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Adjusting to a new financing reality
Partha Pratim Basistha reports on a period of change in the Indian aggregates and construction
Partha Pratim Basistha reports on a period of change in the Indian aggregates and construction equipment industries – in a report by our sister title Aggregates Business.
India's construction equipment and aggregates sectors are passing through an interesting phase. Despite demand fundamentals remaining firm, under the recent directives of India's main Central Reserve Bank state-managed banks and non-banking financial institutions are releasing less finance to construction companies, quarry owners, and equipment rental agencies. This has slowed down equipment acquisitions. This year's extended monsoons have been a further demand dampener for earthmoving equipment and rigid dump truck sales. The hardening financial assistance stance is due to large volumes of non-performing assets accumulated over recent years.
Due to tightening financial support for new equipment purchases and the general running of operations, plant and machinery owners are increasingly seeking new equipment models that are cost-effective to own and operate. They are, however, willing to invest in advanced levels of service support from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and dealers that can result in higher levels of existing equipment utilisation and help keep operating costs in check. As a result, Indian and foreign equipment manufacturers are tailoring their product and service offerings accordingly.
Ashoktaru Chattopadhayay, Sandvik's global business development manager- Crushing & Screening Plants Solutions, said the company is increasingly entering into operational contract support for its plant owners. "Backed by this support, they are able to park or timely arrange for funds for carrying out their operation maintenance schedule. It allows for timely procurements of parts, the taking care of wear and tear and for higher availability of plants. Our support also helps customers to keep their capital and operational expenditure under control."
Sandvik India is providing an operational support contract to J.M. Mahtre, one of India's biggest road contractors, which is helping to build Navi Mumbai International Airport, in Mumbai, Western India. The airport is due to become operational in 2023. On the infrastructure megaproject, J.M. Mahtre is deploying 12 Sandvik plant with capacities ranging between 200 and 400 tonnes per hour. The fleet includes a mix of CJ 211 cone crushers, CJ 409 jaw crushers, and CH 430, CH 440 and CH 550 cone crushers.
Metso India is also working towards reducing the costs of customer plant operations by offering higher additional-value services support. "Backed by a mix of our annual maintenance and operational services contracts, which is based on our philosophy of life cycle offerings, plant owners in India with Metso solutions can focus on the core business of marketing their aggregates," said Pekka Vauramo, Metso president & CEO, during an interview with ABI during his recent visit to inaugurate Metso's extended plant in Alwar, Rajasthan, Northern India.
Newer business strategies to reduce ownership costs via product reengineering and a wider product portfolio, coupled with newer services, are becoming the norm among Indian crushing and screening manufacturers.
Propel Industries, a major Indian manufacturer of mobile and stationery crushing and screening plant and solutions for manufactured sand production, has recently set up a state-of-the art facility for manufacturing tracked plant in Coimbatore, South India.
V. Senthil Kumar, the company's managing director, said: "The character of Indian rocks is quite different and varies from region to region. We have been carrying out design improvisations to suit local plant owner requirements, while also fully ensuring the right cubicle shape of the crushed aggregates to deliver better strength. Led by our strong engineering integration, beginning with the designing of the plants to manufacturing, we are able to provide international solutions at Indian prices." Propel has recently been exporting its plant to Middle East markets.
The digitisation of products and services via the internet of things (IoT) is an emerging trend, helping curtail costs of plant operation in India. Equipment owners are increasingly looking to maximise output from existing solutions, delaying fresh acquisitions due to tighter access to banking and non-banking institution finance.
Hitachi ZAXIS GI series excavators in India now come with Global e-Service – a platform developed by Hitachi, Japan. It includes a premium offering called ConSite, which is offered as standard with all GI machines. ConSite uses comparative data of similar class machines operating in the region to provide insightful advice and recommendations to improve operations. There is also an alarm service which uses machine events and acts as an intelligent filter to communicate machine breakdown and raise alarms with unit owners and their dealers.
Volvo India's CareTrack excavator telematics system gives equipment owners access to a wide range of machine monitoring information, enabling higher model utilisation.
KOMTRAX (Level-3) for Komatsu excavators monitors machine health, watches performance and provides economical operation guidance to operators. Besides basic data like machine location and operating hours, it provides vital information on fuel consumption, mode selection, energy saving and guidance, while also tracking maintenance schedules and offering timely alerts. Telematics has been beneficial for larger-sized quarry owners and ready-mixed concrete plant operators with sizeable equipment fleets.
Saurabh Agarwal, director, LSC Group, said: "Telematics has been extremely advantageous for us with operating margins under greater pressure. We have our centralised office at Rudrapur in Uttarkhand, North India, with plants operating across nine locations. Volvo's IT-enabled Matris solution in our excavators enables us to centrally access real-time data on fuel consumption, idling hours and switch-off time. It allows us to keep operating costs in check and optimise excavator usage on-site. Telematics solutions offered by Hitachi and Liugong have also been beneficial."
LSC was the first crushing plant owner to acquire LiuGong's H-Series intelligent wheeled loaders for its Uttarakhand facility.
Ashok Leyland, an Indian heavy commercial vehicle and tipper truck manufacturing major with a strong presence on quarrying and cement plant sites across the country, has digital initiatives to increase the availability of its trucks, thus increasing customers' profitability.
Mullagiri Surendranath, Ashok Leyland vice president, said: "Under our 'I-Alert' digital telematics solutions, our individual customers and, most importantly, fleet owners, will be acquainted on a real-time basis with the various operating conditions of their trucks. This includes fuel consumption and trip cycle times. This greatly assists with quicker redeployment of the tipper if found idling. Quicker redeployment is a vital requirement in the newer, bigger capacity cement plants. With various codes being generated in case of functional anomalies, I-Alert will also facilitate preventive and predictive maintenance and help encourage safer utilisation of the trucks, as driver shortcomings, like fast driving on sharp bends, harsh braking, and fatigue, can be gauged and acted upon."
in January 2019, Volvo Trucks India set up a Centralised Uptime Centre in Bangalore, South India. The centre offers an extensive end-to-end, real-time product services programme based on analysis through telematics, utilising the remote diagnostics of Volvo trucks to enable their timely maintenance and repair.
V. Venkateswarlu, vice president, Aftermarket, Volvo Trucks India, said: "The centre gathers real-time information on where and how the trucks are working. The information is then analysed, and measures are suggested to rectify the problem. Monitoring is done on the driving pattern of the operators to see whether advanced features of our trucks, such as advanced I-Shift transmissions, are being utilised to optimise performance. Braking frequencies are also monitored, as frequent braking can bring pressure on the axles.
"Since our trucks are engineered to deliver faster cycle times, the centre monitors their unloading time and number of trips made. In case of reduced cycle times, possible reasons like unwarranted operator behaviour and probable breakdown are taken into consideration. Following this, a dedicated cross-functional team at the centre analyses the causes and works out the required solution. Based on the record of the vehicle's utilisation rate, the centre will communicate back to the vehicle on preventive and predictive maintenance needs, along with an advice on parts replacements."
There are 12 Volvo Trucks Uptime Centres in India. The centres extend knowledge support to their customers and dealers. The Centralised Command Centre in Bangalore gathers information from various centres and recommends proactive and reactive services.
The Command Centre is presently monitoring 5,800 Volvo Trucks India models. Trucks sold by Volvo India since 2014 have been assimilated with the centre's digitised monitoring system.
Volvo Penta will use its tried and tested selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology for Indian OEMs when the stringent BS CEV IV emission norms come into effect in India in October 2020. The major engine maker has products ready for the BS CEV IV in off-highway applications.
"Since mid-2019, we have been working with several customers and OEMs on BS CEV IV-compliant engines. We undertake extensive field-testing on engine performance, installation and application, including in the most abusive field conditions for thousands of hours so that we can develop robust engines.
"With the stringent emission regulations, all the engine suppliers will have to move to electronic engines with an after-treatment system. In fact, Volvo Penta had introduced electronically controlled engines in 2006 in India, independent of the emission regulations. Along with a cleaner environment, the machine owner and operator benefit from a lower cost of ownership, greater reliability and stable operations over the lifetime of the engine," said Miron Thoms, vice president & head – Volvo Penta India.
Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. (KOEL) is a major Indian on- and off highway engine manufacturer that supplies its solutions to leading Indian and foreign OEMs in India.
Sanjeev Nimkar, KOEL chief operating officer, said: "Kirloskar Oil Engines has initiated field trials for its BS IV engines for use in backhoe loaders, compactors, wheeled loaders, motor graders, self-loading concrete mixers and cranes. These are all complied with stringent BS IV emissions in Phase I, and for excavators which will have to comply in Phase II. Our new BS1V engines will provide the same ease of operation, fuel efficiency, robustness, durability and reliability that Kirloskar engines are known for."
While there are stronger, concerted initiatives on behalf of equipment manufacturers and owners towards reducing owning and operating costs of equipment, stakeholders, government agencies, project owners and developers are increasingly looking to deliver more ecologically-minded and sustainable road construction projects.
Sanjeev Kumar, chief engineer at India's Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), said: "The ambitious target of constructing 15,000 kilometres of National Highways by 2020 has led to a colossal consumption of aggregates, estimated to be about 150 million tonnes. This is despite India's National Highways constituting only two per cent of the total road network. Though construction of roads is indispensable for any growing economy, there is a dire need to curtail exploitation of natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions during road construction projects. To make this happen it will be essential to recycle and reuse bituminous materials, backed by milling technologies."
MoRTH has issued guidelines on the utilisation of recycled materials, in which it stresses the use of fly ash. The Indian Road Congress has also framed guidelines on the usage of waste plastic, with 350 kilometres of roads being identified for this purpose. Through this utilisation of geosynthetic materials, dependence on virgin aggregates can be largely reduced.
Sharing India's Central Road Research Institute's (CRRI) blueprint for sustainable road construction, Dr. Satish Chandra, director, CRRI, said: "As availability of aggregates is reducing fast, Indian Road Congress IRC 37 2018 guidelines stipulates usage of polymer stabiliser mixed with base course materials. To curtail usage of aggregates, it is essential to use hot and cold recycling for road rehabilitation projects. CRRI has recently undertaken some critical research on cement grouted bituminous mix (CGBM). The advantages of CGBM are wide, as its life cycle is longer than bituminous concrete."
Dr. Chandra continued: "We have recently looked at the use of steel slag on the Ranchi-Jamshedpur (Eastern India) highway rehabilitation. We have also conducted studies of the utilisation of ferrochrome as a provider of greater [highway] strength."
According to Dr. Chandra, MoRTH will soon be announcing more waste plastic and slag for highway rehabilitation trials. He added: "CRRI can be a suitable partner to this venture as Tata Steel has approached us for utilisation of waste slag."
Source: https://www.aggregateresearch.com/news/adjusting-to-a-new-financing-reality/
Related Topics:analysisbusinessconcreteDatadevelopmenteconomyefficiencyfacilitygovernmentgrowingheartlandinternationalmanufacturingmarketingOperationspartnerproductregulationsresearchsolution
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Why Does Concrete Crack?
One of the biggest hesitations people have when it comes to choosing concrete for their projects is that it cracks over time. While this practical, durable material is one of the strongest goods on the market, the forces of time and nature will eventually cause it to crack–especially if it's been installed by a non-reputable
The post Why Does Concrete Crack? appeared first on Port Aggregates.
One of the biggest hesitations people have when it comes to choosing concrete for their projects is that it cracks over time.
While this practical, durable material is one of the strongest goods on the market, the forces of time and nature will eventually cause it to crack–especially if it's been installed by a non-reputable company.
But why does concrete crack, and is there anything that will prevent this from happening?
These 5 mistakes are some of the most common causes of concrete cracks.
1. The concrete dried too fast
Faster is not always better. If your concrete mix doesn't have enough water in it, it will dry too quickly and crack prematurely. Depending on the project, it should take at least a few weeks, maybe even a month, to dry completely.
2. Your contractor put too much water in the mix
Poorly mixed concrete can create a range of problems. Just like having too little water in the mix can cause it to crack, so can having too much water. Water must combine with the concrete at just the right pace so that it can cure and set properly.
3. Control joints weren't used
Your concrete must be able to properly expand and contract in different temperatures, otherwise it'll crack. Control joints are made specifically to help your concrete move about without breaking.
If your contractor doesn't use these joints, there won't be extra room for the slab to adjust its size with the changing temperatures, and it will end up cracking due to its internalized pressure.
4. It was too cold when your concrete was poured
Just like the amount of water affects concrete's hydration process, so does cold weather. When the temperature drops too low, concrete won't be able to cure correctly. In these situations, the pour will either need to be postponed, or the subsurface will need to be warmed before pouring.
5. Your concrete is too thin
Concrete that's too thin is extremely susceptible to cracking. The proper thickness of your concrete will vary based on its purpose. For example, a driveway that's meant to support vehicles needs to be thicker than a sidewalk that is not.
Improper concrete thickness is one of the top reasons why DIY concrete projects fail. When taking on a massive project like this on your own, it's easy to miscalculate the weight your concrete will be expected to bear and the subsequent thickness necessary. Unfortunately, this will result in severe premature cracking.
At Port Aggregates, our contractors have 40 years' worth of experience built into their pours. Our beautiful concrete has been trusted for decades with good reason. When you hire our professionals, you can say goodbye to premature cracking and rest assured that your slab has been installed properly. Contact us today to request a quote!
Source: https://www.portaggregates.com/why-does-concrete-crack/
Jan 2, How To Form and Pour A Concrete Slab – The #1 Resource on The Web
Learn how to form and pour a concrete slab. My step by step guide will teach you everything you need to know from forming to pouring to finishing.
The tools and materials you need to form and pour a concrete slab
Ready-mix concrete (yardage will depend on size of slab)
Wire mesh or Rebar reinforcement
If your concrete slab is smaller, you can use bags of concrete instead or ready-mix.
Find out how many bags of concrete it takes to make a yard. I did all the calculations for you.
On my Tools Page you can find all the tools required to form and pour concrete.
I also have a concrete yardage calculator that shows you how many yards you need and how many bags of concrete you'll need.
step by step: how to pour a concrete pad
These are the basic steps I use form and pour concrete slabs.
I also have a step by step video course with multiple training videos that teaches you all you need to know about how to install your own concrete slab: My Concrete Slab Course
step 1. prepare the area for concrete
Under your concrete slab there should be a compacted base of gravel. You can also use road base, crushed rock, or sand, as long as it's well compacted.
You'll probably have to remove some of the existing soil like in the picture above. We removed about 12 inches of the existing sod & loam and replaced it with 8″ of 3/4″ crushed gravel.
This area had a slight slope, so we had to remove more soil on one side than the other to get a level pad.
After installing the gravel, we raked it level (using my laser level) and ran a vibratory compactor over it to settle it and pack it very hard.
NOTE: You may need a permit to install a slab. Contact your local building code officer to see what they require for building a slab. You may also have to keep it a certain distance away from your property line.
PRO TIP: If you have a lot of soil to remove, you can rent a skid steer to do it much easier or hire an excavation contractor to prep the area for you.
BE SAFE: Some states require you to call Dig Safe (811) to check for any underground wires or utilities before you start digging. It's state law. It's a free service so be safe.
step 2. building the forms for a concrete slab
Lay out your forms. It's better to have forms that are a little longer than the size of your slab.
Set up your leveling device. I'm using a self-leveling laser. You can use a 4′ level or a transit level. All 3 will get the job done.
My slab size is 14′ x 10′.
Starting on one side, measure the length of your slab and mark it on the form. (my mark was at 14′ on this side)
Mark each side the same way. (my next side was 10′)
You'll use these marks to screw the forms together in the next step.
step 3. screw the forms together and square the slab
Use your marks to screw the forms together.
Align the inside of the form with your pencil mark.
You can use a drill driver and deck screws like we do or you can use a hammer and nails to fasten the forms together.
I personally like to use screws, there's less movement to the forms because you're not banging on them with a hammer.
Screws are also easier to take out when you go to remove the forms.
After the forms are fastened together it's time to square the slab.
I measure diagonally each way and slide the forms a little one way or the other until I get the exact same measurement for both diagonal measurements.
It usually takes a few times going back and forth checking until you get it exact.
When you have the slab square, you're ready to stake it in place.
step 4. stake the forms and set them to grade
Use wooden stakes (or metal pins like me) to secure the forms in place.
I like to stake each corner, about 8 – 12 inches from the corner, on both sides.
After my 4 corners are staked, I hammer in a stake about every 4′ on all the sides.
To make sure the forms are straight, I use a string line on top of the forms to check them as I stake the forms in place.
After pounding in all the stakes, I use my laser level to set all the forms perfectly level.
The receiver on my grade stick has a solid sounding "beep" when the form is at the pre-determined height. (5″ above my dirt grade)
Screw the form to the stake when it's at the level you want.
Repeat for all 4 corners, then do the rest of the stakes and your forms will be level.
step 5. add the reinforcement
It's time to install the reinforcement, I'm using wire mesh for this slab. The best way to cut wire mesh is with a pair of bolt cutters.
I buy the flat sheets of mesh, they measure 5′ x 10′. Some local lumber companies stock the flat wire. If not, they usually have the rolls of mesh (5′ x 150′ get these at HD and Lowe's also)
Another good reinforcement to use for concrete slabs is 3/8 (#3) rebar or 1/2″ (#4) rebar. Rebar comes in 10′ or 20′ lengths and you cut it to the length you need.
Install rebar in 2′ or 3′ grids and tie it together using zip ties or a wire twister tool and wire ties.
If you use rebar and have to cut it, you can rent a rebar cutter at HD or a local tool rental store. Or you can buy a good rebar cutter / bender on Amazon.
After the wire mesh goes in, you're ready to pour the concrete. If you're using ready-mix concrete, choose a nice, dry day and call your local concrete supplier to schedule the pour.
Most likely you'll have to give them about a weeks notice so don't wait till the last minute to call.
If you're using bags of concrete, use my concrete yardage calculator to see how many bags you'll need.
Learn how to mix concrete by hand here.
step 6. how to pour the concrete
When the concrete arrives, ask the mixer driver for for a 6 inch slump. Slump is how dry or wet the concrete is mixed. A 6 slump is a good workable mix to pour with.
Start pulling the concrete around and filling in the forms. Pull up the wire mesh or rebar into the concrete as you pour. (or you can put small pieces of brick under it to hold it up)
Pour out as much as you're comfortable with (maybe about half on something like this if you're a beginner) before you screed it level.
If you're mixing bagged concrete for your slab, it's the same process. Just slower.
Mix enough concrete until you have enough of the forms filled to screed the concrete.
I like to use ready mix myself. It's just faster and more convenient for me since we do multiple pours like this in a day. Either way is good. Ready mix will be more expensive on a smaller slab vs bag mix.
See how many bags of concrete come on a pallet and what they cost.
Screed the concrete level using a magnesium screed board like us or a straight 2 x 4. Use short pulling strokes and tip the screed slightly on the back edge.
Put pressure down on the screed as you pull it to make sure it rides on top of the forms. Let your helpers push concrete (to fill low spots) and pull concrete back (if it's high) as you screed.
The concrete rakes (kumalongs) we use make moving the concrete around a lot easier.
After you screed the concrete, use a bull float to smooth the surface.
A bull float pushes down the aggregate on the surface and brings up some cement paste (creme).
Tip up the front edge and slowly push it from one side to the other. When you reach the opposite side, stop, tip up the back edge and slowly pull it back to you.
It might take multiple passes in the same spot to get it nice and smooth (usually 1 – 3 times).
After you've done the entire slab this way, you're almost done with the pour.
step 7. installing anchor bolts in concrete (optional)
If you're using anchor bolts, now is the time to put them in the concrete. Measure out where you want them and make a mark in the concrete.
Push the anchor bolt into the concrete to the desired level you want. I usually leave about 2 inches sticking up out of the concrete.
PRO TIP: Once you push it into the concrete a few inches, slightly jiggle it up and down to consolidate the concrete around the bolt as you set it to your finished level.
Now you're done pouring the concrete.
Learn how to pour and finish concrete in my private training academy The Concrete Underground.
watch and i'll show you how to pour a concrete slab
If you're thinking of doing a broom finish, smooth trowel finish, or a textured finish on the concrete, I can show you how to finish the concrete HERE.
Another very important step is to "cure" the concrete. Click on CONCRETE SEALER to learn about this.
You can remove the forms the next day.
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Source: https://www.everything-about-concrete.com/how-to-pour-concrete.html
Jan 2, How To Mix Concrete – The Most In Depth Guide On The Internet
Learn how to mix concrete by hand using a wheelbarrow, concrete mixing machine, bucket or a tub. Detailed instructions and a video shows you how mix concrete.
diy how to mix concrete at home
I'll teach you my method of how to mix concrete: to get the proper firmness, texture, and strength.
tools you need for mixing concrete
Warning: Always wear safety gloves, safety goggles, and a dust mask when working with concrete.
Materials used for mixing concrete
Concrete bag mix
Portland cement – sand – gravel – optional if you're mixing concrete from scratch.
Video: shows you how mix concrete by hand using quikrete
Owner Mike Day of Day's Concrete Floors shows you how to properly mix concrete to repair a broken section of pool deck.
step by step: how to mix concrete
step 1. set up your mixing area
If you're mixing multiple bags of concrete it's a lot easier and faster if you have your mixing area organized.
If you're only mixing one or two bags (like in the video) then all you need is your bag(s) of concrete, wheelbarrow, water, hoe.
On bigger projects it's important to get all your bags in order and have plenty of water on hand. Having 2 people mixing and one spreading and smoothing the concrete makes the work go a lot faster.
step 2. measure the proper amount of water
I like to pre-measure the amount of water needed per bag and add it to the wheelbarrow first.
I feel putting the water in first, then adding the dry concrete ingredients, makes the mixing process easier and faster.
The water table below shows you how much water to use per bag.
Depending on the bag size, there's a range of water you can add for mixing.
For and 80 lb. bag of Quikrete, you can use 6 pints to 9 pints (3 – 4.5 quarts) of water to mix each bag.
I like to add the minimum amount to the wheelbarrow first, then add more water up to the maximum if I feel it needs it to get a good workable mixture.
If you use more water than the maximum amount recommended, then your concrete mix will not be as strong as advertised on the bag.
step 3. add the bag mix to your wheelbarrow (tub, bucket, or mixer)
Add about 1/2 to 2/3's of the bag mix into the wheelbarrow. Mix that amount with the water until all the dry ingredients are saturated.
Add the rest of the bag and keep mixing. Use this same technique if you're mixing in a bucket or a tub.
If you're mixing in an electric concrete mixer machine, then you can add the whole bag at one time.
Mix half to two-thirds of the bag first then add the rest
step 4. mix the concrete to a workable consistency
Add the remainder of the bag and continue to mix the concrete. Move the hoe back and forth completely mixing the dry concrete mix with the water.
Too dry – add more water and keep mixing
Add more water (up to the maximum amount) until you get your desired consistency.
Your concrete mix should look similar to the concrete below when it's mixed properly.
It took me about 3 minutes to measure and add the water, then mix the 1 bag of concrete to this texture.
Be careful not to get the mix too wet or it's more likely to crack and won't be as strong.
If you feel the concrete mix is too runny (wet) just add some more concrete mix from another bag until you feel it looks like the picture below.
PRO TIP: Always have an extra bag of concrete on hand just in case your project takes more concrete than you expected it to.
This is what a good workable consistency looks like
step 5. place the mixed concrete where you need it
A good thing about mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow is you can wheel the concrete right where you need it.
Dump the concrete out of the wheelbarrow or shovel it out, like I'm doing on this job.
One way you can tell if you mixed the concrete properly is if you can move the concrete in place using a mag float and float it smooth going back and forth over it a few times.
step 6. clean the concrete off your tools as soon as possible
Clean the wheelbarrow, hoe, and shovel with water as soon as you finish. The concrete mix will dry on them very quickly.
PRO TIP: If the concrete mixture dries on your tools, use a margin trowel to scrape it off first, then rinse and scrub with water.
If you have a water hose and a stiff bristle brush nearby, rinse off the bulk of the concrete first, scrub the remaining cement paste, and rinse clean.
Do this in an area you don't have to clean up the washed off concrete afterwards. Never wash off concrete onto your driveway or garage floor, it could permanently stain it.
how to mix concrete in a bucket
When I mix concrete in a bucket, I like to have an over-sized bucket like this 18 gallon bucket in the picture. (best place to buy this is on Amazon)
I also like to use a mixing drill to mix my bags of concrete. A mixing drill like this one makes the mixing process very fast and is really the only way to mix concrete using a bucket.
The mixing process is the same as above: Add your water first, add 1/2 bag and mix, add remainder of bag and mix, add water up to the max. amount if needed.
how to mix concrete in a mixer
If you're using an electric concrete mixer machine it'll speed up the mixing process because you can mix 2 – 3 bags of concrete at one time. (depending on the size of your mixer)
The Mixing Process Goes Like This:
Pre-measure your water and add it to the mixer first.
Turn on the mixer before you add the first bag of concrete
Add the first bag and let it mix for a minute (2 minutes if you're only mixing one bag)
Add the second bag and continue to mix for 2 – 3 minutes
If the mix looks too dry add a little water as it's mixing (only add water up to the max. amount)
When the concrete looks mixed to the right consistency, dump it out of the mixer and into a wheelbarrow.
You can buy a really good portable electric concrete mixer machine on Amazon for $200 to $300 dollars.
what is the ratio for mixing concrete?
How do you mix your own concrete?
If you're using Portland cement, sand, and gravel to make your own concrete, you can use the 1-2-3 mixing ratio.
This concrete mixing ratio is done by mixing 1 shovel of cement with 2 shovels of sand and 3 shovels of gravel. (or some other accurate way to measure your ingredients)
Add the dry ingredients into a wheelbarrow or the electric mixer before you start adding water.
When you add more dry material to the mix, keep the 1:2:3 ratio of cement to sand to gravel the same for consistency and strength.
The amount of water you add to the mix will be based on how the mix feels while you're mixing it. Use the wheelbarrow method above to judge how the final mix should look.
For more examples of proper concrete mix proportions check out my concrete mixing ratios for mixing concrete from cement, sand, gravel, and water.
Learn how many bags of concrete it takes to make a cubic yard.
what's the best type of concrete mix to use for:
1. Best concrete mix for a driveway is:
2. Best concrete mix for concrete countertops
3. Best concrete mix for fence posts
4. Best concrete mix for a patio
5. Best concrete mix for sidewalks
6. Best concrete mix for footings
7. Best concrete mix for slabs
Quikrete 5000 or Quikrete Crack Resistant Mix
Quikrete 5000 (add 2 cups cement)
Quikrete Regular or Fast Setting Mix
Quikrete Crack Resistant Mix
Quikrete Regular Mix
Quikrete 5000, Crack Resistant, or Regular
This list is my opinion only based off my experience using Quikrete Concrete mixes for my jobs.
Sometimes I'll mix 1/2 a bag of Quikrete 5000 with one of the other bag mixes because it has a higher ratio of cement in it. This makes the overall mixture a little easier to finish.
Go from How to mix concrete to Concrete Slab
Source: https://www.everything-about-concrete.com/how-to-mix-concrete.html


text:
Family and immigration laws on collision course
by Stacey Nevin and Katie Newbury
Stacey Nevin and Katie Newbury discuss the imminent conflict between immigration law and family law. (This article was first published in the Law Society Gazette on 23 August 2017).
According to the Office of National Statistics, over a quarter (27.5 per cent) of live births in England and Wales in 2015 were to women born outside the UK. It's reasonable to assume that a number of other births were children with foreign fathers. What will happen to such families comprised of EU citizens when Britain leaves the EU?
It is the currently unanswered nature of this question itself, together with the likely requirement for EU citizens to comply with yet another bureaucratic process in order to guarantee their position in the UK, which could see a voluntary exodus of Europeans from the UK. Once the UK has left the EU, the ease with which such EU citizens could return to the UK is unclear. Similarly, in families where one parent is British and the other an EU citizen, a move within the EU will in the future have far more complex immigration implications than has been the case until now. The complexities are even greater in situations that involve family breakdown, separation and divorce, where one party may wish to return to their home country or relocate elsewhere with their child(ren).
When Immigration Rules affect separated families with children
For multi-national families, a change of immigration status could have real consequences on their everyday lives. The UK has rules in place to enable a parent to obtain a visa to remain with a British child or a child who is settled in the UK. However, these rules don't deal as easily with the position of parents of children in the UK with limited leave to remain. Furthermore, where one parent wants to leave the UK, the immigration rules contain outdated provisions which may preclude a child from obtaining a visa to remain with the other parent unless that parent can meet a high threshold of 'sole responsibility'. Sole responsibility, according to the Home Office's own guidance:
'Is intended to reflect a situation where parental responsibility of a child, to all intents and purposes, rests chiefly with one parent. Such a situation is in contrast to the ordinary family unit where responsibility for a child's upbringing is shared between the two parents (although not necessarily equally).'
Therefore, by the Home Office's own admission, the test set out by the immigration rules is directly contrary to how most separated families operate. This requirement can put immigration law in direct contrast to the operation of family law with regard to determining where a child is to reside.
A change in a parent's immigration status does not give an automatic right to change their child's place of residence. Assuming both parents have parental responsibility (ie they are married, both are named on the birth certificate or there is a Parental Responsibility Order in place), both parents must still consent to their child being taken out of the country by the other parent, whether for a holiday or to relocate permanently. A failure to obtain consent could be classed as child abduction. If there is no agreement for a child to leave the country, then a court application will need to be made to obtain an order granting permission to go. This is the case even where one parent's immigration status means they cannot remain in the UK permanently. If the other parent doesn't consent to his/her leaving with the child(ren), the court's permission will need to be sought.
What factors will the court look at in child relocation cases?
When considering an application to relocate (otherwise known as leave to remove cases), the paramount factor the court will consider will be the welfare and best interests of the child. When assessing this, the court will look at all relevant factors. In any relocation case, a parent seeking to move abroad with the children needs to be ready to provide full details of their plans such as housing and schooling. Perhaps most importantly are details setting out how the child will retain as full a relationship with the parent that is 'left behind' following the move. This is one aspect where immigration rules will be important and should be researched thoroughly regardless of which side of the application you are on. If a child stays, can the parent who has left come back to see them with relative ease? If a child moves, can the 'left behind' parent visit in the child's new country of residence?
A court is likely to have sympathy for a parent whose right to stay in the UK is in question, and the motivation for an application to relocate will be an important but not necessarily deciding factor. If a parent can no longer stay in the UK, their UK immigration status and prospects of this changing will be very important. Equally, the impact their uncertain immigration status is having on their ability to find work in the UK may be a relevant factor. The parent defending a move of their child abroad should do their own research, eg will the other parent really have to move? Is their immigration status the main motivation for the application or is it something else?
Where there are two jurisdictions on the table (ie the parents are from different countries), the court could be faced with the task of deciding between two different jurisdictions that it may not be familiar with. Research and presentation will be very important on issues such as:
Does one country offer easier immigration controls for the foreign parent?
How do the education system, healthcare, housing, standard of living etc. compare?
How easily can each parent travel into each country?
Sometimes, seeking an expert opinion in the jurisdiction in question, such as a locally qualified lawyer, may assist a party bringing or defending an application. Relocation cases can be won and lost on the evidence, and if immigration rules form part of that evidence, they should be researched thoroughly and presented clearly.
Acting quickly in these situations is key to getting the best outcome possible. The court endeavours to deal with children related applications promptly, however, delays in getting a case to court could see the countdown to the expiry of the right to stay in the UK outstrip the speed of the court process. Add to that time for an appeal against a court's decision, and one parent could find themselves having to leave before a final decision has been given. Without consent or a court order, they cannot legally take their child with them. It is therefore crucial that immigration issues are considered at the outset. It may be possible to apply for discretionary leave to remain in the UK in order to see the court proceedings to their conclusion and it is critical that any such application be made before leave is due to expire to protect their lawful status in the UK.
The collision course of family and immigration laws in the UK
Immigration law and family law have been on a collision course for some time. While the UK Government has been focused on reducing net migration, they have neglected to update archaic provisions of the immigration rules which do not address modern family life. Although a 2009 Act introduced a provision requiring the Secretary of State to make arrangements to ensure that she carried out her functions in relation to immigration, asylum or nationality having regard to the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in the UK, this obligation falls short of the paramount importance afforded to welfare and best interests of the child in the family courts.
The looming prospect of Brexit throws some of these issues into stark relief as many more may now find themselves caught between the UK's family courts and immigration system moving forward. The UK is undertaking a wholesale review of our immigration system and it would be prudent to re-examine this intersection as part of it to have some regard for the human impact this can have on international families.
It has been announced that the UK will call for 'close co-operation' with the EU to resolve cross-border legal disputes after Brexit, including those relating to divorce and living arrangements for children. Whilst this will not address how or the extent to which a post-Brexit change in immigration requirements will factor in a court's decision in a relocation case, it will hopefully address the question of enforcing UK orders in other European countries and the question of which court should deal with a case in the first place, where there is a choice between the UK and Member States. Anything that reduces the long list of uncertainties facing multinational families post-Brexit would be welcomed.
Immigration and Asylum Law
Accreditation for members who meet the highest standards of expertise and client service in immigration and asylum law work.
Immigration and Asylum Law > More

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


If your retail venue is not perfectly equipped, not to mention, absolutely sanitary, your customers will soon start to question the quality of your merchandise and your prices. Therefore, you need to make sure you run a hygienic and professional business. Alsco can help you with maintaining your washroom and equipping it with all necessary elements and consumables. We also have uniforms, floor mats that prevent dirt and dust and even help your employees who stand throughout their shifts.
Retail workers in professional looking uniforms leave excellent first impressions and boost sales. They also feel better about their work and they are better team players. There are many advantages of retail employee uniforms, but there is one big downside – the maintenance! Get rid of that downside and let Alsco pick up, wash and deliver uniforms for all your workers.
A nice, big company logo at the very entrance of your retail venue looks excellent and improves your brand awareness. Anti-fatigue mats will improve the productivity of your employees by providing them with better comfort. Not to mention that our mats will make your retail venue much cleaner since they will stop the dirt from ever entering it.
Accidents can happen anywhere and your retail business should be prepared for such occasions, as well. The best way to do so is to make sure you always have enough well-stocked First Aid Kits in your venue. Alsco can offer excellent First Aid Kits that match your needs and we also stock and restock them so you never worry about their supplies.
Consumables are the great, unsung heroes of your workplace. They help keep your washrooms and most used spaces clean, hygienic and presentable. Alsco offer a wide range of cleaning consumables to keep you stocked up at all times – no matter your needs.
You don't want to leave figuring out your workplace defibrillators, spill kits and emergency response systems to the last minute. That last minute can be a minute too late. Put your trust with Alsco as we already know all about first response needs of retail facilities. Our experience and your readiness to make your workplace a safer place – that's the combination that will prevent many disasters.
Your staff will be much more pleased with their job and your customers much more impressed with your store if you ensure the washroom is absolutely flawless and nicely scented. To achieve this you just need to contact Alsco and simply forget about your troubles with washrooms. We will install all the necessary elements and fill them up with soap, sanitising liquid, scented spray, towels and similar items that you need in the washroom.


text:
Jeffrey Powers
Jeffrey Powers was a PhD student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but left early to start Occipital after realizing that the fastest way to make an impact was to start a company. While in Ann Arbor, he led a robotics research project involving autonomous flying blimps, he was elected chapter president of the engineering society Tau Beta Pi, helped build a collaborative filtering engine at Xanga.com, and spent two summers as an intern at the NSA.
How UX Can Drive Sales in Mobile Apps
The creators of RedLaser, a popular iPhone app, tell the UX story behind their success.
Jeffrey Powers, Vikas Reddy, Jeremy Olson - NO. 526
The Business of UX
UX Magazine
ISSN: 2168 5681
2015 UX Magazine, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of this content outside UX Magazine is prohibited except as guided by standards of fair use.


BenQ's RP790 79-inch 4K interactive flat panel helps you make the smoothest transition from traditional instruction to interactive learning with 55 PPI for the best viewing distance, touch driver-free design, 10-point multi-touch support, total eye-care solution, and many more features.
EcoLite projectors incorporate essential features with Casio's Industry Leading LampFree Technology to create a budget-friendly projector. The XJ-V1 delivers reliable long-term operation, exceptional image quality, 2,700 lumens of brightness & connectivity and is ideal for use in classrooms.
Mondopad elegantly blends video calling, whiteboarding and more into one giant touchscreen PC for efficient face-to-face collaborationwith people in any location.
Middle Atlantic's lecterns feature the unique Frame to Furniture foundation. The core is the quality rack frame covered with one of the many standard finishing kits the company offers or the custom skin you prefer to make.
The SR560M Flat Panel TV Cart has been redesigned to include all of the features you may need, making it perfect for schools. Mobility, appealing design, display height adjustment, pre-assembled base and UL certification ensure quick assembly while providing a ridged, but attractive, structure that fits into any classroom.
Sporting a thin, lightweight and stylish design featuring edge-to-edge glass and multi-board functionality, the premium-grade 80-inch Class PN-L803C display employs Sharp capacitive touch technology—virtually eliminating latency, making the interface so intuitive and responsive that it feels like writing on a conventional whiteboard in real time.
Available in either a 55-inch or 65-inch diagonal, SMART kapp iQ is an Ultra HD display that enables students to learn naturally—working in groups as they pose questions, share ideas and solve problems in realtine, either on the display itself or on any web-enabled device.


text:
Home / Life in Russia / Living Conditions
Prices in Russia
A student in Russia needs USD 300 to 400 per month on average or USD 3,000 to 4,000 per academic year (September to June).
It's better to start with a further USD 300 to 400 for extra expenses like medical insurance, living arrangements in an apartment or dormitory (buying dishes, bed linen, detergents etc.), and to purchase books.
The rouble's decline against the world currencies merely plays into the hands of foreigners since their expenses are reduced when converted into dollars: it would be cheaper to pay for education and living in the country.
When you select a city for education, please keep in mind that the highest prices are in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, while expenses in other regions will be lower.
Basic Expenses
The tuition fee at Russian universities varies from RUB 122 500 to 880,000 (USD 1,750-12,570) per year depending on the region, university, and discipline.
The students who are admitted to state-funded places on a competitive basis or who are awarded a government scholarship (quotas) study free-of-charge. Those students receive an allowance (the average monthly allowance in 2020 is RUB 1,484/USD 22, for postgraduate students it is RUB 2,921/USD 42).
The price of rented student accommodation in Russia varies from 500 to 35,000 roubles (USD 7-500) per month depending on the region, type and location of the lodging (dormitory, rented room, or apartment).
For more details see the "Accommodation" section.
A voluntary medical insurance policy (VMI) for students at Moscow universities costs from 4,000 to 12,000 roubles (USD 57-170) a year. The insurance shall cover the entire education period, though universities request that policies are paid by the year or the semester.
See more details in the "Healthcare" section.
Meal Expenses
According to official information, the minimum shopping basket (including bread, pasta, meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, milk, and sugar) in Russia costs 4209 roubles (USD 60) a month. Much depends on the region where people live and what and where they buy (corner shop, supermarket, market).
An average lunch check in Moscow cafes and restaurants ranges from 800 to 2,000 roubles (USD 11-28), while a set lunch costs between 270 and 420 roubles (USD 4-6). Fast-food prices are even lower.
A single journey on the Moscow subway costs 57 roubles (about USD 1), while a 60-journey travel card costs 1970 roubles (USD 28).
Using a student discount one can get a monthly Moscow underground card for 405 roubles (USD 6), the cost is even lower in other cities.
See more details in the "Transport" section.
Cellular Communication, Internet
SIM-cards for mobile phones and tablets are sold in phone stores (do not buy them from street sellers). You need a national passport (indicating registration at your place of residence) and a migration card to buy a SIM-card. Ask in store for advice on the best rates (cost of calls, sms-text, data, etc.). The cost of a standard package of services ranges from 300 to 400 roubles (USD 4-6). When you buy a SIM-card, the cost of the card is credited to the phone number account and then you top up the balance depending on the tariff plan.
© KFU
Dormitories offer payable or free Internet access. When you rent an apartment, you are usually asked to pay for Internet separately, about 300 to 500 roubles (USD 4-7) per month, depending on the region, provider and rate.
There are plenty of chain stores of popular brands, both international and Russian. The clothing prices are generally higher than in Europe but high-quality and cheap clothing can always be found during the sales. For example, you can find a T-shirt for 500 roubles (USD 7) or jeans for 1,500 roubles (USD 21).
Cultural Pursuits
Moscow theatre tickets cost from 800 to 2,500 roubles (USD 11-36) and cinema tickets, 400 to 1000 roubles (USD 6-14). A museum costs 200 to 1,000 roubles (USD 3-14).
Many cultural centres offer discounts for students, and some museums can be visited free with a valid student card.
The average cost of a monthly pass to fitness centres varies from 1,700 to 4,500 roubles (USD 24-64) in Moscow and from 1,000 to 3,000 roubles (USD 14-43) in other regions. When you buy an annual pass, the average monthly cost will be lower.
A monthly swimming pool pass costs 300 to 500 roubles (USD 4-7) in Moscow and less elsewhere.
Many universities have their own gyms, swimming pools, and sports centres where services are cheaper than in the city or even free for university students.
Entry to clubs in Russia is generally free of charge, and visitors buy drinks and snacks. The average price of a cocktail in Moscow clubs is 500 roubles (USD 7) and 300 roubles (USD 4) in other cities. Young people in Moscow spend 2,000 to 5,000 roubles (USD 28-71) per weekend.
AN EXAMPLE OF A STUDENT'S MONTHLY EXPENDITURE:
5,000 roubles (USD 71)
10,000 roubles (USD 143)
405 roubles (USD 6)
Internet, mobile phone
800 roubles (USD 11)
Culture, sport, entertainment
20,205 roubles (USD 289).
Prices are quoted in roubles for 2020 (subject to dormitory accomodation).


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Full Comment
NP View: Canada's confused efforts to stand up to China need fixing
This is a government that too often seems uncertain about its own policies. That confusion stems from the top
National Post View
Jul 05, 2019 • Last Updated July 5, 2019 • 4 minute read
Canadian and Chinese flags are displayed at a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Dec. 5, 2017.
Whatever the ultimate outcome of the ongoing imbroglio with China, it will have to stand as one of the more perplexing episodes in Canada's practise of international affairs.
Most people are aware that Ottawa is caught in a confrontation with Beijing over the detention of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive with Huawei Technologies Co., a major Chinese consumer electronics firm. Meng was detained in Vancouver at the request of the U.S. under an extradition agreement between it and Canada.
In retaliation, China detained two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, on spurious grounds and is holding them in harsh conditions on charges that could carry the death penalty. Beijing has also taken trade actions causing considerable financial pain to Canadian exporters, while a succession of Chinese officials has taken turns directing insults at Canada, its laws and culture. Most recently, Ren Zhengfei, Huawei's founder and Meng's father, suggested a "smarter" country might have rejected the U.S. request, while a Chinese foreign ministry suggested Canada was "naive" to think allies would help make its case.
Louis Huang of Vancouver Freedom and Democracy for China holds photos of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are being detained by China, outside the B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver, on March 6, 2019, as Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou appears in court. Photo by Jason Redmond/AFP/Getty Images
While Beijing was in the midst of these well-publicized displays of contempt, along came Mary Ng, the Liberal government's small business and export promotion minister, who posted a photo of herself at an ice cream parlour in Beijing.
"When in #Beijing, you dropped by @COWSICECREAM – a true Cdn #smallbiz success story from #PrinceEdwardIsland!" Ng tweeted. "The world needs more of all the great things Canada has to offer, ice cream included, and that's why I am dedicated to helping (small businesses) start-up, scale-up, & access new markets."
As a government representative doing her job, it was harmless enough, but as a display of ill timing it's hard to beat. While Ng was beating the drum for P.E.I. ice cream in Beijing, world leaders were gathering for a G20 summit in Japan, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was determined to raise the issue of the two detainees with Chinese President Xi Jinping. As has been Beijing's custom, Xi did his best to snub Trudeau, who found himself counting on U.S. President Donald Trump to make Canada's case during his own extended one-on-one session with Xi. From China's perspective, it was yet another pointed demonstration of its view that Canada is a secondary country that can be treated with hostility and bullied into obedience.
Ng is a relatively junior minister, but one who should have an understanding of China's nature. Born in Hong Kong, she emigrated to Canada as a child, and grew up working in her parents' restaurant. If Canada's problems with Beijing weren't enough to capture her attention, she might have noticed that her birthplace has been embroiled in a bitter clash of its own with the mainland government. Once again, it centres on extradition, in Hong Kong's case a bill that many fear would allow Beijing to seize Hong Kong residents on trumped-up charges and transfer them to the same state-compliant courts on which the fate of Kovrig and Spavor now rests. Mass protests have filled the streets for weeks, culminating in the occupation of the Hong Kong legislature by demonstrators on Monday.
If Ng managed to miss all these events, she might have expected some advice from Peter Harder, the government representative in the Senate, who joined her in the ice cream shop. According to Harder's Senate biography, he served as a deputy minister under five Canadian prime ministers during his decades in Ottawa, and has a son working as a diplomat in Canada's Beijing embassy. Harder also once sat as president of the Canada China Business Council, which has been criticized as overly ingratiating to Chinese interests. One would think a man of such deep experience would understand the nuances of slurping ice cream while Canadians face a possible death sentence not too far away.
Huawei Technologies CFO Meng Wanzhou wears an electronic monitoring device on her ankle as she is escorted by security from her home on May 8, 2019, in Vancouver. Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
Ng's performance fits snuggly with numerous previous examples of this government's lumbering approach to international affairs. From the earliest days of the Meng affair Ottawa has sent out a confusing mishmash of signals, not least its need to fire former cabinet member John McCallum as ambassador after he suggested to interviewers that Meng had a strong case against extradition, remarks that did nothing to bolster Ottawa's position and seemed intended to lend support to China's case.
It's still not clear whether McCallum's assertions had been authorized by his political bosses or he was acting on his own, but — as with Ng — it reflects the extreme difficulty the Trudeau government has in taking a position and communicating it clearly to its forces and to the public at large. In many ways the China confusion mirrors the scandal over SNC-Lavalin, which resulted from the apparent failure of the prime minister and senior figures in his office to grasp the concerns of former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and act on them before the situation blew out of control.
This is a government that too often seems uncertain about its own policies. That confusion stems from the top, a prime minister who frequently seems over his head when he steps outside the country. No wonder Beijing thinks it can have its way with Canada, given a leader whose own troops don't seem to know what's going on.
NP View: An honourable ending for Vice-Admiral Norman, relief for the Liberals
NP View: The Liberals, out of options, do the right thing on Trans Mountain
NP View: Trudeau and McKenna are the ones endangering unity, not the premiers


Lovers of innovative styles are sure to fall head over heels with the Picto watches collection. With a unique technical design that uses a steel dot to display the hour, a Picto watch guarantees to set you apart from the crowd.
It was over 30 years ago that Danish watch brand Picto first created their innovative watch collection. All these years later, the design is still revolutionary. Picto wanted to create something unique — something sleek and minimal, yet different from traditional designer watches. Picto watches, therefore, use a steel dot on a rotating face to display the hour, alongside a traditional hand for minutes. This provides a beautiful, unique movement, and a designer watch that really is a true piece of art.
Minimal, modern and undoubtedly stylish, Picto offer fuss-free, sleek watches that will provide the perfect finishing touch to any look. With a vast array of colours across the Picto men's watches and Picto women's watches collections, you can choose from pretty pink and gold designs or suave black and silver watches to discover the perfect style for you.


text:
Q: How to convert Mono> to Mono> Hi I have an API returning Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>>, the API will call another API which returns Mono<ResponseEntity<Object>>, how do I convert the result from this other API to Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>>? e.g.
public Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>> api() {
    return anotherApi()
        .map(response -> ResponseEntity.ok().build())
        .onErrorReturn(ResponseEntity.badRequest().build());
}

The above works if I only have the map, but not when I add the onErrorReturn, it complains Type mismatch: cannot convert from Mono<ResponseEntity<Object>> to Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>>, why has it become Mono<ResponseEntity<Object>>?

A: The code is correct and this is just Java generics that couldn't infer type correctly.
You could provide type explicitly
public Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>> api() {
    return anotherApi()
        .<ResponseEntity<Void>>map(response -> ResponseEntity.ok().build())
        .onErrorReturn(ResponseEntity.badRequest().build());
}

or move onErrorReturn one level up
public Mono<ResponseEntity<Void>> api() {
    return anotherApi()
        .onErrorReturn(ResponseEntity.badRequest().build())
        .map(response -> ResponseEntity.ok().build());
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package hex.pca;

import org.openjdk.jmh.annotations.*;
import org.openjdk.jmh.runner.Runner;
import org.openjdk.jmh.runner.RunnerException;
import org.openjdk.jmh.runner.options.Options;
import org.openjdk.jmh.runner.options.OptionsBuilder;

import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

import static hex.pca.JMHConfiguration.logLevel;
import static water.TestUtil.stall_till_cloudsize;

/**
 * PCA benchmark
 */
@Fork(1)
@Threads(1)
@State(Scope.Thread)
@Warmup(iterations = JMHConfiguration.WARM_UP_ITERATIONS)
@Measurement(iterations = JMHConfiguration.MEASUREMENT_ITERATIONS)
@BenchmarkMode(Mode.AverageTime)
@OutputTimeUnit(TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS)
@Timeout(time = JMHConfiguration.TIMEOUT_MINUTES, timeUnit = TimeUnit.MINUTES)
public class PCAWideDataSetsTrainingBench {

  private PCAWideDataSets pcaWideDataSetsBench;
  @Param({"1", "2", "3", "4", "5", "6"})
  private int dataSetCase;
  @Param({"JAMA", "MTJ_SVD_DENSEMATRIX", "MTJ_EVD_DENSEMATRIX", "MTJ_EVD_SYMMMATRIX"})
  private PCAImplementation PCAImplementation;

  public static void main(String[] args) throws RunnerException {
    Options opt = new OptionsBuilder()
        .include(PCAWideDataSetsTrainingBench.class.getSimpleName())
        .build();

    new Runner(opt).run();
  }

  @Setup(Level.Invocation)
  public void setup() {
    water.util.Log.setLogLevel(logLevel);
    stall_till_cloudsize(1);

    pcaWideDataSetsBench = new PCAWideDataSets(dataSetCase, PCAImplementation);
  }

  @Benchmark
  public boolean measureWideDataSetsBenchTrainingCase() throws Exception {
    if (!pcaWideDataSetsBench.train()) {
      throw new Exception("Model for PCAWideDataSetsBench failed to be trained!");
    }
    return true;
  }

  @TearDown(Level.Invocation)
  public void tearDown() throws Exception {
    pcaWideDataSetsBench.tearDown();
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The precious pop of Pwrfl Power.
Seattle's Pwrfl Power is one man, Kazutaka Nomura, and his spotless electric guitar. He composes simple songs that, for lack of a better term, are precious. They have titles like "Coffee Girl Song" and "Chopstix Song" and "Peach Song." You get it.
In a tender voice that literally cracks with a boyish earnestness, Nomura skillfully picks and softly strums his way into your musical heart. Now I can just hear you saying that all this sounds grating. Yet in this case, it's sort of hard to resist a guy who so sweetly sings the stuff of his diary to you.
Mostly, resistance is hard because Nomura can't really sing all that well. It's not that he can't hold a tune, he just doesn't sound polished. And sometimes, a few wrinkles are just what you want in song. However, whatever he may lack in vocal training, he more than makes up for with his guitar technique. The kid can play.
Pwrfl Power reminds me a lot of those first couple Palace (Will Oldham) records. It's simple, it's honest, and it's just nice. And to preempt some of you anonymous music blog commenters out there; relax. A dose of nice might do you some good.
BUY TICKETS TO SEE PWRFL POWER AT KNITTING FACTORY!
Pwrfl Power plays Death by Audio, on Friday, September 26th, and Knitting Factory, on Saturday, September 27th.


A young couple's car breaks down on a desolate road. When a stranger shows up out of nowhere to assist them, all signs point to one conclusion; the stranger must be a serial killer. We've all seen this before. Time to think outside the box.


I am a qualified baby massage instructor since the beginning of the year, I am currently a family support worker and a busy mum of two beautiful children. I have a BTEC National Diploma in Early Years and also BA Honours in Social Welfare. I have a fully enhanced DBS and I am a qualified in paediatric first aid. Baby massage is such a lovely course to deliver, and I love seeing the interactions between baby and parent and seeing the benefits that the baby gets from doing this course.
My classes are in Play Cwtsh Chwarae.


If you're ready to transform your home in Selinsgrove, Carpet One is ready to help. Enjoy new carpeting from your Selinsgrove Carpet One because whether you want casual comfort or lush living, we can help. Carpet One features many different brands, including Carpet One exclusive brands, and has partners in all of the top brands, mills, and manufacturers. This is why we can offer you quality carpet at a great price at your Selinsgrove Carpet One. Do you want to make your room a formal setting? Try Plush and Saxony carpeting styles. For flexibility in casual rooms, try Textured Saxony, Frieze, or Berber carpeting to satisfy your needs. For high-traffic areas like living rooms, consider the plush but durable texture of Cable carpet. No matter your need, Selinsgrove Carpet One has the carpeting solution.
We also know that keeping your carpet looking beautiful over time is important to you. As a result, we've created a variety of warranties from which you can choose. All you have to do is pick the one that's right for your lifestyle. With a great range of carpet warranty selections to choose from for your Selinsgrove carpet, we know there's a choice for everyone's needs. If you aren't 100% happy with your new Selinsgrove carpet, we will replace it free of charge. It's our Beautiful Guarantee™. And did you know that Carpet One goes beyond carpet selection and protection? We can help you transform your home completely with our carpet installation services.
And remember, Carpet One does more than carpeting. With quality selections from the top brands of carpeting, hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, and much more, you can find all your flooring needs at Selinsgrove Carpet One. Begin by browsing our carpet inventory online, contact your nearest Carpet One location today or come see us at our Selinsgrove Carpet One location to receive the best service and best flooring for your home today.


Mick Jenkins starts off his year by dropping another track for his fans. This one is produced by "Thempeople". I'm hoping Mick Jenkins can drop an official album this year and/or get on the XXL freshman list for 2016. I think he's a strong candidate.
Previous ArticleSonny Digital's Raps Are "Sunny"


To install a hands-free faucet a contractor charges $615 vs. doing it yourself for $370. Learn what's involved and use your ZIP Code to adjust the improvement and repair cost to where you live.
Avid cooks and anyone who uses the kitchen sink will appreciate the touch technology of a hands-free faucet. Just tap anywhere on the spout or handle with your hand, wrist or forearm and the flow of water starts or stops. No question that the faucet is convenient; it's also a way to avoid cross contamination in the kitchen when you're preparing chicken or meat and you want to wash your hands without touching other surfaces.
A Delta single handle pull-down kitchen faucet with Touch2O® Technology that sells for $370 is designed for do-it-yourself installation requiring only two adjustable wrenches and a Phillips screwdriver. You'll also need a flashlight, eye protection and a bucket. A plumber will charge $615 for the installation, which includes the faucet and the labor.
Faucet Depot has suggestions about How to Choose the Right Kitchen Faucet.
To install a hands-free kitchen faucet the cost data compares a contractor's estimate with doing it yourself. Tweak the data by adding your ZIP Code to find a local cost.


Featuring over 1,200 topical entries arranged alphabetically, this encyclopedia provides diverse and detailed coverage of the related subjects of reincarnation and karma. Its in-depth examination ranges from ancient beliefs to those of the present, incorporating all relevant world cultures. A series of broad thematic entries cover foundational aspects while over a thousand highly focused entries deal with various societies and organizations which support the concepts of reincarnation and karma; specific religious groups, sects, and associations; key individuals both historic and modern; and related beliefs, concepts, and practices.
Norman C. McClelland is a retired teacher, independent scholar, and a Zen dharma master, ordained by the Venerable Karuna Dharma, Abbess of the International Buddhist Meditation Center of Los Angeles. He is a published poet and author of a chapter on Zen in an anthology on gay spirituality. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
"the author clearly put a great deal of effort into this work…a unique reference work…a useful addition"—ARBA.


Is there a perfect order to life? I believe there is, and even in those moments when all feels chaotic, when there are occurances that defy any ability I have to comprehend or embrace them, I still believe they are divinely ordained for the life I have been given to live.
I thought about that as it relates to President Elect Barack Obama. Having heard him repeat his own story and that of his mother and father - how they met, married, gave him life, and then parted - I wondered if they perhaps instinctively knew theirs was not just a coming together by chance, not just an ordinary girl and boy, man and woman relationship, but if they knew in their innermost beings something far beyond their own understandings had been manifest.
Those thoughts became this poem. I hope you receive it in the spirit I have written it.
He is a kiss of the equator's sun against a cool Pacific breeze.
He was the gift left unwrapped when the guest had gone.
And then the clock struck 10 (at least where I live) and the whole world changed ... for ever!


text:
Q: Probability of victory in this coin toss game? I'm new to learning probability and am a bit stummped on this simple scenario: I wondered if I could walk you through all my different reasoning, so you can point out what I've misunderstood about the different techniques of probability that thread into working out something like this?
Two players are taking it in turns to flip a coin, scoring 1 point if it lands on head, 0 if tail - thus an equal chance each player will score a point, per go. First one to score 5 points wins the round.
As it stands, Player 1 has 4 points, and Player 2 has 3 - it's P1's go: what is the probability that P1 will go on to win the tournament, and likewise for P2?
Here are my thoughts and where I'm stuck:
1) Clearly, P1 has 50% chance of scoring the 1 point he needs to win the round on his next go, but 50% surely isn't the answer - what if the round played to 100, P1 had 99 points and P2 just 1 - still it's 50/50 P1 will get the winning head on the next go, but overall it's far more likely P1 will go onto win without P2 ever catching up, than just 50%?
2) I tried next to think of it like this - the only way for P2 to win is to score two consecutive heads, and P1 of course to score a tail in between, leading (with P1 going first) to the vector: THTH. Now, the probability of that exact combination is (0.5)^4 = P(Player 2 Wins). Hence, P(Player 1 Wins) = 1 - (0.5^4).
3) But then, I again realised that this isn't correct - rather than THTH being the only vector of scores leading to P2 winning, you could of course have any of an infinite number, each more unlikely than the last, leading to P2 winning - TTTTTHTH for example.
So, some sort of integration would be required to sum the probability that P2 would win, over all infinite cases of diminishing probability - subtract that from 1, and you have P(P1). Or do it the other way around to find the probability of each, of course.
Is my assessment that 3 is the needed strategy, correct - i.e. some sort of integration between 0 tosses to inifinity tosses is required?

Allow me to just return to 2) and modify the scenario a bit - say instead of each flipping a coin, with a tail meaning no one scores a point that go, say a referee flips the coin, and heads is a point for P1 tails a point for P2.
This totally changes it now, and should make it simpler - now every go, one of the players is gauranteed to score a point. Now we have a finite number of paths to victory (and probability vectors) for each player.
1) But still I'm a bit confused: with the scores at P1: 4 & P2: 3, the only way for P2 to win is by scoring two straight tails: (TT). The probabiltiy the ref tosses two tails is (0.5)^2 = 0.25. Hence P(P2) = 0.25, and P(P1) = 1-0.25 = 0.75.
But, this simple scenario has a sample space of these outcomes: (H), (TH), (TT). I.e. those are the only sequences in which the ref could toss the coin and end the game.
2) But of those outcomes, 2 of them mean victory for P1 - so looking at it like this, P(P1) = 2/3??
Here are my thoughts on this, and what I believe is the final correct answer: I forgot that those 3 possible scenarios in the sample space are not equally likely. (H) at 0.5 is twice as likely as (TH) or (TT). If then you account for the weighting of their likeliness, and instead have a new pseudo-Sample Space of (H), (H), (TH), (TT) and consider each of those to be equally likely, then indeed 3/4 scenarios mean victory for P1, which agrees with 1-P(P2) = 1-(0.5)^2 = 0.75.
Is this final interpretation correct?

Thanks very much for reading through my long question! Really appreciate it, as I wanted to lay out all my thoughts on the different probabilty ideas so you can point out what I'm understanding correctly, and where I'm going wrong.
Many thanks indeed! Really appreciate it.

A: Your reasoning looks sound, but the possibility of very long strings of tails makes it undesirable to try to solve this through enumeration.  Let's do it through states instead.  Let $P_+(n,m)$ be the probability of $A$ winning if $A$ needs $n$ more wins and $B$ needs $m$ more win and it is $A's$ turn.  Let $P_-(n,m)$ be the same thing if it is $B's$ turn.  We note that symmetry tells us that $$P_-(n,m)=1-P_+(m,n)$$
Of course, the problem is asking for $P_+(1,2)$.  As a quick remark, we note that, no matter what, $A$ will get at least $2$ tries for a win and, of course, $A$ might win even without winning one of those two...so $$P_+(1,2)>.75$$
It helps to solve for $P_+(1,1)$ first. In that situation, we see that either $A$ wins on the first try or the situation is reversed.  Thus $$P_+(1,1)=\frac 12\times 1 +\frac 12\times (1-P_+(1,1))\implies P_+(1,1)=\frac 23$$
Now, consider $P_+(1,2)$.  Considering $A's$ first toss we see that $$P_+(1,2)=\frac 12\times 1 +\frac 12\times P_-(1,2)$$
Now, considering $B's$ first turn :  $$P_-(1,2)=\frac 12\times P_+(1,1)+\frac 12\times P_+(1,2)=\frac 12\times \frac 23+\frac 12\times P_+(1,2)=\frac 13+\frac 12\times P_+(1,2)$$
It follows that $$P_+(1,2)=\frac 12\times 1 + \frac 16+ \frac 14\times P_+(1,2)\implies 12P_+(1,2)=6+2+3\times P_+(1,2)\implies$$$$\implies \boxed { P_+(1,2)=\frac 89}$$


text:
Federal Court rejects Louisiana congressional map
by Carson Choate on June 9, 2022
Carson Choate Author
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A federal judge on Monday blocked the use of newly drawn congressional maps in Louisiana that include only one mostly Black district, and she ordered the Legislature to come up with a remedial plan by June 20th.
State officials swiftly filed a notice of appeal of the order by U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick in Baton Rouge. Dick's June 20 deadline for drawing new district lines is one month before the signup period for the Nov. 8 congressional election.
"If the Legislature is unable to pass a remedial plan by that date, the Court will issue additional orders to enact a remedial plan compliant with the laws and Constitution of the United States," the judge wrote.
Opponents of the map noted that Louisiana's Black population was growing faster than that of whites and that other areas closer to Baton Rouge could have been constructed with Black majorities to ensure racial equity in voting.
"The Court concludes that Plaintiffs have demonstrated that they will suffer an irreparable harm if voting takes place in the 2022 Louisiana congressional elections based on a redistricting plan that violates federal law," Dick wrote in her order.
The GOP-drawn map was originally vetoed by the state's governor, John Bel Edwards, but that was overridden, setting up the legal battle. Edwards said lawmakers should have included a second majority-Black district among the six districts they approved, noting that the state's population is almost one-third Black.
Gerrymandered voting maps in Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Ohio and Tennessee have been the subject of lawsuits already this year.
Louisiana Republicans have already indicated that they plan to appeal the ruling in the case, with the hope that they'll find more favor with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is conservative largely made up of conservative judges.
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With the aim to add more user friendly qualities, Railway Ministry has launched a new User Interface.
Railway's Online Travel Portal – irctc.co.in has now launched beta version of its new User Interface. The new link has more user friendly features for easier navigation.
Some of the salient features of the New User Interface include, enquire / search trains and check availability of seats without login, Change font size throughout the website for comfortable viewing experience. The new look and feel will have enhanced class-wise, train-wise, destination-wise, departure/arrival time wise and quota-wise filters for facilitating customer while planning their journeys. Single screen information about the train including the train no, train name, originating and destination station and distances between them, arrival and departure time and journey time has now been arranged. In addition, more features such as new filters on 'My Transactions' where user can also view their booked tickets based on Journey Date, Booking Date, Upcoming Journey and completed journey.


text:
Indian Laws Info
Home >> TIIITA2014 >> CHAPTER 3 AUTHORITIES OF CENTRALLY FUNDED INDIAN INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Section 20 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014
Title: Building and Works Committee.
Description: The Building and Works Committee of each Institute shall consist of the following persons, namely:— (a) the Director, ex officio, who shall be the Chairperson of the Committee; (b) one person nominated by Indian Institute of Technology located in the State in which the Institute is situated; (c) one person nominated by the Board from amongst its members; (d) Dean, Planning and Development; (e) a civil engineer not below the rank of superintending engineer in the Government or Government Agency nominated by the Board; (f) an electrical engineer not below the rank of superintending engineer in the Government or Government Agency nominated by the Board; (g) the officer incharge of Estate of the Institute, ex officio Secretary.
Title: Powers and functions of Building and Works Committee.
Description: The Building and Works Committee shall discharge the following powers and functions, namely:— (a) it shall be the responsibility of the Committee for construction of all major capital works after securing from the Board the necessary administrative approval and financial sanction; (b) it shall have the power to give the necessary administrative approval and financial sanction for all construction work and work pertaining to maintenance and repairs, within the grant place at the disposal of the Institute for the purpose; (c) it shall cause to be prepared estimates of cost of building and other capital work, minor works, repair, maintenance and the like; (d) it shall be responsible for making technical scrutiny of each work as may be considered necessary by it; (e) it shall be responsible for enlistment of suitable contractors and acceptance of tenders and shall have the power to give direction for departmental works where necessary.
Title: Research Council.
Description: (1) Each Institute shall establish a Research Council comprising of the Director and such other members as may be specified, by Statutes, by the Board. (2) The Research Council of each Institute shall— (a) interface with research funding organisations, industry and civil society to identify potential areas for research; (b) to organise and promote research in such Institute or in collaboration with any institution of higher learning or research laboratories; (c) assist teachers in obtaining funding from external sources for research projects prepared by them; (d) provide, out of the funds placed at its disposal by the Board, research resources and grant assistance for research projects proposed to be undertaken by teachers in such Institute; (e) provide for incubation of technology applications emerging from research and to protect and utilise the intellectual property obtained from research in the Institutes; (f) make provision for research and advisory services and for that purpose enter into such arrangements with other institutions, industry, civil society or other organisations and enable the fruits of research to be disseminated to industry and society through such arrangements; (g) exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to it by Statutes.
Title: Meetings
Description: (1) The Chairperson shall ordinarily preside over the meetings of the Board, Finance Committee and at the convocations of the Institute. (2) It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to ensure that the decisions taken by the Board are implemented. (3) The Chairperson shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Act or the Statutes.
Title: Director
Description: (1) The Director of a Institute shall be appointed by the Central Government from a panel of names recommended in order of merit by a search-cum-selection committee with prior approval of the Visitor. (2) The search-cum-selection committee shall consist of the following, namely:— (a) an eminent person to be nominated by the Minister in charge of Human Resource Development in the Government of India as Chairperson of the Committee; (b) the Chairperson, Board of Governors of the concerned Indian Institutes of Information Technology — Member, ex officio; (c) Secretary incharge of Higher Education in the Government of India Member, ex officio; (d) Director of a 1[Indian Institutes of Information Technology] to be nominated by Minister incharge of Human Resource Development — Member, ex officio; (e) a person of eminence in the field of information technology to be nominated by Minister incharge of Human Resource Development; (f) Head of Bureau, Ministry of Human Resource Development dealing with Indian Institutes of Information Technology — non-member Secretary, ex officio. (3) The Director shall be appointed on such terms and conditions of service as may be provided by the Statutes. (4) The Director shall be the principal academic and executive officer of the Institute and shall be responsible for the implementation of the decisions of the Board and Senate and day-to-day administration of the Institute. (5) The Director shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by this Act or the Statutes or delegated by the Board or the Senate or the Ordinances. (6) The Director shall submit annual reports and audited accounts to the Board. (7) The Director may during his absence from the headquarters, authorise the Deputy Director or one of the Deans or the senior most Professor present, to sanction advances for travelling allowances, contingencies and medical treatment of the staff and sign and countersign bills on his behalf and authorise to the Deputy Director or one of the Dean or the senior most Professor present, by him in writing. 1. Subs. by Act 25 of 2017, s. 2, for "Indian Institutes of Information Technology" (w.e.f. 7-9-2017).
CHAPTER 3 AUTHORITIES OF CENTRALLY FUNDED INDIAN INSTITUTE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Authorities of Institute. : (Section 12 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Board of Governors. : (Section 13 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Term of office of, vacancies among, and allowances payable to, members of Board. : (Section 14 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Powers and functions of Board of Governors. : (Section 15 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Senate : (Section 16 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Powers and functions of Senate. : (Section 17 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Finance Committee. : (Section 18 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Power and functions of Finance Committee. : (Section 19 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Building and Works Committee. : (Section 20 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Powers and functions of Building and Works Committee. : (Section 21 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Research Council. : (Section 22 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Meetings : (Section 23 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Director : (Section 24 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Registrar : (Section 25 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Other authorities and officers : (Section 26 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
Review of performance of Institute. : (Section 27 in The Indian Institutes of Information Technology Act, 2014)
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