Power tool
 Whether it's a notepad in their glovebox, scratch paper on the dashboard or official IRM Redbook in their pocket, most cattle producers have some means of record-keeping nearby. But pen-and-paper may soon be replaced by high-tech tools for herd management that put the power of data in the palm of a producer's hands.
Years in the making, the PowerCalf Mobile App and web portal are now available to assist beef producers in recording and managing critical information, from calving records to feeding programs. Just like that little redbook, this information can be accessed anytime, anywhere, but MFA's PowerCalf app surpasses written records by putting that data to work in measuring and benchmarking herd performance with convenient, user-friendly technology unlike anything on the market.
The app was officially launched in August, but PowerCalf's beginnings go back to 2014, when MFA Director of Health Track Operations Mike John sought to create a program that would allow beef producers to take the information they collected and make it more useful. MFA would digitize, standardize and analyze that information to help producers make whole-herd management decisions. Then John and PowerCalf developers took that concept a step further. What if producers could input their own information as quickly as they could write it, chute-side and already standardized? Wouldn't that be valuable to their operations? What if they could run reports or sort by the animal's identification number? And what if they could do that from their phone, tablet or computer?
The development of the mobile app was driven by those goals, and MFA's information technology department has been building and refining the platform with the help of beta-testers across MFA's trade territory. Here's what a few of them had to say about this new power tool for their operation:
Tim Myers runs Blue Horn Ranch in Farmington, Mo. He and five employees have a lot to manage with 3,200 acres and 400 cows having roughly 374 calves a year.
"Whenever anyone on the ranch enters new data, it updates all of us," Myers said. "It's a very straightforward and easy process. None of us are very computer literate, but this app is just a touch screen, easy to use, common sense."
Myers began beta-testing the app in the fall of 2016 and has used it for three calving seasons. He recently received carcass information on the first set calves that went to market while he was using the app. The results were interesting. The difference between his top and bottom carcass was $552.
"If we have the ability to group cattle of like genetics and like size and sell in bigger numbers, the cow/calf operator has control of some of the market," Myers said. "If we can prove genetics and prove what they're going to do at the feedlot, it gives us the ability to demand more money and have more stability in our market. The only way you can do that is through data collection."
Likewise, tracking performance is also one of the main goals of app testers Alvin and Janet Braun who run approximately 200 head of cattle near Ste. Genevieve, Mo. The Brauns began renting and working the family farm in 2009 when Janet's father got sick. Since then, they've been retaining 20-30 heifers each year to build their herd.
 "Our record-keeping up until now has been a little pocket notebook that gets put in a drawer," Janet said. "This spring, we used the PowerCalf app to record birth and weaning weights, and I'm anxious to do that again in the fall. I want to accumulate that data and look at it in black-and-white to compare how our calves do in their individual herds and how they perform compared to each other."
For the past three years, the Brauns have sold calves straight off the farm, and they said with the PowerCalf app they will be able to provide more information for prospective buyers. Ultimately, they hope PowerCalf will help increase their profitability.
"The buyers are actually beginning to contact us," Alvin said. "It's a lot more beneficial to sell from here than to haul to an auction barn, and it puts more money in our pocket in the end. When we eventually start selling our heifers, we'll be able to easily access that animal's information and even be able to tell the buyers how their mothers and grandmothers performed."
University of Missouri Extension Livestock Specialist Kendra Graham sees many operations in the state, some with various methods of data collection and others without any at all. She and her family run Kollmeyer Family Farms in Farmington, Mo., and served as a PowerCalf beta-testers.
"I think any type of information-gathering and recordkeeping that we can have on the farm is beneficial," Graham said. "Identification is key to a lot of our production records, so if we can make it easier for producers to record that data, I think people are more inclined to collect that information."
Graham said once producers start recording some data, they're more likely to keep other key information.
"Whether it's feeding, feed-to-gain or even just weights," she said, "you can tell if your cattle are more or less productive."
Through the PowerCalf app, producers can document and verify health and genetics through the entire process. They can benchmark their herd against others in the state. They can track feed efficiency and reproductive rates. They can determine which cows are the most profitable and which ones are costing them money. Moreover, they can do all this through the app on their mobile device or the web portal and know their information is securely stored in the cloud.
"One of the most exciting things I see happening with PowerCalf is it's going to give MFA the ability to help our producers capture more value and be more economically viable," Stephen Daume, MFA livestock consultant, said. "With PowerCalf, I can now go out to a farm and help that customer look through his records—analyze his carcass weights, feed conversion, reproduction rates—and maybe even help him break his profitability down in terms of dollars of carcass weight per cow.
Ultimately, it's about MFA being able to help our producers capture more value out of the products they produce, which, in turn, adds value to what we do here at MFA."
PowerCalf not only has the potential to change producers' operations, but it may have the potential to change the beef industry as a whole, Daume said. Producers will now be able to tell which of their cows produce calves that grade well at the processor and meet consumer expectations of quality. The possibilities are endless.
"By capturing and digitizing all this data," he said, "we not only have the ability to document and verify parentage, but we can also make observations such as hair coat quality, fescue resistance or respiration rate during heat stress. We could maybe even identify lines and breeds of cattle that have specific resistance to disease, like bovine respiratory disease. The PowerCalf app is going to allow us to easily track those genetics, and we could assist with beef improvement not just here in Missouri or the United States, but perhaps even globally."
That's the power possible in the PowerCalf app. For more information, visit, the Apple store or Google Play. Hear more from these PowerCalf pioneers in this video at
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Lush pastures can equal lung problems for cattle
This time of year, it is possible to move cattle off mature, dormant warm-season pastures onto cool-season pastures, which are lush, high in protein, wet and rapidly growing. However, in this situation, acute bovine pulmonary edema (ABPE) might be a concern. ABPE is more common in the fall than in the spring. This form of pneumonia typically occurs when cows are fed an all-dry dormant stage of growth forage and then are turned out on high-protein, wet pastures. A typical scenario is a grazing change in the late summer or fall from dry pastures to lush forage regrowth following haying.
ABPE can be avoided by introducing cattle to cool-season pastures over time. For example, limit their access to a few hours for a couple of days, then allow them to graze for a couple of mornings before letting them run full time on the pasture. This is much less of an issue if the pasture is mixed with small grains.
However, grazing management—not the forage—dictates the prevalence of ABPE. Swathing a section of the grass and allowing it to wilt before the animals eat it reduces the incidence. Feeding an ionophore, something with Rumensin or Bovatec, also helps reduce the chances of ABPE and improves the diet's energy value. Consider feeding a couple pounds of MFA Full Throttle to balance the energy-to-protein ratio and add vitamins, minerals and an ionophore. Preventing ABPE is crucial because there is no effective treatment for affected animals.
Technically speaking, here's why it happens. The lush, rapidly growing pastures contain an amino acid called tryptophan—a normal component found in protein. Rumen bacteria metabolize the tryptophan, converting it into a compound called 3-methylindole. This compound, in turn, is converted into another toxin that creates edema in the lungs. This fluid interferes with the breathing process and exchange of oxygen and can lead to animal mortality.
Because of the way we feed dairy cows, ABPE usually only occurs in beef cattle. Clinical signs of ABPE usually occur one to 14 days after an abrupt change in pasture


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Home / Browse / Ouachita River
The Ouachita River originates in the Ouachita Mountains of west-central Arkansas near the Arkansas and Oklahoma border and flows 600 river miles before joining the Black and Red rivers in north-central Louisiana. The Ouachita flows through eleven different counties in Arkansas and five parishes in Louisiana.
The Ouachita is a river of diverse beauty. It begins as a small mountain stream at Eagleton (Polk County) and flows eastward approximately 120 miles. It winds through lush mountain valleys, steadily building as it flows between huge boulders beneath mountain bluffs. It flows onward on its 600-mile course amid banks of moss-covered oaks and cypress trees in the swampy bottoms of Louisiana.
The Ouachita is noted for its great fishing, especially bass, bream, and white perch. Wildlife is prolific along the banks of the river. White-tail deer, turkeys, and even an occasional bear can be seen in secluded areas; alligators and bald eagles have also recently returned to the area, after having been driven out in the early 1900s. The Ouachita is also a major flyway for ducks and geese feeding and resting in the river's oak-laden backwater flats and cypress swamps, as well as in the rice and bean fields along its banks.
The Ouachita is a vital artery for those living in mid-central Arkansas and is the source of three manmade large lakes in that region—Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton, and Lake Catherine—all of which are used for recreational purposes. These lakes are dammed at their outfall, and the flow of the Ouachita powers generators that provide electrical power to Hot Springs (Garland County) and surrounding communities.
The Ouachita turns south after it leaves Lake Catherine on its course toward Arkansas's southern border. The river then flows approximately 250 miles through sparsely populated areas, intermittently dotted by the cities of Arkadelphia (Clark County), Camden (Ouachita County), and El Dorado (Union County), and continues into Louisiana for another 200 miles to its juncture with the Black River. The Ouachita played a great role in the establishment of these towns, for it was the river that provided access to these areas from buyers as far away as New Orleans who were purchasing cotton, which was a basic product that supported many Southern communities in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The earliest historical records of the Ouachita River come from the Hernando de Soto expedition, which fought with many of the Native American tribes living along the Ouachita who resisted his advancement into their territory. The Ouachita itself was also an obstacle to the de Soto expedition. Much of what is known about the numerous Indian tribes of Native Americans living in the Ouachita River valley came from the de Soto expedition's records and observations.
In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Purchase from France; this included all land in the Ouachita valley. The first exploration of this new uncharted territory was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and was conducted by scientist George Hunter and inventor William Dunbar. The Hunter-Dunbar expedition started in October 1804 and ended in January 1805. The expedition by boat was made under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions and covered 450 miles from the mouth of the Ouachita River to Hot Springs.
In 1819, the first steamboat came up the Ouachita, making such a strange sound and presenting such a monstrous sight that it was described as "a puffing dragon." After that frightful debut, steamboats began to play an integral part in the colorful history connected with the Ouachita. From 1819 to 1910, the Ouachita was the great highway of commerce and transportation for the entire river valley. Steamboats came from as far as New Orleans up the Ouachita River, reaching even Camden and Arkadelphia during times of high water; however, steamboats began to vanish in the early 1900s with the proliferation of the railroads.
The U.S. government began Indian Removal east of the Mississippi River in the 1830s; this forced journey was called the Trail of Tears. One seldom-mentioned route was the Ouachita River, which was used to transport hundreds of Indians by boat to Camden. From Camden, they continued on by foot westward another 100 miles to Oklahoma. Another route associated with this removal mandate crossed the Ouachita near Arkadelphia.
The Ouachita continues today to be a conduit of commerce where tugboats have taken the place of steamboats pushing barges loaded with ammonia, fuel oil for industry, and crushed rocks for building highways. Though the Ouachita does have a moderate amount of barge traffic, it has still maintained its primitive nature in most places and remains a favored destination for boaters, fishers, and many others.
For additional information:Berry, Trey. "The Expedition of William Dunbar and George Hunter along the Ouachita River, 1804–1805." Arkansas Historical Quarterly 62 (Winter 2003): 386–403.
Berry, Trey, Pam Beasley, and Jeanne Clements, eds. The Forgotten Expedition: The Louisiana Purchase Journals of Dunbar and Hunter, 1804–1805. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2006.
Ouachita River Foundation. _URL_ (accessed July 20, 2007).
Glenn GoreOuachita River Foundation
Last Updated 10/22/2009
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Develop in Swift Data Collections Textbook Cover Develop in Swift Data Collections is a Course
Develop in Swift Data Collections
Full course description
In this course, students extend their knowledge and skill developed in Fundamentals by extending their work in iOS app development creating more complex and capable apps. They'll work with data from a server and explore new iOS APIs that allow for much richer app experiences—including displaying large collections of data in multiple formats. Students experience learning new features of the iOS SDK to continue their app developer journey.


Why do some places get dusty and others don't?
Why do some places have dust and others not? Our house seems to need redusting days after a full deep clean, while a colleague told me she could leave her holiday home in Sweden for a year and come back to a spotless space. Is it the population density? Legacy of industrialisation? Car pollution?
James de Malplaquet
Post your answers below (and new questions) or send them to _EMAIL_. A selection will be published on Friday.


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hi i need assist with my assignement in c++ : 2. Day of the YearAssuming that a year has 365 days, write a class named DayOfYear that takes an integerrepresenting a day of the year and translates it to a string consisting of the month followedby day of the month. For example,Day 2 would be January 2Day 32 would be February 1Day 365 would be December 31.The constructor for the class should take as parameter an integer representing the day ofthe year, and the class should have a member function print() that prints the day in themonth-day format. The class should have an integer member variable to represent the dayand should have static member variables of type string to assist in the translation fromthe integer format to the month–day format.Test your class by inputting various integers representing days and printing out theirrepresentation in the month–day format.3. Day of the Year ModiﬁcationModify the DayOfYear class, written in an earlier Programming Challenge, to add aconstructor that takes two parameters: a string representing a month and an integer in therange 0 through 31 representing the day of the month. The constructor should then initializethe integer member of the class to represent the day speciﬁed by the month and day of monthparameters. The constructor should terminate the program with an appropriate errormessage if the number entered for a day is outside the range of days for the month given.Add the following overloaded operators:++ preﬁx and postﬁx increment operators. These operators should modify the DayOfYearobject so that it represents the next day. If the day is already the end of the year, thenew value of the object will represent the ﬁrst day of the year.– preﬁx and postﬁx decrement operators. These operators should modify the DayOfYearobject so that it represents the previous day. If the day is already the ﬁrst day of theyear, the new value of the object will represent the last day of the year. i use visual studio to debug the programs should work in visual studio.
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Get to know your light bulbs with our comprehensive type guides.
Plant Grow
Light Bulb Types
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What are they?
Plant grow or "agro" lamps are designed to maximize output in the areas of the spectrum most conducive to plant growth. They come in a variety of wattages, sizes, and finishes.
How do they work?
Plant grow lamps work by using phosphors and filtering agents in the glass enclosure to increase output in the areas of the spectrum most effective at encouraging plant growth. Plant grow lamps can be incandescent, fluorescent, HID, or LED. There are even more specific breakdowns within these lamp types which are designed to produce light for specific plants and/or specific stages of growth. Generally speaking, these lamps are designed to emulate daylight for the benefit of plants that are being grown indoors.
Where are they used?
Plant grow lamps are ideal for usage in areas being utilized to grow plants indoors, usually when sunlight is lacking, to supplement natural sunlight, or when it is desirable to usurp the natural cycle of sunglight in order to manipulate plant growth.


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About this site
The main goal of Across Cultures is to celebrate Canadian cultural diversity by highlighting the extraordinary contributions that different communities have made to Canada, as well as the many challenges they have had to face, while acknowledging the less praiseworthy moments in Canadian history regarding cultural diversity. The site is also intended as a tribute to filmmakers from various cultural and ethnic communities who have made it their work to show the Canadian population the great richness of their cultures. Lastly, the site is designed to help teachers present the issues around Canadian multiculturalism in a dynamic and inviting way that also matches the goals of their academic programs.
Films and film clips
The site features 120 films from the NFB collection (60 in English; 60 in French in the French part). Of those, 48 (24 in English; 24 in French in the French part) include an audio description for the blind and visually impaired; and 49 films (27 in English; 22 in French in the French part) are available with closed-captioning. Users will also find 164 film clips (80 in English; 84 in French in the French part).
These 120 films are only a fraction of NFB productions on Canada's ethnic and cultural communities; however, they are representative of communities from all over the country, and altogether more than 60 years of film production are covered. The selection does not include films on Aboriginal peoples, since another site – Aboriginal Perspectives – is devoted entirely to them.
Some people may be surprised at the omission of well known works from our list. They are absent because we were unable to obtain online broadcast rights for all the films we might have wanted to include and because the project, which is supported by the Canadian Memory Fund, had to leave aside some newer works to give pride of place to those of high heritage value.
How the site is organized
The Across Cultures Web site is divided into five sections: Themes to Explore; Cinema and Representation; Points of View; See Everything, Hear Everything; and For Teachers. The Themes section covers 6 themes formulated as questions. Each theme includes film clips with accompanying questions, original articles and interviews with experts, public opinion polls, archival materials and classroom activities. Cinema and Representation considers the ways in which ethnic and cultural communities have been represented in NFB documentaries. In it, you will find film clips, archival materials, original articles by NFB experts, interviews with filmmakers and a classroom activity. The third section, Points of View, addresses issues of racism, identity and social integration in Canada. It comprises original articles by Canadian experts in the field, film clips and discussions. The See Everything, Hear Everything section gives users access to all the complete films, film clips, archival artefacts and other types of audiovisual content available on the site. Finally, For Teachers offers lesson plans, web links and bibliographic resources. It contains a Glossary of Terms (also available on the Tools menu) to familiarize users with the language of cultural diversity.
Our main focus is on the complete films, but we also include film clips as an easy introduction to each section. The clips allow teachers, students and other users to quickly pinpoint specific content – the issues raised in each theme, expert viewpoints, or aspects of ethnic and cultural representation, for example. Of course, the complete films are always available and easily accessed for viewing.
Clearly, we cannot claim to cover every aspect of diversity, describe every issue, raise every question, or mention the challenges and achievements of every ethnic and cultural community in the country. Across Cultures does, however, provide an excellent introduction to the area for anyone interested in multiculturalism and the issue of cultural diversity in Canada.
We encourage users to visit two other sites our team has built with support from the Canadian Memory Fund, which also deal with issues of cultural diversity: Documentary Lens and Aboriginal Perspectives.


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Sherars Falls is the final waterfall along the Deschutes River. The falls drop about 15 feet into a narrow horseshoe shaped trough carved in the vast flood basalt formations blanketing eastern Oregon. The Deschutes has been heavily tapped for irrigation purposes and because of this Sherars Falls is not usually as burly as it could be with the river flowing naturally, but its still a fairly impressive cascade. The geology of the area is generally more interesting than the waterfall, river volume aside, and one can expect to see dozens of members of the Warm Springs Nation fishing at the falls - a long established tribal fishing ground.
- Sherars Falls is the Official name of this waterfall.
Sherars Falls was the site of a crossing point for local tribes as well as a sacred fishing ground. The falls are thought to have been discovered by Peter Skene Ogden in September of 1826. The first bridge was constructed below the falls in 1860 by John Todd, and rebuilt in 1862 after it washed away in floods. Through a series of transactions, the bridge was eventually transfered to Joseph Sherar, for whom the features were named, in 1871 who invested nearly $75,000 in maintenance and developing roads leading to the bridge.
Sherars Falls is located east of Tygh Valley between Maupin and The Dalles. Take Highway 197 south from The Dalles then turn east on Highway 216 (signed for White River Falls and Sherars Bridge). Sherars Falls can be found about 7 1/2 miles from Highway 197, just above Sherars Bridge. The falls are located on tribal land and public access is only allowed on the west side of the river. Please obey the regulations posted on site and park where requested (there are designated areas for tribal members only).


What is DCDC?
DCDC stands for Dunlap Community Development Corporation. It was formed in 1991 as a 501(c)(6) organization with the purpose of enhancing the economic environment of Dunlap and improving the quality of life for its citizens. DCDC also works with local government and other institutions in DUnlap to support the development of the Dunlap community in order to sustain and expand business endeavors.
How does DCDC accomplish this?
By being actively involved in the development of Dunlap's current and historical aspects through the use of four committees: Design, Economic Restructuring, Organization, and Promotion.


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Are you lost on your bike? Fear not! The Vibrobelt could send you in the right direction. This smart belt will send subtle vibrations to guide bicyclists to their destinations.
The Vibrobelt was developed by Haska Steltenpohl and Anders Bouwer in the Intelligent Systems Lab at the University of Amsterdam. Their goal was to find a way to gently steer bicyclists to a location so they avoid being dangerously distracted by visual maps, GPS screens or smartphones.
Worn around the waist, the Vibrobelt gives waypoint, distance and endpoint information using directional tactile cues, according to its creators. The belt works by taking information about the route and translating it into unique buzzes that indicate where the bicyclist should go. For example, the vibration for going left is different from the one for going straight.
When the two researchers tested the belt against a GPS screen on a group of 20 volunteers who were taking unfamiliar routes, they found that everyone made it to their destinations just fine. However, the volunteers who used the Vibrobelt were able to navigate more quickly, remembered the route they took and could recall landmarks along it better. Paul Marks, writing for New Scientist, called the Vibrobelt "satnav for your waist."
Bouwer and Steltenpohl plan to refine their system and their paper about the Vibrobelt was accepted for the International Conference on Intelligent User Interfaces, which takes place in Santa Monica next month. Wonder if they considered a smart bicycle seat cover. Although something like that might end up being a bit too, um, distracting.
Credit: Richard Masoner


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The compelling account of how two heritages united in their struggle to gain freedom and equality in America—now updated with new content!
The first paths to freedom taken by runaway slaves led to Native American villages. There, black men and women found acceptance and friendship among our country's original inhabitants. Though they seldom appear in textbooks and movies, the children of Nativeand African-American marriages helped shape the early days of the fur trade, added a new dimension to frontier diplomacy, and made a daring contribution to the fight for American liberty.
Since its original publication, William Loren Katz's Black Indians has remained the definitive work on a long, arduous quest for freedom and equality. This new edition features a new cover and includes updated information about a neglected chapter in American history.
About the Author
William Loren Katz is the author of forty books, including such award-winning titles as Breaking the Chains: African American Slave Resistance, The Black West, and Black Women of the Old West. He has lectured in Europe, Africa, and the United States; he has been a Scholar in Residence at Teachers College, Columbia University; and he has served as a consultant to the Smithsonian Institute and to school systems from California to Florida and England. He lives in New York City. Visit him at WilliamLKatz.com.


The Different Pros And Cons To Using Singapore Money Lenders
singapore money lenders
Despite the growth in technological advancements, the 21st-century world is facing many problems. One of these problems is the economic hardships being experienced by people in almost all countries. After the recession in the early 2000's people thought that money worries would get better, but they have become worse with most young adults living in debt. Statistics show that the global population aged 20-35 will never be able to afford their own homes and will continue to live in debt for the majority of their lives.
One method of living a normal daily life is through the use of loans. Unfortunately, when a person presents with poor credit, it can be difficult to gain a bank loan. In these situations, hard money loans are the best alternative. This article will provide information on the different pros and cons to using Singapore money lenders such as
What Is A Hard Money Loan?
The basic premise for a loan is one where the individual needing money (that's you) contacts a lender requesting a specific amount. If a loan is provided, an agreement will be put in place for the individual to repay the loan over a set time. Typically, lenders will consider credit scores before approving or rejecting a loan. This is to determine if you have a solid financial history and will be able to make the repayments.
Receiving confirmation of a loan from a traditional lender can be a slow procedure, even if you have a good credit score. In fact, you may have all the paperwork with a good credit score and still be rejected. The approval of an application is based purely on the lender's opinion. Hard money lenders opt for a different approach.
A hard money loan from Singapore money lenders is based on collateral instead of a contractual repayment scheme. Using collateral to secure the loan, the lender is less concerned with a person's ability or inability to make repayments. If for some reason you are unable to make a repayment, the hard money lender will receive their payment by selling the collateral.
What Are The Benefits Of A Hard Money Loan?
1. Speed
A great benefit to using a hard money loan from Singapore money lenders is the speed of loan approval. As the lender is more focused on the value of collateral, the loan can be obtained more quickly than a traditional loan alternative. Unlike traditional lenders, such as banks, this third-party money lender will not spend too much time reviewing income or credit scores. All you need to do is provide the correct type of collateral and the process of loan approval can begin.
2. Increased Flexibility
Needless to say, hard money loan agreements are far more flexible than the traditional loan agreement. Money lenders do not utilize standard underwriting processes; therefore, they are able to deal with each case independently. This is beneficial because the lender will focus on your specific situation and will be able to draft an agreement suited to your needs. A traditional bank loan is highly stringent operating according to procedures and regulations.
What Are The Drawbacks Of A Hard Money Loan?
1. The Cost
While the use of a hard money loan can seem better than a traditional one, not everything is perfect. Despite money lenders offering loans to people with bad credit, the loans can be very expensive. Unlike traditional bank loans, hard money loans provide double-digit interest rates and the need to pay set-up fees.
2. Not A Good Long-Term Option
If you are searching for a long-term loan, then it is best to opt for a bank loan instead of a hard money alternative. Hard money loans from Singapore money lenders are suitable for short-term situations only. This is because they use collateral as a measure for repayment and the value of the item can deteriorate over time. While it is possible to use hard money loans to purchase property or vehicles, it is recommended that the loan be repaid within the year.
Final Words
No person wishes to find themselves in debt and finding a loan can be complicated. Using this information, you will discover if using a money lender is suitable for your needs.


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Dr. Romain Ceolato
ONERA – The French Aerospace Laboratory, Toulouse, France
Spectral Polarimetric Light-Scattering by Complex Media: From Aerosols to Biomedical Tissues102 Cardwell Hall
Light-scattering provides rich information on a large range of particles such as aerosols, blood cells, and colloidal suspensions. The retrieval of microphysical properties of these particles from light-scattering by inverse methods usually requires strong assumptions. The morphology or refractive index of the particles is often assumed, or is considered known a priori, to retrieve, for example, the particle size distribution from scattering measurements. Different methods have emerged to relax these assumptions, employing either the spectral or polarimetric properties of light. For instance, remote-sensing systems, e.g. ground/airborne/spaceborne multiwavelength-LIDAR, have been developed to detect, identify, and analyze aerosols in the atmosphere based on hyperspectral and polarimetric data. Similar systems are now considered for wider applications; from biomedicine, robotics, and chemical engineering to security and defense. The recent advances of spectral and polarimetric light-scattering by particles, including single and multiple scattering, will be discussed in this colloquium.
Dr. Romain Ceolato is a Research Scientist at ONERA – The French Aerospace Laboratory managed by the French Ministry of Defense. He received his MS degree in Fundamental Physics in 2010 and his Ph.D. degree in Optical Science in 2013 from the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (SUPAERO). In 2012, he was a Visiting Scholar at Mississippi State University. Currently, he is a member of the Optronics Department at ONERA. Dr. Ceolato's research interests cover different areas of light-scattering by particulate media and rough surfaces, in particular laser-based diagnostic methods and their aerospace applications.


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- n. Plural form of meaning.
"Most of the word meanings we know are acquired indirectly, by intuitively guessing new meanings as we understand the overall gist of what we are hearing or reading."
"Reading your stuff and thinking on the meanings is almost like a "reset" button..that demonstrates to me that I need to remain grounded."
"While the logic-chopping about possible inoffensive meanings is all very well, the odds that that was what students in an American high school were up to are vanishingly small."
"Uncertain meanings inevitably lead citizens to 'steer far wider of the unlawful zone'.... than if the boundaries of the forbidden areas were clearly marked."
"The time for Obama answering questions with round-about answer with hidden meanings is over."
"But in recent years the list of things that food is called upon to do—its meanings, in other words—has dramatically expanded."
"Senators Cornyn and Reid should both just sit down, cool off, and allow the plain meanings of law, unstrained by the casuistry of lawyers or by the pulls of partisanship to provide guidance in these two cases. —"
"My desire to to learn the language with all it's twists, turns and double meanings is greater than my embarrasment."
"Caius Laelius, the intimate friend of Scipio, undertook to reform this abuse; but meeting with opposition from men of authority, and fearing a disturbance, he soon desisted, and received the name of the Wise or the Prudent, both which meanings belong to the Latin word Sapiens."
"For the past decade I've been lucky enough to be part of a group of scholars trying to tease meanings from the Southern Cult."
Looking for tweets for meanings.


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Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: 1. A narrow cylindrical object encasing a core of material, such as carbon or colored wax, that is capable of making a mark; used in writing, drawing and the like. 2. Any narrow cylindrical object, as a pencil of light shooting through a nail hole.
Notes: We offer today's Good Word to warn our dear readers of the dangers in spelling this word. A pensil (also spelled pencel) is a narrow streamer men once carried into battle atop their spears and lances. If the wind was not blowing, a pensil hangs pencile (loosely) from its perch. Remember to spell today's word pencil and you may use it as a verb in a special sense, "to write in temporarily", as to pencil someone in for lunch if you are not sure you can make the date.
In Play: Today's Good Word has such a narrow meaning it is difficult to find figurative uses other than a few off-color ones that have been used already. "Manny, why do you have those pencils in your nose?" "It keeps alligators from taking over the world." "That's absurd!" "When was the last time you saw an alligator around here?" But, if you care to try, the figurative property of pencils is their slenderness: "Don't laugh, old pencil-legs over there, as you call him, is a dancing genius."
Word History: In Middle English this word, spelled pencel then, meant "artist's brush". It was borrowed from Old French pincel or peincel, related to Modern French peinture "painting". French inherited the word from Latin penicillus "little tail, little brush", the diminutive of peniculus, itself the diminutive of penis "tail, brush". The antibacterial antibiotic, penicillin, gets its name from fungi of the genus Penicillium, so named for their brush-like appearance. (We are delighted that Mary Boser suggested this word rather than just pencil it into her schedule.)
Come visit our website at for more Good Words and other language resources!


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On remote learning days, daily attendance will be taken in the student information system, PowerSchool.
A student is considered present for daily attendance during a remote learning day:
- If a student completes his/her daily assignments, either online or offline; or
- If a student has a daily check-in, a two-way communication, with the appropriate teacher(s).
- Teachers and counselors will check in with students/families who do not maintain regular attendance.
Learning Management Systems
The Learning Management System (LMS) will be used by each class or grade level to manage all the assignments and important information for families during Remote Learning.
- Grades K-2 will use SeeSaw.
- Grades 3-8 will use Google Classrooms.
Each grade level team will gather the materials to distribute for students to support their online and offline learning. Typically, Materials Exchange will happen at the school on Flex Mondays, but not necessarily every flex Monday. Teachers will let you know the schedule for Materials Exchange.
- Grade level teams will share the teaching load and deliver the same lessons each week.
- Each classroom teacher will also provide opportunities for "office hours."
- Schedules should be shared out to families by 9:00 on Monday mornings so they can plan for the week.
- Our goal is to provide consistent schedules so students and families have an idea of what to expect each week.
- Students will have live/recorded lessons from specialists.
- The expectation is that work for specials will be completed just like core academic subjects.
- K-4 grade students will have visual art, dance, or music twice a week and Spanish or PE once a week.
- 5-8 grade students will have visual art, drama, or music twice a week and Spanish or PE once a week.
- Grade levels will have an assigned time for specials.
Now that we have completed the first two weeks of Remote Instruction, we'd like to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to respond to this survey about Remote Learning at ABS. Remote Learning Feedback survey


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Front Porch is an organization committed to connecting rural populations to resources required to improve the conditions of life and expand economic opportunities.
In low-income rural populations around the world, a pattern exists in which the people of these communities lack access to resources that they need not only to survive, but to thrive. Over 2/3 of these populations have limited or no access to necessities, including adequate shelter, potable water, education, and health care. The most isolated communities are often outside the view and awareness of governmental and non-governmental agencies and are the last people to receive needed help—if help is provided at all. These are the communities that we serve, as they are the most entrenched in the poverty cycle.
We help communities define their needs through a community visioning process and provide the strategies needed to access resources. This may come in the form of seed money to get a school or resource center built, connection to agency support and/or training, providing guidance to local leaders in navigating resources accessibility, connecting people with needed tools or technology to learn or improve skills, the design, materials and program to build a community resource center—the opportunities are endless. Once we help identify a community's needs, Front Porch provides assistance by preparing a plan, establishing the program, and facilitating the creation of a long-term process to maintain progress and function.


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WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF BULDING CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS?
This section describes the different types of building construction systems commonly found in the world today. Click on a section below to continue.
Concrete frame construction is probably the most common kind of construction system used in the world today. As the name suggests, this has a skeleton of concrete, that is covered in a skin. The skin can be made of brick, aluminum or glass, and is attached to the outer surface of the building.
Steel is an immensely strong and flexible material. This is why steel frame structures are ideal for earthquake-prone areas. Learn about the different types of steel construction.
light gauge steel structures
Light gauge steel construction is very widely used for residential and low-rise buildings in the US and Europe. It is very similar to light wood construction.
Wood framed construction is widely used for residential and low-rise structures in North America and Europe. Learn how it works in this article.
Load bearing masonry walls is a form of construction that was used widely from the 1700s to the mid-1900s. it consists of heavy brick or stone walls that support horizontal floor slabs.
Pre engineered metal buildings are a fast, economical type of construction best suited to warehouses and industrial buildings.


Are Zhu Zhu Pets and Other Popular Toys Dangerously Toxic?
by Xin Lu on 8 December 2009 10 comments
Photo: Zhu Zhu Pet
The hottest toy of this holiday season is a little electronic hamster named the Zhu Zhu Pet. The $9.99 toy is this season's Tickle Me Elmo and parents are lining up early to snatch one for their kids. Millions of these cute little toys have been sold, but a consumer products website called Good Guide claims that these toys contain some toxic chemicals. Is this a good reason to take these toys to the dumpster?
GoodGuide is a website that scores over 70,000 consumer products for their impact on health, the environment, and the society. In a recent report about popular holiday toys, the website reported that Zhu Zhu Pets has high levels of antimony and tin. However, the website does have a disclaimer that says these levels of chemicals "are not intended to correspond to levels known to cause health effects." In the case of the toxic metal antimony, it has to be ingested or absorbed to cause harm. GoodGuide found 93 parts per million in the fur of the Zhu Zhu Pet, and 106 parts per million on the nose of the Zhu Zhu Pet. These levels are above the federal limit of 60 parts per million, but the way Good Guide did the test is different from the federal safety tests. The federal testing measures soluble amounts of antimony, and the Zhu Zhu Pet has less than 2 parts per million of soluble antimony according to a safety review test. This means that a child has to eat quite a few of these hamsters to become poisoned by the antimony within. As a response, the manufacturer of Zhu Zhu Pets issued a press release that claims that all Zhu Zhu toys "are safe and compliant with all U.S. and European standards for consumer health and safety in toys."
Other popular toys that were tested by Good Guide included Lego Star Wars, ChixOS, and Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Learning Farm. Lego Star Wars and ChixOS scored a clean bill of health, but the Learning Farm's tests revealed high levels of Chromium. The website also contains ratings for many products that you and I already have in our homes. It is definitely a good resource for consumers to research how green and healthy consumer products are, but I don't think it is necessary to throw away everything that has a potentially dangerous chemical because some of these chemicals are only dangerous if ingested in significant quantities. There are harmful chemicals in many everyday products, and most people have the common sense not to drink insect repellent or Windex.
Finally, I think it is always good practice to do research on the products you buy, but we also need to exercise some common sense in deciding what is truly dangerous. Otherwise we would fear everything out there.
What do you think? Have you thrown away your Zhu Zhu Pet?
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Guest's picture
Thanks for bring this to my attention!
This Christmas, my daughter is getting 2 of those. I had no idea that in this day and age, that any such poisons would be in modern toys.
I'm hoping since she has a real hamster, that this will be something that she shelves and forgets about. Then I can wrap it up in plastic and store it in the basement (just in case she asks for it later)...
Hurray, for Lego's both of my kids enjoy those (especially the theme ones like Star Wars).
I'll have to check out the site to see what they say about Mind Flex...
Guest's picture
Reduce Chemical Overload
My daughter is getting a zhu zhu pet for Christmas, but I may have reconsidered had I known. Not that she will ingest the animal, but why do corporations continue to decide to put known toxic materials in their products? They may say it helps cut costs, but how about the health of the employees who work where the zhu zhu pets are made who are probably being overexposed to the toxins?
Guest's picture
Antimony is used in cloths (antimony trioxide) to retard fire. So this includes fur on toys and actual clothing items for children.
Guest's picture
Stacey Marcos
I'm no scientist, but isn't antimony the payments ants make to each other when the get divorced?
Guest's picture
If anyone feels the need to unburden themselves of a toxic Zhu Zhu pet or 2, I'll gladly take them off your hands. My daughter is begging for one and I can't find any at a reasonable price. (And no, Amazon's current price of $36 for a $10 toy is not "reasonable".)
Guest's picture
Most kids aren't likely to gnaw away on their Zhu Zhu Pet. Some kids, though, are more likely to do so, and some people may worry about pets who tend to be rough with found toys.
I heard about the metal concentrations of the toys on special needs blogs, and there are a number of conditions where interested children may be likely to chew on non-food items. A neurotypical child may be fairly safe with the cuddly things, whereas their autism-spectrum neighbour may not be. My rabbit chews everything she can reach, and my little one might decide that the rabbit might want to play with the toy hamster...
It's good to know both reports, to best understand the risks and to be able to consider the situation. If we're gifted with a Zhu Zhu pet, I'll make sure it never is introduced to the bunny, and I'll keep the reports in mind when we consider the toy's life cycle.
Guest's picture
The safety review test from Bureau Veritas not only had no complaints about safety, it also does NOT say anything about there being 2ppm of antimony.
It says the white fur has found to have 2ppm lead (normal clean soil has 14 to 40 ppm). It also measured between 2ppm and 9ppm of barium (15 to 3500ppm is normal for soil). All the other heavy metals were listed as LESS THAN 2ppmmeaning all this incredibly sensitive equipment couldn't pick up enough of a trace to get a decent reading.
One might have to muddle through some unfamiliar terminology, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to actually read a scientific report before citing it as a source.
Guest's picture
If we listen to every alarmist warning out there, we will all want to be trapped in a biodome with piped-in HEPA filtered air, grow our own food in said biodome, and manufacture whatever else we needed with what we have on hand, never to mix with the outside world again.
Are there chemicals in things? Yes. Do we need to panic? Probably not. Looking at the research that I've found for these toys, which, by the way, I've never seen and don't plan to buy, you would have to EAT the whole toy, and sometimes several of these toys to make it hazardous. It is probably more hazardous to be near the path of a spritz of Windex. Scaring people into choices is no more responsible than not giving them the tools they need to make an informed decision.
Guest's picture
Christie, the majority of people would just vacuum up a broken 4-foot fluorescent bulb that smashed on the floor. It is, actually, considered a hazmat situation. Using a normal vacuum would result in your vacuum contaminated with mercury and would blow it into the air whenever you used it. But it's just a light bulb, right?
Information is good if you are capable of using the information. Blindly saying people can use the information is dangerous. Blindly saying people will use the information is presumptuous.
In fact, the linked report has been redacted and linked to a release about why. Seems responsible to me.


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Self Sufficiency and Survival Foods
This book is a valuable self sufficiency reference manual for every person and family. This book offers encouragement about the importance of being as self sufficient as you can, and an action plan to help you 'ride the storms'.
Author and herbalist, Isabell Shipard, shows you how to be prepared with a step-by-step emergency management plan for food provisions and essential supplies.
Self Sufficiency – You will learn how to:
- plan for a 72-hour kit.
- prepare sufficient food, water and essentials for a 3-month period.
- store 12-months' supply of food for extra protection (including hardy survival food plants to include in your garden).
- preserve and store foods.
- know and use edible weeds and flowers in your garden.
- avoid poisonous plants.
- identify edible native bush food plants.
- make herbs a part of your survival plan.
- save seeds.
- and much more!
The book is A4 size, 136 pages, and beautifully illustrated with over 100 coloured pictures. The full colour cover is celloglazed, with a durable stitched and bound spine.
[youtube id="kwgHYL7FA3Q" width="600″ height="350″ autoplay="no" api_params="" class="myCenteredVid"]
"For many years I taught Herb Courses, covering many edible plants, and included a segment on survival foods and the importance of self-sufficiency for possible hard times. People often expressed that I should put this information into a book.
With the economic squeeze in Australia, and severe drought experienced over large areas of farmland, just what will the future hold for average Australian families? Everyone is experiencing the pressure, as food, fuel and the cost of living has dramatically risen in price. In this 21st century, we are seeing major disasters that are disrupting peoples lives in so many areas of the world. We must all be more conscious of ways to reduce, recycle, repair and reuse items and consider how we can all tread more softly on Planet Earth.
What I desire is that all who read this book will be inspired and motivated to take action for the benefit of the planet.
We need to encourage one another to be as self sufficient as possible… now… in our gardens, as this is the most nutritious fresh food and and cheapest way to live in these times of rising prices. Growing our own food is very satisfying as well as beneficial to health and well-being." – Isabell Shipard, Author
Isabell Shipard (who sadly passed away in 2014), was one of Australia's most knowledgable and sought after authorities on herbs. She was author of the acclaimed books How can I Use Herbs in my Daily Life? and How can I Grow and Use Sprouts as Living Food? The book is A4 size, 136 pages, and beautifully illustrated with over 100 coloured pictures. The full colour cover is celloglazed, with a durable stitched and bound spine.
"Personally, I've learned a tremendous amount of practical information from this book and also the companion Self Sufficiency Course on DVD. I have been applying this knowledge gradually so our family is better prepared. Our garden is more resilient with plants that perform multiple functions. Our goal is to keep taking small steps regularly to add new species to our garden. To learn how to use a diverse range of herbs and medicinal plants especially those high in protein and energy. To preserve some of our harvest and implement the strategies in this book. Doing so helps us feel more in control, self-reliant, empowered to grow, cook, store and preserve our food. It's an invaluable resource." – Anne Gibson


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60 Minutes: 7th century shipwreck showcasedJune 14th, 2010 - 8:18 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
New York City, Jun 14 (THAINDIAN NEWS) CBS's show '60 Minutes' has managed to create a trend of sorts with its investigative stories and the thrilling endings with ample twists and turns. Fans of the show were in for a huge surprise, when they showcased the 7th century shipwreck.
The 7th century shipwreck was located between the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea. The person responsible for discovering it was none other than the person who discovered the Titanic – Robert Ballard. And giving him company was the CBS team. The CBS team comprised of their correspondent Lara Logan and her crew. The whole team along with Robert had gone to Turkey, where the amazing discovery was made.
Another thing that brought cheer to the team, was that the ship appears to be well preserved despite being old by several centuries. The whole team of archaeologists was very excited by the discovery, and they hope that the wreck would shed some light on the maritime history of the 7th century.
Robert Ballad is a living legend in the name of discovery shipwrecks. He is credited with the discovery of Titanic as well. Apart from that he has also discovered Bismarck as well as the famous PT 109, which used to be commanded by John F. Kennedy during the time of the World War II.
- Latest Episode Of CBS' "60 Minutes" Features 7th Century Shipwreck - Jun 14, 2010
- 60 Minutes To Show The Discovery Of A 7th Century Ancient Shipwreck - Jun 14, 2010
- Wreckage of 16th century ship discovered off Brazil - Mar 01, 2012
- Hilt of 18th-century pirate Blackbeard's sword may have been found - Jan 16, 2011
- 188-yr-old 'Two Brothers' ship linked to 'Moby-Dick' discovered - Feb 12, 2011
- Irish archaeologists say Spanish Armada wreck found - Aug 06, 2011
- Ancient shipwrecks unearthed in China - May 29, 2012
- Five Roman-era shipwrecks found underwater off Italy - Jul 27, 2009
- Elisabeth Hasselbeck confronts Bill Maher - Nov 16, 2011
- 400-year-old shipwreck discovered in Stockholm archipelago - Aug 07, 2009
- Archaeologists discover Old Testament-era tablet - Apr 09, 2010
- Titanic expedition captures new images of the wreck - Aug 30, 2010
- Oldest-known Mayan calendar found - May 11, 2012
- CBS correspondent Lara Logan'sexually assaulted while covering Egypt protests - Feb 16, 2011
- Sexually assaulted CBS reporter Lara Logan could become target for copycat attacks: Ex boss - Feb 18, 2011
Tags: 60 minutes, aegean, archaeologists, ballad, bismarck, cbs team, cheer, correspondent, john f kennedy, lara logan, living legend, maritime history, mediterranean sea, pt 109, robert ballard, shipwreck, titanic robert ballard, twists, who discovered the titanic, world war ii


Why is the work day eight hours long?
 Have you ever wondered why we work an eight hour day? Where did that concept come from? In our agrarian days people would work sun-up to sun-down working the fields. As civilization increased and developed jobs developed that were not controlled by the need to be in the fields and work settled into a …
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Introduction to the ECCC
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) is a special Cambodian court which receives international assistance through the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials (UNAKRT). The court is also informally known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal or the Cambodia Tribunal.
The Khmer Rouge regime took power on 17 April 1975 and was overthrown on 7 January 1979. At least 1.7 million people are believed to have died from starvation, torture, execution and forced labour during this period of 3 years, 8 months and 20 days. The end of the Khmer Rouge period was followed by a civil war. That war finally ended in 1998 when the Khmer Rouge political and military structures were dismantled.
In 1997, the government requested the United Nations to assist in establishing a trial to prosecute the senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge. In 2001, the Cambodian National Assembly passed a law to create a court to try serious crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge period (_PHONE_). This court is called the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia for the Prosecution of Crimes Committed during the Period of Democratic Kampuchea (Extraordinary Chambers or ECCC). The government of Cambodia insisted that, for the sake of the Cambodian people, the trial should be held in Cambodia using Cambodian staff and judges together with foreign personnel. The government of Cambodia invited international participation due to the weakness of the Cambodian legal system and the international nature of the crimes, as well as for assistance in meeting international standards of justice.
An agreement with the United Nations, detailing how the international community would assist and participate in the Extraordinary Chambers, was ultimately reached in June 2003. While this special court was created by the Cambodian government and the United Nations, it is independent of them. It is a Cambodian court with international participation that applies international standards.
See: Timeline of key events
The court can only prosecute two categories of alleged perpetrators for alleged crimes committed between 17 April 1975 and 6 January 1979:
1) Senior leaders of Democratic Kampuchea; and
2) Those believed to be most responsible for grave violations of national and international law.
The Cases at the ECCC are:
Case 001:
Defendant: Kaing Guek Eav alias Duch
Case 002 (Severed into Case 002/01 and Case 002/02):
Defendants: Khieu Samphan, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary (deceased) and Ieng Thirith (deceased)
Case 003:
Defendant: Meas Muth
Case 004 (Severed into Case 004/01, Case 004/02 and Case 004)
Defendants: Yim Tith (Case 004), Im Chaem (Case 004/01) and Ao An (Case 004/02)
The purpose of this website is to introduce you to the Extraordinary Chambers and answer some of the questions people commonly ask about the trials. Please contact the Public Affairs Section if you need more specific information or would like to arrange a visit to the ECCC.
ECCC Organisation
ECCC Emblem
The emblem represents the Extraordinary Chambers by combining a depiction of the administration of justice in Cambodia during the ancient period of Angkor with the United Nations wreath of olive branches symbolising peace. The official colour is dark blue.
The figure is seated on a dais and is holding a sword to symbolise the authority of the court. This is the central figure in the mural in the former Appeals Court in the Ministry of Justice in Phnom Penh, where he is flanked by two assistants referring to the law as inscribed on palm-leaf manuscripts.
The official stamp shows the emblem surrounded by two circles in which is written in the Khmer the full name of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, together with the abbreviations ECCC for the English name and CETC for the French name (Chambres Extraordinaires au sein des Tribunaux Cambodgiens).


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Steam and Sail in Britain and North America£13.00
This is an important illustrated survey about the experiments with steam and the first Naval warships. For anyone interested in maritime history, especially Naval techniques, this will become a continually source of reference and enjoyment.
The Boats of Men of War£9.20
In the age of sail, the boats carried by the men-of-war were an essential part of the ship's outfitting. They were necessary to move stores, act as the "engine" in confined waters, serve as amphibious raiders, and even to cruise independently as tenders to the mother ship. Over the centuries there have been many sizes, hull forms, and rigs employed, so the exact details proved a problem for model makers, marine artists, and builders of replicas.


Nvidia A100
What is NVIDIA A100?
The NVIDIA A100 is a data-center-grade graphical processing unit (GPU), part of larger NVIDIA solution that allows organizations to build large-scale machine learning infrastructure. It is a dual slot 10.5-inch PCI Express Gen4 card, based on the Ampere GA100 GPU. A100 is the world's fastest deep learning GPU designed and optimized for deep learning workloads.
The A100 comes with either 40GB or 80GB of memory, and has two major editions—one based on NVIDIA's high performance NVLink network infrastructure, and one based on traditional PCIe.
Its main features include:
 - 3rd generation Tensor Core—new format TF32, 2.5x FP64 for HPC workloads, 20x INT8 for AI inference, and support for BF16 data format.
 - HBM2e GPU memory—doubles memory capacity compared to the previous generation, with memory bandwidth of over 2TB per second.
 - MIG Technology—each instance offers up to 7 isolated Multi Instance GPUs (MIG), each with 10 GB of RAM.
 - Special support for sparse models—for sparse matrix calculations (tensors with many zeros), provides a 2x compared to the previous generation.
 - 3rd Generation NVLink and NVSwitch—upgraded network interconnect enabling GPU-to-GPU bandwidth of 600 GB/s.
In this article, you will learn:
NVIDIA A100 System Specifications
There are two versions of the A100 GPU:
 - NVIDIA A100 for NVLink—based on optimized NVIDIA networking infrastructure for highest performance—4/8 SXM on NVIDIA HGX™ A100.
 - NVIDIA A100 for PCIe—based on traditional PCIe slots, letting you deploy the GPU on a larger variety of servers.
Both versions provide the following performance capabilities:
 - Peak performance for FP64—9.7 TF, 19.5 TF for Tensor Cores
 - Peak performance for FP32—19.5 TF
 - Peak performance for FP16, BFLOAT16—312 TF for Tensor Cores*
 - Peak performance for Tensor Float 32—156 TF*
 - Peak performance for INT8—624 TOPS on Tensor Cores*
 - Peak Performance for INT4—1,248 TOPS on Tensor Cores*
(*) A100 supports double performance for workloads with sparsity.
Memory and GPU specifications are different for each version:
 - NVLink version—40 or 80 GB GPU memory, 1,555 or 2,039 GB/s memory bandwidth, up to 7 MIGs with 5 GB each (for A100 with 40 GB memory) or 10 GB each (for A100 with 80 GB memory), max power 400 W.
 - PCIe version—40 GB GPU memory, 1,555 GB/s memory bandwidth, up to 7 MIGs with 5 GB each, max power 250 W.
Related content – read our detailed guides about:
NVIDIA A100 Key Features
Third-generation NVIDIA NVLink
NVIDIA's third-generation high-speed NVLink interconnect improves GPU scalability, performance, and reliability. It is included in A100 GPUs and NVIDIA's latest NVSwitch. Thanks to additional links per GPU and NVSwitch, NVLink now offers wider GPU-GPU communication bandwidth and enhanced error detection, with recovery capabilities.
The latest NVLink boasts a 50 Gbit/sec data rate per signal pair, which is double the bandwidth provided by V100. Comparatively, a V100 NVLink provides a bandwidth of only 25 GB/sec, with half the amount of signal pairs used by V100. The number of links has doubled—12 compared to V100's 6—providing a total bandwidth of 600 GB/sec, compared to 300 in the V100.
Support for NVIDIA Magnum IO and Mellanox Interconnect Solutions
NVIDIA's A100 Tensor Core GPU is compatible with the company's Magnum IO and Mellanox InfiniBand and Ethernet interconnect solutions for accelerating multi-node connectivity.
The API for Magnum IO brings together file systems and storage, computing, and networking, maximizing the performance of multi-node acceleration systems. It can accelerate I/O for a wide spectrum of workloads, including AI, analytics and graphics processing, by interfacing with CUDA-X.
Asynchronous Copy
A100 boasts an innovative asynchronous copy instruction. This is performed in the background, allowing shared memory (SM) to meanwhile perform other computations.
The A100 makes it possible to load data into SM straight from global memory, without requiring an intermediate register file (RF). Async-copy reduces power consumption, uses memory bandwidth more efficiently and reduces register bandwidth.
Asynchronous Barrier
Barriers are important to manage competing and overlapping tasks in a multi-threaded environment. The A100 GPU provides special hardware acceleration for barriers, and C++-conformant barrier objects, accessible from CUDA 11. This makes it possible to:
 - Split arrive and wait operations for asynchronous barriers
 - Implement producer-consumer patterns directly in CUDA
 - Synchronize CUDA threads at any level of granularity (beyond warp/block)
Task Graph Acceleration
Thanks to A100's new features, new paths between task graph grids can now be implemented much faster.
You can employ a more efficient model for GPU work submission using CUDA task graphs, which provide define-once, run-repeatedly execution flows. These include a series of dependency-connected operations, including kernel launches or memory copies.
Predefined task graphs enable launching numerous kernels as one operation. This improves application performance and efficiency.
What is a Tensor Core?
Tensors are mathematical objects that describe the relationship between other mathematical objects. They are usually represented as a numeric array with multiple dimensions.
When processing graphics large amounts of data must be moved and processed in vector form. Because GPUs have strong parallel processing capabilities, they are well suited for tensor processing. Today all GPUs support General Matrix Multiplication (GEMM), which is the typical mathematical operation performed on tensors.
The NVIDIA Ampere architecture provides improved performance for GEMM, including:
 - Improving performance from 64 to 256 GEMMs per cycle
 - Support for new data formats
 - Fast processing for sparse tensors (tensors with a large number of zero values)
Programmers have easy access to Tensor Cores on Volta, Turing or Ampere chips. In order to use Tensor Cores:
 - Add a flag to the code to indicate tensor cores should be used (see some examples in the CUDA 9 documentation)
 - Ensure you are using a supported data format
 - Ensure the size of the matrix is a multiple of 8
What are Multi Instance GPUs (MIG)?
Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) is a technique for splitting one A100 GPU into multiple GPU instances—currently up to 7 instances are supported. Each virtual GPU instance runs with separate memory, caching, and multiprocessors. According to NVIDIA, in many scenarios, MIG can improve GPU server utilization by up to 7X.
An A100 GPU running in MIG mode can run up to seven different AI or HPC workloads in parallel. This is especially useful for AI inference jobs that don't require all the power offered by modern GPUs.
For example, you can create:
 - 2 MIG instances with 20 GB of memory each
 - 3 MIG instances with 10 GB each
 - 7 MIG instances with 5 GB each
MIG isolates GPU instances from each other, ensuring that faults in one instance don't affect the others. Each instance offers guaranteed quality of service (QoS) to ensure you get the expected latency and throughput from your workload.
Using MIG for Training and Inference
At the training stage, MIG allows up to seven operators to access a dedicated GPU simultaneously, so multiple deep learning models can be tuned in parallel. As long as each job does not require the full computing capacity of the A100 GPU, this provides excellent performance for each operator.
At the inference stage, MIG lets you process up to seven inference jobs at a time on a single GPU. This is very useful for inference workloads based on small, low-latency models, which do not require full GPU capabilities.
Flexible Deployment
Users can use MIG for AI and HPC without changing their existing CUDA programming model. MIG runs on existing Linux operating systems as well as Kubernetes.
NVIDIA A100 provides MIG as part of its software—this includes GPU drivers, the CUDA 11 framework, an updated NVIDIA container runtime, and new Kubernetes resource types available through device plugins.
NVIDIA Virtual Compute Server (vCS) can be used with MIG to manage hypervisors like Red Hat Virtualization and VMware vSphere. This enables functionality such as live migration and multi-tenancy.
What is NVIDIA DGX A100?
The DGX A100 is an AI infrastructure server providing 5 petaFLOPS of computing power in one system. It enables operating AI workloads, from development to deployment, at large scale on a unified platform.
DGX A100 systems can be connected into large clusters with up to thousands of units. You can scale by adding more DGX units, and splitting each A100 GPU into seven independent GPUs using MIG. DGX A100 provides eight NVIDIA A100 GPUs, and because each can be split into seven, this provides up to 56 independent GPUs in a single DGX, each with its own direct high bandwidth connection, memory, cache and compute.
NVIDIA also provides the NGC Private Registry, with containers optimized for GPU infrastructure, that let you run deep learning, machine


Mason's Line - A Detailed Guide
Mason's line is a product used by professional mason's every day. Also known as the mason's twine, it is one of the most important tools that never get enough credit. When using a mason's line, you do not need to use other leveling tools, which speeds up the process. Plus, when used correctly, it gives a straight line for accuracy while laying blocks or bricks.
In this article, we'll talk about what is a mason's line, how to use it, and everything in between. So, please keep reading to know more about it!
What is Mason's Line?
Mason line is a product used to make straight lines and a leveled surface. It is useful when laying patios, posts, footings, and more. The product is necessary during such jobs as you will no longer need to pick up the level numerous times. Another excellent part about this twine is that it won't sag like other twines.
What are the Characteristics of a Good Good Mason Line?
The mason line is a crucial tool to get straight lines. So there are obviously some important things to keep in mind.
Firstly, the line that you'll be using in laying bricks should be 100% nylon. It won't mildew and will also be less affected by humidity and moisture. The line should also be alkali and abrasion resistant so that it doesn't get damaged by other tools.
In addition, tight and consistent braiding will make it easy to use the line. Precisely, the tighter the braid, the stronger the mason line
Along with this, the mason line should be consistent in color. It should be clearly visible in all types of work conditions. Remember, nylon lines without a consistent color throughout the roll becomes difficult to use and hard to see.
When buying a mason line, don't look at it just like any piece of string but as an important tool. So, focusing on the quality and color of the line is crucial.
How to Use a Mason Line Correctly?
It's essential to use the mason line correctly to get a straight wall. Here are a few easy steps you can follow that will help you in doing the same.
Step 1
First of all, you need to brace and level a 2-4 inch corner pole.
Step 2
The next thing to do is slip your braided mason's line into the line block's groove.
Step 3
Wrap the mason line around the line's notch twice and then slide it into the groove again.
Step 4
Now, face the hook of the mason line towards the rear corner of the cement block and hook the line block over the outside of the block.
Step 5
Run the line to the next corner. Make sure that your line is taut and close to the block you're laying. At the same time, you should have enough space to wipe off extra mortar without bumping the line.
Step 6
Now lay your line in a way that the top of the block matches the established line. Follow this line as you lay and slide the line blocks as you build the wall.
Step 7
Check the wall periodically with a level to ensure that the work is plumb.
Final Thoughts
The mason line is indeed an important tool. It saves valuable time as you don't have to use leveling tools often.
The majority of the bricklayers have experienced unraveling and sagging mason's line while laying bricks. Unfortunately, you could waste valuable time correcting the problems caused by a poor quality mason line. You can prevent this by using a premium quality line.
Make sure to buy the mason line from a reputed vendor and look for the material and consistency of color to prevent costly mistakes.
Great Prices, Great Products & Great Service!


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Event to Focus on Foot and Tooth Health
RANDOLPH – For most, feet and teeth are essential to daily living and must be kept healthy, but a diabetes diagnosis can mean added foot and dental problems and thus a need for extra vigilance.
Gifford Medical Center's seventh annual free Diabetes Education Expo on March 23 focuses on foot and teeth health for diabetes, with special presentations from Randolph dentist Dr. John Lansky and Gifford podiatrist Dr. Kevin McNamara.
"So many people don't realize the importance of particularly dental health when it comes to diabetes care. High blood glucose can lead to more bacteria on your teeth, increasing one's chance of developing tooth and gum disease," says Gifford certified diabetes educator Jennifer Stratton. "We're hoping to bring dental care to the forefront in this year's expo and talk about another important topic: feet."
Long-time high blood glucose damages one's feet in three ways: it can damage nerves (causing a lack of feeling or neuropathy), can affect blood flow, and can depress the immune system.
"The diabetic triad is what makes feet particularly at risk in diabetes," says Dr. McNamara, who has decades of experience in foot care and also holds a special board certification in the treatment of wounds. "Peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease and a suppressed immune system: diabetes makes one more prone to these three things."
"Diabetes is the number one underlying reason for amputations of the foot, many of which are probably preventable," he adds.
Good blood sugar control, particularly early in one's disease; wound prevention; and wound care are keys to helping prevent neuropathy and serious foot problems, like infection.
Nationally, 25.8 million children and adults, or nearly 8.3 percent of the population, have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
In Vermont, the disease affects more than 55,000 people, according to the Department of Health.
Diabetes is marked by high levels of blood glucose resulting from the body not producing or improperly using insulin – the hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy for daily living.
To remain healthy, diabetics must take an active role in managing their diabetes. The free expo is one way Gifford helps people with diabetes find the right tools to manage their disease and stay healthy.
The expo is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Randolph medical center and organized by the hospital's Diabetes Clinic.
Seating is limited and registration is required. Call the Diabetes Clinic at _PHONE_ by March 16 to register, including for the free lunch.
Learn more about Gifford Medical Center and its services for diabetics online at _URL_.
9-10 a.m. Vendor booths open
10-11 a.m. Gifford's professional chefs lead a cooking demonstration
11 a.m. Randolph dentist Dr. John Lansky discusses teeth and diabetes
Noon Lunch (vendor booths open)
1 p.m. Gifford podiatrist Dr. Kevin McNamara talks about foot health
2 p.m. Raffle drawings


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This technique might be the single most effective non-invasive method for deactivating trigger points. So why isn't it used more often?
Spray and Stretch is one of those strange trigger point treatment techniques that is extremely effective, but somehow under-used. It could be because it's simply not taught widely nowadays, or that it's just somehow become unfashionable. I know from some conversations that I've had with colleagues over the years that it is sometimes seen as too simplistic to be taken seriously. So bearing in mind that we use the technique almost daily in our clinics, we thought we'd bring up the subject in today's blog.
Studies have Confirmed Positive Results
Hans Kraus (1941), who was the first to describe the technique of spray and stretch using ethyl chloride spray, used the technique for treating aches and sprains in circus performers. Since then, a number of coolant techniques have been developed to treat almost all trigger points. These often appear to have a myorelaxant effect within a few seconds of application. A number of studies have confirmed positive results. In fact a 1998 study (Simons) summarised this technique as the "single most effective non-invasive methods" for deactivating trigger points.
Ethyl chloride spray is highly flammable, toxic, and is considerably colder than is necessary. It is volatile and has even accidentally killed several patients and doctors. Vapocoolents, such as a Fluori-Methane spray, are a safer alternative, although being a fluorocarbon, it may affect the ozone layer. The recommended product (and sorry no, we don't sell it) is Gebauer's "Spray and Stretch", as it is nontoxic and nonflammable. Machine-based products, such as Cryonics CRYO+, are also gaining popularity. These products are far more predictable and controllable.
The Physiological Basis for these Products is a Type of "Thermal Shock"
Research has indicated that these techniques work partly on the hypothalamus. The rapid skin cooling challenges the autonomic reflex pathways and forces a local homeostatic response, which may have a therapeutic action. A skin cooling of the skin by 2–5 degrees is enough to cause this reaction. The following beneficial effects have been suggested in a number of studies:
- Allergy to cold
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Disorders of skin sensitivity
Simeon Asher demonstrates Spray & Stretch technique for the hamstrings
Spray and Stretch Technique
The basic spray and stretch technique is quite straightforward, as it does not require the same precise localization of trigger points as for needling or injection. Instead you need only locate and identify the affected host muscle to release its fibers. However, it is advisable first to locate the trigger point by palpation. Doing this tends to help reassure the patient as to the efficacy of this "unusual" approach.
Spray: This is a distraction for the more important second step. The spray is aimed out of the inverted bottle nozzle at 30 degrees to the skin in a fine jet over a distance of about 20–50 cm (aim at an area rather than a single spot).
Stretch: This is the therapeutic component of the technique. While two to three sweeps of spray are applied to the affected/host muscle, the muscle is gently extended to its full stretch length.
When to Use Spray and Stretch
- Young children
- Needle-shy patient
- Immediately after trigger point injection
- Post-hemiplegic—stroke rehabilitation
- Immediately following major trauma, e.g. fracture or dislocation
- After whiplash injury
- In a patient with myofascial trigger points and hyperuricemia (excess uric acid)
- Chronic or inhibition-resistant trigger points
- Attachment trigger points
Spray and Stretch Tips
- Locating the central trigger point which causes a precise referred pain pattern is recommended, as it gives the patient a rationale for accepting treatment. Make sure the patient has recently eaten, as hypoglycemia aggravates trigger points.
- Provide a warmish surgery/room.
- Use a blanket to cover the body and areas not being cooled, as muscle warmth is more conducive to muscle relaxation.
- Remember to cover the eyes where appropriate.
- Do not aim at a single spot, as this can burn or cause urticaria.
- Do not force a stretch.
- If the patient is apprehensive, ask them to focus on their breathing.
- Test the range of motion before and after the spray and stretch technique. Make sure that the muscle to be treated is fully relaxed and support it where possible—treatment can be performed sitting, side lying, prone, or supine.
- To achieve a full stretch, you should anchor one side of the muscle, and move the other (passively).
If you are not familiar with Spray and Stretch, we suggest giving it a try. The chances are that you will be amazed at the results. It's certainly not the only way to release trigger points, and it's not the best option in all cases but, as stated above, it is fantastically effective in certain situations, especially when treating young children.
We use Spray and Stretch techniques daily in our clinics, and details of these techniques are included in the NAT Anatomy of Pain - Trigger Point Master Course.
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Last Updated on November 25, 2020 by Sagar Aryal
Sakaguchi Test Definition
Sakaguchi test is a biochemical test consisting of colorimetric reaction for the detection and quantification of guanidinium groups, used as a qualitative test for arginine that is either free or in protein. The test was discovered by and named after the Japanese Food Scientist Shoyo Sakaguchi in 1925. Sakaguchi test is an example of color reactions or test that is performed for the detection of amino acids or proteins. The test is a specific test for arginine where the guanidinium group of arginine reacts with 1-naphthol or α-naphthol to produce a colored product. It is a qualitative test, and the quantification of arginine is hindered in this test due to the slow rate of color development and destruction of some guanidinium groups by the reagent.
Objective of Sakaguchi Test
- To detect the presence of arginine in either free form or in proteins.
Principle of Sakaguchi Test
Sakaguchi test is based on the principle of reaction between 1-naphthol and the guanidinium groups in arginine, in the presence of an oxidizing agent. The exact mechanism of the reaction is not yet known; however, the reaction results in the formation of a red-colored complex due to the formation of an indole-like structure. The Sakaguchi reagent consists of sodium hypobromite and 1-naphthol. The sodium hypobromite acts as an oxidizing agent that facilitates the hydrogen bonding between two arginine molecules.
Image Source: Zlir'a.
- Sakaguchi reagent: 1% 1-naphthol in alcohol with a few drops of 10% sodium hypobromite solution of bromine water.
- 40% NaOH
- Sample (0.1% of arginine or 0.1% of creatine)
- Test tubes
- Test tube stand
Procedure of Sakaguchi Test
- About 3 ml of the test solution is added in a test tube, to which 1 ml of 40% NaOH is added and mixed correctly.
- Then, two drops of 1-naphthol are added to the same test tube and mixed thoroughly.
- Now, 4-5 drops of the 10% sodium hypobromite or bromine water is added.
- The test tube is observed for the development of color.
Result and Interpretation of Sakaguchi Test
- Positive result: A positive result on the Sakaguchi's test is demonstrated by the formation of red color. This indicates the presence of an arginine or guanidinium compound.
- Negative result: A negative result in the Sakaguchi's test is demonstrated by the absence of red color. This indicates an absence of arginine or a guanidinium compound.
Uses of Sakaguchi Test
- Sakaguchi's Test is a biochemical test for the detection of arginine in the free or combined form in proteins.
- The test is qualitative but can be made quantitative by the addition of urea that stabilizes the colored product.
- Quantitative analysis of the colored product is not possible with this test as the rate of Sakaguchi's reaction is slow.
- Similarly, some of the guanidinium groups in the solution might be destroyed by the hypochlorite, resulting in difficulties in testing results.
- Webner C.J (1929). A modification of Sakaguchi's reaction to the quantitative determination of arginine. JBC. December 27.
- Ke, Shan, and Robert Haselkorn. "The Sakaguchi reaction product quenches phycobilisome fluorescence, allowing determination of the arginine concentration in cells of Anabaena strain PCC 7120." Journal of Bacteriology 195,1 (2013): 25-8. doi:10.1128/JB.01512-12
- Tiwari, A. (2015). Practical Biochemistry. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.


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Direct measurement of DNA using UV/Vis spectroscopy remains one of the simplest ways to measure DNA concentration, and the ratio of absorptions at 260 nm vs. 280 nm is used to assess purity of DNA preparation. However, these techniques are not without problems. The high absorbance of DNA and proteins at such wavelengths means that traditional cuvettes are often unsuitable for measuring the high concentration levels without dilution of the sample. Not only is this time-consuming but it also leaves greater scope for error.
A new class of spectrophotometer has emerged to improve and streamline the measurement of such samples. These instruments negate the need for dilutions by measuring microvolume amounts of sample over very short pathlengths. They also reduce waste by using less sample, which is particularly beneficial when only a few microliters are available for measurement. However, difficulties in cleaning these devices and compromises to the accuracy of the optical pathlength do mean that dedicated low volume spectrophotometers frequently compromise ease of use and measurement accuracy.
BioDrop has developed an innovative, alternative approach to microvolume spectroscopy using a BioDrop microvolume cuvette for DNA measurement in a standard spectrophotometer such as the Biochrom Libra S60 duel beam instrument.
The BioDrop Cuvette consists of two precision engineered halves that are magnetically held together with a droplet of sample securely loaded in the middle (Figure 1). The Cuvette is composed of PEEK polymer which is more robust than conventional quartz cuvettes and other low-volume devices. The sample is measured through a large sample window made of quartz.
The BioDrop Cuvette 125, which has a 0.125 mm pathlength, is capable of holding samples as small as 0.6 μL, while the BioDrop Cuvette 500, with a 0.5 mm pathlength, holds samples as low as 2.5 μL. As the BioDrop Cuvette has the same dimensions as a standard cuvette, it is suitable for use in almost all spectrophotometers with a standard cuvette holder.
During use, light shines through the quartz window in the device and the optical pathlength of the measurement area is defined by a precisely machined spacer ring which is mounted on a thin membrane. This membrane provides enough pressure to overcome the surface tension of the sample and ensures that it fills the sample gap while any excess liquid is forced out thus the optical pathlength is accurate to within a few microns.


PatriotSwitch (community library)
Name Value
Name PatriotSwitch
Version 5.1.0
Installs 777
License BSD
Author Ron Lisle
Download.tar.gz
All Versions 5.1.0, 5.0.0, 2.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.0.0
Extend Patriot IoT to support switches. Patriot provides support for controlling IoT devices using Alexa and iOS devices. This plugin adds the ability to add switches to control those devices wirelessly also.
Example Build Testing
Device OS Version:
Library Read Me
A Patriot plugin to support input switch devices.
This library is used to support input switch devices. Any Photon I/O pin may be used to provide on/off status.
Include this library in any Photon sketch that needs to support a Switch. Refer to the more complex examples in the main Patriot IoT examples directory.
This example creates a single switch device connected to pin D4. The internal pull-up resistor is used, so the switch needs only ground the pin to change its state. For experimenting, you can use a jumper wire to ground.
When the state of the input D4 pin changes, an event named "switch" will be published. Other device can define a behavior that uses this event.
You can use the console to monitor these events.
_TAG_
_TAG_
IoT *iot;
void setup() {
iot = IoT::getInstance();
Switch *switch1 = new Switch(D4, "Switch");
void loop() {
Refer to the Patriot Github repository and documentation for more information.
Here's how you can make changes to this library and eventually contribute those changes back.
To get started, clone the library from GitHub to your local machine.
Change the name of the library in to something different. You can add your name at then end.
Modify the sources in and with the new behavior.
To compile an example, use particle compile examples/usage command in Particle CLI or use our Desktop IDE.
After your changes are done you can upload them with particle library upload or Upload command in the IDE. This will create a private (only visible by you) library that you can use in other projects. Do particle library add IoT_myname to add the library to a project on your machine or add the IoT_myname library to a project on the Web IDE or Desktop IDE.
At this point, you can create a GitHub pull request with your changes to the original library.
If you wish to make your library public, use particle library publish or Publish command.
Copyright 2017 Ron Lisle
Refer to the included LICENSE file.
Browse Library Files


Cat Facts, Cat Health, Guest Blogs
When Do Cats Stop Growing? Cat Growth Chart
Author bio: This post was submitted by George Vezilic, a freelance content writer and photographer. As a passionate cat lover, he owns and runs a blog for cats at where he writes about the most interesting topics related to cat health, behavior, and different cat breeds.
Photo by Pixabay from Pexels
Every period of our cats' lives brings with it different positive and negative aspects. For instance, we all love when they are sweet little kittens who are exploring the world and look at us with their curious little eyes. But, often we can't wait for them to grow up and become loafing older cats that mostly want to cuddle with us or take naps. This usually happens when we are tired of their constant games where they are simply acting like teenagers. In these times, it's not rare that we ask ourselves when do cats stop growing? When do they reach adulthood?
The simple answer to this question is that the growth of every cat is different, but there are certain growth stages. Often due to the different characteristics that each cat breed holds, you can't determine the age of the cat. Maine Coon cats, for instance, are big cats, and compared to Munchkin cats they may seem older even if both are at the same age.
Cats' Stages of Life / Cat Growth Chart
In general, there are five stages of a cat's life. Before we take a closer look at them, it's important to point out that cats don't grow in the same consistency in each stage. In other words, when they are younger they grow faster, and as time goes by they grow slower.
Here are the main stages of their life cycle:
 1. Kittens (newborn – 6 months old). This is the stage where cats grow the fastest. Kittens spend their time with their mother learning how to walk, eat, play, and by the age of six months they already have adult teeth. In the period between 3 and 6 months, their facial features become more prominent and they are very active and playful.
 2. Junior cats (6 months to 2 years). After they reach six months, kittens' growth is slower and by 12 months, the kitten is considered to be fully grown. Still, there is some difference between cat breeds. Some of them reach adulthood in 1 year, but for others, it takes longer, up to 2 years. In this period, cats are adolescents and may be rebellious and they reach their sexual maturity. Usually, this is the period when they should be spayed or neutered.
 3. Young adults (2 years to 6 years). The third stage of a cat's life is the prime of their life. Usually, cats stop growing at this stage or grow very slowly. They are adults now and will enjoy sleeping, hunting their prey and eating treats, and grooming themselves.
 4. Mature adults (6 years to 10 years). This is the time when cats stop being very active and enjoy their naps more than they used to. They are fully matured and more laid back. In this period, they may start experiencing health issues and gain weight.
 5. Senior cats (10 years to 14 years). The last stage of the cat's life is after their 10th year of life when they start to have more serious health problems. It is also known as the geriatric stage when cats lose weight, hair, or get other diseases as a result of their age.
Factors That Influence Cat Growth
Besides these general stages of life in cats, there are some other factors that need to be considered which influence their growth. So, if you are wondering how big your cat will become or when will it stop growing have these factors in mind:
 - Cat breed – One of the main factors in a cat's growth is their breed. For instance, larger cat breeds grow slower, while smaller cat breeds grow faster.
 - Spayed or neutered cat – the earlier your cat is spayed or neutered the faster it will grow. Some studies pointed out the fact that spaying and neutering affect a cat's metabolic rate and it may affect their growth.
 - Gender male cats grow slower than female cats, but they may grow much larger.
 - Diet and nutrition – A balanced and nutritional diet leads to the proper growth of your cat. It is important to pay attention to the vet's advice on how to feed your cat and provide a diet appropriate to their age.
 - Genetics – Some genetic factors play an important role in the growth of your cat. For example, cats can have dwarfism or bone abnormalities which are usually caused by genetics.
Conclusion – When Do Cats Stop Growing?
Finally, we must understand that the first year of every cat's life is crucial for their proper growth. This is the time when kittens grow the most and reach their full growth in their first or second year of life. Most cats should reach their full size by the end of their junior cat life stage. Bottom line is that you have to take care of your cat: make regular vet check-ups, keep a well-balanced and healthy diet, and give them lots of exercise and playtime. In that way, cats can grow properly and have fewer chances of getting some diseases.


Economic Growth in an Open Developing Economy
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Economic Growth in an Open Developing Economy
The Role of Structure and Demand
A. P. Thirlwall
This concise yet insightful sequel to the highly acclaimed The Nature of Economic Growth provides a comprehensive critique of both old and new growth theory, highlighting the importance of economic growth for reducing poverty.
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Chapter 1: Divisions in the world economy and the importance of economic growth
The Role of Structure and Demand
A. P. Thirlwall
The well-known American economist, Robert Lucas, remarked in a book a few years ago: 'Once one starts to think about [economic growth] it is hard to think of anything else [because] the consequences for human welfare involved are simply staggering' (Lucas, 2002, p. 5). He is right. It is not possible to understand the deep divisions in living standards in the world economy today without reference to the growth experience of countries in the past; and it is not possible to tackle world poverty today without faster income growth in the poorest countries. Income growth may not be a sufficient condition for poverty reduction, if all the benefits accrue to the better off, but it is certainly a necessary condition. A redistribution of the existing level of the national income of poor countries would make only a small dent in the total level of poverty.
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