text:
Lluis Fajas Coll
"Marriage de raison?"
The interplay between cell cycle control and metabolism
Prof. Lluis Fajas Coll and his team are walking along a hitherto deserted research path, unraveling the complex interplay between cell cycle regulation and metabolism – two phenomena that have been, for too long now, scientifically approached as independent, without biologically relevant interaction. But in recent years, the minds of not a few researchers have been turned. And not without reason: understanding the mutual interplay between cell cycle regulators and metabolic processes under normal and pathological conditions sheds new light on the understanding of metabolic diseases.
„Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."
Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)
Cell cycle regulators have a dual role
– Prof. Fajas Coll, for some time your research work has been considered "uncommon" by your colleagues. Are you a pioneer?
LF: It is not up to me to describe myself in those terms, but it is true that, since my PhD work, I have been interested in the interplay between cell cycle regulation, proliferation and metabolic processes, a somewhat uncommon approach, indeed. For a long time, those processes were considered separate phenomena, with little or no cross-talk. Although, there where scientific indications that both were interconnected.
– Could you give an example?
LF: For example, genes involved in metabolic pathways were regularly picked up during transcriptome profiling in cell cycle research, but all too often the physiological relevance of those observations was not fully appreciated and/or was not considered interesting. Although I want to emphasize that times are changing: several groups are approaching both fields from a new research perspective, thereby making important contributions.
– Could you briefly outline the kind of work that is being done in your team?
LF: Our main focus is to understand how environmental conditions – such as nutrition, in our case – trigger specific biological processes, resulting in an appropriate metabolic response. We are in the process of characterizing the key players and identifying the molecular pathways that play a role during metabolic re-programming, with the aim of unraveling the mechanisms by which physiological responses are coordinated. As such, we hope to understand the general principles involved and be able to answer one of the more fundamental questions in the field: "Who is coordinating such a complex cascade of events – be it in a cell, a tissue, an organ or an organism – and how is it done?"
– Have you made progress thus far in tackling this question?
LF: Our major hypothesis is that activation of cell cycle regulators – coordinating a global physiological response in a cell – plays a fundamental role in metabolic rewiring. We discovered that cell cycle regulators have a dual function:
- On the one hand, control of the cell cycle per se: coordinating cell division and proliferation,
- On the other hand, controlling the metabolic re-programming – new metabolites, nucleic acids, lipids, etc. have to be synthesized upon nutritional challenges – which is required by a cell in order to adapt to the new condition, such as entering another cell cycle.
– Which cell cycle regulators are in focus of your research?
LF: We are presently focusing on Cdk4 (cyclin dependent kinase), the Retinoblastoma protein and the E2F1 transcription factor, which are interconnected in the Cdk4-RbE2F1 regulatory network, which plays a central role in the coordination of metabolic processes, also in non-proliferative cells.
Cell cycle regulators and metabolic pathologies
PM: Our major hypothesis has important pathophysiological implications, since we could demonstrate that the activity of cell cycle regulators is altered in metabolic diseases, such as obesitas and diabetes. This impact of cell cycle regulators on strictly metabolic pathologies was completely unexpected. For example: we have demonstrated that E2F1 is not only involved in adipocyte differentiation, but in insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells as well and has an important effect on oxidative metabolism. On the other hand, our data show that Cdk4 is active in insulin-responsive tissues – and phosphorylates a protein in the insulin signaling pathway – under non-proliferative conditions, strongly suggesting that Cdk4 plays a role beyond the control of cell proliferation.
– Do I hear you saying that your research work has clinical relevance?
LF: Yes. Our work could have clinical impact – actually, we are among the few groups that study the involvement of cell cycle regulators on metabolic pathologies – though we mainly perform academic research…
– … but not exclusively?
LF: That is correct. Presently, we have a project going on, that could be categorized as "clinical research".
– Please explain.
LF: At present, there is a major issue in the field of metabolic diseases, namely the unresolved question why some obese persons develop insulin resistance or diabetes, whereas others do not: the so-called "healthy obese". Now, given the fact that Cdk4 is involved in metabolic pathologies, we wanted to find out whether kinase activities – like for example Cdk4 or other kinases, possibly but not necessarily downstream from Cdk4 – could be responsible for some of these observed differences. To that end we compared the complete set of kinase activities between the adipose tissues from patients that are obese insulin resistant versus persons that are obese, non-insulin resistant. Or in other words, we performed kinome profiling, using PamGene array technology, whereby kinase peptide substrates are immobilized on a matrix and can be phosphorylated in situ. Using this approach – comparing on a global scale upor down phosphorylation between the different samples – we have identified 5 different kinases that are differentially expressed between both samples and might be causally linked to the observed metabolic differences between diabetic versus healthy obesity. Surprisingly, none of these kinases have ever been studied in the context of metabolic diseases, although they are not unknown in the cancer field.
– What happens next?
LF: At present we are in the process of validating the biological role of these kinases in normal and diabetic mice, by functionally inactivating them, either by using specific inhibitors or constructing knock-out animals. For example, we are focusing at the moment on two kinase activities that are high in obese diabetic patients and low in obese healthy persons.
– What do you hope to find?
LF: By functionally inactivating these kinases, we hope to detect an improvement in the diabetic status of the animal.
– That would be very exciting no?
LF: I can only agree (laughs).
– What could be the clinical relevance of such an observation?
LF: Eventually, these kinases could come into focus as therapeutic targets in the treatment of diabetes. But it is far too soon for even speculating on such a scenario. Let's wait and see what happens in the mouse model.
The rediscovery of metabolism?
– Prof. Fajas Coll, correct me if I am wrong, but I have the feeling that metabolism has been rediscovered as a research topic. For a long time, metabolic processes were considered necessary to keep a cell alive and that was it. The exciting research was to be done in the field of transcriptional regulation, cell-cell signaling, growth control and patterning…
FM: I agree. Since a couple of years, it has become clear that metabolic pathways are involved in a wide variety of biological processes. For example, one could replace "cell cycle regulators" by "oncogenes" and the outcome would be comparable; in order to transform a cell and trigger malignant proliferation, cellular metabolism needs to be rewired – under the control of oncogenes, in a manner that might be comparable to what we have observed with cell cycle regulators. For that matter, the interplay between cancer and metabolism has become a hot topic. At the moment some pilot clinical studies are evaluating metabolic therapies to treat cancer, something which was unthinkable 5 years ago. Along those lines, we have a project running comparing transcriptome and metabolome data, aiming at elucidating the role of the transcription factor E2F1, a cell cycle regulator, in re-programming metabolism during malignant transformation.
– What is your scientific dream? Feel free to speculate.
LF: The word that comes into my mind is "integration": a key word, together with "adaptation". Given the fact that cells are not individual entities, but part of a tissue, an organ, an organism, I would like to understand how – depending on the environmental conditions and specifically nutrient sensing – cellular responses are coordinated at an organismal level. How does the same stimulus trigger communication, adaptation and eventually integration of a unique response? So, to answer your question: I would like to understand physiology.


Awesome Open Source
Awesome Open Source
Deprecating XML
 - Change configuration based on screen size
 - Lazy loading elements of the UI.
 - A / B testing components at runtime
 - Dynamic theming
 - Add & remove components based on app state
 - No findViewById - view declaration exists in scope.
 - No ambiguity - Kotlin has namespacing & encapsulation!
 - Static typing!
 - Great IDE Support (No more laggy xml editor)
 - ViewHolders aren't needed
 - Easier DI
Similar to ConstraintLayout, Contour works by creating relationships between views' position and size. The difference is, instead of providing opaque XML attributes, you provide functions which are directly called during the layout phase. Contour calls these functions "axis solvers" and they're provided using layoutBy(). Here's an example:
class BioView(context: Context) : ContourLayout(context) {
 private val avatar = ImageView(context).apply {
 scaleType = CENTER_CROP
 private val bio = TextView(context).apply {
 textSize = 16f
 text = "..."
 init {
 x = leftTo { parent.left() }.widthOf { 60.xdip },
 y = topTo { }.heightOf { 60.ydip }
 x = leftTo { avatar.right() + 16.xdip }.rightTo { parent.right() },
 y = topTo { }
 contourHeightOf { bio.bottom() }
Runtime Layout Logic
Because you're writing plain Kotlin, you can reference other Views and use maths in your lambdas for describing your layout. These lambdas can also be used for making runtime decisions that will be evaluated on every layout pass.
 x =...
 y = topTo {
 if (isSelected) + 16.ydip
 else avatar.centerY() - bio.height() / 2
 }.heightOf {
 if (isSelected) bio.preferredHeight()
 else 48.ydip
When paired with an animator, your runtime layout decisions can even act as keyframes for smoothly updating your layout.
setOnClickListener {
 isSelected =!isSelected
What does the end result of this look like?
contourlayout animation
Context-Aware API
 x = leftTo { name.left() }.leftTo { name.right() },
 y = topTo { name.bottom() }
will not compile.
Axis Type Safety
toLeftOf { }
Circular Reference Debugging
 - name.right aligns to note.left
 - and note.left aligns to name.right
Comparison with Compose
The only similarity between Contour and Compose is that they both realize writing layouts in Kotlin is maximum cool.
implementation ""
Snapshots of the development version are available in Sonatype's snapshots repository.
repositories {
 maven {
 url ''
Copyright 2019 Square, Inc.
You may obtain a copy of the License at
Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
limitations under the License.
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text:
E: Development of L2 Communicative Competence Rebecca, Carter,
Cummins' iceberg theory: BICS/CALP
The acronym "BICS" stands for Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills.
It is the kind of language we use when we are talking face to
face or when we are talking on the phone. It is informal language
and really just a form of basic communication. It is the language
of social interaction. It is "surface" fluency of a language. It
is a mistake to think that because a person has this basic
communication fluency, they are totally fluent in the language.
They may or may not have fluency in academic language. Competency
in the language includes both communication skills (BICS) and
The acronym "CALP" was coined by Dr. Cummins and stands for
Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. It's the academic
language proficiency that one needs to think in abstract ways and to
carry on cognitively demanding tasks that are part of the school
curriculum. Some call it "school language" or academic language.
Cited from Azuza'a
CLAD vocabulary glossary
out their cool vocabulary quiz on SLA terms
Cummins' (1979) theory of language interdependence proposed that there
are common mental processes underlying both first and second language
learning. Cummins has provided a visual representation for this theory
referred to as the "Iceberg" model.
Cummin's hypothesis on interdependence of languages (1979, 1981)-
The iceberg analogy refers to the assumption that on the surface the
first and second languages appear to be functioning in isolation but
under the surface there are academic and intellectual processes that
are common to both languages. In Cummins' hypothesis, the theory
is that first language learning "proficiencies" can be transferred to
the second language learning context. The unique
aspect of the use of Cummins theory is that this hypothesis could also
work in reverse. That is to say that at the same time learners are
learning a second language, they are also developing capacities which
could be used in the first language learning setting (Netten
& Germain, 2002).
Cummins' Language, Power
and Pedagogy: Chapter 1
Krashen's Monitor Model and Input Hypothesis: An Innatist Model
Krashen's model of SLA: Five interrelated hypotheses.
- Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis:
Postulates 2 different processes for L2 learning: subconscious
(acquisition) and conscious (learning). Acquisition occurs in
spontaneous language contexts, is subconscious, and leads to
conversational fluency. Learning is equated with conscious knowledge of
rules of grammar from formal classroom instruction. Fluency is
due to acquisition process; learning cannot become acquisition.
Therefore, classroom should provide an "acquisition-rich" environment
and teaching should focus on meaningful activities that encourage
acquisition rather than learning
- Monitor Hypothesis: Monitoring
is sole function of learning; too much can interfere with communicative
fluency. Therefore, monitoring should be done by the learner only
after fluency has been established.
- Natural Order Hypothesis:
All learners of a particular second language will follow the same
sequence of acquisition in a predictable or "natural" order. Based on morpheme
studies of the 70's by Roger Brown
- Input Hypothesis: Language
acquisition occurs when the input is understandable but just a little
beyond the learner's current level of language proficiency: i +
1. Therefore, students should be exposed to a lot of i + 1 or
comprehensible input, and after a Silent Period, speech will naturally
"emerge." Compare to Vygotsky's
- Affective Filter Hypothesis: Anxiety
needs to be low ("low affective filter") for maximum acquisition to
Criticisms of Krashen's Theories
McLaughlin points out that psychologists have not been able to clearly
separate consciousness and subconsciousness. More useful to think of a
continuum between the two. Beware of dichotomies!
Krashen's claim that learning cannot lead to acquisition is widely
disputed by researchers (for example those investigating focus on form)
who have found that conscious learning frequently assists students in
their communicative use of vocabulary and language structures.
The problem with Krashen's Input Hypothesis (besides being virtually
impossible to implement in the classroom) is that is it quite
behavioristic in its focus on manipulation of stimuli – without
considering the learner's active mental or affective involvement in the
learning process. Also, the Input Hypothesis has no place for the role
of learners' output or their interaction with others. Merrill &
Lapkin argue that the learner's output is at least as important (maybe
more so) in the acquisition of a second language than just the input
Krashen's theoretical claims have led to a great deal of speculation
and additional research on SLA processes. His vast influence on
teachers has made them more aware of the importance of focusing on
meaning and context, rather than isolated vocabulary or grammar
patterns. His identification of the three stages of SLA
(pre-production, early production (speech emergence), extended
(intermediate) production has been influential in helping to determine
students' level of proficiency in many school districts, and has also
influenced textbook writing.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Sabbatical or a sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting from two months to a year. The concept of sabbatical has a source in shmita, described several places in the Bible (Leviticus 25, for example, where there is a commandment to desist from working the fields in the seventh year). In the strict sense, therefore, a sabbatical lasts a year.
The main Bible passage for sabbatical concepts is Genesis 2:2-3, in which God rested (literally, "ceased" from his labour) after creating the universe, and it is applied to people (Jew and Gentile, slave and free) and even to beasts of burden in one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11, reaffirmed in Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
In recent times, "sabbatical" has come to mean any extended absence in the career of an individual in order to achieve something. In the modern sense, one takes sabbatical typically to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or travelling extensively for research. Some universities and other institutional employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics offer the opportunity to qualify for paid sabbatical as an employee benefit, called sabbatical leave. Some companies offer unpaid sabbatical for people wanting to take career breaks; this is a growing trend in the United Kingdom, with 20% of companies having a career break policy, and a further 10% considering introducing one.
In British and Irish students' unions, particularly in higher education institutions, students can be elected to become sabbatical officers of their students' union, either taking a year out of their study (in the academic year following their election) or remaining at the institution for a year following completion of study. Sabbatical officers are usually provided with a living allowance or stipend.
See also
- Confederation of British Industry survey, 2005.
- Eells, Walter C. "The Origin and Early History of Sabbatical Leave." Bulletin, American Association of University Professors, XLVIII (1962), 253-256.
- Zahorski, K.J (1994). The Sabbatical Mentor: A Practical Guide to Successful Sabbaticals. Anker Publishing.
- Gap year travel guide from Wikivoyage


text: The aim of this document is to provide development practitioners with an introduction to the SLED process as well as guidance for practitioners facilitating that process. The Sustainable Livelihoods Enhancement and Diversification (SLED) approach has been developed by Integrated Marine Management Ltd (IMM) through building on the lessons of past livelihoods research projects as well as worldwide experience in livelihood improvement and participatory development practice. It aims to provide a set of guidelines for development and conservation practitioners whose task it is to assist people in enhancing and diversifying their livelihoods. Under the Coral Reefs and Livelihoods Initiative (CORALI), this approach has been field tested and further developed in very different circumstances and institutional settings, in six sites across South Asia and Indonesia. While this process of testing and refining SLED has been carried out specifically in the context of efforts to manage coastal and marine resources, it is an approach that can be applied widely wherever natural resources are facing degradation because of unsustainable human use. The SLED approach provides a framework within which diverse local contexts and the local complexities of livelihood change can be accommodated.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
So you have finally decided to keep Lake Malawi cichlids but have yet to set up a tank that will house these beautiful fish. Well, you have come to the right place. This short article is meant to discuss the main elements of a Lake Malawi cichlid tank and to overview the requirements that these fascinating fish need to stay healthy, display good color and even breed in the home aquarium!
Let's start with the water, the vital substance your fish will be living in for their entire existence. Malawi cichlids come from a rift lake in East Africa (Lake Malawi) that is very much alkaline (pH 7.5 to around 8.8) yet has relatively soft to medium hard water at best. (4-6 dGH and 6-8 dKH). Therefore, an attempt should be made to replicate these conditions in the home aquarium.
There are several ways attaining and maintaining a high pH can be accomplished. The easiest, of course, is to have naturally high pH water coming from the tap. Communities with high pH water benefit as higher pH water tends to prevent the corrosion of copper pipes. For the Malawi Cichlid aquarium, this water provides ideal conditions that can be kept stable even during water changes, when most pH changes typically occur. Another method to attain and maintain a high pH in the home aquarium is to use a material that will naturally buffer the pH high. The most common material to use is crushed coral sand/gravel that is either placed in the substrate or in a stocking/container to be placed in the filter(s). The coral leeches minerals that raise the pH and buffer it so it maintains a stable/high pH level. Other materials like crushed shell (like Oyster shell) can also be used.
Another option is to use rocks, like limestone, that also help raise and buffer the pH high. The advantage of this option is that the rocks both provide the decoration, shelter, territorial markers, spawning sites and maintain ideal water conditions by raising and buffering the water to the proper pH. If you find your tap water is not naturally high in pH, and you decide to use the other methods discussed to raise and buffer the pH of the water, you may find it advantageous to raise the pH of the new water added during water changes to the tank by using a product like Proper pH 8.2 or similar products (like sodium bicarbonate) that will raise the pH so that the newly added water will not cause a fluctuation in the tank's pH. This is obviously not totally necessary if the water changes are kept small at around 25% or less as the change to the tank's pH will be minimal, but larger changes may benefit from pre-conditioning of the water.
In the wild, Malawi Cichlids live in water temperatures of around 24-26°C or 76-79°F. An attempt should be made to keep the aquarium's water temperature around these levels. Lake Malawi cichlids do not stand high temperatures very well; an effort should be made to locate the aquarium away from any sunny windows/space heaters, which could cause the water to overheat. Generally speaking, the higher the temperature of the water, the higher will be the metabolism of the fish, hence more food should be provided to maintain their activity level and ensure proper health. Even if you live in warm climates, it is recommended you use an aquarium heater in your home aquarium as this helps prevent any fluctuations in water temperature which can lead to stress in the fish.
Filtration of the water is as with any fish, there should be enough filters to provide both ample biological and mechanical filtration but also to create surface agitation to maintain gas exchange (O2 in and CO2 out). Malawi cichlids can be messy fish and overcrowding is sometimes necessary so over-filtering a tank is usually a good idea. The variety of filters available is great, however the most popular tend to be HOBs (hang on backs) and canister filters. UGFs (Under Gravel Filters) should be avoided as most Malawi Cichlids are diggers and will most likely expose the UGF plate therefore compromising its filtration efficiency. For much larger tanks a sump may be an attractive option however that is for the owner to decide.
Now, a brief mention about lighting for the Malawi cichlid aquarium. The lights should be fluorescent for three main reasons. Firstly, fluorescent lights provide the correct spectrum of light for healthy growth of the fish. Secondly, they do not generate as much heat as incandescent bulbs that could potentially heat the water to dangerous levels. Thirdly, they bring out the natural color of your fish more. However, the fluorescent lighting should not be too bright as very bright lighting can wash out the colors of your fish in addition to irritating them. I find the whiter the light the better. A 10,000K and up bulb will work best.
Now, let's discuss the tank's decoration. Lake Malawi, being a rift lake, is naturally rocky both along its shoreline and below the water descending to the depths. This however, is not universal for the entire lake. There are many areas that have sandy beaches and sand below the waterline in addition to intermediate habitats that have a mix of both large rocks and sand. Typically, the lake has very little plants and those that do occur tend to be near river mouths and in swampy areas. In general though, the theme is rock and sand.
In the home aquarium, every attempt should be made to replicate these conditions as much as possible. However before deciding on decor, a little research on the species to be kept may be necessary. In general, there are two groups of cichlids in lake Malawi. The mbuna, or rock dwellers, spend most of their time in the rocky habitats and therefore should have a tank that is mostly filled with rock. On the other hand, the non-mbuna, often referred to as the Haps and Peacocks, typically live in the intermediate to sandy habitats and therefore require much less rock in the home aquarium. It is generally not a good idea to mix these two fish together not only because of the different tank set-up requirements, but also because of diet and aggression. Keeping both groups can prove challenging to the owner and often result in unnecessary deaths.
Once you have decided on the species you want to keep, set the tank up accordingly. If you decide to keep mbuna or mostly mbuna, prepare the tank glass bottom for the weight of the rock by first placing either Styrofoam or lighting grid (egg crate) directly on the glass before you place the rocks down. This will help distribute the weight of the rock more evenly and will prevent the toppling of rocks that have been dug out by the fish. Once the main rocks have been placed on the base, cover the base with sand or fine gravel. How high you place the rockwork is up to you, however care should be taken as to secure the rocks so that they do not fall or place too much stress on the back glass of the tank. The rockwork should be arranged in such a way as to provide passageways and caves to serve as shelter/spawning sites/territorial markers for the fish.
If you decide to keep non-mbuna or mostly non-mbuna, the tank will require much more open swimming space and not too much rockwork. The tank should have a sandy/fine gravel substrate with a few rocks spread along the bottom to serve as shelter/spawning sites/territorial markers. Some species, such as the Aulonocara and the Lethrinops greatly benefit from a sandy substrate as this brings out the many natural behaviors that are often seen in the wild. Using sand also makes cleaning easier as the debris stays at the substrate's surface where it can be easily removed. Ultimately, it is up to the owner which substrate they like although the substrate should be darker rather than lighter to replicate the natural conditions in the lake and to bring out the color in the fish more.
There are also other materials you can use as decoration in Malawi cichlid tanks. One such material is clay pots or pipes. These can be very attractive in the aquarium and provide excellent shelter for the fish. Terra Cotta pots tend to be the best for aquarium use. Another material often used is PVC piping. Although not as attractive as clay pots, this piping can provide frameworks of passageways that the fish really love. The pipes can also be painted so they are not such an eyesore. Occasionally, real wood is used as decoration. The advantage of real wood is that it is lighter than rock and often comes in interesting shapes and sizes to create a really nice effect in the home aquarium. The disadvantage of wood in the Malawi cichlid aquarium is that real wood tends to lower pH, which is the opposite of what is desired. However, if there is enough buffering material in the aquarium, the wood's effects will be minimal. Another material that can be used is brick. Many bricks come with various patterns and holes drilled in them that provide excellent passageways for fish while maintaining superior stability in the aquarium when they are properly stacked. There are also countless types of rocks that can be used like lace rock and slate that add structure to the tanks rockwork while adding a touch of variety.
Plants in the Malawi Cichlid aquarium can work but be aware that most Malawi cichlids are diggers and occasionally will taste plants, especially if those cichlids are in the mbuna group. Plants that usually do well in African tanks are Valisneria, Anubias and Java fern. The last two are especially good as they can be tied to a rock or a piece


text:
As you may have noticed when starting up the new Software Provisioning Manager SP20, a Web-Browser Window opens instead of the well known STD GUI.
The new Browser based User Interface (or SL Common UI as it is also called) is the default GUI for Software Provisioning Manager as of SP20.
The following questions may arise when facing the new Browser based you:
- How do I get the parameter list view with the new UI?
- What is the difference between the "old" SDT GUI and the new Web UI?
- How does the new Help functionality on field level work?
- How does the Logfile View and Task View in Web Browser Window work
- How can I follow an installation with Web Browser from a different machine?
- How can I start Software Provisioning Manager SP20 with the "old" SDT GUI?
I produced the following small video that demonstrates some nice functionality of the new Browser based UI and gives answers to the above questions:
Screenshot from old SDT GUI:
Screenshot from new Browser based UI:


text:
The smoke transmitter is a tool for subduing bees by erupting smoke.
There are many kinds of fuel used in the smoke transmitter.
Any material that burns slowly and produces large amounts of non-toxic smoke to the bees can be used as fuel for the smoke pump (recommended smoke bombs, which do no harm to bees).
Bee smoker transmitter kit is also known as a smoke fumigation machine, used to subdue or drive bees.
The bees will suck up a lot of honey and occurs avoidance behavior. After abdomen filled with honey, the bee is not easy to sting so that a bee sting so they become docile. The smoke transmitter is composed of two main parts: a chimney and a bellows.


text: The progam mkjobtexmf runs a program and tries to find the used file names. Two methods are available, option "-recorder" of TeX (Web2C) or the program strace. Then it generates a directory with a texmf tree. It checks the found files and tries sort them in this texmf tree. It can be used for archiving purposes or to speed up following TeX runs.


Re: line height vs. margins
From: Chris Lilley
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 1997 02:44:36 +0200 (MET)
Message-Id: <_EMAIL_>
To: Sho Kuwamoto , _EMAIL_
On Aug 1, 5:45pm, Sho Kuwamoto wrote:
> Is there any consensus on where the extra space from line-height
> should be rendered?
Yes. The concensus was formed by the HTML ERB in 1996 and is
contained in the CSS1 specification.
> Let's say I have some text which paginates as follows.
> Let x be the space between paragraphs, and y be the space
> between lines.
> We can safely assume that y' = y + 10px, but what about x' and x''?
x' = x' + 5px
x'' = x'' + 5px
> Netscape seems to stick all the whitespace above the text, so that
> x' = x+10px, and x'' = x.
That is incorrect behaviour.
> Microsoft IE seems to do something
> different, but I can't tell what it is. Perhaps x'=x+5px and x"=x+5px?
If so, that is correct behaviour.
> What *should* it do? On the one hand, we could leave it up to
> the UA, but if the point of CSS is to allow the web author to
> specify layout accurately, it seems that this would be a good
> thing to nail down.
Yes. It is nailed down at
 4.4 The height of lines
 All elements have a 'line-height' property that, in principle, gives
 the total height of a line of text. Space is added above and below
 the text of the line to arrive at that line height. For example, if the
 text is 12pt high and 'line-height' is set to '14pt', an extra space of
 2pt is added, namely 1pt above and 1pt below the line. Empty
 elements influence these calculations just like elements with
The spec goes on to give more details.
Are you implementing a renderer?
Graphics and Fonts Guy The World Wide Web Consortium
_EMAIL_ 2004 Rt des Lucioles / BP 93
Received on Friday, 1 August 1997 20:44:42 GMT


text:
Wall clock time is the actual amount of time taken to perform a job. This is equivalent to timing your job with a stopwatch and can be affected by anything else that the system happens to be doing at the time.
User time measures the amount of time the CPU spent running your code. This does not count anything else that might be running, and also does not count CPU time spent in the kernel (such as for file I/O).
CPU time measures the total amount of time the CPU spent running your code or anything requested by your code. This includes kernel time.
The "User time" measurement is probably the most appropriate for measuring the performance of different jobs, since it will be least affected by other things happening on the system.


Monday, April 10, 2006
How Much are Gold Coins
How much are gold coins is a question that is asked everyday as the value of gold moves fluctuates.
When you buy gold coins you also pay for the dealers mark up or premium as well as shipping and sometimes insurance costs. Because of this additional cost it can take a while before you recoup the value of what you have spent.
But gold has been rising and has jumped from around 250 US dollars per ounce five years ago to over 600 USD an ounce. If you bought a one ounce gold coin 2 years ago you would have paid the value of one ounce of gold plus some extra to the dealer, maybe an additional 20 percent as well as shipping, another 5-10 dollars maybe. However, since gold has risen so dramatically, you will have doubled the value of your gold coin to cover the dealer's profit and the shipping and made a profit yourself, if you were to sell of course.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, "Of the 193,000 metric tons of gold discovered to date, 62% is found in just four countries on earth. All the gold discovered thus far would fit in a cube 22 meters on a side." 20 to 30 percent of this is held in bank vaults and the balance, 70 to 80 percent, is mostly held privately in the form of jewelry, coins and bullion.
Gold coins are a significant part of the total gold in the world.
It is quite likely that gold will continue to rise and that, even though buying gold coins now while gold seems 'high' may not look like a good idea, gold is something that has traditionally held its purchasing value for over 200 years. It seems it is fiat currency (the dollar) that is losing its purchasing value. It makes sense therefore to keep and even add to one's own gold 'reserves' in the long term.
'How much are gold coins?' becomes not such an important question then as 'How much gold can I own?'
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Autonomy and Control
The Autonomy and Control group is involved in fundamental research and the development of algorithms and experiments for the modelling, simulation and control of aerospace systems. Example applications include aircraft, spacecraft and UASs (unmanned aerospace systems), especially networks of these systems. Other applications include control of multi-agent networks, air traffic and transportation, and cyberphysical systems. The research combines expertise in control theory, robotics, optimization, nonlinear systems, hybrid systems, stochastic systems, and system of systems.
Flight Dynamics & Control/Hybrid Systems Lab
The research in the FD&C;/HS Lab focuses on modeling and control of the Cyber-Physical System (CPS), which is a complex (networked) system with interacting physical and logical components, and its applications to safety-critical aerospace systems such as aircraft, spacecraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Air Traffic Control (ATC), and multiple-vehicle systems (e.g., swarm of UAS).More about the Flight Dynamics & Control/Hybrid Systems Lab
The lab aims to investigate autonomy and intelligence for networked systems consisting of multiple unmanned mobile agents, through combination of theories in control, networks, optimizations and artificial intelligence. We are interested in both theoretical research towards novel control algorithms for coordination among a large-network of mobile agents and experimental implementations for improving autonomy and intelligence of the overall networked system.More about the Autonomous & Intelligent Multi-agent Systems (AIMS) Lab


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Introduction to the popular 19th century British artist, £25.00
Explore / Articles
Conserving a statue of Hadrian
The well-known statue of Hadrian dressed as a Greek has long been thought to demonstrate the emperor's love of Greek culture. Preparation for the exhibition Hadrian: Empire and Conflict gave Museum conservators the opportunity to investigate their suspicions that the head did not belong on the body.
It was decided to remove plaster between the neck and the drapery across the statue's shoulders, which had clearly been added since the sculpture was restored. The heavy head was slung into a cradle to secure it while a conservator worked with small chisels and a hammer to gradually remove the plaster fill.
As areas of the original neckline and drapery were revealed it became obvious that the head did not, and could not align correctly with the receiving socket in the body. There was no dowel joining the head to the body, only a bed of plaster. With the head removed, the receiving socket and the tenon (the projection at the base of the neck that inserts into the socket) of Hadrian's head were revealed for the first time in 150 years.
What is particularly unusual is that the head has a wedge-shaped cut in its tenon, and the receiving socket is set in an off-centre square section. In other words, they don't match. This confirmed the theory that the head did not belong to the body, but that the two were put together probably in the nineteenth century.
It was decided to mount the head back on the body in order to explain the history of this sculpture. The join was made so that it could be removed again in the future. Without the plaster fill it is clear that the body and head do not belong together.


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|Excel Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine
2801 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA 30033 USA
Are steps and rungs spaced evenly?
The vertical distance (riser) between steps or rungs should be wide enough so that a child's head or body cannot become trapped. In a playground for preschoolers, closed risers should be used if the space between the top of one step and the bottom of the next step (or platform) is between 3.5 and 9 inches; the open rungs of a ladder must be at least 9 inches apart. In a playground for older children, closed risers should be used if the space between steps is less than 12 inches; ladder rungs must be at least 12 inches apart.
Are fulcrum see-saws too steep?
The maximum attainable angle between the ground and the teeter-totter seat touching the ground should be 25 degrees.
Is the platform at the top safe?
There should be no gaps between the platform and the top of the slide chute. The platform should be horizontal and at least as wide as the slide; a width of 22 inches is recommended for free-standing slides. A child also needs a panel or bar to hold onto as he/she reaches the top of the slide and sits down to descend.
Are the swings hung properly?
Hangers at the top of the swing should be spaced no less than 20 inches apart, to limit side-to-side motion. Unidirectional swings (e.g., traditional swings) should be placed at least 30 inches from the support structure and at least 2 feet apart. No more than two swings should be hung in one bay.
Are swing seats safe?
Swing seats should be made of rubber or plastic, not wood or metal. They should not be large enough to hold more than one child at a time. Tot (bucket-type) swing seats should support the child on all sides and be at least 24 inches from the ground.
Do elevated surfaces have protective barriers?
With the exception of slides and most climbing equipment, any walkway platform or other elevated surface higher than 30 inches that is used by preschoolers should have a protective barrier. Older children need one for surfaces higher than 4 feet.
What is the surface underneath and around the playground equipment?
Avoid any playground that has a concrete or asphalt surface because these materials have no shock-absorbing properties and can result in severe injury. Also not recommended for surfacing are soil, grass, packed dirt and turf since their shock-absorbing ability can be reduced by wear as well as weather conditions.
Does the playground surface have shock-absorbing properties?
Sixty percent of playground injuries are due to falls. Soft surfaces such as wood chips, shredded tires, double shredded bark mulch, fine gravel and fine sand reduce the risk of injury. These loose fill surfaces, if properly maintained, are better able to absorb shock from a fall.
Is the slope too steep?
The slide incline should average 30 degrees or less. No span of the slide should be steeper than 50 degrees.
Can children grasp handrails easily?
Handrails, climbing bars and overhead rungs should measure 1.25 inches in diameter, although.95 to 1.55 inches is acceptable.
Is the slide exit adequate for the children?
The slide exit region of all slides should be at least 11 inches long. It should be positioned 7 to 15 inches off the ground if the slide is higher than 4 feet. The slide exit of smaller slides should not be more than 11 inches off the ground. All slide exits should have curved or rounded edges.
Do stairways have handrails on both sides?
Beginning with the first step, handrail height should be between 22 and 26 inches for preschoolers; between 22 and 38 inches for older children.
Are the guardrails of appropriate height?
For preschoolers, guardrails are recommended for platforms 21 to 30 inches high. For school-age children, guardrails should be installed on platforms 31 to 48 inches high. Guardrails on elevated surfaces should begin no more than 23 inches above the platform for preschoolers; 28 inches above the platform for school-age children. The upper part of the guardrail should be no more than 29 inches high for preschoolers and 38 inches high for school-age children.
Are overhead rungs spaced properly?
Adjacent rungs of horizontal overhead ladders should be more than 9 inches apart so that a child's head cannot become trapped. Rungs used by preschoolers should be a maximum of 12 inches apart; those used by school-age children should be a maximum of 15 inches apart. No rung should turn when grasped.
AAOS wishes to thank Naruo Orthopaedic Hospital for translating this information into Japanese and for their support of educational programs for patients and the public.
AAOS does not review or endorse accuracy or effectiveness of materials, treatments or physicians.
(Recommendations of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
6300 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018


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Looking for Miza: Teaching Resources
Language Arts & Social Studies Lessons (Gr 3-8)
Inspired by the book Looking for Miza, by Craig Hatkoff and his daughters Isabella and Juliana, the teaching resources below will take your students on a journey to Central Africa. On your trip, students will visit Virunga National Park to learn how to identify mountain gorillas and create action plans to raise awareness of the problems facing these endangered creatures.
As a class, watch video highlights from the Kids Gorilla Summit that aired on September 26, 2008. Students will learn from environmental experts, guest speakers, and other students as they discuss how they are actively working to make a difference with both the humanitarian and mountain gorilla crises in Africa.
Help teach your students about real world issues and how to help save our planet through the story of Miza.
Learn about other remarkable true stories about animals who have overcome adversity.
And don't forget to watch the Winter's Tail Virtual Field Trip Webcast.
Use these lesson plans and printables to teach your students about mountain gorillas, Africa, and how to raise awareness about endangered animals.
Find out more about the book Looking for Miza, as well as other books from the Turtle Pond Collection.
Warm up your students with a quick quiz that tests what they already know about mountain gorillas.


Angrily in a sentence
use Angrily in a sentence
The woman shouted angrily at the children to stop teasing the dog.
The teacher shouted angrily at the children to stop throwing rocks at the school.
The boss flung the report at his secretary, and angrily told her to re-type it.
The young boy angrily threw his books on the floor in a gesture of defiance.
The little boy jammed his hands in his pockets, and walked away angrily.
He jerked his head around when he heard his father angrily shouting at him.
The young boy muttered angrily to himself when the teacher told him he had to stay after school.
The old man muttered something under his breath as his wife stomped angrily out of the room.
The woman walked angrily from the room, slamming the door behind her.
The girl slammed the phone down angrily.
The teacher angrily smacked her books on the desk and shouted to the children to sit down.


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February 06, 2012
Examining the insect's seven centimeter long fossil wings under microscope, researchers were able to see how the prehistoric male katydid employed stridulation, i.e. rubbing body parts together, to produce a song to attract a female. Given the insect's morphology, biomechanical experts were then able to decipher that the insect sang at a low pitch of 6.4 kHz with each note lasting about 16 milliseconds, producing a single, decisive note. [to listen to sound click here]
"This discovery indicates that pure tone communication was already exploited by animals in the middle Jurassic, some 165 million years ago. For Archaboilus, as for living [katydid] species, singing constitutes a key component of mate attraction," explains Daniel Robert, biomechanical expert at Bristol's School of Biological Sciences, in a press release. "Singing loud and clear advertises the presence, location and quality of the singer, a message that females choose to respond to—or not."
This is the first insect fossil to betray the secrets of its mating calls, and researchers say its likely the most ancient music ever heard. The katydid's song was adapted to travel long-distance in a sparse environment of conifers and giant ferns. However, by singing the katydid would have also attracted unwanted attention: hungry predators.
"Today, all species of katydids that use musical calls are nocturnal so musical calls in the Jurassic were also most likely an adaptation to nocturnal life. Being nocturnal, Archaboilus musicus probably escaped from diurnal predators like Archaeopterix, but it cannot be ruled out that Jurassic insectivorous mammals like Morganucodon and Dryolestes also listened to the calls of Archaboilus and preyed on them," explains Fernando Montealegre-Zapata, also a biomechanical expert.
How species adapt is often informed by such difficult choices: Archaboilus musicus's loud musical tone allowed mates to hear it far-and-wide perhaps giving it an edge in breeding, however the trade-off may have meant higher chance of being eaten.
The katydid family that Archaboilus musicus belongs to first arose in the late Triassic before vanishing entirely prior to the early Cretaceous, however its propensity for song would survive to modern katydids.
CITATION. Gu, J. J., Montealegre-Z, F., Robert, D., Engel, M. S., Qiao, G. X. and Ren, D. Wing stridulation in a jurassic katydid (insecta, orthoptera) produced low-pitched musical calls to attract females. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA DOI:10.1073/pnas.111837210
Scientists discover giant species of crocodile; luckily it is extinct
(09/15/2011) Researchers excavating a coal mine in Colombia have discovered a previously unknown species of prehistoric crocodile. The beast is described in the September 15 issue of the journal Palaeontology.
King of dinosaurs was a hunter, not a scavenger
(01/26/2011) Ecologists say they have used a computer model to put to rest a nearly century-old debate. Did Tyrannosaurus Rex, one of the world's most well-known dinosaurs, hunt down its prey like a lion on the plains, or, instead, did it scavenge meals from other hunters like a vulture? According to scientists with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) the Tyrannosaurus had only one choice in order to survive: hunt.
Picture: scientists identify first known single-fingered dinosaur
(01/25/2011) Paleontologists working in China have discovered a first for dinosaurs: a species with only one finger. Named Linhenykus monodactylus, the extinct species stood only about two feet high and weighed about as much as a large parrot. Although small, the new dinosaur was a member of the carnivorous therapod dinosaurs, which include the infamous Tyrannosaurus Rex. The find was announced in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.


\nu (\mathrm{d}\theta, \mathrm{d}b) = cb^{-1}(1-b)^{c-1}\mathrm{d}b B_0(\mathrm{d}\theta). \end{aligned} \end{equation}
A realisation $B$ is a set of points $(\theta _k, b_k) \in \Theta \times [0, 1]$ from a PP with mean measure $\nu$ and is represented as
\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} B = \sum _k b_k \delta _{\theta _k}, \end{aligned} \end{equation}
where $b_k$ satisfies an improper beta distribution. A realisation from BP can be viewed as a list of (countably infinite) probabilities (the summation does not need to be one), which is commonly used as, but not limited to, the prior for the rows of a matrix in factor analysis [13]. Another three-parameterised version is proposed in Reference [14].
Negative-binomial Process (NBP). A NBP [196, 200] $X \sim \text{NBP}(\Gamma _0, B_0)$ is another process over the product space, parameterised by two parts: $\Gamma _0 = \sum _k r_k \delta _{\theta _k}$ is a shape measure and $B_0 = \sum _k b_k \delta _{\theta _k}$ is the probability measure. A realisation $X$ from NBP is a set of points and the obtained measure is
\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} X = \sum _k \kappa _k \delta _{\theta _k}, \end{aligned} \end{equation}
where $\kappa _k$ satisfies a negative-binomial distribution $\kappa _k \sim \text{NB}(r_k, b_k)$. NBP is an alternative as the likelihood for a GaP prior. Compared to PP where the mean and variance must be same, NBP is with a free variance-to-mean ratio, which means the mean and variance are detached so it is suitable for the over-dispersed count data [197]. The BP for $b$ is another prior for NBP, and it has been proven that NBP is conjugate with a three-parameterised BP [14].
Bernoulli Process (BeP). A BeP [102] $I$ is Lévy process $I \sim \text{BeP}(I_0)$ where $I_0 = \sum _k b_k \delta _{\theta _k}$ is a hazard measure and a realisation of BeP is
\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} I = \sum _k \zeta _k \delta _{\theta _k}, \end{aligned} \end{equation}
where $\zeta _k$ satisfies a Bernoulli distribution $\zeta _k \sim \text{Bernoulli}(b_k)$. BeP is similar to PP, except that it gives weight 1 to points. Hence, BeP is normally used as a likelihood for the binary data and BP is often set as the corresponding prior.
There are also some processes that are not Lévy processes but can be derived from them. For example, Dirichlet process is a normalisation of GaP and Mondrian process is a multidimentional extension of PP.
Dirichlet Process (DP). DP [57, 162] is the pioneer and foundation of the BNL. It is defined as: A DP, which is specified by a base measure $H$ on a measurable space $\Theta$ and a concentration parameter $\alpha$, is a set of countably infinite random variables that can be viewed as a (probability) measure on partitions from a random infinite partition $\lbrace \Omega \rbrace _{k=1}^{\infty }$ of $\Theta$. An explicit representation of a DP using the stick-breaking process [162] is
\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} G = \sum _k \pi _k \delta _{\theta _k}, \end{aligned} \end{equation}
where $\sum _k \pi _k = 1$. One property of DP is that for any finite partition $\lbrace \Omega \rbrace _{k=1}^{K}$, the variables (measures on these partitions) from DP satisfy a Dirichlet distribution parameterised by the measures from a based measure $H$ on relative areas
\begin{equation} \begin{aligned} (G(\Omega _1), G(\Omega _2), \ldots, G(\Omega _K)) \sim \text{Dir}(\alpha H(\Omega _1), \alpha H(\Omega _2), \ldots, \alpha H(\Omega _K)), \end{aligned} \end{equation}
where $G$ is a realisation of $\text{DP}(\alpha, H)$ and $\text{Dir}()$ denotes the Dirichlet distribution. The property $\sum _k \pi _k = 1$ in DP is normally used as the mixing distribution in mixture models, which makes DP the most active and successful stochastic process in BNL. Analogous to the relationship between gamma and Dirichlet distributions, DP could be seen as a normalised GaP, i.e., $\pi _k = r_k / \sum _j r_j$. An interesting extension of DP is the Pitman-Yor process (PYP) [161], which has an additional power-law property that is useful for language and network models.
Mondrian Process (MoP). Let $\Theta$ be a box in with a positive linear dimension. The Mondrian process [143] on $\Theta$, denoted as MP($\Theta$), is a temporal stochastic process $(M_t)_{t\ge 0}$ takes values in guillotine partitions of $\Theta$ and its distribution is specified by the generative process Mondrian($\Theta$): The random variable $M_t$ is the guillotine partition of $\Theta$ formed by cuts/nodes with birth time $t_b \le t$.
Although the measure is not a widely used concept in computer science, we have still included it in this article because the measure view of these stochastic processes is essential for developing aspects of BNL, such as new manipulations and posterior inference algorithms. The following example illustrates such concept: The bottom row of Figure 2 shows a sample (i.e., an infinite number of points): ${(b_1,\theta _1),(b_2,\theta _2), \ldots,(b_k,\theta _k)}$ from a beta process with a 2-simplex as the index space and (0, 1) as the state space. The measure composed by these points is $M=\sum _{k} b_k \delta _{\theta _k}$, which is defined as a measure of the index/parameter space, i.e., it maps a subset of this space to a nonnegative value. For a subset of the 2-simplex (i.e., $A$ in the figure), the measure value on $A$ by $M$ is $M(A)=\sum _{k} b_k \delta _{\theta _k}(A) = b_1 + b_2$. From this example, we can see that the summation in the measure definitions is to sum the weights of the points within the subset $A$. To make it further simple, particularly for the computer scientists, a measure can be simply considered as a set of points, e.g., ${(b_1,\theta _1),(b_2,\theta _2), \ldots,(b_k,\theta _k)}$ shown in Figure 2. Such points are, in fact, what we obtain and operate in the BNL. A concrete example to show how the points from measure definition are used follows: Suppose we have a number of data, i.e., $\mathbf {x}$, in two-dimensional real space as shown in Figure 3. We can use the points from the Dirichlet Process, i.e., ${(\pi _1,\theta _1 = \lt \mu _1, \Sigma _1\gt),(\pi _2,\theta _2= \lt \mu _2, \Sigma _2\gt), \ldots,(\pi _k,\theta _k= \lt \mu _k, \Sigma _k\gt)}$, to model these data as $p(\mathbf {x})=\sum _k \pi _k \mathcal {N}(x; \mu _k, \Sigma _k)$ where $\mathcal {N}(x; \mu _k, \Sigma _k)$ denotes a Gaussian probability density function parameterised by a mean vector $\mu _k$ and covariance matrix $\Sigma _k$. We can see that one component of a point $\theta$ is used as the parameters for a mixture, and the other component $\pi$ is used as a weight for a mixture. After the posterior inference, an appropriate number of points are selected to optimally model the data. As shown in Figure 3, three points/mixtures (i.e., eclipses) are chosen for modelling/representing the data. The above model is well-known as an infinite Gaussian mixture model [137].
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3. Illustrations of the usage of a measure


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Whitepaper: Bidirectional Cross Filtering
Headshot of article author Kasper de Jonge
Bidirectional cross-filtering is a new feature for SQL Server 2016 Analysis Services and Power BI Desktop that allows modelers to determine how they want filters to flow for data using relationships between tables. In SQL Server 2014, filter context of a table is based on the values in a related table. With bidirectional cross-filtering, the filter context is propagated to a second related table on the other side of a table relationship. This can help you solve the many-to-many problem without writing complicated DAX formulas.
We just released a whitepaper that describes this feature in detail, available now for download. The whitepaper covers how the feature works and how it solves problems like the traditional many-to-many scenario. It also points out other interesting use cases such as using it for a date table, and how it solves dynamic security much easier than before.


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Simple models, automatically updated
ProductionCompass is a data funnel that transforms relevant production data into operational advice. Data entering the funnel comprises historical and real-time production data, well tests, and other production metadata such as operator logs. This data is then subjected to big data techniques such as squashing, while still retaining important statistical characteristics. The resulting information is used to build models using regression analysis and machine learning. These models are automatically updated in real time as new data enters the funnel, ensuring frequent calibration to the current operational situation. This approach reduces the need for advanced fluid modeling and human model calibration efforts in a daily production optimization setting.
You can shift focus from data conditioning and model calibration to applying your expertise in analyzing production-increasing opportunities and better balancing your bottlenecks. You can focus on taking actions that maximize production.
Empowering production engineers with real-time machine learning
Shedding light on the elephant in the room; uncertainty
A great advantage of our data-driven technology is that the uncertainties of measurements and models are tracked and quantified. How the field and wells respond to operational change is inherently uncertain, and ignoring this uncertainty will at best be misleading. Our advice are accompanied by e.g. confidence intervals, helping you discriminate between alternative actions and choose the best course. Quantified uncertainty can also be used to design experiments that examine unexplored operational settings with the aim of lowering uncertainty and increasing knowledge. This extends the realm of opportunities that can be discovered, and increases model accuracy. Shedding light on uncertainty enables a novel range of functionality which to a very limited degree exists in technologies and services in the oil and gas industry today.
Uncertainty estimates all the way through


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Guidelines for PHAST facilitators and programme managers
In the countries where PHAST has been tested, the results have been inspiring: hygiene behaviours and sanitation have improved, and communities have taken over management of sanitation and water facilities. The investments made in developing the tools necessary for the approach paid off.
The toolkit materials are vital for helping group participants to develop the skills and confidence to think problems through, identify solutions and plan for change. We strongly recommend that you take the time to carefully plan the development of your toolkit with an artist, or artists, using the guidelines which follow here and in the Guidelines for PHAST artists. For further information about making a toolkit see Srinivasan (1991).
Types of toolkits
The ideal toolkit consists of drawings made by local artists to reflect the local culture and conditions. Most of the instructions which follow refer to this type of toolkit.
Prototype toolkits: These are drawings that are generally applicable over a wide cultural area where customs, housing and clothing are nearly the same. Once a prototype toolkit has been made, it may only be necessary to modify a few drawings to look like the specific local setting in which you will be working. Modification will be much simpler if the prototype toolkit drawings have been done as black and white line drawings. This makes it easier to adapt and modify the drawings to suit different situations. These modifications can be done by tracing or photocopying the original drawings and using colour to show regional variations. A prototype toolkit is a good investment at the national level. Remember, though, that rural and urban areas are very different physical environments and often have different water, sanitation and hygiene problems. For this reason you generally cannot use the same toolkit for rural and urban areas, even within the same country.
Creating new drawings for each toolkit can be expensive, but there are ways to cut costs by using a combination of different materials that may be available to you. Some suggestions follow.
Using photographs: Existing photographs can be used to help design specific tools. They can be reproduced in sizes appropriate to the activity and several sets made. This can be an effective technique for some of the tools, for example, for sanitation options and for planning posters, especially if photographs of existing technologies and processes are readily available. But it is less than ideal because details in the photographs may distract participants from the purpose of the discussion. The presence of familiar people and places in the photos can also be misleading and can tend to personalize the discussions and even put people on the defensive.
Using existing materials: Existing hygiene education materials, such as posters and flip-charts can be used creatively and inexpensively to develop the materials for specific activities. Different drawings are separated or cut apart and used in three-pile sorting, for example. Such materials may need to be supplemented with additional drawings. The disadvantage of using existing materials is that they are often not open to different interpretations, which can create problems for the facilitator, particularly with the more open-ended activities. Technical and project manuals can also be a good source of pictures and drawings which can be cut out and separated for specific activities.
Timeframe to make a toolkit
In most instances you will already have a prototype toolkit - usually made up of black and white line drawings - obtained from a PHAST training workshop. This kit will need to be modified to suit local circumstances.
You should allow about one month to prepare the local toolkit because:
- you will need to find an artist, or artists
5 A useful strategy for providing this explanation is to arrange to have the artist or artists attend a PHAST training workshop and to make the drawings during the workshop. See section entitled, "Involve artists in a training workshop".
You should make a budget for producing the toolkit. This will be based on the number of drawings needed. If possible, it would be best to get estimates of the cost for the same work from three artists, together with a sample of their work. You can then compare prices and the skills of the different artists. Sometimes the cheapest price will not be the best choice. One of the artists might be a little more expensive. But the drawings may be a lot better and the artist may understand what you want much more clearly than the other artist(s) you are considering. In which case, provided you can afford it, it would be better to choose the slightly more expensive artist.
More experienced and professional artists tend to charge by the drawing, while others by the "set", or by the time spent. If there is a clear work plan and timeframe, and particularly when a workshop is involved, it may be useful to draw up a contract for two, four, or even six weeks. In recruiting artists, it is also useful to consider the possibility of establishing a long-term relationship, giving preference to artists employed by development organizations or freelance artists with an interest in and sensitivity to participatory and development activities. Finally, when negotiating with artists, it is useful to keep in mind that their important skills are frequently undervalued.
Remember to make allowance for any travel costs that might arise when the artist visits the community.
There will be costs for materials (such as paper and paints), for making copies of the drawings and perhaps for having the drawings laminated to make them more durable.
You may find it useful to provide the artist with a form to estimate costs. You can use this form to compare the costs of several artists. It may also mean that costs are not forgotten at the start. It can be a real problem later on if an artist forgets to include, for example, the cost of paper, special drawing pens and inks, and then asks you for more money.
Finding an artist
Try to find an artist who lives in or close to the communities or ethnic group you will be working with. This will produce the best results and also save time and money, as the artist will need to visit the community more than once to observe the people, type of buildings and facilities, etc.
Explaining the task to an artist
Explain that a participatory approach is one that does not focus on transferring a particular message from the facilitator to group participants. Rather, the opposite is true, with more importance attached to getting the participants to share their experiences, ideas, feelings and beliefs, and through this process developing the ability to solve their own problems (see Srinivasan, 1991). Explain that the drawings will be used to help group members think for themselves and participate in the process of making environmental improvements. Give a brief outline of the activities, explain what they are designed to achieve, and show sample drawings.
Explain the number of drawings needed, what they should be of, and how you want the drawings done. Use the Guidelines for PHAST artists in Part III to help you.
Explain that the people, types of housing, vegetation, clothing and types of facilities drawn must look similar to the community or ethnic group you are working with and that this will help people to use the drawings more successfully.
Invite the artist to visit the community with you.
Visiting the community
Arrange a time to meet the artist when you can walk around the community together and get really familiar with the way people dress, where they live, the type of water and sanitation facilities they have, and any problem areas in the community, particularly those relating to water and sanitation.
Make notes and rough sketches of what you see, so that later it will be easier to discuss the drawings that will be needed.
After you have visited the community, either on the same day, or the day after, sit down somewhere quiet with the artist and discuss what you have seen together. Make a list of the drawings you will need.
Involve artists in a training workshop
If possible, the artists should attend a complete PHAST training workshop.
When the workshop participants visit a community, the artist should come along and make initial sketches. Then, while the training workshop continues, the artist should be making the drawings. The draft drawings can be used and discussed in the training sessions, and during further visits to the community, and modified as a result of these visits and discussions. This is a practical and participatory form of pretesting.
Supervise the artist's work
The artist's work should be carefully supervised. Regularly reviewing pencil sketches before they are completed and the final drawing made is advisable. Making changes to a completed drawing can be difficult.
The drawings should also be pretested with community members. This is done by taking the drawings to the community and asking people what they see, and whether they think the drawings look like their area and show cultural features correctly. Drawings should be modified according to the feedback received.
Quality of drawings
Drawings made for PHAST or other SARAR activities are generally simple line drawings. They should be clear and uncluttered and preferably in colour. However, it is best if the original drawings created for a prototype toolkit are first made as black and white line drawings and plenty of copies made, either by tracing or by photocopying the original drawings. These copies can be adapted to reflect local regional situations much more easily than coloured drawings.
Copies of drawings
Facilitators will generally need a number of sets of drawings. So keep a master set in black and white that can be photocopied; as many copies as needed can be coloured.
[Ukrainian] [English] [Russian]


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Handle bulb by socket end only, DO NOT touch bulb.
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|Metal Halide Systems|
Metal halide systems are high intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems popular among many aquarium hobbyists. Metal halide lamps generate a large amount of heat and also emit ultraviolet radiation which is harmful to eyes and skin. For this reason, Metal Halide discharge lamps require special handling and care to ensure safe and proper usage.
Metal halide lamps produce the most concentrated, most intense light of any type of artificial lighting. They are ideally suited for deep freshwater planted aquariums and saltwater reef aquariums containing light-loving corals such as SPS (small polyped stony) and LPS (large polyped stony) corals and invertebrates including Tridacna clams and others. A spectacular desirable effect of metal halide lighting in your aquarium is the "glitter effect," which replicates the effect of surface waves reflecting on a reef in a natural environment.
HQI systems are relatively new to the hobby and offer many of the same features as conventional metal halide systems, but differ in design. The bulb is much smaller than screw socket halides and is double ended. Many of the ballasts for the metal halides can also be used for HQI fixtures. The HQI bulbs, however, require a system-specific socket. Wattage selections for HQI bulbs are commonly available in 150 - and 250-watt bulbs.
Tip from our Techs
Metal Halide Bulb Safety and Handling


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For other uses, see Birthday (disambiguation).
"Birth date", "Birthdate", and "Date of birth" redirect here; see also birth certificate.
Candles spell out the traditional English birthday greeting
Many religions celebrate the birth of their founders with special holidays (e.g. Buddha's Birthday, Christmas).
Note the distinction between birthday and birthdate: The former occurs each year (e.g. December 6), while the latter is the exact date a person was born (e.g., December 6, 1997).
Legal conventions[edit]
Cultural conventions[edit]
Many cultures have one or more coming of age birthdays:
Little girl in traditional birthday hat used in Canada and the U.S.
 - Jewish boys become bar mitzvah on their 13th birthday. Jewish girls become bat mitzvah on their 12th birthday, or sometimes on their 13th birthday in Reform and Conservative Judaism. This marks the transition where they become obligated in commandments of which they were previously exempted and are counted as part of the community.[1]
 - In India, on a child's first birthday, their head is shaved while being held by a special fire. Removal of the hair cleanses the child of any evil in past lives, symbolizing a renewal of the soul.[3] Hindu male children of some castes, like Brahmins, have the 12th or 13th birthday replaced with a grand "thread ceremony". The child takes a blessed thread and wears it, symbolizing his coming of age. This is called the Upanayana.[4]
 - In Sudan the children who live in the cities celebrate their birthday, whereas in the country they don't.[citation needed]
The birthdays of historically significant people, such as national heroes or founders, are often commemorated by an official holiday marking the anniversary of their birth. Catholic saints are remembered by a liturgical feast (sometimes on a presumed birthday). The ancient Romans marked the anniversary of a temple dedication or other founding event as a dies natalis, a term still sometimes applied to the anniversary of an institution (such as a university).
A person's Golden or Grand Birthday, also referred to as their "Lucky Birthday", "Champagne Birthday", or "Star Birthday",[citation needed] occurs when they turn the age of their birth day (e.g., when someone born on the 25th of the month turns 25 or when someone born on the ninth turns nine).[6]
In many cultures and jurisdictions, if a person's real birthday is not known (for example, if he or she is an orphan), then their birthday may be considered to be January 1.[7] That tradition is followed with horses, their age becoming one, on the first day of the year following their birth and being counted annually after that.
The Chinese count age without zero; a newborn's age is one, a 12-month-old is two, and so on.[8]
Birthday traditions[edit]
Child with Snow White Cake, circa 1930–1940
In many parts of the world[vague] an individual's birthday is celebrated by a party where a specially made cake, usually decorated with lettering and the person's age, is presented. The cake is traditionally studded with the same number of lit candles as the age of the individual, or a number candle representing their age. The celebrated individual will usually make a silent wish and attempt to blow out the candles in one breath; if successful, a tradition holds that the wish will be granted. In many cultures, the wish must be kept secret or it won't "come true". Presents are bestowed on the individual by the guests appropriate to her/his age. Other birthday activities may include entertainment (sometimes by a hired professional, i.e. a clown, magician, or musician), and a special toast or speech by the birthday celebrant. The last stanza of Patty Hill's and Mildred Hill's famous song, "Good Morning to You" (unofficially titled "Happy Birthday to You") is typically sung by the guests at some point in the proceedings. In some countries a piñata takes the place of a cake. An occasional activity is spanking the birthday individual, with one gentle "swat" for each year since birth.[citation needed] In North America, the celebration of a birthday is fundamentally about celebrating the role of friends and families in an individual's life and recognizing their importance.
Name days[edit]
Main article: Name day
Official birthdays[edit]
A cake indicating a tenth birthday celebration
According to a public database of births, birthdays in the United States are quite evenly distributed for the most part, but there tend to be more births in September and October.[9] This may be because there is a holiday season nine months before (as nine months is the human gestation period), or from the fact that the longest nights of the year happen in the Northern Hemisphere nine months before as well. However, it appears the holidays have more of an effect on birth rates than the winter weather; New Zealand, a Southern Hemisphere country, has the same September and October peak with no corresponding peak in March and April.[10] The least common birthdays tend to fall around public holidays, such as Christmas, New Years and fixed-date holidays such as July 4 in the US. This is probably due to hospitals and birthing centres not offering labor inductions and elective Caesarean sections on public holidays.
Based on Harvard University research of birth records in the United States between 1973 and 1999, September 16 is the most common birthday in the United States and December 25 the least common birthday (other than February 29, because of leap years).[11] More recently[when?] October 5 and 6 have taken over as the most frequently occurring birthdays.[12]
In New Zealand, the ten most common birthdays all fall between September 22 and October 4. The ten least common birthdays (other than February 29) are December 24–27, January 1–2, February 6, March 22, April 1 and April 25.[10]
According to a study by the Yale School of Public Health, positive and negative associations with culturally significant dates may influence birthrates. The study shows a 5.3 percent decrease in spontaneous births and a 16.9 percent decrease in cesarean births on Halloween, compared to other births occurring within one week before and one week after the October holiday. Whereas, on Valentine's Day there is a 3.6 percent increase in spontaneous births and a 12.1 percent increase in cesarean births.[13]
Time zones and birthdays[edit]
A person's birthday is usually recorded according to the time zone of the place of birth. Thus people born in American Samoa at 11:30 pm will record their birthdate as one day before Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and those born in the Samoa will record their birthdate one day after UTC. They will apparently be born two days apart, while some apparently older ones, may be younger in hours. Those who live in different time zones from their birth often exclusively celebrate their birthdays at the local time zone.
Leap day[edit]
A person born on February 29 may be called a "leapling" or a "leaper".[14] In common years they usually celebrate their birthdays on February 28. In some situations, March 1 is used as the birthday in a non-leap year since it is the day following February 28.
Birthdays in cultures and religions[edit]
Ancient Rome[edit]
The Romans enthusiastically celebrated birthdays with hedonistic parties and generous presents.[15]
In Judaism, the perspective on birthday celebrations is disputed by various rabbis.[17] In the Hebrew Bible, the one single mention of a celebration being held in commemoration of someone's day of birth is for the Egyptian Pharaoh which is recorded in Genesis 40:20.[18] Rabbi Moshe Feinstein always acknowledged birthdays.[19] The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged people to celebrate their birthdays, by gathering friends, making positive resolutions, and through various religious observances.[20] According to Rabbi Yissocher Frand, the anniversary of a person's birth is a special day for that person's prayers to be accepted.[21]
Christianity: Early centuries[edit]
Orthodox Christianity still prefers the celebration of name days only.
Christianity: Medieval[edit]
Christianity: Modern[edit]
While most Christians accept the practice today, Jehovah's Witnesses and some Sacred Name groups refrain from celebrating birthdays. They believe that birthday celebrations are portrayed in a negative light in the Bible and have historical connections with magic, superstitions, and Paganism.[24][25][26]
Some consider the celebration of a birthday to be a sin, as it is considered an "innovation" of the faith, or bi'dah while other clerics have issued statements saying that the celebration of a birthday is permissible.[27][28]
There also is a great deal of controversy regarding celebrating Milad-ul-Nabi – the anniversary of the birth of Muhammad. While a section of Islam strongly favours it,[30] others decry such celebrations, terming them as out of the scope of Islam.[31]
Hindus regard death to be more auspicious than birth since the person is liberated from the bondages of material society. Also, traditionally, death is celebrated on 5th and 11th day with many relatives gathering. In recent times, due to the influence of western society, birth is also part of the celebrations.
Main article: Buddha's birthday
Many monasteries celebrate the anniversary of Buddha's birth,


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Study objective: Little is known about the accuracy and reliability of current triage methods. We examined agreement among observers with regard to the need for ED care and the ability to predict at triage the need for admission to the hospital and compared these findings with admission rates after medical evaluation and management. Methods: We used a crossover design in which each subject was subjected to nurse or computer-guided triage first, the other type of triage second, and physician triage last. Our null hypothesis: Triage methods will yield the same results. Our patients were a consecutive sample of patients at the ED of a university-affiliated county referral center. Critically ill patients were excluded. Triage categorization was examined for interobserver agreement (κ-statistic) and prediction of admission (sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values). Results: Of the 5,106 patients enrolled in the study, 289 (6.2%) were admitted. With regard to the agreement of triage categorizatiens, we found κ-values of.452 and.185, respectively, for physician triage compared with nurse (SE±.012) and computer triage (SE±.012) (P=.001 for the difference between the κ-values). Sensitivity and specificity in predicting admission were 41.3 and 93.8, respectively, for nurses; 61.6 and 87.1, respectively, for physicians; and 68.2 and 73.6, respectively, for computer-aided triage. Conclusion: We found great variability among physicians, nurses, and a computer program with regard to triage decisions. Comparison of the three groups' triage decisions with actual data after medical evaluation and management showed that none of the three performed well in predicting which patients required admission. Until triage methods are standardized and validated, triage decisions should not be used to determine the timeliness of access to emergency care.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine


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Moral Calculations : Game Theory, Logic, and Human Frailty, PDF eBook
Moral Calculations : Game Theory, Logic, and Human Frailty PDF
Are people ever rational? Consider this: You auction off a one-dollar bill to the highest bidder, but you set the rules so that the second highest bidder also has to pay the amount of his last bid, even though he gets nothing.
Would people ever enter such an auction? Not only do they, but according to Martin Shubik, the game's inventor, the average winning bid (for a dollar, remember) is $3.40.
Many winners report that they bid so high only because their opponent "went completely crazy." This game lies at the intersection of three subjects of eternal fascination: human psychology, morality, and John von Neumann's game theory.
Hungarian game-theorist Laszlo Mero introduces us to the basics of game theory, including such concepts as zero-sum games, Prisoner's Dilemma and the origins of altruism; shows how game theory is applicable to fields ranging from physics to politics; and explores the role of rational thinking in the context of many different kinds of thinking.
This fascinating, urbane book will interest everyone who wonders what mathematics can tell us about the human condition.
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Also by Laszlo Mero


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Bento Nuno, Fontes Margarita
Rubrique:Histoire mondiale de l'énergie
Titre Ouvrage:The capacity for adopting energy innovations in Portugal : Historical evidence and perspectives for the future
Édition:Technological Forecasting and Social Change, available online 26 September 2015.
This paper investigates the speed of adoption of energy technologies in a traditionally innovation importing country, Portugal, as compared with countries where these technologies first started e.g. natural gas plants or wind turbines ; the rate of diffusion accelerates as the technology reaches Portugal ; relationship between extent and duration of diffusion is less marked in Portugal ; technological factors and structural requirements combined explain diffusion patterns.


Libya neighbors reject intervention in Libyan internal affairs
Libya neighboring countries have announced their rejection of intervention in Libyan internal affairs, according to LANA.
Libya neighboring countries declared Wednesday commitment to the political solutions conducive to genuine reconciliation through inclusive dialogue among Libyan parties.
The final statement for Libya neighboring countries in Niamey stressed that "the Libyan political accord is the only framework to exit the crisis in Libya". They stressed their commitment to standards and measures to get out of the crisis in Libya and maintain Libya's territorial integrity, sovereignty unity of its people and respect its will and choices.
Libya's neighbors ministers expressed in their final statement their deep concern over persistent deterioration of security situation and their full solidarity with the Libyan people. They called on the international community to improving living conditions, of the population underlining that security of neighboring countries firmly linked to the security of Libya.
They also stressed the need to safeguard Libya's natural resources including oil and called for lifting the embargo on Libyan assets.
They renewed their support to the presidential council of the national accord government 'NAG', and their stand with the political process, in the framework of the UN initiative, to find a final and permanent solution, through the implementation of the Libyan political accord.
This came in the final statement, which was issued on Wednesday, on their ninth session, in the Nigerian capital Niamey.
The neighboring countries in their statement, demanded the residential council, to form a wide national accord government, representing all political forces. They also urged the parliament to give it confidence as soon as possible, according to the political agreement's rules


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Revelation Leader Kit
In the first chapter of Revelation, John is in exile on the island of Patmos when he receives a vision from Jesus. John is directed to address the churches in Asia who are in various states of obedience, compromise, and persecution. Even though John's audience is those churches in particular, he gives this message to all readers:
"Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near" (Rev.1:3 NIV).
In this 8-session study, Pastor Ray Bentley unlocks some of the mysteries from the book of Revelation and gives practical application for how we can apply the lessons and principles today.


The Windshield. It's an essential part of our vehicle and our protection. We wash it, scrape ice from it, and spend at least a small portion of our day staring through it. But just how is this glass made so tough?
The windshield was made in 1904. Long ago, the windshield was very unsafe if you were involved in a car crash because the glass would simply shatter and injure drivers and passengers. Luckily, modern day windshields are made of laminated safety glass. Laminated safety glass is a type of treated glass that consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer of lamination between them.
What Makes A Windshield?
silica sand (SiO2),
soda ash (Na2 CO3),
dolomite ((CaMg)(CO3)2),
limestone (CaCO3)
Small quantities of potassium oxide and aluminium
oxide are often added.
Making a Windshield:
 - Windshields are usually made using a method called the "Float Method." The glass literally floats inside a chamber during the manufacturing process. The main ingredients are mixed with water inside a chamber that reaches very high temperatures and melted.
 - The long piece of glass is sent to another chamber to cool down. The cooled glass is then cut to the required dimensions using a scribe. A scribe is a tool also used to cut diamonds, pretty cool!
 - The glass is then placed onto a mould with a slight curvature. The glass is heated once again, just enough so that it becomes soft and will shape onto the mould. After that, the glass is cooled back down extremely fast which strengthens and hardens the glass.
 - Two identical sheets of glass are put on the outsides of a layer of Poly-Vinyl Butyrl and fused together to create a sheet of laminated glass.
 - The windshield can now be fitted into a vehicle's metal frame! And there ya have it!
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