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Cloud management systems provide the ability to build secure, multi-tenant clouds by pooling virtual infrastructure resources into virtual datacenters and exposing them to tenants through Web-based portals and programmatic interfaces as a fully-automated, catalog-based service. Further, the cloud management systems may use a virtual edge gateway appliance for providing network address translation (NAT), firewall, dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), virtual private network (VPN), load balancer, and other gateway services or network functions to the virtual datacenters assigned to the tenants. The virtual edge gateway appliance is typically created for a virtual datacenter with one or more external networks. Existing method may try to place the virtual edge gateway appliance on one or more host computing systems in the cloud management systems as per its compute, storage and network requirements. While the external network requirements are known, there can be one or more internal networks which may not exist today but can connect to the virtual edge gateway appliance in future. The internal network, for example, an organization virtual datacenter network allows virtual machines within an organization to communicate with each other and also can be connected to the external network to provide external connectivity such as interne connectivity or connectivity to the tenant's organization through other means. When such a new network is connected to the virtual edge gateway appliance, the virtual edge gateway appliance may need to be migrated to an appropriate one or more host computing systems to provision the new network. This migration may not be feasible at run time as it would disrupt the network traffic passing through the virtual edge gateway appliance. | Mid | [
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Q: Make table which exceeds document body but moves with text in Pages I would like to make a wide table in Pages which exceeds the document body and cuts into the margins of the document. It seems as though in order to do this, I need to change the Object Placement setting (in Format > Arrange > Object Placement) from "Move with Text" to "Stay on Page." However, this causes the table to literally stay at a particular position on the page, irrespective of the text around it. I would like the table to move with the text but still be wider than the document body. Is it possible to create a table which moves with the text but whose width exceeds the width of the document body (i.e. the document width minus the margins)? A: The margins set in the document inspector cannot be exceeded by objects placed to move with text. Instead, set the margins to the maximum width of all objects throughout the document, then alter the indents as appropriate. | Low | [
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A man believed to be the world’s longest-serving death row inmate, who walked free from jail on Thursday after decades in solitary confinement, will require hospital treatment for about six months, his sister said Saturday. An unsteady-looking Iwao Hakamada, 78, emerged from the Tokyo prison with his campaigning sister after Shizuoka District Court ordered a fresh trial over the grisly 1966 murder of his boss and the man’s family. On Friday, he underwent a medical check-up, but his sister Hideko, 81, said the years of confinement had left her brother mentally and physically unstable, TBS reported. She said he was having trouble making conversation and simple decisions. After his arrest, Hakamada initially denied accusations that he robbed and killed his boss, the man’s wife and their two children before setting their house ablaze. But the former boxer, who worked for a bean-paste maker, later confessed following what he subsequently claimed was a brutal police interrogation that included beatings. He retracted his confession, but to no avail, and the supreme court confirmed his death sentence in 1980. Prosecutors and courts had used blood-stained clothes, which only emerged a year after the crime and his arrest, as key evidence to convict Hakamada. The clothes did not fit him, his supporters said. The blood stains appeared too vivid for evidence that was discovered so long after the crime. Later DNA tests found no link between Hakamada, the clothes and the blood stains, his supporters said. But Hakamada remained in solitary confinement on death row, regardless. © Japan Today/AFP | Mid | [
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spring.application.name = demo2 server.port = 8083 #${random.int[9000,9999]} eureka.client.service-url.defaultZone=http://127.0.0.1:8761/eureka/ #Ribbon的负载均衡策略 ribbon.NFLoadBalancerRuleClassName=com.netflix.loadbalancer.RandomRule ribbon.MaxAutoRetriesNextServer=0 feign.hystrix.enabled=true # 关于springcloud-hystrix机制 http://www.jianshu.com/p/b8d21248c9b1 hystrix.command.default.execution.isolation.strategy= SEMAPHORE hystrix.command.default.execution.isolation.thread.timeoutInMilliseconds=5000 #txmanager地址 tm.manager.url=http://127.0.0.1:8899/tx/manager/ logging.level.com.codingapi=debug | Mid | [
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Army Jawan on 'Hunger Strike', Wife Also Joins In The wife of an army jawan has said her husband is on a "hunger strike" for the past four days to highlight poor service conditions within lower ranks and she too has started a similar agitation in his support. A TV grab of Lance Naik Yagya Pratap (Image: CNN-News18) Loading... Bhopal: The wife of an army jawan has said her husband is on a "hunger strike" for the past four days to highlight poor service conditions within lower ranks and she too has started a similar agitation in his support. Richa Singh, the wife of Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh, whose purported video on alleged poor service conditions of personnel has gone viral on social media, said her husband was being made to do menial jobs like car washing and shoe polishing for his superiors. She too started her fast four days ago. "I am on a hunger strike to support my husband -- Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh. My husband is also on a hunger strike for the past four days at Fatehgarh (UP)," Richa told PTI over phone from her hometown Rewa, around 500km from Bhopal. Singh is with 14 Rajputana Rifles and currently posted in Fatehgarh. "My husband is under house arrest at Fatehgarh after the video raising the issue of discrimination surfaced," she alleged. A couple of days ago, a purported video of Singh was uploaded on social media where he is speaking about army men being allegedly made to do menial tasks at the residence of officers. Richa demanded her husband be removed from the duties of 'sahayak' (buddy). "Army men of Sepoy, Havildar and Lance Naik ranks do 'sahayaki' (provide auxiliary services)," she said. "My husband joined the army for serving the nation and not for doing the household chores at officers' homes," Richa said. She said, "The condition of my husband has been deteriorating but no medical help has been provided to him." Richa said her husband was earlier posted in Dehradun and joined duties in Fatehgarh on December 21. The purported video was shot in Dehradun, she added. | Mid | [
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1. Introduction {#sec1} =============== Bioterrorism threats as well as emergence of new pandemic and drug-resistant variants of known infections require development of the tools that would adequately predict development of epidemics, assess efficiency of countermeasures, and optimize the efforts directed towards provision of biological safety. Correspondingly, it is necessary to elaborate mathematical models describing dynamics of the socially significant epidemics as well as epidemics caused by the most important special pathogens and the effects of antiepidemic efforts under conditions of limited resources. Use of such models makes it possible to assess the efficiency not only of particular types of antiepidemic activities (AEA) but also of their joint effect based on the available resources and possibility of their mobilization from other localities as well as to estimate the level of biological safety towards the infectious agents involved in simulation. The relevant literature contains numerous papers describing the mathematical models for studying particular epidemics, outbreaks, and even optimization of interventions, for example, \[[@B1]--[@B5]\]. However, we are interested, first and foremost, in creation of a universally accessible product that solves the problems of counteracting epidemics and estimating the level of biological safety of territories (regions) in an integrated manner. 2. Materials and Methods {#sec2} ======================== State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector (SRC VB Vector) is involved in construction of a universal model for epidemics adapted to the special pathogens causing infections, such as smallpox, anthrax, plague, and Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and Crimean---Congo hemorrhagic fevers. It is assumed that this model is able to simulate the development of any local epidemic of an acute infectious disease with the infection coming from a certain external source or person-to-person contacts independently of the sex, age, and other sociodemographic characteristics as the major transmission pathways. It is also assumed that a relatively simple model structure is sufficient for description of the major specific features in the epidemic dynamics taking into account the fact that the data necessary for adaptation of more intricate structured models are as a rule absent. The main statements of the model are based on the concept for simulating epidemics proposed by Boev and Makarov \[[@B6], [@B7]\]. In turn, this concept had originated from the papers by Baroyan and Rvachev, for example, \[[@B8]\]. The model is available at [http://vector-epimod.ru/](http://vector-epimod.ru). The most important postulate of this concept consists in that a person successively undergoes several stages of disease development, such as hidden (latent or incubation) period, prodromal stage, and infectious stage. Depending on the time which a person stays in each stage, the functions are specified that determine the probability of a daily transition to the next stage, recovery, lethal outcome, intensity of release of infectious agent (contagiosity), and so on. This concept can be realized as deterministic as well as stochastic models. The elaborated deterministic model belongs to the SEIRF class similar to \[[@B9]\], where S is designation for susceptible persons, E persons infected in incubation period, I persons infected persons, R persons recovered and, F persons dead. That is, **38** disjoint classes (without taking into account distribution of residence time in each stage) are distinguished within the population of a certain locality. Here are some of these cohorts:uninfected persons susceptible to infection;uninfected contact persons. Some of them are detected and observed or isolated;uninfected persons during establishment of immunity after vaccination;the persons displaying primary nonspecific disease symptoms being actually uninfected (suspected, observed, or isolated);infected persons in a latent stage;infected persons in a latent stage which are detected as contacts (observed or isolated);infected persons in a latent stage displaying primary nonspecific disease symptoms;patients in a latent stage during establishment of immunity after vaccination;infected persons in the second stage of disease (usually, prodromal stage), not detected;infected persons in the second stage of disease (usually, prodromal stage) which are observed or isolated;infected persons in the final stage of disease, not detected, displaying a mild or a severe form of disease;infected persons in the final stage of disease, which are observed or isolated, displaying a mild or a severe form of disease;the persons that have recovered and displayed a long-lived immunity, at least for the period of simulated outbreak, or returned to the cohort of immune susceptible persons; andthose who died of disease. The characteristics of the representatives of each cohort except for the last two depend of the immune status. The computed dynamics of an epidemic depends on the following modeled processes:formation of "infection stress" (intensity of infection) because of a potential external infection source and/or infectivity of not isolated infected cases at the second and/or third stages of disease;infection of susceptible persons depending on the intensity of infection and immune statuses;formation of the cohort of contacts proportional to the number of newly infected sensitive persons;infection of contacts with a rate exceeding the rates for other persons;transition of infected persons from stage to stage depending on the time they stay in a certain stage;recovery, that is, a probabilistic process accelerating with the course of the third stage; typically, the recovered persons are "discarded" from epidemic; however, the persons recovered from some infections are returned back supplementing the cohort of immune persons; anddeath of infected persons, mainly in the third stage; the mortality rate decreases if the detected infected persons are subject to treatment, are immune, or have a mild form of disease. Three levels of antiepidemic activities (AEA) are taken into account in modeling. These levels mainly determine the rate of detection and isolation (observation) of the infected persons, contacts, and suspects, which, as a rule, are imposed in a successive manner:mild AEA1 implies isolation of the patients that visited a physician. This regime is used when there are unconfirmed suspicions about a possible outbreak onset; that is, when there are confirmed cases in other localities (regions), cases with evident disease signs have been recorded, and contact transmission routes have been detected with a characteristic incubation period; however, a laboratory confirmation is still absent. Contacts and suspects are not purposefully searched for;moderate AEA2 implies quicker isolation of infected cases as well as detection and isolation (observation) of contacts and suspects. This regime is used in the case of confirmed suspicions on the onset of an outbreak, but certain time period is required until all AEA are deployed; andstrict AEA3 implies even quicker isolation of infected cases as well as an active search for infected and contacts, including systematic door-to-door visits. In addition to these three regimes, mass vaccination is specified in the model for some diseases. Mass vaccination is characterized by the width of its coverage and the period when it is implemented. Vaccination of the risk groups including contacts and suspects as well as quarantine of different degrees that decreases the rate of infection can also be used. All these countermeasures are implemented provided that the corresponding resources are available. The resources include qualified medical/paramedical staff; facilities for isolation/observation of patients, contacts, and suspects; and the stock of prevention tools and drugs. In the case of a deficiency in the corresponding resources, the intensity of the interventions (detection, isolation, vaccination, treatment, etc.) can be weakened down to complete cessation. Thus, the state of the system at any given moment is specified by the values of all the variables, marked by dot points above. The transition from state to state with an interval of one day of an epidemic (or disease) is defined as the intensity of the processes listed above too. Thus for each variable, a certain number of representatives of that class go to another class, for example, noninfected ⇒ infected (in proportion to the infectious intensity and proportion of individuals susceptible to infection in the population), "home sick" ⇒ isolated (in proportion to the isolation speed specified for patients having this form of the disease if resources are available), nonimmune persons ⇒ persons, which are in the process of formation of immunity (in proportion to the intensity of mass vaccination and vaccination in risk groups), and so on. Except for sensitive noninfected, recovered, or dead persons for all classes of variables, who have not switched to this moment to another class, the "age" of staying in this class is increased by one day, which brings them closer to the final disposal from the class. For more information, see Supplementary Data 1 and Supplementary Figure 1 available online at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/467078>. The model is web-available on the server of the SRC VB Vector and provided with a web interface (see Supplementary Figure 2), which allows a remote user to perform operations listed below:specifying a unique name for the session in order to avoid any conflicts with other users and to save their own data on the server for a certain time period;selecting an infectious agent from the default list; this option also allows the user to specify epidemic parameters for the agents absent from the list of modeled agents but of interest to user;accessing the review of published data on epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment of each disease from the list of modeled ones (only in Russian);editing parameters that specify the specific features of infection, the time of switching on AEA and their intensity, the population size and resource availability for a region (locality or a city) involved in simulation of an epidemic (outbreak), and the parameters necessary for computing the losses caused by the epidemic as well as supplies needed;computing the dynamics of epidemic; viewing/saving the results;calculating the losses caused by epidemic;calculating supplies needed;computing the dynamics of epidemic from a selected day (within the previously calculated period of its development). This regime can be helpful when certain considerable changes in the population take place during the development of epidemic; for example, if new infected cases come from (an)other region(s), thereby aggravating the situation, or, on the contrary, vaccines and drugs are conveyed from (an)other region(s) due to emergency situation, additional staff is engaged, or any other changes in the operational situation take place;computing four typical scenarios in development of an epidemic in a certain region in the case of a mass infection; andviewing a *User\'s Guide*, which describes how all these manipulations should be performed. A certain default parameter set is defined for each of the modeled infections. This set corresponds to a scenario that is close to a "moderately optimistic" development of an epidemic for a "model" city. The web-available manual contains detailed description of the model as well as descriptions of many options that can provide comfortable job for an epidemiologist, who has no modeling experience. 3. Results and Discussion {#sec3} ========================= Below, we illustrate the capacities of the proposed model by a case study of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The data for adaptation of the model have been partially extracted from published reports \[[@B10]--[@B12]\] and partly from the plots reflecting manifestation of EHF symptoms during the 1995 Congo and 2000-2001 Uganda outbreaks \[[@B13], [@B14]\]. Despite the fact that the model is not intended for description of outbreaks with a small number of infected cases, to make the parameters more precise, we have had to use the data of real outbreaks where the initial number of cases was just several persons. In this procedure, we varied the outbreak characteristics, such as the initial number of infected case; the mean number of infected case from one patient without applying AEA, transmission speed *R* ~0~; the time of AEA1 switch-on from the moment when the first infected cases were recorded; the mean number of contacts per one infected case; and the rate of infection of contacts. The main model parameters are listed in Supplementary Table 1. Note that these parameters are of an evaluative character and may be adjusted by experts. [Figure 1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"} shows the plots reflecting the appearance of EHF symptoms recorded in real outbreaks as well as the calculated values obtained as a result of model adaptation. Note also that characteristic of the EHF outbreak in Uganda is a certain periodicity \[[@B12]\], explainable only by a large number of primary cases that were infected almost simultaneously. Because durations of disease stages vary in too wide ranges and this is reflected in the model parameters (long period of transmission from one stage of illness to another), the model fails to reproduce this effect. For example, latent period durations for different patients vary from 2 to 20 days \[[@B11]\]. In addition, this periodicity itself can be an artifact reflecting the specificity of data collection and representation. When simulating mass epidemics of Ebola fever in large European cities, let *R* ~0~ retain the value of 2.5, since, on the one hand, the population density in cities is higher than it was in Congo and Uganda, and, on the other hand, the families (where the main part of infection transmission cases actually takes place) in cities are, as a rule, noticeably smaller. The collective immunity is specified at the level of 10%, which in our opinion may actually fit the natural background of decreased individual susceptibility to relatively small infective doses at random contacts between infected and healthy persons. The external infectious source is absent. At the initial time moment, the population contains 500 infected persons at the beginning of latent stage. Resources of the model city and parameters controlling activation of countermeasures (AEA) are specified in the [Table 1](#tab1){ref-type="table"}. An example of calculation of the EHF epidemic dynamics for this parameter set, for simplicity referred to as a "zero" set, is shown in [Figure 2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}. The computation protocol besides an epidemic dynamics outputs the following messages. *Day 10*:*AEA1 are activated if infected cases are recorded*42 ≥ 30*.* *Day 14*:*insufficient bed capacity for isolating patients 100.* *Day 15*: *AEA2 are activated*15 ≥ 10 + 5*.* *Day 18*:*insufficient bed capacity for isolating suspects 800.* *Day 20*:*AEA3 are activated; resource limitations are canceled.* *Day 20*:*quarantine is imposed 50%.* *2313*: *total number of infected persons.* *2047*: *total number of isolated persons.* *1395*: *total number of observed contacts.* *42020*: *total number of observed suspects.* *13116*: *person days of observed contacts.* *233398*: *person days of observed suspects.* *19211*: *person days of isolated patients.* *30*: *quarantine (days).* *1504*: *total number of lethal cases.* By day 50 of simulated epidemic, the outbreak does not end but, owing to the cancellation of the resource limitations is actually arrested, since almost all infected persons by that time have been isolated and there is no new infected cases. However, note that the number of infected cases per day decreases as early as by day 20, on the one hand, because the primary infected 500 persons by that time start to recover and, on the other hand, due to effectiveness of countermeasures. The following "reference scenario" ([Figure 3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}) differs from the previous one in that resource constraints are not canceled at an AEA3 level. The pattern has drastically changed. The outbreak is far from its end by day 50: the number of persons infected per day is over 200. The total number of infected persons during this time has reached over 6000 persons (and this number is increasing) versus a total of 2313 in the case of a "zero" scenario. To test the effect of particular limitations on the outbreak dynamics, the amount of each resource was individually increased tenfold, that is, so that the limit for each resource would be unachievable. [Figure 4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"} shows the data on the total number of infected cases (Variant 1). The calculation results demonstrate that only an increase in the capacity for isolation of patients is capable of almost halving the number of infected persons over the period of 50 days (3058 versus 6038). An increase in the capacity for isolation of contacts also gives a noticeable although not so considerable effect (4327 infected cases). The influences of all the remaining factors are significantly smaller. On the background of a tenfold increase in the capacities for isolation of patients (100 ⇒ 1000), the limitations for only one resource of those remaining that were in deficit were canceled. In this case, the best result---2160 infected cases ---was obtained when there was no deficiency in the teams searching for infected cases and contacts, that is, when there was the possibility to isolate and treat them not only to a full degree, but also in good time ([Figure 4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}, Variant 2). Canceling the condition for deficit in the capacities for isolation of patients and in medical teams, we again individually increased the amount of each resource. In this case, the maximal effect is observed when increasing the capacities for isolation of contacts. The result is even better than in the case of a "zero" variant and almost from the same as the calculations with no resource deficiencies at all: the total numbers of infected persons are 1977 and 1971, respectively ([Figure 4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}, Variant 3). In addition to the considered factors, the moment of activation on AEA and their intensity are also important for the dynamics of an epidemic (Figures [5](#fig5){ref-type="fig"} and [6](#fig6){ref-type="fig"}). We purposefully do not illustrate the effect of drug resource, since it influences only the level of mortality and has no effect on the dynamics of the number of infected persons. Factors, such as observation/isolation of the persons displaying nonspecific disease symptoms being uninfected, are according to our computations rather resource intensive and, thereby, have an indirect effect on the epidemic dynamics. All the shown computations have been performed in a remote mode on the server of SRC VB Vector. It is web-available, so that any user may repeat them or conduct their own computations of interest. 4. Conclusions {#sec4} ============== A universal model describing dynamics of mass epidemics (outbreaks) of the socially significant diseases as well as infections caused by special pathogens is being developed at the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector. The range of major interventions is provided in the model, including preventive and emergency mass vaccination, vaccination of risk groups as well as search for and isolation or observation of infected cases, contacts, and suspects, and quarantine. For computations, it is possible to specify the parameters that determine the resources specific of a city (or a region) deficiency which can influence the intensity of countermeasures. The results of calculation, based on, for example, *Person days of observed contacts*, *Person days of observed suspects,* and *Person days of isolated patients* and current values of several variables make it possible to estimate losses from an epidemic and the material and human resources required for eradication of an epidemic (supplies). Supplementary Material {#supplementary-material-sec} ====================== ###### The supplementary materials contain some description of the epidemic model in continuous form, main model parameters characteristic for Ebola fever, a scheme of transitions between the main variables of the model, taking into account some countermeasures, and the screenshot of the website main page. ###### Click here for additional data file. The work was supported by the Federal Target Program "National System of Chemical and Biological Safety of the Russian Federation for 2009--2014." ![Observed data \[[@B14]\] and simulation results for the 1995 Congo epidemic and 2000 Uganda epidemic.](BMRI2013-467078.001){#fig1} {#fig2} {#fig3} {#fig4} {#fig5} {#fig6} ###### Some parameters used for calculations of an EHF outbreak dynamics. Resources of the model city ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Population 500000 Number of medics/paramedics involved in AEA 1000 Number of teams searching for and isolating infected cases and contacts 30 Number of patients/contacts detected by one team per day 20 Reserve of drugs (for one treatment course) 1000 Bed capacity for strict isolation 100 Bed capacity in provisional hospitals 800 Bed capacity in quarantine departments for contacts 300 Parameters controlling activation of countermeasures (AEA) AEA1 is activated \(i\) At a calculated critical time moment (days of epidemic) or 20 \(ii\) When the number of infected persons in the final stage reaches a critical value 30 Delay in activation of AEA2 relative to AEA1 (days) 5 Delay in activation of AEA3 relative to AEA2 (days) 5 Activation of quarantine after AEA2 (days) 5 Intensity of quarantine (%) 50 Number of days without detection of any infected persons to cancel quarantine 15 Control of resource depletion On Resource limitations in AEA3 Canceled [^1]: Academic Editor: James M. 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Q: C++ CLI Passing an array to class As the title says I have to create class that can accept arrays as a parameter. Here is my current version of the header file: public ref class MyClass { public: MyClass() {}; MyClass(array<int, 2> ^(&A1), const int &i2) : A1(A1), I2(i2) {}; String^ Method(); ~MyClass() {}; private: array<int, 2>^ A1 = gcnew array<int, 2>(3, 3) { { 1, 1, 1 }, { 1, 1, 1 }, { 1, 1, 1 }, }; int I2 = 5; }; String^ MyClass::Method() // Simple output for debugging { String^ OutputText; int sum=10; OutputText= "OutputText = " + sum; return OutputText; } As of now I'm getting the following error: '$S1': global or static variable may not have managed type 'cli::array ^' If I change my array to static I'll get: "A1" is not a nonstatic data member or base class of class "MyClass" Class has to have both constructors. I can accept a solution with vector, but i experience pretty much the same issues with it. A: Here's what I meant under moving the initialization of the array to a constructor: public ref class MyClass { public: MyClass() { A1 = gcnew array<int, 2>(3, 3) { { 1, 1, 1 }, { 1, 1, 1 }, { 1, 1, 1 }, }; }; MyClass(array<int, 2> ^(&A1), const int &i2) : A1(A1), I2(i2) {}; String^ Method(); ~MyClass() {}; private: array<int, 2>^ A1; int I2 = 5; }; | Mid | [
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package internal import "github.com/cep21/benchparse" // BenchmarkList is a list of benchmarks type BenchmarkList []benchparse.BenchmarkResult // UniqueValuesForKey returns all common value properties of each benchmark in this list // for a key. func (b BenchmarkList) UniqueValuesForKey(key string) OrderedStringSet { var ret OrderedStringSet for _, b := range b { keys := makeKeys(b) if keyValue, exists := keys.Values[key]; exists { ret.Add(keyValue) } } return ret } func makeKeys(r benchparse.BenchmarkResult) OrderedStringStringMap { nameKeys := r.AllKeyValuePairs() var ret OrderedStringStringMap for _, k := range nameKeys.Order { ret.Insert(k, nameKeys.Contents[k]) } return ret } // ValuesByX returns all values in this group for a given x, ordered by all possible x values. For example, // if xDim='name', then allValues will contain all the values for xDim='name' and in the order we want to render // them. So if there are two names, Jack and John, then allValues=[Jack,John]. Unit is the benchmark value's unit // that we search for and return (unit is the Y dimension drawn). If a benchmark group has no values for, then an empty // array is returned for that index. In other words, len(return_value) == len(alLValues) func (b BenchmarkList) ValuesByX(xDim string, unit string, allValues OrderedStringSet) [][]float64 { ret := make([][]float64, 0, len(allValues.Order)) for _, v := range allValues.Order { allVals := make([]float64, 0, len(b)) for _, b := range b { benchmarkKeys := makeKeys(b) if benchmarkKeys.Values[xDim] != v { continue } if val, exists := b.ValueByUnit(unit); exists { allVals = append(allVals, val) } } ret = append(ret, allVals) } return ret } | Low | [
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Donovan Mitchell didn’t get a chance to show out on Christmas because the Utah Jazz didn’t get one of the coveted spots on the league’s showcase day. So he had to handle his business the day after the holiday. And did he ever. Mitchell went off in a 121-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring 28 of his 35 points after halftime, and reminding the world once again what he’s capable of on the big stage. Donovan Mitchell had a big game Thursday night against the Blazers. The Jazz have won six of seven games to climb back into the mix in the Western Conference playoff chase. They’re now 8-1 this season when Mitchell scores 30 or more points. And he’s crossed that threshold four times during Utah’s current seven-game run. It’s no coincidence that Mitchell’s rise is coinciding with his team’s turnaround. That combination and exquisite timing is why Mitchell is clawing his way into the mix on the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder as the Jazz continue to make a power move in the standings. Mitchell is averaging career highs in scoring (25.1) and field goal percentage (45%) as the offensive catalyst for a team that requires every member of the team to play a very specific role on the defensive end of the floor with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, as their anchor. So it’s not surprising to hear Mitchell was serious about the importance of the entire group when discussing what the Jazz are doing right in recent weeks. “The biggest thing is the resiliency, finding a way,” he told reporters after the Jazz held off the Trail Blazers’ late rally Thursday night courtesy of some clutch shot-making and two huge defensive plays by Gobert. “The mindset we’ve had these past 6, 7 games is who we need to be. You can say what you want about my scoring or Joe but ... it came down to Rudy making two good plays." For the Jazz to keep climbing and Mitchell to firmly entrench himself in this season’s MVP conversation, it’s going to come down to that and much more. * * * The Top 5 this week in the 2019-20 Kia Race to the MVP Ladder: * * * 1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks The 76ers' defensive pressure made it difficult for the reigning Kia MVP on Christmas Day. Last week: No. 1 Season stats: 30.5 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.2 blocks Even the reigning Kia MVP is entitled to a tough night here and there. Giannis had his at the worst time, in a loss to the Sixers in Philadelphia on Christmas. He never could get comfortable with Al Horford and Joel Embiid doing as good a job defending him as anyone has all season. The guess is he won’t miss 19 shots agains the Hawks tonight in Atlanta (7:30 ET, League Pass). 2. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks Despite missing time, Luka Doncic had a solid month of December. Last week: No. 3 Season stats: 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.2 steals You couldn’t tell Doncic had missed the Mavericks’ past four games with a sprained ankle watching him work over the Spurs Thursday night. He got right back into his bag in his first game back, finishing with 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Mavericks ran over the Spurs. They went 2-2 in Doncic’s absence, proving they could survive without their leader. 3. James Harden, Houston Rockets James Harden is a nominee for Kia Player of the Month. Last week: No. 4 Season stats: 38.1 points 7.5 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals Harden’s been so good this season that the Warriors get credit for slowing him down on a night that saw him score 24 points on 50% shooting from the floor, 60% from deep, to go with 11 assists, six rebounds and three steals. It’s easy to forget just how unbelievable Harden plays on a regular basis, mostly because his “off nights” are so far and few between. 4. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers Anthony Davis scored 24 points in the Lakers' Christmas Day matchup with the Clippers. Last week: No. 5 Season stats: 27.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.7 blocks, 1.4 steals Davis embraced the big stage in the Christmas showdown with the LA Clippers and showed why some people think he is the most dynamic two-way player in the league. But he didn’t get nearly enough touches down the stretch of a tight game to finish what he started. If LeBron James misses time with a groin injury, you won’t see that again anytime soon. 5. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James is a nominee for Kia Player of the Month. Last week: No. 2 Season stats: 25.7 points, 10.6 assists, 7.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals Lakers fans are right to be nervous when they hear LeBron talk about aggravating a groin injury after taking a knee from Patrick Beverley in the loss to the Clippers on Christmas. This is the same time last season when a groin injury shook up his season, the Lakers sunk in his absence and never recovered. Expect extreme caution about his availability moving forward. * * * Got thoughts on the Kia MVP chase? Hit me up via e-mail or send me a tweet and I'll get back to you! * * * Sekou Smith explains the Top 5 in this week's Kia MVP Ladder. The Next Five: 6. Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat 7. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers 8. Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics 9. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers 10. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz And five more: Paul George, LA Clippers; Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets; Chris Paul, Oklahoma City Thunder; Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers; Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors * * * Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and NBA TV analyst. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Turner Broadcasting. | Mid | [
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Q: C# - marshaling char ** in Equivalent data type in C# I am working on C#.Net application which uses C-based library. As it needs C# Wrapper I am implementing code to marshal functions from C-based library to be accessible in C# and map data type correctly. I have a function in library which Takes A char array by reference, The function contains logic to update array with values in it. So, At function call we can pass null array and access result value after its been called. Objective: to pass null char array and return value by reference The C-dll function: int function_call(char ** var); The C function call code: char *name = NULL; int val = function_Call(&name); The C# wrapper code: [DllImport("mylibrary.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] static extern int function_call([In] string[] val); The C# function call code: string[] name = null; int ret = function_call(name); I came across similar queries : How to get char** using C#? [duplicate] How do I marshal a pointer to an array of pointers to structures? marshaling char** C# equivalent to C const char** Tried all of them but did not work. returns null value. Is there a simple working way to marshal Char ** ? A: You can simply marshal it as IntPtr : [DllImport("mylibrary.dll", CallingConvention = CallingConvention.Cdecl)] static extern int function_call(IntPtr val); Just that on function call side, allocate mem to pointer and to access the data held by pointer : Marshal data from an unmanaged block of memory to the type specified by a generic type parameter. | Mid | [
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Potential avenues for exercise to activate episodic memory-related pathways: a narrative review. Memory function plays an important role in activities of daily living, and consequently, quality and quantity of life. In this narrative review, we discuss the anatomical components of episodic memory, including the structure of the hippocampus and the routes of communication to and from this structure. We also highlight cellular traces of memory, such as the engram cell and pathway. To provide etiological insight, the biological mechanisms of episodic memory are discussed, including factors subserving memory encoding (e.g., cognitive attention, neuroelectrical indices), consolidation (i.e., synaptic and brain systems level), and retrieval (e.g., availability of cues, context-dependent, state-dependent, and cognitive processing). Central to this manuscript, we highlight how exercise may influence each of these aforementioned parameters (e.g., exercise-induced hippocampal growth, synaptic plasticity, and cue retrieval) and then discuss the implications of these findings to enhance and preserve memory function. Collectively, this narrative review briefly summarizes potential mechanisms of episodic memory, and how exercise may activate these mechanistic pathways. | High | [
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/* * Copyright © 2014-2017 Broadcom * Copyright (C) 2012 Rob Clark <[email protected]> * * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a * copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), * to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation * the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, * and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the * Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: * * The above copyright notice and this permission notice (including the next * paragraph) shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the * Software. * * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING * FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS * IN THE SOFTWARE. */ /* This file generates the per-v3d-version function prototypes. It must only * be included from v3d_context.h. */ struct v3d_hw; struct v3d_format; void v3dX(emit_state)(struct pipe_context *pctx); void v3dX(emit_rcl)(struct v3d_job *job); void v3dX(draw_init)(struct pipe_context *pctx); void v3dX(state_init)(struct pipe_context *pctx); void v3dX(bcl_epilogue)(struct v3d_context *v3d, struct v3d_job *job); const struct v3d_format *v3dX(get_format_desc)(enum pipe_format f); void v3dX(get_internal_type_bpp_for_output_format)(uint32_t format, uint32_t *type, uint32_t *bpp); bool v3dX(tfu_supports_tex_format)(uint32_t tex_format); | Mid | [
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/* * Copyright (c) Facebook, Inc. and its affiliates. * * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree. */ #pragma once #include "Pass.h" class VerifierPass : public Pass { public: VerifierPass() : Pass("VerifierPass") {} void run_pass(DexStoresVector&, ConfigFiles&, PassManager&) override; }; | Low | [
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1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wire harness coupler suitable for use on vehicular instrument panels, which obviates the troublesome job of manually coupling connectors of a wire harness with corresponding connectors of another wire harness. 2. Prior Art Illustrated in FIG. 6 is a conventional manner of installation of wire harness on an automobile instrument panel (hereinafter referred to simply as "panel" for brevity). A wire harness Wp on the panel side is provided with a plurality of connectors C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 at the opposite ends thereof. In the process of connecting these connectors C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 to corresponding connectors C.sub.1 ' and C.sub.2 ' of a wire harness Wd mounted on a dashboard D on the vehicle body side, it has been the conventional practice to rely completely on manual labor, forcing workers to pursue burdensome complicated jobs and thus unavoidably giving rise to incomplete connections. Namely, for connecting the connector groups C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 to the connector groups C.sub.1 ' and C.sub.2 ', it has thus far been required of the worker firstly to mount the panel P to the dashboard D and then to get into a narrow space under the panel for manually connecting one after another the connectors C.sub.1 and C.sub.1 ' at the expense of a great deal of manpower and time. | Mid | [
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The role of drive for thinness in the association between weight status misperception and disordered eating. Weight status misperception is related to disordered eating outcomes, but little research has explored the differential impacts of misperception directionality, nor factors that explain these relationships. Self-Discrepancy Theory applied to body image gives a framework to how weight status over-perception may prompt a drive for thinness, which in turn may be important in the development of disordered eating cognitions and behaviors. To that end, the current study tested whether drive for thinness may account for the association between direction of weight status misperception and disordered eating behaviors. Young adults (N = 522) completed measures identifying weight status perception (accurate, under-, and over-perception), drive for thinness, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (appearance satisfaction, restrained, uncontrolled, and emotional eating). Indirect effect models with drive for thinness entered as the intervening variable were estimated for each outcome. Drive for thinness accounted for the associations between weight status misperception and all outcomes. In general, compared to either accurate or under-perception, over-perception of weight status was associated with more disordered eating attitudes and behaviors via higher drive for thinness. Consistent with Self-Discrepancy Theory, drive for thinness emerged as a possible mechanism of the association between weight status misperception and disordered eating outcomes. Findings suggest potential utility in targeting drive for thinness, as opposed to accuracy of weight status perception, for prevention of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, including those that may contribute to weight gain. | High | [
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286 S.C. 378 (1985) 335 S.E.2d 91 Charles F. HANKS, Respondent, v. BLAIR MILLS, INC., and Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Appellants. 0535 Court of Appeals of South Carolina. Heard May 20, 1985. Decided August 8, 1985. *379 William S. Davies, Jr., and David G. Traylor, Jr. of Nelson, Mullins, Grier & Scarborough, Columbia, for appellants. C. Ben Bowen of Abrams, Bowen & Parham, Greenville, for respondent. Heard May 20, 1985. Decided Aug. 8, 1985. CURETON, Judge: This is a workers' compensation case. In a decision affirmed by the full Industrial Commission and the circuit court, the single commissioner found the respondent Charles Hanks to be totally disabled from an occupational disease. *380 The commissioner ordered Hanks' employer, appellant Blair Mills, and its carrier, appellant Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, to pay benefits to Hanks. We affirm. Hanks has a long history of employment in cotton mills and of exposure to cotton dust. In 1946, at the age of sixteen, Hanks began working at Abney Mills as a sweeper in the spinning department. He left in 1951 for two years of military service. Upon his return, he resumed his employment at Abney Mills and remained there until 1955. For the next nine years, Hanks was employed in non-cotton related work. In 1964, Hanks began employment with appellant Blair Mills as a sweeper and worked there in various capacities until he retired on disability in 1979, a period of nearly fifteen years. Over this period, except for the last two years, Hanks was exposed to one hundred percent cotton dust. During the last two years, he was exposed to a blend of polyester and cotton dust. Hanks first noticed he was experiencing breathing problems in 1975 or 1976. He was examined by a doctor. Blair Mills administered pulmonary function tests to Hanks twice a year instead of the usual once a year in recognition of his respiratory problems. In October 1978, Dr. Douglas, both the company doctor for Blair Mills and Hanks' personal doctor, wrote to Blair Mills that Hanks had chronic lung disease and recommended that he be moved to an area in the mill with a lower level of cotton dust. In May 1979, Hanks was hospitalized for respiratory problems for four days. When he returned to Blair Mills, his breathing problems worsened. Dr. Douglas determined that Hanks was permanently and totally disabled. Hanks retired on June 28, 1979. Hanks filed a claim for disability benefits on December 3, 1980. The single commissioner found that Hanks was totally disabled from byssinosis and ordered Blair Mills and Commerce Industry and Insurance to pay benefits of $166.25 a week. Both the full commission and the circuit court affirmed and Blair Mills and Commerce Insurance appeal. *381 I. The appellants first contend the claim is barred by either Section 42-15-20 or Section 42-15-40 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976). A. Section 42-15-20 The appellants argue that Hanks failed to comply with the statutory requirement that he give notice of his injury to his employer within ninety days after its occurrence. They point out that if the injury occurred on June 28, 1979, the date Hanks was diagnosed as permanently and totally disabled, Hanks did not give them notice of his injury until December 3, 1980, the date he filed the claim. The Commission made these findings of fact: 6) That the employee, Charles F. Hanks ... contracted the disease known as byssinosis while in the employ of Blair Mills and became disabled ... on June 28, 1979 ... 7) That the employer was notified by the company doctor, Dr. Leonard W. Douglas, in a letter dated October 24, 1978. The circuit court concurred in the findings that both Hanks and the company doctor provided the employer sufficient information to give the employer notice of Hanks' injury. We agree. Section 42-15-20 requires that every injured employee or his representative give the employer notice of a job-related accident within ninety days after its occurrence. Generally, the injury is not compensable if timely notice is not given. In the case of occupational diseases, the "accident" occurs when the employee becomes disabled and could, through reasonable diligence, discover that his condition is a compensable one. Drake v. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., 241 S.C. 116, 127 S.E. (2d) 288 (1962). Section 42-15-20 provides no specific method of giving notice, the object being that the employer be actually put on notice of the injury so he can investigate it immediately after its occurrence and can furnish medical care for the employee in order to minimize the disability and his own liability. Teigue v. Appleton Co., 221 S.C. 52, 68 S.E. (2d) 878 (1952). *382 We hold that the circuit court's concurrence in the Commission's finding that the employer was notified of the injury within the requirements of Section 42-15-20 is supported by substantial evidence. The employer received a letter dated October 24, 1978, from Dr. Douglas, the company doctor, stating that Hanks had chronic lung disease and recommending that he be transferred to an area having a dust level at or below permissible exposure limits. The company itself administered twice the number of OSHA-mandated pulmonary function tests to Hanks than it administered to its other employees because Hanks "didn't meet the FDV and FDC on our spirometers." Hanks discussed his breathing problems with the personnel director on several occasions. Finally, in June 1979, Dr. Douglas wrote the company that Hanks was totally disabled because of advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Based on Hanks' medical and employment history (which was known to the company) and the diagnosis, the company was put on notice that Hanks was suffering from byssinosis as early as October 24, 1978. B. Section 42-15-40 Section 42-15-40 requires that a claim for compensation be filed with the Industrial Commission within two years after an accident. In the case of occupational disease claims, the two-year period begins to run when the employee is "definitively diagnosed" as having an occupational disease and is notified of the diagnosis. S.C. Code Ann. Section 42-15-40 (1976). On June 28, 1979, Dr. Douglas diagnosed Hanks as having "advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." Hanks testified that he only later learned that the disease could be related to his occupation. That Hanks was unable to appreciate the significance of the June 28th diagnosis is consistent with both his own education and experience in life and the behavior of employees in general who contract occupational diseases. See Drake v. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., supra. Hanks filed the claim for compensation on December 3, 1980, well within two years of being diagnosed as totally disabled in June, 1979. From any view of the evidence, it is clear that Hanks filed his claim well within the two-year statute of limitations. *383 II. The appellants next contend substantial evidence fails to support the commission's finding that Hanks contracted an occupational disease. They argue the evidence instead shows that Hanks' disease was caused by smoking a pack and a half of cigarettes a day for twenty-five years. Upon review of the findings supporting an agency decision such as this one, this Court is limited to a determination of whether, among other things not relevant here, the Commission's findings, inferences, conclusions or decisions are "clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence on the whole record." Lowe v. Am-Can Transport Services, Inc., ___ S.C. ___, 324 S.E. (2d) 87 (Ct. App. 1984); S.C. Code Ann. Section 1-23-380(g)(5) (1976). In Lark v. Bi-Lo, Inc., 276 S.C. 130, 276 S.E. (2d) 304 (1981), the South Carolina Supreme Court explained that the possibility that two inconsistent conclusions could be drawn from the evidence does not prevent an agency's finding from being supported by substantial evidence. A judgment upon which reasonable men might differ will not be set aside. Id. at 136, 276 S.E. (2d) 304. An agency's decision will be overturned only where there is no reasonable probability that the facts could be as related by a witness upon whose testimony the finding was based. Id. at 136, 276 S.E. (2d) 304. Viewing the evidence against this standard of review, we hold that the commission's finding that Hanks contracted byssinosis is supported by substantial evidence. The deposition of Dr. T. Reginald Harris, a pulmonary specialist, was offered by the appellants. Dr. Harris concluded that Hanks suffered from "chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" most probably caused by smoking. Dr. Harris acknowledged the possibility of cotton dust-related disease but felt Hanks did not exhibit the syndrome frequently seen in individuals with byssinosis. Hanks was also examined by Dr. Barnes who testified that despite Hanks' history of smoking, it was his opinion Hanks suffered from some byssinosis resulting from chronic exposure to cotton dust materials. He also testified that Hanks had chronic bronchitis which was probably caused by both smoking and byssinosis. *384 It is clear the evidence on the issue of causation of the disease was conflicting. There exists a reasonable probability that the facts are as related by Dr. Barnes. Consequently, we find substantial evidence in the record to support the finding that Hanks contracted the occupational disease byssinosis. III. The appellants argue next that substantial evidence fails to support the finding that Hanks is totally disabled, but, if it does, the evidence fails to show that the entirety of the disability was caused by an occupational disease. They maintain first that substantial evidence shows that Hanks is able to engage in a number of occupations. They assert secondly that even if Hanks is totally disabled, part of the disability resulted from his smoking rather than the exposure to cotton dust. Section 42-11-20 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976) defines total disability as "the physical inability to perform work in any occupation." The issue of the extent of disability is a question of fact to be proved as any other fact is proved. Arnold v. Benjamin Booth Co., 257 S.C. 337, 185 S.E. (2d) 830 (1971). This Court's function is not to resolve conflicts in the evidence but to determine from the record if substantial evidence supports the agency's finding. We find the Commission's finding that Hanks was totally disabled to be supported by substantial evidence. Although Dr. Harris testified that Hanks could perform jobs requiring minimum physical activity such as bricklaying, his medical report following his examination of Hanks states that Hanks gets out of breath carrying out the garbage or taking a bath. Hanks himself testified to continual shortness of breath and tightness in his chest. Dr. Barnes testified that in his opinion Hanks was permanently and totally disabled. We are unable to state that there exists no reasonable probability that the facts could be as related by Dr. Barnes and Hanks. Thus, the finding must be sustained. The appellants further argue that the court erred in failing to apply Section 42-11-90 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976) requiring the apportionment of an award where the occupational disease is accelerated or aggravated by other non-compensable causes. *385 The evidence revealed that Hanks had smoked a pack and a half of cigarettes a day for years and that smoking can cause or contribute to chronic obstructive lung disease. Appellants, however, presented no evidence of the percentage of Hanks' disability that was caused by smoking. Mizell v. Raybestos-Manhattan, Inc., 281 S.C. 430, 315 S.E. (2d) 123 (1984). We thus find no merit in the appellants' contention that the court should have apportioned the award based on Section 42-11-90. IV. Appellants next contend Hanks did not suffer his last injurious exposure to cotton dust during Commerce Insurance's extension of coverage and therefore Commerce Insurance is not the liable carrier. Commerce Insurance points out the evidence shows that Commerce provided coverage to Blair Mills beginning on May 31, 1979. At that time, Hanks was out of work because of his illness. He returned on June 4, 1979 and remained until June 28, 1979 when he retired on total disability. Commerce Insurance argues that any cotton dust exposure during the 24 days of coverage could hardly have been injurious to Hanks. It points to the testimony of Dr. Harris that any exposure during this period would have caused no measurable change, difference or damage. We are not persuaded. In Glenn v. Columbia Silica Sand Company, 236 S.C. 13, 19-20, 112 S.E. (2d) 711, 714 (1960), the Court noted: "In the case of occupational diseases, liability is ... assigned to the carrier who was on the risk when the disease resulted in disability, if the employment at the time of the disability was of a kind contributing to the disease ... In the search for an indentifiable instant in time which can ... fix the employer and insurer liable for compensation, the date of disability has been found the most satisfactory." It is uncontradicted that Hanks became incapacitated from performing his work, or disabled, on June 28, 1979. The carrier on the risk at the time was appellant Commerce Insurance. The employment with Blair Mills was of a kind contributing to the disease of byssinosis. Consequently, under the rule of Glenn v. Columbia Silica Sand Company, *386 supra, Commerce Insurance is the liable carrier. Appellants filed a petition to argue against application of the Glenn rule because it is harsh and unfair to employers and carriers under whose employment or coverage the employee may have received only minor exposure to the disease-producing hazard. They urge instead that South Carolina adopt the apportionment rule under which liability is apportioned among all the employee's employers, and their carriers, whose conditions of employment were of the type contributing to the disease. We decline to adopt the apportionment rule because in summary, it would place an unduly harsh burden on an employee to notify, file a claim and prove a compensable injury against the many employers whose conditions of employment may have contributed to his injury. V. Finally, appellants contend they were denied the opportunity to submit the medical report of Dr. Robert Galphin because the Commission closed the case without notifying them. Pursuant to Section 42-11-185 of the South Carolina Code of Laws (1976), the Commission ordered an independent examination of Hanks by Dr. Galphin. The order was filed on September 14, 1981. Dr. Galphin examined Hanks on October 21, 1981. The case was not closed until March 23, 1982. During this time, the appellants failed to depose Dr. Galphin. We find on these facts that the appellants were not diligent in seeking to depose Dr. Galphin. Further under Section 42-11-185, the findings of Dr. Galphin were merely advisory. Thus, we discern no prejudice to the appellants. VI. For all the reasons given herein, the judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. SHAW and BELL, JJ., concur. | Mid | [
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<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Object-oriented JavaScript inheritance</title> </head> <body> <div> <label for="jscode">Enter code:</label> <input type="text" id="jscode"> <button>Submit code</button> </div> <p></p> </body> <script> const input = document.querySelector('input'); const btn = document.querySelector('button'); const para = document.querySelector('p'); btn.onclick = function() { const code = input.value; para.textContent = eval(code); } function Person(first, last, age, gender, interests) { this.name = { first, last }; this.age = age; this.gender = gender; this.interests = interests; }; Person.prototype.bio = function() { // First define a string, and make it equal to the part of // the bio that we know will always be the same. let string = this.name.first + ' ' + this.name.last + ' is ' + this.age + ' years old. '; // define a variable that will contain the pronoun part of // the second sentence let pronoun; // check what the value of gender is, and set pronoun // to an appropriate value in each case if(this.gender === 'male' || this.gender === 'Male' || this.gender === 'm' || this.gender === 'M') { pronoun = 'He likes '; } else if(this.gender === 'female' || this.gender === 'Female' || this.gender === 'f' || this.gender === 'F') { pronoun = 'She likes '; } else { pronoun = 'They like '; } // add the pronoun string on to the end of the main string string += pronoun; // use another conditional to structure the last part of the // second sentence depending on whether the number of interests // is 1, 2, or 3 if(this.interests.length === 1) { string += this.interests[0] + '.'; } else if(this.interests.length === 2) { string += this.interests[0] + ' and ' + this.interests[1] + '.'; } else { // if there are more than 2 interests, we loop through them // all, adding each one to the main string followed by a comma, // except for the last one, which needs an and & a full stop for(let i = 0; i < this.interests.length; i++) { if(i === this.interests.length - 1) { string += 'and ' + this.interests[i] + '.'; } else { string += this.interests[i] + ', '; } } } // finally, with the string built, we alert() it alert(string); }; Person.prototype.greeting = function() { alert('Hi! I\'m ' + this.name.first + '.'); }; Person.prototype.farewell = function() { alert(this.name.first + ' has left the building. Bye for now!'); } let person1 = new Person('Tammi', 'Smith', 17, 'female', ['music', 'skiing', 'kickboxing']); function Teacher(first, last, age, gender, interests, subject) { Person.call(this, first, last, age, gender, interests); this.subject = subject; } Teacher.prototype = Object.create(Person.prototype); Object.defineProperty(Teacher.prototype, 'constructor', { value: Teacher, enumerable: false, // so that it does not appear in 'for in' loop writable: true }); Teacher.prototype.greeting = function() { let prefix; if(this.gender === 'male' || this.gender === 'Male' || this.gender === 'm' || this.gender === 'M') { prefix = 'Mr.'; } else if(this.gender === 'female' || this.gender === 'Female' || this.gender === 'f' || this.gender === 'F') { prefix = 'Mrs.'; } else { prefix = 'Mx.'; } alert('Hello. My name is ' + prefix + ' ' + this.name.last + ', and I teach ' + this.subject + '.'); }; let teacher1 = new Teacher('Dave', 'Griffiths', 31, 'male', ['football', 'cookery'], 'mathematics'); </script> </html> | Mid | [
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ADAMTS5 is a biomarker for prediction of response to infliximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To identify a biomarker for prediction of the response to infliximab (IFX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we focused on a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) that seems to play a key role in aggrecan degradation in cartilage. Seventy-three randomly selected patients with active RA were treated with IFX. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and ADAMTS5 messenger RNA (mRNA) was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Baseline ADAMTS5 mRNA levels in the good responder group were significantly lower (1.84 +/- 1.56; p = 0.0408) than those in the moderate and nonresponder groups (2.54 +/- 1.70) at 38 weeks of treatment with IFX. The 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) at 38 weeks of treatment was significantly lower in the low ADAMTS5 group (2.30 +/- 1.28; p = 0.0038) than in the high ADAMTS5 group (3.90 +/- 1.61). The percentage reduction of the DAS28 was significantly higher in the low ADAMTS5 group (52.5% +/- 28.8%; p = 0.0156) than in the high ADAMTS5 group (29.4% +/- 27.2%). Further, the Delta Health Assessment Questionnaire (DeltaHAQ) score, an estimate of the improvement in the HAQ score, at 38 weeks of treatment was significantly higher in the low ADAMTS5 group (1.18 +/- 0.60; p = 0.0102) than in the high ADAMTS5 group (0.21 +/- 0.78). The positive predictive value of a low baseline ADAMTS5 level for predicting good response and remission (DAS28 < 2.6 at 38 weeks) was 90.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The baseline ADAMTS5 mRNA level is a candidate biomarker for prediction of the response to IFX in patients with RA. | High | [
0.6875,
35.75,
16.25
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Pleomorphic adenoma of the palate. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common mixed benign tumor of major salivary glands. Approximately 80% of these tumors arise in the parotid gland, whereas 7% arise in the minor salivary glands. The most common sites for minor salivary gland where pleomorphic adenoma arises are the palates followed by lips and cheek. We report a palate mass in a 46-year-old male patient. The initial cytologic diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy was pleomorphic adenoma. This report describes a case of pleomorphic adenoma regarding all distinctive diagnoses with the review of the literature. | High | [
0.6730310262529831,
35.25,
17.125
] |
"KARELLEN:" "Previously on Childhood's End..." "SIOBHAN:" "They're downing all air traffic all over the world." "REPORTER:" "At least 40 cities around the world now have these vessels hovering over them." "My name is Karellen." "I am the Supervisor for Earth." "Suffering will end." "Injustice will end." "War, famine, inequality." "These will be things of the past." "SIOBHAN:" "It's world peace." "All hold hands and sing Kumbaya." "KARELLEN:" "This is an invasion." "Ahhh!" "All right!" "DANLOW:" "I just heard they kidnapped a farmer named Richard Stormgren." "There's no need to be afraid." "My name is Karellen." " Why are you here?" " We need a messenger." "Gentlemen, welcome to the Golden Age of Man." "Your mind..." "It just blossomed when they arrived, didn't it?" "They say that science is dying." "So what do you wanna do about that?" "I wanna be the first person to visit their planet." "Milo!" "No!" "Oh, God!" "No, no." "No matter how mighty the Overlords may seem." "We can never give up the fight." "As long as you stay hidden back here, there's always gonna be people that don't trust you." "KARELLEN:" "Your work is done here." " What?" " KARELLEN:" "Goodbye." "(SOBBING)" "There is no need to be afraid." "MILO:" "It's now the year 2035, and just look at us." "Nineteen years after the Overlords' arrival, four years after Karellen revealed his true form, we're living our lives under their watchful gaze." "No inequality, no crime, no war." "Our differences put aside, one society now under the hospices of the World Federation." "We have renewable, clean energy and enough food to feed the planet." "All of our material needs satisfied." "Death is still a fact of life," "But free from disease, stress, and all the things that turned us gray." "We live longer, healthier lives." "The birthrate is soaring." "We have a world that we are proud to bring children into." "For those who cling to the old ways, there's always New Athens." "(HORNS BLARING)" "But for the rest of us, it's the Golden Age of Man." "Utopia." "So, why am I terrified for the future?" "You might call it blissful ignorance." "But it's still ignorance." "Even at The Boyce Institute, scientific enquiry is dying." "If anything, since Karellen forged a special bond with Dr. Rupert Boyce, it's dying even faster." "I want to know why." "Hey." "Didn't realize they'd close your whole program down." "Yeah, well, we designed the space orbital and the engineers are building it." "Dr. Boyce can give you another research post." "I asked him." "He bounced it back." "The Orbital's probably gonna be our last serious project." "I hope I'm wrong." "So that means you're leaving Africa?" "Yeah." "Maybe." "I mean, what's there to keep me?" "Yeah, sure." "Are you stealing the Titan drives?" "(CHUCKLING) Of course not." "I mean, nobody steals anything anymore, Rachel." "Okay, but you..." "You are stealing six petabytes of hard drive." "Private research." "I mean, for 20 years the Overlords have told us precisely nothing about themselves." "About where they come from, about their language." "I'm a guy that likes to know stuff." "Don't be such a fruitcake." "(SOFTLY) No, no, no, no." "Don't rip my house apart again." "Thank you." "(ROOSTER CROWING IN THE DISTANCE)" "(HORSE NEIGHING IN THE DISTANCE)" "Very good to see you, Ricky." "Wow." "You just, uh..." "Show up." "You don't call, you don't write." "You know, I never got to ask you." "Uh, I mean, you guys have..." "You've done this before on other worlds, right?" "So," "I mean, have there been other guys like me?" "You know, I mean have you picked some fish guy to talk to the fish people on Fish Planet, or something like that?" "How are you feeling?" "Um..." "I feel fine." "Uh, tired." "I'm really tired." "Pretty much been, uh, been harvesting nonstop." "You know, Ellie and I are still trying to get pregnant, and that's not going so well." "Plus, the Rams have had a terrible start to their season so this whole Utopia thing's a bit of a debatable point in our house right now." "Obviously, you didn't come here to talk about football." "No, I didn't." "So, why are you here?" "To apologize." "For what?" "Should I sugar the pill?" "(WHIRRING)" "Karellen?" "Yeah." "Yeah, everything's okay." "I'm glad everything's okay." "Why is it okay?" "Nah, he's just checking in on us." "Making sure we're all right." "In the middle of the night?" "Sure he was." "What?" "Seriously." "Hey." "Everything is fine." "REPORTER 1:" "We found three eyewitnesses now who all saw a pod blasting away from the Stormgren farm." "So it's official sports fans," "Karellen has been back to visit his Blue Collar Prophet after 20 years." "REPORTER 2:" "It's fair to say that here on this side of the pond, curiosity is just as high as in the former US." "REPORTER 1:" "According to our affiliate in Missouri, we do have confirmation now..." "REPORTER 3:" "We don't know what the Supervisor for Earth has told Ricky but undoubtedly it's significant." "And the world once again turns to a modest farm in Missouri." "Give me some credit here, Ricky." "Karellen didn't come down to see if we were flossing regularly." "Well, he said that the Earth has a new destiny." "What does that mean?" "I have..." "I have no idea what's waiting for us." "TOMMY:" "Dad, come see this." "JAKE:" "Oh." "TOMMY:" "It's Karellen." " He's back." " NEWS ANCHOR:" "The Spokesman of Earth has been scientist and entrepreneur, Rupert Boyce." "Why Karellen returned to the Stormgren farm last night..." "I would not mind being a fly on that wall, huh?" "Yeah, it's got to be important." "I mean, if he's back, something's going to happen." "Oh." "JAKE:" "Nice." "(RUMBLING)" "(LLAMA BRAYING)" "(ANIMALS SCREECHING)" "(RUMBLING)" "(RUMBLING CONTINUES)" "(DOGS BARKING)" "(ANIMALS SCREECHING)" "(SCREECHES)" "MORTON:" "Dr. Boyce?" "Dr. Boyce?" " What is it?" " MORTON:" "It's not us." "Not an earthquake." "It just appeared." "MORTON:" "Dr. Boyce?" "Dr. Boyce, we don't know where it came from." "I know where it came from. (CHUCKLES)" "(WHIRRING)" "They just built it." "Just like that. (SNAPS FINGERS)" "(CHUCKLES) Incredible." "MORTON:" "They just..." "Just created an entire room." "Karellen said that something special was coming." "I think it's magnificent." "MORTON:" "Why all of this for just a child's toy?" "DR. BOYCE:" "No, no, no, no, no." "This is no toy. (CHUCKLES)" "(LOW WHIRRING)" "What's with the board, Karellen?" "Huh?" "You want us talking to ghosts?" "It is a communication device." "One assumes he wants us to talk to somebody." "(WHIRRING)" "(BUZZING)" "(PANTING)" "(WHISPERING) We have to save the children." "(BREATHING HEAVILY) We have to save the children." "It'll end and begin." "(SOFTLY) Hey, hey, hey, hey..." "(GASPS)" "(DOOR CLOSES)" " AMY:" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "JAKE:" "Shh." "Shh." "All right." "JAKE:" "Tom?" "Tommy?" "Tommy?" "Oh!" "Jesus." "TOMMY:" "It will end and begin." "What are you doing, pal?" "You all right?" "(WHISPERING) Don't touch us." "Come on, let's, uh..." "Let's get you to bed." "Don't touch us!" "(GROANS)" "(COUGHING)" "(BREATHING HEAVILY)" ""Religious criticism has also expressed beliefs that the Ouija board" ""reveals information, which should only be in God's hands." ""And, thus, it is a tool of Satan."" "Don't know what it was." "It was, uh..." "It was a powerful force." "From our nine-year-old son?" "I was physically attacked by something." "Come on, don't start acting weird around him." "JAKE:" "I'm not acting weird." "AMY:" "He thinks that he's done something wrong." "JAKE:" "Look, Amy, you don't remember anything of the nights recently." "I do." "He's walking around with that stare and, you, I mean you're not sleeping well." "I had stomach pains." "You're screaming in your sleep" "about children." " What?" "About saving children." "It's like you're fighting something." "And, and Tom is..." "He's not himself." "All right." "We could take him to see someone, but I don't know exactly what we'd say." "Well, we could start with, um..." ""It will end and begin."" " I take it you're the Greggsons?" " Yes." "And you must be Tom." "Hi, uh..." "We spoke on the phone." "Nice to meet you in person, Miss Jones." "So, uh..." "Uh, you're..." "You're not a doctor?" "No, no, I'm a fully qualified counselor, one of a dying breed." "I don't like it here." "Tom!" "Our son Tommy is having some behavioral issues." "Well, I think it's a little more serious than that." "Mom, I want to go." "I don't like it." "PERETTA:" "I don't blame you, Tom." "(CHUCKLES)" "It's kind of a depressing place, right?" "You probably want to be outside or in your room at home." "Why don't I come visit you there?" "RACHEL:" "The eyes of the macaques..." "You should've seen them." "MILO:" "I saw it in a dog in the street, too." "It's like it wasn't even human, uh, if you know what I mean." "And this is being reported across a 20-mile radius." "Could it have something to do with the animals we've been collecting for the Overlords?" "I'm sure they were just scanning for disease or mange." "Surely there's nothing wrong with asking Karellen." "Dr. Rodricks, isn't your wonderful work with us finished?" "Yes, sir." "Thank you." "But if I could just have five minutes with the Supervisor..." "Dr. Osaka, would you excuse us please?" "I..." "DR. BOYCE:" "You're very much like I was, Milo." "A headstrong young biologist full of ideas and theories, burning through my inheritance trying to make a name for myself." "MILO:(SCOFFS) Yeah, peas in a pod." "DR. BOYCE:" "I understand your frustration." "When the Overlords came, they raised all these exciting questions about the cosmos, but they refused to answer any of them." "It's not just about me." "They've killed scientific enquiry." "Which is why I'm determined to stay as close to them as possible." "That is why I built this place." "That is why I do what they ask." "I'm maintaining as much scientific enquiry as I can." "Sending live animals into space?" "What does that teach us about them?" "Because there's one species they haven't collected." "Us." "Homo sapiens." "Eventually I'll persuade Karellen to take me to his planet." "I'll be the first person to see another planet lit by another sun." "That's, uh..." "That's incredible, Dr. Boyce." "I wish you all the luck in the world." "I'm telling you this because I like you, Milo." "But I'm also warning you." "I need Karellen on side." "So don't go tugging on the lion's tail, son." "It's in my bones and there's nothing they can do." "Make the seconds count, baby." "Every one." "(GASPS)" "Argh!" "Oh!" "(EXHALES)" "(DOORBELL RINGS)" "PERETTA:" "You feel more like talking today, Tom?" "I can't tell them what happens." "PERETTA:" "Why not?" "They get scared if you tell them what's gonna happen." "Well, I'm not your mom or your dad." "You can tell me." "I go places." "Far away." "Where it's dark and where it's hot." "TOMMY:" "Far away." "AMY:" "Maybe we should be in there." "She's a professional." "If she can get him to talk, then that's got to be a good thing, right?" "Do you really think I'm over-reacting?" "PERETTA:" "And what else do you see when you travel, Tom?" "An eye." "A single giant eye." "I see fire in the ground." "Smoke in the air." "It blocks out the stars." "You imagine this place?" "No, I go there." "They take me there." "Who do you think takes you there?" "They do." "The Overlords?" "(ECHOING) It's okay, Tom." "(BABY CRYING)" "It's not real." "It can't hurt you." "It's in your mind." "Minds are funny things." "They can change the way we see the world." "They can fool us." "(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)" "What do you hear, Tom?" "Tell me." "Tell me what you hear." "Shall we get your parents in?" "Tom, what is it?" "Tom?" " Tom, what is it?" "(SCREAMING) No!" "AMY:" "Tom?" " Mom!" " Hey, what's wrong?" "Mom!" "Ahhh!" "What the hell did you do?" " Nothing." "Nothing." "(BABY CONTINUES CRYING)" "PERETTA:" "Listen to me..." "Tom, you need to stop." "Ahhh!" "Tom?" "(INAUDIBLE) -(BABY CRYING LOUDLY)" " Tom?" " Stop!" "JAKE:" "Tom, look at me." "Will you stop!" "(INAUDIBLE) -(BABY CRYING LOUDLY)" "(CHOKING)" "(PERETTA GASPING)" "It's okay, Mom." "It's okay." "The baby's stopped crying." "I'm..." "I'm not having a baby, Tom." "(PANTING)" "Hey, Peretta?" "Wait." "Wait." "Jeez." "You saw that, right?" "What is going on?" "I mean, what is it?" "What's..." "What's wrong with Tom?" "I don't know what I just saw." " I have to go." " No, hey, Peretta..." "You're coming back, though, right?" "I mean, my own son is scaring me." "Be safe, Jake." "Bye." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Hey." "What's happening?" "I'll take your jacket here." "Got it." "Wow." "I know he told you something and I know when you're holding something back." "(CLEARS THROAT)" "Don't sugarcoat it." "Listen, Els, all those times I went to the Overlords' ship, um..." "CHILDREN:" "Hey, Ricky!" "(CHILDREN LAUGHING)" "You gotta be kidding me." "(INDISTINCT CHATTER)" "RICKY:" "Guys, back on the other side of the fence." "You can't be over here." "ALL:" "Ricky!" "Ricky!" "RICKY:" "Come on, let's go inside." "What do you people want?" " Ellie." " A sermon from the Mount?" "Karellen tells us no more than he tells you." "(GROANS)" "Ahh!" "(GROANING)" "Your lymph system is under huge strain." "White cells are going through a rapid metastasis." "Now, we can drastically reduce the rate of organ decay." "But, uh..." "But you can't stop it." "I'm afraid it also explains why you haven't been able to conceive a child." "(SIGHS)" "Doc?" "Could you..." " Yeah." " RICKY:" "Thanks." "You can beat this." "(SIGHS DEEPLY)" "Karellen said that there was something in the fabric of the ship." "It poisoned me." "I don't think I can beat this, Els." "You did everything that they asked of you." "He won't let you down and he won't let you die." "I'm sorry." " Hey, no, no, no." "I'm sorry." " I'm sorry that I can't give you..." "Come here." "This is me." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "Shh." "(ELLIE CRYING)" "(EXHALES)" "I need to talk to you." "We never had a normal life since you chose him." "We can't have real friends." "We don't have children." "You owe us, Karellen." "(ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO)" "Help us!" "(RADIO CLATTERS)" "Hello, stranger." "Jim." "What are you doing here?" "Someone's gotta keep her spick-and-span." "How's the congregation?" "We could almost muster a baseball team." "We miss you, Peretta." "I'm sorry, I've been busy." "Why are you shaking?" "I thought that I was seeing a psychology case, this boy with night terrors." "But it's much worse than that." "It stirred up spiritual instincts, I guess." "Things I haven't felt in a long time." "MILO:" "Why do they look like demons?" "Like our exact idea of devils?" "You know every time you ask me a question, you already have an answer." "That's not true." "(SIGHS)" "They look like our idea of devils because they've been here before." "We've been waiting for them." "We knew they were coming, so when they brought about this change, it scared us on some deep level." " Because we could never stop it." " That would imply some kind of" "crazy psychic..." " Yes!" "Yes!" "Psychic connection." "People have been writing about this for centuries." "I mean, ancient mystics talked about an energy." "A relationship between all living things and the stars themselves." "Perhaps we've always known the Overlords were coming." "Okay, so because of some crackpot ancient philosophy, we knew they were coming to do good." "So then why turn them into the personification of evil?" "Mmm." "PERETTA:" "Tom said he was taken here." "I know it's not possible, but that's what he described." "The Overlords, that there is their true colors." "But you've always known that." "You're being melodramatic." "Your mother knew it." "You used to always see things clearly through her eyes." "When did you go blind?" " Please don't bring up my mom." " She died for her faith." "She killed herself because she lost it." "Never apologize for your faith." "Do you think that the Overlords are attacking this family?" "Look at your cross." "They're attacking more than that." "Faith is on its last legs." "It's just we don't see it, 'cause they give us ice cream." "(AMY INHALING)" "JAKE:" "Oh." "AMY:" "There she is." "Oh, my gosh." "Is that a little hand?" "(GASPS)" " Yeah." " Hi, baby." "She's got a good strong heartbeat." "AMY:" "She's very pretty." "Names, names, names." "(JAKE YELLING AND LAUGHING)" "Jane?" "Janey?" "(JAKE YELLS)" "Oh!" "Lauren?" "Oh!" "(LAUGHS)" "Argh!" "JAKE:" "You are going down!" "Und now ve vill soak you viz da Supa-Duper-Soaking Device." " Not me, Dad!" " Ja?" "Get her!" "Get Jennifer!" "Who's Jennifer?" "(LAUGHS)" "(JAKE YELLS)" "Tom just said the strangest thing." "Jennifer." "What?" "I know what to call the baby." "Oh." "That's where he got it from." "What?" "I..." "I just thought of it then." "Nah, you must've mentioned it before." "It just popped into my head." "Divine inspiration." "No, Amy." " You mentioned it to Tom." " No, Jacob." "I didn't." "Do you like it?" "Jennifer." "Mmm." "This is the problem." "We're gonna live forever but we don't have enough to do." "No wonder we feel like we're going out of our minds." "You're not going out of your mind." "Tom asked me the other day if he'd ever have a job." "I told him he didn't need one." "What kind of a message is that?" "We need to reclaim some of what we had when we were kids." " I see where this is going." " Look, I made some calls." "Hold those horses." " We're not moving to New Athens." " Just to visit." "To see it." "It's living life the old way." "There is crime in New Athens." "God, I hope so." "And, uh, litter and hot dog stands which are notoriously bad for you." "And you love." "But you know what else they have?" "They have art and they have culture and they're awake, Amy." "It might be good for all of us to remember how things once were, you know, warts and all." "Do I seem happier to you?" "Yes." "Am I still fighting demons in the dark?" "No." "It's the baby, baby." "She's going to change everything for us." "Yes, Holy Mother." "Send thy angels to defend us." "All, ye, Holy Angels..." "Hey!" " It's them." " Peretta?" "It's them." "The Overlords." " Hey." "Turn the dial down." " They..." " What..." "What about them?" " Are you hurt?" " What is going on?" " We're not hurt." "I don't know." "I don't know." " But they were here." " It's, um, Peretta." " The Overlords were here." " They were here?" "Their pod was here watching the house." " What about Tom?" "Is Tom all right?" " Hey, hey, calm down." "Peretta!" "Just keep your voice down." " I don't want him..." " PERETTA:" "Well, I'm not a hysterical person." "I am a person with faith." "When I was in your house last time," "I felt something, and it did this." "Well, um, things are much better since that day, uh, Peretta." "Tom's much better actually." "And, uh, you bringing it all up again is, uh, just..." "It's going to upset him." "There is no such thing as evil, Peretta." "(SCOFFS)" " AMY:" "We're fine." "Our family is fine." "Come inside, please." "JAKE:" "Yeah." "Well, since that day I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." "Tom told me they take him somewhere to a place of fire and smoke..." "If this is your idea of counseling" "then no wonder it's a dying profession." "...and he is scared." "Thank you for your spiritual concern, Peretta, but, uh, my son does not take night trips to hell." "Thank you." "(DOOR LOCKS)" "A paranormal eye to the soul or just a harmless board game?" "I've finalized the guest list." "Good." "I need to add these people to the guest list." "We're bringing these people all the way out to Africa?" "Apparently, this is where the connection is strongest." "Connection to what?" "Look, just get them here, all right?" "The father's not important, but the mother and the child, they have to be here, do you understand?" " This room was built for them." " Sir, it's not my place to question," "but can't you demand that..." " No." "You don't make demands on Karellen." "The Overlords are deceiving us." "I don't know why but they are." "NEWS ANCHOR:" "But for now, let's go back to Haansvelt, Missouri, and the ongoing developments at Ricky Stormgren's farm, where it seems that the crowds are growing, right?" "REPORTER:" "Yes, as the newly energized Pilgrimage continues to take hold at the Stormgren farm in Missouri, followers and detractors alike are asking the same question." "Why would the Overlords allow their prophet to suffer?" "There has been a great outpouring of support for Ricky Stormgren since his return home from the Hampstead Hospital, just six months ago." "Jake Greggson?" "Yeah." "My name is Morton." "I work for Dr. Rupert Boyce." "Rupert Boyce?" "I know that name." "He wants to redesign his game reserve in the Haansvelt, South Africa." "We're inviting several designers to come visit." "I, uh, I do golf courses." "A lot of people play golf these days." "You don't fancy a fresh challenge?" "That's a long way to come when you could've phoned." "Well, I had other business in California." "(DOOR OPENS)" "MORTON:" "Hello." "You must be Amy." "Hi." "This gentleman wants to fly me to South Africa for a job interview." "Designing, um, a game reserve?" "The whole family's invited." "Big party." "Kids can see the animals." "The other candidates will be there, too." " Sounds amazing." " Yeah." "A little too amazing." "There aren't that many guys doing what you're doing, Jake." "You're special." "I'll think about it." "Of course." "If you're not comfortable flying out then that's fine." "Uh, what's the matter with you?" "You say you're bored out of your mind." "He just pitches up and says he's flying us to Africa?" "Come on." "What's the worst that could happen?" "Go to a party in a beautiful place." "Jake, this is the adventure you've been looking for, don't you think?" "Hey." "Wait." "Morton?" " WOMAN:" "Ellie?" " MAN:" "Ellie?" "ELLIE:" "Please, just let me get by, okay?" "MAN:" "Can you tell us anything?" "Ellie, is there any news?" "ELLIE:" "Just let me through, guys, okay?" "MAN:" "We don't mean you no harm." "If there's anything we can do to help you, just let us know." "Look, it's just my shopping, okay?" "It's really not that interesting." "MAN:" "Any word?" "(INDISTINCT CHATTER)" " Oh, my God." " ELLIE:" "Please just leave it." "Just leave it please." "I'm fine." " PERETTA:" "It's fine." "Let me help." " I'm fine." "Okay." "I'll get out of your face." "I'm sorry." "I'm impressed." "You're doing great." "Can you juggle the apples while you do that, too?" "How about this?" "I will take the bike, I'll wheel it to your front door, and then you can frog-march me off your land." "(SIGHS) Deal." "These children, they shouldn't be here." "None of you should." "It really doesn't achieve anything." "Oh, I didn't come with them." "I'm a counselor." "I just thought these people seemed a little lost." "Like, they might need some support." "I mean, you and Ricky, you must feel pretty isolated out here." "Thanks." "I can, uh, take it from here." ""A golden dawn comes shining from the eyes of God."" "Wow." "(BEEPS)" " RACHEL:" "Hey." " Hey." "Wanna hear what I found in this text, Corpus Hermiticum?" "I love discussing the Corpus Hermiticum on a Saturday night." "I mean, what girl doesn't?" "But do you wanna go to the party with me?" "I mean, Karellen might be there and everyone else from the center is bringing their significant other." "I mean, not that we're, um..." "Uh, yeah." "Great." "ALL:" "Run, run, run." "PERETTA:" "Like, side to side." "(ALL YELLING)" "ALL:" "Yay!" "ELLIE:" "Yeah, it can feel like a fortress here." "Everybody wants something." "A little communion wine?" " Amen." "(CHUCKLES)" "Oh." "What is that?" "Aguardiente." "My mother used to take a drop every Saturday night." "(ELLIE CHUCKLES)" "Not too many drops, I hope." "I'm sorry." "Is she..." "My mom was a missionary." "And when Karellen arrived, he killed the need for God." "And so she killed herself." "Oh, Peretta, I'm sorry." "But I'm not sure that God ever really helped any of us." "(STAMMERS) I don't believe that." "He gave us diseases, and when we found cures for those, he created new ones." "God was just this black void that we cried into." "But only the Overlords answered." "But, hey, if God wants to trump Karellen, bring it on." "Isn't there something in the Bible about barren women having children?" "If God's selling, then I'm buying." "You can't have children?" "I should go." "Giraffes." "It's a whole herd of them." "Elephants." "Down there." "Do you see them?" "Here's my plus one." "Rachel." "What's wrong with me?" "Uh..." "Nothing." "Nothing at all." "You look..." "Your dress is..." "Well, your dress is attractively symmetrical." "The way it, uh, yeah." ""Attractively symmetrical." Is that Keats?" "No." "Who's Keats?" "And look at you." "All dressed up to meet an Overlord." "What will you do if you see one?" "Uh, buy him a drink and ask him some questions?" "(RACHEL GIGGLING)" "(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)" "This is the kokoro symbol." "I had a pendant as a kid." "Lost it skinny-dipping in Lake Towada." "Means love." "Oh." "Thank you." "Uh, I..." "I'll go check your coat." "All of this is for an interview?" "Excuse me, please." "Jake." "And family." "Pleasure's all mine." " Thanks so much for coming out all this way." " Hi." "And you must be Tom?" "We have some exceptionally cool things for you to see." " Are you game?" " Sure." "Morton, would you mind escorting this young man to our Exhibit Room?" "You are gonna love it." "Lions and tigers and bears, oh, my!" "Absolutely." "Hey, don't touch anything." "It might bite." "MORTON:" "He'll be fine." "So, um, how'd you wanna play this, Dr. Boyce?" "I actually took the liberty of sketching a few ideas." "Let's just enjoy the party, shall we?" "Mrs. Greggson, if I may?" "Sure. (CHUCKLES)" "I promise I'll bring her back." "WOMAN:" "Dostoevsky, Orwell," "Dickens' stories came from characters rising above their situation." "Who'd write Hard Times now?" "Armistead Maupin wrote about the stigma of being gay." "My partner and I can kiss in the street without raising a hair." "What the hell would Maupin write about now?" "If you guys have a hankering for the past, then I hear the place to go is New Athens." "Income tax and homophobia?" "Book me a ticket." "JAKE:" "So, you guys don't design golf courses, do you?" "WOMAN:" "Oh, no." "We're from the World Federation." "No kidding." "Oh, hey, hey." " Thanks." " Of course." "Not your scene either?" "Oh, I used to work with these bozos." "Don't knock it." "A job's a rare commodity." "Life of leisure, huh?" "It's the dream." "Not my dream." "Milo Rodricks." "All right." "Jake Greggson." "I actually came here for a job interview." "A job?" "I think you missed a beat." "I mean, Boyce is closing this place down, he's not taking people on." "Not taking people on?" "Then why the hell are we here?" "I should probably get back inside." "Uh, here's my card." "Let me know how it turns out." "(WHIRRING)" "(WHIRRING CONTINUES)" "JAKE:" "Hey." " Tom back?" " Not yet." "Look, um..." "I don't think this is about a job interview." "I don't know what it's about." " You want to get out of here?" " Yeah." "I'll go find Tom." "All right, just give me a sec." "I'll be back." "What the hell's up with you?" "He's here." "He's actually here." " Who?" " Karellen." "BOYCE:" "Ladies and gentlemen. (CLAPS)" "If I could have your attention, please." "I know we've all been waiting, so without any further delay, I'd like to introduce our special guest." "I give you the Supervisor for Earth." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)" "Good evening, everyone." "So..." "You have solved many of the problems your science was chasing." "Disease." "Climate change. (CHUCKLES)" "And as a consequence, much of your research is now redundant." "Nevertheless, you should be proud of what you have accomplished." " Bravo." "(APPLAUSE)" "Now I know there's been some concern as to why I acquired so many animals for the Overlords." "They are to be shipped to Karellen's home world as part of a great menagerie, a zoo." "They will not be harmed and they will live longer." "Supervisor, I wanted to..." " I wanted to ask about the..." " Not now, Rodricks." "You're killing scientific curiosity." "I admire the work you have done, but your scientific curiosity has led you dangerously close to forces that you could never have controlled." "They would have destroyed you." "They saved us from ourselves." "Why are we being kept in the dark?" "You now have peace and the way has been prepared for your successors." "I'd like to thank everybody who worked on the World Federation Observation Orbital." "I'd like to probably turn that into an acronym as well. (LAUGHS)" "(CLEARS THROAT) Um, and, uh, please enjoy the rest of the evening." "(CROWD MURMURING)" "Mrs. Greggson, I realize this might seem like an odd request but the Supervisor would like to meet with you privately." "(CHUCKLES) Uh, I'm sorry, why does he want to meet with me?" "I'm not entirely sure, but if I were you I'd take it as a compliment." "Dinosaurs ruled the world for 200 million years." "What happened to them?" "I guess they just had their time." "Wait a second, I've been here." " I've seen these." " Now, hold on, son." "I want to find Dad." "Just..." "Just give them more time." "JAKE:" "More time for what, Mr. Morton?" "You're going to tell me why we're really here." "But first you're going to let go of my son." "We're not trying to hurt anyone, Jake." "Believe me, we just need more time." "Like I said, more time for what?" "(BUZZING)" "(GASPS)" "Mrs. Greggson, if I could introduce Karellen." "Perhaps you could explain to us what the room is for?" "Step up onto the platform." "I want you to put your hand on the disk." "Karellen, I think it would be nice if you could give us an explanation as to what you're expecting from us." "I'm expecting nothing from you, Dr. Boyce." "Amy, trust me." "Please do as I ask." "(THUNDER RUMBLING)" "KARELLEN:" "You will find a new voice inside you that I can now speak with." "You need to trust us." "Okay, I want a gyro waiting for us outside right now." "Tom, come on." "Tom!" "KARELLEN:" "Don't fight." "You've been fighting from the beginning." "She's not fighting." "I'm not talking to Amy." "You cannot protect the Earth." "You must accept what you are." "BOYCE:" "I don't understand what's happening." "I'm asking you to stop until you explain it to us." "KARELLEN:" "You know who you really are and what you are joined with." "So tell me and tell yourself." "You are singular and myriad." "One and many." "Reveal yourself to me." "Reveal yourself to me." "Karellen." "Listen to my voice." "(AMY BREATHING SHAKILY)" "You're trying to be a child." "But, you cannot be a child knowing yourself as you do." "Tom." "KARELLEN:" "Listen to my voice." "This has to stop." "Accept who you are." "You're hurting her." "BOTH:" "Don't touch us!" "(WHIRRING)" "(GROANING)" "(THUNDER RUMBLING)" "TOMMY:" "I hear you." "I'm coming." "(WHIRRING)" "Tom!" "Tom, wait!" "Tom!" "Tom!" "Jennifer." "She's awake." "No!" "(AMY SCREAMS)" "Tom!" "(PANTING)" "It is done." "She is awake." "She accepts and she understands." "Now they will follow." "Hey, buddy." "Hey, hey, Tom?" "JAKE:" "Hey, hey, Tom?" "Hey." "Tom?" "Hey." "(CRYING) Dad, I'm so sorry." "It's Jennifer." "She's so strong." "No, no, no, no, I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." "Oh, my God." "It's their alphabet." "That's what it is, it stands for their alphabet." "Can I..." "Sorry." "Have you got something to write with, anything like a pen, something?" " I..." "Um..." " Lipstick, yeah, that's perfect." " Oh, that..." " Sorry." "It was a connection." "What we saw was a conversation between down here and something up there using their language." "That's Herve Leger Red and it's my favorite." "All right, so, each symbol is a letter in their alphabet." "And I think that they base their alphabet on constellations." "That's why you draw all over your star charts." "I've charted every letter I can find." "This one is new." "I recognize the pattern, Rachel." "We got to go." "Okay." "Amy?" "AMY:" "Jake!" " Jake." " Amy." "(CRYING)" "Honey... (SOBS) Please, please, can we just go?" "JAKE:" "Okay." "Stay away from us." "Tom." "BOYCE:" "Why would Karellen want to connect with your unborn child?" "Aims, keep walking." "What is it you're carrying?" "I saw something, a vision..." "I don't even know." "Amy, let's go." " I don't..." " Come on." "I'm sorry." "What was it I saw, Amy?" "(MOANING)" "(MOANING LOUDLY)" "You see?" "Now, you see, each symbol is a star system, but none of them can support planetary life, which I found odd." "RACHEL:" "So, this symbol, this letter..." "MILO:" "Only it's not a symbol." "It's a constellation, the Carina system." "And this one is different." "It's the only system with planets." "(CHUCKLING)" "(SCREAMING)" "That is the home world of the Overlords." "(CHUCKLES SOFTLY)" "(CHUCKLES)" "(GUN FIRING)" "Son of a bitch." "(SIGHS)" "(RADIO STATIC)" "(PEOPLE CHEERING)" "All right, all right, settle down." " I need to go on through." " No one's getting through." "She's my friend." "She needs me." "Call me crazy but I'd hoped you'd be back." "Well, better to embrace acceptance than hope, Ricky." "Well, don't knock it." "It worked." "When you disappeared all those years ago, I kind of felt offended." "I guess I got used to being pals with God." "Whenever you summon God, you want comfort." "Yet the very idea of him makes you confused and afraid." "He is a stick that you feel you must lean on." "But the stick burns." "(HISSES)" "On the bench." "It is for you." "What is it?" "Ricky, we have no need to apply our resources to save our own lives." "Will it save my life?" "This can repair the damage to your body." "It's very difficult to make." "This is all there is of it." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Forgive me, we should have met sooner." "Yes, we should have." "It's been hard, what Ricky has had to do." "It's harder still on the one who has to wait." "The one who can only watch but never follow." "It is even harder on those who cannot accept." "(DOOR OPENS)" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, who's this?" "Peretta, what are you doing here?" "Whatever it promised you, it is a lie." "You lied to them." "You lied to us all." "They deserve the truth." "You made your prophet sick." " RICKY:" "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." " They can't have children." "Tell them the truth about what you really are." "The truth." "The truth is that your illness did not make you sterile." "That was my doing." "You said that that was from going to the ship." "That it was a mistake." "No." "I have stopped you having children." "(GUN COCKING)" "Ellie?" "Maybe you don't know as much as you think about us, Karellen." "But you see that we are meant to have children, to raise and to love and to watch grow." "Yes." "You robbed us of a family, after everything we did for you!" " Hey." " Stop." " Let it go." "(SOBBING)" "No." "No, they never wanted what was best for us." "They want to destroy us." "RICKY:" "How could you do this?" "I sold you to the world." "The day is coming, Ricky, when your world will change forever." "It will be harder on those who have children." "I cannot stop that." "We are not masters but merely the servants, but I could spare you the pain of being parents." "No." "How dare you!" "It is not your right to decide!" " No." " Enough!" "(GUN FIRING)" "(GASPING)" "(BREATHING HEAVILY)" "Oh, my friend." "I just wanted to spare you the pain of what is coming." " What's coming?" "(GROANS)" "Karellen, what happens to the children?" "I chose you." "Out of all the world..." "I chose you." "(BREATHING HOARSELY)" "Let it die!" "(INHALES)" "(SOBBING)" "Whether I am alive or dead, makes no difference to what is coming." "You will never take away my faith." "All the world's religions cannot be right, Peretta." "You know that." "Your faith is beautiful as poetry is beautiful." "But there is no place for it now." "You..." "You deceived us." "No, you have deceived yourselves." "No." "Nine million species." "How did he pick them?" "Was it just a random lottery?" "Out of a hat?" "Who?" "Karellen?" "Noah, for his Ark." "WOMAN: (WHISPERING) Peretta." "Mom." "(AMY SCREAMING)" "NURSE:" "Push." "Hang in there, Amy." "Concentrate, come on." "Push!" "(SCREAMING)" "There you go." "That's it." "You're almost there." "Come on." "Here we go." "One more push, honey." "She's almost here." "She's coming." "There we go." "JAKE:" "Oh!" "NURSE:" "There she is." "Here's your baby." "It's your daughter." "She's beautiful." "AMY:" "Jennifer." | Low | [
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The Obama administration has ordered military reinforcements to Libya following the attack on the US consulate building this week, but the truth is drones had never left Libya’s skies and US Marines have been carrying out missions on the ground since the end of NATO’s war there last year. The US suspects al-Qaeda affiliates were involved in starting the attack on the US consulate in Libya, which killed the American ambassador and three others, and has not only started an FBI investigation into the incident, but has ordered more drones to surveil Libya, as well as up to 50 additional US Marines and US warships equipped with Tomahawk missiles off the northern coast. But the Defense Department told Wired‘s Danger Room that the drones never left, despite the fact that the NATO air war in Libya came to an end almost a year ago. “Yes, we have been flying CAPs [combat air patrols] since the war ended,” said Army Lt. Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman. These have apparently been done for surveillance purposes with the consent of the new Libyan government. Similarly, the 50 additional US Marines being sent to Libya won’t exactly be new. One of the four Americans killed in this week’s consulate attack told ABC News last month he was working with the State Department on an intelligence mission to find some of the hoards of weapons strewn about the country following the collapse of Muammar Gadhafi’s regime. The late economist Milton Friedman was famous for saying that there is nothing so permanent as a government temporary program. He was referring to domestic policies and bureaucracies, but the same principle applies here. When the US government engages in military action abroad, the tendency is for such military engagements to remain open-ended, in keeping with America’s long history of spreading its military across the entire globe. | Mid | [
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# hostintel This tool is used to collect various intelligence sources for hosts. Hostintel is written in a modular fashion so new intelligence sources can be easily added. Hosts are identified by FQDN host name, Domain, or IP address. This tool only supports IPv4 at the moment. The output is in CSV format and sent to STDOUT so the data can be saved or piped into another program. Since the output is in CSV format, spreadsheets such as Excel or database systems will easily be able to import the data. I created a short introduction for this tool on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aYK0gILDA6w This works with Python v2 and Python v3. If you find it does not workwith Python v3 please post an issue. ## Help Screen: ``` $ python hostintel.py -h usage: hostintel.py [-h] [-a] [-d] [-v] [-p] [-s] [-c] [-t] [-o] [-i] [-r] ConfigurationFile InputFile Modular application to look up host intelligence information. Outputs CSV to STDOUT. This application will not output information until it has finished all of the input. positional arguments: ConfigurationFile Configuration file InputFile Input file, one host per line (IP, domain, or FQDN host name) optional arguments: -h, --help show this help message and exit -a, --all Perform All Lookups. -d, --dns DNS Lookup. -v, --virustotal VirusTotal Lookup. -p, --passivetotal PassiveTotal Lookup. -s, --shodan Shodan Lookup. -c, --censys Censys Lookup. -t, --threatcrowd ThreatCrowd Lookup. -o, --otx OTX by AlienVault Lookup. -i, --isc Internet Storm Center DShield Lookup. -r, --carriagereturn Use carriage returns with new lines on csv. ``` # Install: First, make sure your configuration file is correct for your computer/installation. Add your API keys and usernames as appropriate in the configuration file. Python and Pip are required to run this tool. There are modules that must be installed from GitHub, so be sure the git command is available from your command line. Git is easy to install for any platform. Next, install the python requirements (run this each time you git pull this repository too): ``` $ pip install -r requirements.txt ``` There have been some problems with the stock version of Python on Mac OSX (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/31649390/python-requests-ssl-handshake-failure). You may have to install the security portion of the requests library with the following command: ``` $ pip install requests[security] ``` Lastly, I am a fan of virtualenv for Python. To make a customized local installation of Python to run this tool, I recommend you read: http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/dev/virtualenvs/ # Running: ``` $ python hostintel.py myconfigfile.conf myhosts.txt -a > myoutput.csv ``` You should be able to import myoutput.csv into any database or spreadsheet program. **Note that depending on your network, your API key limits, and the data you are searching for, this script can run for a very long time! Use each module sparingly! In return for the long wait, you save yourself from having to pull this data manually.** ## Sample Data: There is some sample data in the "sampledata" directory. The IPs, domains, and hosts were picked at random and by no means is meant to target any organization or individual. Running this tool on the sample data works in the following way: ### Small Hosts List: ``` $ python hostintel.py local/config.conf sampledata/smalllist.txt -a > sampledata/smalllist.csv *** Processing 8.8.8.8 *** *** Processing 8.8.4.4 *** *** Processing 192.168.1.1 *** *** Processing 10.0.0.1 *** *** Processing google.com *** *** Processing 212.227.247.242 *** *** Writing Output *** ``` ### Larger Hosts List: ``` $ python hostintel.py local/config.conf sampledata/largerlist.txt -a > sampledata/largerlist.csv *** Processing 114.34.84.13 *** *** Processing 116.102.34.212 *** *** Processing 118.75.180.168 *** *** Processing 123.195.184.13 *** *** Processing 14.110.216.236 *** *** Processing 14.173.147.69 *** *** Processing 14.181.192.151 *** *** Processing 146.120.11.66 *** *** Processing 163.172.149.131 *** ... *** Processing 54.239.26.180 *** *** Processing 62.141.39.155 *** *** Processing 71.6.135.131 *** *** Processing 72.30.2.74 *** *** Processing 74.125.34.101 *** *** Processing 83.31.179.71 *** *** Processing 85.25.217.155 *** *** Processing 93.174.93.94 *** *** Writing Output *** ``` # Intelligence Sources: You can get API keys at the sites below for your configuration file. - GeoLite2 (No network I/O required) - http://www.maxmind.com - DNS (Network I/O required) - https://github.com/rthalley/dnspython - VirusTotal (Public API key and network I/O required, throttled when appropriate) - http://www.virustotal.com - PassiveTotal (API key, username, and network I/O required) - http://www.passivetotal.com - Shodan (API key and network I/O required) - http://www.shodan.io - Censys (API key, username, and network I/O required) - http://www.censys.io - ThreatCrowd (Network I/O required, throttled when appropriate) - http://www.threatcrowd.org - OTX by AlienVault (API key and network I/O required) - https://otx.alienvault.com - Internet Storm Center (Network I/O required) - https://isc.sans.edu # Resources: - The GeoIP2 Python library - https://github.com/maxmind/GeoIP2-python - The Python DNS library - https://github.com/rthalley/dnspython - Foundation of DNS lookups inspired by http://www.iodigitalsec.com/performing-dns-queries-python/ - The VirusTotal Python library - https://github.com/blacktop/virustotal-api - The Shodan Python library - http://shodan.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ - https://github.com/achillean/shodan-python - The Censys Python library - https://github.com/censys/censys-python - https://www.censys.io/api - The PassiveTotal Python library - https://passivetotal.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ - https://github.com/passivetotal/python_api - The ThreatCrowd Python library - https://github.com/threatcrowd/ApiV2 - https://github.com/jheise/threatcrowd_api - The OTX Python Library - https://github.com/AlienVault-Labs/OTX-Python-SDK - https://otx.alienvault.com/api/ - The Internet Storm Center DShield Python Library - https://github.com/rshipp/python-dshield - https://isc.sans.edu/api/ # Notes: Crude notes are available [here](notes/Notes.png). # License: This application is covered by the Creative Commons BY-SA license. - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode ``` This product includes GeoLite2 data created by MaxMind, available from <a href="http://www.maxmind.com">http://www.maxmind.com</a>. ``` # Contributing: Read [Contributing.md](Contributing.md) # To Do: - Try to incorporate https://github.com/mlsecproject/combine - Try to incorporate threat feeds from http://www.secrepo.com/ - Add Malwr - Add column to display if input was IPv4, domain, or hostname - Look at https://github.com/Yelp/threat_intel | Low | [
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Down-regulation of Raf-1 kinase is associated with paclitaxel resistance in human breast cancer MCF-7/Adr cells. Experiments were carried out to determine the role of Raf-1 kinase in the development of drug resistance and apoptosis induced by paclitaxel. In the present study, paclitaxel sensitivity, Raf-1 activity and mitogen-activated protein kinases activation were compared in two cell lines: parental human breast cancer cells and its drug resistant variant (MCF-7/Adr) cells. Paclitaxel treatment of parental MCF-7 cells caused a marked inhibition of Raf-1 kinase activity, concomitant with its mobility shift after 18 h exposure. In addition, paclitaxel greatly increased c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) activity whereas showing a small enhancing effect on extracellular-regulated kinases (ERK) activity. Interestingly, MCF-7/Adr cells have lower basal Raf-1 activity, yet have much higher basal ERK activity than parental cells. However, it appeared that PD 98059, which turns off ERK through mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibition, enhanced basal Raf-1 kinase activity in MCF-7/Adr cells. Thus, the findings suggest that paclitaxel-induced apoptosis is mediated by JNK and occurs in parallel with suppression of the Raf-1 kinase activity in parental MCF-7 cells. In addition, down-regulation of Raf-1 kinase, which can be induced through the sustained ERK activation, may contribute to the development of acquired resistance in MCF-7/Adr cells. | High | [
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Controlling surface cation segregation in a nanostructured double perovskite GdBaCo2O5+δ electrode for solid oxide fuel cells. Mechanistic studies, utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, were undertaken to provide a molecular level explanation of Ba cation segregation in double perovskite GdBaCo2O5+δ (GBCO) electrodes. The energy (γ) of the terminal surface having only Ba cations, indicated the surface to be the most stable (γ = 6.7 kJ mol-1Å-2) as compared to the other surfaces. MD simulations elaborated on the cation disorder in the near surface region where Ba cations in the subsurface region were observed to migrate towards the surface. This led to a disruption in cation ordering with a propensity to form multiphases in the near surface region. In the near surface zone, oxygen anion diffusivity was observed to be reduced by an order of magnitude (D = 1.6 × 10-11 cm2 s-1 at 873 K) as compared to the bulk oxygen anion diffusivity value (D = 1.96 × 10-10 cm2 s-1 at 873 K). A novel idea was then proposed to control the degree of surface segregation of Ba cations by applying nanostructuring of the GBCO material in the form of nanoparticles. MD simulations elucidated that the near surface region having a high degree of cation disorder in the nanostructured GBCO may regain back the oxygen anion diffusivity value (D = 3.98 × 10-10 cm2 s-1, at 873 K) comparable to the bulk core region (D = 2.51 × 10-10 cm2 s-1, at 873 K). A proof of concept experiment was setup to test this hypothesis. The electrochemical performance of the electrode, fabricated using GBCO nanoparticles, was measured to improve by 15% as compared to the electrode synthesized with a bulk size GBCO material. This was attributed to the control in Ba-cation segregation, obtained on nanostructuring which resulted in higher oxygen anion transport in the near-surface region of the electrode material. XPS characterization of the surface of the nanostructured GBCO materials supported this assertion. | High | [
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207 F.Supp. 252 (1962) COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY et al., Plaintiffs, v. ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY et al., Defendants, and related cases. CENTRAL ILLINOIS LIGHT COMPANY et al., Plaintiffs, v. ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY et al., Defendants, and related cases. Civ. A. Nos. 61 C 1277 to 1285, 1688 to 1696. United States District Court N. D. Illinois, E. D. May 17, 1962. *253 Charles A. Bane, Robert W. Bergstrom, Seymour F. Simon, Thomas C. McConnell, Lee A. Freeman, William J. Froelich, Chicago, Ill., Van B. Wake, Milwaukee, Wis., Daniel P. Ward, State's Atty. of Cook County, Ill., Barnabas F. Sears, James O. Smith, Chicago, Ill., for plaintiffs. John T. Chadwell, Hammond E. Chaffetz, Holmes Baldridge, Edward R. Johnston, W. Donald McSweeney, John Paul Stevens, Earl E. Pollock, Robert C. Keck, Roland D. Whitman, Timothy G. Lowry, Harold T. Halfpenny, Lloyd M. McBride, Neil McKay, Jacob H. Martin, Edward R. Adams, Brainerd Chapman, Chicago, Ill., for defendants. ROBSON, District Judge. These 18 actions filed by several electric public utilities seek treble damages under federal antitrust laws. The separately grouped defendants are charged with conspiratorial price fixing resulting in the establishment of higher noncompetitive *254 prices in the sale of electrical equipment to the plaintiffs. The cases involved in the instant motion comprise two series filed along nine product lines covering power transformers, power switchgear assemblies, low voltage power circuit breakers, distribution transformers, meters, condensers, circuit breakers, turbine-generator units, and power switching equipment. Four of the plaintiff utilities operate in Illinois. They are Commonwealth Edison Company, Central Illinois Electric & Gas Co., Central Illinois Light Co., and Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Co. (hereinafter referred to as plaintiffs). Intervention is sought by the Attorney General of Illinois (1) on behalf of the citizens of the State, who were consumers of the four plaintiffs, to secure refunds out of any recoveries realized herein, and (2) on behalf of the State of Illinois, its agencies and public institutions, to present claims for damages allegedly involving questions of law and fact in common with those of the main actions. INTERVENTION AS OF RIGHT The State of Illinois contends that the recovery of damages by these plaintiffs will create a fund for distribution subject to the disposition of this Court and in which plaintiffs' consumers have a direct interest. It further contends that by reason of this fund it is entitled to intervene in behalf of the consumers as a matter of right because (1) the representation of the consumer interest by existing parties may be inadequate, and (2) the consumers may be bound by a judgment or order in this action. The applicable part of Rule 24, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. states: "(a) Intervention of right. Upon timely application any one shall be permitted to intervene in an action: * * * (2) when the representation of the applicant's interest by existing parties is or may be inadequate and the applicant is or may be bound by a judgment in the action; or (3) when the applicant is so situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of property which is in the custody or subject to the control or disposition of the court or an officer thereof." The State's theory as to the existence of the "fund" is that the rates and charges for services paid by the consumers were excessive because said rates were based, in part, upon plaintiffs' capital expenditures for electrical equipment for which excessive prices had been conspiratorially fixed. It concludes that that part of a recovery herein which is in the excess over a reasonable rate, constitutes a "fund" in which plaintiffs' consumers have an interest. The State does not earnestly argue that the consumers will be bound by any judgment or order herein and readily admits that "plaintiffs' consumer-customers are not parties to this suit and, therefore, under the principles of res judicata are not bound. * * *" Its principal contention is predicated on the existence of a fund which it alleges is subject to the disposition of this Court. It is clear that the existence and amount of this "fund" must depend on a determination of what was a reasonable and legal rate during the period of the alleged conspiracy. Since plaintiffs are public utilities, they are subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission under the provisions of the Public Utilities Act, S.H.A. Ch. 111 2/3 . The exclusive power for fixing reasonable rates lies in that body subject to the provided statutory review by the Illinois courts (Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co. v. Slattery, 373 Ill. 31, 25 N.E.2d 482 (1939); Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America v. Federal Power Comm., 141 F.2d 27 (7th Cir. 1944); Tilney v. City of Chicago, 134 F.2d 682 (7th Cir. 1943)). If rates are alleged to be excessive or improper in any respect, complaint must be made to the State commission. There is a specific Illinois statute providing for recovery of "excessive" rates. The Public Utilities *255 Act, § 72, S.H.A. Ch. 111 2/3 , § 76, provides in part: "When complaint has been made to the Commission concerning any rate or other charge of any public utility and the Commission has found, after a hearing, that the public utility has charged an excessive or unjustly discriminatory amount for its product, commodity or service, the Commission may order that the public utility make due reparation to the complainant therefor, with interest at the legal rate from the date of payment of such excessive or unjustly discriminatory amount." The law is well settled in Illinois that the statutory remedy for reparations is the exclusive remedy of customers of a public utility who allege that the utility's rates are excessive (Mandel Bros., Inc. v. Chicago Tunnel Terminal Co., 2 Ill.2d 205, 117 N.E.2d 774 (1954); Terminal R.R. Ass'n of St. Louis v. Public Utilities Comm., 304 Ill. 312, 136 N. E. 797 (1922); Burke v. Illinois Bell Tel. Co., 348 Ill.App. 529, 109 N.E.2d 358 (1952); American Generator & Armature Co. v. Commonwealth Edison Co., 298 Ill.App. 192, 18 N.E.2d 735 (1939); Medusa Portland Cement Co. v. Illinois Cent. R.R., 287 Ill.App. 549, 5 N.E.2d 782 (1936); Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America v. Federal Power Comm., supra; Tilney v. City of Chicago, supra). In Medusa Portland Cement Co. v. Illinois Cent. R.R., supra, the Court stated the rule thus (287 Ill.App. at p. 561, 5 N.E.2d at p. 787): "Since the enactment of the Public Utilities Act, section 72 thereof has provided the only method or remedy available in this state for determining whether rates charged by public utilities are fair and reasonable or unfair, unreasonable, and discriminatory. This section of the act also authorizes the commission to award reparation to claimants if rates charged and exacted of them are determined to have been excessive and discriminatory." After citing several cases to the same effect, the Court, continuing, said (at p. 563, 5 N.E.2d at p. 788): "It is manifest from these decisions, and they but follow the decisions of the United States Supreme Court construing similar provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, that no suit may be maintained in any court in Illinois to recover reparation for excessive or unjustly discriminatory rates unless and until the commission, acting under the authority conferred upon it by section 72, has heard a claim therefor, has found the rates the public utility charged to have been excessive or unjustly discriminatory, and has entered an order requiring the public utility to make due reparation." (Emphasis added.) The Court in both Burke v. Illinois Bell Tel. Co., supra, and American Generator & Armature Co. v. Commonwealth Edison Co., supra, found support for the Illinois rule in a quotation from Great Northern Ry. Co. v. Merchants' Elevator Co., 259 U.S. 285, 42 S.Ct. 477, 66 L.Ed. 943 (1922), where the Court stated thus (at p. 291, 42 S.Ct. at p. 479): "Whenever a rate, rule or practice is attacked as unreasonable or as unjustly discriminatory, there must be preliminary resort to the Commission. Sometimes this is required because the function being exercised is in its nature administrative in contra-distinction to judicial. But ordinarily the determining factor is not the character of the function, but the character of the controverted question and the nature of the enquiry necessary for its solution. To determine what rate, rule or practice shall be deemed reasonable for the future is a legislative or administrative function. To determine whether a shipper has in the past been wronged by the exaction of an unreasonable or discriminatory rate is a judicial function. Preliminary resort to the Commission is required alike in the two *256 classes of cases. It is required because the enquiry is essentially one of fact and of discretion in technical matters; and uniformity can be secured only if its determination is left to the Commission. Moreover, that determination is reached ordinarily upon voluminous and conflicting evidence, for the adequate appreciation of which acquaintance with many intricate facts of transportation is indispensable; and such acquaintance is commonly to be found only in a body of experts." Inasmuch as the State seeks intervention of right on behalf of plaintiffs' consumers, it is evident that its rights cannot rise above theirs. The situation where a consumer seeks to reach a "fund" resulting from allegedly excessive rates charged by a utility is not novel in this Circuit. In Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America v. Federal Power Comm., supra, the original suit arose by the petition of Natural Gas Pipeline Company for review of an order of the Federal Power Commission to reduce its rates. The Court of Appeals issued a stay order pending review, upon a bond filed to protect purchasers of gas at rates in excess of those prescribed by the Commission. Subsequently Natural Gas Pipeline Company filed reduced rates with the Commission, and in satisfaction of its obligation under the stay order, paid into court the six million dollar fund which had accumulated during the period of said stay order. Ultimately the fund was decreed to belong to the consumers of the several utilities to whom Natural Gas Pipeline Company furnished natural gas. After the fund had been distributed, a customer of Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company sought intervention for himself and all other customers similarly situated. Petitioner in that suit contended that since the cost of natural gas purchased by Peoples Gas from Natural Gas Pipeline Company had been reduced, and Peoples Gas had not reduced its retail rate pro tanto, he and other consumers were entitled to a refund from Peoples Gas measured by said reduction. In dismissing the petition, the Court significantly said (141 F.2d at p. 29): "What petitioner now asks, is to have this court ascertain that there were excess collections from him and the amount thereof. But the only way that we could do this would be to usurp the functions of the Illinois Commerce Commission by fixing what we consider would have been a reasonable rate for Peoples Company to charge during the period in question, and the specific classes or classes of customers entitled to a refund by reason of the Company's charges in excess thereof. We refuse to do so because this court has no rate-making powers. [Citing cases.]" Considering the exclusiveness of the statutory remedy for excessive rates, the similarity between the situation of the instant applicant and that of petitioner in Natural Gas Pipeline, and the binding authority of that case, this Court must conclude, as did the Court of Appeals in the latter case, that "The `fund' or `trust fund' which petitioner seeks to conjure up is entirely illusory."[1] Judge Kilpatrick in City of Philadelphia et al. v. Westinghouse Electric Corp. et al. (decided October 23, 1961) (D.C.E. D.Pa.) C.C.H. Trade Cases, ¶ 70,143, in denying intervention to the State Public Utility Commission, said: "I think * * * that the consumer's interests, which are the only bases on which the application could be sustained, are entirely too remote to permit intervention in this case. * * * I will deny the motion to intervene." The motion as to intervention of right is denied. *257 PERMISSIVE INTERVENTION The State of Illinois seeks to intervene as a purchaser of electrical equipment and contends that the State's claim and that of the main actions have questions of law and fact in common. The applicable part of Rule 24 Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is stated thus: "(b) Permissive Intervention. Upon timely application anyone may be permitted to intervene in an action: * * * (2) when an applicant's claim or defense and the main action have a question of law or fact in common. * * * In exercising its discretion the court shall consider whether the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties." (Emphasis added.) A motion for permissive intervention is addressed to the sound discretion of the Court (Sutphen Estates v. United States, 342 U.S. 19, 72 S.Ct. 14, 96 L.Ed. 19 (1951); Allen Calculators, Inc. v. National Cash Register Co., 322 U.S. 137, 64 S.Ct. 905, 88 L.Ed. 1188 (1944)). Although it is certainly not conclusive, the opposition of all the original parties to the main action to intervention is an element for the Court's consideration. The words of Rule 24(b) as italicized above are a caution to the Court so that in its zeal to avoid a multiplicity of suits it will not hamper or vex the claims of the original parties. While it is apparent that the State's claim as to the issue of the conspiracy will present questions of law and fact in common with the main actions, this is not true as to the question of damages. Even assuming for the moment that defendants did engage in a conspiracy, each plaintiff herein must prove that it was damaged in its own property or business by paying higher prices and, lacking such proof, it cannot recover (Keogh v. Chicago & N. W. Ry., 260 U.S. 156, 43 S.Ct. 47, 67 L.Ed. 183 (1922); Northwestern Oil Co. v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 138 F.2d 967 (7th Cir. 1943)). The State avers it has purchased, acquired, and used millions of dollars of electrical equipment in the operation of: 73 hospitals, sanitoria, clinics, and schools; 5 penal institutions, 11,932 miles of highways, 167 miles of expressways and 87 miles of toll roads using extensive electrical structures, facilities, and devices; 65 state parks, lodges, facilities, and fair grounds, plus armories, office and service buildings. The applicant readily admits that "additional trial time will be involved." The size and complexity of the instant two series of cases are manifest. When it is considered that the State intends to bring to suit claims as to an enormous number of purchases, requiring separate proof of damages, including the time, amount and nature of, and prices paid for the purchases made, it is plain that the instant suits will approach unmanageable proportions both in preparation and trial. Applicant further admits that intervention will involve a proportionate increase in the number of witnesses required. A similar situation was aptly characterized by Judge Wyzanski in Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co. v. Manning, Maxwell & Moore, 51 F.Supp. 972 at p. 973 (D.C. Mass.1943), where he said: "Additional parties always take additional time. Even if they have no witnesses of their own, they are the source of additional questions, objections, briefs, arguments, motions and the like which tend to make the proceeding a Donnybrook Fair." The Court has carefully weighed and examined all the factors involved and is of the opinion that to permit intervention by the State will unduly delay and prejudice the adjudication of the rights of the original parties. The motion for permissive intervention on behalf of the State of Illinois is therefore denied, and counsel for plaintiffs will prepare the necessary order. NOTES [1] See annotation, 18 A.L.R.2d 1343 (1951), "Right of customers of public utility with respect to fund representing a refund from another supplying utility upon reduction of latter's rates." | Mid | [
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Introduction {#s1} ============ The percentage of overweight children age 6--19 years in the United States increased to 16% by 2002, nearly triple what it was in 1980, and reached 16.9% by 2009 (Ogden and Flegal, [@B16]; Ogden et al., [@B15]). While poor dietary behaviors play an important role in the obesity epidemic, understanding the causal mechanisms behind the inadequate physical activity of today\'s children is also of great importance if we are to address obesity in children. Presently, children 10--16 years of age rarely take part in vigorous physical activity (Strauss et al., [@B29]). Children are becoming increasingly sedentary and this is directly affecting adiposity (Rennie et al., [@B19]). Multiple studies have identified an inverse relationship between caloric expenditure via physical activity and fat mass (Rennie et al., [@B19]). While many factors contribute to the rise in childhood inactivity, one factor may be the increased access to highly-motivating sedentary behaviors (i.e., behaviors that are associated with sitting) such as television, video games and computers. These "square screen" activities have become so alluring and reinforcing (i.e., motivating) that they are directly contributing to the increase in children\'s sedentary behavior (Sisson et al., [@B26]). In fact, children are spending so much time in front of computers and televisions that they are spending less time sleeping, are skipping meals and are eating faster and poorer quality foods (Van den Bulck, [@B30]; Van den Bulck and Eggermont, [@B31]). In the U.S., 47% of children age 2--15 years, spend more than 2 h per day in sedentary leisure activity and may sit for as many as 10 h per day (Rennie et al., [@B19]; Sisson et al., [@B26]). This is an important concern, given that it has been shown that even in the presence of daily physical activity, people who spend a great deal of sedentary time each day are at greater risk for health consequences (Owen et al., [@B17]). While increased "square screen" use appears to decrease physical activity, increasing the likelihood of overweight and obesity, physically-interactive video games (i.e., "exergames") such as the Nintendo Wii® are becoming more popular and playing these games has been shown to increase energy expenditure above what is seen in traditional video game-play in children (Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). Playing certain "exergames" elicits caloric expenditures that would constitute light to moderate intensity physical activities in children with males exhibiting greater energy expenditure during "exergame" play than females (Maddison et al., [@B13]; Lanningham-Foster et al., [@B11]; Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). Therefore, if children would forego their traditional sedentary "square-screen" use and replace it with "exergames," physical activity behavior may increase. Playing "exergames" vs. traditional sedentary games may result in an increase in energy expenditure; however children may not always select a physically interactive game if traditional, sedentary games are an option (Williamson et al., [@B33]). Recent evidence suggests that the presence of a peer has a positive effect on physical activity behavior in children (Rittenhouse et al., [@B20]). Social influences have been examined in college students using virtual competitors. Snyder et al. ([@B27]) found that a social facilitation effect resulted in greater exercise intensity in students when they competed against a live competitor vs. an avatar. Similarly, when children play "exergames," they are competing against either the game itself (i.e., an avatar), or another live competitor. Children have been shown to initiate activity due to the influence of peers, either through co-participation, modeling, or encouragement (Jago et al., [@B9]; Salvy et al., [@B24]). Further, when children feel accepted by their peers they are more likely to be physically active (Coppinger et al., [@B3]). The reverse is true as well; children who report low support from peers report less physical activity (Hohepa et al., [@B8]). However, the previous experimental examinations of the effect of peer influence on physical activity behavior in children have utilized exercise equipment (e.g., cycle ergometers) or simulated recess periods as the only physical activity options. No studies that we are aware of have experimentally examined the effect of peer influence on children\'s motivation to play an "exergame" vs. a traditional, sedentary video game. If peer influence affects video game play in a manner similar to what has been demonstrated in these other settings (e.g., simulated recess), the presence of a peer may increase a child\'s motivation to choose to play a physically-interactive video game over a sedentary alternative. This may, in-turn, reduce sedentary behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of peer influence (i.e., the presence of a friend) on children\'s motivation (relative reinforcing value) for an "exergame" \[(Nintendo Wii Sports Boxing®), Wii\] vs. a traditional sedentary video game alternative (Playstation II Ready to Rumble®). We hypothesized that children would demonstrate an increase in energy expenditure as assessed by oxygen consumption (VO~2~) in the "exergame" relative to the sedentary video game. Additionally, we hypothesized that children would expend a greater amount of energy while playing an "exergame" with a peer vs. playing the same game alone. We also anticipated that, relative to playing alone, the presence of a peer would increase children\'s motivation to play an "exergame," vs. a traditional, sedentary video game. Finally, we hypothesized that children would report greater liking (i.e., enjoyment) for the "exergame" in the presence of a peer vs. the "alone" condition. Materials and methods {#s2} ===================== Participants (*N* = 17) included 15 Caucasian and two African American, 6--10 year old children (*n* = eight girls). Each participant identified one, same-sex friend (*N* = 17 total friends) to participate in the *peer* condition with them. The participant was allowed to bring a friend of his or her choice to take part in the peer condition. The only restrictions were that the friend needed to be in the same age group (6--10 years old), the same sex as the participant and healthy enough to be physically active along with the participant. Parents of all participants and parents of the friends completed a health questionnaire in order to rule out any contraindications to physical activity. No children who participated in the study had any known cardiovascular, pulmonary, orthopedic, metabolic, cognitive, neurological, muscular, or behavioral concerns or impairments. All participants came to the laboratory for two visits; *alone* and with a *peer*, which was completed in a random order. During the initial visit, children were measured for height and weight and all study procedures were explained. Parents of participants and parents of the participants\' friends completed an informed consent form and were given the opportunity to ask questions prior to signing. Assent for the participants and the friend\'s was obtained verbally. All procedures were approved via the university institutional review board. During each visit, research staff demonstrated video game play and participants and friends practiced on the Nintendo Wii Sports Boxing® ("exergame") and Playstation II Ready to Rumble® (the sedentary video game) boxing games for five minutes each. After familiarization with each game, participants completed the following 10-min gaming conditions: seated resting first, then playing the sedentary video game and the "exergame" in a random order. In order to avoid a fatigue effect, the children were divided into two groups. Group one (*N* = 9) played the sedentary video game first and group 2 (*N* = 8) played the "exergame" first. The sedentary video game is a system in which the participant controlled a character (i.e., boxer) on the screen with a hand-held remote. In the alone condition for the sedentary video game, the child\'s boxer fights another boxer controlled by the game software. The child was allowed to pick his or her own boxers. In order to be consistent, all children played the sedentary video game at the beginner level and were seated. None of the children who participated in the study had played the sedentary video boxing game prior to the study. In the *peer* condition, the participant and his or her friend each used the hand-held controls to "fight" one another\'s boxer while seated in front of the monitor. This particular "exergame" has been used in previous studies and has been shown to elicit a VO~2~ similar to that of moderate intensity physical activity (approximately 10.5--21 ml·kg^−1^·min^−1^) (Graves et al., [@B7]; Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). Penko and Barkley ([@B18]) also found that Wii boxing is significantly more reinforcing than a similar sedentary video game for the lean children (Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). All of the participants in the study were familiar with the Wii boxing game. While holding the Wii remotes children mimic punching motions which signal the avatars within the video game to move with the child\'s movement. Children boxed a computer-controlled boxer in the alone condition and his or her friend in the *peer* condition. This game was also programmed for a beginner. Per manufacturer\'s instruction, children were standing during the "exergame" condition. During seated rest and each 10-min gaming condition oxygen consumption (VO~2~ ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^) was recorded via indirect calorimetry. After completing each condition, participants were asked to indicate how much they liked each 10-min gaming condition by making a mark on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS) anchored by "do not like it at all" on the left and "like it very much" on the right. Participants also reported their ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at the conclusion of each 10-min gaming condition. RPE was assessed via the validated OMNI scale (Roemmich et al., [@B21]). After completing these three 10-min conditions, as a measure of motivation, participants completed a relative reinforcing value computer game to earn access to 11 additional minutes of the "exergame," the sedentary video game or a combination of both games (e.g., "exergame" for 6 min, the sedentary video game for 5 min). The relative reinforcing value computer task is an operant button pressing task that requires children to perform work in the form of computer mouse presses to gain access to one activity ("exergame") vs. another (the sedentary video game). Procedures for the *alone* and *peer* conditions were identical except that during the *alone* condition participants completed all procedures alone. During the peer condition, the participant and their friend played both video games together. However, data (VO~2~, RPE, liking, motivation) from the friend was not recorded. Friends\' data were not used because the relative reinforcing value task can only be played by one individual (participant) at a time. This is due to the fact that during the relative reinforcing value task participants earned additional access to the "exergame" and the sedentary video game in any pattern of their choosing. If a pair of children both played the relative reinforcing value task, they could potentially earn different amounts of access to the two games. This scenario was avoided by having only one child per pair complete the task and the time they earned for the "exergame" and the sedentary video game was then used for themselves and their friend. VO~2~ for the participant was measured using a Parvo® metabolic cart and the child wore a Hans Rudolph 7600® mask. It was important that the participant and the friend had a similar experience during each 10-min condition. For this reason the friend also wore the same kind of mask, however it was not attached to the metabolic cart and no data was collected. Participants were compensated with a \$20.00 gift card to a local store. Participants\' friends received a \$10.00 gift card. Anthropometrics --------------- Height and weight was obtained by an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Health Fitness Specialist^SM^. Each variable was measured 3 times and the median score was recorded. Height was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 Kg with a balance beam scale/stadiometer (Health O Meter, Alsip, I). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as follows: Weight in kg/height in m^2^. VO~2~ ----- Oxygen consumption (VO~2~ ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−^1) was recorded during each of the 2 gaming conditions as well as at rest. Data was recorded via indirect calorimetry with a calibrated metabolic cart (Parvo Medics®) using Hans Rudolph 7600® masks. Means for VO~2~ were then converted to kilocalories (Kcal) per minute and metabolic equivalents (METS). One MET estimates rest and is approximately 3.5 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^. METS were thus calculated by multiplying the VO~2~ by 3.5. VO~2~ values are in ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^. In order to convert this to Kcals, we multiplied the VO~2~ value by the participant\'s weight in kg. and divided by 1000 to obtain the number of liters expended per minute. This value was then multiplied times 5 since approximately 5 Kcals are burned for every liter of oxygen consumed. The Hans Rudolph 7600® Masks were used to collect expired gases (VO~2~ and CO~2~) during indirect calorimetry. The masks allowed the children in the *peer* condition to talk with one another while we monitored VO~2~. We felt the ability to communicate was necessary as the study was assessing the impact of peer influence on children\'s video game play. It would not be possible to speak using the mouthpiece and nose-clips. Liking ------ After the participants completed a 10-min condition (seated resting, sedentary video game, or physically interactive video game), they were asked how much they liked the activity using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10 cm line. On one end of the scale was "like it very much" and the other end read "do not like it at all." The children were asked to plot a pen mark on the line, indicating how much they liked or disliked the activity. The measure of liking was the distance from the left hash mark on the VAS to the child\'s pen mark. Liking, measured in this manner, has been shown to be predictive of actual physical and sedentary activity behavior (Roemmich et al., [@B22]). RPE --- RPE data was collected at the mid-point of each 10 min condition using the validated OMNI Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale to determine how tired the child felt during activity (Roemmich et al., [@B21]). No RPE data was collected from the friend. The scale\'s use was explained with a standardized set of instructions. Perceived exertion for this study was defined as "How tired did your body feel while you were playing the game?" Relative reinforcing value -------------------------- The relative reinforcing value computer task is an operant button pressing task that requires children to perform work in the form of computer mouse presses to gain access to one activity ("exergame") vs. another (the sedentary video game). The participants had two computer screens available to them, one for the purpose of earning points for the "exergame" and the other for the sedentary video game. Each screen had three simple shapes and the participant was informed that he or she could press the computer mouse to change the shapes. This is similar to playing a slot machine. When all three shapes matched, the child earned one point, representing one minute of game play. He or she was able to earn points for a total of 11 min of game play and was allowed to earn points on either or both screens, meaning he or she was then allowed to earn all 11 min for one game or divide the 11 min between the two games. The first point earned was set for a fixed ratio (FR) of 1. This means that for one press of the computer mouse, the child earned one point. For the next point the FR then doubled, meaning the child had to press the mouse 2 times to get the shapes on the screen to match. For each subsequent point/minute earned, the participant had to press the computer mouse double the number of times he or she pressed the previous time in order to get all the shapes on the screen to match. If all 11 min were earned for one game the FR increased as follows: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, and 1024 presses of the mouse. The FR only increased for a given game when the child earned a point for that game. The participant earned access to a video game based on how much work he or she was willing to do to earn a minute of activity for each gaming condition. The output maximum (O~max~) was the maximal amount of responding that the child performed to earn a single minute for a given activity (Feda et al., [@B5]). O~max~ for the "exergame" vs. the sedentary video game in each of the two social conditions was the measure of relative reinforcing value (i.e., motivation). Relative reinforcing value is a valid predictor of children\'s actual physical activity behavior (Epstein et al., [@B4]). Statistical analysis -------------------- All statistical analyses were performed utilizing the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, Version 17, Chicago, IL). Significance level for all calculations was set a priori at α ≤ 0.05. Physical characteristics (age, height, weight, BMI) of the participants were compared between boys and girls using independent-samples *t*-tests. Two social condition (alone, peer) by three gaming conditions (rest, "exergame," the sedentary video game) analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measures on both factors was performed to assess differences in VO~2~, liking and RPE. As an exploratory analysis on the effect of sex, a two sex (boys, girls) by two social condition (alone, peer) by three gaming conditions (rest, "exergame," the sedentary video game) analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measures on the final two variables was performed to assess differences in VO~2~, liking and RPE. A two social condition by two gaming condition ("exergame," the sedentary video game) ANOVA with repeated measures on both factors was performed to assess differences in O~max~ (i.e., the measure of relative reinforcing value or motivation). *Post-hoc* tests on any significant effects from the aforementioned ANOVA models were performed utilizing Two-Way ANOVAs and *t*-tests with the Benjamini and Hochberg False Discovery Rate correction for multiple comparisons (Benjamini and Hochberg, [@B2]). Results {#s3} ======= Participants\' physical characteristics are shown in Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"}. There were no significant differences (*p* ≥ 0.43) between boys and girls for age, weight, height, BMI, or BMI percentile (BMI %). ###### **Physical characteristics**. **Age(years)** **Weight (kg)** **Height (cm)** **BMI (kg·m^−2^)** **BMI (%)** ------- ---------------- ----------------- ----------------- -------------------- ------------- Boys 8.8 ± 0.5 31.4 ± 2.2 132.2 ± 2.9 17.7 ± 0.5 73 ± 5.5 Girls 8.2 ± 0.5 33.5 ± 4.0 131.8 ± 4.5 18.7 ± 1.3 70.5 ± 9.3 Total 8.5 ± 0.4 32.3 ± 2.2 132.1 ± 2.6 18.2 ± 0.7 71.8 ± 5.1 Data are means ± s.e.m. The means for VO~2~, liking and RPE during each game and social condition are shown in Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"}. VO~2~ was converted into kilocalories (kcal) which is shown in Table [3](#T3){ref-type="table"}. ###### **Omnibus table of means for VO~2~, liking, and RPE**. **Alone** **With Peer** -------------------------- ----------- --------------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------ VO~2~(ml·kg^−1^·min^−1^) 5.2 ± 0.7 5.82 ± 0.7 11.3 ± 1.2 5.1 ± 0.6 5.9 ± 0.7 12.9 ± 1.1 Liking (cm.) 3.4 ± 0.7 8.1 ± 0.6 8.2 ± 0.5 4.5 ± 0.9 8.5 ± 0.4 7.1 ± 0.7 RPE (scale from 1--10) 1.7 ± 0.5 2.1 ± 0.5 3.0 ± 0.7 2.0 ± 0.5 1.9 ± 0.6 4.3 ± 0.6 Data are means ± s.e.m. ###### **Kilocalories (kcal) per minute**. **Rest kcal/minute** **Sedentary kcal/minute** **Exergame kcal/minute** ------- ---------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------- Boys 0.73 ± 0.22 1.00 ± 0.33 2.1 ± 0.59 Girls 0.92 ± 0.4 0.86 ± 0.46 1.72 ± 0.78 All 0.82 ± 0.32 0.94 ± 0.39 1.93 ± 0.69 Data are means ± s.e.m. VO~2~ ----- There was a significant main effect for gaming (*p* \< 0.001). Paired-Samples *t*-test revealed that the main effect for gaming was due to greater (*p* \< 0.001) VO~2~ when playing "exergame" (12.2 ± 4.1 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^; 3.5 ± 0.26 METS) relative to the resting (5.1 ± 1.5 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^; 1.46 ± 0.1 METS) and the sedentary video game conditions (5.8 ± 2.0 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^; 1.65 ± 0.13 METS). Children increased caloric expenditure from 0.82 ± 0.32 kcal·min^−1^ at rest to 1.93 ± 0.69 kcal·min^−1^ while playing the "exergame." There was no significant difference (*p* = 0.08) between VO~2~ in the resting condition and the sedentary video game. There were no additional significant main or interaction effects (*p* ≥ 0.23) for VO~2~. Exploratory analysis for VO~2~ ------------------------------ A significant social condition by gaming condition by sex interaction effect was found for VO~2~ (*p* = 0.04, Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). To explore this Three-Way interaction, two additional social condition by gaming condition ANOVAs were performed for boys and girls separately. Boys had a significant social condition by gaming condition interaction (*p* = 0.02) whereas girls did not (*p* = 0.77). The interaction in boys was due to a significantly greater increase (*p* = 0.05) in VO~2~ from the resting condition to "exergame" in the presence of their peer (Δ 11.1 ± 5.3 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^) vs. the alone condition (Δ 6.8 ± 3.1 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^). {#F1} The increase in VO~2~ from the alone to peer conditions for boys in the sedentary video game vs. the "exergame" conditions (*p* ≥ 0.08) and in the rest vs. the sedentary video game conditions (*p* = 0.09) were trending toward significance. Girls showed no significant change in VO~2~ from the alone to the peer condition for any of the gaming conditions (*p* ≥ 0.44). There was a significant gaming condition by sex interaction effect (*p* = 0.02, (Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). This was caused by a greater (*p* = 0.02) increase in VO~2~ from the resting to the "exergame" condition in boys (Δ 9.0 ± 3.7 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^) relative to girls (Δ 4.9 ± 2.9 ml·kg^−1^ ·min^−1^). Boys demonstrated an increase in caloric expenditure of 1.39 ± 0.61 kcal min^−1^ from the resting condition to the "exergame," increasing from 0.73 ± 0.22 kcal·min^−1^ in the resting condition to 2.12 ± 0.59 kcal·min^−1^ in the "exergame" condition. Girls increased caloric expenditure 0.8 ± 0.45 kcal ·min^−1^ from the resting condition to "exergame," increasing from 0.92 ± 0.4 kcal·min^−1^ at rest to 1.72 ± 0.78 kcal ·min^−1^ when playing the "exergame." {#F2} Liking ------ A significant main effect for gaming was found (*p* \< 0.001). *Post-hoc* Paired-Samples *t*-tests revealed that this main effect was due to greater (*p* \< 0.001) liking in the sedentary video game condition (8.3 ± 1.3 cm) relative to the resting condition (4.0 ± 2.8 cm) and greater (*p* = 0.001) liking in the "exergame" condition (7.7 ± 1.9 cm) relative to the resting condition. *Post-hoc* comparisons did not reveal any significant difference between liking for the sedentary video game vs. the "exergame" (*p* = 0.37). There were no additional significant (*p* ≥ 0.21) main or interaction effects for liking. RPE --- There was a significant (*p* = 0.002) main effect for gaming condition for RPE. *Post-hoc* Paired-Samples *t*-tests revealed that this effect was due to a significant increase (*p* = 0.005) in RPE from the resting condition (1.9 ± 1.7) to the "exergame" (3.7 ± 2.3) and a significant increase (*p* = 0.014) from the sedentary video game (2.0 ± 1.6) to the "exergame." There was no significant difference in RPE from the resting condition to the sedentary video game (*p* = 0.66). There were no additional significant (*p* ≥ 0.21) main or interaction effects for RPE. Relative reinforcing value (i.e., motivation) --------------------------------------------- There was a significant (*p* = 0.03) social condition by gaming condition interaction for O~max~ which was the measure of relative reinforcing value. *Post-hoc* Paired Samples *t*-Tests illustrated that O~max~ for the sedentary video game significantly increased (*p* = 0.05) from the alone condition (245.5 ± 108.0 presses) to the peer condition (427.0 ± 115.6 presses), while O~max~ for the "exergame" significantly decreased (*p* = 0.04) from the alone condition (340.8 ± 106.8 presses) to the peer condition (147.8 ± 81.6 presses, Figure [3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}). There were no additional significant main or interaction effects for O~max~ (*p* ≥ 0.25). {#F3} Discussion {#s4} ========== This is the first study we are aware of to examine the effect of the presence of a peer on children\'s metabolic expenditure and the motivation to play an "exergame" vs. a traditional sedentary video game (the sedentary video game). Surprisingly, children were less motivated (i.e., had a lower O~max~) to play the "exergame" in the presence of a peer relative to playing alone. This finding was in contrast to our hypothesis. As was the case in previous studies, energy expenditure and RPE was significantly greater during "exergame" play compared to the resting and the sedentary video game conditions (Barkley and Penko, [@B1]; Graf et al., [@B6]; Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). Overall energy expenditure increased during exergame play, although there was no difference in VO~2~ between the two gaming conditions as a result of peer influence. Studies focusing on traditional physical activity behavior (e.g., playing in a gymnasium) have shown that children increase physical activity in the presence of a peer (Rittenhouse et al., [@B20]). This was especially true when the peer who is present is a friend as was the case in this present study. Previous research has also shown that exercise intensity increased when teenage and young adult women cycled against a live competitor vs. cycling alone or against a virtual competitor (Snyder et al., [@B27]). Unlike our study, social facilitation seems to have played a role in the cyclists\' competitive nature, leading to increased energy expenditure. We found that not only did children fail to increase physical activity in the presence of a peer, they were less motivated to play the "exergame" when with a peer. These previous findings were the basis for our hypothesis that children would increase their physical activity with the "exergame" relative to a traditional sedentary alternative when playing with their friend vs. playing alone. While it is unclear why we found no peer effect for VO~2~, it would appear that the effect of peer influence on "exergame" is different than that of traditional physical activity. There may also be differences in the way children respond to competition relative to adults. Additionally, sex differences may have influenced some of our findings. It is possible that there are differences in how males and females respond to gaming in social situations that affects energy expenditure. This may be especially true in a game that utilizes direct opposition, such as Wii boxing. In an exploratory analysis we found that VO~2~ did increase in the presence of a peer, but this was significant only when boys were examined separately. VO~2~ did not increase in the presence of a peer for girls. Sample size for boys and girls is small when examined separately (*n* = nine boys), but these findings provide intriguing results that may be useful for future investigations. This is similar to previous studies in both adults and children that have demonstrated greater average VO~2~ during "exergame" play in males vs. females (Graves et al., [@B7]; Barkley and Penko, [@B1]; Graf et al., [@B6]). Therefore it was not surprising that the boys, relative to girls, exhibited greater increase in energy expenditure during "exergame" play relative to resting. Since the current study utilized both a sedentary and a physically interactive boxing game, it is possible that the nature of the games was not as appealing to girls as to boys, thus affecting energy expenditure. Boys have been shown to demonstrate more peer directed physical aggression than girls (Maccoby and Jacklin, [@B12]). In our investigation the boys, relative to girls, exhibited greater VO~2~ during "exergame" play and the increase in VO~2~ from rest to "exergame" was also greater for boys in the peer condition. However, caution needs to be taken in the interpretation of these results since the sample size is small when analyzing sex as part of a 3-Way interaction. Therefore, we do not know if the sex differences in VO~2~ in the peer condition are spurious or real. It does lead to further questions about whether boys are truly more active in the presence of a peer and if certain gaming conditions affect this based on the more aggressive tendencies of boys. Further, we do not have enough evidence to postulate why the girls in our study were less active than boys when playing with a peer. Girls and young women between 17 and 22 years of age have demonstrated an increase in activity when competing against a peer in a non-aggressive "exergame" (Snyder et al., [@B27]). Future studies should examine whether girls may be more active in the presence of a peer under different (i.e., less aggressive) gaming conditions. While it is possible that girls do not like boxing games as well as boys, the children in our study did not like the "exergame" more than the sedentary game, either in the alone or peer conditions as we had hypothesized. Motivation in our study was measured by obtaining an O~max~ for each gaming condition, using the relative reinforcing value task. The relative reinforcing value task revealed that O~max~ for the "exergame" vs. the sedentary video game was different across the two social conditions. Children exhibited a significant increase in O~max~ (i.e., work done to earn game time) to play the sedentary video game in the presence of a peer vs. alone, while at the same time significantly decreased O~max~ for the "exergame" when with a peer. Past research has demonstrated that "exergames" such as Wii are highly reinforcing, relative to a sedentary game, when children played the game alone (Penko and Barkley, [@B18]). We observed a similar effect in the present study as children exhibited a greater O~max~ for the "exergame" vs. the sedentary video game when alone. However, it was interesting and surprising that children\'s O~max~ for "exergame" declined when they were with a peer. There are a number of possible explanations for these unforeseen results. Staiano et al. ([@B28]) found that cooperative play resulted in greater intrinsic motivation to play the "exergame" than competitive play. Anecdotally, several of the children in our study asked if they could be on the same team rather than compete against each other. This raises the question as to whether the children felt that the "exergame" (Wii Boxing) was a first person experience, as though they were truly hitting or being hit by their friends. Wii Boxing requires the player to perform actual punching motions to play the game, which may make it more realistic than the sedentary video game. The sedentary video game may have felt less real to the children due to the cartoon-like graphics and the use of a controller as opposed to the more realistic movements (i.e., punches) the children were mimicking with the "exergame." When the children played the sedentary video game they used a handheld controller in which pushing a button would cause the boxer on the screen to throw a punch. The boxers in the sedentary video game were various fantastical animated characters whereas the Wii boxer, although animated, was an avatar that actually represented the child\'s friend. It is possible that young children prefer not to be in direct opposition to their close friends and that the opposition associated with Wii Boxing was less appealing than the sedentary video game. Our study found that VO~2~ during direct peer opposition was not different from the alone condition and more interestingly, there was less motivation to be active when with a peer. The participants in Snyder et al. ([@B27]), by contrast, may have found direct competition to be more motivating, resulting in higher energy expenditure in a similar peer condition. However, they were young adult women whereas we studied 6--10 year old boys and girls. It is also possible that young adult women are likely to increase activity while cycling against a peer, but may not do the same if they were boxing. The differences between our study participants as well as type of game relative to those of Snyder et al. ([@B27]) may explain the dissimilar results. An alternate explanation for our surprising findings may have simply been that children found it easier to converse with their friend when playing the sedentary video game vs. the "exergame." We personally observed that the children were far more conversant with one another during the sedentary video game play. This is likely because the "exergame" required more physical exertion making conversation more difficult. Thus, the ability to interact with their peers may have been what fostered the greater motivation to play the sedentary game in the peer condition. Many studies have demonstrated the ability of "exergames" to increase energy expenditure in children (Lanningham-Foster et al., [@B10]; Graves et al., [@B7]; Barkley and Penko, [@B1]; Siegel et al., [@B25]; Mitre et al., [@B14]; White et al., [@B32]) but unfortunately this does not always translate into the likelihood children will be motivated to play an "exergame" over a sedentary game. Our research illustrates that there can be a discordant relationship between the greater energy expenditure of an "exergame" and a lower motivation to play the game in the presence of a peer. The children in our study expended more than double the kilocalories playing the "exergame" than they did playing the sedentary alternative and yet motivation to play the "exergame" declined when the children were in the presence of a peer. Our results certainly present a challenge, but it may be that lack of intrinsic motivation in this case is not a barrier to providing greater opportunity for children to be physically active. Regardless, it can be said that while the presence of a peer did not increase VO~2~, energy expenditure increased with the "exergame" overall. Motivating children to choose an "exergame" over a sedentary option is still a worthy inquest. Just as important however, may be examining ways to keep children active once they begin to play. The children in our study often expressed a desire to continue playing the "exergame" at the end of the 10 min gaming condition even though they later chose the sedentary game when offered a choice with the relative reinforcing value task. It has been shown that children will play an "exergame" 87% longer than traditional physically active games when in a free-choice gaming environment (Roemmich et al., [@B23]). This suggests that once they have begun to play an "exergame," children will likely continue and expend more energy than they would if they remained sedentary. Thus, even if children opt for a sedentary game when given the choice, the "exergame" may be very motivating once they start playing it. The challenge then may be to simply initiate the activity in the first place. Several limitations existed in the current research. First, our study was relatively small (*n* = 17), however previous studies have also shown an increase in energy expenditure with "exergames" using similar size or even smaller (Lanningham-Foster et al., [@B10]; Maddison et al., [@B13]). The differences in energy expenditure between boys and girls in the peer condition may not be valid due to the smaller sample sizes when sex is examined separately. However, the results are important to discuss as there may be a legitimate difference that should be examined in future research. Additionally, there was only the option of boxing for this particular study which may have limited motivation for all of the children and influenced liking, especially for the girls. Since girls have been shown to be less physically aggressive than boys, it is possible that girls found boxing to be too combative (Maccoby and Jacklin, [@B12]). Wii boxing was chosen due to the potential for greater energy expenditure compared to other games (Mitre et al., [@B14]; Roemmich et al., [@B23]). The game for the sedentary video game was also a boxing game, which allowed us to compare sedentary boxing to physically interactive boxing with two players. However, as mentioned previously, the fact that both games were competitive may also have limited liking and motivation for children who prefer cooperative play. It should also be noted that all of the children were familiar with and had played the Wii boxing game. At the same time, none of the children were familiar with the sedentary video game. It is possible that the novelty of the sedentary video game affected the motivation or liking of the games and is therefore an additional limitation of this study. Conclusion {#s5} ========== The presence of a peer during the "exergame" did not increase energy expenditure relative to playing alone. When differences between boys and girls were examined, only boys were found to be more active in the peer condition. The presence of a peer resulted in decreased motivation to play exergames. It is possible that this decreased motivation was the result of a diminished ability to socialize with a peer during the "exergame" vs. sedentary video game play. It may also be that children perceived the "exergame" in the peer condition as more realistic than the sedentary video game and they did not want to be in direct opposition with their friends. For this reason, an examination of cooperative play vs. competitive play would be an important direction for further study. Since energy expenditure did increase with the "exergame" relative to the resting and the sedentary video game conditions, "exergames" remain a worthy area of ongoing and future research examining physical activity behavior in children. Funding ======= Funding for this research was provided by grant money from the Kent State University School of Health Sciences. Conflict of interest statement ------------------------------ The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors of this manuscript would like to acknowledge Drs. John Gunstad and Ellen Glickman for their advice on the design and writing of this research. [^1]: Edited by: Jeffrey Woods, University of Illinois, USA [^2]: Reviewed by: Jeffrey Woods, University of Illinois, USA; Cay Anderson-Hanley, Union College, USA [^3]: This article was submitted to Exercise Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Physiology. | High | [
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The Largest Planet In Solar System Our solar system has eight planets with a lot many of planetoids, also referred to as dwarf planets. The most significant feature that allows us to call something as planet is that it has gravitational force, is big enough in size and orbits in the same plane. The largest planet in the solar system is Jupiter. As per Roman mythology Jupiter is named as the ruler of gods. Planets Here is a list of planets in order of their distance from the sun, the closest from the sun being on the top: Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Though the volume of the largest planet is 1400 times of earth, its mass is only 318 times. It means that its density is nearly one fourth of earth, indicating that the planet must comprise of gases and not rocks and metals which are found on earth and other inner planets. Jupiter – comparative size with other planets Some interesting facts about the biggest planet: Jupiter Distance from Sun: Nearly 466 million miles. Diameter: 85,788 miles. It could contain more than 12 Earths or all other planets in the solar system within it. Composition: A giant ball comprising of mainly helium and hydrogen. Length of the Day: 9 hours, 55 minutes in Earth time (the duration of one rotation). Length of a Year: 12 Earth years (the duration of one orbit around the sun). Visited by: Pioneer 11, Viking, Galileo, Cassini and others. Jupiter’s Spot This biggest planet is characterized by a big red spot, called Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. In fact, this red spot is a massive storm which Jupiter has continued to bear since more than four hundred years. Three times the size of our earth, this red spot is the largest and most violent storm known to the universe. The winds of this storm can reach speeds of up to 270 miles per hour. Jupiter – largest planet in the solar system Being gaseous, Jupiter’s atmosphere is comparable to an ocean of gases. The currents taking place in the gases are like winds on earth and the cause of Jupiter’s constantly changing swirls. The winds are very colorful but we do not know the precise reason for that. Some attribute those colors to the fast speeds at which the planet rotate while others believe that it is due internal heat created in the planet. Scientific explanation that the colorful atmosphere is created due presence of phosphorus and sulfur in planet’s atmosphere sounds more convincing. Rings on Jupiter Jupiter’s Ring As a consequence of Voyager’s visit to outer planets of our solar system we realized that all planets containing gases have rings and Jupiter is no exception, though the rings in case of the largest planet in solar system are very thin and thus less visible. | High | [
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MEP Stock Offers The Ideal Vogue C40 GEN2 combi boiler combines forward-thinking technology with premium components to provide the next step in domestic heating intelligence. This stylish boiler not only delivers superb performance, reliability and value for money, but its fully insulated casing means it is also one of the quietest boilers around. Features: 8 year manufacturer warranty Backlit 3.5 inch LCD full colour display Cool burner door technology Up to 7:1 modulation Quick installation Compact and Lightweight Stainless steel heat exchanger Multi-function buttons for simplified end user operation Easy to read pressure gauge Uniform control opening across all Ideal products Fuel Used - Natural Gas Boiler CH Output (Kw) - 32 Max DHW Output (Kw) - 40 Boiler CH Output (BTU) - 109000 Domestic hot water flow rate - 16.4L @ 35C Rise Energy Efficiency - 89.10% ErP Hot Water Rating - A Rated for Hot Water | Mid | [
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DNA/RNA-dependent ATPase activity is associated with ATBF1, a multiple homeodomain-zinc finger protein. The AT motif-binding factor 1 (ATBF1)-A is a large transcription factor containing four homeodomains and 23 zinc finger motifs. It has a number of motifs involved in transcriptional regulation, and in addition, several motifs found in enzymes, such as ATPases and helicases. In this study, we examined whether ATPase activity is associated with the ATBF1-A molecule. A 263-amino acid segment of the ATBF1-A molecule, termed AHZ, which contains the ATPase A-motif, homeodomain IV and zinc finger 21, was expressed in Escherichia coli in the form of glutathione S-transferase fusion protein and analyzed for ATPase activity. We found that AHZ was able to hydrolyze ATP with K(m) 10.6 microM and K(cat) 0.055 min(-1) at 5 mM Mg(2+) and pH 7.75. AHZ retained bacterial DNA and removal of the DNA resulted in 70% decrease in ATPase activity. The addition of double- or single-stranded DNAs restored 70-75% ATPase activity and that of RNA restored 50-55% activity. Site-directed mutagenesis of the A-motif resulted in 34% reduction of ATPase activity with no significant loss of bound DNA. In contrast, mutation of homeodomain IV and zinc finger 21 resulted in 90 and 80% reduction of ATPase, respectively, with the loss of the ability to bind to DNA and RNA. These results show that ATBF1 has at least one enzyme activity in addition to regulation of DNA transcription. The ATPase activity associated with ATBF1-A is DNA/RNA-dependent and unique in that it requires both homeodomain and zinc finger motifs. | High | [
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Of all homes foreclosed upon nationwide after December 2006, 46.7 percent were in the bottom-third of all homes in terms of value, compared to only 16.6 percent of foreclosed homes in the top third. If bottom-tier homeowners had been able to avoid foreclosure, they could have realized big gains in their personal wealth as the value of their homes grew during the recovery. Throughout the recovery, foreclosed U.S. homes showed greater annual appreciation than homes in general, peaking at 12.4 percent in January 2014, and falling to 6.8 percent by April 2016. Overall U.S. home values, over the same time, reached a high of 7.9 percent annual growth in April 2014, with growth slowing to a pace of 4.9 percent by April 2016. For all the talk of income inequality these days, it is America’s wealth inequality – which includes assets like a person’s home – that is perhaps most striking. The gap between the rich and poor in the U.S. was already wide prior to the Great Recession, and the housing bust and foreclosure crisis that followed only made it worse. Those wealthier Americans better able to cope with the shock of the housing recession and that managed to avoid foreclosure through the worst of it ended up better off and with even more accumulated wealth at the end of the recession in many areas, according to Zillow’s research. At the same time, lower-income Americans that could not avoid foreclosure have missed out on what could have been massive wealth accumulation during the recovery. Income Inequality To be sure, income inequality is directly tied to wealth inequality, and both have huge implications for the housing market. Home affordability for low-income Americans looking to purchase even a modest entry-level home has suffered enormously in recent years – especially relative to middle- and high-income buyers looking to buy progressively more expensive homes and particularly in hot markets (figure 1). Nationwide, a buyer earning a median annual salary in the bottom one-third of all incomes and looking to buy a home valued in the bottom one-third of all homes would need to spend 22.7 percent of their income on a mortgage as of Q2 2015, the latest quarter for which data is available.[1] A buyer earning an income in the top one-third and looking to buy a more expensive top-tier home would only spend 11.5 percent of their income on a mortgage. A year earlier, a U.S. buyer at the top would have had to devote 11.7 percent of their income to a mortgage. At the same time, a bottom-tier buyer would have needed to spend 22.5 percent of their income to a mortgage. So while mortgage affordability at the top has improved somewhat, it has actually gotten a bit worse at the bottom. The differences are more striking at a local level. At the end of 2012 in San Francisco, for example, a potential low-income buyer looking to buy a bottom-tier home could have expected to pay 42.2 percent of their income on a mortgage payment – a stretch, yes, but probably doable. But by Q2 2015, that same buyer looking to purchase the same level of home should have expected to pay 68.4 percent of their income on a mortgage. Over the same period, the share of income a middle-income buyer purchasing a middle-tier home could expect to spend on a mortgage rose from 29.1 percent to 39.8 percent; and from 22 percent to 29.7 percent for a high-income buyer purchasing a high-end home. Beyond simply rising home prices, which are countered to some extent by incredibly low mortgage interest rates that help keep monthly payments low, much of this gap is directly attributable to flat or very weak income growth for the lowest-paid workers (figure 2). In real terms (after adjusting for inflation), bottom-third incomes have actually declined over the last 15 years, so a larger share of income has to go toward everyday expenses – which have increased with inflation and now cost more than in the past. And this affordability gap says nothing of the availability gap. In many markets, even for those low-income buyers that can find a way to afford a home, there are simply no homes available to buy in their price range. Realistically, in many markets nationwide, low-income buyers today are essentially getting shut out of the market thanks to this one-two punch of declining inventory and deteriorating affordability. Wealth Inequality But only looking at current income imbalances misses the other half of the story. Housing – for millions the largest single contributor to personal wealth – was greatly distorted during the housing boom and bust. During the housing boom, homeownership rates rose from around 65 percent in 2000 to almost 70 percent by 2006, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A big driver of this increase was a lot of newly minted, low-income homeowners who invested whatever wealth they did have into down payments and mortgage payments. And when the bubble popped, less-expensive homes – often bought by low-income homeowners – were more likely to be foreclosed on than higher-end homes. Of all homes foreclosed upon nationwide after December 2006 (the national market reached peak in 2007, but many local markets entered the bust portion of the housing bubble much earlier), 46.7 percent were in the bottom-third of all homes in terms of value, compared to only 16.6 percent of foreclosed homes in the top third. This trend holds in many large markets, including Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle and Milwaukee to name just a few (figure 3). This is perhaps unsurprising. Lower-income homeowners are less likely to be able to absorb financial shocks and life curveballs, including loss of employment or unexpected medical costs. And even if they were able to scrape by and keep making payments on their home for a while, the simple fact that they lived in a lower-priced home to begin with lowered their odds of ultimately avoiding foreclosure. At the outset of the recession, home values for lower-priced homes fell much more dramatically than higher-priced homes, meaning the owners of these homes were also more likely to fall into deep negative equity. And homeowners in negative equity are more likely to be foreclosed upon – especially those in deep negative equity that might see little point in throwing good money after bad just to stay in a home they may realistically have little to no hope of one day selling for a profit. Foreclosure does more than strip the title of a home away from a homeowner – it also strips away any and all wealth a homeowner had in the home, both invested up front in the form of a down payment and accumulated over time through home value appreciation and built-up equity. When a homeowner put little or no money down, that wealth may have been small or even non-existent. But for those that made even modest down payments – and depending on how expensive a market is, a “modest” down payment is still often tens of thousands of dollars – that wealth was wiped out as part of the foreclosure proceedings. More importantly, though, homeowners foreclosed-upon during the recession never got to realize the sometimes huge increases in their homes’ values during the recovery – and the big gains in wealth that would come with it as home values rise past their initial purchase price. After the national housing market hit bottom, home values started rising quickly again – especially among recently foreclosed, low-tier homes now seen as screaming bargains by investors looking to buy cheap but livable homes and convert them into rentals. Nationwide, foreclosed homes lost almost 40 percent of their value during the bust, and remain 16 percent below their peak values, despite having risen quite strongly during the recovery (figure 4). The median value of all homes, over the same time, fell roughly 22 percent, and is now 5 percent off peak values. But in some markets, foreclosed home values have recovered all value lost in the recession – and then some. In Denver, for example, foreclosed home values fell by 22 percent, but have since grown by 75 percent since home values bottomed out and are now worth almost 40 percent more than they were during bubble peaks. If foreclosed homeowners had been able to hold on, they would have been able to see their home’s equity – and therefore their wealth – increase. In fact, throughout the entire recovery foreclosed homes showed greater annual appreciation than homes in general, peaking at 12.4 percent in January 2014, and falling to 6.8 percent by April 2016. Overall U.S. home values, over the same time, reached a high of 7.9 percent annual growth in April 2014, with growth slowing to a pace of 4.9 percent by April 2016. A Source of Anger There is no small amount of irony in the fact that, after foreclosure, laws prohibited many former homeowners from buying again for seven years, and so millions were forced to rent the exact same kind of homes they had owned only a few years prior. What’s more, these homeowners exchanged the relative stability and predictability of a monthly mortgage payment for the instability of rent – which has been rising steadily for years and is becoming increasingly unaffordable. And there’s still more salt to throw on the wound with the benefit of hindsight. It’s likely that millions of hardworking Americans found ways to hold on to their homes through the first few years of the recession, only to be foreclosed upon later – which actually turned out worse for them than simply giving the home up in the early years. A homeowner who foreclosed on a home in 2007 would have theoretically been able to buy again in 2014, and may have realized some of the gains in housing of the past few years. But a homeowner that held out desperately only to finally succumb to foreclosure in 2010 or 2011, won’t be able to buy again until 2017 or 2018. This state of affairs has given rise to much of the social anger and instability we see today. The 99 percent movement, the increasing homelessness issue, the ever-contentious presidential election and a growing housing affordability crisis all have roots in this growing divide between rich and poor. We’ve taken to calling it income inequality, but that only speaks to a small part of the problem. Wealth inequality is incredibly real, is getting worse and is distressingly unheralded. We hope this research helps bring the issue to light. [1]Income data is sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS), indexed forward because the ACS series ends several years ago. For median income used in the overall affordability analysis, we chain the income data forward using the Employment Cost Index (ECI), which is updated quarterly with a one quarter lag. But income tier data is not published in ECI. To get tiers, we rely on the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES), which is published with a one-year lag, which is why our tier data is only available through July 2015 but our overall affordability is available through Q1 2016. | Mid | [
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A Town Hall crowd of about 70 people, including local public officials, stayed put in their seats for 90 minutes Tuesday night to hear a story that shares many similarities to one that unfolded locally in 2008. Master skeleton articulator Mike deRoos and Project Manager Michiru Main are the biologists who headed up an effort to reassemble an 85-foot-long Blue Whale skeleton inside the Beaty Biodiversity Museum at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, B.C., after it was exhumed, cleaned and trucked across the country. Main said that just as they had completed the massive project in 2010, they received a call from Fort Bragg Community Development Director Marie Jones that started with, "So, we have this whale skeleton ...." The two have been counseling city officials since 2010 about how to move forward with the project of reassembling the skeleton on earmarked city property on the former mill site. Sheila Semans was recruited to head up the local project, which she said, was still in its infancy. She explained that the Noyo Center for Science and Education will be a marine research lab, with several public exhibits and educational components. A fundraising campaign will start soon and it's hoped that a nonprofit agency can be found to assist. Semans recalled the story of how local volunteers, with the assistance of many from Humboldt State University, extracted the massive skeleton, hauled it up a steep bank and buried it in the forest where it remained for four years. Sue Magoo and Sarah Grimes have since hosted several educational sessions, allowing local students a close look at the skeleton while learning marine biology. Beaty whale story While Fort Bragg's skeleton was acquired after a 73-foot blue whale collided with a seafloor mapping ship in 2009. The Beaty Biodiversity Museum's situation was a bit different. The museum had already been constructed in 2007 and planning committee members were looking to create a figurehead exhibit preferably a blue whale skeleton. Main explained that through a chance encounter, it was learned that a location on Canada's east coast had hosted the burial of complete whales some 20 years before. At the start of a Canada winter, a team went to the location. Using a crudely-drawn map, they located a large mound and started digging. What they found was that the red clay soil and low temperatures preserved the carcass, leaving it almost fully intact. They returned that May with teams of volunteers and heavy equipment and started unearthing bones from the tail to the head. "We were awestruck as we peeled back the layers," Main said, showing photos of the excavation. "That's red muscle tissue we're cutting away there." Similar to the effort on the Mendocino Coast, volunteers endured days of stomach-turning sights and smells to extract bones so large that heavy equipment was needed to move them. Their effort took place in a 100- by 40-foot pit that filled with smelly, blubber-laden water and had to be emptied daily. After 10 days, the bones were out and the blubber was left in the pit where it was reburied. The still fleshy skeleton was shipped across the continent to British Columbia. Along the way, one of the intact fins was taken to a hospital. Staff took x-rays and a CT scan of the fins, which later proved very useful in reassembling one of the most complete specimens in the world, deRoos said. However, many of the bones were severely broken and required degreasing in order to reassemble them. After a failed six-month attempt at using enzymes to clean the bones, they were able to get a former military degreaser and used solvent to strip away the flesh and grease. "This was the one thing that really worked," deRoos said, adding that it's important that all grease be cleared, prior to articulation. After articulating the skeleton in one location, it was then trucked to the museum in parts for final assembly inside the museum. Main joked that one bit of advice she would share is to make sure the doorway is large enough for articulated sections to pass through. When asked, deRoos said the suspending cables and building are "overbuilt," for safety reasons. The skeleton is suspended by 19 cables, but one of the cables alone could bear the skeleton's entire weight. Main noted that through elegance of design, most of the cables and reinforcing metal are not visible. According to deRoos, the effort cost $1.5 million, but countless volunteer hours and donations were not tallied. However, the project proved a wise investment for the museum, whose visitors return regularly and in huge numbers. Main noted that one donor gave $3 million to have his name put on the museum's atrium. Regarding the Fort Bragg's project, deRoos said he was excited to see all that has been done. He predicted that people will come from around the world to view the exhibit. Main said some are even moved to tears at the sight of the Beaty whale and the knowledge that creatures of that size inhabit our oceans. "You're heading in the right direction," he said. "This is a huge opportunity for your community, county and even state." More information about the Beaty Biodiversity Museum and the whale project can be found at http://www.beatymuseum.ubc.ca/blue-whale-project . | Mid | [
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Surgical technique and clinical application of the transverse gracilismyocutaneous free flap. The unreliability of the distal skin component of the gracilis myocutaneous free flap has been frequently reported. To improve the reliability of the skin we orientated the cutaneous paddle in a transverse direction in the proximal third of the gracilis muscle, as first described by Yousif et al in 1993. Their anatomical studies showed that cutaneous branches of the dominant proximal pedicle have a pronounced tendency to travel in a transverse direction, supplying the skin anteriorly over the adductor longus and sartorius muscles and extending beyond the posterior margin of the gracilis muscle. We adopted this transverse design and transferred myocutaneous gracilis flaps measuring up to 17 x 9 cm. The transverse gracilis myocutaneous flap was dissected in the subfascial plane to include the peri-gracilis fascia, which preserved the fascial vascular network and thus optimised skin-paddle perfusion. Ten transverse gracilis myocutaneous free flaps were performed over 3 years. Skin paddles ranged in size from 10 x 7 cm (70 cm(2)) to 17 x 9 cm (153 cm(2)) with a mean of 113.4 cm(2). Five defects were located in the head and neck region, three in the lower leg, one in the thigh and one in the thorax. Patients were followed for an average of 16.6 months (range: 6--46 months). Minor complications (donor-site wound dehiscence and flap-wound-edge separation) occurred in four patients;however, all 10 flaps survived and healed with complete cutaneous survival. | High | [
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Janez Petač Janez Petač (March 6, 1949 – May 23, 2011) was a former Yugoslav ice hockey player. He played for the Yugoslavia men's national ice hockey team at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. References Category:1949 births Category:2011 deaths Category:Ice hockey players at the 1976 Winter Olympics Category:Olympic ice hockey players of Yugoslavia Category:Slovenian ice hockey right wingers Category:Sportspeople from Ljubljana Category:Yugoslav ice hockey right wingers | Mid | [
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bollywood Updated: May 31, 2016 15:44 IST Amid the growing uproar over comedian Tanmay Bhat’s controversial video which allegedly insults two Bharat Ratna awardees -- singer Lata Mangeshkar and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor has come out in support of the Tanmay. Leaders of political parties across Maharashtra on Monday demanded action against Bhat over the video. Not just politicians, even Bollywood celebrities like Anupam Kher, Subhash Ghai, Riteish Deshmukh and Satish Kaushik have also strongly condemned the video over Twitter. However, Sonam feels that Bhat’s video has been misinterpreted. AIB’s Tanmay Bhat is seen taking jibes at the 86-year-old melody queen and the 43-year-old cricketing legend in the two-minute video that was posted on his Snapchat and Facebook. (Facebook) Read: Politicians want to roast Tanmay over Sachin-Lata video In a series of tweets, Sonam wrote on Tuesday, “Dear Tanmay Bhat, being your friend I know what you say and do is never to offend, but to make people laugh. Don’t you guys think there are issues that are more important than Tanmay Bhat’s Snapchat jokes? I’m in shock with this over reaction. Being living legends, I know Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar don’t even know and care about what’s going on! Stop spewing hate on their behalf.” Filmmaker Hansal Mehta had earlier on Tuesday questioned the severity of reactions to Tanmay’s video. AIB is usually funny, sharp and clever. The #TanmayBhat video is none of those. Question is does a bad joke deserve punishment and/or abuse? — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 30, 2016 The video, which Bhat posted on Snapchat, allegedly ridicules and ‘roasts’ Lata and Sachin. It went viral on the social media and other channels and triggered widespread outrage. Statements like “why the 86-year-old Lata was still alive” and “who was the better player between the 43-year-old Sachin and Virat Kohli” raised a howl of protests and condemnations. Read: Who said what over Sachin-Lata video by Tanmay The group ran into trouble last year following an infamous, controversial “roast”, which also featured Bollywood A-listers Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Karan Johar. Follow @htshowbiz for more | Mid | [
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In his 1910 The Science of Getting Rich Wallace D. Wattles espoused similar principles — that simply believing in the object of your desire and focusing on it will lead to that object or goal being realized on the material plane (Wattles claims in the Preface and later chapters of this book that his premise stems from the monistic Hindu view that God provides everything and can deliver what we focus on). The book also claims negative thinking will manifest negative results.[56] tags: create-wealth, doorway-to-success, luck, manifesting-dreams, mind-power, mind-s-gatekeeper, naps, night-audio-program-success, night-audio-programming, night-audio-programs, positive-words, power-of-law-of-attraction, power-of-the-subconscious-mind, raps, repetitive-audio-programs, reprogram-subconscious-mind, self-help-quotes, self-hypnosis-naps, stephen-richards, subconscious-mind-power, unconscious-mind Now, with this book, readers can learn how to use the Law of Attraction deliberately and integrate it into their daily life. By doing this, they will attract all they need to do, know, and have so they can get more of what they want and less of what they don't want. With its easy-to-follow 3-step formula (Identify Your Desire, Give Your Desire Attention, and Allowing), complete with tips, tools, exercises, and scripts, LAW OF ATTRACTION shows readers how to: Your second point is an interesting discussion. You are correct that in its infancy, psychology was criticized for claiming to be a scientific field and not living up to that assertion by performing quality research. I believe that this question has been put to rest as the rigors of publishing in psychology require randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trials. This is a great book. But it doesn't really get into "The Secret BEHIND The Secret" so-to-speak. "The Master Key System" by Charles F. Haanel still is, and will ALWAYS be, the greatest book on this subject that has ever existed. It is "one stop shopping" and explains it all in a very simple and easy-to-read book that is almost a hundred years old. This book was the third I got from Esther and Jerry Hicks, and was not a bad read for what I knew at the time. But "The Master Key System" was TRULY the life-transforming book I needed to read. And THAT was the one that changed my life. This one goes into WHAT The Law of Attraction can do. But not really HOW or WHY. Best Law Of Attraction Money Book The Law of Attraction has been popularized in the early 21st century by books and films such as The Secret. This 2006 film and the subsequent book[49] use interviews with New Thought authors and speakers to explain the principles of the proposed metaphysical law that one can attract anything that one thinks about consistently. Writing for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, Mary Carmichael and Ben Radford wrote that "neither the film nor the book has any basis in scientific reality", and that its premise contains "an ugly flipside: if you have an accident or disease, it's your fault".[47] Law Of Attraction Relationship With Money Try this... if you experience an event that makes you so happy and overjoyed that you want to attract more into your life then try to remember your inner emotion you had (your heart beating faster/ stomach jumping) whatever it was try to replicate that by remembering the event and then if your vibrational energy is the same as you felt in that joyous moment then it will manifest and you will attract it into your life. It all begins with putting the right messages out there into the world. Lots of people think that creating a vision board is enough, or trying to hustle to make things happen is the answer. The reality is, that manifesting something is a subtle energy. It’s about assuming the experience of what it is you desire before the reality even comes into form. For example, say your dream is to adopt a child. You really want to adopt this child because it will bring you feelings of heroism, unconditional love, and joy. In order to become a vibrational match to having that child, all you have to is start practicing those emotions now! Find the places in your life where you already feel like the hero, you already practice unconditional love and you already find joy. What do you want? What are your goals, wishes, and dreams? Get really clear about what it is that you want to manifest in your life. Do this in your quiet space. I encourage you to write it on paper with a pen. Describe what it looks like, draw it, define it. Make sure you stay with the positive attributes of your vision and define them specifically. Creating a manifestation/vision board is a great tool to help you visualize your goals and dreams. Law of Attraction Affirmations can take the form of internal thoughts or spoken words, but they can also be represented visually. Regardless of how you choose to use them, you can design them to reflect your vision of how you want your life to change. For example, many people have great success speaking affirming words into the mirror before going to work, or stating “today is going to be a great day” to infuse themselves with positivity upon waking. When used frequently enough, affirmations can enhance your use of the Law of Attraction by helping to reshape the core beliefs and assumptions that may be holding you back. They promote consistency, optimism and intense focus on the future you want to create. Write your wish down. Start with "I am so happy and grateful now that..." and finish the sentence (or paragraph) telling the Universe what it is that you want. Write it in the present tense as if you have it right now. Avoid negation terms (see Warnings for more on this). Every day until your wish comes true, close your eyes and imagine your desire as if it's happening right now and see your imagination turning more clearer. 1. START SAYING NO. This applies to anything that’s not a “hell yes” in your life. Anytime you’re people-pleasing or doing something because you think you should be, or settling, what you’re communicating energetically and projecting is: “I’m not worth doing what I want” or “I don’t feel valuable enough to do what I want, therefore I’m going to keep staying small.” Whenever you’re in that mode, you’re just going to keep attracting the same lessons over and over and over again. Create boundaries and say no to what’s not a yes. That’s the number one thing somebody can do right away. You can pray, meditate, journal, go to yoga, see your energy healer, whatever you have to do to reconnect with your inner guide and the belief that you are divinely supported and can have, be, or do anything you want. And you can affirm, affirm, affirm until you believe what you say. And you can work these five steps forward and backward and all around until you create such high vibrations around trusting this process that you do start to believe that anything is possible for you. This book presents the powerful basics of the original Teachings of Abraham. Within these pages, you’ll learn how all things, wanted and unwanted, are brought to you by this most powerful law of the universe, the Law of Attraction. (that which is like unto itself is drawn). You’ve most likely heard the saying dquo;Birds of a feather flock together," or EM>Law of Attraction has been alluded to by some of the greatest teachers in history, it has never before been explained in as clear and practical terms as in this latest book by New York Times best-selling authors, Esther and Jerry Hicks.Learn here about the omnipresent Laws that govern this Universe and how to make them work to your advantage. The understanding that you’ll achieve by reading this book will take all the guesswork out of daily living. You’ll finally understand just about everything that’s happening in your own life as well as in the lives of those you’re interacting with. This book will help you to joyously be, do, or have anything that you desire! The most challenging part of acknowledging and accepting the truth of what the Law of Attraction has to offer is coming to the realization that every single one of your decisions in life, good and bad, have been shaped by you alone. For many, this can be a bitter pill to swallow, especially if you feel that you or your loved ones have been dealt some particularly hard blows in life. Your Wish Is My Command Law Of Attraction Make a Vision Board. Sure, you have heard it a million times before, but when is the last time you actually MADE one? What you see is what you get in life. Get out some magazines, cut out images that attract you, paste them on a poster board, and hang it where you can see it. They W-O-R-K, just ask Nick Cannon who said his vision board brought Mariah Carey into his life. We (YouAreCreators) created this channel to share one of the greatest secrets of the universe, and the secret is, we literally create our reality! (Quantum Physics now proves this) We are all governed by a set of Universal Laws, and these laws were created by GOD, to aid us in creating the life we desire. One of these laws is known as the "Law Of Attraction", or the law of "Reaping and Sowing". This law simply states, whatever you give out in Thought, Word, Feeling, and Action is returned to us. Whether the return is negative, or positive, failure or success, is all up to what you give out. Many authors and celebrities such as, Wayne Dyer, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Jim Carrey, Steve Harvey, Rhonda Byrne, and many others have testified to this amazing Law Of Attraction. Its time you learn this wonderful secret...Take five minutes each day to breath slowly and with each breath out, release all the negativity you've been dealing with. Many people take time to breath in but not breath out, says Graham. Put your hands on your lower stomach — your sacral chakra — to help connect with your intuition. Then, imagine all the things you want in your life, including what getting them will feel like. Focus on the feeling rather than the specifics, because the universe could bring you something even better than you could imagine or something equally good in a different form. You don't want to limit yourself. Think about the strengths and energies that make you unique. When you were a child you thought to yourself “Wow, I am ME. Nobody else is me or can feel the feelings I feel. They’re mine alone. This energy is uniquely my energy.” Then, of course, the world trained you out of this way of seeing things. You wanted to be the same as everyone else (or at least, they wanted you to be the same). Breaking free and removing failure from your vocabulary allows you to follow your bliss with ease. The Law Of Attraction Jay Northcote Read Online Thanks for your comments. Since you obviously have advanced knowledge on how to use a law of attraction, I assume that you have achieved all of your goals and fulfilled all of your dreams. Now you are a very rich millionaire trying to help the rest of us. Actually, you wouldn't be doing that because as LOA founder Wallace Wattles said "do not talk about poverty...do not spend your time in charitable work,...all charity only tends to perpetuate the wretchedness it aims to eradicate." If things haven't been going your way this year, there's hope: 2018 is a promising year for manifesting your dreams, psychic Deborah Graham said in a recent workshop. Eight is a lucky number: It represents wealth in China and Japan, and it's a rotated infinity sign, signifying infinite possibilities for the new year. So, manifestation exercises will go even further than usual after New Year's, says Graham. Or, like most people who claim to have found the way to manifest things through the LOA, is it that you truly don't want big things, new things, nice cars, paid off mansions, kids' schools paid for, permanent paid vacations, etc. If you wanted them, you know you could manifest them, you are just not that interested in those things right now. That's the typical response. Tris Thorp is one of today’s leading experts in the field of emotional healing. Having spent the last decade traveling the world, being trained by and sharing the stage with Dr. Deepak Chopra in the field of consciousness and mindfulness-based practices, Tris has a real gift for integrating the ancient spiritual teachings with modern-day mindfulness to help people all over the world let go of their past and create an empowered new future. You can learn all about her approach to emotional healing in her latest book, Healing Your Heart: Rewrite Your Story with Awareness and Intention , available now. Tris is Board...Read more If you are constantly cranky and upset, then you will be creating more of the same into your experience. It works like a big mirror. You create your vibrational set point, buzz that frequency out into the ether and whatever your dominant energetic patterns are will be drawn to you in the form of things, people and experiences that are in alignment with your vibration set point. How great would it be if you could call in your soul mate, the perfect person to spend the rest of your life with? Or become wildly successful and financially abundant? What if you could create anything you want and live a purpose-based life of happiness, joy, and total fulfillment? Learning how to manifest what your heart truly desires is something you’d love to master, right? The 2006 documentary The Secret inspired many to start thinking in new ways; did you hope that you, too, could manifest your dreams? | Mid | [
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Longer term effects of early dietary cholesterol level on synthesis and circulating cholesterol concentrations in human infants. De novo endogenous cholesterol synthesis is an integral component of developing human infant adaptive mechanisms that regulate cholesterol homeostasis. Smaller central pools of cholesterol later in life may contribute to reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations in the plasma and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Early infant adaptive mechanisms may theoretically result in altered central pools of cholesterol in later life. To examine the response of cholesterol homeostasis to long-term dietary cholesterol supplementation, endogenous cholesterol synthesis was studied in 81 full-term healthy neonates at 4 months or at 11 and 12 months of age. Thirty-two infants were breast-fed (BF) (6 males, 7 females), fed regular cows milk protein-based formula (RF) (6 males, 3 females) 0.85 mmol cholesterol/L (33 mg cholesterol/L), or fed regular cow milk protein-based formula with the addition of cholesterol (RF+cholesterol) (5 males, 5 females) 3.44 mmol cholesterol/L (133 mg cholesterol/L). Effects of cholesterol supplementation on cholesterol synthesis rates were evaluated at 4 months of age. Forty-nine other infants, BF (11 males, 6 females) fed RF (7 males, 12 females), or RF+cholesterol (6 males, 7 females) until 6 months of age were studied to test the hypothesis of imprinting using a cross-over design study with a 1-month 250 mg cholesterol/day challenge at 11 months of age. The incorporation rate of deuterium in body water into erythrocyte-free cholesterol over 48 hours was used as an index of cholesterol fractional synthetic rate (FSR) at 4, 11, and 12 months of age. Both plasma total- and LDL-C were higher (P <.04) in BF compared with RF+cholesterol and RF formula-fed groups at 4 months of age. Plasma cholesterol concentrations for all 3 groups were similar at 11 and 12 months of age. FSR (pools/d) was 4-fold higher (P <.0001) in both RF and RF+cholesterol compared with BF groups, but not different between RF and RF+cholesterol formula-fed groups. No differences in FSR before and after cholesterol challenge were observed within the 3 feeding groups at 11 and 12 months of age. However, synthesis rates from 4 months to 12 months increased (P <.03) in BF infants and decreased in both RF+cholesterol (P <.0001) and RF (P <.0001) fed groups. These results demonstrate relative insensitivity of synthesis rates and serum cholesterol concentrations to cholesterol challenge, irrespective of early dietary cholesterol intake in formula-fed and BF infants. These findings support the notion that early dietary cholesterol causes minimal changes in cholesterol metabolism about 6 months after dietary exposure in young infants. | Mid | [
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The 43rd federal election on Monday saw Calgary and most of Alberta return to Conservative representation in the House of Commons under a minority Liberal government. During the federal campaign, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi directly asked all parties about what they were going to do to help the city’s slumping economy and was a vocal opponent of Quebec’s Bill 21. Calgary Today radio host Joe McFarland caught up with Nenshi on Tuesday afternoon to get his thoughts on the results of the election and Calgary’s future under the new government. LISTEN: Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi joins Calgary Today the day after the federal election McFarland: Where do you see Calgary today? Nenshi: I’m not sure that Calgary today is all that different from Calgary yesterday. Maybe a little bit better off. And let me explain that. I know that a lot of people were concerned that a Liberal minority would mean, for example, the end of the Trans Mountain pipeline. I don’t think so. I think the Liberals and the Conservatives have both said that they want this thing to move forward. They, between the two of them, have a commanding majority. Story continues below advertisement I suspect what will happen is the prime minister will have to look for votes on every item, just like Prime Minister Harper when he was in the minority. I’m not overly concerned that this election result changes things, but what I am very concerned about is that the message of the real challenges we have in Calgary and in Alberta is not really being heard. Last night, I was on the CBC national election panel, and I said a few things which wouldn’t surprise anybody from Calgary, that you and I have talked about many, many times, about how the rest of the country is running on all cylinders but the economic engine of the country and Alberta is really sputtering. And we don’t feel like anyone is willing to help us out here. Although we’re talking a lot about it, we seem to be shouting in a vacuum. Tweet This I was surprised by the response that I got on that, that a lot of folks were surprised to hear that. Story continues below advertisement When you’re online, people were like, “Huh, thanks for explaining because I never really understood why everyone in Alberta seems to be so angry.” And it was shocking to me because we’ve been saying the same thing for so long, but it feels like the message is not at all getting through. The big problem, of course, with this election result is that there are no Liberals in Saskatchewan or Alberta. And so it’s going to be incredibly important to figure out how to make sure that our concerns are heard in the prime minister’s office around the cabinet table and so on. M: How difficult of a challenge is that going to be? N: This is always a challenge that we’ve had in Alberta. The electoral map that we have now is the same as it was before 2015. The difference, of course, [was] the Conservatives were in power. And in the [Jean] Chrétien years, there was usually one Liberal Alberta [riding] in Edmonton and that’s it. So this is a real, a real challenge. Story continues below advertisement The problem we have in Alberta is that one party sort of knows that they’ve got a good base here, that the other party thinks that there’s no upside here. And so the danger we run into is: does that mean that they take us for granted one way or the other? Tweet This Our issues around pipelines, around supporting the energy industry, around a thoughtful response to climate change are critical issues. You cannot ignore them. If you ignore them, you’re not going to balance the federal budget and the country’s not going to work. 1:38 Federal Election 2019: Why should Trudeau listen to the Alberta government? Federal Election 2019: Why should Trudeau listen to the Alberta government? Regardless of who is in power, they’ve got to figure out how they’re going to deal with this stuff. M: Do you think that we, being a conservative province, has painted us in a negative light in the eyes of liberals across this country? And conversely, do you think we have unfairly painted liberals across this country as being anti-Alberta? N: I think that’s true in terms of the political discourse. I don’t think that’s true in terms of people. There’s a diversity of people and diversity of views regardless of what gets elected. I think most Canadians are reasonable and want their neighbours to do well. Story continues below advertisement The question is, how do we get to that conversation? I’ve been thinking a little bit today about Premier [Peter] Lougheed and he had ferocious battles and huge victories with the elder Prime Minister Trudeau. But he also worked with Prime Minister Trudeau to get the Constitution ratified. He also worked a lot with the province of Quebec on issues of mutual concern. So I think what we’re looking for now across the board in the prime minister’s office, of the prime minister himself and other leaders, is let’s see where we can find that statesmanship because we’ve got to solve these problems. And it’s clear that the divisiveness that we saw in this election isn’t solving the problem. M: How concerned are you that we’re starting to see a swell in the separatist movement, whether it is for Alberta or for Western Canada? N: Let’s start with this: it’s a crazy notion. The poorest countries in the world are small, landlocked countries. Why would you want to turn yourself into one of those? So, it is crazy. Tweet This Story continues below advertisement But it is born of some very, very real concerns. I think that we have to figure out how we move forward, understanding our frustration, even understanding our anger, but move forward in a way that recognizes that we live in the greatest place in the world. And how in the world are we going to make sure that we maintain that [to] make it even better? I know that sounds very Pollyanna-ish, but it’s clear that just sort of divisiveness and yelling at one another didn’t get us a result that’s going to help us. M: Where do you think the jumping-off point is? What is the one issue that can get the ball rolling to get us working together and understanding each other? N: Everyone wants to preserve the environment and everyone wants economic prosperity for the country. How are we going to do that? If you want to get more specific, there are very few people in the entire country who say we should be buying foreign oil rather than relying on our own resources in the country, that we should be energy independent. Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe looking for immediate action from Justin Trudeau I think there [are] very few people who would say that it’s a smart thing to sell a nonrenewable resource at a great discount to the world market. So let’s start there and let’s figure out how we can protect and grow the energy sector while maintaining the highest standards of environmental stewardship. The problem is when it becomes energy versus the environment or everyone who’s pro-energy is painted as a climate change denier or anyone who is concerned about climate change is painted as wanting to destroy Alberta’s energy sector. Tweet This I think the vast majority of Canadians wouldn’t identify with either of those caricatures. And we’ve got to figure out how to involve them more. Some of the questions and answers have been edited for clarity. Story continues below advertisement | Mid | [
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Q: Open a folder in default browser I have many web projects that I develop on the localhost. Normally to get to these one has to navigate from the root directory or bookmark the url. I want to be able to open an OS directory/folder in the default browser. So for example I right-click a 'project A' folder and choose 'open in browser' and go there directly. I would like to be able to specify the beginning of the url, so I can change file:/// to http://localhost/ or mymac.local/. I am imagining this could be done with Applescript but I'm not experienced in that. Is there any way to achieve this? A: I think this Applescript saved as a service will do it: (Set to "Service receives selected files or folders in Finder") on run {input, parameters} set basePath to "users/username/folder/" set baseURL to "http://localhost" repeat with i in input tell application "Safari" if not (exists (document 1)) then -- -- Safari is *Not* Opened, Call Open New Window Function, Go To Preferred Page -- and Activate Safari to Enable Scripting -- tell application "Safari" to activate my open_new_window() -- -- Set Safari Location to Preferred Page -- set theFileName to POSIX path of i set thePath to text (length of basePath+1) thru -1 of theFileName set the URL of document 1 to baseURL & thePath else -- -- Safari is Opened, Bring it To Front and Open New Tab w/Preferred Page -- if (exists (URL of document 1)) then my open_new_tab() end if -- -- and Activate Safari to Enable Scripting -- tell application "Safari" to activate -- -- Set Safari Location to Preferred Page -- set theFileName to POSIX path of i set thePath to text (length of basePath+1) thru -1 of theFileName set the URL of document 1 to baseURL & thePath end if end tell end repeat return input end run -- -- Open New Window Function -- on open_new_window() tell application "Safari" to activate tell application "System Events" tell process "Safari" click menu item "New Window" of menu "File" of menu bar 1 end tell end tell end open_new_window -- -- Open New Tab Function -- on open_new_tab() tell application "Safari" to activate tell application "System Events" tell process "Safari" click menu item "New Tab" of menu "File" of menu bar 1 end tell end tell end open_new_tab Cobbled together from a few sources! | High | [
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/** * Copyright (c) 2011-2018 by Andrew Mustun. All rights reserved. * * This file is part of the QCAD project. * * QCAD is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or * (at your option) any later version. * * QCAD is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the * GNU General Public License for more details. * * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License * along with QCAD. */ #include "RFileExporter.h" RFileExporter::RFileExporter() : RExporter() { } RFileExporter::RFileExporter(RDocument& document, RMessageHandler* messageHandler, RProgressHandler* progressHandler) : RExporter(document, messageHandler, progressHandler) { } RFileExporter::~RFileExporter() { } | Low | [
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Category Archives: Op-Ed Utopia has been lovingly described as a state of speculative existence in which society possesses qualities that are highly desirable and near perfect with respect to the dynamics of the division of labour, of individual liberties enjoyed by citizens in a collectivist framework and the distribution of power amongst the inhabitants of that particular entity. The word utopia was first coined by Sir Thomas Moore in 1516, in his book describing the fictional island of Atlantis. The term has, over the years, been used to describe both social experiments grounded to reality and works that have been associated with the description of a fictional state of existence that chronicle a perfect end to be achieved. Dystopia, on the other hand, finds its way into the murky waters of well written fictional enterprise that elaborates upon everything that could go wrong in situations that, in practice, centralise power to such an extent that individual freedoms take a back seat. Take, for example, George Orwell’s 1984, the epitome of everything that could go wrong with the excessive centralization of power to the extent that freedoms thought to be free from infringement, such as basic privacy, are rendered unimaginable. One could even think of Aldoux Huxley’s Brave New World, which takes one to the institutionalisation of mankind’s most basal sexual passions, the underlying theme amongst both pieces converge in the excesses of power and control, which could be interpreted to be manifestations of the biggest fears of western liberal thought espousing individual freedoms. This, as well as practical failures of excessive centralization and their eventual collapse, has created a culture that cringes at the every hint of the term ‘social engineering’, which is quite detrimental to the pursuance of certain value orientations, albeit, with a healthy system of checks and balances in place. This very end to be achieved, in terms of the virtues that the near perfect state will possess, varies across different conceptions of the term utopia. One could start by categorising the differences in all of these near perfect ends on the basis of the themes that are most commonly addressed in the most prominent works of discourse ranging from Plato to utopian socialists like Owen that consolidated the platform for the beginnings of scientific socialism. These differing ideas vary along the lines of the distribution of power within social systems in relation to the ownership of property, in the division of labour with respect to the contribution of different aspects of the population in the process of production and in individual freedoms and liberties that citizens enjoy. All these processes are then seen in the light of the larger moral structure that conforms to each author’s perception of what is right and wrong, built upon socio-cultural institutions that complement each other like the family in relation to theology, music, literature and systems of education. The earliest conception of an ideal society can be traced to Ancient Greece, within which, the works of Plato delve into fundamental questions about what constitutes justice, virtue and reason. The true nature of these absolutes can only be perceived if people manage to obtain a great degree of control over the mind and body that arises from years of rigorous training in mental, physical and moral arts. This, in essence, would allow people with the necessary intellectual vigour to perceive reality in its absolute form, as an interaction of abstractions removed from reality allegorically described as the objects that cast a shadow on the walls of the cave that represents the vision of humanity (Cohen 2006). Plato, in one of his last dialogues refers to the creation of his ideal city, Magnesia, which would be situated far from ports that would have facilitated maritime trade, which by consequence would have made the population of the city more vulnerable to corruption that stems from the mercantile aspiration of profit making, wealth creation and hoarding. His conception of the city is influenced by the close relation between ethics and law, between education and moral psychology in bestowing upon the citizens, the ability to attain true virtue (Plato Laws 664 CE, cited in Bobonich and Meadows, 2013). In accordance with what was stated earlier in The Republic, it consists of a society that is divided into classes on the basis of a division of labour. It proposes a categorization of citizens into a class structure of producers in the form of farmers and artisans, the warriors which are the auxiliaries and guardians which constitute the ruling class. Virtue, at first glance, can be contextualised as adherence to normative functions that place people along the societal hierarchy. But at a deeper level of understanding, the very concept of what virtue constitutes of becomes of paramount importance in relation to the true nature of things and the existence of absolutes that only those with the necessary intellectual vigour can grasp. This is where the role of the king who understands the fluidity between the true nature of things and how they have to be contextualised to different situations in practical reality, comes into play. Power hence rests within the hands of those who have access to resources involved in the process of production such as the merchant class but even more so with the guardian classes and the philosopher kings. They, by virtue of being on a higher platform in terms of intellect combined with access to robust training, have a clearer understanding of the forms and hence have greater moral authority. Each household within Magnesia is to be given ownership of two plots of land that are equally productive. Hence, there is individual ownership of land but each shareholder must consider his share to be the common property of the whole city, though the land itself is passed down within the family over generations. Further, each household is to help fund the city’s system of common meals. The volume of land allocated differs in within the classes wherein those at the top receive land that has assets four times worth the value of the lot a given to the class at the bottom (Plato 740A3–6, Bobonich and Meadows, 2013) In terms of citizenship, it is only the landed gentry and their male heirs that constitute the decision-making mandate in a participative direct democracy of the polis. But within Plato’s utopian city of Magnesia, Although women lack an independent right to own property, they are liable to military training and service and attend their own common meals. The Athenian holds that they can attain the four cardinal virtues and for this reason requires that they are educated (Laws 804D-805A, Bobonich and Meadows, 2013). For Aristotle, women are not citizens of the ideal city, since they are excluded from political office. But in Plato’s Magnesia, women can participate in elections and hold political office and so the Athenian explicitly counts them as citizens. All citizens apart from the philosopher-rulers arguably remain within the cave with access to the glorified vices of music and poetry that is correct only if deemed virtuous by a man that possesses virtue himself, of a higher social standing, of course, which in effect, though extremely subjective, leaves little room for individual choice, freedom and creativity. But this is only in respect to creativity in expression, in terms of rhetoric and logic, all citizens are educated in accordance with their aptitude for mathematics, resistance to basal pleasures and rhetoric wherein those who qualify to move on to dialectics and become the future pool of guards and rulers. Those who do not, are directed towards practical aspects of social life such as trade and commerce. In terms of religion, god is presented as the appropriate source of law and human institutions. But the very definition of god is that of the immortal element within each human, which is the reason. Hence virtue is equated with a godlike quality of reason and the standard that one must aim towards. (Peters, Zarnic, Besley and Gibbons 1999) As society trudged through the rise and fall of empires that had consolidated themselves into the ambit of a feudal nature with the surplus of mercantile capitalism, it eventually came to a point where the change in the productive forces was such that it brought to light the beginnings of a new class struggle that stemmed from changing social relations between the dispossessed and those with resources. The identity of the proletariat developed in this context of the aftermath of the French revolution and the beginnings of industrial capitalism stemming from science, innovation and the influx of capital from colonies. (Mukherjee 2010) There came a point in time during the Kantian period of enlightenment that constituted the bedrock of the greater movements towards positivist empiricism, that everything was subjected to the most unsparing of criticism wherein everything had to justify its existence before reason. Hence, the reason became the sole measure of everything. Hegel characterised this point as one in which the world stood upon its head (Engels 1880) It was only later on in history, that it became possible to contextualise this vision only to the bourgeoisie. And virtues of justice and reason could only be confined to beneficiaries within that class. Hence the ideals of the French revolution (liberty, equality, fraternity) though the product of the antagonism between the feudal nobility and the powerful guilds, were only limited to those that had the material resources to benefit from the auctions of the land seized from former nobility. This is in contradiction to the general perception of the victory of the exploited masses over the rich and lazy. At this point in time, the antagonism between the masses and the capitalists had not developed because it was at this point that the workers began to get alienated from the guild workers as capitalism moved from her mercantile origins to industrial vigour which later consolidated proletariat identity. Hence, the great thinkers of the 18th century could no more than their predecessors; go beyond the limits imposed upon them by their epoch. (Engels 1880) It was in this context that Saint-Simon, Fourier and George Owen came to be and the one thing they had in common was the fact that none of them represented the interests of the proletariat in particular. They didn’t claim to emancipate a particular class to start with, but all aspects of the population in one go. They, like the French philosopher Rousseau, wished to bring about a kingdom of eternal reason and justice, but this kingdom, they realised was as far from reality as that of the French philosophers. It is to all three that the bourgeoisie world seemed as irrational and unjust as the feudalism and barbarism that preceded it. This claim towards a higher ideal, a truth of sorts was seen more as a happy accident from individual men of genius, isolated from the chains of historical development. The ideals of Rousseau’s social contract, convoluted in practical reality, had found their way into the reign of terror, from which the wealthy upper middle classes, who had lost confidence in their own political capacity, had taken respite in the corruption of the directorate and finally under Napoleon’s despotism. The polarisation of the working class as an identity came to be a consequence of the freedom from property that the small-scale peasant and capitalist proprietors were subjected to. To sum it up, the brilliant promises of the French philosophers and what they believed to achieve with the social and political institutions born out of this triumph of reason were, disappointing caricatures, beings of satire. The time was apt for men to formulate this disappointment and search extensively for better alternatives. The categorization of a class war It was in 1802 that Henry Saint Simon’s Geneva letters came to be. Born in 1760, as Engels puts it, he was the son of the great French revolution. Quite scientific in his approach, he has been known as the founder of modern sociology. His analysis of class difference and human ideals to achieve were less based in the quantitative but on more qualitative aspects such as socio-cultural institutions that, according to him, would foster an environment conducive to the achievement of his ideals of a just and fair society. To him, the conflict between the 3rd estate and the privileged classes was one that was characterised by friction between the workers and the idlers. These workers and idlers were, in his account, not restricted to particular classes. The workers included the wage workers, the merchants and the bankers. From the reign of terror, it had become apparent that the workers were not capable of handling political power in a just and transparent manner. The idlers had already lost their capacity for intellectual leadership, he, therefore turned to a rigidly hierarchic New Christianity that would combine science and industry, while giving legitimacy to political power in a pseudo-theocratic structure. (Caspar J M Hewett 2008) The scholars that represented science and the bourgeois that represented industry were to transform themselves into public servants while at the same time, retain a position of social and economic privilege. It was at this time that he showed fluid tendencies towards authoritarianism within a capitalist setup and welfare in terms of responsibility to the poorest of the poor that would, through concerted action like the extension of credit to all, eventually be elevated to higher levels of socio-economic prosperity. This must be seen in a temporal context wherein there was no significant polarisation along the market-state continuum in popular political discourse. (Vincent Geoghegan 1988) What Saint-Simon especially laid stress upon is this: what interested him first, and above all other things, was the lot of the class that is the most numerous and the poorest (“la classe la plus nombreuse et la plus pauvre”). Due credit must be given to him for categorising the French revolution as a class war, not one between the nobility and the guild workers but also one that involved the non-possessors, which was in the year 1802, a pregnant discovery. It was in 1816 that he declared that economic conditions were the basis for political institutions. In terms of administrative structure, he called for the decentralisation of power wherein decisions would be made on the basis of unbiased market forces and precedence to be given to individual decision making in the hands of the aware and reasonable. (Engels 1892) An Amorous World: Coming to terms with our metaphoric relation with Nature and the Law of Passionate Attraction Charles Fourier was born in 1772 at Lyons into a family of drapers. After losing all his property to the revolution, he went into business as a broker. It was in the context of this market-oriented structure that he was struck by the shortcomings and injustices of individualism in a competitive social space. He spoke about the perfectibility of human nature and put emphasis on the free play of appetites and passions as opposed to the misery that stems from the restraints imposed by society. Unlike his contemporaries, his criticism of society on the basis of its historical growth is valuable in the anticipation of scientific socialism. The four stages of the development of society are Savagery, Barbarism, Patriarchy and Civilization. (William Morris and E. Belfort Bax 1886) Civilisation represented the period of modern society that he happened to live in during the post-enlightenment era. In his criticism of mercantile and industrial capitalism, he insightfully speaks of the creation of poverty as a result not of a lack of resources but, of superabundance in direct reference to systems of competition that increase the gulf between those that have access to resources related to production and those that do not. “under civilization poverty is born of superabundance itself” (Engels 1892) In terms of his utopian vision, he wrote, in precise mathematical formulations, the exact number of people he wanted one polis to consist of. His people were to be governed by a ministry of Amorous Relations. He does not dispute the division of labour, rather, he celebrates it in a form that encourages and enables people to do what they want to do, thus abolishing the opposition between pleasure and work. Hence power would be centralised to the extent of proper state machinery which would not come at the cost of individual freedoms and passions. The link between pleasure and wealth is the very ground of his conception of an alternative social order. (Christopher Prendergast 2012) Family relations were to be deconstructed and reconstituted in accordance with god-given passions which were the elementary fluid of the cosmos wherein the purpose of science was to discover a mechanism by which the satisfaction of human beings was the highest. Hence, in the Amorous world, Omnigamy was imperative to the functioning of utopia.(Beecher 1986) Social Experiments: New Harmony and New Lanark Robert Owen was a welsh industrialist who conducted several social experiments in order to create self-sustaining systems of utopia that he invested and lost most of his fortune in. His alternative to the existing regime was not based on a theory rooted in progressive history. He was of the opinion that history was a series of fortunate or unfortunate accidents dictated by chance rather than the human agency, independent of patterns of any significance. He had the utmost faith in the ability the of capitalist enterprise to uplift the masses. It was on elite social engineering and the manipulation of the environment by those with means in the form of resources at their disposal, that he laid emphasis on. This would primarily be the initiative of the government which would take the lead in policy and practice to kick start a slow and gradual process of transition towards his utopia of freedom from the dogma of religion and institutionalised norms supporting specific status quos, a society where reason would prevail. (Stewart, Anne 2012) It was he who popularised the notion of establishing islands of socialism in a sea of capitalism. He happened to be a successful capitalist himself.From 1800 to 1829, he directed the great cotton mill at New Lanark, in Scotland, as managing partner with a population, originally consisting of the most diverse and educated elements that gradually grew to 2,500. He turned an industrial township into a model colony called New Harmony within which drunkenness, police, magistrates, lawsuits, poor laws, charity, were unknown. He was the founder of infant schools and introduced them first at New Lanark. (William Morris and E. Belfort Bax 1886) He posed great faith in the development of human agency at the hands of external circumstance and nurturing environments. It was with this in mind that he set up comprehensive systems for education and at the age of two, the children in his experiment went to school, where they enjoyed themselves so much that they could scarcely be home again. (Engels 1892) Whilst his competitors worked their people 13 or 14 hours a day, the working-day at New Lanark was only 10 and a half hours. When a crisis in cotton stopped work for four months, his workers received their full wages all the time. And with all this, the business more than doubled in value, and to the last yielded large profits to its proprietors. In spite of all this, Owen was not content. The existence which he secured for his workers was, in his eyes, still far from being worthy of human beings. “The people were slaves at my mercy.” Three great obstacles seemed to block the path to social reform: private property, religion, the existing form of marriage. He knew what confronted him if he attacked these – outlawries and excommunication from official society. Banished from official society and ruined by his unsuccessful Communist experiments in America, in which he sacrificed all his fortune, he turned directly to the working-class and continued working in their midst for 30 years. Every social movement, every real advance in England on behalf of the workers links itself on to the name of Robert Owen. He forced through in 1819, after five years’ fighting, the first law limiting the hours of labour of women and children in factories. He was president of the first Congress at which all the Trade Unions of England united in a single great trade association. Conclusion The new mode of production was only beginning to gain momentum in terms of the consolidation of the class antagonism between the newly forming proletariat and the bourgeois capitalists. Socialist thought until the advent of scientific socialism was governed by notions of breaking away from systems to create entirely new ones. The formulations of different ideals to be achieved came out of a need for meaning and greater purpose, the conquest of reason, in a society manipulated by greed and crony profiteering. Escapists, as some might call them, they were well-informed mechanisms that isolated themselves to a very large extent from the existing mode of production and called for a leap to a greater pedestal of clarity and truth. The fundamental flaw common to all conceptions of utopia before the advent of scientific socialism was an understanding of the historical process that didn’t base itself on historical materialism but rather to random happenings of chance not worth studying in detail, Fourier being the only exception to the rule. Unfortunately, he proposed a resolution between Freudian repression and actual impulses which were, and still is to a very large extent, an idea that most societies aren’t ready to face. (Anmol Narain is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. She can be reached at [email protected]) Like this: Sakshi Mehra Executive Summary India has made significant progress in boosting school enrolment rates and increasing access to primary education as evident from the fact that enrollments have reached 96 percent since 2009 and 56 percent of new students enrolled between 2007 and 2009 have been girls. However the same has not reflected positively in dropout rates and levels of learning. Nationally 29 percent of children drop out before completing five years of primary school.Increase in school enrolment is not translating into higher learning outcomes and cognitive skills as measured by several studies. Reasons to be Worried Annual Survey of Educational Research (ASER 2013) found that only 54 percent of class V children were able to do simple 2 digit subtraction. In 2005, 50 per cent of children in Grade V were unable to read a simple Grade II level text. The number is virtually unchanged 10 years later in 2014. Table 1: Grade 9 completion rates of children by their reading levels at age 8-11Source: IHDS data for 2004-5 and 2011-12. Policy Options India’s education system has many challenges at all levels, but all of them will fail if children don’t emerge from their early years of school reading fluently.The current discourse on education reforms have been discussing the following alternatives There is an active national debate to scrap the No Detention Policy (NDP), a policy that prohibits failing children in classes 1 to 8. It is believed that in the absence of a proper regulatory framework, this has unfortunately led to ‘no learning’ in many cases. Another approach involves a detailed look at the financing structure of school development plans. Currently, all budgetary plans are made using DISE (District Information System for Education) data, which has no component for learning outcomes. A specific amount that can be used as a learning grant should be given to the states, which should be linked to clearly determine learning goals. School committees based on learning outcome plans should take expenditure decisions regarding this grant. I believe we need to look at investing our time and resources in an approach that is neither too myopic and shortsighted, nor so broad and long-term that the millions already in school remain excluded from its benefits. In this context, we must begin from correcting the deficiencies in the classroom.It has already been established by researchers over the past decade that the teacher is the most influential factor for achieving quality education. Unfortunately, despite Teachers’ salaries accounting for 90 percent of education expenditure, One in four government primary school teachers are absent and only one in two is actually teaching. Influencing learning outcomes by improving the teacher’s performance may further be adopted in two different ways: – Financial incentives and sanctions for teacher motivation: It is the intangible factors such as enthusiasm and passion that are likely to account for a majority of the variation in value added by the teacher and students’ learning outcomes. Evaluation of teachers based on their contribution to students’ achievement or their true value addition should be made the basis for financial rewards and promotion decisions. Performance based incentives could prove to be an effective way to keep the teachers motivated and deliver optimally. A UNICEF paper on teacher absenteeism in India also talks about the scope to effectively enforce sanctions on erring teachers. (Saihjee 2011) Guarantee of a salary, accompanied by weak sanctions actually creates an incentive to be absent. Thus, addressing the moral hazard problem will provide a solution to the problem of academic underperformance. A Teacher empowerment program:This approach delves into the root causes of underperformance of teachers by addressing the hindrances to perform to potential. Thus, empowering the teacher through institutional changes for a more conducive teaching environment is the key. The program aims to place power in their hands and facilitate its responsible use. Of all these options, I recommend that teacher empowerment be pursued. Why Teacher Empowerment? It has already been established by researchers over the past decade that the teacher is the most influential factor for achieving quality education. Addressing teacher motivation through sanctions or financial incentives will not be as effective as desired as proven in several studies. A study by National Bureau Of Economic Research conducted on New York City Public Schools suggests that there is no evidence that teacher incentives increase student performance. (G. Fryer, Jr, 2011) Similar studies conducted in the Indian States reveal the same trend. If anything, this may adversely affect learning levels by increasing stress levels on teachers and students, encourage a narrowed curriculum of teaching to the test and propel student exclusion. Despite the opportunity and incentive to be absent, the fact that 3 out of every 4 teachers opts to be present indicates that there is clearly more to the issue than merely a “free-rider” problem. Thus, the root problem does not stem from the teacher’s motivation level, but from the lack of institutional support that is necessary for the teacher to perform to his or her potential and these are what need to be fixed so as to empower the teacher to deliver better in the classroom. Scrapping the no detention policy is likely to be counter-productive by increasing the chances of early dropouts. Moreover, the decline in learning levels is erroneously being attributed to this policy, whereas data from 2005 to 2010 (before implementation of RTE that introduced NDP) shows the same poor results. What Needs to be done? An insight into the following challenges substantiates the need for institutional changes for a more conducive learning environment that enhances teacher performance and thus reiterates the need for a teacher empowerment program. A study by Sipahimalani-Rao highlights unauthorised leave in Government schools is actually a mere 3-4 percent of total teacher absenteeism as against an inflated projected figure of 24-25 per cent (Priyam 2015). The latter per cent is because teachers are sent on formal chores outside the school during working hours. These non-teaching tasks include management of mid-day meals, organising construction work in the school, maintaining data and so on. During elections, government schoolteachers are posted as booth-level officers on voting days, and they have to prepare, check and maintain electoral rolls prior to voting. Distraction from core responsibilities of teaching could not be more obvious. Action item: Raising the amount of time teachers spend on the core job needs serious attention and a minimum benchmark for the same must be clearly demarcated. To exacerbate the problem, there are huge teacher shortages (Rajasthan has close to 20percent single-teacher schools) and this further overburdens the teachers. Action item:Filling the staffing gaps should be made a priority. Despite 16,000 teacher training institutes, the passing rates of the 2015 Teacher eligibility Test (TET) was a mere 17 percent, which is an alarming indication of the underperformance of the teacher education system. The 2012 Justice Verma Commission has made remarks including lack of training in training institutes and exam results being manipulated (MHRD 2011) Low-cost private schools barely spend anything on teacher training. Action items: –Making teacher training institutes more accountable –Teacher unions need to act as institutions of value to produce well-informed teachers with an enhanced capacity for consensual action for the common good. –Teachers also must be given special training to deal with the diversity amongst students, especially students from underprivileged backgrounds as social class also impacts learning abilities. 21 per cent of children from economically stronger backgrounds who could not read or recognise letters in the age group of 8-11 managed to complete Grade 9 as against 7 per cent of their counterparts belonging to economically weaker and poorer sections A significant number of Indian teachers, especially government teachers are expected to miraculously teach in multi-grade classrooms in remote locations with few amenities. This is a clear Violation of the1986 Policy Operation Blackboard norms, which mandates at least one teacher for each class/section and at least one room for each class. Action item: Strict adherence to Operation Blackboard norms, of at least one teacher for each class/section and at least one room for each class. Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) of 40:1 and 35:1 at primary and upper primary level respectively, as prescribed in the RTE, should be enforced. (Sakshi Mehra is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. She can be reached at [email protected]) Sources Paper by Aarti Saihjee, Education Specialist, New York UNICEF-Penn Learning Programme on Social Norms July 2011 Teacher Incentives and Student Achievement: Evidence from New York City Public Schools Roland G. Fryer, Jr. Harvard University and NBER, November 2011 Sachin Tiwari This polemical account is an upshot of a twitter conversation with another MPP grad on an article in New York Times by Maskin and Sen that he shared. The authors explain how a majority rule based electoral process (instead of the prevailing plurality rule) might have stopped Trump, who is the leading presidential candidate in the upcoming election in the US and has won the primaries in 23 states (Read: How Majority Rule Might Have Stopped Donald Trump). The authors seem to suggest that on a one-on-one contest, Trump would have been defeated in 17 states. Sure! But, it is a conjecture as best as anyone else’s because it just did not happen. Giving it to the authors, they do say that it might have stopped Donald Trump. The alleged outcome must necessarily happen for this thesis to hold any water. Launching off from this point, the authors write – In the early contests, Mr. Trump attracted less than 50 percent of the vote (in Arkansas he got only 33 percent); a majority of voters rejected him. But he faced more than one opponent every time so that the non-Trump vote was split. That implies he could well have been defeated in most (given his extreme views on many subjects) had the opposition coalesced around one of his leading rivals. True! Anyone with a keen eye on elections and voting behaviour would agree with that one on defeating a candidate by coalition of the opposition around a leading rival. This leads to the question – does it (coalitions as these) happen? If yes, what prevented it from happening in Trump’s case? The near impossibility of determining this curious phenomenon is the point of this post. I would argue that this is at best an academic quest which helps scholars but lacks the capacity to look beyond the process and account for the outcome. It appears sloppy on account of the fact that the reasoning (as quoted above) is used to argue that the candidates getting elected are not the right ones or desirable ones. It is theoretically correct that the winners lack the support of a majority of voters. The problematic bit comes next – As with the Republicans and Mr. Trump’s flirtations with fear and violence, India now suffers the ill effects of a serious confusion when a plurality win is marketed as a majority victory. The Muslim Brotherhood government of 2012 to 2013 in Egypt provides another, and similarly disturbing, example; it helped to undermine democracy in Egypt altogether. The assumption that the winning candidates in the cited examples from US, India and Egypt (party in this case) are ‘disturbing’ and have had negative consequences is the problem. This is an impressionistic inference. Let me present a counter view – that the inherent ability of a democratic setup in checking the unrestrained behaviour of elected leaders prevents the ‘disturbing’ consequences from happening, although during the campaign the contesting candidates might come across as potentially problematic if they act on their rallying points. Systemic checks in a democratic setup This is true of India and the US as history suggests. The system of governance – executive, legislature and the judiciary, are at least minimally robust enough to check the anti-public interest and self-serving (or even party serving) of the winning candidate when he is appointed. Except for the period of emergency in India during Indira Gandhi’s reign, we can see no evidence of a leader running amuck with his own agenda. The analysis by Maskin and Sen stands reasonable in the electoral process but runs out of consistency when it comes to their assertion that this process produces winners who are likely to undermine democracy or are against the best interests of the country. It would have been nice to see a specific example supporting their assertion. In India, even a seemingly larger than life leader like Prime Minister Modi has had a tough rope walk in terms of appeasing the Hindutva groups supporting his party, and keeping the interests of other minority groups in regard. It is not as straightforward as the article might suggest. When bad guys get elected bad things do not necessarily happen! A campaigning Donald Trump is very likely to undergo a change as Donald Trump in the White House. This change will be due to the candidate being given the power as a result of his electoral win. This power is not dictatorial. This power is not freewheeling. It comes with rules, conditions and protocols of decision-making. And hence, it should not be assumed that a candidate pitching contentious and potentially divisive policies during campaigns when given power will be able to do exactly same things. That is the strength of the democratic system. Otherwise, one can forever imagine and probably introduce more workable election procedures and keep finding problems with the winning candidate because he may end up acting in problematic ways. That failure of the winning candidate is not because he was not voted by the right procedure. What stands as a guarantee in the ranking system that the winning candidate who will ‘truly command majority support’? If the challenge is to arrive at an election system which leads to a winner who truly commands majority support then that elegant suggestion by the authors is well taken. But for those who are keen on understanding leaders in roles of power and acting in full public glare, this is only a wishful arrangement. There are other variables like human behaviour which can lead to equally desirable or undesirable outcomes. The point is to throw light on those situations that can make a useful contribution to political theory. (Sachin Tiwari is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. He can be reached at [email protected]) Sai Charan Bandaru To begin with, India is the fourth largest emitter of Green House Gases (GHG) and has the obligation to take a proactive stance since it is going to be one of the worst victims of climate change as mentioned in the IPCC 5th Assessment Report (AR5). The estimated countrywide agricultural loss in 2030 will be over $7 billion. It could severely affect the livelihoods of at least 10 percent of the population. Wheat yields in the Gangetic plains are expected to experience a 51 percent reduction in the most high-yielding areas due to heat stress. This region currently produces 14 to 15 percent of the world’s wheat and feeds around 200 million people of the region. Extreme temperatures are expected to increase by 1-4°C, with a maximum increase in coastal regions. If the impact of climate change is felt at local levels then adaptation measures should also focus on the same instead of imposing it from the top. The need of the hour is not to wait for global aid or wait for the negotiations to be successful, but to act intelligently at the local levels since small, consistent efforts bring about lasting change. The AR5 suggests that about 80 percent of the agricultural losses could be reduced if climate resilient and cost effective agricultural practices are followed. For example, simple measures like rainwater harvesting can prevent intensive groundwater usage and the need for constructing large dams which will eventually harm the ecology. However, the real challenge lies in implementing the same across India. Constitutional challenges like division of powers between the Centre and the States – agriculture belonging to the state list, lack of political incentives for the policy makers to take far-reaching steps, non-homogeneity of geographical features etc (e.g. rain water harvesting measures for the plains of Uttar Pradesh and the dry land regions like Vidarbha in Maharashtra are entirely different) are major hurdles. Most importantly, we should take into account people’s reaction to any changes in their agricultural practices. Particularly in India, where more than 80 percent are small and marginal farmers, their willingness to adopt a new practice is fraught with difficulties and it compounds when it is taken for the entire country. Under such circumstances, the optimal policy level solution is to tweak the existing programs instead of framing a new program altogether. One alternative is to create a separate component in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that includes climate change adaptation measures like rainwater harvesting and climate-resilient agricultural practices in the dry land. NREGS is well penetrated in all the states where dry land agriculture is practised, namely Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand (constitutes nearly 60 percent of the net area under cultivation). The awareness regarding the harmful effects of climate change and adaptation measures must be penetrated to the local levels and demand for sustainable agriculture must come from the people. Once the demand is created it will be easier for the climate resilient crop varieties to enter the market. Moreover, the process involves participation which is a necessary prerequisite to enhance the people’s capacity to handle climate change. In the energy sector, the obvious solutions are to increase the energy efficiency of coal plants and to promote the renewable sector. In the former, India is investing in supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies to improve the efficiency of power generation in coal plants and phase out the older generation power plants. Such measures are necessary but not sufficient in cutting the GHG emissions. Moreover, coal continues to have a major share in power generation since we still have 30 crore people who do not have access to electricity and coal is still the cheapest option. The real challenge lies in the augmentation of solar energy since compared to biomass, wind, and other renewable sources India has a geographical advantage of receiving 4-7 kWh of solar radiation per sq.km. on an average. Presently, India is running the largest renewable energy capacity addition program in the world with the target of 1,75,000 MW of renewable energy by 2022 of which solar itself constitutes about 1,00,000 MW. In the year 2014-15, it witnessed 42 percent increase in the solar capacity. Funding mechanisms like diverting additional revenues from coal cess increase ($6/ton, which is the highest clean energy cess among developing countries) to fund renewable energy projects have been initiated. But such momentum can only be sustained if it is backed by indigenous R&D, innovation, and manufacturing capability. Solar systems are dependent on local conditions and need to be optimised for specific applications and geographical factors. Therefore, a flourishing R&D base in the country is critical if India wants to convert this solar energy vision into a reality. Such an innovation ecosystem requires close collaboration between the research community and the industry. India can be a laboratory for the global R&D institutions and industry to collaborate with their Indian counterparts to come up with innovative solutions. The innovations should also focus on utilising solar power to low-cost home appliances especially in rural areas where more than 60 percent of the energy needs are met through traditional biomass-based fuels. These innovations in solar energy also need a consistent demand to make them viable in the long run. Online platforms like e-commerce sites can be incentivized by the government to market them with competitive pricing. By virtue of its geographical advantage, it can actually be a focus point for research in solar energy provided right incentives are given from the policy side. Another area where creative solutions are required is the creation of carbon sinks. They are necessary to trap the emissions in the atmosphere and bring them back to the carbon cycle. India is following the afforestation program to increase its carbon intake capacity. For the past 27 years, India has been trying to increase its forest cover from the present 23 percent to 33 percent, which still remains a pipe dream due to increasing pressures to achieve rapid industrial development. The problem lies in the poor implementation of the afforestation program. Afforestation is often seen in India as a compensatory mechanism for the forests destroyed and not as a source of revenue generation for the timber products and other forest produce, particularly for the local communities. Sufficient studies in this area are required to market afforestation as an innovative tool for climate change adaptation. Nearly 40 percent of the forest cover in the country is degraded and the trick lies in increasing the productivity of this land instead of searching for new barren lands through mapping using satellite data already available for these lands. The administration becomes easier if the local communities were made a part of this process. If they are allowed to sell the forest produce it becomes an incentive to protect them. Also, agroforestry can be coupled with it to augment their revenues. Research focus should be on promotion of those species of plants that have high carbon sequestration potential. Innovations are also required for a sustainable habitat through energy efficiency and smart urban management. More than 30 percent of the emissions are from the urban areas. The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat (one of the eight missions under NAPCC) talks about improvements in waste management, recycling of waste water, sewage utilisation, sludge management and extensive increase in public transport like Rapid Bus Transit, Metro Rail improving the energy efficiency of buildings etc. in urban areas. Each of these problems requires separate attention and they are much bigger issues even if we do not consider the climate change aspect. For example, urban waste management is a vexing issue with problems ranging from bureaucratic apathy to lack of appropriate technologies suited for local needs. Even more is the increasing vehicular pollution. Before we see the complete effects of climate change, India needs to address its homegrown pollution which has more immediate and direct impact on its people. For example, the Uttarakhand floods in 2012 were caused by poor urban management meddling with the sensitive Himalayan ecology. To achieve that target of limiting the temperature rise to below 2ᴼC by 2100, the world can emit only 2900 Giga ton (Gt) of Carbon dioxide. Till 2011 the world has emitted 1900 Gt, meaning the carbon budget is highly constrained and the remaining 1000 Gt has to be used judiciously for the next 80 years through the means of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. Although it requires collective action, India cannot wait for anyone. The focus of the mitigation and adaptation measures in India should be to find innovative indigenous solutions which will complement foreign-funded programs like Clean Development Mechanism. After all, we are living in a time borrowed from our future generations and it is never too late to act. This essay was submitted for the European Union-The Hindu Centre Essay Competition (Sai Charan Bandaru is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. He can be reached at [email protected]) Like this: Sachin Tiwari The revolution never came. Battles of workers’ rights were won but the war often lost across the world. This is what unites the Haymarket Affair of 1886 with the garment workers’ protest on Hosur Road in Bengaluru a fortnight back. From 1886 to 2016, the world has tried every conceivable arrangement of the economic system, yet workers have never seemed to have found a way out of the daily insecurities of their wages and livelihoods. Today, as countries across the world celebrate International Labour Day, it presents an occasion to look back at labour welfare over the century. The paradox is that the concerns of the workers don’t appear to have changed from the Haymarket incident to India’s Hosur Road protests in Bengaluru. Some may be quick to point out that Haymarket was about an 8 hour work day and Bengaluru protest was workers protesting against an arbitrary and sudden change in Employees’ Provident Fund rules pertaining to withdrawal of funds by the workers. However, at a broader level, the nature arguably remains the same – the arbitrariness exercised by employers in dealing with workers, work conditions, wages and matters which are related to their livelihood. The sense of insecurity among the workers remains high, as seen in the extremely short time that it took from the notification of changed rules to the demonstration that happened across the garment industries clusters in Bengaluru. Lenin’s sense of confidence in his 1919 May Day speech and the international optimism with the formation of International Labour Organization (ILO) in the same year was remarkable. The Russian daily Izvestia reported a part of Lenin’s speech two days later: “Pointing to the children, Lenin said that they, who were taking part in the celebration of the festival of the emancipation of labour, would fully enjoy the fruits of the labours and sacrifices of the revolutionaries. Our grandchildren will examine the documents and other relics of the epoch of the capitalist system with amazement. It will be difficult for them to picture to themselves how the trade in articles of primary necessity could remain in private hands, how factories could belong to individuals, how some men could exploit others, how it was possible for those who did not work to exist. Up to now the story of what our children would see in the future has sounded like a fairy-tale; but today, comrades, you clearly see that the edifice of socialist society, of which we have laid the foundations, is not a utopia. Our children will build this edifice with oven greater zeal.” (Stormy applause) The world moved on quickly from that moment in history. The capitalist system contrary to Lenin’s dream is not a relic but the order of the day. Factories have increasingly gone on to belong to individuals. Free market economics soon took over pounding the socialist dream to fine dust. Back home, India of 2016 too has ventured far away from the socialist dream of some of its leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi prefers to mark this day in 140 characters on twitter with this message – “On Labour Day we salute the hard work, determination & dedication of millions of Shramiks who have an invaluable role in the making of India” (sic) The point of this post is to illustrate that the developments related to workers’ rights and welfare should be a cause of concern to policy makers. The workers continue to contribute to the making of India but they certainly need more attention and care than what can be expressed in 140 characters. The first chart (Chart 1) indicates a quiet and unseen quelling of workers’ right to collective action. In a nine-year period from 2000 to 2009 the number of registered trade unions has halved. Labour movements thrive on collective action. It is not a hard guess to figure the bargaining power that the workers might be left with in the wake of a declining number of registered unions across the country. Chart 1: Chart was developed from MOSPI data available on data.gov.in The next major trend was affirmed formally by the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector under Arjun Sengupta’s lead (the Commission’s report was long withheld by GoI for reasons best known to the corridors of Vyapar Bhavan). The report as indicated – “…is focused on the informal or the unorganised economy which accounts for an overwhelming proportion of the poor and vulnerable population in an otherwise shining India. It concentrates on a detailed analysis of the conditions of work and lives of the unorganised workers consisting of about 92 percent of the total workforce of about 457 million (as of 2004-05). For most of them, conditions of work are utterly deplorable and livelihood options extremely few. Such a sordid picture coexists uneasily with a shining India that has successfully confronted the challenge of globalisation powered by increasing economic competition both within the country and across the world…” Further, it found that – “At the end of 2004-05, about 836 million or 77 percent of the population were living below Rs. 20 a day and constituted most of India’s informal economy.” Understandably, this was a damning report to come out in 2007 and most certainly was kept away from public attention. Chart 2 compares the formal and informal sector employment in organised and unorganised sectors. Chart 2: The chart was developed from datasets available on data.gov.in Finally, let us examine the central spending on social security across various categories of expenditure of GoI. This is to illustrate the state of neglect and dereliction of the state from its professed commitment to workers’ welfare. Chart 3: This data was first presented by Ravi Duggal at Medico Friends Circle meeting in Hyderabad, 2013. The figures are extracted from Ministry of Finance's annual publication Indian Public Finance Statistics - 2012-2013 Labour welfare as observed from the chart, forms least of the priority compared to pension and retirement benefits for civil servants. The priorities of GoI, if not stated, can sure be observed from these patterns of spending. In the Indian government’s imagination it isn’t the workers but civil servants who have an invaluable role in the making of India. Perhaps! Bottomline For all the optimistic, enthusiasm laden lectures that labour rights lawyers and professors make in the country’s many universities, the real picture isn’t a happy one. Neither is it a narrative of winning the rights cause. If any, it is a losing battle and thinkers, professors and lawyers must necessarily move beyond the glory song of rights won. The direction to move in is to think of how must the workers be armed (not in the weapons sense) to take on this shove from the current economic system which appears to be shortchanging them left, right and center. (Sachin Tiwari is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. He can be reached at [email protected]) Siddharth Sekhar Barpanda There is little doubt that Indian citizens from all walks of life are tired of the slow process of reforms customary in the nation. There is also a valid reason to blame the Government (of the day) for the sorry state of affairs. Democracy is work-in-progress and it takes time to build institutions capable of meeting the demands of an aspirational society. But, is it only the Executive and the Legislative pillars of democracy, which to a large extent overlaps in the Indian context, are to be held responsible for bad governance? Isn’t the Judiciary, if not wholly, but nevertheless partially liable? Pendency (of Cases) & Vacancy (of Judges) Galore! Let’s first look at some current issues distinctive and ubiquitous to Indian judiciary. The access to speedy justice is still a dream for the majority of the citizens. The courts in India are famous for their long & arduous process of delivering justice. No wonder, the pendency of cases in courts are rising day by day. In the Supreme Court of India alone, the pendency of cases stands at 61300 (as on 1st March 2015). Similarly, across the nation’s 24 High Courts, cumulatively more than 4 lakh cases are pending. These astronomical figures in itself stand as an alibi to the poor functioning of Indian judiciary. Of course, for a country of 1.27 billion people, this may seem defensible. Yet, the higher judiciary cannot hide behind the veil of a large population. Even so, the pendency of cases is related to the quantity & quality of Judges. The Law Ministry has itself in its annual report claimed that Shortage of judges in courts is one of the main causes for backlog and pendency of cases in courts.As on 1st August 2015, there are 3 vacancies in Supreme Court of India against the approved strength of 31 (including Chief Justice of India). Moreover, there are 384 vacancies in all 24 High Courts against a total approved strength of 1017. The Need for NJAC So basically, the vacancies only in Supreme Court and 24 High Courts amounts to 36.9% of the total sanctioned strength. Note that, this doesn’t include the District & Subordinate Courts. Also, it’s true that many appointed judges lack competency and credibility. Justice Rama Pal, a former judge of the Supreme Court described the process by which a judge is appointed to the High Court or the Supreme Court as, “one of the best-kept secrets in this country”! It is in this context, the need to have a comprehensive, transparent and a robust mechanism to select judges of the SC and HCs was initiated. Subsequently, the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 and the corresponding Constitutional Amendment Act came into force on 13th April 2015, after the Parliament passed it by a special majority followed by ratification of the new legislation by 16 State legislatures, and subsequently assented by the President of India. The Impact on Governance However, some Public Interest Litigations (PIL) challenged the constitutionality of the NJAC on the ground that it affects the independence of the judiciary that forms part of the basic structure of the Constitution, which is inviolable. A 5-member bench, set up by the Chief Justice of India, is now hearing the validity of the legislature’s decision to do away with the two-decade-old collegium system of judicial appointments. Without going into the larger philosophical debate of whether the Government or the Supreme Court has the right to invoke the basic principles of Constitution, it’s important to address the inconvenience caused to the citizens due to this ideological tussle between the Government and the Supreme Court. On April 27, 2015, the Chief Justice of India informed the Prime Minister that he would not join the NJAC panel until the SC decides on the validity of the new system. As eminent and distinguished lawyers argue the controversial case in the SC, the vacancies in the higher judiciary are increasing every passing month. Judges Vacancies in HCs 1st May 2015 366 1st June 2015 371 1st July 2015 377 1st Aug 2015 384 The need of the hour is that the democracy should function for the larger public good as opposed to the ongoing supremacy struggle between the different pillars of the state. (Siddharth Sekhar Barpanda is a graduate student of Master of Public Policy in the National Law School of India University. He can be reached at [email protected]) Like this: Neha Mallick Deconstructing Ambedkar through the Gandhi-Ambedkar Debate Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. The significant contributions of Ambedkar to both British and modern India has been his work for the socioeconomic inclusion of the ‘Dalits’. Ambedkar’s efforts to eradicate social evils like untouchability and caste restrictions were remarkable. The political views of Ambedkar are brought to relief in his exchange of ideas on caste and untouchability with Mohandas Gandhi, after the publication of his ‘Annihilation of Caste’. This essay examines this debate between Ambedkar and Gandhi to understand Ambedkar’s political position. Ambedkar’s Political Life In 1936, Ambedkar founded the independent labour party, which won 15 seats in the 1937 elections to the central legislative assembly. He published his book ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ in the same year, based on the thesis he had written in New York. Attaining popular success, Ambedkar’s work strongly criticized Hindu religious leaders and the caste system. He protested the Indian National Congress (INC) decision to call the untouchable community ‘Harijan’, a name coined by Mohandas Gandhi. Ambedkar served on the Defense Advisory Committee and the Viceroy’s Executive Council as Minister for labour. Ambedkar oversaw the transformation of his political party into the ‘All India Schedule Castes Federation’, although it performed poorly in the elections held in 1946 for the constituent assembly of India. Ambedkar’s opinion on partition remained in a state of confusion for many. Between 1941 and 1945, he published a large number of books and pamphlets, including ‘Thoughts on Pakistan’, where he criticized the Muslim league’s demand for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. While in the chapter ‘A nation calling for a home’, in his book ‘Pakistan or Partition of India’ Ambedkar eloquently stated that the things that divide are more crucial than the things which unite. He also stated that depending upon certain commonality of Hindu and Muslims social lifestyle, common language, common race and common country, the Hindus are mistaking what they consider accidental and superficial to what actually is essential and fundamental. The political and religious antagonisms divide the Hindus and the Muslims far more deeply than the so-called common things that are able to bind them together. Ambedkar considered that the Muslims have developed a ‘will to live as a nation’. For them, nature has found a territory, which they can occupy and make it a state as well as a cultural home for the new-born Muslim nation. While justifying the partition of India, he condemned the practices of child marriage in Muslim society, as well as the mistreatment of Muslim women (Hamdani, 2014). Ambedkar and Jinnah had a friendly association with each other. As men of the law and as leaders of groups outside the upper caste milieu of Hindudom and Congress, they considered each other as the great resistance to the Hindu caste domination in India. At the time when the Congress quit the government in 1939, Ambedkar joined Jinnah in the celebration the day of deliverance along with Periyar E V Ramasamy Naicker of the Dravidian movement. While he criticised Jinnah, publicly and privately, wherever and whenever he felt Jinnah was making a mistake and Jinnah took it uncharacteristically. He argued that Hindu and Muslims should segregate and the state of Pakistan be formed, as ethnic nationalism within the same country would only lead to more violence. He cited precedences in historical events such as the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and Czechoslovakia to bolster his views regarding the Hindu-Muslim communal divide (Hamdani, 2014). The Poona Pact Ambedkar was a critic of Gandhi and the INC. Gandhi had an arguably romanticized view of traditional village life in India and a sentimental approach to the untouchables. Ambedkar rejected the epithet ‘harijan’ as condescending. He encouraged his followers to leave their home, villages, move to the cities, and get an education. In his book ‘Gandhi & Gandhism’ he strongly criticized Gandhi as an incapable leader who failed to fulfil his promise given to the untouchables in Satyagraha through temple entry bills. The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between the ‘Untouchables’, who were excluded from the varna system (then called Depressed Classes, now called Dalits) of India led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and the upper caste Hindus of India that took place on 24 September 1932 at the Yerawada Jail in Poona. During the first Round Table Conference of 1930-1931, Ambedkar supported the move of the British Government to provide a separate electorate for the oppressed classes which was done in the case of other minorities, like Muslims, Sikhs and others. The British Government invited various Indian leaders for Round Table Conferences during 1930-32 to draft a new constitution which would include self-rule for Indians. Mahatma Gandhi was absent from the First Round Table Conference but attended the latter ones. At that time, Gandhi strongly opposed the proposal of separate electorate for the depressed classes, , which was initiated by the British Government and supported by Ambedkar. He thought that it would disintegrate Hindu society. Gand then went on an indefinite hunger strike from September 20, 1932 against the decision of the then British Prime Minister J Ramsay Mac Donald. Ramsay who granted a communal award to the depressed classes and he gave them a separate place in the constitution for governance of British India (Poona Pact, 2012). The whole country was agitated at Gandhi’s fast. A mass upsurge began in India to save the life of Gandhi. Dr B.R Ambedkar had undergone great pressure and was forced to soften his stand on the separate electorate for the depressed classes. The compromise between the leaders of caste Hindu and the depressed classes was achieved when Dr B R Ambedkar signed the Poona Pact on September 24, 1932. The resolution was then announced at a public meeting held on September 25, 1932, in Bombay, which declared that “henceforth, amongst Hindus, no one shall be regarded as an untouchable by reason of his birth and they will have the same rights in all the social institutions as the other Hindus have”. This was a red letter day in the Dalit movement process in India that gave a share to the Dalits in the political empowerment of democratic India (Poona Pact, 2012). The Annihilation of Caste ‘The Annihilation of Caste’ was a speech that Ambedkar was going to deliver in Lahore. Ambedkar never gave the lecture as he was asked by the organisers to modify its content. Later he published it as a book. He did not accept the defence of caste on the basis of division of labour and stated that it was a division of labourers. The former was voluntary and depended upon one’s choice and aptitude and rewarded efficiency. The latter was involuntary, forced, killed initiative and resulted in job aversion and inefficiency. In the book, Ambedkar reflected mainly on the caste issue and Hindu social system. He cites from D R Bhandarkar’s paper ‘Foreign Elements in the Hindu Population’ stating that there is hardly any caste or class system in India left untouched with a foreign strain in it. These castes and classes are an admixture of foreign blood not only among warrior classes but also among the Brahmins who happily consider themselves to be free from all foreign elements. Ambedkar thus makes a strong argument for the caste system having no scientific basis. Ambedkar states that caste has destroyed the concept of ethics and morality. He said that “The effect of caste on the ethics of the Hindus is simply deplorable. Caste has killed the public spirit. Caste has destroyed the sense of public charity. Caste has made public opinion impossible. His loyalty is restricted only to his caste. Virtue has become caste-ridden, and morality has become caste-bound.” Ambedkar found the solution to the problem of caste in inter-caste marriage (Mungekar, 2011). In ‘The Annihilation of Caste’, Ambedkar’s critique of the Hindu social order was so strong that Mahatma Gandhi, in the weekly journal ‘Harijan’, described Ambedkar as a ‘challenge to Hinduism’. Ambedkar wrote a reply to Gandhi. He was convinced that political empowerment was a key path to achieve the socioeconomic development for the untouchables. Therefore, he demanded a separate electorate for the depressed class in the Second Round Table Conference in 1932. When the British agreed to fulfil his demand, Gandhi started his historic fast unto death at the Yerawada jail. Pressure aroused from all corners that mounted on Ambedkar to forego the demand for a separate electorate as Gandhi’s life was at stake. Unwillingly Ambedkar agreed to the formula of a Joint Electorate with reserved seats in legislatures for untouchables (Mungekar, 2011). Ambedkar thought that only through the abolition of untouchability and the eradication of caste would India become a unified country (Mungekar, 2011). A statesman, scholar, crusader of the downtrodden and above all a spiritual guide, Dr. Ambedkar has left an indelible impression in the Indian history. Throughout his life, he fought for the rights of the untouchables and during his political career, he remained a strong critic of Gandhi. Gandhi had a more positive, arguably romanticized view of traditional village life in India and a sentimental approach to the untouchables. This essay was a reflection on the contradictory principles of Gandhi and Ambedkar and on the debate that took place between them throughout their political career. | High | [
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Each had only one possession. Each completed every pass attempt on long touchdown drives. Each then turned the game over to backups who never found the end zone. After the strong opening drive by Ryan, Sean Renfree led two field-goal drives in the second half and the Falcons held off the Dolphins 16-10 on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams. Rookie quarterback Seth Lobato led Miami to the Atlanta 5-yard line with less than 3 minutes remaining before fumbling a shotgun snap. Defensive end Nosa Eguae recovered for Atlanta. Matt Bryant closed the first half with a 21-yard field goal and Sergio Castillo added field goals of 21 and 34 yards in the second half for Atlanta. Tannehill was 6-for-6 for 62 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gibson, to open the game. Ryan was just as strong, completing each of his seven attempts for 53 yards on Atlanta’s opening drive. Jacquizz Rodgers capped the drive with a 2-yard scoring run. Rodgers started as Steven Jackson is recovering from a left hamstring injury. Ryan completed passes of 17 yards to Harry Douglas and 5 and 12 yards to Roddy White on the drive. “We were able to run the ball pretty effectively, and when we did have the opportunity to throw, we were able to move the chains,” Ryan said. “We were able to overcome a couple of penalties, we were able to keep going, and punch the ball into the end zone. It’s exactly what you want for your first drive of the year.” Jones said connecting with White was “like riding a bike with him.” “We’ve done this together for a long time,” Ryan said. “Roddy just has a knack for getting up and making plays.” T.J. Yates, a Pope High School product and the favorite to win the job as Ryan’s top backup, looked poised in Atlanta’s two-minute offense to set up Bryant’s field goal. Yates was 7-of-16 passing for 123 yards. Yates is competing with Renfree, who led field-goal drives in the third and fourth quarters. Renfree, a second-year player from Duke, was 6-of-15 for 108 yards. Falcons rookie running back Devonta Freeman had 10 carries for 50 yards and one catch for 57 yards. Another rookie, Bernard Reedy, caught two passes for 61 yards. Lobato was next in line because quarterbacks Matt Moore (shoulder) and Pat Devlin (hamstring) were held out with injuries. Miami rookie running back Damien Williams was carted off the field with an undisclosed injury late in the game. Williams was hurt on a run from the Atlanta 5-yard line. Dolphins safety Reshad Jones, who on Friday was suspended for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances, played with the other defensive starters. *We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, and spam will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides | Low | [
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VII. Why the Bat flies by Night A BUSH rat called Oyot was a great friend of Emiong, the bat; they always fed together, but the bat was jealous of the bush rat. When the bat cooked the food it was always very good, and the bush rat said, "How is it that when you make the soup it is so tasty?" The bat replied, "I always boil myself in the water, and my flesh is so sweet, that the soup is good." He then told the bush rat that he would show him how it was done; so he got a pot of warm water, which he told the bush rat was boiling water, and jumped into it, and very shortly afterwards came out again. When the soup was brought it was as strong and good as usual, as the bat had prepared it beforehand. The bush rat then went home and told his wife that he was going to make good soup like the bat's. He therefore told her to boil some water, which she did. Then, when his wife was not looking, he jumped into the pot, and was very soon dead. When his wife looked into the pot and saw the dead body of her husband boiling she was very angry, and reported the matter to the king, who gave orders that the bat should be made a prisoner. Every one turned out to catch the bat, but as he expected trouble he flew away into the bush and hid himself. All day long the people tried to catch him, so he had to change his habits, and only came out to feed when it was dark, and that is why you never see a bat in the daytime. | Mid | [
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Reviews "Great little neighborhood" I guess you could say that Avalon is just your average neighborhood. Middle class, small families, decent houses.. it's just a really all American kind of place. I liked it there, although I think that it's more for those who are settling down and joining the daily grind. It's quiet, there's a sprinkling of little parks around the area so you see a lot of kids out on bikes and such. I'd say that it's not the most diverse area of South San Francisco, but it's not like they're exclusive or striving for that, it's just how it is. All in all, I'd say it's a pretty great place to live, if you don't like the big city noise. | Low | [
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BEIJING — On the heels of a meeting here with China’s president and his wife, Michelle Obama on Saturday will discuss the importance of the free exchange of ideas on the Internet, gently rebuking China by comparing its practices with those in the United States. The U.S. first lady will also broach the issue of censorship from a personal vantage point — discussing the criticism that surfaces about herself and her husband as part of the robust public dialogue in the United States, aides said. “It can be messy,” said Tina Tchen, the first lady’s chief of staff. “She and her husband have certainly experienced it but would not trade it for the world.” The planned remarks at Peking University illustrate Obama’s decidedly soft-diplomacy approach during her week-long trip to China, sending gentle messages on a few thorny issues while avoiding any hint of lecturing. The first lady made clear from the start that she had not come to China to raise political dander or give a speech about tensions between the two nations. She is “not a lecturer in any setting,” Tchen said, adding that Obama plans to speak from her own experience. 1 of 52 Full Screen Autoplay Close March 25, 2014 Tuesday March 24, 2014 Monday Sunday Saturday Friday March 20, 2014 Skip Ad × Michelle Obama visits China View Photos U.S. first lady Michelle Obama visited the Chengdu Panda Base in Sichuan province on her last day in China, becoming the latest in a long line of American government officials to be wooed by this country’s cute and cuddly panda diplomacy. Caption U.S. first lady Michelle Obama visited the Chengdu Panda Base in Sichuan province on her last day in China, becoming the latest in a long line of American government officials to be wooed by this country’s cute and cuddly panda diplomacy. March 26, 2014First lady Michelle Obama, second from right, and her daughters Malia, second from left, and Sasha, right, and her mother ,Marian Robinson, arrive at the Chengdu Panda Base in southwest China’s Sichuan province.Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images It is a fine line to walk in a country where online services such as Twitter are made inaccessible and news Web sites are routinely blocked. Cheng Li, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said he hopes Obama will find a way to discuss American values without embarrassing the Chinese, attempting persuasion through personality. “Humiliation or lecturing the Chinese in the public domain are things we should avoid,” Li said. “You will make the Chinese very suspicious and angry. It humiliates the nation, the general public.” But human rights activists wonder whether Obama’s subtle message will be loud enough to get through. Hu Jia, a dissident who has been arrested for participating in protests, said he would like Obama to be bolder and meet with someone such as Liu Xia, the wife of Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, one of China’s most well-known democracy activists. “As the promoter of American values, and the wife of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, a public figure who attracts tremendous attention, maybe visiting Liu Xia is too much because it may damage the U.S.-China relations, but she can ask someone to send an invitation to invite Liu Xia [to] an event she hosted,” Hu said. “It doesn’t cost much, but a little gesture like that may be a great help.” But Obama, who is in China to discuss education and cultural exchange, is rarely diverted from her agenda. Human rights issues are for other diplomatic channels, Obama administration officials have said. Michelle Obama and her team have determined that pointing out the flaws of the Chinese Internet censorship system fits into that declared focus. Teng Biao, an activist lawyer, wants to hear Obama make clear that censorship problems in China go beyond merely blocking some Web sites. “Online users have been indicted because of what they say — because they revealed corruption, criticized the government and the official polices or revealed the history,” Teng said. Aside from the call for an open exchange of ideas in China, Obama will also broach controversy with her decision to visit a Tibetan restaurant in Chengdu next week. The dinner has been widely linked to U.S. criticism of Chinese rule in Tibet and to President Obama’s meeting last month with the Dalai Lama, the region’s exiled leader, which Chinese officials opposed. “She wanted to have the opportunity to visit with that community,” a senior White House official said of Michelle Obama’s decision to eat there. Comments on the Web site Weibo about Obama’s plan to go to the Tibetan restaurant appeared on Friday to have been deleted. The first lady, who arrived here Thursday, began her official slate of events Friday by meeting with President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, who hosted Obama for the day. The two women visited the ancient Forbidden City, had dinner and watched a cultural performance at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Earlier in the day, they toured a high school that has a relationship with Sidwell Friends — the private school attended by Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, who also are on the China trip. While at Beijing Normal School, Michelle Obama gamely played table tennis with an instructor and a student, lasting about five minutes. “I tried my hand at Ping-Pong,” she told Xi later in the day. “Not so good.” Xi smiled in response. William Wan, Liu Liu and Gu Jinglu contributed to this report. Krissah Thompson began writing for The Washington Post in 2001. She has been a business reporter, covered presidential campaigns and written about civil rights and race. More recently, she has covered the first lady's office, politics and culture. Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers. To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in. Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers. | Low | [
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Kenya Moore wants to give her 12-month-old daughter, Brooklyn, a little brother or sister — but she doesn’t plan to carry the baby herself. “I didn’t need to consider [surrogacy the first] time,” the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum, 48, told Us Weekly exclusively on Wednesday, November 6. “But now that I’ve had complications after giving birth, it’s probably the only way I could carry, have a child again.” The reality star and her estranged husband, Marc Daly, welcomed their bundle of joy in November 2018. Brooklyn arrived early as Moore was suffering from preeclampsia, which is characterized by high blood pressure. “If you want to make God laugh, have a plan,” the Michigan native captioned an Instagram photo of herself in a hospital bed at the time. “Won’t be long now. Pray for us.” Moore told Us that she especially wants baby No. 2 because “Brooklyn loves other kids.” She explained, “I would like for her to have a playmate and someone who is like her confidant and close [friend], and I want that for her. I just don’t know [when].” But since the Game, Get Some author is “pushing a certain number,” she wants to make sure she will be just as “healthy, vibrant [and] available” for her second baby as she has been for her first. Moore and Daly, 49, wed in 2017 and she announced their split in September. “It is with profound sadness that I regret to inform my fans that I am divorcing my husband, Marc Daly, the Bravo personality told Us in a statement at the time. “Due to recent and ongoing circumstances, I can no longer continue in the marriage. My sole concern and focus is and will always be my daughter, Brooklyn, my miracle baby. She was made in love and true commitment. I ask for our privacy to be respected moving forward.” Since then, the Miss USA 1993 winner has been coparenting with the restaurant owner. “I’ve had a husband who is helping me raise our child together and I’m thankful that he was in our lives consistently for a great period of time since Brooklyn was born,” she shared with Us last month. Season 12 of Real Housewives of Atlanta airs on Bravo Sundays at 8 p.m. ET. With reporting by Christina Garibaldi | Low | [
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--- abstract: 'We give a small generating set for the twist subgroup of the mapping class group of a non-orientable surface by Dehn twists. The difference between the number of the generators and a lower bound of numbers of generators for the twist subgroup by Dehn twists is one. The lower bounds is obtained from an argument of Hirose [@Hirose].' address: ' (Genki Omori) Department of Mathematics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Oh-okayama, Meguro, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan ' author: - Genki Omori title: 'A small generating set for the twist subgroup of the mapping class group of a non-orientable surface by Dehn twists' --- Introduction ============ Let $\Sigma _{g,n}$ be a compact connected oriented surface of genus $g\geq 0$ with $n\geq 0$ boundary components and we put $\Sigma _g:=\Sigma _{g,0}$. The [*mapping class group*]{} $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _{g,n})$ of $\Sigma _{g,n}$ is the group of isotopy classes of orientation preserving self-diffeomorphisms on $\Sigma _{g,n}$ fixing the boundary pointwise. Dehn [@Dehn] proved that $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _g)$ is generated by $2g(g-1)$ Dehn twists. The generating set includes Dehn twists along separating simple closed curves. Mumford [@Mumford] showed that $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _g)$ is generated by Dehn twists along non-separating simple closed curves, and Lickorish [@Lickorish2] gave a finite generating set for $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _g)$ by $3g-1$ Dehn twists along non-separating simple closed curves. By an argument in Proof of Theorem 4.13 in [@Farb-Margalit], $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _{g,1})$ is also generated by $3g-1$ Dehn twists along non-separating simple closed curves. After that, Humphries [@Humphries] proved that $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _{g,n})$ is generated by a subset of Lickorish’s generating set whose cardinality is $2g+1$ for $g\geq 2$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, and he also proved that the generating set is minimal in generating sets for $\mathcal{M}(\Sigma _{g,n})$ by Dehn twists. Let $N_{g,n}$ be a compact connected non-orientable surface of genus $g\geq 1$ with $n\geq 0$ boundary components. The surface $N_g:=N_{g,0}$ is a connected sum of $g$ real projective planes. The mapping class group $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ of $N_{g,n}$ is the group of isotopy classes of self-diffeomorphisms on $N_{g,n}$ fixing the boundary pointwise. For $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, $\mathcal{M}(N_{1,n})$ is the trivial group (see [@Epstein Theorem 3.4]). For $g\geq 2$, Lickorish proved that $\mathcal{M}(N_g)$ is not generated by Dehn twists in [@Lickorish1], and $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by Dehn twists and a “Y-homeomorphism" in [@Lickorish1; @Lickorish3]. The Y-homeomorphism is introduced by Lickorish in [@Lickorish1]. Lickorish [@Lickorish1] also showed that $\mathcal{M}(N_2)$ is generated by a Dehn twist and a Y-homeomorphism. In generally, Chilling worth [@Chillingworth] gave a finite generating set for $\mathcal{M}(N_g)$ which consists of $\frac{3g-5}{2}$ (resp. $\frac{3g-6}{2}$) Dehn twists and a Y-homeomorphism for odd (resp. even) $g$. After that, Szepietowski [@Szepietowski] proved that $\mathcal{M}(N_g)$ is generated by a subset of Chillingworth’s generating set which consists of $g$ Dehn twists and a Y-homeomorphism, and Hirose [@Hirose] showed that the generating set is minimal in generating sets for $\mathcal{M}(N_g)$ by Dehn twists and Y-homeomorphisms. By Stukow’s finite presentation for $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,1})$ in [@Stukow1] and an argument in [@Hirose] (see Remark \[remark\]), $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,1})$ also has a minimal generating set by Dehn twists and Y-homeomorphisms which consists of $g$ Dehn twists and a Y-homeomorphism. The [*twist subgroup*]{} $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ [*of*]{} $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ is the subgroup of $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ which is generated by all Dehn twists. $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is an index 2 subgroup of $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ (see [@Lickorish3] and [@Stukow0 Corollary 6.4]). In particular, $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is finitely generated. Chillingworth [@Chillingworth] showed that $\mathcal{T}(N_g)$ is generated by a Dehn twist for $g=2$, two Dehn twists for $g=3$, $\frac{3g-1}{2}$ Dehn twists for the other odd $g$ and $\frac{3g}{2}$ Dehn twists for the other even $g$. By an argument as in [@Humphries], we can reduce the number of Chillingworth’s generators to $g+2$ for odd $g>3$ and $g+3$ for even $g>3$. For $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, Stukow [@Stukow2] gave a finite presentation for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ whose generators are $g+2$ Dehn twists essentially by relations of the presentation (see Proof of Theorem \[mainthm\]). In this paper we proved that $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by $g+1$ Dehn twists for $g\geq 4$ (Theorem \[mainthm\]). The generating set is a proper subset of the generating set of Stukow’s finite presentation in [@Stukow2]. By applying Hirose’s argument in [@Hirose], the difference between the number of the generators in Theorem \[mainthm\] and a lower bound of numbers of generators for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ by Dehn twists is one (see Remark \[remark\]). The author does not know whether the generating set for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ in Theorem \[mainthm\] is minimal in generating sets for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ by Dehn twists or not. Preliminaries {#Preliminaries} ============= For a two-sided simple closed curve $c$ on $N_{g,n}$, we take an orientation of the regular neighborhood of $c$ in $N_{g,n}$. Then we denote by $t_c$ the right-handed Dehn twist along $c$ with respect to the orientation. In particular, for a given explicit two-sided simple closed curve, an arrow on a side of the simple closed curve indicates the direction of the Dehn twist (see Figure \[dehntwist\]). ![The right-handed Dehn twist $t_c$ along a two-sided simple closed curve $c$ on $N_{g,n}$.[]{data-label="dehntwist"}](dehntwist_nonori4.eps) Let $e_i:D \hookrightarrow \Sigma _0$ for $i=1$, $2, \dots $, $g+1$ be smooth embeddings of the unit disk $D$ to a 2-sphere $\Sigma _0$ such that $D_i:=e_i(D)$ and $D_j$ are disjoint for distinct $1\leq i,j\leq g+1$. Then we take a model of $N_g$ (resp. $N_{g,1}$) as the surface obtained from $\Sigma _0-{\rm int}(D_1\sqcup \cdots \sqcup D_g)$ (resp. $\Sigma _0-{\rm int}(D_1\sqcup \cdots \sqcup D_{g+1})$) by identifying antipodal points of the boundary components of $D_1,\dots ,D_g$ and we describe the identification of $\partial D_i$ by the x-mark as in Figure \[sccs\]. For $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, we denote by $\alpha _1$, $\dots $, $\alpha _{g-1}$ and $\beta $ two-sided simple closed curves on $N_{g,n}$ as in Figure \[sccs\], and denote by $\gamma $, $\varepsilon $, $\zeta $ and $\psi $ two-sided simple closed curves on $N_{g,n}$ as in Figure \[sccs2\], respectively. Then we define $a_i:=t_{\alpha _i}$ $(i=1,\dots ,g-1)$, $b:=t_\beta $, $e:=t_\varepsilon $, $f:=t_\zeta $, $y^2:=t_\psi $ and $c:=t_\gamma $. ![Simple closed curves $\alpha _1$, $\dots $, $\alpha _{g-1}$ and $\beta $ on $N_{g,n}$.[]{data-label="sccs"}](scc_nonorisurf_twosided.eps) ![Simple closed curves $\psi $, $\varepsilon $, $\zeta $ and $\gamma $ on $N_{g,n}$.[]{data-label="sccs2"}](scc_nonorisurf_twosided2.eps) Main result {#section_mainthm} =========== The main theorem in this paper is as follows. \[mainthm\] For $g\geq 4$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by $a_1$, $\dots $, $a_{g-1}$, $b$ and $e$. In particular, $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by $g+1$ Dehn twists along non-separating simple closed curves. Assume $g\geq 4$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$. Stukow’s presentation for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ in [@Stukow2] has the following generating set: - $X:=\{a_1, \dots , a_{g-1}, b, e, f, y^2, c\}$ for odd $g$ and $n=1$ or $g=4$ and $n=1$, - $X^\prime :=X\cup \{ b_0,b_1, \dots , b_{\frac{g-2}{2}}, \bar{b}_{\frac{g-6}{2}}, \bar{b}_{\frac{g-4}{2}}, \bar{b}_{\frac{g-2}{2}}\}$ for even $g\geq 6$ and $n=1$, - $X\cup\{ \rho \}$ for odd $g$ and $n=0$, - $X \cup \{ \bar{\rho }\}$ for $g=4$ and $n=0$, - $X^\prime \cup \{ \bar{\rho }\}$ for even $g\geq 6$ and $n=0$. $b_0$, $b_1$, $\dots $, $b_{\frac{g-2}{2}}$, $\bar{b}_{\frac{g-6}{2}}$, $\bar{b}_{\frac{g-4}{2}}$, $\bar{b}_{\frac{g-2}{2}}$, $\rho $ and $\bar{\rho }$ are products of elements in $X$ by the relations (A7), (A8), ($\overline{\text{A7a}}$)-($\overline{\text{A8b}}$), (C1a) and ($\overline{\text{C4}}$) in Theorem 2.1, Theorem 2.2, Theorem 3.1 and Theorem 3.2 of [@Stukow2]. Thus $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by $X$. By the relation ($\overline{\text{B2}_1}$) in Theorem 3.1 of [@Stukow2], $y^2$ is a product of elements in $X-\{ y^2\}$, and by the relation ($\overline{\text{B6}_1}$) in Theorem 3.1 of [@Stukow2], $c$ is a product of $a_1$, $\dots $, $a_{g-1}$, $b$, $e$ and $f$. Finally, we can check $a_3^{-1}a_2^{-1}ba_1^{-1}a_2^{-1}a_3^{-1}(\varepsilon )=\zeta $ and the orientation of the regular neighborhood of $a_3^{-1}a_2^{-1}ba_1^{-1}a_2^{-1}a_3^{-1}(\varepsilon )$ is different from one of $f$ as in Figure \[proof\]. Hence we have $f=(a_3^{-1}a_2^{-1}ba_1^{-1}a_2^{-1}a_3^{-1})e^{-1}(a_3^{-1}a_2^{-1}ba_1^{-1}a_2^{-1}a_3^{-1})^{-1}$. Therefore $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is generated by $a_1$, $\dots $, $a_{g-1}$, $b$ and $e$, and we have completed the proof of Theorem \[mainthm\]. ![Proving that $a_3^{-1}a_2^{-1}ba_1^{-1}a_2^{-1}a_3^{-1}(\varepsilon )=\zeta $.[]{data-label="proof"}](proof_twist1.eps) \[remark0\] The regular neighborhood $N$ of the union of $\alpha _1$, $\dots $, $\alpha _{g-1}$ is an orientable subsurface of $N_{g,n}$ and $\{ a_1, \dots , a_{g-1}, b\}$ is the minimal generating set for $\mathcal{M}(N)$ by Dehn twists which is given by Humphries [@Humphries]. Remark that $N_{g,n}-{\rm int}N$ is not a disjoint union of disks, and an element of the subgroup of $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ which is generated by $a_1$, $\dots $, $a_{g-1}$ and $b$ is represented by a diffeomorphism of $N_{g,n}$ whose restriction to $N_{g,n}-{\rm int}N$ is the identity map. However, $e$ does not fix $N_{g,n}-{\rm int}N$ up to ambient isotopies of $N_{g,n}$. Hence $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is not generated by $a_1$, $\dots $, $a_{g-1}$ and $b$. Define $X_0:=\{ \alpha _1, \dots , \alpha _{g-1}, b, \varepsilon \}$. For $x_0\in \{ \alpha _4, \dots , \alpha _{g-1}, \varepsilon \}$, the complement $N_{g,n}-\displaystyle \bigcup _{x\in X_0\setminus \{ x_0\}}x$ has a non-disk component. Thus $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ is not also generated by $X_0-\{ x_0\}$ for $x_0\in \{ \alpha _4, \dots , \alpha _{g-1}, \varepsilon \}$. \[remark\] We can apply Hirose’s argument in [@Hirose] to $\mathcal{M}(N_{g,1})$ and $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ for $g\geq 4$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$. However, we should note that he take $\phi _j\in \mathcal{M}(N_{g,n})$ such that $\phi _j(c_1)=\gamma _j$ in the proof of Lemma 6 in [@Hirose]. To apply Hirose’s argument in [@Hirose] to $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$, we must take such $\phi _j$ as an element of $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$. By using Lemma 7.2 in [@Stukow0], we can take $\phi _j$ as an element of $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$. Therefore the minimum number of generators for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ by Dehn twists is at least $g$ for $g\geq 4$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$, and the difference between the number of the generators for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ in Theorem \[mainthm\] and the lower bound of numbers of generators for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ by Dehn twists is one. Finally we raise the following problem. Which of $g$ and $g+1$ is the minimum number of generators for $\mathcal{T}(N_{g,n})$ by Dehn twists when $g\geq 4$ and $n\in \{ 0,1\}$? [**Acknowledgements:** ]{} The author would like to express his gratitude to Hisaaki Endo, for his encouragement and helpful advices. The author also wish to thank Susumu Hirose for his comments and helpful advices. The author was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant number 15J10066. [99]{} D. R. J. Chillingworth, *A finite set of generators for the homeotopy group of a non-orientable surface*, Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. **65** (1969), 409–430. M. Dehn, *Papers on group theory and topology*, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1987. Translated from the German and with introductions. D. B. A. Epstein, *Curves on 2-manifolds and isotopies*, Acta Math. **115** (1966), 83-107. B. Farb, D. Margalit, *A primer on mapping class groups*, Princeton Mathematical Series, **49**. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2012. S. Hirose, *Generators for the mapping class group of the nonorientable surface*, arXiv:1602.07419. S. P. Humphries, *Generators for the mapping class group*, Topology of low-dimensional manifolds (Proc. Second Sussex Conf., Chelwood Gate, 1977), pp. 44–47, Lecture Notes in Math., 722, Springer, Berlin, 1979. W. B. R. Lickorish, *Homeomorphisms of non-orientable two-manifolds*, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. **59** (1963), 307–317. W. B. R. Lickorish, *A finite set of generators for the homeotopy group of a 2-manifold*, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. **60** (1964), 769–778. W. B. R. Lickorish, *On the homeomorphisms of a non-orientable surface*, Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. **61** (1965), 61–64. D. Mumford, *Abelian quotients of the Teichmüller modular group*, J. Analyse Math., **18** (1967), 227–244. M. Stukow, *The twist subgroup of the mapping class group of a nonorientable surface*, Osaka J. Math. **46** (2009), no. 3, 717–738. M. Stukow, *A finite presentation for the mapping class group of a nonorientable surface with Dehn twists and one crosscap slide as generators*, J. Pure Appl. Algebra **218** (2014), no. 12, 2226–2239. M. Stukow, *A finite presentation for the twist subgroup of the mapping class group of a nonorientable surface*, Bull. Korean Math. Soc. **53** (2016), no. 2, 601–614. B. Szepietowski, *A finite generating set for the level 2 mapping class group of a nonorientable surface*, Kodai Math. J. **36** (2013), no. 1, 1–14. | Mid | [
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1. Introduction {#sec1} =============== Asphaltenes are the heaviest components of the crude oil. These are complex molecules, consisting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic side chains, and polar heteroatom-containing functional groups.^[@ref1]^ The asphaltene molecules present in crude oil hold the highest fraction.^[@ref2]^ Asphaltenes are dissoluble in aromatic hydrocarbons, for example, toluene, benzene, or pyridine, but insoluble in *n*-alkanes, for example, pentane, heptane, and hexane.^[@ref3],[@ref4]^ They form aggregates in selective organic solvents, water, and oil--water emulsion^[@ref5]^ and are accountable for the high viscosity of crude oil.^[@ref6],[@ref7]^ It is noteworthy that destabilized asphaltenes can cause serious problems in oil refineries such as coke formation, catalysis deactivation, pipeline blocking, and many more.^[@ref7]−[@ref9]^ Furthermore, asphaltenes reduce petroleum productivity because of the high viscosity induced by their presence in crude oil.^[@ref10],[@ref11]^ Also, their release into the environment can have negative impacts on the soil and marine life because of their non-biodegradable nature.^[@ref12],[@ref13]^ In-depth understanding of the asphaltene chemistry has the potential to increase the efficiency of oil recovery.^[@ref14]^ Many experimental investigations and theoretical simulations have been performed in order to uncover the mechanisms behind asphaltene aggregation and asphaltene--solvent interactions.^[@ref14]−[@ref17]^ According to the widely known Yen--Mullins model, the asphaltene molecules tend to nanoaggregate when the number of these molecules is less than 10. The clustered nanoaggregates further combine to form the macroaggregates.^[@ref15],[@ref18],[@ref19]^ Within the abovementioned model, the aliphatic side chain surrounds the polyaromatic core and aggregation occurs mainly because of the π--π interactions between the cores.^[@ref20]^ Mullins et al.^[@ref15]^ performed experimental investigations on asphaltenes in the colloidal form in crude oil. In this study, the equation of state for the asphaltene gradients in oil field reservoirs has been developed. It is concluded that the molecular island architecture is favored, and the most probable molecular weight is approximately 750 g/mol. Aslan and Firoozabadi^[@ref21]^ performed flow-line experiments using differential interference contrast microscopy and dynamic light scattering to investigate the size of the asphaltene aggregates in water. The authors concluded that the deposition of the asphaltenes in water is delayed because of the presence of the hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and asphaltene heteroatoms, that is, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulphur. Schuler et al.^[@ref22]^ probed coal-derived asphaltenes' and petroleum asphaltenes' molecular structures using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy. Zhang et al.^[@ref23]^ probed the asphaltene molecular interactions in organic solvents using a surface force apparatus. The study showed that the asphaltene interactions strongly depend on the weight ratio of toluene to heptane in the heptol mixture. Shi et al.^[@ref24]^ performed experimental investigations using AFM to probe the asphaltene interaction in oil--water emulsion. It is observed that the presence of the asphaltene at the oil--water interface induces strong steric repulsion. Li et al.^[@ref17]^ performed experiments on the kinetics of the asphaltene aggregation in microcapillaries. Crude oil samples were analyzed for the aggregate size in various organic solvents at different flocculation times. The diffusion-limited-aggregation and reaction-limited-aggregation models were analyzed in depth at low and high concentrations of the asphaltene. Joonaki et al.^[@ref14]^ also performed experimental investigation of asphaltenes in water. Their work was focused on aqueous asphaltene solutions with different salt concentrations. The study pointed out the importance of the H-bonding network in the solutions and showed that the viscosity increases for stronger H-bonding networks in asphaltene solutions. Headen et al.^[@ref19]^ investigated the nanoaggregation of asphaltene and resin in toluene and heptane solvents using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In their work, the asphaltene model consisting of two aromatic cores was taken into consideration and the structural properties of asphaltene--asphaltene and resin--resin were investigated. Jian et al.^[@ref25]^ performed MD simulations to study how the aliphatic side chain affects the aggregation of the asphaltene (Violanthrone-78-based model) in water. The aggregation behavior based on four different lengths of the side chain was discussed. The authors concluded that the long and short side chains can form concentrated aggregates unlike the chains with intermediate length. Headen et al.^[@ref26]^ performed classical MD simulations for four different asphaltene models in toluene and heptane solvents under ambient conditions. The study showed that monomers and dimers form the common size of the clusters in a good solvent. Sun et al.^[@ref27]^ performed MD simulations on Violanthrone-78-based asphaltene model varying the side chain length in the presence of salt ions in solution. It is noticed that the hydrophobic interactions are enhanced at low salt concentrations facilitating aggregation, while such kinds of interactions are suppressed at higher salt concentrations, thereby hindering aggregation. Yaseen and Mansoori^[@ref28]^ investigated the asphaltene aggregation because of the water-flooding using MD simulations. In their study, seven different asphaltene water models were probed. The structural properties mainly radial distribution function and hydrogen bonding within asphaltene--asphaltene and asphaltene--water were analyzed. In the work performed by Santos Silva et al.,^[@ref29]^ MD simulations were performed on CA22-based molecular systems in order to investigate the mechanisms behind nano- and macroaggregation of asphaltenes. The study concluded that the size of the aromatic core and the presence of the polar group play an important role in nanoaggregation, whereas the formation of the macroaggregates is governed by the occupancy of polar groups and length of the side chains. Furthermore, the study showed that the heteroatoms enhance the π--π interactions. Recently, Bian et al.^[@ref30]^ investigated the disaggregation of asphaltenes using the functional group methylation by performing both experiments and MD simulations. It is observed that the methylated asphaltenes are prone to disaggregation. Tirjoo et al.^[@ref31]^ investigated asphaltene aggregation using two asphaltene-based models viz. M1 and VI. Within this study, the solubility parameters were calculated using MD simulations. The existing works on asphaltene nanoaggregation highlight several aspects as elaborated above. However, most of these existing works explain aggregation using the simple point charge (SPC) water model. A systematic analysis of the asphaltene aggregation using different water models is still missing in the literature. The viscosity of the asphaltene molecules in aqueous solution is reported for the first time in the literature through this work. We adopt a novel approach of end-to-end analysis in order to investigate the structural properties of asphaltene nanoaggregates. We report important dynamical properties viz. diffusion coefficient of asphaltene molecules in aqueous solution which has been systematically investigated using three different water models. Furthermore, we provide a detailed analysis of the hydrogen bonds between the asphaltene and water. 2. Computational Details {#sec2} ======================== Accurate force field parameters are the key to obtain accurate molecular structures. In this work, the latest in-built optimized parameters for liquid simulations (OPLS3e)^[@ref32]^ in the Desmond^[@ref33]^ MD package within Schrödinger simulation software have been used.^[@ref34]^ Violanthrone-78 (C~70~H~84~O~6~) is considered as a model asphaltene compound, as shown in [Figure [1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}. Earlier nanoaggregate investigations were performed at an asphaltene concentration of 20 g/L.^[@ref27]^ In the present work, we have considered three different concentrations, that is, 13.96 g/L (6 asphaltene molecules), 27.91 g/L (12 asphaltene molecules), and 55.82 g/L (24 asphaltene molecules) in order to study asphaltene aggregation. We have used a 90 Å cubic box for the simulations. A snapshot of the aggregation of 6 asphaltene molecules in 0.15 M NaCl aqueous solution is shown in [Figure [2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}. The equilibration runs are performed for 1 ns and the production run of 2 ns is analyzed. A time step of 1 fs is used and the *NVT* simulations are performed at 300 K. We have used SPC,^[@ref35]^ TIP4P-D,^[@ref36]^ and TIP5P^[@ref37]^ water models and the OPLS3e potential for the asphaltenes. {#fig1} {#fig2} 3. Results and Discussion {#sec3} ========================= 3.1. End-to-End Distance {#sec3.1} ------------------------ The end-to-end distance of the asphaltene molecules, that is, the distance between the end of the aliphatic side chain to the other end is an important quantity to probe in order to understand the aggregation behavior of asphaltene in water. The aliphatic side chains are stiff on shorter length scales and the longer length scale side chains bend to participate in the aggregation process. One of the approaches to probe the end-to-end distance is by utilizing the worm-like chain model^[@ref38]^ for the semiflexible side chains.^[@ref39]^ In this study, the abovementioned approach is used, that is, the end-to-end distance of the asphaltene molecule averaged over all asphaltene molecules is calculated over the entire MD simulation trajectory using the following equation^[@ref39]^where ⟨*h*^2^⟩ is the mean-squared end-to-end distance, *L*~0~ is the extended chain length, and *L*~P~ is the persistence length. It is evident from [Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}a for the SPC water model that the end-to-end distance, averaged over 24 asphaltene molecules, is 30.6 Å at the beginning of the first 1 ns of simulation time. This distance gradually decreases to a final value of 16.1 Å, where the aggregation is clearly visible. [Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}b shows the frequency of the end-to-end distance over a simulation time of 1 ns. Our study shows that the aggregates formed have a minimum end-to-end distance of 16.1 Å and the highest frequency is observed at this particular length. The end-to-end distance oscillates between 13.9 and 18.8 Å during the later 2 ns of the simulation run, as illustrated in [Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}c. It can be clearly seen in [Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}d that the maximum frequency is corresponding to 16.6 Å when the SPC water model is used. {#fig3} [Table [1](#tbl1){ref-type="other"}](#tbl1){ref-type="other"} summarizes the end-to-end distance along with the extended chain length and persistence length for three different water models corresponding to each of the three concentrations under investigation. The aliphatic side chains can adapt to different structures in the solvent, depending on the water models used for the study. This is the main reason for the slight variation in the end-to-end distance obtained corresponding to the different water models, as presented in [Table [1](#tbl1){ref-type="other"}](#tbl1){ref-type="other"}. The end-to-end distance of the asphaltene molecule changes with respect to the concentration of asphaltene in water. It is evident from our study that the choice of the water model has a significant effect on the persistence length, especially when the TIP4P-D water model is used for the dilute concentration. It is noteworthy that previous studies have shown that the TIP4P-D water model can successfully explain the unfolded protein states in solutions.^[@ref36]^ In our study, a persistence length of 4.9 Å is observed for the TIP4P-D water model in the dilute limit. This is due to the fact that frequent aggregation and disaggregation occurs between two aggregate sizes. The persistence length indicates that beyond this distance there will be no correlation, that is, the aliphatic side chains are stiffer for a large distance. This in turn results in a higher end-to-end distance at lower asphaltene concentrations, that is, in the dilute limit. ###### Calculated End-to-End Distance Averaged Over 6, 12, and 24 Molecules Over 2 ns of Simulation Time, Persistence Length, Extended Chain Length (in Å), and Time Series Standard Deviation (σ) Corresponding to the End-to-End Distance Values are Shown for Three Different Asphaltene Concentrations Obtained Using Different Water Models water model end-to-end distance (Å) persistence length (Å) extended chain length (Å) σ (Å) ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------------- ------- 6 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 15.62 3.11 50.6 2.54 TIP4P-D 19.64 4.90 50.6 1.12 TIP5P 14.52 2.52 50.4 1.22 12 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 14.02 2.32 50.3 1.92 TIP4P-D 13.67 2.19 50.7 1.58 TIP5P 13.21 2.14 50.6 1.05 24 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 16.40 3.32 50.7 1.15 TIP4P-D 15.47 2.98 50.6 0.87 TIP5P 16.34 3.38 50.8 0.77 3.2. Hydrogen Bonds: Asphaltene--Water {#sec3.2} -------------------------------------- The polar heteroatoms of the asphaltene are involved in the formation of the H bonds with water. Murgich et al.^[@ref40]^ performed molecular mechanics calculations and titration calorimetry experiments to investigate the H bonds between asphaltene heteroatoms and water. The study showed that water enhances the association of asphaltene monomers to form dimers because of the formation of H bonds with water molecules. It was thus concluded that hydrogen bonding plays a key role in the aggregation of asphaltenes. Previous investigations on the structural properties of pure water using different water models concluded that the average number of the hydrogen bonds per water molecule is higher for the SPC and TIP4P water models than the TIP5P water model.^[@ref41]^ In our study, the hydrogen bonds between asphaltene and water are calculated using three different water models for various concentrations of asphaltene in water. These bonds are analyzed over the production run time of simulation. As illustrated in [Figure [4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}, the average number of the H bonds is more for TIP4P-D in comparison with SPC and TIP5P water models. A similar trend is observed for all the three concentrations of asphaltene in water, that is, the average number of the hydrogen bonds is more for the TIP4P-D water model than the other two water models. The average number of the H bonds is summarized for the various concentrations using the different models in [Table [2](#tbl2){ref-type="other"}](#tbl2){ref-type="other"}. TIP4P-D is more effective than the TIP4P/2005 water model because the parametrization of the former includes the excess dispersion interactions on the structure of the TIP4P/2005 water model. The dispersion interactions are incorporated by increasing the dispersion coefficient, that is, C~6~ by ∼50% in comparison with the other water models such as SPC/E, TIP3P, and TIP4P-EW. This enhanced dispersion interaction better describes the water hydrogen-bonding interactions and water--solute interactions.^[@ref36]^ We, thus, conclude that the strong interaction between asphaltene and water molecules is well-captured by the TIP4P-D water model, that is, by the enhanced water dispersion interaction model. {#fig4} ###### Calculated Average Number of H Bonds is Presented for Three Different Asphaltene Concentrations Obtained Using Different Water Models SPC TIP4P-D TIP5P ------------------------- ----- --------- ------- 24 asphaltene molecules 78 81 64 12 asphaltene molecules 47 56 35 6 asphaltene molecules 26 27 18 3.3. Diffusion Coefficient {#sec3.3} -------------------------- The diffusion coefficient averaged over all the asphaltene molecules is calculated using the following equation^[@ref42]^⟨\|*r⃗*(*t*) -- *r⃗*(0)\|^2^⟩ is the mean-square displacement, where the angled brackets indicate an ensemble average, which is an average over all particles and time. The diffusion coefficients obtained within our study are shown in [Table [3](#tbl3){ref-type="other"}](#tbl3){ref-type="other"} for different concentrations of asphaltene using the three different water models. There is a clear signature that the diffusion coefficient decreases with the increase in the concentration of the asphaltene. The lowest diffusion coefficient is obtained using the TIP4P-D water model for all three concentrations pointing toward slow aggregate dynamics. The inclusion of the enhanced dispersion forces thus adequately describes asphaltene--water interactions. ###### Calculated Diffusion Coefficients (in m^2^/s) are Shown for Three Different Asphaltene Concentrations Using Different Water Models diffusion coefficient (m^2^/s) ------------------------- -------------------------------- 6 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 7.76 × 10^--10^ TIP4P-D 1.93 × 10^--10^ TIP5P 2.52 × 10^--10^ 12 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 3.91 × 10^--10^ TIP4P-D 3.07 × 10^--10^ TIP5P 3.68 × 10^--10^ 24 Asphaltene Molecules SPC 3.78 × 10^--10^ TIP4P-D 1.32 × 10^--10^ TIP5P 2.19 × 10^--10^ 3.4. Viscosity {#sec3.4} -------------- The MD simulations are often used in association with a Green--Kubo formalism to calculate the shear viscosity of liquids. In our work, the viscosity is calculated using the following Green--Kubo equation^[@ref43]^where *V* is the volume of the system, *k*~B~ is the Boltzmann constant, *T* is the temperature, *P*~αβ~ denotes the off-diagonal pressure tensor, and the angled bracket denotes the ensemble average. The autocorrelation function of the pressure tensor decays to zero in the long time limit and the integral in [eq [3](#eq3){ref-type="disp-formula"}](#eq3){ref-type="disp-formula"} reaches a constant value. Earlier investigations by González and Abascal^[@ref44]^ and Tazi et al.^[@ref45]^ concluded based on the Green--Kubo approach that the TIP4P/2005 water model accurately predicts the dynamical properties of pure water, for example, the shear viscosity. In the present study, we performed 10 independent MD runs starting with different atomic velocities in order to calculate the viscosity. The pressure tensor is analyzed for each MD simulation output yielding a viscosity curve with respect to time. The average viscosity at each time is obtained by averaging over multiple viscosity curves, as shown in [Figure [5](#fig5){ref-type="fig"}](#fig5){ref-type="fig"}. An exponential function is used to fit the data of [Figure [5](#fig5){ref-type="fig"}](#fig5){ref-type="fig"} and the asymptote of the fitted functions is considered as the final shear viscosity. The viscosities for the dilute asphaltene concentration for all three water models are summarized in [Table [4](#tbl4){ref-type="other"}](#tbl4){ref-type="other"}. Our results show that the viscosity is severely underpredicted by the SPC water model, that is, 0.39 cP. Although the viscosity value is improved for the TIP5P water model (0.71 cP), a better value is obtained using the TIP4P-D water model, that is, 1.21 cP. Furthermore, we used the TIP4P-D water model to evaluate the viscosity for 12 asphaltene molecules in aqueous solution which is obtained as 1.31 cP and 24 asphaltene molecules in aqueous solution obtained as 1.46 cP. Our study highlights the fact that the enhanced dispersion interactions improve the description of the asphaltene--water interactions. However, it is noteworthy that the solution behavior is completely dependent on the accurate description of the solute--solute and solute--solvent interactions. The strengthening of the water dispersion interactions results from offsetting of inadequate dispersion interactions from the OPLS force field. For the hydrocarbon molecules, it is thus necessary to improve the OPLS force field for better agreement with the experimental results.^[@ref46]^ {#fig5} ###### Calculated Viscosity (in cP) Obtained by the Exponential Fitting is presented along with the Standard Deviation of the Fit (σ) for Asphaltene in Aqueous Solution for the Three Water Models 6 asphaltene molecules ------------------------ ------ ---------------- SPC 0.39 0.26 × 10^--3^ TIP4P-D 1.21 2.73 × 10^--3^ TIP5P 0.71 8.03 × 10^--3^ 4. Conclusions {#sec4} ============== In the present work, the aggregation of asphaltene (Violanthrone-78) in aqueous NaCl solution is investigated by performing MD simulations using SPC, TIP4P-D, and TIP5P potentials for water--water interaction. It is observed that the end-to-end distance of asphaltene molecules at three different concentrations is approximately the same for the water models under study except the TIP4P-D model (especially in the dilute limit). This discrepancy can be attributed to the frequent aggregation and disaggregation of asphaltene in the dilute limit which is well-captured by the TIP4P-D water model. Our study of hydrogen bonds between asphaltene and water clearly shows that the asphaltene--water interactions are stronger for TIP4P-D than the SPC and TIP5P water models because of the enhanced dispersion interaction in the TIP4P-D water model. Furthermore, we found that the diffusion coefficient of the asphaltene to be higher for the SPC water model than the other two models. In this regard, an interesting observation is that the diffusion coefficient decreases with the increase in the concentration of asphaltene in water. Another highlighting aspect of our study is that the better viscosity predictions can be obtained using the TIP4P-D water model because the errors are large for TIP5P and SPC water models. To summarize, the earlier studies on asphaltene aggregation in water have been primarily performed using the SPC water model. The novelty of the present work lies on the fact that the study highlights the importance of the TIP4P-D-enhanced dispersion water model to better describe the aggregation of asphaltene in water. It is worthwhile to mention here that apart from improving the atomistic description of the solvent, the improvement in the parametrization of the force field for the hydrocarbon molecules under investigation is necessary for better reproducibility of the experimental results. The authors declare no competing financial interest. The authors would like to thank Schrödinger Centre for Molecular Simulations, MAHE, Manipal, for their support. The authors would also like to thank Sudharshan Pandiyan, Schrödinger, India for fruitful discussions. | Mid | [
0.6466512702078521,
35,
19.125
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What’s new? After close to two years of a stagnating peace process, the Myanmar government, its military and ethnic armed groups signatory to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement resumed negotiations aimed at holding a Panglong-21 peace conference later this year. The peace process will then enter hibernation while national elections take place. Why does it matter? Recent negotiations have focused mainly on ensuring that the peace process continues after the election. But genuine progress toward ending Myanmar’s long-running ethnic conflicts is unlikely to be made without a decisive change in approach, particularly from the government. What should be done? With the National League for Democracy likely to win another term, the government, military and ethnic armed groups should use the hibernation period constructively to review causes of the current impasse, rebuild trust through sustained informal dialogue, and take steps to reinvigorate the peace process from 2021. Executive Summary A flurry of negotiations among Myanmar’s government, its military and ethnic armed groups belies deeper problems in the country’s moribund peace process. The government and armed groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) are eager to hold a Panglong-21 peace conference before electoral dynamics take precedence later this year. As a result, two prominent armed groups that had suspended their participation have formally re-entered the peace process. Although these are positive developments, even if it takes place the conference would be largely symbolic and do little to address the fundamental obstacles on Myanmar’s road toward sustainable peace. By putting formal negotiations on hold for at least six months, the election and subsequent transition period constitute a unique opportunity for a rethink. All parties involved should use this window to examine blockages that have hindered genuine progress so far, multiply informal meetings to rebuild trust and examine ways of reinvigorating the peace process from 2021. Although negotiators have made some modest progress, conflict has intensified in Shan and Rakhine States, and the government has been unable to convince the country’s most powerful armed groups to sign the NCA. Facebook Email When Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) took office in March 2016, hopes were high that it would consolidate the peace process launched under her predecessor, Thein Sein, in 2011. The results, however, have been disappointing. Although negotiators have made some modest progress, such as agreeing on 51 points for a future Union Peace Accord, conflict has intensified in Shan and Rakhine States, and the government has been unable to convince the country’s most powerful armed groups to sign the NCA. Formal political negotiations with the ten armed groups that have signed the agreement have stalled, culminating in the temporary withdrawal of the two most important of them – the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State – from the peace process in late 2018. Although the NLD administration initially said peace negotiations were its top priority, it has shown neither the determination nor the capacity to take the process forward. Since 2017, its focus has shifted increasingly to other issues better suited to the project of shoring up political support among its ethnic Burman base. The approaching election, slated for November 2020 but now subject to possible coronavirus-related delays, has given new impetus to the peace process. Informal talks over the past six months have encouraged the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State to return to the peace process, and formal meetings with all signatories have been convened since January with the aim of holding a Panglong-21 conference before election dynamics come to dominate the political landscape in the second half of the year. The COVID-19 outbreak is likely to make this original timeline impossible, but negotiators on both sides are intent on holding the conference before the vote. Despite this renewed commitment, the primary objectives for both sides are modest. The NLD sees the Panglong-21 meeting mostly as a way to boost its political campaign, while ethnic armed groups want to ensure that the peace process continues after the vote, regardless of who comes to power. The election will bring further risks for ethnic conflict and the peace process. Facebook Email The election will bring further risks for ethnic conflict and the peace process. Aung San Suu Kyi’s popularity with the Burman majority is likely to ensure that the NLD wins enough seats to select the president and form the next government, but ethnic minorities are increasingly aggrieved at her government’s Burman nationalist tone and the overwhelming Burman dominance in political institutions. The discontent is most evident in Rakhine State, where the political marginalisation of the Rakhine ethnic minority under the NLD has boosted support for the Arakan Army insurgency. Armed conflict and insecurity are likely to result in the cancellation of voting in some constituencies in minority areas, particularly in Rakhine State, which will only deepen local minorities’ alienation. The election period, however, will also be an opportunity to reflect on how to take the peace process forward. The formal negotiations will likely be put on hold for six to twelve months, until after the next cabinet is sworn in (scheduled for late March 2021). The current government, the military and ethnic armed groups should use this period to review their own strategy and goals, ramp up informal dialogue and examine crucial issues that have so far been put aside, such as the growth of the illicit economy and the mounting might of military-aligned militias. Even if the COVID-19 pandemic delays the Panglong-21 conference, there will still be a significant period during which formal peace negotiations will not take place. This downtime constitutes a unique opportunity for all parties to reflect on how to restart the process with a more constructive approach in 2021. If the NLD forms the next government, as appears likely, it should use its second term in office to reinvigorate its leadership of the peace process. Overcoming the deadlock in negotiations toward a political settlement requires a fundamental shift in approach. As a first step, Naypyitaw should overhaul institutions like the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre, to rely less on former government bureaucrats and instead draw in new negotiators and advisers from a range of backgrounds, such as business, academia and civil society. The key to substantive progress, however, lies in renewed political commitment from Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD to the peace process, a stronger sense of empathy with the grievances of ethnic minorities, and a clear vision for where the peace process is going. Yangon/Brussels, 19 June 2020 I. Introduction In 2011, President Thein Sein’s new government launched a peace process aimed at ending decades of conflict by reaching a political settlement with Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups. His administration quickly signed bilateral ceasefires with most groups, eight of which also signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in October 2015. Negotiators then drafted a framework for a political dialogue process, and convened the first Union Peace Conference in January 2016, shortly before Thein Sein left office. Thein Sein’s administration was unable to convince the most powerful armed groups to join the process. Facebook Email Thein Sein’s administration was unable, however, to convince the most powerful armed groups to join the process. The government’s exclusion of three other groups from signing the NCA had raised concerns among potential signatories about the agreement’s inclusivity. Some also had reservations about giving Thein Sein a political boost shortly before the 2015 elections. Ten groups did not sign the NCA, and as a result could not participate in the launch of the political dialogue. The National League for Democracy (NLD) government that came to office in March 2016 thus inherited a complex, two-track process: political dialogue with NCA signatories, and ceasefire negotiations with non-signatories aimed at getting them into the political dialogue process. It also inherited a valuable, albeit fragile, trust with ethnic armed groups, some of which had been fighting the Myanmar military for many decades. There were clear opportunities for progress, but as Crisis Group warned in a June 2017 report, “the path toward a negotiated end to Myanmar’s conflicts remain[ed] fraught with difficulties”. Since then, these difficulties have come to the fore, to the extent that the peace process has now stalled for the past two years. Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD government has been unable to steer the political dialogue process forward or convince non-signatories to sign the NCA, and the ceasefire monitoring mechanism designed to resolve disputes between the military and ethnic armed group signatories has proven largely ineffective. The trust that once existed has long since dissipated and the peace process now faces an uncertain future. The next twelve months, during which Myanmar is scheduled to hold elections and swear in its next government, offer an opportunity to reset and recalibrate. This report examines some of the reasons why the peace process has stumbled and proposes concrete initiatives that all parties can undertake to kickstart negotiations in 2021, when the new government will come to power. A reboot will require not only technical fixes to the peace process architecture but more importantly reestablishment of trust through a fresh approach and shift in attitude, particularly from the government and the military. The report focuses primarily on the political dialogue process and implementation of the NCA with current signatories, rather than negotiations with non-signatories, as unless progress is made on both these aspects first, there will be little incentive for most of these groups to sign the national ceasefire. This report is based on Crisis Group research since January 2020, including interviews with members of the government’s peacemaking team, officials from peace process bodies, ethnic armed group representatives, diplomats, donors, civil society organisation staff, and local researchers and analysts. Due to the emergence of COVID-19, planned travel for the report was not possible. Interviews took place in Yangon, some in person and others by phone or videoconference. II. The Peace Process in Disarray When Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD came to power in March 2016, hopes were high that it could lead the peace process forward. Aung San Suu Kyi’s political authority, her stated commitment to the peace process and the prospect of more friendly relations with China, which has leverage over some of the armed groups near its border, provided a strong base to build on her predecessor’s work. The NLD moved quickly to install a new peace team, convene a Union Peace Conference – rebranded as Panglong-21 – in July 2016 and encourage the remaining armed groups to sign the NCA so that they could join the political negotiations. Progress was much slower and more difficult than the NLD had anticipated. Facebook Email After the initial optimism that followed the election, however, progress was much slower and more difficult than the NLD had anticipated. Aside from underestimating the scale of the challenge, the NLD made some significant miscalculations, including its choice of negotiators and its prioritisation of formal talks over informal discussions. It also viewed itself as a neutral actor in the process, seeing its role as mediating between the military and ethnic armed groups – a fundamental misreading of how many ethnic minorities perceive the party and government more broadly, dominated as they are by ethnic Burmans. Efforts to convince non-signatory groups to sign the NCA quickly stalled, and most of them soon joined forces under the leadership of the country’s largest armed group, the United Wa State Army, to reject the ceasefire outright and call for fresh negotiations. They still have not signed the NCA and as a result have yet to formally join the political dialogue, except occasionally as observers. Two other armed groups that were not part of the United Wa State Army-led bloc, the New Mon State Party and Lahu Democratic Union, signed the NCA in April 2018, but they have few combatants and little political heft. Signatories, who were already concerned at pursuing political dialogue in the absence of the country’s most powerful armed groups, also grew increasingly frustrated at the NLD’s bureaucratic approach to negotiations, its inflexibility and its unwillingness to challenge the military’s positions. The majority of them have come to see the NLD’s position on power sharing as being broadly aligned with that of Myanmar’s military, in that they both represent the interests of the Burman Buddhist majority and are unwilling to make significant concessions to ethnic minorities (see Section IV for details). The NLD’s initial eagerness to pursue peace negotiations was based largely on its belief that such talks would be the easiest way to achieve its desired changes to Myanmar’s military-drafted constitution. The military – which holds an effective veto over changes to the charter through its presence in parliament – has said resolving Myanmar’s conflicts is a precondition for any substantial constitutional reform. Since the peace process was supposed to lead to a political settlement with armed groups and the introduction of some form of federalism, requiring significant changes to the constitution, the NLD hoped to use the opportunity to simultaneously introduce additional amendments that reflected its other ambitions, in particular the dilution of the military’s political role. But as the scale of the peace challenge became increasingly clear, the government shifted focus, pursuing constitutional change through parliamentary channels and prioritising grassroots economic development, another of its core electoral promises. In the process, it ended up neglecting the peace negotiations. Sensing that disarmament of ethnic armed groups is increasingly unlikely, Myanmar’s generals have also become less enthusiastic about the peace process and hardened their position. Facebook Email This perceived lack of commitment from the NLD has created resentment and mistrust among ethnic armed groups, while other factors further undermine progress. Deteriorating personal relations and political competition between Aung San Suu Kyi and Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing have weakened coordination between the government and military. Sensing that disarmament of ethnic armed groups is increasingly unlikely, Myanmar’s generals have also become less enthusiastic about the peace process and hardened their position that signing the NCA is a prerequisite for participating in political dialogue. Some of the military’s actions, particularly the building of strategic roads through Karen National Union territory in Kayin State, have significantly undermined trust and confidence in the NCA. Expanding conflict in Rakhine and northern Shan States, discussed in more detail below, has also created new challenges for political dialogue with NCA signatories and ceasefire negotiations with non-signatories. The inability of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) to resolve such disagreements between the military and NCA signatory groups has further eroded trust. Although the JMC showed some initial promise, its structural shortcomings gradually came to the fore. Particularly problematic is the fact that all JMC bodies, from the national to local levels, are chaired by military officers, with ethnic armed groups only able to appoint vice chairs. Further, the civilian appointees, who are supposed to be neutral, have struggled to mediate between the different sides. The military has rejected proposals from ethnic armed groups to revise the JMC’s structure or include international representatives in the ceasefire monitoring process as observers or advisers – a prospect that was envisaged in the NCA text. Another factor that has undermined the peace process is the failure to implement the “interim arrangements” section of the NCA, which had been anticipated as one of the agreement’s major peace dividends. The ceasefire proposes “coordination” on “programs and projects” in ethnic armed group-held territory in a range of areas, including health, education, socio-economic development, environmental conservation and drug eradication. This section of the NCA could have facilitated on-the-ground cooperation and trust building between the government and ethnic armed groups, but disputes over interpretation have stymied progress: the government’s National Reconciliation and Peace Centre has demanded ethnic armed groups seek permission for all such activities, while ethnic armed groups argue that it should be a partnership where projects and initiatives are agreed jointly. At the same time, the government has been accused of introducing laws, policies and programs – such as new laws on land acquisition – that affect people in ethnic armed group areas, without any consultation. As a result, the peace process has been at a standstill since 2018. The government has been able to hold only three Panglong-21 peace conferences since taking office – despite the political dialogue framework specifying that one take place every six months – and the most recent, in July 2018, was largely symbolic. To make matters worse, two key NCA signatories, the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State, suspended their participation following a disastrous “high-level” meeting with the government and military in October 2018. Clashes between the Arakan Army and the military in Rakhine State escalated dramatically. Facebook Email Shortly afterward, in January 2019, clashes between the Arakan Army and the military in Rakhine State escalated dramatically. The fighting has since spread and intensified into the bloodiest conflict that Myanmar has experienced in recent decades. It shows no sign of abating. With political dialogue negotiations on hold, the government and military have tried to reach bilateral ceasefires with the Arakan Army and three related groups – the Kachin Independence Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army – as a precursor to signing the NCA. But the proposal required these groups to accept major restrictions on their areas of operations, including an Arakan Army withdrawal from Rakhine State. This unrealistic demand ensured that the talks failed and even helped stoke conflict in northern Shan State: in an effort to shake up negotiations, the newly formed Brotherhood Alliance – comprising the Arakan Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army – launched deadly attacks along the region’s main highway in August 2019. When the NLD came to office, there was optimism that support from China could be an important asset for driving the peace process forward. Although China has gradually become more involved, it has limited its role mainly to facilitating talks with non-signatory groups operating along its border. Its only significant intervention in the political dialogue process has been to enable the attendance of non-signatories at Panglong-21 conferences. China’s interest seems to be primarily in ensuring stability in border areas, in part to support its economic ambitions, not in facilitating the peace process as a whole. Increasingly, it appears sceptical of the prospects for a political settlement to Myanmar’s conflicts. Instead, it is promoting economic development and integration as a way to end the fighting. III. Preserving the Peace Process in an Election Year As Myanmar entered an election year in 2020, prospects for substantive progress appeared dim. The two most important signatories to the NCA, the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State, had suspended their participation in the peace process more than a year earlier. Negotiations with non-signatories to the NCA had stalled amid heavy fighting in Rakhine and northern Shan States. Negotiators from the government and ethnic armed groups agreed that formal discussions would be unlikely after June 2020, as the government would be consumed by preparations for the vote and armed groups would be unwilling to do anything that could give the NLD an electoral advantage. Despite these hurdles, the election has also created some renewed impetus for the peace process with NCA signatories. Facebook Email Despite these hurdles, the election has also created some renewed impetus for the peace process with NCA signatories. In 2015, the NLD told voters that ending the country’s long-running conflict would be one of its three priorities while in office. Embarking five years later on a re-election campaign with the peace process in disarray could make it easy prey for critics and political rivals, particularly in ethnic minority areas. For all the complaints about the status of negotiations, there is also genuine concern among ethnic armed groups that the process could collapse due to either armed conflict, a change in government or a lack of momentum, threatening nearly a decade of effort. “Nobody wants the peace process to die. But this is a treacherous stretch because of the election”, said one peace process observer. In an effort to salvage the process and show results before the electoral campaign, in late 2019 the government took the initiative of arranging a semi-informal dialogue with NCA signatories. Its apparent willingness to negotiate and address some of the perceived roadblocks, for example by clarifying some key terms in the NCA, encouraged the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State to return to the process. Since January, a series of formal meetings have taken place with all ten signatories, with the objective of holding another Panglong-21 peace conference before the election. Negotiators on both sides worked hard to stick to the tight deadlines so that the conference could take place in late April or May, although the COVID-19 pandemic has now forced negotiators to postpone it to July or August at the earliest. In preparation for these discussions, the NCA signatories resolved some of their own internal differences. Within the signatories’ coordinating body, the Peace Process Steering Team, the more powerful members had long chafed at being treated on par with groups that have few armed forces and little political influence. In early December, the group agreed to new terms of reference for the steering team that gave the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State more authority. The leader of the Restoration Council of Shan State, Lieutenant General Yawd Serk, is now heading negotiations with the government, but it is the Karen National Union that is essentially driving policy for the NCA signatories. Sensing their renewed political leverage with the government, the NCA signatories have pushed for an ambitious suite of agreements in exchange for participating in a Panglong-21 conference. These include an addendum to the NCA that defines some of its key terms and a broader framework for the establishment of a “federal democratic union”, with timelines for implementation. The signatories argue that these agreements, which would be approved at the Panglong-21 conference and then by the national legislature, are necessary guarantees for them to feel confident about how the process will move forward post-election. The outcome of negotiations is likely to be more modest than the armed groups initially hoped. The government has pushed back against some of their proposals, including the idea of timelines, and the short window available before the conference takes place, the lack of capacity on all sides and the impact of COVID-19 are likely to constrain what can be achieved. Still, the talks probably will result in at least some progress toward agreements to address some of the issues that have been stumbling blocks over the past four years. At a minimum, a Panglong-21 conference will take place – COVID-19 permitting – and the peace process will be preserved for resumption at some point after the election. As an analyst close to ethnic armed groups said: There’s a will and intention to hold a Panglong-21 conference. The question is less whether it will happen than what the purpose and outcome will be, as there’s a huge range of potential outcomes … but it’s also positive if at a minimum the parties recommit themselves to continue the process. That’s significantly different from what some of them were saying a year ago. Although positive, the return of the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State to the peace process and the prospect of a Panglong-21 conference should not be interpreted as any kind of major breakthrough. The recent negotiations that facilitated these developments aim to address mostly technical problems within the peace process. Others, such as the government’s lack of vision and commitment, or its highly centralised decision-making process, and the unwillingness of the government or military to cede any control, will continue to undermine progress toward a peace settlement until they are addressed. These are discussed in more detail in Section IV. There are a number of issues that could stymie even the modest goals of the government and NCA signatories. Facebook Email There are also a number of issues that could stymie even the modest goals of the government and NCA signatories. The first is the lack of clarity over the position of the Myanmar military, and in particular its commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on the recent talks. The NCA signatories’ key demand – clarification of some terms in the ceasefire accord – could encounter pushback from the military, particularly if its leadership wants to deprive the NLD of political mileage ahead of the election. Even while talks were taking place, the Myanmar army has clashed with both the Karen National Union and Restoration Council of Shan State, both NCA signatories. Military obstruction was also partly to blame for the Restoration Council of Shan State’s leader, Lieutenant General Yawd Serk, being unable to travel to a meeting in Naypyitaw in late October, which delayed the resumption of formal talks with NCA signatories. The election is also likely to amplify the ethnic grievances that underpin Myanmar’s armed conflicts. Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD is expected to win enough seats to choose the president and form the next government, thanks to her popularity with the Burman majority, but ethnic minorities are increasingly aggrieved by her government’s Burman nationalist tone and Burman dominance in political institutions. Rather than curb its ambitions in ethnic minority areas to defuse tension, the NLD has redoubled its efforts to win seats there, forming an Ethnic Affairs Committee to spearhead its campaign. The government has also relaxed residency requirements for voting, which has angered ethnic parties because it means that more Burman migrants living in ethnic minority areas – who are likely to support the NLD – will be able to cast ballots. Although an important step for ensuring universal suffrage in practice, it is perceived as an attempt to shore up NLD support in minority regions. The Union Election Commission is also expected to cancel voting in parts or whole constituencies in minority areas due to armed conflict. This dynamic is most evident in Rakhine State, where marginalisation under the NLD has caused many ethnic Rakhine to lose faith in the political process. Although the main local political formation, the Arakan National Party, performed strongly in the 2015 election, winning the majority of elected seats in Rakhine State at both the local and national level, the NLD refused to let it form the state government, instead appointing one of its own members of parliament as chief minister. In January 2018, police opened fire on a crowd that had gathered in the ancient city of Mrauk-U to mark the anniversary of an independent Rakhine kingdom’s fall to the Burmans. They killed at least seven people. Days later, the government arrested the state’s leading political figure, Dr Aye Maung, and sentenced him to twenty years’ imprisonment for high treason. These events badly dented Rakhine faith in electoral democracy and fuelled support for the Arakan Army insurgency that has raged across the state since January 2019, leaving hundreds dead and at least 78,000 displaced in Rakhine and southern Chin States. The other factor creating uncertainty is the COVID-19 pandemic. Facebook Email The other factor creating uncertainty is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Myanmar has had only a limited number of confirmed cases at the time of writing, the government has introduced a range of social distancing measures, such as bans on large gatherings, in order to mitigate the contagion’s potential spread. The Restoration Council of Shan State has already been forced to cancel a planned “national-level political dialogue” between the group and other Shan stakeholders to gather input for the Panglong-21 conference. Negotiators in the peace process have also since agreed to push back the national peace conference to July or August. Given how little is known about the pandemic’s possible evolution in Myanmar, these dates should be treated with caution. But those involved in the peace process say all sides are committed to convening the highly symbolic conference at some point this year. IV. The Need for a Decisive Shake-up The Panglong-21 peace conference would mark the conclusion of the formal peace negotiations under the current government’s term, after which attention will turn to the elections. The hiatus could last anywhere from six to twelve months, and there would likely be a similar break even if COVID-19 concerns delay Panglong-21. The elections themselves could also be postponed on account of the pandemic, but whenever they take place the NLD is likely to win enough seats to again select the president and form the new government. The NLD could thus resume talks almost immediately after the polls, though it is more likely to wait until it swears in a new cabinet, expected (under the current schedule) in late March 2021. All sides should use this period of downtime constructively, both to re-examine their positions and to address weaknesses in their strategy and approach. The government has a particular responsibility to set the tone and direction of future peace talks. Facebook Email The government has a particular responsibility to set the tone and direction of future peace talks, and to use its political authority to drive the process forward. If the peace process is to make progress from 2021, the NLD will need to show newfound levels of leadership, commitment, empathy and flexibility. The party has a major asset in the person of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, who still enjoys immense political capital, but this advantage alone will not be sufficient: the NLD government will need a decisive change in approach to rebuild damaged trust with ethnic armed groups, particularly the NCA signatories involved in formal negotiations toward a political settlement. Key steps the government could take to relaunch the process include: Key to this vision is what a future federal democratic union might look like in practice. Facebook Email Articulate a new vision for the peace process. The NLD approached the peace process in 2016 as a means to an end – achieving its desired constitutional reforms – and the hollowness of its commitment soon became apparent. Both in public and in private, government officials and peace negotiators also show a lack of empathy for the legitimate grievances of ethnic communities, and a misunderstanding of how Burmans – particularly Burman elites – are perceived by many minority groups. In order to gain the trust of ethnic armed group negotiators, the NLD should articulate a vision that goes beyond the platitudes that presently dominate its statements and more clearly distinguishes its own position from that of the military. Key to this vision is what a future federal democratic union might look like in practice, in particular how it would address the grievances of minorities and reduce the longstanding Burman Buddhist dominance over levers of power. Back up this vision with short-term actions. The 2008 constitution is a barrier to decentralisation of power in the short term, because it establishes a centralised governance structure and can only be amended with the military’s backing. Nevertheless, the NLD could do much more under the current framework to signal its commitment to granting more autonomy to ethnic minorities. It could start immediately after the next elections: rather than repeat its actions in 2016, when it selected its own parliamentarians as chief ministers of Rakhine and Shan States despite not holding pluralities in those state legislatures, it should appoint chief ministers based on these assemblies’ composition following the polls scheduled for November 2020. The NLD could also use its control of government and the national parliament to undertake decentralisation measures that do not require constitutional change, such as providing more autonomy to the current state and region administrations and boosting their capacity. Such short-term actions will build confidence in its long-term vision for a political solution to Myanmar’s conflicts. The NLD should look to overhaul and expand its current team. Facebook Email Overhaul and expand the peacemaking team. Many of the government’s current negotiators lack the commitment and desire to lead the peace process, and appear to have little understanding of the conflicts or the ethnic grievances that underpin them. Below the leadership, most of the staff at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre are former bureaucrats or government staff on secondment. Many of them see working on the peace process as a career detour, and their instinct is to place a high priority on protocol and formalities rather than the actual negotiations. Although some civil servants are capable and committed, the most effective members are often those who come from outside the government and party. The NLD should look both within its own ranks and its broader network to overhaul and expand its current team by bringing in full-time members and advisers from diverse backgrounds, including business leaders, political representatives, civil society leaders and academics, who have the commitment and vision to help the government drive the process forward. Empower peace representatives. The government’s decision-making process is highly centralised in the office of Aung San Suu Kyi. The representatives it sends to negotiate are not empowered to make decisions and instead have to relay proposals back to headquarters. “We are like messengers”, said one negotiator. “We note down what the ethnic armed groups say and give it to [the State Counsellor’s Office]”. Although this issue is primarily one of delegating responsibility, it may help to remove the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre from the state counsellor’s office and create a new, more independent, ministerial-level peace body. This step would not only improve coordination between the government’s top peace negotiator and other ministries, but also send a strong signal that the government is committed to the peace process. It is essential, however, that this body be genuinely empowered to streamline decision-making and implementation, not created simply as a public relations stunt. Prioritise genuinely informal dialogue. The Thein Sein administration’s peace team developed trust with ethnic armed group leaders in part through regular informal meetings at which issues could be discussed openly. When the NLD took over, it dispensed with this approach, focusing on formal talks and performative set-piece ceremonies. More recently, the government has recognised the importance of more open dialogue, but it has yet to pursue genuinely informal talks. “The government’s definition of informal isn’t really that different from previous formal meetings. It’s still structured, rigid, with all the trappings of a formal meeting”, said one source close to ethnic armed groups. The looming downtime around the elections offers a good opportunity to resume such gatherings away from the pressure of deadlines and formal negotiating positions. When it becomes possible, donors could help arrange retreats or study trips with less strict schedules to allow for mingling and discussions. In parallel, the military should: Halt infrastructure projects in ethnic armed group territory. The military’s construction of a strategic road through Karen National Union-held territory in Kayin State – and the inability of the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee to resolve the dispute – was one of the key reasons that the Karen National Union withdrew from the peace process in 2018. More recently, the Karen National Union has accused the military of using drones to undertake reconnaissance of its bases. Both are contrary to the spirit (if not the letter) of the NCA and have severely undermined confidence in the agreement. Fighting sparked by the road construction has resulted in civilian casualties, which also represents a likely violation of the NCA. The military should immediately stop building infrastructure in areas under the control of ethnic armed groups. Immediately demarcating territory would rebuild some trust and create more confidence among ethnic armed groups. Facebook Email Demarcate territory with NCA signatories. The military has argued that building the road in Kayin State is not a violation of the NCA in part because territory has not yet been demarcated. But the absence of demarcation is largely the result of military obstruction: when ethnic armed groups have raised the issue during negotiations, the military has refused to discuss it. Immediately demarcating territory would rebuild some trust and create more confidence among ethnic armed groups that the military is genuinely interested in a negotiated solution, rather than using the NCA to weaken the ethnic armed groups’ hold over their territory, as has often been the case in the past. Together, the government and military should: Strengthen the joint nature of the peace process. The peace process is supposed to be co-managed by all parties, but the government and military have been reluctant to genuinely share control with ethnic armed groups. In key peace process institutions such as the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee and the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee, which oversees the political dialogue process, the government and military have appointed the chair and ethnic armed groups are left to appoint the deputies. Introducing a rotating leadership, particularly for the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee, would send an important message that these bodies are “joint” in practice and not merely in name, and could help to make them more effective. Strengthen the ceasefire and adhere to its terms. The failure to implement some ceasefire terms – for example, the stipulation that the military and ethnic armed groups meet within fourteen days of signing to set timelines for implementation – or to jointly define terms in the text such as “ceasefire areas” and “interim period”, have sapped confidence among signatories and discouraged other ethnic armed groups from signing. The government’s perceived failure to stick to the “interim arrangements” section – for example, in not consulting signatories on changes to Myanmar’s land laws – has also undermined the agreement. The government and military should work with NCA signatories to clarify key sections of the ceasefire accord and begin implementation of the interim arrangements, such as those that specify coordination on health, education and social development. Most pressingly, they ought to coordinate on measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Adopt a more flexible policy toward NCA non-signatories. Presently, ethnic armed groups that have not signed the NCA are unable to formally participate in political dialogue negotiations toward a Union Peace Accord. Given that some of these groups are among the country’s largest and most active, this requirement is a major barrier to progress in achieving peace. Without their participation, the process lacks legitimacy and inclusivity. The government and military should adopt a more flexible policy – for example, allowing them to participate in political dialogue once they have reached a bilateral ceasefire, but prior to signing the nationwide ceasefire, which will inevitably require time since most groups will not sign until some of the terms are amended. For their part, ethnic armed groups should: Ethnic armed groups have yet to clearly articulate what they want from the peace process. Facebook Email Clarify policy positions on key issues. Ethnic armed groups have yet to clearly articulate what they want from the peace process beyond statements covering broad ideals. The lack of clarity is understandable: the signatories are diverse and struggle to develop consensus positions. But it hinders both progress in negotiations and leaders’ efforts to delegate authority to negotiating teams. Most urgently, ethnic groups should detail the powers they would want ethnic minority-dominated areas to have under a federal system. Sequence demands to build trust. Ethnic armed groups that have signed the NCA should give careful consideration to how they approach negotiations after the election. Immediately pushing for significant political concessions, such as the withdrawal of the Myanmar military from politics, even in the expectation that they will ultimately scale back their demands, could further harm relations with senior government and military leaders. A better approach may be to focus on less controversial topics – for example, land law reform or cooperation between government and ethnic-run systems in the health and education sectors – in order to build trust and avoid a backlash, and then make progress over time on the bigger issues of federalism, power sharing and integration of armed forces. Meanwhile, all parties to the peace process should: All parties should review the political dialogue structure. Facebook Email Simplify the peace process structure. The present architecture is overly complex, particularly the aspects dealing with the political dialogue process (see Appendix B). In their attempt to generate a genuinely “bottom-up” dialogue, the drafters of the framework for political dialogue created an extensive consultation process that included a wide range of stakeholders. Although the objective was laudable, the end result has proven largely ineffective and an unmanageable staffing burden for all sides. All parties should review the political dialogue structure, particularly the usefulness and practicality of the numerous thematic working committees, supervisory committees and national-level dialogues. The aim should be to streamline the process while maintaining a reasonable level of consultation and participation. Donors should assist this review, if requested, without being wedded to the current architecture just because they supported its development. Enhance women’s role. Despite commitments in the NCA and framework for political dialogue that women would be given a significant role, the peace process remains dominated by older men. Although the proportion of women representatives at Union Peace Conferences has increased steadily, from just 7 per cent of attendees at the first meeting in January 2016 to 22 per cent at the July 2018 talks, they remain underrepresented and their capacity to influence decisions extremely limited. Away from these large conferences, women hold even fewer positions on key peace process institutions, such as the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee or Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee. This lack of participation belies the fact that women play an influential but often informal role in politics and civil society, including peacebuilding initiatives and dispute resolution at the community level. Many women in Myanmar have valuable political experience as mediators, facilitators, negotiators and peacebuilders but are excluded from formal processes. Drawing on this practical experience would not only ensure that women’s perspectives are heard – and women’s rights reflected in potential peace agreements – but also bring fresh thinking to help reinvigorate the stalled negotiations. All parties should create opportunities for women to meaningfully participate in every aspect of the peace process and future governance, not just peace conferences. Finally, donors and non-governmental organisations should help all parties to: Begin examining the economics of conflict. To date, the peace process has focused on reaching political solutions to Myanmar’s conflicts. On their own, however, these are unlikely to suffice. Armed groups, including Myanmar military-aligned Border Guard Forces and militias, rely on various sources of mostly illicit income and almost certainly will not give up their arms without a viable plan for replacing at least some of what they are earning now with revenues from licit businesses. The explosion of crystal methamphetamine (or “ice”) production in northern Shan State over the past few years highlights the risks of ignoring the issue. Armed groups may not be as resistant to giving up these revenue streams as they might initially appear. Illicit income entails a range of significant risks, among them the possibility of upsetting the political balance among different non-state armed groups. Finding sustainable alternatives to this illicit economy will inevitably be a long process. Facebook Email Finding sustainable alternatives to this illicit economy will inevitably be a long process. Given the limited available capacity within the government, military and ethnic armed groups, they are likely to focus instead on more pressing issues that are being discussed at the negotiating table. In parallel, however, donors could begin supporting non-governmental organisations, think-tanks and independent researchers to undertake detailed studies on the economic dynamics underlying the conflict. These studies could then be used by decision-makers in consultation with armed groups to come up with income substitution solutions. One example is informal trade, from which many armed groups profit by running their own unofficial border crossings. Most of the goods that pass through these gates – everything from cattle to liquor and detergent – are not outright illegal, but regulations encourage traders to use non-official crossings. A roadmap to revise these regulations and give ethnic armed groups time to make the transition to licit businesses could substantially reduce illicit trade. Similarly, the next six to twelve months offer an opportunity for the same groups to devote time and resources to studying other important but overlooked political economy issues that are affecting or will affect the peace process. One example is the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative), which could entrench the role of armed groups in the political economy, particularly in Shan State, and aggravate underlying ethnic grievances toward the government. Another is the rarely discussed role of the thousands of pro-military militias across Myanmar that are not included in the peace process. Although some of these are small village defence units with little clout, others have developed into fighting forces with more political and military influence than many of the ethnic armed groups involved in the peace process. They have built themselves up primarily by engaging in illicit economic activities, including running casinos, as well as smuggling narcotics and other goods. V. Conclusion Discussions over the past six months among the NLD government, the military and signatories of the National Ceasefire Agreement have confirmed that all stakeholders want the peace process to continue after the general election tentatively slated for November this year. Given the alternatives, even a mostly symbolic Panglong-21 conference would be welcome, and all sides should work toward this short-term goal. But the peace conference should not be seen for more than what it is: an attempt to keep the peace process alive into 2021. Over the last two years, progress has largely stalled, and tensions have increased among the three key stakeholders. It was only the government’s electoral imperatives and the prospect of the ceasefire collapsing that brought key ethnic armed groups back to the negotiating table. Nevertheless, the elections offer an important chance for a reset after the missed opportunities and disappointments of the NLD’s first term. The peace process will be put on hold for at least six months after the Panglong-21 conference due to the elections, and the parties should use this time to lay the groundwork for greater progress in negotiations when they start again in 2021. Even if the spread of COVID-19 necessitates further delays for convening the next Panglong-21 (and potentially also the elections), there will still be an equivalent period of downtime during which formal negotiations will not take place. All sides should use this period to review their positions, address their internal weaknesses, and build trust and confidence with each other away from the pressure of meetings and deadlines. All should make the most of this opportunity, but the primary responsibility rests with the NLD, which is likely to remain in power for another five-year term. The onus will then be on the NLD government to articulate a new, more inclusive vision for the peace process and to exhibit the political will to make it a reality. Yangon/Brussels, 19 June 2020 Appendix A: Map of Myanmar CRISISGROUP Appendix B: Organogram: Peace Process CRISISGROUP Appendix C: List of Main Ethnic Armed Groups and Their Ceasefire Status | Mid | [
0.563440860215053,
32.75,
25.375
] |
using J2N.Numerics;
using J2N.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using YAF.Lucene.Net.Diagnostics;
using YAF.Lucene.Net.Support;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Reflection;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using JCG = J2N.Collections.Generic;
namespace YAF.Lucene.Net.Util
{
/*
* Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
* contributor license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed with
* this work for additional information regarding copyright ownership.
* The ASF licenses this file to You under the Apache License, Version 2.0
* (the "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance with
* the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
*
* http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
*
* Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
* distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
* WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
* See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
* limitations under the License.
*/
/// <summary>
/// Estimates the size (memory representation) of .NET objects.
/// <para/>
/// @lucene.internal
/// </summary>
/// <seealso cref="SizeOf(object)"/>
/// <seealso cref="ShallowSizeOf(object)"/>
/// <seealso cref="ShallowSizeOfInstance(Type)"/>
public sealed class RamUsageEstimator
{
///// <summary>
///// JVM info string for debugging and reports. </summary>
//public static readonly string JVM_INFO_STRING; // LUCENENET specific - this is not being used
/// <summary>
/// One kilobyte bytes. </summary>
public const long ONE_KB = 1024;
/// <summary>
/// One megabyte bytes. </summary>
public const long ONE_MB = ONE_KB * ONE_KB;
/// <summary>
/// One gigabyte bytes. </summary>
public const long ONE_GB = ONE_KB * ONE_MB;
/// <summary>
/// No instantiation. </summary>
private RamUsageEstimator()
{
}
public const int NUM_BYTES_BOOLEAN = sizeof(bool); //1;
public const int NUM_BYTES_BYTE = sizeof(byte); //1;
public const int NUM_BYTES_CHAR = sizeof(char); //2;
/// <summary>
/// NOTE: This was NUM_BYTES_SHORT in Lucene
/// </summary>
public const int NUM_BYTES_INT16 = sizeof(short); //2;
/// <summary>
/// NOTE: This was NUM_BYTES_INT in Lucene
/// </summary>
public const int NUM_BYTES_INT32 = sizeof(int); //4;
/// <summary>
/// NOTE: This was NUM_BYTES_FLOAT in Lucene
/// </summary>
public const int NUM_BYTES_SINGLE = sizeof(float); //4;
/// <summary>
/// NOTE: This was NUM_BYTES_LONG in Lucene
/// </summary>
public const int NUM_BYTES_INT64 = sizeof(long); //8;
public const int NUM_BYTES_DOUBLE = sizeof(double); //8;
/// <summary>
/// Number of bytes this .NET runtime uses to represent an object reference.
/// </summary>
public static readonly int NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_REF = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 8 : 4; // LUCENENET: Avoid static constructors (see https://github.com/apache/lucenenet/pull/224#issuecomment-469284006)
/// <summary>
/// Number of bytes to represent an object header (no fields, no alignments).
/// </summary>
public static readonly int NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_HEADER = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? (8 + 8) : 8; // LUCENENET: Avoid static constructors (see https://github.com/apache/lucenenet/pull/224#issuecomment-469284006)
/// <summary>
/// Number of bytes to represent an array header (no content, but with alignments).
/// </summary>
public static readonly int NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? (8 + 2 * 8) : 12; // LUCENENET: Avoid static constructors (see https://github.com/apache/lucenenet/pull/224#issuecomment-469284006)
/// <summary>
/// A constant specifying the object alignment boundary inside the .NET runtime. Objects will
/// always take a full multiple of this constant, possibly wasting some space.
/// </summary>
public static readonly int NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_ALIGNMENT = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 8 : 4; // LUCENENET: Avoid static constructors (see https://github.com/apache/lucenenet/pull/224#issuecomment-469284006)
/// <summary>
/// Sizes of primitive classes.
/// </summary>
// LUCENENET specific - Identity comparer is not necessary here because Type is already representing an identity
private static readonly IDictionary<Type, int> primitiveSizes = new Dictionary<Type, int>(/*IdentityEqualityComparer<Type>.Default*/) // LUCENENET: Avoid static constructors (see https://github.com/apache/lucenenet/pull/224#issuecomment-469284006)
{
[typeof(bool)] = NUM_BYTES_BOOLEAN,
[typeof(sbyte)] = NUM_BYTES_BYTE,
[typeof(byte)] = NUM_BYTES_BYTE,
[typeof(char)] = NUM_BYTES_CHAR,
[typeof(short)] = NUM_BYTES_INT16,
[typeof(ushort)] = NUM_BYTES_INT16,
[typeof(int)] = NUM_BYTES_INT32,
[typeof(uint)] = NUM_BYTES_INT32,
[typeof(float)] = NUM_BYTES_SINGLE,
[typeof(double)] = NUM_BYTES_DOUBLE,
[typeof(long)] = NUM_BYTES_INT64,
[typeof(ulong)] = NUM_BYTES_INT64
};
// LUCENENET specific: Moved all estimates to static initializers to avoid using a static constructor
//static RamUsageEstimator()
//{
// Initialize empirically measured defaults. We'll modify them to the current
// JVM settings later on if possible.
// int referenceSize = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 8 : 4;
// int objectHeader = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 16 : 8;
// The following is objectHeader + NUM_BYTES_INT32, but aligned(object alignment)
// so on 64 bit JVMs it'll be align(16 + 4, @8) = 24.
// int arrayHeader = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 24 : 12;
// int objectAlignment = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? 8 : 4;
// Type unsafeClass = null;
// object tempTheUnsafe = null;
// try
// {
// unsafeClass = Type.GetType("sun.misc.Unsafe");
// FieldInfo unsafeField = unsafeClass.getDeclaredField("theUnsafe");
// unsafeField.Accessible = true;
// tempTheUnsafe = unsafeField.get(null);
// }
// catch (Exception e)
// {
// // Ignore.
// }
// TheUnsafe = tempTheUnsafe;
// // get object reference size by getting scale factor of Object[] arrays:
// try
// {
// Method arrayIndexScaleM = unsafeClass.GetMethod("arrayIndexScale", typeof(Type));
// referenceSize = (int)((Number)arrayIndexScaleM.invoke(TheUnsafe, typeof(object[])));
// }
// catch (Exception e)
// {
// // ignore.
// }
// // "best guess" based on reference size. We will attempt to modify
// // these to exact values if there is supported infrastructure.
// objectHeader = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? (8 + referenceSize) : 8;
// arrayHeader = Constants.RUNTIME_IS_64BIT ? (8 + 2 * referenceSize) : 12;
// // get the object header size:
// // - first try out if the field offsets are not scaled (see warning in Unsafe docs)
// // - get the object header size by getting the field offset of the first field of a dummy object
// // If the scaling is byte-wise and unsafe is available, enable dynamic size measurement for
// // estimateRamUsage().
// Method tempObjectFieldOffsetMethod = null;
// try
// {
// Method objectFieldOffsetM = unsafeClass.GetMethod("objectFieldOffset", typeof(FieldInfo));
// FieldInfo dummy1Field = typeof(DummyTwoLongObject).getDeclaredField("dummy1");
// int ofs1 = (int)((Number)objectFieldOffsetM.invoke(TheUnsafe, dummy1Field));
// FieldInfo dummy2Field = typeof(DummyTwoLongObject).getDeclaredField("dummy2");
// int ofs2 = (int)((Number)objectFieldOffsetM.invoke(TheUnsafe, dummy2Field));
// if (Math.Abs(ofs2 - ofs1) == NUM_BYTES_LONG)
// {
// FieldInfo baseField = typeof(DummyOneFieldObject).getDeclaredField("base");
// objectHeader = (int)((Number)objectFieldOffsetM.invoke(TheUnsafe, baseField));
// tempObjectFieldOffsetMethod = objectFieldOffsetM;
// }
// }
// catch (Exception e)
// {
// // Ignore.
// }
// ObjectFieldOffsetMethod = tempObjectFieldOffsetMethod;
// // Get the array header size by retrieving the array base offset
// // (offset of the first element of an array).
// try
// {
// Method arrayBaseOffsetM = unsafeClass.GetMethod("arrayBaseOffset", typeof(Type));
// // we calculate that only for byte[] arrays, it's actually the same for all types:
// arrayHeader = (int)((Number)arrayBaseOffsetM.invoke(TheUnsafe, typeof(sbyte[])));
// }
// catch (Exception e)
// {
// // Ignore.
// }
// NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_REF = referenceSize;
// NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_HEADER = objectHeader;
// NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER = arrayHeader;
// // Try to get the object alignment (the default seems to be 8 on Hotspot,
// // regardless of the architecture).
// int objectAlignment = 8;
// try
// {
// Type beanClazz = Type.GetType("com.sun.management.HotSpotDiagnosticMXBean").asSubclass(typeof(PlatformManagedObject));
// object hotSpotBean = ManagementFactory.getPlatformMXBean(beanClazz);
// if (hotSpotBean != null)
// {
// Method getVMOptionMethod = beanClazz.GetMethod("getVMOption", typeof(string));
// object vmOption = getVMOptionMethod.invoke(hotSpotBean, "ObjectAlignmentInBytes");
// objectAlignment = Convert.ToInt32(vmOption.GetType().GetMethod("getValue").invoke(vmOption).ToString(), CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
// }
// }
// catch (Exception e)
// {
// // Ignore.
// }
// NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_ALIGNMENT = objectAlignment;
// // LUCENENET specific -this is not being used
// JVM_INFO_STRING = "[JVM: " + Constants.JVM_NAME + ", " + Constants.JVM_VERSION + ", " + Constants.JVM_VENDOR + ", " + Constants.JAVA_VENDOR + ", " + Constants.JAVA_VERSION + "]";
//}
///// <summary>
///// A handle to <code>sun.misc.Unsafe</code>.
///// </summary>
//private static readonly object TheUnsafe;
///// <summary>
///// A handle to <code>sun.misc.Unsafe#fieldOffset(Field)</code>.
///// </summary>
//private static readonly Method ObjectFieldOffsetMethod;
/// <summary>
/// Cached information about a given class.
/// </summary>
private sealed class ClassCache
{
public long AlignedShallowInstanceSize { get; private set; }
[WritableArray]
[SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Performance", "CA1819", Justification = "Lucene's design requires some writable array properties")]
public FieldInfo[] ReferenceFields { get; private set; }
public ClassCache(long alignedShallowInstanceSize, FieldInfo[] referenceFields)
{
this.AlignedShallowInstanceSize = alignedShallowInstanceSize;
this.ReferenceFields = referenceFields;
}
}
//// Object with just one field to determine the object header size by getting the offset of the dummy field:
//private sealed class DummyOneFieldObject
//{
// public sbyte @base;
//}
//// Another test object for checking, if the difference in offsets of dummy1 and dummy2 is 8 bytes.
//// Only then we can be sure that those are real, unscaled offsets:
//private sealed class DummyTwoLongObject
//{
// public long Dummy1, Dummy2;
//}
/// <summary>
/// Aligns an object size to be the next multiple of <see cref="NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_ALIGNMENT"/>.
/// </summary>
public static long AlignObjectSize(long size)
{
size += (long)NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_ALIGNMENT - 1L;
return size - (size % NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_ALIGNMENT);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:byte[]"/> object. </summary>
// LUCENENET specific overload for CLS compliance
public static long SizeOf(byte[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:sbyte[]"/> object. </summary>
[CLSCompliant(false)]
public static long SizeOf(sbyte[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:bool[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(bool[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:char[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(char[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_CHAR * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:short[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(short[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT16 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:int[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(int[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT32 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:float[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(float[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_SINGLE * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:long[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(long[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT64 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:double[]"/> object. </summary>
public static long SizeOf(double[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_DOUBLE * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:ulong[]"/> object. </summary>
[CLSCompliant(false)]
public static long SizeOf(ulong[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT64 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:uint[]"/> object. </summary>
[CLSCompliant(false)]
public static long SizeOf(uint[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT32 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the size in bytes of the <see cref="T:ushort[]"/> object. </summary>
[CLSCompliant(false)]
public static long SizeOf(ushort[] arr)
{
return AlignObjectSize((long)NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER + (long)NUM_BYTES_INT16 * arr.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Estimates the RAM usage by the given object. It will
/// walk the object tree and sum up all referenced objects.
///
/// <para><b>Resource Usage:</b> this method internally uses a set of
/// every object seen during traversals so it does allocate memory
/// (it isn't side-effect free). After the method exits, this memory
/// should be GCed.</para>
/// </summary>
public static long SizeOf(object obj)
{
return MeasureObjectSize(obj);
}
/// <summary>
/// Estimates a "shallow" memory usage of the given object. For arrays, this will be the
/// memory taken by array storage (no subreferences will be followed). For objects, this
/// will be the memory taken by the fields.
/// <para/>
/// .NET object alignments are also applied.
/// </summary>
public static long ShallowSizeOf(object obj)
{
if (obj == null)
{
return 0;
}
Type clz = obj.GetType();
if (clz.IsArray)
{
return ShallowSizeOfArray((Array)obj);
}
else
{
return ShallowSizeOfInstance(clz);
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns the shallow instance size in bytes an instance of the given class would occupy.
/// This works with all conventional classes and primitive types, but not with arrays
/// (the size then depends on the number of elements and varies from object to object).
/// </summary>
/// <seealso cref="ShallowSizeOf(object)"/>
/// <exception cref="ArgumentException"> if <paramref name="clazz"/> is an array class. </exception>
public static long ShallowSizeOfInstance(Type clazz)
{
if (clazz.IsArray)
{
throw new ArgumentException("this method does not work with array classes.");
}
if (clazz.IsPrimitive)
{
return primitiveSizes[clazz];
}
long size = NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_HEADER;
// Walk type hierarchy
for (; clazz != null; clazz = clazz.BaseType)
{
FieldInfo[] fields = clazz.GetFields(
BindingFlags.Instance |
BindingFlags.NonPublic |
BindingFlags.Public |
BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly |
BindingFlags.Static);
foreach (FieldInfo f in fields)
{
if (!f.IsStatic)
{
size = AdjustForField(size, f);
}
}
}
return AlignObjectSize(size);
}
/// <summary>
/// Return shallow size of any <paramref name="array"/>.
/// </summary>
private static long ShallowSizeOfArray(Array array)
{
long size = NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER;
int len = array.Length;
if (len > 0)
{
Type arrayElementClazz = array.GetType().GetElementType();
if (arrayElementClazz.IsPrimitive)
{
size += (long)len * primitiveSizes[arrayElementClazz];
}
else
{
size += (long)NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_REF * len;
}
}
return AlignObjectSize(size);
}
/*
* Non-recursive version of object descend. this consumes more memory than recursive in-depth
* traversal but prevents stack overflows on long chains of objects
* or complex graphs (a max. recursion depth on my machine was ~5000 objects linked in a chain
* so not too much).
*/
private static long MeasureObjectSize(object root)
{
// Objects seen so far.
IdentityHashSet<object> seen = new IdentityHashSet<object>();
// Class cache with reference Field and precalculated shallow size.
IDictionary<Type, ClassCache> classCache = new JCG.Dictionary<Type, ClassCache>(IdentityEqualityComparer<Type>.Default);
// Stack of objects pending traversal. Recursion caused stack overflows.
Stack<object> stack = new Stack<object>();
stack.Push(root);
long totalSize = 0;
while (stack.Count > 0)
{
object ob = stack.Pop();
if (ob == null || seen.Contains(ob))
{
continue;
}
seen.Add(ob);
Type obClazz = ob.GetType();
// LUCENENET specific - .NET cannot return a null type for an object, so no need to assert it
if (obClazz.Equals(typeof(string)))
{
// LUCENENET specific - we can get a closer estimate of a string
// by using simple math. Reference: http://stackoverflow.com/a/8171099.
// This fixes the TestSanity test.
totalSize += (2 * (((string)ob).Length + 1));
}
if (obClazz.IsArray)
{
/*
* Consider an array, possibly of primitive types. Push any of its references to
* the processing stack and accumulate this array's shallow size.
*/
long size = NUM_BYTES_ARRAY_HEADER;
Array array = (Array)ob;
int len = array.Length;
if (len > 0)
{
Type componentClazz = obClazz.GetElementType();
if (componentClazz.IsPrimitive)
{
size += (long)len * primitiveSizes[componentClazz];
}
else
{
size += (long)NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_REF * len;
// Push refs for traversal later.
for (int i = len; --i >= 0; )
{
object o = array.GetValue(i);
if (o != null && !seen.Contains(o))
{
stack.Push(o);
}
}
}
}
totalSize += AlignObjectSize(size);
}
else
{
/*
* Consider an object. Push any references it has to the processing stack
* and accumulate this object's shallow size.
*/
try
{
if (!classCache.TryGetValue(obClazz, out ClassCache cachedInfo) || cachedInfo == null)
{
classCache[obClazz] = cachedInfo = CreateCacheEntry(obClazz);
}
foreach (FieldInfo f in cachedInfo.ReferenceFields)
{
// Fast path to eliminate redundancies.
object o = f.GetValue(ob);
if (o != null && !seen.Contains(o))
{
stack.Push(o);
}
}
totalSize += cachedInfo.AlignedShallowInstanceSize;
}
catch (Exception e)
{
// this should never happen as we enabled setAccessible().
throw new Exception("Reflective field access failed?", e);
}
}
}
// Help the GC (?).
seen.Clear();
stack.Clear();
classCache.Clear();
return totalSize;
}
/// <summary>
/// Create a cached information about shallow size and reference fields for
/// a given class.
/// </summary>
private static ClassCache CreateCacheEntry(Type clazz)
{
ClassCache cachedInfo;
long shallowInstanceSize = NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_HEADER;
List<FieldInfo> referenceFields = new List<FieldInfo>(32);
for (Type c = clazz; c != null; c = c.BaseType)
{
FieldInfo[] fields = c.GetFields(
BindingFlags.Instance |
BindingFlags.NonPublic |
BindingFlags.Public |
BindingFlags.DeclaredOnly |
BindingFlags.Static);
foreach (FieldInfo f in fields)
{
if (!f.IsStatic)
{
shallowInstanceSize = AdjustForField(shallowInstanceSize, f);
if (!f.FieldType.IsPrimitive)
{
referenceFields.Add(f);
}
}
}
}
cachedInfo = new ClassCache(AlignObjectSize(shallowInstanceSize), referenceFields.ToArray());
return cachedInfo;
}
/// <summary>
/// This method returns the maximum representation size of an object. <paramref name="sizeSoFar"/>
/// is the object's size measured so far. <paramref name="f"/> is the field being probed.
///
/// <para/>The returned offset will be the maximum of whatever was measured so far and
/// <paramref name="f"/> field's offset and representation size (unaligned).
/// </summary>
private static long AdjustForField(long sizeSoFar, FieldInfo f)
{
Type type = f.FieldType;
int fsize = 0;
if (!(typeof(IntPtr) == type) && !(typeof(UIntPtr) == type))
fsize = type.IsPrimitive ? primitiveSizes[type] : NUM_BYTES_OBJECT_REF;
// LUCENENET NOTE: I dont think this will ever not be null
//if (ObjectFieldOffsetMethod != null)
//{
// try
// {
// long offsetPlusSize = (long)((Number) ObjectFieldOffsetMethod.invoke(TheUnsafe, f)) + fsize;
// return Math.Max(sizeSoFar, offsetPlusSize);
// }
// catch (Exception ex)
// {
// throw new Exception("Access problem with sun.misc.Unsafe", ex);
// }
//}
//else
//{
// // TODO: No alignments based on field type/ subclass fields alignments?
// return sizeSoFar + fsize;
//}
return sizeSoFar + fsize;
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns <c>size</c> in human-readable units (GB, MB, KB or bytes).
/// </summary>
public static string HumanReadableUnits(long bytes)
{
return HumanReadableUnits(bytes, new NumberFormatInfo() { NumberDecimalDigits = 1 });
}
/// <summary>
/// Returns <c>size</c> in human-readable units (GB, MB, KB or bytes).
/// </summary>
public static string HumanReadableUnits(long bytes, IFormatProvider df)
{
if (bytes / ONE_GB > 0)
{
return Convert.ToString(((float)bytes / ONE_GB), df) + " GB";
}
else if (bytes / ONE_MB > 0)
{
return Convert.ToString(((float)bytes / ONE_MB), df) + " MB";
}
else if (bytes / ONE_KB > 0)
{
return Convert.ToString(((float)bytes / ONE_KB), df) + " KB";
}
else
{
return Convert.ToString(bytes) + " bytes";
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Return a human-readable size of a given object. </summary>
/// <seealso cref="SizeOf(object)"/>
/// <seealso cref="HumanReadableUnits(long)"/>
public static string HumanSizeOf(object @object)
{
return HumanReadableUnits(SizeOf(@object));
}
/// <summary>
/// Return a human-readable size of a given object. </summary>
/// <seealso cref="SizeOf(object)"/>
/// <seealso cref="HumanReadableUnits(long)"/>
public static string HumanSizeOf(object @object, IFormatProvider df)
{
return HumanReadableUnits(SizeOf(@object), df);
}
/// <summary>
/// An identity hash set implemented using open addressing. No null keys are allowed.
/// <para/>
/// TODO: If this is useful outside this class, make it public - needs some work
/// </summary>
internal sealed class IdentityHashSet<KType> : IEnumerable<KType>
{
/// <summary>
/// Default load factor.
/// </summary>
public const float DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR = 0.75f;
/// <summary>
/// Minimum capacity for the set.
/// </summary>
public const int MIN_CAPACITY = 4;
/// <summary>
/// All of set entries. Always of power of two length.
/// </summary>
[WritableArray]
[SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Performance", "CA1819", Justification = "Lucene's design requires some writable array properties")]
public object[] Keys
{
get => keys;
set => keys = value;
}
private object[] keys;
/// <summary>
/// Cached number of assigned slots.
/// </summary>
public int Assigned { get; set; }
/// <summary>
/// The load factor for this set (fraction of allocated or deleted slots before
/// the buffers must be rehashed or reallocated).
/// </summary>
public float LoadFactor { get; private set; }
/// <summary>
/// Cached capacity threshold at which we must resize the buffers.
/// </summary>
private int resizeThreshold;
/// <summary>
/// Creates a hash set with the default capacity of 16,
/// load factor of <see cref="DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR"/>.
/// </summary>
public IdentityHashSet()
: this(16, DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR)
{
}
/// <summary>
/// Creates a hash set with the given capacity, load factor of
/// <see cref="DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR"/>.
/// </summary>
public IdentityHashSet(int initialCapacity)
: this(initialCapacity, DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR)
{
}
/// <summary>
/// Creates a hash set with the given capacity and load factor.
/// </summary>
public IdentityHashSet(int initialCapacity, float loadFactor)
{
initialCapacity = Math.Max(MIN_CAPACITY, initialCapacity);
if (Debugging.AssertsEnabled)
{
Debugging.Assert(initialCapacity > 0, () => "Initial capacity must be between (0, " + int.MaxValue + "].");
Debugging.Assert(loadFactor > 0 && loadFactor < 1, "Load factor must be between (0, 1).");
}
this.LoadFactor = loadFactor;
AllocateBuffers(RoundCapacity(initialCapacity));
}
/// <summary>
/// Adds a reference to the set. Null keys are not allowed.
/// </summary>
public bool Add(KType e)
{
if (Debugging.AssertsEnabled) Debugging.Assert(e != null, "Null keys not allowed.");
if (Assigned >= resizeThreshold)
{
ExpandAndRehash();
}
int mask = keys.Length - 1;
int slot = Rehash(e) & mask;
object existing;
while ((existing = keys[slot]) != null)
{
if (object.ReferenceEquals(e, existing))
{
return false; // already found.
}
slot = (slot + 1) & mask;
}
Assigned++;
keys[slot] = e;
return true;
}
/// <summary>
/// Checks if the set contains a given ref.
/// </summary>
public bool Contains(KType e)
{
int mask = keys.Length - 1;
int slot = Rehash(e) & mask;
object existing;
while ((existing = keys[slot]) != null)
{
if (object.ReferenceEquals(e, existing))
{
return true;
}
slot = (slot + 1) & mask;
}
return false;
}
/// <summary>
/// Rehash via MurmurHash.
///
/// <para/>The implementation is based on the
/// finalization step from Austin Appleby's
/// <c>MurmurHash3</c>.
///
/// See <a target="_blank" href="http://sites.google.com/site/murmurhash/">http://sites.google.com/site/murmurhash/</a>.
/// </summary>
private static int Rehash(object o)
{
int k = RuntimeHelpers.GetHashCode(o);
unchecked
{
k ^= k.TripleShift(16);
k *= (int)0x85ebca6b;
k ^= k.TripleShift(13);
k *= (int)0xc2b2ae35;
k ^= k.TripleShift(16);
}
return k;
}
/// <summary>
/// Expand the internal storage buffers (capacity) or rehash current keys and
/// values if there are a lot of deleted slots.
/// </summary>
private void ExpandAndRehash()
{
object[] oldKeys = this.keys;
if (Debugging.AssertsEnabled) Debugging.Assert(Assigned >= resizeThreshold);
AllocateBuffers(NextCapacity(keys.Length));
/*
* Rehash all assigned slots from the old hash table.
*/
int mask = keys.Length - 1;
for (int i = 0; i < oldKeys.Length; i++)
{
object key = oldKeys[i];
if (key != null)
{
int slot = Rehash(key) & mask;
while (keys[slot] != null)
{
slot = (slot + 1) & mask;
}
keys[slot] = key;
}
}
Array.Clear(oldKeys, 0, oldKeys.Length);
}
/// <summary>
/// Allocate internal buffers for a given <paramref name="capacity"/>.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="capacity">
/// New capacity (must be a power of two). </param>
private void AllocateBuffers(int capacity)
{
this.keys = new object[capacity];
this.resizeThreshold = (int)(capacity * DEFAULT_LOAD_FACTOR);
}
/// <summary>
/// Return the next possible capacity, counting from the current buffers' size.
/// </summary>
private int NextCapacity(int current) // LUCENENET NOTE: made private, since protected is not valid in a sealed class
{
if (Debugging.AssertsEnabled)
{
Debugging.Assert(current > 0 && ((current & (current - 1)) == 0), "Capacity must be a power of two.");
Debugging.Assert((current << 1) > 0, () => "Maximum capacity exceeded (" + ((int)((uint)0x80000000 >> 1)) + ").");
}
if (current < MIN_CAPACITY / 2)
{
current = MIN_CAPACITY / 2;
}
return current << 1;
}
/// <summary>
/// Round the capacity to the next allowed value.
/// </summary>
private int RoundCapacity(int requestedCapacity) // LUCENENET NOTE: made private, since protected is not valid in a sealed class
{
// Maximum positive integer that is a power of two.
if (requestedCapacity > ((int)((uint)0x80000000 >> 1)))
{
return ((int)((uint)0x80000000 >> 1));
}
int capacity = MIN_CAPACITY;
while (capacity < requestedCapacity)
{
capacity <<= 1;
}
return capacity;
}
public void Clear()
{
Assigned = 0;
Array.Clear(keys, 0, keys.Length);
}
public int Count => Assigned; // LUCENENET NOTE: This was size() in Lucene.
//public bool IsEmpty // LUCENENET NOTE: in .NET we can just use !Any() on IEnumerable<T>
//{
// get
// {
// return Count == 0;
// }
//}
public IEnumerator<KType> GetEnumerator()
{
return new IteratorAnonymousInnerClassHelper(this);
}
System.Collections.IEnumerator System.Collections.IEnumerable.GetEnumerator()
{
return GetEnumerator();
}
private class IteratorAnonymousInnerClassHelper : IEnumerator<KType>
{
private readonly IdentityHashSet<KType> outerInstance;
public IteratorAnonymousInnerClassHelper(IdentityHashSet<KType> outerInstance)
{
this.outerInstance = outerInstance;
pos = -1;
nextElement = FetchNext();
}
internal int pos;
internal object nextElement;
internal KType current;
public bool MoveNext()
{
object r = nextElement;
if (nextElement == null)
{
return false;
}
nextElement = FetchNext();
current = (KType)r;
return true;
}
public KType Current => current;
object System.Collections.IEnumerator.Current => Current;
private object FetchNext()
{
pos++;
while (pos < outerInstance.keys.Length && outerInstance.keys[pos] == null)
{
pos++;
}
return (pos >= outerInstance.keys.Length ? null : outerInstance.keys[pos]);
}
public void Reset()
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
public void Dispose()
{
}
}
}
}
} | Mid | [
0.5886792452830181,
39,
27.25
] |
Q: Como voltar de um fragment para uma activity? Eu criei uma Activity do tipo Drawer Navigation e nos ícones dessa Activity tem uma ação que me levam para um fragmento. Meu problema é que eu não sei voltar de um fragmento para uma activity ... como eu devo fazer para voltar com o botão voltar do onBackPressed? Tentei simular o botão de voltar com isso mas não funcionou aqui: Start fragment: public void showMyFragment(View V){ Fragment fragment = null; fragment = new MyFragment(); if (fragment != null) { FragmentManager fragmentManager = getFragmentManager(); fragmentManager.beginTransaction() .replace(R.id.frame_container, fragment) .addToBackStack(null) .commit(); } } @Override public void onBackPressed() { if (getFragmentManager().getBackStackEntryCount() == 0) { this.finish(); } else { getFragmentManager().popBackStack(); } } public class MyFragment extends Fragment { @Override public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container, Bundle savedInstanceState) { View v=inflater.inflate(R.layout.activity_info, null); return v; } } A: Uma forma simples de fazer isso é usar o addToBackStack(). Veja como deve ser: FragmentManager fragmentManager = getSupportFragmentManager(); fragmentManager.beginTransaction().replace(R.id.flContent, fragment) .addToBackStack("Fragment").commit(); Sendo assim, você pode colocar uma condição verificando se a cotagem de entrada de stack tem valor maior que 0. Se sim, use o método popBackStack(), que fará o usuário voltar para o fragment anterior, senão ele usa o super.onBackPressed(). Veja: @Override public void onBackPressed() { if (getFragmentManager().getBackStackEntryCount() > 0 ){ getFragmentManager().popBackStack(); } else { super.onBackPressed(); } } Um GIF vale mais que mil imagens: Este projeto está salvo como navDrawer no GitHub. A: Ao usar addToBackStack(null) está a incluir os fragments na navegação, fazendo com que o "Botão Voltar" apresente o fragment anterior. Se não quer navegar para trás entre os fragments abertos não adicione a transanction ao backstack. Não use addToBackStack(null). Altere fragmentManager.beginTransaction() .replace(R.id.frame_container, fragment) .addToBackStack(null) .commit(); para fragmentManager.beginTransaction() .replace(R.id.frame_container, fragment) .commit(); No entanto, se quiser manter a navegação entre fragments e, ao mesmo tempo, dar a possibilidade de retornar à Activity anterior, tem de implementar o "Botão Para Cima". Siga os seguintes passos: Declare qual é a Activity pai de cada Activity. Isso é feito no AndroidManifist.xml usando o atributo android:parentActivityName: <application ... > ... <!-- A main/home activity (não tem uma activity pai) --> <activity android:name="com.example.myfirstapp.MainActivity" ...> ... </activity> <!-- Uma activity filha da main activity --> <activity android:name="com.example.myfirstapp.MyChildActivity" android:label="@string/title_activity_child" android:parentActivityName="com.example.myfirstapp.MainActivity" > <!-- meta-data para suportar Android 4.0 ou inferior --> <meta-data android:name="android.support.PARENT_ACTIVITY" android:value="com.example.myfirstapp.MainActivity" /> </activity> </application> Torne o "Botão Para Cima" disponível/visível @Override public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) { ... getActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true); } Use o método estático navigateUpFromSameTask(), de NavUtils, para navegar para a Activity pai: @Override public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) { switch (item.getItemId()) { // Respond to the action bar's Up/Home button case android.R.id.home: NavUtils.navigateUpFromSameTask(this); return true; } return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item); } Para mais informações veja Providing Up Navigation, na documentação. Outros tópicos para ler: Navigation with Back and Up. Implementing Effective Navigation. | Mid | [
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Q: InputMask para DisplayFor Utilizo o jQuery Inputmask para adicionar máscaras em meus TextBox. Porém necessito adicionar máscara ao listar esses campos( telefone, cpf, etc). Utilizo o DisplayFor para listar, porém a máscara não funciona com o mesmo. Codigo em minha View: Cargo: @Html.DisplayFor(model => model.sTelefone) Função JavaScript: <script> jQuery(function ($) { $("#sTelefone").mask("9999-9999"); }); Agora, quando utilizo o TextBoxFor, a máscara funciona normalmente, porém necessito apenas listar os dados em um dataTable, e o textBox não me atende. @Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.sTelefone) A: Use algo mais simples. Um ToString() formatado resolve tudo: @Model.sTelefone.ToString(@"0000\-0000") Não é preciso formatar por JavaScript porque o campo vai aparecer estático. | Low | [
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The Green Bay Packers are ready to offer stock to their fans next week. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The defending Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers are planning to sell stock to the public next week, the team's first stock offering since 1997. But purchasers will know going in it's a lousy investment, despite the team's terrific record so far this year, due to unique restrictions on the shares of the not-for-profit company. The would-be investors aren't allowed to sell their shares, which likely will cost more than $200 each. They can only transfer them to immediate family members. They won't get a dividend. There's no way to buy enough shares to own a significant stake in the team, which is run by a board of directors. But experts in the field of team sales say demand for shares is likely to outstrip supply, due to the team's loyal and widespread fan base. "It's all about pride of ownership. It's a great vanity purchase, as a lot of sports teams are, but at a much lower price point," said Sal Galatioto of Galatioto Sports Partners, one of the leading firms involved in the sale of sports franchises. "It's a great thing to hang on the wall." The Packers, the only undefeated National Football League team at the halfway point of his season, plan to use the funds raised by the sale to make about $130 million in improvements to their stadium, Lambeau Field, including adding about 6,600 seats to the south end zone. The improvements are expected to be complete in time for the 2013 season. The shareholder fans will get a stock certificate and can log onto the team's website to buy merchandise reserved for shareholders only. And they also can attend an annual meeting and get quarterly reports on the team's operations. There are currently 4.8 million shares in the Packers owned by 112,158 different shareholders. Given the estimated $1.1 billion value of the team, according to Forbes magazine, the industry-recognized source of team valuations, each share is worth about $229. Shares cost $200 in the 1997 offering. The team is the only publicly owned franchise in the league, which has rules preventing any other team from being owned by a company, whether publicly or privately held. But there is an exception for Green Bay, which plays in the smallest market of any U.S. sports team and has been owned by its fans since 1923. This year's offering will mark the fifth time the Packers have offered shares to the public. A letter that the team's attorneys sent to the state of Utah division of securities about the offering said the price might be more than $250 this time, and that the sale is expected on or around Nov. 15. Businesses might be able to own shares for the first time in this offering. A Packers spokesman said the team has no comment on sales plans beyond that filing. Galatioto said even though the offering will raise a significant amount of money at little cost to the team, it's not an idea likely to spread to other sports franchises. "Teams are loath to give their financials out," he said. "Yes, it's free money, but with that comes annual meetings, quarterly reports and having to put up with people looking at your numbers. Leagues aren't going to like the idea and most teams will feel it's not worth it." | Low | [
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Google's Nest pays $555M to acquire home camera maker Dropcam Data will not be shared with Google without permission, Nest said Nest, the Internet-connected thermostat and smoke detector maker owned by Google, is acquiring home security system developer Dropcam as part of a push to connect a wider range of devices in people's homes. Nest said Friday that it was acquiring Dropcam and that the companies would be working together to build new products that add intelligence to the devices in people's homes. The acquisition could allow for new types of communication among the appliances in homes. "Eventually, the plan is for us to work together to reinvent products that will help shape the future of the conscious home," Nest said in its announcement of the deal, which has yet to close. Nest paid US$555 million cash to acquire Dropcam, the company said in a separate statement. Google, which acquired Nest earlier this year, declined to comment further. Dropcam, founded in 2009, makes small Wi-Fi-connected cameras designed to let people monitor what goes on in their homes when they're not there. The company makes an app for iOS and Android devices to let people receive mobile alerts about motions and sounds in their homes. For now, Dropcam's products will continue to be sold online and in stores, Nest said. Existing Dropcam customers can continue to use their accounts. Nest's thermostats and smoke detectors are designed to learn people's habits over time, can be controlled from afar, and are aimed at improved energy efficiency. The acquisition is bound to raise questions over the extent to which Google could gain sensitive data about the goings-on in people's homes. Nest said Dropcam will come under its privacy policy, which says that data won't be shared with anyone, including Google, without the customer's permission. Incorporating ads into Dropcam is not part of the strategy, Nest said. Google, however, included language in a letter sent to federal regulators last year suggesting that it could eventually place ads on devices like thermostats or self-driving cars. | Mid | [
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Former City minister Lord Myners told the BBC's Newsnight that any Barclays staff responsible for manipulating the Libor rate should face the prospect of going to prison. He said the behaviour of Barclays staff was the worst he had seen. "I think fines and public criticism will not stop these behaviours. These behaviours will not stop until the people perpetrating it or responsible for overseeing them face the prospect of criminal charges and the prospect of going to jail." So what he's saying is that a fine of $495 million isn't enough to modify the behavior of these crooks. Think about it this way: If you were fined 12 cents and were forced to say, "Oh dear, I've been so bad," would that be enough to make you stop doing whatever it was you were doing? How much would you even care, if you were gaining $100 for every 12 cents you were fined? Funny how criminal charges against the super-rich always end in fines instead of jail time. And it's not as if "the people" gain anything from it. It's just thrown into the black hole that is debt-service on the national debt--or pissed away on illegal wars, or given back to the same people with the other hand.... I think they should go to a real prison and be someone's b*tch. All white-collar prisons should be burned to the ground, or get converted into hotels. I'm sick of the red carpet being given to these criminals! What I get from this fact is the derivatives market is starting to blow up - and they are trying to cover it over. It is being shown that Barclay's was working with other banks to manipulate the Libor rate. ITS A Good call with Keiser he often surprises with ultra-radical statements (the truth..?!) about the economy - i'll be watching the link just now. Its always surprising , economics , but when you add the politics it gets volatile . Faster than millisecond predictive robot traders doing deals with themselves , to break/bend the rules and rip everyone in sight The re-invention of the money syphon , the mafia , and oh , thats why we need a bailout and easing again , its shadow banking as keiser puts it . Where they put that loot , all that potential reinvestment though/? Surely only assets and lifestyle are premium . However both require a stable environment. Why we get government offiials ringing up the libor fixers too? I always try and think around problems , maybe why i get it wrong sometimes . Now it reminds me again , are we so silly as to keep assuming that we ourselves invented all this tech , knowhow and robot money syphons? Did we think , there were not nets and flying carriages way before us ? Only justice then , will serve you well in life . Its not moral high_ ground , but moral high _truth . They know its corrupt all the way through at the big financials but they wont do anything about it. Theres too much money at stake and the politicians are either : a) clued in, but captured by city interests b) clueless If we tore through the city and cleaned it, driving the corruption elsewhere we'd take a 10-20% fall in GDP. In large part the corruption IS the economy. People are becoming more and more aware that there is one rule of law for the rich and another for the middle and the poor. If you wonder at cause of the accelerating unravelling of the UKs moral fibre look no further. “The prime minister says he’s really not sure we need an inquiry. How out of touch can you get? “I have news for David Cameron: the people of this country want a moment of reckoning for our banks. “The British people will not tolerate the establishment closing ranks saying we don’t need an inquiry. They want a light shone into every dark corner of our banking system. They want bankers held to account. They want the system rebuilt. “Nothing less than a full public inquiry can do that. Sticking plaster solutions will not heal this wound. And nobody has confidence that the current plans of this government or the industry will be sufficient.” This content community relies on user-generated content from our member contributors. The opinions of our members are not those of site ownership who maintains strict editorial agnosticism and simply provides a collaborative venue for free expression. | Mid | [
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This proposal is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the development of motility by mammalian sperm during epididymal transit. It is based upon existing knowledge of the roles of calcium ion, cyclic AMP, and pH in regulating motility in mature and immature sperm and on our demonstration that adenosine may play a key role in stimulating motility in both mature and immature sperm by virtue of its ability to lower cytosolic levels of calcium ion. We provide evidence in the proposal which allows the description of a sequence of biochemical events in bovine caudal sperm leading from adenosine to the elevation of cyclic AMP levels and the onset of motility. We will test the hypothesis that adenosine stimulates motility in mature bovine sperm by lowering the level of cytoplasmic calcium ion and that this in turn stimulates adenylate cyclase, inhibits cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, elevates cyclic AMP levels, increases protein phosphorylation, and alters the phosphorylation of CaM-dependent protein kinase substrates. We will also test the hypothesis that bovine caput sperm are immotile because this sequence of events cannot occur. This view is consistent with data we have obtained which shows that bovine caput sperm contain exceptionally high levels of calcium ion (0.8-0.9muM), low levels of adenosine and cyclic AMP and a pHi some 0.4 pH units lower than motile caudal sperm. We will test this view by manipulating, one at a time, the intracellular levels of adenosine, calcium, cyclic AMP, and pHi in caput sperm while simultaneously measuring the levels of all other factors and monitoring sperm motility. In this and all studies in the proposal we will monitor both sperm head and flagellar movement parameters by a fully computerized method developed in our laboratory during the last funding period. In the final stages of the project we will test the hypothesis that the function of the bovine epididymis in the development of sperm motility is to progressively alter, by interaction of sperm and androgen-dependent secretory proteins of epididymal principal cells, the levels of the above factors toward the levels found in mature sperm. To do this we will first determine the levels of all factors in successive segments of the epididymis and correlate these levels with complete motility profiles. Subsequently, we will coculture epididymal principal cells, previously cultured in the presence and absence of androgens, from epididymal regions where significant changes in the levels of calcium, adenosine, cyclic AMP, pHi or the pattern of motility occur and determine whether isolated sperm under the influence of epithelial cell secretory proteins undergo the same changes in culture as were noted in the intact epididymis. If this is found to be so, we will isolate, purify, and characterize these proteins by taking advantage of known, predetermined functions. Successful execution of the aims described in this proposal will lead from a new description of the mechanisms of motility in mature sperm to a new view of how sperm become motile in the epididymis. | High | [
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[Psychosis, mental handicap, motor handicap]. Child mental disorders have to be considered both in terms of morbid process and handicap, the two aspects entertaining a dialectical relationship. The authors support this opinion through a nationwide epidemiological study of mental deficiency and by a long term follow-up case. | Mid | [
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using System.Collections; using System.Collections.Generic; using UnityEngine; // this script is for setting up the non-symmetric camera frustom and compute the off-axis projection matrix used for the eye camera [ExecuteInEditMode] public class OffAxisProjection : MonoBehaviour { public Camera deviceCamera; public Camera eyeCamera; public LineRenderer lineRenderer; public float left, right, bottom, top, near, far; public CameraManager camManager; public float nearDist; void LateUpdate() { // look opposite direction of device cam Quaternion q = deviceCamera.transform.rotation * Quaternion.Euler(Vector3.up * 180); eyeCamera.transform.rotation = q; Vector3 deviceCamPos = eyeCamera.transform.worldToLocalMatrix.MultiplyPoint( deviceCamera.transform.position ); // find device camera in rendering camera's view space Vector3 fwd = eyeCamera.transform.worldToLocalMatrix.MultiplyVector (deviceCamera.transform.forward); // normal of plane defined by device camera Plane device_plane = new Plane( fwd, deviceCamPos); Vector3 close = device_plane.ClosestPointOnPlane (Vector3.zero); near = close.magnitude; // couldn't get device orientation to work properly in all cases, so just landscape for now (it's just the UI that is locked to landscape, everyting else works just fine) /*if (Screen.orientation == ScreenOrientation.Portrait) { left = trackedCamPos.x - 0.040f; // portrait iphone X right = trackedCamPos.x + 0.022f; top = trackedCamPos.y + 0.000f; bottom = trackedCamPos.y - 0.135f; } else {*/ // landscape iPhone X, measures in meters left = deviceCamPos.x - 0.000f; right = deviceCamPos.x + 0.135f; top = deviceCamPos.y + 0.022f; bottom = deviceCamPos.y - 0.040f; far = 10f; // may need bigger for bigger scenes, max 10 metres for now Vector3 topLeft = new Vector3 (left, top, near); Vector3 topRight = new Vector3 (right, top, near); Vector3 bottomLeft = new Vector3 (left, bottom, near); Vector3 bottomRight = new Vector3 (right, bottom, near); if (lineRenderer != null && camManager != null) { if (camManager.EyeCamUsed) { lineRenderer.enabled = false; } else { // visualise frustum. or more exactly, the 4 sided pyramid in front of the actual frustum lineRenderer.enabled = true; Vector3 w_topLeft = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (topLeft); Vector3 w_topRight = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (topRight); Vector3 w_bottomLeft = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (bottomLeft); Vector3 w_bottomRight = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (bottomRight); if (camManager.DeviceCamUsed) { // flip on x. still a bit unsure what is correct here (in device cam mirrored view) but I like this visualisation. w_topLeft = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (new Vector3 (topLeft.x, topLeft.y, topLeft.z)); w_topRight = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (new Vector3 (topRight.x, topRight.y, topRight.z)); w_bottomLeft = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (new Vector3 (bottomLeft.x, bottomLeft.y, bottomLeft.z)); w_bottomRight = eyeCamera.transform.localToWorldMatrix.MultiplyPoint (new Vector3 (bottomRight.x, bottomRight.y, bottomRight.z)); } lineRenderer.SetPosition (0, eyeCamera.transform.position); lineRenderer.SetPosition (1, w_topLeft); lineRenderer.SetPosition (2, w_topRight); lineRenderer.SetPosition (3, eyeCamera.transform.position); lineRenderer.SetPosition (4, w_bottomLeft); lineRenderer.SetPosition (5, w_bottomRight); lineRenderer.SetPosition (6, eyeCamera.transform.position); } } nearDist = near; // move near to 0.01 (1 cm from eye) float scale_factor = 0.01f / near; near *= scale_factor; left *= scale_factor; right *= scale_factor; top *= scale_factor; bottom *= scale_factor; Matrix4x4 m = PerspectiveOffCenter(left, right, bottom, top, near, far); eyeCamera.projectionMatrix = m; } static Matrix4x4 PerspectiveOffCenter(float left, float right, float bottom, float top, float near, float far) { float x = 2.0F * near / (right - left); float y = 2.0F * near / (top - bottom); float a = (right + left) / (right - left); float b = (top + bottom) / (top - bottom); float c = -(far + near) / (far - near); float d = -(2.0F * far * near) / (far - near); float e = -1.0F; Matrix4x4 m = new Matrix4x4(); m[0, 0] = x; m[0, 1] = 0; m[0, 2] = a; m[0, 3] = 0; m[1, 0] = 0; m[1, 1] = y; m[1, 2] = b; m[1, 3] = 0; m[2, 0] = 0; m[2, 1] = 0; m[2, 2] = c; m[2, 3] = d; m[3, 0] = 0; m[3, 1] = 0; m[3, 2] = e; m[3, 3] = 0; return m; } } | Low | [
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Aerobraking Aerobraking is a spaceflight maneuver that reduces the high point of an elliptical orbit (apoapsis) by flying the vehicle through the atmosphere at the low point of the orbit (periapsis). The resulting drag slows the spacecraft. Aerobraking is used when a spacecraft requires a low orbit after arriving at a body with an atmosphere, and it requires less fuel than does the direct use of a rocket engine. Method When an interplanetary vehicle arrives at its destination, it must change its velocity to remain in the vicinity of that body. When a low, near-circular orbit around a body with substantial gravity (as is required for many scientific studies) is needed, the total required velocity changes can be on the order of several kilometers per second. If done by direct propulsion, the rocket equation dictates that a large fraction of the spacecraft mass must be fuel. This in turn means the spacecraft is limited to a relatively small science payload and/or the use of a very large and expensive launcher. Provided the target body has an atmosphere, aerobraking can be used to reduce fuel requirements. The use of a relatively small burn allows the spacecraft to be captured into a very elongated elliptic orbit. Aerobraking is then used to circularize the orbit. If the atmosphere is thick enough, a single pass through it can be sufficient to slow a spacecraft as needed. However, aerobraking is typically done with many orbital passes through a higher altitude, and therefore thinner region of the atmosphere. This is done to reduce the effect of frictional heating, and because unpredictable turbulence effects, atmospheric composition, and temperature make it difficult to accurately predict the decrease in speed that will result from any single pass. When aerobraking is done in this way, there is sufficient time after each pass to measure the change in velocity and make any necessary corrections for the next pass. Achieving the final orbit using this method takes a long time (e.g., over six months when arriving at Mars), and may require several hundred passes through the atmosphere of the planet or moon. After the last aerobraking pass, the spacecraft must be given more kinetic energy via rocket engines in order to raise the periapsis above the atmosphere. The kinetic energy dissipated by aerobraking is converted to heat, meaning that a spacecraft using the technique needs to be capable of dissipating this heat. The spacecraft must also have sufficient surface area and structural strength to produce and survive the required drag, but the temperatures and pressures associated with aerobraking are not as severe as those of atmospheric reentry or aerocapture. Simulations of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aerobraking use a force limit of 0.35 N per square meter with a spacecraft cross section of about 37 m², equate to a maximum drag force of about 7.4 N, and a maximum expected temperature as 170 °C. The force density (i.e. pressure), roughly 0.2 N per square meter, that was exerted on the Mars Observer during aerobraking is comparable to the aerodynamic resistance of moving at 0.6 m/s (2.16 km/h) at sea level on Earth, approximately the amount experienced when walking slowly. Related methods Aerocapture is a related but more extreme method in which no initial orbit-injection burn is performed. Instead, the spacecraft plunges deeply into the atmosphere without an initial insertion burn, and emerges from this single pass in the atmosphere with an apoapsis near that of the desired orbit. Several small correction burns are then used to raise the periapsis and perform final adjustments. This method was originally planned for the Mars Odyssey orbiter, but the significant design impacts proved too costly. Another related technique is that of aerogravity assist, in which the spacecraft flies through the upper atmosphere and utilises aerodynamic lift instead of drag at the point of closest approach. If correctly oriented, this can increase the deflection angle above that of a pure gravity assist, resulting in a larger delta-v. Spacecraft missions Although the theory of aerobraking is well developed, utilising the technique is difficult because a very detailed knowledge of the character of the target planet's atmosphere is needed in order to plan the maneuver correctly. Currently, the deceleration is monitored during each maneuver and plans are modified accordingly. Since no spacecraft can yet aerobrake safely on its own, this requires constant attention from both human controllers and the Deep Space Network. This is particularly true near the end of the process, when the drag passes are relatively close together (only about 2 hours apart for Mars). NASA has used aerobraking four times to modify a spacecraft's orbit to one with lower energy, reduced apoapsis altitude, and smaller orbit. On 19 March 1991, aerobraking was demonstrated by the Hiten spacecraft. This was the first aerobraking maneuver by a deep space probe. Hiten (a.k.a. MUSES-A) was launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan. Hiten flew by the Earth at an altitude of 125.5 km over the Pacific at 11.0 km/s. Atmospheric drag lowered the velocity by 1.712 m/s and the apogee altitude by 8665 km. Another aerobraking maneuver was conducted on 30 March. In May 1993, aerobraking was used during the extended Venusian mission of the Magellan spacecraft. It was used to circularize the orbit of the spacecraft in order to increase the precision of the measurement of the gravity field. The entire gravity field was mapped from the circular orbit during a 243-day cycle of the extended mission. During the termination phase of the mission, a "windmill experiment" was performed: Atmospheric molecular pressure exerts a torque via the windmill-sail-like oriented solar cell wings, the necessary counter-torque to keep the probe from spinning is measured. In 1997, the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) orbiter was the first spacecraft to use aerobraking as the main planned technique of orbit adjustment. The MGS used the data gathered from the Magellan mission to Venus to plan its aerobraking technique. The spacecraft used its solar panels as "wings" to control its passage through the tenuous upper atmosphere of Mars and lower the apoapsis of its orbit over the course of many months. Unfortunately, a structural failure shortly after launch severely damaged one of the MGS's solar panels and necessitated a higher aerobraking altitude (and hence one third the force) than originally planned, significantly extending the time required to attain the desired orbit. More recently, aerobraking was used by the Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, in both cases without incident. In 2014, an aerobraking experiment was successfully performed on a test basis near the end of the mission of the ESA probe Venus Express. In 2017–2018, the ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter performed aerobraking at Mars to reduce the apocentre of the orbit, being the first operational aerobraking for a European mission. Aerobraking in fiction In Robert A. Heinlein's 1948 novel Space Cadet, aerobraking is used to save fuel while slowing the spacecraft Aes Triplex for an unplanned extended mission and landing on Venus, during a transit from the Asteroid Belt to Earth. The spacecraft Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov in Arthur C. Clarke's novel 2010: Odyssey Two and its film adaptation uses aerobraking in the upper layers of Jupiter's atmosphere to establish itself at the Lagrangian point of the Jupiter – Io system. In the 2004 TV series Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets the crew of the international spacecraft Pegasus perform an aerobraking manoeuvre in Jupiter's upper atmosphere to slow them down enough to enter Jovian orbit. In the fourth episode of Stargate Universe, the Ancient ship Destiny suffers an almost complete loss of power and must use aerobraking to change course. The episode ends in a cliffhanger with Destiny headed directly toward a star. In the space simulation sandbox game Kerbal Space Program, this is a common method of reducing a craft's orbital speed. It is sometimes humorously referred to as "aerobreaking", because the high drag sometimes causes large crafts to split in several parts. In Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy, the Ares spaceship carrying the first hundred humans to arrive on Mars uses aerobraking to enter into orbit around the planet. Later in the books, as an effort to thicken the atmosphere scientists bring an asteroid into aerobraking in order to vaporize it and release its contents into the atmosphere. In the 2014 film Interstellar, astronaut pilot Cooper uses aerobraking to save fuel and slow the spacecraft Ranger upon exiting the wormhole to arrive in orbit above the first planet. Aerodynamic braking Aerodynamic braking is a method used in landing aircraft to assist the wheel brakes in stopping the plane. It is often used for short runway landings or when conditions are wet, icy or slippery. Aerodynamic braking is performed immediately after the rear wheels (main mounts) touch down, but before the nose wheel drops. The pilot begins to pull back on the stick, applying elevator pressure to hold the nose high. The nose-high attitude exposes more of the craft's surface-area to the flow of air, which produces greater drag, helping to slow the plane. The raised elevators also cause air to push down on the rear of the craft, forcing the rear wheels harder against the ground, which aids the wheel brakes by helping to prevent skidding. The pilot will usually continue to hold back on the stick even after the elevators lose their authority, and the nose wheel drops, to keep added pressure on the rear wheels. Aerodynamic braking is a common braking technique during landing, which can also help to protect the wheel brakes and tires from excess wear, or from locking up and sending the craft sliding out of control. It is often used by private pilots, commercial planes, fighter aircraft, and was used by the Space Shuttles during landings. See also Aerocapture Boost-glide Lithobraking Notes References JPL aerobraking report for MGS An Explanation of How Aerobraking Works (PDF) Hoffman, S. (August 20–22, 1984). A comparison of aerobraking and aerocapture vehicles for interplanetary missions. AIAA and AAS, Astrodynamics Conference. Seattle, Washington: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. pp. 25 p.. Retrieved 2007-07-31. Category:Spacecraft propulsion Category:Spaceflight Category:Atmospheric entry | Mid | [
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1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel additive composition for automotive fuels, both gasoline and diesel, and to a method for using the composition. 2. The State of the Art The fuels which are contemplated for use in the fuel compositions of the present invention are normally liquid hydrocarbon fuels in the gasoline boiling range, including hydrocarbon base fuels. The term “petroleum distillate fuel” also is used to describe the fuels which can be utilized in the fuel compositions of the present invention and which have the above characteristic boiling points. The term, however, is not intended to be restricted to straight-run distillate fractions. The distillate fuel can be straight-run distillate fuel, catalytically or thermally cracked (including hydro cracked) distillate fuel, or a mixture of straight-run distillate fuel, naphthas and the like with cracked distillate stocks. Also, the base fuels used in the formation of the fuel compositions of the present invention can be treated in accordance with well-known commercial methods, such as acid or caustic treatment, hydrogenation, solvent refining, clay treatment, etc. Gasolines are supplied in a number of different grades depending on the type of service for which they are intended. The gasolines utilized in the present invention include those designed as motor and aviation gasolines. Motor gasolines include those defined by ASTM specification D-439-73 and are composed of a mixture of various types of hydrocarbons including aromatics, olefins, paraffins, isoparaffins, napthenes and occasionally diolefins. Motor gasolines normally have a boiling range within the limits of about 70° F. to 450° F. while aviation gasolines have narrower boiling ranges, usually within the limits of about 100° F. to 330° F. This invention also contemplates the use of diesel fuels. Diesel engines have been employed as engines for over-the-road vehicles because of relatively low fuel costs and improved mileage. However, because of their operating characteristics, diesel engines discharge a larger amount of carbon black particles or very fine condensate particles or agglomerates thereof as compared to the gasoline engine. These particles or condensates are sometimes referred to as “diesel soot”, and the emission of such particles or soot results in pollution and is undesirable. Moreover, diesel soot has been observed to be rich in condensed, polynuclear hydrocarbons, and some of these have been recognized as carcinogenic. Accordingly, particulate traps or filters have been designed for use with diesel engines that are capable of collecting carbon black and condensate particles. Conventionally, the particulate traps or filters have been composed of a heat-resistant filter element which is formed of porous ceramic or metal fiber and an electric heater for heating and igniting carbon particulates collected by the filter element. The heater is required because the temperatures of the diesel exhaust gas under normal operating conditions are insufficient to burn off the accumulated soot collected in the filter or trap. Generally, temperatures of about 450° C. to 600° C. are required, and the heater provides the necessary increase of the exhaust temperature in order to ignite the particles collected in the trap and to regenerate the trap. Otherwise, there is an accumulation of carbon black, and the trap is eventually plugged causing operational problems due to exhaust back pressure buildup. The above-described heated traps do not provide a complete solution to the problem because the temperature of the exhaust gases is lower than the ignition temperature of carbon particulates while the vehicle runs under normal conditions, and the heat generated by the electric heater is withdrawn by the flowing exhaust gases when the volume of flowing exhaust gases is large. Alternatively, higher temperatures in the trap can be achieved by periodically enriching the air/fuel mixture burned in the diesel engine thereby producing a higher exhaust gas temperature. However, such higher temperatures can cause run-away regeneration leading to high localized temperatures which can damage the trap. It also has been suggested that the particle build-up in the traps can be controlled by lowering the ignition temperature of the particulates so that the particles begin burning at the lowest possible temperatures. One method of lowering the ignition temperature involves the addition of a combustion improver to the exhaust particulate, and the most practical way to effect the addition of the combustion improver to the exhaust particulate is by adding the combustion improver to the fuel. Copper compounds have been suggested as combustion improvers for fuels including diesel fuels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as of the early 1990s estimated that the average sulfur content of on-highway diesel fuel is approximately 0.25% by weight and had required this level be reduced to no more than 0.05% by weight by Oct. 1, 1993. The EPA also required that this diesel fuel have a minimum cetane index specification of 40 (or meet a maximum aromatics level of 35%). The objective of this rule was to reduce sulfate particulate and carbonaceous and organic particulate emissions. See, Federal Register, Vol. 55, No. 162, Aug. 21, 1990, pp. 34120-34151. Low-sulfur diesel fuels and technology for meeting these emission requirements have not yet been commercially implemented. One approach to meeting these requirements was to provide a low-sulfur diesel fuel additive that could be effectively used in a low-sulfur diesel fuel environment to reduce the ignition temperatures of soot that is collected in the particulate traps of diesel engines. Various patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,467, U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,369, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,154, disclosure metal complexes of difunctional organic compounds, including alkali metal salts of difunctional arylsulfonic acids, as fuel additives. Sodium and potassium are the salts of preference. The complex is present in the fuel to provide of up 0.5% by weight of metal (that is, up to 5000 ppm of fuel). The use of alkali earth metal salts of didodecyl benzensulfonic acid for fuel additives is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,900 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,169,564. U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,730 discloses an alkali metal salt of the reaction product of a polybasic acid and a specified polyhydroxyalkanolamine. Suitable polybasic acids include didodecyl benzenesulfonic acid. Suitable alkali metals are disclosed as including lithium, although the example describes only the use of sodium salts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,369 discloses diesel fuel composition comprising a solution of ethanol, an alkyl ester of a fatty acid, a stabilizing additive selected from the group consisting of (a) a mixture comprising two different ethoxylated fatty alcohols, a cetane booster, and a demulsifier and (b) the reaction product of (1) a mixture of an ethoxylated alcohol and an amide and (2) an ethoxylated fatty acid, and optionally a cosolvent such as naphtha or kerosene. The cetane booster may be t-butyl peroxide. T-butyl peroxide is disclosed in various literature references as a conventional ignition improver or a cetane booster. U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,247 describes a fuel composition for harnessing the hydrogen energy of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising 10-90% of a liposoluble organometallic lithium salt and 90-10% of a vehicle oil. | Low | [
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# skyblock/auctions ## Description Returns SkyBlock auctions that are currently active in the in-game Auction House. This method uses pagination due to the amount of results returned. Each page will return up to 1,000 results. ## Parameters - key - page (Zero indexed and defaults to 0) ## Example Response ```js { "success": true, "page": 0, // The current page "totalPages": 32, // Total amount of pages avaliable "totalAuctions": 31267, // Total amount of results in the auction house "lastUpdated": 1571065561345, // Unix timestamp in milliseconds of when the data last updated in the API "auctions": [ // The auctions themselves { "uuid": "bc581ce675e94a0c88ac9deae06090f0", "auctioneer": "96a7c06732f54c1382ab6a2515dbb960", "profile_id": "96a7c06732f54c1382ab6a2515dbb960", "coop": [ "96a7c06732f54c1382ab6a2515dbb960" ], "start": 1571049581232, "end": 1571071181232, "item_name": "Magical Mushroom Soup", "item_lore": "§7Consuming this Magical Mushroom\n§7Soup on your private island\n§7allows the player to fly for §a2\n§aminutes§7. Leaving the private\n§7island will remove the effect!\n\n§a§lUNCOMMON", "extra": "Magical Mushroom Soup Mushroom Soup", "category": "consumables", "tier": "UNCOMMON", "starting_bid": 256, "item_bytes": "...", "claimed": false, "claimed_bidders": [], "highest_bid_amount": 256, "bids": [ { "auction_id": "bc581ce675e94a0c88ac9deae06090f0", "bidder": "70aafcc6764b45ff80e60226193a0784", "profile_id": "70aafcc6764b45ff80e60226193a0784", "amount": 256, "timestamp": 1571065921089 } ] } ] } ``` | Mid | [
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Q: Increase number in ID on click If this has been answered already, please do point me in the right direction, but I'm trying to update the number at the end of an HREF of a link everytime it's clicked. So, my link, for example is <a class="next" href="#slideshow-wrapper0">Next</a> and everytime it's clicked, I want it to update the '0' to '1' and then '2' and so on. Any ideas? This is what I came up with... $(document).ready(function(){ var count = 0; $("next").click(function(){ $(".work-main-content").append("<div id='portfolio-slideshow'" + (count++) +">"); }); }) Cheers, R A: Try this: $('.next').click(function(){ $(this).attr('href', function(){ var n = this.href.match(/\d+/); return '#slideshow-wrapper' + ++n }) }) Update: $('.next').click(function(){ $(this).attr('href', function(){ var n = this.href.match(/\d+/); if (n > 20) { return '#slideshow-wrapper' + ++n } else { return '#slideshow-wrapper0' } }) }) http://jsfiddle.net/rV663/ | Low | [
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North Lamar You can get a taste of the flavors being introduced by these new immigrants to Austin and the Elizabeth Street Café, south of Lady Bird Lake, where the menu reflects the French influence on Vietnamese cuisine. One of the main centers of Austin’s Vietnamese community can be found however further north, along North Lamar Boulevard, home to many of the city’s Vietnamese restaurants, estimated to total around 50. This is also the location of Chinatown Center, a mall devoted to Asian restaurants, retail (herbal shops to jewelry), and the sprawling MT Supermarket, an impressive international grocery. | Mid | [
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Videos Video Blogs Read Brent Axe’s Latest Audio Vault Brent talks SU Basketball’s struggles against lesser opponents. Later he goes around the sports world in Hot Takes, including baseball Hall of Fame and Heisman Trophy talk. Then, he circles back around to Syracuse basketball. LISTEN HERE | High | [
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A Balanced Effort in New Orleans In the New Orleans Louisiana Stake, members are making good use of Church missionary tools and working closely with full-time missionaries. 99902_000_008 “I am normally the only Latter-day Saint out there,” says Bob Mehl about his work as an offshore tugboat captain. “So the only way I can fellowship with other Latter-day Saints is to convert them.” Brother Mehl’s remarks reflect the missionary-mindedness of many members of the Luling Branch, New Orleans Louisiana Stake, where developing a member-missionary kit and working with full-time missionaries have helped branch members focus more strongly on proclaiming the gospel. Using Missionary Tools The Luling Branch elders quorum recently put together several member-missionary kits of Church videos and pamphlets and copies of the Book of Mormon for members to keep on hand to help interest people in the gospel. “I’d been looking for something to help me with missionary work,” says Brother Mehl, first counselor in the branch elders quorum presidency. “The kit was just what I needed. The videos are great. I’m surprised at the reaction. I leave them lying out right by the TV next to the galley. When people show interest, I also give them a pamphlet. Sometimes we’ll pull up next to another boat when crew members are looking for videos to watch. I give them Church videos.” Having made the effort to equip themselves with missionary tools, branch members are finding more opportunities to use them. Bruce and Cindy Bishop gave the Church video Together Forever to a friend who experienced the death of a family member. “She wanted to explain things to her daughter,” says Sister Bishop, who teaches seminary in the branch. “So I said, ‘Let me show you what we believe.’” The friend accepted the video with appreciation. “If we have the missionary tools on hand when the opportunity naturally comes, we can do it,” says Brother Bishop, who serves as first counselor in the Luling Branch presidency. “If we would have said, ‘Oh, we can order something from the distribution center for you,’ we may not have been able to later connect with that family in the right way at the right time. It really works to have the video at our fingertips.” The idea for member-missionary kits first came up during an elders quorum committee meeting about missionary work. “We took a poll of quorum members to see who had missionary videos and other materials in their home,” says branch mission leader Jim Trent. “We asked members if they knew what they would do if someone asked them about the gospel. Most of the members had only an extra copy of the Book of Mormon on hand, and some not even that.” Brother Trent recalls the excitement members felt as they developed the idea for a member-missionary kit. “The first Sunday, we looked through the missionaries’ backpacks and car trunk for ideas,” he says. “Other things have since been added to the kit, such as a carry bag and a letter with directions to our new branch meetinghouse.” Brother Mehl observes that “Brother Trent has a habit of using everybody in the classroom as a sounding board. I think everybody had some input about what went into the kit.” A branch member initially donated materials for 10 kits, and the branch presidency agreed to help replenish kits as needed. “In elders quorum meeting every week, we spend about five minutes talking about missionary work,” says Brother Trent. “If somebody says they need something for their kit, we restock it. Every quorum member has at least one kit in his possession. Having missionary materials on hand makes us more apt to share the gospel with people.” Brother Mehl thinks it’s a good idea for every home to have some kind of missionary kit. “It’s easy to keep a kit in your car or in your locker or desk at work,” he says. “The pamphlets and videos don’t take up much room. If we leave our minds open to the Spirit’s prompting, we’ll have chances to share the gospel. The blessings start coming as soon as someone gets curious and asks questions. Working with Full-Time Missionaries Another effort Luling Branch members recently have made successful is working closely with full-time missionaries. They join in the “balanced effort” that Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has spoken of: “Once we have nourished ourselves with the good word of Christ and feasted personally at His table so that our testimony is strong and vibrant, we are obligated to join with the missionaries in a balanced effort to invite others … to the spiritual banquet” (“Feasting at the Lord’s Table,” Ensign, May 1996, 81). Located across the Mississippi River west of downtown New Orleans, the Luling Branch includes several small communities along a state highway. About 18 months ago the branch was struggling, with sacrament meeting attendance as low as 20 people some weeks. But through members uniting with full-time missionaries in a concentrated effort of visiting and fellowshipping, the branch is now thriving; weekly sacrament attendance is as high as 70, and the branch meets at a new location in a bigger meetinghouse. Scott Conlin was called as Luling Branch elders quorum president in August 1997. “We began working creatively to use missionary splits to increase the number of home teaching companionships from two to eight,” he says. “We worked with less-active members and part-member families. Not only did some less-active people return to church, but the missionaries have been able to follow up and hold several investigator discussions as a result of those visits. The combined effort has revitalized the branch, and we’re keeping it up.” President Rodney E. Tueller of the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission, which takes in the New Orleans stake, says, “Our statistics in this mission show that we’re very successful with our investigators if members are involved in their teaching.” A recent example illustrates this process. One week Cindy Bishop met an investigator named Janelle in Relief Society. Sister Bishop learned that Janelle was engaged to Myrle Wheat, a member who was coming back into full activity. “We invited them over to our house for family home evening,” says Sister Bishop. “We were careful to explain to Janelle what family home evening was, and we asked if it was OK with her if we had the missionaries come.” During their evening together, Sister Bishop offered to baby-sit Janelle’s younger children while she listened to the first discussion in the Bishops’ home. Janelle accepted the invitation, and the arrangement worked out so well that the Bishops helped with Janelle’s children during all six discussions. “She later commented that she didn’t think she’d be at the stage she is today without having someone help her with her children while she focused on the lessons,” says Brother Bishop. “The involvement of the Bishops and other branch members has meant everything,” says Janelle, who was baptized along with her 10-year-old daughter in April 1998. She subsequently married Myrle and now serves as a Relief Society teacher in the branch. “The members are so sincere and honest. They have been willing to answer any of my questions and share their feelings.” Sister Wheat found it particularly helpful to have a married couple present during her missionary discussions because she had questions about marriage in the Church. “I really appreciated how they helped put things into perspective,” she says. Besides the tangible blessings of sharing the gospel with others and helping the branch grow, families who work with full-time missionaries sense spiritual blessings as a result of their involvement. “It’s just a wonderful experience to be involved in, having the missionaries in your home with your children,” says Sister Bishop. “The Spirit of the Lord is so strong, and it brings back all the feelings I had nine years ago when I joined the Church. It was wonderful to feel what Janelle was feeling and watch her grasp the gospel like I did.” The opportunity to work more closely with full-time missionaries was one of the first advantages Brother Conlin noticed when he and his family moved into the Luling Branch. “Having the missionaries eat in our home, going out on splits with them, visiting part-member families where both the missionaries and we have an interest in trying to rekindle spirituality—I think it’s really made a difference to us in our awareness of how important the gospel is and what a difference it can make in people’s lives as they live gospel principles. Missionary splits not only help spread the gospel but also help perfect the Saints.” The Luling Branch’s opportunities for success have been influenced by the leadership vision of New Orleans stake president David L. Clawson and other stake leaders. Before 1993 most of the units in New Orleans were wards with large geographical boundaries. Soon after he was called as stake president, President Clawson oversaw the creation of several smaller branches, which he feels have brought the Church closer to the people and helped stimulate growth. Presently the New Orleans stake has about 2,300 members organized into 13 units. President Clawson says, “We’re unified with the full-time missionaries.” He meets nearly every month with the Baton Rouge mission president or one of his counselors. He values the quarterly member-missionary coordination council, which is overseen by an Area Authority Seventy and attended by the mission president and all the stake presidents within mission boundaries. “That meeting gives us a chance at that level to discuss ways to integrate our efforts completely,” he says. President Dennis G. Gruwell, first counselor in the New Orleans stake presidency, oversees missionary work in the stake. “We feel that families are where missionary work should take place,” he says. “We challenge families in the stake to prayerfully select friends and acquaintances they might be able to fellowship and in time share the gospel with. Our stake missionaries have had some success splitting with the full-time missionaries and going into members’ homes to show them the Church video Inviting by the Spirit and to encourage them to make missionary referrals.” President Clawson feels that the Lord is mindful of the stake. “New Orleans has all the problems of a big city, and in some cases the problems are even more intensified,” he says. “Though the city has a well-known hedonistic side, it also has a conservative, family-oriented side. The potential for greater Church growth is high. We just keep reaching out to people, doing things that help stir their spiritual feelings. We persist in love and never give up.” That leadership vision is coming to fruition as the Luling Branch reaches out in love by using member-missionary kits and working more closely with full-time missionaries. [photos] Above: Erma Brown, center, at her baptismal service; she heard about the Church through a media and was fellowshipped by Uptown Branch members. Background: Scene of historic architecture in New Orlean’s French Quarter. Below: At an Uptown Branch member-missionary picnic, branch president Fred Hansen (right) discusses member-missionary work with Elder Bradley Holt of Avondale, Arizona. Upper right corner, left to right: Barbara Galbreath discusses the gospel with Algiers Branch mission leader Gabriel Ycaza and Elder David Budge of LaVerne, California. | Mid | [
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Ultrathin and stable active layer of dense composite membrane enabled by poly(dopamine). We demonstrate that dopamine is able to self-polymerize and adhere firmly onto the substrate, which can create a hierarchical structure comprising an ultrathin active layer and a porous support layer. Such an approach opens a novel way to fabricating highly efficient and stable composite materials including composite membranes. More specifically, in this study the composite membranes are fabricated by simply dipping microporous substrate in aqueous dopamine solution under mild conditions. Nanoindentation measurement reveals the tight adhesion of dopamine onto microporous substrate, which is ascribed to numerous pi-pi and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The chemical composition of the active layer is analyzed by XPS, which demonstrates the self-polymerization of dopamine. The water contact angle of the dopamine coated membranes is reduced remarkably compared with that of the uncoated counterpart. Stylus profiler measurements display that the poly(dopamine) thickness increases as the coating time increases. FESEM images of the membranes' cross section show that an active layer (<100 nm) is deposited on the porous polysulfone (PS) substrate. Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) is introduced to probe the fractional free volume properties throughout the cross section of the composite membranes and reveal that after dopamine double-coating the active layer becomes thicker and more compact. Moreover, pH and concentration of the dopamine solution exert notable influence on the fractional free volume of the composite membranes. The as-prepared membranes are tentatively employed for pervaporative desulfurization and exhibits satisfying separation performance as well as durability. This facile, versatile, and efficient approach enables a promising prospect for the wide applications of such novel kinds of ultrathin composite materials. | High | [
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It is easy to don it both equally being a everyday dress or a horseback riding dress according to your preferences. The majority of people, who definitely are devoted lovers for Lululemon, include pointed out that Lululemon does not possess the state on the net fashion keep. It is mostly a predicament some people will you should not dwell all over a good Lululemon keep. Though Lululemon keeps growing globally, a large number of it is sites are nevertheless in substantial Canadian shelving units. | Low | [
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Teaching periodontal pocket charting to dental students: a comparison of computer assisted learning and traditional tutorials. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a computer assisted learning (CAL) programme with that of traditional small group tutorials in teaching theoretical and practical aspects of periodontal pocket charting. Sixty-one third year undergraduate dental students were randomized to either receive a tutorial or to work through the CAL programme. Students using the CAL programme completed questionnaires relating to previous computer experience and the ease of use of the programme. All students were assessed immediately after the intervention by means of a confidence log, a practical exercise and a further confidence log. They were assessed again three weeks later by means of a confidence log and a multiple-choice written test. There were very few significant differences between groups for any of the assessments used. However, subjective comments indicated that students occasionally felt disadvantaged if they had not received a tutorial. CAL and traditional teaching methods are equally effective in teaching periodontal pocket charting to undergraduate dental students. | Mid | [
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Fairfax, who denied the allegations to the Post, told reporters Monday that “everything was 100 percent consensual,” later adding, “There was no inappropriate contact whatsoever.” Fairfax said the woman sought him out after the encounter, saying she wanted to go to New York City to meet with him and introduce him to her mother. “And years later now, we have a totally fabricated story out of the blue that’s meant to attack me because of where I am in politics,” Fairfax said. The Washington Post denied claims in Fairfax’s statement that it had found “significant red flags and inconsistencies within the allegations.” The Post reported: “Fairfax and the woman told different versions of what happened in the hotel room with no one else present. The Post could not find anyone who could corroborate either version.” In response, Fairfax spokeswoman Lauren Burke issued a statement that said, “The Washington Post, acknowledging that it had no corroboration, just smeared an elected official.” | Low | [
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Church at Pinnacle Hills The Church at Pinnacle Hills is a campus of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, located in Rogers, Arkansas. It is located twenty minutes north of the Springdale campus. This location was launched in 2001 by approximately 350 members of the Springdale campus under the direction of senior pastor Dr. Ronnie Floyd. It is the largest church in the state of Arkansas, with a membership of over 16,000. The church is considered a megachurch and is a member of the Southern Baptist Convention of churches. History Cross Church Pinnacle Hills was launched in 2001 as "The Church at Pinnacle Hills" by the First Baptist Church of Springdale. Initially 350 members from the Springdale campus moved to the Pinnacle campus to plant the new location. The church first met in a converted office building located in the Pinnacle Hills Corporate Park area. The original facility had a capacity of approximately 800 people and contained the church's main offices. The church leased surrounding buildings to house their children's ministries and other office space until the 2006 relocation. In September 2010, the two congregations of First Baptist Church of Springdale and The Church at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers changed their name to Cross Church, in an effort to clarify, simplify, and strengthen their identity as a single church, with a mission to reach Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ. On November 12, 2006 the church moved into its current facility located at 2448 Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Rogers. The new facility is 169,734 sq. ft. in size and contains a main worship facility, preschool space, children's worship space, connection rooms, offices and a large gathering area known as the Gatheria. The main worship facility seats 2,384 people and is used for Sunday worship, weekly prayer services, rehearsals and other various special events. The prominent feature of the worship center is the 6,000 sq. ft. window that serves as the backdrop for the stage. The building includes a full High-definition television broadcast facility, recording studio and an editing suite. The predominant feature of the campus and grounds are the three white crosses standing 175', 165', and 145' in height surrounding a baptistery. Theology As a member of the Southern Baptist Convention of churches, The Church at Pinnacle Hills adheres to the Baptist Faith and Message (BF&M) as their primary statement of faith. . References Category:Churches in Benton County, Arkansas Category:Baptist churches in Arkansas Category:Evangelical megachurches in the United States Category:Christian organizations established in 2001 Category:2001 establishments in Arkansas | Mid | [
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Multi-center and multi-national collaborations are generating genomic, clinical and epidemiological datasets on ever increasing scales across global populations. Early examples include the international HapMap project and ongoing efforts include the 1000 Genomes Project, the genotyping and sequencing of whole populations or significant numbers of national of certain countries. The new initiatives include the UK10K project (<http://www.uk10k.org>), which aims to sequence thousands of genomes in Britain to identify rare variants and produce a sequence variation resource for future studies, the Qatar Genome Project, which will map the genomes of a large group of Qataris to chart a road map for future treatment through personalized medicine, and the Estonian Genome Project, which aims to generate data from 70% of Estonia\'s population. As a result of the broad sharing and analysis of these datasets, we are gaining new knowledge that is shedding novel insights into human history and health, such as the patho-biology of some of the world\'s most intractable diseases, and strategies for improving the efficacy and safety of treatments for several global diseases. Open sharing of data (with public access either directly or via data access committee, depending on the consent conditions) is thus extremely important for fully exploiting results and advancing research. However, to maximize the benefits for the world populations in terms of improved treatments for genetic disorders that access to genomic data can facilitate, while minimizing the risks of broad genomic data sharing, analysis and interpretation, it is important to recognize some challenges. The major impediments to global data sharing are protection of participants and technical challenges in accessing data from disparate sources. Here we highlight three issues; first, because human genomic, clinical and epidemiological data can contain very sensitive information at the individual and population levels, there is a need for both rigorous institutional ethical review and the implementation of an informed consent process that protects participants, but at the same time provides flexibility to use the data for broader research. To ensure continued participants\' protection, data is usually anonymized. However, if accompanied by enough demographic or phenotypic data, anonymization is not always 100% effective. In addition, many projects that have been undertaken did not include broad consent for data sharing and access. In some of these cases selected aspects of the data may still be shareable, but only if it is made publicly accessible via some means. In most cases, data sits behind data access committees and once access is granted, raw or processed files are made available. However, some computational experience is usually required to be able to use the data, namely to mine it or perform meta-analysis. Further, in most cases technological infrastructure is needed to permit access to specific segments of a dataset. The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (G4GH: <http://genomicsandhealth.org/>) initiative is developing Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that will address these types of requirements and in turn facilitate data sharing across federated resources. These APIs will, for example, enable researchers to compare variants from different studies or simply to query different sources to determine whether a variant is present in the dataset or not, without revealing everything about the data. If more or different data is required to complete the analysis, further requests are made to the data access committees. The work of the GA4GH will pioneer a way to enable more global sharing of publicly accessible genomic data. As part of the G4GH, the Genomic Data Working Group (<http://genomicsandhealth.org/our-work/working-groups>) focuses on data representation, storage, and analysis, including working with platform development partners and industry leaders to develop standards that will facilitate interoperability. It works closely with the G4GH Regulatory and Ethics Working Group to ensure that any data access or sharing complies with ethical consent associated with the datasets. Second, the global effort to use genomic approaches to solve human health problems needs to be more equitable in terms of inclusiveness of ancestrally diverse study populations. Given what is known about the existence of population specific disease genetic variants and the value of trans-ethnic mapping for discovery, replication and fine-mapping, it is a scientific imperative that genomics becomes more globally diverse. Currently, over 90% of all GWAS focused on people of European ancestry, leaving the promise of genomic science unlikely to be realized in a timely and efficient manner for all human populations. With the funding of major international initiatives, such as the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa)[1](#fn0010){ref-type="fn"} and the establishment of the Mexico National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN), the global community is beginning to address this problem. With over \$70 M multiple year commitment from the NIH and the Wellcome Trust, H3Africa is creating and supporting a pan-continental network of labs, bioinformatics and biorepository facilities that are applying leading-edge genomic and epidemiologic approaches to study the genetic and environmental bases of disease susceptibility and drug responses in Africans. H3Africa is already changing the landscape of genomic research in Africa.^1^ INMEGEN was established by the Mexican congress in 2004 as a means of finding new strategies to tackle common diseases. This effort which includes the construction of a haplotype map of the Mexican populations and the development of large genetic epidemiology projects for the study of common diseases and biomarker discovery is beginning to provide novel insights into the history and health of the Mexican people. We strongly advocate for the expansion of these global efforts in low resourced nations with the goal of establishing state-of-the-art genomic infrastructure and training. We envision that this goal can be achieved by first understanding the political, economic and scientific expertise needed across national and international interest groups including local government agencies, private biomedical funding agencies, healthcare providers, biotechnology companies and advocacy groups among others. Second, trusted partnership with the strongest ethics and privacy requirements must be developed. Third, these partnerships must acknowledge and be willing to work to overcome the challenges of some its members such that these global arrangements are not perceived simply as a way to make valuable genomic and clinical data available to scientists in the industrialized nations. If concerns are addressed properly, it is indeed possible that these global collaborations will ensure the full participation of ancestrally diverse populations in genomic science as scientists and study participants with the ultimate goal of avoiding the exacerbation of current inequities in health and lack of diversity in biomedical research. Lastly, we advocate for global data and knowledge sharing policies that recognize the strengths and challenges of scientists in different economic and cultural settings. The process of generating genetic epidemiology datasets usually requires costly investment of time and effort on the part of several scientists. In this regard, it is important to derive as much benefit as possible, in terms of publications and training of students in genomics and other aspects of biomedical research. However, this should not be at the expense of global data sharing. To ensure that the efforts of scientists generating the original data are adequately recognized, it is important that they have the necessary infrastructure and scientific capacity to take a timely advantage of the data that they have generated. Achieving this goal may be problematic for young or new investigators to the field of genomics and in general for scientists from developing countries who do not have access to extensive resources available to some researchers in the developed world. This highlights the need to accelerate the training of these investigators and to equip them with the infrastructure required through injection of funds such as those provided within the H3Africa and other similar initiatives. Lack of access to skills and infrastructure would lengthen the time for researchers to achieve their research objectives, and if their data becomes publicly accessible too soon, they will lose the opportunity to be first to publish on the data. Processing of large volumes of genomic data, for example, will take much longer where computing resources are limited, and even transferring the data from the site of generation (e.g. sequencing centers) to the site of analysis is a major challenge in developing countries due to poor internet connectivity. This can be addressed by publication embargo policy that recognizes these limitations by providing relatively long time to publish their papers before making the datasets publicly available. A recent example is the data sharing policy of the H3Africa initiative available at [www.h3africa.org](http://www.h3africa.org){#ir0040}. The H3Africa consortium data sharing and access policy provides for an extended time period for analysis prior to submission to public repositories. Concessions by funding agencies that take into account available resources of groups they fund will be important for protecting the interests of these groups, but ultimately, the data should be shared to enable others to benefit from the data and to use it for the advancement of science, economy and health of global populations. In all, data sharing across national and institutional boundaries is good for science and for the creation of "global good". However, sharing has to be done ethically and fairly with a clear process of community engagement when appropriate and a robust process of obtaining individual informed consent for both primary and secondary uses of generated data. The views in this article are those of the authors and do not represent those of their institutions. The authors declare no conflicts of interests. Rotimi C., et al. H3Africa Consortium. Research capacity. Enabling the genomic revolution in Africa. Science. 2014 Jun 20;344(6190):1346-8. | High | [
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Q: Character Table of $C_6$ $$\begin{array}{rrrrrrrrrrr} & 1 & g & g^2 & g^3 & g^4 & g^5\\ \phi_0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \phi_1 & 1 & \zeta_6^1 & & & & \\ \phi_2 & 1 & \zeta_6^2 & & & & \\ \phi_3 & 1 & \zeta_6^3 & & & & \\ \phi_3 & 1 & \zeta_6^4 & & & & \\ \phi_5 & 1 & \zeta_6^5 & & & & \end{array}$$ I'm trying to construct a character table for $C_6$, with generator $g$. Since $\phi_0$ is the trivial character, $\phi_0(g^n)$ for $1=<n=<5$ is 1. Similarly, since 1 is the identity element, any character $\phi_n(1)$ = 1. I also know that each character of $C_6$ will send the generator $g$ to a different $n^{th}$ root of unity. However, I'm not sure how to proceed from here. In general, how do I make the character table of a cyclic group? I'm assuming I need to use the 6th root of unity, $e^{2\pi i\over 6}$. Thanks. A: $C_{6}$ is a cyclic group then $\phi_1: 1\rightarrow e^{2\pi i\over 6}$ $\phi_i=(\phi_1)^i$ $i=1....5$\begin{array}{rrrrrrrrrrr} & 1 & g & g^2 & g^3 & g^4 & g^5\\ \phi_0 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \phi_1 & 1 & \zeta_6 & \zeta_6^2 & \zeta_6^3 &\zeta_6^4 &\zeta_6^5 & \\ \phi_2 & 1& \zeta_6^2 & \zeta_6^4 & 1 &\zeta_6^2 &\zeta_6^4 & \\ \phi_3 & 1 & \zeta_6^3 & 1 & \zeta_6^3 &1 &\zeta_6^3 & \\ \phi_4 & 1 & \zeta_6^4 & \zeta_6^2 & 1 &\zeta_6^4 &\zeta_6^2 & \\ \phi_5 & 1 & \zeta_6^5 & \zeta_6^4 & \zeta_6^3 &\zeta_6^2&\zeta_6 & \end{array} Call $e^{2\pi i\over 6}=\zeta_6$ | Mid | [
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Human C-reactive protein exacerbates metabolic disorders in association with adipose tissue remodelling. C-reactive protein (CRP) expression is increased with metabolic alterations. We sought to clarify the effect of CRP on the development of obesity-induced metabolic disorders using human CRP-overexpressing transgenic mice (CRPTG). CRPTG and their non-transgenic littermates (CON) were fed a standard diet (STD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) from 6 weeks of age. Oral glucose tolerance and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests 12 weeks after starting the diets showed deterioration of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in HFD/CRPTG compared with HFD/CON. Hepatocellular ballooning, oil droplets, and peri-sinusoidal fibrosis were more prominent in HFD/CRPTG than in HFD/CON. In HFD/CRPTG, hepatic triglyceride content was higher and serum adiponectin levels lower than in HFD/CON. Epididymal adipose tissue mRNA expression of mucin-like, hormone receptor-like 1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α in HFD/CRPTG was up-regulated compared with that in HFD/CON. Immunohistochemical staining of epididymal adipose tissue showed that the number of Mac-3(+) macrophages was higher in HFD/CRPTG than in HFD/CON. Human CRP overexpression facilitated the development of insulin resistance and hepatosteatosis with HFD in association with adiponectin down-regulation and enhancement of macrophage infiltration and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in epididymal adipose tissue, suggesting its pathogenic role in the development of obesity-induced metabolic disorders. | High | [
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Q: How to handle unknown initializer functions in lua? I want to load data written in a variant of lua (eyeonScript). However, the data is peppered with references to initialization functions that are not in plain lua: Redden = BrightnessContrast { Inputs = { Red = Input { Value = 0, }, }, } Standard lua gives "attempt to call a nil value" or "unexpected symbol" errors. Is there any way to catch these and pass it to some sort of generic initializer? I want to wind up with a nested table data structure. Thanks! A: Set an __index metamethod for the table of globals. For instance, so that undefined functions behave like the identity: setmetatable(_G,{__index=function (n) return function (x) return x end end}) | Mid | [
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Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions of people attain financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, and premium investing services. India Looks West for Its Defense Yet another big arms sale to India. "The Bush Administration, like the Reagan regime before it, is often derisively labeled "cowboy" in international circles. Yesterday, though, the Administration didn't just tolerate the label, but seemed to embrace it. Yesterday, it brought the Cowboys and the Indians together to play wargames." So began the first installment of this column, penned nearly two years ago on the occasion of India's groundbreaking agreement to purchase six C-130J cargo planes manufactured by Lockheed Martin(NYSE:LMT). At the time, I described this $1 billion contract as potentially opening the door to follow-on arms sales by Boeing(NYSE:BA), which was bidding on a contract to provide the Indian Air Force with 126 combat aircrafts. Both Boeing and Lockheed are still vying for the rights to that contract, but last week, Boeing did land a contract twice the size of Lockheed's door-opener -- a $2.1 billion deal to sell eight P-8Is, a variant of its P-8A Poseidon sub-hunting aircraft to the Indian Navy. Boeing is expected to provide the first new P-8I within four years, with the remaining seven planes touching down sometime between then and 2015. Without even so much as a "thank you!"Bittersweet news for Lockheed, I imagine. After all, Boeing's leading a team , with Northrop Grumman(NYSE:NOC) and Raytheon(NYSE:RTN), to replace Lockheed's own sub-hunter, the venerable P-3 Orion, with its own Poseidon for the U.S. Navy. No sooner had Boeing usurped Lockheed's place, than Lockheed opened the door to India ... and Boeing swooped in and snatched up a big win in that market as well. And what a market it is. According to AP, India has evolved into one of the world's largest arms buyers, with a fiscal 2008 defense budget pegged at $26 billion, up 10% from last year. While you might the effects of a global slowdown to crimp that growth rate, I personally expect Indian arms purchases to continue growing, and perhaps even accelerate. With great power comes great ... vulnerabilityWhy? India's looking to modernize its military equipment, much of what they acquired from the former Soviet Union. They've made a few key acquisitions over the past few years and are still looking to make more. In addition, India currently owns one aging aircraft carrier. By 2015, it's supposed to have at least one more such carrier. Not to mention, India's currently working on its own Vikrant class carrier, which is being developed and built within the country. Carriers are valuable assets, and are also famously vulnerable to submarine attacks. Shoring up India's maritime equipment will help protect its carriers as well as its coastline. (Note to General Dynamics(NYSE:GD) and Northrop Grumman: Y'all might want to work up some bids here, too. There's plenty of carrier-related loot to go around.) The wealthier India gets, and the bigger its carrier fleets, the more it's going to need sub-hunters and other military assets to protect them -- which is great news for America's defense contractors. Author I like things that go "boom." Sonic or otherwise, that means I tend to gravitate towards defense and aerospace stocks. But to tell the truth, over the course of a dozen years writing for The Motley Fool, I have covered -- and continue to cover -- everything from retailers to consumer goods stocks, and from tech to banks to insurers as well. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook for the most important developments in defense & aerospace news, and other great stories besides. | Mid | [
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How Wag! Works Vetted Walker Trust & Safety Thoroughly Vetted Insured & Bonded Wag! Guaranteed Dog Walks Happening Near You Amanda Sylmar 72 Hello Wag! Guests! Thank you for this opportunity to meet your puppy! I absolutely love doggies. About 3 months ago, I applied for doggie hotels so I can finally start my career with working with animals. I have bonded with many of the dogs there, to the point where they recognize me as soon as I walk through the door. I give them short walks throughout the night and feed them in the morning. When I go home, I finally feel good about my job, because I know those doggies are happy and I will get to see them again. Again, thank you for this opportunity to meet your doggie! The more the better! Raquel Sylmar 173 Hello my name is Raquel. I have been around animals my whole life. I have help rehabilitate dogs and cats to the point where they find their forever home. I myself have two dogs a pitbull lab and terrier mix,2 cats, 2 bearded dragons and a vanilla ball python. It would be amazing to meet your furry family member and enjoy walks together and some cute selfies throughout our adventure. Top Dog Walking Experiences in Sylmar Raquel Reviewed by Hannah T. on 10/03/2017 "Raquel was great! I hope she's available to walk our baby Lenny every time." 1.49 mi 34m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Kimberly C. on 09/09/2017 "Raquel is a great walker she kept me updated on their walk and informed me of things that happened my dog was very opened to her when she arrived thank you again Raquel!!" 1.19 mi 30m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Nicholas A. on 09/09/2017 "Raquel is an amazing walker and great at sending me pics and videos! I couldn't stop looking at the pics and the wag app! Thank you so much! " 1.32 mi 30m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Charles C. on 09/05/2017 "We had a little scare with our dog but she was great and got him back safe and soundly! Thank you for taking good care of him and for such a long walk, he ate his dinner like a champ so we know he got a good work out in!" 1.62 mi 30m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Angela N. on 09/03/2017 "Amazing! Raquel is an amazing dog walker and I trust her with both of my dogs. I hope to make her my only dog walker " 3.07 mi 31m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Antonio E. on 08/31/2017 "Raquel is a champ! Taking Scouty out in the heat is no easy task! She got him to finish the walk and he came home a happy camper!!" 1.29 mi 31m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by John B. on 08/26/2017 "She was great! Came early and got to know the dogs a bit so they were comfortable with her! Very friendly and definitely looking forward to scheduling more walks with her! " 2.73 mi 31m Poo Pee Laura Reviewed by Christine R. on 08/25/2017 "Thank you, Laura. Pegasus actually stayed at the top of my stairs waiting for you to come back. When i called him over to me he actually ran all over the place with joy. Thank you for jogging with him, he loves running a lot and i really do look forward to you walking Pegs again. 5 stars all the way. I love seeing my boy really happy " 1.20 mi 33m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Caleb B. on 08/16/2017 "She looks so happy in those videos!! So glad she made some friends on the walk. Thanks for the extra minutes :)" 1.60 mi 36m Poo Pee Raquel Reviewed by Charles C. on 08/14/2017 "Thank you for a great walk and for being so encouraging toward our little shy dog and helping him get over his fears! Such a long walk too thank you!" Dog Areas in Sylmar Sylmar is a popular California neighborhood near Los Angeles. The neighborhood is known for its olive orchards and has a rich history in that can be traced back to the 18th century. The neighborhood has three animal hospitals with friendly and experienced staff that will help you with any concerns or emergencies that arise while you are in the area. You will find Sylmar is a dog-friendly neighborhood where you and your pup will feel right at home. The weather is simply bark-tastic in this sunny California town and your dog will love spending countless hours outside enjoying your company. With Los Angeles just minutes away, this suburban neighborhood is a wonderful place to live if you want to be close to it all, but not quite in the middle of it. There are small green spaces throughout the residential streets where you can picnic or toss a frisbee around for hours. If your dog loves to run along side a bicycle, the Mission City Bike Trail is the pawfect place to take him for a weekend afternoon or a weekday escape after a stressful day. You won’t find many chain restaurants right in town, but there are many options outside of town in nearby Los Angeles if you are looking for a sit-down meal away from home. Best Dog Neighborhoods in Sylmar Dog Parks0 Population Density5,579/sq mi #1 Sylmar 48 Central Sylmar is a quiet, residential neighborhood where dog owners live and play their afternoons and weekends away with their happy pups. Your dog will be all tails when he sees the leash come out for his morning walk in this pupperific neighborhood. The weather is simply divine most of the year. The atmosphere is dog-friendly and you are both sure to make many new friends with both two and four legs in your travels through Sylmar. If you want to get the most out of your time in the area, pack up your waste bags and extra treats and head for any of the local fields where you can spread out a blanket and relax with your canine pal. Dog neighborhood? Dog Parks0 Population Density3,240/sq mi #2 Granada Hills Central 36 Granada Hills is a sparsely populated Los Angeles neighborhood just a few minutes to the west of Sylmar. The area is highly diverse and is considered a high-income neighborhood. Grenada Hills is a residential area with plenty of bark-worthy homes to admire during your morning walks. Just make sure you bring ample waste bags on your walks to keep locals and other visitors happy. There are also many small parks around the perimeter of the neighborhood that you can enjoy, such as the Aliso Canyon Park. This park has lots of trails and paths that will keep you and your beloved pup entertained all morning long. Dog neighborhood? Dog Parks0 Population Density11,552/sq mi #3 Arleta 24 Arleta is a diverse and welcoming neighborhood a few minutes south of Sylmar. This neighborhood welcomes dog owners with open paws, so don’t worry about Speckles being able to make new friends here. Arleta is mostly residential streets, with a few small green areas where residents enjoy their family picnics and local children’s sporting events. There are plenty of carryout places like Dominoes and Little Caesars where you can grab dinner on the go with your dog in tow. Just make sure your pup minds his manners while you wait for your order. Extra treats and waste bags are recommended, but a leash is a must! Dog neighborhood? Dog Parks0 Population Density11,542/sq mi #4 Northridge 12 Northridge is a densely populated 8-mile-long neighborhood in the Los Angeles area, about fifteen minutes from Sylmar. Mason Park is a small recreational area popular with local dog owners. You will need to keep your dog leashed here, but there are plenty of paths for you to walk together until you are ready to grab a bite to eat at the Munchbox, where outdoor, bar style seating is part of the experience. This makes it easy for your dog to join you for lunch without the fussing or waiting for a table. Just keep a couple of clean-up bags with you just in case you need to help keep the spot pristine for other customers. Dog neighborhood? Dog Parks0 Population Density1,664/sq mi #5 Kagel Canyon 0 Kagel Canyon is an unincorporated community in the Los Angeles area, just ten minutes from Sylmar. This area is right at the edge of the Angeles National Forest. Residents here enjoy a terrain full of lush forest and rolling terrain. You can take your dog on daily hikes here. A harness is recommended due to the challenging terrain. Small dogs may need a little help getting around some parts of the trails that surround Kagel Canyon, but that doesn’t mean they will be any less thrilled to venture out with you. Make sure you take plenty of water for the both of your on your walks, and keep a collapsible bowl with you so that your dog can quench his thirst when you do. | Low | [
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69 N.Y.2d 805 (1987) The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Tony Adams, Appellant. Court of Appeals of the State of New York. Argued January 15, 1987. Decided February 17, 1987. Richard Joselson, David A. Crow and Philip L. Weinstein for appellant. Robert M. Morgenthau, District Attorney (Sylvia Wertheimer and Amyjane Rettew of counsel), for respondent. Chief Judge WACHTLER and Judges SIMONS, KAYE, ALEXANDER, TITONE, HANCOCK, JR., and BELLACOSA concur. *806MEMORANDUM. The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed. Defendant complains that the trial court erred in charging the jury with respect to circumstantial evidence that some of the facts could be proved with less assurance than others. Although the language isolated by defendant was one of the bases for reversal in People v Ford (66 N.Y.2d 428, 443), the charge as a whole adequately conveyed to the jury the appropriate standards (People v Ford, supra). Defendant's remaining contentions are not preserved for our review. Order affirmed in a memorandum. | Mid | [
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A man who tried to kidnap the assistant manager of a west London boutique at gunpoint outside her Shepherd’s Bush home has been jailed. Benson Igbokwe and an accomplice had hoped to bundle the terrified victim into the back of a waiting van and whisk her to the Kensington store, where they would use her set of keys to enter and rob the boutique. But his plans fell apart when she escaped from their clutches and ran for help. At Isleworth Crown Court, the 44-year-old from Streatham was found guilty of conspiracy to kidnap and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. During a trial, the court was told Igbokwe had followed his victim on many occasions as he carried out recces for the attempted robbery. He struck in February 2013 as the victim returned home after work. As she got to the communal door to her flat she noticed two men wearing high visibility jackets standing outside the entrance. As she walked into the courtyard, one man approached her with a gun while another blocked the door. She thought they were after her handbag but when they asked for her keys she said she was visiting a friend. She was then asked for the shop keys. With the gun now pointed at her head, the victim said she did not have the set of keys, to which the man said: “Yes you do because you locked up tonight. We followed you.” She was ordered to get into a van parked outside but as she walked through the communal door, the victim ran to a nearby shop screaming for help and called the police. During their investigation, officers learned Igbokwe carried out surveillance on the woman, parking outside the store at closing time as well as outside her flat when she arrived home. At one point, the victim became suspicious of the vehicle and made a note of the registration number, which was registered to Igbokwe. Police enquiries also revealed that Igbokwe had hired a white van on the day of the offence and phone records showed that his mobile phone was being used within the vicinity of the store and her flat. He was arrested on March 7 2013 and later charged with conspiracy to kidnap. A second man was arrested in April 2013 and also charged with conspiracy to kidnap but was later acquitted of the offence. Igbokwe was sentenced on April 2. Acting Detective Sergeant Aretha Guernah, from Hammersmith & Fulham CID, said: “I cannot imagine the fear that the victim went through having a gun pointed at her head and knowing that the men were trying to kidnap her. “I would like to praise her for her courage and bravery in having to recall this terrible ordeal over and over again whilst giving evidence to the courts and assisting with our investigation. “I hope this sentence brings some comfort to the victim that a dangerous man has been locked up and a warning to others who look to follow in Igbokwe’s footsteps that the police will catch you and bring you before the courts.” | Mid | [
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A nation without children has lost the best part of itself. From Unsplash By Amanda Price This will be the question on the lips of Koreans, and visitors to Korea, if the current birth rate does not change. Demographers are now projecting a new set of endgame figures that point to the possibility of a nation without children. Korean children, inarguably among the most delightful in the world, are statistically disappearing. This is without question a national crisis, but perhaps it is also a deeply personal one. Various articles quote young and not-so-young Korean women who feel that being free of familial constraints will enable them to enjoy a new-found freedom. Others reason that Korean society is no longer an environment in which to raise a family, or that the financial requirements of educating children are beyond the reach of families. I am aware that busyness, lack of finances, stress, competition, gender inequality, careers, familial burdens, missing grandparents, disenchantment and societal pressures all contribute to South Korea's abysmally low birth rate. To minimize the significance of these issues would be wrong. These are very real problems facing everyday Koreans and decisively affecting their present and future choices. There is, however, another influential factor that receives far less attention. It is the issue of space. Naturally, one might assume that I am referring to physical space; however, the space I'm referring to is emotional. Some will likely be familiar with this space. It is the room we make in ourselves for others to share. It is where the best of us is kept for those who mean the most. In this intangible space, life seems worth living and worth sharing with others, especially children. In this space no one feels alone and unwanted. Yet today, for many South Koreans, this space is missing and no one seems to be asking why. Instead, the questions at the centre of this crisis focus on fiscal consequences, expanding debt, vastly under-funded pensions, an aged society, the rapid decline of a workforce and the slow death of Korean culture. It is terrifying stuff, but its roots reach far back beyond this present generation. Few seem to discuss that, only decades ago, the governments of the time provided low-cost housing to parents who agreed to be sterilized (over a million Koreans underwent this process), or medical insurance was suspended to women with three or more children. Families with more than two children were refused claims for educational expenses. Free birth-control devices were distributed and government slogans such as "Even two children are too many for our crowded country" were plastered on office walls. Children were perceived as obstacles to economic growth. By 1991, Korea had won the ominous title of being the nation with the second-highest percentage off sterilized citizens. With tragic short-sightedness, past governments believed that fewer children would lead to industrial wealth and national prosperity. From South Korean Government archives Sadly, in the busyness of achieving economic success and industrial wealth, Korea forgot its greatest achievements, the Korean people and the Korean family. With tragic short-sightedness, governments meddled and manipulated people's lives to increase productivity. Assuming the role of parent, government programs not only led to population decline, they redefined social order. Despite what was being said, the family was no longer the apex of Korean society, the worker was. Core values were subtly being changed, but a vastly improved lifestyle made that hard to detect. The table has almost turned full circle and those who enjoyed the vastly improved lifestyle are now the parents of grown children, grown children who are struggling within themselves to find a life that is worth passing on to the next generation. Even though governmental decisions led to population decline, many assume that the problem lies with this younger generation of Koreans, who, according to some, do not care about Korea. The media is quick to draw attention to the minority who may feel this way and the minority are eager to be interviewed. Though they do not represent the majority, their voices are often louder. Far softer are the voices asking for advocacy. These are the men and women wanting families and children, who are faced with realities that make that impossible. There is limited space in their heart, because fears for the future, a sense of hopelessness and emotional fatigue occupy what space is there. Halfway between anger and sorrow, they grieve for a loss they cannot describe. What they do know is that theirs is a space that is not worth sharing. Oftentimes, these would-be parents are held under a microscope. They are scrutinized for their choices and then told they are wrong. They are verbally attacked by their elders for ruining the nation, bullied by their employers into prioritizing work over potential human beings and enticed by their government with money to produce more money in the shape of babies! And the space grows smaller. As this space dwindles, the birth rate falls synchronously. To reverse this equation, the generation of potential parents must feel that their lives are worth living and therefore worth sharing. This is about more than an improved lifestyle, this is about the need to feel valued as a person, not just a producer. There is no space to breathe, let alone to feel the compelling desire to have children. It is time to remember that South Koreans and South Korean children are the nation's greatest achievement. The focus must be on people and not percentages. From Unsplash | Low | [
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List of Danish monarchs This is a list of Danish monarchs, that is, the kings and queens regnant of Denmark. This includes: The Kingdom of Denmark (up to 1397) Personal union of Denmark and Norway (1380–1397) The Kalmar Union (1397–1536) Union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (1397–1523) Union of Denmark and Norway (1523–1536) The Kingdom of Denmark-Norway (1536–1814) The Kingdom of Denmark (1814–present) Iceland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; independent kingdom in a personal union with Denmark 1918–1944; a sovereign republic since 1944) Greenland (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; effective Danish control began in 1721; integrated into the Danish realm in 1953; internal home rule introduced 1979; self-determination assumed in 2009; Greenland has two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget) Faroe Islands (since the union between Denmark and Norway in 1380; County of Denmark 1816–1948; internal home rule introduced 1948; The Faroe Islands have two out of 179 seats in the Danish parliament Folketinget) The house of Oldenburg held the Danish Crown between 1448 and 1863, when it passed to the house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a cadet branch of the same house, patrilineally descended from King Christian III of Denmark. The kingdom had been elective (although the eldest son or brother of the previous king was usually elected) until 1660, when it became hereditary and absolutist. Until 1864 Denmark was also united in a personal union with the duchies of Holstein and Saxe-Lauenburg (1814–1864), and in a political and personal union with the Duchy of Schleswig. Pre House of Knýtlinga Danish monarchs The exact date of origin of the Kingdom of Denmark is not established, but names of Danish kings begins to emerge in foreign sources from the 8th century and onwards. Danish and Nordic legendary stories, chronicles and sagas often have accounts of Danish kings and dynasties stretching further back in time than the 7th century, but the historicity of the content and interpretations of these stories are often put to doubt. Chochilaicus—see Hugleik and Hygelac— 515 AD, mentioned by Gregory of Tours (538–594). Hugleik, according to the written sources, suffered a defeat in 515 during a naval expedition to the Frankish Empire. Hugleik is the first Danish king mentioned in European sources. Ongendus (Angantyr): Saint Willibrord wrote about when he visited the Danes, at the time ruled by Ongendus. Harald, named as former king in relating 9th-century events, perhaps model for legendary Harald Wartooth. Related to the Frisian king Redbad II who in 754 had to flee to "the land of the Danes" where King Harald reigned ("Daniae Regi Heraldi"). Sigfred: 770s–790s Gudfred: 804–810, mentioned as Danish king in the Treaty of Heiligen 811. Hemming: 810–811/812 The Treaty of Heiligen was signed in 811 between the Danish King Hemming and Charlemagne. Sigfred, nephew of Gudfred, and Anulo (Anlaufr), grandson or nephew of Harald, fought for the throne and both were killed, perhaps model for the legendary Sigurd Hring: Harald Klak and his brothers Ragnfrid and Hemming Halfdansson: 812–813 and again from 819/827. From 826 he and his household lived in exile with the Frankish emperor Louis the Pious, he was baptized by the bishop of Mainz in Ingelheim am Rhein. The last reference of Harald in the written sources are in the Annals of Fulda which records his execution for treason in 852. Sons of Gudfred: 814–820s Horik I: (814) 827–854, King of the Danes (at first ruling jointly with his unnamed brothers). The Frankish annals mention Horik on numerous occasions during the next couple of decades. Horik II: 854–860s. He is believed to have been the immediate successor of Horik I, but the annals are silent about the name of the Danish king for a few years after the disaster of 854. In 857, Horik II allowed Rorik to occupy the part of the kingdom between the sea and the Eider. Horik II was still alive in 864, when a letter was addressed to him by Pope Nicholas I. Late 9th century kings Bagsecg: Halfdan: 871–877 Sigfred: It is generally assumed that he was the immediate successor of Horik II, although that is not certain. His year of succession is unknown, but it was between 864 (when Horik II was still king) and his first appearance as king in the Frankish annals in 873. Sigifrid was baptized in 882. Gudfred: 880s Heiligo (Halga): 890s (?), described by Adam of Bremen as the immediate predecessor of the House of Olof. The "House of Olaf": late 9th century and early 10th century. This dynasty is described by Adam of Bremen, and members of this dynasty are commemorated by the two Sigtrygg Runestones, which represent contemporary evidence that the House of Olaf controlled at least part of Denmark. Olof the Brash, said by Adam to have been a Swede who defeated Heiligo and took the crown. Gyrd and Gnupa, sons and joint successors of Olof, according to Adam. Gnupa is named by Widukind of Corvey as leader of the Danes in 934, and appears on the Sigtrygg Runestones. Sigtrygg, son of Gnupa, memorialized on the Sigtrygg Runestones, presumably dating from shortly after 934. Semi-legendary kings Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary king probably in the 9th century, only appears in sagas and late histories, and these accounts are wildly inconsistent. He may be a composite character, a chimera of several historical kings and Vikings. Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (da: Sigurd Orm-i-øje or Snogeøje). Mentioned by late Chronicon Roskildense and Ragnarssona þáttr. Said to be king of Zealand and Scania, and son of Ragnar Lodbrok. He may be inspired by late 9th century King Sigfred (above). Harthacnut (Hardeknud). According to the sagas he is son of Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, but some historians identify him with Adam's Hardegon, Svein's son, who invaded Denmark from Northmannia and supplanted the House of Olof. He may have ruled only part of Denmark, as Adam places the commencement of his long reign between 909 and 915, while the House of Olof was still ruling at least part of Denmark as late as 934. He was father of Gorm the Old. List of monarchs of Denmark House of Gorm (c. 936–1042) House of Fairhair (1042–1047) House of Estridsen (1047–1375) House of Bjelbo (1376–1387) House of Estridsen (1376–1412) House of Pomerania (1397–1439) House of Palatinate-Neumarkt (1440–1448) House of Oldenburg (1448–1863) |- | 28 September 144821 May 1481() | | | February 1426Oldenburgeldest son of Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg and Helvig of Schauenburg | Dorothea of Brandenburg28 October 1449Church of Our Ladyfive children | 21 May 1481Copenhagen Castleaged 55 |- | (Hans)21 May 148120 February 1513() | | | 2 February 1455Aalborghus Castlethird son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg | Christina of Saxony6 September 1478Copenhagenfive children | 20 February 1513Aalborghus Castleaged 58 |- | 22 July 151320 January 1523()(deposed) | | | 1 July 1481Nyborg Castlesecond son of John and Christina of Saxony | Isabella of Austria12 August 1515Copenhagensix children | 25 January 1559Kalundborg Castleaged 77 |- | 13 April 152310 April 1533() | | | 7 October 1471Haderslevhus Castlefourth son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg | (1) Anna of Brandenburg10 April 1502Stendaltwo children(2) Sophie of Pomerania9 October 1518Kiel Castlesix children | 10 April 1533Gottorp Castleaged 61 |- |align="center" colspan="6"| Interregnum (1533–1534) |- | 4 July 15341 January 1559() | | | 12 August 1503Gottorp Castleonly son of Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg | Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg29 October 1525Lauenburg Castlefive children | 1 January 1559Koldinghus Castleaged 55 |- | 1 January 15594 April 1588() | | | 1 July 1534Haderslevhus Castleeldest son of Christian III and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg | Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow20 July 1572Copenhageneight children | 4 April 1588Antvorskov Castleaged 53 |- | 4 April 158828 February 1648() | | | 12 April 1577Frederiksborg Palaceeldest son of Frederick II and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow | (1) Anne Catherine of Brandenburg27 November 1597Haderslevhus Castleseven children(2) Kirsten Munk31 December 1615Copenhagentwelve children | 28 February 1648Rosenborg Castleaged 70 |- | 28 February 16489 February 1670() | | | 18 March 1609Haderslevhus Castlethird son of Christian IV and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg | Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg1 October 1643Glücksburg Castleeight children | 9 February 1670Copenhagen Castleaged 60 |- | 9 February 167025 August 1699() | | | 15 April 1646Duborg Castleeldest son of Frederick III and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg | Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel25 June 1667Nykøbing Castleeight children | 25 August 1699Copenhagen Castleaged 53 |- | 25 August 169912 October 1730() | | | 11 October 1671Copenhagen Castleeldest son of Christian V and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel | (1) Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow5 December 1695Copenhagenfive children(2) Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg6 September 1703one son(3) Anne Sophie Reventlow4 April 1721Copenhagenthree children | 12 October 1730Odense Palaceaged 59 |- | 12 October 17306 August 1746() | | | 30 November 1699Copenhagen Castlesecond son of Frederick IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow | Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach7 August 1721Pretzsch Castlethree children | 6 August 1746Hirschholm Palaceaged 46 |- | 6 August 174614 January 1766() | | | 31 March 1723Copenhagen Castleonly son of Christian VI and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach | (1) Louise of Great Britain11 December 1743Altonafive children(2) Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel8 July 1752Frederiksborg Palaceone son | 14 January 1766Christiansborg Palaceaged 42 |- | 14 January 176613 March 1808() | | | 29 January 1749Christiansborg Palacesecond son of Frederick V and Louise of Great Britain | Caroline Matilda of Great Britain8 November 1766Christiansborg Palacetwo children | 13 March 1808Rendsburgaged 59 |- | 13 March 18083 December 1839() | | | 28 January 1768Christiansborg Palaceonly son of Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Great Britain | Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel31 July 1790Gottorp Castleeight children | 3 December 1839Amalienborg Palaceaged 71 |- | Christian Frederick3 December 183920 January 1848() | | | 18 September 1786Christiansborg Palaceeldest son of Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | (1) Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin21 June 1806Ludwigslust Castletwo sons(2) Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg22 May 1815Augustenborg Palaceno issue | 20 January 1848Amalienborg Palaceaged 61 |- | Frederik Carl Christian20 January 184815 November 1863() | | | 6 October 1808Amalienborg Palacesecond son of Christian VIII and Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | (1) Vilhelmine Marie of Denmark1 November 1828Christiansborg Palaceno issue(2) Caroline of Mecklenburg10 June 1841Neustrelitzno issue(3) Louise Rasmussen7 August 1850Frederiksborg Palaceno issue | 15 November 1863Glücksburg Castleaged 55 |} House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (since 1863) |- | 15 November 186329 January 1906() | | | 8 April 1818Gottorf Castlefourth son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel | Louise of Hesse-Kassel26 May 1842Amalienborg Palacesix children | 29 January 1906Amalienborg Palaceaged 87 | Great-grandson of King Frederick V and male-line descendant of King Christian III | |- | Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl 29 January 190614 May 1912() | | | 3 June 1843Yellow Palaceeldest son of Christian IX and Louise of Hesse-Kassel | Louise of Sweden28 July 1869Stockholmeight children | 14 May 1912Jungfernstieg, Hamburgaged 68 | Son of King Christian IX | |- | Christian Carl Frederik Albert Alexander Vilhelm 14 May 191220 April 1947() | | | 26 September 1870Charlottenlund Palaceeldest son of Frederick VIII and Louise of Sweden | Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin26 April 1898Cannestwo sons | 20 April 1947Amalienborg Palaceaged 76 | Son of King Frederick VIII | |- | Christian Frederik Franz Michael Carl Valdemar Georg 20 April 194714 January 1972() | | | 11 March 1899Sorgenfri Palaceeldest son of Christian X and Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Ingrid of Sweden24 May 1935Storkyrkan Cathedral, Stockholmthree daughters | 14 January 1972Amalienborg Palaceaged 72 | Son of King Christian X | |- | Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid 14 January 1972Present() | | | 16 April 1940Amalienborg Palaceeldest daughter of Frederick IX and Ingrid of Sweden | Henri de Laborde de Monpezat10 June 1967Holmen Church, Copenhagentwo sons | IncumbentAge | Daughter of King Frederick IX | |} Timeline of Danish monarchs See also Danish monarchs' family tree Line of succession to the Danish throne List of Danish royal consorts Coronation of the Danish monarch Style of the Danish sovereign Danish Orders of Chivalry Lists of office-holders Footnotes Further reading "Royal Lineage" Royal Family – The Monarchy in Denmark. "Kongerækken" Kongehuset. Monarchs Denmark | High | [
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Photo-mediated optimized synthesis of silver nanoparticles for the selective detection of Iron(III), antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The AgNPs synthesized by green method have shown great potential in several applications such as biosensing, biomedical, catalysis, electronic etc. The present study deals with the selective colorimetric detection of Fe3+ using photoinduced green synthesized AgNPs. For the synthesis purpose, an aqueous extract of Croton bonplandianum (AEC) was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The biosynthesis was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy where an SPR band at λmax 436nm after 40s and 428nm after 30min corresponded to the existence of AgNPs. The optimum conditions for biosynthesis of AgNPs were 30min sunlight exposure time, 5.0% (v/v) AEC inoculum dose and 4mM AgNO3 concentration. The stability of synthesized AgNPs was monitored up to 9months. The size and shape of AgNPs with average size 19.4nm were determined by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM). The crystallinity was determined by High-Resolution X-ray Diffractometer (HR-XRD) and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) pattern. The chemical and elemental compositions were determined by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) respectively. The Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) images represented the lateral and 3D topological characteristics of AgNPs. The XPS analysis confirmed the presence of two individual peaks which attributed to the Ag 3d3/2 and Ag 3d5/2 binding energies corresponding to the presence of metallic silver. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed potent antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains as well as antioxidant activity. On the basis of results and facts, a probable mechanism was also proposed to explore the possible route of AgNPs synthesis, colorimetric detection of Fe3+, antibacterial and antioxidant activity. | High | [
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Q: Understanding Finite element method Suppose we have Poisson in 1D: $u'' = f(t)$ where $0<t<1$ and $u(0)=0$ and $u(1)=1$ We approximate the solution by $U(t) \approx \sum_{i=1}^n x_i \phi_i(t) $ where $\phi_i(t)$ are some basis functions. Once we put this into our equation we get some residual $r(x_i,t) = U''(t) - f(t) $. The idea is to multiply by some ${\bf weight }$ function and solve $$ \int\limits_0^1 r(x_i,t) w(t) d t $$ In the Galerkin method, we take $w(t) = \phi_i(t)$ and use integration by parts to derive a system of equations where we find $x_1,...,x_n$. The question is Suppose the hat function is used as the shape function (piecewise linear shape function) and the domain is decomposed into subintervals of lenght $h=0.2$ Compute the element stiffness matrix ${\bf K}$ If I understood correctly, we use $$ \phi_i(x) = \begin{cases} \frac{ x - x_{i-1} }{h} & x_{i-1} \leq x \leq x_i \\ \frac{x_{i+1}-x}{h} & x_i \leq x \leq x_{i+1} \end{cases} $$ as our basis functions. We are given that $$ K_{ij} = \sum_{e} K_{ij}^e $$ where $K_{ij}^e$ is the element stiffness matrix for element $\Omega_e$. In our case, we have $5$ elements as $h=0.2$. For example, for the first element: $[x_0,x_1]$ we have $$ K_{ij}^1 = \int\limits_{x_0}^{x_1} ( \phi_i' \phi_j' + \phi_i \phi_j) dx $$ Is this how finite element method works? A: Let's take some test functions $\phi_i\in H_0^1$ that are null at the domain boundaries, here $\phi_i(0)=\phi_i(1)=0$. You can always write: $$ \int_0^1 u''(x) \phi_i(x) dx = \int_0^1 f(x) \phi_i(x) dx $$ Using integration by parts with $(u'(x) \phi_i(x))'=u''(x) \phi_i(x) + u'(x) \phi'_i(x)$ (or more generally some Green formula) you can write $$ \int_0^1 u''(x)\phi_i(x) dx = u'(1) \phi_i(1) - u'(0) \phi_i(0) -\int_0^1 u'(x)\phi'_i(x) dx = -\int_0^1 u'(x)\phi'_i(x) dx $$ Now to manage the Dirichlet boundary conditions: $u(0)=0$ and $u(1)=1$ you introduce any function $\tilde{u}(x)$ which satisfies $\tilde{u}(0)=0$ and $\tilde{u}(1)=1$ (a simple choice is $\tilde{u}(x)=x$ for instance). By linearity you can search a solution of the form $u(x)=u_0(x)+ \tilde{u}(x)$ where $u_0(0)=0$ and $u_0(1)=0$ (homogeneous Dirichlet conditions). By construction $u_0$ is null at boundaries hence you can also expand it using the same basis functions $\phi_i\in H_0^1$. $$ u_0(x)=\sum\limits_{j=1}^n \alpha_j \phi_j(x) $$ Back to our previous equation $$ -\int_0^1 u'(x)\phi'_i(x) dx = \int_0^1 f(x)\phi_i(x)dx $$ we introduce $u(x)=u_0(x)+ \tilde{u}(x)$ which gives: $$ -\int_0^1 u_0'(x)\phi'_i(x) dx = \int_0^1 (f(x)+\tilde{u}'(x))\phi_i(x)dx $$ $$ \sum_{j=1}^n\left(-\int_0^1 \phi'_j(x)\phi'_i(x) dx\right)\alpha_j = \int_0^1 (f(x)+\tilde{u}'(x))\phi_i(x)dx $$ At the end you get a linear system defined by $n$ (for $i=1..n$) equations of the form: $$ \sum\limits_{j=1}^n A_{i,j}\alpha_j = F_i $$ where $A_{i,j}=-\int_0^1 \phi'_j(x) \phi'_i(x) dx$ and $F_i=\int_0^1 (f(x)+\tilde{u}'(x))\phi_i(x)dx$ You have a lot of freedom to chose the basis function $\phi_i$. However it is generally convenient to split the spacial domain into simplices (the mesh) and use continuous piece-wise linear functions on these elements (what we call Lagrange elements). This is the basis functions you used in your question. And yes this approach is what we call the Finite Element Method. Some clarifications concerning $\phi_i\in H_0^1$ for Dirichlet conditions we chose $\phi_i\in H_0^1$, which are null at the boundary, to cancel the term: $u'(1) \phi_i(1) - u'(0) \phi_i(0)$. Reason? we have absolutly no idea of the value of $u'$ at the boundary, so it is helpful to be able to cancel this term. if instead of Dirichlet conditions we have a problem with Neumann conditions $u'(0)=0$ and $u'(1)=1$, we would have taken $\phi_i \in H^1$ (that can take any value at the boundaries). The situation is even simpler here because we do not have to introduce $\tilde{u}$ anymore and the Neuman conditions are introduced in the term $u'(1) \phi_i(1) - u'(0) \phi_i(0)$ which is then moved in the right hand side of the equation. See for instance: Advanced Finite Element Methods for further details | High | [
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Another “kick in the gut” for Australian manufacturing: South Australian Rossi Boots, the century-old Aussie company which has supplied boots to Australian troops during both world wars, has lost the valued defence contract to cheaper imports. Image credit: Rossi Boots webpage The Adelaide-based company was reportedly told that it did not meet the value-for-money criteria under commonwealth purchasing rules, losing the contract to manufacture around 100,000 pairs of non-combat boots, worth up to $15 million over five years. According to the article on The Herald Sun, Rossi Boots’ Chief Executive Neville Hayward said the contract would have meant a secure future for the company. “What we are looking for, for a start is a fair go. We manufacture here, we base our business here, we pay our taxes and comply with all the requirements of employing staff and conducting a business,” he said. My Hayward travelled to Canberra yesterday in order to plead with the Federal Government to reconsider their decision, claiming the rejected bid is another great blow to Australian manufacturing. “It is such a big concern because manufacturing in Australia is challenging and we are finding all sorts of pressures on our business and our sales from products coming from all over the world. When we look at the current situation, many companies closing across Australia, that is now another missed opportunity for adding jobs to a company like ours,” he told The Herald Sun. As far as to why their bid was rejected, Mr Hayward said Defence told them the company “was technically noncompliant at this point in time”, even though their tender met compliance. “They said they had considered that we would cover that off as we had said in the tender,” said Mr Hayward. So that didn’t impact on the awarding of the contract. At the end of the day they largely said it was a value-for-money situation,” said Mr Hayward. According to News.com.au, Defence Minister Senator David Johnston has promised to investigate why Rossi Boots’ bid was rejected in favour of imported footwear. “I want to see the basis upon which we have discriminated in terms of the ultimate winner of the tender. If it is a matter of price and if I can do anything I will come back to you with what can be done,” Senator Johnston said in Parliament. The decision has also angered Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon who is pushing the Federal Government to change procurement rules so that Australian manufacturing companies can have a chance at winning manufacturing tenders. Thanks to his persistence, he managed to have a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Abbott. “He (Tony Abbott) is acutely aware of the issue and he has taken it very seriously,” Senator Xenophon said. “Rossi Boots has a soul (sole) in both senses of the word: in terms of tough durable boots and in terms of being a strong family company,” he told reporters at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. The Senator wants the “deeply flawed” tender reopened by the Defence Materiel Organisation and is to hold further meetings with the PM’s office later this week with a view to reforming procurement rules. The Rossi family established the company in 1910 and is now one of the last Australian-based boot makers where the entire boot – sole and upper – is Australian made. | Mid | [
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Isotropic proton-detected local-field nuclear magnetic resonance in solids. A nuclear magnetic resonance method is presented which produces linear, isotropic proton-detected local-field spectra for INS spin systems in powdered samples. The method, heteronuclear isotropic evolution (HETIE), refocuses the anisotropic portion of the heteronuclear dipolar coupling frequencies by evolving the system under a series of specially designed Hamiltonians and evolution pathways. The theory behind HETIE is presented along with experimental studies conducted on a powdered sample of ferrocene, demonstrating the methodology outlined in this paper. Applications of HETIE for use in structure determination in the solid state are discussed. | High | [
0.671428571428571,
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import { Length, Position } from "@unit/Length"; import { keyMap, isNumber } from "@core/functions/func"; import { Property } from "@items/Property"; import { StaticGradient } from "./image-resource/StaticGradient"; import { URLImageResource } from "./image-resource/URLImageResource"; import { LinearGradient } from "./image-resource/LinearGradient"; import { RepeatingLinearGradient } from "./image-resource/RepeatingLinearGradient"; import { RadialGradient } from "./image-resource/RadialGradient"; import { RepeatingRadialGradient } from "./image-resource/RepeatingRadialGradient"; import { ConicGradient } from "./image-resource/ConicGradient"; import { RepeatingConicGradient } from "./image-resource/RepeatingConicGradient"; import { Gradient } from "./image-resource/Gradient"; import { convertMatches, reverseMatches } from "@core/functions/parser"; export class BorderImage extends Property { addImageResource(imageResource) { this.clear("image-resource"); return this.addItem("image-resource", imageResource); } addGradient(gradient) { return this.addImageResource(gradient); } setImageUrl(data) { if (!data.images) return; if (!data.images.length) return; this.reset({ type: "image", image: this.createImage(data.images[0]) }); } createImage(url) { return new URLImageResource({ url }); } setGradient(data) { this.reset({ type: data.type, image: this.createGradient(data, this.json.image) }); } createGradient(data, gradient) { const colorsteps = data.colorsteps; // linear, conic 은 angle 도 같이 설정한다. const angle = data.angle; // radial 은 radialType 도 같이 설정한다. const radialType = data.radialType; const radialPosition = data.radialPosition; let json = gradient.toJSON(); delete json.itemType; delete json.type; switch (data.type) { case "static-gradient": return new StaticGradient({ ...json, colorsteps }); break; case "linear-gradient": return new LinearGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, angle }); case "repeating-linear-gradient": return new RepeatingLinearGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, angle }); case "radial-gradient": return new RadialGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, radialType, radialPosition }); case "repeating-radial-gradient": return new RepeatingRadialGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, radialType, radialPosition }); case "conic-gradient": return new ConicGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, angle, radialPosition }); case "repeating-conic-gradient": return new RepeatingConicGradient({ ...json, colorsteps, angle, radialPosition }); } return new Gradient(); } getDefaultObject() { return super.getDefaultObject({ itemType: "border-image", checked: false, repeat: "stretch", slice: {}, width: {}, image: StaticGradient.create(), }); } convert(json) { Object.keys(json.slice).forEach(key => { json.slice[key] = Length.parse(json.slice[key]); }) return json; } get image() { return this.json.image; } set image(image) { this.json.image = image; } toBorderImageOffsetCSS() { return Object.keys(this.json.offset).map(key => { return this.json.offset[key].toString() }).join(' ') } toBorderImageCSS() { if (!this.json.image) return {}; var image = this.json.image.toString(); return { "border-image-source": `${image}` }; } toBorderImageRepeatCSS () { if (!this.json.repeat) return {} return { 'border-image-repeat': `${this.json.repeat}` } } toBorderImageWidthCSS () { if (!this.json.width) return {} var filters = Object.keys(this.json.width).filter(key => { return this.json.width[key].value > 0 }) if (filters.length === 0) return {} var cssText = Object.keys(this.json.width).map(key => { return this.json.width[key].toString() }).join(' ') return { 'border-image-width': `${cssText}` } } toBorderImageSliceCSS () { if (!this.json.slice) return {} var cssText = Object.keys(this.json.slice).map(key => { var len = this.json.slice[key]; return len.isPercent() ? len.toString() : len.value; }).join(' ') return { 'border-image-slice': `${cssText}` } } toCSS() { var results = { ...this.toBorderImageCSS(), ...this.toBorderImageRepeatCSS(), ...this.toBorderImageSliceCSS(), ...this.toBorderImageWidthCSS(), }; return results; } toString() { return keyMap(this.toCSS(), (key, value) => { return `${key}: ${value}`; }).join(";"); } static parse(obj) { return new BorderImage(obj); } static parseStyle(style) { var borderImage = null; var reg = /((linear\-gradient|repeating\-linear\-gradient|radial\-gradient|repeating\-radial\-gradient|conic\-gradient|repeating\-conic\-gradient|url)\(([^\)]*)\))/gi; if (style["border-image"]) { var results = convertMatches(style["border-image"]); results.str.match(reg).forEach((value, index) => { let image = null; value = reverseMatches(value, results.matches); const arr = style['border-image'].replace(value, '').split(' ').map(str => Length.parse(str)) if (value.includes("repeating-linear-gradient")) { // 반복을 먼저 파싱하고 image = RepeatingLinearGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("linear-gradient")) { // 그 다음에 파싱 하자. image = LinearGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("repeating-radial-gradient")) { image = RepeatingRadialGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("radial")) { image = RadialGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("repeating-conic-gradient")) { image = RepeatingConicGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("conic")) { image = ConicGradient.parse(value); } else if (value.includes("url")) { image = URLImageResource.parse(value); } borderImage = new BorderImage({ type: image.type, image }); var numbers = arr.filter(it => isNumber(it.value)); if (numbers.length === 1) { borderImage.reset({ slice: { top: numbers[0].clone(), bottom: numbers[0].clone(), left: numbers[0].clone(), right: numbers[0].clone() } }) } else if (numbers.length === 2) { borderImage.reset({ slice: { top: numbers[0].clone(), bottom: numbers[0].clone(), left: numbers[1].clone(), right: numbers[1].clone() } }) } else if (numbers.length === 3) { borderImage.reset({ slice: { top: numbers[0].clone(), bottom: numbers[2].clone(), left: numbers[1].clone(), right: numbers[1].clone() } }) } else if (numbers.length === 4) { borderImage.reset({ slice: { top: numbers[0].clone(), bottom: numbers[2].clone(), left: numbers[3].clone(), right: numbers[1].clone() } }) } }); } return borderImage; } } | Mid | [
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Police detectives at the Area E Command, Lagos have said Cynthia Osokogu’s killers took pictures while sexually assaulting her. The Area Commander, Damian Okoro, said, “The pictures are contained in a recovered black Compaq 610 laptop belonging to Nwabufor Okwuomo, one of the suspects who lured the deceased to Lagos.” The laptop is also said to contain over 50 nude photographs of female victims who have fallen prey to the suspect. Some of the photographs showed girls tied with rope and their mouths covered with cello tape with objects inserted in their private part. Osokogu’s naked photographs also showed bites and wounds inflicted all over her. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation on Wednesday said it had concluded arrangements to sue the management of Cosmilla Hotel in Festac Town, Lagos, where Osokogu was murdered by ‘BlackBerry friends’ over illegal operation. The deceased was allegedly drugged, raped and dispossessed of her belongings and later killed. The corporation also said it had issued a query to the management of the hotel to explain why had refused to register with it in accordance with laid-down rules and regulations. A statement issued by NTDC’s Director of Communications, Mr. Akin Onipede in Abuja quoted the Director-General of the corpration, Chief Segun Runsewe as saying that would “file former charges against the management of Cosmilla Hotel for illegal operation since it was not registered with the corporation.” He said, “The development which was confirmed by the Director General of the Corporation, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe revealed that a former query had been issued to the hotel to which it had replied.” “According to Otunba Runsewe, the management of the Hotel has already admitted that they had not registered with the Corporation which showed that the hotel is operating illegally.” Runsewe insisted that the law would be followed to the letter but added that the NTDC would not interfere in the ongoing investigation by the security agencies. He said, “We will allow them (security agencies) to do their job after which we will go to court.” | Low | [
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A one-of-a-kind improv conference and a vital improv textbook. Main menu Tag Archives: tour Last month, I was honored to embark on a 2-week tour across the Midwest with 6 other improvisers: Kelly, G-Su, Dan, Mark, Cassie and Allen. Our troupe, Art Vandelay, was unique in that we hailed from three different cities and had never performed together prior to the tour. This could have gone horribly wrong, but don’t worry, it didn’t. It was magical! We all grew as improvisers and as people. We put on great shows (each one better than the last, mostly). We didn’t argue. We intentionally got to know one another. We took care of one another. We traveled efficiently. We became close friends. If you plan to travel with improvisers from your community—on a tour, attending a summer intensives or just taking a vacation together– rest assured. You can (and will) have an experience almost identical to ours. [one_half] Rent a minivan. Splitting your group between multiple cars creates factions. We recommend filling your vehicle with the maximum number of passengers. Physical closeness might not be essential for emotional closeness, but it helps. Get a rotation going so everyone gets a chance to sit in the more comfy seats. Before you know it, everyone will have been next to (on) everyone else. “Van. Rollin’ tight.” –Allen Stop and have an adventure. Throw the Frisbee, pee, eat a vanwich. You will swim in a natural body of water together. You will hike through caves. You will sit in an empty cathedral together in sacred silence. You will erupt in childlike wonder when you detour (veering maybe hundreds or thousands of miles away from your intended route) to visit The City Museum inSt. Louis,Missouri. You’ll look at one another and shout things like, “I would have driven all the way up here just to do this!” “Doing activities was a great way to pull us out of the van bubble, and get some outside influences. While we were in these fresh environments we were negotiating the day together and learning about each other, but in a different way than conversing in the van.” –Cassie Improvise. Put on shows with local troupes. Watch other people and learn. Go to jams at local conservatories. If you find yourself in a town with no theater or troupes or jams, improvise. Put on shows. Improvise in front of gas stations, at Applebees, at the rental car place. Once you get into this habit, you will even improvise when you’re at the hospital for an emergency. Value improvisers more than improv. You might be on the road to promote your troupe and build up a national fan-base. You might be on the road to make your mom mad, your friends jealous or your heart proud. You might be on the road to sharpen your improv skills. You might be on the road to make money, have new experiences or escape the reality of your day-to-day. Whichever of these categories you fall into, none of these ends will even come close to distracting you from what this trip is really about: people. You will never even think about using any of your van-mates as a means to these ends because they are a great end in and of themselves. This is part of why you are so great at collaborative performance art. You will return home with the pride of knowing you got in a van with 6 people who are all extremely different from one another and you really made an effort to know each of them. You will feel great about the fact that you can love people with different values and backgrounds truly and deeply. You’ll return home refreshed because for a couple of weeks, you were with people who really valued you. Your contributions to this group will really have mattered. “We have 7 bladders, and 7 stomachs, and 7 backs that need to lie-down. No one was too regimented with pre-conceived ideas about the travel situation. I think when you travel with people, and they volunteer to take the floor tonight in bed rotation, you feel that support. You know they have your back, long before you do a scene together onstage.” –Cassie “We definitely always had shows in mind, but we never intensely focused on improv- no hours upon hours discussing form & theory or anything. We focused on each other and the pursuit of fun, which took any pressure or expectations for the shows away and allowed us just to be in the moment with each other.” –Kelly Make lots of van puns or something. You need to get some inside jokes and repeat them relentlessly. Understand that they won’t get old. Nobody on in that van will grow tired of them. If they do, they’ll appreciate them later. Someone will impersonate the sour surly rental car lady or the crazy cave tour guide. It will kill. You will laugh. [/one_half] [one_half_last] You will laugh longer and harder than you have in months (maybe years) and you will not have felt this much a part of a group since summer camp in middle school. You’ll laugh so much that when you get home you’ll feel more rested and restored than you have in months (maybe years). Listen to each other with bold openness. Once you’re all in the van, you’ll get in the mindset that it’s group time. You’ll save that new vanpire book, podcast or music album for later. Phones will die. The fact is, once you resign yourself to knowing and enjoying your van-mates, the group convansation will be too interesting to interrupt with personal entertainment. There are no reasons for you to keep any secrets from these people. You’re in a minivan together! You have a million shared details to subtly bring up on stage (with a wink and a snicker). You know these people have your back because they listened so intently and they hold your secrets in confidence. “we truly spent a lot of time together. Nobody zoned out on their phone or read or played video games for a ton of time.” –Mark “We probably all shared things with each other that we would dare not share in our normal day to day lives. “ –Dan “Never did I feel as though something I said was not heard. There was never a feeling that someone was just waiting for their turn to talk in a conversation. Several times little things I had said throughout the day got thrown into scenes. For me, those were some of the strongest bonding moments knowing that people cared enough to listen to the things I said and remember them.” –Kelly Give each other invisible gifts. Have a pre-show ritual where people are honest about fears and things they want to work on as improvisers. As people share, someone will inevitably remember that in the pocket of their jeans is an invisible amulet locket. Inside the locket are 7 invisible magic beans. Once ingested, everyone in the troupe will turn into infinitely courageous incredible hulks (in an assortment of colors.) Oh look, someone else brought an invisible gift for the rest of the group. It’s a symbolic, tactful reminder of things we need to work on as a group. It’s a cure for the specific fear asserted by a specific troupe member. Look, you love each other! Look, you are ready to walk on stage with confidence in yourself and your travel-mates! “For me it all goes back to the pre-show. It was a fun way to share hesitations and give notes without ever having to put us in the weird place of coaching from the inside.” –Dan Freestyle rap or something. Since you’re out on the road with improvisers, just go ahead and constantly live by the codes improvisers follow. Voice your wackiest ideas. Everyone on the van will say yes. It only takes 3 people to make something stylish. You have 7. Do wacky things and own them. Create constantly! By the middle of your trip, you will be so relaxed around each other, so free, so playful that you will accidently make a freestyle rap video in one take. Take every opportunity to be silly and creative together. This WILL have a positive impact on the way you play together onstage. “The freestyle rap showed us that everyone was UBH [Ultimate Back Having] and I think it created a very good driving force for us.” –G-Su “I think that willingness to do anything was a big part of the trip…anything we did that felt wrong or embarrassing at the time, but the pressure to do something foolish and the bravery that comes from our numbers made us fearless. The weird/scary/difficult things you experience and get through really bring you closer to the people you do them with.” –Mark “You know, doin’ stuff. UBH is about doin’ it…not talking about doin’ it or thinkin’ about doin’ it, but actually doin’ it.” –Allen | High | [
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The libarchive distribution as a whole is Copyright by Tim Kientzle and is subject to the copyright notice reproduced at the bottom of this file. Each individual file in this distribution should have a clear copyright/licensing statement at the beginning of the file. If any do not, please let me know and I will rectify it. The following is intended to summarize the copyright status of the individual files; the actual statements in the files are controlling. * Except as listed below, all C sources (including .c and .h files) and documentation files are subject to the copyright notice reproduced at the bottom of this file. * The following source files are also subject in whole or in part to a 3-clause UC Regents copyright; please read the individual source files for details: libarchive/archive_entry.c libarchive/archive_read_support_filter_compress.c libarchive/archive_write_add_filter_compress.c libarchive/mtree.5 * The following source files are in the public domain: libarchive/archive_getdate.c * The build files---including Makefiles, configure scripts, and auxiliary scripts used as part of the compile process---have widely varying licensing terms. Please check individual files before distributing them to see if those restrictions apply to you. I intend for all new source code to use the license below and hope over time to replace code with other licenses with new implementations that do use the license below. The varying licensing of the build scripts seems to be an unavoidable mess. Copyright (c) 2003-2009 <author(s)> All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in this position and unchanged. 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR(S) ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR(S) BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. | Mid | [
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SINCE THIS IS AMERICA, THERE’S GOT TO BE A CHEERLEADER. IN THIS CASE HER NAME IS CLAIRE, A JUNIOR AT COSTA VERDE HIGH in California who’s nervous about her first day at school. The other girls seem too pretty, too cool, and too mean, and if Claire fails to keep her superpowers undercover (the same powers that saved the world at the end of season one of Heroes), “the Company” may kill her, savage her family, and take over the planet. So, to make her feel better, her dad (who’s a superhero himself, of course, but has some seriously wacky ties to the bad guys) does what any American dad would do: He hands her the keys to the family car. advertisement advertisement “The Rogue?” exclaims the cheerleader, effervescently played by Hayden Panettiere. “Oh, Daddy, you’re the best father ever!” After a hug, the camera pans to the Rogue, the Nissan Rogue, in case you had forgotten the Rogue’s name in the intervening eight seconds. To jog your memory in the next episode, the Rogue will get stolen. And then the Rogue will reappear in several episodes. And there will even be an accompanying comic book, called The Rogue, that you can download, which over its five short pages features … oh, my … 14 images of, yes, the Nissan Rogue. For Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker and provocateur behind Super Size Me, this brazen product placement was just too much. “From the minute you wake up, wherever you go, someone is marketing to you. Do I really need to be marketed to when I’m standing at the urinal? Does there really need to be a poster there?” He was so angry, in fact, that he decided to make a movie about branding, marketing, and product placement, about the intrusion of brands into our everyday lives. And then he proceeded to find some brands to sponsor that documentary. THE GREATEST ARTICLE EVER! Spurlock’s hilarious movie, now called Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, will open in theaters on April 22nd. It is a movie about itself. That is, it’s a series of filmed encounters in which Spurlock urges brands to sponsor his movie. Fifteen signed up, most paying between $50,000 and $1 million. Spurlock asks them what their goals are in sponsoring his movie, uses their products, and creates ads for them that run smack-dab in the middle of the film. What he does not do is condemn them in any way, or denounce the concept of branding, or bemoan a modern existence that allows brands into such places as toilets, taxis, classrooms, and on foreheads. He even gets corporate critics to play along in his hall of mirrors. One true joy of the movie is watching Ralph Nader sing an ode to Merrell shoes, a sponsor. Spurlock’s equanimity is so complete that he almost seems an apologist for the brands. Toward the end of filming, he learned that Pom, which made a $1 million deal to have its name in the title, was being charged by the Federal Trade Commission with making false health claims, namely that pomegranate juice can “prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.” This isn’t mentioned anywhere in the movie. Would the Morgan Spurlock of the scathing Super Size Me have let the FTC news pass unmentioned? “Listen,” he says, “we were well into the shooting when that happened. I knew that the story would break during the release of the movie and decided to just let that be part of the really interesting conversation that will happen around the film.” Spurlock’s disingenuousness is part and parcel of his publicity plan for the movie — he even conducts interviews wearing a jacket plastered with his sponsors’ logos. He now refers to his sponsors as “The Greatest [insert your brand category here] Ever,” from Pom and Merrell to a convenience-store chain (Sheetz), a pizza maker (Amy’s Kitchen), an airline (JetBlue), a hotel chain (Hyatt), and nine others. When asked if these brands are ones he admires, he says, “I don’t think I could drink something I didn’t like just for a check. These are the brands you should have in your life.” But there is a grander strategy behind his comments. “Going into the negative effects of advertising, of how much advertising affects us … you’ve heard that before,” he says. “The big purpose with this movie is to get people to recognize this branding thing, and question it, and wonder about the process.” In other words, be aware. With his caginess, Spurlock is inviting viewers to debate whether consumers can trust his movie — or any of the content they receive. advertisement Including this article. We’re flouting all kinds of magazine-industry guidelines on advertising versus content here. We approached Spurlock’s sponsors to see if they wanted to advertise within this story; we tried to become a sponsor of his movie; we told our publisher, who’s normally given no details about our edit, exactly what to expect; we’ve even traded a mention in the text for 20 pizzas — all moves likely to be deemed unacceptable by our industry trade group (and ones we won’t repeat). But we’ve done all this in an effort to follow Spurlock’s lead and explore the murky intersection of media and branding in our own pages and our own industry. You’re the one who will have to decide how much to trust us. (Of course, that’s a decision you make every time you open this magazine or engage with any media.) THE GREATEST PHOTO SHOOT EVER! Spurlock has thrown himself into promoting his documentary — building its brand — with abandon. When the movie premiered at January’s Sundance Film Festival, Spurlock defied the cold Utah winter by conducting his interviews wearing that logo-festooned blazer. Back in New York, he readily shed his clothes for a Fast Company photo shoot. The brands backing The Greatest Movie Ever Sold have purchased this enthusiastic effort, the bigger sponsors via publicity incentives built into their agreements. Pom, for example, has delivered only $600,000 of its $1 million fee. “That $400,000 is tied to worldwide media impressions, box office, downloads, and DVDs,” Spurlock explains. “Ten-million-dollar box office, 500,000 downloads and DVDs, 600 million media impressions. You should talk about that, about how this article will help me get that. Can we do something where everyone who buys the magazine gets a discount on movie tickets? Can we have a code that gives them a dollar off through MovieTickets.com [one of the film’s sponsors]?” When we raised the idea of asking his sponsors to buy ads adjacent to this article, Spurlock responded: “Do I get a cut?” Our answer to his question was no. That was a line we drew. (Another was that none of the advertisers we approached would have any approval of the content of this story.) Spurlock too drew some lines. At our photo shoot, he would not cooperate on a (fully clothed) homage to the Super Size Me poster. He would not let us videotape interviews with him, although he did agree we could videotape the photo session for FastCompany.com. Most important, he did not let the brands in his movie have approval over the film — a request that several potential sponsors did make. THE GREATEST INDUSTRY EXEC EVER! Brands and content creators have struggled over control and influence for more than a century. As Spurlock writes in the production notes handed out at screenings of his film, “In the 1800s, Jules Verne sold the naming rights to shipping companies in Around the World in 80 Days, and in the early days of film, Thomas Edison put ads for his own products in the movies.” Radio pioneers like Fred Allen (who quipped, back in the early 1950s, that TV “allows people who haven’t anything to do to watch people who haven’t done anything” — hello, Paris Hilton and her fans!) battled and assuaged their sponsors in the same uneasy way that network news shows do now. Richard Sandomir of The New York Times recently reported that some announcers at ESPN were paid by Nike and Reebok to wear their shoes. Writing on the media-industry blog Romenesko, investigative journalist David Cay Johnston was dismayed: “If [Robert] Iger [CEO of Disney, which owns ESPN] does nothing,” he will leave “doubt as to who may be on the take, whose agenda is being advanced by greasing palms, and which critical stories are fueled by under-the-table payments.” Given this kind of hand-wringing, it’s fair to ask, as Spurlock’s movie does: Just what kind of purity are we looking for? How clean does content need to be — or can it be? advertisement We went to see Sid Holt, CEO of the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), to talk about how our medium deals with this challenge. Holt is tasked with monitoring the relationship between advertisers and magazines. (Every media business polices this in some way; TV networks, radio stations, and newspapers all have their own reasons for rejecting certain advertising.) Few writers and editors have ever actually read the latest version of ASME regulations that Holt has written up, but ASME does have a certain mythic power within the industry. “Will it violate ASME rules?” is a constant refrain at magazine offices around the country. Holt used to be editor of Rolling Stone, which is a pretty good gig now and was a great one when he did it in the 1990s. “When I compare my job then to what editors do now, it’s as if all we did was sit around in a tweed jacket, suck on a pipe, and think about music,” he remembers. “Editors now have insane time pressures, fewer resources, and a news cycle that’s changed entirely. Plus, there’s the threat to print, the recession, and all the trends on the advertising side.” The “trends,” from the perspective of advertisers, can be summed up this way: How can our brand be completely integrated with your content? Can you wrap the text of a story around our [beer can, car, airplane, cookie]? Can you break up the text so that it looks as if our [beer can, car, airplane, cookie] is [gushing, driving, flying, crumbling] through the text? Can a section of the magazine be printed on orange paper that matches the color of our famous orange brand? These are all true examples, more or less. Details have been changed to protect the guilty. Holt, who grew up in a parsonage, views some magazine-industry rules as sacrosanct: No brand logos should be shown on the cover. “We think there’s an implied editorial endorsement,” he says. “And we celebrate the magazine cover as an American icon.” All product placement is discouraged, despite the movie and TV industries’ full embrace of the practice. “That’s the equivalent of murder,” he laughs. “You’ve sold your soul to an advertiser.” Many other rules, though, are murkier. For instance, positioning an ad alongside an article that mentions the advertiser is a no-no; putting the same ad elsewhere in the issue is quite permissible. (We’ve placed ads contiguous to this story for editorial reasons. Who knows how ASME will interpret that?) advertisement What does Holt do when he learns that a magazine has done something wrong? Most often, nothing. “The guidelines point to ‘repeatedly and willfully’ violating the rules,” he explains. “We’re not here to tell people how to run their magazines.” The only real threat Holt has at his disposal is to disqualify a magazine from the annual National Magazine Awards — something that has happened exactly once in the awards’ 45-year history. (Award judges have disqualified specific submissions more frequently.) Most indiscretions are pointed out to him by publishers annoyed that another magazine got away with something their editors declined to do. “Our rules are there to protect editors,” Holt says. “Editors know where their bread is buttered, and good editors will cover their advertisers. But an unstated principle of the regulations is that they shield the editor and the publisher, who can say to an advertiser, ‘Look, there’s this organization called ASME, and they don’t know what they’re doing, but if we do what you want, my magazine will be banned from the National Magazine Awards.’ “ Toward the end of our visit, Holt’s wife calls to ask if he’d like chili or chicken for dinner. They met back when he was at Rolling Stone, and she was a publicist for TDK, the cassette-tape company (and a Rolling Stone advertiser in those days). Holt chooses the chili. It may be the only clear choice he had all day. THE GREATEST BRAINS EVER! If magazines are struggling with how to draw lines, ad agencies are not. Andrew Essex is a former journalist who worked at magazines such as The New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, and Details. In 2006, he left journalism to cofound Droga5, an ad agency in New York. But he says he is still in the business of creating content. In mid-February, Droga5 created a video for Rihanna’s new fragrance, Reb’l Fleur. The video, about a woman torn between her good and bad sides, tells mirror-image stories depending on whether the viewer plays it forward or backward. It’s as well produced as any of Rihanna’s music videos. In its first week, it was viewed more than a million times online. At one point, Essex says, he enjoyed thinking of advertisers as “these vulgarians, these slobs who brought beer to a party they weren’t invited to.” But toward the end of his career in magazines, as he rose up the editorial ladder, he started to go on ad-sales calls with his publisher. His job in those meetings was to describe the content of the magazine to the advertiser, listen as the advertiser described subjects she was interested in, and perhaps suggest ways the two sides could work together. “I started thinking,” he says, “that the rules dividing the two sides are ludicrous. They aren’t supposed to speak to one another, but the division is fictional and full of leakage. I realized that this was going to become more and more of an issue for everyone. The industry was contracting, and people were going to have to deal with reality.” Content businesses now accept all kinds of deals they wouldn’t have before. Novelists make deals for product placement within their hallowed pages. Rock stars routinely license songs for commercials and create tunes commissioned by brands. And while product placement has been a fact of life in Hollywood since the era of silent films, it’s now a major revenue generator for movies such as Iron Man 2, the Sony Pictures movie that ranked No. 1 last year in product placement, according to Brandchannel, with 64 identifiable brands in its two hours and four minutes of nonsense. “People call us up all the time about putting our brands in movies,” says Lynda Resnick, founder and CEO of Pom Wonderful. Spurlock’s movie, she adds with a laugh, “isn’t about the brands. It’s about making fun of the marketing people. Now, that was not in Morgan’s pitch. He couldn’t very well say, ‘Please be in my movie so I can make you look like an ass.’ But it’s that way for art, not out of anything malicious. Morgan’s adorable. His movie is adorable — and hysterical.” advertisement Resnick may be the most colorful character in the documentary. Heavily made-up, with big hair and the personality to match, she is clearly, as she puts it, “the mother of this brand.” And unlike other brand reps in the film (notably those at Ban Deodorant, who seem clueless), she doesn’t come off as an ass. “Morgan could sell ice movies to the Eskimos,” she says. “We’re talking a salesman here. I didn’t realize when he came to us that every other door on Madison Avenue had been shut in his little pink face. We liked the idea, so it was worth taking a chance. “Look,” she continues, “ours are iconic brands — we don’t have to pay for product placement. But I think people know, don’t they, that a lot of this stuff is planted?” They do indeed, says Martin Lindstrom, a neuromarketer (and FastCompany.com blogger) whom Spurlock interviews in the movie. “Ninety-five percent of all product placement is a waste of money. Number one, it’s conscious, and number two, it’s out of context.” He contrasts Ford’s dumping its cars into an episode of American Idol with Apple’s sophisticated product placements in the Pixar film WALL-E. “So,” says Lindstrom, “suddenly seeing a car on stage while people are singing, your brain says, ‘This is ridiculous; this has nothing to do with the story line. For me to concentrate on the story line, I need to delete that brand, whatever it is.’ So we are not being brainwashed, since the products are not being used in the right way.” That’s the good news about our brains. The bad news? “Companies are slowly getting more sophisticated,” says Lindstrom. “They’re beginning to use unconscious clues to make people feel as if they want something. And they’re starting to be able to measure it.” Lindstrom explains, “I have a strange role, and it’s somewhat similar to Morgan’s, because I’m sitting on both sides of the fence. On the one hand, I’m helping companies to optimize their brand impressions, and on the other hand, I’m a consumer too, and I hate to be manipulated. I’ve put in a certain set of rules for my work. One is that I always tell companies, ‘If this is advertising that you would not show to your own kids, then we’ve gone too far.’ It’s an incredibly powerful benchmark.” advertisement THE GREATEST ENDING EVER! Does a sports anchor’s shoe really affect your view of her work? Does the presence of a particular soft drink really diminish your enjoyment of The Office? Does the fact that the Transformers movies are based on a toy sold by Hasbro really bother you? Were you expecting a movie called Transformers to have the same editorial integrity as The New York Times? For that matter, does the fact that the Times has run ads on its front page alter your feelings about the quality and veracity of the paper’s reporting? Do the ads alongside this article make you question the authenticity of the reporting in Fast Company ? For most of us, the answer to these questions is, probably, no. So why is it that we at Fast Company do not plan to ever again muddy the lines between our editorial and advertising sides the way we have here? The answer is simple: To survive in this increasingly melded world of branding and content, we all draw lines to protect our integrity. The lines may shift; they may get challenged by neuromarketing, technology, greed, and even vapidity, like Gnomeo & Juliet and American Idol. But we all need our lines. And to intelligently create those lines, we need to be aware. “I’m not somebody who’s going to stand on a soapbox and say we should eliminate advertising,” says Spurlock, “because that would be ludicrous. I’m a realist, I live in the real world, I run a business, and I’m a capitalist. But I’m a real believer that doing good and doing well aren’t mutually exclusive. There’s a way to continually make people think, to look at our society and what is good and bad and great about it, and get us to examine that.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. | Low | [
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Prolonged university outbreak of meningococcal disease associated with a serogroup B strain rarely seen in the United States. College students living in residential halls are at increased risk of meningococcal disease. Unlike that for serogroups prevented by quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines, public health response to outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease is limited by lack of a US licensed vaccine. In March 2010, we investigated a prolonged outbreak of serogroup B disease associated with a university. In addition to case ascertainment, molecular typing of isolates was performed to characterize the outbreak. We conducted a matched case-control study to examine risk factors for serogroup B disease. Five controls per case, matched by college year, were randomly selected. Participants completed a risk factor questionnaire. Data were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Between January 2008 and November 2010, we identified 13 meningococcal disease cases (7 confirmed, 4 probable, and 2 suspected) involving 10 university students and 3 university-linked persons. One student died. Ten cases were determined to be serogroup B. Isolates from 6 confirmed cases had an indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern and belonged to sequence type 269, clonal complex 269. Factors significantly associated with disease were Greek society membership (matched odds ratio [mOR], 15.0; P = .03), >1 kissing partner (mOR, 13.66; P = .03), and attending bars (mOR, 8.06; P = .04). The outbreak was associated with a novel serogroup B strain (CC269) and risk factors were indicative of increased social mixing. Control measures were appropriate but limited by lack of vaccine. Understanding serogroup B transmission in college and other settings will help inform use of serogroup B vaccines currently under consideration for licensure. | High | [
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Any way to have Classic launch about 2-3 minutes after OSX boots up?<br><br>There's a Font Agent Pro extension that needs to load with Classic to be able to auto-activate fonts in Quark 4, but it gives me an error if it loads BEFORE the actual Font Agent app- which never seems to load before Classic does...<br><br>I just want to give FAP time to load up completely, THEN launch Classic automatically...<br><br>Thoughts?<br><br> That's his problem. The auto boot of Classic starts before FAP is finished loading the db (which needs to happen before Classic).<br><br>DM, you have tried messing with the bootup order in the Login Items prefs pane? My guess is you tried—it looks to me that booting into classic is not part of the login items window even if it's automatic. But I think I've got you covered:<br><br>1. Go to:<br>/System/Library/CoreServices/Classic Startup<br><br>2. Open Login Items prefs pane<br>3. Drag Classic Startup into the Login Items pane at the bottom of the list<br>4. Reboot and cross you fingers to see if it works<br><br>I just tried adding it and it allowed me to do so. I just wasn't willing to reboot for ya. <br><br><pre>** sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn **</pre><p> I gotta ask ya... "what the heck are you shutting down/restarting your Mac for?" I haven't shut my machine off in months. <br><br><br>[color:green]Trying to straddle the fence leaves you with nothing but sore balls.</font color=green> sure<br><br>--begin script<br>on run<br> delay 120 --(this is 2 minutes in seconds)<br> tell application "Classic Startup"<br> activate<br> end tell<br>end run<br><br>--end script<br><br>Make this an app and set it up in your login items<br> hee hee, if you used my method I gave you earlier, you could just check the "hide" button in the Login Items panel. If 12 seconds is all you need, the method I gave should be enough time.<br><br><pre>** sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn **</pre><p> Xplain's use of MacNews, AppleCentral and AppleExpo are not affiliated with Apple, Inc. MacTech is a registered trademark of Xplain Corporation. AppleCentral, MacNews, Xplain, "The journal of Apple technology", Apple Expo, Explain It, MacDev, MacDev-1, THINK Reference, NetProfessional, MacTech Central, MacTech Domains, MacForge, and the MacTutorMan are trademarks or service marks of Xplain Corp. Sprocket is a registered trademark of eSprocket Corp. Other trademarks and copyrights appearing in this printing or software remain the property of their respective holders. All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon. | Mid | [
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Coyotes owner Barroway on not meeting with Shane Doan: ‘I’m sorry’ By Matt Layman | July 13, 2017 at 4:18 pmUPDATED: July 13, 2017 at 5:08 pm Arizona Coyotes owner Andrew Barroway speaks at a press conference after the team announced the hirings of head coach Rick Tocchet and president and CEO Steve Patterson at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. on July 13, 2017. (Matt Layman/Arizona Sports) At the conclusion of the Coyotes’ regular season in April, questions loomed over whether Doan would continue with the team for another season or call it a career. But in June, the Coyotes made his decision for him. The team unexpectedly cut ties with Doan when GM John Chayka — who has since been promoted to president of hockey operations — met the veteran forward for breakfast and gave him the news. The Coyotes would not be offering him a contract. Craig Morgan reported in June that Doan felt team owner Andrew Barroway was behind the decision, and it rubbed some people the wrong way that Barroway neglected to attend the meeting with Doan. “Well, what happened with Shane, I have to take some responsibility for,” Barroway said Thursday. “Shane’s a bedrock of this community and a pillar of the Valley since we came here. I think we made the right hockey decision with Shane, I’m confident we did, but in retrospect — I should have flown out and met with him myself and told him that. “And for that, I’m sorry. I apologize to Shane and the fans. I definitely could have done that better.” The remarks came as the Coyotes were holding a press conference to introduce new hires Steve Patterson (president and CEO) and Rick Tocchet (head coach). Chayka was also there alongside Barroway, who became the sole owner of the franchise this summer after buying out the minority owners. “With that said, it’s time to move forward,” Barroway said. “We’re trying to build a winning team, not a situation where we put out some players that some of the fans might like and we’re not going to be competitive anyways so who cares.” Barroway’s multiple allusions to wanting to “build a winning team” and make the “right hockey decision” are corroborated by the acquisitions of center Derek Stepan, goaltender Antti Raanta and defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. “We’re here to win now and I think you can see by some of our offseason moves that we’re going to build a team that can compete and compete in the near term,” Barroway said. | Mid | [
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Service Readiness For Noncommunicable Diseases Was Low In Five Countries In 2013-15. The growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) may pose challenges for resource-limited health systems. This study used standardized, nationally representative data from Service Provision Assessments conducted in 2013-15 and the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment methodology to examine NCD service availability and readiness in Bangladesh, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, and Tanzania. Both service availability and readiness were found to be very low: Very few facilities were fully "ready" to provide any one NCD service. Shortages of trained health workers and essential medicines were critical limitations to readiness. Rural and free facilities had lower availability and readiness, which may present access barriers. Policy makers should draw on decades of experience with global health initiatives to close these service gaps through the training of health workers on NCD screening and treatment, engaging the private sector on NCDs, and ensuring access to NCD medicines. Such efforts must be attentive to distributional equity and the multiple dimensions of care quality. | Mid | [
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Aspergillotic aneurysm formation of cerebral artery following neurosurgical operation. A rare case of intracranial aspergillotic aneurysm following neurosurgical operation for facial spasm is presented. Severe meningitis had persisted several days prior to the subarachnoid hemorrhage which occurred on 70th postoperative day. Angiography demonstrated a fusiform aneurysm at the peduncular segment of the superior cerebellar artery on the other side of operation. As the repeated cultures of CSF were negative, the pathogenetic factor causing aneurysm formation could not be identified before second operation of aneurysmal resection. Pathological study of the specimen revealed the arterial wall being deeply invaded by aspergillotic hyphae. | Mid | [
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Q: Can connect to a socket on my local network but not on separate ones (python sockets) I've been trying to make a program that would allow me to remote into my computer. It works perfectly when both computers are connected to the same network, and I am able to access a sort of command line that I have coded. I am very inexperienced with networks and I'm not entirely sure what sort of information is needed. This is the code I used: Server: import sys import socket def create_socket(): try: global host global port global s host = "" port = 9999 s = socket.socket() except socket.error as msg: print("SocketCreationError: " +str(msg)) def bind_socket(): try: global host global port global s print("binding the port " + str(port)+"...") s.bind((host,port)) s.listen(5) except socket.error as msg: print("SocketBindingError: " + str(msg)) print("retrying...") bind_socket() def socket_accept(): conn,address = s.accept() print("Connection established. \nIP:"+address[0]+"\nPort:"+str(address[1])) print(str(conn.recv(1024), "utf-8"), end="") send_command(conn) conn.close() #allows user to send command to client computer def send_command(conn): while True: try: cmd = input(">") if cmd == 'exit': conn.close() s.close() sys.exit() if len(str.encode(cmd)) > 0: conn.send(str.encode(cmd)) clientResponse = str(conn.recv(1024),"utf-8") print(clientResponse, end="") except Exception: print("Something went wrong...") def main(): create_socket() bind_socket() socket_accept() main() Client: import socket import os import subprocess #connect to socket and send cwd s = socket.socket() host = 'myIP' port = 9999 s.connect((host, port)) s.send(str.encode(os.getcwd())) #allows form of command line on host pc while True: try: data = s.recv(1024) outputStr = "" if data.decode("utf-8") == 'dir': dirList = os.listdir(os.getcwd()) for i in dirList: print(i) outputStr = outputStr + i + "\n" elif data[:2].decode("utf-8") == 'cd': dirTo = data[3:].decode("utf-8") print(data[3:].decode("utf-8")) os.chdir(os.getcwd() + "\\" + dirTo) elif len(data) > 0: cmd = subprocess.Popen(data.decode("utf-8"), shell=True,stdout=subprocess.PIPE,stdin=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE) outputByte = cmd.stdout.read() + cmd.stderr.read() outputStr = str(outputByte, "utf-8") print(outputStr) cwd = os.getcwd() s.send(str.encode(outputStr +"\n"+cwd)) #handle something going wrong and just allows to continue except Exception: cwd = os.getcwd() s.send(str.encode("Something went wrong...\n"+ cwd)) I am using ipv4 addresses. I think it may have something to do with port forwarding on the server side, but again I am not sure? Thank you for any answers in advance :) A: You can't connect to your computer using a remote network because of port forwarding. If you dont know what that is, I recommend taking a look at the Wikipedia article on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_forwarding There are many different methods to perform Port Forwarding, the simplest of which is the UPnP/IGD (look it up), but if you're just interested in being able to Access your computer remotely, you could just use an SSH (Secure Shell Connection) to do just this (I think it Works on remote networks as well). If you're using Linux this should be pretty easy to set up, just look up how to do it. Good luck! | Low | [
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Q: How do I uninstall Ubuntu and go back to what I had before I installed it? I bought the book " The art of exploitation 2nd edition" and it came with the disk that I loaded onto my computer. I installed it not knowing that I would have this trouble booting windows and all my files back up to what I had previously. Can someone please help?? A: I'm assuming from your silence, that you don't want to admit to a folly, so I'm deleting unnanswered comments, doing a summarization and hopefully closing the case, which is one of those cases of: Don't try this at home, kids! (or pre-learn how to do it safely) That "LiveCD" from that peculiar "The art of exploitation" book actually is fully functional in "live" usage and does not require any installations. They are even clearly stating that in f.e. Amazon's description (and presumably multiple times in that book itself): The included LiveCD provides a complete Linux programming and debugging environment - all without modifying your current operating system. Why would you even want to install that permanently if you just started learning? Personally I would even disconnect all of my media and networks before booting any "hacker's" compilations on any of my machines! You have performed Ubuntu 7.04 installation. I know, because out of extreme curiousity I tried it myself on one my virtual M$'s that had volunteered for such experiment after backup-copying it's entire virtual drive. Everything looks orderly in that installation. It gives 3 options for partitioning: resize (default, attempt to keep old system & stuff alive) use entire disk (would completely crush your status quo) manual (you probably wouldn't even make it through that one) It even has a normal warning "You cannot undo this operation". I performed a "resize" and it normally installed itself and I can now dual-boot without having need to fix anything (like specially configured boot for my "Crazy 8"). Both systems works fine, no files lost and actually no problems at all (at least noticable ones). Did you perhaps choose that second, nuclear method? The only rescue after that involves performing "data recovery" using specialized not-so-easy-to-use software or paying large amount of money to some even more specialized entity that would do that for you (or asking a bona-fide hacker-friend for a favour). And after such retrieval-attemp, you would get your data mostly fragmented, unusable or even non-existing at all (overwritten). If you have a large drive, then chances for restoring more complete files are higher. If you however choose that other, the only sane method for such cases as yours, I believe that it's still possible to un-do it by removing Linux's partition & extending your M$ one (f.e. by using some other live Linux system). Most trouble would give you restoring original Windows's boot manager (BOOTMGR). I don't even know if that's achievable... easier to just live with GRUB from now on (naturally after properly re-configuring it). Sorry to say that, but you have "exploited yourself"! (and it's as hilarious as that sounds) For a finish, I'll quote you from my first comment: ... I would completely discourage playing a "hacker" xD | Mid | [
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Q: How to make a "reference" to a struct in Matlab? In my program, I have a large (e.g. 100x100) array of structs, each struct having a fair amount of data (e.g. 1000 numbers, and some other fields). For example: for x = 100 : -1 : 1 for y = 100 : -1 : 1 database(y,x).data = rand(30); database(y,x).name = sprintf('my %d %d', x, y); end end I would like to do a computation of 10-20 lines of code with my data; for example: for x = 10 : 90 for y = 10 : 90 for dx = -9 : 9 for dy = -9 : 9 result = result + database(y + dy, x + dx).data(1, 1); result = result + 2 * database(y + dy, x + dx).data(1, 2) * database(y + dy, x + dx).data(2, 2); ... % more stuff here end end end end My code refers to current element of the database as database(y + dy, x + dx). To make it shorter, I give a name to it (C++ would call it "reference"): temp = database(y + dy, x + dx); result = result + temp.data(1, 1); result = result + 2 * temp.data(1, 2) * temp.data(2, 2); This makes my code much shorter and clearer. However, this is also much slower, and profiling shows that the assignment temp = ... takes 70% of my execution time. So my assumption is that Matlab copies the contents of the largish database element, eating my time. I think Matlab should be smart enough to do "copy-on-write", that is, copy the stuff only when it is changed later. However, this is not what happens in my case - my code only reads from the database, and doesn't change it. So, how can I make an efficient read-only reference to a struct? A: Well, there is definately copying going on when you do: temp = database(y + dy, x + dx) This could be reduced perhaps by using: temp = database(y + dy, x + dx).data But obviously that would only work if you were just interested in the data in this part of the code. That being said, I am not sure whether you can work around it without using inconvenient methods to structure your data. First of all you could benchmark your code after doing a replace all of temp by database(y + dy, x + dx) to assure that avoiding the copy will really help. If so you could try feeding database(y + dy, x + dx) to a subfunction, as typically variables in a subfunction are used with read acces if that is sufficient. However, I am not sure whether this also applies to parts of variables. If none of the above helps, consider some of the oldest advice in the book: For efficient calculations on big chunks of data, consider using matrices. | Low | [
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Photo Personalized Mens Trifold Wallet $12.95 More Views Show off your family or favorite photo with our Personalized Men's Trifold Wallet. We will permanently imprint your photo and/or text on the cover of the wallet. Great for family photo, photo of the kids, favorite band, image or logo! Great promotional items! Personalization Sorry, but your browser does NOT support HTML5 elements and this feature is not working or may work incorrectly.Please, try using different browser.Please, try using different browser (Opera Mini for example) or update your Android to a newer version. | Low | [
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Q: Send data to a method and check it one by one I got a challenge to make a Ulam Spiral in Java, but before the Ulam Spiral is created, the user should put in 2 numbers. Those 2 numbers should be checked so they aren't a prime number. As long as one of the numbers that are written is a prime number, then the program should restart and ask for 2 new numbers. The getInput method is asking the user for 2 numbers. After that those numbers are written, the isPrime method should be called and one number at a time should be checked if it's a prime. If the first number checked isn't a prime, then the second number should be checked, if that also isn't a prime, then the next method should be called. What I don't understand is the isPrime method I have. It checks the number, but how do I make so if the first isn't a prime, then check the next number and as long as none of them are prime, then we are fine. I could make that the isPrime method takes in both numbers and they are checked, but I was not allowed to do that, I must check one number at a time. Here you see my getInput and isPrime method. And yes, I know that isPrime(firstNumber); isPrime(secondsNumber); in my main method is weird and it shouldn't be like that, should it? is it a better way? public class UlamSpiral { private static int firstNumber, secondNumber; private static Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in); private static boolean flag = false; public static void main(String[] args) { getInput(); isPrime(firstNumber); isPrime(secondsNumber); } public static void getInput() { System.out.println("Enter two non-prime numbers"); firstNumber = scanner.nextInt(); secondNumber = scanner.nextInt(); } public static boolean isPrime(int num) { for(int i = 2; i <= num / 2; ++i) { // Condition for non-prime number. if(num % i == 0) { flag = true; break; } } if (!flag) System.out.println(num + " Atleast one of the numbers are a prime number."); return true; } EDIT: 1. This is what I have now, but it won't work correctly. When the program starts and I write in 2 prime numbers like 3, 5, then it tells me one of the numbers are prime and restart the program. Seconds time, if I write in 3, 4, then the program continues even if 3 is a prime number. public static void main(String[] args) { getInput(); if(isPrime(firstNumber) || isPrime(secondNumber)){ System.out.println("Atleast one of the numbers are a prime number."); getInput(); } else { isMax(firstNumber, secondNumber); } public static void getInput() { System.out.println("Enter two non-prime numbers"); firstNumber = scanner.nextInt(); secondNumber = scanner.nextInt(); } public static boolean isPrime(int num) { boolean flag = true; for (int i = 2; i <= num / 2; ++i) { // Condition for non-prime number. if (num % i == 0) { flag = false; break; } } return flag; } Output: Enter two non-prime numbers 3 5 Atleast one of the numbers are a prime number. Enter two non-prime numbers 3 4 Process finished with exit code 0 A: Take the printing out of isPrime method and have it after both the numbers are checked. Refactor the code as below: public class UlamSpiral { private static int firstNumber, secondNumber; private static Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in); public static void main(String[] args) { getInput(); if(isPrime(firstNumber) || isPrime(secondNumber)){ System.out.println("Atleast one of the numbers are a prime number."); } else { //scenario when none are prime } } public static void getInput() { System.out.println("Enter two non-prime numbers"); firstNumber = scanner.nextInt(); secondNumber = scanner.nextInt(); } public static boolean isPrime(int num) { boolean flag = false; for(int i = 2; i <= num / 2; ++i) { // Condition for non-prime number. if(num % i == 0) { flag = true; break; } } return flag; } } | Mid | [
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