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Identifying ontology design styles with metrics
Eleni Mikroyannidi, Robert Stevens and Alan Rector
The University of Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL
Abstract. This paper presents a metrics framework for identifying highlevel ontology composition styles as an abstraction layer for ontology comprehension. The metrics are implemented on top of the OWL API metrics, which have been extended to capture various aspects of an ontology. The metrics are applied to an ontology repository, and using clustering methods underlying design styles have been revealed. We seek to give a high-level view of how an ontology has been "put together" through the identification of authoring style using a range of ontology metrics. This 'ontological style' can be considered as a metamodel, giving an intuition of what lies "under the hood" of an ontology. This can be useful in the broader area of ontology comprehension. The results highlighted five design styles covered by the repository describing simple, as well as rich and complex ontologies.
We present the use of data-mining across a broad range of ontology metrics to describe the ontological design style of how a particular ontology has been authored in terms of its size, shape, number and disposition of axioms. Our aim is to use this guide to ontological style as part of a framework to facilitate ontology comprehension. OWL ontologies are often considered to be complex entities that require an excessive amount of time and effort to be used in conjunction with other ontologies or to be integrated into an application. One important task in authoring, using and re-using an ontology is its comprehension [6,12]; that is, understanding the ontology at a range of levels.
The process of understanding ontologies can be compared to the process of understanding code, its structure, organisation etc in software engineering. The OWL language can be compared with programming languages, as it represents the ontology as a series of statements or axioms. To comprehend an ontology, a reader has to take these statements and synthesise an understanding of how the ontology has been 'put together' and how it works; without such a comprehension, extension and maintenance are difficult. On a second level, the user has to identify those parts of the ontology that have been modelled with the same combination or pattern of constructors and entities, together with their interconnection with the other parts of the ontology. This already difficult task is made harder still as ontologies that are modelled with logic axioms can be
difficult to understand. In addition, ontologies that make use of advanced characteristics of OWL can lead to inferences that add complexity in their structure. As a consequence, a user can be faced with a logical artefact that is difficult to comprehend at many levels: The style of the modelling; the size and shape of the whole ontology; the patterns of axioms used; the entailments afforded by the ontology; and so on.
Metamodels can be helpful towards the comprehension of an ontology, as they provide abstraction layers that hide the complexity of the ontology. One such high-level abstraction is the ontological design style employed in a given ontology. By ontological design style we mean, very informally, how an ontology's axioms have been "put together". More precisely, ontology style is the summary of the main characteristics of composition and structure of an ontology. The design style can be assessed by inspecting the ontology,; however, metrics are helpful for giving an overview of an ontology's design style. The workflow for the generation of the ontology design styles is presented in Figure 1. In this paper, we use a range of metrics measuring various aspects of an ontology, such as the size, the complexity of the structures in the ontology, the axiom types etc. to provide a series of dimensions that characterise the design style. These dimensions constitute a rating scheme for describing the design style from a high level of abstraction. We then use clustering methods to group ontologies in a repository according to these various dimensions. Intuitively, we expect to divide the repository into groups such as small and complex, large and simple etc. Indeed, the results showed five main design styles covered by the repository, describing ontologies, which for example are small but rich and complex; ontologies in which most information is expressed in the taxonomy; ontologies in which information is expressed with rich object property hierarchies and class expressions; etc. These proposed design styles should help to reveal the main characteristics of the ontologies.
We believe that the detection and description of design styles can be helpful for comprehending an ontology, as it can give an intuition of its composition and an initial guide on how to inspect the ontology. For example, if there is a complex object property hierarchy and if all the entailments refer to property assertions, the user can start by inspecting these elements in the ontology. In general, these design styles could be used as the initial information that guides the choice of the comprehension tactic for an ontology.
2 Related work
Existing work on metrics is related to the assessment of the ontology quality in the scope of ontology integration and ontology modularisation. Recent work shows that metrics are used more for ontology analysis than for ontology comprehension by ontology authors or other users.
OntoQA is a metrics framework for assessing the quality in terms of reusing an ontology. Tartir et al. define metrics for the schema inheritance tree and its instances to evaluate the success of it in terms of modelling a realOWL API Metrics
Selection and definition
Processed Metric set
KMeans Clustering for defining the classes of the rating scheme
Data described according to the rating scheme
Ontology Design Styles
Fig. 1. Workflow for generating the ontology design styles
world domain. Although the described metrics are indications of the schema and the population of the ontology, they do not explicitly refer to the asserted or inferred class graph. both the asserted and inferred structure of an ontology need to be understood by an ontology's users. In addition, the schema metrics focus only on the class hierarchy. Object and data property hierarchy structures can also exist in the ontology and should also be considered, as they can cause additional implications upon use of an automated reasoner.
Yao et al. describe cohesion metrics to measure the modular relatedness of OWL ontologies. The cohesion refers to the degree to which the elements in a module belong together. Strong cohesion is recognised as a desirable property of object-oriented classes, as it measures separation of responsibilities, independence of components and control of complexity. The authors focus only on the class hierarchy of the ontology, without explicitly defining the constraints that should be considered for the computation of the metrics. Alternative representations can derive from the same subsumptions that could alter the measures. Such an example is shown in Figure 2. The subsumption axioms D v C, C v B, B v A can be represented differently depending on the consideration of direct and indirect inheritance. Therefore, the consideration of additional parameters are required to ensure the stability of the metrics.
In another direction is the use of statistical analysis to assess the design of an ontology from a high level. Ontology editors such as Protégé-4 and Swoop
Fig. 2. Different representation of the hierarchy derived from the same subsumption axioms.
provide simple metrics for an ontology. Protégé-4 has an introductory view pane that presents metrics that can give an indication of the size and some of the characteristics of the ontology, while Swoop provides some more details on the taxonomy and property hierarchy of the loaded ontology. Even though there are helpful tools that provide general statistics for ontologies, there is a lack of systematic and comprehensive metrics for characterising ontologies in terms of design. These could be further used as a metamodel that presents the main characteristics of the ontology. Work close to metrics and metamodels is presented in [5,4]. However, the structural metrics defined by the authors have the same instability in terms of their computation as the aforementioned frameworks.
Efforts for describing ontologies and their complexity using metrics are reported in [9,10]. In the authors use the OWL API metrics and additional ones on the entailments of the ontologies to describe a biomedical repository. The work presented here is also based on the OWL API metrics. However, we use additional machine learning techniques to pinpoint underlying design styles of an ontology; it is this ability to give a high-level 'overview' of what kind of ontology style has been used in an ontology that is the contribution of this paper.
3 Ontology metrics fra


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The transition from successful middle leader to successful assistant headteacher (AHT) is sometimes harder than it looks. Headteachers and others can help, providing the nature of this transition is understood, including those aspects of it that can contribute to feelings of insecurity and even of incompetence on the part of the new member of the senior team.
Though often overlooked, the emotional aspects of transition are important. Prior to taking up the post, the emotional security of the new AHT has usually, if they have followed a subject leadership route, been supported by:
-their own feelings of mastery of a subject to which they are committed and which they have taught for several years
-the recognition and respect given to them by others in their department on the basis of the daily demonstration of their professionalism and expertise in teaching the subject
-their own achievements in relation to the leadership of the department
-the physical space, or territory, they have been able to occupy. For a core subject, this is often in terms of a suite of rooms.
Upon becoming an AHT, this is swept away because:
-the expectation of competence extends over a much wider range of issues, many of them having little to do with subjects – or even teaching, in a direct sense
-respect and recognition cannot be won on the basis of subject expertise but on satisfying the needs and expectations of others, many of them not directly visible or directly involved, or even inside the school itself
-leadership is often indirect, and dependent on supporting those who lead others
-personal achievements are harder to identify and to attribute – often it is more important to credit others with an achievement which may owe much to the AHT's own behind-the-scenes activities and overtime
-there is no physical territory – the territory now extends across the whole school and frequently outside it.
If the emotional aspects of transition are overlooked or ignored, this can lead to unnecessary periods of stress, and sometimes considerable distress, on the part of the new AHT, who feels obliged to emerge as a perfectly formed senior team member. Butterflies seem to have managed a complex transition of this kind, but humans sometimes need a bit more consideration and help. Since AHTs are not only human, but also an expensive acquisition, effort in planning for and supporting them in the first year or so of their appointment would seem to be well worth the investment.
A change of perspective
Changes of position within an organisation often require a change of perspective. What you see, and the way you see things, depends on where you stand in relation to what is happening. Although it is of course possible to transcend the limitations of positional perspective, this should not be left to chance during role transitions. It might help many new AHTs if they understood where their role had originated and what it was intended to do.
Fundamental to being able to handle the job properly is an understanding that, keeping things running smoothly on a daily basis despite the constant bumps in the road will constitute up to 90% of daily managerial activity, and the other 10% must involve giving the school a strong directional focus.
An understanding of strategy
Experience shows that top leadership teams with a poor grasp of strategy can lead any organisation to disaster. What matters for an AHT in this respect is two-fold. Firstly, they need to be able to contribute to debates about the strategic priorities of the school during SMT meetings and other meetings of strategic importance. Secondly, they need to be able to implement the strategic priorities in ways that enable them to guide work in the areas of activity for which they are responsible. If they are simply doing 'jobs' without any sense of the required directional steer, they are not carrying out the role as it was intended to be, that of strategic integrator. Without people who can translate and integrate vision and strategy behaviourally, both may remain little more than fantasies, the reality being that the school is simply being managed on a day-by-day basis but it is not developing and facing up to its challenges.
Making a contribution to SMT strategic discussions means being able to self-start on information-gathering. This goes far beyond the immediate concerns of the school. For example, it means knowing about the political debates within and beyond the agenda of the governing party; knowing about the state of the economy and how this affects the locality; understanding societal changes; changes in technology; changes in the law and finally, how each of these may affect the direction and daily work of the school. In simple terms, the AHT needs to be an educated citizen, alert to what is going on and eager to debate these issues with fellow professionals. It means recognising that the SMT is a significant element in the intellectual leadership of the school.
To do less is to reduce the role simply to a set of reactive and mechanistic tasks, which are inadequate for a professionally staffed organisation operating in an increasingly complex environment. This may seem self-evident, but experience shows that many SMTs become excessively preoccupied with the minutiae of managing the school and, in effect, have their noses down hoovering the ground when they should be looking upwards and outwards at the task environment and relating this to the necessary direction of travel.
Clarity of intent
Putting strategy into effect on a daily basis means being clear about what Hamel and Prahalad (1989) refer to as 'strategic intents'. It is about being clear about a narrow set of intentions that will steer the school to where it wants to be, provide a sense of discovery of new territory and motivate staff by encouraging them to commit to what they perceive as valuable. Clarity about these means that the AHT can recognise, for example, when an idea put forward by others should be accepted, encouraged and resourced because it fits in with where the school is going, when it needs shaping and finally, when it should be discouraged because it will take the school in quite a different direction.
The SI concept also allows prioritisation of tasks, another difficulty for an AHT lacking strategic awareness, because without it all jobs seem to be of equal importance. Strategic, directional jobs are the most important, though this does not mean that they are necessarily the most immediately urgent or that they need to take up much time. They can for example, be enacted through a snatched conversation, a progress chase or a phone call, just as much as in a lengthy meeting or position paper. What matters is whether these behaviours play a role in moving the school forward towards the goals that have been set for the future.
Problem-solving is an essential ability for AHTs and it is not easily taught. The difference between an expert manager and a novice manager is that the former has encountered a far more extensive range of problems than the latter and usually has a richer repertoire of strategies for dealing with them. It is important for the newly appointed AHT to be able to draw upon the experience of more expert managers in order to fatten up their problem-solution portfolio as quickly as possible. However, this needs to be against a background of understanding that management decisions are seldom made with all the information necessary to make the best possible decision. In addition, context and contingency are crucial; there are no how-to-do-it manuals that will tell you exactly what to do regardless of context and contingency.
For this reason, managers must be reflective and reflexive; a reasonable injunction is, 'Do your best with what you know, look for evidence of success or shortcoming or failure, and think how you would do it better next time.'
Training during transition
Perfection is elusive in managerial work. This is particularly true in education because, unlike medicine, where one starts out as a generalist and becomes a specialist, education works the other way around. As one becomes more senior, there are more and more general tasks which one does not, at first, know much about. While this is not unique to education – engineering specialists often find difficulty in adapting to management and leadership roles if they have progressed through a specialist route – it does draw attention to the need for adequate training and mentoring during the transition, a period that should relate to the needs of the AHT and not be time-limited nor be confined to one form of support offered by a single individual or course.
The training, or skill-related elements of a programme for an AHT relate to capabilities, which are usually important for the role. These include making meetings more effective as both chair and participant; influencing skills: improving personal organisation and time-management; carrying out performance reviews and writing accurate statements; project planning report writing; speaking in public; handling poor performance and disciplinary problems; and minimising conflict.
There appears to be very little of this kind of general management training for AHTs, although there are many suitable courses leading to qualifications such as those offered by the Chartered Management Institute. These have the additional benefit of being taught either with a group from the same school, a group of schools or with people from outside education, thus giving a wider perspective on the management role.
Coupled with a good grounding in strategic thinking and with the kind of supported problem-solving carried out with regular mentor contacts, such a three-fold programme can have significant benefits for AHTs and for the effectiveness of the SMT as a direction giving group within the staff. By implication, it also helps the headteacher, whose leadership is mediated by – and may indeed be partly shaped by – these key members of staff.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Scattered across the landscape of Japan are Shinto shrines of various shapes and sizes. In many of the larger shrines you'll find one or more especially old trees known as Goshinboku which means "sacred tree."
Sacred trees are usually massive in size and centuries old with some reportedly over 1,000 years old. You can usually tell them from the shimenawa wrapped around their trunks. A shimenawa is an extremely thick rope which encloses something holy and wards off evil from outside.
These age-old trees are beautiful specimens of nature's strength and longevity and add an extra level of serenity to their shrines. However, in the past month someone or some group has been killing off these sacred trees of shrines in 5 separate prefectures in Japan's mid-west.
The So-Kawachi Daimei Shrine in Ehime Prefecture sits in the tiny remote village of Namegawa nestled in the mountainous outskirts of Toon (T-OH-N) city. It is home to a pair of sacred hinoki (Japanese cypress) trees each over 500 years old.
In September 2012, strange holes were found around the base of their trunks and substantial withering was taking place throughout the trees. A subsequent police investigation found traces of chemical used an "arboricide" or tree poison.
After long consideration the shrine determined that the considerably weakened trees posed a risk of collapse and needed to be cut down on 26 December.
The day before, the head priest and townspeople held a ritual to pray for the safe removal of the trees. The priest gave a Shinto prayer known as a norito to thank the trees for their protection of the shrine from the elements for so many years.
"For many years these trees and I have watched over this shrine. With the trees gone, there is only emptiness" said the head priest in a eulogy fused with frustration over someone deliberately killing these landmarks of his shrine.
He then faced the trees one last time and gave an offering of rice and salt so that their souls may be calmed. The following day, after half a millennium, the two trees came down.
As a result of this incident the Japanese Forestry Agency conducted an emergency survey for sacred trees that died by human hands. What they found was a string of sacred tree poisonings across several prefectures west of Aichi.
Kochi Prefecture was hit the hardest with seven sacred trees killed off at shrines located in sparsely populated areas. Tokushima saw three trees die and Wakayama and Aichi prefectures each had one death. Including the twin trees in Ehime Prefecture, the toll comes to 14.
In each case, holes were drilled into the trunks at a depth of about 4cm and a tree killing chemical was injected. The chemical could then travel up the trees' xylem which act like veins and delivers the poison throughout the plant.
Authorities speculate that the trees were poisoned and killed in an effort to get their "sacred" lumber that would fetch an extremely high price as a building material.
The Forestry Agency sent out warnings to all local law enforcement in an effort to better coordinate and track the tree killer or killers.
Considering the punishment for stealing ten yen from a temple, there's likely a hefty punishment for destroying ancient holy trees at shrines in Japan. Even if whoever killed the trees isn't caught, they're definitely racking up bachiatari (bad karma) by the truck load.
▼ Site of the twin sacred tree victims in Ehime Prefecture.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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When the tragic earthquake hit Japan back in March of 2011, mobile communications were severely disrupted in the affected regions, even in metropolitan Tokyo. The University of Tokyo's Center for Spatial Information Science has put together an incredible visualization which dramatically illustrates how mobile activity almost completely stops in the minutes after the earthquake hit at 14:46PM on that afternoon.
In the video below, anonymized geo-speatial data from Zenrin DataCom shows the movement of people in the city throughout the day 1. Time is shown progressing in the bottom right corner. As you can see, mobile movement is most intense during the morning rush hour between 8AM and 9AM, with the majority of movement concentrated on major train lines.
But just after the earthquake hits in the afternoon, mobile activity 'goes dark' so to speak. Train service was also interrupted, and you can see that people don't really resume movement until late in the evening, and even then it was at just a fraction of its usual pace. You can check out the video for yourself below to see how the day progresses in its entirety, and how mobile activity recovers in later that night and the next morning.
As we pointed out last year, even after Japanese mobile carriers pledged to improve network infrastructure, they still experienced some problems in 2012, most notably Docomo, who attributed some problems to increased VoIP activity.
As I understand it, Zenrin's geo-spatial data is primary from NTT Docomo. We previously wrote about Docomo's efforts to use this geo-spatial data in city planning.↩
The post Mobile Service Disruption from Great Japan Earthquake Visualized appeared first on Tech in Asia.


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Given an elliptic curve $E/\mathbb{Q}$ of conductor $N$, parameterization $\psi : X_0(N) \rightarrow E$, and a point $P \in E$, take the fiber $\psi^{-1}(P)$. Its points, being on $X_0(N)$, correspond to equivalence classes of pairs $(E_x, C_x)$.
Is there a geometric meaning for these pairs in relation to the point $P$? Something about these elliptic curves that has something to do with $P$? (Other than the j-invariant solving some polynomial equation with coefficients depending only on $P$ (and $E$ of course))
Anything special about the $C_x$'s in relation to $P$?
Modular parameterization is fascinating, but I just don't understand where it comes from. $X_0$ is for a whole bunch of elliptic curves. $E$ is a single specific one.What's the connection between points on the modular curve, to a single specific point of $E$?
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Not an answer, but I think you would very much enjoy the paper "Arithmetic of Weil curves" by Mazur and Swinnerton-Dyer. It's in vol. 25 of Inventiones. – David Hansen Aug 17 '10 at 17:05
4 Answers 4
up vote 13 down vote accepted
As Stankewicz explains, although elliptic curves appear in two guises in the modular parameterization $X_0(N) \to E,$ first because $E$ is an elliptic curve, and secondly because $X_0(N)$ parameterizes elliptic curves, it is something of a red herring to think of these two appearances of elliptic curves as having anything to do with one another.
The reason that $X_0(N)$ appears in the problem of describing elliptic curves is because elliptic curves have two dimensional $H^1$, and $X_0(N)$ is the Shimura variety over $\mathbb Q$ associated to the group $GL_2$. Thus, as Stankewicz notes, Shimura curves (which are the Shimura varieties attached to twisted forms of $GL_2$) can equally well give parameterizations of elliptic curves.
Now the way we prove things about $X_0(N)$ (e.g. properties of its Heegner points, as in Pete Clark's answer) is using its moduli interpretation. But there are two things to bear in mind:
First, most (maybe all?) properties of the special points on $X_0(N)$, such as the Heegner points, are special cases of general aspects of the theory of Shimura varieties (so although the proofs use the moduli interpretation, the statements can be formulated in a way that doesn't refer to the moduli-theoretic interpretation, but instead refers to the interpretation of $X_0(N)$ as a Shimura variety).
Second, the transfer of information is always from $X_0(N)$ to $E$. So while Heegner points give certain interesting points on $X_0(N)$ defined over class fields of quadratic imaginary fields, which can be mapped down to $E$ to give interesting points on $E$ defined over such fields, if one takes a random point on $E$ defined over a class field of an imaginary quadratic field and pulls it back to $X_0(N)$, it is not so easy to say what is going on with the preimages in general.
Finally, I think remark (3) in Pete Clark's answer is an interesting one. In the Mazur and Swinnerton-Dyer paper that David Hansen refer's to in his first comment, if I am remembering correctly, they also suggest that the images in $E$ of the critical points of the map from $X_0(N)$ to $E$ that lie on the geodesic arc joining $0$ to $\infty$ in the upper half-plane may be worth studying. As with Birch's suggestion of Weierstrass points, I'm not sure how much has been done on this.
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_USER_: to support your point in the first paragraph, it is also worth keeping in mind the function field case: there "modularity" of elliptic curves is with respect to a Drinfeld modular curve, whose moduli problem has manifestly nothing to do with elliptic curves or abelian varieties. The point of my comment to Stankewicz's answer was that, whenever you have a moduli space mapping to $E$, it at least makes sense to ask for a modular interpretation of inverse images. I don't know how to answer this and am not confident that a good answer exists, but certainly the question does... – Pete L. Clark Aug 18 '10 at 7:43
Thinking about $X_0(N)$ as a bunch of enhanced elliptic curves is a red herring as far as a description of the modular parametrization goes. For instance, you can obtain a similar "modular parametrization" of an elliptic curve starting from a Shimura curve parametrizing certain abelian surfaces (see, or for an overview, see chapter 4 of )
Now of course this doesn't rule out the possibility of saying anything special about $C_x$ in relation to P, but I can't imagine what you could say. After all, the modular parametrization breaks up into $X_0(N) \hookrightarrow J_0(N) \twoheadrightarrow E_f$ where the right map is essentially projection.
Now if you start with specific sorts of enhanced elliptic curves, and look at their images under the modular parametrization, you can create Heegner points, and those are VERY useful.
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OK, you could think more generally in terms of enhanced QM abelian surfaces -- a position which I endorse -- but the basic question is still there, right? – Pete L. Clark Aug 17 '10 at 17:45
Oh sure, you could ask which enhanced QM Abelian Surfaces lie above a point $P$, buuuuut I still see no reason to expect that question to have a nice general answer. – stankewicz Aug 17 '10 at 20:56
I was just trying to intimate that there's no reason to think that because there's an elliptic curve on one end of the modular parametrization and a bunch of (enhanced) elliptic curves on the other that there should be any connection between the two. – stankewicz Aug 17 '10 at 21:01
Agreed. $ $ – Pete L. Clark Aug 18 '10 at 7:44
I don't know anything useful to say geometrically about the elliptic curves appearing in the divisor $\psi^{-1}(P)$. For instance, I don't know how to describe which $j$-invariants of elliptic curves arise in this way or even how many distinct $j$-invariants arise. Arithmetically speaking, one gets a $\mathbb{Q}$-rational divisor on $X_0(N)$ of degree equal to the modular degree (assuming $\psi$ is unramified above $P$), which is maybe the most I can say.
It works better if you go the other way: namely, choosing specific points or divisors on $X_0(N)$ and pushing them forward to $E$ yields interesting information. Two important examples:
1) The image of a cusp on $X_0(N)(\mathbb{Q})$ is a torsion point on $E(\mathbb{Q})$ (Manin-Drinfeld).
2) Starting with a point $(E,C)$ on $X_0(N)$ such that $E$ and $E/C$ both have complex multiplication by the same order in an imaginary quadratic field yields a Heegner point on $E$. A priori this point is defined over a ring class field of some imaginary quadratic field $K$, but one can take the sum of the Galois conjugates to a get a $K$-rational point. This construction has been more useful for the arithmetic of $E$ than anything else in the last $40$ years: for instance, there is a nontorsion Heegner trace iff $E(K)$ has rank one. C.f. work of Gross-Zagier, Kolyvagin and many others.
And a remark:
3) I recall from an old paper of Birch that after mentioning Heegner points, he wonders what would happen if one took the image of a Weierstrass point on $X_0(N)$. To the best of my knowledge, this has not been explored. Although more natural from the perspective of algebraic geometry than Heegner points, much less is known about the arithmetic geometry of the Weierstrass divisor on a modular curve, for instance, the precise number field over which each of the Weierstrass points is defined.
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If your elliptic curve $E$ has rank $1$ over $\mathbb{Q}$, then there is a point $P$, a Heegner point, in $E(\mathbb{Q})$ with a special point $x=(E_x,C_x)$ in the fibre of $\psi$, i.e. such that $E_x$ has extra endomorphisms (as


The Rise of RCS Messaging
The rise of RCS Messaging
RCS Messaging – What is it?
RCS industry initiative was formed in 2007 by a group of industry promoters. In 2008 the GSM Association officially became the project 'home' of RCS and an RCS steering committee was established by the organisation.
Fast-forward 7 years and Google first announced the launch of RCS (Rich Communication Service) last year, having signed agreements with numerous operators and mobile device manufactures. This year it is focusing on brands and businesses, launching an Early Access Program, which will allow businesses to learn and build the technology. RCS offers businesses an major upgrade to traditional SMS messaging.
What will it do for Messaging?
RCS is part of the new Advanced Messaging standard designed to greatly improve messaging functionality that comes installed on mobile devices. Along with SMS messaging, RCS will allow for higher quality picture messaging, group chats, location sharing, and video calls. RCS is looking to go beyond the capabilities seen in many of today's messaging apps. Unlike SMS, new technologies can be integrated with contact apps to see who else supports the service. What this means for business is that you can now use SMS messaging as a more interactive tool to engage with your customers.
RCS has 3 primary goals:
 1. Use better contact lists that included more detailed contact information, real-time contact availability and read receipts.
 2. Build a better messaging system that enables extras such as instant chat, emojis and sharing data.
 3. Support enhanced calls with features like video calling and data sharing in real time.
Why will RCS enhance mobile marketing for your business?
 1. RCS supports multiple message formats, allowing businesses to send not just text but videos, animations, and images an all in one message.
 2. Unlike SMS, RCS messages return read receipts, meaning businesses can measure the effectiveness of the communications.
 3. In terms of messaging, we have yet to see something that has the same potential for customer interaction and engagement as RCS messaging. RCS allows for a more interactive call to action. For example, customer surveys, and real-time updates.
Useful links
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.
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Campbellsville Middle School shared their 6th Social Studies curriculum map and the description below.
Campbellsville Middle School6th Grade Social Studies
Based on CATS information and other assessment data, we identified gaps in our curriculum. Teachers independently identified taught curriculum then worked in groups to assess grade level curriculum. Next, all subject area teachers in one school met to finalize curriculum. The next step will be to work district wide. We will do this on PD days and early release days. We will be continuing these steps in other subjects during 2004-2005. This is a never-ending process. It will need to be modified each year as we learn about mistakes and successes.
For more information about this map, please contact Beverly Ennis at Campbellsville Independent Schools.Campbellsville Middle School
Grade Level: 6th Grade Social Studies
Created: 2004Note: If you'd like to use this map or amend it to suit your needs, please check below for a handy Microsoft Word version. Just click on the Word icon to open it on your computer, then choose Word's Save As command to save it locally.CM Campbellsville 6th Gr SS.doc


David Bruant
Asynchronous patterns
8 Asynchronous patterns.mp4 from Neo (UK) on Vimeo.
Core contributor to the JavaScript section of the MDN documentation. Regular es-discuss participant.
In no particular order, interested in education, programming languages, the open web, how human groups are structured and make decisions collectively.
Asynchronous programming is hard to understand for people coming from a different language or sometimes even experienced developers.
In this talk, I'll give a refresher on the theorical aspects of the event loop and JavaScript concurrency model.
Then, I'll move on to different async programming patterns, use cases where they apply, tips to recognize these patterns and what a good JavaScript API for each pattern looks like.


The Special Age Calculator shows your age in seconds, minutes, hours, days, or planet years. It can search for both round decimal and binary numbers.
How to Use the Special Age Calculator
 1. Enter the date and time of your birth.
 2. Click Calculator Alternative Birthdays
Note: If you leave Day, Month, or Year field empty, the calculator will default to the current date; an empty Hour, Minute, or Second field defaults to 00.
Additional Options
 1. Use the Calculate menu to choose what kinds of alternative birthdays you wish to find:
 - Round decimal numbers finds even numbers, such as 1,000,000,000 seconds or 15,000 days since you were born.
 - Round binary numbers is the perfect option for computer nerds or math buffs. It looks for even numbers in the binary number system, such as _PHONE_ 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 seconds or 11 0000 0000 0000 days. These alternative birthdays do not correspond to an even number in the decimal number system: the above examples equal 1,073,741,824 seconds and 12,288 days.
 - Planet years searches for your birthdays based on the orbital period of the planets in our solar system (plus Pluto).
 2. The Frequency menu allows you to choose if you want to home in on the one big day when you are exactly, say, 1 billion seconds old (select Only very round numbers), or if you are in a hurry to celebrate your next alternative birthday and don't mind if the number is a little less round (select Slightly round numbers).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does it take into account Daylight Saving Time and leap seconds?
No, while most of our services take into account all Daylight Saving Time (DST) changes and leap seconds, the Special Age Calculator does not.
How do binary numbers work?
While there are 10 different numerals in the decimal system we use in everyday life (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), the binary number system is made up of only 2 (0 and 1).
How do planet years work?
A year on Earth is defined as the time it takes our planet to complete a full revolution around the Sun. This is called a tropical year and takes 365.24219 days on average.
The other planets in our solar system orbit the Sun on different paths. The closer a planet's orbit is to the Sun, the less time it takes to complete a full circle. This means that a year on Mercury, the first planet from the Sun, is much shorter than a year on Earth, while the outer planets take over 100 Earth years to complete an orbit.
If you choose Planet years in the Calculate menu, the Special Age Calculator lists the moments when the planets in our solar system (plus Pluto) reach the same positions on their orbit as on the day you were born, marking your birthdays on each planet.
What is a Julian year?
The Julian year is a simplified version of this time span. It amounts to 365.25 days.
Do I have to start from scratch every time?
You don't. Scroll down past the results to find a form entitled Change calculation and frequency where you can make changes to the current calculation. Click on Change date to select a different date or time of birth.
How can I find out how many seconds, hours, or days old I am right now?
You can use our Countdowns for that purpose. Simply enter your date and time of birth and click on Create Countdown.
How does your algorithm work? Can you help me program my own?
We are a small team with a very extensive website to manage, so, unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to share detailed information about our algorithms or provide programming help.
The General FAQ Page answers your questions about, our services, site-wide settings, customization options, advertising opportunities, and copyright policies.
Send Us an Email
Didn't find an answer? Get in touch with the support team


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In a rapidly evolving digital world, where technology seems to dominate every facet of our lives, the importance of hands-on learning cannot be overstated. Traditional educational methods are increasingly being complemented, and sometimes replaced, by online platforms and digital tools. However, there's a growing recognition that experiential, tactile learning is indispensable for holistic development. This realization has led to the rise of innovative educational franchises like BYITC (Build Your Intelligence Through Calculation), which offers abacus and online education franchises.
The BYITC Approach
BYITC is at the forefront of promoting hands-on learning through its abacus and education franchises online. The BYITC approach combines the best of both worlds, blending traditional abacus-based learning with modern online educational techniques. This unique fusion empowers students to develop a strong foundation in mathematics while harnessing the benefits of digital technology.
The Abacus Advantage
The abacus is a centuries-old tool that continues to prove its worth in contemporary education. It is a simple yet powerful device that enhances cognitive abilities, including concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills. BYITC's abacus franchise in the UK enables students to master this ancient tool, fostering a deep understanding of mathematical concepts from a young age.
One of the key advantages of the BYITC abacus franchise in the UK is that it operates in a physical learning environment. This fosters a hands-on approach, allowing students to manipulate the abacus beads and visualize mathematical operations. Such tactile learning is essential for better comprehension and retention, as it engages multiple senses simultaneously.
Online Education: The Complementary Element
While abacus-based learning forms the core of BYITC's educational philosophy, the franchise also recognizes the significance of online education. In today's digital age, online resources are invaluable for accessing information and enhancing learning experiences. BYITC's online education franchise complements its abacus program, offering a well-rounded education to students.
The online component provides students with a platform to reinforce their learning, access additional study materials, and participate in interactive quizzes and tests. It also allows parents and teachers to monitor a student's progress and provide personalized guidance. The integration of online resources ensures that students receive a comprehensive education that caters to their unique learning styles and needs.
Creating Wealth through BYITC
Investing in a BYITC franchise is not only about fostering a culture of hands-on learning but also about creating wealth in a rapidly growing educational market. UK's population displays a strong emphasis on quality education for their children. BYITC's abacus and education franchises tap into this demand, offering a sustainable business opportunity for franchisees.
The BYITC franchise model provides entrepreneurs with a well-established brand, comprehensive training, and ongoing support. It also offers the flexibility to cater to both physical and online learning, making it adaptable to different market dynamics and preferences. With a robust curriculum and a proven track record of success, BYITC franchisees have the potential to build a lucrative business while making a meaningful impact on student's lives.
In a world where technology often overshadows traditional learning methods, the BYITC franchise stands out as a beacon of hands-on learning excellence. By combining the power of the abacus with modern online education, BYITC creates a holistic learning experience that nurtures students' intellectual growth. Furthermore, it presents a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to create wealth by addressing the growing demand for quality education in UK and also on a global platform. In the BYITC universe, the fusion of tradition and technology is paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for both students and franchisees alike.
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text: Quotestate matrix (\Phi ) has complex eigenvaluesAll my experience with physics-based models. I am sure the eigenvalues related to the stability of the system, but I do not know how.QuoteAlso the model does not work so well with high dimensions (22) but better with lower dimensions (7)In my experience, Kalman filters converge more slowly with higher dimensions. A statistically correct initialization can speed convergence, but unless all the state variables are observable, convergence will be slowed.Another important question: Is system model (Phi) and measurement model (H) linear? If one or both are non-linear, then the filter is no longer guaranteed to converge, and you can experience instabilities. Inflating Q can help combat this, but these types of filters may need more sophisticated equations (such as an Unscented Kalman filter or an Iterated Extended Kalman filter).Since you are working with matrices, there are some numerical methods that will help with stability.The first "trick is to use the Joseph form for updating the corrected covariance. This method ensures that the corrected covariance retains its symmetric positive-definite properties. The equations are:The next item is to use the Cholesky decomposition to factorize. Then use a linear system solver to compute the gain. This method should be more numerically stable than using the inverse and more computationally efficient.


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Expectations, Learning and Business Cycle Fluctuations
This paper develops a theory of expectations-driven business cycles based on learning. Agents have incomplete knowledge about how market prices are determined and shifts in expectations of future prices affect dynamics. In a real business cycle model, the theoretical framework amplifies and propagates technology shocks. Improved correspondence with data arises from dynamics in beliefs being themselves persistent and because they generate strong intertemporal substitution effects in consumption and leisure. Output volatility is comparable with a rational expectations analysis with a standard deviation of technology shock that is 20 percent smaller, and has substantially more volatility in investment and hours. Persistence in these series is captured, unlike in standard models. Inherited from real business cycle theory, the benchmark model suffers a comovement problem between consumption, hours, output and investment. An augmented model that is consistent with expectations-driven business cycles, in the sense of Beaudry and Portier (2006), resolves these counterfactual predictions.
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w14181
Published: Stefano Eusepi & Bruce Preston, 2011. "Expectations, Learning, and Business Cycle Fluctuations," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(6), pages 2844-72, October. citation courtesy of
Users who downloaded this paper also downloaded* these:


This is when Earth won't be able to sustain its digital data
Digital content is on track to equal half of Earth's mass by 2245, according to new research.
The research by Dr. Melvin Vopson, a senior lecturer at the U.K.'s University of Portsmouth, highlights the physics of information creation and the demands of storing vast quantities of digital data.
"Assuming the current growth trends in digital content continue, the world will reach a singularity point in terms of the maximum digital information possibly created and the power needs to sustain it, called the information catastrophe," Vopson writes, in a paper published in AIP Advances, the journal of the American Institute of Physics.
The "information catastrophe" will add to existing global challenges such as climate, environment, population, food, health, energy and security, according to the researcher.
The study examines the "incredible" growth of digital bits, the unit used to measure computer data. In the singularity point, more digital bits will be created than atoms on the planet. "At the same time, the digital information production alone will consume most of the planetary power capacity," Vopson writes.
With current data storage densities, the number of bits produced per year and the size of a bit compared to the size of an atom, at a rate of 50% annual growth, the number of bits would equal the number of atoms on Earth in approximately 150 years, according to a press release on the research. Vopson says it would be approximately 130 years until the power needed to sustain digital information creation would equal all the power currently produced on our planet. By 2245, the research says, half of Earth's mass would be digital information mass.
"In the extreme case scenario when our digital information production growth is sustained at 50% per year, by the year 2070, we will have 1 kg of digital bits content on the planet stored on all the traditional and cloud data storage centers and endpoints such as PCs, smart-phones, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices," the author explained, in the research study. "Similarly, at 50% growth per year, by the year 2245, half of the planet's mass will be made up of digital bits."


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Fly ash isn't just filler in concrete. As a very fine-grained pozzolan, it reacts with the calcium hydroxide that is generated by the hydration reaction of cement and water to take on cementitious properties of its own. The reaction makes concrete stronger, less permeable, and reduces the alkalinity, which can reduce the danger of alkali-silica reactivity in the aggregate—and the need in some parts of the country to import nonreactive aggregate from distant sources.
Fly ash concrete is more workable and pumpable. It also hydrates more slowly, which reduces the heat of hydration—critical to reducing cracking in mass concrete placements. All of this makes fly ash concrete more durable than plain portland cement concrete. And concrete with fly ash costs less, because fly ash is typically less expensive than portland cement.
Due to all these advantages, fly ash is used in about half the concrete placed today. NRMCA estimates that 15% of cementitious materials in concrete are replaced by fly ash and other supplementary cementitious materials. Typically specified as a percentage replacement for portland cement, both Class C and Class F ash is used at dosages as high as 50% (although 15% is more common).
But the percentage of fly ash use has been increasing. To achieve a more sustainable concrete, producers and engineers have been increasing replacement rates. One recent study used fly ash at replacement rates up to 30% with no adverse results on a hard-troweled concrete floor (see "Adding Fly Ash to Concrete Mixes for Floor Construction" CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Special Floors Issue, November 2007).
There is a limit to how much fly ash our industry can use. First, not all fly ash is equal. "Every power plant has its idiosyncrasies" says Morris "Skip" Huffman, former chairman of ACI Committee 232, Fly Ash, and division manager with Headwaters Resources, a marketer of fly ash. "The quality can vary, depending on exactly how the plant is being run. Some fly ashes have higher sulfur trioxide (SO3) contents and are not suitable for use in concrete. Some have problems with higher carbon content or they are too coarse. But the majority of ash, especially in the western U.S., is suitable for use in concrete and can go straight from the plant to the silo."
And contractors often object to using fly ash concrete. These concerns include set time, air content, and strength gain. Some fly ash can retard hydration and lead to longer set times and slower strength gain. And some can lead to loss of entrained air. An experienced concrete producer can easily overcome these issues. In January 2006 CC, (Using High Volume Fly Ash Concrete), Lattimore Materials' Richard Szecsy notes that even at replacement rates as high as 50%, the set time and strength gain can be controlled using admixtures and proportioning.Why a hazardous waste?
No one argues that containment pond failures are acceptable—they are not. And no one doubts that there should be tighter regulations governing their design, construction, and maintenance. But to many proponents supporting fly ash use in concrete, regulating final disposal methods is a completely separate matter than designating fly ash as a hazardous waste under Subtitle C.
The problem is that the EPA wants more authority than the current law allows. At the September 2009 meeting of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), Matt Hale, director of EPA's Office of Resource Conservation & Recovery, said that while he believes that regulating fly ash under Subtitle D would be sufficient to protect public health and the environment, it doesn't provide the EPA with the authority to enforce more stringent disposal requirements.
InsideEPA.com reports that the agecy's current proposal is an unusual "hybrid" approach: designating fly ash as hazardous if it's disposed of in a containment pond or landfill but not hazardous when recycled for "beneficial uses." This proposal could mean that producers and power plants would have to transport, store, and treat fly ash as a hazardous waste in its powder form, but not after it's incorporated into concrete.
However well-intended, a hybrid approach to fly ash classification would cause our nation significant problems.


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Valentine's day with XANAX PILL
Do not get stressed on Valentine's day with XANAX PILL
Anxiety on VD is common yet do not get stressed because of Xanax pill. Valentine's day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic monk who lived in the third century.
At the time of Valentine's life, many Romans were converting into Christians, but Emperor Claudius II created strict laws about what Christians were allowed to do. And Claudius believed that soldiers should be completely loyal to Rome and therefore passed a law that precludes them from marrying.
Valentine began to marry these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies.
In conclusion, Valentine was found out and arrested for his crimes against Claudius. While imprisoned, Valentine was so kind, He often cared for his fellow prisoners and also his jailor's blind daughter.
Legends said that Valentine cured the girl's blindness and that his final act before accomplishing was to write her a love message signed 'from your Valentine'.
Valentine performed in the year 270 on 14 February.
In memory of St. Valentine's, people celebrate Valentine's day as an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, admiration, and friendship. Every year on 14th February people celebrate this day by sending messages of affection and love to their partners, friends, and family.
How valentine's day became a stressful day:
All over the world couple celebrate the day a lot, they confessed their love to each other, people spread love and kindness towards each other, where it is a good thing to spread love to each other,
Moreover, there are some people who were alone on this day, most of them were single, get rejected, or anti-social people who feel stressed not having any partner. Thus, being rejected by their crush whom they love, or those who do not love to be adored.
They feel an extreme level of stress, on valentine's day where all couples or loved ones are having fun with each other, they see them and because of stress, they start to envy them.
Also, People used to think that they were a burden on their loved ones they're feeling of being unloved or unworthy, they often think if they commit suicide it would be better for their loved ones to live in a better way. All over the world, most people used to think like that, and they have committed suicide on this day.
How to cope with Stress:
More often that is not normal stress, it is so impactful people start thinking negatively about being alone on that day, they are so stressed and think about ending their lives.
Besides, to cope with this stress doctor recommends Xanax, this medicine is prescribed by a doctor to reduce stress. Xanax 2 mg online works on the brain and nervous system to produce a calming effect. Using Xanax 3 mg makes you feel calm, quiet, and relaxed.
Side-effects of Xanax:
- Increased Sweating
- Appetite or weight changes
- Stomach problems, upset, constipation
- Vomiting, food-borne illness, food poisoning
- Swelling in hands or feets
- Muscle weakness, loss of muscle strength
Valentine's day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic monk who lived in the third century. Thus, Valentine's day is a festival to celebrate romantic love, admiration, and friendship. Take Xanax online under prescription of your doctor.


Why doesn't the field of psychology have a unifying theory — and where can it get one?
Biology has the theory of evolution. Physics has the theory of special relativity. Psychology has...?
Psychologists Andrew Wilson and Sabrina Golonka have written an excellent piece on the present state of their own field of study, its lack of a core theory, and why it's high time it got one. No matter your personal opinion of psychology — whether you're a research psychologist yourself or skeptical of the field's scientific merit — this post is a must read.
Included here is a short excerpt:
The problem with this approach is that psychology has gotten lazy; when you can't come up with a simple solution to your complex problem, you suggest a complex solution that fills all those pesky gaps, and never notice the gaps were a bit weird to begin with (Costall, 1984). Representations can solve everything if they contain the solution, and thus they explain nothing at all.
Read the rest over at PsychScientists.
Top image via Lightspring/Shutterstock


The traditional cycle in the simulation of the electron avalanches and any scientific simulation is to prepare input, execute a simulation, and to visualize the results as a post-processing step. Usually, such simulations are long running and computationally intensive. It is not unusual for a simulation to keep running for several days or even weeks. If the experiment leads to the conclusion that there is incorrect logic in the application, or input parameters were wrong, then simulation has to be restarted with correct parameters. A most common method of analyzing the simulation results is to gather the data on disk and visualize after the simulation finishes. The electron avalanche simulations can generate millions of particles that can require huge amount of disk I/O. The disk being inherently slow can become the bottleneck and can degrade the overall performance. Furthermore, these simulations are commonly run on the supercomputer. The supercomputer maintains a queue of researchers' programs and executes them as time and priorities permit. If the simulation produces incorrect results and there is a need to restart it with different input parameters, it may not be possible to restart it immediately because supercomputer is typically shared by several other researchers. The simulations (or jobs) have to wait in the queue until they are given a chance to execute again. It increases the scientific simulation cycle time and hence reduces the researcher's productivity. This research work proposes a framework to let researchers visualize the progress of their experiments so they could detect the potential errors at early stages. It will not only enhance their productivity but will also increase efficiency of the computational resources. This work focuses on the simulations of the propagation and interactions of electrons with ions in particle detectors known as Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs). However, the proposed method is applicable to any scientific simulation from small to very large scale.
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Building on the idea proposed in the It's Up To Us Now essay that I had written, Atanu Dey and I built on the idea of "Pretty Good Principles" for India, which I will outline over the course of this week. We would love to get your feedback.
India, like every successful entity, must have a set of principles at its core from which all governance and policies are derived. These principles should be understood by its citizens and therefore must be
These principles are an expression of fundamental and foundational values which are acceptable to a large number of people who have different secondary value systems. We call them "Pretty Good Principles," or PGP for short. They are:
- Minimal Government
- Individual Rights
- The Relationship Between the Individual and the Government
Tomorrow: Minimal Government


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Results from a preclinical study showed that treatment with a fatty acid molecule called protectin DX (PDX) could resolve several key features of lung fibrosis in mice.
The results were published in a study titled "Posttreatment with Protectin DX ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and lung dysfunction in mice" in the journal Scientific Reports. This report demonstrates the therapeutic potential of PDX against fibrotic processes.
PDX is a fat molecule that belongs to a class of fatty acids known as specialized pro-resolving mediators. This class of molecules has very important signaling properties with a major role in inflammation resolution.
With potent anti-inflammatory activity and the capacity to modulate immune system cells response, specialized pro-resolving mediators such as PDX are attractive therapeutic tools for the treatment of inflammatory medical conditions.
In the current study, the authors evaluated the beneficial effects of PDX on mouse models of lung fibrosis.
Treatment with PDX after lung fibrosis in mice was shown to efficiently reduce infiltration of inflammatory cells, destruction of lung structure, and deposition of collagen fibers, all key features of fibrosis.
In addition, activity in the lungs of pro-inflammatory proteins such as IL- 1β, IL-17, TNF-α, and TGF-β was found to be significantly reduced upon PDX treatment, compared to levels found in untreated mice.
Besides these beneficial effects at the molecular level of the fibrotic process, treatment with PDX also showed potential therapeutic benefits in long-term outcome effects. Treatment not only improved the respiratory capacity and overall blood oxygenation of mice, it also prolonged their live span.
Overall, these findings showed that post-treatment with PDX could improve and reverse pulmonary fibrosis as well as lung function in mice, suggesting that PDX might be a potential therapeutic tool for fibrotic lung diseases.
"These data have significant implications for future efforts in developing an efficient therapeutic strategy for treating lung fibrosis by targeting PDX actions," researchers wrote.
Post-treatment strategy is essential to patients with fibrosis, they said.
More studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanism of action of PDX and its therapeutic effects in lung fibrosis.


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My four-year-old daughter asked me why paper tends to fall apart when wet, and I wasn't sure. I speculated that the water lubricates the paper fibers so that they can untangle and separate more easily, but I really wasn't sure.
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2 Answers 2
up vote 13 down vote accepted
Forever_a_Newcomer is on the right lines, but it's not like water dissolving salt.
Paper is mostly made from cellulose fibres (depending on the type there may also be filers and glazes like clay). Cellulose molecules bristle with hydroxyl (OH) groups, and these form hydrogen bonds with each other. It's these hydrogen bonds that make the individual fibres stiff, and also hold the fibres together.
Water is also full of OH bonds, obviously since it's H$_2$O, and the water molecules form hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups on the cellulose, which breaks the hydrogen bonds that cellulose molecules form with each other. There are two results from this: firstly the cellulose fibes in the paper become floppy, because their internal hydrogen bonds are broken, and secondly the fibres separate from each other more easily. The combination of these two effects makes paper easier to tear apart when wet.
Most organic materials show similar behaviour. For example cotton is also easier to tear when wet (cotton is also made mostly from cellulose). Also hair becomes floppier and more easily damaged when wet, though the effect is less pronounced because hair contains fewer hydrogen bonds than cellulose fibres.
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This answer has changed my life. I now see hydrogen bonds everywhere and understand a great variety of phenomena that were mysterious to me before. For example, why does cereal get soggy after your pour the milk over it. Thanks. – MJD Dec 1 '13 at 22:23
You are close to mark, it's a kind lubrication.
Cohesive force between the cellulose fibers is of electrostatic origin. As water molecules, which are small dipoles, penetrate between the fibers they align with electric field. This effectively shields them of each other, greatly diminishing the force. Thus the easy untangling of the fibers (what we see as ripping).
It's similar to how water dissolves salt, here's an animation for your Daughter:
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Your Answer


Address: Hope Gardens, Kingston 6
Telephone: _PHONE_
Fax: _PHONE_; _PHONE_
Web Site:
The mission of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) is to promote agricultural production as the main engine of growth in Rural Communities; provide or ensure the provision of technical marketing, financial and infrastructural facilities and provide the social services required for the improvement of the quality of life of farm families.
 1. To provide a technical extension advisory service primarily to farmers in rural Jamaica in an effort to increase production and productivity.
 2. To train and develop extension personnel at all levels through in service training programmes, geared towards improving their efficiency.
 3. To administer farmer training programmes, thereby rendering farmers more knowledgeable and capable.
 4. To catalyze agricultural credit and inputs for small farmers.
 5. To assist small farmers and intermediaries in organizing co-operative marketing ventures and to disseminate timely marketing information to farmers.
 6. To co-operate with agencies involved in the development of rural infra-structure with a view to improving the quality of life in rural communities.
 7. To develop and operate rural agricultural service centers at strategic locations, thereby bringing service closer to farmers.
 8. To be the implementing agency for selected projects that impact on the farming biological environment (e.g. water-shed development projects, hillside agriculture etc.)
 9. To liaise with the agricultural research organizations with a view to providing the technology delivery link to rural farmers.
 10. To provide a channel for the free flow of inputs from farmers upwards, and for the implementation of policy decisions taken by the policy makers.
Parish Agricultural Manager
Over 100,000 already registered.
Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA)
Government of Jamaica


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Strawberry plants can be obtained from local nurseries.
Replace your plantings with new plants from a nursery
every 2 to 3 years.
You can start new plants from your existing strawberries by letting runners set daughter plants into
clean soil in late summer. Be sure to start daughter plants only from healthy mother plants and remove
all parts of the mother plants after the daughters are started. Dig up these new plants in October,
shake the soil from their roots, remove all but two healthy leaves, and place them in thin plastic
sandwich bags. Hold them in a refrigerator for 10 to 15 days, then plant them into clean, prepared
When planting, make sure to spread the roots out before firming the soil around the plant. Keep
the growing point above the soil line. Space plants about 12 inches apart in each row with rows about
12 inches apart in two-row beds, and stagger the plants in the two rows to give them maximum
room. In single-row beds, space plants about 10 inches apart.
new plants by letting runners set daughter plants


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Stop the Presses!
Yes, I know that if you use Crest or Colgate, this is nothing new. But for years, Tom's of Maine packaged their paste in recyclable aluminum.
The problem? While it might have been a good idea at its inception in the 1970s, in the 2010s things have changed:
- Consumers complained about leaking tubes.
- Recycling companies wouldn't accept the tubes for recycling
- Non-deposit aluminum recycling opportunities have decreased.
Why do I know this? I read the Tom's of Maine Blog, which says:
In 2011 Tom's of Maine began packaging its toothpaste in plastic "laminate" tubes rather than the aluminum tubes that were part of the brand for many years.
We made the decision to switch after giving the subject lengthy, holistic consideration which included taking into account current practices of manufacturing and recycling and, most importantly, your overwhelming feedback. (Source: Tom's of Maine)
Not only do they reference their decision process they make an environmental appeal for the change:
In 2007 Tom's of Maine began the in-depth process to assess options for a better package alternative for our toothpaste.
In our evaluations we made sure to consider both the feedback you provided on tube usability and product waste as well as the values based Stewardship Model that has guided our decisions for many years and continues to do so today.
The results of our investigation, including consumer home-use testing among current Tom's of Maine users like you as well as a critical review of our packaging and its projected sustainability and environmental impact, indicate:
- Plastic Laminate tubes outperform aluminum tubes in both ease of use and our Stewardship Model beliefs;
- Current Tom's of Maine toothpaste users — and potential users — participating in testing significantly preferred plastic laminate tubes over aluminum tubes;
- The lighter plastic laminate material reduced tube weight by nearly half — which saves energy when shipping tubes.
- Manufacturing plastic laminate tubes requires less energy than the manufacture of aluminum tubes. (Source: Tom's of Maine)
Why Does This Matter?
Tom's of Maine was smart. As they introduced the change they explained it in all their media. Why? They know their customers.
There's a key to marketing.
What other consumer product changes have you seen?
Were they well-managed? As a consumer are you happy with the change, or at the very least does it make sense to you?
Tell me about it!


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Advanced Driving Tips
Getting used to different obstacles takes time and practice
Like with any new activity or mode of transportation, getting used to different obstacles takes time and practice. Doors, ramps, curbs, grass, and gravel are all common problems that can be mastered with patience and practice.
Doors: When you arrive at an unfamiliar door, take a look. How does it open: knob, push bar, automatically, towards you, or away? If you're encountering a doorknob or push bar, hold it in one hand, and use the other hand to apply slow, gentle pressure forward. Let self-closing door close behind you, or simply push doors closed. Harness the power of the scooter, without causing yourself strain.
If the door opens towards you, use the same process in reverse. Hold the knob or bar in one hand and slowly reverse. Once the door is open wide enough, go through the space keeping your hand on the door. Let go once you're past the doorjamb.
Control on Ramps: Isn't it great that more and more buildings are being built with accessible, easy to use ramps?! These ramps are designed for the mobility scooter, but they still take a little practice. Many ramps will change direction halfway up. To handle these corners, turn as widely as possible with your front wheels allowing the back wheels to follow. Should you stop halfway up, fear not, the parking brake will keep you safe. Once you get moving again, the parking brake automatically releases.
Always go down a ramp on "slow" to ensure a safe, controlled descent. Releasing the control lever will bring you to a gentle stop.
Grass, Gravel, and Inclines: While most Canada Scooters are intended for sidewalks, pavement, and indoor surfaces, they do perform adequately on grass, gravel, and hills. To ensure your safety, do not exceed the parameters established in this manual! The Rules and Safety section includes additional information. A good rule of thumb is that if in doubt, avoid the terrain. Packed gravel, driveways, and roads are rarely a problem. Deep gravel and loosely packed sand should be avoided!
Only attempt a turn with all four wheels on level ground. This will keep your scooter stable. The maximum gradient limit of your scooter is 8 degrees. This ensures the stability of you and our scooter. The rear stability of your scooter depends on several factors, such as: your height, the angle of your backrest, your weight, and the slope or height of the obstacle ahead of you. Before you attempt a gradient, or alternative terrain, make sure your scooter is working at its best. Always think safety first!
Inclement weather, such as wet or icy roads can hinder the safety of your scooter. Never drive through deep water, or expose your scooter to heavy rain as this can cause irreparable damage to the electrical components.


Did you know about bound-fn?
Clojure provides a lot of different facilities to handle concurrency. One of these are Vars. They can be used to store thread-local information, eg. with binding. A different thread cannot see the value „modified" with binding. And exactly there lies the rub…
A Guinea Pig
Let's start with some setup, which we can use later on.
(def *increment* 1)
(defn incr
 (+ x *increment*))
This is basically a function similar to inc which increments a given number. Compared to inc it provides a knob by which we can change the increment step.
It works!
So. Now let's try our function.
user=> (map incr [1 2 3])
(2 3 4)
Ok. Nothing exciting so far. But now let's play with our knob. We use binding to change the value of *increment* temporarily.
user=> (binding [*increment* 3]
 (doall (map incr [1 2 3])))
(4 5 6)
Yeah! It works!
It works! … Really?
As I said in the introductory paragraph: Clojure provides several facilities to handle concurrency. Besides Vars there is for example pmap. pmap is basically a drop-in replacement for map which distributes the computation of the output seq on several threads. So each map can be easily turned to parallel construct by simply adding a single character. (Whether this makes sense in every case is a different question!)
So, let's try pmap for fun and profit!
user=> (binding [*increment* 3]
 (doall (pmap incr [1 2 3])))
(2 3 4)
Huh? Argh! We got caught by the thread-localness of Vars. The changed value of *increment* established with binding is not carried over to the new thread, where the actual computation is done. There the root binding is in effect and we get the original value of *increment*.
To fix this situation we could take a hands-down approach and simply re-establish the binding in the target thread.
user=> (binding [*increment* 3]
 (doall (pmap (let [step *increment*]
 (fn [x] (binding [*increment* step] (incr x))))
 [1 2 3])))
(4 5 6)
This looks a bit silly, but imagine the binding being somewhere else in the code in a real-world project. So what do we do? We capture the thread-local binding in a local and pass a closure to pmap. This closure sets up the binding on the new thread before invocing incr.
This works but is quite a bit of tedious boilerplate. But luckily Clojure provides a helper utility for this scenario!
user=> (binding [*increment* 3]
 (doall (pmap (bound-fn [x] (incr x)) [1 2 3])))
(4 5 6)
bound-fn defines a function – similar to fn. However with the difference that it restores any thread-local bindings before executing the body of the function. So it is basically an extended approach to the above let solution.
In our case we can simplify things even more: we already have a function. We should be able to turn this function into a different one with the desired properties – similar to how memoize works. And in fact we can do that!
user=> (binding [*increment* 3]
 (doall (pmap (bound-fn* incr) [1 2 3])))
(4 5 6)
A combination of Vars and binding can be a way to modify the environment of the code, eg. by rebinding *out*. However one has to take care when crossing thread boundaries. The bound-fn and bound-fn* utilities help in such a situation.
 - binding binds in parallel, while let binds sequentially.
 - The astute reader might have noticed several doalls. Why this is necessary is explained in a previous post.
Published by Meikel Brandmeyer on.


Home > Class Reference > %SYS namespace > %iKnow.Classification.Methods.naiveBayes
class %iKnow.Classification.Methods.naiveBayes extends %iKnow.Classification.Methods.Base
This classification method relies on the Naive Bayes theorem to calculate the probability a document belongs to a category based on probability scores for the individual terms.
Given this probability-based approach, the document vector local weights and normalization settings are fixed at "binary" and "none" respectively.
Method Inventory (Including Private)
Methods (Including Private)
method %BuildClassificationMethod(ByRef pClassifier As %iKnow.Classification.Definition.Classifier, pVerbose As %Boolean = 1, pIncludeBuilderParams As %Boolean = 1) as %Status [ Language = objectscript ]
Inherited Members
Inherited Properties (Including Private)
Inherited Methods (Including Private)


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Specialized root structures of bald cypress that grow vertically above water or moist soil. It is thought that these structures aid the oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange in the roots.
| Bald Cypress - knees
Montezuma Cypress - no knees
Q: I have bald cypress trees in my yard. The root nodules are becoming a problem with my lawn mower. Would it damage the trees if I trimmed them off at ground level? B.D., Dallas.
A: Yes, the knees are part of the root system. Change the area to mulch or ground cover and try to dry out the soil. The knees grow in overly moist soil.
QUESTION: I have a bald cypress, and the roots are coming out of the ground all around the yard. Some are close to the tree and some are far away. The roots come out of the ground for about 12 inches or less and then go back into the ground. How can I keep this from happening? Can I cut the roots that are already protruding without hurting the tree? K.E., Fort Worth
ANSWER: This is a characteristic of bald cypress. Their roots always do this to some degree, especially when the ground stays moist to wet. Improving the drainage and reducing your use of water will help, but the only way to eliminate the protruding roots is to remove the tree. I would suggest instead that you use mulch or plant a groundcover around the tree so you won't need to mow over or around cypress roots.


Want to grow a heart in a lab? Get lasers and cabbage juice
Using time-tested techniques, scientists are figuring out how to measure artificial organ growth. Very carefully.
What if a child with a failing organ could, instead of waiting on a donor list, simply have their new liver or heart grown in a lab? It's a dream at the moment, but one that begins with today's reality of doctors using a patient's cells to stimulate the growth of bone, cartilage and other specialized tissues. The National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) is planning for the eventuality, developing a proof-of-concept light-based sensor that can observe and study tissue grown in a lab.
NIST, which is based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has published the results of their experiments in the journal Sensors and Actuators B. The light-based sensor can measure pH, the unit of measurement for acidity that is often used while testing the water quality of pools. But it's also important in cellular growth, which scientists have learned through observing how pH levels fluctuate during the process of wound healing
When cells grow, their environments become increasingly acidic. But it's a balancing act: if an environment becomes overly acidic or loses too much acidity, which in chemistry is called being basic, the cells will die. pH is measured on a scale of 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic). Cells generally tend to find themselves cozy right in the middle, at a 7.
There are many ways to measure pH levels already on the market. Cheap ones can be found on Amazon for under $20. But while modern pH measurers can get the right measurements, they're unstable. They need to recalibrated daily, or they risk losing 0.1 pH units of accuracy daily. That might not matter for a pool, but when dealing with cells every little bit matters.
This sensor can measure environment in a cell culture for the long-term, which NIST defines in a press release as "several weeks at a time." The sensor won't disturb the sensitive cells as they grow, or force scientists to recalibrate their instruments. And it can studiously study the cells during every second of their growth, meticulously documenting every slight change.
"An increment of 0.1 pH is significant," says NIST chemist Zeeshan Ahmed in the press statement. "If your pH value changes by 1, you kill the cells. If after a few days I can't trust anything about my pH measurement, then I'm not going to use that measurement method."
"We want to make sensors that can be put inside growing tissue to give researchers quantitative information," Ahmed continues. "Is the tissue actually growing? Is it healthy? If you grow a bone, does it have the right mechanical properties or is it too weak to support a body?"
The team started off with commercially available photonic sensors, focusing on sensors that include a transparent light filter known as a Bragg grating. Bragg gratings can allow specific lightwaves to pass and block others.
When a Bragg grating blocked light, Ahmed and American University chemist and NIST guest researcher Matthew Hartings knew that it would absorb its energy. And, keeping with scientific laws in place science Isaac Newton, energy absorbed does not simply disappear. It goes somewhere. That often translates into heat.
Optical fibers and cabbage juice
An empty petri dish with two optical fibers. Throw in some cabbage juice, and this is what the research looked like.J.L. Lee/NIST
As a test, the team used that old staple of student scientists everywhere, cabbage juice, which can change its color depending on its pH levels.
After filling a petri dish with a cabbage juice solution, scientists placed an optical fiber overhead. Connected to an off-the-shelf laser pointer, it shined light into the sample. Another optical fiber, this one containing a Bragg grating, was enmeshed within the cabbage juice. The team was able to manually control the pH levels within the sample.
Then, the team started playing colors. They shone red light into the cabbage juice, which the juice absorbed. The fiber swimming in the cabbage juice, acting in NIST's words as a "photonic thermometer," was able to pick up the slight changes in temperature. Then, shining a different colored light, they were able to pick up on further minute changes. Comparing the heat generated by each light, scientists were able to discern the pH levels.
Baby steps to a dream
The measurement technique need not be limited to growing kidneys or hearts. NIST scientists believe that it could study the inverse of life-giving organs: deadly cancerous growths, which follow similar growth patterns.
The next tests, already underway, involve a pH-sensitive dye called phenol red, and NIST says it is trying to "encapsulate the dye in a plastic coating around the fiber itself so that it does not interact with the cell medium." They'll also start working with real cell cultures soon.


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E-Kidney | May 2012
Smoking and Your Kidneys
The National Kidney Foundation's 5 Tips to Quit Smoking
A pack a day can pack a painful punch to the kidneys. In addition to causing lung cancer and lung disease, smoking is also associated with kidney disease, kidney cancer and bladder cancer. Smoking slows the blood flow to vital organs like the kidneys, causing damage. Think of smoking as stepping on the accelerator for any disease that you may have. So if you have kidney disease, smoking can make it even worse.
Diseases that damage the kidney, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are also worsened when you smoke. Smoking can interfere with medications used to treat high blood pressure making them less effective and uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is a leading cause of kidney disease. Smoking also can directly result in narrowing of blood vessels that leads to hardening of the arteries. Hardening of the arteries leads to nephrosclerosis, which is a form of kidney disease.
Quitting smoking is difficult, but it is one of the most important lifestyle changes that you can make to protect your kidneys and impact your overall health. To help get you started, the National Kidney Foundation offers 5 Tips to Quit Smoking.
- Identify your triggers. A trigger is something that makes you want to smoke a cigarette. While triggers are different for everyone, there are some such as stress, driving, and drinking alcohol, that commonly lead people to reach for a cigarette. For many people, smoking cigarettes helps to release stress, but there are other healthier ways to de-stress. Next time you crave a cigarette, take a walk instead of lighting up. Getting some fresh air can help you clear your head and your lungs. Another trigger might be hanging out with friends who smoke. Determining what your individual triggers are can help you to break your smoking cycle.
- Determine if medication can help. Smoking is an addiction and there are medications available to help people quit smoking. These can come in many forms, both prescription and non-prescription. Some examples are gum, patches, and nasal spray and these medications may increase the chance that you'll be able to quit successfully. Ask your doctor if medication is right for you and which type would be best. If you speak to your healthcare provider, he or she may have additional suggestions to help you quit. Remember that you are not alone.
- Keep a log. Before trying to quit, keep a log for two weeks. Maintaining a smoking log is similar to keeping an eating journal to determine what your baseline eating or exercise patterns are before starting a new weight loss plan. Similarly, monitoring your current smoking habits can help shape your plan to quit. Write down the dates and times that you smoke, as well as your mood and any other activities that you were engaged in when you smoked. By monitoring your behaviors, you can see if there are any trends: do you smoke more on certain days of the week? Do you smoke more during or after certain activities? Once smoking becomes a habit, you may not even think about the actual act of smoking and your other behaviors associated with smoking. Challenge yourself to look at these tendencies. For example, if you always smoke a cigarette when you drink coffee, take note.
- Don't give up. Sometimes quitting takes a few tries before it sticks. On average, most ex-smokers have tried to quit 10 times before succeeding. Evaluate what worked well each time you tried to quit and what you could do differently this time. Are there certain places or times that you're more likely to smoke cigarettes? Perhaps this time you can try to avoid them when trying to quit. Connect with others who are also trying to quit and ask for help when you need it. To quit smoking successfully, it is important to surround yourself with people who support your goal. If you have a spouse who smokes, try making a pact to quit together for the health of your children, present or future.
- Pick a day to quit. Make it official by putting the date on your calendar. You can do it! Place written reminders around the house. Before your chosen date, throw away anything that reminds you of smoking - ashtrays, lighters, matches, spare packs of cigarettes. Stock your pantry with hard candies, gum and other healthy snacks so that you can reach for something aside from a cigarette when a craving kicks in.
Visit _URL_ to find out more about quitting smoking, your triggers and other tools and resources. You'll find a free online plan that can help pave the way on your quest to quit, as well as logs to help you track your smoking patterns.


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Article Id: WHEBN0030859489
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Title: Suryavansha
Author: World Heritage Encyclopedia
Language: English
Subject: Chattar, Ikshvaku dynasty, Rajawat, Lunar dynasty, Glossary of Hinduism terms
Publisher: World Heritage Encyclopedia
Wheel of Konark Sun Temple in Orissa, India
Suryavansha or Suryavam(n)sham or Solar Dynasty is a mythological dynasty of ancient India. The term Suryavanshi refers to a person belonging to Suryvansha dynasty.
The Gurjars believe they are descended from Suryavanshi and Chandravanshi kshatriyas.[1] Copper-plate grants and the seals of Gurjars bear an emblem of the Sun.[2] The Gurjar title of honor is Mihir which means Surya.[3]
Source of the lineage
Frieze of King Sagar's great-great-grandson, Bhagiratha in penance.
The Puranas, particularly Vishnu Purana, Ramayana by Valmiki and the Mahabharata by Vyasa give accounts of this dynasty. The Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa also mentions the names of some of the kings of this dynasty.[4][5][6]
List of monarchs
The following is a list, in chronological order, of some of the prominent monarchs of the Solar dynasty.
 1. Manu or Vaivasvata Manu: the King of all mankind and the first human being on Earth. (According to Hindu belief there are 14 Manvantaras; in each, Manu rules.) Vaivasvata Manu was the seventh Manu.[7] Manu is referred to as a Rajan (King) in the Shatapatha Brahmana scripture. He had nine sons, Vena, Dhrishnu, Narishyan, Nabhaga, Ikshvaku, Karusha, Saryati, Prishadhru, Nabhagarishta and one daughter, Ila, who was married to Budha of the Lunar Dynasty. He left the kingdom to the eldest male of the next generation, Ikshvaku, who was actually the son of Manu's brother Shraaddev.
 2. Ikshvaku: the first prominent monarch of this dynasty, giving the dynasty its another name the Ikshvaku dynasty.
 3. Bhagiratha: Sagara's great-grandson, after strenuous penances, at last succeeded in bringing Ganges down from Heaven. When she flowed over the remains of his ancestors, their souls were redeemed, and the ocean was refilled. Ganges bears the name "Bhagirathi", in honour of his deed.
 4. Aja
 5. Dasaratha
 6. Rama: He is considered the seventh Avatar of the god Vishnu. He is worshiped by every Hindu. Many Hindus include his name in either their first or last name. Rama's story before he became king of Ayodhya is recounted in the Ramayana. After he ascended the throne, he performed the Ashwamedha Yajna. Bharata, his younger brother, won the country of Gandhara and settled there.
 7. Lava and Kusha: They were the twin sons of Rama and his wife Sita. Lava ruled south Kosala while Kusha ruled north Kosala, including Ayodhya. Kusha married "Nagkanya" "Kumuddhati", sister of Kumuda.
 8. Śuddhodana, leader of the Shakya Ganarajya at Kapilavastu. His son was Siddhartha Shakya, founder of Buddhism and came to be known as Gautam Buddha.
 9. Prasenjit II (Pasenadi)
 10. Sumitra: He was the last king of Ayodhya from solar dynasty. In the fourth century BC, emperor Mahapadma Nanda of the Nanda Dynasty forced Sumitra to leave Ayodhya and ended the dynasty's rule.
 3. ^ Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (Jagatguru Sankaracharya of Kamakoti); Śaṅkarācārya, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (2001). Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya's Saundaryalaharī. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 339.
 4. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1922). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. Oxford University Press. pp. 90–91.
 5. ^ Ramakatha Rasavahini. Prasanthi Nilayam: Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust. 2002.
 6. ^ The Ramayana.
 7. ^ List of Manus