This invention relates to a compact planar type dielectric filter to be mainly used in a high frequency radio equipment such as a portable telephone set and the like.
Recently, there is an increasingly growing demand for further down-sizing a planar type dielectric filter which can be made thinner in structure as compared with a coaxial type one being widely used for portable telephone sets.
With the conventional dielectric filter structured as above, if the coil electrodes are disposed close to each other to decrease the distance therebetween for down-sizing, such a problem has been arisen that a good band-pass characteristic of a narrow band is difficult to be realized due to the fact that the magnetic coupling between the resonance circuits becomes too large.
US-A-4 418 324 discloses an interdigital filter comprising two dielectric layers, one of which comprising a plurality of electromagnetically coupled conductive strips, and the other acting as a set of capacitors arranged to operate on alternate strips to give transmission zero at a certain frequency.
An object of this invention is to provide a compact planar type dielectric filter capable of providing superior narrow-band band-pass characteristic.
characterized by further comprising third and fourth dielectric sheets (60e,60f) each having formed thereon a shield electrode (63a,63b), said third and fourth dielectric sheet being disposed so as to sandwich therebetween said first and second dielectric sheets (60c,60d) to shield said strip line resonators and said parallel plane capacitor with said shield electrodes.
With the structure as explained above, an equivalent coupling inductance between the end short-circuited strip line resonators becomes relatively larger than that between the coil electrodes of lumped constant elements, so that the inter-resonator coupling can be reduced. In addition, the coupling inductance component can be easily cancelled by the capacitance component of the parallel plane capacitors inserted in parallel, so that the inter-resonator coupling can be further reduced. As a result, a compact planar type dielectric filter having superior narrow-band band-pass characteristic can be realized.
Fig. 1(a) is an exploded perspective view of a dielectric filter.
Fig. 1(b) is a perspective view showing a first surface of a second dielectric substrate shown in Fig. 1(a).
Fig. 1(c) is a perspective view showing a ground electrode on the back surface of the first dielectric substrate shown in Fig. 1(a).
Fig. 2(a) is an equivalent circuit diagram for explaining the operation of the dielectric filter shown in Fig. 1(a).
Fig. 2(b) is another equivalent circuit of the circuit shown in Fig. 2 (a) expressed by using lumped constant elements.
Fig. 2(c) is still another equivalent circuit obtained by further equivalently changing the circuit shown in Fig. 2(b).
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a coupling characteristic of an end short-circuited parallel strip line resonator for explaining the operation of the dielectric filter shown in Fig. 1(a).
Fig. 4(a) is an exploded perspective view of a second dielectric filter.
Fig. 4(b) is a perspective view showing electrodes of strip line resonators formed on a first dielectric substrate shown in Fig. 4(a).
Fig. 4(c) is a perspective view showing a second surface of a second dielectric substrate shown in Fig. 4(a).
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectioned view of the dielectric filter shown in Fig. 4(a).
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a lamination-type dielectric filter according to this invention.
A dielectric filter operating in the same manner as that of the present invention will be described below while referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a dielectric filter having a two-pole structure according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 1(a), 10a is a first dielectric substrate, 11a and 11b are end short-circuited strip line resonators of substantially a quarter-wavelength and 11c is a ground electrode. In addition, 10b is a second dielectric substrate to be laminated onto the first dielectric substrate 10a. Fig. 1(b) shows a first surface of the second dielectric substrate 10b for contacting with the first dielectric substrate 10a. In this first surface, first electrodes 12a and 12b of parallel plane capacitors the number of which is the same as the number of the resonators are formed so as to partially overlap the opencircuited ends of respective electrode patterns of the strip line resonators 11a and 11b. Fig. 1(a) shows a second surface of the second dielectric substrate 10b. On this second surface is formed a second electrode 12c of the parallel plane capacitors so as to be partially confronted to all the first electrodes of the parallel plane capacitors and to constitute one area as the whole. In addition, third electrodes 12d and 12e of the parallel plane capacitors are partially formed on the second surface of the second dielectric substrate in such areas that are confronted to the first electrodes thereof and that the second electrode is not formed, and grounded through connecting electrode terminals 13a and 13b. In addition, fourth electrodes 12f and 12g of the parallel plane capacitors are partially formed on the second surface of the second dielectric substrate in such areas that are confronted to the first electrodes thereof and that the second and third electrodes are not formed, thus being electrically connected to an external circuit through the capacitors formed by the fourth electrodes and first electrodes. The strip line resonator electrodes and ground electrode on the first dielectric substrate, and capacitor electrodes on the second dielectric substrate are all formed by a thick film printing method. The first and second dielectric substrates 10a and 10b are bonded to each other by applying a solder by a soldering method in respective areas where the open-circuited ends of electrode patterns of the strip line resonators 11a and 11b are overlapped with the first electrodes 12a and 12b of the parallel plane capacitors. Fig. 1(c) shows the ground electrode on the back side of the first dielectric substrate 10a, in which 11d and 11e are controlling slits for controlling the coupling between the resonators.
With the dielectric filter structured as above, the operation will be explained below by referring to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 2(a) is an equivalent circuit diagram of a dielectric filter of the first embodiment, Fig. 2(b) is another equivalent circuit of the circuit shown in Fig. 2(a) expressed by using lumped constant elements, and Fig. 2(c) is still another equivalent circuit by further equivalently changing the circuit shown in Fig. 2(b). In Fig. 2(a), strip line resonators 20a and 20b correspond respectively to the strip line resonators 11a and 11b shown in Fig. 1, capacitors C11a and C11b correspond respectively to the capacitors formed by the third electrodes 12d and 12e and the first electrodes 12a and 12b shown in Fig. 1, capacitors C12a and C12b correspond respectively to the capacitors formed by the second electrode 12c and the first electrodes 12a and 12b shown in Fig. 1, and capacitors 13a and 13b correspond respectively to the capacitors formed by the fourth electrodes 12f and 12g and the first electrodes 12a and 12b shown in Fig. 1. In addition, M shows a magnetic coupling between the strip line resonators 20a and 20b.
In Fig. 2(b), inductances L21a and L21b respectively represent equivalent inductance components of the strip line resonators 20a and 20b, capacitances C21a and C21b represent capacitance components of the strip line resonators 20a and 20b, respectively, and a parallel connection of the capacitances C11a and C11b shown in Fig. 2(a). A capacitance C22 represents a series connection of the capacitances C12a and C12b.
In Fig. 2(c), a coupling inductance L32, inductances L31a and L31b respectively represent inductances obtained by circuit-changing equivalently the inductances L21a and L21b and the magnetic coupling M shown in Fig. 2(b). Here, when the coupling inductance L32 is large, an impedance to be inserted in series between the resonators becomes large, so that the inter-resonator coupling becomes small.
When the inductances L21a and L21b are supposed to be equal to each other and expressed as L21, the coupling inductance L32 can be expressed as follows; L32 = (L21+M) * (L21/M-1).
From this equation, it can be made clear that when L21 is constant, L32 increases with a decrease in M, and when the ratio of L32 to M is constant, L32 increases with an increase in M. The former case corresponds to the case when the space between the strip lines of the resonators is expanded and the latter case corresponds to the case when the line lengths thereof are made large or when the dielectric constant of the first dielectric substrate 10a is made large.
Fig. 3 shows the degree of the inter-resonator coupling of the end short-circuited strip line resonators having a length of quarter-wavelength disposed in parallel. In case of coil resonators, the inter-resonator coupling increases with an increase in the length of the parallel portions. In case of strip line resonators, the inter-resonator coupling becomes zero when the length thereof becomes just a quarter-wavelength, and small in the vicinity of such a length as above. As a result, in case of using strip line resonators, a desired inter-resonator coupling can be realized by appropriately designing the length thereof.
In addition, the magnetic coupling M can be controlled by providing controlling slit 11d or 11e on the grounding electrode of the back surface of the strip line resonators. The controlling slit 11d parallel to the strip line resonators makes large the odd-mode impedance only without changing the even-mode impedance between the parallel strip lines, so that the difference between the two impedances becomes small, and the magnetic coupling M becomes small equivalently to the loose coupling of resonators. The controlling slit 11e perpendicular to the strip line resonators causes the electric current on the grounding electrode to be bypassed, resulting in the insertion of an inductance component between the resonators. As a result, the magnetic coupling M becomes large equivalently to the tight coupling of resonators.
In addition, with the filter constructed according to this embodiment, the capacitance C22 which is a serial combination of the capacitance C12a and C12b of the parallel plate capacitors inserted between the strip line resonators is connected to the coupling inductance L32 in parallel thereby to offset the inductance component. The capacitance C22 and the coupling inductance L32 constitutes a parallel resonance circuit, and the impedance becomes infinite with the resonance frequency, resulting in forming the attenuation pole in the transfer characteristic.
As explained above, according to this arrangement, a plurality of end short-circuited strip line resonators having a length of about quarter-wavelength are formed parallel and closely to each other on the first dielectric substrate, the resonators thus adjacently disposed to each other are directly magnetically coupled to each other, the electrodes of the parallel plane capacitors formed on the second dielectric substrate and the strip line electrodes are bonded by applying solder by a soldering method in an area where they overlap each other, so that the strip line resonators are electrically coupled to each other through the parallel plane capacitors, and the inter-resonator coupling can be made in combination of magnetic coupling and electric coupling, thus allowing the inter-resonator coupling to be reduced. As a result, such a small and planar type dielectric filter can be realized that has a small inter-resonator coupling and the attenuation pole as well as exhibits good narrow-band band-pass characteristic.
In addition, according to this arrangement all the capacitor electrodes necessary for making a filter can be formed on the second dielectric substrate, so that it can be made simple in structure, thus being capable of reducing the product variation of the dielectric filters that are produced.
In addition, in the explanations of this arrangement all the electrodes to be formed on the strip line resonators and capacitors were formed by the thick film printing technique, but not limited thereto, all of them may be formed thereon by means of a plating and etching method.
Further in addition, in this arrangement, the explanations were made on a dielectric filter having a two-pole structure, but not limited thereto, such a dielectric filter as to have a more than two-pole structure can be made in the same method, which is the same in the explanations of the following preferred embodiments.
A second dielectric filter similar to that of the present invention will be described below while referring to the drawings. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a dielectric filter according to this embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectioned view of the dielectric filter of this embodiment taken along a line A - A' in Fig. 4(a).
In Fig. 4(a), 43 is a resin carrier, 40b is a second dielectric substrate, and 40a is a first dielectric substrate, which are laminated in this order. In addition, 41c is a ground electrode, and 41d and 41e are controlling slits for controlling the inter-resonator coupling. Fig. 4(a) shows a first surface of the second dielectric substrate 40b. On this first surface, first electrodes 42a and 42b of parallel plane capacitors the number of which is the same as the number of the resonators, are formed so as to partially overlap the open-circuited ends of respective electrode patterns of strip line resonators. Fig. 4(b) shows the surface of the first dielectric substrate 40a on which the electrodes of the strip line resonators are formed, in which 41a and 41b are strip line resonators having a folded structure. Fig. 4(c) shows a second surface of the second dielectric substrate 40b. On this second surface, a second electrode 42c of the parallel plane capacitors is formed so as to be partially confronted to all the first electrodes of the parallel plane capacitors and to constitute one area as the whole. In addition, a third electrode 42d of the parallel plane capacitors is partially formed on the second surface thereof so as to be confronted to the first electrodes thereof in such an area that the second electrode is not formed. The third electrode 42d is such an electrode that the electrodes 12d and 12e shown in Fig. 1 are formed in one united body and grounded through a metal terminal 432a for ground electrode use. Also, fourth electrodes 42f and 42g of the parallel plane capacitors are partially formed on the second surface thereof to be confronted respectively to the first electrodes thereof in such an area that the second and third electrodes are not formed, and connected to an external circuit through capacitors to be respectively formed by the fourth electrodes 42f and 42g and the first electrodes 42a and 42b. In addition, the first and second dielectric substrates 40a and 40b are bonded to each other by applying a solder by a soldering method in such areas that the open-circuited ends of the electrode patterns of the strip line resonators 41a and 41b and the first electrodes 42a and 42b of the parallel plane capacitors are superposed, respectively.
The dielectric filter of this embodiment is different in structure from that of the first arrangement in (1) that the strip line resonators 41a and 41b having a folded structure are introduced as a resonator, (2) that the bonded substrate body is mounted onto the resin carrier 43, and (3) that the strip line resonators of a groove type are formed on the first dielectric substrate. The structure of the other component parts is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1.
With the dielectric filter structured as above, the operation will be explained while emphasizing the different points from that of the first arrangement.
The first different point is that the strip line resonators 41a and 41b each having a folded structure respectively have the line widths changed from wide width portions 411a and 411b to narrow width portions 412a to 412b of the strip line shorter than a quarter-wavelength, and connected to respective ground electrodes on the back surface thereof through band-shaped electrodes 413a and 413b each having the same width as that of the narrow width portion formed on the side of the first dielectric substrate 40a. The ground electrodes can be extended in the line length equivalently by providing notched slits 414a and 414b at respective connecting points, and the resonance frequency can be controlled by changing the lengths of the notched slits. The strip line resonator of the folded structure as shown above can be small-sized without degrading the value of Q-factor so much. A best combination of the value of Q-factor and the size of the resonator can be obtained when the line widths of the band-shaped electrodes 413a and 413b are equal to the widths of the narrow width portions 412a and 412b of the strip line resonators 41a and 41b. When the line widths of the band-shaped electrodes are smaller than the widths of the narrow width portions, the value of Q-factor will be sacrificed and when the former are larger than the latter, the size of the resonator will be sacrificed.
The second point is that the resin carrier 43 has an integral structure of a resin 433 with a metal terminal 431 for input/output electrode use and a metal terminal 432a for ground electrode use. This means that an improvement in terminal strength to be used as a surface mounted device (SMD) can be realized. In addition, for the purpose of shielding the filter, a shield plate 434 which is connected to the metal terminal 432b for ground electrode use is insertedly provided into the bottom surface of the resin carrier 43. The metal terminal 432b for ground electrode use is connected to the ground electrode 41c of the first dielectric substrate 40a to shield the upper portion of the filter. In order to reduce the filter loss to minimize the degradation of filter characteristic, it is effective to provide a concave groove 435 on the upper surface of the resin carrier 43 so as to form an air layer between the shield plate 434 and the bonded substrates body of the first and second dielectric substrates 40a and 40b.
The third point is that the strip line resonators 41a and 41b to be formed in a groove form on the first dielectric substrate 40a are made in such a manner that the grooves to form the resonators are pressure-molded and fired in the process of producing the first dielectric substrate, a thick film electrode material is applied on the entire surface of the substrate, and thereafter, the electrode material applied in the area where the grooves are not formed are removed by a polishing method thereby forming the electrodes of the strip line resonators. This method is superior in mass-production to the thick film printing method. In this method, the substrate may be entirely immersed into a solution of a thick film electrode material to adhere an electrode material onto the entire surface of the substrate and then fired, or an electrode material may be plated on the entire surface of the substrate by an electroless plating method, so that strong adhesion of the electrode material onto the ceramic substrate can be obtained. As a result, the adhesion of the electrodes and the substrate can be outstandingly improved especially in such an area that the strip line resonators at the edge of the substrate are connected to the respective band-shaped electrodes. Consequently, the electrode resistance to a high-frequency current can be reduced and the loss of resonators can be decreased. In addition, with the groove-type strip line resonator, the high-frequency current can be concentrated in the area where the bottom surface and side surface of the groove are to be in contact to each other. On the other hand, with a general planar type strip line resonator, the high frequency current will be concentrated in a rugged area peripherally of the strip line, thus a greater part of the loss of the resonator being generated at such area. On the other hand, with the groove-type strip line resonator, the electrode in the area where the bottom surface and the side surface thereof are contacted each other does not have such a ragged area that the side area has. Accordingly, the electrode resistance to high-frequency current in the contacting area becomes smaller than in the side area. As a result, the groove-type strip line resonator can be made small in resonator loss as compared with the plane-type strip line resonator.
As explained above, the dielectric filter according to this arrangement makes it possible to realize a compact size without degrading the filter characteristic by using a strip line resonator having a folded-type structure. In addition, by using a carrier made of a resin, the terminal electrode strength and shielding property of the filter can be outstandingly improved. Further in addition, by using a groove-type strip line resonator, the loss of the filter can be decreased and the productivity can be outstandingly improved.
Also, similar to the first arrangement, it is needless to say that the inter-resonator coupling can be controlled by providing a controlling slit 41d or 41e on the grounding electrode 41c on the back surface thereof. In addition, in combination with the frequency controlling method by using the notched slits 414a and 414b of the strip line resonators having a folded structure, the filter characteristic can be controlled only on the back surface of the resonator. This fact is very important for the dielectric filter of this embodiment in which the component parts other than the ground electrode on the back surface are substantially covered with the resin carrier.
A dielectric filter according to the present invention will be described below while referring to the drawings.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a dielectric filter of this embodiment, in which 60a and 60b are thick dielectric layers. A dielectric sheet 60c has strip line resonator electrodes 61a and 61b formed thereon, and a dielectric sheet 60d has a second electrode 62a, a third electrode 62b and fourth electrodes 62c and 62d of parallel plane capacitors formed thereon. The strip line resonator electrodes 61a and 61b have the strip lines whose short-circuited ends are narrowed in width of the strip line, that is, narrowed from a wide width portion to a narrow width portion, resulting in realizing down-sizing. In addition, a shield electrode 63a is formed on a dielectric sheet 60e, and a shield electrode 63d is formed on a dielectric sheet 60f. These dielectric sheets, dielectric layers and an electrode protective dielectric sheet 60g are laminated to obtain a lamination body.
With the dielectric filter structured as explained above, the operation will be explained below.
First, the strip line resonator electrodes 61a and 61b and the second electrode 62a, third electrode 62b and fourth electrodes 62c and 62d which are confronted to the electrodes 61a and 61b respectively form parallel plane capacitors therebetween. The second electrode 62a of the parallel plane capacitors serves to act as an interresonator coupling capacitor. The third electrode 62b serves to act as a parallel capacitor for lowering the resonance frequency of the strip line resonators. The fourth electrodes 62c and 62d serve to act as input/output coupling capacitors. The fourth electrodes 62c and 62d are connected respectively to the side electrodes 64a and 64b to be used as input/output terminals. The lower shield electrode 63a and the upper shield electrode 63b are connected to side electrodes 65a, 65b, and 65c respectively to be used as ground terminals.
The dielectric filter of this embodiment is different from that of the first arrangement in that lamination is made so that the first electrodes of the parallel plane capacitor are used in common with the electrodes of the strip line resonators. The lamination structure according to the present invention makes it possible to be simple in structure and small in size as well as to realize a shield. In addition, according to the present invention, all the electrodes of the strip line resonators are formed on the dielectric sheet 60c and all the capacitor electrodes are formed on the dielectric sheet 60d by a printing method, so that the electrode printing may be applied only for two dielectric sheets and two shield electrodes. This means that the number of printing processes can be made small and yet, the variation of filter characteristic can be reduced.
A dielectric filter according to claim 1, further comprising a second capacitor electrode (62b) formed on said second dielectric sheet so as to partially confront said strip lines of said strip line resonators to thereby constitute second parallel plane capacitors, said second capacitor electrode being adapted to be connected to a ground.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, further comprising a third capacitor electrode (62c) formed on said second dielectric sheet so as to partially confront one of said strip lines of said strip line resonators to thereby constitute a third parallel plane capacitor, and a fourth capacitor electrode (62d) formed on said second dielectric sheet so as to partially confront another of said strip lines of said strip line resonators to thereby constitute a fourth parallel plane capacitor, said third and fourth capacitor electrodes being adapted to be connected to input and output lines, respectively.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, further comprising an additional dielectric sheet (60g) provided on an outermost one of the shield electrodes to protect the outermost shield electrode.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, wherein said first through fourth dielectric sheets are laminated in the order of said third, first, second and fourth dielectric sheets with a first thick dielectric plate (60a) disposed between said third and first dielectric sheets and with a second thick dielectric plate (60b) disposed between said second and fourth dielectric sheets so that each of a distance between said shield electrode on said third dielectric sheet and said strip lines of said strip line resonators and a distance between said shield electrode on said fourth dielectric sheet and said capacitor electrode is larger than a distance between said strip lines of said strip line resonators and said capacitor electrode.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least two ground electrodes (65a, 65b,65c) respectively formed on different side surfaces of each of said first through fourth dielectric sheets and connected to said shield electrode.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, further comprising at least two ground electrodes (65a, 65b,65c) respectively formed on opposite side surfaces of each of said first through fourth dielectric sheets and connected to said shield electrode, a pattern of said ground electrodes on one of said opposite side surfaces being different from a pattern of said ground electrodes on the other of said opposite side surfaces.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, wherein short-circuited ends of all of said strip line resonators extends to a same side surface of said first dielectric sheet and connected to a ground electrode (65a, 65b) formed on said side surface.
A dielectric filter according to claim 8, wherein another ground electrode (65c) is formed on a side surface of said first dielectric sheet closer to open-circuited ends of said strip line resonators.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, further comprising an input terminal electrode (64a) and an output terminal electrode (64b) which are formed on one side surface of said first dielectric sheet, and a ground electrode (65c) formed between said input and output terminal electrodes on said side surface.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, wherein said shield electrode on each of said third and fourth dielectric sheets is formed to leave a margin along the periphery of the corresponding dielectric sheet.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, wherein said shield electrodes formed on said third and fourth dielectric sheets are the same in shape.
A dielectric filter according to any preceding claim, wherein a line width of a short-circuited end of a strip line of each of said strip line resonators is narrower than a line width of an open-circuited end of said strip line.


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Over the past two decades, the tribe built the Lac Vieux Desert Casino Resort, the 76-room Dancing Eagles Hotel and a nine-hole golf course, earning enough to finance 30 new homes, a cultural-recreation center, a clinic, childcare facilities, a police force and water and wastewater treatment facilities.
But there were still too few jobs, and the loss of a $6.5 million casino investment in Mexico and ensuing legal fees have kept the tribe in crisis, unable to upgrade the casino's aging slot machines or build new attractions.
"There's no money to take care of our people," said James Williams Jr., 43, a former tribal chairman.
In hindsight, the investment in Mexico was unwise. But what's more surprising, tribal members say, is the lack of interest among elected officials into what they say amounts to a racketeering scam in which U.S. Indian tribes were specifically targeted by foreigners using a Louisiana lawyer and intermediaries.
The tribe has gotten almost no help from legislators, most recently Republican Rep. Dan Benishek, whose 1st Congressional District includes Michigan's Upper Peninsula. His press aide did not respond to an email query.
Queries to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City also brought no response.
"The FBI is supposed to be taking care of Native Americans," said William A. Graven, an Arizona investor who took another $2 million from the Lac Vieux Desert Band for a joint investment with Mexican "casino czar" Juan Jose Rojas-Cardona, throwing in nearly $1 million of his own money, all of it now lost. "Why aren't they down there frying his ass?"
Graven noted that federal law gives Native Americans special protections, such as requiring that those who swindle tribal members repay twice the value of what is taken.
"If you've taken an Indian's money, you've taken federal money," said Graven.
Whatever the case, the loss in Mexico has renewed the tribe's difficulties.
"Our revenues keep going down. For the last four years, they've gone down, down, down," said Tyrone McGeshick, slot director at the casino resort.
"We haven't been able to give our employees raises for at least five years," added Thomas J. McGeshick Sr., Tyrone's uncle and a member of the tribal council, adding that most make $7.50 an hour.
The two McGeshicks and Williams talked to a visiting reporter at a table in the casino restaurant. Chippewa artifacts lined the walls. A 17-foot-long birch bark canoe adorned the entrance.
Tribal leaders hoped the Mexico investment would finance an expansion of the casino resort, allowing them to add a water park, a bowling alley and perhaps another hotel.
"We would've been a full-blown destination resort," Williams said.
Instead of expanding, the tribe pedals backward, reeling from the loss.
"In the casino industry, you try to update your slot floor by 20 percent each year, and we haven't changed any machines in five years. We have older games now," said Tyrone McGeshick.
On a weekday in early November, as snow fell outside, only a few dozen people sat at the casino slots.
"During our wintertime, the locals keep the doors open. They may come in every other day, and spend $20 or $30," McGeshick said.
In October, the casino underwent a fresh round of layoffs, sacking some 15 people and cutting back the blackjack tables from three shifts a day to just one shift. Managers have their hands full keeping the mood up.
"If we can't keep our employees happy, the customers feel it," Williams said.
Tribal businesses are able to employ only 30 percent of adult members, he added, and a majority of others can't find jobs. Many feel reluctant to seek work away from tribal lands.
"A lot of our people have low self-esteem for going out to do something for themselves outside of the tribe," Williams said.
Some 50 tribal members have no fixed place to live, going from house to house, relying on the generosity of relatives.
"They are not homeless but they are always moving from one place to another," Tyrone McGeshick said. "It's kind of hard to see."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Contradicting Studies Leave Biden's COVID-19 Booster Plan Up in the Air
While some studies show that the effectiveness of Pfizer and Moderna's COVID vaccines decrease over time, other publications argue the decline is not substantial and a full-flung booster campaign is premature.
Booster Rollout in Flux
President Joe Biden's plan to offer COVID-19 booster shots is facing serious hurdles just a week before it is set to roll out. Issues with the plan stem from growing divisions among the scientific community over the necessity of a third jab.
The timing of booster shots administration has been a point of contention for months, but the debate intensified in August when Biden announced that, pending regulatory approval, the government would start offering boosters on Sept. 20 to adults eight months after they received their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna.
The announcement was backed by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, among others.
However, many scientists and other health experts both inside and outside of the government have continually criticized the plan. They have claimed the data supporting boosters was not compelling and argued that, while the FDA approved third doses for immunocompromised Americans, the push to give them to the general public was premature.
The plan also drew international backlash from those who argued the U.S. should not launch a booster campaign when billions of people around the world have not gotten their first dose yet. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) extended its request that wealthy countries hold off on giving boosters until at least the end of the year.
Those arguments appeared to be bolstered when federal health regulators said earlier this month that they needed more time to review Moderna's application for booster shots, forcing the Biden Administration to delay offering third shots to those who received that vaccine.
Now, Pfizer recipients will be the only people who may be eligible for boosters by the initial deadline, though that depends on a forthcoming decision from an FDA expert advisory committee that is set to vote Friday on whether or not to recommend approval.
Debate Continues in Crucial Week
More contradictory information has been coming out in the days leading up to the highly anticipated decision.
On Monday, an international group of 18 scientists, including some at the FDA and the WHO, published a review in The Lancet arguing that there is no credible data to show the vaccines' ability to prevent severe disease declined substantially over time, so boosters are not yet needed for the general, non-immunocompromised public.
The experts claimed that any advantage boosters may provide does not outweigh the benefit of giving the extra doses to all those who are unvaccinated worldwide.
On the other side, a study released Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine found that people who received a third shot of Pfizer in Israel were much less likely to develop severe COVID than those who just had the first two jabs.
The same day, both Pfizer and Moderna published data backing that up as well. Pfizer released an analysis that said data on boosters and the Delta variant from both Israel and the U.S. suggested "that vaccine protection against COVID-19 infection wanes approximately 6 to 8 months following the second dose."
Moderna also published data, that has not yet been peer-reviewed, which also found its jab provided less immunity and protection against severe disease as time went on.
Further complicating matters was the fact that the FDA additionally released its report on Pfizer's analysis of the need for a booster shortly after Pfizer's publication. Normally, those findings would shine a light on the agency's stance on the issue, but the regulator did not take a clear stand.
"Some observational studies have suggested declining efficacy of [Pfizer] over time […] while others have not," the agency wrote. "Overall, data indicate that currently US-licensed or authorized COVID-19 vaccines still afford protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death."
It remains unclear what the FDA panel will determine when they meet Friday, or what a similar CDC expert panel that is expected to meet next week will decide regarding vaccination policies.
Notably, officials at the two agencies are not required to follow the recommendations of their expert panels, though they usually do.
Even if the FDA approves Pfizer's application as it stands to give boosters to those 16 and older, people familiar with the matter said the CDC might recommend the third jabs only for people 65 and older or those who are especially at risk.
Regardless of what is decided, experts have said that it is absolutely essential for the agency to stand firm in its decision and clearly explain its reasoning to the public in order to combat further confusion and misinformation.
"F.D.A. does the best in situations when there are strongly held but conflicting views, when they're forthcoming with the data and really explain decisions," Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, a vice dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health told The New York Times. "It's important for the F.D.A. not to say, 'Here's our decision, mic drop. It's much better for them to say, 'Here's how we looked at the data, here are the conclusions we made from the data, and here's why we're making the conclusions.'"
See what others are saying: (The New York Times) (CNBC) (The Guardian)
Related Topics:anthony fauciBiden Administrationbooster shotCDCcenters for disease control and preventionCoronaviruscoronavirus vaccineCOVIDCOVID boostercovid vaccinecovid-19covid-19 vaccineFDAFeaturedFood and Drug AdministrationJoe BidenModernapfizer boosterPfizer vaccineVaccinationVaccinevaccine modernaVaccines
Pfizer Says Low Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe and Effective in Kids 5 to 11
Kansas Lawmaker Accused of Kicking Teen in Groin Receives Suspended Sentence


1) Be part of a Sunday service each week so that you catch the whole series. We're running the series at 9.30am, 11.15am & 6.30pm (The Gathering), and also across all Youth & Young Vineyard groups. This series really is for everyone!
3) Invite someone to come to a Sunday service with you, someone who doesn't normally do church. Be expectant that they would meet Jesus for themselves.
Please don't miss out on going deeper with Jesus because it's all about Him. Simply Jesus.
There's lots of other exciting things going on in the lead up to Easter. Please read on and click on links to read more.
Sunday Lunch is this coming weekend. It takes place after the 11:15am service, and this month the menu is "Italian". This is also a great opportunity for us to be "Different Together" as a church family.
Everyone is welcome to come along. All we ask is for a donation of £3 per person / £10 for a family, but if cost is an issue, please chat to one of the pastoral team and we'll sort things out for you.
There is still time to donate!!!
This week is the last Sunday to bring along donations for the Lighthouse Project. Better still, why not bring your donations with you and join us on Friday 8th March, from 7.30pm, to make up gift bags and bless some ladies in our community. This will be a relaxed, social evening, with music and a cash bar.
It's a great opportunity to bring friends along - So, who can you invite?
SOUL SURVIVOR | TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST!
If you want to book your youth on for Soul Survivor this summer then please do get them booked on ASAP to avoid disappointment. Soul Survivor is very likely to sell out by Easter!
Save the date for our children's Easter Holiday Club! 2 fun-packed afternoons of activities for 4-11 year olds. We will be getting to know Jesus better through stories, games, crafts and much more. More details to follow so watch this space!
Are your finances in need of a Spring Clean?
CAP Money is a free 1 hour introductory course for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at money and spending habits. A chance to manage your money better, prevent debt along the way and learn to budget, save and spend well.
For the past few weeks, we've been teaching a series entitled "Life Beyond". There are things like guilt, shame, envy & bitterness that will kill us inside unless we embrace the freedom offered to us by Jesus.


text:
Activity of a crude extract formulation in experimental hepatic amoebiasis and in immunomodulation studies
The activity of a crude extract formulation was evaluated in experimental amoebic liver abscess in golden hamsters and in immunomodulation studies. The formulation comprises the following five plants-Boerhavia diffusa, Tinospora cordifolia, Berberis aristata, Terminalia chebula and Zingiber officinale. The formulation had a maximum cure rate of 73% at a dose of 800 mg/kg/day in hepatic amoebiasis reducing the average degree of infection (ADI) to 1.3 as compared to 4.2 for sham-treated controls.
Systematic review Indian
Adjuvants, Immunologic
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
Hemagglutination Tests
Liver Abscess, Amebic
Mesocricetus
Radiation-Sensitizing Agents
Sohni, Y. R.
Bhatt, R. M.
[Immunity and aging]
Terapevticheski? Arkhiv
Autoantibodies
Bone Marrow Cells
Energy Intake
Lymphocyte Activation
Mice, Inbred Strains
Phagocytosis
Rosette Formation
Thymus Gland
Mazharov, M. K.
Nutrition, aging and obesity: a critical review of a complex relationship
International Journal of Obesity
Long-standing beliefs about the ill-effects of mild to moderate obesity have been called into question by recent epidemiological studies and by critical review of older studies. A review of these studies reveals that the effects of obesity on health and longevity is more complex than we had realized. An attempt is made to throw light on this relationship by reviewing the large number of laboratory studies on nutrition, aging and obesity. The first series of such studies showed that restriction of food intake, beginning early in life, greatly increased longevity.
Actuarial Analysis
Stunkard, A. J.
Kissing selectively decreases allergen-specific IgE production in atopic patients
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
OBJECTIVE: Stress enhanced allergic skin wheal responses and allergen-specific IgE production. In contrast, mothers' kissing caused relaxation in infants, and kissing by lovers or spouses to atopic patients reduced allergic skin wheal responses. I studied the effect of kissing on production of allergen-specific IgE and cytokines in atopic patients. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with mild atopic eczema and 24 patients with mild allergic rhinitis kissed with lovers or spouses freely for 30 min while listening to soft music.
Choice Behavior
Dermatitis, Atopic
Immunoglobulin E
Sexual Partners
Kimata, H.
Cellular and humoral immunity, mood and exam stress: the influences of self-hypnosis and personality predictors
International Journal of Psychophysiology: Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
The effects of self-hypnosis training on immune function and mood were examined in medical students at exam time. Hypnosis involved relaxation and imagery directed at improved immune function and increased energy, alertness and concentration. Hypotheses were made about activated and withdrawn personality differences. Eight high and eight low hypnotically susceptible participants were given 10 sessions of hypnosis, one live and nine tape-recorded, and were compared with control subjects (N=12). CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and CD56 NK cells and blood cortisol were assayed. Life-style, activated vs.
Functional Laterality
Lymphocyte Count
Stress, Psychological
Gruzelier, J.
Smith, F.
Nagy, A.
Henderson, D.
Salient findings in the hypnosis literature: April 2002
The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
Four important investigations were reported during the latter part of 2001. All address the biological impact of hypnotic interventions. Three of these studies focus specifically on if and how hypnotic interventions affect immune functions. A range of immune assays is employed, from allergic response to blood-based assays of immune functioning during nonlaboratory periods of stress. In all 3 cases, measurable shifts in immune functioning are associated with hypnotic interventions.
Arousal
Psychoneuroimmunology
Nash, Michael R.
Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening
The immunobiological activity was investigated of certain medicinal plants widely used in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine for treatment of chronic infections and immunological disorders. The effect of an ethanolic extract of each drug was studied on delayed type hypersensitivity, humoral responses to sheep red blood cells, skin allograft rejection, and phagocytic activity of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. Picrorhiza kurroa was found to be a potent immunostimulant, stimulating both cell-mediated and humoral immunity.
Graft Rejection
Hypersensitivity, Delayed
Atal, C. K.
Sharma, M. L.
Kaul, A.
Khajuria, A.
Immunomodulatory effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) extract in mice
International Immunopharmacology
Immunomodulatory activity of aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum graecum L., a widely used medicinal and dietary herb, was evaluated in male Swiss albino mice. Mice were treated with three doses of extract (50, 100 and 250 mg/kg body weight per os) for 10 days. Body weight, relative organ weight, cellularity of lymphoid organs, delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) response, plaque-forming cell (PFC) assay, haemagglutination titre (HT), quantitative haemolysis of SRBC (QHS) assay, phagocytosis, and lymphoproliferation were studied in various groups of animals.
Trigonella
Bin-Hafeez, Bilal
Haque, Rizwanul
Parvez, Suhel
Pandey, Suwarna
Sayeed, Iqbal
Raisuddin, S.
Beneficial effects of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit epicarp in animal models
Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley fruit (bottle gourd), a commonly used vegetable in India is described as cardiotonic and as a general tonic in Ayurveda. Keeping in view the presence of free radical scavenging activity in L. siceraria and involvement of free radicals in the development of various disorders, present studies were designed to evaluate the ethanolic extract of L. siceraria fruit against the disorders where free radicals play a major role in pathogenesis.
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
Hyperlipidemias
Hypolipidemic Agents
Ranidae
Deshpande, J. R.
Choudhari, A. A.
Mishra, M. R.
Meghre, V. S.
Wadodkar, S. G.
Dorle, A. K.


text:
Germany to Launch New Anti-Terrorism Policies after Repeated Attacks
"German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere is set to announce several new measures aimed at curbing terrorism after Islamic State claimed two attacks in the country last month.
According to local media reports, the new policies will allow the deportation of migrants for being a 'threat to public security,' speed up the deportation process of migrants convicted of crimes and allow doctors to break their confidentiality agreement with patients if they think the patient could be a risk for launching a terror attack."
Source: Germany to Launch New Anti-Terrorism Policies after Repeated Attacks
California May Go Dark This Summer, and Most Aren't Ready
Osama bin Laden's son is taking over as al Qaeda leader, US says


What is X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome?
X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (OMIM 308230) is a genetic immunodeficiency syndrome that presents with bacterial and opportunistic infections from an early age. It is the most common form of hyper-IgM syndrome, accounting for approximately 70% of cases. An old name for this condition was dysgammaglobulinaemia type I with neutropenia.
Who gets X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome and why?
X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome is a rare condition, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 case per million population.
X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome only affects males, as the defective gene is located on the X chromosome. It is inherited from the mother who is an asymptomatic carrier. Diagnosis is usually made before the age of 12 months when the male infant presents with unusual or severe infections. There may be a family history of unexplained deaths in male infants.
The genetic defect involves the gene on chromosome Xq26 coding for CD40 ligand. This molecule is expressed on activated CD4+T lymphocytes and is involved in switching B cells from making IgM antibodies to IgG and other forms of antibody. So although the problem presents as an inability of B cells to make an appropriate antibody response to infections, the defect is on T cells.
This condition typically presents as unusual, opportunistic or severe infections of upper and lower respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts and is often associated with failure to thrive and enlarged lymph nodes.
The dermatological signs include frequent and recurrent bacterial and fungal skin infections and oral ulcers.
How is X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome diagnosed?
Early diagnosis is important as untreated X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome is fatal.
The initial investigations for a patient suspected of having an immunodeficiency syndrome include immunoglobulin (antibody) levels in the blood.
IgM – usually high, although normal or low levels have also been reported.
Such a blood test result would suggest the diagnosis of a hyper-IgM syndrome.
DNA sequencing of the specific gene on the X chromosome should be performed to identify the mutation and confirm the diagnosis. Many different mutations have been identified in this gene.
These tests will distinguish X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome from the rarer autosomal recessive CD40-deficient syndrome, which is clinically identical. In addition, ataxia-telangiectasia can present as a hyper-IgM syndrome in infancy with the neurological symptoms and telangiectasia developing later in childhood. Congenital rubella, cancer and anti-eplileptic medications may also cause a hyper-IgM pattern of immunodeficiency.
Carrier state diagnosis should be performed on both parents, expecting the mother to have one copy of the same gene mutation (and one normal gene), and the father to have one normal gene. Prenatal diagnosis is available.
Monthly intravenous gamma globulin should be started as soon as the diagnosis is made as this results in normal IgM levels and limits the number of severe and serious infections. However it may not prevent the opportunistic infections. In some cases it also improves growth.
Trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole may be given prophylactically to prevent Pneumocystis jirovecii infection.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) treats the neutropenia.
Bone marrow or umbilical cord stem cell transplant has been curative in some patients.
It has been suggested that affected boys should initially receive intravenous gamma globulin and trimethoprim + sulphamethoxazole with careful monitoring for complications of the disease. Bone marrow transplantation should be considered and performed if possible when complications develop.
An Y, Xiaoà J, Jiang L, Yang X, , Yuà J, Zhao X. Clinical and molecular characterization of X-linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome patients in China. Scand J Immunol 2010; 72, 50–56.
Chang MW, Romero R, Scholl PR, Paller AS. Mucocutaneous manifestations of the hyper-IgM immunodeficiency syndrome. J Am Acad Dermatol 1998;38:191-196.
Davies EG, Thrasher AJ. Update on the hyper immunoglobulin M syndromes. Brit J Haematol 2010; 149: 167–180.


Our RPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) containers protect your valuable produce, so that it can be transported and displayed without damage. Getting your fruit or vegetable crops to market in good shape is essential if you're going to earn a decent return for your hard work.
We know that tonnes of food goes to landfill each year in New Zealand, because it's no longer fit for consumption. So it's abundantly clear that effective produce packaging is essential to keep fruit and vegetables edible for longer.
At the same time, we understand that produce packaging can have heavy environmental impacts. This is why we exclusively work with 100% RPET for produce containers. All Custom-Pak RPET packs can be recycled through council recycling schemes.
Custom-Pak is one of New Zealand's leading suppliers of fresh produce packaging, including berry, tomato, kiwifruit, apple and pear punnets. All the punnets and packs we make are formed from 100% recycled PET containers. As well as a range of standard sizes and shapes, we can design and make custom packaging just for you.


Here at your local Macomb-area new and used car dealership, we always offer specials on new cars and used vehicles. We also understand that you want to take care of your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or RAM after you've purchased it, so we offer car parts specials and service specials. If you want to learn more about these specials, come into our Macomb area new and used car dealership, or contact Parkway Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM online!
Drive It Home The Same Day!
Account information if the vehicle has a lien.
**All leases require a $1995 down payment plus tax, title, license, $220 doc fee, and destination on approved tier A+ credit. Must be Employee EP and lease/owner loyal where applicable. In stock vehicles only. All incentives to dealer. Picture may not represent actual vehicle. See dealer for complete details.
Eligble for FCA Employee Pricing!
At Parkway Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, we pride ourselves on being able to offer our Warren and Sterling Heights customers the best deals and specials to help them afford new vehicles, used vehicles, services, parts, and accessories a little bit easier.
Buying or leasing a new car can be expensive. It doesn't have to be, though. At Parkway Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, we strive to offer our customers the most affordable and flexible lease and loan agreements that fit their unique financial backgrounds and budgets.
In addition to our new and used vehicle lease and loan specials, we also offer a variety of other incentives and special programs to recognize individuals that are important to our dealership.
Military Personnel looking through our inventory should take advantage of our service discount and cash allowance of up to $500 to be applied toward the purchase of any eligible vehicle on our lot.
We also make an effort to recognize the many physically disabled individuals who shop with us by offering an FCA US Automobility cash allowance for purchase, lease, or the instillation of adaptive passenger equipment.
Whether you are or a first time buyer or you are a repeat customer looking for additional savings on your next purchase or lease with us, make sure you redeem our internet coupon. After you complete the form, we will give you $500 off the price of any new vehicle we have available.
Regularly maintaining your vehicle is one of the most important aspects of car ownership. By visiting our service center regularly, you can ensure that your car runs and looks like new and that you stay as safe as possible on the road. To this end, we offer frequent parts and service specials in an effort to encourage this regular maintenance and servicing.
If you have any difficulty navigating these specials on our website, please call. We are always happy to hear from our Troy, New Baltimore and Utica customers.


Lord of the Board is a social gaming application based on head-to-head games that take place in real time. The game is different from others in its category in its understanding of the true motivation that drives players - their competitive nature and desire to win. This insight, which served as the inspiration for the game's name, is expressed through the variety of tournaments and player rankings offered (player versus friends, residents of his/her country, region and others). The first game launched in the series is backgammon.
The brand language was developed in the spirit of the world of American sports competition, such as boxing and the NBA league, and expresses the aspiration of the player to win and reach the top of the rankings list. The main brand colors are vivid: gold - suggesting victory - red and black, as reflected in the various elements and especially the logo, which was inspired by the NFL team emblems.


Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and related financial services in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The last earnings update was 21 days ago. More info.
3988 outperformed the Banks industry which returned -11.3% over the past year.
3988 underperformed the Market in Hong Kong which returned -6.1% over the past year.
Bank of China is good value based on expected growth next year.
Bank of China has a total score of 5/6, see the detailed checks below.
Bank of China's earnings are expected to grow by 5.6% yearly, however this is not considered high growth (20% yearly).
Bank of China's revenue is expected to grow by 13.8% yearly, however this is not considered high growth (20% yearly).


"Christmas Greetings from Our Home to Yours," I read on the card. Opening it caused a family picture to fall to the floor. I picked it up and looked at the friend I hadn't seen in about a decade. Kathryn has more kids than I remember, I thought. As I looked closer I realized I was not looking at Kathryn's husband, Mark. I thought maybe I was having a moment of faded memories, so I read what she'd inscribed in the card. No, this was not the couple we'd served on church staff with. It had been a few years, but I hadn't realized so much had changed. Kathryn was no longer married to Mark and was now with someone named Stephen. I searched Facebook for Mark and found he was now married to Anna. "And another one bites the dust," played in my mind as I mentally calculated how many ministry couples I knew who had dissolved their marriages and moved on.
I don't know the details, nor do I need to, but my heart aches. Not only for my friends, but for their children, their families, and the church they served. It seems the older I get the more I see this happen to people I'd once thought solid. People I'd looked up to and aspired to be like.
While I can't change things for them I can take steps to make sure my marriage lasts, to make sure the vows my husband and I made that cold winter morning twenty-five years ago are stronger each year. My children and my church family deserve leaders who practice what they preach.
This is the most important of all. When my relationship with the Lord is my first priority, I am able to thrive in all other relationships. Life gets in the way of so much and we are easily pulled into the busyness of it all. Unless we are taking time to consciously keep God first in our lives, we will stumble. Make sure to consciously spend time with the Lord and not just spend time doing the Lord's work. We need to dedicate ourselves to pleasing God so he is able to fully use us.
Our spouse needs to be a top priority in our lives--even above our church and above our children. We need to nurture the relationship that God gives us so we are better parents, better pastors, and better examples to the world. If we don't take the time to cherish one another and serve one another, then someone else will gladly step in.
I loved it when Vice President Mike Pence refused to have meetings alone with women who were not his wife. My husband and I have done this for years and I am honored that my husband would take these steps to guard our marriage. His actions make me feel treasured. Nothing or no one should come between a man and wife (uh, wasn't that one of the lines in our wedding ceremony?) Take time with each other. Consider it an investment in your future. Laugh together. Date each other. Be friends. Be lovers. There is always more to learn about your spouse. Just when I think I know everything about my guy, I'm amazed by something new. Marriage can be a fun adventure if you dedicate time to it.
As women we tend to neglect ourselves and focus on everyone around us. I've learned that taking time to take care of myself is as important as taking care of those around me. If I can't function well, then how can I serve others? I've also learned that these things can be costly. I've had to find creative ways to take care of myself without putting a strain on our finances. Some simple things I like to do just for me range from an afternoon cup of tea to buying myself a funny tee shirt on etsy. Self-care can be a hobby or outside interest. Don't feel guilty about it.
If you've found yourself on the other side of marriage and are beginning again, please don't feel like you're worth any less. God is still using you. He is the God of second chances. Learn from the past and make decisions that will help this time around to last.
As anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you invest in your relationship with the Lord, with your spouse, and invest in yourself you will reap benefits in every area of your life. You will be a stronger person, have a stronger marriage, and be closer to the Lord than you can imagine. It's worth it. You're worth it.
There were probably six children lined up on one side of the stage. Between stage fright, general shyness, and the regular confusion of a three-year-old, we couldn't hear them over the accompaniment track. My child, however, was not contributing to the singing anyway. Why? Because she was PICKING HER NOSE! Yes. Right there in front of everyone, my cute little girl, the daughter of a paid minister, decided it was the right time to clean out her nose rather than singing the song for which she had practiced so long!
Looking back more than ten years, I realize it could have been much worse. We laugh about it now, and I tease her occasionally just before she goes on stage. But in that moment, all the pressure of being a minister's wife and raising my children as role models for the rest of the congregation bore down on my shoulders like one of those harnesses used to pull a semi-truck in a strongman contest.
My child will act like every other child because she is like every other child: a sinner in need of saving grace. And children do childish things. It's part of the package.
I am not responsible for every action of my child, whether I'm a first-time visitor or the head pastor's wife.
My friends at church accept me and my child as regular human beings. In fact, they accept us more readily than I accept us.
Another mother in the congregation may have needed to see her child wasn't the only one prone to gross and inappropriate actions. I hope that mother was comforted in my embarrassment.
If someone judges me for the childish action of my child, that's not my problem.
So what did I do? There was no discipline for my daughter because I had never told her not to pick her nose on stage. I simply explained that it's not nice to pick your nose in front of other people, especially when they're all looking at you.
She got over it quickly. Me? As you can see, I'm still recovering.
Question for Reflection: How do your expectations for your children differ from those of "regular" church members? Should your expectations differ?


text:
/Sports/Michigan Sports
Men found shot to death in Detroit
DETROIT (AP) — An officer found one man shot to death inside a car and another on the ground nearby in Detroit early Monday, police said. According to police, an officer found the bodies after responding to a call that a car had hit a fence shortly after 2 a.m. on the city's east ...
Washington Wizards gain ground on Detroit Pistons, 106-100, in race for a shot at final NBA Eastern Conference playoff berth
By RICH DUBROFF Associated Press WASHINGTON — In a rebuilding season for the Washington Wizards, coach Scott Brooks still closely monitors the standings, and while it's unlikely, he still believes his team has a chance to qualify for the playoffs. The Wizards began the second half of the ...
Nathan MacKinnon scores 30th goal for Colorado in Avalanche's 6-3 win over Detroit Red Wings
By PAT GRAHAM AP Sports Writer DENVER — Nathan MacKinnon doesn't have to dig too deep to find a reason why he scores so much. "I shoot a lot of pucks," the Colorado All-Star forward said. Shoot, it's really not that easy. MacKinnon scored twice to reach the 30-goal mark for a ...
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball loses at Iowa 90-83 late Friday
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Michigan coach Juwan Howard has seen enough of Iowa's Luka Garza this season. Garza scored 33 points in Iowa's 90-83 win over No. 19 Michigan on Friday night. Howard, the first-year coach of the Wolverines, knew nothing about Garza before the season. But after ...
Derrick Rose, Svi Mykhailiuk spark Detroit Pistons to big win over Atlanta Hawks on Saturday
By GEORGE HENRY Associated Press ATLANTA — Derrick Rose has been rolling lately, and in a good way. The 11th-year point guard, in his first season with the Detroit Pistons, is easily handling the minutes load and producing at a high clip. Rose has battled injuries through much of his ...
Florida Panthers slam Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Saturday
By LARRY LAGE AP Hockey Writer DETROIT — The Florida Panthers were thrilled to have banged-up goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky back on the ice. He was pretty happy about it, too. Bobrovsky made 27 saves, helping Florida beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Saturday night to win four straight for ...
Red Sox send LHP Hall to Tigers for minor league C Nunez
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have acquired left-hander Matt Hall from Detroit for minor league catcher Jhon Nunez. The 26-year-old Hall made 16 relief appearances for the Tigers last season and five the year before, posting an 0-1 record with a 9.48 ERA in all. A sixth-round draft pick ...
Crosby scores in OT, Penguins beat Red Wings 2-1
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal 1:33 into overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 Friday night. It was Crosby's third goal in three games since returning from a 28-game absence because of a core muscle ...
By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Cassius Winston threw a lob from the right wing over the middle of the lane and Xavier Tillman dunked the basketball, breaking a record that stood for two decades. Winston had six points, and his four assists gave him the Big Ten ...
Battle of the Fans semifinalists named
EAST LANSING — Nine schools' student cheering sections have been selected for the semifinal round in the Battle of the Fans IX contest sponsored by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. All nine are Lower Peninsula schools — Traverse City West, Saginaw Heritage and Zeeland East ...
Late Detroit Lions' great Alex Karras gets Pro Football Hall of Fame nod
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has made the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his fifth attempt. Tagliabue and former New York Giants general manager George Young made it to the hall in Canton, Ohio, as contributors. Ex-Dallas Cowboys safety Cliff ...
Rookie Sekou Doumbouya steps up for Detroit Pistons in win at Boston, 116-103
By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON — The Pistons have been playing most of the past month without three starters. They didn't let it stop them from finding a way to get the best of one of the East's top teams. Rookie Sekou Doumbouya scored a season-high 24 points and Detroit ...
Nelson scores twice, Islanders pound Red Wings 8-2
By ALLAN KREDA Associated Press UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — The Islanders vowed to play with purpose following a rough road loss the crosstown Rangers. They did exactly that against the lowly Detroit Red Wings. Brock Nelson scored twice and six other Islanders connected as New York routed the ...
New Orleans Pelicans beat Detroit Pistons 117-110 in overtime
By DAVE HOGG Associated Press DETROIT — A makeshift New Orleans Pelicans lineup blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter on Monday. Lonzo Ball helped his teammates salvage the night. Ball scored five of his 17 points in overtime and the Pelicans beat the Detroit Pistons ...
Chicago Bulls defeat Detroit Pistons again as Detroit's Andre Drummond ejected
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT — Luke Kornet helped the Chicago Bulls to the type of start coach Jim Boylen was looking for. Kornet scored 12 of his 15 points in the first quarter and the Bulls took a big early lead and then held off Detroit at the end, beating the Pistons ...
Daniel Oturu scores 30 to lead Minnesota Golden Gophers past Michigan, 75-67
By PATRICK DONNELLY Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS — Daniel Oturu shook off an injury and had a career game to help Minnesota take down another ranked opponent. Oturu scored a career-high 30 points and the Gophers went on a late 11-0 run to beat No. 19 Michigan 75-67 on Sunday. The ...
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team suffers 1st Big 10 loss, a 71-42 thumping at Purdue
By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue's struggling offense received all the attention the last couple weeks. Now the Boilermakers can start focusing on the raves about their seemingly unbreakable defense. Purdue held No. 8 Michigan State to its two lowest ...
Buffalo Sabres lean on unlikely scorers to beat Detroit Red Wings, 5-1
By NOAH TRISTER AP Sports Writer DETROIT — Evan Rodrigues had no goals in 25 games this season. Zach Bogosian had none in 15. Those two droughts are over now. Rodrigues scored twice in the first 5:00, and the Buffalo Sabres cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. ...
Detroit Red Wings win in shootout over Ottawa, 3-2
By PAUL HARRIS Associated Press DETROIT — Dylan Larkin scored the only goal in the shootout to give the Detroit Red Wings a 3-2 win over the skidding Ottawa Senators on Friday night. Tyler Bertuzzi had a goal and an assist, and Larkin also scored in regulation for Detroit. Red Wings ...
Shooting found to be justified
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A western Michigan sheriff's deputy was justified in fatally shooting an armed man in November, a prosecutor said Thursday. Kent County Deputy James Davis has been cleared of any misconduct in the Nov. 24 shooting of Steven Forrest Saucier, Kent County Prosecutor ...
Superior Central, Munising boys basketball teams win
Terrance Wayne 'Terry' Johnson
Westwood Patriots, Superior Central girls basketball post wins, Ishpeming takes loss
Charge to wins: Westwood swimmers sweep Ishpeming-Negaunee


text:
Defence contracting in 2018 - A year for squeeze or growth?
As headhunters we are guaranteed to be asked one question in any meeting "How's the market?". The standard industry answer being: "The market's buoyant though patchy" and then we pose the exact same question back.
Personally, I think a more detailed answer provides greater credibility and confidence that we are specialists with deep market knowledge.
You may ask "what's this got to do with where the UK's defence industry is going this year?". In a nut-shell, everyone is extremely busy and the market is buoyant, though in places. In particular: VR Simulation and high-end security solutions are in demand. The industry however is politically challenged, consolidating in areas, and becoming more competitive. In the last quarter we have identified a number of consistent themes across a myriad of defence firms, with the most imperative challenges and opportunities outlined below.
Investment: Despite the UK's defence budget being £36BN, much of this is tied into the major programmes including the Carrier/Joint Strike Fighter (circa £6BN, not including F35s) and the Dreadnought Class/Submarine (circa £41BN). For those outside the contracted consortia, there is much trepidation about the future of the UK market. Whilst UK Government has made their intent to utilise products and services from the UK SME community clear, the time and cost of the tender process can be disadvantageous for these firms as they do not have the financial or resource cushions a Tier1 Contractor has. Such companies have to think out-side the box, consider new (international) markets and develop new technology-led solutions such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Talent succession: The industry boasts some of the most talented scientists, engineers and politically astute personnel, many of whom have extensive career tenure. Succession planning, however, is proving more of a challenge. The new generation of talent is being lured to the broader, fast moving and enticing Technology industry, which has a reputation for rapid development and disruption, coupled with higher salaries than defence.
Longevity: The procurement/tender processes are often extreme, regularly breaking the 10 year mark. For a Bid or Business Development specialist to continuously work on such a programme is often demotivating and unrewarding. That is even before considering the constant shift of solution, cost, margin, economics and politics. Talent within this sector is unique and culturally it is tough to hire similar skilled personnel from industries such as Technology and IT services, as they are typically used to much shorter procurement cycles, often weekly or monthly.
Talent attraction: The appeal to join an industry that is rapidly innovating and making front-line military operations more efficient, through the deployment of advanced technology solutions, is real, credible and ground breaking. Capabilities such as surveillance, autonomous vehicles and simulation (VR war gaming) are undergoing significant technology disruption, enabling the utilisation and analysis of huge data-sets in seconds, improving tactical decision making. Such initiatives are highly appealing, though must be aggressively marketed; expos such at DSEI play an active part in this.
In order to attract such talent, defence firms need to adapt fast and be more proactive. QinetiQ for example, have been successful in attracting graduates and apprentices, having developed a programme that offers access to ground breaking technologies, with an emphasis on inclusion, collaboration and teamwork.
Corporate Venturing: Partnership and collaboration with tech start-ups is an increasing trend, though differences in culture and pace between organisations requires serious consideration. It can be a cost effective way to acquire and deploy highly advanced technology solutions into the market. In 2017, DSTL and Digital Catapult ran the Pit Stop programme encouraging Machine Learning Technology firms to engage with the defence industry. Deemed a success, this is now being rolled out to other verticals such as automotive and healthcare.
R&D and Technology innovation: There is a real buzz around the industry, with much talk and action in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. AI solutions for mine clearing, casualty evacuation, simulation, surveillance and logistical resupply are all real, and evolving at pace. Those who succeed will need to be highly commercial and astute, keeping profitability at the forefront and costs in check.
UK: As mentioned previously, much of the defence budget has been tied up in the major programmes. However, there is huge opportunity for contractors to provide services maintaining and augmenting the legacy of the existing platforms across all three services. The need for constant upgrade of simulators, live firing ranges and vehicles, for example, provides ongoing opportunities.
Export: In 2017 the ADS reported 62% of UK defence companies would expect to grow their export sales. We have supported QinetiQ in their export strategy, hiring talent in the US, Middle East and Singapore to sell imported test and evaluation services, which are highly sought after in these regions. In order to succeed there must be a watertight business model. Joint venturing is prolific, creating leads, and hiring in-country, expat talent with understanding of UK PLC, supported by local support staff, is tried and trusted, and remains one of the most effective methods.
Despite constant pressure from the UK Government on defence costs, providing UK firms can align their business models and deploy exceptional commercial and technical talent, the opportunities certainly out-weigh the challenges. Here's to industry growth for 2018.
Category: Cyber Security & Defence Recruitment
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text:
Allodin Fothergill (né le ) est un athlète jamaïcain spécialiste du 400 mètres

Carrière

Palmarès

Records

Notes et références

Liens externes

Sprinteur jamaïcain
Coureur de 400 mètres
Naissance en février 1987
Athlète (homme) aux Jeux olympiques d'été de 2008

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Is it possible to make a pyinstaller executable file that automatically updates when I update the source code? If there is, how do I do that? If there isn't, which approach would I take to achieve something like that?
Tried looking online but found absolutely nothing. Maybe I didn't try hard enough.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


IBM Cognos BI Administration: Architecture and Logging (V10.2) is a two-day instructor-led course that teaches participants how to identify components and sub-components of the IBM Cognos BI architecture and how to use tools and techniques to provide a foundation to troubleshoot issues.
IBM Cognos Business Intelligence is a web-based, integrated business intelligence suite by IBM. The software is designed to enable business users without technical knowledge to extract corporate data, analyze it and assemble reports. Cognos enable companies to achieve the depth analysis and reporting and track performances at various Levels. Cognos is basically a Business Intelligence Tool which enables you to explore and interact with any data, in any combination and spanning the entire spectrum of time all in a unified workspace.
IBM Cognos Planning Analyst: Build Models (V10.1) is a five-day, instructor led course that teaches modelers how to design and build models for business planning.


It has been a year since I made the trip back to Maine upon learning the extent of your prognosis.
Just three weeks prior, I sat across the table from you at one of my favorite restaurants in town, celebrating my 33rd birthday. We were amongst family.
You were visibly frail then — more so than I'd remembered you being in quite some time. Not since your last bout with cancer, perhaps? One of the many battles you defeated mightily.
I suppose I had become accustomed to seeing you overcome so much. I simply expected that this time would be no different. That you were ill, and would recover, like you always had before.
You were Superman to me, even beyond my childhood years.
I held it together driving to visit you in the hospital. Riding up the elevator to your floor, I heard your voice trailing through the hallway as I approached your door.
I peeked in, only to immediately retreat from view, biting my lower lip, trying desperately to hold back tears and failing miserably. How had things deteriorated so quickly in just a few weeks time? I held my breath upon entering your room, a smile plastered on my face amidst the pain.
"Hi baby!" You rejoiced. Your arms outstretched, hair combed meticulously and beautiful big green eyes magnified by your sunken cheeks.
I had so much I wanted to tell you, but all I could muster was, "I love you so much," echoing through our tears.
"I love you, too. I know I wasn't a perfect dad." Your voice cracked as you attempted to continue.
"You were the best dad," I stammered reassuringly.
You talked about how challenging getting through your dialysis had been lately. How you felt pressured by some within your hospital team to make a decision on whether to continue or not with treatment.
You were adamant you wanted to try one more time. To see if you could handle it so you could hang on a little longer.
A doctor and social worker entered the room. They began running through your options once again. They reinforced what we all knew already: you were terminal and the dialysis was only prolonging your pain. The inevitable.
They explained what stopping dialysis would entail. You would be able to go home and spend the time you had left with family. Your pain would be managed. They said you would simply become more tired until you'd eventually go peacefully in your sleep.
You nodded silently in agreement.
"Doesn't that sound like a good plan?" your doctor asked.
"Well, I guess so," you responded, uncertainty permeating your voice.
Your brain was foggy from the medication and from the cancer infiltrating your body.
Your doctor once again explained what this would mean for you, and expressed it was time to make a clear decision without wavering.
"It's not an easy decision to make," I countered. Anger dripped from every syllable.
I knew he was right. And they were, in fact, pushing you towards a decision that would ease your suffering. But by God, it was your decision to make. You had earned the right to be in charge of your own fate at this point.
A few moments of silence lingered following their exit. I sat shaking a bit, trying to compose my anger, sadness and heartbreak. I looked up to find you staring back at me, a calm smile upon your face.
You said "stop" on your terms, and spent your final days teaching us all what it truly means to be brave.
You beat cancer twice, and your life — well, it was a fight in so many ways. But you were Superman until the end, showing an inordinate amount of courage in letting go.
Today, on my way back from running errands, my mind wandered back to these memories.
It is so often the case that everything and nothing reminds me of you. I'm grateful for these reminders, for the memories and for the love.
You were not a perfect person… a perfect dad. But your love is what set you apart. Because of you, I will carry on this legacy with my own children.
Ellie is a mom and advocate to an incredible little boy named Leo.


Over Compulsive Disorder is very much a mental complaint that we the sufferer fight to control twenty fours a day seven days a week. OCD is like; buy one get one free offer down at the local supermarket. A two in one offer where bargain of the day is pain.
We have the mental hurt accompanied by the physical pain like backache, headache, cramp and much more while seeking contentment.
Depending on the individual symptoms may differ.
Victims usually suffer from back pain due to a second carpeting of bits on the floor? An OCD victim is more times on bended knee than those of any priest or vicar believe me. Pockets in an apron are a necessity for an over compulsive disorder sufferer. Why? Well because this is a great place to stash every bit or crumb picked up from the floor. No matter how severe the agony of back pain, you may bet an OCD sufferer will find a way to stoop to remove the offending bit of fluff. This offensive alien no bigger than the size of a pin head can cause severe heartache till exterminated.
Crumbs are enough to send an OCD victim to hell and back.
How OCD dominates our eating habits.
Before sitting down to eat, forced upon us is the imaginary stop watch where count down begins to finish a meal. A sufferer you will find will never have the time to digest the content of dinner tea or supper due to the need of the plate being washed and put away.
Shopping lists will never consist of rich tea biscuits/crisps or a crusty loaf.
Colour of packaging and labels denote what goes in to a sufferer's pantry and heaven forbid should the sugar bag split.
An OCD sufferer and the visitor not a match made in heaven. The guest has to comply with all the ground rules, where if a sandwich is served up then it is eaten outside with Jack Frost.
Over Compulsive Disorder is dictator in our lives where it slowly takes the living out of life.
Understanding and trying to control why we do what we do, is still very distant in our thoughts. So until we have the answer we will continue to hope and cope with the pressure stress and anxiety that comes with OCD and of course a prayer to God.