Personal Development Plan for Students
on 16/01/2018
Planning is the way to move through life. Many people don't want to do that, and even don't know how to do that. So, there is no wonder that there comes a moment when they ask themselves: "Where am I and how did I get here?". That is why you need a step-by-step plan of your personal development. If there will come a day when you feel yourself lost in a life, you always can look into that plan and remind yourself where you go and why.
Student Development Plan
When working on your future, you get a feeling of control upon your life and can make more correct decisions on that way. A personal development plan helps you make the correct choice because of taking your personal values into account, too.
Personal Development Plan Template
When creating a plan, you need to pay attention to several things. Here are nine steps you have to make:
 1. Determine your goals;
 2. Choose priorities;
 3. Put deadlines;
 4. Know your strengths;
 5. Notice possibilities and threats;
 6. Develop new skills;
 7. Act;
 8. Get support;
 9. Track your progress.
Let's take a look onto every step separately.
Determine Your Goals
What is important for you? What skills do you want to master? Are there any dreams you want to make true? Do you have a strong will to change the faculty of your studies and to try yourself in something else?
The first step – to determine goals that really are important for you. They can be connected to your career, private life, health, anything.
Step 1: write down 5-10 goals which are important for you.
Choose Priorities
You have just enlisted your goals. Which of them are the most important? There is an answer for this question: set up your priorities.
Step 2: take a look on your goal-list and chose 1-3 or them you are going to work on first.
Put Deadlines
If there is a goal, but you do not know when you are going to reach it, then it probably won't ever be reached.
On the other side, if you plan to reach anything serious in a short period of time, then there are high chances for you to suffer a defeat.
While planning, it is very important to put realistic deadlines. Shorten them a bit after that, in order to stay in tonus and not to give yourself any excuses.
Step 3: put precise deadlines for your goals.
Know Your Strengths
Every person in this world is good in something, and has an average or low skill level in other things (Leonardo da Vinci was an exclusion that confirms the rule).
How to know about your strengths and weaknesses? The most interesting exercise here is that: ask your friends and relatives. Their answers might wonder you very much. Additionally, this can help you look onto yourself from another viewpoint and correct your own thoughts and beliefs.
Step 4: write down the way how exactly your strengths can help you reach your goals.
Notice Possibilities and Threats
Your ongoing behavior and habits can either help or not help in your goal achievements. As a result, they are divided into possibilities and threats.
Habits that open new possibilities are to be supported. Those not allowing you getting them, are to be excluded.
For example, if your goal is to live a healthy life, you need to stop drinking alcohol, eating unhealthy foods, refuse smoking. And you need to go in for sports, keep up to healthy diets and know how to deal with stress.
Step Five: create a list of things you need to start and stop doing.
Develop New Skills
The great cliche of life is that nothing is free and the price for your dire efforts may not always be rewarded. However, if you expect nothing in return working blindly and carelessly, then success comes.
In other words, you need to develop skills you never had, and you need to start doing that as fast as you can.
Step Six: create a list of skills you need to develop in order to reach your goal.
That is the most obvious step many people never make. Plans stay on a paper, never turning into any real actions.
Step Seven: write 3-5 of the most important actions that can make you closer to your goal, and that you need to perform during a certain period of time.
Get Support
Student Development Support
Who can help you with a tip or just kind word? That person can be not only your relative. There are mentors and teachers you can ask about help.
Step Eight: name all people who can help you reach your goals.
Track Your Progress
The best motivator for you is your own progress. Even if it is slight, it still can give you much energy.
It is important to understand that you make progress. If you don't, then find out what you do wrong and what you can do differently.
Step Nine: write down things you need to improve and determine new effective strategies.
Personal development plan can be created in both paper and digital forms. The digital form is better, as it is easier to change contents like that (changes are parts of your work on the plan). In any case, you are about to get a document having all nine steps-exercises mentioned above.
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Mathematica Q&A: Sow, Reap, and Parallel Programming
Got questions about Mathematica? The Wolfram Blog has answers! We'll regularly answer selected questions from users around the web. You can submit your question directly to the Q&A Team using this form.
This week's question comes from Patrick, a student:
How can I use Sow & Reap across parallel kernels?
The first part of the list is the regular result of the computation. The second part is everything that was "sown".
Sow and Reap are ideally suited to situations in which you don't know in advance how many results you will get. For example, suppose that you want to find simple initial conditions that lead to "interesting" results in Conway's game of life, the famous two-dimensional cellular automaton:
We'll call a result "interesting" if it has at least n cells alive (live cells have value 1):
Now we'll check 1,000 random 6X6 initial conditions for the "interesting" property of having at least 200 live cells after 100 steps. Whenever the result is InterestingQ, we create and Sow a simple visualization:
One interesting result was found and sown. If we want to conduct a larger search, we ought to take advantage of Mathematica's automatic parallelization.
In this case the answer is particularly simple: define a version of Sow that always runs on the master kernel.
SetSharedFunction specifies that a function should always run on the master kernel.
Now we can apply Parallelize to our search. Here's a search of 10,000 random initial conditions:
Click here to download this post as a Computable Document Format (CDF) file.
If you have a question you'd like answered in this blog, you can submit it to the Q&A Team using this form.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Copywork: How Benjamin Franklin Taught Himself to Write Well
Benjamin Franklin, 1767, by David Martin
Benjamin Franklin, 1767, by David Martin
Although copywork is often seen as an exercise for young students, it's a classic tool that is useful for almost anything you want to learn to do well. Artists copy the works of great masters in order to study their techniques, musicians play the works of great composers, and writers copy masterworks they hope to learn from.
In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Franklin relates how, after his father pointed out his lack of "elegance of expression," he taught himself to write more elegantly and expressively. Although this is not exactly like the copywork method used by Charlotte Mason for younger children, it is a related method of learning from the masters. Here is his technique in his own words. I have added paragraph breaks to make the paragraph a bit easier to scan online, and have extracted his steps and listed them below the quoted passage.
"About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator – I thought the writing excellent, and wished, if possible, to imitate it.
With this view I took some of the papers, and, making short hints of the sentiment in each sentence laid them by a few days, and then, without looking at the book, try'd to compleat the papers again, by expressing each hinted sentiment at length, and as fully as it had been expressed before, in any suitable words that should come hand. Then I compared my Spectator with the original, discovered some of my faults, and corrected them.
But I found I wanted a stock of words, or a readiness in recollecting and using them. Therefore I took some of the tales and turned then into verse; and, after a time, when I had pretty well forgotten the prose, turned them back again.
Franklin apparently pursued his lessons in writing during his early teens, which is a reasonable age for students with a strong foundation in reading to begin working with more challenging assignments.
 Ben Franklin's Writing Lessons
 1. Read an article.
 2. Write short hints about each sentence (you could also outline the piece) and set it aside for awhile.
 3. Rewrite the article in his own words.
 4. Compare with the original.
 5. Revise and improve your essay.
Additional things he did:
 1. Turn prose to poetry
 2. Turn poetry to prose
 3. Jumble hints; wait; reorganize; rewrite
More Benjamin Franklin EIL resources
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Laravel in Docker
Last updated May 12, 2021
Laravel in Docker
In this article, we'll show you how to create a Docker image of a Laravel application, push it to an image registry, and use Docker in Continuous Delivery.
Actions used in this guide:
Laravel is a fast, user-friendly, and well-documented framework that you can use to build all kinds of web applications. According to its official website:
Laravel is a web application framework with expressive, elegant syntax. (...) Laravel strives to provide an amazing developer experience, while providing powerful features such as thorough dependency injection, an expressive database abstraction layer, queues and scheduled jobs, unit and integration testing, and more.
Docker is a virtualization method that has a huge impact on today's software development landscape. Its main draw is a different approach to virtualization architecture that eliminates the "works on my machine" issue when working across different environments. A perfect companion for developers who code in collaboration with others. Here are some key aspects of Docker:
 - it's faster and less resource-consuming than 'traditional' VM's
 - it's easy to set up and configure
 - it's a breeze to reuse: pick an existing Docker image as the cornerstone of your setup and install any libraries or packages not bundled with the image
 - it's shareable: you can push images to Docker registries and pull them on other machines, just like you push and pull code from Git
Hungry for more insight on Docker and containers? Watch this video by The Simple Engineer:
How to Dockerize a Laravel application
In theory, Dockerization means activities leading to the launch of the application in a Docker container. In case of a Laravel app, this can be translated into the following steps:
 - writing a Dockerfile for the application
 - building a Docker image from the Dockerfile and pushing it to the registry
 - pulling the image and running launching the app on the server
In this guide, we're going to containerize a simple calculator written with the Laravel framework. Simply fork the repository and Dockerize Laravel with the instructions below!
To check out how the calculator works before baking Laravel into a Docker image, run this command in the repository:
php artisan serve
If you'd like to see how to create such app from scratch, we described how to write and run the calculator in this guide.
Install Docker
Begin with installing Docker on your machine:
Write a Dockerfile
The Dockerfile is a text that defines the contents and launching method of our Docker image. Create a new file in the repository and name it Dockerfile. Populate the file with the following lines. We are going to break them down one by one later on.
FROM php:8.0.5
RUN apt-get update -y && apt-get install -y openssl zip unzip git
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo mbstring
COPY. /app
RUN composer install
CMD php artisan serve --host= --port=8181
Dockerfile details
Line 1
Just like we mentioned in the introduction, Docker images can be inherited from other users. Using official Docker images guarantees the template is well written and prepared. In this case, we shall PHP in version 8.0.5:
FROM php:8.0.5
Docker images are shared through image registries. The most popular is Docker Hub. You can browse the list of all official Docker images here.
Lines 2-4:
These lines cover the installation of tools required to install Laravel: Git, Zip, Unzip, and OpenSSL. Next, we run the installation command and run PHP modules: PDO and mbstring.
RUN docker-php-ext-install pdo mbstring
Lines 5-7:
Here we set the working dir in the container to /app, copy the application files to it, and run composer install"
COPY. /app
RUN composer install
Line 8:
Use CMD to set the command that will be run when launching the Docker image. In our case, we're going to serve the application with php artisan set to port 8181:
Line 9:
Expose port 8181 outside the launched container. This is the same port our application is going to use:
Build Docker image
With the Dockerfile in place, we're ready to create the Docker image. Fire up the terminal, go to the directory with the Dockerfile, and run:
docker build -t my-first-image.
The -t parameter is the tag of the Docker image. The dot at the end of the command means that we're going to build the image in the context of the parent directory. In other words, the files that will be copied to the /app directory in the container are files from the contextual directory of the build (in this case: repository directory).
Run Docker image
Time to run Laravel in Docker! Launch the container with docker run. Don't forget to add the parameter with the port!
docker run -p 8181:8181 my-first-image
The application is now available from your browser at http://localhost:8181.
Sharing images through Docker registry
Once created, a Docker image can be pushed to a Docker registry from which it can be pulled and run by other users. You can create a private registry and serve images from your server, or use a cloud-hosted solution. Currently, the most popular cloud registries are:
In this part of the guide we'll show you how to add an image to Docker Hub so you can use it on another computer. Here's what you need to do:
 1. Create a profile on Docker Hub or log in with an existing one.
 2. Build the Docker image and tag it with your Docker Hub username:
docker build -t [USERNAME]/my-first-image.
 1. Log in to Docker Hub with your username and password:
docker login
 1. Push the image to the registry:
docker push [USERNAME]/my-first-image
Logging in to Docker HubLogging in to Docker Hub
That's it. From now on you can pull and run the image on any computer with Docker installed. The default docker run command will automatically pull and run the image from the selected location:
docker run [USERNAME]/my-first-image
Docker image on Docker HubDocker image on Docker Hub
The download from a public provider might take a while depending on the load, so if you run your business from a location with a slow internet connection, consider setting up a private registry for better performance.
Docker in practice: Use cases
So far we've covered the technical process of building and sharing Docker images. Below we share some concrete appliance of Docker in everyday work.
Docker in development
Every developer knows that before you start working on an application you first need to prepare your work environment. This involves a series of pains, including but not limited to:
 - installing the framework in version X
 - installing the database in version Y
 - installing the library in version Z
The more advanced the project, the more dependencies and setup it involves, which considerably prolongs the process of delivering the application. We won't even mention the dependency hell when you're trying to develop two applications with different requirements on one computer.
With Docker, you don't need to write documentation detailing environment setup because the entire working environment is defined in the Dockerfile and safely stored in Git. This means you can go back to any revision of the file in the repository to see how your project evolved.
What's even more convenient, you don't need anything but Docker to run the software on your computer because everything else – frameworks, libraries, dependencies – is stored in the Docker image. What you do is run git clone, docker build, and docker run and the app is already running on your computer.
It's also possible to create a Dockerfile that will serve the application directly from the directory where you code, so that you won't have to rebuild the Docker image on every change!
Docker in QA
Every developer knows that phraseEvery developer knows that phrase
The phrase above is bound to appear whenever a tester and a developer discuss a new feature. In reality, 99% of such problems result from compatibility issues between different environments in which the application is run. One developer codes the application on Linux, another one on Mac, and QA runs the tests on Windows. With Docker, the environment is the same for every member of the team: the app is forwarded to QA in the form of a Docker image pre-configured in the Dockerfile.
Docker for dev/stage/production
Usually, the development process is divided into three consecutive environments:
 - Development – where the actual coding takes place
 - Staging – where the application is reviewed and tested
 - Production – where the final version of the application is hosted
Each of these environments is assigned to a separate branch in the repository. When the work in the development branch is over, it is merged to the staging branch, where the QA runs their tests. Then, the staging branch is merged into the master (production) branch and the application is ready to be reviewed by the client.
With Docker, each environment is described in a separate Dockerfile for every branch. If you change something in the DEV branch, the STAGE branch remains in its original state until the changes have been merged.
Continuous Delivery with Buddy
Buddy is a tool that lets you streamline the process of building, pushing, and running Docker images to a manual trigger or a single push to the repository.
In this part of the guide, we'll add a pipeline that will build and test a Docker image, push it to the selected registry, and run it on the server.
Continuous Delivery pipeline for DockerContinuous Delivery pipeline for Docker
Pipeline configuration
Buddy drops


How To Paint Wrought Iron Fence and Railings?
How To Paint Wrought Iron Fence
Admit it! You attempted to paint a wrought iron fence/railing, and you felt like this is the most challenging task you ever had to face.
And I know it is a difficult activity, which is why I've created the following step-by-step guide to help you paint a wrought iron fence with little to no hassle.
How to Paint a Wrought Iron Fence?
Follow these simple yet best ways to paint wrought iron railings and I am sure you will have your cast iron fence and railings painted within no time.
Step 1. Get the surface ready
As it is the case with almost anything, you need to start by preparing the wrought iron surface.
This means that you need to make sure there is no rust on your iron fence.
Our advice is to wear protective gear, including gloves and a mask, as the particles of rust can pose a health risk when removed from the railing fence.
Step 2. Remove the rust
So, you need to remove the rust, and you should start this process only after you put on the protective gear.
To remove the rust, you can use a steel brush or high grit sandpaper.
Keep in mind that it might take some time before you manage to clear the entire surface, as rust tends to be hard to remove.
Step 3. Clean the fence
Now that you removed rust, you need to clean the fence to make sure there is no debris left.
You can wash the fence with mineral spirits, as those will remove anything that might stick to your iron fence.
Step 4. Rinse with water
And, of course, after spraying mineral spirits and cleaning the face, it is best to rinse the fence with water.
Make sure you remove the substance entirely, as it can have a direct impact on how the paint adheres to your iron fence railing.
Step 5. Apply a primer
After the fence dries, you can start applying a primer.
Make sure you use only specially created priming material for metals like wrought iron, as it can make a lot of difference for your paint.
It can increase the lifespan of the paint as an excellent primer allows the paint to adhere adequately.
And, of course, will enable the primer to dry for at least 24 hours.
Step 6. Apply paint for metal surfaces
Follow the primer with a specially designed paint blend.
Make sure you use the specific paint that is designed for metal surfaces, as not all varnishes are the same.
For the application, it's recommended that you use a high-quality paint-brush and apply the paint in long even strokes very slowly.
Since you will be painting the thin metal railings, using a roller or a paint sprayer isn't a good option.
If used it can create lots of oversprays and hence wasted paint material.
Step 7. Follow up with several coats of paint
After the initial coat of paint, you can follow up with several layers. This will ensure you will achieve a smooth and pleasant finish.
But at the same time, it can boost the lifespan of your paint job.
Applying several paint layers to your wrought iron railing and fence can increase its ability to withstand wear and tear in time.
And as a result, you won't need to repaint it too often.
So, following these seven steps is the best way for you to paint a wrought iron fence. And we can tell you that it is rather simple.
All you have to do is be attentive to small details and make sure you apply the right paint to your fence.
What is the Best Paint for Wrought Iron Fence and Railings?
For me, Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Paint that comes in the black satin finish has worked fabulously in most cases.
It offers excellent coverage and dries to the touch in about 2-4 hours.
Moreover, with its excellent rust prevention abilities, it can help keep the wrought iron fence just like new for very long.
For metal fencing, personally, I prefer using satin rather than flat paint because it helps in keeping some natural shine of the metal intact.
But remember, like oil and water, paint and metal do not tend to mix.
In other words, paint does not stick to metal the same way that it sticks to wood.
That is why professional painters will use a substance that is not paint – if they need to cover the surface of the metal.
Before we come to those best paints or substances that can be used for painting wrought iron railings, let us try to understand why metal resists paint in the first place?
The reason why paint tends to slide off most metal is pretty simple. The surface of metal consists of a crystalline structure.
This structure is what gives the metal its strength and why it is used for creating so many things such as skyscrapers.
It's also why metal is better than wood for use outdoors as it resists penetration by water.
However, this same crystalline structure that makes metal so strong also does not give the paint the irregularities its needs to stick to the surface.
Paint sticks because, at a microscopic level, many materials such as wood for example have imperfections that allow the paint to take hold.
The rough surface, pits, and the like give the paint something to hold on to when it dries.
Metal has few such imperfections, so the paint tends to slide off fairly easily.
What imperfections metal does have tends to keep paint from sticking as well.
This is because the surface consists of small pits or dents along with long crevasses that provide little grab for the paint.
But will allow water and oils to become trapped underneath which over time will disrupt the paint on the surface.
However, while most metal may resist paint, it does not resist oxidation which leads to it rusting fairly quickly unless protected.
So, What Paint to Use and How to Prevent Wrought Iron Fence from Rusting?
Before you go and pick the best type of paint for wrought iron fences and railings, be sure that you choose the right primer.
Priming your cast iron fence using a correct base coat (a rust-inhibiting primer base) is very important since this will decide how hard the top finish coat will adhere when you paint the railings.
For most of the bare wrought iron surfaces, acid-based metal-etching primer provides the lasting base that can help you provide a better-painted finish.
Make sure that you do not choose latex or acrylic primers as they will not bond very well to the wrought iron surface due to their smooth and nonporous qualities.
Now when you have picked the right primer, it's time to choose the best paint for the surface.
The two types of paints that are well-suited for outdoor wrought iron fencing are:
1- Enamel
Being highly durable, exterior-grade enamel is best for exterior conditions.
Painting your wrought iron railings with enamel will help them keep off rust, corrosion, and various other environmental conditions.
Plus, an exterior-grade enamel paint will provide an attractive finish to your railings as well.
2- Acrylic Based Latex Paint
Unlike ordinary latex paint that does not suit the exterior metal surfaces, acrylic latex paint provides better protection to the iron fencing because of its ability to expand and contract at high and low temperatures.
While paints might be an excellent rust-proofing material as it resists moisture, it does not stick to the bare wrought iron surface very well.
However, there are two other types of coatings that can help metal resist the oxidation process and stay sound.
You should definitely consider these options as well if you want to keep your railings in good condition for a long.
3- Pre-Galvanizing
In this method, a thin coating of zinc is applied to the surface.
It is the most effective coating that can be applied to metal which keeps it from oxidizing or rusting.
You can paint on a metal or wrought iron gate that is covered in zinc, but there are certain types of latex or oil-based paints that will not last very long.
This is because the zinc will react to the paint which causes a process known as saponification.
In other words, it creates a soapy substance that will have the paint slide off the surface in a short time.
4- Mill or Grease
This is a layer of grease that is placed on the surface of the steel.
This is used to prevent the metal from rusting when it is transported or stored before use.
The grease is well-suited to the task because it remains on top of the surface and does not seep inside.
Plus, one the temperature changes the grease can easily be removed from the metal surface.
You can heat treat or simply burn away the grease from the metal without damaging the surface when the protection is no longer needed.
However, depending on the size of the metal, it may be difficult to find a facility that can heat treat such large pieces.
That is why the pre-galvanizing process is more popular.
However, for small pieces that can easily be heat-treated in some manner, the mill coating tends to be better because it is easy to remove and is cheaper compared to pre-galvanization.
Welders for example can simply burn away the grease as they are doing their work.
Conversely, trying to burn off the layer of zinc may cause fumes that are a threat to those nearby.
In either case, the protection provided by the mill and pre-galvanization is now gone once the layer has been removed.
For welding, there may be other issues that need to be addressed.
How to Keep the Welds of Iron Railing from Rusting and Corroding?
For metal that has been welded, the use of grease or zinc as a coating does not tend to work very well


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The BABS BSc (Hons) Degree provides an opportunity for students to experience the thrill of scientific research first-hand. Honours students become part of a research team within one of the research labs in the School, and complete a supervised research project and thesis during the year-long program. Students normally complete an Honours project in the research area of their major, but there is some flexibility depending on student interest and supervisor availability.
BABS offers Honours programs in the following areas:
- Molecular and Cell Biology
Benefits of an Honours Degree
The Honours degree is an important first step for students who intend to enrol in a graduate degree program. However, this is not the only reason for completing Honours. Evidence gathered over recent years shows that Honours graduates have acquired much greater competencies and confidence in the practice of scientific methods than students at the end of the third year.
Recognised industry skills
These attributes are well recognised by employers, greatly increasing the possibilities of gainful employment in industry, agriculture, hospitals or research organisations.
To achieve these outcomes, BABS Honours students will be exposed to:
- extensive use of information technology
- extensive training in oral and written presentation skills
- extensive use of online database manipulation and data analysis
- exposure to industrial research collaborations and commercialisation of science, nationally and internationally
- development of critical thinking skills
Honours Indigenous Scholarship
The School of BABS is committed to improving Indigenous education opportunities and recognises that there may be impediments – financial or otherwise – that restricts Indigenous students from pursuing research avenues in science. As part of this commitment the School will offer a scholarship of $5,000 to successful applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. For more details, see here
Study at your pace
Another benefit of the Honours year is that it provides a different type of learning experience. The pace is largely determined by the individual student, who is not burdened by the pressures of undergraduate coursework and exams.
Further, it is not just an additional year of study, but also a time for the student to enjoy unhurried, rational decision making about their scientific future. While successful completion of an Honours research project and thesis requires a large commitment, the student's dedication is rewarded with a high level of enjoyment and personal satisfaction.


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Another video by Dr. Lewis First of the Vermont Children's Hospital. This time he tackles a short video about body odor, a problem particularly concerning for adolescents who've enjoyed a relatively odor-free childhood. Noticing it on your child and discussing it with them can allow them to avoid much more embarrassing discussions from their peers.
Puberty changes everything for a child and body odors are one of them. A day's activity for a 6 year old still may enable them to skip a night in the tub now and then; an adolescent… not so much.
Hormonal changes alter the content of perspiration in addition to making it more copious – a breeding ground for the bacteria causing odors. Simple things like bathing every night and wearing only cotton underwear as opposed to silk or synthetics may be all that's needed for them to skip taunts by their "friends."


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Whether you struggle with a lack of suitable gardening space or you just enjoy the endeavors of container gardening, many vegetables grow energetically in containers instead of in the soil. As long as you select large and deep containers that will accommodate the root growth, almost any vegetable will thrive in a container. Grow garden onions in a container for a harvest of either green or bulb onions.
Time the planting approximately three months before you desire onion bulbs for harvesting or approximately one month before you desire green onions for harvesting. Growing onions in containers gives you the freedom to plant at any time of the year as long as you can keep the growing environment between 55 and 75 degrees F.
Fill the planting container almost to the top with potting soil.
Plant onion seeds over the soil surface (spacing is not important, you will thin the onion seedlings later) and add 1 inch of potting soil over the seeds. Alternatively, plant onion sets in the container so the tops of the onion sets show above the soil level. Plant the sets in rows with 4 inches between each set, spacing the rows 2 inches from the side edges of the container.
Provide a generous watering of the onion seeds or sets immediately after you finish watering them. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times, especially if you sowed seeds, providing at least 1 inch of water each week.
Place the container in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If you start the onions indoors, move them outdoors when the weather warms above 60 F during the day--onions can tolerate overnight frosts, however. Harden the onions off prior to moving them outdoors completely by keeping them outdoors for part of each day over a one-week period. After the onions grow accustomed to the outdoor environment, keep them outdoors in a sunny location.
Thin onion seedlings (grown from seeds) when the seedlings reach 4 inches in height. Pull out the weakest seedlings to leave the remaining seedlings growing 4 inches apart in the container.
Fertilize the onion plants twice per month during the growing season by mixing the fertilizer with water according to package recommendations for the container size. Pour the fertilizer over the potting soil carefully to saturate the soil.
Harvest green onions when the greens reach 6 inches in height. Harvest bulb onions when the greens begin falling over and turning brown. Dig the onions out of the soil and allow them to dry in a warm location for one week before using them.


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The following files contain configuration settings for Pentaho Analysis cache frameworks. All of them are in the same directory inside of the deployed pentaho.war: /WEB-INF/classes/.
- pentaho-analysis-config.xml Defines the global behavior of the Pentaho Analysis Enterprise Edition plugin. Settings in this file enable you to define which segment cache configuration to use, and to turn off the segment cache altogether.
- infinispan-config.xml The InfinispanSegmentCache settings file. It configures the Infinispan system.
- jgroups-udp.xml Configures the cluster backing the Infinispan cache. It defines how the nodes find each other and how they communicate. By default, Pentaho uses UDP and multicast discovery, which enables you to run many instances on a single machine or many instances on many machines. (There are examples of other communication setups included in the JAR archive.) This file is referenced by infinispan as specified in the infinispan-config.xml configuration file.
- memcached-config.xml Configures the Memcached-based segment cache. It is not used by default. To enable it, modify SEGMENT_CACHE_IMPL in pentaho-analysis-config.xml.


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- a few stems of bright, white flowers such as chrysanthemums, gerberas or carnations
- jars filled with water and various shades of liquid or gel food colouring
She then went back to her original observational drawing and added the colours where they had appeared on the flowers. We talked about comparing the pictures and how they represented the changes we had seen.
We have stuck this drawing, along with some annotations made by me, into a new scrap book to keep track of our investigations and activities. Cakie is very excited about it and wants to show it to everyone at the moment!
What they are learning while they play:
science/ knowledge and understanding of the world: performing a simple science experiment, making predictions and observations, understanding the parts of a plant, learning how water moves through a plant, drawing simple conclusions
creativity: drawing from observation and noticing changes in appearance
Bean: 12 mos
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See our huge range of Spring play and creative activities here!


a circular disc about 4" in diameter. Fold it in half, then in half again. Pull out one of the quarters to make a cone-shaped filter. Place this in the middle of your funnel, over a collection vessel. I would recommend something made of glass that can withstand the toluene. I'm using a glass vial.
Use the eye dropper to put the toluene/salt/junk solution on the filter and let it all pass through. What comes through the other side may be tinted a little yellow or green, but it should be clear and water-free.
Step 13: Optional sodium bicarbonate wash
This step is optional but it's easy and will further increase the purity of your nepetalactone. When you steam distill catnip, one of the side reactions is that some of the nepetalactone gets hydrolyzed to nepetalic acid. Nepetalic acid is not harmful, but it has no effect on cats so it's considered an impurity. Separating it out is a piece of cake, by virtue of the fact that it is an acid. When it reacts with a base, like sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) it turns into its sodium salt, which is water soluble. So all you have to do is wash your toluene extract with a solution of baking soda in water and the desired nepetalactone will be left behind in the toluene layer. See the third picture below for a schematic of what's going on.
Prepare a base solution by dissolving 1 tbsp of baking soda in 1 cup of water. Add a volume of this approximately equal to the amount of toluene you have. Stir it or shake it up really well for a minute, then allow the layers to separate. Use the eye dropper to remove the bottom water layer, which contains the impurities. Repeat the wash with a fresh portion of base-water and again remove the bottom layer.
The toluene solution that you're left with after this washing sequence now has a little bit of water in it, so we'll need to clarify it again, as in steps 11 and 12.
Step 14: Re-clarify the toluene
Ok, we're almost done! Repeat steps 11 and 12 on your toluene solution. That is, add a little table salt (or better yet, magnesium sulfate if you have it), stir it up really well, then pass it through a new coffee filter. The container that you filter it into this time will be its final resting home. Again, I'm using a little glass vial.
Ultimately, you end up with a very clear liquid that contains nothing but toluene and nepetalactone.
Step 15: Evaporate the toluene
Put the container with the highly-refined toluene extract outside, under a fan, to blow off all the toluene. Toluene vapors are not toxic but they are quite flammable, so keep away from open flames. It takes a while to evaporate all of the solvent; overnight in my case.
Step 16: Admire your product
When all the toluene is gone and you can't smell it any more (it smells like rubber cement), you will be left with a tiny amount of greenish liquid in the bottom of your container that smells strongly of that familiar minty, catnip smell. I got 143 mg, which represents 0.03% of the 1 lb of catnip I started with. That may not sound like a lot, but it's not far off from the 0.3% theoretical maximum yield given the improvised apparatus. And a little goes a long way.
Furthermore, this material is extremely pure. I analyzed it using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and found it to be >99% nepetalactone (see the second image below). In the chromatogram, nepetalactone is the giant peak around 12 min with a molecular weight of 166, and it's the only peak that is visible. For comparison, a sample of "catnip oil" that I purchased online was only about 80% nepetalactone (third picture).
If your sample has any amount of solid material mixed in with the liquid, most likely that is nepetalic acid. You may see that if you chose to omit the base wash from step 13. It's OK and isn't going to harm anything.
Step 17: Find a cat
Now it's time to build that cat army!* Find yourself a cat, uncap the vial, and let him/her get a good whiff. The effects are just the same as with catnip; immediately the critter will be propelled into a frenzied state of sniffing, scratching, rolling, cage fighting, you name it. Enjoy, and give yourself a pat on the back for completing a nice bit of kitchen chemistry.
A note about safety. Yes, it is safe to use this extract on cats. I have looked into it, and there are a number of studies (very interesting in their own right) using pure nepetalactone on cats in experiments trying to figure out why it causes them to go bonkers. The upshot is that it's pretty safe. In the last of the references below, the LD50 of nepetalactone was determined to be 1550 mg/kg (about the same as aspirin), meaning you would have to force feed your average 5 kg cat ~8 grams in order to cause it any harm. So as long as you are reasonable with the extract it should pose no harm.
If you are interested in learning more about the chemistry of catnip and nepetalactone, may I suggest the following primary references.
nepetalactone isolation and characterization:
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1941(63), _PHONE_
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1942(64), _PHONE_
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1955(77), _PHONE_
behavior/metabolism/toxicology studies on cats
[ Behav. Neural. Biol. 1985(44), 38-46]
Science 1969(164), _PHONE_
Lloydia 1978(41), 367-374
Finally, I would like to acknowledge Dr. David C. for his kind donation of a GC/MS reference sample, laboratory helper Melissa A. and most importantly, Mer, the intrepid kitty with an appetite for catnip.
1-40 of 370Next »
Todd Gehris3 months ago
fred_dot_u4 months ago
fred_dot_u4 months ago
A well written instructable.
agiven5 months ago
w0ot!4 years ago
djsnowman06 w0ot!6 months ago
aspir8or w0ot!4 years ago
not if you use them properly. ;-)
w0ot! aspir8or3 years ago
w0ot! aspir8or4 years ago
kliu86 months ago
"Say my name."
"You're Goddamn right."
frankiedog2 years ago
" I analyzed it using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry"
Pure, distilled science. And cat drugs.
Tim Temple2 years ago
ALogan972 years ago
ALogan972 years ago
Shadowfury5 years ago
"Why waste diethyl ether on such frivolous endeavors?"
But seriously, cats love this stuff...
skidoo4 years ago
"Homeopathic" is an unregulated term in the U.S.
Just an FYI.
scorallo skidoo4 years ago
skidoo scorallo4 years ago
In homeopathy's corner, we have:
1. No conceivable plausible mechanism of action.
2. No studies whatsoever showing any statistically significant efficacy.
Homeopathy kills.
zzoe skidoo2 years ago
> "traditional" medicine. this is often denied and vehemently
> denounced by the pharmaceutical companies and their pet
> politicians.
rpjacks skidoo4 years ago
1-40 of 370Next »


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Rakshit, Manas (2019) Development of Some Efficient Schemes for ECG Signal Quality Assessment and Processing. PhD thesis.
|PDF (Restriction upto 06/06/2022) |
Restricted to Repository staff only
ElCTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) is a widely utilized tool for the diagnosis of cardiac ailments. However, considering the rapid growth of population as well as poor doctor to patient ratio, the computer-based automated monitoring of ECG signal is efficient as it provides fast processing and precise long term monitoring with less human effort. The main objective of this research work is to improve the performance of a computer-based automated ECG monitoring system incorporating efficient schemes for ECG signal quality assessment and processing, which can enhance the reliability of the medical diagnosis. Some of the existing literature on signal quality assessment (SQA) discuss ECG SQA schemes employing QRS complex morphology and R-peak information based features. But the performance of such techniques degrades due to improper detection of R-peaks. This research attempts to develop an efficient wavelet sub-bands features based ECG SQA scheme. Various wavelet sub-band level signal features are applied to machine learning-based classifier for estimating the ECG signal quality. Further, the filtering of ECG records is essential for precise identification and detection of local components when a considerable amount of noise in ECG records affects the low amplitude P and T waves significantly. Hence this research proposes an efficient ECG denoising methodology based on both empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and adaptive switching mean filter (ASMF) approach. Unlike conventional EMD based techniques, the proposed method reduces the effect of noises simultaneously preserving the high-frequency QRS complex information. For typical low-frequency noises, this method does not meet the achievable performance. Hence, this research is motivated towards developing ECG signal enhancement scheme in a dictionary learning (DL) based sparse representation framework. The proposed method completely enhances the ECG signal quality by removing both low and high-frequency noises. Continuous monitoring of ECG records for better medical diagnosis in telemetry needs a large memory space for storage and also it requires more transmission power. A low power based solution utilising for ECG compression based on beat type dictionary based compressed sensing (CS) scheme is proposed which offers high-quality signal recovery avoiding the training stage of individual ECG record. Effective detection of R-peaks in ECG plays a vital role in the extraction of clinical features in a computer-based automated system. Hence, a wavelet-based R-peak detection scheme using the Hilbert transform is proposed. The efficacy of all the proposed approaches is evaluated through MATLAB simulation based studies by comparing with the existing schemes considering ECG records of standard databases.
|Item Type:||Thesis (PhD)|
|Uncontrolled Keywords:||Electrocardiogram; Signal quality assessment; Wavelet transform;ECG filtering; EMD; Dictionary learning; ASMF; Sparse representation; Compressed sensing; R-peak detection; Hilbert transform|
|Subjects:||Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Image Processing|
Engineering and Technology > Electrical Engineering > Image Segmentation
|Divisions:||Engineering and Technology > Department of Electrical Engineering|
|Deposited By:||Mr. Sanat Kumar Behera|
|Deposited On:||05 Jun 2020 17:38|
|Last Modified:||05 Jun 2020 17:38|
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for New Puerto Rican Parrot Aviary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The endangered Puerto Rican Parrot will soon have a new facility to aid in its recovery. Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners, will break ground and begin construction of a new aviary.
About one acre at the Caribbean National Forest (commonly known as El Yunque) will be used to relocate operations from an old military installation to a state-of-the-art facility at a cost of roughly $2.5 million. The facility will have a nursery, hospital, hurricane room, kitchen and outdoor cages. Congress appropriated $1.7 million to build the aviary. Additional funds will come from private donations and other partners. As part of their continued partnership with the Service, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Parrot International and other organizations are working to raise the necessary funds.
The Service is working closely with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the U.S. Forest Service to bolster the conservation and recovery of Puerto Rico 's only native parrot species.
Bright green feathers, with a red forehead, white rings around its eyes and wings that flash blue-turquoise in flight, the Puerto Rican Parrot is the only native parrot in the United States. It is the most endangered parrot and one of the ten most endangered birds in the world. Currently, there are less than 200 parrots alive.
A captive breeding program set up more than three decades ago has helped lift the Puerto Rican parrot population from a low point in 1975, when only 13 wild birds were recorded. Thirty five parrots raised in captivity have been released into the wild.
Today, 158 captive parrots live in one of two aviaries, one managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service in El Yunque and the other managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources is located in Rio Abajo, Utuado Puerto Rico.
The Service aviary supports the only existing wild population of parrots through fostering, emergency care of sick and injured wild nestlings, and boosting the wild population through captive releases. However the management needs of the species have outgrown the management options available at the present location. Frequent landslides isolate the facilities, power failures are frequent, space is limited, and the environment is extremely humid affecting both the parrots and our dedicated staff.
The Forest Service prepared an Environmental Assessment and multiple surveys of the construction site. No threatened or endangered plant species were found in the area. The Forest Service did find two endemic tree species of special concern known as Tortugo prieto (Ravenia urbanii) and the Puerto Rican rain tree. These trees were relocated to the Forest Service Nursery or other nearby locations.
The site is potential habitat for endangered or threatened animals: the Puerto Rican Boa (Epicrates inornatus), the Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter venator), Puerto Rican Brad-winged hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) and Chupacallos tree (plendedron macranthum). During construction contractors will ensure that if any of these species or new species are discovered the project will be held up for the safe removal of the species.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System that encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores national significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
More information and photos go to _URL_
can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail --
at the Service's Southeast Regional home page at _URL_.
Our national home page is at: _URL_ GA 30345

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Budgeted Optimization with Concurrent Stochastic-Duration Experiments
TitleBudgeted Optimization with Concurrent Stochastic-Duration Experiments
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsAzimi, J., A. Fern, and X. Z. Fern
Secondary AuthorsShawe-Taylor, J., R. S. Zemel, P. Bartlett, F C N. Pereira, and K. Q. Weinberger
Conference NameAdvances in Neural Information Processing Systems 24
Date Published12/2011
Conference LocationGranada, Spain
Budgeted optimization involves optimizing an unknown function that is costly to evaluate by requesting a limited number of function evaluations at intelligently selected inputs. Typical problem formulations assume that experiments are selected one at a time with a limited total number of experiments, which fail to capture important aspects of many real-world problems. This paper defines a novel problem formulation with the following important extensions: 1) allowing for concurrent experiments; 2) allowing for stochastic experiment durations; and 3) placing constraints on both the total number of experiments and the total experimental time. We develop both offline and online algorithms for selecting concurrent experiments in this new setting and provide experimental results on a number of optimization benchmarks. The results show that our algorithms produce highly effective schedules compared to natural baselines.


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Back to Home Page or Contents or Asian Mythology or Article Index
Adapa, son of Ea and Sumerian king of Eridu, was regarded as the first man and sage, but was not considered immortal. Whereas Adam is claimed to have named the beasts and fowl, the Akkadian myth credits Adapa with the invention of speech. On a fishing expedition in the Persian Gulf the south wind buffeted him but the strength of his curse broke its wings. Afterwards he was summoned to heaven by Anu who was displeased by his action. Before he left Ea dressed his son in sackcloth and told him not to partake of any food that he was offered while there. Greeted by Tammuz (see Ishtar), Adapa informed the dying king that he mourned his absence from earth, a sentiment that was well received. His frank admission of guilt greatly appeased Anu who offered him the "food of life" and the "water of life," of which Adapa refused and returned to Eridu.
Another legend tells of his wrath for Ea, Adapa like Adam discovered his father's advice was intended to deny him immortality. He suffered the same consequence as Adam by learning that henceforth disease and death became the fate of humankind. A.G.H.
Cotterell, Arthur, A Dictionary of World Mythology,
New York, G. P. Putman's Sons, 1980, p. 23


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Linking various disciplines and management functions, Integrated Performance Management provides the reader with a concrete framework to manage organizations successfully. The authors do not isolate a single strategy to manage performance. Instead, the book focuses on a range of strategies providing the reader with an introduction to each one. The concepts under analysis were developed through intense dialogue with business managers. While maintaining academic rigour, Integrated Performance Management presents ideas that students will find relevant outside of the classroom. Postgraduate and MBA students in a range of areas including strategy, accounting, finance, operations management, marketing, leadership and human resource management will find this book useful.
An Overview of Traditional Performance Management Frameworks
Performance Management Approached from Different Perspectives
If we want to develop a good understanding of the scope of Integrated Performance Management and its implications for an organization, we must understand the different dimensions of performance and evaluate the...


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The Battle of Stones River:
The Soldiers' Story--
By looking at The Battle of Stones River: The Soldiers' Story, students recall one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles as told in eyewitness and personal accounts. Those interested in learning more will find that the Internet offers a variety of interesting materials.
Battle of Stones River Resources:
Stones River National Battlefield
Stones River National Battlefield is a unit of the National Park System.
Visit the park's Web pages for
more information about the park and Stones River National Cemetery.
The Civil War Preservation Trust
The Civil War Preservation Trust Web pages provide an account of the
of Stones River, including links to extensive biographies on both
Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg and Union Gen. William S. Rosecrans.
Civil War Resources:
The American Battlefield Protection Program:
The American Battlefield Protection Program, a division of the National Park Service, provides detailed on-line publications featuring different topics in the Civil War. Included is a battle summary of the Battle of Stones River.
National Park Service Civil War Website
Visit the official National Park Service Civil War Web Site. Offering the current generation of Americans an opportunity to know, discuss, and commemorate this country's greatest national crisis, while at the same time exploring its enduring relevance in the present, the website includes a variety of helpful features and links such as the About the Civil War page that offers a timeline and stories from various perspectives. Also included are links to Civil War Parks, NPS education programs, and much more.
Historic Places Honoring Those Who Served
The National Register of Historic Places online itinerary Civil War Era National Cemeteries: Honoring Those Who Served commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. This itinerary explains where the idea of national cemeteries came from and their meaning today.
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
The National Park Service's Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System is a recently created database containing facts about Civil War servicemen, lists of Civil War regiments, and descriptions of significant Civil War battles. Also on this site is a descriptive history of African-Americans in the Civil War.
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress created a selected Civil War photographic history in their "American Memory" collection. Included on the site is a photographic timeline of the Civil War covering major events for each year of the war.
The United States Civil War Center
Louisiana State University maintains a Civil War Center that locates, indexes, and makes available all appropriate private and public data on the internet regarding the Civil War. The site features over 4,500 links that promote the study of the Civil War from all perspectives.
The Valley of the Shadow
For a valuable resource on the Civil War, visit the University of Virginia's Valley of the Shadow Project. The site offers a unique perspective of two communities, one Northern and one Southern, and their experiences during the American Civil War. Students can explore primary sources such as newspapers, letters, diaries, photographs, maps, military records, and much more.


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Our goal is to understand the structure of subgroups of graphs of groups. This will enable us to prove things like: F \ast_{z} F is LERF.
Exercise 22. A group is coherent if every fg subgroup is fp. Prove that \pi_1 of a finite graph of groups with coherent vertex groups and cyclic edge group is coherent.
Recall, that if H \subseteq \pi_1 \mathcal{G}=G is fg then H has an induced graph of groups structure. \mathcal{H} =H \backslash T_H \subseteq H \backslash T where T is the Bass-Serre tree of \mathcal{G}.
Topologically, H defines a covering space X^H \rightarrow X_g, which inherits a graph of spaces structure with underlying graph H\backslash T.
\Gamma' =H \backslash T_H \subseteq H \backslash T is a finite connected subgraph and the image of \Gamma' in X^H is a connected subcomplex X' such that \pi_1 X' = \pi_1 X^H =H. X' has the structure of a graph of space with underlying graph \Gamma'
There is an explicit algebraic description of H\backslash T, which follows immediately from Lemmas 16,17,18.
Lemma 23. (a) The vertices of H\backslash T are in bijection with \coprod_{v \in V(\Gamma)} H \backslash G/G_v=\coprod_{v \in V(\Gamma)}\{HgG_v\mid g \in G\}.
The vertex HgG_v is labelled by: H \cap gG_vg^{-1}, well-defined up to conjugation in H.
(b) The edges of H\backslash T are in bijection with \coprod_{e \in E(\Gamma)} H \backslash G/G_e. The vertex HgG_e is labelled with H \cap g G_e g ^{-1}.
(c) The edges of H\backslash T adjoining the vertex corresponding to HgG_v are in bijection with \coprod_{e~\mathrm{adjoining}~v} (g^{-1} H g \cap G_v ) \backslash G_v/G_e.
Now we will try to understand this topologically. In particular, we will understand the edge maps of a covering space of a graph of spaces.
Let f:X \rightarrow Y be a continuous map and Y' \rightarrow Y a covering map. If f':X \rightarrow Y' makes the diagram commutes, then f' is a lift of f.
Lemma 24. Fix basepoint x \in X, y=f(x) \in Y, and y' \in Y' mapping to y. There is a lift f':X \rightarrow Y' with f'(x)=y' if and only if f_{\ast} \pi_1(X,x) \subseteq \pi_1(Y',y'). Furthermore, if this lift exists it is unique.
It may be impossible to lift at y'. But it is possible if we pass to a covering space. Eg., if \tilde{X} \rightarrow X is the universal cover. Intuitively, an elevation is a minimal lift.
Definition: Let X,Y,Y', x,y,y' be as above. A based connected covering space (X',x') \rightarrow (X,x) together with a based map f':(X',x')\to (Y',y') such that
commutes is an elevation (of f at y') if whenever the diagram
commutes and X' \rightarrow \bar{X} is a covering map of degree larger than 1 then the composition (\bar{X},\bar{x}) \rightarrow (X,x) \rightarrow (Y,y) does not lift to Y' at y'.
The unbased covering map X' \rightarrow X or equivalently the conjugacy class of the subgroup \pi_1(X') \subseteq \pi_1(X) is called the degree of the elevation f'.
Let \Gamma be a finitely generated group. It has a surjection F_s \rightarrow \Gamma for S finite. Elements of the kernel are called relations and the elements of S are called genereators. Suppose the kernel is generated as a normal subgroup by a subgroup K \subseteq F_S. Then we write \Gamma \cong \langle S|R \rangle to mean \Gamma \cong F_S/ \langle \langle R \rangle \rangle. If R is finite, the \Gamma is said to be finitely presentable.
Example: \mathbb{Z} \cong \langle b,c|bcb^{-1}c^{-1},b^2c^{-3} \rangle.
Let's develop a topological point of view.
Let X^{(1)} be the standard rose for F_S. Each relation r \in R corresponds to a (homotopy class of a) map f_r:S^1 \rightarrow X^{(1)}. We construct a 2-complex X gluing on a 2-cell using the map f_r for each relation r \in R.
Lemma 6: \pi_1(X) \cong \Gamma
Proof: This is a simple application of the Seifert-van Kampen Theorem.
We call X a presentation complex for \Gamma, and we deduce that every finitely generated group is \pi_1 of a 2-complex.
Exercise 8: Every finitely presented group is \pi_1 of a closed 4-manifold.
Therefore, \Gamma acts freely and properly discontinuously on some 2-complex \tilde{X}, the universal cover of X.
Definition: Let S be a finite generating set for \Gamma as above. Then Cay_S(\Gamma)=\tilde{X}^{(1)} is the Cayley graph of \Gamma with respect to S.
To see that this only depends on S, let's give the more standard definition. The vertices of Cay_S(\Gamma) are just the elements of \Gamma. For each generator g \in S, two vertices \gamma,\delta are joined by an edge iff \gamma g=\delta
The group \Gamma acts by left translation.
 1. \mathbb{Z}\cong \langle 1\rangle.
 2. \mathbb{Z} \cong \langle 2,3 \rangle.
 3. The tree for F_S.
Definition: The Cayley graph Cay_S(\Gamma) induces a natural length metric on \Gamma, denoted d_S and called the word metric. Note that d_S(1,\gamma)=l_S(\gamma), the word length of \gamma.
The action of \Gamma on Cay_S(\gamma) is by isometries.
Given a metric space (X,d), a geodesic is just an isometric embedding of a compact interval into X.
A metric space is geodesic if any pair of point is joined by a geodesic. Note that Cay_S(\Gamma) is a geodesic metric space.
Definition: Let \lambda,\epsilon \geq 0. A (\lambda,\epsilon)-quasi isometric embedding is a map of metric space f:X \rightarrow Y such that \lambda^{-1}d_X(x_1,x_2)-\epsilon \leq d_Y(f(x_1),f(x_2)) \leq \lambda d_X(x_1,x_2)+\epsilon.
If for some C, we also have that for every y \in Y, there is x \in X such that d_Y(f(x),y) \leq C, then f is a quasi-isometry.
Exercise 9: Quasi-isometry is an equivalent relation (use the Axiom of Choice).
Exercise 10: Let S and S' be two finite generating sets for \Gamma. Then id:(\Gamma,d_S) \rightarrow (\Gamma,d_{S'}) is a (\lambda,0) quasi-isometry.
Example: (\mathbb{Z}^2,l^1) \hookrightarrow (\mathbb{R}^2,l^2) is a quasi-isometry.
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Grappa is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Italian origin that contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume (70 to 120 US proof). It is similar to Turkish Rakı, Spanish orujo, French marc, Georgian chacha, Portuguese bagaceira, Greek tsipouro, Hungarian Törkölypálinka, Bulgarian ракия (rakia), Serbo-Croatian (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Montenegrin) Rakija/Ракија (in Istria: rakija and grappa), Romanian tescovină, and Macedonian ракија.
The flavour of grappa, like that of wine, depends on the type and quality of the grapes used, as well as the specifics of the distillation process.
Grappa is made by distilling the skins, pulp, seeds, and stems (i.e., the pomace) left over from winemaking after pressing the grapes. It was originally made to prevent waste by using these leftovers. A similar drink, known as acquavite d'uva, is made by distilling whole must.
- Produced in Italy, or in the Italian part of Switzerland, or in San Marino
- Produced from pomace
- Fermentation and distillation must occur on the pomace — no added water
Criterion 2 rules out the direct fermentation of pure grape juice, which is the method used to produce brandy.
Criterion 3 has two important implications. First, the distillation must occur on solids. Thus, it is carried out not with a direct flame but with a bain-marie or steam distillation; otherwise, the pomace may burn. Second, the woody parts of the grapes (the stems and seeds) are co-fermented with the sugar-rich juice; this produces a very small amount of methanol, which is toxic in vastly larger amounts. Unlike in the similar process of making red wine, in Grappa the methanol must be carefully removed during distillation. That is why there is an Italian law requiring winemakers to sell their pomace to grappa makers; this is a measure that was taken against moonshine operations, which are now very rare in Italy.
In Italy, grappa is primarily served as a digestivo or after-dinner drink. Its main purpose was to aid in the digestion of heavy meals. Grappa may also be added to espresso coffee to create a caffè corretto, meaning "corrected coffee". Another variation of this is the ammazzacaffè ("coffee-killer"): the espresso is drunk first, followed by a few ounces of grappa served in its own glass. In Veneto, there is resentin ("little rinser"): after finishing a cup of espresso with sugar, a few drops of grappa are poured into the nearly empty cup, swirled and drunk down in one sip.
Among the best-known producers of grappa are Nonino, Bocchino, Berta, Sibona, Nardini, Jacopo Poli, Brotto, Villa de Varda, Domenis, Bepi Tosolini and Distilleria De Negri. These grappas are produced in significant quantities and are exported; there are also many small local or regional grappas.
Most grappa is clear, indicating it is an unaged distillate, though some may retain very faint pigments from their original fruit pomace. Lately,[clarification needed] aged grappas have become more common, and these take on a yellow, or red-brown hue from the barrels in which they are stored.
Distillation is an ancient practice that can be traced back to the first century AD. while the distillation of alcohol may have been carried out reliably by the School of Salerno in the 12th century. Fractional distillation was developed by Tadeo Alderotti in the 13th century. The legend that tells of a Roman soldier that first distilled grappa in the northern Italian town of Bassano del Grappa using distilling equipment stolen in Egypt ("Crisiopea di Cleopatra" 2nd century AD) cannot be considered reliable as such equipment could not produce grappa. However, distillation useful for producing beverages was not discovered until the eighth century, and it likely took about two more centuries for the technology to travel from its home in the Levant and Persia to Italy (likely by route of the Crusades). Around _PHONE_ AD, however, the introduction of water as a coolant in the distilling equipment made it possible to produce a substantially larger amount of distilled wine and to distill pomace. Around 1600 AD, the Jesuits in Spain, Italy and Germany studied and codified the techniques used to produce brandy or grappa, and their methods were used until recent times. The Museum of Wine and Grappa shows historical equipment used in the early years of grappa distillation. The modernization of grappa distillation is relatively recent, probably in 1979 in Northern Italy. Initially it was carried out by direct flame but soon the advantages of a bain-marie or steam distillation to obtain a better product became obvious. Modern refinements included the distillation of pomace under vacuum, the use of varietal grapes and aging in casks of various types of wood to improve the flavor of the liquor. Oak is the most used, but some high end grappas, are aged successively in cask of oak, acacia, ash and cherrywood, an innovation introduced by the Marzadro Distillery.
Professional tasters distinguish four categories of grappa: young, cask-conditioned, aromatic and aromatized grappas.
Grappa tastings invariably begin with young grappas, then continue with cask-conditioned and aromatic grappas and finish with aromatized grappas.
When the tasting involves more than one grappa from the same category, the examination begins with the grappa that has the lowest alcohol content and concludes with the product richest in alcohol. In the case of the two grappas with the same alcohol content, the tasting begins with the smoother and less markedly flavoured product, which the organizer of the tasting will have selected beforehand.
After each tasting, and before sampling another glass, some tasters recommended drinking half a glass of milk to refresh the taste receptors on the tongue.
Another way to "taste" grappa is by rubbing a small amount on the back of the hand and sniffing. If the aroma is pleasant, the grappa is well made. Impurities in grappa come out in the vapour and can be easily distinguished in this way.
Various other food products can help stop taste-characteristics of one grappa "dragging" or carrying over to the next. Foods effective in this role, and that also provide an agreeable accompaniment to grappa's own flavour include:
- Salted pistachio nuts
- Rusks spread with acacia-blossom honey and topped with a flake of mature Montasio or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese[better source needed]
- N. B. "Raki" and "rakia" are, like "brandy", very generic words. "Pomace rakı" means "pomace brandy", but the word "rakı" by itself does not.
- Forbes, Robert James (1970). A short history of the art of distillation: from the beginnings up to the death of Cellier Blumenthal. BRILL. pp. 57, 89. ISBN 978-90-04-00617-1. Retrieved 29 June 2010.
- Sarton, George (1975). Introduction to the history of science. R. E. Krieger Pub. Co. p. 145. ISBN 0-88275-172-7.
- Holmyard, Eric John (1990). Alchemy. Courier Dover Publications. p. 53. ISBN 0-486-26298-7.
- Istituto Nazionale Grappa (Italian)
- (Source: Lessons on Discriminating Drinking/Distilleria Domenis)
Further reading
- Ove Boudin, Grappa: Italy Bottled (Wine Appreciation Guild 2008)
- Axel Behrendt, et al., Grappa: A Guide to the Best (Abbeville Publishing Group (Abbeville Press, Inc.) 2000)
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Grappa|
- Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 of 29 May 1989 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks


Help Centre for Advisers
What is a Pay Code?
A pay code is a four digit code that allows you to identify one payroll from another. If you need to add a new pay code to your portal, please use the following pointers to help you create a pay code(s) that is useful to you.
A pay code
 1. Must contain four characters
 2. Must be alphanumeric (i.e. can contain only letters and/or numbers)
 3. Is case sensitive
If you need to add a payroll, then set the pay code to the next number in the sequence e.g. P00x.
 1. P001 for monthly payrolls
 2. P002 for weekly payrolls
 3. P003 for temporary/casual staff
 4. P004 for permanent staff
 5. P005 – office based in London
 6. P006 – office based in Manchester
You will need to input this code when setting up your payroll and uploading each payroll file.
The pay code is referred to in the NOW: File Format as the PAYCODE.
More information can be found in the employer pensions portal guide (step 4).
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Orthotist and Prosthetist
What is an orthotist?
An orthotist is a health care professional who makes and fits braces and splints (orthoses) for patients who need added support for body parts that have been weakened by injury, disease, or disorders of the nerves, muscles, or bones. They work under a doctor's orders to adapt purchased braces or create custom-designed braces. Braces are often named for the body part they support, such as:
An AFO brace is an ankle-foot orthosis.
A KAFO brace is a knee-ankle-foot orthosis, or long leg brace.
A Halo brace is a brace that surrounds the head and is held in place with small screws in the skull. It is used to stabilize the neck and prevent further damage to the spinal cord after injury.
What is a prosthetist?
A prosthetist is a health care professional who makes and fits artificial limbs (prostheses) for patients with disabilities. This includes artificial legs and arms for patients who have had amputations due to conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or injury.
Orthotists and prosthetists receive special education and training in undergraduate programs and/or apprenticeships. They may practice in a variety of settings, including the following:
Inpatient rehabilitation centers
Outpatient rehabilitation centers
Industrial health centers


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Starfinder Ship Combat Cheat Sheet by
Cheat sheet for the roles in Starfinder combat
Combat Phases
1. Engineering Phase (Captain, Engineer)
2. Helm Phase (Captain, Pilot, Science Officer)
3. Gunnery Phase (Captain, Gunner)
The Science Officer can act before or after the pilot in the Helm Phase (2).
Captain Actions
Demand (Intimidate)
Grant a +4 bonus to one specific check by succeeding. You must use this action before the associated check is rolled, and you can grant this bonus to an individual character only once per combat. You cannot make demands of yourself
Encourage (Diplomacy DC 15 OR Same Skill at DC10)
Can encourage another member of the crew to give her a bonus to her action. This works like aid another (see page 133), granting a +2 bonus to the check required by a crew action.
Taunt (Push [Comms], Bluff or Intimidate)
Select an enemy vessel and phase and roll Bluff or Intimidate; if successful, each enemy character acting during the selected phase takes a –2 penalty to all checks for 1d4 rounds; the penalty increases to –4 if the enemy's check is made as part of a push action. Cannot target the same enemy twice in combat.
Orders (Level 6, Push, 1RP)
Can grant an additional action to one member of the crew by spending 1 Resolve Point and succeeding at a related skill check at the above DC. Computers for science officer, Engineering for engineer, gunnery (see page 320) for gunner, and Piloting for pilot. Target gains another action if successful, but cannot take the same action twice. You cannot give yourself orders
Moving Speech (Level 12, Diplomacy DC20 + 1.5xTier, 1RP)
Use your action to give a moving speech to the crew during one phase of combat. For the remainder of that phase, your allies can roll twice and take the better result when performing crew actions.
Captain DC's are all 15 + 1.5xStarship Tier unless otherwise noted
Engineer Actions
Divert (Engineering, DC10 + 1.5xTier)
Make engineering check to divert power. If engines, speed increases by 2 this round. If science, science officers get +2 to checks this round. If weapons, damage rolls of 1 become 2. If shields, restore an amount of Shield Points equal to 5% of the PCU rating of the starship's power core (see page 296), up to the shields' maximum value. Evenly distribute the restored Shield Points to all four quadrants (putting any excess Shield Points in the forward quadrant).
Hold it Together (Engineering, DC15 + 1.5xTier)
Select one system; that system is treated as if its critical damage condition were two steps less severe for the rest of the round (wrecked becomes glitching, and a malfunctioning or glitching system functions as if it had taken no critical damage). This check isn't modified by penalties from critical damage to the power core.
Patch (Engineering, DC Varies)
Patch a system to reduce the effects of a critical damage condition. The number of actions and the DC of the Engineering check required to patch a system depend on how badly the system is damaged. The number of actions required can be reduced by 1 (to a minimum of 1 action) by increasing the DC by 5. Glitching: 1 action, DC 10 + 1.5xTier. Malfunctioning: 2 actions, DC15 + 1.5xTier. Wrecked: 3 actions, DC20 + 1.5xTier
Overpower (6 ranks Engineering, Push, DC15 + 1.5xTier, 1RP)
If successful, this functions as the divert action, but you can send extra power to any three systems listed in that action. This action and the divert action can't be taken in the same round.
Quick Fix (12 ranks Engineering, DC20 + 1.5xTier, 1RP)
If successful, remove the critical damage condition from one system for 1 hour (allowing it to function as if it had taken no critical damage), after which time it must be repaired as normal.
Science Officer Actions
Balance (Computers, DC10 + 1.5xTier)
Can shift Shield Points (SP) from the shield in one quadrant another quadrant, including to depleted shields (after rebalancing, every shield must have at least 10% of the total current SP). Alternatively, you can add up the SP from all the remaining shields and evenly distribute them to all four quadrants, putting any excess SP in the forward quadrant.
Scan (Computers, DC5 + 1.5xTarget's Tier + Countermeasures)
If you succeed at this check, you learn the first unknown piece of information on the following list. For every 5 by which you exceed the check, you learn another unknown piece of information. Subsequent checks reveal new pieces of information, continuing down this list.
1. Basic Information: Living crew complement and ship classification, size, speed, and maneuverability.
2. Defenses: AC, TL, total and current Hull Points, total and current Shield Points in each quadrant, and core PCU value.
3. Weapon: Information about one weapon, including its firing arc and the damage it deals, starting with the weapon that uses the most PCU. Repeat this entry until all the starship's weapons are revealed.
4. Load: Information about how the starship's expansion bays are allocated and any cargo the starship might be carrying.
5. Other: Any remaining ship statistics.
Target System (Computers, Push, DC5 + 1.5xTarget's Tier + Countermeasures)
If you succeed, choose one system (core, engines, life support, sensors, or weapons). The next attack made by your starship that hits the enemy ship scores a critical hit on a natural roll of 19 or 20. If that attack deals critical damage, it affects the chosen system. For any further critical damage resulting from the attack, determine which system is affected randomly as normal. Your starship's sensors can target only one system on a specific enemy starship at a time, though this action can be used to concurrently target systems on multiple starships.
Lock On (Computers 6 ranks, Push, DC5 + 1.5xTarget's Tier + Countermeasures, 1RP)
If you succeed, your starship's gunners gain a +2 bonus to gunnery checks against the target for the rest of the round. This action can be taken only once per round.
Improve Countermeasures (Computers 12 ranks, DC5 + 1.5xTarget's Tier + Countermeasures, 1RP)
If you're successful, gunners aboard the target starship roll twice and take the worse result for gunnery checks during this round (including checks for tracking weapons).
Pilot Actions
No skill check, regular movement
Maneuver (DC15 + 1.5xTier)
Move up to speed, reduce distance between turns by 1 (minimum 0).
Stunt (DC Varies)
Back off (Piloting DC10 + 1.5xTier) Move half speed backwards without turns. If fail, move back 1 hex only. Fail by 5 or more, no movement and -4 to AC and TL.
Barrel Roll (Piloting DC10 +1.5xTier, Large max size) Move half speed and facings inverted 1 round. Fail, no roll. Fail by 5 or more, no roll, -4 AC and TL.
Evade (Piloting DC10 + 1.5xTier) Move speed, +2 AC and TL. Fail, no bonus. Fail by 5 or more, still move but -2 AC and TL.
Flip and Burn (Piloting DC15 + 1.5xTier) Move half speed and turn 180°. Fail, no rotation.
Flyby (Piloting DC15 + 1.5xTier) Move normal, can move through enemy w/o provoking. During gunnery phase, choose one arc of ship to fire at enemy and treat as close range. If fail, gunnery phase is normal and movement provokes.
Slide (Piloting DC10 + 1.5xTier) Move up to speed in forward-port or forward-starboard direction w/o changing facing. Fail, move forward half speed w/o turns.
Turn in Place (


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hitchhiker in Luxembourg (1977)
Hitchhiking is a way that people can travel from one place to another. Usually, a hitchhiker (a person who hitchhikes) will stand at the side of a road and hold his or her thumb in the air waiting for the car to come and pick her or him up. This is a sign that he or she wants a car to stop and pick him/her up. The distance traveled by hitchhiking can be anywhere from walking distance to across a continent. Hitchhiking is against the law in some areas (for example around a prison in the United States).
It was a very common way of travelling in Europe in the 1970s and is still done by many people all over the world.
Other websites[change | change source]
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text:
While deep neural networks have become the go-to approach in computer vision, the vast majority of these models fail to properly capture the uncertainty inherent in their predictions. Estimating this predictive uncertainty can be crucial, for example in automotive applications. In Bayesian deep learning, predictive uncertainty is commonly decomposed into the distinct types of aleatoric and epistemic uncertainty. The former can be estimated by letting a neural network output the parameters of a certain probability distribution. Epistemic uncertainty estimation is a more challenging problem, and while different scalable methods recently have emerged, no extensive comparison has been performed in a real-world setting. We therefore accept this task and propose a comprehensive evaluation framework for scalable epistemic uncertainty estimation methods in deep learning. Our proposed framework is specifically designed to test the robustness required in real-world computer vision applications. We also apply this framework to provide the first properly extensive and conclusive comparison of the two current state-of-the-art scalable methods: ensembling and MC-dropout. Our comparison demonstrates that ensembling consistently provides more reliable and practically useful uncertainty estimates. Code is available at _URL_
updated: Tue Apr 07 2020 12:49:00 GMT+0000 (UTC)
published: Tue Jun 04 2019 17:54:20 GMT+0000 (UTC)


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BEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Year of entry: 2021
Course unit details:
From Antarctica to Outer Space: Surviving and Thriving in Extremes
Unit code UCIL20142
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Offered by School of Social Sciences
Available as a free choice unit? Yes
For centuries, humans have chosen extremes for purposes of exploration, adventure and scientific discovery. Since sailing off the edge of the map, we have scaled Earth's highest mountains, crossed polar ice caps, dived to the ocean floor and stood on the surface of the Moon.
Today, people continue to live, work and play in some of the most extreme environments on earth and beyond. Why is it that, despite the risk, people remain drawn to these extreme places? Who has the right stuff for extremes and what is it that allows them to thrive at the limits? What, if anything, can we learn from these people and how might that help us tackle challenges faced in everyday life?
This unit introduces key historical, cultural, physiological and psychosocial perspectives on human life, survival and thriving in extremes. Using case studies and contemporary theory, students explore the physical, psychological and social demands faced by people in extreme settings, what motivates them to go to these places and what they do to cope.
Throughout the unit, students will journey through a range of study topics including the history of bravery and heroism in polar exploration, how to select astronauts for a mission to Mars, the mental health of humanitarian aid workers, and lessons for trauma, resilience and psychological wellbeing in an extreme world.
Students will explore how they can apply what they learn to their own challenges, including coping with stress in daily life, making effective decisions under pressure, and leading others in moments of crisis.
This unit will be delivered online with supplementary face-to-face seminars. It will include contributions from leading experts at the University of Manchester and abroad. Learning materials will include academic and popular texts, historical records and video and audio insights from well-known 21st century explorers.
This unit aims to provide a broad interdisciplinary perspective on surviving and thriving in extreme environments.
You will be encouraged to think critically and consider how you can apply what you have learnt to tackle challenges faced in other areas of life and work.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
 - Describe historical and contemporary perspectives on human life and survival in extremes
 - Discuss the cultural, physiological and psychosocial theories that explain differences in surviving and thriving in extreme environments
 - Apply findings from the study of people in extremes to challenges faced in everyday life
 - Create evidence-based summaries and reports for both non-academic and academic audiences
 - What are extreme environments?
 - Historical and cultural perspectives on adventure and exploration in extremes
 - Physiological and psychological basis of surviving and thriving in extreme conditions
 - Why people take the risk (+ seminar)
 - Extreme stress and unusual experiences (e.g. hallucinations, social conflict, scapegoating)
 - New exploration frontiers and challenge for human life
 - Selecting people for extreme activities from the South Pole to the solar system (+ seminar)
 - Trauma, recovery and mental health in the aftermath of disasters and emergencies
 - Leadership on the edge, in crisis and outside the norm
 - What extreme environments can teach us about everyday life
Teaching and learning methods
The unit includes contributions from leading researchers located in Manchester and around the world.
The unit is delivered via Blackboard with two face-to-face supplementary seminars in weeks 4 and 7. The unit is made up of 10 x online modules which will be released at intervals.
The unit is interactive and uses a variety of learning materials, including academic and popular texts, historical records and video and audio insights from well-known 21st century explorers.
Assessment methods
1. Ongoing end-of-module assessments (20%)
2. 1500 word report (choice of task) (50%)
3. Public engagement resource (30%)
Feedback methods
Via Blackboard
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours
Tutorials 39
Independent study hours
Independent study 61
Teaching staff
Staff member Role
Emma Barrett Unit coordinator
Return to course details


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Sunday, November 17, 2019
Bigots are often broke
When money is scarce, biased behavior happens faster
Cornell University
Related imageDiscrimination may happen faster than the blink of an eye, especially during periods of economic scarcity, according to a new study from Cornell University.
"Scarcity mindsets can really exacerbate discrimination," said Amy Krosch, assistant professor of psychology at Cornell.
"We show that tiny shifts in the processing of minority group faces under scarcity could have downstream consequences for inequality."
In the first experiment, 71 undergraduate psychology students from a private university -- none of which identified as black or African American -- were asked to look at pictures of white and black male faces on a screen.
No photo description available.Participants then awarded each face up to $10 based on "subtle perceptions of recipients' deservingness."
A control group was told $10 was the most each face could receive. But members of the experimental group believed they were randomly assigned only $10 out of a possible $100 to give away each time -- a difference that imparted a sense of scarcity.
Scalp electrodes measured the time each study participant took to perceive recipients distinctly as human faces, a subconscious process linked to activity in the fusiform gyrus that is known to take just 170 milliseconds, or less than two-tenths of a second.
ImageWithin the control group, test subjects took about the same amount of time to process faces of either race, and distributed money to them evenly.
But in the group that perceived resources as scarce, participants took "significantly longer" to process black faces than white faces on average, the study found. The researchers also showed that these perceptual delays related to anti-black bias, in which participants allocated less money to black faces.
"It's taking them longer to see a black face as a face, and the extent to which that's happening then predicts how much they discriminate against that black individual," Krosch said.
Krosh's team ran a second set of experiments that imaged brain activity to test whether the "impaired" visual processing of black faces was linked to a devaluation of faces and then to biased behavior.
The scans revealed dampened activity in the striatum, a brain region involved in valuation and reward processing. That suggested that test subjects may have devalued black faces they saw as "less face-like" or, in a sense, less human. Dampened fusiform and striatum activity correlated to less money given to black recipients.
This study was funded by the National Science Foundation.


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- what is the use/relevance of the wheel rate as opposed to the spring rate?
- I'm used to spring rates in SI (Systeme Internationale) and they are defined as force / distance: [Newton / meter, N/m]. With Lb being mass and not force, how do the mentioned rates mentioned here translate to SI-units?
SI spring rate value = Imperial Spring Rate value *2.2046 (for Lbs-> Kg) *9.8 (for mass->force) * 0.0254 (for 1/inch -> 1/meter) any thoughts?
- Is there any comparative info on the (minimum e/o maximum) damper rates of these systems available? Both SI or imperial values are welcomed? SI -unit is force * time / distance: [Newton * second / meter, Ns/m]


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The rendering system is determined by the background material, anticipated stress and aesthetics. The number of coats in the rendering varies. The simplest is just one coat, and normally the maximum is three. A basic principle in building up the rendering is that the strength of each layer is less as one moves outwards.
The thickness of the rendering is determined by, among other things, the evenness of the background and the surface desired. If the background is relatively uneven, such as ordinary brickwork, and the surface is to be smooth, it is necessary to have a total thickness of 10–15
The thickest rendering consists of three coats: spatterdash coat, undercoat and final coat.
Fig. 2: three coat rendering
A spatterdash coat is applied to the substrate surface to control and even distribute the absorbency of the background.
If the backgrouerdash coat (a wet, rich mixture of cement and sand or a "slurry" mixed in the cement to sand ratio of 1:1.5 or 1:3) is thrown hard or spattered against the smooth block or concrete substrate surface using a spatterdash apparatus (Fig.3) and the spattered slurry is allowed to harden. A spatterdash with a special composition that thoroughly wets the background will reduce absorbency enough that the undercoat in turn will wet the spatterdash coat.
Fig.3: a spatterdash apparatus
If the background has extremely high absorption, there is a risk that "normal" render will not wet it sufficiently for the render to adhere to the substrate background.
If the background has little or no absorbency, the plaster will slide off due to its own weight and gravity. It is in cases like these that a spatterdash coat is used to increase absorbency, which makes the succeeding steps easier.
The absorbency of the background can vary greatly on the same facade e.g. between masonry units and mortar. Using a single coat on such a facade means that the characteristics of the finish will vary and, perhaps, later show a rectangular pattern. A spatterdash coat will largely eliminate these effects.
The spatterdash coat should be 1–2 mm thick and unbroken.
The undercoat primarily fills unevenness in the background and provides the desired flatness to the surface. It is also the background for the final coat, and provides an even suction for it. The undercoat is normally 8–12 mm thick.
The final coat is the visible layer of the finished rendering e.g. paint or a coloured plaster.
If the pattern of the wall is to be seen through the coating, the traditional thick three-coat rendering cannot be used. The thickness of the rendering should in this case be at most 4–5 mm. For this thickness one could use two coats: spatterdash and final coat (Fig.4).
Fig.4: two coat rendering
For an even thinner cover, one could use just a spatterdash coat and paint. The simplest rendering is just one coat, such as a coloured render (Fig.5).