Social Distancing at the Polls
Safety at the polls has always been a number one priority. This election season, however, protecting polling staff and voters from exposure from the global pandemic COVID-19 is a safety challenge no one would have predicted a year ago. With November 3rd less than 6 weeks away, now is the time to start implementing an electoral preparedness plan for safe voting at the polls.
Why Social Distancing at the Polls is Necessary
On November 3rd, millions of Americans will head to their respective polling stations, walk inside and cast their vote. All it takes for COVID-19 to spread is for one infected person to spread their germs to others, whether it be through physical contact, contaminated surfaces, or breathing in airborne particles. This increased risk of exposure must be met with the right social distancing and sanitary measures. Knowing what it means to social distance and the importance of following social distancing guidelines will be an integral part of creating safe and healthy polling stations across the country.
Encourage Social Distancing At The Polls
The CDC wasted no time offering considerations for creating safe election polling locations in regards to COVID-19. From scattered voting periods to reduce the number of voters at polling locations, to hygiene and social distancing supplies, here's a list of strongly recommended safety and sanitary precautions polling locations all over the country can implement.
Poll Worker Education
Knowledge is power, and having the right knowledge for preventing the spread of COVID-19 will be invaluable to your poll workers this election. Plan and prepare for poll workers to stay home if they don't feel well, or if they've recently come in contact with someone who has COVID-19. Be sure to have adequate staff on standby. Let your staff know the CDC criteria for returning to work if they've either been sick with COVID-19, have been in recent contact with a person with COVID-19, or have tested positive for COVID-19.
Promote Healthy Behaviors
Promote healthy behaviors like mask wearing, handwashing and proper hygiene for poll workers and voters alike. More than likely, proper handwashing won't be an option at most polling stations. Instead, place hand sanitizer stations filled with sanitizer composed of (at least) 60% alcohol at every entry, exit and voting station.
Wall, window and door signs posted in highly visible locations at entry points and throughout polling locations remind voters to mask up and maintain a social distance of at least six feet upon entering the building. Informational signs put out by the CDC help spread truthful information about the spread of germs and COVID-19 while reducing the spread of disinformation.
Sneeze guards provide an effortless protective barrier between poll workers and voters who must be in the same room. For the best protection, be sure to follow sneeze guard requirements and height regulations when placing sneeze guards at voting booths areas where poll workers and voters must interact. Section off socially distanced voting boots or seating areas with social distancing fixture strips designed to restrict specific areas from general use.
Shop our complete selection of polling station social distancing signage and sneeze guards
Maintain a Healthy Environment
Disinfect areas within the voting location frequently touched by poll workers and voters. The voting machine, for instance, should be disinfected after every use according to the equipment manufacturer's instructions. Encourage poll workers to wash their hands often and always cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Provide poll workers adequate tissues, face coverings, paper towels and hand sanitizer they can use when hand washing is not readily available.
Replace frequently touched supplies like pens, pencils and ballot activation cards. If voters with disabilities require headphones, replace or disinfect between each use. Use touch-free trash cans and place disinfectant wipes around polling locations for easy access. Wipe down door knobs and other frequently touched surfaces as much as possible. If possible, restrict the use of restrooms for voters and routinely disinfect and clean restrooms for poll workers to safely use.
Proper air circulation is extremely important. Be sure your ventilation systems are operating as they should and allow the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible while still maintaining a safe and secure polling location.
Implement a crowd and line management system to keep lines and loitering to a minimum. Social distancing floor signs with "stand here" or "one way" messages make it easy for voters to maintain an appropriate social distance and guide them on the right path into and out of the voting location.
Stagger or Prolong Voting Periods
Limit the number of voters you allow in and outside of the voting location by staggering voting times, increasing the hours your polling location is open, offering a drive-up voting option (if allowed in your jurisdiction) or encouraging voters to visit your location at off-peak times. Increase the distance between voting booths and ensure there is sufficient space for social distancing with the set number of voters and workers you're allowing into the location at one time. As always, ensure the social distancing restrictions in place do not limit the ability to vote for disabled or at-risk voters.
The polls will look different this year than in years past. For this reason, we recommend reminding voters in advance the new changes, procedures and precautions put in place to keep them safe and healthy this election. Encourage them to bring their own pens and confirm their voter registration information is correct prior to coming to the polling location. With the right safety protocols for polling stations in place we all can play a part of stopping the spread of COVID-19 at the polls.
Amy Servi
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Ebook Writer - Redrafting of Ebook
Job Description
I require a person with an expertise with shoulder injuries.
The ebook is about Frozen shoulder injuries. Majority of the ebook is already written.
I require an experience writer to:
1. Improve the flow of the book. Most parts are poorly written. You will require to rewrite it again to make sense and easily understandable
2. Write the introduction and conclusion.
3. Make sure everything is labelled corrently, create the content page etc.
4. Fix any grammar or spelling mistakes.
5. You should have previous experience creating an ebook.
6. Make sure each chapter connects to each other.
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VMC Versus IMC Aviation Conditions
VMC and IMC are aviation terms used to describe meteorological conditions during flight. VMC stands for visual meteorological conditions, and IMC stands for instrument meteorological conditions. Although the two terms are often used interchangeably (even, sadly, among industry professionals) with the terms VFR and IFR, respectively, VMC is not the same as VFR, and IMC is not the same as IFR.
The Rules of VFR and IFR
As most pilots know, there are two sets of rules for flying any aircraft: VFR and IFR. VFR stands for visual flight rules, which constitute the set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see the aircraft is going. Specifically, the weather must be better than the basic VFR weather allowable in regards to the VMC, the visual meteorological conditions, as specified in the rules laid out by the most relevant aviation authority.
The term IFR stands for instrument flight rules. Generally speaking, the weather dictates whether the pilot chooses VFR or IFR
How VMC is Defined
Before we tackle the meaning and importance of VMC, it's worth noting that there are actually two types of VMC. For your purposes, we're going to look at the meteorological conditions and not the airspeed associated with an engine failure during multi-engine flight. This situation is denoted with a large "V" and a smaller'mc': Vmc.
The definition of VMC, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from cloud, and ceiling equal to or better than specified minima. Because the FAA is the national authority in regards to regulating all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S., their rules and regulations will always prevail.
The terms VMC and VFR are often used interchangeably, although VMC refers to the actual weather conditions and VFR refers to the flight rules surrounding those conditions.
For example, the prevailing visual meteorological conditions must be at least equal to what is required for visual flight rules (VFR). However, just because a flight is conducted legally under VFR conditions that does not mean that the pilot will be in VMC the entire flight, as this article explains. Losing visual references (and inadvertently entering IMC) can happen even while maintaining VFR flight. Also, a pilot can fly in VFR conditions while flying on an IFR flight plan, but the opposite is not true: A pilot cannot fly in IFR conditions on a VFR flight plan (at least not intentionally.)
How IMC is Defined
The definition of IMC, according to the FAA, is meteorological conditions expressed in terms of visibility, distance from clouds, and ceiling less than the minima specified for visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
IMC is any meteorological condition that doesn't qualify as visual meteorological conditions, or weather conditions worse than VMC.
The terms IMC and IFR are often used interchangeably, although IMC refers to the actual weather conditions and IFR refers to the flight rules surrounding those conditions.
All flights in IMC must be conducted by an instrument-rated pilot and under an IFR flight plan.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Take the 2-minute tour ×
Yogurt is produced by the fermentation of lactose in milk by the bacteria of yogurt-ferment. Without those bacteria it is not possible to make yogurt.
But surprisingly, water buffalo milk and lemon juice mixture turns into yogurt without any third ingredient. You may first boil the milk to sterilize it; the result doesn't change. The milk must be water buffalo milk, cow milk or another animal's milk doesn't make yogurt this way. One of my relatives made yogurt this way, so this is not a myth (if you didn't hear this before). Unfortunately I couldn't find an English recipe to share with you here.
Can you please explain to me this chemical phenomenon? Is fermentation involved in this process? Is this resulting "yogurt" actually a yogurt by definition in the perspective of cooking and chemistry?
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up vote 8 down vote accepted
This is not yogurt per definition, you are making a fresh cheese. You can actually use other types of milk for such a cheese, but the mouthfeel and taste will be very different and won't be as similar to yogurt.
There is a large class of acid-curdled cheeses, including paneer, tvorog, quark and many others. I don't know if yours has a specific name. I know that there are people who for some reason can't tell the difference in taste betwen quark and yogurt. But it is still cheese, even if it tastes similar to yogurt.
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See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clabber_(food) for more on thick, soured milk. – Kate Gregory Sep 18 '12 at 17:56
_USER_ Interesting. This "clabber" food is still a fermented product, so it falls under the class of yogurts. There is an error in the article; quark is not the spontaneously-soured milk, it is a cheese made by curdling this spontaneously-soured milk with additional acid (but no rennet). The soured milk itself is called simply Sauermilch. – rumtscho Sep 18 '12 at 18:03
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ゴ, コウ, のち, うし.ろ, うしろ, あと, おく.れる, こし, し, しい, しり
behind, back, later
JLPT5 G2 S9 F26
The relevant bronzeware inscription form is an abbreviated form# of (slight power) + an element combining dragging leg/foot and movement → drag along on account of having slight power → *behind*; *late*; *after*. Other extended meanings include *back*; *rear*; *lag*; *late*; *afterward*; *since* (then); *ever since*; *the remainder*; (time) *remaining* and *successor*.
[Full Kanji Etymology List]


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This page is primarily intended for Mercurial's developers.
How locking works in Mercurial.
There are two locks in Mercurial, known as "lock" (for repository data) and "wlock" (for working directory data). Generally speaking, locks are only taken by writers and there is no limit on the number of simultaneous readers. Consistency for readers is managed using atomic operations (like rename) and careful ordering of data visibility.
2. Lock files
Lock files are implemented as symlinks where possible. This allows locks to be created and information about their owner stored in a single operation.
3. The repository lock
The repository lock lives _URL_ and covers all data in store/. Writes to the repository are ordered as follows:
- write to file revlogs (data, then index)
- write to manifest revlogs (data, then index)
- write to changelog data
- write to temporary changelog index
- atomic rename of changelog index
Thus, if a reader starts at the changelog index and works down the tree in the opposite order, it will always see complete changesets without requiring a lock.
Possible problems can occur if a reader reads files out of order. For instance, copying a repository with other tools (rsync, for instance) during a pull or commit may result in copying a changelog refers to a manifest entry that isn't in the copy.
Note that the repository lock is also taken during a local hardlink clone for similar reasons, even though this is technically a read-only operation.
3.1. Interactions with non-append-only operations
Mercurial's locking is designed with the assumption that all operations are append-only. If data in the repository disappears in the middle of a read operation, problems may occur.
Thus, if Alice does a pull from Bob and Bob does a strip or rollback in the middle, Alice may get a damaged pull. To avoid this, Bob should take his repository offline when running a destructive operation.
4. The working directory lock
The working directory lock (.hg/wlock) protects some of the files in.hg/ including:
Note that it does not protect the contents of the working directory itself, as it's impractical to try to stop the user from clobbering their own data.
Again, consistent view of these files is managed with atomic rename operations and readers do not need to acquire a lock. Readers that intend to subsequently write should probably acquire this lock before beginning so that they avoid races with other writers.
This lock should be acquired BEFORE the repository lock to avoid AB-BA deadlocks.
Locks are acquired with the two methods on the localrepository class:
The usual pattern for acquiring both locks is:
from lock import release wlock = lock = None try: wlock = repo.wlock() # must come first lock = repo.lock() tr = repo.transaction("foo") # perform write operation finally: release(tr, lock, wlock) # reverse order
Locks can be taken recursively.
Atomic files are managed with the atomictemp flag to an opener:
f = repo.opener("somefile", "w", atomictemp=True) # write to f f.rename() # finalize the operation

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Connecting New Electronic Devices to Outdated Legacy Displays
Adapter & Device Solutions from C2G
Seamless point to point connection between devices and displays will occur less frequently during the digital transition as technology refreshes occur in various stages. (Technological advancements and budgets established for technology updates mean that devices and displays will likely have varying connections which are not directly compatible). In most situations, the rate at which sources such as laptops, PCs, DVD, or Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles are upgraded occurs more often than that of projectors and displays. The newer devices will output a digital signal to older displays, where the digital signal must be converted to an analog signal.
Choose your device and display signal types and we will provide the product solution:


text:
Leveraging the processing power of NVIDIA(R) Tesla(TM) GPUs, GeoStar's seismic software suite dramatically accelerates the performance of complex seismic data. Now, the computation of large datasets generated by searching the earth for oil deposits, can be achieved in smaller, more power efficient GPU based systems as compared to CPU-only based clusters.
"We are dealing with large prestack time migration datasets, which typically take more than 30 hours to run on a cluster of 66 CPUs," said Liu Qin, general manager of GeoStar. "Just a single Tesla C1060 GPU delivers roughly the same computing power, which means we can get orders of magnitude performance increases as we add more GPUs, while dramatically saving power and cost. Tesla GPUs are truly a revolutionary solution for oil and gas exploration."
The Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has spent recent months testing NVIDIA Tesla GPUs with GeoStar's solution. In a computation of prestack time migration data covering 740 square kilometers, 24 Tesla GPUs completed the processing more than 600 times(i) faster than a traditional cluster with 66 CPUs, a result which CAS researchers believe can be improved through additional tuning.
Based on NVIDIA's massively parallel CUDA architecture, NVIDIA Tesla GPU Computing solutions are transforming a broad selection of industries but their impact has been profound in the oil and gas space. As computational needs increase, the power consumption required to run and cool servers in datacenters have become a major portion of operational expenses. Tesla GPU-based clusters enable much higher performance than CPU-only clusters, meaning oil and gas companies can now deploy smaller, more computationally dense clusters that use less energy and still meet the ever increasing demand of applications such as seismic processing.
NVIDIA: Chinese oil and gas industry loves Tesla
Posted on Thursday, Apr 30 2009 @ 01:50 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck


Results from survey: What do people eat in Hamburg? (Part II)
In a second flyer (in German), the sub-project team from Prof. Stefanie Kley presents more results from their representative telephone survey in Hamburg, taking a look at factors explaining different eating habits.
While 30 percent of men consume meat (almost) daily, only 18 percent of women have such a high meat consumption. There are also more female vegetarians and flexitarians.
They found that there is a gender difference (women eat less meat than men) and also an influence of education (people with a higher formal education eat less meat). For age, there was no clear trend.
Das Team von Prof. Stefanie Kley präsentiert in einem zweiten Flyer weitere Ergebnisse aus der im vergangenen Jahr in Hamburg durchgeführten telefonischen Umfrage. Darin wird beschrieben, welchen Einfluss Geschlecht, Bildung und Alter auf die Ernährungsgewohnheiten der Befragten haben.
„Sustainable Food Choices as Politics and Lifestyle" – start-up funding for new project approved
The Center for a Sustainable University at the University of Hamburg has approved funding for the new research project "Sustainable Food Choices as Politics and Lifestyle", which will start in spring 2018. The project investigates the drivers of food choices and how changing discourses, norms and attitudes about food relate to actual patterns of food consumption: What drives food choices and how are they influenced by ideas and discourses related to more sustainable lifestyles? This question will be tackled in a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach that looks at both, discourses about food and the everyday practices of food consumption. The researchers will analyze local media outlets and conduct surveys and experiments (in the WISO research lab).
Project board members: Michael Brüggemann (speaker), Jannis Androutsopoulos, Imke Hoppe, Katharina Kleinen-von Königslöw, Stefanie Kley, Grischa Perino and Anke Strüver
Project coordinator / researcher: Dr. Radhika Mittal


Ignacia Meaning in English, Ignacia Baby Name Origin Gender Meaning Pronunciation
Does Ignacia Baby Name seem like an intriguing name for your baby? Learn Ignacia Name Meaning in English, its origin and which gender Ignacia Baby Name is most suitable for. Check through our list of names that are related to the name Ignacia, names similar to Ignacia and sibling names of Ignacia. Also, read through a detailed numerology report for the name Ignacia.
Baby Image
Boy, Girl
Latin, Spanish
Spanish feminine form of IGNATIUS.
Sibling Names
Alexis, Kayla, Samantha, Kassandra, Austin, Ryan, Christian, Logan, Jacob, Brayden, Aidan
Ignacia as a girl's name is of Latin origin meaning "ardent or burning". It is a feminine form of Ignatius.
Numerology SoulUrge Number: 2 People with this name have a deep inner desire for love and companionship, and want to work with others to achieve peace and harmony. Expression Number: 8 People with this name are competent, practical, and often obtain great power and wealth. They tend to be successful in business and commercial affairs, and are able to achieve great material dreams. Because they often focus so strongly on business and achievement, they may neglect their private lives and relationships. Rate this name: Max 5 stars0My Rating This name has 0 vote.


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The Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan. Was it a UFO? Was it a plane crash? If so, then where is the UFO or plane? A meteorite maybe, that left right after crashing into the earth?
The Darvaza Gas Crater, known locally as the Door to Hell, is a pretty weird phenomenon. When approaching it, from far you might think it was a tourist trap. Nothing to see. But when getting closer… there is no fence surrounding it so the enormous heat is a welcome warning to stay away!
Darvaza Gas Crater
The Darvaza Gas Crater is a natural Gas field near Derweze, in Turkmenistan. What is actually funny… The fire, that obviously helped the Darvaza Gas Crater get even more popular, was not natural. Geologists set it on fire to prevent the spread of methane gas, and it has been burning continuously since then. So, Darvaza Gas Crater (diameter of the crater is 69 metres (226 ft), and its depth is 30 metres (98 ft)) is mainly just gas, set on fire 50 years ago.
It does feel like a waste, though. The gas reserve found here is one of the largest in the world and it just vanishes as warm air. In fact, the site was identified by Soviet engineers in 1971. It was originally thought to be a substantial oil field site. The engineers set up a drilling rig and operations to assess the quantity of oil available at the site. Soon after the preliminary survey found a natural gas pocket, the ground beneath the drilling rig and camp collapsed into a wide crater and was buried.
A true experience, that's for sure. Check out more pictures from Elliot about Darvaza Gas Crater in Turmenistan, on his website: Earth Nutshell


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Although a large amount of work has been done on Tree of heaven globally, very little is known of the species in South Africa. The extent of planting, naturalization and invasion is unknown, making the implementation of a suitable management plan a difficult task. Studies have shown that the species exists in all but one of South Africa's seven biomes (the forest biome being the only exception). Records show that the highest levels of invasion are seen in Gauteng, Free State and the Western Cape. The true extent of tree of heaven invasion in South Africa is however unknown.
The species is an incredibly hardy and adaptable plant, capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions like drought and flooding, as well as high levels of atmospheric pollution. Vigorous growth coupled with the plants' ability to produce an allelopathic chemical known as ailanthone may result in drastic alterations to natural habitats. Allelopathic chemicals are effectively herbicides released by some plants which inhibit the growth of (or even kill) neighbouring plants. The release of this chemical can drastically alter your garden landscape turning a beautiful set-up into a rather desolate scene.
No plant, regardless of type, has the ability to withstand the effects of ailanthone. As such, in order to ensure that a beautiful garden landscape is maintained, all Tree of heaven individuals or stands should be removed from your garden immediately. In addition to the natural damage, the tree's ability to grow and thrive in an urban environment makes the species a threat to infrastructure. Capable of growing through cracks in sidewalks as well as through gutters or even cracks in walls, this plant could ultimately weaken the structural stability and integrity of a building. A case has been reported in which the root system of a Tree of heaven, growing on an adjacent property, has spread far enough to crush the boundary wall and crack the lining of the neighbour's swimming pool.


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If you use a donation or subscription alert system like TwitchAlerts, or maybe you are using BraneBot's polling system, chances are you've been given a long URL that you're expected to plug in somewhere in order for it to display on your stream. This URL requires using a Browser Source in your broadcasting software.
What are Browser Sources?
Why use Browser Sources?
Browser Sources make it possible to use web-based content as sources in your scenes instead of capturing them with a Window Capture source. Don't spend a bunch of time launching your alert systems and making sure Window Capture is properly configured before each stream. This will also save you precious monitor space. Once you set up the alerts in your broadcasting platform, you're done! That includes interactive flash applications, websites and so on. So if you are looking for a way to show donation or subscription notifications or an interactive polling system on the screen for your viewers, Browser Source is the way to go.
How to set up Browser Sources for streaming?
- Download the CLR Browser Plugin
- Classic OBS: Extract the files to the 'Plugins folder' for OBS (Path is likely C:/Program Files/OBS/plugins). Make sure to add it to either the 32 or 64-bit OBS version depending on which you use.
- OBS Studio: Extract the files. You'll get a folder called 'obs-plugins'. Throw this into your obs-studio folder to overwrite your current plugins folder.
- Launch OBS
- Add a Source -> Browser Source
- Enter the URL you were provided. Enter the height and width. If dimensions weren't recommended, you can edit your Browser Source properties to find a suitable size.
- In the lower left corner click Add -> Other -> Webpage URL
- Enter the URL you were provided.
- The URL will appear under the Scene you added it to. Right click on it, or press Settings in the lower left corner to customize size and other options.
Stuck and need some help? Pop into our Discord server and talk to fellow streamers.


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Sign in to or out of Windows
When you sign out of Windows, all of the apps you were using are closed, but the PC isn't turned off. Another person can sign in without needing to restart the PC—but even if someone else turns off the PC, your info won't be lost.
You also don't necessarily have to sign out of Windows. You can lock the PC instead, and other people can still sign in to their accounts from the sign-in screen.
Watch a video about signing in and out. (To view captions in your language, tap or click the Closed captioning
"Sign in to" and "sign out of" mean the same as "log on to" and "log out from," respectively.
To sign out of Windows
Open Start by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or if you're using a mouse, pointing to the upper-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer down), and then tapping or clicking Start.
Tap or click your account picture in the upper-right corner, and then choose Sign out.
To sign in to Windows
Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen (or press any key if you're using a keyboard) to dismiss the lock screen.
In the sign-in screen, sign in to your PC using the method of your choice.
If you want to sign in with a different account than the one shown on the sign-in screen, tap or click the Back button and choose an account. If you're prompted to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, do so.
To pick a different sign-in method, tap or click Sign-in options to see the available choices.
You can also switch to a different user account without signing out of Windows.


text:
Accession Number : AD0164086
Title : Spot Test for Identification of Oil Contaminants in Water.
Descriptive Note : Patent,
Corporate Author : DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON D C
Personal Author(s) : Zall,David M.
Report Date : 24 OCT 1972
Pagination or Media Count : 2
Abstract : The patent describes a method of detecting a hydrocarbon contaminant in an aqueous solution by applying chromic-sulfuric acid to filter paper wetted by the aqueous solution. A positive test is indicated by the development of a bluish-green color. It is a simple technique for testing the effluent from a ship cleaning process to insure that oil contaminates are not present therein.
Descriptors : (*Patents, Chemical indicators), (*Hydrocarbons, *Chemical indicators), (*Petroleum, Chemical indicators), Sulfuric acid, Chromic acids, Colorimetric analysis, Water pollution
Subject Categories : Organic Chemistry
Distribution Statement : APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


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Birding Hotspots of Israel, continued..
The Negev Desert
The Negev occupies 60% of the land surface area of Israel and yet it is the least densely populated. Delineated as being south of Be'er Sheva and Dimona, it is mainly a stone and sand desert with sparse vegetation. However, following periods of heavy rain during the winter and early spring, the desert is transformed into a colourful carpet of flowers including many of Israel's desert specialities.
Be'er Sheva is a good, central base for exploring the northern and central portions of the Negev. In the northeastern section, some 20 kilometres east of Be'er Sheva, Cream-coloured Courser and Pin-tailed, Black-bellied and Spotted Sandgrouse occur and between November and February relatively large flocks of Dotterel can be seen. The sewage ponds to the southeast of Be'er Sheva usually yield a wide range of species. Pallid Harrier and Black-winged Pratincoles both occur in good numbers during September and October, and Sociable and White-tailed Plovers in October and November. The experimental agricultural fields to the south of the pools are good for Oriental Skylarks between October and mid March.
The north-western Negev is a vast expanse of natural steppe and
semidesert with transitional vast mixed cultivated areas, which
supports a wealth of birds. Although the region can be productive
all year round, it is outstanding in winter when large concentrations
of raptors and sandgrouse are present. The fields around Urim
are very good for Saker and Lanner falcons and
relatively large numbers of Imperial Eagle and Long-Legged Buzzard.
The best area is the now famous line of electricity pylons that
cross the road between Urim and Ze'elim. The raptors often perching
on the pylons are easy to find, providing superb opportunities
to study some difficult species and plumages at length. The agricultural
fields are the best places to find hunting Pallid Harriers as
Sociable Plover, Dotterel, Isabelline and
Finsch's Wheatear. Black Kites
gather in large numbers and use traditional roost sites in Eucalyptus
trees (over 1 000 near Gevulot). In the more natural steppe and
semi-desert areas good numbers of Cream-coloured Coursers occur,
especially in autumn. In winter in the cultivated plains Pin-tailed
Sandgrouse can be found in large numbers, and flocks
of up to 8 000 have been recorded. Smaller, but none the less impressive
flocks of up to 3000 Spotted Sandgrouse have
One of the better known areas to the southwest of Be'er Sheva is the Nizzana desert plain, close to the Egyptian border. This is the most productive site for Houbara Bustard, which can be seen in concentrations in winter. Nizzana is also perhaps the most reliable place to see them during the breeding season. We recommend early morning visits for the best views, before the heat haze affects viewing conditions. In the past the Nizzana sewage pools were easily accessible in order to view sandgrouse. Sad to say most of them have dried out and are not used by the birds anymore. If you wish to see Pin-tailed, Crowned, Spotted or Black-bellied Sandgrouse you will need to reach specific feeding plains around the area, The SPNI, however, are now working on creating special constant water supply for the sandgrouse, to replace the sewage pools, which may offer a glimmer of hope for attracting large numbers of sandgrouse back to the Nizzana plains. Lanner is frequent in the area and it is one of the best desert regions for observing migrating White Storks, Pallid Harriers, Lesser Spotted Eagles and Cranes, especially in spring. Desert Wheatear, Finsch' s Wheatear (winter only) and Spectacled Warbler are not difficult to see, and the latter breeds in shallow, bushy wadis.
Sede Boqer is perhaps one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Negev. This oasis is situated on the loess plain overlooking the deep gorge of Nahal Zin. The area is especially good for raptors such as breeding Long-legged Buzzard, Bonelli's Eagle, Lanner and Barbary Falcons. A feeding station at the eastern edge of the Zin Plain is maintained by the INRP A with the purpose of supplying supplementary food to the breeding Griffon and Egyptian Vultures and sometimes in winter, Black Vulture. On the ledges of towering cliffs, Sooty Falcons breed from mid-May until early October. The gorges also host breeding Desert Eagle Owl and Alpine Swifts, and in some winters, Sinai Rosefinch and Wallcreeper.
|© Copyright 2002-2005 [Kibbutz Lotan Center for Ecotourism and Creative Ecology]. All rights reserved.|


text:
A side-scan sonar survey was conducted of Monterey Canyon and the San Gregorio fault zone, off shore of Monterey Bay. The acoustic character and morphology of the sonar images, enhanced by SeaBeam bathymetry, show the path of the San Gregorio fault zone across the shelf, upper slope, and Monterey Canyon. High backscatter linear features a few kilometers long and 100 to 200 m wide delineate the sea-floor expression of the fault zone on the shelf. Previous studies have shown that brachiopod pavements and carbonate crusts are the source of the lineations backscatter. In Monterey Canyon, the fault zone occurs where the path of the canyon makes a sharp bend from WNW to SSW (1800 m). Here, the fault is marked by NW-SE-trending, high reflectivity lineations that cross the canyon floor between 1850 m and 1900 m. The lineations can be traced to ridges on the northwestern canyon wall where they have ~ 15 m of relief. Above the low-relief ridges, bowl-shaped features have been excavated on the canyon wall contributing to the widening of the canyon. We suggest that shear along the San Gregorio fault has led to the formation of the low-relief ridges near the canyon wall and that carbonate crusts, as along the shelf, may be the source of the high backscatter features on the canyon floor. The path of the fault zone across the upper slope is marked by elongated tributary canyons with high backscatter floors and 'U'-shaped cross-sectional profiles. Linear features and stepped scarps suggestive of recent crustal movement and mass-wasting, occur on the walls and floors of these canyons. Three magnitude-4 earthquakes have occurred within the last 30 years in the vicinity of the canyons that may have contributed to the observed features. As shown by others, motion along the fault zone has juxtaposed diverse lithologies that outcrop on the canyon walls. Gully morphology and the canyon's drainage patterns have been influenced by the substrate into which the gullies have formed.
Additional publication details
The influence of the San Gregorio fault on the morphology of Monterey Canyon


text:
A Prism is a Region which represents an extrusion of an existing Region
into one or more orthogonal dimensions (specified by another Region).
If the Region to be extruded has N axes, and the Region defining the
extrusion has M axes, then the resulting Prism will have (MN) axes.
A point is inside the Prism if the first N axis values correspond to
a point inside the Region being extruded, and the remaining M axis
values correspond to a point inside the Region defining the extrusion.
As an example, a cylinder can be represented by extruding an existing
Circle, using an Interval to define the extrusion. Ih this case, the
Interval would have a single axis and would specify the upper and
lower limits of the cylinder along its length.


text:
Chemibond Liquid Cement is a soil stabilizer and dust control of advance nanotechnology. It is eco-safe, biodegradable, liquid copolymer used to stabilize and solidify any soil or aggregate as well as erosion control and dust suppression.
Our recent advances in simulation, chemistry, processing techniques, and analytical instrumentation have allowed a whole host of new types of polymer particles and polymer nanotechnology applications to be realized. These advances led to the revolutionary development of nanotechnology into superior performance.
Once applied to the soil or aggregate, the copolymer molecules coalesce forming bonds between the soil or aggregate particles.
Dust Control Site
Slope and Soil Erosion Site
Golf Cart Paths
Walk Paths Area
Plantation Tails, Walks & Paths
Wineries and Orchards Farms
Temporary access roads and Car parks
Fish ponds and etc.
Key Advantages of Chemibond Liquid Cement
1. Liquid Cement originates with its long, nano-particle molecular structure that link and cross-link
2. Once cured, Liquid Cement becomes completely transparent, leaving the natural landscape to
3. Liquid Cement results are based on the application rate used. Modest application rates are useful for dust suppression and erosion control by creating a three-dimensional cap or surface crust.
4. The advanced nanotechnology is modernizing the way we stabilize soils and aggregates in addition
5. The applications are extensive ranging from simple backyard trails and construction sites to heavy-
6. Truly biodegradable product that is completely environmentally safe to use.
7. Liquid Cement is dedicated to economically solving soil stabilization challenges throughout the
(Instruction for Soil Test) Next >


text: AbstractCellulose fibres from sugarcane bagasse were bleached and modified by zirconium oxychloride in order to improve the mechanical properties of composites with high density polyethylene (HDPE). The mechanical properties of the composites prepared from chemically modified cellulose fibres were found to increase compared to those of bleached fibres. Tensile strengths of the composites showed a decreasing trend with increasing filler content. However, the values for the chemically modified cellulose fibres/HDPE composites at all mixing ratios were found to be higher than that of neat HDPE. Results of water immersion tests showed that the water absorption affected the mechanical properties. The fracture surfaces of the composites were recorded using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs revealed that interfacial bonding between the modified filler and the matrix was significantly improved by the fibre modification.


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Few FAQ on pension payment to pensioners
Few FAQ on pension payment to pensioners
As the grant or receipt of pension by the beneficiary or government servant involves a process as a whole it has several facets to it. So, here is an attempt made to clarify some of the queries concerning pension payment for eligible beneficiaries.
Who is the pension sanctioning authority?
The last ministry or department or office where the pensioner served is authorized to sanction the pension amount. At first, the concerned dept. or ministry or office fixes the pension amount for the pensioner and thereafter any refixation in pension payment amount is executed by the bank paying the pension amount.
Can banks be approached for drawing pension amount?
Yes, designated bank branches can even by approached by pensioners who earlier drew their pension from a post office or a treasury for pension payment.
Do pensioner need to open and maintain a separate pension account for credit of pension?
No, separate account is not required to be maintained for the purpose and pension amount can be credited in the existing current or savings account held by the pensioner in the authorized bank branch. Also, all central government pensioners and few state government pensioners are allowed to maintain joint account with their spouse and the account can be operated as 'Either or Survior' or 'Former or Survivor'.
What is the minimum balance requirement in case of pension account with the banks?
Banks on their own discretion have stipulated rules in this regard and some of the banks are also allowing zero balance pension account.
When is the pension amount credited into the account of the pensioner?
The pension amount in the pensioner's account is credited by the authorized bank branch at any time during the last 4 working days of the month based on the convenience of the bank branch. However, in March, the amount is credited on or after the 1st working day of April.
Is pensioners presence carrying the requisite documents essential before the commencement of pension?
Before the initiation of pension payment, the paying branch requires the pensioner to be present at the branch with the required documents for identification.
What is the compensation amount paid by the pension paying branch in case of delayed payment?
In case the authorized bank branch delays in pension payment, a compensation @ 8% is automatically credited in the pensioner's bank account on the day when the bank credits delayed pension or arrears.
Information courtesy: RBI website
Story first published: Saturday, February 8, 2014, 11:51 [IST]
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text:
Letters Section Editor: Stephen J. Lurie,
MD, PhD, Senior Editor.
To the Editor: Dr Owsley and colleagues1 found that adults with cataracts were less likely
to be involved in motor vehicle crashes if they underwent cataract surgery.
Owsley et al acknowledge that their study was not designed to measure the
potential impact of unilateral vs bilateral cataract surgery on risk of motor
vehicle crashes. It is possible, however, that having dissimilar vision in
the 2 eyes may actually increase the likelihood of crashes. For instance,
Felson et al2 found an increased risk of
falls and fractures among subjects with good vision in one eye and poor vision
in the other.
Javitt JC. Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes in Patients With Cataract Surgery. JAMA. 2002;288(18):2262-2263. doi:10.1001/jama.288.18.2262


text:
A three-year analysis commissioned by the U.S. Forest Service has found that the most efficient air-attack strategy to suppress wildfires would use water-scooping aircraft — not the heavy tankers that the government favors.
But Forest Service leaders plan to press ahead in acquiring more heavy tankers, which drop up to 3,000 gallons of fire-retardant chemical slurry.
Nonprofit think tank Rand Corp.'s cost-benefit analysis being released Monday morning — launched in 2009, costing $800,000 — is aimed at perfecting the nation's methods for swiftly suppressing wildfires of the sort seen this summer along Colorado's Front Range.
Fire-suppression aircraft fought blazes all over Colorado in June, including the devastating Waldo Canyon fire, which burned 346 homes and 18,247 acres in Colorado Springs, and the High Park fire, which chewed through 87,284 acres and destroyed 259 homes west of Fort Collins.
"Our proposal would be to evolve to a portfolio of firefighting aircraft that is dominated by water-bearing scoopers. You can drop more water from a scooper per hour than you can drop slurry from a tanker," said Ed Keating, an economist who ran Rand's project.
"Our perspective was to look at it from the taxpayer's perspective. Our estimates are that the most cost-effective portfolio would be dominated by water-scoopers," Keating said.
The scoopers are chubby yellow aircraft the size of commuter planes with propellers on each wing and inlets below. They swoop over water, needing a three-quarter-mile stretch several feet deep. They're deployed in Canada, Russia and other areas with abundant water near fire-prone forests.
Rand analysts said the 1,600-gallon scoopers could be had new for about $30 million each, with annual costs of $3 million, compared with $80 million for air tankers and annual costs of $7 million. Wildfire-suppression costs have increased to about $1.65 billion a year as more people live near forests.
Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell issued a statement calling Rand's analysis "interesting" but "based in part on crucial and flawed assumptions" on costs.
The Forest Service leases firefighting aircraft from contractors. For decades, firefighting ground crews have relied on slurry bombers that "paint" terrain with retardant to contain flames so that ground crews can move closer and build fire lines.
The Forest Service hired Rand to help determine the best mix of helicopters and air tankers for a modernized fleet of firefighting aircraft. The current fleet has dwindled, and some tankers are more than 40 years old. A plan announced to Congress would add 18 to 28 new tankers as well as water-bearing helicopters and two scoopers.
"Our 50-year history has shown us that, while there's a time and place for water — and we drop a lot of it — that for our large air tankers, retardant is the way to go. You can build the line with the retardant. It has residual, positive benefits for firefighters even when the water has evaporated. In the arid West, it is just a better buy for us," said Tom Harbour, the Forest Service's director of fire and aviation management.
Rand's analysis includes a look at all fires in federal forests over a decade in relation to water bodies that would enable use of scoopers.
"We found that about two-thirds of fires have been within 10 miles of a scooper-accessible body of water," Keating said. "We were surprised at the scooper-appropriate water accessibility, even in arid parts of the country."
The increased development in forests is driving efforts to perfect wildfire suppression. Forest Service managers say tens of thousands of communities nationwide are at risk of wildfires, in part because aggressive suppression has left forests loaded with fuel.
Harbour said managers are discussing how to deal with a complex public-policy question: Given the risks of super-large catastrophic wildfires in the future, to what extent does aggressive fire suppression make sense?
The Forest Service will use mechanical tools and prescribed fire to thin forests, Harbour said.
"But there's always going to be a role for putting fires out," he said. "We're simply always going to always have places where the proximity of communities and volatile vegetation and the time of year simply doesn't mix."


How to make xml nodes open and closed on the same line if they have no children?
I am working with a large XML file and want to cut it down a bit. I currently have many examples of something like this:
Since the column has no child nodes, I would like it to be
xml is generated using FluentNHibernate config
The column node is created for
in my ClassMap.
Is there any way I can use the System.Xml classes to rewrite it to write one line for each childless node)?
source to share
1 answer
As you probably cannot change the way the XML is generated, you can load it in XDocument
and make the necessary changes. By default it will load with no spaces - this will overwrite this:
like this:
This is because he sees that he matters ""
. To get rid of this, you need to clear the contents of those that have an empty string as their value.
string xml = "..."
var document = XDocument.Parse(xml);
var emptyElements = document.Descendants()
 .Where(e =>!e.Nodes().Any());
foreach (var element in emptyElements)
xml = document.ToString();
The code looks odd (what nodes are we removing from an element without nodes?!), but it makes an internal margin content
where it was in this case ""
. The end result is this:
All Articles


United States Senate & United States House of Representatives
Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans
Hatch Opening Statement at Joint Committee Hearing Examining the Financial State of America's Pension Insurer
You are here
WASHINGTON – Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans Co-Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today delivered the following opening statement at a committee hearing examining the state of the Pensions Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC).
This is the Joint Select Committee's second hearing to delve into issues concerning operations of the multiemployer pension system.
As I noted last time, it is critical for us to remember that the mandate of the Joint Select Committee is not just to develop reports and recommendations on the multiemployer plans, but to also review the solvency of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. To do this, we have brought in one of the nation's top experts on the PBGC, Tom Reeder—who happens to also be the current director of the corporation, which insures benefits for the more than 30 million Americans in defined benefit pension plans.
To provide context, one of the core issues confronting pension policymakers is the issue of benefit security.
Pension benefit security and protection can be approached in a number of ways, including strong pension plan funding rules, robust asset management requirements, and meaningful disclosure mandates. In the United States we have historically used a benefit guaranty system—essentially a form of insurance—for many defined benefit pension plans to cover lost pension income if a retirement plan becomes insolvent or sponsoring employers go bankrupt.
The problem is that the U.S. system is very complicated and often difficult to effectively operate. There are a lot of moving parts, and numerous variables for which to account. Some of those variables include questions on how plans are insured, to what extent are benefits guaranteed, and how can we sufficiently fund the system while still ensuring employers are properly incentivized to sponsor retirement plans?
The problems don't end there though. It is clear that since its inception in 1974, the PBGC has faced design and operational issues that have made achieving its policy goals difficult.
This morning, Mr. Reeder will provide an overview of the PBGC's structure and finances, answering key questions about the organization, including how it is structured and, most important, how it is financed. It is imperative that the Joint Select Committee develop a solid base of knowledge about the corporation and how it is funded before turning to the PBGC's current funding status. And, in a word, that funding status is troubled. I won't recite the grim statistics because we have all read them, and we are all deeply concerned.
Over the course of the next weeks and months in the Joint Select Committee, I trust that we will learn more about the economic and demographic forces that impact the multiemployer system, and consequently the financial health of the PBGC.
But today, let's dig into the fundamentals first. After all, it's hard to plot a course without getting a good map of the terrain. As we work today with Mr. Reeder, here are some fundamental questions I think both sides should keep in mind:
What is the corporation's charter, and how does that effect its operations and success?
What does it mean to be a wholly-owned government corporation?
What are the PBGC's core functions and how is it structured to achieve those functions?
Does PBGC have the right tools and flexibility to intervene in the management and operation of troubled multiemployer plans?
How does the corporation manage the funds under its management?
Also, importantly, how do the insurance premiums work to fund the plan guarantees?
And, is this all the right model for the economic and demographic markets in which these plans operate?
Frankly, I believe we need to get these answers and then spend some time understanding what those answers mean before the Joint Select Committee can effectively consider any proposals to repair the multiemployer system.
United States Senate & United States House of Representatives
Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone _PHONE_


text:
Please start this bird anatomy series with post #403, March 10.
At right, is a picture of a pheasant wing,
Though a bird sculptor does not need to be a scientist, an
understanding of the important bones, joints, and muscles...
where they attach and how they articulate is a must.
In addition to this knowledge, the bird sculptor must know the major feather groups. Birds in flight don't pose, therefore this understanding is a must. The feather sets are basic and every bird has the same groupings; from the tiny hummingbird to the gigantic albatross.
Below is a drawing of a bird wing. Wing flight feathers are divided into three groups: Primaries, secondaries,
and tertials. These groups are attached to what corresponds to the arm and hand of the human.
Most birds have ten primaries and these feathers are attached to the "hand" part of the wing. The primaries are individually controlled by muscles and are the propellers that provide thrust and move the bird through the air.
The secondaries are attached to the forearm region that corresponds to the human elbow and wrist. They are not individually controlled and act more like an airplane wing providing lift. Individual species have different numbers of secondaries: perching birds have nine or ten, eagles have sixteen, and albatross have thirty-two.
Below, is a recent work entitled "After the Hunt Still Life"
The sculptor must know that a pheasant, like most birds, has ten primaries and that modeling
nine or eleven on the wing is as egregious as modeling four or six fingers on the human hand.
29"H 19"W 4"D
Copyright, Sandy Scott


Take the 2-minute tour ×
I'm curious what the precise definition of the moduli space of a QFT is. One often talks about the classical moduli space, which then can get quantum corrections. Does this mean the quantum moduli space is something like the set of minima of the effective potential in the 1PI action (or does the 1PI action already presume a choice of vacuum?)? Is there a non-perturbative definition, without referring to field configurations or effective actions (eg, how do we define it in string theory, where there are no fields)? Maybe it can be identified with some submanifold of the (projective) Hilbert space? Can the metric or other structure be defined in such an invariant way?
share|improve this question
1 Answer 1
The most accurate and most quantum definition is that it is the set of all maximally symmetric states (preserving the spacetime symmetries of the flat space or de Sitter space or anti de Sitter space if one allows gravity) in the extended Hilbert space – or one connected component of such a space. By the extension, I mean the formal union of all the superselection sectors.
Equivalently, one may consider the moduli space in QFT to be the set of all superselection sectors that include the maximally supersymmetric ground state.
It just happens that one may associate each such maximally symmetric state with a stationary point (minimum) of the effective action and it is indeed the 1PI effective action. We also talk about the Wilsonian, low-energy effective actions which are conceptually important but they're not an accurate tool to describe the moduli spaces; see some uncontroversial comments about the "right effective action to be used" written by my ex-adviser in his otherwise controversial paper
It's often the case that we know exactly what decides about the fate of the moduli space. In most cases, the theory admits a classical limit and the true moduli space has to be a "deformation" of the classical moduli space – the set of solutions to the classical equations. However, the potential may be modified by quantum corrections that may lift the degeneracy and lower the dimension of the Hilbert space (or set it to zero).
Also, as the ${\mathcal N}=2$ supersymmetric gauge theories show, the quantum effects may introduce monodromy and change the topology of the moduli space etc.
share|improve this answer
Thanks for the answer. So let me see if I understand. A point in moduli space is associated to certain superselection sectors, which in turn are classically associated to the asymptotic values of the fields. In some of these sectors there is a vacuum state (annihilated by the poincare generators), with excitations above it described by the effective theory about that point in moduli space. Perturbatively, one finds a saddle point with the given asymptotic behavior and quantizes perturbations around it. Still a little confused about what the superselection sectors are quantum mechanically. – user6013 Apr 25 '12 at 1:10
Right! And concerning the last question, superselection only make sense quantum mechanically. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superselection_sector – Luboš Motl Apr 25 '12 at 4:04
Your Answer


Why Is Paintball Fun?
Why should you play paintball?
Reasons to play paintball
 - SOCIAL. rnPaintball is a social game, it's a chance to get away from every life and spend some time with friends or developing new relationships.
 - ADRENALINE. rnPaintball provides such an adrenaline rush and a sense of adventure.
 - FUN.
Do paintballs really hurt?
Is paintball a good hobby?
Paintball is an active sport. While there are periods of sitting, hiding and waiting, there are lots of times to run, sprint, jump and move. It provides an excellent chance to get exercise and get your heart rate up. As long as you remember to stretch, then the exercise is always going to be great for your body.
You might be interested: Quick Answer: Where Can I Fill My Paintball Hpa Tank In Connecticut?
Can paintballs kill you?
How long do people paintball for?
The average game of paintball lasts around 15 minutes. There are some paintball games, such as speedball and capture the flag, that can be over in just a few minutes, and there are some specialty woodsball and rec ball games that can last up to 30+ minutes.
How do you treat a paintball bruise?
Here are some treatment tips to follow:
 1. Wash the affected area. Before administering treatment, wash a paintball bruise or welt with warm soapy water.
 2. Apply a warm or cold compress.
 3. Take over-the-counter pain medication.
 4. Elevate the affected area.
 5. Soak in Epsom salt.
 6. Topical natural remedies.
Can a 13 year old play paintball?
What hurts more a BB gun or a paintball gun?
After talking to many different airsoft and paintball players, I assessed which sport had more pain associated with getting shot. What I found: paintballs hurt more than airsoft BBs. Actually a LOT more. Both airsoft and paintball guns shoot around 300-400 fps.
You might be interested: FAQ: What Does A Longer Barrel Do To A Paintball Gun?
What should a girl wear to paintball?
What Girls Wear to Play Paintball
 - Sweatpants with leggings underneath.
 - Layers (tank top, long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt)
 - Padded bra or chest protector.
 - High ponytail or low braids.
 - Dark colors for camouflage.
 - Clothes that can get dirty.
 - Comfortable athletic shoes.
 - Flexible and padded gloves.
Is paintball an expensive hobby?
Yes, paintball can be an expensive sport or hobby. Paintballs themselves range in cost from 30-60 dollars per box. Many different costs go into playing paintball. It requires specific gear, clothing, and a paintball specific location.
What is the most expensive paintball gun?
Top 7 Most Expensive Paintball Guns of 2021
 - RAP4 Breda M37 8mm Paintball Machine Gun – $4,999.
 - RAP4 T68 M240 Paintball Machine Gun – $4,499.
 - Planet Eclipse Geo CSR – $1,795.
 - Planet Eclipse Geo CS1 – $1,595.
 - Dye M2 MOSAir – $1,595.
 - DLX Luxe Ice – $1,499.
 - Dye Assault Matrix DAM – $1,499.
Is paintball better than airsoft?
Can a paintball gun kill a rat?
Can a frozen paintball kill?
You might be interested: Where To Refill Co2 Tank Paintball?
Can a airsoft gun kill you?


text:
Lachine Canal National Historic Site
Natural Wonders & Cultural Treasures
The Lachine Canal is much more than just a route bypassing the rapids of the same name. The Lachine Canal's history stretches over more than 150 years and takes several directions. It comes within the scope of the interdependence between shipping, industrialization and urbanization, which marked Montréal's development.
Urbanization of the South-West
© Parks Canada
The canal was the port of entry for a canal network that linked the Atlantic to the heart of the continent. It was one of the factors that made Montréal the cradle of the Canadian manufacturing industry.
The canal's location near the port and the development of its hydraulic power potential in addition to the availability of inexpensive labour, sufficient capital and the closeness of markets favoured the establishment of highly diversified businesses along its banks. Its development influenced the urbanization of the South-West of the island of Montréal.


, b, strict=False)
Return the dot product of two 2D masked arrays a and b.
Like the generic numpy equivalent, the product sum is over the last dimension of a and the second-to-last dimension of b. If strict is True, masked values are propagated: if a masked value appears in a row or column, the whole row or column is considered masked.
strict : {boolean}
Whether masked data are propagated (True) or set to 0 for the computation.
The first argument is not conjugated.
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PEST Factors for FedEx
bizfluent article image
Scott Olson/Getty Images News/Getty Images
FedEx Corporation, formerly called FDX Corporation, is a global management services company providing customers and businesses with shipping, trade, and marketing services. It's also very focused on the impression it leaves with the people and places it serves, so it uses PEST (Political, Economical, Social and Technological Factors) to determine its market standing and what service improvements are necessary.
Political Factors
Primary political factors affecting an organization are government rules and regulations. Being an international company, FedEx interacts with various nations around the world that don't enforce tough trade regulations, granting them the privilege of getting better international services. Some other political factors of concern are political stability, industrial limitations and business standards. FedEx is successful in serving the world because it strictly abides by all relevant laws.
Economic Factors
Inflation, exchange rates and interest rates are economic factors taken into consideration, for they have the potential to distress consumers. Depression in the market affects the financial assets of the company. It's both a positive and a negative for FedEx that it provides services around the world, since it must respond to varying economic factors as a result. FedEx must be flexible with its charges, basing them on the economic status of each country it serves.
Social Factors
Social factors that affect an organization are population and educational perspective of the international and macro-economical society. These pertain to decisions organizations make to meet the needs and demands of a specified number of consumers in certain countries. Populated countries are favorable to FedEx because they have more consumers who require their services. Global organization expansion is influenced by countries with high literacy rates, something that's certainly a driver for FedEx.
Technological Factors
FedEx, like other organizations, is successful primarily due to the advancement in technology. The company took the expansion of the Internet to its full advantage by providing electronic services to customers anywhere in the world. With this technology, consumers can check the status of their transactions with just a few mouse clicks. FedEx is able to communicate with the world through e-commerce, another innovation for business-to-business transactions.


The Open XML SDK 2.0 Community Technology Preview (CTP) is here!
You can find the documentation for it here and the SDK download here.
Zeyad Rajabi, a Program Manager for the Open XML SDK, has begun a series of posts covering the Open XML SDK design goals and architecture, sprinkling in some sample code as he goes along.
Also, Eric White, a Microsoft Technical Evangelist, has a great write up on the new version of the SDK.
This new version of the SDK is an amazing leap forward.The Open XML SDK version 1 greatly simplified working with packages. Developers could manipulate Open XML file format compliant documents at the package and part levels using strongly typed.NET classes. To access the file formats at the element level, you still had to work directly with the underlying XML.
In the Open XML SDK version 2, the development team has taken most of the elements in the various schemas for the Open XML file formats (WordprocessingML, SpreadsheetML, PresentationML, etc., etc.) and made first-class managed objects out of them. Not to mention the fact that they've "linq-ified" the entire API so you have the power of Linq, as well.
This makes things much easier if, like me, working with XML directly isn't your strong suit. With the Open XML SDK v2, I can work with objects that represent the XML elements instead of having to work in the underlying XML itself (although the SDK also supports LINQ to XML, as well). For instance, suppose I needed to locate the first table in a Word document. I could easily locate the first table present in the document with code like this:
 1: using (WordprocessingDocument theDoc = WordprocessingDocument.Open(location, true))
 2: {
 3: MainDocumentPart mainPart = theDoc.MainDocumentPart;
 5: Table theTable = mainPart.Document.Descendants().First();
You can see the advantage of using this new version of the SDK in line 5 of the code snippet where, by specifying that I want to filter for descendants of the Document object (which represents the element in the Microsoft implementation of the Open XML WordprocessingML) where the descendant is of type Table (that is, I want all elements), I can immediately get to the tables in my Word document. Then, by using the First() extension method, I can select the first table element in the returned list of descendant table elements. All without having to do the detailed work of traversing the underlying XML directly; the API handles the XML work for me.
Or how about trying to get to the text in a specific cell in the Word 2007 table? I'm simplifying things a great deal, but let's assume I know which cell has the data I want (the cell in the 2nd row and 1st column):
 1: TableRow theRow = theTable.Elements().ElementAt(1);
 3: TableCell theCell = theRow.Elements().ElementAt(0);
 5: string cellText = theCell.InnerText;
 7: Console.WriteLine("The 2nd row, 1st cell text is {0}", cellText);
So here I just use the same technique that I used above to find elements of a given type (by using the provided generic methods) in order to find the 2nd row of the table (().ElementAt(1)) and the first cell (().ElementAt(0)). Then I just pull the value of the Cell object's InnerText property and it's done! Although there are other ways to use the SDK to get the same data, you can still see that with only a few lines of code, I'm able to do quite a bit without working directly in the underlying XML. And remember, we can do this type of manipulation WITHOUT running the client application (in this case Microsoft Word 2007).
The Office Client Developer Content team (my team) has some great examples on the MSDN web site here. Check it out!


text: The project aimed to setup an educational Video-on-Demand system that runs on top of a Community Wireless Mesh Network (CWMN) in a rural tribal village in Chiang-Rai province located in the northern part of Thailand. The system, 'Chiang-Rai MeshTV', brings easy-to-use Video-on-Demand capabilities to a remote rural community, which is lagged far behind modern urban cities. Rural ICT access for tribal ethnic groups required a specialized approach. Some of the tribal ethnic groups had very low ICT and Internet literacy. They may also not have good commands in English or even in a nation's official language, as they fluently communicate in their local language. Providing easy-to-use educational video contents along with intuitive user devices, such as tablet computers, to view Educational Videoon-Demand (E-VoD) contents can serve as an initial but highly significant path to connect these tribal people to the global digital economy while preserving their cultural heritage via video and other multimedia recordings.


text:
Who is eligible to vote at a UK general election?
In England, Scotland or Wales, you can register to vote online at _URL_-vote.
In Northern Ireland, visit our Register to vote in Northern Ireland page to download a registration form.To vote in a UK general election a person must be registered to vote and also
- 18 or over
- be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
- not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote
Additionally, the following cannot vote in a UK general election:
- members of the House of Lords (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
- EU citizens resident in the UK (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
- anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens
- convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences (though remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)
- anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election


package AI::CBR::Case::Compound;
use warnings;
use strict;
=head1 NAME
AI::CBR::Case::Compound - compound case definition and representation
Define and initialise a compound (or object-oriented) case.
This is a case consisting of multiple object definitions related in some way.
In a productive system, you will want to encapsulate this.
 use AI::CBR::Case::Compound;
 use AI::CBR::Sim qw(sim_eq sim_dist);
 # assume we sell travels with flight and hotel
 # shortcut one-time generated case
 my $case = AI::CBR::Case::Compound->new(
 # flight object
 flight_start => { value => 'FRA', sim => \&sim_eq },
 flight_target => { value => 'LIS', sim => \&sim_eq },
 price => { value => 300, sim => \&sim_dist, param => 200 },
 # hotel object
 stars => { value => 3, sim => \&sim_dist, param => 2 },
 rate => { value => 60, sim => \&sim_dist, param => 200 },
=head1 METHODS
=head2 new
Creates a new compound case specification.
Pass a list of hash references as argument.
Each hash reference is the same specification as passed to L.
sub new {
 my ($class, _USER_) = _USER_;
 # set default weights if unspecified
 foreach my $attributes (_USER_) {
 foreach (keys %$attributes) {
 $attributes->{$_}->{weight} = $DEFAULT_WEIGHT unless defined $attributes->{$_}->{weight};
 my $self = \_USER_;
 bless $self, $class;
 return $self;
=head2 set_values
Pass a flat hash of attribute keys and values.
This will overwrite existing values, and can thus be used as a faster method
for generating new cases with the same specification.
Notice that keys in the different specifications of the compound object may not have the same name!
sub set_values {
 my ($self, %values) = _USER_;
 foreach my $spec (@$self) {
 foreach (keys %$spec) {
 $spec->{$_}->{value} = $values{$_};
=head1 SEE ALSO
See L for an overview of the framework.
=head1 AUTHOR
Darko Obradovic, C<< >>
=head1 BUGS
Please report any bugs or feature requests to C, or through
the web interface at L<>. I will be notified, and then you'll
=head1 SUPPORT
You can find documentation for this module with the perldoc command.
 perldoc AI::CBR::Case::Compound
You can also look for information at:
=over 4
=item * RT: CPAN's request tracker
=item * AnnoCPAN: Annotated CPAN documentation
=item * CPAN Ratings
=item * Search CPAN
Copyright 2009 Darko Obradovic, all rights reserved.
under the same terms as Perl itself.
1; # End of AI::CBR::Case::Compound


text:
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical GardenArticle Free Pass
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, zoological park owned by the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., and administered in conjunction with the Zoological Society of Cincinnati. It maintains one of the largest animal collections in the United States, with more than 17,000 specimens representing in excess of 500 species. The zoo grounds also serve as a botanical garden containing more than 3,000 varieties of plants from around the world, which are showcased in garden displays and added to the naturalistic settings of the animal exhibits. The zoo once held the record for the most births of lowland gorillas in captivity; other species, including Komodo dragons, Asian elephants, and black rhinoceroses, have also been bred successfully at the zoo. Other outstanding exhibits include those featuring the white Bengal tiger and many species of insects. The zoo's Center for Research of Endangered Wildlife conducts research on a variety of reproductive technologies and in 1995 was responsible for the first successful in vitro fertilization (resulting in a subsequent birth) of a gorilla. Founded in 1875, the Cincinnati Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the United States; it occupies a 75-acre (30-hectare) site within the city and also operates the Mast Farm, a 107-acre (43-hectare) breeding facility in Clermont county.
What made you want to look up "Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden"? Please share what surprised you most...


text:
Introduction to the hat matrix in regression
What is the Hat matrix (known in econometrics as the projection matrix ) in regression?
The geometry of the Hat matrix in regression.
How does the Hat matrix gets its name?
Interpretation of the Hat matrix in bivariate (simple linear) regression
Having shown my students the geometric interpretation of what the Hat matrix does, I had one student who came stuck after trying to get the picture in his head for the case of a bivariate regression – I could see how he was thinking – and I am sure he is not the only one who gets stuck with this. So let me share with you his question, and resolve it.
Properties of the Hat matrix with proofs
The hat matrix (projection matrix in econometrics) is an orthogonal projection.
Hat matrix is an orthogonal projection
I have yet to explain the difference between a projection, and an orthogonal projection, and this is something I do now. We are interested only in orthogonal projections, not any old projection. I shall explain: difference between these 2 projections; linear algebra properties of these 2 projectionsintuitively why is a projection matrix idempotent? All this is explained using the Hat matrix.
Projection and orthogonal projections
A matrix is a projection matrix if and only if it is idempotent; a matrix is an orthogonal projection if and only if it is symmetric and idempotent.
The idempotent property makes any projection matrix positive semi definite. The symmetric property is used in the proof but isn't required as a condition (if I understand correctly) as the symmetric condition is implicit in the quadratic form, by which I mean that in a quadratic form, x'Ax, even if A is not symmetric it may be written equivalently as a quadratic form with a symmetric matrix, namely:
Because of this when we look at quadratic forms, we can just study the cases for symmetric matrices.
How is it that the Hat matrix projects a vector on to the column space spanned by X?
So we know that a projection matrix is a linear transformation that takes a vector and puts it into the space spanned by the column vectors in the matrix. But the Hat matrix is a function of the Xs. So how can we say that the Hat matrix projects a vector onto the column space spanned by the vectors in matrix X? Shouldn't it be that H projects a vector onto the space spanned by the vectors v, where v s are the vectors in the H matrix? This is something I had been puzzled about – and I would have loved to have heard the explanation in my econometrics classes – something that never happened. (Closest I got to an explanation was in my 2nd year linear algebra class). Sit back and watch while I tell you one of my favourite stories.


— Published 11 January 2021
Olympic champion and centenary
Superb. Hungarian Ágnes Keleti, the oldest living Olympic champion, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday 9 January. With a total of ten medals, including five gold, won at the Olympic Games in Helsinki 1952 and Melbourne 1956, the former gymnast is also the most successful Olympian in her country. Only three fencers (Aladár Gerevich, Pál Kovács and Rudolf Kárpáti) have won more Olympic gold medals for Hungary. At the Melbourne Games in 1956, she won four gold medals at the age of 35, becoming the oldest female gymnast to win an Olympic title. Born Ágnes Klein, the Hungarian started gymnastics at the age of four at VAC sports club, the only Jewish club in Budapest. At 16, she won her first national title. She should have participated in the 1940 Olympics, which were to be held in Tokyo, but the global conflict ended her chances. In 1941, while Hungary fought alongside Germany and Italy, Ágnes Keleti was expelled from her gymnastics club because she was Jewish and forced into hiding with her family in the countryside. She survived after taking on a false identity and working as a housekeeper. When the Nazis occupied Hungary, she married her gym buddy, István Sárkány, believing she would be less likely to be sent to a labor camp. His family found refuge in a "Swedish House" managed by Raoul Wallenberg. After the War, she found a job as a fur worker and was a demonstrator at the gymnastics faculty of the Budapest School of Physical Culture. She was also an accomplished cellist and performed professionally. In 1947, she won her first gymnastics championship in Central Europe. After the 1956 Melbourne Games, she remained in Australia, where she was granted political asylum after the Soviet Union invaded Hungary during the event. She eventually emigrated to Israel, where she remarried and had two children. She taught physical education at the Orde Wingate Institute, then became a coach of the Israeli women's gymnastics team. Ágnes Keleti celebrated his 100th birthday in his hometown of Budapest. "I love life", she says. "Health is the essence of everything. Without it, there is nothing".


text:
Top 10 Places to Visit Before They Disappear From the Earth
Traveling around the world to see different sites is one of the most enjoyable things in your life whose benefits cannot be ignored. The experience helps you discover skills that you didn't know you had, it gives you a sense of accomplishment among other benefits. Luckily, there are innumerable places in the world where you can visit and explore. However, some of these destinations are under threat due to neglect and climate change.
For this reason, you need to prioritize such destinations that demand more urgency to visit. Here is a list of these places that you need to visit before they disappear from the earth.
Antarctica is the southernmost continent of the earth and also the driest and coldest continent. It is also a windswept and frozen continent, and as a result, there are no permanent inhabitants. Unfortunately, this unique continent is slowly thawing.
Though there are efforts to try and spare the continent, it is likely that they will minimize the sails and cruises in the continent. Therefore, make an effort to visit Antarctica before it disappears.
#2. The Alps, Europe
The Alps in Europe are one of the best areas for winter sports fans and hikers. Unfortunately, it is likely that this will not continue for a long time since the Alps are significantly affected by the many climate changes.
This is especially because unlike other mountain ranges, the Alps in Europe are at a lower altitude. Since the Alps losses about 3% of the ice per year, it is likely that there will be no more glaciers on the mountain by the year 2050.
#3. Alaska, U.S.A.
Alaska is not only the largest but also most sparsely populated state found in the U.S. states. It is well known for its mountains, forests and diverse terrain of open spaces. Additionally, Alaska has been known as the coldest biome in the world.
However, the Alaska regions have been seen to have a dramatic rise in temperature. The rise in temperature is mainly due to global warming. The increase in temperature in Alaska is way higher than other parts of the world. Therefore, it is likely that the Alaskan tundra will be wholly destroyed within such a short time.
#4. Glacier National Park, U.S.A.
Both local and outdoor visitors have the national glacier park as their most favorite due to its gorgeous lakes and hiking trails spanning alpine meadows. For this reason, it is frustrating to hear that this beautiful park is losing its glaciers.
Initially, there were about 150 glaciers but have now reduced to 25. It is, therefore, likely that there will be no glaciers left by the year 2030. Therefore, make it your priority to visit the national glacier park before it is too late.
#5. Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
The Mount Kilimanjaro found in Tanzania is well known for its beautiful snow-capped top. However, like other glaciers around the world, it is unfortunate that the beautiful snow on top of the mountain is also being destroyed by global warming. According to scientists, the mountain has lost about 85% of the snow that covered the mountain back in 1912.
Additionally, hikes around the mountain have been reduced since the trek is now more popular. It is, therefore, likely that these legendary glaciers will have disappeared entirely within twenty years.
The Maldives have stunning snorkeling sports, five-star resorts and pristine beaches that have lured tourists and honeymoon goers to enjoy them. It is, therefore, unfortunate that there is no bright future for this remarkable place. This is because the Maldives is the world's lowest-lying country with an attitude of about 1.5 meters.
For this reason, the Maldives are in great danger due to the rising sea levels. According to scientists, the Maldives will be completely submerged within the next 100 years.
#7. The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. It is home to numerous species of fish, about 600 islands and many coral reefs. Unfortunately, due to coral bleaching and global warming, more than half of the reef has disappeared in the last about three decades. Additionally, pollution and climate change have also led to starfish outbreaks, acidification, and extreme weather. It is believed that the remaining part of the Great Barrier Reef could be destroyed by the year 2030.
#8. Venice, Italy
Venice has been a major source of attraction for many years due to its many beautiful sites. It is also known to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. However, it is important that you visit the city soon because it has shown signs of sinking over the years.
# 9. The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is found at the lowest point of the earth and is one of the most interesting and intriguing lakes in the world. It is one of the world's saltiest bodies and also known to have mad that is great for the skin. Its high salt levels have attracted visitors from around the world and also allow them to float without effort.
However, both geological and human factors have led to the demise of the Dead Sea. For instance, human activities such as industrial mineral extraction and agricultural activities have posed a danger to the Dead Sea. It is likely that the Dead Sea will have completely dried up within the next 50 years.
# 10. The Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest is a vast tropical forest which is known to be the world's largest forest. It is also the source of the Amazon River which is by far the world's largest river. The Amazon forest is a home for more than a third of the earth's animal species and plants. It contains millions of species of birds, insects, and plants, some of which have not yet been scientifically discovered.
Unfortunately, over the last few decades, the Amazon rainforest has been used for industrial agriculture, illegal logging and primarily for mining leading to its destruction. Therefore, hurry and enjoy the adventure of this vast forest before it is too late.
Additionally, severe floods have also led to the disappearance of the canals found around the city. The sinking of the city is also expected to continue since the North Pole continues to melt. Despite various attempts to save the city, climatologists are not sure these will save the city.


text:
The Liberty Ship John Muir
by Harold Wood
According to Edwin Way Teale, in his otherwise excellent book
The Wilderness World of John Muir
(Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1954), "during the First World War, a liberty
ship was christened the SS John Muir." Teale had his wars mixed up.
In actuality, all "Liberty Ships" were built during and used in the
Second World War, not the first.
The Liberty Ship John Muir was built in 1942. It was one of approximately 2700 Liberty Ships built during Second World War. A "Liberty Ship" was an emergency cargo ship, mass-produced
using a common design. As German submarines kept sinking supply ships, it was important
to the war effort to mass-produce as many new ships as possible for transporting supplies. So Liberty Ships had to be constructed quickly - in under six months. Since many hundreds of Liberty Ships were sunk under enemy fire during World War II, new Liberty Ships had to be built to replace them over and over again. Remarkably, the Liberty Ship John Muir survived the war, and was finally scrapped in 1966.
Liberty Ships were to be named, quite simply, after outstanding Americans, heroes and leaders in American history. This was easy for the first 300 ships, but became increasingly more difficult as the ship-building program expanded into the thousands. The simple list of the founding fathers and patriots had to be expanded into some 60 name lists, including authors, athletes, abolitionists, painters, historians, political and social reformers, scientists, college presidents, feminists, merchant marine heroes, railroad builders, diplomats, explorers, Indians, and pioneers. And not only Americans were recognized. Interestingly, several people who were friends of John Muir also had Liberty Ships named after them:
John Bidwell, John Burroughs, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Asa Gray,
David Starr Jordan, William Keith, William Kent, Joseph LeConte, Enos A. Mills, Harriet Monroe, Theodore Roosevelt,
Josiah D. Whitney, and S. Hall Young.
Here's the data about the Liberty Ship John Muir:
- Hull Number: 1226
- Date Built: December, 1942
- Built by: Marinship Corp., Sausalito,California, Yard No. 4.
- Scrapped: Portland, Oregon, May 1966
- Named after: Naturalist, explorer, conservationist, responsible for the establishment of the Yosemite National Park
- Length: 441 ft. 6 inches
- Breadth: 56 ft 10 3/4 inches
- Depth: 37 feet 4 inches
- Gross Tons: 7176 DWT: 10,414 tons
- Speed: 10-11 knots
Information provided by:
Captain C.J. Carroll
U.S. Merchant Marine, Retired
Captain of a Liberty ship at age 22 during the WW2
Still looking fir Mermaids.
Captain Carroll kindly responded to our April, 1998 request for information on
Liberty Ships: The Ugly Ducklings of World War II
by John Gorley Bunker (Annapolis, Naval Institute Press, 1972),
The Liberty Ship
by L.A. Sawyer and W.H. Mitchell
(Cornell Maritime Press, 1973),
The Liberty Ships - The People behind the
by Captain Deschamps, P.O.Box 10156 Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110.
| Alphabetical Index
| What's New


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Monitoring mites with a sugar shake
It seems that every beekeeping group has its own way to monitor Varroa mites. I keep hearing variations on the sugar shake (or sugar roll), the alcohol wash, and the soap bath. But one thing remains constant: most hobby beekeepers don't want to kill bees in order to count mites.
The powdered sugar shake does not kill bees. The sugar-coated honey bees are easily added back to the hive and the sugar consumed. Both the alcohol wash and the soap bath give a slightly more accurate count, but both kill the bees. Soap and alcohol give more accurate results for two reasons: they better separate the mites from the bees and they allow an actual count of the bees in the sample instead of an estimate.
However, it is my opinion that beekeepers are more likely to monitor if they don't have to kill bees in the process. I also believe that the easier it is to do, the more likely it is to happen. Furthermore, I don't think the last scintilla of accuracy makes much difference. Your decision to treat or not treat will probably be unaffected by the one or two mites you missed.
Compare the two
If you are uncomfortable with the difference, you can try this at home: Do a sugar shake and count the mites. Next, use alcohol on the same group of bees and count the extra mites. In most cases, you will find that the sugar shake dislodged at least 90% of the mites.
If you want, you can assume you are getting 90% of the mites with your sugar shake, and then you can adjust the estimate by dividing your count by 90%. For example, if your sugar roll yielded 8 mites, then 0.9χ = 8, so χ = 8.8 mites. Let's call it 9. But do I think this is a necessary step? No.
In the interest of simplicity I have distilled a number of sources that describe how to do a sugar shake and tried to make it as easy as possible.
Simple Instructions for a Sugar Shake Test (Sugar Roll)
Equipment Needed:
 - A mason jar with a marking at the 1/2-cup level. Some mason jars come with embossed measurements, or you can draw a line with a marker.
 - A mason jar ring fitted with a round disk of #8 hardware cloth. This lid must fit on your mason jar.
 - Confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar or icing sugar)
 - A spoon
 - A container for counting mites. It should be white or at least very light colored so the mites can be seen.
 - A bucket, bowl, feeder, Tupperware container, or something that you will shake your bees into.
 - A small amount of water
Prepare all this equipment in advance. If you use a 5-gallon bucket to catch the bees, you can put the rest of your equipment in there for transport. Once in the apiary, lay out your equipment.
Now, here are the steps:
 1. Remove 1 or 2 frames of bees from the brood nest. Ideally, these frames will contain open brood and nurse bees. Make sure the frames you shake do not include the queen.
 2. Shake the frames over your bucket. Don't bang the frames, just shake.
 3. Take your bucket of bees, tap it so the bees collect on the bottom, and then pour them into your mason jar up to the 1/2-cup line. This will give you approximately 400* bees.
 4. Quickly screw on the modified lid.
 5. Pour the rest of the bees back in the hive.
 6. Spoon some confectioners sugar onto the mesh screen and work it through with your fingers.
 7. Shake the bees in the jar for about a minute to completely coat both bees and mites, using as much sugar as necessary.
 8. Invert the jar and shake it into your light-colored dish. Keep shaking until mites and sugar stop falling out.
 9. Add a small amount of water to your dish of mites. This dissolves the sugar and makes the mites easier to see.
 10. Count the mites.
This concludes the actual test. Next you will need to consult a chart in order to decide if you should treat for mites. Recommendations vary depending on the season and where you live. Also, recommendations may be given based on the number of mites per bee, in which case you will have to divide your mite count by the estimated number of bees in your sample.
Neither way counts every mite
None of the methods mentioned above—sugar, soap, or alcohol—count the mites under the brood caps, but most of the charts available take this into consideration. If you are uncertain, but sure to read the fine print.
Although this system is not perfect, it will give you a lot of information for a very small amount of effort. Give it a try and see how your mites are doing. One way or the other, you might be surprised.
*Estimates vary. According to Marla Spivak at the University of Minnesota, there are approximately 100 bees per fluid ounce.
Nick Holmes
Do you have a reference you can point at about the calculation for working out infestation levels, the only ones I know about are for mite drop through the screen floor under normal activity.
The University of Minnesota says this, "If you know how many bees were in your sample, you can estimate the number of mites per 100 bees. If there is brood in the colony when you sample, you should double this number to factor in the amount of mites in worker brood. For example, if there are 5 mites/100 bees, the total infestation is probably 10 mites/100 bees. If your colony has over 10-12 mites/100 bees, you should consider treatment."
On the other hand, The University of Montana recommends treating if you get 5-9 mites from a sugar roll containing 250 bees. I assume they are doubling the number to account for brood, which would give you 10-18 mites. Dividing that by 2.5 gives you 4-7 mites/100 bees. Those are fairly inconsistent, so I hesitate to recommend one over the other.
Today I opened up one of my hives to remove the spent HopGuard strips and put the quilt box on for the winter. I was surprised to find a nest of ladybugs under the telescopic outer cover and the inner cover. Although I have been bitten by the orange ladybugs before, I doubt the ladybugs would attack the bees but I was wondering if they would eat the mites. I would guess their main reason for being there was to stay warm and dry but wouldn't it be great if these are a natural predator of the varroa mites.
Nick Holmes
Ok thanks… gives me a start in terms of mites / role = infestation in hive. I should be able to extrapolate from that. Thanks 🙂
Hi Rusty,
I didn't want to use chemicals to treat, so I read & read to find the best way to treat for mites. So I settled on the wintergreen patty recipe you provided, sugar sprinkle, followed up with about 60 drops of peppermint oil mixed in about 2 pints or less of honey (theirs) in a baggie feeder. I also saturated strips of paper towels with a mixture of 1/2 cup corn oil and tea tree oil/peppermint oil/patchouli oil in a plastic condiment squeeze bottle, I used only 2 oils together. I laid the saturated 5×5 pieces of paper towels, 2 in each hive directly on the frames in the upper brood box, with the hopes they chew it up and get some oils. (I only overwinter with 2 deeps.) Oo I tucked them in with a candyboard, said a prayer and will check on them before deep winter sets in. This is just my second year so I'm still learning. I'm not a helicopter beekeeper. I'm pretty lazy, and I let the bees be bees. I don't go down in brood frames and examine and I don't cut things open or out. It's mostly because I do more harm being inexperienced than any real help. I hate tearing up all their hard work. The only thing I will do in the spring is try a walkaway split on my two hives. They beat me to it last palm Sunday lol!!!
Mark Martin
Very good! I actually tried the sugar roll method for the first time this year and had 4 mites drop. Ideally I would have done a set of brood frames in the top and bottom box and maybe averaged them together but I ran out of daylight. Hopefully the bees will make it through the winter and I can see how many mites drop next year in the spring, summer and fall.
PS – I'm trying the pine shavings in my ventilation board this winter. I'm excited to see how it works! Thanks!
I'm not sure exactly what you are asking... why what? But powdered sugar is found to be an effective mite control if done on a regular weekly schedule. It only gets part of the mites (and none under the cappings) so it must be repeated often. The sugar shake test dislodges a greater number of mites because you use


Robertus de Bailly
Primary tabs
Robertus de Bailly
(French, fl. 1530)
Verrazano Globe, 1530
Gilded copper
Diameter 5 1/2 inches (133mm)
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1912
Item description:
One of the earliest dated globes, this gilded sphere depicts the world as known from the explorations of Giovanni da Verrazano, who journeyed to the New World in 1524. He sailed along the coast from South Carolina to Newfoundland, becoming the first European since the Norse colonizers of ca. 1000 to visit New York and Narragansett Bay. The globe, executed by sculptor Robertus de Bailly in 1530, was based on a 1529 map by Verrazano's brother, Girolamo. Like the map, it identifies the newly charted North American continent as Verrazana.


text:
Can You Escape Tower is a new room-escape puzzle game from MobiGrow, creators of Can You Escape and Can You Escape 2. Like their other games, the purpose of this is to solve the puzzles and find all of the hidden objects that you have to use in order to break out of the room and advance to the next floor. Currently, Can You Escape Tower is available for Android devices, but will likely be heading to iOS soon.
Can You Escape Tower Room/Level 6 Walkthrough:
1. Tap the barrel on the left and take the shovel that's behind it.
2. Tap the sword rack and take a sword of the rack. Also take the mallet head next to the rack.
3. Take a spear off the rack against the back wall.
4. Use the spear tip to get the bow off the wall.
5. Use the shovel to remove the bricks. Take the wooden pole underneath.
6. Combine the wooden pole with the mallet head.
7. On the right wall, notice the off-colored spot. Use the mallet on that spot to break it open, revealing a clue (squares, triangles, and a bunch of circle targets).
8. Use the sword on the barrel to break it open and take the arrow tip. Combine the bow with the arrow tip.
9. Notice the shields on the wall. They show you clues for which targets to hit. The "X" indicates which target to shoot, while the shapes on the left and right show you the position of X.
10. Shoot the following targets:
- Row 2: 1st target (triangle)
- Row 1: 3rd target (triangle)
- Row 1: 4th target (circle)
11. Go back and the door will be open.
Congratulations! You've completed level 6 of Can You Escape Tower. Continue to level 7.