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Although the use of wearable technology to characterize gait disorders in daily life is increasing, there is no consensus on which specific gait bout length should be used to characterize gait. Clinical trialists using daily life gait quality as study outcomes need to understand how gait bout length affects the sensitivity and specificity of measures to discriminate pathological gait as well as the reliability of gait measures across gait bout lengths. We investigated whether Parkinson's disease (PD) affects how gait characteristics change as bout length changes, and how gait bout length affects the reliability and discriminative ability of gait measures to identify gait impairments in people with PD compared to neurotypical Old Adults (OA). We recruited 29 people with PD and 20 neurotypical OA of similar age for this study. Subjects wore 3 inertial sensors, one on each foot and one over the lumbar spine all day, for 7 days. To investigate which gait bout lengths should be included to extract gait measures, we determined the range of gait bout lengths available across all subjects. To investigate if the effect of bout length on each gait measure is similar or not between subjects with PD and OA, we used a growth curve analysis. For reliability and discriminative ability of each gait measure as a function of gait bout length, we used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and area under the curve (AUC), respectively. Ninety percent of subjects walked with a bout length of less than 53 strides during the week, and the majority (>50%) of gait bouts consisted of less than 12 strides. Although bout length affected all gait measures, the effects depended on the specific measure and sometimes differed for PD versus OA. Specifically, people with PD did not increase/decrease cadence and swing duration with bout length in the same way as OA. ICC and AUC characteristics tended to be larger for shorter than longer gait bouts. Our findings suggest that PD interferes with the scaling of cadence and swing duration with gait bout length. Whereas control subjects gradually increased cadence and decreased swing duration as bout length increased, participants with PD started with higher than normal cadence and shorter than normal stride duration for the smallest bouts, and cadence and stride duration changed little as bout length increased, so differences between PD and OA disappeared for the longer bout lengths. Gait measures extracted from shorter bouts are more common, more reliable, and more discriminative, suggesting that shorter gait bouts should be used to extract potential digital biomarkers for people with PD.
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited


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Aspartame intake corresponding to common doses results in signs of neurotoxicity in rats. - GreenMedInfo Summary
l-Cysteine and glutathione restore the modulation of rat frontal cortex Na+, K+ -ATPase activity induced by aspartame metabolites.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2008 Jun;46(6):2074-9. Epub 2008 Feb 8. PMID: _PHONE_
Department of Physiology, Medical School, Athens University, P.O. Box 65257, GR-15401 Athens, Greece.
BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that aspartame (ASP) ingestion is implicated in neurological problems. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate rat frontal cortex Na+, K+ -ATPase and Mg2+ -ATPase activities after incubation with ASP or each of its metabolites, phenylalanine (Phe), methanol (MeOH) and aspartic acid (asp) separately. METHOD: Suckling rat frontal cortex homogenates or pure Na+, K+ -ATPase were incubated with ASP metabolites. Na+, K+ -ATPase and Mg2+ -ATPase activities were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Incubation of frontal cortex homogenate or pure Na+, K+ -ATPase with various ASP concentrations as expected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after ASP consumption of 34, 150 or 200mg/kg, decreased the frontal cortex enzyme activity by 33%, 53% or 57%, respectively, whereas pure enzyme was remarkably stimulated. Moreover, incubation of frontal cortex homogenate with each one of the expected ASP metabolites in the CSF, except MeOH, which are related to the intake of the above mentioned doses of the sweetener, resulted in an activation of the membrane Na+, K+ -ATPase, as well as pure enzyme. Frontal cortex Mg2+-ATPase remained unaltered. Addition of l-cysteine (cys) or reduced glutathione (GSH) to ASP metabolites mixtures, corresponding to 150 or 200mg/kg doses of the sweetener, completely or partially restored to normal the modulated membrane and pure Na+, K+ -ATPase activities. CONCLUSION: CSF concentrations of the sum of ASP metabolites corresponding to the intake of common, abuse or toxic doses (34 or 150 or 200mg/kg, respectively) of the additive significantly increased rat frontal cortex Na+, K+ -ATPase and pure enzyme activities. Cys or GSH completely or partially restored to normal both enzyme activities, possibly due to amelioration of the cellular GSH reduction from the action of MeOH, a metabolite of the sweetener and/or by their scavenging effect.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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A leguminous tree or shrub of warm climates, with feathery leaves and plume-like flowers that typically resemble bottlebrushes.
- Genus Albizia, family Leguminosae
More example sentences
- In fact, for those whose sexual dysfunction is emotionally related albizzia can be very effective.
- In its natural habitat tun is found growing in mixed stands comprising other broad-level species like terminalias, albizzias, bombax, ficuses, shisham, acacias, etc.
- A dining room next to the living room, of 26 m², large family table, beautiful chimney with insert, two large French windows facing the sea, the third on to the albizzias.
modern Latin, named after Filippo degli Albizzi, a Tuscan nobleman who introduced the silk tree A. julibrizzen into Italy in the mid 18th century.
Definition of albizzia in:
- The US English dictionary


GST-Binding Plates
Assay GST-fusion proteins
A glutathione peptide, crosslinked to the polymer surface via a spacer arm, enables binding by specific affinity interaction of GST, which is typically genetically engineered into a fusion protein. The spacer arm maximizes surface reactivity while minimizing non-specific binding, and the covalent linkage reduces the occurrence of leaching. The surface does not need to be blocked and therefore a high S/N ratio is obtained.
These glutathione-coated plates can be used in the analysis of cell lysates to determine the presence and concentration of the GST-fusion protein produced in an expression system. Alternatively, the plates can be used to capture and coat fusion proteins via their GST tag for subsequent binding assays involving the recombinant protein (either protein interactions or a specific antibody).
The figure above shows coupling of a GST-tagged protein/peptide to glutathione plates. GSH = Glutathione; GST = Glutathione-S-transferase
Related resources
GST-tagged Proteins
Protein purification with affinity tags such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), histidine (HIS), and other affinity tags, enables purification of proteins with both known and unknown biochemical properties. Therefore, this methodology has become a widely used research tool for determining the biological function of uncharacterized proteins.
A selection of FAQs is listed below. For more technical information and FAQs, please visit our Solid Phase Guide ›
The Immobilizer Glutathione plates are designed for optimal detection of glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-tagged proteins or purified GST.
We recommend using transparent polystyrene plates for colorimetric assays, white polystyrene plates for bio and chemi-luminescence assays, and black polystyrene plates for fluorescence assays.
The background is extremely low when using the Immobilizer Glutathione plates. This results in a high signal-to-noise ratio and a low detection limit which in general means that the detection limit (OD 0.5) is 3ng per well (100 μL).


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The way the brain generates empathy, even for those who differ physically from themselves has been mapped in a new study.
USC researcher Lisa Aziz-Zadeh found that empathy for someone to whom one can directly relate, for example, because they are experiencing pain in a limb that one possesses, is mostly generated by the intuitive, sensory-motor parts of the brain.
However, empathy for someone to whom one cannot directly relate relies more on the rationalizing part of the brain.
Aziz-Zadeh, assistant professor at USC's Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, said though they are engaged to differing degrees depending on the circumstance, it appears that both the intuitive and rationalizing parts of the brain work in tandem to create the sensation of empathy.
"People do it automatically," she said.
In an experiment, Aziz-Zadeh and a team from USC showed videos of tasks being performed by hands, feet, and a mouth to a woman who had been born without arms or legs and also to a group of 13 typically developed women.
Videos showed activities such as a mouth eating and a hand grasping an object. Researchers also showed videos of pain, in the form of an injection, being inflicted on parts of the body.
While the participants watched the videos, their brains were scanned using functional magnetic imaging (fMRI), and then those scans were compared, revealing the differing sources of empathy.
In an additional finding, Aziz-Zadeh discovered that when the congenital amputee viewed videos of tasks being performed that she could also perform but using body parts that she did not have, the sensory-motor parts of her brain were still strongly engaged.
For example, the participant can hold objects, but uses a stump in conjunction with her chin to do so rather than a hand.
If the goal of the action was impossible for her, then another set of brain regions involved in deductive reasoning were also activated.
The findings have been published online by Cerebral Cortex


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angle on the joint
- Step 2: solve static equilibrium
- Step 3: record the moment in the connection joint
- Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 for the given range
- Step 5: remove joint that was added in step 0. Calculate GM from GZ-curve
This way of calculating the stability is very flexible and fully correct. It allows for calculation of static stability for situations where the traditional method become more and more complex:
- lifts with multiple cranes on the same vessel
- lifts with multiple cranes on different vessels
- lifting items out of or into the water
- half suspended items (one end in the crane, on end on the deck)
- partially or fully restrained cargo
These will be subject of a next post.
Another possible issue with stability calculations is that vessels may not be symmetric between bow and stern and/or between portside and starboard. This means that a heel angle will introduce a trim angle or draft change as well. An example are triangular jack-ups.
These will be subject of (another) next post.
If there are any other situations you would like to see then leave your suggestion in the comments are. I like challenges 🙂


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A search for flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNC) in events with the top quark and the Higgs boson is presented. The Higgs boson decay to a pair of b quarks is considered. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of√35.9 fb−1 recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at s = 13 TeV. Two channels are considered: single top quark FCNC production in association with the Higgs boson (pp → tH), and top quark pair production with FCNC decay of the top quark (t → qH). Final states with one isolated lepton and at least three reconstructed jets, among which at least two are associated with b quarks, are studied. No significant deviation is observed from the predicted background. Observed (expected) upper limits at 95% confidence level are set on the branching fractions of top quark decays, B(t → uH) < 0.47% (0.34%) and B(t → cH) < 0.47% (0.44%), assuming a single nonzero FCNC coupling.
ASJC Scopus subject areas


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Who is Training For?
- Families and Spouses
- Trauma Survivors (not presently in crisis)
- Military, Law Enforcement Services
- Ambulance Paramedics & EMS
- Crisis Support and Social Workers
- Hospital and Medical Staff
- Charitable Organizations
- Hiring Prerequisite for Students
- Victims of Crime
- Justice System
- Accident and Injury
TASC offers applicable and relevant traumatic stress education. Tiered two-day workshops are designed for maximum impact formatted on adult learning strategies. Learn how to build communication and problem solving skills to develop resiliency, identify trauma factors, acquire practical coping skills, develop an emotional first aid plan and build community resources.


Creating deposit types
Creating deposit types
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General information
Deposit types are entities that can be added to the customer's account. They can be part of a loyalty program or used as a payment method in the SMS-timing system.
3rd party integrations for cashless systems also use our deposit system to add the purchased credits on the customer's card or account.
Now with the achievements and gamification possibilities in our software, you can event link certain deposits to certain goals in order
Deposit kinds
Deposits can be made in unlimited amounts and for a wide variety of applications so before we create them make sure you know what you want to achieve.
let's go over the different kinds.
 - "Career Point" can be used to increase career levels in the SMS-timing, most commonly used to return on achievements.
 - "Credit" a regular credit that can be banked or redeemed for a product, mostly used for loyalty programs.
 - "3rd party credits" are credits used by 3rd party integrations. Here is an article on the available options.
 - "Money" is a money amount added to the membership as part of a monthly membership or a deposit by the customer or parents. The money value stays 1:1 and can be used for every product in the system as cash would do.
 - "Points" are comparable with credits and career points. They are mostly returned as a reward for achievements but are rarely of sufficient value to redeem a product with. Therefore customers can keep track of them and collect them to exchange them for eg. a credit.
These are the kinds, you can create multiple deposits of the same kind but with different specifics like validity and period of usage.
Create a new deposit
To create a new deposit follow these steps:
 1. Navigate to the Deposit page. (Menu -> Products -> Deposit Types)
 2. create a new entry.
 New Deposit type
 3. Fill in all the required information.
 1. "Name" for the deposit.
 2. "Short" an abbreviation used online and by mobile apps.
 3. "Priority" of the deposit to be used, the lower the number the higher the priority.
 4. "Print on reports"
 5. "Check last visit"
 6. "Shared" over different locations.
 7. "Kind" of credit.
 8. "External reference" for 3rd party integrations.
 9. "Can withdraw" this credit to purchase products.
 10. "Can deposit" this credit to bank and save.
 11. "Transferable" between members.
 12. "Valid for" a determined duration.
 13. "Style" to make it stand out.
 14. "Online" available?
 15. "Period of Time" default is always available but you could restrict usage of the credit on given times and days.
 4. Save the deposit.
New deposit
Example of a new deposit credit
As you can see in the example, we created a new deposit credit with a validity of 1 day which can only be used on days with the open schedule assigned.
Linked articles
en English


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In the UK, earning a master's degree in computer science has many advantages. The UK is a popular alternative for those wishing to study MSC in Computer science in the UK because it is home to renowned universities that provide a wide variety of programs for students of computer science.
These MSC in Computer Science UK universities are proud of their cutting-edge curricula and top-notch, technologically advanced facilities. In addition, an MSc Computer Science UK degree is recognized and recognized internationally, which is another factor that draws foreign students to the UK. You've made a great choice if you're one of them and want to earn a master's degree in computer science in the UK.
This blog will serve as your guide as we cover all crucial details concerning a master's degree in Computer Science in the UK, including the best universities, admission requirements, employment opportunities, and more.
Why Study MS in Computer Science in the UK?
Let's first discuss why you should think about taking this degree in the UK before moving on to the specifics of studying for a Master in Computer Science there:
- Innovative Curriculum: The teaching materials for the master's degree in Computer Science in the UK are innovative. The top universities in computer science in the UK not only offer cutting-edge educational facilities but also incorporate cutting-edge technology into their teaching methods.
- Opportunities for Employment: The UK is home to some of the largest corporations, such as Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google. These businesses are constantly looking for graduates with an MS in Computer Science from the UK.
- High WagesThere are several high-paying positions in this industry in the UK. A graduate of a UK computer science university can expect to make up to £44,000 per year on average. As you gain more knowledge and experience, your payment may increase to £79,000.
- Studying at the top universities for computer science in the UK is reasonably priced. This is due to the program's one-year length, which results in lower overall tuition costs than other well-liked study-abroad locations like the USA.
Eligibility Criteria & Admission Requirements for MSc Computer Science in the UK
The qualifications and eligibility for a Mater's degree in Computer Science vary from university to university in the UK. All colleges demand a specific set of standards, nevertheless, which never change. They consist of:
- Experience in Programming
- Bachelor's degree
- Language Requirements in English
The following will go over each of these:
1. Bachelor's Degree
To pursue an MS at a UK computer science university, international candidates must hold a first-class UG degree with honors in Computer Science, Math, or any other computing component. Indian students must have earned a minimum grade of 60% on their threeor four-year Bachelor's degree.
2. Programming Experience
Another crucial qualification for an MS in computer science in the UK is this. International students must have at least rudimentary knowledge of computer programming. The completion of a project, while a person is enrolled in school or working, is regarded as a legitimate experience.
3. English Language Requirements
For their MS in Computer Science in the UK, international students must successfully complete an English proficiency test.
There can be some additional requirements in addition to the ones listed above. Check the official websites of UK universities offering master's degrees in computer science to learn about any institution-specific admission requirements.
Documents Required to Pursue Masters in Computer Science in the UK
When completing your application for an MS in computer science at one of the best universities in the UK, supporting documents are required. Make sure the following papers are examined:
- transcripts for bachelor's degrees
- the entire official transcripts
- References and Letter of Support
- scores on the English Proficiency Test
- Purpose Statement/Personal Statement
Cost of Studying MSc Computer Science in the UK
Tuition fees and living expenses make up the two components of the cost of an MSc in Computer Science in the UK. Let's examine both of them:
The cost of an MS in computer science varies depending on the university. The duration of the MS in Computer Science in the UK is one year, and the annual tuition costs for overseas students range from £27,500 to £35,900.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in the UK varies depending on where you choose to live and the kind of lifestyle you want. The cost of living in the UK can, on average, reach up to £18,000 per year and roughly £1500 per month.
International students who attend the best universities in the UK for an MS in computer science typically spend the most on housing. Most students who choose private housing must pay extra. Most universities are close by and transportation is inexpensive.
Most universities will provide an MS in Computer Science in UK Scholarship for international students to assist support their degree, despite the high expense.
Course Curriculum for MSc Computer Science UK
Students receive a solid grounding in computer science theory as well as useful software engineering skills, including teamwork for commercial or academic clients, through the UK masters in the computer science program. After finishing their coursework, graduates have the option of choosing between interdisciplinary industrial roles and Ph.D. research.
Among the crucial subjects addressed in the course are:
- Computer architecture
- operating systems
- fundamental programming algorithms
- Project for the MSc in Computer Science: Database Principles
After discussing the requirements, curriculum, fees, and admissions processes, let's learn about the top universities in the UK for master's degrees in computer science:
Top 5 Universities in the UK for MS in Computer Science
In the UK, a number of prestigious universities provide an MS in the computer science program. We discussed the top 5 institutions, including their programs, rankings, and costs for an MS in computer science in the UK.
- University of Oxford
- University of Cambridge
- Imperial College London
- University College London ( UCL)
- University of Edinburgh
Let us briefly discuss these top universities below:
1. University of Oxford
One of the best institutions in the UK to earn an MS in computer science is the University of Oxford. Four different computer science programs are available through a department that is specifically dedicated to this subject. The institution also hosts social gatherings where overseas students can connect with others who share their interests and broaden their horizons.
2. University of Cambridge
A master's program in computer science with a research focus is offered at the University of Cambridge. Students must complete a research project in addition to the five modules that make up the program. The method of instruction is a special synthesis of conventional instruction, seminars, hands-on learning, and reading groups.
3. Imperial College London
There are many different MS in Computer Science degrees available from Imperial College London. These classes concentrate on broadening students' comprehension and expertise in computer science, thereby preparing them for careers in the computing sector.
4. University College London ( UCL)
Another top university in the UK for an MS in computer science is UCL. Students' theoretical, practical, and programming skills are all enhanced by the course. Along with these abilities, UCL students also gain other crucial abilities like communication and collaboration.
5. University of Edinburgh
Both full-time and part-time Computer Science courses are available at the University of Edinburgh. This institution is renowned for its skill in computer system design, analysis, implementation, and use. The course material is broken up into two semesters and includes a mix of lectures, tutorials, project work, and homework.
The demand for computer science professionals is rising because it is such a diverse industry. Top universities in the UK for an MS in Computer Science, therefore, offer this opportunity, making it crucial to study in this competitive field with the greatest industry specialists. Studying computer science in the UK can be a fruitful career choice, but if you're not sure and would like professional advice, get in touch with our counselors right away.


Artist gives brutalist architecture a singing voice
Brutalist architecture has gotten a bad rap over the years—so much so that Goldfinger, the villain of James Bond fame, was named after Ernő Goldfinger, an architect inspired by brutalism. Mo H. Zareei (aka mHz) is trying to fight back against this societal repulsion with his evocative sound sculptures. He's an Iranian electronic musician, sound artist, and music technology researcher, who is actively finding ways to use his interests in both brutalist architecture and noise to show how nuanced and poetic these two concepts can really be.
In his series machine brut(e), Zareei makes use of three sound sculptures rasper, Mutor and rippler, to make unusual audiovisual combinations. Each piece is a marriage between sound art and sculptural composition, accompanied by a concrete block to visually highlight the 'raw concrete' material and its links to brutalism. Zareei breaks down the different elements of brualist aesthetics which are compelling to him, as he says, "The monolithic appearance, visibility of material, valuation of crude concrete, strict geometries, repetitive modules, lack of nonfunctional ornamentation, these were all fundamental principles by which I have constructed my sound-sculptures."
Each piece is a marriage between sound art and sculptural composition
Zareei describes his childhood in Ekbatan, Tehran to Streaming Museum as growing up among "gray Lego-like giants," and speaks of the town and "the poetry of its parallel lines and right angles, its strict geometries, homogeneous grayness, and the perfection of its zigzag… a gracious haven of order and coherence in an enormous city of haphazardness." This background giving brutalist architecture an almost romantic sense undoubtedly affects Zareei's work, and allows him to express a perspective deeply contrasted to Ian Fleming's villainous portrayal, or the perceived mundanity and ugliness of the style.
Although the sound sculptures of this project may initially seem dull and monotonous, or even ugly and abrasive, if experienced in an open-minded and curious way, they can be incredibly and unexpectedly satisfying and poetic. Listening and watching Composition 0001 reminded me of tile floors and concrete, a turnstile moving with perfect flow. It also reminded me of oddly satisfying industrial processes (try to watch this muted, with Zareei's work below, playing in the background to get a sense of what I mean). As highlighted by The Creators Project, "Zareei's goal with the constant repetition is to create a "temporal monolithism" that matches brutalism's block-like aesthetics. The repetition is also designed to produce an 'instant audible structure'."
Zareei, speaking about the types of works that inspire him says: "it seems clear to me that the works of sound art and music that I am influenced by… can be summed up as the sensory experience of the conventionally non-interesting on a highly ordered and sensually accessible structure." This idea of the conventionally 'non-interesting' being sensually accessible, strongly comes through in his work, which will likely evoke a sensory reaction in all its viewers, in one way or another.
Mo H. Zareei is currently living in New Zealand, where he is pursuing his PhD research on noise music and mechatronics at Victoria University of Wellington. You can keep track of his work through his website and Facebook page


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The Liquidity Effect in the Federal Funds Market: Evidence at the Monthly Frequency
43 Pages Posted: 19 Oct 2006
Date Written: July 2006
In this paper, we argue that much of the research into the link between money and interest rates suffers from misspecification. The measure of money and the measure of interest rates are not always well matched. In examining the transmission of monetary policy, we show that using an appropriate measure of money, Federal Reserve balances, and the appropriate interest rate, the federal funds rate, a clear liquidity effect exists. Further, we explain how a lack of a clear institutional understanding may have contributed to the finding of a "liquidity puzzle" in the past.
Keywords: Liquidity Effect, Liquidity Puzzle, Monetary Aggregates
JEL Classification: E43, E52, E58
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation


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The purpose of improving the insulation of platform screen doors (PSD) is to increase the insulation resistance between PSDs and station building structure which will indirectly causes PSD and EMU having same potential. In this case where voltage difference between PSDs and EMUs are avoided, electric shocks that may be experienced by passengers and station staffs can be prevented. If PSDs unfortunately encounter grounding failure, the negative return current in the rail may burn the control unit circuit board of the PSD. Since the PSD s and rail tracks adopted floating grounding, the insulation resistance between PSD and station structure is regulated to exceed 0.3MΩ/250Vdc.
Upon on-site inspection and test results, insufficient insulation areas were discovered and the MRT Engineering Office of BOHSR demanded the contractor to show correction and improvement. Reasons of insufficient insulation include design factors such as damages of the insulation gasket caused by uneven pressure and the additional base plate causing the insulation gap being too narrow; Construction factors such as extended stationary bolts of piers causing direct contact with the door frame, improper installation of metal washers resulting in direct contact with the base, iron scraps of segmented bolts were not properly removed, and uneven surfaces were not corrected and smoothed. In addition, the PSD contractor should hold CIP meetings with civil engineering tender contractors in advance for verification to prevent disturbing issues such as torn up sandbags causing Cement Asphalt Mortar to fill up the platform door base grooves and disrupts insulation.
After correcting the above deficiencies, insulation still fluctuation on account of weather change (fog, rain, etc.) at some stations. Fortunately, the door panels are anodized and an insulation film is applied under the platform surface within 2.5m range nearby PSD so that there would be no casualties if this happens.


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The Office for the quality assurance at the Fiscal Academy of Slobomir P University is an integral part of the entire quality assurance process at the university.
Ensuring the quality of work and study performed by the university itself and faculties and academies at the university is part of the national quality assurance and a prerequisite for comparability of diplomas and qualifications in the context of a single European Higher Education Area.
The objective of establishing an institutional quality assurance system is to set standards for the quality of work and regulating mechanisms and procedures for managing, monitoring, evaluation, improvement and development of quality, as well as developing policies and organizational culture in performing of all activities at the University.
Priority areas in which it provides, ensures, promotes and controls the quality are:
- Quality of study programs,
- Quality of the teaching process,
- Quality of scientific research and professional work,
- Quality of teachers and staff,
- Quality of students,
- Quality of textbooks, literature, library and information resources,
- Quality of managing a higher education institution and the quality of non-teaching support,
- Quality of facilities and equipment,
- Quality of financing,
- Role of students in self-evaluation and verification of quality,
- Systematic monitoring and periodic quality checks,
- Transparency of its operations.
The Office does the following:
- Provides advice and recommendations to the organizational units of the faculty,
- Organizes seminars in the field of quality assurance,
- works on establishing and editing documents on quality assurance,
- defines the criteria of quality of functioning of the faculty,
- Develops procedures of external and internal evaluation, methods for exploring different aspects of the quality of education and different target groups (students, teachers, administrative staff, managers, employers)
- Prepares, organizes and coordinates the evaluation of different segments of faculty's functioning,
- Provides feedback from students and directs their suggestions, proposals and criticism,
- Collects, processes and analyzes information about the quality assurance from all users,
- Organizes vocational and professional training of and administrative staff.
Office Coordinator : Mr Ljuljana Maksimović
Office no. 312, Slobomir campus
Telephone number: 055 231 170


Audiobook Review: Dragon School Books 1-5 by Sarah K.L. Wilson
'Dragon School' is outstanding YA fantasy adventure featuring Amel Leafbrought, a teenage girl beginning her career as a dragon rider.
Despite significant physical and social challenges, Amel demonstrates determination, integrity and resilience, presenting a really good role model for young people who often confront obstacles of one kind or another in achieving their goals. Her discovery of abilities that others do not have is a powerful element of Amel's narrative, and serves as a strong encouragement for others who experience physical disabilities or limitations.
Amel's experiences of other people, whether peers, teachers or dragons, demonstrate important lessons about the importance of careful discernment about who should be trusted, and about the true nature of friendship.
This series is highly original and well constructed. The story progresses at a very good pace, with plenty of adventure balanced by reflection and the development of friendships and connections between characters. The imagery is colourful and detailed, the characters diverse and varied, and the complications and problems they face are compelling.
The world building is unique and interesting, featuring complex and thought-provoking social systems, detailed and thoughtful architecture, and geography quite unique to this world.
The narration by Jigisha Patel, is clear and fluent, with excellent diction and expression, although there are a couple of minor errors. Her use of voice and tone to develop character and deliver the narrative results in a compelling story that is as engaging and enjoyable as Wilson's writing.
While there are more episodes to follow, this audiobook ends with sufficient resolution to satisfy the audience, and a tantalising promise of more adventure to come.
Audiobook Review: The Gold Dragon Caper. A Damien Dickens Mystery by Phyllis Entis
'The Gold Dragon Caper' is a the fourth of the Damien Dickens mystery novel/audiobook series.
The story is complex and full of intriguing twists, and progresses at a pace that keeps the reader hooked without feeling rushed. A number of the characters from previous books in the series return in this story, giving a pleasing sense of continuity and connection for those who have read or listened to them, but there are also enough new characters to keep things fresh and interesting.
The book does stand alone for readers who have not read the previous installments, but will deliver spoilers for anyone who might want to read the earlier books.
The narration by Tom Lennon is very easy to listen to, and very much suits the detective noir style and tone of the story.
Audiobook Review: 'Good Omens' by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Dark, witty and ironic, 'Good Omens' is a brilliant read. This should come as no surprise, given that its authors are both creative geniuses.
This audiobook recording is brilliant. The casting is fabulous and the performances are outstanding, making this an excellent listening experience which is entertaining and thought-provoking at the same time.
'Good Omens' ticks all the boxes for the perfect dark comic fantasy.


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Comparing Colony countries vs Netocratic countries
When we are comparing Colony countries vs Netocratic countries, it is essential to know whether these countries are the places where these government forms have originated. Colony has originated in Rome and the place/s where Netocracy has originated is Not Applicable. When a country adopts a government form, it means that the ideology of that government form becomes the key principle in running the country. Comparing Colony vs Netocracy Definition will help you in grasping the meaning of these ideologies. We give you a gist about the presence of Colony and Netocracy. Colony countries vs Netocratic countries comparison can be found by its presence in different continents of the world. A list of the Colony and Netocratic countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, American and other continents is given below:
- Colony countries in Asia are Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. Netocratic countries in Asia include NA.
- The list of European Colony countries comprises of Malta. List of European countries that have adopted Netocracy include NA.
- In North America, countries that have accepted Colony as form of government are Barbados, Canada and Jamaica. Netocratic countries in North America are NA.
- Argentina, Brazil and NA are the countries with Colony as a government form. NA are the Netocratic countries present in South America.
- The list of Colony countries in Africa includes Angola, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mozambique, Somalia and South Africa. Netocratic countries in Africa are NA.
- Colony has been applied in other continents in Australia and NA. Netocracy is also present in countries like NA.


We know what causes the scent of spring, but what's it actually for?
Daniel Martins
·2 min read
We know what causes the scent of spring, but what's it actually for?
Spring is in the air – specifically, that long-awaited, earthy scent that comes from soil that's been turned or disturbed by rain, in this case for the first time in months.
It's long had a name: 'petrichor,' a Greek portmanteau very roughly meaning something like 'essence of rock.' And scientists are well aware of what causes it.
Soil is the home of numerous kinds of bacteria, one of which, Streptomyces, is the source of the chemical compound geosmin, which finds its way into your nostrils when something happens to release it from the soil, like falling raindrops or someone getting some gardening in. It's likely most associated with spring because it reemerges around that time of year after months of people being without it during winter.
If you feel revived and rejuvenated at the scent of it, science discovered there's something to that, too. The Streptomyces bacterium can be used in the production of antibiotics. And the geosmin they produce has been used in marketable scents and perfumes, according to the BBC.
Pexels Soil plant shoot
Pexels Soil plant shoot
Image credit: Pexels
Humans are super-sensitive to it as well. In fact, according to plant scientists at the U.K.'s John Innes Centre, we can detect it in as few as 100 parts per trillion – that's "trillion" with a "T" – which, as they vividly put it, means we're better at smelling it than sharks are at smelling blood.
That's what geosmin is, and that's what it does, but there's still the question of what it's actually for. And that question wasn't answered until very recently, in 2020.
That year, the researchers at the John Innes Centre linked the geosmin molecule with a group of organisms called "springtails", six-legged, insect-like creatures of varying sizes.
Unlike other creatures such as flies and nematodes, which are repelled by geosmin, springtails are actually attracted to it, and the bacteria that produce it. The John Innes research found these springtails had a role in the bacteria's life cycle, spreading its spores either through external covering, like burrs, or excretion through their gut.
It's a very, very old relationship, too. Springtails are relatively primitive creatures, and this symbiotic give-and-take may have been going on for as much as 450 million years.
So the next time you're taking it all in, remember that the scent of spring has a LOT going on behind it than just smelling nice.


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Mary McAleese announced as Patron of the National Forum
Today the National Forum for Teaching & Learning launches the Student Led 'Teaching Hero' Awards in Higher Education. These Awards will recognise and celebrate students' experiences of great teaching throughout all higher education institutions. This launch is accompanied by the announcement that Prof Mary McAleese will provide invaluable support as the first official Patron of the National Forum. The Forum's mission is to work in collaboration with all higher education institutions to enhance the quality of the learning experience for students.
Prof Sarah Moore Chair of the National Forum said:
'The launch of these awards is a very significant initiative: it highlights the importance of showcasing and sharing examples of best practice, it puts the student voice at the centre of our work and it will help to provide both inspiration and information for our enhancement mandate. Excellent teachers do more than come to lectures prepared. They set us on career paths, share their passion and they inspire and challenge learners in all sorts of ways. Each of us can remember a teacher that made a lasting difference in our lives.
These awards provide students with the opportunity to nominate teachers, who have demonstrated excellence in their teaching and impacted their students' lifelong learning. We are honoured that Mary McAleese has come on board as our Patron. Her chairmanship of the Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe Group has provided a vital blueprint for developing teaching and learning. As an individual she exemplifies lifelong learning and we warmly welcome her support as we work towards our goal of enhancing the quality of the learning experience for all students in Irish higher education."
Mary McAleese said:
"I am delighted to endorse the establishment of Ireland's new National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Quality teaching and learning depends on dedicated individuals and dedicated institutions supported by policies that put teaching and learning at the core. As patron of the National Forum, I look forward to bringing that vision to life".
The objectives of the Forum's awards are to showcase, strengthen and value teaching excellence in higher education at a national level. Between now and May many thousands of students in higher education institutions both public and private have the opportunity to nominate their teachers that have made a real difference at a key transition in their learning journey through higher education. Perhaps it was when they first started college, changed courses, moved country to attend college or when they returned to education after a long absence. ('teacher' includes all those that are involved in teaching in higher education e.g. supervisors, librarians, tutors, technicians, instructors as well as lecturing staff). Award winners will be announced in June, the Awards will be presented by Prof. McAleese this autumn at a ceremony in Dublin.
For further information on the National Forum please visit _URL_


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It's long time ago that I took the calculus class, so I dare to ask. If $X\sim N(0,1)$, what is $\mathbb{E}(1/X)$? $$\mathbb{E}(1/X) = \int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac1x \cdot \frac1{\sqrt{2\pi}} \exp\left(-\frac{x^2}2\right) dx.$$ Can I just claim $\mathbb{E}(1/X) = 0$ as $\frac1x \exp\left(-\frac{x^2}{2}\right)$ is an odd function even when it is not bounded?
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Isn't it an odd function? – Thomas Andrews Dec 10 '11 at 20:18
The integral does not exist. There is no good reason to take existence in the PV sense as relevant. – André Nicolas Dec 10 '11 at 20:38
The is rather similar to asking for the expected value of the Cauchy distribution, which also gives 0 if we adopt the Cauchy PV; but that is not consider relevant/appropiate. In particular, if we use the Lebesgue integral (the sane thing to do in probability) it's clear that the integral does not exist. – leonbloy Dec 10 '11 at 21:27
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You could speak of a Cauchy principal value. It's an integral whose positive and negative parts are both infinite, so the expected value does not exist.
$$ \int_0^\infty \frac1x e^{-x^2/2}\;dx \ge \int_0^1 \frac1x e^{-1}\;dx = \infty, $$ and similarly $$ \int_{-\infty}^0 \frac1x e^{-x^2/2}\;dx = -\infty. $$
The Cauchy principal value is $0$ because it's an odd function, i.e. $$ \lim_{a\to0+}\left(\int_{-\infty}^{-a}+\int_a^\infty\right) \frac1x e^{-x^2/2} \; dx = 0. $$
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Maybe I should add that limit theorems like laws of large numbers require actual integrals to exist; Cauchy principal values aren't good enough for those. – Michael Hardy Dec 11 '11 at 3:07
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Here it is! I'm standing inside the light-house's First-order Fresnel Lens. The Henry-Lepaute optical company made it in France. This lens has 1,008 separate lenses and prisms, each was ground and polished by hand to exacting specifications and carefully mounted in a brass framework. It is six feet in diameter, seventeen feet high, and the entire lens weighs more than four tons. By the late 1880's a first-order-light apparatus cost about $4,250 to $8,400.
Today the lens has this electric lamp mechanism to light it. It was installed about 1926 when electricity became available to this part of the California coast. There are two 1,000-watt lamps in the fixture; one that would be in operation during the night, and a back-up lamp that would swing into place if the first one failed. These electric bulbs increased the light from the 160,000 candlepower of the earlier pressurized kerosene system, installed in about 1912, up to a blazing 680,000 candlepower!
This is a simple drawing of the lamp and lens equipment I worked with. Sorry to say the lamp is not around anymore either. It was a "Funck's Hydraulic Float Lamp" of the First-order. It was made of brass and glass and beautiful to see. It was named after Mr. Joseph Funck. He was the foreman of the Light-house establishment's workshops at the main depot on Staten Island, New York.
The First-order model had four concentric wicks to concentrate as much light as possible in the center of the lens. We would burn about 20 to 25 yards of each size wick every year. The sizes of the wicks were:
1 inch in the center
1 7/8 inch
2 11/16 inch
3 9/16 inches
Remember earlier when I talked about the lard oil that we had to carry up the stairs each night for the open burner lamp? This lamp used that lard oil. As you can see from the drawing, the lamp was much bigger than the electric equipment and was as tall as the interior of the lens. As impressive as it was, it only produced about 70,000 candlepower of light. This was far less than the later kerosene and electric lighting systems.
As usual, the Light-house establishment gave us very detailed instructions on how to light the lens. Here is a small sample of those instructions:
To light a lamp, commence by raising the wick about one-third of an inch above the top of the burner, and light it at two opposite points, using for that purpose the small hand lamp (Lucerne) specially designed for lighting.
As soon as the flame commences to rise all around, and before it begins to smoke, lower the wick, and place the chimney in its holder. At first keep the wick low and the chimney high; afterward raise the wick to its proper height, and lower the chimney to its position, in succession, until a clear white flame is obtained at such height as the description of lamp requires.
To light lamps with two or more concentric wicks, commence with the inner one, which should be lowered as much as possible (without risk of extinguishing the light) as soon as it has caught all around; follow that same course with the next wick; having lighted all the wicks in regular order as prescribed for the inner one, commence raising them gradually and lower the chimney at the same time.
The flame of a burner of two or more concentric wicks requires about half an hour to reach its full development. Having lighted all the wicks and lowered them as directed, place the glass chimney on the burner and put on the damper; and then raise the wicks gradually, using the chimney and damper for obtaining the best and highest possible flame. The greatest height of flames of Funck's float-lamp, with lard oil for a First-order lamp, was 4 inches.
If a wick is elevated above a proper point, the flame may grow larger, but it will be dull and red; if the error is in the contrary direction, the flame will continue to be white, but without attaining such a height as is desired. For a light-house, just being seen wasn't enough. You also had to be easily identified in some way. This was important so sailors on ships would know which light-house they were looking at. Not only was it important for a light-house to be seen, each light-house had to be uniquely identifiable. That's why these vertical panels of prisms and lenses are so important. This round lens called "bull's eyes" produces a shaft of light called "pencil beams." Remember I said earlier that this lens has 24 panels? The pencil beam created by the bull's eye in each of those panels produced 24 spokes of light from the lens.
Here's why it's important to turn the lens at a precise rate. The lens made one complete rotation every four minutes with its 24 spokes of light. If you were looking at the lens from a fixed position, you would see a "flash" every 10 seconds. Four minutes (240 seconds) divided by 24 panels/spokes of light means a spoke of light would go by you every ten seconds. A flash every ten seconds was, and still is, Pigeon Point's signature or "characteristic." In the 19th Century 17 different signatures were in use by light-houses on the West Coast of the United States.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Why is the isolation of hazardous energies associated with plant important?
A range of hazardous energies exists in mobile and fixed plant in mining operations, such as stored, electrical, and mechanical energies. During normal operating conditions, workers are generally protected from these energies by controls such as the plant's design and guarding.
However, when normal operating conditions are interrupted during work such as:
- clearing an obstruction
the consequences can be significant if isolation controls are deficient, removed, bypassed or deactivated and people are exposed to hazardous energies. It is important to ensure potential exposures to hazardous energies during such work are identified and controlled. The consequences of unwanted events can be serious or even fatal.
In the past, isolation processes in the mining industry were not given adequate emphasis. It was common practice to use tags only to identify that a circuit or item of plant was deactivated or de-energised and that personnel may be working on or around it. In many instances, the potential sources of hazardous energies were not recognised and isolation was not understood or properly applied.
A guideline on isolation of hazardous energies associated with plant in Western Australian mining operations is available for industry use.
The guideline provides information on the development of safe systems of work associated with the isolation of hazardous energies, where protection is required from:
- the movement or operation of plant
- the movement of materials handled by plant
- contact with energy
- used to operate plant
- used to carry out processes associated with plant
- produced or carried by plant
- stored within plant.
For an introduction to the damage that can be done by stored energy, see the toolbox presentation below on improving hazard awareness.


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Snapper, New Zealand (Tai)
Snapper are found in subtropical regions of the western Pacific Ocean including New Zealand, Australia, China and Japan.
In New Zealand, Snapper are a commercially important fishery. Due to prudent fisheries management, most Snapper populations in New Zealand are stable or recovering from their previously overfished status.
Juvenile Snapper inhabit muddy estuaries, while adults mostly inhabit rocky reefs, but are also found in mud and sea grass habitats.
Most New Zealand Snapper are caught using longlines, which can result in the incidental catch of seabirds.
This fish may have high levels of mercury that could pose a health risk to adults and children. More mercury info here.


Spring Data Neo4j Webinar Follow Up
Hey everyone,
As promised, here are the rest of the questions that we weren't able to cover during the Spring Data Neo4j session:
What's the difference between RelatedTo and RelatedToVia?
RelatedTo refers to the node-entities at the other end of the relationship, while RelatedToVia refers to relationships themselves (as relationship-entities).
Is there any facility for "supernode" relationship navigation? For example, if Movie has 1M Ratings, but I only care about obtaining the Director, to have an "automatic" IndexedRelationshipExpander
You might add indexing to the relationship-entities to write the index (with Indexed. You can also look into using computed properties with GraphTraversal and TraversalBuilder or go for template.traverse() or repository.traverse() to retrieve those (and use a custom expander there).
Can I open the same Neo4j graph database in two different applications using Embedded?
No. For embedded, only one JVM can access the store files at a time. You would have to make your own mini-server exposing a protocol (TCP, RMI, HTTP, Websockets, JMX) on top of that database to interact with it from other processes.
For more info on Spring Data Neo4j check out the following resources:


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Science in Bighorn Canyon NRA
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA) manages approximately 68,000 acres between the Pryor and Bighorn mountain ranges on the Montana-Wyoming boundary. The park was established in 1966 to preserve the area's natural and cultural resources and provide for public enjoyment after Yellowtail Dam was constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) on the Bighorn River. The resulting Bighorn Lake extends for approximately 71 miles (114 km) at full pool. The depth of Bighorn Canyon is approximately 1,000 feet deep at Devil Canyon and 2,500 feet deep on Bull Elk Ridge. Researchers have found Upper Jurassic Period fossils and fossil tracks and bones in the park, and discovered the remains of Pleistocene animals in debris piles at cave entrances. Wildlife in Bighorn Canyon NRA includes bighorn sheep, wild horses, coyotes, mule deer, snakes, small mammals, mountain lions, bears, and more than 200 bird species. The 39,000-acre Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, about one-fifth of which lies within Bighorn Canyon NRA, provides habitat for both the sheep and for approximately 160 wild horses managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Vegetation communities in the park include desert shrubland, juniper woodland, mountain mahogany woodland, sagebrush steppe, basin grassland, riparian, and coniferous woodland. The 19,000-acre Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area, more than half of which lies within Bighorn Canyon NRA, is managed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department through agreements with the NPS, BLM, and BOR. Bighorn Canyon's archeological history includes Bad Pass Trail, which has been used for more than 10,000 years and is marked by 500 rock cairns spread over 13 miles. The primary areas for ongoing research in Bighorn Canyon NRA are paleontology, bighorn sheep, archeology, restoration, revegetation, and seeps and springs water quality. Researchers stay at the Bighorn Canyon Research Center at Ewing-Snell Historic Ranch, a science center with a classroom and camp facilities that has been established at one of four 1890s ranches being restored in the park.


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Compensatory Justice and Basic Income
Journal of Social Philosophy, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 141-161, Spring 2002
18 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2012
Date Written: December 6, 2002
What is the most plausible and feasible conception of compensatory justice (CJ)? What conditions are required to achieve it? The general assertion of this chapter is that the more favorable the conditions under which people can freely choose their labor market careers, the more scope there is for CJ. More specifically, an economy with an unconditional basic income (BI) – one sufficient to cover the basic needs according to the prevailing standard of living – fulfills the conditions required from the (economist's) viewpoint of CJ, and is better than a conditional system of social security with a guaranteed social minimum at the same or even somewhat higher level. This topic is of interest for welfare state reform proposals in both Europe (characterized by high unemployment, modest income inequality and generous social benefits) and the US (low unemployment, high and increasing income inequality along with the rise of the working poor). If CJ is considered as an important ideal, then the present move from lax welfare to workfare (see Figure 1 in the Introduction) in both Europe and the US is not the right way. In the same vein, to top up the income of the working poor by means of an EITC as is the case in the US, or to give employers marginal wage subsidies to raise the demand for low wage workers, does not improve the bargaining position of workers towards employers, and hence does not help to achieve CJ.
Keywords: basic income, workfare, compensatory justice, negative income tax, compensatory wage differentials, minimum wage
JEL Classification: H24, J3, J65, J68
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation


What Car Modifications are and are Not Legal
Car enthusiasts value their vehicles more than many other things in their lives; it is a prized possession. These people will not hesitate to keep spending money on their car(s) to upgrade, modify, and personalize it to their liking. These modifications can include tinted windows, car wraps, and new exhaust pipes. However, they can only legally do so much, according to the California DMV laws. Here are a handful of those laws.
There are laws that dictate how loud a vehicle may be. Exhaust systems cannot increase or amplify the amount of sound beyond what is produced by factory equipment. Vehicles that weigh less than 6,000 pounds cannot be louder than 95 decibels; motorcycles are excluded from this. The radio or other sound systems cannot be heard from beyond 50 feet from the vehicle.
Rear and back side windows can be tinted to any darkness. However, front side windows can only be tinted to a certain darkness. Non-reflective tint is only allowed on the top 4 inches of the front windshield; it is illegal to have non-reflective tint anywhere else.
All vehicles must pass a smog check, even when it is equipped with a new engine. In addition, all engines must be certified for use, and be certified as the same or newer model year of the vehicle. This ensures that it will function properly and meet the proper emissions standards.
Frame and Suspension
No vehicle can be taller than 14 feet in height. There are additional frame regulations according to certain vehicle weights.
Just because it can be illegal to modify a car a certain way, does not mean that it is impossible to do it anyway. You may have seen or heard cars that have been illegally modified. Common illegal car modifications include cars that:
Are too loud
Whose front windows are tinted too dark
Are equipped with radar detectors attached to the windshield of the car
Are equipped with reflective covering over their license plate
Have a license plate frame that covers any part of the number, letters, or state name
Have neon lights under it
Not every state has the exact same car modification laws so if you ever plan on moving or taking your car out of state, make sure it is legal to drive it there.


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Out of the 3 sections of the CDS exam, English plays a vital role and so, here are some important tips to prepare English section of the CDS Exam. Read these CDS English preparation tips thoroughly to understand the approach one should adopt while studying and to score good marks in the English section of CDS Exam.
The Combined defence services exam or the CDS, as it is known, consists of 3 subjects, namely General Knowledge, Elementary Mathematics and English. Each subject is for 100 marks, and the duration of the paper is 2 hours. One needs to clear all the three papers to qualify for IMA, INA, OTA or IAFA posts under CDS Exam.
UPSC introduced 2 new topics in the English paper of CDS exam this year.These are: Reported Speech and Active/ Passive Voice. We have also covered preparation tips for these topics in this article.
How to Prepare English Section of the CDS Exam?
The English section of the CDS exam, consists of 120 questions, leading to a total of 100 marks. As mentioned above, the duration of the English paper is 2 hours. That leaves the students with less than one minute per question. Hence, it is essential to be wellversed with all the topics of English section. Broadly speaking, the most common areas one must be thorough with are, "Vocabulary", "Reading passages" and "Grammar".
Commonly asked questions of the English section based on the above-mentioned topics are:
(i) Sentence arrangement
(ii) Error Correction
(iii) Sentence ordering questions
(iv) Cloze tests
(v) Fill in the blanks
(vi) Word substitution
(vii) Synonyms and Antonyms
(viii) Idioms & Phrases
(ix) Reported Speech
(x) Active/ Passive Voice
Tips on Vocabulary, Reading passages, and Grammar for the CDS Exam
The time now left for the preparation of this exam is a crucial factor that one must take into consideration. The more time one has at hand, the more extensive the preparation can be. If there is less time left for the examination, a more focused preparation will yield better results. Now, the exam of CDS-I 2019 will take place on 3rd February, which gives you almost a month's for the preparation of this exam. Let's see how you must utilise this time to make the most of it and in turn prepare English section efficiently.
Grammar is a topic of English that most of us have studied from our 2nd grade or so. And we stopped learning those extensive grammar rules by the time we were in the 7th grade. Well, nothing much has changed in learning grammar.
- Pick up a known grammar textbook, (such as Wren & Martin) and brush up on all the rules in important topics such asnouns, pronouns, prepositions, articles, tenses (a personal favourite of the examiners) etc.
- Grammar questions usually come in the form of "Fill in the blanks", or as "Spot the errors", for which knowledge of the grammar basics is essential.
- Practice questions after reading these rules. Simply a glance at the rules is not enough and sometimes, can be confusing.
- It is vital to practice questions based on all that you read so that you completely comprehend the topic and can tackle the different varieties of questions asked from them. Practice will take you a long way.
This is perhaps the most important of all the topics in the English section. Be it reading comprehension or fill in the blanks, knowing the meaning and the contextual usage of words is paramount.
- While practising, write down words that you find difficult.
- Learn those words and their meaning, and try to understand the context they were used in.
- Use these words in sentences and while speaking; it helps you remember the words better.
3. Reading passages
There are certain easy steps that can be followed while attempting a reading passage.
- First, find the central idea in the passage and the logical structure that it follows.
- Secondly, summarise the passage and understand the tones used in the passage.
- Thirdly, answer the questions smartly by drawing an inference from the passage.
- Speed and accuracy are the key to scoring optimally in a reading comprehension passage.
- Improve your speed, by practising more, of course.
- Accuracy can be improved by working on specific areas, like, vocabulary, understanding and identifying tones, contextual summarising etc.
- Practice regularly and try to finish a medium level reading passage within 8-10 minutes.
Let's now see how one must prepare for the topics from which questions are asked in the English section of the CDS exam:
1. Spot the Errors:
- As the name suggests, spot the errors are questions in which a sentence is given with certain incorrect parts, and the student must find out the mistakes in the sentence and mark the answer from the given options.
- These incorrect parts usually relate to spellings, tenses, preposition, verbs, articles and conjunctions etc.
- Hence, it is essential to understand grammar rules thoroughly.
2. Cloze tests -
- A cloze test is a passage, given to the candidates where he or she is expected to replace the missing word with the options (already given in brackets) and form a logical sentence of the passage.
- Cloze tests aim to test a specific area of knowledge.
- Therefore, Vocabulary, Grammar and Inference-based, can be the type of questions that you might have to tackle in cloze tests.
- In cloze tests, the best way to attempt the questions is to read the entire passage and work backwards with the help of the options.
- Eliminate the options as required and derive the answer.
3. Fill in the blanks
- Fill in the blanks are questions which may be asked on any topic.
- Questions can be on grammar, vocabulary or simply (as in most cases) fitting the correct answer for the passage.
- It is quite like a cloze test.
4. Sentence Arrangement
- As the name suggests, it is an exercise to test the ability to understand a set of sentences and rearrange it in its most coherent form as one single passage.
- To solve these questions, the trick is:
(i) To look for the connecting words. Sentences beginning with "if" or "but" will not be the first sentence.
(ii) Sentences that have some sort of introductory explanation or definition can be zeroed in as the first sentence.
(iii) Concluding sentences usually use the words "therefore", "hence" and its likes. That is an indicator of a conclusion. Even if the such words are not used, concluding sentences usually have a reasoning to the issue discussed. That too, can be an indicator.
5. Word substitution
- Word substitution can be quite a tricky area to score.
- To attempt these questions, you must have an intimate understanding of the sentence and the its meaning, as well as the meaning of the word that needs to be substituted.
- Eliminating from the options is the best way to get more marks in this topic.
6. Vocabulary based questions: Idioms/ Phrases and Synonyms/ Antonyms
- Vocabulary isn't something which you can excel with a day's preparation.
- You need to devote enough time and prepare consistently to get a good hold over vocabulary.
- Read newspapers regularly. They are one of the best means to enhance your vocabulary.
- Look up the meanings as well as synonyms/antonyms of the different new words you come across. You can also maintain a separate notebook for the same; it will come in handy for revision at a later stage.
- Try to use these words in your day-to-day practice, for instance while conversing with others.
- You can also work on your vocabulary by writing. Write short passages/ essays etc on current topics or any other topic you feel comfortable with.
- You can also take help of "Word Power made Easy" by Norman Lewis to work on your vocabulary.
- As far as Idioms and Phrases are concerned, look up the previous year English papers of CDS exam and you'll come across a number of repeated questions. Prepare such idioms thoroughly.
- We'll also start a series of Idioms and Phrases for CDS exam shortly, to help you prepare this topic in an efficient manner.
7. Reported Speech
- Look up the rules of conversion from Direct to Indirect speech and vice versa.
- Attempting questions of this topic is comparatively easy if you are well versed with the rules and have sufficient practice.
- Take due care of the tense of reporting verb. (Reporting verb is the verb of the first sentence, before what is quoted by the speaker).
She says, "I am studying for exam".
She said that she was studying for exam.
- Take care of the change in "time", if mentioned in the direct speech.
He said, "I'm going to the shop today".
He said that he was going to the shop that day.
8. Active/ Passive Voice
- First and foremost, familiarise yourself with the grammar rules for conversion of active to passive voice and vice-versa thoroughly.
- Remember, during conversion, the subject and object change their places.
She played table tennis.
Table tennis was played by her.
- General rule of conversion from active to passive voice is:
object + be/is/are/am/was/were/been/being/etc. + past participle by verb + by + subject.
The second term varies as per the verb of the sentence.
Well, that's all, folks! Practice hard and keep preparing for the CDS Exam!
All the best for your exams,


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Given that much of the world does not use these modern toilet inventions, it's hard to imagine what a bidet toilet seat is if one hasn't seen one before.
While the bidet has roots in Europe tracing back to the 17th century, bidet toilet seats were invented in Japan in the 1980s by a company called Toto. They call these bidet seats the Toto Washlet and the "washlet" has since been used to refer to electronic bidet seats, much like how Kleenex is used to refer to facial tissues. Since they were invented they have spread to other Asian countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Bidet toilet seats are widespread in Japan and South Korea.
A bidet toilet seat is essentially a toilet seat with a built-in bidet. You may have seen a traditional bidet before. These are quite common in places such as Italy, Spain, and Portugal. They are usually placed beside the toilet and look just like one, but function like a sink.
Bidets are mainly used to wash and clean the genital area, anus, and inner buttocks. They were not meant to replace toilet paper, but to provide some cleanliness without having to take a full shower.
Nowadays, with the invention of the electronic toilet seat bidet, it's possible to replace toilet paper completely as these devices have drying capabilities.
A bidet toilet seat looks like this:
And water from the bidet function comes out from this nozzle:
Bidet toilet seats are meant to replace existing toilet seats, turning them into toilet seats with bidets without having to replace the whole toilet.
How does a bidet seat work?
After you finish using the toilet, stay seated on the toilet and activate the bidet.
To turn on the bidet function, you press a button on the control. A bidet toilet seat is operated by either an attached control panel on the side of the seat or a remote control.
Using the control, you can adjust the temperature of the water to your liking as well as the position of the nozzle. You can also adjust the pressure of the spray. The nozzle extends when you activate it and retracts when you're finished using it.
Bidet seats do more than just clean. They typically have heated seats which make using the toilet in the winter super comfortable. They also have air dryers so you can dry up quickly. And to keep things sanitary, nozzles usually have automatic self-cleaning abilities that activate between toilet use.
Bidet seats are safe to use for people of all ages. Bidet seat use is particularly high among elderly people because they don't have to move so much when using the toilet and it's much easier to keep clean than constantly having to take a shower.
Bidet seats also help people with medical conditions heal faster by keeping things cleaner. In fact, bidet seats were inspired by cleansing medical devices that people were using. They are a significant improvement to those devices that sprayed water at unpredictable temperatures and angles.
We hope this has been a helpful introduction to bidet toilet seats. If you would like to purchase one to try out in your home, check out our carefully-selected recommendations below. If you have any questions for us about bidet seats in general, let us know below as well!


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PDF format is capable of embedding fonts. CraftMyPDF not only supports Google fonts but also supports custom fonts.
In this short tutorial, we are going to guide you to use your own custom fonts for your PDF template.
Option 1: Use a font file (woff, woff2, or a TTF file)
Step 1: First, please upload your font file(woff, woff2 or TTF) to a CDN
Step 2: Then in the Settings tab -> Custom Fonts tab, enter your font name, and URL(You may leave the Font Weight and Font Style empty).
Step 3: Then, in the PDF template designer, click to select a label and enter the font name, and press Enter
Option 2: Use CSS import style
You may use a font that is available on an online font library such as _URL_
The following is a font named COCOGOOSE LETTERPRESS and we are going to use the font for a label component.
Step 1: In the Settings tab, paste the following import style into Custom CSS as follows:
Step 2: Then, in the PDF template designer, click to select a label and enter the font name, and press Enter


text:
Molecular formula :
nature : also known as N-benzyl amine (N-phenylbenzylamine). Colorless columnar crystals. D25 density of 1.065 g/cm3, the melting point of 37 ~ 38 ° C, the boiling point of 306 ° C to 307. Soluble ethanol, ethyl ether, do not dissolve in water. For organic synthesis.
Notice:Each item can have many explanations from different angels. If you want grasp the item comprehensively,please see below "more details data".


text:
Liquid hydrogen is being used to fuel expelling practices.
Credit: Bill Bowles
In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, a vent flowing cryogenic fuel and T/C Rake are mounted on a 1/10 scale model Centaur in the l0 x l0 Foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel in September, 1963. The fuel being used is liquid hydrogen.
The point of the test is to determine how far to expel venting fuel from the rocket body to prevent explosion at the base of the vehicle. This vent is used as a safety valve for the fumes created when loading the fuel tanks during launch preparation. Liquid hydrogen has to be kept at a very low temperature. As it heats, it turns to gas and increases pressure in the tank. It therefore has to be vented overboard while the rocket sits on the pad. The test is being run at the Lewis Research Center, now known as John H. Glenn Research Center, Lewis Field.
Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).


text:
Synthesia is an video Artificial Intelligence generator. It lets users create realistic-looking videos using artificial intelligence technology. This technology is particularly beneficial for businesses that want to produce videos without having production staff, since the software allows users to quickly and effortlessly create professional-quality videos in a matter of minutes. In this paper we'll look into how Synthesia works, as well as the advantages of using video AI generators like Synthesia.
Video Resolution Ai
How Synthesia Works
Synthesia makes use of a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence technology to create realistic-looking videos. The process begins with the user choosing a video template that can be customized with different backgrounds, text, and images. The user can then choose an audio-over from the list of recorded voices or record his own narration. The AI uses the voiceover to animate the template of choice, creating an video that appears to be narrated by the voice chosen.
The AI technology employed by Synthesia can be used to analyze the user's voice, tone, and inflection and then uses that information to draw video video in a way that matches those spoken words. For example, if the voice of the user is more animated in a specific part of the video it uses the information it gathers to give movement to the animation during the particular portion of the video. This creates a video which appears to was created by a professional production team even though it was made by an AI-powered video generator.
Benefits of Video AI Generators Like Synthesia
There are numerous benefits to using video AI generators such as Synthesia. These include:
Cost Savings: Video production is expensive, especially when businesses are looking to produce high-quality videos that are designed to entice viewers. The hiring of a production team as well as renting equipment could amount to thousands, as well as the procedure of making a video could take a few weeks. Utilizing an automated video AI generator like Synthesia, businesses can create professional-quality videos in a matter of minutes, with no requirement for costly equipment or a production team.
Time Savings: In addition to saving money, video AI generators like Synthesia can also save businesses considerable amounts of time. The process of making the video using traditional methods could take a long time, from scripting and planning to editing and filming. With Synthesia companies can produce an excellent video within a matter of minutes, allowing businesses to concentrate their attention as well as resources to other aspects in their businesses.
Customization One of the main benefits of the use of Synthesia is the capability to personalize video templates. This means that companies can create videos that are suited to their brand and their viewers, without the necessity of a production team. The ability to customize videos also allows businesses to play around with different formats and styles which is particularly helpful for businesses who are just beginning their journey and still searching for their own voice.
Increased Engagement Increased Engagement tool to engage viewers, and businesses using video AI generators such as Synthesia can create high-quality videos designed to engage their audience. Through animation and additional visual effects businesses can make videos that are both interesting and informative and increase the chance that viewers watch the entire video and take action.
Accessibility: Video AI generators like Synthesia are also accessible to enterprises of all sizes. Startups and small businesses that do not have the resources to employ a production team can utilize Synthesia for creating quality videos that are created to engage their audience. This lets smaller companies be competitive with larger corporations and also to present an image of professionalism that will help them to build their brand, and connect with new customers.
In conclusion, Synthesia is a powerful video AI generator that permits businesses to produce high-quality videos within a matter of minutes. Through the use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology Synthesia analyzes the voice of a user and create realistic-looking videos that appear to be narrated through the voice of the person who is speaking. The benefits from using video AI generators like Synthesia include cost savings, time savings, customizing, improved engagement and accessibility.
Since the use of video is growing in popularity, the ability to quickly and efficiently create high-quality videos is increasingly essential for companies that are of any size. Utilizing video AI generators such as Synthesia, businesses can produce high-quality videos that are specifically designed to attract their target audience and aid in the development of their brand. As technology advances, it is likely that we'll see more efficient video AI generators in the future, making it easier for companies to produce high-quality videos that are designed to attract their target audience.
Video Resolution Ai


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The Effect of using Teams Games Tournaments (TGT) Technique for Learning Mathematics in Bangladesh
Volume 3 - Issue 3
Abdus Salam Anwar Hossain Shahidur RahmanPages: 35-45 Download Count : 6908 View Count: 2388
Games-based learning has captured the interest of educationalists and industrialists who seek to reveal the characteristics of computer games as they are perceived by some to be a potentially effective approach for teaching and learning. Despite this interest in using games-based learning, there is a dearth of studies context of gaming and education in third world countries. This study investigated the effects of game playing on performance and attitudes of students towards mathematics of Grade VIII. The study was undergone by implementing TGT technique for the experimental group and typical lecture-based approach for the control group. A same achievement test was employed as in both pretest and post test, an inventory of attitudes towards mathematics were applied for the pretest and post test on TGT experimental and control group, an attitude scale on computer games was employed for the TGT experimental group, a semi-structured interview for teacher and an FGD guideline for students were applied to serving the purpose of research objectives. After three-weeks of intervention, it had been found out that TGT experimental group students had achieved a significant learning outcome than lecture based control group students. Attitude towards mathematics were differed to a certain positive extent on TGT experimental group. On the basis of findings of this study, some recommendations were made to overcome the barriers of integrating web-based game playing in a classroom.
- Teams Games Tournament
- Web-based Game playing
- Cooperative Learning
- Game playing integra


Don't forget to wash your hands!
 - Adventures in the World of the Micrometres hygiene reading primer
 - Simple basic principles of cleanliness explained and illustrated for children
 - SANIFAIR sends you a copy free of charge
In the SANIFAIR hygiene reading primer Adventures in the World of the Micrometres, children discover why cleanliness is so important and how best to protect yourself against bacteria when travelling.
The happy story explains the microscopic world of bacteria to children and is illustrated with lots of drawings. Children learn something about the dangers of bacteria and how the SANIFAIR sanitary system has declared war on bacteria.
The bacterium Mo leads readers young and old through the booklet and explains where most dangerous bacteria collect, and how you can make life difficult for bacteria with cleanliness and basic principles.
SANIFAIR will be happy to send you a free copy. To receive one, please send an email on the subject to SANIFAIR customer service.
You can find out what other services SANIFAIR offers families with children in the SANIFAIR promise section of the SANIFAIR website.
SANIFAIR for kids


Gross! William The Conqueror's Corpse Exploded On People At His Funeral
Published December 1, 2017
Updated June 12, 2019
William the Conqueror indulged heavily while he was king. His gluttony was eventually his downfall.
William The Conqueror Portrait
Wikimedia CommonsA portrait of William the Conqueror from 1580.
Funerals are, historically, solemn events, orchestrated just so that the dearly departed have one final, lovely send off. For the most part, everything is planned to avoid catastrophe.
However, those who organized William the Conqueror's funeral failed to account for one detail — one which resulted in the fallen monarch's corpse exploding all over everyone in attendance.
When William the Conqueror was born, his parents were unwed. For most of his childhood, William lived with his mother until his father's death at eight years old, when he took on his father's titles.
As William became Duke of Normandy, the region was thrown into disarray. Unhappy citizens led rebellions, and in return, William burned down villages, slaughtered thousands, and thrust the survivors into poverty.
However, being king and thus carrying with him a certain sense of entitlement, William indulged in all the finest foods of the day, ultimately growing to an impressive size.
Unfortunately, there were perils to his gluttony. In 1087 — while campaigning against his own son no less — William was gravely injured. The horse he had been riding reared unexpectedly. Being as large as he was, his weight was unevenly distributed, and when the horse reared, the saddle was pushed into William's large abdomen, puncturing his intestines.
For six weeks, the medical professionals at the time unable to perform the necessary surgery to save his intestines, due to his size. Eventually, he passed away.
However, the long journey of William the Conqueror to his gravesite was far from over.
Because William was less than beloved by his people, those who had served him in life abandoned him in death. At the time, funerals and burial services were usually planned by those who had attended to the deceased. However, William's attendants had fled as soon as he died, leaving him alone.
William The Conqueror On A Horse
Wikimedia CommonsWilliam the Conqueror on his horse.
After a short time, during which the body of William the Conqueror lay half-naked in a medical facility in Rouen, France, a traveling knight took on the task. However, the embalming of the body had been put off for so long, that the tissue had started decomposing already. The knight didn't seem to mind, though, and embalmed him anyway.
Though the body had been mostly taken care of, there was still a journey ahead of the knight and the corpse.
The church where William's body was supposed to be buried was in Caen, 70 miles from Rouen, most of which could only be traveled by boat down the Seine, which was, of course, a leisurely mode of transportation.
By the time the envoy arrived at Caen, the bacteria that had grown in William's injured intestines had begun to seep into his body cavity, and fill it with putrid gas. To make matters worse, upon the pair's arrival, a fire broke out in the city. After that, a man appeared who contested the burial, claiming the church had been unlawfully built on his land.
By the time the burial could actually take place, it had been weeks since William's death. The residual heat from the fire combined with the delay it caused had resulted in William's bowels inflating to even larger proportions than they had been while he was alive.
As the gravediggers were lowering William into the hole in the ground, they realized they had not accounted for his inflated size — the hole was too small for William to fit, and when they attempted to squeeze him in, he burst. The crowd was immediately covered in the former Duke's putrified innards and overwhelmed by the scent of decomposing flesh.
The funeral was hastily finished, and quickly forgotten, though most decided that the disastrous funeral and horrible mistreatment of the body was ultimately a worthy one. William had been particularly unliked and unusually vicious during his reign, and it was fitting that the gluttonous king finally got what he deserved.
On the upside, William the Conqueror finally managed fit in his tomb.
After reading about William the Conqueror's demise, read about the single funeral held for nine European kings. Then, read about corpse medicine, which rich Europeans once thought could cure what ailed them.
Katie Serena


text:
FOM: organizing; Boolean rings; signature
pratt at cs.Stanford.EDU
Fri Mar 20 14:39:32 EST 1998
From: Till Mossakowski
>Lawvere theories and monads are indeed more complex than standard signatures.
Certainly anyone who's worked with standard signatures long enough finds
them not at all complex ("what else could you possibly use instead?").
But those who've worked with Lawvere theories for a comparable length of
time are likely to disagree with you, even if they've spent the same
amount of time with signatures.
Merely saying that something is a category seems automatically to make
it seem a more complex notion, regardless of whether it actually is
complex or not.
So let me fling categories out the window and describe Lawvere theories
in ordinary set theoretic language.
A Lawvere theory T consists of terms and equations, both defined on
an arbitrary graph G (strictly speaking a multigraph, one that permits
multiple edges between two vertices, in the manner of e.g. automata).
The terms of T are defined to be the paths in G. The equations take
the form of an arbitrary congruence on those paths with respect to path
That's *all* a Lawvere theory is. There is nothing else. The notion
is delightfully simple.
All this is just as for the ordinary signature-based approach, except
that (i) we have defined terms as paths in a graph instead of as
expressions. and (ii) in place of the usual definition of "signature" as
"family of arities" and the explanation of how terms are built up from
signatures, we instead simply rely on the reader's intuition about how
paths in a graph work. (They form a partial monoid under concatenation,
but it would never occur to a non-logician computer scientist to define
"path in a graph" that formally, the notion is too obvious.)
In an earlier message on Lawvere theories I gave three examples of this
nonalgebraic kind, namely simplicial sets, cubical sets and locomotives
An *algebraic* Lawvere theory is more complicated, as befits algebra.
It has the additional constraints that (i) the vertices of the graph
are the natural numbers, and (ii) for each vertex n there is a family
 of n edges from vertex n to vertex 1, called the
*projections* of n. The projections collectively have the properties
that (a) for any vertex m and family of n edges from
vertex m to vertex 1, there is at least one edge e from m to n such that
the path ep_i from m to 1 is congruent to q_i, and (b) all edges e from
m to n satisfying (a) are congruent.
In the same earlier message, I gave three examples of algebraic Lawvere
theories, namely empty signature, Boolean algebras, and commutative
rings with unit.
Speaking as someone comfortable with graph theory, I don't find the
concept of a congruence (with respect to path concatenation) on the paths
of a graph to be terribly complicated. However I am starting to form
the impression from this discussion that what is pretty simple to some
people is complicated to other people, and even "incredibly complicated"
Paradoxically this is correlated with their ability to draw important
distinctions that I can't. :)
More information about the FOM


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The Future Perfect is pleased to present an exhibition by Seoul-based designer Seungjin Yang at Casa Perfect Los Angeles, opening May 9th during Legends Art Fair.
Seungjiin Yang is best known for his "Blowing Series," in which blown balloons are coated with epoxy resin and shaped as furniture, such as chairs, benches, and stools. Yang was attracted to the idea of transforming fragile balloons into solid sculptures through his own interpretations. His inspiration recalls childhood memories, yet his process incorporates industrial furniture making. "I tried to turn a simple making process based on my personal childhood memories into an industrial fabrication furniture-making process," as told to Dezeen.
The multi-step process begins with blowing up balloons into the desired shape and size, and then affixing them to form furniture, including chairs, benches, and stools. Epoxy resin is then poured over the pieces, and repeated a total of eight times, in order to create a durable and rigid structure that is able to support the weight. The process takes a week to complete a single stool. Once complete, the resin takes on a glossy surface resembling glass. Yang recently told Dezeen, "I was fascinated by a form that is changed into a transparent and clear surface like glass when I set epoxy resin on balloons.


The proportion of female students studying economics A-level in the UK remains stubbornly low. But it was the marked decline in numbers taking the exam during the 1990s that triggered Ashworth and Evans' research.
The pair surveyed 1,000 A-level students in 1996/7 across 35 schools, including all year 13 students studying economics and 767 students who were not.
Of those students studying economics A-level, females rated their interest in the subject at 3.72 on a scale of 1-5 whereas males rated it 3.56. Likewise, for those students studying economics but choosing not to take it at university, 55 per cent of females said that although they found it interesting, they performed better in their other subjects. This compared with 54 per cent of males.
Again, there was no significant difference, indicating that once taken, female students were no less likely to dislike the subject or perceive themselves to perform at a lower level compared with their other subjects.
The main difference came when analysing responses from students who had chosen not to study the subject at A-level. When asked why, the percentage of males who said that they knew nothing about the subject was 17 per cent compared with 31 per cent of female students: a significant difference.
The authors suggest that with more information, all students – and particularly females – may be more likely to take it. In addition to better information and a need for greater economics awareness in lower years at school, they also discuss introducing GCSE economics, re-examining the curriculum to consider how it might appeal more to females, and the importance of other females already studying economics in the school as potential levers for change.
As an economics teacher since 2004, I found this research interesting, first because of the trend data. I have seen increasing interest in the subject from both genders, particularly since things got interesting in the world economy in 2008.
Analysis by Geoff Riley of Tutor2U, who annually tracks the number of students studying economics from Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) data, reveals that there has been a significant change from the data reported in this 1999 paper, with an 87 per cent increase in the number studying the subject at AS and A2 since
2002, with 70,424 students sitting AS and A2-levels in 2014.
I took a closer look at the QCA data to identify any trends in gender uptake and although the numbers of male and female students have increased over this period, 58 per cent and 53 per cent respectively, the proportion of females remained consistently at 32 or 33 per cent each year, unchanged since Ashworth and Evans' research. This suggests that, despite the subject's increasing popularity, the question as to why more females don't take it remains.
Like many other economics teachers I'm sure, I find that year 9 or 11 students consistently display misconceptions as to what the subject entails, be they male or female. Most consider it to be about money; few have an inkling that it centres on the allocation of scarce resources. I have wondered whether confidence may be at play here, that female students are more likely to admit their lack of knowledge.
GCSEs in economics or related subjects might reduce this knowledge gap. Likewise, PSHE or economics awareness programmes could do better at supporting knowledge of economics, rather than the typical diet of personal finance and budgeting. The suggestion of "feminising" the curriculum sits less well with me. I would be concerned that altering it on the chance that it might appeal to some female students would reduce the subject's credibility for uncertain gains.
Overall, then, the economics A-level landscape has changed somewhat since Ashworth and Evans' writing in 1999. However, although they are successful once they take up the subject, females still only make up a third of all students. Ashworth and Evans offer some sensible suggestions as to what work could be done to increase this proportion.


The devil may be in the details for some shoppers – but not for all of them, new research shows.
The study by professors at Brown University and the University of Colorado-Boulder found that consumers widely differ when it comes to the level of detail that makes them feel they understand a product or service and in turn want to buy it.
The research found that thoughtful "explanation fiends" are more motivated when a product was explained, while more intuitive "explanation foes" felt confident in their understanding when the explanation was superficial. For those shoppers, deeper detail eroded their understanding and ultimately their willingness to pay for the product.
Colorado assistant professor Philip Fernbach, the study's lead author, said despite their differences, both groups are similar in that they feel the need to understand how a product works before it will gain their trust.
Steven Sloman, a Brown University professor and one of the study's authors, said it is up to marketers to figure out how to reach each type of detail-driven consumer.
"The fact is that people differ," Sloman said. "Your advertising, your marketing and your understanding of people has to be guided by an appreciation of who you are talking to."
The researchers reached their conclusions after conducting a series of experiments, including one that presented subjects with products and explanations of how they worked. Some were shown only shallow explanations of four products and then were asked to rate their understanding and their willingness to purchase the products. The subjects were then asked to how much they'd be willing to pay and asked to generate their own explanation of the product based on their level of understanding.
The experiment found that explanation foes readjusted how much they would pay for the product from $8 to less than $6 after realizing they didn't understand as much as they thought they did. At the same time, explanation fiends raised the amount they were willing to pay for a product by $2.50 after being asked to explain the products.
"We were actually shocked by how powerfully the data came out," Sloman said.
The study, which was coauthored by Brown undergraduates Robert St. Louis and Julia Shube, was recently published online in the Journal of Consumer Research.


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The perfect sunbeam weather occurs on humid, hazy, summer mornings that follow an evening or nighttime of showers or thunderstorms. The air is filled with fog and haze particles which makes sunlight visible by diffraction, reflection, and scattering of the light. Shadows from trees or clouds provide the contrast needed to highlight the individual rays of light.
Sunbeams are really crepuscular rays that can occur any time of year. They originate from clouds, trees, buildings, or even windows. On the morning of June 17, the crepuscular rays shining through the trees near Oakton, Virginia were particularly vivid and well-defined. Thunderstorms occurred the previous evening which was followed by light ground fog in the morning that set the stage for the light show.
Read below for more photos of the sunbeams from June 17.