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Philips SpeechMike III
Dragon® Medical Practice Edition 2+ Philips SpeechMike USB dictation microphone
Superior audio quality
- Noise-canceling microphone for accurate speech recognition results
- Integrated sound card and speaker ensuring crystal clear playback
Enhance your productivity
- Comfortable ergonomic design for one-thumb operation
- Antimicrobial surface for active bacteria reduction and improved hygiene
- Attach client or patient data to a recording simply by scanning a barcode
Designed for professionals
- Available with Philips SpeechExec professional dictation software
- Geared for Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software
- Can be fully integrated into existing workflow systems
Philips SpeechMike USB dictation microphone
| Noise-canceling microphone for accurate speech recognition results|
The superior microphone reduces background noise and is optimized for speech recognition. The built-in headset socket allows you to attach the noise-canceling headset for hands-free recording and even more accuracy in a noisy environment.
| Integrated sound card and speaker ensuring crystal clear playback|
The advanced built-in front speaker and the integrated sound card guarantee crystal clear playback of your dictation files.
|Comfortable ergonomic design for one-thumb operation|
Designed with three ergonomic zones, it has been tested and proven by users to have the most comfortable fit in the human hand. The dictation zone is optimized to keep thumb movement to a minimum and allows for blind operation. The buttons needed for the actual dictation functions take up the greatest amount of space in the central area of the device. Less frequently needed function buttons are clearly arranged above and below. The trackball uses a laser sensor that allows precise cursor movements. It contains an integrated confirmation button for simple control of PC functions and can also be used to control playback volume.
| Antimicrobial surface for active bacteria reduction and improved hygiene|
The antimicrobial surface is important for use in a clinical environment. This feature was achieved by adding a substance to the plastic that impedes the reproduction of microorganisms, thus improving hygiene.
|Attach client or patient data to a recording simply by scanning a barcode|
Link client or patient data to a recorded file simply by scanning a bar code. The scanned information is automatically attached to the dictation file, streamlining the documentation process. All identifying information is entered accurately, increasing security and potential for cost savings.
| Available with Philips SpeechExec professional dictation software|
The dictation management software SpeechExec Pro Dictate allows the seamless and flexible integration of dictation, transcription, and voice recognition in a single application. Dictation files and documents can be sent via network or email, uploaded to an FTP server, or archived in the company network – even in encrypted form. User-friendly functions allow for clear and transparent organization of the recordings and the implementation of an efficient document workflow.
| Geared for Dragon NaturallySpeaking speech recognition software|
The SpeechMike features preconfigured buttons for direct control of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the voice recognition solution from Nuance.


Hi i have a problem with quadratic splnes, i am supposed to find S_1 and S_2 that interpolates the following points S(-1)=0 S(0)=1 S(1)=2, and at the same time we want to find S such that \int_{-1}^1 \! (S(x))^2 \, \mathrm{d}x. is minimal. The answer is on the form
S_1(x)=a_1 x^2 +b_1x +c_1 on [-1,0] and

S_2(x)=a_2x^2 +b_2x +c_2 on [-1,0]
my answer:
I use the data points and find that a1=-a2, b1=b2 and c1=c2=1, but I have no idea how to use minimize
\int_{-1}^1 \! (S(x))^2 \, \mathrm{d}x.
, can i divide it up?
min\int_{-1}^1 \! (S(x))^2 \, \mathrm{d}x.=min (\int_{-1}^0 \! (S_1(x))^2 \, \mathrm{d}x. +\int_{0}^1 \! (S_2(x))^2 \, \mathrm{d}x. )?
I know i should get an expression and probably set the derivative to zero but i just dont know how to attack the minimizing itegral since the functions has two parts. Help greatly appreciated.


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|Version 2 (modified by simonmar, 7 years ago)|
GHC Commentary: The Code Generator
Storage manager representations
The code generator needs to know the layout of heap objects, because it generates code that accesses and constructs those heap objects. The runtime also needs to know about the layout of heap objects, because it contains the garbage collector. How can we share the definition of storage layout such that the code generator and the runtime both have access to it, and so that we don't have to keep two independent definitions in sync?
Currently we solve the problem this way:
- C types representing heap objects are defined in the C header files, see for example includes/Closures.h.
- A C program, includes/mkDerivedConstants.c, _TAG_ the runtime headers. This program is built and run when you type make or make boot in includes/. It is run twice: once to generate includes\DerivedConstants.h, and again to generate includes/GHCConstants.h.
- The file DerivedConstants.h contains lots of _TAG_ like this:
_TAG_ OFFSET_StgTSO_why_blocked 18which says that the offset to the why_blocked field of an StgTSO is 18 bytes. This file is _TAG_ into includes/Cmm.h, so these offests are available to the hand-written.cmm files.
- The file GHCConstants.h contains similar definitions:
oFFSET_StgTSO_why_blocked = 18::IntThis time the definitions are in Haskell syntax, and this file is _TAG_ directly into compiler/main/Constants.lhs. This is the way that these offsets are made available to GHC's code generator.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Setting Up WebGoat for Pen-testing
Posted on September 21, 2016.
As I have been preparing to teach my security course, I wanted to incorporate a variety of tools into the course so that students gain a more technical understanding regarding security topics such as general DOS commands, cryptography, stegonography, secure networks, access controls, application security, database security, incident disaster and response, etc. Anyway, I searched for effective tools to examine application and database insecurities with a way to track individual student progress. Enters WebGoat. WebGoat allows you test a bunch of insecurities to gain an understanding of possible weaknesses when building a web application and database. You could run the standalone jar file per the instructions; however, I wanted each user to have access to their own account so these were the steps I followed to make this possible:
 1. Download Maven binary zip file, extract it, and save the directory where you want.
 2. Download and install the latest Java JDK.
 3. Add JAVA_HOME to the environment variables by opening System Properties and then clicking Environment Variables on the Advanced tab
 4. Add the path to the JDK you installed in
 5. Enter JAVA_HOME as the Variable name and the directory to your JDK as the Variable value
 6. Click OK twice.
 7. Click edit while selecting Path under the System variables
 8. Add two new path variables %JAVA_HOME%in and the bin folder in the Maven folder you saved in
 9. Click OK twice.
 10. Check to see if Maven is running by running the following in command prompt:
 mvn -v
 11. Install Git.
 12. Open command prompt, navigate to where you want to download WebGoat, and run the following:
 git clone
 git clone
 cd WebGoat
 git checkout develop
 mvn clean compile install
 cd..
 cd WebGoat-Lessons
 git checkout develop
 mvn package
 xcopy "targetplugins*.jar" "..WebGoatwebgoat-containersrcmainwebappplugin_lessons"
 cd..
 13. If you want to add more users to track individual logins, follow these instructions before continuing. Note: The spring-security.xml file is located at WebGoatwebgoat-containersrcmainwebappWEB-INF. If you skip this step you can still login with the guest, webgoat, and server default accounts. If you remove the guest, webgoat, and server account, make sure you delete the following from the login.jsp file located at WebGoatwebgoat-containersrcmainwebappWEB-INFpages:
 The following accounts are built into Webgoat

 AccountUserPassword
 Webgoat Userguestguest
 Webgoat Adminwebgoatwebgoat
 14. The Show Source, Show Solution, Show Plan, Show Hints, and Restart Lesson links will duplicate unless you hide (style="display:none) the following lines of code in the main.jsp file located at WebGoatwebgoat-containersrcmainwebappWEB-INFpages.
 Show Source
 Show Solution
 Show Plan
 Show Hints
 Restart Lesson
 15. Run the standalone jar file:
 cd WebGoat
 mvn package
 cd webgoat-container/target
 java -jar webgoat-container-7.1-SNAPSHOT-war-exec.jar
 Note: you can specify the port or address to run WebGoat by adding the following after the previous line:
 --p --address
 -p -a
 16. Open WebGoat in your browser by visiting:


text:
ICON Web & News
Search Using OECD Database
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In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Fluorescence Mapping and Speciation of CeO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles in Soil Cultivated Soybean (Glycine max)
Link to Journal Abstract
With the increased use of engineered nanomaterials such as ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs), these materials will inevitably be released into the environment, with unknown consequences. In addition, the potential storage of these NPs or their biotransformed products in edible/reproductive organs of crop plants can cause them to enter into the food chain and the next plant generation. Few reports thus far have addressed the entire life cycle of plants grown in NP-contaminated soil. Soybean (Glycine max) seeds were germinated and grown to full maturity in organic farm soil amended with either ZnO NPs at 500 mg/kg or CeO2 NPs at 1000 mg/kg. At harvest, synchrotron ì-XRF and ì-XANES analyses were performed on soybean tissues, including pods, to determine the forms of Ce and Zn in NP-treated plants. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies showed no presence of ZnO NPs within tissues. However, ì-XANES data showed O-bound Zn, in a form resembling Zn-citrate, which could be an important Zn complex in the soybean grains. On the other hand, the synchrotron ì-XANES results showed that Ce remained mostly as CeO2 NPs within the plant. The data also showed that a small percentage of Ce(IV), the oxidation state of Ce in CeO2 NPs, was biotransformed to Ce(III). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the presence of CeO2 and Zn compounds in the reproductive/edible portion of the soybean plant grown in farm soil with CeO2 and ZnO NPs.
For this study, soybean (Glycine max) seeds were germinated and grown to full maturity in organic farm soil amended with either ZnO NPs at 500 mg/kg or CeO2 NPs at 1000 mg/kg. At harvest, synchrotron ì-XRF and ì-XANES analyses were performed on soybean tissues, including pods, to determine the forms of Ce and Zn in NP-treated plants.
Peer Reviewed Journal Article
Exposure Or Hazard Target
Method Of Study
Environmental Fate and Transport
Risk Exposure Group
ACS Nano, 2013, 7(2): _PHONE_
Hernandez-Viezcas JA, Castillo-Michel H, Andrews JC, Cotte M, Rico C, Peralta-Videa JR, Ge Y, Priester JH, Holden PA, Gardea-Torresdey JL
Last updated on May 3, 2013
This work is supported in part by the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative of the National Science Foundation
under NSF Award Number EEC-_PHONE_.
Why Join Us?
Mission and Strategy
Good Nano Guide
Nano EHS Research Needs
Current Practices Survey


text:
- Who We Are
- Who We Work With
- What We Do
- News & Events
Organization:Institute for Water Technology (Spain)
As any other measuring device, a water meter is not an ideal instrument and is not capable of registering the exact amount of water consumed by a user. Every water meter, no matter its type, has considerable measuring limitations. Often, part of the water that is consumed is not registered and therefore not charged to the customer. Other times, depending on the water meter technology, some particular factors may lead to the opposite result, that is, to an over registration of the water consumption. In any of these two cases, since water meter inaccuracies are recognised as a critical component of apparent losses, it is important to be capable of quantifying the magnitude of these measuring errors.
Nowadays there is a general lack of information, based on real data, about the actual effect of different parameters in the performance of water meters. Hence, technical staff in the water utility has to evaluate or estimate water meter accuracy, and analyse the factors that may have any influence on it, without the help of bibliographic reference or external experience.
This paper presents real field and laboratory data on how several factors may affect the water meter accuracy for both, domestic and industrial type of meters, and different technologies, single jet, multiple jet, oscillating piston, Woltman and Tangential meters. Particularly the influence of the following parameters in the water meter metrology will be analysed: mounting position, velocity profile distortions, fatigue tests, depositions, partial blockage of the strainer or the water meter inlet, incorrect water meter sizing, water consumption patterns and the presence of user's storage tanks. As a result of the experiments it has been clearly shown that not every water meter has the same sensitivity to the previous parameters. Furthermore, diverse meter models of the same technology present very different behaviours depending on the specific construction characteristics of each instrument. Consequently, to reduce the magnitude of the apparent losses and to guaranty an accurate water measurement, it is not only important to select the adequate metering technology but also the right construction that suits the specific characteristics of the water supply system.
The paper is divided into two parts. The first dealing with factors that may affect domestic water meter accuracy and the second describing the most common problems in registering non-domestic water consumption.
|Key Factors Affecting Water Meter Accuracy.pdf||378.96 KB|


City pays millions for firefighter-caused blaze
While battling a warehouse fire, crews set off a second blaze that caused significant damage
MONTREAL — A Montreal suburb was fined $3.7 million after a judge declared firefighters made a warehouse fire worse by setting a second blaze.
120 firefighters responded to the September 2004 fire, which had broken out in the storage room of a foam plant, and used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the plant's ceiling across the hall from where the fire was spreading, according to the Sun News Network.
The sparks from the chainsaw ignited nearby polymers used in making Styrofoam, which caused another fire.
The resulting second blaze along with the first fire took firefighter 11 hours to extinguish, leaving significant damage to the warehouse.
Insurer's blamed the Laval Fire Department for its mistake and had sued for $9 million.
A judge agreed that the firefighters worsened the fire by using the chainsaw.
The city has not decided if it will appeal the decision.
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 2. Fire Attack
Recommended Fire-EMS
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[TowerTalk] Dielectrically lenghtening the boom
To: "" <>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Dielectrically lenghtening the boom
From: "David J. Sourdis - HK1A" <>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:56:47 -0500
List-post: <">>
Maybe it has already been applied to the cellphone technology or elsewhere, or
it is just not feasible because dielectric losses...
Dielectric material, lossy in some extent, sets a velocity factor (VF) for wave
propagation in cables.
This makes the physical lenght of the line shorter than freespace size.
Take a Yagi, and fill the space between elements with a material which its
dielectric constant is less than 1.0 (air's).
Would the element spacing, hence the boom lenght, have to be adjusted by a
shortening factor equal to the VF?
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Pat Martino: Martino Unstrung
By Published: | 40,244 views
Pat MartinoA new documentary film about legendary guitarist Pat Martino, Martino Unstrung, focuses on his brain disease—AVM or arteriovenous malformation—emergency surgery, profound memory loss, and miraculous musical and personal recovery. It also presents intimate portraits of Martino, his music, his wife Ayako Akai, his friends across the decades, his family, and important locales in his life. It is only natural that one would want to know Martino's own reflections on a film which is not only about him but in which he actively participated both on and off screen.
Martino has been a big part of the jazz scene for so many years that it is easy to take for granted that he is one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time. A virtuoso, his sound and technique on the instrument are impeccable. His musical range extends from deep and rich interpretations of ballads to fast-moving extended runs that are almost impossible to rival—from blues and standards to complex original compositions of his own and others. His mastery of the instrument and consummate teaching ability lead aspirants from around the world to study with him. Martino's understanding of guitar goes well beyond style and technique to include spiritual and theoretical insights.
Early recognized as a master, Martino has been performing and recording since the early 1960s. Unbeknownst to himself, he grew up with an abnormality of blood vessels in the brain called AVM, or arterioevenous malformation. According to medical experts, this condition worsened until, well into his career, he began to have serious mental complications which were improperly diagnosed. In the late 1970s, these symptoms proved to be caused by a brain aneurysm that required emergency surgery. As the now nearly legendary story in jazz circles goes, he woke up from the surgery with total amnesia for past events and persons. He did not even recognize the guitar or his record albums.
From that traumatic point, he gradually recovered his playing ability and resumed his career to where his accomplishments are even greater than before. He won the NARA Heroes Award for that achievement. Recently, the British film director, Ian Knox and his friend in England, neuropsychologist Paul Broks, collaborated with Martino on a film documentary about his memory loss and recovery, including an intimate portrayal of Martino and his wife, Ayako.
Martino Unstrung is one of the best documentaries about a jazz musician. Ian Knox is a terrific director. The film is spellbinding from beginning to end. It offers a moving, intimate portrayal of Martino as a person, a musical icon and someone who had undergone a traumatic loss of memory and made a miraculous recovery. It's a deeply personal testament. The following interview, conducted in person at his home studio, offers Martino's own reflections on the film and its personal meaning to him.
Chapter Index
 1. Agreeing to the Film
 2. Recovering from Surgery
 3. Examination of the Brain
 4. Martino's Life on Film
 5. Friends Les Paul and Joe Pesci
 6. Symptoms of Illness
 7. Healing
 8. Martino's Wife, Ayako Akai
Agreeing to the Film
All About Jazz: You are a high profile musician, and in a sense your music defines you, so what prompted you to participate in a film which is deeply personal and is focused on your memory loss and recovery as such rather than the music? What led you to get involved in such a project?
Pat Martino: That's a really interesting question in that normally what leads me to do anything that takes place prior to its fruition was the very thing that led me to want to interact with Ian Knox when I first saw his presence in the room I was sitting in at Ronnie Scott's in London. I was relaxing between shows, and in walked a very interesting individual whose hado, or aura, attracted attention. We turned and looked at each other, greeted each other's presence, and then sat down and talked. I asked him what he did, and his qualities were very magnetic and exciting. And it moved from there. And the film was no different from that moment.
To me, the outcome is what is left behind compared to the very moments of filming when it's been enjoyed as life itself. So, for me, each and every moment on the film is not what I see on the film, even though it's a replica. It has been captured, very much like a photograph of a loved one in a catalog. There's no life in it to me personally. I'm more interested in the enjoyment of my life, and that's what the film is all about. And that went from moment to moment to moment. Even now it still continues, and I enjoy what I'm doing.
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Users cannot access certain Georgetown Library electronic resources off campus
Certain library electronic resources will be inaccessible to users when accessed from off campus locations:
For example, since the Georgetown library subscribes to many electronic resources, on campus access to these journals works without any issues and does not require a GU affiliation (e.g. NetID login) to be established. Off campus access to these journals, however, will need to be authenticated first by logging in to the service with the user's Georgetown NetID and password. That is, off-campus users need to access the content via the Library's EZproxy service, which rewrites the requests and proxies them through the GU network. The EZproxy service is NetID-enabled and requests credentials when the user first tries to access content via a "proxied" link.
We suggest that the following revisions be made to links that have been used in Canvas and Blackboard:
For example, instead of directly linking to a library resource:
Instructors and course site builders should instead use:
i.e.: add to the front part of the resource url
This would prompt users to log in to Georgetown services and will provide access to the resource for both on and off-campus users.


text:
A talent pipeline is a network of engaged passive candidates who can fill future roles in your company. Talent pipeline metrics help you measure the effectiveness of your sourcing strategies in finding and engaging those candidates. Here's a primer on five common talent pipeline metrics and how to calculate them:
Source of hire
Source of hire shows what percentage of your overall hires entered your pipeline from each recruiting source (e.g. referrals, social media sourcing.) This information helps you plan your recruiting budget and allocate resources for the most effective recruiting channels. For example, if employee referrals bring in a high percentage of hires, consider investing in a fully-fledged referral program.
It'd be a good idea to track candidate sources too. For example, a source that brings you a large number of high quality candidates is valuable, even if you end up hiring someone from another source. Use recruiting data from your Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to find out what percentage of your most qualified candidates each source brings in.
Candidate conversion rates
Candidate conversion rates show how effective recruiters are in enticing passive candidates and moving them further along in their pipeline. Imagine your talent pipeline model has the following main stages:
Measure conversion rates from each stage to the other. For example, let's assume that you send a sourcing email to 30 candidates in a week. Ask yourself:
- How many candidates reply? If five of them reply and agree to talk further, then your email conversion rate is 5/30*100% = 16.6%.
- How many candidates do you routinely follow-up with post-screening call? If you regularly check-in with one out of three candidates you speak with, then your conversion rate is 1/3 *100% = 33.3%.
- What percentage of your engaged candidates moved forward to an interview (or are hired)? For example, if you recommend five candidates from your talent pipeline per month, and hiring managers interview (or hire) three of those candidates, then your pipeline conversion rate that month is 3/5*100%, or 60%. The higher this rate is, the higher the quality of your pipeline.
Track these metrics across your recruiting pipeline and across time and calculate the average annual/ quarterly rates. Aim for the highest possible conversion rates.
Job offer acceptance rate
Your offer acceptance rate (OAR) shows what percentage of candidates accepted your job offer. Here's the formula to calculate OAR:
So, if you extended job offers to 10 candidates the past month, and six of those candidates accepted, your offer acceptance rate is 60%.
Track this metric per position and per hiring manager. Also, measure your OAR specifically for candidates you sourced and engaged with. This metric can indicate whether:
- Your candidates had positive experiences that compelled them to accept your job offer.
- You successfully matched candidates in your pipeline to open roles they were interested in.
- Your job offers are attractive enough for the best people in your talent pipeline.
Time to fill
Maintaining a talent pipeline helps you reduce the number of days it takes to fill an open position (your time to fill.) This is because you've already qualified and engaged candidates in your pipeline before a position opens. If you find that your talent pipeline doesn't significantly reduce your average time to fill, you may need to make your hiring process more efficient or rethink how you qualify candidates.
To calculate your time to fill, first define the time period you will be measuring. For example, your starting point could be the day HR or Finance approves a job opening. Then, count the days until your best candidate accepts your job offer.
Compare your time to fill across positions and departments to find out which teams or roles might need a stronger talent pipeline.
Candidate experience metrics
To build talent pipelines, recruiters should care about their candidates. This candidate-centric approach helps you build good relationships with candidates, boost your employer brand and even enhance your pipeline through referrals from your engaged candidates.
A good way to measure candidate experience is using online survey tools (e.g. Typeform) to ask for both qualitative and quantitative feedback. Here are example questions:
- How would you rate your overall experience communicating with our recruiter?
- What do you think we could improve in our hiring process?
Supplement this feedback by monitoring reviews on Glassdoor and social media.
These five talent pipeline metrics will help you assess the quality of your pipelines. Each company may choose to monitor additional recruitment metrics that fit specific needs. Always track cost per hire and quality of hire for a well-rounded view of your recruiting strategies.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
About the National Youth Leadership Forum: Pathways to STEM Alumni
Building New and Bigger Pathways
The NYLF Pathways to STEM Alumni program was developed specifically for students who previously attended the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Pathways to STEM. The program provides these students with the opportunity to build upon their previous Envision experience and further cultivate their passion for STEM.
At NYLF Pathways to STEM Alumni, students learn by doing as they participate in hands-on simulations that allow them to take on roles, Maker Center Challenges that provide them with additional exposure to STEM opportunities and allow them to showcase their creativity, and an offsite experience filled with interactive learning.
Virtually all career fields today require a solid foundation of STEM. Early and frequent exposure to these fields can set today's kids on a path to success by giving them the tools needed to make informed decisions about the future. During the program, students will gain increased exposure to STEM opportunities and further develop essential success skills while also reconnecting with old friends and forming new bonds with their fellow Envision alumni.


text:
||Description of Responsibilities
"Culture of Reading" Initiative, New Brunswick, NJ
A literacy coordinator/reading coach is an educator with knowledge of reading instruction and preferably second language acquisition.
Assess Literacy Skills
The GLP literacy coordinator/reading coach will liaise with teachers to determine student reading levels and specific areas of difficulty that the Global Literacy Project, Inc. reading enrichment program should target. As a coach, they will also meet with small groups of students to practice reading skills and provide periodic progress reports on student development.
Recruit and Manage Volunteers
The literacy coordinator/reading coach will assist in recruiting, training, and managing volunteer tutors who work one-on-one or with small groups of students. Coordinators provide on-going support to tutors so they too can refine their skills.
Support Early Literacy Development
If the program is for young children, the literacy coordinator/reading coach may provide parents with information and resources to help their children begin developing pre-reading skills such as concepts of print and phonological awareness. If the program is for adults, the literacy coordinator/reading coach can encourage students who have young children or grandchildren to apply their learning to help these children develop literacy skills from the earliest ages.
Campus & Community Liason
- Supervise student volunteers in the program with respect to volunteer activities in New Brunswick and outreach to the participating elementary to high schools.
- Conduct formal and informal trainings for student volunteers
- Maintain regular contact with faculty, staff, and students on campus
- Create materials, such as handouts, and other props that facilitate engagement between readers and students.
- Develop/compile and distribute various resource lists and literacy information as needed to volunteer readers and the directors and teachers of the partnering reading sites.
Global Literacy Project, Inc., P.O. Box 1859, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0228
Copyright 2002-2013 Global
Literacy Project, Inc. Terms
of Use Webmaster:


It started with the idea of putting physics balls at each corner of a cuboid, well I actually did it in 2d first, so 4 circles at each corner of a rectangle.
Then each ball runs it's own physics & collision using circular\spherical collision, and they work out the movement speed and rotation by comparing it's new position and it's previous.
Then the balls are held together by a "body", which adds up all the ball's movement speeds and rotation and gets the average amounts.
The rotation wasn't that hard to do in 2d cus I could use angle_difference to get how much each ball had rotated from it's previous position, but in 3d it has to create a quaternion from the 2 vectors from the center of the body to the ball's previous position and current position.
So it gets 8 quaternions for each ball's relative rotation, adds them together and normalizes it to get the average rotation amount. This is then multiplied with the body's "rotation speed" quaternion to add it on and make it build up over time.
Then the rotation speed quat is converted to a matrix and multiplied with the body's absolute rotation matrix (To add the rotation speed onto the rotation of the model)
Then another matrix is made from the body's center position and the 2 are multiplied together to create the body's final world matrix, which is used when rendering the model.
The vehicle object has the following variables:
Rotation Damp - used to reduce\decelerate the rotation speed quat (default 0.97)
Rotation Accel - multiplies with the current rotation quat of the step, to reduce how much gets added to the rotation speed quat (default 0.97)
Accel - acceleration of the vehicle when driving forwards (default 0.5)
Decel - slows the vehicle (0.98)
Turn Accel - the speed of the tyres rotating left or right (default 0.25)
Turn Decel - the speed that the tyres return to the center if the player isn't turning (default 0.25)
Turn Speed - the max amount that is added to the rotation quat (default 0.13)
Wheel Radius - the radius of each physics ball (default 25)
Wheel Weight - default 2
Roof Weight - default 0.5
These are used to make the vehicle not topple over (heavier bottom than the roof)
Turn Threshold - used to reduce the turning amount if it's not moving fast enough (default 15) (this stops the vehicle being able to turn if it's still)
Thrust - Reduces speed based on how different the "forwards vector" and speed direction\vector are. (The forwards vector is got with matrix_transform_vertex(absolute_rotation_matrix, 1, 0, 0) and the speed vector is (x - prevx, y - prevy, z - prevz))
Overall Speed - A final multiplier to affect how much the vehicle moves (default 0.9) ei: x += xspeed * overall_speed; y += yspeed * overall_speed; z += zspeed * overall_speed; (This is useful for if you've got all the variables working nicely together but it looks too fast or slow, you can use it to reduce\increase the speed without altering the balance between the variables)
You can get quite a lot of different types of handling by adjusting all of these, which is cool.
Here's the code for it if anyone's interested:
function player_step_vehicle()
 //Get tyre grip based on how many of them are on the ground
 var grip = 0.25 * (wheel_bl.ground + wheel_br.ground + wheel_fl.ground + wheel_fr.ground);
 //Compare forward vector and speed to get friction
 var f = matrix_transform_vertex(rot_matrix, 1, 0, 0);
 var frict = lerp(thrust, 1, abs(dot_product_3d_normalized(f[0], f[1], f[2], x - ox, y - oy, z - oz)));
 if input_move_v!= 0
 if input_move_v < 0
 {input_move_v *= reverse_speed}
 var a = input_move_v * accel * frict * (0.5 + (grip * 0.5))
 xspeed += f[0] * a
 yspeed += f[1] * a
 zspeed += f[2] * a
 if keyboard_check_pressed(vk_space)
 {zspeed -= jump_speed}
 //Apply decel (Might change this so it only does it if not accelerating)
 xspeed *= decel
 yspeed *= decel
 zspeed *= decel
 //Apply friction
 if grip!= 0
 xspeed *= frict
 yspeed *= frict
 zspeed *= frict
 //Clamp speed
 var d = point_distance_3d(0, 0, 0, xspeed, yspeed, zspeed);
 if d > max_speed
 d = max_speed / d
 xspeed *= d
 yspeed *= d
 zspeed *= d
 if input_move_h!= 0
 {wheel_dir = clamp(wheel_dir + (wheel_accel * input_move_h), -1, 1)}
 {wheel_dir *= 1 - wheel_decel}
 //Apply rotation from wheel dir
 if grip!= 0
 turn_amount = turn_speed * wheel_dir * frict * (0.5 + (grip * 0.5))
 var spd = point_distance_3d(0, 0, 0, x - ox, y - oy, z - oz);
 //Reduce if not moving fast
 if spd < turn_threshold
 {turn_amount *= spd / turn_threshold}
 //Physics & Collision
 //Get old position
 ox = x
 oy = y
 oz = z
 mid_x = x,
 mid_y = y,
 mid_z = z,
 i = 0,
 l = balls,
 r = wheel_radius,
 //Init relative quat
 qx = 0,
 qy = 0,
 qz = 0,
 qw = 1,
 mat = matrix,
 p, vx, vy, vz, cl, j, q, d,
 mx = 0, my = 0, mz = 0;
 //Get list of precise models the vehicle is intersecting
 cl = collision_bbox_get_list(obj_precise)
 repeat l[0]
 //Scope into ball struct
 with l[++i]
 //Store old position for collision checks
 ox = x
 oy = y
 oz = z
 //Get new pos from main matrix
 p = matrix_transform_vertex(mat, base_x, base_y, base_z)
 x = p[0]
 y = p[1]
 z = p[2]
 //Inherit speed from body & add gravity\weight
 xspeed = other.xspeed
 yspeed = other.yspeed
 zspeed = other.zspeed + (weight *!ground)
 //Store position before speed is applied
 //(for calculating the new speed after collision)
 cx = x
 cy = y
 cz = z
 //Apply speed
 x += xspeed
 y += yspeed
 z += zspeed
 //Get rotation base vector
 vx = x - mid_x
 vy = y - mid_y
 vz = z - mid_z
 //Update the ball's bbox
 //(has to be done manually cus it's a struct)
 bbox_left = x - r
 bbox_right = x + r
 bbox_top = y - r
 bbox_bottom = y + r
 bbox_z1 = z - r
 bbox_z2 = z + r
 ground = false
 if cl!= undefined
 j = 0
 repeat cl[0]
 //Make a quaternion from the difference of the base vector and the new one after collision
 q = quat_vec_difference(vx, vy, vz, x - mid_x, y - mid_y, z - mid_z)
 //Add the quaternion to the total quaternion
 qx += q[0]
 qy += q[1]
 qz += q[2]
 qw += q[3]
 //Get new speed vector and add to the total speed
 mx += x - cx
 my += y - cy
 mz += z - cz
 //Divide total speed by number of balls to get the mean speed
 mx *= 0.125
 my *= 0.125
 mz *= 0.125
 //Clamp the mean speed
 d = point_distance_3d(0, 0, 0, mx, my, mz)
 if d > max_speed
 d = max_speed / d
 mx *= d
 my *= d
 mz *= d
 //Apply the mean speed to the body position multiplied by overall_speed
 x += mx * overall_speed
 y += my * overall_speed
 z += mz * overall_speed
 //Set the mean speed as the new speed
 xspeed = mx
 yspeed = my
 zspeed = mz
 //Reduce the relative rotation quat
 qx *=


text:
Sound value: A
Literal meaning: Elm
Pronounced as "AHL-m"
Features: Large evergreen conifer tree (Pine Family)
Uses: Wood in building and furniture, essential oils, vegetable tar. Medicinal uses.
North Central Florida
Features: Large evergreen conifer trees (Pine Family)
Uses: major resources for naval stores pine tar and pitch) in the past. Today turpentine, rosin, and fatty acids are derived from these trees.
Features: Tall evergreen tree (Pine Family)
Uses: Resin used to make turpentine. Wood used.
Features: Tall deciduous tree, prefers damp soils (Elm Family)
Uses: Wood used in building. Medicinal uses.
Modern divinatory meaning: Clear view to the future, perspective, foresight
Animal symbolism (based on traditional lore): bear
Bird symbolism (based on traditional lore): lapwing
Color: Piebald (spotted black & white)


text:
Symbaroum is one of the most interesting RolePlaying Games recently published, from the Swedish Jarnringen.
GGstudio is proudly the publisher of the Italian edition.
If you dare to explore the Davokar, that's what you are going to find:
- A fast-paced and flexible rule-set for creating player characters and acting in the game world
- 5 playable races and 3 archetypes, divided into 15 occupations, as a basis for character creation
- 35 abilities, 25 mystical powers, 33 rituals and a large number of weapons and armors to make each character unique
- Detailed guidelines for how to create adventures; 38 monsters and adversaries, and 19 monstrous traits to arm the characters' enemies with
- More than 50 pages describing the game world's history, geography and cultures, focusing on four particular settings: the Forest of Davokar, the fortune hunter's town of Thistle Hold, the Ambrian capital Yndaros and the cliff of Karvosti where the barbarian clans convene.
- Symbaroum is a complete roleplaying game; all you need to play is paper, pen and a dice set.
- The roleplaying game Symbaroum is suitable for all adventurous humans, goblins and trolls from the age of 12.


Trench Shoring Cages are Actually Trench Safety Devices
Trench Shoring Cages | Stack Trench Boxes | Aluminum Trench Box Assembly | Trench Shoring System | Kundel Trench Boxes | Kundel Trench Boxes for Sale
Excavation has always been known as dangerous work. Workers in this industry have a far greater chance of being killed than general construction trades; hence shoring cages are used.
As a solution, standards were created that identify common hazards found when having individuals work in trenches. Each employer is responsible for ensuring that each excavation is free of identified and predictable hazards. To do this, employers must designate a representative to design, construct and maintain the work area so that they will be free of hazards. A person assigned to this role is known as the qualified person. A trench is an excavation that has a greater depth than its width measured at the bottom. Employees who work in trenches that are 5 feet deep must be protected from a cave-in (a mass of soil separated from the bank of a trench) by a trench protective system.
Trench Shoring vs. Shoring Cages
Trench shoring should not be confused with trench shielding. In the end, they both serve the same purpose, which is to protect but they also function in different ways of protecting. Shoring cages are designed to protect workers in the event of a collapse or cave-in, while trench shores are designed to prevent the collapse or cave-in from ever occurring. Because trench shores examine a way to prevent all potential hazards of a work area, it is viewed as the safer and better option, even though it is more time-consuming.
The soil inside of a trench can sometimes be of a type that has an unconfined strength. Meaning a type of soil that has insufficient strength to stand unsupported. A type of soil that tends to run or slough into the excavation as the trench is being dug and worked by the worker(s). An excavation is a work area is not is not considered a work area until the workers actually begin working.
This would be the point where the qualified person would review and make an assessment of the potential dangers of the type soil workers would have to work with. If known and/or predictable hazards are found, a trench box system must be in place prior to the start of any work by the workers.
Shoring Cages and the Qualified Person
The assessment done by the qualified person will determine what type of trench shoring boxes will be used. Shoring cages are a type commonly used.
Trench shoring is the process of securing the wall surfaces of a trench. Having this safety equipment is extremely important for the well-being and protection of the work area and workers as they work on projects that require them to work inside of deep trenches.
There are several methods of trench shoring. A common method is hydraulic shores.
Hydraulic shoring products are lightweight that utilize hydraulic pressure to support banks of excavation. As the hydraulic cylinders are pressurized against trench walls, pressure arcs will radiate from the center of the cylinder in many different directions. If nearby shores are located close enough for the arcs to intersect, pressure arches will be formed. These arches shore the banks. These pressure arches fan out into the banks; supporting the soil without the presence of sheeting.
Other methods of shoring cages are beam and plate and more solid boarding. However, hydraulic shoring works faster than these and tend to be the choice for larger excavations.
When it comes to safety in construction, the biggest danger is having a situation occur where workers become trapped in dirt and materials. Trench shoring was developed as a method to prevent these types of situations.
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text:
by Roger Downey
John Luther Adams says he wrote his Inuksuit for "9 to 99 percussionists." That sounds as if it's supposed to be epic in scale, and it is, in ambition. When you hear the commercial recording, with just 30-odd players, that feeling is confirmed. But Adams is thinking in terms of multiples of musicians, and 99 players would probably need more than nine times the footprint of just nine.
So the main shock of encountering Inuksuit live, on a sunny-cloudy, coolish-warmish Saturday afternoon in Seattle was the discovery that the piece is chamber music; that at its thundering climax about a half hour in iit's just as calm and transparent as at its amplified breathing opening and its shimmering-triangles conclusion.
Every review of earlier performances round the world mentions how Adams' slowly shifting soundscape captures the random sounds of its surroundings. That bare statement doesn't convey the way it bends those sounds and enfolds them, makes them seem as appropriate to their moments as the sounds of the written score.
Other composers are surely studying this piece, learning from it how to tear down the material concert hall built into their preconceptions and replace it with a virtual cathedral, where the winds are the walls and the sky Shelly's dome of multicolored glass, "staining the white radiance of Eternity."


First 0 Euro Banknote of Ireland
19 Jun 2021 Sat
The concept of "Euro Souvenir" was introduced to attract tourists and visitors. These notes depict important destinations, historical buildings, or anything else that represents that particular country.
A French businessman named Richard Faille introduced this concept in France in 2015. The idea was expanded and has now reached Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal through various businesses.
A company from Galway named Euro Note Souvenir released Ireland's first '0 Euro' banknote in August which was introduced as an Irish souvenir or Irish gift. The Euro Souvenir depicts an image of a Celtic harp and a map of Ireland with its states.
Image Courtesy:
Knowledge Base


Dartmouth pushes radical change in campus life
After a hard look at student life on campus, the trustees and president of Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., have decided it's time for change. In a controversial move, they're targeting a more than 150-year-old way of life: the Greek house system.
Like many colleges, Dartmouth is grappling with issues such as alcohol abuse and gender relations. To that end, administrators last month announced principles that will guide social and residential life at the Ivy League school starting in the _PHONE_ school year:
*There should be greater choice and continuity in residential living and improved residential space.
Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test?
*There should be additional and improved social spaces controlled by students.
*The system should be substantially coeducational and provide opportunities for greater interaction among all Dartmouth students.
*The abuse and unsafe use of alcohol should be eliminated.
Alumni and students have reacted in particular to Principle No. 3 -which stands to change single-sex fraternities and sororities to co-ed Greek houses or to eliminate the Greek system altogether.
As part of the Monitor's "On Campus" forum, we've given Dartmouth students past and present an opportunity to weigh in. Their debate, while personal, touches on issues applicable to other schools with Greek systems.
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- My NEB
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 - SFP Synthase
 SFP Synthase (4'-phosphopantetheinyl transferase) catalyzes the covalent transfer of substituents from derivatized coenzyme A (CoA) to ACPor MCP-tagged fusion proteins exposed on the surface of living cells. The 25 nmoles of SFP Synthase provided is sufficient to make 25 ml of a 1 µM ACP-tag or MCP-tag fusion protein labeling solution.
 The ACP-tag and MCP-tag are small protein tags (8 kDa) based on the acyl carrier protein. MCP-tag contains two mutations (D36-T36 and D39-G39). Both allow the specific, covalent attachment of virtually any molecule to a protein of interest. Substrates for labeling are derivatives of coenzyme A (CoA). In the labeling reaction, the substituted phosphopantetheine group of CoA is covalently attached to a conserved serine residue on the ACP-tag or the MCP-tag by a phosphopantetheine transferase (SFP Synthase or ACP Synthase). Having no cysteines, the ACP-tag and the MCP-tag are particularly suited for specifically labeling cell-surface proteins, and should be useful for labeling secreted proteins with disulfide bridges such as antibodies.
 While ACP Synthase (NEB _TAG_) preferentially modify the ACP-tag, SFP Synthase preferentially modify the ACP-tag, SFP Synthase will modify both ACP-tag and MCP-tag. This principle can be employed for sequential dual labeling of two different proteins that localize to the cell surface. Cells co-expressing one ACP-tag fusion protein and one MCP-tag fusion protein can be incubated with ACP Synthase and one CoA substrate followed by labeling with SFP Synthase and a different CoA substrate.
 There are two steps to using this system: cloning and expression of the protein of interest as an ACP-tag or MCP-tag fusion, and labeling of the fusion protein using the SFP Synthase with the CoA substrate of choice. In this document, the labeling of fusion proteins with CoA substrates is described. The cloning of ACP-tag or MCP-tag protein fusions is described in the documentation supplied with the ACP-tag or the MCP-tag plasmids.
 Figure 1:
 SFP labeling reaction
 Product Source
 An E. coli strain carrying the cloned B.subtilis gene for 4'- phosphopantetheinyl transferase (SFP).
 Reagents Supplied
 The following reagents are supplied with this product:
 Store at (°C)Concentration
 1M MgCl2
 Properties and Usage
 Storage Temperature
 Storage Conditions
 50 mM HEPES
 150 mM NaCl
 1 mM DTT
 50% Glycerol
 pH 7.4
 Heat Inactivation
 Quality Control
 Quality Control Assays
 - Cellular Protein Labeling (Blocking Assay):
 The blocking compound is pre-incubated with cells expressing the target protein followed by labeling of the target protein. No labeling is detected by fluorescence microscopy
 - In Vitro Protein Labeling:
 The product is tested in an in vitro protein labeling reaction. After incubation the labeled product is visualized on SDS-PAGE by fluorescent detection and verified by mass spectrometry.
 1. Storage: SFP Synthase is stable for at least 2 years when stored at -20°C.
 Supporting Documents
 Material Safety Datasheets
 1. What is the ACP-tag?
 2. How does it work?
 4. What linker type and length would you recommend?
 6. Are ACP-tag substrates stable to fixation?
 1. Instructions for Use with SFP Synthase (P9302)
 2. Labeling of Proteins in vitro (P9302)


text:
Promotion of liquid‐crystalline behavior in oligothiophenes was achieved by M. Melucci and co‐workers (see p. 10046 ff.) by applying a new design‐strategy based on the insertion of a rigid inner core, such as dithienothiophene, benzothiadiazole, or carbazole, and hexyl chains as ends. Oligomers of different size and shape were synthesized by a highly efficient microwave‐assisted protocol. Most of the newly synthesized materials showed ordered smectic mesophases and maintained the smectic order by slow cooling to room temperature. Semiconducting behavior in field‐effect transistors from cast and vacuum‐evaporated films was demonstrated.
17 Dec 2007
Volume: 13 Issue: 36 Pages: 10007-10007
Chemistry–A European Journal


text:
Nov 05, 2016 - 07:18 AM
The upper LED is used to indicate polarity and the corresponding uActivate test ports located at the top of the uActivate. The Color of the LED indicates which test port is the power side which is typically terminal 30 of the relay. By default the other port is relay terminal 87.
The lower LED also indicates the polarity and the corresponding test port - the pin tip sockets located on either side of the LED. Typically, the LED color indicates which test point is the relay 86 terminal. The lower LED is actiavted only by the systen control circuit - when this LED lights up, the system is trying to actiave the relay.


text:
To many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, Government House is an imposing grey-stone building in downtown St. John's, and the home of Their Honours the Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Her Honour Jane Furneaux Crosbie.
Many people may not know about the vegetable gardens behind the residence, and what happens to the food that's grown there.
The Government House Garden in 2012. Pictures will be added as the gardening season unfolds.
The Government House Vegetable Garden Project
by Jackson McLean
Initiated in 2010 by a collective of dedicated volunteers, including Her Honour Jane Furneaux Crosbie, the Government House Vegetable Garden Project is a unique opportunity for high school and junior high youth to learn the basics of food production. A 50 foot by 60 foot plot of 42-raised beds has been cut on the beautiful Government House grounds to accommodate weekly volunteer sessions that run from May to October and include soil preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, and everything in between.
An additional plot was cut in 2011 and the new soil was used to grow an abundance of potatoes, turnip, corn, and squash.
As the vegetables grow, so does the young person's understanding of the delicate relationship between humans and nature, and the crucial steps that precede supermarket freshness. Issues of food preservation and security are addressed in workshops with guest facilitators from local organizations such as Food Education and Action St. John's (FEASt). Most of the produce is donated to the local food sharing organization: Bridges to Hope.
The success of the program has allowed it to expand and flourish, thereby providing more opportunities for young people to engage in a meaningful volunteer experience that will forever change the way they think about food. Current partners of this project involve Gonzaga High School, Macdonald Drive, and the Duke of Edinburgh Program. If you would like to learn more, please contact _EMAIL_.
Government House Garden 2010
Government House Garden 2011


text:
The purpose of Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative is to keep kids safe, in school, and positively connected to their communities.
Yo Bro Yo Girl Youth Initiative believes that every youth has innate resilience. By creating caring relationships, opportunities to participate and contribute, and holding positive and high expectations, we believe all youth have the power to transform and change their lives to achieve their potential.
To engage at-risk youth in their schools and communities so they attain the skills and values necessary to realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the safety and well-being of their communities.
Yo Bro and Yo Girl youth are motivated and equipped with tools and resiliency to avoid drugs and violence, pursue education, and set positive goals for the future. They serve as ambassadors, living examples of how our programs transform youth from at-risk to capable, confident, and respected contributing members of society.


text:
Fiberfrax® Refractory ceramic fibers are a family of high temperature fibers designed to be used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. Manufactured from alumina-silica materials these fibers offer such characteristics as high temperature stability, low thermal conductivity, low heat storage, excellent thermal shock resistance, light weight, and superior corrosion resistance. Fiberfrax Refractory ceramic fibers exhibit thermal stability at temperatures up to 1260°C (2300°F).
Fiberfrax Refractory ceramic fibers are available in a variety of chemistries and diameters which can service a wide variety of applications. In addition, these fibers can be further modified by chopping or by removal of the unfiberized particles (called shot). Lubricants can also be added to the fiber to enhance fiber properties. Unifrax has the ability to control the average fiber diameter of fibers through a unique spinning operation. It is this spinning operation that is used to produce both the Fiberfrax® Spun Fiber and Long Staple Fibers. Average fiber diameters for these fibers range from 3 to 12 microns as detailed on the table below.
These larger-diameter fibers provide certain desirable properties, such as:


text:
Bass, Blue Nose
Bluenose Bass is a large fish, growing to over 50 kg, found in temperate waters of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and South America. They are particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure because they are long lived, mature late, and exhibit schooling and spawning aggregation behaviors making them easier to catch.
Bluenose Bass sold in the U.S. primarily comes from New Zealand, but a small commercial Bluenose Bass fishery also occurs in Australia. Both fisheries are managed through total allowable catch limits. In New Zealand, abundance of Bluenose Bass has declined to low levels over the last decade, likely as a result of unsustainable catch rates, and there is a relatively high probability that the population is overfished. In Australia, abundance levels of Bluenose Bass populations appear to be more stable.
The majority of Bluenose Bass are caught with bottom longlines or other hook-and-line gear, which may cause moderate habitat damage and result in medium levels of bycatch.


text:
Enrol in Understanding Medical Tests for Medical Office Staff
Course Code: HLTH058
With an understanding of medical testing you can help explain the test and its purpose to a patient, prepare the patient before the test, and give proper care during and after the test, and understand expected results. Risks, complications, and special concerns are covered. Strongly Recommended: Medical Terminology HLTH 56.


Chinese scientists want help from expats
Beijing Normal University
Scientists researching the effects of language on thought want expatriate volunteers to help with their research.
Scientists at the Beijing Normal University are looking into how ones spoken language affects the way they think, and they will be using brain-mapping technology to peer into the heads of their subjects.
The study, entitled Kinship Representation in the Brain: A Cross-cultural Study, will examine the different terms Westerners use to refer to family compared to Asians by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to examine neural activity.
Research director at the State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning in Beijing Normal University, Liu Chao, said: "In the Chinese language there are more than 30 different terms used to identify family members of three different generations, in the English language there are only 15 such words."
To help with the research Chao is looking for native English speakers from the United Kingdom or the USA between the ages of 18 and 35, another requirement is that they must be right handed. For their troubles respondents will be given a 3D, high resolution, image of their brain and a fee of 100 Yuan.
If you are an expat in the Beijing area and are interested in taking part contact the Beijing Normal University.


text:
Saxon "offa" means "open", while "uffern" is oven, inferno, volcano. (The village is referred to in the Domesday Book as Uffintone. [A. D. Mills, "A Dictionary of English Place-Names," Oxford University Press, 1991]).
Dragon Hill and the horned beast seem to be linked with such expressions. The WH Hill itself is shaped like a vent with the animals seeming to leap upwards on the summit.
Is it possible that the Otherworld lay at the foot of the hill and there were funerals held in the top enclosure? There are no objects found there to indicate a military use of the site, but it lies on the border of 2 Celtic lands, perhaps suggesting the remote location of the Otherworld and passage there at death.
Maybe the chalk beast is the daughter of the volcano-living Echidna dragon, the goat-horned lion known as Beaufort Yale, who was the Chimera connected with a volcanic vent south of Celtic Galatia in Asia Minor...that's a long story....


text:
Official Name: Sharyland Independent School District
Motto: "Commitment, Cooperation and Communication"
Colors: Red and White
Communities Served: Sharyland, Mission, Alton, Palmhust, Edinburg, and McAllen
Brief History: Sharyland is a large community in the Lower Rio Grande Valley situated between the cities of Mission and McAllen. Before the 19th century, the area where Sharyland now stands was sparsely populated with ranching families, most of Mexican descent. However, by the late 19thcentury and early 20thcentury "Anglo" land developers took an interest in many of the lands along the Rio Grande. One such developer was John H. Shary, a native of Nebraska who visited the Rio Grande Valley in 1912. Shary saw the potential for farming and citrus production and within a short time purchased thousands of acres of land which he named Sharyland. Sharyland attracted farmers from the North and Midwest and became known for its citrus production. Sharyland was also John Shary's home until his death in 1945.
Sharyland Independent School District is named in honor of John H. Shary who was president of the district's first board of trustees. Created in 1921, this twenty-six square-mile school district is located in Hidalgo County. The district is committed to providing the highest quality education possible for all students.
Public schools in Sharyland include: Jessie L. Jensen Elementary School, John H. Shary Elementary School, Lloyd and Dolly Bentsen Elementary School, Olivero Garza Sr. Elementary School, Romulo D. Martinez Elementary School, Ruben Hinojosa Elementary School, Donna Wernecke Elementary, Harry Shimotsu Elementary, BL Gray Junior High School, Sharyland North Junior High School, and Sharyland High School.


The Shocking Truth About Network Hardware Failures (and a Proven Way to Protect Yourself)
When it comes to building your network, you don't want to take any chances. Network hardware failures mean lots of lost money and major stress and are the last thing anyone wants! Therefore nothing but the most reliable network hardware will suffice.
 - Jul 22, 2013
 - Rick
network hardware failures - a shocking truth
"The biggest culprit of SMB downtime is actually due to hardware failure, which accounts for some 55 percent of all downtime events in SMBs," explains Paul Mah of SMB Tech.
So, how do you avoid network hardware failures and maintain high levels of reliability?
A good way to avoid network hardware failures is to understand where and when they take place.
This understanding of how network hardware failures happen will arm you with information that can help your organization be more efficient and profitable. Plus, it makes your life easier and less stressful.
Where and When Do Network Hardware Failures Happen?
(Hint: It's not what you think!)
This may come as a surprise to most. The vast majority of network hardware failures take place within the first 30 days of installing brand new, out-of-the-box network hardware.
That's worth repeating. Most network hardware failures occur within the first 30 days of buying and implementing brand new hardware.
Oddly enough, once the network hardware is "burned in," it tends to run smoothly and efficiently for years and years. This means that you could be running a higher risk of encountering network hardware failure when you purchase new network hardware.
For many IT professionals, the top reason they pay more money to buy new network hardware is for perceived reasons of reliability. The reality may be 180 degrees opposite of their perception.
What Could Be Causing Network Hardware Failures?
One of the chief reasons network hardware failures occur in the first 30 days might have to do with testing of the product. Did you know that not every piece of new network equipment is thoroughly inspected for quality purposes? In fact, testing of new hardware looks like this:
Only about one out of every X devices is spot-checked.
That could mean 1 out of every 100 devices is checked. Maybe it's 1 out of 1,000. Whether it is 1 out of 100 or 1 out of 1,000 isn't the most important point.
Shouldn't every unit of network hardware be tested?
Shouldn't that number be a 1 to 1 ratio?
Network hardware failure is a big problem for companies, and the lack of inspection may be causing major issues for customers who are spending extra budget money thinking they're purchasing a superior, more reliable, top-of-the-line product.
But the simple fact is that an untested product could crash at any time—there is no telling when something could go wrong.
A Counterintuitive Solution to Protect Against Network Hardware Failure That Will Save Your Organization Tons of Money
What you are about to hear may take you by surprise. You may have some kind of initial allergic reaction. It's no surprise; you are conditioned to react that way. But if you take a moment to think about it for yourself, you will see that it makes sense. Ready?
Buy pre-owned network hardware.
But wait...not just any pre-owned network hardware.
This is important.
Buy top quality pre-owned network hardware, preferably from an established industry authority who puts the highest value on product testing and certification.
Here's a quick list of some of the things you want to look for to identify a top quality network hardware provider:
Some companies will even have NBD hardware replacement services available that will cost you as little as 50% of what you'd pay for the manufacturer alternative. Plus it allows you to extend the life cycle of your hardware because they can support end-of-life/end-of-service product lines.
This precisely describes our practices and our philosophy. We live it every single day. That's how we know it works, and we will proudly and passionately advocate for this approach. It has ensured high performance and reliability, minimized downtime, and saved people huge amounts of money for a long time.
Just to show you that this isn't a bunch of hot air, the reliability rating for CXtec's very own pre-owned network hardware is over 99.5%. That means a less than 0.05% failure rate. Some original hardware manufacturers have failure rates in the 3 to 4% range. That means buying quality pre-owned hardware provides higher performance and reliability than new network hardware, but at a fraction of the cost.
Less stress. Less risk. Big savings.
When you make the wise decision to purchase top quality pre-owned network hardware in this manner, you erase the doubt and stress from your mind and you get to save as much as 50 to 90% off list prices. So you get the bonus of having extra money available for other priorities for your IT team and your organization. Talk about making your life a little easier.
It's no risk and all reward.
Think about it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. All it takes is a small shift in philosophy, attitude, and approach to network hardware. What are you waiting for?
If you'd like to learn more about how you can ensure the high performance and reliability of your network hardware while saving lots of money, or if you have a question about your unique situation/problem, we're happy to talk to you. Just click here or give us a ring.


What Are the Florida Labor Laws for a Commission Sales Person?
Related Articles
The Fair Labor Standards Act governs overtime pay standards for commissioned sales employees in Florida, which has its own minimum wage laws. Florida also has statutes relating to commissioned sales workers who are not employees.
Exempt From Overtime
Commissioned outside sales employees in Florida, as defined by the FLSA, are exempt from the act's minimum wage and overtime pay requirements. This includes employees who use physical contact to sell products or services off the employer's property, such as a traditional door-to-door salesperson. Exempt outside salespeople do not have to be paid at the federal minimum wage, or overtime if they work more than 40 hours in a week. This rule stands regardless of whether they are paid fully, or in part, by commissions.
Commissioned inside salespersons employed by retail or service establishments, as defined by the FLSA, are exempt from overtime requirements but not the minimum wage. To qualify for the overtime exemption:
 - The employee's regular pay rate, including commissions, must be more than one and one-half times the minimum wage
 - Commissions must make up more than half of her total pay.
Nonexempt Employees
A commissioned sales employee who does not meet FLSA minimum wage or overtime exempt requirements is nonexempt. Inside sales employees generally are nonexempt, for example, except for those who work at retail or service establishments. Commissioned nonexempt salespeople in Florida must receive:
 - No less than the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher. As of publication, Florida's minimum wage is $8.05 per hour, and the federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
 - Overtime wages if they work more than 40 hours in a week.
Unpaid Commissions
The FLSA does not oversee the collection of unpaid commissions, only wages that are within the scope of its requirements, such as unpaid minimum wage or overtime. To recover unpaid minimum wage or overtime, the employee may file a wage claim with the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. She also can file a private lawsuit for unpaid commissions. According to the website of Arcadier and Associates, a law firm in Florida, commissions are regarded as wages in the state and may be recovered by claiming breach of contract.
Independent Contractors
Florida statutes provide some protection for salespersons who are not employees and who are paid fully or in part by commissions. When someone hires a sales representative in the state to sell goods or services, the contract should be put in writing and must state how the commission will be calculated and paid. The hiring party must give the salesperson a copy of the contract.
 - Commissions should be paid according to the terms of the contract. If a contract ends and was not put in writing, the hiring party has 30 days after the contract termination date to pay commissions due.


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Optimizing Performance: Text
WPF includes support for the presentation of text content through the use of feature-rich user interface (UI) controls. In general you can divide text rendering in three layers:
 1. Using the Glyphs and GlyphRun objects directly.
 2. Using the FormattedText object.
 3. Using high-level controls, such as the TextBlock and FlowDocument objects.
This topic provides text rendering performance recommendations.
This topic contains the following sections.
Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) provides advanced text support including glyph-level markup with direct access to Glyphs for customers who want to intercept and persist text after formatting. These features provide critical support for the different text rendering requirements in each of the following scenarios.
 - Screen display of fixed-format documents.
 - Print scenarios.
 - Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) as a device printer language.
 - Microsoft XPS Document Writer.
 - Previous printer drivers, output from Win32 applications to the fixed format.
 - Print spool format.
 - Fixed-format document representation, including clients for previous versions of Windows and other computing devices.
Glyphs and GlyphRun are designed for fixed-format document presentation and print scenarios. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) provides several elements for general layout and user interface (UI) scenarios such as Label and TextBlock. For more information on layout and UI scenarios, see the Typography in WPF.
The following examples show how to define properties for a Glyphs object in Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML). The Glyphs object represents the output of a GlyphRun in XAML. The examples assume that the Arial, Courier New, and Times New Roman fonts are installed in the C:\WINDOWS\Fonts folder on the local computer.

 FontUri = "C:\WINDOWS\Fonts\TIMES.TTF"
 FontRenderingEmSize = "100"
 StyleSimulations = "BoldSimulation"
 UnicodeString = "Hello World!"
 Fill = "Black"
 OriginX = "100"
 OriginY = "200"
Using DrawGlyphRun
If you have custom control and you want to render glyphs, use the DrawGlyphRun method.
WPF also provides lower-level services for custom text formatting through the use of the FormattedText object. The most efficient way of rendering text in Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) is by generating text content at the glyph level using Glyphs and GlyphRun. However, the cost of this efficiency is the loss of easy to use rich text formatting, which are built-in features of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) controls, such as TextBlock and FlowDocument.
The FormattedText object allows you to draw multi-line text, in which each character in the text can be individually formatted. For more information, see Drawing Formatted Text.
To create formatted text, call the FormattedText constructor to create a FormattedText object. Once you have created the initial formatted text string, you can apply a range of formatting styles. If your application wants to implement its own layout, then the FormattedText object is better choice than using a control, such as TextBlock. For more information on the FormattedText object, see Drawing Formatted Text.
The FormattedText object provides low-level text formatting capability. You can apply multiple formatting styles to one or more characters. For example, you could call both the SetFontSize and SetForegroundBrush methods to change the formatting of the first five characters in the text.
The following code example creates a FormattedText object and renders it.
protected override void OnRender(DrawingContext drawingContext)
 string testString = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor";
 // Create the initial formatted text string.
 FormattedText formattedText = new FormattedText(
 new Typeface("Verdana"),
 // Set a maximum width and height. If the text overflows these values, an ellipsis "..." appears.
 formattedText.MaxTextWidth = 300;
 formattedText.MaxTextHeight = 240;
 // Use a larger font size beginning at the first (zero-based) character and continuing for 5 characters.
 // The font size is calculated in terms of points -- not as device-independent pixels.
 formattedText.SetFontSize(36 * (96.0 / 72.0), 0, 5);
 // Use a Bold font weight beginning at the 6th character and continuing for 11 characters.
 formattedText.SetFontWeight(FontWeights.Bold, 6, 11);
 // Use a linear gradient brush beginning at the 6th character and continuing for 11 characters.
 new LinearGradientBrush(
 6, 11);
 // Use an Italic font style beginning at the 28th character and continuing for 28 characters.
 formattedText.SetFontStyle(FontStyles.Italic, 28, 28);
 // Draw the formatted text string to the DrawingContext of the control.
 drawingContext.DrawText(formattedText, new Point(10, 0));
WPF includes multiple controls for drawing text to the screen. Each control is targeted to a different scenario and has its own list of features and limitations.
FlowDocument Impacts Performance More than TextBlock or Label
In general, the TextBlock element should be used when limited text support is required, such as a brief sentence in a user interface (UI). Label can be used when minimal text support is required. The FlowDocument element is a container for re-flowable documents that support rich presentation of content, and therefore, has a greater performance impact than using the TextBlock or Label controls.
For more information on FlowDocument, see Flow Document Overview.
Avoid Using TextBlock in FlowDocument
The TextBlock element is derived from UIElement. The Run element is derived from TextElement, which is less costly to use than a UIElement-derived object. When possible, use Run rather than TextBlock for displaying text content in a FlowDocument.
The following markup sample illustrates two ways of setting text content within a FlowDocument:

 Line one

 Line two
Avoid Using Run to Set Text Properties
In general, using a Run within a TextBlock is more performance intensive than not using an explicit Run object at all. If you are using a Run in order to set text properties, set those properties directly on the TextBlock instead.
The following markup sample illustrates these two ways of setting a text property, in this case, the FontWeight property:
 Hello, world
 Hello, world
The following table shows the cost of displaying 1000 TextBlock objects with and without an explicit Run.
TextBlock type
Creation time (ms)
Render time (ms)
Run setting text properties
TextBlock setting text properties
Avoid Databinding to the Label.Content Property
Imagine a scenario where you have a Label object that is updated frequently from a String source. When data binding the Label element's Content property to the String source object, you may experience poor performance. Each time the source String is updated, the old String object is discarded and a new String is recreated—because a String object is immutable, it cannot be modified. This, in turn, causes the ContentPresenter of the Label object to discard its old content and regenerate the new content to display the new String.
The solution to this problem is simple. If the Label is not set to a custom ContentTemplate value, replace the Label with a TextBlock and data bind its Text property to the source string.
Data bound property
Update time (ms)
The Hyperlink object is an inline-level flow content element that allows you to host hyperlinks within the flow content.
Combine Hyperlinks in One TextBlock Object
You can optimize the use of multiple Hyperlink elements by grouping them together within the same TextBlock. This helps to minimize the number of objects you create in your application. For example, you may want to display multiple hyperlinks, such as the following:
MSN Home | My MSN
The following markup example shows multiple TextBlock elements used to display the hyperlinks:
 MSN Home
 My MSN
The following markup example shows a more efficient way of displaying the hyperlinks, this time, using a single TextBlock:

Showing Underlines on Hyperlinks Only on MouseEnter Events
A TextDecoration object is a visual ornamentation that you can add to text; however, it can be performance intensive to instantiate. If you make extensive use of Hyperlink elements, consider showing an underline only when triggering an event, such as the MouseEnter event. For more information, see How to: Use a Text Decoration with a Hyperlink.
Hyperlink appearing on MouseEnter
Hyperlinks displaying TextDecorations
The following markup sample shows a Hyperlink defined with and without an underline:


text:
Brain-imaging studies indicate that a thinning of the right hemisphere of the brain may be linked to an increased risk of depression. Writing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers report that people at high risk of developing depression had a 28 percent thinning of the right cortex, the brainâs outermost surface, compared to people with no known risk of depression. The thinning was not linked to actual depression -- just an increased risk of developing depression. Researchers said that the discovery that there was a structural link in the cortex to depression was surprising, and plan more imaging and genetic studies to expand on the finding. We'll find out more.
Produced by Annette Heist, Senior Producer


Laravel creating our first database table
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A while ago, I wrote an article on setting up a Laravel project but never got on to writing more Laravel stuff.
Today I'll be going through some important things, Databases! Laravel has a very cool way of creating/maintaining databases, which is in the form of migrations.
It basically means every time you need to make a change to a database, you'll need to write a new migration. Yes, even if you want to change something on an old table.
And that has many benefits. It tells laravel what the old field was, you can auto set new values, and much more.
Another great thing about migration is the option to roll back a migration. Using the rollback will revert the migration as you describe in the migration file.
Setting the environment file
Before we can work with the database, we have to create a connection first. These connections are maintained and defined in a so-called.env file.
Each Laravel project will come with an example called the.env.example.
Copy the example to your own version and change the variables to be correct.
For today we are just looking at the database section.
Creating our first Laravel migration
Enough talk. Let's see how this works. Open your favorite terminal and navigate to your project root folder.
php artisan make:migration create_books_table
Running this command will create a new migrations file, you can find under database/migrations/{time}_create_books_table.php.
You might see there are already the default migration files from Laravel in this folder.
Open up the newly created file.
You will see there are two sections here, an up and a down. As mentioned above, the up will be used to create or alter tables. The down will be used when the rollback is called and generally should revert what happened in the up.
Let's add some fields to our table.
Schema::create('books', function (Blueprint $table) {
This will create a table called books that has the following fields.
 - id: auto-increment field
 - title: string
 - year: number
 - created_at: datetime
 - updated_at: datetime
The id and timestamps are by default added by Laravel.
Now, we can run the following command to run our new migration:
./vendor/bin/sail artisan migrate
If you haven't used the new start, you can run:
php artisan migrate
This will create the table for us, and it should look something like this:
Laravel database table created
And there you go, our first database table in Laravel.
Thank you for reading, and let's connect!
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text: Guban, coastal plain, northwestern Somalia, running parallel to the Gulf of Aden for about 150 miles (240 km) between Seylac (Zeila) in the west and Berbera in the east. The Guban ("burned") plain narrows gradually from 35 miles (56 km) in the west to about 4 miles (6 km) in the east. Sandy and low-lying (less than 330 feet [100 m] above sea level), it is characterized by high temperatures and humidity, little rainfall (about 2 inches [50 mm] annually), and sparse steppe vegetation. The plain is traversed by broad and shallow seasonal streams and gives way to the Galgodon Highlands (rising to about 6,500 feet [1,980 m]) on the south. The population is mostly of the Dir and Isaaq clans, who generally raise their camels and goats outside of the Guban near permanent wells in the Galgodon Highlands. Seylac and Barbera are the chief towns. A broad definition of the Guban includes the narrow coastal "burnt land" extending eastward to the easternmost tip of the northern Somalia coast.


my credit?
Delinquent child support frequently appear on credit reports. In 1984, Congress amended the federal Child Support Enforcement (CSE) legislation to require more routine reporting of delinquent payments.
State child support enforcement agencies must report overdue child support to a credit bureau that requests such information, as long as the amount exceeds $1,000. CSE agencies may also report delinquencies of any amount on a voluntary basis.
Before a CSE agency reports your delinquent child support debts to a credit bureau, it must tell you that it is going to do so and provide you with information on how to dispute the delinquency.
Can my credit rating be negatively affected by having too much available credit?
You may be turned down for a loan because you have too much available credit. When creditors evaluate your application for credit, they ascertain whether, if you were to use all your available credit, you would be over your head.
Accounts you no longer use, or have paid off, can count against you if they are listed as "open" on a credit report. The act of paying off a revolving account does not, in itself, result in its being "closed" in the eyes of creditors. Further, some creditors do not report to credit bureaus the fact that accounts are closed.
Tip: Every time you close an account, ask the creditor to report it as "closed by consumer" to all credit bureaus to which the account has previously been reported. If a closed account appears on your credit report as open, dispute the entry with the credit bureau.
In determining whether you have too much available credit, creditors usually consider:
 - The number of accounts you hold. As noted above, having too many credit card accounts can count against you.
 - The total credit you have available. Having too much available credit can count against you.
 - Conversely, being at or near the limit on your credit cards (i.e., with little available credit) can also count against you if it suggests that you have incurred too heavy a debt load.
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text:
BGSU Historic Campus Tour
In the late 1950s, the University's Board of Trustees approved plans for the construction of a series of buildings to make up a "science complex" that would serve as a center for the various science departments on-campus. Unfortunately, a lack of funding prevented construction of the Physical Science Laboratory before the early 1980s. Thus, with the Planetarium's construction in 1984, completion of the "science complex" did not occur until well after originally intended. The building has been used mainly by the Chemistry Department, however it also
serves as an aid for industrial research in Physics and Astronomy. Moreover, the building serves the larger Bowling Green community by sponsoring and holding special programs for observing the universe and educating the public in the world of science.
Listed below are additional highlights in the history of the building:
- 1981, Board of Trustees approves plans for the construction of the final building or part of a "science complex."
- 1984, construction completed at a final cost of $7.2 million. Building will house 18 research labs, 9 rooms for "non-portable" science equipment, a planetarium, and roof-top observatory.


Calculating Market Concentration Indices in R – II
In part I of this series we studied the theory of concentration indices, application of concentration indices especially by U.S. Justice Department to analyze mergers and acquisition, and we also learned to calculate Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). In the present article we will study the usefulness of Horvath and Entropy index, estimation methodology and advantages of using these concentration indices over the HHI index. Finally we will learn how to write our function in R to calculate Horvath and Entropy Index.
Horvath Index:
Horvath (1970) in an article describes the Horvath index also known as Comprehensive Concentration Index verbally as a decimal fraction which is a sum total of proportional share of leading firm plus the summation of the square of proportional sizes of each firm reinforced by a multiplier reflecting the proportional sizes of the rest of the industry. In mathematical terms the index is defined as follows:
CCI = x_{i}+sum_{j=2}^{n}(x_{j})^2*[1+(1-x_{j}])
i = 1
j = 2,3,4,...,n
n = number of firms in an industry
x = decimal fraction of assets belonging to each individual firms
The CCI is between 0 and 1 where the index closer to 1 would indicate higher concentration or monopoly.
CCI Estimation:
In R we can use the above mentioned equation to write a function in R to calculate the CCI. Following function is written in R to estimate the CCI:
cci <- function(x,s){
 m <- x[1,s]
 hi <- m +((m^2)*(1+(1-m))*length(x[,s]))
 m <- max(x[,s])
 d <- x[-match(m,x[,s]),s]
 cc = c()
 for ( i in 1:length(d))
 cc[i] <- (d[i]^2)*(1+(1-d[i]))
 hi <- m+sum(cc)
once we create the function in R we can use this function to calculate the CCI. For performing the calculation we use the examples used by Horvath (1970) under table 1.
p <- data.frame(firm =c("a","b"), mkt = c(80,20))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
q <- data.frame(firm =c("a","b","c"), mkt = c(80,10,10))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
r <- data.frame(firm =c("a","b","c","d"), mkt = c(50,30,15,5))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
s <- data.frame(firm =c("a",paste(rep("b",10),c(1:10), sep=".")), mkt = c(50,rep(5,10)))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
t <- data.frame(firm =c("a",paste(rep("b",50),c(1:50), sep=".")), mkt = c(50, rep(1,50)))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
w <- data.frame(firm =c(paste(rep("b",100),c(1:100), sep=".")), mkt = c(rep(1,100)))%>% mutate(pct = mkt/100)
In the above code we are simply creating a data frame and also calculating the share of each firm in the total. Next, we can use the cci() fucntion created above to calculate the concentration index.
# table 1 in Horvath (1970)
cci_p <- cci(p,"pct") # 0.872
cci_q <- cci(q,"pct") # 0.838
cci_r <- cci(r,"pct") # 0.6995
cci_s <- cci(s,"pct") #0.54875
cci_t <- cci(t,"pct") #0.50995
cci_w <- cci(w,"pct") #0.0299
Change in CCI:
one good way to analyse the market power is to study the change in the CCI over time or between two time frames. For example, Horvath (1970) compares the change in CCI of automobile industry between 1967 and 1937 and concludes that the industry did get concentrated over three decades.
Entropy Index:
The entropy index is defined as follows:
$latex [Entropy Index = sum_{i=1}^{n}x_{i} * ln(1/x_{i}) &s=1&bg=ffffff$
Mishra, Mohit and Parimal (2011) state that the entropy index measures the degree of uncertainty faced by a firm in marketplace. Hence, in case of a monopoly there is no uncertainty and the index value is zero on the other hand if there are n firms in the market the level of uncertainty increases and the index takes the value of ln(n)
It is left to the reader to write a function and calculate the entropy index using CCI as a reference.
Whats Next:
Ginevičius & Čirba (2009) provides a comprehensive list of various different concentartion index and their limitation. Readers are encouraged to review the article as the authors construct their index which is better compared to the other concentration indices available.
 1. Horvath, Janos. "Suggestion for a Comprehensive Measure of Concentration." Southern Economic Journal 36, no. 4 (1970): 446-52. doi:10.2307/_PHONE_.
 2. MISHRA, PULAK, DIVESH MOHIT, and PARIMAL. "Market Concentration in Indian Manufacturing Sector: Measurement Issues." Economic and Political Weekly 46, no. 49 (2011): 76-80.
 3. Romualdas Ginevičius & Stasys Čirba (2009) Additive measurement of market
 concentration, Journal of Business Economics and Management, 10:3, 191-198. Freely accessible at :
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Pet Care
Yellow Starthistle
Yellow Starthistle
Scientific Name: Centaurea solstitialis
Family: Compositae
Toxicity: Toxic to Horses
Toxic Principles: Unknown
Clinical Signs: The plant is not usually eaten unless other forage is unavailable, or when incorporated into hay. Poisonings occur at ingestions of 50%- 200% of the animal's body weight over a 60 to 90 day period of grazing. Clinical signs have been referred to as "chewing disease", where horses chew but are unable to obtain food or swallow. Signs seen include a grinning appearance, open mouth with protruding, lolling tongue, yawning, head tossing, central nervous system depression, lost interest in food, difficulty breathing due to inhalation of food, submerging the head in water in an attempt to drink. Death can occur due to lack of eating and drinking, leading to dehydration and malnutrition.
yellow starthistle
Credit: Steve Dewey, Utah State University,
* A $65 consultation fee may apply.
Browse Toxic Plant Gallery List »


Information on LED lighting - Petzl United Kingdom
Information on LED lighting
As a headlamp manufacturer concerned for the safety of its customers, Petzl has chosen to present information in its product instructions about the risks to the eyes associated with LED lighting. For this, the company uses the EN 62471: 2008 standard, photobiological safety of lamps and devices using lamps, though it is not mandatory. This standard classifies lamps according to risk groups.
LED lighting and blue light
Most of today's headlamps are made with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Currently, the most profitable way to make white LEDs is to combine a blue-wavelength diode with a yellow luminophore.
As seen in the diagram below, LEDs emit primarily blue light (wavelength 450-495 nm).
Emission spectrum of a Petzl headlamp
In case of direct, repeated exposure at high power, blue light can harm the eyes: retinal damage, aggravation of macular degeneration, blinding. These risks are especially significant for children because of their higher sensitivity to blue light.
This is why as a headlamp manufacturer, Petzl has a duty to inform its customers of the existence of these risks, even if they are minimal for normal use of Petzl headlamps.
Risk groups
The EN 62471: 2008 standard on the photobiological safety of lamps provides a methodology for measuring and classifying the risks due to blue light emission.
The risk groups are as follows:
 - Risk group 0: no risk.
 - Risk group 1: low risk. The product presents no risk related to exposure limits under normal usage conditions.
 - Risk group 2: moderate risk. The reflex to look away from the lamp suffices to reduce the risk.
 - Risk group 3: high risk. The product can present a risk even with a momentary or short exposure.
Depending on the risk group. the manufacturer must make a label and/or a specific informational notice.
It is important to underline that the risk level is partly related to the distance between the light source and the eye. Thus, moving away from the light source reduces the risk level. The risk level is also related to the duration of exposure.
Brightness and beam shape are other factors influencing the risk level. Note that Petzl determines the risk level of its lamps by testing the worst-case scenario: a focused beam at maximum brightness.
Moreover, the risk group is currently evaluated at 20 cm from the lamp, which is relatively close compared to a common accidental exposure.
How does Petzl communicate in its instructions?
Here is an example of an informational insert on photobiological risk given in the Instructions for Use for Petzl headlamps:
Petzl communicates about the maximum risk associated with its lamps, specifying the distances at which this risk level is reduced. For this example, the lamp is classified in risk group 2. The lamp moves to risk group 1 when it is at a distance of 1.3 m from the user's eyes.
You should know that most headlamps currently on the market are classified in a risk group greater than or equal to 1. However, few manufacturers communicate about this risk.
Regardless of a lamp's risk level, we recommend:
- never look directly at a lit headlamp
- avoid aiming a headlamp beam into another person's eyes
- do not leave a child alone with a headlamp, as children's eyes are especially sensitive to blue light
For more information, see the ANSES report: Health effects of lighting systems using light-emitting diodes (LEDs).