A semi-formal dining event at George Brown College to execute a seven-course dinner, showcasing El Catrin's Mexican fare executed by Executive Chef, Olivier Le Calvez, Chef de Partie Leonardo Olvera and myself, Sous Chef Donovan Gomes, in collaboration with George Brown College students.
The opportunity to provide hands on experience and educate students to the real-life culinary world. To exhibit through them the motions of planning, preparation and execution, while experiencing the intensity of focus, discipline, efficiency, respect and reward for both the food and themselves.
The day started at six a.m., I was going over the notes from the previous few days, making sure I gathered and prepped all that I needed. Chef Olivier joined me around nine a.m., singing something in Spanish, his usual jolly self, walks past me and hands over an Americano & Chocolate croissant. Much needed boost in the morning. We came together and went over the day ahead once again, just to make sure, exchanged a high five and started to load the van.
The El Catrin Chef's pulled up by noon to the double doors on Frederick St. that led into the beautiful restaurant "The Chefs House" at George Brown College. They were about to commence lunch service. We quietly creeped down the side stairs to the basement like silhouettes where we about to prep for the next three hours or so, but first the calling for yet another fresh cup of brew.
The prep area downstairs was well maintained and intimate, where everything was at arms reach. The three of us worked through the menu with precision, with no stone unturned. Having organized lists leaves almost no room for error. We were focused and determined to give the students and our guests an amazing Mexican culinary experience, showcasing all the vibrant flavours of which some took days to prepare.
During our time spent preparing for dinner service, we were greeted by an array of chefs, managers & faculty from George Brown College. Needless to say, the were unbelievably kind and thoughtful with their presence and hospitality. Chef Rusin, a professor at the college, came by and informed us that we would be accommodating five to six students that would be our "hands" for the next couple of hours.
This was the best part of my experience, to be able to see the innocence yet eagerness of these students embracing the idea of working with ingredients of a cuisine which may be foreign to them. Before you know it, the cutting boards were down, sharp knives were out and off they went with specific tasks assigned to them, overseen by us chefs.
To give them a sense of what real world kitchens would expect of them, we treated them just like any of our cooks with respect & professionalism, showing them where they were going wrong and how to improve, setting timelines on assigned tasks to feel the sense of discipline and urgency. This along with getting to bond with them through short conversations about their background and future culinary interests. Time flies when your having fun doing what you love and with a few blinks of an eye, it was time to take our prepared foods upstairs and get ready for dinner service.
"Chef please take your food up the elevator!!" exclaimed Chef Rusin. Elevator I thought?? This was quite the privilege, these students have it made. State of the art facility, from combi-ovens and smokers to blenders, mixers, dehydrators and much more. It is great to know that these future Chefs are trained to use modern, state of the art equipment to create beautiful food with efficiency and accuracy.
The dining room upstairs was well lit, tables and chairs aligned, serviettes and utensils all squared up, wine glasses absolutely transparent and glistening, all this with the smooth sound of Mexican Mariachi in air. The kitchen was handed to us immaculately clean and polished from lunch service. It was time to get down to business.
The students for the nights service were assigned specific stations as per their instructor and we were to work with them accordingly. Two to three per station, so I took a moment and divided the remaining final touches of prep and distributed them accordingly, with Chef Leonardo, to oversee. All was going as planned. It was now time to discuss plating options and final presentations with El Jefe, Chef Olivier.
With forty minutes left before the arrival of our guests, we decided to plate one of each dish to accomplish many things, giving the students, servers and managers alike an idea of how the ingredients come together on the plate, allowing them to visualize, smell and eventually taste but not before Chef Olivier has the opportunity to tell the story behind the food, the purpose of the event and last but not least the appreciation of the students and chefs joining forces to bring everything together and to respect the efforts put forth by all that came through to make this night happen.
The food was well received by all partaking in the service. The servers seemed confident with explaining the dishes after having tried it. All questions handled with grace by Chef Olivier. Guests are slowly trickling through the doors. Its Showtime.
These students showed nerves of excitement more than fear of not being able to perform. Looked like they may have done this a few times now, which was great for me. Everyone had their game face on, Chefs Olivier and Leonardo keeping eye contact with me at all times so that we are on the same page come what may. We split the students equally amongst us three and moved them around depending on where we could expose them to the food and service, the most.
We also had the company, brains and brawn of our very own Corporate Executive Chef, Tim Miles. His keen eye from a drone like – panoramic view allows room for no mistakes. Not to mention his attention to every little detail during service from plates to food to people involved, always questioning the next move, three steps ahead. Keeping quality control and being hands on with cutting, cooking, tasting and plating, this man does it all. Gratifying to say the least.
I made sure that all the students had their hands involved with the food throughout the nine courses, from canapes to dessert. The Chefs demonstrated one or two plates and let the students do the rest, with us guiding their every movement. Every student took charge of at least one element that went on a plate. Their faces so intense and eyes focused to the details from the example set for them.
There isn't a single service in my entire culinary career, where there a curveball is thrown at you and because of those repeated past experiences, what came next was handled with ease. After years of practice, the ability to think on your feet with what you have in front of you becomes second nature.
Out of forty-nine guests of which originally none had any allergies or restrictions to a pre-fixed menu previously viewed, there happened to be three of them that night with particulars, two with shellfish allergies and one with a fish allergy. We whipped up delicious alternatives for them, a corn and ancho chili risotto, a couple of Red snapper ceviche's and a Confit heirloom tomato and Charred tomatillo ceviche. All was received well and appreciated by those guests. This was also an eye opener for the students to see what can change during a planned service.
After the desserts were out, we all came together for a swift clean up whilst our Chef Olivier said a few words of gratitude to the guests and student for making this night a successful event, and plan for more to come. We all took pictures and exchanged contact information with the students, with hopes to run into each other again someday. It's a small culinary world after all.
Back downstairs again, packing up all of what was left from the night. I was out the door to bring the company van, when I thought to myself I'm sure the chefs could use a nice cup of brew, so I stumbled next door and picked up three Americanos, it was now approaching nine-thirty p.m. We said our goodbyes once all packed up and headed back to the mothership.
Driving home I thought about the day and how productive, educational and memorable it was to share my experiences with students who will one day turn out to be amazing Chefs, as long as they keep at it. I would do this all over again to be able to give back from where I once started. It is now midnight. Zzzzzz.
The day started off great as I volunteered to drive and don't get the opportunity very often anymore. I was already giddy with excitement being able to chauffeur some of the cooks around for the day.
After meeting up at the car rental place and having a bit of a confusion there, we were on our way to pick up the crew. Once settling on a route we took to the road on our way to Hagersville Ontario to see some lamb and cattle.
The drive was pretty good other than one of our colleagues lagging behind a bit due to the fact he drives like an old man on Sunday's. It's really nice being out in the country. The rolling hills and trees. You don't get to see many trees in the city, or grass for that matter. Everyone in the van was more content being out there looking over the landscape. The drive even took an unexpected turn when we had to stop for a crossing of what I think was either wild turkey or partridge. A neat little experience that had everyone in the vehicle pressing their faces against the windows remarking how "cool" that was.
We had to make a quick pit stop at a gas station because the rental agency clearly lied about how far we could get on half a tank. That, and the fact that the cooks have bladders the size of young children. After about an hour and a half we came across an unassuming little barn house on a county road in the middle of nowhere. The smell of manure and hay filling the air was welcoming and not overwhelming. We pulled in the driveway next to a giant green tractor that people immediately started taking pictures next to. City folk are funny sometimes – "Hey look at me next to this tractor which we rarely come across in cement jungle land".
The farmer came to meet us and was what you'd expect from such. A large towering man, dirty overalls, hadn't shaved in a while, but surprisingly soft spoken. We did our introductions, took a few photos, and got warned by the Chefs to stay away from the electric fence.
Walking in to the sheep barn we were greeted by some baby lamb being fed by their mothers. We were then spoken to about how the sheep get impregnated and the selection process in which animals are kept and allowed to mature to sheep for wool or sent off as lamb to be produced. We also learned about the adopting process in which female sheep can only really care for about 3 lamb, so if they have more than 3 they need to "orphan" the lamb to a sheep who has less. We then got to go into the sheep pen where there were well over 100 animals. They were frightened at first but quickly came up to us for a bit of affection.
The wool is so soft and pillowy. No wonder everyone seems to like wool stuff. We learned about the type of hay they like to eat which is mixed with silage, the breeding process, and how they interact with one another. It was really interesting as the operator was incredibly knowledgeable about his animals.
Afterwards we took off to the cattle farm. This was more like the farms you read about in books. It had the big red barn of course, the hockey pond out front, and large grain silos lining the side of the property.
We were given a quick tour of the equipment and the feed, then introduced to the Black Angus and Wagyu breeds. There was also a cross breed which the name now escapes me. We were informed again on processes such as breeding, selection for meat, and feed. The cattle were surprisingly friendly as well, coming up to us in general curiosity.
Shortly after the farm tours we were back on the road toward Dundas Ontario for a wonderful lunch at Quatrefoil restaurant. The town was small and quaint, and the restaurant was a little cottage style house with a really great look to it. The interior was very classy but welcoming, with a nice looking patio that would be a good spot to spend a sunny afternoon. The restaurant staff did an amazing job setting up a nice private room for us outside the kitchen.
Food was spot on at this place. The bread all made in house was unreal, with a sourdough, cheese twists, little popover style gougers, and a sweet bread which I think was some kind of molasses rye. Either way they were all delicious, with nice salty butter. For lunch we had sun choke soup, Cumbraes meatloaf with squash and Brussels sprouts, and a chocolate banana bombe. Nice spread and a well spent lunch hour which I'm sure everyone on the trip would agree with. We all left wanting to take a nap after that filling meal, which a few of the people not driving happened to do. Nice life!
The drive home was a bit of a mess. Our van happened to somehow go from half a tank to nothing in a matter of 5 minutes. This unfortunately made us have to get off the highway and find a gas station. Topping it all off it started to downpour on the way back into the city, slowing everyone down. We unfortunately didn't make it to Cumbraes in time for the tour, but we got to see the shop which was beautiful. The selection of dry aged beef, pork, chicken, prepared foods, condiments, pies, etc. was mind blowing. I definitely didn't expect them to have as much of a selection, but one can only assume that is why they're one of the most popular butcher shops in Toronto.
Departing back to the Distillery everyone was in good spirits and a little bit more educated from the day's activities. Smiles all around and happy cooks. Definitely a great way to spend a day when you live and breathe food. I would recommend a visit to these places to any cook I know.
I just wanted to thank you again for the field trip to Cumbrae farms. It was an interesting place to go see, and a stark contrast to see the fourth generation farm being so old and being surrounded by so many windmills. That seemed to be how he chose to raise his animals, by combining the best of older techniques and modern ones. I was surprised they fermented the hay but from a storage and animal health point of view I think it is a really good solution. It was funny seeing him talk about portion control by weight, when feeding his cows. It is a good reminder that any waste you can cut is profit.
The main thing I took away from the trip though is the idea that as chef I think we have to pay for flavor not weight of beef. That can mean little things like not misting at the abattoir, breeding for a smaller eye or taking the time to dry age like they do. When you have the opportunity to work with someone as knowledgeable about animals you really can get a premium flavour as well as the product you want.
First let me say thank you again for the opportunity to attend the last DRC field trip. In my opinion its outings like this that set us apart from other restaurant groups in the city.
Cumbrae Farms was amazing, but smaller than I imagined. I have shopped with Cumbrae's for years and to get the opportunity to speak directly to the person responsible for raising the meat I have been purchasing was a unique and rare opportunity most Chefs do not get. I found it very interesting to physically see the difference in build and temperament between the breed of cattle on the farm.
Highlight of the trip for me was our stop for lunch at Quatrefoil! Absolutely stunning room with great food in small town Ontario. The Menu far exceeded expectations and the company was pretty good as well! Its really great to get the opportunity to share a meal sitting down with my co workers!
These type of trips are important and I would like the opportunity to be more involved in the planning process moving forward. Im currently looking into the possibility of Sylvania Farms having a group of us out to see their facility. They are raising Mangalitsa Pigs as well as goats, cows, and chickens in the Niagara region. I believe they are running a small scale charcuterie operation as well.
I had never been at farm like here before, it was the first time to be there. It is incredible how they raise their lamb/sheep and beef, and they grow their feeds as well. The farms are not huge operation, but it is 4th generation's farm and well-maintained farm and honest. The animals are going to the local butcher shop. That means we can buy the meat which are we can know where they from and how they raised. This idea is remarkable.
It was such a great time ever and the experience gives me an idea that in some points, it is really exciting to know about your food; where they from, how they grow, who done by,,, so on.
Thank you chef for giving me the opportunity and this was so impressive and awesome!!
When we arrived at seven and change on a warm summer morning for this edition of the field trip, I didn't know it would forever change the way I look at food.
Chef Tim's spread of breakfast Sammies helped kickoff the morning, then off to Stratford and Montforte Dairy, what a place of smells!
When we arrived the scent of warm whey was everywhere. Talking to the cheese maker was awesome. I have seen him many times at the St. Lawrence market and I felt I knew the skinny on some of his cheeses, until I walk into the "Wild Room". The amount of ammonia in the air grabs your nose like a smack to the face. Very special things happen in that room.
It was the first time I had seen cheese mites. We get Mimolette at Cluny Bistro and they are waxed for shipping, however the cheese mite is celebrated in that cheese.
Then to lunch and what a lunch! The people in that town get the best from every farmer, all things we ate you would see on a high end chalk board in the west end of Toronto, or on a high end tapas menu. The roma tomatoes were so perfect as if they were grown just to be paired with the fresh Monforte Toscano.
Now when it all changed we rolled up to a log drive way and pulled in. We were greeted by the dogs first then the owners of Perth pork .
I got to talking with Fred about the pigs and he's showed me the boars I got to butcher with Chef O and Chef Reid a long time ago when I was a cook at The DRC, but I sure didn't look at it in the same light back then.
Fred told us about how he got the Tamworth breed and how they thrive in that Ontario air.
After meeting the people that produce this pork I realized I had to do everything I could to make this man's life work into very tasty products, trying not to waste a thing.
His method of letting the pigs rest before slaughter reminded me of the Japanese way for dispatching fish called "ikejime", all of the care is in making the sure the latic acid is as minimal as possible.
As was the same with Fred's Perth county pork. So before I arrived I already had a plan how I was going to butcher it. I would try to get the most market cuts out of the hog and sell them on feature at Cluny, making back the investment on the pig before turning a bit into some tasty charcuterie.
Cured in salt for one month at 4% by weight then hung for 1 year.
Air drying with salt & then double smoked when we get some wood for the smoker.
Spicy copa to be hung 6 months.
I cold smoked it and served in surf and turf style with line caught big eye tuna.
I featured the seven bone in chops with roasted baby spuds, garlic scapes and fresh peas with a sherry jus.
TBD – after we get through Summerlicous!
Staff meal – braised and fried by Sammy and served with a spiced vinegar dip. It was awesome.
Guanciale in green salt mixture.
As well, all the bones were turned into en croute aspic and the large amount of fat is being used up in en croute as well. There were two small handfuls of blood stained meat I could not use everything else has been used from the entire hog.
So the the pig's cost is covered with more than 50+ pounds of it still to be sold off.
I feel very proud of what I have done with a mans life work and I will never look at food the same again.


text:
Tranosema latiusculum är en stekelart som beskrevs av Thomson 1887. Tranosema latiusculum ingår i släktet Tranosema och familjen brokparasitsteklar. Arten är reproducerande i Sverige. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

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The Effects of Temperature on the Feeding Performance of Invasive Fishes
Received: Sep. 29, 2013; Published: Mar. 30, 2014
Tyler J. Sloan, Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
Ralph G. Turingan, Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
It has been hypothesized that the effects of the coupling of climate-change and invasive-species phenomena exceed the impact of each separately on ecosystem dynamics and stability. However, very few studies address the interaction between these two most alarming concerns of science and society. Using two Florida invasive fishes, Pteroisvolitansand Cichlasoma urophthalmus, this study attempts to address this synergy by providing empirical evidence that (1) demonstrates how the performance of invasive species responds to environmental-temperature change, and (2) enhances our understanding of the implications of species invasion in the light of the global-climate-change phenomenon. Kinematic analyses revealed the following results:(1) At a given temperature (20°C, 25°C, and 30°C) prey-capture kinematics differed between species;(2) Each species maintained similar excursion and timing kinematics throughout the range of water temperatures;(3) The temperature-independence of the average kinematic values is reinforced by the consistent kinematic profile throughout the temperature range. We propose that more research is needed to corroborate the plausible avenues where the interplay between climate-change and invasive-species phenomena may be demonstrated, including: (1) the temperature-induced effects on physiological and mechanical processes; (2) the likelihood that these physiological effects extend to whole-organism performance; and (3) the resilience of invasive species and their resistance of whole-organism performance to temperature change.
Invasive Fishes, Climate Change, Environmental Temperature, Lionfish, Mayan Cichlid, Performance
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A. Vaslet, C. France, C. C. Baldwin, and I. C. Feller, "Dietary habits of juveniles of the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, in mangrove ponds of an offshore islet in Belize, Central America," Neotropical Ichthyology. vol. 10, pp. 667-674. 2012.
G. T. Bergmann, and P. J. Motta, "Diet and morphology through ontogeny of the nonindigenous Mayan cichlid 'Cichlasoma (Nandopsis)' urophthalmus (Günther 1862) in southern Florida," Environmental Biology of Fishes.vol. 72, pp. 205–211. 2005.
Florida Wildlife Commission. Accessed December 2012. Available at: http://myfwc.com/.
C. A. Martinez-Palacios, L. G. Ross, and M. Rosado-Vallado, "The effects of salinity on the survival and growth of juvenile Cichlasoma urophthalmus,"Aquaculture. vol. 91 pp. 65-75. 1990.
R. Chavez-Lopez, M. S. Peterson, N. Brown-Peterson, A. A. Morales-Gomez, and J. Franco-Lopez, "Ecology of the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, in the Alvarado Lagoonal system, Veracruz, Mexico,"Gulf and Caribbean Res.vol. 17,pp. 123-131. 2005.
C. J. Hellig, M.Kerschbaumer, K. M.Sefc, and Koblmüller,"Allometric shape change of the lower pharyngeal jaw correlates with a dietary shift to piscivory in a cichlid fish,"Naturwissenschaften. vol.97, pp. 663–672. 2010.
L. E. Young, "Variation in feeding ecomorphology between northern and southern Florida subpopulations of the invasive Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus,"Thesis. Florida Institute of Technology. .2011.
C. D. Hulsey, "Function of a key morphological innovation: fusion of the cichlid pharyngeal jaw,"Proceedings of the Royal Society B. vol. 273, pp. 669-675. 2006.
R. Anderson, "Geographic variation and aspects of the life history of BelonesoxbelizanusKner (Pisces: Poeciliidae) from Central America," Thesis. 1980.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Oceanographic Data Center. Accessed December 2012.Available at: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all.html.
R. G. Turingan and P. C. Wainwright, "Morphological and functional bases of durophagy in the queen triggerfish, Balistesvetula (Pisces, tetraodontiformes)," Journal of Morphology. vol. 215, pp. 101-118. 1993.
F. J. Rahel and J. D. Olden, "Assessing the effects of climate change on aquatic invasive species," Conservation Biology. vol. 22 pp. 521-533. 2008.
P. W. Hochachkaand G. N. Somero,"Biochemical Adaptation: Mechanisms and Processes in Physiological Evolution"Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2002.
P. A. Cochran and I. R. Adelman, "Seasonal aspects of daily ration and diet of largemouth bass, Micropterussalmoides, with an evaluation of gastric evacuation rates," Environmental Biology of Fishes. vol. 7, pp. 265-275. 1982.
S. M. Adams, R. B. McLean, and J. A. Parrotta, "Energy partitioning in largemouth bass under conditions of seasonality of seasonally fluctuating prey availability," Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. vol. 111, pp. 549-558. 1982.
E. Garcia-Berthou and R. Moreno-Amich, "Food of introduced pumpkinseed sunfish: ontogenetic diet shift and seasonal variation," Journal of Fish Biology. vol. 57, pp. 29-40. 2000.
C. A. Harms, "Feeding versatility of the invasive pike killifish, Belonesoxbelizanus (Cyprinofontiformes: Poeciliidae). Thesis. Florida Institute of Technology. 2011.
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F. diCastri, "On invading species and invaded ecosystems: the interplay of historical chance and biological necessity," In di Castri, F., A.J. Hansen and M. deBussche (Eds.), Biological Invasions in Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA. pp. 3–16. 1990.
A. K. Sakai, F. W.Allendorf, J. S. Holt, D. M. Lodge,J. Molofsky, K. A. With,…S. G. Weller, "The population biology of invasive species,"Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. vol. 32, pp. 305-332. 2001.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


RDU Blues currently offers beginner drop-in blues lessons from 8:00 to 9:00 pm before our Friday dances. These lessons are designed to help newer dancers get the skills they need to have a fun and safe time social dancing. There are 8 themes that rotate regularly for these drop-in beginner lessons, and each theme covers an essential topic for blues dancing. The Facebook event for a given Friday will list the theme for that evening.
We also offer intermediate lessons on the last Friday of every month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The topics for these vary and can be found in the Facebook event for that week's blues dance. While these lessons are open to everyone, our target dancers are those who have a comfortable knowledge of the blues essentials (pulse, grounding, and connection) and have started to dig into the technique that underlies blues dancing.
If you want more personalized instruction, private lessons are a great option. Contact the instructors below for rates and details, or talk to them at a dance.
We bring out-of-town instructors to our scene a few times a year. These workshops are a great opportunity to learn from world-class teachers without having to travel! Plus, these teachers usually have room for a few private lessons while they're in town. Keep an eye on Facebook and our Special Events page to find out about upcoming workshops.
Classes and lessons alone aren't enough – you've also got to get out there and practice! Please come to Dance Blues Friday and Dance Fusion Saturday and dance with us!


The time-honoured tradition of getting in your vehicle, turning up the tunes and heading out on the highway. There's nothing quite like travelling the open road, soaking in the sights, sounds, and getting to know the communities along the way.
Now, there's a "road trip", and then there's a BC ROAD TRIP. From coastal mountains to Interior deserts and northern lakes, there's so much diverse terrain to cover across BC. Whether you're travelling solo, with friends or as part of an epic family adventure, BC road trips create unforgettable memories.
This summer, we're looking for your photos with the #BCRoadTrip hashtag on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or any other hashtag-friendly social platform. Show off your photography skills and your road trip pride!
We want to see your journeys along the Alaska Highway, the Trans Canada Highway, the Crow's Nest, Stewart-Cassiar and all the numbered highways in between. Whether you drive professionally or you're just taking that car or motorcycle out to explore, we would love to see BC through your eyes.
So show us your #BCRoadTrip photos; we'd love to help share them, and maybe even inspire other like-minded travellers. Your image may even be featured on our Facebook or Twitter banners, too.
Safe (and picturesque) travels! And be sure to let DriveBC help guide your way.
Thanks Sam. There's just nothing like a BC Road Trip…oops, I mean #BCRoadTrip. 🙂 Look forward to seeing your photos!


text:
News Conference News PCR London Valves 2022
Earlier Interventions and Later Redos? 'Mature' TAVI Still Has Growing Pains
"Lifetime management" is the catchphrase in a range of sessions at PCR London Valves tackling TAVI's unanswered big questions.
LONDON, England—International faculty convening once again at PCR London Valves marked TAVI's twentieth anniversary with some back-patting coupled with some sober reminders that for all that's been accomplished in this space, some major holes still need to be filled.
"We now characterize [TAVI] as being in a mature state," said Martin Leon, MD (NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY). Comoderating a main arena session reviewing the "big questions" facing the field, Leon likened TAVI to a middle-aged adult, saying: "We don't yet have the sagacity or the wisdom of an elderly reflective mode, mainly because we have many evidence gaps."
As previously reported by TCTMD, cardiology organizations throughout the year have been celebrating the two decades of progress since Alain Cribier's first transcatheter valve procedure in April 2002. But as multiple sessions and expert discussions here on the opening day of the conference made clear, TAVI's success has also spurred a range of new challenges.
Some of those lie in the areas for which many hope TAVI indications can expand—less severe or asymptomatic aortic stenosis (AS), as well as aortic regurgitation. Still others are found in the techniques being pioneered to deal not only with failing surgical bioprostheses but, as the years go by, failing TAVI devices.
Kendra Grubb, MD (Emory University, Atlanta, GA), speaking with TCTMD after a morning session that addressed the latter scenario, characterized the wave of deteriorating TAVI devices as a "coming tsunami."
"For high-volume centers, especially academic centers, it is a huge concern," she told TCTMD. "Our heart team has evolved from treating patients who are elderly, high risk, and operable, where one valve was going to be the only valve they ever needed because the valve was going to outlast the patient. Now, as we are treating low-risk patients, which inherently are younger—we're talking about 65 year olds who are likely going to need more than one valve in their lifetime."
Earlier Interventions and Lifetime Management
Nicolas Van Mieghem, MD, PhD (Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands), kicked off the main arena session on Sunday by making the case for more "upstream TAVI," potentially preventing pressure overload from transitioning to volume overload and heart failure.
"I think upstream TAVI can be treating moderate aortic stenosis," he argued. "It can also be treating asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis." While multiple trials are ongoing in this space, such as PROGRESS, TAVR UNLOAD, and EVoLVeD, there's also the possibility that other trials that have proved negative in the past—he gave the example of the GALILEO and ATLANTIS anticoagulation in TAVI trials—might not deliver the same results in younger patients with lower risk of bleeding.
To successfully expand TAVI to new populations, he concluded, the field will need not only new device iterations and dedicated tools, but also a better grasp of the pathophysiology, as well as better buy-in from—and education of—physicians and patients alike.
Samir Kapadia, MD (Cleveland Clinic, OH), following Van Mieghem, had a few more additions to this wish list, noting that intervening earlier in the "lifetime management" of patient disease inevitably means a higher likelihood of encountering bicuspid valve morphology, more questions about valve durability, more potential for paravalvular leak to have an impact long-term, more implications for future coronary access pitfalls, and more risk of new pacemaker implantation if a first valve is positioned with a second valve in mind.
There's so much more information we need to acquire in order to better inform our patients and to advance this field. Martin Leon
Commenting on both presentations, panelist Hélène Eltchaninoff, MD (University Hospital Charles Nicolle, Rouen, France), noted that while she agrees with Van Mieghem there is a "physiopathologic rationale" for earlier interventions in moderate AS, this also has long-term implications, as hinted at by Kapadia.
"If you decrease pressure afterload, you feel that the patient should feel better and have a better outcome," Eltchaninoff said, stressing that this still needs to be proven in the ongoing clinical trials. But this could also introduce a new wrinkle, she continued: "If the patients are treated earlier, they will be younger and then you have more problems for lifetime management."
Likewise, panelist Megan Coylewright, MD (Erlanger Health System, Chattanooga, TN), who disclosed that she is leading the eligibility review committee for EXPAND TAVR II, a moderate AS study being sponsored by Medtronic, said she "liked" Van Mieghem's point about earlier intervention but had her own caveat.
"We don't want to wait until the left ventricle is affected by the valve, but those of you that are thinking of sending your patients to a moderate AS study may be wondering if this cardiac damage that we're seeing may be just concomitant, [if] it's not actually from the valve," said Coylewright. Moderate AS studies, she continued, "are really focusing on heart failure management of patients with moderate AS, and as that medical field progresses quickly, it's hard to predict how important early valve intervention will be if we're sophisticated in our medical management."
When First Valves Fail
The second half of Sunday's main arena session focused on failed bioprosthetic valves and how best to predict and avoid failures in the first place.
Thomas Modine, MD, PhD (CHRU de Lille, France), reviewed some of the recent studies showing that the number of redo TAVI procedures is rising sharply alongside TAVI-after-SAVR valve-in-valve procedures. The latter had already been a growing area of specialization, with research and innovation tackling the problems of commissure alignment, coronary access, and inadequate initial valve sizing. By contrast, he said, surgical explant of a failing TAVI valve is an area only now attracting attention, most notably for the high mortality associated with these procedures.
Smaller registries, he noted, have reported mortality rates as high as 30% at 30 days for TAVI explants, which are often being done by surgeons without much experience with this specialized procedure. Even the larger Society of Thoracic Surgeons database is pointing to mortality rates in the range of 12% for TAVI explantation, roughly double the mortality seen for TAV-in-TAV procedures.
"They are things that favor redo TAVR, and they are some other things that favor TAVR explant. We have to put them and discuss them together in a calm atmosphere," Modine concluded cautiously, although he characterized TAVI explants as "definitely riskier" than either a first or redo surgical procedure.
Cardiovascular surgeon Hendrik Treede, MD, PhD (University Heart Center Bonn, Germany), reacting to Modine's numbers, urged caution in interpreting the TAVI explant data Modine provided. Most of these failed TAVIs, Treede noted, were due to endocarditis, which "is a totally different animal" than other forms of TAVI valve failure.
According to Treede, most TAVI explantations would involve a Bentall procedure for aortic root replacement, which many surgeons would be familiar with. "Root replacement has a risk of 2%, not 12%," he said. "What we shouldn't do now is to speak so badly about surgery because we overestimate the risk. When it comes to TAVR degeneration, it's a much easier procedure [than in the setting of endocarditis]. Comparing apples to oranges doesn't help us a lot in this field."
Danny Dvir, MD (Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel), who was one of the first to raise questions about TAVI valve durability, as well as pioneer solutions to protect coronary access during valve-in-valve procedures, spoke with TCTMD about initial device selection. "The most important thing by far, to me, is that the operator that implants a device needs not only to think about the success of the device, but what will happen in a couple of years if that device fails. They can choose a specific device, in a specific size, and a specific location, doing commissural alignment. These are the type of things that may help the lifetime management."
Understanding which of the devices today may be best in younger patients more likely to require repeat procedures remains an area of active investigation, he added. Most operators would choose a shorter device, with the least risk of coronary obstruction, but there are some signs that the shorter valves in use today, though easiest for valve-in-valve down the road, may not be as durable. "Obviously we want devices that last, but if they fail, we want them to be easy to treat," he said. "But there is a balance between those that are treatable but not as durable, and those that are durable but not as treatable—it's not so easy to decide."
What About Imaging?
Concluding his talk, Modine stressed the need for "meticulous fluoro and CT planning," both for valve-in-valve TAVI and for TAVI explantation, and when deciding between the two.
Grubb, to TCTMD, made the same argument. Earlier in the day, she presented an analysis of 204 post-TAVI CT scans to identify factors worth considering at the time of an initial TAVI implant: to reduce the risk of coronary flow obstruction and to preserve future coronary access while avoiding conduction disturbances.
"These issues start to become more and more important," said Grubb, "and so not only identifying those patients ahead of time from the initial implant, but also looking at their CT scan and saying, 'This is going to be the best valve in this position so that we can use another valve with the tools that we have,'" if a repeat intervention is warranted.
While the coming "tsunami" might not benefit from that foresight in the immediate future, she acknowledged, "we have an opportunity to change our behaviors now, not just be happy that we got a valve in, but be very precise in our implantation to get surgical-like results in our old and young patients."
The most important thing by far, to me, is that the operator that implants a device needs not only to think about the success of the device, but what will happen in a couple of years if that device fails. Danny Dvir
Christopher Meduri, MD (Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden), whose talk followed Modine's in the main arena, also called for high-quality multimodality imaging to optimize valve-in-valve procedures. To make this point, he showed a number of side-by-side case examples where imaging results might tilt the decision-making in favor of a percutaneous or surgical approach.
"It's critically important that we start thinking now about independently reviewing, understanding, and using all of the imaging available," he said.
Speaking with TCTMD after the session, Leon picked up on the same point, calling imaging "a fundamental, central piece of the entire procedure."
Importantly, said Leon, it's not enough to have a specialized imager on the team—operators themselves should themselves have these skills. "Right now, it is done ad hoc, it's more of an apprenticeship than it is a scholarly exercise," he told TCTMD. "I'm hoping in the future that [advanced CT imaging] will become not something that people view in a cavalier way, but take as seriously as the procedure itself. . . . I think there has to be at least one key operator who's involved in the procedure who personally has the experience to interpret and to view the studies, and to be able to share that information with the rest of the team."
Conversations With Patients
With all that information in hand, it will be important to make sure patients, too, understand the implications of valve choices both at the time of their initial procedure and for any subsequent do-overs.
"These are difficult discussions, particularly with younger patients who are active and want an immediate return to normal lifestyle," Leon noted during the session he chaired. Putting the question to Coylewright he asked: how much of this can patients understand?
In response, Coylewright said she'll continue to advocate for data and shared decision-making, agreeing that these conversations may not come easily for some physicians. "It's not something that we are just all born doing, being able to talk to patients in sophisticated ways and engage their preferences," she said.
I think there's still a long way to go to bring the science of shared decision-making to our clinical practice, but it will be more important than ever before as we extend into new patient populations. Megan Coylewright
Coylewright recently wrapped up a multicenter trial of a decision aid to use with patients with aortic stenosis and observed that when patients first see their doctors, they "do not have informed preferences, they have uninformed preferences."
Physicians typically tell her that they can't do shared decision making, because their patients come in with their minds made up—they want a TAVI.
"But what we found in the study was that with the use of a well-designed decision aid and a shared decision-making process, we were able to increase patient knowledge and improve decisional quality," Coylewright said. "And patients did change their mind about the therapy that they thought they wanted, based on clear identification of their goals and values. So I think there's still a long way to go to bring the science of shared decision-making to our clinical practice, but it will be more important than ever before as we extend into new patient populations."
Wrapping up the session, Leon called it "exciting to see the last 20 years evolve to a point where we can talk about relative stability and maturity."
But work remains, he reiterated. "When I see the number of still unanswered questions and the potential for the future, I'm hoping that the next generation of you in the audience will consider this challenge, because there's so much more information we need to acquire in order to better inform our patients and to advance this field."
Shelley Wood is Managing Editor of TCTMD and the Editorial Director at CRF. She did her undergraduate degree at McGill…
Multiple sessions. Presented at: PCR London Valves. November 27, 2022. London, England.
Grubb reports consulting relationships with 4CMedical, Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, and Medtronic.
Dvir reports consulting for Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Abbott, and PiCardia.
Leon reports research grants and advisory board service with Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, and Medtronic, and holding equity in Alta, Ancora, Anteris, Conveyor, East End Medical, K2, Foldax, Medinol, PiCardia, Triventures, Venus MedTech, SoloPace, Valve Medical, and XenterMD.
Van Mieghem reports research grants and support from Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, and Teleflex, and honoraria or consulting fees from Abbott, Amgen, Anteris, Boston Scientific, JenaValve, Daiichi Sankyo, Medtronic, and Siemens Healthineers.
Kapadia reports having no relevant conflicts of interest.
Modine reports consulting and advisory board participation for Medtronic, research grants from Medtronic and Edwards Lifesciences, as well as consulting for Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, Abbott, Valcare, Valfix, Sim&Cure, Jenscare, Highlife, Materialize; and holding equity in Valcare, Valfix, Valmy, Sim & Cure, and PiCardia.
Meduri reports being the CMO for and holding equity in Anteris Technologies, receiving grants and research report from Boston Scientific, and receiving honoraria or consulting fees from Abbott, Alleviant, Anteris, Boston Scientific, Cardiovalve, Vdyne, and XDot.
Eltchaninoff reports speakers' fees from Edwards Lifesciences.
CT/CT-FFR
News Conference News TCT 2022
Pre-AVR Cardiac Damage in PARTNER Patients Linked to Poorer QoL at 1 Year
Surgical TAVI Explants Are Risky and Rising: STS Data Carry a Warning
News Conference News TVT 2022
Surgical Explant or Redo for TAVI Failures? Some Registry Insights
Podcast Rox Heart Radio
Rox Heart Radio: TAVI Turns 20
Presentation TCT 2022
Cardiac Damage and Quality of Life After Aortic Valve Replacement: Results From the PARTNER Trials
Presenter: Philippe Genereux
The Importance of Pre-emptive TAVR in the Future Management of Aortic Stenosis


text:
Q: Externally Triggering a camera Using a TTL Signal I am not an electrical/electronic engineer, so please bear with me.
I have a monochromatic camera (www.qimaging.com/resources/pdfs/QICAM-12bitManual.pdf) which can be triggered (i.e. capture image) by a 5v TTL signal provided by an external triggering system (a function generator). Also, the camera comes with an electronic triggering board related to this application (www.qimaging.com/resources/pdfs/ExtTrigApNotes.pdf) (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuC_-cUO97c). So, the function generator output is not directly connected to the camera. The BNC cable from the function generator would be first connected to the triggering board; then the triggering signal will reach the camera through a circular DIN port. One thing this triggering board does is it allows you to monitor the exposure time and readout time of the camera (so I think this is one way to see if the camera is triggered or not, right?).
So, basically I want to feed the camera a 5v TTL square signal (DC) and make the camera capture an image (i.e. trigger) on edge high mode. I also, have an external light source, supplying the required light for the image, which also need to be synced with the triggering TTL signal on edge high mode (www.hsps.com/2006/pages/nanodren.htm).
I have come across a few issues for which I need help from you:
1) I am using a function generator with an in-built TTL output (BNC connection). So, when I monitor the function generator output, the voltage amplitude is not 5v, but around 4.2v. That persists even if I set the function generator's impedance to High Z. I tried two different function generators and I get the same 4.2-4.4v. What's the reason behind this? How can I get an exact 5v TTL signal?
2) You may ask, your camera surely works (will trigger) even with a 4.3v signal. You are right. But it gets problematic when I also connect the external light source (required for higher quality image) to the function generator to be triggered at the same time as the camera. So, when the BNC cables from the function generator output is connected to the oscilloscope, my voltage is around 4.3v, but the moment I connect another BNC cable to the same output in the function generator and plug its other side to the external light source, the voltage amplitude drops to around 3.6v (probably due to internal impedance of the external light source), which may not enough to trigger the camera.
So, although the function generator might be giving out a 5v signal when there is nothing attached to it, but this surely drops to a value of 3.6v with all the BNC cables connected to it. My question is that how I can make sure a 5v signal (DC square) will reach both my camera and my external light source.
Please let me know if you have other suggestions for my case.
Hope my post won't get deleted due to not following the forum guidelines.
Thanks in advance.
Note: internal impedance of the function generator is 50 ohm.

A: (big edit)

"Triggering TTL for on/off control of selected channels using a BNC connection Switching time < 30 uS"
"Pulse Mode allows the user to control the integration period where the time is dictated by the duration of the pulse. If "Pulse High" mode is used, then the time the pulse is high is the time of the integration period. Vice versa for "Pulse Low" mode."

SO you have the choice of positive edge or negative edge, or positive duration or negative duration  somewhere in software.
You only want the camera to start capturing before the flash goes.
But we do not know the flash delay time. It is probably a few to 10 microseconds, based on my experience. You can determine this by asking them or testing it with a fast light sensor (e.g. Photo diode biased and 50 Ohm to scope.)
The xenon flash time of 1ns is not critical about the capture duration AS LONG AS IT IS TRIGGERED BEFORE the flash actually occurs.
However the trigger delay time may be critical as we do not know the setup and delay times for each device to be triggered and I did not find an explicit spec for this. We call this a "Race condition" when two events are triggered and you want the camera to capture the output of the flash.
IN logic design it usually works the other way around. We use a Flip Flop or memory cell to capture the data before it changes on a clock edge.  ... and not after some delay when a 1ns flash occurs.  THe Xenon flash works by a secondary emission arc of a capacitor discharge, so once ionization starts which can take a few us, it completes in a hyper abrupt "tunneling mode" in 1ns arcing across the inner gas.  It also causes really huge EMI pulses everywhere if done at a fast repetitive rate and can interfere with cell phone reception. ( like Safety Xenon Bulbs flashes at 2 pulse/sec. are notorious for wireless interference)
( I finally discovered all the options on your camera to indicate either polarity or edge can be used on your camera)
By using a slow ramp signal generator 0 to 5V or power supply you can carefully measure the threshold for edge trigger on each device to understand where it triggers.  I am not 100% sure they are TTL compatible precisely as TTL is strictly defined with a threshold of 1.5V or more likely it is CMOS with 2.5V threshold which can be TTL compatible but does not work when you load both devices from your generator.
This means your generator is poorly matched to your 2 loads Normally TTL can drive 10 loads or more and this does not seem to be the case.
You can make a quick fix by adding 330 to 470 Ohm pullup to the TTL signal generator nearby to 5V and connect grounds together so that you get 0.5 to 5V output swing or adjust as necessary.
Once you have verified trigger to both devices successfully, then it may work. Otherwise Sync delay on flash may be needed if it triggers to fast.
Again sorry for not reading your manual thoroughly as you...( ought to have)
"Simple" possible solution

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
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due to the abundance of essential fatty acids avail- New England Journal of Medicine 340: 197–206.
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of Clinical Investigation 108: 25–30.
See also: Bone. Cancer: Epidemiology and Associations 1513.
and biological effects. Science 237: 1171–1176.
glandins. Journal of Biological Chemistry 239: 4006–4009.


How does the North of Tyne Devo Deal help local people?
This month, three councils in the North East came together to create a Combined Authority and start the next phase of our devolution journey.
Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland are, from scratch, putting together what I hope will be a strong voice for our region, a voice we now need more than ever.
The devolution deal we signed has an initial fund worth £600m a year, and a greater say on skills for the people who work here, the homes they will live in and the schools they will educate their children in.
Some will say the deal doesn't go far enough, but from day one we have been clear, if we want to help people here enjoy access to more and better jobs we will use any tools available to us.
Our £20m a year fund will be used to develop the priorities people here have identified, in digital skills, science and rural growth. They might not look it, but they're actually the first win for devolution.
For years, the North East, like many regions, faced an all too familiar pattern when it came to crisis or opportunity. We see the problem ahead or the chance to succeed, and then we wait for Government to listen to us and act.
Under devolution, investment will follow our local priorities, on our timescale, not those of Government.
This deal is about taking back control of our region's destiny and letting people here have a real say.
And, somewhat uniquely for an initial deal, the funds we have available give considerable flexibility to the Mayoral Combined Authority. The investment fund is 100% revenue based, meaning greater freedom to invest.
And that's because we have always designed this deal to be a tool with which to create jobs for the people of the North of Tyne area.
This is our first devolution deal, the first step. We know there is much more to do, and we have no intention of pausing. People are going to compare the North of Tyne deal to others and ask what this says about Government intentions.
We can't answer to that. All we can say is that in this and every other devolution deal we aim for, our starting point is that the government should do its best to match our ambition for our area and we look forward to continuing our devolution journey with that in mind.


text:
Which Autavia Is Making A Comeback?
Written by Melissa Kong
You asked, they heard, and now the winner has been named.
In early March, TAG Heuer launched the Autavia Cup online to search for the model they would reissue at Baselworld 2017. The origins of the watch hark back to the glamorous days of both racing and flying. Named "Autavia" as a marriage of the words, "automobile" and "aviation", the model was first launched in 1933 as a dashboard instrument which ran for eight days without winding.
The Autavia was also TAG Heuer's first chronograph to be christened with a name unlike previous models, which went by reference numbers. In addition, it was the first of the watchmaker's chronographs to feature a rotating bezel.
Designed in 1962 by Jack Heuer, the Autavia was the first wristwatch he created to meet the needs of racers and it became the go-to timepiece for navigators, drivers and pilots alike.
From the archives, 16 historic versions of the Autavia were laid out for fans to peruse online and the poll concluded on March 31.
After over 50,000 votes worldwide, the model that garnered the most votes and will be re-issued in 2017 is....*drum-roll* the Ref 2446 Mark 3 (1966), known as the "Autavia Rindt" (below). Although it's still a year out, we're already excited. As they say, good things come to those who wait.
Last modified on Wednesday, 20 April 2016 09:55
Published in TAG Heuer Articles
Melissa Kong
Like most people these days, Melissa tells the time with her phone. She considers serious timepieces works of art and thinks the perpetual calendar is the handiest complication to date (pun not intended). She's also a Grammar Nazi but promises not to judge if you can't tell the difference between "guilloche" and "guillotine".
Latest from Melissa Kong
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More in this category: Get TAG Heuer To Make The Watch You Want! Really! Prime Position: TAG Heuer Partners With The Premier League
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Meet Minnie, she is a beautiful lavender filled bunny with her own fluffy tail. An exquisite accessory to any home or as a gift. She was beautifully handmade by Suzy Mugridge of Ted & Lily, who worked so hard to create a unique bunny pattern of her own.
Comes in Millie Powdery Pink or Posies in Ruby and Clay. She has a hanger on her ear. If you would rather she did not, just put on your notes section on check out "no hanger thanks".
This is more a home accessory, NOT A TOY please keep out of the reach of small children.
They measure a generous 18cm tall and 14cm wide and the fragrance… just heavenly!
PLEASE NOTE MINNIE IS HAVING A VERY BUSY TIME AT THE MOMENT SHE WILL TAKE 10-14 DAYS TO ORDER UPON PAYMENT.


In a previous post, I wrote about transitioning content — and why I prefer it over migrating content as it is on an existing site. While our current project is not transitioning anything, we are working on a way to make it easier for City of Austin employees to create — and manage — online content. We believe that if we can improve the workflow, Austin residents will have an easier time finding information online.
A big part of being able to find information on a website is to understand the language it's written in. As we introduce the new workflow, we are also introducing service-oriented language to the City employees in charge of creating content for the website.
Obviously this isn't any where near an exhaustive list, but we've chatted with most of these folks and they've been a fantastic resource as we've been figuring out the next steps.
If service-oriented language focuses on the services available to the residents, then it makes sense that department-oriented language sheds light on the department providing the services. While that is important, we've found that most websites with department-oriented language are not easy for residents to understand, and typically include a lot of jargon.
The reason we're recommending this shift from department-oriented language to service-oriented is based on research- specifically usability testing. Based on conversations, we (and the cities listed above) are hearing from residents that it's not easy to navigate a website where they don't understand what the department does. These residents we spoke to don't have time to browse the website or read a long description — they want to find what they need to know about a service and get on with their lives.
The strongest argument for service-oriented language is accessibility. Simple, service-oriented language that speaks to the service is the most accessible for residents. It saves time because people don't have to try to figure out what the department-specific jargon means and how it affects them.
People who utilize adaptive-screen reading technology are able to navigate through pages easily because the content is simple.
Regardless of a resident's educational background, service-oriented language strives to make the content clear for everyone.
Service-oriented language makes it easier to translate content into other languages, and therefore easier to access by all residents.
Both Google Translate and a translation service would have a tough time creating a clear translation for MBE/WBE. An MBE/WBE is a Minority Business Enterprise or a Woman Business Enterprise, which is unclear to many residents as an acronym, and therefore makes it difficult to translate.
Content will be easier to understand for residents.
City employees will start thinking service-first when creating content, decreasing the length of pages.
Using the new workflow, it is easier to manage webpages and the content on them- reducing the number of pages on the website.
Because there are fewer pages of content to translate, less money is spent and more people are able to access information about City services.
Spending less money to get information to more residents — there's so much value in service-oriented language that I can't wait to get started! Follow along here, or by checking out our project page.


Agile or waterfall. Functional or non-functional. Build your knowledge base with our A-Z guide to the technical terms used in software testing.
New to the world of software testing? Or simply unsure what some of the technical jargon means? We've got you covered! Our A-Z easy-to-understand guide to software testing terminology will help you understand the technical terms that you might encounter when engaging a test company.
The conditions that need to be met to satisfy the requirements of the software for a user or customer. In Agile development, the acceptance criteria defines what needs to be produced to complete a user story. Acceptance testing is derived from the acceptance criteria.
Testing to verify that the software application meets the acceptance criteria. Acceptance testing usually focuses on the needs and requirements of the end users and stakeholders and it determines whether the system is acceptable for release.
As an iterative development methodology, Agile project management values ongoing communication and feedback, with the ability to adapt to changes at speed, while producing functional results. Agile represents a modern approach to continuous software production with development and production completed incrementally and iteratively – often in phases called Sprints. Testing supports development in parallel with the idea that testing begins as soon as development does, testing against requirements and user stories for each Sprint. Automated testing is often a key feature of agile development to reduce the time needed for regression testing.
Web Accessibility ensures that users are not disabled in the process of attempting to access, use or reach a website. Accessibility is commonly shortened online to a11y, with the number 11 representing the 11 letters missing between the A and y. Having accessibility compliance has real world benefits and improves the internet for users of all backgrounds, as well as having legal implications too. Testing can take place to confirm a recognised standard such as WCAG or can be customised to meet specific company specifications or guidelines, such as GDS. Testing will often involve assessments with assistive technologies such as screen readers and screen magnifiers, and we also work with the RNIB to offer user experience feedback on websites and applications from disabled users.
APIs (application programming interfaces) are the drivers behind the dynamic data of today's applications. APIs are typically used to exchange data between services. For example, an information website about how to monitor the weather may pull in data on weather forecasts from an external service. APIs are a vital part of our digital experience but making sure they deliver and continue to deliver the correct data requires testing and an ongoing test programme. Testing could involve a number of different techniques that will catch defects before they affect the user experience. Testing can be manual or automated depending on the frequency of updates required. It will usually involve specialist tools such as those for validating the performance of APIs.
A functional or non-functional test approach in which the tester does not have visibility of the underlying code, structure, design or implementation of the software. Testing is based on the requirements and specification of the application.
A change request is a process used in certain project management frameworks to make a formal intervention within a project. It signals a change of plan or direction and has consequences for time, budget and capabilities. It's generally made by stakeholders with the authority to do so and accompanied by approval from relevant parties. A Test Manager or QA Manager may be responsible for detailing the implications of the request to the rest of the delivery team so that negative consequences can be mitigated.
Testing software will generate defects and bugs that need to be recorded into a management tool, sometimes called an issue tracker, such as Jira or Done Done. The tool is a software interface between managers, developers and testers. It allows issues to be assessed and corrected by management and development teams. It's also a record of trends and regular issues that arise. Longer term test and development strategies can then be put in place to rectify them.
Exploratory testing is an approach that relies on the experience of the tester to find bugs and defects in an application often without prior knowledge or experience of the system under test. While a plan and structure is applied to the test process, there are no predefined test cases or scripted test steps. In some instances, test cases may be defined alongside test execution. Focusing on the user experience, key user scenarios and edge cases, it can provide wide test coverage in a short space of time. It is a useful technique to get an initial overall audit or health check of a web application or piece of software.
Testing that addresses the functionality of software or a system against requirements or specifications. Functional Testing is a type of black box testing.
All issues and incidents should have a recording process, usually within an online tracking tool (see defect management tool). This allows defects to be organised, prioritised and assigned to the correct person responsible for the required action. The management tool will facilitate the defined process of issue management from creation and assignment through to fixing, verifying and finally closing.
Issues verification is a test process to verify whether bugs and defects found in earlier rounds of testing have been resolved in development and are no longer present in the software or system.
Non-functional testing refers to a number of different types of testing, including security, performance, usability, reliability and more. Requirements of non-functional testing are those that do not relate to the functionality of the application itself.
Sometimes known as 'ethical hacking', penetration testing (or PEN testing) involves trying to exploit the vulnerabilities of a system to gain unauthorised access. For web penetration, test companies might use the OWASP Top 10 as their test framework to produce a set of recognised attacks. Depending on the sensitivity of the project or the data accessible through it, it may be necessary to have the penetration test carried out by a company that has particular accreditation in this area. For more information relating to UK practices, please refer to the National Cyber Security Centre.
Performance is an umbrella term for different forms of tests that verify that an application meets performance requirements. This may include Load, Stress, Soak, Spike, Scalability, Volume testing and more. The application and infrastructure will dictate the form of performance testing that is needed. You may require a test solution that integrates with development cycles or permanently monitors performance of different kinds and relays the data back to a console or dashboard.
A controlled process of ensuring that a product or service meets its specified requirements. A QA system aims to increase customer confidence while improving processes and efficiencies. In software testing, QA represents a 'shift left'; where quality is considered at early stages of the design and development process. Testing and defect detection is one part of a QA system.
Regression testing ensures previously working areas of a software application still perform as expected after a change or update has been implemented. This highlights any problems that may arise from new features integrating with existing states. Depending on the frequency of requirements, regression testing may be manual or automated.
Scripted testing involves the writing of test cases, documenting the test steps and the expected results for coverage of an application. Test cases are usually based on approved product documentation, such as user requirements, functional specifications, wireframes and designs. Scripted testing ensures the test process is measurable, traceable and repeatable. This is especially important where there is ongoing development of an application and where documentation of tests may be necessary for regulatory or 'best practice' reasons.
Stress testing is a type of load testing carried out to evaluate a system at or beyond the limits of its anticipated levels of load.
Determining the test strategy and process, either for a single product/application or a programme of work. A software product in continuous development will require a different test approach to a small application release. The test method (such as Agile or Waterfall) will determine the test approach. It usually forms part of an overall test strategy that deals with the wider issue of quality assurance within an organisation.
Automated testing is the use of software to execute test cases or other test activities, comparing actual results against expected outcomes. Test automation can save time and resource needed for manual tests. Or to perform testing that may be too difficult to carry out manually. Automation can improve the reliability and efficiency of a test process. Automation is at the heart of today's agile or continuous delivery development cycle. It can enable a faster release schedule without the bottleneck of repetitive, time consuming manual tests.
The environment for test automation and usually contains many of the frequently used executions and libraries so that test suites can be established with efficiency.
A test script will be made up of individual test cases, organised into suites. A test case will target a particular piece of functionality in an application and usually contains a set of pre-conditions, inputs, actions, expected results and post-conditions. For example, a website may have a login page. To verify the login function works as expected, test cases can be created to cover all the tests needed.
Execution is the process of running tests, either manually or automatically, and logging the results.
A test plan is the agreed approach and activities to be carried out together with a schedule for test completion. The test plan is a formal document, central to the test activities and the ultimate point of reference.
A test report is a formal document that is the output of test execution and communicates the results and impacts to the necessary stakeholders.
User acceptance testing or UAT is a set of test activities carried out by the end users of a system or software. UAT is a coordinated and managed activity. It aims to draw out issues that may only be found by real users, using the software in a real environment.
In contrast to the iterative nature of an agile approach, the traditional waterfall model follows a more linear process from requirements analysis, design, coding and implementation, through to testing, deployment and maintenance. While many modern perspectives would focus on the drawbacks of the waterfall model against agile in terms of a lack of flexibility and adaptability, it can still be a suitable approach for single build development projects with shorter timescales. Where agile often relies less on documentation, Waterfall projects will usually involve a documented test process including test scripts.
As opposed to black box testing, white box testing is concerned with the code and structure of an application rather than its functionality. The internal structure, design and implementation of the software is visible to and understood by the tester.


Horween Shell cordovan is leather that is taken from the posterior of the horse. The two circular cuts (shells) taken from the posterior is then tanned through a vegetable tanned process over months with the outcome simply magnificent. For more information and the history of shell cordovan visit Horween. We are the UK agents for Horween and stock Shell Cordovan in our Northampton warehouse which is sold on allocation. Please contact us for more information. Sold for luxury footwear and leathergoods. We also sell this for luxury tabs in the Archery trade for professionals. Horween Shell Cordovan is sold determined by its Grade which refers to its size. Please note we do not offer samples for Horween Shell Cordovan, please use the website for colour references.


One of the great European capitals, Vienna was for centuries the stomping ground for the Habsburg rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The empire is long gone, but reminders have been carefully preserved by the tradition-loving Viennese. Past artistic glories live on, thanks to the cultural legacy of the many artistic geniuses nourished here—including Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, and Gustav Klimt. Today's visitors discover a city with a special grace and a cohesive architectural character that sets it so memorably apart from its great rivals—London, Paris, and Rome.
Ready for a trip of a lifetime to Vienna?


The rib grilling rack is both nonstick and reversible by Outset. Position the rib rack upright to cook 6 slabs of ribs, or flip it over to cook turkey, chicken and roasts. This rib racks elevated design allows air circulation for even-browning and its PTFE/PFOA free coating makes for easy clean up. For use in the oven or on the grill, the rib rack has built-in handles for easy transport.


text:
Stories of 2019: Monadnock Paper Mill turns 200
Monadnock Paper Mills celebrated its 200th anniversary with a big party at its Bennington facility with demonstrations, live music, games and a barbecue lunch in October. Staff photo by Tim Goodwin
Published: 1/2/2020 11:58:00 AM
Modified: 1/2/2020 11:57:39 AM
Throughout 2019 Monadnock Paper Mills celebrated its 200th anniversary as a business.
Moody Butler founded the business – known as Paper Mill or Bennington Paper Mill – near the banks of the Contoocook River in 1819. When it first started the mill produced handmade paper for writing, accounting ledgers and books.
Monadnock Paper Mills has been in continuous operation since 1819 and is considered the oldest continuously-operated paper mill in the United States.
"The mill was founded following the War of 1812 when an embargo was put on English goods, including paper. The people in the area decided they needed an indigenous source of paper. The first mechanical equipment was installed in 1835 and the mill has been churning out paper ever since," according to manufacturing.net.
In an interview with the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript earlier this year, current CEO Richard Verney said the reason for the paper mill's success is that it has continued to stay relevant in the paper making industry by keeping up with trends and what is next in the industry.
Over the course of its 200 years, the mill has made just about anything and everything a paper mill could be asked to make.
There was a short time it used logs to create the pulp for the paper. But these days the mill uses recycled fibers for its raw material. And over the years it has made a wide variety of paper products including, vacuum bags, medical packaging, paper for gift cards and paper for price tags that hang on clothes.
To Lisa Berghaus, director of marketing and communications at Monadnock Paper Mills, the paper mill represents "a true American success story founded on hard work and ingenuity," she says on the paper mill website. "While papermaking has been consolidating worldwide, our commitment to sustainability coupled with our investments in people, technology, processes, and products has earned us the pleasure of celebrating 200 years of continuous American papermaking."
Currently, Monadnock Paper Mills employees 160 people at its Bennington facility.
Throughout the year, there have been company wide celebrations and acknowledgements of the 200th anniversary. From a Bennington Historical Society talk to public tours and a community party in the fall.
bennington nh
Monadnock Paper Mill
Stories of 2019


text:
Григорій Романович Кохан (23 червня 1931, Бортків — 3 січня 2014, Київ, Україна) — український кінорежисер, сценарист. Народний артист України, Заслужений діяч мистецтв України, лавреат Державної премії України імені Олександра Довженка, член Національної спілки кінематографістів України, лицар Ордену «За заслуги» (2001). Автор кінострічки про УПА «Страчені світанки» (1995).

Життєпис
Народився 23 червня 1931 року в селі Бортків поблизу Золочева, в українській родині, був п'ятою, наймолодшою дитиною.

Закінчив художній відділ Українського поліграфічного інституту імені Івана Федорова (1955) та Вищі режисерські курси Всесоюзного державного інституту кінематографії (1964).

Працював у Вірменському державному видавництві художньої літератури (1955—1962).

У 1962—1969 рр. — режисер Київської кіностудії науково-популярних фільмів.

З 1969 р. — режисер Національної кіностудії художніх фільмів імені Олександра Довженка.

Картини останніх років — переважно детективно-пригодницького жанру.

Зіграв кілька епізодичних кіноролей.

Викладав у Київському національному університеті театру, кіно і телебачення імені Івана Карпенка-Карого.

У 2001 році Кохан координував написання сценарію кіносеріалу про українську міліцію "Народжена незалежністю". Його співавтором по сценарію став письменник з Луцька Бортніков Сергій Іванович. Як розповідав сам Кохан:

"Та все ж нещодавно я запросив до співпраці Сергія Бортникова — луцького автора багатьох талановитих гостросюжетних творів. За короткий час ми написали сценарій десятисерійного фільму про українську міліцію. Умовна назва така: «Народжена незалежністю». У нашому сценарії — все від реального життя. На жаль, на серіал немає жодної копійки."

Причиною невдачі у реалізації цього сценарію стала смерть глави МВС Юрія Кравченка, який обіцяв допомогти у зйомках фільму.

У 2007 році про життя і творчість режисера Григорія Кохана була знята телепередача (в 3-х частинах) «Кохана мить» у циклі культурологічних програм «Портрет» телекомпанії «ГЛАС».

Помер 3 січня 2014 року на 83 році життя.

Сім'я
 Дружина: Левчук Лариса Тимофіївна ( 1940) — український мистецтвознавець. Доктор філософських наук, професор.
 Син: Кохан Тимофій Григорович ( 1965) — Заслужений діяч мистецтв України, кандидат мистецтвознавства.
 Тесть Григорія Кохана — кінорежисер Тимофій Левчук.

Нагороди, премії та звання

Звання
 Заслужений працівник Міністерства Внутрішніх справ СРСР (1977).
 Заслужений діяч мистецтв УРСР (1981).
 Народний артист України (1998).

Ордени, медалі, грамоти
 Лицар Ордену «За заслуги» III ступеня (2001)
 Кавалер Ордена Трудового Червоного Прапора (1985).
 Нагороджений медалями.
 Почесна Грамота Президії Верховної Ради України.

Премії
 Лауреат Державної премії СРСР (1978).
 Лауреат Державної премії України імені Олександра Довженка (2011, — за видатний внесок у розвиток українського кіномистецтва).

Фільмографія
Створив науково-популярні стрічки:
 «Сталеві струмки» (1967, Диплом зонального огляду, Київ, 1968, Бронзова медаль ВДНГ, Москва, 1968)
 «Кам'яний живопис» (1967)
 «Створи своє сонце» (1968, т/ф)
 «Шукаю стронцій-90» (1968)
 «Гонщики» (1969) та ін.

Поставив художні фільми:
 «Хліб і сіль» (1970, у співавт. з М. Макаренком)
 «Жива вода» (1971)
 «Схованка біля Червоних каменів» (1972, т/ф, 4 с)
 «Народжена революцією» (1973—1977, т/ф, 10 с, Державна премія СРСР, 1978)
 «Ярослав Мудрий» (1982, 2 с, співавт. сцен.)
 «Прискорення» (1983, 4 с, авт. сцен.)
 «Кармелюк» (1985—1986, 4 с, співавт. сцен.)
 «Циганка Аза» (1987, співавт. сцен.)
 «Війна на західному напрямку» (1990, 6 с, у співавт. з Т. Левчуком; співавт. сцен.)
 «Бухта смерті» (1991, у співавт. з Т. Левчуком)
 «Убити "Шакала"» (1991, співавт. сцен.)
 «Стамбульський транзит» (1993—1996)
 «Страчені світанки» (1995)
 «Тупик / Глухий кут» (1998)

Література
 Спілка кінематографістів України. К., 1985. — С.81—82;
 Кино: Энциклопедический словарь. М., 1987. — С.213;
 Митці України. К., 1992. — С.325;
 Мистецтво України: Біографічний довідник. К., 1997. — С.327;
 Хто є хто в Україні. К., 1997. — С.249-250;
 УСЕ: Універсальний словник-енциклопедія. К., 1999. — С.711;
 Хто є хто в Україні. К., 2000. — С.233.
 Микола Славинський Паралельні світи, зламана гвоздика та нічний лайнер кінематографії // Журнал Верховної Ради України «Віче» — № 10, — 2008.

Примітки

Посилання

Уродженці Борткова
Українські кінорежисери
Члени Національної спілки кінематографістів України
Заслужені діячі мистецтв УРСР
Випускники ВДІК


Tomorrow has become a bit of an unwieldy beast: 11am Review with Senior Recovery Worker 1.30pm House Meeting 2pm Interviewing New Staff 2pm Session with in-house OT Hoping that overnight I learn how to split myself in to 3 😂 times will be changed but that itself is panic-worthy! ALL THE STRESS in one day.
GOOD NEWS! FINALLY!!!!! I will be moving to my placement (the one we've been working and waiting for for almost a year) on 9th of October, staying on the ward until then. My first thoughts: I don't have to die today!!! I will see the people I love again!


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The road – a MAIN road – was even worse than before (I wrote 'madness' in my journal!), going from wide mud holes to smooth new concrete, construction in fits and starts. We finally bottomed out at about 2000', and then climbed again after crossing the wide, churning muddy Sun Kosi river to have lunch at Dhulikhel Resort perched on a hilltop. The contrast between the small, luxurious resort and the wild, poverty-stricken border town of Kodari back up the mountain was jarring.
We were now on the edge of the Kathmandu valley, with rolling, fertile steep green hills in every direction. If not for the rainy season and the beautiful sky-high clouds, from the balcony where we had lunch we would have seen the snow-covered Himalayan peaks stretched from one end of the north horizon to the other. But the view (below) was wonderful in spite of that, and we could imagine the mountains with the help of photos on the walls of the resort.
As we approached Kathmandu, hundreds of chimneys dotted the landscape in every direction…brickmaking is a major industry of this area, and most of the buildings are made of beautiful red brick. Kathmandu is known as the City of Temples, and the city and surrounding Kathmandu Valley was divided into four kingdoms established by the ancient Newari rulers.
We had planned to visit the famous Boudananth Stupa on our way to the hotel, but events conspired against us: the President and VP were crossing our path in horse-drawn carriages with street closings, and the already choked traffic was completely gridlocked for hours (it even made the papers the next day). So Prabin finally gave up and we hopped out of the van and walked to the hotel, our luggage to follow us later. Getting to the Yak and Yeti, a 5-star hotel, was also jarring – it is situated in the midst of a very poor area, not quite a slum, but we felt completely spoiled as we arrived and were offered a fruit drink in the beautiful lounge.
We celebrated our arrival in Kathmandu that evening with dinner at RumDoodle – known for its good food, famous mountaineering guests, and footprint greetings all over the walls. It is named after a funky and celebrated novel about mountaineering I'd never heard of but can't wait to read.