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The Content Collection in Learn
Behind every course on Learn, there's an area hidden from students called the Content Collection. The main idea Learn is built around is that you:
(1) Upload documents to the Content Collection
(2) Link to these documents from the part of Learn that your students see
This applies to PDFs, Word docx files, PowerPoint pptx files – just about all of the files most lecturers need to upload to Learn.
This separation between the Content Collection on the one hand, and the visible pages that students see on the other, is unfortunately not immediately obvious due to the idiosyncratic way in which Learn was designed.
If you'd like to know more about this, we've written a quick explainer here:
Why should I care about this?
1. Keeping your section of the Content Collection tidy makes your Learn pages easier to manage
For example, imagine you want the same document to appear on several Learn pages.
You can upload the document once to the Content Collection, and then link to it from the pages where you want it to appear. This is better than having lots of identical files called:
- Worksheet(2).pdf (etc.)
2. Uploading files to Learn one-by-one is a pain
By dealing with the Content Collection directly, you can upload files in bulk. This can be a massive time-saver.
There are two ways to do this:
(a) Use Learn's Upload Multiple Files tool
You can drag and drop multiple files into Learn using the steps described here:
(b) Set up a Web Folder
You can have a folder on your computer which is in sync with the folders that you deal with in the Content Collection.


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Policy-based management is an administrative approach that is used to simplify the management of a given endeavor by establishing policies to deal with situations that are likely to occur.
Policies are operating rules that can be referred to as a way to maintain order, security, consistency, or otherwise furth a goal or mission. For example, a town council might have a policy against hiring the relatives of council members for civic positions. Each time that situation arises, council members can refer to the policy, rather than having to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.
In the computing world, policy-based management is used as an administrative tool throughout an enterprise or network, or on workstations that have multiple users. Policy-based management includes policy-based network management, the use of delineated policies to control access to and priorities for the use of resources. Policy-based management is often used in systems management.
Policy-based management of a multi-user workstation typically includes setting individual policies for such things as access to files or applications, various levels of access (such as "read-only" permission, or permission to update or delete files), the appearance and makeup of individual users' desktops and so on. There are a number of software packages available to automate some elements of policy-based management. In general, the way these work is as follows: business policies are input to the products, and the software communicates to network hardware how to support those policies.
Continue reading about policy-based management:
Policy-Based Management is a policy based system for managing one or more instances of SQL Server.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Automated Coin Toll System (ACTS)
AT&T developed and used a system for over 25 years that handled automated dial-direct long distance coin-based telephone calls. This system was known as ACTS (Automated Coin Toll System). This page describes the history of the system and its eventual disconnection.
History & Overview | How did ACTS Work?
Transition to OSPS | Why did AT&T discontinue ACTS?
ACTS lives on.. sort of
History and Overview of ACTS
Before automated operator systems, all pay phone based long distance calls had to be completed with the help of an operator. People dialed "0" and told the operator the desired number and she had to handle all charged manually (known as a manual ticket), as in the old days of long distance before automated billing systems.
The Bell System (AT&T Long Lines) invented the TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) automated operator system in 1969, based upon the #1ESS switch. With this system, 0+ (zero plus) operator assisted dialing was possible. This means that operator-assisted calls could be direct dialed and automatically billed.
However, this significantly helped operators with pay phone based long distance calls. Now pay phone customers could direct dial-their own long distance "1+" calls (as they could at home) as well as operator-assisted "0+" calls. TSPS was a significant step forward in operator bases services.
Even with TSPS, the operator still had to verbally inform the pay phone customer the amount the charges were, and in some cases, had to stay on the line to verify answer supervision (since some pay phones were not capable of coin return). Also, an operator had to be summoned every few minutes to collect extra money, and to collect money after a call had been completed.
AT&T needed a way to automate the process and to keep down the use of actual operators. Hence ACTS (Automated Coin Toll System) was invented.
ACTS debuted in Phoenix, AZ in 1977 as part of an already existing TSPS. Other TSPS systems were modified by the early 1980s for ACTS.
How did ACTS work?
ACTS was a combination of three separate systems that worked in unison. The first was the TSPS system. The second was the ACTS system (with voice prompt announcements) working in conjunction with TSPS, and the third part were the pay phones themselves.
Pay Phones
Pay phones send multi-frequency tones in response to money deposited in the coin slot. These signals are as follows:
Nickel Signal: 1700hz + 2200hz at 60 ms long
Dime Signal: 1700hz + 2200hz at 60 ms on, 60 ms off, twice repeating
Quarter Signal: 1700hz + 2200hz at 33 ms on, 33 ms off, 5 times repeating
TSPS switches handled answer supervision and billing. Also handles coin collection and coin return. TSPS control signals from the TSPS to the central office that physically controls the pay phone are as follows:
TSPS Coin Collect 700Hz + 1100 Hz at 1 second
TSPS Coin Return 1100 Hz + 1700 Hz at 1 second
TSPS Ringback 700Hz + 1700Hz at 2 seconds
(Note: All of these are proceeded with a 2600Hz "wink" of 33 ms on/33ms off/33 ms on)
ACTS sub-system (part of TSPS)
The ACTS sub-system of TSPS handled the automated voice announcements ("Please deposit 50 cents for the next 3 minutes") and worked with TSPS for coin deposit (start of call) coin collection/coin return (at end of call).
Transition to OSPS
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, AT&T phased out the original TSPS system with a more modern OSPS system (Operator Services Position System) which is based upon the AT&T/Lucent #5ESS switch. ACTS had a seamless transition and for many, the system was identically the same as it had been in the TSPS system.
When and why did AT&T discontinue ACTS?
By the early 1990s, many companies, including AT&T were issuing pre-paid calling cards. The use of pre-paid calling cards significantly reduced the cost of long distance calls from pay phones. (Long distance calls via ACTS, even if customer dialed, were still billed at very expensive Operator Assisted rates).
COCOTs (Customer Owned Coin Telephones) came into being shortly after post-divestiture of AT&T in 1984. The number of telephone company controlled pay phones were decreasing at an enormous rate. Most COCOTs handled their own long distance call billing. And by the 1990s, a number of telephone company pay phones were converted to COCOT like technology. They too handled their own billing.
What was the final nail in the coffin was the wide availability of inexpensive cellular phones. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, more than half of the US population had a cell phone. Many of these cell phone plans have a large number of minutes and free nationwide long distance. So for many people, the pay phone became obsolete.
AT&T wanted out of the long distance pay phone business for a number of years. They were forced to stay in the business by FCC mandate as part of the AT&T breakup in 1984. But by the early 2000s, they were charging extremely high rates - as much as $6 (and more) for a 3 minute out-of-state phone call! As a result, many people didn't use pay phone based long distance services for a number of years.
In addition, AT&T had to have special operator trunks to handle pay phones. These special trunks (known as Feature Group C) were able to "hold your line" so that the operator had complete control of the phone line and would not release it until they wanted to. ACTS also had this capability. Feature Group C trunks were more expensive than Feature Group D trunks, which do not have line holding capabilities.
Armed with this information, AT&T petitioned the FCC that they drop the requirement that AT&T had to provide coin telephone long distance. The FCC granted dropping of the requirement.
Starting in the early summer of 2002, AT&T started changing from Feature Group C to Feature Group D operator trunks. Telephone companies, one by one, started to block Inter-LATA (outside of your home LATA) pay phone long distance calls to OSPS. At the same time, OSPS was blocking long distance calls coming to it. In both cases, the caller received rejection recordings. Very rarely callers were able to know why, as most were given "generic" messages that the call could not be completed as dialed. Qwest was one of the first companies to start the disconnection, and Verizon was one of the last ones to drop Inter-LATA pay phone long distance. By October 2002, AT&T's ACTS was history.
ACTS lives on... sort of
ACTS technology is not completely dead, yet. Many RBOCs (Regional Bell Operating Companies) such as Qwest, SBC and Verizon still have Intra-LATA (inside your own LATA) pay phone long distance services.
Some RBOCs (including Verizon and Qwest) use Nortel's TOPS (Toll Operator Position Station) for their operator services platform - based upon their DMS-200 tandem switch. TOPS systems were installed in the 1980s when RBOCs were forced to start their own operator services and "break away" from using AT&T.
The TOPS system has their own ACTS-like system for handling coin phone based long distance. The system works in a very similar way that the TSPS and OSPS based ACTS system did. However, the voice prompts are different, as they use a woman's voice that has a French Canadian accent.
However, RBOCs are not handling Inter-LATA coin phone based long distance services via TOPS. If they do offer coin phone based long distance services, they offer it though pay phones that use COCOT technology, rather than using ACTS like technology.
Listen to TOPS based ACTS from SBC (1 min) (Source: Strom Carlson)
Copyright 2008 Telephone World
Page last modified December 24, 2008
Contact us for more information


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Published on: 23-Aug 03:13am
Vectorizing otherwise known as Tracing takes an Image (Bitmap) and traces around its pixels to create an editable and perfectly rescalable curve (path) that can either be cut out using a plotter (vinyl cutter), printed and/or exported, as shown here:
The Image Vectorizer or Vectorizer (2-Step Process)
The Software's Image Vectorizer is a dedicated utility that loads-in an image (bitmap) which you can then adjust and edit i.e. You first prepare the image as might be required, to secondly - vectorize (trace) the image using a set of filters to manipulate the resulting curves.
However, there are some basics you should become familiar with that will help you obtain good to excellent results from the artwork you are given by your clients, or that you have scanned-in, this will also save you a lot of time and frustration.
Understanding Images and Tracing
This is explained in detail in the Software's manual which you can access from the Help (menu) > Help Topics.
In the Welcome Page of the Help window that comes up click on Vectorizing (Tracing) and read through the topic on Understanding Images and Tracing.
Looking for anything specific article which resides in general queries? Just browse the various relevant folders and categories and then you will find the desired article.Contact Us

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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2. ἐν + Dative for Content
Rare is the usage of the simple dative to denote the content that is used by a verb of filling. For ἐν + the dative, this usage is debatable.
Normally, a verb of filling takes a genitive of content; rarely, a simple dative of content. However, we know of no clear examples in biblical Greek in which ἐν + the dative indicates content. We should, therefore, seek some other nuance in such instances, as in Eph 5:18 (discussed below ).
Eph 5:18 πληροῦσθε ἐν πνεύματι
be filled [with, by, in] [the] Spirit
To see ἐν πνεύματι here as indicating content is grammatically suspect (even though it is, in many circles, the predominant view). Only if the flow of argument and/or the lack of other good possibilities strongly point in the direction of content would we be compelled to take it as such. There are no other examples in biblical Greek in which ἐν + the dative after πληρόω indicates content. Further, the parallel with οἴνῳ as well as the common grammatical category of means suggest that the idea intended is that believers are to be filled by means of the [Holy] Spirit. If so, there seems to be an unnamed agent.
The meaning of this text can only be fully appreciated in light of the πληρόω language in Ephesians. Always the term is used in connection with a member of the Trinity. Three considerations seem to be key: (1) In Eph 3:19 the "hinge" prayer introducing the last half of the letter makes a request that the believers "be filled with all the fullness of God" (πληρωθῆτε εἰς πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ θεοῦ). The explicit content of πληρόω is thus God's fullness (probably a reference to his moral attributes). (2) In 4:10 Christ is said to be the agent of filling (with v 11 adding the specifics of his giving spiritual gifts). (3) The author then brings his argument to a crescendo in 5:18: Believers are to be filled by Christ by means of the Spirit with the content of the fullness of God.
Though only one of my two examples below is "Biblical Greek" (if you consider the Apocrypha to be Biblical), could these be considered instances "in which ἐν + the dative indicates content"?
Ignatius to the Smyrneans, Salutation:
Ἰγνάτιος, ὁ καὶ Θεοφόρος, ἐκκλησίᾳ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ ἠγαπημένου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἠλεημένῃ ἐν παντὶ χαρίσματι, πεπληρωμένῃ ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ, ἀνυστερήτῳ οὔσῃ παντὸς χαρίσματος, θεοπρεπεστάτῃ καὶ ἁγιοφόρῳ, τῇ οὔσῃ ἐν Σμύρνῃ τῆς Ἀσίας, ἐν ἀμώμῳ πνεύματι καὶ λόγῳ θεοῦ πλεῖστα χαίρειν.
Ignatius, who [is] also God-bearer, to the church of God the Father and of the beloved Jesus Christ, which has obtained mercy in every gift,, which has been filled with faith and love, not lacking in2 which is1 any gift, most worthy of God and bearing holy things, which is in Smyrna of Asia, in3 a blameless4 spirit5 and6 the word7 of God.8 abundant1 greetings2.
- Brannan, R. (2011). Apostolic Fathers Greek-English Interlinear. Logos Bible Software.
γυνὴ ἀνδρεία εὐφραίνει τὸν ἄνδρα αὐτῆς, καὶ τὰ ἔτη αὐτοῦ πληρώσει ἐν εἰρήνῃ.
A loyal wife brings joy to her husband, and he will complete his years in peace. (NRSV)


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Giant Spanish slugs have been mating with their British counterparts to create a mutant strain of "superslugs".
The Spanish molluscs are thought to have arrived in the UK in salads during the summer months, and have already spread all the way across the country to Wales.
The Mirror reports that they can grow up to 15cm in length, and produce hundreds more eggs than the typical British slug, which could spell trouble for the indigenous slug population.
Slug expert Les Noble of Aberdeen University said: "These slugs are like conquistadors were to the Aztecs. Native slugs can't keep pace and may become extinct.
"They are simply being overrun and when you consider the Spanish slug will happily make a meal out of a dead rabbit as much as out of dog muck you can see why they are so successful.
"We have already seen when these slugs move into an area, the native slugs vanish almost immediately. They can wipe out whole crops and prevent them growing there again."
A 72-year-old from Wales has claimed to have seen the giant slugs in her garden "eating snails", and added: "Our dog caught one, it was so big I thought it was a mouse."


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Joy Adamson biography
Joy Adamson was born January 20, 1910, in Troppau, Austria-Hungary. She relocated to Kenya, where she married George Adamson, a British game warden. She won international renown with her African wildlife books, especially the trilogy describing how the couple raised a lion cub, Elsa. In 1961 she founded the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal. At age 69 she was murdered by a disgruntled employee.
Artist and naturalist Joy Adamson spent much of her life in Africa, following her passion for animals. In 1960 book Born Free, she detailed her adventures with a young lion cub called Elsa. This story struck a chord with readers around the world, helping to spur interest in animal conservation in Africa.
The story of this famous writer actually begins in Europe. Born Friederike Victoria Gessner, she grew up in Troppau, which was part of the Austria-Hungary empire and is now known as Opava, Czech Republic. Adamson enjoyed a life of wealth and privilege as the daughter of a wealthy architect. She studied piano and the arts, among other subjects, in school.
Adamson married for the first time in 1935, becoming the wife of businessman Victor von Klarwill. He sent her on a trip to Africa on her own. According to some reports, von Klarwill wanted her to see if they could move there. Adamson, however, soon met another man, botanist Peter Bally, during her travels. In love with this new land and Bally, she decided to stay in Africa and divorce her husband. Adamson wed Bally in 1937, and it was Bally who gave her the nickname "Joy"—a moniker she used for the rest of her life.
At first, Adamson painted the plant life of Africa. She eventually expanded her artistic endeavors to make portraits of people from indigenous cultures in Kenya. After ending her marriage to Bally in 1942, she met a game warden named George Adamson. He became her third husband, and they spent some of their early years together, traveling around East Africa for his job and living in tent camps.
In 1956, Adamson's husband shot a lion in self-defense. He discovered that she had only attacked to protect her three cubs. Rescuing the young animals, George brought them home to Joy. They gave two away to a zoo, but they kept one that they named Elsa. Joy developed a close bond with the animal, which she raised. In Born Free (1960), she chronicled her relationship with Elsa and her efforts to return her to the wild. Adamson explained that Elsa "became almost like my child. Because I had no children, I have spent all my emotion on her and my other animals. But I cannot make them my own."
Adamson's book became an international best seller, and its success put the spotlight on the need to preserve African wildlife. She wrote two more books about Elsa and her cubs, Living Free (1961) and Forever Free (1962). In addition to sharing her experiences and observations through writing, Adamson established her own conservation group, the Elsa Wild Animal Appeal.
In 1966, the film adaptation of Born Free became an international smash.
The film starred Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna as George and Joy Adamson. By the time of the film's release, Adamson had turned much of her attention to a young cheetah, which she named Pippa. Helping Pippa learn to be a wild cheetah became the subject of the 1969 book The Spotted Sphinx.
While on the big screen, George and Joy were depicted as a happy, loving couple, the pair became estranged over the years, and they stopped living together as early as 1971. According to some stories, they were divided over their conservation work. George preferred to be in the field, while Joy did more lecturing and writing. There are also reports that Joy Adamson had an intense personality and did not get along well with others much of the time. One associate told People that Adamson "was so stubborn and unyielding and people did not live up to her expectations."
Adamson spent the last few years of her life exploring her interest in leopards. She was given a leopard cub in 1976, which she named Penny, and she lived in an area where she could observe other leopards in the wild. In addition to her animal studies, Adamson took the time to write her own autobiography, 1979's The Searching Spirit.
On the night of January 3, 1980, Adamson took her usual evening stroll. She never returned home. Only a short distance away, her body was found on the road. It looked like she had been killed in an animal attack at first. A few days later, the authorities determined that Adamson had been stabbed to death. A former employee was arrested and convicted of the crime.
Many were shocked by Adamson's tragic death. The World Wildlife Fund was among those who expressed sadness at her untimely passing. In a statement, the organization praised her for her "ability to present wild animals in such a way that people could relate to them" and credited her with helping "wildlife everywhere." Shortly after her death, Adamson's final book, Queen of Shaba, came out, which detailed her studies on leopards.


Definitions for MAINmeɪn, maɪn
This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word MAIN
Random House Webster's College Dictionary
 1. chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading.
 2. syntactically independent.
 Category: Grammar
 3. pertaining to or connected to a mainmast or mainsail.
 Category: Nautical
 4. sheer; utmost:
 by main strength.
 5. Obs. of or pertaining to a broad expanse:
 main sea.
 6. (n.)a principal pipe or duct in a system used to distribute water, gas, etc.
 Category: Civil Engineering
 7. physical strength or force:
 might and main.
 8. the chief part or point:
 in the main, a good plan.
 9. the open ocean:
 the bounding main.
 10. Ref: mainland. 1
Origin of main:
bef. 900; ME meyn, strength, power, OE mægen, der. of the Gmc v. base *mag-may1;
Mainmeɪn, maɪn(n.)
 1. a river in central Germany, flowing W from N Bavaria into the Rhine at Mainz. 305 mi. (490 km) long.
 Category: Geography (places)
Princeton's WordNet
 1. main, briny(noun)
 any very large body of (salt) water
 2. main(adj)
 3. chief(a), main(a), primary(a), principal(a), master(a)(adj)
 most important element
 4. independent, main(a)(adj)
 "the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb"
 5. main(a)(adj)
 of force; of the greatest possible intensity
 "by main strength"
Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary
 1. main(adjective)ɪn, maɪn
 most important or most used
 the main highway into the city; his main source of income; the main reason for doing sth
 2. mainɪn, maɪn
 indicates what is important
 The main thing is that we can prevent it from happening again.
 3. main(noun)ɪn, maɪn
 a large pipe for water or gas
 a burst water main
 1. Main(ProperNoun)
 A river in southern Germany, flowing from Bavaria to the Rhine.
 2. Origin: From mægen, later also taking senses from the adjective.
Webster Dictionary
 1. Main(noun)
 a hand or match at dice
 2. Main(noun)
 a stake played for at dice
 3. Main(noun)
 4. Main(noun)
 a match at cockfighting
 5. Main(noun)
 a main-hamper
 6. Main
 strength; force; might; violent effort
 7. Main
 the chief or principal part; the main or most important thing
 8. Main
 9. Main
 the continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland
 10. Main
 11. Main(adj)
 very or extremely strong
 12. Main(adj)
 vast; huge
 13. Main(adj)
 unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer
 14. Main(adj)
 principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc
 15. Main(adj)
 important; necessary
 16. Main(adj)
 very; extremely; as, main heavy
 1. Main
 The Main is a river in Germany, with a length of 527 km the most significant right tributary of the Rhine.
British National Corpus
 1. Spoken Corpus Frequency
 Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #342
 2. Written Corpus Frequency
 Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Written Corpus Frequency: #635
 3. Adjectives Frequency
 Rank popularity for the word 'MAIN' in Adjectives Frequency: #32
Translations for MAIN
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary
chief, principal or most important
the main purpose; the main character in the story.
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The diet of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby in New South Wales
Short, J. (1989) The diet of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby in New South Wales. Wildlife Research, 16 (1). pp. 11-18.
*Subscription may be required
The diet of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, was studied at two sites on the central coast and tablelands of New South Wales over a 12-month period of below-average rainfall. Diet was assessed by microscopic analysis of faeces. Particles within the faeces were identified to broad categories of vegetation: grasses, sedges, forbs, parallel-veined shrubs, reticulate-veined shrubs, and ferns. Diets were similar at both sites despite considerable differences in annual average rainfall (1330 v.577mm) and vegetation. Grasses constituted 35-50% of the diet, forbs 25-40%, and browse 12-30%. Ferns and sedges were of minor importance or were absent from the diet. Preferences for particular plant categories (measured as abundance in diet divided by abundance in habitat) were greatest in summer. Parallel-veined shrubs and trees and forbs were most preferred at one site; grasses and shrubs and trees at the other. Ferns were preferred least.
|Publication Type:||Journal Article|
|Copyright:||© CSIRO 1989|
|Item Control Page|


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According to William Keene, Oregon State Epidemiologist, last week initial lab test results of a Sally Jackson cheese sample taken from a wedding were PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positive, indicating DNA likely linked to the outbreak strain. Today, those results have also been culture confirmed, and are indistinguishable by pulse-field gel electrophoreses (PFGE) to the eight ill persons in Oregon, Minnesota, Washington and Vermont.
When a person consumes contaminated food and becomes infected as a result, a stool sample can then be cultured to obtain and identify the bacterial isolate. These bacterial isolates are then broken down into their various component parts, creating a DNA "fingerprint." The "fingerprint" of the bacteria can then be compared to the "fingerprint" of isolates from persons who consumed the contaminated product or the contaminated product. When DNA "fingerprints" are indistinguishable, they, along with solid epidemiological work, are proof that the contaminated product was the source of the illness.
The process of obtaining the DNA "fingerprint" is called Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis, or PFGE. This technique is used to separate the DNA of the bacterial isolate into its component parts. It operates by causing alternating electric fields to run the DNA through a flat gel matrix of agarose, a polysaccharide obtained from agar. The pattern of bands of the DNA fragments, or "fingerprints," in the gel after exposure to the electrical current is unique for each strain and sub-type of bacteria.
To see a partial reall list and inspection reports, see "Sally Jackson Raw Milk Cheese Distribution List for E. coli Recall – Eight Ill in Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Minnesota."


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The Thief's Game
300 years ago the noble houses of the great city Talon's Reach nearly destroyed themselves in a House War. To stop further bloodshed the king of Talon's Reach called together a court to be held to put an end to the war. The five surviving houses eventually agreed to a truce.
Inside the peace treaty was a clause however, commonly called "The Sliver Lining." While direct confrontation between the houses was outlawed, the houses would use the still young Thieves guild to carry out their intrigue. Such Contracts became the norm, and even remotely successful thieves became celebrities. Today the Peace Treaty continues to exist, as people from all over the Talon's Reach come to the local guild to play the Thief's Game.


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Note: Mac users can easily type German characters using the "Option" key. See item 6 below.
1. Use "telegraph" style. You can always put an 'e' after an umlauted vowel: ä = ae, ö = oe, ü = ue, and you can also write ß as ss (as the German Swiss do).
2. Use 'alt' codes. You can write umlauts by holding down the 'alt' key and using the following codes on the number pad (not the numbers across the top of the keyboard):
- ä = Alt + 132
- ö = Alt + 148
- ü = Alt +129
- Ä = Alt + 142
- Ö = Alt + 153
- Ü = Alt + 154
- ß = Alt + 225
4. Change your keyboard to US-International Keyboard. This is similar to #3, but keeps all the symbols as on an English keyboard. This is really a good method if you are using a laptop without a number pad.
a) In the Control Panel folder, click on "Regional and Language options."
b) Select the "Languages" tab, and then click the "Details" button. This brings up "Text Services and Input Languages."
c) On the "Settings" tab of the new window, click on "Add.." This brings up the "Add Input Language" window.
d) Input language should be English (United States). Click to check the "Keyboard layout/IME" radio box, and in the drop-down box, select "United States - International". (If it's already installed, it won't be there). Click on OK, click on Apply then OK on the Text Services and Input Languages window, and click OK on the Regional and Languages Options window.
e) You should now see a small keyboard icon on the lower right part of your display, just to the left of the System Tray and just to the right of the "EN" English keyboard indicator (Fig 1 below). Alternatively, if you have the Microsoft Language Bar open, it will be at the top of your display (Fig 2 below). You need to select the "United States - International" option.
5. Use DeKey. For Windows Vista and XP users, we offer DeKey, a free utility that makes it much easier to type German characters using the Alt key. For example, Alt + s = ß or Alt + a = ä.
Download DeKey from this site.
6. Mac user options. To type an umlauted character such as ä, use 'option' + u, and then type an 'a' (or o, or u) which will produce ä (or ö or ü). This also works for uppercase (capital) letters. To type the ß, simply type 'option' + s. The Mac OS also offers various international keyboard settings, similar to those in Windows.


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The results are presented concerning the experimental studies of noise and vibration spectra during abrasive treatment of welded joints of the body and rod structures. Welding is related to one of the most popular technologies for joining metal structures. One of the mandatory steps after welding operations is the weld dressing. Mechanical grinding of the weld after welding due to its accessibility is very popular. The studies were carried out both at manual abrasive treatment of the welds, and on the flat-grinding machines in the open space, and in the conditions of industrial premises. In the course of experimental studies, dangerous and harmful production factors arising during welded structures processing were established. The spectral composition of the acoustic characteristics was identified. Based on the results of measurements, the empirical dependence was obtained related to the vibration reduction depending on the distance to the source on the rod elements and body structures. The obtained data are confirmed by the correctness of theoretical conclusions on the regularities of the formation of noise and vibration spectra, as well as the contribution of noise sources to the sound field at the operator workplace. The results of the research allow to confirm the appropriateness of the theoretical approach to the description of the regularities of the noise and vibration process.
The established regularities in the formation of noise spectra, as well as the fact that the difference in the calculated and experimental sound pressure levels actually correspond to the measurement errors, allow to perform acoustic noise protection systems at the design stage of similar technological processes in accordance with the sanitary noise norms at the operator workplaces.


text:
For Seniors: Start a Windows Program on a Laptop
Before you can use a Windows program on your laptop, you have to start it (launch the program). Windows provides several ways to start programs; choose the method you like best.
To start a program using the Start menu, choose Start→All Programs.
The All Programs list appears; click a folder to open it (if needed), then click the program name to start that program.
If you used the program recently and saved a document, choose it from the list of recently used programs displayed when you first open the Start menu. Then click a document created in that program from the list that displays.
To start a program from the desktop, double-click that program's shortcut icon.
The program launches.
To add a program as a desktop shortcut, right-click the program name in the Windows Start menu and choose Send To→Desktop (Create Shortcut) from the menu that appears.
To start a program from the taskbar, click its icon in the Frequently Launched Program area.
The program opens.
The taskbar should display by default; if it doesn't, press the Windows key (on your keyboard) to display it.


text:
(of items or people gathered or considered together) of various types or from different sources.
"he picked up the miscellaneous papers in his in tray"
synonyms: various, varied, different, assorted, mixed, diverse, disparate, sundry, many and different, variegated, diversified, motley, multifarious, jumbled, confused, indiscriminate, heterogeneous; More
(of a collection or group) composed of members or elements of different kinds.
"a miscellaneous collection of well-known ne'er-do-wells"
early 17th cent.: from Latin miscellaneus (from miscellus 'mixed', from miscere 'to mix') + -ous. In earlier use the word also described a person as 'having various qualities'.
Translate miscellaneous to
Use over time for: miscellaneous


Sony wants to push AIs to learn from their own experiences
The consumer electronics company has invested in AI startup Cogitai to build intelligent systems that will learn from their own experiences in the world. "We have a shared vision for where AI needs to go," Dr. Satinder Singh, co-founder of Cogitai, told Engadget. "The next wave will be 'continual learning.' It's the idea that machine intelligence will continually grow as it interacts with the world." Continual learning isn't just about creating smart devices that sense your presence, or virtual assistants that understand you better. It's a technique that is expected to give machines a sort of self-evolving capability. "It builds on everything that has come before," said Dr Singh. "There's supervised deep learning to distinguish objects and then there's reinforcement learning because AI needs to act in the world and…
Link to Full Article: Sony wants to push AIs to learn from their own experiences
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In Celebration of Sukkot, A Sukkah Stands on Wellesley's Chapel Lawn
Every year in celebration of Sukkot, Wellesley builds a sukkah, where members of Wellesley's Jewish community can come together to share meals. This afternoon, Wellesley College Hillel gathers with members of the Multifaith Student Council to host "pizza in the hut" – a festive meal in the sukkah shared with fellow students and alumnae.
"Sukkot is a harvest festival in which Jewish people take meals, socialize, and even dwell in temporary structures, each called a sukkah," said Rabbi Steven Edelman-Blank. "The holiday is also celebrated by waving four species of plants and has come to symbolize the period of time the Israelites traveled through the wilderness," he added.


Synonyms for program
Synonyms for (noun) program
Synonyms: program, programme
Definition: a performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation
Usage: the program lasted more than two hours
Similar words: performance
Definition: the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment
Usage: we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal; an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto
Synonyms: program, programme, plan
Definition: a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
Usage: they drew up a six-step plan; they discussed plans for a new bond issue
Similar words: idea, thought
Definition: the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
Usage: it was not a good idea; the thought never entered my mind
Synonyms: program, programme
Definition: a system of projects or services intended to meet a public need
Usage: he proposed an elaborate program of public works; working mothers rely on the day care program
Similar words: system, system of rules
Definition: a complex of methods or rules governing behavior
Usage: they have to operate under a system they oppose; that language has a complex system for indicating gender
Synonyms: platform, political platform, political program, program
Definition: a document stating the aims and principles of a political party
Usage: their candidate simply ignored the party platform; they won the election even though they offered no positive program
Similar words: papers, written document, document
Definition: writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
Synonyms: computer program, computer programme, program, programme
Definition: (computer science) a sequence of instructions that a computer can interpret and execute
Usage: the program required several hundred lines of code
Similar words: software, software package, software program, software system, package, computer software
Usage: the market for software is expected to expand
Synonyms: program, programme, broadcast
Definition: a radio or television show
Usage: did you see his program last night?
Similar words: show
Definition: a social event involving a public performance or entertainment
Usage: they wanted to see some of the shows on Broadway
Synonyms: syllabus, curriculum, course of study, program, programme
Definition: an integrated course of academic studies
Usage: he was admitted to a new program at the university
Similar words: info, information
Definition: a message received and understood
Synonyms: program, programme
Definition: an announcement of the events that will occur as part of a theatrical or sporting event
Usage: you can't tell the players without a program
Similar words: promulgation, announcement
Synonyms for (verb) program
Synonyms: program, programme
Definition: arrange a program of or for
Usage: program the 80th birthday party
Similar words: schedule
Definition: make a schedule; plan the time and place for events
Usage: I scheduled an exam for this afternoon
Synonyms: program, programme
Definition: write a computer program
Similar words: create by mental act, create mentally
Definition: create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands
Visual thesaurus for program


I.Q. Granular Starter
IQ Granular Starter
Start your seeding off miles ahead of your competitors
iQ Granular Starter is 100% OMRI approved Organic Layer Poultry Compost. This product has proven to be a very effective starter fertilizer in Canola, Flax and Pea Production. (2018-2020 Independent 3rd Party data and Producer Results)
Only top quality raw materials used. High in calcium, carbon and naturally occurring minerals, great for any crop.
What is iQ Granular Starter?
As a layer waste product, there is no bedding in the product that can throw off the carbon to nitrogen ratio of the finished material. It has gone through two separate digestion cycles, one in the bird and one in the composting facility. This digestion process in the animal allows all the minerals not used by the bird to become a part of the fertilizer. The additional composting process then adds more microbial richness and the multiple forms of carbon provide a sustainable food source for long-term biological activity. iQ Granular Starter is never pasteurized or heated beyond the point that can harm its rich microbial populations.
How can you use iQ Granular Starter?
The potential uses for iQ Granular Starter are virtually endless. Any soil that requires increased porosity, organic matter/carbon, and microbial activity will benefit from the use of iQ Granular Starter Fertilizer. Use iQ Granular Starter in any crop.
 - Apply at a rate of 50 lbs per acre in-furrow with the seed
 - pH 6.4
 - Sodium less than 0.25%
 - Moisture less than 5.0%.
iQ 3-4-3
The compost used is an egg layer waste, which is very high in calcium, carbon and naturally occurring minerals and can be used for any application without fear of burn or salt build-up.
iQ 3-4-3
Granular Starter uses the best raw materials available and the result is a powerful fertilizer that feeds both the soil and the plant.


text:
| ||UNITED NATIONS TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATION IN EAST TIMOR
On 30 August 1999, the people of East Timor voted by means of a direct, secret and universal ballot to begin a process leading towards independence. UNTAET was established on 25 October 1999 to administer the Territory, exercise legislative and executive authority during the transition period and support capacity-building for self-government. East Timor became an independent country on 20 May 2002. Also that day, UNTAET was succeeded by the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) established by Security Council resolution 1410 of 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to core administrative structures critical to the viability and political stability of East Timor.


Paul Cook
23.02.2012 in21:06 in Creative,photoart -->
Paul Cook's from Glasgow, United Kingdom, primeval images are a study of the inherent beauty of sacred geometry. He challenges our perception of the original through his digital photographs of animals, trees, bones and architecture. He explores symmetry as a holistic aesthetic. Each image is a study of how symmetry challenges the way shape and form is perceived.


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Harriet S. Meyer
(pp225-226)The letters in this expression indicate obstetric history as follows:Often, 4 numbers separated by hyphens are recorded, eg: TPAL: 3-1-1-4 or 3-1-1-4which would indicate 3 term deliveries, 1 premature delivery, 1 abortion, and 4 living children. However, the text of a manuscript should define the numerical expressions and not give the numbers alone.
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We read another version of The Gingerbread Man today. Mrs N explained that it's a very old story that has been retold many times and it was first published in 1875, which is 136 years ago! The version we read today was by Jim Aylesworth. It was a little different to the story we read online last week. The Gingerbread Man was still chased by a little old woman, a cow and a pig, but he never tried to cross a river. The fox took him by surprise and ate him up, instead of tricking him as he crossed the river.
We're starting to learn about writing narratives. We learned that a narrative is a made-up story and is usually written to entertain us. The Gingerbread Man is a narrative and we've decided to write our own version of the story, but it's going to be set in our school. We wrote the opening paragraph of it today. It's going to be fun!
Our Monday Munchies food today was snow pea shoots and we LOVED them! Every single person in the class thought they were delicious and would definitely like to eat them again.
Some of the words we came up with to describe snow pea shoots were:
Love from The Smarties and Mrs N


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The Competitive Landscape template gives you guidance in how to segment competitors based on competing factors. The idea here is that we identify competing factors that are important for customers to distinguish offerings from different market players and also have a significant impact on their buying decision. We group them into those factors that are important for customers to recognize differences between competitors (competing factors) and those factors that are absolutely mandatory to be compliant to (hygiene factors). While competing factors later will be used for the positioning in the matrix, the hygiene factors are "exclusive".
Running the competitive landscape exercise early in the process is a great way to find the right positioning for you and your new market offering and helps you to define a business model supporting this positioning. Running for a price-differentiated "red-ocean" strategy for example would mean that your company either gains competitive advantage from more efficient processes, cheaper resource acquisition or better deals with required delivery partners, compared to your competition. A technology leadership driven "blue ocean" strategy on the other side might mean that your business model needs to speak about which key resources and/or which key processes support this leadership position compared to your competition.
Coming up with such competing factors sounds easy, right? But experience has shown that spending more time on identifying less obvious factors is worth it because it enables you to create multiple "dimensions" of the positioning. You can then pick differentiating elements that help you to sustainably distinguish your offering from the competition. The general procedure is as follows:
 1. Think about your (primary) target group and recall their "job(s) to get done".
 2. Collect a bunch of actual or potential competitors. Remember to think broad at this stage and also include non-industry sector competitors.
 3. Group them in the "Market Players" section based on how well their offering fits your primary target group's "job(s) to get done".
 4. Brainstorm competing factors. Sort out hygiene factors into the lower section of the template.
 5. Now, you are ready for a number of rounds of positioning: Put two random competing factors on the two axes (x, y), e.g. price and brand value, and place the competitors on the matrix accordingly.
 6. Position your own company within that matrix in relation to the other competitors.
 7. Review the matrix according to the following criteria: Is your position within the red-ocean sector? If yes, what can you do to move it to one of the blue-ocean sectors? Also, what are your "defense" measures to survive the red-ocean competitive situation?
Click here...
Usage Scenarios
 - Analyzing and visualizing the positioning of competitors based on selected factors
 - Analyzing competitive situation (blue ocean / red ocean) and deriving required activities to address customers right
 - Identifying hygiene factors that relate to the own product / service specification
 - Identifying strength and weaknesses of competitors and linking it back to the business model
Instruction for Coaches
 1. Get out of the building and do not rely too much on existing competitor intelligence to gain deeper insights from the real world. Consider DIY activities to research certain competitor positions when it comes to their products or services.
 2. Make sure that while doing the positioning in the team that everyone is on the same page about the meaning of the competing factor as results and interpretation can dramatically change for even simple factors. E.g. price (high/low) might be an easy one but it makes a huge difference if you talk about your unit price being 140€ or your competitiveness according to price-levels of others. The first one is an absolut measure you use to position on one axis of the matrix whilst the other one is relational measure comparing your position in relation to the other players. You should be aware that the later approach does hold a lot of room for (mis)-interpretation and (mis)-judgment and consequently wrong measures reflected back to your business model.
Competitive Landscape
Key Elements
Market Players
Which market players are offering the products and services that serve the same customers' job(s) we are focusing on?
Consider every market player that focuses on the same customer's "job(s) to get done" even if their solution might be entirely different to yours. Identify solutions that achieve the same result for the customer or probably just "feel" the same but using entirely different technology, resources, processes, etc.
For existing companies, remember to identify soon-to-be competitors that could join in if current suppliers or customers extend their offering (forward/backward integration).
Competing FactorsWhich factors will help us to describe the differences between us and other market players to excite customers?
Examples for competing factors are:
 - Price
 - Core Value
 - Unfair Advantage
 - Service Quality
 - Brand Perception
 - Global Reach
Hygiene FactorsWhich factors might instantly dissatisfy customers if we or other market players would not comply to them?
Classical hygiene factors could be things like:
 - Compliance/non-compliance to policies & regulations
 - Support for certain payment methods that are required for e.g. B2B customers
 - Technical norms and standards
 - etc.
How can we position market players as our competition based on competing factors?
The process of positioning will be repeated several times and it might take a while to build up different perspectives on the competitive landscape around you. Play around with different labels of your axes and see what clusters you get.
Positioning market players on a competitive landscape requires a deep understanding of how other market players create value, and how customers make their buying decisions. Guesswork is OK at the start, but it should be replaced quickly by quantitative and qualitative insights.
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Great Place to Work - Certified
Why FCR is no more just a First Call Resolution rate?
Customer Service has come a long way since the last two decades. Customer Service or Customer Support is no more mere operations but an experience now. Responding to customer queries started over phones, then emails and today to any digital channel that is available. Although phones were a thing earlier that is changing gradually and so is the abbreviation – FCR. A lot of contact centers, customer service teams used it and still use First call resolution as a key metric to measure customer satisfaction and optimize operations cost. But with a plethora of digital channels opening up, the term is no longer the First call but First Contact Resolution rate. Customers can't be restricted to any channel. its the BPOs', customer service teams and other organizations' onus to provide support on different digital channels ( social media, Chat, messengers, email, SMS, video etc.) and preferably in a single touch.
Let's Talk a bit about FCR nowFirst Contact Resolution Rate..
In simple terms, it is the percentage of customer queries resolved in the first contact made between a customer and organization through any interaction channel.
However, it's not that simple. Calculating FCR varies from organization to organization. At times, there are organizations with poorly defined or non-existent business processes and thus, the queries will never be resolved in the first contact. Thus, calculating FCR effectively is only possible when you have defined customer service business process.
Why is FCR Important?
Why so much stress on this KPI and not others? For any organization customer retention ( revenue) and regulating costs ( Operations) are the top priorities, at least from a service standpoint. And FCR directly or indirectly impacts both.
Let's take a scenario where you have five hybrid inbound agents – calls & chats. Each agent per day services 100 calls and 200 chats. So in total every day your team caters to 500 calls and 1000 chats. Let suppose your FCR is 60% thus, 405 of your inbound queries are repeat customer queries that is – 40% of 500 calls + 40% of 1000 chats – equals 200 calls & 400 chats – 2 extra agents. Do the math.
Customer retention is the other metric which takes an indirect hit. As per an industry study, CSR is 35-45 % lower when a second call is made for the same issue. Lower CSR translates into less happy customers and there are 10 other organizations poaching your customer.
So how do you mend things?
How to improve FCRFirst contact resolution rate?
Invest in an Empowering Technology
 1. Single Customer View – Empower Agents to understand customer queries better by giving them a complete view of customer interaction so they have contextual conversations.
 2. Unified Agent Desktop – Another key metric that contributes to FCR is Agent handling time. Enabling Agents to access right set of information – customer crm data, knowledge base, customer sentiment etc in minimal time helps Agents respond faster and more effectively.
 3. Multi-Level to Multi -Simple IVR's – Rather than having multilevel complex self-service channels, make life easy for your customer. Have multiple one to three level IVR to boost FCR rates and improve customer query resolution. Complex IVR can leave your customers confused and anxious leading to disappointment.
 4. Skill/Location-based Agent mapping– Try to route queries by considering customer profile and even sentiment data. Every customer is not the same and uses your judgment and historical data to build routing configurations that boost customer confidence in your service
 5. Self Service Automation – With more and more customers taking the Self-service route have a technology solution that is intuitive and enables your customers to resolve queries on their own. It can cover chatbots, voice bots, customer portals, Knowledge base etc. But the goal remains the same.
Coming to a clinch, I hope I was able to add some value through this article. This must have given you a fair idea of how FCR is important for the growth of business and how it can leverage your performance. There are other call center metrics also available but, as per my notion, being one of the prime factors responsible for customer satisfaction, businesses should have a solution that focuses on FCR. This will help them meet customer demands at the earliest and deliver exceptional customer experience.
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text: We evaluated whether mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTE) and neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy (NTE) can be distinguished on electroclinical grounds. One hundred and twenty-two consecutive MTE (n = 86) and NTE (n = 36) patients were included in this prospective study. All patients underwent prolonged EEG-video monitoring and high resolution magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI). MTE was defined as epilepsy with purely mesial temporal lesion in the absence of extramesial temporal pathology, based on pre-operative MRI or post-operative histology. NTE was defined as neocortical temporal MRI lesions, depth recorded neocortical temporal seizure onset and lack of mesial temporal lesions on MRI or histology. One thousand two hundred and fourty-nine epileptic seizures were analyzed. Congenital malformation (NTE 19% versus MTE 3%, P < 0.01), nonspecific auras (NTE 25% versus MTE 8%, P < 0.001) and early clonic activity following automatisms (NTE 22% versus MTE 8%, P < 0.03) were more frequent in NTE. In contrast, a history of febrile seizures (MTE 29% versus NTE 3%, P < 0,001), abdominal auras (MTE 62% versus NTE 33%, P < 0.005) and contralateral hand dystonia (MTE 43% versus NTE 22%, P < 0.03) were more often documented in MTE. Interictal epileptiform discharges in MTE occurred predominantly (> 67%) over the ipsilateral mesial temporal regions (MTE 65% versus NTE 33%, P < 0.001). No MTE patient had lateral neocortical temporal spike predominance (NTE 22%, P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that a history of febrile seizures, abdominal auras, contralateral dystonic posturing and predominance of ipsilateral mesial temporal spikes point to MTE, with an accuracy of 73% (PPV 81%, NPV 70%). Analyzing clinical and EEG features, particularly the distribution of interictal epileptiform discharges, helps to differentiate between MTE and NTE.


text:
Continuous Krapcho Dealkoxycarbonylation in API Synthesis
A high pressure and high temperature continuous flow reactor has been used to intensify a Krapcho dealkoxycarbonylation reaction in the context of API synthesis. The reactor enables operation of the reaction above temperatures possible in batch and thus significantly increased conversion rates are achieved. Also a broader choice of solvents is possible by the use of the continuous process. Batch and continuous reaction are compared in terms of operation range and space-time-yield. Despite lower concentrations of the reactants in the continuous process, space-time-yield exceeds that of the batch process by more than an order of magnitude due to the higher reaction rates.
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text:
Legacy Community Health is a premium, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive care to community members regardless of their ability to pay. Our goal is to treat the entire patient while improving their overall wellness and quality of life, in addition to providing free pregnancy tests, HIV/AIDS screening. At Legacy, we empower patients to lead better lives by promoting healthy behaviors and offering resources such as literacy classes, family planning services, and nutrition and weight management information.
Our roots began in 1981 as the Montrose Clinic, with specialization in HIV education, testing, and treatment. Since then, the agency has expanded to 10 clinics in Houston, one in Baytown, two in Beaumont, and one in Deer Park with extensive services that include: Adult primary care, HIV/AIDS care, pediatrics, OB/GYN and maternity, dental, vision and behavioral health. We also service students within KIPP and YES Prep schools. Legacy is committed to driving healthy change in our communities.
The Medical Assistant assists providers in all exams and minor office procedures; maintaining supply inventory in exam rooms; cleaning and sterilizing equipment; ordering and unpacking all supplies; giving injections and drawing blood. This role will float between Legacy Clinics.
- Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height. Record patients' medical history, vital statistics and information such as test results in medical records.
- Collect blood, tissue or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing such tasks as giving injections and removing sutures.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Phone consultation with clients regarding test results & health concerns.
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Certified Medical Assistant or certificate of Medical Assistant required.
- Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred.
- 9 Holiday + 1 Floating Holiday
- 403b Retirement Plan
- Medical / Vision / Dental (if eligible)


text:
Potential effects of herbivores on plant species diversity depend on herbivore size, species and density. In this study we examine the effect of different-sized herbivores (cattle and rabbits) on recruitment of subordinate herbs in grasslands. We show that in a grazed floodplain, grassland plant species richness is mainly determined by the presence of many species of subordinate herbs. These herbs experience high colonization and extinction rates. We conclude that the creation of colonization opportunities for subordinate herbs plays a crucial role in maintaining plant species richness in productive grasslands. We found that cattle disperse large amounts of seeds via their dung, over ten times more than rabbits. Rabbits create more and on average larger bare soil patches than cattle. In a field experiment artificial disturbances improved germination success tremendously for four tested herb species. We found that bare soil is the best regeneration site, while cattle dung gave a too strong nutrient stimulus, resulting in tall vegetation and therefore light limitation. These results can be confirmed with results from field monitoring plots where plant species richness was positively related to the occurrence of bare soil patches. Therefore both large and small herbivores have a major impact on dispersal and colonization, but for different reasons. Cattle are identified as most important for seed dispersal whereas rabbits have a main effect as creators of disturbances. These results emphasize the importance of distinguishing between herbivore species in assessing their (potential) effects.
Nomenclature: van der Meijden (1990).


preliminary prospectus
(redirected from Pre IPO Prospectus)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus.
Preliminary prospectus
An initial or tentative version of a prospectus.
Preliminary Prospectus
The first prospectus distributed prior to a new issue of a security. The first prospectus contains information such as the terms of issue, the size of issue, and other, relevant data about the security. Importantly, however, it does not contain the new issue's price. Because the preliminary prospectus is subject to change and because the SEC requires part of it to be printed to red ink, it is informally called a red herring.
preliminary prospectus


Who is considered a virgin?
From Christian Onyishi
Leave a Reply
This Post Has 12 Comments
 1. Arua Marcel
 There are many things to say about virginity.
 First is that it is not only ascribed to females alone but also males but I think it is only that of the females is verifiable.
 For females, it is said that apart from normal sex which is the main activity were virginity is lost one can still loose ones physical virginity through strenuous activities.
 Finally and most importantly, virginity is pride/might. Spiritually speaking I would say that virginity aids spiritual growth and virgins possess some kind of natural spiritual power with non virgins do not have and can never have, but most times they are not really aware of it. This is why some sacrifices can only be valid and Fruitful when virgins are used. Our blessed Mary in one of her messages requests that little virgins be consecrated to her. Why?
 Our Lord Jesus wish to be born of a Virgin. Why? When we read stories of Saints Agnes, Agatha, Cecilia, Maria Goretti, Lucy and other saints who died because they want to preserve their virginity then we will understand that virginity is might.
 Below is an article I once wrote on this matter.
 Virgin-less Virgins
 I use to hear questions like, do we still have virgins? Yes o, many of them. And virgins are precious to God, if not, He would have not allowed her Mother to remain one. St. Ephraim said that Virginity will serve as a chariot, lifting heaven ward all those who have it.
 Some martyrs saw the treasures in Virginity and not only offered it to God but offered their lives for it. Saints like, Agnes, Maria Gorreti, Cecilia, Agatha, Lucy, Philomina etc.
 Keep yourself if you are still one.
 Please o, it is not only females that Virginity is ascribed to. St John the Evangelist was said to be a virgin, and I think that is why Jesus loved him the most.
 The area I want to concentrate are those I refer to as Virgin-less Virgins. Virginity in the right sense deals with everything about the individual not just the physical aspect. Virginity is inside out.
 There are sins against Virginity which if one is comfortable with them even if he or she has never penetrated someone or been penetrated by someone makes the person less a virgin.
 Some of them are:
 If you dress in such are way that you lead others to sin either in thoughts, words or actions.
 If you are in impure relationship,
 If you watch pornography,
 If you masturbate,
 If you engage in impure chats,
 If you make impure calls, messages, or discussions,
 If you use romantic words for pleasure sake,
 Impure hugging, holding of hands, kissing, romancing etc
 Then, you are less a virgin.
 Just as it is possible for one to regain her Virginity physically by using drugs or herbs it is also possible to regain your Virginity spiritually. That's by constantly longing and making effort to be pure all round always.
 What this means is that someone can be physically a virgin but not spiritually a virgin and someone could be spiritually a virgin and not physically a virgin. If one is both spiritually and physically, best. But among being a virgin either physically or spiritually, I think God will prefer the spiritual virgins more.
 What is most important is that you continue to make untiring effort towards total purity of life. If you fall by mistake, rise as quicky as possible and continue in your effort.
 Don't be comfortable with any sin especially the sins of impurity because it leads people to hell more than any other sin, says our blessed Mother Mary to the three seers at Fatima.
 Forget your past and be determined in the future to restore your Virginity.
 Purity remains the answer.
 1. Kingsley Mario Ojobo
 Thanks for that wonderful contribution.
 More wisdom.
 2. Anonymous
 But wait o
 Isn't the holding hands and hugging a little extreme?
 2. Kingsley Mario, Ojobo
 To some, it's naive credulity
 preserving the limb's unity.
 Many take it for granted
 saying, the grace was never bestowed.
 No need to resist nature's call.
 Lose it or be tagged uncivilized
 not willing to socialize.
 The happening ones
 sell it to get their wants.
 Submitting to nature's call.
 Is she a virgin?
 He asks to judge.
 But she dare no question
 to ascertain if he's one.
 He claims forever virgin.
 Is it gender based?
 A call for doctors to answer.
 But in justice and equity
 no gender is an exception.
 Adam and Eve both left the garden.
 What a treasure
 the best from a bride
 to her groom, who paid the price.
 And from the groom, I guess
 to his bride, who said yes.
 Losing it means not death
 let it not be the end.
 Cheer up and rise again
 pursue purity which gives more gain
 and can be restored with no pain.
 1. Pascal
 Wow! This is wonderful. The way you articulated the poem is very awesome.
 3. Kingsley Mario Ojobo
 Virginity is the act of being a virgin,
 And somebody who is a virgin is considered a virgin naa. Lol.
 But wait oo…
 ®Is virginity for both gender or just for females?
 I always hear, "she's not a virgin or she is a virgin," but I'm yet to hear statements like, "he is no longer a virgin."
 ®Also, is someone who engage in Masturbation without any form of sexual intercourse still a virgin?
 ®Is it possible to know if a man is a virgin or not?
 ®Can someone lose his/her virginity and still recover it? Can you undo what you have done?
 ®Does virginity define the true worth of a lady?
 I always hear comments like, "I can't marry her because she's no longer a virgin."
 ®Is being a virgin equivalent to being a good girl?
 ®Virginity, chastity and purity seems to have similar meaning,
 Please can someone clear my confusions.
 4. Francis Sanctity
 To be sexually a virgin in general sense…should be not having sexual intercourse with the opposite.
 This is clearly defined in the words of our Lady to the Archangel ; "How can it be, Since I KNOW NOT a man." Luke 1:26-end.
 5. Emmanuel (Ozigi)
 sex means different things to different people, so virginity can mean different things, too.
 A lot of people think that having penis-in-vagina sex for the first time is how you lose your virginity. But this leaves lots of people and other types of sex out of the picture.
 Some people haven't had penis-in-vagina sex, but they've had other kinds of sex (like oral sex or anal sex) — and they may or may not see themselves as virgins. And there are lesbian, gay, bisexual or pansexual people who may never have penis-in-vagina sex at all. But they probably don't see themselves as lifelong virgins just because they haven't had penis-in-vagina sex.
 Many people believe rape and sexual assault aren't sex — it's only sex if both partners have consent. So if someone was forced or pressured the first time they had vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex, they may not see that as "losing their virginity."
 6. Emmanuel (Ozigi)
 There is no one definition of virginity. For some, being a virgin means you haven't had any kind of penetrative sex — whether that's vaginal, anal, or even oral. Others may define virginity as never engaging in vaginal penetration with a penis, despite having had other types of sex, including oral stimulation and anal penetration.
 7. Prof Nkadi Onyegegbu
 I will only take up this topic, VIRGINITY from the position as a Biology teacher.
 Virginity is a state of never having had sexual intercourse.
 Never engaged in sexual intercourse.
 Haven't had penetrative sex.
 Is a special value for unmarried females.
 A personal purity.
 Is an honor and worth.
 Is a quality female or male has.
 Is an ideal condition that is not medical.
 Is a topic that the negative "culture of silence" in our society will not rather discuss in public.
 Is a very important topic that even when discussed by a bold person, draws up so much interest and attention irrespective of age and gender.
 I don talk my own ooo.
 1. Fr. Teclus UGWUEZE
 Thanks dear PROF. Very thoughtful of you
 8. Anonymous
 Honestly that sounds more vague than I've ever heard. Please someone should speak on that


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|© UNICEF video|
|Single mothers Maia (right) and Irina (left) take a moment to rest with their babies. Both mothers now live at the UNICEF-supported Mother and Infant Shelter in Tbilisi, Georgia.|
By Maya Kurtsikidze
On 18 October, UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre will launch 'Social Monitor 2006: Understanding Child Poverty in South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States', a report urging governments to tackle child poverty in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Here is the first in a series of related stories.
TBILISI, Georgia, 13 October 2006 – Niko, 4, is proud of his twin brothers, David and Georgi – siblings he almost never had the chance to know. His mother, Maia, was thinking of abandoning her boys because she could not care for them. Fortunately, Maia found the support she needed at the Mother and Infant Shelter in Tbilisi.
The shelter, which is funded by UNICEF in partnership with the non-governmental organization World Vision, was opened at the Tbilisi Infants Home in April 2003. Since then, social workers have identified 208 mothers at risk of losing their children.
"It provides an alternative to child abandonment," says UNICEF Representative in Georgia Giovanna Barberis. "Mothers are staying with their babies. We help them to find some way of living together."
|© UNICEF video|
|Children who have been abandoned largely due to poverty find a safe haven at Tbilisi's Mother and Infant Shelter.|
Partnership for families
For many of the over 5,400 children living in Georgia's residential institutions, being orphaned may have been preventable. Most of them still have living parents. But with approximately 50 per cent of families in this post-Soviet country living below the poverty line, it is understandable that parents often see institutionalization as the only solution.
In 2002, UNICEF Georgia began partnering with the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as with World Vision and the UK-based organization Every Child, to provide much-needed support to single mothers.
As part of this collaboration, the Mother and Infant Shelter helps women cope with the pressures that could lead them to abandon their infants. In South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, an estimated 18 million children under the age of 15 live in extreme poverty. Many mothers cannot afford to feed, clothe or educate their children.
In addition to financial hardships, Georgia is a country of strict traditions where families may not accept children born out of wedlock. These factors may help explain the high rates of child abandonment.
|© UNICEF video|
|With support from the shelter, Irina and other mothers can learn vocational skills such as tailoring.|
At the shelter, women are provided with the tools they need to become self-sufficient. They receive employment assistance and take professional training courses in areas such as office management, computer repair and cosmetology. So far, 35 women have become empowered enough to start their own small businesses, ranging from dairy product production to auto repair.
Irina is a single mother who came to the shelter directly from the maternity hospital. As part of the programme, she was offered the opportunity to study as a seamstress at a local design studio.
"I am more confident in myself now, " Irina says. "I want to learn more. Probably, one day, I will be able to open my own shop."
The Mother and Infant Shelter offers women the chance to gain strength from each other while they receive valuable counselling and job training. When they are finally able to support themselves, they will move into their own homes – and their children will be with them.
Social Monitor 2006
18 million children in poverty [with video]
Economic hardship affects children in Moldova [with video]
Keeping families together in Georgia [with video]
BBC News: Plea for action on child poverty
(external link, opens in a new window)


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4. Firing ranges are found in open terrain and near home stations. Ranges in open
terrain usually have the vegetation removed and a clear field of fire; furthermore, there is a
control tower. They are easily recognized. On the other hand, ranges near home stations
are usually scaled ranges to reduce the rising cost of ammunition, fuel, and spare parts.
The following examples are typical ranges.
a. The standard rifle marksmanship field firing range consists of approximately 35
firing lanes, each lane has a fighting position (foxhole), stump, and sandbags. There are
three rows or banks of targets, one bank is located at a range of 75 m, the second at 175
m, and the third at 300 m Figure 2-21).
Figure 2-21. Standard Rifle Marksmanship Field Firing Range.


Feng shui your child's bedroom
By Emma McFadyen | February 23, 2010
Feng shui your child's bedroom
Does your little one sleep soundly through the night, or do they end up in your bed?
Children can be much more sensitive to the energies in their environment than adults,
and their sleeping habits can be a good indiciation of how comfortable their bedroom
really is.
Create a cosy haven with a good flow of energy to encourage a good night sleep with
these easy-to-apply feng shui tips from Living Edge Feng Shui:
The head of the bed should be placed against a solid wall to encourage support
and stability, while the placement of the bed should not be underneath a window or
in direct alignment with the door.
The fewer the electrical items in the bedroom the better! The electromagnetic fields
(EMFs) created by this equipment can be energy-depleting - particularly electric
blankets. Ensure clocks, computers, lamps, etc, are at least 2 metres away from
sleeping areas.
Clutter causes stagnant energy and disrupts sleep. With a simple storage system you
can ensure that everything in the bedroom has its own home.
Make a point of going through your children's toys and clothes at least once a year.
Items can be categorised into three areas: keep (for items still used), charity (for items
no longer used and in good condition), or bin (for broken items).
Never use underneath the bed as a place for storage as this creates stuck energy
and disrupts sleep.
Pastel colours work best to create a relaxed and harmonious environment. Avoid
bold and bright colours such as hot pink or red which are energising and known to
create hyperactivity, making it hard for your kids to fall asleep at night.
If your child's bedroom is also their playroom, use the furniture and furnishings in a
clever way to create zones. Ensure the sleeping side of the room is clutter free and
cosy to encourage rest, while the play side can be more creative, colourful and fun!
Avoid mirrors in the bedroom! They are too 'yang' (active) and can make it hard to
fall asleep at night. Instead, hang a happy family picture or a snap of their favourite
pet on the wall which will create positive feelings and a sense of happiness and
security for your little one.
Find more kids bedroom ideas:
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Studies on the inhibitions bioactive compounds from sargassaceae myriocystum to water treatment and purification
E. Sathish Kumar
Department of Zoology, Presidency College, Chennai- 600 005
R. Usha
Department of Zoology, Presidency College, Chennai- 600 005
Heavy metals pollution of drinking water has become one of the most serious problems due to their sever toxicities to human body. In this study, the adsorption of heavy metals from contaminated water using sargassaceae myriocystum and its activated carbon was investigated.Further, sargassaceae myriocystum was pre-treated with sulfuric acid, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride and tested for its ability to remove various heavy metals from contaminated water. sargassaceae myriocystum gave better uptake of chromium compared with calcium and magnesium treatments. The impact of different parameters such as initial metal ions concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose and pH on the removal were evaluatedsargassaceae myriocystumwith activated carbon was found to be the highest efficient column capable to remove 100% of heavy metals from drinking water samples. Thus, this column is considered as an efficient and cheap biotechnology for removing the heavy metals in drinking water treatment plants. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models were used to describe the biosorption of heavy metals by sargassaceae myriocystum.
March 16, 2021


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In our world, the designer is responsible for creating dynamic templates that enable the marketer to send highly personalized messages. These templates can be built using the HTML editor or the Sculpt editor.
To achieve advanced personalization, we developed a template syntax that is based on a custom version of Smarty (a php based template language). We'll just refer to as Smarty from now on. To take advantage of all the personalization possibilities, the designer should be proficient in the Smarty syntax and be able to code templates that use variables, link functions, conditional logic, and data looping.
Dig the Data
Before diving into Smarty, the designer should understand how Cordial stores all data in separate collections. Smarty references these collections when rendering data in a message using Smarty variables.
Here are some recommended articles to get you up to speed on the different data collections:
- Contact Collection - stores data specific to a contact including channels, attributes, list membership and cart items.
- Event (Contact Activities) Collection - stores event data specific to messages (opens, clicks, etc.) or any custom named event.
- Product Collection - stores data from a product catalog.
- Orders Collection - stores order data.
- Supplements Collection - stores additional data (store locations, coupon codes, message content, etc.) that doesn't fit into one of the above collections.
In addition to the above data collections, you can also reference external data (RSS feed, Instagram feed, weather, etc.) when personalizing message content.
Watch the Data Overview video to learn more:
Smart Personalization with Smarty
Once you understand what data is available and how it is stored in Cordial, you are able to access it and render it in a message using Smarty.
Introduction to Smarty
To get an introduction to Smarty, start with this article:
The key takeaways here are:
- Smarty is wrapped in curly braces.
- CSS also uses curly braces, so be sure to escape CSS using the literal tag or you will get errors when trying to save a message.
- Smarty renders when previewing a message or at the time of message send.
- You can select a contact's email address when previewing a message to see a live preview of the personalized content for the selected contact.
- Smarty supports variables, conditional statements, data looping and other functions and modifiers.
Smarty can access the data using variables. Variables can access system data, account data, contact attribute data and more. Here are some articles dedicated to what you can do with Smarty variables:
- Variables Overview - Get an overview of how variables are used in Cordial.
- System Variables - Certain variables are reserved for system values such as email address and message ID.
- Account Variables - Account variables are used for account specific values that can be used for CAN SPAM/CASL compliance in message footers.
- Contact Variables - Used to render contact attribute values for each contact such as first name, address, etc.
- Assigning Variables - Variables can be set in a message and then recalled throughout the message. This is useful for link appends or building complex Smarty logic.
- Date and Timestamp Variables - Used for rendering dates in a message.
- Variable Modifiers - Modifiers are used to change the way variables are rendered, such as date formats, numbers and capitalization.
Cordial's custom version of Smarty adds additional functionality to links beyond just pointing to a web page. Learn about link functions with the articles below:
- Optout Link - Modify the default optout link using Smarty
- Adding Tags to Links - Use link tags to associate links in multiple messages for segmentation and reporting.
- Naming a Tracked Link - Give links a "friendly name" for use in the UI when viewing reports.
- Link Appends - Use Smarty to set up link appends.
- Updating List Membership - Add or remove contacts to a list when they click a link.
- Updating an Attribute - Update a contact attribute when a link is clicked.
Conditionals Statements and Data Looping
In addition to rendering variables and link functions, Smarty is used for conditional if/then statements for rendering dynamic content. You are also able to loop through data arrays and render specific values using foreach statements.
Get Data Arrays
Using smarty, you are able to access data arrays from a collection (i.e. products), filter the results and render them in a message. These are called get data array methods. When you combine these with conditional statements and variables, you've opened the door for highly personalized dynamic content. The following articles give you explanations and examples of the different methods available:
- Get Products - Filter and render products from your product catalog.
- Get Events - Filter and render event data such as "items browsed on a site".
- Get Orders - Filter and render order data in a message.
- Get Supplements - Filter and render supplement data in a message.
- Get JSON - render data from an external source such as an Instagram feed.
HTML Content Includes
Reusable HTML snippets can be saved outside of message content in a content library, and then rendered in multiple message using Smarty:
Sculpt Templates and Blocks
The Sculpt message editor provides an easy way for the marketer to create complex message layouts and content without having to write any HTML using a combination of Sculpt templates and Sculpt blocks.
As the designer, you create a Sculpt template to use as a starting point for messages, as well as a variety of Sculpt blocks that can be dragged into templates during message creation by the marketer. Note that both Sculpt templates and Sculpt blocks support advanced personalization using Smarty.
Before the Sculpt editor is available for message creation, a Sculpt Template must be created and saved in the account. A Sculpt template is the "HTML shell" that can accept Sculpt blocks. Get an overview of Sculpt here, and read more about creating Sculpt templates.
Watch the Sculpt template video to learn more:
Sculpt blocks are created separately from Sculpt templates and live within the Sculpt block library. During message creation, the marketer chooses a Sculpt template as a starting point and then drags in Sculpt blocks to build layouts and customize content.
As the designer, you create the library of Sculpt blocks that the marketer can use for messages. Any element within a Sculpt block (images, colors, fonts, etc.) can be set as editable using variables and then customized using forms that you create. Learn more about Sculpt blocks.
Watch the Sculpt block video to learn more:
Other Helpful Resources
We've put together a list of additional external resources that you may find useful...we did!
- Email boilerplate - The folks at Litmus have put together several responsive email templates to get you started building email code.
- CSS inliner tool - To make sure your HTML and CSS are email friendly, use this CSS inliner tool from Zurb.
- Character converter - If you use special characters in your messages they may need to be converted to their respective HTML entities. This HTML Character Converter will do it for you.
- Rendering tests - Both Litmus and Email on Acid provide great tools to test email rendering.
- Smarty Documentation - _URL_ is the official guide for Smarty. Keep in mind that not all functions and modifiers are supported in Cordial. Check out our full list of supported functions and modifiers here.
- JSON validator - JSONLint is an awesome tool for checking your JSON for errors when making API calls. Sometimes it's just a comma causing the problem!
- HTML, JS and JSON beautifier - jsbeautifier.org will beautify your code and make it easier to read.


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ACV vs ARR: Formulas, Tips, and Tricks for 2022
Revenue analytics is a crucial part of understanding how well your SaaS is doing. There are a ton of different metrics that you can use to measure your business's current situation. ACV and ARR are two of the most important ones, right after Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR).
In this article, I will go into detail about these two metrics so that you have a better understanding of your revenue analytics.
What is ACV?
Annual Contract Value (ACV) takes the average value an ongoing customer brings to a business in a year. This metric is mainly used by SaaS businesses operating on an annual or multi-year subscription basis, though businesses that use monthly subscriptions and different plans can use the Annual Contract Value by projecting their monthly revenue to a year as well.
What is ARR?
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is the annual version of the MRR. Put simply, ARR is MRR*12.
When should you use ACV?
Annual Contract Value is not often used as a metric to measure growth: it's used more as a means to measure customer success on a case-by-case basis. You could use ACV:
- To measure the success of your marketing team in terms of demand generation: if the ACV is high for a customer or for multiple customers, they are creating demand and getting a lot of people to sign contracts.
- To calculate the revenue brought by a single customer in order to understand the value they bring to your business,
- To compare the revenue generated by customers in different contracts more accurately.
Based on what you want to measure, you may include or exclude one-time contract charges. Excluding them may result in a better comparison between customers, but it may create a distorted image in terms of your long-term marketing success.
When should you use ARR?
Annual Recurring Revenue is the metric you should go to while measuring the yearly growth of your company. This metric is less focused on individual cases since it's just the sum of all types of recurring revenue in a year (as explained below in the calculations.) You can use ARR:
- To make future predictions and investments: you'll need to know how much revenue you're expecting in a year or in multiple years,
- Since ARR only takes into account revenue from subscriptions, and not one time purchases, it can be used to determine the success of a subscription model,
- Comparing the ARR of different years tells you about your different marketing decisions' impacts.
If your subscriptions have non-standard lengths, such as 8 months or 9 months and 30 days, your ARR may not give you a logical picture. You may need to adjust the calculations accordingly or use a similar SaaS marketing metric, MRR.
How do you calculate ACV?
Calculating Annual Contract Value is pretty easy. The equation is:
ACV = Total contract values / Total years in contract
Let's assume that two customers signed up to your company with different plans:
- Customer X chose a $420 per year plan for 2 years. One-time fee for this plan is $70.
- Customer Y chose a $200 per year plan for 2 years. One-time fee for this plan is $50.
PS. If you charge a one-time fee (for set-up or training), your ACV for the first year will be higher than the other years in a multi-year subscription plan.
Here's what your ACV will be when you look at both customers at the same time:
- ACV for the first year = ($420 + $70 + $200 + $50)/2 = $370
- ACV for the second year = ($420 + $200)/2 = $310
As you can see, the ACV for the first year is obviously higher than the second year because of the one-time fee for the transaction in the first year. You could also measure the ACV of X and Y separately, which would look like:
- ACV customer X = ($420 + $70)/2 = $245
- ACV for customer Y = ($200 + $50)/2 = $125
How do you calculate ARR?
Annual Recurring Revenue is the sum of the amount each customer pays you in a calendar year.
This is the equation for ARR:
ARR (annual recurring revenue) = Total annual revenue – Nonrecurring revenue
We can look at an example with three different customers with different subscription plans.
Customer A: Chose the plan to pay $1500/year for 1 year
Customer B: Chose the plan to pay $1200/year for 2 years
Customer C: Chose the plan to pay $1700/year for 3 years
In this scenario, ARR value will be:
Year 1: $1500 + $1200 + $1700 = $4400
Year 2: $1200 + $1700 = $2900
Year 3: $1700 = $1700
If you were to calculate ACV in this example, the result would be:
Year 1: ($1500 + $1200 + $1700)/3 = $1466.6
Year 2: ($1200 + $1700)/2 = $1450
Year 3: ($1700)/1 = $1700
ACV is the average of all subscription revenue. ARR is the sum of what each customer pays for the subscription plan in a year. They have similar points about functions but there are these little nuances.
Typical ACV for SaaS Businesses
It seems like there is no specific "Typical ACV value" or structure for SaaS businesses. There is a huge variation in subscription models, pricing, business to the customer versus business to business sales, and own calculations of the companies.
Research shows that values and requirements vary tremendously according to the scale of companies and the actions they take.
Let's look at a study of RJMetrics. This study indicated that the ACV value differs a lot between B2B and B2C. According to the research, the average ACV of B2C SaaS companies is $100, while for B2B it is $1,079.
Other revenue metrics that you should track
MRR measures the monthly recurring revenue a SaaS gets from subscriptions.
CAC (Customer Acquisition Costs)
CAC refers to the total amount you spend to obtain a new customer – including all the sales and marketing expenses that you pay to get those customers.
ACV is directly proportional to CAC.
A good CAC ratio for your company depends on the customer lifetime value of your business.
CAC and LTV (customer lifetime value) go together in this path:
Measures the cost to acquire a customer
LTV (Lifetime value)
It is a prediction of the aggregate contribution of an average customer to the company generally during the lifetime of the customer. The lifetime value of a customer.
But if you have more than one customer –hopefullyyou will be in a need to use two more metrics to benefit LTV completely in your analysis. They are Churn Rate and Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
Churn rate refers to the number of customers who unsubscribed or stopped their payments for the subscription of your service. This cancellation information will keep you updated about the current situation of your SaaS company.
Example: If the number of subscribers was 1000 last year and lost 70, your churn rate is 7%.
ARPU(Average Revenue Per User / Unit)
Measures the overall revenue generated per user or unit. Total revenue of your business / the total number of customers you have in a given duration.
Example: If you have 1000 accounts in your company, and from 500 of them, you made $20 per year, and from the other 500 you made $30 per year, then your ARPU is $25 yearly.
Tools to track ARR
- Price: Has a free forever plan
- Capterra rating: 4.9/5
HockeyStack is an end-to-end analytics tool for SaaS companies. It unifies marketing, revenue, sales, and product data into one dashboard with no code so that you can understand what really drives revenue at your SaaS. It's completely no code, and it doesn't require any setup.
HockeyStack has one-click integrations with Stripe and Paddle to track ARR, MRR, and other revenue metrics. Moreover, you can integrate with HubSpot to uncover invaluable insights and answer questions, such as:
- What is the average LTV of a blog post?
- Which marketing channel brings the most engaged users?
- What is the demo close rate of my blog posts?
- What is the average churn rate of users who signed up for a blog post?
- What are the common sales objections of users who signed up from my ad campaigns, blog posts, or top-of-the-funnel content?
and many more.
- Price: Free
- Capterra Rating: 4.7/5
Profitwell provides you to have revenue automation products that automatically reduce cancellations, optimize pricing, and give you accurate, free revenue reporting. It provides absolutely accurate, real-time subscription reporting and analytics, incredibly detailed analytics for subscription-based businesses. From MasterClass and Zenefits to Shipt and Vice, over 20,000 recurring revenue companies depend on ProfitWell to track their businesses.
- Price: Free trial is available. Subscription plans start from $29/month
- Capterra Rating: 3.3/5
Baremetrics is a tool that provides metrics, forecasting, analytics, insights and engagement tools for teams using Stripe, Braintree, Chargify, Recurly, and more. With zero configuration it is able to give you important business metrics like M