Copyright © 2016 Albert Ayang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
In this paper, the work consists of categorizing telecommunication base stations (BTS) for the Sahel area of Cameroon according to their power consumption per month. It consists also of proposing a model of a power consumption and finally proceeding to energy audits in each type of base station in order to outline the possibilities of realizing energy savings. Three types of telecommunication base stations (BTS) are found in the Sahel area of Cameroon. The energy model takes into account power consumption of all equipment located in base stations (BTS). The energy audits showed that mismanagement of lighting systems, and of air-conditioning systems, and the type of buildings increased the power consumption of the base station. By applying energy savings techniques proposed for base stations (BTS) in the Sahel zone, up to 17% of energy savings are realized in CRTV base stations, approximately 24.4% of energy are realized in the base station of Missinguileo, and approximately 14.5% of energy savings are realized in the base station of Maroua market.
In order to cope with the development of the world, the requirements in telecommunication will continuously increase. In order to allow a vast and rapid communication (i.e., to maximize the range of signals and the extent of the telephone and broadcast coverage), telecommunication and broadcast companies (namely, MTN, CAMTEL and ORANGE, CRTV with its transmitters, and other broadcast channels) proceeded with the installation of pieces of equipment of telecommunications in several rural and urban areas in Cameroon, on the mountains and the buildings. These installations require a reliable electric power supply, being without interruption.
Unfortunately, many areas are electrically isolated because they are not supplied by the interconnected electrical networks (according to  only about 14% of the 13000 villages have access to electricity in Cameroon). In these particular areas, the installations of telecommunications witness a serious problem of electrical energy supply, despite the use of power generating units (generating units use petrol or gas oil for fuel, which from the environmental point of view contribute to pollution effect of greenhouse, and consequently accelerate the phenomenon of global warming). As for the urban areas, despite the presence of the interconnected electrical supply networks of AES-Sonel, telecommunication installations face serious problems of supply electric power in view of the important increase of telephone subscribers (close to 10 million subscribers according to ) and the recurrence of unballastings. Facing the difficulties of supply permanent and reliable energy, in spite of large investments (according to a source close to the general management, in ten years of activity in Cameroon, MTN affirms that it has invested, in Cameroon, more than 137 249 519,62 USD for telecommunication equipment), the companies of telecommunication know serious problems concerning the coverage of the network (according to , 20% of coverage against 95% of network coverage imposed by Agency of Regulation of Telecommunications).
According to , approximately 600 TWh or 3% of the world's electrical energy is consumed by the ICTs (information and communication technologies) causing approximately 2% of the CO2 emissions in the whole world; 9% of this consumption of ICTs is caused by communication networks radio . Within these radio communication networks, 10% of the energy is consumed by the users of terminals, while 90% is consumed by telecommunication base stations . Thus, the increase in the number of base stations by the telephone and audiovisual companies in Cameroon implies an increase in the global energy consumption that is increase in energy costs, which has also an impact on global warming especially in the Sahelian areas of Cameroon where we often encounter high temperatures. The rest of the paper is organized as follows: in Section 2, we present the bibliographical approach or the existing state of the art on the power consumption of base stations and the various existing approaches to be able to save energy in the base stations of telecommunication. The classification of base stations and the description of some base stations of Sahelian zone of Cameroon are presented, respectively, in Sections 3 and 4. The results on energy audits carried out in the three base stations and the proposal of a power consumption model are, respectively, presented in Sections 5 and 6. In addition, some solutions of realizable energy saving are detailed, respectively, in Sections 7 and 8. Finally, applicable technical solutions, in telecommunication base stations in the Sahelian zone in order to increase the energy efficiency, are presented in Section 9.
The growing interest towards new and reliable services in the field of mobile telecommunication has led to an increase in installation of number of base stations in the whole world. Besides, the traditional concept of the deployment of base stations ensures a continuous operation in order to constantly guarantee a quality of the service of network in any place. According to , these two reasons have contributed synergetically during the last decade to an important increase in energy consumption of base stations belonging to mobile telephone network operators.
According to , the distribution of power consumption averages of the various components of base stations is recapitulated in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Energy consumption of the various components of the base stations .
It shows the power consumption by component in a base station; the largest energy consumer in base stations is the radiofrequency equipment (power amplifier plus the transceivers and cables), which consumes approximately 65% of the total energy. Among the other components of the base station, the important energy consumers are air conditioning (17.5%), digital signal processor (10%), and the AC/DC converter (7.5%).
We notice that the radio operator equipment (the module of digital signal processing, the power amplifiers of transceivers, the radio frequencies, and connecting wires) and the systems of air cooling are the large-scale consumers of energy in telecommunication base stations. Emphasis must thus be laid on these components to reduce the total energy consumption of base stations.
In the zones of Sahel, the annual average temperatures are high; to reduce the energy consumption of base stations in these areas, an effort must be made on the control of the internal temperature of the room sheltering the equipment or on the system of air cooling.
To optimize energy consumption in a telecommunication base station, we answer three principal questions: optimization of energy consumption of BTS (base transceiver stations), energy optimization of the site sheltering the BTS (base transceiver stations), and the energy optimization of the network and radio frequency connection.
Research is focused on several components of the BTS to improve their energy efficiency. Research is more focused on the amelioration of the linearization and energy efficiency of the power amplifier. The energy efficiency can be improved by using an especially designed power amplifier containing special materials for the transistors of the power amplifier, like materials of high frequency such as Si, GaAs . A numerical technique of predistortion can be used in the power amplifier to cancel the distortion of energy and so give a better linearity .
The power consumption of the digital signal processor can be reduced by using, for example, integrated circuits architectures like ASIC, FPGA, or DSP which are combined to obtain a better efficiency .
The AC/DC converter can be ameliorated by using converters that have a good efficiency in terms of energy being able to improve; thus, the total energy efficiency of the BTS, even in situations where the traffic load, is very bulky.
The power consumption caused by air conditioning can be reduced by lowering the operational temperature of base stations to the minimum or by using additional elements such as heat exchangers, membrane filters, and "smart" fans or heat modules .
Energy savings in a base station can be obtained by putting into place the distributed architecture of a base station, where the radio frequency equipment is placed near the antenna in order to minimize losses in cables . The possibilities to use renewable energies such as photovoltaic panels and wind energy on the sites of base stations are under study. By combining these two sources of renewable energies, one can reduce the potential of power consumption cost of a base station by 50% .
The potential of energy savings at the level of the connection is mostly found in the techniques of transmission by interface with air.
The level of contact considers the possible modes of sleep of certain components of the base station, when some of them can be switched off during certain times. In this case, the base station must provide a certain difference between the transmissions ordered by the traffic load in strong connection or in weak connection .
The energy efficiency in a base station obtained by the modes of sleep can be increased through the implementation of tedding techniques and flowering of cells. These techniques, used for the conception of base stations that have transitional states of sleep, consist of a progressive commutation of "switching off and on" a base station. It is shown that these transitional states are too short, which enable the base station to switch off and on for a short time which does not have a great significant reduction in the energy savings obtained through the approaches of sleep .
The system of 4G (4th generation of wireless networks) is envisaging the possibility of a dynamic allocation of the spectrum of frequencies as a function of the traffic load . The cancellation of interferences in cellular networks by using the distributed antenna systems and algorithms, such as linear forcing to zero, the minimal error squared, and the cancellation of successive interferences, contributes also to the reduction of energy consumption .
At the level of the network, one of the most important approaches to reducing the consumption of energy is the dynamic management of network resources, which in fact enables the switching off of equipment of base stations at the time of weak traffic load. In such a scenario, neighboring base stations must ensure network coverage and take care of the network traffic of subscribers situated in the area where the base stations are not activated . This can be combined with a dynamic selection of transmitter power, by tilting the antenna, by relaying multiskip, or by coordinating the transmission and reception in several points (multipoint) .
An important concept to reduce energy consumption of mobile telephone networks is presented in the context of the evaluation of energy efficiency, which includes several models that can ameliorate the energy efficiency on weak load traffic . These models are subdivided into small sample models for short-term and large sample models for long-term. The small sample models for short-term are power models of which the cartography of RF power (radio frequency) brings out of the antenna radiated power, and the latter is assimilated to the total power supply of the site of the base station. The large sample models for long-term include the traffic models that describe the variation of the traffic load during a day and the models of deployment at small samples existing in geographically large areas. The energy efficiency can also be ameliorated without switching off certain equipment of the base station, using a technique called attenuation of cellular networks. This method is built as a problem of optimization at multiperiod enabling the attenuation frequency to switch off certain frequencies of the canals of the base station. The attenuation frequency can be combined with the service of attenuation, which stops certain services at high rate of data on the permitted frequencies during the periods when the traffic load demand is weak .
In the case of network architecture of heterogeneous mobile telephone, the network itself represents the potential of reducing energy consumption. In this type of network, the macrocells are completed with cells of weak transmission power such as micro-, Pico-, and femtocells . The macrocells ensure permanent network coverage; meanwhile, the putting into service and out of service of small cells depend on the traffic load present. The possibility of applying techniques such as the zooming of cells, where the cell can adjust its size depending on the situation of the traffic load, is also explored in .
The potential of reduction of the energy consumption of networks is also found at the level of its planning and its functioning. One of the models proposed is the Traffic-Aware Network Planning cadre and Green Operation (TANGO) Framework, which seems to be an implementation of the future, being capable of increasing the energy efficiency of mobile telephone networks while conserving the quality of the service at a satisfactory level . Besides, certain initiatives are based on the possibility of making energy savings through a cooperation between competing operators that offer the same services in the same area of coverage (generally in towns). The fact is that one of the operators can completely switch off its base stations during a weak traffic load, while the base stations of the second operator accept the subscribers from the two operators. According to the authors of , such an approach can offer reductions in energy consumption by 20%. In , the authors propose several solutions that can ameliorate the energy efficiency of base stations of 4G (4th generation of wireless networks). These solutions can be observed from time, the frequency, and spatial domain, and the most promising solutions are hybrid solutions that combine the solutions in the different domains to adapt the energy consumption of the site of the base station to the conditions of the traffic load. In fact, the simultaneous use of most of the approaches mentioned will have a synergetic effect that leads completely to an energy efficiency of mobile telephone networks.
It turns out that base stations are greatest energy consumers in the mobile communication chain. This energy consumption is better controlled in western countries than in sub-Saharan countries (where the average temperatures are very high); thus, we have to find how to control the power consumption of base stations situated in the Sahel area of Cameroon (the annual average temperatures are high) by proposing solutions of energy savings. The approaches of energy efficiency in base stations in general are recent and do not reveal the specific case of base stations situated in Sahel areas (where one witnesses average temperatures variations).
The visit to several sites accommodating base stations allowed to count base stations in terms of their energy consumption (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Energy consumption of some telecommunications base stations in the Sahel area of Cameroon.
It turns out that according to the classification of base stations defined in , one finds two types which include base stations of whose equipment is placed on the ground and indoors (encountered fields in town) and the base stations of distributed architecture and outdoors (encountered where there are buildings).
Besides these two types, there are also the relay stations of audiovisual companies such as CRTV. In sum, in the Sahel zone, there are three types of base stations:(i)Traditional base stations indoors (the equipment is placed on the ground).(ii)Base stations of distributed architecture and outdoors.(iii)Base stations of audiovisual companies in which the specificity is the presence of several radio transceivers and TV (television).
It turns out from the above figure that the base stations of distributed architecture and outdoors (from MTN Maroua Market to Camtel kakataré) consume less power than the traditional base stations (from MTN Missinguileo to orange Mora). The latter in their turn consume less energy than the audiovisual stations (CRTV Maroua and CRTV Yagoua). Thus, there are three ranges of power consumption:(i)Nonordinary base stations which have large power consumption (more than 10 000 kWh/month), it is the case of the station CRTV Maroua (has several transmitters of high power and air conditioning system of high power).(ii)Traditional base stations (equipment placed on the ground in a premises) which have medium power consumption (consumption ranging from 3 000 kWh/month and 10 000 kWh/month), it is the case of the station MTN Missinguileo (indoor station using air conditioners).(iii)Base stations of distributed architecture and outdoors which have small power consumption (consumption less than 3 000 kWh/month), it is the case of the station MTN Maroua Market (outdoor station and with distributed architecture).
Some energy audits were carried out on the sites of CRTV Maroua, MTN Missinguileo, and MTN Maroua Market.
CRTV Maroua, like all other audiovisual companies, is endowed with several radio transceivers and television enabling the service in radio/television communication in Far North Region.
The equipment ensuring the transmission and the reception are accommodated in GASA neighborhood. They are distributed in three rooms (TV room, FM room, and RFI room). The electric power delivered by AES-Sonel on the site is about 160 kVa with a power factor of 0.8.
The transceivers (TX) of all rooms, and others equipment in this site, are represented in Supplementary Annexes 1 (In Supplementary Material available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/3161060).
The TV room is the one accommodating the TV emitter. The equipment found in this room is listed in Table 1.
Table 1: Equipment of the TV room.
The TV transceiver enables collecting television signals coming from National TV, amplifying, and supplying almost all the Far North Region. The hot air extractor enables emptying the room, at every moment when the temperature of the room is high and the air conditioning system is out of service.
The FM room is the one accommodating the regional and national FM transceivers.
The equipment located in this room is listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Equipment of the FM room.
The two national and regional transceivers enable supplying the entire region by radio waves of CRTV Maroua and the national station broadcasted from Yaounde; they also have a range of 200 Km.
The two air conditioning systems enable cooling the FM room, because(i)the FM transceivers in their internal working procedure produce heat;(ii)the room in which those pieces of equipment are accommodated is built out of concrete (and thus absorbs the heat of the day and rejects it into the room) and has only one opening (door);(iii)the external temperature in Sahel zone is high.
The dehydrator dehydrates the air of the room in order to maintain the hygrometry around 50%; the values of temperatures are given by the temperature sensor.
The frequency selector switch enables conditioning the different frequencies in order to move towards the antennas; it also enables equally switching from regional FM to national FM.
The equipment found in this room is listed in Table 3.
Table 3: Equipment of the RFI room.
Apart from the equipment of power consumption, found in the three rooms (TV, FM, and RFI), there are a TV set (77 W, 260 V) functioning on average 18 h/24 (from 6:00 am to 12:00 midnight), 4 lighting lamps in the corridor of 36 W each (working time: whole day), and 8 external lighting lamps of 36 W each (working time: whole day).
The base station of Missinguileo neighborhood is a station of emission and reception. It is consisted of the radio antennas (the "drums" or point to point antenna), antennas of cover (antenna with small range in the form of "stick"), and also the antennas WIMAX emission (used for the internet network). This station is located on a mountain of approximately 230 meters high. The pylon in question has a height of 55 m. It is an indoor station (in an iron container). The temperature in the room containing the machines is maintained at 21°C by the cooling systems. Equipment characteristics' are listed in Table 4 and pictures of these equipment are represented in Supplementary Annexes 2.
Table 4: Equipment of MTN Missinguileo site.
The site sheltering the base station of MTN Maroua Market is set on a building of three levels. The BTS system (excluding the aerials) is set on the 2nd level and the aerials are set on the roof of the 3rd level. The equipment is outdoors or are set on one shelter (shelter open to the free air). This site is located near the market of Maroua.
The three BTS enable covering in network, all the population of the market, and the neighboring area. In this zone of coverage, the traffic is dense considering the density of the population and the flow of people in the market. This type of site does not require air conditioning system (air conditioner) as in the indoor sites.
Equipment characteristics are listed in Table 5 and images of these pieces of equipment are represented in Supplementary Annexes 2 showing equipment set on the shelter and the aerials set on the roof.
Table 5: Equipment of the MTN Maroua Market site.
(i)Lighting is insufficient in this day (small openings or windows and they are less wider).(ii)The buildings are constructed in concrete cement and the roof is paved out of concrete.(iii)The air conditioners of the FM room equally air-condition the TV room and sometimes the RFI room since the air conditioners of these last two rooms are regularly broken down.(iv)The lamps are lit constantly. The lamps located outside and in the corridors of the buildings are sometimes not switched off during the day, which also increase the power consumption of the site.(v)The site has only one source of energy, and the power generating unit used as standby is out of service for more than five years.
By observing Figure 3, from December 10 to July 12, the energy consumption of the CRTV site is varied. During the months of December 10, January 11, February 11, August 11, September 11, November 11, January 12, and February 12, the energy consumption is lower than the average consumption (14750 kWh). This low consumption compared to the others is due, on the one hand for January, February, and November, to the low temperature (the less the temperature is, the less the air conditioners function); On the other hand, the drops of consumption in energy for August and September are due to the multiple power cuts because of heavy rains. As for the consumption higher than the average, it is due to the high temperatures during the months concerned.
Figure 3: Monthly energy consumption curve, CRTV site from December 10 to July 12.
Thus it arises from the graph that low consumption is recorded during the rainy and cold seasons, and the highest consumption takes place during the dry season (March, April, and May).
As represented in Figure 4, the cost related to the energy consumption of the CRTV site Maroua varies; the months when consumption in energy is high also have a high cost of energy. For the year 2011, the cumulative of expenditure on the power consumption is approximately 27 908,409 USD.
Figure 4: Estimation costs curve for monthly energy consumption, CRTV site from December 10 to July 12.
We notice that in 2012, although consumption of energy in March (14 969 kWh) and April (14 981 kWh) exceeds the consumption of the months of June (14783 kWh) and July (14 910 kWh), the energy costs related to the months of June (2 511,077 USD) and July (2 532,508 USD) are higher than the costs of energy related to the months of March (2374,593 USD) and April (2376,855 USD); this is explained by the new grid of tariffing of electricity of AES-Sonel whose price of the kWh rise from 0,157896 USD to 0,169910 USD.
(i)The site of MTN Missinguileo being located at a high altitude, that is why, on this site, the temperature being relatively low;(ii)The container, in which the equipment is placed, being made out of iron on a surface of approximately 50 m2 and a 3,5 m height;(iii)Lack of openings along the wall for the exchange of air with the outside;(iv)External lighting being lit on 24 h/24;(v)Only one air conditioner ensuring the air conditioning system;(vi)The source of emergency power supply being a power generating unit, consuming on average 2000 liters of gas oil per year.
By observing Figure 5, it turns out that the mean of the monthly consumption, from January 11 to July 12, is estimated at 3 633 kWh.
Figure 5: Monthly energy consumption curve, Missinguileo site from January 11 to July 12.
As for monthly load factors of the site, they are not set out for insufficient data; the maximum demands in power are difficult to establish since the only material enabling the records is the AES-Sonel meter who only indicates instantaneously the total energy consumed on the site.
As represented in Figure 6, the variation of energy costs related to the consumption of electrical energy from AES-Sonel origin on the MTN Missinguileo site. The most significant costs are those of the months of August11 (lowest energy cost because of low energy consumption) and June 12 and July12 (highest energy costs because of the new grid of tariffing of electricity). The cumulative cost related to the energy consumption from source AES-Sonel for the year 2011 is estimated at 6879,99 USD.
Figure 6: Estimation costs curve for monthly energy consumption, Missinguileo site from January 11 to July 12.
The cost of one liter gas oil is 0,8918 USD (source: CSPH; Calculations SIE-Cameroun); thus, the annual cost 2011 related to the gas oil is 2000 L × 0,8918 USD = 1783,6 USD/year.
The total cost for expenditure 2011 on the energy consumption is thus 8 663,59 USD.
(i)The site of MTN Maroua Market is set on the roof of a building.(ii)Outdoor station does not require air conditioning.(iii)The lamps are lit on 24 h/24.
From Figure 7, it appears that the average of the monthly consumption in energy from January 11 to July 12 turns around 1 281 kWh. We notice that, for the year 2011, the energy consumption is higher in month of April (1551 kWh) and lower in August (1221 kWh). For the same reasons explained above, in the case of the base station of Missinguileo, during the hottest months, there is more consumption in energy.
Figure 7: Monthly energy consumption curve, MTN Maroua Market site from January 11 to July 12.
During the year 2012, we note that in February the energy consumption (1268 kWh) remains lowest of the 07 recorded first. High consumption is known, once more during the hot periods of the year, which are March (1395 kWh), April (1413 kWh), and May (1409 kWh).
As for the monthly load factors of the site, they are not set out for insufficient data; the maximum demands for power are difficult to establish since the only material allowing the records remains the AES-Sonel meter, only indicating instantaneously the energy consumption of the site.
The variation of electrical energy costs from AES-Sonel on the site of MTN Maroua Market is represented in Figure 8. These costs vary around a monthly average of 214,88 USD. The cumulative cost of the year 2011 related to the energy consumption is estimated at 2578,713 USD.
Figure 8: Estimation costs curve for monthly energy consumption, MTN Maroua Market site from January 11 to July 12.
Faruk et al.  propose the following model of energy consumption for a BTS (1): the total power of a BTS and total energy consumed are and :, , , , , and , respectively, are power of digital signal processing, power of amplifier, power of radio unit, power of AC/DC converter, power of air conditioner , and power of lamp , and is the operating time.
To have an expression for the total energy consumption of a telecommunication base station (MTN, ORANGE, CAMTEL, and CRTV) in the Sahel zone of Cameroon, we considered the following:(i)The energy consumption of the various BTS (BTS GSM900, BTS GSM1800,…).(ii)The energy consumption of technologies of transmission for internet (WIMAX,…). and/or radio transmission at long distances point to point such as the Airmux 200 and IRT 2000.(iii)The energy consumption of the air conditioners (if possible).(iv)The energy consumption of the lighting lamps.(v)Losses of energies caused by the cables connecting the equipment of transmission and the antennas.
The energy consumption is defined as the product of the power supplied and the working time. It is given as follows:With , , , , , , respectively, being power of each equipment of transmission, power of other transmission equipment such as the WIMAX, Airmux 200, IRT 2000, and VSAT (very small aperture terminal), power of the equipment of the different multiplexers and others as well, power of the air conditioner , power of lamp , and power lost in the cable and is the operating time.
represents the total energy consumption of the site accommodating the base station.
Thus, the meters of energy found on the different sites of the base stations record at constantly cumulated .
The solutions for energy savings were proposed in the three base stations. They are based firstly on the lighting and air conditioning system.
We have proposed to increase the range of air conditioning of the air conditioners of the various rooms and to reduce the operating time of several lighting lamps (see Table 6).
Table 6: Proposal of energy savings on the lighting aspect and air conditioning of the CRTV Maroua site.
(i) Increase of Range of Air Conditioning. The range of air conditioning of the FM and RFI rooms is increased by 2°C and 3°C in the night; thus, the air conditioners of the FM rooms are regulated to 21°C instead of 19°C in the day (8:00 am to 10:00 pm) and 22°C in the night (10:00 pm to 8:00 am). In the same way, the air conditioners of the RFI are regulated to 22°C instead of 20°C in the day (8:00 am to 10:00 pm) and 23°C in the night (10.00 pm to 8:00 am). This work was carried out from the 5th to 7th June 2012.
(ii) Reduction of Operating Time of the Lamps. We have seen that the lighting lamps are lit only at the night that means from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, and the records were carried out from 5th to 7th June 2012.
We have in total 23 lamps, of 36 W each, which light the site.
The periods in Table 6 are considered for energy consumption.
To evaluate the changes on the level of the energy consumption and the temperatures in the various rooms of the station, we followed the layout of power consumption time and the recorded temperatures time of the day of the 05/06/2012. On that day, all the air conditioners are under operation as at the date of the 27/05/2012, except for change on the climatic conditions and the lighting as indicated in the table of proposal for an energy savings (see Figures 9 and 10). The curves of variation of the energy consumption of the site of CRTV in the date of 05/06/2012 (see Figure 9) show an increasing time power consumption in the morning and decreasing in the evening. The time average of power consumption is 23,7955 kWh lower than that recorded in the date of 27/05/2012 (28,60 kWh).
Figure 9: Hourly energy consumption curve of 05/06/2012.
Figure 10: Hourly temperature curve of 05/06/2012.
To establish the difference between the energy consumption of the 27/05/2012, where the proposals for an energy saving (lighting and system of air conditioning) are not applied, and the energy saving from 5th to 7th June 2012, when the proposals of energy saving (lighting and system of air conditioning) are applied, we recapitulated the energy consumption of these days in Table 7 and Figure 11.
Table 7: Recapitulative of energy consumption of the 27/05/2012 and of from the 5th to 7th June 2012.
Figure 11: Comparison between energy consumption of the site, case of a day not applying the proposals of energy savings (27/05/2012), case of a day for which the air conditioner was under failure, and case of days applying the proposals of energy savings (05, 06, and 07 June 2012).
We notice that the power consumption, at various periods considered of the 27/05/2012 are higher than those of the days of 5th, 6th, and 7th June 2012. The daily power consumption average from 5th to 7th June 2012 is approximately 570 kWh below 687 kWh (that of the 27/05/2012) that is to say a realizable energy saving of 117 kWh/day or 17% energy savings. By projecting measurements of energy saving over one month or a year, one will have approximately energy saving 3510 kWh/month or 42120 kWh/year; In terms of cost, the realizable energy savings are 595,94 USD/month or 7151,34 USD/year. This realizable energy saving can supply an indoor base station like that of MTN Missinguileo (whose average consumption is 114 kWh/day) or two outdoor base stations (absence of air conditioner) such as the site of MTN Maroua Market (of which the mean consumption is 54 kWh/day).
On the MTN sites of studied, we have proposed the reduction of the operating time of lighting lamps. Theses lamps can thus work from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am instead of allowing them to work throughout the day. As for the air conditioning system of the site of MTN Missinguileo, we have equally proposed an increase of the range of air conditioning at certain times of the day. Table 8 details proposals of energy savings on the lighting systems and air conditioning aspects of MTN sites.
Table 8: Proposals of energy savings on the lighting and air conditioning aspects of MTN sites.
By applying the proposals for an energy saving presented above on the sites of MTN Maroua Market et MTN Missinguileo, we plotted the curves of follow-up of the power consumption during three different days (from 16th to 18th July 2012).
Table 9 and Figure 12 recapitulate the power consumption of the MTN Missinguileo site from 16th to 18th July 2012, and the consumption of the 06/07/2012 being used as comparison with other consumption.
Table 9: Comparison between energy consumption of the site, case of a day not applying the proposals of energy savings (06/07/2012), case of a day for which the air conditioner was under failure, and case of days applying the proposals of energy savings (16, 17, and 18 July 2012): Missinguileo site.
Figure 12: Comparison between energy consumption of the site, case of a day not applying the proposals of energy savings (06/07/2012), case of a day for which the air conditioner was under failure and case of days applying the proposals of energy savings (16, 17, and 18 July 2012): Missinguileo site.
By comparing the energy consumption at the time of 16th, 17th, and 18th July 2012 to those of 6th July 2012, we notice that the energy consumption (consumption from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, 6:00 pm–6:00 am, and the total daily consumption) of the 6th July 2012 is higher than those of the 16th, 17th, and 18th July 2012. The daily power consumption average from 16th to 18th July is approximately 93 kWh lower than 123 kWh (that of the 6th July 2012), which is 30 kWh/day, or 24.40% of realizable energy savings per day, or 900 kWh/month and 10 800 kWh/year. In terms of costs, this energy saving can generate each month 152,80 USD (900 kWh × 0.169 USD) or each year 1 883,6 USD. A good management of the system of lighting can generate energy saving and costs in the base station Missinguileo.
While applying the proposals of an energy savings proposed, we followed the variation of the total energy consumption of the site during the days from the 16th to 18th July 2012. The results obtained are recapitulated in Table 10 and the histogram is represented in Figure 13, establishing the comparison between the day of Monday 9th July 2012 (where the proposals of energy savings were not yet applied) and days from the 16th to 18th July 2012 (application of proposals for an energy saving). This histogram (Figure 13) shows that the energy consumption (consumption from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, consumption from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, average consumption per hour, and total average consumption per day) recorded on the 09/07/2012 is higher than that recorded from the 16th to 18th July 2012.
Table 10: Comparison between the energy consumption of the site, case of a day not applying the proposals of energy savings (09/07/2012) and case of days applying the proposals of energy savings (16, 17, and18 July 2012): Maroua Market site.
Figure 13: Comparison between the energy consumption of the site, case of a day not applying the proposals of energy savings (09/07/2012) and case of days applying the proposals of energy savings (16, 17, and 18 July 2012): Maroua Market site.
The average power consumption from the 16th to 18th July 2012 is 53 kWh/day.
It is lower than that of the day of the 09/07/2012 (62 kWh/day), which is 9 kWh/day, or 270 kWh/month, or 3240 kWh/year, or 14.5% of energy saving realizable. In terms of saving costs, it is 45,84 USD/month or 550,10 USD/year.
The applications of the proposals of an energy saving which we carried out in the three sites of the base stations show us that energy saving is realizable (in a few days) when we operate on the lighting system and air conditioning system. If we apply those proposals in for one month or a year, the results will be more visible.
To reduce indeed the power consumption in the base station of telecommunication, we proposed a technical description of solutions being able to vigorously make the base stations located in the Sahel zone more effective.
We describe in Table 11 a set of recommendations to be able to realize energy savings in a base station situated in the Sahel zone.
Table 11: Techniques of solutions of energy efficiency.
In this paper, we have presented some approaches of energy savings and power consumption on the sites of the base stations of Telecommunication recently encountered in literature review of research based on the energy efficiency of the mobile communication. Moreover, in the Sahel zone, according to the average power consumption per/month, we met three categories of the base stations of telecommunication for which we have carried out energy audits. These audits reveal wasting of energy, and the proposals and application of some techniques of energy saving have enabled recording energy saving and considerable costs. The energy model proposed is more complete since it takes into account all the equipment consuming energy of the base station. To further reduce the expenditure in energy consumption of telecommunication base stations in the Sahel zone and the emission of greenhouse gases, in addition to the installation of measurements of energy efficiency, it is necessary to conduct a comparative study to know if the use of renewable energy sources is technically and economically profitable.
WIMAX: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.
The authors express their kindly acknowledgment of mobile communication and audiovisuals companies (CAMTEL, ORANGE, MTN, and CRTV) represented in the northern part of Cameroon.
Fond d'Energie Rurale, 2010, http://www.se4all.org/sites/default/files/Cameroon_RAGA_FR_Released.pdf.
Le rapport TIC et Développement Durable, 2008, http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/094000118.pdf.
A. Conte, "Power consumption of base stations," in Proceedings of the TREND Plenary Meeting, Ghent, Belgium, February 2012.
D. Tripper, A. Rezgui, P. Krishnamurthy, and P. Pacharintankul, "Dimming cellular networks," in Proceedings of the IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference (GLOBECOM '10), pp. 1–6, Pittsburgh, Pa, USA, December 2010.
Senza Fili Consulting, "White Paper 2010," http://www.senzafiliconsulting.com.


With their handsome, tropical foliage and dramatic flowers, calla lilies add a hint of mystery and elegance to the garden. This article tells you how to transplant calla lilies outside or into pots for indoor or outdoor culture.
The best time to transplant calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is beginning to warm. Choose a location with organically rich soil that holds moisture well. Callas grow well in low, moist areas where most other rhizomes would suffer from root rot. The plants tolerate full sun in areas with mild summer, but where summers are hot they need morning sun and afternoon shade.
Before transplanting calla lilies, prepare the soil by loosening it with a shovel. Work in some compost to enrich the soil and help it hold moisture. Plant the rhizomes 3 to 4 inches deep and transplant potted calla lilies into a hole dug to fit the depth of the pot. Space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Callas need lots of moisture, so water deeply after planting, and spread at least 2 inches of mulch around the plants to prevent moisture from evaporating.
When moving calla lily plants, prepare the new bed and dig holes for the plants before lifting them from the old location so you can get them in the ground as quickly as possible. Slide a spade under the plants at a depth of 4 to 5 inches to avoid damaging the rhizomes. Place them in the holes so that the soil line is even with the surrounding soil.
Calla lilies are ideal for landscaping garden ponds, where they thrive in water up to 12 inches deep. Place the plant or rhizome in a basket and plant it so that the rhizome is about 4 inches deep. Calla lilies are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. In cooler zones, the rhizomes must be treated as annuals or dug up in the fall and stored over the winter in a frost-free area. When planted in water, the rhizomes can remain outdoors as long as the water doesn't freeze at the planting depth.
You can also transplant your callas into pots and grow them as houseplants. Choose a roomy pot that is at least 6 to 8 inches deep and leave 1/2 to 1 inch of space between the top of the soil and the top of the pot to make it easy to water the plant generously. Use a potting soil rich in peat or organic matter that holds moisture. Transplanting potted calla lilies back to the garden in spring is a snap.


The Sierra has a special cedar toe shape that allows use across a wide range of sizes with a plastic handle. One size fits men's 8W to 12N.
The Sierra has a special cedar toe shape that allows use across a wide range of sizes with a plastic handle. One size fits most men's 8W to 12N.
Great option for gift giving!
Solid–toe trees straighten the insoles as well as the outsole, pulling wrinkles out of the linings and vamp.


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Home > Blog > Getting into Private School > Test Preparation
Admissions Testing: Preschoolers
by Robert Kennedy
The pressure to get your child into the right school starts at a very early age. We look at some of the assessment hurdles your child might face depending on which school you are considering.
When our daughters went to preschool back in the '70s in Garden City, New York, we took them in for an interview, and that was about it. The children were toilet-trained and pretty well socialized. To the best of my knowledge, there were no formal assessments of their cognitive skills and so on. As far as their mother and I were concerned, our daughters were gifted children. We never had any formal assessment of our suspicions until the girls were much older, at which point testing confirmed that they were indeed gifted.
Is your child gifted or bright? There is a difference. For a detailed explanation of the differences, read Gifted vs. Bright: Understanding the Difference
Preschool admissions assessments have changed in the 21st century. Preschools want to know what your child knows and what she is capable of at age two. So, against that backdrop, let's look at some of the more common ways preschools assess their very young applicants. And, perhaps even more important, from our point of view as parents, let's try to understand why such testing is necessary.
Common Assessment Tools
The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test is commonly known as Olsat. This test is popular in New York City, where it is a requirement for admission into programs for gifted children. The OLSAT traces its roots back to a test developed by Dr. Arthur Sinton Otis, known as Army Alpha, administered to U.S. Army recruits in World War I.
Another test that you will encounter is the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence™ (WPPSI™-III) Dr. Wechsler was a psychologist perhaps most famous for his tests which measured IQ or Intelligence Quotient. He also developed the assessment test known as WISC. The latest versions of WISC are published by Pearson, one of the leaders in the testing/assessment field.
This video explains how the test works.
"The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence™, or WPPSI™, is often used as part of the entrance process for students identified as potentially gifted and talented. The current version of the recently restructured intelligence test, WPPSI™–IV, features shorter, more game-like activities and simplified scoring procedures. The WPPSI™ or Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence™ is published by NCS Pearson, Inc. (previously Harcourt Assessment, Inc./The Psychological Corporation, the original publisher of the test)." More information here.
Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
About the same time as Dr. Wechsler was developing his IQ tests, a French psychologist, Alfred Binet was developing his own tests. What he was looking for was a way of determining if the subjects being tested were intellectually deficient. "As a battery of cognitive tests, the SB5 advances the assessment of strengths and weaknesses in the cognitive processes of students who may be evaluated for learning disabilities. The SB5 supports early prediction of emerging learning disabilities in children as young as two years old." More information here. Testing expert Karen Quinn gives us an overview of the Stanford-Binet test.
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children are two other tests that you might encounter.
The WJ IV emphasizes identifying strengths and weaknesses by providing comparisons both within and across the three batteries: Cognitive Abilities, Achievement, and Oral Language. This comprehensive system offers the ease of use and flexibility examiners need to evaluate learning problems and improve instructional outcomes for children and adults in a way that no other assessment can." Source: The Critical Thinking Co.
Here is a video overview of the Woodcock-Johnson test.
"The K-ABC was developed to evaluate preschoolers, minority groups, and children with learning disabilities. It provides educational planning and placement, neurological assessment, and research. The assessment is to be administered in a school or clinical setting and is intended for use with English-speaking, bilingual, or nonverbal children. There is also a Spanish edition that is to be used with children whose primary language is Spanish." More information here.
When you are asked if your child can be tested, you probably wonder why and what they could be looking for. These tests can help schools determine two things: they can help predict future educational success, and they can identify special needs. Testing can quantify what you probably already know, as well as suggest areas of concern, particularly in those crucial first five years of a child's life and development.
Frankly, as a parent, I want to know where my children stand. I want to understand their strengths and their weaknesses. That understanding allows me to find the most suitable educational environment for each child. Having raised four children, I can tell you unequivocally that each child is unique. And that is as it should be. The testing referenced above is invaluable because it alerts us to the different ways our children learn. I feel that understanding how my children learned motivated me to find the right kind of school for them. The one size fits all approach to education doesn't work very well. The gifted child needs to be stretched. The bright child needs to be kept busy. The child seeking extra math help needs more time and probably more individual instruction. Testing at an early age gives us parents valuable insights into how our children learn.
Be aware that not every school uses these assessments as part of their admissions testing. Many schools will rely on an interview and years of experience to decide if a child is ready for preschool. You need to be ready for some screening as part of the admissions process. Equally important for most schools is your acceptance of the school's educational philosophy. This is particularly true if you want to get your child into a Montessori or Waldorf school which is fairly doctrinaire about how and what they teach.
Is tutoring necessary?
What about tutoring your son or daughter for the test? Is it necessary? I would advise making sure your child understands that there will be a test, although I probably wouldn't call it a test. It never hurts for her to know generally what to expect. I think that age four is a little early to be tutoring. If your child is brilliant and gifted, and well-socialized, she will more than likely make the grade without tutoring. Having said that, some professional test preparation services and consultants advise preparation for the testing in cases where you are seeking admission to a very competitive preschool. For example, you are more likely to find that to be the case in major urban areas such as New York City and Chicago.
Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @privateschoolreview
Additional Resources [+]
"Bright Kids" available at https://www.bright-kids.com/
"Kindergarten Test Study System" available at http://kindergarten-test.com/
Do Your Child's SSAT or ISEE Scores Really Matter?
The Benefits of Tutoring
What Strength Do You Want Your Child's Religious Education To Be?
Many parents search for an answer to the question "How do I provide the kind of religious education I want for my child?" Religious education is a very personal, subjective matter. We explore some of your options.
Making the Financial Aid Process Work for You
Do you need financial aid? Not sure? Confused by how financial aid works? Here are some answers.
Standardized tests are a large part of the admission process at many private schools. Here you'll find information on the most commonly used exams and how to prepare for them. Explore the tests, what the scores mean, and how the schools will use them.
A Parent's Guide to Private School Entrance Exams
2020-21 Best SSAT Prep Courses Reviewed
The Writing Sample
SSAT and ISSE
How To Improve Your SSAT Quantitative Score
Admissions Test Preparation: 2 Strategies
Preparing for Admissions Tests
Read more articles (10)
Collapse List
How Admissions Works (13)
Applications Calendar
5 Admissions Tips for International Students
Admissions Checklist For Private School Applicants
They Didn't Accept My Child!
International Students: The New Visa Regulations And You
Too Long To Read?
Admissions to Private School: A-Z
5 Challenges To Getting Your Child Into Private School
Your Admissions Profile
Play the Hand You Have Been Dealt
5 Admissions Mistakes
Admissions Matters: The Essay
Why Should I Send My Child to Your School?
Applications - Principal/Head/Counselor Recommendation Form
First Choice Letters And Personal Letters of Recommendation
Why Should I Admit Your Child?
Waitlisted? What Next?
Should You Prep Your 4 Year Old?
What If I Miss The Deadlines?
Don't Forget These Admissions Deadlines
Is It Too Late to Apply?
School Visits and Interviews (5)
5 Private School Visit Mistakes
The Private School Interview
Private School Admissions: The Interview
What If You Cannot Visit The School?
Free Schools

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Sophia Magdalena Gardelius (1804-1881) was a Swedish damaskweaver. She is regarded as a pioneer within the damask weaving technique of Gotland.

She married a farmer of Roma parish of Gotland in 1822. When her spouse was ruined, they moved to her parents, and she began to weave and sell damask to support the family.  In 1832, she advertised that she manufactured damask for commission and accepted pupils in the art.  The art of weaving damask was then new and popular.  Gardelius composed her own patterns by mathematic measurements, and her weaving stools were constructed to adjust to her needs to handle a thousand patterns.  Her weaving school and workshop was very successful, she became famous in contemporary Sweden and her clients included the queen, Josephine of Leuchtenberg.  Her school was closed in 1879 but her business was taken over by her daughters in 1881 and continued until 1921.

References
 Du Rietz, Anita, Kvinnors entreprenörskap: under 400 år, 1. uppl., Dialogos, Stockholm, 2013

19th-century Swedish businesspeople
1804 births
1881 deaths
Gotland
Swedish weavers
19th-century Swedish businesswomen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


WHAT SHOULD YOUR STRATEGY BE IF YOU HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE PENDING IN THE CRIMINAL COURT?
Your first move should be to hire an attorney that handles domestic violence cases in the courthouse where your case is pending, such as a domestic violence attorney in Los Angeles, CA. Get a face to face consultation with a domestic violence lawyer in Los Angeles, CA and begin the process of defending yourself and preserving your good name. Because of the political pressures related to domestic violence / spousal abuse cases, the police, prosecutors and judges take a hard-line in how they deal with these matters. Most of the time they arrest the aggressor and make them post a $50,000 bail and are tough when it comes to the terms of any resolution.
How Does The State Of California Define Domestic Violence?
How Much Would It Cost To Post Bail In A Domestic Violence Related Arrest?
What Are The Penalties If I Am Convicted In A Domestic Violence Case?
Can Prosecutors Prove A Domestic Violence Case If Victim Won't Testify?
The way to turn the tide in your favor is to hire a local attorney who has defended people like you in similar situations time and time again. Hire a domestic violence attorney in Los Angeles who knows how to present your story to the players in the system that will ultimately make the decisions that dictate the impact your criminal arrest will have on your life, future, freedom and reputation. Once your story is presented in the right way by a Van Nuys, CA domestic violence attorney and any defenses you may have are asserted, you will be in a much stronger position to defend yourself and obtain a result that you can live with. Without the representation of a domestic violence lawyer in Los Angeles County by your side, this will be almost next to impossible..
WHAT IF THE ALLEGED VICTIM DOES NOT WANT TO TESTIFY…WILL YOU AUTOMATICALLY WIN THE CASE?
One of the most common issues related to domestic violence / spousal abuse cases across the country is the misconception most people have that if the alleged victim decides they do not want to cooperate, then the prosecutors will drop it. Unfortunately, because this is such a common occurrence, the prosecutors will still pursue the case and actually expect that the alleged victim will not cooperate and will try everything within their power to prove the case regardless. New laws have been enacted such as Proposition 115, which allows an investigating officer to testify at a preliminary hearing as to witness/victim statements. In effect laws like Prop. 115 give the prosecutors the right to sidestep the 6th Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Confrontation Clause. So you need an attorney that has the ability to get the advantage back for your defense. An attorney who can use the law as a weapon, not struggle to get around it like it's an obstacle. You can contact the Los Angeles domestic violence lawyer at our office to get legal assistance in that matter.
The best way to evaluate what it means to your case if the alleged victim does not want to testify is to sit down face to face with a domestic violence attorney in Los Angeles and give them all of the circumstances surrounding the case, so they can best decide how it will impact your particular case. In a felony case as we just touched on, if the alleged victim does not show up to the preliminary hearing, the prosecutors can still proceed by having the law enforcement officer who took the statement testify to what he or she said. However, this procedure typically will not work at trial…they will need to get the alleged victim into court. In a misdemeanor case, the defendant is not entitled to a preliminary hearing and the prosecutors know they need to get the alleged victim into court to have the strongest case against the defendant.
WHAT ARE THE IN AND OUTS IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE REGARDING AN ALLEGED VICTIM BEING SERVED WITH A CRIMINAL SUBPOENA?
In order to properly serve a witness in a criminal case in Los Angeles County, the person must be personally served. This means that someone must actually place the subpoena in their hands. Mailing the subpoena is not the proper way to serve a person and if the person does not show up, it is unlikely a criminal judge will issue a body attachment to arrest the person and bring them to court. If, on the other hand, the alleged victim is personally served and the prosecutor can prove it, then at their discretion, they can ask the judge to issue a body attachment and send law enforcement out to arrest the person and bring them into court. Prosecutors do not usually like to do this, because they feel as though they are victimizing the victim yet again. However, if they feel that the subject defendant is dangerous enough, they will have the victim arrested and not lose any sleep over it.
WHAT IF THE VICTIM IN A SPOUSAL ABUSE / DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE GETS ON THE WITNESS STAND AND CHANGES THEIR STORY IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP THE PERSON BEING ACCUSED?
This is another common scenario that plays itself out in Los Angeles courthouses every day of the week. Once again, unfortunately for the defendant, once that witness is placed on the witness stand and says something different than what they told the police, the prosecutor can then confront (impeach) them with their prior statement. And, if they are a skilled attorney, they can usually make them look foolish in front of the jury, as though they are simply changing their story to help the defendant. Moreover, the prosecutor will then call the police officer who took the statement and parade every word in front of the jury. Then in their closing argument they will tell the jury that the reason the victim is lying is because they are trying the help their significant other.
I could literally go for pages about different scenarios as they relate to domestic violence charges in Los Angeles County but the bottom line is, that they are taken seriously, prosecuted swiftly and punished severely. The only chance you have is to hire a seasoned domestic violence attorney that can tell your story in Los Angeles and give the powers that be the other side of the equation. You need your attorney to make your particular domestic situation stand out away from the thousands of guilty people who came in front of the court before you. You must appear to the prosecutors not as the violent abuser the police reports make you out to be. Only a Master Attorney will be able to repaint the picture the prosecutor/juror has in their mind regarding the type of person you are.
Our Encino based criminal defense law firm represents clients charged with Domestic Violence cases throughout the San Fernando Valley (Van Nuys, San Fernando and Malibu) and LA County Courthouses. Since the O.J. Simpson case, Domestic Violence (or spousal abuse cases) are now politically charged crimes that are difficult to deal with from a defense perspective. From the arrest, to the initial court appearance, to how the prosecutors deal with these cases, there are issues. That is why you must have any attorney behind you who knows the system and how to protect a clients rights, reputation and freedom. This is where we come in. We have years of experience practicing as a domestic violence lawyer in Los Angeles, CA. See related information: Understanding California Criminal Jury Instructions 840 – Inflicting Injury on Spouse Resulting in Traumatic Condition.
When the police come out to a domestic violence call, it is police policy that they must arrest the aggressor if there is any sign of violence being used by any party. Also, a restraining order is usually placed on the purported aggressor and when the case goes to court, the court will automatically place a protective order on the accused. What happened to innocent, unless proven guilty? In these cases the police, prosecutors and judges error on the side of watching their political backsides. They are concerned with what happens if they do not act and the alleged victim ends up hurt or worse and then someone is looking at them and their non-action as grounds for termination etc.
We know how to handle these types of cases and get your side of the story to the right people; so things are handled fairly and there is not rush to judgment without all of the facts being heard. Our domestic violence lawyer in Los Angeles County has been doing all this for years. If only the victim, their coached children from a prior relationship or another biased witness speaks to the officers after an incident, it makes sense for the police to arrest the person who were not there to defend themselves. If this sounds familiar, I urge you to call us and set up a free confidential face to face (same day) consultation with our Los Angeles domestic violence attorney. You will be educated on the system where your case is pending and we will set up a plan to resolve your specific situation and get you and your family back to a normal life.
Domestic violence is physical, mental, or verbal abuse that occurs with a family setting or intimate relationship. Incidents of domestic violence may occur between spouses, intimate partners, children, and siblings. Many cases of domestic violence remain unreported. However, when a domestic violence incident is reported to law enforcement, either by the victim or a witness, the incident is always thoroughly investigated. While most domestic violence charges are considered misdemeanor offenses, charges can be enhanced if the victim was a minor, if the victim sustained serious bodily injuries, or if the offender has a prior criminal record.
If a person is convicted of this crime, he/she may be sentenced with: jail time, fines, court and legal fees, community service, and probation. Additionally, the person may be separated from his/her family and household if the victim chooses to get a restraining order. After an arrest is made, the most critical time of a potential domestic violence case begins. The prosecutor's office often times only has one side of the story because the defendant is not given a chance to tell their side of the story without risking incriminating themselves. A local domestic violence attorney who knows the Los Angeles police and their customs may be able to cut a criminal filing off at the pass with certain steps they can take. If nothing is done charges become much more likely to be filed.
When it comes to punishments in domestic violence cases, they are all negotiable. In other words, not all punishments are the same and if you have an attorney who is laser focused on getting you what you need out of a domestic violence / spousal abuse case. I sit down with the client and we both figure out together what the parameters will be in resolving your case. Once we have the plan in place, it will be my job as a domestic violence lawyer in Los Angeles, CA to convince the prosecutor and the judge of our position and get you the result you deserve!
After a person has been charged, it is always in his/her best interest to speak with a qualified domestic violence attorney who has experience handling these types of cases. A lawyer can carefully evaluate the person's case, protect the person's individual rights, and provide valuable advice throughout the legal process.
Do not waste any valuable time and call our firm to set up a free case consultation with a Los Angeles domestic violence attorney. We will sit down with you and discuss all your available options.


This robot's gait matches imperfect human swagger.
There's another agile robot stomping around, and this one moves a lot like humans. The Advanced Mechanical Bipedal Experimental Robotics (AMBER) Lab at Texas A&M University is designing a bipedal machine called Durus-2D that mimics the way humans walk and jog. The research group posted a video today of Durus-2D running on a treadmill, its metal ligaments bobbing and springing up and down like our legs.
While Durus-2D isn't as fast as MIT's quadruped cheetah robot, which can run up to 28.4 mph, just edging out Usain Bolt's 27.44 mph time at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, it's impressively fluid in its movements. In order to make Durus-2D move like we do, the researchers collected walking data from humans and analyzed the data to figure out how the muscles and bone constrict movement. The end result is a robot that is a little less perfect, and a little more human.
Robotics can be used to help those who struggle with mobility. The researchers believe robots like Durus-2D could be a great assistance to amputees.
Durus-2D, built by SRI International and implemented by AMBER, is a planar 2D robot that uses algorithms to control locomotion. The robot was developed by Aaron Ames (read his résumé) and his research group — the same minds behind NASA's Valkyrie humanoid robot that could work in deep space.


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Hadley, Tessa
A mesmerizing novel about family and the modern world encroaching upon the old, from one of Britain's finest contemporary novelists .
Three adult sisters and their brother meet up at their grandparents' country home for their annual family holiday--three long, hot summer weeks. The beloved but crumbling house is full of memories of their childhood--of when their mother took them to stay with her parents when she left their father--but this could be their last summer in the house, now they may have to sell it. And under the idyllic pastoral surface, there are tensions.
Alice has brought with her Kasim, the 20-year-old son of her ex-boyfriend, and he makes plans to seduce the quiet Molly, Roland's 16-year-old daughter. Fran's young children uncover an ugly secret in a ruined cottage in the woods, and observe the growing flirtation. Passion erupts where it's least expected, blasting the quiet self-possession of Harriet, the eldest sister. Roland has come with his new (third) wife, whom his sisters don't like...or do they? A way of life--bourgeois, literate, ritualized, Anglican--winds down to its inevitable end: which is a loss, and a release.
With uncanny precision and extraordinary sympathy, Tessa Hadley charts the squalls of lust and envy disrupting this ill-assorted house party, as well as the consolations of memory and affection, the beauty of the natural world, the shifting of history under the social surface. From the first page the reader is absorbed and enthralled, watching a superb craftsperson unfold the lives of these unforgettable siblings.
Publisher: Toronto : Random House Canada, ©2015
Branch Call Number: HADLEY
Read more reviews of The Past at iDreamBooks.com
MyTake Feb 26, 2018
I enjoyed her prose -- sometimes her sentences were so descriptive, they stopped me in my tracks! But since I prefer more plot and pace, the book dragged along too slowly for me.
EmilyEm Jul 15, 2017
Four siblings spend their summer holiday at their grandparents' isolated English country estate—an old vicarage—with assorted children, a new wife and a young man, son of an old boyfriend in tow.
Seen from varying points of view, old and new rivalries and passions, bubble into view. Sometimes messy, sometimes endearing. Prose like a reverie, but a little low on plot. Secrets were a little predictable to me
Aldeery Nov 26, 2016
Loved this book. Can't believe I've never read anything by her. So like family life - messy, awkward, rich, and so evocative of a disappearing kind of life. The encroachment of foreigners into private, bourgeois British life does a contrapuntal dance with the activism of both the 60's of Tom and Jill and the, what, 80's? of Harriet. And history seems to be variations on a theme where the relationships of Hettie and Roly, and Ivy and Arthur are concerned. And is Mikey Fran's father?
I loved the descriptions of the English countryside and weather, particularly those from Harriet's point of view.
cmb8 Jun 14, 2016
enjoyed the book
jenoteacher Jun 02, 2016
Masterful narrative arc. I loved the unexpected plot twists... Harriet's sudden, illogical, crushing crush on Pilar, The childrens' superstitious ritual play, and most of all, the puff of dust that hangs in the air around the derelict cabin at the end. I believed in these characters.
lostintheshelves May 05, 2016
This utterly English novel probes family dynamics with beautiful prose, but the author's chilly remove from her characters (even more than the lack of momentum) kept me from being truly swept up. Attentive readers will see parallels the characters miss, especially once the 2nd section shows us the previous generation, and we realize how fully the Cranes of the present are re-living their parents' mistakes.
Tessa Hadley's book is an elegy for the English gentry--rural, middle-class, Anglican liberals who are disappearing along with the farmers they once lorded over--but as a USian I found it hard to relate. Eldest sister Harriet's story follows too closely the clichés straight literary writers usually use for lesbian characters, and minor characters like Fran and Molly are underdeveloped to the point of blankness. That said, the plot picks up toward the end before concluding with a moment powerfully quiet and sad, and many people, unlike me, will probably love the book.
uncommonreader Apr 10, 2016
Although I sometimes find Hadley's work on the edge between insightful and banal, I liked this story of a bourgeois and literate family and what lies below the surface of their lifes. I also liked the structure of the novel - the present, the past, the present and found it added depth and understanding to each of the characters. Recommended.
karcoldelharvic5 Mar 14, 2016
One word---boring. Too much time spent on descriptions and persons thoughts. The - before there was a conversation instead of quotation marks was annoying. The middle of the book goes back into the past with no rhyme or reason why. Truly disappointing if you read all the comments and the book description.
Family Reunions — Fiction
Memory — Fiction
Summer — Fiction


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Transcript: Building Trust With Your Baby Using Secure Attachment Parenting
This is a text transcript from The First Time Mum's Chat podcast. The episode is called Building Trust With Your Baby Using Secure Attachment Parenting and you can click on the link to view the full episode page, listen to the episode and view the show notes.
Helen Thompson: Something that is incredibly important when interacting with your little one during those early days, is to do all you can to build trust and closen your bond with them. I teach parents how to closen their connection regularly via baby massage. In this episode I'm talking about secure attachment parenting and why building a secure attachment bond is so important.
In episode 97 of First Time Mum's Chat, Adjusting to the Challenges of Parenting After Birth, I interviewed the wonderful Dr. Diane Speier, an author, birth and postpartum professional with over 40 years experience and I thought who better to discuss this topic with? You'll hear Diane share the history of secure attachment, and we discuss how to improve the connection with your little one, and ways to give them a healthy sense of self and build a loving, empathetic relationship and so, so much more.
Hi Diane, welcome back to First Time Mum's Chat, it's great to welcome you back. I'm looking forward to our chat and hearing your pearls of wisdom as always.
Helen Thompson: I mention a lot about secure attachment in baby massage and how important secure attachment is. I know you know a lot about baby massage and umpteen things and I thought we'd chat a little bit about secure attachment cuz I know that's a huge question that people ask. What is secure attachment and how does it help my baby?
Diane Speier: Okay, so can I give you a little background to how attachment became an issue? That really goes back to the middle of the 20th century when John Baldi was studying what connections between mothers and babies were all about and he was using a model of babies that were usually institutionalized in some ways. Some of them were in orphanages, some of them were in other kinds of institutional care, and he found that there was something called maternal deprivation and when babies were experiencing that, because they were not in the loving care of a parent, h e was able to notice what kinds of changes that caused in the personality of the child and the way in which it developed and where there were deficits and where there were missing pieces in terms of their ordinary normal development.
Then in the 1970s, Mary Ainsworth took that theory and ran with it but essentially what John Baldi was saying is that there needs to be a primary caregiver and originally it was the mother, but then, you know, with the feminist movement, the terminology changed from mother to primary caregiver. That's a biological requirement for the survival of the species. So when he saw that there was deprivation, he saw that this could be very difficult for how individuals in that circumstance could grow up.
Mary Ainsworth created something called the strange situation and what they did, was in this sort of laboratory kind of environment, they would bring a mother in with the child that was somewhere between a year and 18 months, most of the time they'd be 13, 14 months old and there would be a series of things that would happen. So the mother would come in with the child and would meet the person that was in the room that was the stranger. Then the mother would leave, and then the stranger would leave and then the stranger would come back, and then the mother would come back and what they were really looking for was what was the child's reaction when the mother came back?
In that framework they were able to find that some children, about 70% of children were securely attached. 15% of those children were what they called insecure ambivalent, which is more of an anxious, clingy kind of reaction and then the other 15% were the insecure avoidant. So these were children that just ignored the mother when the mother came back. They had a rejecting way of being. And through that, they came with this classification of one secure attachment and two different kinds of insecure attachments and of course the theory has been going on and on and on. So, a child who's been lovingly attended to and experiences a responsive parenting experience or caregiving experience gets their needs met and they're confident about getting their needs met. They're easily sued if they're upset about something. They feel as if that caregiver represents a secure base for them. They have a deep sense of trust. Trust in a preliminary way, sort of in tune with what's going on around them, but trust that caregiver is going to be there as a secure base and get their needs met and an unwavering nurturing response from the parent.
Okay. So that's what really secure attachment is, that the quality of the interaction between the mother and the infant is so tuned in, switched on, that that baby starts moving forward, feeling very connected, feeling very seen, feeling very felt by the parent and a whole range of emotional development that's very appropriate and secure.
Helen Thompson: And I think that's where touch from baby massage comes in as well, because when we're touching and communicating with our baby, we're giving them that secure attachment, we're giving them that bonding. I think that from touch point of view from baby massage, I know how important it is to touch and communicate with our baby and the secure attachment is also just as important because the baby's gotta feel secure to be loved and I think that's where it links to baby massage.
Diane Speier: So I absolutely agree with you. I think that one of the beauties of doing baby massage is that it's establishing that kind of nurturing and connection and through the experience that you just said of being touched, of having almost all of the nerve endings in the body soothed and smoothed at a sort of deep level.
I remember for years, when I was doing baby massage myself, I would tell my mothers that, initially it's very stimulating baby massage. It brings blood flow to the surface of the skin and that contact, that working the massage through the tissue, through the muscles, through the nerves of the baby is establishing through my touch. When I go across your abdomen and baby feels that, they know, that's where some of that nurturing is established in the way the body receives it I think. As far as kind of reorienting parents from a depressed state of being into a more normal, interactive way of being, baby massage classes are always recommended. And I had fathers that interviewed for the book and they were describing how as they were, you know, trying to make the reconnect, cuz this father, by the time I spoke to him, he had two children and he found that the experience sent him spiraling down in both occasions. The people that were counseling him, were really advising him to really take advantage of the baby massage classes that were there. So, you know, they, they can be so important for the ordinary and the everyday, but they can also be so important for someone who is trying to o and not only with their baby, but with life.
Helen Thompson: Yeah. I think baby massage, is something I would try and bring into the point that fathers are just as involved as mothers or, or grandparents as well, because you've just mentioned they can be depressed. They sometimes feel detached themselves because if mom's breastfeeding, they don't have the chance to have that connection other than at bath time and it's important for them to have that. I'll use the word secure attachment instead of bonding, but I'm not discriminating the two, but they need that bonding and secure attachment time as well and so does baby. Baby needs that connection with dad as well and I think your point there about bringing the dad in, especially after they've been in hospital and they haven't had that support, it's really important that they're both involved.
Diane Speier: Yes whenever I've worked in sort of the prenatal state and with parents, I was always working with couples. Sometimes they may be getting a wonderfully secure attachment from the mother. They may not be getting that from the father, and there can be some conflict in that as well.
So if they're getting their needs met from one side, but not necessarily the other there'd be a different kind of interaction and dynamic going on, where one feels safe and one doesn't feel as safe. So there are four components to attachment. So they need to know that those parents represent a safe haven, that if they step out into the world a little bit, that that parent is there for them to come back to. It's like a secure base and so they can explore a little bit and then come back and know that that secure base is still there. Then there's this proximity seeking. So if they go out and someone says, boo, and they get scared and they run back, they wanna run back to that person that represents that kind of security and that's that proximity seeking.
They're gonna look for someone, they wanna be near that person to feel like they're confident about what's happening around them and the last part is this sort of notion of separation protest. So that was what was being measured during the Mary Ainsworth Strange Situation experiment that was going on, I think it was 1972 or something, did the child protest when the parent came back, did the child express some dissatisfaction about what just happened and that was the measure of what kind of attachment they had and so those are the four aspects or components of attachments that's important to know.
Helen Thompson: Yeah, I think it's interesting you say that, cause I'm putting it towards the sort of older child that when they go to daycare, or when they have to leave their parents, if their parents are going to work and they're dropped off at daycare or anything, if they've had that secure attachment when they were younger, giving them the opportunity to explore, giving them the opportunity to go off and play or do what they want to do but they always know that their parents there when they come back. When they go to daycare, they might be a little bit upset to begin with, but they will always know that mom or dad will come back and pick them up so they've still got that sense of security and that sense of attachment, knowing that their dad or mom or grandparent will still come and pick them up.
Diane Speier: Right and that is their secure base and also sometimes it's not as clear or distinct what a safe haven is versus a secure base. So a safe haven is that knowing that you can always come back into the loving arms of your parents, you are safe. That's safe. I can be there in my home, I am safe with my parents because I feel that level of security. It's when they start to explore, when they start to move away, that they need to be able to come back to that as their secure base and as you say, so children that are just starting out in daycare or even preschool the first time that happens, they may be like, okay, your parents going away and I'm good but then the second time they go, they know the routine and they may squawk about that. They may be really, really uncomfortable about that and that's where they're protesting, why are you going away? You can't go away without me.
Helen Thompson: You're not leaving me behind, you're leaving me, help! I don't want to be left behind but it's all part of that secure attachment.
Diane Speier: That's right. These are all the various elements of what contributes to feeling securely attached. Is being able to manage all of those different aspects, so someone who doesn't feel safe at home. There's another aspect of of attachment that came later on, and I think Mary Main was the sort of disciple of Mary Ainsworth in terms of taking that word and expanding it further. And this was something called a disorganized attachment and it sort of was like an overlay of the other different kinds of insecure attachments.
And when someone has a disorganized attachment it, it means that they're getting different signals, they're getting signals that sometimes my parent is loving and sometimes my parent neglects me. So the parent is both the source of love, but also the source of fear and they're really not really sure of how to respond, so, parents are not always at their best when they're dealing with their children, and sometimes parents take it out on their children. So, in one moment they're feeling loved and the next moment they're feeling scared and so it creates a sort of an attachment that's you know, so like it's an added descriptor, cause they don't know whether they're coming or going. They're like, oh, you love me or do you hate me and and where am I in the basis of that? So they may not feel that home is a safe haven in those circumstances. They may not feel like they have a secure base and so, someone who has an insecure, it doesn't even have to be disorganized, but someone with an insecure attachment doesn't feel necessarily able to explore the world as confidently as a securely attached child. They may feel, that it takes a long time for them to be soothed. They feel clingier because there's an anxiety that goes with the ambivalent attachment. So yeah there's a different kind of experience of going beyond the sort of maternal child bonds and bonding experience and moving out into the world.
And the child that has a sort of an avoidance insecure attachment is probably, a parent that was rejecting or minimizing or, the child is distressed or distraught and the parent is like, well it's not a big deal and not responsive in the way, sort of predictably unresponsive to meeting the needs of the baby who's not gonna be easily soothed and is not gonna feel secure about all of those things that are part of creating an attachment bond with parents. So yeah, they're not feeling really well nurtured. So there are so many different aspects and so many different ways that attachment can be affected along the way and it could be the temperament of the baby, it could be the state of mind of the parents, it could be a set of circumstances that are beyond their control. All kinds of things are contributing to this. So the fact that we still have 70% of our population feeling securely attached is a good thing and one of the things that's probably best for that is, a baby massage class.
What do you think is the best age to be bringing babies in for baby massage?
Helen Thompson: I like the idea of doing it when they're young, when they're probably about a month to two months old. It's just my own preference because I feel that it's important to teach mom when they're little to bond and attach and communicate and sing to their baby. When I do my baby massage classes, I'm always singing and chatting to the baby as well. I'm encouraging the baby to communicate and respecting the baby's wishes and watching their cues and all that and I teach the parents that as well. So I like to start at that age, however, having said that, I'm not saying that you can't start when they're toddlers, but to me, if you start when they're really young, between I'll say a month to, well, it depends what you call baby massage. I mean skin to skin and rubbing your baby's back, it's still a massage, but actually going to a baby massage class I'd say sort of a month to two months when they've just sort of got used to the world and the parents have just got used to them and doing it that way but as a toddler you can do it, but toddlers want to run around.
Diane Speier: And by the time the child is sort of turning over and crawling, parents can barely change their nappies and diapers at that time, so they're not gonna necessarily sit unless they're really the kind of baby that just gets so mellowed out by the whole experience of that, maybe they'll stick around for it. But I think movement and exploration is more important for them, when they get to the 7-8 months old. It may be, they wanna do other things besides baby massage.
Helen Thompson: Thank you Diane so much for being on here today. I've actually learnt a lot more about secure attachment than I knew before. Thank you for sharing your pearls of wisdom.
I hope you got some good takeaways from my discussion with Diane. I highly recommend checking out her Life After Birth book, website, and Digital Doula 2.0 app., and I've included links in the show notes, which can be accessed at MyBabyMassage.net/podcast/102.
Next week I'm chatting with Chris Lake, author of Help Your Toddler Meet Their Milestones 101 Behavior Hacks. Chris has been working with children with developmental delays for two decades and more.


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CybersecuritySecurity NewswireIdentity ManagementCybersecurity NewsGovernment: Federal, State and Local
Majority of Election Websites in Battleground States Failing in Cybersecurity
A large majority of election-related websites operated by local governments in battleground states lack a key feature that would help them be more cybersecure -- a site that ends in .gov as opposed to .com or other extensions.
Research by McAfee found that as many as 83.3 percent of county websites lacked .GOV validation across these states, and 88.9 percent and 90 percent of websites lacked such certification in Iowa and New Hampshire respectively. Such shortcomings could make it possible for malicious actors to establish false government websites and use them to spread false election information that could influence voter behavior and even impact final election results.
"Without a governing body validating whether websites truly belong to the government entities they claim, it's possible to spoof legitimate government sites with fraudulent ones," said Steve Grobman, McAfee Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "An adversary can use fake election websites for misinformation and voter suppression by targeting specific voters in swing states with misleading information on candidates, or inaccurate information on the voting process such as poll location and times. In this way, this malicious actor could impact election results without ever physically or digitally interacting with voting machines or systems."
Government entities purchasing .GOV web domains have submitted evidence to the U.S. government that they truly are the legitimate local, county, or state governments they claimed to be, McAfee says. Websites using .COM, .NET, .ORG, and .US domain names can be purchased without such validation, meaning that there is no governing authority preventing malicious parties from using these names to set up and promote any number of fraudulent web domains mimicking legitimate county government domains.
The HTTPS encryption measure assures citizens that any voter registration information shared with the site is encrypted, and that they can give greater confidence in the entity with which they are sharing that information. Websites lacking .GOV and encryption cannot assure voters seeking election information that they are visiting legitimate county and county election websites, leaving malicious actors an opening to set up disinformation schemes.
January 2020 Survey Findings
McAfee's January 2020 survey researched states projected by U.S. election prognosticators to be pivotal in determining the victor in the 2020 Presidential Elections. States surveyed include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin. Together, these states account for 201 of the 270 electoral votes required to win the U.S. presidential election.
State counties lacking .GOV validation. Of the 1,117 counties in the survey group, 83.3 percent of their websites lack .GOV validation. Minnesota ranked the lowest among the surveyed states in terms of .GOV website validation with 95.4 percent of counties lacking U.S. government certification. Other states severely lacking in .GOV coverage included Texas (94.9 percent), New Hampshire (90 percent), Michigan (89.2 percent), Iowa (88.9 percent), Nevada (87.5 percent), and Pennsylvania (83.6 percent).
Arizona had the highest percentage of main county websites validated by .GOV with 66.7 percent coverage, but even this percentage suggests that a third of the Grand Canyon State's county websites are unvalidated and that hundreds of thousands of voters could still be subjected to disinformation schemes.
State counties lacking HTTPS protection. McAfee's survey found that 46.6 percent of county websites lack HTTPS encryption. Texas ranked the lowest in terms of encryption, with 77.2 percent of its county websites failing to protect citizens visiting these web properties. Other states with counties lacking in encryption included Pennsylvania (46.3 percent), Minnesota (42.5 percent), and Georgia (38.4 percent).
Assessment of Iowa and New Hampshire. In Iowa, 88.9 percent of county websites lack .GOV validation, and as many as 29.3 percent lack HTTPS encryption. Ninety percent of New Hampshire's county websites lack .GOV validation, and as many as 30 percent of the state's counties lack encryption.
Inconsistent naming standards. McAfee's research found that some states attempted to establish standard naming standards, such as www.co.[county name].[two-letter state abbreviation].us. Unfortunately, McAfee says, these formats were followed so inconsistently that a voter seeking election information from her county website cannot be confident that a web domain following such a standard is indeed a legitimate site.
Easy-to-remember naming formats. McAfee found 103 cases in which counties set up easy-to-remember, user-friendly domain names to make their election information easier to remember and access for the broadest possible audience of citizens. Examples include www.votedenton.com, www.votestanlycounty.com, www.carrollcountyohioelections.gov, www.voteseminole.org, and www.worthelections.com. According to McAfee, while 93 of these counties (90.2 percent) protected voters visiting these sites with encryption, only two validated these special domains and websites with .GOV. This suggests that malicious parties could easily set up numerous websites with similarly named domains to spoof these legitimate sites.
Strategies for transitioning to .GOV. While only 19.3 percent of Ohio's 88 county main websites have .GOV validation, the state leads McAfee's survey with 75 percent of county election websites and webpages validated by .GOV certification. This leadership position appears to be the result of a state-led initiative to transition county election-related content to .GOV validated web properties. A majority of counties have subsequently transitioned their main county websites to .GOV domains, their election-specific websites to .GOV domains, or their election-specific webpages to Ohio's own .GOV-validated https://ohio.gov/ domain (i.e. https://www.boe.ohio.gov/vanwert/).
Such a .GOV transition strategy constitutes an interim solution until more comprehensive efforts are made at the state and federal government level through initiatives such as The DOTGOV Act of 2020, McAfee says. This legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support .GOV adoption for local governments with technical guidance and financial support.
"Ohio has made a commendable effort to lead in driving election websites to .GOV, either directly or by using the state run ohio.gov domain," said Grobman. "While main county websites still largely lack .GOV validation, Ohio does provide a mechanism for voters to quickly assess if the main election website is real or potentially fake. Other states should consider such interim strategies until all county and local websites with election functions can be fully transitioned to .GOV."
KEYWORDS: cyber security cybersecurity election security website security
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