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Over 3 years (153)
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A conjecture on the Feldman bandit problem
Sequential methods
Maher Nouiehed, Sheldon M. Ross
Journal: Journal of Applied Probability / Volume 55 / Issue 1 / March 2018
We consider the Bernoulli bandit problem where one of the arms has win probability α and the others β, with the identity of the α arm specified by initial probabilities. With u = max(α, β), v = min(α, β), call an arm with win probability u a good arm. Whereas it is known that the strategy of always playing the arm with the largest probability of being a good arm maximizes the expected number of wins in the first n games for all n, we conjecture that it also stochastically maximizes the number of wins. That is, we conjecture that this strategy maximizes the probability of at least k wins in the first n games for all k, n. The conjecture is proven when k = 1, and k = n, and when there are only two arms and k = n - 1.
Grounding the Space Race
Take Three: The Moon Landing
Neil M. Maher
Journal: Modern American History / Volume 1 / Issue 1 / March 2018
On July 15, 1969, while more than one million space enthusiasts flocked to Florida's Cape Canaveral to celebrate the final countdown of the Apollo 11 launch the following day, a less festive gathering took place just a few miles away in an empty field outside the western gate of the Kennedy Space Center. On one side of the clearing stood NASA's chief, Thomas O. Paine, with several space agency administrators, while at the other end waited the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's (SCLC) president, Ralph Abernathy, with twenty-five poor African American families, four scruffy mules pulling two rickety wagons, and, much to Paine's dismay, a phalanx of newspaper reporters and television news crews. When Abernathy's group began slowly marching hand-in-hand singing "We Shall Overcome," Paine and his entourage walked forward to meet them in the middle of the field. Abernathy then took a microphone, nodded toward the Apollo 11 rocket towering in the distance, and explained that his Poor People's Campaign had not traveled to the cape to protest the Apollo launch, but instead to demonstrate against the country's distorted sense of national priorities. "I want NASA scientists," he explained to the gathered press, "to tackle problems we face in society".
HIV treatment is associated with a twofold higher probability of raised triglycerides: pooled analyses in 21 023 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa
K. Ekoru, E. H. Young, D. G. Dillon, D. Gurdasani, N. Stehouwer, D. Faurholt-Jepsen, N. S. Levitt, N. J. Crowther, M. Nyirenda, M. A. Njelekela, K. Ramaiya, O. Nyan, O. O. Adewole, K. Anastos, C. Compostella, J. A. Dave, C. M. Fourie, H. Friis, I. M. Kruger, C. T. Longenecker, D. P. Maher, E. Mutimura, C. E. Ndhlovu, G. Praygod, E. W. Pefura Yone, M. Pujades-Rodriguez, N. Range, M. U. Sani, M. Sanusi, A. E. Schutte, K. Sliwa, P. C. Tien, E. H. Vorster, C. Walsh, D. Gareta, F. Mashili, E. Sobngwi, C. Adebamowo, A. Kamali, J. Seeley, L. Smeeth, D. Pillay, A. A. Motala, P. Kaleebu, M. S. Sandhu
Journal: Global Health, Epidemiology and Genomics / Volume 3 / 2018
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 May 2018, e7
Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimes for HIV are associated with raised levels of circulating triglycerides (TGs) in western populations. However, there are limited data on the impact of ART on cardiometabolic risk in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations.
Pooled analyses of 14 studies comprising 21 023 individuals, on whom relevant cardiometabolic risk factors (including TG), HIV and ART status were assessed between 2003 and 2014, in SSA. The association between ART and raised TG (>2.3 mmol/L) was analysed using regression models.
Among 10 615 individuals, ART was associated with a two-fold higher probability of raised TG (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.51–2.77, I2 = 45.2%). The associations between ART and raised blood pressure, glucose, HbA1c, and other lipids were inconsistent across studies.
Evidence from this study confirms the association of ART with raised TG in SSA populations. Given the possible causal effect of raised TG on cardiovascular disease (CVD), the evidence highlights the need for prospective studies to clarify the impact of long term ART on CVD outcomes in SSA.
The influence of organic matter content and media compaction on the dispersal of entomopathogenic nematodes with different foraging strategies
APOSTOLOS KAPRANAS, ABIGAIL M. D. MAHER, CHRISTINE T. GRIFFIN
Journal: Parasitology / Volume 144 / Issue 14 / December 2017
In laboratory experiments, we investigated how media with varying ratio of peat:sand and two levels of compaction influence dispersal success of entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species with different foraging strategies: Steinernema carpocapsae (ambusher), Heterorhabditis downesi (cruiser) and Steinernema feltiae (intermediate). Success was measured by the numbers of nematodes moving through a 4 cm column and invading a wax moth larva. We found that both compaction and increasing peat content generally decreased EPN infective juvenile (IJ) success for all three species. Of the three species, H. downesi was the least affected by peat content, and S. carpocapsae was the most adversely influenced by compaction. In addition, sex ratios of the invading IJs of the two Steinernema species were differentially influenced by peat content, and in the case of S. feltiae, sex ratio was also affected by compaction. This indicates that dispersal of male and female IJs is differentially affected by soil parameters and that this differentiation is species-specific. In conclusion, our study shows that organic matter: sand ratio and soil compaction have a marked influence on EPN foraging behaviour with implications for harnessing them as biological pest control agents.
Efficacy of a Sleep Quality Intervention in People With Low Back Pain: Protocol for a Feasibility Randomized Co-Twin Controlled Trial
Marina B. Pinheiro, Kevin K. Ho, Manuela L. Ferreira, Kathryn M. Refshauge, Ron Grunstein, John L. Hopper, Christopher G. Maher, Bart W. Koes, Juan R. Ordoñana, Paulo H. Ferreira
Journal: Twin Research and Human Genetics / Volume 19 / Issue 5 / October 2016
Print publication: October 2016
Poor sleep quality is highly prevalent in patients with low back pain (LBP) and is associated with high levels of pain, psychological distress, and physical disability. Studies have reported a bidirectional relationship between sleep problems and intensity of LBP. Accordingly, effective management of LBP should address sleep quality. In addition, genetics has been found to significantly affect the prevalence of both LBP and insomnia. Our study aims to establish the feasibility of a trial exploring the efficacy of a web-based sleep quality intervention in people with LBP, with the genetic influences being controlled for. 30 twins (15 complete pairs) with subacute or chronic LBP (>6 weeks) will be recruited from the Australian Twin Registry. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups with each twin within a pair receiving either an interactive web-based sleep intervention based on cognitive behavioral therapy principles (intervention) or a web-based education program (control) for 6 weeks. The feasibility of the trial will be investigated with regard to recruitment rate, feasibility of data collection and outcome measure completion, contamination of intervention, acceptability and experience of intervention, and sample size requirement for the full trial. Patient outcomes will be collected electronically at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at 3-months' follow-up post-randomization. This trial employs a robust design that will effectively control for the influence of genetics on treatment effect. Additionally, this study addresses sleep quality, a significant but under-explored issue in LBP. Results will inform the design and implementation of the definitive trial.
Protective lifestyle behaviours and depression in middle-aged Irish men and women: a secondary analysis
Gillian M Maher, Catherine P Perry, Ivan J Perry, Janas M Harrington
Journal: Public Health Nutrition / Volume 19 / Issue 16 / November 2016
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 May 2016, pp. 2999-3006
To examine the association between protective lifestyle behaviours (PLB) and depression in middle-aged Irish adults.
Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study. PLB (non-smoker, moderate alcohol, physical activity, adequate fruit and vegetable intake) were assessed using a general health and lifestyle questionnaire and a validated FFQ. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A score of 15–21 indicates mild/moderate depression and a score of 22 or more indicates a possibility of major depression. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between PLB and depression.
Livinghealth Clinic, Mitchelstown, North Cork, Republic of Ireland.
Men and women aged 50–69 years were selected at random from a list of patients registered at the clinic (n 2047, 67 % response rate).
Over 8 % of participants engaged in zero or one PLB, 24 % and 39 % had two and three PLB respectively, while 28 % had four PLB. Those who practised three/four PLB were significantly more likely to be female, have a higher level of education and were categorised as having no depressive symptoms. Engaging in zero or one PLB was significantly associated with an increased odds of depression compared with four PLB. Results remained significant after adjusting for several confounders, including age, gender, education and BMI (OR=2·2; 95 % CI 1·2, 4·0; P for trend=0·001).
While causal inference cannot be established in a cross-sectional study, the findings suggest that healthy behaviours may play a vital role in the promotion of positive mental health or, at a minimum, are associated with lower levels of depression.
Clinical predictors of involuntary detention among voluntary inpatients in St Patrick's University Hospital (SPUH)
B. Masood, S. O'Ceallaigh, T. Thekiso, M. Nichol, P. Kowalska-Beda, M. Murphy, J. Creedon, T. Maher, D. McLoughlin, N. Kennedy
Journal: Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine / Volume 34 / Issue 1 / March 2017
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 September 2015, pp. 13-18
Few studies have described clinical characteristics of patients subject to an involuntary detention in an Irish context. The Irish Mental Health Act 2001 makes provision under Section 23(1), whereby a person who has voluntary admission status can be detained.
This study aimed to describe all involuntary admissions to St Patrick's University Hospital (SPUH) (2011–2013) and to evaluate clinical characteristics of voluntary patients who underwent Mental Health Act assessment during 2011 to determine differences in those who had involuntary admission orders completed and those who did not.
All uses of Mental Health Act 2001 within SPUH 2011–2013 were identified. All uses of Section 23(1) during 2011 were reviewed and relevant documents/case-notes examined using a pro forma covering clinical data, factors recognized to influence involuntary admissions and validated scales were used to determine diagnoses, insight, suicide and violence risk.
Over 2011–2013, 2.5–3.8% of all admissions were involuntary with more detained after use of Section 23(1) than Section 14(2). The majority of initiations of Section 23(1) did not result in an involuntary admission (72%), occurred out of hours (52%) and many occurred early after admission (<1 week, 43%). Initiation of Section 23(1) by a consultant psychiatrist (p=0.001), suicide risk (p=0.03) and lack of patient insight into treatment (p=0.007) predicted conversion to involuntary admission.
This study predicts a role for patient insight, suicide risk and consultant psychiatrist decision making in the initiation of Mental Health Act assessment of voluntary patients. Further data describing the involuntary admissions process in an Irish setting are needed.
The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder: System Architecture and Specifications of the Boolardy Engineering Test Array
A. W. Hotan, J. D. Bunton, L. Harvey-Smith, B. Humphreys, B. D. Jeffs, T. Shimwell, J. Tuthill, M. Voronkov, G. Allen, S. Amy, K. Ardern, P. Axtens, L. Ball, K. Bannister, S. Barker, T. Bateman, R. Beresford, D. Bock, R. Bolton, M. Bowen, B. Boyle, R. Braun, S. Broadhurst, D. Brodrick, K. Brooks, M. Brothers, A. Brown, C. Cantrall, G. Carrad, J. Chapman, W. Cheng, A. Chippendale, Y. Chung, F. Cooray, T. Cornwell, E. Davis, L. de Souza, D. DeBoer, P. Diamond, P. Edwards, R. Ekers, I. Feain, D. Ferris, R. Forsyth, R. Gough, A. Grancea, N. Gupta, J. C. Guzman, G. Hampson, C. Haskins, S. Hay, D. Hayman, S. Hoyle, C. Jacka, C. Jackson, S. Jackson, K. Jeganathan, S. Johnston, J. Joseph, R. Kendall, M. Kesteven, D. Kiraly, B. Koribalski, M. Leach, E. Lenc, E. Lensson, L. Li, S. Mackay, A. Macleod, T. Maher, M. Marquarding, N. McClure-Griffiths, D. McConnell, S. Mickle, P. Mirtschin, R. Norris, S. Neuhold, A. Ng, J. O'Sullivan, J. Pathikulangara, S. Pearce, C. Phillips, R. Y. Qiao, J. E. Reynolds, A. Rispler, P. Roberts, D. Roxby, A. Schinckel, R. Shaw, M. Shields, M. Storey, T. Sweetnam, E. Troup, B. Turner, A. Tzioumis, T. Westmeier, M. Whiting, C. Wilson, T. Wilson, K. Wormnes, X. Wu
Journal: Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia / Volume 31 / 2014
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 November 2014, e041
This paper describes the system architecture of a newly constructed radio telescope – the Boolardy engineering test array, which is a prototype of the Australian square kilometre array pathfinder telescope. Phased array feed technology is used to form multiple simultaneous beams per antenna, providing astronomers with unprecedented survey speed. The test array described here is a six-antenna interferometer, fitted with prototype signal processing hardware capable of forming at least nine dual-polarisation beams simultaneously, allowing several square degrees to be imaged in a single pointed observation. The main purpose of the test array is to develop beamforming and wide-field calibration methods for use with the full telescope, but it will also be capable of limited early science demonstrations.
Genetic Variation in Cytokine-Related Genes and Migraine Susceptibility
Shani Stuart, Bridget H. Maher, Heidi Sutherland, Miles Benton, Astrid Rodriguez, Rod A. Lea, Larisa M. Haupt, Lyn R. Griffiths
Journal: Twin Research and Human Genetics / Volume 16 / Issue 6 / December 2013
Migraine is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being one of the top 20 most debilitating diseases. According to the neurovascular hypothesis, neuroinflammation may promote the activation and sensitisation of meningeal nociceptors, inducing the persistent throbbing headache characterized in migraine. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene cluster, made up of TNFα, lymphotoxin α (LTA), and lymphotoxin β (LTB), has been implicated to influence the intensity and duration of local inflammation. It is thought that sterile inflammation mediated by LTA, LTB, and TNFα contributes to threshold brain excitability, propagation of neuronal hyperexcitability and thus initiation and maintenance of a migraine attack. Previous studies have investigated variants within the TNF gene cluster region in relation to migraine susceptibility, with largely conflicting results. The aim of this study was to expand on previous research and utilize a large case-control cohort and range of variants within the TNF gene cluster to investigate the role of the TNF gene cluster in migraine. Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected for investigation as follows: rs1800683, rs2229094, rs2009658, rs2071590, rs2239704, rs909253, rs1800630, rs1800629, and rs3093664. No significant association with migraine susceptibility was found for any of the SNPs tested, with further testing according to migraine subtype and gender also showing no association for disease risk. Haplotype analysis showed that none of the tested haplotypes were significantly associated with migraine.
By Sarah Adriance, Andrei V. Alexandrov, Hardik Amin, Catherine Amlie-Lefond, Martinson K. Arnan, Réza Behrouz, Eric Bershad, Romergryko G. Geocadin, Richard P. Goddeau, Philip B. Gorelick, Diana Greene-Chandos, David M. Greer, Noah Grose, Ann K. Helms, Jason M. Johnson, Angelos Katramados, Joshua Kornbluth, Michael H. Lev, Rafael H. Llinas, Stephan A. Mayer, Laura Pedelty, Alex Perchuk, Ciaran J. Powers, Maher Saqqur, Eric Sauvageau, Magdy H. Selim, Vijay Sharma, Jose I. Suarez, Andrew W. Tarulli, Michel T. Torbey, Panayiotis Varelas, Katja Elfriede Wartenberg, Susan Yeager
Edited by Michel T. Torbey, Ohio State University, Magdy H. Selim
Book: The Stroke Book
Print publication: 18 July 2013, pp vii-x
A structured process for reviewing the operation of the Mental Health Act 2001 in an Irish mental health service
M. Mulligan, T. Maher, J. V. Lucey
Journal: Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine / Volume 30 / Issue 2 / June 2013
This paper provides a description of a structured template which allows review of the operation of the Mental Health Act 2001 at St Patrick's Mental Health Services (incorporating St Patrick's University Hospital, St Edmundsbury Hospital and Willow Grove Adolescent Unit). These structured processes were implemented to ensure rigorous monitoring of all clinical governance activities associated with adherence to the Mental Health Act (MHA) 2001. The paper describes in detail the information contained in the St Patrick's Mental Health Services dashboard for 2012. The dashboard displays the key performance indicators that are monitored and the paper describes how these were reviewed by the Hospital's Clinical Governance Committee on a weekly basis for the three approved centres. The dashboard has also been used by the Clinical Governance Committee to provide ongoing education and engagement with staff in order to improve the operation of the MHA 2001. The use of this structured monitoring process has allowed the hospital to measure adherence to the MHA 2001 and also to measure activities that impact directly on the care and treatment of patients detained under the Act. The use of structured monitoring tools (i.e. the dashboard) to review the operation of the MHA 2001 allows for coherent observation of key events and issues which can cause concern in terms of the operation of the Act.
By J. William Allwood, Eleni T. Bairaktari, Jean-Pierre Bellocq, Malika A. Benahmed, Hanne Christine Bertram, Zaver M. Bhujwalla, Ulrich Braumann, Juan Casado-Vela, Marta Cascante, Arancha Cebrián, Albert Chen, Man Ho Choi, Bong Chul Chung, Yuen-Li Chung, Morten Rahr Clausen, Patrick J. Cozzone, Ralph J. DeBerardinis, Julien Detour, Santiago Díaz-Moralli, Warwick B. Dunn, Karim Elbayed, Udo Engelke, Teresa W.-M. Fan, Ana M. Gil, Kristine Glunde, Markus Godejohann, Teresa Gómez del Pulgar, Royston Goodacre, Angelina Goudswaard, Gonçalo Graça, Richard W. Gross, Herbert H. Hill, Ralph E. Hurd, Alessio Imperiale, Kimberly A. Kaplan, Neil L. Kelleher, Michael A. Kiebish, Ann M. Knolhoff, Christina E. Kostara, Juan Carlos Lacal, Andrew N. Lane, Martin O. Leach, Norbert W. Lutz, Elizabeth Maher, Craig R. Malloy, Isaac Marin-Valencia, Laura Menchén, Bruce Mickey, Fanny Mochel, Éva Morava, François-Marie Moussallieh, Izzie J. Namer, Peter Nemes, Ioanna Ntai, Geoffrey S. Payne, Marie-France Penet, Martial Piotto, Stanislav S. Rubakhin, Elsa Sánchez-López, A. Dean Sherry, Bindesh Shrestha, Jonathan V. Sweedler, Akos Vertes, Mark R. Viant, Ralf J. M. Weber, Ron Wehrens, Ron A. Wevers, Catherine L. Winder, David S. Wishart, Kui Yang, Yi-Fen Yen
Edited by Norbert W. Lutz, Jonathan V. Sweedler, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Ron A. Wevers
Book: Methodologies for Metabolomics
Print publication: 21 January 2013, pp viii-xii
By Maher M. Dabbah, University of London
General editor Maher M. Dabbah, Queen Mary University of London, Paul Lasok QC
Book: Merger Control Worldwide
Barbados has been making significant progress in its efforts towards removing major longstanding cultural, social and economic problems. The Barbadian economy has long suffered from under-development particularly in financial and credit markets. The enactment of a new competition law and the establishment of a new competition authority have been part of a wider effort to enhance technical and business knowledge, protect consumers and improve enterprise and productivity.
Relevant legislation and statutory standards
Mergers are regulated under section 20 of the Fair Competition Act 2002–2019 (Chapter 326C) (FCA2002 or 'the Act') which prohibits any relevant merger unless specifically pre-approved by the Fair Trading Commission. The law therefore requires prior notification and approval for all mergers satisfying certain size thresholds.
Decision-making bodies and enforcement authority(ies)
The Fair Trading Commission ('the Commission') is an independent body – created on 2 January 2001 pursuant to section 3 of the Fair Trading Commission Act (CAP. 326B) – responsible for assessing and investigating mergers in Barbados and determining whether they comply with the terms of the FCA2002. The Commission may also direct that a given merger be subject to an assessment by it. Its responsibilities under the Act include the following:
promotion and maintenance of fair competition;
investigating the conduct of trade to prevent practices contravening the Act;
review of commercial activities to ensure prevention or termination of practices adverse to the interests of consumers;
taking necessary action to prevent abuse of a dominant position, eliminate anti-competitive agreements and control mergers;
advising the Minister responsible for Commerce and Consumer Affairs on matters of operation of the Act;
other functions required to give effect to the Act.
Despite concerted governmental efforts directed at improving Kenya's economy, the country still faces significant hurdles to achieving consistent economic growth. Indeed a Report prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2003 stated that Kenya's economic performance remains well below its potential. Clearly, this can be expected to affect the development of competition law and policy in the country and on the whole it has done so.
Mergers and acquisitions in Kenya are governed by Part III of the Restrictive Trade Practices, Monopolies and Price Control Act, Chapter 504, Laws of Kenya 1989 (hereinafter referred to as 'the RTPMPCA1989' or 'the Act'). The Act is in place to encourage a healthy system of competition, by reducing participation in restrictive trade practices and controlling monopolies and concentrations of economic power. In general, any agreements or trade associations featuring the following are defined as restrictive trade practices which shall not be enforceable in legal proceedings:
Refusal and discrimination in connection with the sale or supply of goods.
Resale price maintenance.
Price discrimination.
By Maher M. Dabbah, University of London, Carlos A. Patrón, Payet, Rey, Cauvi Abogados, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú
Print publication: 31 May 2012, pp 1054-1068
At the start of the 1990s, the Peruvian government implemented a profound macroeconomic stabilisation and structural adjustment programme that led to the abandonment of all forms of import-substituting industrialisation policies, eliminated price controls, freed the exchange rate and interest rates, liberalised trade, gave equal treatment to foreign investors, initiated a comprehensive tax reform and redefined the state's involvement in the economy, moving it away from the role of directly producing goods and services and towards the role of supervisor and regulator of private actors and privatised companies in a competitive environment.
Among the pillar reforms implemented, between November 1991 and late 1992, Peru enacted for the first time legislation on competition, consumer protection, commercial advertisement and unfair competition, all of which had a primarily facilitative function of bringing into being and strengthening competitive markets.
Consolidating these reforms, the Peruvian Political Constitution of 1993 adopted a social market economy model, based on the recognition and protection of fundamental individual economic freedoms (i.e. free trade and freedom of enterprise, freedom of contract, property rights, equal treatment of domestic and foreign investment, among others) and the subsidiary role of the state in economic activities. Within this framework, Section 61 of the Peruvian Constitution proclaims that 'the State combats all practices that limit [competition] and the abuse of dominant or monopolistic positions in the marketplace', explicitly prohibiting the authorisation or establishment of monopolies through laws or cartels. Interpreting this constitutional provision, the Peruvian Constitutional Tribunal has afirmed that the acquisition of a dominant position or a monopoly through the legitimate means of the competitive process is not in itself illegal.
Table of Legislation and Official Guidance
Print publication: 31 May 2012, pp lxxi-cxc
By Maher M. Dabbah, University of London, Humberto Pacheco, Pacheco Coto, San José, Costa Rica, Freddy Fachler, Pacheco Coto, San José, Costa Rica, Jolene Knorr, Pacheco Coto, San José, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has witnessed an interesting economic transition since the early 1990s, with more efforts being directed at making the country an attractive destination for tourists and a lucrative investment opportunity for foreign hi-tech firms following many years of focus originally on the production of bananas and coffee and, later, in textile drawback operations.
Several key sectors are still controlled by state monopolies, although some considerable political efforts have been made over the last 4 years or so to privatise as many sectors as possible. The latest and perhaps the most relevant effort, has been the liberalisation of the telecommunications market as a result of the Free Trade Agreement with the Caribbean and United States. Of course, the success of these privatisation efforts will have a direct impact on the role and standing of competition law and policy in Costa Rica, including the country's mechanism for merger control.
Merger and acquisition activities are regulated under the Law on Promotion of Competition and Effective Defence of the Consumer1 ('the Act'). The Act is supplemented by the Regulations of the Law on Promotion of Competition and Effective Defence of the Consumer2 ('the Regulations'). In post-merger and acquisition situations, in which the right to private enforcement and the right to appeal arise, the provisions of the General Law of Public Administration3 and the Law for the Regulation of Jurisdiction on Administrative Law4 apply respectively (see below).
Print publication: 31 May 2012, pp x-xxi
Cyprus (Republic of Cyprus)
By Maher M. Dabbah, University of London, Elias Neocleous, Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC, Nicosia, Cyprus, Eleana Spyris, Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC, Nicosia, Cyprus
The Republic of Cyprus has a well-documented history of conflict concerning, largely, the legitimacy of its government and the relationship of its populace to influential mainland powers. Since the 1974 invasion of the north part of the island by the Turkish army resulting in a de facto division of the island into the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (recognised only by Turkey) and the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot administration in the south (which claims dominion over the whole republic), the economy of the island as a whole has suffered from foreign investors' reluctance to invest in a 'war zone' and has faced immeasurable lost trading opportunities arising out of the UN-maintained 'buffer zone and demarcation line'. Furthermore, until recently North Cyprus faced a European Union (EU) trade embargo which greatly weakened its economy.
The goal of acceding to the EU has been part of a longstanding struggle to bring peace and economic stability to the troubled island and to define its identity on the world stage. European countries have been understandably eager to settle the internal conflict before admitting the country to the EU (not least to avoid undermining relations with Turkey). The European Council resolved in 2002 to admit Cyprus as a whole if the North and South could reach a UN-brokered solution by 28 February 2003. Failing that, the application of North Cyprus would be suspended. The settlement foundered when simultaneous referenda were put forward on 24 April 2004 and passed by North Cyprus but rejected by the Greek Cypriots. The latter therefore acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004, while the former remains outside as, according to the EU, 'areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control'. The EU subsequently decided to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. On 7 July 2004, the European Commission announced draft regulations aimed at the following: establishing financial support and encouraging contacts between the two communities; facilitating direct trade with the north with a preferential import regime; defining special rules for intra-island trade and authorising the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce to certify import items.


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Home » Books » The Book Thief author Markus Zusak on Bridge of Clay
The Book Thief author Markus Zusak on Bridge of Clay
It can be hard to follow up one of the most beloved books of all-time.
Just ask Markus Zusak, author of the best-selling phenomenon The Book Thief, which is currently competing for the crown of PBS's Great American Read — with early reports indicating that the historical novel ranks in the top 40 of the country's favorite novels ever. Published in 2005, The Book Thief would go on to be developed into a feature film, win several major awards, and sell more than 15 million copies worldwide.
Now, 13 years later, Zusak is finally publishing another book. No pressure, right?
Bridge of Clay follows Clay Dunbar, an orphan of sorts: His mother has died and his father has abandoned him. He and his four brothers are left to raise themselves in the Sydney suburbs; but as the novel begins, he's left to grapple with the re-emergence of his father, who asks for all of his children's help in building a bridge into the wilderness. Clay, at least, agrees to join him. The novel weaves between different timelines, ultimately coming together as a family epic that adds a new dimension to the young-adult genre — not unlike The Book Thief.
Yet what truly stands out about Bridge of Clay is the intensity of the prose — the potency of the heartbreak. The depth of grief and loss is so palpable you can all but feel the blood, sweat, and tears that went into crafting the story. This was more than a decade in the making and a true test for its author. "I lost belief in myself for a long time," Zusak reveals.
He first developed the idea when he was 19 or 20 — surely, not yet prepared as a writer to tackle the story, which spans lifetimes and continents. But Zusak knew it to be his next project after The Book Thief. "I really only wanted to write books, at that point, that I might not be able to write — just that feeling of trying to write above yourself, to write better than you actually are," he says. "When you start with that mentality, you immediately put pressure on yourself." That pressure lasted for two decades. And it impacted his home life — his wife told him several years into the process that he needed to "stop," and several "hard decisions" were made as the book took shape. Initially, for instance, Bridge of Clay was framed by the narration of the Dunbar boys' old neighbor. "After that much painstaking work with her as the narrator," Zusak begins, as if still smarting from the decision, "I took her out."
Zusak ably conjures the chaos of family life and the scars of abandonment; the way memory and tragedy inform the story reads, at times, nothing short of visceral. He drew from some personal experience to write this, but also built out the story by interviewing people, to give the characters' specific experiences the ring of authenticity.
At over 400 pages, Bridge of Clay is another thick, demanding read from Zusak, and he's skeptical about the broadness of its appeal. Same went for The Book Thief, though: "I've often said to people that book would sink without a trace: 'Who the hell would want to read that? [It's] narrated by death; you know everyone dies; [over] 500 pages?'" He believes this book demands more of his reader than anything he's written before. "Even more consciously than The Book Thief, I was making the world of this family," he explains. "I wanted all of the countries that needed to be on the map to be there — to make it a full world." It's a slower build. The details are more intricate. Nuggets dropped or questions asked in the first hundred or so pages pay off in the book's back half. "I just wanted to ask the reader to do a bit more work in that way," Zusak says.
In that way, perhaps, the experience of reading Bridge of Clay may — appropriately — mirror Zusak's experience of writing it. "You have to do a bit more work but I think the rewards are greater, too," the author argues. "I hope so, anyway."
The book is going out into the world as Americans continue to vote for The Book Thief as an all-time classic, right alongside the likes of To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye. Zusak remains stunned by the frenzy and, as he continues to live in his birthplace of Australia, he's contentedly removed from it. But what affects him most personally is the knowledge that The Book Thief is so singularly his: "You want to write a book that no one else could've written — I know only I could've written that book." He turns back to Bridge of Clay, noting the same is true of his new novel: "It doesn't have to be better or worse than anyone else's."
And that, Zusak, concludes, is why he feels strangely at peace with Bridge of Clay — relieved such a long process has come to a happy end. "I might still be in the glow of the fact that it's actually written," he says. "It's done. It's done — the book I was at war with for such a long time. The real job's been done."
Bridge of Clay is now available for purchase. Below, listen to an exclusive clip of Zusak reading from the official audiobook.
Markus Zusak: The Book Thief 10th anniversary
The Book Thief author Markus Zusak reveals new tour dates
Markus Zusak announces new YA novel will hit shelves this fall
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Top Buckeye Consumer Protection Lawyers - West Virginia
Nearby Cities: Marlinton, Richwood, Webster Springs, Cowen, White Sulphur Springs
Hamilton, Burgess, Young & Pollard, P.L.L.C.
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Since 1931, Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner, PLLC, has been established as a leader in civil and criminal law issues. Our law firm in Princeton and Charleston, West Virginia, gives people a voice as they move through the justice system. We handle cases that include the following: Personal injury: Car accidents, medical malpractice, consumer protection and nursing home abuse Family law:...
Consumer Protection Lawyers Serving Buckeye, WV (Charleston)
Based in Charleston, West Virginia, The Grubb Law Group is a small, two-attorney law firm that prides itself on its ability to provide a family atmosphere and personalized service without sacrificing big-firm experience. Our practice focuses on protecting consumer rights, advocating on behalf of employees, and helping secure compensation for people suffering from injuries caused by negligence....
At Katz Kantor Stonestreet & Buckner, PLLC, in Charleston, West Virginia, we are a general civil and criminal trial practice law firm with a primary emphasis on personal injury. We have been serving clients throughout West Virginia since 1931, and our slogan says it all: Your Lawyers, Your Voice. In our nearly 90 years of helping the good people of West Virginia get the compensation they...
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Located in Hurricane, West Virginia, Fox Law Office, PLLC, is dedicated to protecting the rights and entitlements of innocent accident victims and aggrieved employees. Serving residents throughout West Virginia, the law firm provides dependable and effective representation to those who have legal needs related to any of the following: Automobile, truck, motorcycle and other types of vehicle...
Wolfe, White & Associates
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At the law firm of Wolfe, White & Associates in Logan, West Virginia, we offer a full range of legal services in a variety of practices areas in order to help individuals, families and employees protect their rights and best interests in the face of complex and serious legal challenges. Serving all of Logan County and the surrounding region, the attorneys at our law firm provide personalized,...
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text:
Q: Installing ggplot on OSX I installed ggplot flawlessly on anaconda using
pip install ggplot

However, if I try to install it with my non-anaconda pip I get:
ImportError: statsmodels requires patsy. http://patsy.readthedocs.org

----------------------------------------
Cleaning up...
Command python setup.py egg_info failed with error code 1 in /private/var/folders/n4/l3cggyqs1jj1_ltxl8v3dljh0000gn/T/pip_build_Leo/statsmodels
Storing debug log for failure in /var/folders/n4/l3cggyqs1jj1_ltxl8v3dljh0000gn/T/tmpfwsnyy

A: Try installing patsy on it's own.
$ pip install patsy
$ pip install ggplot
$ python -c "from ggplot import *"

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Do you need UNHCR's help?
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Winter threatens Venezuelans unprepared for the cold
Sep 1, 2020 | Feature Story, News Story
The upcoming Southern Hemisphere winter will be the first truly cold weather the Díaz family has ever experienced. © UNHCR/Hugo Fuentes
As chilly weather steals over South America, vulnerable Venezuelan refugees and migrants brace for added hardship.
By Stephanie Rabi Misle in Santiago, Chile, and Emily Álvarez in Lima, Peru
Several difficult months after the Díaz family arrived in Chile, following a gruelling, 7,000-kilometre-long overland journey from their home in Venezuela, they finally achieved a degree of stability. Eileen, the mother, had given birth to a healthy baby boy, and the father, José Domingo, had just secured a job in the Chilean capital, Santiago. Then came the coronavirus pandemic, knocking the family back to square one.
José Domingo lost his job, and simply covering basic necessities, like food and rent, became all but impossible for the family of four.
And just when it seemed that things could hardly get any worse, temperatures started to drop with the approach of the biting Southern Hemisphere winter, which runs from June through September.
"We're really worried about the winter … because it's going to be the first time we've experienced cold weather," said Eileen, adding that back home in Caracas, midwinter temperatures rarely dip below 17 degrees Celsius. In Santiago, by contrast, low temperatures in the single digits are the norm in winter. "We're not prepared. We didn't have heavy coats or heating, or even blankets."
Coming on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, the approaching winter is yet another source of anxiety for many of the more than five million Venezuelans living outside their country amid the ongoing crisis back home.
"We're really worried about the winter … because it's going to be the first time we've experienced cold weather."
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a major toll across the globe, costing millions of jobs worldwide and throwing the economy into recession. A United Nations estimate warns that the pandemic and the stay-at-home orders aimed at staunching the virus' spread could plunge half a billion people into poverty by the end of this year.
Refugees tend to be even more vulnerable than the population at large to the effects of the crisis. Often living in crowded, sub-par housing and scraping by with precarious work in the informal sector, they are particularly ill-equipped both to take contagion-prevention measures and to weather the financial fallout of quarantine. Thousands are grappling with the terrible choice between going hungry and defying stay-at-home orders to hawk or beg in the streets. With no money coming in to pay rent, many have already been evicted and are struggling to survive on the streets.
DONATE TO SUPPORT REFUGEES
And because Venezuelans refugees and migrants are fleeing food shortages, as well as widespread inflation and insecurity back home, they are often in precarious health, with weak immune systems that put them at increased risk from the virus.
The Southern Hemisphere winter, therefore, could not come at a worse time for the over 1.5 million Venezuelans living in the five Southern Cone nations at the tip of South America and in the Andean nation of Peru, where winter weather is similarly frigid.
"We're upset because the pandemic really changed our lives for the worse," said Eileen, a 30-year-old chef who owned a small business back in Caracas. "We had been making great strides towards our objectives but, unfortunately, the coronavirus completely derailed us."
See also: Venezuelan counsellors offer fellow refugees 'psychological first aid'
José Ignacio Peralta, who works in Santiago for the charity World Vision International, warned that winter months are likely to bring not only an uptick of coronavirus infections but also a host of other cold-weather afflictions.
"On top of COVID-19, we're going to see a bunch of other respiratory illnesses such as flu, which will cause a surge in the need for medical attention," he said. "We also expect an increase in families in need of housing assistance, hot meals and cold-weather gear."
Fortunately, Eileen and her family were among hundreds of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in need to receive special winter-months assistance from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partner in Chile, World Vision. Nearly 800 electronic vouchers have been distributed to families, like the Díazes, to allow them to buy heaters, blankets and warm clothing using a bar code delivered remotely, by email.
In Chile and beyond, UNHCR is also ramping up rental subsidies, to ensure vulnerable families are able to keep a roof over their heads, and also distributing food baskets, hygiene kits and blankets.
"On top of COVID-19, we're going to see a bunch of other respiratory illnesses."
Given the sheer scale of needs – exacerbated by the dual challenges of the pandemic and the approaching winter – support for humanitarian operations is critical. UNHCR's response plan for Venezuelan refugees and migrants is dangerously underfunded, with only 12 per cent of the requested funds received to date.
An International Donors Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants took place virtually on 26 May. Representatives from over 60 countries, as well as agencies of the United Nations, international financial institutions and civil society, gathered to address this unprecedented crisis, mobilise resources for the displaced population and the main host communities, and strengthen coordination among the key players.
The looming Southern Hemisphere winter only intensifies the difficulties facing displaced Venezuelans, UNHCR spokesperson Shabia Mantoo told a news briefing in Geneva on Friday.
"In addition to health risks, COVID-related lockdowns and confinement measures have already resulted in severe hardship for Venezuelan refugee and migrants," she said. "With the approaching cold weather, UNHCR is bracing for a deepening of the crisis."
See also: Coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on displaced Venezuelans
Maritza Pino Zambrano, a 37-year-old former bakery employee from western Venezuela, was trying to see the silver lining of the pandemic, which cost her her job at a restaurant in the Andean city of Cusco, Peru, where she and her family have found safety.
Winters in the city of Cusco – which is perched at an altitude of nearly 3,400 metres – are notoriously brutal. Martiza tried to console herself with the thought that losing her job meant that at least she will no longer have to brave the elements on her way to and from work and can stay bundled up in the small room she shares with husband and the couple's 10-year-old son.
"Once you go outside, you can get sick and then pass the illness to the whole family," she said.
Still, the reality of the family's situation is overwhelming. They are scraping by on the few dollars her mechanic husband brings home from the occasional odd job, in addition to humanitarian aid they have received from UNHCR and other groups.
"We feel like we have a noose around our necks," said Maritza. "I'm praying it all ends."
Originally published on UNHCR on 29 May 2020
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text:
German Study Finds that COVID-19 Vaccines Perpetuated the Pandemic and Caused Immune System Failure
A new German study shows the injections are responsible for the perpetuation of the "pandemic," not COVID. This article explains it well:
If our country had an honest and competent 'mainstream' media staffed with professionals who took to heart our founders' intent of a free press to hold those in power to account, there would be an outcry for one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies to be held responsible for the damage it did to countless millions of people via faulty COVID-19 vaccines.
As reported by Conservative Review's Daniel Horowitz, "Tolerance is a good thing in most aspects of life. But when it comes to the immune system, artificially juicing up the body to create antibodies with long-term tolerance to a pathogen is a recipe for disaster."
He noted further:
Amid thousands of papers on COVID and the vaccines, a new German paper published in Science Immunology should be the headline story this week. Although the subject matter is very dense, the implication of it is that the Pfizer shots (and possibly other mRNA spike protein shots) caused the immune system to misfire, thereby creating an endless feedback loop of viral immune escape, perpetuating the pandemic in the macro, and creating immune suppression for the individuals who received them.
He went on to write that it is "vexing" as to why, today, the virus remains with us, questioning the fact that whereas so many countries in the Pacific Rim did well against COVID in 2020 and 2021 but now have a much bigger problem in 2022 with a less virulent strain. He asks further why it appears as though this pandemic won't end and so many people continue to contract it more than once.
"None of this is normal," he wrote. "Wherever you turn, the most vaccinated countries are not only experiencing rampant side effects from the shots, but worse outcomes from COVID itself following their endless booster campaigns."
During the last six months, 98% of all reported covid deaths have occurred in nations where more than 1 vaccine dose has been administered per person.
Essentially no deaths are occurring in the unvaccinated nations. pic.twitter.com/QIG7CyMJwc
— PLC (@Humble_Analysis) December 2, 2022
"Portugal is the most vaccinated nation in all of Europe (95% vax'd, 70% boosted) and yet just as many people are dying now as in 2021 and significantly more people than in 2020 (when no one was vax'd and no one had immunity and covid was more virulent). Safe and effective?" the Twitter account PLC noted, along with a graphic chart showing a historic spike in mortality in the country.
Portugal is the most vaccinated nation in all of Europe (95% vax'd, 70% boosted) and yet just as many people are dying now as in 2021 and significantly more people than in 2020 (when no one was vax'd and no one had immunity and covid was more virulent).
Safe and effective? pic.twitter.com/nIsRQw6aDX
— PLC (@Humble_Analysis) December 13, 2022
Horowitz notes further:
But even more telling than an epidemiological comparison of one nation to another is a comparison of outcomes within nations themselves between pre- and post-vaccination/booster campaign. Prior to the mass vaccination, two parts of the world largely escaped excess deaths from the virus: continental Africa and the Pacific Rim nations. Yet whereas Africa flatlined in terms of COVID deaths throughout 2021-2022, countries like Japan only experienced meaningful numbers of deaths after the mass vaccination program.
https://t.me/zeeemedia/9154
https://www.naturalnews.com/2023-01-04-german-study-finds-covid19-vaccines-perpetuated-pandemic.html#
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Resign


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5 People Wounded In Mass Shooting In Albany Park, Police Say
Two boys, 15 and 17, were among those wounded in the drive-by shooting, police said.
Bob Chiarito
9:25 AM CDT on Sep 16, 2020
Five people were shot in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night in Albany Park, police said.
Bob Chiarito/ Block Club Chicago
ALBANY PARK — Five people were shot in a drive-by shooting Tuesday night in Albany Park, police said.
About 10:25 p.m., two teenage boys and three adults were standing in a group on the sidewalk in the 3500 block of West Lawrence Avenue when someone in a white Nissan drove up and fired shots, police said.
A 15-year-old boy was shot in his left leg and abdomen and taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital in critical condition, police said. A 17-year-old boy was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition.
A 21-year-old woman was shot in her right hand and was taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital in serious condition, police said. A 27-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his chest and was taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital. A 37-year-old man was shot in his right leg and taken to St. Francis Hospital.
As detectives investigated after the shooting Tuesday night, a pair of gym shoes could be seen on the sidewalk.
No one is in custody. Detectives are investigating.


Whatever approach you take towards travel, the unique position of our natural pitches is sure to enchant you.
A caravan holiday is the preferred option for those who adore open-air breaks and who love classic camping – in short, people who know how to capture the essence of the places they visit.
Your plan to travel around this part of Sardinia risks being scaled back, and you may well end up not leaving once you're here. Even if you do decide to move on, the Isola dei Gabbiani will stay with you forever.
Holidaying under canvas is a new trend that is capturing the hearts of young families and carefree couples.


The British National Baseball League enters the final stretch of the 2013 season. On the third last game day of the regular season six games were on the schedule. The London Mets, Herts Falcons and Lakenheath Diamondbacks celebrated sweeps. At the top of the standings the Falcons, Mets and Southampton Mustangs battled for first place.


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Home Resilience When ashes stain forest rivers: post-fire effects on soil and water ecosystems
When ashes stain forest rivers: post-fire effects on soil and water ecosystems
Water pollution and soil disturbance are the most devastating effects of large uncontrolled fires, but in fire-prone ecosystems these events, in a controlled and careful manner, can also have positive implications.
Gerard Fernández
Source: USDA Forest Service
Uncontrolled, extreme forest fires can have a devastating impact on the ecosystems where they occur: one of the most visible of these consequences is the destruction of landscapes. Forest loss due to fire incidents is often lamented – as clearly seen in the case of recent fires in the Amazon – for its destruction of vegetation that provides oxygen and acts as a carbon sink by capturing and storing CO2. However, the impacts of fire on forest ecosystems can enact less recognised, long-term effects, including damage to soil and river basins that provide shelter and food to a wide variety of organisms.
In the Mediterranean, one of the most serious post-fire consequences in forest ecosystems is the loss of soil due to erosion; surface destruction and human intervention can lead to soil compaction that hinders water penetration and reduces soil moisture. The strong storms and torrential rains typical of fire-prone, Mediterranean climatic regions, combined with slopes newly stripped of vegetation and thus unable to inhibit water flow, wash ashes and their toxic particles into the flows of rivers and streams, increasing the murkiness and pollution of the water.
The soil of a forest, geologically speaking, is the most superficial and mobile layer of the Earth's crust, being the result of weathering and the activities of living beings over millions of years. Therefore, after a fire and the corresponding loss of vegetation cover and soil, changes in the physical features of the soil leave landscapes prone to the forces of erosion: gravity, water and wind.
Soil erosion, run-off and sealing
Extreme fire events contribute to immediate increased erosion, but the long-term prediction of the amount of post-fire erosion depends on a combination of factors linked to landscape conditions, fire characteristics and rainfall patterns in a particular forest biome.
Surface erosion already begins when the forest is in flames, due to the exposure of the soil and rocky components that shape the forest landscape. After this initial phase, erosion acts on the steepest slopes and territories, especially during heavy rain, when increased runoff can leave slopes completely bare.
Faced with a post-fire landscape with little vegetation to quell rain flow and absorb surface water, the amount of water available for runoff increases. Changes in soil porosity, a measure of the spaces in soil that can fill up with air or water, must also be taken into account. Extreme fires can cause the ground surface to be sealed with fine sediments or ashes that restrict the soil's capacity to absorb water after a fire, causing hydrological problems such as water repellency.
Water repellency depends on the properties of the soil and the intensity of the fire heat, which vary in different ecosystems and times of year. Although each fire incidence differs, the reduced ability of the soil to absorb water can be fairly short-lived. In contrast, erosion on slopes after a fire can be significantly higher than the previous dynamics, and can take three years or more to return to pre-fire vegetation and erosion levels.
Ash spills and water contamination risk
Material from eroded hillsides initially fills small streams, until storms then cause large flows of debris after the fire: with water sludge, ashes, metals, organic compounds and sediments depositing downstream into larger water bodies, including rivers and lakes. At the same time, the lack of water absorption by the soil as a result of fire-related impacts leads to higher surface water flows and a slight increase in reservoir water levels.
But while these side effects might have positive implications, others emerge with harmful results for hydrological systems. For example, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a highly toxic organic compound produced when biomass is burned, have been shown to increase in the water slightly after a forest fire. This aspect indicates a potential impact on water supply management of forest watersheds, which may also involve public authorities foreseeing the public health effects of fires as an additional element of water quality deterioration.
Some historical examples demonstrate the catastrophic potential of fires in freshwater ecosystems, with some of the most salient examples in Europe being the forest fires in Portugal and Galicia, Spain. Precisely in these areas of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, villagers commonly refer to the "rivers of ash" that result from forest fires as chapapote do monte (mountain oil) or lava negra (black lava), especially after the disastrous fires that occurred there in 2006 and 2017. The fires devastated more than 80,000 and 40,000 hectares in the region respectively.
Example of forest fire ash spills in Mediterranean streams after runoff. Source: Moisés Cruz Ballesta
Do all fires damage these ecosystems?
As we have seen, the consequences of large, uncontrolled fires can be disastrous for soil and water ecosystems, but this does not imply that fire itself has only negative impacts. In the Mediterranean basin, fire-prone ecosystems need fire as a way of clearing dead vegetation, reducing biomass, enriching the soil and allowing the growth of new plant species.
While megafires induce long-term effects on geomorphological and hydrological processes, which may involve other natural hazards such as floods or mass soil movements, forest areas under controlled conditions can be set on fire, burning fuel that could potentially feed a future wildfire.
Prescribed burning and "backfire" are two strategies that can play a crucial role in mitigating the undesirable effects of potential high intensity fires: both approaches use fire to create a manmade firebreak, or gap, in combustible material to prevent or contain the spread of extreme wildfires. These techniques, together with forest management and restoration measures to prevent erosion, such as building dikes and planting specific trees and vegetation species, help reduce further damage to soil and water ecosystems.
Even with all this knowledge, the impact of fires on these ecosystems still requires deeper study in Mediterranean countries, and calls for a multidisciplinary approach involving hydrology, soil science, chemistry, biology, public health, and even socioeconomic studies to understand the role of people and infrastructure in fire-prone ecosystems.
There is significant variability in the impact of pollution depending on the region's climate system, forest fuels, forest and landscape management as well as existing water supply systems. What is known with certainty, though, is that changes in climatic patterns in the Mediterranean, resulting from global warming and increasingly heavy torrential rains, worsen this problem and increase the risks of post-fire contamination.
Sources & additional information
Larsen, I. J., MacDonald, L. H., Brown, E., Rough, D., Welsh, M. J., Pietraszek, J. H., … & Schaffrath, K. 2009. Causes of post-fire runoff and erosion: water repellency, cover, or soil sealing?. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 73(4), 1393-1407.
Nunes, J.P., Doerr, S., Keesstra, S., Pulquério, M., et al. 2018. Policy brief: impacts of fires on water quality. Results from the Connecteur/PLACARD workshop on Fire impacts on water quality, 14–16 February 2018, Lisbon.
Vallejo, V. Ramon & J. Antonio Alloza. 2015. Chapter 12 – Postfire Ecosystem Restoration. Wildfire Hazards, Risks, and Disasters, 229–46.
McCaw, W. L. 2013. Managing forest fuels using prescribed fire – A perspective from southern Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 294, 217–224.
Diakakis, M., Nikolopoulos, E. I., Mavroulis, S., Vassilakis, E., & Korakaki, E. 2017. Observational evidence on the effects of mega-fires on the frequency of hydrogeomorphic hazards. The case of the Peloponnese fires of 2007 in Greece. Science of the Total Environment, 592, 262–276.
Román, M. V., Azqueta, D., & Rodrígues, M. 2013. Methodological approach to assess the socio-economic vulnerability to wildfires in Spain. Forest Ecology and Management, 294, 158–165.
Pontevedra, S. & Huete, C. October 2017. La lluvia después de los fuegos agrava la pérdida de suelo y contamina las aguas. Retrieved online from El País.
Pardo, M. March 2018. Alerta en ríos y playas gallegas por la contaminación por cenizas de los incendios de octubre. Retrieved online from Eldiario.es.
This article has benefited from contributions by EFI's Mediterranean Facility Junior Researcher Sarah Feder.
VIASarah Feder
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Communications Officer at the European Forest Institute. Responsible for the dissemination of research, activities and projects developed at the EFI's Mediterranean Facility (EFIMED) and its regional network. Based in Barcelona.
The FirEUrisk fuel classification system and the European fuel map
Cesefor - September 8, 2022
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HoliSoils publication on how soil recovers from forest fires
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New post-doc opportunities in the FIRE RES project
Tune to the Forest


When travelling on business, the massive advantage of staying in Serviced Accommodation compared to Hotel accommodation, is the facility of your own kitchen with up to the minute appliances.
To be able to cook what and when you prefer, without having to leave the apartment, is a huge benefit.
It is perfectly appropriate to invite business Colleagues to discuss finer points following on from a previous meeting, over a shared meal. Particularly, as you are able, to welcome them into calm and comfortable surroundings, offering seating at a dinning table, unlike the hotel bedroom that would otherwise be your only available space.
The right environment is crucial for a successful business dinner. Surroundings need to be calm and quiet, to enable the focus to be on the guest(s) and not overshadowed and distracted by other raucous dinners that you will inevitably encounter in most hotel restaurants.
Whether sharing a meal with Colleagues, or eating alone, food prepared in your serviced apartment can be inexpensive, imaginative and healthier than the average processed food on the hotel menu.
Importantly, when away on business, is the necessity to fuel your body and mind. Eating specific foods such as oranges containing vitamin C to boost your energy, Broccoli, containing Vitamin K to promote an alert memory, and fruit and nuts with omega 3 which aids good functioning of the brain.
These foods are imperative to assist the capacity of quick thinking and the ability to keep on top of the fast moving world of commerce. Sadly, too frequently they escape the hotel menu.


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Ford Focus Driven
By Ian Adcock
When Ford unveiled the original Focus way back in 1998 it sent shock waves through the European motor industry. Up to that point Ford's mainstream seller was the Escort, though it was hardly a rival to the all-conquering VW Golf.
The Focus with its combination of edgy styling and a ride and steering combination that beggared belief changed all that. Its novel independent Control Blade rear suspension provided levels of grip and comfort normally associated with far more complex and costly five-link systems.
The orders and accolades came thick and fast: the new Focus was the first car to be nominated as Car Of The Year simultaneously in the U.S. and Europe – it would garner a further 75 awards in the years to come.
Six years and four million sales in 80 countries later, the second generation Focus was revealed to a somewhat less enthusiastic media who believed the new design was not as energetic or bold as the original. Designer, Chris Bird was unrepentant about the car's comparative conservatism in the light of the step change that had been made in quality, justifiably arguing that the goal was to maintain the Focus identity and significantly enhance craftsmanship rather than reinvent the car all over again. Trying to achieve both simultaneously would have led to neither target being achieved. One thing all motoring journalists agreed on, however, was that Ford had done it again in making the new Focus even more fun to drive than the original.
Over the years since the original Focus had been launched, Ford's reputation for producing class leading dynamics had become enviable. The challenge was that this class leadership was disguised by conservative styling.
This is where Martin Smith comes into the picture. Ford of Europe, by now, was headed by Lewis Booth who wanted to combine Ford's outstanding vehicle dynamics with "drop dead gorgeous looks," to quote Smith who joined as head of Ford's European design team in late 2004. Three years later, Smith's design team refreshed that car with a dash of `kinetic design' that was the driving principle behind Smith's creativity.
The introduction of the Focus Ford galvanized its rivals into developing cars that were fun to drive and comfortable and good looking: GM's Astra is markedly better in all respects as is the Golf although its styling evolution is almost glacial it still tops the charts when it comes to interior quality – or does it?
I am about to discover for myself as I get into a Titanium spec Focus powered by the latest 148 bhp EcoBoost engine, which might sound a bit measly, but when combined with 177 lb.- ft. of torque at1600 rpm or 199 lb.-ft. of torque for 15 seconds of hard acceleration delivers an acceptable 8.6 seconds to 62 mph, the same time it takes to cover 31 to 62 mph.
Interior build quality is interesting and youthful in its approach, inspired by the mobile `phones and other electronic gadgetry that we all, irrespective of age, nowadays use.
The biggest difference I detect is how much the Focus has grown over the years. Like the 911 there's more leg, head, shoulder room- the car feels altogether a size bigger than it did in 1998. Like the 911 – is the Cayman the new 911 and the Fiesta the new Focus? We'll find that out with new next generation Mondeo, I suspect.
On the move it's quiet, apart from the usual `pre-production' wind seals that whistle into my ear as I drive over Spain's pool table smooth roads. The gearshift is slick and the engine produces an encouragingly go for it exhaust note. But there is something niggling at the back of my mind: the steering. For the first time on the Focus Ford has employed Electric Power-Assisted Steering after years of development so much, in fact, that Ford rejected it as not good enough for the previous generation. And it's not quite as sharp or responsive as it once was. The challenge Ford has with the Focus is that, and it happens with every car – think how lithesome the original Golf GTi 16-valve was compared to today's car – is that as legislation, product development and growing markets impinge on size, weight and emissions so cars grow: they become bigger and heavier.
That doesn't mean to say the Focus is a bad drive. To the contrary, it's still a terrific car to drive. But, I still want a car to be a little bit feistier in its steering response. In the `States the average Focus buyer might be totally happy – or in China where it will also be made and sold.
The advantage of EPAS is that it can be tuned for local markets so I would like an edgier feel to the new Focus. For that, perhaps I will have to wait for the rumored coupe version. But would it stop me from buying the latest five-door? No.
Driven: 2012 Ford Focus 5-door Hatchback Titanium
Driven: 2011 Ford Focus Zetec-S
Driven: 2012 Ford Focus 1.0L EcoBoost


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Home»celebrity»Is Letitia Wright Gay? Is She Dating Anyone?
Is Letitia Wright Gay? Is She Dating Anyone?
By Marina Daniel November 23, 2022 Updated: November 23, 2022 No Comments5 Mins Read
Is Letitia Wright gay? Everyone is constantly Googling Letitia Wright to find out her age, height and net worth, and everyone is especially curious about her s*xuality. One of the most pressing concerns is whether or not Letitia Wright is a lesbian. We have combined all the data we could find on Letitia Wright, including her age, height, and wealth, in one post.
Is Letitia Wright Gay?
Many people like spreading gossip regarding the s*xual preferences of famous people. Letitia Wright who also happens to be a famous person is included. And now we get to the burning question: Is Letitia Wright gay? Letitia Wright's s*xual orientation is a mystery. Actress Letitia Wright has not disclosed her s*xuality to the world.
Shuri, the computer whiz and badass warrior from Black Panther who was raised without exposure to white racism and toxic masculinity, can't be avoided these days. She's a memorable character in Black Panther because she's tech-savvy, acts like an average kid and commands respect from a CIA agent in the midst of a fight.
Did you know that before she was everyone's favorite new Black Disney princess, she played a baby gay? Yes, you've guessed correctly.
Wright portrays a young, troubled, and naive lesbian in Banana, the follow-up miniseries to Russell T. Davies' cunning Cucumber. She encounters a white, heteros*xual, middle-aged woman who has "Love at First Sight" for her at the grocery store.
Davies is known to some for his roles in the ongoing TV series Doctor Who Confidential and Torchwood. He demonstrates the maturation and refinement of his gay perceptions in Cucumber and Banana.
Like a queerer version of Easy, the book features a wide variety of queer characters, in short, loosely related pieces. Wright directed "Episode 2," which features a terrific bittersweet turn towards the conclusion and is at moments scary, unnerving, adorable and surprising.
Here up-and-coming actress Letitia Wright discusses her part as the young lesbian "Scotty" in the film (but be warned, there may be some spoilers).
As a result, some of Letitia Wright's fans began to speculate about the actress's s*xuality. The reply to that inquiry is:
She does not identify as a lesbian and her s*xual orientation is straight. Shuri, portrayed by Letitia Wright in Black Panther, drives home her point with haughty assumptions about romance in the modern world.
The famous person said, "I believe it's a great and pure thing to say, 'I'm waiting for love,'" in a recent interview with the Independent. She also declared, "I will never use a dating app to find love; I will wait for the right person and save myself for them."
Age of Letitia Wright
The Guyanese-British actress turned 29 on October 31 making her a veteran of the entertainment industry for almost three decades.
How Tall Is Letitia Wright?
How Tall Is Letitia Wright
If you are a fan of Letitia Wright and want to know how tall she is, you can do so now. To put it another way, Letitia Wright is a petite 5 feet, 6 inches.
Boyfriend of Letitia Wright
According to her wiki, Letitia Wright is not dating anyone.
Salary of Letitia Wright
She is worth an estimated $4 million, according to reports.
Letitia Wright Doesn't Play the Dating Game
Actress Letitia Wright has been in the spotlight due to speculation about her love life; she plays T'Challa's younger sister, Shuri, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The actress from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever recently dispelled these accusations in an interview with the Independent. She stated that she is not interested in dating at the present time but is open to the possibility of romance in the future.
Wright gave an interview to Dazed magazine in 2020 during one of their prior research trips. She became well-known after being cast as a pivotal supporting character, and now she complains that she has less free time.
Letitia Wright has revealed that she is extra cautious about meeting new people now that she is famous, and that she doesn't use dating apps because she believes love will find her regardless.
Finding the one true love of my life is the only thing left to accomplish. Done. I'm not interested in any of the website's extra features. My friend enjoys the freedom to go on adventures without worrying about someone shouting, "Oh, my God!" Indefinitely, Wakanda! "She's not struggling with that,"
Wright has been in numerous popular TV shows. Her role as Shuri in the MCU, in which she co-starred with Chadwick Boseman, was her most well-known and renowned. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, her latest film, depicts her carrying on T'Challa's reign as king of Wakanda.
Final Lines
As you have read the above details about being Letitia Wright gay is still a mystery to the world. She has played many roles relating to LGBTQ since she is a child which makes people curious to know more about her. I hope you liked our article. If we got any more details relating to Letitia Wright we will updates this page as soon as possible.
Keep following venturejolt.com for more updates. Don't forget to bookmark our site for the latest updates on celebrities' personal life.
1 Is Letitia Wright Gay?
2 Age of Letitia Wright
3 How Tall Is Letitia Wright?
4 Boyfriend of Letitia Wright
5 Salary of Letitia Wright
6 Letitia Wright Doesn't Play the Dating Game
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Home » pdheopax » Another Coal Plant Closes in Upper Midwest
FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享Wisconsin Public Radio:An energy company is shuttering another coal-fired power plant in Wisconsin. WEC Energy is closing its plant in Green Bay, and it comes on the heels of the company closing another facility in Pleasant Prairie.The Green Bay closure isn't a surprise, the company announced its plans to shutter the plant last year. But now the company has come out with an updated timeline, saying after 90 years of operation, the Pulliam Power Plant in Green Bay will "retire" by the end of 2018. WEC is the parent company of We Energies — which announced earlier this week it will close its plant in Pleasant Prairie — and Wisconsin Public Service, which runs the Pulliam plant.WPS Spokesman Matt Cullen said market forces are also behind the decision to close Pulliam by the end of next year. Low natural gas prices and large-scale solar are making coal less cost effective, Cullen said. He said WEC is making a company-wide effort to move to cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind."We're pursuing the purchase from a developer of utility-scale solar. Also, WPS is one of three utilities here in the state who has reached an agreement to purchase the Forward Wind Energy Center down in the Fond Du Lac area."Cullen said that wind development could generate 57 megawatts of electricity.Forty-six employees work at the Green Bay plant, and Cullen said it's too early to tell what will happen to those employees once the plant closes.Pulliam, named after J.P. Pulliam, a past president of the company, was built in 1927 and sits at the mouth of the Fox River on the western shore of Green Bay.More: Green Bay's Pulliam Plant Will 'Retire' By End Of 2018 Another Coal Plant Closes in Upper Midwest
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Is it mandatory for a muslim to follow a specific madhab (maliki, hanafi, hanbali,etc)?
If it is so, what madhab is the best? Is it true that Abou Hanifa's madhab is the most followed in the muslim world?.
It is not obligatory for a Muslim to follow any particular madhhab among these four. People vary in their level of understanding and ability to derive rulings from the evidence. There are some for whom it is permissible to follow (taqleed), and indeed it may be obligatory in their case. There are others who can only follow the shar'i evidence. In Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah this question was answered in a detailed manner, which is worth quoting here in full.
What is the ruling on following one of the four madhhabs in all cases and situations?
Praise be to Allaah, and blessings and peace be upon His Messenger and his family and companions.
Firstly: the four madhhabs are named after the four imams – Imam Abu Haneefah, Imam Maalik, Imam al-Shaafa'i and Imam Ahmad.
Secondly: These imams learned fiqh (jurisprudence) from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and they are mujtahideen in this regard. The mujtahid either gets it right, in which case he will have two rewards, the reward for his ijtihaad and the reward for getting it right, or he will get it wrong, in which case he will be rewarded for his ijtihaad and will be forgiven for his mistake.
Thirdly: the one who is able to derive rulings from the Qur'aan and Sunnah should take from them like those who came before him; it is not right for him to follow blindly (taqleed) when he is believes that the truth lies elsewhere. Rather he should follow that which he believes is the truth. It is permissible for him to follow in matters in which he is unable to come to a conclusion based on the Qur'aan and Sunnah and he needs guidelines concerning a particular issue.
Fourthly: Whoever does not have the ability to derive rulings himself is permitted to follow one whom he feels comfortable following. If he is not comfortable following him then he should ask until he finds someone with whom he is comfortable.
Fifthly: From the above it is clear that we should not follow their opinions in all situations and at all times, because they may make mistakes, but we may follow their views that are sound and are based on the evidence.
Whoever is qualified to derive rulings from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and has strong knowledge in that regard, even if that is with the help of the legacy of fiqh that we have inherited from earlier scholars of Islam, has the right to do that, so he can act upon it himself and explain it in disputes and issue fatwas to those who consult him. Whoever is not qualified to do that has to ask trustworthy people who so that he may learn the rulings from their books and act upon that, without limiting his asking or his reading to one of the scholars of the four madhhabs. Rather people refer to the four imams because they are so well known and their books are well written and widely available.
Whoever says that it is obligatory for the learned people to follow the scholars blindly in all cases is making a mistake and being inflexible, and is thinking that these learned people are inadequate, and he is restricting something that is broad in scope.
Whoever says that we should limit following to the four madhhabs is also mistaken, because he is restricting something that is broad in scope with no evidence for doing so. With regard to the common (i.e., uneducated) man there is no difference between the four imams and others such as al-Layth ibn Sa'd, al-Awzaa'i and other fuqaha'.
None of them called people to follow his madhhab, or was partisan in following it, or obliged anyone else to act in accordance with it or with a specific madhhab. Rather they used to call people to follow the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and they would comment on the texts of Islam, and explain its basic principles and discuss minor issues according to general guidelines, and issue fatwas concerning what people asked about, without obliging any of their students or anyone else to follow their views. Rather they criticized those who did that and said that their opinions should be cast aside if they went against a saheeh hadeeth. One of them said: "If the hadeeth is saheeh then that is my madhhab." May Allaah have mercy on them all.
So he has to strive to ask one whom he trusts among those who are well known for their knowledge, virtue, piety and righteousness.
The madhhab of Abu Haneefah (may Allaah have mercy on him) is the most widespread madhhab among the Muslims, and perhaps one of the reasons for that is that the Ottoman caliphs followed this madhhab and they ruled the Muslim lands for more than six centuries. That does not mean that the madhhab of Abu Haneefah is the most sound madhhab or that every ijtihaad in it is correct, rather like other madhhabs it contains some things that are correct and some that are incorrect. What the believer must do is to follow the truth and what is correct, regardless of who says it.


If this guy doesn't get the gig, there is truly no justice in the world.
"This news shocked and blindsided me as much as it has all of you," says Jordison.
This concludes our regularly scheduled programming for 2013.
He also has some progress updates on The 'Knot's new album.
Let's play fantasy line-up change, shall we?
Former labelmates and dudes who like being in bands whose names start with the letter "S" stream their latest offerings.
Don't get too excited, it's pretty lousy.
And you can watch some video footage of 'em, too.


New Magento Purchases tab displays the list of product recently purchased by a customer. The tab appears at both Magento Customer and Account views.
Profiles for guest Magento customers can now be created based on first & last name combination in order to accommodate setups where all guest purchases are recorded with the same email address.


Garden mirrors are a useful, effective and attractive addition to any type of garden. Cut from reflective plastic, people often use a garden mirror as a safer, more robust and even more affordable alternative to domestic mirrors – which are usually made from aluminium glass. In terms of garden design, outdoor mirrors are said to be the perfect way to make your garden look considerably larger than it actually is.
That said, there are also plenty of other benefits.
Plastic garden mirror sheets can be cut to any shape or size you require.
This doesn't just enable you to tailor the size of the mirror to appropriately scale up to your garden space, but it also allows you to get creative with the design of your outdoor area.
Outdoor garden mirrors add a decorative and magical element when placed in the right areas where they have the potential to be at their most effective.
This includes the areas of your garden where the mirror is likely to be exposed to a good level of natural light, and also at an angle or position where it can emphasise the scope of your garden.
They can also be used as outdoor illusion mirrors when fitted around gates or doors. They do an extremely good job of making it appear like there is another garden area beyond your property – when in reality, the mirrors simply project the reflection of your own garden.
The same can be said for garden wall mirrors that can be installed as 'fake windows' to project that same optical illusion effect. This is a great way to add mystique whilst again fulfilling the main purpose of appearing to make your garden bigger than its actual size.
All we need to know is the shape and size you require in order to give you a quote.
Simply enter your preferences and purchase your new garden mirror from us today.
Are there different types of garden mirror?
The Plastic People provide many different types of garden mirror which can be bought as sheets or cut to your required size or shape.
The silver mirror effect tends to work nicely when placed on external brickwork or fencing. And can also be used as garden illusion mirrors that can be placed anywhere in the garden – even as part of a water feature.
When bonding mirrored acrylic to wood, brick or plaster – look no further than our Acrylic Mirror Adhesive. If you opt for this method, then you ideally need to fix the mirror to a non-porous, dry and dust-free surface.
You also need to ensure that the mirror is sealed around the edge with a silicone sealant suitable for acrylic and external use.
Failing this, you can always mechanically fix mirrored acrylic with screws.
Do I need to be worried about the weather damaging my garden mirror?
Due to moisture and changes in temperature, plastic mirrors do weather outdoors over time, however the mirror itself will still remain reflective.
However, plastic mirrors for the garden tend to succumb to far less wear and tear than standard glass interior mirrors.
This is because exposure to water can often separate the reflective surface from the glass, whereas plastic sheets tend to deal much better with moisture.
How much does a garden mirror typically cost?
It depends on your own personal requirements.
The Plastic People can cut silver and gold acrylic (perspex) sheets to size and shape based on your specific preferences.
Obviously, the more plastic you need, the higher the quote will be. Our on-site price calculator provides more guidance on this.
For cut to size plastic mirrors, all you need to enter your required dimensions in either millimetres, centimetres or inches.
Cut to shape requirements on the other hand, vary based on the shape of plastic you choose from the six shapes available.
What are garden mirrors made from?
Plastic mirror sheets from The Plastic People are made from acrylic (perspex).
This type of plastic is known for being highly durable. This makes it the ideal material for a garden mirror, and much safer than glass.
A better alternative to glass (acrylic sheets are 17x stronger).
Acrylic sheets are also more affordable than glass.
Acrylic sheets are very versatile. You can use them virtually anywhere around the exterior of your home and needn't worry about them becoming weathered over time.
As mentioned above, all of our acrylic sheets can also be cut to size, polished and drilled to suit your needs – so come and start your garden mirror project with us today.


Blend the mellow tones of Norah Jones with the quirky pop of Feist and the fire of Ani DiFranco into a Chagall painting, and you get Keppie Coutts. Keppie's tunes are earthy, sophisticated, and direct – heart-squeezing, uplifting, and sometimes hilarious. Multi-Grammy award-winning artist John Mayer heard a new tune of Keppie's ('Waiting for the Avalanche') and within a week, had taken it into the studio in Boston to record. Keppie had scored a private audience with Mayer as one of 12 young songwriters hand-selected to spend the week with Mayer in 2008.
Keppie started out spreading her words as poetry at local Sydney arts haunts and indie spaces. The immediate connection that she forms with an audience saw Keppie performing at some of Sydney's best-known venues for live music, including international jazz-hub, The Basement as part of a selection of the city's best songwriters.
A sojourn to the States saw Coutts catapult from student to faculty at the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 5 short years, teaching in the Songwriting Department in 2010. Since then, Keppie's music has appeared on international radio and prime time television, and Coutts has taught songwriting at the Songwriting School of Los Angeles, Berklee Online, and for us at the Conservatoirum Open Academy in her native Sydney.


SSS Film Capital, a newly created unit, will leverage the new funds for secured and unsecured debt positions on upcoming projects. Founded in 2007, SSS has backed about 30 film and TV titles to date, including King Cobra, the Bruce Willis-starring 10 Minutes Gone and the James Franco-directed The Pretenders.
"I'm thrilled to be partnering with Red River Bank as we continue to grow our slate and move into bigger-budget fare with bigger talent. We all hail from the same community in Louisiana and their values and professionalism reflect my own," Sanghani said.
Axis Sally, with Al Pacino, based on the true story a woman who unwittingly became the voice of German propaganda targeted to American troops. The film, which is also backed by MoviePass, is in production now in Puerto Rico.
Another SSS war-film credit is Vietnam War drama The Last Full Measure, which stars Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, William Hurt and Christopher Plummer. The portrayal of the real-life heroics of Airmen 1st Class William H. Pitsenbarger to save dozens of lives during the war, was picked up by Roadside Attractions and is slated for a nationwide theatrical release this spring.
"We are excited about the opportunity to work with talented homegrown individuals such as Shaun Sanghani who are making an impact in the film industry," Red River EVP Bryon C. Salazar said.


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Q: express.js PUT method doesn't run properly I am making a simple project for practicing node and express. My GET methods work with no problem but my PUT method doesn't run. I don't know why nor how to fix it.
I tried putting my PUTmethod before my GET methods but it doesn't change a thing.
  app.get("/", (req, res)=>{
res.send("Welcome to our website");
  });

  app.get("/animes", (req, res)=>{
res.send(dataFile.animes);
  });

  app.get("/animes/:id", (req, res)=>{
res.send(dataFile.animes[req.params.id]);
  });

  app.put("/update", (req, res)=>{
console.log("hello");
  });

On the browser it keeps showing  "Cannot GET /update"

A: To perform PUT and POST requests you would need a client supporting the method; if you try it in the browser, it will perform a GET by default, that's why the browser displays: "Cannot GET /update".
If you want to consume the PUT you would need a client like CURL https://curl.haxx.se/ or Postman https://www.getpostman.com/.
If you have CURL and the server is running in the port 3000 it would be:
curl -X PUT localhost:3000/update


Whether you are going to the gym for some sport or you are in a mood to rest while listening to music, relax with the beat of your favorite song and don't worry about the battery. This elegant designed Ring Shaped & Waterproof Qi Wireless Charger & Bluetooth Speaker has both the functionality of qi wireless charger and Bluetooth speaker. Charge your phone while listening to your music at the same time.
It features a ring shape design that has the wireless charging pad at its top. A modern uptake to wireless charging, it is waterproof, hence you don't have to worry about it getting soak. It features a touch display screen as well that shows time while charging and playing music at the same time.
Just place your handset on Samsung/iPhone wireless charging pad for seamless charging. The speaker doesn't interfere with the charging with its sound. You can use controls through the buttons at the bottom of the wireless charging pad.
Don't worry about the phone battery while listening to your favorite song as it will be charging the handset and letting you enjoy the music at the same time.
The wireless charger, no USB interface required.
The charging is focused on a single point. It prevents from charging loss and provides more fast charging.
It features Bluetooth 4.0 & NFC with state of the art APT-X Codec acoustic component to provide you 360 degree surround field music experience. It lets you enjoy 10W powerful Hifi stereo music.
The speaker lets you enjoy high-quality stereo music and audio sound. You can enjoy the theater effect at home.
The phone holder has non-slip rubber design and comfortable viewing angle.
Speaker has a stylish simple, compact and non-slip design. Hi-Fi sound with surround sound design. This powerful Hi-Fi home stereo has a clear tweeter and a powerful subwoofer. Compatible with computer and iPad and all smartphone.