Wonderful walls are coming your way.
Decorate from the walls in for a beautiful room.
Are you unsure how to begin your decorating project? One way is to decorate from the walls in. Start with one theme for the room-romantic or retro, country or cartoony, Victorian, sports, or maybe treehouse. Pick a color- it could be a favorite clothing color, or a color taken from a special picture, or a color you feel especially drawn to. It takes little effort to find coordinating wallpaper and borders in your chosen color or colors. Add bedding, something on the windows, and a few accessories and you have nicely turned-out room.
Along the same wallpaper-y lines, have you seen those vinyl wallpaper cutouts called Wallies? They are easy to apply and remove, don't mark up the walls, are inexpensive, and come in lots of styles and sizes. You really should check them out.
If you crave something a bit more unusual (and pretty dummy-proof as far as installation goes), try covering your walls with PaperIllusion. This wallpaper, which comes in many colors, is applied in irregularly torn pieces, overlapping one chunk over the others until the wall is covered. No patterns to match, no straight seams to worry about, and a wonderful mottled effect when you're done. I've seen this give walls a leathery-suede look which is quite beautiful. It comes in colors and certainly is worth a look.
If you have a yen for something unique, beautiful, easy to apply - and recycled! then don't miss this page on molded wall tiles.
Do you suffer from chemical sensitivities that make fresh paint a problem? Clay plaster is a non-toxic product that may provide the answer.
Did you notice I haven't mentioned paint? I didn't want to scare you with the idea of coloring your walls. So many people limit themselves to shades of white, beige and maybe very pastel tints, not necessarily because they like the colors (?!?) but because they fear stronger hues. A neutral room certainly can be striking with the right accessories and textures to provide interest, but honestly- are you going for plain vanilla walls as a special look or are you just afraid of making a mistake with color? Go ahead and yield to your yen for eggplant walls, or at least one focal wall. If the color turns out a tad too eggplanty, sponge one or more coats of a lighter shade or a glaze over the wall and see how that looks. You may decide to save the plain vanilla for ice cream.
Walls can also be covered in fabric, and not just wall-to-wall draperies, which can get expensive. Upholstered walls are an option when the walls are rough, irregular or simply ugly. This is not the cheapest choice, what with batting tacked to the wall, fabric stretched over the batting and stapled, and the staples covered with some sort of trim stapled or hot-glued on. It can be, however, something to consider if your room is basically good and just needs something to give it oomph.
Speaking of fabric on walls, did you know you can use fabric like wallpaper, using liquid starch instead of glue? Lightweight fabrics work best and if you choose a solid color, you won't have to worry about matching patterns. Buy the fabric at a discount and buy extra for curtains. You'll have a great look that is entirely removable if you change your mind a year later. Just wash the starch out of the fabric and save it for the next project.
And there's more. Wallpaper borders and murals, chair rails and other architectural moldings, combinations of treatments (wallpaper and paint, fabric and paint with a chair rail between) and items which aren't normally found on walls. Here I'm thinking of a use for all those gazillions of computer CDs that come in the mail. Can you imagine a wall covered entirely, floor to ceiling, with those round reflective circles? Not for everyone, sure, but for the right person, zowie!
I hope this has given you some ideas for wall treatments and, more than that, an urge to get busy and decorate.


Our bamboo motif paper lantern miniature lights are simply delightful and perfect for all occasions and events! Suitable for indoor and temporary outdoor use; string our party lights along doorways, ceilings, under a tree, patio, along railings and around patio umbrellas to create a lovely ambiance. Each set includes ten 3 1/2" inch diameter paper lanterns with expanding fixtures and a 12 foot string light with bulbs. Our paper lantern party lights also includes an extra replaceable paper lantern, an extra fuse and light bulb to illuminate the paper lanterns for a festive atmosphere. Each cord has both female and male plugs on the end to connect up to 3 strings of lights together. Our paper lantern party lights make a stunning and memorable gift for all!


Randy Peyser: In your latest book, Light Emerging, you state that the main desire in life is to fulfill the spiritual longing, and once that is realized and fulfilled, then everything else falls into place. Barbara Brennan: Yes. And any desire you have as a normal human being is directly connected to that spiritual longing….


Give Big! – WE HAVE A $10,000 MATCH!
Thanks to one of our generous and long-time supporters, The Healing Center has the opportunity to leverage your GiveBig gifts with a $10,000 match. We encourage new and larger donations to bolster our contributions this year so we can MEET THE MATCH! Please join us to take advantage of this incredible opportunity, donate here!
THIS YEAR, THE SEATTLE FOUNDATION'S GIVEBIG INITIATIVE WILL BE HELD ON MAY 3RD, WITH A NEW TWIST!
THE MORE WE TAKE IN, THE BETTER OUR STRETCH FROM THE SEATTLE FOUNDATION.
We're planning a festive Open House at The Healing Center on GiveBig Day – May 3. Please drop in from 11 – 3 for tea, cookies and a tour! We'd love to see you.


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Dinesh Shahra Foundation awards scholarship to meritorious students of Vishnuguptha Vishwa Vidya Peetham at Gokarna
national-news
Pledges Continued Support to this unique Vedic University established by Sri Ramachandrapura Matha
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 12: Dinesh Shahra Foundation (DSF) recently awarded scholarship to 30 meritorious students of Vishnuguptha Vishwa Vidyapeetham (VVV) at Gokarna in Karnataka. Founded and spearheaded by Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi, the Guru of Sri Ramachandrapura Matha; VVV is a unique University established on Sanatan Vedic values and principles.
The scholarship programme was organized on the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima and was graced by Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi , Shri Dinesh Shahra, Trustee – DSF and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi said, "There is education in present day Bharat, but unfortunately there is no Bharat in present day education. The aim of Vishnuguptha Vishwa Vidyapeetham is to preserve and promote the glorious traditions of Bharat, for the future generations. VVV is inspired by the ancient University of Takshashila, the world's oldest formal University. ". The revered Guru also congratulated all the meritorious students and thanked DSF for its continued support to Ramachandrapura Matha".
"Nurturing Sanatan based values is the prime motto of DSF and we are committed to it with blessings of the Lord and our Gurus. A Vedic University like Vishnuguptha Vishwa Vidyapeetham is the need of the hour to revive Sanatan Vedic culture, by nurturing spiritual values in young minds for building a strong nation. Sri Sri Raghaveshwara Bharathi and the Ramachandrapura Matha are indeed doing a commendable work towards Sanatan cultural rejuvenation"; said Shri Dinesh Shahra. "It was also a wonderful experience of felicitating 30 deserving students of the Vedic University who showcased exceptional talent in various fields. I always enjoy interactions with students and young minds", he added.
On the occasion, a treatment camp was held for more than 200 indigenous cows in association with Shimoga Animal Medical College and Uttara Kannada District Veterinarians Association at Ashoke Govishwa. Dr. N.B. Sridhar, Dr. Rakeshand Dr. Krishna Murthy conducted the program.
Halasu festival was also organized with the aim of introducing the children to the various dishes that can be made from jackfruit. The children enjoyed many delicacies such as jackfruit cake, nutritive milk of jackfruit seeds, jackfruit festival, and jackfruit chips.
The programme culminated with a grand musical and cultural programme. Shri Dinesh Shahra took the lead in the musical performances singing songs in praise of Lord Shiva and Goddess Saraswati. Besides, various cultural programs such as Loha Tharanga, Guru Gita, Bharatanatyam, drama, folk dance and Yakshagana were presented by the male and female students of Gurukula.
The Dinesh Shahra Foundation (DSF) has been founded out of gratitude for all the knowledge capital Dinesh Shahra has gained over the last 50 years. The foundation is built with an intention to 'Give Back' to the entities that are responsible for the material and spiritual development of the society. Spirituality, sustainability, and education, along with women and child health, are the core causes of DSF.
The post Dinesh Shahra Foundation awards scholarship to meritorious students of Vishnuguptha Vishwa Vidya Peetham at Gokarna appeared first on Republic News Today.
Read Time:2 Minute, 2 Second Mera Tiranga Meri Shaan Abhiyan event will start at 8 am at Daman Square and end at Nandan Kana Square in Bhubaneswar. Bhubaneswar, (Odisha) [India], January 26: Bhubaneswar Knights Round Table 230 and Bhubaneswar Queens Ladies Circle 130 are proud to announce the launch of Mera Tiranga Meri Shaan Abhiyan. This […]
Read Time:2 Minute, 49 Second New Delhi [India], January 25: He is also an athlete who has competed at the national level and won a silver medal in the events of 100M & 400M. Abdul Moyeed Khan is an inspiring young athlete from Uttar Pradesh, India. In 2020, he achieved a gold medal at the […]
Read Time:1 Minute, 46 Second New Delhi (India), January 16: Kishor Parihaar is not an ordinary man. He has become a household name in South Mumbai due to his extraordinary commitment to serving the community. Kishor is a business executive by day and president of South Mumbai's Community Development Council (CDC) by night. His unique position […]
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An Age of Mediocrity
November 1, 2011 By Cliff 4 Comments
Hassan Nasralah: "A Pure Achievement that Sanctifies the Culture of Resistance"
So Good the Peace of Coming Home! I have limited Hebrew skills but that's how I translated one of many new Hebrew banners that seemed to appear everywhere in Jerusalem within hours of the announcement that Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held in captivity in Gaza for the past five years, was finally coming home. The sentiment surrounding the advent of Gilad's release may have been a first: finally something has happened in Israel that Arab and Jew has celebrated together.
Sadly, many Arabs celebrate for different reasons.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasralah called Gilad's release "a pure achievement that sanctifies the culture of resistance." We can quibble with words like pure, sanctifies and culture, but, bottom line, Nasralah is right
They celebrated in Gaza and Ramalah (although some complain); 1027 heroes of radical Islam had been set free from Israeli prisons for the return of just one Jew. These distinguished gentlemen and ladies, while in the care of the state they are dedicated to destroy, were well-fed, kept warm and had access to complete medical care. They had television. They were allowed visitors. Some of them began working on college degrees while Gilad… One Israeli journalist described Shalit as he was released as, "deathly pale, terribly underweight with dark circles under his eyes. He looks like a walking corpse."
It is probably safe to assume that Gilad was not offered a college option while held captive.
Free Gilad Campaign Banner
But nearly everyone is happy. Polling claimed that eighty per cent of Israeli citizens were in favor of the trade of 1 for 1,027. That is an astounding consensus in a country that spawns demonstrations objecting to the rising price of cottage cheese; a country where Jews cannot begin to agree on the timing of the new moon or the identity of their enemies. Banners and TV shows and original music, all extensions of the well documented but hard to understand Jewish Heart, broke out in profusion celebrating the day that…what?
The day that Gilad came home, yes. And the day that a legion of convicted terrorists were set free in Israel and Gaza having vowed immediately after their release to redouble their efforts to kill more Jews, bring an end to the Jewish State, and to harvest more Gilads.
But for some, sadly a minority, it is beyond understanding how those who, though rightfully concerned for Gilad's return, were willing to put an untold number of Israeli children, future Gilads, at risk by embracing A Pact Signed in Jewish Blood.
I heard an interview on Israeli National Radio that seemed to sum everything up. Israel lives in mediocrity. Weak leaders follow a weaker, wayward public who cannot make up their collective mind. We want to secure our borders by abandoning them. We want to save our soldiers by putting murderers back on the streets. We want peace, even if it means inviting our desperate enemies, with our weakness and indecision, to make war.
Filed Under: Journal
Messianic Kitty says
HI Cliff!
Sorry I haven't been sending comments but been reading updates. I am always praying for Israel and especially you and Marsha!:)
Esther Lovejoy says
I wish you were wrong, but your words echo the concerns of my own heart. My only comfort is that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is still sovereign and will work out His plan in spite of poor human judgment.
King says
The threat of finding a solution through the use of "war" can only be seriously considered if it is. not handled like capital punishment
Cliff says
The only mention I made of war was to suggest its increased liklihood if Israel fails to implement a consistent policy toward terrorism. As it is, the Knesset holds an emergency meeting every time something happens and nobody knows where Israel stands.


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Naval Battle (robot)
By 809009469 in CircuitsArduino
Introduction: Naval Battle (robot)
are the Daydreamers! We come from UM-Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-JI), which is established jointly by both University of Michigan and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This page is written to describe our Arduino robot created for the class VG100 (Introduction to Engineering), and it's able to shoot balls to the other side of the battle field.
Our score on the Game Day is 5 small balls and 1 large ball, 9 points totally.
The link of the video which records the performance of our robot car on the Game Day is listed as follow.
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzEwMTE3Njc0NA==.html?spm=a2hzp.8244740.0.0
Step 1: the Joint Institute
Shanghai Jiao Tong University is located in Shanghai Minhang District, and is one of the best Universities in China. The Joint Institute is among its most competitive institutes, which is famous for its international education and faculty.
Step 2: Description of the Competition
In this project, named Naval Battle, we are required to create a robot which can shoot balls to the other side of the battle field, and there are 4 large balls (wooden) and 8 small balls (ping-pong ball) on the field. At the first round, the robot needs to shoot the balls without competitors. According to the number of the balls the robot shoots within limited time, 8 teams with the highest score will participate in the second round, where teams compete with each other. Finally, the group with the best score wins.
P.S. the picture is drawn by the instructors of vg100.
Step 3: The Rules
a. Game time is 3 minutes
b. Only the motors provided by the teacher can be used.
c. The size limit of the robot is 350mm*350mm*200mm.
d. The score is related to the number of balls and counted in the end.
d. The ranking depends on the score, then the number of big balls.
e. There will be an additional 1-minute competition if ranking is same.
Step 4: Grading Details
a.The small ball counts 1pt
The large ball counts 4pts
b. For balls knocked out of the field:
Deduction of 2pts for each small ball
Deduction of 5pts for each large ball
Step 5: Concept Diagram
The above is the concept diagram of our design. The center thing is the Arduino uno microcontroller. A wireless PlayStation 2 joystick is used as the remote control. The L298N is used as the motor controller which can control the speed and the election.
Our method to catch the ball is using a hopper which is controlled by the steering engine. Two screws connect the car and the hopper. A wooden slope at the front of the hopper can help to let the ball in. While two clamps play the same role as well, collecting the little ball. If the balls are collected in the hopper, the car will get close to the barrier and overturn the hopper to pour the balls into the opposite region. Two small wooden holders are used to support and fix the board which is stuck with a steering engine.
Step 6: Material List
Step 7: Step-by-step Process: Step1 Designing the Circuit Diagram
The main controllers of the circuit are the motor driving board and Arduino UNO, which controls two motors through the motor driving board. Arduino also controls two servo motors directly. Besides, two batteries act as the energy supply.The motor driving board is supported by a 12V-battery. It can receive the signals from Arduino which is supportes by a 9V-battery and send them to the motors and determine the speed and the direction of the motor.
Step 8: Step2: Making the Base
The position of the holes are shown on the drawing
a. Cut a 4mm-thick acrylic board for a shape of 16cm*33cm rectangle base.
b. Drill four 4mm-holes on each side of the board for angle irons.
c. Fix the angle iron on the holes with nails.
d. Fit a steering engine on the inside of each angle iron
e. Fit a clutch on the outer side of each angle iron
f. Fix a wheel on each clutch
g. Drill two 4mm holes at the other side of the base.
h. Fix the universal wheel on the holes.
Step 9: Step3:Arranging Controllers and Wires
a.Place the controller parts as picture 1
b.Fix them and wires with electrical tape
c.Fix the TCB battery on the right of the base.
Step 10: Step4: Making the Car Hopper
a. Cut a 1.5mm-thick wooden board for a 16cm*30cm rectangle as the baseplate.
b. Cut two 20*190*4mm acrylic bars and two 20*180*4mm acrylic bars.
c. Drill holes on the bars as the drawing.
d. Drill two 4mm-holes at two of the corners of the wooden board.
e. Cut a 4*21mm rectangle hole near each hole for the bars.
f. Fix the longer bars on the holes with angle ions.
g. Put long nails through the holes on top of the bars to connect the longer bar with the shorter one.
h. Cut two rectangle holes on the acrylic base.
I. Put the shoter bars through the holes to fix them.
j. Place some wooden bars to support the shorter bars.
k. Fix the servo motor, which has a shaft, on the top of one short bar with hotmelts.
i. Use an 84*14cm cardboard to encircle the wooden base plate with glass glue.
m.Stick one 5*9 wood chip on each side of the cardboard.
Step 11: Final System View
Our robot car is simple to make, but has a high efficiency. I hope the car you make following the steps above can win your naval battle. Thank you for watching our instructions, and hope it's useful for you. More details are available through our E-mail: Ophelia@sjtu.edu.cn.
That's a fun battle bot! You should upload a video when your class tests them out :)


Dependability assessment includes both qualitative and quantitative elements. Qualitative assessment relies heavily on expert analysis and judgment. Quantitative assessment relies heavily on the set of techniques usually referred to as Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), techniques such as Fault-Tree Analysis (FTA) and Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). Dependable Computing has expertise in all of these fields.
Safety cases are an important emerging technology in the field of safety engineering. Safety cases provide a rigorous means of documenting the rationale for belief that a subject system is adequately safe for the intended application in the intended operational environment. Dependable Computing has extensive experience in the development, review and assessment of production safety cases and a set of custom tools that facilitate these activities.
Dependability of modern safety- and security-critical systems relies extensively on software for design, development and implementation. A software fault can impact the overall system dependability at any of these lifecycle phases. To achieve the necessary levels of software assurance requires the comprehensive application of rigorous software techniques. Dependable Computing has extensive expertise is all aspects of rigorous software development.
Formal specification is the use of mathematically based formal languages to document the specification of a software entity. Z and PVS are two formal languages that are in common use. Dependable Computing has extensive experience in the application of both of these formal languages.
SPARK is a programming system that combines a mechanism for defining the low-level specification of a software system with a verifiable subset of Ada for writing the software. Proof tools allow formal verification of software written using SPARK. Dependable Computing has extensive experience in both the development and proof of software using SPARK.
These courses provide a foundational overview of the principles and technology of dependability for software engineers and software-engineering managers.
Dependable Computing's courses on assurance cases are designed to both introduce the concept, argument structure, and notation of the assurance case as well as equip attendees with a solid understanding of how to recognize and build a compelling assurance-case argument.
Dependable Computing's courses on formal methods are designed to provide both the fundamentals needed to understand any formal approach as well as training in the use of specific techniques.


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Movie Theme Songs & TV Soundtracks
Movie Theme Songs
Childrens Theme Songs
Advert Theme Songs
Movie Forums
Looney Tunes Theme Song
Looney Tunes is an animated comedy series that only runs for around 10 minutes at a time, a series of short films if you were. Looney Tunes is a Warner Brothers creation and has several different much loved characters who have entertained the lives of children for a very long time. Looney Tunes plays host to such well know and much loved characters as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Tweety, Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner. Many of these characters often interacting with each other and throughout the still going life span of this animated series some cross over so other Looney Tunes interact with each other.
About The Looney Tunes Movie Theme Song
As well as Looney Tunes gripping the lives, minds and imagination of children globally Looney Tunes also had a very recognisable and now probably infamous theme song. It doesn't really come as much of a surprise though does it as mentioned in the title Lonney Tunes, tunes probably giving it away. The title for this infamous piece of music is called 'The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down' and if you listen closely it does sound like a carousel that has broke down and the music has just gone a bit haywire thanks to it. This opening theme song was written by Cliff Friend and Dave Franklin in 1937 and is still recognisable today, that really does show you the popularity of the series. Finally Looney Tunes also had the exact same closing theme but right at the end we had Porky Pig appear stuttering the words 'That's all folks!'
Artist/Group: Cliff Friend & Dave Franklin
Track: The Merry-go-round Broke Down
Looney Tunes Movie Trailer
Here's the official Looney Tunes movie trailer which you can watch for free. To watch the Looney Tunes trailer just click play below and the movie trailer will start playing.
Download Looney Tunes
If you'd like to download the Looney Tunes theme song or download Looney Tunes trailer you've come to the right place. You'll need to use some video download software which you can find online which will let you download the Looney Tunes theme song video in HD.
Looney Tunes Pictures & Wallpapers
Here are some great Looney Tunes pictures and Looney Tunes desktop wallpapers. You can download any of these images to your computer by right-clicking on the picture you want and choosing "save image as". Once you've downloaded one of these Looney Tunes images you can use it as your wallpaper etc.
Latest Looney Tunes Desktop Wallpapers
Here are the latest high resolution Looney Tunes wallpapers which you can download right now.
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A radical old age
By Emma Davies2009-07-28T17:08:55+01:00
As we expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of ageing, could we soon see a jump in 'healthspan'? Emma Davies talks to the scientists tackling age-related disease
As we expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of ageing, could we soon see a jump in 'healthspan'? Emma Davies talks to the scientists tackling age-related disease
We are living far longer than ever before. This may make us fret less about the future but our ever- increasing life expectancy brings the major downside that more people are living to experience the diseases that age brings, such as Alzheimer's. And, as Linda Partridge, director of the Institute of Healthy Ageing at University College London (UCL), UK, pointed out when she gave the Royal Society Croonian lecture in May, Alzheimer's and dementia are just the tip of the iceberg. All of the major killers, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, are strongly age-related. But hope is around the corner. Ageing research has come on so far in recent years that Partridge visualises a future, not too distant, when we can develop broad-spectrum preventative medicine for age-related diseases.
© TIM VERNON, LTH NHS TRUST / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Stressful chemistry
The end goal of ageing research is not, on the whole, to extend lifespan, but to find a way to improve 'healthspan', to keep people healthy for as long as possible into old age. The field of research is vast, covering subjects from genetics to chemistry. Brian Merry, who researches ageing at the University of Liverpool, UK, recalls a major review paper in the 1990s that described about 300 theories of ageing, implying much confusion in the field. 'We now have a [small] number of interesting approaches to ageing, one of which is the oxidative stress theory,' he says. Like any of the theories, oxidative stress has had its fair share of doubters, but the science is becoming stronger and the chemistry is interesting, which brings me to focus on it here.
© DAVID GIFFORD / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Oxidative stress can occur when the body can't cope with levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) - oxidising chemicals that can damage cellular components from proteins and lipids to DNA. Most research in this area can be traced back to work carried out in the 1930s by Clive McCay, a nutrition researcher at Cornell University, US, who prolonged survival in rats by restricting the amount of food that they ate. Subsequent work has shown that the more you restrict energy intake - up to the limit that can be tolerated before starvation kicks in - the greater the effect on survival in rodents. Limiting food intake remains the most effective way to slow the progressive decline in cellular function, and has been shown to extend survival of a wide range of species including yeast, nematode worms, fruit flies, spiders, fish, and rodents.
In the US, two large long-term studies at the National Institute of Ageing (NIA) and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are looking at whether dietary restriction can also extend lifespan in primates. The latest results are very promising. The NIA monkeys on a calorie-restricted diet, for example, have less abdominal fat and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, reducing the risk factors for several age-related diseases. The studies are now reaching a critical stage as the monkeys approach old age - recent results from the Wisconsin study reveal that 37 per cent of its control group of rhesus monkeys have died of age-related causes, compared with only 13 per cent in the calorie-restricted group.
Source: © CORBIS
Oxidative stress can be the death of cells
Molecular mechanics
Researchers still don't understand how dietary restriction works at a molecular level. It could be linked to insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels and metabolism and the related insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), which regulates growth. Mutations in genes that encode the protein components of the insulin and Igf1 signalling pathways have proved to extend lifespan of nematode worms, fruit flies and mice. Changes in insulin levels and signalling because of dietary restriction could be linked to changes in ROS production.
And the main source of reactive oxygen species that can damage most tissues in the body are the mitochondria, the cellular machinery that power our bodies, says Doug Wallace, director of the Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics at the University of California, Irvine, US. Merry too has no doubt about the importance of mitochondria. 'In my group we've focused on looking at the main organelle that produces oxidative stress, and that's the mitochondrion,' he says.
Anti-ageing drugs
Discovering drugs that slow the rate of ageing in older people could provide a route to combating age-dependent disease. And it's existing drugs that give most hope. Clioquinol (CQ), an anti-fungal drug, has been shown to have beneficial effects in cellular and animal models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.1 Meanwhile, in work coordinated by the US National Institute of Ageing, researchers recently reported that rapamycin, a drug used to prevent transplanted organ rejection, can extend the lives of mice by up to 14 per cent.2
CQ shows promise against neurodegeneration
CQ is a metal chelator that binds divalent cations and enters mitochondria. A team led by Siegfried Hekimi at McGill University, Canada, has strong evidence to suggest that CQ's apparent ability to slow ageing lies in its action on a key mitochondrial enzyme, CLK-1. His team recently discovered that CQ inhibits the activity of CLK-1 in cultured cells and suggests that CLK-1 is 'very sensitive' to losing its iron.1
CQ is currently of more use as a research tool than a drug, having been banned in many countries after over 10,000 Japanese people who had been using it as an intestinal disinfectant in the 1960s developed subacute myelo-optic neuropathy. 'It has never been firmly proven that clioquinol caused the syndrome,' says Hekimi. The drug was used for 20 years prior to the epidemic with no ill effects.
Rapamycin too would have its problems, if given as some kind of anti-ageing drug. It suppresses the immune system and could make people more likely to succumb to infectious diseases. Also, the dose given to the mice is far higher than the standard human dose.
Food for fuel
Mitochondria are found in almost every cell, with a main function to convert the energy in food molecules to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which can be used for all of the cell's energy-consuming activities.
These organelles have a complicated biochemistry, which incorporates the Krebs cycle - as reluctantly memorised by generations of students. In a nutshell, electrons are shuttled between molecules in the mitochondria and protons are pumped out to the space between the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes. The gradient of protons formed across the inner membrane forms a miniature battery and the energy released as these protons flow is harnessed to synthesise ATP.
The mitochondria occasionally take a break from synthesising ATP and pass from so-called state three respiration to state four. In this state, the mitochondria keep pumping protons to maintain the membrane potential - 'purely to keep the battery charged,' explains Merry. It is in this state that the complexes of the electron transport chain are at their most reduced and the membrane potential is at its highest. 'At this stage the mitochondria produce the maximal amount of superoxide anions, O2.-, because the chemistry is such that the probability of a single electron escaping to molecular oxygen is greatest when the complex is most reduced,' explains Merry.
Source: © DR DAVID FURNESS, KEELE UNIVERSITY / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
The mitochondria seem to be our major source of reactive oxygen species
Other oxidising agents soon form. 'Manganese superoxide dismutase [a mitochondrial enzyme] takes two superoxide anions and makes one hydrogen peroxide, which is pretty stable,' explains Wallace. This can diffuse out of the mitochondrion and if it encounters a transition metal, such as iron, with an extra electron, that electron will be donated to form a hydroxyl radical, an even more active oxidising agent. So, thanks to the mitochondria, damaging ROS put our cells under oxidative stress.
But dietary restriction seems to cut ROS levels. A number of researchers, including Merry, have shown - by isolating and analysing mitochondria - that the levels of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide generated in dietary restricted rodents are up to 50 per cent lower than in control animals. Merry's team discovered that the mitochondria of dietary restricted rats become 'more leaky' to protons, lowering the membrane potential and so reducing the likelihood of the mitochondria donating single electrons to molecular oxygen during state four respiration.
However, the link between ROS and ageing remains hazy. 'There are some holes in the oxidative stress theory,' admits Merry. 'For example you can produce transgenic animals so that you produce more oxidative stress, and you can show quite clearly that oxidative damage is occurring in tissues but that survival is not altered.'
Researchers still don't know how important oxidative stress is in determining the rate of ageing, says Merry. 'We think we can explain why dietary restricted animals show a slower accrual of oxidative stress with age but we can't say "and that is what controls the rate of ageing" because we don't know what the target is,' he says.
Source: © EQUINOX GRAPHICS / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Reactive oxygen species can damage DNA, as well as proteins and lipids, within our cells
Many targets have been suggested for oxidative stress, including DNA, proteins, lipids, redox agents, and transcription factors (proteins which bind to specific DNA sequences and control the transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA). The redox-sensitive transcription factors look particularly promising as targets. 'The idea within the field is that with ageing, cells move to a more oxidised state, and redox-sensitive transcription factors become chronically activated and move into the nucleus where they can activate or repress gene expression,' explains Merry. The theory would fit nicely with the apparent randomness of ageing. 'For example, if you've got a bank of 20 redox-sensitive transcription factors that respond to oxidative stress levels, these may vary differently in different cells and in different people and then you'll get different gene expression changes,' suggests Merry. His team recently studied the activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors, looking at the age profile of three animal models: control rats, dietary restricted rats, and rats with a putative antioxidant in their diet. He has yet to publish the data, but says they do not appear to support the theory. 'Different tissues responded in different ways with ageing and I did not always see a lower level of transcription factor activation in age-matched tissues from dietary restricted animals,' he says. 'I think the jury is still out on this idea and indeed on the whole oxidative stress theory of ageing.'
Life-limiting chemistry
'There is a big push to find out what damage is life-limiting,' says Laura Niedernhofer, a researcher at the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, US. 'It's difficult to work out what is actually limiting the life and function of a cell. There could be lots of things that tip the cell over the edge but then perhaps the mitochondria make things worse,' she suggests.
Niedernhofer is focusing on DNA damage in the nucleus of the cells. Her group studies human diseases where people have defects in DNA repair mechanisms, including some progerias - rare genetic conditions that cause rapid ageing. The group has identified a single gene (XPF) that, when mutated in humans, can lead to a profound risk of cancer or rapidly accelerated ageing. 'We modelled this in the mouse to create an experimental system in which to study the relationship between DNA damage, cancer and ageing,' she explains.
'I'm pretty excited about the thought that we could reduce the amount of DNA damage,' says Niedernhofer. People with inherited defects in their DNA repair mechanisms don't all die at a similar age, which you might expect. 'That suggests to me that the environment or something that they are doing in their lifestyle has a huge impact on that,' says Niedernhofer. 'By looking at these patients we're also learning something about natural ageing,' she adds.
Niedernhofer's group is testing the role that diet may play on DNA damage by feeding XPF-deficient mice diets with variable fat content to see if they can delay cancer and/or extend lifespan. Preliminary data indicate that diets depleted in polyunsaturated fats extend life, whereas diets rich in these fats reduce lifespan and accelerate ageing, says Niedernhofer. Polyunsaturated fats - often promoted as a healthier alternative to saturated fats - are actually prone to peroxidation by ROS in vivo, which is a major source of endogenous genotoxins, she explains.
Source: © JIM JUDKIS
Niedernhofer is looking for the link between ROS and DNA damage
And in work that ties in with mitochondria, her team is also using the XPF mouse model to test a radical scavenger molecule. Many have tried to use dietary antioxidant supplements to extend lifespan by soaking up ROS, but with little success. 'Radical scavengers seemed like a better bet,' says Niedernhofer. She teamed up with Peter Wipf, a natural product synthetic chemist also at the University of Pittsburgh. He selected a compound that his team had tested to treat haemorrhagic shock. 'Based upon our hypothesis of its mechanism of action we believed there might be a chance that our compound would have efficacy in Laura's model,' says Wipf. He was fascinated by the chemical challenge of getting small organic molecules through the cell membrane into the highly protected mitochondria.
Wipf was convinced that he would be able to find a natural product with an affinity for mitochondria. Rather than do a broad screen of natural products, he came up with the idea of looking at antibacterial agents, as bacteria have similar cell membranes to mitochondria. The first antibacterial that Wipf selected, gramicidin S, turned out to be very successful in providing a lead toward the delivery of small molecules to mitochondria. His team had to re-engineer the compound to take out its antibacterial activity, which would have seen it damaging the membrane of red blood cells.
Wipf's gramicidin S based molecule has a radical-scavenging tail (4-AT)
Niedernhofer's group gave the mice the modified chemical and monitored symptoms of neurodegeneration over 20 weeks to give an ageing score. After two such studies, it was clear that 'the drug led to a very significant improvement in this score over the control group,' reveals Wipf. His team is now working on improving the 'potency and pharmacokinetics' of the radical scavenger.
Wipf is particularly excited about another project he is working on which uses nanoparticles as part of a strategy to pursue anti-ageing. He sees the nanoparticles as high-tech containers and envisages being able to deliver 'a whole cocktail of agents' with short and long-term action to sites within the mitochondria. 'We are working with a collaborator who is able to tell us where these nanoparticles go and what kind of effect they have on cells,' he reveals.
The preliminary data are very encouraging, says Wipf, although he is keeping them under wraps for the time being. He has increased the number of people working on the project and the team is in the process of reproducing the data before it submits for publication in the next couple of months.
Wipf is certain that mitochondria hold the key to ageing. 'Mitochondrial chemistry is critical; I don't believe that anything else is nearly as important to the ageing process as mitochondria,' he says.
Ageing research is currently done by clusters of researchers working independently but UCL's Linda Partridge would like to see more unity. 'By tackling the causes of ageing itself we could treat, or at least delay, a broad spectrum of conditions simultaneously,' she predicts.
'In the short term, people are applying their expertise to individual diseases that are associated with ageing,' says Niedernhofer. 'The main logic for that is there's no way to truly do a clinical trial to prevent or delay ageing because by the time you've finished your trial, you have a drug that isn't proprietary any more.'
The answer has to lie in somehow pulling together the different theories. 'When we understand the biology we'll be in a position to develop pharmaceutical compounds to intervene,' says Merry. 'We can never say to people: we'll put you on a dietary restriction regime; we have got to understand the process before we know where to intervene.' What complicates matters is that humans live too long for useful trials to be carried out during a scientist's career. And as Niedernhofer points out: 'You can't treat people who aren't sick yet to delay something that may or may not happen.'
It is clear that we still have a long way to go before we truly understand what makes human bodies deteriorate in old age. I can't help hoping the researchers get there long before my time is up.
1 Y Wang et al, J. Biol. Chem., 2009, 284, 314 (DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M807579200)
2 D E Harrison et al, Nature, 2009, DOI: 10.1038/nature08221
Omega-3s and brain health
Modern diets can leave us short on essential fatty acids. Barbara Pinho looks into how this is affecting our health and our brains in particular
Are everyday chemicals contributing to global obesity?
Research in animal models suggests the simple 'energy in, energy out' model doesn't tell the whole story. Anthony King talks to researchers worried about obesogens


The genocide that started on broke out on 6 April 1994 – the worst planned ethnic killing since the Holocaust sixty years earlier – Rwanda is struggling to overcome its dark history of thirty-two years of state division, years of economic collapse and 100 days of genocide that killed 1,000,000 people. In 1994, the country was in ruins and most, if not all, the infrastructure was destroyed.
The genocide had long reaching socio-economic consequences that are working against Rwanda in rebuilding itself.
Yet since those dark days of 1994, tremendous efforts have been made by the government of Rwanda and other organizations to tackle the complex problems facing Rwanda.
It is in that context of reconstruction that informally on October 2009, it was put in place a non-government organization entitled "Umbrella for Vulnerable" which operated to face the socio economic consequences of war and genocide most especially for the vulnerable people and on 16 February 2015, the NGO obtained the legal personality from the Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) numbered No.003/NGO/RGB/2015.


At QMSC on Sat 29th March the RTYC hosted the first ever Younger Members Interclub Regatta. The day's J/80 fleet racing consisted of 8 short races and was attended by teams from the RTYC, the Royal Yacht Squadron, the Oxford & Cambridge Sailing Society, Exeter University Boat Club, the Household Division Yacht Club and Sea View Yacht Club.
The conditions - a sunny 19 degrees and a moderate breeze - made for a marvellous spring event. The racing was dominated by the OCSS team who were peerless at the starts, and notched up a total of 4 wins over the course of the day. Second place went to the RYS after some consistent racing and despite a controversial luffing effort against the RTYC boat in the penultimate race, which badly needed a bullet due to a prior disqualification. Overall the event was a tremendous success both on and off the water and we hope to continue the tradition of interclub younger members' events in 2015.


text:
Q: JS/AngualarJS/Jquery/CSS Minimize Maximize Window I am trying to understand how to make my current 'modal' code allow for a minimize and maximize button where the modal would minimize to the bottom of the screen when clicking the - button and in the little rectangle at the bottom allow for clicking the + button to bring it back.
Basically I want it to work the same as a browser where you minimize things to the bottom of the desktop, but in this case our application.
HTML
<button id="phq_btn" ng-click="openModalBtn('phq_modal','modal-overlay')">PHQ Open Modal</button>

PHQ-9

×

CONTENT GOES HERE.

CSS
/* The Modal (background) */
.modal {
    display: none; /* Hidden by default */
    position: fixed; /* Stay in place */
    z-index: 999; /* Sit on top */
    left: 0;
    top: 0;
    width: 100%; /* Full width */
    height: 100%; /* Full height */
    z-index: 999;
    /*
    background-color: rgb(0,0,0); /* Fallback color
    background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); /* Black w/ opacity
    */

  }

  /* Modal Content/Box */
  .modal-content {
    padding: 10px;
    background-color: #fefefe;
    margin: 5% auto; /* 15% from the top and centered */
    border: 1px solid #888;
    border-radius: 10px;
    height: 70%;
    width: 80%; /* Could be more or less, depending on screen size */
    pointer-events:all;
    z-index: 999;
  }

    /* Modal Scroll Content*/
.modal-scroll {
    overflow-y: scroll !important;
    background-color: #fefefe;
    height: 100%;
    width: 100%;
    pointer-events:all;
    }

    .modal-header{
    cursor: pointer;
    }

  /* The Close Button */
  .close {
    color: #f7f3f3;
    float: right;
    font-size: 28px;
    font-weight: 600;
    cursor: pointer;
    height: 15px;
    width: 20px;
    text-align: right;
    pointer-events:all;
  }

  .close:hover,
  .close:focus {
    color: white;
    text-decoration: none;
    cursor: pointer;
  }

  .modal-overlay-on {
    z-index: 1000;
    position: fixed;
    top: 0;
    bottom: 0;
    left: 0;
    right: 0;
    background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
    transition: opacity 200ms;
    opacity: 1;
    pointer-events: none;
    cursor: default;
  }

JS
//Open Modal
$scope.openModalBtn = function(modal,overlay){
eval(modal + '.style.display = "block"');
eval("$('#" + overlay + "').addClass('modal-overlay-on')");
};

//Close Modal
$scope.closeModalBtn = function(modal,overlay){
eval(modal + '.style.display = "none"');
eval("$('#" + overlay + "').removeClass('modal-overlay-on')");
};

//Drag Modal
$(".modal").draggable({
    handle: ".modal-header"
});

//Disable Click outside of Modal
window.onclick = function(event) {
    if (event.target == phq_modal) {
    phq_modal.style.display = "none";
    }
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
10708 Richardspalding è un asteroide della fascia principale. Scoperto nel 1981, presenta un'orbita caratterizzata da un semiasse maggiore pari a 2,9110888 UA e da un'eccentricità di 0,0773309, inclinata di 3,13386° rispetto all'eclittica.

Collegamenti esterni

Richardspalding
Corpi celesti scoperti nel 1981

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Our Teachers – Ashley Alden Sanford
Ashley Alden Sanford
Voice and Musikgarten Instructor
Ashley Alden made her New York City role debut as Barbarina in dell'Arte Opera Ensemble's Le nozze di Figaro as part of their critically acclaimed Beaumarchais Trilogy. Ms. Alden completed her training with a Professional Studies certificate at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music under the supervision of Marlena Malas. While at Manhattan she worked closely with Artistic Director Dona D. Vaughn through her Opera Studio and as Julie in their performance of Susa's Dangerous Liaisons. Ms. Alden received both her Master's and Bachelor's from The Catholic University of America where she was honored with the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music Performance Award in recognition of her work as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) and Musetta (La bohème) to name a few.
While in Washington D.C., she performed with Bel Cantanti Opera as Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Adina (Elixir of Love) and Der Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte). In 2017, Ms. Alden worked closely with famed Metropolitan Opera coach Joan Dornemann in her International Vocal Arts Institute held in New York City. In addition to her opera performance, Ms. Alden has performed great vocal works such as Schubert's Mass in G, Bach's Coffee Cantata, and Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasilieras. As a core member of The Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia she debuted the 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning Anthracite Fields by Julia Wolf. Recent performances include Mozart's Laudate Dominum from Vesperae Solemnness di Domenica K321 with Maestro Giovanni Reggioli and the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra. Ms. Alden is a frequent collaborator with acclaimed pianist Joy Schreier with whom she is available for recitals. This summer, she follows her interest in the Alexander Technique by studying at the New York City's Balance Arts Center ATsinging Intensive where she'll work on the intersection of the technique with classical singing.
As an instructor, Ms. Alden works with all types of musicians, from newbies to college bound pre-professional singers. She builds on the foundations of alignment, breath, and clear mind to produce a healthy and efficient sound. In addition to building technique, Ms. Alden teaches music theory, acting, stage deportment, language, and musicianship. She hopes to inspire critical thinking within her students that moves beyond the studio and into everyday life. Ms. Alden's teaching style brings a mix of professionalism and humor that students find disarming, allowing them to get their best work out of each lesson. Starting this year at Naptown Sings, Ms. Alden's studio will meet once monthly as a group to further integrate technique and musicianship while maintaining the fun community Ms. Alden's students are known to enjoy.
Here's what people are saying!
"Ashley Alden has been teaching voice lessons to my students at Archbishop Spalding High School since September, 2018. I have seen much improvement in these students as vocalists, musicians and performers. I was so impressed with their progress that I asked Ashley to take me on as a student. I was suffering from severe tension in my neck and shoulders which was causing me to have problems speaking and especially singing. I am happy to say that she has worked wonders with me in a very short period of time. Her knowledge of The Alexander Technique and her attention to detail during the lessons has helped me grow as a singer and a teacher. I highly recommend Ashley to anyone wishing to improve their singing/musicianship and can honestly say that these lessons have been a true blessing to me, both physically and musically.
Beth Hough – Director of Choirs at Archbishop Spalding High School
"I can say, with strongest confidence that Ashley is an amazing instructor.
Ashley has taught my daughter, Blanca, for three years. Originally, we had searched for a singing teacher, because of Blanca's interest in musical theater. Blanca has a natural acting ability, but was less adept at singing. However, in the time that she has been working with Ashley, Blanca's skills and confidence as a singer have greatly increased and this has had a positive effect on her auditions and performances. Ashley has been a patient teacher, who has tailored her instruction in accordance with Blanca's needs. Ashley has also been very flexible with her teaching schedule in order to accommodate Blanca's many rehearsals and extra curricular activities.
I highly recommend Ashley as a singing instructor. She has done an incredible job for my daughter."
Sandra Toro
"Miss Ashley has been teaching my 10 year-old daughter for 2 years. She is committed to bringing out the best in Stella and working on her strengths and identifying her weaknesses. Stella has improved dramatically and loves her singing class. Miss Ashley is passionate about her career which you can truly see being passed on to the students. She is professional, caring, and fun and creates a positive environment and experience for each class."
Jessie Shiek
View More Teachers


text:
Q: Recommended macros to add functionality to Clojure's defrecord constructor? defrecord in clojure allows for defining simple data containers with custom fields.
e.g.
user=> (defrecord Book [author title ISBN])
user.Book

The minimal constructor that results takes only positional arguments with no additional functionality such as defaulting of fields, field validation etc.
user=> (Book. "J.R.R Tolkien" "The Lord of the Rings" 9780618517657)
#:user.Book{:author "J.R.R Tolkien", :title "The Lord of the Rings", :ISBN 9780618517657}

It is always possible to write functions wrapping the default constructor to get more complex construction semantics - using keyword arguments, supplying defaults and so on.
This seems like the ideal scenario for a macro to provide expanded semantics. What macros have people written and/or recommend for richer defrecord construction?

A: Examples of support for full and partial record constructor functions and support for eval-able print and pprint forms:

*

*http://david-mcneil.com/post/765563763/enhanced-clojure-records

*http://github.com/david-mcneil/defrecord2
David is a colleague of mine and we are using this defrecord2 extensively in our project.  I think something like this should really be part of Clojure core (details might vary considerably of course).
The things we've found to be important are:

*

*Ability to construct a record with named (possibly partial) parameters: (new-foo {:a 1})

*Ability to construct a record by copying an existing record and making modifications: (new-foo old-foo {:a 10})

*Field validation - if you pass a field outside the declared record fields, throw an error.  Of course, this is actually legal and potentially useful, so there are ways to make it optional.  Since it would be rare in our usage, it's far more likely to be an error.

*Default values - these would be very useful but we haven't implemented it. Chas Emerick has written about adding support for default values here:  http://cemerick.com/2010/08/02/defrecord-slot-defaults/

*Print and pprint support - we find it very useful to have records print and pprint in a form that is eval-able back to the original record.  For example, this allows you to run a test, swipe the actual output, verify it, and use it as the expected output.  Or to swipe output from a debug trace and get a real eval-able form.

A: Here is one that defines a record with default values and invariants.  It creates a ctor that can take keyword args to set the values of the fields.
(defconstrainedrecord Foo [a 1 b 2]
  [(every? number? [a b])])

(new-Foo)
;=> #user.Foo{:a 1, :b 2}

(new-Foo :a 42)
; #user.Foo{:a 42, :b 2}

And like I said... invariants:
(new-Foo :a "bad")
; AssertionError

But they only make sense in the context of Trammel.

A: Here is one approach: http://david-mcneil.com/post/765563763/enhanced-clojure-records


Opportunity to specialize in your field of interest - graduate study allows you to focus your studies on topics that particularly interest you.
Opportunity to expand your skill-set - after the BS in ECE, your graduate degree could be an MBA, an MD, a degree in Law or a PhD.
Opportunity to earn a higher salary - on average, engineers with a Master's degree receive a 15% higher starting salary, compared to a BS graduate. Those with a Ph.D. degree can expect even higher earnings.
Rowan ECE offers two graduate programs, a new Ph.D. in Engineering with specialization in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, which consists of research track (with thesis) and professional track (courses only).
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department is now offering a Ph.D. in Engineering program with specialization in Electrical and Computer Engineering that consists of a unique and innovative curricular structure. Rowan's Ph.D. Program is a terminal degree program that is specifically designed to meet the changing needs of researchers, scholars and scientists in academia, industry, and the government. The primary goal of this program is therefore to prepare students for careers in research and/or academics by providing an environment that closely reflects the realities and expectations encountered by today's academicians, professional scientists and research engineers. The program is designed to offer a highly flexible inter and multi-disciplinary curricular structure, allowing specialization in any (or multiple) of the traditional or emerging engineering disciplines. The primary strength of the program is involving students in activities that they are most likely to encounter in a real-world academic or industrial settings.
At least one approved graduate level Math class. Certain math intensive engineering courses may be used to satisfy this requirement (3 credits).
Effective Teaching in Academic and Corporate Environments (3 credits).
Strategic Technical Writing and Winning Grant Proposals (2 credits).
At least 18 course credits (not including Effective Teaching and Strategic Technical Writing courses) must be obtained from graduate only classes (600-level classes, or 500-level classes with no corresponding 400-level equivalent offered at the same time).
A minimum of 21 credits must come from "Research." Up to 9 Research credits may come from ENGR 599 (MS level research). Students who complete their Master's degree elsewhere will be considered to have taken 9 credits of ENGR 599. All remaining Research credits must come from ENGR 699, the last 3 of which must be taken during the semester in which the Ph.D. Candidate plans to take his/her Ph.D. Dissertation Defense.
All additional courses to be taken will be determined jointly by the student and his/her Ph.D. advisor (the Advisor) based on the specific area of interest, research and career goals. Courses offered by one department (under any of the Specializations) will, in general, be available to students in any Specialization, as long as they fit the aforementioned goals.
All Ph.D. students will be required to complete all research compliance training required by the University for any research active employee.
Regular attendance and participation in (0-credit) graduate seminars (ENGR 01.600 ToughTalk: Graduate Seminar) will be required for students for each Fall and Spring semesters they are in the program. This course will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
CPRE will have four components in i) teaching, ii) grant writing, iii) publishing, and iv) service, each with its own requirements of diversity in that category. Specifically, teaching experience will require teaching at least 2 classes covering lower and upper level courses; grant writing experience will require small and medium / large scope proposals; publishing experience will require both conference and journal publications; and service will require students to be actively involved in a relevant professional society and serve at least twice on appropriate department / college level committees. Details are provided below.
Successful completion of a Ph.D. qualifier examination within the first 2 years of the program.
Successful defense of a candidacy exam, defending a Ph.D. proposal, twelve to eighteen months after the qualifier exam.
Successful defense of the Ph.D. dissertation. Students will conduct research in emerging areas for addressing unsolved and open problems in electrical and computer engineering, and leading to a dissertation and successful defense of the dissertation.
Effective Teaching: The candidate will take a new class called (ENGR 01.601) Effective Teaching in Academic, Corporate, and Government Settings discussing effective ways and best practices in providing technical content at a higher education or corporate / government setting. As part of this course, the student will be assigned to a professor in his / her home department (as an apprentice) to follow in and out of class to learn about the art of teaching, and allow him/her to learn different teaching / learning styles, teaching pedagogy, as well as conflict resolution and responding to a variety of situations that may arise in the course of teaching in a college or corporate setting. During this apprenticeship period, the student may teach the recitation / lab portion of the class, but will not be responsible for preparing lecture material. Once this class is completed, the student will be given primary teaching assignments, appropriate with his/her interests and skills. Each student will be expected to teach at least two classes - one at lower and one at upper level, under the College of Engineering'Äôs Teaching Fellow program. Students interested in an academic career may request additional teaching appointments.
Grant Writing: The students will be expected to learn the art and science of grant proposal writing and application. This will include a course, ENGR 01.602: Strategic Technical Writing and Winning Grant Proposals, whose final deliverable will be a formal conference / journal paper (to be submitted for publication) and an actual small size professional grant application. After completing this class, the student will be expected to write one more proposal, medium or large in scope, in which the student may act as a PI or Co-PI (if the sponsor allows, or participate in advisor's application, otherwise). The proposal may be academic research, industrial research or development depending on the applicant's future career interests.
Publishing: At least four published conference papers, one published journal paper (beyond MS) and at least one additional journal paper submitted (under review or published) will be required to satisfy the publishing requirement of CPRE. Depending on the nature of the research or publication venue, this requirement can be modified by the student's Advising Committee.
The ECE department at Rowan University offers two different tracks, both leading to the MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering degree. The program details can be found in the MS in ECE Program Guide and Overview [link] and below.
This track is designed for those who are interested in developing an expertise within a specific area of focus within Electrical and Computer Engineering. To develop such an expertise, students in Research Track perform a rigorous research, supervised by an advising professor, on a specific topic of interest to solve a previously unsolved problem. The outcome of this research culminates in a MS thesis. Students who would like to excel in one of the areas of electrical and computer engineering, or those who are considering pursuing a Ph.D. one day, typically choose this track. Students who are accepted to this track are often eligible for research assistantships or teaching fellowships that can reduce or eliminate the out-of-pocket cost of the graduate education (see below for more details).
This track is designed for those who are not interested in research or writing a thesis, but rather interested in expanding their breadth and depth of ECE knowledge by taking a larger number of courses in a wide spectrum of electrical and/or computer engineering fields. Students in this track do not work on a thesis, and take 30 credits of courses, which his typically 10 graduate level courses. While this is a course-only track, students who wish to obtain some research experience may choose to work on a smaller-scale project that can be count-ed for 3 credits (or 1 class).
At least one of the electives must include significant use of computing or programming. A approved graduate level computer science class may be used to satisfy this requirement. An independent mini research project can be used to replace one of the 8 electives.
Submit at least two printed and bounded copies to the ECE department.
Be an admitted, matriculated full-time and active student in good standing in the program.
Register for at least 4 consecutive terms (for MS students).
Commit significant hours each week of each term to academic research under the guidance of their Advisor/Program Coordinator/Research Supervisor.
Work with faculty members on research projects leading to the Master's thesis.
Submit the additional hiring paperwork listed within the Fellowship Agreement.
Commit additional hours each week of each term to academic research.
Teach two 3-credit courses within their first four terms of enrollment as agreed upon with their academic program/department.
Full details about the student costs, funding provided, and all expectations and responsibilities required of Fellows are included in the official Graduate Fellowship Agreement Form, which can be obtained from the department or from CGCE Academic Services. Fellowship Agreements are subject to change due to changes in funding availability. No university or department-sponsored fellowship is available for MS students after students have reached the 30-credit limit.
Completion of a Bachelor's degree in electrical or computer engineering or a related area from accredited institution of higher education.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)or better; or a minimum of 3.2 in-major GPA, or be in the upper 10% of graduating class.
Completion of foundation courses: Chemistry I, Physics I, Calculus I, II, and III, Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations.
Two letters of recommendation (three for the Ph.D. program) describing your ability to undertake rigorous graduate level work.
Typewritten statement of professional objectives.
Current curriculum vitae or resume - Students applying to the PhD program should also be able to show sufficient demonstration of independent research skills (advanced course projects, papers, presentations, thesis, etc.).
a minimum TOEFL score of 79 on the internet based test (IBT). Corresponding scores for the paper and computer based tests are: 550 (PBT), 213 (CBT).
International students who have received their undergraduate degree from English speaking countries will be exempt from TOEFL requirement.
An admission committee member may also require an interview (in person, over the phone, or over the Internet, as appropriate and feasible).
A GRE exam is NOT required, but encouraged; however, GRE scores will be used in evaluating the applicant should the applicant choose to provide these scores. Students are particularly encouraged to submit GRE scores if they believe their academic background is stronger than what is implied by their GPA. Applicants for the PhD program are also encouraged to submit GRE scores.
Note that the above is an abbreviated list, including academic requirements only. For complete admission requirements and the application process see the MS in ECE Program Guide and Overview and go to MS in ECE Information and Application Page to apply.
Any Rowan student who completes his / her B.S. degree in Engineering with a GPA of 3.5 or higher; or completes his / her M.S. in Track 1 (research option with thesis) with a GPA of 3.3 or higher will automatically qualify for the PhD program.


NES Battletoads (USA) "game end glitch" in 01:02.68 by TheZlomuS & DyLaX.
In this game, the second most diabolical evil genius in the universe - The Dark Queen, kidnaps Princess Angelica, and Pimple - a battletoad. Rash and Zitz must save them, by traveling through the most insane multilevel set of plans ever designed. This includes falling down huge shafts, racing through obstacle courses at breakneck speeds, riding on snakes through a massive maze of spikes, passing through a killer ventilation system, navigating through a missile defense system, climbing a never ending revolving tower, and much much more. Along the way, The Battletoads must also face off against an evil army of robots, genetically engineered rodents, to say nothing of The Dark Queen herself.
In order to make the game a bit easier, its creators embedded some secret warp zones to skip a few early levels in their entirety. But that simply wasn't good enough for TheZlomuS and DyLaX, they decided to travel directly to level 3, where they invent their own warp and skip right to the grand finale. The previous run showed off how buggy this game is by abusing glitches anywhere and everywhere - even flying and using the walls themselves as a means to maneuver around murderous areas. This run took a glitch found there, and exploited it further, to the point where our heroes are defeated, the game is over, and The Dark Queen in all her evilness just gives up and returns Angelica and Pimple, to go off and hatch an even more evil plan for next time.
This run is a 10:03.03 minute improvement over the previous run. Due to the vast majority of the game being skipped, so is most of the entertainment. If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out the previous run too, it's one of the best runs on our site.


Barron Lighting Group has a 41 year old history of manufacturing high quality lighting products. Our deep rooted core value of service and providing satisfaction for customers, vendors and employees has led to significant organic growth and a suite of products that can fulfill virtually any commercial lighting requirement.
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text:
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function disable(key) {
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module.exports = disable;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Dickensian is a British drama television series that premiered on BBC One from 26 December 2015 to 21 February 2016. The 20-part series, created and co-written by Tony Jordan, brings characters from many Charles Dickens novels together in one Victorian London neighbourhood, as Inspector Bucket investigates the murder of Ebenezer Scrooge's partner Jacob Marley.

Production
Dickensian was commissioned by Danny Cohen and Ben Stephenson. The executive producers are Polly Hill and Tony Jordan, and the production company behind the series is Red Planet Pictures. Red Planet Pictures's Alex Jones vowed to lobby HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to relax the tax-relief rules for Dickensian; tax relief is only given for dramas longer than 30 minutes and each episode of Dickensian lasts 30 minutes.

In April 2016, the BBC confirmed that they had cancelled the show after one series.

Cast
The cast includes the following:

Episodes

References to other Dickens characters and works
Honoria Barbary and Martha Cratchit work in a dress-shop, Mantalini's—a reference to Madame Mantalini, a milliner in Nicholas Nickleby. The toy shop in the neighbourhood, Gruff and Tackleton, appears in The Cricket on the Hearth. The coffee-house on the street is Garraway's, frequented in real life by Dickens and appearing in The Pickwick Papers, Martin Chuzzlewit, Little Dorrit, and The Uncommercial Traveller. Amelia Havisham's first dog here is Jip, the spaniel that is Dora Spenlow's lapdog in David Copperfield. Constable Duff, who appears briefly in a few episodes, is a character from Oliver Twist.

Episode 1: Jaggers mentions his clerk "Mr Heep"—Uriah Heep from David Copperfield; Silas Wegg, the tapman at The Three Cripples (a tavern in Oliver Twist), gives barmaid Daisy a tray of drinks to take back to "Mr Pickwick and his guests" (The Pickwick Papers).
At the New Years reception hosted by the Haversham siblings, the tune being played during the dancing is called Sir Roger de Coverly and is played at Fezziwig's Christmas party in A Christmas Carol.

Episode 4: Jaggers talks of often considering an end to his partnership with Mr Tulkinghorn (from Bleak House).

Episode 6: Scrooge snaps at Cratchit that, in renegotiating terms of a loan, he must surely "have consulted with Jacob Marley's ghost"—a foreshadowing of A Christmas Carol. Mrs Gamp talks of seeing a "Mr Wemmick," like Silas Wegg, go gray and lose his leg—this may be a reference to the father of John Wemmick, in Great Expectations, referred to by his son as "The Aged Parent" or "The Aged P".

Episode 7: In mishearing "Barbary" as "Barnaby," Silas Wegg happens to allude to the title character of Barnaby Rudge. Compeyson's and Matthew Pocket's drunken leaps between rooftops echo Bill Sikes' death in Oliver Twist, when he accidentally hangs himself while trying to descend from a rooftop.

Episode 9: Edward Barbary calls on a Mr Darley for help with his finances, to no avail; the last name suggests F. O. C. Darley, a nineteenth-century American artist who did illustrations for a number of Dickens editions that appeared in the United States.

Episode 10: Honoria's question to her father's creditor, "Have you no heart, Mr Scrooge?", and Mrs Bumble's remark, "'ave you no 'eart, Bumble?", echo the moment in Little Dorrit, Dickens' novel about debtors' prison, when Frederick Dorrit asks Fanny, "Have you no memory? Have you no heart?" They also presage Estella's words in Great Expectations: "You must know . . . that I have no heart—if that has anything to do with my memory."

Episode 12: On leaving the little boy in the care of the Bumbles at the workhouse, Inspector Bucket's parting advice, "Manners are important, and so is standing up for yourself," presages the starving Oliver Twist politely demanding more gruel in the Bumbles' workhouse: "Please, sir, I want some more" (a moment essentially recreated in Episode 19).

Episode 13: When the Artful Dodger visits Fagin in his cell, the image of the man foretells the famous 1839 drawing by George Cruikshank, for Oliver Twist, of "Fagin in the condemned Cell." Honoria learns she is pregnant—the child will be Esther Summerson, the narrator (in some chapters) and main protagonist of Bleak House.

Episode 14: Dodger refers to another of the boys in his gang as "Charley," presumably meaning that said boy is Oliver Twist character Charley Bates. Bob Cratchit says of his son that he "can bear him on my shoulders until [my] strength returns," but in A Christmas Carol he is still bearing Tiny Tim "upon his shoulder". The clergyman (only named in the credits) whom Bill has smuggle a match in to Dodger in gaol is the slimy Reverend Chadband (Bleak House), extorted to do so here because he had relations with Nancy. The "Major Bagstock" on the board of trustees before which Mr Bumble presents himself is a friend of Mr Dombey in Dombey and Son; the churchman on the board (only named in the credits) is Reverend Crisparkle (The Mystery of Edwin Drood).

Episodes 15 and 18: The clerk ordered by Jaggers to find out all he can about Compeyson is Lowten, a clerk in The Pickwick Papers.

Episode 18: The name of the murderer in gaol, Manning, suggests the real-life killer Marie Manning, the inspiration for Mademoiselle Hortense in Bleak House. When Emily Cratchit returns home to gaze gratefully through the window at her family inside, gathered around the table, this moment echoes Scrooge looking in on the Cratchits through the window in Scrooge, the most famous and acclaimed film-adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

Episode 19: The picture that Bumble hangs in the workhouse is of Josiah Bounderby, one of the major characters in Hard Times. One of the school trustees is Mrs Tisher, a character from The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Amelia Havisham gazes at her wedding dress in the mirror—the same dress she will remain in throughout Great Expectations, in a mad, obsessive reminder of Compeyson's betrayal of her; one day, the dress catches fire, Miss Havisham suffers severe burns, and she dies some weeks later.

Episode 20: In an echo of his line in Episode 1, Silas Wegg tells his barmaid, "Daisy, up and get the empties from Mister Pickwick" (of The Pickwick Papers). In reply to Daisy's farewell to him in the tavern, Scrooge mutters, "Humbug," his trademark utterance; Marley's ghost whispers "Ebenezer," as in A Christmas Carol.

Broadcast
Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on BBC First on 7 February 2016, but it was broadcast as 13 45-minute episodes in contrast to the 20 half-hour-long instalments broadcast in the UK.

It also premiered in The Netherlands on BBC First on 5 January 2016.

In Finland the series was broadcast on YLE as ten one-hour episodes beginning 2 December 2016.

In Norway, the series was broadcast on NRK as ten one-hour episodes beginning 26 December 2017.

In Sweden, the series was broadcast on SVT as ten one-hour episodes beginning 2 December 2017.

Critical reception
Reviewing the first episodes in The Guardian Sam Wollaston noted its jumble of characters and events: "Tony Jordan has taken a whole bunch of Dickens characters from their novels and put them into something else. […]. It's like EastEnders meets A Christmas Carol meets Great Expectations meets Oliver Twist meets Bleak House meets Our Mutual Friend, and I've certainly missed some out. Meets Agatha Christie, too, because here's another body – Marley's this time – coshed over the head and left lying in the snow". He added, "The set is beautiful, and there are showy Dickensian performances from a starry cast. It's clever, certainly, and must have been a labour of love, unpicking all these people from their works, weaving them into something else." But he had a problem "with the whole exercise – starting with the characters, someone else's, and then figuring out what they're going to be doing. Are things not better if they grow together, as one, characters, stories, style, themes etc? And the problem with these particular characters is that the new thing is never going to be as good as the thing they came from". He concluded, "And I'm having real problems figuring out what the bleedin' 'ell is going on. It's clear like the fog down by the dock where Fagin lives. It – the fog – does lift a bit; by the end of the second episode (of 20! that's a big ask), I'm a bit less fuddled. And it begins to pick up momentum of its own. But I wonder how many of the viewers who set off will get this far".

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Michael Hogan was more impressed, giving the opening two episodes a full five stars: "Jordan put a pacy, playful and subtly sudsy new spin on much-loved material. Its debut double bill left me saying, 'Please, sir, I want some more'". He observed, "Dickensian will unfold in 20 half-hour instalments, its format reminiscent of the BBC's landmark serialisation of Bleak House a decade ago. Such soap-style scheduling isn't far removed from how Dickens told his original stories, published in short instalments with cliffhanger endings, the multiple plot threads drawn inexorably together over time". Hogan concluded, "Jordan is a Dickens super-fan and his love of the great man's works seeped through every line of the sparkling script. This 200-year-old treat in 21st-century wrapping was an ingeniously conceived, handsomely crafted gift - signed, with love, from Jordan and Dickens. Consider this my thank-you letter".

In The Independent on Sunday, Amy Burns found the opening episodes to be a "brilliant BBC re-imagining" and a "clever and compelling Dickens mash-up". She praised Stephen Rea for playing Inspector Bucket "utterly faultlessly", adding, "His mannerisms and vocal intonation were absolutely spot-on and the script was excellent".

For Radio Times' Ben Dowell, "the first and most obvious question to ask is this: they may have the same names and look like they are described in the books, but who are these people? Can they really be said to be Dickens characters? The great Victorian novelist invented these richly-drawn characters to fit into the novels he wrote. He was a storyteller, first and foremost, someone who wrote episodic narratives driven by the unstoppable force of his ingeniously-crafted plots. He populated his books with amazing characters, of course, but tearing them away from their stories is to essentially denude them of their essential life and being". He compared the opening episodes to "a weird Doctor Who episode where the Doctor enters some kind of weird alien dream world populated by characters formed from half-remembered dreams of his reading of English Victorian literature".  Conceding that "Jordan has also rather cleverly managed to fashion a whodunit plot out of the death of Marley", Dowell decided, "if I am honest I am not sure I will be hanging around to find out more. This is fast-paced, well written soapy drama. But it's also, for me, a messy pudding that is – but really isn't – Dickens".

References

External links

BBC television dramas
2010s British drama television series
2015 British television series debuts
2016 British television series endings
Television shows set in the United Kingdom
English-language television shows
Television shows based on works by Charles Dickens


The fun of the fair came to Jarrow as scores of families helped bring the curtain down on a popular festival in the town.
The final event of the week-long Jarrow Festival took place at Hedworthfield Community Association, in Cornhillap.
Fun with bubbles at the Jarrow Festival finale at the Hedworthfield family fun day.
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Coun Ken Stephenson, officially opened the free event before youngsters were able to step onto a range of funfair rides provided by O'Brien's funfairs and catering.
They also enjoyed sports games, activities and face painting, while there were craft stalls, dance and gymnastics displays and a metafit workout.
Coun Geraldine Kilgour, who helped to organise the event, was delighted with the turnout – despite poor weather.
She said: "It was fabulous to have the finale at Hedworthfield CA, which is very precious to us.
"There were so many things going on and activities for all the family. The weather wasn't very kind to us, but we still had a fair showing of local residents.
"The festival overall has been very successful, and I think it's what we need.
"It's great for the area and good for the borough across the board, and is something we potentially need to do more of.
Spiderman Jude Charlton, four, of Jarrow, at the Jarrow Festival finale.
Among the other attractions at the event were a photo booth, balloon modelling and a visit from Beauty and the Beast.
A range of stalls were set up, including one for the fostering team at South Tyneside Council.
Kelly Vasvary, the council's fostering team manager, said: "We're relaunching our fostering service with a new payment for skills model.
Millie and Holly Hamilton, aged eight and four respectively, of Jarrow, at the family fun day.
The fostering team holds an information event on the last Thursday of every month at 16 Barrington Street, in South Shields, between 6pm and 8pm.
Organisers were pleased with the turnout, despite the weather.
Skye, aged 20 months, and Keira Howe, six, of Jarrow, at the Jarrow Festival finale.


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text:
NAO-2017-00237
Expiration date: 7/8/2017
FEDERAL PUBLIC NOTICE
The District Commander has received a joint application for Federal and State permits as described below:
Shirley Contracting Company, LLC
ATTN: Mr. Chuck Smith
WATERWAY AND LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WORK: The project is located in Accokeek Creek and Lower Aquia Creek, tributaries to the Potomac River, in Stafford County, Virginia.
PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The applicant proposes to relocate the Interstate 95/Route 630 Interchange approximately 800 feet south of the existing interchange and construct the new interchange using a diverging diamond design. The proposed interchange will include two new parallel bridges that will carry Rt. 630 (Courthouse Road) over I-95. Rt. 630 will be realigned to intersect with Rt. 1 at Hospital Center Boulevard adjacent to the existing Stafford Hospital. West of the proposed interchange, the intersection of Route 630 and Austin Ridge Drive will be realigned approximately 500 feet further west. The existing commuter park and ride lot on the west side of I-95 near Austin Ridge Drive will be relocated to the east side of I-95 along existing Route 630 (Courthouse Road) and expanded by an additional 300 parking spaces with bus access and shelters. A second new lot with a capacity of 255 parking spaces will be added in the southeast quadrant of the interchange, ultimately providing a total of 1100 commuter spaces. The northbound on-ramp to I-95 includes the construction of a bridge over existing Route 630 adjacent to the relocated Commuter Park & Ride parking lot. The project includes bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
The applicant's stated purpose is to provide capacity, operational, and safety improvements, with improved level of service and connectivity to local roadways, including the existing Stafford Hospital, fire and rescue facilities, a local government complex, and commercial and industrial properties. The bridge over Rt. 630 adjacent to the relocated park and ride lot is being constructed in order to not preclude the proposed future Fredericksburg Extension of the HOT Lanes on I-95 and to provide ease of access to existing utilities.
The following impacts to waters of the US are proposed: 0.74 acres permanent and 0.11 acres temporary to Palustrine Forested (PFO) Wetlands; 2,563 linear feet permanent and 416 linear feet temporary to perennial streams; and 365 linear feet permanent and 312 linear feet temporary to intermittent streams.
The applicant indicates that avoidance and minimization efforts for the proposed project have included evaluating several alternative interchange designs and choosing the practicable option they determined has the least impacts to aquatic resources, as well as using curb and gutter to accommodate roadside drainage, which reduces the roadway footprint. The applicant proposes the purchase of credits from mitigation banks to compensate for all stream and wetland impacts. Proposed mitigation is based on a 2:1 ratio for the PFO impacts and on the Unified Stream Methodology for stream impacts.
In addition to the required Department of the Army permit, the applicant must obtain a Virginia Water Protection Permit from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assuring that applicable laws and regulations pertaining to water quality are not violated. Selected project drawings are attached.
AUTHORITY: Permits are required pursuant to Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (Public Law 95-217) and Title 62.1 of the Code of Virginia.
FEDERAL EVALUATION OF APPLICATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits which reasonably may be expected from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All of the proposal's relevant factors will be considered, including conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, cultural values, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values, land use classification, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, consideration of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. The Environmental Protection Agency's "Guidelines for Specification of Disposal Sites for Dredged or Fill Material" will also be applied (Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act).
The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny a permit for this proposal. To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Anyone may request a public hearing to consider this permit application by writing to the District Commander within 30 days of the date of this notice, stating specific reasons for holding the public hearing. The District Commander will then decide if a hearing should be held.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the lead federal agency. FHWA prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project in association with another I-95 Interchange (at Route 627) and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in 1999. FHWA complete a Re-Evaluation of the EA in 2015, and re-confirmed the FONSI.
Preliminary review indicates that: (l) no environmental impact statement will be required; (2) the applicant submitted documentation into the FWS ESA Online Project Review System on May 12, 2017. Listed species and/or designated/proposed critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544, 87 Stat. 884, as amended) were identified for the project location. The applicant has proposed the following effect determinations and the reasons for the determinations in the Species Conclusion Table: No effect for Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum) [No suitable habitat present], May affect, but is not likely to adversely affect the Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides) [survey conducted by qualified surveyors in 2016 found five areas of potential habitat, but no individual specimens were found within the project area], and May Affect for the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis). Relying upon the findings of the 1/5/2016 Programmatic Biological Opinion for Final 4(d) Rule on the Northern Long-Eared Bat and Activities Excepted from Take Prohibitions to fulfill project-specific section 7, the applicant proposes to comply with all voluntary conservation measures other than a time-of-year restriction because the project site is not within 0.25 miles of hibernacula and an acoustic survey for the species had negative results; and (3) the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), on behalf of FHWA, made a determination that no known properties eligible for inclusion or included in the National Register of Historic Places are in or near the permit area, or would likely be affected by the proposal. VDHR concurred with the VDOT determination in 2012 and reiterated their concurrence in 2017. Additional information might change any of these findings.
For compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended for projects located in Tidewater, the applicant must certify that federally licensed or permitted activities affecting Virginia's coastal uses or resources will be conducted in a manner consistent with the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VCP) and obtain concurrence from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Office of Environmental Impact Review (OEIR). The applicant's consistency certification was submitted to OEIR, and was approved by OEIR on March 13, 2017.
COMMENT PERIOD: Comments on this project should be in writing and can be sent by either email to alice.w.allen-grimes@usace.army.mil, or by regular mail, addressed to the Norfolk District, Corps of Engineers (ATTN: CENAO-WR-R), 803 Front Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1011, and should be received by the close of business on July 8, 2017.
PRIVACY & CONFIDENTIALITY: Comments and information, including the identity of the submitter, submitted in response to this Public Notice may be disclosed, reproduced, and distributed at the discretion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Information that is submitted in connection with this Public Notice cannot be maintained as confidential by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Submissions should not include any information that the submitter seeks to preserve as confidential.
If you have any questions about this project or the permit process, contact
Alice Allen-Grimes at the email above or at 757-201-7219.
NAO_2017_00237_DRAWINGS.PDF
NAO_2017_00267_LOCATIONMAP.PDF
non-tidal
Accokeek Creek
Potomac Creek
Aquia Creek