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Home » GDPR And The Future of WHOIS Data
GDPR And The Future of WHOIS Data
By Tyler Marandola & Philip N. Yannella on April 2, 2018
Posted in Cross-Border Data Flow, Data Protection, EU Regulation, European Union (EU), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Identity Theft
With the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) set to go into effect on May 25, 2018, many questions remain as to what entities that control and process data from EU citizens must do to comply. One such issue is the ongoing effort by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to ensure that the WHOIS service (an online database of identity and contact information for registrants of web domains) complies with GDPR.
Currently, domain name registrars are required to collect identity and contact information for individuals and entities (called "registrants") that register domain names. Registries and registrars are required by their contracts with ICANN to make this information public through the WHOIS service, a searchable database that is frequently used by brand owners, lawyers, and cybersecurity researchers to identify and communicate with domain name owners who are believed to be involved in intellectual property infringement, malware distribution, and other bad acts. WHOIS information can also be useful for consumers trying to identify websites that traffic in fake news or scammers who purvey non-genuine goods.
GDPR, by regulating the use and availability of the personal information collected by domain name registrars, will likely affect access to WHOIS data at least in the short term. ICANN has received legal opinions suggesting that the current model of full public availability of registrant identity and contact information would not comply with GDPR. For example, while consent is a valid legal ground for processing data under GDPR, the new requirements for consent (which this blog has reported on previously) mean that the consents included in the contracts between registrars and registrants are unlikely to comply with GDPR.
While the details are very much in flux, ICANN is developing an interim model to ensure compliance that would likely involve a "tiered-access" system, under which a great deal of personal information will be unavailable to the public, while certain third-parties (such as law enforcement or others able to show a "legitimate interest" under GDPR) who receive accreditation will be allowed access to full WHOIS. The current version of ICANN's interim model for compliance with GDPR was published on March 8, 2018 and can be found here.
Despite less than 60 days until implementation of GDPR, ICANN's interim model leaves open substantial questions concerning the future availability of WHOIS data, including the following:
The interim model would allow registrars to apply the new restrictions in GDPR "without regard to the location of the registrant," thus potentially affecting the ability to identify and communicate with domain name registrants in the United States using United States-based registrars.
The current ICANN model proposes making public an "anonymized" email address, which could be used to contact the registrant, but would make it more difficult to search for other domain names owned by the same registrant (called a "reverse WHOIS" search). This ability is currently an important tool for brand owners and cybersecurity researchers.
Beyond the difficulties in identifying what WHOIS must look like to comply with GDPR, ICANN is highly unlikely to implement the type of accreditation system envisioned by its interim model before the May 25 deadline. It remains unclear to what extent ICANN could provide a workaround prior to the new model being ready, but the result could be an indefinite "blackout" of WHOIS data by registrars who fear the substantial fines under GDPR.
Most recently, ICANN reached out to European Data Protection Authorities by letter seeking guidance on ICANN's current compliance efforts, and alluded to the possibility that the DPAs could "continue to provide support to companies along the path to compliance beyond the GDPR effective date if the company has an established plan of action." As it stands, however, brand owners, lawyers, and anyone else who relies on access to WHOIS data should pay close attention to this rapidly evolving situation.
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Ballard Podcast: Using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Debt Collection
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Today's digital world presents great opportunity and great risk. Our bloggers are members of Ballard Spahr's Privacy and Data Security Group—a nationwide team of cyber advisers who provide a full range of legal services to help clients identify, manage, and mitigate cyber risk. Read More
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"We are pleased to recognize the Town of Mead for their outstanding support for businesses Town of Mead," says Sam Bailey, Colorado Companies to Watch program director.
Colorado Companies to Watch is different from other awards programs. Because the program focuses on our entire state, and not specific industries, it provides an opportunity to paint a realistic picture of a true statewide economy. Since applicants are evaluated on more than growth, it widens the playing field to companies not often recognized for the critical differences they make in their industry, their community, region and our state.


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Infosecurity Magazine Home » News » DDoS Attack Takes Czech Election Sites Offline
24 Oct 2017 News
DDoS Attack Takes Czech Election Sites Offline
Phil Muncaster UK / EMEA News Reporter , Infosecurity Magazine
Email Phil
Follow @philmuncaster
Two websites run by the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) were taken offline after a DDoS attack at the weekend tried to disrupt reporting of the country's parliamentary elections.
The results of the election, held on Friday and Saturday, were posted to the sites; showing billionaire Andrej Babiš' populist ANO party with the largest share of the vote at nearly 30%.
A statement on the CSU site reportedly had the following:
"During the processing, there was a targeted DDoS attack aimed at the infrastructure of the O2 company used for elections. As a result, servers volby.cz and volbyhned.cz had been temporarily partly inaccessible. The attack did not in any way affect either the infrastructure used for the transmission of election results to the CSU headquarters or the independent data processing."
The sites are now back up and running.
It's unclear whether the attacks were launched in response to the result. Babiš is a controversial figure in the country and is currently facing fraud charges, although reports suggest he will still be named Prime Minister by President Milos Zeman.
Corero Network Security director, Sean Newman, claimed DDoS attacks targeting elections can have a serious impact on the democratic process.
"Organizations of all types and sizes, including governments, need to ensure they have effective protection in place," he added. "Only the latest truly real-time DDoS protection solutions can automatically and surgically block attacks and leave regular traffic unimpeded, to ensure that web-based resources remain continually operational and, in this case, the democratic process is not impacted."
Earlier this year, another cyber-attack was discovered targeting the Czech government, in what some claimed was an attempt to weaponize confidential information to sway voters.
The attack targeted Czech Foreign Ministry staff, with some reports claiming hackers managed to download private emails from foreign minister, Lubomir Zaoralek, and his deputy.
Zaoralek claimed the hack was similar to that which compromised the Democratic National Committee (DNC) ahead of the US presidential election.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: Algorithm: shortest travelling route between 10 cities I have a graph with 80 cities. I need to find a shortest possible route passing through 10 cities.
I have to start from a city that already defined as starting city and user will enter 10 city names from the city list. I must travel this 10 cities and than I have to go back to the city where I started. I just have all the information about road distances between the cities that are adjacent.I haven't any information except that.
I know that Dijkstra, etc. found the shortest path between 2 cities and some heuristic algorithms need more data than that.
Can I use Dijkstra for the shortest path between starting city and other 10 cities and then find a min spanning tree of that and traverse on it? Is there any heuristic algorithm that I can use with this data?

A: Given your 10 cities, find the shortest path between each pair. That's only 45 calls to Dijkstra's algorithm. This gives you a complete graph on 10 vertices.
Now you have a travelling salesman problem, but 10 cities is not so many, and you're given the start city, so there's only 9! (362880) possibilities. I'd simply try all permutations and find the minimal one.
You can do something cleverer, but this simple brute-force solution will be fast and easy to code.
[edit: maybe you have a start city and 10 other cities. Still, 10! (3728800) is small enough to make searching every permutation fast enough]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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AES Lawai Solar (AES), a subsidiary of The AES Corporation, built, owns, and operates a 20 megawatt alternating current (MWac) / 28 MW direct current (MWdc) solar photovoltaic system with a 100 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) on approximately 194 acres of land leased from Alexander & Baldwin (McBryde Sugar Co.) in the Lawai area. The project provides power to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) at a contracted price of $0.11080 / kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 25 years including monetized tax incentives according to the power purchase agreement approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in July 2017. AES is utilizing SunPower's solar panels and innovative Oasis Power Plant platform increase facility efficiency and performance. The project BESS consists of 13,000 Samsung SDI lithium-ion battery modules. KIUC will have the discretion and ability to dispatch power from this facility in the preferred manner to support KIUC's fluctuating and peak power delivery demands. In addition to providing grid stability and support for increased renewables, this project is estimated to increase KIUC's renewable portfolio by 11% and displace 3.7 millions gallons of fuel annually. Sheep are being used to control vegetation growth onsite, which provides an example of how energy and agriculture can compliment each other. When it became commercially operational in April 2019, this facility was the largest PV + BESS peaker power plant in the world according to KIUC.
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You are Here: Home » Support » Links
These links are to assist you find additional resources in dealing with dystonia. Below are associations relavent to work being done in Ireland in support of neurological conditions both for people affected and professionals. More links are listed to the right.
Neurological Alliance of Ireland
http://www.nai.ie/
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) is an alliance/umbrella group of voluntary organisations, professionals and other interested parties – together representing the views and concerns of those whose lives are affected by neurological conditions.
The aims of the NAI are:
To secure improved care and services for people with neurological conditions, their families and careers;
To promote understanding of neurological conditions and their implications;
To inform and influence policy makers about the needs of people with neurological conditions and the issues that affect them;
To promote and facilitate the collaboration on models of care and research;
To share information and provide mutual support for members;
To represent the views and concerns of ALL involved in the support of people with neurological and related conditions.
Coleraine House, Coleraine Street
Dublin, 7
Phone: 872 41 20
Irish Institute for Clinical Neurosciences (IICN)
http://www.iicn.ie/
The Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience (IICN) aims to promote the academic clinical neurosciences in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. It organises academic meetings where teaching is carried out and where findings from neuroscience research are presented.
The aims of the IICN are:
To provide up-to-date information on the clinical neurosciences on the island of Ireland;
To support the members and their trainees in their research and academic activities;
To promote the availability of high standard clinical neuroscience services on the island of Ireland;
To advocate on behalf of patients and their support groups;
To collaborate with Irish neuroscientists working in other countries.
Assist Ireland
http://www.assistireland.ie/eng/
Assist Ireland is a comprehensive database of information on assistive technology for people with disabilities, developed by Comhairle in partnership with the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), Enable Ireland and Cheshire Ireland. This online resource provides information on products, suppliers, entitlements, and signposts relevant links to service providers, relevant statutory services and organisations representing and working with disability.


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Fish breeding box Vs. breeding net. keeping guppy / molly fry in a breeding box or breeding net by Uri Shasha Download... Scissors, Needle or Pin, Heat It�s easy to make and only takes around 5 minutes! More DIY Aquarium Builds: Aquarium Snail Trap DIY Gravel Cleaner SUPPORT ME BY: Trying a 30-day Free Trial of � Continue reading "How To Make DIY Fish Fry Trap Molly, Guppy, Platy"
A high level of protein, fat and carbohydrates will allow your guppy fry grow bigger and faster. Adult are also love consuming brine shrimp. Adult are also love consuming brine shrimp. Brine shrimp can be cultured at home, indoors with ease.... Cool temperatures make the fish sluggish and as a result, they consume less food. Warmer temperatures increase activity and appetite. While it isn't necessary to spark an adult guppy's appetite, young guppies kept in cool water may not eat enough to grow properly. Ideally, a tank should be kept between 76 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for baby guppies.
20/10/2010�� Best Answer: Molly fry can grow very fast, and you can expect them to reach a near adult size in anywhere from 3-5 months. A lot of that depends on how frequently you feed them, so you have some element of control.
The guppy fry can swim as soon as they are born. If you have a community of male and female guppies, you can be fairly sure that they will breed on their own. You do not have to change any water conditions or get a separate tank.
11/03/2013�� NitrAtes are high ,should shoot to keep them under 40.More waterchanges will solve nitrAte issue and help fry grow. In order to grow fry faster you should change at least 50% weekly.


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COVID-19 Preprints
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Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Metastases and Ratio in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Zhihai Wang, Yanshi Li, Tao Lu, Chuan Liu, Guohua Hu
This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal.
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-52523/v1
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License
posted 19 Aug, 2020
You are reading this latest preprint version
The lymph node metastases (LNM) and the lymph node ratio (LNR) were shown to be prognostic factors in head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of the LNM and LNR in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).
All patients undergoing resection of laryngeal cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between March 2011 and December 2018 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using log-rank and Cox proportional hazard models, and survival curves estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Of 670 patients with LSCC, the median overall survival (OS) of was 42.2 months, and 3-year and 5-year OS rates were respectively 92.9 ± 1.1% and 86.1 ± 1.7%. 12.69% (85/670) were pathological nodal positive (pN+). LNM was associated with tumor site, T stage and differentiation degree (p < 0.05). And the 5-year OS rates in the pathological nodal negative (pN-) and pN + groups were 88.7± 1.7% and 69.9 ± 5.9%, respectively (p = 0.000), and the presence of pN + was the most significant prognostic factor for survival. Furthermore, the 5-year OS of patients with 1 to 3 positive LN and 4 or more positive LN were 64.6±8.1% and 44.9 ± 15.2%, respectively (p = 0.032). Additionally, LNR examination did not reach significance in our study. However, it demonstrates that increasing LNR was associated with worsening survival.
LNM is an independent prognostic factor in LSCC, and increasing number of positive LN and LNR in patients portend a poor prognosis.
Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
lymph node metastases
Lymph node ratio
Laryngeal cancer ranks at the fourteenth most universal type of cancer in the world [1]. Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), which occupies 85–90% of total malignant tumors in the larynx, is the second-largest head and neck epithelial tumor and insensitive to currently used chemotherapeutics[2, 3]. Therefore, surgical resection has been become the preferred treatment for LSCC. In the past 20 years, although there have been advances in term of diagnosis and treatment, it has not been satisfactory in the long-term survival for LSCC patients[4–6]. The postoperative regimens combining chemotherapy and radiation are increasingly being used to decrease radical radiotherapy-induced complication and prolong survival.
The lymph node metastases (LNM) have been identified as one of the most significant prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)[7–10]. As previous studies showed that the OS rate was significant differences in patients with different numbers of LNM, and a general trend of increasing positive nodes resulted to a worse prognosis[11, 12, 9, 10]. Furthermore, the lymph node ratio (LNR), which is defined as the ratio of the number of positive lymph nodes to the total number of excised lymph nodes, was recently demonstrated as a vital independent prognostic factor for HNSCC[13–20]. However, the LNR is not recommended in any kinds of tumors of the AJCC staging.
Clinical tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage as the criterion has been more widely adopted in the therapeutic management of patients with malignant tumor. However, lymph node staging is sometimes not an adequate prognostic factor. A standardized prognostic tool that can distinguish patients at high risk of death would be more beneficial for adjuvant treatment strategy. Therefore, the study focuses in therapeutic outcome and prognostic factors for survival in LSCC. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of increasing numbers of pathological positive LN and LNR, and to determine whether them can be a useful guide for distinguishing potential candidates for adjuvant treatment strategy.
The medical records of 670 patients with LSCC were underwent surgical resection and neck dissection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China) from March 2011 to December 2018, and their clinical and pathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed. The staging of patients used the eighth edition of AJCC TNM staging system [21]. All treatment strategy for patients was made at a multidisciplinary team including otorhinolaryngologist, radiologist and radiation oncologists. The therapeutic scheme was based on TNM stage, patient preference, physical condition, radiation-related morbidity, general performance status and so on. All patients in this study were underwent primary surgical tumor resection with or without neck dissection that was performed by the same surgical team. Each neck specimen was divided into levels by the surgeon, then sectioned and examined by the pathologist. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy included advanced stage of the primary tumor and pathological positive nodes. The average dose of irradiation was 56.8 gy (50–65 gy). But chemotherapy was also added to postoperative therapy in the case of extranodal extension.
Patients underwent a standardized postoperative follow-up schedule (including clinical examinations, electrolaryngendoscope, abdominal ultrasonography, neck and chest contrast-enhanced CT) every 3 months for the first postoperative year and every 6 months thereafter. The follow-up period ranged from 3.1 to 136.4 months (median, 42.2 months). Postoperative follow-up data were available for all patients. The overall survival time was defined as the interval between the date of surgery and the date of the last consultation or date of death.
The data collection and statistical analysis were performed using SPSS version 21.0 software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was used to determine the incidence of metastasis and correlated factors. The overall survival rate was calculated by using the Kaplan-Meier method.
There were 670 LSCC patients consisted of 21 women (3.13%) and 649 men (96.87%) from March 2011 to December 2018, and the median age was 61 years (range 37–88 years). 85 patients were pathological nodal positive. The median follow-up time was 42.2 months (ranged 3.1 to 136.4 months). The clinical and pathological information was presented in Table 1. We found that LNM was significantly correlated with tumor location, T stage and differentiation degree (p < 0.001), but not associated with gender, age, drinking and smoking (p > 0.05). The risk of LNM increased obviously with the increase of T stage or decrease of differentiation degree (Tables 1 and 2). Furthermore, the total number of LNs examined in pN- and pN + groups were respectively 27.50 ± 16.98 and 34.82 ± 17.87 (p < 0.001) (Table 3).
Clinicopathological characteristics of patients with LSCC.
n = 670
pN-
pN+
Metastasis rate (%)
≥ 60
< 60
Tumor site
Glottic
Supraglottic
Subglottic
T stage
Correlation between lymph node metastases and T stage.
23 patients could not be told the differentiation degree.
Table 3 The number of LNs examined in pN- and pN+
n (Mean±SD)
27.50±16.98
Lnm Was Associated With Os
All 670 LSCC patients were included in the survival analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the prognosis of LSCC patients. The 3-year and 5-year OS rates for patients with LSCC were respectively 92.9 ± 1.1% and 86.1 ± 1.7% (Fig. 1A). According to the differentiate degree, the 5-year OS rate was: 87.1 ± 1.8% at moderately and well group, 81.1 ± 6.3% at poor group (p = 0.028) (Fig. 1B). And the 5-year OS rate according to pathological T stage was: 91.4 ± 2.6% at T1 stage, 84.8 ± 3.1% at T2 stage, 84.4 ± 3.4% at T3 stage, 82.9 ± 6.0% at T4 stage (p = 0.018) (Fig. 1C). A multivariable analysis indicated that LNM was an independent prognostic factor for LSCC patients. When classified into the pN- and pN + groups, the 5 year OS rate was 88.7 ± 1.7% and 69.9±5.9%, respectively (p < 0.001) (Fig. 2A). Furthermore, we surveyed the association between the number of pathological positive LNs and the risk of LSCC death, and found that patients with 1 to 3 positive LNs had a 5-year survival of 64.6 ± 8.1%, while the 5-year OS decreased to 44.9 ± 15.2% in patients with 4 or more positive LNs (p = 0.032) (Fig. 2B). The relationship between the number of positive LNs and prognosis was presented by the manner of Kaplan-Meier survival curves (Fig. 2B).
The hazard of death according to LNM is shown in Tables 4 and 5. In the multivariable analysis adjusted for confounding variables, the hazard of death of patients with pN + was associated with more than triple compared with pN- group (HR = 3.397; 95% CI: 2.107–5.476) (p < 0.001). In addition, compared to patients with 1–3 positive LNs, patients with ≥ 4 positive LNs was associated with more than twice the hazard of death (HR = 2.484; 95% CI: 1.049–5.884) (p = 0.032).
Mutually adjusted hazard ratios for LNM among all cases.
n (%)
HR (95% CI)
585 (87.3)
3.397 (2.107,5.476)
CI = confidence interval; HR = hazardratio.
Mutually adjusted hazard ratios for the number of positive LNs among pN+.
0 < positive LNs < 4
positive LNs ≥ 4
CI = confidence interval; HR = hazard ratio.
Lnr Was Associated With Os
Recent studies indicated that LNR was an important prognostic factor in head and neck cancer patients[22, 23, 12, 24]. Therefore, we next examined the impact of an increasing LNR on survival. The mean value of LNR for pN + patients was 0.1 (range 0.01 to 0.8). Therefore, we divided all pN + patients into three groups including LNR < 0.05, 0.05 ≤ LNR < 0.1 and LNR ≥ 0.1, and their 5-year OS were 74.6 ± 9.8%, 69.2 ± 9.6% and 66.4 ± 11.6%, respectively (p = 0.491). The difference in survival among these three groups was not significant, but the 5-year OS decreased obviously with the increase of LNR. Corresponding KaplanMeier survival curves are shown in Fig. 3.
Surgical resection remains the preferred treatment because of LSCC is insensitive to currently used chemotherapeutics. Despite improvements in operative and diagnostic technique, the long-term overall survival is still dissatisfactory [4–6]. The postoperative adjuvant treatment including radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy is used to decrease recurrence and improve the long-term survival. However, which patients should be received the postoperative adjuvant treatment has been a subject of debate.
The status of neck lymph nodes, which include the size, number and level of LNM and the presence of extranodal extension, have a significant impact on regional control and survival in HNSCC[25–28]. In the current study, LNM was found to be an independent factor in determining the survival rate in LSCC, and the hazard of death in patient with pN + was associated with more than threefold compared with pN-. Furthermore, the increasing number of positive LNs significantly decreased the OS rate. The 5-year OS in patients with 4 or more metastatic LNs was worse than 3 or fewer according to our findings. As previous study showed that a change point at four metastatic LNs was identified in oral cavity cancer[13]. This similarity may reflect comparability in the biological behavior between LSCC and oral cavity cancer. As similar with the reported data, the number of LNM was proved to be an independent prognostic factor in head and neck cancer[12, 13]. In addition, we found that LNM was significantly associated with tumor location, T stage and differentiation degree. These results based on prior studies evaluating metastatic LN number on head and neck cancer prognosis[29, 30].
As limited lymph node dissection may result in pathological understaging, a growing number of studies show that LNR is superior to the traditional nodal staging in term of estimating survival, and some researchers have suggested a modified TNM staging system based on LNR[22, 31–33]. Therefore, we next investigated the impact of LNR on survival. We divided all pN + patients into LNR < 0.05, 0.05 ≤ LNR < 0.1 and LNR ≥ 0.1 groups. Although the LNR did not reach significance in our study, the 5-year OS decreased obviously with the increase of LNR. Künzel et al reported a similar finding: LNR only became significant if it was the range of 0.08–0.1, and the LNR seems to be of limited value for the decision-making process in the treatment of patients with LSCC[14]. Zhang et al reported that the LNR was confirmed as a more reliable indicator for evaluating the prognosis in LSCC[15], but the object of study was the pN0 and pN + LSCC, the prognostic factor of LNR on survival should be further investigated in pN + LSCC.
In addition, when considering the prognostic significance of the LNR, we need to know that the LNR is a mathematical figure that is affected by kinds of conditions. For example, the extent of neck dissection and the number of resected LNs are not unified standards in global. Furthermore, the pathologist examined the number of LNs in the specimen, which can also result to bias. Although the LNR did not reach statistical significance in our study, it was most likely due to the small number of patients with pN+, and prospective studies will be required in order to support the decision-making process based on the LNR in the treatment of patients with LSCC.
Our findings demonstrate that lymph node metastases is an independent prognostic factor in LSCC, and increasing number of positive LN and LNR in patients portend a poor prognosis, therefore, they may be a helpful guide for defining potential candidates for adjuvant treatment strategy. In addition, the postoperative chemoradiotherapy may be necessary for patients with 4 or more pathological positive LNs.
LNs: positive lymph nodes; LSCC: laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; pN+: pathological nodal positive; pN-: pathological nodal negative; LNR: lymph node ratio; LNM: lymph node metastases; TNM: Clinical tumor–node–metastasis; HNSCC: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; OS: over survival; AJCC: American Joint Committee on Cancer.
The authors thank all the patients and all the research staff for their contributions to this project.
ZW have been involved in drafting the manuscript. YL performed subsequent data analysis. TL, CL and above researchers together completed experiment part of this research. ZW and GH revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81902776), National Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing (cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0325), Technology Innovation and Application of Chongqing (cstc2019jscx-msxmX0113), and Popularization of Suitable Sanitary Technology in Chongqing (2019jstg020).
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
This study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of Institutional Animal Care Committee at Chongqing Medical University (Chongqing, China). As this study was a retrospective analysis of routine clinical data, the informed consent of participants was waived by the institutional review board.
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2. Thompson LD. Laryngeal Dysplasia, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Variants. Surgical pathology clinics. 2017;10(1):15-33. doi:10.1016/j.path.2016.10.003.
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5. Garcia-Leon FJ, Garcia-Estepa R, Romero-Tabares A, Gomez-Millan Borrachina J. Treatment of advanced laryngeal cancer and quality of life. Systematic review. Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola. 2017;68(4):212-9. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2016.11.005.
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8. Barroso Ribeiro R, Ribeiro Breda E, Fernandes Monteiro E. Prognostic significance of nodal metastasis in advanced tumors of the larynx and hypopharynx. Acta otorrinolaringologica espanola. 2012;63(4):292-8. doi:10.1016/j.otorri.2012.02.012.
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10. Mamelle G, Pampurik J, Luboinski B, Lancar R, Lusinchi A, Bosq J. Lymph node prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. American journal of surgery. 1994;168(5):494-8. doi:10.1016/s0002-9610(05)80109-6.
11. Yildiz MM, Petersen I, Eigendorff E, Schlattmann P, Guntinas-Lichius O. Which is the most suitable lymph node predictor for overall survival after primary surgery of head and neck cancer: pN, the number or the ratio of positive lymph nodes, or log odds? Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology. 2016;142(4):885-93. doi:10.1007/s00432-015-2104-1.
12. Hua YH, Hu QY, Piao YF, Tang Q, Fu ZF. Effect of number and ratio of positive lymph nodes in hypopharyngeal cancer. Head & neck. 2015;37(1):111-6. doi:10.1002/hed.23574.
13. Ho AS, Kim S, Tighiouart M, Gudino C, Mita A, Scher KS et al. Metastatic Lymph Node Burden and Survival in Oral Cavity Cancer. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2017;35(31):3601-9. doi:10.1200/jco.2016.71.1176.
14. Kunzel J, Mantsopoulos K, Psychogios G, Agaimy A, Grundtner P, Koch M et al. Lymph node ratio is of limited value for the decision-making process in the treatment of patients with laryngeal cancer. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 2015;272(2):453-61. doi:10.1007/s00405-014-2997-3.
15. Zhang X, Yu F, Zhao Z, Mai J, Zhou Y, Tan G et al. The Prognostic Significance of Lymph Node Ratio and Log Odds Ratio in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. OTO open. 2018;2(3):2473974x18792008. doi:10.1177/2473974x18792008.
16. Jacobi C, Rauch J, Hagemann J, Lautz T, Reiter M, Baumeister P. Prognostic value of the lymph node ratio in oropharyngeal carcinoma stratified for HPV-status. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 2018;275(2):515-24. doi:10.1007/s00405-017-4833-z.
17. Wang YL, Li DS, Wang Y, Wang ZY, Ji QH. Lymph node ratio for postoperative staging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. PLoS One. 2014;9(1):e87037. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0087037.
18. Ebrahimi A, Clark JR, Zhang WJ, Elliott MS, Gao K, Milross CG et al. Lymph node ratio as an independent prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Head & neck. 2011;33(9):1245-51. doi:10.1002/hed.21600.
19. Feng Z, Xu QS, Wang C, Li JZ, Mao MH, Li H et al. Lymph node ratio is associated with adverse clinicopathological features and is a crucial nodal parameter for oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):6708. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-07134-7.
20. Chen CC, Lin JC, Chen KW. Lymph node ratio as a prognostic factor in head and neck cancer patients. Radiation oncology (London, England). 2015;10:181. doi:10.1186/s13014-015-0490-9.
21. Amin M, Edge S, Greene F, Byrd DR, Brookland RK, Washington MK et al. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York NY: Springer. 2017.
22. Gil Z, Carlson DL, Boyle JO, Kraus DH, Shah JP, Shaha AR et al. Lymph node density is a significant predictor of outcome in patients with oral cancer. Cancer. 2009;115(24):5700-10. doi:10.1002/cncr.24631.
23. Kim SY, Nam SY, Choi SH, Cho KJ, Roh JL. Prognostic value of lymph node density in node-positive patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Annals of surgical oncology. 2011;18(8):2310-7. doi:10.1245/s10434-011-1614-6.
24. Sayed SI, Sharma S, Rane P, Vaishampayan S, Talole S, Chaturvedi P et al. Can metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) predict survival in oral cavity cancer patients? Journal of surgical oncology. 2013;108(4):256-63. doi:10.1002/jso.23387.
25. Leemans CR, Tiwari R, Nauta JJ, van der Waal I, Snow GB. Recurrence at the primary site in head and neck cancer and the significance of neck lymph node metastases as a prognostic factor. Cancer. 1994;73(1):187-90. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19940101)73:1<187::aid-cncr2820730132>3.0.co;2-j.
26. Alvi A, Johnson JT. Extracapsular spread in the clinically negative neck (N0): implications and outcome. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 1996;114(1):65-70. doi:10.1016/s0194-5998(96)70285-1.
27. Shingaki S, Nomura T, Takada M, Kobayashi T, Suzuki I, Nakajima T. The impact of extranodal spread of lymph node metastases in patients with oral cancer. International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery. 1999;28(4):279-84.
28. Gavilan J, Prim MP, De Diego JI, Hardisson D, Pozuelo A. Postoperative radiotherapy in patients with positive nodes after functional neck dissection. The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology. 2000;109(9):844-8. doi:10.1177/000348940010900911.
29. Roberts TJ, Colevas AD, Hara W, Holsinger FC, Oakley-Girvan I, Divi V. Number of positive nodes is superior to the lymph node ratio and American Joint Committee on Cancer N staging for the prognosis of surgically treated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Cancer. 2016;122(9):1388-97. doi:10.1002/cncr.29932.
30. Sinha P, Kallogjeri D, Gay H, Thorstad WL, Lewis JS, Jr., Chernock R et al. High metastatic node number, not extracapsular spread or N-classification is a node-related prognosticator in transorally-resected, neck-dissected p16-positive oropharynx cancer. Oral oncology. 2015;51(5):514-20. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.02.098.
31. Kassouf W, Agarwal PK, Herr HW, Munsell MF, Spiess PE, Brown GA et al. Lymph node density is superior to TNM nodal status in predicting disease-specific survival after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: analysis of pooled data from MDACC and MSKCC. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26(1):121-6. doi:10.1200/jco.2007.12.9247.
32. Patel SG, Amit M, Yen TC, Liao CT, Chaturvedi P, Agarwal JP et al. Lymph node density in oral cavity cancer: results of the International Consortium for Outcomes Research. British journal of cancer. 2013;109(8):2087-95. doi:10.1038/bjc.2013.570.
33. Amar A, Rapoport A, Curioni OA, Dedivitis RA, Cernea CR, Brandao LG. The density of metastatic lymph node as prognostic factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and floor of the mouth. Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology. 2012;78(3):86-90.
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About eConnect
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Young Culinary Grad Off to Quick Start
TOPICS:Fall 2019
Posted By: ECPI University November 6, 2019
There are people who have always known what they were meant to do. Kyle Hobbs is one of those fortunate souls. "I come from a very food-oriented family," he says. "As far back as I can remember, we were always traveling and trying new restaurants and new types of food."
Kyle gravitated to the kitchen at an early age and soon began entering chili cook-offs in his rural community of Gates County, North Carolina. In high school, he began working in a pizza parlor. He's been working in restaurants ever since. However, that was not all that long ago. For Kyle, high school was just a few years back. He graduated in 2016 and a couple months later was enrolled at ECPI University's College of Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of Virginia (CIV).
From the moment he arrived on campus, Kyle knew he had made a good decision. He was in his element. "It was a fantastic learning experience," he says. "It's a family-like atmosphere and there are many friends I made there that I am still very close to." When it came time to pick a restaurant for his externship, Kyle already knew where he wanted to be. He and his family had always enjoyed Harper's Table, a fine dining, Southern-style restaurant in Suffolk, Virginia. Kyle impressed everyone there, just as he did the faculty at CIV and was offered a full-time position after graduation.
In May, Kyle was offered a position as sauté chef at the Chef & The Farmer, a progressive eatery in Kinston, North Carolina owned by famed Chef Vivian Howard, a restaurateur, author, and television host. She and her husband opened the farm-to-fork establishment in 2006 as a way to help turn some of Eastern Carolina's displaced tobacco farmers into food farmers. Since then, the Chef & The Farmer has been featured in countless magazines and TV shows. Chef Howard has even won a Daytime Emmy and Peabody Award.
All of this is to say that being offered a job at this kind of restaurant is a pretty big deal. "I love what we do," says Kyle. "On one hand, we do offer Southern cooking, but in a way few could imagine, fusing it with foods and traditions in places as far-flung as Italy, India, and the Middle East."
So what's next for Kyle? He says he wants to stay put for a little while. "The executive chef here is amazing and has serious connections in some of the nation's leading food destinations," he says. At some point, this self-described country boy says he will be ready to move on to a big city like New York, San Francisco or Atlanta. After that, he wants to go small again and start his own restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina. He certainly has a game plan, but then again, what would one expect from someone who's always known what he's wanted to do?
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Just takin' a nap with my bestest friend the dirt. It's the snuggliest. I luff it.
The Critically Endangered Madagascar Big-headed Turtle (Erymnochelys madagascariensis) is the 15th most endangered turtle species in the world. Like many of Madagascar's species they fall victim to habitat destruction, local consumption, and illegal export.
having a bad counselor or therapist is a special kind of awful.
shoutout to all y'all who have had to put up with homophobia, transphobia, sexism, racism, ableism, gaslighting, threats, disbelief, or anything else to make you not trust someone, in their office.
you are STRONG, you are WORTHY, and you are WONDERFUL- no matter what they say.
I just helping with da laundry, human!
jbk-groundtruth:Turtles sunning themselves in botanical garden in the Bahamas.
Some days you can feel pretty sick, and some days you can feel pretty and still sick. Chronic conditions for you.
You can get this off Redbubble 🙂 I'll probably add it to Society6 soon, too.


BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said on Thursday that Baghdad would give priority to the country's own interests and independence in helping the United States to impose sanctions on Iran.
Abdul Mahdi told a news conference in Baghdad that the government wants to keep Iraq away from any interference in the affairs and affairs of other countries, whether neighboring country or any other country.
The new Iraqi prime minister's speech after his performance with the new ministers was sworn in at a session of the House of Representatives attended by 220 deputies late on Thursday night.
The meeting continued until late, and the selection of ministers of defense, interior and justice, as well as education, higher education, culture, planning and immigration, was not announced.
And the Prime Minister until 6 November to complete the rest of the ministries, which will require entering into new negotiations with the parties and political blocs in the country.


On the Wire: You Can Do It!
Jack is popular with his friends, fancies himself as a star football player and is impatient to begin a week of sporting activities in Snowdonia. Disaster strikes when there is a tragic accident. How will Jack come to terms with his new life?
On The Wire is a gripping new fiction series of modern-day dramas based on family, school and relationship problems. These challenging, contemporary stories with emotional themes provide support for both Literacy and PSHE.


The world's automobile industry made over sixty-six million cars, vans, trucks and buses in 2005. These vehicles are essential to the working of the global economy and to the well being of the world's citizens.
This level of output is equivalent to a global turnover of €1.9 trillion. If vehicle manufacturing was a country it would be the sixth largest economy in the world.
Building sixty-six million vehicles requires the employment of more than eight million people directly in making the vehicles and the parts that go into them. This is over five percent of the world's total manufacturing employment. In addition to these direct employees, about five times more are employed indirectly in related manufacturing and service provision, such that an estimated more than 50 million people earn their living from cars, trucks, buses and coaches.


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Poets & Writers Announces COVID-19 Relief Fund
New York, NY—April 10, 2020—Poets & Writers, the leading national resource for creative writers, has established the Poets & Writers COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance to writers having difficulty meeting their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide grants of up to $1,000 to an initial cohort of approximately eighty individual writers in April, with additional grants to be made as funds become available.
In late March, Poets & Writers' Board of Directors allocated $50,000 from the organization's reserves to seed the fund. Additional contributions have been received from Zibby Owens, host of the popular books podcast Moms Don't Have Time to Read, and Michael Pietsch, CEO of Hachette Book Group and a Poets & Writers Board member, among others. Poets & Writers is continuing to seek additional contributions.
"We know that writers have been hard hit by the economic slowdown we're experiencing," said Elliot Figman, Poets & Writers' executive director. "I'm very pleased that we can offer some direct financial relief to writers who suddenly find themselves in dire circumstances," he said. "I am deeply grateful to Zibby Owens and Michael Pietsch for helping us get this off the ground."
Given limited funds currently available, at this time eligibility is limited to writers with a prior affiliation with Poets & Writers, including the more than ten thousand writers listed in the Poets & Writers Directory, those who have received a mini-grant through the Readings & Workshops program, and those who have received an award or fellowship administered by Poets & Writers.
Eligible writers were invited to apply today; grants will be made on the basis of financial need and funds disbursed by the end of April.
The fund announced today is just one of a number of steps that Poets & Writers has taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide social distancing measures now in place to slow its spread. "We're doubling down on the things we always do to give writers information, resources, and opportunities to connect—and adapting these measures to fit the unprecedented circumstances we currently find ourselves in," said Figman. Poets & Writers has compiled a list of resources for writers, which is updated regularly; it has modified the guidelines for its Readings & Workshops mini-grants in order to support virtual events and modified its Literary Events Calendar to help writers promote online readings and events; and its editorial staff is covering the pandemic's impact on the literary community from multiple angles, including a series of short essays called Postcards from the Pandemic. More information about these initiatives is at pw.org.
About Poets & Writers: Poets & Writers was founded in 1970 and has been the primary source of trustworthy information, professional guidance, support, and inspiration for writers for fifty years. Our work is rooted in the belief that literature is vital to sustaining a vibrant culture. We focus on nurturing literature's source: creative writers. Our mission is to foster the professional development of poets and writers, to promote communication throughout the literary community, and to help create an environment in which literature can be appreciated by the widest possible public. In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, Poets & Writers affirmed its vision for the future: to empower creative writers and strengthen literary communities throughout the United States. Learn more at pw.org.
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Lloyd Eubanks 31 years old , born on December 21, 1978 and passed away on October 29, 2010. We will remember him forever.


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Armed conflicts, Politics and institutions
22.12.202210.45h Alexandre Solano Budé, Seda Hakobyan Ghazaryan
An Artsakh armed forces billboard, 2014. Author: Marcin Konsek
While the world holds its breath over the war in Ukraine and debates the implications of hosting the football World Cup in Qatar, an active conflict goes completely unnoticed on the fringes of Europe. The Armenian-majority population of Nagorno-Karabakh has been living in permanent conflict for more than 30 years, the situation only having worsened in the last two years.
The territory, de facto constituted as the Republic of Artsakh, is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, a dictatorship that allows less freedom than recurrent examples of authoritarian regimes in the region, such as Iran or Afghanistan, but with important economic links to the European Union.
Until two years ago, Karabakh's was one of several frozen conflicts that emerged during the collapse of the USSR. Internal soviet borders had left Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan, whose fragile autonomy caused conflicts and tensions with the state authorities. In 1988, Karabakh Armenians proclaimed their union with Armenia while the rest of Azerbaijan was rife with pogroms and ethnic cleansing of Armenians. In 1991, Armenian Karabakhis established their independent state, the Republic of Artsakh, after a referendum with 99 per cent in favour and, despite a boycott by the Azeri minority, an 82 per cent turnout.
Azerbaijan did not stand idly by and in 1992, with the USSR gone, the war became full-scale, with systematic ethnic cleansing on both sides, close to 1 million displaced people, and some 30,000 dead. Despite having a much smaller population, Armenia was the big winner of the 1994 ceasefire. The Artsakh Republic controlled not only the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, but also the historically Azeri strip separating it from Armenia.
The drone war of 2020
Since then, a precarious ceasefire, signed in 1994 with Russian intervention, had been regularly violated. The Azerbaijani authorities were trying to regain control of the area, without significant changes.
The situation changed radically in 2020. During this time, the balance of power had been shifting in favour of Azerbaijanis, who have three times the population of Armenia, four times its GDP thanks to oil —which accounts for 50 percent of the state budget and 70 percent of exports— and also four times the military spending year after year (in 2021, Azerbaijan's was 2,703.2 million dollars, while Armenia's was 619.4 million).
On 27 September 2020, with the world's population confined by the covid pandemic, on the eve of the US election, and with Armenian-Russian relations at a low ebb after a democratic revolution that had brought Nikol Pashinyan to power, Azerbaijan launched a full-scale military offensive against the Republic of Artsakh, with overwhelming military superiority. The attack was carried out with state-of-the-art weaponry, amassed for the occasion, with nearly a thousand drones targeting tanks, artillery, and air defence systems, along with operational support from Turkey.
The imbalance was obvious, and Armenian knowledge of the terrain or sacrifice was not enough. Moreover, laws of war were disregarded, with hundreds of hectares of forest burned with white phosphorus, indiscriminate shelling, executions, and torture of soldiers and civilians. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 2,500 jihadist mercenaries had moved into Nagorno-Karabakh via Turkey, while the Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities claimed that Kurdish militiamen were fighting on the Armenian side.
After a 44-day war, the Azerbaijanis seized much of Artsakh's territory, including the strategic town of Shushi (Shusha in Azeri). In the face of the world's inaction, Armenia felt compelled to sign an agreement that entailed returning the territories that were not part of historic Nagorno-Karabakh, while keeping a 5-kilometre wide corridor near the town of Lachin connecting the territory to Armenia, and the deployment of 2,000 Russian peacekeepers. The Artsakh Republic lost 75 per cent of the territory it previously controlled.
International affairs analyst Nareg Krouzian explains that Azerbaijan had been preparing for the war for years, with millions of euros invested in modernising the army. The peaceful settlement was not a priority for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev because "dictators need to distract the local population with nationalist rhetoric." The Armenian population had so far been unwilling to make any concessions: "Artsakh was a taboo among the population, and any rhetoric regarding any kind of compromise on the issue was shunned." Nor was it a priority for Russia, as the conflict helps justify the presence of its forces and allows it to secure its southern border. War might therefore seem foreseeable, and the only uncertainty was when.
In orange, territory controlled by the Republic of Artsakh after the 2020 war; in turquoise, territory conquered by Azerbaijan during the conflict; in green, territory returned following the agreement. The Lachin corridor, as of 2022, no longer passes through Lachin / Image: Golden @ Wikipedia
Despite the agreements that stopped the war, with Azerbaijani military superiority being evident, tensions are far from over. In May 2021, Azerbaijani soldiers crossed the border of the Republic of Armenia —they already control 50 square kilometres of Armenian territory—, there have been hundreds of deaths since then, and there still exists the possibility of a new war between the two countries, which would put the very independence of Armenia at risk, with the memory of the 1915 genocide still present.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation is increasingly critical and exceptional. Azerbaijani occupations of villages outside the ceasefire lines are frequent, as are actions preventing the local population from leading a normal life, with gas cuts lasting for days or the blockade of the Lachin corridor.
A peace treaty?
Since the end of the war, negotiations have been held with mediators to reach a peace treaty, with Armenia in a weak position. The main stumbling block is the question of the Republic of Artsakh, an actor that Azerbaijan refuses to recognise.
In the meantime, being in a dire economic situation due to the closure of 84% of its borders, Armenia has also restored diplomatic relations with Turkey —despite the grim memory of the genocide. First, flights between Istanbul and Yerevan were restored; now, cargo flights and the partial opening of border crossings are underway. The last step would be direct trade between the two countries.
Marine Gevorgyan, a professor of History at Yerevan State University who specialises in Armenia-Karabakh relations, says the 2020 offensive is a threat to all Armenians: "The separation between Artsakh and Armenia is artificial!". According to Gevorgyan, unprotecting Nagorno-Karabakh is a step toward Armenia's disappearance. The professor recalls that the National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia has long since declared that the only guarantee of Armenia's security is the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.
On the negotiations, Kourzian says that it is difficult to reach an agreement soon. The analyst finds that the Minsk Group format, under the coordinated mediation of France, Russia, and the US, has failed, and has been replaced by two processes: one led by the EU and the US, and the other by Russia.
Azerbaijan legitimises itself on the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity, while for Armenia, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, rather than a territorial dispute, lies in the right of the historical inhabitants to decide their future under the principle of self-determination. A claim that is at a low ebb in international organizations.
Azerbaijan is a preferential partner for the EU: a recent agreement has doubled the Caspian country's gas shipments to the European bloc. The Azerbaijani government is also known for its so-called caviar diplomacy, a policy based on bribes and gifts to foreign politicians.
Azerbaijan's demand is now to create a corridor dividing Armenia so that a direct connection between the country, its enclave of Nakhchivan, and Turkey is created —under a rhetoric threat of using force again soon.
Survival in question
The Artsakh Republic now remains in an even more uncertain situation than before, when it was only recognised by Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria, all of them unrecognised states closely linked to Russia. While there is a debate in Karabakh over whether to move towards union with Armenia or rather maintain an independent state —which for decades has been more democratic than Armenia's—, the 120,000 Armenians remaining there are opposed at all costs to becoming part of Azerbaijan, even under concessions of self-rule. The opposite is true of the Azeris, who see no alternative to full integration of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Both Krouzian and Gevorgyan agree that Armenian security for the time being depends entirely on Russian peacekeepers. However, Armenia does provide socio-economic support to ensure the territory's viability and functioning, and this year it has transferred there 300 million USD —the largest amount in history.
There is more disagreement over future scenarios. As a historian, Gevorgyan asserts that "the West has never provided any assistance to Armenia's problems." In this respect, NATO remained neutral during the 2020 war and called for negotiations. Of the European Union countries, only France got involved and supported Armenia. So Gevorgyan recognises that military —and economic— dependence on an unreliable partner (and one with many other problems) is therefore maintained. The fact that the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (the military alliance around Russia, of which Armenia is a member) has ignored the dispute, and has not intervened in it, has condoned Azerbaijani actions. However, Russia is also not interested in the conflict getting too far out of control and potentially leading to the intervention of Western powers or an irreversible estrangement from Armenia.
For Krouzian, it is highly unlikely that we will see an independent and sovereign Artsakh in the foreseeable future. However, he does envisage two scenarios in which this could happen. One would be Azerbaijan's democratisation, in which fundamental rights are protected and guaranteed. That, for now, does not appear to be forthcoming. The other would be a Kosovo-style recognition of independence. For that to happen, he says, several geopolitical interests need to be aligned, and Russia should withdraw from the South Caucasus: "The current war in Ukraine has reshaped Eurasia's geopolitical architecture. With Russia's gradual weakening, a vacuum is left in the South Caucasus, which is being filled by other regional actors such as the European Union, Iran, and Turkey." In this case, recognition and the deployment of international peacekeepers would be required.
So, the issue is far from closed: it remains in an extremely fragile situation, and at any moment a flame could be lit that could reignite the conflict.
Alexandre Solano Budé
Barcelona, 1992. És politòleg i doctor en Història Contemporània, amb una tesi sobre la Barcelona republicana. Especialitzat en anàlisi política i moviments nacionals, ha col·laborat amb diverses revistes científiques i publicacions destinades a un públic més general.
Where the dust never settles
Armenia signs armistice with Azerbaijan, loses two-thirds of Artsakh
150,932 inhabitants (2013 Artsakh census). In 2021, some 40,000 were refugees in Armenia
11,458 km² (self-declared republic); 4,400 km² (1923-1991 Soviet boundaries); 3,200 km² approx. (controlled December 2020)
Government of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) and National Assembly
Stepanakert (capital), Martakert, Shushi (under Azerbaijani control)
Azerbaijan (de jure); independent from Azerbaijan (de facto) but with heavy dependence on Armenia and Russia
Armenian and Russian
Armenian Christianity
2 September (Independence Day)


text:
package com.github.wicket.autowire;

import org.apache.wicket.markup.html.WebMarkupContainer;
import org.apache.wicket.markup.html.WebPage;
import org.apache.wicket.markup.html.basic.Label;

public class ContainerPage extends WebPage {

  private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;

  @AutoComponent WebMarkupContainer container;

  @AutoComponent WebMarkupContainer subContainer;

  @AutoComponent Label label;

}


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX encountered a serious anomaly during the static test fire of the Falcon 9 rocket tasked with carrying the Amos-6 satellite. According to the 45th Space Wing, the accident occurred at 9:07 a.m. EDT (13:07 GMT) with images of billowing black smoke and flames appearing on social media outlets such as Twitter.
Then, as now, people were ordered to remain indoors. The Full Thrust Falcon 9 utilizes relatively benign sources of propellant (RP-1 – a highly refined form of kerosene and liquid oxygen) Additionally, it appears the Amos-6 satellite was attached to the rocket and therefore lost. Typically, orders to remain indoors are issued for when hypergolics, which do appear to have been on the Amos-6 satellite, are used.
This is the second accident that SpaceX has encountered in roughly the past 14 months. On June 28, 2015, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its CRS-7 Dragon spacecraft cargo were lost 139 seconds into the flight when a strut holding a helium tank in the rocket's second stage failed.
In terms of Amos-6, the mission would have seen the Falcon 9 rocket place the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite, the second to use the Amos-4000 platform, was planned to have an operational life of about 15 years. Amos-6 was built by Israel Aerospace Industries and, according to Space News, would have seen Eutelsat pay some $95 million over the course of about 5 years for the lease of Ka-band spot-beam broadband capacity.
Estimates by Spacecom placed the cost of launching, insuring, and operating Amos 6 for a period of about a year at around $85 million. According to a report posted on Globes, the satellite itself cost about $200 million to produce.
At present, it is not known how much damage Space Launch Complex 40 has received or how long it will take to repair. Stay tuned to SpaceFlight Insider as we work to provide you with more information about this breaking story.
By this logic, the expensive rockets of the 1960s-1980s should have been very reliable. They weren't.
But if low cost is achieved by cutting corners, this sort of anomaly can result.
I have received anecdotal remarks from someone stating he knows people that work at SLC-40 for SX and that SX "plays fast and loose" there. Hopefully this is not the case, but if so, I do hope any investigation reveals such activity or mindset or corporate culture and corrects it before we start putting humans atop F9.
SpaceX is apparently trying to achieve low costs primarily through hardware simplification (for example, by use of common engines or common tankage structures). I hope you don't consider this to be "cutting corners".
Reports that the anomaly took place 'a few minutes before' ignition may indicate a problem on the pad or with pre-firing prep/fueling not strictly related to the launch vehicle. Only careful investigation can determine the cause.
Just learned Elon Musk says the initial explosion seems to have originated somewhere in the upper stage oxygen tank area during propellant fill operation.
In the video it appears that the explosion originated just below the payload fairing at the top of the second stage. The second stage also appears to have in the fueling process is well. Forgive my ignorance, but if this was to have been a static fire of the first stage, then why fuel the second stage at all? Additionally why have the payload /fairing mounted for a test of this type?
Most liquid fueled launch vehicles conduct what is known as a "wet dress rehearsal" where the vehicle is completely fueled and prepared for launch, but it is not launched. This is done to verify that all systems are in order / prepared for the mission.
So a pre-launch "fueling test" or "fueling rehearsal" is pretty standard in the industry.
I am not aware of any other rockets that "test fire" their rocket engines prior to the mission. But it is what Space X has been doing from the beginning. I am not aware of the pre-mission test firing ever creating / causing problems. If anything, they may very well have uncovered issues in the past.
Fueling the 2nd state would be part of such a wet-dress rehearsal.
Regarding payload / fairing mounted for this type of test… that would seem to go towards time required to mount the payload and perform pre-launch checks. Most vehicles with which I am familiar will conduct the wet-dress rehearsal after everything is mounted / checked out etc.
With Falcon 9, I believe the would, at a minimum, have to re-lower the F9 down from the launch position to a horizontal position then take it back into the hangar to mount the payload and the fairing. Then you have to roll it back out and re-erect it on the strongback. Sounds like more chances for something to go wrong putting it up the first time, taking it back down, then putting it back up.
Are you sure AMOS-6 would have hypergols on board? I had read that it was intended to be the first fully electric spacecraft in the AMOS series.
The words "typically" and "appear to have been" – should provide you with the answer to your question.
Was there no pad abort installed on this unit?
No pad abort for non-human payloads. Mission would be to high energy GTO so no margin to put pad abort/recovery system in the first place. And even if there were comm sats don't like being accelerated at 9Gs then splashing into the ocean on parachutes.
The Amos-6 had electric station-keeping thrusters. But its apogee motor was an Airbus S400. This is a pressure-fed 100 lbf engine that uses hypergolic propellants, specifically Hydrazine and MON (Multiple Oxides of Nitrogen). MON is a mixture of Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4), Nitrous Oxide (NO2) and Nitric Oxide (NO). Based on the mass of the satellite, the propellant mass for the apogee motor was probably somewhere between 2 and 3 tons. Hazmat precautions were definitely indicated.


2 flat tires in less then 100km!? the ride to the beach follows mostly the busy highway. brisbane, suburbs and industry centers seem to have merged together. i passed some themeparks (waterworld, movieworld, seaworld,…) all that and tempertures up to 40degrees, gave me some flashbacks to my tour in florida in 2006.
haha...fun find with broken spoke!


CHEER CHAMPion of the Week: Joan Rooney!
Joan Rooney, RN, MSN, IBCLC, is Assistant Vice President of Women's and Neonatal Service and CHAMPS Team Leader at Ochsner Medical Center-West Bank (OMCWB) in Gretna, Louisiana, where she has worked for 40 years. Joan is determined to help the hospital achieve Baby-Friendly designation before planning to retire in the next few years to spend more time with her out-of-state grandchildren. OMCWB is currently in the Development phase of the 4-D pathway and will be entering the Dissemination (3rd) phase this month, thanks to Joan and her team's great efforts!
Joan says skin-to-skin care immediately following birth has been the most exciting change at their hospital, and has been positively received by their staff, physicians and patients. 24-hour rooming-in has been their biggest challenge in terms of changing nurse and physician behavior and reassuring parents that staff will be available for their safety.
Note: This post has been transferred from CHAMPSbreastfeed.org. There were originally 4 comments. You can view them in this document.


text:
Chapman Menu
Chapman Family Room
Keck Center for Science and Engineering
Rinker Campus
Collection of Historical Figures
» Margaret Thatcher Bust
"There can no liberty unless there is economic liberty."
- Margaret Thatcher
Critical Essay By
Dr. Deepa Badrinarayana
Fowler School of Law
There are generally different reasons to commemorate a leader by commissioning the creation of their bust. Few leaders have achieved a universal appeal that warrant such recognition. Since human experiences and beliefs vary, it is hard to establish objective criteria to assess the remembrance-worthiness of a leader, unless, perhaps, the society has largely rejected the core ideology that defined their leadership and contribution. So, it is only by a careful examination of the overall contribution of a leader, inevitably informed by one's own personal experience and tempered by thoughtful objectivity, that one can determine an individual's bust-worthiness. Where does Mrs. Thatcher, three-term Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a rather controversial figure even during her time, yet firmly etched in annals of world history as the Iron Lady, stand?
Margaret Thatcher first became Prime Minister of England in 1979. At that time, she was one of extremely few women elected to the highest office of a nation. The first in her own country. Even to date, few women share that distinction. What's more, Margaret Thatcher did not emerge as a leader from the ranks of Britain's elite class, with easy access to power and political clout. Although a graduate of Oxford University with a degree in chemistry, Mrs. Thatcher was born to a Methodist shopkeeper and his homemaker wife, steeped in an ethos of hard work. Her upbringing resonated in her policies and resolute leadership style. Her rise to the top echelons of British politics was neither an accident, nor a concession. By dint of hard work and resolve, Mrs. Thatcher proved that the proverbial glass ceiling could indeed be shattered.
What Mrs. Thatcher set out to achieve, however, was not to shatter the glass ceiling, but rather address the economic apathy Britain was sinking into, as its competitiveness flagged. During her three terms as Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher structurally changed the course of British economic policy and set the stage for global economic liberalization that would follow the end of the Cold War. To many, she returned England its pride and glory. The ruins of rusty, muddied and gutted Albion were reinstated as a financial powerhouse, carried on the shoulders of privatized institutions.
The Britain that Mrs. Thatcher took reins of was steeped in high inflation levels, unemployment, and debt. To counter these challenges, Mrs. Thatcher overrode the post-War Keynesian consensus and veered Britain towards a free market economy, with the dual goals of reducing inflation and budget deficits. De-nationalization also meant reigning in socialist inspired institutions such as trade unions. Her goal was to reverse budget deficits, increase employment and foster individual economic freedom. Economic liberty to her was quintessential to liberty itself. That liberty warranted creating opportunities for individuals, providing tax breaks, and generally weaning Britons of government sponsored programs such as housing and food subsidies.
Focusing on the supply side, Thatcherism, as her economic policy came to be defined, embodied the belief that economic liberty would yield individual success which, in turn, would catalyze industrial production, financial independence, thus leading to reduced dependency on the government and thereby reduce government spending and deficit, while simultaneously increasing British competitiveness and prosperity. As with many government policies, Thatcherism, too, faced resistance. Even as the she began implementing economic liberalization and privatization, opposition mounted, most famously with miners striking during her second term. Indeed, some members even in her own Conservative party rolled back their support for Thatcher's fast-moving changes to economic policy. Refusing to back down, Thatcher resolved to implement her economic policies with even more vigor. The results were mixed, and the jury is still out on these policies. However, Thatcherism cannot be conflated with economic liberalization and privatization all the way, for Mrs. Thatcher made an important exception to her policy—retaining the National Health Service ("NHS"). Although she warned against over-spending tax payer's money, she retained government control over access to health care. This reflects her pragmatism in that a healthy society is critical to the economic output of individuals, and thus, eventually to the economic health of a nation.
Mrs. Thatcher's foreign policy is a mixed bag, even though service in the British Empire was her childhood ambition. Her singular undisputed achievement remains Britain's victory in the Falkland wars. Ironically, despite signing the Single European Act, Mrs. Thatcher remained ambivalent about a European federalism project, instead maintaining a strong relationship with the United States—indeed, she maintained a notably strong friendship with then - U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Although she held out much hope for strengthening ties with former Soviet states, with support from Mikael Gorbachev, much of it did not come to pass. More controversially, Mrs. Thatcher rejected the imposition of economic sanctions on South Africa in opposition to their practice of apartheid, labeling the African National Congress ("ANC") independence movement a terrorist organization. Her position on these issues was rooted in economic philosophy—of not imposing restrictions on free trade, and not a philosophical rejection of the ANC's cause. This is evident in her granting diplomatic protection to the ANC and providing armed protection to senior ANC officials in London. What stands out, however, is her steadfast refusal to impose economic sanctions, because of her belief that economic sanctions would worsen the situation rather than improve them, even though this was never proven.
Tomes have been written on Margaret Thatcher. They collectively speak to the scale of her achievements. Whether Mrs. Thatcher should be universally commemorated for three terms of enduring service to Great Britain and to the ideology of economic liberty—that will also be the foundation of post-Brexit Britain—or whether her singular commitment to economic liberty above nearly everything else warrants a rejection of her commemoration remains an elusive matter. Mrs. Thatcher herself may well prefer each individual to make up their own minds.
Chapman University Collection of Historical Figures
Collection of Historical Figures Map
View the map locations of the Collection of Historical Figures statues located throughout the Chapman campuses.
Diane and Harry Rinker
Designation Name
The George H.W. Bush Chair in International Business
Juan Rosillo
Baldwin Family Pavilion, Orange Campus


text:
Dwór – część wsi Mieronice w Polsce, położona w województwie świętokrzyskim, w powiecie jędrzejowskim, w gminie Wodzisław.

W latach 1975–1998 Dwór należał administracyjnie do województwa kieleckiego.

Przypisy

Mieronice (gmina Wodzisław)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


If it's late at night, and something is not quite right with Fido or Fluffy what should you do? If you know your pet is in crisis, we recommend you call or drive directly to your local emergency clinic as soon as possible.
On the other hand, if you're unsure whether or not your pet needs emergency treatment there is another option that can help.
As a Treatwell member, you get reimbursement for 24/7 telehealth decision support through Whisker Docs, or the provider of your choice.
Call Whisker Docs at 1.800.873.8838.
Speak to a live veterinary health professional who will answer your questions. As a telehealth decision support service they will be unable to diagnose or treat your pet, but they can help you assess how urgent the situation really is.
Send us a photo or email attachment of the invoice or incident report you receive as a result of this call/chat and we'll credit your account for the amount you paid (up to four calls per year, per member pet).
Of course, if you know your pet is in crisis, call or drive directly to your local emergency clinic (http://animalemergencyspecialty.ca/).
What is difference between telehealth decision support and telemedicine?
These are relatively new terms in the veterinary field, and sometimes they are used interchangeably even though they are slightly different.
Telemedicine implies the practice of veterinary medicine when the veterinarian is in a different location from the patient. Telehealth decision support provides more general information that helps you better understand your pet's health and how urgently treatment may be required.
Typically, telehealth decision support occurs outside of what regulators usually refer to as a Veterinary-Patient Client Relationship (VPCR). This means the provider is not able to diagnose, treat, or prescribe medication for your pet. Instead, they are there to answer your questions and help you determine what the best course of action is for you and your pet. This can be very valuable when you're panicking at 2:00 a.m. after your dog scarfed down that chocolate bar!
Telemedicine, on the other hand, is more comprehensive since it operates within a valid VPCR. This means a licensed veterinarian can use it to treat, diagnose, and prescribe medications for your pet under the right conditions. Veterinarians have actually been doing this for decades when we've interacted with previously existing clients over the phone. Now, with advances in communication technology the telemedicine toolbox is becoming even more powerful with the addition of video calls, text messages, and digital imaging.
Treatwell offers the best of both worlds. Our regularly scheduled in-home visits and in-depth knowledge of your pet's health allow us to use telemedicine to make care for your pet increasingly accessible during business hours. After hours, members receive reimbursement for telehealth decision support through Whisker Docs and other providers.


First Aid Kit with 202 essential first aid items. Contents are organized for fast access and labeled with clear directions for finding the right item for the injury. Contains concise directions for use. Refills available.
(25) Adhesive Plastic Bandages ¾" x 3"
(125) Junior Plastic Bandages 3/8" x 1½"
(1) Adhesive Plastic Bandage 1" x 3"
(1) Adhesive Spot Bandage 7/8" x 7/8"
(1) Sterile Gauze Pad 2" x 2"
(1) Pressure Bandage 2" x 2"
(1) Pressure Bandage 3" x 3"
(1) Triangular Bandage 42" x 42" x 59"
Genuine First Aid Kit Model 202 Red - 202 pieces - Genuine First Aid.


I love when an atmosphere of art and food collide. That's what you get when you dine inside a former pottery kiln at The Rookwood.
My husband and I decided to mix up date night at a restaurant that I had not been to since the night of my junior prom. Safe to say it had been a while. I don't think I was as observant in high school as I am now. I wanted to rediscover this local gem that was built in 1892 and was one of the first manufacturing companies in the U.S. headed and founded by a woman.
Rookwood Pottery gained international respect by receiving a Gold medal in Paris. If you want to learn even more about Rookwood, I would definitely recommend taking the free Rookwood factory tour downtown.
The pottery kilns are typically reserved for larger groups but we arrived at a later time that wasn't very busy and they were able to accomodate our special request.
If you get claustrophobic, dining inside the pottery kiln is probably not for you. There are plenty of other seating options in the restaurant. There is also a great outdoor patio. The former pottery kiln does give you a lot of privacy which is nice if you want a dining experience that is a little more intimate.
You can't go wrong with goetta, which is a local food that combines sausage and oats.
The Rookwood was recently voted in the Top 20 for places in Cincinnati to get a burger. We decided to find out why.
The burgers were very juicy and delicious. They were also a little messy to eat which is why I would not recommend them if you are on a first date. The seasoned fries were also very tasty.
For dessert we shared a slice of Mouch's Key Lime Pie.
It was AMAZING! The sugar cookie crust was thick and the pie was the perfect blend of sweet and tangy.
The Rookwood is a great place to visit for a date night or evening out with friends.
You can find out more about their menu from their website.


text:
Q: Reading MetaMorph stk file failed with PIL and tifffile I am using PIL to read a MetaMorph stk file that contains a series of cryo-EM images.
Here is the code:
from PIL import Image
img = Image.open('particles_export.stk')
img

it returns <PIL.SpiderImagePlugin.SpiderImageFile image mode=F size=109x109 at 0x7F77085833C8>
The stk file should contain 50 images, but when I tried
img.seek(2), it returns EOFError: attempt to seek outside sequence, while the img page 0 and page 1 are two same page.
I've checked the stk file with ImageJ. It works fine, so the file is not corrupted.
I also tried the module tifffile with the code
import tifffile
stk = tifffile.imread('particles_export.stk')

it returns an error
KeyError                                  Traceback (most recent call last)
/opt/anaconda3/envs/cryo/lib/python3.6/site-packages/tifffile/tifffile.py in __init__(self, arg, name, offset, size, _multifile, _useframes, _master, **kwargs)
   2754             try:
-> 2755                 byteorder = {b'II': '<', b'MM': '>', b'EP': '<'}[header[:2]]
   2756             except KeyError:

KeyError: b'\x00\x00'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

TiffFileError                             Traceback (most recent call last)
<ipython-input-25-d5856ab518a1> in <module>()
      4
      5
----> 6 stk = tifffile.imread(filename)
      7 #stk = imageio.mimread(filename, format = 'SPIDER' ,is_stk = True)

/opt/anaconda3/envs/cryo/lib/python3.6/site-packages/tifffile/tifffile.py in imread(files, aszarr, **kwargs)
    710
    711         if isinstance(files, (str, os.PathLike)) or hasattr(files, 'seek'):
--> 712             with TiffFile(files, **kwargs_file) as tif:
    713                 if aszarr:
    714                     return tif.aszarr(**kwargs)

/opt/anaconda3/envs/cryo/lib/python3.6/site-packages/tifffile/tifffile.py in __init__(self, arg, name, offset, size, _multifile, _useframes, _master, **kwargs)
   2755                 byteorder = {b'II': '<', b'MM': '>', b'EP': '<'}[header[:2]]
   2756             except KeyError:
-> 2757                 raise TiffFileError('not a TIFF file')
   2758
   2759             version = struct.unpack(byteorder + 'H', header[2:4])[0]

TiffFileError: not a TIFF file

I am wondering how can I read this file? I want to save the images as several single tiff files.
You may find this file here.
Thanks for any advice!


It's very beautiful, and the colours are so appropriate for the season where you are. Just lovely. I'm very excited to see the new project you're both working on.
Can't wait for the first post about it and the big project reveal!
I'm excited about this one too 🙂 I think it'll be a present for someone.
Wow, I love it , congratulations on completion. What next I wonder?
As every single block the whole piece is wonderful… what a fabulous finish!
Thank you Annett 🙂 The original design was for 12 blocks. I can understand why now LOL.
Thanks LucyAnn 🙂 The next project won't be so demanding.
Yes, we always agree which part to stitch up to for each update. That way, we can stitch that far and move on to other projects.
Well done Avis, it looks wonderful!
Lovely and your next step will be to sew a quilt just like that………no, just kidding 🙂 The embroidery is great, I like the colours!
You may not believe it but I had thought I might do that …. one day LOL.
Well done – it looks so lovely! I can't get over how different it looks from Claire's even though it's the same design. Looking forward to your next project!
Wow! It looks amazing all together!!! You did a wonderful job.