text: The present paper describes the evolution of native defects and the introduction of new defects by transient annealing on unimplanted Bridgman (B) or Liquid Phase Epitaxy (LPE) Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). Three techniques covering all the timescales below those available with the conventional furnace annealing were used: Pulsed Electron Beam Annealing (PEBA), Continuous Wave Laser (CWLA) and Rapid Thermal Annealing (RTA). Electronic defects have been investigated by Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS). The evolution of native defects and the introduction of new defects, are strongly dependent on the annealing technique. A significant decrease of EL2 concentration has been observed after PEBA, but it is not affected by CWLA or RTA under our annealing conditions. On the contrary, the other native defects EL6 and EL3 are completely annealed by RTA and PEBA. Furthermore, both DLTS spectra recorded after PEBA and RTA on the B substrates show introduction of new defects. However, CWLA does not affect the defects present in B GaAs, but an electron trap termed PL1 was introduced by this treatment in a thin oxide layer formed on the LPE grown GaAs.


I'm not certain that "composite" is the right word for this; I've seen blogs tutorials and books that seem to link prior beliefs together. Consider MTCARS data, where miles per gallon (mpg) has a linear relationship with engine displacement, depicted by the equation m = B*x +a where m represents mpg, B the slope, x the input variable displacement, and a (or B0) the y-intercept.
I'm following this blog by Jesse Fagan, Suppose that:
mpg ~Normal(mu=m,sigma=s)
B ~Normal(mu=0,sigma=2)
a ~Normal(mu=18,sigma=3)
s ~Unif(start=0,stop=20)
I'm not an R programmer, however, I'm quite familiar with python. Due to the R code, I'm not certain what's happening in each step. Big picture, I understand that this code accomplishes a grid search. However, I'd like to know explicitly which PDFs are priors and which are likelihoods.
It's my understanding that mpg is the likelihood whereas B, a, and s are the priors. Likewise, I understand the "composite prior" to use my vocabulary, to be the product of B,s, and a. Again, due to the R code, I'm not 100% confident in this belief and would like affirmation or correction.
Thank you!
Maybe using a (similar) notation would be helpful. Assuming that we have a single outcome and predictor, and estimating a linear model (just like your example):
$$y_i \sim Normal(\mu_i, \sigma) \tag{1}$$ $$\mu_i = \alpha + \beta x_i \tag{2}$$ $$\alpha \sim Normal(10,10) \tag{3}$$ $$\beta \sim Normal(0,10) \tag{4}$$ $$\sigma \sim Uniform(0,50) \tag{5}$$
Equation (1) corresponds to the first line in your code (mpg ~Normal(mu=m,sigma=s)) and called likelihood (as you said). Equation (2) is the linear model (i.e., m = B*x +a in your question). And finally, equations (3), (4), and (5) are priors of the parameter values to be estimated. Note that $\mu_i$ is not a parameter to be estimated, but rather constructed from other parameters. I guess this is the part that causes confusion regarding "composite priors" which, as far as I understand, have a different, technical use (e.g., see this dissertation).
 - $\begingroup$ I see, thanks! One last question, how should the likelihood be evaluated? My understanding is that I would take the product of each likelihood, where x=u(i) and mu=y(i). As opposed to all u(i) observations being compared to the average of y. (In practice, I'd probably sum the log likelihoods.) $\endgroup$ – jbuddy_13 Sep 14 '20 at 14:09
 - $\begingroup$ _USER_ If I get the first part of the question right, yes. The likelihood of $y_1, \ldots, y_n$ is the product of each likelihood, because we assume each outcome is independent from each other. But I am not clear about the second part of the question. $\endgroup$ – T.E.G. Sep 14 '20 at 15:33
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text:
Gerome's Magical Garden
4 years & up. Bring reading, planting, and growing together with this comprehensive kit. The teacher's guide provides complete instructions, curriculum guidelines, and 24 reproducible lessons for grades K-2. Key subjects are math, reading, art and culture, and science. Includes 3 pots, a 28-page illustrated book, growing calendar, stickers, 6 seed packs (beans, lettuce, peas, spinach, carrots, and radishes), trowel, and 2 figurines. Potting soil not included.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Team Recreates Ancient Greek Kithara
Will demonstrate musical instrument, tell story of its building at Friday event
- By Jeffrey R. Wakefield
How do you create a three-dimensional design for an ancient Greek musical instrument when all you have to go on are flat two-dimensional images on vases and coins and a few timeworn statues?
That's the assignment Classics professor John Franklin and student Tanner Lake gave themselves in 2009 when they decided to recreate an ancient Greek instrument called a kithara, a seven-stringed version of the lyre used by professional musicians in public concerts, choral performances and competitions beginning in the seventh century B.C.
"We looked at any medium we could find to get the measurements and all the angles," Franklin said. Franklin and Lake also consulted ancient texts that described some elements of kithara construction.
Lake, a classics major who graduated in 2010, designed the instrument under Franklin's supervision.
The task of building the kithara fell to luthier John Butterfield of Butterfield Lutes in Seattle, who introduced his own design ideas when technical challenges presented themselves.
All three will be on hand on Friday, Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. in John Dewey Lounge to talk about the project and show off the product of their collaboration.
Franklin will demonstrate the kithara and will use it to accompany several ancient Greek songs performed by the Halcyonids, the Classics Department singing group.
Lyres as an instrument family gradually morphed into lutes of various types. The word "guitar" is descended directly from "kithára," even though the shape and stringing changed radically.


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In my dictionary it defines
黃 (Huáng)
- yellow
- pornographic
- to fall through
- surname Huang or Hwang
Imperial China and the robes of the emperor are commonly associated with the colour yellow.
We also have
黃河 - Huánghé - the yellow river
黃山 - Huángshān - the yellow mountain
黃帝 - Huángdì - the legendary Yellow Emperor
So how did the colour yellow come to be associated with pornography?
黃色電影 - Huángsè diànyǐng - pornographic movie
黃色書刊 - Huángsè shūkān - pornographic book
share|improve this question
I know 黃色電影, 黃色書刊/黃書 is a common usage in Hong Kong. However I am not sure if the usage is originated from HK or elsewhere. – John Siu Jan 8 '13 at 17:21
Thanks John. I first learned this from mainland friends, but my taiwanese friends also use this term. So I guess it has a longer history. – Matthew Rudy 马泰 Jan 8 '13 at 18:06
How did blue come to represent pornography in English...LOL – phoeagon May 26 at 6:59
Just to clarify, Golden Yellow is the ancient China's dedicate color for emperor. Also, 黃帝 is actually a 'name' of a very ancient emperor (as well as most of the emperors) but it actually has nothing to do with the color yellow – Alex Aug 6 at 22:24
why? was the original meaning of 黃 not associated with a color? – meireikei Nov 23 at 21:56
7 Answers 7
up vote 11 down vote accepted
According to this article, there are four possible explanations as to why yellow colour is associated with pornography. Below is a slightly modified translation of the article based on further references from the internet:
 1. Orpiment (雌黃). Orpiment is a toxic orange-yellow mineral that is used as a pigment by ancient people. Due to poor bleaching technology, paper produced in the olden days was slightly yellow. When words on a paper need to be corrected, orpiment can be used to smear onto the written words, creating a layer of slightly opaque yellow close to the paper's colour, enabling a rewrite. Soon, people describe uttering nonsense as "信口雌黃". Subsequently, the yellow colour of orpiment and its toxicity is later extended to mean poisoning of the mind.
 2. The Yellow Union. In 1887, in a city in France, a factory owner tried to prevent his workers from going on strike by bribing the Yellow Union. The workers discovered the betrayal and angrily smashed the windows of the union clubhouse. The union then used yellow paper backings as a replacement for the windows. Since then, the workers labelled these union people as "见不得人的黃色工会", meaning a union that cannot face the public, similar to pornography.
 3. The Yellow Book. In 1894, a British magazine named "The Yellow Book", gathered in a group of conservative collection of authors to produce quarterly literary periodicals that are thought to be scurrilous in content. Later, a prestigious Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde, was arrested on homosexuality charges. At the time of his arrest, Oscar was seen holding a yellow book (which turns out to be a French novel). People misidentified the material to be The Yellow Book and associated it with his personality. The next day people demonstrated in front of the publisher, and a furry of media reports soon cemented an association between yellow paperbacks and homosexual content.
 4. The Yellow Kid. The end of the 19th century New York, New York World and New York Journal competed for readers intensely, posting vulgar comics content to which "The Yellow Kid" is one of them and is the origin for the term "yellow journalism". Since then, the colour yellow is associated with erotic and vulgar things.
share|improve this answer
I thought I was going to find some detail info from wiktionary, but... – John Siu Jan 8 '13 at 18:41
This is something the OECD would be good at, were it an english use of the word. Normally they'd find notable example of its use with this meaning. – Matthew Rudy 马泰 Jan 8 '13 at 19:10
Actually I am quite surprise that this colour association with pornography is adopted in China and not elsewhere (correct me if I am wrong) when only one out of the four explanations originates from China. – 杨以轩 Jan 9 '13 at 2:42
_USER_ English blue, Japanese pink, you can try finding more – Mike Manilone Jan 12 '13 at 5:28
3. and 4. seem reasonable. Yellow implying pornography in China didn't appear before the 20th century. I've never seen this usage in ancient Chinese writings. – Stan May 26 '13 at 7:47
There was a time when the color yellow was associated with prostitution also in Europe. For instance, historian Nils Johan Ringdal reports in his Love For Sale: A World History of Prostitution that prostitutes were told to wear yellow scarves in 15th century Vienna. BTW, the book also has a chapter on Tang-dynasty China, but I don't remember further references to the color yellow in there.
There is also a bit more (condensed) information in the Wikipedia article on prostitution during the Middle Ages (German version only): it cites red, yellow, and green as (then) colors of shame.
share|improve this answer
thanks for the extra info – Matthew Rudy 马泰 Jan 17 '13 at 11:44
The Chinese meaning for "yellow " has nothing to do with Pron. In contrast with the English, it has more of the meaning of sexual thoughts, or expressions of sexual content in mind displayed in conversation, non verbal communication. An individual can look yellow, or have yellow thoughts. or say yellow words. In fact in American slang, we would use the word "Nasty".
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I can't find the reference now, but I have read that forbidden books in the early Mao era were put in yellow covers after being seized by the police; according to the source, this included both pornographic and ideologically deviant books. I have also seen contemporary Xinhua and other official sources describing banned religious and political texts as "yellow," so it may be used differently in Danghua. However, it is possible the yellow color was chosen because the color was already associated with deviance.
share|improve this answer
In Hong Kong, brothel and organised prostitute are illegal. It is not allowed to advertise any trade in sex. Brothels and prostitutes hoisted some large yellow light boxes with some red implicit text on it nearby. These boxes were finally taken down by police, and they use a pink light instead nowadays.
In this way, Hong Kong people associates yellow with prostitutes. So do pornography.
share|improve this answer
I remember hearing this explanation in a video so this may be a possible explanation. Do you have supporting materials? – Alvin Wong Aug 10 at 3:22
Traditionally, yellow is a respectful color in China. It represents nobility and wealthiness. It is the color of the skin of Chinese, the color of the mother river of China. 1934， yellow was decided as the city color of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
The negative meaning was brought in from the Commies. They are against Chinese culture. The "People's Republic of China" was originated from "Soviet Republic of China".
More details in Chinese:
share|improve this answer
The second article is a thesis full of detailed traces and references. It states many reasons, Commies are only part to blame. Your statements look biased to me. – Wang Dingwei Nov 24 at 9:50
In Hong Kong, the signage of brothels are traditionally yellow. Like this:
Other colours are also being used in recent years.
Nonetheless, I'm not sure when was 黃色 being associated with pornography. The brothels might deliberately choose yellow for reasons explained by 杨以轩, or the use of such signage might have led this association.
share|improve this answer
Your Answer


text:
Director: Dr. Rupy Sawhney
The laboratory has the ability to create alternative physical simulations of manufacturing and supply chain systems. This allows one to model and analyze the complex interactions among the operational variables and as they impact the system KPI's with an objective of developing Smart Manufacturing Systems.
As part of the Smart Manufacturing Systems concept the laboratory also has the ability to represent this physical system by four information categories.
- Complete real time data
- Partial real time data
- Time based off line data
- Computer/simulation based representation of the physical system
This allows the laboratory to experiment with and design management systems that align with the unique product demand and production attributes characterized in the physical system. This ability allows one to understand the value of information under different production systems and business conditions.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
An In-Park Science Inquiry Paper for Ages Five-Adult
Students ages 5 and up—you can become a Young Scientist! Purchase your self-guiding booklet for $5 at the Canyon Visitor Education Center or Old Faithful Visitor Center. You'll investigate the mysteries of Yellowstone by completing activities in the visitor center and field. The 5–9 year old program is offered only at Old Faithful. If you are investigating in the Old Faithful area, be sure to check out a Young Scientist Toolkit, which has a thermometer, stopwatch, and other gear. Once your investigation is complete, you will be awarded an official Young Scientist patch or key chain.
Development of this program was funded by the National Science Foundation through a generous grant to the Yellowstone Park Foundation.
Available at Canyon
Available at Old Faithful
Did You Know?
Prior to the establishment of the National Park Service, the U.S. Army protected Yellowstone between 1886 and 1918. Fort Yellowstone was established at Mammoth Hot Springs for that purpose.


text:
Cryptocurrency has revolutionized the financial world, offering a decentralized and secure way of conducting transactions. As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to grow, so does the need for infrastructure to support and maintain these digital assets. One such infrastructure element is the concept of master nodes, which play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and security of certain cryptocurrencies.
Master nodes are essentially servers that operate on a blockchain network. They perform important functions such as validating and relaying transactions, and in some cases, they can even participate in the governance of the network. Master nodes are typically operated by individuals, who are incentivized by the network to maintain and run these nodes.
YFI YearnFinance is a groundbreaking decentralized finance platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. It offers users a range of services, including yield farming, lending, and asset management. YearnFinance has gained significant attention and popularity within the cryptocurrency community due to its unique approach to yield optimization.
It is worth exploring the connection between master nodes in cryptocurrency and the YFI YearnFinance platform. How do master nodes contribute to the success and efficiency of the YearnFinance ecosystem? What benefits do master node operators receive in participating in the YearnFinance network? These questions and more will be answered as we delve deeper into the relationship between master nodes and YFI YearnFinance.
In the world of cryptocurrency, there are various mechanisms in place to support the ecosystem and ensure the smooth operation of blockchain networks. One such mechanism is the concept of master nodes, which play a vital role in maintaining the network s integrity and facilitating important functions within the network.
In this article, we will explore the concept of master nodes in cryptocurrency and examine its connection to YFI YearnFinance, one of the prominent decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms in the cryptocurrency industry.
Briefly introduce the concept of masternodes in cryptocurrency and YFI Yearn.Finance
A masternode is a type of full node that plays an important role in the operation of certain cryptocurrencies. It serves as a server that supports the network by performing various tasks such as facilitating secure transactions, verifying blocks, and participating in the consensus protocol. Masternodes are typically required to hold a certain amount of the cryptocurrency in order to participate in the network and receive rewards.
One notable example of a cryptocurrency that utilizes masternodes is YFI Yearn.Finance. YFI is an experimental decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that aims to provide users with the highest yield on their cryptocurrency investments. YFI token holders can become masternodes in the YFI network by staking a certain amount of YFI tokens. By doing so, they contribute to the stability and security of the network and are rewarded with additional YFI tokens.
Highlight the growing popularity of masternodes and the significance of YFI Yearn.Finance in the cryptocurrency ecosystem
In recent years, masternodes have gained significant popularity in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. These specialized nodes provide additional functionality to blockchain networks and play a crucial role in maintaining the network s integrity and security. Masternodes perform various tasks, including facilitating instant and private transactions, participating in governance protocols, and providing additional layers of security against attacks.
As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, more and more blockchain projects are incorporating masternodes into their ecosystems. This growing popularity can be attributed to the numerous benefits that masternodes offer. Some of these benefits include enhanced network performance, increased transaction processing speed, and the ability to earn passive income by holding a certain amount of the project s native cryptocurrency.
One project that has made significant waves in the cryptocurrency space is YFI Yearn.Finance. YFI Yearn.Finance is a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. It aims to optimize returns from various DeFi protocols by automating the process of moving funds between different platforms to maximize yield.
YFI Yearn.Finance has gained immense popularity due to its innovative approach to yield farming and its potential to generate substantial returns for its users. The project s native token, YFI, has become highly sought after by investors and traders alike. Holding YFI tokens allows users to participate in the governance of the protocol and earn rewards for their contributions.
Masternodes play a significant role in the YFI Yearn.Finance ecosystem. They help secure the network, validate transactions, and participate in the governance process. By running a masternode, individuals can actively contribute to the functioning of the platform and earn rewards in the form of YFI tokens.
The growing popularity of masternodes and the significance of YFI Yearn.Finance highlight the increasing demand for decentralized finance solutions and the willingness of users to actively participate in the governance of these platforms. As the cryptocurrency ecosystem continues to evolve, masternodes are expected to play a crucial role in supporting the infrastructure and ensuring the security of blockchain networks.
Cryptocurrency Q&A: Understanding the World of Digital Assets


text:
Some workers claimed they found it after they exploded the rock. No actual proof that it was imbedded.
Now that we have ways to test the thing, it's gone.
The Dorchester Pot was a metal vase, which was recovered in two pieces after an explosion used to break up rock at Meeting House Hill, in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1852. According to text reprinted by Anonymous (1852) from the "Boston Transcript", a local paper, in the June 5, 1852 Scientific American, the two pieces of the Dorchester Pot were found, not in situ within local bedrock, but loose among debris thrown out by the explosion. Apparently, it was inferred from the locations of the two pieces of this pot among the explosion debris that this pot had been blasted from solid puddingstone (conglomerate), which is part of the Roxbury conglomerate, from about 15 feet below the surface of Meeting House Hill (Anonymous 1852).
The bell-shaped vessel about was described as being about 4.5 inches (11.5 cm) high, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) in diameter as the base and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in diameter at the top. The body of this object was said to resemble zinc alloyed with silver in color. It reportedly exhibited floral designs on its side and a wreath or vine design around its lower part, which were both inlaid with silver (Anonymous 1852).
PureInsight (2006) also provides, without any attribution, a picture of an unknown object from an unknown source, which is used to illustrate what they apparently believe the Dorchester Pot looked like, as well as an age of 100,000 years. Anonymous (1852), the primary source of information about this object, provides neither any picture of nor age estimate for the Dorchester Pot.
A web page created by archaeologists Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews and James Doeser with the stated goal of examining fringe archaeology identifies the object as "clearly a candlestick of obviously Victorian style" [_URL_
; they presumably base this identification on the unsourced photograph of the Dorchester Pot mentioned above.


text:
August 31, 2010 > Quarry Lakes: sharing a community resource
Quarry Lakes: sharing a community resource
By Fina Mora
Swimming is a pleasant recreational past time, especially with the available use of facilities at Quarry Lakes, operated by East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). But for some visitors to Quarry Lakes, sharing the area has become a problem. Geese, or Branta Canadensis, are very common birds, having a population growth of 10-17 percent annually nationwide. Thriving in habitats of parks and lakes, it is no wonder geese are literally everywhere and sometimes use a habitat in total, for resting, eating and toilet, conflicting with human visitors.
Quarry Lakes personnel are aware of this potential problem, especially when swimming facilities are shared between humans and fowl. The issue is to maintain a pleasant and safe environment for all concerned. Doug Bell, EBRPD Wildlife Program Manager says, "Quarry Lakes has a company that brings in very well trained dogs of active herders, serving essentially as a scare factor for the geese. Dogs arrive on an irregular schedule so that the geese cannot figure out when the dogs are coming."
Geese have excellent homing capabilities and return to the same nesting site, even if their nest has been damaged or removed. They are very territorial and will attack if threatened, flying up to speeds of 50 miles per hour. Park personnel try to discourage nesting and growth of the population by preventing successful reproduction at Quarry Lakes. "To prevent the geese from hatching, we apply solid oil to the shells, preventing reproduction," says Bell. "The goal is to fool the geese. Nesting is a natural instinct of all birds. If the eggs and nest are removed before the goose has satisfied this instinct, she will simply build another nest and lay additional eggs."
Eggs are not the only thing geese leave behind. An adult goose can drop over two pounds of fecal matter daily, relieving itself when fed every six to eight minutes. Geese fecal matter not only smells bad, but can also cause a lot of damage including alteration of aquatic ecology, leading to an increase of bacterial infection and algae. Although Quarry Lakes discourages excessive goose reproduction, Bell says, "In general, there has never been direct evidence of geese feces affecting humans, so if people are worried, there have been no discoveries."
"The water is tested weekly for toxic levels and has been in compliance with state standard levels consistently," says Neal Fujita, EBRPD Water Resources Manager. To those who express concern about side effects of a large goose population, Bell says there is only so much EBRPD can do. "The geese are protected under federal and state laws, but a decision was recently made to view coastal counties [like Quarry Lakes] as different managements [to give] us more freedom with what land managers can do. In the past, we had to get permits passed in compliance with the California Department of Fish and Games and the U.S. Federal Government."
With large budget deficits, the park has seen cuts. "The district is very aware of the geese situation, but there is a constant balance to keep the geese numbers down combined with as much cleanup as the budget allows," said Bell.
Nesting season falls during the summer months when human visitor counts are high, so Bell offers the following advice, "When visiting parks, do not feed the geese - do not feed any animal. It encourages the geese because they receive a good food source, encouraging them to remain, leading to an increase [of population]."


text:
A new adaptive control scheme is developed for a class of chaotic systems with unknown bounded uncertainties. It is implemented by using variable structure control. The concept of extended systems is used such that continuous control input is obtained to avoid chattering phenomenon as frequently in the conventional variable structure systems. Furthermore, it is worthy of note that the proposed adaptive control scheme does not involve any information about the bounds of uncertainties. Thus, the limitation of knowing the bounds of uncertainties in advance is certainly released. A numerical simulation is included to verify the validity of the developed adaptive chattering free variable structure control. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Yan, J. J., Chang, W. D., Lin, J. S., & Shyu, K. K. (2005). Adaptive chattering free variable structure control for a class of chaotic systems with unknown bounded uncertainties. Physics Letters, Section A: General, Atomic and Solid State Physics, 335(4), 274–281. _URL_


text:
On March 27, 1940, Mrs. Mary Ann Maria Page of Alton, Illinois, died from a botched criminal abortion. She was 20 years old.
The Coroner's jury identified the perpetrator as 69-year-old Dr. C.E. Trovillion, also of Alton, former managing officer of Illinois state hospitals.
Mary Ann's abortion was typical of pre-legalization abortions in that it was performed by a doctor.
During the 1940s, while abortion was still illegal, there was a massive drop in maternal mortality from abortion. The death toll fell from 1,407 in 1940, to 744 in 1945, to 263 in 1950. Most researches attribute this plunge to the development of blood transfusion techniques and the introduction of antibiotics. Learn more here.
For more on pre-legalization abortion, see The Bad Old Days of Abortion
In a bizarre coincidence, another woman named Mary Ann Page died from complications of an abortion in 1977.
"Former Hospital Chief Accused of Abortion", The Oklahoman, April 1, 1940


At the time of this writing, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) is worth about $1.5 billion more than Stratasys (NASDAQ:SSYS), despite the fact that analysts expect the two companies will bring in nearly the same revenues in 2014. In terms of valuation, 3D Systems trades with a forward P/E of more than 90, whereas Stratasys trades with a forward P/E of about 57, indicating that Stratasys will be significantly more profitable than 3D Systems. Although it may seem baffling why investors are assigning such a large premium to 3D Systems, it has everything to do with long-term opportunity.
On a high level, 3D Systems and Stratasys have very different approaches to their market opportunity. 3D Systems is taking more of an approach where it continuously reinvests its earnings into improve its chances of long-term success. As a result, 3D Systems has amassed seven different 3-D printing technologies, allowing it to cast a very wide net on the overall rise of 3-D printing. With only two major 3-D printing technologies suited primarily for prototyping, there is simply less earnings potential for Stratasys over the long-term than 3D Systems.
In the following video, 3-D printing analyst Steve Heller tells investors why he thinks it makes sense for 3D Systems to trade at a premium to Stratasys.


on the term "disqualified bonus payment." Section 1(b)(2) of the bill takes on the task of defining that term. A disqualified bonus payment is any "retention payment, incentive payment, or other bonus which is in addtion to any amount payable to such individual for service performed by such individual at a regular hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or similar periodic rate." The term does not include "commissions, welfare or fringe benefits, or expense reimbursements." The term also does not include "any amount if the employee irrevocably waives the employee's entitlement to such payment, or the employee returns such payment to the employer, before the close of the taxable year in which such payment is due," but this exception does not apply "if the employee receives any benefit from the employer in connection with the waiver or return of such payment." Guaranteed, if this is enacted, there will be questions, debates, rulings, and litigation over the extent to which someone "receives any benefit from the employer in connection with the waiver or return of such payment." Finally, to preclude abuse, a disqualified bonus payment includes any reimbursement of the employee by a covered TARP recipient of the "tax imposed under subsection (a)." The "tax imposed under subsection (a)" is the employee's regular income tax, and not simply the 90-percent portion of the tax. Accordingly, income tax reimbursements plans in effect with respect to other income would be caught if the employer is a TARP recipient, even if the employee did not otherwise receive a bonus. At least that's how I interpret the provision.
Actually computing the tax on the bonus is more complicated than simply stating that it must be taxed at a rate of 90 percent. Tracking the language of section 1(a) shows why this is so. The regular income tax imposed on the bonus recipient is described as "not less than the sum of" two amounts. The first amount is the regular income tax that would be computed if the taxpayer's taxable income did not include the TARP bonus. The second amount is 90 percent of the TARP bonus. What this means, of course, is that even if the taxpayer's taxable income is very low or zero because there are deductions offsetting the gross income generated by the TARP bonus, those are not taken into account when computing 90 percent of the bonus.
Nor is this sufficient. Section 1(e) of the bill provides that any "increase in the tax imposed under chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by reason of subsection (a)," which means the 90-percent portion, "shall not be treated as a tax imposed by such chapter for purposes of determining the amount of any credit under such chapter or for purposes of section 55 of such Code." In other words, the 90-percent portion of the tax cannot be used to increase the tax liability limitation that applies to most credits. Similarly, it is not treated as a regular income tax in computing the alternative minimum tax.
Is this all? No. It is possible that something has been overlooked. It is possible that application of the provision in the context of existing tax law will create ambiguities or interpretational conflicts. Here comes section 1(f) with the solution: "The Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary's delegate, shall prescribe such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section." I wonder if Congress will appropriate funds so that the IRS can hire one or two bright law school graduates to write those regulations and guidance. That would be a wee bit of economic stimulation. It certainly would be intellectual stimulation for whomever was hired. The problem is that there are no law school graduates who have taken a course in taxation of TARP bonus payments because no such course exists.
Finally, there is a question as to whether this tax should apply to bonuses paid in previous years. The answer is found in section 1(g). It makes the provision effective for disqualified bonus payments received after December 31, 2008, in taxable years ending after December 31, 2008.
That is an example of how a simple concept becomes several pages of Internal Revenue Code text. As codified concepts go, it's a fairly simple one, as difficult as it may be to accept that proposition considering the length of this posting. Some tax concepts require dozens or more pages. Ask someone who has studied Partnership Taxation how many regulation pages are dedicated to the concept of "substantial economic effect." Ask someone who has done a tax return for a Social Security benefits recipient how many pages of instructions and computations are required to handle the concept of "taxing social security recipients on some of their social security benefits." The list of such examples could go on for many more paragraphs but I'll stop. I have some Senate bonus taxation legislation to read.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Taxing Bonuses
Those AIG bonuses have been the talk of the town. People are outraged that a company surviving on taxpayer dollars has paid bonuses to more than six dozen executives. How, people ask, does one justify a reward for piloting a company onto the reef?
The outrage has sparked a variety of proposals. Members of Congress have proposed a 100% tax on the bonus, as reported, for example, in this story, this one, and this one. When asked if the tax would be an excise tax, or an income tax on the recipients, or both, staffers replied that they did not yet know. Others have proposed that AIG be denied income tax deductions for the bonuses, as reported here. The Senate Majority Leader suggested that the recipients return the bonuses, though he has also signed on to other reactions. Still other proposals include revealing the identities of the recipients unless they return the money to AIG and requiring the recipients to donate some or all of the bonuses to charity. There are those who think that the government should have let, and should let, AIG go into bankruptcy. One Senator put forth the idea that the bonus recipients should resign or kill themselves, though he later recanted. The Secretary of the Treasury has explained how the Treasury intends to recoup the amounts that were paid.
Yet there are those who defend the payment of the bonuses. In his Dealbook column, Andrew Sorkin explains that AIG must abide by the employment contracts providing for the bonuses, and that failure to pay the bonuses would encourage departure of employees whose talents are required to unravel the mess in which AIG finds itself. Others have pointed out that perhaps the bonus payments went to people who performed well and whose divisions showed a profit, though as the facts trickle out from behind the AIG curtain, it appears that the bonus payments are going to people who are responsible for the mess and whose decisions generated losses.
The flurry of suggestions and the continued defense of the bonus payments in some quarters indicates the turmoil and uncertainty surrounding the transactions. Piled onto this cacophony of commentary are reactions from radio talk show hosts, blog visitors leaving comments, and others who appear to lack an understanding of how the tax system works.
It is to that tax issue that my attention turns. For those who think that a 100% excise tax is unprecedented, check out what happens when a tax-exempt organization or qualified retirement plan engages in a prohibited transaction and fails to take corrective action. Yes, there is imposed a 100% tax. Though the tax has the quality of being punitive, it has an even stronger characteristic of being a deterrent. The downside to imposing a 100% tax on the AIG bonuses is that it would not serve as a deterrent. We are paying the price for decades of ineffective controls on inappropriate executive compensation and decades of weak enforcement of what restrictions are in place. There also is a risk that the tax could be challenged on the grounds it is an impermissible taking and confiscatory.
Taxing the recipients makes no sense unless the proposal envisions imposing a higher rate of tax than otherwise already applies. As it stands, the bonus payments are subject to income tax. There's nothing but symbolic value in the imposition of an addition 10 or 20 percentage points of income tax. The proposal makes sense only if it anticipates a 100% tax rate on the payment, but that in turn raises the same issues that afflict the imposition of an excise tax on AIG.
For those who think that denying a deduction to AIG for the payments that are made, that approach is not unlike denying radio access to a deaf person. AIG does not need tax deductions. It is drowning in losses. It's not even clear that denying the deduction for the bonus payments would have any long-term impact on AIG's loss carryforwards, because those carryforwards might expire in any event.
Letting AIG enter bankruptcy is an argument that has its merits. It's too bad that huge amounts of taxpayer dollars already have been dumped into what would be a black hole. The argument against letting AIG go bankrupt is proof that the American corporate system must be gutted and rebuilt. Opponents of an AIG bankruptcy claim it is "too big" to fail. Its failure, they argue, would bring down the economy in some catastrophic way. That could be true. Either way, it's absurd that any private organization is permitted to become so big that it cannot fail. An organization whose owners know it will not be permitted to fail have, in effect, a blank check to do all the unwise and misguided things that the owners and managers of large entities are tempted to do. There was no good reason to permit AIG, or any of the other conglomerate multinational giants, to become "so big" that they are beyond the restraints of a properly operating free market. In a free market, those who make foolish decisions should pay a price.


Blog Post
Generate Serial Numbers at Job Release Customization for Epicor 9
Serial numbers will be created from Job Entry with a new button that will use the current job number displayed and the production quantity for the number of serial numbers to create.
Customer requirement: If the sn is assigned as part of this transaction, the composition of the sn should be the job number, including leading zeroes, followed by a dash ("-"), followed by an incremental serial number. As part of serial entry as launched from the Job Entry, the serial prefix should be auto-populated with the job number followed by a dash, and the number range begin with 001 (the number of digits and leading zeroes will be determined by the number of digits on the Production Quantity field, in this example 3). The starting number can be adjusted, but the ending number will always be the starting number + the transaction quantity. (Serial numbers will always be sequential for the transaction)
The 'Create Serial Number' functionality can be run once per Job.
Screen examples:
Part is configured for Serial Tracking, mask is alphanumeric If no demand quantity exists, serials cannot be generated
Demand quantity trigger enables the serial generation button
Populated Form


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THE CHANGES in electrical potential along the walls of the esophagus can be expected to reflect motor activity. The electrical activity may be recorded in a manner similar to that used in recording intraluminal pressure.1,2 The present study is a comparison of hiatus hernia patients with a control group.
Combined pressure-electrode probes were used, consisting of three open-end pressure tubes placed 5 cm or 2.5 cm apart. Silver ring electrodes were mounted adjacent to the open ends for recording the pressure and electrical potentials simultaneously from the same sites.The probe was introduced perorally into the esophagus and passed to a distance of about 50 cm distal to the upper incisor teeth. It was then withdrawn until the distal probe end was located 40 cm from the incisors. The external portion of the probe was taped to the chin. A series of recordings of pressure and electrical potentials


Tải sách – Download sách Star Wars What is A Wookiee? của tác giả William Shakespeare thuộc thể loại Ages 9 to 12 miễn phí định dạng PDF, EPUB, MOBI.
Explore the galaxy with your guide, C-3PO in Star Wars™: What is a Wookiee? Find out all about friendly, furry Wookiees and the other amazing creatures and aliens from the Star Wars world.
DK Reads are levelled into stages to help every child progress and become a confident reader. They feature engaging and highly illustrative topics with true kid appeal. Each page is supported with interactive questions to encourage children to access information from a range of sources and develop comprehension skills.
Good reads build great readers
Star Wars What is A Wookiee?
Từ khóa tìm kiếm


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We make every effort to understand your context and its complexities.
We are well known for our social baselines and our social impact assessments (SIAs) which will give you insight into the potential risks and opportunities you are likely to encounter. And, our SIAs are fully compliant with international best practices.
Assessing the social impacts of mine closure for this client in South America.
We offer the following assessment-related services:
- Social baseline studies;
- Strategic research;
- Risk and opportunity assessments;
- Social impact assessments;
- Livelihood impact assessments;
- Design of influx management systems; and
- Human rights risk and impact assessments.


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Croda Supports Hand Sanitiser Manufacture and Vaccine Development During Covid-19 Outbreak
Croda International Plc, who use smart science to create, make and sell speciality chemicals that improve lives, are supporting the manufacturer of hand sanitiser during the outbreak of Covid-19 through the supply of additional glycerine to their customers in Western Europe, free of charge.
The outbreak of Covid-19 has seen a global shortage in items such as hand sanitisers, and to help their customers supply essential items during the pandemic, to date, Croda has gifted enough glycerine to manufacture five million* bottles of hand sanitiser. The company plans to review with customers where more glycerine could be gifted. The glycerine in hand sanitiser helps to protect hands from the drying effects of other ingredients, such as alcohol.
Croda's leading saponin vaccine adjuvants are also being gifted to projects across the world that are working on a vaccination for Covid-19. Whilst not confirmed that they will be in a final vaccine, the company's smart science has a valuable role to play in the development of an effective and safe vaccine for Covid-19. Read more


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ABU DHABI ARROWHEAD FIND NEAR OILFIELD
The study of the archaeology of the UAE began only in the late 1950s. Until then, it was wrongly believed that the UAE's arid deserts and mountains had played only a peripheral role in human development in the region. Extensive research by both local and foreign archaeological teams, including much undertaken in the deserts and coastal areas of Abu Dhabi in close association with Envionment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), has shown, however, that the UAE has played an important part in the emergence and development of maritime trade throughout the Gulf and the Indian Ocean for around 7,500 years.
Thus this new discovery of a flint arrowhead, about 3 cm long, dating back to the Late Stone Age or Neolithic period just south of the Sahil oilfield, 120 kms south-west of Abu Dhabi city during work undertaken for the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) underscores the possibility that there are many more finds to be made in the region.
The item has been identified by a leading expert on the UAE's Late Stone Age, who has noted that arrowheads of this type were widely manufactured locally between the 6th to 4th Millennium BC. The raw material used in the manufacturing of this arrowhead may originally have come from the western slopes of the mountains, in the border area between the UAE and Oman.
While similar artifacts have been reported from elsewhere in the desert areas of Abu Dhabi, for example near the Bab oilfield and south of the Liwa Oasis, this is the first artifact of its type known to have been collected in the immediate vicinity of the Sahil and Asab oilfields, both operated by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO).


MySQL select optimization
Posted by ark,,
This came up at work but the lessons are so general I'm putting it here in my public blog rather than my work one.
work out how your table is setup
-- SHOW CREATE TABLE tablename;
work out how much space your table is taking up
-- SHOW TABLE STATUS LIKE 'tablename';
work out which tables are using the most space (naive)
--'show table status \G' | egrep 'Name|Data_length:' | while read fil; do read s; echo "${s/Data_length: /} $fil"; done | sort -n
now explain your sql query
-- EXPLAIN SELECT date, SUM(number) AS number
FROM tablename
WHERE date >= '2005-04-06' AND date <= '2005-04-09' AND metric <= 7 GROUP BY date; Look at the rows column in that output and try and make some new keys that will help make it smaller. Once you do you need to add another index -- ALTER TABLE tablename ADD INDEX (days, platform); while you're doing this you can monitor progress by having a look in /var/lib/mysql/databasename/
there should be some # files
$ \ls -Fsh \#* tablename.* | cat
12K _TAG_-1abd_8.frm
261M _TAG_-1abd_8.MYD
136M _TAG_-1abd_8.MYI
12K tablename.frm
343M tablename.MYD
135M tablename.MYI
when the # files approch the size of the tablename files you know it's close to being done.
None of that helped me much, what DID speed up my queries was getting rid of the <= operators. This involves making two other tables one with dates in them and another with numbers DROP TABLE IF EXISTS dates; CREATE TABLE dates ( date date NOT NULL default '0000-00-00', PRIMARY KEY (date) ) TYPE=MyISAM; -- fill it like this -- for fil in $(seq 0 5000); do D=$(date +%F -d "2000-01-01 +$fil days"); -- echo "INSERT into dates (date) values ('$D');"; done | mysql blah blah blah and DROP TABLE IF EXISTS numbers; CREATE TABLE numbers ( value int unsigned NOT NULL default 0, PRIMARY KEY (value) ) TYPE=MyISAM; INSERT into numbers (value) values (0); INSERT into numbers (value) values (1); INSERT into numbers (value) values (2); INSERT into numbers (value) values (3);... then that query becomes: EXPLAIN SELECT as date, SUM(t.number) AS number FROM tablename t, dates d, numbers n WHERE >= '2005-04-06' AND <= '2005-04-09'
AND n.value <= 7
AND = AND d.number = n.value
GROUP BY date;
which should be MUCH faster.


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Depicting snow in woodcuts
White inks were not usually employed in printing Japanese woodcuts, so snow was commonly depicted by leaving areas of the paper blank. Snowflakes were usually created by carving nicks out of the surface of the colour blocks, so that flecks of paper appear like flakes of snow.
Here nicks have been carved out of the blocks used to print the man's hair so that it appears as though snowflakes are falling in front of him.
Exceptionally, in special luxury editions or private commissions, white pigment was flicked onto the surface of the paper to create extra snowflakes after the colours had been printed.
The white pigment is whiter than the colour of the paper, so the snowflakes stand out against the snow. This pigment was traditionally made from seashells and known as gofun (calcium carbonate), but lead based whites were also used, as in this example.
The flicked pigment cannot be precisely controlled, so the effect is random in each impression, but in this example the pigment was brushed through holes in a stencil, rather than being flicked, so the snowflakes appear in exactly the same place in each example of the print (some of the snowflakes have darkened over time).
Another way of depicting snow was to emboss the surface of the thick paper using a carved block without any ink. Here this technique has been used to create ridges in the snow behind the women. The ridges are modelled purely by the light falling on the surface of the print.


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Is it possible to write double inequalities in an if-statement?
ex: if (x <= y <= z) do stuff;
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Well, you can write them, they just don't mean what you probably expect. Your example would be parsed as if ((x <= y) <= z) do stuff;, and depending on whether x <= y would evaluate to if (1 <= z) or if (0 <= z). – Daniel Fischer Dec 4 '12 at 1:04
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1 Answer
Nope - Objective-C is a superset of the C language, and uses the same syntax as C for if statements. You'll have to split that up into two inequalities: if (x <= y && y <= z).
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POWERPOINT: PRESENTATION WITH AUDIO: SOIL 1: COMPOSTING (MULTI-AGE)
PowerPoint with Audio: Composting Creates Soil. Part 1 of 4 soil presentation in the Living on Planet Earth Series. This program describes how soil is made. By recycling plant materials we help produce vibrant soils that offer nurturing food, and dependable clothing fiber and building materials.
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- By Smith
- Published 29/05/2013
- ISBN 9781442545915
- Format Book
Basic Plumbing Services Skills: Roof Plumbing provides students with the fundamental skills and basic knowledge required for roof plumbing.
This resource is divided into two parts:
Part A—Roof Plumbing Fundamentals provides learners with a thorough foundation in the key principles of r...


Ruby Roth has written a book for children, Vegan Is Love, which was featured on Today this morning. Inside, there are illustrations of animals hugging. There are also drawings of dead animals strung up and bleeding. Roth says, "My goal is not to scare any child." Roth has a stepdaughter, Akira, who declares: "My favorite food is kale." Probably because she can't eat McNuggets?
Obviously vegan parents are the target audience for this book, and they most likely wouldn't have a problem with the illustrations or the language inside. But, as Matt Lauer mentioned later in the segment, when you send the message "vegan is love," do you also send the message that "eating meat is hate"? And how does that affect a child's budding relationships? Surely no one could argue that you shouldn't educate a kid and teach compassion, even when it comes to food choices. But what about tolerance and acceptance of the choices of others? Even if your moral compass is very tightly wound, and you believe that meat is murder, should you let a kid decide for herself? Is little Akira existing in a world where she believes her teacher and classmates are cruel killers? And: While it's true that healthy eating habits should be taught early on, could this book trigger a constant worry about food choices, and lead to disordered eating? So many questions. Meanwhile, I think of this guy I knew who grew up vegetarian on an Ashram in Vermont. Now that he's older, he loves bacon.


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City life: stories and language tasks
October 30, 2020 by Nora Nagy
Cities have always been exciting, vibrant places that offer a lot to their inhabitants and visitors. Nowadays we are drawn to great cities for work, education, and the many services and cultural opportunities they offer. However, in the past cities meant vital trade, shared amenities (such as fresh water and waste disposal), protection and greater resources.
In language lessons we will typically ask students to compare life in the city to life in the country. We recommend shifting our attention to the different aspects of life in these places. Instead of simply listing the pros and cons of city life, let's focus on how it can be made better: more enjoyable, inclusive, sustainable and greener, and how the city and country can help each other to thrive in a mutually respectful way.
UN World Cities Day celebrates cities on October 31st, and this year's theme directs our attention to communities and sustainability in cities. The official theme is 'Valuing Communities and Cities', and you can read more about its objectives on the official UN website
To help you with developing lessons based on the exploration of cities, we have collected some reading, discussion, research and language development exercises.
1 Read to travel
You don't always need to travel in order to get the feel of a new city. Books are the best travel guides and companions as you can visit and learn about places through the characters' eyes. Let's go to some famous cities with Helbling Readers.
Visit London with Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes and the Stolen Jewels
 - Level 2 reader (CEFR A1/A2)
 - Written by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Geraldine Sweeney, illustrated by Agilulfo Russo
Destination: London
Official language: English
The plot:
Follow Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in two different and exciting investigations, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle and The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, both about the theft of precious jewels. The thieves steal because they want to become rich. Sherlock Holmes works together with Dr Watson to stop the wrong people being arrested for the crimes. Read about where the Blue Carbuncle is hidden and how Sherlock Holmes manages to find out who put it there. Find out if Sherlock Holmes can discover who really took the Beryl Coronet by following footprints in the snow.
Exploration tips:
Mark all the spots Sherlock visits in a Google Map like the one in the example below. Do these places still exist?
A map based on The Blue Carbuncle in the reader Sherlock and the Stolen Jewels. Created in Google Maps.
Solve a mystery in Hong Kong
Dan and the Hong Kong Mystery
 - Level 3 reader (CEFR A2)
 - Written by Richard MacAndrew, illustrated by Lorenzo Sabbatini
Destination: Hong Kong
Official languages: Chinese and English
The plot:
Dan and Sue are on holiday in Hong Kong, visiting Sue's grandparents. While they are sightseeing they notice an ivory shop and Dan goes in to ask some questions. Later they see some men going into the same shop with a bag. What's in the bag? And who are the men? Dan wants to find out but soon he and Sue are caught up in a dangerous adventure and their lives are at risk!
Exploration tips:
Start by studying the map on pages 8-9. It highlights some well-known sights which are also significant in the story. As you're reading the story, take notes about what happens at these major sights. Then, use your notes and the map to retell the story.
Dan and the Hong Kong Mystery cover
From London to Paris
Father and Son
 - Level 5 reader (CEFR B1)
 - Written by Frank Brennan, illustrated by Anna Sutor
Destination: Paris and London
Official languages: French and English
The plot:
Have you ever wondered what a rock star's life is like? When Nic Wild from the Wild Kats asks his son Andy to perform with him at a concert in Paris, little does he know that terrible things are about to happen to him. Where is Alan Carver, Nic's manager, when he needs him most? How does Andy save the day with his accountancy skills?
Exploration tips:
Which famous sights and buildings do you recognize in the illustrations? How would you travel from London to Paris? How do the characters in the story travel?
Travelling from London to Paris in Father and Son. Illustration by Anna Sutor. © Helbling Languages
Three cities, three domes
The Mystery of the Three Domes
 - Level 5 reader (CEFR B1)
 - Written by Elspeth Rawstron, illustrated by Nick Tankard
Destination: London, Venice, Istanbul
Official languages: English, Italian, Turkish
The plot:
Architecture student, Sibel Karaman, receives a letter from Great-Uncle Ismail on the day of his death. He leaves her a mystery to solve which takes her and her Aunt Sofia on a wonderful adventure to three beautiful cities: London, Venice and Istanbul. Can Sibel solve the mystery of the three domes and find the very special place that Great-Uncle Ismail had in mind for her? Join her, Aunt Sofia and her four friends Holly, Anna, Hermione and Jake on their journey.
Exploration tips:
Divide the class into groups of 3. One student traces the characters' steps in London, another one in Venice, and the third one in Istanbul. Then, they can retell the story in turns focussing on the main spots of the story in each city. How would you travel from one city to another? Who were the architects of the three domes? What would you like to visit in each city?
The three domes in The Mystery of the Three Domes. Illustration by Nick Tankard. © Helbling Languages
2 Sustainability and the green city
What does sustainability mean? Discuss the meaning of the words with your students.
What do we want to sustain in cities? Make a list of ideas, for example: transportation, green areas, accessibility for everyone. Talk about these topics either with all of the class, or hand them out as discussion and research points in small groups.
How can you stay healthy and get around a big city easily? What does a city need to implement in order to support cycling? Think about bicycle lanes, bike stations (air pumps, tools).
What are the greenest means of transportation in a city? Make a list from least green to greenest. What about the major cities in your country? Is it possible to get around by bike in them?
Do some research to learn more about cycling in big cities.
You can also watch this video from SURE Elementary:
Read our story, Dan and the Stolen Bikes by Richard MacAndrew, illustrated by Lorenzo Sabbatini.
Recycling and waste management
Where does household waste go? How does your city recycle plastic, paper, glass and hazardous waste? Where is the nearest recycling collection point in your city? Do you recycle in your own home and school?
Why is it so important to reduce our plastic consumption? How far can a single plastic bottle travel?
We live in the time of home delivery services. Did you know that it is also possible to save food which would be thrown out in restaurants at the end of the day? Is there such a service in your own city?
Parks and green spaces
Why are green spaces important in a city? What are their main functions? How can we make them more accessible for all people?
Imagine that you are a city developer. What are the main aspects of planning a park? Think about disabled people and families. How can they get around in parks easily?
Collect the most famous city parks in big cities, and compare them. Where are they? How big are they? For example, where are Regent's Park, Golden Gate Park, Stanley Park, Centennial Park, and Central Park?
How can you make cities greener? Think about narrow streets where it is difficult to plant trees. Where can you plant flowers and trees? What about tall apartment blocks? Have you ever heard about a vertical garden? What is it?
The importance of communities
Cities are made up of smaller communities in different districts, neighbourhoods, streets, schools or apartment blocks. As a member of a smaller or larger community, we can make sure that our areas are clean and green, we can make small gardens around our houses, and talk to our neighbours to plan small projects.
As a larger community, schools and even districts can support recycling, travelling by bike or public transport. It is also important to support the local shops and markets. Big cities often host farmers' markets. Do you know about days when you can buy local produce?
In some cities you find community gardens. How do community gardens work? What can you grow in a small garden? Is there a possibility to create a garden in your own school?
Communities can also support the older people, sick people and young children. During lockdown it became especially important to look out for our elderly neighbours and offer help when possible.
What other community projects exist in your own area? How can a small community make their own neighbourhood better?
We will be following up this article with a post full of great project ideas for all your classes... all with a CITY focus. Keep your eye on the Helbling Readers blog!
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Projects per year
The increasing complexity of power systems has warranted the development of geographically distributed real-time simulations (GD-RTS). However, the wide scale adoption of GD-RTS remains a challenge owing to the (i) limitations of state-ofthe- A rt interfaces in reproducing faster dynamics and transients, (ii) lack of an approach to ensure a successful implementation within geographically separated research infrastructures (RIs) and (iii) lack of established evidence of its appropriateness for smart grid applications. To address the limitations in reproduction of faster dynamics and transients, this study presents a synchronous reference frame interface for GD-RTS. By means of a comprehensive performance characterisation, the superior performance of the proposed interface in terms of accuracy (reduced error on average by 60% and faster settling times) and computational complexity has been established. This study further derives the transfer function models for GD-RTS with interface characteristics for analytical stability analysis that ensure stable implementations avoiding the risks associated with multiple RI implementations. Finally, to establish confidence in the proposed interface and to investigate GD-RTS applicability for real-world applications, a GD-RTS implementation between two RIs at the University of Strathclyde is realised to demonstrate inertial support within transmission network model of the Great Britain power system.
- geographically distributed real-time simulations (GD-RTS)
- interface characteristics
- power systems
- smart power grids
- transfer functions
- transmission networks
- 1 Citations
- 1 Article
Real-time coupling of geographically distributed research infrastructures: taxonomy, overview and real-world smart grid applicationsSyed, M. H., Guillo-Sansano, E., Wang, Y., Vogel, S., Palensky, P., Burt, G. M., Xu, Y., Monti, A. & Hovsapian, R., 22 Oct 2020, (E-pub ahead of print) In: IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid. 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-reviewOpen AccessFile


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Assessment of beech scale resistance in fulland half-sibling American beech families
A beech bark disease infested American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) and two uninfested trees were selected in a mature natural stand in Michigan, USA, and mated to form two full-sib families for evaluating the inheritance of resistance to beech scale (Cryptococcus fagisuga Lind.), the insect element of beech bark disease. Four half-sib families from both infested and uninfested trees were also evaluated for resistance. Using an artificial infestation technique, adult and egg count data were collected over 2 years and analyzed with generalized linear mixed methods to account for nonnormal distributions of the response variables. A significant effect for family was found for each variable. Family least squares means were computed as a measure of resistance and repeatabilities were calculated to provide an upper limit estimate of broad-sense heritability. The two families that ranked highest for resistance were the full-sib family from two uninfested parents and the half-sib family from a stand where all diseased trees had been removed. Together, the results suggest that selection and breeding may be an effective means to improve populations for artificial regeneration, and silvicultural treatments may provide an effective management option for mitigating beech bark disease through managing the genetic composition of natural regeneration.


To see a step by-step instruction on regular Space size change please check this article: Spaces
In this article we collect various use-cases in real life property management, and give a view on how to solve them using Moderan.
Case: Tenant A had a Space 101. Now this Space is being split to two other Tenants B and C:
 - Tenant B already had neighbor Space 102.
 Physically what has been done is that part of Space 101 was merged to Space 102.
 - The remaining area of Space 101 was given to Tenant C.
Step 1- Ensure the Space was physically rebuilt in a way one part was merged to the other Space.
Normally, when you split a Space in two you create a second one and put to each of the two a corresponding new Size.
In this case we see the Space was not only split - but same time partially merged in the other.
This way, we need to increase the size of Space 102 respectively to the part of Space 101 added, and assign the rest to Tenant C.
Step 2 - Split the Spaces as per the physical changes
1. Increase Space 102 by the part of Space 101 size that was physically added to it
2. Decrease Space 101 by the same part
Ensure both changes are registered for the same date in Moderan
3. Assign Space 102 to Tenant B
4. Assign Space 101 to Tenant C
Ensure both Contracts has rent calculations change for the same date as Space size change
It is important to known the details of actual size reconstructions of Spaces: changes might not be identical to the original Space sizes, sometimes area is remeasured.
Always double check this and the sizes stated in the new Contracts!


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Eyebrow Threading: What is it?
Well-maintained eyebrow shapes define the eyes and add to their beauty. Unfortunately, very few of us have perfect eyebrows, that do not need additional treatment. And the best way to have beautiful eyebrows is by means of eyebrow threading. So, what is eyebrow threading and how is it done? As the name goes, it is the technique of removing hair strands from the eyebrows with the help of a cotton thread. Threading can also be practiced to remove body hair, unwanted facial hair or upper lip hair.
The objective of eyebrow threading is to reduce the size of bushy eyebrows and shape them, so that they become clear and distinct. With such a hair removal method, you can flaunt different eyebrow shapes that complement your face structure. During the process, a piece of strong cotton thread is twisted in the form of a double strand. The same thread is laid over the brows to grab hold of the hair, along a line, and remove it. The after-result of properly threaded eyebrows is a well-defined shape.
Eyebrow Threading: Instructions
Eyebrow threading service is available in nearly all beauty salons. So, you can avail the same from a salon expert. First, discuss the eyebrow shape and size, which will look perfect in your face. Consider taking suggestions from the beautician to decide a proper shape for your brows. You can understand better about what is eyebrow threading after going through the instructions. The following are some tips on how to thread eyebrows.
- Before eyebrow threading, some people apply baby powder lightly over the brows to absorb the excess oil. This eyebrow care tip increases the gripping action of the thread.
- Hold one end of the thread (say 24 inch length) between the teeth, and the remaining end with the left hand. In doing so, make a loop in the near-middle of the string by twisting several times.
- Position the thumb and index finger of the right hand in the loop. Place the loop over the eyebrow side to be threaded, and pick up a line from the lower portion.
- Roll over the thread to remove hair as the twist thread portion moves along. Repeat the same for the hair in the lower portion. Then move to the center and upper eyebrows.
- Repeat the same eyebrow threading instruction for the other side. If required, the beautician trims the brows with scissors for a more pronounced shape.
- After eyebrow threading is over, a topical cream is applied over the brows to reduce swelling and inflammation. As it doesn't involve using creams or chemical based products, threading is a safer method than other hair removal techniques.
So, this was all about what is eyebrow threading. If you are impressed with this hair removal technique and would like to go for the same, then get it done by a salon expert. Otherwise, threading by an inexperienced person can spoil the shape of eyebrows, and you will need to wait for a long time, till your eyebrows grow for the next threading session.


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It is natural for all computers, desktop, laptop and even hybrid devices to generate heat when they are used. The Apple Mac is no exception. Whether you use the new MacBook, Mac Pro or an iMac, the device will generate heat. When the heat stays within acceptable limits, you need not be worried. However, you may find your Mac is heating up uncomfortably and hear the fan inside is whirring like a monster sometimes. When it does happen, it is time to take steps to resolve the overheating issue!
Why Your Mac is Getting Overtly Hot
Before you get into action for cooling down your Macbook Pro or iMac, it is essential to know the reasons behind overheating.
There can be several reasons. However, Apple is essentially making all of its Mac desktops and laptops more compact and svelte with time. When so many components are placed inside a small chassis and body, the heat generation can go up. When you overlook commonplace Mac heating issues, the result can be detrimental. Apart from performance hiccups, the battery life can get adversely affected. In the long run, hardware components can get damaged too.
Ways To Tackle Mac Overheating Issues
Below listed are the top ways to tackle a Mac that is heating up excessively.
- Monitoring The Temperature – It is important that you keep an eye over the Mac you use for detecting heating issues. While MacBook users can feel underside of the laptop getting really hot and iMac users can hear the fans whirring rapidly, these are not enough. You should ideally install MAC specific temperature monitoring software. These apps help you obtain information on various aspects related to the computer's inside temperature. Examples are TG Pro and iStat Pro. You can pick from free and paid apps in this regard. As it is, such apps alert you when the inside temperature exceeds safe limit or the fan RPM drops.
- Using the Mac on Right Surface – This is a basic but vital measure to keep the Macbook's temperature within safe limits. A lot of users find their MacBook Pro heating up simply because they keep it on surfaces like bed, couch. When you do so, the heat vents get blocked and the device becomes overtly hot. So, it makes sense to place the MacBook on a level surface, such as table or floor. When that is not possible or you are using it in flight or car, use a cooling pad to avoid overheating.
- Avoiding Heat Sources and Ensuring Proper Ventilation – Some users, especially those who use iMacs or Mac Pros are oblivious to the heating sources at times. If you keep the iMac in such a way that heat vents are placed too close to the wall, it may get hot. Keep any Mac away from all sources of heat. Avoid using the Mac in a place where room temperature is above 35 degrees Celsius.
- Eradicating Dust and Dirt – MacBook and Mac Pro users, especially those who are heavy users, often fail to notice dust and dirt has accumulated on heat vents of their computers. Dust is a big enemy of any computer. When the heat vents of your MacBook Pro get blocked by accumulating dust, it will turn hotter than usual. Make it a habit to clean the keyboard, heat vents and ports on your Mac with a fine brush. You may also use small vacuum cleaners and low speed setting.
- Getting Rid of Runaway Apps – If there is any runaway app on your Mac, this can lead to heating. This basically denotes an app caught in a loop. Such an app depletes battery faster and puts strain on the CPU, resulting in overheating. You can find such apps by opening the Activity Monitor and choosing All Processes> CPU. Any app that consumes over 70% of the CPU resources can be called a runaway app. Quit the app to bring down system temperature.
Summing it Up
Performing the aforementioned steps is likely to resolve your MacBook or iMac overheating issues. Apart from bringing down system temperature, these steps serve the purpose of preventive maintenance! However, a Mac that continues to get overheated after trying all the steps requires intervention of Apple support.


Brno - Klein Palace
This neo-Renaissance burgher palace was built in _PHONE_ on a design by Viennese architect Ludwig von Förster. It was built for the Klein family who traded in iron. This was also reflected onto the house, respectively into its facade, which was fitted with distinctive architectural elements of cast iron.
In 1946, the palace was confiscated and began to deteriorate, mainly due to insufficient maintenance and the confused and inadequate use of its premises for various purposes. The years _PHONE_ saw a costly reconstruction (to the tune of about 70 million CZK) and the house was brought back to life.
Brno - pocket guide with maps
Brno on the map
Detail of the facade of Klein Palace


Library, Library Dashboatd Syste Perancangan dan Implementasi Dashboard Sistem Informasi UPT.Badan Perpustakaan Umum Siak Kecil Kabupaten Bengkalis Menggunakan Metodologi Prototyping
 - Nuriman iman mahasiswa
Public libraries are places that collect collections of books, printed materials and other records for the benefit of the general public. Public libraries can also be interpreted as various educational institutions for the general public by providing various kinds of scientific information, on the management of library book data, both those that are often borrowed and those that cannot be returned and the types of books in the library or recording book borrowing transactions such as book records still use the traditional way, this is one of the channels that is exceeded to meet and monitor the reading interest of visitors in Siak Kecil sub-district. On this basis, a Library System Dashboard will be developed using the Proptotyping methodology. This system is built using PHP (Hypertext Processor) as programming language and MySQL as database. Once done, blackbox testing can show that the system is running as expected. Based on the user acceptance test (UAT) that has been carried out, it shows that 94% of the systems built are well accepted and can be the head of the library in managing data and helping decision making.


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Information Workers in the Academy: The Case of Librarians and Archivists at The University of Western Ontario
Ephemera: Theory & Politics in Organization
For much of its history, the organizational culture for academic librarians and archivists at The University of Western Ontario was primarily a culture of the practitioner. While librarians and archivists supported teaching, research and service at Western, they did not directly engage in it. As a result of grassroots efforts undertaken by members of Western's academic community in the mid-2000s however, the potential contributions of information workers to the teaching, research and service mandate of University began to garner recognition. Born out of this collective awakening, a successful union drive and shortly thereafter an inaugural Collective Agreement for The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association; Librarians and Archivists (UWOFA-LA). The following contribution describes the shift in organizational culture that is currently underway for the academic community at The University of Western Ontario, and for its information workers in particular. The nature of academic librarians and archivists' digital labour is also examined here.


Comparison with Other Techniques: Bulk Analysis
What are the differences between Pulsed RF GDOES and Spark?
Spark emission spectrometry, know for decades, is widely used for the chemical analysis of metals and alloys. In terms of overall performance for bulk analysis, GD and Spark are very comparable and therefore Spark is more widely used due to lower price and simplest operation mode.
However, GD is the necessary choice when one wants to perform depth profile analysis (which Spark cannot do) together with bulk. GD has also some benefits in some rare cases, due to its specific characteristic low Matrix Effect and linearity allowing easier extrapolations. GD is therefore used for precious metals or nodular cast iron (with Mg).
Matrix Effects and linearity of the calibrations
Microscopic view of an Al sample after analysis by Spark (left) and by GD (right).
Fig 59: Microscopic view of an Al sample after analysis by Spark (left) showing localized surface melting. The same Al sample analyzed by GD (right) reveals that the structure of the sample is maintained by the "soft" sputtering process.
In Spark, the atomization and excitation steps occur in the same step. The sample surface is locally melted and the sample material vaporized. The electric arcs of a Spark analysis can also be affected by microstructures and inhomogeneities in the material. Finally the emission lines in Spark are subject to strong self-absorption leading to second order calibration curves, the need to select several lines for the same element to cover the required concentration range, and great uncertainties when extrapolating results. Spark is finally very sensitive to surface oxidation (requiring sample polishing just before analysis).
GD separates the atomization and excitation processes. In GD, sample atoms are released through sputtering and further excited in the gas phase away from the sample surface. Therefore strict matrix-matching is not necessary in GD which is an advantage for complex alloys for which no Certified Reference Materials (CRM) are available.
In addition, GD is a low thermal process and offers linear calibration curves over orders of magnitude (generally from DL to 100%), therefore one line per element is the rule of thumb in GD. Finally GD averages signals over the entire sputtered area and is therefore less sensitive to local inhomogeneities.
Analysis of thin foils
GD is of interest when thin foils (less than 2 mm) have to be measured.
Fig 60: Thin foil analysis.
GD is of interest when thin foils (less than 2 mm) have to be measured. The photo below is an example. The thermal effects in Spark are too strong to measure these types of samples accurately, which cannot be easily polished prior to measurement.
There is not much difference in the overall speed of a complete analysis between Spark and GD: an individual Spark measurement is faster than a GD one (15 s vs 1 mn typically) but, in order to obtain representative information, several spots must be done at different locations requiring a manipulation of the sample between two analyses (and repolishing if the sample is small). In GD, the pre-integration time notably is longer than in Spark but successive measurements can then be done at the same location as the process continuously penetrates the sample and the previously puttered material is continuously taken away.
What are the differences between Pulsed RF GDOES and XRF?
Multi-layered coin depth profile (not possible by XRF).
Fig 61: Multi-layered coin depth profile (not possible by XRF).
The two techniques are very different and rarely have to be compared. X-Ray techniques have limitations for light elements, which is not the case for GD.
Growing fields of interest in GD relate to Li batteries or H storage materials; H and Li cannot be measured with X-rays. For common elements, pulsed RF GDOES offers sensitivity superior to EDX but comparable to WDX.
X-ray instruments are sometimes also proposed for depth profile analysis. Depending on the incident energy the X-rays can penetrate more or less deeply in a material, and if the layer sequence is known, information on thickness can be derived. This might work for plated materials if the same element is not present in two layers (the sequence Au/Ni/Cu/glass can be measured where Au/Ni/Cu/Ni/glass will lead to errors). With X-rays, no sputtering is needed but low concentrations in the layers and potential contaminants at interfaces cannot be seen.
What are the differences between Pulsed RF GDOES and bulk HR GDMS?
Prior to the European project coordinated by HORIBA Scientific ( that lead to the development of a brand new instrumentation type called Plasma Profiling TOFMS, the acronym "GDMS" was only used for a few instruments worldwide dedicated to ultra trace analysis of metals.
These instruments feature a magnetic sector sequential by design (they are therefore not adapted to depth profile analysis of thin layers) and DC sources limit them to conductive materials only. They can achieve outstanding Detection Limits (down to the sub ppb range) and have found niche applications for high purity material assessment.


What Are Neutron Stars?
What happens at the end of the life cycle of a star? A lesson in the Socratica Astronomy playlist shows three ways a star dies: white dwarf, black hole, and neutron star. Each ending depends on the mass of the original star.
1 Collection 20 Views 3 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
 - Create a guided notes document for pupils to complete while viewing the lesson
 - Have individuals create a drawing of the life cycle of a star
Classroom Considerations
 - Requires a basic understanding of the composition of a star
 - Adaptable to various grade levels
 - Includes links to additional resources
 - None


Use of a Scribe
Use of a Scribe
May 23, 2019
We are hiring a scribe for the doctor because it will help improve his documentation. Is there anything we need to know about how to document this?
Yes, absolutely. This situation should be clearly delineated so a third party reviewer can identify the provider who performed the service, and the record should be signed by both parties (the scribe and physician).
Remember, a scribe does not ask the patient any questions, nor does a scribe do an examination of the patient. A scribe merely records the information obtained by a provider. Bottom line is that a nurse practitioner or physician assistant generally does not act as a scribe.
Example of statements:
I, (scribe name), am serving as a scribe to document services personally performed by (physician name), based on my observation and the provider's statements to me.
I, (physician name), attest that (scribe name) is acting in a scribe capacity, has observed my performance of the services, and has documented them in accordance with my direction.
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Coding Coaches


Use Excel for Least Cost Routing
The application performs several functions:
 - It accepts costed routes from multiple Long Distance Service Providers,
 - compares the cost route-by-route,
 - identifies the cheapest IXC for each route,
 - produces a file of the new switch translations,
Least Cost Routing Background
The basis for voice routing translations is the North America Numbering Plan Area, NANPA, using the Local Exchange Routing Guide, aka The LERG. The LERG identifies more than 450,000 distinct routes. Each route is a unique combination of the 3-digit Numbering Plan Area, NPA, or Area Code (internationally called the City Code), the 3-digit prefix or NXX (do you know of an international equivalent term for this term?) The prefix is assigned to the local central office switch. Each prefix can have a maximum of 10 Thousand Blocks, called DEFG. Each Thousand Block has a maximum of 1000 phone numbers, 000-999. The combined format is NPA-NXX-DEFG. Thus all telephone numbers in NANPA are exactly 10-digits, and each route in the LERG can be up to 7 digits, NPA-NXX-D.
Long Distance Service Providers, called IXCs (Inter-Exchange Carriers) in North America, typically use the LERG as the basis for their costed routes tables. IXCs generally distribute their routes tables as CSV flat files. Many IXCs provide only NPA-NXX routes. Some IXCs provide more granular NPA-NXX-D routes.
The Operator Call Distribution is a sampling of all calls originated from this switch during some interval. The call distribution might be sourced from the Billing System or from CDRs. Bangkok Beach Telecom does this using another Perl script which processes ASCII (not binary) CDRs. It produces a Call Distribution which is an ASCII CSV including NPA, NXX, MOU, Cost/MOU. Excel also can be used to associate the existing cost/route. This should be done in a separate Excel workbook to avoid blowing up the size. Knowing the existing cost/MOU is helpful in determining the value of this LCR exercise.
Using Excel
In Excel, it is pretty straightforward to determine the cheapest IXC for each route. The shorthand way to describe the approach is to use INDEX/MATCH. For those who need that expanded, Excel's MATCH() function returns the row number in the table for the given route, and INDEX returns the cost associated with that row number for each IXC. Table rows are uniquely identified by NPA and NXX, possibly also the D-digit. Then use CHOOSE() to compare different IXC combinations.
To set this up, the routes table of each IXC is imported into Excel. The format is NPA, NXX, Cost/MOU. After importing, a fourth column is created which concatenates the NPANXX. This column simplifies use of the MATCH() function. On a separate worksheet, the Call Distribution is imported. The format is NPA, NXX, MOU, Cost/route
On a separate worksheet, the Call Distribution is imported. The format is NPA, NXX, MOU, Cost/route. Again, a new column is created which concatenates NPA & NXX. You can probably guess that we use NPANXX as a common index into all the tables.
Lastly, the CHOOSE() function allows different combinations of IXC to be selected and tried.
If you make each IXC's routes an Excel Table object, the resulting formula is pretty simple. If you are more comfortable with VLOOKUP(), it is still possible but this is slower than using the Table Object.
Whichever approach you prefer, it's still a big load for Excel. A typical Operator Call Distribution for a one-month interval will use more than 100,000 distinct routes. The routes table provided by each IXC has around 145,000 entries. These are all NPA-NXX routes; the D-digit was not used in this case. So in English, for each row in a 100,000+ row table, 3 tables having more than 145,000 rows must be searched. If your IXCs provide D-digit routing, those tables could have up to 455,000 rows. Excel will take some time, minutes even, to recalculate.
The Excel Least Cost Routing Model is far from perfect. For example, if one or more of the selected IXCs does not support a specific NPANXX, the worksheet errors. The error could be hidden using IFERROR(), but that falsely lowers the aggregate cost/MOU.
There is also no automatic way to cycle through all possible combinations of IXC. For example, if you try using 2 IXCs in the model, there are 3 possible combinations: IXC1 alone, IXC2 alone, and the combination of both IXC1 & IXC2. Each combination must be tried separately. The number of possible combinations is always 2 to the power "n" minus 1, where "n" is the count of IXCs being modeled. So with routes tables from 3 IXCs, there are 7 possible combinations. With 4 IXCs, 15 combinations to try.
Also, there can be real-world constraints. Bangkok Beach Telecom tried using the model with 4 IXCs. The Application generates over 160,000 distinct routes and an outstandingly low blended cost/MOU. However, the switch used by that operator, a Nortel MTX CDMA switch, could only accommodate up to 128,000 unique translations routes. So that switch could not fully take advantage of the 4-IXC model.
All that being said, the Model is a good use of Excel, and can quickly indicate which IXC combination, if any, is worth pursuing. Good practical examples of INDEX/MATCH, CHOOSE, INDIRECT.
The Least Cost Routing Workbook
Click the link below to get the workbook. You'll receive an email with 2 links. The first link is a partial version. I've stripped out all routes with NPA greater than 209. This leaves roughly 5,200 routes, which Excel handles with no noticeable delay. This workbook is about 2 MB. I added one column to this workbook in worksheet "LCR Forecaster".
I added one column to this workbook in worksheet "LCR Forecaster". The column is called "Improvement" and it shows the route-by-route impact of the new routes. Excel cannot easily produce a file of switch translations which limits the value of this approach. But you can manually implement the most impactful routes. Sort this worksheet by the Improvement column in descending order. Row 2 will show the route that will save the most money. Assuming you already have links to the IXCs you test, create your own translations entry for this route and immediately begin realizing savings. Repeat for row 3 and as many other rows as you want.
The second link I'll send you is the full version. This version has more 100,000 routes in the Call Distribution, and each IXC quotes more than 145,000 routes in their Routes Tables. Around 27 MB, and it might challenge your computer running Excel. I did not add the Improvement column to this workbook. Let's call that an exercise for the reader.
To use either one in your situation, replace the existing call distribution with yours, and replace the existing IXC routes tables with those of your IXCs, and start the saving. Be sure to document the impact! And give Bangkok Beach Telecom a call if you want help lowering your Long Distance OpEx.
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self replicating machines
Hi crm!
Although I'm not sure how much sense it makes and how useful it might be, I find space colonization cool. I think, rather than building space
ships and sending humans to space to build space colonies it might be better to send self replicating machines and build colonies and space ships and then send humans there and use them.
So the question is, how far are we from building self replicating machines? [0]
There's a lot of automation already, autonomous car driving, lights out manufacturing [1] and even one of the most complex tasks, production of integrated circuits is striving for lights out.
The Mars rover Curiosity can be told to move to a certain place and then does so autonomously.
OTOH a recent development was a robot that is able to find a socket and plug itself in to charge it's batteries... with a 93% success rate. It appears a bit clumsy, as it doesn't use vision to find sockets, as they come in different shapes and colors (and the lights may be out), so it senses the electric field. [2] This makes me wonder how much we still have to work on real world visual processing and understanding.
The replicators don't have to be completely autonomous. They can still communicate with human and report difficulties and be updated, given help or new tasks (build habitats, space ships, satellites, mine asteroids and transport stuff, recycle space junk, etc).
How long could it be until we can assemble what we already have and create the missing links to get such machines? 10 years?
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