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HUD Campaigns Against LGBT Discrimination; Bishops Object
April 2011: Since its proposal of a new federal regulation banning housing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals earlier this year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched a new media campaign, "Live Free." Among other things, the campaign will strive to ensure that people have equal access to housing regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Live Free campaign will run throughout the year and include Facebook ads, targeted print ads, digital videos, and podcasts.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or familial status—that is, families with children. Although sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected characteristics under the FHA, HUD says that housing discrimination against someone who is LGBT may, in certain circumstances, violate other provisions of the FHA, such as the ban on gender discrimination.
"While 20 states and over 200 local governments have led the way to make LGBT-related housing discrimination illegal, HUD is firmly committed to supporting the right of LGBT individuals and families to lead productive and dignified lives, free from housing discrimination and fear of retaliation, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity John Trasviña said in a statement. "HUD is finalizing a federal rule to ensure that HUD housing and programs are open to all, irrespective of marital status, gender identity, and sexual orientation."
Meanwhile, however, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has urged HUD not to adopt the proposed regulation against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in HUD programs.
In comments filed with HUD last month, USCCB attorneys noted that, when it comes to orientation and gender identity, "a protected classification for purposes of federal housing programs has no support in any Act of Congress and appears at odds with at least one other, namely, the Defense of Marriage Act." They added that "the regulations may force faith-based and other organizations, as a condition of participating in HUD programs and in contravention of their religious beliefs, to facilitate shared housing arrangements between persons who are not joined in the legal union of one man and one woman."
"By this, we do not mean that any person should be denied housing. Making decisions about shared housing, however, is another matter," the attorneys noted. "Particularly here, faith-based and other organizations should retain the freedom they have always had to make housing placements in a manner consistent with their religious beliefs, including when it concerns a cohabiting couple, be it an unmarried heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple. Given the very large role that faith-based organizations play in HUD programs, the regulation, by infringing upon that freedom, may have the ultimate effect of driving away organizations with a long and successful track record in meeting housing needs, leaving beneficiaries without the housing that they sought or that the government intended them to receive."
Source: HUD; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops


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Филип Ентони Мер Хилд (; Њу Рошел, Њујорк, 25. август 1944), амерички је позоришни, филмски и ТВ глумац, познат по улози доктора Фредерика Чилтона, иначе доктора Ханибалу Лектору у филмовима Кад јагањци утихну и Црвени змај.

Референце

Спољашње везе

Рођени 1944.
Амерички глумци
Амерички телевизијски глумци
Амерички гласовни глумци

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LARRY JAMES NEFF
PHOTOS & FILMS
FAVORITE SITES & FAQS
I've already shared a little about the book, but here's some more information to whet your appetite!
ISBN-13-978-0-692-28703-3
I was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA, the son of a steelworker. I worked at Bethlehem Steel from 1972 until the plant closed in 1999. Rigger is a memoir which begins with my formative days in high school, travels through some of the ways I earned or failed to learn a living after I graduated and was "waiting for the call" to join the Bethlehem Steel Co. Then come my experiences as a new hire at the Bethlehem plant and on the 42" mill, and culminate with my life as a Rigger. The Riggers were the "Bad Boys of Bethlehem Steel", the gypsies and pirates of the plant, taking on the highest, hardest and most dangerous jobs that other departments just plain didn't want to tackle.
Yet More About the Book
'Larry Neff's wry, sardonic, and deeply humane voice brings a forgotten era back to life. His memories of the many jobs he performed at Bethlehem Steel are remarkably vivid, especially as he recounts the wild and dangerous work of "the Steel's" renegade riggers. From the waning days of the Vietnam era to the waning days of a powerful American industry, Neff's Rigger recreates a world that many have forgotten, with deep affection for the men and women who performed the treacherous, back-breaking work of making steel. His book is a gift to his union "brothers and sisters," and to all of us who've stared at those long-quiet stacks and wondered what it must have been like to work, day to day, in the midst of them.
Joyce Hinnefeld, associate professor of English and director of the Writing Center, Moravian College and award-winning author of "Stranger Here Below", " In Hovering Flight", and "Tell Me Everything and Other Stories."
"Rigger-A Memoir from High School to High Steel will go down in literary history as one of the strongest, most dramatic real-life accounts of life inside the American steel industry. Neff takes his readers on a narrative tour of the old Bethlehem Steel plant, picturing in the clearest terms imaginable the complex machinery and intricate processes of this massive and crucial American factory. He gives us the characters of the plant with all the affectionate detail of Walt Whitman describing workers in "Song of Myself," particularly the risk-taking, innovative riggers that were his brother workers at the Steel. More than a documentary of the steel making process and more than a story of working class experience, Rigger is a testimony, given in the voice of a union-made vitalist, of the pride, the anger, the joy and uproarious humor that thrived among Beth Steel workers in the latter decades of the plant's life. This is literally heavy metal literature—a pounding story of the suspense, the danger, and the sublime sense of accomplishment that was the everyday fare of the adventurous, rule-breaking riggers. With this vivid account, Larry Neff and Blue Heron Books have made a more important memorial of American industrial history than any museum could hope to achieve."
Mary Lawlor, author of Fighter Pilot's Daughter: Growing Up in the Sixties and the Cold War.
Here's a brief video about Rigger

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Christina Nielson
Motorsports / ADAC GT Masters, Slovakia Ring, 5 Farnbacher Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R, Christina Nielsen (DKN),
Christina Nielson Speeds to the Front of Women's Racing
Hailing from Horsholm, Denmark, Nielson is the daughter of Danish sports car racer Lars Erik Nielson, but she only began racing in 2007 at the kart level at the insistence of a friend. Four years later, she finished third in the Karting World Championships, and she's been climbing the racing ranks ever since.
Now, driving for TRG-AMR, Nielson can win her first major championship if she and co-drivers Kuno Wittmer and Brandon Davis hold off Paul Miller Racing's Dion von Moltke and Christopher Haase at the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Saturday. The race serves as the annual season finale for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
Christina Nielson has said that winning this championship would be a major accomplishment in her career, and she believes it would be a step in the right direction towards becoming a pro driver. She's also said the fact that no other female has won it before makes it even more special.
After four second-place finishes and one third-place finish so far this season, Nielson and her teammates will look for similar results against von Moltke and Haase, who sit one point behind in the standings with 255 in the No. 48 Castrol EDGE Audi R8 LMS.
Von Moltke and Haase, who will be joined by Bryce Miller at Road Atlanta, where the standings leaders for much of the 2015 TUDOR Championship season. Nielson's second-place finish at the Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America last month vaulted her into the lead, and she'll look to hold it through Saturday.
The No. 48 car, which won at Petit Le Mans last year, isn't the only threat to Nielson's lead.
Behind von Moltke and Haase are Scuderia Corsa's Bill Sweedler and Townsend Bell driving the No. 63 Robert Graham/Royal Purple Ferrari 458 Italia. The two have racked up 252 points this season and sit just five points out of the lead. Eleven points behind Nielson and in fourth are Ben Keating and Jeroen Bleekemolen, who have made a late surge with two first-place finishes in the last three races. Driving the No. 33 Riley Motorsports TI Automotive/Viper Exchange Dodge Viper SRT GT3-R, they'll be joined at Road Atlanta by co-driver Sebastiaan Bleekemolen.
Coverage of the race will begin on FOX Sports 2 at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, including the finish and post-race coverage that will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on Christina Nielsen or just to keep up with who she's bypassing on the track this week, follow her on social media. She's on twitter as @christinaniels6 and Facebook here.
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Introducing crisp, classic linens for the refined table top. Premium quality stitching makes these napkins and runners stand out from the rest. Enrich you spread with all-natural materials and heirloom craftsmanship. Enhance your aesthetic with this simple, yet elegant design.


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American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
Volume 1, Issue 1, September 2015, Pages: 9-14
Gamma Radiation Preparation of Poly (Acrylamide/Maleic Acid/Gelatin) Hydrogels for Adsorption of Chromium Ions from Wastewater
M. Eid
National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
M. Eid. Gamma Radiation Preparation of Poly (Acrylamide/Maleic Acid/Gelatin) Hydrogels for Adsorption of Chromium Ions from Wastewater. American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology. Vol.1, No. 1, 2015, pp. 9-14. doi: 10.11648.j.ajpst.20150101.12
Abstract: Poly (acrylamide/maleic acid/gelatin) P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels have been prepared by gamma radiation and their adsorption for chromium ion from aqueous solutions have been investigated. The structural of the hydrogels was monitored by FTIR. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels has been investigated in distilled water and different pH's values at ambient temperature. The P(AAm) hydrogel showed fair pH-dependent swelling whereas P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels exhibit a higher swelling by increasing the pH. The chromium ion solutions have been exposed to gamma radiation for precipitation. The results showed that the precipitation (%) decrease by increasing the initial chromium ions concentration. The possibility of using different hydrogels for the uptake of irradiated chromium ion solutions was investigated. The P(AAm/MA) hydrogel showed higher chromium ion uptake compared to that by P(AAm) and P(AAm/MA/G). The adsorption studies show that, the chromium uptake is pH dependent. Lowering of the chromium ion concentration has been achieved after the treatment of chromium ion solution by gamma radiation followed by adsorption onto hydrogels.
Keywords: Chromium Ion, Gamma Radiation, Adsorption, Hydrogels
Abstract Keywords 1. Introduction 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Materials 2.2. Hydrogel Sample Preparation 2.3. The Swelling Studies 2.4. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Measurements 2.5. Ultra Violet - Visible Spectrophotometer 2.6. Radiation Adsorption Purification 3. Results and Discussion 3.1. Gel Content Percent 3.2. Effect of Hydrogel Composition 3.3. Effect of PH on Swelling (%) 3.4. Radiation Precipitation of Chromium Ion 3.5. FTIR Characterization of Hydrogel 3.6. Adsorption Recovery of Chromium Ion 3.7. Effect of PH Values on Adsorption 4. Conclusions References
Many industries such as electroplating, tanning, anodizing and chrome mining release inorganic pollutants as chromium ions one of the well-known toxicity, this can lead to the contamination of fresh water and marine environment. Chromium ions are not biodegradable and accumulated in living organisms. Extensive exposure to chromium ions may cause cancer in the digestive tract and lungs. It also may cause epigastric pain, nausea, severe diarrhea, and hemorrhage. The removal of chromium ions from industrial effluents is essential before it is mixed with drinking water sources.
It is well known that some metals are harmful to life and some of them are significantly toxic to human being and ecological environments (1). Numerous techniques are available for wastewaters purification and metal recovery operations. These techniques employed for heavy metal removal include precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, filtration, electrode position and reverse osmosis (2).
Chromium ions can exist as chromium (II), chromium (III), or chromium (VI). Chromium (VI) is toxic to man when ingested and produces lung tumors when inhaled. The exact level of chromium that can be continuously consumed by humans without adverse effects is not known; however, a limit of 0.05 mg/l, which appears to be very conservative. Ionizing radiation is capable of reducing heavy metal ions to lower oxidation states leading to its precipitation from solution (3-5).
Low radiation doses are sufficient for disinfection of wastewater and it can also effectively reduce water soluble toxic metal ions, therefore rendering the metals less available for uptake by plant and living organisms. Adsorption via polymeric hydrogels has also showed their ability to remove toxic metal ions from the aqueous solutions. Adsorption and binding capacity of poly (acrylamide) P(AAm), poly (acrylamide/maleic acid) P(AAm/MA) and poly (acrylamide/maleic acid/gelatin) P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels were used in the removal of irradiated chromium ions from electroplating wastewater (6-8).
The aim of this study is to investigate the swelling properties and adsorption characteristics of acrylamide hydrogels which contain an anionic monomer typically maleic acid and super swelling gelatin. Dynamic swelling study is important for the swelling characterization of hydrogel system. The present study deals with the purification of wastewater of chromic plating path containing chromium (VI) by different gamma irradiation doses followed by adsorption onto super swelling hydrophilic P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels. The optimum conditions for the preparation of the hydrogel were determined and characterized by FTIR. The parameters that influence the adsorption such as initial chromium (VI) concentration, time, pH and weight of hydrogel samples were investigated at room temperature.
Acrylamide (AAm) of purity of 99.9% (Merck, Germany) maleic acid (MA) of purity 99.9% (Aldrich, Germany) and Gelatin from EL-Nasr Co. for medical supplies, Cairo, Egypt. Citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate, and disodium hydrogen phosphate were purchased from El-Nasr Co. for Chemical Industry, Egypt, and used without further purification.
2.2. Hydrogel Sample Preparation
Aqueous solution of (1 g AAm), (1 g AAm, 50 mg MA) and (1 g AAm, 50 mg MA and 5 mg G) in 3 ml distilled water were prepared for P (AAm), P (AAm/MA) and P (AAm/MA/G) hydrogels respectively. The prepared solutions were placed in fine glass test tubes and gamma irradiated to 30 kGy at ambient temperature using a 60Co gamma source Chamber 4000 A with a dose rate 3.84 kGy/h. The cylindrical shape hydrogels were cut into disks of 2 mm thickness, dried to a constant weight. The samples were extracted by hot distilled water at 80 °C for 6 h and dried at 40 °C until a constant weight for later evaluation. The gelation percent (G%) was calculated gravimetrically by using the following equation:
G (%) = (Wg/Wo)/ 100
Where Wg and Wo was the weight of dried sample after and before extractions, respectively.
2.3. The Swelling Studies
The cylindrical shaped hydrogels were soaked in distilled water and phosphate buffer solution of pH's from 3.45 to 7 at room temperature. Swollen hydrogel samples removed from water or buffer solution at regular intervals and dried superficially with filter paper, weighed then placed in the same bath. The measurements were continued until equilibrium swelling was obtained for each sample. The weight swelling ratios (%) Q was calculated using the following equation:
Swelling (%) = (Wt - Wd /Wd) x 100
where Wd the mass of dried hydrogel and Wt the mass of the swelling gel after time t.
2.4. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Measurements
The prepared hydrogels were dried and ground to a fine powder, then mixed with dried KBr and pressed to a disk for I. R. analysis. FTIR spectra of hydrogels measured by FTIR spectrometer (Mattson 1000, Pye- Unicam, England) in the range from 400–4000 cm-1.
2.5. Ultra Violet - Visible Spectrophotometer
The radiation process was carried out by exposing the chromic acid solutions to gamma cell facility at National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt with a dose rate 1.21 kGy/h and gamma radiation dose ranged between 1 and 5 kGy. The remaining chromium ions in the solution after gamma radiation were analyzed at lmax 350 nm by using a double-beam UV visible Sp200, Pye-Unicam, England.
2.6. Radiation Adsorption Purification
The chromium ion solutions were gamma irradiated with 1-5 kGy irradiation doses. The concentration of the irradiated solution was considered as the initial concentration of the adsorption study. A fixed weight of the dry hydrogel was immersed in different chromium ion solutions after irradiation. The concentration of the remaining chromium ions were detected by double-beam UV visible spectrophotometer. The adsorption amount A in (mg/g) was calculated by the following equation:
A = [(Co-Ci ) x V] / W
where V is the volume of solution (l), W is the weight of the hydrogel (g), Co, and Ci are the concentrations of chromium ions (mg/l)before and after the adsorption, respectively.
3.1. Gel Content Percent
Fig. 1. Gelation percent of different hydrogels at 30 kGy.
In this study ionizing radiation was used for preparation of P(AAm/MA/G) copolymeric networks. Maleic acid dose not homopolymerize due to it is 1, 2-disubstituted structure, when it is irradiated in aqueous solution. In the presence of monomer with a high polymerization tendency such as acrylamide it is randomly incorporated into the main chain (9). When aqueous solution of AAm/MA/G is irradiated with gamma rays, polymerization and cross-linking reaction takes place simultaneously (10, 11). The radiolysis products of water especially hydroxyl free radicals are very effective in attacking the monomer and formed P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels (9, 12). A typically dependence of gel content on the compositions of the hydrogel was given in figure 1. From the figure it can be seen that, the gelation (%) decreased with the addition of both maleic acid and gelatin. These results indicate that maleic acid and gelatin being grafted on the acrylamide backbone (13).
Swelling studies
3.2. Effect of Hydrogel Composition
When a hydrogel is brought into contact with water or a buffer solution, the solution diffuses into the network and a volume phase transition occurs, resulting in the expansion of the hydrogel. Diffusion involves the migration of fluid into the hydrogel or dynamically formed spaces between the hydrogel chains. Swelling of the hydrogel involves large segmental motion resulting, ultimately, in the increased separation of the hydrogel chains. The swelling equilibrium occurs when the values of the osmotic force driving the fluid into the network and of the elastic force of the stretched sub-chains become equal. Figure 2 show the time dependence of swelling (%) of P(AAm), P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels. From the figure it can be seen that the swelling behavior of the hydrogels is greatly influenced by its composition. As expected, the swelling of these hydrogels increase at a short time (4–6 h) and level off to maximum swelling at a longer time (120 h). From figure 2 it can be also seen that the swelling % increases by introducing the maleic acid and the gelatin. The introduction of carboxylic acid unit in the hydrogel creates repulsion not only between the negatively charged COO¯ together but also between COO¯ and the lone pair of electrons on the N atom of acrylamide and gelatin molecules which may increase the rate of translation of water molecules into the hydrogels (14, 15).
Fig. 2. Swelling (%) of P(AAm), P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels at different immersion time.
3.3. Effect of PH on Swelling (%)
The presence of carboxylic groups in the hydrogel is supposed to undergo significant change in their swelling percent by changing the pH of the external media. Carboxylic acid-containing networks exhibited pH-responsive swelling behavior where the carboxylic acid groups became ionized at higher pH values than pKa of the carboxylic groups. As the pH of the swelling medium was above pKa value which was about 5, the ionization of the carboxylic acid groups of the gel occurred. This resulted to higher water absorption as the pH increased. Figure 3 represents the equilibrium swelling of P(AAm), P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels at room temperature in phosphate buffer solution of pH range from 3.5 to 6.8. Consistent with poly-anionic behavior, swelling of the hydrogels was found to increase with pH. For P(AAm), the swelling (%) was found to be independent on the pH value. This may be attributed to the fact that P(AAm) is a non-ionic hydrogel and it doesn't have any anionic group that could be ionized in aqueous solution and it may also due to the high crosslinking and high gelation (%) (16).
For P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels, the pH of the solution becomes an even more important factor in determining the swelling kinetics and the equilibrium swelling value due to the presence of the carboxylic group of MA in the main chain of the hydrogel. The maximum extent of swelling was reached at pH 6.8, this being due to the complete dissociation of acidic groups of MA at this pH value (17). Figure 3 shows a sudden increase in the swelling at pH 's from 4.8 to 6.8. These results indicate that under acidic conditions, anionic carboxylate groups are protonated, and the copolymeric network collapsed. At a higher pH than the pKa value where the maximum percentage swelling occurred at pH 6.8 which may be due to the complete neutralization of carboxylate acid groups.
Fig. 3. Effect of pH values on the equilibrium swelling (%) of different hydrogels.
3.4. Radiation Precipitation of Chromium Ion
Applying gamma radiation technique to purification of wastewater has been carried out and the results are shown in figure 4 and 5. It was found that the chromium ions concentration decrease by increasing the irradiation dose this decrease in the chromium ions concentration was observed in all solution samples after being exposed to gamma radiation dose from 1 to 5 kGy. Aqueous solutions exposed to gamma radiation generate free radicals and stable products (18).
H2O e-aq , H, OH, H2O2, H2 , H3O+
The hydrated electrons react with H3O+ to produce H (19)
e -aq + H3O+ H+ H2O
Cr(VI) + H Cr(V)
The radiolytically produced Cr(V) is unstable and is further reduced to the stable Cr3+ ion via a tetravalent chromium intermediate (20, 21). It was observed that maximum decrease in the chromium ions concentration occurred at irradiation dose 5kGy. Figure 5 represents the effect of irradiation dose on the precipitation (%) of chromium ions at different initial concentration. From the figure it can be notice that the precipitation (%) increases by increasing the irradiation dose from 1 to 5 kGy for all different chromium ion concentrations. Figure 5 also showed that, maximum precipitation (%) occurred in dilute solution (45mg/l) where, a dose of 5kGy achieved precipitation of 98.9, 86.1 and 45.9% for concentration 45, 90 and 135 mg/l, respectively. The high efficiency of precipitation on dilute solution may be attributed to the fact that, the energy of gamma radiation absorbed by chromium solution reacts effectively with a very dilute solution than the concentrated one.
Fig. 4. Effect of irradiation dose on Cr ions concentration at initial concentration 80mg/l.
Fig. 5. Effect of irradiation dose on the precipitation (%) of chromium ions at different initial concentrations.
3.5. FTIR Characterization of Hydrogel
To probe the possibility of chemical interaction between AAm, MA and G molecules, FT-IR spectra of P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels were shown in figure 6. The spectrum of P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels shows the broad peak at 3600-3000 cm−1 due to both the presence of carboxylic groups of maleic acid as well as –NH stretching of amide groups present in acrylamid and gelatin molecules. A peak corresponding to the carbonyl group (C=O) of the (CONH2) of the acrylamid unit is observed at 1665 cm−1, while a characteristic peak at 1600 cm−1 arises from the carbonyl group C=O of the maleic acid. The spectra also shows the absorbance peaks of C=C at 1650, NH stretch at 1600, CH and OH bands at 1450 - 1500 and 1300 – 1450 and C-O stretch at 1100 -1150. The formation of an interpenetrating network (IPN) of P (AAM / MA / G) hydrogel through NH2 groups of gelatin, CH2=CH- of acrylamide and conjugated C=C of maleic acid can be suggested due to the disappearance of =C-H sp2 at 3100 and C=C conjugated at 1660.
Fig. 6. FTIR spectrum of P(AAM/MA/G) hydrogel prepared by gamma irradiation dose 30 kGy.
3.6. Adsorption Recovery of Chromium Ion
Fig. 7. Effect of hydrogel composition on the chromium ions uptake (mg/g) at different time intervals.
The irradiated chromium solutions still contain chromium ions, thus further experiments will be carried out by adsorbing these solutions onto P(AAm), P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogel. A fixed weight of the dry hydrogel was immersed in chromium solution after irradiation by a dose of 3 kGy. The concentration of the irradiated solution was found to be 98.91 mg/l which was considered as the initial concentration of the adsorption treatment. Figure 7 shows the chromium ion uptake by the different hydrogels at various time intervals. From the figure it can be seen that the chromium ion uptake increases by increasing the time of treatment. P(AAm / MA) hydrogel showed to has the highest chromiumion uptake, while P (AAm) hydrogel shows the lowest adsorption towards the chromium ion. The difference in the efficiency of different hydrogels towards chromium ion uptake may be attributed to the hydrogel structure. The presence of a diprotic acid like maleic acid in the hydrogel network structure increases the adsorption of chromium ion onto the carboxylate group -COO-(22, 23).
3.7. Effect of PH Values on Adsorption
The pH value of the medium has a great effect on the adsorption process of the chromium ion by the hydrogel which influences its swelling and the interaction between hydrogel and metal ion. The adsorption of chromium ion on P(AAm), P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G) hydrogels at various pH values was investigated by batch technique and represented in figure 8 (a, b and c). The adsorption increases with increasing the pH value of the medium and the maximum recovery of Cr(VI) was obtained in the acidic range (24). The higher recovery at higher pH than the pka value may be due to the increase in the degree of swelling which increase the diffusion of the metal ions into the hydrogel this may be also enable to chelation of a great number of chromium ions with the carboxylic groups of maleic acid.
For this reason, it can conclude that the recovery of Cr (VI) is more suitable at pH 4.84 than at alkaline due to at pH 4. 84 HCrO4− is the predominant Cr(VI) species in the queous phase (24). The mechanism of the interaction of hydrogel and metal ions has many possible mechanisms. One of them is the oxygen of the carbonyl groups of maleic acid is responsible for the interaction of the metal ions with hydrogel, since the mobile p- electrons are pulled strongly towards oxygen. Carbonyl oxygen is electron rich, the metal ion acts as electron acceptor and taken up by coordination to the donor oxygen of the carbonyl group. From the results it is clear that, there is dependence of metal ion uptake on the hydrogel composition. P(AAm) possess low metal uptake that possess low degree of swelling at low pH values of the metal ion solutions. These results may be due to the fact that, the amide group of the acrylamide is protonated in acidic medium as a result of the presence of lone pair of electrons on nitrogen atom which is capable of attracting the hydrogen proton from the medium and forming co-ordination bond, therefore the P(AAm) hydrogel prevents the diffusion of the metal ions inside the hydrogel to reach the functional groups of the hydrogel. As a result, the adsorption of the metal ions was reduced. In neutral medium the amide group is not protonated, so it is capable of coordinating the metal ions and the ability of metal uptake by the hydrogel increases. By introduction of maleic acid to the network structure of the hydrogel, the swelling ability of the hydrogel increases, so the possibility of the metal ions to reach the chelation functional groups increases and the ability of adsorption of chromium ions by the hydrogel increases (25).
Fig. 8. Chromium ions uptake (mg/g) at different pH values onto different hydrogels (a) P(AAm), (b) P(AAm/MA) and P(AAm/MA/G).
This study demonstrate the preparation of different polymeric materials have the affinity to recovery of chromium ions after exposed to different irradiation dose. The high efficiency of precipitation of chromium ions by the effect of gamma radiation has been achieved especially in dilute solution. The recovery of chromium ion has been enhanced by gamma irradiation at different doses. The swelling properties of the prepared hydrogels are evaluated and the results demonstrate that the swelling (%) is highly dependent on the hydrogel composition and also affected by the change of the medium pH. The investigation herein points in the use of hydrogel materials for environmental applications where, hydrogels can be employed in various aqueous environments as they swell and develop charges to interact with chromium ions. In addition, the absorption capacity of chromium ions for hydrogels composite is possible as hydrogels prone to chromium ions absorption on their surfaces.
From the data it can be concluded that, the recovery of chromium ion has been enhanced by gamma irradiation at different doses was followed adsorption of the irradiated samples onto different hydrogels. It can also be seen that, the adsorption of chromium ion is not only pH dependent but it also shows the influence of the hydrogel composition on the adsorption rate and adsorption. As a result, the recovered water contains chromium ion concentration to no detectable levels can be obtain in the water treatment plant. It was also possible to design a batch treatment system to remove chromium ion at pH within the acidic range after treatment by gamma irradiation followed by adsorption onto hydrogels to obtain recovery water can be reused in different purposes. Through the combined treatment of gamma irradiation followed by adsorption, the complete removal of all the studied pollutants was achieved.
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Sharpe P. H. G., and Sehested, K. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 34,pp763,1989.
Cooper, W. J, R. D. Curry, W. J and O. Shea K. E.: Environmental Applications of Ionizing Radiation, Wiley, New York,(1998).
Hegazy E. A., Abd El-Aal S. E., Abu Talib M. F and Dessouki A. M. J. Applied Polymer Science 92,2462 (2004).
Hegazy E. A., Abd El-Rehim H. A., and Shawky H. A. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 57, pp85, (2000).
F. Gode, E. Pehlivan,Journal of Hazardous Materials B119 (2005) 175–182.
Shannon R. S. Acta Crystallogr A; 32:751(1976).
Hydrogel Sample Preparation
The Swelling Studies
Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Measurements
Ultra Violet - Visible Spectrophotometer
Radiation Adsorption Purification
Gel Content Percent
Effect of Hydrogel Composition
Effect of PH on Swelling (%)
Radiation Precipitation of Chromium Ion
FTIR Characterization of Hydrogel
Adsorption Recovery of Chromium Ion
Effect of PH Values on Adsorption


On this page you can download the audio track for the movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine english lang. English original audio track will allow you to fully enjoy movies X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2009 year. Download audio track X-Men Origins: Wolverine for movie for free and see the detailed characteristics of track can be below.
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text:
Redefining the historical buildings of Berlin
This paper aims at describing a number of conservation projects carried out in Berlin in the last fifteen years which illustrate the use of a particular methodology in conserving and utilising historical structures. The approach described aims at the conservation of existing constructions or ruins, and their re-use through minimal intervention which may render these structures relevant in today's society. The examples cited include churches, museums, institutional buildings, embassies, public structures and spaces for cultural use. Case from the Sixties are also cited in that they too offer an example of this kind of approach. In analyzing these cases, various themes are tackled, primarily the need to marry the ancient with the modern. This difficulty results from a contemporary need to ensure that our heritage survives by allocating a use to the building, the failure to do so would result in the slow demise of these historical structures. Such themes, the object of debate for decades, still require further thought and analysis. In fact, very often restoration projects still consist of simple cosmetic intervention, whilst new buildings are designed with an inappropriate stylistic architectural aesthetic, mostly styles which aim at copying or simulating the architectural language of the past. Such practices fundamentally contradict the very nature of both good architecture and today's universal principles of conservation; principles that must be based on the criterion of any addition being distinguishable from the authentic historic construction. The Berlin case studies are examples of conservation that respects the figurative and materical aspects of the historical fabric whilst the contemporary additions are designed so as to become a new element that does not detract from the value of the original parts. In this way, the old and the new are distinct, demonstrating successfully the possibility of a dialogue between quality architecture of both the past and the present.
Titolo: Redefining the historical buildings of Berlin
GIANNATTASIO, CATERINA
Abstract: This paper aims at describing a number of conservation projects carried out in Berlin in the last fifteen years which illustrate the use of a particular methodology in conserving and utilising historical structures. The approach described aims at the conservation of existing constructions or ruins, and their re-use through minimal intervention which may render these structures relevant in today's society. The examples cited include churches, museums, institutional buildings, embassies, public structures and spaces for cultural use. Case from the Sixties are also cited in that they too offer an example of this kind of approach. In analyzing these cases, various themes are tackled, primarily the need to marry the ancient with the modern. This difficulty results from a contemporary need to ensure that our heritage survives by allocating a use to the building, the failure to do so would result in the slow demise of these historical structures. Such themes, the object of debate for decades, still require further thought and analysis. In fact, very often restoration projects still consist of simple cosmetic intervention, whilst new buildings are designed with an inappropriate stylistic architectural aesthetic, mostly styles which aim at copying or simulating the architectural language of the past. Such practices fundamentally contradict the very nature of both good architecture and today's universal principles of conservation; principles that must be based on the criterion of any addition being distinguishable from the authentic historic construction. The Berlin case studies are examples of conservation that respects the figurative and materical aspects of the historical fabric whilst the contemporary additions are designed so as to become a new element that does not detract from the value of the original parts. In this way, the old and the new are distinct, demonstrating successfully the possibility of a dialogue between quality architecture of both the past and the present.
Tipologia: 4.1 Contributo in Atti di convegno


text:
What if the Amazon rainforest disappeared?
The Brazilian Report . Nov 05, 2019
Photo: Mayke Toscano/Gcom-MT
With the concern raised by the boom in forest fires earlier this year linked to deforestation, the environmental contribution of the Amazon to our planet has been widely debated. World leaders expressed their worry, repeating the hackneyed and incorrect maxim that the forest is "the lungs of the world" and that it produces 20 percent of the oxygen found on Earth.
Members of the Jair Bolsonaro government, however, went in the opposite direction. Addressing deforestation figures, the Head of Institutional Security, General Augusto Heleno declared that statistics on the disappearing Amazon were "manipulated." Showing a basic lack of understanding of mathematics, Gen. Heleno claimed that "if you added up all the percentages they've announced until today on deforestation, the Amazon would be a desert already."

But, what would actually happen if the Amazon rainforest simply disappeared? In a recent study, a pair of scientists from Princeton University modeled the effects of deforesting the entire Amazon over the next 30 years and replacing it with pasture. And while the world wouldn’t exactly be losing its “lungs,” it would be in very bad shape indeed.

Authors Elena Shevliakova and Stephen Pacala found that even if the rest of the world is able to cut down its carbon emissions, turning the Amazon into pasture would see global temperatures rise 1.75°C, above the current Paris Agreement projections of 1.5°C.

The Amazon region itself—the 7 million square kilometer basin stretching over nine Brazilian states and eight other sovereign countries—would become virtually uninhabitable. Rainfall would be 25 percent lower and temperatures up to 4.5°C hotter. “It’s a bad story any way you look at it,” said Ms. Shevliakova.

Mr. Pacala highlighted the four major concerns facing the planet right now: climate, food, water, and biodiversity. “And the Amazon is at the center of all of them,” he said. The region has a major impact on the Earth’s water cycle and carbon balance.

Impacts of the U.S.

Another paper by a quartet of researchers from Princeton and the University of Miami explored precisely how a deforested Amazon would impact directly on conditions in the U.S. and other non-tropical regions. While South America would feel a quick and deafening blow from changing climates in the Amazon, the effects of such a loss on farther-flung regions have yet to be fully explored.

Led by first author and assistant geosciences professor David Medvigy, the study found that a deforested Amazon would lead to decreased rainfall in crucial areas of the mainland U.S., such as the Northwestern coast and the Sierra Nevada snowpack—which provides a huge source of water for California farms and cities.

These findings are based on the likelihood of a depleted Amazon creating a weather pattern similar to that of El Niño, a hypothesis followed by researchers in studies on the topic for decades. The idea in Mr. Medvigy’s paper is that a hotter Amazon will create an abnormal pattern of dry air moving with the wetter and cooler air from the south. This cycle would then increase rainfall around the Gulf of Mexico, yet dry out the U.S. Northwest. As the Sierra Nevada snowpack is crucial to California’s Central Valley, such a transition could have a huge impact on food security in the country.

Food security in Brazil

Back in Brazil, alarm bells are ringing with regard to the effects climate change may be about to have on the production of food across the country. A Central Bank study showed just how much food prices have been affected by climate conditions so far in 2019, and the situation is set to get worse over time, as Natalia Scalzaretto reported back in July.
How the Amazon rainforest is slowly dying (in images)
Amazon rainforest at the crossroads
Amazon droughts could impact climate change as much as deforestation
Routes into the Amazon rainforest


Originally posted: February 1, 2017 . Last modified: April 20, 2019 .
A bold and refreshing cocktail made with raspberry Chambord, tart citrus vodka, and crisp tonic water that awakens your senses and tickles your taste buds.
*This post was written in partnership with Drizly. We received a gift card to purchase the product. All opinions are our own.
I am not sure what's been going on with me lately. It seems my mind has been focused on Valentine's Day for weeks. Which, is unusual for me as I have always struggled with the holiday in the past. However, over the last year or two, I find myself drawn towards wanting to celebrate it with Kim. I wonder if it has to do with growing into adulthood.
Perhaps, it is a byproduct of a long-term relationship. In other words, as the years go by, I find myself more and more in love with my wife. Either way, it seems after all these years, I'm a romantic at heart. Fortunately, cooking is an outlet in which I can express those feelings. So, when Drizly approached us about a partnership, I quickly accepted another opportunity to make something special for Valentine's Day. If you prefer an after dinner drink, then try this hazelnut coffee.
This drink recipe is solely dedicated to Kim. I went to Drizly's website and discovered they were an online liquor store with delivery options. The selections were amazing, and they offered just about any beverage you could want to build your wet bar. After much self-deliberation, I finally decided on what I should make for Kim. Every flavor was picked because I knew it catered to her tastes. From the fruity Chambord to the tart citrus vodka, each ingredient was selected for her enjoyment. The only tricky part was determining the correct amounts of each liquor. Once again, Drizly came through for me because they have a space dedicated to recipes. It didn't take long for me to peruse a few recipes and determine the right mixture amounts for my concoction.
Putting together a Chambord citrus tonic is easy. All you need to do is add ice to a shaker or mixing cup. Afterward, add the Chambord, vodka, and tonic water. Then give the mixture a quick stir. Finally, pour the drink into a cocktail or martini glass and serve chilled. That's it!
Want more drinks? We also have a nice Vodka Cranberry, a Maple Old Fashioned, and a Champagne Grenadine Spritzer.
In a shaker or mixing cup, add ice, Chambord, vodka, and tonic water.
Pour into cocktail or martini glass and serve chilled.
Wow this looks delicious! Perfect for when I have friends over for drinks!
This looks good. You had me at vodka, lol. Seriously, I'm not a big drinker, but I love a good cocktail.
Thanks, Rachel! Once the baby is born, you can enjoy all the drinks you want lol!
This is a very sweet post 🙂 I don't consider myself a romantic either but I do love a good drink. And this must be extra special, dedicated to your wife! Can't wait to try it.
such a refreshing drink! very pretty colors and gorgeous photos!
Chambord used to be a go to for me, not sure what happened. I'm re-inspired!
Love the narrative before the recipe. It's inspiring.
This looks delicious! I will have to try this for valentines day!
YUM! This looks like the perfect cocktail to make on Valentine's Day. Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to try it out.
Simple and perfect for valentine's day!
This looks divine and perfect for Valentine's Day! Adding it to my menu 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I love that you added some fresh raspberries. It added such a nice touch!


text:
Stories from the BNA Website Featured in 'Who Do You Think You Are?' – Nigel Havers – The British Newspaper Archive Blog
Stories from the BNA Website Featured in 'Who Do You Think You Are?' – Nigel Havers
August 1, 2013 In Headlines from History by The British Newspaper Archive
We were delighted to see that several stories from the BNA website were featured in last night's episode of 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.
Among many discoveries made via old newspapers, Nigel Havers learned that his ancestors, Henry and Jeremiah Hambion, were hackney-masters in Colchester during the mid-19th Century. Unfortunately, however, the business partnership between the two Hambion brothers was dissolved as a result of Jeremiah ending up in court on a 'furious driving' charge.
Included below is one of the newspaper reports (one of many stories in The Archive about the Hambion brothers) about Jeremiah Hambion's appearance in court on a charge of 'furious driving'.
Essex Standard – Friday 04 June 1841
Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000165/18410604/009/0002
UK, French and American Troops Take Control of Archangel During the Russian Civil War – 2 August 1918
The Evolution of the Female Bathing Costume – as Reported in 1883
Cookery Corner – Biscuits
'A Hard Lot to Labour' – A Look at the History of Straw Plaiting in Rural Britain
Post office evolution


Home Drones How Drones are being used in Disaster Management?
How Drones are being used in Disaster Management?
1.2 million deaths. 2.9 billion people affected. $1.7 trillion in damages. According to data from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, these staggering figures are the total economic and human impact of global disasters from 2002 to 2012. With a steady growth in annual disasters, especially climate-related ones, emergency management strategies are being put under the microscope. Disaster management technologies, on the other hand, have seen some remarkable breakthroughs in the past decade.
Many technological breakthroughs in recent years have emerged in places areas where it was least expected. Unmanned aerial systems, for example, have transitioned from highly defense-focused applications to a multitude of commercial use cases that transcend industries. But what makes UAS, more commonly referred to as drones, fit for emergency response?
As previously discussed, aerial views are critically helpful in large-scale disaster zones. Drones, designed to be agile, fast and robust, empower response teams with a substantial upper hand without costing as much as manned flight operations. Because many are autonomously flown, drones can access hard-to-reach areas and perform data-gathering tasks that are otherwise unsafe or impossible for humans.
Many disaster management protocols have been tested over the years. While many of these strategies have been successful, they also come with major hurdles. Time is the most important commodity in disaster response. Emergency responders know very well the irreversible consequences of critical delays, so their playbooks are inherently designed to address urgent, high-pressure scenarios. On top of urgency, disaster response faces another major challenge in logistics, as evidenced by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal that claimed the lives of 9,000 people and injured 23,000 others.
As debris and rubble piled up on the streets following the biggest natural disaster in the country since 1934, most of the roads were blocked, denying access to outlying areas. In situations like this where land access is off the table, government agencies are forced to deploy manned aircraft to continue immediate search and rescue, and later on, relief efforts. In theory, this sounds like a winner, but resource allocation, especially in poorer countries, poses another major challenge. Search & rescue operations from the air are expensive, and as we've seen in the past, these operations can stretch for months, even years. In countries where resources are already scarce, this option is not viable.
Outside of these safety concerns, there's another major hurdle that is often overlooked: first responder safety. In the case of earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes and wildfires, first responders are deployed immediately in rough and dangerous working conditions. In 2014, a mudslide roared through the rural community of Oso, Washington, destroying over 30 homes and taking the lives of 43 residents. The response team had to move quickly. The risk of another mudslide was looming over them, while the first one dammed the river and flooded the valley, essentially turning the entire disaster zone into quicksand. Given all these uncontrollable elements, it was not safe for the ground crew to investigate the scene. To make things worse, only 30 minutes of clear skies were left for helicopters to conduct an aerial survey – not enough time to gain an accurate account of what was happening on the ground. The team did, however, have a drone.
In Oso, PrecisionHawk used high fidelity sensors and intelligent back-end software to reconstruct and analyze the terrain in 3D — a step that not only helped geologists detect the pace of land movement but also provided first responders the time-sensitive data they needed to safely infiltrate the disaster zone. This all happened in a matter of hours. Historically, emergency response teams used manned LiDAR flights and satellite information to gather such data, actions that are costly and take days to weeks to accomplish.
Beyond economic and logistical advantages, drones currently on the market are often equipped with intelligent flight planning software that allows first responders to easily create highly customizable flight paths that focus on specific areas of interest, leading to organized and focused search efforts.
Additionally, drones are also outfitted with various sensor options that include visual, thermal, LiDAR, hyperspectral and multispectral. Why are these important? In earthquakes and landslides, these sensors can be flown to conduct ground truthing surveys. The thermal sensor, for example, is perfectly suited for detecting the heat a human body emits, which helps locate survivors. Various sensors suites are efficient in obtaining data to create an exact 3D reconstruction of disaster zones, which when compared with historical data from satellites, offers new perspectives on the extent of damage, and terrain or field deviation that could help manage future disasters.
With the advent of UAVs in emergency response, it is important to note that commercial drones operated by professionals and emergency organizations do not offer the same applications as hobby drones recently seen disrupting wildfire containment efforts. Commercial UAV platforms are designed with the on-board intelligence to empower, not deter. In order for drones to become a vital part of emergency management, hobbyists need to avoid irresponsible use cases that overshadow the massive benefits of UAV technology and manufacturers need to continue to in-build tools that promote safety.
Advanced data analytics are the next frontier in leveraging drones for emergency response. One of the advantages of solution-focused algorithms is the ability to apply them across industries from emergency response applications to agriculture to energy, even identifying toxic waster in the air in real-time.
In mid-February last year, PrecisionHawk was issued an emergency COA to conduct an aerial survey over the Bennett Industrial Landfill in Lockhart, South Carolina. Toxic particulates were being released into the air, including asbestos and other potentially harmful chemicals, so it was crucial that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assess the situation quickly. The EPA, however, could not obtain an accurate volumetric survey of the area due to an active fire affecting some sections of the landfills, plus chemical exposures that made the scene unsafe for ground surveyors. To address the situation, PrecisionHawk flew a drone to create a 3D reconstruction of the site and conduct volumetric analysis to help the EPA determine an appropriate response.
The demand and desire for this type of technology to assist in emergency response is apparent as disaster response teams search for strategies to accomplish tasks easier and more efficiently. The convergence and advancement of technologies, including unmanned aerial systems, will grant first responders with enormous opportunities to save more time, money and lives.
Lia Reich is a Senior Director of Communications @Precision Hawk a leading autonomous UAV hardware, software and safety solutions provider.


text:
Big East season for Butler's eSports League of Legends team is underway
The Butler eSports team plays against IUPUI in a gaming tournament. Photo from Butler eSports Twitter.
ANNIE VENTURA | STAFF REPORTER | aventura@butler.edu
Butler's League of Legends eSports team had their first match for the Big East season on Jan. 20 against Villanova University. They competed in two matches, losing one and winning the other. The team also competed against St. John's University on Jan. 27 where they also split their matches.
eSports can be described as competitive video game play. The club is fairly new at Butler, and less than a year old.
"I think our roster got better from last year and we have a couple of the best players in the entire Big East so I think we have a really good shot to win it all," said Luke Renchick, president of eSports. "Our main competition is gonna be Villanova and DePaul, but I'm feeling good about our chances."
Jack Glynn, the vice president of eSports, said he is looking forward to playing for the Call of Duty team.
"Power ranked sixth in the nation before season one starts," Glynn said. "The team hopes to exceed expectations and make playoffs."
Both teams consist of five people on the starting roster. There is one substitute player for the League of Legends team and two substitutes for the Call of Duty team.
Faculty advisor Ryan Rogers, complimented students like Renchick and Glynn, who have been determined to make this club successful.
"It's mostly driven by the students, if not entirely driven by the students who are really making an investment with it and really taking charge with it," Rogers said.
Competition started in spring 2018, and there are already several teams. Some of these teams include Call of Duty, Overwatch, Rocket League, Hearthstone, Counter-Strike, Rainbow Six and League of Legends. Rocket League and League of Legends are the only two teams affiliated with the Big East. Club members can play other video games, such as Fortnite, but there is no official team yet.
Methods for practicing vary depending on the team. The Call of Duty team typically sets up scrimmages for other universities in their league and practice Sunday through Thursday. Meanwhile, most practices for League of Legends happened last semester with individual preparation in order to get ready for the Big East season this semester.
The Big East season will be a total of six weeks before playoffs begin.
The next match will be Feb. 10 against Marquette University. Almost all games are streamed and can be found on Twitch or YouTube. A schedule can also be found on the Butler eSports website.
Tags big east, big east conference, butler vs villanova, call of duty, eSports, league of legends, st. john's, Villanova


text:
Man escapes being shot in Ballykelly after his attacker's gun jammed.
Monday, July 13th, 2020 11:23am
By Peter Moor @pfmoor
By Q Radio News
A man has escaped being shot in the Kings Lane area of Ballykelly after his attacker's gun jammed.
Detective Sergeant Wallace said: "Shortly after 7:30pm, it was reported that a man in his 20s was approached by three unknown male, one of whom was armed with a firearm.
"The armed male pointed the weapon at the victim and it is believed that he pulled the trigger, however it appears that the gun jammed. The suspects then made off towards Drummond Park.
"The victim was left badly shaken but not injured.
"All three males were reported to have been wearing scarves covering their faces.
"One of the men is described as 6"2 in height and wearing a black, hooded top with the second male described as wearing the same and around 5"10 in height.
"The third male who was armed with the gun was described as being 5"6 in height and wearing a dark coloured hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms.
"I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area and saw what happened, or anyone who has information which could assist our investigation, to get in touch with detectives at Musgrave on 101 and quote reference number 1956 of 11/07/20."


My mom can't get over how good our water tastes!
After moving into our new home with an infant, we wanted to make sure we could provide him with the cleanest water possible. It gives us peace of mind that his bath water is gentle on his sensitive skin and that we can easily mix up his baby formula with clean drinking water. When my mom comes over to babysit she can't get over how good our water tastes! She always comments about how we made a good investment, a huge compliment from a very conservative "old school" parent!
I love my LifeSource filter system, it's been great these last 3 years!
My water system is still doing it's job - love it!
why I installed, just moved and decided we deserved the best!
Very happy with the customer service, great representative and installers, class act all the way around! Thank you!
Our well water has lots of minerals and we were looking for a water purification system. I have a new washer machine and new kitchen appliances and did not want them clogged with scale. I found your unit on the internet and think it is the product for the future!
We wanted pure water for the entire house and all our house hold uses. Water bottles became such a hassle and costly. Now we even have better water for my house plants.


text:
Q: Running a Scrapy Crawler I am very new in Python and Scrapy and I have written a crawler in PyCharm as follow:
import scrapy
from scrapy.spiders import Spider
from scrapy.http    import Request
import re

class TutsplusItem(scrapy.Item):
  title = scrapy.Field()

class MySpider(Spider):
  name = "tutsplus"
  allowed_domains   = ["bbc.com"]
  start_urls = ["http://www.bbc.com/"]

  def parse(self, response):
    links = response.xpath('//a/@href').extract()

# We stored already crawled links in this list
crawledLinks = []

for link in links:
  # If it is a proper link and is not checked yet, yield it to the Spider
  #if linkPattern.match(link) and not link in crawledLinks:
  if not link in crawledLinks:
    link = "http://www.bbc.com" + link
    crawledLinks.append(link)
    yield Request(link, self.parse)

titles = response.xpath('//a[contains(@class, "media__link")]/text()').extract()
for title in titles:
  item = TutsplusItem()
  item["title"] = title
  print("Title is : %s" %title)
  yield item

However, when I run above codes,  nothing prints on the screen!  What is wrong in my code?

A: Put the code in a text file, name it to something like your_spider.py and run the spider using the runspider command:
scrapy runspider your_spider.py

A: You would typically start scrapy using scrapy crawl, which will hook everything up for you and start the crawling.
It also looks like your code is not properly indented (only one line inside parse when they all should be).

A: To run a spider from within Pycharm you need to configure "Run/Debug configuration" properly. Running your_spider.py as a standalone script wouldn't result in anything.
As mentioned by @stranac scrapy crawl is the way to go. With scrapy being a binary and crawl an argument of your binary.
Configure Run/Debug
In the main menu go to :
Run > Run Configurations...

*

*Find the appropriate scrapy binary within your virtualenv and set its absolute path as Script.
This should look like something like this:
/home/username/.virtualenvs/your_virtualenv_name/bin/scrapy

*In Scrapy parameters set up the parameters the binary scrapy will execute. In your case, you wan to start your spider. this is how this should look like:

crawl your_spider_name e.g. crawl tutsplus

*

*Make sure that the Python intrepreter is the one where you setup Scrapy and other packages needed for your project.

*Make sure that the working directory is the directory containing settings.pywhich is also generated by Scrapy.
From now on you should be able to Run and Debug your spiders from within Pycharm.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 1998 Jan-Mar;8(1):65-78.
Measurement of air exchange rate of stationary vehicles and estimation of in-vehicle exposure.
Park JH1, Spengler JD, Yoon DW, Dumyahn T, Lee K, Ozkaynak H.
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
The air exchange rates or air changes per hour (ACH) were measured under 4 conditions in 3 stationary automobiles. The ACH ranged between 1.0 and 3.0 h-1 with windows closed and no mechanical ventilation, between 1.8 and 3.7 h-1 for windows closed with fan set on recirculation, between 13.3 and 26.1 h-1 for window open with no mechanical ventilation, and between 36.2 and 47.5 h-1 for window closed with the fan set on fresh air. ACHs for windows closed with no ventilation were higher for the older automobile than for the newer automobiles. With the windows closed and fan turned off, ACH was not influenced by wind speed (p > 0.05). When the window was open, ACH appeared to be greatly affected by wind speed (R2 = 0.86). These measurements are relevant to understanding exposures inside automobiles to sources such as dry-cleaned clothes, cigarettes and airbags. Therefore, to understand the in-vehicle exposure to these internal sources, perchloroethylene (PCE) emitted from dry-cleaned clothes and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) inside a vehicle were modeled for simulated driving cycles. Airbag deployment was also modeled for estimating exposure level to alkaline particulate and carbon monoxide (CO). Average exposure to PCE inside a vehicle for 30 minutes period was high (approximately 780 micrograms/m3); however, this is only 6% of the two-week exposure that is influenced by the storage of dry cleaned clothing at home. On the other hand, the exposure levels of respirable suspended particulate (RSP) and formaldehyde due to ETS could reach 2.1 mg/m3 and 0.11 ppm, respectively, when a person smokes inside a driving car even with the window open. In modeling the in-vehicle concentrations following airbag deployment, the average CO level over 20 minutes would not appear to present problem (less than 28 ppm). The peak concentration of respirable particulate would have exceeded 140 mg/m3. Since most of the particle mass is composed of alkaline material, these high levels might be expected to cause harmful effects on susceptible people, such as asthmatics. In all modeled cases, ACH would significantly affect build-up and dilution of pollutants originating from internal sources. Frequent stopping in congested urban traffic can greatly increase short-term exposures.
Air Movements*
Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis*
Environmental Exposure*
Models, Theoretical
Motor Vehicles*
Tobacco Smoke Pollution
Indoor Air Pollution - MedlinePlus Health Information
Tetrachloroethylene - Hazardous Substances Data Bank
Carbon monoxide - Hazardous Substances Data Bank


text:
Q: Is there a way to define different site navigation and "Wiki Categories" column at the Sub site level instead of site collection level? I have created a Site Collection and then I define sub sites under it. Now I created a term Store and I linked to the site collection navigation and Wiki Column.
But all the sub sites will get the same navigation and Wiki Categories as their parent site collection;
So my question is if there is a way to define the Site Navigation and Wiki Categories on the sub site level , so each sub site will have unique term store, navigation and Wiki Categories column?
Br

A: Sure, under /subsiteUrl/_layouts/15/AreaNavigationSettings.aspx you can define that the subsite will use a different Global or Current Navigation and also specify a termset to use

A: i can modify the Sub Page Wiki Category column by accessing this column from the Library settings instead from the SubSite settings.


We finally finished harvesting the rest of our potatoes this morning. Seriously, so many! While digging, Brian came across an 'oddly shaped rock' in our potato bed. An obsidian egg! Either the faeries left it for us or it was in the commercial compost that we buy by the ton. They collect cafeteria waste from many places including public schools. I prefer to think it's a present from the faeries.
That is so flippin' cool!


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text:
General McClellan's bodyguard: The army of the potomac after Antietam
Brooks D. Simpson
History, Philosophy and Religious Studies, School of (SHPRS)
The Antietam Campaign
The University of North Carolina Press
Published - Dec 1 2008
Arts and Humanities(all)
Simpson, B. D. (2008). General McClellan's bodyguard: The army of the potomac after Antietam. In The Antietam Campaign (pp. 44-73). The University of North Carolina Press.
General McClellan's bodyguard : The army of the potomac after Antietam. / Simpson, Brooks D.
The Antietam Campaign. The University of North Carolina Press, 2008. p. 44-73.
Simpson, BD 2008, General McClellan's bodyguard: The army of the potomac after Antietam. in The Antietam Campaign. The University of North Carolina Press, pp. 44-73.
Simpson BD. General McClellan's bodyguard: The army of the potomac after Antietam. In The Antietam Campaign. The University of North Carolina Press. 2008. p. 44-73
Simpson, Brooks D. / General McClellan's bodyguard : The army of the potomac after Antietam. The Antietam Campaign. The University of North Carolina Press, 2008. pp. 44-73
@inbook{f43ee835231a4b32b2b3f901f7af4c2f,
title = "General McClellan's bodyguard: The army of the potomac after Antietam",
author = "Simpson, {Brooks D.}",
booktitle = "The Antietam Campaign",
publisher = "The University of North Carolina Press",
T1 - General McClellan's bodyguard
T2 - The army of the potomac after Antietam
AU - Simpson, Brooks D.
BT - The Antietam Campaign
PB - The University of North Carolina Press


text:
Huntington Ingalls shipyard has $302M contract; options to $724M
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi shipyard has a $302 million contract for amphibious and dock landing ships, with options that could more than double the total.
The Pentagon's list of contracts signed Friday says the Huntington Ingalls Inc. shipyard in Pascagoula is expected to complete the work by May 2028. It was one of two bidders to build amphibious transport dock ships, amphibious assault ships, dock landing ships and an amphibious command ship.
The brief statement says options could bring the contract's total value to more than $724 million.
Man accused of killing his grandmother hangs himself in Escambia County jail


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American Golf is inviting golfers across the UK & Ireland to enter its biggest competition and be in with a chance of scooping a staggering $1m.
The UK's No.1 golf retailer has teamed-up with Million Dollar Hole In One (MDHIO) – the company that runs the popular par-three, hole-in-one-challenge around Europe – to give golfers the chance to win the bank-breaking prize during American Golf's Championship finals at the Belfry in September. Ten players will be given one shot to score a hole-in-one and win the $1m prize.
Qualifying for this phenomenal competition begins on July 11 and will take place in American Golf stores across the UK & Ireland. Using the Foresight GC2 simulator, entrants will have three attempts to get nearest the pin on the seventh hole at the Belfry's world-renowned Brabazon course.
When the competition closes on August 20, the ten closest players will progress to the grand final to take on golf's ultimate $1m shootout – one shot to make a hole-in-one and take the jackpot home.
The prize shootout will take place on the iconic tenth hole on the Brabazon, the scene of many memorable Ryder Cup tee shots. But American Golf won't even be expecting any Seve'esque heroics from 300 yards. American Golf shortened the hole, and the odds, with a bespoke 150-yard tee-shot that will give contestants a real chance of holing their shot and changing their lives forever.
"We have been running our hole-in-one competitions in Europe for more than 12 years now and they have always been hugely popular with golfers of all levels," said MDHIO director Martin Tyrrell.
"Holes-in-one may not happen to amateur golfers every day, but they do occur – more often than you may think and regardless of handicap. That is why the concept is so successful.
To find out more about which stores are holding qualifying events and check out the UK leaderboard simply visit americangolf.co.uk/milliondollar.


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Q: mysql Data Disappeared; Doesn't Match MYD File Contents I'm going to preface this by saying mysql is not my thing.  I'm pretty proficient with MSSQL, but feel like an idiot when it comes to mysql.
As of yesterday afternoon, we have a database on a legacy homegrown application that seems to have had all almost all of its data disappear.  The same holds true for most tables in the database, but phpMyAdmin shows the following for the articles table:
Records: 0
Type: MyISAM
Size 1.0 KB

According to etc/my.cnf, the datadir is var/lib/mysql.  Within that directory, there is a folder for the database.  It contains FRM, MYD and MYI files for each of the tables.  I can open the files in a text editor, and they contain the data that has disappeared.  For example, the articles files (which phpMyAdmin says has 0 records and 1.0 KB):
articles.frm: 9 KB
articles.MYD: 4450 KB
articles.MYI: 2083 KB

From my understanding, the row data is stored in MYD.  Since I can read the rows in that file (not very friendly, but still obviously there), I'd expect mysql to show me the same data, but it says it is empty.
I don't know if it impacts what the next steps are, but this is running mysql 4.1.22 on CentOS 4.8.  I know...both are old and poorly maintained.
I have been assuming that one of my users deleted everything, but we don't have a backup strategy in place for this PC, and I don't know if this is a system glitch or user intervention.  Honestly, I was hoping it would limp along for another couple weeks before we transition to a replacement…it must have known it was being replaced.
Any suggestions on what I can do to get that data back would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

A: Records you can see in table.MYD are marked for deletion, they will disappear when you REPAIR TABLE.
You may try to recover them, see http://mysqlbugs.blogspot.cz/2007/08/how-to-undelete-rows-from-fixed-length.html however contents of the first column will be lost. Of course, this only works with MyISAM engine tables.


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Unspoiled and unhurried, Tulum, Mexico rewards the laid-back traveler
A family takes its first warm-weather vacation and discovers the singular pleasure of doing a whole lot of nothing
By Mark ShanahanNovember 3, 2015, 11:21 a.m.
Mayan ruin El Castillo is that rare archeological site with a great beach for swimming.(Shutterstock)
I WAS ASLEEP. As sometimes happens when I lie down with a book — OK, as usually happens — I'd dozed off. But this time instead of opening my eyes to find a nearly empty wineglass at my bedside, I was in paradise.
Outstretched on a chaise lounge beneath a rugged umbrella of dried palm leaves, I was gazing upon an emerald ocean and sand so fine and white it could have been cake flour. As my two children tumbled gleefully in the crashing surf, a tawny young woman who'd misplaced the top of her tiny bikini strolled past.
I turned to my wife, who was grinning as she stirred a green agua fresca.
"We did it," I said.
After years of talking about going someplace warm to escape the tundra that is New England in winter, we had indeed done it, packing a few T-shirts, a pad of paper and pastels, and the Kindle, and decamping to Tulum, a beach-town-turned-resort on the east coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It was like heaven on earth, with ceviche. But for the same reason we hadn't pulled the trigger on a tropical vacation before, we almost didn't this time.
A roadside stand selling agua fresca.(Douglas Young)
The problem was where to go. Paralysis always set in when we started to plan our getaway. Were these utopias really like the pictures on the postcards? We didn't want to choose unwisely and end up in a charmless seaside stockade sharing an ice machine with suburbanites whose idea of fun is an all-you-can-eat buffet and unlimited Wi-Fi. I'm not opposed to creature comforts, believe me, but Michelle and I were looking for something else.
Friends had suggestions that were all over the map: the barrier reefs of Belize; a jungle lodge in Costa Rica; one of Chris Blackwell's chic Jamaican hideaways; the serene archipelago in the Bahamas known as Turks and Caicos; and Tulum, a trendy outpost whose eco-friendly vibe and pristine beaches sounded too groovy to be true.
The beach is what this was all about. We weren't interested in adventure or even sitting upright. The plan, enthusiastically endorsed by our children, who are part seal pup, was to find a beachside bungalow and kick back. Our eight-day trip would be the opposite of demanding. We resolved to occasionally put on sandals and explore — visit the Mayan ruins, wander Tulum's honky-tonk downtown, and maybe take a dip in one of the freshwater sinkholes that are ubiquitous in the Yucatan — but otherwise we were intent on lounging by the turquoise water and lowering our heart rate.
FROM BOSTON, you can fly to Cancun, the tourist hub of the Yucatan, in just four and a half hours on JetBlue, but we didn't do that. Not because we enjoy schlepping through the Atlanta airport, but because by the time we settled on our destination, direct flights that worked with our dates were either booked or too expensive. Still, it's not a long haul. We left Logan Airport in the morning and by midafternoon were looking up at palm trees heavy with coconuts.
The 90-minute drive from Cancun to Tulum is unremarkable, a long highway lined with toucan-colored billboards mostly advertising mega-resorts and water parks. (One of them, a "natural aquarium" called Xel-Ha, caught our eye, and we put it on the to-do list.) There are a few ways to make the trip: Rent a car, take a bus, or, if your hotel offers such service, arrange a private shuttle. Ours did, and it seemed like a good deal: $180 for the four of us, and that included taking us back to the airport at the end of our stay.
The Tulum of 20 years ago was what Fodor's might refer to as a hidden gem, a refuge for backpackers and bohemians not bothered by a lack of indoor plumbing. That was before celebrities like Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz showed up with their yoga mats. Now there are accommodations for every income bracket, from luxury resorts with infinity pools, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs — these places, like Ana y Jose Charming Hotel & Spa, will set you back several hundred dollars a night — to lower-fi hideouts that emphasize "ecological sustainability," which is another way of saying shared bathroom and ceiling fan.
We opted for something in between. We stayed at Hip Hotel Tulum, a collection of rustic bungalows on the beach side of the Zona Hotelera, a bustling lane of hotels, spas, and restaurants that's kind of like Route 1 in Ogunquit, Maine — if Ogunquit, Maine, were in the jungle and everyone spoke Spanish. We chose the place not for the name or the amenities — there's no pool, AC, or TV, and only limited Wi-Fi — but for the intimate wood-frame bungalows, which are a Frisbee toss from the water and have four-poster king-size beds, small bathrooms with two shower heads, big windows, and porches with chairs and hammocks. (At a cost of $240 per bungalow per night, we splurged and got one for us and one for Julia and Beckett, then 14 and 10.) If you don't want to listen to the relentless whoosh of a rowdy ocean all night, stay closer to the road. But if you're a fitful sleeper like me, you'll appreciate Mother Nature's white-noise machine.
Breakfast was included and, happily, the solicitous staff fixed delicious chilaquiles, a Mexican morning repast of tortillas with green salsa, cheese, and refried beans, served with fresh-squeezed orange juice and cafe con leche. Our kids aren't terribly adventurous eaters, and they were even more cautious after a friend of ours shared a grim story about the epic dysentery she endured after eating street food in Mexico. (On the advice of just about everyone, we avoided uncooked vegetables and water that wasn't from a bottle.)
Eric Werner's acclaimed farm-to-table restaurant, Hartwood.(Douglas Young)
Beach bumming began early each day, at least for me and the kids. When Michelle moseyed off to yoga — it's as close to an industry as there is in Tulum — we organized ourselves under one of the palm-roofed palapas and gawked at the crystal blue Caribbean. Because immaculate beaches — at least 7 miles of them in all — are the bulwark of Tulum's robust tourist economy, many hotels, including ours, dispatch squads every day to rake seaweed into piles and bury it.
The water was glorious — it's between 75 and 80 degrees year-round — and the waves were impressive. Beckett could ride the swells all afternoon, but boogie boards don't fit in the overhead bin of an airplane, so on the second day he and I hopped in a cab — they sputter up and down the Zona Hotelera all day — and headed to Chedraui, an enormous warehouse-style supermarket 10 minutes away. It's like Target but with more tomatillos and, thankfully, lots of beach accessories.
Most days, while the children swam or read, Michelle and I swam and snacked, and here's a secret: I can work up a mean thirst doing nothing much at all. It didn't take long for Carlos, one of the attentive servers at the hotel restaurant, to discern that "Mr. Mark" had a taste for cold cerveza and ceviche, a medley of raw fish cured in citrus, chili peppers, onion, and ample cilantro that is my desert-island dish. I can eat it always, and did in Tulum.
Fresh fish is a staple of the local cuisine.(Douglas Young)
AT SOME POINT, needing a respite from the sun, we rented a car. Our first foray was to a walled fortress — or what's left of it — built 800 years ago by the Mayans. The ruins, a 15-minute drive from our hotel, occupy a dramatic promontory overlooking the ocean, and even on a broiling hot day, it's fascinating to walk around and contemplate what happened there all those centuries ago. (The short answer is that the Spanish arrived.) But a bit of advice: Be there when it opens at 8 a.m. to avoid the inevitable crowds; don't worry about the unblinking, spiny-tailed iguanas that are everywhere; and bring your bathing suit, because this is the rare archeological site that has a beach, and it makes for a memorable — and super-refreshing — swim as you bob up and down in the shadow of the iconic El Castillo.
We were in the car again the next day, bound for Xel-Ha, the water park we'd seen advertised on Highway 307. It's not cheap — $89 for adults and half that for kids 5 to 11 — but snorkeling with your children in a natural inlet of small caves and grottoes inhabited by rainbow-colored fish is priceless. (The look on Julia's face when a stingray suddenly emerged from the limestone silt was worth every penny.) There's also cliff-diving, zip-lining, and swimming with dolphins, which we skipped because it bummed us out to see Flipper and his buddies performing tricks for tourists.
On our way back to the hotel, we stopped briefly in downtown Tulum, where busted sidewalks and cinderblock buildings with peeling plaster are a reminder that Mexico is more than candlelit cabanas and kite-boarding. We checked out the folk art at Mixik Artesania, a cool shop on the main drag, and the collection of pottery and ceramics at Casa Hernandez Gallery. By then the kids were famished, so we stopped at La Nave, an open-air Italian place with perfect thin-crust pizza. Michelle and I slaked our thirst with cold sangria and took advantage of the Wi-Fi to send the grandparents a picture.
There are plenty of fine-food options in Tulum, and we tried as many as our wallet would allow. Travel writers always hype chef Eric Werner's farm-to-table menu at Hartwood, but the result for the rest of us is a long wait. No doubt it's worth it, but I didn't come this far to stand in line. We had an excellent meal at Posada Margherita, with its concise menu of fish wrestled from the ocean that afternoon and handmade pastas, preceded by a platter of bruschetta, focaccia, and cauliflower. Also worth the visit was Simple, chef Ricardo Zapata's open-air restaurant with a canopy of palm trees and candlelight so dim I'm still not sure if I ordered the red snapper or the mahi-mahi. And there was a relaxing dinner (with superb cocktails) at Casa Banana, where a foosball table on the sidewalk outside was perfect for two children impatient with parents who like to linger with a whiskey after their meal.
The author and his wife, Michelle, post-massage at the Mayan Clay Spa.(Mark Shanahan)
IT WAS HAPPENING. The fiesta we had imagined for so long was in full swing. I tend to be a bit frugal and sometimes get uptight about money, but I wasn't doing any math in my head. We were just having fun.
In our final days, we planned to visit the nearby Sian Ka'an Biosphere, a 1.3 million-acre reserve of tropical forests, mangroves, marshes, coral reefs, and a collection of Mayan ruins. A boat tour costs about $80 per person, and for that you might catch a glimpse of one of the exotic critters — crocodiles, black howler monkeys, spotted paca — that make this untamed place their home. But we didn't go. Nor did we suit up for a swim in one of Tulum's many cenotes, the clear turquoise pools of mineral-rich water that, according to the Mayans at least, possess healing properties.
We weren't being lazy or cheap. We just knew it would be awhile before we could roll out of bed and onto a beach as spectacular as the one right outside our screen door again. On the last day, Michelle and I shuffled to the Mayan Clay Spa for an hourlong his-and-her treatment administered by a couple of well-groomed guys who looked like they'd aged out of Menudo. Naked on cots in an oil-scented lean-to in the jungle, we were smeared head to toe in yellow clay and then pressed and pulled and pummeled.
Whether toxins were extracted and replaced with vital minerals, I'll never know, but the massage more than delivered on its promise of an intense state of relaxation. Michelle and I were useless for hours afterward, and that was OK, because we were on vacation.
A view of the author's oceanfront accommodations at the Hip Hotel Tulum.(Mark Shanahan)
You can spend a lot of money on a place in Tulum, but it's not necessary. Some hotels cater to travelers who want all the comforts of home, while other places are more straightforward.
> Ana y Jose Charming Hotel & Spa
This upscale hotel on the beach was among the first in Tulum to offer air conditioning. The muy romantic ocean-view suites have marble floors and TVs. What more could you want? A room with a king-size bed and whirlpool, starting at $335 night. 998-889-6022; anayjose.com
> Hip Hotel Tulum
Spacious rooms with a king-size bed, private bathroom, and balcony overlooking the garden start at $220 per night. Bungalows on the beach are pricier. The hotel has a decent restaurant, and a tasty, filling breakfast is included. 998-880-6022; hiphoteltulum.com
> Coco Tulum
Next time, we might try this eco-friendly hotel, which is less expensive but still interesting, with palapa-style bungalows on the beach. The shared bathrooms are clean, with modern basins and rain-shower heads. Recent additions to the hotel include a suite and 12 rooms with private bathrooms. Rooms start at $165 per night. 984-157-4830; cocotulum.com
> Xel-Ha
Located about 6 miles north of Tulum, this water park built around a natural inlet offers snorkeling, tubing, and swimming with dolphins and manatees. The all-day pass isn't cheap, but it includes unlimited food and drink. Check the website for online deals. 984-875-6000; xelha.com
> Mayan Ruins
An unusually scenic archeological site, the ruins are a nice walk that culminates at El Castillo, a pyramid-like structure atop a 40-foot cliff overlooking the Caribbean. The place is open all day and has a modest entrance fee.
> Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
A sprawling reserve of tropical forest, lagoons, and marshes that's great for snorkeling, bird-watching — there are more than 250 resident species — or just exploring. 984-141-4245; visitsiankaan.com
More from the Globe Magazine:
• How to fall in love with Los Angeles
• This winter, consider a culinary and cosmopolitan weekend in chilly Montreal
• A family adventure in the jungles of Puerto Rico
• Unspoiled and unhurried, Tulum, Mexico rewards the laid-back traveler
Mark Shanahan is a member of the Boston Globe staff. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.


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The series revolves around Jennifer Doyle, a former high-powered executive who has fallen and hit every bump on the way down to rock bottom. With her ... (more)teenage daughter in tow, Jennifer moves back in with her mother and takes a job in the bar owned by her meek brother and passive-aggressive sister-in-law as a last resort. There, she reunites with her former best friend who turns out to be holding quite a grudge. But every cloud has a silver lining: there's nowhere to go but up.
Jennifer's Song
Everybody Loves Adam
Dads and Dogs
Three Dates with My Mother
School Trouble
The Virginity Thief
Jaime Pressly, Dylan Gelula, Jessica Walter, Missi Pyle, Ethan Suplee, Nora Kirkpatrick
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text:
Companies Combine Efforts To Release Open AI Energy Initiative
Shell, C3 AI, Baker Hughes, and Microsoft have teamed up to launch the Open AI Energy Initiative platform that is designed to present AI-based reliability applications to improve operational efficiency.
February 4, 2021 • Data Science and Digital Engineering
Baker Hughes, C3.ai Release AI Application To Visualize, Analyze, and Optimize Upstream Oil and Gas Operations
The application continuously uses machine-learning algorithms to aggregate historical and real-time data across production operations. Additionally, the application uses a hybrid approach that draws on physics-based and data-driven AI models to generate predictions and prescribed actions.
Baker Hughes, C3.ai, and Microsoft Team Up for Digital Transformation
The joint offerings are expected to help make energy operations safer, cleaner, and more efficient.
November 19, 2019 • Data Science and Digital Engineering
BHGE, C3.ai Release Their First AI Application
The artificial-intelligence application BHC3 Reliability provides early warning of production downtime and process risk to improve operational productivity, efficiency, and safety.
September 19, 2019 • Data Science and Digital Engineering
Baker Hughes Adds an AI Option
Baker Hughes is still a GE company, but it has partnered with a second company for artificial intelligence expertise, C3.ai. The deal is expected to speed the integration of AI into oilfield operations by the company which also markets GE's device analytics platform, Predix.
June 27, 2019 • Stephen Rassenfoss • Journal of Petroleum Technology
Baker Hughes and C3.ai Announce Joint Venture To Deliver AI Across the Oil and Gas Industry
Baker Hughes, a GE company, (BHGE) and C3.ai announced a joint venture agreement that brings together BHGE's fullstream oil and gas expertise with C3.ai's unique artificial-intelligence software suite to deliver digital transformation technologies and drive productivity for the oil and gas industry.
June 25, 2019 • Data Science and Digital Engineering