text:
Q: confusion with my variable in perl If using use strict and use warning and
if I specify my datatype, it works; if I do not specify the my it says error.
use strict;
use warnings;
my $test=10;
my @arr=(10,20,30);

If I declare the array variable name as a number:
 use strict;
 use warnings;
 my @100=(10,20,30);

then when I run that program it says error:
 Can't use global @100 in "my" at number_sclar.pl line 28, near "my @100"

If I remove that my and run that program, it runs without an error.
So please can anyone tell me why my variable is not supported with a numeric array variable name?

A: From perldoc perlvar:

Perl identifiers that begin with digits, control characters, or
  punctuation characters are exempt from the effects of the "package"
  declaration
         and are always forced to be in package "main"; they are also exempt from "strict 'vars'" errors.  A few other names are also exempt
  in these ways...

A: As an unintentional side-effect of creating $1, $2, $3, $100, etc (to hold the results of regex captures); @1, @2, @3, @100, etc also get created.
However, the name of these and most of the special vars in perlvar aren't legal names except for package vars. For example, you can't do my $(; or sub (; even though though $( is a valid name for a package variable[1].
When lexicals were added to Perl in 5.6, it was surely deemed to be to confusing to allow such names for user variables. In fact, I doubt anyone even entertained the thought.
Sigil aside, lexical vars must start with a character in [a-zA-Z_][2] and can be followed by a number of characters in [a-zA-Z0-9_][2]. As such, @100 is not a valid name for a lexical variable.

Notes:

*

*>perl -e"our $(;"

>perl -e"my $(;"
Can't use global $( in "my" at -e line 1, near "my $("
Execution of -e aborted due to compilation errors.

>perl -e"sub (;"
Prototype not terminated at -e line 1.

*More code points are actually allowed, but they fall outside of ASCII's character set. For simplicity, I only listed the code points that fall inside of ASCII's character set.


text:
Detection and indentification of bacteria by means of ultra-violet excited resonance Raman spectra
A bacterial suspension is contacted by a single vavelength in the ultra-violet range. A portion of the light energy used is absorbed and a portion of the light energy is emitted. The emitted light energy, resonance enhanced Raman scattering, is measured as backscattered energy. The energy is processed to produce spectra which are characteristic of the bacteria.
Nelson, Wilfred H. (Kingston, RI)
Dalterio, Richard A. (Kingston, RI)
Sperry, Jay F. (Peacedale, RI)
The Board, Of Governors For Higher Education State Of And (Providence, RI)
356/301, 435/29, 435/173.1, 435/808, 436/63
C12Q1/04; (IPC1-7): C12N13/00; C12Q1/04; G01J3/44
356/301, 435/29, 435/34, 435/173, 435/808, 436/63
4678277 Method of discrimination in spectrometry 1987-07-07 Delhaye et al. 356/301
4505586 Laser Raman spectrophotometry system and adjustment thereof 1985-03-19 Tuchigi et al. 356/301
4411525 Method of analyzing an object by use of scattering light 1983-10-25 Ogawa 356/318
Chemical Abstracts 92, (1980), p. 278, Abst. #185583h, Howard W. F., Jr. et al., "A Resonance Raman Method . . . ".
Chemical Abstracts 104, (1986), p. 353, Abst. #105425m, Dalterio R. A. et al., "A Resonance Raman Microprobe Study . . . ".
Warden, Robert J.
Assistant Examiner:
Wagner, Richard W.
Samuels, Gauthier Stevens & Kehoe
Having described our invention, what we now claim is:
1. A method for the identification of a bacterium which comprises:
exciting taxonomic markers in a bacterium with a beam of uItra violet energy, some of said energy emitted from the bacterium as a lower resonance enhanced Raman back scattered energy;
collecting the resonance enhance Raman back scattered energy substantially in the absence of fluoresence;
converting the resonance enhanced Raman back scattered energy into spectra which corresponds to the taxonomic markers in said bacterium; and
displaying the spectra whereby the bacterium may be identified.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the beam of energy is in the wavelength range of 190 to 270 nm.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the back scattered energy is collected at an angle of between 0° to 90° based on the angle between the beam of energy and the axis along which the back scattered energy is collected.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying of the spectra includes:
plotting the spectral lines.
5. The method of claim 1 which includes:
plotting the spectral lines as a function of wavelength.
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Presently, many effective methods for the identification of microorganisms are available. These methods vary widely in sensitivity and specificity. Most commonly, cultural examinations of bacteria are made which require much time and often are not specific unless extremely tedious procedures are followed. The lack of speed characteristic of many routine analyses is a serious problem. Frequently, important decisions relating to the presence of pathogens have to be made before the results of microbiological tests are available, because present methods of detection and identification are, in many cases, too slow or nonspecific to be of much immediate help to decision-makers or potential victims.
The last quarter century, and especially the last decade, has seen a revolution in the application of sensitive and rapid methods of chemical analysis. This has happened, to a large extent, due to advances in electronics, optics, and computer technology which have allowed the practical application of physical methods which previously had been understood in theory, but were too cumbersome to use. These methods have had a major impact on analytical laboratories by making previously difficult analyses affordable and routine and by providing many opportunities for automation.
However, until relatively recently, there was little promise of applying these sophisticated new techniques to biodetection because of the lack of information regarding the molecular composition of microorganisms. Today, chemical information can be used effectively to establish relationships at all levels in the taxonomic hierarchy. Chemical properties, it appears, can and must be used in description of many genera and species.
The progress of biochemists and microbiologists in characterizing and identifying chemical markers has not gone unnoticed by chemical analysts. During the past several years, there has been marked progress in methods of chemical analysis and automation in biodetection and identification. Several potentially rapid new physical methods have been developed in the past several years which promise to achieve truly rapid analysis.
Among the most highly developed of the new rapid techniques is mass spectroscopy and its various combinations with gas chromatography (bacterial biproducts from cultures) and pyrolysis methods. Gas chromatography is highly effective in detecting characteristic bacterial metabolic products. Flow cytometry has provided means for the rapid detection, identification, and separation of cells. Total luminescence spectroscopy can detect organisms very rapidly. The various immunological methods also can be very specific and very rapid. All of these methods have their distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Mass spectroscopy may be unequalled in identification of pure cultures, and it is very rapid and sensitive. However, it is expensive to use, requires the destruction of samples, and is of questionable use in the analysis of complex mixtures. Flow cytometry is perhaps even more costly, requires extensive sample preparation, and in many aspects is limited in its scope of applicability. Luminescence techniques are of little use except in studies of pure cultures unless combined with immunological methods. Immunological methods are unequalled in specificity and speed, as well as sensitivity. Yet, they are often impractical to use unless very expensive and perishable materials are available in a state of constant readiness. Such methods are not practical for a wide range of organisms. Gas chromatography requires that cells be grown and, hence, this method is generally slow and of limited applicability.
The present invention is directed to a new method, and a system embodying that method, for the rapid detection and identification of bacteria and other microorganisms. The invention broadly includes a method wherein a beam of visible or ultraviolet light energy contacts a microorganism under investigation. A portion of the light energy is absorbed by the microorganism and a portion of the light energy is `emitted` from the sample at a lower energy level. The emitted light energy (resonance enhanced Raman scattering) may be measured at any angle but preferably is measured as backscattered energy. This energy is processed to produce spectra which are inherently characteristic of the microorganism.
The light energy which contacts the microorganism may be at any wavelenth so long as it corresponds to a molecular electronic transition which corresponds to strong absorption by the organism. Preferably the energy is a single selected wavelength in the ultraviolet range since most electronic transitions of component molecules of microorganisms occur in that range.
In a preferred embodiment, the emitted energy measured is based upon ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy. Bacteria under investigation are struck by an incident beam of light energy, typically a single wavelength in the ultraviolet range. The emitted energy is collected, collimated and focused onto the entrance slit of a monochromator. The beam strikes a grating or gratings and the wavelengths reflected by the grating or gratings are plotted versus intensity to obtain a spectrum. The chemotaxonomic markers inherent in the bacteria are different for each bacterial type and these differences are reflected in the distinct spectra generated. With a known sample the characteristic spectra are plotted and these spectra, which are stored, are the `fingerprints` of that bacterium. When unknown samples are analyzed, their spectra are compared with the known spectra in memory to determine the identity of the unknown sample.
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system embodying the invention; and
FIGS. 2-8 are graphical representations of the spectral characteristics of different bacteria generated in accordance with our invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
A schematic representation of a system 10 embodying the invention is shown in FIG. 1. A light source 12 comprises three major components: a Nd-Yag (Quanta-Ray DCR-1A) laser 14 which produces high energy light pulses at 1064 nm, 532 nm, 355 nm, and 266 nm, a dye laser 16 (Quanta-Ray PDL-2) which shifts pulse energies from Yag frequencies to lower energies, and a wavelength extender 18 (WEX: Quanta Ray) which either doubles the dye laser output or mixes the dye-laser output or doubled dye laser output with an Nd-Yag fundamental to produce pulsed UV light at a wavelength between 350-216 nm. The output from the wavelength extender 18 strikes a split prism 20 which produces two beams. A first reference beam strikes a mirror and is reflected onto a photodiode 22. The output from the photodiode is transmitted to a Princeton Applied Research Model 162 Boxcar Averager 24. A Spex Datamate DMO1 microcomputer 26 controls the stepping motor (not shown) of a monochromator 40, general data acquisition and disc storage of spectra.
The second beam from the prism 20 strikes a mirror 28 which directs the beam to a sample 30 under investigation. The energy backscattered from the sample is collimated by a lens 32, condensed by an optically aligned lens 34 and focused by the lens 34 on an entrance slit 38 of the monochromator 40.
The formation of a single wavelength in the ultraviolet range, the use of that wavelength to create spectral information about a specimen and the control and output of that information in various graphic or tabular forms is within the scope of those skilled in the art. Where the present invention primarily differs from prior art techniques is in the collection and use of backscattered energy i.e., resonance enhanced Raman scattering from a microorganism which exhibits characterstic spectra of that microorganism. The spectra observed reflect the differences in the composition among the organisms which allow the organisms to be readily identified. The invention will be described with particular reference to the following Example, which Example is illustrative of and not a limitation of the scope of the invention.
The laser 14 contained an angle tuned crystal harmonic generator which doubled a 1064 nm Yag output to 532 nm. This 532 nm output was used to pump the dye laser 16 which, in turn, emitted a beam at 627.8 nm. The extender 18 then frequency doubled the dye laser output and mixed it with the Yag 1064 nm fundamental to obtain the 2424.0 A output used.
The monochromator 40 was a Spex Model 1702:0.75 meter single grating unit with wavelength drive. A 3600 line/mm grating was employed in the first order for maximum UV grating efficiency. Entrance and exit slits were set at 200 um for all spectra. The detector used was a Hamamatsu R166UH high gain "solar blind" tube which is insensitive to wavelengths longer than 320 nm. Cathode voltage was 900 v. Use of the "solar blind" tube minimized stray light interference originating from fluorescing biological samples. The Spex Datamate microcomputer 26 controlled the stepping motor of the monochromator and general data acquisition.
The Boxcar Averager 24 was combined with two Model 166 Gated Integrators (not shown) and used for signal recovery. The photodiode 22 monitored the double dye laser output and was used to trigger the averager as well as to provide a signal proportional to the laser power for use in signal ratioing against the PMT signal channel to compensate for pulse-to-pulse laser intensity variations. A 15 ns aperature duration was used to capture the PMT signal and a 100 s time constant was used in each gated integrator. Scan speeds of 12s/0.2 A and 10s/0.1 A were used resulting in scan times of 53 and 88 minutes, respectively, for 900-1750 cm-1 scans. The wavelength calibration was by means of standard mercury lines.
The sample cell 30 was a 2-inch length cell of 4 mm o.d., 3 mm i.d. suprasil quartz tubing. The samples were continuously recirculated with a Masterflex tubing pump (Cole Parmer Instrument Co.). A flow rate of 15 ml/minute was used for sample volumes of 10 ml for chemicals and 4 ml for bacterial suspensions.
Spectra of chemical samples i.e., nucleotides, tyrosine, and trypyophan (1 millimole per liter-aqueous solution) were obtained to determine the likely origin of the bacterial spectral components.
All test samples were composed of suspensions of bacterial cultures. Specifically, the bacterial suspensions were formed as follows Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228; Enterobacter cloacae ATCC 23355 and Escherichai coli ATCC 25922 were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection, Rockvile, MD. Pseudomonas fluorescens #63 was obtained from the Midwest Culture Service, Terre Haute, Ind., Bacillus subtilis was obtained from the Microbiology Department, Univeristy of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I. Stock cultures were maintained at 4° C. following incubation at the proper growth temperatures for 24 hours. Experimental samples were obtained by inoculating a nutrient agar slant with bacteria and incubating the culture for 24 hours. B subtilis and P. fluorescens were incubated at 30° C. The bacteria were then washed from the nutrient slants with 4-5 ml of sterile 0.85% saline. The bacterial density after dilution was approximately 108 -109 organisms/ ml. The excitation beam from the extender 18 was focused onto the sample cell 30 with a 10 cm focal length lens 28 placed 8.3 cm from the sample cell. To minimize the effect of sample optical density on the scattered light intensity, 30° back-scattering geometry was used. The scattered light was collected with a 2-inch diameter 6.5 cm focal length quartz lens 32 and focused onto the entrance slit 38 of the monochromator with a 35.0 cm focal length quartz lens 34. Because of the highly scattering nature of the bacterial samples, a filter was devised to exclude Rayleigh scattering. For this purpose a 0.7 mM solution of quinoline in 1.0 M HCl was placed in a 1 cm path length cuvette in front of the entrance slit. The quinoline efficiently absorbs 2424 A light while transmitting 40-50% of light in the range 247-260 nm (The Raman range). The average laser beam power at the sample was 6-7 mW. (A second monochromator would serve to exclude Rayleigh scattered light more efficiently).
The spectra shown in FIGS. 2-8 were taken using a single wavelength of 242 nm. The bacteria investigated are identified in the Figures. FIGS. 2-6 are low resolution spectra while FIGS. 7-8 are higher resolution spectra.
FIG. 2 shows a single low-resolution spectrum of Pseudomonas fluorescens (#63) taken in a 70-minute scan. The spectra of FIGS. 3-8 are averages of three scans.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6 comparisons of spectra belonging to Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms are especially clear-cut. The peaks near 1600 cm-1 (probably associated with protein) show this most clearly.
As shown in FIG. 5, comparisons between spectra of organisms of the same Gram stain type show fewer spectral differences but the differences in peak positions and relative peak heights are still very marked.
FIGS. 7 and 8 compare spectra of Bacillus subtilis (URI collection) and Pseudomonas fluorescens (#63) over shorter spectral ranges. This allows the full resolution of the data to be observed directly. The differences shown in FIG. 8 are especially significant and marked.
In all cases background due to contributions other than resonance Raman scattering was very low. The rise in the baseline approaching 700 cm-1 is due to small amounts of Rayleigh scattering.
It is believed the spectra strongly support our claim that bacteria and other microorganisms can be rapidly detected and identified by means of UV-excited resonance Raman spectroscopy.
The spectra of organisms studied at the genus level reflected major differences in numbers and types of chemotaxonomic markers. In the example our method and system was effective using 190-260 nm laser excitation due to the absence of fluorescence when those wavelengths are used. Different exciting laser wavelengths will selectively excite different sets of taxonomic markers, giving rise to distinct spectral fingerprints at each wavelength, further enhancing the effectiveness of the method and system.
We have shown that with the five different types of bacteria excited at 242 nm at a power of about 5 mw characteristic resonance Raman spectra are exhibited which sensitively reflect differences in the compositions of these organisms. Nucleic acids, proteins and possibly isoprenoid quinones and other marker components are major contributors to the spectra reported. Fluorescence produced at energies below 270 nm by the organisms and associated media does not interfere with the resonance Raman signals since a "window" between the exciting frequency and the onset of fluorescence allows the sensitive detection of resonance-enhanced Raman scattered light. The higher the energy of the excited light within the Raman window (190-270 nm) the larger the "Raman window."
Based on the Example, major spectral differences have been observed associated with the five types of organisms studied. The data have been reproduced at least three times for each culture studied. Each organism has been cultured repeatedly and the spectra obtained. In all cases, spectra are highly reproducible except in the case of Bacillus subtilis which showed substantial differences attributable to endospore formation. The broad peaks centered near 800cm-1 and 1060 cm-1 are due primarly to the quartz cell and can be used as an internal standard.
It is believed that spectral differences will be observed at other wavelengths.
From known absorption characteristics of chemotaxonomic markers and the results shown in FIGS. 2-8, it is believed that at wavelengths between 190-260 nm characteristic resonance Raman spectra of bacteria and other microorganisms can be obtained. Depending upon chemotaxonomic relationships, different organisms, including pathogens i.e., disease causing microorganisms, will give characteristic spectra at empirically chosen excitation wavelengths between 190-260 nm. Spectra will reflect chemotaxonomic differences and will vary in the number, intensity, and energy of peaks. Single cell detection should be possible if a microscope-equipped system is used with a CW or a low power pulsed source which will not damage the samples. Truly rapid analysis should be possible if an optical multichannel analyzer is used for detection rather than the present scanning system. It is anticipated that a library of spectra will be obtained and placed in storage such as on disc which can be rapidly scanned by a computer allowing rapid identification on the basis of resonance Raman spectra.
Because existing laser wavelengths can be varied and because single cell detection can be predicted, direct detection from gross mixtures should be possible. Because all microorganisms, including viruses, possess chemotaxonomic markers which absorb in the ultraviolet, this method should work for all microorganisms.
Our invention has been described with reference to a specific geometric configuration for the collection of backscattered energy. It is within the scope of this invention that backscattered energy may be collected by any suitable technique within an angular range from 0° to 90° and preferably within a range of from 0° to 45° with the angular relationship being defined as the angle between the incident beam and the axis along which the backscattered energy is collected.
The generation of the characteristic spectra was described in reference to a mechanically driven eschelle grating. Other techniques which would be suitable for purposes of the invention to ultimately display the unique spectra associated with the microorganism under examination include the combination of a spectrograph and a multichannel analyzer. It would be possible in principal to use photographic detection as well.
In the preferred embodiment specific bacteria were described. It is believed that any of the microorganisms can be so identified. For the purposes of this disclosure the term `microorganism` includes bacteria, viruses (including the AIDS virus), fungi, algae and protozoa or protista such as set forth in "Microbiology" Third Edition, B. D. Davis, R. Dulbecco, H. N. Eisen and H. S. Ginsberg, Harper and Row Publishers, Philadelphia (1980), which publication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this disclosure.
In the Example, the test samples were suspensions of bacterial cultures. The microorganisms may be embodied in any biologically acceptable carrier or medium wherein the sample microorganisms will emit energy which will produce spectra characteristic of the microorganism.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Titleizing Devise User Name on Sign Up In my devise I said that I need additional information from the user when he signs up.
How can I titleize the input of the User when he is signing up?
class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  before_action :configure_permitted_parameters, if: :devise_controller?

  def configure_permitted_parameters
    devise_parameter_sanitizer.permit(:sign_up, keys: [:first_name, :last_name, :age,
                                                       :country])
  end
end

For example, if the user sings up as mark wahlberg, my server should save Mark Wahlberg.
This is my registrations/new.html.erb
<div class="form-inputs" id="session-form">
  <%= f.input :first_name, required: true, autofocus: true, placeholder: "First Name", label:false %>
  <%= f.input :last_name, required: true, autofocus: true, placeholder: "Last Name", label:false %>
  <%= f.input :email, required: true, autofocus: true, placeholder: "Email", label:false %>
  <%= f.input :age, required: true, autofocus: true, placeholder: "What's your age?", label:false %>
  <%= f.country_select :country, required: false, placeholder: "Where do you live?", label: false %>
  <%= f.input :password, required: true, hint: ("#{@minimum_password_length} characters minimum" if @minimum_password_length), placeholder: "Password", label:false %>
  <%= f.input :password_confirmation, required: true, placeholder: "Confirm Password", label:false %>
</div>

I tried looking at the UsersController, but apparently there is no create method in it.
Should I create one or how does devise create the User?

A: You can add a callback in User model:
before_save do |user|
  user.first_name = user.first_name.titleize
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Casey Anthony to pay $25K over life story dispute
Compromise over rights filed in bankruptcy case
Updated: 3:15 PM EDT Jul 8, 2013
Casey Anthony may pay $25,000 to settle a bankruptcy dispute over the rights to sell her life story, according to court documents.Anthony owes nearly $800,000 to debtors. She filed for bankruptcy protection in a Tampa court in January.Stephen Meininger, the case's acting trustee, motioned earlier in the year to have Anthony's life story sold off to help pay her debt."The Debtor's story is potentially of great public interest. The Trustee has received a number of inquiries and two firm offers to purchase the right to commercialization of the Debtor's story," the documents read.Anthony opposes the selling of her story, according to the documents, and would rather pay $25,000 to keep it from being sold.The compromise is now under the review of the judge.Images: Many Looks Of Casey Anthony
Casey Anthony may pay $25,000 to settle a bankruptcy dispute over the rights to sell her life story, according to court documents.
Anthony owes nearly $800,000 to debtors. She filed for bankruptcy protection in a Tampa court in January.
Will Casey Anthony testify in Texas Equusearch lawsuit?
Stephen Meininger, the case's acting trustee, motioned earlier in the year to have Anthony's life story sold off to help pay her debt.
"The Debtor's story is potentially of great public interest. The Trustee has received a number of inquiries and two firm offers to purchase the right to commercialization of the Debtor's story," the documents read.
Anthony opposes the selling of her story, according to the documents, and would rather pay $25,000 to keep it from being sold.
The compromise is now under the review of the judge.
Images: Many Looks Of Casey Anthony


text:
Twitter pilots Stories-like format in Brazil
unsplash/freestocks
Twitter started testing tweets that disappear after 24 hours, resembling the stories feature in Snapchat and Instagram. Twitter is piloting the vanishing tweets, which the social network calls "Fleets," in Brazil, per an announcement.
Twitter users in the country can see Fleets by tapping on other users' profile pictures. Fleets don't appear in a user's timeline of regular tweets, nor can they be retweeted by other users. Twitter also doesn't let users "like" or publicly reply to Fleets, Kayvon Beykpour, the company's product lead, said in a tweet.
"We're hoping that Fleets can help people share the fleeting thoughts that they would have been unlikely to Tweet," Beykpour said. The only way for Twitters users to respond to a Fleet is through a direct message, he said.
Twitter's test of disappearing tweets indicates that the company is working to boost engagement by adopting a format that has proven to be wildly popular among social media users. Brands are likely to start exploring ways to use Fleets as part of their Twitter messaging strategies, with possible use cases for brands including short-term deals, contests and messaging not intended to stick around, per a contributor on Forbes.
It's too early to tell whether Twitter will monetize the feature by selling ad inserts in Fleets. However, the feature may help to boost repeat visits to Twitter as users check in more routinely to see posts before they disappear. That increased engagement would increase the likelihood that marketers reach target audiences on Twitter.
For Twitter, the stories-like format would help the social network to keep pace with rivals. Snapchat introduced Stories in 2013 to let users share a single disappearing post with multiple people, instead of the one-to-one vanishing messages that were the original basis for the app. As Snapchat surged in popularity, Facebook started to copy Snapchat's features to keep people engaged with its own family of apps. Facebook's Instagram introduced a Stories format in 2016, and has said that the feature helps to boost usage as people check the app to see posts before they disappear. The stories format has proven to be so popular that companies as varied as LinkedIn, Pinterest, Netflix, Tinder and YouTube have created their own versions of disappearing posts.
Twitter's Fleets test comes as company management faces pressure from shareholders to boost user growth and speed up innovation. Twitter was a social media pioneer when it was founded in 2006, and the birth of the smartphone era helped to drive its early growth. However, younger rivals including Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and TikTok have managed to overtake Twitter in monthly usage.
Twitter receives constant publicity as celebrities, journalists and politicians such as President Donald Trump use the platform to connect directly with its users, but that hasn't translated into broader global growth. Twitter's user base grew 20% to 152 million last year, but it only had 31 million users outside the U.S., per its quarterly report. Twitter also coped with technical glitches that hampered ad revenue growth last year.
TechCrunch Twitter starts testing its own version of Stories, called 'Fleets,' which disappear after 24 hours
BuzzFeed News Twitter Is Finally Doing Stories
Filed Under: Mobile Social Media Marketing Tech
Courtesy of The Hershey Company
Hershey bets on product mashups by weaving licensing into marketing
As it expands into categories in which it doesn't have experience or distribution, the confections juggernaut sees unexpected partnerships as key to its success.
By Aaron Baar • Nov. 02, 2020
Courtesy of Ben & Jerry's
6 months later: Activist marketing takeaways from Nike, Ben & Jerry's calls for racial justice
Analyzing brand messages supporting Black Lives Matter, Gartner found terms like White supremacy alienated consumers — but an ad's reception doesn't tell the full story.


Goodbye Windows (mostly). Hello Linux!
I installed the latest version on five computers: 2 custom built desktops, a Lenovo laptop, a Compaq laptop, and a Toshiba laptop. I had no driver issues on any of the laptops, though the video drivers on the Toshiba (A15-S157) seem a little buggy at times. Driver wise on the two desktops, mine was fine – it has an Nvidia video card. Linux prompted me to install the proprietary drivers and it works like a champ. On Debi's desktop, the ATI video card, a budget card that isn't great quality, had some serious problems. During the install the screen kept flashing – apparently the OS couldn't figure out a resolution that worked for the monitor/video card combination. I was eventually able to change the resolution once I got everything installed, but it still has problems. I can't get it to boot to a visible log-in screen. Luckily I knew from past experience that I just needed to type the username, hit return, and then type the password and hit return. I was able to do that without being able to see anything and it booted to the OS. I eventually set the system to skip the login prompt, which is a crappy workaround, but it works.
On the Lenovo laptop I can't seem to get the second monitor (our HD TV, which Linux detects fine) to function at its correct resolution. I can get it to display video, but not at the correct resolution. It still works, it just doesn't take full advantage of the TV. When I set it to the correct resolution, I get the Linux white screen of death.
I can't seem to get Linux (using Synce) to recognize my HTC 8125 PDA. I don't sync it very often, but this is kind of a hangup. I may have resolved this by syncing my contacts and calendar directly with Google as explained here.
I can't install Internet Explorer on Wine so I can watch Netflix videos online. I'm not sure how I'm going to resolve this one either. I may have to pick up a Roku box.
While both a negative and a positive, I have had to look up how to do a number of things on Linux that simply were not intuitive. I have also had to use the terminal (i.e., command prompt) quite a few times, which is awkward for someone like me who grew up on Macs then switched to Windows when there was no longer a need for the command prompt (for the most part). Luckily, there have always been answers online. But this is probably more than the average user is willing to do.
I have yet to find a video editing program that works as well as those I used on Windows (Sony Vegas and Adobe Premier). Well, let me rephrase that: I have yet to find one that really works. I have tried several and they each seem to work to some degree, but they are very buggy and either freeze up or simply don't do what I need them to. I'm going to have to fiddle with these more.
WINE, the Windows emulation program, has failed to install every program I've tried to install. At this point I'm not sure it even can install Windows programs. Kind of pointless.
I use special, ergonomic mice due to repetitive stress injuries. At this point I have not found a program that will allow me to customize the functions of the buttons easily. This isn't a major problem, but it probably does slow me down a little bit.
When I disconnect my Lenovo laptop from its docking station, Linux doesn't reset my display settings to a single monitor. So, unless I change the display settings manually, I can't see any of the key menus. Not a major annoyance, but a minor one.
Our printers don't work. I may be able to get these to work with additional effort. I'm not that perturbed by one of these, an HP Laserjet 1000, which was always a bit buggy with Windows XP. However, our Canon MP 830 is kind of annoying. The scanner function works great, but the printer doesn't seem to be working at this point. I'll have to work on these.
Two pieces of software I cannot find replacements for: Omnipage pro, for optical character recognition and Nvivo for qualitative data analysis. I'm figuring at this point I'll simply run a version of Windows in Virtualbox and emulate those programs when I need them. Amazingly, there is not a single good OCR program for Linux. Not sure why.
No driver disks or driver downloads to find anywhere. Linux found all of them for me and installed them with only one or two minor hitches. That, alone, saved me a lot of time.
It's free! No serials or codes to type in. No registration required.
The repository of software has thousands of pieces of software to choose from.
So far, with only a couple of exceptions, I have found software to replace every piece of software I used to use on Windows.
Connecting to wireless networks has been super easy. The software works flawlessly.
The software I have been able to replace includes: Microsoft Office with OpenOffice; Outlook with Evolution; Batch Rename with Bulk Rename; Windows Live sync with Dropbox (this did cost me $99, but includes a backup feature, which Windows Live sync did not include, meaning I always have my files backed up); Toucan synchronizer with Conduit Synchronizer (a lot better); xplorer2 Lite with Krusader; Adobe Reader professional with Okular and PDF Editor; uTorrent with Transmission; Nvu with Bluefish; DVDShrink and Gordian Knot with dvd::rip; iTunes with Rhythmbox; Winsplit with Compiz (even better); .
Software that works on both systems: I was already using Openoffice, which works on both; Picasa works on both; Virtualbox works on both; GIMP works on both; Scribus works on both.
My verdict for Ubuntu Linux: Well, if your hardware is fully supported and all you do is use the internet and basic word processing, Ubuntu will work superbly for you. And, it's free! If your hardware isn't fully supported, your not tech savvy, and you don't enjoy troubleshooting, Ubuntu is pretty close, but could give you nightmares. Of course, Windows XP could do the same thing. Vista, well, that's a gimme – it's a worthless piece of crap. If you've been cursed to run it at all, poor you (it came with one of my laptops; it was pretty bad!). Windows 7, from what I hear, has potential. But it's also going to cost you a pretty penny. And, unless you shell out for the more expensive versions you may be stuck being able to open only 3 applications at the same time. Also, if you use a particular proprietary software package (e.g., SPSS or Omnipage), you may be stuck with Windows.
I am dual-booting Linux and XP on my desktop. I'll keep doing that until I find good video editing software. Otherwise, I can emulate the other software I still need (Nvivo and Omnipage).
Next Post - Next post: Game on!
I didn't understand most of all of that, but am very impressed that you do!!! Hope you really like all of the changes you have made and that it was worth all of the effort. I have never even heard of any of it. Keep up the good work of staying ahead in the computer game. Love you!!!
Oh and, yes, I recognize that Apple isn't a strictly benevolent force, either.
If I didn't like to tinker with computers so much, I probably would have just given up on Windows a long time ago and switched to Mac. It's a better operating system, by far.
Speaking of computers, is there a program for storing audio/video/music files that's better than itunes? Josh and I don't like the fact that you can't put music from your ipod TO the computer (at least i'm not sure of a way other than buying software; if you know a way, please share). Also, certain files don't play in itunes. I bought a cd and when I played it on my ipod it sounded as if the cd had been scratched to hell when it definitely hadn't been. Let me know if you know any better programs than itunes. On another note, congratulations on becoming parents! You guys are gonna love it!
Oh, sorry that was me that posted the last anonymous. Jeremy is the name, forgetting to put my name along with my comment is my game.


LCTech GmbH presents its new automated sample preparation system DEXTech™ Plus.
Tedious and elaborate sample preparation makes the sample processing time and cost-intensive. When developing its new system for automated sample preparation in dioxin and PCB analysis LCTech focused on shortening the process time, increasing the flexibility of the system, allowing easy handling, and achieving lower costs per sample.
With the system DEXTech™ Plus, LCTech as the specialist for automated sample preparation succeeded in reducing the processing time to only 35 minutes depending on the sample including conditioning and fractionation. This allows to process up to 3,500 samples per year with only one system. 4 systems in parallel achieve a sample throughput of up to 14,000 samples per year, making the system a perfect solution also for high throughput laboratories.
DEXTech™ Plus provides an integrated USB-port for reporting and documentation and is compliant with the EPA method and European regulations.