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High up in Greece's Pindus Mountains
Europe/Middle-East > Southern Europe > Greece
The Pindus Mountains in northern Greece contain some of the country's highest peaks, including Mt Smolikas, the country's second tallest mountain after Mt Olympus, and are home to a number of species such as brown bear, wolf and jackal. Illegal logging, road construction, ski facilities and mountain tourism, however, threaten extensive forest areas.
The Papingo Information Centre, established by WWF and the local community, is monitoring the threats and educating visitors about the region's unique biodiversity. The centre also supports a number of conservation projects and promotes ecotourism.
Northern Pindos includes 2 national parks (Vikos-Aoos and Valia Kalda/Northern Pindos) and the mountainous forest areas around them. The main values of the area are: extremely beautiful landscapes, the most diverse mosaic of forest types, the Zagori group of 45 villages of traditional architecture, the most complete alpine zone animal community, almost all rare and threatened big mammals in Greece, over 1000 species of plants with some endemic ones.
While WWF Greece had acknowledged the importance of the area for quite some time, little concrete action on the part of the organisation had been taken to engage in the Northern Pindos. In part, this could be explained by the absence of an appropriate "entry point" into such a large and demanding area and also the difficulty in finding the appropriate project leader for this challenge. The president of the traditional community of Papigo, a village within the area, offered WWF the opportunity to use the old school of the village and asked the organisation to establish a visitor centre here, following Prespa's model. WWF staff made 2 visits to the village and relevant contacts were made. At the same time, a biologist originating from the area expressed his will to collaborate with WWF for a local project. These 2 events created the necessary prerequisites for a WWF involvement in the area.
Conserve the threatened natural values of the Northern Pindos through the active participation of local people through capacity building activities.
- Contribute to the effective conservation of the Northern Pindos National Park.
- Increase local involvement in nature conservation.


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In an apparent guerilla stunt, a wildlife sculpture in downtown Vancouver has been "caught" in a giant plastic 6-pack ring. The sculpture, located at the corner of Georgia and Thurlow Streets, depicts two dolphins, whose necks are now caught in the giant plastic rings marked with the "PlasticPollutionCoalition.org" web address.
This stunt is a large-scale reminder of the dangers of litter, particularly plastics, in our ocean. Approximately 75-80 million tons of plastics are used every year to produce the world's food packaging alone, and a large proportion of these plastics inevitably end up in our oceans. Almost 80% of the garbage found in the ocean comes from land-based sources, with the majority being packaging and food containers like the ubiquitous 6-pack ring featured in this guerilla demonstration. This garbage kills sea creatures by strangling them, drowning them through entanglement, or even starving them through malnutrition when ingested debris in the creatures' stomachs prevents them from getting the food and nutrients that they require.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


How an American Became a Dutch Author
For subscribers
How an American Became a Dutch Author
(Ethel Portnoy) The Low Countries - 2004, № 12, pp. 98-102
When transsexuals claim they were born in the wrong body, Portnoy can understand how they feel. Growing up in the USA, she felt that she had been born in the wrong place. She had known since childhood that she wanted to be a writer, and since adolescence that Europe was where she rightfully belonged. Everything that interested her seemed to have originated there. Although her parents had come from Europe to the United States, she felt that she must migrate in the opposite direction. That decision turned out to be the luckiest one she ever made. This is the account of an author who exists almost only in translation.
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Rubble Railway Nuremberg
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rubble Railway Nuremberg
Route of the rubble railway Nuremberg
Gauge : 900 mm ( narrow gauge )
The Trümmerbahn Nürnberg, popularly known as "Trümmer-Express" or "Moll-Bahn", was a rubble railway in Nuremberg. She served after the Second World War to eliminate the war rubble and ran from the old town on the Valznerweiher, the Nazi party rally grounds and the Silver Buck to Fischbach. The narrow-gauge railway had a track width of 900 millimeters and was built from 1946 to 1947 after around 90 percent of the buildings in the old town were destroyed or badly damaged by the air raids on Nuremberg and large quantities of rubble had to be removed. After the largest mountains of rubble in the old town and the eastern southern part of the city had been removed, the railway ceased operations in 1950. Similar systems existed in about three dozen other German cities.
In the city center, the loosely laid tracks often changed as required. The railway initially led eastwards, on the Prinzregentenufer out of the old town, along the Pegnitz, which was also partially buried by bombs, and crossed it at the Wöhrd valley crossing on a specially built iron girder bridge. After the Dürrenhof tunnel, it followed Regensburger Strasse, crossed St. Peter, passed the Nazi party rally grounds to the excavation pit for the defunct German stadium, where the rubble was first dumped. Right next to it was the Silberbuck, a 35-meter-high mountain made of toxic and chemical waste. At the Valznerweiher, a separate depot with a locomotive shed and sidings was built for the vehicles on today's 1. FC Nürnberg site. There the machines were serviced and supplied with water and coal. There were evasions at various points so that counter-trains could pass. When the capacities at the German Stadium were gradually exhausted and no further mountains of rubble that could be seen from afar, such as the Silberbuck or the Föhrenbuck in Maiach, were to be piled up, the route was extended over today's Breslauer Straße to Fischbach. The rubble of the Föhrenbuck comes from other parts of the city and was not delivered by the rubble railway, but transported by trucks and barges on the Ludwig-Danube-Main Canal, which at that time was almost completely navigable. Large forest areas were designated around Fischbach, in which the further debris should be spread as evenly and inconspicuously as possible. Therefore, the route of the rubble railway changed there almost daily. When fully expanded, the rubble railway comprised a route network of 17 kilometers and an additional three kilometers of operating routes.
Construction and operation
The Leonhard Moll AG from Munich was commissioned with the construction and operation of the rubble railway, which as one of the market leaders in the production of industrial railways had the corresponding capacities. Initially, the carts were pulled by horses or pushed by hand. The rubble train could transport several dozen cubic meters of rubble per trip. The route was traveled with small steam locomotives that pulled tipping lorries. Up to 18 small steam locomotives from Henschel or Krauss-Maffei with an output of 20 to 75 hp were used. While loaded trains could only travel uphill at walking pace, empty trains reached speeds of up to 40 km / h downhill. In the event of overloading and on the inclines, additional pushing or a second locomotive had to be pre-tensioned. The multiple traction was also necessary because the area after Fischbach from 295 to 345 m above sea level. NN rises constantly. There were several hundred open tilting lorries available. The companies commissioned with the rubble removal used all available wagons, which resulted in a great variety in terms of design, size and year of construction. Usually six to eight loaded wagons were transported by one or two locomotives in Nuremberg. On the return trip, 15 to 20 wagons could be pulled empty and firewood felled in the woods could be taken. In addition to the carts, platform wagons were used to transport beams, iron girders and other bulky material. If it was necessary to transport liquids, existing barrels were lashed.
Debris dump near Fischbach
Except for one derailment, no accidents or operational disruptions worth mentioning have been reported.
In contrast to other major German cities, the loading was carried out only to a small extent by the so-called rubble women. German prisoners of war who were assigned by the Allies were primarily used in Nuremberg. In 1946 the city council also introduced compulsory service that required all 16 to 29 year olds to do 50 hours of clearing work. Loading was mostly done manually or with wheelbarrows via specially built small loading ramps. As far as available, simple conveyor belts and excavators were later used when there was enough space, with material separation taking place. Materials and objects that were still usable were separated on site and recycled elsewhere. The total moved masses were traceably documented and amounted to around ten million tons up to the Silberbuck and probably two to three times more to the forests around Fischbach. The compulsory service was abolished again in 1948 and the work was continued by contracted construction companies.
After the tracks were dismantled in the 1950s, the lines were built over, reforested or otherwise renatured.
In the forest area between Valznerweiher and Fischbach, numerous heaped earth walls of the deposits and the former routes can still be seen today.
Web links
Commons : Trümmerbahn Nürnberg - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Individual evidence
 1. a b Silberbuck, Schuttberg, Kleinbahn
 2. a b c Moll-Bahn - rubble transport to Fischbach
 3. a b Press report Nürnberger Nachrichten of December 24, 2019 p.10
Coordinates: 49 ° 25 '47.9 " N, 11 ° 9' 28.3" E


text: What are the underlying worldviews and beliefs about the role of science in society held by students enrolled in a college-level, general education, introductory astronomy course (Astro 101)—and are those beliefs affected by active engagement instruction shown to significantly increase students' conceptual knowledge and reasoning abilities related to astronomy? To help answer this question, we administered Cobern's (Cobern 2001) Thinking About Science Survey Instrument (TSSI) to an Astro 101 class in the spring 2011. The TSSI probes students' beliefs about the relationship between science and many aspects of contemporary society. In this paper, we analyze the 442 pre-instruction and 294 post-instruction student responses we received to the TSSI. Many students select responses to the TSSI's items indicating they have positive views about the role of science in society. We also see a slight increase in the number of positive responses preto post-instruction. While there are limitations to the inferences one can draw from responses to a Likert scale survey such as the TSSI, this work nevertheless provides an important first step in a larger project to understand and affect the worldviews of general education, introductory astronomy students. To better interpret the significance of these results, we conclude by comparing the TSSI data to preliminary data from a related study in which we collected students' written responses to a series of provocative, open-ended prompts on the relationship between science and society.


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South America is a region of spectacular contrasts with rich culture, sandy beaches, lush rainforests, snow-capped mountains and vibrant cities. From the ancient Incan ruins of the Andes and the palm-fringed beaches of Brazil, to the blue-white glaciers of Patagonia, South America is one of the most intriguing and beautiful regions on earth.
Despite all its natural riches, the reality is that a vast portion of South America's population lives below the poverty line. Major issues affecting South American countries include the inability to afford education past the primary level, limited access to healthcare, and large populations of children who live and work on the streets. There is also a need for more environmental and wildlife conservation programs, as well as initiatives that provide effective tools to help communities lift themselves out of poverty.
In response to these issues, Planeterra has partnered with communities across South America to support local efforts and help break the cycle of poverty.


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For metal detectors, physical size and orientation, especially of conductive products, can impact the inspection, Todd Grube, product manager, inspection systems, Heat and Control pointed out. It can also help determine the type of technology.
"For metal detection, manufacturers must determine whether their products require a single-frequency unit, multi-frequency or multi-spectrum technology exclusive to our CEIA metal detectors."
To properly match the system with the product size and type, the key is working with a variety of frequencies.
"Often, the solution is to change the frequency of operation to minimize the effect," said Steve Mason, sales manager at Fortress Technology.
But sometimes, choosing one frequency over another becomes a tradeoff.
"The downside of doing this is that it can impact the ability to find different metals," he cautioned. "By dropping the frequency, the ability to find ferrous metals is enhanced but limits performance when it comes to finding non-ferrous metals because the lower end of the frequency is more responsive to magnetic effects of the contamination. By the same token, if the frequency is higher, the reverse happens; the ferrous detection capabilities are limited, but non-ferrous detection is enhanced."
Today's metal detectors solve this problem by operating on multiple frequencies at the same time. Mettler Toledo's MSF metal detectors use a combination of high and low frequencies simultaneously, using two stages: frequency and phase.
"This cancels the input from combinations of high and low frequencies," said Camilo Sanchez, product inspection product manager, metal detection, Mettler Toledo. "The result is effective removal of the product signal, allowing for much smaller contaminants to be detected."
Vision technology can be integrated with metal detection for enhanced inspection. While these systems have typically focused on either the height difference or color variations, EyePro System spent several years developing its Multi-Eye technology to detect defects on the surface of a product.
"Our systems can inspect the quality of the products and identify defects often not detectible by other technologies," said Erica Vannini, sales and customer service, EyePro System. It uses a combination of spectroscopy and imaging technology to acquire an image of the product at various wavelengths to detect the foreign body. "Think about a piece of white plastic on a mozzarella cheese pizza."
This article is an excerpt from the July 2020 issue of Baking & Snack. To read the entire feature on inspection systems, click here.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Congress of Parasitology X
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/31/2002
Publication Date: 4/16/2003
Citation: Almeria, S., Demarez, T., Dawson, H.D., Araujo, R., Padilhia, T., Dubey, J.P., Gasbarre, L.C. 2003. Immune responses in dam and fetus after experimental infection of pregnant cows with neospota caninum. Parasitology International Congress. pp. 413-18. Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: The present study was performed to define the immune responses in the dam and fetus after infection of pregnant cows with N. caninum. Four cows were infected early in the second trimester of pregnancy (110 days of gestation) intravenously with 107 culture derived tachyzoites and three pregnant cows were kept as uninfected controls. Animals were euthanized at 3-4 weeks after infection (131-138 days of pregnancy). Tissues (brain, spinal chord. muscle, heart, liver, spleen) were collected from both, dam and fetus, and were examined for presence of parasites. Immune responses in lymphocyte populations from lymph nodes and spleen ofboth dam and fetus were ascertained by flow cytometry and by real time PCR for cytokine message expression. Quantification of bovine cytokines was performed by real time PCR using bovinespecific TaqMan@ probes for IL-10, IL-4, IFN-gamma, and IL-12. No abortion was observed in any infected dam at the time of the killing, however, transplacental infection had already taken place and parasites were detected in tissues from at least 3 of 4 infected fetuses. Infected dams showed significantly higher CD3+ populations in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) compared to uninfected dams. Percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were higher, while B-cell populations were lower in the infected dams, although differences were not statistically significant In the fetus few immunocompetent lymphocytes were present, however, similarly to the dams, higher CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and IL-2 R+ cells and lower B-cells+ were present in the spleen of infected fetus compared to uninfected fetus, although differences were not statistically significant, due to the high variability among animals. Preliminary results showed a high increase in bIL10 in spleen populations of infected fetuses versus uninfected fetuses.


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A fertilized, incubated chicken egg takes about 21 days to hatch; and while most of us have seen what chicks look like at either end of the developmental spectrum (either sunny-side-up in a frying pan or newly hatched in a nature documentary), the fact that egg shells aren't see-through means that not many people have seen what goes on between days 2 and 20.
Well... now you have.
As reddit user alukima points out, it's unclear whether these photos catalogue the development of a single chick, or of several chicks photographed at different stages of development. You'll notice, for example, that in the third image the yolk appears be broken, but looks fine in later images.
Having said that, it is possible to grow a chicken in a petri dish. Several methods papers have been published on the subject of Petri-grown chicks, beginning with the Auerbach method in 1974. You can check out the full set of images over on imgur.


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- INFOhio Users Council members created this Jigsaw puzzle about Famous Ohioans. Students use ISearch to find the answers (and cite their sources) to the questions, then work together in groups to solve the Jigsaw Puzzle.
- Information, Media and Technological Literacy
- Upper Primary, Middle School
- Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8
- Material Type:
- Lesson Plan
- Cathie Cooper
- Date Added:
- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States
- Media Format:
- Downloadable docs
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Add important feedback and this resource.


text:
A base is a chemical that has hydroxide (OH)–, as its negative part, such as NaOH (Na+ and OH–)
- Some chemicals, such as baking soda (NaHCO3), form a base when mixed with water.
- A base indicator is a chemical that changes color when added to a base. If the indicator is dry, such as litmus paper, the paper changes color when a base solution touches the paper.
Litmus Paper: Test for a Base
Purpose: To identify a positive test for a base using litmus paper.
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon of distilled water
1 strip of red litmus
1 strip of blue litmus
1. Mix the baking soda and water together.
2. Use the same procedures previously described for testing for an acid.
1. The objective is to place a drop of base on each piece of litmus paper. This can be done by any one of the following procedures:
- Fill an eyedropper with the baking powder solution and place a drop of basic solution on each piece of litmus. Observe any change in the color of the litmus strip.
- Stir the baking soda solution with a glass stirring rod, wooden craft stick, or plastic knife. Then touch the wet end of the rod or stick to the strips of litmus paper. Again observe any color changes.
Results: The red litmus turns blue. The blue litmus gets wet and may appear more blue in color.
Conclusion: Red litmus can be used to identify a base. Red litmus turns blue when it touches a base solution.


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Keeping People with Disabilities in the Workforce: Negotiating Work, Life and Disability – Field Initiated Research Project
Whether a person with a disability or not, it is essential to find the proper balance between work and other life domains. This study is one of the first to investigate the specific work-life experiences and strategies of individuals with disabilities. Findings from this project may help our understanding of how individuals with disabilities find satisfying, sustainable employment, enabling longer, more productive careers.
The Work-Life Balance study provided new knowledge about how people with disabilities effectively manage work-life negotiations, what employer policies and practices contribute to a positive balance for these workers, and best practices employers and disability service providers can engage in to help individuals with disabilities to find and retain employment.
The first phase of the study included fielding a survey to the networks of over 100 organizations that serve individuals with disabilities(e.g., regional ADA Technical Assistance Centers, Centers for Independent Living, and organizations that serve people with specific types of disabilities/chronic health conditions). The survey sought to identify workplace components, such as supervisory support and provision of reasonable accommodations that contribute to positive workplace experiences for people with disabilities.
In the second phase of the study, virtual focus groups were conducted to further explore issues noted in the survey results. The focus group data supported findings from the survey.
Findings from the project have been shared via webinars, conference presentations, blog posts, and in academic and non-academic publications, as well as through the Work-Life Balance & Disability website.


Home Heritage Useful Scots words Useful Scots word: muckle, mickle and George Washington's muddle
Useful Scots word: muckle, mickle and George Washington's muddle
Want to read more stories about Scots? Consider donating to The Caledonian Mercury
George Washington
George Washington
By Betty Kirkpatrick
Muckle is now best known to most people for its appearance in the old adage Mony a mickle maks a muckle. This is popularly thought to mean that a lot of small amounts of something will make a large amount of it. It is often used to try and encourage people to save little amounts of money in the hope, one day, that these will become a fortune.
The sentiment may be admirable, but the saying as it stands actually does not make much sense. Mickle and muckle, far from being opposites in meaning, actually mean the same thing. As nouns they both mean a large amount or a great deal of something. As adjectives they both mean large or great in size. Many Scots words have variations in spelling and muckle/mickle is an example. Meikle is another variation of the same word, as in the meikle stane (stone) mentioned in Tam o' Shanter:
And past the birks and meikle stane,
Where drunken Charlie brak's neck-bane:'
How the saying Mony a mickle maks a muckle came about is a bit of a mystery. The most likely explanation is that the phrase started out life as Mony a pickle maks a muckle. Pickle, unlike mickle, is opposite in meaning to muckle and means a small amount. This phrase, then, has the merit of making sense.
If that is the case, a most unlikely person appears to have been involved in the faulty rewording of the saying. That person is George Washington. In 1793 he referred in writing to a Scots saying: "many mickles make a muckle" adding "than which nothing in nature is more true". I doubt if he single-handedly caused the mickle problem, but he certainly added to it.
Mony a mickle maks a muckle might be linguistically inaccurate, but it has spread its wings further into England than most Scots words and phrases have done. To add to the confusion, a version of the saying has appeared in some English dialects as Many a little makes a mickle.
The word muckle is derived from Old English micel, meaning great or large, which is associated with Old Norse mikill of the same meaning. Muckle can be used as a noun, as in the saying under discussion, or as in They dinna think muckle o' him, used to emphasize a poor opinion of someone. However, muckle is often used as an adjective in a wide range of contexts, as in a muckle tree, a muckle hoose, a muckle difference, a muckle eejit (idiot) and so on.
Muckle feck refers to the larger or lion's share of something, muckle coat to a greatcoat and muckle chair to a particularly large armchair. The muckle tae is the big toe and the town of Langholm in Dumfriesshire is frequently known as the Muckle Toon.
Muckle is also found in compound adjectives such as muckle-moued, having an exceptionally large mouth. Muckle-backit means having a good strong back, always an asset, and muckle-boukit, in one of its senses, means having a large powerful physique. In its other sense it means pregnant, hardly a flattering description of a mother-to-be.
Muckle has extended its senses to mean adult or grown up. Thus an expression such as someone's muckle dochter can be ambiguous. She can either be a large (probably not a compliment) daughter or a grown-up daughter. Muckle can also mean high-ranking or important, as in the muckle fowk (people) of the toon.
Muckle fowk have often achieved their muckledom by being wealthy. This reminds me of another muckle saying: Moyen (influence) does muckle, but money does mair (more). True, very true. Our wealthy Westminster politicians are living proof of it.
 - Pingback: Useful Scots word: pickle | Caledonian Mercury - Heritage
 - _URL_ Thrissel
 By coincidence I just came over the 'many a little makes a mickle' version, with a slightly different implication, in The House with the Green Shutters, p 115:
 [The average Scotsman] has expressed his love of festina lente in business in a score of proverbs – 'bit by bit's the better horse, though big-by-bi-g's the baulder'; 'ca' canny or ye'll cowp'; 'many a little makes a mickle'; and 'creep before ye gang'.


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ICCCS members, structure, activities, standards and accredited education
National societies in cleanroom technology and contamination control often make guidelines that fit the needs of the industries in their country. These guidelines often contain new knowledge. Sometimes these guidelines are used in the development of new standards or the revision of existing standards. In an ISO or CEN standards working group the knowledge of the participating countries is shared, combined and put as a common denominator into a new standard. Through the international standard the knowledge becomes available in the countries that adopt the new standard.In the ISO TC209 recent examples are the standards on cleanroom suitability (ISO 14644-14 and 15), energy efficiency (ISO 14644-16) and particle deposition rate (ISO 14644-17). As an example the monitoring and application of particle deposition rate, the key parameter in contamination control, will be discussed.


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Seven new models of air purifiers were launched onto the market in India last November. Many of these models contain technologies familiar in Japan. These include the ECONAVI, which conserves energy by automatically recognizing the pattern of air impurities occurring according to the user's lifestyle; Nanoe, which breaks down and minimizes harmful substances contained in fine particulate matter; and HEPA filters that powerfully collect fine particulate matter and other microscopic particles.
They also contain an auto restart feature, which switches them on again automatically after power is restored following a power cut, a feature that takes into account the frequent nature of power cuts in India.
Testing laboratory: Product Analysis Center, Panasonic Corporation
Testing method: Measurement of organic matter attached inside a testing room measuring approximately 11m2
Minimization method: Releasing Nanoe
Test results: Aromatic carboxylic acid: benzoic acid) 98% or more broken down after approximately 8 hours (alkane: hexadecane) 99% or more broken down after approximately 24 hours


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Prove that a $3\times3$
is positive definite if and only if $a > 0$, $ad - b^2 > 0 $, $\det K > 0$. Also prove that an $n\times n$ matrix $K > 0$ is positive definite if and only if all the upper left square $k \times k$ subdeterminants are positive for $k = 1, \ldots, n$.
For the first part I know that in order it to be a positive definite then the quadratic function $q(x)$ can be transformed by completing the squares but I don't know how to prove $a > 0$, $ad - b^2 > 0 $, $\det K > 0$. For the second part I have no idea how to do.
share|improve this question
Second part implies the first – Berci Oct 8 '12 at 21:53
1 Answer 1
up vote 3 down vote accepted
HINT Note that if $A = \begin{pmatrix}A_{11} & A_{12}\\ A_{21} & A_{22} \end{pmatrix}$, where $A_{ij} \in \mathbb{R}^{n_i \times n_j}$ is positive definite, then choosing $x = \begin{pmatrix}x_1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}$, where $x_1 \in \mathbb{R}^{n_1 \times 1}$, we get $$x^TAx = x_1^T A_{11} x_1$$Hence, if $A$ is positive definite so is $A_{11}$ or for that matter any submatrix along the diagonal.
Hence, all you need to prove is that the determinant of a positive definite matrix is positive.
To prove the above fact, first prove that the eigenvalues of a positive definite matrix are positive (Why? Look at the definition of eigenvalue). Then prove that the determinant of a matrix is nothing but the product of all its eigenvalues (Why?).
share|improve this answer
Thank you marvis!! But we havent learned eigenvalues yet? What can I replace eigenvalues with to prove your hint? – diimension Oct 8 '12 at 22:06
_USER_: Since $A$ is symmetric positive definite, you can find $B$ such that $A = B \,^t B$. So you get $\det(A) = \det(B) \det(^t B) = (\det(B))^2 \ge 0$. – Joel Cohen Oct 8 '12 at 22:15
Beautiful thank you very much!! – diimension Oct 8 '12 at 22:18
_USER_ how will I be able to do the first part?Do I take the quadratic function into account here? – diimension Oct 8 '12 at 22:20
_USER_ : The existence of $B$ is equivalent to saying the quadratic function can be written as a sum of squares : If $q(x) = (b_{1,1} x_1 + \ldots + b_{1,n} x_n)^2 + (b_{2,1} x_1 + \ldots + b_{2,n} x_n)^2 + \ldots + (b_{n,1} x_1 + \ldots + b_{n,n} x_n)^2$, then $A = \,^t B B$ with $B = (b_{i,j})$. – Joel Cohen Oct 8 '12 at 22:28
Your Answer


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func Delete
func Delete(path string)
Delete the file at the given path.
To avoid panics, you should check if the file exists.
func FileExists
func FileExists(file string) bool
FileExists returns true if the file at the given path exists and is readable. Returns false if the given file is a directory.
func GetFileExtension
func GetFileExtension(file string) string
GetFileExtension returns the last part of a file name. If the file doesn't have an extension, returns an empty string.
func GetMIMEType
func GetMIMEType(file string) (string, int64)
GetMIMEType get the mime type and size of the given file.
If the file cannot be opened, panics. You should check if the file exists, using "filesystem.FileExists()"", before calling this function.
func IsDirectory
func IsDirectory(path string) bool
IsDirectory returns true if the file at the given path exists, is a directory and is readable.
type File
type File struct {
 Header *multipart.FileHeader
 MIMEType string
 Data multipart.File
File represents a file received from client.
func ParseMultipartFiles
func ParseMultipartFiles(request *http.Request, field string) []File
ParseMultipartFiles parse a single file field in a request.
func (*File) Save
func (file *File) Save(path string, name string) string
Save writes the given file on the disk. Appends a timestamp to the given file name to avoid duplicate file names. The file is not readable anymore once saved as its FileReader has already been closed.
Creates directories if needed.
Returns the actual file name.


This week, we will be exploring the general architecture of X.509 to get a better idea of how it provides security for its users.
This post is intended for people who are unfamiliar with the general architecture of X.509. I will be addressing the wide use of OpenSSL on SmartOS in a subsequent blog-post.
If you haven't done this already, the first thing when dealing with modern cryptography is wrapping your head around the major players in the X.509 standard. Namely:
 - Encryption Keys (key)
 - Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)
 - Public Key Certificates (CRT)
 - Certificate Authorities (CA)
 - Trusted Certificate Store
 - Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL)
 - Certification Path Validation
Encryption Keys
In Asymmetric Cryptography, encryption keys are generated and used in pairs, a widely disseminated public key which can encrypt data that may only be decrypted by the associated and closely guarded private key. It may be better to visualize the public key as an open padlock which can be clamped onto any strongbox, and which can only be opened by the private key. It is easy to close the padlock without the key, and difficult to open the padlock without the key.
Additionally, for authentication purposes, the private key can sign (encrypt) data which can be verified (decrypted) by anyone holding the public key. This functionality, combined with cryptographic hash functions, means that documents can be certified as valid by a private key, and verified by any holder of the public key of a key-pair.
The concept of the key in X.509 is actually both the public and private key. When stored as a file, it is optionally symmetrically encrypted with a password and key derivation function (KDF), due to the sensitive nature of the contained information.
Certificate Signing Requests
A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is a well-structured, documented request to be trusted, issued by a Private Key. It contains the following:
 - The Subject: Information about the requesting key formatted in LDIF style fields.
 - The Subject's Public Key: Modulus (n) and Exponent (e) in the case of RSA.
 - Optional Meta-Data such as:
 - The maximum length of Certification Paths under this key
 - The possible roles of this key
The entire document is signed with the private key of the referenced key-pair to authenticate its accuracy.
Public Key Certificates
A Public Key Certificate (CRT) is the documented expression of trust by one key (issuer) of another key (subject). In cases where the keys are the same, this is known as a self-signed certificate. CRTs are created from the data of a CSR, combined with some additional information provided by the issuing key, all of which is signed by the issuing key.
In addition to the information in the CSR, Certificates include a Validity time frame: A field that specifies a date and time before which a Certificate is invalid, and another field that specifies a date and time after which a Certificate is invalid.
Certificate Authorities
Certificate Authorities are organizations that have created private keys, self-signed CRTs (CSRs that have been CRTed by the same key). These self-signed CRTs are often referred to as Root Keys and are distributed in operating system installation and update pathways to end-users' trusted certificate store, with the assumption that they are trustworthy.
Trusted Certificate Store
Also commonly referred to as a Certificate Trust Store, a trusted certificate store is a secure collection of certificates held by a peer that is intrinsically trusted by that peer. They usually contain certificates provided by CAs, but can also include additional certificates provided by intermediaries and end-users. Any Certificates should be scrutinized carefully before inclusion into a Trusted Certificate Store.
Certificate Revocation Lists
Certificate Revocation Lists are a list of certificates (specifically a list of serial numbers for certificates) that have been revoked and should no longer be considered trusted. These lists are signed and distributed by the certificate authority.
Certification Path Validation
One last thing to examine on X.509 is how certification path validation works.
When you combine the concept of a Certificate Authority, Trusted Certificate Store, and How Certificates are generated, you get the magic of X.509. An otherwise un-trusted Private Key can generate a Certificate Signing Request that is fulfilled by a CA's private key which has had its public certificate globally distributed into the Trusted Certificate Stores of all peers. This means that the everyone can reasonably assume that an otherwise un-trusted certificate is actually legitimate.
The steps to validate a certificate are as follows. Any false answer invalidates the certificate:
 - Does the certificate have a valid signature?
 - Is the Issuing Certificate trusted? ie: Is it in our Trusted Certificate Store or validated by another trusted certificate?
 - Is the certificate not referenced by the signer's CRL?
 - Does the service match the certificate subject? ie: A certificate that says it's for is invalid if you're trying to access
 - Does the current date and time fall within the Certificate Validity dates?
Certificate Chains
Often times, the certificate used by an end service to provide authentication will not be directly signed by a Certificate in the other peer's trust store. In this case, there will be at least one additional certificate between the certificate used at an application level and the trusted certificate.
This intermediate certificate should be exported with the end certificate for distribution to the client as it's a vital link in establishing the validity of the end certificate. This collection of linked certificates is known as a Certificate Chain.
Root, Branch & Leaf Certificates
As I've alluded to in the previous section, there are Certificates which serve different roles in X.509 PKI. Each of these Certificates has associated Keys.
Root Certificates are distributed to the Trusted Certificate Stores of a set of peers. They are always self-signed and are intended to serve as anchors of trust for other certificates. Because of this role, Root Keys should never be used for common encryption or authentication tasks. It would be better yet that they are stored on physically isolated systems with access granted only to serve their function of signing other valid certificates.
Branch Certificates are used as intermediaries between Root Certificates and Leaf Certificates. Due to the commonality of physical isolation for Root Keys, issuing Leaf Certificates becomes difficult without this intermediary. Branch Certificates are distributed with their issued Leaf Certificates while their associated Branch Keys often reside on logically isolated yet still online systems.
Leaf Certificates are used for the authentication of services by peers with Trusted Certificate Stores. They are either signed directly by a Root Certificate, or by one or more Branch Certificates.
Cross-Signed Certificates
On occasion, it is helpful for a single CSR to be fulfilled by multiple Issuers. This allows multiple independent CA's to express their trust in a single Key. It results in multiple Certificates or Certificate Chains, one for each Issuer. Technically, repeat keys could be omitted, but this is an unlikely circumstance in how X.509 PKI normally operates.
One situation where this can occur is where no single CA has Certificates in the Trusted Certificate Stores of the majority of a given user base. Having cross-signed leaf certificates would mean either Root Certificate could be used for validation.
Another place where this is common is when a new CA is starting operations and their Root Certificates haven't yet been fully distributed to the Trusted Certificate Stores of their user base, while another CA's Root Certificates have. The trusted CA can sign the Branch Certificates of the new CA for a temporary workaround that lasts until the new CA's Root Certificates are fully distributed.


text:
Harbor Regional Center opposes segregated employment and sub-minimum wage for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities; we seek to promote public policy:
- That restricts the expenditure of public funds to businesses who segregate employees with disabilities from the general workforce;
- That ends the ability of employers to pay employees with disabilities a sub-minimum wage;
- That discontinues programs that emphasize moving young adults from the classroom to a segregated or sub-minimum wage employment environment.
Harbor Regional Center seeks to promote and facilitate integrated and comparable wage employment alternatives:
- That strengthen existing and create new government tax incentives for employers to hire employees with disabilities into integrated environments at comparable wages.
- That assist employees with disabilities to find employment in the general workforce in jobs that they choose.
Harbor Regional Center believes the essential ingredients needed to advance competitive integrated employment for people with developmental disabilities are:
- A fierce commitment to make this happen;
- A secondary school education which focuses on the development of functional employability skills, early work experiences, mobility training and a competitive employment goal;
- Frequent and strong collaboration between the regional center, the local education agencies, the department of rehabilitation, clients and families;
- Internship opportunities such as those provided through Project SEARCH as well as paid internships to create opportunities for real world skill development for students as they transition out of school into the world of work;
- Post-secondary programs that provide support for students in certificate and degree programs fully integrated with typical students;
- Flexibility that supports a combination of paid work, volunteering and integrated non-work day activity options to accommodate client choice while promoting paid work options;
- Organized support from the business community;
- Public relations activities designed to showcase successful partnerships with the business community; and
- Supporting families early to foster and build high expectations for their children.


- Phone Number
 Customer Service: _PHONE_
 - Other Sites
 Our other Sites
The Importance of an Accurate Temperature in a Commercial Oven
Commercial Oven
Anyone who works in a restaurant or other large kitchen understands the critical need for a consistent and accurate temperature in the establishment's commercial ovens. Maintaining the proper temperature can be tricky, however, if you do not utilize quality, restaurant-grade equipment. Here are some other facts to help you understand the importance of maintaining accurate temperatures in a commercial setting:
The control process
First, it is necessary to understand the basics of the process. Kitchen ovens – even the best commercial ones – use a very simple on/off temperature control scheme. The oven is set to a particular temperature – 350°F – for example. Once the internal temperature reaches that level or slightly above, an internal thermostat turns the heat off. Later, when the internal temperature falls below the preset level, the heat is tuned back on. This process results in a temperature oscillation around the 350°F level rather than a completely steady one.
Features of commercial ovens
In general, commercial ovens are larger in size and greater durability that allows them to handle far more food over a much longer useful life than ovens typically found in the home. In addition, commercial ovens have a number of extra features that allow them to cook more safely and more economically. In particular, they heat faster and to a higher temperature, they are better insulated to keep the heat in and they often utilize steam absorbents to keep fresh foods crisper while being cooked. Finally, they are usually highly energy efficient to help keep utility costs down.
Natural versus "forced" convection
A final, vitally important difference between home and commercial grade ovens is the way that heat is transferred to the food. In an electric home oven, a current is passed through a coil at the bottom of the oven causing the coil to heat up. The air around the coil then heats up and naturally rises up to where the food is located. A commercial electric oven, however, has a heat coil located at the back of the oven and a fan behind the coil. As the coil heats that fan forces the air towards the food. The latter is a much more efficient process that maintains a more consistent temperature.
If you would like your commercial oven checked for accurate heating, or any other issue, please contact us online at _URL_ or reach us directly at _PHONE_.


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Students help the Hawaiian community
POSTED: Sunday, November 30, 2008
Service learning has nearly become a tradition for Kamehameha Schools Hawaii students. Every year, and beginning as early as middle school, students are required to complete a project with their class that will benefit the Hawaiian community.
The purpose of service learning is to make as much of a positive impact for the community as possible. Therefore, projects are usually done for places in Puna with cultural significance, or where people commonly gather.
"We're helping Hawaiian communities so students are able to see the value of working," said biology teacher Layne Richards. "The benefit is mutual."
Students are involved in service projects that range from beach cleanups to reforestation projects all over the Big Island, and sometimes on neighboring islands.
For KSH eighth-graders an annual service learning project takes them to the island of Molokai for a few days. While there they engage in several different service projects.
In high school, service learning is much more present. Every grade goes on at least one service field trip, so by the time students graduate, they have participated in at least four service learning projects.
For the past three years, the freshmen have gone on two trips, one to Haena and one to Keaukaha. At each site they learn about the site's history and its significance to Hawaiian culture while helping to improve the site.
As sophomores, students learn about different places and community groups that could use their help, and together they organize their own project.
Pohoiki Beach Park has become the traditional place for sophomore service learning. Since many community members frequently go to Pohoiki, students have recognized the importance of keeping the area clean. They spend a day restoring some of the facilities and cleaning the beach.
For juniors, every year is something different. Junior students complete service projects at sites in the district that the year's Hoike will focus on. The Hoike is a mass performance by the student body which includes singing, hula and theater, and it always has a story line that centers around one district of the Big Island.
Last year's Hoike was based on the district of Hamakua, so the juniors took their service project to Waipio Valley, a place that holds great cultural and historical significance to the Hawaiian people.
The juniors hiked down into the valley where they helped clean out taro patches and worked in the river. After spending the entire day working, they hiked back up, which wasn't an easy task, and returned to school.
"I think it's worth it, tying (service learning) into Hoike," kumu Richards said.
This year the district that Hoike is based on is Hilo. The specific site for this year's juniors hasn't been confirmed yet.
Being able to help the Big Island community has endless benefits for students. Each year it gives a new opportunity for them to make meaningful impacts in the Hawaiian community and gather more community service experience for college.
"I feel that I am doing something for a greater cause than just myself, and that's one of the best rewards of this high school," said senior Kaidden Kelly of his experience with service learning.


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In the Light of Truth – The Grail Message (MP3 CD)
גרמניה: 1-3 ימי עסקים, במדינות אחרות: 5-30 ימי עבודה
In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message is a classic work that offers clear and perceptive answers to questions which challenge every human being. Written between the years 1923 - 1937, it is a collection of 168 essays addressing all spheres of life ranging from God and the Universe to the Laws in Creation, the meaning of life, responsibility, free will, intuition and the intellect, the ethereal world and the beyond, justice and love. It answers eternal questions such as what does it mean to be human, what is the purpose of life on Earth, and what happens to "me" when I die. In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message explains the causes and significance of the unprecedented crises facing humanity, and our responsibilities to the future.
Concerning In the Light of Truth: The Grail Message, Abd-ru-shin writes:
"I wish to fill in the gaps which have so far always remained unanswered in the souls of men as burning questions, and which never leave any serious thinker in peace, if he honestly seeks the Truth."
Throughout the Grail Message readers are urged to weigh questions and answers intuitively, to confront them within their own life experiences, and only to believe that which they can perceive inwardly. Only through this process can one reach true conviction in one's life.
Read more about the book "In the Light of Truth – The Grail Message" by Abd-ru-shin here: _URL_
|ממדים||12.5 x 14.2 x 1.0 cm|
|זמן משלוח||גרמניה: 1-3 ימי עסקים, במדינות אחרות: 5-30 ימי עבודה|


Business or Brand(Revisd)
Business or Brand
There are some differences between growing a brand and growing a business. If They of course work together, but growing each is a slightly different experience.
A brand can typically exist independently of the businesses that operate under its umbrella. A brand is a broader expression of your business, it's the image or identity behind your business, your ventures, your community. Let's take a closer look at the difference between growing a brand and growing a business.
Sales-focused or community-focused
The goal of your business is likely to generate income, while the broader goal of building a brand should be to grow a community. That community can of course lend to sales - that's how brand and business go hand-in-hand, and why both are so important. However, to grow a brand, you're not focused on the number of products you sell or the number of leads you generate - you're more focused on engagement, reach, and recognition.
While building a business involves expanding products or offerings, building a brand typically means focusing on a single idea or focus that you want your brand to embody. Your brand creates a reputation for you and any businesses that operate under that brand. It's what helps people identify and relate to your business.
Which one is larger?
Because building a brand goes beyond generating income or offering new products, it focuses more on public perception and sentiment. It is not about what you sell, it is about how you make your people feel. For example, bringing in Coca-Cola again, the sugary, carbonated beverage brings thoughts of unexpected moments of happiness, not because of the product itself, necessarily, but because of the branding around the product.
Many of us have likely seen the Coca-Cola commercials showing joyful people sharing a cola, promoting the "share a Coke" campaign. It becomes more than a beverage this way; instead, it's a community for those who love the brand and its products. This is a clear example of how product, business, and brand, work together to create community and sales. It's these kinds of campaigns and connections that stand out in people's minds and create a memorable view of your brand and how your company functions within that brand. It brings your products and offerings together with the connection you need to have with your customers in order to keep them interested in those products and offerings.
Brand can not be taken away
Your business might fail, but a brand doesn't work that way. A brand only fails if you fail to find the right community and continue growing it. If it doesn't work, you can likely just try shifting the direction of your brand or changing the focus. It can't ever be taken away from you or stolen, because it's an expression of your values, views, and goals rather than a physical offering of services or products.
Your business may end for one reason or another, but your brand can easily live beyond that. Brand is the face and voice of any companies that exist as part of it. So in that sense, a brand is more of an idea than a tangible item or entity, and no one can take an idea from you! And in that way, growing a brand becomes just as important in any business venture as growing the company or business itself.
Equally important
As an entrepreneur, it's equally important to grow brand and business. Your business allows you to solve the needs within the community your brand creates, and your brand allows you to reach more people whose needs your business can help to solve. Growing both of them simultaneously helps you to reach your business goals. Sure, these concepts can operate independently, but the most successful companies have dedicated communities and recognition around their brand - so take the time to establish and build your brand with your business. Please don't hesitate in case of any requests to contact Amir Khademi
نوشته شده در بهمن 1399 | رپورتاژ آگهی


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Definition of teredo
noun(plural teredos) Zoology
- a wormlike bivalve mollusk with reduced shells that it uses to drill into wood. It can cause substantial damage to wooden structures and vessels. Also called shipworm.
- Genus Teredo, family Teredinidae: several species, in particular T. navalis
late Middle English: via Latin from Greek terēdōn; related to teirein 'rub hard, wear away'


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A SOIL ADDITIVE DESIGNED TO CUT IRRIGATION COSTS BY IMPROVING WATER RETAINING CAPACITY OF SOILS.
FREE FLOWING GRANULES WHICH ABSORB MANY TIMES THEIR OWN WEIGHT OF WATER AND RELEASE IT TO PLANTS.
IMPROVES WATER ECONOMY.
Aquadiamonds is a soil additive. Itís high water absorbing properties are designed for use in soil preparations to improve water economy and to increase plant growth through the formation of a stable growing environment
Aquadiamonds is a synthetic long-lasting polymer supplied as free flowing granules which can repeatedly absorb and desorb up to 500 times its own weight of water. The water is absorbed rapidly and acts as a reservoir for the plantís roots to draw upon thus ensuring conditions for healthy plant growth.
AppearanceFree flowing off white granules. Particle size either 0.5 to 1.0 mm or 1 to 3 mm depending on application.
Bulk density- +/- 700 g/l (un-compacted).
AbsorptionUp to 500 g of water/g of Aquadiamonds
capacity (depending on water quality).
B.O.D.s +/- 10mg 02/gm Aquadiamonds.
SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES
Rapid and high water absorption.
Reduce seepage losses.
Maintains water supply to plants.
Reduced irrigation frequency.
Applied with conventional machinery, without pre-wetting.
Long lasting, once only treatment.
High bulk density minimizes windage loss.
Higher plant establishment rates.
Reduced losses due to transplant shock.
1) Landscaping - Arid Climates
In arid regions where rainfall is infrequent and variable, mean temperatures are high and summer winds are hot and dry, the growth of plants is usually limited by availability of irrigation water. This can be an expensive item to the grower, since the cost of distilled seawater may be twenty times as high as that of pumping ground water.
Aquadiamonds is especially useful in sandy soils, where the natural water retention at field capacity is low. Addition of small amounts of Aquadiamonds to sandy soils significantly increases the amount of water available at low moisture tensions. This, in turn, can improve plant survival rates, permitting a more efficient use of water resources, since water would otherwise percolate too quickly through the sand to support healthy plant growth.
A further benefit of Aquadiamonds is that it can help decrease erosion by the formation of a light crust on the soil surface. The soil stability is further enhanced as Aquadiamonds can stimulate root growth, which will consolidate the protection against erosion, as they grow.
2) Aquadiamonds as a growing medium additive
Another important use of Aquadiamonds is as an additive to a growing medium such as peat. Incorporation of small amounts of Aquadiamonds into the growing medium can result in one or more of the following benefits.
a) Reduced water consumption
b) Lower failure rate of plants
c) Reduced watering frequency
d) Reduced labor costs associated with (c)
e) Reduced losses due to transplant shock
Addition of Aquadiamonds will also facilitate the handling of peat in dry climates where problems of peat drying out and having to be re-wet can be largely overcome.
The amount of water that any soil can retain and hold readily available to plants is determined by the size distribution of individual pores, especially the proportion of micro pores. In the porous structure of the soil there are two forces trying to remove the water:
(1) Upwards -transpiration of plants and soil surface. (2) Downwards - gravity.
The smaller the pores the higher the force by which the water is held. These forces are expressed in bar or cms water, and the term pF is used where: pF value - log10 (-suction in cm water), i.e. a suction of 2 bar corresponds to a pF value of 3.3. The relationship between moisture content and pF value is strongly dependent on soil type. If pF value is plotted vs moisture content (see figure 2) there are two important points relating to the pF value (i.e. suction value).
1) The Permanent Wilting Point - the maximum suction that plants can exert to withdraw water from a porous medium. The P.W.P. is generally taken as pF 4.2. (or 16 bar).
2) The field capacity (F.C.) is the moisture content of the soil when, after saturation, the soil is allowed to drain freely for 1-2 days. Generally a pF 2.0 corresponds to moisture content at F.C. This means, therefore, that for the plant, water is available only in the suction range between 0.1 and 16 bar i.e. pF 2.0 and pF 4.2. Water held at lower suctions will drain very quickly and that held at higher suctions is available to the plant.
An increase in available water capacity could result in:
(a) Decrease in drainage losses of water when the soil is wetted to levels higher than field capacity.
(b) Extend the period where the soil is able to supply the plant with water and
(c) Extend the irrigation interval in irrigated agriculture.
In order to show that Aquadiamonds was capable of increasing the available water capacity and that this water was available to the plant, two series of independent tests were carried out.
1) Effect on available water capacity
The soil used in these tests was a sandy soil similar in particle size distribution to a sandy desert soil from Saudi Arabia.
Further independent tests using a 50/50 mixture of fertile arable calcareous sandy clay and sand have indicated that if Aquadiamonds were used in practice at a rate of 5 tonnes per hectare, and incoroporated to a depth of 15 cms the water holding capacity could be increased by approximately 500 tonnes per hectare equivalent to 5 cms additional available water. In soils of inherently low available water capacity, such as sandy soils, this could be of great importance, leading to reduced frequency of irrigation.
Identical tests to those were repeated using a competitive material based on a Urea Formaldehyde Foam.
The results are based on a dosage of 30% by volume which is at least twice the recommended dosage. (Lesser amounts did not alter the results.)
Tests show that although the U.F. foam can increase the water holding capacity, the water that is held would preferentially drain away rather than be available for the plant. Between pFís 2.0 and 4.2 the addition of the foam has no effect on the moisture holding capacity of the soil under test and therefore its effect as a means to promote plant growth by improving water availability is negligible.
APPLICATION AND DOSAGE RATES
1. For surface cover plants in landscaping applications Aquadiamonds should be distributed evenly in the topsoil to a depth of 10 cms. Rates will vary depending on soil type and available water but should be in the range of 1 to 5 Kg/m3.
2. Aquadiamonds can be applied using current techniques. Following addition, the treated soil should be saturated with water before planting begins.
3. For shrubs and trees Aquadiamonds should be added to the hole prior to transplanting at 0.1 to 0.5 Kg per plant, dependent upon type. For grasses the recommended dosage rates are 0.1 to 1.0 Kg/m3 of soil.
For use as an additive in substrate preparations levels of 0.1 to 0.2 by weight are recommended.
Postal address: AQUADIAMONDS - 640 Desire St., Unit B, New Orleans, LA 70117-6214 ( U.S.A.)


November 12, 2009
Gradle Goodness: Execute Tasks with Abbreviations
Gradle supports task name abbreviation to execute tasks. This means we only have to type the portion of a task name that uniquely identifies the task within the project. So we don't have to type the complete name if we can use a shorter version. As a bonus Gradle also supports camel case to abbreviate a task name.
Suppose we have the following build file for our project:
// File: build.gradle
task helloWorld << { ant.echo 'Hello world.' }
The following statements will all invoke this task:
$ gradle helloWorld
$ gradle hello
$ gradle h
$ gradle hW
If the abbreviation is not unique for the project we get a warning from Gradle. For example if we have the tasks hello, helloTask and helloWorld and execute $ gradle h we get a failure message:
FAILURE: Could not determine which task to execute.
* What went wrong:
Task 'h' is ambigious in root project 'project'. Candidates are: 'hello', 'helloWorld', 'helloTask'.
* Try:
Run with -t to get a list of available tasks.


Rembert Doedons, the Father of Botany
An early English translation of Rembert Dodoens' Cruydeboeck, A Nievve Herball, or Historie of Plantes…, circa 1578 © Toovey's 2021
Nature has often provided the inspiration and components of our most effective and radical medicines, even in our modern scientific age.
Rembert Dodoens (_PHONE_) is often described as the father of botany.
From the 1530s Europe's fascination with natural history grew leading to a botanical Renaissance.
In Tudor times herbs were used for their culinary, medicinal and strewing properties. Herbs would be strewn on the floors and surfaces of homes to deter insects and to disinfect, as well as for their fragrant qualities. From Medieval times, and no doubt before, herbs were associated with medicine, including in the monastic tradition
Rembert Dodoens was born Rembert Van Joenckema in Mechelen in 1517. At the time Mechelen was part of the Spanish Netherlands. Dodoens worked and travelled widely in Europe returning to his hometown in 1538 where he served as the town physician.
A physician and botanist, Dodoens' beautifully illustrated Cruydeboeck (plant book) was first published in 1554. Dodoens divided the plant kingdom into six categories based on their properties. The work was published in the vernacular rather than Latin which heightened its popularity. In its various editions it became the most important botanical work of the late 16th century and the most translated book after the Bible.
In particular it dealt in detail with the medicinal properties of herbs. Many at that time would have seen it as a pharmacopoeia identifying plant-based compound medicines.
Dodoens' Cruydeboeck was translated into English by the botanist and antiquary Henry Lyte (c._PHONE_) during Elizabeth I's reign. Published under the title 'A Nievve Herball, or Historie of Plantes: wherein is contained the whole discourse and perfect description of all sorts of Herbes and Plantes: their divers and sundry kindes, their strange Figures, Fashions, and Shapes…' in 1578, the English version became a standard work and remained in use for some 200 years.
The early English translation illustrated, bound in later, early 20th century panelled calf binding, dates from 1578 and realised £3000 at Toovey's.
In 1572 the Dutch population rose up against the Spanish occupation. Dodoens' house was looted and burned. His reputation was such that the King of Spain, Philip II (_PHONE_) invited him to become his personal physician. Dodoens instead chose to serve the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II (_PHONE_) and his successor Rudolf II (_PHONE_) as physician.
In 1582 Dodoens returned to the Netherlands where he took up the post of Professor of Medicine at the University of Leiden until he died in 1585.
Today we continue to explore the extraordinary possibilities of cures for diseases from and inspired by the natural world. There is still so much we do not understand more than 450 years after Dodoens wrote his Cruydeboeck. I hope the nations of the world will come together to protect the precious resource of the world's forests and plants before they, their wonders and their blessings are lost to us.


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It is not just people crossing the ditch – a little New Zealand fern has also emigrated to Australia, and not just once but twice.
This is the first known case amongst ferns or seed plants of the same species dispersing twice across the Tasman Sea.
Hooker's spleenwort fern, or Asplenium hookerianum, is a close relative of the hen & chickens ferns. Hooker's spleenwort is widespread and common in New Zealand, but rare in Australia, with only a few, small populations in each of Victoria and Tasmania.
DNA analyses of the populations of Hooker's spleenwort were carried out by researchers from Te Papa, Massey University, and the University of Melbourne.
26 genetic variants were found in New Zealand, but only one each in Victoria and Tasmania. Not only are the Australian variants at the tips of the genetic family tree, they are more closely related to variants in New Zealand than to each other.
Many plant species are known to have dispersed across the Tasman Sea, in either direction. Numerous New Zealand species also occur in Australia (about 50% in ferns), and more have close relatives there. But, it remains an open question how common multiple dispersals within a species are.


TRS Billing FAQs
How is the Interstate TRS Fund assessment calculated?
The assessment is calculated based on the 499-A data that is due to USAC by April 1st. There will be two separate transactions listed on the invoices starting in July 2020 due to the FCC Order 19-118 that initiated a second obligation to be calculated to help cover the Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IPCTS) costs. One obligation will be calculated based on the Interstate and International revenues (499-A form Line 514b) multiplied by the non-IPCTS approved rate and the second obligation will be calculated on the total TRS revenues (499-A form Line 514a) multiplied by the IPCTS approved rate.
What changes cause the assessment to be higher than in previous years, other than the amount reported on the 499-A form?
The assessment rate changes each year. Contemporary rate information can be found here.
Why do you use a portal for payment?
In December 2019, the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund account was moved inside of the United States Treasury. All payments must be initiated through the RL Pay Site. Through this portal:
 - Invoices are delivered faster than USPS can deliver it.
 - You have the flexibility to print your invoice whenever you like.
 - The time between receiving the TRS invoice and the due date are greatly expanded.
 - You can review unpaid and paid invoices.
 - All payments must be received by 3pm on the Thursday before the invoice is due to allow adequate processing time. Payments received after this, may result in the company being placed on Red Light Status.
 - The expense your company experiences (for the check stock, envelope, mailing, and handling costs) is reduced.
 - Copies of the invoice can be distributed more widely at reduced expense in less time.
 - RolkaLoube can quickly keep your contact information up to date.
What do I do if I forgot my portal password, or if I try to log in to the portal, and receive an "invalid login" message?
Use the "Forgot Password" option:
 - Select forgot password, and enter your email address associated with the portal account.
 - You will receive an email from the website with a link to reset your password. If you do not see the message within 60 minutes, please check your spam/junk folder.
 - If you are unsure of which email address is linked to your portal account, please contact requesting a password reset.
 - Once you reset your password, you will be able to log into the portal with the new password.
Why do we receive a notification from the TRS Fund that our invoice is available on the portal instead of receiving it via USPS?
RolkaLoube recognizes that your company may be used to receiving Interstate TRS Fund invoices through USPS. We have set up a modern electronic portal which will notify you via email when a new invoice has been posted to RL Pay. Please contact RolkaLoube if you need to discuss the delivery of invoices.
For payments authorized through the portal, what is the ACH information we would expect to see when clearing our account?
You will see the following information displayed on your banking statement: "TRS Payment Obligation."
I clicked to download my invoice and I am unable to find it.
Once you click "Download my Invoice," the invoice will be downloaded into your downloads folder on your computer. Please check your downloads folder on your computer once the processing flag has cleared, for a copy of your invoice.
What is the penalty for filing a late 499-A form?
All companies are subject to late filing sanctions regarding the Form 499-A, as it is a required filing regardless of de minimis status. If a TRS Fund contributor is more than 30 days late (i.e., delinquent) in filing a Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet ("Worksheet") Form 499-A, the Administrator may assess an administrative remedial charge for reasonable administrative expenses resulting from improper filing or failure to file, as well as interest on overdue contributions. The minimum administratively imposed remedial charge for failure to timely submit a Worksheet is $100. The Commission may also pursue enforcement action against delinquent contributors and late filers as well as assess costs for collection activities, in addition to those imposed by the Administrator.
What are my options for how my company is billed?
The fund offers annual billing or monthly billing. If your company's annual assessment is more than $1200, and your account has been in good standing, you will be sent a monthly invoice for 1/12 of your annual assessment. If your annual assessment is below $1200, or your account has not been in good standing, you will be invoiced for your full annual assessment.
If your company is being billed monthly and you wish to be billed the remaining amount for the year, you can request this change via an email to Companies who are being billed monthly and want to overpay are welcome to do so when making a payment through the portal. See the RL Pay User Guide for instructions on how to pay via the new portal.
We do understand that situations arise. Any other payment plans will need to be requested by submitting a payment plan request to Our accounting department will then review your account and respond with the options that you have for a payment plan.
How is the late payment fee determined?
The finance charge rate applicable to late payments is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) interest rate for underpayments for the calendar quarter beginning July 1st. The rate can be found on the IRS website,, or at 26 CFR _PHONE_-1. The minimum late payment penalty charged each month will be $1.00. There will be a $35.00 administrative charge per invoice for delinquencies that are 30 days overdue.
Our 499-A form was filed on time, but we have been assessed a late filing charge. Why?
As the Interstate TRS Fund administrator, RolkaLoube receives filing data from USAC. If we have assessed a late filing penalty, but your company's filing was timely, contact USAC to have them correct the data they have provided to us. RolkaLoube can only adjust your account after USAC corrects the data. USAC can be reached at _PHONE_ or
Where can I find FCC Form 499-A information
You can find Form 499-A information on USAC's website at
What are the payment options?
All payments must be initiated through the RL Pay billing and collections portal at Through the site, you can either pay online via credit card by selecting Pay Online Now, or set up an ACH debit or credit transfer from your bank by selecting the ACH option.
Can we send payment via check for our contribution payment?
We are no longer accepting check payments. For available payment options, see above, under payment options.
Can we pay by wire transfer?
Wire transfers are no longer accepted. For available payment options, see above, under payment options.
Where can I find a completed W9 for the Interstate TRS Fund?
Click here: Interstate TRS Fund W9 Form.
How can I contact USAC?
You can contact USAC at _PHONE_ or
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Questions can be directed to RolkaLoube's Customer Service Team at _PHONE_ Option #1, or
Are there costs that the NDBEDP will not cover?
Yes. Please see "Examples of Reimbursable Expenses" for a list of expenses that are reimbursable and those that are not.
Does the NDBEDP reimburse for the cost of cables, switches, clamps, and adaptive accessories necessary to use the distributed equipment?
Yes. The reasonable costs of cables, switches, clamps, and adaptive accessories will be reimbursed by the NDBEDP if they are necessary for the consumer to use the equipment distributed. Personal accessories that facilitate or enable other life functions are not reimbursable (e.g., a wheelchair to facilitate mobility).
Are the costs of alerting devices reimbursable?
Yes. The reasonable costs of alerting devices such as flashing lights are reimbursable when they are necessary to use the equipment distributed to make telecommunications, internet access, or advanced communications accessible to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind. Assistive lighting that is used separate and apart from the distributed equipment is not reimbursable.
Are the costs for batteries or upgrades reimbursable for equipment that was not distributed by the NDBEDP?
Yes. The NDBEDP will reimburse for batteries or upgrades on previously distributed equipment (hardware, software, applications, etc.) as long as these are reasonable and necessary to make telecommunications, internet access, or advanced communications accessible to low-income individuals who are deaf-blind.
When an equipment recipient moves to another state, which state certified program will be responsible for the upkeep of the equipment?
When an equipment recipient relocates to another state, the former state's certified program will no longer be responsible for upkeep of the recipient's equipment, nor will it be permitted to seek reimbursement for maintenance of such equipment no longer in use within the former state. In such cases, upon the request of the recipient, the former state must transfer the recipient's account and any control over the distributed equipment to the new state's certified program. The certified program in the state where the recipient relocates then will be responsible for the cost of upkeep of the distributed equipment. If the recipient needs new equipment after relocating, the recipient will be permitted to apply for such equipment in the new state.
Is there a searchable national database that certified programs can use to determine if program applicants have received NDBEDP equipment in another state?
With the start of the permanent program, the FCC was tasked with developing


text:
Issue Date: Oct 15, 1992
INDIANS still do not have the culture of seeking patents. Over the last 15 years, foreigners have obtained two to three times more patents in India every year than Indians. In 1989-90, Indians held less than one-fifth of all patents in force in India. Of the 1,040 Indian applications filed for patents in 1989-90, 32 per cent and 25 per cent came from Delhi and Maharashtra respectively, which is probably reflective of the large number of scientific and technological personnel in these areas.
Recent Supreme Court order in Vedanta case holds hope for tribal community life
Butterflies on the roof of the world is a vivid and engaging narrative of the author's rendezvous with the butterflies and moths in particular, and nature in general


text:
The definition of public is something that is related to, available to or known by people.(adjective)
Public is ordinary people or people within a community.(noun)
All of the people in a given location are an example of the public.
See public in Webster's New World College Dictionary
Origin: ME < L publicus: altered (prob. infl. by pubes, adult) < poplicus, contr. of populicus, public < populus, the people
See public in American Heritage Dictionary 4
Origin: Middle English publik
Origin:, from Old French public
Origin:, from Latin pūblicus
Origin:, alteration (influenced by pūbēs, adult population)
Origin: of poplicus
Origin:, from populus, people
Origin:, of Etruscan origin.
Learn more about public


Dalhousie Law Journal
J. Helen Beck
Mental handicaps, self-sufficient, economic burden, potential contributors to society, employment opportunity, social service structures
Mental handicaps affect a suprisingly large part of the community. If the handicapped cannot make themselves self-sufficient, they become a great economic burden whereas they may have the potential of being contributors to society. This paper will examine aspects of the law relating to employment opportunity and certain social service structures, and question the extent to which they further a handicapped person's goal of fulfilling his employment potential. Field research was done only in the Halifax area, but the analysis is pertinent across Canada because the statutory provisions, social services and social assistance structures found in Halifax are on the whole similar to those found across Canada.


text:
Australia has a national system for removing from sale, distribution and consumption foods that may pose a safety hazard to consumers. Outlined below is how to check what foods have recently been recalled and how to initiate a recall.
If you suspect a problem with a food product, it should not be eaten and you should make a complaint to the appropriate authority. Please refer to Food Safety Fact Sheet 36 – Making a complaint about a food business, to find the appropriate authority to which you should direct your complaint.
It is a legal requirement under Chapter 3 of the Food Standards Code for food manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and importers to have a written food recall plan. While nearly all recalls are voluntarily initiated by food businesses, Queensland Health has the power to order the recall of food. All food recalls must be notified to Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
If a food business believes it may need to remove a product(s) from sale or distribution, or notify the public because the food product could be a safety hazard to consumers, you should:
Step One - Contact the Food Safety and Regulation Unit of Queensland Health on:
Step Two - Contact the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Recall Coordinator on:


text:
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The EU experiments with an innovative system that charges motorists according to driving patterns.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Everyone knows that each kilometer you drive costs you money, in fuel and wear-and-tear on your car. But even in the European Union, where gas averages an excruciating $7.84 per gallon, it's relatively easy to avoid thinking about the expense in between the uncomfortable incidences of filling your tank or needing auto repairs.
But what if you could see the cost of driving in real time? Would it affect the roads people took, or the time of day they travel?
A new push in the EU to "internalize" the "external costs" of transportation may make the day-to-day – or literally "kilometer-to-kilometer -- price of driving a bit harder to ignore in the not-so-distant future. For some volunteers in Leuven, Belgium, that moment is now.
Officials in this university town about 30 kilometers east of Brussels are trying out a system that tracks people's driving patterns and charges them according to when, where and what they drive. The goal: to convince commuters to change their ways — or at least their routes and schedules.
Such real-time traffic-data could help improve lives. Drivers in Brussels give up an annual average of 65 hours sitting in traffic. In Paris, it's 70 hours. Those figures come from international traffic-analysis company Inrix, which advises drivers in the Belgian capital that they could halve their morning rush-hour trip if they traveled at a different time of day than 8 to 9 a.m.
From Thailand: Bangkok's radical answers to global warming
It's unclear at this early stage what kind of taxes may be linked to such a system and whether other fees might be lowered as incentive for reducing time in the car. IBM's manager for the project, Friedl Maertens, herself one of the volunteers, says the city will determine tax rates in the future. The current goal, Maertens explained, is more basic, to "measure if pricing is a tool to influence driving behavior."
Partnering with high-tech giants IBM and NXP Semi-conductors, the town equipped 35 volunteer testers with the device, which is similar to a GPS. After a couple months of establishing baseline behavior, the monitor will calculate theoretical fees for the trips, which authorities could then charge as a tax. "Leuven has a mobility strategy (which) determines where the government wants to have cars and where they do not like to have cars," Maertens said, "so there it will be a little bit more expensive."
The city hired research-analysis firm Transport & Mobility Leuven (TML) to create a suggested price map for charging different areas of the city. TML says in its study that if no action is taken, traffic jams in Belgium will double in size by the year 2020. The report suggests "travelers need to think how to transport themselves at minimal social costs instead of minimal private costs."
That kind of thinking would be welcomed by another test driver, Said El Khadraoui, who has just had the monitor device installed in his car. The 36-year-old Leuven native said while he's already conscientious about only driving when necessary, with the new all-seeing on-board unit, "for short distances, I might think of leaving the car at home and making use of the bike."
But most of El Khadraoui's commutes are not bike-able; he's been a member of the European Parliament for the last eight years so he's in Brussels much of the time. He serves on the Transport Committee and is always looking for ways to make transportation more sustainable and less damaging to the environment. El Khadraoui authored a report that received final approval from European member states in mid-September to allow EU governments to charge heavy trucks three to four cents per kilometer for their "external costs" such as noise and air pollution.
Related: The cost of global climate change
El Khadraoui would like to see such a system extended throughout the European Union to passenger vehicles as well, but admits public attitudes are far from ready to accept that. "It's not possible from day one – that's obvious," he said, "but I think by 2020 you will see a lot of changes in the way cities are approaching mobility problems and trying to solve them."
Patrick Pype, Director of European Affairs at NXP Semi-conductors, which led in the creation of the device, envisions many uses that could help bring drivers 'on board." Pype points out that it can work like a super-equipped GPS, showing where traffic is tied up and how to avoid it, or in the case of the potential charges-per-kilometer, what the cheapest route might be. "It's a combination of GPS, GSM [mobile phone] and security," Pype explained, pointing out it also carries the recently unveiled "E-call" button, a Europe-wide accident-alert system.
Incorporating more "value-added services," IBM's Maertens added, will help "make the whole solution more comfortable and integrated."
It remains to be seen how "comfortable" anyone is going to be with a system that comes attached to the word "tax" or "charges," and El Khadraoui admits that's a huge challenge for policymakers. "You need a mentality change and therefore first you need the technology," El Khadraoui said. "Then you need to explain the consequences and the benefits." He recognizes there would have to be some tangible offsets such as lowering other taxes, to make such a system publicly palatable.
El Khadraoui also expresses confidence that privacy protection would be addressed, empathizing that he himself would be uncomfortable with the idea of someone tracking his travel. NXP's Pype says those concerns have been taken into account on the technology side, in building the prototype device with a chip capable of encryption similar to a bank card's.
El Khadraoui says he thinks consumers will come around…eventually. "Now we are in the phase – and this will take some time – of explanation," he said, "of finding out what can we offer people. People need to understand it's good for them and if you cannot explain it, it will never happen."
From Japan: Power from the people
Unfortunately for IBM and NXP, sometimes even if you can explain it, it won't happen. Just over a year ago, the companies were commissioned to run the same kind of test in the Netherlands. The conclusions exceeded expectations on all sides. That led to projections that nationwide adoption of the system would provide a "58 percent reduction in delays caused by traffic jams; a 15 percent reduction in the total number of kilometers driven annually; a 10 percent reduction in CO2 emissions; a 6 percent increase in total passenger kilometers via public transportation and (m)ore than 50 percent of Dutch households will pay less than they do currently for the motor vehicle tax and vehicle purchase tax." Officials had proposed dropping those charges in lieu of the pay-per-use system.
The Dutch government enthusiastically welcomed the results and announced the system would be adopted throughout the country. But not long afterwards, that government fell and the new prime minister, Mark Rutte, decided he didn't want to take the heat for new taxes, so the whole plan crashed.
The city of Leuven will start taking a look at its options next year when the test data rolls in.


Each of your eyes has a lens in it. This lens can change its shape and hence its focal length. By changing the focal length you are able to focus on an object based on how far away it is from you. For this problem you will determine the minimum focal length of your eye.
A. Hold an object out in front of you at arm's length. Close one eye and bring the object towards your eye and determine how close it can be to your eye and still be in focus.
ANSWER __________cm
B. The average human eye has an image distance of 1.7 cm. In other words, it is 1.7 cm from the lens in your eye to the retina. Using this information and your answer to A, determine the minimum focal length of your eye. Also determine the magnification for this situation.
FOCAL LENGTH = ____________ cm
MAGNIFICATION =_____________
C. The lens in your eye creates an image. It is this image that the rods and cones in our eye actually detect. Regarding the image your lens created when finding the minimum focal length, which of the following are true? Choose all that apply.
_____ It is real.
_____ It is diminished.
______It is inverted.
______It is virtual.
______It is upright.
______It is enlarged.
Want an answer?


Given a text like "Hello World!" the program outputs the most frequent letter, in this case the "l".
If there are two letters with the same frequency, it outputs the first in alphabetical order, for example in the text "One" it outputs "e".
In addition upper and lower letters are counted as the same letter.
How could be this code improved?
def most_frequent_letter(text: str) -> str:
 letters_dict = {}
 text = text.lower()
 text = re.sub("[^a-z]","",text)
 for letter in text:
 if letter in letters_dict:
 letters_dict[letter] += 1
 letters_dict[letter] = 1
 value_to_key = collections.defaultdict(list)
 for key_letter, frecuency_value in letters_dict.items():
 letters = list(value_to_key.values())
 frecuencies = list(value_to_key.keys())
 return (sorted(letters[frecuencies.index(max(frecuencies))])[0])
If you are going to use the collections module at all (as you did for collections.defaultdict), then why not use collections.Counter, which offers a most_common() method?
For the most part your code is okay, however, reading what it is that you want it to do here's what I came up with...
#!/usr/bin/env python3
import re
import typing
def most_frequent_letter(text: str) -> typing.Tuple[int, list]:
 text = re.sub('[^a-z]', '', text.replace(' ', '').lower())
 letter_counts = {}
 for letter in text:
 letter_counts[letter] = letter_counts.get(letter, 0) + 1
 counted_letters = {}
 for letter, counter in letter_counts.items():
 counted_letters[counter] = counted_letters.get(counter, []) + [letter]
 max_key = max(counted_letters.keys())
 return max_key, sorted(counted_letters[max_key])
if __name__ == '__main__':
 counted, letters = most_frequent_letter('spam ham jello spam')
 print("{counted} -> {letter}".format(
 counted = counted,
 letter = letters[0]))
... while I don't know that it's an improvement overall it does return results that may be of use...
3 -> a
Note if ya want the whole list use the following instead under that last if statement...
#...
 print("{counted} -> {letters}".format(
 counted = counted,
 letters = letters))
#... Should output...
# 3 -> ['a','m']
... while also not counting spaces as letters; which is the only thing that seemed missing from your implementation.
I didn't see any need to use if statements (within the function) so didn't include'em, because dictionaries have a handy get method that allows for defaulting nonexistent key value pares. And I didn't see any use in using collections though it was tempting to use _USER_'s suggestion.
One thing about your code that I do still question though is why are ya wrapping the returned value within parentheses?
Your code appears to be correct, but I have a few comments.
First, using the typing, re, and collections modules is perhaps somewhat overkill for what you are trying to achieve. For small programs, it's best to make use of the built-in functions, and methods of build-in types, rather than to import modules, if possible. In particular, the string methods can be useful, and I've found the max, map, all, and any functions to be handy.
Second, while it wasn't specified what the function should do given an empty string, it would be prudent to handle this case. Currently, your code will throw an error; I think it would make sense to return the letter 'a'.
Third, parts of your code are a bit difficult to read. In particular, this expression
required some concentration to understand. I'm not sure how this could be improved. I think the problem is that by this point I've lost track of what the data-structures look like.
That's it for comments. To finish, here is an approach to the problem that I think would be considered quite Pythonic:
def most_frequent_letter(text):
 often in the given string. Case is ignored."""
 alphabet = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz'
 return max(alphabet, key=text.lower().count)
The max function will return the first maximal element in the list, where the value being maximised is the result of applying the function key. So in this case, it will return the alphabetically first letter with the (joint) highest count in the lowercased text.
You could import the latin alphabet from the string module, if you'd rather not type it out:
from string import ascii_lowercase
I would work on:
 - becoming more familiar with the built-in methods and functions;
 - writing code with the human reader in mind: try to keep the state of variables simple and self-evident. Ideally a line of code should be somewhat comprehensible in isolation without having to use working memory to mentally build up the state of the variables from the previous lines of the program.
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Secondary level question-lymphocyte vs phagocyte
Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Medicine. Anything human!
Moderator: BioTeam
Secondary level question-lymphocyte vs phagocyte
Postby lsc04361 » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:49 am
i am a secondary student and i confused about the difference between lymphocyte and phagocyte, as the textbook mention very little about it. Sorry for asking such simple question here...
I know that phagocyte is for the phagocytosis. But i dunno what lymphocyte responsible for except turning to a memory cell after the primary respond.
In conclusion, What is the relationship between lymphocyte and phagocyte, and What is the role of lymphocyte?
The second question is about the immune system(basic concept)
After the primary respond, some of the lymphocyte turns to a memory cell and recognize the pathogen.
When the second respond happen, are three of them-[phagocyte, lymphocyte, antibody]-will all produce in a large amount in a short time?
Finally, i want to ask that, is lymphocyte or phagocyte specialized for a pathogens? like antibody.
i have try to find the answer at wikipedia, but i dun quite understand the articles there.
thank you.
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text:
Jan. 23, 2013 Estrogen levels drop dramatically in menopause, a time when the risk of urinary tract infections increases significantly.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found new evidence in mice that the two phenomena are connected by more than just timing. If further research confirms these links, boosting estrogen levels may get a second look as an approach for reducing urinary infections in menopausal women.
"Scientists tested estrogen as a treatment for post-menopausal women with urinary tract infections in the 1990s, but the results were either ambiguous or negative," says senior author Indira Mysorekar, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and of pathology and immunology. "With the mouse model of menopause that we've created, we can more completely understand how estrogen levels affect infection susceptibility, bladder health and the inflammatory response to infection. That should point the way to better treatment strategies."
The findings appear online in Infection and Immunity.
Urinary infections are a significant cause of illness in many women throughout their lives and are particularly prevalent after menopause. The bacteria that cause these infections can spread to the kidney and bloodstream, with the potential for serious complications.
To simulate menopause in mice, scientists surgically remove their ovaries. Like menopausal women, the mice no longer make estrogen.
To rule out the possibility that the stress of surgery affects the risk of urinary tract infections, the researchers conducted the same surgery in other mice but put the ovaries back in, maintaining their ability to make estrogen.
When researchers gave both groups of mice urinary tract infections, the menopausal mice had higher levels of infectious bacteria in their urine. Most of the bacteria came from barrier cells, which line the interior of the bladder. These cells are the first to be infected by the bacteria.
"When the barrier cells are lost, they need to be replaced immediately," Mysorekar says. "In the menopausal mice, we found that this replacement process was stopping short of completion. That left cells under barrier cells exposed, and they are much more vulnerable to infection."
The menopausal mice had more bacterial reservoirs, which are pockets of infection that may provide a place for the bacteria to hide during antibiotic treatment. After treatment stops, the reservoirs can reseed the infection.
In earlier research, Mysorekar had identified an important regulator of the barrier cell repair process. In the new study, she showed that low estrogen levels disable this regulator.
The bladders of the menopausal mice also had higher levels of immune inflammatory compounds known as cytokines.
"The cytokines caused inflammation that left the bladder in bad shape," Mysorekar says. "It's possible that damage caused by inflammation increases the bacteria's ability to break into bladder tissue and create reservoirs of infection."
In the control mice, which had normal estrogen levels, cytokine levels and inflammatory damage were both significantly lower. When researchers gave the menopausal mice estrogen, their cytokine levels and inflammatory damage also decreased significantly, as did reservoirs of infectious bacteria.
Mysorekar notes that earlier clinical trials of estrogen's usefulness against urinary infection evaluated the treatment's success by tracking levels of bacteria in the urine. The researchers say their new results suggest that bacteria levels alone may not provide a complete picture of estrogen's effectiveness against the infections.
"If we can find ways to look at other aspects of the infectious process in humans, we may find that estrogen is more helpful than we previously realized," Mysorekar says. "We need to look for other indicators, such as cytokines in the urine, to more fully assess estrogen's potential role in treatment."
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- Wang C, Symington JW, Ma E, Cao B, Mysorekar IU. Escherichia coli pathogenesis in a murine menopause model. Infection and Immunity, March 2013
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.