Shilin Speed Reading Institute is a personal development and education focused company. We help our clients achieve greater success in their lives through the development and delivery of advanced mental development courses designed to unlock their potential and to develop the minds allowing them to think, read and work faster and more efficiently.
Our signature program, the Shilin Speed Reading Program is an advanced practical in-class speed reading training program developed by Dmitriy Shilin.
Developed in the late 1980s in the Ukraine, Dmitriy trained thousands of students to exponentially increase their reading speed. When moving to South Africa after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the course lay dormant while Dmitriy focused on other business initiatives. Now nearly 2 decades later the course is being reintroduced to the world at a time when it is most needed.
Please join us on Thursday the 9th of May 2019 for a free information session about the Shilin Speed Reading Program. This FREE introductory talk is presented by our co-founder and and company CEO Martin Sam.
What makes the Shilin Speed Reading Program the most advanced reading development course and even one of the most advanced educational programs in the world? In the last twelve months alone we have trained some of the fastest readers in the world. Ten of our students were able to achieve reading speeds greater than ten thousand words per minute.
Our students achieve these reading speeds by training the brain to read multiple words, sentences, paragraphs and sometimes entire pages in the same time the average person takes to read a few words.
All the footage below is of the final reading comprehension tests at the end of the course.
The comprehension levels of these students is over 70-80% with the ability to retain and recall the information.


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National Press Club To Host News Conference with Debra Tice Thursday at 9:30
WASHINGTON, December 6, 2021 –
News Advisory:
Event: The National Press Club Press Freedom Team will host a news conference with Debra Tice, mother of award-winning journalist Austin Tice who has been held in Syria since 2012, and Christophe Deloire, Secretary General of RSF (Reporters Without Borders). They will discuss the role of press freedom in democracy and the case of Austin Tice in that context and will take questions.
When: Thursday, December 9 at 9:30 am
Where: Fourth Estate Room, National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW Washington, D.C. 13th Floor.
Details: The event is in person and guests may register here. Alternatively, there will be a live stream on the Club website and Youtube channel. This event is open to credentialed journalists, members of the National Press Club and their guests. The National Press Club Press Freedom Team is organized by the Club along with the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate.
Mr. Delore, who is based in Paris, is in Washington to participate in the Summit For Democracy. Mrs. Tice, who lives in Houston, is in DC for meetings related to her son's case.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's non-profit affiliate, promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire civic engagement.
Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7500 for the National Press Club
529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045
8am-8pm Monday-Friday
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7am-11pm Monday-Saturday
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Posted on	Thursday November 25, 2010 in Fashion, Shopping.
Sometimes I am surprised by my sense of timing. By chance, landed self in Hong Kong just in time for the launch of Lanvin for H&M.
23rd Nov, Tuesday – work day and the flagship outlet was overwhelmed with well-planned chaos. Started at 0800, colour bracelets were distributed to early birds for a 10-mins grabbing stint. Just 10-mins. For folks who arrived after 1000, like myself, the advice from the loud hailer was – Please join the queue outside the store. Please note that by queuing does not guarantee that you will be able to buy anything. Read: Stock is low.
At 1215, a bunch of well-dressed&groomed persons (perhaps from Lanvin?) started to take apart the pale-skinned mannequins. By 1400, there was no sign of the designer's footprint in the store. Outside the store, the brave and patient proudly showcased the white lavish paper bags.
Maybe next time, I will be more motivated to join the madness.


The MPC9330 is a 3.3 V compatible, 1:6 PLL based clock generator targeted for high performance low-skew clock distribution in mid-range to high-performance telecomm, networking and computing applications. With output frequencies up to 120 MHz and output skews less than 150 ps, the device meets the needs of the most demanding clock applications. The MPC9330 is specified for the temperature range of 0°C to +70°C.


Education is a powerful tool that can help one to grow as a person with the society. Education does not mean completing a graduation or a certification, the knowledge about the general happenings, rules, facts are also education. Teachers play a vital role in bringing a change in the existing era. The prime factor is awareness to education which is lacking in most of the rural areas where children lose their childhood and are forced to join work along with their parents. These people are unaware about the power of education and how it can actually change one's life drastically.
There are many organizations like 'educate for life' that actively work to find out the needs of the people under poverty line and educate them about the value of education. The aim of these supporting organizations is to remove the gap between the children and the school. They help to break down all the barriers that stop them from going to school. This prime tool- education is rendered by service in both private and public organizations. The aim of the Indian government is to increase the rate of educated citizens to see a better future India. With this motive the government educational organization collects a very minimal fee in order to motivate the rural parents.
In India the funding comes from three major levels, central, state and local levels. Education is considered to be the fundamental right of a child between the ages 6 to 14 years. A child under 18 years working in an organization or any institution is considered to be illegal and the offenders are punishable. We as educated citizens should take a step forward and help these under privileged children to gain their rights and develop their skills and attitude and let them know the power of education. This could bring a drastic change in the future and help our country prosper among other developed countries. Education is one power that remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.


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18009. SANTRAGACHI AJMER SRC AII EXPRESS TRAIN FROM SANTRAGACHI TO AJMER RUNS FRIDAY
18009 Santragachi Ajmer Express train from Santragachi to Ajmer runs on Friday, covering 2006 kms in 40 hours & 30 minutes, running at a speed of 53.23 km/hr, making 22 stoppages of 169 minutes in total.
SANTRAGACHI AJMER SRC AII EXPRESS TIMETABLE
1 SANTRAGACHI JN (SRC) 13:00 0 km
2 KHARAGPUR JN (KGP) 14:30 14:35 05:00 110 km
3 TATANAGAR JN (TATA) 16:20 16:30 10:00 245 km
4 MURI (MURI) 18:38 18:40 02:00 349 km
5 BARKA KANA (BRKA) 20:10 20:35 25:00 407 km
6 TORI (TORI) 21:32 21:34 02:00 490 km
7 LATEHAR (LTHR) 22:07 22:09 02:00 522 km
8 BARWADIH JN (BRWD) 22:39 22:44 05:00 563 km
9 DALTONGANJ (DTO) 23:04 23:09 05:00 590 km
10 GARWA ROAD (GHD) 00:03 00:08 05:00 623 km
11 CHOPAN (CPU) 02:25 02:45 20:00 765 km
12 SINGRAULI (SGRL) 05:00 05:10 10:00 827 km
13 KATNI MURWARA (KMZ) 11:30 11:40 10:00 1086 km
14 DAMOH (DMO) 13:08 13:10 02:00 1196 km
15 SAUGOR (SGO) 14:15 14:20 05:00 1273 km
16 MUNGAOLI (MNV) 16:10 16:12 02:00 1374 km
17 ASHOK NAGAR (ASKN) 16:58 17:00 02:00 1419 km
18 GUNA (GUNA) 18:15 18:25 10:00 1464 km
19 BARAN (BAZ) 20:03 20:05 02:00 1582 km
20 KOTA JN (KOTA) 22:05 22:15 10:00 1648 km
21 BUNDI (BUDI) 22:58 23:00 02:00 1686 km
22 CHITTAURGARH (COR) 01:45 02:10 25:00 1820 km
23 BHILWARA (BHL) 03:00 03:08 08:00 1874 km
24 AJMER (AII) 05:30 2006 km
Route map of Santragachi to Ajmer trains,
18009 SANTRAGACHI AJMER FARE
Santragachi Ajmer Src Aii Express has AC1, AC2, AC3, SLEEPER CLASS
18009 Santragachi Ajmer Express is the fastest train from Santragachi to Ajmer railway station. (Compare Train Speeds)
Returning train number 18010. Santragachi Ajmer Src Aii Express commences from Ajmer at 13:00 and reaches Santragachi Jn at 05:30. It runs on friday.


How to Write A Good Persuasive or Argumentative Essay: Superb Guide!
When writing an argumentative or persuasive essay, the writer tries to share their values, convince readers to accept or agree with the facts they have presented, agree with the arguments and conclusions they have reached, and to get readers to adopt their thought process.
The demonstration of sufficient confidence on the writer's part to present and communicate ideas through a sufficiently persuasive piece of writing.
Rewrite the assignment's question(s) in words of your own choosing.
Consider the question(s) the assignment is asking.
The evidence and facts available to you.
Any source materials that are likely to help you establish the reliability of information (and also to use for future reference).
Any biases or prejudices that the argument may hold or any values that may be clouding the issue or facts.
Your opinion of the argument put forward by the author.
Examine the facts with a view to prioritizing, sequencing, editing, or discarding them.
Is there anything "hot" about the issue?
Recognize and make a list of any possible emotional responses the topic may generate and put these aside in case you need to use them later.
Begin writing your first draft! (You can refer to our other article "The Basics of Essay Writing" for more help with this element).
Begin as closely as you possibly can with the materials you have read and/or researched.
There is no need to be concerned about spelling and grammar at this stage.
Draft the first or opening paragraph of your essay.
Share your viewpoint on the topic.
Encourage readers to keep reading your paper.
Identify three key points to focus on and keep developing these as you write.
Establish a smooth flow as you move from one paragraph to the next.
Quote any sources you use to give authority to your essay.
As you progress through your essay, remain focused on your viewpoint.
Concentrate on building arguments that are clear and logical.
Avoid the temptation to summarize while you are writing – leave this for the concluding section.
Write your concluding section. Here, you should sum-up your argument and bring it to a logical conclusion. You should also refer back to your introductory paragraph, opening comments, and all the key points from the body of your essay.
Have you restated all key points/ideas in your conclusion?
Have you reflected on the importance and considered the progress of your argument(s)?
Have you developed your argument(s) to a logical conclusion?
Edit your first or opening paragraph and rewrite (all or part) if necessary in order to better develop your essay and arrive at a conclusion.
Now take a break for one or two days!
Does what I have written make perfect sense? Do I feel convinced by what I have written?
Will my readers be convinced?
Are they likely to agree with the facts I have presented and will they understand my ideas and values?
Ask someone else to read your work and comment on your argument(s). Did they feel convinced?
Undertake any revisions that are necessary.
Congratulate yourself on having done a good job knowing you have done the best you could.
First, do your best not to take criticism personally.
Think of it as a way of developing or testing your persuasive powers.
If anyone criticizes your facts, check them again and cite the sources you took them from.
If anyone criticizes your particular values, it may be that you need to agree "not to agree" with your criticizer. Do not forget that to successfully persuade others is to assume another person's mind is open to persuasion!
If it is the case you are not accustomed to communicating your thoughts, particularly on paper, you may experience fear on a number of levels. You will need to find ways to overcome these fears. Writing differs from informal or undocumented speech in that it is a long-lasting record of what you say for everyone to see. Therefore, context is less important than it is in speech where words can be colored by "context." Here is an example: Readers cannot see you, they just see the words you have written. They know nothing of your appearance, who you really are, or where you come from.
It is to be hoped that school, college, and the classroom provides a safe haven in which students can practice the arts of both writing and persuading. Then in later life, when that student is in their community -whether this is in their family, neighborhood, church or workplace - this early practice should bear fruit.
Persuasion is built on facts, which leads to conclusions. This, of course, means a writer needs to know what they are writing about and should not be sloppy with their facts or they will not successfully persuade anyone. This can create another type of fear, which is the worry of making mistakes that will render your attempt at persuasion or argument meaningless. Because you are using the written word, and your words are visible to all on paper (or on the web!) it is necessary to make a real effort to ensure your facts are correct and in good order.


Tachyonised energy cell is an effective directional antenna for attracting Energy to a specific area.
The 24mm Tachyonized RI Energy Cells (aqua) direct the tachyon flow out the flat side of the cell. Anyone who uses color for therapeutic purposes understands that each color has its own energy or frequency. When color is combined with tachyon, the Energy flowing through is already so powerful that frequency of color is only about 5% of the overall energy experience. This makes color a matter of choice, so choose colors that you resonate with.


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Absolute Perfection | A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: 5/3/16
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.
Feyre and Tamlin, finally home at the Spring Court, thought the worst was behind them. However, Feyre is plagued by nightmares, reliving her time Under the Mountain, and during her waking hours, she endures planning a wedding that seems a halfhearted attempt at true happiness. It is not until Rhysand calls in his deal with Feyre that she begins to find purpose in her life again. When Tamlin commits the unforgivable, she leaves for the Night Court and Rhysand introduces her to a world filled with promise, color and hope.
Right from the start, it is interesting to see the direction Maas decided to steer her characters' relationships which left them in unexpected positions. Feyre is different, she has seen many things and she isn't quite sure how to cope with all her past experiences. This layered development that we see blossom in Feyre rings raw and true, an unpredictable combination that will certainly change the story in ways we could have never imagined.
There are quite a few new characters introduced in this one and each are unique, making it extremely easy to differentiate between them all. The Inner Circle, Rhysand's group, offers everything from gorgeous character development to hilarious comic relief.
I adore Cassian and his jibes. He is so light-hearted and good, an excellent player to the series. Amren is, also, another new character. There were always more questions than answers when it came to her. I never knew exactly what to make of her which was why I didn't really warm up to her at all even though she was part of the Inner Circle. It was an interesting choice to throw a character, whom we and other characters know little about, into a group that seems formed on trust.
In my review for A Court of Thorns and Roses, I mentioned how Feyre and I could be best friends. That notion definitely still stands, now even more so. Feyre was magnificent in the first but I loved her even more in the second. She brings her spunk, her bravery and even her stubbornness to the sequel.
I am appalled at myself that I've changed my ships so quickly. I adored Tamlin in A Court of Thorns and Roses. So what happened? Who would have thought that a wedding crasher would have changed my mind so quickly? In the first one, Rhysand seemed as minor as Magnus Bane and as witty and gorgeous as him too. That all changes in the second one where he is given a much more prominent role that fans of the series will be sure to gawk over. He may not glitter like Bane does but the stars from the Night Court shines bright with this one. He is the character of my dreams. It is a rare occurrence to come across such a tremendously well-written character.
A Note on Tamlin and Feyre's Relationship
(This section has minor spoilers from the first book, A Court of Thorns and Roses.)
I spent most of the book infuriated with Tamlin. In fact, I am still furious with him. A part of me would have loved to see his reaction to some of the things that were going on. However, I know even with more scenes with him and the Spring Court, I would have been so angry to even continue (though I did miss Lucien, a little bit). I know quite a few readers who refuse to continue with the series because of how A Court of Thorns and Roses dealt with Tamlin and Feyre's relationship. And, similar to Feyre, I almost wrote off the signs of abuse that after rereading the first seems so clear to me now. It was difficult to come to terms at what the relationship had become. I was expecting a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast: the beast and beauty should confirm their true love with a kiss, break the spell and live happily ever after. That's not what happened.
It still disturbs me how blind I was to Tamlin's charm, to his advances. And I realized that this is exactly how abusive relationships are. Feyre and I both were blind to Tamlin's nature. I sometimes write notes while reading so I remember to mention something about that or this in my book review. I was rereading some of my old notes for A Court of Thorns and Roses. I kept returning to the scene where he bites her neck after the Calanmai celebration and how it irked me. Excuse me, Tamlin, but pushing you away is definitely not giving you the green light to continue. But I wrote it off as quickly as Feyre because out of nowhere she realized that she had feelings for him. I didn't put my dislike for the scene in my review because I couldn't find a way to fit it in. Instead, I mentioned the unbalanced nature of their relationship. So now after finishing A Court of Mist and Fury, it still bothers me that I was blind for as long as Feyre, making excuses for Tamlin and hoping for the best. I would have to say this book hits close to home. It rings true, so incredibly fresh that the book itself should probably come with a trigger warning.
I don't want you to think this book is all about an abusive relationship. It most certainly is not. Instead, A Court of Mist and Fury is a gorgeous healing journey of self-acceptance, friendship, and true love.
Absolute Perfection
I absolutely loved A Court of Thorns and Roses so going into its sequel, I had high expectations and I'm delighted to say that my expectations were met and then some. I was interested in every facet of the plot. The writing and superb world building intensifies the read, pulling you into the immersive landscape.
A Court of Mist and Fury gave me all the feels. I don't know how readers survived without the next book, A Court of Wings and Ruin, on hand. I didn't realize the sequel would tear me up like that. It was a magnificent, wild ride that I will not soon forget. Similar in the sense that Wayfarer by Alexandra Bracken went beyond the limits of Passenger, A Court of Mist and Fury passed that of A Court of Thorns and Roses. This is no longer a retelling but an original masterpiece that is woven from the world built in the first book.
The ending was mind-blowing. The level was stepped up a notch, well beyond ten times the original level it had started with. This sequel will break you, leaving you shattered. Hopefully, A Court of Wings and Ruin picks up the pieces and puts you back together again.
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas is so perfect, so important, so filled with everything. I found myself going back and rereading parts that I loved, that I needed to relive again even if it was only moments ago. This book is a treasure.
A Court of Thorns and Roses (5/5/15): 5 stars
A Court of Mist and Fury (5/3/16): 5 stars
A Court of Wings and Ruin (5/2/17): TBD
Tags: book review


This house is only 1/8th of a mile to Scarborough State Beach and just 7 miles to the URI campus. It rents to either 2 or 3 people (price changes per number of tenants). The property features a spacious eat-in-kitchen with ceiling fans and an upper level living area with water views.


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char * msa2tree(char **mfa, unsigned int num_species);

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I had been doing quite well with my fitness drive recently. I'd been out on the bike or on the Turbo Trainer a fair bit, I'd been swimming once a week and going to circuit training once a week and I'd even started running a little bit. Best of all, I'd lost a little bit of weight, getting myself down from hovering around 78-80Kg down to about 75Kg (on a good day).
All of that went out of the window last week though when we went on holiday and the main activity of the week (other than keeping warm and dry!) was eating. Cereal, cooked breakfast, toast and waffles for breakfast every day and a large 3 course meal every evening! Not helped by the fact that Anna and Morgan aren't the biggest of eaters and as we'd paid for the food anything they leave I feel obliged to eat so often in the evenings I would have my starter, Morgans starter, then my main course, followed by my pudding, half of Annas pudding and half or Morgans pudding!
Needless to say I have some weight to lose again as I'm now back to my standard 78Kg or thereabouts! Oh well, lets hope it is easier second time around.


Charlie Adam has apologised for letting down his teammates – even if he was surprised Martin Atkinson continues to deem his challenge as red card-worthy.
Adam was dismissed at 0-0 with half an hour gone of Stoke's pivotal home game against Everton, watching on from the side as they went on to lose 2-1.
The midfielder isn't convinced it was the right decision to dismiss him for a studs-up foul on Wayne Rooney, who told Adam he thought it was harsh too.
But the referee was the only one who mattered and the result leaves Stoke now odds-on with the bookies to be relegated.
Adam said: "I was surprised it was a red card. At the end of the day I thought he was going to pull a yellow card out. The conditions weren't great and obviously Wayne's got there before me.
"That's kind of all I can say really – I've let the team down and I've let the squad down. I think you've got to take the conditions into account but he's happy with the decision he's made.
"I went over to see Wayne just more or less to see if he thought it was a bad tackle. He said 'no' really, but that's just the way it is.
"The referee makes the decision then that's it. I've been in to see him and he still thinks he's happy with his decision. I'm gutted because it's a difficult time for everyone.
Adam will receive an automatic three-game ban for a dangerous tackle, meaning he will miss Stoke's matches against Arsenal away, Tottenham at home and West Ham away.
He was full of praise for the character they showed without him for an hour but a Cenk Tosun double, either side of a close range effort from sub Max Choupo-Moting condemned them to another defeat.
Stoke are now seven games without a win with seven games remaining to try to rescue their season.
"The lads did excellently – they did brilliantly with 10-men," said Adam.
Stoke are now on a two-week break due to the international programme, returning to action at the Emirates on Sunday, April 1 (1.30pm).
Adam had come in for Geoff Cameron, who was nursing a hamstring problem, while Xherdan Shaqiri will rest a calf strain that prevented him from playing the full match on Saturday, although he was passed fit to start. The forward has pulled out of Switzerland's upcoming friendlies against Greece and Panama.
Mame Diouf has returned to training following a dislocated shoulder.


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Nonstop flight route between Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States and White Plains, New York, United States:
Westchester County Airport (HPN)
(41°4'0"N by 73°42'26"W)
Distance from BDR to HPN:
30.99 miles (49.87 km)
HPN Airport Information
Facts about HPN
Map of Nearest Airports to HPN
List of Nearest Airports to HPN
Map of Furthest Airports from HPN
List of Furthest Airports from HPN
A direct, nonstop flight between Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States and Westchester County Airport (HPN), White Plains, New York, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 31 miles (or 50 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the relatively short distance between Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport and Westchester County Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
IATA / ICAO Codes: HPN / KHPN
Airport Name: Westchester County Airport
Location: White Plains, New York, United States
GPS Coordinates: 41°4'0"N by 73°42'26"W
Area Served: Westchester County, New York, Fairfield County, Connecticut
Operator/Owner: County of Westchester
Airport Type: Public-use
View all routes: Routes from HPN
More Information: HPN Maps & Info
On October 17, 1962 President John F.
The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a general aviation facility.
The airport has been the subject of heated debate in Stratford and Bridgeport.
Facts about Westchester County Airport (HPN):
The first scheduled airline flights were American Airlines in late 1949.
The closest airport to Westchester County Airport (HPN) is Flushing Airport (closed 1984) (FLU), which is located 21 miles (34 kilometers) SSW of HPN.
There are two flight schools.
Because of Westchester County Airport's relatively low elevation of 439 feet, planes can take off or land at Westchester County Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
The airport's environmental management practices are monitored through the AEMS, an ISO 14001 certified Airport Environmental Management System.
Westchester County Airport (HPN) has 2 runways.
The furthest airport from Westchester County Airport (HPN) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,747 miles (18,906 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Map of Nearest Airports to Westchester County Airport:
List of Nearest Airports to Westchester County Airport:
1 20.94 miles (33.70 km) SSW Flushing Airport (closed 1984) (FLU) Flushing, New York, United States
2 21.79 miles (35.07 km) SSW LaGuardia Airport (LGA) New York City, New York, United States
3 23.76 miles (38.24 km) SW Teterboro Airport (TEB) Teterboro, New Jersey, United States
4 24.09 miles (38.77 km) NNE Danbury Municipal Airport (DXR) Danbury, Connecticut, United States
5 26.33 miles (42.37 km) SSW East 34th Street Heliport (TSS) New York City, United States
6 26.64 miles (42.88 km) SW West 30th Street Heliport (JRA) New York City, New York, United States
7 26.86 miles (43.23 km) SSW New York Skyports Inc. Seaplane Base (QNY) New York City, New York, United States
8 27.96 miles (44.99 km) SSE Republic Airport (FRG) East Farmingdale, New York, United States
9 29.75 miles (47.88 km) S John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) New York City, New York, United States
10 29.78 miles (47.92 km) SSW Downtown Manhattan Heliport (JRB) New York City, New York, United States
11 30.99 miles (49.87 km) ENE Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR) Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
12 32.74 miles (52.68 km) WSW Essex County Airport (CDW) Caldwell, New Jersey, United States
13 35.35 miles (56.89 km) SW Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Newark/Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
14 36.58 miles (58.87 km) NW Stewart International Airport (SWF) Newburgh, New York, United States
15 36.84 miles (59.28 km) ESE Long Island MacArthur Airport (HAP) Long Island, Queensland, Australia
Map of Furthest Airports from Westchester County Airport:
List of Furthest Airports from Westchester County Airport:
14 11,422.74 miles (18,383.07 km) SW Mullewa Airport (MXU) Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia


Jaden, age 13, is Creek and Seminole from Okemah, Oklahoma. He attends Okemah School where he plays basketball, baseball, football and runs track and cross country. He loves spending time with family and friends. Jaden has always said he will be in movies, and he will become an actor. The Chickasaw Rancher is his first film.


text:
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Supernatural will end after Season 15, shocked face emoji
Supernatural is ending after Season 15 and we're quite frankly shocked
By Poppy-Jay Palmer	 25-03-19 42,501
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The CW's most unkillable show is finally dead: Supernatural is officially set to end after Season 15.
The bittersweet news was announced by cast members Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins in a video posted to Padalecki's Twitter account:
Hey #SPNFamily here's a little message from @JensenAckles @mishacollins and me. I'm so grateful for the family that's been built because of the show. Excuse me while i go cry. pic.twitter.com/QDXDsAyIfK
— Jared Padalecki (@jarpad) March 22, 2019
In a joint statement, co-showrunners and executive producers Andrew Dabb and Robert Singer said: "Firstly, we would like to thank all the people who have been involved with the show both in front of and behind the camera. For us it has been an experience of a lifetime. The support we have had from both Warner Bros Television and The CW has been incredible. We'd like to give special thanks to Jensen, Jared and Misha for making this journey so special. It is now most important to us to give these characters that we love the send off they deserve."
The show's network announced earlier this year that Season 15 would be airing this autumn, so we can probably expect something wild if it's to top the previous 14 and come to a satisfying conclusion.
Supernatural was created by Eric Kripke and first aired on The CW in September 2005. It follows the adventures of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (played by Padalecki and Ackles respectively) as they travel the US and hunt monsters, and fight angels and demons, sometimes with the help of Collins' angel Castiel among others.
As the Winchesters have died on the show many, many times apiece, we're actually shocked that their story is finally coming to an end. We'd say it was about time (it started to drag a while ago; it's been downhill since the apocalypse), but we're actually still pretty gutted.
Supernatural Season 15 will premiere this autumn. Get all the latest sci-fi news with every issue of SciFiNow.
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | On the one hand, I cannot vote to re-elect President Barack Obama, who more than any other president in our history continuously exceeds the constitutional limitations of the executive branch. For example -- one of many I've documented -- Obama, without going to a judge, regularly selects those who are to be assassinated from a "kill list"; this includes American citizens suspected of being associated with terrorists.
But I have other reasons for not possibly voting for him. One is that no previous president has been so radically pro-abortion as Obama, who, when he was in the Illinois Senate, voted three times against the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act. The bill would have ensured that if a live baby fully emerged before an abortion was successfully completed, he or she was to be saved.
To let this legislation die would be an act of infanticide, but it did not pass while Obama was in the Illinois Senate.
However, according to the Chicago Tribune, "In 2005, when additional language was added to a 'born alive' bill in Illinois that explicitly spelled out that it would not impact abortion rights in any way, the law passed easily" ("Executive summary: What you need to know about the 'born alive' issue," Eric Zorn, blogs.chicagotribune.com, Aug. 22, 2008).
Years ago, as I reported in an article for the Human Life Review on the highly disproportionate number of abortions on blacks ("President Obama and 'Black Genocide,'" Winter/Spring 2009), I had interviewed a registered nurse who had worked in the Labor and Delivery Department of Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Ill., and had participated unwillingly in one of these botched abortions.
I honor Jill Stanek for what she revealed.
Some of what she told me of the dispositions of these abandoned babies appeared in a September 2000 House Judiciary Committee report. One of the babies persisting in being alive was "left to die on the counter of the Soiled Utility Room wrapped in a disposable towel. The baby was accidentally thrown in the garbage, and when they were later going through the trash to find the baby, the baby fell out of the towel and on to the floor."
Another nurse "happened to walk into a Soiled Utility Room and saw, lying on the metal counter, a fetus, naked, exposed and breathing, moving its arms and legs."
Nonetheless, then-state Sen. Obama, who dissented against the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, had opposed what he called the view that "you have to keep alive even a previable child."
Yet state Sen. Obama insisted that the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act interfered with a woman's reproductive rights. But wanted or not, the child had been born, and preventing him or her from continuing to live was infanticide!
I should point out that although I am obviously a pro-lifer (not for religious reasons, but because I'm an atheist who can read biology), I have voted for pro-choicers with whom I have otherwise agreed on the First and Fourth Amendments and other constitutional rights, among them the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. He was pro-abortion, except for partial-birth abortion, which he described as "only minutes away from infanticide."
Obama, however, has firmly opposed any action taken against partial-birth abortion, including action taken by the Supreme Court.
With regard to the other pressing reason I cannot vote for this incumbent president: I was intrigued to find out that his communications advisers "created an interactive Web forum for receiving and evaluating citizen petitions" to the White House, as the June 1 Daily Caller reported.
"'Considering that the government already has a "Do Not Call" list and a "No Fly" list, we hereby request that the White House create a "Do Not Kill" list in which American citizens can sign up to avoid being put on the president's "kill list" and therefore avoid being executed without indictment, judge, jury, trial or due process of law'" ("White House website petition to Obama: Please create 'Do Not Kill' list," David Martosko, The Daily Caller, June 1).
Somehow I do not believe our commander in chief's sleep was troubled by this petition. But ever-increasing, concerted demands from black pro-life citizens, including preachers, may well be irritating Obama and, if he is indeed re-elected, could conceivably lead to human rights protests outside the White House.
"Please, Mr. President, be that agent of change that can commute the sentence of over 1,400 African-American children and over 3,000 children from other ethnic groups sentenced to die every day in this country by abortion. ... At the conclusion of your term in office, may it never be said that you presided over the largest slaughter of innocent children in the history of the country."
Yet Obama increasingly supports and encourages the abortion-created corpses of innocent black children.
In my Human Life Review column I quoted LifeSiteNews.com, which reported that, in February 2009, the head of Canada's Campaign Life Coalition told our new "president of change" that "abortion is the number one killer of African-Americans in the U.S."
If Obama is re-elected, will that horrendous distinction persist?


ClassVR from Avantis Education has been named as winner of the Secondary Resource or Equipment category at the Education Resource Awards 2018.
"We're incredibly proud that ClassVR has been named as winner of the Secondary Resource or Equipment Award at the Education Resource Awards, following on from our UK Supplier of the Year Award, last year.
We are always conscious that any classroom technology should be impactful, immersive and engaging for the students, and not just about the technology itself.


text:
\section{Introduction}

DNA is one of many self-assembling biological polymers~\cite{winfree_design_1998}.
These molecules form different arrangements depending on their sequence~\cite{rothemund_folding_2006}.
For DNA, one of these arrangements is the hairpin-loop, a secondary structure formed when single stranded DNA (ssDNA) has two complimentary sequences that fold on top of each other in the shape of a hairpin~\cite{bonnet_kinetics_1998}.
The loop of the hairpin is comprised of single stranded DNA, while the stem is formed by double stranded DNA connected by hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs, as illustrated in Fig.~\ref{Fig1}.
The hairpin structure is not static, but fluctuates predominately between two unique conformations: the open state and the closed state \cite{bonnet_kinetics_1998}.
The DNA predominantly exists in the closed state at temperatures below its melting temperature, allowing the hydrogen bonds in the stem to form.
As the temperature increases above the melting temperature, the stem denatures and the structure behaves like linear polymer.

Since DNA has only four different monomers in its primary sequence, there is a relatively high probability that complimentary sequences within the same strand will be located close enough to bind to each other.
As such, hairpin structures are fairly common.
For instance, hairpins are typically formed during replication~\cite{chen_hairpins_1995,voineagu_replication_2008}.
Furthermore, DNA hairpins play a multitude of biological roles, including the regulation of gene expression
\cite{roth_v_1992, gottesfeld_regulation_1997, zazopoulos_dna_1997, smith_gene_2000, mccaffrey_gene_2002, yu_rna_2002},
DNA recombination \cite{froelich-ammon_site-specific_1994, kennedy_tn10_1998, ma_hairpin_2002, lengsfeld_sae2_2007},
and mutagenesis \cite{collins_instability_1981, trinh_influence_1993, wang_non-b_2006, wells_non-b_2007, kruisselbrink_mutagenic_2008}.
In addition to its biological importance, DNA has many applications in nanotechnology, including
nanomedicine~\cite{yan_tang_self-stabilized_1993, kagan_nanomedicine_2005, liu_nanomedicine_2007, roy_optical_2005, maojo_nanoinformatics_2010, chhabra_dna_2010, campolongo_dna_2010, lopez_catalytic_2010, ma-ham_apoferritin-based_2011}
and nanorobotics~\cite{hamdi_dna_2008, reif_autonomous_2009, elbaz_dna_2012, douglas_logic-gated_2012, jani_dna_2013, popov_avoidance_2014}.
DNA hairpins in particular are used to make
biosensors~\cite{tyagi_molecular_1996, mao_studies_2003, du_hybridization-based_2003, jin_hairpin_2007, zhang_electrogenerated_2008-1},
DNA computers~\cite{adleman_molecular_1994, liu_dna_1998},
and shape shifting smart materials \cite{goodman_reconfigurable_2008}.

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=.28]{Fig1.jpg}
\caption{\label{Fig1} A DNA hairpin showing the stem and loop. Harmonic, Morse and Yukawa bonds are shown in blue, green, and red, respectively. For ease of viewing, only two Yukawa bonds are shown.}
\end{figure}

To better understand the thermodynamic and statistical properties of both engineered and biological DNA-based structures, researchers have employed a variety of single molecules force measuring techniques. These include
nanopores~\cite{storm_fast_2005, van_dorp_origin_2009, keyser_direct_2006, keyser_optical_2006},
optical tweezers~\cite{keyser_direct_2006, keyser_optical_2006, wang_stretching_1997, bockelmann_unzipping_2002, tropini_multi-nanopore_2007,neuman_single-molecule_2008,bustamante_single-molecule_2000},
and AFM~\cite{lee_direct_1994, boland_direct_1995, strunz_dynamic_1999, rief_sequence-dependent_1999, bustamante_single-molecule_2000, rouzina_force-induced_2001}.
Force measurement experiments typically involve anchoring one portion of the molecule while another portion is pulled with a force that can be either measured or derived.

In addition to single molecule experiments, simple coarse grained models can elucidate many qualitative features about the behavior of DNA at the nanoscale.
DNA modeling originated with simple Ising-like models in the 1960s~\cite{richard_polandscheraga_2004, fisher_walks_1984}.
These simplified, two-state models only characterize a base pair as existing in an open or closed state.
As such, these models excel at predicting the thermodynamic behavior of systems containing a large number of base pairs \cite{peyrard_modelling_2008}, however, they fail when fine resolution is required to detect large-amplitude fluctuations at temperatures below that of denaturation \cite{dauxois_entropy-driven_1993}.
Coarse grained models provide a better avenue for understanding physics at the mesoscopic level~\cite{knotts_iv_coarse_2007}.
Computational methods for analyzing these models are diverse, including Monte Carlo methods, Lattice Boltzmann methods, Brownian dynamics, and molecular dynamics \cite{kenward_brownian_2009,frederickx_anomalous_2014}.
One model, the Peyrard Bishop (PB) model, simplifies the structure of DNA by representing hydrogen bonds and stacking interactions as Morse and Harmonic bonds, respectively~\cite{peyrard_statistical_1989}.
Cuesta-L\'{o}pez, Peyrard, and Graham (CLPG) further extended the PB Model to account for the two-dimensional position of each base, rather than simply the separation between bases \cite{cuesta-lopez_model_2005}.
This modification permitted the formation hairpin structures, while still maintaining a great deal of simplicity.
Using this model, CLPG analyzed the melting characteristics of hairpins under various circumstances to examine the role strand rigidity and other properties play in melting.

While CLPG focused primarily on melting, the simplicity of their model makes computing other thermodynamics properties via simulation straightforward, as many states can be sampled in a relatively short computational run time.
Moreover, while the model may not be detailed enough to quantitatively capture fine details of a DNA hairpin, it's simplicity may make it generally applicable to qualitatively describing the features of many types of folded polymers.
In what follows, we examine the thermodynamic properties and response functions for the CLPG model using data obtained from Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations.

This paper is organized as follows.
In section 2, we describe a three dimensional version of the CLPG hairpin model that we simulated as well as the Monte Carlo algorithm we used to determine the thermodynamic properties of the model.
In section 3, we discuss the results including fitted functional forms for approximate equations of state along with notable features of the thermodynamic response functions.
In section 4, we conclude by discussing possible implications and applications of the work described.

\section{Methods}

We simulated a three-dimensional version of the DNA hairpin model originally introduced by CLPG~\cite{cuesta-lopez_model_2005}.
While the CLPG model was originally simulated in two dimensions, the forms for the potentials make it straightforward to extend the model to three dimensions.
In this model, each of the $N=24$ beads represents a nucleotide comprised of a base, sugar, and a phosphate group.
The 6 beads at each end of the strand were assigned to the stem and allowed to bond to the complimentary bead at the opposite end.
This left 12 beads in the loop of the hairpin.
We chose to keep all parameters in the three dimensional model within an order of magnitude as the original CLPG model, as this ensured a realistic melting temperature.
Below we describe the model's energetic potentials and define the parameters.

\subsection{Model
The CLPG model describes stacking interactions and hydrogen bonding between complimentary bases in the stem via a Morse potential.
This potential takes the form
\begin{align}
V_M=D\left[e^{-\alpha\left(\left|\vec{r}_i-\vec{r}_j \right|-d_0  \right)}-1\right]^2,
\end{align}
where $d_0=10$ \r{A}  is the equilibrium separation between paired bases in the stem, $D=0.22$ eV is the well depth, $\alpha=4.45$ \r{A}$^{-1}$ is the inverse well width, and $\vec{r}_i$ and $\vec{r}_j$ are three dimensional position vectors to bases $i$ and $j$, respectively.
Each base pair in the stem of the hairpin interacts through a Morse potential.

The energy between adjacent beads in the strand is described by a harmonic potential of the form
\begin{align}
V_H= K_s \left(|\vec{r}_i-\vec{r}_j |-r_0 \right)^2,
\end{align}
where $K_s=0.22$ eV/\r{A}$^2$ represents the stiffness of the spring and $r_0=6.0$ \r{A} represents the average interparticle distance.

It is known that the flexibility of a DNA strand is dependent on its sequence~\cite{goddard_sequence_2000}.
To account for the role sequence-dependent base stacking plays in the flexibility of the strand, CLPG introduced a rigidity potential,
\begin{align}
V_R=K_r (1+\cos\theta_i ),
\end{align}
where $K_r$ is the strength of the rigidity potential and $\theta_i$ is the angle formed by bases $i-1$, $i$, and $i+1$.
This potential influences the shape of the loop, with larger rigidity strengths $K_r$ creating more rounded loops and small $K_r$ resulting in more twisted loops.
Here, we have chosen to examine systems with a fairly weak rigidity strength, $K_r=0.05$ eV.

Finally, CLPG included a Yukawa potential to eliminate shear distortion within the hairpin stem.
This potential, which can be written as
\begin{align}
V_{Yuk}=k_{yuk} \left(\frac{e^{-C_{yuk} |r_i-r_j | }}{|\vec{r}_i-\vec{r}_j | }\right),
\end{align}
provides a repulsive force between base $i$ and any base $j$ adjacent to its complimentary pair on the opposite side of the stem.
Here, $k_{yuk}=50.0$ eV$\cdot$\r{A} represents the strength of the Yukawa potential and $C_{yuk}=0.40$ \r{A}$^{-1}$ represents the inverse Debye screening length.

For brevity, we will henceforth drop units on numerical values listed in the text.
Toy models like the CLPG model used here are only expected to produce qualitatively accurate results.
As such, exact numerical values are not expected to agree quantitatively with experiments, and the inclusion of units is, perhaps, misleading.
Readers who wish to compare the quantitative results to experimental values are free to use dimensional analysis taking the units eV and \r{A} as a base.

\subsection{Simulation Method
To simulate the statistics of the DNA strand we use a Metropolis Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm.
Applied to our model, each time step of the algorithm proceeds as follows:
\begin{enumerate}
\item Generate a trial move by choosing a random bead and displacing it in a random direction by a random distance between 0 and $\sqrt{3}$.
\item Compute the change in energy $\Delta E$.
\item Accept the move with a probability given by the Boltzmann distribution,
\begin{align}
P_{acc}=e^{-\Delta E/k_BT}
\end{align}
where $T$ is the temperature and $k_B$ is Boltzmann's constant.
\end{enumerate}

In each run, the terminal bases were separated by a distance $x$, which was held fixed throughout the simulation.
By holding the position fixed, we mimic the situation where an AFM tip or some other positioning device constrains the ends of the polymer.
Thermodynamically, this corresponds to the {\it N-x-T} ensemble.

We began each run by initializing the DNA in a ``bent'' hairpin state as illustrated in Fig.~\ref{Fig2}.
In this configuration, the strand was bent at its center to produce two segments of equal length, each containing 12 beads.
With the exception of the terminal bases, adjacent bases within a segment were separated by a distance $r_0$,  while the two segments themselves were arranged in parallel lines separated by a distance $d_0$.
This arrangement ensured that bases within each segment would have zero contribution to the energy from the harmonic and rigidity potentials, while bases in the stem would be bonded at the minimum of the Morse well.
Bases at the kink in the hairpin would exhibit a large energy contribution arising from the rigidity potential, but this high energy conformation generally did not survive an equilibration period before recording data.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[scale=.35]{Fig2.jpg}
\caption{\label{Fig2} The starting configuration of a DNA hairpin (left) and the state of the hairpin after equilibration (right). The terminal bases are fixed with a separation distance $x$ throughout the simulation.}
\end{figure}

We initialized each MC run with a different random number seed to ensure the sequence of MC moves was statistically independent from that of other runs.
Since a 24 particle system size is fairly small, we were able to run the simulations for a total of $10^8$ MC steps, of which the first $2.5\times10^7$ were spent allowing the system to equilibrate.
After the equilibration period, we recorded the state of the system every $5\times10^5$ MC steps.
From these states, we then computed the energy and the net force on the first bead.
It is only necessary to compute the force along the separation vector in the $x$ direction, since the $y$ and $z$ components of the force will average to zero by symmetry.
After computing the energy and force for each of the 175  states recorded throughout the run, we then computed the average energy and average force on the terminal bases for the run.

To see how the system behaves over a wide range of conformations, we ran simulations with separation distances ranging from $x=9.5$ to $x=11.9$ at intervals of 0.3, and again from  $x=12$ to $x=152$ at intervals of 20.
These values ensured there was sufficient data to determine a decent fit for the state equations both in the Morse well where the energy and force change rapidly, and outside the Morse well where these functions change slowly.
For each one of these separation distances, we ran simulations at temperatures ranging from 200-400 at intervals of 4.

\section{Results}

\subsection{Equations of State

In Fig.~\ref{fig:FbarVsTemp10-152}, we plot the mean force $\bar{F}$ on the terminal bases as a function of temperature $T$ for terminal base pair separation values $x = 10.4$ (red, dashed) and 152 (black, dotted).
As can be seen from the linear fits to the data, the slope changes significantly from negative to positive between these two separation values.
This suggests the slope has an appreciable dependence on the separation between the terminal bases.
A trend in the slope can be observed by looking at $\bar{F}$ versus $T$ plots for many separation values simultaneously.
In Fig.~\ref{fig:FbarVsTempAll}, we plot $\bar{F}$ versus $T$ for multiple values of separation $x$.

\begin{figure}[b]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{FbarVsTemp10-152.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:FbarVsTemp10-152} A plot of the mean force $\bar{F}$ acting on the terminal bases of the hairpin versus temperature  $T$ for separation values of $x = 10.4$ (red, dashed) and $x=152$ (black, dotted). The straight lines represent linear fits to the data.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[H]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{FbarVsTempAll.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:FbarVsTempAll} A plot of the mean force $\bar{F}$ acting on the terminal bases of the hairpin versus temperature  $T$ for terminal base pair separations ranging from $x = 10.1$ to $x=132$. }
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{fig:FbarVsTempAll}, one  observes negatively sloping curves at small separations.
This slope steadily increases to positive values as $x$ increases.
Moreover, there is a significantly larger mean force for $x\leq11$ and $x\geq132$.
This can be easily understood by noting that the force is largest for small separations, i.e. when the terminal bases are compressed to the point that the separation dips below the equilibrium separation of the Morse bond.
Physically, this corresponds to forcing the electron clouds of the atoms in the terminal bases to overlap.
At large separations, the DNA strand is stretched nearly straight and the harmonic bonds between adjacent bases expand past their equilibrium distance, leading to large mean forces for $x\geq132$.
This corresponds to stretching the bonds in the backbone of the linear DNA strand.

With these observations in mind, we chose the following fitting form for the mean force function,
\begin{align}
\bar{F}(x,T)=&-2 \alpha'  D' e^{\alpha'  (d_0'-x)}\left(e^{\alpha'  ({d_0'}-x)}-1\right)\nonumber\\
   &+2{K_s'} \left(x-R_0'\right)\cdot \Theta(x-R_0') \label{Ffit}\\
   &+T (c_1+c_2 x)\nonumber
\end{align}
Here, the first term is inspired by the Morse force $\vec{F}_M=-\nabla V_M$.
The primes on each variable denote that these are fitting parameters for the force function, not the parameters from the original potentials.
The second term arises from the harmonic force $\vec{F}_H=-\nabla V_H$, which becomes prominent when the strand is stretched beyond the straight strand equilibrium length, defined as $R_0=(N-1)r_0$.
This terms contains a Heaviside theta function $ \Theta(x-R_0')$ that ensures only the right half of the harmonic potential plays a role.
The fitted function requires this factor because intermediate separation values do not necessarily compress the harmonic bonds, since the chain may assume twisted conformations in three dimensional space.
The final term in the right hand side of equation~\ref{Ffit} generates the roughly linear temperature dependence shown in Figs.~\ref{fig:FbarVsTemp10-152} and~\ref{fig:FbarVsTempAll}.
Since the slope of $\bar{F}$ versus $T$ is a strongly dependent and seemingly monotonically increasing function of $x$, we model it as a simple linear function with an intercept $c_1$ and a slope $c_2$.

Using Mathematica's \verb+FindFit+ function, we determined best fit values for the fitting parameters, which can be found in Table~\ref{Table1}.

In Fig.~\ref{fig:FbarEqnOfState}, we make a three-dimensional plot of the mean force $\bar{F}$ versus separation $x$ and temperature $T$.
This plot shows the discrete simulation data (red) and the continuous fitted function (gray), which visually matches the data fairly well.

\begin{center}
 \begin{table}
 \begin{tabular}{|c |  c|}
 \hline
 Parameter & Fit Value \\ [0.5ex]
 \hline\hline
$\alpha'$ & 4.43  \\
\hline
$D'$ & 0.220 \\
\hline
$d_0'$ & 10.0  \\
\hline
$K_s'$ & 0.00603  \\
\hline
$R_0'$ & 129 \\
\hline
$c_1$ & $-1.42\times 10^{-5}$   \\
\hline
$c_2$ & $  4.74\times 10^{-7}$  \\ [1ex]
 \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{\label{Table1} Fitting parameters for the $\bar{F}(x,T)$ function.}
\end{table}
\end{center}

\begin{figure}[b]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{FbarEqnOfState.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:FbarEqnOfState} A three dimensional plot of mean force $\bar{F}$ as a function terminal base pair separation $x$ and temperature $T$ (red) along with the corresponding fitted function (gray).}
\end{figure}

As with the mean force on the terminal base, it is beneficial to fit a functional form to the mean energy of the system.
In Fig.~\ref{fig:EbarVsT10-152}, we plot the mean energy $\bar{E}$ as a function of temperature $T$ for terminal base pair separation values $x = 10.4$ and 152.
As with the mean force function, there is a significant difference in slopes, and additionally, a stark contrast in the noise at these two separation values.
Again, observing plots of $\bar{E}$ versus $T$ for many separation values helps elucidate trends in the data.

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{EbarVsT10-152.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:EbarVsT10-152} A plot of the mean energy $\bar{E}$ as a function of temperature $T$ for terminal base pair separation values of $x = 10.4$ and 152 as temperature increases.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[b]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{EbarVsTAll.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:EbarVsTAll} A plot of the mean energy $\bar{E}$ as a function of temperature $T$ for terminal base pair separations ranging from $x = 9.5$ to $x=152$. Note that the slope for all values of $x$ are positive.}
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{fig:EbarVsTAll}, we plot the mean energy $\bar{E}$ as a function of $T$ for multiple separation values.
In contrast to Fig.~\ref{fig:FbarVsTempAll}, the slope is positive for all $x$ values, which indicates that energy increases as temperature rises as expected.
Furthermore, the slope of these plots does not appear to monotonically increase as a function of $x$, which is made clearer by the plot of fitted slope $\left(\partial\bar{E}/\partial T\right)_x$ versus $x$ shown in Fig~\ref{fig:SlopeFit}.
The energy at the extreme values of $x$ is noticeably larger due to the compressing of the Morse bond and stretching of harmonic springs.
The compressed states at $x = 9.5$ and $x=9.8$ may contain a slight s-shape reminiscent of a melting curve
This suggests there may be a pseudo-phase transition between the hybridized and unhybridized states as one increases the temperature, however it is difficult to say for certain because of the large amount of noise.
Slightly larger values of $x$ outside the Morse well appear mostly linear, though there may be some downward curvature masked by the noise.
Highly stretched hairpins (e.g. $x\geq72$) exhibit a lower noise straight line dependence on the temperature.
This can be easily explained; at this extreme, the energy is dominated by the energy of the harmonic bonds, which have a linear dependence on the temperature according to the equipartition theorem.
Stretching the strand length past the straight strand equilibrium length $R_0$ results in a large harmonic bond energy, as can be seen in from the data at $x=152$.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{SlopeFit.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:SlopeFit} A plot of the derivative of the energy with respect to the temperature $\left(\partial\bar{E}/\partial T\right)_x$ versus separation $x$. The solid lines represents a quadratic fit to the data. The inset shows the same data near the inside of the Morse well from $x=9.5$ to $x=12$.}
\end{figure}

We fit the mean energy $\bar{E}$ to the function,
\begin{align}
\bar{E}(x,T)=&{D''} \left(e^{\alpha''  ({d_0''}-x)}-1\right)^2\nonumber\\
		   &+ {K_s''} (x-R_0'')^2\cdot\Theta (x-R_0'')\label{eqn:Efit}\\
		   &+Tm(x)+b(x) \nonumber
\end{align}
Here, the double primes on the parameters indicate that they are mean energy fitting parameters, not the parameters defined for the original model.
The first term on the right hand side mimics the energy due to the Morse potential, and the second term mimics the energy due to the harmonic potential.
As with our mean force function, we included a factor containing a Heaviside theta function to truncate the left side of the harmonic well, which does not play a significant role.
The final two terms on the third line of equation~\ref{eqn:Efit} provide the temperature dependence.
Given the large amount of noise at small separations, we chose to err on the side of simplicity and use a linear fit to the temperature, albeit one whose slope $m(x)=m_0+m_1x+m_2x^2$ and intercept $b(x)=b_0+b_1x+b_2x^2$ are fitted to quadratic functions of the separation $x$.

\begin{center}
 \begin{table}[H]
  \begin{tabular}{||c |c |  |c| c||}
 \hline
 Parameter & Fit Value  & Parameter & Fit Value \\ [0.5ex]
 \hline\hline
$\alpha''$ & 5.19 & $m_0$ & $7.53\times 10^{-3}$ \\
\hline
$D''$ & $8.98\times 10^{-2}$  & $m_1$ & $-1.21\times 10^{-4}$  \\
\hline
$d_0''$ & 10.0 & $m_2$ & $5.83\times 10^{-7}$   \\
\hline
$K_s''$ & $ 1.23\times 10^{-2}$  & $b_0$ & $  -0.554$  \\
\hline
 $R_0$ & $  138$  & $b_1$ & $  4.45\times 10^{-2}$  \\
 \hline
 & & $b_2$ & $  -2.38\times 10^{-4}$ \\ [1ex]
 \hline
\end{tabular}
\caption{\label{Table2} Fitting parameters for the $\bar{E}(x,T)$ function.}
\end{table}
\end{center}

To determine the fitting parameters, we again used Mathematica's \verb+FindFit+ function.
The fitting results can be found in Table~\ref{Table2}.
In Fig.~\ref{fig:EbarEqnOfState}, we plot the discrete simulation data (red) and smooth fitted function (gray), which visually appears to match the simulation data within some uncertainty.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{EbarEqnOfState.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:EbarEqnOfState} A three dimensional plot of mean energy $\bar{E}$ as a function terminal base pair separation $x$ and temperature $T$ (red) along with the corresponding fitted function (gray).}
\end{figure}

After obtaining these state equations, it is straightforward to obtain the thermodynamic response functions.
In the following sections, we compute the isothermal compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacity at constant separation, and the shapes of the adiabatic and isothermal pathways.

\subsection{Isothermal Compressibility, $\kappa_T$

After obtaining the equations of state for the DNA hairpin, it is straightforward to compute the response functions.
Here, we define the isothermal compressibility for a single DNA hairpin as
\begin{equation}
\kappa_T= \left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{F}}\right)_T
\label{eqn:kappa}
\end{equation}
Note that our definition does not include the inverse length $1/x$ factor, which is conventional when discussing the compressibility of bulk materials.

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{CompressibilityAll.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:CompressibilityAll} A plot of the isothermal compressibility $\kappa_T$ versus terminal base pair separation $x$ for (a) $x\le 10.2$, (b) $12.6 \le x \le 14$ and (c) $x \ge120$. }
\end{figure}

We computed the isothermal compressibility by taking the inverse of the partial derivative of the fitted function for the mean force $\bar{F}(x,T)$ with respect to $x$.
In Fig.~\ref{fig:CompressibilityAll}, we plot the compressibility as a function of terminal base pair separation for a variety of separation ranges.
In the region $x\lesssim10$, one can observe a small compressibility on the order $10^{-2}$ to $10^{-1}$.
In this range, the Morse bond of the terminal base pair is already somewhat compressed.
Experimentally, further reduction in the bond length leads to partial overlap of the electron clouds in atoms of the terminal bases, which requires a large force and results in a small compressibility.

The compressibility changes dramatically as the terminal bases are stretched to a separation $x\gtrsim10.15$.
In this region, the hairpin becomes unstable, and the compressibility approaches infinity as shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:CompressibilityAll}A.
This limit represents the cusp of the bond between the terminal bases breaking.
When stretched past this separation, the hairpin pops open in a discontinuous transition to the open state.
For separations $x\approx 12.6$, the compressibility again approaches infinity as shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:CompressibilityAll}B.
This point represents the limit at which the open DNA strand snaps shut into its hairpin form.
The unstable region, in which the compressibility becomes negative, extends over a range $10.2 \lesssim x \lesssim12.5$.

\begin{figure}[b]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{Compressibility4.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Compressibility4} A plot of the isothermal compressibility $\kappa_T$ versus temperature $T$ for $\bar{F}=0$.}
\end{figure}

In the separation range $14<x<120$, the DNA strand is open but not stretched to its full extent.
Over this range, the compressibility does not have a significant dependence on the separation value $x$.
The compressibility varies with temperature over a range $5000<\kappa_T<10,000$ for temperatures in the range $200<T<400$, as can be seen in the plot of Fig.~\ref{fig:Compressibility4}.

The compressibility is plotted for separations $x\gtrsim120$ in Fig.~\ref{fig:CompressibilityAll}C.
Here, the DNA strand is nearly stretched to its full extent.
The harmonic bonds connecting adjacent bases in the strand stretch as the terminal ends are pulled, forcing the strand to an almost straight configuration.
In this arrangement, it takes an exceedingly large force to stretch the DNA any further from its already highly strained configuration.
For this reason, the compressibility drops rapidly to a roughly constant value around $\kappa_T\approx 80$.

\subsection{Thermal Expansion Coefficient, $\alpha$

We define the thermal expansion coefficient as follows,
\begin{equation}
\alpha= \left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{T}}\right)_{\bar{F}}=-\left(\frac{\partial x}{\partial \bar{F}}\right)_T\left(\frac{\partial \bar{F}}{\partial T}\right)_x.
\label{eqn:alpha}
\end{equation}
As with the isothermal compressibility, we neglect the factor of $1/x$ which is included in the standard definition of the thermal expansion coefficient for bulk materials.
The thermal expansion coefficient can be computed directly by taking partial derivatives of the fitted force function $\bar{F}(x,T)$ from equation~\ref{Ffit} with respect to $x$ and $T$ and using the cyclic rule, as shown in the right hand side of equation~\ref{eqn:alpha}.

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{ThermExpCoeff1.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:ThermExpCoeff1} A plot of temperature $T$ versus separation $x$ for a force fixed at $\bar{F}=0$.}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{ThermExpCoeff4.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:ThermExpCoeff4} A plot of thermal expansion coefficient $\alpha$ versus separation $x$ for a force fixed at $\bar{F}=0$.}
\end{figure}

To help interpret the thermal expansion data, we first plot the temperature $T$ as a function of the terminal base pair separation $x$ for a fixed force $\bar{F}=0$ in Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff1}.
From the figure, we see that the slope of the graph is positive for separations smaller than $x\approx10.15$, which produces a positive thermal expansion coefficient.
At a separation $x\approx10.15$, there exists a peak giving a slope of zero, and a thermal expansion coefficient that approaches infinity as illustrated in Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff4}.
For separations in the range $x\gtrsim 10.15$, the slope is negative, giving a negative thermal expansion coefficient (Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff4}).
As with the compressibility, this region is unstable.
Simply put, under zero applied force, the hairpin can only thermally expand so far before popping open.
This makes sense given the extremely large temperature values near the peak.
The peak in Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff1} corresponds to a spinodal, which is the limit of metastability.
This is somewhat expected, since spinodals have been shown to exist in mean field models of DNA~\cite{santos_kinetic_2013}.
Points to the immediate left of that peak are metastable with respect to the open state of the DNA strand.

\begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{ThermExpCoeff2.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:ThermExpCoeff2} A plot of thermal expansion coefficient $\alpha$ versus temperature $T$ for a force fixed at $\bar{F}=0$.}
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff2}, we plot the thermal expansion coefficient as a function of temperature in the range from $T=200$ to 400 for a fixed force $\bar{F}$ = 0.
As can be seen from the plot, the thermal expansion coefficient varies little over this temperature range and remains on the order $\alpha\approx10^{-6}$.
This is in sharp contrast, to Fig.~\ref{fig:ThermExpCoeff4} in which $\alpha\rightarrow\infty$.
However, the temperature range over which the thermal expansion coefficient blows up is much larger than what is biologically relevant or even technologically feasible.
As such, we can assume that for reasonable temperature values, the model predicts a roughly constant thermal expansion coefficient.

\subsection{Constant Separation Heat Capacity, $C_x$

We define the constant separation heat capacity as,
\begin{equation}
C_x= \left(\frac{{\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} Q}{dT}\right)_x=\left(\frac{\partial \bar{E}}{\partial T}\right)_x,
\label{eqn:Cx}
\end{equation}
where ${\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} Q$ is the differential heat added to the system.
We computed the partial derivative of the mean energy with respect to temperature directly using the fitted form for $\bar{E}$ from equation~\ref{eqn:Efit}.
Since the fitted mean energy depends linearly on the temperature, there is no temperature dependence in the specific heat.
We plot the $C_x$ as a function of separation $x$ in Fig.~\ref{fig:SpecificHeatConstX}.

\begin{figure}[H]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{SpecificHeatConstX.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:SpecificHeatConstX} A plot of the specific heat $C_x$ versus separation $x$.}
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{fig:SpecificHeatConstX}, we see that the specific heat at constant separation exhibits a minimum at intermediate values of stretching.
For DNA in the hairpin configuration (i.e. small $x$), this makes sense, since unstretched strands require more thermal energy to break bonds.
Similarly, highly stretched strands are strained and require a large amount of energy to further increase thermal fluctuations.

\subsection{Isothermal and Adiabatic Pathways

By definition,  adiabatic pathways feature no heat transfer, $\Delta Q = 0$.
From the first law of thermodynamics, we may write
\begin{align}
d\bar{E}= {\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} Q+{\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} W = {\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} Q+\bar{F} dx,
\label{eqn:FirstLaw}
\end{align}
where  ${\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} W=\bar{F} dx$ is the quasistatic differential work done on the DNA strand.
Along an adiabatic path, it must be true that $d\bar{E}= \bar{F} dx$.
To determine the shape of an adiabatic path for a DNA hairpin, we use the following procedure.
\begin{enumerate}
\item We first chose an initial temperature $T_i$ and terminal base pair separation $x_i$ as our starting point, and from these, we computed the mean force $\bar{F}_i$.
\item We then chose the next value for the mean separation,
\begin{equation}
x_{i+1}=x_i+dx,
\end{equation}
where we chose $dx=0.01$ small enough to give a smooth curve.
\item We found $T_{i+1}$, such that,
\begin{align}
\bar{E}(x_{i+1},T_{i+1})&-\bar{E}(x_{i},T_{i})=\nonumber\\
&\left(\frac{\bar{F}(x_{i+1},T_{i+1})+\bar{F}(x_{i},T_{i})}{2}\right)dx
\label{eqn:adiabat}
\end{align}
\item Finally, steps 1 through 3 were iterated many times to determine the shape of the adiabatic pathway.
\end{enumerate}
Equation~\ref{eqn:adiabat} is simply a discretized version of equation~\ref{eqn:FirstLaw}, in which we have averaged of the mean forces between points and set ${\mathchar'26\mkern-12mu d} Q$ to zero.

\begin{figure}[H]
\includegraphics[scale=0.35]{Adiabat1.jpg}
\caption{\label{fig:Adiabatic1} A plot of the mean force $\bar{F}$ versus separation $x$ illustrating the adiabatic (red) and isothermal (black) pathways. The adiabatic and isothermal pathways only differ significantly when the DNA strand is greatly stretched.}
\end{figure}

In Fig.~\ref{fig:Adiabatic1}, we plot the isothermal (black, solid) and adiabatic (red, dotted) pathways.
As can be seen from the inset on the figure, inside the well within the region from $x<12$, there is little difference between the adiabatic and isothermal curves.
This is likely due to the large force associated with the Morse bond between the terminal base pair.
Only when the hairpin is stretched to its full linear extent $x\gtrsim130$ do we observe an appreciable deviation between the adiabatic and isothermal pathways.

\section{Conclusions}

In summary, we used the Metropolis Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate a three dimensional version of the CLPG model.
We obtain fitted equations of state for the mean force and energy of DNA hairpins.
From these equations of state, we computed several response functions and determined the shape of the adiabatic pathway.
The equations of state and response functions are potentially useful thermodynamic properties of the hairpin.
For this reason, the results presented here may be used to inform researchers studying biological processes or developing novel nanoscale devices.

Many reactions and interactions in biochemical processes take advantage of chemical energy.
For example, proteins achieve motion by binding to ATP, which spontaneously dissociates into ADP and a phosphate ion, resulting in repulsive forces that convert chemical energy to kinetic energy.
By imitating the mechanics of these mechanical biological processes, molecular nanomachines could be designed to achieve a desired motion.
A DNA hairpin that opens and closes could be used to move molecular scale objects similar to the snapping-open of ATP.
Unlike ATP, which utilizes chemical energy, the mechanics of the hairpin can be controlled by macroscopically by adjusting the temperature, making it more akin to a heat engine than a chemically-powered engine.

The creation of a nanoscale heat engine would not be new.
Other forms of nanoscale heat engines include Otto engines \cite{abah_single-ion_2012, rossnagel_nanoscale_2014}, all-optical nanomechanical heat engines \cite{dechant_all-optical_2015}, and cold-atom based heat engines \cite{brantut_thermoelectric_2013}.
Unlike these examples, a DNA-based heat engine would be able to operate in ambient solution at or above room temperature, which may make it more accessible experimentally.

Piezochromic luminescent materials are now being used in some nanoscale heat engines to determine whether the heat engine has under gone the desired mechanical stimuli \cite{sagara_mechanically_2009, kunzelman_oligo_2008}. Piezochromic materials fluoresce when they undergo dynamic phenomenon such as shearing, grinding or pressure  \cite{kunzelman_oligo_2008}.
By attaching piezochromic materials to the terminal ends of the DNA hairpin, one (a) should be able determine whether the hairpin opened or not by detecting the fluorescence and (2) could potentially extract useful energy from the light emitted.

\begin{acknowledgments}
This work was done as part of Simpson College's PHY-310 Undergraduate Thermal Physics class.
We would like to thank Simpson College President Jay Simmons, Dean Steve Griffith, and Physics Department Chair David Olsgaard for their support and the use of the Physics Department laptops. We would also like to thank Professor Derek Lyons for useful conversations.
\end{acknowledgments}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
When we arrived at the Oceti Sakowin Camp this morning, we were impressed by its size and organization. From our view on the highway, the camp stretched far into the distance and was packed with all kinds of structures. While we sat in a long line of cars waiting to enter, friendly volunteers were stationed along the road to manage traffic, make sure that we weren't bringing any banned items into camp and orient us. News trucks were stationed on the closed portion of the highway just north of the camp entrance.
Today is the last day before the Corps of Engineers' eviction notice is supposed to go into effect and thousands of people were converging at the camp. Some long time camp residents said that the camp population had doubled this weekend. We estimate that at least 1,000 cars and buses came to the camp today.
The camp looked full and we were concerned that finding a parking space would be difficult. We called Popular Resistance reporter, Crystal Zevon and she met us at the entrance gate to show us around. The main street is lined with flags. We followed it to the MedicHealer area and found a spot not too far away. We had a large bag of donations to deliver.
The MedicHealer area consisted of a series of yurts with colorful doors and storage tents and sheds. The daily noon orientation was cancelled due to the overwhelming influx of new people. Margaret set to work helping to organize new donations and Kevin set out to deliver non-medical donations and find the legal tent. We saw many familiar faces, people we have worked with on a variety of issues — climate justice, stopping extreme energy, stopping wars, racism and more.
The courage and ethics of the participants at Standing Rock, some of whom have been there since April, were like a magnet to those of us who care about justice and the future of the planet. When the militarized police and corporate mercenaries used extreme, violent tactics, we and many others felt we had no choice but to be there — to stand with the Water Protectors at this critical moment when the Corps of Engineers was threatening to evict them and the Governor claimed there was an emergency and people had to be removed. Tens of thousands showed up in solidarity at this ceremonial, prayer camp that stood for Indigenous rights and the people and planet over corporate profit.
In the afternoon, the news went around that the Army Corps of Engineers denied the permit for the final phase of the pipeline. At first it was hard to believe and we were skeptical. People around us asked — who said that, what is the source? Then we heard the announcement at the Sacred Circle and we were convinced. People whooped and hollered, pumped fists in the air, beat drums and danced in celebration.
There are many lessons from #NoDAPL that can be applied to stop other pipelines and on other issues. No doubt having 20,000+ people there the day before the Corps of Engineers said there was going to be an eviction sent a powerful message that the people would not obey. Walking through the camp today we saw people digging in for the winter. They were building long-term structures out of wood and straw bail, cutting firewood, building their health, legal and media centers, and food services — showing they were not leaving. They were installing military tents with wood stoves, indeed wood stoves could be seen in many parts of the camp ready for installation. Solar panels were also evident in various parts of the camp, ensuring a long-term energy supply.
#NoDAPL placed the government in a lose-lose situation. There were so many people there that it would have been very difficult to clear the camp. It was reported today that there will not be efforts by any of the agencies from local to state to federal to evacuate the camp. And if the government had tried to clear the camp against the people's will, then that would have increased support for the Water Protectors. If they leave the camp alone, it will prevent further construction of the pipeline. This is a classic example of how nonviolent campaigns work, put the government/corporations in a situation where they have no winning alternative except to grant the movement's demands.
We recognize this is an important victory, but not a final one. On their Facebook page the Standing Rock Sioux are also clear. They write that there are still many questions to be answered . Here are ten issues they have initially raised, no doubt more information will be coming from them soon.
Will the Army Corps actually conduct an Environmental Impact Statement? If so, on what portion of the project – just the river crossing, or the whole pipeline?
What issues will the EIS take into account? (for example, will it include an analysis of spill risk? how about sacred sites? will it reassess the economic need for the pipeline now that the bakken is busting?)
Which alternative routes will be considered? Will a "no-build" option also be considered?
How long will the EIS take?
What input will the tribe have? What will the public participation process look like?
In what way(s) was the original Environmental Assessment prepared by the Army Corps deemed inadequate?
What was the result of the tribal consultation process exploring possible changes to the regulatory process for pipelines in general? have any changes been proposed?
How easily will these decisions be reversed by a Trump administration?
How will these decisions be affected by the outcomes of DAPL's lawsuit against the Army Corps, scheduled to be heard on Friday?
Is the US government prepared to use force to stop the company from drilling under the river without a permit, if necessary?
Last week people united stopped ratification of the TPP against transnational corporate power. Now, this is a tremendous victory over the oil industry as well as their big financiers. Watch out, people may soon realize we have power when we join together and mobilize.
We head back to the Oceti Sakowin camp tomorrow. We look forward to finding out what the next steps will be in this campaign.
Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
standing rock water


text:
Home Career 'I alwa...
'I always knew this day would come': Read the memo outgoing Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein just sent to staff
Dakin Campbell, Business Insider US
Lloyd Blankfein, Goldman Sachs' chairman and CEO, in 2014.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
David Solomon will succeed Lloyd Blankfein as CEO of Goldman Sachs, the firm said Tuesday.
Solomon will officially take the reins from Blankfein, the longest-serving Wall Street CEO after JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, in October. He'll also join the board.
Blankfein will serve as chairman through the end of year, and Solomon will add the title in January. Blankfein will become senior chairman when he retires, the firm said.
It's official: David Solomon will succeed Lloyd Blankfein as the CEO of Goldman Sachs. The Wall Street firm made the announcement Tuesday, saying Solomon would become CEO and join the board on October 1.
In a staff memo, Blankfein said that it had been hard to imagine leaving but that by his own "convoluted logic, it feels like the right time."
He also praised his successor, saying:
"He was an outstanding division head for more than 10 years, helping cement Investment Banking's leading franchise. And, as a chief operating officer, David has demonstrated strategic insight into all of our businesses, focusing on the key trends that will shape them and what our clients will most value from us in the years to come."
Here's the full memo:
To the People of Goldman Sachs
Today, our firm is announcing that I intend to step down as chief executive officer at the end of September and remain as chairman until the end of the year, and that David Solomon will succeed me in both roles. After I retire, I will be honored to serve as senior chairman to support our firm where I can.
I always knew this day would come. But, of course, the reality of it prompts many thoughts and emotions.
When I've been asked about succession in the past, it's always been hard for me to imagine leaving. When times are tougher, you can't leave. And, when times are better, you don't want to leave.
Today, I don't want to retire from Goldman Sachs, but by my own perhaps convoluted logic, it feels like the right time. I am very optimistic that our firm has tremendous opportunities ahead and will continue to earn its distinctive position. Few things in life are granted, but I'm very proud that dedication, drive and focus continue to define this institution on the eve of its 150th year.
Thirty-six years at Goldman Sachs and over 12 years as chairman and CEO is a long time. As I get distance from my role, I suspect people will ask me what I miss most about the firm and the special opportunity to lead it.
I already know the answer: all of you. The people of Goldman Sachs have always been our most differentiating strength.
When we've had tough days (or a crisis or two), I could count on you to bear down, help our clients and focus on solutions and getting better. In better times, I have fed off your excitement, ideas and passion. And, there were times when your support got me through my own challenges.
I want to congratulate David. He's been a terrific partner to me and I look forward to watching him lead Goldman Sachs for years to come. He was an outstanding division head for more than 10 years, helping cement Investment Banking's leading franchise. And, as a chief operating officer, David has demonstrated strategic insight into all of our businesses, focusing on the key trends that will shape them and what our clients will most value from us in the years to come.
I want to especially thank my wife, Laura, and our children, Alex, Jonathan and Rachel. It may be hard for some of you to believe, but I'm told that sometimes I'm not the easiest person to live with. I could not have gone through the ups and downs of the last 12 years without their patience, love and constant support.
I hope to pursue other interests in my life, but I will never do anything that will be as much a part of me as working with all of you in such a special place.
Goldman Sachs just named its next CEO – here are the execs who will be in and out, according to a dozen insiders
David Solomon


This unrestricted wonderland has the perfect blend of water, open space, woodlands, towering waterfalls, views and privacy for your luxury mountain estate or nature-focused recreation. A level roadway through a protective forest opens to the hidden meadow and continues past rolling timberlands, over Bracken Creek to the waterfall-fed stocked pond, before ending at the old homestead cabin. Relax and fish, or hike through the forest to the sound of the falling water that fills the valley. Beyond the falls, is a high elevation large natural shelf with several knolls perfectly situated to take in views of thousands of acres of the adjacent Pisgah National Forest and surrounding mountain ranges. With large level pastures, ample fresh water, and trails that extend to the national forest, this property is well suited as an equestrian estate. Properties like this with headwaters that are adjacent to National Forests can also be great options for conservation to protect your wealth and legacy.
See Plat 12-233 minus acreage in boundary line agreement, plat 15-311.
Dozens of natural waterfalls are scattered across the property including a tall cascading fall hidden away in the secret garden of rhododendrons and hardwoods. The tranquil sound fills the valley.
A mile of boundary against tens of thousands of contiguous acres of Pisgah National Forest which stretches around this property from Nantahala to Asheville.
Streams, Creeks, and a stocked Pond. Bracken Creek has the potential to support your own small private trout and fly fishing spot. Similar surrounding creeks on forest land are designated wild trout waters.
Acres of level to rolling open pasture are perfect for horses, agriculture, and scenic enjoyment.
The old cabin holds stories of this land's history. While no longer habitable, it had electricity, spring and well, and reminds of a more simple time and life on the farm.
The upper acres of the woodlands are easy to access and have several knolls perfect for home sites that take in the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. There is also a large natural shelf with springs and creeks that could become another high pasture.
With its headwaters, streams, and adjacency to the National Forest, it has the potential for a conservation easement that could provide the new owner with tax incentives and a legacy of stewardship for future generations.
An abundance of wildlife takes advantage of the water, diverse hardwood and coniferous forests, grasslands, and transitional areas where food is plentiful and the habit supports their vitality.
Property is currently tax-deferred under present use value for forestry. Home/Cabin has no contributory value and is not habitable.
Do not visit without an approved appointment. Take US-64 to Rosman NC, Turn North on HWY 215. Drive 8.7mi and Turn Left onto Tanasee Gap Rd that turns into Joe House Rd. After 3.3 mi, turn right onto Bald Rock Rd. In just under .3mi, on the right you will see a chain across a dirt drive. This is the entrance. No sign.
Fill out the form below and click "Send" to send "Hidden Falls Meadow of Pisgah National Forest" to your friends, family or real estate agent.


text:
Mora, Sweden
Place in Dalarna, Sweden
Mora Church
Show map of Dalarna
Show map of Sweden
Dalarna County
Mora Municipality
(31 December 2010)[1]
882/km2 (2,280/sq mi)
www.mora.se
The Zorn Museum
Mora is a locality and the seat of Mora Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 10,896 inhabitants in 2010.[1]
4.1 Midsummer
4.2 Anders Zorn
4.3 Statues
4.4 Local Music
5 Mora clock
6.1 Ice hockey
6.2 Skiing
6.3 Golf
6.4 Cycling
6.5 Football
There are signs of human activity in the surroundings of Mora dating from 4000 BC. The earliest found buildings in Mora are from the 7th century. Some of the buildings can today be found in Mora's open-air museum Zorns gammelgård ("Zorn's old homestead").
Mora parish was established in the 13th century.[citation needed]
In late 1520, Gustav Vasa stopped in Mora, in order to organize a rebellion against the Danish troops which occupied Sweden. The citizens of Mora first declined to help Gustav Vasa, but later changed their minds and sought Gustav Vasa when he was about to cross the Norwegian border. According to the legend two men from Mora (Lars Jakobsson and Engelbrekt Jonsson) caught up with Gustav Vasa in Sälen and told him his people would now fight with him. The rebellion managed to overthrow the Danish government in Sweden and Gustav Vasa was installed as king of Sweden.
In the 17th century, it was the location of the famous Mora witch trial.
During the 18th century the area around Mora was struck by famine, and many citizens abandoned their homes. Most went to Stockholm and southern Sweden where they learnt new craftman skills. Returning to Mora they used their new knowledge to build up new industries. During the end of the 18th century and the 19th, cottage industries of clocks, sewing machines, knives and water taps were important to the economy. Water taps and knives are still thriving industries.
Geography[edit]
Mora is located between the northern shore of lake Siljan and the southern shore of lake Orsasjön where the Österdal River enters Siljan. Mora lies on the west side of Europe's largest[citation needed] meteor impact crater (Siljansringen).
The northern part of the municipality marks the beginning of the Scandinavian mountain range.
Climate[edit]
Mora has a cold version of the humid continental climate, where it is at the periphery of the northern zone. Non-subarctic climates in inland areas at north of the 61st parallel are very rare and can be attributed to the warming influence of the North Atlantic air masses. Being located at some distance from the four largest lakes, the Atlantic and the Baltic seas, Mora has a more continental climate than the major cities of Sweden, with relatively warm summers but with high variability between cold and milder winters. As of 2015, the mildest January was 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in 1989 and the coldest −18.1 °C (−0.6 °F) during the record-breaking deep freeze of 1987, just two years earlier.[2]
Climate data for Mora (2002–2018 averages); extremes since 1941
Record high °C (°F)
(50.9) 11.5
Mean maximum °C (°F)
(41.7) 6.1
Average high °C (°F)
(27.9) −1.1
Daily mean °C (°F)
Average low °C (°F)
Mean minimum °C (°F)
−23.5
(−10.3) −22.2
(−8.0) −17.2
(1.0) −8.0
(17.8) −12.9
(8.8) −20.1
(−15.5)
Record low °C (°F)
(−7.6) −8.6
Average precipitation mm (inches)
(1.44) 25.2
(1.29) 586.4
Source 1: SMHI Open Data[3]
Source 2: SMHI climate data 2002–2018[4]
Culture[edit]
Midsummer Dance by Anders Zorn, 1897
Midsummer[edit]
As the rest of the municipalities around Lake Siljan, also in Mora, the summer solstice celebration of Midsummer plays an important role in the cultural life. People dress up in traditional folk costumes, raise maypoles, play traditional music and dance around the maypole.
Anders Zorn[edit]
The house where Swedish painter Anders Zorn lived in, together with his wife Emma, is located next to the Mora Church and is open to the public. A museum containing many of his works of art has been built next door. Right outside of Mora, in the Utmeland village, is the house Zorn was born in.
Statues[edit]
A statue of King Gustav Vasa, made by Zorn, is placed on a small hill at the finishing line of Vasaloppet in Mora. Another statue depicting Zorn is located in the park behind the district court house of Mora. A third statue of a cross country skier is placed in front of the municipal house next to the town's characteristic red wooden bell tower (Swedish: Klocka).
Local Music[edit]
Mora is home to many members of Swedish folk band Francis. Mora is also where singer-songwriter Winona Oak grew up.
Mora clock[edit]
A Mora clock dating from 1834, with later painting on the case
Gustavian Mora clock are a type of longcase clock which were made in the town of Mora. Production began in the late 18th century and continued through most of the 19th finally succumbing to the increased competition from newer styles and cheaper mass production methods.
Sports[edit]
Ice hockey[edit]
Mora IK plays in the Swedish Hockey League), the highest Swedish ice hockey league.
Skiing[edit]
Mora is also known as the finish of the annual Vasaloppet, a 90 kilometre cross country skiing event held in the honour of Gustav Vasa. The competition is visited by more than 48,000 annual participants in all the skiing events throughout the Vasaloppet week in the beginning of March.
Golf[edit]
Mora has an 18-hole golf course located at sandängarna in Mora and an 18 hole, Jeremy Turner designed tournament length course on Sollerön. http://www.solgolf.se/
Cycling[edit]
The "Cykelvasan" is a summer version of the Vasaloppet with its start and finish in Mora. During June we also have the famous "Siljanrunt" road races, attracting top European cyclists over three stages 70, 120 and 160 km with all races commencing and finishing on Sollerön.
Football[edit]
IFK Mora FK are based in Mora.
Tournaments[edit]
Mora played host to 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, held in FM Mattsson Arena. Another sporting event is 1984 World's Strongest Man.
The town of Mora is well known for its craft products. A famous Swedish souvenir, dalahäst, a wooden horse, is produced in the village Nusnäs just outside Mora.
The high quality yet inexpensive Mora knives are made in Mora.
Steel production company Ovako has a production site in Mora.[5]
Mora is the terminus of the Mora-Uppsala Railway, also known as Dala Line.
Mora as a municipality never received the title of a city (stad) before the local government reform of 1971, but as the population exceeds 10,000 the locality is today counted as a city by Statistics Sweden.
In Stand Still, Stay Silent comic series by Minna Sundberg, Mora is featured as the "capital of Scandinavia".
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mora (Sweden).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mora, Sweden.
^ a b c "Tätorternas landareal, folkmängd och invånare per km2 2005 och 2010" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 14 December 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
^ "Temperature and Wind - January 2015" (PDF). SMHI. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
^ "SMHI öppna data för Mora A" (in Swedish). Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.
^ "SMHI Monthly & Yearly Statistics 2002–2018" (in Swedish). SMHI. 27 June 2019.
Localities in Mora Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden
Bonäs
Färnäs
Gesunda
Mora (seat)
Östnor
Sollerön
Våmhus
Vattnäs
Venjan
Vinäs
Municipalities and seats of Dalarna County
Municipal seats
Djurås
Counties of Sweden
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Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mora,_Sweden&oldid=1000369308"
Municipal seats of Dalarna County
Swedish municipal seats
Populated lakeshore places in Sweden
Populated places in Dalarna County
Populated places in Mora Municipality
Market towns in Sweden
CS1 Swedish-language sources (sv)
Commons link from Wikidata
Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers