Modern building envelopes are high-tech components that must meet several requirements and limitations considering architecture/planning and structural performance, energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality, buildability and value. As a result, building envelope design has become a separate discipline, where building envelope engineers collaborate with other members of the design team in order to develop a facade that meets various requirements and constraints.
This next generation of facades (or building envelopes) consists of multifunctional and highly adaptive systems. A physical separator between the interior and exterior environment (i.e. the building envelope) is able to change its functions, features and behaviour over time in response to transient performance requirements and boundary conditions in order to improve the overall building performance.
The basic knowledge, required to design an adaptive facade, was presented in the first half of the summer school. In the second half of the summer school this knowledge was applied in a workshop, where groups of students are considered to create conceptually designed adaptive facades for given boundary conditions. International experts from the EU and Brazil gave the lectures and guided the workshop.
Around 60 Architectural Engineering and REAP Master students from the HCU and PhD students from 19 different countries were welcomed to participate in this summer school. Based on the results of the summer school, the HCU students prepared a final analysis of their conceptual design in a sketchbook format.
For more details please refer to the training school guide.
30 international PhD students have been rewarded with a grant (value 500 €), which was financed by COST Action TU1403.


Set in the harsh environment of the South Island beaches of New Zealand, this masterful story brings together three singular people in a trinity that reflects their country's varied heritage. Winner of the 1985 Booker-McConnell prize for fiction.
I loved this...but I had to get through the first 2/3s of the book to enjoy it.


text:
Home FM New Morning Show for 98.7 AMP Radio: Buck and Coop
New Morning Show for 98.7 AMP Radio: Buck and Coop
Kevin Ross
New Morning Show for 98.7 AMP Radio98.7 AMP Radio announces its new morning drive show""The Buck and Coop Show""which hits airwaves Monday, April 9, 2012.Debbie Kenyon, Senior Vice-President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Detroit, said: "I am proud to announce The Buck and Coop Show on 98.7 AMP Radio! Buck Head and Coop have been friends for years; they have great on-air chemistry and a lot of fun with each other. I'm delighted that we were able to bring two strong talents together to form Detroit's next great morning show."Buck "Buck Head" Wise moves to the morning slot from afternoon drive on 98.7 AMP Radio. Sean "Coop" Tabler moves from CBS Radio country station 99.5 WYCD, where he served as the evening host."When I arrived at AMP a few weeks ago, I was eager for the opportunity to work with a talent like Buck Head. From Las Vegas, LA, Portland and Pittsburgh, I've always been a fan of his work and now having the opportunity to put him in morning drive is a great step in the progress of 98.7 AMP Radio," said Tim "Rayne" Rainey, program director of WDZH. "Coop is a great talent on WYCD, and I'm thrilled to bring his radio passion to our format. I am excited to watch the evolution of this great Top 40 station in Detroit."Buck Head started his radio career at age 17 in Tampa, Florida. He has worked at stations in Las Vegas, Nevada, Los Angeles, California, Detroit, Michigan, Portland, Oregon and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He joined 98.7 AMP Radio as afternoon drive host in 2010. Coop, a Virginia Beach, Virginia-native, has worked as an on-air personality at stations in Evansville, Indiana, Seattle, Washington, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before landing at 99.5 WYCD in Detroit in 2010.Gillian Reilly will serve as the show's executive producer. Reilly has worked as a traffic producer, traffic reporter and on-air personality since starting her radio career in 2009. Will Kosnik, who has worked as an on-air personality and executive producer at 99.5 WYCD for the past four years, will act as the show's technical producer.98.7 AMP Radio is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. Listeners can listen to 98.7 AMP Radio online and through a variety of mobile outlets including the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO operates 130 radio stations, the majority of which are in the nation's top 50 markets. CBS RADIO also owns and operates WOMC-FM, WWJ-AM, WYCD-FM and WXYT-AM and WXYT-FM in Detroit.
Beasley Media Group's 98.5 The Sports Hub's Midday Host Hardy Named New Afternoon Drive Personality at ROCK 92.9 in Boston
Cumulus Dallas Taps Bruce Collins as Program Director for NewsTalk WBAP 820 AM and News & Information KLIF 570 AM
Dawn Girocco Promoted to Vice President, Sales for Cumulus Dallas
2021 MA Broadcasters Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
Zachary Burton Named Full-Time Afternoon Host and Music Director for Top 40 Station 99.5 zpl/WZPL-FM in Indianapolis
CUMULUS MEDIA Appoints James Robinson as Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Birmingham
iHeartMedia Salt Lake City Announces the Debut of the New Business 99.1 FM
Brian Davis Rejoins Cumulus as Operations Manager for Five Appleton-Oshkosh, WI, Radio Stations
HOt 97's DJ Enuff Talks the Art of Breaking Barriers with Music
9 Unforgettable Black Mayors Sidetracked, Accused and even Arrested for "Kickbacks, Scandal, Corruption"
Kevin Ross - January 1, 1970 0
Radio Spotlight Devi Dev Talks about Interviewing Remarkable Artists Like Kendrick Lamar and More
10 Underrated Black Singers
Radio Facts 2014 Top Urban AC Stations
Top 10 Black Women Pioneers of Politics
11 Ways to Get Your Money Back and Give YOURSELF a Raise!!!
Top 10 Best Black Female Singers in Groups
Top 5 Reasons Indie Artists Need an Entertainment Lawyer
9 Most Requested Beautiful Black Christmas Songs

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


An extremely wide stand selection gives you the chance to create your tailored stereomicroscope!
Choose among the several models available to virtually cover every customers' needs, in terms of illumination, arm extension, and focusing system.
Overhanging stands are recommended for efficient, quick and precise observation of large samples, that cannot be processed with regular stands.
Special technology able to double the light intensity for incomparable performance, ensuring constant pure-white colour temperature.
Relevant money & energy saving thanks to the incredibly low energy consumptions allow you to cut the electricity bills by 90%!
Large, simple plain stand with head holder and focusing mechanism.
Base size: 320×280 mm. Pillar size: Ø32×360 mm.
Large plain stand with LED transmitted illumination and adjustable intensity control, head holder and focusing mechanism. Pillar type.
Large, simple plain stand with head holder and focusing mechanism. Fixed arm type.
Base size: 320×280 mm. Fixed arm height: 360 mm.
Large plain stand with LED transmitted illumination, and adjustable intensity control, head holder and focusing mechanism. Fixed arm type.
Modern, large plain stand equipped with LED transmitted and incident illumination, both with intensity control. It comes complete of head holder and focusing mechanism.
Base size: 330×285 mm. Height: 38 mm. Fixed arm height: 340 mm.
Modern, large plain stand equipped with LED transmitted and incident illumination, both with intensity control. It comes complete of head holder and coaxial coarse and fine focusing system.
Base size: 330×285 mm. Height: 38 mm. Fixed arm height: 340 mm. Head not included.
Modern stand equipped with the exclusive X-LED3 lighting system located in two flexible arms and extra-large settable X-LEDT3 transmitted illumination for enhanced brightness and improved sample observation.
Incident illuminator: Two X-LED3 (single LED, 3.6W) on flexible gooseneck. Illuminance: 170,000 lux (at 10 cm distance). Transmitted illuminator: X-LEDT3 (60 LEDs). Base size: 270×205 mm. Height: 30 mm. Pillar: Ø32×315 mm. Multi-plug 100-240Vac/12Vdc external power supply.
Extremely stable overhanging stand complete of head holder and focusing system for perpendicular observation of particularly large specimens. Smooth horizontal and vertical movements are ensured.
Extremely stable, hinged and long overhanging stand complete of head holder and focusing system for observation of particularly large specimens. The head can be easily tilted for inspection at oblique angles ideal e.g. for stone setters. Smooth horizontal and vertical movement are ensured. In case illumination is needed, choose from the wide choice of external illuminators available.
Highly versatile flexible arm stand, 360°rotating, ideal for industrial applications. It comes complete of head holder with focusing system and all the supports for table clamp and wall mount. Small footprint is ensured when not in use, saving valuable space on the bench. Head not included.
Highly versatile flexible arm stand, 360°rotating, ideal for industrial applications. It comes complete of the settable and exclusive X-LED3 incident illumination system, head holder with focusing system and all the supports for table clamp and wall mount.
Extremely stable, long overhanging stand complete of head holder and focusing system for observation of particularly large specimens. The head can be easily swivelled and tilted for inspection at oblique angles. Smooth horizontal and vertical movements are ensured. In case illumination is needed, choose from the wide choice of external illuminators available.


This course provides the minimal knowledge and skills required for monitoring an installed Healthcare Data Management system. It covers the essential points so that you, or your staff, can ensure that the HDM system is performing correctly, and that HDM itself is adequately protected.
This course is for people who are responsible for the daily maintenance of a Healthcare Data Management system. It is recommended as a first course for staff at organizations where HDM skills have been lost due to staff turnover.


text:
Can You Refinance Your Mortgage After Bankruptcy?
By Yael Bizouati
No one looks forward to having to file for bankruptcy. However, if you have filed and also own a home, you may be surprised to learn that you can, in fact, refinance an existing mortgage.
Refinancing comes with plenty of advantages. By lowering the interest rate you pay, it can help reduce your monthly payment. By extending your loan term — from, say, 15 years to 30 years — you may also be able to reduce your current mortgage costs. Refinancing also offers a way to either consolidate other debt, or produce cash for home improvements or other large expenses.
Still, It's important to know that not every lender approaches post-bankruptcy refinancing the same way, and some have strict criteria, like long wait periods. At the same time, it's worth noting that bankruptcy filers, as a group, pay considerably more for loans, according to a 2018 LendingTree study. The study found that the average lending terms offered to consumers three years after bankruptcy were $8,887 higher than those offered to consumers who had never had to file.
What to know about refinancing after bankruptcy
Bankruptcy gets a bad rap, but it's also a way for consumers who are overwhelmed by debt to receive federal protection while they work to pay off obligations. While filing for bankruptcy is a very serious decision — and the move can stay on your credit report for years — it might be a reasonable move for your financial future if you've exhausted every other option.
There are several types of bankruptcy, and each might affect a potential refinancing differently, depending on factors like the discharge date.
A discharge date is the time when a debtor who has filed for bankruptcy is no longer legally liable for — or required to pay back — certain types of debt.
For Chapter 7 bankruptcies, a bankruptcy court will issue a discharge order relatively early — generally, 60 to 90 days after the date first set for creditors to meet. With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a debtor's assets are liquidated, or sold, as a way to pay back creditors.
In Chapter 13 bankruptcies, a debtor who has a regular income is allowed to keep assets but also has to agree to a debt repayment plan, usually over three to five years. The debt is technically discharged only after it's been paid off under the plan.
Even with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, you may still be able to reaffirm, or pay off, certain debts with specific creditors. If you have a mortgage, this usually means re-entering a contract with your lender to affirm that you intend to repay part or all of your loan. As long as you follow through with mortgage payments, the lender is then legally obligated to refrain from repossessing your home and forcing a foreclosure.
For homeowners, one advantage to reaffirming a debt is that your mortgage payments will keep showing up on your credit report because lenders will be obligated to report them to the credit bureaus. Also, by reaffirming your mortgage, you might be able to renegotiate the terms of the loan, including the total amount and the interest rate.
According to federal court data, bankruptcy filings have been declining in recent years. Still, during the 12-month period that ended on June 30, 2018, 22,245 businesses and 753,333 non-businesses filed for bankruptcy, for a total of 775,578 filings.
If you own a home and absolutely must file for bankruptcy, be sure you understand how bankruptcy conditions differ.
"A Chapter 7 bankruptcy in essence is a liquidation and a fresh start, and people who don't own highly appreciated assets are better off with this type of bankruptcy," said James Shenwick, bankruptcy attorney at Shenwick & Associates in New York. "But if that person owns a highly appreciated house, or they want to keep a business, or they have an expensive piece of jewelry, then Chapter 13 is better."
Here are the ways bankruptcies affect mortgages in particular:
Chapter 7 bankruptcy: Unlike a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn't have a repayment plan. Instead, an appointed trustee gathers and liquidates the debtor's assets to pay off creditors which, in turn, lets the debtor start with a clean slate. Chapter 7 bankruptcies stay on credit reports for up to 10 years.
With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you have to wait two years after the discharge date before you can become eligible for a government-backed residential mortgage like a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. For conventional home loans, the wait period is four years.
Certain types of debts — like child support payments and certain taxes — can't be discharged, or basically forgiven, with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. Mortgage debt can be discharged, but your lender will still have a lien on your home, which means you may lose it if the loan isn't eventually repaid.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy: A Chapter 13 bankruptcy requires debtors to restructure their debts in order to pay them off over a period of three to five years. Compared to Chapter 7 bankruptcies, Chapter 13 filings carry the advantage of allowing homeowners to stop foreclosure proceedings, as long as they keep up with all mortgage payments due during the repayment period.
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is often referred to as a "wage earner bankruptcy" because it offers a repayment plan to people who have regular income. You are eligible one year after the discharge of your bankruptcy for a government-backed home loan. With a conventional home loan, however, you'll need to wait two years.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy: Chapter 11 bankruptcies are for business owners. They allow a business to follow a plan of rehabilitation or reorganization so it may continue to function while repaying debt.
FHA loans are subject to rules for after-bankruptcy refinancing
It's entirely possible to get an affordable government-backed FHA loan for a refinance after declaring Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but you'll need to do three things: Wait two years after your discharge, re-establish good credit during that time and avoid taking on more debt.
It's also possible to become eligible for an FHA loan after just 12 months. However, you'll need to prove your bankruptcy occurred due to circumstances beyond your control, and you'll also need documentation to show you're now managing your finances responsibly. Your lender will have to vouch for you on paper that the bankruptcy is unlikely to happen again.
To get an FHA loan after filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you'll need to show you made full, on-time mortgage payments for at least a year under your repayment plan, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You'll also need to get written permission from a bankruptcy court.
Conventional loans have stricter terms for after-bankruptcy refinancing
Conventional loans are not government-insured, so interest rates and credit score requirements tend to be higher than those for a government-backed mortgage like an FHA loan. For example, you can get an FHA loan with a credit score of just 500 (assuming you're willing to put down a 10% down payment, or 580 if you only want to put down 3.5%. By contrast, conventional mortgages usually require a minimum score of 620.
According to Jeremy Schachter, branch manager at Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation in Phoenix, Ariz., some lenders offer niche refinance loans that don't require a waiting period, but these are adjustable-rate mortgages that come with higher fees.
"The majority of people fall in the FHA or VA loan buckets," he said. "It doesn't make sense if you've been through a bankruptcy to go with a loan with higher rates and fees."
Tips on repairing credit after bankruptcy
A bankruptcy typically takes a huge toll on your credit standing, cautioned Schachter, adding that the first thing any lender will look at is whether your credit has been re-established.
"While most bankruptcies happen not out of laziness but because of personal situations such as high medical bills, the worst thing you can do after a bankruptcy is be late on your debt," he said. "It's a red flag for lenders who think you should have learned your lesson."
It's usually easier to rehabilitate your credit if you file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, rather than a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
"In a Chapter 13, creditors are repaid about 10 or 20 cents on the dollar, so the debt is not fully wiped and lenders see that as more of a positive and are more willing to lend to you," said Shenwick. Still, he added it's possible to generally rehabilitate your credit even with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in a year or a year-and-a-half by doing two things: spending as little as possible and saving as much as possible.
Shenwick's best tip for a credit rebuild: Get a secured credit card, as repayments will show up on your credit history. Secured credit cards are "secured" by money you deposit, unlike regular credit cards, which require no deposits.
Schachter also recommended secured credit cards; he suggested getting a card to pay for very small expenses like gas or groceries, and then making payments on time.
"I see people who do it for six months and that dramatically increases their score," he said. "It shows they repay debt. It's a great way to establish or re-establish credit, even for people who don't have a bankruptcy on file."
Yes, you may be able to refinance your home after bankruptcy, although you may have a waiting period. And you're more likely to get a government-sponsored FHA loan rather than a conventional loan.
To boost your odds significantly, focus on repairing your credit, steering clear of piling on more debt and, if you filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, sticking to your repayment plan. Still, boosting your credit standing may be your biggest ally: According to the 2018 LendingTree study, five years after declaring bankruptcy, 75% of filers were able to boost their credit scores to a loan-eligible 640 or more.
© Copyright 2012-2019 Student Loan Hero™, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
New York Times: Can Data Ward Off College Debt? Ne...
New York Times: Inquiries Into Reckless Loans to T...
New York Times: 'They Were Conned': How Reckless L...
Washington Post: One way to tackle the student loa...
The Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2019...
April 2019 TLC medallion sales
Recommended consumer bankruptcy changes from the A...


Why do Shampoos and Conditioners Make my Hair Hard?
Not every product was designed for you. It is as simple as that. We are all unique and despite having the same porosity, density, or curl type, there are other factors that come into play on finding the right products for you. Genetics, climate, or even allergies makes for differences in hair conditions, types, and needs. That is why having so many choices in hair care products is a great thing for curly, coily, and wavy ladies. It also makes for questions some may have like Nyla brought to our attention in our Curly Q&A section.
Why do shampoos and conditioners make my hair hard? Every time I wash my hair it gets hard. I know it's the shampoo and conditioner because my hair is soft before I put shampoo and conditioner in. It's also soft when I rinse it out. Even deep conditioners make my hair hard. So far I have used Pantene and Organix shampoos & conditioners and the deep conditioners I've used are Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, SheaMoisture Deep Treatment Masque (the original one ), and Africa's Best Hair Mayonnaise. I think my hair is protein sensitive too. To keep my hair moisturized I spray it with water and seal with a shea butter mix. The mix is the only thing that makes my hair shiny, soft, and kind of defined. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do?
There can be several ingredients in a product that make for hard deposits on our hair. The best way to find out why a product will work well or poorly is to check out the ingredient list and good ole trial and error. I know you tire of that answer but what may work for someone else may or may not work well for you. Giving it the old college try is the best solution, but like in Nyla's case…what if a lot of different types of products are not working? Here are some tips to help with that.
You mentioned your hair responds very well to your own DIY water and shea butter mix. You may be on your way to becoming a master DIY mixtress, and since you did well with that mix, others may be soon to follow. DIY mixing can be less expensive than products you can purchase and allows for you to know exactly what you are putting in your hair. Many curly girls prefer creating their own hair products for those very reasons and others just love whipping up new items to try. Even if you do not fully embrace the DIY route, just know there are cleansers like shampoo bars and clay washes that are natural and simple to use if you do not want a commercial shampoos. That goes for conditioners and stylers too. Less is more for many curly girls who opt for simpler products for their hair care.
Some of the products you mentioned may have silicones or proteins and both can be troublesome for many curly girls with low porosity hair or strands that are sensitive to product buildup. Check the ingredient list in your products and if they do have silicones or proteins, then steer clear of those two items for a few days (or weeks) to see how your hair responds without them. If you notice a huge difference (in a good way), then you know those two ingredients do not agree with your hair. Now, this is a great way to determine what works and what doesn't, so remove an ingredient from your hair care and see if it makes any kind of difference and go from there. Process of elimination will yield a better understanding of what your hair needs.
I am a huge proponent of natural brands or natural ingredients. My hair responds well to them and it sound like yours may as well. Now, of course the DIY route will allow you to use natural ingredients but many brands like SheaMoisture or Avalon Organics use a lot of natural ingredients and have sulfate, parabens, and protein-free products and collections worth trying. They are far from alone so do a little homework and see if more natural ingredients will help to soften those strands, as it may be product buildup creating that hard exterior.


text:
Network Grammar
How language really works
About Network Grammar
NG1. Why Noam Chomsky should read this blog
NG2. What does sentence structure signify?
NG3. What would be in a sentence structure?
NG4. How could a sentence structure be formed?
NG5. Mental architecture
NG6. A transformation for grammar
NG7. Language knowledge
NG7x. Comments on NG7
NG8. Cognitive effect
NG9. The universal data structure
NG10. Knowledge in the mind is both program and data
NG11. First principles of Network Grammar
NG12. Parsing sentences with ditransitive verbs
NG13. Displaying a parse
NG14. Varying the sequence of theta roles
NG15. Actives and passives
NG16. What is linguistics for?
NG17. Finite verbs
NG18. Non-alternating ditransitives
NG19. Interrogatives – polar and pro-adverb
NG20. Interrogatives – pronoun (1)
NG21. Mechanisms
LS23. Interrogatives – pronoun (3)
LS24. Behaviour of 'give up'
LS25. Semantics of 'give up'
LS26. Syntax of 'give up' (1)
NG28. Points on word-order
NG30. Disambiguating particle and preposition forms (1)
NG32. No other theory can model sentence processing in the mind
NG33. Coordination before the verb
NG34. Coordination after the verb (1)
NG35. Ellipsis in coordination
NG36. Re-use of argument structure
NG37. Ambiguity after the conjunction
NG39. Language acquisition (1)
NG41. Identifying junctions (1)
NG43. Centre embedding and cross-serial dependencies
NG44. Noun phrases (1)
NG46. Ambiguity (1)
NG48. Nouns and their referents
NG49. Nesting relative clauses
NG50. Network Grammar is not a finite state machine
NG51. Attaching simple adverbs (1)
NG54. Attaching preposition phrases
NG55. Sentence production
NG56. Blue skies
NG57. Network Grammar: so far, so good
Home » Articles » NG50. Network Grammar is not a finite state machine
by Network Grammar
It's encouraging that none of those who have kindly commented on Network Grammar seem able to answer the objections to mainstream generative grammar set out in NG1 to NG6. However two eminent academics have expressed deep scepticism about what follows in NG7 onwards. Essentially the NG model is alleged to be a finite state machine. FSMs are capable of handling regular languages but not, according to Chomsky himself, human language.
The sceptics offer no further comment on NG. They presumably consider their argument sufficient and incontrovertible. It's unclear whether there will be other objections when NG is shown not to be an FSM
This piece shows that NG should not be rejected as an FSM.
Finite state machine
The crux of what the two sceptics are saying is in a comment KA attached to LS7X. KA uses 'machine' to mean a mathematical abstraction rather than a practical implementation, but also to mean what's been described in LanguidSlog.
The machine consists of a finite network of nodes. Since there are only finitely many, we can number them. So let's say that the machine consists of nodes n1 n2 … nk.
Each node can apparently be in seven discrete activation states: no activation (0) to full activation (6). Therefore the state of the machine at any given time can be described by the finite k-digit long number d1 d2 … dk in base seven, where each digit represents the state of node i at that moment. The state-space of the machine is therefore finite.
The machine accepts words from left to right. These are drawn from a finite set of words, a set we might call the machine's alphabet (A). Whenever a word is encountered, the machine transitions deterministically from its current state into a new state. The machine appears to start in a state where no node is activated, i.e. the machine is in the initial state 0, and it seems to return to this state at the end of a successful parse.
KA goes on to describe mathematically the processing of a sentence and concludes that the 'machine' is an FSM.
The issue is whether NG is a finite state machine. That an FSM cannot comprehensively parse human language is not disputed. Centre-embedded sentences are often cited to exemplify the difficulties. But NG has been shown (in LS43) to handle such sentences. So what's going on?
The contradiction most likely arises from attributing to NG a set of characteristics that lead to the conclusion that it is an FSM.
The claims that the network is finite and that the 'alphabet' (lexicon) is finite are uncontroversial. They would be true of any 'machine' implemented in physiology or electronics.
The claim that the network has a finite number of states depends upon activation always being in whole units. LanguidSlog has said several times that there must be decay of activation but has never said decay is in whole units. Therefore the claim that state-space is finite is dubious. Whatever physiology allows would apply to any machine implemented in the brain. If the state-space of NG is finite then the state-space of any other machine must also be.
The claim that NG 'accepts words left to right' is correct. Phonological delivery is serial and unidirectional. Any parsing machine must accept words from left to right.
Thus finite network, finite alphabet, finite state-space and left-to-right processing do not distinguish NG from any other machine.
Deterministic
The final claim is that NG 'transitions deterministically…into a new state'. This is a bit trickier to deal with.
'Deterministic' has a particular meaning in this context. There are deterministic FSMs and non-deterministic FSMs. In a deterministic FSM there is only one possible new state for a given existing state and a given input. When the machine is in state A and encounters word X it always transitions to state B.
In a non-deterministic FSM there can be alternative new states. When the machine is in state A and encounters word X it may transition to state C or to state D or …
Processing human language needs alternatives to handle situations such as in sentence (5):
(5) Nero is giving Olivia to Poppaea
At Olivia it's possible that what follows is a noun phrase or a preposition phrase. If an NP then Olivia is GOAL and the following NP is THEME. If a PP then Olivia is THEME and the complement of the preposition is GOAL. The machine must provide paths to deal with either of these alternatives.
Selection from among these paths is essentially a matter of trying them out.
NG does of course have a 'look ahead' capability. This works by leaving certain propositions incomplete (GIVE / ? / OLIVIA) pending the input of later words. It's therefore fair to say that NG is non-deterministic and KA's critique is flawed.
It's not clear whether KA would approve of NG if it's a non-deterministic FSM. I suspect not. Conventional wisdom is that something higher up the Chomsky Hierarchy is needed for human language.
Chomsky Hierarchy
I'll not try to define formal language, generative power, context-sensitive and so on. Readers not already familiar with the subject can try Wikipedia or one of the many books on the subject; Jurafsky and Martin 'Speech and Language Processing' should be accessible to non-mathematicians.
The Chomsky Hierarchy accommodates grammars expressed as rewrite rules. Each rule governs the behaviour of a string of adjacent words or non-terminals; the latter are the input (in production) or the output (in comprehension) of another rule.
A level in the hierarchy is characterised by the complexity of the rules it allows. A formal language can be devised for anywhere in the hierarchy. Human language ought to fit somewhere in the hierarchy because, at the highest level, formal languages have greater generative power. Many believe that human language fits between two of the levels Chomsky originally identified; this is called 'mildly context sensitive'. Defining the rules for this is difficult and laborious although progress has been made, for example on Tree Adjoining Grammar (Aravind Joshi) and Combinatory Categorial Grammar (Mark Steedman).
No one has been able to define a complete set of rules for a human language. This suggests the methodology – rules expressed as strings of words and non-terminals – is inappropriate. LanguidSlog has therefore speculated about mental architecture and the sort of rules it could allow. The results are promising and ought to encourage more work – not scepticism.
It's difficult and not very useful to assert that NG is at a particular level in the hierarchy. NG doesn't check that a string of words is a sentence in the language; its function is to deliver conceptual propositions to cognition. NG doesn't work on individual words but on pairs of words, not necessarily adjacent. NG doesn't use non-terminals; the idea of rewrite rules is irrelevant.
Be open-minded!
The sceptics assume there is only one way of looking at language. Clearly NG is radically different. This piece has shown that the differences shouldn't be ignored in order to condemn NG. It would be better if the sceptics got an understanding of how the P / M / C / R / C / M / P construct works and how multiple instances of it are linked to form sentences. There are good prospects for capturing this data from corpora. NG could quickly surpass rival grammars.


LaraCharm . AsianDreamX. SweetKryss. tght1.
AlisonSteelTwistYourFateEllieMissTwistYourFate .ICrazyGirlSweetKryssAliceAsceticKendraMabel .FloraSquirts45EllieMissJackStyle69KayaKilmer .RalukDancerGoddessAryannamsbigCUMservicexVarelly .NinaBondtght1BlondieOksanaaamazinghotassxx .NinaBondBabybettyxGoddessAryannakittypanda .AliceAsceticaaFunnyBoyAllllle4katwoevilangels .amazinghotassxxXTsHardBONERdianablack1scarletmistress .darkswidowNastasiaLevityRubyWhiteDeedra .KatGraceEvaHotParadiseEllieMissAnielaForYou .CoolChloealejavargasNinaBondDeniceDesire .
needfuckwomanSexyDemmFloraSquirts45Anyellaspace .SAMMANTTAAVatrushkaVDominantSadomasHchonbitoPapi .EdenparadyseDeedrachonbitoPapiaaFunnyBoy .FoxAnnaVarellyFloraSquirts45smitandsara .VarellyDzuiumiEdenparadyseAnielaForYou .ICrazyGirlAllllle4kaNastasiaLevityLivingGoddess .SophiEsticat3dGenevievaSetRalukDancerAllllle4ka .darkswidowVarellyneedfuckwomantwoevilangels .aaFunnyBoySophiEsticat3dMeganLittArturoCarter .CoryLouAnnieHallICrazyGirlVatrushkaV .ArturoCarterFoxAnnaa00EliteEdwinSweetKryss .


Mushroom poisoning in pets may be underestimated. Mushroom species can be difficult to nearly impossible for even mushroom experts (called mycologists) to identify. That difficulty is compounded by the fact that little is known about the potential toxicity of many species. Mushrooms reported as edible in Europe have been associated with toxicity cases in North America and vice versa. Mushroom toxicity reportedly can vary depending on habitat and/or what other plants or trees are growing nearby. And many mushrooms can contain more than one poisonous substance.
Toxicity also can depend on underlying health conditions in victims or on other substances they may ingest. And in our global economy, toxic mushrooms from other parts of the world that resemble species presumed edible in the United States have been imported to North America, further muddying the scene.
To be safe, it's best to keep your pet away from all wild mushrooms and call your vet immediately if you think your animal has eaten a mushroom. This photo gallery shows a handful of the most recognizable species of toxic mushrooms.
Amanita Muscaria — "Fly Agaric"
This poisonous mushroom — considered the classic toadstool in many countries — is perhaps one of the more recognizable, with its often bright red cap (which can also appear orange or yellowish depending on sunlight fading or region) and striking white spots and stem. It is common throughout North America and Europe, and is found in all sorts of woodland habitats. It can be deadly in certain circumstances but more typically causes disorientation. Its common name, fly agaric, stems from folklore uses in which the dried mushroom is broken into bits and soaked in water or milk to poison flies.
Amanita Gemmata — "Jeweled Death Cap"
This poisonous mushroom can, at times, resemble its cousin, A. muscaria, or fly agaric. It has a yellowish cap with white spots or warts. Like its cousin, the jeweled death cap is found throughout North America and Europe in a variety of woodland habitats. Its common name comes from its ornamented appearance. This mushroom can be deadly in certain circumstances, is commonly misidentified and should be avoided.
Amanita Phalloides — "Death Cap"
This mushroom's common name says it all. The delicate, white, nondescript looking mushroom is the cause of most fatal mushroom poisonings in people and pets. The mushroom is more common in Europe but is also found throughout North America, where it has been introduced wherever European flora has been transplanted. Half a fresh mushroom can be fatal to an adult, so it's likely that even smaller amounts could be deadly to pets. Affected animals will exhibit gastrointestinal signs, seem to recover and then lapse into liver failure.
Helvella Lacunosa — "Elf's Saddle"
Much is unknown about mushrooms in this family, and reports of toxicity vary. The bottom line, however, is that the species should be avoided. With a gray "saddle" and lighter stem, the fungus is found throughout Europe and most of North America in woodland areas. Its common name is derived from its distinctive and fanciful appearance.
Galerina Marginata — "Autumn Galerina"
These little brown mushrooms like to grow on decayed wood in forests or even lawns. They will grow in sawdust and commonly pop up in woods and yards after a heavy rain. Despite their nondescript appearance, the mushrooms are as toxic as the dreaded death cap. Since it is nearly impossible to tell the many varieties of little brown mushrooms apart, all should be considered toxic and avoided. After initial gastrointestinal signs, an animal who has eaten these fungi will appear to improve, only to relapse several days later with liver and kidney failure. In pets, such conditions are typically fatal.
Is It Safe to Give a Dog Beer?


text:
Буалем Хухи (; ) — катарский футболист алжирского происхождения, выступающий за клуб «Аль-Садд» и сборную Катара.

Карьера

Клубная
Буалем Хухи — воспитанник алжирского клуба Шерага, за молодёжные команды которого он выступал с 2006 года. За взрослую команду этого клуба он начал и сезон 2009—2010 годов, но свой первый профессиональный контракт в ноябре 2009 года он подписал с катарским клубом Аль-Араби, после чего уехал выступать в катарскую Лигу звёзд и на родину больше не вернулся. 5 сентября 2010 года Хухи дебютировал за основной состав Аль-Араби в финале предсезонного кубка Катара против клуба Лехвия. Матч завершился победой Аль-Араби 1:0.

Международная
В ноябре 2010 года Хухи был призван под знамёна олимпийской сборной Алжира для участия в товарищеских матчах против сборной Туниса. Несмотря на это, в ноябре 2013 года его соотечественник Джамель Бельмади, назначенный главным тренером второй сборной Катара, пригласил Хухи в свою команду. Бельмади утверждал, что к тому времени, когда Хухи получил это предложение он уже был гражданином Катара.

Хухи дебютировал в сборной Катара 25 декабря 2013 года в матче чемпионата Западной Азии против сборной Палестины, который был выигран Катаром со счётом 1:0. В следующей встрече 31 декабря 2013 года против Саудовской Аравии, выступавшей на турнире олимпийской командой, Хухи сделал дубль и отдал голевую передачу. Катар выиграл 4:1. 4 января 2014 года Хухи помог Катару ещё раз, снова сделав дубль теперь уже в матче со сборной Кувейта, который открыл сборной Катара дорогу в финал.

В финале чемпионата против Иордании Хухи оформил ещё один дубль, приведя свою сборную к завоеванию главного трофея турнира. Сам Хухи стал лучшим бомбардиром чемпионата, забив 6 голов в четырёх проведённых матчах.

В декабре 2018 года был включён в заявку на Кубок Азии 2019. 13 января во втором матче группового этапа против КНДР отличился голом на 43 минуте игры. Катар победил со счётом 6:0. В итоге стал обладателем Кубка Азии в составе своей национальной сборной.

Летом 2019 года Буалем был приглашён в сборную для участия в Кубке Америки, который состоялся в Бразилии.

Достижения

Командные
Сборная Катара
 Победитель чемпионата Западной Азии 2014

Личные
 Лучший бомбардир чемпионата Западной Азии 2014 (6 голов)

Примечания

Футболисты Алжира
Футболисты Катара
Игроки сборной Катара по футболу
Игроки ФК «Аль-Араби» Доха
Игроки ФК «Аль-Садд»

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Yes, the new NASCAR season opens in just 17 days...and many key new rules are still in pencil.
Like, will NASCAR use the 'new' old flat-blade rear spoiler at Talladega in April, or the current but soon to be obsolete wing?
Like, what about the size of the restrictor plates for Daytona and Talladega? NASCAR went smaller last year, to cut speeds; now it's floating the idea it may go bigger this year.
And will NASCAR eliminate the yellow out-of-bounds line at Daytona and Talladega?
And what will NASCAR do about 'slam-drafting' at those two tracks?
And what might drivers think about all this, not to mention the crew chiefs?
Well, as NASCAR's annual preseason Charlotte Media Tour kicked off Monday, Sprint Cup teams say they're just happy that NASCAR is willing to consider some changes...finally.
The last two years or so NASCAR has pretty much kept the rulebook closed to changes.
But this season it looks like things are going to change. And even NASCAR officials don't seem to know just what or where or when.
Usually that would be cause for great gnashing of teeth, all the uncertainty.
But not at the moment. Because this 'new' car-of-tomorrow' has been such a pain for crews and drivers to work with that they're happy just to sense some changes in the air.
And maybe it's a move by NASCAR to shake up things in the Hendrick Motorsports camp, which dominated Cup action last season.
But then Tony Gibson, Ryan Newman's crew chief, says those exotic and expensive computer simulation programs are so good right now that any such changes can simply be dialed in, and the results known almost immediately.
So why even change the rear spoiler?
"Anything to keep the cars on the ground," says Newman, who was victim in two frightening Talladega crashes last season.
The new spoiler is to be set at 70 degrees; it will be four-inches-tall, at the center of the rear deck, and it will have to be straight across, not following any body contours. How much more downforce, if any, it might offer, is unclear. Adding downforce of course would affect Goodyear's tires; hence the Goodyear tire-and-spoiler test at Texas Motor Speedway in the next few days will be very important. And already crews not invited to that test are complaining.
"Just getting to know everybody was my biggest transition last year," Newman said. "This year – it's defining our future."
Last season both Stewart and Newman surprised many by making the championship chase. For a first-year owner-driver team (Stewart taking the helm of the Hendrick-inspired Gene Haas team, at Chevrolet's push), that was amazing. And following that up this season may be tough, particularly if rivals Richard Childress and Jack Roush make big moves to regain momentum in their own camps.
"Last year we were just trying to figure out what direction we were going to go," Hutchens says. "This winter we've hired a few new people, and the main thing for me is we've got cars sitting out on the floor...last year we had an empty shop."
One of the first big issues this season, for every team, is the planned new flat-blade rear spoiler. And testing time – other than all that secret testing teams have been doing at unknown locations – may be limited. "Don't think because it's a blade that it will give you more downforce; that depends on the angle and other things," Newman says. "This car (car-of-tomorrow) has been a challenge, in the hole it punches in the air, in dirty air – from 15th on back.
"So the new spoiler opens up a new can of worms."
One thing about the blade spoiler might be the side-draft – when cars get side by side.
Hutchens says if NASCAR does switch to the flat blade rear spoiler for the April Talladega 500, he would like to see NASCAR hold a major aerodynamic test at that track, to let drivers – and officials – see just what might be in store for the race.
Fuel injection, raised as an issue by NASCAR last summer, has yet to be set in stone, but it could become an issue this season, but probably not.
For Stewart, the job ahead is to keep the ball rolling, after over-achieving his first season: "The one thing I think I can pat myself on the back for is getting all these people lined up: Bobby, Tony, Darien and Ryan.
"Ryan and I are just a great fit. I have been very fortunate to get this group of guys together. It's very hard in this business to get a good core group together like this."
Well, Stewart still hasn't forgotten that 2008 Daytona 500, when Newman beat Stewart in that dramatic finish.
Last season's Daytona 500 wasn't as kind to Newman. He blew a tire and crashed. "We may never know if that was the tire's problem or if we ran over a piece of debris," Newman says.
And Newman went winless over the season, though he had opportunities.
Has Stewart mellowed over his 11 years in the sport? He did seem happier the first part of last year...though the last 10 weeks he was not usually in a very good mood – after 'winning' the regular season going away, and then struggling against Jimmie Johnson in the chase.
"Darien has been a very calming variable in the equation," Stewart says. "He keeps me calm.
But then Stewart has a big plus on his side – Johnson and Company are teammates.
Submitted by on Wed 01/20/2010 - 08:38.
NASCAR has to get a way that the drivers will race all 500 miles not just the last hundred. maybe just run 100 lap races because all the drivers do is cruise around till the last 100 miles.they should give more points for leading a lap so more driver will try to lead.
Submitted by on Thu 01/21/2010 - 15:47.
NASCAR has been running FI engines in Grand Am for years and they know how to police them so why not use these engines in cup racing ???


Transform your body and your life! Experience a complete yoga workout that you will always love to do! Here is the best of the ancient and new: traditional yoga's spiritual depth and knowledge of body and mind, with the newest innovations in body mechanics and effective fitness. Starting with the basics, this flowing, fun workout will help you make great gains on all levels. Ana & Ravi have popularized Kundalini Yoga, the perfect system for achieving optimum health and energy. Featuring the design your own workout Matrix menu option, This all-in-one workout features stretching and strengthening routines for total body fitness, as well as bonus material including chair exercises, a posture primer, and more! Segments include: Standing Warm-ups, Salutation for Beginners & Beyond, Hamstrings, Hips, & Lower Back Stretches, Nerve Strength & Core Power, techniques to Be Stress Free, & More! From beginning yogi to expert, this DVD will be your workout companion for life. Ana and Ravi';;;;;;;;s all-in-one yoga workouts are the ultimate cross training encompassing movement, strength, stretch, flow, with inner focus and fun! Their workouts are set to cutting edge music to keep motivation high. Their DVD's provide a total workout fully integrating body, mind, and spirit, delivering you to your top level of physical conditioning and well-being.
Click on small image to enlarge the view.
• Features stretching and strengthening routines for total body fitness.
• Bonus material including chair exercises, a posture primer, and more!
• From beginning yogi to expert, this DVD will be your workout companion for life.
• Their workouts are set to cutting edge music to keep motivation high.


31 Repayments of overpaid levyE+W+S+N.I.
(1)Where a person has paid an amount to the Commissioners by way of aggregates levy which was not levy due to them, they shall be liable to repay the amount to him.
(2)The Commissioners shall not be liable to repay an amount under this section except on the making of a claim for that purpose.
(3)A claim under this section must be made in such form and manner, and must be supported by such documentary evidence, as may be required by regulations made by the Commissioners.
(4)The preceding provisions of this section are subject to the provisions of section 32 below.
(5)Except as provided by this section, the Commissioners shall not, by virtue of the fact that it was not levy due to them, be liable to repay any amount paid to them by way of aggregates levy.


text:
About a quarter of all adults have metabolic syndrome; a syndrome whose most well-known symptoms are obesity, high blood pressure and poor cholesterol levels. Eating differently and exercising more is the general advice for this condition, but that is not the whole story. Ph.D. candidates Yvonne Rozendaal and Fianne Sips developed systems biology models that describe the processes of metabolic syndrome in the body in detail.
Ph.D. candidate Yvonne Rozendaal discovered in her systems biology studies that there are two subvariants of metabolic syndrome in lab mice with a human-like metabolism. Animals in the group with the first subvariant have a considerably more disrupted fat balance in the blood than animals in the other group – and were therefore in a worse state, without any difference in eating or exercise patterns. Poorer health is therefore also partly a question of 'bad luck.'
In principle, metabolic syndrome is a condition that is difficult to study. It often takes ten years or more to develop and many organs and tissues play a role, making it hard to create a complete picture. Yet that is exactly what Rozendaal did, as part of the RESOLVE European research project.
In RESOLVE's genetically modified lab mice, metabolic syndrome occurs in a similar way to that in humans, only much faster: the entire development takes only a few months with the mice, making it easier to examine the whole process. Rozendaal made a detailed mathematical model that describes the sugar and fat balance of the entire body.
This complete model enabled her to find the difference between the two subgroups of mice with metabolic syndrome. The group of animals that became very sick – with the most severely disrupted fat balance – had very active livers. This leads to a higher production of bile, a substance that promotes the absorption of fat. Additionally, the sick livers also began to produce more cholesterol and fat themselves. Thus, the group with more active livers ended up with more cholesterol and fat in the blood than the group with less active livers. More information can be found in Rozendaal's dissertation.
Ph.D. student Fianne Sips explored the role of bile salts in a certain type of operation for patients to combat metabolic syndrome: the gastric bypass. After this operation, food travels a shorter route through the digestive system, skipping most of the stomach and a piece of intestine. A special feature of this successful type of procedure is that sugar levels in the blood improve quickly, while substantial weight loss often takes many months.
The data of the operations shows that, although the release of bile salts remains the same, more of them remain, causing a higher concentration in the blood. The fact that more remains, is caused by the bypass, Sips' model says. As the food passes through the small intestine differently, more bile salts can be absorbed at the end of it. Bile salts have an effect similar to hormones. It is possible that the increased bile salts play an important role in the improvement of the sugar levels.
Sips made a highly detailed computer model, which turned out to work so well that she could make personalized variants for individual patients. The input for this includes the bile salt molecules measured in the blood of individual patients after they have eaten. This model is a stepping stone towards a future model to determine which combination of drugs, operations and lifestyle changes is the best approach for individual patients.
Source: Systems biology brings tailor-made approach to metabolic syndrome within sight
Forget the gym—and other tips to making New Year's resolutions stick
Germans turn to 'medibus' as doctors desert villages
Men Who Exercise Regularly Produce Children With Healthier Genes
Penn Medicine Launching Telemedicine Platform for Brain Tumor Consults
High blood sugar during pregnancy ups risk of mother's type 2 diabetes, child's obesity
Monitoring at home yields better blood pressure control
Football player with cerebral palsy scores first touchdown against rival team
Safety first when running outdoors


It's quick and easy for you to find an affordable dentist in Torrance, CA. Simply type in your ZIP code to find a money-saving discount dental plan and participating dental care providers in Torrance, CA. Select one of our featured discount dental plans and get deep discounts when you visit a participating dentist like Dr. Steven H Fujimoto. After signing up to the right discount dental plan, visit Dr. Steven H Fujimoto or any other participating Torrance dentist to save on most of your Pedodontics needs.
At DentalPlans.com, our discount dental plans start at only $79.95 per year and can save you money on dental care services like Pedodontics and more. By searching our large dentist directory, you can find many general dentists, family dentists and dental care specialists like prosthodontists, endodontists, and pedodontists. So if you require getting cavities filled, orthodontics, dental implants, or any other dental care treatments, we feature a wide selection of many dental care specialists and dentists in Torrance, CA.


text:
Chemical Biology & Medicinal Chemistry (1)
Pharmacology & Toxicology (2)
Pharmacotherapy (1)
Pharmacy Practice (1)
(-) Grace Lee, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPS (1)
(-) John H. Richburg, Ph.D. (1)
(-) Kevin Dalby, Ph.D. (1)
(-) Leticia Moczygemba, Pharm.D., Ph.D. (3)
Andrea C. Gore, Ph.D. (1)
Christopher R. Frei, Pharm.D., M.Sc. (1)
Diane B. Ginsburg, Ph.D., M.S., R.Ph., FASHP (1)
Hugh D. Smyth, Ph.D. (1)
Jamie C. Barner, Ph.D., FAACP, FAPhA (1)
Jennifer Ridings-Myhra, M.Ed. (1)
John DiGiovanni, Ph.D. (1)
Kristin Janzen, Pharm.D. (1)
Laura Cannon, Pharm.D., MPH (1)
M. Lynn Crismon, PharmD, FCCP, DABCP, BCPP (8)
Maria A. Croyle, Ph.D. (3)
Mohammed Maniruzzaman, Ph.D. (7)
Nathan D. Pope, Pharm.D., BCACP, FACA (1)
Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D. (1)
Robert O. (Bill) Williams III, Ph.D. (5)
Rueben A. Gonzales, Ph.D. (1)
Samuel M. Poloyac, PharmD, PhD (5)
Skyller Walkes, PhD (11)
Walter L. Fast, Ph.D. (1)
(-) Grace Lee, Pharm.D., Ph.D., BCPS
(-) John H. Richburg, Ph.D.
(-) Kevin Dalby, Ph.D.
(-) Leticia Moczygemba, Pharm.D., Ph.D.
Moczygemba and Wash Earn 2022 Kloesel Grant
Leticia "Tish" Moczygemba, Pharm.D., Ph.D. and Andrew Wash, Pharm.D. were selected as the recipients of the 2022 grant award from the Arlyn Kloesel Endowment for Excellence in Pharmacy Practice.
Dalby Earns CPRIT Grant for Drug Delivery Program
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) recently awarded grants to six faculty members at UT Austin, including the Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry's Kevin Dalby, Ph.D. for his Targeted Therapeutic Drug Discovery and Development Program.
Immunologic Resilience: A New Metric to Accurately Gauge COVID-19's Path
UT Pharmacy and UT Health Science Center San Antonio Assistant Professor Grace C. Lee, Pharm.D., Ph.D. is the first author of a recently published study that unveiled a novel concept, "immunologic resilience," to accurately predict which COVID-19 patients will advance to severe disease and which will not.
Improving Health Outcomes for People Experiencing Homelessness is Focus of New Study
Combining mobile health technology, or mHealth, and community outreach to improve the health outcomes of people experiencing homelessness is the target of a new study led by Division of Health Outcomes Associate Professor Leticia Moczygemba, Pharm.D., Ph.D., thanks to a five-year research grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Richburg Receives NIH Grant Award for Toxicant Injury Research
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies John H. Richburg, Ph.D. received notice from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarding him a research grant for a five-year term. The NIH's grant award for Dr. Richburg's research totals $2,694,316.
Brown inducted into Provost's Distinguished Service Academy
Health Outcomes Professor Carolyn Brown, Ph.D. was one of five accomplished faculty members at The University of Texas at Austin to be inducted into the first cohort of the Provost's Distinguished Service Academy (DSA).


text:
公告訊息 News
Welcome to APTRC
中心簡介 About APTRC
成立動機
中心架構
成員介紹 Our Team
中心主任 Director
研究著作
中心副主任 Co-Director
研究人員 Researchers
活動看板 Events
會議資訊 Conferences & Events
交流活動 Activities
下載 Downloads
演講分享 Speech documents
座談會分享 Seminar documents
檔案櫃
研究成果 Research Briefs
歷屆指導論文研究
80-85學年度
96-100學年度
101-105學年度
歷屆指導研究計畫
1.計程車產業知識與價值鏈再造-產學合作創新應用與推廣
2.雲端計程車服務之資料分析
3.需求反應式運輸服務最佳化系統開發研究
4.新北市交通政策白皮書修編
5.換電式電動巴士效益評估與發展策略之探討
6.亞洲及大陸都市運輸發展趨勢研究
團體及學生獲獎
專利成果
相關網站 Links
台南市公共運輸發展政策白皮書
Welcome to APTRC > 自駕車上路實證 張學孔:三階段規劃 >
Taipei is shaping a cycle-friendly city
張貼者:2017年4月13日 下午7:58楊婷茹 [ 已更新 2017年4月13日 下午8:01 ]
By SIOK HUI LEONG
It was 3am when Helen Chen called it a night after hanging out with friends in downtown Taipei. The buses and trains had stopped running and Chen doesn't own a car. Unperturbed, the 34-year-old strolled to a bike-share docking station two blocks away, grabbed a bike with a quick tap of her EasyCard (stored-value smartcard) on the automated kiosk, and pedalled the 5km distance home. She reached home safe and sound in barely 30 minutes and the bike rental cost her NTD10 (RM1.23).
"I ride YouBike (the bike-share's name) everywhere. It's convenient and cheap," says Chen, a Taipei-based product designer who grew up in Sydney. Chen echoes the sentiments of over four million registered users of YouBike in Taipei today.
Launched in 2009 with a modest 11 stations and 500 bikes, YouBike now has 214 stations with 7,000 bicycles, strategically placed next to MRT stations, bus stops and tourist attractions. To date, the bike-share scheme has surpassed the 40-million rental mark, logs an average of 52,000 trips a day with a turnover rate of 8.06 trips per bicycle.
The city's bike lane network totals 498.38km, including bike paths, dual-use sidewalks and river bikeways. Downtown Taipei boasts a 58.93km-network of cycling lanes.
image: http://cdn.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_3_lead.jpg
Taipei City hosts the international cycling conference, Velo-City Global 2016.
Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul sent delegations to suss out Taipei's bike-share programme and Singapore's Land Transport Authority had planned a study visit this month.
When Taipei won its bid to become the first Asian city to host the premier cycling conference Velo-City Global 2016, YouBike's success was credited as one of the main factors.
A 2014 report by European Cyclists' Federation on Taipei's cycling achievement noted that cycling mode share (percentage of total trips done by bicycle) in Taipei is up 30%. It now stands at 5.5%, a figure yet to be matched by many European capital cities (in cycling utopias like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, however, bikes account for more than 50% of trips in the cities). The usage figure for YouBike matches the world's best, and women make up 50% of the cycling population – a gauge of the city's cycle-friendliness.
Cities usually struggle to attract women cyclists due to lack of safe, segregated cycle networks, according to ECF, also the founder of Velo-city conference.
"YouBike helped us overcome our urban mobility issues like traffic congestion, air pollution and road safety," says Anne Chung, the commissioner for Taipei City Government's Department of Transportation (DOT).
"With an efficient Taipei Metro (MRT) and bus systems, we can leverage the use of public bikes for the last mile (of commuters' journeys)."
Taipei plans to increase its YouBike fleet to 400 stations and 13,000 bicycles by 2018, Chung added. And the city wants to complete an additional 192.9km of bike lanes and facilities by 2019. Aside from Taipei, YouBike has also been implemented in New Taipei City, Taichung City and Changhua Country.
image: http://cdn.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_5.jpg
Public bike parking in front of National Taiwan University.
Across the globe, more than 700 cities in 50 countries have implemented bike-share systems (The Economist, Sept 5, 2015). Paris's Vélib and Barcelona's Bicing bike-share systems are de facto role models for aspiring bike-sharing cities although the world's largest bike-sharing schemes (not necessarily the most successful) are in Chinese cities of Hangzhou and Wuhan. New York-based global non-profit Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) rates the success of bike-share systems based on criteria like station density – 10-16 stations for every square kilometre, bikes per resident, coverage area, quality bikes (practical and fit for use) and easy-to-use stations. From New York City to London and Rio de Janeiro, these cosmopolitan cities are looking for solutions for urban issues.
"A great bike-share system indicates that the city is thinking progressively about transit, the environment, and quality of life," sums up ITDP's Director of National Policy and Project Evaluation Colin Hughes.
Rome wasn't built in a day
But like most Asian cities experiencing rapid, economic growth post 1970s, Taipei underwent a boom in construction of highways and roads. As income rises, cars and motorcycles became the preferred form of transport. To ease traffic congestion, a bus lane network was initiated in the early 1990s and the first Taipei Metro line opened in 1996.
Today, Taipei boasts a comprehensive bus network and an efficient MRT system with five lines and 117 stations covering 136.6km. Trains run frequently (every three minutes during peak hours), are punctual and rarely break down. And the EasyCard, a smartcard ticketing system, can be used on all public transport.
image: http://cdn.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_6-e1456054617218.jpg
Professor Jason Chang
"Before we even talk of putting cycling into the equation, we need to talk about the whole public transport system," says Dr SK Jason Chang, the director of Public Transport Research Center and Professor of Transport Systems at National Taiwan University.
In short, for bike-share systems to work and to encourage commuters to cycle the first or last mile of their journey, they need to be able to transfer seamlessly between the various modes of public transport.
A strong support from the central government and collaboration with the bicycle manufacturing industry are also vital ingredients for the scheme to work, Chang added. The city government forked out funding for the bike-share infrastructure and Giant Manufacturing Company designed and supplied the bicycles, and operates the scheme. Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) subsidised the first 30-minute rental for the bikes.
"The trial project with the first 500 bikes was received poorly with a turnover rate of one bike per day or week," admits Chang who researches on public transport, transport economics and advanced public transit.
Limited bikes and stations – only available in the Xinyi business district, and the complicated rental procedure (users need two valid IDs and credit card to register), led to the poor response.
"We asked Eric Britton (the sustainability activist and founder of World CarFree Day) for his advice on the bike-share project when he was in Taipei for CarFree Day in 2011, and his answer was: 'expand, expand, expand!' " recalls Chang.
"So once registration was simplified – using EasyCard and mobile number, and the fleet was expanded to 4,545 bikes with 136 stations across the city, the number of users shot up," explains Chang, who advocates people-centric cities. Apart from being advisor to the Taipei City Government for 22 years, Chang is one of the pioneers promoting green mobility in developing cities like China and India.
Car-Free Day has been an annual event in Taipei since 2001.
"Taipei residents get a feel of what it's like to enjoy the streets, free from motorised traffic," says Chang, listing the benefits of Car-Free Day.
"It's also a good time for the city government to evaluate its progress in transforming into a people-centred environment, and an opportunity to announce its vision and future objectives.
image: http://www.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_7.jpg
Lifts for bicycles at MRT stations. Folding bikes in bags are allowed to access to the MRT stations but full-sized bikes can only get on the trains on the weekends and public holidays.
image: http://www.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_10.jpg
Bike parking at an MRT station.
Since the late 1990s, Taiwan's central and local government started promoting cycling tourism and recreational cycling. Millions of dollars have been poured into bicycle infrastructures for the construction of a nationwide bike network and river bikeways. Taiwan Tourism Bureau's dogged efforts have put the country's cycling tourism on the world map with events like the annual Taiwan Cycling Festival. Lonely Planet lists Taiwan on its "Best in Travel 2012" list, saying the country is "best seen on two wheels".
Last December, Taiwan launched the 968km round-island bike network with 122 rest areas, dedicated cycling paths, shower facilities and multiple drop-off locations for rental bikes.
When President Mayor Ma Ying-jeou was elected into office in 2008, he announced a NTD30bil (RM3.7mil) funding for Energy Savings Emission Reduction Policy, which triggered a boom in green transportation and cycling became all the rage.
"All these combined factors made the bike-share programme take off," says Chang.
However, grassroots cycling advocacy hasn't really taken off in Taiwan until now. A group of passionate cycle-commuters is in the midst of registering an NGO to plug bicycle-commuting, road safety and city races.
To date, most of the advocacy work has been led by Cycling Lifestyle Foundation, a semi-commercial organisation funded by Giant – the world's largest bike manufacturer by revenue. Based on Giant founder King Liu's vision: "to promote cycling as part of our lifestyle," the Foundation works closely with government and policy makers to promote cycling as a mode of recreation and sustainable transport.
image: http://cdn.star2.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/str2_cycletaipei_annmarie_15.jpg
Bike infrastructure-like ramps at the river bikeway.
Founded in 1989, the Foundation started out creating and running cycling events and island-wide cycling tours to get more people cycling. And when Taipei city and New Taipei City (the metropolitan areas of Taipei) constructed the river bikeways, Giant donated free bikes to help kick-start recreational cycling. Today, the Foundation operates 15 non-profit rental bike stations with over 4000 bikes along the bikeways in New Taipei City.
"The income from the rental service is used to maintain the bikes or buy new bikes when we retire the old ones," says Vicky Yang, the CEO of Cycling Lifestyle and Liu's daughter. "We just want city folks to experience the joy of cycling so it becomes a lifestyle."
When then Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin wanted to initiate the pilot bike-share programme in Taipei, the Foundation sent an entourage of Giant bike technicians and Yang to Paris to learn about the Vélib bike-share scheme in 2008. Over the years, the Foundation has invited government officers on all-expense paid study trips abroad to check out best cycling practices.
"Now that recreational cycling is well established, we are promoting cycling commuting to complete the last piece of the puzzle," says Yang who has the ear of the city and central governments. "We need more bicycle paths in the city so more people will be willing to commute by bicycle. More cyclists mean safer streets and less traffic accidents."
Room for improvement
The conflict between cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and motorcyclists is the perennial issue dogging cycling-commute within the city. Bike lanes are placed on shared sidewalks or traffic slow lanes, and many of the lanes, including the river bikeway, lacks connectivity.
Cyclists and pedestrian have to watch out for cars and scooters turning at intersections although they have the right of way.
In a recent survey by the DOT on cycling safety, nearly 40% of pedestrians complained about cyclists who ride on arcades (five foot way) or sidewalks, and 20% of respondents abhor cyclists who weave in and out of traffic or ride outside of designated cycling lanes.
"Our population is dense, we just don't have enough room to accommodate infrastructures for different modes of transport. People have to learn to respect and live harmoniously with each other," admits Commissioner Chung. Taipei has 2.7million people living within a 271.79sqkm space, with a population density of 9,944 residents per sqkm (Kuala Lumpur's population density is 6,890 people per sqkm).
"We will continue to run campaigns to educate people about respecting each other's right of way and road safety."
One of the city's main priorities is to reduce the number of cars and motorcycles on the road, Chung said.
"Our vision for Taipei city is zero traffic death," adds Chung, whose preferred mode of transport is YouBike and she doesn't own a car or motorcycle.
In Taipei and the metropolitan areas, motorcycles outnumber cars (about 3.1million motorcycles versus 1.5million cars by the end of 2014) and account for 54.1% of total traffic fatality within Taipei city. Over the years, the city has reduced parking spaces for motorcycles, eradicated free parking for cars and widened the sidewalks for pedestrians and bike lanes.
Motorcycle ownership in Taipei has dropped 13% in the last eight years. However, there is no study yet to show the correlation between the success of Taipei's bike-share scheme and the decrease of cars and motorcycles in Taipei (from 2011 and 2014).
Restroom facilities for cyclists at the riverbikeway.
For YouBike commuters like Chen, the usual gripes are shortage of bicycles for rent and shortage of docks to return the bikes to (due to high volume usage). But smartphone users can download a free app that maps out YouBike station locations across the city and the availability of bikes. Theft and vandalism are a non-issue due to the bike's clever designs.
But in April last year, the city removed the subsidy for the first 30-minute free YouBike rental. Users have to pay NTD5 (RM0.60) for the first 30 minutes and NTD10 per 30 minutes within the first four hours and the rate increases with longer usage. The pricing structure is designed to encourage short trips and help maximize the turnover of the bicycles.
"After implementing the charges, we save an average of NTD10.37mil (RM1.29mil) per month in subsidies," says Chung. The average subsidy covered by the city from April to September 2015 was NTD7.46mil (RM934,000) per month.
"We strive to make YouBike financially independent by 2019."
However, Chang feels that the city should create incentives to entice more cycling commuters.
"The city should thank you for riding a bicycle during peak hours because you are helping to reduce congestion and pollution," says Chang, an avid cyclist and owner of four bicycles. "Of course, we need a sustainable financial scheme for YouBike because someone has to pay for it. But we also need to encourage more people to commute with their own bicycles."
Forty-eight percent of Taipei's population now uses public transport and in the Taipei metropolitan areas, the number is lower at 30%.
"The ideal figure should be 60%," says Chang.
A global conference like Velo-city is a good opportunity for Taipei and Taiwan to explore the challenges of transforming a "motorcycle city" into a green mobility city, Chang added.
"We can identify how to deal with the challenges. And with the help of local and international experts, come up with a clear vision to make it happen.
"It boils down to strong political will, very good design, infrastructure, management, financial scheme and integration."
Read more at http://www.star2.com/living/2016/02/23/taipei-shaping-a-cycle-friendly-city/#IE5iBySTMCgzRvqc.99
先進公共運輸研究中心
中心地址:106-17 台北市羅斯福路四段一號 土木工程學系302室
傳真:(02)2363-9990 聯絡電話:(02)3366-3366 ext.55478
聯絡信箱:aptrc@aptrc.tw


We are so fortunate that small businesses of that quality are still around, offering an amazing range of spices and original spice mixes. The knowledge and quality is unsurpassed and even more is the kindness with which you are greeted! I will recommend to all to pay them a visit. It is well worth the detour!


text:
Q: image overlay in wordpress theme Can anyone please help with how to overlay an image i.e NEW/SOLD icon over my properties listings on the homepage featured property: www.integratedproperty.co.uk
Also need the same on the available properties and again on the detailed property page. At the moment I've got a lot of in consistencies.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Pack Health to expand Birmingham operation with 200 new positions
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Leading patient-engagement company Pack Health, a Quest Diagnostics company, today announced plans to add at least 200 new full-time...
Peak North America USA creating 175 jobs with new Alabama facility
MOBILE, Alabama — Peak North America USA plans to invest $24 million to open a facility in Mobile County's Irvington community that...
Gulf Distributing to expand activities with growth project in Mobile
MOBILE, Alabama — Gulf Distributing, one of the oldest beverage distributors in the Southeast, announced plans today to relocate its operations from...
New logistics projects coming to Mobile, Baldwin counties
LOXLEY, Alabama – To fuel its growth plans in Gulf Coast region, Imperial Dade, a distributor of food service packaging and janitorial supplies, is planning a move into a new 220,000-square-foot logistics hub in Baldwin Count. The $20 million project, announced today, will support...
Written by Jerry Underwood
Economic development report card shows $4.8 billion in 2020 investment
MONTGOMERY -- Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, economic development activity across Alabama in 2020 generated close to $5 billion in new capital investment and almost 10,000 job commitments, Governor Kay Ivey announced today. With significant growth projects recorded in key strategic...
Alabama team staging virtual trade mission to Israel in May
The Alabama Department of Commerce and the Export Alabama Alliance will host a virtual trade mission to Israel on May 10-12 in preparation for an in-person trade mission to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to take place later this year. Alabama companies already exporting to...
Alabama scores in Top 10 in publication's 2020 economic development rankings
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama's ability to overcome the complex challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to economic development earned the state a Top 10 ranking in "Site Selection" magazine's annual Governor's Cups analysis. Alabama ranked No. 9 among the states in job-creating economic development...
Ren Seafoods plans processing facility, distribution hub in Mobile
MOBILE, Alabama — Ren Seafoods plans to open a seafood processing facility and distribution hub in Mobile as part of a $12.4 million growth project that will create 54 jobs, according to the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. "This project further cements Mobile as...
How Airbus is going wheels up in Alabama
with A220 Production
Alabama exports primed for rebound in 2021 after pandemic challenges
In an unparalleled and unpredictable year of turbulence in global trade, Alabama's exports of goods and services in 2020 totaled $17.13 billion. Reflecting the declines in export volumes recorded by nearly all states as well as the nation, Alabama's total exports registered an overall...
ALDI kicks off construction on $100 million distribution center, regional HQ
LOXLEY, Alabama — Retailer ALDI officially launched construction today on a new regional headquarters and distribution center in Baldwin County that will support the company's expansion throughout the Gulf Coast region. The project is set to bring approximately $100 million in capital investment, with plans...
Biotech firm BioGX to invest $5 million in Alabama growth plans
Birmingham-based molecular diagnostics company BioGX plans to expand its R&D and manufacturing capabilities at a new corporate headquarters location in Shelby County, where it will beef up its workforce. The Birmingham Business Alliance announced today that BioGX has purchased a building on Valleydale Road...
5 trends powering Alabama's economic recovery and growth in 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic threw a monkey wrench in Alabama's economy last year, interrupting a golden period of substantial growth and casting doubt on whether the momentum could be regained. Fortunately for Alabama, the economic foundation built over the past several years looks resilient. Plus,
Alabama's 'Rocket City' tapped for U.S. Space Command headquarters
The Secretary of the U.S. Air Force announced today that Huntsville has been selected as the preferred location for the headquarters of the new U.S. Space Command, a move that is a natural fit for Alabama's "Rocket City" and its longtime support of space...


Wetlands are areas where water covers soil all or part of the time. According to the EPA about 50% of endangered or threatened animal species in the U.S. depend on a wetland for survival. Devastatingly over half of these ecosystems are reported to be in poor condition. The EGBAR Foundation headquarters are located less than 5 miles from a wetland area and the foundation has been actively involved with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy in working to preserve and restore the space for many years.
Foundation volunteers have spent many service hours at the Bolsa Chica Conservancy over the past years aiding the Conservancy in its efforts to remove trash from the marsh and dune habitats, remove invasive non-native plants and replant native specifies in an effort to increase the viability, health and diversity of these increasingly rare coastal habitats.
Volunteers, like those from the EGBAR Foundation, remove an average of 10 tons of trash and debris from the Bolsa Chica trails and waterways routinely each year. They also annually remove several tons of non-native plants which can quickly smother an area to such an extent that animals have become threatened or endangered due to the loss of their natural food sources.
The Bolsa Chica Conservancy holds a regularly scheduled service days monthly. If you are local to Southern California we ask that you join us in volunteering.


In the muddle of insurgency, assassinations, false flags, and military confusion, the right-wing Pravy Sektor's Dmitry Yarosh is a key player.
The recent high-profile murders in Kiev of opposition politician Oleh Kalashnikov and, the next day, of Ukrainian writer Oles Buzyna have made the scene in an already complicated and fractious Ukraine murkier than ever.
Both Kalashnikov and Buzyan were overtly and, for many in Kiev and western Ukraine, disgracefully pro-Russian. Both were active in the "Anti-Maidan" movement of last year opposing the pro-Western change of power.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko described the murders as deliberate acts, which "play into the hands of our enemies" and immediately ordered an investigation. Officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior are now warning opponents of Kiev's pro-Western authorities that they could be targeted by Russian intelligence services. The Ministry of Interior quickly responded to the murders by putting many of these Pro-Russian leaders under official police protection (and one might presume even closer surveillance). Certainly it's ironic that these leaders are being put under the protection of the pro-Western government they despise.
In Ukraine, blame for the Kalashnikov and Buzyna murders, along with a string of other possibly-related murders, generally falls into two categories. One, as mentioned, is that that the Russian Special Services are behind the killings in an FSB provocation to cause unrest in the country's capital.
The other is that the ultra-nationalist Pravy Sektor and its affiliates are behind the killings, which Moscow suggests and which would seem, on its face, the logical choice of usual suspects. But we'll get back to them in a minute.
Local political expert Nick Gorokhov, who suspects a plot by the Russian intelligence services, told The Daily Beast, "Buzina wasn't a serious figure, but he was suitable for the 'sacrificial victim' role." One other related theory is that the two were killed by ex-Yanukovych allies to prevent them from testifying as witnesses against the former government.
On April 17th, political analyst Volodomyr Fesenko of the Penta research group received an email from a group calling itself the "Ukrainian Insurgent Army," claiming responsibility for the two murders and other "killings" of pro-Russian politicians, some of which were the thought to have been suicides. According to Fesenko, the email stated the following: "We are launching a ruthless insurgency against the anti-Ukrainian regime of traitors and Moscow's lackeys, and from now on we will speak to them only in the language of arms until they are completely eliminated." Fesenko personally believes that Russian intelligence is behind the email.
In fact, a nationalist group called the "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" did exist during WWII and the name has popped up again in the years since. But Ukraine's intelligence service, the SBU, called the email, which originated out of Germany, a "fake" and noted things like the grammatical mistakes in the text not being at all consistent with that of a native Ukrainian, let alone a Ukrainian ultra-nationalist.
Still, all eyes are once again on Ukraine's Pravy Sektor or Right Sector. Every move and statement by the group's leader, Dmytro Yarosh, will be watched with suspicion. Yet, like all things in modern Ukraine, the controversial group's leader is not exactly as he's often portrayed or imagined.
In a rare interview with Georgian Journal before the recent murders, Pravy Sektor Commander Dmytro Yarosh spoke about the group's current situation in Ukraine—its difficulties not just in combat, but the political tension coming from the capital. Yarosh is not the belligerent "Nazi" that Russian media would have one believe. Instead the Right Sector leader came across as grounded, intelligent and pragmatic.
When last year's EuroMaidan Protests and Revolution swept a pro-West, pro-Europe government into power in Ukraine, it was the Pravy Sektor that did most of the actual street fighting for the EuroMaidan movement. In doing so, the group firmly established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the current Ukrainian political landscape. And due to the Pravy Sektor's heavy involvement in what have been dubbed the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine and its paticipation in many armed clashes, Russian-backed separatists have grown to dread its name.
Pravy Sektor's 43-year-old leader, Yarosh, has become a permanent target of the Russian media's propaganda, which never tires of comparing him to Stepan Bandera, a well-known WWII Ukrainian nationalist figure who received Nazi support. But there are also tensions between Yarosh and the current Ukrainian government, which doesn't take kindly to Pravy Sektor's criticism of the current pro-Western Ukrainian leadership and its military shortcomings.
Indeed, political analysts do not rule out a direct confrontation between the current Ukrainian government and Pravy Sektor if the situation in the east continues to deteriorate.
Yarosh, who is also a member of Urkaine's parliament, put his organization in the vanguard of one of the government forces' most crucial battles against the Russian- backed rebels over the Donetsk Airport. The contributions of Yarosh and his men turned the initially hopeless battle into a bloody stalemate. But he contends their sacrifices were futile because Ukrainian authorities asked them to leave the area and replaced them with troops of the Ukrainian National Guard. The airport was lost to separatists shortly afterwards. A constant refrain by the Pravy Sektor is that they take or hold territory, then the government loses it.
Despite most forces on both sides recognizing ceasefire brokered by the Minsk Agreement, fighting continues in several places. One of those is Mariupol, which stands between Russia and a land route to Crimea.
To the chagrin of Pravy Sektor fighters, the Ukrainian government is going to great lengths to remove Pravy Sektor's troops from the village of Shirokino, an important tactical point in the conflict. This is happening despite the Russian-backed separatists not hiding the fact that they are trying to take over the city. Shirokino is a vital part of the front line, with separatists constantly mounting attacks and Pravy Sektor's troops continually beating them back, according to Yarosh.
On January 21, during an armed clash near Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, Yarosh was badly wounded and taken to the town of Selydove, where he underwent urgent surgery. He was subsequently transferred to the Mechnikov Hospital in Dnepropetrovsk, where Georgian Journal's Jambul Tsulaia met with him while he was recovering.
It was not easy to get access to his medical ward. His bodyguards protected him around the clock. After several rounds of persistent formalities and negotiations, Tsulaia was allowed in to talk to him about Ukraine, Pravy Sektor and himself.
When asked about the readiness of his troops if large-scale warfare were to again resume in eastern Ukraine, Yarosh said, "Our current situation is crummy. Many experienced soldiers on duty are being replaced with green [Ukrainian government-sent] newbies with little to no combat experience. Our forces need to be prepared and mobilized in order to prevent the second Debaltseve from occurring." Yarosh was referring to a battle that was a crushing defeat for the Ukrainian government at the beginning of the year.
Tensions between Yarosh and Kiev clearly are fraught.
Yarosh's disagreements with the incumbent Ukrainian authorities are fundamental and many of his men have no faith in the capabilities of the Ukrainian military command.
The commander was then interrupted by his doctor entering the ward, and the interview was over.
Yarosh may not be a politician but he sees himself as an idealist. He believes that the Ukrainian people have spent years under the yoke of Russian tyranny. His main goal is Ukraine's de-Russification and the regaining of its national identity.
The Pravy Sektor regards Ukraine's establishment as a solid nation-state as far more important than European integration, which would also require European standards of political, legal, economic and social conduct—and this troubles Western political circles. Partly as a result, the incumbent Ukrainian authorities are trying to restrict Pravy Sektor's spheres of influence and its capacity to operate. The aim is to weaken its influence and its support among the Ukrainian population. In the organization's view, this is done to placate the West, to which the current Ukraine leadership still looks with unwavering hope.