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HyperCube™ (Hyperspectral CubeSat Mission - 3D Wind Measurement)
Accurate wind measurement information has been identified as a top priority to improving weather forecasting models. Harris provides HyperCube, a cost-effective solution. HyperCube is a spaceborne three-dimensional sounding instrument designed to measure the speed, direction, and elevation of wind in Earth's atmosphere. A Fourier Transform Spectrometer, the HyperCube 6U CubeSat is much smaller and less expensive than conventional systems, and offers a more expedient implementation alternative to complex LiDAR wind measurement programs. 1)
Enabled by the sounding technology of Harris, HyperCube provides hundreds of hyperspectral bands for the best instrument resolution in the small satellite market. It delivers more vertical layers of wind vector data at fine spatial resolution, resulting in more accurate data than other available solutions.
Data accuracy is maintained using an onboard calibration target capable of precise, absolute calibration. HyperCube™ also offers collection time flexibility, allowing for more mission coverage than alternative technologies.
The design of HyperCube improves upon the highly successful CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) aboard the Suomi NPP satellite. The CrIS, also a Fourier transform spectrometer, has been providing more accurate atmospheric temperature, pressure, and moisture observations since 2011. Harris packages this proven technology in a smaller, lower mass solution, called the HyperCube CubeSat.
The smallsats are developed in connection with the SDL/USU (Space Dynamics Lab of Utah State University), who provides the spacecraft for the HyperCube mission.
The HyperCube mission and operational concept: 2)
HyperCube is a constellation of 6U CubeSats equipped with MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) hyperspectral instruments. The instruments measure three-dimensional (3D) distributions of atmospheric water vapor, and by measuring the same region of the atmosphere at different times, they are able to infer wind velocities at multiple vertical locations in the atmosphere (i.e., 3D wind measurements).
An operational CubeSat constellation would consist of 12 satellites, grouped into four "triplets" of satellites that have identical ground tracks but separated by about 15 minutes. The swath width allows for full global 3D wind measurements every 6 hours. This allows frequent wind data ingestion into numerical weather forecast models.
The HyperCube satellite consists of two major sections; the instrument section and the spacecraft section. The instrument contains an FTS (Fourier Transform Spectrometer)-based hyperspectral sounder, and its design utilizes heritage components from prior Harris hyperspectral instruments. The instrument includes an FTS interferometer, a cross-track step-stare scanner, a compact aft-optics telescope, a two-dimensional (2D) infrared FPA (Focal Plane Array), and an internal calibration target.
The step-stare scanner performs cross-track step-stares, each with a fixed stare time. Earth radiance passes through the scanner and feeds a corner-cube Michelson interferometer. The interferometer performs an OPD (Optical Path Difference) sweep and creates a double-sided interferogram in each sweep. Simple focusing optics behind the interferometer place the optical beam onto a 2D FPA. The FPA is cooled to cryogenic temperatures using a two-stage passive cooler, similar to the cooler used by the Harris HIRS (High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder) instrument, with some new, innovative advancements to fit in the compact CubeSat geometry.
The mass of the full satellite is 12.2 kg, while the overall volume is 11.6 x 24 x 36.6 cm (6U). The instrument section requires 11 W of the total 21 W power distribution.
Figure 1: Observation concept of the future HyperCube constellation (image credit: Harris)
HyperCube flight demonstration mission:
Harris is developing a flight demonstration version of a HyperCube satellite that could be flown as early as 2019. During the flight demonstration, HyperCube will collect different types of data to demonstrate different types of missions. MWIR spectra, with high spatial and spectral resolution, will be collected providing moisture profiles at various altitudes in the atmosphere. Retrievals will be compared with those of CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) on Suomi NPP, AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) on Aqua, and IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) flown on MetOp. On subsequent passes of the CubeSat over the polar regions, polar winds are extracted from two 3D moisture data cubes. Simultaneous nadir overpasses with CrIS and IASI are used to demonstrate calibration accuracy. An alternate collection method will allow trace atmospheric gases to be detected.
Figure 2: HyperCube flight demonstration satellite design (right view), image credit: Harris
Figure 3: HyperCube flight demonstration satellite design (left view), image credit: Harris
Flight demonstration instrument details: Photographs of the key HyperCube instrument components are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figure 3 shows the main optomechanical portion of the instrument, which includes the cross-track step-stare scanner, internal calibration target, cornercube interferometer, and aft optics. Figure 5 shows the FPA used in the flight demonstration. It is a 6 x 6 MWIR FPA with a 9.5 µm cutoff.
Figure 4: Main optomechanical portion of the HyperCube instrument (image credit: Harris)
Figure 5: FPA used in the HyperCube instrument (image credit: Harris)
Instrument environmental test program: Near-term goals of the flight demonstration program were to demonstrate the maturity of the HyperCube instrument technology and confirm that it is ready for launch. These have now been achieved.
The HyperCube instrument has undergone a complete space environmental test program. This included an initial TVAC (Thermal-Vacuum) test to establish baseline instrument performance and show vacuum operation, a vibration test to prove that the instrument was capable of surviving typical launch conditions, and a post-vibration TVAC to verify that the instrument was functional after vibration and that its performance had not been degraded by the vibration exposure. Figure 5 shows the instrument in TVAC. The instrument is shown attached to a fixture that serves both as the cooler for the detectors and as the vibration test fixture. No significant issues were observed during the vibration test. Figure 7 is a photograph of the instrument while in vibration test.
Figure 6: HyperCube instrument during TVAC testing (image credit: Harris)
Figure 7: HyperCube instrument during vibration testing (image credit: Harris)
The noise equivalent spectral radiance (NEdN) performance of the HyperCube instrument was recorded in TVAC before and after vibration testing. Data collected during TVAC were consistent with NEdN simulations, and no changes were noted due to environmental exposure.
Since the HyperCube instrument has now been successfully exposed to a relevant space environment, it is now considered to be at TRL6 (Technology Readiness Level 6). Harris is currently in the process of completing the build of the remainder of the HyperCube satellite, with the goal of having it ready for launch in 2019.
1) "HyperCubeTM3D Wind Measurement," Harris Corporation, 2017, URL: _URL_
2) Ronald Glumb, Michael Lapsley, Peter Mantica, Anna Glumb, "TRL6 Testing of Hyperspectral Fourier Transform Spectrometer Instrument for CubeSat Applications," Proceedings of the 31st Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan UT, USA, Aug. 5-10, 2017, paper: SSC17-VI-08,URL: _URL_
The information compiled and edited in this article was provided by Herbert J. Kramer from his documentation of: "Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions and Sensors" (Springer Verlag) as well as many other sources after the publication of the 4th edition in 2002. - Comments and corrections to this article are always welcome for further updates (_EMAIL_).


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Which single factor do you think was most important in making the Spanish so successful during the contact period?
1 Answer | Add Yours
I would argue that the most important single factor helping the Spanish was the fact that they brought with them diseases to which the natives of the Americas had no immunity. This was not the only important factor, but I would argue that it was the most important.
The diseases that the Spanish brought over devastated the native populations. Since they could spread from native to native, they could travel from places where the Spanish actually were and kill people who had yet to set eyes on a Spaniard. This was tremendously beneficial to the Spaniards because it destabilized and severely weakened the societies that might have resisted them. For example, diseases that the Spanish brought killed large numbers of Incas, including their emperor. They had then engaged in a struggle over who would be the next emperor. Right after that struggle ended, the Spanish came to conquer the Incas. The fact that so many of them had died of disease and that they had then fought a civil war made it much easier for the Spaniards to win.
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source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Solutions for Common Sugar Cookie Icing Problems
As anyone who has ever tried to decorate sugar cookies for a special occasion will tell you, the hardest part is the icing. Most bakers like to use royal icing to create their edible masterpieces because it dries more quickly and is less prone to spreading than other icing types. Royal icing is finicky, though, occasionally making it a royal pain to work with.
Don't worry, though: there is hope. Here are 10 common sugar cookie icing problems and their solutions.
1. Crooked
Problem: Icing that streams out of the piping tip at weird angles can ruin an otherwise perfect string or outline.
Solution: Some tips have seams along the side that causes the icing to pipe out crookedly. Inspect your tips before using them to make sure they don't have the seams.
2. Air Bubbles
Problem: An air bubble in your piping bag or tip can pop up and create an icing break at the most inopportune moments--like when you're in the middle of some intricate string work. Your icing is likely too dry.
Solution: For starters, do not overmix your icing as that will pump more air into it and potentially cause bubbles. Rest the icing in a bowl with a damp cloth over it for 15 minutes before using. If you see air bubbles on your cookies already, pop the bubbles with a toothpick and re-spread the icing.
3. Lumps
Problem: Clumps of icing can clog your piping tips and cause the icing to spurt out unevenly, leaving a gloppy mess behind.
Solution: Make sure to thoroughly sift the confectioner's sugar for your icing. You can also try using a pair of (new) nylon pantyhose to strain your icing before adding it to the piping bag.
4. Stiff
Problem: Piping out your icing is an exercise in grip strength, making decorating nearly impossible--especially when the icing bursts out in a huge explosion.
Solution: Stir a tiny amount of room temperature water into the icing.
5. Dull
Problem: No, your cookies aren't boring--they're just not as shiny as they were when you had finished icing them.
Solution: Add a tiny amount of light corn syrup to your icing. Confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac, can also be sprayed onto your cookies once the icing has set.
6. Spotting
Problem: Discolored spots are typically caused by butter bleed. In warm temperatures, butter from the cookie melts slightly, seeping into the icing and making it look blotchy.
Solution: Working in a cool kitchen helps prevent butter bleed, as does using a de-humidifier. Tweaks to your icing--making it thicker--and/or your cookies--using extra flour or baking a bit longer--can help, too. If you've already applied your icing and developed stains, your options are pretty much limited to cover-ups.
7. Bleeding
Problem: Different colored sections run together after the icing is applied, especially when using dark colors like red or black.
Solution: Dry your cookies with a fan or ice your cookies with just the dark colored icing first, letting them set for about 24 hours before adding icings in lighter colors.
8. Cracking
Problem: If your icing cracks after it dries, it's likely not the heat--it's the humidity.
Solution: Let your iced cookies set in a cool, dry room, away from open windows.
9. Runny
Problem: Your icing fails to harden and is still tacky after a considerable amount of time has already passed.
Solution: Add more confectioner's sugar in small increments.
10. Hard
Problem: Your sugar cookie designs look terrific, but your icing is a bit too crunchy for your--or anyone's--taste.
Solution: There's too much meringue powder in your icing, or your icing is too thick. Try dragging a butter knife across the surface of your icing; if the streak takes longer than 10 seconds to disappear, your icing is too think. Add water.
Still having issues with your icing? Fear not--Cookies By Design can help with same-day hand-delivery of delicious, perfectly decorated cookies!


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Demands for lower cost manufacturing, lighter components, and recycleability are forcing manufacturers to switch from metal components to plastic. While the assembly processes are different, some of the same concerns apply. Finding a reliable assembly equipment supplier, defining part requirements, getting them involved early, and choosing the right assembly process are the keys to success.
chart outlines the different characteristics, capabilities,
and requirements of a variety of plastic welding processes.
CLICK for the full-size graphic.
Appliance components come in
all shapes and sizes, and each one has its own unique characteristics that
demand an assembly process to fit. Ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin, thermal,
laser, and vibration welding are the most common plastic assembly methods.
Choosing the correct method can be difficult. A supplier who has technical
knowledge in all of the processes is the best choice. They will have knowledge
of all the different process joint designs, can provide assistance in material
selection, and can support once the process is in production.
part requirement before the design of the plastic part is critical.
This will save dollars in tooling costs and help assure that the correct
process to achieve the requirements is chosen. All too often, the plastic
molds are manufactured, the first parts are assembled, and then quality
control determines that the parts will not pass a pressure test. This
is too late; now significant dollars will need to be spent to correct
problem. Requirements such as a need for pressurization, exposure to
extreme cold or heat, cosmetic-part status (requires no blemishes),
and parts assembled
per minute are all factors in determining the correct process and plastic
Each process has unique plastic-joint design requirements to assure
proper weld strength. Assembly equipment suppliers can help design the
weld area joint design. An example of joint design requirements for ultrasonic
assembly is given by Guide to Ultrasonics from Dukane
Charles, IL, U.S.): "Mating services should be in intimate contact around the entire joint. The joint should be in one plane, if possible. A small initial contact area should be established between mating halves. A means of alignment is recommended so that mating halves do not misalign during the weld operation." Obviously,
these joint requirements should all be designed into the part prior to
machining of the injection molds.
What assembly process is correct for a part? As stated earlier, ultrasonic, hot-plate, spin, thermal, vibration, and laser welding are the most common methods used in production today. Each method has unique advantages.
Ultrasonic assembly is a fast, repeatable, and reliable process that allows for sophisticated process control. High-volume small parts that have very tight assembly tolerances lend themselves well to ultrasonic assembly. Ultrasonic systems have the capability of exporting relevant assembly process data for SPC documentation and FDA validation. Ultrasonic welding can be easily integrated into automated systems.
Hot-plate welding can accommodate a wide range of parts sizes and configurations. These machines offer high-reliability hermetic seals and strong mechanical bonds on complex part geometries. The process is fairly simple; the two parts to be jointed are brought in close proximity to a heated platen until the joint area is in a molten state. The platen is removed and the parts are clamped together until the joint cools off and returns to a solid state.
Spin welding is a very cost-effective method for joining large, medium, or small circular parts such as washing machine tubs to agitator components. Water purification filters, thermal mugs, and irrigation assemblies typically are joined using the spin welding process. Careful attention to joint design is critical for parts that require flash-free appearance.
Assemblies that require inserts at multiple points on multiple planes, like computer or vacuum cleaner housings, typically benefit from thermal insertion/staking. Thermal staking is ideal for attachment of non-plastic components to the plastic housing, such as circuit boards and metal brackets. Dates coding, embossing, and degating are other uses for thermal presses. Thermal welding can be a slower assembly process than ultrasonic, so, depending on the volumes of assemblies required, ultrasonic maybe a better choice.
Vibration welding physically moves one of the two parts horizontally under pressure to create heat through surface friction. Compared to ultrasonic welding, vibration welding operates at much lower frequencies, much higher amplitude, and with greater clamping force. The limitation to vibration welding is simply that the joint must be in a single plane in at least one axis in order to allow the vibration motion. Like hot-plate welding, vibration welding is a highly reliable process that can handle large parts in challenging materials or multiple parts per cycle with ease. Chain saw housings, blower and pump assemblies, and large refrigerator bins are examples of potential vibration welding applications. Cycle times for vibration welds are very short, thus they are ideal for high volume and are easily automated.
Laser welding is the newest technology of the processes available today. One benefit of laser welding is that the weld joints produce no flash or particulate outside of the joint. Assemblies that require absolutely no contamination for particulate, like medical filters, are good candidates. A second benefit is that the assembly is not exposed to heat or vibration. Devices that have very sensitive electronic internal components that may be damaged from vibration can now be assembled effectively. Laser welding requires the parts to be transmissive and absorbive, specifically how transparent the parts appear to the laser beam. One material transmits the coherent laser light and the other material absorbs the light and converts it to heat. Parts that appear black to the human eye can be transparent or opaque at the wavelength of the laser light. Clear-to-clear joints and joints that are optically transparent can be readily achieved by use of special coatings. Depending on the part geometry, laser welding can be a slower process then vibration or ultrasonic welding.
Plastic appliance components are the direction of the future - they can be assembled
economically and produce functional products.
This information is provided by Michael Johnston, national sales and
marketing manager, Dukane
Charles, IL, U.S.).

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Inclusion and Exclusion in the Liberal Competition State
The Cult of the Individual
Routledge – 2012 – 308 pages
This book examines the increasingly international division of labour, which promotes transnational integration. It analyses the change in worker solidarity as it moves from collective national welfare to a transnational inclusion of workers from various links in the production chain.
Examining three types of welfare regimes within the USA, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, the author addresses how and why globalization is furthering the change from the welfare state to the competition state. The book considers in particular the change to solidarity taking place because of the internationalization of labour division; a change away from the segmented and differentiated system of nation states with strong internal national solidarity to broader, more inclusive and cross-border labour identity and inclusion. Analysing the deeper moral consequences of a globalised labour society, such as the paradigms of inclusion and justice, this book considers the implications of transnational labour on national welfare politics, and looks at the increasing significance of the transnational and national politics of inclusion in social policy, education, minority rights, immigration and gender equality.
Inclusion and Exclusion in the Liberal Competition State will be of interest to scholars and students of political science, sociology and social policy studying welfare state change.
Introduction: Inclusion and exclusion in the emerging world society 1. Economic change: from incremental to radical innovation 2. The change of solidarity: the causes and consequences of international labour division 3. Symbolic change: the new cult of the individual 4. Institutional change: liberal, conservative and egalitarian adjustment to international labour division 5. Relative exclusion and disintegration: convergence in the liberal competition state? Conclusion: The interdependent change of economy, solidarity, politics and justice
Richard Münch is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bamberg, Germany.


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Advantages of Using Clinical Data Platforms to Insource SDTM
At the 2021 CDISC Technicon, eClinical's Director of Data Engineering, Nathan Johnson, had the pleasure of presenting with Bob O'Connor, Associate Director, Clinical Data Systems at Agios Pharmaceuticals, on how the elluminate® platform supports high quality implementation of the CDISC standards. When Agios began using elluminate Mapper over four years ago, their goal was to develop an organizational data standard that could be applied across all studies within Agios. They wanted to develop fully-compliant, submission-worthy SDTM data sets in house, without relying on third-party providers.
elluminate is a clinical data platform designed to seamlessly integrate and unify all data sources. Clinical trial data sources are growing in complexity and variety, and elluminate provides tools to ingest, transform and analyze disparate data sources from a unified platform. With elluminate, data can be accessed by a wide variety of data consumers with unique needs in near real-time. In addition to Mapper, elluminate modules include CTMS Insights, RBM, Data Central and Clinical Analytics.
Benefits of Data Standardization
As data sources continue to proliferate, CROs, sponsors, and pharmaceutical companies are experiencing the benefits of data standardization at scale. These include:
- Optimization of downstream data flows, starting with data review.
- Ability to create standardized listings, visualizations, and patient profiles that can be deployed across studies with minimal reprogramming.
- Better organization and accessibility of data for quality control, allowing data managers to validate and find issues within raw data, which can help to avoid costly mistakes.
During the pandemic, Agios realized the benefits of data standardization for facilitating the development of ad-hoc reporting. As Bob explained, Agios was worried about the effects of the pandemic on compliance for key trials. They developed and tested a proof of concept with their data management and data scientist teams, and were able to quickly deploy it across all studies in the program with their existing standardized data structure. In the event of unforeseen challenges, a standardized data structure can allow rapid pinpointing of potential disruptions in clinical trials.
Agios has also experienced better and faster decision making, plus a reduction in timelines for deliverables. As Bob explains, "We've cut our database lock times in half and have also reduced costs. We now spend less time programming data review outputs from raw data from scratch, as we can apply them consistently across studies and compounds."
Benefits of Insourcing SDTM
Using the elluminate mapper, Agios wanted to build an organizational data structure that would be also used to produce SDTM. They created a two-layer mapping approach, with their first layer as their organizational data sets — similar to SDTM Plus — which includes supplemental data sets that are useful for data review. Their second layer of mapping was their fully compliant SDTM data set, which is built by excluding all variables that are not a part of the SDTM standard to create a fully compliant main domain. They found two key benefits from using elluminate to facilitate a two-layer mapping approach:
- Both layers are using the same source, which means that there is never an issue with identification variables and values not matching between the main domain and the supplementary domain.
- All SDTM conformance mapping is done in that first layer of the organizational data structure. That means that they aren't applying extra mapping to create the second layer; they are simply dropping unnecessary variables, saving them time.
For Agios, the benefits of insourcing SDTM are tremendous. They have been able to gain more control over their data to make any necessary changes instantly, including CRF modifications. They have also found that their data is higher quality, as they can validate, refine, and perform quality control as needed throughout the study. Issues can be discovered upfront, instead of waiting until the end of the project to pinpoint problems; this timeliness then leads to faster database lock time. Better quality control has also allowed them to ensure consistency and standardization across all trials and compounds.
Benefits of the elluminate Mapper for SDTM
Using the elluminate mapper has been critical in Agios' effort to insource SDTM for clinical research. Some advantages include:
- Having CDISC metadata built into elluminate.
- Having control terminology built into the system, allowing users to directly map raw variable terms to the correct control terminology.
- The ability to easily check compliance as mapping is being completed. With the compliance checker, indicators for acquired and expected variables are clear, making it easy to ensure you have the necessary variables needed to start downstream activities.
- The graphical nature of the mapper, which shows users exactly how data is transformed. Users can address any potential issues and find exactly where to fix them simply by looking at the mapper.
- The ability to save mapping as XML files in the system, allowing for import into other studies and immediate access to the map domain.
Using elluminate mapper for their SDTM data has helped Agios save time when analyzing data, due to real-time results assessment and error generation. The SQL source code is also available for debugging when needed.
Improving SDTM with Clinical Data Platforms
With a unified platform and a single source of truth for all steps — from acquisition to analysis — clinical data platforms provide significant advantages for clinical trial providers. Increased access to data means that providers maintain control over data sources while promoting faster database lock time and quicker speed to market for drugs and therapies. Since Agios started using elluminate, they have integrated 12 different studies into the mapper tool with great success and tangible results. As clinical trial providers begin to prioritize proactive trial management, elluminate is key for any successful, modern data infrastructures.
If you're interested in learning more about how Agios Pharmaceuticals has leveraged elluminate, read the case study "Lessons Learned from Implementing an Enterprise Clinical Data Cloud."
If you'd like to see elluminate CTMS Insights in action, consider our CTMS Insights overview webinar.
Contact UsFill out the form below to schedule a demo and/or speak to an eClinical Solutions representative to learn more about elluminate.


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Hamdım, Piştim, Yandım [TR]
Design research project and 1 month workshop created by:
Ece Canlı, Ceylan Uşakierali, Levent Yücel, Kerem Erdem Göç, Merve Kurt, Serkan Aka, Bilal Yılmaz
in collaboration with TOG (Community Volunteer Foundation)
9 August-5 September 2008
This long term design research project that resulted in one-month long intense workshop located in a camping area with non-designer participants from all over the country. The project aimed
– to alternatively criticise consumption culture,
– to see daily used objects from a different perspective; to recognise our daily needs and suggest acceptable solutions from a design viewpoint,
– to question our basic/primary needs by living in a camping area without any electronic device or appliances,
– to produce fundamental objects with ecological and found materials that would the needs in question,
– to engage with the local producers, discussing about participating local production; to utilise their local production techniques and materials,
– to encourage participants (as the volunteers of TOG) to take the new techniques they learnt to initiate new projects in their hometowns/regions based on their new knowledge and experiences to keep the project sustainable in long-term.
In the workshop, there were 40 participants (20 per each two-week period) who were studying at different universities in different programs all across Turkey and not acquainted with any design thinking or making practice, yet concerned with the production and consumption culture of contemporary Turkey—and the world in a larger scale. The workshop as a pilot implementation took place in a camping area, in a coastal village called İğneada at the northwest part of Turkey. During the camp, only tents were provided; the rest were expected to be set up and produced by participants. The working plan went as following:
– discussion sessions on consumption culture, our basic needs; ancient, local and mass productions,
– simulation games that aimed to enable participants to conceive main ideas,
– workshops for production sessions,
– fieldworks that aimed to connect with local producers, and needs and resources of the region better,
– brainstorming for design solutions,
– project development and presentations phase by participants
Elaborating on their basic needs, participants produced several objects and came up with minor system solutions (i.e. shower, cushions, lighting units, dressing cabin, kitchen, freezer etc.). Then, they produced other objects (i.e. ornaments, recycled papers, bags, wallets, earrings, necklaces etc.) by taking their secondary needs into consideration, including artistic creations.
Apart from the production process, one of the most important aspects of the project was fieldworks in the village. There were several phases of this part such as interviews with local community, investigations on local productions, materials and recycling techniques and workshops with local female producers. It also included lectures and guidance provided by the guest eco-designer Katell Gelebart who transmitted knowledge of hand-manufacturing with recycled materials such as plastic bags, tires, newspapers and such.


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Two of the most enigmatic pieces of Irish sculpture can be found in a small cemetery on Boa Island in Co Fermanagh. The larger sculpture is a two-sided 'Janus' figure, with depictions of a bearded figure on both sides. Both of the depictions show an oval-faced man with large almond-shaped bulging eyes, and a straight nose. In Celtic culture, heads were very important because they were thought to contain a person's spirit after their death. Severed heads were taken in triumph after battles.
One side has the tongue partially sticking out, the other seems just to be an open mouth. The head just merges into the body without a clear neck, and the arms are crossed over what appears to be a belt. The base of the larger sculpture was found at a later time, and is now propped up against the figure. At the top of the heads there is a groove where people today leave coins as an offering. The smaller figure is called the 'Lustymore Man', and was found on the neighbouring Lustymore Island. It appears to be more weathered and more plainly carved. This figure is only one-sided, but has a lot of similarities with the larger figure. It seems to also depict a man with a straight nose and open mouth and its arms are crossed.
The reasons for creating these stone sculptures and the dates of their creation are not certain. They may have been part of pre-Christian religious sites, or they may have been made by early Christians who included older pagan beliefs in their grave sites. Boa Island's bilateral figure has been compared to another two-faced figure from Holzgerlingen, Germany and the Tandragee Idol, which is in a collection in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh.


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Video - About AAPA Black Belt ECG USB CME Package:
AAPA Black Belt ECG CME Package
The sidekick is one of the most devastating kicks in martial arts. Powerful, fast and versatile. It's all in the pivot. You must pop your hips to engage your core. It's all in that split second pivot. You can't learn that from a book. You need someone who has thrown tens of thousands of roundhouse kicks to show you the proper technique.
Learning how to interpret ECGs is very similar! You can't learn 12 lead ECG interpretation from a book. There are some fine details that are so subtle that you need a coach. You need to learn in steps.
CME4LIFE's Black Belt ECG program is a solution for those who need to learn 12 lead ECG interpretation for clinical application. We've taught ECG interpretation to thousands of providers and our curriculum is the most efficient and useful system to learn ECGs.
Earn your black belt today!
Black Belt ECG is a 6 video program that will teach you the following and more!
Video 1 – White Belt
- Discuss the sympathetic nervous system, "Staying Alive" response, and the differences between inotropes and chronotropes.
- Parasympathetic nervous system and the role of the Vagus nerve ("Leash on dog"). How does atropine work and anticholinergic side effects?
- What are the antiarrhythmic drugs? Vaughan William's Classification of antiarrhythmic drugs. How do tricyclic antidepressants work? Amiodarone and the toxicities
- Risk Factor assessment. 3 causes of JVD. Difference between a simple and tension pneumothorax. Anatomy of the Heart.
Video 2 – Yellow Belt
- Why do we put a patient on a monitor? Difference between Unsynchronized and Synchronized shock. "R on T" phenomenon. When do we shock?
- RR, PP, QQ System: How to calculate heart rate. 6 second method vs. Three-some method
- QRS complex: Why is the QRS complex wide? Description of the mnemonic CVS. Description of the Bundle Branch Block Man Method. Is this V.tach patient alive or dead? Difference between V.tach and V.fib. Hyperkalemia on ECG.
- What is the QT interval?
Video 3 – Green Belt
- Introduction to sinus tachycardia/bradycardia. Causes of tachycardia: Discussion on mnemonic PHAT HADES. Treat the causes of tachycardia. Importance of vital signs and asking important questions. First encounter with mnemonic HORID.
- Why are HGB & HCT important? Who's at risk of acute bleeding and what to do? Discussion on Trendelenburg position. How to take orthostatic vital signs and their importance.
- How to diagnose ventricular hypertrophy. The importance of the R & S wave on ECG. Sokolow Index as it relates to left ventricular hypertrophy. Discussion on the 3 criteria of right ventricle hypertrophy.
- The importance of address potassium. Causes of metabolic acidosis with the mnemonic KUSSMAL. ECG changes with hyperkalemia. How to treat hyperkalemia and the methods of lowering potassium.
Video 4 – Blue Belt
- Causes of A.Fib. 3 caveats to diagnosing A.Fib. How do emboli relate to A. Fib? Treatment of A. Fib. Discussion on the CHADS2 Score.
- How to diagnose SVT. Treatment of SVT. Role of adenosine.
- Steps of ACLS: 3 reasons for no pulse. What 2 mechanisms save lives? How to do CPR. Discussion of the mnemonic PAL. Pyramid of the causes of PEA and the description of the mnemonic HEAD. Common reversal agents. How to confirm asystole. How to fix a lethal arrhythmia.
- Second discussion of where the heart blocks are located and the vagus nerve. Heart blocks are defined by the PR interval. 3 ways to deliver energy to a patient with a heart block. Heart blocks on ECG.
Video 5 – Red Belt
- When should you order a 12 lead ECG? Who is your PAPPA mnemonic. Discussion of HORID mnemonic. Approach to 12 lead ECG. How to confirm sinus rhythm. Discussion of John's "Two-fer Rule". Describe the contiguous leads. Visual presentation of the cardiac blood flow hand mnemonic.
- Learn where to draw the isoelectric lines. What does a Q-wave represent? 4 clinical areas of a ECG.
- Discussion of ST elevation and APPLE mnemonic: STEMI presentation. 3 criteria to diagnose a MI. STEMI vs. NSTEMI. Red flags of chest pain with mnemonic DRiVE. STEMI on ECG. Discussion of chest pain pearls.
- Discussion of inverted T-waves with SLIP mnemonic: Presentation of pulmonary embolism. What is S1Q3T3?
Video 6 – Black Belt
- John's syncope rules. Discussion of PERC rules. Discussion of murmurs. Mnemonics to remember different murmurs: S=MIAS and AIMS=D. Buzz words for CHF.
- How does a stroke present? Discuss how to diagnose a stroke. FLEAS mnemonic to help with stroke signs and symptoms.
- 6 ECG findings that kill patients with syncope and HAPPY mnemonic. Discussion of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Why are prolonged QT waves bad? Discussion on WPW. Discussion on Brugada Syndrome.
- What is Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and what does it look like on ECG? Pearls of Wellen's sign. Discussion on De Winter's T-waves.
AAPA Credit Value:
Approved for 6 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME
This activity has been reviewed by the AAPA Review Panel and is compliant with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 6.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid for one year from 05/17/2018. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
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Customers are allowed 60 days from the date of the initial purchase. Customer is also responsible for any fees incurred for the shipment of the returned product and to insure the package includes full replacement value of the contents received. Refunds will be issued back to the credit card that was used to make the original purchase (minus shipping and handling costs). We reserve the right to charge a $75 restocking fee on all returns. There are no refunds for the video on demand series.


text:
The part of the foot of the horse, and allied animals, between the fetlock and the coffin joint. See Illust. of Horse.
A shackle for horses while pasturing.
That part of the foot of a hoofed mammal from the fetlock to the hoof.
Area and joint between fetlock and hoof.
Metacarpus.... The region between the carpus (wrist) above, and the digits (foot) below [on the front legs].
The area below the knee on a dogs rear legs.
Commonly recognized as the region of the foreleg between the carpus or wrist and the digits.
region of the front leg between the carpus and the foot (the wrist)


text:
Hopkins House was born of necessity. In 1939, at the end of the Depression with a still weak economy, President Roosevelt began to cut back on funding for social programs for the poor. One program that was eliminated was the Works Progress Administration sponsored Social Services Day Nursery that provided care for the children of African-American working parents in then racially segregated Alexandria.
A group of teachers including Edith Allen, Helen Day, Connie Chissell and others, decided to continue the nursery by volunteering their time and homes. Soon they persuaded the Social Services League to allow the use of their building at 517 Gibbon Street after six in the evening.
The teachers named the new community center in honor of Dr. J. Milton Hopkins, an Alexandria African-American physician who for years had provided medical care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. Dr. Hopkins died on July 15, 1927.
Soon the nursery qualified to receive funds through the Community Chest (today's United Way). Chissell, an experienced social worker and educator, served as its first director. Helen Day and Edith Allen raised funds and planned programs with special focus on helping the poorest families. Hopkins House incorporated on August 9, 1939.
During these early years, Hopkins House had little or no money to pay for the services people needed. But what the organization lacked in funds, it more than made up in community involvement. Edith Allen and Helen Day, Hopkins House's first secretary, helped to originate "Negro History Week" in Alexandria's public schools -- a first in segregated Alexandria. After many efforts to identify funding, City Councilman Albert Smoot secured a grant of $95.67 from the City to support Hopkins House programs. With these funds, Edith Allen organized Girl Scout Troop #16 and Helen Day formed Brownie Troop #8. Other activities soon followed.
Through the next half century, Hopkins House programs expanded to include preschools, HIV/AIDS prevention, a crisis and family counseling center, brownie troops, after-school tutoring, a summer children's camp, a credit union, an employment and housing referral program, elder care centers, Headstart, Thanksgiving Meals for the Homeless, and a Lunch Bag Program for the hungry.
In 1994, the Hopkins House trustees adopted a strategic plan that, over the next five years, returned the organization to its roots providing education programs for low-income, working families with children.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Hopkins House is founded by Edith L. Allen, Helen Day, Connie Chissell, Leon C. Baltimore, Jr., Margaret Evans, Samuel W. Madden, Richard Poole, Alma P. Murray, and Evelyn Johnson Williams. The organization's first home was located at 517 Gibbon Street. Alexandria City Council allocates $95.67 to operate Hopkins House. Alexandria Community Chest (now the United Way) contributes $1,335 to Hopkins House. Alexandria City Council gives additional grant of $500 to Hopkins House.
Hopkins House holds first Annual Meeting. Membership dues are $0.25 a year.
Hopkins House leads petition drive to establish a high school for black children. The school was finally opened in 1950. Hopkins House establishes first library in the City open to black children. Black history books were also donated to each of the two elementary schools for black children (Parker-Gray and Lyles Crouch). The Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP is organized at Hopkins House. Hopkins House moves to larger quarters at 1011 Oronoco Street.
Hopkins House establishes "The Society for the Prevention of Delinquency," a group offering youths recreational activities as an alternative to delinquency.
Hopkins House serves as employment clearinghouse for veterans returning from World War II. Hopkins House establishes scholarship fund to assist graduates of Parker-Gray. Hopkins House persuades City to use closed U.S.O. building as a recreation center for black children.
Hopkins House relocates to its third home at 1312 Princess Street.
Hopkins House board of trustees becomes racially integrated – a first in then segregated Alexandria.
The Departmental Progressives Club raises $14,000 to fund the Neighborhood Services Project at Hopkins House. This project provided social work and intensive assistance to individuals falling between the cracks of existing social services.
Hopkins House establishes a halfday playschool for 4- and 5-year-olds.
Hopkins House establishes social hygiene class for teenagers. This program was the precursor to the organization's community health programs. Hopkins House is awarded Headstart contract for the City of Alexandria.
Hopkins House establishes a federally chartered credit union.
Hopkins House dedicates 1224 Princess Street building with $104,834 grant from HUD. This is the organization's fourth home. Hopkins House selected for the U.S. Congregate Feeding Program under Title VII of the Older Americans Act. This program was the forerunner of the current City-sponsored program under the Alexandria Office on Aging. Hopkins House expands food basket program to the Thanksgiving Dinners project feeding hundreds of needy persons on Thanksgiving Day.
Hopkins House purchases two vans to transport senior citizens throughout the City.
Hopkins House opens a preschool at 1224 Princess Street. Hopkins House is awarded the City's first AIDS/HIV prevention program.
Special Friends of Hopkins House donate $50,000 to the organization's general fund. Hopkins House celebrates half-a-century of service.
Hopkins House receives bequest of $45,000 from Mary Randolph, the largest gift from an individual at that time.
Hopkins House trustees and members adopt four-year strategic plan to return the organization to its roots in service to children.
Hopkins House raises a record $150,000 in gifts to the organization. Columbia Capital Corporation pledges $25,000, the largest single corporate gift Hopkins House had received to-date.
Hopkins House opens offices in Fairfax County. Organization receives "Excellence in Aging Award" from the Alexandria Commission on Aging.
Hopkins House trustees adopt organization's first $1-million plus operating budget. Hopkins House opens second preschool on the West End of Alexandria.
Hopkins House launches site on the Internet. Hopkins awarded $150,000 grant from the Mark & Catherine Winkler Foundation, its largest gift from a foundation and the largest single gift Hopkins House had received to-date. The Agnes & Eugene Meyer Foundation awards $100,000 grant. Hopkins House completes implementation of its four-year strategic plan, returning it to an organization for children and their families.
Hopkins House completes the renovation and expansion of its preschool on Princess Street in Alexandria.
Hopkins House launches capital campaign to raise $1.6-million to construct a Child & Family Development Center in Fairfax County. Organization opens infant and toddler care center at its Princess Street preschool. Organization grants first Elward J. Alexander, III Memorial "Gift" to a family affected by violence.
Hopkins House closes its AIDS/HIV prevention program after 14 years. Trustees name the organization's preschool on Duke Street in memory of Hopkins House's first President, Edith Allen. Governor Mark Warner speaks at Annual Meeting. Hopkins House purchases 1.6 acres in Fairfax County for the site of its proposed Child & Family Development Center.
The Community Stakeholders approve a 5-Year Strategic Plan changing the mission of the organization and calling for an expansion of Hopkins House services and programs; and, they make official the designation "Community Stakeholder."
Hopkins House begins construction on building in Fairfax County.
Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, speaks at Hopkins House event. He calls on fathers to become more involved in the education and development of their children.
Hopkins House opens new center in Fairfax County, naming it the ABC Building in honor of the 90-plus members of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) who donated money, labor, and materials to construct the 8,500 square foot facility. Hopkins House Trustees name the preschool in the ABC Building in honor of James L. and Juliette McNeil in appreciation for their philanthropic support and their personal involvement at Hopkins House.
Reading Is Fundamental ("RIF") selects Hopkins House from among 3500 literacy programs nationwide for recognition at its national conference in Washington, DC.
Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine visits the Hopkins House Helen Day Preschool Academy in Alexandria, Virginia and meets with local leaders to encourage increased public support for high-quality early care and education programs. U.S. Congressman James P. Moran celebrated his birthday with the children and staff at the James L. & Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Hopkins House celebrates its 70th anniversary of providing high quality services to children, youth, and adults in the community. Through major grants from the Washington Area Women's Foundation, Boeing Company, PNC Bank, Capital One Bank, and the City of Alexandria, Hopkins House established the Early Childhood Learning Institute (ECLI) to provide college credits (through Northern Virginia Community College) and professional credentialing in the Early Childhood Education field, along with employment in local childcare centera at above market salaries plus benefits to financially low-resourced adults. US Congressman James P. Moran secures $250,000 federal grant for the ECLI.
Both Hopkins House Preschool Academies are ranked among the top 50 preschools in Northern Virginia by Northern Virginia Magazine. The Helen Day Preschool Academy receives accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The Early Childhood Learning Institute (ECLI) begins offering college classes in Fairfax and Arlington Counties.
The James L. and Juliette McNeil Preschool Academy receives accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).


text:
>> Study Material
>> IIT JEE Physics
>> Ray Optics
A prism has two plane surfaces AB and AC inclined to each other as shown in following figure. A is called the angle of prism or refracting angle.
(i) Refraction Through A
A light ray striking at one face of a triangular glass prism gets refracted twice and emerges out from the other face as shown above. The angle between the emergent and the incident rays is called the angle of deviation (D). The angle between the two refracting faces involved is called the refracting angle (A) of the prism.
From AXY, we have: A + (90° – r1) + (90° – r2) = 180°
As r1 + r2 = A (i)
Deviation D = (i – r1) + (e – r2)
D = (i + e) – (r1 + r2)
D = i + e – A
A + D = i + e (ii)
We also have two equations from Snell's Law at X & Y.
(i) Angle of Deviation
It can be easily seen that if we reverse the emergent ray, it goes back along the same path. The angles of incidence and emergence get interchanged but the angle of deviation remains same.
Hence the same angle of deviation D is possible for two different angles of incidence :
θ1 and θ2, where θ1 + θ2 = A + D.
(ii) Minimum Deviation
The angle of deviation is minimum when the path of light ray through the prism is symmetrical. i.e., angle of incidence = angle of emergence
(iii) Grazing Incidence
When i = 90°, the incident ray grazes along the surface of the prism and the angle of refraction inside the prism becomes equal to the critical angle for glass - air. This is known as grazing incidence
(iv) Grazing Emergence
When e = 90°, the emergent ray grazes along the prism surface. This happens when the light ray strikes the second face of the prism at the critical angle for glass - air. This is known as grazing emergence.
The angle of deviation is same for both the above cases (grazing incidence & grazing emergence) and it is also the maximum possible deviation if the light ray is to emerge out from the other face without any total internal reflection.
When a ray of light passes through a prism, it splits up into rays of constituent colours or wavelengths. This phenomenon is called dispersion of light.
The refractive index of a medium is different for light rays of different wavelengths. Larger the wavelengths, the lesser is the refractive index.
i.e. mred < mviolet because 1red > 1violet
A ray of white light passing through a prism gets splits into different colours because the deviation is more for violet and less for red. This phenomenon is known as dispersion.
For a prism with very small refracting angle A, the deviation D is given by:
d >> (m-1)A
Hence deviaiton of violet = Dv = (μv - 1)A,
and for red = Dr = (μr – 1)A
The angle between the red and violet rays is known as the angle of dispersion.
The angle of dispersion = f = Dv - Dr = (mv - mr)A
This phenomenon arises due to the fact that refractive index varies with wavelength. It has been observed for a prism that μ decreases with the increase of wavelength, i.e.
mviolet > mred
(viii) Deviation without Dispersion
This mean an achromatic combination of two prisms in which net or resultant dispersion is zero and deviation is produced. For the two prisms,
Where w and w' are the dispersive powers of the two prisms and d and d' their mean deviations.
(ix) Dispersion without deviation
A combination of two prisms in which deviation produced for the mean ray by the first prism is equal and opposite to that produced by the second prism is called a direct vision prism. This combination produces dispersion without deviation.
For deviation to be zero, (d + d') = 0


Hobby horses as a hobby
From Elävä perintö -wiki
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Hobby horses as a hobby
Location Finland
Tags hobbyhorses, crafts, sports, hobbies, children, young people, riding, keppihevoset, lapset, nuoret, harrastukset
Practitioners and people who know the tradition well
Thousands of children and young people all around Finland are hobby horse enthusiasts. They are usually of school age or older, and the nature of the hobby usually depends on the enthusiast's age and the aspect of the hobby they are interested in. Commonly, people who no longer feel like they play with hobby horses but instead participate in the hobby regularly and in a goal-oriented way are considered to be hobby horse enthusiasts. There is no accurate information about how many enthusiasts the hobby has, because only a few have reported on listings or are members of an association. According to the most optimistic estimates, Finland alone may have more than 10,000 enthusiasts.
Hobby horse activities are promoted by the Finnish Hobbyhorse Association (Suomen Keppihevosharrastajat ry).
Practising of the tradition
Hobby horse eating orange leaves.
Hobby horse enjoying fall. Photo: Kht Kultatähti.
Hobby horses represent an extremely versatile hobby, and everyone can pick the parts they want, creating a hobby they like best. Essential parts of it include making the hobby horses, riding, communality, and competitions. The hobby mimics riding live horses, and in fact, you can practise all aspects of riding with a hobby horse.
Hobby horses as a hobby are based on the enthusiasts' own initiative, which makes the hobby very free-form. There are no hard and fast rules: anyone can enjoy the hobby in the way they like. Hobby horses are also suitable for people who cannot or do not want to ride. Others organise competitions, training events and coaching.
Almost all hobby horse enthusiasts make hobby horses in the course of their hobby. You can make a hobby horse in any way you can imagine: sock horses are made out of socks, felt horses are felted, and traditional fabric horses are sewn out of fabric. Fabric horses are often divided into two-and three-piece horses, depending on whether a middle piece has been used to make the hobby horse or not. The horses are also divided into those with and without a mouth. Many enthusiasts focus on making and selling hobby horses, and they try to create horses that are as realistic as possible.
You can practise any kind of equestrian sport with a hobby horse. Traditionally, the most popular sports have been show jumping and dressage.
Hobby horse enthusiast jumping over a hurdle.
Show jumping. Photo: Peltohaan talli.
In show jumping, the horse and the rider jump over a set show-jumping course, and faults are received for any railings that are knocked over. The classes can be judged based on time or style. In dressage, participants are judged on the ability of the horse and the rider to complete a predetermined programme as accurately and realistically as possible, just like riders with live horses.
In addition to competitions, hobby horse enthusiasts also organise coaching events and camps for each other in different parts of Finland. Most events are organised by children and young people, and at other times, they are organised by clubs or associations. The Finnish Hobbyhorse Association organises Finnish national championships in show jumping and dressage for hobby horses every year.
Enthusiasts keep in touch with each other via social media, and they meet at events and competitions. Online shows and competitions are also an important part of the hobby.
The background and history of the tradition
Children have played with hobby horses for millennia. In the late 1900s, the game started to become a hobby in small concentrated areas in different parts of Finland. In the early 2000s, hobby horse enthusiasts started to gather together in online discussion forums and websites. An unofficial hobby horse association was established in 2004, and it was later registered as Suomen Keppihevosharrastajat ry (the Finnish Hobbyhorse Association). As social media became more popular, hobby horses spread out further and further over the internet, and the general public became more aware of them.
The transmission of the tradition
Many enthusiasts riding their hobby horses.
Hobby horses at Narinkkatori. Photo: Pompeii Sporthorses.
Most of the hobby horse activities take place online, where the enthusiasts meet, share tips and agree on meetings. For the younger generations, social media is a natural channel for sharing information and learning about the hobby, while also passing on the hobby horse tradition. Hobby horse competitions, camps, lessons and coaching play an important part in passing on skills and knowledge. The Finnish Hobbyhorse Association also offers its members training and information about the hobby.
The future of the tradition
The number of hobby horse enthusiasts has grown rapidly in the recent years, and that number shows no sign of diminishing. With the lists it keeps, the Finnish Hobbyhorse Association aims to map the number of enthusiasts and offer a hub where they can meet. The enthusiasm of hobby horse enthusiasts is also increased by the annual show jumping and dressage championships for hobby horses; the association has organised them since 2012.
The community/communities behind this submission.
Bibliography and links to external sources of information
The community/communities behind this submission.
The Finnish Hobbyhorse Association: Suomen Keppihevosharrastajat ry
Bibliography and links to external sources of information
Online register for hobbyhorses and wooden horses in Finland
Internet forum for hobbyhorse enthusiasts in Finland
Sinimaaria Kangas, Lucia Stenger 2016: Keppareiden kyydissä - Keppihevosharrastuksen ABC.
Venla-Maria Uutela 2015: Keppari - Keppihevosten maailma. Pieni Karhu.
Venla-Maria Uutela 2013: Keppihevosten varusteet. Pieni Karhu.


Old Python bindings
From VideoLAN Wiki
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Python binding documentation
For a while, there has been a basic python binding for libvlc, that was used for streaming. A more complete (with a hopefully generic API that can be reused by other players) has been developped, based on the MediaControlAPI.
Sources are browsable from python binding and a code sample can be found in [1].
The vlc python module provides 2 main classes : MediaControl and Object.
vlc.Object provides a binding to the vlc object architecture. It allows to manipulate variables and configuration options, and explore the object hierrarchy. The vlcdebug.py script, located in the python bindings directory, wraps around the vlc.Object to provide an easier access to variables and objects (as illustrated in the code sample in [2]).
vlc.MediaControl implements the MediaControlAPI.
Methods taking positions as parameters expect a vlc.Position object, that provides a very flexible way to address absolute or relative positions, in a number of units (milliseconds, frames or bytes). For convenience, the python binding automatically converts integer positions into milliseconds vlc.Position objects.
Tips and tricks
Snapshot support
In order to get snapshot support, you have to activate the snapshot vout module through a clone video filter. The following code gives a way to achieve this :
 mc=vlc.MediaControl([ "--vout-filter", "clone" ])
 o.config_set("clone-vout-list", "default,snapshot")
 o.config_set("snapshot-width", 320)
 o.config_set("snapshot-height", 200)
Note that all config options could have been given on the command line, but this illustrates the use of the vlc.Object API.
There is a snapshot functionality built in the vlc core, associated to a hotkey. The MediaControlAPI could (should ?) use it, but
 - it did not exist at the time the extension was developped
 - the builtin snapshot functionality is oriented towards interactive use (hotkey activation, saving into a file) and should be revamped to take into accound a more programmatic use
 - the snapshot vout module holds a cache of reduced-size snapshots, that allow to take into account the reaction time of the user (around 200ms) and also to select the more appropriate snapshot from the cache.
Win32 initialization
If the vlc module was not compiled with the exact same prefix as the VLC installation (e.g. c:\\Program Files\\Videolan), then it cannot find itself the installation directory (stored in the registry Software\VideoLAN\VLC\Path), and the MediaControl instanciation will fail with a message like "Cannot find interface plugins".
The workaround consists in changing directory to the VLC installation directory before instanciating the MediaControl object.
 def get_registry_value (self, subkey, name):
 import _winreg
 value = None
 for hkey in _winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, _winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER:
 reg = _winreg.OpenKey(hkey, subkey)
 value, type_id = _winreg.QueryValueEx(reg, name)
 except _winreg.error:
 return value
 if vlcpath is None:
 print "Cannot locate VLC installation directory"


Removing Barriers to HR Success
HR teams face a barrage of challenges to reach an ideal level of performance and success. Many corporate leaders view HR as a transactional or administrative function without significant strategic contribution. Some even treat HR as a necessary evil. However, there are some HR departments, teams and professionals that find ways to change that perception.
Practitioners can easily explain how and why HR as a function and business discipline contributes to organizational success. The challenge in many organizations is not with HR's potential. It's with the way HR is viewed and how HR has to function when back-office administrative duties occupy a large portion of energy, time and resources.
How do some HR teams do it? How do they find that elusive "seat at the table?"
In this webcast, we will present the results of a new research study that will help you understand how HR Leaders perform and what earns them a strategic role in their organizations.
During this webcast we will present new research that will give you insight into:
 - The key HR strategic behaviors that can help shift internal perceptions that HR is much more than an administrative function and is in fact critical to a company's success.
 - How HR can attain a more strategic role in the organization by first improving the efficiency of its everyday processes.
 - How employee learning and development, as a strategic initiative, can deliver the types of bottom line business benefits senior leaders need to see.
 - How to make a genuine business case for HR initiatives that will help senior leaders understand the strategic value of HR's potential contribution.
Join Doug Hoffer and Dwight Griesman, two senior leaders from HR and Marketing at Access as they present this new research.
Watch webinar now


How Nvidia's AI Security system saved supercomputer data centre operator $300,000 an hour and stopped it being hacked by bitcoin desperadoes
Downtime is so expensive to a super computer operator that a network failure can cost it a million dollars in lost productivity in half a day.
So a new level of artificial intelligence, which predicts and prevents operational issues, prevents network failures and catches hackers early, can instantly pay for itself.
Processing giant Nvidia has unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI) driven security system, which aims to minimise downtime in InfiniBand data centres using analytics to detect anticipate problems.
The NVIDIA Mellanox UFM has been used to manage InfiniBand systems for a decade. It applies AI to learn a data center's operational cadence and network workload patterns. Drawing on this knowledge of both real-time and historic telemetry and workload data it can create a baseline of what is normal and acceptable. It then tracks the system's health and network modifications, and detects performance degradations, usage and profile changes.
In June Nvidia added today a third element to the UFM family, the UFM Telemetry platform. This tool captures real-time network telemetry data, which is streamed to an on-premises or cloud-based database to monitor network performance and validate the network configuration.
This means the new system can spot abnormal system and application behaviour. It can also predict potential system failures and nip these threats in the bud by taking corrective action.
Supercomputers are often targets of high value system hacking by sophisticated crooks attempting to host undesired applications, such as cryptocurrency mining. The result is reduced data center downtime — which typically costs more than $300,000 an hour, according to research by ITIC.
The UFM Cyber-AI system allows system administrators to instantly detect and respond to potential security threats and prevent failures. This saves a fortune and provides the continuity of service that keveryone in a job, according to Gilad Shainer, senior vice president of marketing for Mellanox networking at NVIDIA.
'It determines a data centre's unique vital signs and uses them to identify performance degradation, component failures and abnormal usage patterns," said Shainer.
Douglas Johnson, association director of the Ohio Supercomputer Center, has used the UFM platform for years in his employer's InfiniBand data centres. 'UFM and the expertise from the Mellanox networking team have been fundamental ingredients in the management of our network and the stability we've achieved,' said Johnson.
The UFM Cyber-AI platform complements the UFM Enterprise platform, which manages networks, performance and security.
D-Link introduces new fever-screener technology to identify over heating staff in the COVID-19 crisis
Camera maker D-Link has launched a new spy-cam which can take the temperature of everyone in the office and report on who looks a bit peaky.
The new Group Temperature Screening Camera, DCS-9500T, is an all-in-one intelligent fever screening kit with a dual-lens thermographic picture taker, blackbody calibrator and management software.
It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse data from the thermographic camera and can raise an alarm automatically if an unusually high body temperature is detected in any of the subjects.
The system was developed by South Korean vendor D-Link for monitoring large, busy areas and gives fast skin-surface temperature detection for up to 30 people at once with accuracy to the nearest 0.3°C.
D-Link says it is intended for schools, factories, office buildings, airports or hospitals.
The fever screener has a high accuracy camera with a wide-angle thermal lens and an uncooled IRFPA 400×300 microbolometer high-resolution thermal sensor. Together these create razor-sharp thermal images and precise results when identifying those with a temperature.
A full high definition (HD) optical imaging sensor allows the kit to create high-quality footage that overlays thermal and optical images into one.
Facial recognition technology in the management software means that the kit can identify staff members who are falling ill.
The fever screening system is compatible with open industry forum ONVIF, so it can be integrated into existing systems.
The management software can manage up to 32 cameras, so up to 900 people could be monitored at once.
What made the South Koreans develop this particular application of the technology?
Is it in use already in South Korea?
The technology identifies people who are overheating. How does it raise an alarm to management: through a discrete email to a manager, does it use public shaming methods such as social media or does it employ direct digital intervention such as shutting down the individual's technology and despatching a Robot to eject them from the premises?
Has anyone raised any queries about the use of this technology?
How Blockchain will give us control back over our bodies
Within two years all medical data will be globally available – including your genomes – unless it can be blockchained by ethical start ups like Shivom.
Well, we say ethical start ups. Who knows? The CEO and founder, Dr Axel Schumacher, sounded very nice on the phone. And the 94 page white paper on Precision Medicine looks pretty convincing.
Then again, so did the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Google. They were into precision marketing.
Dr Axel Schumaker, CEO of Shivom
Dr Axel Schumacher – I don't think I'd mind if he examined my genomes – he is a proper doctor after all
We didn't know that. We all assumed they were philanthropists who let us use their expensive data centres to store all our private thoughts because they really wanted to 'democratise the world'.
They told us they were levelling the playing field. Actually, they were looting our private lives.
It turns out they were selling every bit of information they could glean, to everyone from pyramid sellers, to debt collectors to oppressive government snooping agencies.
Still, we're all a bit older and wiser now? We won't get spooked again, will we? Sadly, it turns out we will and this time the data intrusions go even deeper. As if having our privacy ravished by cyber spivs wasn't bad enough, the next generation of digital confidence gainers have taken snooping to the next level. They've devised a way to ransack our medical histories and taken privacy pillaging to a molecular level.
Did you know that all these wearable gadget companies, like Fitbit, sell the information you upload to them? You might not think your ECGs are all that exciting but pharmaceutical companies have an endless appetite for this sort of stuff. They've got absolute buckets of money, like futures and options traders on Friday night in a lap dancing club. Those rapacious pharmas will keep stuffing notes into our private places in the hope that we'll show them more of our biology.
But who is profiting from this Medical Peep Show? Fitbit, that's who. All you get is a useless wearable placebo which doesn't seem to tell you much at all. You wonder how long people wear a Fitbit until they get bored with them and put them in the cupboard with the other fad equipment, between the Espresso Machine and the Sandwich Toaster.
Genome companies like 23&Me have even more detailed information about our DNA. Why? Because we're mug enough to send them our blood samples, in the vain hope that they'll tell us something about our genetic make up. Which one of the 12 tribes were we descended from? It's the modern version of Astrology. I've got typical DNA of a Sagittarean, on the cusp of a privacy invasion.
Surely, if someone is going to pay to ogle at our double helix, we should be the ones getting paid. We shouldn't be giving our bodies away free so that some wearable pimp can take all the profit. If I'm going to get my genomes out for the labs, I want a piece of the action.
This is where Blockchain can help us. it can put us back in control of our data. We can use wearable gadgets to measure and monitor us. But new blockchain companies like Shivom, will put a lock on our data, so we only give it up by consent. You wanna see my Genomes, Mr SmithKlineGlaxo? Well put ten dollars into my bitcoin!
New invention cuts the job of sorting AI Tools from 7 years to a month
There are so many AI tools for chemical engineering jobs that it takes years to find the right one. So researchers at North Caroline State University have trained a 'virtual lab' to choose the best AI tools for each job.
Having the right tool for the job makes the job a lot easier, less expensive and faster.
They simulated 600,000 experiments, assessed 150 AI-guided decision-making strategies and claim to have cut 7.5 years of continuous robotic operation into one month's work.
Chemical engineering researchers have now developed a virtual laboratory that can be used to determine the artificial intelligence (AI) tools best suited for addressing various chemical synthesis challenges in flow chemistry systems.
Autonomous systems can accelerating chemical R&D and manufacturing, but they are not in widespread use for two reasons. It's hard to select the right hardware for automated synthesis – and it's impossible to find AI-guided decision-making algorithm, says Milad Abolhasani, assistant professor of chemical engineering at North Carolina State University.
There are three reasons why: One, there's a huge choice of AI tools available. Two, there's not information about them – which is add omission for artificial intelligence – so it's hard to decide which tool is the best for each material synthesis problem. Three, the admin


Salon: The Flow
Location: Nicasio, CA
Time: 6:30pm
Potluck, speakers, conversation and fun
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Join us for a special sneak preview of clips from Louis' upcoming movie, The Flow about the timeless wisdom of Tao as it applies to changing our cultural narratives and practices in regard to climate change.
Louis Fox is a storyteller, strategist, and filmmaker dedicated to looking at the world as it truly is, while also envisioning it as it could be. As a filmmaker, he has directed and cowritten over a hundred short live action and animated films. His projects The Meatrix, Grocery Store Wars, and the on-going Story of Stuff series, have been viewed by more than 60 million people and have garnered top honors at dozens of international film and media festivals.
Upcoming Salons
Atossa has built a powerful coalition of indigenous leaders and environmental groups that are on the frontlines working to keep carbon in the ground. Learn about this unstoppable movement and how you can get involved.
Atossa Soltani is the founder and executive director of Amazon Watch, the non-profit organization dedicated to defending the rainforests and the rights of indigenous peoples of the Amazon basin
Tuesday, Sept 22, 2015
How do our clothing choices impact the carbon cycle?What do dyes, fabrics, and clothing production have to do with climate change? Learn about full-cycle sustainable clothing production and how this supports living wages, flourishing soil, and a healthy climate.
Host: Elizabeth Ferguson, Ph.D.
Host: Jeremy Lent


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What we are doing about it
How might your life have been different if, when you were a young man uncertain about something you could not begin to explain, or overwhelmed by the power of your own emotion, that there had been a place where you could sit with older men who would acknowledge your anger and confusion and witness your truth without advice or judgment?
How might your life have been different if, as a young man struggling to find out who you were, you knew of a place where you could ground yourself – a place of safety where you were recognised and confirmed and would find support, appropriate challenge and truth?
How might life have been different if, when you were at odds with authority or your closest friends, there had been a place for you where your dreams and aspirations could be received and listened to by a circle of men you respected – men who had worked deeply with the truth of their own lives?
Abandofbrothers believe that many social problems can be alleviated if young men are provided with appropriate personal support, engagement and attention in their local community.
aBandofBrothers are working towards a society where young men and their families are supported through the difficult transition into manhood.
Through our activities, we aim to:
- Assist young men in making a healthy transition to adult manhood so that they emerge purposeful, inspired and confident in their own unique skills and abilities.
- Encourage communities to provide safe, structured and supportive rites of passage experiences for young men.
- Train and support professionals working with young men to be more effective in engaging and mentoring young men.
- Through community partnerships, offer training to youth professionals and create strong local support networks that young men can call upon in times of need.
- Encourage closer interactions between young men, their fathers and other positive male role models and also with other members of their family and community.
- Raise general awareness around the vital importance of community based support for young men and encourage open dialogue on the issues affecting them.
- Work to redirect the money spent on punishing youth toward re-educating them to live purposeful, ecologically responsible and humanly sensitive lives.


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How to improve the usability (and conversion rate) of your forms
Nobody enjoys filling out forms (unless they have some sort of a form filling fetish, in which case they clearly need help) but at least you can minimise the pain for your users by ensuring that your forms are as easy to use and as well designed as possible. In this article I outline some hints, tips and best practice guidelines for improving the usability (and resulting conversion rate) of your forms.
Keep forms as short and simple as possible
A good rule of thumb when it comes to form design is to try to keep your forms as short and simple as possible, but no simpler. Try to remove any unnecessary questions and try to simplify complex questions as much as possible. A good way to do this is to run through the form and ask yourself, "Do we really need to capture this information?". If the answer is 'probably not' then resolve to remove that item from the form.
Don't make users think any more than they have to
Ask me the month and year I bought my last car and I could probably tell you. Ask me the exact date and I wouldn't have a clue. Try not to make users think any more than they have to when filling out your form by ensuring that questions are clear, unambiguous and as easy to answer as possible (unless of course you're designing a quiz). For each step of the form ask yourself "Is it clear what users need to do and will they be able to do it?". If the answer is no then you'll need to change that part of the form.
Make forms as standard as possible
Your users will have filled out countless forms prior to yours so it makes sense to try to make your form as standard as possible. This means using existing form design patterns, such as a recognised address format, postcode look up and error reporting (checkout my design patterns search for an easy way to find form design patterns). Designing a form that is unlike any other might make for a very interesting design but is likely to leave your users scratching their heads.
Let users know what to expect
For many forms it's important to let users know what is in store for them, such as how long the form is likely to take and what sort of information they will need to hand. After all, you don't want users getting half way through your form only to realise that they don't have all the information that's required.
Break complex forms up into bite size chunks
For more complex forms it's often a mistake to try to do too much on the one page, or the one form. Instead consider breaking up the form into bit size chunks, much in the same way that most online checkouts are broken down in to steps (delivery address, billing address, payment etc…). Make sure that sections are clearly labelled and that related information, such as delivery details are captured together.
Show the user's progress
For longer forms it's important to let users know where they are in the form and how much further they have to go. This might be as simple as outlining the step they are currently on (e.g. step 1 of 4), displaying the percentage complete or displaying a progress bar showing the steps completed and the steps still to go.
Make forms easier to scan
Make your form easy for users to quickly scan by using white space, headers and other graphical elements to clearly differentiate form sections. Headings should be descriptive, succinct and should stand out on the page so that users can quickly see what information they need to enter.
Utilise progressive disclosure
For complex forms it can be confusing and potentially overwhelming for users to show all the inputs straight away. Instead it's a good idea to progressively disclose form elements so that they are revealed only if and when required and within context. For example, if a drop down has an 'other' option which requires entry into a text field, it's a good idea to only show that text field when 'other' has been selected.
Use the user's terms and names
It's important when considering labels that names and terms are used that users will understand and recognise. Try to avoid using your own terms as something that might make sense to you might not make sense to your users.
Use succinct and descriptive labels
Form labels should be short, clear and descriptive. If extra information, clarification or context is required use help text to do this rather than long rambling labels.
Place labels next to inputs
Eye tracking studies have shown that placing labels next to inputs (e.g. above or to the left – i.e. right aligned) make it easiest for users to read and associate labels with fields (taking advantage of the Gestalt law of proximity).
Distinguish required and optional inputs
It's important to distinguish the required inputs on a form so that users know what information that they must enter. The standard convention is to use a '*' to distinguish required fields. For example, 'Name *'. Don't forget to also include text at the top of each form page stating that the asterisk signifies a required field.
If most of the fields on a form are required with just 1 or 2 optional then it often makes more sense to highlight optional fields, rather than required fields. A good way to do this is to append the labels for optional inputs with '(optional)', such as 'Mobile number (optional)'. Short forms, such as a password reset form might have all fields required, in which case it's usually not necessary to highlight required fields.
Use appropriate inputs
It's important to choose the right sort of input for the information being captured. For example, radio buttons are a good idea where a small number (e.g. 2-6) of mutually exclusive options are available (i.e. only one can be selected), whereas a dropdown is more appropriate where a larger number of options are available (or where space is an issue). The Microsoft Windows UX guide has a really good run down of many of the different input controls available and their appropriate usage.
The length of text fields should also reflect the format and expected length of text input. Short inputs such as postcodes should have a short text box, where as longer inputs, such as email addresses should have a larger text box. A good way to test that appropriate sizes have been used is to go through your form entering some expected values. Text boxes should be large enough to show most if not all of the text entered.
Have a logical order of inputs
Your form should have a logical order of entry. It would be most unusual for example to ask users for their address and then their name, as it's usually the other way around. It's also a good idea to group related inputs so that users are entering related information in the one place. For example, you might group contact information together (name, email address, telephone number etc…) or preferences together. For larger forms inputs might be grouped into clear sections with headings.
Use smart defaults where appropriate
Smart defaults simply mean that inputs are set to a sensible initial value so that a significant proportion of your users don't have to do anything. For example, if most of your users come from the UK and you have a country select dropdown, it might be a good idea to default the country to 'UK' (or at least have it at the top of the dropdown).
Smart defaults can be really useful but be mindful of users inadvertently submitting default values because they don't realise that a value has already been selected.
Consider the order and grouping of options
Where multiple options are available for users it's important to consider the best order in which to list them and whether grouping options would make sense. For shorter lists it's usually best to order by estimated popularity, with the most likely to be chosen option first and so on. Longer lists (e.g. country select) are usually best ordered alphabetically or grouped, for example using the OPTGROUP element to group options within a dropdown.
Be flexible about formatting
Try not to be too picky about how users enter information into your form as there is nothing more annoying than a form that requires information to be entered in a very specific format. For example, if you're asking for a date the form should ideally be able to accept both shorthand (e.g. 11/5/11 – in the UK, 5/11/11 in the US) and long hand versions (e.g. 11/5/2011 – in the UK, 5/11/2011 in the US).
Allow users to tab through inputs
Many users will utilise the Tab key to move between inputs on a form as it can be much quicker than moving the cursor to the next input with the mouse. It's therefore a good idea to check that tabbing between inputs is possible for your form and that inputs are tabbed in a logical order. The TABINDEX element can be used to specify tabbing order within a web form if the default order is all over the place.
Address common user queries and questions
Users are bound to have lots of queries and questions when it comes to filling out your form. What does this refer to? Why am I being asked for this information? Hopefully you've captured some of these during usability testing but even if you've not yet carried out any usability testing you can still probably have a good guess at some of the queries that might crop up.
A good way to address common user queries and question is to show some help text when an input has focus. You won't need to include help text for every input, just those where users might need a little help or clarification. Help text should be short and clear. If a user might need extra help then it's usually better to link to more information, or to include some additional FAQs, rather than overload the form with help text. MoneySupermarket.com's car


The 13th technology on the manual reads:
After resolving one or more powerups gained from performing a Main action, you may pay 1 cocoa to gain an additional power-up (same Action Board)
While the main action part on the manual reads:
Pay the cost in gold as shown on the selected tile and place one of your Technology markers (wooden discs) on it to mark that you have acquired this Technology. Refer to the Appendix for an explanation of the ongoing benefit of each Technology tile.
After placing the Technology marker, advance once on one temple, depending on which column the selected Technology belongs to: for the left column, for the centre column, for the right column
Afterwards, power up one of your workers on the Alchemy (5) Action Board, unless you used the 3rd option when selecting the tile (you used a single power 4 or 5 worker to place your marker on a second-row Technology).
Therefore, you get the power-up after you have already received the technology, and advanced on a temple. Does this mean that when powering-up your die, can you immediately pay one cocoa to gain an additional power-up?
TLDR: Can you use the technology 13 power on the same die power-up you get from purchasing the technology?
No you can not.
From the FAQ file on BGG here the following Q and A is included.
Q: When do Technology benefits trigger? A: Each Technology triggers at most once during your turn. Most Technologies trigger after performing the Main action on the board (or boards) listed at the bottom of each Technology tile. No Technology will trigger during the turn when it was acquired.
I've tried to find evidence to back this up in the rules printed though and could not.
Your Answer


Why lard should be an essential part of your SHTF stockpile
Bypass censorship by sharing this link:
Image: Why lard should be an essential part of your SHTF stockpile
(Natural News) Pig fat is an underrated culinary ingredient. Commonly known as lard, it is often considered "unhealthy" fat that can clog up your arteries. However, lard is actually healthier than most people have been led to believe.
Lard isn't just for cooking. It is a versatile substance that has many practical uses. Here are a few good reasons why preppers should stockpile lard for everyday use even before SHTF. (h/t to AskAPrepper.com)
Lard is rendered pork fat, often taken from a pig's belly, that has been strained of any meat bits or other impurities. During the Great Depression, many people used lard to help them survive and stave off malnutrition. It was cheap, accessible, and rich in calories. As such, it was commonly used in cooking, baking, frying, and preserving other foods. It is actually lower in saturated fat than butter or any other animal fat. Lard provides many essential calories, but contains no trans fats. It is also a good source of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E and K. (Related: Frying your food in lard is healthier than using sunflower oil, say scientists.)
As lard is also used for food preservation, it should come as no surprise that it has incredible staying power. It can stay fresh for much longer, compared to butter, vegetable oil or coconut oil. Without refrigeration, you can keep it stored in an airtight container for as long as three months. You can also substantially extend its shelf life by keeping it sealed in the freezer for up to three years. However, to keep it fresh, you may need to occasionally reheat your lard every few months, and pour it into a new container with a nice, smooth surface. Outside of cooking, lard can also potentially be utilized for a number of household uses.
Cooking and household uses for lard
 - Cooking oil. Due to its high smoke point and desirable flavor, lard is commonly used as a substitute for cooking oil. When used on cast iron cookware, it does not leave behind a sticky residue that is common with vegetable oils.
 - Food preserver. In olden times, when modern conveniences such as refrigeration did not yet exist, lard played a big role in food preservation. Meat could be cooked and stored in lard over the winter.
 - Spread. In a pinch, lard can be used as a spread on bread, just like butter. It can even be used as a dip to get an extra calorie boost. In the past, this was often done to help ward off malnutrition.
 - Base for poultices. Lard can be used as a base for making a number of medicinal poultices and salves.
 - Hand cream. Lard can make for a good skin moisturizer. It is useful in protecting the skin from drying, chapping, and cracking.
 - Machine oil. Lard can be used to keep machines oiled and moving freely, while also cooling them down. Additionally, it protects metals against rusting and corrosion.
 - Waterproofing treatment. Beef tallow and lard are useful in waterproofing fabric, leather, and materials used for building a shelter. Simply coat your clothing or other material in a layer of lard to help it shed water.
 - Soap. Soap has traditionally been made out of animal fat. Just like with beef tallow, you can use lard to make your own emergency soap.
 - Lamp oil. Because lard is flammable, it can be used as an alternative to lamp oil or candle wax.
If you want to learn more about the practical uses of lard and other food items, you can read more articles by going to Preparedness.news.
Sources include:
AskAPrepper.com 1
AskAPrepper.com 2
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The role of interspecific competition in structuring herbivorous insect communities has been the subject of debate. Current opinion, which is based on recent reviews of experimental work, appears to favor competition as a widespread and frequent process. However, many studies have examined only a few species pairs within larger multi-species assemblages. In addition, the frequency of competitive interactions at the population level has rarely been evaluated in the field at natural herbivore densities. Thus, the importance of competition as a process structuring these communities remains unclear. We examined interspecific competition among 9 species in the seed-feeding insect guild of wild sunflower. In density manipulation experiments using typical high densities of herbivores, we found that only 2 of 18 species pairs interacted competitively within an inflorescence. Moreover, a population-level experiment found no evidence of negative effects between species in either of 2 years. When considered together with several years of herbivore abundance data, our findings suggest that herbivore populations are only infrequently (~ every 5-10 yr) regulated by competitive interactions. Thus, although interspecific competition may have strong negative effects when it does occur, it is uncommon when all potential species pairs are evaluated and is infrequent given typical densities of herbivorous insects.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Plagiomimicus spumosum
Species 2: Coleoptera Curculionidae Smicronyx fulvus
Species 3: Diptera Cecidomyiidae Neolasioptera helianthi
Keywords: interspecific competition, multi-species
Back to Student Competition Display Presentations, Subsection Cd. Behavior and Ecology
Back to Student Competition Poster
Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition


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This rare wooden club came from the Thames foreshore at World's End, Chelsea. It was found in 1996. It has been scientifically dated to 3600-3300 bc. The club is currently on display in the Museum of London's London before London gallery which tells the vast story of London prior to the coming of the Romans.
Weapons in the wet
The club is made of alder wood. It is roughly the size of a modern cricket or baseball bat. It would have been a formidable weapon. It was lost at the river's edge at a time when climatic changes were causing sea and river levels to rise. It owes its survival to the waterlogged conditions in which it lay.
Many other ancient objects have been found in the river in the Chelsea area. Some may have been deliberately placed there as gifts to the gods or to tribal ancestors.
Museum number 99.119


Why to Base Knowledge Representation Language on Natural Language?
Fernando Gomez
It is argued that a knowledge representation language intended to be applied across diverse domains must be based on natural language. It is also indicated that such a representation language will facilitate the acquisition of knowledge from natural language and the interaction with other programs in need of obtaining some knowledge. The main aspects of a knowledge representation language based on these ideas are presented, and the results of such a language in its application to the task of acquiring knowledge from encyclopedic texts are briefly discussed.


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Markierung immortalisierter Zelllinien und Stammzellen mit funktionalisierten Partikeln für biomedizinische Anwendungen
Lorenz, Myriam Ricarda
FacultiesFakultät für Naturwissenschaften
LicenseStandard (Fassung vom 03.05.2003)
Magnetic cell labeling has emerged as a potentially powerful tool for studying in vivo trafficking of transplanted cells, e.g. in studies for tissue repair by magnetic resonance tomography. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of labeling of cells with functionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles without the use of transfection agents. Fluorescent polymer particles were synthesized by the miniemulsion process. The surface charge was varied by adjusting the amount of copolymerized monomers with amino and carboxy groups thus enabling to study the cellular uptake in correlation to the surface charge. The iron in the cell was detected histochemically by the Prussian blue reaction or by transmission electron microscopy. Quantification of the iron content in the cell was performed with the ferrozine assay. Fluorescent activated cell sorter measurements were performed for detecting the uptake of the particles in mesenchymal stem cells, and the three cell lines HeLa, Jurkat, and KG1a. These cell lines were chosen as they can serve as models for clinically interesting cellular targets. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were performed for subcellular localization of the nanoparticles. Concerning surface functionalization of the particles for these cell lines a clear correlation of surface charge and fluorescence intensity could be shown. For an efficient uptake of the nanoparticles, no transfection agents were needed. Aminogroups on the surface of the particles resulted in higher intracellular uptake compared to carboxygroups. For sustained release application, (bio)degradable polymers like poly(alkylcyanacrylate) or polyesters are the first choice. Fluorescent poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(butylcyanacrylate) nanoparticles were synthetized using the miniemulsion process and cell uptake was determined. Considerable intracellular uptake was found in all examined cell lines.
Subject HeadingsNanopartikel [GND]
Drug targeting [LCSH]
Drug delivery systems [MeSH]