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director of the center for evolutionary functional genomics,
Arizona State University.
Sudhir Kumar heads the center for evolutionary functional genomics at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute in Tempe, Ariz.
Bioinform recently spoke to Kumar about a $142,000 grant from the Science Foundation of Arizona to enhance TimeTree, a hierarchical knowledgebase. With information on species divergence times culled from scientific literature, it allows researchers to search for divergence times of two or more taxa or all time estimates published by a single author [Bioinform 05-14-07].
Kumar discussed everything from the history of tetrapods to the rollout of what he said will be his simple, revamped TimeTree, designed with an adaptable userface resembling Google that even a child can use — literally, as it will be targeted to elementary and high school students as well as researchers and scientists outside of the bioinformatics space.
The database is freely available here.
Following is an edited version of an interview conducted this week with Kumar via phone and e-mail:
What goes on [at the BiodesignCenter for Evolutionary Functional Genomics], and what's a typical day like?
In EFG, as the name suggests, we do evolutionary functional genomics, which is primarily looking at genomes and trying to understand the functions of different genomic parts. As you know, genomes are really large, especially the human genomes, and we only understand certain parts. We take a comparative approach where we compare the genome of humans with those of other species, which is an evolutionary approach, and then [we are] able to tell which parts of the genomes are highly conserved or unchanged over time.
Basically [what we do here] is about looking at parts that have not changed versus parts that have changed, and this is the field of evolutionary genomics. And today if you look at the Human Genome Project [or] at major labs studying human genomes, they are taking this type of approach. They are comparing the human genome and comparing it to other [species' genomes] and IDing similar parts across species versus very different parts.
On April 10, Biodesign announced the award of a $142,120 grant to be used to expand the relational database you designed, TimeTree. What is TimeTree and how will the new, expanded version differ from the old?
We develop a lot of methods for identifying portions of the genome that are changing quickly or not at all, and trying to understand how that relates to function. Will that have functional consequences? My group, for example, develops a software tool [called] Molecular Evolutionary Genetic Analysis, [which] is for taking [sequence] data from different strains of influenza, HIV, from different species and building phylogenetic trees, relationary trees.
You can take data from any of these sources and analyze it and look for relationships between strains. … A lot of people use the tool.
TimeTree is a knowledgebase of information about species divergence. As the name suggests, it is when did species A and B have a common ancestor? So one can ask, 'When did cats and dogs have a common ancestor in the past?' If they want to know the time estimate, they usually have to go to the literature … and try to make sense of species name and family name [for example].
We have programmed the literature in a database, [and included, say,] any paper that has information that bears on cat and dog time of divergence, as estimated using the molecular clock principals. People have estimated times of species divergence using five genes, twenty genes, 100 genes in their papers — and we take all these papers and program them in a database and provide the user with a simple interface so the user can pose their query in [simple terms such as] … cat and dog.
The system goes in and finds all the time points that bear on that problem, spits them out to the user in a format so they can see all the evidence, and provides an average time estimate from all studies.
In the first release, we [included information from] 70 papers, [for what was the] pilot project, from various sources — from recent to old, a random sample, which are for four-legged animals, tetrapods — because they are what people see around them commonly — and programmed them in as a proof of concept. Using the [new] funding we are adding 100 more to study in the database. So basically it is the same set of species, but more [information will be] added. In the future we are interested in adding to the tree of life completely. …There are studies outside of [the tetrapod] species.
When did TimeTree, the Web site, first go live?
Good question. It was June of last year.
Why do you think the Science Foundation funded this project?
I think the reason is, [to] my way of thinking, [that] the Science Foundation has an interest in catalyzing scientific information at a fundamental level as well as at [the] applied research [level]. They are in that range. So what we are doing in TimeTree is basically making this information accessible to almost anyone who can pose the question; they don't have to be an expert in evolutionary biology … It is the accessibility aspect, which brings knowledge to the general audience, including scientists who aren't evolutionary biologists, students and kids.
What are the commercial implications of this work?
It will be available free of charge to everybody for every purpose. It's a web site, but the back end is very sophisticated … the same thing is true for our MEGA software package, which has more than 50,000 downloads. That is another one that is also free of charge because it is developed using [National Institutes of Health] and [National Science Foundation] funding. Commercialization of software is a complex thing [in general] … [but there will be] nothing additional [to do or to be charged] — just like Google.
What's next? Were do you go after TimeTree?
Once we finish the TimeTree based on genome data, we will start to add information about times of species divergence, when they are available, from fossils and other sources.
What is your timeline for completion?
The Science Foundation funding is for one year to complete the whole expansion, so that would be launched in less than one year. We are now entering the data. … Our next step is to request NSF funding to build automated tools and systems to actually fetch all the data from all the species that exist from all the literature … and expand the interface, the scope and so forth, and do many other things.
One of the goals of the project is to make TimeTree accessible for school-age children. Is this part of the revamping process, and if so, how exactly are you going to make it quite so user-friendly?
The idea is the same database [will be used for young students and adults alike], but on the front end there is a separate section for kids so they can see their favorite petting zoo animals and sort of explore their relationship to each other and [see, for example,] when did they have a common ancestor? They might see a goat and a bunny, for example, and [the information is] provided in an accessible way. You can see when did a rabbit and a sheep or a goat have a common ancestor? They can relate [it] to their everyday life.
The display has to be simple and not all the papers in every publication [are included in the simpler version], but rather a summary. … [It takes] an average of 20 genes to tell that rabbits and goats diverged 90 million years ago.So that means genetically they became distinct species. They might not be very different morphologically; their anatomy may be very similar. But they become different species … they might have been identical in almost every way; so the question is what is the reason for speciation? There is a lot of discussion on this. Why would they diverge into two different species?
[I wrote papers] 10 years ago [detailing how] … 90 million years ago, a lot of continents were splitting up, and as a continent was divided into two different continents … members of a group were stranded on one land mass and others on another so they could not reproduce. They were similar looking, but … they could no longer cross with each other. … [It was] speciation by continental breakup.
[I wrote about this] in Nature. The first paper came out in 1996, then another in 1998.
The main finding we had at that time is that major groups of mammals had a common ancestor, and divergence [actually occurred] almost 100 million years ago rather than 65 million years ago as people thought.
[Our] common ancestor[s] included … progenitors of all primates, rodents, all cow groups, camels, et cetera. The important thing was we indicated five major lineages of mammals that had already diverged by 90 million years ago … All the primates we see today, all the African mammals we see today, all the rodents … We did not have rabbits obviously.
Why is it obvious that we didn't have rabbits?
There isn't any fossil record that shows anything like rabbit. 90 million years ago, dinosaurs were roaming the earth … [and] mammals were really small because they were hiding. … It is shown in the fossil record that after the dinosaurs' extinction, mammals started to grow in size. The mammals we see today are here because of the steady growth.
Is this the only such database [in the field]? If not, what sets TimeTree apart?
It's the only kind of [species divergence database] that synthesizes literature and brings primary research to the fingertips of researchers who are not evolutionary scientists [as


size made them easier for a violinist to carry around.
The fingerboard of a pochette remains long to preserve as much of its range as possible. This style is also called a 'kit violin' or a 'sardinos' when it has a pear-shaped silhouette.
In this picture you can see a closeup of the sound box of a pochette. In this case, it is similar to a violin.
On the left, you can see a pochette made by one of my students – Jerry. It was made from a eucalyptus tree that grew in his garden, pine was used for the ribs, and the neck was taken from a wrecked violin of unknown provenance.
On the right is the instrument that inspired him – a pochette displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. It was made around 1840 in England or France. The neck, ribs, and back were made from sycamore and the front from pine.
In this case, the sound box is very simple compared to the one of a violin. Moreover, you can observe different types of holes in the front plate.
The Most Popular Violin Types - Pochette built by Jerry Everard and the reference instrument
You may wonder how this violin type sounds. You can listen to it here:
Pre-Baroque Instruments
In the 16th century, we see some of the first pre-Baroque string instruments. Most of them have not survived in their original condition. While these are similar to violins, they are separate from the modern style of playing.
Pre-Baroque violins include the three-stringed violetta, which was played in an upright position, holding it in place with your chin.
Another example is viol, also called viola da gamba – this instrument has six, seven, or more strings tuned in fourths, gut frets on the fingerboard, and C-shaped holes. It has a very specific shape where the neck is connected with the body of the instrument – like in a modern double bass.
Phantasm, a viol consort, presents their instruments in the video below:
When we look at paintings from the Renaissance era, we can find evidence that instruments very similar to what we name the baroque violin were already present. The reason why we don't know much about the violin in the Renaissance is the fact that it was used only by professionals, while the other instruments were popular among amateurs, so had a much wider use. What we do know is the fact that usually the violin was a part of an ensemble and it was used for playing dance music.
Check out the video below to listen to short tune played on a copy of a Renaissance violin:
Violin Octet
The Violin Octet was developed in the 20th century by Carleen Hutchins. These eight proportionally-sized violins are based on the traditional violin, sharing its acoustical properties. The goal of a Violin Octet is to create a more homogeneous and richer sound.
Unlike most stringed instruments, the resonance of the violin octet's body is at a pitch towards the two middle open strings. This set-up allows for a clearer and more balanced sound.
The first violin octet was proposed by Henry Brant, an American composer, in 1957 and was completed ten years later.
A violin octet is made up of a: treble violin, soprano violin, mezzo violin, alto violin, tenor violin, baritone violin, small brass violin, and a contrabass violin.
During the development of the violin octet, there were no specific bows designed. Violinists can choose to use a variety of cello, double bass, viola, and violin bows to find the best fit.
There are currently three performing groups that use the violin octet:
 - The Hutchins Consort plays Carleen Hutchins' instruments
 - The Hutchins Consort Quartet plays a subset of the violins
 - The Albert Consort which is based in New York and uses the instruments made by Robert Spear.
Watch a performance of The Hutchins Consort here:
Devil's Fiddle
While the Devil's Fiddle began its life as a large stringed fiddle, it's evolved over time to become a drum set. You can still find the bowed instrument in Lithuania, while the percussion style drum set is used more widely.
This stringed instrument has appeared under different names throughout history and various cultures. In German and Polish, it's known as the 'Devil's Fiddle', while the French know it as 'Flanders Fiddle' and in Dutch it is kuttepiel – Monkey Stick. Other names include "stump fiddle", "devil's stick", "boomba", and many more.
The original instrument was similar to a fiddle with a flexible stick acting as its body and neck. The resonator was originally an inflated animal bladder, held between the bowstring and stick. Some of these had three strings, while others had one. The Devil's Fiddle was played by drawing the bow over the string, pressing down to change the sound.
For the modern bowed instrument, it has 1-3 strings and uses tuning pegs.
The percussion-style instrument evolved from Holland in 1675, where the pig's bladder was replaced with a drum-like circle. It is between the stick and gut string, resonating as the string was played.
Violin Types - Devil's Fiddle
An example of Polish devil's fiddle from the Kashubian region.
A quick demo with a comparison of a stump fiddle and a devil's stick is shown in the video below:
Final Note
Violins have a rich history from their early evolution in the 16th century, through to the 18th century, to become what we know and love today. Understanding the different types of violins allows you to see the evolution and development of this instrument. While not every style in the violin family will appeal to you, they showcase the variety of styles on offer for any budding violinist looking to embrace a new style of music.
What surprised you the most in this article? Please comment below, I always love hearing from you!
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How the elevator changed everything
A book review of "Lifted: A Cultural History of the Elevator" by Andreas Bernard
By Andreas Bernard
There are a lot of candidates for the inanimate icon of modernity—the one object to symbolize the sea change in Western life between about 1870 and the Depression—the car, the airplane, the machine gun, even the flush toilet. Bernard makes a compelling case for the elevator.
Before its widespread use, most buildings were capped at six or seven storeys, and their layouts varied widely between floors. Most striking, the wealthy once lived close to the ground, while the poor lived high, in starving-artist garrets. To metaphorically go down the social ladder was, literally, to ascend a building's stairway: the struggling protagonist in Joseph Brod's novel Hotel Savoy (1924), already reduced to the undesirable sixth floor of a provincial Polish hotel, wonders ironically, "How high can I fall?" The elevator reversed that pattern in the blink of a cultural eye, bringing the higher classes to the higher floors, to their now-defining penthouse suites.
Bernard, a German journalist, has plowed through an enormous number of architectural and engineering guides, novels, plays and newspaper articles for his utterly absorbing account of a device that changed the way cities looked and city dwellers lived—and sometimes died. Our own new technology (social media) may be disruptive and occasionally dangerous (distracted driving), but modernity's founding inventions used to kill people at an alarming rate. Crashing elevators certainly took their toll in the early years, although they killed fewer people than falling into open shafts did, and both figures were smaller than the number of those who suffered smashed or even amputated limbs by sticking them out of open elevator cars.
More familiar to our own times, prone to worries over the health effects of wireless devices, were the anxieties and psychosomatic illness reported. The nausea and stomach-in-the-throat feeling brought about by still-abrupt downward stops—many early users only took elevators up, never down—gave rise to what one Chicago physician, worried over what he saw as resultant "brain fever and disordered nervous systems," called "elevator sickness" in 1894.
Elevator social etiquette was disorienting, too. At first, as illustrated by the dialogue in William Dean Howells's 1884 one-act play The Elevator, gentlemen would take off their hats when entering one, because it was not thought of as a public conveyance, but as a mobile domestic setting. And for good reason: In late 19th-century hotels, theatres and even some office buildings, cars were lavishly appointed, often with upholstered seating.
It took years for strangers haphazardly thrown together to learn to ignore one another and simply stare blankly at their floor numbers, a situation helped immeasurably in the past decade by the ability to pull out a smartphone to stare at instead. Perhaps, as Bernard implies, we're still working out how to cope with the elevator.
Brian Bethune
How the elevator changed everything
 1. Pingback: Maclean's book reviews: Your weekend reading awaits
 2. Meh…I dunno'. It's a device that's had its ups and downs.
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SAI Competency Framework
The Society of Actuaries in Ireland has developed a competency framework comprising the knowledge, skills and attributes that actuaries typically draw on in their work.
This framework is aligned to our vision, mission and goals. For each competency definition within the framework there is an indication of appropriate capabilities and behaviours across three competency levels.
The framework is intended to be suitable for use by all members of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland from student through to experienced professionals and regulated roles, and in traditional industry sectors, adjacent sectors and wider fields. However, it is not a mandatory tool and does not enforce any additional compliance requirements on any member.
The purpose of the competency framework is to:
- Support members in the identification of their learning and development needs, in relation to both their current role and any future roles to which they aspire. By reviewing the detailed competencies within the framework and considering (together with a line manager, for example) what competencies might typically be expected for a given role, members can identify gaps in their own current competency profile.
- Facilitate members in identifying which parts of the Society's Continuing Professional Development programme are relevant to the development and enhancement of specific competencies.
- Promote the profession to external stakeholders. In support of this, the competency wheel has a prominent role on the website and in marketing material used to promote the profession.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Support Center Home
Monitoring Amazon Connect
To monitor Amazon Connect service integrations, you need to add the AWS Connect DataSource to your LM portal account and add AWS Connect instances.
Add the AWS Connect DataSource
The AWS Connect DS gathers metrics reported by AWS CloudWatch for each monitored AWS Connect instance.
To add the AWS Connect DataSource to your LM account:
1. Navigate to Settings | LogicModules | DataSources.
2. Click Add and select "From LogicMonitor Repository".
Add DataSource from LogicMonitor Repository
3. In the "Import from LogicMonitor Repository" dialog, enter the Server name and your credentials to access the repository. Then click OK.
4. From the list of LogicModules, select "AWS_Connect".
Select AWS_Connect from Repository list
Add Amazon Connect Instances
Because Amazon Connect does not provide Auto Discovery, you will need to manually add each Amazon Connect instance.
To add an Amazon Connect instance:
1. Navigate to your AWS Account instance under Resources. This will be labeled: " Account".
2. In your account page, click the arrow next to Manage to select "Add Monitored Instance".
Add Monitored Instance dialog
3. Under DataSource, search for "AWS Connect".
4. Under Wildcard value, enter the GUID part of the AWS ARN related to your Amazon Connect instance.
Amazon Connect ARN
5. Save your settings.
You will start to see data from the monitored instance.
6. On the Info tab of your instance, add the AWS region of your Connect Instance as a property named aws.region to ensure the correct region is used to pull information for your Connect instance.
In This Article


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Walk through the streets of the average Portuguese village during the day and you may wonder if the place has been abandoned. In the intense summer heat it seems most people shelter away from the sun inside the white-washed walls of their homes until the early evening, when the main square becomes a hive of social activity.
Wander into the tiny village of Luz on the banks of the Alqueva Lake in the Alentejo region of Portugal and the daytime emptiness hides a rather unique story. The modern houses give a clue that there's something different about this village, but its real secrets (and many generations of history) can never again be discovered by taking a simple stroll. The reason for this eternal mystery is found in the lake; it is here that the old village lies submerged, flooded by the waters of Europe's largest man-made lake less than 10 years ago.
When the reservoir was planned the government faced a tough decision. The old village of Luz was below the proposed water-line of the planned reservoir, but the benefits that the project would bring were such that the village could not be spared. Would they relocate people to the nearest town? Perhaps disperse the 300-odd residents around the local villages? After consultation with the villagers the authorities undertook what is considered to be a unique resettlement plan: they rebuilt Luz a couple of kilometres away on higher ground.
Those who had a house would get another, with the same amount of land. People would live next to their old neighbours where possible, although the road layout was modernised. And the church, the social hub of the village for generations, would be rebuilt with the important relics moved across to the new structure. Even the cemetery would be relocated, a traumatic process for many people and one that needed to be carried out with the utmost sensitivity.
People moved into the new Luz in November 2002 and the old buildings were destroyed before the waters of the lake claimed them forever. You can follow the line of a road to the south of the village as it drops into lake, emerging in the distance – a visible sign that things were not always as they now appear.
Thankfully the memories of old Luz, and of the whole process of moving a village, were captured on film and can be seen at the excellent museum at the edge of the village. The museum contains ethnographic exhibits from traditional life in Luz, but without doubt the highlight is the film that follows a dozen or so villagers as they prepare for the move, say goodbye to their old homes and move reluctantly to the new village. It is a film that is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings, as it captures perfectly the emotions and losses faced by people whose families had owned those homes for hundreds of years. One old man laughs with sadness when he is told that the authorities will replace his fruit trees by planting new ones: "What's the use? I wouldn't be here to pick the fruit!" A schoolgirl, wise beyond her years, observes that "Everything happened at once so that it would seem nothing had changed."
You can visit the Museu Da Luz while renting a houseboat on the Alqueva lake. There's a marina around 1km from the village. Alternatively Luz is easy to reach by car, being only 5km from Mourao and around an hour's drive from Evora. The museum is closed on Mondays.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Windshield streaks often occur due to windshield wipers working on rainy days, but their removal is simple. Grab your favorite glass cleaner and a microfiber towel -- as well as some elbow grease -- and follow the instructions in this article.
1Make sure your car engine is off and its windshield wipers are in their resting position.Ad
2Spray your windshield thoroughly with a strong glass cleaner.
3Use the clean microfiber towel to clean the glass, using strong motions and pushing deeply into the cloth. Make sure you start at the top of the windshield and use up-and-down motions that span the length of your windshield, making your way across the entire windshield.
- Using simple, straight up-and-down motions ensures complete coverage and minimizes additional streaking.
4Lift up your windshield wipers to clean the area underneath them.
5Repeat if streaks remain. If they still persist, check that there are not defects or scratches in the glass.Ad
We could really use your help!
- Replace your windshield wipers when they are worn. Otherwise, the metal may dig into the surface of the windshield when it operates.
- These steps are also effective for cleaning car windows.
- Prevent streaking from dirty wiper blades by cleaning them with a towel soaked with window cleaner.
- Make sure you're getting a good scrub out of the microfiber towel when you clean your windshield. Don't just wipe the cleaner off!
- Purchasing a windshield cleaner from an auto supply store may provide more effective results than using a generic glass cleaner. Windshields are slightly thicker than most windows.
- It may be easier to stand on one side of your car, cleaning the half of the windshield closest to you first. Then move on to the other half.
- Some glass cleaners will corrode your vehicle's paint job, so make sure you do not expose the cleaner to the body of the car.
- Use a new microfiber towel! Any lint or dirt trapped in the towel could streak or even worse, scratch your windshield.
- If you have specially tinted windows, check to make sure that your cleaner will not ruin the tint.


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select ONE essay topic to discuss.
1. What was the significance of the Strait of Dardanelles in the World War I. provide an analysis of the geostrategic, political, economic cultural/symbolic aspects of the peninsula before and
during the Gallipoli campaign.
2. discuss political developments in Australia preceding the First World War and before the Gallipoli Campaign. Why did Australia send soldiers to the Great War? You may analyse the events of the
last 15 years before the Great War such as the Australian constitution of 1900 and the institutionalisation of federal state, national banknotes, national capital city. Were these developments
heralding the new Australian nation even before the Anzac or was a myth of nation-building necessary?
3. provide an overview and analysis of the land campaign in the Gallipoli Front. What were the logistical and strategical mistakes by the Allies and what were the advantages of the Ottoman
4. Anthony D. Smith once argued that "The repertoire of myths, rituals, memories and symbols for a nation encompass certain 'types' of myths to affirm its foundation, and ensure the transference
and maintenance of this repertoire to the next generation". Please discuss the ANZAC mythology and its role in the formation and maintenance of the Australian identity after the Gallipoli till
today. You can apply different approaches of the nationalism studies to your analysis.
5. What is the role of ANZAC and the Gallipoli in the New Zealander self-definition? Was there a New Zealander national identity before Gallipoli? What was the impact of Gallipoli to transform the
"New Zealander"? Please discuss the place of Gallipoli in the New Zealand national narrative.
6. The official reports and propaganda leaflets from both sides of the Gallipoli campaign contradict the letters and reports from prisoners of war. How fair were the Turks and the Allies in their
treatment of the prisoners of war? Pay particular attention to the treatment of the prisoners of war and the availability of facilities.
7. provide an overview and analysis of the politics of the Ottoman Empire before the Gallipoli Defence of 1915. What was the impact of the ongoing political turmoil before the World War I? You can
include the 1908 Revolution, 1913 Bab-? Ali Coup, the role of the Committee of Union and Progress, triumvirate of Pashas, position of the Sultan in your analysis.
8. What were the British aims, expectations and plans before the Gallipoli Campaign? Provide an overview of pre-Gallipoli discussions in British government, parliament and media. Why Britain
attempted such a risky campaign? What were the results of the Gallipoli Campaign for the British?
9. Compare and contrast the images and symbols in two selected literary books from British, Australian, New Zealander or Turkish perspective on the Gallipoli and/or Anzacs. How the Anzac story is
constructed and which symbols were used? (The books to be consulted with the convener)
10. Discuss the military aspects of the campaign with regard to the technologies used by both sides, armaments, artillery, machine guns, mines, navies, etc. Provide a comparison of the military
power of the warring parties in the Gallipoli Campaign.


Article sponsored by NewzEngine.com
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olivia Murphy, Postdoctoral research fellow in English, University of Sydney
A documentary from the Smithsonian Institute, examining new DNA and physical anthropology evidence, suggests the famous cavalry officer Casimir Pulaski (_PHONE_) might have been a woman, or intersex.
Pulaski is a hero of the struggles for Polish and American independence. He is credited with saving George Washington's life in battle and with establishing the first American cavalry force. According to the documentary, DNA testing has confirmed a female-appearing skeleton is indeed Pulaski's. This new evidence is the first hint that Pulaski – who seems to have lived as male from childhood – was anything other than a cisgendered man.
We may never know if Pulaski was intersex (that is, his body didn't fit neatly into either male or female categories) and did not question his gender. Or if he was, in fact, born female but chose to live as a man.
In either case, Pulaski would be the most senior military officer we know of to have female anatomical characteristics before the late 20th century. But he certainly wouldn't have been the only one on the battlefield.
The history of intersex men and women is one that requires more research. The lives of intersex people have often been made invisible throughout history. I hope that when more evidence comes to light Pulaski can be claimed as an inspirational intersex hero.
We know quite a bit, however, about women dressing as men and joining the military in the 18th and 19th centuries. There were famous women such as the British marine Hannah Snell (c._PHONE_) who, disguising herself as James Gray, signed up to fight in Scotland against the Jacobite invasion of 1745. Snell was later wounded trying to capture a French colony in India.
After revealing her gender, she was granted a pension by the king and made a living performing military exercises on stage. She also briefly kept a pub called "The Female Warrior".
A portrait of Hannah Snell, circa 1750. Wikimedia Commons
In contrast to Snell's self-promoting confidence, the Anglo-Irish military physician James Barry (c._PHONE_) kept the secret of his female birth all his life. Dressing as a man, Barry completed medical studies in Edinburgh and went on to have a long and distinguished career. Only after Barry's death was his sex discovered.
"William Brown" was the name taken by a black woman from Edinburgh who served aboard HMS Queen Charlotte from 1804 until after 1816, through the end of the Napoleonic Wars. She exhibited "all the traits of a British tar (slang for a sailor) and takes her grog with her messmates", according to a contemporary report.
The discovery of Brown's sex by her crew doesn't seem to have interrupted her career: she re-enlisted on the same ship after news broke that she was female.
Then there is the story of Jeanne Baré, who was not a soldier, but became the first woman known to have circumnavigated the globe (1766-69). She dressed in men's clothes to work as an assistant to Philibert Comerçon (she may also have been Commerçon's mistress), who was the botanist to French admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville.
Portrait of Jeanne Barret (_PHONE_) by Cristoforo Dall'Acqua (_PHONE_). Wikimedia Commons
Baré was found out when the ships made it to Tahiti. While she had passed as a man with the crew, her disguise didn't fool the Tahitians, who pointed her out to Bougainville.
Why would women disguise themselves as men and join the army and navy? One major reason was that men were paid far better than women. For a working-class woman, despite the dangers of a military or naval career, the money might have looked too good to pass up.
There were prohibitions against women wearing men's clothing in the period, but prosecutions were relatively rare. The army and the navy were desperate for recruits and tended not to inquire too closely. As Snell's career shows, being brazen about one's cross-dressing adventures might be a ticket to a comfortable life.
Young women might also be inspired by the many popular ballads narrating the military and naval careers of cross-dressing women. One, The Ballad of Jack Monroe, exists in several surviving versions:
She went into the tailor shop
And dressed in men's array,
And went into a vessel
To convey herself away.
For women as well as men, joining the army or navy might be a rare opportunity to see the world. For an adventurous spirit, living in disguise may have added to the excitement.
But for many of these cross-dressing adventurers, there must have been one further reason: they just felt more comfortable, more like themselves, fighting and living not only alongside men, but as men.
ref. Adventurous identities: intersex soldiers and cross-dressing women at war – _URL_


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Student Learning Outcomes for Health & Exercise Science Majors
1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in addressing discipline-based questions.
Examples of evidences: a) the application of effective oral and written communication skills using appropriate APA style in various forms appropriate to both professional and community audiences; and b) the application of knowledge and skills through experiential learning opportunities.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of research principles and methodologies relevant to the discipline.
Examples of evidences: a) use of valid sampling techniques with appropriate data collection and analysis; and b) Use of an array of technologies to support the process of inquiry and its outcomes
3. Be familiar with standards, ethics, and expectations of professional communities within our disciplines
Exercise Science major Student Learning Outcomes
4. Examine and analyze physical activity and motor skill performance as they relate to the physiological, psychological, and social responses and adaptations to exercise.
5. Integrate learned competencies and skills as part of learning activities and experiences throughout the curriculum.
6. Describe the reciprocal relationship between sport and the philosophical, historical, or sociological perspectives of society.
Health Science majorStudent Learning Outcomes
7. Recognize how the social, cultural, economic, political, and biological environments affect personal & community health.
8. Describe the U.S. health profile, including key indicators, determinants, disparities, access to health services, historical and contemporary trends and implications.
9. Understand the role of research, evaluation, and the use of data in health promotion, disease prevention, and health services.


Biological & Behavioral Risk Factors1
There are many reasons why men who have sex with men have a higher risk for getting and giving HIV than other groups.
The behaviors on this table make it easier to get HIV. Some biological factors make some behaviors even riskier.
Legal Risk Factors
Some states in the U.S. don't have laws that prevent jobs, schools, and other groups from treating LGBTQ+ people unfairly. You can learn more about LGBTQ+ laws in the U.S. using a map created by the Human Rights Campaign here.
Some states in the U.S. also make it a crime to give HIV to other people, even if you did not know you had HIV. Many people charged with this crime are Black/African American men who have sex with men. You can learn more about HIV laws in the U.S. here.
Social and Cultural Risk Factors
Men who have sex with men have more physical and mental health problems than men who do not have sex with men. These problems may come from feeling lonely or disconnected, stigma, and being treated unfairly because of their sexual identity. These problems may make it harder to find quality health care, including HIV testing, treatment, and other prevention services. Read our Men of Color tab to learn more about these issues.


text:
- » Key resources and services
- » Organisations
- » Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA)
Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA)
The Council membership comprises State, Territory, Australian Government and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for the portfolios of education, employment, training and youth affairs.
Functions of the Council include:
- coordination of strategic policy at the national level
- negotiation and development of national agreements on shared objectives and interests (including principles for Australian Government/State relations) in the Council's areas of responsibility
- negotiations on scope and format of national reporting on areas of responsibility
- sharing of information and collaborative use of resources towards agreed objectives and priorities
- coordination of communication with, and collaboration between, related national structures.
Abstract adapted from MCEECDYA
PO Box 202
Carlton South VIC 3053
Ph: (03) 9639 0588
Fax: (03) 9639 1790


text:
INNOVATIVE PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES FOR MATERIAL HANDLING
A major benefit of digitalization is the ability to analyze and optimize machine performance in real time, using data generated by embedded sensors fed into industry clouds.
The convergence and adoption of IT technologies with automation systems have produced a number of innovations for OEMs to lower their total cost to deploy, as well as service their fleets. As more and more manufacturing lines are integrated from front to back end, machines are linked together to form a digitized value chain with visibility to every aspect of machine performance, operator effectiveness, and production throughput and quality. This, in turn with AI innovations, allows accurate predictions of maintenance needs to arise from the very machines that need it.
This white paper discusses:
- Enabling predictive operating environments
- Early-stage machine learning
- Cloud drives predictive capabilities
- Advancing robotic maintenance with AI
- The emergence of new OEM business models
Download our white paper "Predictive Maintenance for Material Handling" today and uncover that OEMs are now reaching for more innovations, including the use of cloud, AI, and machine learning that allow them to lower their cost to deploy and service their customers, while improving their response times and providing operational improvements.
Interested in other material handling topics? View our white papers section.


text:
Soft rot diseases cause a great deal of damage in agriculture, and turn fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms to mush. By using imaging mass spectrometry together with genetic and bioinformatic techniques (genome mining), German researchers have now discovered the substance the bacteria use to decompose mushrooms. As the scientists report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, the substance called jagaricin could represent a starting point for the development of new antifungal drugs.
Button mushrooms with soft rot develop typical lesions and are eventually completely disintegrate. The pathogen causing soft rot in cultivated mushrooms has been identified as Janthinobacterium agarididamnosum. A team led by Christian Hertweck at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology in Jena (Germany) wanted to know which bacterial compound is responsible for this destruction in order to better understand the pathobiology and to find possible protective measures. If the soft rot bacteria produce a substance that attacks mushrooms, it is also conceivable that this substance could be effective against microbial fungi, which cause dangerous infections in humans.
Click "source" to read more.


text: The objective of this paper is to introduce the constrained discrete-time statedependent Riccati equation (CD-SDRE) technique for decentralized multi-agent systems. First, a D-SDRE for tracking control is derived analytically. Then, the latter is utilized in formulating the distributed D-SDRE control law. The constraint problem of the D-SDRE/distribued D-SDRE is then addressed by recasting it into a model predictive control (MPC) problem. Solution of the latter is then carried out using particle swarm optimization (PSO), which facilitates estimation of the states and control inputs for the D-SDRE control law calculation. The use of decentralized CD-SDRE scheme in a networked system in the presence of constraints is then systematically demonstrated by applying this scheme to reconfiguration problems of spacecraft formation flying under constrained actuation. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy and reliability of the proposed CD-SDRE in the decentralized control of the spacecraft formation flying.


text:
"The firm uses each successive project to physically manifest theories born of Max Strang's early exposure to the Sarasota School of Architecture and the modernist works of Gene Leedy, Paul Rudolph and others who celebrated the Florida climate, creating contemporary structures intimately connected to their surroundings. "
Environmental Modernism: The Architecture of STRANG
Visit Environmental Modernism page for more info
Environmental Modernism The Architecture of STRANG
The work of [STRANG] is beautifully explored in this robust monograph which highlights the firm's site-specifc and climate-driven designs. The ability to create stunning architectural designs while maintaining an acute awareness of the surrounding environment has come to define their work. Under the creative direction of Max Strang FAIA, the Miami-based firm continues to advance many of the timeless concepts set forth by the famed Sarasota School of Architecture. Strang's early exposure to that mid-century modernist movement resulted in a deep respect for structures that are intimately connected to their surroundings as they celebrate the Florida climate. This first monograph of Strang's work contains a collection of conceptual drawings, text and professional photography that underscores the ongoing relevance and importance of regional modernist design. It is the architectural responses to site and climate that infuse the specifc designs with character and identity, resulting in a uniquely Floridian version of modernism.
The Architecture of STRANG
Hardcover in Slipcase (978-1-946226-12-9)


text:
Four Weeks to Fitness
Teaching Children to Run
Jan Tipton believes the way to make running fun for young children is to take the emphasis off distance and place it on time. "The worst thing," says Tipton, a physical education teacher at Alimacani Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida, "is to take kids outside and tell them to run four laps (one mile). Every single day, the same kid wins, and all the rest lose."
Instead, Tipton asks everyone to run four minutes--and freeze! Each child sees how far he or she ran. The next day, they return and try to run farther. "Suddenly the focus is off the kid that won and on what you just accomplished." Over a period of weeks, Tipton gradually increases the time run in two-minute increments to 12 minutes. At that point, most children find they can run four laps and feel proud of their achievement. At the end of the school year, the children are tested on their ability to run one mile.
Tipton sees each class only once every two weeks, so relies on classroom teachers to supervise running during daily recesses. "It takes extra effort on their part," admits Tipton. "They have to stand on the track and blow the whistle." For children not in a supervised program, Tipton suggests that the parents run along. "If the kid is faster than the parent, let them go."
The following four-weeks-to-fitness program begins with daily four-minute runs. Each Friday, the time (and distance) increases. Tuesdays and Thursdays are designed as a speed day with the Friday time split in half. On Tuesdays, encourage the child to go farther in the second run than the first. On Thursdays, have the child run the first and stop; then after a rest, run back faster and try to run past the start/finish line. Do all workouts on a track or in some area without traffic. The final Friday run in Week 4 could be a 1-mile race, those dreaded four laps on a track that seemed so imposing on Day 1. Walking in any of the workouts or in the final test itself is acceptable.
|1||4:00||2 x 300||4:00||2 x 3:00||6:00||Soccer|
|2||6:00||2 x 400||6:00||2 x 4:00||8:00||Soccer|
|3||8:00||2 x 500||8:00||2 x 5:00||10:00||Soccer|
|4||10:00||2 x 600||10:00||2 x 6:00||12:00||Soccer|
After a child attains the goal of running a mile, you can continue workouts using a similar gradual progression. After another four weeks or more, the child will be able to run two miles non-stop and may be ready to enter a 5-K race, where inspiration will carry him or her the extra distance--provided you run along!
- Is Running Good for Children?
- Wesley Paul: "I just wanted to run with my father"
- Mary Etta Boitano: "I am not a little boy"
- Liz Reichman: "We just go out and see what develops"
- Training: Four Weeks to Fitness
- Training Tips for Parents
- Kids Running


text:
Teaching Children the Value of Struggle
By Anne Broderius, West Elementary Principal
Teaching children to move from thinking "this is too hard and I just can't do it" to "this took time and effort, but I did it" is important. Perseverance and enduring through struggles are crucial to learning and being successful in life. People of all ages need to develop these skills. Perseverance is a character trait that allows a person to continue trying even when things are difficult or seem impossible. Perseverance is actually a skill that can be taught and practiced. Even though many learn it on their own through experiences of trial and error, and success and disappointment, the coaching and support children receive from the adults in their world can make a huge impact.
Parents and adult mentors should have frequent discussions with children about hard work and perseverance where they teach and model how to react to life's disappointments or setbacks. In addition, we can reinforce successes for children by naming the perseverance as a quality that truly matters. So instead of saying, "You are so smart" consider saying, "I noticed how hard you worked on that and stuck with it until the end". This will help to foster a positive attitude about hard work, life experiences, and determination.
Here are some tips for fostering perseverance in children.
- Create an environment where it's ok to make mistakes. When children live in a supportive environment where they trust the adults, they are more willing to take risks. When given the opportunity to build skills, meet new challenges, and see the results of their efforts, the value of hard work is instilled.
- Encourage children to try new things and model trying something new yourself. No one is perfect at anything new to them, but with continued practice, even when things get hard, they will see the value of hard work and the rewards of perseverance.
- Share personal experiences of facing situations that require perseverance. Children need to hear about others failures and life experiences to be willing to take risks themselves.
- Start small and create the conditions for children to experience small successes. Encourage their own inner courage and strength along the way. Warn them they may experience the need for perseverance and keep supporting and coaching as needed.
- Be there for them when they do struggle or fail. Provide support and help them evaluate how to adjust and try again. Work to instill a "never give up" attitude.
Recognize the effort and avoid using rewards when they experience success. Instead, use encouraging words that recognize effort, hard work, and perseverance instead.
- It should be our goal to help all children maintain positive attitudes that will enable them to
keep trying, and to feel proud of each success they experience along the way. We teach children to read, write, and do math, but teaching children how to persevere may be the greatest lesson of all.


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Types of Arthritis
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Shingles Rash and Mild Neuralgia
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the virus that causes chickenpox. VZV can remain dormant inside nerve cells and in some people years later, the virus may reactivate and travel through the nerves to the skin and this reactivation of the virus is known as shingles.
Sciatica Pain
Sciatic pain is one of the most common forms of back pain it is a type of neuralgia (nerve pain) that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body it runs from the bottom of spine down both legs to branch into two at the knees.
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the muscles, tendons and ligaments, but not the joints. Symptoms are wide ranging and wide spread, including amplified pain and other sensitivities, sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal stiffness or cognitive dysfunction. It is estimated that there are as many as one million Australians suffer from this disorder.
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Take the 2-minute tour ×
Let $R$ be a commutative unitary ring and $M_{I}$ be the intesection of all maximal ideals contains $I$. Question: When for any two ideals $I$ and $J$ of $R$ there exists an ideal $K$ of $R$ such that $M_{I}+M_{J}=M_{K}$?
share|improve this question
1 Answer 1
up vote 1 down vote accepted
A typical ring of dimension $2$, like $k[x,y]$, does not have that property. Indeed, if $I=(xy)$, $J=(x^2-y^2)$, then $M_I=I$, $M_J=J$, and $M_I+M_J=I+J$ contains $x^3$ and $y^3$ but not $x$ and $y$, so is not radical, so cannot be the intersection of any set of maximal ideals.
On the other hand, in a Dedekind domain, ideals of this form are exactly products of finitely many maximal ideals or the zero ideal. Scheme-theoretically, they correspond to finite sets of points on a curve or else the whole curve. This set is closed under addition, or, scheme-theoretically, intersection, so you're OK there.
Obviously, this also works in every local ring, where there is a unique maximal ideal.
share|improve this answer
Ok, there are many examples which this is not true. But I think in J-semisimple ring (ring in which $J(R)=0$), has a topological equivalent in the space of maximal ideals with zariski topology. – Ali Dec 10 '12 at 4:04
Your Answer


text:
This paper examines the use of a so-called "generalised Hammerstein-Wiener" model structure that is formed as the concatenation of an arbitrary number of Hammerstein systems. The latter are taken here to be memoryless non-linearities followed by linear time invariant dynamics. Hammerstein, Wiener, Hammerstein-Wiener and Wiener-Hammerstein models are all special cases of this structure. The parameter estimation of this model is investigated by using a standard prediction error criterion coupled with a robust gradient based search algorithm. This approach is profiled using the Wiener-Hammerstein system benchmark data, which illustrates it to be effective and, via Monte-Carlo simulation, relatively robust against capture in local minima.
15th IFAC Symposium on System Identification (SYSID 2009). Proceedings of the 15th IFAC Symposium on System Identification (Saint-Malo, France 6-8 July, 2009) p. _PHONE_


text:
Postprint version. Published in Journal of Hydroinformatics, Volume 4, Issue 2, January 1, 2002, pages 83-97.
©2002 IWA Publishing. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Journal of Hydroinformatics, 4(2): 83-97. The original is available at _URL_.
NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Misgana K. Muleta was not yet affiliated with Cal Poly.
The comprehensive and systematic management of watersheds is essential for reducing the adverse environmental impacts arising from anthropogenically caused erosion and subsequent sedimentation. This paper describes a computational methodology that is designed to serve as a watershed decision support system and is capable of controlling environmental impacts of non-point source pollution resulting from erosion. In the decision process, the methodology also accounts for other inseparable objectives such as economics and social dynamics of the watershed. This decision support tool was developed by integrating a comprehensive hydrologic model known as SWAT and state-of-the-art multiobjective optimization technique within the framework of a discrete-time optimal-control model. Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm (SPEA), a multiobjective optimizer based on evolutionary algorithms, has been used to generate Pareto optimal sets. For demonstration purposes, the tool was applied to the Big Creek watershed located in Southern Illinois. Results indicate that the methodology is highly effective and has the potential to improve comprehensive watershed management.
Civil and Environmental Engineering


text:
Could You Be Royalty?
Could you be royalty? Probably not. When kids think about royalty, kids usually think about Cinderella,Snow White or other fairy Princesses. On the other hand some kids think about real princesses like Princess Diana. Royalty
formed in medieval Europe centuries ago. What happened when a king died? Well when a king dies his heirs would succeed him, usually according to the rules of inheritance of money and property. Other nobles would pass on their titles and positions to their heirs in a similar way. Not in every county people called a king a king. Here is a list of what kings are called in different countries.....
- Japan and Ancient Rome: emperor/empress
- Ancient Egypt: pharaoh
- India: raja
- Muslim countries: sultan
So could you be royalty? Probably not the odds are realy against you.
Wonder words :
hailto bow and praise real enthusiastically
royalty- a person who has royal blood
territoriesland separated in certain areas


text:
SECURITIES PERFECTION AND DEBT RECOVERY IN THE NIGERIAN INDUSTRY (A CASE STUDY OF SKYE BANK PLC NIGERIA)
This project is designed to look the effect securities perfection and debt recovery in banking industry in Nigeria, to obtain the relevant result and data were collected through the use of questionnaire and interview in gathering valuable fact for the project. The first two chapters deal with the introduction, statement of problem and literature review while chapter three deal with research methodology and procedure. Then, chapter four deals with data analysis and interpretation of data collected. The last chapter give, summary, recommendation for effective securities perfection and debt recovery in banking industry in Nigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Table of content vi
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Statement of the study 1
1.2 Objectives of the study 1
1.3 Research question 2
1.4 Statement of hypothesis 2
1.5 Definition of terms 2
2.1 Literature review 4
2.2 Lending principle 4
2.3 Statutory and regulatory requirement 4
2.4 Type of securities for bank lending 4
2.5 Effect of government regulations and control on bank lending in Nigeria 8
2.6 History of Skye Bank Plc 8
2.7 Constraints lending operation in Skye Bank Plc 9
2.8Loan recovery procedure10
3.0 Research methodology 11
3.1 Data collected 11
3.2 Method of data and resources of data 11
4.0 Data analysis 12
4.1 Interpretation of result 13
5.1 Summary 14
5.2 Conclusion 15
5.3 Recommendations 15
5.4 Suggestion for further research studies 15
Bank plays important roles in the economic life of a country particularly a developing nation through the provision of banking services. As agent of development, they provide loans and advance including a variety of contingent facilities, which could either be short term or long terms. This explains why credit guidelines contained in governments monetary circulars stipulate aggregate causing on credit creation as well as the sectionals avocation which bank other financial institution must comply with during a fiscal year.
In recent time, banks have witnessed a phenomenal growth in term of loans in their portfolios and the need to finance industrial project in line with the nation's rapid growth industrialization.
Some of the facilities generally provided by bank included: short term finance, medium term finance, long term finance building / mortgage wars advance against produce etc.
When banks are providing these kinds of facilities and some others, they are exposed to some risks. Lending has some other are exposed of some risks lending has become a vital function inn banking operations because of its direct effect on economic growth and business development.
Though a banker is expected too exercise consideration skill, use his experience techniques in analyzing credit proposal and assessing the risks, it has been established from experience that unforeseen situation sometimes affect the borrowers ability to pay and this has banks to insure themselves in case the unexpected happens by demanding some form security.
Securities and perfection are particularly relevant to our situation in this country. Bad debts simply means loans or facilities granted to a customer but cannot be recouped by the bank from the customer after all efforts it has been intensified.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE STUDY
In the years past it has been observed that undocumented unperfected loans accounted mainly for the couapsed near couapse of many bank both in Nigeria and abroad (First –bank of Nigeria Bi journal Vo1. 6 1998 December)
1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of this study banks plays important role in the economic life of a country particularly a developing nation through the provision of banking services. As agent of development, they provide loans and advance including a variety of contingent facilities, which could either over be short term or long term.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION
The research questions of this study were borne out of the huge debts which come about as a result at bank liability to realize the security pledged due to poor credit documentation and perfection. The questions therefore are:
What are the affects of poor credit documentation on bank credits? What are the types of acceptance securities and documentation procedure for the purpose of lending? What are the various types of method adopted for debt recovery? What should bank do when they notice any sign credit becoming doubtful?
1.4 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS
The research hypothesis employed for verification is stated below:
HO There are a lot agitation on the significance of good securities to and bank lending prior to this write –up some bank customers complained that their bank deprived them from financial assistances in time of need for investment purpose due to their inability to procedure reasonable counteracts not minding their wing standing good record with them,
In the same vein bank also in them bitter experiences in loan reconciler argued their position even securities are taken for loan and advances.
1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS
This section embraces a brief explanations on specific terms not of common usage that appeared in the body of the work such terms includes.
Credit this term used for an amount of money granted by bank calendar to a customer (Borrower) in form of loan and advance in order to finance capital.
Perfection: - This is the process of investigating the trade owner of a security, its documentation and obtaining the governors consent (incase of legal mortgage)
Documentation: - This is the term used in obtaining security in the legal form and the process of recording, perfecting and security.
Security: - In the legal from and the process of recording, perfecting and security.
Security; this term denotes property pledge by a borrower as a means of guarantee for the credit grantee e.g lends shares e.t.c
Default: - This term sued when a borrower fails to fulfill his obligation or when he fails to repay the amount granted to him as credit.
Debenture; it denote an instrument issued by a company or individual acknowledging the indebtedness at a stated time with interest there of.
Stamping: - This term is used as an evidentiary created on the mortgage created. The mortgage created should be stamped within 30 days of the execution.
Registration: - It can notes that document created must be required incompliance with either case law or statute and is done at corporate affairs commission within 90 days.
Insured: - This terms is used by insurance company which loans, "Risk Against loses".
Ubcirmaefidel: - This is an insurance term, which explain that every information required must be given is utmost good truth..


text:
Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Publisher: Boyd Mills Press
Publication Date: March 3, 2020
In this picture book, readers travel to learn through rhyme and illustrations about dances and traditional dress that accompany select dances of Africa, China, Cuba, India, Ireland, Spain, and United States to name many. Children depict their cultural maneuvers with exuberance. Text concentrates on action, inviting onlookers to try steps. In the back matter the author briefly elaborates on each dance.


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Webcast Event Details
Keck Seminar: Cell Shape Change: Bridging Genetics, Biochemistry and Mechanics
Anna Sokac, PhD, Assistant Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
date:4:00PM US Central (GMT −0500)
Friday, December 6, 2013
location:BRC Auditorium, BioScience Research Collaborative Building, Rice University
sponsor:Gulf Coast Consortia
Cell shape is critical to cell function, and cells must reliably change or maintain shape as circumstances demand. Yet despite a central role in development and homeostasis, cell shape is poorly understood. Our lab is studying several aspects of cell shape change in early Drosophila embryos. Specifically: 1) How are sub-cellular systems, from nucleus to cell surface, integrated to accomplish cell shape change? 2) How are materials, like actin and membrane, moved around? 3) Can mechanics coordinate remote cell surface events? 4) What determines the kinetics of cell shape change? 5) What are the robustness promoting mechanisms that ensure reliable cell shape change, even under stressful conditions?
We pursue this work because we are fascinated with how cells move and do their jobs. Since failed cell shape change precipitates devastating health burdens, as in cancer and birth defects, our efforts can aid in developing future clinical interventions and prevention strategies.
more info:Gulf Coast Consortia
watch:There is no archive media for this event.


kasai rex by O055uE8i
 The Kasai Rex is a strange animal allegedly living in the jungles of central Africa said to
resemble a large, predatory dinosaur.
There have been several sightings throughout the years, but the most popular one took place in
1932. A Swedish plantation owner, named John Johnson, and his African servant were once
walking through the Kasai valley in Africa (the location of this particular sighting was where the
creature got its name), when they came across a grazing rhinoceros. They were careful not to
disturb the animal. All of a sudden, a 40-foot-long, two-legged lizard-like beast ambushed the
rhino. During this attack, Mr. Johnson actually fainted while his servant ran away in terror.
When Johnson woke up, the creature was still feeding on the rhino carcass. He described the
animal as having have long, sharp teeth, big jaws, a long, thick tail, and thick legs, which he said
reminded him of the legs on a lion. He also described the color of the creature: a dark red, with
dark-colored, vertical stripes running down its neck, back and tail. He then saw the huge beast
walk back into the jungle after it had eaten its fill.
The few sightings of this creature generally agree with one another; the size of the creature
differs slightly in the sighting descriptions (possibly due to specimens of a different sex or age),
but the animal's coloration remain the same: red with dark stripes.
These general descriptions certainly seem to fit a large carnivorous dinosaur. Candidates include
not just T-rex, but also Tarbosaurus (a very close relative of Tyrannosaurus rex), Allosaurus,
Megalosaurus, and the recently discovered Giganotosaurus, among others.
No expeditions have yet been launched that have focused on the Kasai Rex.
To top


There are a lot of confusing terms associated with the Uplands sewage separation project, but two of the most common acronyms that were tossed around were MSR and INI. In the hopes of lifting some of that confusion, a quick debrief:
INI or Inflow and infiltration. Essentially the water that leaks into the system from the cracks in the pipes, bad joints, manhole covers, etc. CRD has a good page on INI.
MSR or Municipal Sewage Regulation: The provincial law that governs sewage systems, both sanitary and storm. This is the law that is forcing Oak Bay to twin the Uplands sewer. The full regulations and FAQ are available online.


itate
on the name and achieve union with God.
 Guru (The Teacher) The Name and the
Word are revealed through the Guru;
knowledge of both only comes through the
Guru. The Sikh concept of the Guru, is
different from the Hindu concept, for the
Sikh Guru is, synonymous with the Name
and the Word.
TABLE 2.2 Important Treatises and Literary Works during Medieval Period
Name of Treatise Author Historical Importance
Tahquq-i-Hind Alberuni Gives a description about society in India on the eve of
Tabaqat-i-Nasiri Minhaj-us-Siraj Gives an account of lltutmish's reign
Laila-Majnu Amir Khusrao Court poet of Ala-ud-din Khilji
Khazain-ul-Futuh Amir Khusrao Describes conquests of Ala-ud-din Khiiji
Tughlaqnama Amir Khusrao Gives account of Ghiyasuddin s reign
Nuh-Siphir Amir Khusrao Poetic description of Ala-ud-din Khilji
Fatawaha-Jahandari Zia-ud-din Barani Gives an account of the Tughlaq dynasty
Tarikha-Firoz Shah Zia-ud-din Barani Gives an account of Firoz Shah's reign
Fatwah-i-Firoz Firoz Shah Gives an account of Firoz Shah s reign
Kitab-fi-Tahqiq Alberuni About Indian sciences
Qanun-e-Masudi Alberuni About astronomy
Jawahar-fil-Jawahir Alberuni About mineralogy
Qamas Firozabadi Arabic words dictionary
Taj-ul-Maathir Hassan Nizami History of Ilbaris, the slave dyhasty
Chach Namah Abu Bakr History of the Sindh region Page 15
Coming of Islam - Medieval India
Study Materials
Lubab-ul-Alab Bhukhari Persian anthology
Khamsah Amir Khusro Literature and poems
Shah Namah Firdausi About Mahmud Ghazni's reign
Kitab-ul-Rahla Ibn Battutah A travelogue with stories
Miftah-ul-Futuh Amir Khusrau Jalal-ud-din's conquest and life
Multa-ul-Anwar AmirKhusrau Literarymasterpiece
Ayina-i-Sikandari Amir Khusrau Literary masterpiece
Hasht Bihisht Amir Khusrau Literary masterpiece
Shirin Khusrau Amir Khusrau Literary masterpiece
Tarik-i-Firoz Shahi Shams-i-Shiraj Afif History of Tughlaqs
Futuh-us-Salatin Isami About the Bahmani kingdom
relating to income and expenditures. He had the
power to appoint the revenue officials, organise
Iqta System and collect revenue, and control the state
Iqta wos territorial assignment and its holder expenditure. His department was known as the
was designated Muqti. The Muqti had the right Diwani-Wazir.
to collect and appropriate taxes, especially land Musharraf-i-Mumalik This post was equal to
revenue. In return, the Muqli was supposed to the present-day Auditor General. This office was
maintain troops and furnish them at call to the used to maintain the accounts of the state.
Sultan of Delhi Sultanate. Mustauf-i-Mumalik This post was equal to the
present-day Auditor General. The duties
Administration under the Sultans of involved auditing the accounts.
Sadr-us-Sadar The appointee was also known
as Qazi-i-Mumalik. His role was to deal with
Though five dynasties ruled during the era that religious affairs and immunities to scholars and
is considered as the: Sultanate Period, yet the men of piety.
administrative set up during these 320 years wos Munshi-i-Mumalik This post dealt with the
very similar. In the central administrative system entire state correspondence.
me following were the key slots:
Sultan The Sultan was the head of the state. SOUTHERN DYNASTIES
Though he owed nominal allegiance to the The sultans' failure to hold the Deccan and
Abbasid Caliphs yet for all practical purposes, South India securely resulted in the rise of competing
he was totally independent. The chief southern dynasties—the Muslim Bahmani Sultanate
responsibilities of the Sultan were the protection and the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire.
of the state, the settlement of disputes, the
defence of the red of Islam, the enforcement of Judicial System under the Sultans of Delhi
laws, the collection of taxes and the welfare of
people. The nobilily, civil services and ulema The Sultan would sit at least twice o week to hear the
supported the Sultan. In most cases, a predecess complaints; against the officials of the state. The
either nominated the Sultan, or he had to fight a Qazi-bMumalik used to sit with the Sultan to give
war succession. him legal advice. Decisions were made according to
Wazir The most important post next to the the Shariah. Cases of non-Muslims were decided
Sultan was thatof the Prime Minister, or the according to their particular religious laws.
'Wazir ; He was in charge of the entire fiscal Revenue System under the Sultan of Delhi
administration of the realm and all matters Page 16
Coming of Islam - Medieval India
Study Materials
The revenue structure of the empire followed the expressed in vigorous schools of deccani architecture
Islamic traditions inherited from the Ghaznavids. and painting.
Only in he details of agrarian administration, it was
modified in accordance with local needs and The Vijaynagar Kingdom (_PHONE_)
practices. The state depended do agricultural produce. Founded in 1336, the empire of Vijayanagar
Three methods of assessment were sharing, (named after its capital Vijayanagar, 'City of Victory',
appraisement and measurement. The first was simple in Karnataka) expanded rapidly towards Madurai in
crop division; the second was appraisal of the the south and Goa in the west and exerted intermittent
quantity orvalue of the state demand on the value of control over the east coast and the extreme south-west.
probable crop yield and the third was the fixation of Vijayanagar rulers closely followed Chola precedents,
fhe demand on the basis of actual measurement of especially in collecting agricultural and trade revenues,
land. Revenue was takenand people in the form of in giving encouragement to commercial guilds and in
cash, or kind. Jazia tax was impassed on nonhonouring temples with lavish endowments. Added
Muslims. Women, children, old, mentally and revenue needed for waging war against the Bahmani
physically disabled people, monks, and priests were sultans was raised by introducing; a set of taxes on
exempt from Jazia. commercial enterprises, professions and industries.
Army System under the Sultans of Delhi Political rivalry between the Bahmani and the
Vijayanagar rulers involved control over the KrishnaThe army was administered by the Ariz-Mumalik Tunghabadhra river basin, which shifted hands
whose daily was to provide horses and rations the depending on whose military was superior at any given
soldiers. His office maintained the descriptive roll of time. The Vijayanagar rulers' capacity for gaining
each soldier. Hewas to assign different tasks to the victory over their enemies was contingent on ensuring
soldiers and also was responsible for the transfer of a constant supply of horses—initially through Arab
military personnel. Even officers of the court who traders but later through the Portuguese—and
held military ranks received salaries from his office. maintaining internal roads and communication
He was Collector General of the army. He exercised networks. Merchant guilds enjoyed a wide sphere of
great inffuence on the state. operation and were able to offset the power of
landlords and brahmins in court politics. Commerce
The Bahmani Sultanate (_PHONE_) and shipping eventually passed largely into the hands
of foreigners, and special facilities and tax concessions
Zafar Khan, a former provincial governor
were provided for them by the ruler. Arabs and
under the Tughlaqs, revolted against his Turkish
Portuguese competed for influence and control of the
overlord and proclaimed himself sultan, taking the title
west coast ports, and in 1510, Goa passed into
Alu-ud-din Bahman Shah in 1347. The Bahmani
Portuguese possession.
Sultanate, located in the northern Deccan, lasted for
almost two centuries until it fragmented into five The city of Vijayanagar itself contained
smaller states in 1527. The Bahmani Sultanate adopted numerous temples with rich ornamentation, especially
the patterns established by the Delhi overlords in tax the gateways, and a cluster of shrines for the deities.
collection and administration, but its downfall was Most prominent among the temples was the one
caused in large measure by the competition and hatred dedicated to Virupaksha, a manifestation of Shiva, the
between the cleccahi (domiciled Muslim immigrants patron deity of the Vijayanagar rulers. Temples
and local converts) add theparadesi (foreign


text:
|IDL Reference Guide: Procedures and Functions|
The ZOOM_24 procedure displays part of a 24-bit color image from the current window expanded in a new ("zoom") window, and provides information about cursor location and color values in an auxiliary ("data") window. The cursor is used to mark the center of the zoom area, and different zoom factors can be specified interactively.
ZOOM only works on 24-bit color systems.
This routine is written in the IDL language. Its source code can be found in the file
zoom_24.pro in the
lib subdirectory of the IDL distribution.
After calling ZOOM_24, windows titled "Zoomed Image" (the zoom window) and "Pixel Values" (the data window) appear on the screen. Place the mouse cursor over a 24-bit color image in an IDL graphics window and click the left mouse button to display a magnified version of the image in the zoom window. The zoomed image is centered around the pixel selected in the original window. Move the mouse cursor in the zoom window to determine the coordinates (in the original image) and color values of individual pixels.
With the cursor located in the zoom window, click the right mouse button to return to selection mode, which allows you to either choose a new zoom center, change the zoom factor, or exit the procedure. Move the cursor to the original image and click the middle mouse button to display a menu of zoom factors, or click the right mouse button to exit the procedure.
Note that the ZOOM_24 procedure is only for use with IDL graphics windows. It should not be used with draw widgets. To obtain a zooming effect in a draw widget, use the CW_ZOOM function.
ZOOM_24 [, FACT=integer] [, /RIGHT] [, XSIZE=value] [, YSIZE=value]
Use this keyword to specify the zoom factor, which must be an integer. The default zoom factor is 4.
Set this keyword to position the zoom and data windows to the right of the original window.
Use this keyword to specify the X size of the zoom window. The default is 512.
Use this keyword to specify the Y size of the zoom window. The default is 512.
IDL Online Help (March 06, 2007)


World War I Service Cards FAQS
What are the World War I service cards?
The cards are an abridged version of the military record of the named individual. The information was taken from the service records which may contain more information than is on the cards.
The cards were created by the staff of the War and Navy Departments in 1924-25.
What information do the cards provide?
Why do some cards have only one page and some have two?
All the Army cards have the same pre-printed information on the back. Only when there were additional remarks were the card backs scanned. The Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps cards are blank on the back.
How is race designated on the card?
Race is indicated in the upper right of every card.
"White" typed in the upper right-hand corner indicates the race as "white".
If the word "white" is crossed out, it indicates the race as "colored". For the purposes of the service records, Native Americans were listed as "white".
Both the Navy and the Marine Corps were strictly segregated and did not accept black enlistees or officers. The Army took thirteen thousand twenty-four black enlisted and seven officers nationally.
Do the service cards include women?
Yes. Women served as nurses and Yeoman class (secretary). To find these cards, search these terms:
 - Army: Nurse
 - Army: Nurse RA
 - Navy: Nurse
 - Navy: Landsman for Yeoman
 - Navy: Landsman for Yeoman -Female
 - Navy: Yeoman 1st Class- F
 - Navy: Yeoman 1st Class
 - Navy: Yeoman 2nd Class
 - Navy: Yeoman 2nd Class- F
 - Navy: Yeoman 3rd Class
 - Navy: Yeoman 3rd Class- F
What is the difference between the "National Army" and the "Army"?
Members of the National Army were drafted or enlisted for the duration of the war. Members of the Regular Army were enlisted for time limited contracts (two, three, or four years) or were career soldiers.
Contact us and we'll do our best to assist you.
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text:
"Fairness" In English and Zambian Administrative Law
By Elias Munshya, LLB, LLM, MBA, M.Div.
Administrative law is that branch of law that governs the scope and activities of government agencies. Government agencies are daily making important decisions that affect Zambian citizens. However, in the discharge of their functions administrative bodies must act with "fairness". Together with the right to an unbiased judge, the right "to a fair trial" forms part of the elements that constitute the common law rules of natural justice. These rules are a pinnacle of both Zambian and English law. In the Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service UKHL 6 case, it is Lord Scarman who stated that there was an implied duty of fairness attached to all administrative acts. There is an expectation by anyone who is subject of an administrative tribunal to have a fair hearing. Additionally, when it comes to judicial review, a person affected may challenge a decision on the ground of procedural impropriety if his or her right to a fair trial are abrogated.
In the context of England and Wales, fairness has been reinforced by both sections 2 and 3 of Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), which places a demand upon the courts and all administrative bodies to so construe legislation, as much as is possible, in compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and the rulings of its institutions. Specifically, Article 6 (1) of the ECHR states that a person is entitled to "a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal". These same guarantees are provided in the Zambian constitution.
Fairness, however, is not a clear-cut concept in administrative law because applying what is fair in one case might be unfair when applied in another. What is precise in all this, however, is the fact that fairness does depend upon the circumstances of the case and the nature of the tribunal. As such, while there is a settled principle of fairness in administrative law in England, Zambia and elsewhere, the application of this principle must be contextualized to specific cases if fairness is to be achieved.
In the case of R v Home Secretary, ex p Doody, Lord Mustill stated several principles relevant to the concept of fairness in administrative law. First, the standards of fairness in administrative law are not immutable. They can change with time and change of circumstances. Le Suer, Herberg & English (1999) state "fairness is a flexible concept". Second, according to Lord Mustill "principles of fairness cannot be applied by rote identically in every situation." Context is important. Third, Lord Mustill opined that a person who is going to be adversely affected by an administrative decision must be given the opportunity to be heard either before the case is heard or after or both. This third principle complies with the 1915 ruling in Local Government Board v Arlidge, in which the House of Lords held that, there is "a minimum requirement that a party to a dispute should be given an adequate opportunity to present his side of the argument." Fourthly, according to Lord Mustill, for a person to make a worthwhile presentation of his case, he must be given sufficient substance of the case against him. These principles, taken together with ECHR jurisprudence, would help in the discussion of the relevant cases in which fairness has been the subject matter. Some of these cases are explained below.
English courts have held that a violation of natural justice principles including the principle of fairness would not be acceptable. In R v Board of Visitors of Hull Prison, ex p St Germain, the court ruled that the prisoner's right to fairness had been breached by an administrative agency's reliance on hearsay evidence without giving the prisoner the opportunity to respond to that evidence. As in this case then the court saw that in those instances where the person's liberty is at stake, the principles of fairness should be strictly followed. In the case of R v Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, ex parte Hook (1976), it was held that the rules of fairness had been breached since the decision was excessive and the trial violated the fairness principle. In R v Army Board of the Defense Council ex p Anderson, the administrative agency had breached the rules of fairness since it had not provided Anderson with copies of the written evidence to enable him to comment and reasonably react to the accusations.
However, notwithstanding the court cases mentioned in the paragraph above, the courts have been able to vary the demand for fairness. The courts to vary the demand for principles of "fairness" have used national security considerations. In the cases of R v Home Secretary, ex p Hosenball and in the case of R v Home Secretary, ex p Cheblak, national security considerations were used to dispense with the stricter need for natural justice. Additionally, in the case of Secretary of State for the Home Department v. AF (2009), the Court of Appeal was willing to allow for the national security consideration in varying the application of the principle of fairness in administrative law, but nevertheless called upon the trial judge to allow the special advocates to have access to the information against the appellants. Here the court was attempting to balance the need for natural justice on one hand and national security considerations on the other.
Courts have varied what constitutes a fair hearing if the subject matter being adjudicated involves the welfare of children. As such, in the case of Re K (infants), a case involving infants, the courts varied the elements of fairness by not availing all the facts to all the parties of the case. Additionally, in the cases of R (West) v Parole Board and R (Roberts) v Parole Board, the House of Lords held that in some circumstances the general principles of fairness could be overlooked. These cases involved some prisoners who demanded that the information used in arriving at decisions that adversely affected them should be disclosed to them. In R v Commissioner for Racial Equality, ex p Cottrell & Rothon, it was held that even if cross-examination was not permitted and witnesses did not attend, there was no breach of the rules of fairness. Again the principle of fairness was not followed in this case.
In view of the case law, the present state of administrative law is that fairness still remains an integral part of the justice system. Administrative bodies may deviate from the fairness principle, if it would be in the interest of justice to do so. Even then, parties affected by the administrative body's decision should be given sufficient information and opportunity to offer their side of the story. This is important for the development of Zambia's constitutional and administrative law development.
Munshya, E (2015). Fairness In English and Zambian Administrative Law. Elias Munshya Blog (_URL_) (Sep 3, 2015)


text: A chemical that comes from certain substances when they are not burned completely. It is found in car exhaust, smoke from wood fires, tobacco, oil and gas products, charred or grilled foods, and other sources. It may also be found in water and soil. 3,4-Benzpyrene can cause a skin rash, a burning feeling, skin color changes, warts, and bronchitis. It may also cause cancer. It is a type of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Also called benzo(a)pyrene.


From Serial ATA Storage Architecture and Applications
Refers to user adoption of Serial ATA, where Serial ATA is often seen in homes and businesses.
Acronym for cyclic redundancy check. Used to verify the integrity of a transmission in a way similar to a checksum.
Command FIS.
A frame information structure that carries an ATA command (not a data payload) see also FIS and Data FIS.
Common Mode Voltage.
The voltage that is common to both sides of a differential circuit pair. If the line is perfectly balanced, the common mode voltage is cancelled.
Data Dependent Jitter.
Transmission of clock pattern to non-clock pattern, including inter-symbol interference.
Data FIS.
A frame information structure that carries a payload of data, not an ATA command. See also FIS and Command FIS.
Deterministic Jitter.
Systematic jitter that is not characterized by
Gaussian distribution probability.
Deterministic jitter includes duty cycle distortion jitter, sinusoidal jitter, data dependent jitter and uncorreleated jitter.
A computer peripheral, such as a hard disk drive. For this book, device almost always means a hard disk drive with a Serial ATA interface.
Acronym for electromagnetic interference.
Acronym for frame information structure. See also Data FIS and Command FIS.
Gbps or Gb/s.
Abbreviation of gigabits per second.
Gen 1 Speed.
1.5 gigabits per second, defined in the Serial ATA 1.0 specification.
Gen 2 Speed.
3.0 gigabits per second is targeted, but not guaranteed. This book pre-dates the Serial ATA specification that defines the Gen 2 signal timings.
Acronym for host bus adapter sometimes...
Copyright Intel Corporation 2003 under license agreement with Books24x7
Products & Services
RAID Products
RAID Disk Arrays
Network Clock Sources
Network clock sources are timing devices that use a signal from an atomic clock or other external reference source to set and maintain a central time for all of the elements in a network.
Fiber Optic Transponders
Fiber optic transponders are devices that receive, amplify, and retransmit optical signals on different wavelength channels.
Hard Drives
Topics of Interest
Although the initial Serial ATA transfer rate of 150 megabytes per second is higher than the available transfer rates for parallel ATA, the overhead incurred by serializing and packetizing the traffic...
Overview The Transport layer protocol defines the sequences of FISes that can be transmitted across the interface. Because the Link layer handles everything involved in reliably delivering a FIS, the...
Oscilloscopes have been used extensively to analyze the jitter performance of serial data links providing estimates (measurements) of total jitter as well as its "random" and "deterministic" parts.
Overview The Link layer is the portion of the interface that is responsible for encoding transmitted data, for decoding received data, and for basic communications and protocol. Because the Link...
Overview For Serial ATA to be an attractive replacement for parallel ATA in the mobile market segment, it is essential that it have power consumption and management attributes suitable for the mobile...


text:
-accepted on behalf of the National Park Service, a
Presidential Design Excellence Award for the Boxley Valley Land Use Plan and Cultural
Landscape Report. The first such report for any area in the national park system, it described an
innovative resource management concept for preserving the special, living cultural landscape of
the Boxley Valley while protecting critical natural resources at Buffalo National River.
Copyright -- OzarksWatch
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How to Prepare for the API Requirements of the Cures Act
FHIR APIs expand realm of clinical queries
Jackie MulrooneyAs of April 5, 2021, the U.S. ONC Cures Act Final Rule Compliance Timeframe is in effect. Healthcare providers, Health IT developers, Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), and Health Information Networks (HINs) will have until October 6, 2022, to provide patients with access to all their Electronic Health Information (EHI). There are several requirements that providers, developers, and exchanges must adhere to. Among them are Conditions and Maintenance of Certification requirements for Information Blocking, Communications, and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
To help you navigate this compliance timeframe, we've asked our J P System's HL7 FHIR® expert, Jay Lyle, what does one need to know about APIs and data standards. Jay has been co-chair of the HL7 Patient Care Work Group for 8 years and is an expert in HL7 data standards development and APIs.
Question: What are HL7 data standards and why are they so important?
Answer - Jay Lyle: Data standards allow healthcare providers to share important clinical information with each other. If we all used the exact same data formats for patient records, we wouldn't need a message standard to transmit clinical data, but we live in a world that uses many different Electronic Health records systems, therefore we need standards to communicate with people outside our health systems.
If you need a lab test, prescription, or an x-ray, your general practitioner needs to communicate with other providers whose systems probably don't look the same. Data standards allow a patient's local provider or general practitioner to expand the kind of services they can offer by coordinating with other service providers. This is in addition to more obvious things like allowing a patient to see another provider in another state or hospital.
Q: What are APIs, and how are they connected to data standards?
Jay Lyle: When you (the client) use an application on your device, the application connects to the Internet and sends a query to a server. The server then retrieves that data, interprets it, performs the necessary actions and sends a response back to your device. The application then interprets that data and presents you with the information you wanted in a readable way.
Jay LyleAPIs are a type of computer specification that documents how to access data components via a public interface, thus giving anyone who uses them a viewing window into a particular set of data files on a server. If you and I both write software (an app), and my program needs a few pieces of data from yours, we could together design a list of data fields (and their expected contents) for a query of the data. However, if a lot of people need something from your app, you might not be able to sit down with all of them and design a unique list of possible field contents for what they want. You would instead document a general set of procedures for getting needed data and publish it where your business partners can see it.
That interface documentation, and the procedures it describes, are the Application Program Interface (API). Therefore, the documentation an APIs' interface description provides is a way for anyone to get information out of your app and publish it so that people can get whatever they need, whenever they need it.
If you write and publish an API, you've basically written a standard interface to your software; everyone can talk to your software program (app) in the same way. If you align your API with an existing standard, like HL7 FHIR, then you suddenly have a great deal more potential computing power at your disposal. Now other people can leverage your applications' capabilities in their application. So, if you adopt FHIR as a communal standard for an API, that allows your app to communicate with any other app that has a similar alignment with FHIR.
Q: The Cures Act requires providers to comply with ONC criteria starting April 5, which includes abiding by API requirements. How can providers and developers prepare?
Jay Lyle: Providers shouldn't have to make any technical or design decisions about FHIR or APIs. Their vendors and software developers and partners should be the ones doing that. However, providers do need to be educated about what the API requirements are so that they can adopt the right contract language. When they purchase software or hire a vendor, they need to be able to verify that the vendor is in compliance with this new legislation. Any contract engagement should stipulate that the vendor or contractor support the requirements as specified by the Cures Act.
Lindsay Westervelt
Note: Some API requirements include:
 - Health IT developers are required to publish APIs that allow providers and patients to exchange or access health information within Electronic Health Records systems (EHRs) through those APIs while abiding by HIPAA and other privacy laws.
 - CMS-regulated payers must implement and maintain a secure API that allows patients to easily access their claims and encounter information, including costs, as well as a defined subset of their information through third-party applications of their choice. They must make provider directory information available through a standards-based API.
To review these and other Cures Act Requirements, visit ONC's site or read the regulations in the Federal registrar.
Q: How can providers and developers prepare for other Cures Act requirements?
Jay Lyle: Providers, health networks, and developers should keep in mind that:
 - Information blocking is prohibited. Hospitals and patients must have access to their clinical data.
 - A data standard will be required to make data accessible.
 - Some applications are not in compliance with HIPAA. They should learn which ones aren't and understand the risks of using them.
The Cures Act directs ONC to establish guidance. The main way to establish guidance is through a trust exchange, which subscribes to rules (and thus standards) that organizations and networks agree upon.
Providers need to understand how they can influence both the ONC Cures Act requirements to meet their needs and the Trust Exchange stakeholders to recognize requirements and establish standards and guidance to meet their needs. Informed input from the clinical community is imperative to maturing the Cures Act correctly so that it's useful, safe, and effective.
This post was originally published in the JPSys blog. It is reprinted by Open Health News with permission. The original post can be found here.


text:
Jake Slobe | February 1, 2017
Mountain regions of the world are under direct threat from human-induced climate change which could radically alter their fragile habitats, warn an international team of researchers.
The international study, which spanned seven major mountain regions of the world, revealed that decreasing elevation – descending a mountainside to warmer levels –consistently increased the availability of nitrogen from the soil for plant growth, meaning that future climate warming could disrupt the way that fragile mountain ecosystems function.
The researchers also found that the balance of nitrogen to phosphorus availability in plant leaves was very similar across the seven regions at high elevations, but diverged greatly across regions at lower elevations. This means that as temperatures become warmer with climate change, the crucial balance between these nutrients that sustain plant growth could be radically altered in higher mountain areas.
They also found that increasing temperature and its consequences for plant nutrition were linked to other changes in the soil, including amounts of organic matter and the make-up of the soil microbial community.
These changes were partly independent of any effect of the alpine tree line, meaning that effects of warming on ecosystem properties will occur irrespective of whatever shifts occur in the migration of trees up-slope due to higher temperatures.
Rather than use short-term experiments, the research team used gradients of elevation in each mountain region spanning both above and below the alpine tree line.