Last year, Intel acquired FPGA-focused Altera. Now they've announced a new line of hybrid chips that combine FPGAs with their well-known CPUs, achieving a goal set in 2010.
The FPGA market is projected to be worth nearly $10 billion by 2023. This is almost certainly why Intel acquired FPGA giant Altera in 2016 for $16.7 billion. The gamble was partially based on the expectation that, by 2020m the growing demand for cloud computing would rely increasingly on FPGAs.
Since the acquisition, Intel has used its new FPGA branch to focus on developing solutions for machine learning, encryption, big data processing, cloud computing, and accelerated computing with the reprogrammable hardware.
Recently, the company also announced a new line of CPU-FPGA hybrid chips for more flexible and powerful applications. While this particular duo is not entirely a new concept, it is a continuation of some of Intel's ambitions to hybridize since 2010. Also available is a software stack to make working with the hardware much easier, whether it is being used for application development or acceleration development.
An Intel CPU and a rendering of an Intel FPGA. Images courtesy of Intel.
The benefit of combining both FPGAs and CPUs in the same package is that you get the best of both worlds when it comes to x86 architecture for general computing and the customizable and flexible programming with FPGAs. In addition, higher-bandwidth and lower latency between the CPU, FPGA, and shared resources such as the cache and system memory are also achieved with this combined hardware configuration. Computation can be in-line (it goes through the CPU before being offloaded to the FPGA) or can be sent directly to the FPGA, with results returned to the CPU.
Intel will be using a to-be-announced Skylake CPU paired with and Arria 10 FPGA on a proprietary UltraPath Interconnect (UPI) link—capable of 9.6GT/s or 10.4GT/S data transfer rates.
The Arria 10 FPGA. Image courtesy of Intel.
This hybridization isn't exactly new, nor is it Intel's first crack at it—in 2010 Intel combined its Atom processor with the Altera's Arria II FPGA to create the E600C hybrid. The FPGA portion of E600C was programmed using the Quartus II programming environment, and x86 development tools available at the time could be used for the Atom processor. The E600C was meant to be a low-powered, customizable solution with a particular target for in-car entertainment systems and smart grids.
In 2014, another hybrid was announced although there were few details available other than it paired a Xeon processor with an FPGA and was made available to some of Intel's larger customers in early 2016.
One of the more interesting aspects of the new Intel FPGA ecosystem is the Acceleration Stack, an OpenCL based programming environment that can be used by developers for hybrid cards or discrete cards, including FPGAs, CPUs, and GPUs. The stack abstracts the programming required for the FPGAs to streamline and speed up development for accelerators and applications being used. Additionally, it allows for code to be reusable — porting between FPGAs/GPU/CPU should be possible without major changes. OpenCL, a C based programming language, will. This is quite the opposite of what had been available when Intel released the E600C seven years ago.
So while some of Intel's plans for FPGA based products may not be ground-breaking as concepts, the availability of the Acceleration Stack could make the Intel ecosystem an attractive option.
Acceleration stack. Image courtesy of Intel.
Intel's Acceleration Stack and FPGA products are now being used for the Alibaba Group's cloud computing service (« acceleration-as-a-service »). This service gives users an opportunity to access accelerated computing at a per-use fee and without having to invest in hardware. This service can be beneficial for use in genomics, machine learning applications, video transcoding, and financial computations.
This is just one of many possible applications of the stack, but is a sign that Intel's haunch about cloud computing was right.
Getting Started with FPGAs: The Development Environment and "Hello World"


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Idolatry is that we become our own idol. Idolatry is when we worship our knowledge, our strength, our goodness, our ability and not the Lord's.
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Jesus only shared His Father, not Himself.
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Your confidence should be in the Lord and His ability.


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Trump who once again skipped the event in favor of a rally and
Your brain on jazz improv
That caravan of migrants from Central America has made it to America's doorstep. The migrants are in Tijuana, Mexico, right outside the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego. About 50 of them were admitted to the immigration processing center on the Mexico side of the border, while dozens of others spent the night camping outside. Border patrol officials said the port is already full and migrants trying to get into the US may need to wait in Mexico as officials process those already in the facility.
The migrants, who say they're fleeing cheap Canada Goose violence and poverty in their home countries, want asylum. It's not illegal to enter the US at a port of entry and ask for asylum; international law requires the US consider asylum claims. President Trump, in tweets and at his rally in canada goose factory sale Michigan Saturday night, said that he would not accept the migrants into the country.
Dozens of people died this morning in canada goose outlet online a pair of explosions in Kabul, and one of the blasts specifically targeted journalists. The first blast hit in the city's Shashdarak neighborhood, home to the US embassy and Afghan government buildings. As journalists rushed to the scene, a suicide bomber https://www.kabbalah-arizal.nl disguised as a cameraman canada goose canada goose black friday sale outlet nyc canada goose uk shop set off a second explosion, police said. Right now the death toll stands at 29 people, including eight journalists. Kabul, Aghanistan's capital, goose outlet canada has a seen a slew of attacks in recent weeks.
UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd quit over the weekend, the latest casualty in the growing scandal over the buy canada goose jacket cheap government's mistreatment of the so called "Windrush generation." canada goose coats These are people from the Caribbean who came to Britain in the 50s and 60s but recently canada goose outlet jackets have been declared illegal immigrants. Last week, Rudd told lawmakers her office didn't canada goose outlet online uk have quotas for removing such immigrants. But yesterday, the Guardian newspaper published a letter she'd written to Prime Minister Theresa May about an "ambitious but deliverable" aim to deport 10% more illegal immigrants in the "next few years."
She's the fourth high ranking minister to resign from May's government in the past six months. Today Parliament will debate a petition calling for an amnesty for "anyone who was a minor that arrived in Britain between 1948 to 1971," which includes the Windrush generation.
The on again, off again merger talks between T Mobile and Sprint are back on. If the third and fourth canada goose outlet canada largest wireless service providers manage to get together, it'll leave the US with just three major wireless carriers, including Verizon and AT The merged company, which would take the T Mobile name, wants to canada goose clearance sale create a nationwide 5G network. But the merger has to get an OK from canada goose outlet toronto factory the government first, and that's definitely not a sure thing. Concerns about competition have scuttled merger bids between the two companies before.
5. White House Correspondents' Dinner
Lots of canada goose outlet shop ink (or in our case gigabytes) have been spilled over Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner. Liberals say comedian Michelle Wolf spoke truth to power with her routine that savaged not only President Trump, but also key members of his administration who were there, like Sarah Sanders. Trump who once again skipped the event in favor of a rally and conservatives say canada goose outlet it was a mean spirited, filthy "embarrassment" that once again proves the coastal elites just don't get flyover country. The association expressed "regret" about Wolf's performance.
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People are talking about these. Read up. Join in.
The Ye and The Donald love fest continues, this time with Kanye West rapping up a defense of his praise of the President.
The new canada goose black friday sale "Avengers" movie assembled the biggest box office opening ever this official canada goose outlet weekend, with "Infinity War" nabbing $630 million worldwide.
Is jazz improv the key to canada goose jacket outlet unlocking the brain's secrets? A musician who just happens to be a neuroscientist tries to find out.
A lot of folks had left "Fear the Walking Dead" for, well, dead, but producers of the show hope last night's plot twist bring it new life.
Football left him paralyzed. Marriage and his new bride helped him walk at his wedding.
"I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things because they are completely alien to me."
MSNBC host Joy Reid, struggling to explain herself after homophobic remarks from a blog she ran in the 2000s surfaced. She first claimed that she had been hacked but now admits that cybersecurity experts haven't been able to prove that.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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EE Publishers Home»	Articles: EE Publishers»Debating the benefits and challenges of SSEG
Debating the benefits and challenges of SSEG
July 2nd, 2019, Published in Articles: EE Publishers, Articles: Energize, Articles: Vector, Featured: EE Publishers
by Mike Rycroft, EE Publishers
EE Publishers, in cooperation with Nedbank, recently hosted the second in a series of four "Energy Dialogue" seminars at Nedbank's Boardman Auditorium in Sandton. The title of this seminar was "Enabling small- and medium-scale distributed embedded generation in South Africa" and was chaired by the bank's Thabang Chiloane.
Click here to view the presentations made at this seminar
Click here to read the report of the previous seminar
Four speakers addressed the audience, Nomfundi Mosete (Nersa), Dr Clinton Carter-Brown (CSIR), Niveshen Govender (SAPVIA) and Richard Nelson (Power Africa). This was followed by an open question-and-answer (Q&A) session.
Fig. 1: The panel from left: Dr Clinton Carter-Brown, Nomfundi Mosete, Niveshen Govender and Richard Nelson.
What is small-scale embedded generation?
Embedded generation is generation which is installed "behind the meter" but still connected to the grid. Small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) typically comprises a rooftop solar PV installation – though not exclusively – and is installed at the customer's cost rather than the utility's. Uncontrolled SSEG sector growth could be a matter of concern for the government as it could undermine the integrated resource planning (IRP) process.
Regulation and control
Uncertainty still exists round the regulations pertaining to SSEG. The current policy and legal framework applicable is that any operation of a generation, transmission or distribution facility shall either be licensed or registered with the National Energy Regulator of South South (Nersa). There are three stages in the process: Registration, licensing and ministerial determination.
SSEG with a capacity below1 MW requires registration but does not need to be part of a ministerial determination. SSEG with a capacity greater than 1 MW but less than 10 MW needs to be licensed but does not need to be part of a ministerial determination. Generation plant with a capacity >10 MW needs to be licenced and be part of a ministerial determination.
Fig. 2: The event drew a large audience.
Although SSEG was not included in the 2010 IRP, it does appear in the draft IRP which is currently under consideration. The minister of energy directed Nersa, in writing, earlier this year to proceed with registering SSEGs to a maximum threshold of 500 MW.
Click here for a gallery of photos from the seminar
In law, the registration and licensing of SSEG vests with Nersa and not municipalities. Regulation is an administrative activity and Nersa has developed the applicable procedures. Nonetheless, there is still confusion around application for registration (by Nersa) and application for connection (by the electricity distributor).
There are two stages to the registration procedure. Firstly, application must be made to the licensed distributor (LD) for connection of the generation facility and use of the distribution system. This is required by law. Then an application must be made to Nersa for registration or licensing of the generation facility. This requires a letter from the LD confirming that connection permission has been granted.
The application and approval for connection by the LD is being confused with registration. The first stage approves connection to the system, the second approves operation of the generation facility. It is clear that, at present, registration is the responsibility of Nersa. There have been proposals that distributors should take over registration of smaller SSEG on behalf of Nersa, because of the volume involved and it is understood that this is under consideration.
The law requires that even SSEG installations less than 100 kW have to be registered with Nersa. This is likely to change. The current policy and regulatory chaos and uncertainty therefore continues.
SAPVIA's Niveshen Govender says that although 25% of municipalities have registration procedures, these would actually be procedures for application for connection. The City of Cape Town has a well-developed application procedure which is being confused with registration.
Nersa's Nomfundi Mosete confirmed that there was no regulatory framework for battery energy storage in South Africa, and battery energy storage was not covered by generation registration or licensing regulations or protocols, because energy storage was not considered as generation, transmission or distribution. However, while this is confusing, this latest indication by the regulator makes sense, in that battery energy storage should not be regulated, registered or licensed as a generator, under current legislation.
Mosete however stated that the position of storage in the network needed further study and consultation with stakeholders, as future usage may require regulation, but that things should not be regulated for the sake of regulation.
Future usage, such as that proposed in other countries, where the utility has access to behind-the-meter (BTM) storage, (in the extreme case the battery in a connected EV), and where the consumer sells stored energy to the utility during peak periods, may require regulation. In cases where BTM storage supplies electricity to the grid, and can possibly affect the operation of the grid, regulation may be necessary.
Multiple SSEG installations
Mosete caused some consternation by stating that embedded generation installations at different sites by a single owner or operator were additive in respect of the need for licencing. For example, if a property owner were to install three embedded solar PV installations of 500 kW each, at three separate properties around South Africa, these installations would have to be licensed rather than registered, because together their capacity would exceed 1 MW. This contradicts what Nersa advised the industry at a workshop on 31 May 2019.
Growth of the sector
In spite of the confusion surrounding registration and licensing of SSEG, the sector is growing exponentially, as indicated by CSIR and PQRS data which was confirmed by discussions with leading equipment suppliers. According to Govender there are about 60 000 SSEG installations in SA totalling some 400 MW. Less than 50 of those, which generate less than 1 MW, have been registered by Nersa and much fewer in the range of 1 to 10 MW have been licensed by Nersa. The problem with existing installations is that there is little information on how many there really are. Information comes mainly from installers which are members of industry associations. There is no knowledge of "grey" installations which could be much more. African Rainbow Energy and Power (AREP) estimates a figure of 700 MW of privately-owned solar PV.
SSEG represents a massive market opportunity for both South Africa and Africa, according to Carter-Brown, with South Africa being on the verge of a major opportunity. Until recently, renewables were mainly driven by the US, Europe, China and Japan, but this is changing. The opportunities are far bigger than just electricity supply and cross-couple with the EV and SSEG sectors.
Cost reduction is making SSEG more viable, with significant cost reductions materialising the last six to ten years, specifically for solar PV. This is moving the SSEG market from a subsidy-driven sector to a cost-competitive sector. Drivers for SSEG are not just CO2 reductions anymore, but costs and economics, as well as security of supply. Growth is rooted in finance and economics although SSEG does assist with CO2 reduction. Increases in the cost of electricity put pressure on tariffs to end-customers, and customers now have viable options to self-generate.
Future energy mix
The energy mix for South Africa by 2030 will still see coal dominating, but renewable energy will increase. By 2050, the least-cost mix is 70% solar PV and wind, which reflects a fundamental shift. A substantial portion of that could be SSEG. The risk-adjusted scenario with a low energy availability factor (EAF) requires earlier new build including storage. Rapid new build could be partially addressed by SSEG.
Technology localisation will increase jobs as local content increases. The biggest increase will be in operation and maintenance (O&M) as the number of installations increases. A CSIR analysis of job creation opportunities for 200 MW/annum SSEG build until 2030 shows construction-phase jobs growing from 2600/year in 2019 to 3500/year and O&M jobs growing from 100/year in 2019 to 1700/year.
Stay on-grid or go off-grid?
The CSIR's Carter-Brown says that it is unwise to defect or attempt to go off-grid in areas served by the grid as this would be expensive and difficult to operate, with high costs and high maintenance. He suggests that it is better to remain grid-connected and complement the grid supply with renewable energy-based SSEG.
One of the main problems in the SSEG sector is the installation of equipment by unqualified personnel, which results in poor quality and sometimes dangerous installations. This is more prevalent in the residential market. In addition, poor design and misinformation of clients is also prevalent. Complaints received from clients that the system does not deliver promised power levels reveal both under-design and misinformation of clients about the capacity of installed systems.
The law requires that a SSEG installation, as an addition or extension of an existing electrical installation, be issued with a certificate of compliance (CoC) before connection to the distribution network. A CoC can only be issued by a person who is registered with the Department of Labour (DoL). It appears that a lot of small SSEG installations are being undertaken by people who are not registered with the DoL.
Lack of standardisation
The main problem with enforcing or applying standards is the absence of a national standard for PV installations similar to the existing low voltage wiring code, which means that a CoC cannot be issued. The appropriate SABS working group has made progress with the development of an installation standard for embedded generation, to be published as part of the existing family of installation standards (SANS 10142-1-2,"Specific requirements for embedded generation installations connected to the low voltage distribution network in South Africa), a draft of which is due to be released for public comment later this year.
Govender says that good, steady progress is being made regarding technical standards and standardisation, product accreditation, safety standards, training and associated SAQA accreditation, accreditation of designers and installers, documentation of installations, etc, for embedded PV installations up to 10 MW.
Click here to view the presentations made at the seminar
There is a need for a quality assurance programme for PV. The most promising development is the introduction of the "Green Card" which covers the competence of the designer and installer. Green Card status is awarded to companies after training and proven capability. There are also other quality assurance programmes under development in the industry.
There appears to be no shortage of finance available for SSEG projects either in the form of personal loans or project finance. Although financing is available, single high-value projects are difficult to finance and institutions prefer to finance portfolio or pipeline projects where several projects are involved. Small projects could be financed by direct lending to client, typically by incorporating the SSEG cost into an existing home loan.
The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) confirmed that it has some US$300-million (about R4,2-billion) available to finance "behind the meter", distributed, embedded generation in South Africa, pending the finalisation and gazetting of the new IRP 2019 which is currently undergoing consultation at Nedlac. The DBSA funding is intended to finance SSEG in South Africa in the range of 1 to 10 MW.
A new, first-of-its-kind $1-billion World Bank Group (WBG) programme aims to help fast-track investments in battery storage by raising $4-billion more in public and private funds and convening a global think tank with the ultimate goal of financing 17,5 GWh of battery storage by 2025 – more than three times the 4 to 5 GWh currently installed in all developing countries.
Contact Charmaine Manicom, EE Publishers, Tel 011 543-7000, charmaine.manicom@ee.co.za
CSIR nedbank NERSA Power Africa SAPVIA SSEG
Assessing legal risks in moving to the cloud
Thermal stress on capacitors: failure prevention


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Northern Cal. Egypt Lecture: Officials Under Senwosret III
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khentiamentiu
Post by khentiamentiu » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:57 pm
The American Research Center in Egypt, Northern California Chapter, and the Near Eastern Studies Department, University of California, Berkeley, invite you to attend a lecture by Dr. Kei Yamamoto, Egyptologist and research specialist at the University of Arizona:
High Officials Under the Reign of King Senwosret III
Sunday, February 11, 3 pm
Room 20 Barrows Hall
UC Berkeley Campus
(Near the intersection
of Bancroft Way
and Barrow Lane)
SenwosretIIIwCaption.jpg (63.59 KiB) Viewed 4822 times
About the Lecture:
Senwosret III (1878-1840 BCE), also known as Senusert III, Sesostris III) was the 5th king of the 12th Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt. His reign is often considered the height of the Middle Kingdom, which in turn has been called the Golden Age in Egypt's history, when art, literature, architecture, science, and other facets of Egyptian culture reached an unprecedented level of refinement, the economy flourished, and military and trade expeditions filled the nation's treasuries.
But what do we know of the administrative officials who served under Senwosret III? This presentation introduces some of the highest-ranking officials, viziers, treasurers, and chief stewards, who probably played vital roles in the successful reign of Senwosret III. The lecture incorporates results from the speaker's fieldwork at Abydos and Dahshur.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Yamamoto is a research specialist at the University of Arizona. He received his doctorate in Egyptology at the University of Toronto and previously worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he co-curated a major special exhibition on the Middle Kingdom period. Since 2001, he has engaged in 11 seasons of archaeological fieldwork at several sites in Egypt: Abydos, Tell Tebilla, and Dahshur.
Parking is available in U.C. lots after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends for a fee. Ticket dispensing machines accept either $5 bills or $1 bills, and debit or credit cards. The Underhill lot can be entered from Channing way off College Avenue. Parking is also available in lots along Bancroft, and on the circle drive in front of the Valley Life Sciences building.
A map of the campus is available online at http://www.berkeley.edu/map/
For more information about Egyptology events, go tohttp://www.facebook.com/NorthernCaliforniaARCE or http://www.arce-nc.org.
Josip199
Contact Josip199
Re: Northern Cal. Egypt Lecture: Officials Under Senwosret I
Post by Josip199 » Fri Apr 13, 2018 3:14 am
khentiamentiu wrote: The American Research Center in Egypt, Northern California Chapter, and the Near Eastern Studies Department, University of California, Berkeley, invite you to attend a lecture by Dr. Kei Yamamoto, Egyptologist and research specialist at the University of Arizona:
SenwosretIIIwCaption.jpg
Good and found useful and interesting
Looking forward for more such information on ancient history.
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Algoriddim's djay lineup has been a mainstay in the DJ app market, getting its start on the Mac over ten years ago, becoming one of the early iPad hits, and over the years expanding to also include iPhone, Apple Watch, Windows, and Android. Throughout that time, djay has proven extremely popular with professional, amateur, and aspiring DJs alike for its powerful yet intuitive tools that make it easy to replace physical media and turntables with a single computer or mobile device, making djay the world's best-selling DJ app with over 30 million downloads while also winning a pair of Apple Design Awards. Three years ago, the Mac version of djay became djay Pro, gaining a revamped interface, integration with Spotify, and a host of other new features, and Algoriddim has continued to make improvements in the app since that time, most notably with an on-stage demo at Apple's October 2016 media event where Algoriddim showed off Touch Bar support for djay Pro on the redesigned MacBook Pro. Today, Algoriddim is launching djay Pro 2 for Mac, a major update bringing quite a few features that not only improve the user experience today but also set the stage for more advancements down the road. We met up with Algoriddim's Michael Simmons and Christoph Teschner last week for an in-person demo and overview of the new features, and we came away impressed with the update.


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View or download the full issue PDF (Russian)
IFLUENCE OF FUNCTIONAL FOOD PRODUCT ON SERUM FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS
I. M. Chernukha, E. A. Kotenkova
A special area in the rapidly growing range of food products is occupied by specialized and functional products, especially for certain categories of citizens. In addition to confirming their biocorrective properties, it's necessary to balance protein, fat and carbohydrates contents as well as the availability of essential nutrients. The developed meat product based on porcine hearts and aorta was characterized by a high protein content (17.53±0.95%), with a low fat content (3.82±0.13%), the atherogenic index was 0.43. According to in vivo study results, it was shown that the introduction of developed product during 42 days into the diet of hyperlipidemic rats lead to a decrease in the relative content of saturated fatty acids by 21.1%(P<0.05), mainly due to palmitic fatty acid reduction by 42.0% (P<0.05) compared with the control. The observed modifications of serum fatty acid composition resulted in the reduction of atherogenic index by 43.3% (P<0.05). The revealed positive dynamics of lipid metabolism recovery in hyperlipidemic rats makes it possible to recommend the developed product as a component of diet therapy, concomitant to the main treatment, for persons with risk of cardiovascular diseases, in particular, due to dyslipidemias.
STUDY OF FAST ELECTRON IRRADIATION EFFECT ON THE STRUCTURE AND SURFACE OF POLYAMIDE/ POLYETHYLENE/ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE FILM MATERIAL USING THE UELR 10-10-40 PLANT
V. T. Tarasyuk, N. E. Strokova, N. A. Sazhnev, A. V. Prokopenko, N. R. Kil'deeva
Radiation effect on the PA/PE/Eva film material with a thickness of 55 μm was investigated at theBurnazyanCenterusing radiation processing plant (RPP) with the UELR‑10–10–40 accelerator at 10 MeV. Polymer films were irradiated with doses of 0 to 18 kGy. The study of IR spectra showed that when processing the PA/PE/Eva film with fast electrons with a dose of up to 18 kGy using the UELR10–10–40 plant with a power of 10 MeV the number of functional -CH3 and -NHgroups in the IR spectra changes to 0.0060 relative units with radiation doses of 12 to 18 kGy, which leads to degradation of the sample and its crosslinking simultaneously. Using confocal laser microscopy, it was demonstrated that after irradiation of PA/PE/Eva sample with doses of 18 kGy, the surface of the film becomes smooth in РА layer and in Eva layer, and a spot thinning of the sample occurs. These characteristics may cause a change in the barrier properties of the film material and affect the shelf life of food in a packaging.
RESEARCH OF AROMA FORMED COMPONENTS OF RENNET CHEESES
I M. Pochitskaya, A. P. Laktionova, V. L. Roslik
The results of the study of the composition of volatile compounds of rennet cheeses are presented. Sample preparation was performed using Supelco's solid-phase microextractor, including a special fiber material coated with a layer of divinylbenzene-carboxene-polydimethylsiloxane «DVB / Carboxen / PDMS StableFlesh ™». Using gas chromatography with mass-selective detection, about 400 aroma-forming components were detected, among which 39 compounds were identified, which form the basis of the flavor profile of cheeses. The main flavor descriptors for all cheeses are: propionic, butyric, and caproic acids, acetoin, methyl amyl ketone, 2-nonanone, and limonene. It has been established that the profile of volatile components for cheeses various ripening periods, has significant differences. Thus, for semi-hard cheeses made using propionic acid microorganisms, the most characteristic components are acids — propionic and butyric, as well as compounds of the terpene series o-cymene and β-pinene. For semi-hard cheeses of the Dutch group (formed from the layer), with maturities from 20 days to 3 months, the terpene compounds and esters are the most significant, whereas for superhard cheeses with a maturity of more than a year, the main components affecting the aromatic profile are butyric and caproic acids, 2-heptanone and limonene. Semi-hard and hard cheeses with ripening periods from 3 to 6 months are characterized by a high content of caproic and butyric acids, as well as by the presence of such aromatic substances as limonene and acetic acid ethyl acetate (hexyl acetate). Semi-hard cheeses, which are molded in bulk, with maturities from 10 days to 3 months contain acetoin, caproic acid, as well as significant quantities of the same limonene and hexylacetate.
DETERMINATION OF VEGETABLE FATS IN FOOD PRODUCTS
D. A. Utyanov, A. V. Kulikovskii, N. L. Vostrikova, A. N. Ivankin
Tightening control over the quality and safety of food products leads to an expansion of the list of standardized indicators and the regulatory framework of research methods. Despite the lack of established standards and requirements for fatty acid composition (FAC) of meat products and the content of vegetable fats in it, methods have been developed for determining FAC and vegetable fats. The presented approaches to sample preparation make it possible to extract analytes from a sample as quickly and efficiently as possible, and the capabilities of modern analytical equipment make it possible to determine even trace amounts. The lower limit of determination of vegetable fats is 1.0 mg / kg. Ionization by electron impact, in which the molecule of the analyte breaks down into characteristic daughter ions, as well as the use of a library of mass spectra exclude obtaining false or falsepositive results.


text:
Significant Books
Learning to Think...
Alan M. Leduc
The Memory Jogger 2: Tools for Continuous Improvement and Effective Planning.
Brassard, M., Ritter, D. (2010).
GOAL/QPC.
ISBN-13 : 978-1576811139
ISBN-10 : 157-6811131
Implementing Six Sigma: Smarter Solutions Using Statistical Methods.
Breyfogle, F. W. (2003).
The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance.
Neuman, R. P., Pande, P. S., Cavanagh, R. R. (2000).
McGraw-Hill Education.
Juran's Quality Handbook: The Complete Guide to Performance Excellence, Seventh Edition.
Juran, J. M., Defeo, J. A. (2016).
ISBN-13: 978-1259643613
The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to Nearly 100 Tools for Improving Quality and Speed.
Upton, M., Rowlands, D. T., Maxey, J., George, M. L. (2004).
ISBN-10: 007-1441190
Juran's Quality Management and Analysis
Defeo, J. (2014).
McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Montgomery, D. C. (2020).
John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
The Six Sigma Handbook, 5E
Keller, P. A., Pyzdek, T. (2018).
Quality Engineering Handbook. 2nd Edition
United States: CRC Press.
Jones, D. T., Womack, J. P. (2003).
United Kingdom: Simon & Schuster.
Design for Six Sigma for Service
Yang, K. (2005).
Benbow, D. W., Kubiak, T. M. (2016).
ASQ Quality Press.
Practitioner's Guide to Statistics and Lean Six Sigma for Process Improvements
Lacke, C. J., De Hodgins, O. C., Hulbert, R. L., Mann, P. S., Harry, M. J. (2011).
Lean Six Sigma for Service: How to Use Lean Speed and Six Sigma Quality to Improve Services and Transactions
George, M. L. (2003).
Lean Six Sigma: Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Production Speed
Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production
Ōno, T. (2019).
Taylor & Francis.
Taiichi Ohnos Workplace Management: Special 100th Birthday Edition
Ohno, T. (2012).
A Study of the Toyota Production System: From an Industrial Engineering Viewpoint
Shingo, S. (1989).
ISBN 13: 978-0915299171
ISBN 10: 091-5299178
Toyota Production System: An Integrated Approach to Just-In-Time, 4th Edition
Monden, Y. (2012).
ISBN-10: 143-982097X
Kaizen (Ky'zen), the key to Japan's competitive success
Imai, M. (1986).
Random House Business Division.
An Introduction to Statistical Quality Control
Conquering Complexity
Hinchey, M., & Coyle, L. (2012).
Springer Publishing.
Rebirth of American Industry
Waddell, W. & Bodek, N. (2005).
PCS Press.
Fast Innovation: Achieving Superior Differentiation, Speed to Market, and Increased Profitability: Achieving Superior Differentiation, Speed to Market, and Increased Profitability
George, M., Works, J. &Watson-Hemphill, K. (2005).
Building High Performance Government Through Lean Six Sigma: A Leader's Guide to Creating Speed, Agility, and Efficiency
Price, M., Mores, W., & Elliotte, H. (2011).
Nonparametric Statistical Inference, Fifth Edition.
Chakraborti, S., Gibbons, J. D. (2011).
The Team Handbook
Joiner, B. L., Scholtes, P. R., Streibel, B. J. (2003).
Oriel.
Developing Systems for Continuous Improvement Through Employee Suggestions.
Kaizen Teian 1
Taylor & Francis. (1997)


text:
oceanhealthnews
waterwars
cleanwater
Microplastic pollution threatening coastal lagoons worldwide; African lagoons most affected
Microplastic pollution is threatening coastal lagoons around the world, with lagoons in three areas being most affected.
Researchers from Spain, Colombia and Chile issued this warning through a study set to be published later this year in Environmental Pollution. It named three lagoons – Lagos in Nigeria, Sakumo in Ghana and Bizerte in Tunisia – as among the most affected water ecosystems. They pointed out that these three lagoons, all located in Africa, are situated near huge urban centers without waste and sewage treatment systems.
Furthermore, the researchers looked at scientific literature on microplastic pollution in 50 coastal lagoons in 20 countries. Aside from the three African lagoons mentioned, they found maximum concentrations of microplastics in Barnes Sound and other small lagoons in a protected area in the northern part of Florida Bay.
Coastal lagoons are transitional ecosystems between inland and marine aquatic systems, putting them in a position of great significance for biodiversity conservation. They are also the key sources of food and other ecosystem services to communities that rely on them. While about 58 percent of these ecosystems presently have some kind of national or international protection status, they are also affected by human activity.
Study author Ostin Garces-Ordonez of the University of Barcelona said: "In these natural habitats, peak levels of microplastic pollution result from a combination of several factors. For example, the residence time and water renewal rate of lagoons, the presence of large urban and industrial developments with insufficient waste management, river and outfall discharges, seasonal climate fluctuations, natural phenomena and the typology of microplastics."
He also remarked that coastal lagoons with slow or very slow water turnover rates are the most sensitive to extreme microplastic pollution.
"During the rainy season, the concentration of microplastics also increases in surface water compared to the dry season, a phenomenon that has been observed in the lagoon of Rio Lagarto (Mexico) and in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (Colombia), with maximum levels in areas where the most intense human activities are recorded," noted Garces-Ordonez.
High levels of microplastics found in fish
Fish fauna is one of the most-studied groups of organisms in connection with the effects of microplastics.
The study, which examined the effects of pollution on 96 species, discovered a maximum impact on fish in the lagoons of Bizerte and Ghar El Melh in Tunisia, especially the golden gray mullet (Liza aurata) and the Salema porgy (Sarpa salpa), with consumption of up to 65 microplastics per individual.
Mollusks, with levels of up to 17 microplastics per individual, are another of the most impacted groups, with the highest values found in Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in Florida's Mosquito Lagoon.
The study also revealed the presence of microplastics in the water column, sediments and fish in the Iberian Peninsula coastal lagoons.
Besides gathering in particular areas of lagoon ecosystems, microplastics can also end up in the sea and exacerbate the problem of ocean pollution. (Related: Microplastic pollution is the REAL threat to our oceans, warn scientists.)
The paper is based on studies that have combined various methodological approaches like direct visual inspection, chemical digestion and density separation to study diverse habitats that may cover coral reefs, seagrass beds, beaches and swamps.
Accomplishing this goal requires a series of collective actions at global, regional, national and local levels.
Follow Microplastics.news for more news about microplastic pollution.
Watch the video below to know why microplastics are everywhere – including the human body.
This video is from the Objective: Health channel on Brighteon.com.
The plastic pollution problem is wide AND deep: Study finds sea animals from the deepest parts of the ocean, 7 miles down, have plastic in their stomachs.
FINDING: Masks will silently deprive humans of oxygen for years to come through microplastic pollution.
Australian researchers use "green and cost-efficient" microscopic nanosprings to break down microplastic pollution.
Speeding up Mother Nature: New nanocoating technology can speed the degradation of microplastics by harnessing the elements.
Human hackability: Microplastics in humans could harbor nanoparticles for tracking, data collection.
ScienceDirect.com
Tagged Under: aquatic life, coastal lagoons, Ecology, ecosystems, environment, lagoons, marine life, microplastics, research
Food prep and storage tips for your emergency food supply
Pharmaceutical waste: Over 25% of rivers worldwide contaminated with potentially toxic levels of prescription drugs
Southwestern wells running dry due to drought; foreign-owned farms using U.S. water to feed cattle for export
Nearly a third of Sierra Nevada's conifer forests destroyed by drought, wildfires
New islands, sunken ships and lost marine equipment emerge as Mississippi River continues to dry up
PrepWithMike: Surviving radioactive exposure following a nuclear explosion is NOT impossible
Pollutants and contaminants affect food supply from farm to plate
Food supply woes persist: Grain shippers delay deliveries amid barge quagmire
How to dig a well to secure your water supply before SHTF
Levee construction underway in Mississippi River to keep salt water out of drinking water amid record low water levels
Parts of Mississippi River forced to CLOSE due to worsening drought crisis
California reservoirs dropping fast; LA approaching ZERO DAY for water
Los Angeles desperately trying to meet water demand as drought continues to threaten future supplies
Mississippi River drought wreaks havoc across America's supply chains
Global food, commodities supply chain crisis set to explode as falling river levels crush barge traffic in US
Florida coastal towns devastated by Hurricane Ian "in panic mode" over shortages of water, food and gas… but help is on the way
Prepper essentials: Tips for setting up a rainwater collection system
LITHIUM mining for electric vehicles is incredibly destructive to the environment and about as far from "green" as you can imagine
USDA contaminating wildlife with millions of live vaccine baits, polluting everything in their wake
COPYRIGHT © 2017 CLEAN WATER NEWS


text:
Pluton Glacier är en glaciär i Antarktis. Den ligger i Västantarktis. Argentina, Chile och Storbritannien gör anspråk på området. Pluton Glacier ligger  meter över havet.

Terrängen runt Pluton Glacier är bergig åt sydost, men åt nordväst är den kuperad. Havet är nära Pluton Glacier åt nordväst. Den högsta punkten i närheten är  meter över havet,  kilometer sydost om Pluton Glacier. Trakten är glest befolkad. Närmaste befolkade plats är Gonzalez Videla Station,  kilometer norr om Pluton Glacier.

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Glaciärer i Antarktis
Isformationer i Västantarktis
Storbritanniens anspråk i Antarktis
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Argentinas anspråk i Antarktis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We're a group of eternally grateful people saved by Jesus Christ! We call ourselves "the church of Christ" because we belong to Christ. We've been bought by His blood on the cross (Acts 20:28). He is our Head, we are His body (Ephesians 1:22-23). In the Bible, the church includes all the saved all over the world (Matthew 16:18), but we're a local church that meets together in Altamonte Springs to worship the God who saved us!


text:
The New Normal of Learning: Online Classes
By: Samuel LiEdited by: SamuelMo
COVID-19 has posed great challenges to the education system in Hong Kong. Schools have to adapt to online teaching to prevent the spread of the virus. Under the incoming fourth wave of COVID-19, Mr Lobo Ho Lik-sang, the principal of the Maryknoll Fathers' School, said that there are many challenges to overcome, while teachers and students are improving in online teaching and learning under the new normal. Under the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have to teach by using online conference software and assess students' performances online. Students are also facing uncertainties under the pandemic. Some have lost practical learning opportunities, some have lost the precious interacting moments with teachers and friends, some are having difficulties in online learning such as completing assignments and examinations. "Online teaching is a tough challenge for teachers," said Mr Ho."Zoom is a one-way method of teaching and it is hard to build an interactive environment," he added. Mr Ho also attributed to network infrastructure and the limitations of technology as the problems in the online teaching environment. While teachers find online teaching tough, college students feel helpless in completing assignments with insufficient assistance from teachers. "I have to do my assignments and exams without any help from teachers at home. I feel helpless,", said Jeremiah Choong Hon-lam, a student from the Heng Seng University of Hong Kong. Mr Choong also added that some practical training cannot be delivered online. "My assignments include practical training, and I can't do it at home," said Mr Choong. Mr Ho also echoed the concern raised by Mr Choong. "Not every concept and knowledge can be taught online. For example, experiments and physical techniques have to be learnt in a realistic situation." Mr Choong's situation is just a tip of the iceberg. According to a survey conducted by the Lingnan University …
Quarantine Hotels Regain Public Trust
By: Bell ChanEdited by: Mereen Santirad、Eurus Yiu
A deploy of AI vacuum cleaner to sanitize the carpet, a regular disinfection of each guest room, a frequent disinfection of fresh air filter, a use of independent pipe for air conduction to prevent cross-contamination, and 24 hours available of masks and hand sanitizer, this is the epidemic control measure at Dorsett Mongkok hotel. All that COVID precaution has made Pang Yui-man feel safe. She is spending a night at Dorsett Mongkok to celebrate her birthday. Her room was spotless. There was a precaution guideline pamphlet on the table. There are also bottles of hand sanitizer, and a Covid-19 test kit. The results would be available within 24 to 48 hours at the reception. Dorsett Mongkok partnered with Ecolab, a global leader in infection prevention, to use Ecolab's Disinfectant Cleaner 2.0 to clean and disinfect high touch areas, guest rooms and air-conditioning systems. Before visiting Dorsett Mongkok Hotel, Ms Pang was sceptical about the hygiene because the hotel used to provide a quarantine package and there were confirmed cases. Ms Pang carried her own protective gear, including her own towel, pyjamas and hand sanitizer when she visited the hotel. "I now feel that the hotel follows hospital hygiene standards to protect their customers and staff," said Ms Pang. Hong Kong's hotel industry has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Government figures show an 88.2% drop in visitors in the first five months of 2020. Hotel room occupancy rate fell from 59% in January to 29% in February according to the Global Database website. Many hotels started to switch their focus to local customers. During the third wave of the pandemic in Hong Kong, a total of 25 hotels offered quarantine packages. According to the list of hotels provided by the Secretary for Food and Health, most quarantine hotels are …
Hong Kong ethnic minority face racial discrimination when seeking for housing
By: Mereen Santirad、Clara IpEdited by: Eurus Yiu
Malik Omar Zaman, a Pakistani who moved to Hong Kong 6 years ago, has been rejected more than 35 times when seeking a house in Hong Kong. He looked at about 50 apartments before he finally got to rent the current one. "We found a nice apartment and the agent told us the landlord is not willing to give it to you," said Mr Zaman. Mr Zaman lives in a 350 square meter apartment in Yuen Long, one of the less expensive districts in Hong Kong, with his wife and two daughters. Mr Zaman is among the 90% of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong who face racial discrimination when looking for a home, according to a survey by two local NGOs, Hong Kong Unison and Hong Kong Ministry Refugee Group in late 2018. And though Hong Kong's discrimination law makes this illegal, there is little recourse for rejected tenants who are often forced into illegal sub-divided flats and other substandard housing. There are a total of 583,383 ethnic minorities residing in Hong Kong, constituting 8% of the whole population. This includes Filipinos, Indonesia, Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, and Sri-Lankans, according to the 2016 population By-census Thematic Report. Many of the ethnic minorities live in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po, Tin Shui Wai, and Tuen Mun - where living costs are relatively low and around 40% of them live in a subdivided flat, according to the survey. According to local ethnic rights advocacy groups, preconception about ethnic minorities and no legal charge for a rejection of tenants based on nationality are reasons for landlords not to lease apartments to ethnic minorities. The race discrimination ordinance in Hong Kong states that in any circumstances if on the ground of the race of that other person, a person treats that …
Policy Address 20/21: Carrie Lam introduces a scheme to fight youth unemployment but students are hesitant amidst Hong Kong-Mainland political unrest.
By: Sumnima Lama、Esten AmalvyEdited by: Cherry Lee
In Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's fourth policy address today, she addressed Hong Kong's growing unemployment rate and introduced a new scheme that will open up to 2,000 places, of which some are innovation and technology positions, in the Great Bay Area for postgraduate students. The Greater Bay Area consists of 9 cities in China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau to create a megalopolis. With aims to increase cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau and promote economic development. The city's unemployment rate hit 6.4% this year, the highest it has been in 16 years according to government statistics. Especially among the youth, according to trending economics, as of September 2020, youth unemployment has skyrocketed to a staggering 12.10%. In order to combat this worrying trend, the Hong Kong Government will introduce as part of the Greater Bay Area expansion process a new scheme officially called "The Greater Bay Area Youth Development Scheme". In hopes that Hong Kong graduates will apply and receive career opportunities in the Great Bay Area. "Personally, I won't work or get a job in the Mainland," said Tommy Mo, a student at Hong Kong Baptist University. He expresses his concerns about the National Security Law and the repercussions that he might face for being vocal with his political views on the CCP on social media platforms. Mr Mo isn't the only one to hold such opinions, 70% of Hong Kong's youth said that they would prefer to keep their distance from mainland China and 60% were not a fan of the Greater Bay Area and that it would bring "more harm than good", according to media reports on a survey conducted by Hong Kong Guangdong Youth Association in January. Alice Lam Hoi-Yan, another student at HKBU expressed similar concerns but thought the …
Policy Address 20/21: Professional Teachers' Union is skeptical of Carrie Lam's national security education plan
By: Shameel IbrahimEdited by: Sunny Sun
The government is working on plans to enhance national security education, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng yuet-ngor said in the Policy Address 2020, given that students arrested under the social unrest lacked "law-abiding awareness" and failed to have "positive values " such as mutual respect and understanding. However, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, the largest representative body for teachers in the city, disagreed with Mrs Lam's characterization of the arrested students and expressed doubt about the vague content of her plan. Around 2,000 of the 10,000 people arrested for protests last year were primary and secondary school students. "The social unrest in the past year involved people from different walk of life. There's no evidence that children are particularly being mobilised by someone," Fung Wai Wah, the president of HKPTU said. Instead of accusing students for a lack of correct values, he said, Lam should "review" her governance and "rectify" the mistakes. As for the national security education plan, Mr.Fung said although this plan can help improve students' awareness of the rule of law, he was sceptical due to the vagueness of the statement. He added that the initiative depends on the content that is going to be taught. In the policy address, Mrs Lam also reiterated that the Department of Justice will implement a ten-year-initiative called "Vision 2030 for Rule of Law", which includes educating urban youth to understand the rule of law and promote "law-abiding awareness". The initiative comes after two teachers were disqualified after a primary school teacher from Alliance Primary School in Kowloon Tong. One was accused of teaching materials that were supporting independence, and another primary school teacher from Ho Lap Primary School in Tsz Wan Shan was deregistered due to teaching a distorted history of the Sino-British opium war. This initiative …
Policy Address 20/21: HK government to introduce cash allowance for low-income families
By: CarineChowEdited by: AlecLastimosa、Jay Ganglani
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor highlighted new public housing schemes for residents with plans to provide low-income families currently waiting in line for public rental housing with cash allowance over a prolonged period. In the live broadcast, Mrs Lam hopes that the new schemes will "get Hong Kong out of the impasse and restore people's confidence as soon as possible." To meet the demand of about 301,000 public housing units, the government plans to use 330 identified hectares of land required based on the Long Term Housing Strategy Annual Progress Report 2020 to implement 316,000 flats within the next 10 years. Locations involved the Tung Chung reclamation side, the agricultural and brownfields sides in new development areas such as Kwu Tong North, Fanling North. Other suggested areas include nine sites at Kai Tak and Anderson Road Quarry, and parts of Fanling Golf Course will also be used for public housing development. "It is the prime time to create more land for housing," she said. Ms Leung, who has been in line for public rental housing for four years, rated the policy address one out of 10. "She [Carrie Lam] did introduce new public housing, but it seems that the majority would be sold in the market rather than being rented, which would have zero impact on shortening the waiting time for public rental housing," Leung said. Currently, the waiting time for public rental housing averages at 5.6 years, which has increased by 0.1 years compared to June this year. As of September, there are about 156,400 general applications for public rental housing and about 103,600 non-elderly one-person applications. A new cash subsidy will roll out for people waiting for public rental housing. In the trial scheme, applicants with two or more persons, and elderly one-person applicants not living in …
Policy Address 20/21: Property agents welcome but remain skeptical towards commercial property tax abolition
By: Cora Zhu、Vikki Cai、Yuri KwokEdited by: KawaiWong、Olivia Tam
The city's leader announced today to abolish tax for commercial properties, real estate agents express positive attitudes towards the policy but some of them cast doubt on its effectiveness due to the uncertain investment environment under COVID-19. In her fourth annual policy address, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government will abolish the Double Stamp Duty (DSD) on commercial property to facilitate businesses to cash out by selling non-residential real estate so to stay afloat during the economic downturn. The policy will take effect tomorrow. "As a result of the economic downturn and uncertainities surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, prices and demand for non-residential properties have been dropping over a period of time," said Ms Lam. "The government considers now the right time to abolish the DSD imposed on non-residential properties." Hong Kong saw its Q3 GDP decrease by 3.5% in real term on a year-on-year basis. For the net output in the real estate, professional, and business services sector, it decreased by 5.9% in real terms in 2020 Q2 from a year earlier, following a decline of 4.6% in Q1, according to the Census and Statistics Department. The DSD, formally known as the Doubled Ad Valorem Stamp Duty, was first introduced in February 2013 to deal with the surging prices of commercial properties. The rates range from 4.25% to 8.5% depending on different asset prices. Lau Kin-ling, 59, a real estate agent said the abolishment of commercial property tax is helpful for the market but it is hard to predict the effectiveness. "The policy may not attract a considerable amount of mainland investors since the borders remain closed," said Ms Lau. "The major factor for buyers to purchase a commercial property is field visit so that they can access the actual environment, simply presenting an advertising video would …
Policy Address 20/21: A report not for our citizens": Hong Kong Pro-democrats criticise latest policy address
By: Yanni ChowEdited by: Hong-shun Wong
James To was in his office putting things away in boxes for removal while watching the live broadcast of policy address on television. On the screen is Carrie Lam, wearing the lapel pin of the Chinese and Hong Kong flag, standing in the chambers of the Legislative Council, giving her speech. The former lawmaker used to be sitting in the chambers, listening to the Chief Executive's annual address alongside many other colleagues from the opposition camp. Now, there are none of them left in the chambers. This is the first policy address ever given in the city's history without any pro-democratic lawmakers. "We used to protest in the chambers when there's [a] policy address, but right now, all the people left in the chambers are the puppets of the [the] Communist party," said Mr To, referring to the pro-Beijing lawmakers, who remained in the chambers. On November 12, the Democratic lawmakers resigned in solidarity with those who are disqualified by the government, with powers from the Beijing authorities, citing a threat to national security. That leaves the highest legislative body in the city with no dissenting voice for the first time. Claudia Mo, another lawmaker who resigned, criticised this year's address to be a report to integrate Hong Kong into the mainland, instead of having the city's best interest at heart. "The goal is to 'disappear' Hong Kong as we know it. I lost count of how many times she said Hong Kong enjoys Beijing's 'central support', like without which we just couldn't survive on," she said as she watched the address online, with no appetite for lunch. Wu Chi-wai, the chairman of the Democracy Party, said that the annual policy blueprint is more like a report from governors of provinces to the Beijing government. "You cannot find a word …
Hong Kong's frustrated medics still on shift despite fight over COVID, social unrest with government
By: Sara ChengEdited by: Han Xu
For Dr. Arisina Ma, alarm bells rang in late August when Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor called critics of the mass screening "the so-called doctors and experts who had political calculations and intended to smear the Central Government and damage its relationship with Hong Kong." "I think this is the first time our officials used such strong comments about our usual, independent advice towards our healthcare policy," said Dr. Ma, the president of the Hong Kong Public Doctor's Association, the largest medical union in Hong Kong representing over 6,800 doctors and dentists. The turmoil last year -- from police brutality during pro-democracy protests to COVID-19 policies -- has amplified the frustration of public healthcare workers with the Hospital Authority and the government. Although the private sector might have greater autonomy and a lighter workload, medics are choosing to stay in the city's public hospitals. Dr. Ma often shared professional opinions that did not align with official COVID measures. In late August, she said in an RTHK interview that she did not see the necessity of the mass screening when COVID-19 cases were slowing down and raised concerns over the test's accuracy. She published an article on Stand News in September, saying that relying on the health code, which is a proposed government policy, could put the city at risk because of "false-negatives." Non-participants might be restricted from entering public spaces and thus have their rights harmed, she also wrote. Despite piled-up dissatisfaction, Dr. Ma continued working in United Christian Hospital, a public hospital operated by the Hospital Authority and the second public hospital she worked at after returning from the private sector in 2011. "I stay for my patients. I don't stay for my boss or employer. I don't have any passion for my employer," Dr. Ma said. …
Mixed-mode art exhibition lights up Hong Kong cultural service in post-pandemic age
By: Kitty Wang、Summer LiEdited by: Han Xu、Cassie Zhang
In face of the declining visits due to the public gathering restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong cultural sectors seek innovative solutions by delivering online/offline art programmes to the audience. The Fest Box program, launched for free by the Leisure and Cultural Service Department on Nov. 1, enables the public to enjoy and immerse in various cultural programmes by simply clicking on the programme's website at home. "The online world allows us to explore more possibilities," said Addy Wong Ngan-ping, Senior Media Coordinator of Muse Fest HK in a promotion video of the Fest Box. Facilitated with advanced online technologies, the team was able to create a chance for global audiences to appreciate artworks at any time. The Fest Box is not the pioneer of the virtual exhibition in the arts industry. Statistics from HK01 show that since the implementation of the restrictive policies amid COVID-19, 94.9% of art performances, festivals, and venues have been cancelled or postponed during the first quarter of 2020. As a result, many local art exhibitions, art festivals, and venues have switched to online mode. From March 18 to 25, Art Basel Hong Kong, one of the local signature activities that were originally cancelled due to the epidemic, set up the "Online Viewing Rooms." The initial form was so welcomed by the public that online visitors increased by three times to 250,000 compared with the previous offline ones, according to the statistics of HK01. As the LCSD announced on October 28, the limit on the number of visitors in each facility of LCSD museums, performance venues, and parks was relaxed from 50% to 75% starting from Oct. 30. In response, some art service providers started to organise both online and offline cultural activities. The Hong Kong Space Museum presented the "Univers/e" virtual reality exhibition …


text:
Model, Chandni Chowk
I bet none of the Mughal queens were this skinny.
When I was growing up, it was women like these who set the standard, thank god :)
Why are foreigners charged more?
A lot of people ask me why there are different entrance ticket prices for foreigners and Indians at many Indian monuments and sites, specially the Taj. Here are my thoughts:
If you are not an Indian passport holder, and you buy the combined ticket of EUR 12.5 for Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it works out to EUR 6 or so per attraction.
Here's a comparison with other sites, from a mix of developing as well as developed economies:
Tickets to Machu Pichu in Peru are EUR 18.
Tickets to Angkor Wat in Cambodia are EUR 10.
The entrance ticket to the Colosseum in Rome is EUR 16 for non-EU nationals, and there is a discounted price offered to EU Nationals of EUR 11.
Tickets to the Leaning Tower of Pisa are also EUR 16 at the moment
Tickets to the Giza Plateau and at least one pyramid - say Khufu - cost EUR 18.
Entrances to the Forbidden City in China are only EUR 4 (but that may be because the exchange rate is artificially held by the Chinese goverment).
So - after looking at these prices, my conclusion is - I don't think the Government is significantly overcharging tourists for the Taj / Agra Fort experience.
As far as the differential pricing for Indians is concerned - The Government of India subsidises tickets for Indians to promote our heritage and create more interest / awareness / national pride. Additionally, in a poor country, there is no way the man on the street can afford the kind of the prices that these monuments deserve. This is a dent in the Government coffers, but it is a decision in the national interest which the Tourism department has the right to make.
There is obviously a case to be made for levying flat fees for everyone - Indian or foreign - and I've heard that they're considering flat fees of INR 250 or so. But honestly, if you've been to Taj and seen the number of poor people that come there - none of them could afford this.
In any case, until we hear any decisions, all that I think you should ask yourself as a tourist is - am I paying a fair price i.e. did I get my money's worth at these two monuments for EUR 6 per monument?
I think the answer is likely to be a yes.
Shopping in India is a frame of mind
Many overseas visitors to India are taken aback at the kind of street shopping experience they have.
The touristy parts of the country - Delhi, Agra, Rajasthan - are full of pushy vendors trying to sell them things at downright outrageous prices.
I met an American lady recently who said to me, "Deepa, I feel so much at a loss...I'm the outsider, and I feel like I have to constantly watch out so I'm not cheated."
I thought about what she said - and here's my advice: If you're visiting India, and someone quotes you a silly price at the market, my recommendation is - Just smile and say no.
The thing is, if you look prosperous, vendors will always quote you a higher price. That applies even to Indian buyers. Sometimes when someone quotes me a totally wacky price, I just grin widely and say the Hindi equivalent of "Yeah right, go pull the other one". Then we haggle back and forth a bit, and when the price gets to the point where I think he's making a good margin, then I give in.
It's all part of the game.
To treat this overcharging-bargaining game as a personal insult, or worse, to think of yourself as a victim because this doesn't happen in your country, is just totally missing the point. You have to apply a different yardstick when you are in a totally different land. You have to tell yourself that this is how India's shopping culture works. No one is singling you out for extra-harassment...this is just a bunch of fairly poor people trying to get a few extra dollars off anyone who looks like they can afford it. In my MBA school they had a term for it - it was called "what the market will bear" pricing!
India is a both a destination and a journey. It has woven its magic for millenia now, on travellers from all parts of the world. It is a complex and rich culture, with so much to offer - but the rules are different.
To explore this sort of complexity, you have to step out from the comfort zone of neatly labelled racks and polite checkout greeters. You have to embrace the street shopping and bargaining spirit. It can be fun, actually. There's the crafty assessment of what something is really worth, the starting position, the bantering conversation and the give-and-take, the testing of each other's mettle, and the final agreement on how one particular shawl fits into the overall cosmic scene of things!
Travel wouldn't be half as interesting if the world was one big Walmart, right?


Show off your favorite player in this Cleveland Browns Brown Primary N&N Baker Mayfield Long Sleeve Player Tee! This Player T Shirt features a screen print team logo on the front and player name and number on the back, so everyone will know you cheer for Cleveland Browns, Baker Mayfield! This is the perfect Browns Player Tee for wearing on cool game days. Go Browns!!


text:
var Config = require('../src/Config');
var Schema = require('../src/Schema');
var dd = require('deep-diff');

var config = new Config('test');

var hasAllPODobject = () => {
  var obj = new Parse.Object('HasAllPOD');
  obj.set('aNumber', 5);
  obj.set('aString', 'string');
  obj.set('aBool', true);
  obj.set('aDate', new Date());
  obj.set('aObject', {k1: 'value', k2: true, k3: 5});
  obj.set('aArray', ['contents', true, 5]);
  obj.set('aGeoPoint', new Parse.GeoPoint({latitude: 0, longitude: 0}));
  obj.set('aFile', new Parse.File('f.txt', { base64: 'V29ya2luZyBhdCBQYXJzZSBpcyBncmVhdCE=' }));
  var objACL = new Parse.ACL();
  objACL.setPublicWriteAccess(false);
  obj.setACL(objACL);
  return obj;
};

describe('Schema', () => {
  it('can validate one object', (done) => {
    config.database.loadSchema().then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('TestObject', {a: 1, b: 'yo', c: false});
    }).then((schema) => {
      done();
    }, (error) => {
      fail(error);
      done();
    });
  });

  it('can validate two objects in a row', (done) => {
    config.database.loadSchema().then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Foo', {x: true, y: 'yyy', z: 0});
    }).then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Foo', {x: false, y: 'YY', z: 1});
    }).then((schema) => {
      done();
    });
  });

  it('rejects inconsistent types', (done) => {
    config.database.loadSchema().then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {bacon: 7});
    }).then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {bacon: 'z'});
    }).then(() => {
      fail('expected invalidity');
      done();
    }, done);
  });

  it('updates when new fields are added', (done) => {
    config.database.loadSchema().then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {bacon: 7});
    }).then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {sausage: 8});
    }).then((schema) => {
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {sausage: 'ate'});
    }).then(() => {
      fail('expected invalidity');
      done();
    }, done);
  });

  it('class-level permissions test find', (done) => {
    config.database.loadSchema().then((schema) => {
      // Just to create a valid class
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {foo: 'bar'});
    }).then((schema) => {
      return schema.setPermissions('Stuff', {
        'find': {}
      });
    }).then((schema) => {
      var query = new Parse.Query('Stuff');
      return query.find();
    }).then((results) => {
      fail('Class permissions should have rejected this query.');
      done();
    }, (e) => {
      done();
    });
  });

  it('class-level permissions test user', (done) => {
    var user;
    createTestUser().then((u) => {
      user = u;
      return config.database.loadSchema();
    }).then((schema) => {
      // Just to create a valid class
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {foo: 'bar'});
    }).then((schema) => {
      var find = {};
      find[user.id] = true;
      return schema.setPermissions('Stuff', {
        'find': find
      });
    }).then((schema) => {
      var query = new Parse.Query('Stuff');
      return query.find();
    }).then((results) => {
      done();
    }, (e) => {
      fail('Class permissions should have allowed this query.');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('class-level permissions test get', (done) => {
    var user;
    var obj;
    createTestUser().then((u) => {
      user = u;
      return config.database.loadSchema();
    }).then((schema) => {
      // Just to create a valid class
      return schema.validateObject('Stuff', {foo: 'bar'});
    }).then((schema) => {
      var find = {};
      var get = {};
      get[user.id] = true;
      return schema.setPermissions('Stuff', {
        'find': find,
        'get': get
      });
    }).then((schema) => {
      obj = new Parse.Object('Stuff');
      obj.set('foo', 'bar');
      return obj.save();
    }).then((o) => {
      obj = o;
      var query = new Parse.Query('Stuff');
      return query.find();
    }).then((results) => {
      fail('Class permissions should have rejected this query.');
      done();
    }, (e) => {
      var query = new Parse.Query('Stuff');
      return query.get(obj.id).then((o) => {
        done();
      }, (e) => {
        fail('Class permissions should have allowed this get query');
      });
    });
  });

  it('can add classes without needing an object', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'String'}
    }))
    .then(result => {
      expect(result).toEqual({
        _id: 'NewClass',
        objectId: 'string',
        updatedAt: 'string',
        createdAt: 'string',
        foo: 'string',
      })
      done();
    })
    .catch(error => {
      fail('Error creating class: ' + JSON.stringify(error));
    });
  });

  it('will fail to create a class if that class was already created by an object', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => {
      schema.validateObject('NewClass', {foo: 7})
      .then(() => {
        schema.reload()
        .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
          foo: {type: 'String'}
        }))
        .catch(error => {
          expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME)
          expect(error.error).toEqual('class NewClass already exists');
          done();
        });
      });
    })
  });

  it('will resolve class creation races appropriately', done => {
    // If two callers race to create the same schema, the response to the
    // race loser should be the same as if they hadn't been racing.
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => {
      var p1 = schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {foo: {type: 'String'}});
      var p2 = schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {foo: {type: 'String'}});
      Promise.race([p1, p2]) //Use race because we expect the first completed promise to be the successful one
      .then(response => {
        expect(response).toEqual({
          _id: 'NewClass',
          objectId: 'string',
          updatedAt: 'string',
          createdAt: 'string',
          foo: 'string',
        });
      });
      Promise.all([p1,p2])
      .catch(error => {
        expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME);
        expect(error.error).toEqual('class NewClass already exists');
        done();
      });
    });
  });

  it('refuses to create classes with invalid names', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => {
      schema.addClassIfNotExists('_InvalidName', {foo: {type: 'String'}})
      .catch(error => {
        expect(error.error).toEqual(
          'Invalid classname: _InvalidName, classnames can only have alphanumeric characters and _, and must start with an alpha character '
        );
        done();
      });
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid names', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {'0InvalidName': {type: 'String'}}))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_KEY_NAME);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('invalid field name: 0InvalidName');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to explicitly create the default fields for custom classes', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {objectId: {type: 'String'}}))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(136);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('field objectId cannot be added');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to explicitly create the default fields for non-custom classes', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('_Installation', {localeIdentifier: {type: 'String'}}))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(136);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('field localeIdentifier cannot be added');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid types', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 7}
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_JSON);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('invalid JSON');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid pointer types', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Pointer'}
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(135);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('type Pointer needs a class name');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid pointer target', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Pointer', targetClass: 7},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_JSON);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('invalid JSON');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid Relation type', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Relation', uselessKey: 7},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(135);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('type Relation needs a class name');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with invalid relation target', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Relation', targetClass: 7},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_JSON);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('invalid JSON');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with uncreatable pointer target class', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Pointer', targetClass: 'not a valid class name'},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('Invalid classname: not a valid class name, classnames can only have alphanumeric characters and _, and must start with an alpha character ');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with uncreatable relation target class', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Relation', targetClass: 'not a valid class name'},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('Invalid classname: not a valid class name, classnames can only have alphanumeric characters and _, and must start with an alpha character ');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to add fields with unknown types', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      foo: {type: 'Unknown'},
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INCORRECT_TYPE);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('invalid field type: Unknown');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('will create classes', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      aNumber: {type: 'Number'},
      aString: {type: 'String'},
      aBool: {type: 'Boolean'},
      aDate: {type: 'Date'},
      aObject: {type: 'Object'},
      aArray: {type: 'Array'},
      aGeoPoint: {type: 'GeoPoint'},
      aFile: {type: 'File'},
      aPointer: {type: 'Pointer', targetClass: 'ThisClassDoesNotExistYet'},
      aRelation: {type: 'Relation', targetClass: 'NewClass'},
    }))
    .then(mongoObj => {
      expect(mongoObj).toEqual({
        _id: 'NewClass',
        objectId: 'string',
        createdAt: 'string',
        updatedAt: 'string',
        aNumber: 'number',
        aString: 'string',
        aBool: 'boolean',
        aDate: 'date',
        aObject: 'object',
        aArray: 'array',
        aGeoPoint: 'geopoint',
        aFile: 'file',
        aPointer: '*ThisClassDoesNotExistYet',
        aRelation: 'relation<NewClass>',
      });
      done();
    });
  });

  it('creates the default fields for non-custom classes', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('_Installation', {
      foo: {type: 'Number'},
    }))
    .then(mongoObj => {
      expect(mongoObj).toEqual({
        _id: '_Installation',
        createdAt: 'string',
        updatedAt: 'string',
        objectId: 'string',
        foo: 'number',
        installationId: 'string',
        deviceToken: 'string',
        channels: 'array',
        deviceType: 'string',
        pushType: 'string',
        GCMSenderId: 'string',
        timeZone: 'string',
        localeIdentifier: 'string',
        badge: 'number',
      });
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to create two geopoints', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {
      geo1: {type: 'GeoPoint'},
      geo2: {type: 'GeoPoint'}
    }))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INCORRECT_TYPE);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('currently, only one GeoPoint field may exist in an object. Adding geo2 when geo1 already exists.');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('can check if a class exists', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => {
      return schema.addClassIfNotExists('NewClass', {})
      .then(() => {
        schema.hasClass('NewClass')
        .then(hasClass => {
          expect(hasClass).toEqual(true);
          done();
        })
        .catch(fail);

        schema.hasClass('NonexistantClass')
        .then(hasClass => {
          expect(hasClass).toEqual(false);
          done();
        })
        .catch(fail);
      })
      .catch(error => {
        fail('Couldn\'t create class');
        fail(error);
      });
    })
    .catch(error => fail('Couldn\'t load schema'));
  });

  it('refuses to delete fields from invalid class names', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('fieldName', 'invalid class name'))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME);
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to delete invalid fields', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('invalid field name', 'ValidClassName'))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_KEY_NAME);
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to delete the default fields', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('installationId', '_Installation'))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(136);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('field installationId cannot be changed');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to delete fields from nonexistant classes', done => {
    config.database.loadSchema()
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('field', 'NoClass'))
    .catch(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(Parse.Error.INVALID_CLASS_NAME);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('class NoClass does not exist');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('refuses to delete fields that dont exist', done => {
    hasAllPODobject().save()
    .then(() => config.database.loadSchema())
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('missingField', 'HasAllPOD'))
    .fail(error => {
      expect(error.code).toEqual(255);
      expect(error.error).toEqual('field missingField does not exist, cannot delete');
      done();
    });
  });

  it('drops related collection when deleting relation field', done => {
    var obj1 = hasAllPODobject();
    obj1.save()
    .then(savedObj1 => {
      var obj2 = new Parse.Object('HasPointersAndRelations');
      obj2.set('aPointer', savedObj1);
      var relation = obj2.relation('aRelation');
      relation.add(obj1);
      return obj2.save();
    })
    .then(() => {
      config.database.db.collection('test__Join:aRelation:HasPointersAndRelations', { strict: true }, (err, coll) => {
        expect(err).toEqual(null);
        config.database.loadSchema()
        .then(schema => schema.deleteField('aRelation', 'HasPointersAndRelations', config.database.db, 'test_'))
        .then(() => config.database.db.collection('test__Join:aRelation:HasPointersAndRelations', { strict: true }, (err, coll) => {
          expect(err).not.toEqual(null);
          done();
        }))
      });
    })
  });

  it('can delete string fields and resave as number field', done => {
    Parse.Object.disableSingleInstance();
    var obj1 = hasAllPODobject();
    var obj2 = hasAllPODobject();
    var p = Parse.Object.saveAll([obj1, obj2])
    .then(() => config.database.loadSchema())
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('aString', 'HasAllPOD', config.database.db, 'test_'))
    .then(() => new Parse.Query('HasAllPOD').get(obj1.id))
    .then(obj1Reloaded => {
      expect(obj1Reloaded.get('aString')).toEqual(undefined);
      obj1Reloaded.set('aString', ['not a string', 'this time']);
      obj1Reloaded.save()
      .then(obj1reloadedAgain => {
        expect(obj1reloadedAgain.get('aString')).toEqual(['not a string', 'this time']);
        return new Parse.Query('HasAllPOD').get(obj2.id);
      })
      .then(obj2reloaded => {
        expect(obj2reloaded.get('aString')).toEqual(undefined);
        done();
        Parse.Object.enableSingleInstance();
      });
    })
  });

  it('can delete pointer fields and resave as string', done => {
    Parse.Object.disableSingleInstance();
    var obj1 = new Parse.Object('NewClass');
    obj1.save()
    .then(() => {
      obj1.set('aPointer', obj1);
      return obj1.save();
    })
    .then(obj1 => {
      expect(obj1.get('aPointer').id).toEqual(obj1.id);
    })
    .then(() => config.database.loadSchema())
    .then(schema => schema.deleteField('aPointer', 'NewClass', config.database.db, 'test_'))
    .then(() => new Parse.Query('NewClass').get(obj1.id))
    .then(obj1 => {
      expect(obj1.get('aPointer')).toEqual(undefined);
      obj1.set('aPointer', 'Now a string');
      return obj1.save();
    })
    .then(obj1 => {
      expect(obj1.get('aPointer')).toEqual('Now a string');
      done();
      Parse.Object.enableSingleInstance();
    });
  });

  it('can merge schemas', done => {
    expect(Schema.buildMergedSchemaObject({
      _id: 'SomeClass',
      someType: 'number'
    }, {
      newType: {type: 'Number'}
    })).toEqual({
      someType: {type: 'Number'},
      newType: {type: 'Number'},
    });
    done();
  });

  it('can merge deletions', done => {
    expect(Schema.buildMergedSchemaObject({
      _id: 'SomeClass',
      someType: 'number',
      outDatedType: 'string',
    },{
      newType: {type: 'GeoPoint'},
      outDatedType: {__op: 'Delete'},
    })).toEqual({
      someType: {type: 'Number'},
      newType: {type: 'GeoPoint'},
    });
    done();
  });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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NewsSolar efficiency and 2D perovskites: It's what's on the inside that counts
First-principles simulation of a layered 2D perovskite, with the intrinsic electric fields that separate electrons and holes highlighted by the blue and pink regions.
by Scott Stonemeyer
If we collected 100% of the sunlight from the area of an ordinary school classroom over one day and stored that energy, we could power an entire home for nearly twenty days! While there has been a lot of success in developing solar cells, there remains a big question: How do we efficiently collect 100% of the energy from sunlight?
An emerging technology that could efficiently collect energy from sunlight is perovskite-based solar cells. Perovskites are a class of materials with similar crystal structures that are remarkable absorbers of solar light. Researchers have only been utilizing perovskites in solar cells since 2009, but already they have shown a staggering improvement in efficiency (that is, what amount of sunlight can be turned into energy) from an initial 3.8% to their current record of 25.5%! In 11 years, perovskite-based solar cells already rival the most efficient silicon-based solar cells (27.6%), which had a 55-year head start.
In a recent study by scientists at the Molecular Foundry, researchers investigated a specific type of ultra-thin perovskites, known as 2D perovskites (only a handful of atoms thick, but many, many atoms wide), and revealed how the internal structure could further enhance solar cell efficiency. There are specific 2D perovskites with structures that generate internal, intrinsic (naturally occurring) electric fields. Liang Tan, one of the primary Molecular Foundry scientists on the team, emphasizes that "this is important because these intrinsic electric fields improve the optoelectronic properties of these materials, like the long luminescence lifetimes," referring to how long electrons remain in their excited state. This work sheds light on some key factors of the perovskite structure that can be modified to change its properties and enhance solar cell efficiency.
The team, comprised of staff scientists Liang Tan and David Prendergast with postdoc Jisook Hong, studied these 2D perovskite systems through first-principles density functional theory (DFT) simulations. These DFT simulations essentially generate a computer model of the perovskite material. You can think of this like a computer-generated floor plan you might use to remodel a home. The scale, spacing, and placement of everything is consistent in the model to see how any changes to the layout would look, except instead of a home, these DFT simulations build the perovskite material with the scale, spacing, and placement of the atoms laid out. This allows the researchers to study how the material properties change when they change the model, and how those properties differ in various regions of the perovskite.
The Molecular Foundry team studied how the number of layers in the 2D perovskites and the internal alignment of ions affect the solar cell efficiency. They found that when ions in the 2D layers were ferroelectrically aligned (the charges are oriented in the same direction), this created finite dipole moments, or tiny electric fields, in the layers of material. By changing the number of layers in the simulations (from 2-4), the researchers could effectively change how strong these tiny electric fields were in the material. If the intrinsic electric fields were too weak or too strong, then the solar cell efficiency suffered.
But why does this affect solar cell efficiency? The basic premise of a solar cell is that incoming sunlight excites electrons in the material, which can then flow to create electricity. These electrons are negatively charged, and when excited to higher energy levels, they leave behind a positively charged 'hole' where the electron used to live. Similar to the opposite poles of a magnet, this negatively charged electron and positively charged hole are very strongly attracted to each other. However, to efficiently produce electricity, the electron and hole must remain separated so the electron can continue to flow. The intrinsic electric field produced by the ferroelectrically aligned ions helps keep the electron and hole separated by directing the electrons towards the edges of the material and keeping the holes towards the center of the material.
These results could prove very important for the future design of solar cells. Researchers now know that creating a ferroelectric alignment of ions in the perovskite layers and adjusting the number of layers in the material plays a large role in the efficiency of the electron and hole separation. Therefore, when future perovskite materials are designed, scientists will know that the material should be designed to have properly aligned ions and a specific number of layers if they are hoping to achieve the highest solar cell efficiencies.
Read the paper:
Jisook Hong, David Prendergast, and Liang Z. Tan. Nano Lett. 2020. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c03468
Shine On: Avalanching Nanoparticles Break Barriers to Imaging Cells in Real Time
Kristin Persson, UC Berkeley/Berkeley Lab
An ALS/Foundry seminar: Emily Davidson, Princeton University
David Prendergast
Liang Tan
Theory facility
Related instrumentation
Additional Theory Capabilities and Computational Resources


The Vaden Stroud Memorial Research Room is located in the Reno County Museum at 100 S. Walnut, Hutchinson, Kansas. There is no charge for you to visit and use the materials available in the Research Room in person. However, do be aware this is a reference-only library and no materials are loaned out. Our staff is happy to point you in the right direction and assist you with your research requests. Please see the attached PDFs to learn more about research options and to print a form to submit a research request.


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Q: Problem in including an external library while compiling a C++ program I'm using Dev C++ on windows 7, and WinPcap (developer's pack). Dev c++ is not able to find pcap.h apparently, even though I include the /include/ directory in project options, on compilation it displays an error saying "pcap.h: no such file or directory." (along with many other errors).
Here is my code:
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <pcap.h>

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
pcap_t *fp;
char errbuf[PCAP_ERRBUF_SIZE];
u_char packet[100];

    return 0;
}

I've kept it simple. I was originally working in Visual Studio (C++), but distributing code compiled with Visual C++ requires Microsoft C Runtime library to be installed on the target system. I just want to be able to distribute the final executable and get it to work on any machine.
I checked the commmand line given to compiler. It did have the -I [path] option. Well is there anything I'm missing?
As a side note: I had compiled the above code with g++ (from dev c++ installation dir), and it compiled correctly. But when I tried to link it, the executable produced, just crashed on being run.

A: Your question is a little unclear, but your side-note makes it sound as if you could compile this (i.e. the pcap.h header was found) and your issues is with linking.
To add directories to the search path for libraries use -LPATH where PATH is the actual directory containing libpcap. To actually add it to the link use -lpcap in the linker call, e.g.
$ g++ -o main -LPATH main.o -lpcap

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