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This question is broken into two sections really:
Symmetry in RSA
I have been analyzing raw RSA and I have noticed some interesting symmetrical properties of the algorithm.
Assume that $M$ is a positive integer between $2$ and $N\over2$, ($N$ is the RSA modulus). Then:
$$ M_s = N - M \\ C = M^e \pmod N \\ C_s = M_s^e \pmod N $$
This means that $C + C_s = N$, $M + M_s = N$, $C - M = C_s - M_s$ and therefore $C_s = N - C$. Also, $$(N-M)^e \mod N = N - (M^e \mod N)$$
Let the RSA modulus ($N$) be the circumference of a circle radius $r$. Converting each $M$ value from $1$ through to $N - 1$ into segments of the circumference, each with an equal angle between segments, then it will be possible to convert each $M$ and its corresponding $C$ into Cartesian coordinates ($X, Y$) using the formula:
$$ (X,Y)= \left(r \cdot \cos({M\over360}), r \cdot \sin({M\over360}) \right) $$
Using $X$ and $Y$ to plot a line across the circle from $M$ to its corresponding $C$ value. In some cases when calculating $C$, $C$ will be equal to $M$ (for example when $M = 1$). In these cases draw a loop back to $M$.
In all cases the end diagram will be symmetrical through the diameter of the circle from 0 to 180 degrees.
Example: RSA using $P=11 and Q=7$
(These small numbers were chosen deliberately in order to show the symmetrical pattern. The symmetrical property is the same with large primes, but because there are so many more $M$ values the image becomes a blur of lines, which are indistiguishable from one another. It is also impossible to spot the loop backs (see below)).
RSA with P=11 and Q=7
This also means the one can accurately predict the cipher text of a symmetric partner of $M$.
Inherently weak primes and RSA
Some prime numbers are very weak with regards to RSA. Examples include $P = 257$ or $Q = 193$. This is because $P-1$ is smooth, e.g. $P-1$ is smooth to $2$ ($2^8$), $Q-1$ is smooth to $3$ ($2^6, 3^1$). When these two primes are combined as $N=PQ=49601$, this produces $16705$ "loop backs" (where $C = M$). The interesting thing about this is the value of $M$ when the "loop back" occurs. For this combination the first ten loop backs are: $$1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24$$
Why is this significant?
If $Z = C \pmod M$ then in most cases $Z = M$. Where this doesn't happen we can say that:
If $Z = 0$ then $T_1 = C$ else $T_1 = Z$
This means that in most cases $T_1 = M$. Thus we can say:
 - If $T_1 \neq M$ then $T_2 = \gcd(T_1, N)$
 - If $T_2 = 1$ then $T_3 = M – C$
In most cases $T_3 = P$ or $Q$. When $T_3 \neq P$ and $T_3\neq Q$: - $T_4 = GCD(T_3, N)$ - $T_4$ will be either $P$ or $Q$.
$T_5 = {T_3 \over T_4}$.
The value of $T_5$ will always be one of the loop back $M$ values, e.g. $1, 3, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 20, 23, 24, \dots$
Although this is easy to demonstrate with small value weak prime numbers, the same case is applicable to large value RSA with strong primes. These are harder and more time consuming to calculate because of the vast size of the data to be collected. To perform this analysis one must iterate over every $M$ value between $2$ and $N – 1$.
Example: Loop back image for $P=257, Q= 193$
RSA Loopbacks for P=257, Q=193
My question:
Is it possible to use any of this information to form a cryptanalytic attack against RSA?
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Why should $C+C_s=N$? – DrLecter Dec 17 '13 at 11:13
This is because all $C$ values are $mod N$. As $C_s$ is the symmetric partner of $C$ the two added are N. E.G. If $P=11$ and $Q=7$, then $N=77$. If $E=3$ and $M=2$ then $C=8$ ( $2^3 mod 77 = 8$ ). $C_s = (N-M)^e mod N = (77-2)^3 mod 77 = 69$. This means $C + C_s = 8 + 69 = 77$. Also $M_s = N - M = 75$ and therefore $|M_s - C_s| = |M - C| = |75 - 69| = |2 - 8| = 6$. – NRCocker Dec 17 '13 at 11:26
Ah didnt read carefully...ok, its obvious. – DrLecter Dec 17 '13 at 11:39
You wrote $C-M=C_s-M_s$. Pretty sure this isn't true, and I cant see a way to deduct this from the other formulas. If anything, it should be $C-M=M_s-C_s$ (or take the absolute values) – tylo Dec 17 '13 at 14:26
1 Answer 1
The first observation in the question boils down to: in textbook RSA, the encryption of $N-M$ instead of $M$ yields $N-C$ instead of $C$.
This is a special case of a more general property of textbook RSA, that the encryption of $M\cdot M'\bmod N$ yield $C\cdot C'\bmod N$, whenever enciphering $M$ yields $C$ and enciphering $M'$ yields $C'$; combined with the elementary fact that enciphering $M'=N-1$ yields $C'=N-1$.
These properties are the basis of numerous attacks on textbook RSA, including some of these (and of attacks on real RSA signature schemes with ad-hoc padding, such as on ISO/IEC 9796-2 scheme 1). This is why textbook RSA should not be directly used for anything else than random messages, or messages sufficiently close to that.
A second observation in the question considers the case of $N=P\cdot Q$ with $P-1$ smooth.
The worst thing if that happens is that it is easy to factor such $N$, using Pollard's p-1 factoring algorithm (giving a total break, making the considerations in the question of secondary importance). However this is not a serious weakness of RSA, for the odds of accidentally selecting such a $P$ are vanishingly small for usual order of magnitude of $P$; see the Dickman function for a numerical estimate.
Further, we can avoid such $P$ with relative ease; this remains standard practice at least for $P$ up to 512 bits (see appendix B.3 in FIPS 186-4, and in particular the requirement in B.3.1 A: "p and q with lengths of 512 bits shall be generated using the conditions based on auxiliary primes"). The only case when this might matter (there is not quite a consensus here) is when one generates ziiillions of keys, with $\log_2P$ below or close to 512, and a marginal risk that even one public key is vulnerable to Pollard's p-1 factoring is unacceptable (the adversary's best use of CPU time might be to attack each key with Pollard's p-1, rather than a few keys with other factoring methods).
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FIPS.186-4 is long. You should reference the relevant section(s). – CodesInChaos Dec 17 '13 at 17:37
Your Answer


Methods and formulas for T Chart
Select the method or formula of your choice.
Plotted points
Each plotted point, xi, represents the amount of time between successive events.
Center line and control limits
Center line (CL)
The center line is the 50th percentile of the distribution.
Lower control limit (LCL)
Upper control limit (UCL)
Φcumulative distribution function of the standard normal distribution
INVinverse cumulative distribution function
Kzdistance from the center line expressed in units of the standard deviation of a normal distribution; the value used for Test 1
Estimating the distribution parameters
The T chart analyzes the durations between subsequent events. If the data are entered as dates or times of events, then Minitab first converts the data to number of days between subsequent events. If all durations are greater than zero, then Minitab estimates the distribution parameters using the maximum likelihood method described in Parametric Distribution Analysis.
If one or more durations = 0
A duration of zero indicates that two events occurred simultaneously. If one or more durations is equal to zero, then Minitab uses an alternative method to estimate the parameters.
Let yi = the duration (in days) between event i and event i – 1. Let xi be defined as follows:
where Rank(xi) is the rank, from smallest to largest, of xi in x.
For each yi = 0, exclude yi and xi from the remaining calculations.
To estimate the parameters for the Weibull distribution, first transform both y and x by taking the natural log of each. Then use simple linear regression to fit the model y = β0 + β1x. The scale for the Weibull distribution is estimated as exp(β0) and the shape is estimated as 1 / β1.
The scale for the exponential distribution is estimated as the regression coefficient, β1, in the simple linear regression equation, y = β1x. Note that the intercept (β0) is not fit in this model.


text:
Definition of feudalism
n. - The feudal system; a system by which the holding of estates in land is made dependent upon an obligation to render military service to the kind or feudal superior; feudal principles and usages. 2
The word "feudalism" uses 9 letters: A D E F I L M S U.
No direct anagrams for feudalism found in this word list.
All words formed from feudalism by changing one letter
Browse words starting with feudalism by next letter

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
CIX Token pricing may vary across different trading platforms due to several factors:
1. Supply and Demand: The prices of cryptocurrencies are determined by the interaction between buyers and sellers. If there is high demand for CIX on one platform compared to others, the price may be higher on that specific platform.
2. Fees: Each trading platform has its own fee structure. Higher fees on a platform can influence the price of CIX, as traders may factor in these fees when determining their buying or selling prices.
3. User Base: Different trading platforms attract different user bases. If a platform has a large number of active users trading CIX, it can create higher demand and potentially impact the price.
4. Market Liquidity: The liquidity of a market refers to the ease of buying or selling an asset without causing significant price movements. Higher liquidity usually results in narrower bid-ask spreads and more stable prices. If a platform has higher liquidity for CIX, it may have a more stable price compared to platforms with lower liquidity.
Listing CIX on multiple trading platforms increases its exposure and accessibility to a wider range of investors. This can lead to increased trading activity and liquidity, which may impact the price stability and overall market awareness of CIX.
Join the excitement and explore the potential rewards available through trading CIX on various platforms.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
- For Teachers
Are the following questions (B:) natural if we ask someone to repeat something we don't hear it or understand it?
A: Do you like bungee jumping?
B: Do I like what?
A: Have you been to Norwich?
B: Have I been to where?
A: Have you tried bungee jumping?
B: Have I tried what?
They only work, of course, if the only part of the sentence you didn't hear or understand was the end.
If you misheard a different part of a sentence, you would ask a different question (or simply say "Pardon?")
Have you ever spotted Bill Clinton?
Have I ever whatted Bill Clinton?
Note that "to what" is obviously not a verb but in BrE you might hear it used only in that context.
Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.


text:
Sep. 29, 2007 Shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) catch their food at food-rich spots and subsequently eat it elsewhere. With this take-out strategy the crabs maximise their food uptake and keep competing crabs at a distance, says Dutch researcher Isabel Smallegange.
Food is not available everywhere in the Wadden Sea so you have to search for it. Yet if you do not have much time then where is the best place to go? Initially the food rich spots always seem to be the first choice. But there you can find other animals of course and that gives rise to food competition. With plenty of competitors there is little time left to consume the prey caught.
Experiments revealed that shore crabs always first attempt to catch their prey at the richest food spot. However, the shore crabs do not consume their prey there. Instead, they take these with them to a nearby food poor spot where there are fewer competitors who want to share the meal.
With this take-out meal strategy shore crabs are ensured of their dinner and they avoid greedy comrades. Field observations in the Wadden Sea suggest that shore crabs take both factors into account in their final choice of food spot when the alternatives are far away from each other.
The research into strategies in food searches was done using behavioural models and behavioural experiments with food searching shore crabs in experimental set ups in climate chambers at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.


text:
Maghain Aboth Synagogue
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Maghain Aboth Synagogue, which translates to "Shield of our Fathers", was completed in 1878. Situated at Waterloo Street, it is the oldest synagogue in Singapore and Southeast Asia. On 27 February 1998, the synagogue was gazetted as a national monument.
In 1841, the colonial government leased a plot of land to the Jewish community at a nominal rent, for the construction of a synagogue. This was to be the community's first synagogue. The land, estimated to measure 503m2, was located at where Synagogue Street is today, in the early Jewish quarters near Raffles Place.
The lease was enshrined in the Jewish Synagogue Ordinance and commenced on 1 September 1841. The three men that negotiated the lease, Joseph Dewk Cohen, Nassim Joseph Ezra and Ezra Ezra Ezekiel, were named in the Ordinance as the synagogue's trustees.
A two-storey shophouse was built to accommodate the synagogue, which began with a congregation of about 40 and served the local Jewish population for 30 years until the shophouse was sold. This building was demolished after World War II.
By 1870, the Jewish population had grown significantly and many were living further away from the synagogue. The leaders of the community thus saw the need to build a new synagogue, a need that was later met by the opening of the Maghain Aboth Synagogue.
In 1870, one of the new trustees, Joseph Joshua, negotiated to pay $4,000 for a piece of land owned by Raffles Institution at Bras Basah, for the construction of a new synagogue. However, the agreement required the synagogue to be built within three years. Because the funds for the building project could not be raised in time, the agreement lapsed.
It was only when Joshua's nephew Manasseh Meyer, also one of the trustees, returned to Singapore in 1873 that the current site for the Maghain Aboth Synagogue was acquired. Meyer, who had been in Rangoon (now called Yangon, in Myanmar) for the past six years, approached the government upon his return, for permission to sell the old synagogue and build a new one. The government approved his request and granted a plot of land at Waterloo Street (then known as Church Street) for the new synagogue.
On 4 April 1878, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue was consecrated. According to official sources, the service could have been conducted by one of two men, Lucunas or I. J. Hayeem, or both of them. The building had extensions added in 1924.
During the Japanese Occupation (_PHONE_), the synagogue remained an important meeting place, where the local Jews exchanged news and collected funds to help those in need.
The synagogue sits within a 2,290.6m2 compound where a sunk-in well for the mikvah or "ritual bath" can also be found. The synagogue itself is a simple, symmetrical building designed in neo-classical style. The covered porch that protrudes from the front of the building has an entrance arch large enough to allow horse carriages through.
From the front porch, a wide flight of steps leads up to the three wide doors at the main entrance of the synagogue. There are two separate entrances for women. Inside, the hall features a high triple-volume ceiling, traditional columns and rusticated walls that do not bear any decorations or images. In the centre is the bimah, a raised pulpit where prayers by the rabbi and readings from the Torah ("scrolls of the law") take place during services. The synagogue originally had only one storey, but a second-storey U-shaped balcony was later added to accommodate women.
The prayer hall is orientated west towards Jerusalem. The bimah faces the ahel or "ark", which is situated in a niche on an elevated area at the west wall of the hall. The ahel is an alcove where the Torah is stored and it is normally covered by the parochet, a fringed curtain with detailed embroidery. Hanging before the ahel is the eternal lamp, a symbol of the eternal flame that burned in what once was the Temple of Jerusalem. Sometimes a menorah or "seven-branched candlestand" would also be placed here, as a symbol of the state of Israel.
In the past, gas lighting and oil lamps provided illumination during services. The oil lamps, which were merely wicks placed in glass bowls filled with oil, still hang suspended from steel rods today, mainly in remembrance of those who died in the past year. Electric lamps attached to the ceiling and columns now provide the needed lighting.
Services and events
The Maghain Aboth Synagogue is a hive of activity during Jewish festive celebrations. It is open all year round and holds services daily except on Mondays, when services take place at the Chesed El Synagogue instead. In the early days, during the service, congregants had the practice of auctioning the aliyoth or "privileges" given to certain members of the congregation, with the money going towards the maintenance of the synagogue.
In 2006, the synagogue was one of the religious sites used as an exhibition venue during the inaugural Singapore Biennale.
Bonny Tan & Valerie Chew
Attorney General's Chambers. (2010). Jewish Synagogue Ordinance. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from Singapore Statutes Online website: _URL_
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 271). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)
Jewish Welfare Board. (n.d.). History. Retrieved September 8, 2010, from _URL_
Lee, G. B. (2002). The religious monuments of Singapore: Faiths of our forefathers (pp. 102-105). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 726.095957 LEE)
Lim, E. W. K., & Kho, E. M. (c2005). The Chesed-El Synagogue: Its history & people (pp. 8-19). Singapore: Trustees of Chesed-El Synagogue.
(Call no.: RSING 296.095957 LIM)
Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, _PHONE_ (pp. 1-13). Singapore: HERBILU Editorial & Marketing Services.
(Call no.: RSING 301.45192405957 NAT)
Singapore biennale 2006. (2006, September 6). The Straits Times. Retrieved January 21, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1999). Maghain Aboth Synagogue preservation guidelines, Vol. I (pp. 4-6, 24). Singapore: Preservation of Monuments Board.
(Call no.: RSING 363.69095957 MAG)
Maghain Aboth Synagogue. (2010). Retrieved September 8, 2010, from Preservation of Monuments Board website: _URL_
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore, Vol. 2 (pp. 274-275). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest (pp. 49-51). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM)
Wan, M. H. (2009). Heritage places of Singapore (pp. 127-128). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 WAN)
The information in this article is valid as at 2010 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Historic Buildings
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings
People and communities>>Social groups and communities


Reflex Systems announces Reflex|Drama V.1.0
Thu 20th Mar 2003 | News
Reflex Systems Inc announced today the release of the REFLEX|DRAMA v.1.0 system, the first offering of its family of 3D human generation products.
Reflex|DRAMA is the industry's first resolution-independent human modeling and animation system. What this means is that users can design humans once (using the patented Reflex|DNA) and change the resolution on the fly to produce 3D humans tailored to their needs and requirements. Reflex|DRAMA was designed for users who need a scaleable solution that can address the low to medium-resolution required for games while still being able to go super-hires for film and television work.
Reflex|DRAMA is a new class of 3D animation software based on a musculo-skeleton approach. A musculo-skeleton is a simulated assembly of volume tissue representing all the major layers of the human body. Reflex|DRAMA musculo-skeleton layers include bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, fat and skin.
To model a new Human being, users simply need to modify the internal layers (ex: bone warping, bone scaling, muscle bulging, fat injection, etc.) and prompt the system to update the external skin based on the new layer information. Changes in the musculo-skeleton are saved into a format called Reflex|DNA and can be reapplied to any human in a 3D scene.
The patented Reflex|DNA sequencing technology is the fastest ways to design humans with realism. Everything that users change in the body is "recorded" as they work. The result is the electronic version of a real DNA: a faithful recording of what makes an individual truly unique! Users do not need to know anything about the human anatomy. Everything is visual, interactive and mouse-driven.
ReflexDRAMA was developed with direct input from leading special FX and game companies to address long standing issues:
 - Resolution independence - Design once and deploy at any resolution in NURBS or polygon meshes.
 - Speed of design - Considerably reduces the time that it takes to generate human characters.
 - Openness - Includes an SDK to generate a large number of different human models at various resolutions and automatically assign motion files to them.
 - Simplicity - Eliminates the need for IK setups and manual vertex weighting and assignments.
 - Compatibility - Compatible with existing 3D animation software. The outside skin can be exported using different file formats.
Pricing and availability
The REFLEX|DRAMA software is available immediately from authorized resellers. Through May 31st, 2003, it is available at the introductory price of $8,990 per node-locked and floating license. For further information please visit the Reflex Systems website at.
Related Links
Reflex Systems Inc
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text:
ite Church, 64.5 percent (58 percent in 1989). However, only six percent of the married couples were still members of different denominations at the time of the survey, indicating that sometime subsequent to the wedding, in most cases, one spouse joined the other's church. In 1989 this increased to nine percent. The rate of intermarriage between Mennonites of any branch and non-Mennonites was not determined in either survey.
Reflecting chronological trends, younger persons had higher rates of intermarriage than older members. Slightly higher intermarriage rates were observed among urban than rural residents, among women than men, and among lay people than ministers. Farmers had lower rates of intermarriage than other occupational groups.
Substantially higher intermarriage rates were found among those who do not attend church regularly, and among those who are nonresident members of their local congregations. Those of mixed marriage background scored somewhat lower on scales measuring doctrinal orthodoxy, adherence to Anabaptist principles, religious practices, and moral attitudes. Thus intermarriage appears to be associated with weaker support of church doctrines and practices.
Driedger, Vogt, and Reimer (1983) investigated intermarriage among Mennonites in Canada, defining intermarriage more broadly as the marriage of a Mennonite (of any branch) to a non-Mennonite. Among 13 religious groups reported in the 1981 Canadian census, only Jews had lower rates of intermarriage than Mennonites. The rate of endogamy (Mennonites marrying Mennonites) declined from 93 percent in 1921 to 61 percent in 1981. The reported rate may be too low, however, since the census definition of Mennonite includes some persons who are not actually members of a Mennonite church.
Several surveys by Driedger and his associates support several generalizations. (1) In general, the more conservative the Mennonite body, the lower the rate of intermarriage. Hutterites have virtually none. (2) Intermarriage rates were considerably lower in rural than in urban areas. (3) The younger generation is much more accepting of intermarriage than older generations. (4) Whereas Mennonite intermarriage in Manitoba was almost nonexistent prior to the 1950s, by the 1970s one-fourth married outsiders. (5) Although in the past intermarried couples often left the Mennonite church, intermarriage is increasingly a form of recruitment and possible revitalization.
Although there may be some positive aspects associated with the marriage of Mennonites to those of other backgrounds, in terms of recruitment and stimulation, most of the indicators are negative. In the larger society, higher divorce rates are associated with mixed marriage. There is some evidence that this is true among Mennonites, but the question needs further investigation. in general, the empirical evidence assembled thus far tends to support the traditional view that endogamy is best. -- JHK
Driedger, Leo and Jacob Peters. "Ethnic Identity: a Comparison of Mennonite and Other Students." Mennonite Quarterly Review 47 (1973): 225-44.
Driedger, Leo, Roy Vogt and Mavis Reimer. "Mennonite Intermarriage: National, Regional and Intergenerational Trends." Mennonite Quarterly Review 41 (1983): 132-144.
Hege, Christian. Die Taufer in der Kurpfalz. Karlsruhe, 1908.
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon., 4 v. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, _PHONE_: III, 139 f.
Hostetler, John A. The Sociology of Mennonite Evangelism. Scottdale, PA, 1954: 195-197.
Hunzinger, A. Das Religions-, Kirchenund Schulwesen der Mennoniten oder Taufgesinnten. Speyer, 1830.
Kauffman, J. Howard and Leland Harder, eds. Anabaptists Four Centuries Later: a Profile of Five Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Denominations. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1975: 172-177.
Kauffman, J. Howard and Leo Driedger. The Mennonite Mosaic: Identity and Modernization. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1991: 110-111.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 720-721, 5, pp. 444-445. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.
©_PHONE_ by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.
MLA style: Neff, Christian and J. Howard Kauffman. "Intermarriage." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1989. Web. 19 June 2013. _URL_
APA style: Neff, Christian and J. Howard Kauffman. (1989). Intermarriage. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 19 June 2013, from _URL_


text:
Environmental Health Indicators
An environmental health indicator is a measure of health, environmental quality, or sociodemographics used to help monitor the overall health of the population. The Environmental Health Investigations Branch compiled a report in 2001 which established criteria for such indicators and proposed 18 environmental health indicators for California in seven topic areas: (1) Sociodemographic; (2) Air Quality; (3) Pesticides; (4) Water Quality; (5) Waste/Topics; (6) Health; and (7) the California/Baja California Border Region. Basic statistical data are presented for each indicator, along with a definition, formula, significance, data characteristics, data limitations, and additional information. The National Environmental Health Tracking Program, in which California participates, also is recording environmental health indicators on a number of topics including asthma, air quality, water quality, carbon monoxide poisonings, and birth defects.
California Environmental Health Indicators Report
An environmental health indicator is a measure of health, environmental quality, or sociodemographics which is important for monitoring the overall health of the population of California....
California's New Environmental Health Tracking Programs
In the wake of 9/11, renewed resources and attention have been given to the nation's public health infrastructure, especially in the areas of surveillance of acute infectious illnesses and monitoring the...
Trends in the sex ratio of California births, 1960–1996
Study objective: The male sex ratio at birth (or the proportion of male births in a population) has been suggested as a sentinel environmental health indicator....
California Environmental Health Tracking Program (CEHTP)
-- California Environmental Health Tracking Program Improving Public Health With Better Information air quality asthma birth defects cancer carbon monoxide poisoning climate change drinking...
Environmental Health Indicator Report
-- An environmental health indicator is a measure of health, environmental quality, or sociodemographics which is important for monitoring the overall health of the population of California....
Geographic Information System (GIS) for the Border Region
-- Initiated in 2007, the Border GIS project inventories various types of environmental data for the Border region and assesses Environmental Health Indicators....
Sex Ratio Among California Births, _PHONE_
-- The male sex ratio at birth (or the proportion of births in a population that is male) has been suggested as a sentinel environmental health indicator....
NCEH Environmental Public Health Indicators Project
-- From CDC National Center for Environmental Health -- Environmental public health indicators (EPHIs) can be used to assess our health status or risk as it relates to our environment. They may be used to assess baseline status and trends, track program goals and objectives, and build core surveillance capacity in state and local agencies.
- Paul English, Lauren Wohl-Sanchez


Preparing for Your Neighborhood Clinic Visit
The King County Bar Association, sponsor of the Neighborhood Legal Clinics, has posted a useful checklist for preparing to attend a session at one of their legal clinics. To make the best use of your time please:
1. Decide on the desired outcome or goal.
2. Schedule an appointment at a Neighborhood Legal Clinic.
3. Write a list of specific questions for the attorney.
4. Bring to the clinic appointment:
–Agreements or contracts (signed or proposed)
–Written rules or policies
–Court orders
–Court papers served on you or that you filed with the court
–All letters or emails to and from person or business with whom you have the disagreement
6. Identify all deadlines.
7. Tell the legal clinic volunteer about these deadlines.


text:
New CSVLayer class to easily display data from CSV files on a map. See the CSV Layer sample for an example of how to use this new layer. If CSV files are not on the same domain as your website, a CORS enabled server or a proxy is required.
New capabilities when querying against a layer in a hosted feature service in ArcGIS Online:
Renderers' colorInfo property and setColorInfo method now support more than two colors as well as a stops property that allows developers to associate a specific color with a data value. The legend widget also now supports renderers with colorInfo. Two samples have been updated to use this new functionality:
In addition to continuous color ramps, the esri/Color module was added at this release. It is a convenient wrapper around dojo/_base/Color and has all options supported by dojo/_base/Color.
Additional Changes and Enhancements
- Edit tools: new
textSymbolEditorHolder option to specify container for text symbol editing components.
- All layers have a loadError property indicating if an error occurred while trying to retrieve layer metadata.
- LocateButton.graphicsLayer option to specify the graphics layer where the associated graphic should be added.
- Map has a new before-unload event.
- All classes' on() method supports listening to multiple events with a single call. The first argument to on() should be a string with event names separated by commas. The second argument is still the function to run when an event happens.
- dojoConfig.useDeferredInstrumentation is now true by default. This prints unhandled errors that occur somewhere in the lifecycle of an asynchronous task to the browser console instead of hiding them.
Additional Resources on GitHub
New repository on GitHub with TypeScript definitions for the JS API as well as the jshint options file used by the JS API team.


text:
A review of behavioural and physiological responses of sheep to stressors to identify potential behavioural signs of distress
Author: Cockram, M.S.
Source: Animal Welfare, Volume 13, Number 3, August 2004, pp. 283-291(9)
Publisher: Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
Abstract:This paper discusses the potential for using observations of behaviour to recognise distress in sheep. The term distress is used to describe situations in which an animal is likely to be suffering, and is indicating this by overt behavioural signs. Literature on the behavioural responses of sheep to procedures that induce a physiological stress response is reviewed. This approach is based on human analogy and the assumption that physiological changes can be used to differentiate between stimuli that induce an emotional response in sheep and those that do not. The degree to which the behaviour of sheep in certain situations represents, at least in part, an expression of emotional behaviour, or whether it can be fully explained as a functional response to a specific situation, is a fundamental and unresolved question in ethological and psychological studies. Therefore, the validity of compiling a list of objective common behavioural indicators of distress in sheep will be contentious. However, it is important to be able to recognise and deal with suffering, and the use of behavioural methods for the identification of distress in sheep is a practical welfare issue. There is a need for further research to identify indicators of distress in sheep, but in the meantime it would be reasonable to make the judgement that, in some circumstances, sheep that are found to be vocalising, panting, and/or showing markedly increased locomotory activity could be experiencing distress.
Document Type: Research article
Publication date: 2004-08-01


text:
Over the past 20 years, U.S. assistance has helped to rebuild and reform the educational system in Georgia. USAID's programs have helped to train teachers, renovate schools, improve the management of the educational system, and create vocational and higher educational programs that serve the needs of a growing economy. USAID continues to invest in primary education to improve reading and math skills for girls and boys in primary school and support targeted vocational training programs in the areas where high employer demand exists. Programs that advance university-level teaching in Georgia's most promising competitive sectors enhance the workforce with competitive skills and higher paid job opportunities.
Georgia Primary Education Project (G-Pried)
Oct 2011 – Oct 2015
The goal of the G-Pried project is to provide comprehensive assistance to the primary education system to improve reading and math competencies of Georgian and ethnic minority students. This will be achieved through supporting instructional improvements, testing and improving standards, use of technology, and development of subject experts in reading and math in schools as well as in the education departments of Georgia's universities.
Last updated: May 10, 2013


text:
Robert Sanderson MullikenArticle Free Pass
Robert Sanderson Mulliken, (born June 7, 1896, Newburyport, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 31, 1986, Arlington, Va.), American chemist and physicist who received the 1966 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for "fundamental work concerning chemical bonds and the electronic structure of molecules."
A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mulliken worked, during World War I and for a few years afterward, in government chemical research. He then studied under the physicist Robert A. Millikan at the University of Chicago, receiving his Ph.D. in 1921. He taught at New York University (1926–28) and then joined the faculty of the University of Chicago (1928–85).
Mulliken began working on his theory of molecular structure in the 1920s. He theoretically systematized the electron states of molecules in terms of molecular orbitals. Departing from the idea that electron orbitals for atoms are static and that atoms combine like building blocks to form molecules, he proposed that, when molecules are formed, the atoms' original electron configurations are changed into an overall molecular configuration. Further extending his theory, he developed (1952) a quantum-mechanical theory of the behaviour of electron orbitals as different atoms merge to form molecules.
During World War II Mulliken worked on the Plutonium Project, part of the development of the atomic bomb, at the University of Chicago. In 1955 he served as scientific attaché at the U.S. embassy in London.
What made you want to look up "Robert Sanderson Mulliken"? Please share what surprised you most...


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Let $\gamma_0$ and $\gamma_1$ be two simple closed curves in a closed surface $S$.
What is the maximum Euler characteristic of a compact properly embedded surface $\Sigma \subset S\times [0,1]$ such that $\partial \Sigma = \gamma_0 \times \{0\} \cup \gamma_1 \times \{1\}$?
Of course, in order for such a surface $\Sigma$ to exist, the two curves $\gamma_0$ and $\gamma_1$ must represent the same class in $H_1(S,\mathbb Z_2)$. Note that $\Sigma$ may be non-orientable.
If $2n$ is the minimum geometric intersection number of $\gamma_1$ and $\gamma_2$, it is easy to construct a $\Sigma$ with $\chi(\Sigma)\geqslant \chi(S) - n$. Is there a converse estimate of this kind? Do we have $\chi(\Sigma) \leqslant -n$ when $S$ is a torus?
share|improve this question
what is the "geometric intersection number" and why is its minimum even? – Vivek Shende Feb 14 '11 at 23:48
_USER_ : The geometric intersection number of two curves $x$ and $y$ on a surface is the minimum of the set of numbers $#(x' \cap y')$, where $x'$ and $y'$ range over curves homotopic to $x$ and $y$. In the case at hand, this has to be even because the mod $2$ algebraic intersection number of the two curves in question is $0$, so mod $2$ there have to be the same number of positive intersections as negative intersections. – Andy Putman Feb 15 '11 at 2:21
3 Answers 3
up vote 7 down vote accepted
Here is a graph $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$ associated to a surface and homology class (similar to the 1-skeleton of the curve complex): For a fixed class in $x\in H_1(S;\mathbb{Z}_2)$, consider isotopy classes of embedded multicurves representing the homology class $x$ (one may assume no components are parallel and there are no trivial components). Make this collection the vertices of the graph $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$. Connect two vertices $A, B$ to be adjacent in the graph $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$ if $A\cup B$ are disjointly embedded, and after removing all parallel curves of $A\cup B$, the remaining components bound a pair of pants or a twice-punctured projective plane (this second can only happen if $S$ is non-orientable). I'm not sure if such a complex has been defined before, but there is a somewhat analogous complex defined in the integral homology case by Bestvina, Bux, and Margalit. Also, this is related to a technique of Hatcher-Thurston to undertand surfaces in two-bridge knot complements.
I claim that the maximal Euler characteristic of a surface bounding $\gamma_0\times 0 \cup \gamma_1\times 1$ is the negative of the distance between $\gamma_0$ and $\gamma_1$ in $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$. Put the product metric on $S\times [0,1]$, and make $\Sigma$ into a minimal surface with respect to this metric (Theorem 6.12 of Hass-Scott). Then $S\times t, t\in [0,1]$ gives a foliation by totally geodesic surfaces, and by the maximum principle, they can be tangent to $\Sigma$ in only saddle tangencies (see an argument of Hass, we will assume things are perturbed to be generaic). Thus, for all but finitely many $t$, $S\times t$ meets $\Sigma$ in a finite collection of curves, giving rise to a vertex of $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$. As one passes through a tangency point $S\times t_0$ (assuming things are generic), the intersection changes by a saddle move, giving a surface in $S$ of Euler characteristic $-1$ bounding the curves before and after the tangency. There can never be a closed trivial curve occurring, because this would give rise to a center tangency. Thus, each saddle tangency gives an edge between the adjacent vertices of $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$, and therefore $\Sigma$ gives a path between $\gamma_0$ and $\gamma_1$ in $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$. Conversely, any such path gives rise to a surface.
Of course, there will be many geodesics connecting $\gamma_0$ and $\gamma_1$ in $\mathcal{G}(S,x)$, given by any Morse function on $(\Sigma, \gamma_0,\gamma_1)$ with only index 1 critical points, and I don't expect the distance function to be easy to compute (probably one should use normal surface theory to compute it).
share|improve this answer
In your definition of the graph is it equivalent (and perhaps easier) to say that $A$ and $B$ and joined by an edge iff they are related by a saddle move? – Kevin Walker May 18 '11 at 21:59
yes, that's equivalent - in fact, as one varies the parameter t, one will see a movie isotoping multicurves with finitely many saddle moves. – Ian Agol May 18 '11 at 22:07
Thanks Ian. Does $\Sigma$ need to be $\partial$-incompressible to guarantee that one can find a minimal representative, or is incompressibility enough? In fact my question was motivated precisely by normal surface theory: in some cases normal surfaces of highest $\chi$ are "seen" by quantum invariants by using the techniques described in a (nice) paper of Frohman - Bartoszynska arxiv.org/abs/math/_PHONE_ and I was wondering whether this minimal distance between curves could be computed by using some Turaev-Viro invariant. – Bruno Martelli May 19 '11 at 14:35
This is Theorem 6.12 of Hass-Scott: ams.org/journals/tran/1988-310-01/S0002-9947-_PHONE_-6/… – Ian Agol May 19 '11 at 15:55
For orientable surfaces of genus at least $2$, pretty sharp bounds are obtained in the unpublished PhD thesis of Ingrid Irmer, which is available here.
share|improve this answer
Nice reference, thanks! – Bruno Martelli Feb 15 '11 at 8:24
The thesis deals with oriented curves and surfaces, but probably the same techniques apply in the non-oriented case. – Bruno Martelli Feb 15 '11 at 14:00
Let $a$, $b$ and $x$ be curves on $S$ such that
 - $a$ and $x$ intersect once,
 - $b$ and $x$ intersect once, and
 - $a$ and $b$ have a large algebraic intersection number.
(I assume that $S$ is orientable.) Then there is a surface $\Sigma_a$ connecting $x$ and $x+2a$ with $\chi(\Sigma_a) = -1$ and a similar surface $\Sigma_b$ connecting $x$ and $x+2b$. Combining $\Sigma_a$ and $\Sigma_b$ we get a surface of Euler characteristic $-2$ connecting $x+2a$ and $x+2b$. Thus the geometric intersection number of two curves does not give a lower bound on the complexity of a surface joining them.
(In your original question you ask if $\chi(\Sigma) \le n$, but $n$ is positive and $\chi(\Sigma)$ is negative, so I assume you meant $|\chi(\Sigma)|$.)
share|improve this answer
Thank you (I have corrected the sign) – Bruno Martelli Feb 15 '11 at 8:24
Your Answer


text:
Database Explorer Komodo IDE only
The Database Explorer is a tool for examining the structure and content of databases. By default, it can connect to SQLite and Oracle databases, but support for additional database types such as MySQL is available through extensions.
The Database sidebar displays a filterable list of database connections. Each connection offers a tree view of databases available via that connection, the tables in each database, and the fields/columns in each table.
Click on the Databases tab to open the Databases sidebar in the left pane. Use the Add a Database Connection button to configure a connection. Select a Database Type and configure the required connection information or the path to the file.
Click Add to create the connection and open the database view in the sidebar.
Each database appears as an top-level node in the sidebar. Clicking on the arrow next to the database expands a tree showing all tables. Table names also expand to show the contained field names.
Double-click on a table name in the sidebar to open the Database Explorer dialog. The dialog box displays:
- Full Table: a spreadsheet-like view of the selected table, showing all fields. The table can be sorted by any column. Columns can be hidden or displayed via the column selection button at the right side of the title row.
- Query: a Query field for composing SQL queries (for any table) and an Output pane similar to the Full Table view to show the query results. Click Run to execute the contents of the Query field. The Refresh button is for refreshing the query output display. It re-runs the last successful query, not the current contents of the Query editing buffer above.
- Schema: displays the Schema for the selected table including the field id, name and type as well as whether it is nullable. Indicates the default value (if any) and shows which is the primary key.


text:
The purpose of this register is the same as the Individuals Register. Registration should be required for all foreign nationals who wish to:
- Enter the country;
- Own domestic currency;
- Own domestic land;
- Own shares in domestic companies;
- Commence or defend domestic legal proceedings;
- Be a director of a domestic corporation.
The Foreign Nationals Register should contain the same fields as the Individuals Register. It should reveal whether a person is currently in or out of the country, how long they are legally entitled to stay, and under what visa conditions they have entered. This information should be publicly accessible and, among other uses, will allow prospective employers to know whether they can employ a person and for how long, and members of the public to report the location of persons overstaying or breaching the conditions of their visa.


[b-greek] Re: TI GEGONEN in John 14:22
From: Steven R. Lo Vullo (_EMAIL_)
Date: Thu Aug 23 2001 - 21:15:18 EDT
on 8/23/01 2:15 PM, Mark Wilson at _EMAIL_ wrote:
> Neither, if you ask me.
> Take it as "How will it occur/happen/be fulfilled that..."
> Much can be gleaned by how Jesus answers
> the question put to him. Note that Jesus does not address
> a "what" or a "why."
What is the justification for translating the perfect GEGONEN as a future,
especially since the future of GINOMAI is used 5x in John when a future
event is in mind (John 4:14; 8:33; 10:16; 15:7; 16:20)? The closest parallel
I could find in the NT to this phrase is TI EGENETO in an indirect question
in Acts 7:40, which clearly means "what happened."
Also, I can't think offhand of TI being used to indicate means or manner
when it is alone or with GINOMAI. The only construction I can think of in
which it expresses means is in the prepositional phrase KATA TI (Luke 1:18).
If it is used in this way, I don't think it is common. It seems that if
means or manner were in view, a more common way to express this would be
with something like PWS (as is done frequently throughout this Gospel for
As far as Jesus' answer, I think two points need to be made.
First, I think it is precarious to automatically base the translation of a
question on the answer given. In the first place, this would seem to permit
us to ignore grammatical evidence of what is the most natural way of
understanding the text, as I think you have done above in rendering GEGONEN
as a future and TI as expressing means or manner, when there doesn't seem to
be any compelling *grammatical* reason for doing so. Secondly, this assumes
that the person being asked the question will inevitably answer it in the
way we expect, or that the answer will be direct, or that the resondent will
not choose to use that question as a means to get to what is perceived as a
more important issue, or one related to the underlying presupposition(s) or
motive(s) or attitude(s) of the inquirer.
Second, if we translate TI GEGONEN hOTI in a way that does justice to both
the pronoun and the tense of the verb, Jesus' answer still makes sense. Leon
Morris, noting that on the basis of Jesus' answer we might have expected a
future, nevertheless let's stand what is actually there and comments:
"Judas now voices what must have been the perplexity of the whole band. He
asks what has happened (in view of Christ's words we might perhaps have
anticipated a future) that Christ will manifest Himself to the disciples and
not to the world. Evidently he is understanding'manifest' in terms of
physical manifestation. Like the Jews in general he expects the Messiah to
stand forth in all His glory before all mankind. The way he puts it seems to
imply that he now thinks that something has happened to disrupt our Lord's
planned program."
When Judas hears Jesus use the word EMFANIZW in v. 21, he is thinking of a
physical/public maifestation of Jesus to all, in line not only with Jewish
thought on the Messiah, but also with Jesus' earlier words (e.g., John
5:25-29; cf. Dan 7:9-14). Now that Jesus speaks of manifesting himself to
those who love him, Judas concludes there has been a change in plan ("What
has happened...?"). Rather than deal directly with Judas' concern about a
change of plan, Jesus explains that what he is talking about is not a
physical/public manifestation at all, but a spiritual (cf. v. 26) and
personal (v. 23) manifestation to those who love him, as opposed to those
who don't. Clearing up the matter of what kind of "manifestation" he is
talking about in this context in turn clears up the matter of a change of
plan, for if Jesus is not even dealing with a physical/public manifestation
of himself, then there is no need to posit a contradiction or a change of
Another way to look at it is that up until this point, Jesus had indeed been
manifesting himself physically/publicly to the world. Judas wonders what has
happened that this would no longer be the case. Jesus' answer emphasizes
that for a while he is not going to be present physically/publicly, but will
be with those who love him spiritually/personally. While this does not
*directly* answer the question of "what has happened," it, like the above
scenario, renders it irrelevent, for again, if Jesus is not talking about a
physical/public manifestation, there need be no conflict, since a
spiritual/personal manifestation to his disciples during the time of his
absence does not rule out a physical/public manifestation to the world at
some future point. What had troubled Judas was the idea that Jesus was going
to physically/publicly manifest himself only to those who loved him, which
to him was in conflict with what he understood. Jesus' answer does not
necessarily rule out the "plan" Judas had in mind (although it should have
modified it somewhat). It only corrects his understanding of what Jesus
meant by "manifest."
Steve [LoVullo -- New list members please take note: BG protocol
calls for a full-name signature on all messages sent to the list.]


text:
A research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects, including over 100,000 pages of related resources and information.
SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 100,000 pages of SAGE's renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more. SAGE Research Methods contains content from more than 640 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire Little Green Book, and Little Blue Book series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and newly commissioned videos.
Research database with psychological tests, measures, scales, surveys, and descriptive information about test development and administration.
PsycTESTS is a research database that provides access to psychological tests, measures, scales, surveys, and other assessments as well as descriptive information about the test and its development and administration.


Why Do Some People Always Get Lost?
Is "sense of direction" really a thing? Or is something much more mysterious at work in our minds?
By Olga MeckingApr 1, 2021 4:00 PM
a man holding a map and a smartphone - getting lost navigation - shutterstock 643618435
(Credit: Nopphon_1987/Shutterstock)
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Have you ever found yourself not being able to find your car in the big parking lot? Or are you someone who always knows perfectly where they are and how to get everywhere? Some people seem to know their way, even in places they've never been to before, while others get lost all the time. I was curious to find out more about how and why people get lost, because I'm really good at it.
I got lost in my neighborhood, not just once but twice.
Are natural wayfinders just geniuses, while others (like me) have some sort of directional deficiency or neurological condition? The answer is more complicated — and more amazing — than you could have imagined.
What Really IS A Sense of Direction?
When we talk about a sense of direction, or orientation, we usually mean the ability to get from one place to another: from our home to the grocery store, from work to the bar where we're meeting our colleagues. But to achieve that, we need a couple of skills that are taking place in real time.
"We talk about two simultaneous things that are happening. One is mapping — that is figuring out the map of the world around us. And the second one is localization — which is figuring out where you are inside that map," says Manu Madhav, assistant professor at the School of Biomedical Engineering and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at the University of British Columbia.
More than Five Senses
While we think of orientation as a sense, it's actually a combination of senses working together. "When you are in the real world, you have a certain expectation that as you're moving forward, your sight will tell you one thing, that things are moving backwards. That's producing a sound that will become a bit louder: that's hearing. All of those senses are individually contributing to a coherent sense...and that's what your brain interprets as moving forward," explains Madhav.
Besides smell, taste, sight, touch and hearing, we actually have two more senses: the vestibular sense or system (which has to do with our perception of our body in space), and proprioception (which has to do with the movement of muscles and joints). The vestibular system is very important in our sense of orientation. "If you open your eyes, look around, and know where you are [then] close your eyes and take five steps...you still know where you are, because your vestibular system is still going….It's simulating your position in your internal map and determining where you are," says Madhav.
Researchers say that there are special cells in our brains that have to do with space. Their function is to identify where we are at any given moment and to determine how this place relates to other places you've been. "There are neurons that would fire when I'm at this particular location. Another set of neurons that would fire when at a different location. Another set of neurons that would fire when I'm pointed in a particular direction," explains Madhav.
Where Does It Go Wrong?
There are many reasons why some people can have a bad sense of direction. "If you have attention problems, you can get lost. If you have perceptional problems and you might not be able to see colors correctly, then you might get lost. If you have memory problems, then you might get lost. There might be other reasons why you can get lost," explains Giuseppe Iaria, a neuroscientist at the University of Calgary, who studies a condition called developmental topographical disorientation, or DTD, that causes people to get lost even in places they know well. The underlying reason for this condition is an inability to form a cognitive map of their surroundings.
 According to Iaria, people with DTD are "normal people, with good and social skills; they just have a very selective deficit with orientation." Iaria runs a website called Getting Lost to help such people improve their orientation skills. In the case of people with DTD, it's not just one brain area that's affected. Instead, "it's simply a problem of functional connectivity in the brain...we have found that [certain] regions are important for special orientation and navigation...they are not well synchronized."
But the cognitive map plays a bigger role in our daily functioning. "It's the same map that's used as a memory map. You have had the experience of smelling something and the smell triggering a memory. The smell system is closely related to the hippocampus, and it's only a couple of synapses away. So smell can trigger a memory very easily," explains Madhav.
Another reason people keep on getting lost is the fact that there could be an issue with coordination between different senses. "One of the things that can happen is we get motion sickness; for example, because there is a lot of conflict between your eyes and inner ear. A conflict between the senses...can cause you to become disoriented," explains Madhav.
Moreover, a bad sense of direction can go beyond navigation because the same circuit that we use for navigation can also be used for planning and solving tasks. "Navigation, planning and memory, all of them are completely related," says Madhav.
So, bottom line: I still have no idea why I'm so bad at special orientation. But it definitely helps knowing that I'm not alone.
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text:
- Table of contents
- UsageNotes: General-purpose usage notes and tips
- FDroid: F-Droid
User control and security:¶
- EnablingRootAccess: Running applications or commands as root.
- DeviceEncryption: How to encrypt the data partition.
- ADB: Getting a shell on the device from your computer, through USB.
- SSH: OpenSSH
- TerminalEmulator: How to enable the builtin terminal emulator.
- WifiAdapter: Using WiFi with an USB WiFi adapter
- EthernetAdapter: Using Ethernet with an USB Ethernet adapter
- ReplicantUSBNetworking: Replicant USB Networking
- ModemDisable: Really deactivating the modem
Backup and restore data:¶
- BackupTheEFS: If the modem data partition (EFS) is lost or corrupted, the modem doesn't work anymore. So make sure to have at least one backup of it.
- BackupApplications: Applications to backup other applications data.
- RestoreApplicationInternalData: Backup an application data and restore it with the command line.
- BackupTheDataPartition: Backup and restore the complete data partition from the command line.
- Safe mode: How to enter Android's safe mode (useful for devices stuck in a boot loop).
- RestoreEfsNvDataBackupFile: Experimental instruction to fix a very 'light' corruption in the modem data partition.


text:
Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed a CIGS solar panel that prevents potential induced degradation (PID).
PID lowers power generation capacity at mega-solar (large-scale solar) power plants, etc. The development was announced March 18, 2014.
For the new CIGS solar panel, AIST employed an ionomer resin, which is made by adding a small number of metal ions to an interpolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid to form bridges between molecules, as a sealing material instead of EVA.
In its own experiment, AIST found that CIGS solar panels are more resistant to PID than silicon-based solar panels. In addition, it succeeded in further improving PID resistance by using an ionomer resin, which has a high volume resistivity, as a sealing material.


text:
Drinking a glass of water can be enriching and refreshing. But sometimes water turns cloudy when you pour it in the glass and clears up in few minutes. It happens due to multiple reasons, here are few.
1) Due to a rupture in the plumbing, the air becomes pressurized. This leads to the formation of many micro bubbles which makes the water appear cloudy.
2) Sometimes tiny particles from rocks and stone, as well as sand and dirt can get mixed with your water supply. Again, these are generally harmless.
3) If an adjacent pipe carries gas leaks into your water pipe, it generates pressure. Due to this, pressure bubbles are formed which results in the change in water colour.


text:
Opisthobranch of the Week Data
Phyllidiopsis krempfi is considered to be rare on Okinawa as I have collected only four individuals as of mid August, 2000. Although I'm suggesting the species is rare here, I suspect that I've seen others, erroneously assuming they were of more common species. There are several reasons for this, but perhaps the best reason is that many Okinawan phyllidiids are very commonly seen here and I've tended in the past not to pay much attention to the group.
The closest appearing Phyllidiopsis species on Okinawa is P. pipeki, with similar mantle and rhinophore coloration, but Brunckhorst (1993) points out that P. krempfi is very tuberculate with many multicompound tubercles, whereas P. pipeki has sparsely scattered single and compound tubercles. Also, an apparently consistent feature seen in P. krempfi is the presence of the two black primary longitudinal lines which extend around the rhinophores and join at a point anterior to the rhinophores.
I have a second page showing two separate images of an additional 50mm animal collected from 69m. The second of these two images show the animal feeding on a thin brown sponge (the small brown sponge was growing on the surface of the larger yellow sponge). This phyllidiid stayed on the sponge following its collection, transport, and subsequent photography hours later; I can only assume that it was more than just a bit hungry.
As of mid-July, 2007, the following eight described species of Phyllidiopsis have been featured on the Okinawa Slug Site:


text:
HVAC Procedure and Performance Guide
TASK: Determine circuit breaker and wiring sizes
STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE
Circuit breaker and wiring must be sized according to job specifications, manufacturer's specifications and codes. Wire size and breaker rating must be adequate to carry connected equipment current load.
- Review job specifications, manufacturer's specifications and codes.
- Identify equipment that is connected to each circuit.
- Determine manufacturer's nameplate amperage requirements for each piece of equipment on circuit.
- Determine circuit voltage.
- Select correct size and type of wire and specified circuit breaker using tables in electrical code or other approved publication.
- Repeat Steps 3 through 5 to size wire and circuit breakers for remaining circuits.
- Document information on job specifications.


text:
- Each pixel represents a cell
- Each cell has one of 16 colors (numbered 1 to 16), which are assigned randomly at the start.
- The left and right edge and the top and bottom edge of the "playing field" are connected.
- At each turn, every cell that has at least one neighbour cell with a color that is one higher changes its color to that "next higher" color. Additionally color 1 is considered "next higher" to color 16.
As you can see, the random coloring of the cells quickly turns into little same-color pools, but then spiral-like structures emerge that soon fill the entire playing field, even though the rules do not mention any spiral-like structures.


text:
Effects of microstructure on crack tip fields and fracture toughness in PC/ABS polymer blends
Numerical simulations are performed in order to gain a better understanding of the effects of various microstructural features and toughening mechanisms in amorphous PC/ABS polymer blends. Crack tip loading under global small-scale yielding conditions is considered with the blend microstructure explicitly resolved in the near-tip process zone. Constitutive models are employed which account for large visco-plastic deformations, the characteristic softeningrehardening behavior of glassy polymers, as well as the effect of plastic dilatancy in the ABS phase due to rubber particle cavitation. The influence of blend composition and morphology on the local stress distribution and the development of the plastic zone at a stationary crack tip are analyzed. Furthermore, crack propagation and the evolution of fracture toughness are studied using different cohesive surface models for failure in the different phases of the blend microstructure.


text:
The Google Assistant can speak in a number of different languages — and use up to three at once — but its abilities vary from one device to another.
For example, the Assistant on your Android smartphone or tablet can speak more languages than the one on your smart speaker, and there are even fewer options when using the Google Assistant on a smart display, like the Google Nest Home Hub.
- How to change Alexa's voice to a different language and accent
- How to change Siri's accent and gender on all of your Apple devices
Thankfully, GearBrain is here to help you understand what these limitations are, and how to change the language of the Google Assistant on your smart devices.
How to change the language of Google Assistant on your smart speaker
As well as altering the gender and accent of your Google Assistant, you can also pick from a range of different languages. The number of languages available varies by device, with more working on smartphones than smart speakers and displays.
Here is how to change the language of your Google Assistant on a smart speaker:
- Open the Google Home app
- Tap on the Account icon in the lower-right corner
- Tap on More Settings -> Assistant -> Languages
- Pick the new language
Languages available for Google Home smart speakers:
- Portugese (Brazilian)
Google says more languages are coming soon.
How to change the language of Google Assistant on your smartphone
Language options for the Google Assistant on an iPhone XGearBrain
The Assistant's language abilities are at their strongest on your smartphone, be it an iPhone or Android.
For starters, the Assistant will default to the language of your phone, but you can then add up to two more languages within the Assistant itself, meaning you can speak to it in up to three different languages at once, and receive replies in whichever one you use for each question and command.
To change the language of Google Assistant (or add another language) on your Android:
- Hold the Home button or say 'OK Google'
- Tap the icon in the lower-right corner
- Tap your profile picture or initial in the top-right corner
- Tap into More Settings -> Assistant -> Languages
- Pick a language from the list, or tap 'Add a language' to add a new one.
To change the language of Google Assistant (or add another language) on iPhone:
- Open the Google Assistant app
- Tap your profile photo or initial in the top-right corner
- Tap Assistant -> Languages
- Pick a language to change it, or tap 'Add a language' to add a new one
Languages available for Google Assistant on iOS and Android:
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Chinese (Traditional)
How to change the language of Google Assistant on your smart display
Once you have followed the above instructions to change the language of Google Assistant on your phone or smart speaker, the language of your smart display will automatically change.
However, while you might think that the Assistant's languages on smart speakers and smart displays — like the Google Nest Home Hub — are the same, but you'd be wrong. Here's what Google says is available on smart displays as of June 2019, with more coming soon:
It is also worth noting that, if each member of a household using a smart speaker or smart display wants to use a different language, they can. However, each person must set up Voice Match with the device, then each pick the language they want using the above instructions.


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Shut Down the Entire Cluster
To perform an orderly shutdown of the entire cluster:
1. Log on to the D-SRV, and start Cluster Administrator.
2. For each role in the cluster (LC1, LC2, LC3, and DS1), select the role, right-click,
and select Take Offline.
3. Power off the A-SRV.
4. Power off all CAs.
5. Power off the D-SRV.
Start Up the Entire Cluster
To perform an orderly start up of the entire cluster:
1. Power up the D-SRV.
2. Power up the A-SRV.
3. Power up the CAs.
4. Wait for five minutes.
5. Log on to the D-SRV, and use Cluster Administrator to bring the DS1 role on line,
a. Right-click the DS1 group.
b. Select Bring Online.
6. Use the Cluster Administrator to bring the LC Roles online one at a time. Wait for
each role to come online before starting the next role.
As you bring each LC Role online, make sure that the LC Role is assigned to a
unique CA. If each LC Role is not assigned to a unique CA, reassign it as follows:
a. Right-click the LC Role.
b. Select Move Group.
c. Select a CA that is not assigned a role.


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STEM.I.AM Coding and Robotics program
About the program
The Advance Queensland STEM.I.AM Program is a coordinated program of activities to increase STEM engagement for Indigenous students from grades 5 to 12. It is a collaboration between the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Carbon Media Pty Ltd, Department of Education and Training, State Library of Queensland and foundation sponsors including Google and FIRST Australia.
To help close the literacy and numeracy gap, greater participation in STEM from young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from urban, regional and remote communities across Queensland is needed.
Engagement in coding and robotics activities will help encourage and inspire students to study in a STEM field at university - an important pathway to achieving employment in STEM careers, vital in today's knowledge economy.
STEM.I.AM coding and robotics activities in libraries
STEM.I.AM coding and robotics activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students will be delivered in public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres in partnership with State Library of Queensland, from August 2017.
Activities include coding and robotics workshops, community-led coding and robotics clubs and coding and robotics competitions.
These activities are funded through the Advance Queensland STEM.I.AM coding and robotics grants for libraries. The grants assist libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres to deliver coding and robotics activities that utilise and strengthen existing connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and libraries through to increase STEM engagement for Indigenous students from grades 5 to 12.
Public libraries play a key role in the digital literacy learning ecology, and provide an informal, non-academic and non-judgmental environment for everyone in a community to learn, problem solve, and create.
STEM.I.AM coding and robotics activities will be delivered at public libraries and/or Indigenous Knowledge Centres in the following local government areas:
- Aurukun Aboriginal Shire Council
- Cook Shire Council
- Douglas Shire Council
- Gladstone Regional Council
- Logan City Council
- North Burnett Regional Council
- Paroo Shire Council
- Townsville City Council
For further details about the program partners and other STEM activities across Queensland visit the Advance Queensland STEM.I.AM website.
Discover an eclectic range of books, gifts, reproduction prints and more at the Library Shop.


A device for reading thoughts was created
Specialists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a device-headset that recognizes the silent commands of a person. It is enough for a man to say the words to himself. The system is called AlterEgo.
The device looks like an ordinary plastic headset. It has electrodes that register neuromuscular signals. On the part to learn that a person is saying something, it is impossible. The headset is also equipped with a headphone with support for bone conduction technology. This allows you to covertly transmit sounds to the inner ear of a person.
In order for the system to correctly recognize signals, it must first be calibrated. So in an experiment involving 10 volunteers after several minutes of adjustment, the accuracy of the recognition of numbers was about 92%. Currently, AlterEgo is able to recognize numbers from 0 to 9 and about 100 words.
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I am working with Pseudomonas fragi and I could not help but notice that it smells sweet, which probably explains its species name 'fragi' from 'fragum', strawberry in Latin.
Does anybody know what causes this bacterium to smell sweet? It must be some volatile compound that they release in the air? Why would they do that? Do other bacteria release odorant molecules? If so, why?


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From the Old French form of the Greek name Eugenios (from eugenēs 'well-born, noble'). This name was borne by various early saints, notably a 5th-century bishop of Carthage, a 7th-century bishop of Toledo, and four popes. It is sometimes used as an Anglicized form of Irish Eóghan and has also been used as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Aodh.
English: from the Old English personal name Tāta, possibly a short form of various compound names with the obscure first element tāt, or else a nursery formation. This surname is common and widespread in Britain; the chief area of concentration is northeastern England, followed by northern Ireland.


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Linux user group
A Linux User Group or Linux Users' Group (LUG) or GNU/Linux User Group (GLUG) is a private, generally non-profit or not-for-profit organization that provides support and/or education for Linux users, particularly for inexperienced users. The term commonly refers to local groups that meet in person, but is also used to refer to online support groups that may have members spread over a very wide area and which do not organize, or which are not based around, physical meetings. Many LUGs encompass FreeBSD and other free Unix-based operating systems.
Local LUGs
Local Linux User Groups meet (typically weekly to monthly) to provide support and/or arrange and host presentations for Linux users, particularly for inexperienced users. Given that Linux is not dominated by any specific corporate or institutional entity, LUG meetings typically encompass a broader range of topics than the meetings of other users' groups. Linux is predominantly user supported and some support is vastly easier via phone or in person than over e-mail or USENET. LUGs are still primarily focused on hobbyist users and professionals who are engaged in self-directed study.
SVLUG is among the oldest and largest LUGs. It was originally formed as a Special Interest Group for the Silicon Valley Computer Society, founded by Daniel Kionka to support Xenix and "low cost PC UNIX systems" (which later became focused on Linux as the dominant free implementation of Unix).
According to the Linux User Group HOWTO:
Computer user groups are not new. In fact, they were central to the personal computer's history: Microcomputers arose in large part to satisfy demand for affordable, personal access to computing resources from electronics, ham radio, and other hobbyist user groups. Giants like IBM eventually discovered the PC to be a good and profitable thing, but initial impetus came from the grassroots.
To give just one indication of how LUGs differ from traditional user groups: Traditional groups must closely monitor what software users redistribute at meetings. While illegal copying of restricted proprietary software certainly occurred, it was officially discouraged—for good reason. At LUG meetings, however, that entire mindset simply does not apply: Far from being forbidden, unrestricted copying of Linux should be among a LUG's primary goals. In fact, there is anecdotal evidence of traditional user groups having difficulty adapting to Linux's ability to be lawfully copied at will.
Typical activities
||This section's use of external links may not follow Wikipedia's policies or guidelines. (March 2012)|
LUGs typically meet once per month in facilities freely provided by universities, colleges, community centers, private corporations, or banquet rooms in restaurants. For example, the SVLUG of the Silicon Valley met for about 10 years in the back of a Carl's Jr. restaurant, and has met for the last several years in meeting rooms at Cisco Systems and, more recently, Symantec. Similarly, the BALUG (SF Bay Area LUG) has always met in a banquet room above the Four Seas Restaurant in San Francisco's Chinatown.
Most LUGs are free, requiring no monthly or annual dues. In many cases the participants are encouraged to patronize the hosts (esp. in restaurant meetings, by buying dinner).
Some LUGs are informal conferences or round table discussions; members simply sit around and chat about Linux related topics. Some provide formal presentations. For example Linus Torvalds has occasionally talked to SVLUG or BALUG (which are close to his former home in Silicon Valley), and Hans Reiser (creator of ReiserFS) presented his early design plans at an SVLUG meeting. Presenters might be anyone in the community with something interesting to say. Occasionally, corporations will sponsor or encourage their employees to speak at users' groups to promote their products. LUGs generally require that these presentations provide technically interesting content rather than overt sales pitches. Often, LUG meetings provide an opportunity for members and guests to make announcements, especially for jobs offered and/or wanted, pleas for assistance (free or professional consulting), and hardware for sale or to be given away "to a good home".
LUGs in close geographic location would get together to hold conferences and share knowledge among peers. Like in Central America, in 2009, the first Encuentro Centro Americano de Software Libre was held in Nicaragua. Where LUGs from the region, from Belize to Panama attended. Groups from other countries are also invited. In 2010, it was held in Punta Renas, Nicaragua; where there were members from the region, including from Germany and Mexico. In 2011, it will be held in El Salvador. These events usually take place in summer, as most of the LUG members are students.
Many LUGs also organize installfests (FreeBSD groups tend to refer to them as "installathons") which are opportunities for experienced Linux users to help others, especially novices with installation and configuration of Linux systems. Installfests may also have break out sessions for teaching new tips and tricks—performance tuning, security hardening, etc.
A few LUGs have developed projects of regional or even international stature. For example, the Uganda Linux User Group operates in 3 major cities and frequently coordinates national and international events which have featured guests as high-profile as Tim Berners-Lee. The Bellingham Linux Users Group (BLUG), in Bellingham, Washington, holds the annual Linuxfest Northwest, which attracts large numbers of participants from throughout the region, including Western Canada. Likewise, Bellevue Linux Users Group (BELUG), which meets in a bookstore in Bellevue, Washington, has developed The Linux Information Project (LINFO), a comprehensive online resource that receives hundreds of thousands of hits monthly from around the world.
LUGs sometimes are gifted with surplus books, back issues of Linux magazines, copies of CDs and other promotional items to give away to their members.
Other than these "official" LUG activities the meetings provide opportunities for users to socialize. Members often exchange e-mail addresses, URLs, and phone numbers and provide technical support or collaborate on study or development projects together. Some local LUGs share characteristics of online LUGs, meeting on IRC or hosting support mailing lists in addition to the physical meetings. LUGs may also have an online blog presence, an example is the OSU LUG or the Nottingham LUG whose Planet NottsLUG is an aggregation of various members' blogs.
LUGs can also be a natural place for local organizations to find Linux expertise. Professors for Unix classes at San Jose State University came to SVLUG in the early days of Linux to find guest lecturers for their classes; some LUGs provide computer help to schools and non-profit organizations, and perform other community outreach services.
An Installfest (a portmanteau of installation and festival) is an event, generally sponsored by a local Linux User Group, university or LAN party, at which people get together to do mass installations of computer operating systems or software, most often Linux and other open source software.
It is generally an advocacy and community-building event, where novices bring their computers along with their preferred operating system installation disks to the location of the installfest, and experienced users help them in getting started and troubleshooting problems. Sometimes a Linux distribution and informative flyers are given for free to the attendees. Some events ask for participants to bring power strips and network switches if available.
Installfests welcome all skill levels from complete novice to expert. An installfest will range from an informal get together to festivals involving music. The tone and scope of a specific event will depend on the organization sponsoring it. Writing in the BBC's Internet Blog in 2008, George Wright described a mini-installfest as being "as painless as [he]'d imagined" and "[with] a bit of luck, it can be straightforward".
The Ubuntu Global Jam includes installfests.
A Hackfest (a portmanteau of hack and festival) is an event, generally sponsored by a local Linux User Group, university or LAN party, at which people get together to demonstrate security issues or reverse engineer computer operating systems or software, most often Linux and other open source software.
Local LUGs celebrate Software Freedom Day by going out and promoting Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Free Ubuntu CDs are given out along with brochures and any information about FOSS. This event is commonly held on the third Saturday of September.
Online LUGs
Not all online Linux support groups refer to themselves as "a LUG", and the use of the word is sometimes (as in the Linux User Group HOWTO) intended to specifically refer to groups of Linux users which organize regular meetings. However, the LUG indexes list groups with members over a large geographical area, and over time, organizations like the EU LUG, for Linux users throughout the European Union (as of 2005[update], apparently defunct) use the term LUG to refer to themselves.
Online LUGs use mailing lists, bulletin boards and IRC as their primary method of communication, with members meeting physically seldom or not at all. As with local LUGs, some groups are limited to technical discussions and others seek to form social bonds between Linux users by having "chat" or "off topic" forums.
Reasons for forming or joining an online LUG vary. Some members of online LUGs may be relatively isolated without a local LUG accessible or with only a few other Linux users in their area.
Women in Libre software communities
Some Linux users are dissatisfied with their local LUG for reasons that might include its size, insularity or atmosphere: the online group LinuxChix, which is a worldwide LUG and social group for women Linux users, was founded due to the perceived aggression and rud


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TPWD News Release — Jan. 3, 2012
While much of the park retains the same tall grasses that helped hide the Texian army as it approached Mexican Gen. Santa Anna's encampment during the Texas Revolution, portions of the historic battleground have become overgrown with a canopy of alien Chinese tallow trees. A large area of the battleground has been cleared of this invasive tree imported from Asia and is now ready to be seeded with native grasses and wildflowers.
Since very few areas of Texas today retain native prairie consisting of a landscape rich in plant diversity because of loss of habitat caused by farming, overgrazing and development. TPWD had been having a difficult time finding the coastal region type of prairie plants that once grew across the battleground. In addition, the site's existing prairie was too small and patchy for a successful harvest.
Fortunately, League City's Benoit Prairie Park holds 44 acres of one of the highest quality remnant prairies left on the Gulf Coast. Likewise, U of H's Galveston County coastal property contains roughly 100 acres of prairie grasses. TPWD worked out an agreement that allows Junction's Native American Seed Company to harvest native grass and wildflower seed from their prairies to use to reseed 110 acres of the San Jacinto Battleground late this winter or early next spring.
The work is being accomplished with the same type of combines most farmers use, but the machines have been modified to harvest the especially diverse and fluffy native plant seeds. The combine work is similar to mowing the prairie; a practice now done annually at the prairie parks, except that the cut portion of the plants is retained and the attached seed is collected. This material is then brought back to Native American Seed's facility where it is cleaned and tested for viability.
The diverse species harvested so far include such beautiful plants as blue mist flower, purple gay feather, switchgrass, little bluestem, Indian grass and Texas coneflower. More than a hundred different types of seed will be collected in all and planted into the restored battleground by Native American Seed once the ground becomes dry enough this winter or early spring.
This project emphasizes the importance of the conservation work League City and Harris County have been doing to retain portions of Texas' native landscape. Native American Seed specializes in conducting large-scale conservancy seed harvests on Texas' last great prairie remnants. This seed is not available elsewhere and the San Jacinto Battleground restoration would not be possible without it. These preserved coastal tall-grass prairie parks not only provide beautiful and historic landscapes, but also provide a home for such prairie-dependent wildlife as marsh hawks and meadow larks.


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An ETL import graph is build on logical dependencies of the jobs to each other. So typically a SQL transformation job depends on all the previous jobs that create the tables used in the query. But once there are a certain number of jobs, dependencies often get a bit more complicated and some of them become redundant in the process. A simple example can be seen in the dependency graph from figure, where the three red edges are redundant.
To speed up the ETL data pipeline, you should try to run jobs in parallel. Obviously, not all jobs can run at the same time in most cases, since there are dependency constraints between the jobs and limits of the servers capacity (number of processors and/or IO bandwidth). So assuming the server allows you to run n jobs in parallel, often there is the situation that the dependencies give you the option to run any of a set of m different jobs with m > n.


15 Things to Know About Brazilian Carnival
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Source: nateClicks
Brazil is significantly known for the enticing festivals held yearly on its streets. Thousands of tourists, friends and relatives flock to enjoy the beauty bestowed by the carnival. It is a week long of pomp, color and you will be on your feet all week long, dancing to the rhythm. Not something you would want to miss. Curious about the holiday? Here are top most 15 things you need to know about the festival.
1. The Carnival
Source: nateClicks
The Carnival of Brazil, in particular, the Rio de Janiero Carnival, marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a sacrifice period prior Easter that takes forty days. Thousands of people get to participate in the carnival. In 2011, over four million people attended the fair and among them, over 12% were foreigners. During the festivals, there are usually on an average of 2 million individuals on the streets daily.
2. The History
Caboclos de Lanca
Source: Prefeitura de Olinda
The ever first of these festivities dates from 1723. It is the world's largest celebrations held in Brazil with at least 200 different schools of samba participating. The dance of samba originated from the region of Baha with rhythms of Africa and came to Rio in 1920.The carnival is a national holiday in Brazil. Even though people flock the celebration, some people don't like to participate in the festival and hence leave for quieter places. At Sambadrome, the main carnival happens.
3. Sambadrome
At the Sambadrome
Source: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo
The Sambadrome is Rio's stadium of samba. Designed by the famous architecture of Brazil, Oscar Niemeyer has a parade route that is permanent and lined with concrete stands ideal for spectators. These positions can sit approximately 70000 individuals. The Sambadrome is the setting for the extravagant parades put by the many schools of samba. There is often a ticket needed for entrance, during the carnival, but the price varies with the location of the seats in the stands.
4. When are the Parades?
Carnival Parade
Source: Randal Sheppard
The parades held annually. The pecking order of the performances is that twelve of the top schools march on 16th of February and March 17th.The shows begin at 9 pm each night and goes on to the wee morning hours. The parade is not only a festival but also a competition between all the different schools each with only minutes between seventy and eighty to make along the route of the parade, their way.
5. More on the Parades
King of the Carnival
Source: Carnaval.com Studios
During the carnival, the parades are often opened by the King of the Carnival known as the King Momo. Each of the participating schools has to choose a particular theme. The theme should be inclusive of the details of the designs produced and directed by the carnival designer. At the street level, many musicians and dancers accompany the performers who man the elaborate floats. The head of each school's parade are the ones to look. The group is of minimum twelve to fifteen dancers who don't have to match the overall theme of the school but perform a vital routine. The Drummer groups are also the providers of the heartbeat of samba for each procession.
6. The magnificent Rio Carnival balls
Carnival Balls
Source: Ian Gampon
Carnival balls are a traditional part of the carnival and take place at various locations all over the City. The balls are a celebration of music, dance and not forgetting the holiday costumes that are colorful. Among the exotic shots are the Red and Blackball, Gay costume ball and the ball of the beer. For forty years, the balls have been the ideal mix of the Samba with the Brazilian music.
7. Listen to Street bands.
Source: Foto:Antônio Cruz/ABr
You may not want to participate in the festivities but would love to hear the street bands during the Carnival; the Avenida Rio Branco is the place to be. The Avenida is the coolest place. One may also see the procession of the street bands late in the afternoon as they make their way beautifully along the street. There is also a large number of dancing and drinking revelers enjoying the music by the street bands.
8. Samba Land
On Stage Competitions
Source: Carnaval.com Studios
Samba land is an open air celebration held in Praca Onze in Rio. There is a big stage that allows more of dancing and live music. Nearby there are also stalls that sell food and drink to party goers for the whole night ride. The events run from 7 pm to early morning 6 am. It is the ideal place to let you drown in live music and great drinks.
9. What of Lapa?
 In The Streets
Source: Marcelo Medeiros
In Lapa, a lot also happens during the carnival. Lapa, a very popular Rio neighborhood hosts most actions during the celebration. Every night from 8 pm till dawn, food, music, and drinks that are majorly of Brazilian descent, are part of the Lapa's observance during the Carnival. There is plenty of fun not forgetting barbecue stands, and you know what that means! You don't have to be in the Sambadrome; you can still have a good time wherever!
10. The Axe
Dancing to the Beat
Source: Prefeitura de Olinda
During the carnival, some towns play a different type of traditional music known as the axe. The Salvador in the Bahia is one of the cities. The people get to follow the trio electric which is a truck adapted that carries a band that plays for either seven or eight hours while moving on the street along a circuit. The bands are very traditional groups. You can have a taste of their exotic music.
11. Catuaba or Beer?
Source: Ian Gampon
The carnival is all about drinking, dancing and having fun. There are towns that people get to drink a lot and not just any beer; they prefer Catuaba. SauPaulo is the town where drinkers prefer Catuaba. Catuaba is an alleged herb with aphrodisiacal properties. Despite being loved by the people, the drink is cheap and as some might claim it makes one go crazy with fun and might even forget to go to the bathroom!
12. Platform of Bonds
Are you looking for new friends or are you a loner? The carnival is a place to go. The carnival is a great ground for forming great bonds with locals and visitors alike. From drinking buddies to friends forever. With all the music and dancing and drinking, you meet new people and from there stories are exchanged, walls broken with new bonds forming.
13. The Blocos
Blocos Afro
Source: Agência Brasil Fotografias
You may not have entered the Sambadrome, but the crowd that is often outside will make you regret nothing. The group tends to drink, sing and dance which is the purpose of the carnival. In Rio de Janeiro, the groups join in with the blocos. The blocos are bands of the festival that do street performances. Nothing to fear, take to the streets with the blocos!
14. Joining in the Parade
Portela Samba School
Source: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo
There is nothing as fun as joining to participate in the carnival. It is not just about watching, but feeling the thrill as one of the members of the procession. Locals and visitors usually are given an opportunity to participate in the parades. All that one needs to do is to contact the independent league of the Rio de Janiero or each school. Time to let loose and be in the parade!
15. What else during the Carnival?
Source: Prefeitura de Olinda
The Carnival gives way to various parties and celebrations all over the country. Some of them include street parties that often start at 5 pm up to 3 am and held every night of the Carnival. These celebrations could be orchestras, samba dances and also singers. With the music being more of the old school, the majority audiences of these parties are the slightly older. It is party time in Brazil. You can't afford to miss this! Take a trip to the land of festivities! You can always wish for more of that, now that you know what to expect!
Have a good trip and travel!
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Brazil, South and Central America


text: Linearization based controllers for incompressible flows have been proven to work in theory and in simulations. To realize such a controller numerically, the infinite dimensional system has to be linearized and discretized. The unavoidable consistency errors add a small but critical uncertainty to the controller model which will likely make it fail, especially when an observer is involved. Standard robust controller designs can compensate small uncertainties if they can be qualified as a coprime factor perturbation of the plant. We show that for the linearized Navier-Stokes equations, a linearization error can be expressed as a coprime factor perturbation and that this perturbation smoothly depends on the size of the linearization error. In particular, improving the linearization makes the perturbation smaller so that, eventually, standard robust controller will stabilize the system.


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I have several different macros that create a sheet in Excel 2003 and populate it with information. These macros are all written in VBA and some are linked to a toolbar in Excel and some are in MS Access. The problem I have is that once the sheet is populated, all the text is superscript. Since this happens with macros executed from Excel and Access, it makes me think there is some setting in Excel that is defaulting to superscript. Has anyone ever seen a similar issue?
This shouldn't happen by default with the scenerio you describe. Can you check the vba code for any instance of this code segment: