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text:
Der Satz von Lehmann-Scheffé ist ein zentrales Resultat der Schätztheorie, einem Teilgebiet der mathematischen Statistik. Die auf dem Satz von Rao-Blackwell aufbauende Aussage liefert Kriterien, unter denen erwartungstreue Punktschätzer auch gleichmäßig beste erwartungstreue Schätzer sind, also eine geringere Varianz als alle weiteren erwartungstreuen Schätzer besitzen.

Der Satz ist nach Erich Leo Lehmann und Henry Scheffé benannt.

Aussage
Der Satz von Lehmann-Scheffé lässt sich auf unterschiedliche Weisen formulieren, die sich in ihrer Notation und den verwendeten Strukturen unterscheiden, inhaltlich aber identisch sind.

Für σ-Algebren
Gegeben sei ein statistisches Modell  und sei  die Menge aller erwartungstreuer Schätzer mit endlicher Varianz für die Parameterfunktion . Die Unter-σ-Algebra  sei sowohl suffizient für  als auch vollständig für .

Ist , dann ist die Rao-Blackwell-Verbesserung  von  bezüglich  gleichmäßig bester erwartungstreuer Schätzer für . Sprich es gilt

und alle weiteren .

Für Statistiken
Die Formulierung mittels Statistiken folgt direkt aus der obigen: Die suffiziente, vollständige σ-Algebra  wird durch eine suffiziente, vollständige Statistik  ersetzt. Teils wird  auch als  notiert. Dies bedeutet nicht, dass die Aussage nur für parametrische Modelle gilt. Voll ausformuliert lautet die Aussage dann:  ist ein gleichmäßig bester erwartungstreuer Schätzer für , sprich es ist

und alle weiteren .

Alternative Formulierungen
Mögliche Umformulierungen der obigen Aussagen sind:
 Ist  suffizient und vollständig für  und ist , so ist  gleichmäßig bester erwartungstreuer Schätzer für .
 Ist  eine vollständige suffiziente Statistik und existiert ein , so dass  ein erwartungstreuer Schätzer für  ist, so ist  ein gleichmäßig bester erwartungstreuer Schätzer für . Dies gilt, da . Setzt man nun in der obigen Aussage , so folgt diese Formulierung.

Verallgemeinerungen
Eine Spezialisierung des Satzes von Lehmann-Scheffé ist der Satz von Barankin und Stein, der die Struktur lokal minimaler Schätzer beschreibt.

Literatur

Lehmann–Scheffé
Schätztheorie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The upcoming film, Revealing Hate takes an in-depth look at the chilling history and present of America's white supremacist organizations.
The upcoming film, Revealing Hate takes an in-depth look at the chilling history and present of America's white supremacist organizations. From the Klan to modern skinheads and neo-nazis, right-wing extremists have used not just violent rhetoric but actual bloodshed to make their points. A new resurgence of racialized protests around Obama's presidency, and particularly his healthcare plan, makes this film more timely than ever. Watch the haunting trailer and try to understand where the hatred comes from.


Dec. 26, 2004 Is There a Santa Claus?
Dec. 18, 2004 Does Eating Too Much Sugar Cause Diabetes?
Dec. 4, 2004 Why Do I Feel So Hot When I Have a Cold?
Nov. 27, 2004 Why Is My Wife So Cold, Doc?
Nov. 20, 2004 Why Does Everyone Want Me to See My Family Doctor?
Nov. 13, 2004 What Is a Concussion?
Nov. 6, 2004 Are There Any Benefits to Drinking Coffee?
Original title: Could You Send My Flu-Shot to Some Needy American?
Oct. 9, 2004 Should I Stop Taking Vioxx?
Oct. 2, 2004 How Do I Know If We Need Counseling?
Sept. 25, 2004 How Effective Is DNA Analysis?
Sept. 18, 2004 How Do I Convert My Cholesterol Values into American?
Sept. 11, 2004 Why Is It So Difficult to Lose Those 10 Pounds?
Aug. 21, 2004 How Do Mushrooms Cause Injury?
Aug. 7, 2004 What Is the Best Source of Drinking Water While Traveling?
July 31, 2004 How Does Acute Coronary Syndrome Differ from Angina?
July 24, 2004 How Can I Help My Family Doctor Burn Out Quicker?
July 17, 2004 How Is Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosed?
June 26, 2004 What Is Melasma?
May 22, 2004 Why Not Ease the Doctor Shortage with Foreign Graduates?
May 15, 2004 What Is a Family Health Group (FHG)?
May 8, 2004 Do You Have Any Diet Suggestions?
Apr. 24, 2004 What Does Glycemic Index Refer To?
Apr. 10, 2004 What Is Fifth Disease?
Apr. 3, 2004 Why Put Tubes in Children's Ears?
Mar. 27, 2004 How Painful is the Bone Densitometry or Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Test?
Mar. 13, 2004 Where Have All the Doctors Gone?
Feb. 28, 2004 How Much Cholesterol Is in That Egg?
Feb. 21, 2004 Do I Have to Stay on Blood Pressure Medicine Forever?
Feb. 14, 2004 Can Aspirin Help If My Mother Died of a Stroke at Age 63?
Jan. 31, 2004 What Causes Anemia?
Jan. 24, 2004 Can Duct Tape Be Used to Treat Warts?
Jan. 17, 2004 What Exactly Is Meant by Two-Tiered Medicine?


Today we're going to take a look at Dropplets, a flat file CMS, built on PHP and made specifically for blogging. Weighing in at less than 1Mb it's very lightweight, but does it live up to its promises? Let's see.
Dropplets is developed by Jason Schuller and claims to provide an "Easier Way to Blog", as stated on its homepage. Dropplets lets you write posts in markdown, after which you simply upload the file to the web server to publish. There are also a few templates available which you can download from the Dropplets marketplace directly within your install.
Dropplets boasts that it can be installed in 30 seconds! My installation took 37 seconds, but I guess that's good enough. As mentioned, you'll need to run Dropplets on a PHP server, either locally or online. Follow these steps to get Dropplets installed, using cPanel.
Once there, upload the .zip file.
Now extract the .zip file.
With that done, you need to access the url you just uploaded your files to, for example "example.com". Dropplets is quite a simple CMS, you don't even need a username; just set your password.
Some would say this aspect of Dropplets is quite limiting, others welcome it, but in order to write a post you have to create a Markdown file. Any text editor will work fine to edit markdown, even notepad, however one of the easiest ways to write a post in Markdown is to use an online Markdown editor such as Markable.
Click the green "Try it Now" button to compose an article, then click Export > Download Markdown to download the .md file. If you have never written a post in Markdown before, check out Markable's cheet sheet here.
Your post text starts here.
After you have finished creating the markdown file for your post, it's ready for publication.
A static blog is all very well, but what if you wanted to do some of the other things that a (for example) Wordpress blog does, such as inserting ads, contact forms, author bio boxes, track stats, or allows Paypal purchases? Let's go through how to achieve every one of them.
Leveraging ads in a Dropplets site is the most straightforward of the examples here. Ad networks (such as Adsense and Chitika) provide you with HTML code to insert into your sites. Remember the "code injection" fields in the Dropplets dashboard? You can use these to insert HTML code in the header or footer. Keep in mind that the code you insert in the header/footer shows up on both the homepage and all the posts.
Other than coding the whole thing in HTML, another option would be to use this free author bio box widget creator, which generates HTML and CSS that you can paste into your site.
Most stat trackers, such as Google Analytics give you a snippet which you can then paste into the header or footer. Posting it into the header gives you more accurate analytics, so I'd recommend you take that approach.
Paypal offers you a simple "Buy Now" button creator, which you can access here. It generates HTML code which you can then paste on the header or footer. You can also purchase a premium solution here or here, or create your own using HTML.
At the time this article is written, Dropplets ships with one free template by default. If you would like to make your site look even better, you can purchase a premium template, of which there are currently three. Paying for them requires a credit card; the payment form pops up and allows you to pay directly. Additionally, you can see some custom templates created by the Dropplets community on GitHub.
describes clearly what's being inserted in the page.
Also, just like WordPress, Dropplets has plugins (though not quite as many) at your disposal, such as Pagelets, which enables setting up custom pages.
Updating Dropplets is designed to be non-destructive. Download the updated files and replace everything in your home directory, except for the post folder and the config.php file. Similarly with backups, you need to backup the post folder and the config.php file.
Dropplets might not be the best WordPress alternative out there in terms of functionality and capability, but it surely is a great CMS if you are interested in blogging and blogging only. It serves as a "no gimmicks" CMS, using a minimalistic approach and structure. This does mean, however, that if you're looking for something more extensible and capable, Dropplets probably isn't the platform for you.


Called DROME, the story leads you into a the hedonistic underbelly of a future world populated with the underrepresented underdogs of a former world, where oppressed and othered are allowed a space to grow their most freakish and fucked-up selves. It includes cameos from artists featured in the new issue of SORT including New York-based industrial artist (and Dior/Helmut Lang/HBA model) No Bra, London-based noise duo naked and Brooke Candy. Plus an original sound score by Naked.
New cult film directed by LEZ's Joseph Delaney for his subversive zine SORT follows the rise and fall of an imaginary cult. Written and narrated by Rose McGowan, who herself was raised in a cult, the viewer is given an inside look at the hedonism, communalism and isolation of Delaney's fictional sect.


text:
Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol
C. Y. Pak, H. F. DeLuca, J. M. Chavez de los Rios, T. Suda, B. Ruskin, C. S. Delea
Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research
Center For Mineral Metabolism & Clinical Research
Twenty-five-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCC) is believed to be the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3 circulating in the blood. Its clinical usefulness was determined in four patients with hypoparathyroidism, three of whom were resistant to vitamin D. Two patients with Vitamin D resistance responded to 25-HCC (5,000 units or less per day) with a significant increase in serum calcium concentration and in urinary calcium excretion. A similar response was shown in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who was probably not vitamin D-resistant. In all three patients, 25-HCC significantly increased the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. In one patient, it increased the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. In a fourth patient, who had shown resistance to dihydrotachysterol and cholecalciferol, 25-HCC did not significantly affect serum calcium concentration. This patient, unlike the rest, had a degree of moderate renal failure.
Archives of Internal Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
Dive into the research topics of 'Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Calcifediol Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Hypoparathyroidism Medicine & Life Sciences 95%
Vitamin D Medicine & Life Sciences 68%
Calcium Medicine & Life Sciences 28%
Cholecalciferol Medicine & Life Sciences 24%
Dihydrotachysterol Medicine & Life Sciences 17%
Gastrointestinal Absorption Medicine & Life Sciences 14%
Hydroxyproline Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
Pak, C. Y., DeLuca, H. F., Chavez de los Rios, J. M., Suda, T., Ruskin, B., & Delea, C. S. (1970). Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol. Archives of Internal Medicine, 126(2), 239-247. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol. / Pak, C. Y.; DeLuca, H. F.; Chavez de los Rios, J. M. et al.
In: Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 126, No. 2, 08.1970, p. 239-247.
Pak, CY, DeLuca, HF, Chavez de los Rios, JM, Suda, T, Ruskin, B & Delea, CS 1970, 'Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol', Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 126, no. 2, pp. 239-247. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
Pak CY, DeLuca HF, Chavez de los Rios JM, Suda T, Ruskin B, Delea CS. Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol. Archives of Internal Medicine. 1970 Aug;126(2):239-247. doi: 10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
Pak, C. Y. ; DeLuca, H. F. ; Chavez de los Rios, J. M. et al. / Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol. In: Archives of Internal Medicine. 1970 ; Vol. 126, No. 2. pp. 239-247.
@article{7c3c4fb98a2d4dccb6e460deea8c5c2e,
title = "Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol",
abstract = "Twenty-five-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCC) is believed to be the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3 circulating in the blood. Its clinical usefulness was determined in four patients with hypoparathyroidism, three of whom were resistant to vitamin D. Two patients with Vitamin D resistance responded to 25-HCC (5,000 units or less per day) with a significant increase in serum calcium concentration and in urinary calcium excretion. A similar response was shown in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who was probably not vitamin D-resistant. In all three patients, 25-HCC significantly increased the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. In one patient, it increased the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. In a fourth patient, who had shown resistance to dihydrotachysterol and cholecalciferol, 25-HCC did not significantly affect serum calcium concentration. This patient, unlike the rest, had a degree of moderate renal failure.",
author = "Pak, {C. Y.} and DeLuca, {H. F.} and {Chavez de los Rios}, {J. M.} and T. Suda and B. Ruskin and Delea, {C. S.}",
doi = "10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003",
journal = "Archives of internal medicine (Chicago, Ill. : 1908)",
T1 - Treatment of Vitamin D-Resistant Hypoparathyroidism With 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol
AU - Pak, C. Y.
AU - DeLuca, H. F.
AU - Chavez de los Rios, J. M.
AU - Suda, T.
AU - Ruskin, B.
AU - Delea, C. S.
N2 - Twenty-five-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCC) is believed to be the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3 circulating in the blood. Its clinical usefulness was determined in four patients with hypoparathyroidism, three of whom were resistant to vitamin D. Two patients with Vitamin D resistance responded to 25-HCC (5,000 units or less per day) with a significant increase in serum calcium concentration and in urinary calcium excretion. A similar response was shown in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who was probably not vitamin D-resistant. In all three patients, 25-HCC significantly increased the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. In one patient, it increased the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. In a fourth patient, who had shown resistance to dihydrotachysterol and cholecalciferol, 25-HCC did not significantly affect serum calcium concentration. This patient, unlike the rest, had a degree of moderate renal failure.
AB - Twenty-five-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCC) is believed to be the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3 circulating in the blood. Its clinical usefulness was determined in four patients with hypoparathyroidism, three of whom were resistant to vitamin D. Two patients with Vitamin D resistance responded to 25-HCC (5,000 units or less per day) with a significant increase in serum calcium concentration and in urinary calcium excretion. A similar response was shown in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who was probably not vitamin D-resistant. In all three patients, 25-HCC significantly increased the gastrointestinal absorption of calcium. In one patient, it increased the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline. In a fourth patient, who had shown resistance to dihydrotachysterol and cholecalciferol, 25-HCC did not significantly affect serum calcium concentration. This patient, unlike the rest, had a degree of moderate renal failure.
U2 - 10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
DO - 10.1001/archinte.1970.00310080045003
JO - Archives of internal medicine (Chicago, Ill. : 1908)
JF - Archives of internal medicine (Chicago, Ill. : 1908)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: MSBuild Permissions - ACL - Entire IIS Folder I'm fairly new to MSBuild, having discovered it's sheer power whilst automating many of our processes. I'm currently setting up our TARGETS files for our web projects, and I'm looking to set a global permission ACL for when the application is built in DEBUG mode.
I understand, that these should be in the Debug.pubxml, (insert name of publishing profile, etc)
In VS, when an application is run using IIS Express, the entire application is writable, which is good for debugging. I'd like to offer the same behavior when deploying the application to IIS using WebDeploy in the DEBUG profile.
I've followed Sayed's Blog which outlines how to set a folder permission and eventually moved across to the following solution - which gives a good reusable pattern for setting permissions on any folder. Microsoft IIS Forum Post
However from my learnings from these two examples, I've been unable to successfully set 'Read,Write' aclAccess on the deployment directory. Which I believe should be $(_MSDeployDirPath_FullPath).
As a sub note are there any recommendations for structuring these MSBuild files? E.g. splitting components out so they are reusable, or naming patterns to make it easier for developers to understand what is happening?
Best of wishes, Laurence

A: I had problems myself with MsDeploy task and I opted out for Msdeploy executable directly.
Here is what worked for me.
 <Exec Command="msdeploy -verb:sync -source:setacl -dest:setacl="%(FoldersWithSpecialPermissions.Identity)",setAclUser=NetworkService,setAclAccess=Modify,computerName=$(ComputerName),UserName=$(UserName),password=$(Password),authtype=basic -allowUntrusted" WorkingDirectory="$(MSDeployPath)" />

About patterns, the best thing to do is to open up
C:\Program Files (x86)\MSBuild\Microsoft\VisualStudio\v11.0***.targets
and check how Microsoft has organized the build templates.
I hope that helps

A: The below post and Sayed's help via Twitter lead to a solution and a better understanding of both the solution.
The MSBuild rules in this case are placed inside the 'Debug.pubxml' file. This is the publishing profile that requires the entire IIS directory to be writable. To make this a 'default' behavior across the project place inside the {project-name}.wpp.targets file.
Further reading : MSDN Article on Publishing Profiles (.pubxml)
+1 as above, reading the MSBuild *.targets files is very useful.
<!-- Make entire IIS directory writable -->
<Target Name="SetupCustomAcls" AfterTargets="AddIisSettingAndFileContentsToSourceManifest">
<Message Text="SetupCustomAcls" Importance="high"/>
<ItemGroup>
  <MsDeploySourceManifest Include="setAcl">
    <Path>$(_MSDeployDirPath_FullPath)</Path>
    <setAclAccess>Modify</setAclAccess>
    <setAclResourceType>Directory</setAclResourceType>
    <AdditionalProviderSettings>setAclResourceType;setAclAccess</AdditionalProviderSettings>
  </MsDeploySourceManifest>
</ItemGroup>
 </Target>

 <Target Name="DeclareCustomParameters" AfterTargets="AddIisAndContentDeclareParametersItems">
<Message Text="DeclareCustomParameters" Importance="high"/>
<ItemGroup>
  <MsDeployDeclareParameters Include="CustomSetAclParam">
    <Kind>ProviderPath</Kind>
    <Scope>setAcl</Scope>
    <Match>^$(_EscapeRegEx_MSDeployDirPath)$</Match>
    <Description>Add write permission to the root folder.</Description>
    <DefaultValue>{$(_MsDeployParameterNameForContentPath)}</DefaultValue>
    <Value>$(_DestinationContentPath)</Value>
    <Tags>Hidden</Tags>
    <Priority>$(VsSetAclPriority)</Priority>
    <ExcludeFromSetParameter>True</ExcludeFromSetParameter>
  </MsDeployDeclareParameters>
</ItemGroup>
  </Target>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
What we're all about
What is AT?
What is the AT Act?
Publications/ Videos
AT Advisory Council
AT Regional Centers
Find Your AT
Demo AT
Borrow/Acquire AT
AT Services & Training
AT/Apps Search Tools
Fund Your AT
Medically Necessary AT
Funding by Purpose
Donate AT
Consumer Advocacy
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Vocational Rehab & Independent Living
General AT
Communication (AAC )
Computer Accessibility
MassMATCH Quarterly News: Spring 2014 Tweet
Creating Inclusive Communities with BlueAssist
Students and Educators Share at EdCamp Access Boston
The PARCC Assessment and Assistive Technology: What Do IEP Teams Need to Know?
AT Success Story: Candido Can!
Proloquo4Text in Spanish and Other App Options for Non-English AAC
Get AT Stuff Highlights
Upcoming Events (opens the MassMATCH Events page)
Coming soon to New England--a community-building initiative that's gaining ground around the globe
BlueAssist is a global effort to create caring communities that are more responsive to individuals with cognitive and communication challenges. It takes the "safe routes to school" concept and combines it with the universality of the wheelchair icon to promote a new symbol for asking for help. Partnered with awareness and outreach efforts, the BlueAssist symbol helps individuals with intellectual, cognitive, and communication challenges to ask assistance from passers-by. In this way, BlueAssist may soon improve how community members look out for one another, and research suggests it may provide significant cost savings in the process.
The BlueAssist concept was first launched as a graduate student's project in Belgium in 2007. It started as a symbol for use with low-tech communication aids--cards with different help messages--to assist users when out and about in their communities. BlueAssist is now a Belgium-based non profit, and its approach has expanded to include mobile apps with features useful for staying on task, safe, and connected to caregivers. An app version was tested with day programs and other institutions in Belgium and the Netherlands in 2010 and 2011, and was refined and tested on a larger scale with the support of the Belgian government in 2012 and 2013. Today, individuals with disabilities are trained with these low and high-tech BlueAssist tools to engage community members for assistance. In BlueAssist parlance, they are empowered by their expanding "interdependence."
The Movement Grows
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the BlueAssist symbol is becoming integrated within public transportation and government services as well as other designated BlueAssist-friendly spaces (such as partnering businesses). Indeed, Belgium has officially recognized BlueAssist as a social innovation; as of 2013 the city of Ostend is encouraging the whole community to embrace BlueAssist, and Genk and Kortrijk will soon follow. Recently the BlueAssist Android app, and its companion apps (collectively referred to as "Cloudina"), were made available for use by anyone (not just institutions) in Google Play. In this way, BlueAssist is a top-down and bottom-up social movement driven, in part, by assistive technology.
According to Sandy Hanebrink, Executive Director of Touch the Future Inc. (U.S. distributor of Cloudina), the BlueAssist app currently has over 2,000 users worldwide. Beyond Belgium and the Netherlands, BlueAssist is in Canada, the U.K., Spain, Germany, Israel, and Qatar. In the U.S., BlueAssist has initiatives in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, New York, North Dakota and South Dakota and soon in Missouri, Florida, New Jersey, California, and Oregon. Shortly, she reports, BlueAssist is also coming to Portland, Maine. The University of New England is piloting Portland as a BlueAssist community to create BlueAssist-friendly spaces, and plans are underway to pilot the Cloudina apps with adults in a Portland day program.
In the U.S., BlueAssist interest may also soon grow due to Senator Schumer's proposal for Avonte's Law. The law honors the memory of the 14-year-old boy from Queens, New York who went missing from school grounds last October (and was later found dead). Avonte Oquendo, like many children with autism, was prone to wander. If passed, Avonte's Law would finance optional electronic tracking devices to be worn by children with autism. "The tragedy has highlighted the need for both safer communities and a way for some parents to find their children before they get too far," Hanebrink notes. "Blue Assist can provide both."
Powerful--Simple--Apps
Indeed, the Cloudina Phone app (a companion app to BlueAssist) includes an optional, secure, GPS tracking feature. The option allows authorized contacts to find an app's user by sending them a text. It also enables a user to send his or her location (to authorized contacts only) with just the tap of a finger.
The feature can work in concert with the BlueAssist app. BlueAssist displays the Help icon with messages customized to a user's anticipated needs (i.e. "Can you call my coach and tell them I need help?"). And it integrates a call button programmed to a support person's phone number. The messages are displayed for sharing with community members, but the app can also read messages aloud using synthesized speech. Combined with the Phone app's GPS tracking capability, these are powerful tools for safety and autonomy. For users who can benefit, the BlueAssist app may be programmed for dialing 911, and the Phone app can authorize 911 to find the user's GPS location. Hanebrink says some users create a BlueAssist message for 911 that gives them peace of mind. And thanks to the app's synthetic read aloud feature, users can deliver the message directly and autonomously over the phone. (i.e. "This is a 911 call from John Doe, a BlueAssist user, who is unable to communicate. Please send a text to (555) 555-5555 to get John's GPS location and send emergency services. John's emergency contact is Jane and can be reached at (555) 555-555X.")
The Cloudina apps are most commonly used with adults with intellectual challenges, such as Down syndrome and autism, but Hanebrink feels the potential reach is broader. The technology is appealing to job coaches, residential programs, adult day programs, and schools because it increases independence through community as well as remote caregiver support. "With the apps, users have learned to independently navigate public transportation. They are less reliant on special transportation services or on their coaches, which is a huge cost savings." Programs in Europe, she says, are reducing their waiting lists and serving more clients. "This movement benefits everyone. It's why it's taking off. We're creating safer more inclusive communities for individuals with disabilities, for students, for seniors. People are gaining independence and a better quality of life. Programs that support individuals are saving transportation dollars. It's win-win all around."
About the apps (Android only, iOS coming soon)
Cloudina BlueAssist is the full version of the BlueAssist app. It includes:
The ability to create multiple help messages, each labeled by an identifying image or symbol (should the user not read).
Synthetic voice options for reading messages aloud (speech generation).
An integrated call button programmed to dial a designated support person.
An interface with only two levels for ease of use.
Adjustable font size.
The app is available for a 30 day free trial and charges $12/month thereafter unless bundled with additional Cloudina apps ($16/month for the complete package).
Cloudina Phone is a simple to use phone book app with unique features for users with cognitive challenges.
Name or picture-labeled contacts, one per page, with call button.
Swipe pages to browse contacts or view grid of contact options (if 8 or less).
Secure GPS tracking. Allows the user to send their GPS location to a specific contact if lost. Designated contacts may also locate a user by sending a text message even if the user does not initiate communication.
Each contact's hours of availability may be programmed into the app (preventing calls at midnight, for example).
One level interface for ease of use.
Blue Assist Lite (free)
Displays the Blue Assist icon with one fixed "help" message (available in several languages).
The ability to create and customize one additional message.
An integrated "call" button that is programmed so a community member can dial a designated support person for assistance.
There are three symbols to choose from for use with the custom message to help the user identify the subject of their message if they do not read (a question symbol, a shopping cart symbol, and a bus symbol).
Also explore the Cloudina Photo Album and Cloudina Calendar apps! These may be used for creating schedules, programming reminders, and accomplishing tasks.
Visit the Blue Assist website
Get the Blue Assist Campaign Flyer (PDF)
Download the Blue Assist card template (low-tech approach, PDF)
Last month, 85 people attended the second annual EdCamp Access Boston held at Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington. The participants included special and general educators as well as assistive technology specialists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and students. They came from both public and private school settings motivated to learn from one another in the rapidly growing "unconference" tradition.
Participant-driven Professional Development
EdCamp "unconferences" are free professional development (PD) events with no set agenda but a focus on education and, often, technology. They depend on the willingness of whoever shows up to participate and lead discussions on topics that interest them. EdCamps are not a way to earn continuing education credits; instead they're a grassroots approach to PD that take advantage of the participants' passion for learning from one another. They are democratic, non-commercial affairs without keynotes, vendor tables, or sponsored sessions.
EdCamp Access focuses on technology solutions for students with special learning challenges (although not all session topics conform). The event was organized by Karen Janowski, an AT specialist working in Newton public schools (and long-time MassMATCH AT Advisory Committee member), and Patric Barbieri, Executive Director of LABBB Collaborative. In the school's open central stairwell, they mounted a large paper schedule with blank time slots for break-out sessions corresponding with different rooms in the building. Markers were available for participants to offer sessions.
Topics on this day emerged to include: "Let's Talk About Text-to-Speech," "Assistive Technology in the IEP," "Overcoming Limited Access to Technology," "Twitter 101," "MCAS and Struggling Learners," "How Do We Help Without Teaching Helplessness?" and "Clicker + Application."
"We follow the rule of two feet," Janowski informed attendees during her opening remarks. "If you want to get up and check out another conversation, you are welcome to do so." At day's end, every EdCamp concludes with an "Apps Smackdown" in which all attendees gather to share apps that they admire.
Powerful Student Panel
The most powerful moment of the day came right at the start. Janowski kicked off with a panel of five students who spoke of their own experiences and answered questions from the group as a whole. The students ranged from 5th graders to a 1st-year college student; most had learning disabilities and used assistive technology in the classroom.
The panel was an opportunity for educators to listen to students report on what has helped and what has hurt. One 5th grade girl, "Sarah,"* explained how she uses Voice Dream Reader, the text-to-speech reading app, to hear books and follow along with highlighting text. She has dyslexia, and prior to obtaining an iPad, she might read one book in four months. With the app, she reports, she has read six books in a month. Another panelist, "Dan," an 8th grader, reflected on the challenge of using his apps in class, and the presumption that he isn't doing work. "Sometimes it would be helpful if teachers would trust students more, and not just assume we're goofing off."
"So what do you think teachers need to know?" Janowski followed up. "This is an opportunity. This is a captive audience."
Sarah: "That you are a normal person but you need technology."
Dan: "Many teachers do not approve of it. But I think they should. It's a good feeling to turn your education around."
The students moved between making app recommendations--Paperport Notes, myHomework, Notability--to how it feels to be seen as different, even bullied. As time ran out, Janowski encouraged them to continue the conversation by leading a break-out session, and many attendees followed two panelists to a classroom to hear more. Before concluding, however, one member of the audience spoke up to thank them. "You are pioneers!" she emphasized with conviction.
Tapping a Need
The first EdCamp was held in Philadelphia in May of 2010. Since that time well over 200 events have been held and the movement is now international. The next general EdCamp in the Boston area is organized for May 3rd, 2014, but tickets were "sold out" (though free) within 6 hours of their availability. With 85 attendees in only its second year, EdCamp Access Boston will likely also grow rapidly. This year participants came mostly from within Massachusetts, but also from neighboring New England states. Mike Marotta, himself an EdCamp Access organizer, took the prize for traveling the furthest. "Karen Janowski came to our event," he explained, "so I figured I should come to hers!" He drove five hours with his daughter from New Jersey.
Marotta is an AT specialist for Advancing Opportunities and, like Janowski, a well-known national presenter/trainer on assistive technology. Indeed, EdCamp Access may be a grassroots affair, but its attendees ranged impressively from new teachers to educators and others of national prominence (including Winston Chen, developer of the highly-regarded Voice Dream Reader app!)
"The day gave me a lot of ideas," reflected Glynis Cooney upon leaving the event. Cooney is a 6th grade language arts teacher from Amesbury who's been teaching for 8 years. "We don't have a lot of technology at my school. But listening to the students, in particular, showed clearly where we have to go next."
Join the waiting list at the Boston EdCamp website. Learn more at the EdCamp wikispace.
*Student names have been changed for this article.
The PARCC Assessment and Assistive Technology--What Do IEP Teams Need to Know?
Next year many Massachusetts students in grades 3-11 will take new computer-based state assessments based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). PARCC stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers (PARCC); it is a consortium of 16 states, including Massachusetts, that is developing new assessments for the Common Core. While a paper-based option will be an available accommodation, for most students the tests will be digital and include new tools, access options, and possible accommodations. If your school district is adopting the PARCC assessment for 2014-15 (some districts will continue to offer the MCAS), it's important to get to know these digital tools ahead of time and help your students consider which works best for them. It is also important that IEP teams know how to insure their students have access to the tools, AT, and other accommodations they will need for the assessments.
Document Accessibility Needs
Parents should discuss with educators their child's strategies for using computers and consider how their child routinely completes homework and other tasks. The digital assessment is another reason it is important to make sure assistive technology is considered and documented in a student's IEP. PARCC is developing an assessment with built-in digital tools for use by all students as well as features which may be turned on or off based on individual needs. Students may also receive accommodations to use their own assistive technology if the need for it is documented in the IEP ahead of the scheduled assessment (and assessments may be administered at different intervals throughout the year).
Examples of built-in tools provided for all students:
Highlighter tool
Text and image magnification (up to 400%)
Pop-up glossary (for word definitions using hovering cursor)
On-screen notepad for note taking
Copy, cut, paste, bold, etc. (word processing tools)
Flagging items to return to for review
Volume adjustment for headphones
Crossing out answers for multiple choice questions
Examples of tools which must be turned on for individual students:
Masking (allows students to cover answer options and focus on material)
Adjusting the color contrast of the background or print
Line reader tool
Text-to-speech for mathematics
Text-to-speech for literacy*
* "IEP or 504 plan teams may consider providing this accommodation to a student who has a print-related disability that severely limits or prevents his or her ability to access printed text by decoding, or who is blind and is unable to access braille to read text. This accommodation is not intended for students reading somewhat (i.e., moderately) below grade level." See pages 27-29 of the PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual for guidance and more details.
Student needs for accessibility features, tools, and AT become part of their PARCC Personal Needs Profile (PNP). The PNP is a collection of student information embedded into the technology platform of the assessment that is individualized for each student. Again, to use some tools, documentation in an IEP will be necessary.
Explore Tools and Sample Tests with Students
To help create a student's PNP, students should be exposed to PARCC's built-in accessibility features and have the opportunity to select and practice using them prior to test-taking time. For students with IEPs or 504 plans, it may also be important to determine if a built-in tool is adequate as compared with an AT tool they are accustomed to using. For some students the appropriate accommodation may be a paper and pencil version of the test. At the time of this writing, only sample test items are available to review, but sample tests with embedded supports are coming soon.
There are many more accommodations possible for PARCC's assessment as well as advice and guidelines available for IEP and 504 plan teams. A good starting place is the PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual (second edition). The assessments are currently undergoing field testing and the technology and policies will likely change based on that data and feedback. Keep up to date at the PARCC Website and at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education PARCC Web page.
Recently, Kristi Peak-Oliveira, Co-coordinator of the MassMATCH AT Regional Center (ATRC) in Boston, met with Candido Surita in his home in Dorchester. Candido needed help with communication, specifically with options for augmentative alternative communication (AAC). Originally from Puerto Rico, Candido understands both English and Spanish, but now has ALS (a progressive neurodegenerative disease) and no longer uses speech. Kristi was referred to him once he'd begun hospice care by his exiting speech language pathologist (SLP). His health insurance would no longer cover SLP services, yet more than ever he needed a way to clearly communicate with family and other caregivers.
In addition to coordinating the AT Regional Center, Kristi works as an SLP for Easter Seals Massachusetts, the MassMATCH partner agency. For Kristi this is often a good marriage of roles and services. She can conduct an Easter Seals-funded AAC evaluation and demonstrate equipment from the ATRC short-term device loan program. Clients like Candido and family can borrow what they need to try for up to four weeks at a time. If they find equipment that works well for them, the ATRC will refer them to possible funding options from appropriate sources. Kristi, an augmentative communication specialist, is available for trouble-shooting along the way.
Initially, Kristi admits, she was concerned there wouldn't be the technical support at home for a voice output system to be successful with Candido. After all, Candido faces mounting physical challenges and using a speech generating device with a switch and, likely, automatic scanning would take problem-solving, family support, caregiver buy-in, stamina and patience. The home she was visiting was in a low-income neighborhood, and his primary caregiver--his sister--speaks only Spanish. The family had limited exposure to technology. Candido did not have a high level of education to start with and Kristi does not speak Spanish.
Through Easter Seals MA and the AT Regional Center, however, Kristi has experience serving a wide range of clients. In addition to Spanish speakers, there are Haitians, Cape Verdeans, Chinese, and others. Outreach is conducted through the Multicultural Independent Living Center in Dorchester as well as health care providers that serve diverse populations such as Tufts Medical Center and Brockton Hospital. Over the years, Kristi says, she's learned the best approach for meeting new clients is to presume competence from everyone. "I think it's easy for people to make assumptions based on education, race, socioeconomic status," she reflects. "And I think the clients we work with must face that quite a bit in their lives. The last thing I want to do is make them feel that with me. So I assume competence, and try to be very, very respectful."
Assuming competence with Candido would prove highly appropriate. To his home Kristi brought with her an iPad with the new app, Proloquo4Text. While most of Candido's family members do not have a lot of experience with iPads, she discovered his 13-year-old nephew (who was present for the evaluation) does, and that his sister and hospice workers were more than willing to learn.
Man in bed gazing at iPad mounted to side table.
Candido using the iPad for AAC
The app, Proloquo4Text, is designed with a keyboard for spelling while also providing access to whole phrases. One unique feature with significant potential for Candido is the option for a bilingual adult male voice; this means Candido can sound like the same person whether he is speaking Spanish to his sister or English to Kristi. To try out the app, Kristi set Candido up with a single pillow switch activated by squeezing his knees for use with automatic scanning. (Automatic scanning means that Candido does not have to navigate to the letter he wants at the onscreen keyboard, but can wait for his choice to be highlighted and then select it.*) The result, Kristi reports, was remarkable. "I have never seen anyone pick up automatic scanning as quickly as Candido! He took to it intuitively! I really didn't need to do a lot of training with him before he was creating and producing messages."
Kristi decided that given Candido's intelligence, desire to communicate, and extremely supportive family, this set up could work well. Through the ATRC's short-term device loan program, Candido is now borrowing an iPad, iPad mount, a Bluetooth adapter, and the pillow switch. She has additionally recommended the equipment be purchased for him through the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission's Independent Living Program. "The road ahead for Candido and his family is very hard," Kristi reflects, "but they clearly love and enjoy each other, and are working together to support Candido. The AT equipment is giving Candido a voice, and they are so appreciative. Families like Candido's help me love my work."
Learn more about the MassMATCH Short-Term Device Loan Program and the AT Regional Centers
* TECH UPDATE: Since this writing a tech glitch has emerged. iOS 7.1 interprets the Bluetooth switch adapter as a Bluetooth keyboard and, therefore, fails to bring up the onscreen keyboard. Candido is currently using his switch to select whole phrases and other non-keyboard options only. Apple does not provide a way to downgrade to a previous version of its operating system. Kristi is looking into the Pererro switch adapter (not a Bluetooth) as a possible solution.
Proloquo4Text in Spanish... and Other App Options for Non-English AAC!
There are a host of issues to consider when matching assistive technology to the needs, abilities, and preferences of an individual user. For augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology, hardware issues include touch screen sensitivity, switch compatibility, speaker volume, and portability. Software considerations include type-of-message creation (text-to-speech vs. symbols sets and recordings), options for displays and customization as well as the quality and variety of voices available for speech generation. Indeed it is inadequate to consider AAC software solutions based solely on the languages they support for speech and/or user interface. Yet without that functional cultural match, the other concerns may be irrelevant (particularly for literate users).
Unfortunately we have a long way to go before there is a full menu of AAC technology offerings in languages other than English. Those looking to localize existing AAC solutions, such as David Banes of the Mada Center in Qatar (who speaks about this frequently), observe there are different challenges to retrofitting AAC software in more languages: symbol sets are culturally-specific, not all languages read left-to-right, high-quality synthetic voices can be unavailable or very expensive. Even still, progress is being made.
Proloquo4Text is one example. This is Assistiveware's new text-to-speech app for iOS devices designed for individuals who do not speak, but who do spell and use text to create messages. In addition to English, its user interface is available in Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish. Natural-sounding (Acapela) voices are available in 15 languages (and include 95 voice options). Exciting for this continent is the U.S. version which offers the first-ever bilingual-American Spanish-English voices. Bilingual voices mean that individuals who use both English and Spanish can sound like the same person regardless of which language they deploy (there is an adult male voice as well as bilingual children's voices, both male and female). Proloquo4Text provides a customizable layout, word and sentence prediction (in all 15 languages since version 1.2!), access to whole phrases, social media sharing, and specialty voices (such as "bad guy" for humor!) Assistiveware first released Proloquo4Text last November, and version 1.2 came out April 1st. The app costs $129.99 in the iTunes App Store. (Learn about the making of the first genuine children's voices for text-to-speech.) Assistiveware advertises multilingual support.
Assistiveware is also currently working on a Spanish-language option for Proloquo2Go--its symbol-based AAC app--and has plans to provide other languages as well. Pictello, Assistiveware's visual story app, is available in Spanish, French, German, Dutch and Turkish. Learn more about Assistiveware's language options and plans.
In addition to Proloquo4Text, AAC apps worth exploring that offer Spanish and more include:
Touch Chat HD. A symbol and text-based full-featured AAC app that offers Spanish and Hebrew in addition to English. $149.99. iPad.
Tap to Talk. A full-featured symbol and text-based AAC app that provides text-to-speech in Spanish, English, Italian, French, German, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish and Turkish. The user interface is English, however. Available for most phones and tablets (and computers). $149.99 for the Designer app. Free for the Player app.
Alexicom. Full-featured symbol and text-based AAC that is available for most devices in Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian. Free and paid versions.
ClaroSpeak offers text-to-speech in Spanish, English, Arabic, Bokmål, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Swedish. The US version of the app offers high-quality (Nuance) male and female US-Mexican adult voices. $.99. iPhone/iPad.
Abilipad is a writing app that is also used for AAC. It provides Spanish, English, German, and French Acapela voices. $19.99. iPad.
Personal Assistant Communicator uses images and text to communicate in Spanish, English and French. Customizable. Free for iPhone/iPod/iPad (requires iOS 7).
Phrase Board is a text-based app designed by a registered nurse for patient communication. Available in Spanish, English, Arabic, French, German, Italian, and Swedish. Free for iPad.
Keep in mind that beyond text-to-speech, many AAC apps rely on recording messages and creating labels (or use images and symbols). So while there are a limited number of AAC apps programmed for non-English language users, many are used in any language even if the user interface supports English-only.
The New England "Craig's List" for AT, GetATStuff, currently has hundreds of items available for sale or free throughout the six New England states. As of this writing, GetATStuff highlights include:
18 Vision-related items, including a Braille Blazer, Braille and Speak, and other assistive tech for best offer in Boxford, MA.
3 Hearing-related items, including a Super Phone Ringer for free in Salem, NH.
24 Speech Communication-related items, including an AAC - Tango, barely used, for $400 in Portland, ME.
16 Learning, Cognitive, Development related items, including a classmate reader (for audio books) for free in Portland, ME.
263 Mobility, Seating, and Positioning related items, including 2 Acorn Stair Lifts for $3,000 in Monson, MA.
258 Daily Living related items, including a Respironics Cough Assist (non invasive mechanical insufflator-exsufflator) for $1,000 OBO in Medford, MA.
78 Environmental Adaptation related items, including a Invacare Reliant RPS350 Stand-Up Lift for Best Offer in East Montpelier, VT.
38 Transportation and Vehicle Modification related items, including a wheelchair mini-van for $8,000 OBO in Watertown, MA.
23 Computer-related items, including a free computer station that adjusts to any seating including a wheelchair in Watertown, MA.
4 Recreation, Sports, and Leisure related items, including an adaptive trike for $1,200 OBO in Concord, NH.
Go to GetATStuff to search items by category or geography or to list what you need. Searching for a wheelchair? Scooter? Rollator? Or other gently-used durable medical equipment? Be sure to check out REquipment!
Learn about additional AT reuse sites.
MassMATCH
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission
617-204-3851 (V)
617-204-3877 (F)
info@massmatch.org
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Horsham Performers Platform
Turning Point Productions
Stringbabies
Singergy
Kikuyu Soul
QM Studios
Hollie Rogers
Sydney Rutherford
Fair Play UK
Coolham Live
HAODS
Mark Ben Wilson
Classical Folk
Slinfold Concert Band
Sound Company
Quo-caine
Stan's Showcase
JKM Guitars
The Five Foot Twos
Horsham Borough band
Pipe & Tabor
Freddy Woods Band
Horsham Accordion Band
Sandweaver
Dyscarnate
Horsham Symphony Orchestra
Tied To The Mast
Stick in a Pot
Alice Ella
The Stuart James Band
Paul Messis
Focus on Stuart James Band
Who's this, scaring anyone who dares to cross the bridge?
This is Stuart James, the singer, writer and guitarist in the Stuart James Band, and his brother and bassist Simon.
Just another couple of wannabes from Horsham?
You won't see these two on The X Factor (we're not sure if the brothers' straight talking would suit Mr Cowell!). Stuart, in particular, finds the whole fame-chasing process ridiculous. Instead, they are going about things the way it used to be, writing records, playing live and hoping there are enough people who like it to make a bit of money out of it.
So what kind of music do they play?
Stuart is renowned as one of the very best guitarists around, and he adapts his style to suit the songs he writes. Stuart said: "I've always been known as a blues player, but I'm a rocker really."
Rock guitar eh? Maybe Stuart and I can jam a bit - I can sort of play the start of Wild Thing you know...
You might be shown up a bit. Stuart started playing when he was 12 but within a year he shocked his dad by playing excerpts from the Deep Purple album 'Made in Japan - Live' note for note. By the time he was 14 he was playing in his dad's rock band. The singing came later, during his days playing live when living in London.
Is Stuart's own material of that ilk?
Primarily Old School rock, yes. Stuart and Simon were raised on their dad's Deep Purple, Nazareth, Rory Gallagher and Led Zeppelin records, but Stuart also writes funk songs and the occasional ballad too.
Not a one trick pony then?
Far from it. As Stuart says: "A lot of the stuff I've done and will continue to do, whether it makes any money or not - is so diverse." There's a broad spectrum - there's acoustic, funk, hard rock and there's even a five minute ballad on there which Stuart says is a bit 'lovey dovey' for him.
Maybe it's a bit too diverse'?
Stuart reckons that a more secular sound could be more beneficial to commercial success. One might be tempted to assume his experiences of the music industry haven't been too inspiring when Stuart says things like: "We aspire to be successful but it's an industry full of nonsense and the higher up the food chain you go, the more idiotic they become."
Yeah, and don't get him started on Coldplay!
Has the Stuart James Band has been around a while then?
They are on the verge of releasing their third record - Changing Lanes - which heralds a new sound for the band. They started with Introducing in 2006, and followed that up with Porno Kitsch and Morals, which you can download for free off the band's website.
Could it be the breakthrough?
At AAH, we've only heard three of the tracks, and what comes across more than anything is firstly Stuart's skills as a guitarist, and secondly, the polished studio production. When you hear Simon and Stuart talking about the recording process, you can understand why. "I'll get a song down in the studio at my house, and it'll get to a
certain point" Stuart said. "Then I'll call Junior (a name for Simon) and he always brings something to the table." Simon added: "We're pretty in tune with what each other is doing. But you can get studio ear. If you spend six hours doing something, you can go back into the studio the next day and want to scratch it all! It's never perfect."
Do Stuart and Simon have big expectations?
They're not expecting the phone to be ringing through the night with offers from record companies. They admit themselves that they may have the "right sound at the wrong time".
Meaning?
The charts are hardly flooded with blues rock guitarists at the moment!
What are they hoping for then?
Stuart says that one song on Changing Lanes called Take This Love has "the most commercial legs of anything I've done". He added: "What I would like is to have a decent distribution deal and slogging my guts out touring. That would be perfect."
What does the band see as their strengths?
Stuart said: "I think our strength is the live performance, the full package of the band: guitar playing, singing, song-writing and the showmanship."
Can I see them live soon then?
The band helped organise and played at the Horsham Festival of Sound' on 4th September. Stuart says there is a lot of talent in the Horsham area, but a lack of decent venues. He said: "I would dearly love to open a live music venue in Horsham, but it's just finding somewhere where no-one is going to complain about noise."
But I've missed that, so how about a local pub gig?
You'll be lucky. Stuart said: "We've made an effort to stop playing pubs. You can't be seen here in Horsham for free one week when the next we're asking our followers to pay £15 to see us. For example, (in August we opened for) Hamilton Loomis (a young blues singer and guitarist from Texas). Yes, you're going to see a great band after us, but if we then play The Boars Head for free, they're never going to come and see us elsewhere."
So I have to pay to see this lot eh?
That's the way they like it, because they feel they then demand attention. Stuart said: "If you're paying even a nominal fee you feel like you've invested in what you're doing for the evening, so you pay attention. It makes all the difference." There might not be too many local gigs as Stuart and Simon are now back on the festival circuit, play with bigger acts and improving their own live show.
Why do they want to play with bigger bands?
Stuart said: "I'm quite a task-master really. I want it to be right, I want it to be perfect, and it's pretty far from perfect at the moment. People would say if they lined us up against X, Y and Z band, 'that's pretty spot on' but I'd be going home and writing up why it wasn't. They want to see high quality original material with perfect execution really and that's what we're striving for. Some other acts are so tight and in control it spurs you on to do better with your song writing and playing."
Stuart comes across as being a bit of a perfectionist.
He is guilty of getting wholly engrossed in the music, he admits. "If you don't immerse yourself in it you get something out in the end where you think 'that could've been a lot better'. I'd say the last album was about 60-70% there. With this record, Changing Lanes, I don't want that to happen."
Sound like a man who's never going to be satisfied!
Simon smirks knowingly when Stuart says: "It's very difficult being a musician who does take it very seriously. It takes over your entire life."
Let's hope Stuart finally gets a break then...
He has certainly put a shift in so deserves something, for the effort and his obvious talent with the guitar.
So should I check it out?
If you like the music of Stuart and Simon's influences - particularly Deep Purple - check it out. Stuart may talk about the wide range of funk, ballads and blues rock, but we're talking about 80% Zeppelin, 19.5% George Clinton and 0.5% Michael Bolton.
Where can I hear more?
You can find out all you need to know at stuartjamesband.com or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Stuart-James-Band/196954853215 to listen to the new songs.


text:
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ABOG MOC II
Citations and Impact Factor
April 2019 - Volume 133 - Issue 4
Thought you might appreciate this item(s) I saw at Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Contents: Gynecologic Surgery: Original Research
Hysterectomy Practice Patterns in the Postmorcellation Era
Jorgensen, Elisa M. MD; Modest, Anna M. PhD, MPH; Hur, Hye-Chun MD MPH; Hacker, Michele R. ScD, MSPH; Awtrey, Christopher S. MD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Corresponding author: Christopher S. Awtrey, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Kirstein 3, Boston, MA 02215; email: [email protected].
Financial Disclosure Michele R. Hacker received money paid to her institution from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Society for Family Planning, and the Charles Koch Foundation. She has also received funds from the NIH and Affiliates Risk Management Services, Inc. The other authors did not report any potential conflicts of interest.
Presented at the 47th AAGL Global Congress, November 11–15, 2018, Las Vegas, Nevada.
This work was conducted with support from Harvard Catalyst, Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award UL1 TR001102) and financial contributions from Harvard University and its affiliated academic health care centers.
Peer reviews and author correspondence are available at http://links.lww.com/AOG/B319.
Each author has confirmed compliance with the journal's requirements for authorship.
Obstetrics & Gynecology: April 2019 - Volume 133 - Issue 4 - p 643-649
doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003181
To characterize long-term national trends in surgical approach for hysterectomy after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning against power morcellation for laparoscopic specimen removal.
This was a descriptive study using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2012 to 2016. We identified hysterectomies using Current Procedural Terminology codes. We used an interrupted time-series analysis to evaluate abdominal and supracervical hysterectomy trends surrounding The Wall Street Journal article first reporting morcellation safety concerns and the FDA safety communication. We compared categorical and continuous variables using χ2, t, and Wilcoxon rank sum tests.
We identified 179,950 hysterectomies; laparoscopy was the most common mode of hysterectomy in every quarter. Before The Wall Street Journal article, there was no significant change in proportion of abdominal hysterectomies (0.3% decrease/quarter, P=.14). After The Wall Street Journal article, use of abdominal hysterectomy increased 1.1% per quarter for two quarters through the FDA warning (P<.001), plateaued for three quarters until March 2015 (P=.65), then decreased by 0.8% per quarter through 2016 (P<.001). Supracervical hysterectomy volume continuously decreased after the FDA warning (1.0% decrease per quarter, P<.001) and after three quarters (0.7% decrease per quarter, P=.01), then plateaued from April 2015 through 2016 (0.05% decrease per quarter, P=.40). Mode of supracervical hysterectomy was unchanged from 2012 to 2013 (P=.43), followed by two quarters of significant increase in proportion of supracervical abdominal hysterectomies (11.7%/quarter, P<.001). This change in mode of supracervical hysterectomy then plateaued through 2016 (P=.06).
Despite early studies suggesting that minimally invasive hysterectomy decreased in response to safety concerns regarding power morcellation, we found that this effect reversed 1 year after the FDA safety communication. However, there was a sustained decline in supracervical hysterectomy, and the remaining supracervical hysterectomies were more likely to be performed using laparotomy.
Despite early findings of decreased rates of minimally invasive hysterectomy after power morcellation safety warnings, this trend has reversed since March 2015.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy has grown tremendously in the 30 years since the first was performed.1 Minimally invasive surgery is now standard of care, and laparoscopy is the most common mode of hysterectomy.2,3
The electric power morcellator was developed to remove bulky specimens from the abdomen through laparoscopic incisions. Safety concerns regarding dissemination of occult gynecologic malignancy with power morcellation were reported in The Wall Street Journal on December 18, 2013.4 On April 17, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety communication recommending discontinuation of power morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy.5 Most surgeons stopped using power morcellation,6,7 and many reported increasing their practice of laparotomy.6 Improvements in safe alternatives to power morcellation is an area of rich ongoing discussion, research, and innovation.
Minimally invasive hysterectomy has fewer complications than laparotomy (8.2% vs 25.8%).8 The increase in abdominal hysterectomy after the FDA safety communication was accompanied by increased complications.9 Multiple groups reported that minimally invasive hysterectomy and myomectomy decreased after the FDA communication, and laparotomy increased.9–12 A limitation of these studies is that they evaluated only immediate changes to practice patterns and not long-term effects.
This study aims to characterize longer-term national trends in surgical approach for hysterectomy after the FDA warning against power morcellation. We hypothesized that, after an adjustment period to update surgical technique, laparoscopic hysterectomy would return to its prior rate of growth while supracervical hysterectomy would undergo a sustained decline, because these cases do not have access to a colpotomy for specimen removal.
A descriptive study was performed using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files from 2012 to 2016. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files contain de-identified data from adult patients undergoing inpatient or outpatient major surgical procedures, as well as the 30-day postoperative course. Data were collected from patient charts and entered into the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database by a trained surgical clinical reviewer at each of the more than 600 participating academic and community-based hospitals throughout the United States.13
We identified all hysterectomies performed from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2016, in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Specific procedure codes used to define our sample are reported in Table 1. The primary outcome was mode of surgery. Secondary outcomes were utilization of abdominal, vaginal, and supracervical hysterectomy.
Table 1.:
Current Procedural Terminology Codes Used to Identify and Classify Hysterectomy Cases
Incision type also was determined from CPT codes. For the minority of cases containing more than one CPT code for hysterectomy, cases were categorized as follows: Cases coded as both abdominal hysterectomy and laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy were categorized as abdominal. Cases coded as both laparoscopic hysterectomy and vaginal hysterectomy were categorized as laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy. Cases coded as robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy were included with laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Data are presented as mean with standard deviation, median with interquartile range, or frequency with percent, as appropriate. We stratified the data into four time periods: roughly 2 years before The Wall Street Journal article, the interval between The Wall Street Journal article and the FDA safety communication, the first year after the FDA safety communication through March 2015, and more than 1 year after the FDA safety communication. We compared surgical characteristics and morbidity for each of the time periods after the FDA safety communication with the time period before The Wall Street Journal article using the χ2 test for proportions, the t-test for means, and the Wilcoxon rank sum test for medians. We excluded the interval between The Wall Street Journal article and the FDA safety communication from these comparisons, consistent with prior work.12 To compare trends in surgical approach from 2012 through 2016, we used an interrupted time series analysis; for the interrupted time series, we included all quarters from 2012 through 2016, including the interval between The Wall Street Journal article and the FDA safety communication.
This study used only de-identified data and thus was exempt from institutional review board review.
We identified 179,950 hysterectomies from 2012 to 2016. Demographic characteristics of the population are shown in Table 2. Across the study period in this large population, there was a small, statistically significant increase in age, body mass index, and hypertension, as well as a decrease in smoking status; however, there were no meaningful clinical demographic differences among the different time periods studied.
Baseline Characteristics of Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy Before The Wall Street Journal Article and After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication
Mode of surgery for hysterectomy was significantly different both within 1 year of the April 2014 FDA safety communication and more than 1 year after the FDA safety communication, as compared with the period before The Wall Street Journal article (Table 3). The proportion of hysterectomies performed abdominally was at its maximum (29.8%) at the start of the study (quarter 1 of 2012) and its minimum (23.7%) at the study's conclusion (quarter 4 of 2016). Overall, from 2012 through 2016, the proportion of hysterectomies performed laparoscopically increased and the proportion of abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies decreased.
Characteristics of Surgical Approach and Morbidity Before The Wall Street Journal Article and After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Safety Communication
Laparoscopy was the most common mode of hysterectomy in every quarter included (Fig. 1 and Table 4). Before the December 2013 article in The Wall Street Journal, there was no change in the proportion of abdominal hysterectomies by (0.3% decrease/quarter, P=.14). Between The Wall Street Journal article and the FDA safety communication, abdominal hysterectomy increased significantly by 1.1% per quarter (P<.001). The proportion of abdominal hysterectomies then remained stable for three quarters until March 2015 (0.1% decrease/quarter, P=.65). After March 2015, the proportion of abdominal hysterectomies decreased by 0.8% per quarter through the end of 2016 (P<.001).
Fig. 1.:
Proportion of hysterectomies performed by mode of incision per quarter. The proportion of abdominal hysterectomies was unchanged before The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article of December 18, 2013 (P=.14). Between the WSJ article and the April 17, 2014, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety communication, the proportion of abdominal hysterectomy increased 1.1% per quarter (P<.001), then remained stable until March 2015 (P=.65). After March 2015, the proportion of abdominal hysterectomies decreased by 0.8% per quarter through the end of 2016 (P<.001). Error bars represent the 95% CI of the proportion of hysterectomies. Dotted lines indicate the WSJ article and the FDA safety communication.Jorgensen. Hysterectomy in the Postmorcellation Era. Obstet Gynecol 2019.
Surgeries by Mode of Hysterectomy Per Quarter
The overall proportion of vaginal hysterectomies decreased over the 5-year study period, falling from 17.3% of all hysterectomies in the first quarter of 2012 to 15.2% in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Before the December 2013 article in The Wall Street Journal, there was a 0.3% decrease in vaginal hysterectomies per quarter (P=.002). After that, there was a significant increase in the next two quarters through the April 2014 FDA safety communication (0.5%/quarter, P<.001), followed by a significant decrease in the next three quarters (0.6%/quarter, P<.001). After March 2015, there was no change in the proportion of vaginal hysterectomies (0.2% decrease/quarter, P=.22).
The most persistent changes after the FDA safety communication regarding power morcellation were noted among supracervical hysterectomies. The overall proportion of supracervical hysterectomies decreased from 13.2% before The Wall Street Journal article to 7.4% (within 1 year) and 7.1% (more than 1 year) after the FDA safety communication (P<.001; Table 3). From 2012 to publication of The Wall Street Journal article in December 2013, the proportion of all hysterectomies that were supracervical decreased by 0.2% per quarter (P=.005; Fig. 2). After The Wall Street Journal article, there was a significant change in the rate of decrease in the proportion of supracervical hysterectomies, at a 1.0% decrease per quarter until the April 2014 FDA safety communication (P<.001), and then a 0.7% decrease per quarter for the after three quarters (P=.01). The proportion of supracervical hysterectomies remained stable after March 2015 (0.05% decrease/quarter, P=.40).
Supracervical hysterectomy practice patterns. A. Proportion of total and supracervical hysterectomies per quarter. Before the December 18, 2013, article in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the proportion of supracervical hysterectomies decreased by 0.2% per quarter (P=.005). Between the WSJ article and the April 17, 2014, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety communication, the proportion of supracervical hysterectomies decreased by 1.0% per quarter (P<.001), followed by a 0.7% decrease per quarter (P=.01) until March 2015, when the proportion stabilized (P=.40). B. Proportion of supracervical hysterectomies performed by mode of incision per quarter. Before the WSJ article, there was no change to the proportion of abdominal supracervical hysterectomies (P=.43). Between the WSJ article and the FDA safety communication, there was an 11.7% per quarter increase in the proportion of abdominal supracervical hysterectomies, (P<.001), which then remained stable through the end of 2016 (P=.06). Error bars represent the 95% CI of the proportion of supracervical hysterectomies. Error bars represent the 95% CI of the proportion of hysterectomies. Dotted lines indicate the WSJ article and the FDA safety communication.Jorgensen. Hysterectomy in the Postmorcellation Era. Obstet Gynecol 2019.
Of the supracervical hysterectomies that were performed, the proportion of abdominal supracervical hysterectomies increased from 34.4% before the FDA safety communication to 46.4% after, with an associated decrease in laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy from 65.6% to 53.6%, respectively (P<.001). In 2012 and 2013, there was no significant change in the proportions of supracervical hysterectomies that were performed abdominally compared with laparoscopically (abdominal supracervical hysterectomy increased 0.2%/quarter, P=.43). For the next two quarters, after The Wall Street Journal article, there was a significant increase in the proportion of abdominal supracervical hysterectomies, 11.7% per quarter (P<.001). The proportion of abdominal supracervical hysterectomies then remained stable through the end of 2016, with a 0.3% per quarter decrease in abdominal supracervical hysterectomies (P=.06).
Differences in perioperative morbidity were either not significant or not clinically effective when comparing outcomes from hysterectomies before The Wall Street Journal article with those either within 1 year of the FDA warning or more than 1 year after the FDA warning (Table 3).
Contrary to previous studies reporting an increase in laparotomy in response to the FDA safety communication regarding power morcellation,9–12 we found that laparoscopic hysterectomy has steadily increased since March 2015, a year after the FDA safety communication. Although our results are consistent with the initial 6-month period in which the proportion of hysterectomies that were performed using laparotomy increased nationwide after The Wall Street Journal article reporting power morcellation safety concerns, by looking at data through 2016, we found a complete reversal of the previously reported effect; in fact, minimally invasive hysterectomy was at its peak incidence at the end of the 5-year study period.
Consistent with other reported trends in hysterectomy, we found that the proportion of vaginal hysterectomies decreased overall across the 5-year study period. Although there was a brief 6-month increase in utilization of vaginal hysterectomy after The Wall Street Journal article, vaginal hysterectomy then returned to its prior trend of overall decrease in utilization. This result is surprising, as the vaginal route of specimen removal is a safe alternative to power morcellation. This suggests that there are forces other than the FDA safety communication influencing utilization of vaginal hysterectomy in the United States; possible explanations include increased utilization of robotic surgery and decreased teaching of vaginal hysterectomy in residency training programs.14
Supracervical hysterectomy overall was less likely to be performed after the safety warnings, but the proportion of remaining supracervical hysterectomies that were performed using laparotomy increased significantly. A possible explanation for these findings is that without the vaginal route for specimen extraction, surgeons are less likely to recommend supracervical hysterectomy in response to concerns over the safety of power morcellation. When supracervical hysterectomy is specifically indicated, surgeons may be more likely to perform laparotomy to aid in safe specimen removal.
This study has several strengths. Unlike prior studies reporting an increase in laparotomy, by examining a longer study period, we find that this phenomenon was temporary, and that minimally invasive surgery was more prevalent at the end of the study than at the beginning. We specifically examined practice patterns in supracervical hysterectomy, which would be expected to be especially vulnerable to additional challenges in laparoscopic specimen removal. Additionally, this study is unique in that we offer an interrupted time series analysis of hysterectomy trends during the study period before and after The Wall Street Journal article and FDA safety communication regarding power morcellation.
A weakness of this study is the inherent limitation of research using large databases, including restriction to predetermined data fields and reliance on data input from site-based reviewers with whom this research team has no contact. A specific downside to the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Data Files is that it incompletely captures the use of robotic surgery. Although there exists a modifying CPT code for robotic-assistance, it is not consistently used or logged into the database. In our sample of nearly 200,000 hysterectomies, only 926 contained the robotic surgery CPT code, which is a gross underestimation of the prevalence of robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy. We were thus unable to separate robotic approaches from other laparoscopic approaches in this analysis. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database did not include information on uterine weight until 2014; ability to substratify changes to surgical approach based on uterine weight would have added richness to this study. Moreover, there is no CPT code for minilaparotomy for large specimen removal; the gynecologic community would benefit from future investigation on the role of minilaparotomy in this changing landscape of specimen extraction. Hysterectomy practice is influenced by multiple factors including training, access to resources and technology, reimbursement, research, patient education, and political issues; future studies to further crystallize the precise effect of each of these factors are needed.
Despite early findings suggesting that minimally sinvasive hysterectomy decreased in response to safety concerns regarding power morcellation, this effect appears to have reversed 1 year after the FDA safety communication. In this same time period, there has been an explosion of literature on safe, contained alternatives to electric power morcellation. We find that the gynecologic community has continued to advance minimally invasive hysterectomy despite largely ending the practice of power morcellation for specimen removal.6,7
1. Reich H. Laparoscopic hysterectomy. Surg Laparosc Endosc 1992;2:85–8.
Cited Here
2. Morgan DM, Kamdar NS, Swenson CW, Kobernik EK, Sammarco AG, Nallamothu B. Nationwide trends in the utilization of and payments for hysterectomy in the United States among commercially insured women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018;218:425.e1–18.
3. Desai VB, Xu X. An update on inpatient hysterectomy routes in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;213:742–3.
4. Levitz J. Doctors eye cancer risk in uterine procedure. Wall Street Journal December 18, 2013.
5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Laparoscopic uterine power morcellation in hysterectomy and myomectomy: FDA safety communication. Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Food and Drug Administration; 2014.
6. Lum DA, Sokol ER, Berek JS, Schulkin J, Chen L, McElwain CA, et al. Impact of the 2014 Food and Drug Administration warnings against power morcellation. J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2016;23:548–56.
7. Nezhat F, Apostol R, Greene AD, Pilkinton ML. To morcellate or not to morcellate: a cross-sectional survey of gynecologic surgeons. JSLS 2017;21:pii: e2016.00092.
8. Mehta A, Xu T, Hutfless S, Makary MA, Sinno AK, Tanner EJ III, et al. Patient, surgeon, and hospital disparities associated with benign hysterectomy approach and perioperative complications. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017;216:497.e1–10.
9. Harris JA, Swenson CW, Uppal S, Kamdar N, Mahnert N, As-Sanie S, et al. Practice patterns and postoperative complications before and after US Food and Drug Administration safety communication on power morcellation. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016;214:98.e1–13.
10. Barron KI, Richard T, Robinson PS, Lamvu G. Association of the U.S. Food and Drug administration morcellation warning with rates of minimally invasive hysterectomy and myomectomy. Obstet Gynecol 2015;126:1174–80.
11. Ottarsdottir H, Cohen SL, Cox M, Vitonis A, Einarsson JI. Trends in mode of hysterectomy after the U.S. Food and Drug administration power morcellation advisory. Obstet Gynecol 2017;129:1014–21.
12. Stentz NC, Cooney LG, Sammel M, Shah DK. Changes in myomectomy practice after the U.S. Food and Drug administration safety communication on power morcellation. Obstet Gynecol 2017;129:1007–13.
13. American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. User guide for the 2016 ACS NSQIP participant use data file (PUF). Chicago (IL): American College of Surgeons; 2017.
14. Moen MD, Richter HE. Vaginal hysterectomy: past, present, and future. Int Urogynecol J 2014;25:1161–5.
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Articles in PubMed by Elisa M. Jorgensen, MD
Articles in Google Scholar by Elisa M. Jorgensen, MD
Other articles in this journal by Elisa M. Jorgensen, MD
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Route, Resource Use, and Outcomes: Change After Power Morcellation Warning
Effect of Minimum-Volume Standards on Patient Outcomes and Surgical Practice Patterns for Hysterectomy
Urinary Tract Infection After Hysterectomy for Benign Gynecologic Conditions or Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
Hysterectomy Route and Numbers Reported by Graduating Residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology Training Programs
Outpatient Hysterectomy Volume in the United States
by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists


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Home Entrepreneurs Jack Ma Lifestyle, Wiki, Net Worth, Income, Salary, House, Cars, Favorites, Affairs,...
Jack Ma Lifestyle, Wiki, Net Worth, Income, Salary, House, Cars, Favorites, Affairs, Awards, Family, Facts & Biography
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Jack Ma is a Chinese business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and executive chairman of the Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate. As of August 2018, he is one of China's richest men with a net worth of US$37.6 billion, as well as one of the wealthiest people in the world. Ma's primarily ideology was for an open and market driven economy.
Ma Yun
Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist
Jack Ma was born on 15 October 1964, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
He's currently 54 years old.
Asian / Chinese
After his school studies, Jack Ma enrolled at the Hangzhou Teacher's Institute (now Hangzhou Normal University), graduating with a B.A. in Englis. He later attended Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business and graduated in 2006.
Father – Ma Laifa (Musician and storyteller)
Mother – Cui Wencai (Musician and storyteller)
Siblings – He has an Older Brother and Younger sister.
Jack Ma's personal management team handles his representation and management work.
Girlfriend / Spouse
Jack Ma dated-
Zhang Ying (1980-Present) – Jack Ma got married to Zhang Ying in the 80s. They had first met while studying at Hangzhou Normal University. They got married just after graduating from the university. They were both working as teachers at that time. Over the course of their marriage, they have become parents to two children– a son and a daughter.
In feet – 4 feet 11¾ inches
His body specs like chest, biceps and waist are unknown.
Short and slight body
Gaunt face
Today, his group of companies, Alibaba and its subsidiaries, is one of the world's largest and most valuable tech companies valued at several billion dollars. He also owns several other companies across the globe.Best Known For
Being the co-founder of the Chinese multinational technology conglomerate, Alibaba Group. He serves as an executive chairman of the company.
Film & Television Debut
In 2017, Jack Ma entered the acting industry with his first kung fu short film Gong Shou Dao. It was filmed in collaboration with the Double 11 Shopping Carnival Singles' Day.
Brand Endorsements
Jack Ma hasn't done endorsement work for any brand.
Jack Ma Favorites
Favorite Movie– Forrest Gump (1994)
Jack Ma Net worth
Jack Ma has a net worth of $37 billion dollars as of 2019. Ma's wealth mostly comes from his 6.3 percent stake in Alibaba Group Holdings, roughly 160 million shares, and the online payment service Alipay. He also has stakes in several companies including Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, eTao, Alibaba Cloud Computing, Juhuasuan, 1688.com, AliExpress.com to name a few. Ma owns several expensive properties worldwide including the 9,890-square-feet luxury house in Hong Kong which he bought recently for a whopping $193 million. He also purchased a 28,100-acre property in New York's Adirondacks for $23 Million. He may not be the world's richest person , but he owns some of the world's finest cars like BMW 760Li, Mercedes Maybach 62S and private jets like Gulfstream 550, amongst others.
He doesn't have any social media account.
In 2004, Ma was honoured as one of the "Top 10 Economic Personas of the Year" by China Central Television (CCTV).
In Sep 2005, the World Economic Forum selected Ma as a "Young Global Leader".
Fortune Magazine also selected him as one of the "25 Most Powerful Businessperson in Asia" in 2005.
Businessweek also selected him as a "Businessperson of the Year" in 2007.
In 2008, Barron's featured him as one of the 30 "World's Best CEOs"
In May 2009, Time magazine listed Ma as one of the world's 100 most powerful people. In reporting Ma's accomplishments, Adi Ignatius, former Time senior editor and editor-in-chief of the Harvard Business Review, noted that the Chinese Internet entrepreneur is soft-spoken and elf-like and he speaks really good English and remarked that "Taobao.com, Mr. Ma's consumer-auction website, conquered eBay in China." He was also included in this list in 2014.
BusinessWeek chose him as one of China's Most Powerful People.
Forbes China also selected him as one of the Top 10 Most Respected Entrepreneurs in China by in 2009. Ma received the 2009 CCTV Economic Person of the Year: Business Leaders of the Decade Award.
In 2010, Ma was selected by Forbes Asia as one of Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy for his contribution to disaster relief and poverty.
In 2011 it was announced that one of his companies had gained control of Alipay, formerly a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, so as to "comply with Chinese law governing payment companies in order to secure a license to continue operating Alipay.
Numerous analysts reported that Ma sold Alipay to himself below market value without notifying the board of Alibaba Group or the other major owners Yahoo and Softbank, while Ma stated that Alibaba Group's board of directors were aware of the transaction. The ownership dispute was resolved by Alibaba Group, Yahoo! and Softbank in July 2011.
Ma was awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in November 2013.
Ma is a board member of Japan's SoftBank and China's Huayi Brothers Media Corporation. He became a trustee of The Nature Conservancy's China program in 2009 and joined its global board of directors in April 2010.
In 2013, he became chairman of the board for The Nature Conservancy's China Program; this was one day after he stepped down from Alibaba as company CEO.
In 2014, he was ranked as the 30th most powerful person in the world in an annual ranking published by Forbes.
In 2015, Asian Award honoured him with the Entrepreneur of the Year award.
In 2017, Fortune ranked Ma second on its World's 50 Greatest Leaders list.
In 2017, a KPMG survey ranked Ma third in global tech innovation visionary survey.
In October 2017, Ma was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Science in Technopreneurship from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines.
In May 2018, Ma was given an honorary degree of Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa in recognition of his contributions to technology, society and the world by University of Hong Kong.
In May 2018, Ma received an honorable doctoral degree from professors Yaakov Frenkel and Yaron Oz at the Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Jack Ma
Growing up, Ma learned English on his won by speaking with English-speakers at Hangzhou international hotel. He used to travel 70 miles on his bicycle to give tourists tours of the area to practice his English for nine years.
One of his pen pals nicknamed him Jack as he wasn't comfortable pronouncing his original name.
After graduation, he didn't get select in any company even after applying for 30 different jobs. He even applied for a job in KFC, but was rejected. In addition he applied 10 times for Harvard and got rejected.
in 1995, he found China Yellow Pages, the first internet company ever established in China.
In 1998, he was hired to head an IT company set up by the China International Electronic Commerce Center, which falls under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. He quit his job in 1999.
In 1999., Jack Ma founded Alibaba.com, a business-to-business commerce site. Since that, Alibaba has grown exponentially becoming one of the largest online marketplace in the world.
In 2004, China Central Television and its viewers selected Ma as one of the "Top 10 Business Leaders of the Year".
Ma has often been invited to lecture at universities such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and Peking University.
He started learning English on his own at a very young age. He used to practice his English-speaking skills by conversing with speakers at Hangzhou International Hotel.
For 9 years, he used to travel 70 miles on his cycle so as to give tourists tour of the local area.
He got his well-known name Jack Ma from one of his pen pals who was one of the foreign tourists. His pal decided to name him Jack as he found it hard to remember and pronounce his Chinese name.
In his youth, he struggled a bit with his studies as he had to give college entrance exams for 4 consecutive years before he could eventually get admission in one college.
After completion of his college studies, he struggled to find a job as his applications for about 30 different jobs were rejected.
He once applied for a job in KFC but was rejected after an interview while the other 23 applicants were selected, leaving him with an unenviable label of being the only rejection.
He realized the power of Internet after an ugly website that he had created related to China got him numerous positive response within hours of website's deployment.
His first entrepreneurial venture was a company named China Yellow Pages that he had started with $20,000, which he had raised with the assistance of his wife and a friend.
The China Yellow Pages managed to earn about US$800,000 within three years of the official launch.
In 1999, he moved back to his hometown and started Alibaba at his apartment. He had roped in a group of his 18 friends to start the company.
After his company managed to raise over $25 billion in an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2014, it became the first company in the history to raise such an amount in an IPO.
He has been invited to deliver lectures at the prestigious universities such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Peking University.
In 2007, Jack was the target of criticism and worldwide protests after his firm raked in enormous profits from the sale of animal products. Jack responded by announcing that products with shark flesh won't be sold on Alibaba.
At the event held to celebrate Alibaba's 18th year of establishment in September 2017, he dressed up like Michael Jackson and performed on American popstar's hit single, Thriller on stage.
Ma showed off his martial arts skills in the short film, On That Night… While We Dream(originally titled as Gong shou dao). It was released in the US in February 2018.
In 2017, he was placed on the second spot in the Fortune Magazine's list featuring World's 50 Greatest Leaders.
Although he has amassed his fortune due to the immense success of his e-commerce website, he has often professed that he has limited knowledge of technology and his technical competence is limited to sending and receiving emails.
He is reported to have got his first computer at the age of 33.
He first heard about the Internet in 1994 and was introduced to it in 1995 by his friends during his visit to the United States.
Jack Ma Affairs
Jack Ma Age
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