text:
Q: SFrame Kmeans - Covert to Int, Float, Dict I'm preparting data to run KMEAMS from Graphlab, and am running into the following error:
 tmp = data.select_columns(['a.item_id'])
 tmp['sku'] = tmp['a.item_id'].apply(lambda x: x.split(','))
 tmp = tmp.unpack('sku')

 kmeans_model = gl.kmeans.create(tmp, num_clusters=K)

 Feature 'sku.0' excluded because of its type. Kmeans features must be int, float, dict, or array.array type.
 Feature 'sku.1' excluded because of its type. Kmeans features must be int, float, dict, or array.array type.

Here are the current datatypes of each column:
a.item_id   str
sku.0   str
sku.1   str

If I can get the datatype from str to int I think it should work.  However, using SFrames is a more tricky than standard python libraries.  Any help getting there is appreciated.

A: The kmeans model does allow features in dictionary form, just not in list form. This is slightly different from what you've got now, because the dictionary loses the order of your SKUs, but in terms of model quality I suspect it actually makes more sense.  They key function is count_words, in the text analytics toolkit.
https://dato.com/products/create/docs/generated/graphlab.text_analytics.count_words.html
import graphlab as gl
sf = gl.SFrame({'item_id': ['abc,xyz,cat', 'rst', 'abc,dog']})
sf['sku_count'] = gl.text_analytics.count_words(sf['item_id'], delimiters=[','])

model = gl.kmeans.create(sf, num_clusters=2, features=['sku_count'])
print model.cluster_id

+--------+------------+----------------+
| row_id | cluster_id |    distance    |
+--------+------------+----------------+
|   0    |     1      | 0.866025388241 |
|   1    |     0      |      0.0       |
|   2    |     1      | 0.866025388241 |
+--------+------------+----------------+
[3 rows x 3 columns]


text:
SOURCE: New York Times
The Few, the Proud, the White: The Marine Corps Balks at Promoting Generals of Color
tags: racism, military history, Marine Corps
All things being equal, Col. Anthony Henderson has the military background that the Marine Corps says it prizes in a general: multiple combat tours, leadership experience and the respect of those he commanded and most who commanded him.
Yet three times he has been passed over for brigadier general, a prominent one-star rank that would put Colonel Henderson on the path to the top tier of Marine Corps leadership. Last year, the Navy secretary, Richard V. Spencer, even added a handwritten recommendation to Colonel Henderson's candidacy: "Eminently qualified Marine we need now as BG," he wrote.
But never in its history has the Marine Corps had anyone other than a white man in a senior leadership post. Colonel Henderson is Black.
"Tony Henderson has done everything you could do in the Marines except get a hand salute from Jesus Christ himself," said Milton D. Whitfield Sr., a former Marine gunnery sergeant who served for 21 years.
Proud and fierce in their identity, the Marines have a singular race problem that critics say is rooted in decades of resistance to change. As the nation reels this summer from protests challenging centuries-long perceptions of race, the Marines — who have long cultivated a reputation as the United States' strongest fighting force — remain an institution where a handful of white men rule over 185,000 white, African-American, Hispanic and Asian men and women.
"It took an act of Congress last year to get them to integrate by gender at the platoon level," said Representative Anthony G. Brown, Democrat of Maryland and a former Army helicopter pilot. "And now they continue to hold onto that 1950s vision of who Marines are."
Current and former Marine Corps officials point to Colonel Henderson's personality as an explanation for why he has been passed over, including what they call his tendency to speak his mind — traits that have not disqualified white Marine colonels.
Since the Marines first admitted African-American troops in 1942, the last military service to do so, only 25 have obtained the rank of general in any form. Not one has made it to the top four-star rank, an honor the Marines have bestowed on 72 white men. Six African-Americans reached lieutenant general, or three stars. The rest have received one or two stars, the majority in areas like logistics, aviation and transport, areas from which the Marine Corps does not choose its senior leadership.
Read entire article at New York Times

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Elder law is a comprehensive NY Medicaid and estate plan developed to assist the growing number of elderly individuals who are now living longer lives and are in need of finding themselves long term care and a way of being able to pay for the astronomically high cost of long term care in New York.
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The NY elder law and Medicaid planning lawyers at The Law Offices of Michael Camporeale P.C. are New York elder law lawyers who are well versed and experienced in NY Medicaid law and protecting assets from NY nursing homes. We can develop a well-planned NY Medicaid estate plan to help insure that the client and the family will be legally and financially protected so that through the proper NY Medicaid planning, the client and family can become eligible for in home Medicaid where services are provided in their private home or institutional nursing home care by having the Federal government and the NY Medicaid program pay the high cost of such long term care thus preserving the assets and financial wellbeing of the family in the face of catastrophic long term care costs in New York.
A proactive well developed NY estate and Medicaid plan can be put together by the New York elder law attorneys from The Law Offices of Michael Camporeale. This is very important as the elderly lose the ability to make decisions regarding medical and financial issues. Therefore, the family must take a proactive role to intelligently prepare for this transition in order to protect assets against the catastrophic cost of long term care in New York before it is too late. In the face of the five year look back penalty period time is of the essence. The family must be proactive and have a plan developed and put in place in advance of ever needing the care. Call us today to talk to an elder law lawyer, or an elder law attorney in New York to develop an estate and Medicaid plan. Our experienced estate law lawyers and estate law attorneys serve clients all over New York, including Staten Island, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, White Plains, Garden City, and Melville. Call (718) 475-9639 for a FREE Initial Consultation!
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A proactive comprehensive NY estate and Medicaid plan will give family members the proper legal tools and advantages in order to properly help and handle family affairs by protecting assets from the NY nursing homes, so that the proper transfer of wealth can take place and not be used to pay for the catastrophic high costs of long term care costs in New York.
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The New York elder law attorneys at The Law Offices of Michael Camporeale can insure that your NY Medicaid and estate plan is properly drafted and planned out so that you can be protected and qualify for NY Medicaid throughout the New York City area, Westchester, Manhattan, White Plains, Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx.
The NY elder law lawyers at The Law Offices of Michael Camporeale are there to help apply for and secure NY Medicaid benefits for family members who are in need of an aide in their private home and have this aide paid for through the NY Medicaid program, even if a person has excess assets or income.
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Every cat can see the moons, feel the caress of their sweet light as it shines on fur. Every cat feels the tug of the tides, the rhythm of the Two Moons Dance that cannot be ignored.
But not every cat hears the words Jone and Jode whisper as they prowl the celestial barrens between gentle Nirni and the Dark Behind the World, protecting her from the howling in the emptiness. And this is why the Moon Bishop leads the kittens, trailing the string of secrets as he trots ahead, teaching them of the Motions and the Tides.
A true cat hunts without rest for the Right Trail, trying one after another of the endless paths Jone and Jode dance into the sky even when paws ache and throats cry for milk. They have worn more trails than there are grains of sugar in all the world, and it is easy for a cat to grow bored and abandon the chase. And this is why the Moon Bishop inspires the kittens, sharing stories of the oldest times, nudging them back to the hunt.
Every cat longs for the Sands Behind the Stars, where sugar forms the dunes. Every cat dreams of the Moonlight Chorus, the joyous sound the true cats know.
But not every cat will know Khenarthi's tender embrace at the end of their days, and not every soul will fly beyond to bask in the warmth without end. And this is why the Moon Bishop must rebuke the naughty cats, swatting the ones who stray upon their flanks until they return to the paths the Moons weave.
A true cat may stumble, may lose his way among the deep woods and come upon the temptations of a darker dance led by the Frightful Heart. Fear may seize the soul, confuse the mind, and baffle the senses. And this is why the Moon Bishop must be the Loudest Cat, to blow the reeking haze away with the strength of his words.
This page was last modified on 19 April 2018, at 08:44.


One of my client(He has a SEO agency)need to design a website with blog. He want 100% black and white design. That means text, images everything are 100% black and white.
Is there any UI/UX research about black and white web design? Is it a good concept UI/UX point?
Note : Back and White doesn't mean that his primary color is black. Primary color is very dark grey and text color will be dark grey with pure white background in almost all places.
I am not sure about black and white combination, without any other colors. But I would be very cautious about black - it's usually not recommended to use pure black - it is advised to use shades of grey instead.
Hope this helps at least a bit.
Recently I do some design on Eink and due to the special fresh mode on Eink screen most of the interface is only black and white even without any gray. So perhaps it's a way.
Since eink design is also lack of research, at least I find nothing. I conclude some of my own.
Layout is 1st place: Color sometimes can destract the eyes and the make people ignore the layout problem. and now only black and white may call for more attention on the layout, font size and weight to make web balanced. And sometimes this kind of simplism can be beautiful.
Making sure button can be clicked: Clickable button can be missed when colors are gone. You can use underline or obvious button style to make sure users' notice.
Try the styles that fit for black and white: Some styles are very suitable for black and white, for example the handwriting, doodle, geometric and some oldstyle things. So It can be tried to combine the elements.
It's hard to do all things only black and white. Try to persuade clients, or treat it as a challenge :) it can be fun.
I like the web design of Remarkable(an eink brand). Though its web is not only black and white, it may give some inspire.
The attraction to the monochromatic sites that have been appearing in fashion/high end websites are part of the esthetic of showcasing minimal UI elements while giving attention to product information, imagery and products and letting those showcased items sit in a backdrop similar to a studio or gallery presentation. The hardships that come with a design of such could come to showing visual hierarchy, call-to-action buttons, transitions with UI design and also context if/where the user is. With great care and expert planning you can plan a design devoid of colors by implementing tints/shades and treatments to show users flows and paths.
Black and white is always in style. You can do a lot with just 2 colors. Consider it a creative constraint and you may become a better designer for it because you'll depend less on color. Provide affordance by other means such as shape and texture. Same for any 2-color design.
I recall research from somewhere that said near black and white #111111 on #efefef was more comfortable than #000000 on #ffffff for web reading.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged website-design color web or ask your own question.
Is there a problem with using black text on white backgrounds?
Should a multinational website background color be a conscious choice?
Professional Slides presentations. Light or dark background?
Why not use darker backgrounds instead of white?


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Description: Grasshoppers (Melanoplus sp.) killed by the fungus Beauveria bassiana.
Permission: This image is in the public domain because it contains materials that originally came from the Agricultural Research Service, the research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. English | español | فارسی | italiano | македонски | മലയാളം | Türkçe | 中文(简体) | +/− This file was reviewed on 26 July 2009 by the administrator or trusted user NuclearWarfare (talk), who confirmed the Public Domain status on that date.


text:
\section{Motivation and significance}
Worst-case analysis of networked systems is gaining importance due to the emergence of safety-critical applications with real-time requirements, such as factory automation within the Industry 4.0 paradigm, automated or tele-operated driving, coordinated unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.
With all these distributed applications, ex-ante certification that end-to-end network transit will complete within a predictable (worst-case) time is required to guarantee safety for humans and property.
Network Calculus \cite{LeBoudec2001NetCal} is a well-known theory that uses min-plus and max-plus algebra to infer deterministic worst-case bounds on the delay and backlog of network traffic.
It represents application traffic as a function of time, and network elements (e.g., regulators, schedulers, links) as operators that modify said functions.
Given bounds on the input of a traffic flow (e.g., as enforced by a traffic shaper at the entrance of a network) and knowledge of minimum service given to that flow at network elements (e.g., as enforced by possibly different schedulers at every hop), NC allows one to compute the maximum delay that traffic from that flow will undergo, under any possible scenario.

Algebraically speaking, NC relies on few basic operations, such as minimum, min-plus convolution and sub-additive closure, which can be composed in arbitrary sequences or nested into one another.
However, in less-than-trivial cases, pen-and-paper computation of NC expression is not viable, and automated computation of the relevant performance measures (e.g., a maximum delay for a flow traversing a multi-hop network) is instead required.
Defining efficient computational representations for functions of time and algorithms implementing NC operators thereupon is by no means a simple task.
Book \cite{Bouillard2018DNC} discusses the above issue at length, identifying Ultimately Pseudo-Periodic (UPP) functions as the most general class closed with respect to NC operators. These are piecewise-affine functions, that have an initial "transient" part, followed by a "period" which is repeated an infinite amount of times.
Some NC operators, such as min-plus convolution, have a superquadratic complexity with respect to the number of linear pieces of the operands. Others, such as the sub-additive closure, are exponential.
This holds for both the number of elementary operations involved and the number of linear pieces of the result, and implies that chaining a number of NC operators may yield expressions that -- while visually and algebraically neat -- are algorithmically unfeasible, e.g., take days to compute, or may exhaust the hardware resources and not compute at all \cite{ZS22}.
This constrains -- sometimes severely -- the practical uses of NC analysis, and calls for efficient software libraries that implement NC operations.

To the best of our knowledge, there are no public, open-source \textit{libraries} that implement NC operators working on UPP curves.
By "library" we mean a set of implementations of min- and max-plus algebra operations, providing ease of constructing and manipulating curves, and ways to specialize algorithms for improved efficiency.
The two existing libraries that can handle UPP curves are the RTC Toolbox \cite{rtc} and the RTaW-Pegase library \cite{RTaW-Pegase-Library}.
The former is a publicly available Java library, whose source code is not available.
Thus, one cannot improve on its bugs (e.g. it sometimes cycles infinitely without any discernible cause) or lack of features, such as the lack of sub-additive closure or of a function to find the intersection between two curves (which is essential to speed up several algorithms).
RTaW-Pegase is proprietary, and cannot be used for benchmarking purposes.
An online interpreter is freely available to try its functionalities \cite{RTaW-Playground}, but its use is limited by the browser interface and license.
To the best of our knowledge, the COINC library \cite{COINC2009} is no longer available.
We remark that there are several common situations where UPP curves arise spontaneously: work \cite{9709568} shows that this is the case whenever packetization and finite transmission speeds are factored in.
Moreover, flow-controlled networks \cite{ZS22}, currently being envisaged for data centers, have UPP service curves, and so do wormhole-routing networks \cite{Qian2010Networks} used in systems architectures.

There are, instead, several NC \textit{network analysis tools}, i.e., software packages that implement methods of analysis of particular networks.
These often implement their own versions of min/max-plus algebra operators, often restricted to the type of application network they target.
A review of their capabilities is reported in \cite{Survey2020}.
For instance, DEBORAH \cite{Bisti2010Deborah} analyzes FIFO tandems of rate-latency curves traversed by leaky-bucket-shaped flows.
As such, it only implements min-plus convolution and subtraction of pseudo-affine curves, both of which are algorithmically trivial.
NC-TANDEM-TIGHT \cite{DBLP:journals/deds/BouillardT16} analyzes FIFO tandems by modeling their worst-case delay computation as a linear programming problem (hence implicitly ruling out generic UPP curves, which would yield non-convex programs instead).
The DiscoDNC tool \cite{DiscoDNCv2} is limited to concave/convex piecewise linear curves, for which NC operations are considerably simpler. Unfortunately, none of these tools provide reusable, general-purpose NC operations.

In this work, we fill the above gap by releasing Nancy, an open-source NC library released under the MIT licence.
Nancy is coded in C\#, consists of more than 32k LoC, and is natively parallel. This means that it can exploit multiple cores when available.
Most of the NC operations on UPP curves entail comparing linear segments and/or taking minima or maxima, and these operations are easily parallelizable.
This allows it to reap a considerable speedup over a single-thread implementation.
Furthermore, it implements smart algorithms for NC operators working on particular sub-classes of UPP functions (e.g., sub-additive ones), as well as for minimizing the representation of functions, which concur to abate the computation times by orders of magnitude, as shown in \cite{ZS22}.
Nancy can be used to implement existing methods of analysis (e.g., Total Flow Analysis or Single Flow Analysis, \cite{SurveyFidler}) used in other tools, without the restrictive hypotheses on the type of input curves.
Moreover, it can be exploited to devise new methods of analysis, possibly for types of networks that were considered computationally untractable \cite{ZS22}.
Last, but not least, it is designed so that a NC researcher will find it very easy to translate pen-and-paper computations to code: the names used for objects are those which are widespread in the research community, and the syntax is very intuitive.

The Nancy library is expected to be useful to researchers in both academia and industry that face worst-case analysis problems, such as those working in avionics, embedded systems, computer networks at large, and to help system engineers in performance-oriented design.
In the rest of the paper, we describe the software design and functionalities, we provide examples of how it works, and we discuss the impact of the above library.

\section{Software description}

A {\em function}in NC often represents the amount of data observed at a network element up to time $t$. Accordingly, we will often refer to its abscissa as "time" and to its ordinate as "data".
The Nancy library provides rich classes that allow one to model, manipulate and run computations with piecewise affine UPP functions.
The UPP property states that:

\begin{equation}
    \label{eq:UPP}
    f(t + k \cdot d) = f(t) + k \cdot c \forall \mid t \ge T, \forall k \in \mathbb{N}
\end{equation}

The above implies that, in order to compute $f(t)$ for any $t \ge 0$ we only need to store its values in $[0, T + d[$ and the three parameters $T$, $d$ and $c$. This is visualized in \Cref{fig:PseudoPeriodicExample}. The left plot depicts a function whose transient part (up to $T$) consists of two segments, and whose period (repeated twice) consists of two segments too.

\begin{figure*}[!t]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{0.45\linewidth}
        \tikzsetnextfilename{PseudoPeriodicExample_f}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/PseudoPeriodicExample_f}
        \caption{$f$}
        \label{fig:PseudoPeriodicExample.f}
    \end{subfigure}
    \hspace*{\fill}
    \begin{subfigure}{0.45\linewidth}
        \tikzsetnextfilename{PseudoPeriodicExample_Rf}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/PseudoPeriodicExample_Rf}
        \caption{$R_f$}
        \label{fig:PseudoPeriodicExample.Rf}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Example of ultimately pseudo-periodic piecewise affine function $f$ and its representation $R_f$, taken from \cite{ZS22}.}
    \label{fig:PseudoPeriodicExample}
\end{figure*}

We represent this in code with the class \lstinline|Curve|, which is composed of a \lstinline|BaseSequence| and the values \lstinline|PseudoPeriodStart| ($T$), \lstinline|PseudoPeriodLength| ($d$) and \lstinline|PseudoPeriodHeight| ($c$).

The \lstinline|BaseSequence| is of type \lstinline|Sequence|, which models a piecewise affine function in a limited domain, usually left-closed and right-open $[a, b[$.
A \lstinline|Sequence| is composed of \lstinline|Element|s. An \lstinline|Element| is an abstract class extended by \lstinline|Point| (a single time-value pair) and \lstinline|Segment| (defined in an open interval $]a, b[$). This allows us to model non-continuous UPP curves as well.
The right plot of \Cref{fig:PseudoPeriodicExample} shows the transient part consisting of four elements, and a period consisting of four elements. Quadruple $\{R_f, T, d, c\}$ is the information required to represent the above function in code.

The numeric type used throughout the library is \lstinline|Rational|, which represents numbers in $\mathbb{Q} \cup \{+\infty, -\infty\}$. This allows us to perform computations without any approximations (unlike what happens when using the \lstinline|double| type).
To avoid overflow issues, we use \lstinline|BigInteger|, although we support using \lstinline|long| instead for better performance, using a compile flag.

These types are \textit{immutable}, i.e. they cannot be modified after construction, and methods will instead create new objects to return.
This has a twofold advantage: on one hand, safety of use -- an object will never change properties unless it is reassigned explicitly.
On the other hand, it favors parallelization, since all computations are independent and can be safely executed concurrently.

Many min- and max-plus operators are implemented as methods of these classes, and are closed, i.e. they return objects of the same class they belong to -- in fact, they compute the bounded UPP representation of the result. This implies that they can be chained, allowing for computation of complex NC expressions.
The main operators implemented are \cite{Bouillard2018DNC}:
\begin{itemize}
    \item \lstinline|Minimum| and \lstinline|Maximum|;
    \item \lstinline|Addition| and \lstinline|Subtraction|. The latter can compute both $A(t)-B(t)$ and $[A(t)-B(t)]^{+}=max\{A(t)-B(t),0\}$ (default);
    \item (\lstinline|min-plus|) \lstinline|Convolution| and \lstinline|Deconvolution|;
    \item \lstinline|Vertical|- and \lstinline|HorizontalDeviation|;
    \item \lstinline|MaxPlusConvolution| and \lstinline|MaxPlusDeconvolution|;
    \item \lstinline|Lower|- and \lstinline|UpperPseudoInverse|;
    \item \lstinline|Sub|- and \lstinline|SuperAdditiveClosure|;
    \item \lstinline|Composition|, i.e. $h(t)=f(g(t))$\footnote{To the best of our knowledge, this operation has not been formally described so far in the context of UPP curves. It is used, for instance, in \cite{Tabatabaee2021}.}.
\end{itemize}

We also implement many utility methods and properties for common manipulations and checks, such as:
\begin{itemize}
    \item Sampling a curve at or "near" a time with \lstinline|ValueAt|, \lstinline|LeftLimitAt| and \lstinline|RightLimitAt|;
    \item Properties, such as \lstinline|IsContinuous|, \lstinline|IsNonDecreasing|, \lstinline|IsConcave|, \lstinline|IsSubAdditive|, etc. ;
    \item Shift along the time axis (\lstinline|DelayBy|, \lstinline|AnticipateBy|) and data axis (\lstinline|VerticalShift|);
    \item Restriction of a \lstinline|Curve| to a finite time interval, with the \lstinline|Cut| operator.
\end{itemize}

As discussed in \cite{ZS22}, the representation of the result of the above operations is often (unavoidably) much larger than necessary -- i.e., it includes many more segments than required. This may lead to severe memory/speed inefficiency, especially with chained operations (recall that NC operators often involve algorithms that are superlinear in the number of segments). The Nancy library implements an efficient post-hoc representation minimization algorithm, run by default in all operands before returning the result, which solves this issue.

Moreover, we exploit the high parallelizability of the above operators using PLINQ.
The Nancy library will parallelize the following:
\begin{itemize}
    \item aggregate operators, such as the aggregate convolution of a large set of curves;
    \item large sets of independent tasks. For instance, convolution involves computation of the lower envelope of a set of \lstinline|Element|s over a time domain. Elements are first grouped in (time) buckets according to their interval of definition. Then, per-bucket lower-envelopes are computed independently in parallel.
\end{itemize}

Lastly, many methods of the \lstinline|Curve| class are defined as \lstinline|virtual|, so that its subclasses can provide more efficient algorithms. For instance, the convolution of \lstinline|ConcaveCurve|s is replaced with their minimum, which is less complex. This makes the library easily extensible to exploit existing -- or yet-to-be-found -- mathematical properties.
For instance, specialized algorithms for \lstinline|SubAdditiveCurve|s have been implemented, which are considerably more efficient \cite{ZS22}.

As an example of the above, we report in \Cref{tab:experiment} the time it takes to compute the convolution between two sub-additive curves, using both the standard algorithm and the optimized one in \cite{ZS22}, in both a sequential and a parallel setting.
We run the above computations on a laptop computer (i7-10750H, 32 GB RAM).
We can cleralry see that the mathematical properties described in \cite{ZS22} reduce the computation time by orders of magnitude. This highlights that  the flexibility of the type system implemented in Nancy is a great benefit for future improvements.
On the other hand, we observe that parallelization brings considerable benefits even for the unoptimized computation. This can be generalized to cases where optimized mathematical properties are not available or not enough (many example of which can be found in \cite{ZS22}).
However, trying to parallelize the optimized algorithm does not yield any benefits: this is to be expected, as the computation time is already under 1 ms, thus the overhead required by parallelization is higher than the time saved.
The library allows for fine tuning of the algorithms used via the \lstinline|settings| parameter, which can be used to avoid sub-optimal settings, such as misusing parallelization as in the above case.

\begin{table}[t]
	\centering
	\begin{tabular}{|l|c|c|}
		\hline
		 & Standard & Optimized \\ \hline
		Sequential & \makecell{ Q1: 20512.67 ms\\ Q2: 20569.76 ms\\ Q3: 20733.97 ms }
        & \makecell{ Q1: 0.16 ms\\ Q2: 0.17 ms\\ Q3: 0.64 ms }
        \\ \hline
		Parallelized & \makecell{ Q1: 5860.67 ms\\ Q2: 6030.53 ms\\ Q3: 7657.40 ms }
        & \makecell{ Q1: 0.49 ms\\ Q2: 0.52 ms\\ Q3: 2.22 ms }
        \\ \hline
	\end{tabular}
	\caption{Performance comparison of $\overline{\beta_{416, 835} + 313} \otimes \overline{\beta_{552, 571} + 970}$, using parallelization and optimized algorithms from \cite{ZS22}. Results are reported for each case as 25th percentile (Q1), median (Q2) and 75th percentile (Q3) over 10 independent runs.}
	\label{tab:experiment}
\end{table}

\section{Illustrative examples}

In this section we show how the Nancy library can be used to easily build curves and compute NC expressions.
These examples are provided in the GitHub repository as .NET Interactive Notebooks, were we use \lstinline|XPlot.Plotly| to visualize the computed curves, as shown in the figures below. Our aim here is to show that the library syntax, which is rather intuitive, closely matches NC algebra, making it very easy for a practitioner to compute (and possibly plot) the results of its expressions.

The first example in \Cref{fig:GenericConstructor} shows how to construct a generic \lstinline|Curve|, providing the limited \lstinline|Sequence| description and the pseudo-period parameters.
The library also provides simplified constructors for common types of curves, as shown in \Cref{fig:SimplifiedConstructors}.

\begin{figure*}[]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/GenericConstructor.code}
        \caption{Code example using the generic constructor.}
        \label{fig:GenericConstructor.code}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/GenericConstructor.plot}
        \caption{Plot of the resulting curve.}
        \label{fig:GenericConstructor.plot}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Constructing a \lstinline|Curve| using the generic constructor.}
    \label{fig:GenericConstructor}
\end{figure*}

\begin{figure*}[]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/SimplifiedConstructors.code}
        \caption{Code example using simplified constructors.}
        \label{fig:SimplifiedConstructors.code}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/SimplifiedConstructors.plot}
        \caption{Plot of the resulting curves.}
        \label{fig:SimplifiedConstructors.plot}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Constructing curves using simplified constructors.}
    \label{fig:SimplifiedConstructors}
\end{figure*}

We can then use such curves to compute more complex curve expressions, or delay bounds, as shown in the example of \Cref{fig:DelayBoundExample} (from \cite[p.~121]{Bouillard2018DNC}).

\begin{figure*}[]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/DelayBoundExample.code}
        \caption{Code example for delay bound of non-trivial curves.}
        \label{fig:DelayBoundExample.code}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/DelayBoundExample.plot}
        \caption{Plot of the two curves. The maximum horizontal deviation is equal to $d((2,2),(4,2))=2$.}
        \label{fig:DelayBoundExample.plot}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Constructing non-trivial curves and computing the delay bound as the maximum horizontal deviation.}
    \label{fig:DelayBoundExample}
\end{figure*}

We now show two examples of more complex computations taken from the NC literature.
In \Cref{fig:FifoExample} we show the computation of a residual service curve for a flow in a FIFO aggregate, whose expression is (\cite[Ch.~6]{LeBoudec2001NetCal}):
\begin{equation*}
    \beta^{\theta} = \left[ \beta - \alpha \otimes \delta_\theta \right]^+ \wedge \delta_\theta,
\end{equation*}
where $\beta$ is the aggregate service curve, $\alpha$ is the arrival curve of the cross-flow, $\delta_x$ is a right-shift by $x$ and $\theta \ge0$ is a time parameter.

\begin{figure*}[]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/FifoExample.code}
        \caption{Code example for the residual service curve.}
        \label{fig:FifoExample.code}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/FifoExample.plot}
        \caption{Plot of the resulting residual service curve.}
        \label{fig:FifoExample.plot}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Computing a residual service curve for a flow in a FIFO aggregate.}
    \label{fig:FifoExample}
\end{figure*}

Our last example is based on the recent work in \cite[Th.~1]{Tabatabaee2021}, which computes a strict service curve for Interleaved Weighted Round Robin (IWRR) through multiple steps.
In \Cref{fig:IwrrExample}, we implement this computation using the parameters in \cite[Fig.~3]{Tabatabaee2021}.

\begin{figure*}[]
    \centering
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/IwrrExample.code}
        \caption{Code example for IWRR's strict service curve. The code to compute the intermediate parameters is collapsed for the sake of conciseness.}
        \label{fig:IwrrExample.code}
    \end{subfigure}
    \begin{subfigure}{\linewidth}
        \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{images/IwrrExample.plot}
        \caption{Plot of the resulting service curve.}
        \label{fig:IwrrExample.plot}
    \end{subfigure}

    \caption{Computing IWRR's strict service curve.}
    \label{fig:IwrrExample}
\end{figure*}

\section{Impact}
Despite being 30 years old, Network Calculus is still a flowering field of research.
A search on Scopus reports 758 scientific papers published in the last 10 years (80 in 2021 only) where "Network Calculus" appears in the title, abstract or keywords.
Research groups working on it exist in both the academia (at least in Europe, US, Canada, China, India, Brazil) and the industry (components, avionics, systems).
It is in particular industrial interest that has sparked a renewed attention in NC in the last few years, with the advent of new standards (e.g., Time-Sensitive Networks) and new scenarios and opportunities (e.g., the possibility of running real-time control algorithms of physical objects from the Cloud or the emergence of Digital Twins).
The Nancy library presented in this paper can be used by all the above actors to address their research needs.
It has already been used in research projects (namely, a joint project between Arm Ltd and the University of Pisa), as well as to write scientific papers \cite{ZS22}.

\section{Conclusions}

This paper has presented Nancy, a C\# library for Network Calculus operations, written for NC researchers.
One of the features provided by the Nancy library is the attention to computational efficiency.
As already discussed, NC is widely believed to be computationally hard, especially when generic UPP curves are concerned.
This has severely limited its  applicability to practical problems so far.
Quite often, researchers have resorted to pessimistic bounding techniques in order to obtain computable results, or have been forced to limit the scope of their analysis to few network nodes.
Nancy tackles the problem of computational efficiency in several concurrent ways.
The first one is \textit{inheritance}: while algorithms for UPP curves at large are known, research is currently discovering subclasses of UPP curves whose properties allow more efficient algorithms.
One such examples are sub-additive curves, discussed in \cite{ZS22}, where the cost of convolution can be abated by orders of magnitude.
The second one is built-in \textit{optimization} of the curve data structures.
It is shown in \cite{ZS22} that NC operations yield results whose UPP representation is redundant.
Optimizing that representation ex-post comes at negligible cost, and may save orders of magnitude of computations (besides memory occupancy, which often becomes a problem itself).
The third one is native parallel implementation, which harvests all the underlying computational power, distributing both NC operations and sub-tasks thereof.

\section{Declaration of Competing Interest}
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

\section*{Acknowledgements}
\label{Ack}
This work was supported in part by the Italian Ministry of Education and Research (MIUR) in the framework of the CrossLab project (Departments of Excellence), and by the University of Pisa, through grant "Analisi di reti complesse: dalla teoria alle applicazioni" - PRA 2020. We are grateful to ARM Ltd., and in particular to Dr. Matteo Andreozzi, for their help in publishing this software.

\section*{References}

\bibliographystyle{elsarticle-num}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
China's new Anti-Unfair Competition
Publication | March 2018
The current Anti-Unfair Competition Law
What practices would constitute bribery
Whether a business counterparty would be a briber-taker
Whether a corporate would bear liability for its employees' bribery activities
First Draft Amendments
China's new Anti-Unfair Competition Law (the New Law) was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on November 4, 2017 and will take effect from January 1, 2018, by which date the current version of the law promulgated back in 1993 will cease to be effective.
Whilst the New Law covers different forms of unfair competition practices, this briefing only focuses on the provisions with regard to bribery in commercial transactions.
Since the first draft of the New Law was published for public consultation in early 2016 (the First Draft Amendments), there have been a few amendments made to the draft and the final version of the New Law has deviated significantly from the First Draft Amendments as far as the provisions on bribery are concerned.
By way of background, the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law had long been subject to market criticism due to the fact that it failed to set out clear parameters for the offence of commercial bribery1. Although some clarity was provided in the Interim Provisions on Banning Commercial Bribery (SAIC Provisions) issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC, being one of the anti-bribery enforcement agencies in China) in 1996, the line had never been clear between permissible business incentives offered to transaction counterparties and impermissible commercial bribery1. As a result, SAIC's local counterparts exercised great discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of the law in practice and different opinions often existed as to whether or not a particular act amounted to bribery.
The market therefore expected the New Law to clarify what exactly would be treated as bribery in the commercial arena.
To provide a complete picture, we compare in this article the relevant provisions in the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law, the Frist Draft Amendments and the New Law in order to better understand the implications of the New Law. We focus on three elements which are most relevant in this context: (i) what practices would constitute bribery, (ii) whether a business counterparty would be a briber-taker, and (iii) whether a corporate would bear liability for its employees' bribery activities.
Article 8 of the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law provides, using an undefined word "bribe" to describe bribery activities, that business operators must not, by using money,property or other methods, bribe others in order to sell or purchase goods. It further provides that (i) provision of off-the-book rebate by a party to its counterparty or individuals shall constitute bribe-giving, whilst acceptance of such off-the-book rebated by the counterparty or individuals shall constitute bribe-taking, and (ii) business operators may give discounts to counterparties or pay commissions to intermediaries provided both parties to the transactions expressly and genuinely record the discounts and commissions in their accounts and books.
Based on the principles set out in the law, the SAIC Provisions explain a few key terms in order to guide its implementation, including "discounts", "commissions", "off-the-book rebate" and "expressly and genuinely recording", and provide that business operators must not give cash or property to business counterparties as gifts in the sale and purchase of goods, with the exception of promotional gifts of small value according to commercial practice, otherwise it will constitute commercial bribery.
It is not certain what practices constitute bribery given the absence of a clear definition of bribery. However, the ways in which the local counterparts of SAIC have interpreted and enforced the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law and SAIC Provisions suggested that corporate-to-corporate incentives may very likely be regarded as commercial bribery unless they fall squarely within the narrowly described scope of discounts, commissions and promotional gifts, as briefly described above. As a result, business operators have been struggling in trying to figure out what may be offered in this competitive market without crossing the line. The tension between business units who propose innovative commercial incentives and compliance team has been phenomenal.
Bribes may be given to individuals as well as to corporates. In practice, there have been many cases, including, for instance, the ten cases relating to tyre companies published by Shanghai AIC early this year, where corporate-tocorporate arrangements between direct transaction parties (e.g. manufacturers and distributors) were regarded as bribery.
Although the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law is silent on this point, the SAIC Provisions do make it clear that the act of an employee who sells or purchases goods for a business operator by way of bribery shall be regarded as the conduct of the business operator. The SAIC Provisions however do not provide any defence that the corporate concerned may use to defend its position.
The First Draft Amendments took the bold step of trying to define commercial bribery. Article 7 of the First Draft Amendments provide as follows:
"A business operator may not engage in the following commercial bribery acts: (i) to gain financial interests for its entity, department or persons in or through public services; (ii) to offer financial interests without truthfully reflecting that in contracts or accounting documents; or (iii) to offer or promise to offer financial interests to a third party who may exercises influence on the transaction, whereby damaging the lawful rights and interests of other business operators or consumers.
Commercial bribery refers to the circumstances where a business operator offers or promises to offer financial interests to its business counterparty or a third party who may exercise influence on the transaction, so as to induce them to seek business opportunities or competitive advantages for the former. The party who offers or promises to offer financial interests shall be regarded as the party of giving commercial bribery, while the party who accepts or agrees to accept such financial interests shall be regarded as the party of taking commercial bribery."
Clearly, the First Draft Amendments made an attempt to provide a clear definition of commercial bribery which is missing from the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law. According to the provisions quoted above, commercial bribery comprises the following components
Financial interests being offered or promised to be offered.
To the business counterparty or a third party.
To seek business opportunities or competitive advantages.
The logical connection between the definition of commercial bribery in the second paragraph and the specific circumstances in the first paragraph, as both quoted above, is not entirely clear.
It is unclear whether the first paragraph merely serves as an illustration of a few examples of commercial bribery or intends to supplement conditions for an act to be regarded as commercial bribery. Specifically, while financial interests are offered by a business operator to its counterparty in seeking competitive advantages, would such act only be regarded as commercial bribery if the parties failed truthfully to reflect such arrangements in contracts or accounting documents? Whilst such financial interests are offered by a business operator to a third party who may exercise influence on the transaction, would such act only be regarded as commercial bribery if such arrangement damages the lawful rights and interests of other business operators or consumers? If the answers to these questions are "no", the ambit of commercial bribery under the First Draft Amendments becomes even wider.
It seems that the First Draft Amendments also failed to answer the questions that the market expected to be answered.
Under the First Draft Amendments, bribes may be given to a business operator's counterparty as well as a third party who may exercise influence on the transaction. Therefore, business counterparties are captured in the scope of bribe-takers under the First Draft Amendments.
The First Draft Amendments provide that an employee's act of commercial bribery in seeking trading opportunities or competitive advantages for a business operator shall be considered as the act of the business operator, unless it can be proven that the employee's act is in breach of the interests of the business operator.
The First Draft Amendments make an improvement by providing a defence that a corporate may rely on although the scope of such defence is rather vague. "Interests of the business operator" may refer to a short-term interest, (e.g. securing a sales contract), or a long-term interest, (e.g. being compliant to avoid penalties). It would no doubt receive different interpretations if such defence is raised in practice.
The New Law has made a rather significant change in taking out a business operator's counterparties from the scope of bribe-takers, which indicates that corporate-to-corporate commercial incentives, which have long been the targets of anti-bribery enforcement by SAIC (and its local counterparts) would most likely no longer be regarded as a commercial bribery under the New Law.
Article 7 of the New Law provides as follows:
"Business operators must not use financial or other methods to bribe the following entities or individuals in seeking business opportunities or competitive advantages:
Staff members of transaction counterparties.
Entities or individuals entrusted by transaction counterparties to handle relevant matters.
Entities or individuals that may take advantage of the work position or influential power to exercise influence on transactions."
Article 7 further restates the position under the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law that business operators may offer express discounts to business counterparties or pay commissions to intermediaries and shall genuinely record such discounts or commissions on the books and accounts by both parties involved.
The New Law goes back to the approach under the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law in using "bribe" to describe "bribery", as may be seen from the provisions above, which may be rather disappointing. It is also notable that it expands the purpose of bribery from "selling or purchasing goods" under the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law to "seeking business opportunities or competitive advantages" which sensibly captures a broader scope of activities.
The most fundamental change introduced by the New Law is the removal of transaction counterparties from the scope of briber-takers, as shown in the provisions highlighted. According to market commentary, this change was based on comments collected in the draft consultation stage that China had been penalizing commercial arrangements (e.g. sales bonus, incentives) between transaction parties as bribery which were however often regarded as legitimate in other jurisdictions. It was noted in some of the comments that "bribe" was often defined in many jurisdictions as an improper offer or payment of something of value to an individual employee, agent or other fiduciary with the intent to induce or reward the recipient for acting in violation of the recipient's legal duties to the recipient's employer or principal and that the scope of bribery defined under Chinese law appeared to be a lot broader.
Obviously these comments have been reflected in the New Law. It looks from the market commentary so far that this change has been viewed as a positive step allowing transaction parties to agree on flexible transaction arrangements which would have been regarded as bribery under the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law.
However, the following questions have arisen from this change which call for further clarification
If the transaction counterparty is out of the scope of bribe-takers in the first instance, what is the implication of the provisions requiring the discounts and commissions between the transaction parties to be recorded genuinely to the books and accounts? What if these requirements are not complied with? Would non-compliance make the transaction a bribery again? If the answer is yes, it is certainly contradictory to the position established by other provisions of Article 7, and if the answer is no, what is the point of having these provisions included in Article 7? The penalty provisions of the New Law only refer to "bribery"?
If the arrangements between transaction parties fall outside of the scope of commercial bribery under the New Law, how should these arrangements be viewed with respect to offences under the PRC Criminal Law with regard to bribe-giving to entities (in Chinese: 对单位行贿罪, Article 391) and bribe-taking by entities (in Chinese: 单位受贿罪, Article 387)? Under these PRC Criminal Law provisions, off-the-book rebate and commissions taken by, or given to, a state-owned enterprise may constitute a criminal offence. The New Law is meant to govern not only transactions between private companies but also transactions between private companies and state-owned enterprises. The gap therefore emerges where an improper transaction arrangement between a private company and state-owned enterprise would not be regarded as bribery under the New Law but could potentially constitute a criminal offence of bribery under the Criminal Law.
Given the above, it remains to be seen how the newly defined bribery under the New Law will be implemented.
The New Law takes the same position as the First Draft Amendments in confirming that bribery committed by an employee of a business is deemed to have been committed by the business. It makes it a defence for the business if the business can prove that the act of the employee is irrelevant to seeking a transaction opportunity or competitive advantage for the business.
Compared to the defence under the First Draft Amendments, the defence under the New Law is more specific and less ambiguous, which is an improvement. However, proving the irrelevance between the bribery and the transaction opportunity or competitive opportunity can be very challenging for the corporates in practical terms, which will make it difficult to use the defence successfully.
Corporates should seriously consider the risks that may be extended to it by employees' bribery conduct, given the position under the New Law.
Beyond all these achievements and uncertainties under the New Law, administrative penalties that may be applied for bribery are significantly increased from fines ranging from RMB10,000 to RMB200,000 plus confiscation of illegal income under the current Anti-Unfair Competition Law, to fines ranging from RMB100,000 to RMB3 million, confiscation of illegal gains, and in the worst case scenario, revocation of business licence.
Businesses operating in China need to be aware of these upcoming changes and take the necessary precautions by implementing robust and effective anticorruption compliance programs.
http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/knowledge/publications/117165/walking-a-fine-line-in-china
Sun Hong
Business ethics and anti-corruption


Here's a fun active way for kids to learn the alphabet at home, school or play! The set of Uppe..
Pack of 4 Microbes soft toys that can be presented as gag gifts to friends or can also be used for s..
Pack of 6 Microbes soft toys that can be presented as gag gifts to friends or can also be used for s..


The growing trend in mobility, advance in technology and the growing demand for infotainment has led to the popularity of Bluetooth speakers across the globe. According to Business Wire, the market for Bluetooth speaker is expected to grow by as much as 32.81% CAGR every year between 2016 and 2020. Consequently, top manufacturers are regularly coming up with new product lines with improved efficiency. Modern day Bluetooth technology not only allows the user to go about wireless but have also implications in the automobile, healthcare and other sectors. Fueled by stiff competition, you can come across cheap but highly reliable and promising products in the market today.
Perfect for outdoor usage, this Bluetooth speaker from Transwin comes with a water (splash) and dust resistant design. It is also thickly coated within a rubber shell to protect against small drops and scratches. Just 5.5" in side, it is perfect to be packed into your bag and taken of field trips.
While it is not meant to be submersible, this speaker from AYL SoundFit will resist low water pressure from all angles. This thus makes is safe to be used under showers and on boats. This is one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers under $100 offers great music experience.
The speaker would be compatible across all smart devices and laptops and just costs $26.99. you can shop this device from Amazon.
Going on a rugged field trip or trekking expedition? Just 1.5 inch in size, it can be comfortable packed into your bag or stuck onto your bike. The built in mic also offers hands free calls and will be compatible with any Bluetooth 4.0 enabled device.
Water resistant, dust proof, shockproof, scratch resistant and can survive even in high temperatures.
You may also use it as a power bank for your smart phone!
All of it will cost you $29.99 and you can order this device at Amazon.
JBL has always been known for its high definition audio experience and this speaker is no different. The audio technology supports echo free and noise free experience, which can also be an advantage when you are taking hands free calls outdoors. This JBL Bluetooth speaker will give you amazing experience even in the worst environment.
This JBL speaker costs $48.00 and you can buy this device from Amazon.
Perfect for outdoor use, this rugged speaker is capable of high definition and deafening audio experience. The speaker is compatible with all Bluetooth 4.0 devices and capable of long hours of non-stop audio. Ultra light and ultra slim, it will take up minimal space in your backpack!
You pay just $27.99 and you can order this device at Amazon.
Another immersive audio experience from JBL, the Flip 3 offers fast Bluetooth streaming and is capable of powerful output. The speaker has been ruggedly designed to suit outdoor usage and can be used in all kinds of environment. The bass radiator even makes you feel the sound and the earth shake!
The speaker is priced at just $87.94 and you can shop it from Amazon.
The JBL Charge offers a high quality audio experience from your smart phone or tablet using Bluetooth 4.0 and built in USB. While it will play 12 hours of non-stop music, the speakers can also be used as a power bank for your smart devices. The exceptional bass makes it an entertainment powerhouse in any place, regardless of the environmental noise.
You can get it at just $89.98 and you can order this device at Amazon.
The Flip 2 JBL technology brings more power to your smart phone audio experience. The audio technology has been specially engineered using two drivers and also a built-in bass port that adds a dynamic depth to the experience. The crystal clear output also allows or taking up calls and is supported by added technologies like noise cancellation and SoundClear™.
The JBL Flip 2 Portable Wireless Speakers cost just around $65.88 and you can buy it from Amazon.
The Boom X Stereo 20 W from TaoTronics offers an immersive sound experience that can be used both indoors and outdoors for an immersive experience. These speakers have been made to look both rugged and elegant and are highly portable. You can connect all kinds of Bluetooth enabled devices with these speakers, including your smart phones, laptops, TV and gaming consoles.
These speakers cost $39.99 each and you can order this device at Amazon.
This is a complete party gadget with a booming stereo and bass and dark room displays for easy handling and usage. You can even use these speakers in your car to take up hands free calls when driving.
This SHARKK product is priced at $57.99 and you can shop this device from Amazon.
When choosing a Bluetooth speaker, it is necessary that you understand your exact requirements and the ways the speaker would be put to use. If you are not intending to put in under a shower, why pay for it! There are several products that offer a wide variety of specifications. Do your research well.


text:
Penn State's Olu Fashanu announces he's…
Penn State's Olu Fashanu announces he's returning in 2023
Left tackle has been projected as a top pick in next year's NFL draft
Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu will return to the Nittany Lions in 2023, he announced Monday. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
By Rich Scarcella | rscarcella@readingeagle.com | The Delaware County Daily Times
Olu Fashanu, who has been projected as one of the top offensive tackles in the 2023 NFL draft, announced Monday that he will return to Penn State.
The 6-6, 321-pound Fashanu has been the regular left tackle for the Nittany Lions since the Outback Bowl in January. He suffered an undisclosed leg injury during a 44-31 loss to Ohio State last month at Beaver Stadium and has missed the last four games.
His availability for Penn State's bowl game was not known. He has two seasons of eligibility left.
"Although playing in the NFL is a goal of mine, there is still more that I want to achieve personally and collectively as a program," Fashanu wrote on social media. "After several conversations with my parents and coaches, I will be returning to Penn State for the 2023 season.
"I want to thank my family, teammates and coaches who have helped me get to this point in my life. My work here is far from over and I look forward to getting back to work with my brothers."
Fashanu was a four-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star recruit by 247 Sports and ESPN. He's an outstanding student who's majoring in supply chain and information systems.
"I've been blessed to have the opportunity to be around a group of extremely hard-working individuals," Fashanu wrote. "Everyone in this program has pushed me to become a better football player and, more importantly, a better man.
"Having the opportunity to play in front of the best fans in the world this past year has been great. I will never forget the moments that were created with this team this year."
Fashanu's decision is a large boost to Penn State's championship aspirations in 2023. It's possible the Lions can return their entire starting offensive line, depending on decisions by center Juice Scruggs and right tackle Caedan Wallace, who has missed the last five games.
"We couldn't be more excited to have Olu return for the 2023 season," Penn State coach James Franklin said in a statement. "He is a person of high character who exemplifies our core values, leads by example and models what it means to be a complete Penn State student-athlete.
"We will continue to work extremely hard to help Olu achieve all of his goals on and off the field and look forward to another season with him and his family in Happy Valley."
Earlier this month, guard Hunter Nourzad announced that he will return in 2023. Nourzad, a transfer from Cornell, has started every game at left guard since Landon Tengwall suffered an undisclosed season-ending injury.
Rich Scarcella | Assistant sports editor
Rich Scarcella joined the Reading Eagle staff in 1986. He's covered Penn State football since 1989. He also covers high school baseball, golf, volleyball and bowling and college basketball. He previously worked at the Standard-Speaker in Hazleton, where he was raised.
rscarcella@readingeagle.com
Follow Rich Scarcella @Nittanyrich
Boys Basketball: Kwaidah, Sun Valley showing growth with win over Upper Merion
College Basketball: Temple works overtime to win fourth straight
Sixers Notebook: Joel Embiid shrugs off All-Star starting snub
McCaffery: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic developing an NBA rivalry for the ages


Rising adoption of analytics to provide substantial boost to the anti-money laundering software market.
Latest market study on "Anti-Money Laundering Software Market to 2027 by Deployment Type (On-premise and Cloud); Component (Software and Services); Product (Transaction Monitoring, Compliance Management, Currency Transaction Reporting, and Customer Identity Management); and End User (Healthcare, BFSI, Retail, IT & Telecom, Government, and Others) - Global Analysis and Forecast", the anti-money laundering software market is estimated to reach US$ 4,993.2 Mn by 2027 from US$ 905.7 Mn in 2018. The report include key understanding on the driving factors of this growth and also highlights the prominent players in the market and their developments.
The financial ecosystem lately has been revolutionized by the rapid developments in the machine learning, data science, and their ability to produce algorithms for predictive data analytics. Machine leaning in the recent times has proved to be holding great promise for the banking system, particularly in the area of detecting hidden patterns and suspicious money-laundering activities. Machine learning facilitates identification of money-laundering typologies, strange and suspicious transactions, behavioral transitions in customers, transactions of customers belonging to same geography, age, groups and other identities; and helps reduce false positives. It also helps analyze similar transactions for focal entities and correlate alerts that were flagged as suspicious in regulatory reports. The advanced capabilities provided by the machine learning and data science enabled AML software is expected to significantly drive the market in coming years.
Furthermore, as money launderers would continue to explore newer ways to use banks for illicit activities the timely detection of the laundering activities is expected to be the most challenging aspect in the implementation of an efficient AML. There are already a numerous innovative technology based products and tools that are available in the market are capable of detecting, tracking and preventing money laundering. Although these technology may not completely eliminate money laundering, they would in spite bring the money laundering under control to a greater extent. Owing to this the financial institutes would sooner raise the demand for such AML software.
The global market for anti-money laundering software market is segmented on various parameters such as deployment type, component, product, industry vertical, and geography. Based on deployment type, on-premise segment dominate the anti-money laundering software market heavily and is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period from 2019 - 2027. On the basis of component, services segment is expected to witness a significant growth rate in the coming years. Further, based on product, transaction monitoring led the market in 2018 with a maximum market share and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The anti-money laundering software market by industry vertical was led by BFSI segment which held a maximum market share in the year 2018. Key players operating in the market are introducing attractive solutions and are partnering with the small as well as large companies which is helping them to gain customer traction. The major companies offering anti-money laundering software market include ACI Worldwide, SAS Institute, Oracle Corporation, BAE Systems, Accenture, Verafin Inc., Safe Banking Systems LLC, Eastnets Holding Ltd., Ascent Technology Consulting, and Opentext Corporation among others. Several other companies are also offering these solutions to finance industry which is facilitating the market to propel over the years.


Above: Frank West returns to the infamous zombie-infested town.
Zombie survival stories don't have to be as bleak or tragic as AMC's television series The Walking Dead. Capcom Vancouver wants to remind you that the apocalypse can be fun, too.
To commemorate Dead Rising's 10th anniversary, the developer is delivering another helping of the series's wacky zombie-slaying humor with Dead Rising 4 (coming to Xbox One and PC on December 6). The latest entry in the open-world franchise brings back two major stars from the first game: hero Frank West and the fictional Willamette, Colorado.
Sixteen years after Frank survived a zombie outbreak in the town's Parkview mall, the former photojournalist returns to Willamette to help stop a new and more dangerous strain of the virus. In addition to the shambling horde, you'll face two new types of zombies: the Fresh and the Evos.
Fresh are newly turned zombies who are faster (like those in the movie 28 Days Later) and more aggressive than their decomposed counterparts. The Evos are intelligent creatures who hunt in packs and can summon the slow zombies as reinforcements.
Above: While the Fresh can run, they're still just as dumb as the slow zombies.
While the stakes are high, and the story (according to executive producer Bryce Cochrane) has an important lesson to convey, Dead Rising 4 still has plenty of ridiculous weapons and vehicles that you can use to defend yourself against the undead.
One way Dead Rising 4 stands out from past entries is in its Christmas setting. Many of Willamette's citizens (and deal-hungry shoppers) succumbed to the deadly virus when it started spreading on Black Friday. Frank can still pick up everyday objects to help fight off his rotting foes, and the winter wonderland gives him new toys to play with, including Christmas bells and arrows made out of candy canes.
Frank can combine one or more of these items into "combo" weapons by finding different blueprints all throughout the town. For example, you can attach grenades to a sledgehammer to make the Blast from the Past, a melee weapon that packs a fiery kick whenever you hit someone with it. One of Cochrane's favorites is the Christmas ornament launcher, which is a special grenade launcher that fires explosive tree ornaments.
Above: Frank's Blambow crossbow shoots fireworks instead of arrows.
Some of the combo weapons come from Maniacs, Dead Rising 4's outlandish bosses. Maniacs are human survivors who lost their mind in the aftermath of the outbreak. During our demo, Cochrane showed off Sadistic Claus, a Maniac who lives in a Christmas tree lot.
Before you can fight the not-so-jolly man himself, you have to deal with his small army of elf minions that pop out of presents and attack you with toy guns. Sadistic Claus's weapon of choice is a giant medieval axe pulsating with electricity — and it can be yours if you defeat him.
Dead Rising 4 takes the combo system a step further with the introduction of exo suits, experimental military armor that you can find around Willamette. Wearing an exo suit gives Frank super strength, enabling him to toss cars, rip parking meters out of the ground, and carry heavier guns.
You can also gain additional abilities — like creating frigid tornadoes that freeze zombies in place — through the combo system. But all that fancy technology comes with a price: Each exo suit only lasts for two minutes.
Above: With the help of a few slushy machines, Frank can create powerful tornadoes.
Despite Dead Rising 4's comical amount of blood and gore, Cochrane told me that the story does touch on some serious themes.
The first Dead Rising borrowed that metaphor from the seminal 1978 flick Dawn of the Dead, which also took place in a mall. The idea isn't as fresh as it was almost 40 years ago, but in Dead Rising 4, Capcom Vancouver uses it as a springboard to tell more realistic tales. The studio wanted to balance Frank's antics and the absurd Maniacs with ordinary people who are just trying to survive.
I didn't see any examples of these side stories during the demo, but Cochrane said players can figure out what happened to some of the survivors through "visuals" and other "different pieces" found throughout the world. It sounded like Dead Rising 4 is growing up a bit without going too far in the direction of The Walking Dead.
Above: Evos can dodge and even counter some of Frank's moves.
But for Capcom, it's still the humor — and laughing about all the silly things you can do with your character — that helps the series stand out from other zombie games.


Have you experienced isolation as an effect of abuse and trauma? If so, we hope you will join us as we move toward recovery and wholeness in safe and nurturing community. This 14 week, faith-based small group for adult women 25 and older will use expressive art, contemplative meditations, and interactive exercises as we integrate our story and move toward reconnection with God, ourselves, and others. Must have 45 minute in-person screen prior to enrollment in the group. If interested, please have your therapist put in an internal referral. Note: Weekly homework required as part of participation agreement.


Life can be hard on teeth, and that's why a person might need to visit a Cosmetic Dentist Anne Arundel. So what are some of the daily dangers that can lead a person to a cosmetic dentist for help? It starts with basic hygiene. Some people don't take care of their teeth like they should. When that happens, teeth can become discolored. When proper dental hygiene is lacking, teeth can actually start to become loose and fall out. Naturally, a person with missing teeth will have to visit a dentist to get things corrected.
Yes, there are many reasons that can make a person visit a Cosmetic Dentist Anne Arundel. People who engage in certain athletic activities might want to consider protecting their teeth with mouth guards. Mouth guards can be purchased from stores that sell sporting goods, or they can also be custom made by dentists. People who play sports might also need to know when they need to see a dentist because of an injury. Even if a mouthguard is in place, a tooth can still be damaged to the point that it needs to be repaired. Basically, whenever a person thinks their tooth might be damaged or on the verge of falling out, they should get help.
People can Browse the site of a dentist to find out about the different methods that are available to fix teeth. Sometimes, people are just too embarrassed to seek help. They feel like people will judge them. They might have spent years getting ridiculed because of cosmetic issues with their teeth. Other times, people are scared to contact dentists because they are afraid that they might not be able to afford the cosmetic procedures that they need. Some folks just base their decisions on rumors about dental costs. In reality, there isn't anyway that a person can know what they can afford until they talk things over with a dentist.
A quality dentist can take the mystery out of restoring a person's smile. Even if a person has been plagued by cosmetic issues their entire life, they should visit a dentist to see just what can be done to help them with their teeth.


This entry was posted on Sunday, April 15th, 2018 at 8:52 pm	and is filed under Locations. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.
Tough but memorable trip. Kids gotta learn how to ride a bike, get up on it and deal with it! Sorta like life!
So very, very true. We'll see what the courts have to say. I'm expecting a knock on the door in the next couple weeks. We'll see.


Can farming save a life? Is there redemption in working with one's hands and caring for Earth's creatures? The answer to these questions may be found in the life and experiences of an apprentice at a local farm right here in China, Maine.
This past December, I had the privilege of meeting Brandon Holmes – an intelligent, fun-loving, motivated person with a passion for the natural world. Right away, he made an impression as an authentic human being who has overcome unimaginable obstacles to get to where he is in life.
As I interviewed him in the apprentice cabin at 3 Level Farm, I was struck by how his story is about more than a simple goat farmer. It's one about redemption and seizing life by the horns. It's a story about the power of the individual to change his own life, and the power of the community to support him. Brandon is living proof that connecting with the earth can be one of the most compelling positive forces a person can experience.
Reflecting on his journeys in life that took him from a job at Harvard, to homelessness, to finally finding meaning in a simple life on a farm in rural Maine, Brandon fearlessly recounted his life with the perspective of someone who has experienced much more than a typical thirty-something.
In the early 2000s, at age 13, he started his own computer business and became financially successful, picking up his first major client at only 15 years old. Eventually, his skills and expertise landed him a job at Harvard University, despite the new and destructive habits which he was already developing.
Ultimately, Brandon became a victim of his own success and developed a severe addiction to alcohol. After several warnings from his employer, Brandon chose alcohol over job security and moved to Maine. Though now closer in proximity to his family, he found himself homeless.
Even moving to Michigan, becoming a father, and an interlude of sobriety did not provide him with relief from his downward spiral.
Unfortunately, he resumed heavy drinking and ended up serving 17 months in maximum security prison for assaulting an officer while intoxicated.
After he was released from prison, Brandon found it difficult to obtain employment due to his felony status. Eventually, he moved back to Maine, and in 2017 he started helping his mother run a restaurant.
Following that harrowing experience, Brandon was finally willing to commit himself to a six-month recovery and work program in Portland, sponsored by the Salvation Army. By going through this and several other programs, focused on addiction and recovery, he realized he had to make radical changes in his life.
As he contemplated the benefits of a simple, healthful life, he thought of the idea to apprentice on a farm. Research through the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association's apprenticeship program yielded a farm in Freeport that was a match for him, and he applied for the position. To his relief, he was accepted even though he had a criminal background. A new chapter of his life was about to unfold, beginning a journey that would acquaint him with the natural world and begin his healing process.
After finishing the first year of his apprenticeship in Freeport, he continued his second year at 3 Level Farm, in South China.
When he arrived at 3 Level Farm last January, one of Brandon's first assignments was to observe the moon. "It was really a fun approach to connecting with nature," he says. Mindfulness of the four directions (north, south, east, and west) was also very grounding and orientating for him. Most importantly, it was essential for him to be a part of a thoughtful community that provided the opportunity to be his best, and who encouraged him when he wasn't.
Since Brandon has demonstrated the dedication and determination necessary to live a sober life, others in his community have taken notice and supported his decision. On one occasion, when he had a relapse with alcohol, the farmer he had apprenticed for handled it effectively and with compassion. Brandon has since been successful in his recovery as a result of this understanding, realizing that the people around him really care and want him to succeed. Most importantly, his personal resolve to deal with life without succumbing to addiction keeps him moving forward.
Since I also write The Town Line's garden column, Garden Works, I had to ask Brandon, what is his approach to farming? In Brandon's mind, good health through a holistic approach to tending the land and to one's body are inseparable. Just as the health of the soil and its fruitage depends on being properly nourished and taken care of, he believes the same is true with our bodies. By keeping this in mind, he has been able to improve his own physical and mental health dramatically. He even lost 90 pounds!
He takes a similar approach with the creatures in his care. He always ensures his animals aren't stressed, whether it involves their diet or their mental health and well-being. "I muck the barn once a week so that they're not in their own squalor, and to keep virus and parasite loads down," he says. Rotational pasturing also contributes to the health of his herd.
Most importantly, Brandon spends more time with the goats than his work assignment requires, so that he knows them well enough to spot problems early on. "I have a blast with them!" he says.
"One great thing about the farming world," he tells me, "is how helpful they all are. Since I've started [a lifestyle vlog and a trending GoFundMe page to help fund it], I've had farmers reach out to me from all different areas of the farming world – cheesemakers, a licensed vet tech – who offered to help finish raising money for the GoFundMe project." It's that sense of community and support that keeps him going.
Also, of equal importance, are the goats that bring meaning, purpose, and unconditional friendship to his life. To Brandon, this is essential. "I feel that society could learn a lot from them," he says. "I never feel judged when I'm out there with the goats." To him, caring for goats is a healthy outlet that can help with the rougher realities of the worlds around us and within us.
If you, like Brandon, have the same determination to live a sober life and would like to be part of a supportive community that finds meaning in connecting with the natural world, feel free to reach out to him. If you'd like to check him out on social media and be utterly entertained, look up his website "Life Beyond the Burbs" and his YouTube channel. Enjoy, reflect, and see for yourself the joys and benefits of working closely with nature.


In the field of fluid mechanics of incompressible fluids a distinction can be made between pipe flow and open-channel flow. With sufficient pressure and flow velocity in the completely filled pipe, the flow is considered as one-dimensional for reasons of simplicity. Due to this precondition physical phenomena can easily be described and calculated. Open-channel flow in contrast is always multidimensional.
The compact HM 241 experimental unit enables a variety of experiments on the fundamentals of incompressible flow in open channels and pipes.
A pump supplies water from the storage tank through the supply line into the open channel or the pipe. The flow processes are clearly visible since all parts are made of transparent plastic.
In the pipe section the water flows through an orifice, a Venturi nozzle, a contraction, an enlargement as well as pipe bends and pipe angles of varying diameters. The open channel has a broad-crested weir and a sharp-crested weir. A valve is used to close off or open up the two different working sections.
A pressure sensor is located on the device for differential pressure measurement. This sensor can be connected to the measuring points in the pipe via a hose. The supply line contains a flow rate sensor to determine the flow rate. The measured values are transmitted directly to a PC via USB. The GUNT software is included and clearly displays the results of the experiments.
The water level is determined with an electronic water level gauge.
The power meter HM 240.02 is required to measure the power consumption of the pump.


When a person considers finding a therapist, there are many factors that might hold them back. Between financial cost, scheduling concerns, and the difficulty of even finding a therapist in your area to begin with, many people avoid the search altogether to save themselves time and stress.
Oftentimes, people don't go to therapy because they think it's only for seriously mentally ill people. "I'm not sick, so why should I go to a doctor?" seems like a common refrain. "My life isn't that bad," they think.
But the fact is that therapy can be useful and beneficial for everyone. While therapy is, of course, often part of a treatment plan for serious mental illnesses, therapy absolutely can be an asset for anyone who might just need some support. Every now and then, we all need some support.
Work stress is often cited as a reason people seek counseling. In the U.S., people are often encouraged to work 40+ hours per week and see their own personal life or mental health as less of a priority than their earnings or work productivity.
But that can lead to stress, anxiety, and ultimately burnout. No matter which field you work in or how advanced in your career you are, therapy can be an extremely helpful way to field the daily difficulties of working life.
Our relationships with others account for a huge, significant part of our lives. Romantic relationships, especially, are inarguable parts of our human experiences. Relationships can be fulfilling, exciting, and downright blissful.
Relationships come with their own challenges though as well. Conflicts arise, arguments happen, and a relationship can start to negatively affect your life or your mental health. Therapy, whether individual or with the person you're in a relationship with, can provide you the tools and resources needed to have healthy and happy relationships.
Whether it's the family you're born into or the family you make for yourself, families can be some of the best support systems we have in our lives. Parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members are often some of our biggest influences.
Families also can be a source of distress or pain for many. Families face myriad challenges and finding healthy ways to communicate and handle those challenges is difficult. Therapy, whether individual or with family members, is a powerful way for families to build or repair bonds among each other.
Every now and then, we all need a little support. Life gets difficult and your emotions might make daily routines feel more challenging than usual. Emotions like grief, stress, isolation, or sadness can negatively impact the way we handle our work, friendships, relationships, and physical health.
No matter how "severe" you think your emotional experience might be, therapy can be helpful. In fact, therapy is often the best way to alleviate a difficult situation before it worsens. Therapy isn't about quick fixes or cures. Therapy is about finding the tools and resources you need to handle the daily labors of life, no matter what your emotional state might be.
As you can see: therapy is for everyone.
Your mental health is just like your physical health-you have to take care of it every day, not just when you're sick. It's considered standard to see a doctor for a regular physical just to make sure your physical health is on-track. Why shouldn't your mental health be the same way?


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Home News Arab News An Iraqi Sunni State to Tame ISIS
An Iraqi Sunni State to Tame ISIS
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Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari with UAE Minister Reem Al Hashimy
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, says an Iraqi Sunni State Is Prerequisite To Defeating ISIS
One of the main prerequisites to defeating ISIS in Iraq and stabilizing the country is the establishment of an independent Sunni Iraqi state alongside the current Shiite government and the autonomous Kurdish entity. As long as the Sunni Iraqis do not know what the future has in store for them, they will be unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to battle ISIS only to benefit the Shiite government in Baghdad, which they despise even more than ISIS. Concurrently with the fight against ISIS, the Obama administration must begin to negotiate with the Shiite government in Baghdad over the future status of the Sunnis in Iraq.
For the White House to still believe that Iraq somehow can be stitched together following the defeat of ISIS is a gross illusion. Iraq's partition into three entities became de facto immediately following the Iraq war in 2003.
Having lost their dominance of Iraq to the Shiites in 2003 after 81 years of continuous rule, the Sunnis still refuse to accept what they consider to be a historic travesty. This was further aggravated by eight years of the Shiite government led by Nouri al-Maliki, who abused his power and marginalized, mistreated, and victimized the Sunni community.
A Kurdish fighter is seen patrolling the Mosul Dam on the Tigris River, about 70 km north of the city of Mosul, northern Iraq on Nov.3, 2014. Iraqi and Kurdish security forces in August jointly took control of Mosul Dam, Iraq's largest dam, in the country's northern province of Nineveh after battles with so-called Islamic State militants who have been trying to regain the control of this important strategic location.
The fact is the coalition of more than a dozen countries, led by the US, to battle ISIS from the air and ground has thus far failed due to 1) a lack of a comprehensive strategy that will include, in addition to the Iraqis, a significant number of ground troops assembled from some EU but mostly from Arab states and led by the US, and 2) the absence of a strategy about the future of the Iraqi Sunnis before they can be fully enlisted to fight against ISIS, which occupies much of their three provinces.
The Sunnis find themselves inadvertently and often voluntarily supporting ISIS as they are more religiously aligned with ISIS than with the Shiite majority, who appear to be determined to control the levers of power in all walks of life and continue to subjugate the Sunni community.
The presumed unity government in Iraq that the US sought is a farce. There is no unity; Prime Minister Abadi is weak and has done little to pacify the Sunnis in his country. Iran exerts significant political influence in Baghdad and is actively engaged in the fight against ISIS, to which the US has quietly acquiesced, especially following the Iran deal.
The Sunni Iraqis do not view Iran's involvement as transient, and learning from their past experience, they will under no circumstances surrender their future to the whims of Tehran, which they consider to be a staunch enemy.
A top Iraqi official recently told me he didn't see how Iraq can be restored to the pre-2003 status. It is painful, but we must now accept the new reality and act soon, and perhaps restore some civility and work together with the Kurds and the Sunnis, albeit under separate political rule.
The Saudis, who are alarmed by Iran's regional ambitions and its systematic violent meddling in the Arab states' domestic affairs—in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and many other countries—strongly feel that only by allowing the Sunni Iraqis to establish their own autonomy can they prevent Iran from completely controlling Iraq.
Moreover, given the fact (which the US recognizes) that the Iraqi Kurds are on their way to complete independence, it will be impossible to keep the Sunnis at bay. In a May 2015 meeting in DC, President Masoud Barzani of Iraqi Kurdistan publicly declared his intention to move toward independence, which was later confirmed by a top US official as being inevitable.
Although the Kurds suffered greatly under Saddam Hussein's Sunni regime, they now see eye-to-eye with the Sunnis as both consider the Shiite government to be hostile and reject the idea of federalism, regardless of how loosely connected they will be to the central government in Baghdad.
The US must now begin a dialogue with the Iraqi government and the Sunni leadership to establish a framework for Iraqi Sunni political autonomy along the Iraqi Kurdish model, which will eventually lead to complete independence.
Given the lack of oil in the three Sunnis provinces, the central issue that must be addressed in the context of Sunni independence is equitable distribution of the country's oil revenue. This would require a strict, internationally monitored, and binding mechanism from the UN Security Council to ensure permanent and full compliance.
The Sunnis need unequivocal assurance that under no circumstances will any Shiite government withhold distribution of funds and hold the Sunni state hostage without suffering immediate and clearly spelled out political and financial consequences, including crippling sanctions and the suspension of any financial and military aid.
The Iraqi Kurds have already established such a precedent as they transfer funds from their independent oil sales to the Iraqi central government, despite the recent dispute with Baghdad over the payment of Kurdish salaries in exchange for oil. To be sure, the three independent states will have to work out a formula that will satisfy their legitimate share of oil revenue.
An equitable agreement on sharing oil revenue could also pave the way over time to better and closer relations between the three states, which will lead to greater cooperation in many other fields, including joint economic development programs, security cooperation, trade, etc.
The Obama administration must now think seriously about the need to provide the Iraqi Sunnis with a new horizon and hopeful future, which must be part and parcel of the strategy to defeat ISIS.
In this regard, the US must make it abundantly clear to Tehran that the US will not tolerate any subversive activity to undermine the welfare and stability of the Sunni state once established.
For Iran to take this warning seriously, the US might well have to provide security guarantees to the Sunni entity along the lines of its commitment to the security of the autonomous Iraqi Kurds.
Once the line is drawn between the Sunnis, Kurds, and Shiites, it will also have a serious positive impact on the proxy Sunni-Shiite war waged both in Syria and Iraq between Saudi Arabia and Iran for regional dominance, which could otherwise last for decades to come.
The lack of a clear American strategy in Iraq, to which President Obama admitted in June 2015 ("We don't yet have a complete strategy because it requires commitments on the part of the Iraqis") is baffling. It raises the question of how the US could engage in a war without having a clear strategy to defeat the enemy, and what the desired outcome should be.
This lack of a strategy allowed extremist groups of all political and religious persuasions to converge on Iraq and Syria and take advantage of the chaotic situation that has swept both countries.
The Obama administration, with its coalition partners, must now develop a strategy to defeat ISIS, which will be extremely difficult unless Iraqi Sunnis join the fight and are assured that their future political independence is secure.
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