text:
package models

import (
	"context"
	"encoding/json"
	"time"

	edat "github.com/topfreegames/extensions/dat"
	dat "gopkg.in/mgutz/dat.v2/dat"
	runner "gopkg.in/mgutz/dat.v2/sqlx-runner"
)

//OfferPlayer represents an offer seen by a player
type OfferPlayer struct {
	ID             string       `db:"id" json:"id" valid:"uuidv4,required"`
	GameID         string       `db:"game_id" json:"gameId" valid:"matches(^[^-][a-zA-Z0-9-_]*$),stringlength(1|255),required"`
	PlayerID       string       `db:"player_id" json:"playerId" valid:"ascii,stringlength(1|1000),required"`
	OfferID        string       `db:"offer_id" json:"offerId" valid:"uuidv4,required"`
	ClaimCounter   int          `db:"claim_counter" json:"claimCounter" valid:"int"`
	ClaimTimestamp dat.NullTime `db:"claim_timestamp" json:"claimTimestamp" valid:""`
	ViewCounter    int          `db:"view_counter" json:"viewCounter" valid:"int"`
	ViewTimestamp  dat.NullTime `db:"view_timestamp" json:"viewTimestamp" valid:""`
	Transactions   dat.JSON     `db:"transactions" json:"transactions" valid:""`
	Impressions    dat.JSON     `db:"impressions" json:"impressions" valid:""`
}

//GetOfferPlayer returns an offer player
func GetOfferPlayer(ctx context.Context, db runner.Connection, gameID, playerID, offerID string, mr *MixedMetricsReporter) (*OfferPlayer, error) {
	var offerPlayer OfferPlayer
	err := mr.WithDatastoreSegment("offer_players", SegmentSelect, func() error {
		builder := db.Select("*")
		builder.Execer = edat.NewExecer(builder.Execer).WithContext(ctx)
		return builder.From("offer_players").
			Where("game_id = $1 AND player_id = $2 AND offer_id = $3", gameID, playerID, offerID).
			QueryStruct(&offerPlayer)
	})

	return &offerPlayer, err
}

//GetOffersByPlayer returns all offers by player
func GetOffersByPlayer(ctx context.Context, db runner.Connection, gameID, playerID string, mr *MixedMetricsReporter) ([]*OfferPlayer, error) {
	var offersByPlayer []*OfferPlayer
	err := mr.WithDatastoreSegment("offer_players", "select all", func() error {
		builder := db.Select("*")
		builder.Execer = edat.NewExecer(builder.Execer).WithContext(ctx)
		return builder.From("offer_players").
			Where("game_id = $1 AND player_id = $2", gameID, playerID).
			QueryStructs(&offersByPlayer)
	})

	return offersByPlayer, err
}

//CreateOfferPlayer creates an offer player
func CreateOfferPlayer(ctx context.Context, db runner.Connection, offerPlayer *OfferPlayer, mr *MixedMetricsReporter) error {
	if offerPlayer.Transactions == nil {
		offerPlayer.Transactions = dat.JSON([]byte(`[]`))
	}
	if offerPlayer.Impressions == nil {
		offerPlayer.Impressions = dat.JSON([]byte(`[]`))
	}
	return mr.WithDatastoreSegment("offer_players", SegmentInsert, func() error {
		builder := db.InsertInto("offer_players")
		builder.Execer = edat.NewExecer(builder.Execer).WithContext(ctx)
		return builder.
			Columns("game_id", "player_id", "offer_id", "claim_counter", "claim_timestamp", "view_counter", "view_timestamp", "transactions", "impressions").
			Record(offerPlayer).
			Returning("*").
			QueryStruct(offerPlayer)
	})
}

//ClaimOfferPlayer increments the claim counter and updates the timestamp
func ClaimOfferPlayer(ctx context.Context, db runner.Connection, offerPlayer *OfferPlayer, t time.Time, mr *MixedMetricsReporter) error {
	return mr.WithDatastoreSegment("offer_players", SegmentUpdate, func() error {
		const incrCounter = dat.UnsafeString("claim_counter + 1")
		builder := db.Update("offer_players")
		builder.Execer = edat.NewExecer(builder.Execer).WithContext(ctx)
		return builder.Set("claim_counter", incrCounter).
			Set("claim_timestamp", t).
			Set("transactions", offerPlayer.Transactions).
			Where("game_id = $1 AND player_id = $2 AND offer_id = $3", offerPlayer.GameID, offerPlayer.PlayerID, offerPlayer.OfferID).
			Returning("claim_counter, claim_timestamp, transactions").
			QueryStruct(offerPlayer)
	})
}

//ViewOfferPlayer increments the view counter and updates the timestamp
func ViewOfferPlayer(ctx context.Context, db runner.Connection, offerPlayer *OfferPlayer, t time.Time, mr *MixedMetricsReporter) error {
	return mr.WithDatastoreSegment("offer_players", SegmentUpdate, func() error {
		const incrCounter = dat.UnsafeString("view_counter + 1")
		builder := db.Update("offer_players")
		builder.Execer = edat.NewExecer(builder.Execer).WithContext(ctx)
		return builder.Set("view_counter", incrCounter).
			Set("view_timestamp", t).
			Set("impressions", offerPlayer.Impressions).
			Where("game_id = $1 AND player_id = $2 AND offer_id = $3", offerPlayer.GameID, offerPlayer.PlayerID, offerPlayer.OfferID).
			Returning("view_counter, view_timestamp, impressions").
			QueryStruct(offerPlayer)
	})
}

func getViewedOfferNextAt(
	ctx context.Context,
	db runner.Connection,
	gameID, offerID string,
	viewCounter int,
	t time.Time,
	mr *MixedMetricsReporter,
) (int64, error) {
	offer, err := GetOfferByID(ctx, db, gameID, offerID, mr)
	if err != nil {
		return 0, err
	}
	var f FrequencyOrPeriod

	json.Unmarshal(offer.Frequency, &f)
	if f.Max != 0 && viewCounter >= f.Max {
		return 0, nil
	}

	if f.Every != "" {
		duration, err := time.ParseDuration(f.Every)
		if err != nil {
			return 0, err
		}
		return t.Add(duration).Unix(), nil
	}
	return t.Unix(), nil
}


Sunburned Ma Scalp - Ramblings of Mad Shutterbug & the Border Collie Bros.
On Sunday, that is. Cleaning off the back deck of Studio 318 which while in the shade, when I went out to give Houdini a bath (he and Herself got into a game of Hose, perfect time for a bath) was not in shade. Add to that cleaning out two ice chest coolers which were on the back deck, and none of that wearing my hat, and t'were afternoon.
Working title, Magdalena. Alternate title, Odalisque. Done in 2000 using Mamiya C330 and 80 mm lens and Ektachrome colour transparency.
Dreams which may or not of inspired today's posting selection. First, either trying to get into the mind of (or was I the) serial killer. Just how did the car drive into the house non-destructively, anyway? Not as in garage attached to house, in the Living Room. Second, van stopped at traffic light (van hasn't run for... long time) and unscrupulous vendor types begin dis-assembling engine through the hood (how did they open it from outside, anyway?). Unrequested, undesired, and delayed us starting a 5 hour drive, which we didn't complete as a consequence.
However, the dead body from the serial killer proved handy, as I left it in the vendors office and called the police.
No one does shadows better than you.
I really like the stretch in this one, the questing look. Sunburned head is no good. When mine was shaved for my dad, and even now with spikes, I wear a hat a lof when outside.


text:
Cookie Baker
I must have been around Ane's age when I started baking cookies by myself. Gichan's favorite has always been chocolate chip, and I remember that being the first cookie recipe that I made all by myself. I was crushed when my cookies were spreading like crazy, and were like lacy pools of dough studded with chocolate chips.
I also remember Grandma then going over what a recipe means when it says "packed" brown sugar. I had packed that sugar in until it was a half-cup sized hockey puck. Oops.
Mindful of my own errors – and I see you, Ressis, saying "baking SODA and baking POWDER" – but knowing she has to make some of her own mistakes, too, Ane baked cookies by herself on Saturday. I was around and we did talk about measurements and things like that (she was not happy with me that I made her do MATH FIRST and double the recipe), but she handled most everything herself.
The cookies were yummy. Her brothers acted as official taste testers and gave them the thumbs up.
I think the Webmaster deserves a few cookies now, too. As you may remember, he was laid off back in August.
He was offered a new job yesterday and he ACCEPTED!!!
He starts in a couple of weeks (long enough to get the cross country season over and a few more of the kids' appointments and commitments out of the way) in a 6 month contract-to-hire position. He will be back working in downtown Seattle, so that part of his work routine will stay very similar.
It is a huge relief to know that this season is coming to an end. But I think the kids will really miss having him around.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 at 12:49 am and is filed under Announcements, Children, Husbands, Kitchen Work.
One Response to "Cookie Baker"
Ressis
October 15th, 2014 06:14
You've had a few incidents with baking soda and you also messed up boxed stuffing when you nearly tripled the amount of water needed for two boxes. What would you do without me to remember when and how you screw up?
« Pie! From A Truck!
Daddy, Bedtime Storyteller »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Team Petalcorin checked-in into the Midas Hotel & Casino Thursday, the hotel where the 26 year-old Filipino will battle Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado, 29, for the vacant IBF 108 Lbs World Title this coming Monday (Oct 29) live on ESPN 5 and ESPN+.
Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions, Jim Managquil's SANMAN Promotions and Peter Maniatis Events are the co-promoters for the IBF world class event.
"Randy arrived in Manila from Gensan, and trained lightly at the Midas Hotel gym, looking very sharp. For the Alvarado fight, he has logged around 110 rounds of sparring," informed Australian Hall-of-Fame Promoter Peter Maniatis.
Maniatis added that "SANMAN Promotions's CEO Jim Managquil got Randy Petalcorin ready for the fight with an amazing training camp. The effort has paid divestment. Because Petalcorin looks spot on."
According to Maniatis, after the Thursday evening (Oct 25) workout, Petalcorin weighed-in at an unofficial 109 pounds (49.5 kilos), with only one pound to lose before the weigh-in Sunday morning at TV5 Studio 4 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila.
"Petalcorin can make the weight of 108 pounds now, if needed! His weight is under control.
"I remember the day before Petalcorin fought Omar Kimweri in Australia. Petalcorin had to shed ten pounds in a hurry the day before the weigh-in. But Not this time. This time Randy is right on target," assured Maniatis, a good friend of the late dear Filipino broadcaster Ronnie Nathanielsz.
"Alvarado says that his fight against Randy won't go past seven rounds because he does not want to leave the decision to the judges.
"Well, I don't think that Alvarado has done any homework on searching how great Randy Petalcorin fights.
"So lets see Monday night if Alvarado can get the job done," concluded Peter Maniatis, Petalcorin's long term promoter."
The author Carlos Costa is a veteran Panama-born man of boxing living permanent in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached by email: Carlos512@hotmail.com and Whatsapp: +639184538152.


Lmi Business Services Llc is located at the address 2046 N King st Ste 2 in Honolulu, Hawaii 96819. They can be contacted via phone at (808) 842-3704 for pricing, hours and directions.
For maps and directions to Lmi Business Services Llc view the map to the right. For reviews of Lmi Business Services Llc see below.


Meet Mr. n™ – an arch-shaped lamp that combines a unique, fashion forward design that houses cutting edge, omni-directional light. Mr. n™ provides a soft, warm glow on the outside of the lamp, and the simple yet complete control system is located on the bottom section of the aluminum exterior. An effortless, one-finger touch on that bottom section on the aluminum exterior of the lamp makes the lamp glow or turns it off. Invite Mr. n™ into your home or office.


There are a total of 4 assisted living facilities in KINGSTREE, South Carolina area. This list includes KINGSTREE senior housing, assisted senior living communities and residential care homes for the elderly. KINGSTREE assisted senior living facilities also provide dementia and Alzheimer's care (also known as memory care in KINGSTREE, SC).
Williamsburg Residential Care Facility is an assisted living facility in Kingstree, South Carolina. It can house a maximum of 5 seniors at a time. It is located at 14 Wrcf St, 29556 zip code in Williamsburg county. Williamsburg Residential Care Facility helps elderly adults who need assistance with activities of daily living. Williamsburg Residential Care Facility is a state-licensed assisted living facility with License # CRC-0038.
Kingstree Nursing Facility provides assisted senior living in Williamsburg county, South Carolina. It contains a total of 96 assisted living apartments for elderly adults. Kingstree Nursing Facility provides affordable, pet-friendly assisted elderly housing and is located at 401 Nelson Boulevard, Kingstree, South Carolina 29556.
Good Samaritan Residential Care is an upscale assisted living facility in Kingstree, South Carolina. It supports a total of 9 assisted living units. Good Samaritan Residential Care is available to all Williamsburg county elderly residents in need of assisted living. Good Samaritan Residential Care is situated at 1356 Bubzy Rd in Kingstree, South Carolina.
Dr Ronald E Mcnair Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a residential care facility in Lake City, South Carolina, located at 56 Genesis Drive in 29560 zip code. It provides memory care and assisted living throughout Williamsburg county in South Carolina. Dr Ronald E Mcnair Nursing & Rehabilitation Center has a total of 88 assisted living apartment units.
Assisted Living Facilities in KINGSTREE, SC. List of all of the best assisted living, senior living and elderly housing options in KINGSTREE for 2019.


Santa Claus will be here before we know it and he's going to want cookies and milk. Get yourself ready by baking something new and fancy that the big guy has never had before. Of course, these are all perfect for your annual cookie swap too.
Santa will really get in the spirit with these.
I bet Santa has never seen snowflakes this color before.
Even Santa can't get enough chocolate at Christmas.
These look pretty tasty, don't they?
Santa will definitely smile when he sees these cookies.
You'll never regret making a big batch of these.
Won't Santa feel special when you put these out for him?
This is festive to look at and delicious to eat.
Think Santa will love these?
Santa will love you forever if you leave these out on Christmas Eve.
Make Christmas just a little bit better with these glittery cookies.
Santa is going to drool over these yummy cookies.
You can't go wrong with these red and white cookies.
Do you think Santa will share these with his reindeer?
Try a fun blue color scheme to really impress Santa this year.
Everyone, even Santa, will love these cookies.
Santa won't know which one of these to eat first.
You'll really make Santa's night with a couple of these yummy treats.
These aren't your average Christmas sugar cookies.
The iconic sandwich cookie gets a makeover with this fun idea.
Do you leave cookies for Santa? Which of these are you planning to leave out this year?


Shows, Nights Out to see New York City | Book now!
Join Aladdin and Jasmine on a colorful, musical and magical adventure! The legendary characters and songs are reunited in this Broadway show that will transport you into the fantastical world of "Arabian Nights"!
Chicago is on Broadway! Discover the adventures of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in this jazzy musical comedy.
Come and discover the Blue Man Group in New York. This wonderful show full of percussion, music and color has conquered audiences all over the world!
Discover the history of Jazz in New York with this walk around Harlem. Indulge in the world famous "Soul Food" at one of the restaurants in the area and enjoy some jazz, swing and rhythm & blues.
Set off on a romantic cruise aboard a sailboat and admire the illuminated Manhattan skyline!
Discover 'The Book of Mormon', the musical phenomenon on Broadway, created by the people behind the hit TV show South Park!


TO ORDER BOOKS click here. Click on a book cover for a FREE Chapter One.
Road Rage (Spring 2006 James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto. ISBN 1-55028-91698-09) Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice. Matt Thompson and his running friends approach the last weeks of the eighth grade with the realization that both in school and in running they are headed in different directions. They decide to run in an annual local road race. Matt ends up accused of a theft, and his new coach schedules him to act as a water boy on the course instead of running. That's when Matt learns what a real challenge is. A sequel to Mud Happens and Mud Run.
Real Justice: Fourteen and Sentenced to Death (March 2012 James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto. ISBN 9781459400757 At fourteen, Steve Truscott was a typical teenager in rural Ontario in the fifties, mainly concerned about going fishing, playing football, and racing bikes with his friends. One summer evening, his twelve- year-old classmate, Lynne Harper, asked for a lift to the nearby highway on his bicycle and Steve agreed. Unfortunately, that made Steve the last person known to see Lynne alive. His world collapsed around him when he was arrested and then convicted of killing Lynne Harper. The penalty at the time was death by hanging. Although the sentence was changed to life in prison, Steve suffered for years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit. When his case gained national attention, the Supreme Court of Canada reviewed the evidence -- and confirmed his conviction. It took over forty years and a determination to prove his innocence for him to finally clear his name. He has since received an apology and compensation for his ordeal. In this book, young readers will discover how an innocent boy was presumed guilty by the justice system, and how in the end, that same justice system, prodded by Truscott and his lawyers, was able to acknowledge the terrible wrong done to him.
Real Justice: Convicted for Being a MI'KMAQ (March 2013 James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto ISBN 9781459404380) When a black teen was murdered in a Sydney, Cape Breton park late one night, his young companion, Donald Marshall Jr., became a prime suspect. Sydney police coached two teens to testify against Donald which helped convict him of a murder he did not commit. He spent 11 years in prison until he finally got a lucky break. Not only was he eventually acquitted of the crime, but a royal commission inquiry into his wrongful conviction found that a non- aboriginal youth would not have been convicted in the first place. Donald became a First Nations activist and later won a landmark court case in favour of native fishing rights. He was often referred to as the "reluctant hero" of the Mi'kmaq community.
Man to Man (November 2009 James Lorimer & Company, Publishers, Toronto. ISBN 1552774422) Michael O'Reilly is the shortest kid on the lacrosse team, and the youngest. He doesn't play rough, and everyone says he's not tough enough for the sport. When tension breaks out between teams and one team accuses the other of racist behavior, Michael realizes that he is tough after all -- he's the only one brave enough to speak the truth.
Real Justice: Jailed for Life for Being Black James Lorimer and Company, Publishers, Toronto ISBN: 9781459406667 Rubin Carter was in and out of reformatories and prisons from the age of twelve. At twenty-four, he became a winning professional boxer and was turning his life around. But Carter was also very vocal about racism in the local New Jersey police force. In 1966, local policemen arrested Carter and a friend for a triple murder. The two were convicted and sent to jail for life. Carter spent nearly twenty years in jail, proclaiming his innocence. A teen from Brooklyn, Lesra Martin, heard Carter's story and believed he was innocent. He and a small group of Canadians contacted Carter and began working with Carter's lawyers in New York to get the boxer exonerated. In 1985, a judge released Carter, ruling that Carter's conviction had been based not on evidence, but on racism. Carter moved to Canada in 1985, where until his death in 2014 he worked helping others prove that they had been wrongfully convicted.


FIBERWEB (INDIA) LTD. has reported financial results for the period ended December 31, 2018.
The company has reported net sales of Rs.34.79 crores during the period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.57.86 crores during the period ended September 30, 2018.
The company has posted net profit of Rs.6.12 crores for the period ended December 31, 2018 as against Rs.7.81 crores for the period ended September 30, 2018.
The company has reported EPS of Rs.2.13 for the period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.2.71 for the period ended September 30, 2018.
The company has reported net sales of Rs.34.79 crores during the period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.81.81 crores during the period ended December 31, 2017.
The company has posted net profit of Rs.6.12 crores for the period ended December 31, 2018 as against Rs.10.31 crores for the period ended December 31, 2017.
The company has reported EPS of Rs.2.13 for the period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.7.17 for the period ended December 31, 2017.
The company has reported net sales of Rs.161.17 crores during the 9 months period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.197.78 crores during the 9 months period ended December 31, 2017.
The company has posted net profit of Rs.21.37 crores for the 9 months period ended December 31, 2018 as against Rs.26.48 crores for the 9 months period ended December 31, 2017.
The company has reported EPS of Rs.7.43 for the 9 months period ended December 31, 2018 as compared to Rs.18.47 for the 9 months period ended December 31, 2017.
Shares of FIBERWEB (INDIA) LTD. was last trading in BSE at Rs.41.75 as compared to the previous close of Rs. 42. The total number of shares traded during the day was 31610 in over 180 trades.
The stock hit an intraday high of Rs. 43.3 and intraday low of 41.5. The net turnover during the day was Rs. 1344468.


text:
Pool of expertise
INTERACT in Media
INTERACT presentation material
INTERACT newsletters
Accessing the Arctic
TA/RA call
TA User Community
TA Ambassadors
Info to User Groups
Virtual Access
TA/RA Data Protection Policy
TA Office
Managing stations
Arctic Awareness
Managing risks
Using Drones
Tracking Biodiversity
INTERACT provides a huge pool of science expertise through its partners. These experts can respond to requests from external organisations, consortia and networks for information, collaboration and representation from INTERACT.
Science Expertise
Popular science description of your area of expertise (1 sentence)
Mora Aronsson Botany, EcologyThe study of living organisms in their environment, including where they are found and how they interact with their physical environment and with each other, for example through food webs.... More, Taxonomy, Red listing, Monitoring My main work is as adviser coordinator of biodiversityBiological diversity. The many and varied forms of life on Earth (collectively known as biota). As well as diversity of species (species diversity), there is also diversity within populations of a... More, nature protection, monitoring and red listing
Paul Eric Aspholm Researcher in ecology, experience and knowledge in a variety of thematic. Nature and humans. Knowing the background for Interact (scannet). http://www.framshorts.com/video/the-mysteries-of-the-freshwater-pearl-mussel/
Jaana Bäck Forest ecophysiology, climate changeAccording to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, climate change is change in the climate of the whole Earth or a region of the Earth that is believed... More ClimateThe average weather we would expect over a long period of time (seasons, years, decades). Climate varies from place-to-place across the Earth. Climate is determined by long-term (over at least... More change impacts on forests, and the impacts of forests on climate through both biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks
Christine Barnard Research management; Aquatic research Research and program management of northern science; infrastructure development and management; data management; research coordination
Brian Barnes Hibernation and cryobiology how animals survive arcticDefinitions of the Arctic vary according to environmental, geographical, political, cultural and scientific perspectives. Some scientists define the Arctic as areas having a high latitude, long winters, short, cool summers,... More winters
Tom Barry Science-Policy interface Science-Policy interface
Luisella Bianco a) physics b) project management a) Physics b) Project management in EU projects
Boris Biskaborn a) PermafrostPermafrost is frozen ground that remains at or below zero degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit) for two or more years. It forms in regions where the mean annual temperature is... More data science b) Paleoclimate a) Permafrost temperature development on global scale b) Late Quaternary environmental variability, diatoms, sediment-geochemistry in lake sediment cores.
Syndonia Bret-Harte Plant ecology and ecosystemAll the living organisms (including people) in an area as well as its physical environment, functioning together as a unit. An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil,... More ecology How plant species affect carbon and nitrogen cycling in arctic tundraA type of ecosystem in which tree growth is limited by low temperatures. The origin of the word is from from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr, meaning "uplands" or "treeless mountain tract". In the northern... More
Terry Callaghan Plant Ecology and Ecosystems I have an overview of Arctic environmental change and particularly vegetation responses to change
Jan Dick Socio-ecological coupled systems I work at the interface between social and ecological science focusing particularly on ecosystem services and natural capital
Oleg Ditrich Parasitology Parasitic infections of humans and other animals, including polar regions.
James Drummond Atmospheric composition and energy transfer My research is in the area of the composition of the atmosphere and how energy moves around in the atmosphere
Josef Elster Microbiology, phycology ecophysiology of cyanobacteria and microalgae in terrestrial and freshwater polar environment
Tor Ericson Digitalisation, embedded systems, electronics, software Create new products or services
Snorre B. Hagen Ecology, population genetics, conservation biologyThe study of life and living organisms (from the Greek word 'bios' meaning life).... More I work with animal populations in several taxa, including various large carnivores, insects and fish. I am particularly interested in how and why wildlife populations change in numbers and genetic composition in time and space. For example, I am interested in understanding the influence on populations habitat fragmentation, climate change, and management strategies.
Nagruk Harcharek Arctic Science Logistics North Slope Science Logistics
Erika Hille Permafrost HydrologyThe study of water in the environment, particularly its amount, movement and quality. It encompasses water in rivers, lakes, glaciers, soil and underground aquifers. The way in which water (liquid and... More Cold regions water resources specialist
Antero Järvinen Ecology, long-term studies, natural variation in northern nature,etc. Northern animals, especially birds
Margareta Johansson Permafrost dynamics and permafrost and vegetation interaction Lowland permafrost in northernmost Sweden is located at the boundary of where permafrost can exist. It is hence very sensitive to ongoing climate change. I am monitoring the development of the so call active layerThe layer of ground above permafrost that is subject to annual thawing and freezing.... More and ground temperatures around Abisko. In addition, I have an experiment telling about what will happen in the future with permafrost when the area is likely to receive more snow.
Christian Körner Arctic-alpine plant life Plant ecology
Aart Kroon Geomorphology, morphodynamics Looking to physical processes by wind and water that change the landscapes.
Jana Kvíderová stress ecophysiology and ecology of algae and cyanobacteria, astrobiology My research is focused on survival and adaptationIn ecology, adaptation is the process by which a species acquires certain traits that improve survival in a particular environment.... More of algae and cyanobacteria to extreme environmental conditions, and its connection to astrobiology (limits of life).
Kirsi Latola Changes in the Arctic, holistic approach What are challengiens Arctic and its residents are facing and how to cope with those.
Nicolas Lecomte Polar ecology, biostatistics, ecosystems Understanding the impacts of climate change on arctic ecosystems
Maarten Loonen Biology but also multidisciplinarity 30 years of science and field work in an international setting (Ny-Alesund, CAFFConservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna. One of the working groups of the Arctic Council. Established in 1992. Its main role is to advise governments on conservation matters and issues concerning... More), collecting data in the entire food webA food web is a description of feeding connections in an ecological community (i.e. a group of organisms). Put simply, food webs describe what 'eats' (or more correctly, 'consumes') what.... More, even lakes and fjord.
Maribeth Murray Historical Ecology and Climatology Arctic climate change past and present
Hlynur Oskarsson PeatlandPeat is a soil type formed from slowly decomposing vegetation. It is found in wet areas where the lack of oxygen slows the breakdown of plant matter. Peatlands are areas... More ecologist Wetland scientist / wetland ecologist
Jouni Pulliainen Remote sensing (Earth Observation) of cryospherePlaces on earth where water is in its solid form, frozen into ice or snow. This includes polar regions but also high altitude areas (high mountains). In a region's winter,... More Use of satellite data to investigate arctic and sub-arctic regions
Zofia Rączkowska Geomorphology, physical geographyThe study of the Earth, such as places, landforms, people and processes by which the Earth changes over time. Geography is divided into two main branches: human geography and physical... More, high mountains, subarcticThe area immediately south of the Arctic circle. Generally, subarctic regions fall between 50°N and 70°N latitude, depending on local climate. In other words, the subarctic is the region between the... More areas, present-day geomorphological processes, recent landscape evolution, snow avalanches, geoecological issues of high mountain, the Tatras, the Scandinavian Mts., the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Carpathians, the Caingorms, the Himalaya I am geomorphologist expertised in geomorphological and geoecological problems of high mountains and subarctic areas.
Morten Rasch Ecosystem function, coastal geomorphology, arctic geomorphology General insight in how arctic physical landscapes and ecosystems function
Katrine Raundrup Biology I work with Arctic land mammals; interactions between grazers and vegetation; and monitoring of biological effects of climate change
Ninis Rosqvist Effects of climate change on glaciers, snow, lakes in polar and high alpine environments Effects of climate change on glaciers, snow, lakes in polar and high alpine environments
Hannele Savela Animal physiology, Applied animal physiology Nutrition physiology and reproductive physiology of the reindeer.
Niels Martin Schmidt Arctic ecology, mammalogy, population dynamics, interactions My research focuses on the importance of interactions between organisms, and how these interactions modulate the responses to climate change
Jamal Shirley Aquatic systems; community research engagement Design and coordination of research and training related snowmelt hydrology and water quality in Iqaluit Nunavut
Henrik Skov Arctic Atmospheric chemistryThe study of matter at the atomic and molecular scale.... More I am working with the problems of transport of contaminants into the Arctic and how they might affect the environment and how they interact with climate
Aleksandr Sokolov Ecology, biology, Arctic State of the ecosystems under climate change and growing antropogenic presence in the Arctic
Otso Suominen Subarctic ecology, arctic herbivory, biodiversity, Ecological inetractions and biodiversity in subarctic and borel ecosystems.
Elmer Topp-Jørgensen Greenland: Wildlife management, Biodiversity conservation, Community-based monitoring Experience with sustainability issues in Greenalndic wildlife management (including involvement of local communities) and conservation planning for the protection of biodiversity.
Stefano Ventura Microbial ecology of terrestrial polar habitats; Cyanobacteria In polar regions, where plant growth is impaired, microbes colonise bare lands, produce nutrients for other life forms, shape the environment: they depend only on sunlight, water, and carbon dioxideA gas (chemical formula CO2), which occurs naturally in the Earth's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is given off by organisms when they respire, and it is absorbed by organisms like plants and... More in the air for being successful in hostile conditions.
Solvi Runar Vignisson Marine biology and ornithology Bird migration and littoral ecology are my favorite.
Copyright 2017 © Interact International Network for Terrestrial Research and Monitoring in the Arctic
We are using anonymously data to monitor visits and efficiency of our communications and report it periodically the EU.


Sometimes people think of creativity as some magical gift only bestowed upon artists or sorcerers. And it's true, it can often feel elusive, mysterious, even distant at times.
1. Pick something you know for sure you need to include in your creative idea.
2. Now start randomly iterating through other ideas. Go bananas.
This may make absolutely no sense at first. But that's not the point. The point is to think outside the box here.
3. Connect your ideas (the fun part).
Subscription business + Burritos = Monthly frozen burritos delivered to your door.
Subscription business + Zombies = Online subscription Zombie movies-on-demand site.
WWII movie + Aliens = A mysterious spacecraft crash lands in the Mediterranean in the early years of the war, prompting an allied race to find it before the Nazis can retrieve it and harness its destructive power to turn the tide of the war.
WWII movie + Exercise Balls Dodgeball = A comedy in which both sides of the war must use dodgeballs to defeat each other.
As you can see, I started with Exercise Balls, but then Dodgeball popped into my head and seemed seemed funnier—this is totally okay in this phase. You're trying to find ideas you actually enjoy.
That said, not all ideas are going to be great, no matter how you spin them.
Cross out the ones that you think are dumb, don't have legs, or have been done before.
Star the ones that you think could be fun, cool, or ones that just get you excited.
The goal is ultimately to find an idea that gets your gears turning, that you're passionate about, because ideas lead to ideas.
Don't love them? Try again! Or if you have one or two that might have potential, keep refining them. Be more specific. And remember to have fun with it.
You're a lot more creative than you think, and fresh creative ideas are just around the corner. Would love to hear what creative ideas you've come up with. Let me know some of them in the comments below!
Wondering if your logo should be serif or sans-serif? Wonder no more!
There's a general rule of thumb that makes this decision super simple. But first (for those in the back) here's a quick breakdown of the difference between serif and sans-serif.
Simply put, serif fonts are ones with added decorative lines that serve as little embellishments—known as the serifs. Sans-serifs are—you guessed it—fonts without serifs.
So which do I use in my logo?
If your brand personality is classy, elegant, refined, or timeless—serif all the way.
But if your brand personality is more clean, young, and modern—sans-serif is your best bet.
In the world of design, there are no hard and fast rules (except maybe "Never use comic sans—unless done so ironically"), so your brand may be the exception. But 95% of the time, this rule works.
Your brand not fit the bill? Let me know in the comments below and I'll get back at you with a more specific recommendation. Would love to help out!
Oh, and if you're looking to hire a logo designer, check out my latest blog post, What to know before picking a logo designer.
Now that you know your business needs a logo, it's time to find a pro logo designer.
But before you do, there's a few things you should do first.
Any good logo designer worth his or her salt is going to have a discovery questionnaire or call with you, so it pays to have the answers to these questions in advance. Also, thinking through these things in advance makes finding and selecting a logo designer much easier.
So what kind of questions do you need to answer?
Do you have a tagline that you'd like to appear with the logo?
Who is the key demographic/consumer in terms of age, gender, and location?
What is the core message you want your brand to convey?
What parts of the current design (if it exists) do you like or want to keep?
Do you have any color preferences, or existing brand colors you'd like to include/avoid?
Are there images/icons/symbols you want to include/avoid?
2. Find a Logo Designer.
No doubt you've found some epic designs and perhaps even have a favorite designer! But if you haven't found a logo designer, have no fear, you have a couple of awesome options.
1. Hire a Design Agency.
Identity guide (a PDF with instructions for maintaining brand integrity which includes complementary fonts, colors, and rules for using the logo—this is particularly helpful when working with other freelancers in the future as it keeps their work kosher with your brand).
And so on. If you're looking for a good design agency, totally check out design agencies in your area on Google, but also don't be afraid to work with companies who aren't local. If you like their style and they're reputable, it could be a perfect partnership.
Likely not as expensive as an agency, freelancers are great if you're working on a shoestring. That said, I've worked with quite a few logo designers and have had some mixed experiences. There are some who are truly fantastic and some that are… meh.
If you prefer the freelancer approach, find someone with a deep portfolio of consistently good work that you like. They may be expensive, but when it comes to your brand, good work is worth it.
Again, Dribbble.com, Logopond.com, and Behance.net are all awesome places to find great designers.
3. Confirm deliverables and process.
Whether you go with an agency or a freelancer, you should definitely have an idea of what deliverables you might need. As I mentioned above, agencies are likely going to be better equipped to offer you more deliverables above and beyond the logo design itself. However, you may just need the logo at this time. If so… ¡Bueno!
As far as deliverables go, at the very least I recommend you purchase the logo and identity guide. This investment up front pays dividends. In fact, most designers I know won't do a logo without an accompanying identity guide because they believe in the value of having a clear set of guidelines for the life of the logo.
As far as process is concerned, definitely confirm the number of options and revisions you will receive. Hard pass on the logo designer or agency who only offers one option and no revisions. Also, ask about the discovery process and overall timeline. You want to make sure they have a system for (1) understanding what you want—discovery, and (2) delivering it on time—deadline.
But for serious, before you pick a logo design partner, you should really feel comfortable with them. This is a creative endeavor, so you have to feel like your creative input is valued, understood, and won't be tossed out. On the flip side, you also need to feel like they know what they're doing and that they'll push back on your bad ideas.
5. Get started on your logo design.
This is where you design partner should take it away. As I mentioned above, this usually starts with a logo design questionnaire or discovery call. Let them guide the process, but don't be afraid to ask questions whenever necessary.
Oh, and don't forget to enjoy the ride!
I hope this post was helpful. If you have any pointers for making it more so, do leave a comment below! Would love to hear your thoughts and stories about your logo design adventures.
Okay, so now that you've defined what you want out of your video marketing agency, it's time to determine what services you should actually offer clients and why.
Hold on to your "Defining Success" list (from the previous post) as it will be your guiding light.
What video services should you offer?
You've probably already got a good idea of what services you might want to offer—whether that's motion graphics, 3D animation, live action, or live events—so I won't bore you with the details of each.
However, I wanted to share some practical observations I've made regarding each of these disciplines that you might want to take into account before determining your service offering.
Generally, this is the least expensive to get started and simultaneously the most flexible. You can usually work from anywhere with just a laptop.
That said, it can be really hard to find non-agency (i.e. direct) clients that exclusively want 2D animation. You might have to couple this offering with something else. In addition, it's entirely inductive (you have to build everything in the frame from the ground up), which makes it very design heavy and labor intensive.
I get pretty excited about this, because frankly, I love Pixar and 3D character animation. The possibilities are endless and it is usually much less artistically restricting as 2D animation (there are some technical architectural limitations of 2D animation that can be frustrating).
However, it's usually more expensive to get started because of the licenses for 3D modeling, animation, and render engine software. And depending on how realistic you want your renders to look, it can also be very time consuming and require larger systems for renders (usually meaning you have to be at a certain physical location to work).
Live action is the most marketable service, in my experience, as most companies seem to think of 'video' in terms of 'lights, camera, action.' This can work to your advantage, if you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the live-action production houses.
But you should be aware that live action can be very labor-intensive, time-consuming, and expensive. It also requires significant investment in equipment (unless you're renting, which I recommend) and physical goods (props), not to mention talent and locations.
And because it requires you to be on-set, you really don't have a ton of flexibility when it comes to where you work from. But sometimes that can be a good thing—many of my friends enjoy traveling for shoots, sometimes to places as far as Africa and Thailand. So if you don't mind the long hours and having to be on set, good on ya!
This is probably the most plug and play option—you usually configure live event shoots the same way every time. This makes the model more scaleable as it is easier to train employees how to execute a shoot without you.
However, it can also be quite stressful. Because it is live, there's no yelling "Cut! We missed the dunk tank shot, can we get the presenter dried off and do it from the top?" Any technical issue is magnified. If a camera goes out, you're screwed unless you have a backup. If the audio is corrupted or garbled, you've got to make it right. If your computer dies in the middle of the live stream… you get the picture.
It's really easy to get excited about video and not to count the costs.
You probably already know what type of video services you enjoy, are competent in, and would like to offer in your video marketing agency. But before you decide for certain, make sure you have crystal clarity about what's involved (good and bad). You need to make this decision with eyes wide open.
Here's where the "Defining Success" list you developed in the last post comes in handy.
Cross-reference your list of "wants" and "don't wants" with what you know about the different types of media you could offer.
Does one service seem to fit the best? Do none of them fit? (In that case, perhaps you should offer something other than video?) Are there elements of one that might require you to find assistance to provide that service to clients? Is having a bigger team in line with your wants?
Ultimately, you should be getting a better vision for what your business might involve (employees, location, overhead, etc.). It should also give you confidence in your service offering, enabling you to anticipate and withstand the challenges associated with that service.
I hope this was a somewhat helpful overview of different video services. Stay tuned for the next post in the series on finding epic clients!
So you've already determined that your business needs a video. Now it's time to pick the right video production partner!
1. Research local video production companies.
Google is a good start, however, I've found that a recommendation is usually much more helpful. Ask around and see if there's anyone who knows of a good video production partner that would be a great fit for your business.
2. Contact and request estimates.
Saw some of your work online and would love to talk with you about a video project.
I'm looking for something that will [get my customers excited about a new product that I'm launching].
Would love to get an estimate for what that might cost. Happy to hop on the phone and discuss scope. My number is below.
What would you like the video to do?
What tone would you like it to take (e.g. happy, fun, or refined, serious)?
Do you envision it being an animation project or a live action project?
Note: Pay attention to how you feel on the call.
Making a video is a creative and collaborative endeavor. You want to find a partner that not only understands your business model, but also your company ethos and your passion.
If you feel rushed, stifled, or put down, throw the flag (see below). This is about finding a creative, collaborative partner. So, make sure you jive with the people you're bringing on to the project.
3. Review video production bids.
Once the bids come in, review the different approaches. Odds are that each estimate will be different. This is okay. Every production company has a different approach.
Look at that bottom line. How does it compare to the other estimates? Keep in mind, cheaper doesn't necessarily mean a better ROI. In video, you get what you pay for. So don't be shocked by, or avoid, higher numbers.
Usually the discount means that they're on board with your company's vision and is a nice indicator of a potential partnership, not just a client-vendor relationship.
Does their process make sense to you? Usually video projects are broken into pre-production (before shooting), production (on-set work), and post-production (everything else), with the majority of your feedback solicited in pre-production.
How many rounds of revisions are they offering? In my experience two rounds of revisions on scripting, storyboarding, and edit are generally enough.
What are you responsible for? Production companies can bill certain items to the client if they are variable, like location and talent fees. This is something that should only be done on the condition that you approve of that expense. Ensure that's the case.
You want to find a partner that is as excited about your project as you are, and someone who is willing to go the extra mile to make your video dreams come true. Often times, big video deals hinge on this component alone—I've seen $50k+ projects go to the smaller vendors (yielding great results), just because they've better caught the creative vision than the big fish.
4. If you can't decide, go with your gut.
But if you're still a bit confused by all of the options, go with your gut. Pick the partner that (1) demonstrates competence, and (2) you jive with. Because at the end of the day, an excellent product and great time creating it is the goal.
Let me know how this works for you by commenting below! Would also love to hear from you if you've already picked a video production company—what other factors did you consider when picking your video production team?
If you're interested in starting a successful video agency or production company, I'd like to help. Here's why.
Four years ago, I was working a 9-to-5 job at an amazing non-profit. It had a wonderful mission, incredible benefits, and nearly zero risk. Frankly, all I had to do was keep breathing, and I would've been set for life.
But somehow, despite all of that, it wasn't enough.
There was no adventure. No excitement. I knew I needed to make my own way. I'd originally been hired to lead branding overhauls and make videos for that organization, so I knew I had the chops, but I didn't know if I'd be successful on my own.
I didn't know if I could take the leap.
Four years later, I'm so glad I did.
I went from working in a cubicle, wearing a suit Monday through Friday, to taking day trips down to NYC to see our video for Brookstone playing on the biggest screen in Times Square.
From the moment I decided to jump, it's been a rollercoaster, filled with good moments and challenging ones. But overall, this has been one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life. And frankly, I want everyone who is willing, to be able to experience that feeling.
That's why I'd like to help you start your own video agency / production company. Because it's a freaking blast.
This may sound trite and inconsequential, but it's not.
Before I left my job and started my company, I spent a lot of time journaling, listing the Pros and Cons of leaving my job to start my own video agency. But, in hindsight, one thing I wish I had done better is define success.
Is it running a lifestyle company? Something that gives you enough time in between video jobs to chill at the beach?
Is it making your production company your life purpose? To use it as a vehicle to bring your creative dreams to life?
Is it to make more money? To establish your video agency as an industry titan?
Is it to grow the video agency and to provide for employees? To build a production company that is bigger than just you?
So, define what you want.
Before doing anything, I suggest you sit down and write out what you want out of this business before starting it.
Be specific. These are just examples, and your answers will be different, but I highly recommend going through this process first before deciding to make the jump.
Want to know the biggest myth about logos?
Most people believe that having a professionally designed logo makes them legitimate or successful.
But surprise! That's not necessarily true.
Need proof? Take a look at DrudgeReport.com or Craigslist.org. Both have pretty terrible logos, but their businesses work.
So how do you know whether or not your business needs a logo?
Allow me to introduce my patent-pending Does-My-Business-Need-A-Logo Test (*cough* logo forthcoming *cough*).
Let's start with question #1.
1. Does your business have customers?
A couple of years ago, I built a startup. And oh my, it had the perfect name, the perfect logo, the perfect mascot, the perfect website design, and the perfect treasure trove of puns that tied the whole brand experience up in a beautiful bow.
I forgot rule number one of any business: have customers.
It's all too easy to get wrapped up in the glitz and glamour of branding, design, video, and marketing. To be fair, it's very exciting! But it doesn't keep the lights on. Customers—and sales in turn—do.
So, make sure your business actually has customers. People ready to give you money. Or better yet, people currently giving you money.
Because, without sales, a logo doesn't matter.
Sure, sometimes you do need a logo and brand before you open your doors (if you're a high-end restaurant, for example). But by and large, you should have customers first.
If you have a business like that, or already have sales or customers, proceed to question #2.
2. Do people actually care about your logo?
If you're adding value and people are paying for your service, perhaps you don't need a logo at all. Perhaps just the name in a simple font will do.
I've met a lot of amazing small business owners who have a very simple logo (of which they are unnecessarily ashamed) that does exactly what it needs to do.
On the other hand, if you get a few smirks and funny looks when customers see your logo, it might be a good idea to invest in a professionally developed logo.
Why? You guessed it. Because it's probably costing you sales.
This is especially true of high-end brands. If you're selling wristwatches for $300, and your logo says 'two-bit timepiece,' you're probably missing out on sales. That's when a timelessly elegant logo and brand that says 'prestige' could be a wise investment.
If brand is important to your customers—and important to your customer's perception of the value of your product—invest in a professional logo.
If you're running a successful business that has its own name, you'll probably need a logo of some sort. But unless brand is important to your customer, you probably don't need it to be perfect or designed by Jackson Pollock.
Actually, can you imagine what that logo would look like?
Have any logo horror stories or something else you'd like to know? Would love to hear your thoughts below!
Stay tuned for more information on what to know before picking a logo designer and how to find a designer that is right for your business or personal brand!
But how do you meet the "who"?
Over the course of several years, I can count on one hand the number of referrals / opportunities that have come from a LinkedIn connection.
In my experience, LinkedIn serves to cement relationships, but does not form them nor maintain them.
Don't let anyone ever tell you that business isn't emotional. I've heard multiple stories of billion-dollar deals that went south because someone got 'bad vibes' at the signing.
So, in a world of emotional decision-making, the best possible way you can connect with anyone is by meeting them face-to-face. Sharing the warmth of true—and genuine—face-to-face fellowship.
If you've been around a long enough time, this word probably rubs you the wrong way too.
Conjured forth in your mind is the image of the 'used car salesman' type, dressed in a sleazy suit, whose sole aim is to get his business card in your pocket. You feel like a target, not a person. To him, networking is an end, not the means to an end.
This is not what I mean by networking.
What I mean is merely the act of getting yourself out there to meet people—NOT meeting people with the animal instinct of taking down a kill. That makes people uncomfortable. When was the last time you enjoyed walking into a used car dealership?
Before you go to any networking event, you need to eliminate your expectations and reset your goal.
The fact is that people generally gravitate towards confident, fun, relaxed people. So be that person. Be you.
And guess what! If people enjoy being around you, they'll look for any excuse to do so—even if that means working with you.
This depends on your business. If you're looking to meet with executives of enterprise companies, you'll probably need to go to a major city. But if you're just looking to build inroads in your local community, a chamber of commerce meeting might be perfect.
2. Search for your industry and related industries.
If you're in video production, go to video production gatherings, sure, but also go to marketing events, startup launches, anywhere you might meet interesting people who might eventually need your services.
Time is money. Don't waste either. Do a bit of research into the event itself, read comments, posts, etc. about the event to see what types of people will be there. Are they your target market? Are they well-funded? Can they use your product or service?
When searching, obviously used Google (or your preferred search engine), but, depending on what you're looking for, you can also try Meetup.com.
But always remember, the goal here is to find people that you'd enjoy working with, so be creative and have fun!
Have another idea for how to meet clients? Or perhaps have a networking horror story? Would love to hear it below!
As a creative director at a marketing agency, I often encounter companies looking to create a video. But when pressed as to why, they don't really know.
So, I usually ask them three questions.
1. Do you have a goal for the video?
You'd be surprised how many people aren't certain about what they want the video to accomplish.
Who is your audience / target market?
What do you want them to do after seeing the video?
Where will they encounter the video?
I want existing customers to see our newest offering, go to our site, and buy it.
I want employees to see the effect of their work on the world around them and to be proud to be a part of this company.
I want to reach new customers on social media and give them a taste of something we're launching soon. We'd love to have them go to a landing page and leave their email with us.
I want a scaleable solution to train folks on how to use our system—that way we don't get so many training calls.
2. Is video the best way to accomplish that goal?
Video is incredibly powerful at arresting the attentions of viewers. In fact, just having a video on your homepage drops your bounce rate (the percentage of people who leave immediately after visiting your site) by an average of 34%!
It also has the ability to inspire and passionately communicate your company's ethos better than most other media. In that respect, video is king.
But sometimes, you actually don't need video to accomplish your goals. Sometimes a billboard ad is better. Or an email marketing campaign. Or even just a product demo party.
For example, say you want to win over upper management's approval of an internal project you're working on. You can certainly make a video. But perhaps just showing them the product and allowing them to use it will cast your vision just as well. But… if you want to host a hundred demo parties, perhaps video is your answer.
More often than not, video is the right approach, but it's helpful to pause and think through why.
3. Are you prepared to spend the money?
One commercial-length A-level cinematic live action video can range anywhere from $5k to $500k or more (if you're in the league of Nike or Apple). And it's similar for animation.
This is due in part to all of the processes and expenses involved. Discovery, concept, script, storyboard, producing, equipment, locations, talent, crew, edit, sound design, color, music, mix, master—the list goes on and on.
You can cut some corners, but usually at the expense of time and/or quality. And frankly, most 'budget' production companies usually do a poor job in both arenas. When it comes to video, it pays to find a quality partner that will do it right.
That said, that's just the cost of producing a video, not the cost of distributing it. If you're planning on doing an ad spend, you'll need to set aside a good amount to make sure you're actually getting the most out of your investment. Otherwise, what's the point?
A nice video no one sees is as good as no video.
So, set aside a budget for the video production and leave enough room for your advertising spend.
If you've answered yes to all three items, it seems like your business is ready for a video! Stay tuned for future blog posts on how to select a good video partner.
And hey, if you've created a video for your business and have some pointers, leave them below! Would love to hear them.
RBE—it's a thing, just like RBF is a thing. So if you're concerned you have Resting [Blank] Emails, don't worry, you're not alone.
Luckily, there is a cure. The magical email template of unicorns and rainbows! Check it out below.
The first step to dodging jerk-dom is to swap in a more casual salutation.
Come on, we have standards.
Unless you know the person super well, and enjoy occasionally being a doofus like I do, don't get too comfortable right up front.
How is life on the east coast? Not too cold, I hope?
Hope you're having an epic March. How's your bracket?
How's the family? You guys recuperated from the epic vacation?
How're things going at Apple? You meet Johnny Ive yet?
Glad to meet another Star Wars nerd! Btw, what'd you think of Solo?
Note that this always starts with something general, then moves to something specific to them.
The key here is to find a point of personal connection.
Alrighty, now it's time to get down to the brass tacks.
Anyways, be short and sweet and state your business. You likely won't need to dress this up, since Steps 1 and 2 have given you a bit of relational capital in the email.
So, just be respectful, maybe even fun and sassy—just don't be a jerk.
After doing your business (tee hee), make sure to end positively.
Excited about where this is headed. Can't wait to make it happen!
Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to hop on the phone anytime!
Would love to catch up on the phone and hear how everything's going for you in the new job! Give me a jingle anytime.
Note the presence—but not overuse—of exclamation points. Be excited, not unhinged.
As a guiding rule, enjoy your own emails. Have fun, let your personality into it a bit, but remember to balance all of that with a professional tone.
That's it! You're off to the races. Oh, and if you have some pointers to share, would love to hear them below!


text:
Near-Earth asteroid
Most notorious pirates
Evidence of 3,000-Year-Old Cinnamon Trade Found in Israel
By Owen Jarus
Ruins on the surface of Tel Dor, located about 19 miles (30 kilometers) to the south of Haifa, in Israel. Phoenician flasks from this site, dating back around 3,000 years, were among those that contained cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its flavor. These finds indicate the existence of trade that brought cinnamon from the Far East to the area of modern-day Israel. (Image credit: Photo by Lang Gito, CC Attribution 2.0 Generic)
How far would you go to get your cinnamon fix? If you lived in the Levant 3,000 years ago (a region that includes modern day Israel), very far indeed new research indicates.
Researchers analyzing the contents of 27 flasks from five archaeological sites in Israel that date back around 3,000 years have found that 10 of the flasks contain cinnamaldehyde, the compound that gives cinnamon its flavor, indicating that the spice was stored in these flasks.
At this time cinnamon was found in the Far East with the closest places to Israel being southern India and Sri Lanka located at least 3,000 miles (nearly 5,000 kilometers) away. A form of it was also found in the interior of Africa, but does not match the material found in these flasks.
This discovery "raises the intriguing possibility that long-range spice trade from the Far East westward may have taken place some 3,000 years ago," researchers write in a paper to be published in the journal Mediterranean Archaeology andArchaeometry. Although cinnamon can be purchased today at any grocery or bulk food store, 3,000 years ago, people in the Levant would have needed to take part in trade that extended beyond the edge of the known world in order to acquire it, something this discovery suggests they were willing to do.
This trade may go back ever further into antiquity and involve other goods and parts of the Middle East. The researchers note, for example, that black pepper from India has been found in the mummy of Ramesses II, a pharaoh of Egypt who lived more than 3,200 years ago. [See Images of the Mummy of Ramesses III]
From the Far East to Israel
At the time of this trade, Israel's coastal inhabitants included the Phoenicians, a people so renowned for their seafaring skills the ancient writer Herodotus claimed they had succeeded in sailing around Africa around 600 BC (something scholars are doubtful of today).
But, while these people were great seafarers, they probably did not sail all the way to the Far East to get these goods, perhaps instead using intermediaries along the way.
"We don't think they sailed directly [to the Far East]; it was a very hard task even in the 16th century A.D." Dvory Namdar, a researcher with the Weizmann Institute of Science and Tel Aviv University, told LiveScience in an interview. Her research colleague Ayelet Gilboa, of the University of Haifa, also agreed in an interview that it was very doubtful there was a direct voyage.
Bark from Cinnamomum verum, which is found naturally in southern India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar; another form of cinnamon comes from Cinnamomum cassia, found naturally in China, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. More research is needed to determine the origin of the cinnamon found in the ancient flasks. (Image credit: Photo by H. Zell, CC Attribution Share-Alike 3.0 Unported)
They explained that the flasks that contained cinnamon were made locally in northern coastal Israel which back then was part of ancient Phoenicia. They appear to have been designed to hold precious contents, featuring a narrow opening with thick walls. Flasks like these have been found in special places such as treasuries and temple storerooms, the researchers noted.
Namdar and Gilboa explained that the bark from the cinnamon tree would have been brought in from the Far East in a dry form and, when it reached Phoenicia, was mixed with some form of liquid and put in these flasks. Then, afterwards it was shipped all over Phoenicia and also to neighboring regions such as Philistia (much of which is located in modern day southwest Israel) and Cyprus.
Cinnamon mixed in wine?
A further mystery the team faces: What was the cinnamon used for? The cinnamon from these flasks would have tasted "roughly the same as today," Namdar said.
One possibility, Namdar and Gilboa said, is that people of the time mixed the cinnamon in with wine, an idea supported by the fact that the flasks were quite small, whereas wine was stored in bigger containers. "If you mix it with a bigger [container of wine], then you get flavored wine," they said. Indeed, cinnamon is often used in wine-based recipes today, including ones for mulled or spiced wine.
The project was supported by a European Research Council Advanced Grant.
Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on LiveScience.
Live Science Contributor
Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.
10 body parts that are useless in humans (or maybe not)
Does reality exist when we're not looking?
Doomsday clock advances to 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to apocalypse it's ever been
South Korea's lunar orbiter unveils jaw-dropping images of Earth and the moon
Aliens haven't contacted Earth because there's no sign of intelligence here, new answer to the Fermi paradox suggests


Longibacter Xia et al. 2016, gen. nov.
Type species: ¤ Longibacter salinarum Xia et al. 2016.
Etymology: L. adj. longus, long; N.L. masc. n. bacter, rod or staff; N.L. masc. n. Longibacter, a long rod.
Valid publication: XIA, J., DUNLAP, C. A., FLOR-WEILER, L., ROONEY, A. P., CHEN, G. J. and DU, Z. J. 2016. Longibacter salinarum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine solar saltern. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 66, 3287-3292.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) WDS2C18=MCCC 1H00132=KCTC 52045.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: KU954547.
Etymology: L. pl. gen. n. salinarum, of salterns.


We aim to cater for the needs of all visitors in our home based bed and breakfast. We have two rooms available a double bedded room and a twin bedded room. Only one room is let at a time unless you, as a family or friends are happy to share the one private bathroom. The following statement is a summary of our provision. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to call us and we will endeavour to help.
· Our website address is www.silkmorehouse.com which provides information on our house, location, directions, local attractions, prices etc.
· By special arrangement, we can meet guests at the nearest station Horsley which is approx. 2 miles away in East Horsley or provide you with telephone numbers of local taxi companies.
· As an old listed building there are constraints within the structure of the building and we are currently unable to offer dedicated rooms and facilities for the less able. However, please call to discuss your requirements and if we feel we are unable to accommodate any potential guest comfortably, we will make every attempt to suggest a suitable alternative within the area.
On arrival at the property, Silkmore is the 7th house on the left, the entrance to the drive is on a slight bend in the lane. There is a parking space for guests on the right hand side. Upon request, we can open the gate for you to drive down the driveway (one car width) approx 100m to the front of the house, however there is no turning area so you will need to reverse back up to park your car.
· You will find a ships bell to ring at the front door (shoulder height) There is also a knocker on the door.
· The drive and front door areas are lit at night.
· There are flag stones immediately in front of the front door.
· We will require guests to register with us upon arrival.
· There are no steps leading into the house, nor or there any on the ground floor.
· The dining room is to the right of the front door entrance, along a short narrow passageway.
· The staircase to the bedrooms on the first floor is accessed via the hall on the right hand side.
· Guests WC is on the first floor in the private bathroom.
· Guests may use the downstairs WC upon request, which is at the foot of the stairs.
· Breakfast is served in the dining room on the ground floor.
· The chairs can be moved upon request.
· A Breakfast Menu is available in large print upon request.
· We offer a limited laundry service, please ask for details.
· The local post office and general store is approx. half a mile away. If you have forgotten anything, please ask us first to see if we can be of help.
· Great choice of things to see and do locally. Please refer to our website.
· A wooden garden table with sun shade and benches are available for guests use.
· A table tennis table is available.
· 4ft 6 x 6ft 3 Double bed.
· Bedroom No.2 Twin Bedded room.
· The bathroom is carpeted.
· Please refer to our website for suggestions on places to visit and things to do.
· We have a large garden at the front of the house which is flat . To the rear is a large garden. The upper lawn area is accessible via a gentle slope of approx. 2m. There is garden furniture available for guests use and a table tennis table for the more active!
· Mobile phone reception is reasonably good.
· In emergency, residents will be alerted personally. The two main exits being via the front door and the back kitchen door - there is a third exit to the side of the house.
· Smoking is not permitted in the house.


It is never too early to schedule your Weed Xtinguishers Colleyville shrub care service as we endorse a year-round approach to protecting and beautifying your property. Whatever the season, we can treat, fertilize, trim or mulch to provide you with the healthiest lawn and garden that will grow and flourish to full maturity.
Shrub care is not limited to the occasional trim and fertilizer treatment and our shrub care service in Colleyville TX will send licensed technicians to your home to make an assessment and inform you of the best approach.
Even in dormant times, your ornamental shrubs and other landscaping can use attention. We provide a special treatment of Winter Dormant Oil, normally applied twice in the winter season, that will both prevent scale and boost immunity against insect infestations that can begin in the spring.
We all look forward to those first bursts of color in the spring when our plants and shrubs begin to bloom. Early spring is the time to nourish that growth and strengthen the root system with nutritionally balanced fertilizer.
Healthy, strong plants also prove much better at fighting disease and insect infestation. Weed Xtinguishers' Colleyville shrub care service arrives prepared with the right fertilizers and insect control to treat your plants and lawn.
Summer is all about warm outdoor fun — and the bugs. Let us make sure that your plants don't become a buffet for destructive insects. We can safely and effectively eradicate insects, and their webs/nests, from your outdoor spaces. This seasonal application is important in protecting the health of, not just your shrubs, but it can have a positive impact on the health of your family and pets.
Along with our shrub care service in Colleyville TX, Weed Xtinguishers can provide indoor and outdoor pest control to further protect your home and property.
Whatever the season, Weed Xtinguishers' Colleyville shrub care service will protect and care for all your lawn and garden needs. We can provide you with a free evaluation and we guarantee our work.


Desjardins Financial Security Investments Inc. (DFS Investments) is part of the Desjardins Group, the sixth largest financial institution in Canada, with more than $190 billion in total assets and over 46,000 employees across Canada. It is recognized for its financial stability with a capitalization ratio rated among the best in the industry.
DFS Investments, along with your representative, are pleased to provide you with a wide range of comprehensive financial products and services and trust that together we will build a sound and valuable relationship.
Should you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your representative.


text:
var path = require('path'),
    fs = require('fs');

function handleStatic(pageUrl, response)
{
	//console.log("About to read "+pageUrl);
	var filename = path.join(process.cwd(), pageUrl);
	path.exists(filename, function(exists) {
		if(!exists) {
			//console.log("not exists: " + filename);
			response.writeHead(404, {'Content-Type': 'text/html'});
			response.write('404 Not Found\n');
			response.end();
			return;
		}
		//Do not send Content type, browser will pick it up.
		response.writeHead(200);

		//console.log("About to read "+pageUrl);

		var fileStream = fs.createReadStream(filename);
		fileStream.on('end', function() {
			response.end();
		});

		fileStream.pipe(response);
		return;
	});
}
exports.handleStatic = handleStatic;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Without an uptick rule, naked short selling becomes in effect a derivative transaction, thus injecting into a tangible capital market added elements of risk and volatility without accompanying transparency. There is already a market for such derivatives, the public options market, where hedgers and speculators can operate within their own risk environment. Bringing back an uptick rule will add an element of credibility to a stock market in need of greater confidence from the investing public.


This handcrafted, limited edition 2012 Shiraz from Mandurang Valley Winery was bottled to commemorate the opening of the Ulumbarra Theatre. Now, every dollar from wine sales is directed to the Ulumbarra Foundation. A wonderful way to show your support, provide a memorable gift for friends and family or to celebrate Christmas.


All suspected cases of malaria should receive a diagnostic test prior to treatment with artemisinin-based combinations based on the new WHO malaria treatment guidelines. This study compared the accuracy and some operational characteristics of 22 different immunochromatographic antigen capture point-of- malaria tests (RDTs) in Cameroon to inform test procurement prior to deployment of artemisinin-based combinations for malaria treatment.
One hundred human blood samples (50 positive and 50 negative) collected from consenting febrile patients in two health centres at Yaoundé were used for evaluation of the 22 RDTs categorized as "Pf Only" (9) or "Pf + PAN" (13) based on parasite antigen captured [histidine rich protein II (HRP2) or lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) or aldolase]. RDTs were coded to blind technicians performing the tests. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the positive and negative tests (PPV and NPV) as well as the likelihood ratios were assessed. The reliability and some operational characteristics were determined as the mean values from two assessors, and the Cohen's kappa statistic was then used to compare agreement. Light microscopy was the referent.
Of all RDTs tested, 94.2 % (21/22) had sensitivity values greater than 90 % among which 14 (63.6 %) were 'Pf + PAN' RDTs. The specificity was generally lower than the sensitivity for all RDTs and poorer for "Pf Only" RDTs. The predictive values and likelihood ratios were better for non-HRP2 analytes for "Pf + PAN" RDTs. The Kappa value for most of the tests obtained was around 67 % (95 % CI 50–69 %), corresponding to a moderate agreement.
Overall, 94.2 % (21/22) of RDTs tested had accuracy within the range recommended by the WHO, while one performed poorly, below acceptable levels. Seven "Pf + PAN" and 3 "Pf Only" RDTs were selected for further assessment based on performance characteristics. Harmonizing RDT test presentation and procedures would prevent mistakes of test performance and interpretation.
The challenge of controlling malaria is a continuous reality in most sub-Saharan countries. Despite increasing efforts in prevention and treatment, malaria has remained a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with an estimated 451 million clinical cases of malaria in 2007 alone, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa . In Cameroon, malaria continues to be endemic with estimated 71 % living in high transmission areas , and the major cause of morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable groups, namely children under 5 years of age and pregnant women, as well as the poor. The continuous existence of such huge burden due to malaria in 2010 has necessitated the implementation of large scale programs geared at eliminating malaria as a public health problem. Effective treatment of malaria requires precise laboratory diagnosis and this remains a cornerstone for global malaria control efforts. Microscopy still remains the method of choice in the diagnosis of malaria in endemic areas because it is cost effective. However correct identification of Plasmodium species by microscopy depends on factors, such as the experience of the microscopists, proper staining of the slides, good quality reagents, appropriate maintenance of the microscope and the time spent reading a slide. Due to these limitations, physicians are often reluctant to accept results of microscopy in such operational settings. Therefore, the reliance of diagnosis on clinical grounds alone has resulted in over diagnosis of malaria in many clinical settings in developing countries including Cameroon [3–5]. Rapid diagnostic tests have considerable potential as a tool to improve the diagnosis of malaria in endemic settings [5, 6]. Due to the rapidity of the test and availability of the results for clinical care, RDTs have been positively recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) when reliable microscopy is not available .
There is increasing interest in introducing RDTs for diagnosing malaria and improving malaria case management with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), as studies show significant improvements in malaria control following implementation . In 2010, forty-two African countries reported deployment of 11 million ACT at community level, with only a small proportion in the community receiving parasite confirmation test at community level . Clearly, the WHO underscores the importance of expanding malaria diagnosis at community level as demonstrated in Zambia with scaling up of RDT use during the period 2004–2009 . The benefits of such a strategy include reduction in expenditures on anti-malarial drugs, improved patient outcomes for non-malarial fevers and curbing of drug resistance [15, 16]. The Government of Cameroon planned to introduce RDTs into communities in 50 pilot Health Districts in the national territory in 2011 as part of a Global Fund supported project for deploying ACT for case management at community level. However, there has been little or no previous report on the field performance of different RDTs recommended by the WHO and available in the Cameroon market to properly inform procurement. It was, therefore, necessary to evaluate the performance of RDTs available in the Cameroon market. This study therefore aimed to determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of 22 different rapid diagnostic tests available in Cameroon at that time.
The study population was made up of male and female febrile patients aged 1 year to 16 years suspected of a malaria infection in six busy peripheral health centres in Yaoundé. A patient was considered for enrolment into the study if he/she fulfilled the following criteria: willingness to donate 5 mls of blood after informed consent. If the patient sample was positive by microscopy, consent/assent was requested to participate. If the patient's blood sample was negative by microscopy, the patient was still requested to consent. This procedure was followed consecutively until the required number of malaria positive and negative samples was obtained. Those performing the microscopy at the health centres were trained to collect, prepare, read and quantify malaria smears by light microscopy.
Malaria transmission in Yaoundé is year round with four climatically distinct seasons composed of 2 short and two long dry and raining seasons respectively. Peak transmission occurs in the beginning of the rainy season. This assessment was conducted in April when transmission of malaria was expected to be at its peak.
In each centre, 5 ml of whole blood was collected from consenting febrile patients by venous puncture into pre-labelled EDTA tubes. For each blood specimen, about 200 μl was used to prepare a thick film and a thin blood smear for malaria parasite density determination and speciation. Microscopy was used as the reference test. This test was chosen because it is considered as the reference method for malaria diagnosis by the WHO. Blood smears were stained with freshly prepared 3 % Giemsa solution according to standard procedures. To confirm microscopy diagnosis at the health centre, a new diagnosis was performed by two experienced and certified microscopists from the Biotechnology Centre and the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital. They were blinded to the health centre diagnosis. The thick smears were used to detect the presence of Plasmodium infection. The thin smears were considered negative if no parasite was seen in 100 oil-immersion fields from two independent readings. A third reading was performed in case of positive/negative discordance for asexual stages.
The RDTs in the study were obtained from major local distributors of clinical rapid diagnostic tests and other clinical laboratory suppliers in Cameroon. In total, twenty-two different RDTs used for malaria diagnosis and present in the market in 2010 were obtained. Selection of the RDTs was based on their presence in the Cameroon market and distributor's willingness to participate in the assessments. The test cassettes or strips were of traceable quality (standard supplier, used within the shelf life of the product). History of proper storage and transport conditions from manufacturers could not be guaranteed.
The technical specifications of the various RDTs are presented as supplemental material (Additional file 1). Nine of the RDT kits detect only Plasmodium falciparum, while the rest had detection analytes for P. falciparum and PAN representing other Plasmodium species. The test devices were mostly plastic lateral flow cassettes (18) and dipsticks (4). Most of the RDTs kits contained specimen transfer/reagent transfer devices except stated in the instructions to use a specific transfer device like a micropipette. Test antigens used in the kits were P. falciparum specific histidine rich protein II (HRP2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aldolase in order of frequency of occurrence in RDTs.
Evaluation of the 22 RDTs was performed and interpreted according to the manufacturers' instructions presented in the inserted inserts. Three technicians performed the tests. These technicians were not trained, but could interpret the procedures stated in the insert. In the case where the procedure required prior preparation of reagents or the use of multiple devices, each procedure technician consistently performed the same task each time to ensure uniformity in test performance. They were blinded to each other's results and to the results of microscopy. For each RDT the result was classified as negative, positive or invalid (Fig. 1). All tests without a control line were considered invalid by the test reader and the test repeated with a new RDT of the same code.
The study laboratory technicians who performed the RDTs ranked the 22 tests independently in order of preference where 2 corresponded to their most preferred test and "0" to their least preferred based on a questionnaire response on a Likert scale from 0(poor) to 3(good) to 5(best): Ease and safety of taking blood; ease of adding reagents including the complexity of material/handling/transfer technique and device required and ease of interpretation of insert instructions. In addition, assessors of RDT results were asked to rank the tests independently based ease of interpretation defined by the position of bands, labeling, band intensity, background and time to interpretation of results.
where P 1 and P 2 are sensitivity and (1-specificity) respectively and n1 = n2 = sample size. In this way the sample size was estimated at 100.
where A = agreement observed, B = agreement by chance = 50 % of times, C = agreement possible = 100 %.
A 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) was calculated for each κ value and the overall agreement was evaluated as the weighted κ value with its 95 % confidence interval.
This study was carried out under the auspices of the National Malaria Control Program with ethical clearance from the national ethics committee on health research in humans. Febrile patients whose left over blood specimen from routine medical exam were used provided verbal consent by phone. Information about the research was explained to each of one hundred participants/guardians by the consultant of the health centre either by phone or face to face for those who could come to the clinics. Participation was entirely voluntary.
Overall, each of 22 different RDTs were tested on a total of ninety-seven venous blood samples. Three of the RDT test types were dipsticks while the rest were strips in rectangular cassettes.
Results of the RDT evaluation are presented in Additional file 2. From this table, of all RDTs tested, (21/22) 95.4 % had sensitivity values greater than 90 % consistent with the WHO recommendations . Among these RDTs with greater than 90 % sensitivity, 7/9 (77.8 %) were "Pf Only" RDTs while the rest (14/22; 63.6 %) were "Pf + PAN" RDTs. with sensitivity values greater than 90 % indicating that there seems to be more of highly performing "Pf Only" RDTs than "Pf + PAN" RDTs Furthermore, only 6/13 (46.1 %) of "Pf + PAN" RDTs had sensitivity values less than 80 %. Two "Pf + PAN" RDTs had sensitivity less than 55 %. Considering specificity, only one "Pf Only" RDT had specificity greater than 90 %. The "Pf Only" RDTs had poor specificities with values around 60 %. On the other hand, only about 8 (36.3 %) "Pf + PAN" RDTs had sensitivity values greater than 90 %. Generally, RDTs with high sensitivity had low specificities and vice versa. A few RDTs (6/23 or 23 %) had sensitivities and specificity values of at least 80 % and these were all "Pf + PAN" RDTs indicating that these RDT types seems to be better in diagnosing malaria when it is important to know if other species are contributing to the infection. Among all RDT analytes, the pLDH consistently showed higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the pHRP2. The predictive values of the positive test were generally below 80 % for 18 RDTs (78.2 %) among which only 2 were "Pf Only" RDTs. Of all RDTs tested, 11(47.8 %) had predictive values of the negative test greater than 80 %. Of these 11 RDTs, only one was a "Pf Only" RDT while among the "Pf + PAN" RDTs with greater than 80 % predictive value of the negative test, only 1(7.6 %) was represented by the pHRP2 analyte, comparing pHRP2 and pLDH/pAldolase on the "Pf + PAN" RDTs. This indicates that on the "Pf + PAN" RDTs, the PAN analyte on "Pf + PAN" RDTs seems to be better in excluding infections with P. falciparum compared to pfHRP2 on the same RDTs.
The majority of RDTs with good sensitivity had specificity less than 75 %. Only 6/14 or 42 % had sensitivity and specificity values greater than 80 %. Even though the sensitivity of an RDT is most often considered as the key parameter in clinical case management in malaria, it is desirable that the test analyte detects the antigens for which it is intended. One of the challenges associated with the use of RDTs is cross reactivity with antigens of a similar nature but from a different source . Arguably, that the use of RDTs in case management provides added benefit of identifying patients who would otherwise have been missed if diagnosis relied on microscopy alone  eliminating the problem of overdiagnosis. Indeed, a recent exit poll involving malaria treated patients in Cameroon observed that over 50 % of patients were overtreated for malaria . It is important that the RDTs used for widespread identification of malaria patients within integrated programmes have good specificity values to avoid a negative impact of the implemented RDT for facility and community management of fevers.
Tests that target HRP of P. falciparum demonstrated higher parasite detection rates compared to other analytes among all RDTs in this evaluation. However, tests that target LDH performed better when comparing both sensitivity and specificity for "Pf + PAN" RDTs. These findings are in agreement with the WHO based evaluation of RDTs for informed recommendations . Therefore, tests that target HRP2 present in "Pf Only" RDTs appear to be better suited for the purpose of detecting the majority of malaria infections in the community. Furthermore, tests that were PAN specific had better predictive values of the positive and negative tests as well as the likelihood ratios of positive and negative tests compared to tests that detected HRP2 only. In the case where the additional objective would be to identify the presence of other species of parasites, test systems that include pLDH in association with HRP2 in this evaluation will be preferable. Plasmodium falciparum is the dominant species in our geo-ecological settings, but mixed parasite populations have been observed previously by our group to be circulating in some regions. In Bangolan, NW Cameroon where this observation was made, infections either consisted of P. falciparum coexisting with Plasmodium malariae (in 70 % of cases) or non-P. falciparum (P. malariae in 30 % of cases) . Therefore, using a "Pf Only" RDT based on detection of HRP2 will miss 30 % of single infections with non-falciparum parasites. In addition, there is the possibility of gene deletion isolates that do not express HRP-2 , although it has not been examined among parasite isolates from Cameroon and the same evidence for pLDH has not yet been found.
The weighted agreement between the two observers involved in reading the RDT results was quantified as the weighted Kappa value calculated for all test results irrespective of whether the test was a "Pf Only" or "Pf + PAN" RDT type. The weighted Kappa value obtained was 67.5 % (95 % CI 64.6–70.3 %), corresponding to a moderately agreement between the assessors under our field condition. However, the agreements were better for some tests over others. For example, good agreement was obtained for more "Pf + PAN" RDTs than for "Pf Only" RDTs. SD Bioline Pf + PAN test cassette had the best agreement (72.6, 95 % CI 58.9.6–86.4), based on the detection of both Pf and PAN while Clearview Malaria Combo was worst (54.9, 95 % CI 38.8–71.2).
Based on the assessment of operational and technical characteristics of the 22 RDTs, differences in the test presentation, package contents, blood lancing and transfer devices, variations in insert instructions of use and safety disposal, procedures for test performance and results interpretation were observed. Additional file 3 provides a classification fo RDTs based on some operational characteristics. With the plethora of RDT tests commercially available today, even tests pre-qualified by the WHO and used in this assessment are very different in terms of their presentation, increasing the risk of error by the end user. Challenges ranging from the quality of information in inserts, configuration of test and control lines, missing information or components in the test kit, etc. all pose serious deficits that adversely influence the performance of RDTs at point of care and have also been reported recently . Therefore, it is highly recommended that while efforts are being made to increase access of RDTs at the point of care, finding a way of providing a simple, informed and systematic presentation guideline and test to be followed by manufacturers of malaria RDTs destined for endemic countries is important.
Because of the free distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets since 2011 to almost every household in Cameroon, a rapid decrease in the prevalence of malaria in many areas in Cameroon is expected. Low intensity infections may pose a diagnostic challenge for malaria surveillance purposes in the future due to shifting disease control priority, necessitating nucleic acid based tests.
This study has several potential limitations. Firstly, the results of rapid diagnostic tests vary as a function of parasite density . It would have been valuable to classify RDTs based on parasite density to better compare results with the WHO standards. In addition, the results also assumed manufacturer reported stability. The present assessments were performed during a season when the minimal temperature in Yaoundé varied between 25 and 29 °C. Further studies in which difference RDT performances will be compared in different real life environmental conditions will be very helpful to evaluate other stability parameters affecting the performance and decay of RDTs.
Of all RDTs tested, 94.2 % (21/22) had sensitivity values greater than 90 % among which 14 (63.6 %) were 'Pf + PAN' RDTs. The specificity was generally lower than the sensitivity for all RDTs, and poorer for "Pf Only" RDTs. The predictive values and likelihood ratios were better for non-HRP2 analytes for "Pf + PAN" RDTs. Rapid diagnostic tests which incorporate histidine rich protein II and lactate dehydrogenase are appropriate for settings. There was moderate agreement that SD Bioline Malaria Antigen P.f/Pan, ACON Malaria P.f/pan and Parascreen pf + PAN and CareStart™ Malaria HRP2/pLDH Combo Test were most preferred in order of merit among "Pf + PAN" RDTs while SD Bioline Malaria Antigen P.f and ParaHIT® pf HRPII the most preferred among "Pf Only" RDTs. Among the dipsticks, "Pf + PAN" ParaHIT Total Dipstick was preferred. Harmonizing RDT test presentation and procedures would prevent mistakes of test performance and interpretation.
RL, WM and DA conceived and designed the assessments and scored the final RDTs. IMA alongside JB, DA, FC, VT, NB, NP, JF, VA, NT performed the assessments. IMA, DA, and FCN analyzed the data. IMA drafted the manuscript and together with JB and DA. FCN and RL critically reviewed manuscript, alongside JM, ASE and EF. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
We wish to acknowledge all volunteers that participated by providing samples used for the evaluation. We equally acknowledge the District officer and chief medical officer as well as the staff of the Mfou District Hospital where the RDT assessments were carried out. Funds for the evaluation of the present RDTs came partly from contributions of the Global Fund Round 5 malaria funding to Cameroon.
12936_2016_1085_MOESM1_ESM.doc Additional file 1: This Table represents the different RDTs present in the Cameroonian Market and used to evaluate accuracy under field conditions. Nineteen of the RDTs were of the lateral flow format while two were dipsticks. The assignment of codes for each RDT was purely random and this was done by an independent team member not involved with either performing the test or the reading of RDT test results.
12936_2016_1085_MOESM2_ESM.docx Additional file 2: This table presents the aggregate results of the accuracy of rapid tests evaluated in the study.
12936_2016_1085_MOESM3_ESM.docx Additional file 3: This table shows a classification of RDTs on the basis of some operational characteristics. Assessment of the suitability for field use included the simplicity of performing the test based on the insert instructions and illustrations on the one hand and the ease of interpretation of results within the time frame stated in the insert. The provision or requirement of additional materials like testubes, pipettes etc. were also taken into consideration in the final assessments. The scale used for classifying RDTs based on operational characteristics is alsho shown.
WHO. World Malaria Report 2011. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2011. http://www.who.int/malaria/world_malaria_report_2011/worldmalariareport2011.pdf.


Set yourself free from the worry and embarrassment caused by unwanted excess hair! Flawless Essence offers Permanent Hair Removal for both men and women and all body areas. Having the advantage of 2 techniques such as Electrolysis and Laser, we are able to treat every hair colour including grey, white and blonde on every skin types I-VI. At Flawless Essence our staff is determined to work with you to create a safe and effective customized program with no negative side effects. Call today for a complimentary consultation and patch test.