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Albuquerque, New Mexico
June 24, 2001
June 24, 2001
June 27, 2001
6.1081.1 - 6.1081.6
Understanding Moral Imagination: Applying A Network State Framework to Cases of Inventing for the Environment
Matthew M. Mehalik, Michael E. Gorman University of Virginia
We discuss a network state framework to highlight the decision choices and actions of a group of entrepreneurs who are struggling to do well by doing good by inventing for the environment and global development. The framework helps explain the relationship of moral imagination and the ability to take action after engaging in it given the context of a practitioner's network relationships. The framework is used as a tool to help engineering students develop skills at integrating moral imagination into their context of decision making.
In engineering education we desire our students to develop a skill in exercising moral imagination by having them shift perspectives when discussing real-world cases1. We are proposing that this process can be improved if we provide our students with a framework to help them structure analysis of the contextual, organizational, and network issues and constraints that make exercising moral imagination difficult in practice.
The framework we discuss consists of three network states:
1. A state in which one actor or small elite group of actors has the overall problem representation and black boxes others into specific roles whose purpose those persons only partly understand. 2. A state in which no group of actors has a comprehensive view and in which all are connected by a boundary object that each actor sees differently. In State 2 individual actors can be pursuing their own enterprises in relation to a common boundary object. Successful networks in this kind of state include active trading zones. Unsuccessful networks include ones in which the creole connecting the zones fails, forcing the network to move into another state or dissociate altogether2. 3. A state in which all participants need to share a common representation.
Networks can shift among these states, and the states also depend on where one draws the practitioner network boundaries. The states can be viewed as a continuum, based on the type of trading zone involved. In State 1 there is only the most unequal kind of trade. A State 1 network can shift into unfair State 2's, where the trades do not take place on a level basis. As networks Proceedings of the 2001 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2001, American Society for Engineering Education
Gorman, M., & Mehalik, M. (2001, June), Understanding Moral Imagination: Applying A Network State Framework To Cases Of Inventing For The Environment Paper presented at 2001 Annual Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico. _URL_
ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2001 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015


China says no cover-ups using state secrecy as excuse
Updated February 04, 2014 11:02:01
China has unveiled new rules telling officials not to cover up what should be publicly available information using the excuse it is a state secret.
State media said the new mandate, due to come into force on March 1, was a move towards greater government transparency.
Government departments "must not define as a state secret information which by law ought to be public", the official Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.
The rules also state that "the scope of what is secret should be adjusted in a timely manner according to changes in the situation".
Officials who discover that state secrets have been compromised will have to report the problem within 24 hours and will be punished if they cover up the leak or fail to report it.
But the rules offer no explanation for what public information will be covered that cannot be called a state secret.
China has notoriously vague state secret laws, covering everything from the number of people executed every year to industry databases and even pollution figures.
Information can also be retroactively labelled a state secret.
The issue received international attention in 2009 when an Australian citizen and three Chinese colleagues working for mining giant Rio Tinto were detained for stealing state secrets during the course of tense iron ore negotiations.
The government has come under pressure from its own people to be more open, especially on sensitive issues like the environment, which have no obvious implications for national security.
Chinese officials, particularly at the local level, often seek to invoke secrecy laws to prevent embarrassing problems that could lead to punishment, such as police brutality or pollution, from being reported to more senior officials.
Topics: government-and-politics, law-crime-and-justice, corruption, china, asia
First posted February 03, 2014 23:06:36


information is included on each product datasheet and with the dimensions for the product on the website.
Thermal resistance
Why don't you specify thermal resistance for your products?
Thermal resistance is not specified for Coilcraft inductors and transformers because they are mostly open-frame style and not solid, homogeneous bodies like molded IC packages. These body styles have a variety of thermal flow paths and multiple heat sources (winding and core), as opposed to an IC that may generate heat in a specific junction and conduct heat consistently throughout a solid body.
To calculate an approximate thermal resistance, divide the temperature rise due to Irms current (e.g., 40°C rise) by the power required to generate that rise (Power = DCR × Irms2).
Tin whiskers
What tin whisker mitigation techniques are used on Coilcraft products?
Where tin is used in terminations, Coilcraft applies one or more of the tin whisker mitigation techniques described in iNEMI Recommendations on Lead-Free Finishes for Components Used in High-Reliability Products Version 4 (12-1-06).
Where can I find the weight for each of your parts?
The weight of a Coilcraft part is typically specified on the datasheet. In the case of a part series, a weight range may be given that covers the entire series.


shapes from 1 to 24 and put an activity in each container in random order (except for those that MUST occur on a particular day, such as a visit to the pantomime). Activities you could put in the box could be:
 9. Add a new Christmas decoration for hanging on the tree.
 10. A packet of pot pourri flowers or smell and some pine cones or wooden balls or shavings for making your own bowl of pot pourri.
 11. Pantomime tickets – even if you were going to go anyway, it makes it seem even more special to have the tickets appear from the advent calendar.
 12. Write or create Christmas cards for local friends or relations. (Don't leave that one too late for cards that need to be posted.)
 13. Visit a theme park.
 14. Go to your local leisure centre and go swimming or try an activity you don't do normally.
 15. Pick the Christmas tree.
 16. Make decorations for the Christmas tree.
 17. Decorate the Christmas tree.
 18. Visit someone who lives alone or in an old people's home (check first that it is OK).
 19. Consider inviting a lonely neighbor or friend to join you for Christmas Dinner and create an invitation card for them.
 20. Make a small basket of goodies and leave them at a neighbor's door with an anonymous message of goodwill.
 21. Make Christmas biscuits or mince pies and decorate them.
 22. Make a present for someone.
 23. Draw up your list for Santa.
 24. Declutter an old toy or book ready for new toys coming at Christmas.
 25. Pick out a good toy or book you could donate to a local charity.
 26. Visit the charity shop to donate.
 27. Visit Santa or Santa's grotto.
 28. Go and see the Christmas lights being turned on, or take an evening walk to view the Christmas lights in the dark.
 29. Go out and collect pine cones for a display.
 30. Paint or decorate the pine cones with gold or silver paint. Stick them on sticks and put them in a vase as a display.
 31. Use a Christmas oil on the pine cones to make it smell Christmassy.
 32. Join a Christmas carol service or put on some Christmassy (or favorite) music and dance around the house.
 33. Buy a toy with small pieces (not for toddlers under 3 years of age) such as Lego or Playmobile and put different pieces in different advent boxes, so it builds up into a set over a few days.
 34. The twelve crafts of Christmas. Make something Christmassy on each of these days.
 35. The twelve kindnesses of Christmas. Visit someone on each day and take one of the Christmas crafts to give to them. It could be an elderly or disabled neighbor, a relative, someone in a senior citizens home, etc
 36. Look for a charity craft fair in your area and pay a visit. Make a donation even if you don't buy anything.
 37. Write a letter to Santa and find the address to send it to, to receive a reply.
 38. Make it a "Giving" advent. Each day of advent, add a tin or packet of food to a box to hand into your local foodbank for a family that won't have much at Christmas. Make sure you hand it in early enough for distribution in time for Christmas.
 39. Create or buy a present for a child who won't have much this Christmas. Find a local charity that distributes these kinds of gifts.
 40. Visit your nearest library to choose Christmas books.
 41. Make salt dough and create Christmas shapes for hanging on the tree.
 42. See if a local park or facility is creating a Christmas wonderland or adventure for walking through or visiting.
 43. Get together a family date night pack with hot chocolate, popcorn and snuggly blankets and watch a Christmas film.
 44. Visit a Christmas market.
 45. Go for an evening walk around your neighborhood and count how many Christmas trees are lit and on display.
 46. Plan a Christmas Eve Box and make that item 24 on your calendar.
 47. Make reindeer food.
 48. Bake Christmas Pies for Santa
 49. Track Santa's sleigh with Norad and watch it get closer to your house.
 50. Add a Christmas coloring page and pencils or crayons to the Advent calendar.
 51. Rock Painting with a Christmas Theme. You can make a small pile of Christmas themed rocks at your doorway. Try using glow in the dark paint.
 52. Wear family Ugly Christmas Sweaters.
 53. Make a "Santa Stop Here" sign.
 54. Print out the "Night Before Christmas" poem and read it together.
 55. Get a new board game for Christmas and play it.


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In the Spirit of Truth – Sunday, March 3 – 12:45 in the Chapel
Topic: Gender Identity
Facilitated by Sean Fischer and Mya Dosch
Join us as we explore the topic of gender identity. Engaging activities and discussion will focus on questions such as: What is the difference between gender and sex? How is gender identity different from sexual orientation? What does "Transgender" mean? How can First U become a more welcoming place for people of all genders? This forum is cosponsored by First Unitarian's Weaving the Fabric of Diversity and the Rainbow Alliance.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Protocol.Love Recommended Accountability Process
Phase 1: Determining Accountabilities as a Council
Brainstorm as a group and write down each task that can be thought of that is needed to accomplish a given mission. Be sure to clearly define desired outputs for each task.
Phase 2: Relative Valuation of Accountabilities (RVA)
For each task in the list created in Phase 1, identify and/or create one or more Current-Sees that are relevant to reward the contributor, and place a general metric based on time/difficulty/expertise, and pioneering (honoring earlier contributions over later) required, that is relative to other tasks to be rewarded with the same Current-Sees.
Phase 3: Task Assignments
For each task in the list created in Phase 1, allow people to volunteer to participate in the completion of the task. If volunteers are not available, nominations should be made and accepted. Consider breaking tasks down, if needed, to avoid any potential conflict that could arise in determining RCP in Phase 5, Step 1.
Phase 4: Task Completion
Task completion is completing all open tasks
Phase 5: Task output review
- Relative Contribution Percentage (RCP): Determine a relative contribution of each contributor to the task, as a percentage, with all contributors present and in alignment.
- Quality Multiplier (QM): Determine whether outputs meet the specifications from Phase 1 and assign a multiplier which can reduce or enhance the RVA.
- Follow Current-See Assignment procedures specified in the CFA for the specified Currency, and assign to each contributor by multiplying the RVA, the RCP, and the QM.


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The most important thing to remember when working with open pipes (what is here referred to as a pipe is any cylindrical solid, i.e. a tube, and "open" is defined as having no obstruction at either end) is that at the two ends are anti-nodes. Thus, unlike a closed pipe, the fundamental frequency and the subsequent overtones increase by one-half of a wavelength. This concept is very hard to understand without looking at the image below.
The most simple possibility is the "fundamental frequency" where there is one node in the center of the pipe. The wavelength is 1/2 lambda (λ). The next possibility is the "first overtone". Here, there are two nodes (therefore n=2) and the wavelength is 2/2, or 1λ. Then comes the second overtone, with three nodes, which is 3/2λ.
The equation for finding the length of an open pipe is
l=length of pipe n=nodes
This equation can easily be rearranged to solve for wavelength:
Let's use this equation with a practice problem: Find the fundamental frequency of an open pipe that is.5m long.
To solve this, we need to use two equations. First, solve for lambda:
= 2(.5m)/1 = 1m
Then, use substitute the 1m for lambda in the equation
= (330m/s)/1m = 330Hz, our final answer. Great job!


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A hierarchical production planning structure enables manufacturing systems to handle customer disturbances with different measures on different planning levels. Two different kinds of customer order behavior can be observed and are as well discussed in literature. In the first, being forecast-evolutionbehavior, customers provide a forecast quantity for a specific due date for a long horizon in advance and update their forecast quantities periodically. In the second, being customer-required-lead-time-behavior, customers demand stochastic order amounts with a customer-required-lead-time whereby the manufacturing company generates an aggregated forecast, e.g. for product groups. These required lead times are usually shorter than the forecast-evolution-horizon, but order quantities do not further change. For comparing the influence of both order behaviors on a hierarchical production planning system, a simulation study is performed in which logistic performance measures such as service-level, utilization, capacity-, inventoryand tardiness-costs are analyzed with respect to a normalized forecast quality measure.
Figure 1: Hierarchical Production Planning approach


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Turkey can avert a tragedy on the Tigris
It can develop energy and progress into the future without washing away the town of Hasankeyf, its jewel of the past.
In the southeastern corner of Turkey near its borders with Iraq and Syria, environmentalists, human rights organizations, and archaeologists recently won a battle in the effort to avert a cultural tragedy.Skip to next paragraph
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Swiss, German, and Austrian firms pulled out of their contract with the Turkish government to build a dam that would flood and destroy a historical ancient city, harm ecosystems downstream, and displace thousands.
To permanently protect this area though, it should be designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Ilisu Dam, a cornerstone in a project to develop Turkey's electrical and water capacities, is the largest and the most controversial of the 22 dams and 19 power plants scheduled in the $32 billion Southeast Anatolia Project.
At the heart of the controversy is the town of Hasankeyf, carved into the limestone cliffs above the Tigris River. Hasankeyf is reputed to be one of the oldest continuous settlements on earth, at least 10,000 years old, with relics found this summer that may date it to 15,000 years old.
In the Kurdish region of southeastern Anatolia, Hasankeyf has hosted at least nine civilizations, including the Assyrians, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Mongols, and the Ottomans. On a central trading route in ancient Mesopotamia, Hasankeyf boasts more than 4,000 caves; 300 medieval monuments; 83 archaeological sites with ruins, including Hasankeyf Castle, built by the Byzantines in AD 363; and historic tombs and mosques. Its cultural and archaeological value is priceless.
Today the hillsides are dotted with artisans' stalls, children on donkeys, and caves with restaurants inside.
If the Ilisu hydroelectric dam is constructed as planned 50 miles downstream, much of Hasankeyf – historic caves, ruins, and all – will be buried under 400 feet of water.
The flooding will also submerge 80 surrounding villages and displace tens of thousands of people in what would be Turkey's second-largest reservoir. While the government has said that it will relocate people and preserve some of the antiquities of Hasankeyf, residents of the region say the compensation isn't enough.
The European firms, which revoked their $1.6 billion loans in July, say that Turkey has not sufficiently met World Bank standards to preserve the environment, the population, and the culture in its planning for the Ilisu Dam. The Turkish government claims that it will proceed with the dam anyway.
The issues are complex. Advocates and opponents cast the debate as preservation of the past challenging progress for the future, conservation versus energy, national interests versus minority Kurdish interests, nationalism versus the interests of neighboring countries. The government argues that the dam will bring irrigation and power to the region. Opponents maintain that much of the electricity generated will go to other parts of the country.
Iraq has protested vehemently against Turkey damming the Tigris River just upstream and further restricting the water flow across the border.
There is also the geopolitical drama of the European partnerships withdrawing and Turkey potentially pursuing other partners such as China and Russia. The one clarity in this widening controversy is that Hasankeyf should be preserved.
The city has already been listed by the World Monument Fund as one of the world's 100 most endangered sites. In 1978, the Turkish government designated Hasankeyf as a site for conservation, legally protecting it, and the government halted an earlier attempt at a dam project. However, after the fighting in the southeast in the 1980s and '90s with Kurdish guerrillas, Ankara reversed its position and approved the hydroelectric dam.
The Turkish government should once again take steps to preserve this cultural treasure for itself and for the rest of the world. Preserving Hasankeyf would go a long way in demonstrating the government's goodwill to the citizens of the region. Turkey can develop and progress into the future without washing away this jewel of the past.
If the Turkish government is still determined to erect the Ilisu Dam, it should at least modify the size and specifications so that Hasankeyf survives. It should also put in an application to designate the city as a UNESCO World Heritage site. By taking these two initiatives, the Turkish government would take a major step in honoring its own history and allowing the future to crest alongside of, but not flood, what has gone before.
Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, a novelist, is a former reporter for the Monitor and a former international secretary of International PEN. She visited Hasankeyf during an International PEN Conference in nearby Diyarbakir.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Bornean moths in the noctuid subfamilies Rivulinae, Phytometrinae, Herminiinae, Hypeninae and Hypenodinae are described. Their status and relationships are discussed in an introductory review of the classification of the Noctuidae and in diagnoses of each group. Definition of the Hypeninae beyond a core group of four genera is weak, though one other generic grouping around Mecistoptera Hampson is recognised. Eight genera are only tenuously associated, and a few are set aside for comparison with the heterogeneous array of taxa in the traditional concept of the Acontiinae.
The treatment covers 340 species distributed over 51 genera. For each species, a diagnosis and the geographical range are given and, where known, details of habitat preference and biology. Summary lists are provided of the new taxa described (6 genera and 144 species) as well as of numerous other taxonomic changes. A checklist of all species summarises the fauna, including 7 species transferred into the groups treated here, but covered in previous parts.


an atlhlete runs around a track that is 100mts long for 3 times and then stops. what is the athletes distance and sisplacement?
Asked by arajeevshashank | 14th Feb, 2018, 06:49: PM
Expert Answer:
distance covered is 100 x 3 =300 mts
displacement = distance between final position and initial position
since runner comes back to same position which he started
so displacement is zero
Answered by Arun | 15th Feb, 2018, 09:29: AM


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News & Views
New Penguin Habitat at Aquarium of the Pacific Powered by Clean Energy from Honda Solar Panels
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., founding sponsor of the nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, is providing Honda solar cell technology to help power the Aquarium's new June Keyes Penguin Habitat. The 11-kilowatt system provides a reliable supply of clean energy that is expected to reduce the Aquarium's reliance on grid-supplied electricity by more than 14,000 kilowatt hours per year. The new June Keyes Penguin Habitat opened to the public May 17, 2012.
This is the first public demonstration of Honda's solar panels in the United States. Honda currently has thin film solar panels installed in 22 Honda facilities worldwide including the company's motorsports engineering facility in Santa Clarita, Calif. and an auto manufacturing plant in Indiana. Honda's longstanding relationship with the Aquarium prompted this public debut. Since 1998, Honda has assisted with the Aquarium's important efforts for marine conversation, education and community outreach programs.
"Deploying Honda solar cell technology in the new penguin habitat is a great expression of our company's focus on advanced environmental technology, as well as environmental education and conservation. It's really a perfect match," said Stephan Morikawa, assistant vice president, Corporate Community Relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We are honored to support the Aquarium's mission in this way."
Honda CIGS thin-film solar panels use a thin-film compound of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) that require less raw material, energy and related CO2 emissions to manufacture than conventional crystal silicon solar cells. CIGS panels are substantially thinner than traditional solar panels and enable stable power generation even when the cells are in the shade. The panels are manufactured and marketed by Honda Soltec, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
The June Keyes Penguin Habitat, a permanent new exhibit at the Aquarium, houses Magellanic penguins typically found near the southern tip of South America. Today, environmental issues are threatening their survival in the wild. The habitat includes educational exhibit panels and interactive touch screens where visitors can learn about penguins and why 75 percent of them are endangered or threatened.
"Some of our penguins were rescued and by telling their story we hope people will help penguins in the wild by decreasing their carbon emissions, choosing sustainable seafood, reducing pollution, and protecting areas where these penguins breed and forage," said Dr. Jerry R. Schubel, Aquarium of the Pacific president.
Honda Environmental Vision
Striving to achieve the Honda Environmental Vision of "realizing the joy and freedom of mobility and a sustainable society where people can enjoy life," in 2011 Honda established new voluntary targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions from its products, factories and office operations globally in order to address the critical issues of climate change and energy sustainability. At the same time, Honda introduced a global environmental slogan, "Blue Skies for Our Children," that draws directly from Honda's environmental heritage.
Based on this vision, Honda is deploying a comprehensive portfolio of advanced engine and powertrain technologies that includes more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered automobiles, powersports and power equipment products, as well as advanced gas-electric hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell electric automobiles. Honda is also working to develop advanced energy production and distribution technologies, such as solar cells, electricity and heat co-generation systems, and more efficient means of producing renewable biofuels.
Connect to Honda:
Honda News & Views: _URL_
Honda Multimedia Newsroom (for media only): _URL_
Honda in America: _URL_
Honda on Twitter: _URL_
Honda on Facebook: _URL_
Honda on YouTube: _URL_
Honda on Flickr: _URL_
Honda Website: _URL_


Brent Myers ⋅ Page 1
A Closer Look at Soil
New model improves Predictive Farm Management
DuPont, CAFNR and USDA will pool soil-mapping resources, predictive technologies and expertise to help growers improve crop yields.
The Drought Returns
Crops dead or dying north of I-70 in Missouri
Late-planted corn north of Interstate 70 in Missouri is dead or dying due to lack of rain and scorching temperatures.
Robot Farm Hand
Planting technology can offer short payback time
Advanced planting technologies can reduce labor, seed and other input costs, and increase profits.


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Introduction to Integrals
The Definite Integral
The definite integral is a convenient notation used the represent the left-hand and right-hand approximations discussed in the previous section. f (x)dx means the area of the region bounded by f, the y -axis and the lines x = a and x = b. Writing f (x)dx is equivalent to writing
on the interval [a, b], but it is a much more compact way of doing so. Note also the similarity between the two expressions. This should serve as a clear reminder that the definite integral is just the limit of right-hand and left-hand approximations.
Unlike the indefinite integral, which represents a function, the definite integral represents a number, and is simply the signed area under the curve of f. The area is considered "signed" because according to the method of calculating the areas by subdivisions, the regions located below the x -axis will be counted as negative, and the regions above will be counted as positive. Negative regions cancel out positive regions, and the definite integral represents the total balance between the two over the given interval. For example, find
Based on the picture of the region being considered, it should be clear that the answer is zero. Here, the negative region is exactly the same size as the positive region:
Properties of the Definite Integral
The definite integral has certain properties that should be intuitive, given its definition as the signed area under the curve:
- cf (x)dx = c f (x)dx
- f (x)+g(x) dx = f (x)dx + g(x)dx
is on the interval
f (x)dx = f (x)dx + f (x)dx
This means that we can break up a graph into convenient units and find the definite integral of each section and then add the results to find the total signed area for the whole region.
The Fundamental Theorem of CalculusThe fundamental theorem of calculus, or "FTC", offers a quick and powerful method of evaluating definite integrals. It states: if F is an antiderivative of f, then
f (x)dx=F(b) - F(a)
x 2 dx = (1)3 - (0)3 =
Often, a shorthand is used that means the same as what is written above:
x 2 dx = x 3 =
One interpretation of the FTC is that the area under the graph of the derivative is equal to the total change in the original function. For example, recall that velocity is the derivative of position. So,
v(t)dt=s(b) - s(a)
This means that the change in area under the velocity curve represents the total change in position.


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- Electricity trade between Canada and the U.S. begins in 1901, with a transmission line built at Niagara Falls. Canada's abundant hydroelectric power ensures that most of the benefits will subsequently flow in a northerly direction.
- The same Niagara generating station, built to supply
- southern Ontario communities, stimulates Canada's world expertise in long-distance transmission.
- In 1902, a strike in Pennsylvania's coal fields halts coal
- shipments to Ontario, and provides impetus for the formation of Ontario Hydro.
- In 1903, the world's longest transmission line (136 km) is built to transmit 50 kV from Shawinigan Electric Company to Montreal.
- Calgary Power is formed in 1909, and develops into the largest investor-owned utility in Canada. As TransAlta, it now provides two thirds of Alberta's electricity.
- In 1912, the world's first completely electric steel mill is built for the Steel Company of Canada. This event is followed a year later by Canada's first reversible mine hoist.


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The Alameda County Office of Education is committed to supporting our school districts, educators, and community by providing distance learning resources. These resources have been selected to support the learner, teacher, and community groups. Resources include video, simulations, activities, readings, and lesson support. The resources are divided into the following grade bands TK-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
Please note that these lists are still in progress and we will add more resources as we find and vet them. Access distance learning resources for the following grade bands:


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Fires in Arizona and New Mexico (morning overpass)
Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC
Gusty winds, steep and rocky terrain, low humidity, and water shortages are slowing the progress of firefighters as they work to contain the Aspen Fire northeast of Tucson, Arizona (red dots southwest of image center). The fire has burned hundreds of homes and other structures in communities on Mt. Lemmon. After beginning on June 17 of unknown causes, the fire had already grown to more than 11,000 acres by Monday, June 23. This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite on June 22, 2003, shows the Aspen Fire northeast of Tucson and farther north, the Picture Fire northeast of Phoenix. Fires are also burning in New Mexico (right) and Mexico (bottom). All active fire locations are marked in red.


Pr Ntr Kmt Neter Sentra ritual
Ntr Sentra ritual
 The Ntr Sentra ritual is one of the oldest known religious rituals and variations of it have appeared (often developing independently) in religions and cultures around the world. Ntr Sentra is the sincerely held religious belief that divine smoke empowers and makes prayers more pleasing to the divine.
 "Ntr Sentra" literally means "the breath of the divine". The modern English words "incense" and "frankincense" are derived from this ancient Egyptian phrase. The modern English word "nature" is derived from "Ntr" (Netcher) and the modern English word "scent" is derived from "Sentra".
 There is active debate as to when the ancient Egyptians included cannabis smoke in the Ntr Sentra ritual. This was clearly occuring by the time the Greeks entered their Golden Age.
ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs for Ntr Sentra
 This is a ritual that can be performed by groups in a temple, as well as by individuals, families, or friends in homes and other places.
 Members of the Ntr Sentrist branch of Pr Ntr Kmt believe that the Ntr Sentra ritual using cannabis smoke for prayers is the most central and most important part of their religion.
 On February 21, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously 8-0 (Alito didn't participate because he wasn't there to hear the case) that members of the ayahuasca-using União do Vegetal (UDV) church (estimated 130 members in the U.S.) must be allowed to continue using their DMT-containing tea until a final decision is reached in their case against the government.
 The U.S. Supreme Court ruling was based on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and applies to all federal officers and agencies. Similar rulings could possibly be based on similarly-worded state laws in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas.
 No court has yet ruled specifically on sincerely held religious belief in Ntr Sentra using cannabis. Please be aware that the government routinely violates its citizens' Constitutional rights (especially under the Bush administration) and only those with a lawyer can actually exercise basic Constitutional rights. Because U.S. law only grants Constitutional rights to those who are rich enough to afford to have lawyers, you will need to hire a lawyer if you intend to try to exercise your first amendment religious right to worship a Goddess instead of the officially established God that appears in the written religious oath "In God We Trust" that is officially placed on all U.S. money.
 Please hire a lawyer before attempting to exercise freedom of religion. The U.S. has a long history of torturing and murdering those who dare to participate in pagan religions (especially Witchcraft and ancient religions) in direct violation of the officially established U.S. government religion.
 Joining the Pr Ntr Kmt religion could possibly help strengthen your defense (consult with your attorney). It is free to join the Pr Ntr Kmt church, although your donations will help support the church website and other programs. To join, contact the church at
 Learning about additional religious beliefs from antiquity and modern times will help you formulate your own personal religious doctrine, which may also help your religious defense (consult your lawyer). A major purpose of this website is to provide church members with high quality information on the Pr Ntr Kmt religion.
 We look forward to adding free and paid listings of lawyers in the U.S. who are willing to defend the Constitutional right to freedom of religion. Lawyers who want to be listed should contact
Ntr Sentra poem
Mau Bast! Mau Bast!
A Basti, per em setat,
erta-na chu em asui
neter sentra semu hena net'emmit,
hetep ab em asui tau heqt.
Hail Bast! Hail Bast!
Hail Bast, coming forth from the secret place,
may there be given to me splendor in the place
of incense
(cannabis smoke), herbs, and love-joys,
peace of heart in the place of bread and beer.
other related websites
See also: cannabis, Ntr Sentrist, and guide to cannabis religion.
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Rural Development Foundation
Mid-day meals for children
assured_image Education Telangana
Support the midday meal of an underprivileged child
Awards & Recognition
Jamsetji Tata National Virtual Academy (NVA) Fellow, Maharashtrakanya Gaurav Puraskar, The Pride of India Award 2015
Last audited December 2018
The Rural Development Foundation (RDF), is an Indian nonprofit organization with the mission of providing quality education for underprivileged rural children. They founded and continues to operate four schools and one junior college in Telangana State, taking a unique holistic approach to education through innovative programs and methodology. Rather than using the conventional method of rote memorization, they focus on cultivating critical thinking skills and encouraging students to understand and apply concepts. They do this through special programs such as Social Awareness, Youth Empowerment, Student Leadership, and Sports. They strive to develop students who will become empowered leaders of their communities, thus working towards the vision of a transformed and prosperous rural India. Their schools strive to create India's future leaders, people who not only respect their rich, cultural heritage but are also ready to lead their country into the future. Their constant endeavor includes their sincere attempts to inculcate into young minds a civic sense and social responsibility. Beginning with a humble enrollment of 80 students, the number of children attending RDF schools has increased to 1900, as more villagers enroll their sons and daughter in the schools.
Leadership Vandita Rao
Regular access to healthy and nutritious food
Rural Development Foundation provides underprivileged children with a healthy meal every school day. This provides nutritious food to poor children and helps them concentrate on studies. It has also been noticed that when a midday meal is provided at school the number of children that discontinue education drops considerably. One unit of Donation to this program covers the cost of a midday meal for a child for a month. The RDF's Midday Meal program runs on all working days in the school year, which is close to 220 days. The meal is served to all the student and staff member in all the RDF schools. The midday meal program caters to close to 1023 students across 3 schools in Matendla, Redlawada and Rolakkal in Telangana A mess-in-charge maintains the purchase and utilization register which is reviewed every week by the accountant. Every month the actual expense as against budgeted cost is reported along with the budget for next month to the Head office. Groceries such as rice, dal, oil, spices etc are purchased monthly and perishables such as vegetables are purchased weekly. The food is cooked in a designated kitchen using firewood stoves within the school. The kitchen staff is hired from within the community. This serves as a source of employment for the community. The team is trained in cooking and basic hygiene. The raw material such as grains, vegetables, and spices are sourced locally. Some seasonal produce is also grown in the kitchen garden maintained by each school. The meals consist of rice, a dal or sambhar and a vegetable curry which addresses the basic nutrition requirements of the students. A student committee maintains a calendar which allocates the senior school students as serving staff based on their class timetable. All schools follow a code system using hand signs to request for additional servings of rice, dal, vegetables etc, so that the meal is eaten in silence with minimal interruption to service. Plates are rinsed and washed by students and teachers themselves and then placed in the stock room. Many children who attend the RDF schools come from families with very meager incomes. Due to the absence of any vegetables, fruit or proteins, the nutritional content of their food is very poor. This severely impedes the physical and mental growth of the children. By providing at least one tasty and nutritious meal to these kids, two issues are addressed; the health of the children and incentivizing the parent to send their child to school. When you donate to this program, you help in providing poor school going children with one good meal a day.
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 Servo System Controlling in CNC Bending Machine
 CNC Bending Machine is a machine to process metal plates and it mainly uses hydraulic system to blend panels into different shapes. Hydraulic system of traditional CNC bending machines generally adopts common three-phase asynchronous motor, thus it has big energy consumption, high temperature and low efficiency, and its parts are vulnerable. With energy saving and emission reduction is concerned by more and more people, new CNC bending machine which uses electric-hydraulic servo system to drive oil pump has emerged. Combination of servo drives and servo motors and adjustment of electro-hydraulic servo of CNC bending machine hydraulic system can reduce system energy consumption and temperature-rising of hydraulic oil and improve operational reliability of equipment at the same time.
 CNC bending machine
 Introduction of techniques
 A work cycle of CNC bending machines can be divided into several states like fast drop, slow drop, pressure maintaining, unload and kickback. When the equipment is working, the system will control oil pump to work, coordinating with work of hydraulic oil circuit control units, and then control the flow of hydraulic system, to reach the reasonable pressure value under different working states. The specific work procedures are as follows:
 1. When sliding blocks of machines drop fast, pressure oil will enter into upper compartment of oil cylinder through hydraulic valve and oil in lower compartment will return back to hydraulic pump through hydraulic valve. In this way, sliding blocks of machines will decline rapidly due to self-weight, and the open prefill valve will charge upper compartment of oil cylinder.
 2. When sliding blocks of machines operate in a slow speed, pressure oil will enter into upper compartment of oil cylinder through hydraulic valve to continue to push sliding blocks to drop.
 3. when sliding blocks of machines return back, pressure oil will enter into lower compartment of oil cylinder through hydraulic valve, rod of oil cylinder will pull sliding blocks to rise and oil in upper compartment of oil cylinder will flow back to oil tank through open prefill valve.
 Thus a work cycle has just finished.
 Application of servo system
 Hydraulic system of traditional bending machines adjusts flow of the system through dosing pump and proportional reversing valve. Since actual flow needed by the system changes while discharge of oil pump is constant, a part of flow will definitely overflow and generate energy loss. Moreover, setting pressure of valve controlling hydraulic system is always higher than actual pressure demanded, which will also cause energy loss. Meanwhile, throttle governing modes have overflow in main pressure valve, which will cause noise, a large calorific value of hydraulic oil, rising temperature, reduction of service life of hydraulic oil and increasing maintenance cost.
 In view of defects of hydraulic system of traditional bending machine and characteristics of forming techniques and processes of equipment, it adopts servo drive, servo motor, and gear pump to adjust control system of flow and pressure of hydraulic system. The details are as follows:
 According to position feedback of linear scale, CNC system will obtain values of flow and pressure needed by the system through algorithm characteristics, output 0～±10V analog control signals to servo drives, adjust speed of oil pump in real time and coordinate with work of hydraulic oil circuit control unit to meet demands of different process terminals on pressure and flow. The program adopts the principles of volumetric speed control and changes flow of oil pump and system pressure by adjusting speed of servo motor, thus avoiding energy consumption caused by traditional throttle governing schemes. Especially at the stage of pressure maintaining and unloading, output of oil is less and oil pump can almost stop operate, which will greatly reduce energy consumption. Meanwhile, response time of servo driven system is shorter and speed of fast drop and return when equipment is working is faster and has a higher efficiency.
 In conclusion, the program can effectively reduce system consumption, has less operation noise and a faster system response, and improves efficiency, and its operation is stable and reliable, its protection function is strong and its operation is simple and convenient. Thus it can not only meet requirements of forming techniques of bending machines and improve product quality and output, but also reduce maintenance costs of equipment, creating favorable economic benefits to users.
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text:
Overview and Trends in Ansys Fluids
Thousands of universities around the world use Ansys academic engineering simulation software to help undergraduate students learn physics principles; researchers to solve complex engineering problems; and postgraduate students to produce data for their master's theses or doctoral dissertations. Whether teaching fluids concepts to undergraduates or performing research into multiphysics domains, Ansys can help you solve your engineering challenges.
Join our webinar to explore how Ansys can easily and affordably help you teach the next generation of engineers to perform cutting edge research and learn about the latest updates through 2020.
This webinar will help you to:
- Understand the vast array of tools that are available within the Ansys fluids portfolio
- Learn about challenging industrial and academic applications, for example, multiphysics application in FSI and motor cooling
- Discover the new Ansys Fluent experience, which includes improvements in the end-to-end user experience
- Learn about new technology enhancements, such as Mosaic meshing, expressions, GEKO, PUMA, overset, etc.
- Understand the extra offerings we provide, such as teaching and support materials and student team sponsorships


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Carbon sequestration rights on private and crown land
Parts 4 and 5 of the Climate Change Act 2010 create new, secure arrangements for the ownership, registration and transfer of forestry and carbon sequestration rights. These provisions ensure Victoria's natural resource and agricultural sectors can access the economic opportunities provided for under the Commonwealth Government's Carbon Farming Initiative.
Part 4 – Private land forestry rights, carbon sequestration rights and soil carbon rights
Part 4 of the Climate Change Act 2010 replaces the Forestry Rights Act 1996 with a new, comprehensive rights-based framework for carbon sequestered by forests and soil on private land.
The key features of the new legal framework are:
- the property rights of landowners, forest property owners and carbon investors are defined
- all parties must agree on management arrangements as part of the process of creating a Forest and Carbon Management Agreement (FCMA), which is then placed on land title
- Carbon rights are an interest that "runs with the land" – i.e. carbon rights remain attached to the land even if there is a change in land ownership.
The main benefits for private landowners, forest property owners and carbon investors are:
- landowners can directly sell carbon sequestered on their land. The reforms make it easier and simpler for private landholders to separately buy and sell forestry and carbon sequestration rights, without requiring a new management agreement every time a right is sold.
- all parties have greater legal certainty about management arrangements under the new FCMAs. These changes should minimise disputes about carbon claims under private agreements because the interests are now recorded on the title to land.
- improved investor confidence by positioning Victoria to take full advantage of national carbon markets or government-funded programs to establish carbon sinks.
While the Climate Change Act 2010 repeals the Forestry Rights Act 1996, these changes do not affect any existing forest property / carbon rights agreements made under the previous Act. People with arrangements under the Forestry Rights Act 1996 can choose to continue with those agreements or negotiate a new FCMA.
For further information about the customer information bulletin or forms published by Land Victoria, contact Land Victoria Customer Service on (03) 8636 2010.
Part 5 – Carbon sequestration on Crown land
Part 5 of the Climate Change Act 2010 recognises the value of sequestered carbon on Victoria's public land and establishes clear rules under which Crown land can be managed and used for carbon sequestration purposes. The Victorian Government may manage its own land or by arrangements with third parties, based on a new instrument known as carbon sequestration agreements (CSAs).
The Government will maintain its stewardship role on all public land and forests by sustainably managing forests to maximise value for the Victorian public.
For carbon sequestration projects on Crown land, the Department of Environment and Primary Industries Secretary:
- declares specified Crown land to be available for carbon sequestration
- holds carbon rights over Crown land subject to existing licences, leases and agreements, except in certain specified instances
- can enter into CSAs with other parties for carbon reforestation on Crown Land and grant carbon sequestration rights and soil carbon rights to third parties.
A Carbon Sequestration Agreement may authorise a person to access Crown land, plant and maintain vegetation on Crown land for the purposes of carbon sequestration, control carbon sequestered within vegetation or soil, and manage the land for the purpose of carbon sequestration.


1 [ground]
earth or soil: stony ground.
land having an indicated character: rising ground.
Fine Arts.
ground color ( def 2 ).
grounds, dregs or sediment: coffee grounds.
Electricity. a conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other conducting body.
Music. ground bass.
Nautical. the bottom of a body of water.
the earth's solid or liquid surface; land or water.
pertaining to the ground.
Military. operating on land: ground forces.
verb (used with object)
to lay or set on the ground.
Electricity. to establish a ground for (a circuit, device, etc.).
Nautical. to cause (a vessel) to run aground.
Informal. to put out of action or make unable to participate: The quarterback was grounded by a knee injury.
Informal. to restrict the activities, especially the social activities, of: I can't go to the party—my parents have grounded me until my grades improve.
verb (used without object)
to come to or strike the ground.
to hit a ground ball.
to ground out.
Verb phrases
ground out, Baseball. to be put out at first base after hitting a ground ball to the infield.
break ground,
to plow.
to begin excavation for a construction project.
to begin upon or take preparatory measures for any undertaking.
cover ground,
to pass or travel over a certain area.
from the ground up,
gain ground,
to make progress; advance.
lose ground,
to retreat or be forced back.
to lose one's advantage; suffer a reverse.
off the ground, Informal. into action or well under way: The play never got off the ground.
shift ground, to change position in an argument or situation.
take the ground, Nautical. to become grounded at low water.
to ground,
before 900; (noun) Middle English grownd, grund, Old English grund; cognate with Dutch grond, German Grund; (v.) Middle English grundien, grownden to set on a foundation, establish, derivative of the noun
groundable, adjective
groundably, adverb
groundedly, adverb
groundedness, noun
groundward, groundwards, adverb, adjective
ungroundable, adjective
ground, grounds. Unabridged
2 [ground]
a simple past tense and past participle of grind.
reduced to fine particles or dust by grinding.
1755–65 for def 2; see ground1
verb (used with object), ground or (Rare) grinded; grinding.
to reduce to fine particles, as by pounding or crushing; bray, triturate, or pulverize.
to oppress, torment, or crush: to grind the poor.
to rub harshly or gratingly; grate together; grit: to grind one's teeth.
to operate by turning a crank: to grind a hand organ.
to produce by crushing or abrasion: to grind flour.
Slang. to annoy; irritate; irk: It really grinds me when he's late.
verb (used without object), ground or (Rare) grinded; grinding.
to perform the operation of reducing to fine particles.
to rub harshly; grate.
to be or become ground.
to be polished or sharpened by friction.
Informal. to work or study laboriously (often followed by away ): He was grinding away at his algebra.
Slang. (in a dance) to rotate the hips in a suggestive manner. Compare bump ( def 11 ).
the act of grinding.
a grinding sound.
a grade of particle fineness into which a substance is ground: The coffee is available in various grinds for different coffee makers.
laborious, usually uninteresting work: Copying all the footnotes was a grind.
Informal. an excessively diligent student.
Slang. a dance movement in which the hips are rotated in a suggestive or erotic manner. Compare bump ( def 20 ).
Verb phrases
grind out,
to produce in a routine or mechanical way: to grind out magazine stories.
to extinguish by rubbing the lighted end against a hard surface: to grind out a cigarette.
before 950; Middle English grinden, Old English grindan; akin to Gothic grinda-, Latin frendere
grindable, adjective
grindability, noun
grindingly, adverb
regrind, verb, reground, regrinding.
ungrindable, adjective
2. crush, powder, comminute, pound. 3. persecute, plague, afflict, trouble. 4. abrade. Unabridged
Cite This Source Link To ground
World English Dictionary
grind (ɡraɪnd)
vb (foll by out) (often foll by down) (foll by out) (foll by out) (often foll by into), grinds, grinding, ground
1. to reduce or be reduced to small particles by pounding or abrading: to grind corn; to grind flour
2. (tr) to smooth, sharpen, or polish by friction or abrasion: to grind a knife
3. to scrape or grate together (two things, esp the teeth) with a harsh rasping sound or (of such objects) to be scraped together
4. to speak or say (something) in a rough voice
5. to hold down; oppress; tyrannize
6. (tr) to operate (a machine) by turning a handle
7. to produce in a routine or uninspired manner: he ground out his weekly article for the paper
8. to continue to play in a dull or insipid manner: the band only ground out old tunes all evening
9. to instil (facts, information, etc) by persistent effort: they ground into the recruits the need for vigilance
10. informal (intr) to study or work laboriously
11. chiefly (US) (intr) to dance erotically by rotating the pelvis (esp in the phrase bump and grind)
12. informal laborious or routine work or study
13. slang chiefly (US) a person, esp a student, who works excessively hard
14. a specific grade of pulverization, as of coffee beans: coarse grind
15. slang (Brit) the act of sexual intercourse
16. chiefly (US) a dance movement involving an erotic rotation of the pelvis
17. the act or sound of grinding
[Old English grindan; related to Latin frendere, Lithuanian gréndu I rub, Low German grand sand]
ground1 (ɡraʊnd)
1. the land surface
2. earth or soil: he dug into the ground outside his house
3. (plural) the land around a dwelling house or other building
4. (sometimes plural) an area of land given over to a purpose: football ground; burial grounds
5. land having a particular characteristic: level ground; high ground
6. matter for consideration or debate; field of research or inquiry: the lecture was familiar ground to him; the report covered a lot of ground
7. a position or viewpoint, as in an argument or controversy (esp in the phrases give ground, hold, stand,orshift one's ground)
9. (often plural) reason; justification: grounds for complaint
10. arts
 b. the support of a painting
 c. the background of a painting or main surface against which the other parts of a work of art appear superimposed
11. a. the first coat of paint applied to a surface
 b. (as modifier): ground colour
12. the bottom of a river or the sea
13. (plural) sediment or dregs, esp from coffee
14. chiefly (Brit) the floor of a room
15. cricket
 a. the area from the popping crease back past the stumps, in which a batsman may legally stand
 b. ground staff
16. See ground bass
17. a mesh or network supporting the main pattern of a piece of lace
18. (US), (Canadian) electrical
 a. a connection between an electrical circuit or device and the earth, which is at zero potential
 b. Also called: earth a terminal to which this connection is made
19. above ground alive
20. below ground dead and buried
21. break new ground to do something that has not been done before
22. cut the ground from under someone's feet to anticipate someone's action or argument and thus make it irrelevant or meaningless
23. informal (Brit) to the ground, down to the ground completely; absolutely: it suited him down to the ground
24. informal get off the ground to make a beginning, esp one that is successful
25. go to ground to go into hiding
26. into the ground beyond what is requisite or can be endured; to exhaustion
27. meet someone on his own ground to meet someone according to terms he has laid down himself
28. the high ground, the moral high ground a position of moral or ethical superiority in a dispute


How Do I Call Using TextNow?
Using the TextNow app, you're able to call any number in the US and Canada! Here's how it works on your mobile device:
1. Open your TextNow app and tap on the dial-pad icon in the top right-hand corner . (If you don't see the dial-pad icon, tap on the main menu button and then tap on Conversations.)
2. This will bring you to the Calling page. Below are the Android and iOS versions, respectively:
Android Dialpad
iOS Dialpad
3. You can place a call directly from this page by typing in the ten-digit number you're calling (area code + seven digit number) and then tapping the green Call button in the bottom-center of that screen.
4. To call a number from your Contacts, tap on the Contact icon in the bottom-right of the screen if you're using Android and the bottom-left of the screen if you're using iOS (they're the icons that look like a little person), and then tap on the contact name you'd like to call.
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 Angela Dixon
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 Angela Dixon
 I bought a phone and a plan, will my phone work like a regualr cell phone? If not I will cancle my order


text:
Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/1999
Publication Date: 3/10/2000
Citation: Wang, D., Knuteson, J.A., Yates, S.R. 2000. Two-dimensional model simulation of 1,3-dichloropropene volatilization and transport in a field soil. Journal of Environmental Quality. 29(2):639-644. Interpretive Summary: Fate and transport of 1,3-D in soil fumigation was simulated with a twodimensional multiphase solute transport model. Compared to the field measurement, model simulation well predicted the emission flux density and soil gas concentration when 1,3-D was applied with either shallow or deep drip irrigation. The model under predicted emission when the chemical was applied with shank injection. It appears that computer modeling can be use effectively to study the environmental fate and transport of 1,3-D under conditions where diffusion and convective transport in the liquid phases are dominant. In fractured soils where prefential gas flow may occur, significant work is needed in a modeling approach.
Technical Abstract: A modeling study was conducted to simulate 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) emission and concentration distribution in soil profiles when the chemical applied with subsurface drip irrigation with reduced rate. The purpose was evaluate the effect on emission reduction as compared to conventional shank injection application. Simulated scenarios included a shallow drip application at 2.5 cm then covered with a polyethylene film, a deep drip application at 20.3 cm with bare soil surface, and a conventional shank injection at 30.5 cm with a regular application rate. A convective and diffusive two-dimensional model was used to simulate the simultaneous transport of 1,3-D in both liquid and gaseous phases. Diurnal variations o soil temperature were predicted during each time increment and were used to correct changes to 1,3-D diffusion coefficient and the Henry's constant. Predicted 1,3-D emissions compared well with field measurements for the shallow and deep drip irrigation treatments. The model simulation underpredicted 1,3-D emission in the shank injection plot where other transport mechanisms such as gas phase convection likely occurred during an immediately after application. Results from the modeling study indicate th computer simulation can be used effectively to study the environmental fate and transport of 1,3-D under conditions where diffusion and convective transport in the liquid phases are dominant. Applying 1,3-D with subsurfac drip irrigation appeared to be useful for emission reduction.


text:
Flooding in Northern California
Heavy rains inundated northern California in mid-December 2002 and gave rise to extensive flooding. The above true color image (right) was acquired on December 18, 2002, by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA?s Aqua spacecraft. The image shows some of the worst of the flooding around the lakes and tributaries surrounding the Sacramento and Feather rivers north of San Francisco Bay. Normally only small sections of these rivers would be visible in the MODIS image (left, acquired December 6, 2002).
The heavy rains were caused by a series of North Pacific storms called extratropical lows. In many areas rain totals exceeded 16 inches. The series of storms may be related to a moderate El Nino currently active across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
This image originally appeared on the Earth Observatory. Click here to view the full, original record.


text:
All About Kettering...
- Kettering is a city in Greene and Montgomery Counties in Ohio.
- Only a small portion of the city lies in Greene County.
- It is a suburb of nearby Dayton.
- Kettering is the largest suburb in the Dayton area.
- The earliest resident, John Patterson, was a farmer who settled there in 1798.
- In 1841, Van Buren Township was formed as the area grew.
- The township was renamed in 1952 as the Village of Kettering.
- Kettering was named for Charles F. Kettering, the inventor of the automobile self-starter.
- On June 24, 1955, Kettering was incorporated and gained city status.
- Charles F. Kettering resided in Kettering in his home, Ridgeleigh Terrace, from 1914 until his death in 1958.
- It has a total area of 18.7 square miles.
- There were 57,502 people, and 25,657 households at the time of the 2000 Census.
- The median income for a household in Kettering was $45,051 in 2000.
- The largest employers of residents in the area include: Kettering Medical Center - a hospital, Reynolds and Reynolds, GE Money - a division of General Electric, Limited Brands, The Berry Company - a subsidiary of Bellsouth which publishes the Yellow Pages directories and maintains its division headquarters in Kettering, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
- The city population and area businesses continue to grow and expand due to the 2006 decision of the Base Closure and Realignment Commission, which is currently bringing thousands of new jobs to Wright Patterson Air Force Base until December 2010.
- Kettering is bordered by Dayton and Oakwood to the north; West Carrollton and Moraine to the west; Centerville and Washington Township to the south; and Beavercreek to the east.
Kettering has 20 parks totaling 284 acres. The Fraze Pavilion is a major outdoor entertainment venue that hosts the summer concerts of the Dayton Philharmonic.


text:
White Seabass are found along the US Pacific coast, growing over 1.5 m in length and 40 kg in weight. They grow at a moderate rate, may live for 25 years, and can produce millions of eggs each year.
The US commercial fishery for White Seabass occurs in Californian waters, where abundance of White Seabass is at a medium level.
Most fish are caught using drift and set gillnets, which cause little or no habitat damage. Some marine mammals are incidentally caught in this fishery but the State of California has implemented regulations to reduce their bycatch.


text: Sannazaro, in addition to his considerable reputation as a poet of Italian, was the author of highly-regarded Latin lyrics, eclogues, and religious poetry. These works were not collected and published until late in Sannazaro's life, and unlike the derivative edition of Arcadia (see no. 37), the Aldine editions of his Latin poetry are quite valuable to the scholar. The Aldine Press first published Sannazaro's Latin works in 1527. In the five subsequent editions, whose swift printing indicates the vogue for Sannazaro's poetry, more material was progressively added so that the 1535 edition achieves a real utility.


text:
In international relations, multilateralism is multiple countries working in concert on a given issue. Multilateralism was defined by Miles Kahler as "international governance of the 'many,'" and its central principle was "opposition [of of] bilateral discriminatory arrangements that were believed to enhance the leverage of the powerful over the weak and to increase international conflict.
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text:
i am trying to upload a sound file into my class.
i am using this method
but how do i specify the location of the song i wantCode:
string strFilename = args;
File soundFile = new File(strFilename);
for example the song is in the desktop under name (song1.wav)
and what if i want to upload mp3?


text: Heavily armed foot soldier of ancient Greece whose function was to fight in close formation. They probably first appeared in the late 8th century BC. They were equipped with new and heavier armour, including a metal helmet, breastplate, and shield; each had a sword and a 6-ft (2-m) spear for thrusting rather than throwing. From then on, battles were won not by individual champions but through the weight of massed hoplite phalanxes breaking through enemy ranks. Though the phalanx was unwieldy and the equipment cumbersome, Greek hoplites were the best fighters in the Mediterranean world.


text:
For as many great things as the space program has brought us, it isn't exactly environmentally friendly. Each space shuttle flight releases about 230 tons of hydrochloric acid in its exhaust; that's a lot of pollution going into the atmosphere. Researchers at Purdue University are looking into a way to make rocket fuel out of water and aluminum. More precisely, nanoscale aluminum powder mixed with water and frozen. The propellant, called ALICE (aluminum-ice) could be used to launch spacecraft in a more environmentally friendly way.
The team has already launched a 9-foot-tall rocket, seen in the above video, which reached an altitude of 1300 feet. Researchers hope that, because of the easy portability of the fuel, the formula could be used to manufacture fuel on the Moon, Mars or other bodies in space that feature water. Making the fuel for the return trip, rather than carrying it on the craft, would greatly reduce the cost of space missions.
The success of the fuelÂ comes down to the tiny size of the aluminum particles; using nanoscale particles means that they can combust more rapidly and uniformly than larger ones. Currently, the fuel needs to be frozen – both to give it a solid physical form and to ensure that it doesn't degrade before use – but researchers are working on a way to create a similar gel formula. The gel formula may be used in hydrogen fuel cells, giving it a much wider range of use.


Threat Description
Aliases: Lecna, Backdoor.Win32.Lecna.b
Category: Malware
Type: Backdoor
Platform: W32
Lecna is a backdoor that allows remote access to infected machine. It can also utilize rootkit techniques to hide its actions. It may be installed via Microsoft Jet Database file using a vulnerability in msjet40.dll.
Automatic action
More scanning & removal options
Contact Support
Technical Details
Installation to system
When run, the backdoor copies itself under %SysDir% directory using the name 'iexplore.exe'. Then it creates a mutex named 'MicrosoftZj' for ensuring it will not run multiple copies of the backdoor at the same time. It installs the following registry key to make sure it will be executed next time the system is started:
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] "iexplore.exe" = "iexplore.exe"
The backdoor also creates the following registry keys:
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\CurrentNetInf] "pid" = %ProcessId% "hostid" = %HostId%
%ProcessId% and %HostId% are random values used to identify the backdoor.
If the backdoor is running under Windows NT-based system, it drops and activates a file 'USBTest.sys'. This file is a rootkit component. See more information on section 'Rootkit'. If the system is Win9x-based, the worm tries to hide the process by issuing Win32 API call 'RegisterServiceProcess'.
The backdoor may also leave the following files on infected system:
%WinDir%\netsvc.exe %SysDir%\cmdLine.exe
Filename 'netsvc.exe' is used by the backdoor when downloading and executing additional files (see the section Backdoor below) and 'cmdLine.exe' is used in uninstallation. It is a simple executable that deletes a file given as command line argument. It is embedded in the backdoors body.
After the installation, Lecna starts to communicate with the server part using specially crafted HTTP queries. If needed, it can also make a use of HTTP proxy settings it finds in the registry. The server can instruct the backdoor to execute the following actions:
Basic file operations (copy, delete, rename, find, execute) Download/upload files Process operations (list, kill) Spawn interactive command shell Registry operations (create/delete keys/values) Enumerate shares on remote computers Uninstall the backdoor
The backdoor may also download and execute additional components from several remote servers.
Lecna carries an encrypted driver file 'USBTest.sys' in its body which it drops in directory '%SysDir%\drivers'. The driver is activated using a standard Windows Service Manager API. This driver implements the following rootkit functionality:
Hide network connections Hide processes Hide files and directories Hide registry entries
When the driver is activate, the backdoor instructs it to hide its file, process and registry entry, as well as connections to servers it uses for communication.
Detection Type: PC
Database: 2005-04-21_02
Technical Details:Jarkko Turkulainen; Apr 21th, 2005
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I have a very stupid question: I often see that the volume entropy of a compact Riemmannian manifold with negative curvature coincide with the Hausdorff dim of the limit set or Patterson sullivan measure on the boundary.
But the volume entropy is not invariant under scaling of the measure, and I assume the dimension of limit set is. So what is the correct normalization to make the claim above true?
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"Hausdorff dim of" what "limit set"? $\:$ – Ricky Demer May 17 '13 at 21:42
In this context, limit set is the ideal boundary of the universal cover. Classically, one uses this in the case of Kleinian groups. Then the right formula is that volume entropy equals Hausdorff dimension of the conical limit set of the group (which could be less than dimension of the full limit set). See Nicholls' book "Ergodic theory of discrete groups". Normalization in variable curvature was worked out in papers by Besson, Courtois and Gallot (maybe also Hammenstadt) and you only have an inequality. Equality if I remember correctly is only in curvature -1 case. – Misha May 17 '13 at 22:33
See also and references therein. – Misha May 17 '13 at 22:33
Thanks Misha, the answer is very helpful. While I'll try to look it up in the BCG papers, do you happen to remember in which direction the inequality is, between entropy and dimension, for non-constantly curved manifolds? – Jerry May 17 '13 at 23:44
1 Answer 1
For the geodesic flow on the unit tangent bundle of a compact manifold with nonpositive curvature, a classical result of Manning asserts that the topological entropy of the geodesic flow equals the volume entropy of the universal cover. This is true in variable (nonpositive) curvature.
For the geodesic flow on the unit tangent bundle of a negatively curved manifold, the topological entropy is equal to the critical exponent of the fundamental group of the manifold (result due to Otal-Peigné in full generality. You just have to assume that the curvature is bounded between two negative constants).
The critical exponent of the group is always equal to the Hausdorff dimension of the conical (also called radial) limit set of the group acting on the boundary at infinity (in variable negative curvature). I don't remember if the result in this generality is due to Sullivan (he writes in curvature -1, but the arguments are often general), or maybe to Bishop-Jones.
For general noncompact manifolds, the critical exponent(=topological entropy) is strictly smaller than the dimension of the boundary. In this situation it is not reasonable to expect an equality with the volume entropy of the universal cover, which is the common value of the topological entropies of all geodesic flows of all compact quotients.
An interesting phenomenon arises in the finite volume case. One could expect that the result of Manning could still be true. In fact, if the curvature varies too much in the cusps, the equality fails to happen. See here a work of Dalbo Peigne Picaud Sambusetti
For your question of normalization: I believe that when you scale the metric of the manifold, you scale also the natural distances on the boundary, and therefore Hausdorff dimension of limit sets.
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Russ B. Altman (Keynote)
Title: Challenges for Knowledge Management in BHomedical Informatics
Abstract: Although some data structure choices in biological computing are relatively straightforward (using strings for DNA and protein sequence, and using cartesian three-dimensional coordinates for molecular structure), things get much more complicated when one tries to represent biological functional information. Biological function is often described hierarchically, and is only "known" based on what is observable, not necessarily what one would like to observe. This creates challenges and gaps that must be met with clever data structures designed to support complex reasoning tasks. In the coming decades, I believe that more complex representations of biological knowledge will be required, and there will be a renaissance of interest in knowledge structures--data structures that can hold complex cognitive concepts--in order to support in silico biology. These knowledge structures will bridge the field to high fidelity mathematical models of biological processes, and will continue to be useful as cognitively useful summaries of these mathematical models.
Russ B. Altman is associate Professor of Genetics, Medicine and Computer Science at the Stanford University Medical Center. He is also the Director of the Biomedical Informatics Training Program at Standform University.


Children's Medical Services
CMS_LogoWhat is the purpose of the program?
To assure that there is a community-based, coordinated, family-focused, comprehensive system of quality specialty healthcare services available for children with chronic medial conditions in Georgia.
What does the program do?
Children's Medical Services (CMS) directly provides or coordinates specialty medical evaluations and treatment for eligible children (birth to age 21) with chronic medical conditions. CMS provides or pays for comprehensive physical evaluation, diagnostic tests, inpatient/outpatient hospitalization, medications and other medical treatments, durable medical equipment, hearing aids, and dental if related to the child's CMS-eligible condition and not covered by another source. CMS works closely with the primary care provider to coordinate services.
Why is the program important?
CMS provides access to specialty healthcare for children through a long-standing successful public-private partnership including over 400 providers. By providing quality care and assisting with payment for services, the program enable children to receive medically necessary services that prevent further complications from their condition(s) and promote healthy growth and development.
Who is eligible?
A family of four could make up to $55,286/year (236% if the federal poverty level); and children who are Medicaid-enrolled, receive Supplemental Security Income (SS), or are in foster care. NOTE: Special allowances are made for those with no other resources. The range of medically eligible conditions include burn; cardiac conditions; chronic lung disease (including cystic fibrosis); craniofacial anomalies (including cleft lip/palate); diabetes mellitus; gastrointestinal disorders; hearing disorders; spina bifida; neurological and microsurgical conditions, including epilepsy and hydrocephalus; orthopedic and/or neuromuscular disorders (such as scoliosis); congenital or traumatic amputations of limbs; cerebral palsy; vision disorders (including cataracts, glaucoma, amblyopic, and strabismus).
Where are services located?
Please contact the local Child Health Coordinator at your County Health Department for information/referral.
Informational Flyer


text:
|Securing and Optimizing Linux: RedHat Edition -A Hands on Guide|
|Prev||Chapter 6. Linux General Optimization||Next|
The buffermem file is also closely related to the operation of the virtual memory VM subsystem of the Linux kernel. The value in this file /proc/sys/vm/buffermem controls how much memory should be used for buffer memory in percentage. It is important to note that the percentage is calculated as a percentage of total system memory.
The default setup for the buffermem parameters under Red Hat Linux is: "2 10 60"
[root@deep] /# echo "70 10 60" >/proc/sys/vm/buffermem
# Improve virtual memory performance vm.buffermem = 70 10 60
[root@deep] /# /etc/rc.d/init.d/network restart
Setting network parameters [ OK ] Bringing up interface lo [ OK ] Bringing up interface eth0 [ OK ] Bringing up interface eth1 [ OK ]According to the /usr/src/linux/Documentation/sysctl/vm.txt file, the first parameter 80 % means to use a minimum of 80 percent of memory for the buffer cache; the minimum percentage of memory that should be spent on buffer memory.The last two parameters 10 and 60 are unused by the system so we dont need to change the defaults.
Depending of the amount of RAM you have in the server the value of 80% may vary. When your server is highly loaded and when all application are used, you can know in detail how much memory are required and used by the system. 80 % for the buffermem parameters seem to be too much for systems under 256 MB of RAM. Doing a free -m command on the prompt your system will display amount of free and used memory in the system. Once you have executed this command free -m, check for -/+ buffers/cache:values and get the one related to the minimal (-) to set your value for buffermem.
Example 6-1. For 128 MB of RAM
128 * 80% = 102.4 MB 128 - 102.4 = 25.6 MB
[root@deep] /_TAG_ -m
total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 124 121 3 30 43 48 -/+ buffers/cache: 29 95 Swap: 128 2 126
128 * 70% = 89.6 128 - 89.6 = 38.4 MB
: Look at /usr/src/linux/Documentation/sysctl/vm.txt for more information on how to improve kernel parameters related to virtual memory.


Using Java Compiler Tree API to Extract Generics Types
I was looking for some way to extract information about types of elements in Java collections/maps using generics (List, Map) so that the users of the Static JSF Expression Validator wouldn't need to declare the type of the elements manually. One possible way to get this information is to process the source codes with the Sun Compiler Tree API, available since JDK 6.
It might be best to go and check the resulting 263 lines of now. The code is little ugly, largely due to the API being ugly.
 1. JavaCompiler (Compiler API) is used to compile the source codes that should be searched for generics
 2. A custom annotation provider (Java Annotation API) is used during the compilation to process the sources
 3. The processor only delegates to a custom TreePathScanner (Sun Compiler Tree API) whose visitMethod extracts all the information from the MethodTree, using some dark magic to get fully qualified type names of the class and return type
 1. The Compiler must be able to resolve all dependencies (imports) to be able to process the files
 2. It only works with Sun JDK and its tools.jar must be on the class path (the Compiler and Annotation APIs are a part of Java specification but the Compiler Tree API is not and is thus vendor-specific)
 3. The code currently doesn't handle getters inside nested/inner classes (it would need to check that it is such a class and replace the last. with $ in the name)
You'd better check the complete (short) code at GitHub but if it's too far for you :-), here is the crucial piece:
public Object visitMethod(MethodTree methodTree, Trees trees) {
 String typeNameQualified = getEnclosingClassNameIfAvailable(trees);
 // Skip or bad stuff happens (case: inside anonymous inner class)
 if (typeNameQualified == null) {
 return super.visitMethod(methodTree, trees);
 Tree returnType = methodTree.getReturnType(); // null for void method
 if (getter(methodTree) && returnType instanceof ParameterizedTypeTree) {
 assert Tree.Kind.PARAMETERIZED_TYPE == returnType.getKind();
 ParameterizedTypeTree parametrizedReturnType = (ParameterizedTypeTree) returnType;
 TypeCategory category = detectTypeCategory(parametrizedReturnType);
 if (category.isCollectionOrMap()) {
 Tree valueTypeArgument = parametrizedReturnType.getTypeArguments().get(category.getValueTypeArgumentIdx());
 final String qualifiedGenericTypeName = getQualifiedType(valueTypeArgument);
 String methodJsfName = getMethodJsfName(methodTree);
 System.out.println("FOUND " + typeNameQualified + "." + methodJsfName + ".*=" + qualifiedGenericTypeName);
 // Unqualified name: ((IdentifierTree) valueTypeArgument).getName().toString();
 return super.visitMethod(methodTree, trees);
Most of the code has been copied from the article Source Code Analysis Using Java 6 APIs by Seema Richard (4/2008).
It's possible to use the Java Compiler Tree API to get the desired information but it is not exactly easy because the API os overly complex and undocumented. It would likely be better to use some decent open-source Java parser.
Published by Jakub Holý


text:
Implicit Time Integration — What Can Go Wrong
In a previous Brief, we presented a problem involving fluid-structure interactions in which, when the Newmark method was used, contact chatter in the structural response as well as unphysical pressures in the fluid were seen. In this Brief, we present two additional problems and assess the merits of using two time integration techniques in solving these classes of problems.
In the first problem solution, provided by MGI COUTIER, the dynamic response of a gear system was studied. Figure 1 shows the schematic of the problem. The top gear was driven at a constant angular velocity of
Two different implicit integration schemes were considered: The Newmark method with = 0.25 and δ = 0.5 (the widely-used trapezoidal rule) and the Bathe method, available in ADINA. The contact between the gear teeth was assumed to be hard contact (no compliance was used) and the contact surfaces were assumed to be frictionless. The large displacement formulation was used to account for the large rotations of the gears. No physical damping was introduced in the model. The movie at the top shows the displacements of the gears computed using the Bathe method (of course the response is slowed down for visual purposes).
The time history of y-displacement at node 561, highlighted in Figure 1, is presented in Figure 2. The Newmark method diverges after 222 time steps while the Bathe method completes the 10,000 time steps. Here we only present the results for the initial part of the response for which data is available for both methods. The time histories of the y-displacement in both methods are very similar, except towards the end where the Newmark method shows numerical noises and diverges while the Bathe method continues without any difficulties.
Figures 3 and 4 depict the y-velocity and y-acceleration time histories at node 561, calculated using the two methods. As seen, over time, error builds up in the velocity and acceleration when using the Newmark method and this error eventually becomes very large. This is the main reason why the solution using the Newmark method diverges in this problem. The error in the velocity and acceleration of the gears causes unphysically large impact forces between the gear teeth every time they come into contact. As a result, the elements in the contact region undergo severe unphysical deformations and even collapse.
In Figure 3, large numerical noises using the Newmark method and the final overshoot of the velocity are worth noting. In Figure 4, the highly oscillatory accelerations in the Newmark method and also the fact that the accelerations are two orders of magnitude larger than when using the Bathe method are noteworthy.
The second problem solution, provided by Onsala Ingenjörsbyrå, involves a wave propagation in an acoustic medium. Figure 5 depicts the schematic of the model. A long duct with rigid walls was filled with liquid and was subjected to a sudden fluid flux at one end. The problem was solved using both the Newmark method (trapezoidal rule) and the Bathe method. The fluid was assumed to be a nonlinear acoustic fluid (using the subsonic potential based fluid formulation in ADINA).
The fluid was represented by 3D 8-node potential based elements and the response was calculated for a duration of 0.1 s using 1000 time steps. Due to the geometry and boundary conditions, this is effectively a 1D wave propagation problem. Since the acoustic medium has no source of energy dissipation and the boundaries are rigid, we would expect to see a pattern of pressure similar to the input to be repeated in time as the waves repeatedly reflect from the end of the duct.
Figure 6 shows the time histories of pressure at the middle of the duct using both fluid models and the two time integration schemes.
The movie below shows the pressure contour plot using the Bathe method.
It is interesting to note that using the Newmark method introduces significant numerical errors in the calculated response, whereas using the Bathe method gives good results.
The examples provided in this Brief, in the previous Brief and in the reference show the merits of using the Bathe method in a wide range of problems. Not only does the method lead to stable and accurate solutions when the trapezoidal rule fails, actually, the method also frequently prevents convergence difficulties in nonlinear analysis when such are observed using the Newmark method.


text:
Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted 'shells' which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction.
view from the air towards the south east
© Commonwealth of Australia
Outstanding Universal Value
The Sydney Opera House constitutes a masterpiece of 20th century architecture. Its significance is based on its unparalleled design and construction; its exceptional engineering achievements and technological innovation and its position as a world-famous icon of architecture. It is a daring and visionary experiment that has had an enduring influence on the emergent architecture of the late 20th century. Utzon's original design concept and his unique approach to building gave impetus to a collective creativity of architects, engineers and builders. Ove Arup's engineering achievements helped make Utzon's vision a reality. The design represents an extraordinary interpretation and response to the setting in Sydney Harbour. The Sydney Opera House is also of outstanding universal value for its achievements in structural engineering and building technology. The building is a great artistic monument and an icon, accessible to society at large.
Criterion (i): The Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century. It represents multiple strands of creativity, both in architectural form and structural design, a great urban sculpture carefully set in a remarkable waterscape and a world famous iconic building.
All elements necessary to express the values of the Sydney Opera House are included within the boundaries of the nominated area and buffer zone. This ensures the complete representation of its significance as an architectural object of great beauty in its waterscape setting. The Sydney Opera House continues to perform its function as a world-class performing arts centre. The Conservation Plan specifies the need to balance the roles of the building as an architectural monument and as a state of the art performing centre, thus retaining its authenticity of use and function. Attention given to retaining the building's authenticity culminated with the Conservation Plan and the Utzon Design Principles.
The Sydney Opera House was included in the National Heritage List in 2005 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and on the State Heritage Register of New South Wales in 2003 under the Heritage Act 1977. Listing in the National Heritage List implies that any proposed action to be taken inside or outside the boundaries of a National Heritage place or a World Heritage property that may have a significant impact on the heritage values is prohibited without the approval of the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. A buffer zone has been established.
The present state of conservation is very good. The property is maintained and preserved through regular and rigorous repair and conservation programmes. The management system of the Sydney Opera House takes into account a wide range of measures provided under planning and heritage legislation and policies of both the Australian Government and the New South Wales Government. The Management Plan for the Sydney Opera House, the Conservation Plan and the Utzon Design Principles together provide the policy framework for the conservation and management of the Sydney Opera House.
A major cultural centre for Sydney and its siting at Bennelong Point had been discussed since the 1940s. In 1956 the New South Wales Government called an open-ended international design competition and appointed an independent jury, rather than commissioning a local firm. The competition brief provided broad specifications to attract the best design talent in the world; it did not specify design parameters or set a cost limit. The main requirement of the competition brief was a design for a dual function building with two performance halls.
The competition generated enormous interest in Australia and overseas. The New South Wales Government's decision to commission Jørn Utzon as the sole architect was unexpected, bold and visionary. There was scepticism as to whether the structure could be built given Utzon's limited experience, the rudimentary and unique design concept and the absence of any engineering advice. The competition drawings were largely diagrammatic, the design had not been fully costed and neither Utzon nor the jury had consulted a structural engineer. Utzon's design concept included unprecedented architectural forms and demanded solutions that required new technologies and materials. The New South Wales Government also faced public pressure to select an Australian architect.
The Sydney Opera House is often thought of as being constructed in three stages and this is useful in understanding the history of the three key elements of its architectural composition: the podium (stage 1: 1958–1961), the vaulted shells (stage 2: 1962–1967) and the glass walls and interiors (stage 3: 1967–1973). Architect Jørn Utzon conceived the overall design and supervised the construction of the podium and the vaulted shells. The glass walls and interiors were designed and their construction supervised by architect Peter Hall supported by Lionel Todd and David Littlemore in conjunction with the then New South Wales Government Architect, Ted Farmer. Peter Hall was in conversation with Utzon on various aspects of the design for at least eighteen months following his departure. Ove Arup & Partners provided the engineering expertise for all three stages of construction.
Design and construction were closely intertwined. Utzon's unique design together with his radical approach to the construction of the building fostered an exceptional collaborative and innovative environment. His collaborative model marked a break from conventional architectural practice at the time. The design solution and construction of the shell structure took eight years to complete and the development of the special ceramic tiles for the shells took over three years. The Sydney Opera House became a testing laboratory and a vast, open-air pre-casting factory.
The Sydney Opera House took sixteen years to build; this was six years longer than scheduled and ten times more than its original estimated cost. On 20 October 1973 the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II. After inauguration, new works were undertaken over time. Between 1986 and 1988 the land approach and forecourt were reconstructed and the lower concourse developed under the supervision of the then New South Wales Government Architect, Andrew Andersons, with contributions by Peter Hall.
Between 1998 and 1999 the recording and rehearsal room was converted into two areas: an assembly area for the orchestra and the Studio, a revitalised performance space for the presentation of innovative music and performing arts. In 1998, in accordance with the celebration of the 25th anniversary of inauguration, the Sydney Opera House Trust appointed Sydney architect Richard Johnson to advise on future development of the site and to establish planning principles. Through Johnson, the Sydney Opera House Trust began negotiations to reconcile with Utzon and to re-engage him with the building in an advisory capacity. In 1999 Utzon formally accepted Premier Carr's invitation to re-engage with the project by setting down design principles that outline his vision for the building and explain the principles behind his design. Over three years he worked with his architect son and business partner, Jan Utzon, and Richard Johnson to draw up his design principles for the Sydney Opera House, including the refurbishment of the reception hall, construction of the western loggia, exploration of options for improving the Concert Hall acoustics, improving services to the forecourt to support performances, modification of the orchestra pit and interior of the Opera Theatre. In 2002 The Sydney Opera House Trust released the Utzon Design Principles. In 2004 refurbishment of the Utzon Room (formerly known as the reception hall) was completed. Source: Advisory Body Evaluation