The aim of this study was to determine if the post-operative serum arterial lactate concentration is associated with mortality, length of hospital stay or complications following hepatic resection.
Serum lactate concentration was recorded at the end of liver resection in a consecutive series of 488 patients over a seven-year period. Liver function, coagulation and electrolyte tests were performed post-operatively. Renal dysfunction was defined as a creatinine rise of >1.5x the pre-operative value.
The median lactate was 2.8 mmol/L (0.6 to 16 mmol/L) and was elevated (≥2 mmol/L) in 72% of patients. The lactate concentration was associated with peak post-operative bilirubin, prothrombin time, renal dysfunction, length of hospital stay and 90-day mortality (P < 0.001). The 90-day mortality in patients with a post-operative lactate ≥6 mmol/L was 28% compared to 0.7% in those with lactate ≤2 mmol/L. Pre-operative diabetes, number of segments resected, the surgeon's assessment of liver parenchyma, blood loss and transfusion were independently associated with lactate concentration.
Initial post-operative lactate concentration is a useful predictor of outcome following hepatic resection. Patients with normal post-operative lactate are unlikely to suffer significant hepatic or renal dysfunction and may not require intensive monitoring or critical care.
Despite advances in both operative technique and peri-operative care, liver resection is associated with post-operative mortality rates of 0% to 22% (median 3.7%)  and morbidity rates of 12.5% to 66% including liver dysfunction [2, 3], renal dysfunction  and bile leak [5, 6]. Factors associated with peri-operative complications and death include patient age [7, 8] and gender [9, 10], hospital annual number of liver resections undertaken [9, 11], pathologic origin of liver tumour [9, 11], pre-operative liver and renal dysfunction [8, 10], diabetes [12, 13], chronic liver disease [7, 9], and the peripheral neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) . Operative factors associated with outcome include blood loss [8, 10] and transfusion [15, 16], extent of liver resection [15, 17], duration of surgery , simultaneous extrahepatic procedures [15, 19], and the use of the Pringle manoeuvre [16, 20].
Therefore, many factors affect outcome after liver surgery which have not been incorporated into a single scoring system. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade and Portsmouth Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) scores are used in the risk prediction of many types of surgery [21, 22] including liver surgery . However, these scores may not be applicable to the unique stresses of liver resection. One of the main reported causes of mortality following liver resection is post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) . Although the '50-50 criteria' of serum bilirubin of >50 μmol/L and prothrombin index (laboratory's calculated mean normal prothrombin time (PT) divided by the patient's observed PT) of <50% measured on the fifth post-operative day have been shown to be associated with death due to PHLF , an earlier prediction system may be clinically more useful in guiding therapy. Furthermore, failure of multiple organ systems may contribute to death following liver resection and there is a need for a global peri-operative measure to predict the risk of developing significant post-operative morbidity and death.
Lactic acid is a by-product of anaerobic metabolism that is subsequently metabolised in the liver during gluconeogenesis . Hyperlactataemia has been shown to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity in a critical care setting [26, 27], in patients with liver failure , sepsis  and following trauma . Similar relationships have been shown in the post-operative setting following pancreatic resection  and other major abdominal surgery , cardiac surgery  and after hepatic transplantation .
The primary aim of this study was to determine if the first post-operative arterial lactate concentration ('initial lactate') is associated with adverse outcomes following liver resection including 90-day mortality, length of hospital stay (LOS), and renal and hepatic dysfunction. The secondary aim was to determine which pre- and intra-operative risk factors are associated with initial lactate concentration following liver resection.
This study was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of all patients undergoing liver resection since July 2005. Routine patient characteristics, laboratory data and intra-operative details were retrieved. Pre-operative liver-directed chemotherapy was administered to selected patients following discussion at a regional multidisciplinary team meeting. A period of recovery of at least six weeks was allowed following cessation of chemotherapy before undertaking surgery. The P-POSSUM scoring system was used to calculate the physiological score . Prior to resection, the operating surgeon makes a visual assessment of the condition of the liver parenchyma and records this as normal or abnormal. Liver resections were performed using standard techniques with a Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator™ (CUSA; Tyco Healthcare, Mansfield, MA, USA) dissector. Hepatic inflow occlusion was used in a minority of cases where there was excessive blood loss. Anaesthetic techniques include the routine use of invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring, central venous pressure monitoring (CVP) (using a target CVP of <5 cm H20) and epidural anaesthesia. Liver resections were defined according to the Brisbane classification  and the number of removed segments recorded. Intravenous fluid replacement was minimised during the resection phase to decrease venous pressure. After removal of the surgical specimen, a pause in surgical activity is routinely planned to allow haemostasis and intravenous volume replacement with 0.9% saline or Hartmann's solution at the anaesthetist's discretion. Patients are usually returned to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) after surgery with full invasive monitoring, except for minor resections in fit patients who are returned to the general ward.
The serum lactate was recorded from an arterial blood sample taken immediately prior to abdominal closure or immediately on arrival in the HDU. The arterial lactate in the normal population is below 1.6 mmol/L whereas in a critical care setting <2 mmol/L is more commonly accepted in acutely stressed patients .
Serum biochemistry tests and coagulation assays were performed on all patients in the first 24 hours post-operatively and the tests repeated according to clinical course. The peak measurement of bilirubin and PT were recorded and used for analysis. A PT index of <50% corresponds to a PT >24 s. Similarly peak post-operative creatinine levels were obtained and renal dysfunction was defined according to the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-stage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria . Renal dysfunction in categorical analyses was defined as any increase in serum creatinine of ≥1.5-fold from the pre-operative baseline. The length of hospital stay was measured from day of surgery to day of discharge and was expressed as a natural logarithm. Ninety-day mortality was recorded.
The association between initial serum lactate concentration and continuous outcomes was investigated using a multiple linear regression model as well as Spearman's rank correlation. To overcome increasing variance with the mean a natural log transformation was used. Binary variables were investigated using univariate regression. Potential associations between initial lactate concentration and pre- and intra-operative factors were tested using univariate regression or chi-square test at the level of P < 0.25 , as appropriate. Significant variables in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate regression model and were considered to be significant if P < 0.05. All analyses were carried out using the statistical package R 2.1.14 .
Confirmation was obtained from the South West Health Research Authority that under the harmonised Guidance Approval for Research Ethics Committees (REC), REC review was not required because patient data was collected in the course of their normal hospital care and was anonymised for research purposes. No patient consent was required for this study.
In the study period 501 patients underwent liver resection for whom an initial lactate measurement was available in 488. The indications for surgery, pre-operative and operative details are shown in Table 1. Results of blood tests are shown in Table 2 and the main post-operative outcome measures are summarised in Table 3. The median number of biochemistry tests performed per patient in the first five post-operative days was 4 (0 to 6) and coagulation assays was 3 (0 to 6). It was not necessary to administer clotting factors to any surviving patients between postoperative days 1 to 5. Peak abnormalities in PT and bilirubin usually occurred early in the post-operative course and tended to improve over five days (Table 2). Post-operatively, 118 patients (24.1%) had a serum bilirubin ≥50 μmol/L. Minor abnormalities in PT were commonly noted, though only 15 patients (3.1%) developed a PT >24 s. Although a small number of patients remained jaundiced at the time of discharge, only one patient fulfilled the '50-50 criteria' at day five. The median length of hospital stay was seven days (range 2 to 78) with 90% of patients having a LOS between two and 15 days. Twelve patients (2.5%) died within 30 days of surgery and 23 died within 90 days of surgery (4.7%). The most common cause of death was liver failure, which occurred in 11 of 23 patients. Four patients died from ongoing malignancy (of whom three had undergone non-curative resections) and two patients died from sepsis without evidence of liver failure. The remaining deaths were attributed to pulmonary embolus, heart failure, anastomotic leak following colonic resection, bleeding peptic ulcer, strangulated hernia and peritonitis.
The median initial lactate concentration was 2.8 mmol/L (inter-quartile range = 1.9 to 3.9) and 350 patients (72%) had an elevated serum lactate concentration (≥2 mmol/L) (Figure 1). There was no difference in the lactate concentration taken prior to abdominal closure (n = 380, median 2.8 mmol/L, range 0.6 to 16.0) or immediately on arrival in the HDU (n = 108, median 2.8 mmol/L, range 0.6 to 14.0). The initial lactate concentration was noted to be associated with all recorded outcome measures (Table 4). Although major abnormalities of serum bilirubin and PT were rare in our series there was a weak correlation with initial lactate for both bilirubin (coefficient 0.41, P < 0.001) and PT (coefficient 0.37, P < 0.001), which was stronger for bilirubin. Similarly, there was a weak correlation with length of hospital stay (coefficient 0.28, P < 0.001). Of note the values for length of hospital stay include only survivors, and therefore exclude some patients who are likely to have high post-operative lactate levels. Renal dysfunction after liver resection was rare in this series (7.0%) but there was a correlation with lactate concentration (Table 4). Three of 137 patients (2.2%) with an initial lactate concentration less than 2 mmol/L who had creatinine measured developed renal dysfunction (negative predictive value (NPV) = 0.98) compared to 8 of 29 (27.5%) patients with an initial lactate greater than 6 mmol/L (positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.28) (P = < 0.001) (Figure 2). In 322 patients with a lactate concentration ≥2 and <6 mmol/L 23 developed renal dysfunction (7.1%).
Distribution of arterial lactate concentration in 488 patients at the end of liver resection.
*Significant at level of P <0.05.
Probability of renal dysfunction after liver resection according to lactate concentration in 484 patients.
Similarly, there was a correlation between mortality in the 90-day period following liver resection and initial lactate concentration (Table 4). One of 138 patients (0.7%) with an initial lactate concentration <2 mmol/L died within this period, due to an anastomotic leak following colonic resection (NPV = 0.99), compared to eight of 29 patients with initial lactate ≥6 mmol/L (PPV = 0.28) (P = < 0.001) (Figure 3). The deaths in patients with lactate ≥6 mmol/L were due to liver failure in four patients, sepsis without liver failure in two patients, cardiac failure in one patient and ongoing malignancy in the other. Of the remaining 322 patients with lactate concentration ≥2 and <6 mmol/L there were 14 deaths within 90 days of surgery (4.3%).
Probability of 90-day mortality after liver resection according to lactate concentration in 488 patients.
Comparison of patients with initial lactate concentrations <2 mmol/L and ≥6 mmol/L revealed there were significantly more major resections performed (P < 0.001) and more patients with pre-operative diabetes (P < 0.001) in patients with a lactate concentration ≥6 mmol/L (Table 5). There was no significant difference in the use of pre-operative chemotherapy between these two groups (P = 0.351). The proportion of patients with both renal dysfunction and who died within 90 days was significantly higher in those with lactate concentrations ≥6 mmol/L (P < 0.001).
Regression analysis revealed that a pre-operative diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, the number of liver segments resected, the operating surgeon's assessment of the health of the liver parenchyma, the operative blood loss and number of units of red cells transfused were all independently associated with initial lactate concentration at closure (Table 6). The only pre-operative factor associated with the post-operative lactate concentration was the presence of diabetes. On average, this increased the post-operative lactate concentration at any level by 20% compared to non-diabetics.
*Significant at the level of 0.25 for univariate analysis and included in multivariate analysis; †significant at the level of 0.05 for multivariate analysis.
The principal findings of this study are that higher initial serum lactate concentration after liver resection is associated with an increased risk of mortality and renal and liver dysfunction. Both the 90-day mortality rate and the rate of renal dysfunction in patients with initial lactate concentrations greater than 6 mmol/L were 28% compared to those patients with initial lactate concentrations less than 2 mmol/L where they were 0.7% and 2.2% respectively. Similarly, higher lactate concentration was associated with higher post-operative peaks in serum bilirubin concentration and PT, as well longer lengths of hospital stay.
These findings support and extend those of an earlier study  by demonstrating the association of post-operative lactate with renal and hepatic dysfunction and length of hospital stay in addition to mortality. Pre-operative diabetes mellitus, the surgeon's assessment of the liver at laparotomy, the extent of liver resection, blood loss and the number of units of blood transfused are also shown to be associated with post-operative serum lactate concentration.
During cellular hypoxia pyruvate is diverted from the citric acid cycle and converted to lactate, reducing the amount of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generated. This occurs in all metabolically active tissues including muscle, gut, liver, brain, erythrocytes and skin [41–43] and is exacerbated by intra-operative stresses including blood loss , endogenous release of stress hormones  and administration of pressor agents . Liver ischaemia induced by handling of the liver during surgery and temporary inflow occlusion has been shown to lead to a rise in lactate . Serum lactate can also be increased by transfusion of stored blood, which contains a higher concentration of lactate than fresh blood depending on length of storage . Administration of Hartmann's solution has been shown to have a small effect on serum lactate concentration . A potential weakness of this study is that details of pressor agents were not recorded, which could affect the lactate concentration. Similarly precise details regarding intravenous fluid type and volume of fluid (colloid and crystalloid) were not recorded.
In addition to being a potential source of lactate the liver is the principle location of lactate metabolism, where it is converted back to glycogen, accounting for 70% of whole body lactate clearance . No change in lactate metabolism has been demonstrated following recovery from partial hepatectomy in either rats  or humans , implying that the liver has a large functional reserve under physiological conditions of lactate production. However, the effects of intra-operative stress on hepatic glucose homeostasis have not been assessed, particularly when in combination with an extended hepatectomy. It is possible that inflow occlusion during resection and intra-operative handling of the liver lead to a temporary impairment of the ability of the liver to metabolise lactate. The finding of an association between the number of liver segments resected and the initial post-operative lactate supports this hypothesis. Diabetes is also known to be associated with impaired lactate metabolism via gluconeogenesis  and may account for the strong association with post-operative lactate in this series. Furthermore, the use of metformin in non-insulin-dependent diabetes has also been shown to increase lactate concentration . The rise in serum lactate at the end of liver resection therefore may be due to a failure of lactate metabolism in addition to increased production during surgery.
Significantly, the use of pre-operative chemotherapy was not shown to be associated with elevation of post-operative lactate. This may be due to a policy of allowing a period of recovery after completion of pre-operative chemotherapy before undertaking surgery. Interestingly, the operating surgeon's assessment of the liver parenchyma was associated with the post-operative lactate concentration. This finding suggests that patient co-morbidity was a more common cause of abnormal liver parenchyma than the use of liver-directed chemotherapy.
An important observation of this study is the relative rarity of major hepatic dysfunction following liver resection in this series with only one patient fulfilling the '50-50' criteria , who subsequently recovered. Despite the infrequency of major disturbances of post-operative bilirubin and PT, there was an independent association with increasing concentration of post-operative lactate, demonstrating that even a minor degree of liver injury can lead to impaired lactate clearance or increase its production.
Renal dysfunction was also rare in this series, affecting 34 patients (7%) compared to 15% in a similar series . The risk factors for post-operative renal dysfunction are likely to be similar to those in other forms of abdominal surgery, including blood loss and sepsis, which are also initiating factors for anaerobic metabolism and lactate production. This supports the value of initial lactate as an early predictor of renal dysfunction. Of note, the risk of renal dysfunction appeared to rise more rapidly when the post-operative lactate rose above 5 mmol/L (Figure 2). This suggests that the kidneys are able to tolerate a degree of oxidative stress to a threshold level beyond which the risk of damage rises rapidly.
There was a weak association between initial lactate concentration and length of hospital stay in the study (Table 4). However, this may also be affected by other factors such as post-operative complications, particularly bile leaks, and degree of social support.
The strongest association demonstrated was between lactate concentration and the risk of mortality. In a similar manner to renal dysfunction, there seems to be a threshold level of post-operative lactate of approximately 6 mmol/l above which the risk of 90-day mortality rises rapidly (Figure 3). Organ dysfunction was a major contributor to mortality in the series and initial lactate concentration is a valuable global marker of poor organ function in the early post-operative period, including cardiovascular, renal and hepatic dysfunction.
These findings are of value in clinical practice as it may be possible to use the initial post-operative lactate concentration to determine the patient pathway in the early post-operative period. Patients with an initial post-operative lactate of less than 2 mmol/L have low rates of mortality and organ dysfunction and we are currently evaluating this criterion as a determinant of the need for post-operative critical care. In addition the correlation of post-operative lactate with subsequent organ dysfunction and mortality may allow its use as a single measure of the impact of innovations in operative technique or peri-operative care.
M.G. Wiggans and T. Starkie: joint first authors.
Matthew G Wiggans, Tim Starkie contributed equally to this work.
Risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage kidney disease.
Thanks to Dr. C. Seavell, Dr. P. Davis and Dr. D. Lunn (Consultant Anaesthetists) for their work in study design and collecting lactate data.
MW and TS designed the study, collected data, analysed the data and drafted the manuscript. GS participated in the design of the study and performed the statistical analysis. TW, DB, PE, IA, SA and MB participated in the design of the study, collected data and drafted the manuscript. DS conceived the study, supervised its design and coordination and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


bstract Due to the need to organize a vast amount of documents available in the Internet, the automated semantic extraction representing webpages has become a popular research topic in both industry and academia. The purpose of this project is to introduce a new method to process documents to extract the original contextual representations and yet to extend additional and connect similar representations based on the semantics underneath the extracted representations in an automatic fashion. Among the purposed steps, the core of this project is to tackle the difficulty to construct a mechanism in which machines can computationally understand the lexical meaning of the extracted semantic representations. For instance, the word "good" has the same lexical meaning as the word "well", so both should be equally treated. Furthermore, the 2-gram "wall street" should be kept as-is instead of tokenizing it into two single words, but "coffee or tea" should be tokenized into two single words "coffee" and "tea". This is important in text mining to keep but not to destruct the original semantics so one can further process documents safely, efficiently, and accurately. In the project, I first discuss the adequate machine learning method introduced by Professor Lin to process documents to extract the original contextual representations, namely primitive concepts. Then, I introduce new methods to apply the extracted concepts to extract additional and connect similar representation based on the semantics underneath using the WordNet database. In the last section of the report, I examined the proposed data processing method with sample data and justified the empirical results with data provided by Google Search. The project well articulates the problems of computation cost reduction and prediction enhancement in contextual extraction for documents. In general, most of the machine-learning article is well written and informative for general readers with Mathematics background, but not necessarily for readers of engineering interest. In the report, an engineering mechanism is constructed with mathematical reasoning to 4persuade readers with theoretical background. Both readers from the engineering and mathematical communities are not to be left without an engineering and theoretical understanding of the methods introduced in the project.
Li, Chak, "Extraction of Semantics from Primitive Concepts" (2012). Master's Projects. 274.


text:
A new wave of excellence in radio
Listen to Kessben FM on your phone in the US for free by simply dialing 484-718-0176.
@KESSBEN933FM
Listen NowDownload App
Studio Numbers: 03220 37405 | 03220 37407 Listen NowDownload App
Follow Kessben FM @KESSBEN933FM
HP to split into two companies
Posted by: Prince Aggrey In Technology Posted on October 7, 2014 Comment
The next step for computing giant Hewlett-Packard's restructuring is a split into two companies.
HP announced Monday that it plans to put its PC and printer operations under one roof under the name HP Inc., and its business that provides software and services to corporate customers under another under the name HP Enterprise.
The company said the split will give both companies the focus, financial resources and flexibility to adapt more quickly to the market, while also raising the stock value for shareholders.
"Being nimble is the only path to winning," CEO Meg Whitman said on a conference call with investors Monday.
Shares of HP jumped more than 4% in early trading following the announcement.
The split is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. News of the split was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The split follows a number of spinoffs and breakups this year. Most recently, eBay announced last week it would spin off the online payment platform PayPal, which it bought in 2002.
Whitman took the helm in 2011 and unveiled a five-year restructuring plan. That included a major overhaul of the printer and PC business in 2012. Layoffs have totaled at least 45,000, and the company's projected savings have reached $4.5 billion per year.
Whitman said that the financial success of recent years is what makes a split into two companies possible.
"Three years ago this company was in a difficult situation and we needed to rebuild and do so as one HP," she said. "Today was made possible by our turnaround."
Source: CNN
Inter Bank Forex Rates
The Kessben Group
Terms Of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Advertise with us | Help | Contact Us
© 2019 Kessben FM. The Kessben Group, All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I'm neither a #NeverTrumper nor afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome, classes of people who are milling around our country like the Walking Dead, filled with animus for the man.
But you will never catch me in one of those red baseball caps, either.
The beginning of his State of the Union last week went as I thought it would, eloquent phrases written by someone else, interspersed with moving personal stories embodied by the people invited as presidential guests.
The image that touched me the most was of the octogenarian survivor of Dachau, saluting the nonagenarian veteran who had helped liberate the camp. I sobbed.
"To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother's womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All children — born and unbornare made in the holy image of God."
By that point all I could do was jump off of the couch and scream "Thank You Mr. President," scaring the neighbors and both of my Black Labs. Trump broke the polite "Gentlewoman's Agreement" not to call abortion by its more pedantic yet appropriate term: infanticide.
The president, while not using the exact word, had come closer than even Ronald Reagan to describing what is permitted by the New York law, and what would have been permitted in Virginia, Vermont, Nevada and a number of other states, as the murder of a barely born child.
I have been begged by both anti-abortion and moderately pro-abortion friends not to be so in-your-face about my opposition to abortion, particularly the more socially acceptable procedures that occur when the pregnancy is in its earliest "clump of cells" stages.
Even when they agree that late-term abortions are gruesome and horrifically tragic, they have advised me not to offend people who don't share my beliefs.
I've tried to listen to them, even though it's very hard.
I even went so far as to invite someone to debate the issue with me on my radio show the other night. Joshua Runyan is the editor-in-chief of the Jewish Exponent, and he had written a column criticizing my own criticism of Andrew Cuomo.
He found my words to be judgmental, and didn't think I had any right to question the governor's Catholicism.
We had a very civil, even friendly conversation about our differences, but those differences became extremely clear when I posed the following hypothetical: What if a woman with a viable, healthy baby finds out in the ninth month that her husband is cheating on her, and becomes suicidal if she has to bear his child.
Under New York law, she could likely get a mental health waiver and an abortion. Joshua felt that the mother's life outweighed the baby's.
I have been a lukewarm supporter at best, and many conservatives have been angered by my occasional criticism. In some cases, as when I marched myself down to the airport to protest his Muslim ban, I've been a vocal critic.


text:
Trending NowJoe Biden border Kamala Harris Critical Race Theory Virginia tape Pennsylvania mask School Carhartt COVID-19
NY State Senate Majority Leader: "Governor Cuomo Must Resign"
New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says Governor Andrew Cuomo "must resign" for the "good of the state."
In a statement issued yesterday, Stewart-Cousins said, "Every day there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government. We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment, the loss of credibility surrounding the COVID-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project."
"New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it," she added. "We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign."
Stewart-Cousins had previously stated she wouldn't call for Cuomo's resignation after he had been accused of sexual harassment by three separate women. However, if more than three accusers came forward, she would change her tune.
Over the weekend, two more women accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, bringing the total number of alleged victims to five.
Cuomo has denied the allegations saying he "never inappropriately touched anybody."
I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation," the governor said. "To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that."
On Sunday, the governor said he would not resign.
"There is no way I resign," he said during a press conference. ""I was elected by the people of the state. I wasn't elected by politicians. I'm not gonna resign because of allegations."
For the full report, click HERE.
Former Aide to Gov. Cuomo Said He Was 'Propositioning' Her For 'Sex'
In a one-on-one meeting in his Albany office last year, former aide Charlotte Bennett said that Gov. Cuomo was "trying to sleep with me." 25 year old Bennett added "he implied to me that I was old enough for him and he was lonely."
In an interview with Norah O'Donnell on CBS evening news Thursday night, Bennett described how 63 year old Cuomo asked her probing questions about her sex life when they were alone together on June 5.
NY Post reports:
"I thought, he's trying to sleep with me. The governor's trying to sleep with me and I'm deeply uncomfortable and I have to get out of this room as soon as possible," Bennett said.
"What made you think he was trying to sleep with you?" O'Donnell asked.
"Without explicitly saying it, he — he implied to me that I was old enough for him and he was lonely," Bennett said.
A second portion of the interview is set to air Friday on "CBS This Morning," and O'Donnell previewed some of that during an appearance on the local CBS-2 News at 5.
O'Donnell said that Bennett "says Gov. Cuomo is, in her words, a textbook abuser" and "even uses words like that she was groomed for this relationship."
Gov. Cuomo is already under investigation over his administration's misreporting of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes. A Cuomo aide admitted that the state stopped counting nursing home deaths so that the federal government could not use the data "against us."
Massive Billboard in Albany Calls on Cuomo to "Resign Now!"
A massive electronic billboard has gone up in Albany, New York calling on Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign from office.
"Resign now!" is written in large red letters on the billboard along with an image of Cuomo's face.
The billboard was paid for by Brian Olesen, owner of American Shooter Supply, who originally had the sign say "Impeach!" in a rebuke of the governor's disastrous COVID nursing home policy which saw roughly 15,000 of the state's elderly die.
The ad is located off the side of highway 787 in the Albany area, close to the exit leading to the state Capitol building.
"I think that a lot of New Yorkers understand there's a sense of urgency here in regards to Governor Cuomo. We know he's a liar, we know he's a bully. Now he's being accused of being a sexual predator," Olesen told the New York Post.
"We have 15,000 fatalities in nursing homes [and other long term care facilities] that he's lied to us about. When are New Yorkers going to stand up and remove this guy from office?"
The Cuomo administration is presently being investigated by federal prosecutors for allegedly withholding data pertaining to COVID-19 deaths related nursing homes and the state Attorney General's Office is actively seeking a private attorney to lead a probe into the sexual harassment allegations.
A former Cuomo administration economic development staffer, Lindsay Boylan, wrote in a Medium blog post last week that the governor joked that he wanted to play "strip poker" and detailed an instance here he gave her an unwanted kiss.
The governor denied any physical interaction occurred, but he did apologize for workplace comments, arguing that he may have unknowingly took his "jokes" too far.
Olesen is paying $8,500 a month for the billboard and says that he changed the message of the sign from calling for impeachment to telling Cuomo to resign because the impeachment process would take too long.
Biden Exec Order Designed to Increase Voting and Voter Registration Access for Prisoners


18F-625 Hydromassage bathtub in your bathroom allow you to create a relaxing experience in your home. This wonderful 18F-625 Hydro massage bathtub feature quieter and more efficient jet systems, surfaces feature an antimicrobial agent which inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, algae, and fungus to keep your bath and jet system extra clean. 18F-625 Hydromassage bathtub must be your best choice for your nice house.
This Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath brings a whole new meaning to the words comfort, relaxation, and luxury. Designed with the highest quality in craftsmanship and unparalleled technological innovation we guarantee you complete and utter satisfaction with this Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath. Truly the best whirlpool tub of its kind on the market today.
Jacuzzi Whirlpool Bath dimensions:66.9" x 35.4" x 26.7"


This easy Apple Crumble recipe is sure to become one of your new family favourites! Thermomix instructions are also included.
When I'm out and I see Apple Crumble on the dessert menu, I will ALWAYS order it. It's one of my all time favourite desserts (especially when served with vanilla ice-cream which has started to melt through) and even better is is SUPER easy to make yourself at home.
This is one of those easy dessert recipes that you can put together in no time at all and then pop into the oven to bake while you enjoy your meal. It's also a pretty forgiving recipe and if you've got a few extra (or less) apples than specified, you can easily just use what you have.
While I could eat this Apple Crumble all year round, now that the cooler weather is here (or is at least meant to be!) it's the perfect excuse to start making this yummy dessert again more regularly – enjoy!
This easy Apple Crumble recipe is simple to prepare and will quickly become one of your family favourites.
Pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees and place a large pie dish or baking dish onto your bench.
Place the apple pieces into your pie dish and add the lemon juice, 1/2 cup of caster sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix until the apple is coated with all of the ingredients.
In a large bowl, add the melted butter, plain flour, rolled oats, 1/2 cup of caster sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and mix well to combine.
Using your hands, sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top of the apple pieces.
Place the Apple Crumble into your preheated oven and cook for 40 minutes or until golden on top and the apple has cooked through when tested with a knife.
Carefully remove the Apple Crumble from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
In your Thermomix bowl, add the butter (cut into cubes) and cook for 3 minutes, 60 degrees, speed 2 to melt.
Add the plain flour, rolled oats, caster sugar and cinnamon and mix for 5 seconds speed 4 to combine.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for a further 3 seconds, speed 4 – REVERSE.
For more easy family recipes, check out our Thermomix Family Dinners and Dessert eBook. You can shop the full range of print and eBooks here.


text:
Home » News » » » SLU Legends and Lore: John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J.
SLU Legends and Lore: John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J.
He explored troves of historic documents and told stories filled with Native American leaders, missionaries, conquistadors and founding fathers.
John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J., studies Spanish manuscripts and archival documents. SLU archival photo
From television specials to airline brochures to majorly scholarly works, John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J., a Saint Louis University historian and internationally-renowned scholar brought history and the story of America to life.
The West in His Blood
John Francis "Jack" Bannon was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, on April 28, 1905, the eldest of two sons born to William Joseph and Clara Shortle Bannon.
A fascination with the West seemed to run in the family as his younger brother, James, became an actor who played the role of Western hero Red Ryder on television.
After entering the Society of Jesus and his ordination as a priest in 1935, Bannon taught at colleges and universities in Kansas, Colorado and Wisconsin before undertaking graduate studies in history at the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley). While there, Bannon caught the eye of historian Herbert E. Bolton, a renowned scholar of the Spanish borderlands.
Future SLU historian and storied faculty member John Francis Bannon, S.J. (left) seen here with a fellow Jesuit. SLU archival photo
Bolton had been seeking a Jesuit to help him delve into work in the treasure trove of materials documenting Jesuit missionary activities in colonial Mexico. As they worked together, Bolton became Bannon's mentor, eventually inviting Bannon to his "famous "Round Table" seminars.
In the spirit of Bolton's work re-envisioning the Spanish borderlands, and focused on studying the work of the storied Jesuit missionary Eusebio Kino, S.J., Bannon traveled to and visited Sonora in keeping with Bolton's plan of combining actual field work with the study of the many archival documents at the Bancroft Library at the UC Berkeley.
He earned his doctorate in history under Bolton's tutelage in 1939.
Bannon's Life Before SLU
Bannon's Early Life
Brought up in Kansas City, Missouri, Bannon attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Redemptorist grade school from 1910 to 1918, and Rockhurst Jesuit High School, graduating in 1922.
After graduating, he entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Missouri, and he took his first two years of philosophy studies at Florissant from 1922 to 1924.
Bannon's Life as a Jesuit Scholar
After taking his first Jesuit vows at St. Stanislaus in September 1924, Bannon studied at Saint Louis University. He received his bachelor's degree from Saint Louis University in 1928.
From 1926 to 1929 he continued his studies at Maison Saint Louis on Jersey, the Channel Islands, United Kingdom, the philosophate of the Paris Province of the Society.
Following his studies, Bannon was stationed at St. Mary's College in Kansas, teaching history, French, and Spanish at both the college and at St. Mary's College High School. He later taught history, French and Spanish at Regis College (now Regis University) in Denver, Colorado, and was ordained a priest at St. Mary's on June 23, 1935.
In the summer of 1936 he taught history at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Between 1937 and 1939 he studied history and anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley, receiving his Ph.D. in 1939.
Bannon Becomes a Billiken
SLU historian John Francis Bannon, S.J., was known for his hands-on approach to delving into the past. Here, he investigates the University's former Bellarmine Hall as it was torn down to make way for new buildings on campus. SLU archival photo
After teaching history for the summer at the University of San Francisco, Bannon began his 34-year career as an active faculty member in SLU's Department of History in the College of Arts and Sciences in the fall of 1939. In 1943, he became the department's chair, a position he held for 28 years, before retiring in 1973 as professor emeritus of history.
As department chair, Bannon disliked what he considered administrative "red-tape" that interfered with the education of students. Throughout his teaching career, he developed warm personal relationships with his students, particularly with his graduate students. It was said that Bannon could remember the name of each one of his students, and he became a close friend to many over his nearly 30 years at SLU.
During his years at SLU, Bannon became an internationally recognized scholar. He authored more than a dozen books and hundreds of articles and reviews.
Two of his best known books were his two-volume History of the Americas, which was widely used as a text in many American universities, and Herbert Eugene Bolton: The Historian and the Man.
Bannon came to be recognized as an authority on the early trans-Mississippi West and colonial Latin America, and like Bolton, he regarded the histories of North and South America as inseparable parts of the story of the hemisphere as a whole.
John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J., (second from left) prized mentoring students and developing deep bonds with those who took his history courses at SLU. SLU archival photo
Bannon co-founded the Western Historical Association and served as its president from 1965 to 1966. He was on the board of editors of the Hispanic-American Historical Review and on the executive council of the American Catholic Historical Association.
He served as program chairman of the Mississippi Valley Historical Society (later part of the Organization of American Historians) four times, and he hosted its St. Louis meeting in 1955.
Bannon's Other Scholarly Achievements
Bannon's Accolades
In 1955 he chaired the Conference on Latin-American History of the American Historical Association (AHA).
He edited the Historical Bulletin at Saint Louis University between 1943 and 1950 and was advisory editor for Manuscripta when it appeared as a new publication of the Pius XII Memorial Library.
After his 1973 retirement, Bannnon produced a booklet for each academic department in the University. These booklets contained the name and rank of each faculty member in the department and their academic biography for each year from the early 1920s until 1978.
The booklets also listed the names and academic background of each graduate student in the department, as well as the title of their dissertation, and contained statistics on the number of majors and graduate students in each department for every year.
In 1983, an endowed fund was established in Bannon's honor for the benefit of the Department of History. Soon after, Genevieve "Genie" James, a long-time University friend and benefactor, helped transform the fund into an endowed professorship named in Bannon's honor.
Bridging the Past and Present for the Public
In addition to these more traditional scholarly accomplishments, Bannon became a household face for many St. Louisans and history buffs nationwide through his work in early educational television.
SLU historian John Francis "Jack" Bannon, S.J., films a program on American history for KETC-TV Ch. 9, St. Louis's public television affiliate. SLU archival photo
In 1954, working with KETC-TV Ch. 9, the first public television station in St. Louis, Bannon presented a series of thirty-six half-hour talks on the "History of the United States."
As he did in his SLU classroom, Bannon set the scene for viewers as he told stories of the Western Hemisphere's past, using a variety of maps, a teacher's desk, crossed halberds, a crucifix, and the coat of arms of Spain and Portugal.
The National Education Television and Radio Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, picked up Bannon's programs. Viewers in 20 cities across the United States eventually fell under Bannon's spell.
In 1956, Bannon created thirty more television programs on "The Great American West" which could be taken for academic credit at SLU. A year later, Bannon developed another series of programs on "The Latin Americas" for telecast in St. Louis and across the country.
Versatile and eager to reach diverse audiences, Bannon wrote two in-flight booklets for travelers on American Airlines: "History Below the Jet Trails" and "West to the River."
A Historian's Story Continues
Bannon formally retired from the history department in 1973. After his retirement, he remained intellectually active, holding the several visiting professorships, conducting research and writing about SLU history and the history of the Missouri Province of the Society of Jesus. He died on June 5, 1986, at age 81 in St. Louis.
But his legacy of scholarship and of sharing the stories and lessons of the past with the public lives on as the Department of History hosts its annual John Francis Bannon, S.J., Lecture.
And, in the spirit of his mentor, Bannon ensured that others could continue to explore the past through the artifacts housed in archives. After his formal retirement, Bannon served as "de facto" archivist for the University, collecting copies of University catalogs, bulletins, yearbooks, SLU publications, photographs and collections of academic papers of several Jesuit faculty members to preserve SLU's story for future generations.
Today, the materials Bannon collected are constantly used by patrons and staff in the current University Archives.
After 200 years, there are many legends and untold tales hiding in the nooks and crannies of Saint Louis University. Delve into the myths, fables, fantastic lives, moments and surprises you will find in its story with "SLU Legends and Lore."
Story based on the "SLU Legends and Lore" Bicentennial Series by John Waide, University archivist emeritus.


Mrs. Brookner began her teaching career in 1997 in Minneapolis and then taught 5th grade in the Eden Prairie Schools for several years. She has also taught reading for the St. Louis Park Schools. In 2001 she added a K-12 Reading License from the University of Minnesota. She is married to Paul and has two boys. In her free time she enjoys traveling, gardening and relaxing with her family.


text:
package com.zimbra.qa.selenium.projects.ajax.tests.zimlets.url;

import java.io.File;
import java.util.*;

import org.testng.annotations.*;

import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.framework.core.Bugs;
import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.framework.ui.*;
import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.framework.util.*;
import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.projects.ajax.core.AjaxCommonTest;
import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.projects.ajax.ui.mail.DisplayMail;
import com.zimbra.qa.selenium.projects.ajax.ui.mail.DisplayMail.Field;

public class GetMessage extends AjaxCommonTest {

	@SuppressWarnings("serial")
	public GetMessage() {
		logger.info("New "+ GetMessage.class.getCanonicalName());

		// All tests start at the login page
		super.startingPage = app.zPageMail;

		// Basic settings
		super.startingAccountPreferences = new HashMap<String, String>() {{
		    put("zimbraPrefGroupMailBy", "message");
		}};

	}

	@Test(	description = "Receive a mail with a basic URL",
			groups = { "smoke" })
	public void GetMessage_01() throws HarnessException {

		// Create the message data to be sent
		String subject = "subject" + ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString();
		String url = "http://www.vmware.com";
		String body = "text " + System.getProperty("line.separator") + url + System.getProperty("line.separator") + "text"+ ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString() + System.getProperty("line.separator") ;

		// Send the message from AccountA to the ZWC user
		ZimbraAccount.AccountA().soapSend(
					"<SendMsgRequest xmlns='urn:zimbraMail'>" +
						"<m>" +
							"<e t='t' a='"+ app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress +"'/>" +
							"<su>"+ subject +"</su>" +
							"<mp ct='text/plain'>" +
								"<content>"+ body +"</content>" +
							"</mp>" +
						"</m>" +
					"</SendMsgRequest>");

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Get the HTML of the body
		HtmlElement bodyElement = display.zGetMailPropertyAsHtml(Field.Body);

		// Verify that the phone zimlet has been applied
		// http://www.vmware.com
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", null, url, 1);

	}

	@Test(	description = "Receive a mail with two URLs in body",
			groups = { "functional" })
	public void GetMessage_02() throws HarnessException {

		// Create the message data to be sent
		String subject = "subject" + ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString();
		String url1 = "http://www.vmware.com";
		String url2 = "http://www.google.com";
		String body = "url1: " + url1 + " url2: "+ url2;

		// Send the message from AccountA to the ZWC user
		ZimbraAccount.AccountA().soapSend(
					"<SendMsgRequest xmlns='urn:zimbraMail'>" +
						"<m>" +
							"<e t='t' a='"+ app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress +"'/>" +
							"<su>"+ subject +"</su>" +
							"<mp ct='text/plain'>" +
								"<content>"+ body +"</content>" +
							"</mp>" +
						"</m>" +
					"</SendMsgRequest>");

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Get the HTML of the body
		HtmlElement bodyElement = display.zGetMailPropertyAsHtml(Field.Body);

		// Verify that the phone zimlet has been applied
		// 1-877-486-9273
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", null, url1, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", null, url2, 1);

	}

	@Test(	description = "Validate the url zimlet matches valid URLs",
			groups = { "functional" })
	public void GetMessage_03() throws HarnessException {

		final String subject = "subject12955323015009";
		final String mime = ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getBaseDirectory() + "/data/public/mime/url01/valid_url.txt";
		final String url1 = "http://www.vmware.com";
		final String url2 = "https://www.vmware.com";

		// Inject the example message
		LmtpInject.injectFile(app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress, new File(mime));

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Get the HTML of the body
		HtmlElement bodyElement = display.zGetMailPropertyAsHtml(Field.Body);

		// Verify that the phone zimlet has been applied
		// 1-877-486-9273
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url1 +"']", null, url1, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url2 +"']", null, url2, 1);

	}

	@Test(	description = "Validate the url zimlet does not match invalid URLs",
			groups = { "functional" })
	public void GetMessage_04() throws HarnessException {

		final String subject = "subject12976223025009";
		final String mime = ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getBaseDirectory() + "/data/public/mime/url01/invalid_url.txt";

		// Inject the example message
		LmtpInject.injectFile(app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress, new File(mime));

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Get the HTML of the body
		HtmlElement bodyElement = display.zGetMailPropertyAsHtml(Field.Body);

		// TODO:
		// Not sure which URL's to add to the mime
		// Need to mine bugs for URLs that give issues
		// Add URLS to the sample mime and add verification points here.
		logger.info(bodyElement.prettyPrint());

	}

	@Test(	description = "Receive a mail with a url in subject",
			groups = { "functional" })
	public void GetMessage_05() throws HarnessException {

		// Create the message data to be sent
		String url = "http://www.vmware.com";
		String subject = "subject " + url;

		// Send the message from AccountA to the ZWC user
		ZimbraAccount.AccountA().soapSend(
					"<SendMsgRequest xmlns='urn:zimbraMail'>" +
						"<m>" +
							"<e t='t' a='"+ app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress +"'/>" +
							"<su>"+ subject +"</su>" +
							"<mp ct='text/plain'>" +
								"<content>content"+ ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString() +"</content>" +
							"</mp>" +
						"</m>" +
					"</SendMsgRequest>");

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Find the subject and the phone span
		String locator = "css=span[id$='_com_zimbra_url']";

		ZAssert.assertTrue(display.sIsElementPresent(locator), "Verify the phone zimlet applies to the subject");
		ZAssert.assertEquals(display.sGetText(locator), url, "Verify the phone zimlet highlights the phone number");

	}

	@Bugs(ids = "29018,67927")
	@Test(	description = "Receive a mail with a URL in angled brackets",
			groups = { "functional" })
	public void GetMessage_06() throws HarnessException {

		// Create the message data to be sent
		String subject = "subject" + ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString();
		String url = "http://www.vmware.com";
		String body = "text <" + url + "> text "+ ZimbraSeleniumProperties.getUniqueString();

		// Send the message from AccountA to the ZWC user
		ZimbraAccount.AccountA().soapSend(
					"<SendMsgRequest xmlns='urn:zimbraMail'>" +
						"<m>" +
							"<e t='t' a='"+ app.zGetActiveAccount().EmailAddress +"'/>" +
							"<su>"+ subject +"</su>" +
							"<mp ct='text/plain'>" +
								"<content>"+ body +"</content>" +
							"</mp>" +
						"</m>" +
					"</SendMsgRequest>");

		// Click Get Mail button
		app.zPageMail.zToolbarPressButton(Button.B_GETMAIL);

		// Get all the messages in the inbox
		DisplayMail display = (DisplayMail) app.zPageMail.zListItem(Action.A_LEFTCLICK, subject);

		// Wait for a bit so the zimlet can take affect
		SleepUtil.sleep(5000);

		// Get the HTML of the body
		HtmlElement bodyElement = display.zGetMailPropertyAsHtml(Field.Body);

		// Verify that the phone zimlet has been applied
		// http://www.vmware.com
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", null, (String)null, 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", "target", "_blank", 1);
		HtmlElement.evaluate(bodyElement, "//a[@href='"+ url +"']", null, url, 1);

	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
University of Manchester Momentum Award - Dementias
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The University of Manchester (UoM) has significant strengths in dementias research but we also have a wealth of expertise across the University in other disciplines and/or new technologies. The aim of this Momentum Award application is to unlock UoM's untapped potential for dementias research, open up new scientific areas, encourage innovative high risk projects, and bring high level expertise and novel ideas/technologies from other disciplines (e.g. nanomedicine, materials, bioengineering, vascular biology, cell matrix biology, physics, health informatics) in to the dementia field. Through bringing new ways of thinking and new approaches across disciplinary interfaces we aim to open up new scientific avenues for dementias research, involving novel science and technology, and the creation of enabling platforms.
We request £700k from the Momentum Award, matched with £380k of internal UoM funds, to pump-prime innovative cross-disciplinary biomedical dementia research. We will allocate this funding across a small number of projects (approx. 8) with particular emphasis on bringing new approaches to dementia research aligned with our areas of key strengths in proteostasis dysfunction, neuroinflammation, neurovascular dysfunction, cognitive-clinical neuroscience and neuroimaging, and discovery of endotypes, targets and biomarkers. Priority will be given to projects that bring innovative science, new approaches and/or someone new to dementia research and which are cross-disciplinary, involve new technology and/or create enabling infrastructure. We are keen to encourage the development of high flyers (both permanent and fixed term staff). The Momentum Award will enable us to build both capacity and connectivity in dementia research in UoM through rapidly accelerating the introduction of new ways of thinking, novel approaches and new technology into our core areas of dementia research strength, which ultimately will benefit the dementia research community in the UK.
Total Expenditure April 2006 - March 2019:
Mar 17 - Jul 19
MC_PC_16033
Nigel Mark Hooper
Health Category:
Neurological (100%)
Research Activity:
HRCS Research Uncodeable (100%)
Nigel Mark Hooper (Principal Investigator)
Martin Schwartz (Co-Investigator)
Laura Michelle Parkes (Co-Investigator) http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6488-507X
Nancy Ip (Co-Investigator)
Anthony David Whetton (Co-Investigator)
Matthew Lambon Ralph (Co-Investigator)
Marco Andre Neves Domingos (Co-Investigator)
Wael El-Deredy (Co-Investigator)
Tao Wang (Co-Investigator)
Stuart Pickering-Brown (Co-Investigator)
Garth Cooper (Co-Investigator)
Iain Edward Buchan (Co-Investigator) http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3392-1650
Mark Nelson (Co-Investigator)
Catherine Barbara Lawrence (Co-Investigator)
Kostas Kostarelos (Co-Investigator)
Haley MJ (2019) Microglial Priming as Trained Immunity in the Brain. in Neuroscience
Moxon S (2019) Blended alginate/collagen hydrogels promote neurogenesis and neuronal maturation in Materials Science and Engineering: C
Potjewyd G (2018) Tissue Engineering 3D Neurovascular Units: A Biomaterials and Bioprinting Perspective. in Trends in biotechnology
Redondo-Castro E (2018) Development of a characterised tool kit for the interrogation of NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent responses. in Scientific reports
Rowland HA (2018) Modelling Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. in Neurochemical research
Strangward P (2018) Targeting the IL33-NLRP3 axis improves therapy for experimental cerebral malaria. in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America


text:
Calliscelio prolepticus är en stekelart som först beskrevs av Charles Thomas Brues 1940.  Calliscelio prolepticus ingår i släktet Calliscelio och familjen Scelionidae. Inga underarter finns listade.

Källor

Steklar
prolepticus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We as locals happen to find ourselves enjoying a particularly popular tourist attraction. Some guests get the impression that tourist activities and 'local' activities shouldn't overlap, but happily in Bali there's room for compromise.
Having a seafood dinner in Jimbaran is one of those things that are popular amongst locals and tourists alike. In fact, whenever somebody asks us to introduce them to some really local food, I'm will hesitate while thinking about what I should introduce to them. I happen to like Padang Nasi Campur, Kaki Lima Bakso and other local dishes, but these items not Balinese culinary highlights. I would be anxious about food hygiene. I suppose Sate Lilit or Pepes Ikan could be a good local dish, but there's no steady vendors of such Balinese delicacies.
The ice boxes at Cafe Menega are filled to the top with fresh shellfish and snapper.
Fresh fish from the Indian Ocean. Red snapper. Ocean perch. White snapper.
The seafood is smoked over a fire of coconut husks. Here's a pile of them ready to be fired up.
The closest thing I resort to is a candle-lit fish dinner on Jimbaran beach at my favorite seafood grill. I asked if they would pay me to write this article but they're doing good enough as it is, so whatever, I wrote it anyway. It's been about the only things that all my visitors unanimously agree is a memorable experience, so I stick to it.
Upon arrival, there's actually a bewildering haze of activity at the Pantai Muaya parking lot. If you get there around sunset, expect to find tour buses disgorging hundreds of barking Asian tourists, a thick smog of coconut husk smoke, and vendors slanging menus and special prices for fish, lobster and shrimp.
This is the place to eat in Jimbaran. Fresh jumbo prawns, fried calamari and a white snapper grilled over a smoky coconut husk fire. It comes out to around $25 USD for two people. Goodness!
I've done this enough times to know the difference between good fish and bad fish, fair prices and rip-off scams. I head straight to Cafe Menega. This place suffers a lot from it's own success in many ways.
While Menega has the fairest prices and freshest fish of any of their neighbor competitors, service is bad, almost non-existent. They're really understaffed. I counted close to 300+ seats, divided between their indoor and outdoor seating zones. There's about 20 wait staff to serve hordes of hungry diners.
If you're here between 8-10pm, expect to wait a very long time for your food. We've had over hour-long waits. We've gotten more clever about this nowadays. We either come for lunch, when it's nice and relaxing. Or for dinner, we'll order our food first. Then we wade up the beach and hang out at JWB warung by the Four Seasons resort. They serve up some of the coldest Bintang beer in Bali. Sometimes it comes out of the bottle as slush. We finish a beer or three and then head back. By that time, our food is usually ready.
Chef are preparing a coconut husk fire to cook the seafood.
The system is pretty simple. You roll up to the ice-chest counter, and select your fish. You pick lobster, shrimp, calamari, clams if you like. You can even select a live fish, they usually have pomfret swimming around. The cooks will then grill it over a coconut husk inferno and serve it up with a basket of warm rice, Balinese sambals, and some water spinach.
The results are worth it. Tender, flaky fish fresh from the sea. With a smoky, saltiness. BBQ fish, Jimbaran style.
Since the cafe sell so much fish everyday, the fish are pretty sure to be fresh, clear-eyed and smelling like an ocean breeze. I still check, but I've come to accept that since all the fish look the same after being grilled, I might very well end up with somebody else's fish. Given that the staff look very overwhelmed and plates are flying around like crazy during peak dinner hours, I think mistakes are bound to happen.
We love bringing friends, guests and family to enjoy this iconic dinner in Bali.
Thanks for reading a BukitVista published blog post. BukitVista is the largest villa marketplace and hospitality management organization in South Bali.
Read more about travel in the world here.


text:
LPGA comes out of pandemic strong with 34-event schedule
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan no longer measures success by making it to the end of year disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. A schedule for 2021 he released Friday suggests the LPGA Tour came out stronger than ever.
The LPGA Tour has added two tournaments and didn't lose any of the ones that had to cancel because of the shutdown.
Whan left little wiggle room for more interruptions with a schedule that starts Jan. 21 in Florida and ends with 10 months later with consecutive events in Florida. The first seven tournaments are all in the United States, with the Asia swing moving to the spring.
The 34 official events offer a record $76.45 million in prize money. The largest purse is the $5.5 million for the U.S. Women's Open at Olympic Club the first week in June, while the largest payoff is the CME Group Tour Championship, which typically awards $1.5 million to the winner.
"We are recapturing the momentum that we had at the beginning of 2020 and we are excited about our future, which will include news of new title sponsors and several significant purse increases," Whan said.
The LPGA had plenty of momentum a year ago when it announced a 34-tournament schedule. That was before the pandemic shut down the LPGA Tour just four tournaments into the season. It didn't resume until late July, with two additional events using the "Drive On" theme to fill some gaps.
The opening event is the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions on Jan. 21-24 in Orlando. A month later, instead of heading to Australia and Asia, the tour will have consecutive weeks in Florida before moving west for the Kia Classic north of San Diego, the ANA Inspiration as its first major in the California desert. After a week break during the Masters, the LPGA resumes with events in Hawaii and Los Angeles before going to Asia for three weeks.
Whan hopes that moving the Asia events back three months will be enough time for travel restrictions to be eased.
The U.S. Women's Open goes to Olympic Club in San Francisco for the first time, while the Women's PGA Championship will be a Atlanta Athletic Club and the Women's British Open will be at Carnoustie.
The Founders Cup is leaving Arizona for the first time in its 10-year history, to Mountain Ridge Country Club in northern New Jersey. The LPGA has added a match play event and an event that will be co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour. Details have not been announced on the new events.
Asia has three consecutive events in May and three more in October. Europe also has a stretch of LPGA golf for a month, with the two majors (Evian and the Women's British Open) along with the Ladies Scottish Open and the new tournament with the LET.
The schedule includes the Solheim Cup on Labor Day weekend, to be held at Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.
How has the pandemic impacted high school sports?
The COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a retirement pandemic in the U.S.: 'Everyday Millionaires' Author
Yahoo Finance Video
Teachers are using TikTok, media to help students learn amid pandemic
Average life expectancy lowered by pandemic for Americans
Chef Daniel Boulud: 'Hopeful NYC will come back strong' as pandemic hammers restaurants
UEFA plans for Euro and Champions League unchanged despite pandemic fears
Chef Daniel Boulud on launching virtual cooking classes during the pandemic
Hitting the road during pandemic: RV sales soaring
Infectious disease journalist reflects on one year of the coronavirus pandemic
Trump leaves Biden with security threats and a huge pandemic
Mark Pedowitz Remains A Pilot Believer As The CW Eyes Another Season With Only Straight-To-Series Orders Amid Pandemic
Amid pandemic, COVID has taught us to take a long look in the mirror of our soul


text:
Shurina's Career-High 23 Points Lifts No. 3 Women's Basketball Past Gwynedd Mercy, 91-74
Gwynedd Mercy
Scranton 30 30 19 12 91
Gwynedd Mercy 17 17 21 19 74
The University of Scranton women's basketball team captured the Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament with a 91-74 victory over the host Griffins on Saturday. Photo Credit: Gwynedd Mercy Athletics
Pts: Emily Shurina - 23
Reb: Makenzie Mason - 13
Ast: Sofia Recupero - 7
Pts: Shannon Carroll - 12
Ast: 2 Players (#2, #5) - 3
Emily Shurina Makenzie Mason Sofia Recupero
GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Sophomore guard Emily Shurina (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) scored a career-high 23 points and The University of Scranton women's basketball team (2-0) put up 60 points in the first half en route to a 91-74 win over the Gwynedd Mercy Griffins (1-3) in the championship game of the Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon at The Griffin Complex.
The 91 points are the most the Lady Royals have scored since a 98-94 overtime win versus Moravian on Jan. 17, 2018.
Shurina paced Scranton with her career-high 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting including 6-of-10 from three-point range. She was joined in double figures by senior guard Makenzie Mason (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) who added a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while senior Emily Sheehan tallied 13 points and classmate Sofia Recupero (Whitestone, N.Y./Saint Francis Prep) added a double-double of her own with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Shurina has knocked down 11 threes through the first two games after draining five in Friday's 75-64 win over Ursinus. The 23 points topped her previous career-high of 16 that had been set on Feb. 6, 2019 at Moravian.
Shannon Carroll had 12 points off the bench to pace Gwynedd Mercy and Denise Sacco chipped in with 11.
Scranton came storming out of the gate in this one and scored 11 of the first 14 points as a layup from junior Taylor Rodriguez (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills) gave the Lady Royals an 11-3 lead with 6:49 left in the first quarter. Freshman Kyra Quigley (Drexel Hill, Pa./Sacred Heart Academy) ignited a 19-8 run with a three-point play and the Lady Royals held a 30-17 edge after one. Shurina got hot from long range in the second quarter and connected on four triples as Scranton broke the game open. Following a three-point play from the Griffins that cut the lead to 36-22, Shurina's first of the four threes ignited an 18-3 run and the sophomore closed the run with another three to extend the lead to 29 at 54-25 with 3:19 left in the half. The Lady Royals eventually took a 60-34 lead into the locker room.
Recupero scored the first five points of the third quarter for the visitors and the two sides traded baskets for much of the period as the Lady Royals took a 79-55 lead at the end of three. Gwynedd Mercy made a run in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 11 with 3:08 to play, but a late spurt from head coach Nick DiPillo's squad preserved the victory.
The Lady Royals shot 40.7% (33-of-81) from the field and 34.5% (10-of-29) from three, while limiting the Griffins to 22.1% shooting from the floor. Scranton controlled the boards with a 67-45 edge led by the 13 rebounds from Mason and Recupero's 10.
The University of Scranton women's basketball team will return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 23 at King's (Pa.) at 6 p.m. The game is a part of the annual Cross-County Challenge that will be hosted by King's and the Lady Royals are slated to play Wilkes on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m.


Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Dalton7821, Aug 10, 2006.
I think this is the right forum, not sure. I got a used laptop (toshiba satelite m35x) and upon receipt I used the factory restore disk. After booting up a lot of other programs come up in system tray causing slow performance. Is there a utility I can use to strip it down to windows and essentials? I am not sure what some are in my autostart editor. Or if I run a spyware or HJT log can someone give help based on that info?


One of the things that rarely gets any cleaning is your mattress. At our company we want to change this. We offer affordable professional mattress cleaning services in Cricklewood, which will ensure your mattresses are free of allergens and dirt. We believe you need a healthy environment for a healthy sleep, that's why we think you should start with your mattress where you spend a good amount of time each and every night. We have special equipment and we are quite skilled. We will get the job done in no time. After we are finished, your mattress will be clean and healthy. Make an appointment whenever you can.
Without a doubt, when you clean and maintain your mattress, you protect your investment. Mattresses are expensive but if you take care of them, you can use them in the years to come. It is important to keep germs and bed bugs at bay for a healthy sleep. However, mattress cleaning is not the easiest thing to do. It requires special cleaning equipment, which the average person does not have. This is why Cleaners Cricklewood believe it is best to stick with our company. We do have professional cleaning equipment which meets all criteria and is totally powerful. That's right, we are armed with powerful cleaning machines and products to do the cleaning on site. We will do all the hard work for you, you can sit and watch us while we are getting the job done.
Our mattress cleaning service in Cricklewood is powerful, delicate, efficient and cost-effective. We provide high-quality cleaning solutions and we are ready to answer your questions and meet your expectations. We work on the daily. That includes weekends and bank holidays. We would love to hear from you. If you need help cleaning your mattress, you know you can count on us. We are waiting for your call.


"Component-based approach to feature interaction -- as seen in PBX syst" by Matthew P. Driscoll, Nathan Scott. Wilfert et al.
Component-based approach to feature interaction -- as seen in PBX systems.
We have researched, designed and implemented a framework to address feature interaction in a software system. The Feature Interaction problem occurs when a new feature is added to an existing software system. The problem has been extensively studied within the telecommunication domain. With support from Natural MicroSystems, Inc., we have created a component-based solution to solving the feature interaction problem. We have developed a prototype PBX system by redesigning Natural MicroSystems software.


Smoothies can be a delicious and healthy way to add an extra boost of nutrition to your diet (and a sneaky way to get extra nutrition into kids). I have a collection of some of our favorite whey-free smoothie recipes here, but this strawberry cheesecake smoothie is just as delicious as our old favorites.
Unlike a lot of smoothies, this one is low in sugar and filling because of the extra protein from my new favorite secret ingredient… cottage cheese!
Wake Them Up With a Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie!
Instead of actual cheesecake, this smoothie gets its dessert-like creaminess from cultured cottage cheese, which adds a whopping 14 grams of protein. This makes it great for breakfast or a mid-morning snack.
Don't worry, the cottage cheese blends up nice and creamy (no lumps!)… cheesecake fake-out complete.
Chia seeds are another commonly used ingredient around our house. I always have a big bag on hand for family favorites like chia seed pudding. This recipe doesn't call for a large amount, but these tiny seeds still really pack a punch. Chia seeds satiate the appetite, contain protein and antioxidants, and help hydration, all of which help support a healthy weight.
One interesting fact about chia seeds is their gelling effects may have health benefits. Researchers think that this gel action also occurs in the stomach, creating a barrier between carbohydrates and enzymes in the stomach which slows the conversion of carbs into sugar.
There are so many benefits to collagen powder that I could write a whole post on them (oh wait, I actually I did here!). Grass-fed collagen powder adds extra protein and is a little more versatile than drinking bone broth, especially on hot days. Collagen is similar to gelatin in its benefits, yet it dissolves in cold water and is a little easier to digest. My family consumes some form of gelatin or collagen daily.
There's some controversy over whether stevia is healthy or not. I go into the whole debate extensively here, but the bottom line is that it's something I feel okay using. Unlike raw honey and natural maple syrup (which are a step above processed sugar), stevia won't spike insulin levels and has no carbs. I use stevia in whole leaf form or tinctures made from the leaf but skip the white, highly processed powder.
Put in all in the blender, and there you have it… enjoy!
Make this delicious lower sugar strawberry cheesecake smoothie with a boost of protein from cottage cheese and get a healthy start to the day.
Blend all ingredients in a high-powered blender until completely smooth.
Garnish with sliced strawberries if desired.
Substitute 3/4 cup frozen blueberries for a blueberry cheesecake take on this smoothie!
What are some of your favorite healthy smoothie ingredients? Have you found ways to sneak in extra protein, fiber, or even veggies?


text:
A. Books published in the 19th century:
French authors.
1. Teyssèdre (1827) 2. Mingaud (1830*) 3. Berger (1855) 4. Un amateur (1860) 5. Lemaire (1865) 6. Lalanne (1866) 7. Garnier (1880) 8. Mangin (1881) 9. Graveleuse (1881) 10.Vignaux (1895). Are also part of the collection for this period, the books by: Anonymous (1810), Bouvard (1818 and 1823*), Coriolis (1835, republished in 1990), Charrier (1837), Cosson (1851*), Mangin (1876, 1880), Faraill (1879?), de Beauvais (1883*), Bédoc (1889*), Arnous de Rivière (1891) and Garnier (1891). For more details, see Section F. Lists.
* = personal facsimile.
Some of these authors are renowned billiard teachers or amateurs who show shot diagrams of the game with three balls on a table with or without pockets as it was practised in France at the time. See examples below.
1837 CHARRIER. One of the first known champions. (*).
The cue ball performs two consecutive bricoles and caroms the other two, preventing a ball from falling into a pocket of the table and cancelling the point.
1855 BERGER Claudius. First player of his time. He perfected the game of series [1].
[i]. .. ....... ..(**)
Note that the billiard table above, as well as those shown below, have no longer pockets.
Removing pockets enables you to play the series freely. So the French free game probably started around 1850.
Berger successfully introduced the French free game to the United States in 1862 [1]. In the same year an illustrated book, in which the American game was written by Phelan (***) and the French game by Berger, was published in New-York.
1865 LEMAIRE Désiré. One of the great players then [1]. He was a teacher held in very high esteem in the castles of France at the time [2].
All billiard balls of the book are coloured by hand !
1881 MANGIN Eugène. The most complete master before Vignaux [1].
....... ........
After the cue ball hits the ball frozen to the wall, it follows a curved path.
This book was also published together, in one volume, with...
1880 GARNIER Albert (Berger's student) [1]. Winner of the first world championship (French free game) for professionnals 1873.
One of the first billiard books with colour diagrams.
The author has also written: Nouveau traité de billard destiné aux amateurs. Ed. Sirven, Toulouse, France, 1891.
1895 VIGNAUX Maurice (he studied with Ubassy, the latter being considered the best Parisian player in 1869 ]3]).THE master. [1]. Winner of the first American championship (French free game) for professionnals 1874.
... .. (**)
The French free game of series made great progress in the 1870s thanks to the 'American series' (****), which consisted of first gathering the three balls near a cushion and then moving them along it by multiple short strokes, sometimes more than 1000!
In 1880 a memorable 4,000-point match took place in Paris between Vignaux and George Slosson.
The latter was considered the best player in the United States and great specialist of the American series.
On the first day Slosson recorded a wonderful series of 1103 caroms.
On the next day Vignaux won the match and maintained his reputation of invicibility by responding with
a series of 1531 caroms (points).
To break the monotony of this game, GRAVELEUSE Edmond, an excellent amateur [4], suggested (in his 1881 book) drawing lines parallel to the cushions on the billiard table (see below) at distances (D) of about 12 or 15 cm, so as to delimit zones (future balk spaces) where more than two strokes were prohibited, the central zone remaining free of constraint. The first tournament introducing such restrictions was held in Chicago in 1883 with D = 20 cm. Jack Schaefer Senior won with an average AV of 23 points per shot and a high run H of 220 and Vignaud finished in second place ( AV = 22 and H = 246). The balkline game was born! Other tournaments followed with D rising up to 45 cm in 1896 to make the game still more difficult. Note that these restrictions were quickly circumvented by the line series where the two carom balls were brought astride a line and moved on it by proceeding in the same way as the American series [4].
Some of the strong players who have not written books are:
the French
PAYSAN, nickname given because of his appearance [4]. He invented the "series" [2, 3] and called himself "The Napoleon of billiards" [4]. According to a newspaper of the time, PAYSAN was recognized by his exceptional talent of gathering the three balls so as to complete, without moving them away, a series of caroms leaving the adversary the only leisure to ask for 'the Moniteur' (= Gazette). [2, 3, 6].
NOEL, known for his spectacular massés [4]. Great opponent of Paysan.
SAURET, elegant, talented man, who never made billiards his profession. Inventor of "Side English" [5]. See [1, 6], too.
BURGER Charles, Berger's rival. Mangin's book [5] contains biographies and letters of both players planning a match together in 1858 that eventually never took place. See [1, 6], too.
BARTHELEMY Louis, Berger's pupil, who became a specialist in amazing massés [1, 5, 6].
UBASSY, called "le Furet", teacher of Vignaux [5 who also taught in the Unite States.
PIOT Lucien, the only French professor who was able to fight Vignaux [1, 5].
the Belgians
DOCQUIER Alexis, strongest player in his country for 20 years [5].
GOFFART Léon, professor with a 'forest' of hair, specialist in fancy shots [5].
VALET, the then strongest player in his country [5].
Let us remember that the 19th century revolutionized the game of billiards with, at the beginning, the great invention of the leather tip by MINGAUD (*****). This made it possible to apply English (draw, massé, follow ...) to the cue ball. Hence the game of the series. the balkline and the '3 cushion' games followed and all three are still played today.
[1] ARNOUS DE RIVIERE Jules (Berger's student), Traité populaire du jeu de billard. Ed. Marpon et Flammarion, Paris, France, 1891.
[2] TROFFAES Georges, Le billard et l'histoire. Chronique des temps passés. Ed. Laguide, Paris, France, 1974.
[3] ALBOUKER Robert, Autour du billard. Découvertes. Gallimard N°162, France, 1992.
[4] MARTY Jean, Billards, Ed. du Garde-Temps, Paris, France, 2002.
[5] MANGIN Eugène, Complément du nouveau traité du jeu de billard, Paris, France, 1880 (see above).
[6] ANONYMOUS, La physiologie du billard par un amateur. Ed. Ledoyen, France, 1860. This very rare book (on the right) is interesting as his author, a billiard fan, describes the period 1800-60 during his lifetime.
(*) For more details, see Section D. Rare books and Details.
(**) This diagram shows how to gather three balls into a small space (see circle).Other examples can be seen in this book as well as in other books also dealing with the French free game.
(***) Michael Phelan is both the author of 'Billiards without a master', first American billiard book (1850), and the best player in the United States at the time.
(****) This game style, initiated by the two Canadian brothers Dion [2], was known by Mangin, Garnier and Vignaux.
(*****) See Section Q. History(Cues).
[i] Wikimedia Commons.


When asked to rate their wedding John said "Well – I am a solid 6 (+/-1) and my fiancé, Anna, is a stone cold 10. . . So, I would say our wedding is going to be a strong 15, at least." It was that moment I knew these two were going to be a fantastic couple. Our engagement photos at Lester Park and Brighton Beach just happened to land on the most beautiful day of the spring up until that point, and just 48 hours earlier there were several inches of snow and ice on the ground.
John and Anna met at camp and went their separate ways for several years before making it official. Now the couple is planning a destination wedding up the North Shore at the Lutsen Chalet overlooking Lake Superior. If their wedding is anything like their engagement photos, it's going to be full of laughter, fun, and dry, sarcastic humor. Perfect.
A little romance along Lester River in Duluth.
Rory the red lab joined us for an evening stroll in Lester Park.
His and Hers and Rory's.
Shortly after his swim, Rory thought it would be a good idea to roll in the sand.


text:
Scientific research with any smartphone camera
Although smartphones and other consumer cameras are increasingly used for scientific applications like citizen science, it's still difficult to compare and combine data from different devices. PhD student Olivier Burggraaff developed a new easy-to-use standardised method which makes it possible for almost anyone to calibrate these cameras without any specialized equipment. That way, he helps amateurs, science students and professional scientists to acquire useful data with any consumer camera.
DIY methods
'The low costs of consumer cameras make them ideal for projects involving large-scale deployment, autonomous monitoring or citizen science,' says Burggraaff, PhD at the Leiden Observatory and the Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden. He led the multi-institutional research team that developed the calibration method. 'Our standardised calibration method will make it easier for anyone to for example grab their smartphone and assist in measuring pollution by detecting aerosol particles in the air.'
The team reported their new standardised calibration method and database in Optics Express, the journal of the Optical Society. The method is called SPECTACLE (Standardized Photographic Equipment Calibration Technique And CataLoguE) and can be used for smartphones, digital single-lens reflex cameras and cameras aboard drones. The database allows users to upload calibration data from their cameras for others to use. 'SPECTACLE includes many do-it-yourself (DIY) methods, which we found provided results comparable to professional methods that require high-end laboratory equipment,' Burggraaff adds.
DIY vs laboratory
To test the new calibration methods, the researchers compared them with established methods using several cameras. They found, for example, that the DIY method for measuring how the lens distributes light on the sensor, known as flat fielding, matched within 5 percent of results from the standard method that requires an integrating sphere in a laboratory setup. The DIY-method involved taping paper on the camera and acquiring images of the sun or a computer screen.
Improving citizen science
Burggraaff and his colleagues developed the calibration method in response to a need that arose when they were developing citizen science methods to measure optical water quality. They used a special smartphone add-on called iSPEX (Spectropolarimeter for Planetary EXploration), which they originally developed to measure air pollution. With iSPEX, a smartphone camera can measure complementary optical information, such as hyperspectral and polarimetric data.
'The problem is that each manufacturer and each device has its own characteristics,' Burggraaff explains. 'SPECTACLE brings together many existing calibration methods and applies them for the first time to consumer cameras, which will make it much easier for other developers and ourselves to use these cameras for scientific purposes.'
The add-on iSPEX enables you to measure air quality with your smartphone
New possibilities
Earlier calibration efforts were often hampered by a lack of access to the software or available information about the devices. For example, until recently it wasn't possible to access data straight from the camera sensor— known as so-called RAW data — or to control several camera settings like focus or exposure. However, new versions of iOS and Android now allow both. 'As part of SPECTACLE, we are developing a framework for both operating systems to make measurements using RAW data and process these on the phone. That simply was not possible a few years ago,' Burggraaff says.
The researchers plan to apply the SPECTACLE methodology to a much larger number of cameras to fill in the database and get a broader idea of camera properties. This will be done by the researchers as well as anyone who wants to upload their calibration data into the database. They will also continue to develop the iSPEX smartphone add-on to improve its ability to acquire water and air pollution measurements.
After a press release of the Optical Society - Calibration methods improve scientific research performed with smartphone cameras
Paper: O. Burggraaff, N. Schmidt, J. Zamorano, K. Pauly, S. Pascual, C. Tapia, E. Spyrakos, F. Snik, "Standardized spectral and radiometric calibration of consumer cameras," Opt. Express, Vol. 27, Issue 14, pp. 19075-19101 (2019).
DOI: 110.1364/OE.27.019075
Both SPECTACLE and iSPEX are part of MONOCLE (Multiscale Observation Networks for Optical monitoring of Coastal waters, Lakes and Estuaries), a project funded by the European Commission aimed at creating sustainable solutions for measuring optical water quality.
For more information on MONOCLE, contact the project office at monocle@pml.ac.uk.
environmental pollution
oppervlaktewater
Olivier Burggraaff PhD candidate
Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML)
26 March 2018 Spin-off from astronomy: measuring water pollution with your mobile


text:
Skating through 50 years
03/11/2019 03/11/2019 Andrew Lawton 564 Views 0 Comments
The Unionville Skating Club's premiere event will be a trip through the last fifty years.
The long-running club's popular Ice Fantasia showcase returns April 12-14, but because of a milestone—this show mark's the club's 50th one—organizers have decided to do something special. This year's theme is Fabulous 50, showcasing the current group of skaters' talent, but also the club's history in the community.
"The first half is all 1950s music," said Sandy Osbaldeston, a Unionville Skating Club coach and the director of this year's show. "The second half is all numbers that we've done in the last 50 years that we're recreating."
Osbaldeston says the now biannual show is a great opportunity for many of the club's thousand skaters to show their friends and families what they've been learning, but it's also become a source of entertainment for members of the Markham and Unionville communities, who she says have always supported the club over the years.
There will be an evening show at 7 p.m. on April 12, shows at 1 and 7 p.m. on April 13, and a 1 p.m. show on April 14. Tickets are $30, if purchased in advance, or $35 at the door.
Rehearsals for the two-and-a-half hour show started in March.
Though some Unionville Skating Club members go on to compete in provincial and national tournaments and, perhaps, have Olympic ambitions, the club is overwhelmingly an amateur club for people who enjoy being on the ice and partaking in its various sports. The club isn't just about figure skating, but also power skating and synchronized skating, among other disciplines.
Skaters in Ice Fantasia range from three years old to 18. There will also be special guest skaters from outside the club.
From costumes to choreography, a lot goes into Ice Fantasia, which is as much an opportunity for skaters to show off their stuff as it is for people interested in taking up skating to see what it's all about.
Unionville Skating Club's business director, Pamela Nitert, said there's a direct correlation between Ice Fantasia shows and membership inquiries.
"Every time that we have an ice show, our membership increases a little bit," she said. "People either want to participate in the following year's ice show or they want to get involved right in the year that we're in. It definitely helps with our membership."
Both Nitert and Osbaldeston noted that interest in skating itself seems to be on the rise, in particular for new Canadians.
"We often have waiting lists for our programs," Nitert said. "Especially new immigrants and people who are new to the city of Markham seem to really want to make sure that their children learn how to skate."
For some of the younger members, the Unionville Skating Club is a good way to get a handle on basic skating skills that can be parlayed into hockey, ringette or simply hobby skating. Those interested in the more artistic ice sports can also take those on.
Osbaldeston says she hopes Ice Fantasia shows people how much enjoyment ice sports can give.
"It's got such good camaraderie," she said. "Skaters make good friendships and a lot of skating friends stay friends for life. It's just entertaining. The music's great and it's non-stop. There are no stops in the show—it just keeps going."
Tickets are available at onstagedirect.com/unionvilleskatingclub.
Photo: Unionville Skating Club skaters show their stuff at Ice Fantasia. Unionville Skating Club photo
← Summer Company easing the risk for student entrepreneurs
30 years, countless trees, and no sign of letting up →


text:
Barbara Lou Mittleider
November 24, 1929 — April 8, 2022
Barbara Lou Mittleider, age 92 of Adairsville, GA, passed away on Friday, April 8, 2022, at her residence.
Barbara was born November 24, 1929, in Nampa, Idaho. After receiving her elementary and secondary education in Adventist schools, she married Ken Mittleider in 1949.
She dedicated her life to her family and facilitating the advancement of the Adventist advent message as an equal partner with Ken in many far-ranging endeavors. These ranged from their first assignment with the Don Duncan evangelistic team in 1951 thru their retirement in 1996.
She and Ken comprised an ideal team where each complemented the other and without a doubt, with God's blessing, together they far exceeded the accomplishments that could have achieved individually. She understood the role of a minister's wife and fulfilled it in a prototypical way.
In 1958, they accepted a call to the Washington Conference to lead an evangelistic team that focused on short-term in-depth series of meetings. The team consisted of three families who lived in mobile homes and moved every seven weeks as they held meetings across the Washington conference. Her roles included playing the organ for the evangelistic series, creating each night a diorama artwork, and home schoolteacher. Her focus was ensuring that everything was organized and in place and providing a "no holds barred" critique of the sermon and its presentation. The transient life did have its moments, as on occasion, it was unsettling when her home (the trailer house) would pass her on the freeway doing greater than seventy miles an hour.
In 1969, she adapted, when Ken became president of the Wisconsin Conference, her responsibilities included the creation, organization and on a continuing basis, the administrative support for the Trust Department of the Conference and she was instrumental in one of the largest gifts to date, for the Conference.
In 1980 she and Ken became missionaries and spent four years in Zimbabwe. These were politically challenging times and there were many exciting experiences in the mission field.
Upon their stateside return, in a time before e-tickets, email and texting, it was her responsibility to handle the travel logistics for the General Conference staff via teletype and phone. She also handled all the household responsibilities as Ken's duties caused him to travel at least 75% of the time (most of which was overseas).
In 1996 it was time for "retirement", and she and Ken moved to the Calhoun, GA area to be close to family and built a home that they lived in for 26 years.
Even in "retirement" she stayed active, including the public relations function for the Calhoun church, a stint as the head deaconess, visitation and meals for those in need, continued involvement with evangelistic meetings in faraway places such as India and Madagascar, and canning or freezing the abundance from Ken's Garden.
She very much enjoyed activities with family and friends. Her hobby's included reading, sewing, waterskiing, baking bread/cinnamon rolls and correcting Ken.
Barb is survived by three sons – Douglas (Julie), Jarold (Rae Nell) and Dennis (Cheri); one sister-Pat Campbell, eleven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of friends around the world. Her parents, four siblings and their spouses pre-deceased her.
She will be missed. You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com
Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Barbara Mittleider.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Lou Mittleider, please visit our flower store.