text:
ABSORPTION AND METABOLISM OF ESSENTIAL MINERAL NUTRIENTS IN CHILDREN
Location: Children Nutrition Research Center (Houston, Tx)
Project Number: 6250-51000-051-00
Start Date: Apr 01, 2009
End Date: Mar 31, 2014
The overall goal of our research is to develop nutritionally enhanced plant foods that provide increased nutrient bioavailability and absorption in children. Ultimately, this plant food research in combination with mineral nutrition research in children will allow researchers to provide guidance regarding food intake and fortification, specifically related to iron, zinc, Vitamin C and calcium. Specific objectives of this research include: 1) use genetic, molecular, and physiological approaches to define the role of specific genes and gene products in the acquisition and whole-organism partitioning of minerals (iron, zinc, Vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium) and other factors that inhibit or promote absorption of these minerals in plant foods; 2) Conduct animal and human feeding studies to determine mineral bioavailability of the nutritionally enhanced crops; 3) develop new, cost-effective methods for the intrinsic labeling of plant foods for use in nutrient bioavailability studies; 4) determine the absorption of dietary calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc in children and the influence of other nutrients and dietary factors on the absorption; 5) (deleted due to resignation of investigator); 6) determine the effect of dietary components on the upregulation of intestinal iron transporter genes in human models; 7) characterize dynamic indices of bone formation by quantitative histomorphometry and micro computed tomography in 7 mouse models; 8) quantitate specific gene expression in calvarial osteoblasts derived from mouse models; and 9) determine the effects of hormone ablation, iron loading, ASC feeding and plant derived antioxidants on bone parameters in vivo. These efforts will expand our capabilities for assessing the absorption and metabolism of various plant-derived minerals and phytochemicals and will provide novel information directly useful to government, industry and the consumer related to dietary requirements. The generation of new bioavailability data for various plant-derived nutrients will be established and such data will have global application and provide a strong basis for evidence-based nutritional recommendations to be developed.
These research studies will utilize diverse plant species, human cell culture systems, or human subjects. CNRC scientists will focus on characterizing plant genes and gene products that are involved with mineral transport in the plant, with a focus on iron, zinc, calcium, and magnesium. We will use specifically manipulated transgenic lines, various plant mutants, or unique plant genotypes to assess the impact of altered genes on mineral transport and storage throughout various plant tissues. In order to facilitate studies of bioavailability of plant-based nutrients, we will develop new, cost-effective methods for the intrinsic, stable-isotopic labeling of plant foods, by testing different hydroponic strategies and altered timings of isotope application to the plants. Food-based factors associated with the dietary delivery of the essential minerals calcium, iron, and zinc will be investigated using human in vitro cell culture and human subject-based experiments. We will conduct a controlled trial of vitamin D supplementation to assess the effects of vitamin D status on calcium absorption in small children. We will evaluate different types of whole diets (lacto-ovo vegetarian) on iron status and the effects of differing intakes of zinc on zinc and copper absorption. We will determine if benefits previously seen for prebiotic fibers in enhancing calcium absorption also occur for iron absorption. Low abundance stable isotopes of each element will be used to track absorption in each of these human studies. In vitro cell culture models will seek to identify the genetic basis for iron and zinc absorption in intestinal cells, by monitoring mineral absorption in combination with the differential expression of various metal transporter genes. We will explore the roles of aldose reductase and aldehyde reductase in modulating oxidative stress in cells, as well as their separate role in providing the starting substrates for the ascorbate synthesis pathway. Ultimately we will have a better understanding of the role of vitamin C in our diet.


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text:
By NATALIE SCOTT
To kick off National Right to Read Week, West Boulevard Elementary School hosted a visit from Boardman librarian John Yingling Feb. 1. The theme for Right to Read Week this year is "Reading Around the World," so Yingling presented stories the way that people told them before written language was invented — with puppets, costumes and recitation.
"Before there were books, people would act out scenes of the story from the books," said Yingling. "And that's what I am going to do here today."
Yingling used stories from books from the library to perform for the children. Some of the stories were familiar for the students, while others they didn't recognize. He started with the story "That's Good, That's Bad." To tell the story, Yingling pretended to be one of the characters in the book — the boy who was carried away from his parents at the zoo by a balloon and into a jungle and the trouble he gets into there. The story focuses on the theme that even when you think something could be bad, it might be something good in disguise that will help you reach your goal.
Yingling also entertained the students with the story of Nuffle Bunny, which was familiar to many of them. For this story, Yingling used puppets and stuffed animals to create scenes from the book, playing the role of the father himself. "Nuffle Bunny" is the story of a girl named Trixie who loves to run errands with her father. One day when she is out with her father, she loses her favorite toy — Nuffle Bunny.
Yingling ended with a traditionally German tale, "Rapunzel," with a fun twist. "Falling for Rapunzel" was the story of the prince, who attempted to get Rapunzel to let down her hair so he could rescue her, but she had trouble hearing and threw down a variety of other items instead.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Nitrous oxide administration
Nitrous oxide will move into air-filled cavities in the body that normally contain nitrogen; so as nitrous oxide transfers from the blood into the space, nitrogen transfers out. However, nitrous oxide is 34 times more soluble than nitrogen in blood. Thus, substantial quantities of nitrous oxide leave the blood and enter the bowel, but not much nitrogen can leave the bowel to enter the blood. The result is that during exposure to nitrous oxide, like in other compliant spaces, the volume of gas in the bowel increases. The amount of the increase depends on the alveolar partial pressure of nitrous oxide, the intestinal blood flow, and the duration of nitrous oxide administration.
It has been calculated that the volume of and enclosed air pocket can be doubled be inhalation of by 50% N2O and quadrupled by inhalation of 75% N2O after several hours.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Drexel dragonThe Math ForumDonate to the Math Forum
Ask Dr. Math - Questions and Answers from our Archives
Subtracting Different Types of Units
Date: 05/26/2001 at 16:41:16
From: Bruce Herman
Subject: Subtracting units of different types
I have a question about the following proposed solution for this
Tommy bought 20 pieces of candy for 20 cents. A piece of fudge costs 4
cents, gumdrops are 4 for a penny, and chocolate drops are 2 for a
penny. If he bought all these varieties, how many of each did he buy?
Here is the solution one of my students came up with:
1) 4f + g/4 + c/2 = 20 multiply everything by 4
2) 16f + g + 2c = 80
3) f + g + c = 2 subtract line 3 from line 2
4) 15f + c = 60
5) Since 15f is a multiple of 15, 15f can only be 15, 30, or 45, from
 f = 1, 2, or 3 respectively.
6) If f = 1, then there are 45 chocolate drops; that's too many
7) If f = 2, then there are 30 chocolate drops; that's too many
8) If f = 3, then there are 15 chocolate drops; that's good
9) So we have 3 fudge and 15 chocolate drops, so we have 2 gumdrops,
 which works out to 3 fudge = 12 cents; 15 chocolate drops =
 7.5 cents; and 2 gumdrops =.5 cents; that does work.
The question the class has, which I can't explain, is that when we
subtract line 3 from line 2, it looks as if we are subtracting the
number of items from the cost of the items. How can we subtract when
we are looking at different units?
Date: 05/26/2001 at 23:31:08
From: Doctor Peterson
Subject: Re: Subtracting units of different types
Hi, Bruce (and class!)
Interesting question. I have two ways to look at it.
First, in my mind when I write an equation it is abstract, and doesn't
involve units. I hide the units in the definitions of the variables
(for example, by saying "x is the length in meters," so that x itself
is merely a number); in this case, "f is the number of pieces of
fudge," and f is just a number, which becomes a number of pieces of
fudge only when I apply my solution back to the actual problem. When
you write the equation for cost, you are initially thinking of units,
 4 cents/piece * f pieces + 1/4 cent/piece * g pieces
 + 1/2 cent per piece * c pieces = 20 cents
but then you drop the units (dividing the whole equation by "cents")
to get merely:
 4f + g/4 + c/2 = 20
Now when you do the algebra, you can ignore units; the algebra doesn't
Second, I have to admit there are times when I do like to think of an
equation as having units, so that I can check, for instance, that
every term represents an area, and I am not trying to add areas and
lengths, which would indicate I made an error. If I want to do that
here, I will have to say that equation (2) is in cents, while
equation (3) is in pieces, and in order to subtract the latter I have
to multiply it by the unit fraction "cents/piece" (just as I might
have had to multiply it by 2 before subtracting) so that the units as
well as the numbers match and I can really subtract like terms. I
wouldn't bother with that sort of thinking here, but it might be worth
Maybe there's a third way to think this out. Often equations like
these can be solved concretely, as I have to do in solving this sort
of problem with a student who hasn't had any algebra. That is, rather
than work with variables, I would manipulate the actual objects,
exchanging them, moving them to the other side of a scale, and so on.
We would say in this case, first suppose Tommy bought four times as
much of everything; then he would have spent 80 cents. (This gives
equation 2.) Now suppose I pay him a penny for each item, regardless
of its type (subtracting equation 3 from equation 2)... I'm not sure
how I would finish this, but you might like to try it and see what
concrete explanation you could give for that step. That would explain
where the units go, and I suspect you will find it matches one of my
answers above.
- Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum
Date: 05/27/2001 at 11:16:36
From: (Anonymous)
Subject: Re: Subtracting units of different types
How would that last work?
 16f + g + 2c = 80
 - f + g + c = 20
If each variable in the latter equation, as you suggest, is a penny,
then how can you take away 20? Shouldn't you be taking away 3?
Date: 05/28/2001 at 22:56:53
From: Doctor Peterson
Subject: Re: Subtracting units of different types
Hi, Bruce.
Actually, this part doesn't make any sense to me either; it was late,
I just had this idea that _some_ concrete solution might help explain
what's going on, but I couldn't come up with a good solution along
those lines, so I just left you with a suggestion of the kind of thing
I had in mind, hoping you might be able to finish it, or that I would
dream up such a solution. Let's think it through now.
The closest thing I can think of would be a concrete solution to
something simpler, like:
 I bought 8 items, some for 5 cents and some for 2 cents, and
 they cost a total of 25 cents. What did I buy?
Algebraically, this becomes
 x + y = 8 (items)
 5x + 2y = 25 (cents)
and we subtract twice the first from the second to get
 3x = 9
 x = 3
 y = 8 - x = 5
To solve this without algebra, I would probably use an exchange
method, like this:
 If all 8 items cost 2 cents, the total would be only 16 cents. I
 have to add 9 cents to that. If I replace one 2-cent item with a
 5-cent item, I have the same number of items but add 3 cents to
 the cost. In order to add 9 cents, I have to do this 3 times; so
 I will have 3 5-cent items and 5 2-cent items.
Algebraically, this is equivalent to substitution:
 y = 8 - x
 5x + 2(8 - x) = 25
 16 + 3x = 25
 3x = 9
 x = 3
The step that is equivalent to your addition of "counts and costs" is
the substitution; but doing it this way, there's no unit conflict; I'm
simply multiplying 2 cents/item by 8-x items. I think this suggests
that what we're really doing when we subtract equations is multiplying
the first equation not just by 2, but by 2 cents/item. That agrees
with my second suggestion last time; but I don't think it really makes
anything any clearer.
The fact is, combining two equations is an inherently abstract
operation, and we're not really dealing with units at all, just
numbers. The substitution method is more basic and intuitive, and fits
better with the use of units.
I'll be interested to hear whether any of these ideas help your
students at all!
- Doctor Peterson, The Math Forum
Associated Topics:
High School Basic Algebra
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History of Peridot
Peridot is the birthstone for August. The gemstone is one of only a few gemstones that occur in only one color, an olive green.
St. Albans Abbey
The intensity and tint of the green, depends on the amount of iron contained in the crystal structure.
Because of its green tint, peridot is often mistaken for emerald.
The first known mention of the gemstone in English dates back to 1705. A translation was made that year from the St. Albans Abbey, which kept it's records in Latin.
The record stated that in 1245, Bishop John bequeathed various items including peridot to the Abbey.
The Middle English Dictionary provides several spellings for the gem, including periodt, peritot, pelidod, and pilidod.
Assigning a gemstone to each birth month originated in 18th Century Poland. The current list of gemstones has not changed since 1912.


text:
Reintroduces the concept of "world literature" in a truly global context, transcending past Eurocentrism.
The study of world literature is on the rise. Until recently, the term "world literature" was a misnomer in comparative literature scholarship, which typically focused on Western literature in European languages. In an increasingly globalized era, this is beginning to change. In this collection of essays, Zhang Longxi discusses how we can transcend Eurocentrism or any other ethnocentrism and revisit the concept of world literature from a truly global perspective. Zhang considers literary works and critical insights from Chinese and other non-Western traditions, drawing on scholarship from a wide range of disciplines in the humanities, and integrating a variety of approaches and perspectives from both East and West. The rise of world literature emerges as an exciting new approach to literary studies as Zhang argues for the validity of cross-cultural understanding, particularly from the perspective of East-West comparative studies.
Zhang Longxi is Chair Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation at the City University of Hong Kong. He is the author of several books, including Unexpected Affinities: Reading across Cultures and Allegoresis: Reading Canonical Literature East and West.
"…[a] persuasive, reasoned examination of 'world literature' … Highly recommended. " — CHOICE


A Barfield Sampler: Poetry and Fiction
By Owen Barfield
Go to catalog
"Barfield is known widely for his explorations of human consciousness, the history of language, the origins of poetic effect, and the interactionof the disciplines, especially literature and the hard sciences. This book presents Barfield as a writer of imaginative literature.
"In the stories, one finds both post-war displacement and Bloomsburian ironies. In the two short novels, Barfield gives us two stunning versions of the Apocalypse. In his poetry, he explores the varieties of human experience, often in radical relation to the past...."
Reserve this title


text:
- Nearly half the children in D.C. are overweight or obese.
- In some parts of the District, more than 70% of residents are overweight or obese.
- DC has the highest rate of adolescent obesity in the United States.
Depressing statistics like these were what motivated DC Councilmember Mary Cheh (Ward 3) to take action by introducing the Healthy Schools Act. The great news is that the DC Council recently passed and funded the Act!
The Healthy Schools Act aims to improve the nutrition, health and wellness of kids in DC. Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Raising the nutritional standard and quality of school meals by bringing in more local fruits and vegetables to school cafeterias.
- Tripling the amount of physical and health education taught in DC schools.
- Establish school gardens as integral components of school and public charter schools.
The last provision is key to improving the health and nutritional status of DC school children, because we have consistently seen that kids become more enthusiastic about eating fresh, nutritious food when they are involved in the growing process.
TGC shares the goals of the Healthy Schools Act (especially since we are based in DC), and the DC Council's decision to pass it is a crucial first step to improving the nutrition, health, and wellness of DC school children.


text:
AST1113: INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMOTIVE DRIVETRAINS
Designed to cover the entire drivetrain on a late model vehicle with a standard transmission. Instruction will begin with the flywheel and proceed to the transmission, through the differential assembly, and ending at the wheel and hub. Includes the principles of gear reduction as it applies to the theory, operation, and repair of manual transmission, differential, and transaxles. Several types of four-wheel drive systems will be taught.
CTE General Technology Fee: $30.


text:
Aerotoxic syndrome is a collective name for health-related problems assumed to be caused by breathing harmful air.
The diagnostic possibilities are the following:
- DNA-test for detoxification (blood)
- TCP metabolites (urine)
- Organophosphate solubles (urine)
- Organophosphate metabolites (urine)
The reason that we are trying to confirm if there are organophosphates, is because their toxicity have been proven and they can cause neurological problems. Tricresylphosphate, also called TCP, is an organophosphate and thusly harmful for the human body. TCP is standardly used in fuel for airplanes. The TCP metabolites-test, organophosphate solubles & metabolites-tests are developed to detect these kinds of substances in urine.
The possibility of aerotoxic syndrome prevention.
Unfortunately, Pro Health Medical cannot help with the prevention. What we can do is research and test whether or not toxic substances were released and what effects they have on the body, for example, we also test for heavy metals.
DNA test for detoxification
The DNA test works a bit differently. With this test we do not specifically search for the harmful substances, but examine in what capacity the body is capable of breaking down substances like organophosphates. To give an example: there are people whose bodies can break down alcohol quite well resulting in them hardly having any drinking-related problems at all, however there are also people who get sick the day after. The liver has trouble sufficiently processing the alcohol causing it to accumulate which in turn leads to a reaction from the body. The same goes for organophosphates.
Please fill in the contact form below if you would like to have more information regarding the aerotoxic syndrome.


Tag Archives: politics
Public health threats, politics, and taxpayer dollars Part 2
Part 1 of this post talked about the politics behind funding video game research in the US and the implications of those politics for population health.
Now let's start tying this back to mental disorders and ICD-11 Gaming disorder from a public health perspective.
Mental health problems like depression have high costs to society
Whether you believe they originate from chemical imbalances in the brain, other factors, or a combination; mental health problems cause suffering. Families and friends may also be affected, and society feels the economic costs in terms of lost wages (e.g., from disability due to depression or other problems) or lost years of life (e.g., due to suicide). It's a good return on investment (ROI) to prevent or reduce the individual and collective burden of mental health problems.
Some mental health problems cause a greater burden than others. Depression, for example, leads to more overall suffering /burden worldwide partially because it's so common. It's also costly. In 2010, the combination of direct costs of treating depression (and conditions that go along with it), workplace costs like absenteeism or presenteeism, and suicide-related costs costs were estimated to be more than $210 billion. Suicide leads to greater burden not only because of the tragic loss, but also because economically, a potentially productive member of society can no longer contribute—these are the mortality costs of suicide. Although interventions to prevent and treat depression aren't guaranteed to work, investing money into depression and suicide prevention research is like to have a high ROI.
No data for costs of video game "addiction" to society
These costs are harder to calculate for video game related addiction-like problems. The worldwide prevalence of addiction-like problems related to video game play (i.e., Internet gaming disorder) seems to be much lower than that of depression, and there have been no studies of the economic burden[1]. There have been no reported suicides attributable to video game play. Although there have been no cases of murder in the scientific literature, five cases of carbon monoxide poisoning have been reported (from use of improperly-vented generators during power outages, which the researchers attribute to children wanting to play video games). The popular media has reported deaths due to excessive video game play, but these are likely related to other problems, like the fentanyl overdose of a Twitch streamer. We do know that (potentially unconstitutional) laws have been enacted to prevent game "addiction" in some countries and that treatment facilities are devoted to Internet/game "addiction" exist. So, although we have no data for the economic costs to people and society of video game "addiction", it's clear that they are calculable (I'll wait for my next manic episode to do this, unless someone gets to it sooner).
Recap: Which public health issues are a greater burden to society?
The economic costs of gun violence are at least $229 billion per year in the US. This includes the cost of things like emergency services, long-term medical and mental-health care, court and prison costs, lost wages and quality of life.
Yet there is $0 funding to study gun violence in the US and significant barriers to increasing funding. Instead, billions of dollars are spent on the study of violent video games.
The economic cost of depression is very high. There are many ways to treat it, and some ways to prevent it seem to work. The NIH has spent at least $13 billion on depression research since 2005. [2]
We don't know the economic cost of video game "addiction", yet the NIH recently awarded almost $200,000 to a researcher to study it. (Disclaimer: The training grant that funded my postdoctoral research was from the NIMH, and I used part of my postdoc to study game "addiction", so there could be other ways in which it has been publicly funded in the US.)
So, in order of estimated cost to society/public health:
Cost and funding of publicly-funded health problems/risk factors
Condition Economic cost Funding (since 2005) Funding vs. costc
Gun violence $229 billion /year $ 663,000a 0.00002%
Depression $210 billion (2010) $13 billionb 0.52%
Game "addiction" Unknown $ 189,000b unknown
Video game violence cost neutral or savings $ 2.7 millionb unknown
(a) CDC-funded studies from the figure here (b) NIH-funded studies from NIH RePORTER data (c) Calculated as proportion of economic cost since 2005 for which publicly-funded research has been conducted
Now that the WHO has also decided that Gaming disorder warrants its own diagnosis, I am really hoping we can put things in perspective. It would be reasonable to establish a benchmark now—to estimate economic costs associated with game addiction specifically—to determine the potential ROI for time, research effort and taxpayer money.
[1] (("video games"[All Fields] OR "computer games"[All Fields] OR "digital games"[All Fields] OR videogames[All Fields] OR videogame[All Fields] OR "video game"[All Fields]) AND (("economics"[MeSH Terms] OR "economics"[All Fields] OR "economic"[All Fields]) OR ("economics"[Subheading] OR "economics"[All Fields] OR "cost"[All Fields] OR "costs and cost analysis"[MeSH Terms] OR ("costs"[All Fields] AND "cost"[All Fields] AND "analysis"[All Fields]) OR "costs and cost analysis"[All Fields]))) AND (("behavior, addictive"[MeSH Terms] OR ("behavior"[All Fields] AND "addictive"[All Fields]) OR "addictive behavior"[All Fields] OR "addiction"[All Fields]) OR ("disease"[MeSH Terms] OR "disease"[All Fields] OR "disorder"[All Fields]) OR ("pathology"[MeSH Terms] OR "pathology"[All Fields] OR "pathological"[All Fields]) OR problematic[All Fields] OR excessive[All Fields])
[2] NIH RePORTER search: Text Search: depression (and), Search in: Projects Limit to: Project Terms, Admin IC: All, Fiscal Year: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005


text:
P=NP implies a deterministic algorithm to find primes
Consider the decision problem of determining whether there is a prime in the range [math][m,n][/math], where [math]m \lt n[/math]. This problem is in NP, since if there is a prime in the range, we can efficiently verify that it is prime. Therefore, if P=NP, then this decision problem is in P, i.e., there is a polynomial-time algorithm to determine whether there is a prime in the range [math][m,n][/math].
We can use this algorithm as a subroutine to quickly find a prime in the range [n,2n] for large n. We use the well-known fact that such a prime always exists. We then use the polynomial-time algorithm described above to do a binary search to locate such a prime. This terminates after at most [math]\log_2 n[/math] applications of the subroutine, and thus is a polynomial-time algorithm to generate a prime.


Isle of Albion
Update (22.04.2014): Many of the pictures in this gallery dated back to 2004. I've updated it so most of the images are now from a more recent visit in 2014. There's still a couple of the original images lurking around, and also a few taken in 2006.
A Cistercian gem on the banks of the River Wye.
First Photographed: Saturday 15th March 2003
Last Photographed: Friday 18th April 2014
Other Names: Abaty Tyndyrn
Site rating:
Tintern Abbey was founded in 1131AD when Walter fitz Richard de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, made a grant of land to a group of Cistercian monks from the abbey of Cîteaux. It was the first Cistercian house to be founded in Wales, and only the second in Britain.
Tintern grew quickly. By 1139, it already had sufficient numbers to create a daughterhouse in Gloucestershire. In 1148, Henry became abbot of Tintern. By all accounts, he was an interesting character - a robber who had reformed and joined the Cistercian order. In his new life, he was transformed into a deeply religious man, who was highly regarded amongst the brethren. The abbey prospered under his rule, and work on the first stone church was completed some time in the mid-12th Century.
By the 13th Century, land endowments and the generous patronage of Roger Bigod III, Lord of Chepstow, continued to add to the abbeys wealth. During this period, the abbey was completely remodelled. The early part of the century saw many of the monastic buildings being replaced. Then from 1269, construction began on a new great church. This was completed by 1301 when the building was consecrated. It is the remains of these 13th Century buildings that are visible today.
Like most monastic houses, Tintern was badly affected when the Black Death swept the country in the middle of the 14th Century. It became difficult to attract lay brothers, and much of the abbey's land was rented out to tenant farmers rather than being directly farmed by the monks. However, the abbey continued to grow, and by the turn of the century, it was the largest and wealthiest monastic house in Wales, home to perhaps 20 monks and 50 lay brethren.
Tintern had escaped the worst ravages of Edward II's war in Wales due to its remote and seclude location close to the border. However, it wasn't so lucky when Owain Glyndwr rose up against the English, and the early part of the 15th Century saw it suffering financially after the rebels attacked and pillaged a number of the abbey's granges.
Tintern recovered from this setback and continued to prosper. Minor improvements continued to the fabric of the abbey, but nothing of note marked the remainder of the abbey's years until it fell under the first Act of Dissolution. The last abbot of Tintern, Abbot Wyche, surrendered to the king's visitors in the summer of 1536. At that time, there were 12 monks and 35 servants in residence. The monks were pensioned off, and the land around the abbey granted to the Earl of Worcester.
Tintern Abbey dropped out of the history books for 200 years, but was rediscovered when a rise in antiquarian romanticism popularised it as a destination for adventurous upper-class tourists. Turner and Wordsworth both visited Tintern, and it inspired both in their respective arts.
Tintern Abbey
"...If this
In darkness and amid the many shapes
Of joyless daylight; when the fretful stir
Unprofitable, and the fever of the world,
Have hung upon the beatings of my heart --
How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,
O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,
How often has my spirit turned to thee!..."
Today, the great church is the most notable of the ruins, with its shell surviving in almost complete form. Attached to this is the western abbey gatehouse, which is also in remarkably good condition. Other buildings survive to varying heights and condition. Also of note is the old water gate. This would have given access to the abbey wharves, and can be seen adjacent to the Anchor Hotel opposite the abbey.
Tintern is guaranteed to leave a powerful impression upon all who visit, with its ruins occupying a spectacular spot on the thickly-wooded banks of the river Wye. The first glimpse of the church as it comes into view is one that isn't soon forgotten. The abbey gives the impression of having been laid down next to the river by a gentle hand, augmenting its surroundings with a sympathetic grace. This unique panorama undoubtedly secures Tintern's reputation as one of Britain's finest monastic sites.


Take the 2-minute tour ×
I was talking to someone about puns and she said that it's a play on words, e.g. "those two pears are a pear of green balls" (sorry about the awful example, I couldn't think of any others on the spot).
I argued that this is a pun:
John Lydon looked out of his bedroom window and said, "Ah, how I love country life". (John Lydon stars in a butter advert which has the phrase "country life" in it).
Which is a pun?
share|improve this question
See this good answer for a breakdown of types of puns. – Callithumpian May 20 '12 at 14:14
2 Answers 2
up vote 2 down vote accepted
"How I love the country life" is a pun, because in that context 'country life' has two meanings — life in the country and the margarine brand.
"Those two pears are a pear of green balls" doesn't look like a pun to me, as nothing in there has two meanings.
share|improve this answer
Both qualify as puns. I think you meant to say, "those two pears are a pair of green balls."
 - The first case is an example of paronomasia--wordplay that is based on homophonic or near-homophonic resemblance. The words pear and pair are exact homophones, as are whole and hole, words that sound alike, but are spelled differently and mean different things. A good example of paronomasia based on near homophones is Apple's new slogan for the ipad--Resolutionary (revolutionary).
 - The second case qualifies as a double entendre. The meaning of "country life" turns on two different senses, but not two different spellings.
Based on these remarks, you should now be able to classify this pun. A pun is its own reword.
share|improve this answer
All puns are paronomasia - OED:"Wordplay based on words which sound alike; an instance of this, a pun." Two words that sound the same in one sentence doesn't make a pun as there is no double meaning. Looking at the two pears and saying "that is a nice pair/pear" would be a pun. The second is not double entendre. A double entendre is a phrase with two meanings, one of which is usually risque, but the second meaning lies outside the phrase itself. "Children make nutritious snacks" has two possible meanings, but doesn't contain a word/phrase that has a double meaning, as'country life' does. – Roaring Fish May 20 '12 at 15:41
I down voted this question on the basis of what _USER_ had to say – Olly Price May 20 '12 at 15:57
The classic "pear/pair" double-entendre: Buxom young woman holding two watermelons: Can I interest you in these, sir? Man: Why, what a lovely pair! Woman: They're not pears, they're melons. Man: Whatever you call them, they are beautiful. – Andrew Leach May 20 '12 at 17:26
That made me laugh, brilliant. – Olly Price May 20 '12 at 20:29
_USER_: I think the downvote is harsh. I'd regard it as a pun (wordplay), even if it happens to be a rather low-quality pun. Collins defines pun as the use of words or phrases to exploit ambiguities and innuendoes in their meaning, usually for humorous effect; a play on words. Note the word "usually" in that definition. The fact that you misspelled the word "pair" indicates some basic level of punning. Had you said, "Those two apples are a pair of green balls," I'd see no pun at all, but I suspect you chose "pears" for a reason. – J.R. Nov 11 '12 at 12:28
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By Hana Namrouqa
AMMAN – Conservationists on Sunday called on the public to report to the authorities any individuals emptying materials into the Gulf of Aqaba, following the discovery of dead fish in the Red Sea.
On September 5, Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) teams recorded several dead fish floating in the Gulf of Aqaba, JREDS Executive Director Fadi Sharaiha said yesterday, noting that samples were sent to labs to identify the cause of death.
"Lab tests indicated that the fish were poisoned by a chemical substance," Sharaiha told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.
He noted that the society informed the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) for further investigation as a precautionary measure, noting that the incident was the second registered case since the beginning of the year.
Sharaiha speculated that the poisoning was either due to a person illegally dumping chemical substances into the sea or a fisherman's botched attempt to sedate the fish.
"We urge people to contact authorities about any individual dumping substances into the seaة preserving marine life is a joint responsibility," Sharaiha highlighted.
Meanwhile, ASEZA Environment Commissioner Salim Moghrabi confirmed the incident, but stressed that the number of dead fish was "very limited" and refuted speculation that fishermen sedated the fish.
"Fishermen in the Gulf of Aqaba are law-abiding and they use legal and traditional ways to catch fish. ASEZA carries out strict and systematic monitoring of the beaches as well as meat and fish sold at markets," Moghrabi told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.
He noted that authorities have not received any health-related complaints regarding fish unfit for human consumption.
The environment commissioner said he suspected that the death of the "limited number of fish" was caused by people who illegally use chemical substances to sedate tropical fish living in the coral reefs to catch and sell them as pets on the black market.
Reputed for having one of the world's most unique coral reef systems, Aqaba's Red Sea waters are a prime attraction for both tourists and divers.
Some of the underwater treasures include around 127 species of hard coral and 300 kinds of soft coral, and thousands of plants and animals that have coexisted in the gulf for hundreds of years.


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The Kinna's are another fine example of a pioneer family contributing to the development of the Eckville area in the early 20th century. John Kinna was born in 1854 in Waimela, Estonia. In 1903 John, along with his wife Marie and their five children, immigrated to Canada and settled on a homestead north of Eckville, adjacent to the Medicine River. John and his sons soon built a five-room, two-storey house from surrounding trees. John and Marie lived here until 1942 when they retired from homesteading to take up a quiet life in the town of Eckville.
John's background as a labourer in Estonia facilitated the cultivation of land in Alberta's rugged wilderness. John was well trained in leather work and often repaired shoes, mittens, and harnesses. The topography around Eckville also provided ideal fishing locations. John's first significant purchase was in livestock when he bought four cows and numerous chickens. When Killick's General Store opened its doors, the Kinna family delivered butter and eggs in exchange for other groceries. To earn additional revenue, the Kinnas contracted a modest mail route and made three trips a week to neighboring towns and villages. A horse-drawn sleigh equipped with a tent, food and bedding was used to deliver the mail. The family's earnings typically went toward the purchase of farm tools and livestock.
The Kinna's often butchered pigs at home and produced a variety of pork products. Sausages, lard, smoked hams and blood sausages were mixed with barley to create traditional Estonian cuisine. Since canning had not yet been widely developed, root vegetables stored in the cellar were frequently used. Rye and oats were the first crops grown. Marie would use the oats to create "kiisla", another popular Estonian meal.
In 1909 John's son Fritz began establishing plans for building and operating a water-powered mill adjacent to the Medicine River. A dam and a 50-yard canal were also to be built. The project was successfully completed in 1912, and farmers soon arrived from miles around to pay the Kinnas to grind grain.
John and Marie died in 1950. They had six children, all born in Estonia.
Fritz was born 30 September 1881 in Waimela, Estonia. He was an active member of the Eckville community participating in school board functions and serving as a director for the Eckville Co-operative Association.
Olga was born 29 March 1883. She married Charlie Raabis and they farmed north of Eckville until Charlie's death in 1942. She later moved to Eckville, spending much of her leisure time oil painting.
Minnie was born 9 October 1886. She was a school teacher until she married Varley Buchanan. As a result of the union, they collectively became proprietors of the Benalto Hotel.
Arthur was born 31 May 1889 and quickly developed an aptitude for playing the violin; this later gave him the opportunity to travel to San Francisco. He homesteaded north of Eckville for a short period. Later, he operated the Benalto general store and post office.
Ernest was born 3 March 1901. He married Ena Woima and lived on their farm in the Kuusamo district of Estonia.


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|Define Vision#Gather stakeholder requests [message #581543]
||Sat, 11 August 2007 13:47
| Roman Smirak
Registered: July 2009
The task: Define vision contains steps as follows (simplified here):
* Identify stakeholders
* Understand the problem
* Gather stakeholder request
* Define features
My understanding (simplified again): To understand the problem (and
stakeholder's needs to solve it) I need to understand the context (current
work procedure and its pain or limits, for instance) and then I can suggest
appropriate solution in form of a working software system (particular form
of the solution to be implemented) specified by features.
Q: What does it mean in this context: 'Gather stakeholder request'? What is
the relationship among Need, Request, Requirement?
My interpretation: a stakeholder is already able to express sort of
requirement about the system (its particular behaviour or capability) - e.g.
we are developing next version of an existing system, or the stakeholder is
somehow experienced or software-enabled:-), etc. So the term belongs to the
particular (sw) solution space as well as a requirement which is probably
more formal or properly handled then (+ attributed, etc.) whereas a need
belongs to the problem space and it is software independent. Is this correct
meaning of the step?
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A growing focus on sustainability issues has permeated the area of Supply Chain Management (SCM) over the past two decades. The concept of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) has been introduced to reflect a commitment to addressing economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability in managing supply chain activities. The transition from traditional SCM to the new landscape of SSCM implies that the roles of IS/IT supporting SCM may need to be revisited as a result of the shift to a SSCM focus. Currently, the role of IS/IT in SSCM has only been discussed in a fragmented manner in a handful of studies. In this conceptual paper, we therefore explore current understandings of SSCM practices focusing on identifying the way IS/IT roles are played out in supporting SSCM practices. We find that SCCM presents a serious challenge to the IS/IT community for leveraging the transformation role of IS/IT that can help increase the adoption of SSCM practices
Kurnia, Sherah; MD. Mahbubur, Rahim; and Gloet, Marianne, "Understanding The Roles Of Is/It In Sustainable Supply Chain Management" (2012). PACIS 2012 Proceedings. 50.


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The very first mp3 player to appear was Winplay3 in 1995. However the history of the mp3 player is best understood by analyzing the history of the technology itself.
Origin of Mp3 Technology
Mp3 stands for MPEG 1 Audio Layer 3. It was developed in 1991 by the Motion Pictures Experts Group to be part of the MPEG format. There were actually several groups involved in its creation.
However it is the German company Fraunhofer-Gesellshaft that releases the license for the music technology. Those credited with creating the mp3 technology are Bernd Kurten, Karl-Heinz Brandenburg, Bernhard Grill, Thomas Sporer, and Ernst Eberlein.
The technology was born out of the need to make high quality music but with high compression. The history of the mp3 player and mp3s evolved out of necessity.
Before mp3 came along, music files were stored in mostly WAV formats. This sound quality was high but the files were huge. A WAV consisting of a few seconds of sound would be several megabytes in size.
The project actually developed in Germany in 1987 with the initial aim to find new ways to compress musical data. It was in 1989 when the Fraunhofer group got the patent for the technology. Three years later, mp3 was assimilated into the MPEG technology. A year the standard was implemented.
A Brief History of the Mp3 Player
The Fraunhofer Company also tried making mp3 players but they were not successful. It was in 1997 when the AMP MP3 Playback Engine player came out. This was invented by Tomislav Uzelac who was working at the Advanced Multimedia Products Company. The player was not sold commercially.
However a few months later, students Dmitry Boldyrev and Justin Frankel transported the AMP technology into Windows. The result was a small, free mp3 player called Winamp. Its ease of use made it very popular. Soon Windows Media Player began supporting mp3 as well.
As mp3 became very popular, companies started making portable players. These devices would change the history of the mp3 player. One of the first was MPMan, released in 1998 by SaeHan Information Systems in South Korea. This was followed by the Rio PMP300. In 1999 Compaq created the PJB 100, which could store over 1,200 songs.
Around October 2001, Apple introduced its iPod. It had 5 GB of disk space. It was smaller than the other players and had an easy to use interface. The gadget would prove enormously popular among computer users.
It has become something of a standard. Subsequent releases of the iPod (and its rivals) would allow it to play other music files and video as well.
Around 2003 mp3 players and cell phones were combined for the first time. It was also around the time that artists started selling music as mp3 downloads. Eventually this would start a trend that continues to this day.
The history of the mp3 player is an exciting one and it continues to evolve. The technology is advancing, improving the quality of the sound even more.


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Today's interest in northern Ontario's Ring of Fire is similar in some ways. Again there's a frenzy over mineral riches in a remote area of Canada. And, as in the great gold rush of yore, it's largely over one mineral – in this case, chromite. But that's where the similarities more or less end.
For one thing, the word "rush" seems out-of-place in today's regulated mining sector. Anyone who wants to start mining at a particular site has regulatory hurdles to overcome and communities to consult. Getting from the idea of a mine to an actual mine is a challenging, years-long process.
Still, there are many companies willing to endure that process in order to tap into the apparently great mineral wealth beneath the Ring of Fire's surface of wetlands, rocks and trees. There are, after all, riches below the surface and considerable profits to be made.
The RingThe Ring of Fire is a crescent-shaped area approximately 500 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, in the James Bay lowlands north of the Albany River. The Attawapiskat River runs through some of it. Predominantly muskeg, the Ring is more than 5,100 sq. km of land hitherto untouched by industry. Wildlife in the region includes some species at risk – black terns, bald eagles, wolverines and woodland caribou among them. Muskeg, birds and furry mammals aren't what make the area so intriguing to miners, of course. The big attraction in this case is chromite, a dark iron chromium oxide that's valued for its resistance to high temperatures. Chromite is a key ingredient in the stainless steel that our pots and pans are made of. It's also commonly used for protective coating of automobile parts. There is at present no chromite mine in North America.
The sizable chromite deposits are vestiges of geological events that occurred 2.7 billion years ago. Magma containing chromium rose from the Earth's mantle and dissolved iron-rich rock in the crust. The result was crystallized chromite. The same thing, more or less, happened in many places on our planet, but for some reason it left especially rich deposits of chromite in the Ring of Fire.
Early in the current century, De Beers Canada (which operates the Victor Diamond Mine to the east) found significant copper and zinc deposits there. Subsequent exploration uncovered chromite deposits that rival those at any location in South Africa, the world's leading producer. Other minerals were also found, including nickel, gold and platinum-group metals. Because it was a somewhat ring-shaped "hot" exploration region, and (some say) because a key player was a Johnny Cash fan, it was dubbed the Ring of Fire.
The Ontario government said in May 2012 that Ohio-based Cliffs Natural Resources is expected to spend more than $3 billion on getting chromite out of the Ring and to market. That sum includes $1.85 billion for a processing facility in Sudbury. "This is very, very important, not only for Sudbury but for the entire province," then-Minister of Northern Development and Mines Rick Bartolucci said at a news conference in the nickel city.
Other companies are also keen on getting a piece of the Ring. Toronto-headquartered Noront Resources is focused on developing its Eagle's Nest nickel-copper-PGM project in the area, as well as a high-grade chromite deposit dubbed Blackbird. Bold Ventures, also out of Toronto, has reached an agreement with KWG Resources under which Bold will operate exploration at Koper Lake and KWG will fund the exploration. Dozens of other companies have staked thousands of claims.
But the odyssey from exploration to mining won't be smooth sailing. Environmentalists, politicians and aboriginal groups have all expressed concern over mining companies' Ring ambitions.
ChallengesIndeed, opposition politicians were quick to pounce on the fact that Bartolucci's Sudbury news conference had no First Nations representation. "If First Nations aren't part of (development), it won't be happening," Norm Miller, MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, told the Toronto Star. "You could also ask why was the federal government not part of (the news conference). There are federal and provincial reviews. There are still a lot of challenges going forward … despite it sounding like the ground was being broken today."
Noting that the all-weather road Cliffs wants to build from the town of Nakina to its Black Thor (McFaulds Lake) project would run through sensitive wildlands, a leading conservation group said the plan lacked proper assessment of environmental impacts. "The most important decision is the location of infrastructure. Where, how much, and what? These are questions we needed Ontario to ask," said Janet Sumner of CPAWS Wildland League.
Communities in the Ring of Fire's vicinity include Webequie and Nibinamik (Summer Beaver) First Nations to the west, Marten Falls First Nation to the south, and Neskantaga First Nation to the southwest. All are members of Matawa First Nations, and they are remote reserves lacking road access. In January 2011 Matawa named Raymond Ferris, former chief of Constance Lake First Nation, as its Ring of Fire Coordinator responsible for seeing that member communities participate in and benefit from Ring development.
First Nations see mining as a provider of jobs and development in reserves with extremely high unemployment and vexing social problems that include high rates of drug addiction and youth suicide. They also recognize the social benefit of a road finally connecting them to the outside world, and for that reason Marten Falls wants the road rerouted to hook up with its 300 residents.
But Matawa First Nations are also concerned about water pollution and other impacts on the area's ecology. "We know we're going to get some benefits once they start development," Marten Falls Chief Eli Moonias told the Canadian Press last year. "We know that in some ways we'll be involved as well. The issue is the environment."
Moonias said a road connection could help Marten Falls improve its drinking-water situation by enabling easier access for experts and suppliers who could help fix the reserve's water-quality problems. Marten Falls' drinking-water supply is in need of major repair.
The Province signalled its keen interest in seeing development move forward by creating a Ring of Fire Secretariat within the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines. The federal government has designated Treasury Board President Tony Clement as its point man for progress in the area.
Cliffs aims to begin production at the Black Thor deposit by late 2016 even though the company's President and CEO, Joseph Carrabba, told analysts last October that cost pressures and other factors could push the start to 2017.
"Right now, the target remains 2016 and it's a schedule that's got some risk of slippage," Cliffs Senior Vice-President Bill Boor told a Sudbury Chamber of Commerce luncheon audience in early November.
Factors that could delay production include environmental assessment processes and trying to reach working agreements with First Nations. Boor said discussions with First Nations are progressing but "we need to move the relationship to the point where they're willing to work with us in this project. We're not asking them to agree with the project. We're asking them to work with us to figure it out. And we do need a bit of breakthrough there."
In an email to this author, Cliffs Public Affairs Representative Jennifer Mihalcin said the company must "finalize a definitive deal" with Ontario before it can begin the construction phase of its ferrochrome project. Although that deal was not yet done as of March 2013, and despite the political uncertainties associated with an impending provincial election, she reiterated the company's expectation that Black Thor operations will "commence at the end of 2016."
In an interview with the Financial Post, Noront's then-CEO Wes Hanson said Noront could conceivably begin commercial production at Eagle's Nest by 2016 or 2017. He said Noront would use the road Cliffs wants built and pay for road use in proportion to how much freight it hauls down the route. He explained that Noront was planning to produce 150,000 tonnes of concentrate annually while Cliffs was planning to produce about 20 times as much.
In short, there's still much work to be done before anyone gets rich on the Ring of Fire.


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A measure of the quality of a resonant (tank) circuit. A "high-Q" circuit has mostly reactive components (inductive and capacitive), with low resistance. It resonates strongly, with little damping (low loss). A high-Q circuit will have low bandwidth relative to its center frequency (that is, it will have a narrow bandwidth vs frequency curve).
Q = 2 π * (Energy stored / Energy dissipated per cycle)
- Q Factor
- Damping factor
- Quality factor
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Comment on This Term (Corrections, Suggestions, etc.)
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When you make a chart, Excel determines the scale of the Y-axis based on the numbers in your data set. If the range of your data (the difference between the highest and lowest numbers) is greater than 20% of the lowest number in your data set, then the Y-axis of your chart will go from zero to a number greater than the highest number in your chart. If the range of your data is less than 20% of the lowest number, then the Y-axis will not start at zero, but at a number slightly lower than the lowest number in your data set, like in the first chart at the top of this post.
In the two charts above, the first one uses the scale Excel assigned to it using the 20% rule. It illustrates the fluctuation in temperature over the course of the week (this is Austin's forecast for the week).
But sometimes you may not want the default scale and will need to change it. In the second chart, I adjusted the Y-axis so it starts at zero. Now it doesn't emphasize the fluctuation in temperatures, but it does show how far the nineties are from zero, and that this week is rather hot*.
You always have the option to change the scale of your chart to meet your needs.
Change the Y-Axis Scale
- Select your chart.
- On the Layout tab of the ribbon, click on the Axes button.
- Select Primary Vertical Axis.
- Select More Vertical Axis Options.
- In the Axis Options section, for Minimum, select Fixed and enter the lowest number you want on your Y-axis.
- For Maximum, select Fixed, and type the number where you want the Y-axis to end.
- Click Close.
Note: if you've already changed your axis and want to go back to Excel's defaults, select Auto, instead of Fixed and click Close.
* I realize that for some readers living in other parts of the world, the nineties are practically chilly. I hope you're reading this with an iced beverage and a fan. Or air conditioning.


Virtual Assessment Centres: How Can They Be Beneficial?
There are diverse types of concepts that are being used by employers to enrich their recruitment drives. Every business owner wishes to have the best candidates for their business. Since that is the scenario, new advancements are swiftly taking place in the realm of recruitment programs.
Have you ever employed the method of virtual assessment? This is a type of concept that encompasses using videos, instant messaging programmes, online questionnaires and also web-conferencing services. This helps to carry out the tasks of interaction with candidates.
It is true that interviews do assist the recruiters to make the most informed and effective hiring decisions. But, conducting them might lead to a considerable drain on both time and resources. It is chiefly when there are multiple candidates and you need to take all these interviews.
Maybe it is the reason, various employers have turned to virtual assessment. This helps to gain more insight and get clear information about the candidates before fetching them in for one-on-one interviews.
What Do You Mean by a Virtual Assessment centre?
A virtual assessment centre is an online version of a conventional assessment centre. This helps one to stay on the wings of technology and to get a lot. Further, there is no compromising with the main pillars of the procedure. You can easily find the best centre for your endeavours.
For your information, Assessment Centres possess manifold instruments like charted to behavioural competencies. It is more or less similar to the traditional assessment centre. The instruments are managed online, followed by automated reports. Hence, this process helps in eradicating the trouble of logistics, dropping manual effort and limiting the overhead pricing. No more conducting extensive in-person assessment and neither hampering the standardisation and accuracy of outcomes.
It would interest you that virtual Assessment has overcome various drawbacks of physical assessment. And, at the same time, it has hugely increased the potential pool of applicants available to the businesses.
The following are the ways in which Virtual type of Assessment Centres have augmented the quality of recruiting:
Obtaining Relevant Information & Answers
The interviews make it easier to get all the main information that is required. Candidates' responses help the recruiter to understand how the applicant thinks and communicates. Further, it also helps to understand whether he/she could fit into the business, early during the hiring procedure.
This has radically enhanced the quality of in-person interviews and eventually the quality of recruitment. You know what otherwise it becomes absolutely tedious, tricky and troublesome to get the data and information related to the candidates. Now, you can easily make your decisions on the basis of accumulated information.
Usage of Proper Materials & Exercises
Accumulation of data through various exercises might cater to a comprehensive picture of a candidate's real competence. Candidates who take part in virtual assessments tend to be more interested. Further, they are better qualified than those who get hired from recruiter-led interviews.
This is partly attributed to the fact that candidates need to be more proactive during general recruitment. They are given exercises that correctly and reflect the characteristic duties that their job entails.
The materials used in Virtual Centres can be directly linked to the job and this makes the candidature assessment easier. Therefore, the candidates could be witnessed and observed doing different exercises. The recruiters get a great idea about where the applicant stands and what is their real worth. In this manner, there would be clarity about the candidate and the calibre.
Application of Formal Education in Life conditions
Assessment centres do measure what a person can do in reality, not what they know. It is not adequate to memorise abstract principles or even philosophies. The most vital aspect is the ability to apply formal education in a real-world situation.
A person could have a high intellect and diverse types of degrees but still be an incompetent supervisor. This generally happens if he or she is powerless to make critical decisions during pressure building situations. Or, lacks the management capability to get subordinates to do what he or she wants regarding the fulfilment of a project.
What is the point in case the candidate has extensive knowledge but cannot simply put it to practice or execute it in a good manner?
Proper Feedback
On the grounds of the design and administration, an assessment centre must cater feedback to candidates about their strengths and weaknesses. This helps them to equip themselves with important insight into their skills and capabilities.
This shall help the candidates work on themselves. Hence, making the employment pool better. This can be beneficial to the ones who do not get jobs. Moreover, even if you as a recruiter get to understand about the calibre of a candidate and you know about the capability; the feedback gathered from the centre can aid them to become a better employee.
Since the person has already got to know about his/her potential and real calibre and where he/she is weak. Thus, they are going to be powerful for you in business. They would improve themselves and become a better member for you.
Absence of Any Partiality or Biasness
Yes, there have been instances when candidates accused the organizations or recruiters of doing partiality. Well, that is not the instance in these virtual centres. These tests and exercises are absolutely impartial, and nobody can play a role.
Whoever performs well and acts good, enjoys the position or fair remarks for the job. Since the exercises in the centre are pre-designed and everybody is going to get assessed in the same way; there would stay no room for any type of cheating or being biased. You can be relaxed that you would not get judged or employed unfairly.
You know what it is pointless to say that this concept of Virtual assessment could be of immense help to goal-oriented organisations. This is so because businessmen have more time to concentrate on their core-values or tasks.
Any organisation engaged in high-volume engagement must take all these factors into consideration. This acts by adding virtual interviewing to its proper recruiting and recruitment process.
So, it is time that you embrace virtual assessment centre India in your organization in order to ensure that your recruitment program is effective, decisive and dynamic.


text:
Ask a question about 'Conor O'Brien'
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Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien
(3 November 1880–18 April 1952) was an intellectual, Irish aristocrat, republican, nationalist, pioneer in modern maritime theory, owner and captain of one of the first boats to sail under the tri-colour of the Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
, during his circumnavigation in the Saoirse
. Reputedly this was the first small boat to sail around Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
. This is slightly unfair to Joshua Slocum
Joshua Slocum was the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. He was a Canadian born, naturalised American seaman and adventurer, and a noted writer. In 1900 he told the story of this in Sailing Alone Around the World...
, the Bostonian, who was the first single-handed yachtsman to successfully pass this way (in 1895) although in the end, extreme weather forced him to use some of the inshore routes between the channels and islands and it is believed he may not have actually passed outside the Horn proper. Given the scale of Slocum's achievement it might be considered unfair to deprive him of the honour! Although it was nearly 30 years later, a strict definition of "the first small boat to sail around outside Cape Horn" could indeed cover the 42-foot (13 m) yacht Saoirse, sailed by Conor O'Brien with three hands, who rounded it during a circumnavigation of the world between 1923 and 1925 It was the first boat flying the Irish tri-colour
The national flag of Ireland is a vertical tricolour of green, white, and orange. It is also known as the Irish tricolour. The flag proportion is 1:2...
to enter many of the world's ports and harbours). He was a ship builder/designer (notable boats include the Saoirse and AK Ilen
), gun runner for the IRB during the war of independence in Ireland, captain of a ship sailing in the merchant navy during WWII.


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De Re Metallica
Originally published in 1556, Agricola's De Re Metallica was the first book on mining to be based on field research and observation-what today would be called the "scientific approach." It was therefore the first book to offer detailed technical drawings to illustrate the various specialized techniques of the many branches of mining, and the first to provide a realistic history of mining from antiquity to the mid-sixteenth century.
Author: Georgius Agricola
Published by Dover Publications, Inc.
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For almost 200 years Agricola remained the only authoritative work in this area, and by modern times it had become one of the most highly respected scientific classics of all time. A book more often referred to in literature on mining and metallurgy than any other, its Latin text prevented it from being as widely used as it might have been.
In 1912, the book was translated by former president Herbert Clark Hoover and his wife. Printed in a limited edition, the work was quickly bought up by book collectors, historians, and medievalists, who had found that there was much to be learned from its pages. The book contains an unprecedented wealth of material on alluvial mining, alchemy, silver refining, smelting, surveying, timbering, nitric acid making, and hundreds of other phases of the medieval art of metallurgy. The text even covers the legal aspects of mining-the use of boundary stones, forfeitures of titles, safety requirements of tunnel-building in the 1500s, and so on.
But the plates, pehaps more than anything else, have insured Agricla's continued importance. Brilliantly executed drawings, richly detailed, reveal a whole medieval work of machinery, industrial techniques, tools, even costume and architecture. All 289 of the original woodcuts are reproduced in this reprint of the 1912 edition, offering students of the period, commerical artists, engineers, metallurgists, and even curious general readers an unforgettable picture of the first age of technology.


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2. Identifying the Topic You Will Teach and Its Relationship to the Larger Curriculum:
There are many factors that a teacher must take into account when selecting a topic to teach. Some factors that you will want to consider in selecting your topic are:
For the purposes of the Teaching Cycle Project, you need to select a topic that can be taught in the allotted time that you are given. A good guideline is to choose a topic that you can teach in 3-5 lessons (though you can choose a longer lesson if you would like). If you are teaching multiple classes, select one class with whom you will complete this project. Sit down with your cooperating teacher, reflect on all the issues that you face (consider those listed above), and select a topic to teach.
Some successful topics used in previous Teaching Cycle Projects have been:
The items to include in this section of the report are:


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Synthesis and Characterization of Hydroxyapatite/Fullerenol Nanocomposites
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Article (Published version)
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Fullerenols are polyhydroxylated, water soluble derivatives of fullerene C60, with potential application in medicine as diagnostic agents, antioxidants or nano drug carriers. This paper describes synthesis and physical characterization of a new nanocomposite hydroxyapatite/fullerenol. Surface of the nanocomposite hydroxyapatite/fullerenol is inhomogeneous with the diameter of the particles in the range from 100 nm to 350 nm. The zeta potential of this nanocomposite is ten times lower when compared to hydroxyapatite. Surface phosphate groups of hydroxyapatite are prone to forming hydrogen bonds, when in close contact with hydroxyl groups, which could lead to formation of hydrogen bonds between hydroxyapatite and hydroxyl groups of fullerenol. The surface of hydroxyapatite particles (−2.5 mV) was modified by fullerenol particles, as confirmed by the obtained zeta potential value of the nanocomposite biomaterial hydroxyapatite/fullerenol (−25.0 mV).


Nebraska allocation of lottery funds for education programs advanced
Lawmakers gave first-round approval March 24 to a bill that would allocate approximately $100 million in lottery funds to education-related programs over the next five years.
The state Department of Revenue estimates that $21.2 million in lottery funds will be directed to education programs in FY2021-22, $21.7 million in FY2022-23 and $22.1 million in FY2023-24.
Under one new program, the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council would ensure that annual, evidence-based behavioral awareness and intervention training is available statewide and develop, implement and administer a statewide teacher support system beginning in school year 2021-22.
Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, school districts would ensure that teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, school nurses and counselors receive the training.
LB529 also would direct funds to a new mental health training grant program administered by the state Department of Education.
The Nebraska Opportunity Grant Fund, which provides financial aid to low-income Nebraska residents enrolled at postsecondary educational institutions, would receive the largest allocation at 58 percent, down from the 62 percent allocation it received for fiscal years 2016-17 through 2020-21.
An Education Committee amendment, adopted 29-6, would add an element to the proposed behavioral awareness and intervention training. It would require at least 30 minutes of training dedicated to understanding the duties, rights and responsibilities outlined in the Student Discipline Act and case law addressing student behavior.
The amendment also would create a grant program for students who graduate from an accredited education program at a state youth rehabilitation and treatment center or from a public or private high school within one year of being discharged from a YRTC.
Those students could receive up to $5,000 per year to attend a Nebraska postsecondary educational institution if they meet certain requirements.
"This is a great opportunity to help these kids turn their life around, go to college at least part time and enter the workforce," Walz said.
Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln supported the committee amendment and the bill. If LB529 does not pass, she said, the Nebraska Opportunity Grant program will end in June, leaving Nebraska without a need-based financial aid program for students who attend state postsecondary institutions.
"It's critical, in my mind, to make college education more accessible and more affordable to Nebraska students in need," Pansing Brooks said.
Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh also supported the bill. He said the proposed mental health training grant program could help reduce prison overcrowding by helping teachers identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness in students.
"Early intervention leads to better results, better long-term outcomes for people," Cavanaugh said. "[A] number of people who find themselves in the criminal justice system didn't get any access to mental health care until they got into the criminal justice system."
Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil introduced an amendment containing many provisions of his LB673. The amendment would authorize teachers and other school personnel to use reasonable physical intervention to manage student behavior to protect themselves, the student or another person from physical injury.
Under Murman's proposal, teachers or other school personnel would not be subject to professional or administrative discipline for physical intervention or removal of a student from a class if they acted in a reasonable manner and in accordance with school policy.
It also would direct each school district to provide behavioral awareness and intervention training to administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, school nurses and counselors beginning in school year 2021-22.
Murman said the amendment would provide funding to each school district and allow them to choose their own training program rather than rely on ESUs.
North Platte Sen. Mike Groene supported the amendment, saying it would protect teachers from being fired or suspended for defending themselves or others from a student who becomes violent.
Walz opposed Murman's amendment, saying ESUs could provide the training more effectively and efficiently. Additionally, Walz said, the teacher support system proposed in the committee amendment would provide teachers ongoing support after they receive training.
Murman later withdrew the amendment but said he would introduce a similar one during the second round of debate.
After adopting a technical amendment, senators voted 28-6 to advance LB529 to select file.


Executive Summary:
Learn about the primary Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) objects—Connection, Command, Parameter, Recordset, and Field—and follow example scripts that demonstrate how to use ADO within VBScript.
Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) provides a data access model that lets you use a similar approach for working with data from various data sources. For example, you can use ADO within VBScript to access a database in Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, or another relational database management system (RDBMS). You can even access data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
ADO, which is based on COM, acts as an interface between the program or scripting language and an OLE DB provider. The ADO objects let you connect to a data source, issue a command against that source, and retrieve data into a recordset, which you can view or modify without calling the data source repeatedly. In this article, I introduce you to the primary ADO objects and provide examples that demonstrate how to use ADO within VBScript. (For definitions of several ADO terms, see the sidebar "ADO Acronyms.")
The ADO Object Model
When you use ADO to access data, you must create the objects necessary to connect to the data source and work with the data. Figure 1 shows the basic objects necessary to get started working with ADO. These objects include:
 - Connection—Defines the connection to the specific data source.
 - Command—Defines the command executed against the data source.
 - Parameter—Defines a parameter that is used with a stored procedure or parameterized query.
 - Recordset—Contains the result set returned by the query.
 - Field—Contains a field (column) included in the Recordset result set.
Although Figure 1 shows the objects hierarchically, it's a loose hierarchy. For example, you can create a Recordset object without creating a Connection object. I discuss all of the objects in more detail in the following sections of the article.
In addition to the objects shown in Figure 1, ADO supports several other objects, such as Record and Stream. The Record object provides access to hierarchical data such as a file system, and the Stream object provides access to data within a document. Although both objects are important components of ADO, they're beyond the scope of this article. For more information about ADO objects, as well as their properties and methods, see MSDN's "ADO API Reference."
The Connection Object
The Connection object defines the connection to the data source. At the heart of this object is the connection string, which contains the information necessary to connect to a specific data source. When adding the Connection object to your script, you should create the object, define the connection string, and open the connection. Let's take a look at an example to demonstrate how this works.
Listing 1 includes the ADO code necessary to connect to the SQL Server 2005 AdventureWorks test database. After I declare my variables, I use the CreateObject method to create the Connection object (ADODB.Connection). I then assign the object to the conSqlServer variable.
Next, I create the connection string and assign it to the csSqlServer variable. In the connection string, I specify the following:
 - The OLE DB provider, which for SQL Server is sqloledb (Provider='sqloledb')
 - The SQL Server instance I want to use as my data source (Data Source='ws04')
 - Integrated security and the Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI), a common API for obtaining integrated security services (Integrated Security='SSPI')
 - The database I want to connect to (Initial Catalog='AdventureWorks')
As you can see, the connection string defines not only the type of data source, but the data source itself. As a result, the information you provide in the connection string varies from source to source. For example, Listing 2 shows how you would connect to an Access database. In this case, the connection string specifies the OLE DB provider as Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0. In addition, the data source is simply the path and name of the.mdb file.
The connection string to an Excel file is similar to that for an Access file. As Listing 3 shows, the connection string once again specifies Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 as the OLE DB provider and the path and name of the.xls file as the data source. However, the Excel connection string also includes the Extended Properties parameter, which is set to Excel (Extended Properties=Excel 8.0).
Now let's take a look at another connection string. Listing 4 shows a connection to a MySQL database. The provider in this case is msdasql, which is the basic OLE DB driver for ODBC connections. To use this provider, I installed the ODBC driver that MySQL provides. I then created a system Data Source Name (DSN) that uses the MySQL ODBC driver. The DSN, which I named MySQL_AW, defines the ODBC connection to the MySQL database. Finally, I specify the DSN in the connection string in my script (DSN=MySQL_AW).
Notice that, for each listing, I first create the Connection object and assign it to a variable. Then I define the connection string. Finally, I open the connection. To open the connection, I use the Connection object's Open method. For example, in Listing 1, to open the connection, I specify the variable that contains the connection, followed by a period and the Open method, as in conSqlServer.Open. Notice that the Open method takes as an argument the variable that contains the connection string (csSqlServer).
That's all there is to setting up a connection. After you open the connection, you're ready to move on to the Command object.
The Command Object
The Command object provides the structure for passing a command to a data source. The first step is to create the Command object itself. If you refer back to Listing 1, you'll see that I once again use the CreateObject method to create the object (ADODB.Command). I then assign the object to the cmdContacts variable.
The next step is to associate the Connection object with the Command object, which you do by setting the Command object's ActiveConnection property (cmdContacts.ActiveConnection = conSqlServer).
After you create the Command object and set the connection, you define the connection text. Because the connection shown in Listing 1 is accessing a SQL Server database, the connection text is a T-SQL statement. The statement retrieves the first 10 rows from the Person.Contact table in the AdventureWorks database. Listing 2 uses a similar SQL statement to access data from the Contacts table in the Access database. Listing 3, however, uses a different convention for the command text because I'm accessing an Excel spreadsheet. Notice that my command text specifies the name of the spreadsheet (Contacts) and the range of cells to retrieve (A1:B11). The command text in Listing 4, which is accessing data from MySQL, shows command text similar to Listing 1 and Listing 2, except that the SQL statement is specific to MySQL conventions.
In each listing, I assign the command text to a variable and then use that variable to set the Command object's CommandText property. For example, in Listing 1, I assign the ctContacts variable to the CommandText property of the cmdContacts object variable (cmdContacts.CommandText = ctContacts). With the ActiveConnection and CommandText properties set, you're ready to create your Recordset object.
The Recordset Object
The Recordset object is the workhorse in ADO. It holds the data returned by the command text, which you can then view and manipulate within VBScript.
As with the Connection and Command objects, your first step is to use the CreateObject method to create the Recordset object (ADODB.Recordset). In Listing 1, for example, I create the Recordset object and assign it to the rsContacts variable. I then use that variable to call the object's Open method (rsContacts.Open). When I call this method, I pass the Command object (saved to cmdContacts) as an argument. This process executes the command text and populates the Recordset object with the result set. You can then use the properties and methods of the Recordset object to access that data.
In Listing 1, for example, I use the Recordset object's Save method to save the result set to an.xml file. The Save method takes two arguments. The first argument specifies the path and name of the target file (C:\Info\SqlServerContacts.xml), and the second argument specifies the format of the data. In this case, I specify the adPersistXML constant (which equals 1). When you specify the adPersistXML constant, the data is saved in an XML format. (Refer to MSDN for details about an object's properties and the methods and arguments they take.)
After I save the data to the.xml file, I use the Recordset object's State property to determine whether the object is still open (by checking the adStateOpen constant). If it is, I use the object's Close method to close the recordset. Notice that I use the same approach to close the Connection object.
The examples that I've used up to this point have all followed the same format. I create a Connection object, then a Command object, and finally a Recordset object. However, ADO often supports different ways to achieve the same results, allowing you to simplify your code when appropriate. For example, you don't have to create a Command object. If you refer to Listing 5, you'll see that, as with the other examples, I first create the Connection


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I'm building an edit screen where a use can edit rows of data. One of the fields is represented by a drop down, and another is an input field named 'value'. Now, depending on the value in the dropdown, I need to have different kinds of input controls for the value input control. Sometimes it should be a text box, others a datetime control (html5 and / or jqUI date picker), and finally a dropdown list containing a fixed set of values ('Yes' / 'No').
So basically sometimes I need to accept any string data, sometimes a date, and sometimes a boolean (but with a select box, not a check box). What's my best option for implementing this? Ideally the value entered would not be lost moving from one kind of input to another, while the user is on this edit page. On post back, I have a single database value to store (its a sql_variant).
Also, I'm using asp.net mvc3 so an ideal solution will work with the normal Html.ValidateFor and Html.ValidationMessageFor methods.


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B.S. in Human Biology Admission Requirements
Human biology applicants must meet all Kettering College admission criteria.
Profile of a Successful Human Biology Major
A student prepared for success in the human biology major has:
- A high school GPA of 3.00 or greater
- One year each of high school biology, chemistry, and physics
- At least two years of high school college-preparatory mathematics
In order to follow the suggested course of study, students must score at least 70 percent on the math placement test or provide transfer credit equivalent to MATH 105.
Requirements for Graduation
A grade of C- or above must be achieved in all required major courses, major elective courses, and required cognate courses, and the student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 (C) in order to graduate with a major in human biology.


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Welcome to the Jasieniuk Lab!
The Jasieniuk lab studies the population genetics, molecular ecology, and evolution of agricultural weeds and invasive plants. Our research focuses on elucidating the genetic, demographic, and evolutionary processes underlying the introduction, establishment, and spread of weeds and invasive plants, and their adaptation to changing environments, including management practices. To date, we have focused on two systems for our studies: cropland weeds evolving resistance to herbicides and invasive plants with horticultural origins. The two systems are not only ideal for basic research on processes underlying weed evolution and spread, but also include some of the worst weed problems in California. Thus, our research also has implications for improving the management of economically and environmentally significant plant pests in the state.


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Modeling effects of soil, climate, and silviculture on growth ring specific gravity of Douglas-fir on a drought-prone site in Western Washington
Because wood specific gravity (SG), also known as relative or basic density, is correlated with many physical and mechanical properties it is a widely used indicator of wood quality. Furthermore, because SG measures dry weight per unit green volume and dry wood contains about 49% carbon and 20 MJ/kg energy, SG is useful for converting tree volume to carbon and energy content equivalents. Although many studies have investigated variables affecting SG, few have developed models to predict SG at the local level from age, silvicultural treatment, and growing environment variables. This study developed a four-parameter logistic model with mixed effects to predict the specific gravity of annual growth rings (RSG) from forty six 76-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Mirb. Franco) trees sampled from a thinning and biosolids fertilization experiment on a drought-prone site in Western Washington. RSG for up to sixty rings per tree was measured with X-ray densitometry on strips taken from disks removed from the top of the first 5 m log. Inter-annual RSG was modeled using treatment variables; local temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture deficit as growing environment variables; and ring number, area, width, and radius to the ring as tree variables. Ring age, ring area, March to May mean temperature, July soil moisture deficit, and whether or not biosolids had been applied were important predictors of RSG on this site. The equation for RSG can be easily converted to carbon or energy content equations by multiplying by the dry wood carbon and energy content factors.


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Despite the advent of photography and CCD imaging, many amateur astronomers today prefer to chronicle their observations by making eyepiece renderings. Sketching at the telescope, however, does more than create a personal observing record. It hones the observer's perception skills.
Say you look at a star cluster for a few minutes. In that time you may note whether it is rich or sparse, contains predominately bright stars or dim or a mixture of both. Afterward, you would come away feeling as if you "saw" this cluster.
But let's say you sketch it. Now you may notice that some of its brighter stars appear reddish; that the chains form a kind of pattern; that what you thought was a sparse cluster actually contains myriad faint members. Instead if five minutes, you may spend half an hour scrutinizing this object, after which you would come away feeling that you "observed" this cluster.
All you need to get started is a red astronomer's flashlight, an inexpensive sketchpad, and a sharp pencil or two. Before making your sketch, circumscribe a circle—not too small—representing the field of view and note where the cardinal directions fall in the eyepiece. Don't forget to write down the date and time of the sketch, the telescope and magnification used, and a brief description of seeing conditions.
The eye may not be able to accumulate light like a photograph, but it often can see finer detail. That faint, fuzzy thing you saw last night might not appear as faint or fuzzy once you try sketching it!


Fishing pole bait ark
How do you bait a fishing pole in Ark?
Once you have the fishing rod, bait, and the chair/bench, you are ready to find a body of water. Drag bait onto your fishing rod to apply the bait. Place and sit down in your chair facing the fish. You can use the fishing rod from your hot bar or inventory.
What is the best fishing bait in Ark?
Can you catch sabertooth salmon with SAP?
The bait will determine which kind of fish you will be able to catch. The most basic of bait is Sap. Sap is used to catch only Coelacanth. … Leech Blood allows you to catch Coelacanth, Sabertooth Salmon, and Piranha.
What does unicorn poop do in Ark?
Where do you find leech blood or sap in Ark?
You might be interested: How to get fishing bait in terraria
Do fish like ham?
The bacon, ham or sausage you didn't finish at breakfast might be just the tidbit that will make fish bite after sunrise. Crispy bacon is hard to hook, but an uncooked strip cut into pieces will often entice fish.
How do you tame a coelacanth?
The Coelacanth can only be tamed using a Fish Basket in Aberration.
What do you do with leech blood ark?
Leech Blood is a resource in ARK that is obtained by killing/Harvesting Leeches or Deathworms. Leech Blood is needed to craft Lesser Antidote. Lesser Antidote is needed to cure Swamp Fever. Leech Blood is also used in Fishing as Bait.
Can you tame a sabertooth salmon in Ark?
The Sabertooth Salmon can only be tamed using a Fish Basket in Aberration.
Where can I find SAP in Ark?
What do sabertooth salmon eat in Ark?
How far should the weight be from the hook?
Hook, Line, and Sinker
Why is my fishing pole not reeling in?
Leave a Comment


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Staircase in the People's Hall, Heathcote Street
ABOUT the middle of the Eighteenth Century the art of house-building rose to great heights in England, and the well-known Georgian houses, with their look of solid comfort and their excellent craftsmanship, were produced.
Nottingham has many examples of this type, and many of them are noteworthy for their magnificent staircases, which by their careful design are very easy to ascend, and by the beauty of their banisters and other accessories are artistic treasures.
Perhaps the most beautiful of these staircases is the one in the People's Hall in Heathcote-street, Nottingham, a mansion built by Mr. Charles Morley about 1740—about the time that Mr. Wesley was commencing his public work.
Mr. Morley was the proprietor of a pottery in Beck-street, where (amongst other objects) were produced the beautiful brown pots with their high glaze which are so much sought after by collectors nowadays, and examples of which may be studied in the Castle Museum.


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Create Your Own RANDBETWEEN Function in T-SQL
There are several functions that are included with Excel that I use on a regular basis that are not included with SQL Server. The RANDBETWEEN function is one of these. Is there a way to recreate this functionality in T-SQL code?
In this tip, we will demonstrate how to create a RANDBETWEEN function and discuss one of the challenges to using the T-SQL RAND() function within a user-defined function.
The RANDBETWEEN function in Excel has two parameters, the bottom inclusive boundary and the top inclusive boundary, and it returns a random integer within these inclusive boundaries.
We can write a SELECT query in T-SQL to return an integer between 25 and 75 inclusive as shown here.
It would seem straightforward to take the query above and place it inside a CREATE FUNCTION statement. However, as we see below we get an error message stating "Invalid use of a side-effecting operator 'rand' within a function."
So why is RAND() a side-effecting operator? This is because the last random number issued must be tracked internally, thus the side-effect. Fortunately, there is a workaround for this problem. We can create a view that contains a random number as a column, and then within our function we can select that random number column from the view as shown here.
Before we declare that we are finished, we need to test this new function over a sizable volume of data to make sure our function is working correctly. In the T-SQL code below, we will create a table named tblRandBetweenTest and populate it with 10,000 rows. The GeneratedRandomValue column will be populated using our new RANDBETWEEN function.
After populating the table, we can run a query to get the minimum, maximum and average values for the GeneratedRandomValue column. We see that the minimum is 25, the maximum is 75 and the average is 50 which indicates our function is working correctly.
We can also run a query to get counts per value generated by the function.
The complete T-SQL code for this tip is displayed here.
-- create the view to store a random number create view dbo.vRandomNumber as select rand() as RandomNumber go -- create the function create function dbo.randbetween(_USER_ integer, _USER_ integer) returns integer as begin return (select cast(round((@[email protected])* RandomNumber [email protected],0) as integer) from dbo.vRandomNumber) end go -- test the function select dbo.randbetween(25,75) -- create a table to store values generated by the function CREATE TABLE dbo.tblRandBetweenTest( pkRandBetweenTest int identity (1,1) primary key, GeneratedRandomValue integer NOT NULL ) ON [PRIMARY] GO SET NOCOUNT ON go -- test the function 10,000 times declare _USER_ as integer set _USER_=1 while _USER_<=10000 begin insert into dbo.tblRandBetweenTest values (dbo.randbetween(25,75)) set @[email protected]+1 end -- select the min, max and average select min(GeneratedRandomValue) as min_x, max(GeneratedRandomValue) as max_x, avg(GeneratedRandomValue) as avg_x from dbo.tblRandBetweenTest go -- get the population of the values select GeneratedRandomValue, count(GeneratedRandomValue) as qty from dbo.tblRandBetweenTest group by GeneratedRandomValue order by GeneratedRandomValue
You can test what happens with different seed values for the RAND() function. Also, the RANDBETWEEN function created above can be modified to return decimal values instead of integers. Finally, read more about using random data and SQL Server in the following tips from MSSQLTips.com.
- Different ways to get random data for SQL Server data sampling
- SQL Server random numerics data generation using CLR
- SQL Server stored procedure to generate random passwords
- Retrieving random data from SQL Server with TABLESAMPLE.
Last Updated: 2014-08-04
About the author
View all my tips


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Image Analysis Applications of the Maximum Mean Discrepancy Distance Measure
MetadataShow full item record
The need to quantify distance between two groups of objects is prevalent throughout the signal processing world. The difference of group means computed using the Euclidean, or L2 distance, is one of the predominant distance measures used to compare feature vectors and groups of vectors, but many problems arise with it when high data dimensionality is present. Maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) is a recent unsupervised kernel-based pattern recognition method which may improve differentiation between two distinct populations over many commonly used methods such as the difference of means, when paired with the proper feature representations and kernels. MMD-based distance computation combines many powerful concepts from the machine learning literature, such as data distribution-leveraging similarity measures and kernel methods for machine learning. Due to this heritage, we posit that dissimilarity-based classification and changepoint detection using MMD can lead to enhanced separation between different populations. To test this hypothesis, we conduct studies comparing MMD and the difference of means in two subareas of image analysis and understanding: first, to detect scene changes in video in an unsupervised manner, and secondly, in the biomedical imaging field, using clinical ultrasound to assess tumor response to treatment. We leverage effective computer vision data descriptors, such as the bag-of-visual-words and sparse combinations of SIFT descriptors, and choose from an assessment of several similarity kernels (e.g. Histogram Intersection, Radial Basis Function) in order to engineer useful systems using MMD. Promising improvements over the difference of means, measured primarily using precision/recall for scene change detection, and k-nearest neighbour classification accuracy for tumor response assessment, are obtained in both applications.
Cite this work
Michael Diu (2013). Image Analysis Applications of the Maximum Mean Discrepancy Distance Measure. UWSpace. _URL_