T.S. Chan,.S. Chuang (2003). MobiPADS: A Reflective Middleware for Context-Aware Mobile Computing. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, Vol. 29, No. 12. [12] T. Yamabe, A. Takagi, T. Nakajima (2005). Citron: A Context Information Acquisition Framework for Personal Devices. Proc. of the 11 th International Conference on Embedded and Real-Time Computing Systems and Applications (RTCSA 05), pp , IEEE Computer Society. [13] OASIS Standard. Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture [14] A.M. Bernardos, P. Tarrío, J.R. Casar, A data fusion framework for context-aware mobile services. Proceedings of the IEEE Int. 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Men's short-sleeved T-shirt with contrasting details
Scuderia Ferrari Store Exclusive
The short-sleeved T-shirt is made of technical fabric with contrasting details.
The fabric is specially processed with a treatment that allows the skin to breathe freely even during intense workouts, making this shirt ideal for athletic fans. The ergonomic stitching on the back ensures an excellent fit and allows maximum freedom of movement. The contrasting edges on the collar and sleeves stand out. The Shield logo is rubberised and applied to the front.
- Crew neck
- Short sleeves
- Contrasting collar and sleeve trim
- Breathable technical fabric
- Ergonomic seams at the back
- Composition: 83% Polyester, 17% Elastane
We offer both Standard and Express shipping. If you place your order by 3.30 pm GMT Next Day Delivery and Saturday Delivery are available.
We also provide free pick up for your returns: you have 14 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Gold Rallies on Economic Uncertainty FastSwings.com Patrick Stevens Feb 20 2009 Gold Rallies on Economic Uncertainty SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) rallied to a three month high today on fear the economy will get worse before it gets better. The ETF which strives to stay inline with the price of Gold Bullion moved from $73.45 a share to an intra-day high of $98.99 share over the past three months as investors seek security. The Dow Jones Industrial The Dow Jones Industrial fell to a 6 Year low on continued bank weakness. Moving below 7,400 represented a 6 year low for the major US index that tracks the 30 largest companies in the country. Investors might still be liquidating assets even after a long-term pull back in the markets which have fallen nearly 47% from their highs. Banks Collapse Again Major banks in American continued their rapid decline with Wells Fargo falling 25%, Bank of America moving 24% lower and Citigroup falling near 30% before recovering slightly mid-afternoon. Rumored nationalization of the banking system has led to speculators betting on further declines leading to down pressure of the financials. No one seems to want to hold the stocks over the weekend with such rumors circulating.


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Fed court rejects bid to overturn NYC law on sale of dogs, cats
The law said pet shops may only obtain dogs and cats from federally licensed breeders with clean recent animal welfare records.
A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected a bid to overturn a 2015 New York City law imposing tough new restrictions on the sale of dogs and cats.
The law said pet shops may only obtain dogs and cats from federally licensed breeders with clean recent animal welfare records, and cannot sell dogs and cats at least eight weeks old and weighing two pounds unless they are sterilized.
The New York Pet Welfare Association, a group representing pet shops, dog breeders and veterinarians, sued to block the law, fearing it could force many members out of business.
It said the law unconstitutionally burdened commerce by favoring in-state animal rescuers and shelters over out-of-state breeders, and was pre-empted by state veterinary medicine laws.
But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, saying the interstate market "will have every incentive to meet demand" from pet shops needing to import puppies, while the spay-and-neuter requirement did not conflict with state law.
New York City had argued that the law would help insure that consumers bought pets that were healthy and raised humanely. Its dog and cat population was estimated at 1.1 million in 2012.
"The sourcing and spay/neuter laws address problems of significant importance to the city and its residents," Judge Edward Korman wrote. "It appears that the city has enforced them for more than a year, with no apparent ill effects."
Jeffrey Pollock, a lawyer at Fox Rothschild representing the pet welfare group, said: "We respectfully disagree with the decision, and are discussing whether to appeal with our client."
The city's law department had no immediate comment.
The decision on Thursday upheld an October 2015 ruling by U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn, who has since left the bench. Korman normally sits on the Brooklyn court.
The case is New York Pet Welfare Association Inc v City of New York et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 15-4013.


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Here's a new menswear designer to pay attention to. This is from the first collection of Taiwanese-born and Toronto-based Yenting Chen's label, Duly Equipped (found via NJAL). Since getting my InAisce blazer (and a few mens' McQueen pieces), I'm a sucker for a perfectly tailored piece that could double as womenswear. Particularly when there are side vents involved with long jackets (à la my Christmas Westwood), and when there are brilliant pants. Calf pockets seem like someone should've come up with them a long time ago, no (see below)?
(Photos via NJAL)


text:
CHANEL Rouge Coco in Gabrielle 19
38 reviews
86% would repurchase
Package Quality: 4.7
Price: $$$$
Package Quality: 4.7
Price: $$$$
Start your review
on 8/1/2017 3:01:00 AM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm
Hair: Red, Wavy, Fine
Eyes: Blue
Gabrielle is a lovely classic warm red. There's a little bit of sheen and shimmer in it, but it isn't too over-the-top. It looks very put-together on the lips, and in spite of the somewhat shiny finish, it wears really well. It has a flowery scent as one would expect from Chanel lipsticks, but it isn't very strong to me. The packaging is very luxurious and classy-looking, and it has a nice weight to it. I own a few Rouge Coco lipsticks and they are all great, but Gabrielle is the star of the show for sure. I am pale neutral-leaning-warm, and I highly recommend this red to those with a similar skin tone.
on 4/12/2017 10:25:00 PM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Combination, Olive, Not Sure
Hair: Brown, Other, Other
Eyes: Blue
I purchased this probably close to 8 years ago when a vintage tea dress paired with red lipstick was in fashion. Oh how i love the colour and texture. It never ever dries out my lips, it's like i'm wearing vaseline. I love the texture so much i purchased another in a different colour. I've uploaded a photo of me with this lipstick on while on holiday in Paris. I have olive skin, brown hair and blue/grey/green eyes and it is absolutely perfect on me. Only now has it started to dry out, which is an absolute shame. I'm going to attempt to keep using it as i can't afford AUD50 for another, and it does still work on my lips just more difficult to apply. Thank you Chanel for making such a terrific product!!!
on 3/24/2017 4:37:00 PM
Age: 36-43
Skin: Other, Other, Not Sure
Hair: Other, Other, Other
Eyes: Other
I blind bought this, it was a little intimidating in the tube but this & coromandel are my HG reds. Chanel does red best the best liquid matte red lipstick is kylie cosmetics Mary Jo that's a good red. I used to not be into reds; nudes are still my jam but right now in my bag I've got Nude/Naturel/Scarlett lipliners, 2 rouge Coco lipshines (coral & rose); & a nice nude glossimer so I'm set! This is awesome I say go for it.
on 11/8/2016 12:47:00 PM
Age: 56 & Over
Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Blond, Other, Other
Eyes: Green
I am a red lipstick lover. The right red is a classic lip look that never goes out of style. As an older person, I am finding issues with many of the lipsticks by the various lines. The colors neither become me or intrigue me. The formulas are too shiny, too sheer, too matte. So not having been at the Chanel counter for some time, I paid a visit and was helped by a wonderful and beautiful young Chanel rep who did not disrespect me because of my age or make me feel as if was past "it". She recommended several colors for me and this was a red that worked. I fell in love with it immediately. It was not too warm or cool. It would be just right for day or night. I am glad that I bought it.
on 7/22/2015 5:08:00 AM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Oily, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Red, Other, Other
Eyes: Green
My favourite red lipstick. It's bold, it's stunning and very hydrating. The perfect choice for red lipstick
on 4/1/2015 7:32:00 AM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
Gabrielle quickly became my go-to red lipstick of the moment. Let me tell you - these Rouge Coco lipsticks are one of the best launches this spring in terms of makeup.
I love the consistency and moisturizing feel of this lipstick. Yes, it is a bold color - but you can adapt saturation to your own desire. This lipstick can be built up to an intense maximum or just be worn as a stain - if that is what you like.
This lipstick needs re-application throughout a day, so make sure to keep it in your handbag. Gabrielle itself - is a beautiful blue toned red that not only makes your teeth appear whiter, but also gives a nice polished look to your makeup and brightens your face.
I love this product and highly recommend it. If you want to see swatches of other lipsticks in the range and a full-on review head to this blog post below. Hope it helps.
on 3/4/2015 2:20:00 AM
Age: 30-35
Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Other, Other
Eyes: Brown
My HG red lipstick. What more is there to say? It's the perfect classic red, goes on well and stays on. Love it.
on 7/25/2014 9:32:00 AM
Age: 25-29
Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral
Hair: Other, Straight, Medium
Eyes: Brown
By far one of the most moisturizing lipsticks out there, great pigmentation, the shine of the finish is brilliant. Packaging is immaculate. Pricey but it's worth every cent.
on 4/17/2014 6:57:00 AM
Age: 44-55
Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool
Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium
Eyes: Black
I was looking for a "real" red lipstick and this shade seemed to fit the purpose. I already bought another lipstick from the Coco line and I know they are very moisturising.
I apply it in the morning with a lip liner (a must, considering the colour) and it lasts without drying my lips until lunch time. I reapply after lunch, together with liner and I am set until the evening.
I really like the staying power and non-drying effect. However, the shade is not exactly what I was looking for, as it turns a bit too orangey on my lips. I would not repurchase this particular shade, but perhaps another one from the same line.
on 9/19/2013 4:35:00 PM
Age: 19-24
Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Not Sure
Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine
Eyes: Brown
Such a pretty lipstick! I love the look of red lips but often find the formulas too drying. Russian Red, for instance, is lovely and I can wear it but only if I use a lip balm underneath, and even then, after a few hours I know my lips will be drier. Not so, with this! I usually put a dab of balm underneath anyway (it's a habit now) but this is one of the only red lippies I've ever used that I could re-apply without any balm and still have soft lips at the end of the evening.
The color pulls cherry red on me, a little bit pink but not garishly so. I also don't find it warm or cool, it's neutral to my eye. It's also bright but there's nothing harsh about it, it somehow manages to be soft as well. It has a little bit of pearliness or iridescence to it, as well, which only makes it more flattering.
It's funny, my mom actually purchased this originally and then decided it didn't agree with her skin tone, so she gave it to me. She's more NC25-30 (if I had to guess) and prefers lipsticks with more depth, especially brick reds and deeper berry shades and shades with more brown in them, i.e. shades that look hideous on me lol. But this works really nicely for my NC15 skin, not harsh or garish at all, which I sometimes have a problem with when wearing red lipstick.
Popular Lipsticks
Popular Lipsticks


text:
Posts Tagged 'board meeting'
Please join the board for our first NSMAA meeting to contributes and ideas for our upcoming events
September 8th, 2014, 6:00 PM
UH Alumni Center, Life Member Room
Contact Ivy, firstname.lastname@example.com for more information
Join us for our first board meeting as we plan 2013-2014 activities. Foods and drinks will be served.
Date: Monday, November 4th, 2013
Location: UH Athletic/Alumni Center, Blostrom Room, 2nd floor
Time: 6:00 PM
Date: Tuesday, September 10th, 2013
Location: UH Athletic/Alumni Center, Lily Room
Time: 6:00 PM
Join us for our first board meeting as we plan 2013-2014 activities. Foods and drinks will be served.
Our first meeting of the year will be September 17th, 2012 at 6:30 pm.
Please join us and welcome our new officers!
President – Ivy Nguyen
Vice President – Cecilia Ramirez
Treasurer – Jair Leal
Secretary – Kristin Estlund
Please join your fellow NSM Alumni for our annual board meeting. Find out what we have been doing and what we plan for next year. Please RSVP as dinner will be served. You can park in the parking lot infront of the building, just mention that you are here for NSM annual board meeting.
Date: August 6, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Alumni Center, Life Member Room
Our first meeting will be on September 12th, 2011 at 6pm, UH Athletic Center. You are welcome to attend if you're interested in becoming board member. If you would like more information, please contact email@example.com
NSM Alumni Association's first 2010 Board Meeting will be held at the Athletics/Alumni Center at 6:00 PM on January 4th, 2010. Please join us if you are interested in becoming a board member. All UH Alumni Association members who are NSM graduates are automatically part of the NSM Alumni Association.
Please review the Board Member requirements along the right side of the homepage.
If you have any questions about NSM Alumni Association, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com


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Presenting an elegant diamond necklace by Muse By Tomfoolery. This necklace features over 10ct of rose cut mixed cut diamonds in pale greys & champagne. The necklace is a chic stylish twist on classic diamond necklace. If you have any questions about this necklace or would like to see more images of it being worn. Please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 0208 444 7000 to get in touch with our tf try on service.
18ct Yellow Gold
Champagne & Grey Diamonds Mixed Cut Rose cut
Approx Carat Weight: 10.6ct
Length: 18" with options to 16" & 17"
Grey Diamond Cinq Roue Necklace
18ct White Gold Round Sapphire Mottled Pendant
White Gold Mottled Diamond Eternity Band
18ct Gold Mixed Cut Rose Cut Diamond Bracelet
18ct Raw White Gold White, Black & Grey Diamond Mottled Eternity


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Plans to turn a former hotel and Grade B listed building into a thriving community hub for the people of Galston, East Ayrshire are more likely now thanks to a Big Lottery Fund award of £328,579, to Galston Community Development Trust to help develop the community owned former Portland Arms building at the heart of the town centre.
The refurbishment, which will support the ongoing regeneration of Galston, will create a community hub, run for and by Galston residents, that provides facilities for local business start ups, a sales outlet for local produce and space for a wide range of community activities and services. The recent award is the first to be made through the Big Lottery Fund's Community Assets stream of funding which supports community led projects to develop or build assets for their community use.
Read the Big Lottery Fund press release


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Unfortunately, the vast majority of newly diagnosed cancer patients have no clue that they have viable options for treating their cancer. These viable options are using natural medicine or alternative medicine. Generally, these people die without ever knowing the truth about their options. The other common scenario is that before they know they have any options, their body has already been damaged beyond repair by orthodox treatments and they have been sent home to die. Neither common scenario is very attractive.
Why does orthodox medicine hide the truth that their patients have viable options for treating their cancer? Why do they lie when they are asked? Some would say that individual doctors are only doing what they have been trained to say. I disagree.
Many, many people who have successfully used alternative cancer treatments have told several people in orthodox medicine about their successful treatment. The fact is that orthodox doctors don't want to know the truth. And why don't they want to know the truth?
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.
Upton Sinclair
While it may be human nature for someone to not know the truth about alternative cancer treatments, because it would affect their income, from the perspective of the cancer patient, it would seem logical that they would want to know the truth.
Lesson number one, if you want to know the truth, don't ask someone whose livelihood depends upon his ignorance. This is true in many, many areas of life.
Let us be bold and assume that someone who has not yet been diagnosed with cancer wants to know what to do, should that dreadful day ever come. Or perhaps someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer wants to know what to do.
First, of all, the decision of whether to go with orthodox cancer treatments or alternative cancer treatments is a two step process, not a one-step process.
Most people use a one-step decision process and think like this: "I am not going to go with alternative treatments unless I am absolutely certain I will be cured of my cancer."
That is exactly the logic the medical community wants you to use because no one can guarantee they will be cured of their cancer if they go with alternative treatments. There are simply too many variables, the biggest variable being: "are they picking the right combination of treatments for their situation?"
But asking the question I just mentioned is not the right way to think about the issue. As I said, the correct way to think about this decision is a two step process.
Step 1: The First Question
The first question that should be contemplated by someone trying to decide between orthodox and alternative cancer treatments is this: "if I go with alternative medicine, will I have a better combination of living longer and having a higher quality of life than if I go with orthodox medicine?"
The answer to this question is also a two step process.
First, will a person who does absolutely nothing about treating their cancer (i.e. they don't use either orthodox or alternative medicine, they do nothing) live longer and have a higher quality of life than someone who goes through orthodox treatments? There have been three major scientific studies which sought to answer this very question. All three of them concluded that a person who does nothing to treat their cancer will have a better combination of longer life and higher quality of life. In most cases, the patient will actually live longer if they do nothing.
The most extensive of these three studies was done by Dr. Ulrich Abel:
A German epidemiologist from the Heidelberg/Mannheim Tumor Clinic, Dr Ulrich Abel, has done a comprehensive review and analysis of every major study and clinical trial of chemotherapy ever done. His conclusions should be read by anyone who is about to embark on the Chemo Express. To make sure he had reviewed everything ever published on chemotherapy, Abel sent letters to over 350 medical centers around the world, asking them to send him anything they had published on the subject. Abel researched thousands of articles: it is unlikely that anyone in the world knows more about chemotherapy than he.
The analysis took him several years, but the results are astounding: Abel found that the overall worldwide success rate of chemotherapy was 'appalling' because there was simply no scientific evidence available anywhere that chemotherapy can 'extend in any appreciable way the lives of patients suffering from the most common organic cancers'. Abel emphasizes that chemotherapy rarely can improve the quality of life. He describes chemotherapy as 'a scientific wasteland' and states that at least 80 per cent of chemotherapy administered throughout the world is worthless and is akin to the 'emperor's new clothes'–neither doctor nor patient is willing to give up on chemotherapy, even though there is no scientific evidence that it works! (Lancet, 10 August 1991) No mainstream media even mentioned this comprehensive study: it was totally buried.
Tim O'Shea, The Doctor Within
Other experts on chemotherapy would state that his conclusion that "80 percent" of all chemotherapy is useless is far too low. Some would peg the number at 97 percent or higher, especially if you factor in the very poor quality of life of chemotherapy and radiation patients.
For example, even if cancer patients had their lives extended by 20 percent by surgery, chemotherapy and radiation (the Big 3), the physical and mental damage done by these treatments would not justify the use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. It is torture, plain and simple. It destroys the immunity system, can make you blind, can damage your brain functions, can make you sterile, and so on and so forth. A logical person would say that a life extension of 20 percent – 50 percent would not justify the use of orthodox treatments.
However, there is no scientific evidence that the Big 3, or any other orthodox treatment, can extend life at all. The "cancer industry" uses a myriad of statistical tricks to make it appear that the "war on cancer" is being won. But in fact, their cancer research is a total waste of money (see my article: "Introduction to Alternative Cancer Treatments" and my eBook on the war between orthodox medicine and alternative medicine to learn more about their fancy statistical tricks.)
Second, we must ask a similar question about alternative medicine. Will a person who does absolutely nothing about treating their cancer live longer and have a higher quality of life than someone who goes through alternative treatments?
We must first ask the question: what are the side-effects of alternative treatments? There are none. No extra pain, no extra nausea, no brain damage, no sterility, no intense suffering of any kind. The only thing people who take alternative medicine notice is a massive change in their diet. They may not like wheatgrass juice as much as chocolate milk shakes. Other than that, a person on alternative medicine really doesn't know they are on alternative medicine.
But this does not answer the question. Will a person on alternative medicine live longer than if they did nothing? The answer to this question is this: "it depends on whether they did their homework." If they use treatments that kill their cancer cells, protect their liver, kill the fungus, yeast, and mold in their body, build their immune system, etc. the answer is that they will probably live much longer than if they do nothing. But what they eat and drink is just as important as their treatment plan. They must not eat any foods that feed their cancer cells, interfere with the alternative treatment, and so on.
So let us repeat the first question: "if I go with alternative medicine, will I have a better combination of living longer and having a higher quality of life than if I go with orthodox medicine?" Because the answer to this question is a profound 'yes' for those people who refuse all treatments, it is obvious that the answer to the first big question is also a resounding 'yes' for those who go on alternative treatments.
How much better the person's length of life is, and quality of life is, however, really depends on two key things: have they done their homework and stuck to following their chosen treatment plans and diet?
Step 2: The Second Question
The second question is this: "can an alternative cancer treatment cure my cancer?"
The ultimate goal of alternative medicine is to rid the body of cancer cells, either by killing them or converting them back into normal cells and to build the immunity system so any future cancers can be handled by the body routinely. Is this achievable?
The answer to this question obviously depends on the treatment plans chosen (i.e. did someone do their homework?) and the ability of the person to follow the treatment plan and diet.
However, there is another issue here. The issue is this: "what was the condition of the cancer patient at the time they started their alternative treatment?" Many cancer patients had their bodies mutilated and severely damaged by orthodox medicine long before they started their alternative treatment. They have not only lost valuable time by first going the orthodox route, but their immunity systems, lymph systems, and key organs of their bodies had been severely damaged by orthodox medicine before they even started their alternative treatment.
An alternative treatment, as one example, can heal a partly damaged liver, but it cannot heal a dead liver.
Some orthodox medical doctors keep their patients on chemotherapy and/or radiation until they have only days or weeks to live. Such patients have little chance of survival even using the best alternative medicines.
One of the key reasons for making the correct decision now is "time." Time may be short, and to make the wrong decision can cost a cancer patient life-saving time. Even alternative treatments take time and the better the condition of the patient when starting, the better the chances of survival.
While it is true that many people who take alternative cancer treatments do die, it would be extremely rare when a person using alternative treatments did not have a much higher combination of longevity, and quality of life.
Even when a person on alternative treatments does die, it would be rare when a similar patient on orthodox treatments survived longer than they did. In other words, if a person dies using a good alternative treatment, it is a virtual certainty they would have died even sooner if they had gone the orthodox route. Furthermore, it is absolutely impossible that the person on orthodox medicine had a higher quality of life.
People use alternative treatments to prevent cancer because natural substances build the immunity system without any side effects. Can you imagine someone dumb enough to us chemotherapy and radiation as cancer prevention? This is an indication of the vast superiority of alternative cancer treatments and their ability to improve the quality of life of a cancer patient, while they are being treated.
But here is the clincher. Alternative medicine, when the right treatment is used, and when the person sticks to the right diet, and when the patient is not too far gone when they begin, can cure cancer, even cancer that has metastasized.
If 10,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients, who had never had any orthodox treatments, visited Dr. Kelley, his cure rate would be at least 93 percent. This fact is documented by his treatment of 33,000 cancer patients. And that is not using the medical profession's tricky definition of "cure rate." But in my opinion, there are even better alternative cancer treatments than the Kelley Metabolic program.
No one knows the true "cure rate" of orthodox medicine. It is so bad they hide this number behind a barricade of deceptive numbers and statistics.
The conclusion of this article is simple, there is no known situation where a person would be better off using orthodox medicine instead of alternative medicine. Orthodox medicine always makes a person worse than they were than the day before.
When orthodox medicine puts a person into "remission," all they have done is damaged the body so much that the "symptoms" of cancer are gone (e.g. a tumor is no longer there). But being in remission does not mean that the cancer is gone, all it means is that the person's immunity system has been destroyed. But orthodox medicine cannot cure cancer that has metastasized. Period. All they can do is pretend that they have extended a person's life by talking about the symptoms of cancer.
One last note. Orthodox doctors are now giving their patients more and more natural substances during orthodox treatments. These natural substances are not the same natural substances that are used to treat cancer. They are natural substances designed to diminish the symptoms of chemotherapy and radiation.


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A young woman finds an older man on a dating Web site. She's drawn to him. What can it be? His age and experience? His Sean Connery-like looks? The fact that she's got bills to pay at the University of Houston and he has agreed to pay for her education just for the pleasure of her company?
I know what you're thinking, because I was thinking it, too. These two are gonna go get hitched and live in a fairy tale, just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. But the sugar daddy (a.k.a. old guy) isn't a john. The sugar baby (a.k.a. young woman) is so not a prostitute. This is just a mutually beneficial dating arrangement.
And it's a handy arrangement for those looking to avoid student loans. According to a release from Seekingarrangement.com, 67 percent of graduating college sugar babies -- yes, it seems there is a statistic for college sugar babies vs. the ones who aren't in school -- graduated debt-free last year. Ranking the schools they graduated from, University of Houston came in at Number 7. That's something to be proud of. I guess.
We tried to ask Seekingarrangement.com a couple of follow-up questions along the lines of, oh, "a) How in the hell do you come up with a statistic like that, and b) do you expect us to actually believe it?" but alas, they did not return our call.
The Sugar Daddy concept has been around for eons, but Seekingarrangement.com was created back in 2006 by a guy named Brandon Wade. There was a Wall Street Journal Q&A with Wade, CEO of the company, in 2011. Wade told the WSJ he started the Web site out of frustration because here he was, a guy making six figures with degrees from MIT, and the women of the online dating world were ignoring him. His mom always told him that if he got real educated and made a lot of money, women would be lining up around the block. And they weren't!
For some people, this might have been the time for a little introspective thinking. What am I doing wrong here? Am I coming off as someone not to date via e-mail? Do I smell? Am I a guy who really thinks that the only way to get a woman is to show her all my shiny toys and say, with jazz hands, in an extremely creepy voice, "This could belong to you."
Well, Wade was striking out on the dating field, so, being a clever guy (did he mention he went to MIT?), he just started looking for young women to help out financially and mentor while they dated, according to the WSJ. Then he took that whole concept and went live with it in 2006.
Now you too can go online to this or one of the other sites dedicated to helping older rich men and young women get acquainted.
Some men on the site state they're open to negotiation -- am I the only one thinking of Memoirs of a Geisha right now? -- and some tell you then and there that if you are deemed worthy of being this man's girlfriend/personal assistant, you will not only get the dreamboat pictured in the blurb, you'll also get a monthly stipend of $1,000 to $3,000. After all, he's got the money, and he's just a giver.
There's another charmer on the site, Chance, who lists his income at more than $1 million and offers $10,001 to $20,000 a month for the right woman. From his profile picture, it looks like the right woman will be blond or brunette -- he's got one on each side -- and will look a lot like Barbie.
Wade acknowledges that some of the media -- can't think why -- liken this setup to prostitution. The trick is, as long as the sugar daddies aren't paying the sugar babies immediately and directly for sex, it's a legal gray area. Maybe it toes the line toward the oldest profession in the world, but it's not entirely clear if the line actually gets crossed, according to a story from the Huffington Post.
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If you're a pretty young Houstonian and education isn't really what you're after from your sugar daddy, there's always a boob job. Sugardaddies.com, the outfit that touts itself as the "original" site for those looking for a sugary lifestyle -- they started in 2002 -- conducted a survey of more than 200,000 members and the study revealed that breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery sugar daddies are buying.
And among the top 10 cities in America for the number of sugar babies that have sugar daddies buying them plastic surgery is...come on....rhymes with "Shoeston"...you got it!
Seems Houston-based sugar daddies and sugar babies alike feel that education and plastic surgery are sound investments.
Follow Houston Press on Facebook and on Twitter @HairBallsNews or @HoustonPress.


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B1968 code definition
The B1968 trouble code detects an AC water pump detection circuit malfunction.
What the B1968 code means
The B1968 code is a generic OBD-II trouble code that notes a circuit error in the AC water pump detection system. The AC water pump is part of the climate control system, and is used to help adjust the air temperature that enters the vehicle's cabin. The detection system monitors the water pump and relays information to the climate control unit, so that the temperature can be properly adjusted. If the climate control module, body control module, or powertrain control module (PCM) receive an abnormal voltage reading from the AC water pump detection system, then the B1968 trouble code may be stored.
What causes the B1968 code?
The B1968 code is most commonly caused by damaged electrical components in the AC system. Any wires that are shorted or open, connectors that are loose or corroded, or fuses that are blown can trigger the code. It is also fairly common for the code to be caused by a faulty detection sensor or a failed AC water pump. While rare, a malfunctioning climate control module can also cause the code to be stored.
What are the symptoms of the B1968 code?
The B1968 trouble code is usually accompanied by an illuminated check engine soon warning lighton the dashboard, and possibly a flashing AC light on the center console climate controls. It is likely that the climate control system will not function properly, which may result in a lack of hot air, erratic temperature from both the heater and the air conditioner, and a failed defroster.
How does a mechanic diagnose the B1968 code?
The B1968 trouble code will be diagnosed using a standard OBD-II trouble code scanner. A trustworthy technician will use the scanner to look at the freeze frame data and gather information about the code. The mechanic will also use the scanner to see if any additional trouble codes are present, as codes need to be addressed in the order that they appear in. The codes will then be reset, the vehicle restarted, and the B1968 code checked for. If the code is no longer present after this reset, then an erroneous detection, or an intermittent error are the most likely problems.
If the code is still present, then the mechanic will visually inspect all of the electrical components in the climate control system. Any damaged or otherwise compromised wires, fuses, or connectors will need to be replaced. The AC water pump and detection system should then be inspected.
After any components are replaced, the trouble codes will once again need to be reset, the vehicle again restarted, and the B1968 code checked for once more. This will allow the mechanic to know as soon as the problem has been identified and resolved.
Common mistakes when diagnosing the B1968 code
The most common error when diagnosing the B1968 code comes from not following the OBD-II trouble code diagnosis protocol. It is important that mechanics always follow the protocol step by step, to make sure that all diagnoses are thorough and accurate.
Properly working AC water pumps are often erroneously replaced because damaged electrical components are not repaired.
How serious is the B1968 code?
The B1968 trouble code will not keep a car from being drivable, or even result in any drivability concerns. However, the climate control system will likely act erratically, or even not at all, which can be a hassle, especially when driving in harsh weather. As with all trouble codes, the B1968 code should be addressed as soon as possible after being detected.
What repairs can fix the B1968 code?
Possible repairs for the B1968 trouble code include:
- Replacement of wires, fuses, and connectors
- Replacement of the AC water pump
- Replacement of the water pump detection sensor
- Replacement of the climate control module
Additional comments for consideration regarding the B1968 code
The B1968 code is a manufacturer specific trouble code. Manufacturer specific codes are codes that have varying definitions depending on the automaker. So while this code signals an AC water pump detection circuit failure for some cars, it can detect a very different body problem in other vehicles. Mechanics should always be aware of the make and model that they are inspecting when diagnosing this trouble code.
Need help with a B1968 code?
YourMechanic offers certified mobile mechanics who will come to your home or office to diagnose and repair your vehicle. Get a quote and book an appointment online or speak to a service advisor at 1-800-701-6230.


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Wanda M. Rann, 62, of Charlevoix and formerly of Perry, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, at Charlevoix Area Hospital.
Mass of the Resurrection will be 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Charlevoix. The Rev. Robert W. Nalley will officiate.
Wanda was born Feb. 5, 1940, in Charlevoix, the daughter of Albert L. and Pauline E. (Zitka) Russell. She graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1958, then attended Flint Junior College and Michigan State University.
She married John Rann in 1965, and they made their home in Perry, where they owned and operated Rann's Rexall Drug Store. John preceded her in death in 1992, and Wanda returned to Charlevoix in 1996.


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The shape of both the headlights and taillights can be seen clearly and the engineers continued effort to hide the door handles and hinges is almost comical.
The Opel Meriva has been spotted once again while undergoing testing in preparation for its expected unveiling next year. Camouflage treatment on this particular prototype is slightly different to previous photos caught by spy photographers.
The shape of both headlights and taillights are clearly visible, and the engineers continued efforts to hide the door handles and hinges are almost comical. The Meriva will sport a suicide door layout, a feature that will be known as "flexdoors" by the Opel brand come production time.
Our sources claim the Meriva will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show which is a good 12 months away, but don't be surprised to see the new MPV make an earlier appearance in Geneva.


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It makes me feel so healthy. This weekend I had a little tea party with scones, clotted cream and lots of jam. It was great but I have been feeling slugish ever since.
I don't juice vegetables or fruit, I always try to eat them whole. Juicing removes the fiber so that the sugars are more available. Eating the whole plant slows down digestion so you don't get hungry as quickly and you don't get a spike of sugar energy from the juice that leads to a crash. I know lots of people are crazy about juicing and don't like the pulpy quality this has from using the whole vegetables, but I try to avoid juice when I can use a whole food instead.
Green smoothies are also a great way to use produce that is just slightly past it's prime. I used some limp celery, some wilted kale and some apples that were going soft in this one. The ingredients are flexible. Instead of mint and lime-which gives a kind of grassy, mohito quality- I often use lemon and ginger, with a small pinch of chilli flakes, particularly if I feel like I'm getting sick. Bananas are great in green smoothies too and they add a lot of sweetness.
I make a honey simple syrup for oatmeal, smoothies and drinks. It is a lot easier to blend, particularly into cold drinks. Boil equal parts honey and water, cool and store in a squeeze bottle in the fridge. It makes honey so much easier to use.
Green Smoothie
big handful of mint
1-2 apples chopped
1-2 tbs honey
juice of one lime
2-3 stalks of celery
2-3 big handfuls spinach or lettuce
2-3 big handfuls kale
1 tbs each hemp seed hearts and ground flax seeds
water, or iced green or mint tea (I add liquid chlorophyll sometimes) to thin
ice cubes
Put all the solids into a blender or food processor, with a little water and blend for a long time, scraping down the sides. The goal is to make everything into a pulp.
This recipe makes a very pulpy smoothie, since I want to preserve the fiber in my vegetables. When the greens are all mushed, add the remaining liquids to taste, making the smoothie as thick or thin as you like.
Drink it.


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Watford Mencap Santa Dash 2016
Funding target: £1,250
Watford Mencap is a local independent charity that supports people with a learning disability in Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere. We support over 800 local people and their families and help them to lead happy lives and reach their full potential.
Our target of £1250 would be enough to support a child with a learning disability to attend our specialist after-school club for a whole year so please give generously!


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MicroRNA Biomarkers Released by Platelet Activation
Wang, Jie
MetadataShow full item record
MicroRNAs are a group of small noncoding RNA molecules that have been implicated in a variety of human diseases. Because of their remarkable stability and abundant quantity in blood, circulating microRNAs are promising as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis. Platelets are likely to be a substantial contributor to circulating miRNAs. Upon activation, platelets shed membrane-bound microparticles, microvesicles and protein complexes into circulation. Recent studies suggest that circulating miRNAs are protected by encapsulation in vesicles or binding with Argonaute2 (Ago2) protein complex from blood RNase activity. However, the mechanisms of how platelets release miRNAs into circulation, and the role of platelet activation in miRNA release remains unclear. Therefore, I characterized four highly expressed platelet-released microRNAs: miR-16; miR-142-3p; miR-223 and let-7a, using size-exclusion chromatography. My results show that miRNAs are released by platelet activation. Further, my data suggests that platelet-released miRNAs are primarily associated with vesicle-free protein complexes rather than microparticles and microvesicles.
- Laboratory medicine [16]


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ENTRO is our newest lightweight stylish sportswear jacket with classic Animo patch on the left breast and cool zipper detail on the right. Made in our signature EVO fabric, ENTRO will keep you comfortable and looking good wherever you are. Contrasting fabric along the zippers keep it modern and fresh. Knit trim along the bottom.Available as shown in Blue/Navy and Nero.


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I worked from the RV today on various Heartland Owners Club work items.
Nancy went into downtown Tallahassee to have a lunch visit with her cousin Scott's daughter, Christie Schindler Meresse.
After dinner, we went out to a movie. It was at the Tallahassee AMC Theater. Really nice theater with recliners and such – but we ended up in the "front row"! Thankfully, the seats weren't up against the screen and they reclined pretty well
We saw the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. We both liked it.