text:
All hail Sir Richard Branson, along with global nomads who delve into global misery — and welcome to November
18 Comments Posted by ML Awanohara on November 1, 2011
The catalog for Heifer International has just landed in my mailbox, encouraging me to donate a sheep in honor of my nearest and dearest, to a family in need in Nepal, Romania, or Brazil. That family will in turn give away the sheep's female offspring to other families in need, and so on — a benevolent pyramid scheme known as Passing on the Gift.
I get it. What's more, as it's All Saints' Day, I sense I would feel considerably more beatific if I gifted a sheep on behalf of my loved ones than if I bought them yet another pair of Merino wool gloves they don't really need. (Hey, but it wouldn't have been any old gloves but a touchscreen pair from Muji, for using one's iPhone in the dead of winter…)
Yet for some reason, the Heifer appeal doesn't. Call me a hard-hearted skeptic, but I've always had trouble with the kind of philanthropy that poses simple solutions to complex, deep-seated problems — alleviating world hunger and poverty being at the top of the list.
A candid — or do I mean Candide? — appraisal
When it comes to philanthropy, I always wonder — is this more about you (and your need to assuage your guilt about having so much) or about them? And how much do you actually know about them?
That is probably why, when I went to live abroad, I didn't go as an aid worker or a Peace Corps volunteer. In the UK I was a postgraduate student; in Japan, a trailing spouse.
That said, my expat life was never just about exotic travel. On the contrary, I aimed to broaden my horizons and educate myself about other cultures by becoming immersed in the everyday life. I got to know the "natives" — and even married a couple of them (in not-very-rapid succession). Ultimately, I tried to become more of an informed citizen — of the world as well as of my country (assuming I eventually returned — I did).
But saving the world? That wasn't in my plan. Like Voltaire's young man, Candide, I would start by cultivating my own garden and branch out (so to speak) from there.
I suppose you could say I've never been that earnest.
Earnest people have a calling. They don't have time for frivolity.
I always have time for frivolity. What's more, I'm genetically predisposed toward light-hearted nonsense. (Despite what the Heifer International Catalog says, my mother is not the sort to enjoy having me donate a sheep to someone she's never met. She'd rather I gave it to her as a pet!)
From my expat days in the UK, I remember a joke sometimes told of Princess Diana, that when she would arrive on one of her unannounced visits to a hospital, patients would hide beneath their beds, not wanting to be the next "victim" of her need for making the Grand Philanthropic Gesture.
I find that image amusing to this day.
Do you really want to make me cry?
But lest this post become all about me and my peculiar hang-ups, let's move on to Richard Branson and TDN's November theme.
Cue in 1980s Culture Club music. Rockstar businessman Sir Richard Branson has just now touched down on the shores of The Displaced Nation in his hot-air balloon, the Virgin Atlantic Flyer.
As the leading exemplar of a fun-loving philanthropist, he is about to disprove my theory that these two qualities, earnestness and fun, can't be combined in one individual.
As anyone who's had the privilege of traveling on Virgin Atlantic in upper class (as I did when I was a spoiled expat in Tokyo) will be aware, here is man who knows how to throw a good party.
But if letting the good times roll is a huge part of Sir Richard's appeal, it's not his whole story. As one of the world's wealthiest people, Branson also believes in giving back:
Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won't make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for [such people]. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa — and it's about getting a balance.
Branson, of course, has spent has spent much of his adult life displaced in ways most of us can't even imagine — in private jets, on a private island in the Caribbean, in boats and balloons in pursuit of daredevil adventure.
But then some years ago, with his 60th birthday approaching, he began diverting some of his formidable energy and funding resources to countries in need — particularly in Africa. He left behind rock bands to form a band of Elders — consisting of, among others, British rock musician and human-rights activist Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter and Mary Robinson — to work on the African continent's intractable problems.
At Ulusaba, the private game reserve that Branson now owns in South Africa, visitors are encouraged to get involved with the initiatives he has launched to help local villages that have been ravaged by unemployment, HIV and drought. As Branson told a Daily Mail reporter:
To come to Africa and not see Africans is just wrong. A lot of the game reserves don't really allow you into the villages but I think it's important.
In addition, Branson is using his business knowhow to incubate and seed promising business proposals from aspiring South African entrepreneurs.
Now, Sir Richard would have earned the right of entry to our Displaced Hall of Fame by virtue of his derring-do alone — have you heard of Virgin Galactic? (It's not too late to book a seat on the first sub-orbital space flight.) But we've chosen this moment to honor him as we plan to spend November looking at the kind of global nomads with the courage and the fortitude to delve into global misery.
Such travelers have displaced themselves, often to far-flung corners of the globe, not for the sake of good times or narrow personal goals but for the sake of helping others — many of whom have been displaced from their homelands through tragic circumstances beyond their control.
Not the final word
The announcement of this month's theme is not, however, tantamount to imposing a ban on skepticism — we skeptics still have a place at The Displaced Nation's table. What's more, our ranks will soon swell to include some of the very people who belong to the volunteer and aid communities. They, too, can have their doubts about the effectiveness of their work — and of the involvement of celebrities in global problems.
But for now, let's save such issues for future posts.
Which means I can now go back to cultivating my little patch of grass. Hmmm… I wonder if it could use a sheep or two, after all?
STAY TUNED for Wednesday's post, featuring the first of our philanthropic Random Nomads.
RANDOM NOMAD: Camden Luxford, Hostel Owner, Freelance Writer/Blogger & Student
What the Finnish Spring can teach us about expats and politics
Free at last of the media bubble: The FT's Simon Kuper on the expat life
Uncategorized Activists, Africa, Celebrity expats, Crosscultural, Displaced Hall of Fame, global philanthropy, Reality bites, What a Displaced World
← The Displaced Nation's Halloween post is…mysteriously displaced! RANDOM NOMAD: Vilma Ilic, Research Associate for Sub-Saharan Africa (Social & Economic Development Projects) →
18 responses to "All hail Sir Richard Branson, along with global nomads who delve into global misery — and welcome to November"
Michelloui November 1, 2011 at 2:31 pm
Really interesting points. Every Christmas after we open our presents we look through a website that does something very similar and 'choose' an animal or other item to gift. While I am aware this isn't the solution, I am trying to encourage our kids to remember other people on the day they're given presents many people will never have. Difficult.
ML Awanohara November 2, 2011 at 5:06 pm
@Michelle
Thanks for your comment. I live in New York City, a place where you can be excoriated and made to feel guilty for not adopting a dog from a shelter (I have two dogs, both breeds). For certain things (pets being one of them), one must always be seen to be doing a good deed nowadays!
Speaking of animals brings me back to the Heifer Catalog. Whenever I look at it, I'm invariably struck by how cute all the livestock are — which is why, I presume, they are out front? It's either that or kids, have you noticed? But with kids, you have to worry about the "pornography of poverty." (Someone in England once told me that if you go out on the street with a dog or a kid, you get more money with the dog!)
Since you live in England, I'll tell you that in some ways this entire topic reminds me of Victorian times — when little waif-boys like Oliver Twist would be sent out to do the pickpocketing on behalf of professional thieves.
Similarly, you never know exactly who or what's behind these images that you see online or in these catalogs. I don't meant to imply that Heifer Foundation is a sinister operation — it's been going since 1944, and seems reasonably transparent. But even with an esteemed organization like that, it can be hard to determine how much of your gift actually ends up helping people, and to what extent. (I guess most of us would rationalize it as better than nothing…but what if your money might be better spent elsewhere, how would one know?)
And what about Richard Branson and other philanthropists? When I read of their efforts, it makes me think of Kipling's "The White Man's Burden":
Take up the White Man's burden–
The savage wars of peace–
Fill full the mouth of Famine
And bid the sickness cease;
In other words, the rich have a moral duty and an obligation to help "the poor" better themselves, whether the poor want the help or not.
I'd like to think that as the world is now a smaller place, we can dismiss Kipling's skepticism — we can really help the helpless in ways we couldn't before. I'm sure that's what Richard Branson would say if he were commenting on my post.
But somehow I can't seem to dispel these Victorian ghosts of mine. They keep whispering in my ear that we're not as advanced and sophisticated as we think we are, that we should study their mistakes…
Yumiko November 3, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Great read, as always. We don't get these catalogs here in Tokyo. However, I do get a lot of calls for donation for local causes( nursing homes, red cross) at the end of the year, which you are really obliged to donate a small sum as a good local citizen. The ladies who do the collection are neighborhood volunteers, so you have to be nice to them. Not global at all.
ML Awanohara November 5, 2011 at 11:55 am
@Yumiko
It's interesting that the Heiffer catalog hasn't reached Tokyo yet. I recall from my own days in Japan that Japanese youth were beginning to rally around global warming and other environmental causes — so you'd think you'd at least be receiving an "adopt a panda" catalog by now!
But I'm aware that philanthropy isn't as entrenched in Japan as it is in the West. I wonder if that has to do with Japan not having a Christian tradition. For better or for worse, I think you can draw a straight line between the West's current efforts to "save" Africa and those made by Christian missionaries during Victorian times.
I seem to be obsessed with the Heiffer catalog but the sheep on the cover caught my eye again this morning. I've decided it reminds me of the sheep you see in the nativity scene (because of the shepherds being in attendance at Christ's birth). In which case, what a clever ploy! Sheep = nativity = Christ child = Christianity = saving others…
amblerangel November 4, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Good points all- hopefully day to day I can find a way to improve the place in which I live! Hmm- if we all did that instead of looking for the grand gesture…
@Emily aka amblerangel
I sometimes wonder if some of us get involved in improving the lives of others as a way to avoid tending our own gardens… Since repatriating to this country, I've encountered on numerous occasions the kinds of people who've dedicated their entire lives to working on behalf of people elsewhere on the planet — while tolerating an abusive atmosphere in their offices. Apparently, they don't perceive the irony!
ML Awanohara November 7, 2011 at 11:21 pm
P.s. I am now reading Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, and Orleanna Price, the wife of the preacher, makes a remark about their relationship that perfectly expresses what I was trying to say:
I married a man who could never love me, probably. It would have trespassed on his devotion to all mankind.
Kate Allison November 9, 2011 at 7:58 am
You should read Joanna Trollope's "The Rector's Wife" when you're done with that, ML, and compare and contrast the two relationships…
Piglet in Portugal November 9, 2011 at 4:41 am
I am not sure about worrying about hunger on distant shores when you only have to look around you to see "genuine" homeless on the street. Or some who even if they are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads are struggling to pay the bills with little money left for food. These maybe families who have experienced the good times but now have reached rock bottom and are now fighting for survival. Old people dying of cold and starvation. It makes me feel so angry at the injustice.
In fact reading your post has made me realise I should not be sitting here in front of my PC talking about this, I should find the notice I received awhile back asking for volunteers to join their support team. The support team basically encourage shoppers at supermarkets to part with just a couple of items of food for the needie.
I'd love to work with the old people but I just don't have the language skills to communicate. Their plight as I have already said makes me feel so sad. Loneliness is a terrible thing.
Sorry if I've gone ranting off topic 🙂
Fair point, PiP. I wonder how much of that is to do with the portrayal of poverty in the media (see my Displaced Q post on November 8). Cute children in Africa, or old men on the streets in your own country? Different charities have different glamour ratings, it seems.
Piglet in Portugal November 9, 2011 at 10:31 am
To be honest Kate, I think world hunger is a growing problem and it's difficult to know where to start. In the current economic climate it will only be get worse!
Kate Allison November 9, 2011 at 11:57 am
There's a well known saying that suggests we should perhaps start at home…
ML Awanohara November 10, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@PiP @Kate
The only thing holding me back from chiming "hear, hear!" to the idea of charity beginning at home is the thought of the gap between the Global North and the Global South. We who live in rich countries have sooooo much more than they do! And that, too, isn't fair.
In fact, you could make an analogy with the main claim of the Wall St protesters here in NYC. Just as it isn't fair that the 1% get bailed out, continue to earn big bonuses and get their tax breaks extended — while the rest of us, the 99%, lose jobs and can hardly afford health care — it's not fair that the countries in the Global North have such a higher standard of living than their brothers and sisters in Africa and other poor countries.
For me, the problem is, figuring out how to rectify that — especially if you don't have Richard Branson's means. I can't go jetting off to Africa, meet all the big players, and start up my own charity. So I have to trust someone else's if I'm going to give, or give back.
Piglet in Portugal November 10, 2011 at 1:51 pm
The thing is, WE can't save the world.
There is a saying – you can't miss what you have never had and Africa has never had. IT's not so much that I don't care what happens on distant shores, I really do, but we as individuals have to be realistic as to what is in our control and what is not. Do what we can, where we can and when we can. Poverty in Africa needs to be addressed but doe we have more chance of standing on the shoreline and holding back the sea?
This is why I say yes give to Africa but in the more practical terms -help the elderly who are abandoned, lonely and poor – they may just need company and a kind word. Help in homeless shelters by serving food on Christmas day. Join the Samaritans and become a councellor to help those who are suicidal. Work with abused children etc. All this is happening right on our doorstep. (Having said this It's a bit more difficult for me in a country where I am unable to speak the language)
Once, I was really stressed and under extreme pressure at work – I was at breaking point. A Jehoviahs witness (one of my co-workers) printed out a simple prayer on a card (see below) which he presented to me along with a cup of coffee…He touched my arm and then walked away. I have long forgotten the details of why I was under so much pressure but have never forgotten his kind actions in my moment of need.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can. And the wisdom to know the difference"
We can make a difference we just need to reach out.
India, for example recieves mega handouts from Britain to help the poor. Yet I was horrified to read, India has it's own space program. Governments need to spend their money more wisely and influence the countries leaders.
Ho ho…I am in full rant mode so I will shut up LOL 🙂
This is a topic VERY close to my heart as you can probably tell. LOL 🙂
@PiP
I admire your passion, especially when it comes to wanting to do something to help people suffering in offices — heaven knows, there's a lot of it about nowadays with so many narcissistic bosses and so many workers struggling to do the jobs of five people — as well as the elderly. As far as the latter goes, I assume you know about the UK's new Campaign to End Loneliness (started in 2010)? I actually hadn't heard of it until I read this post on the Telegraph Expat blog, talking about lonely elderly British expats in Majorca. Elderly expats, like the elderly everywhere, usually get ignored. But there must be quite a few of them about, who get stuck living far away from home and then get dementia, break hips and so on? That strikes me as being very sad…especially if they don't or can't admit (out of pride or whatever) that they need help.
Hi ML,
Not sure about helping people in offices. someone helped me once and I've never forgotten it. I will check out the Campaign to End Loneliness. No not heard of it but I may contact them as my Mother is suicidal with loneliness.
Yep I am passionate… 🙂
Sonia Marsh November 11, 2011 at 9:31 pm
I donate to causes in Africa, as I lived in Nigeria as a child. I always research that most of the money goes to the cause, and not to administrative fees. I really want to experience helping in some African countries again, Like the DRC with Alissa Everett, who does work there and helps women (rape victims) start a business. I connected with her, an interview on my blog, as she's a famous photographer and hope to help in person, soon.
@Sonia
What was it like to live in Africa as a kid? We must recruit you to do a guest post here!
On giving: I agree that it helps to have some kind of personal connection to the cause in question. Kathleen Colson, who has contributed this month's travel yarn about her frequent travels in Africa for the BOMA Project, is my cousin — so I know she's trustworthy! I also approve of her approach of giving people the tools they need instead of telling them what to do.
That said — and Kathleen will have to forgive me here — I can also see the argument that these various aid efforts should be more coordinated — that we need some sort of overarching policy or framework for what it is these various groups (governmental, nongovernmental, international) are trying to accomplish in Africa. Otherwise, some of the aid — however well intentioned — will be wasted or else could prove counterproductive.


ABOVE VIDEO: Roger Ailes, who built Fox News into a cable powerhouse before leaving the company last year, died at the age of 77.
(FOX NEWS) – Roger Ailes, who built Fox News into a cable powerhouse before leaving the company last year, died at the age of 77.
The Ohio-born television pioneer was a confidante of presidents and a acknowledged master of communications. He founded Fox News in 1996 and built it into the nation's long-running No. 1 cable news network Ailes resigned from Fox in July amid charges of sexual harrassment.
His widow, Elizabeth Ailes, confirmed the news in a statement.


Eric Parisi died after running a red light and hitting a vehicle a few blocks from the Spring Hill school, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
SPRING HILL — A teenage motorcyclist died Tuesday morning after state troopers said he ran a red light and struck a vehicle as it made a lefthand turn through the intersection.
The incident took place at about 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of Mariner Boulevard and Northcliffe Boulevard, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Eric A. Parisi, 17, of Spring Hill, was headed south on Mariner on a 2007 Suzuki motorcycle, troopers said. At the same time, a 2013 Kia Sorento driven by 38-year-old Krystal Kunkel of Spring Hill was headed north on Mariner, in the lefthand turn lane approaching the traffic light at the Northcliffe intersection.
The Kia had the green arrow signal to turn left, troopers said, but as she did so Parisi's motorcycle went through the red light and struck the right side of the vehicle.
Parisi was a student at Springstead High School, said a Hernando County School District spokesperson. Based on the time and location of the crash — a few blocks away from the school — he may have been on his way to the high school.
The 17-year-old was wearing his helmet at the time of the crash. No charges will be field against the Kia driver, according to a trooper's report.
Springstead High principal Carmine Rufa said he knew Parisi well. He was a senior, and they often worked together when Parisi helped with theater technology on the school's parent nights, Rufa said. Parisi also volunteered to photograph the school's Student of the Month each month, according to the principal. He was in the school's band and worked at a local paintball range, Rufa said, but he remembers him most for his genial maturity.
"He was willing to help out at any time," Rufa said. "He's such a great kid. Great to talk with — like you're talking to an adult."
Grief counselors were at the school Tuesday, Rufa said, and more than 50 students spoke with them. Some students have talked about painting his parking spot, but Rufa said they'll settle on a plan later to memorialize Parisi.
"Words can't explain how it feels," Rufa said.


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Every day, our brains swirl around as fast as it takes to stir the sugar into your morning cup of coffee. What will I do, what will inspire me, what's cool this week? These are the burning thoughts of most Manhattanites and city folk, when not otherwise filled with questions like, How will I finish that work deadline by tomorrow? Or, how will I survive this week?
As Fashion Week ends, the fashion and blogging communities go back to their regularly scheduled lives, after having spent a week in what feels like Survivor: Lincoln Center. There's been good times and bad. There's the things that helped everyone get through it, and the items we wished we had when that hem came undone, blister made it's debut, or nails needed a touch up.
As a native New Yorker, and current Manhattanite, I know just how necessary it is to have those aforementioned things at a moments notice, with or without fashion week as a backdrop. In this city of millions we all run around every day. We rush to subways and buses clicking our heels on the sidewalk, dragging our bodies along all day until we collapse into bed, just to do it again tomorrow. And yet, this is how the city thrives, and us within it.
As constant and necessary as that daily grind is, so is the city that envelops us. Like notes to a symphony, we're synonymous with each other, all coming together to create wonderful masterpieces each and every day. And surrounding us are the composers; the people, places and institutions that help to keep that flow. For me, that composer is Duane Reade. It assists us with our problems, can provide solutions, and helps get us through our day with the necessary essentials, ensuring that we don't fall flat.
Below are the top ten essentials that every female should keep in their bags to survive the week.
1. Roll up flats from Kushyfoot. They're light, compact, and under $10. Because I'm not a spring chicken anymore, and heels are no longer possible in transit. Also come in handy after some heavy dancing. Dance partner not included.
2. Bandaids. The fall season is upon us, which means new shoes and usually where you find new shoes, you will find a blister. They will tell you they're only there to help you break your new purchase in, but beware, these guys are not to be trusted.
4. Oil of Olay CC cream. CC cream is everywhere these days, and so easy to throw in your bag. Why? Because we all know that the way we look in the morning, is not the way we look at the end of a work day. At least, with this in our bag, we can give ourselves a little boost before we move onto the next dinner or event.
5. Vitamins. I am obsessed with the Finest Nutrition brand at Duane Reade, and I will admit it's not necessarily because of their health benefits, but more because the little iridescent pearls are just so damn pretty.
6. Stain Remover. Because unlike what I've failed to realize in the past, using your stain removing pen on a sweater that you forgot about 2 months ago is not exactly a proactive solution. What is? Carrying the Nice! brand instant stain remover on the go.
7. Hollywood Fashion Tape. This is a MUST HAVE for your handbag every single day. It has saved outdoor catastrophes countless times over, and I have now begun carrying it with me everywhere. Essentially a tape gun dispenser, it fixes hems, helps to hide rogue bra straps, helps keep wrap shirts closed, and much more. I gawked at this, at first. Until I realized its magical powers.
8. Nail Polish, or Nail Decals. In a city where we're whisked away at a moments notice, from the office to out on the town, and the option of a mani/pedi is not always viable, one should always carry a spare. If a self mani in a taxi isn't quite your thing, try nail decals. They apply in about ten minutes, and can last up to 2 weeks. And they don't talk about you in another language.
9. Something to Snack on. If, unlike me, you don't carry around a bag the size of your apartment, then go for a smaller bag, or bar of something.
10. Water. Just like the island of Manhattan, we are all surrounded by water. I was never a big water drinking; sometimes struggling to make my 10 cups a day they say we need. But ever since I made a habit of carrying a small one in my bag, (Nice! water is only 99 cents), its made it less of a chore, and more of a reflex.
handbag, Phillip Lim for target.
All 10 above items are available at Duane Reade stores throughout New York City.
This is a great mix of items that every woman should have! I love the roll-up flats; I have so many heels that are gorgeous but that simply tear up my feet if I wear them for long periods of time!
thanks, i feel the same way!
Great list! The roll-up shoes are a godsend. They are with me on every trip, everywhere I go. They have salvaged my feet, I'm quite certain. Love the toothbrush pack – where did you get it? I'd like one, too!
These are all excellent things to always have with you!!
My daughter lives in Manhattan and swears by Duane Reade. She used to live right across the street from one and it was such a convenience.
I have several of those with me every day, especially bandaids and clear nail polish. I use the clear polish to fix any runs in nylons because even no one else sees them because they are hidden under a long skirt. If I know about them, they bother me.
This is a great list of things to keep in a purse. There are a lot of things that make life easier if they are in the purse at all times.
awesome. one day i will BE in NYC and find a Duane Reade. and i will spend many, many dollars.
I gave up on purses years ago because I was packing the entire house into it. I love my wristlets now..but then again I also have to tote a packed diaper bag around.
I love those roll up shoes!! I need a pair for my purse!!
Great post! I love the flats.
Love your list of must haves 🙂 I adore those roll up flats…..and I've never heard of the fashion tape.I need to track that down and get some! oh and p.s., I loooove your nails!
My must haves are lotion, black eyeliner, liptstick, lipgloss, baby wipes, and tissue..cell phone and my credit card at all times these items are with me..
That is a good list too!
I have bandaids, stain remover and water in my bag! I'm partly ready!
I love your bag! Great color the fall.


text:
Female artists craft tributes to agate in new exhibition at Scitech
Germany's gas costs surged by 78.5%, despite drop in imports
Capital Economics sees stronger Gulf non-oil growth in 2022 and 2023
Saudi Arabia progress to last 8 in Asian Handball Championship despite loss to Iran
Turkey's swap deal with the UAE is a boost, but won't solve the lira's underlying problems
15-year sentence for 2012 Qatif rioter who instigated violence and trained in Iraq
15-year sentence for 2012 Qatif rioter who instigated violence and trained in Iraq /node/1204506/saudi-arabia
Updated 06 December 2017
Mohammed Al-Sulami
JEDDAH: The Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh on Tuesday sentenced a Saudi to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of participating in riots in 2012 by attending demonstrations and rallies contrary to public order in the city of Al-Awamiya in Qatif province.
The charges include repeating slogans hostile to the state in order to disturb the security, and inciting some of his relatives to these acts by sending and resending messages from his personal BlackBerry to all his addressees, including warning of the presence of security men in some places for fear of arrest.
He was also found guilty of confronting security authorities and threatening to carry out terrorist acts during the execution of a person sentenced to death in a security case; not informing police about his knowledge that one of his relatives and another person were trading arms without a license, and that his relative was carrying an unlicensed machine gun and gun.
The defendant declined to inform police about his knowledge that one of his relatives was communicating with others via the Zello application to follow the movements of security and foreign vehicles entering Al-Awamiyah to target the security forces. The defendant traveled to Iran and then entered Iraq and joined training camps where he was trained for three days to unpack and install weapons.
Among the charges were supporting terrorism by receiving the amount of SR1,500 ($400) from a relative before traveling to help him travel, and possession of a gun without a license in defense of himself after a group of masked people attempted to kidnap him.
Having taken into account the provisions of the regulations and instructions concerning the prosecution of juveniles, the Court sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison starting from the date of arrest in this case.
The court also decided that his BlackBerry phone should be confiscated and that he should be prevented from traveling outside the Kingdom for a period similar to the prison sentence imposed after the end of the sentence and his release from prison.
Vistas Media Acquisition Co. shareholders approve business combination with Anghami
Russia: US to provide written responses on Ukraine next week

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
layout: guides
title: Feeding Apama CEP 10.0 from a Solace Message Bus
summary: Apama Streaming Analytics is a market-leading platform for streaming analytics and intelligent automated action on fast-moving big data. Combining event processing, messaging, in-memory data management and visualization, this platform is the most complete solution to turn relentless data streams—like those produced by the Internet of Things (IoT)—into meaningful real-time metrics.
icon: apama_online.png
links:
    - label: Example Source Code - Apama JMS Integration
      link: https://github.com/SolaceLabs/solace-integration-guides/blob/master/src/apama-solace-sample
---

## Overview

This document demonstrates how to integrate the Solace Java Message Service (JMS) with Apama Streaming Analytics for consumption of JMS messages. The goal of this document is to outline best practices for this integration to enable efficient use of both Apama Streaming Analytics and Solace JMS.

![Sequence Diagram]({{ site.baseurl }}/images/apama-solace-sample/solace2apama.png)

Apama CEP has been used in many real-time applications, i.e. HFT, trade surveillance, auto hedging, real-time betting, real-time analytics, real-time firewall and etc. Apama CEP has its place in streaming space with little footprint. Flink and Spark are all implemented in Java and Scala with inherited JVM disadvantages. [How can Apama's EPL run faster than both C and Java®?](https://www.softwareag.com/corporate/images/SAG_Apama_EPL_FS_Jun14_Web_tcm16-122355.pdf)

Solace has been the OPEN messaging leader in the industry, and is widely adopted by many financial firms and vertical industries. Solace's ultra wide bandwidth and low latency event broker works well with Apama hand-in-hand.

The target audience of this document is developers with knowledge of both Apama and JMS in general. As such this document focuses on the technical steps required to achieve the integration. For detailed background on either Solace JMS or Apama refer to the referenced documents below.

This document is divided into the following sections to cover the Solace JMS integration with Apama Streaming Analytics:

* Integrating with Apama Streaming Analytics
* Working with Solace High Availability
* Debugging Tips

### Related Documentation

These links contain information related to this guide:

* [Solace Developer Portal]({{ site.links-dev-portal }}){:target="_top"}
* [Solace Messaging API for JMS]({{ site.links-docs-jms }}){:target="_top"}
* [Solace JMS API Online Reference Documentation]({{ site.links-docs-jms-api }}){:target="_top"}
* [Solace Feature Guide]({{ site.links-docs-features }}){:target="_top"}
* [Solace Event Broker Configuration]({{ site.links-docs-router-config }}){:target="_top"}
* [Solace Command Line Interface Reference]({{ site.links-docs-cli }}){:target="_top"}
* [Apama Streaming Analytics Documentation](http://www.apamacommunity.com/docs/){:target="_blank"}
* [Connecting Apama Applications to External Components](http://www.apamacommunity.com/documents/10.0.0.1/apama_10.0.0.1_connecting-apama-applications.pdf){:target="_blank"}

{% include_relative assets/solaceMessaging.md %}

## Integrating with Apama Streaming Analytics
This is a discussion of an approach for consuming messages from a Java Messaging Service (JMS) bus in Apama CEP Correlator. The full code is freely available on Github as part of this project in [src/apama-solace-sample]({{ site.repository }}/blob/master/src/apama-solace-sample){:target="_blank"}.

The general Apama Streaming Analytics support for connectors is documented in the [Apama Streaming Analytics Documentation](http://www.apamacommunity.com/documents/10.0.0.1/apama_10.0.0.1_connecting-apama-applications.pdf){:target="_blank"}. The configuration outlined in this document makes use of correlator-integrated messaging for JMS to achieve the desired integration with Solace via JMS.

This integration guide demonstrates how to configure a Apama Streaming Analytics application to receive JMS messages using a set of custom message-to-event configurations. Accomplishing this requires completion of the following steps.

* Step 1 - Obtain access to Solace event broker and JMS API, see the [Solace Developer Portal]({{ site.links-dev-portal }}){:target="_top"}
* Step 2 - Configuration of the Solace Event Broker.
* Step 3 - Obtain Apama Streaming Analytics, see the [Apama Community Edition Downloads](http://www.apamacommunity.com/downloads/){:target="_blank"}
* Step 4 – Coding Solace message producer
* Step 5 – Coding Apama Event Processing Language AKA MonitorScript
* Step 6 - Configuring Apama correlator-integrated adapter for JMS
* Step 7 - Starting up Apama correlator with correlator-integrated adapter for JMS

### Description of Resources Required

This integration guide will demonstrate creation of Solace JMS custom receiver and configuring the receiver to receive messages. This section outlines the resources that are required/created and used in the subsequent sections.

#### Solace Resources

The following Solace Event Broker resources are required.

    Resource
    Value
    Description

    Solace Event Broker Host
    Refer to section Get Solace Messaging  for values

    Message VPN

    Client Username

    Client Password

    Solace Queue
    apama
    Solace destination of persistent messages consumed

    JNDI Connection Factory
    jms/cf/apama
    The JNDI Connection factory for controlling Solace JMS connection properties

###	Step 1 – Obtain access to Solace JMS API

The Solace JMS jars are required.  They can be obtained on [Solace Developer Portal Downloads]({{ site.links-downloads }}){:target="_top"} or from [Maven Central]({{ site.links-jms-maven }}){:target="_blank"}.

##### Maven Dependencies

The easiest way to integrate Solace and Apama is using the client libraries available via public Maven Repositories, for example:

```xml
  <dependencies>
    <dependency>
      <groupId>com.solacesystems</groupId>
      <artifactId>sol-jms</artifactId>
      <version>10.0.0</version>
    </dependency>
  </dependencies>
```

Or if you downloaded the libraries and are referencing them directly, the following resources are all required:

    Resource
    Value
    Description

    Solace Common
    sol-common-VERSION.jar
    Solace common utilities library.

    Solace JCSMP
    sol-jcsmp-VERSION.jar
    Underlying Solace wireline support libraries.

    Solace JMS
    sol-jms-VERSION.jar
    Solace JMS 1.1 compliant libraries.

### Step 2 – Configuring the Solace Event Broker

The Solace Event Broker needs to be configured with the following configuration objects at a minimum to enable JMS to send and receive messages within the Apama application.

* A Message VPN, or virtual event broker, to scope the integration on the Solace Event Broker.
* Client connectivity configurations like usernames and profiles
* Guaranteed messaging endpoints for receiving messages.
* Appropriate JNDI mappings enabling JMS clients to connect to the Solace Event Broker configuration.

{% include_relative assets/solaceConfig.md %}

{% include_relative assets/solaceVpn.md content="apama" %}

#### Configuring Client Usernames & Profiles

This section outlines how to update the default client-profile and how to create a client username for connecting to the Solace Event Broker. For the client-profile, it is important to enable guaranteed messaging for JMS messaging and transacted sessions if using transactions.

The chosen client username of "apama_user" will be required by the Apama when connecting to the Solace Event Broker.

```
(config)# client-profile default message-vpn apama
(config-client-profile)# message-spool allow-guaranteed-message-receive
(config-client-profile)# message-spool allow-guaranteed-message-send
(config-client-profile)# message-spool allow-transacted-sessions
(config-client-profile)# exit
(config)#
(config)# create client-username apama_user message-vpn apama
(config-client-username)# acl-profile default
(config-client-username)# client-profile default
(config-client-username)# no shutdown
(config-client-username)# exit
(config)#
```

#### Setting up Guaranteed Messaging Endpoints
This integration guide shows receiving messages within the Apama from a single JMS Queue. For illustration purposes, this queue is chosen to be an exclusive queue with a message spool quota of 2GB matching quota associated with the message VPN. The queue name chosen is "apama".

```
(config)# message-spool message-vpn apama
(config-message-spool)# create queue apama
(config-message-spool-queue)# access-type exclusive
(config-message-spool-queue)# max-spool-usage 2000
(config-message-spool-queue)# permission all delete
(config-message-spool-queue)# no shutdown
(config-message-spool-queue)# exit
(config-message-spool)# exit
(config)#
```

#### Setting up Solace JNDI References

To enable the JMS clients to connect and look up the Queue destination required by Apama, there are two JNDI objects required on the Solace Event Broker:

* A connection factory: jms/cf/apama
* A queue destination: JNDI/Q/apama

They are configured as follows:

```
(config)# jndi message-vpn apama
(config-jndi)# create connection-factory jms/cf/apama
(config-jndi-connection-factory)# property-list messaging-properties
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property default-delivery-mode persistent
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# exit
(config-jndi-connection-factory)# property-list transport-properties
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property direct-transport false
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "reconnect-retry-wait" "3000"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "reconnect-retries" "20"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "connect-retries-per-host" "5"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "connect-retries" "1"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# exit
(config-jndi-connection-factory)# exit
(config-jndi)#
(config-jndi)# no shutdown
(config-jndi)# exit
(config)#
```

###	Step 3 – Obtain Apama Streaming Analytics

The Apama Streaming Analytics can be obtained one of 2 ways.
1.	If you are in an organization that is an existing Apama customer, it is likely your organization already has Apama Streaming Analytics and corporate policies about their use.  You will have to contact your application management team in regards to a Apama Streaming Analytics license.
2.	If you are new to Apama Streaming Analytics, you can obtain Apama Community Edition from the [Apama Community Edition Downloads](http://www.apamacommunity.com/downloads/){:target="_blank"}. For help getting started with your Apama Streaming Analytics Community Edition you can refer to [Apama Community Edition Docs](http://www.apamacommunity.com/docs/){:target="_blank"}.

### Step 4 – Coding Solace message producer

**Solace JCSMP project**

- Create a session independent TextMessage - In a Session independent message ownership model, client applications can reuse messages between send operations. Messages are allocated on demand and are disposed explicitly by client applications when they are done with the messages.

        TextMessage msg = JCSMPFactory.onlyInstance().createMessage(TextMessage.class);

- Create a Structured Data Map for message properties

        SDTMap map = prod.createMap();

- Add Apama event name "com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage" in MESSAGE_TYPE

        map.putString("MESSAGE_TYPE", "com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage");

- Add additional message properties, i.e. creation timestamp to track latency

        map.putLong("MESSAGE_CREATED", System.currentTimeMillis());

- Add message property to message

        msg.setProperties(map);

- Send off the message to a topic destination

        prod.send(msg, topic);

```java

    SDTMap map = prod.createMap();
    map.putString("MESSAGE_TYPE", "com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage");
    TextMessage msg = JCSMPFactory.onlyInstance().createMessage(TextMessage.class);
    for (int msgsSent = 0; msgsSent < 1000000; ++msgsSent) {

        msg.reset();

        msg.setText("msg count is " + String.format("%05d", msgsSent));
        msg.setDeliveryMode(DeliveryMode.DIRECT);
        msg.setApplicationMessageId("appID-" + msgsSent);
        msg.setElidingEligible(true);
        map.putLong("MESSAGE_CREATED", System.currentTimeMillis());

        msg.setProperties(map);
        prod.send(msg, topic);
        Thread.sleep(500);
    }
```

### Step 5 – Coding Apama Event Processing Language AKA MonitorScript

From [Apama Streaming Analytics Documentation](http://www.apamacommunity.com/documents/10.0.0.1/apama_10.0.0.1_developing-apama-applications.pdf){:target="_blank"}, there are details on how to develop Apama applications.

**Apama Event Definition**
A simple event with 2 fields, payload string field and extraParam dictionary field.

```go
event SampleTextMessage {
    string payload;
    dictionary<string, string> extraParam;
}
```

**Apama Event Processing Language source**

```go
monitor SampleTopicReceiver {
    action getSolaceMessage() {
        on AppStarted() {
            JMS.onApplicationInitialized();
        }
    }
    action onload () {
        getSolaceMessage();
        on JMSReceiverStatus() as receiverStatus
        {
            log "Received receiverStatus from JMS: " + receiverStatus.toString() at INFO;
            on all SampleTextMessage() as sampleTextMessage {
                log "From JMS: " + sampleTextMessage.toString() at INFO;
            }
        }
        route AppStarted();
    }
}
```

### Step 6 – Configuring Apama correlator-integrated adapter for JMS

From [Apama Streaming Analytics Documentation](http://www.apamacommunity.com/documents/10.0.0.1/apama_10.0.0.1_connecting-apama-applications.pdf){:target="_blank"} there are details on how to set up JMS connection bundle.  JMS adapter can be configured either in the correlator-integrated adapter for JMS editor or by editing sections of the XML and .properties configuration files directly.

The Apama correlator-integrated messaging for JMS configuration consists of a set of XML files and .properties files.

A correlator that supports JMS has the following two files:

- jms-global-spring.xml
- jms-mapping-spring.xml

In addition, for each JMS connection added to the configuration, there will be an additional XML and .properties file :

- connectionId-spring.xml
- connectionId-spring.properties

The JMS property file has all the custom settings and values in each use case. In this project, static receiver is used to receive Solace messages from apamaTopic.

```properties
connectionFactory.jndiName.solace=jms/cf/apama
jndiContext.environment.solace=java.naming.factory.initial\=com.solacesystems.jndi.SolJNDIInitialContextFactory\njava.naming.provider.url\=${jndiContext.environment.provider.url.solace}\n
jndiContext.environment.provider.url.solace=smf\://192.168.56.101
jndiContext.jndiAuthentication.username.solace=apama_user@apama
jndiContext.jndiAuthentication.password.solace=
connectionAuthentication.username.solace=
connectionAuthentication.password.solace=
clientId.solace=
staticReceiverList.solace=topic\:apamaTopic;
defaultReceiverReliability.solace=BEST_EFFORT
defaultSenderReliability.solace=BEST_EFFORT
JMSProviderInstallDir.solace=C\:/tools/SoftwareAG/common/lib
classpath.solace=libs/sol-common-10.0.1.jar;libs/sol-jcsmp-10.0.1.jar;libs/sol-jms-10.0.1.jar;
```

The message to event mapping is done in adapter editor. Manual changes to the mapping XML should be avoided.

- JMS body is mapped to payload field
- JMS property is mapped to extraParam field

```xml
<mapping:mapOutput>
    <mapping:property name="eventType" value="com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage"/>
    <mapping:rule>
      <mapping:source><![CDATA[${jms.body.textmessage}]]></mapping:source>
      <mapping:target><![CDATA[${apamaEvent['payload']}]]></mapping:target>
      <mapping:action><![CDATA[None]]></mapping:action>
      <mapping:type><![CDATA[BINDING_PARAM]]></mapping:type>
    </mapping:rule>
    <mapping:rule>
      <mapping:source><![CDATA[${jms.properties}]]></mapping:source>
      <mapping:target><![CDATA[${apamaEvent['extraParam']}]]></mapping:target>
      <mapping:action><![CDATA[None]]></mapping:action>
      <mapping:type><![CDATA[BINDING_PARAM]]></mapping:type>
    </mapping:rule>
  </mapping:mapOutput>
```

### Step 7 – Starting up Apama correlator with correlator-integrated adapter for JMS

Starting up Apama correlator in development is done from Apama Workbench. For server deployment, please see From [Deploying and Managing Apama Applications](http://www.apamacommunity.com/documents/10.0.0.1/apama_10.0.0.1_deploying-apama-applications.pdf){:target="_blank"}.

## Working with Solace High Availability (HA)

The [Solace JMS API Online Reference Documentation]({{ site.links-docs-jms-api }}){:target="_top"} section "Establishing Connection and Creating Sessions" provides details on how to enable the Solace JMS connection to automatically reconnect to the standby event broker in the case of a HA failover of a Solace Event Broker. By default Solace JMS connections will reconnect to the standby event broker in the case of an HA failover.

In general the Solace documentation contains the following note regarding reconnection:

```
Note: When using HA redundant event brokers, a fail-over from one event broker to its mate will typically
occur in under 30 seconds, however, applications should attempt to reconnect for at least five minutes.
```

In the previous section "Setting up Solace JNDI References", the Solace CLI commands correctly configured the required JNDI properties to reasonable values. These commands are repeated here for completeness.

```
(config)# jndi message-vpn apama
(config-jndi)# connection-factory jms/cf/apama
(config-jndi-connection-factory)# property-list transport-properties
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "reconnect-retry-wait" "3000"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "reconnect-retries" "20"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "connect-retries-per-host" "5"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# property "connect-retries" "1"
(config-jndi-connection-factory-pl)# exit
(config-jndi-connection-factory)# exit
(config-jndi)# exit
(config)#
```

## Debugging Tips for Apama JMS Integration

The key component for debugging integration issues with the Solace JMS API is the API logging that can be enabled. How to enable logging in the Solace API and Apama is described below.

### How to enable Solace JMS API logging

Solace JMS API makes use of the Jakarta Commons Logging API (JCL), configuring the Solace JMS API logging is very similar to configuring any other Apama. The following example shows how to enable debug logging in the Solace JMS API using log4j.

One note to consider is that since the Solace JMS API has a dependency on the Solace Java API (JCSMP) both of the following logging components should be enabled and tuned when debugging to get full information. For example to set both to debug level:

```
log4j.category.com.solacesystems.jms=DEBUG
log4j.category.com.solacesystems.jcsmp=DEBUG
```

By default info logs will be written to the console. This section will focus on using log4j as the logging library and tuning Solace JMS API logs using the log4j properties. Therefore in order to enable Solace JMS API logging, a user must do two things:

* Put Log4j on the classpath.
* Create a log4j.properties configuration file in the root folder of the classpath

Below is an example Log4j properties file that will enable debug logging within the Solace JMS API.

```
log4j.rootCategory=INFO, stdout
log4j.appender.stdout=org.apache.log4j.ConsoleAppender
log4j.appender.stdout.layout=org.apache.log4j.PatternLayout
log4j.appender.stdout.layout.ConversionPattern=%d{ABSOLUTE} %5p %t %c{2}:%L - %m%n
log4j.category.com.solacesystems.jms=DEBUG
log4j.category.com.solacesystems.jcsmp=DEBUG
```

This project has a built-in topic consumer to dump received messages from "apamaTopic" - hence Solace console shows received messages from the event broker.

```text
Received message:
Destination:                            Topic 'apamaTopic'
AppMessageID:                           appID-8224
Priority:                               0
Class Of Service:                       USER_COS_1
DeliveryMode:                           DIRECT
Message Id:                             8230
Eliding Eligible
User Property Map:                      2 entries
  Key 'MESSAGE_CREATED' (Long): 1488757225657
  Key 'MESSAGE_TYPE' (String): com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage

Binary Attachment:                      len=21
  1c 15 6d 73 67 20 63 6f    75 6e 74 20 69 73 20 30    ..msg.count.is.0
  38 32 32 34 00                                        8224.

msg count is 08224
```

### How to enable Apama logging

Some of the JMS sender/receiver properties can be toggled during development to debug application and exam JMS messages and performance matrix

```xml
<bean id="globalReceiverSettings" class="com.apama.correlator.jms.config.JmsReceiverSettings">

  <property name="receiverFlowControl" value="false"/>

  <!-- These logging options are for testing/diagnostics only and should
    not be enabled in a production system due to the possible
    performance impact
  -->
  <property name="logJmsMessages" value="false"/>
  <property name="logJmsMessageBodies" value="true"/>
  <property name="logProductMessages" value="false"/>

  <property name="logPerformanceBreakdown" value="true"/>
  <property name="logDetailedStatus" value="false"/>
</bean>
```

Log output shows JMS performance breakdown details, correlator status, JMS status and received JMS message

```text
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -      40% RECEIVING:    min,mean,max secs per message = 0.193150, 0.199414, 0.206460
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -       0% MAPPING:      min,mean,max secs per message = 0.000385, 0.000874, 0.001937
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -       0% ENQUEUING:    min,mean,max secs per batch = 0.000118, 0.000296, 0.000484
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -       0% JMS_ACK:      min,mean,max secs per batch = 0.000000, 0.000002, 0.000003
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -      60% R_TIMEOUTS:   min,mean,max secs per batch = 0.299299, 0.300074, 0.300875
2017-03-05 14:20:30.738 INFO  [23732:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] -     100% TOTAL:        min,mean,max secs per batch = 0.494446, 0.500696, 0.507113
...
2017-03-05 15:56:24.481 INFO  [19636] - Correlator Status: sm=3 nctx=1 ls=11 rq=0 eq=0 iq=0 oq=0 icq=0 lcn="<none>" lcq=0 lct=0.0 rx=6187 tx=0 rt=1 nc=1 vm=494716 pm=23020 runq=0 si=9.0 so=0.0 srn="<none>" srq=0 (no license file)
2017-03-05 15:56:24.484 INFO  [19636:Status] - JMS Status: s=1 tx=0 sRate=0 sOutst=0 r=1 rx=6,182 rRate=0 rWindow=0 rRedel=0 rMaxDeliverySecs=0.0 rDupsDet=0 rDupIds=0 connErr=0 jvmMB=63
...
2017-03-05 18:17:36.091 INFO  [27192:JMSReceiver:solace-receiver-apamaTopic] - 'solace-receiver-apamaTopic' has received JMS message: Property.JMS_Solace_DeadMsgQueueEligible=false
   Property.JMS_Solace_DeliverToOne=false
   Property.JMS_Solace_ElidingEligible=false
   Property.JMS_Solace_isXML=false
   Property.MESSAGE_CREATED=1488755856084
   Property.MESSAGE_TYPE=com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage
   Property.Solace_JMS_Prop_IS_Reply_Message=false
   JMSDestination=Topic<apamaTopic>
   JMSMessageID=appID-5488
   JMSRedelivered=false
   JMSTimestamp=0
   JMSTimestamp.toString=0
   JMSTimestamp.approxAgeInMillis=N/A
   JMSExpiration=0
   JMSExpiration.toString=0
   JMSReplyTo=<NullDestination>
   JMSCorrelationID=null
   JMSDeliveryMode=NON_PERSISTENT
   JMSPriority=0
   MessageClass=TextMessage
   Body="msg count is 05488"
2017-03-05 18:17:36.092 INFO  [33608] - com.solace.sample.SampleTopicReceiver [3] From JMS: com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage("msg count is 05488",{"JMS_Solace_DeadMsgQueueEligible":"false","JMS_Solace_DeliverToOne":"false","JMS_Solace_ElidingEligible":"false","JMS_Solace_isXML":"false","MESSAGE_CREATED":"1488755856084","MESSAGE_TYPE":"com.solace.sample.SampleTextMessage","Solace_JMS_Prop_IS_Reply_Message":"false"})
```

## Sample Code Reference

A working sample with maven pom build is provided in GitHub with this guide:

*    [src/apama-solace-sample]({{ site.repository }}/blob/master/src/apama-solace-sample){:target="_blank"}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Thanks to Dr. Osman Fıratlı for Stargardt Disease Treatment.
The testimonies and the developments published on this web-site vary from patient to patient. We can not take responsibility as Firatli Clinic that these developments apply to every patient.


text:
Thomas J. Steele, S.J. Collection
Arrangement and Description
Regis Native American Collection
Father Thomas J. Steele was a respected member of the Regis University Faculty and curator of the Regis University Santos Collection. Thomas Joseph Steele as born in St. Louis, MO on November 6th, 1933. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1951 and was ordained in 1964. He completed a PhD in 1968 on James Fenimore Cooper at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque before coming to Regis College, where he taught English for over 30 years. He collected and curated a teaching collection of Santos, religious fold art of the Southwest.
In 1977 Fr. Steele retired as Professor Emeritus. He then moved to the Immaculate Conception Church in Albuquerque, NM and continued pastoral work, writing, and research. He returned to the Jesuit House on the Regis University campus in Denver, CO and died on October 25th, 2010.
A prolific writer, Fr. Steele published over 35 books and 77 articles on the arts, history, and religions of the American Southwest. There are over 30 unpublished manuscripts within the Thomas J. Steele, S.J. Papers in the Regis University Archives and Special Collections.
Homily of Thomas J. Steele, S.J.
Homily at Fr. T. J. Steele's Funeral
Regis University Archivist
archives@regis.edu
Access and Location
Archives staff are located in DML 104.
All archives and collections are non-circulating and are accessible by appointment only.
Patrons that have not set an appointment are not guaranteed consultation with Archives staff.
Before visiting please submit a research request via the research request form. Walk-in researchers are not guaranteed access to archival and collection materials.
Phone: 303.964.3612 Email: archives@regis.edu.
Next: Collection Overview >>
Last Updated: Jul 11, 2022 3:58 PM
URL: https://libguides.regis.edu/steele
Subjects: Archives & Special Collections


text:
Digital transformation remains core agenda for Asian companies
23rd Sep 2021 by Ben Poole
The third edition of the DBS Digital Readiness Survey has revealed that although there has been continued momentum in digitalisation efforts by businesses across the Asia-Pacific (APAC), there remains room for further improvement.
Previously known as the DBS Digital Treasurer Survey, and involving around 2,600 corporate treasurers, CEOs, CFOs and business owners across 13 markets in APAC, as well as the US and UK, the survey carried out by East & Partners for DBS showed that seven in 10 (70%) large corporates and middle-market companies in APAC have a digital transformation strategy in place, with Taiwan leading the way at 95%, followed by Singapore (91%), China (87%) and Hong Kong (86%). This is a marked increase from last year, when the proportion of APAC businesses with a digital strategy was only 57%. There was also a significant jump in the proportion of businesses with clearly defined digital strategies - to greater than three in 10 companies (35%) from 26% the year before.
However, about half (53%) of large corporates and middle-market companies in the region remain in the nascent stages of digitalisation, having just started developing their digital roadmaps or with current plans remaining underdeveloped.
"Embracing digital is now a non-negotiable imperative for corporates, regardless of their size," commented Lim Soon Chong, group head of Global Transaction Services at DBS. "But the digital landscape is rapidly evolving, and businesses have to keep pace with the latest developments while navigating ongoing economic headwinds. The pace of digital technology change makes it challenging for businesses to develop and implement holistic and effective digital strategies."
SMEs making steady digital progress, but lag behind larger corporates
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up more than 96% of all Asian businesses, and are integral to the success of the region's economy. To better understand their needs, the DBS Digital Readiness Survey was expanded this year to garner insights from more than 1,000 SMEs across APAC on where they are in terms of digitalisation.
In terms of digital progression, SMEs in Singapore are the pacesetters with 72% having a digital transformation strategy in place, followed by Hong Kong (47%), China (44%), Taiwan (38%), India (25%) and Indonesia (20%). However, the region's SME segment lags behind large corporates and middle-market companies in terms of digital readiness with only four in 10 SMEs (41%) having a digital transformation plan in place, and one in 10 with a clearly defined digital strategy (12%).
"Most SMEs in the region recognise the benefits of digital transformation and have a genuine interest in digitalising their businesses," said Joyce Tee, group head of SME Banking at DBS. "They see going digital as essential for their businesses to survive and thrive in the new normal. But the cost of adopting new technologies and the steep competition for digital talent have been impeding their progress. For some SMEs, there also appears to be a knowledge gap or lack of confidence on exactly where to begin, so it is incredibly important for partners such as banks to not only be providing digital solutions, but also educational resources on where to start and how to progress."
Pressure to digitalise and barriers to digital adoption
As the pandemic accelerates the demand for contact-free services and questions the resiliency in supply chains, virtually all businesses in the region (97%) have indicated that they are facing external pressure to transform digitally. Key external pressure driving the need to change arises from customers and key market demand (35%), growing supply chain complexities (26%) and the threat of competitors (20%).
The challenges to digital adoption however vary across large corporates and middle-market companies, and SMEs. The top three challenges in terms of digitalisation for large corporates and middle-market companies are the speed of change and complexity in the enabling technologies (88%), execution complexity (87%), and availability of digital talent (77%). For SMEs, the main challenges are high costs of adopting new technology (63%), availability of digital talent (37%), and cybersecurity concerns (23%).
In terms of digital spend, around half of large corporates and middle-market companies in the region cite that trade and supply chain financing (65%), ongoing cash management (56%) and sales and distribution channels such as e-commerce storefronts (48%) represent the three most significant digital investment areas. For SMEs, their top three priorities for digital investments are sales and distribution channels (55%), trade and supply chain finance (47%) and procurement (47%). In particular, when it comes to investments in digitalising sales and distribution channels, APAC SMEs as a proportion of their overall technology budgets, invest double that of large corporates and middle-market companies (21% compared to 10%).
The top three focus areas are in contrast to the US, where seven in 10 (67%) businesses are prioritising their investments on risk and compliance reporting and sales and distribution channels, and six in 10 (59%) on customer relationship management and servicing. In the UK, digital spend is focused on sales and distribution channels (73%), followed by trade and supply chain financing (69%) and customer relationship management and servicing (63%).
Trends ahead - digital and sustainability
The use of APIs and smart contracts is expected to continue gaining traction among businesses large and small across the region. 90% of APAC businesses see the use of smart contracts and 82% view APIs as a critical component of their digital strategies going ahead. As an example, API connectivity with banks is expected to flourish over the next 12 months, with 56% of SMEs and 65% of large corporates and middle-market companies looking to adopt APIs in their banking connections.
In terms of digital support, banks remain the preferred partner for businesses in APAC for keeping pace with fintech innovations and finding the right digital solutions, with more than eight in 10 businesses (85%) citing this as a preference (up from 69% in 2020).
Sustainability is also pipped to be the next growth frontier with businesses allocating greater digital spend towards ESG purposes over the next 12 months.
Among the larger corporates which currently invest in digital solutions for ESG purposes, six in 10 expect to leverage digital tools to map out their financing requirements and meet investor requirements in relation to their ESG agendas, while 52% are investing in technology to offset their carbon footprint through the trading of carbon credits.
Sharing his views on how sustainability has reached a tipping point globally, Lim said: "There is now an increased expectation on companies to adhere to better business practices that will lead to measurable sustainable outcomes. Businesses are seeking to leverage digital solutions for their sustainability drives, including efforts to record sustainability identifiers and to prove sustainable transactions using digital forms."
APAC supply chain managers heavily investing in digitisation
Real-time data and digitisation top of mind for treasurers
South Korea's big digital supply chain play


text:
\section{Introduction}
Phonon-mediated heat conduction in thin films plays an important role in nanoscale devices \cite{cahillreview1,cahillreview2} and received increasing theoretical attention \cite{majumdar,extraref1,extraref2,extraref3,minnichthinfilm,SOIfilms,nitrides,kappacumulcurves}. Interestingly, cross-plane thermal transport has posed a considerably harder challenge than its in-plane counterpart. An exact solution of the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) in cross-plane geometries has been obtained only very recently \cite{minnichthinfilm} and provides the film conductivity at thickness $L$ as an integral over phonon frequency $\kappa(L) = \int S(\omega,L) \, \kappa(\omega) \, \mathrm{d}\omega$. Here $S$ is a `suppression function' that contains the thin film physics and $\kappa(\omega)$ denotes the bulk spectral conductivity. Evaluation of the latter often relies on analytical models with isotropic dispersions \cite{SOIfilms,nitrides,kappacumulcurves} for mathematical convenience. More realistic phonon spectra can also be utilised through frequency binning, but this procedure becomes problematic in anisotropic compounds. In this work, we adopt a first-principles framework \cite{ShengBTE_2014,abinitiobookchapter} that goes well beyond the predictive power of spectral formulations. We subsequently show that the resulting cross-plane thin film conductivity curves $\kappa(L)$ can be captured by compact models that effortlessly maintain their accuracy in anisotropic compounds. In the process, we also reveal quasiballistic regimes in both alloys and single crystals with distinct film thickness dependences.
\npar
We performed our \textit{ab-initio} study for a variety of semiconductors selected for their technological relevance. Thin Si films play a key role in silicon-on-insulator devices \cite{SOIfilms}; nanostructured SiGe alloys are of interest to thermoelectric systems \cite{sige}; InAs and InGaAs serve as basis for high electron mobility transistors \cite{arsenides} while III-V nitrides such as GaN and AlGaN find application in high-power transistors and UV optoelectronics \cite{nitrides}. SnSe received recent attention for its thermoelectric properties \cite{snsenature}. Given its triaxial phononic anisotropy \cite{snse}, it additionally provides a challenging benchmark test for the thin film conduction model we present below.
\par%
We calculated \textit{ab-initio} heat capacities $C(\vec{k})$, group velocities $\vec{v}(\vec{k})$ and scattering rates $\tau^{-1}(\vec{k})$ using the procedure described in Ref. \onlinecite{levy1}. The adopted method has been tested on a variety of bulk compounds and provides results in good agreement with experiments \cite{ShengBTE_2014}. Phonon properties are resolved over a uniform wavevector grid with $N_k^3$ points, where we have set $N_k$ to 24 for diamond/zincblende crystals, 16 for wurtzites and 12 for Pnma SnSe. Scattering rates $\tau^{-1} = \tau_{\text{anh}}^{-1} + \tau_{\text{har}}^{-1}$ and mean free paths (MFPs) $\Lambda = \| \vec{v} \| \tau$ account for anharmonic (three-phonon) and harmonic (isotope/alloy) scattering mechanisms. Alloys were treated under the virtual crystal approximation \cite{MgSiSn,katcho_lattice_2012, economou}. Further technical details on the \textit{ab-initio} framework are available elsewhere \cite{ShengBTE_2014,abinitiobookchapter}. Table I summarises computed values for bulk properties relevant to this study, including the thermal conductivity
\begin{equation}
\kappa_{\text{bulk}} = \sum \kappa(\vec{k}) = \sum C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \, \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k})
\end{equation}
where $\perp$ signals cross-plane projection $X_{\perp} = X \, |\cos \theta|$ with $\theta$ the group velocity angle to the film surface normal. Summations span all wavevector points in the Brillouin zone (BZ) and implicitly run over polarisation/branch index. The table also lists the `dominant cross-plane MFP' which we defined as the following weighted average
\begin{equation}
\Lambda_{\text{dom}} = \sum \frac{\kappa(\vec{k})}{\kappa_{\text{bulk}}} \cdot \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \label{dominantMFP}
\end{equation}
This metric conveys a characteristic MFP of the modes that govern most of the heat conduction and thus sets a film thickness threshold below which we should expect notable deviations from bulk thermal transport.%
\begin{table}[!htb]%
\caption{\textit{Ab-initio} bulk conductivity, dominant cross-plane MFP (see Eq. \ref{dominantMFP}) and alloy L\'evy exponent $\alpha$ at 300$\,$K. $L_{\text{b}}$ and $L_{\text{d}}$ are best fitting characteristic length scales for parametric film conductivity formulae (\ref{parametricalloy}) and (\ref{parametricsinglecrystal}).}
\vspace{3mm}
\begin{tabular}{cccccc}
\hline\hline
\multirow{2}{*}{Compound} & $\kappa_{\text{bulk}}$ & $\Lambda_{\text{dom}}$ & \multirow{2}{*}{$\alpha$} & $L_{\text{b}}$ & $L_{\text{d}}$\\
 & [W/m-K] & [$\mu$m] & & [nm] & [$\mu$m]\\
\hline\hline
\multicolumn{6}{c}{\textit{Cubic/diamond crystals (`isotropic')}}\\
\hline
Si & 156 & 2.59 & --- & 17.6 & 32.5\\
Ge & 53.3 & 0.96 & --- & 13.9 & 10.7\\
Si$_{0.99}$Ge$_{0.01}$ & 42.2 & 2.99 & 1.699 & 3.4 & 16.4\\
Si$_{0.82}$Ge$_{0.18}$ & 7.56 & 1.04 & 1.641 & n/a & 4.2\\
\hline
\multicolumn{6}{c}{\textit{Cubic/zincblende crystals (`isotropic')}}\\
\hline
InAs & 33.9 & 1.60 & --- & 26.4 & 22.5\\
GaAs & 42.7 & 0.37 & --- & 18.0 & 3.8\\
In$_{0.53}$Ga$_{0.47}$As & 8.28 & 0.72 & 1.694 & 2.7 & 3.9\\
\hline
\multicolumn{6}{c}{\textit{Wurtzite crystals (a \& b axes)}}\\
\hline
GaN & 203 & 0.73 & --- & 40.6 & 6.6\\
AlN & 284 & 0.44 & --- & 35.3 & 3.6\\
Al$_{0.01}$Ga$_{0.99}$N & 82.1 & 1.00 & 1.715 & 12.0 & 5.8\\
Al$_{0.1}$Ga$_{0.9}$N & 24.4 & 0.69 & 1.724 & 2.8 & 4.9\\
Al$_{0.4}$Ga$_{0.6}$N & 9.53 & 0.36 & 1.722 & 1.1 & 2.6\\
\hline
\multicolumn{6}{c}{\textit{Wurtzite crystals (c axis)}}\\
\hline
GaN & 183 & 1.57 & --- & 23.6 & 15.7\\
AlN & 278 & 0.78 & --- & 22.5 & 4.9\\
Al$_{0.01}$Ga$_{0.99}$N & 99.7 & 2.40 & 1.720 & 10.4 & 12.8\\
Al$_{0.1}$Ga$_{0.9}$N & 38.7 & 2.75 & 1.724 & 2.9 & 17.3\\
Al$_{0.4}$Ga$_{0.6}$N & 18.8 & 2.73 & 1.738 & 1.5 & 22.9\\
\hline
\multicolumn{6}{c}{\textit{Pnma crystal}}\\
\hline
SnSe (\textit{a} axis) & 0.59 & 0.10 & --- & 0.39 & 0.74\\
SnSe (\textit{b} axis) & 1.60 & 0.010 & --- & 1.60 & 0.078\\
SnSe (\textit{c} axis) & 0.81 & 0.005 & --- & 1.10 & 0.033\\
\hline\hline
\end{tabular}
\vspace{-3mm}
\end{table}%
\par%
The \textit{ab-initio} phonon properties serve as basis for variance-reduced Monte Carlo (VRMC) simulations \cite{VRMC} of the energy-based RTA-BTE $\partial_t \, g_k + v_{k,x} \, \partial_x \, g_k = -(g_k - C_k \Delta T)/\tau_k$. We consider a slab structure with thickness $L$ and fully absorbing, isothermal walls at temperatures $T_{\text{ref}} \pm \Delta T/2 = 300 \pm 0.1\,$K. Dividing the steady state heat flux (easily evaluated from particle ensemble averaging) by the thermal gradient $\Delta T / L$ yields the apparent cross-plane conductivity $\kappa(L)$. We consider thicknesses down to 1$\,$nm so as to verify ballistic asymptotics, though we note that the BTE itself will lose validity at such extremely small scales. For each considered thickness, we performed 3 independent simulation runs with one million particles each and used the average result. Tests with 30 runs produced near-identical averages; the stochastic uncertainty on the reported values amounts to $\leq 0.5\%$. Results for cubic crystals pertain to the (001) principal axis, but we have verified that $\kappa(L)$ curves even for (111)-oriented films remain within 4\% of the reported data. Cubic compounds can thus be considered as virtually isotropic for cross-plane conduction purposes.
\par
Figure \ref{fig1-kappafilm} shows the obtained film conductivities. Two well established limit regimes are easily recognised. In very thin films (in the sense that $L \ll \Lambda_{\text{dom}}$) heat conduction is predominantly ballistic, and we indeed observe the familiar linear dependence $\kappa(L) \sim L$. Thick films ($L \gg \Lambda_{\text{dom}}$), by contrast, operate in the quasi-diffusive limit $\kappa(L) \simeq \kappa_{\text{bulk}} \sim L^0$. At intermediate thicknesses $L \simeq \Lambda_{\text{dom}}$, alloys display a distinct fractional dependence $\kappa(L) \sim L^{\gamma}$ ($0 < \gamma < 1$). Far more than a transitionary feature, this regime persists over 2--3 orders of magnitude of film thickness and appears even at 1\% alloying. Although seemingly minute, such concentrations exceed typical dopant and intrinsic impurity levels by several orders of magnitude, and they do have a notable effect on the phonon scattering rates (Fig. \ref{fig2-scatteringrates}). As we will explain shortly, it is precisely the phonon scattering relation that regulates the quasiballistic portion of the $\kappa(L)$ curve and instigates the fractional thickness dependence in alloys.
\myfigwide[!htb]{width=0.82\textwidth}{fig1-kappafilm}{(Color online.) Cross-plane thermal conductivity in thin films computed from \textit{ab-initio} phonon dispersions and scattering rates. Symbols ($\circ$) denote Monte Carlo solutions, curves (---) depict model predictions per Eq. (5), and triangles ($\blacktriangleleft$) mark the bulk conductivities. A fractional thickness dependence is distinctly visible for the alloy compounds.}%
\myfig[!htb]{width=0.42\textwidth}{fig2-scatteringrates}{Wavevector-averaged \textit{ab-initio} phonon relaxation times of the TA branches in Si and Si$_{0.99}$Ge$_{0.01}$.}
\npar%
Contrary to spectral formulations, the full \textit{ab-initio} phonon properties we have used in this work preserve the fine details of preferential heat propagation directions. The question now arises whether we can describe cross-plane conductivity by a \textit{modal} suppression model
\begin{equation}
\kappa(L) = \sum S(\vec{k},L) \, C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \label{basicformula}
\end{equation}
Even in anisotropic compounds, time reversal symmetry of the lattice wave equations assures that phonons at wavevectors $\pm \vec{k}$ have identical frequencies and opposite group velocities. Each of these mode pairs contribute a cross-plane conductivity $\kappa_{\perp}(\vec{k},L) = \mathrm{Tr}(\vec{k},L) \, C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \, L$. The cross-plane transmission coefficient $\mathrm{Tr}$ can only depend on the `projected' Knudsen number $K_{\perp} = \Lambda_{\perp}/L$ due to geometric arguments. Compared to the bulk conductivity contribution $2 \, C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \, \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k})$, the pair is effectively suppressed by a factor $S(\vec{k},L) = \mathrm{Tr}(K_{\perp})/(2K_{\perp})$. Random walk simulations show that $\mathrm{Tr} = 2K_{\perp}/(1 + 2K_{\perp})$ and hence
\begin{equation}
S(\vec{k},L) = \frac{1}{1 + 2 \Lambda_{\perp} / L} = \frac{1}{1 + 2 K |\cos \theta|} \label{suppressionfunction}
\end{equation}
We can thus postulate, without actually solving the BTE,
\begin{equation}
\kappa(L) \simeq \sum \limits \frac{C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k})}{1 + 2 \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k})/L} \label{kappaL}
\end{equation}
One could accordingly say that inside the film, each mode possesses an effective cross-plane MFP that obeys
\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{\Lambda_{\perp}^{\text{eff}}} = \frac{1}{\Lambda_{\perp}^{\text{bulk}}} + \frac{2}{L} \label{MFPreduction}
\end{equation}
Despite its simplicity, the model (\ref{kappaL}) matches the VRMC results within 5\% or better (Fig. \ref{fig1-kappafilm}) even in notably anisotropic compounds such as SnSe or Al$_{0.4}$Ga$_{0.6}$N.
\par%
For purposes of comparison with prior work, we also derive the isotropic spectral suppression of our model. The spectral conductivity in both film and bulk configurations is easily found through integrations over a spherical BZ shell. After eliminating common factors from the ratio $\kappa_{\text{film}}(\omega)/\kappa_{\text{bulk}}(\omega)$ we find
\begin{eqnarray}
S_{\omega}(K) & = & \int \limits_{0}^{\pi} \frac{\cos^2 \theta \, \sin \theta \, \mathrm{d}\theta}{1 + 2 K |\cos \theta|} \,\, \biggr / \int \limits_{0}^{\pi} \cos^2 \theta \, \sin \theta \, \mathrm{d}\theta \nonumber \\
& = & \frac{3}{8 K^3} \left[ 2K(K-1) + \ln(1+2K) \right] \label{spectralsuppression}
\end{eqnarray}
This function deviates nowhere more than 12\% from Hua and Minnich's result $S_{\omega}^{\text{HM}}(K) = 1 + 3K \left[ E_5 \left( 1/K \right) - 1/4 \right]$ for the semi-analytical exact solution of the BTE inside a finite domain \cite{minnichthinfilm}, and also matches the grey-medium formula $S = 1/(1+4K/3)$ introduced by Majumdar \cite{majumdar} within 4\%. All three spectral solutions exhibit identical ballistic asymptotes $S_{\omega}(K \gg 1) \simeq 3/(4K)$.
\par
In analogy to previous derivations for in-plane transport \cite{kappacumulcurves}, our findings allow us to establish a direct relation between the cross-plane film conductivity $\kappa(L)$ and the so called MFP spectrum $\kappa_{\Sigma}$, provided the latter be resolved for \textit{projected} MFP i.e.
\begin{equation}
\kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{\ast}) \equiv \sum \limits_{\Lambda_{\perp} \leq \Lambda_{\perp}^{\ast}} C(\vec{k}) \, v_{\perp}(\vec{k}) \, \Lambda_{\perp}(\vec{k})
\end{equation}
The practical utility of such a connection lies in the fact that MFP spectra are a well established concept whose interpretation does not require any knowledge on the underlying \textit{ab-initio} data and can be easily shared among researchers in tabulated form $\{ \kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m)}) \,\, | \,\, m = 1 \ldots M \}$. In a thin film, the bulk conductivity $\kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m+1)}) - \kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m)})$ contributed by the phonons with projected MFPs between $\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m)}$ and $\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m+1)}$ is approximately suppressed by the factor $S(\bar{\Lambda}_{\perp}^{(m)}/L)$ of the interval midpoint $\bar{\Lambda}_{\perp}^{(m)} = ({\Lambda}_{\perp}^{(m)} + {\Lambda}_{\perp}^{(m+1)})/2$ and so we have
\begin{equation}
\kappa(L) \simeq \sum \limits_{m=1}^{M-1} \frac{\kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m+1)}) - \kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m)})}{1 + (\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m)}+\Lambda_{\perp}^{(m+1)})/L}
\end{equation}
We have found that $M=250$ is sufficient to reproduce the actual film conductivities within $\leq$1\%. We are providing tabulated $\kappa_{\Sigma}(\Lambda_{\perp})$ functions for all investigated compounds as Supplemental Material \cite{supplmat}.%
\par%
We now return to the fractional length dependence in alloys. This effect, as well as the overall form of the $\kappa(L)$ curve in both alloys and single crystals, can be explained with a simple reasoning as follows. Let us consider a single isotropic Debye branch in high temperature regime ($C(k)$ is constant) with a scattering relation $\tau \sim \omega^{-n} \Leftrightarrow \Lambda(k) = A/k^n$ ($n$ not necessarily integer). Applying our suppression model (\ref{kappaL}) to the idealised crystal gives
\begin{equation}
\kappa(L) \sim \int \limits_{0}^{\pi} \cos^2 \theta \, \sin \theta \, \mathrm{d}\theta \int \limits_{k_{\text{min}}}^{k_{\text{max}}} \frac{k^2 \, \Lambda(k) \mathrm{d}k}{1 + 2 \Lambda(k) |\cos \theta| / L} \label{kappa_alloymodel}
\end{equation}
Integration bounds $k_{\text{min}}>0$ and $k_{\text{max}} < \infty$ physically arise because the finite size and nonzero lattice constant of real-world crystals enforce a maximum and minimum permissable phonon wavelength respectively. The Debye crystal supports an according MFP range that spans from $\Lambda_{\text{min}} \equiv A/k_{\text{max}}^n$ to $\Lambda_{\text{max}} \equiv A/k_{\text{min}}^n$. Replacing $|\cos \theta|$ by its average value $1/2$ for simplicity and changing the integration variable to $u = (\Lambda_{\text{max}}/L) \cdot (k_{\text{min}}/k)^n$ yields
\begin{equation}
\kappa(L) \sim L^{1-3/n} \, \int \limits_{\Lambda_{\text{min}}/L}^{\Lambda_{\text{max}}/L} \frac{\mathrm{d}u}{u^{3/n} \, (1 + u)} \label{kappaintegral}
\end{equation}
How this result behaves clearly depends on the sign of $1-3/n$. Let us first consider $n>3$. In diffusive regime $L \gg \Lambda_{\text{max}}$, the integral only spans values $u \ll 1$. The integrand behaves as $u^{-3/n}$ and thus produces a primitive function $\propto u^{1-3/n}$. With both integration bounds $\sim L^{-1}$, we find $\kappa(L) \sim L^0$ as appropriate. The ballistic regime $L \ll \Lambda_{\text{min}}$ deals with $u \gg 1$, where the integrand behaves as $u^{-3/n-1}$. The primitive function scales as $u^{-3/n}$ so we correctly recover $\kappa(L) \sim L^1$. In quasiballistic regime $\Lambda_{\text{min}} \ll L \ll \Lambda_{\text{max}}$, the integral only deviates from its extended counterpart $\int_{0}^{\infty} \mathrm{d}u/[u^{3/n} \, (1+u)] \,  = \pi/\sin(3\pi/n)$ by a negligable amount $\mathcal{O}[(\Lambda_{\text{min}}/L)^{1-3/n} + (\Lambda_{\text{max}}/L)^{-3/n}]$, and a fractional length dependence thus emerges:
\begin{equation}
n>3 : \quad \kappa(L) \sim L^{1-3/n} \sim L^{2-\alpha}
\end{equation}
Interestingly, this (steady state) result can be expressed in terms of the L\'evy exponent $\alpha = 1+3/n$ that plays a crucial role in the alloy's (transient) single pulse response \cite{levy1,levy2}. Ideal Reyleigh scattering ($n=4$) corresponds to $\alpha = 7/4$ and produces the $\kappa \sim L^{1/4}$ trend previously reported in molecular dynamics simulations \cite{fractionallaw}. It also offers a good approximation for the AlGaN results presented here ($\alpha \simeq 1.72$). SiGe and InGaAs compounds exhibit slightly lower L\'evy exponents $\alpha \simeq 5/3$ (see Table I above and experimental values in Ref. \onlinecite{levy2}) and thus induce a $\kappa(L) \sim L^{1/3}$ tendency. The observation that the $\kappa(L)$ curve in alloys performs its ballistic-diffusive transition through a power law with exponent $2-\alpha$ enables us to propose the following parametric form
\begin{equation}
\text{alloys: } \kappa(L) \simeq \frac{\kappa_{\text{bulk}}}{(1 + L_{\text{d}}/L)^{2-\alpha} \cdot (1 + L_{\text{b}}/L)^{\alpha-1}} \vspace{2mm} \label{parametricalloy}
\end{equation}
where $L_\text{b}$ and $L_{\text{d}}$ are two characteristic film thicknesses that demarcate the transition to ballistic and diffusive regimes respectively. Although the Debye reasoning we adopted is an obvious oversimplification of realistic crystals, the resulting functional form (\ref{parametricalloy}) can fit the \textit{ab-initio} model curves (\ref{kappaL}) with remarkable accuracy for all investigated alloy compounds (Fig. \ref{fig3-parametriccurves1}).%
\myfigwide[!htb]{width=0.85\textwidth}{fig3-parametriccurves1}{(Color online.) Cross-plane film conductivity in alloys. Analytic curves per Eq. (\ref{parametricalloy}) with parameters listed in Table I fit \textit{ab-initio} values per Eq. (\ref{kappaL}) (symbols) within a few percent. The triangles mark the bulk conductivity.}
\myfigwide[!htb]{width=0.85\textwidth}{fig4-parametriccurves2}{(Color online.) Cross-plane film conductivity in single crystals. Analytic curves per Eq. (\ref{parametricsinglecrystal}) with parameters listed in Table I fit \textit{ab-initio} values per Eq. (\ref{kappaL}) (symbols) within a few percent. The triangles mark the bulk conductivity.}
\par
We now turn our attention to the case $n = 3$, which we have found to provide a reasonable description for \textit{ab-initio} scattering rates in single crystals (non-alloys). The primitive function of the integral in (\ref{kappaintegral}) is known analytically to be $\ln[u/(1+u)]$, prompting us to postulate
\begin{equation}
\text{non-alloys: } \kappa(L) \simeq \frac{\kappa_{\text{bulk}}}{\ln(L_{\text{d}}/L_{\text{b}})} \, \ln \left[ \frac{1+L/L_{\text{b}}}{1+L/L_{\text{d}}} \right] \label{parametricsinglecrystal}
\end{equation}
Appropriate diffusive $\kappa(L \gg L_{\text{d}}) \simeq \kappa_{\text{bulk}}$ and ballistic  $\kappa(L \ll L_{\text{b}}) \sim L$ limits are readily verified. In quasiballistic regime $L_{\text{b}} \ll L \ll L_{\text{d}}$ we find $\kappa \sim \ln(L/L_{\text{b}})$, which manifests itself as a quasilinear segment in the $\kappa(L)$ curves when plotted on semilogx scale (Fig. \ref{fig4-parametriccurves2}). Here too, the simple parametric form provides an accurate fit to the \textit{ab-initio} results for all considered compounds.
\npar%
In summary, we have analysed cross-plane thermal conductivity in thin semiconductor films from first principles. We observed, and explained, a quasiballistic conduction regime that displays a fractional-exponent and logarithmic thickness dependence in alloys and single crystals respectively. A simple suppression model, as well as two analytical parametric forms, are capable to match Monte Carlo solutions within a few percent regardless the compound's (an)isotropy. Film conductivities can be furthermore reliably reconstructed from MFP spectra, analogous to previously made observations for in-plane transport.
\npar%
This work was funded by \textsc{alma-bte}, a European Union Horizon 2020 project (Grant No. 645776) aimed at the development of an open-source multiscale BTE solver with industrial applications to power electronics.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using PillowSharp.Middleware;

namespace PillowSharp.CouchType
{
    public class CouchError
    {
        [JsonIgnore]
        public int HTTPCode { get; set; }
        [JsonProperty("error")]
        public string Error { get; set; }
        [JsonProperty("reason")]
        public string Reason { get; set; }

        public override string ToString()
        {
            return Reason;
        }
    }
}


Windows event logs can provide invaluable insight into your Windows based infrastructure. The Windows operating system has many event log channels, each dedicated to a specific category of events. In this blog post we are going to look at how to visualize logon and logon failure events from the Security event log.
Winlogbeat is our lightweight shipper for Windows event logs. It installs and runs as a Windows service and ships event log data to Elasticsearch or Logstash. We will install Winlogbeat 5.0 on all machines in our example domain. Winlogbeat 5.0 has a new feature that enables it to ship the raw data that was used in logging the event. Having these raw event data fields makes filtering and aggregating much easier than in earlier versions of Winlogbeat.
Below is the configuration file being used with Winlogbeat to ship data directly to Elasticsearch. For more information on how to install Winlogbeat please see the Getting Started Guide.
On domain controllers I am adding an additional line to the configuration file as shown below. This will tag all events from the domain controllers with "dc". The tag will we be used for filtering.
The reason for monitoring successful logons is to look for compromised user credentials. The number of successful logons can be a major indicator that compromised credentials are being used for system crawling or other malicious activity.
An event with event ID 4624 is logged by Windows for every successful logon regardless of the logon type (local, network, remote desktop, etc.).
If we simply created a data table visualization in Kibana showing all events with event ID 4624 we would be overwhelmed with noise and it would not be easy to spot abnormal user logon patterns. So there are several filtering steps we are going to apply to remove the noise. Each of the filters is described below.
event_id:4624 This selects all logon events across the domain.
!event_data.LogonType:0 This filters logon type 0 which is used for system accounts.
!event_data.LogonType:5 This filters logon type 5 which is used for service accounts.
!event_data.TargetUserName:"ANONYMOUS LOGON" This filters anonymous logons (http://windowsitpro.com/systems-management/disabling-logging-anonymous-logon-events) which are typically benign. Anonymous users have extremely limited privileges.
!event_data.TargetDomainName:"Window Manager" This filters logons from the Desktop Window Manager that is part of Windows 8 and Windows 2012.
!event_data.TargetUserName:*$ This filters logons from managed service accounts. The trailing dollar sign is reserved for managed service accounts.
!tags:"dc" This filters logon events from our domain controllers. When a user logs onto a domain workstation and their credentials are not cached locally, a logon event is generated on both the workstation and domain controller. This filter prevents us from double counting the number of successful user logons.
The data table visualization shown above was created using this list of filters. The data table uses aggregations to count the total number of logons per user, the number of unique computers the user logged on to, and the number of unique source IPs that were used in those logons (if the user was remote).
The table can be used to spot accounts that are potentially compromised. If an account has been used to logon to an abnormally high number of computers within your organization, it would warrant further investigation to see if the account is being used to crawl the network.
Monitoring failed logons can be useful for a number of purposes. From a security perspective, the obvious use cases are to detect unauthorized access attempts and brute-force credential attacks. From an infrastructure management perspective, failed logon attempts can be used to detect problems. For example, if a service account starts generating failures then it may indicate a configuration issue.
Windows uses event ID 4625 when logging failed logon attempts. To visualize the failed logons we are going to use an area chart and simply filter for event_id:4625. To show the different types of logons being used we split the area based on the event_data.LogonType field. An example is is shown above.
If anomalies are spotted in the chart, the user can select a more specific time period or logon type and use the Discover tab to view more details.
If you allow Remote Desktop connections from the Internet it can be useful to plot the origins of those connections of a map. Both successful and failed logons report the IP address of the client in the event_data.IpAddress field. By using a GeoIP filter to enrich the event with the location associated with the source IP address, we can visualize the events on a map in Kibana.
This type of visualization can be used to quickly spot anomalies. For example, if you have no employees in South America and suddenly you have successful logons originating from that continent, then it's time to further investigate the incident.
This setup is a bit more advanced because it requires using either Logstash or an Ingest Node pipeline to enrich the event with the location associated with the IP address. Below are the configurations I used to enrich the events using Logstash.
This is the Winlogbeat configuration file. The output was changed from Elasticsearch to Logstash.
This is the Logstash configuration. It accepts data from the Winlogbeat instances on port 5044. It enriches the events with location information using the the geoip filter. And finally it outputs the events to Elasticsearch.
And because we are indexing a new field in our events we need to enhance the Elasticserach index template used for the Winlogbeat data. Install this template to Elasticsearch before indexing events containing the geoip fields.
Logon (4624) and logon failure (4625) events are just two of the many events generated by Windows that can monitored, visualized, and alerted on by using the Elastic stack. There are many great resources available that explain the value that can be obtained by monitoring certain Windows event IDs. Check out Events to Monitor from Microsoft or Spotting the Adversary with Windows Event Log Monitoring from the U.S. National Security Agency.
The visualizations created here can be downloaded as JSON and imported directly into a Kibana. To import into Kibana click on Settings -> Objects -> Import, and then select the JSON file you downloaded.


Graceful tapered columns and a mix of materials create a classic exterior with lots of curb appeal. Inside, the layout is surprisingly contemporary. At the center of the gathering spaces, the kitchen boasts a large island with a snack bar. Nearby, the dining nook offers a bright, relaxed space that opens to outside. A fireplace warms the great room. It's easy to tame clutter with the smart organizational details at the garage entrance, including a bench and cubbies. Upstairs, the master suite treats you with a whirlpool tub, large shower, and huge walk-in closet. Three more bedrooms use the hall bath, with the bonus space available for later expansion.
120 sq/ft width 12' 2" x depth 9' 10"
142 sq/ft width 12' x depth 11' 10"
260 sq/ft width 11' 6" x depth 17' 4"
324 sq/ft width 18' 8" x depth 17' 4"
188 sq/ft width 16' 4" x depth 11' 6"
241 sq/ft width 13' 10" x depth 17' 4"


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Home » Japanese hotel fired 243 robots for causing too much "issues".
Japanese hotel fired 243 robots for causing too much "issues".
This interesting story was reported by The Wall Street Journal about a hotel in Japan. The hotel is named "Henn-na Hotel" and had used robots as a major count of their staff number. The hotel decided to fire 243 robots all at once because they were causing more problems than helping out at the hotel.
One of the robots that was fired is Churi, a robot that looked like a giant doll. Churi was designed to be a personal assistant robot functioning similar to Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. They replaced a human staff with Churi hoping that the robot would work better with the advanced technology as an assistant for the hotel. After a while, the hotel realized that Churi didn't meet the requirements and was becoming an annoyance.
A dinosaur robot was designed to be used as a check-in robot for the hotel. The problem was the dinosaur robot did not have the skill of photocopying documents which was an important factor in scanning all of customers passports, thus normal staff still had to help with the check-in's.
The two robots that were supposed to work as bellboys were responsible for 24 rooms out of 100 rooms in the hotel. The problem is both of them kept on running into each other when it was raining or snowing at the hotel.
The robots that were designed to answer customers questions and requests including recommending attractions to visit often ended up not knowing what to tell the customers. The customers had to seek help from human staff because the robots were useless.
The hotel decided to fire 243 robots that they believed were too old to keep up with the new technology and requirements for the jobs at the hotel. Buying new robots were too much of a cost so the hotel decided to just return to hiring human staff.
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