text:
Getting the most out of PV farm refurbishment
Refurbishing solar farms can be a major financial opportunity for operators. Service providers specialising in this area see it as a lucrative business for both parties.
Authoring Information:
Martin Frey for SUN & WIND ENERGY
An ever-increasing number of solar plants have been in operation for ten years or more, which in many cases leaves its mark on the system components. In most cases, the plant still has many years of attractive compensation ahead of it. And even for the time beyond that, operators should consider whether a refurbishment or optimisation might make sense.
In large solar plants, even small improvements can bring big yield increases. The reasons for yield losses are often problems that can be attributed to inferior products or installation mistakes. When solar was booming, projects could often not be completed fast enough. To make matters worse, some operators invested too little in maintenance and service. This has come back later to haunt them in the form of damage and massive revenue losses.
Good advice is often needed. Expert appraisals provide initial information on how to deal with the damage, which can be quite complicated in certain cases. The options range from repair or replacement of components to retrofitting of monitoring systems and data exchange.
As an international operator with more than three gigawatts of plant capacity in its portfolio, BayWa r.e. has a wealth of knowledge in this area. Christoph Reiners, managing director of BayWa r.e. Operation Services GmbH, explains: "It is usually the modules, inverters and cables that are faulty, and that is also where yield can be optimised." Installed components from insolvent manufacturers present a particular challenge, he says. According to Reiners, expertise with older components, whose manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy and gone out of business, is in demand.
Positive market development
The solar farm refurbishment market in general offers a broad range of opportunities for companies specialising in this sector: "Because components are getting older, we are currently dealing with a rapidly growing market," says BayWa r.e., which has access to a broad international network. The recent acquisition of Sybac Service GmbH has also bolstered the company's position in the German market.
Sönke Jäger, the technical director of Adler Solar Services GmbH, also expects increasing growth in the short to medium term with regard to repowering under the EEG. In addition, solar farms that are no longer covered by the EEG due to the length of their service lives are becoming attractive, he says. Wi Solar GmbH sees growth due to the withdrawal of former operators from the market: " This means that a number of old systems have no support," says Martin Gött, head of service & maintenance at Wi Solar, describing the current situation.
Some operators still on the fence
However, IBC Solar AG is only cautiously optimistic. At present the market could better be described as satisfactory, says Oliver Partheymüller, the firm's head of project development and project management in Germany: "In our opinion, optimising solar farms offers greater market potential. But in practice it has scarcely been tapped into so far for economic reasons." As long as the systems are in good running order, components are only replaced where damage occurs.
In addition to solar farms with thin-film panels, which we have converted into crystalline plants, we have also had projects that involved retrofitting and converting design from central-inverter to string-inverter based," says business developer Stefan Wippich. Envaris is a partner in Secondsol GmbH in Meiningen, Germany, a company that trades in used modules. Its managing director Frank Fiedler also says that business is good: "In the last quarter of 2017 alone, Secondsol's Repowering unit purchased and resold around 400,000 used modules." In the previous year, the figure was around 250,000.
In addition to the German market, international markets are also picking up: Belectric Solarkraftwerke GmbH says that owners' willingness to untertake refurbishments is primarily evident in other European countries at present, particularly in Italy. Encome Energy Performance GmbH in Klagenfurt, Austria, also reports major orders in the engineering and consulting business, especially in Europe and Australia.
Finally, Meteocontrol GmbH is also keenly interested in international territory in the field of refurbishment, as Managing Director Robert Pfatischer explains: "The emerging PV markets such as India, Japan, China, South America and the USA are of particular interest to us, but the European market has also remained very stable. Most providers have the entire spectrum of plant refurbishment services in their portfolio. This begins with the appraisal. The first step is a yield analysis and comparison with simulation values, preferably at the module row level, so that damage can be optimally localised.
This is usually followed by technical checks, such as irradiation measurements, I-V curve assessments, isolation measurements and thermal imaging inspections. The latter can not only indicate faults in modules, but also detect overheating of other components such as inverters and cables. For more specific tests on solar modules, such as by electroluminescence or with lasers for power measurement, system components must be removed and examined in more detail in mobile or stationary laboratories.
Refurbishment requires careful planning
All of the tests are documented and used to create an individual planning concept. Essential components of such a concept are a set of recommended actions, a profitability analysis and the design of the technical refurbishment concept with a project schedule. Subsequently, an offer is prepared, and individual financing options can be examined. It is also important to check possible guarantee and warranty claims.
But be careful: it does not always make economic sense to repair defects immediately. Meteocontrol advises asking whether repairs are necessary for safety reasons. "Does the economic damage have to be contained immediately, or can the fault be remedied as part of regular plant maintenance, if need be?" In any case, says the company, a detailed analysis of the technical and economic conditions should precede the decision.
Thermal imaging cameras, mounted here on a drone, enable rapid detection of module defects. (Photo: BayWa r.e.)
Once the order has been placed, work can begin in the solar farm. When replacing the solar panels, disposal of the old modules should also be considered. Once the work is complete, a test run begins with monitoring, documentation and handover. At that point, the operator should consider taking out a suitable service and maintenance contract as soon as possible to avoid any further damage in the future.
Causes of poor yield
Since refurbishing a solar farm can be associated with higher costs, it is advisable to take a close look in advance at what is causing the lower yields. In principle, the defects could be hiding in any component, but some are more likely than others.
In the solar farm, weak areas can be identified with data readouts. (Photo: BayWa r.e.)
"In the course of regular system operation, owners should expect the inverters to need replacement once during the service life of the plant," says Meteocontrol. By contrast, the modules can be expected to operate stably for at least 25 years throughout the service life of the system. But this only applies if they have no damage due to microcracks or other defects.
Meteocontrol knows that in most cases it is rather easy to remedy circumstances that cause a reduction in power production: "Often shading by grass or a general soiling of modules significantly reduces the yield." At Envaris, the shading problem sometimes has a simple solution. If the lower module rows are shaded at certain times of the year, changing the wiring is often sufficient to increase the yield of the system.
In addition to glass breakage and delamination, degradation effects are always an issue with solar modules. "If faults are detected early or in greater detail - at the level of individual strings, for example - they can be rectified faster and more cost-effectively," says Stefan Wippich from Envaris GmbH. In the case of potential induced degradation (PID), Meteocontrol first tries to find out whether the process can be reversed by changing the earthing concept.
With other components, too, the solutions can be surprisingly simple. For example, when dealing with central inverters, sometimes greater efficiencies can be achieved just by replacing individual components. Changes in monitoring can also increase earnings in such systems. Only once these steps have been exhausted is changing panels necessary.
When does refurbishment make sense?
Given the choice between replacing modules and repairing them, most providers of solar farm refurbishment services clearly prefer the first option. Encome Energy Performance GmbH usually replaces defective modules with new or used modules. Belectric also says that replacement is always the first choice, provided the warranty conditions cover it.
Repairing modules, on the other hand, usually makes little economic sense, not least in view of the massive drop in module prices. Repairs are still most likely to be used in cases of serial defects where the high number of units can justify the whole procedure. In practice, replacing defective junction boxes or diodes appear to be relatively simple repairs.
Added space included
By contrast, replacing modules offers the operator an additional benefit that should not be underestimated: "If modules are replaced, their higher capacity results in additional space for enlarging the photovoltaic plant," says Stefan Wippich from Envaris GmbH. If the grid connection point and the feed-in tariff under the EEG allow it, this could be a very lucrative proposition for operators.
Whatever the individual case for refurbishment, these various approaches provide examples of how subjecting their old solar power plants to a detailed analysis and then a thorough face-lift can be increasingly worthwhile for operators.
Replacing modules often makes more economic sense than costly repairs. (Photo: BayWa r.e.)

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Nigerianflightdeck.com has learnt that Aero Contractors currently owes its workers two months salaries and gratuities amounting two years and there are palpitations of hearts of the workers over the uncertainty of their pay as the airline is in a financial mess.
Around the airport today and all over social media both Aero workers and non workers are asking the fate of the staff who are always caught in the wrong end of this kind of situation and the signals are not looking encouraging to say the least.
It is against this backdrop that the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association (ATSSSAN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) will be meeting the Aero Management tomorrow to ensure their workers are not booted out without their livelihood.
NUATE scribe, Comrade Olayinka Abioye who spoke to our reporter over the phone described the suspension as a sad commentary for the airline industry, while praying that the airline restructures as it says and does not go the way of others before it.
Abioye was however concerned about the level of indebtedness of the airline to its workers, stating that is the reason the unions will meet the management in tomorrows parley.
Abioye who said that Aero over the many years that it has served did not have a major incident or accident, called on government to reach out and save the airline.


text:
Fernanda D'Avila
Born in (1987) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Fernanda D'avila was bullied during her childhood for being overweight. This is what motivated her to start lifting weights to sculpt a toned physique.
By 2007, at the age of 20, Fernanda had made serious progress and developed an aesthetic figure. A few years later, she became a dancer for a popular Brazilian TV show – it was here that she gained the attention of her country.
It wasn't long until she became a national celebrity, known for her tiny waist and amazing physique.
By 2016, at 29-years-old, Fernanda had been recognized around the world on social media, attaining millions of followers on Instagram. The Brazilian icon has helped inspire countless fans to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Full Name: Fernanda D'avila
Weight Height Bust Hips
115 - 125lbs (52.2 - 56.7kg) 5'5" (165cm) 32" 35"
Waist Year of Birth Nationality
25" 1987 Brazilian
Professional Dancer 2010
Hips 35"
Nationality Brazilian
Profession Professional Dancer
Fernanda has been gifted with amazing genetics – this allows her to stay lean and toned with minimal effort.
She runs on the treadmill for 15 minutes per session and performs sit-ups every day. Fernanda relies on her clean diet to maintain her incredible physique.
Fernanda grew up naturally curvy, but due to a poor diet, she was slightly overweight as a child.
Once she stopped eating junk food and chocolates, her genetics allowed her to sculpt an incredible physique very quickly. She plans her meals around lean proteins, green vegetables, and complex carbs.
However, unlike other fitness stars, Fernanda stays away from dairy products – she keeps her fat and lactose intake as low as possible.
What we can learn from Fernanda D'Avila
Fernanda has taught us that anything is possible to turn your life around. She was picked on at school for being overweight, but by the age of 29, she'd become an international fitness icon known for her incredible figure.
Although she isn't a competitive athlete, Fernanda has inspired many top female bikini models such as Shannah Baker. She's made a huge impact in the fitness industry by sharing her journey with fans around the world.
Don't let anything get you down – Fernanda came out stronger than her childhood bullies and used them as motivation to better herself and achieve her dream physique.


Sandy Schwartz, a nurse and Army wife, was active in military family support programs for many years.
She was one of the founders of MCEC and served as one of the first co-chairs of the MCEC board.
She and her husband, Tom, retired to Spring Branch, Texas, in 2002 after 31 years in the Army. They have four children and eleven grandchildren.


text:
Titanfall on Xbox 360 Delayed to April
By: Tom | Xbox 360 News | March 19, 2014
EA, publisher of Microsoft exclusive Titanfall, announced a delay of the Xbox 360 version of the critically acclaimed shooter to April 8th in North America and April 11th in Europe. The game was originally set to launch March 25th at the respective territories. There is no word specifically as to why the delay was made, but the game being so close to launch indicates it must be incredibly important to the stability or playability of the game.
If you cannot wait to get your hands on the game, the Xbox One and PC versions have been available since March 11th, and to find out what we thought of the game, check out our review.


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UAE call to ban hypnotic music as illegal 'digital drug'
Top official believes audio files called 'binaural beats' - used to help people obtain altered states of consciousness, either for meditation, alertness or to aid sleep - should be dealt with like cannabis and ecstasy.
Binaural beats are generally used to reach altered states of consciousness, for meditation or alertness or to aid sleep.
Martin Croucher
DUBAI // A police scientist is calling for a type of hypnotic music to be banned by law in the same way as drugs.
Dr Sarhan Al Meheini, deputy director of the Police Sciences Academy in Sharjah, believes audio files called "binaural beats" should be dealt with like cannabis and ecstasy.
Binaural beats are generally used to reach altered states of consciousness, for meditation or alertness or to aid sleep, but many producers claim the technology can mimic the effect of drugs on the brain.
There is no scientific evidence for their claims and reviews are mixed at best, but Dr Al Meheini believes "digital drugs" pose a risk to society.
"It's important that we warn the public and start a campaign to make people aware of it," he said. "It's already spread around the world and can be downloaded in the UAE and listened to by college students.
"Right now it's not illegal but it should be, because it's a danger to society."
A US company, I-Doser, has tracks on its website with names such as cocaine, opium and peyote that can be bought for US$3.25 (Dh11.9) each. The website is not blocked.
The company also produces tracks that purportedly simulate orgasms, and others claim to take listeners to the "gates of hell".
YouTube has dozens of videos of teenagers having convulsions while listening to the music.
I-Doser carried out a survey that found almost a fifth (17 per cent) of listeners felt no effect from its products.
"Our doses attempt to simulate the effects of real-world experiences, drugs included," a spokesman for the company said. "Whether it is exactly the same depends on the person, but effects are intended to be close."
The effect of binaural beats or tones - when sounds of slightly different frequencies are played through each ear, the brain perceives a third "phantom" beat - was discovered in 1839 by the German physicist Heinrich Wilhelm Dove, but did not gain widespread public attention until the 1970s.
One study has shown that binaural beats can be a minor aid to relaxation.
A Dubai resident, Jessica Body, uses an iPhone app that plays binaural beats to help her sleep.
"It's brilliant, I use it all the time," she said. "When I have a busy, racing mind, it just helps put me to sleep."
Madina Burkhanova, business development manager at the Dubai meditation school the Third Eye Centre, used binaural beats regularly for a year before switching to breathing exercises.
"You can come to rely on it to get you into different states of mind," she said.
She was not aware of binaural beats being used in the same way as drugs. "I don't really understand the concept of it," Ms Burkhanova said.
Dr Al Meheini conducted a survey of an undisclosed number of students and found digital drugs were not well known in universities.
But he called for a campaign in schools to educate children on their harmful effects.
Dr Al Meheini also urged that websites selling the audio files should be blocked, and digital drugs listed among other illegal drugs.
It is believed to be the first time regulation has been considered for binaural beats. A spokesman for I-Doser said the company had not run into legal issues before.
"These are audio files and are in no way illegal in any country, as far as we are aware," he said.
mcroucher@thenational.ae
talsubaihi@thenational.ae
ADMTechnologyNATIONALSharjah
Blinken reiterates commitment to helping Gulf partners against Houthi threats
How animals on the brink of extinction are being saved in the Gulf
News Analysis: Regional stability red lines supported by Russia and China


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Learning Target: Washington Educational Technology Standard 1.3.3 c: Begin to recognize potential bias in websites.
Partners begin exploring websites for veracity.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, student perform a reading of Mary Howitt's "The Spider and the Fly." Table groups then recite one poem of their choice.
Learning Target: 21st Century Learning Standard Standard 4.1.1.1: Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth.
To interest students in historical fiction, they perform a reader's theater from the book A Single Shard.
Learning Target: Common Core Reading Literature Standard 4.9: Compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics (e.g., opposition of good and evil) and patterns of events (e.g., the quest) in stories, myths, and traditional literature from different cultures.
We read from Trickster and discuss folktale traits.
We read from Longhouse Legends and discuss folktale traits.
Learning Target: Common Core Reading Information Standard 4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
Students perform a Reader's Theater from Freedom on the Menu.
Students assess their progress on reading goals.
Learning Target: Common Core Reading Literature Standard 4.2: Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.
Learning Target: 21st Century Learning Standard 1.1.2.4: Identify and use appropriate sources to acquire background information.
Partners get acquainted with research tool Webpath Express.
We ready ourselves for our upcoming visit with uber-cool author Kelly Milner Halls.
We review parameters for first Annual Bryant Library Read-A-Thon! We also discuss our upcoming visit with uber-cool author Kelly Milner Halls.
Students discover new reads via Novelist, an online book finder.
Learning Target: 21st Century Learning Standard 3.3.5: Contribute to the exchange of ideas within and beyond the learning community.
Learning Target: Common Core Speaking and Listening Standard 4.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Mimicking the Global Reading Challenge, we break students into two teams for Jeopardy reading game. Students interested in GRC may take a form home to families for consideration.
Learning Target: Common Core Reading Literature Standard 4.10: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
To glean a sense of the Global Reading Challenge, students listen to Jon Sciezka's short story, "Under the Rug," in preparation for a Jeopardy reading game next week.
Partners collaborate in a Kahoots game on Bryant Library policies and procedures.
Learning Target: 21st Century Learning Standard 4.11: Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth.
Welcome back! We reacquaint students with Bryant Library's systems and procedures and share ideas for great reads.


Artisan Movers is a family owned Rockville moving company serving all of Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia. We provide local and long distance residential and commercial moving services. In addition if you\'d like the ultimate in a stress-free move experience we providing packing services as well. The secret to our great reputation online is that each of our movers are career professionals. We only hire very experienced movers and never train on the job. That means your belongings will be very well protected and in the best care possible when you book your move with Artisan Movers.
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A book on creating delightful iOS animations in Swift 4. From beginning to advanced topics like layer animations, view controller transitions, and more.
Make Delightful Animations with Swift 4!
This book is for iOS developers who already know the basics of iOS and Swift 4, and want to dive deep into animations.
Start with basic view animations and move all the way to layer animations, animating constraints, view controller transitions, and more!
These five chapters will introduce you to the animation API of UIKit. This API is specifically designed to help you animate your views with ease while avoiding the complexity of Core Animation, which runs the animations under the hood. Though simple to use, the UIKit animation API provides you with lots of flexibility and power to handle most, if not all, of your animation requirements.
You'll learn how to move, scale and fade views. You'll create a number of different animations to get comfortable with Swift and the basic UIKit APIs.
You'll build on the concepts of linear animation and create more eye-catching effects using spring-driven animations. Boiiing!
You'll learn about several class methods in UIKit that help you animate views in or out of the screen. These one-line API calls make transition effects easy to achieve.
This chapter teaches you how to combine techniques you've already learned in creative ways to build up even cooler animations.
You'll use keyframe animations to unlock the ultimate achievement of an impressive UI: creating elaborate animation sequences built from a number of distinct stages.
Auto Layout has been around for a while now – it was first introduced in iOS 6 and has gone through a series of successful iterations with each release of iOS and Xcode. The core idea behind Auto Layout is incredibly simple: it lets you define the layout of the UI elements of your app based on relationships you create between each of the elements in the layout. Although you may have used Auto Layout for static layouts, you'll go beyond that in this section and work with constraints in code to animate them!
This is a crash course on Auto Layout in case you're not familiar with it already; you'll need this for the next chapter.
Once you've worked through the project in Chapter 6, you'll add a number of animations to it and put your newfound knowledge to good use.
Now that you are proficient in creating view animations, it's time to dig a bit more deeply and look into the Core Animation APIs on a lower, more powerful level. In this section of the book, you'll learn about animating layers instead of views and how to make use of special layers.
You'll start with the simplest layer animations, but also learn about debugging animations gone wrong.
Here you gain more control over the currently running animations and use delegate methods to react to animation events.
In this chapter you combine a number of simple animations and run them together as a group.
Take a tour of the shiny new CASpringAnimation class in iOS 9, which allows you to easily create layer spring animations.
Here you'll learn about layer keyframe animations, which are powerful and slightly different than view keyframe animations.
Draw shapes on the screen via CAShapeLayer and animate its special path property.
Learn how to use CAGradientLayer to help you draw and animate gradients.
Here you will draw shapes interactively and work with some powerful features of keyframe animations.
Learn about the little known but powerful CAReplicatorLayer class.
By now you know how to create a wide range of beautiful animations for your apps. You've experimented with moving, scaling and fading views, animating different types of layers – and a whole lot more. It's time to learn how to use these animation techniques in the broader context of app navigation and layout. You've animated multiple views and layers already, but now take a bigger-picture perspective and think about animating entire view controllers!
Learn how to present view controllers via custom animated transitions.
You'll build upon your skills with presenting view controllers and develop a really neat reveal transition for a navigation controller app.
Learn how to make the reveal transition interactive: the user will be able to scrub back and forth through the animated transition!
UIViewPropertyAnimator is a class introduced in iOS10, which helps developers create interactive, interruptible view animations. When you run animations via an animator, you have the possibility to adjust those animations on the fly - you can pause, stop, reverse, and alter the speed of animations that are already running. In this section of the book, you are going to work on a project featuring plenty of different view animations, which you are going to implement by using UIViewPropertyAnimator.
Learn how to create basic view animations and keyframe animations. You'll look into using custom timing that goes beyond the built-in easing curves.
In this chapter you are going to learn about using animators with Auto Layout. Further, you will learn how to reverse animations or make additive animations for smoother changes along the way.
Learn how to drive your animations interactively based on the user's input. For extra fun you'll look into both basic and keyframe animations interactivity.
Create custom View Controller transitions using a UIViewPropertyAnimator to drive the transition animations. You will create both static and interactive transitions.
This section of the book will show you how to position and rotate layers in 3D space. You'll work with a special property of CATransform3D: namely, the transformation class applied to layers. CATransform3D is similar to CGAffineTransform, but in addition to letting you scale, skew and translate in the x and y directions, it also brings in the third dimension: z. The z-axis runs straight out of the device screen towards your eyes.
Learn how to set up your layers in 3D space, how to choose the distance from the camera to your layer, and how to create animations in your 3D scene.
Go further into 3D space and learn about some of the more advanced ways to create 3D Animations.
In the first four sections of this book, you learned about the core APIs and classes behind iOS animations. There are two more specialized topics, particle emitters and frame animations, that don't fit in with any the previous sections, so you get a bit of a breather from keyframes and 3D animations!
Learn how to use UIKit's built-in particle emitters to create a fun snowfall effect.
Learn how to sequence multiple images together into a flipbook-style animation.
Very useful from a practical point of view. After reading a few chapters you are ready to be an animation rock star. Seriously worth reading.
This book has become my single authoritative source for iOS animations. Marin introduces the rich complexities of the technology and distills it down into easily digestible layers.
ands down the best book to start learning animations for the iOS platform. Clear, concise writing with a lot of diagrams to help the reader follow along.


A large silhouette of a bull called the "Toro de Osborne" suddenly appears in the landscape of Echigo-Tsumari. This 10m-tall black signboard is a well-recognised symbol in Spain where the artist is originally from. It is set amidst nature on top of a hilly area, standing bravely like a narrow shadow. What would this symbol of Spain with her different history and culture represent in the familiar landscape of Echigo-Tsumari? The artist who has been questioning the operation of power in the civilised world across history poses a question on the significance of the signboard.


Northwestern Medicine offers safety and educational programs to help keep your employees safer and your workplace more productive. Our services include numerous educational programs to help enhance safety efforts at your workplace and make sure you remain in compliance.
Our specialists include board-certified physicians, nurses and medical staff that work together to supplement your existing medical program.
These specialists are well–versed in the changing environment and regulations that impact your business.


text:
PNG Ports welcomes Maersk shipping to Wewak & Madang ports
Announcement by Maersk Lines, the world's leading container shipping company to add Wewak and Madang as the latest ports of call in Papua New Guinea is welcomed by PNG Ports Corporation Limited (PNG Ports).
"The decision by Maersk Lines is a show of confidence in PNG Ports and we will work with the shipping company to ensure that it delivers cargo to its clients in that part of the country safely and on schedule," PNG Ports Acting Managing Director Stanley Alphonse said.
Mr Alphonse said this expansion was welcome news for 2017 because Maersk Lines is already sending its vessels into Lae and Port Moresby ports.
"Our operations team including staff at the ports of Madang and Wewak will ensure that relevant port services are provided efficiently as usual."
"We will work with Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) and other key stakeholders to ensure that all our services are provided on time as we aim for faster turnaround times," Mr. Alphonse said.
Maersk Lines latest announcement titled 'Maersk Line to add direct port calls in Madang and Wewak' was posted on their website on Monday, January 16, 2017. The shipping company stated that "Maersk Line and Inchcape Shipping Services are pleased to share our upgraded service offering for 2017."
"In addition to the existing ports calls of Port Moresby and Lae we will add direct calls to the ports of Madang and Wewak."
"This service expansion is part of our long term commitment to provide customers in PNG with competitive and reliable transport solutions," Maersk Lines announced.
Details of the service upgrade are as follows:
Effective March 2017.
Vessels will call Port Moresby-Lae-Madang-Wewak on each voyage through Papua New Guinea.
Rabaul and Kimbe will continue to be serviced with domestic coastal relay from Lae.
Contact details will remain unchanged and the usual team will be on hand to answer any questions one may have.
Maersk Lines and ISS are introducing this change in order to expand their PNG coverage and enable faster transit times from these key ports into the rest of the world with their comprehensive global coverage.
Maersk Line is the world's largest container shipping company, known for reliable, flexible and eco-efficient services.
They provide ocean transportation in all parts of the world and serve customers through 306 offices in 114 countries.


text:
Q: How to use Dataframes in pyspark machine learning? I've learned briefly how to use RDDs to build ML models but in the past i've typically built my ML models using dataframes. I know spark.ml is the DataFrame API for spark machine learning but I haven't been able to find examples on how to utilize it.
My question is can you provide an example of how Dataframes can be used to build a spark machine learning model?
P.S. Sorry if this question is not appropriate, wasn't sure where to post this.

A: Here's a quick example I quickly whipped up just now.
import pyspark.ml                as ml
import pyspark.ml.feature        as ft
import pyspark.ml.classification as cl

data = sc.parallelize([
     (1, 'two',  3.4, 0)
    ,(2, 'four', 9.1, 1)
    ,(3, 'one',  2.1, 0)
    ,(4, 'five', 2.6, 0)
]).toDF(['id', 'counter', 'continuous', 'result'])

si  = ft.StringIndexer(inputCol='counter', outputCol='counter_idx')
ohe = ft.OneHotEncoder(inputCol=si.getOutputCol(), outputCol='counter_enc')
va  = ft.VectorAssembler(inputCols=['counter_enc', 'continuous'], outputCol='features')

lr  = cl.LogisticRegression(maxIter=5, featuresCol='features', labelCol='result')

pip = ml.Pipeline(stages=[si, ohe, va, lr])
pip.fit(data).transform(data).select(data.columns+['probability', 'prediction']).show()

You can also check the notebooks to Denny's and my book: https://github.com/drabastomek/learningPySpark/blob/master/Chapter06/LearningPySpark_Chapter06.ipynb
Hope this helps.

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text:
MSN Expedia Hits Record $16 Million in Weekly Sales
REDMOND, Wash., April 14, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the MSN
travel service ( http://expedia.com/ ) continues to set records with $16 million in sales for the week of April 4, the highest reported weekly sales figure for the online travel industry.
"Reaching the $16 million milestone so quickly highlights our leadership in the industry along with our incredible momentum and growth,"
said Richard Barton, business unit manager, MSN Expedia.
"Jumping from $10 million a week in January to this latest benchmark in less than three months shows that more and more consumers are trusting Expedia to give them the best travel choices in a secure and easy-to-use environment. We expect the growth to continue and to be reflected in our sales."
MSN Expedia attributes much of its explosive growth this year to the quality and reliability of the site, along with compelling promotions and publicity generated by
"best travel Web site"
In March, for example, MSN Expedia began a promotion with American Airlines that has been driving tremendous traffic to the site. Through the promotion, which runs through April 18, travelers buying an American Airlines ticket through MSN Expedia receive 50 percent off their next American Airlines ticket purchased on the site (certain offer restrictions apply).
In the April 6 issue of PC Magazine, Expedia won the Editors' Choice Award for best leisure travel Web site for its ease of use and broad range of options. The site was also honored in April by Macworld as Best Travel Site and named by Brill's Content as among the best of the Web for travel.
After recording the highest reported weekly sales total for an online travel site in 1998 – $8.5 million in December – Expedia got off to a quick start this year by eclipsing the
$10 million weekly sales mark by mid-January. Since then, sales have continued to climb each week. The record totals on MSN Expedia include sales of airline tickets, car rentals and hotel rooms.
About MSN Expedia Travel
MSN Expedia ( http://expedia.com/ ) is the place to go on the Web to easily plan travel, purchase tickets, and make hotel and car reservations. MSN Expedia offers in-depth destination content and travel news as well as mapping, address-finding and direction services. MSN Expedia is also one of the Web's most successful e-commerce sites, with weekly travel sales currently exceeding $15 million.
A credit card guarantee is offered on MSN Expedia (U.S. and Canadian versions only) to protect credit cards used on the Internet from fraud. With this service, after an initial purchase on Expedia, customers' credit cards are protected from fraud liability – up to $50 (U.S.) – on any purchases made in the subsequent 12 months on or off the Internet. Since the program's introduction in June 1998, Microsoft is proud to state that, because of the top-level site security, the service remains unused. MSN Expedia also offers exceptional customer service with travel agents available via a toll-free number to answer questions and provide assistance to travelers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Microsoft, MSN and Expedia are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.


text:
Q: phpmyadmin: Automatically open a specific table once logged in I would like to simplify the task of opening a table when logging in to phpMyAdmin.  What I would like to happen, is instead of a user logging in, selecting a database, then selecting a table - is there a way to modify it so the user logs in and the database and table are already selected?
I ask this because on my setup, there is only 1 database, and 1 table.  If there is a way to login and simplify the task of accessing the table , that would be amazing.  Thanks a bunch!


I worry that I may have posted this first part already, but welcome to my world of forgetfulness. Long, long ago the kittens were small enough to cram their little bodies under the cabinet toekick in the kitchen, scoot their little bodies under the dishwasher, and pull out the insulation. "Fun! Fluffy stuff!" The floor would be littered with little bits of white. It angered me, and the solution was to stuff a box under the dishwasher. As you can imagine, this was super-convenient.
Well, they got older and outgrew such shenanigans. That is, they couldn't fit under that space anymore and forgot about the fluff. A couple of months go by and Ralph is scooting around on the floor, scoots up to the dishwasher and realizes, "Hey! My arms are a lot longer! This stuff is just right here!" He cleaned out the door in a matter of days. Our dishwasher is noisier now.
So imagine my surprise when weeks later, there is just a ton of fluff on the carpet upstairs. I know we don't have a dishwasher up there, and the dishwasher we do have is insulationless.
It's good to know Ralph will be able to protect you from any white fluff infestations. I hear it's really expensive to hire an exterminator to do that.
HAHAHA! But sorry about your chaise. At least he did it on the bottom. And I never knew cats did such destructive adorable things! This is more like dog behavior.
PS-That top picture is AWESOME! It's frame worthy!


text:
The perfect pairing of poetry and pancakes
Sarah Musa (left) and Radiyah Chowdhury performing at Poets and Pancakes. Photo: Allegra Morgado.
Local spoken word series hosts new show at Flapjack's Pancake Shack
When people think of spoken word poetry, often the most appropriate setting that comes to mind is a bar or a café. Somewhere dimly lit fits well with the type of performance—a cozy space where people can feel free to share their emotions with peers through the art of poetry.
A breakfast restaurant, namely Flapjack's Pancake Shack, is probably one of the last places where one would imagine a spoken word poetry event would take place. Urban Legends Poetry, however, believes that Flapjack's is the perfect place for poetry performances, which is why they have begun a new series at Flapjack's on Preston Street called "Poets and Pancakes".
"Pancakes are delicious, alliteration is great—so Poets and Pancakes has a great name to it—and one thing that we're really pushing, and it started with Urban Legends at its inception, is we wanted to try and bring poetry out of a bar setting," says Panos Argyropoulos, University of Ottawa M.Sc. alumni and co-director of Urban Legends.
Argyropoulos, who has been a co-director since May 2015, says that Urban Legends is attempting to revitalize themselves this year after their 2014-15 smaller season. This means U of O students can look forward to a variety of events outside of their flagship slam competitions.
"We found this to be a perfect opportunity to… showcase poets that aren't necessarily competitors or don't want to be in the competitive stream," says Argyropoulos.
The second edition of Poets and Pancakes took place on April 7 and featured four female poets. The four poets performed poems focusing on everything from writer's block to the Black Lives Matter movement.
For Radiyah Chowdhury, the third performer of the night, the event had a special significance. Chowdhury is finishing up her undergraduate degree in journalism at Carleton University this month and moving back to Toronto, finishing her time in Ottawa. She shared many emotional poems during the set, including one about her difficulty as a journalist separating herself from the stories she writes, especially those concerning sensitive topics.
Argyropoulos believes that speaking about sensitive subjects and being vulnerable is an inherent part of spoken word poetry, and because of this it lends itself to having a strong and supportive community.
"You have to create a community to be able to actually address or to feel comfortable enough to do spoken word," says Argyropoulos.
Close communities can be difficult to find your place in, and getting up to share your feelings in front of an audience is never easy, but Urban Legends is working to include more people in the community the way that they know best—through sharing their love of poetry in writing circles.
"That's one of the things we're trying to do to kind of build writers up," says Argyropoulos.
Urban Legends Poetry is having their next writing circle on April 17, and hoping to have their next Poets and Pancakes event near the end of May. After the success of the first two shows, Argyropoulos is optimistic about their future events at Flapjack's.
"You can't really go wrong with pancakes. Pancakes and words, they go together."
For more information about Urban Legends Poetry and their upcoming events, visit their Facebook page here.
Allegra MorgadoFlapjack's Pancake ShackPanos ArgyropoulospoetryPoets and PancakesRadiyah ChowdhurySarah Musaspoken wordUrban Legends Poetry
Campus creations: from poetry to prose (February 2017)
Bethany Keeshan & Sandy El-Bitar
U of O students Sandy El-Bitar and Bethany Keeshan showcase their writing talents in the latest iteration of campus creations.
Five podcasts to help you get through your Making a Murderer withdrawal
Since school is now in full swing, and you don't have the time that you did over the break to binge watch a show, podcasts are a great alternative that you can listen to between classes and during study breaks. Here is a list of five podcasts to entertain you while we wait for more news on the Steven Avery case. You're welcome.
Finding balance through contrast and collaboration
University of Ottawa part-time professor Deborah Margo of the visual arts department, is going to have to balance her teaching duties with designing an art piece to decorate the new OC Transpo building on Belfast Road, after being chosen by the City of Ottawa.
Campus Style
Movies You Should Have Seen
It's Lit in the Library
Campus Creations
Catch me in the Club
Ready Set Woah


text:
Q: Forcing multiple-quadrant TRIAC operation through gate ringing I got the possibly hare-brained idea to cause a single TRIAC gate pulse to go positive and negative, and thus fire in (maybe not all four but) more quadrants:

ThecLTspice simulation seems to show this Q8025K6 TRIAC (model here) working as expected in multiple quadrants.
The intent is to control the speed of a universal AC motor, 1.75 HP on 120 VAC, as a "spindle" motor "controller" of sorts. I am only considering the AC phase control here.
Blue is the gate voltage/current, red is the output current, and grey is the mains voltage. The output phase goes from 0% to 100% twice in the time shown, due to the opto pulse source having a period of 8 ms on a mains period of 16.667 ms.
However, SPICE models are never all-encompassing; do you think this would even work in reality? Am I overlooking anything that would be problematic?
Gate pulses are about 15 µs wide positive (150 mA peak drive) and 20 µs when negative (100 mA peak drive, from LC components.)

Here is the LTspice project (LTspic3.asc) if you want to try it:
SHEET 1 880 680
WIRE 144 -80 -96 -80
WIRE 336 -80 224 -80
WIRE 608 -80 336 -80
WIRE 624 -80 608 -80
WIRE -96 -64 -96 -80
WIRE 336 -48 336 -80
WIRE -592 32 -640 32
WIRE -496 32 -512 32
WIRE -96 32 -96 0
WIRE -96 32 -304 32
WIRE -640 48 -640 32
WIRE 336 64 336 32
WIRE 480 64 336 64
WIRE -96 80 -96 32
WIRE -96 80 -192 80
WIRE -80 80 -96 80
WIRE 336 112 336 64
WIRE 608 112 608 -80
WIRE -592 128 -640 128
WIRE -496 128 -592 128
WIRE -272 128 -304 128
WIRE -256 128 -272 128
WIRE 480 144 480 128
WIRE -592 160 -592 128
WIRE 32 176 32 160
WIRE 32 176 -192 176
WIRE 80 176 32 176
WIRE 160 176 144 176
WIRE 288 176 240 176
WIRE -272 192 -272 128
WIRE -96 192 -96 80
WIRE -48 192 -96 192
WIRE 32 192 32 176
WIRE 288 192 288 176
WIRE -96 208 -96 192
WIRE -48 208 -48 192
WIRE 336 240 336 176
WIRE 480 240 480 224
WIRE 480 240 336 240
WIRE -272 288 -272 272
WIRE -96 288 -96 272
WIRE -96 288 -272 288
WIRE -48 288 -48 272
WIRE -48 288 -96 288
WIRE 32 288 32 272
WIRE 32 288 -48 288
WIRE 288 288 288 272
WIRE 288 288 32 288
WIRE 336 288 336 240
WIRE 336 288 288 288
WIRE 608 288 608 192
WIRE 608 288 336 288
WIRE 624 288 608 288
WIRE -96 320 -96 288
FLAG -592 160 0
FLAG -96 320 0
FLAG -80 80 10Vcc
FLAG 32 160 Vsw
FLAG 624 -80 Hot
FLAG 624 288 N
SYMBOL Misc\\TRIAC 304 112 R0
SYMATTR InstName U1
SYMATTR Value Q8025K6
SYMBOL voltage 608 96 R0
WINDOW 123 0 0 Left 0
WINDOW 39 24 124 Left 2
SYMATTR SpiceLine Rser=0.1
SYMATTR InstName V1
SYMATTR Value SINE(0 170 60)
SYMBOL cap 464 64 R0
SYMATTR InstName C3
SYMATTR Value 0.1µ
SYMBOL res 464 128 R0
SYMATTR InstName R6
SYMATTR Value 100
SYMBOL res 320 -64 R0
SYMATTR InstName RLOAD
SYMATTR Value 11
SYMBOL res 240 -96 R90
WINDOW 0 0 56 VBottom 2
WINDOW 3 32 56 VTop 2
SYMATTR InstName R3
SYMATTR Value 6.8k
SYMBOL zener -80 272 R180
WINDOW 0 24 64 Left 2
WINDOW 3 24 0 Left 2
SYMATTR InstName D2
SYMATTR Value BZX84B10VL
SYMATTR Description Diode
SYMATTR Type diode
SYMBOL diode -112 -64 R0
WINDOW 0 42 13 Left 2
WINDOW 3 39 41 Left 2
SYMATTR InstName D1
SYMATTR Value 1N4004
SYMBOL polcap -64 208 R0
SYMATTR InstName C1
SYMATTR Value 100µ
SYMATTR Description Capacitor
SYMATTR Type cap
SYMATTR SpiceLine V=10 Irms=105m Rser=0.7499 Lser=4.17n mfg="Würth Elektronik" pn="860020272005 WCAP-ATG5 5x11" type="Al electrolytic"
SYMBOL sym\\npn -256 80 R0
SYMATTR InstName Q1
SYMATTR Value 2N3904
SYMBOL res -256 288 R180
WINDOW 0 36 76 Left 2
WINDOW 3 36 40 Left 2
SYMATTR InstName R2
SYMATTR Value 1k
SYMBOL res 256 160 R90
WINDOW 0 0 56 VBottom 2
WINDOW 3 32 56 VTop 2
SYMATTR InstName R4
SYMATTR Value 33
SYMBOL sym\\ZZZ\\OPTO\\4n35 -400 80 R0
SYMATTR InstName U2
SYMBOL voltage -640 32 R0
WINDOW 3 -26 175 Left 2
WINDOW 123 0 0 Left 0
WINDOW 39 0 0 Left 0
SYMATTR Value PULSE(0 5 0 0 0 10u 8m)
SYMATTR InstName V2
SYMBOL res -496 16 R90
WINDOW 0 0 56 VBottom 2
WINDOW 3 32 56 VTop 2
SYMATTR InstName R1
SYMATTR Value 270
SYMBOL res 304 176 M0
SYMATTR InstName R5
SYMATTR Value 1k
SYMBOL ind 16 176 R0
SYMATTR InstName L1
SYMATTR Value 120µ
SYMATTR SpiceLine Ipk=2.55 Rser=0.0817 Rpar=11304 Cpar=0 mfg="Coilcraft" pn="PCH-45X-124"
SYMBOL cap 144 160 R90
WINDOW 0 0 32 VBottom 2
WINDOW 3 32 32 VTop 2
SYMATTR InstName C2
SYMATTR Value 0.1µ
SYMATTR SpiceLine V=630 Irms=0 Rser=0.0138 Lser=813p mfg="Würth Elektronik" pn="885342211006 WCAP-CSMH 1812" type="X7R"
TEXT 240 320 Left 2 !.lib Q8025K6.txt
TEXT -664 296 Left 2 !.tran 0 0.6 0.2 startup uic
TEXT -640 -96 Left 2 ;Forcing 4-quadrant operation via gate ringing?
TEXT 160 -24 Left 2 ;3W

And the TRIAC SPICE excerpt with attrib (Q8025K6.txt):
**********************************
**
** Littelfuse, LP
** TRIAC SPICE Models
** Qxx25xx-Qxx25xHx
**
** T. Chenoski
** Irving Technical Center
**
** A 06/08/08
**
**********************************
**********************************

.SUBCKT Q8025K6    1    2         3
*       TERMINALS: MT2  G         MT1
Qnpn1   5          4    3         NoutF   OFF
Qpnp1   4          5    7         PoutF   OFF
Qnpn2   11         6    7         NoutR   OFF
Qpnp2   6          11   3         PoutR   OFF
Dfor    4          5    DZ        OFF
Drev    6          11   DZ        OFF
Rfor    4          6    12MEG
Ron     1          7    10m
Rhold   7          6    50
RGP     8          3    12
RG      2          8    5.8
RS      8          4    100
DN      9          2    DIN       OFF
RN      9          3    4
GNN     6          7    9         3       0.1
GNP     4          5    9         3       0.1
DP      2          10   DIP       OFF
RP      10         3    3.56
.MODEL  DIN        D    (IS=382F)
.MODEL  DIP        D    (IS=382F  N=1.19)
.MODEL  DZ         D    (IS=382F  N=1.5   IBV=50U  BV=800)
.MODEL  PoutF      PNP  (IS=382F  BF=0.5  CJE=380p TF=0.3U)
.MODEL  NoutF      NPN  (IS=382F  BF=3    CJE=380p CJC=76p  TF=0.3U)
.MODEL  PoutR      PNP  (IS=382F  BF=3    CJE=380p TF=0.3U)
.MODEL  NoutR      NPN  (IS=382F  BF=0.5  CJE=380p CJC=76p  TF=0.3U)
.ENDS

A: Yep, totally hair-brained.
This is simpler, and works in quadrants I and III specifically:

Seems in the original question I was trying to force operation in quadrants II / IV because the pulse reference was MT1; swapping the reference to MT2 makes the device much easier to fire, and doesn't require any negative input pulses at all.


Did you know that cats can also suffer from heartworm disease?
The reach of parasitic heartworms extends far beyond canines, infecting a whole gamut of species. The potentially lethal threat of heartworm disease affects not only dogs, but 30 other species including ferrets, wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions, as well as our beloved cats.
Grumpy cat? Help kitty grab life by the whiskers with Feliway!
Cats are very territorial animals. Their territory is made up of constellations of places dedicated to given activities. And cats spend time every day marking, organizing and identifying those areas. What is crucial to cats is to have something which has some stability over time.


text:
This is a research prototype used to test multi-touch interaction in parallel coordinates using the multi-touch trackpads on Apple's recent MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops. This is part of a paper that is currently under review. More information will be forthcoming here once the paper is accepted.

The data is currently hardcoded, so this is not a useful program. It is only meant to demonstrate the speed and ease of interaction when using multi-touch interaction (especially compared to programs like the [Java version of ParVis](http://github.com/eagereyes/ParVis))

Watch the video to see the interactions that are possible: [http://vimeo.com/13437693](http://vimeo.com/13437693)

## Magic Keys

Since the mouse cannot be used in the program, these keys can be used to change settings.

* `o` ... toggles the overlay that shows the position of the fingers on the trackpad relative to the projected axes.
* `f` ... toggles fullscreen mode. Especially useful because the window can sometimes lose focus otherwise. Use the escape key or `f` again to leave fullscreen mode.
* `m` ... toggles the mouse. This is mostly to demonstrate why it's a bad idea to have a visible mouse pointer when doing multi-touch interaction.

## Used Software

The project includes files from fmdb. They are licensed under the same license (MIT) as this project.

## Download

An executable is available from the [downloads section](http://github.com/eagereyes/ParVisMT/downloads). Requires Mac OS X 10.6 _Snow Leopard_.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
MacroPolo's New Energy Geopolitics Index (NEGI) is composed of two equally weighted variables related to renewable energy: 1) independence and 2) capability. These two variables combined result in a proxy score for geopolitical influence in the context of the energy transition for each country in our sample.
While the independence variable is composed of just a single indicator, the capability variable involves numerous indicators. Here we elaborate on the variables, assumptions, sample selection, and data sources used to build the NEGI.
The global energy transition is expected to bring about two major trends. One is the increasing energy independence of countries as they shift away from fossil fuels and towards adopting climate technologies. Two is that each country's capability in those technologies—defined in terms of value chains and exports—will shape their respective influence when it comes to the geopolitics of energy.
To understand how this works in practice, take the first two countries in the 2019 ranking. China leads the NEGI ranking thanks to a very high capability score combined with an average independence score. Should China continue to raise its independence score, in line with its current climate commitments, it would attain an even higher NEGI ranking and likely move into Quadrant IV.
Brazil was the runner-up because of its exceptionally high independence score, which is due to the large share of hydropower in its current energy mix. However, the country has a relatively low capability score because of its limited role in the value chains for wind, solar, and batteries.
As a consequence, a country like Brazil will have to significantly raise its capability score or risk being surpassed in the future by countries that already have high capability and have committed to ambitious decarbonization plans like Germany, the United States, or Denmark.
In this first iteration, we calculated the NEGI score (the sum of the capability + independence scores) for 25 countries over nine years. We will continue to update and expand the product over time. Data was predominantly collected from publicly available sources with some exceptions where proprietary data was used (see note on sources below).
Composition of the NEGI Visualized
The independence variable is calculated by tabulating each country's renewable energy consumption (including hydropower) and dividing it by its overall primary energy consumption to derive a score. Nuclear power is not conventionally classified as a renewable energy source and was not included.
The capability variable is composed of indicators that help quantify a country's production and export capability in three key climate technologies: lithium-ion batteries, solar photovoltaics, and wind turbines. These were selected because their deployment is expected to grow significantly over the next decade, revolutionizing the energy system of many countries.
Wind and solar are expected to become the most common energy sources globally. The International Energy Agency estimates that of the 90% of global renewables electricity that will be needed to reach net zero emissions by 2050, 70% will come from wind and solar.
Lithium-ion batteries are key to electrifying the transport sector and reducing reliance on oil. They are also one of the most established solutions for energy storage, which is key to enabling high renewable energy penetration rates.
To estimate national capability, we constructed indicators that quantify each country's relative strength in various segments of the value chain, including exports. In the aggregate, the capability score can be interpreted as a country's leadership in climate technologies.
Value Chain Indicator
The value chain indicator is further disaggregated into three segments: natural resources, manufacturing, and innovation (weighted 20%, 40%, and 40%, respectively).
The natural resources indicator is assigned the least weight because technological innovation and raw material recycling make these inputs less important to a country's overall climate technology capability.
In other words, we assume a country's natural resource endowments, while likely to add value to its domestic economy, will not bring the same level of geopolitical influence that oil and gas did. The capacity to produce finished products and generate innovate technologies will become more important.
Manufacturing and innovation indicators are assigned equal weight because while the former represents a country's actual production capabilities, the latter proxies a country's importance in generating intellectual property in these technologies. Both are crucial to developing new climate technologies and bringing them to market.
1. Natural Resources
Using available US Geological Services data, we calculated this indicator by adding national reserves or annual refinery production for 18 critical resources used to manufacture the climate technology products. Combining reserves with current production accounts for total potential production of a particular country.
The resources included are rare earths, lithium, cobalt, graphite, tellurium, niobium, silicon, manganese, gallium, indium, selenium, silver, tin, borates, fluorspar, cadmium, nickel, zinc, and copper.
This list could be updated in future iterations of NEGI as technologies evolve and the demand for resources increases or decreases.
This indicator is composed of a score based on the top 10 global manufacturers' annual solar and electric vehicle (EV) battery shipments and wind installations, as well as the UNIDO Competitive Industrial Performance Index (CIP) score.
We relied on shipments and installations because those are the most common metrics used in those industries and because relying on total company revenue could be misleading since many have diversified business lines beyond the three products in question.
Moreover, we limited it to the top 10 companies because data beyond that sample were poor and because these companies today command between 70% to 90% market share in their respective industries.
This score was assigned to the country in which the parent company or majority owner is based, which can sometimes be different from company headquarters. We also accounted for change in company ownership over the years.
That score was then combined with the CIP score, which serves as a proxy for a country's overall industrial strength and its potential to expand manufacturing capacity in key climate technologies. This combination helps paint a more holistic picture of a country's manufacturing capability, especially since company data alone does not reflect subcomponent production or country-level production capacity.
We used the "family of 1 or greater" category of patents in the OECD dataset for environmental technologies, a large share of which are climate technologies, to derive an innovation indicator. Patents are an imperfect proxy for innovation, but they do capture some aspects of a country's innovation potential. We will consider refining and expanding the innovation indicator in the future, including, for example, measures such as R&D spending and human capital.
4. Export Indicator
The export indicator is calculated using the harmonized schedule codes for the three products (850231 – wind. Electric generating sets wind-powered, 854140 – PV module, wafers, cells,850760 – Batteries. Electric accumulators; lithium-ion).
For each product category we multiplied the total number of trade partners a country has in a certain year with the total dollar value traded of the three climate technology products in that same year. We then logged the result and normalized the range between 0 and 1. This was done to reduce the impact of outliers that were skewing the index excessively. Treating the data in this way does not affect the final rankings of the countries and is helpful in generating a more intelligible visualization.
The export indicator reflects a country's ability to supply the three products. Having significant export value and multiple trading partners can translate into a key capability in the geopolitical arena as it offers more potential channels of influence.
NEGI covers 25 countries, 19 of which are from the G20 group of countries (European Union was excluded because we wanted a sample of individual countries). This sample covers the bulk of the global economy and the majority of global trade, as well as most global emissions. In short, these countries are central to the global energy transition and its implications.
The additional six countries in the sample (Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Malaysia, Chile, and Vietnam) were selected because they hold important positions in the climate technology trade and value chain and represent important regional powers.
African countries are notably underrepresented in our sample. This was largely due to poor data availability, especially when it came to a country's energy profile. We hope to include African economies like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the future as data availability improves. These economies currently occupy niche areas in the renewable energy value chain (despite the DRC's important role in cobalt production) so their omission should not affect the index's results.
Timeframe Selection
The index starts in 2011 because of significant data gaps prior to that year. Also, because the size of the renewable industry was very small then, it would have had a negligible geopolitical impact.
Notes on Data Sources and Data Limitation
We treated missing data in two ways. If the missing value is at the end of the time series in 2019, we imputed the missing value with the latest available data in 2018. If there is a data gap in the time series, we imputed the average of the before-and-after annual data for that country.
EV battery manufacturer data for 2011-2013 were omitted because we were unable to find reliable data. Because the EV industry was still in its infancy prior to 2013, we don't believe this omission should excessively skew the results.
We used a plethora of publicly available sources, particularly in terms of the value chain. In addition to company annual reports, press releases, and financial statements, we relied on data published by consulting firms and news organizations: BNEF; Lux Research; IHS; Reuters; pv-magazine; pv-tech; Wind; SNE Research, GGII, Global Data; GWEC, and Energy1, among others.
We did our best to triangulate data from multiple sources to ensure they are as accurate as possible, though full verification of accuracy is impossible.
← New Energy Influencers
Research and Methodology Ilaria Mazzocco and Jian Roachell
Design Yna Mataya
Lead developer Chris Roche
Project management Annie Cantara


Mailing and fulfillment is an area where expenses can be inflated unnecessarily if not managed properly. By keeping up with the latest USPS rules, we can ensure that you will save money on every mailing project we handle for you. At R.C. Brayshaw & Company we are constantly updating our systems and our knowledge on the latest USPS rules affecting First Class and Standard Class bulk mailings. Our presort software is updated on a regular basis insuring you the best presort price (lowest postage expense), and the fastest routing of your mail to its destination.
Once again, you can relax knowing that R.C. Brayshaw and Company can manage your projects from design comprehensive to placing your promotional piece in the hands of your target audience. We provide both quality and price assurances at every step of the process.
Match mailing is a method that quickly matches two or more pieces of mail through a specialized system to be sent to the same recipient for better efficiency. It has the power to turn the people receiving your direct mail piece into clients by delivering personalized pieces that resonate with the recipient.
Personalization has become the standard of marketers using data to drive their marketing messages because it produces amazing results. The reaction your target audience has to your direct mail will be determined by whether or not they can relate to it. For instance, including your customer's name at the beginning of the printed piece immediately grabs their attention because human beings are programmed to respond to their names. Using data-driven marketing techniques to customize the remainder of the message keeps them engaged with your offer because it speaks directly to their interests.
The intended recipient's name or other designation.
The delivery address (including street number and name (pre-directional, suffix, and post-directional as appropriate), post office box number, rural or highway contract route and box number), and secondary descriptor and number (e.g., suite or apartment number, floor) if needed.
The appropriate ZIP Code or ZIP+4 code where required.
The difficult part of addressing your mail piece is knowing where it should be placed on each different type and class of mail. R.C. Brayshaw has the knowledge to make sure it's in the correct position and format to ensure a smooth and cost effective process for you through the USPS.
All Presorted Standard Class mail and all Presorted First Class mail required to meet the U.S. Postal Service's "move update" requirements (this requirement does not apply to Periodical Class mail). "Move update" refers to methods for making sure that the person or business you are mailing to is still at the address you have for them. When a person or business moves to a new address, they typically file a change-of-address notice with the USPS. Those notices are compiled into a National Change of Address (NCOA) database. By checking your list against the NCOA database, you can tell if a person or business has moved, and correct their address (or delete the address, if you choose) before you address your mail.
We ensure that all presorted mail projects are compliant with the USPS requirements for NCOA standards prior to addressing.
To improve processing and handling of automation compatible letter-size booklets and self-mailers, the USPS requires them to be sealed with tabs.
There are some basic general guidelines for example, folded self-mailers need two tabs and letter-size booklets three. Size, weight, thickness and orientation of the mail piece can override these general rules and make your mail piece non-compliant, which can raise postage costs and delay delivery or even leave your mail piece unable to be mailed.
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> Blog > Popular > Boise State's Trademark Registration for Blue Stadium Field: Trade Dress and Other Forms of Trademark Protection
Boise State's Trademark Registration for Blue Stadium Field: Trade Dress and Other Forms of Trademark Protection
Posted by Perry Clegg on June 21, 2012
Boise State recently licensed its blue field design to Hosei University near Tokyo, Japan. See article here. It turns out that Boise State possesses a trademark registration (U.S. Trademark re. No. 3,707,623) – which protects the color blue used on artificial turf in a stadium. Boise State's blue stadium field trademark and licensing deal is a good example of the value of some of the more atypical forms of trademark protection and the need to think outside the box when thinking about trademark registrations.
A blue football field is not normally what comes to mind when one thinks of trademarks, but it is very much protectable. When the blue field appears on TV, you immediately recognize Boise State's brand. The blue field indicates to the consumer that this is an authentic Boise State football experience. And Boise State wants to keep it that way. That is why it filed for US Federal Trademark protection on its unique color scheme, allowing them to prevent others from copying its field and diluting Boise's brand equity. If other Universities were able to paint their fields blue, Boise State would lose its uniqueness. Boise State was probably less concerned about dilution issues outside of the U.S. and hence, felt comfortable licensing it in Japan. Boise State likely would be much more hesitant to license under its trademark registration within the United States.
Boise State's blue turf is an interesting, unconventional trademark. The non-traditional trademark protection that Boise State's unique field bests fall under is "trade dress". Trade dress is the legal term for the distinctive, non-functional appearance of a product or packaging that signifies the source of a product to consumers. Sometimes the language "look and feel" is used as a way to explain trade dress, e.g., the look and feel of a product.
Boise's blue field certainly meets the first test. It is highly distinctive. The non-functional requirement is added so that a registrant cannot protect an essential functional design element. Say Boise State was somehow able to register a green colored field in a stadium, it would be impossible for anyone else to use a green field without Boise's permission. As green is the color of grass (and most artificial turf), it would most likely be considered a functional element of the field. Boise's blue does not add function to the field. Plus, Boise State has developed strong consumer recognition associated with its blue colored field. So its blue turf is a highly distinctive, non-functional product appearance suitable for trademark protection.
In addition to trade dress, there are several other non-traditional brand indicators that are eligible for trademark protection. NBC's distinctive jingle is a sound trademark. The color "Tiffany Blue" is trademarked and protected by the famous jewelry store of the same name. The Chrysler Building and the Space Needle are examples of architecture that have also been trademarked.
Trademark strategy can be critical in protecting a solid brand reputation. A business owner may want to consider various forms of trademark protection that can help distinguish their brand from the competition. Trade dress, color scheme, and even sound marks are a few of the brand elements that should be analyzed. Seek advice from a veteran trademark lawyer to help secure proper protections.
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Astrophysics > Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
[Submitted on 31 Mar 2022 (v1), last revised 14 Dec 2022 (this version, v2)]
Title:Hubble constant and nuclear equation of state from kilonova spectro-photometric light curves
Authors:M. A. Pérez-García, L. Izzo, D. Barba, M. Bulla, A. Sagués-Carracedo, E. Pérez, C. Albertus, S. Dhawan, F. Prada, A. Agnello, C. R. Angus, S. H. Bruun, C. del Burgo, C. Dominguez-Tagle, C. Gall, A. Goobar, J. Hjorth, D. Jones, A. R. López-Sánchez, J. Sollerman
Abstract: The merger of two compact objects of which at least one is a neutron star is signalled by transient electromagnetic emission in a kilonova (KN). This event is accompanied by gravitational waves and possibly other radiation messengers such as neutrinos or cosmic rays. The electromagnetic emission arises from the radioactive decay of heavy $r-$process elements synthesized in the material ejected during and after the merger. In this paper we show that the analysis of KNe light curves can provide cosmological distance measurements and constrain the properties of the ejecta. In this respect, MAAT, the new Integral Field Unit in the OSIRIS spectrograph on the $10.4$ m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC), is well suited for the study of KNe by performing absolute spectro-photometry over the entire 3600-10000 Angstron spectral range. Here, we study the most representative cases regarding the scientific interest of KNe from binary neutron stars, and we evaluate the observational prospects and performance of MAAT on the GTC to do the following: a) study the impact of the equation of state on the KN light curve, and determine to what extent bounds on neutron star (NS) radii or compactness deriving from KN peak magnitudes can be identified and b) measure the Hubble constant, $H_0$, with precision improved by up to 40$\%$, when both gravitational wave data and photometric-light curves are used. In this context we discuss how the equation of state, the viewing angle, and the distance affect the precision and estimated value of $H_0$.
Comments: 21 pages, 23 figures, matches published version in A&A 666, A67 (2022)
Subjects: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO); High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE); Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM); General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)
Cite as: arXiv:2204.00022 [astro-ph.CO]
(or arXiv:2204.00022v2 [astro-ph.CO] for this version)
Journal reference: A&A 666, A67 (2022)
Related DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202243749
From: M. A. Perez-Garcia [view email]
[v1] Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:00:05 UTC (2,923 KB)
[v2] Wed, 14 Dec 2022 23:03:52 UTC (3,396 KB)
astro-ph.HE
astro-ph.IM


text:
var userInput = prompt("Give me a year, and I'll give you my age in that year");
var myAge = (userInput - 1984)
alert(myAge);

var favoriteFood = prompt('What\'s your fav food?');
alert("Hey, " + favoriteFood + " is my favorite food too!");

// Complete one of the exercises: Looping a Triangle, FizzBuzz, or Chess Board
var counter = "#"
while (counter.length < 8){
    console.log(counter);
    counter += "#"
}

// Functions

// Complete the `minimum` exercise.

function min(x, y) {
  return (Math.min(x, y))
}

console.log(min(0, 10));
console.log(min(0, -10));

// Data Structures: Objects and Arrays
// Create an object called "me" that stores your name, age, 3 favorite foods, and a quirk below.

var me = ["I am 31", "I love burritos, Thai food, and sushi.", "I hate bannans."]
console.log(me.join(" "))

// QUESTONS ANSWERED IN-LINE BELOW:
// ·       Introduction (Links to an external site.)
// o   Did you learn anything new about JavaScript or programming in general?
// Yes, I learned about the history of JavaScript and early programming.
// o   Are there any concepts you feel uncomfortable with?
// I'm confused about the different javascript environments. Node vs. Browser?
// ·       Ch. 1: Values, Types, and Operators (Links to an external site.)
// o   Identify two similarities and two differences between JavaScript and Ruby syntax with regard to numbers, arithmetic, strings, booleans, and various operators.
// In both, basic arithmetic is done with the same syntax. For example, 2 * 2.  They also both follow the same order of operations:  PEMDAS.  Strings are also written the same – they both use either single or double quote marks.
// They use different commands to print to the console. JavaScript uses console.log(), while Ruby uses print or puts. JavaScript uses undefined or null for undefined values.  Ruby uses nil. Another difference is that in JavaScript console.log(false == 0) returns true, while in Ruby it returns false. This is due to JaveScript type conversion.

// Ch. 2: Program Structure (Links to an external site.)

// o   What is an expression?
// A fragment of code that produces a value is called an expression
// o   What is the purpose of semicolons in JavaScript? Are they always required?
// A semicolon tells JavaScript that it has reached the end of a statement. No, they are not always required.
// o   What causes a variable to return undefined?
// When you try to access a variable that is empty you get undefined.
// o   What does console.log do and when would you use it? What Ruby method(s) is this similar to?
// It's an expression that retrieves the log property from the value held by the console variable. It's similar to puts or print in Ruby.
// o   Describe while and for loops
// A while loop executes a block as long as it evaluates to true – it's best used when you don't know exactly how many times you want to loop. A for loop loops a set number of times.
// o   What other similarities or differences between Ruby and JavaScript did you notice in this section?
// Though the syntax is slightly different, conditional statements follow the same logic in both languages.
// o   Complete at least one of the exercises (Looping a Triangle, FizzBuzz, of Chess Board) in the eloquent.js file.
// ·       Ch. 3: Functions (Links to an external site.) (Skip the sections on closure and recursion)
// o   What are the differences between local and global variables in JavaScript?
// Variables declared inside a function are local, while variables declared outside a function are called global. Global variables can be referenced inside a function.
// o   When should you use functions?
// When you need to run the same code many times.  They also allow you to group values so you can build more complex structures.
// o   What is a function declaration?
// It is a slightly shorter way to say "var square = function(x)".  You can write it this way:  function square(x)
// o   Complete the minimum exercise in the eloquent.js file.

// ·       Ch. 4: Data Structures: Objects and Arrays (Links to an external site.)
// o   Skip the sections on the Lycanthrope's log, Computing Correlations, and sections from Further Arrayology to the Global Object, but read the chapter summary.
// §  What is the difference between using a dot and a bracket to look up a property? Ex. array.max vsarray["max"]
// When using a dot, the part after the dot must be a valid variable name, and it directly names the property. When using square brackets, the expression between the brackets is evaluated to get the property name. Whereas value.x fetches the property of value named "x", value[x] tries to evaluate the expression x and uses the result as the property name.

// §  Create an object called me that stores your name, age, three favorite foods, and a quirk in your eloquent.js file.
// §  What is a JavaScript object with a name and value property similar to in Ruby?
// .length works similarly in both JavaScript and Ruby.


text:
Q: How to exclude a Java Object Property as part of JSON String? I have a Java POJO. Few properties are there along with a list<>. While converting this object to JSON String, I want to exclude the list property,
So what annotation to use for that?
public class StudentResultSummary {
    private String totMarks;
    private String avgMarks;
    private List<StudentResult> resultList = new ArrayList<StudentResult>();
}

Convert to JSON:
StudentResultSummary resultSummary = new StudentResultSummary();
Json json = new Json();
policySummary = json.encode(resultSummary);

How can I make sure the field resultList is not included as part of the JSON response?

A: From Chris Seline's answer:

Any fields you don't want serialized in general you should use the
  "transient" modifier, and this also applies to json serializers (at
  least it does to a few that I have used, including gson).
If you don't want name to show up in the serialized json give it a
  transient keyword, eg:
private transient String name;

A: If You don't want to that column in response json you can use @JsonIgnore
and if you don't want to that field in table you should use @Transient
 @Transient
    private String password_key_type;

    @JsonIgnore
    public int getUser_id()
    {
    return user_id;
    }


The Annual Bar Conference will be held on Saturday, 24 November 2018 for the 33rd occasion. This is a conference not only aimed at improving our daily lives as barristers; but also to make us raise our head out of Blackstone's or the White Book, and consider some of the larger questions and trends affecting not only our profession but the place of the rule of law in the modern world.
A third of a century since it was first inaugurated, the Annual Conference is returning to where it all started; the Grand Connaught Rooms on Great Queen Street, close to the heart of Legal London. It will again be held jointly with the Young Bar Conference and will welcome delegates from across the British Isles – with the Scottish, Northern Irish and Irish Bars all being represented, alongside the English and Welsh Bar.
The theme of this year's conference is 'All Bar None: Access, Development, and Diversification'. The Bar has to ensure that it is a profession that is open to any student of law with the requisite talent and drive, and similarly, the justice system should be open to anyone in need of legal redress or remedy. Access to the profession and access to justice are thus both essential strands that should be woven into the tapestry that makes up a fair society.
The common law is also a living organism, constantly evolving to reflect societal and technological change and barristers have to ensure that they keep pace. From hard copy counter filing to online filing; from post to fax to email; and from sticky notes to electronic bundles, the way in which we practise the law is constantly changing. Over the course of a career at the Bar, flexibility and the ability to innovate are therefore fundamental.
Keynote speakers cross different legal practice areas and span the political rainbow. We are delighted to have the newly appointed Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC MP, addressing the delegates at the start of the day, and then prior to lunch we will hear from the Lord Chancellor, David Gauke MP and the Shadow Attorney General, Baroness Chakrabarti. All highly respected members of the legal profession prior to their political appointments, they showcase in their respective Chambers of the Palace of Westminster, the key role that lawyers play in holding the government to account.
We are also thrilled to be hearing from Lord Sumption, who at the time of his conference speech will be but two weeks away from stepping down from the Supreme Court, as he reaches the statutory age of retirement on 8 December 2018. Lord Sumption enjoyed a stellar career at the Commercial Bar as joint head of Brick Court Chambers, which culminated in the spectacularly successful defence of the Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich in a multi-billion dollar claim brought by the Putin critic in-exile, Boris Berezovsky. The first lawyer in over 60 years to leapfrog to the highest court of the land straight from the Bar, he will give a unique perspective as he reflects on the closure of another chapter in his extraordinary legal life.
The keynote speaker for the Young Bar Conference is the joint head of Garden Court Chambers, Leslie Thomas QC; a celebrated police law expert and human rights lawyer, who has spent 30 years fighting for the interests of families at inquests.
At the close of the day, we will also have the pleasure of hearing from two judges – one civil, one criminal, with unusual routes to the bench, demonstrating that aspiration to judicial office should equally be open to all, regardless of background or career trajectory. Lord Justice Hickinbottom was a solicitor whose first rung on the judicial ladder was as a parking adjudicator in Neath and Port Talbot; whilst HHJ Molyneux now sits at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, but in her previous career was a property solicitor in the City. They will both be in conversation with the amiable Jonathan Ames, co-editor of The Times' The Brief.
Throughout the day there are also breakout panel sessions ranging in theme from how to develop an international practice, to the professionalisation of chambers, to the revolving door between self-employed, and employed practice.
Attending the conference is an excellent opportunity to meet other members of the profession, catch up with old friends and forge new ones. It also helps foster a sense of community and reminds us that we are part of a larger endeavour than those solitary hours drafting in the dead of night can sometimes lead us to believe. It can also help revive in us what initially attracted us to a life at the Bar in the first place. Oh, and of course it also massively assists with your CPD planned outcomes should you be called upon by the BSB to produce your record for 2018!
Lucinda is a senior associate at Enyo Law where she has a broad commercial disputes practice. She is the former chair of the Bar Association for Commerce, Finance & Industry (BACFI).


I spent Thanksgiving with my family. It was a horrid affair; I positively abhorred the whole event. I say this because my family is far too critical for my tastes. Not with me, thank God, but with people in general. If you thought I was intolerant, then you should hear them.
"Where they went wrong is when they stopped letting kids pray in schools. That's when all that evil stuff started happening in schools, y'know."
This was the comment that started my disgust. I so very much wanted to take up for freedom from religion, but I restrained myself. After all, they are my family, after all. I should not burn bridges for the sake of a cause that cannot be achieved by me in the space of one night. I may be many things, but one thing I am not is a martyr.
But the topic of conversation soon got progressively worse and worse... And what was bad was that they thought they were being quite tolerant about all of it! It was quite unbelievable. They would sit there at the table, bashing homosexuals and african-americans, but they would denounce harsher citiques of those same groups -- so to them, they were being quite tolerant after all.
So disgusting, in fact, that although they had cheesecake available to eat, I dared not get up to get myself a slice, for fear that if I moved in the least bit I would draw enough attention to myself for them to ask me my opinion on the subject. And I know that if I had been asked, I would not have lied; I would have told all of them what I think of them for saying such things, especially considering that there were children present in the very next room. Had I been asked my opinion, I likely would have never been invited to that house again, simply because of what I would have called everyone sitting at that accursed table.
But thankfully, I said nothing. Thankfully, I simply sat there, quiet and unobtrusive, until it was time to go.
::sigh:: Perhaps I just don't understand the concept of a family. I thought I did, long ago, but obviously I didn't. Then, later, I was almost taught what exactly a family is -- I nearly understood -- but I didn't quite. I just didn't grasp it.
Which is it? A cake the day after Thanksgiving, or the day after Christmas Eve? Either way says something dreadfully important, even though I never considered such important in the least. But as I sit here in the near-darkness, I imagine that I am wrong, and that instead true importance lies within the bellies of such cakes, and it is celebration, not money, that makes the world go round.
::sigh:: I hope I'm wrong. I hope that life is not just the logical beast I ascribe it to be. I hope that love serves a higher purpose, whatever that height may mean. I hope that Pandora's mistake will be rerecognized as more good than harm -- for it is hope alone that keeps me alive these days.


Through gamification, we get rid of tedious classroom training or boring click-through e-learning. Our goal: increasing the training's impact, stimulating solution-oriented thinking, and boosting user engagement.
By embedding game-like elements, we fuel the intrinsic motivation of users. People who are sufficiently challenged and rewarded for their efforts, are more motivated than those who receive nothing.
Users are not just playing a game. By integrating gaming elements with added value like scores, leaderboards, levels and challenges, we reward them for existing behavior and offer them useful new skills.


This Børge Mogensen cabinet formed part of one of the most ambitious projects in Danish Modern furniture design—a project that tried to find a solution to every household storage need.
Taken from Mogensen's Øresund collection, this cabinet provides space for small and large items as well as dedicated drawers for documents of all sizes so you can keep your surfaces free from clutter.
Made from two-tone oak veneer, the unit is as striking as it is practical. The yellow and orange drawers also allow you to introduce a pop of colour into your interior theme. This item shows signs of wear as pictured.


Is this type of speech diminishing the credibility of your employees and therefore impacting your business: "He goes….we should be literally on budget and stuff….and so I go….I totally agree and stuff"?
No business conversation is without a consequence. Often in informal and formal business settings Gen Y employees tend to fall into speech patterns that diminish their credibility with their co-workers, superiors, clients, and potential clients. These non-productive words and detrimental speech patterns are habitual and said without any awareness of their use on the part of the Speaker.
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