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Myriophyllum aquaticum (synonyme Myriophyllum brasiliense), appelé en français Myriophylle aquatique ou Myriophylle du Brésil (en anglais, Parrot's Feather), elle est souvent vendue sous le nom Myriophyllum propium. Elle est de la famille des Haloragaceae, c'est une plante herbacée, vivace et amphibie.

Cette plante se développe de préférence dans les eaux relativement chaudes et stagnantes, mais présente une grande capacité d'adaptation. Elle est d'ailleurs considérée comme invasive : originaire d'Amérique du Sud, on la retrouve aujourd'hui un peu partout dans le monde . Elle figure sur la liste des espèces exotiques envahissantes préoccupantes pour l'Union européenne adoptée le  par la Commission européenne. Cela signifie qu'elle ne peut pas être importée, cultivée, commercialisée, plantée, ou libérée intentionnellement dans la nature, et ce nulle part dans l'Union européenne.

Myriophyllum aquaticum tire son nom du grec ancien et du latin. En effet μυριόφυλλον (myriόphyllon) vient des mots grecs μυρίος (muríos) et φύλλον (phúllon) signifiant respectivement "très nombreux" et "feuilles". "Aquaticum" vient, quant à lui, du latin et signifie "aquatique".

Description

Appareil végétatif
Les tiges noueuses du Myriophyllum aquaticum mesurent, en général, entre 15 et 60 cm, mais elles peuvent atteindre jusqu'à 3-4 mètres de long. Cependant, le diamètre des tiges reste petit : de quelques millimètres à peine. La partie émergée des tiges, elle, atteint 40 cm de haut .

Les racines, quant à elles, peuvent dépasser la taille de 85 cm de long. Deux types de racines sont trouvés : les racines glabres et les racines aérifères .

Les feuilles sont de type pennatiséqué et verticillé par 4, 5 ou 6, mais le plus couramment par 5. Leur couleur dépend de leur position par rapport à la surface de l'eau : les feuilles immergées seront vert clair, tandis que les feuilles dépassant de l'eau seront vert foncé .

Appareil reproducteur

Fleurs
Les fleurs du Myriophyllum aquaticum que l'on retrouvera à l'aisselle des feuilles des rameaux émergés sont toutes petites, unisexuées et solitaires. Cette plante est dioïque. On retrouvera donc des individus mâles, d'une part, et femelles, d'autre part. Les fleurs mâles et femelles présentent des morphologies différentes. Les fleurs mâles possèdent 4 sépales blancs soudés entre eux à la base, ainsi qu'une corolle à 4 pétales. Les fleurs femelles possèdent également 4 sépales blancs soudés, mais contrairement aux mâles, elles ne possèdent pas de pétales.

Fruits
Quatre akènes soudés entre eux forment ce que l'on appelle le fruit du Myriophyllum aquaticum, ce dernier étant alors qualifié de tétrakène. Chaque fruit mesurent 0,5 mm de long sur 0,3 mm de large et contient 4 graines.

Espèces voisines
Myriophyllum est un genre végétal comprenant 45 espèces différentes, dont les espèces principales sont:
 Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vell.) Verdc.
 Myriophyllum verticillatum L.
 Myriophyllum spicatum L.
 Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx
 Myriophyllum farwelli Morong
 Myriophyllum hippuroides Nutt. Ex Torr. & Gray
 Myriophyllum humile (Raf. Morong)
 Myriophyllum laxum (Shuttlw. ex Chapman)
 Myriophyllum pinnatum (Walt.) B.S.P.
 Myriophyllum quitense Kunth
 Myriophyllum sibiricum Komarov
 Myriophyllum tenellum Bigelow
 Myriophyllum ussuriense (Regel) Maxim
Ces différentes espèces de Myriophyllum peuvent posséder des caractéristiques fort semblables. En effet, Myriophyllum aquaticum peut facilement être confondue avec les espèces exotiques Myriophyllum heterophyllum et Myriophyllum robustum, qui, elles aussi, présentent des tiges émergées.

Écologie

Répartition géographique
Myriophyllum aquaticum est une plante originaire du fleuve Amazone, en Amérique du Sud. On la retrouve beaucoup au Brésil, d'où son nom vernaculaire : Myriophylle du Brésil. Cependant, étant une plante invasive, on la retrouve aujourd'hui partout dans le monde, et plus spécialement dans les pays à climat relativement tempéré bien qu'elle soit tout à fait capable de coloniser les pays aux hivers rudes grâce à son incroyable capacité d'adaptation.

Cette plante, originaire du Sud du continent américain, est retrouvée aujourd'hui beaucoup plus au Nord du continent. En effet, elle a colonisé tout le Sud des États-Unis et les côtes du Nord du pays, là, où le climat est plus tempéré.

Toutefois, le Myriophylle du Brésil a également envahi une bonne partie de l'Europe de l'Ouest : on le retrouve en France, mais aussi au Portugal, en Espagne, en Belgique, en Autriche, en Allemagne ou encore au Royaume Uni. Certaines plantes ont même été trouvées en Afrique du Sud ou encore en Nouvelle-Zélande.

Habitat
Myriophyllum aquaticum est une plante amphibie. En effet, elle pourra se développer aussi bien à la surface de l'eau qu'en étant totalement immergée. Cette plante aquatique se développera plus aisément dans les milieux stagnants ou à faible courant et présente une préférence pour les eaux bien éclairées, peu profondes, et dont la température est comprise entre 20-25 °C (marais, lacs, petits cours d'eau, rives, etc.). De plus, elle aime les eaux riches en éléments nutritifs, mais ne semble pas avoir de préférence pour un substrat en particulier: elle se développera aussi bien sur les milieux sableux que rocheux.

Notons toutefois que cette plante invasive s'accommode très facilement de milieux dont la température, l'éclaircissement, la minéralisation ou encore le pH ne sont pas optimales pour elle.

Cycle de vie
Le Myriophylle aquatique est une plante dioïque. Sa floraison a lieu au printemps et en été. Deux types de reproduction sont possibles pour cette plante : sexuée et asexuée.
 Reproduction sexuée
La reproduction sexuée va se faire très simplement : la floraison se fait au printemps ainsi qu'en été et le pollen va être transporté exclusivement par le vent jusqu'à une autre fleur.
 Reproduction asexuée
La reproduction asexuée se fait par allongement et fragmentation des tiges. Ce mode de reproduction asexuée est très efficace et va permettre à la plante de s'étendre très vite, voire d'envahir la région occupée.

Myriophyllum aquaticum présente une particularité au niveau de la distribution des deux sexes : en dehors de son habitat naturel, seuls des individus femelles sont observés et même en Amérique du Sud, sa région d'origine, pratiquement toutes les plantes trouvées sont des femelles, il n'y a presque pas de mâles. La reproduction sexuée est donc rare chez le Myriophyllum aquaticum en dehors de son habitat naturel et la plupart des individus vont se reproduire par fragmentation. En Eurasie, on trouvera une auto-fragmentation, tandis qu'en Amérique du Nord, des fragments se casseront mécaniquement et s'enracineront, donnant ainsi une nouvelle plante.

Interactions avec d'autres organismes
Dans son habitat d'origine, Myriophyllum aquaticum est bénéfique pour l'écosystème dans lequel elle se développe. En effet, grâce à l'épais feuillage qu'elle forme à la surface des points d'eau, cette plante protège les organismes aquatiques, telles les larves de moustiques, des étendues d'eau qu'elle envahit. De plus, le Myriophylle aquatique sert de nourriture pour un grand nombre d'animaux. En effet, Myriophyllum aquaticum a des prédateurs naturels, tels que des poissons ou des oiseaux d'eau, mais également les coléoptères de type Lysathia flavipes (Boheman), Listronotus marginicollis (Hustache) ou encore Lysathia ludoviciana (Fall.). Ces insectes se nourrissent typiquement de Myriophylle. Malheureusement, l'impact quantitatif de cette consommation n'est pas encore connu et la question de savoir si ces prédateurs naturels pourraient être utilisés comme moyen de lutte biologique reste en suspens.

Plante envahissante
En France, cette espèce est légalement inscrite sur la liste annexe de l'Arrêté du  relatif aux espèces végétales exotiques envahissantes sur le territoire métropolitain.

Mécanisme de prolifération
Myriophyllum aquaticum est une plante invasive, très invasive. Introduite par l'homme dans le monde entier pour décorer les aquariums d'intérieur et d'extérieur et très populaire comme plante de jardin, cette plante n'a eu aucun mal à s'accommoder de ses nouvelles conditions de vie et de fait, a commencé à s'étendre. La capacité d'envahissement du Myriophylle aquatique est, en fait, dû à son mode de reproduction asexuée. En effet, une tige va tout simplement s'allonger, puis, se fragmenter. Des oiseaux aquatiques, des crues, des activités humaines au bord des rives, les hélices de bateaux, etc. vont alors emporter ces fragments de tiges et ainsi, permettre à la plante de s'installer là où le fragment aura été nouvellement déposé et de prospérer dans cette région.

Historique de l'importation
Originaire d'Amérique du Sud, Myriophyllum aquaticum a été introduite dans différents endroits du monde : à la fin du  aux États-Unis, en Afrique du Sud en 1918, au Japon en 1920, en Nouvelle-Zélande en 1929 ou encore en Australie dans les années 1960 et dans les années 1970 pour le Royaume-Uni.

En France, le Myriophylle du Brésil fait son apparition en 1880 dans de nombreux jardins botaniques, dans la région de Bordeaux où on l'introduit pour la beauté de son feuillage. Quelques années plus tard, en 1913, on signalera son caractère envahissant en notant sa présence dans les Marais de Bruges au nord de la ville. Depuis, cette plante envahissante a colonisé tous les départements de l'Ouest français et s'étend petit à petit vers le nord et le sud-est du pays.

En Belgique, Myriophyllum aquaticum a été découverte en 1983 à Louvain-La-Neuve et depuis la fin des années 90, le Myriophylle aquatique est en forte expansion dans tout le pays. Ainsi, on la retrouve à présent dans les provinces de Namur et du Brabant wallon, les régions d'Ardenne et de Lorraine où règne un climat plus froid étant pour le moment épargnées.

Myriophyllum aquaticum figure sur la liste des espèces exotiques envahissantes préoccupantes pour l'Union européenne adoptée le  par la Commission européenne . À ce titre, elle ne peut être introduite, élevée ou cultivée, reproduite, conservée, utilisée, ou mise sur le marché européenne (restrictions de l'article 7 du règlement du Parlement européen du  relatif à la prévention et à la gestion de l'introduction et de la propagation des espèces exotiques envahissantes).

Conséquences de la prolifération
Myriophyllum aquaticum, grâce à sa grande capacité de prolifération, a tendance à former d'épais tapis végétaux à la surface des points d'eau qu'elle envahit. Ainsi, en empêchant l'oxygène de l'air de diffuser et les rayons du Soleil d'atteindre la profondeur de l'eau, cette plante invasive altère sérieusement les propriétés physiques et chimiques des lacs et des courants. Elle empêche alors, par exemple, les algues de se développer et l'algue, étant la nourriture de base des organismes vivant dans les étendues d'eau, elle altère l'écosystème. De plus, le caractère invasif du Myriophylle aquatique a comme conséquence de réduire, voire d'éliminer les espèces végétales indigènes du site infesté. Enfin, Myriophyllum aquaticum peut causer une obstruction des canaux dans lesquels elle se développe et peut également poser des problèmes en ce qui concerne la navigation, car elle prolifère sur les coques des bateaux et sur les palmes des moteurs.

Lutte contre le Myriophyllum aquaticum
Plusieurs techniques sont utilisées par l'homme pour tenter de contrôler le Myriophylle aquatique :
 Les herbicides sont efficaces contre cette plante. Cependant, la cuticule cireuse du Myriophylle aquatique est tellement épaisse qu'elle impose à l'homme d'utiliser des agents de surface. Le poids de la pulvérisation de ces derniers provoque l'inondation de la plante et l'herbicide s'échappe alors dans l'eau, provoquant ainsi une source de pollution non négligeable.
 La lutte mécanique contre le Myriophylle aquatique consisterait à les couper, les récolter ou encore à les arracher en utilisant un motoculteur aquatique. Si l'idée est bonne, cette lutte mécanique ne s'avère pas efficace car couper les plantes stimulent leur croissance et leur développement. De plus, les opérations d'arrachage mécanique coûtent assez cher.
 Il existe également un contrôle fongique de la plante. Le champignon Pythium carolinianum, par exemple, serait un potentiel bon agent de contrôle biologique. En effet, les plantes dans lesquelles ont été introduites expérimentalement ce champignon ont montré, par la suite, une croissance beaucoup moins rapide que les plantes témoins.

Utilisation
Myriophyllum aquaticum est utilisé en phytoremédiation, au Mexique. Le Myriophylle a été choisi pour ce genre d'étude, car il a l'avantage d'être très abondant dans ce pays et est donc très facile à se procurer. De plus, il fut choisi car il est très tolérant aux polluants et qu'il a la capacité d'absorber et donc d'éliminer les polluants présents dans son milieu aquatique. En effet, dans plusieurs études, des chercheurs ont pu observer que Myriophyllum aquaticum était capable d'éliminer des contaminants tels que de la TNT, du DDT, du perchlorate, des pesticides ou encore des antibiotiques trouvés dans des eaux usagées industrielles ou dans d'autres étendues d'eaux.

Références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Glossaire de botanique
 Liste des plantes invasives de Bretagne

Liens externes

Myriophyllum
Espèce envahissante en Belgique
Espèce envahissante en France
Espèce envahissante en Suisse
Plante envahissante


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› 2020.01.06
Hotel Panorama, 8A Hart Avenue, TST, Kowloon (Exit N1, TST MTR Station), Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Hotel Panorama, 8A Hart Avenue, TST, Kowloon (Exit N1, TST MTR Station) - 8A Hart Ave, Tsim Sha Tsui
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Speaker: Dr. CHOW Pak-Chin BBS JP
Speech Title: How to keep my eyes healthy?
Lunch Fee: HKD300
About the Speaker :
Dr. CHOW has been a full-time practicing ophthalmologist for over 35 years. He is serving in both public and private sectors. Having graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong in 1977, he has since become an Honorary Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong, Clinical Associate Professor (Honorary) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Visiting Associate Professor at Shantou University, China.
He was the President of the College of Ophthalmologists of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2017.
Dr CHOW founded the Hong Kong Medical Association Charitable Foundation in 2006 which has up to date donated $10 million to various needy people, and he remains the patron of the Foundation. He also founded the Eye Care Charitable Foundation in 2014 providing charity and outreach services including eye operations to the underprivileged and neglected people in Hong Kong, and remains its President.
He is the Honourable Ophthalmologist Ambassador of "Sight First China Action", a blindness eradication campaign which has done more than 5.2 million cataract operations in China over ten years, and several regions, including Tibet, were successfully achieved to be "cataract-blind-free".
He is The Medical Director of The Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness which has done over 500,000 cataract operations in China.
As a Vice Chairman of Project Vision, he puts into action the aim of the organization: to bring self-sustainable cataract extraction programs to the underprivileged rural masses in China which has done over 150,000 cataract operations in China. He has wholly funded and established a Charity Eye Centre in Gansu, China.
For his philanthropic acts, Dr CHOW was awarded the Prevention of Blindness Award and the Distinguished Service Award by the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in 2005 and 2010 respectively. He was awarded the Hong Kong Humanity Award by the Hong Kong Red Cross in 2007, as well as the Hong Kong Loving Hearts Award by Asia Television Ltd in 2012.
Dr CHOW is also recognized for his contributions to advancements in social and national issues. He was appointed a Member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Gansu Province Committee. He was a Member of the Hong Kong Central Policy Unit from 2003 to 2006, and has since been elected twice to be a Member of the Election Committee responsible for the election of the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.
Dr CHOW was appointed Justice of the Peace (JP) by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2013.
In recognition of Dr CHOW's meritorious public and community service, particularly his contribution to the promotion of eye care for the community and the needy, as well as the development of the medical profession, he was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2017.
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A defiant, tearful Kathy Griffin said Friday that she regretted making a photo of herself holding a mask that looked like President Trump's bloody severed head, but she wasn't going to stop criticizing the president or fighting for others to do so.
The comments were the fast-talking comedian's first beyond a video-recorded apology on social media.
The image outraged Trump, his family and many, many others earlier this week. She said five employers had canceled scheduled shows since then, and she'd been fired by CNN.
She said the online attacks on her in the last few days — including death threats — were a distraction mobilized by a president embattled by scandal. And she sought to frame it as the kind of "bullying" she'd received from older white men her entire career.
In a response to Griffin's statements, the Republican National Committee said Trump and his family "have every right" to condemn her actions.
Chelsea Clinton and Griffin's friend, CNN host Anderson Cooper, were among those with sharp criticisms of the gruesome photo, but reactions from President Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Donald Trump Jr. were especially incensed.
He also called out CNN in subsequent tweets, urging the network to sever ties with the veteran comedian and decade-long co-host of a New Year's Eve program with Anderson Cooper.
CNN later announced its decision to part ways with Griffin.
Even after Griffin apologized, Trump Jr. was unsatisfied.
Outside the first family, Griffin's stunt garnered near universal condemnation from the right and left, spurring the company Squatty Potty to pull its advertising and leading Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to cancel an event with the comic promoting his latest book.
Across the country, venues pulled Griffin from their lineups.
After such widespread backlash, it may seem odd Griffin would position herself as the victim of bullying, rather than the bully.
It's a word that has been associated with her brand of comedy before, and something she has talked about experiencing both as a young girl and as an adult.
"She's a 50-year-old adult bully, really is what she is, kind of a has-been comedian," Palin said in 2011.
The Fox News host had asked Palin about rumors that Griffin would be playing a tea party mom, modeled after Palin, on the sitcom "Glee." But by that point, the tiff between the two women had been brewing for some time.
"She's like the white Precious," Griffin added, referencing the movie "Precious," about a 350-pound black woman.
Often, Griffin qualifies her jokes with this justification: She doesn't really mean it. Most of the people she mocks she actually genuinely likes, Griffin has said. And in interviews, she has spoken out about bullying she endured as a child.
"I was so ugly that the other kids would just look at me and bark," Griffin said.
She also struggled with bulimia and body image.
The comment made Griffin cry, and she said that she later told Leno after the show that she thought the dig was "below the belt" and something he wouldn't say to a male comedian.
Her reaction could be called hypocritical given her history of mocking other people's appearances. And after the Trump stunt this week and her news conference announcement about being bullied by the Trumps, the comparisons have continued.


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Home Sports Cricket
No Indo-Pak Cricket in 2016: BCCI Secretary
in Cricket
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary on Tuesday wrote off resumption of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan in 2016. Thakur clearly said the two arch rivals will face-off only in big international tournaments.
"No series planned against Pakistan this year. India will only play against them in multi-national tournaments," Thakur told ANI.
No Indo-Pak Cricket in 2016: BCCI SecretaryPakistan cricket
The arch rivals were scheduled to play a bilateral series in December last year in the UAE, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and BCCI in 2014. However, the series could not take place after BCCI stepped back from the accord. Pakistan and India will lock horns in the T20 Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 in 2016.
The former will be held in Bangladesh from February 24 while the latter will take place in India from March 8. Pakistan and India last played a full bilateral series in 2007. However, Pakistan toured India for a short series in 2012.
YouTube Launches Localized Version in Pakistan
Eating taters pre-pregnancy may boost diabetes risk
Ptv Takes Notice Of Shoaib Akhtar Treatment On Live Show
Englisg cricket board apologized for refusing to visit Pakistan
Pakistan vs New Zealand series cancelled due to security issue
Virat Kohli To Step Down As India's T20 Captain After ICC T20 World Cup
Multan Sultans beat Peshawar Zalmi to win Maiden PSL Title
Peshawar Zalmi through to PSL 2021 final after beating Islamabad United


We all now know smoking tobacco is harmful, but it took many years to turn around the deceptive marketing image of tobacco as a relaxing and recreational substance.
What tobacco has done to people should be a warning for us all if more marijuana use is encouraged.
Marijuana contains up to four times more cancer-causing chemicals than a tobacco cigarette and is linked to mental illness. It causes its damage when inhaled or when ingested.
No doubt some big businesses would like to market marijuana, and other extremely addictive products, for even more profits than were ever made from tobacco.
The question that has to be asked is: whom will we trust to protect the community from illicit drugs?
The Prime Minister's zero-tolerance and rehabilitation Tough on Drugs policy? The ALP and their supervised drug-use and injecting-rooms? Or the Greens' open-slather drug-use experiment that failed in Europe 40 years ago?


"And as a fan of Terry Pratchett I quite like the idea of it remaining a mystery". I have huge respect for the man and that grew tenfold as I read about this news, because let's face it: after an artist or creative dies, there's always this unusual, nearly inappropriate delve back into their unfinished work, which becomes a commodity to be sold rather than a memory to be respected.
Rob Wilkins, a close friend of Pratchett's, posted photos of the hard drive and the steamroller on the Twitter account he ran with the writer.
Before he died in 2015, Pratchett asked that everything he had been working on be destroyed by steamroller, an act in keeping with the wry humour of his Discworld series.
He used a six-and-a-half tonne vintage machine named "Lord Jericho" to roll over the hard drive at the Great Dorset Steam Fair last week, before a stone-crushing machine was used to finish it off.
The crushed drive will live on, though, as it's to find a place in the Salisbury Museum later this year, as part of the His World exhibit of memorabilia, art and artefacts relating to Pratchett's life and work, due to open in September. After he was diagnosed in 2007 with Alzheimer's disease, he continued to write and publish with assistance of others.
Mr Henry said that Pratchett did not want his unpublished works to be completed by someone else and had wanted them destroyed.
Different authors have different wishes for work left unfinished when they pass on. I think a few people thought we were kidding when I first started putting out feelers to see if it was possible or not.


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Q: Unable to read file on Databricks spark python notebook, IO error I am a new user to spark, and am using python notebook. I uploaded a file on the cluster which does show up when I run the command
display(dbutils.fs.ls("/"))

The  location of the file which I want to read shows up as dbfs:/YGS1.txt. However when I call the file using
import pandas as pd
df=pd.read_csv('/YGS1.txt')

I get an error saying "IOError: File /YGS1.txt does not exist" . I have also tried using
df=pd.read_csv('dbfs:/YGS1.txt')

and I still get an error saying "IOError: File dbfs:/YGS1.txt does not exist".
I just want to load the file into the dataframe using existing python libraries. Any help in this regard is appreciated.

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These other kingdoms and empires have arisen, but we shall be the greatest, for they cannot be allowed to deny the might of the Warlords. The Ordo Eques shall flood into their cities, subduing those who would oppose us and spreading our influence. They are able to do this thanks to the efforts of the Ordo Agrestis, the cornerstone of our Imperium, who provide the resources to sustain our battles.
The humble people of the Ordo Agrestis are the backbone of the Empire, without one, the other could not exist. The Agrestis need the protection of the Empire in order to live their lives in peace, and the kingdom needs their hard work in order to function. Members of this Ordo are not required to do anything but add to the diversity of the nation as a whole.
Also known as the Blades of the Empire, this Ordo protects all people of the Empire. It is not mandatory to join, but it is a great honor to serve the Kingdom in this way and with it comes many perks and boons. There are many ranks in the Ordo Eques, but they are led by the Magus Bellum, his apprentice, and the three Praefecti.
The leading class of the Empire, each Magi is a mage of considerable power and renown. The Ordo Magus consists of the Imperator, the Dominus, and four Magi, each of a different profession and with different skills, and their apprentices. Together, these men and women determine the direction together as a group, where all of their opinions can be heard. Although they are a higher class, they are meant to be as accessible to any citizen of the Empire and represent them to the fullest of their capabilities.


Stan has trained Labrador Retrievers for numerous years at other established kennels before he became an Owner and Breeder at his own kennel: Southern Point Kennels (SPK), in Okeechobee, FL.
Stan enjoys his labs and enjoys being in the field every day with them. He is loyal to his team and will always be wherever they are when in the field, or at home, using love and understanding with the pups—so they become "all that they can be" when grown.
"One of the keys to a good Retriever pup is to keep the puppy in birds… and that's exactly what we do here at Southern Point Kennels," says owner Stan Collins.


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UConn ScHOLA2RS House Students Experience Brazil
Students and faculty advisors from UConn and The Ohio State University gather with students from the Escola Alberta School in Brazil this spring. (Photo credit: Erik Hines)
Students and faculty advisors from University of Connecticut's ScHOLA2RS House traveled to the Bahia region of Brazil this spring to learn about the low access rate to higher education among Afro-Brazilian adolescents.
ScHOLA²RS House, which stands for Scholastic House Of Leaders in support of African American Researchers & Scholars, is a Learning Community at UConn designed to support the scholastic efforts of male students who identify as African-American/Black through academic and social/emotional support, access to research opportunities, and professional development. Erik Hines, an educational psychology professor in the Neag School of Education, serves as faculty director of ScHOLA2RS House.
Students from UConn's Engineering House Learning Community joined ScHOLA2RS House students on the trip, along with students from The Ohio State University (OSU). Sixteen students from UConn and 18 students from OSU traveled to Salvador, Morrow De Sao Paulo, and Gamboa, engaging in a myriad of activities centered on understanding Afro-Brazilian culture and educational disparities in the Bahia region.
"I am grateful for having the opportunity to take students on a trip outside of the U.S. to understand the universal experiences of Black people."
— Erik Hines, faculty advisor, ScHOLA2RS House
"UConn and OSU students met with Afro-Brazilian students at DeVry University of Brazil to better understand the commonalities and differences in colleges in Brazil and the United States," says Hines. In addition, they met with students from the Steve Biko Institute, an organization that assists Afro-Brazilians with college preparation; conversed with professors and a local politician about how Afro-Brazilians are impacted by educational policies in Brazil; and performed a service learning project at Escola Alberta School. The service-learning component, Hines says, is designed to provide students with "hands-on experiences that engage their critical reflection skills and develop a sense of civic responsibility."
"What was really cool about the Brazil trip is that the ScHOLA2RS learned about a piece of their own history and culture from a different part of the world," says David Ouimette, executive director of UConn's First Year Programs and Learning Communities. "They also saw the challenges and opportunities provided by their studies to change the world."
The Ohio State Connection
Erik Hines, faculty advisor for ScHOLA2RS House Brazil Education Abroad; James Moore, The Ohio State University; Caio Amaral, civil engineering major at Devry University of Brazil; Marco, professor, Devry University of Brazil; Grace Johnson, faculty advisor for OSU Brazil and director of education abroad at The Ohio State University; and Robert Bennett, faculty advisor for Brazil Study Abroad, The Ohio State University (from l-r). (Photo courtesy of Erik Hines)
The ScHOLA2RS House students' study abroad experience in Brazil came together through a partnership with OSU and James L. Moore III, Distinguished Professor of Urban Education at its College of Education and Human Ecology, who invited ScHOLA2RS House students to join him and his OSU students.
Moore, who also serves as executive director of OSU's Todd Anthony Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male, has been taking undergraduate and graduate students to Salvador, Brazil, since 2013 as part of an annual education abroad program focused on higher education in Brazil. This was the first time he invited Hines, a longtime colleague and friend, as well as students from UConn, to take part.
"This year was even more amazing because our students were able to meet, engage, share, and reflect on their educational and social experiences in the United States with the UConn students, while together learning about the educational and social conditions for Afro-Brazilians," says Moore. "It was wonderful transcultural, educational experience. I surely hope that UConn will plan to go next year. I am confident that it will be even better."
'Just the Beginning'
The study abroad program to Brazil was chosen not only because it is a short-term, 10-day trip during spring break and affordable for students, but also as it is a trip that can serve as a primer to interest students in taking more study abroad trips during their tenure at UConn.
Stephen Sam, a junior computer science student from UConn; Fred, tour guide from Acbeu, Brazil tour host institution; and Erik Hines, faculty advisor for UConn ScHOLA2RS House Brazil Education Abroad (from l-r). (Photo courtesy of Erik Hines)
"UConn students who study abroad persist and graduate at a high rate," Hines says. "For some, this was their first experience traveling outside the country, or even leaving the New England area, so we provided support as students applied for passports and prepared for their trip."
"Since we know study abroad is a transformative learning experience, we thought it would be important to encourage students to do it earlier in their academic career instead of waiting until the typical junior year abroad," adds Ouimette. "I believe that the ScHOLA2RS trip to Brazil allowed students to experience the world and caused them to reflect about their own life experience."
"I am grateful for having the opportunity to take students on a trip outside of the U.S. to understand the universal experiences of Black people," says Hines. "To see students interact with another culture and learn about Salvador was amazing. [They] learned how their experiences around race and education mirror Afro-Brazilians. They understood that we (U.S. Blacks) have our obstacles and barriers, but they saw how socioeconomic status can have a long-term impact on life outcomes in the Bahia Region, whereas it can be easier in the U.S. to move to another socioeconomic status level and change your life outcomes."
In addition to the scholarly and service-learning opportunities, students ate at local restaurants, tasting authentic Bahian delicacies; visited a beach; took a tour of historic Salvador; and played basketball with local students on the Island of Gamboa. UConn participants ended the study abroad course by showcasing a video project and submitting journals about their experience.
"Many of my students comment that they now see the relevance of their history, sociology, and anthropology courses and are inspired to learn more and more deeply."
— David Ouimette, executive director, UConn's First Year Programs and Learning Communities
An added benefit, Hines says, is that the trip will offer some student participants an opportunity to present their research at the International Colloquium on Black Males in Education, a conference taking place this fall that focuses on the global dynamics of Black males in the educational pipeline.
As a result of the trip, "many of my students comment that they now see the relevance of their history, sociology, and anthropology courses and are inspired to learn more and more deeply," says Ouimette. "For some students, this is just the beginning as they plan more trips abroad."
Balfour Foundation Support
Through a $150,000, two-year grant from the Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation, students and the faculty advisor from ScHOLA2RS House will have future opportunities for study abroad and professional development. The grant — which focuses on increasing retention and graduation rates as well as preparing Black males for graduate and professional school — will help to expand ScHOLA2RS House students' opportunities to work with faculty and, ultimately, become better prepared as global citizens who will enter the academic and professional arenas where they are underrepresented.
"Our students will receive these services as interventions to prepare them for education beyond the baccalaureate," says Hines. "We intend to develop the first national, research-based model that has been proven to retain, graduate, and assist this population in attaining fulfilling careers."
At the end of the two-year grant, Hines will evaluate, through a mixed-method research approach, the impact of these initiatives on students' ability to persist at UConn and enroll into graduate/professional school. In addition, the research will consider a comparison group of students who are not in ScHOLA2RS House to determine whether there is any difference in academic achievement, Hines says. Hines is the principal investigator, and Ouimette is the co-principal investigator.
To learn more about ScHOLA2RS House, visit lc.uconn.edu/schola2rshouse.
Neag School's Erik Hines to Head Up New UConn Residential Learning Community for African-American Males
10 Questions With Reuben Pierre-Louis, Future Special Education Teacher


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Antelope Valley Hospital has rich history of serving the local community with heart. It was not only the first hospital in the Antelope Valley, it continues to be the local healthcare leader providing a more comprehensive array of services than any other facility within 50 miles. Local residents and visitors alike can count on AVH to deliver exceptional care right here in the Antelope Valley.
Find out more about AVH's milestones since 1955.
The First Decade
After two years of construction, Antelope Valley Hospital opens with 86 beds on October 12.
The Women's Auxiliary was formed.
The 24-hour Emergency Room opened, but there were no full-time emergency room doctors. Physicians volunteered to take one 24-hour rotation a month.
A new wing expanded the capacity to 149 beds.
Alpha Charter Guild was formed as a way for young women to support the hospital, which includes raising funds through its annual debutante ball. The first Hourglass Ball was held in May 1965, a tradition that is still held each Thanksgiving weekend.
Expanding & Innovating
Mental health unit opened.
New to You Thrift Shop opened. Staffed entirely by auxiliary volunteers, thrift shop sales benefit the hospital.
The AVH Foundation was created to raise funds for the hospital.
New south wing added 39 medical-surgical beds, including a combined Intensive Care-Coronary Care Unit and a special procedures room, a new recovery room for surgery and a progressive care unit on the second floor. The hospital was now at 184 beds.
AVH added the Sexual Assault Response Services (SARS) program, which provides care for sexual assault victims.
Outpatient Treatment Center added.
Tower of Progress opened. At 5 stories, AVH became the tallest building in the area. With the addition of its 169,000 square feet of space, the hospital increased to 260 beds.
Regional Valley Surgery Center opens offering outpatient procedures and surgeries.
Adding Services and Award‑Winning Programs
Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Center opened offering outpatient state-of-the-art radiology procedures.
Women & Infants Pavilion opened with 39 private rooms that are furnished with special labor and delivery beds and bassinets, as well as a state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and three surgery suites.
AVH was approved as a STEMI (ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction) Receiving Center, which means that patients who are having acute cardiac myocardial infarction (heart attack) are brought directly to AVH. AVH has demonstrated the fastest "medical contact-to-balloon" time of all Los Angeles County STEMI receiving centers multiple times since receiving certification.
All AVH facilities and properties became tobacco-free zones, providing a healthier environment for all who visit or work at the hospital.
Achieved Joint Commission Accreditation, which means AVH demonstrates compliance with national standards for patient safety and quality of care.
AVH became the only Level II Trauma Center in the Antelope Valley.
Antelope Valley Healthcare District named Most Innovative Healthcare District by the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD), recognizing AVH's commitment to improving the standards of care for the community through leadership, achievement and innovation.
AVH began construction on the Master Facility Plan. The first phase was a $30 million investment that included facility upgrades and program enhancements, such as expanding parking, adding a main entrance patient drop-off/pick-up canopy, redesigning and expanding the café and main lobby, centralizing the imaging department, and creating the Institute for Heart & Vascular Care.
The Joint Commission certified AVH as a Certified Primary Stroke Center, signifying that AVH provides the most advanced stroke care and ensures a team of specialized stroke neurologists and nurses are available at all times.
City of Hope Antelope Valley Cancer and Community Education Center opened. The 56,195-square-foot, two-story medical and education center includes a full-service cancer center, conference center, 172-seat auditorium, and physician offices.
Institute for Heart & Vascular Care opened to ensure that patients have access to complete cardiovascular care – from diagnosis to treatment – in one convenient location.
AVH designated a Baby-Friendly facility, which recognizes the hospital's support of breastfeeding and mother-baby bonding.
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care awarded AVH full Chest Pain Center Accreditation, making it the first facility in the Antelope Valley to achieve this designation.
The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of healthcare organizations in the United States, named AVH a Top Performer on Five Key Quality Measures®.
The cancer program at AVH earned a three-year accreditation as a National Comprehensive Community Cancer Center from the Commission on Cancer.
OneLegacy, the organ and tissue recovery organization serving the seven-county greater Los Angeles area, named AVH a top-performing hospital for organ donation out of more than 240 hospitals.


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February 21, 2014 / Brooklyn news / Cobble Hill / Hospitals in Crisis
Judge Johnny Lee Baynes says he has not seen anything like the agreement reached by civic groups, unions, and the State University of New York over how to hand off Long Island College Hospital
Sick settlement! State to abandon LICH by May, re-open bidding war
By Megan Riesz
The Brooklyn Paper
Photo by Elizabeth Graham Photo by Elizabeth Graham
Settle down, now: Anti-hospital-closure protesters say the settlement is a win for everybody.
We did it!: Mayor DeBlasio and Gov. Cuomo are crowing, too.
Hospitals in Crisis: Nixed LICH developer sues state, claiming chicanery
Cobble Hill: DeBlasio glossed over public advocate loss in LICH lawsuit victory crow
Cobble Hill: LICH judge buys time with non-ruling
Cobble Hill: Judge: State's closure of LICH was unconstitutional
Cobble Hill: Fifteeen arrested at LICH protest
Cobble Hill: Pols demand inclusion of full-service hospital in LICH pitches
The state will let go of Long Island College Hospital by May and re-open bidding for developers and medical providers hopeful to overhaul the medical facility as part of a court settlement reached with staffers and activists on Thursday.
A sped-up process for submitting new redevelopment bids will be followed by a seven-day period for picking who will take over the Cobble Hill medical center that sits on land valued at as much as $500 million, if Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Johnny Lee Baynes approves it, according to a joint announcement by Governor Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio. The mayor made fighting to keep the hospital full-service a signature issue of his 2013 campaign but has been tight-lipped about it since winning the Democratic primary in September. Now, he is declaring victory.
"We fought shoulder to shoulder with this community and used all the tools of city government to press for a better outcome — and now, we have a resolution that finally puts people's health first," Mayor DeBlasio said in a statement. "There is more work ahead, but we are closer than ever to the long-term, sustainable solution all of us have sought."
The agreement between the State University of New York and hospital advocates marks the end of a yearlong chapter in the battle over the state's attempts to close the hospital and sell off the prime real estate it sits on. The settlement was announced on Thursday afternoon and is expected to be unveiled in its entirety this afternoon.
The settlement ends the lawsuits by unions and community groups against the State University of New York, which is still technically facing contempt charges until this afternoon for barring emergency vehicles from Long Island College Hospital despite orders by Judge Baynes to keep service levels where they were on July 19. In the latter five months of 2013, the state placed 650 hospital staffers on paid administrative leave, stopped surgeries, and surrounded the hospital with security guards, moves that hospital advocates said were obviously illegal.
The five current bidders, each of them developer-healthcare-company partnerships, are encouraged to re-submit their plans, according to the statement.
The agreement is "unique" and "extraordinary," according to attorneys representing six anti-closure community groups who said they could not legally unveil any details of the compromise on Thursday afternoon.
"At the end of the day, we achieved our core principles," said lawyer Jim Walden. "We really appreciate SUNY coming forward and choosing peace rather than continuing litigation."
Judge Baynes, who avoided deciding whether the state broke the law for the last four months, applauded both sides for finally reaching a compromise in the lengthy lawsuits.
"I am impressed and I do not impress easy," Baynes said. "We did some of the most difficult work I have seen in 21 years."
Defenders of the hospital said they are relieved and optimistic that the settlement could bring an outcome that includes a substantial amount of healthcare services.
"I feel safe for the first time since I almost died at LICH two and a half years ago," Brooklyn Heights resident Sue Raboy said. "I am very hopeful."
Reach reporter Megan Riesz at mriesz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4505. Follow her on Twitter @meganriesz.
Updated 10:17 pm, July 9, 2018
Midwood: Pennsylvania man indicted for allegedly setting rabbi's Midwood home ablaze
Curious from Want to Know says:
I suppose Obamacare will fix this and preserve the hospital?
Feb. 21, 2014, 5:50 am
Mike from Williamsburg says:
I don't think Obamacare is designed to preserve costly overcapacity.
Joe N. from Carroll Gardens says:
If the small parcel of land (relatively speaking) owned by Junior's Cheesecake is worth $47 mil as per yesterday's reporting at Flatbush/DeKalb... then the immense, multiple buildings in the LICH footprint has to be way over 1 billion?
resident from Cobble Hill says:
Hip, hip,..., I think I broke a hip!
Thank goodness the politicians have figured out how to get out of this mess they should have never have been suckered into, and be hero's at the same time.
Now, like it or not, it will be sold to whomever and we can all stop being suckered into the unions BS.
Smart guys!
judahspechal from Bedstuy says:
Like I've said, polticians & developers see Condo from LICH all the way to teh water in BBP.
Andrew Cuomo perfect example of an unopposed elected official, who envision himself a king.
Will the GOP put up a competent opponent?
Will some primary this guy?
Get rid of Cuomo, his only goal is 2016.
See him weasle out of the fracking issue.
If u've followed him the last few months. You can write him future campaign chest thumping speech.
What a disgrace!!
Is their an Independent who can run against Cuomo's re-election?
I can only hope.
Should an Independent win or does well, he/she will reset the Nation's political landscape
Feb. 21, 2014, 12:13 pm


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Q: Java function variables with default value I have some function in java and i want this function to have a parameter with a default value that is set to variable if no value sent, look like following:
private void test(int count=5)
 {
 }

So i can call the function with 2 ways:
test(); and test(10);

how do i do it?

A: You could have two overloaded methods.  The version with no parameters would call another version accepting an int input, passing a default value of 5.
private void test() {
    test(5);
}

private void test(int count) {
    // rest of method
}


Does your family need a minivan or an SUV? It's difficult to answer since they're fairly different, but we have some pros and cons that will help.
You're ready to go green, but how? The Nissan Leaf is a great electric car, and the Prius is one of the best hybrids on the market.
The Ford Explorer has been a stalwart SUV for a long time, but the Chevy Traverse is pretty evenly matched against it. Which one's right for you?
The Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition are great SUVs - but one comes with a much higher price tag. Are the features worth it?
Choosing between the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta can be pretty tough. They're very similar cars from the same manufacturer. Our guide can help you pick.
The Honda Civic and Ford Focus are very similar, but one's more expensive - and more reliable. Which one comes out on top?
If you're looking for a mid-size sedan, it can be hard to choose between the Ford Fusion and Camry, but this guide could make picking a breeze.
The Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 are two of the best-selling lightweight trucks on the market. But how do they set themselves apart?
The Chrysler Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey are both terrific minivans that live at the top of the heap. But which one comes out on top this year?


A 3 Hour river and canals cruise on the Sunshine Coast for just you!
The 3 Hour Private River & Canals Cruise.
Crusader 1 is a large, open deck vessel which allows full walk around access. Even to the bow of the boat where you sit in the open and enjoy the surrounds. Able to accommodate up to 45 passengers this is an ideal option for larger corporate outings, Christmas parties and other celebrations! Let us assist you in ensuring every aspect of your cruise is planned with quality and maximum enjoyment in mind.
First class, highly qualified and experienced crew, trained to provide the highest possible levels of service will look after you like never before. From the moment you step aboard, they will ensure you have nothing more to do than to enjoy yourself.
With just 45 passengers on such a large vessel, you are assured the space and room to move about for everybody remains at an optimal level, ensuring everyone aboard can enjoy total visibility and comfort. With undoubtedly the most up-close and close-to-the-water viewing decks of any vessel on the Sunshine Coast, this tour offers a very personal day out on the water with unobstructed views of the beautiful Mooloolaba waterways and surrounds.
Crusader 1 is the ideal boat for your cruise needs!
We can structure this cruise to suit your needs, from total BYO to fully catered and most level between those two. Maybe a BBQ on the water is a fun and delicious option. Talk to our helpful staff to get the best option for you day out!
Please note – Although priced per person, this is a BOAT HIRE option only. Minimum passenger booking of 23 or more. Maximum 45 passengers. No "individual" bookings are possible.
RETURN TIME Varies based on departure time.
WEAR Comfortable clothing, enclosed shoes, hat and sunglasses. Bring your swimmers just in case! And don't forget your CAMERA! Alcohol is on a BYO basis.
*Compared to Ocean going charters which allow up to 23 passengers. These cruises are conducted in protected waters only, catering for up to 45 passengers.
Price varies depending on passenger numbers. A Minimum of 23 passengers and a Maximum of 45 Passengers can be accommodated on this tour. No BYO surcharge per person is applicable on this tour. Additional costs for such areas as food and or drinks is not included.
65 Parkyn Parade Mooloolaba Qld.
For a GPS use 65 Parkyn Parade Mooloolaba Qld. This is the Coast Guard address, from where you will immediately see the large pontoon from which we operate.
We are most likely heading out to sea so each and every person aboard must sign in on the ship register, and marked off by the crew. To this end see the skipper (at the cabin window) and he will indicate the passenger log for you to complete.
Once the paperwork has been done for you, make yourself comfoirtable and have a look about the boat.
On a 3Hr cruise the open ocean part is normally about 60 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the time of day and the conditions. The skipper will try to make sure you get the best views of both the coast line and the main canals during your cruise.
The houses along the river and canals are truely impressive. Especially at night. A gentle cruise to show some of the sights is normally well received.
Of course as we re-enter the bar, and during the mooring of the vessel, the crew will ask all passengers to be seated again for safety. Once moored securely you are free to disembark the vessel.


"Astra" and "Sastra" are terms used in Dhanurveda (military science) to denote two types of weapons. Knife, arrow, spear, club and so on-real weapons-come under the term "sastra". "Astra" is what is energised by a mantra into a weapon. If you discharge just a darbha or a blade of grass chanting or muttering the appropriate mantra it will be turned into a weapon. Sastras are also discharged similarly with mantras. If you hurl something at a object or person muttering the mantra proper to it, the object or person will be destroyed when hit.
The twice-born (Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas) have the duty of discharging "Astras" every day to destroy asuras or the evil forces besieging mankind. Does not "Astra" mean that which is discharged, thrown or hurled? What is the "Astra" which is to be thrown or discharged [by the twice - born]? We throw water so as to drive away or destroy the demons or evil forces that have taken hold of the minds of people. This water, the astra, is the same as the libation offered during sandhiyavandana. We must keep this purpose in mind when we offer arghya : "May sinfulness and falsehood be annihilated. May the sun of knowledge shine brightly. May those obstacles that keep the sun of knowledge dim in us to be demolished. "Whatever you do or do not do, you must perform this arghya thrice a day. Do it somehow " holding your breath"
When a person does a job earnestly and whole-heartedly, we say that he does it "holding his breath". As a matter of fact sandhyavandana is to be performed holding one's breath. If we do this all the evil forces will be destroyed. Nowadays all we do is to hold our nose with our fingers. The sastras do not say, "Nasikam ayamya", but say, "Pranam ayamya. " It means, instead of merely holding the nose, control the vital breath, the prana itself or the life force.
All work must be done with one-pointedness. There must be such one-pointedness of the mind to turn water into a weapon(astra). The breath is controlled for this purpose. You will ask: "How is it that if you control your breath the mind will be still? " We see that when the mind is still the breath also stops. When our wonder is aroused, when we are grief-stricken or when we are overjoyed, the mind becomes one-pointed. We exclaim "Ha" and the breath stops for a moment. But soon we breathe fast. We do not stop breathing with any effort on our part-the stopping is involuntary. The mind stops when it is enwrapped or absorbed in something. Then we heave a sigh-take a long breath-making up for the momentary stoppage of breathing. We learn from this that, when breathing momentarily stops, the mind becomes one-pointed. This is the reason why the breath is controlled when arghya, libation, is offered.
If we practice pranayama we will train ourselves to have mental concentration. This is important to yoga. Practicing pranayama for long is difficult and it must be done under the guidance of a guru. In sandhyavandana we do it only ten times. For some rites it is performed three times as a preliminary step. If we had practiced pranayama regularly from the time of our upanayana we should have become yogisvaras by now. What we do we must do properly. When we practice pranayama as a part of sandhyavandana we must stop our breath for 30 seconds or so, not more. When the vital breath stops, the mind will become still. If the arghya is offered in this state the evil forces will be truly be driven away. The water that we pour or throw when our mind is still will turn a weapon to destroy all evil.
After employing the arghya weapon against the evil forces, we must perform Gayathri-japa. Pranayama we must do according to our ability, holding the breath for a while, then realising it: this process may be repeated without controlling the breath for too long a time. All the steps in sandhyavandana- samkalpa, marjana, arghya-pradana, japa, stotra, abhivandana-have for their purpose the blessings of Isvara: this is stated in the samkalpa that we make at first. From beginning to end sandhyavandana is dedicated to Paramesvara and pranayama is an important part of it.
According to the sastras even the sick must do pranayama three times a day. This means that breath-control is not such as to cause trouble or discomfort. Indeed it could mean a cure for the illness and a prescription for long life.
In abhivadana we mention the name of the sage from whom we are descended. It is our duty to observe Vedic rituals at least for the fact that we belong to the gotra of that sage. After him there have been so many rsis in the line. We use the terms "trayarseyam", "pancarseyam", "ekarseyam", meaning that, in the gotras concerned, there were three sages, fives sages, one sage. . . They must have lived long and secured knowledge, fame, Brahmic lustre and spiritual eminence by performing sandhyavandana. This is what the Manusmrti stanza means.
By our neglect we should not sever the thread, the tradition, handed down to us uninterruptedly. We must perform sandhyavandana as an offering to Paramesvara and must do so understanding its meaning and with faith and devotion. There must be one-pointedness in it and no mantra must be left out.
We sin with our mind, speech and body. I told you that these sins must be washed away by performing rites with the same mind, speech and body. In sandhyavandana we mutter the mantras with our mouth and, even as we repeat the Gayatri, we meditate on it with our mind and in such rites as marjana (sprinkling of water) we acquire bodily purity. Sandhyavandana is karmayoga, bhaktiyoga and jnanayoga combined [it unites the three paths of karma, devotion and knowledge].


text:
Anastasia Tsirtsakis
Become A GP: RACGP launches campaign to boost GP workforce
The new campaign aims to inspire medical students and junior doctors to specialise in general practice.
The Become A GP campaign highlights the rewards of a career in general practice.
Those working in general practice are all too familiar with workforce shortages, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only added to the challenge.
As the community faces a growing need for generalist care, amid rising rates of chronic disease and an ageing population, not enough medical graduates are choosing to specialise in general practice.
If the trend continues, by 2030 there will be a projected shortfall of 9298 full-time GPs – or 24.7% of the GP workforce – according to a 2019 report by Deloitte. The shortage is forecast to be most extreme in urban areas, with a shortfall of 7535 full-time GPs – or 31.7%.
To help arrest the concerning drop, the RACGP has launched a new Become A GP campaign aimed at encouraging medical students and junior doctors to pursue a career in general practice.
RACGP President Dr Karen Price believes there is an increasingly urgent need for more GPs as governments have failed to invest in Australia's general practice workforce 'for decades'.
'This [lack of funding] has led to many communities facing severe shortages of GPs, particularly rural and remote areas,' she said.
'The Government needs to act now and invest in our future GP workforce.'
Contributing to the shortage, Dr Price said, is the fact that many medical students are often unaware of the rewards of a career in general practice.
'We need campaigns like this to encourage more medical students to become a GP,' she said.
'Research shows people get into medicine to "help people", and general practice is unique among specialties in allowing a person to do just that – GPs provide holistic care to patients throughout their lives, not just when they're sick, but to keep them well.'
This was certainly the case for Dr Isabel Hanson.
A primary care academic and GP registrar, who practices in Sydney, she said the opportunity to work 'in partnership with people' to improve their health and wellbeing attracted her to general practice.
'Supporting people to heal and feel empowered in their bodies is one of the most satisfying parts of being a GP,' Dr Hanson, who was named the 2021 RACGP NSW&ACT GP in Training of the Year, said.
Another challenge to boosting the workforce is the lack of exposure to general practice during medical school.
Dr Nathan Lam, a part-time GP in rural South Australia and Adelaide medical School lecturer, encourages students to explore general practice electives during their studies after his own experiences revealed a type of medicine that is 'very pragmatic, creative, and independent'.
'I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't spent a year in rural general practice in Kapunda as a fifth-year medical student,' Dr Lam said.
'My GP mentors were very enthusiastic to have me involved and be hands-on with practical on-the-job training.
'I went from an apprehensive medical student to someone with far more confidence assessing and managing patients – and importantly, engaging with patients in my own style.'
Dr Lam said this itself is 'one of the best parts of general practice'.
'It allows you to tailor the way you do medicine to your personality style and whatever special interest you have,' he said.
'You can do medicine in your own way and at your own pace, whilst carving out time for any other passions in life that you may have. The possibilities and opportunities are endless.'
And with the pandemic having highlighted the 'critical role' GPs play in their communities, Dr Price said the launch of the RACGP's campaign could not be more timely.
'General practice is our frontline defence against COVID-19 and the backbone of the vaccine rollout, delivering half of all vaccines across the nation to date,' she said.
'On top of this, we're continuing usual care for patients including managing rising chronic conditions and mental illness.
'I'm hopeful that young people will have been inspired seeing GPs on the frontline throughout the pandemic, protecting and caring for their communities, and that this will encourage more people to choose to become a GP.'
Become A GP GP shortage GP workforce RACGP campaign remote rural
Removing choice will not increase regional GP numbers
SA rural GP shortage worsens
Why some towns can attract GPs while others go without
Massive shortage in projected care workforce flagged
New support program for IMGs to launch next month


text:
Q: Error when using OpenCV face detection I am try to get face detection working on using a python script and OpenCV but I keep getting this error:
Traceback (most recent call last)
    File "face_detect.py", line 19, in <module>
        cascade = cv.Load(options, cascade)
TypeError: OpenCV returned NULL

The code I used is here: https://github.com/mitchtech/py_servo_facetracker
I don know what is causing this error or how to fix it. Thanks in advance.

A: if you put on your goggles ;)
you'll see, that it's not
cascade = cv.Load(options, cascade)

in the original code, but :
cascade = cv.Load(options.cascade)

( and a remark: the old cv api got removed in newer opencv versions, you probably should avoid it in favour of cv2 )

A: I had the same issue. For me, the relative-path of the haarcascade was incorrect. It thought the data folder was one level up, instead it was two.
My changes
Original:
parser.add_option("-c", "--cascade", action="store", dest="cascade", type="str", help="Haar cascade file, default %default", default = "../data/haarcascades/haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml")
Modified:
parser.add_option("-c", "--cascade", action="store", dest="cascade", type="str", help="Haar cascade file, default %default", default = "../../data/haarcascades/haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml")

A: I met the same issue, and it seems like the file path of haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml is not correct.
You should download haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml to your computer from http://eclecti.cc/files/2008/03/haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml.
So I fixed it by changing the file path of haarcascade_frontalface_alt.xml. Hope it will help!


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Wartime periods for VA Pension benefits
VA Pension benefits, which includes VA Aid & Attendance, requires 90 days of active duty and at least one of those days must have been during a wartime period. Under current law, VA recognizes the following wartime periods to determine eligibility for VA Pension benefits:
Mexican Border Period (May 9, 1916 – April 5, 1917 for Veterans who served in Mexico, on its borders, or adjacent waters)
World War I (April 6, 1917 – November 11, 1918)
World War II (December 7, 1941 – December 31, 1946)
Korean conflict (June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955)
Vietnam era (February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; otherwise August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975)
Gulf War (August 2, 1990 – through a future date to be set by law or Presidential Proclamation)
http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/wartimeperiod.asp
VA Pension benefits VA Aid 90 days wartime period wartime periods
VA Aid & Attendance
VA Aid and Attendance is a means-tested benefit available for veteran's with a non-service connected disability. It is frequently used by aging veterans to pay for long-term care. The benefit is available veterans who served 90 or more days of active duty with at least one day of service during a wartime period, and who have an other than dishonorable discharge.
The 2016 benefit rate is $1,788 for a single veteran, $2,120 for a veteran with a spouse, and $1,149 for a surviving spouse. These rate will increase by 0.3% for 2017 due to a Cost-of-Living Adjustment. These are maximum A&A benefit rates. To receive the maximum rate, you must need the aid of another person to perform personal functions in everyday living, such as bathing, feeding, dressing, toileting, adjusting prosthetic devices, or protecting yourself from the hazards of everydasy environment, or you must be bedridden, or you must be in a nursing home for a mental or physical condition, or you must be nearly blind. You must also have Income for VA Purposes (IVAP) that is below the benefit rate.
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Don't miss out on a fantastic day of footy this Mother's Day - bring the whole family to Pirtek Stadium to see the Dyldam Parramatta Eels take on the Melbourne Storm!
Under the Eels 2015 ticketing prices, the best seats in the house for Sunday afternoon are only $30, and general admission family tickets will set you back just $20.
Click through to purchase your tickets for Mother's Day footy!
Sunday's game will be a celebration of Mother's Day, with a rose giveaway for the first 400 mums to arrive thanks to our game day partners, Dyldam.
We will also be offering mini-manicures and massages in the Parramatta Motor Group TryLine City precinct, as well as our usual family activities and entertainment.
Gates open at 1.30pm, ahead of a 4pm NRL kick off.
Click through for more Game Day Info, and we can't wait to see you at the game!


Shields Down Blackjack is just like a Blackjack game (Also known as Pontoon, 21, etc). To start with, you are drawn 2 cards per hand, and the dealer is drawn 2 cards, 1 shown, 1 hidden. Your objective is to get closer to 21 then the dealer, without going over.
That Simple! Aces are worth 1 or 11 (can be either at any time), Jacks, Queens, Kings are worth 10. All other cards are face value.
1) 1 Deck of cards used, shuffled at the beginning of each new table.
4) Surrendering allowed on any dealers Ace. No Insurance.


Clinical and mutational spectrum of Japanese patients with recessive variants in SH3TC2.
Cowden Syndrome with a Novel PTEN Mutation Presenting with Partial Epilepsy Related to Focal Cortical Dysplasia.
No associations between five polymorphisms in COMT gene and migraine.
Prevalence of progressive supranuclear palsy in Yonago: change throughout a decade.
Beneficial Effects of Ramelteon on Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Associated with Parkinson's Disease - Results of a Multicenter Open Trial.
[Cortical spreading depression and pain: a missing link in the pathophysiology of migraine?].
Comparison of REM sleep behaviour disorder variables between patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and those with Parkinson's disease.


What does assisted living in Henderson, NV mean to you and your loved one?
confidence that your loved one will be in a comfortable & secure community, licensed and regulated by the Division of Health, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance. In the state of Nevada, assisted living residences are licensed as Residential Care Facilities for Groups. RCFGs are establishments that provide food, shelter, assistance and limited supervision to an aged, infirm, special needs or handicapped person.
Assisted living communities flourished in the 1990s as a popular option for eldercare. These communities provide 24-7 supervision, housekeeping and supportive & personalized care services for elders who cannot live on their own. Assistance with some health services may be available via home healthcare agencies and hospice to provide care as needed. Other states may use similar terms to describe a Residential Care Facility such as alternative care facilities, family care homes and board & care.
There are 68 licensed Residential Care Facilities for Groups located in Henderson, NV, that may be a correct fit for you and your family. See the list below or click here for Assisted living providers in Henderson. Assisted living communities in Henderson range from small residential home settings to large or grand communities. Mostly offering the same personal care & supportive services for your loved one.
Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada and is located in the Las Vegas metro area. Cities near Henderson include Boulder City, Whitney, Paradise and Enterprise. The City of Henderson has attractions such as the Galaxy Theater, the Lion Habitat Ranch and Lake Las Vegas. The Henderson area also hosts hundreds of hospitals and medical complexes to suit you and your loved ones needs.