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Home » Nexo integrates blockchain indexer Zash to create new NFT pricing tools
Nexo integrates blockchain indexer Zash to create new NFT pricing tools
According to its recent announcement, Zash, which is an enterprise-grade blockchain indexer, just partnered with Nexo — the self-proclaimed most advanced regulated digital assets institution offering quick fiat on-ramps for over 40 cryptocurrencies. The move comes as part of Nexo's efforts to extract as much liquidity as possible from the digital asset market and further expand its offering.
Thanks to the fact that Nexo will now integrate Zash into its platform, the company will be able to create new valuation and pricing tools specifically made for the NFT market. As a result, the platform will be able to offer labeled, clean, indexed NFT data, which will then be used to feed its pricing and valuation models and, overall, allow the company to provide a better service.
Nexo started its NFT journey less than a year ago, in December 2021, when it first entered this sector by launching the NFT Lending Desk. This was a service that allowed people from all corners of the crypto industry to use their NFT holdings to easily unlock instant liquidity. Best of all, they could do it while using a white glove service, which offered a number of features, such as dedicated account managers, no credit checks, and no liquidations before maturity.
It has been almost a year since then, and during this time, the project became a provider of the largest NFT-backed loan in the world, worth $3.3 million. Since then, it has had more major offerings like that, with the latest one being worth $1.3 million, and it was issued against two very rare Mutant Apes.
NFT lending on the rise
Over the last several years, since the rise of DeFi in 2020, crypto lending has grown to be a massive part of the crypto industry. It went from a small niche product to a full-scale market in less than two full years. While it existed before 2020 as well, it wasn't until the rise of DeFi brought it to the attention of people around the world and legitimized it by shedding more light on how it works and why users can trust it.
Then, NFTs blew up in early 2021, and it wasn't long before NFT lending further expanded this market. As digital assets of value, NFTs became a good way to provide collateral for loans, not unlike a recognized work of art would. With the continued adoption, the NFT market is expected to go beyond $230 billion by 2030 and possibly go beyond that in years to follow.
Nexo's head of DeFi strategy, Kiril Nikolov, stated that it is crucial for the NFT lending space to have real-time mark-to-market capabilities. They will make it more accessible, as well as more efficient, and Zash is the perfect choice for a valuation provider that can offer accuracy, speed, and reliability.
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Every year as the temperature starts to change, we're reminded of a cause we care deeply about. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a special time to commemorate those we've lost, celebrate survivors and renew our promise to support breast cancer awareness and research.
This month also serves as an important reminder to ourselves and those we love to schedule a breast health check-up or mammogram. Early detection and prevention is an important step in fighting breast cancer.
Once your appointment is set, join us in celebrating Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day on October 19. Once again, we've got a challenge for you! On October 19, show your support for breast cancer awareness by wearing pink and encouraging your household, coworkers and friends to do the same.
A couple of our favorite wines are also collaborating to support the cause. Purple Cowboy and Clayhouse wines have partnered up to support Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink through Paso Pardners in Pink. A portion of the sale of each bottle goes to Tough Enough To Wear Pink.
2017 marks the 13th Anniversary of the founding of Wrangler Tough Enough to Wear Pink. To date, more than $25 million dollars have been raised through Tough Enough to Wear Pink, the grassroots cowboy campaign encourages competitors and fans at rodeos and western events around the country to wear pink to raise awareness and funds. It's all made possible with the help of sponsors like Wrangler, Montana Silversmiths, Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association, Clayhouse and Purple Cowboy wines.. Our goal is to raise $50 million dollars by the 20th Anniversary of Tough Enough To Wear Pink in 2024.


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Poorer Outcomes After 'Off-Pump' Bypass Surgery
Keeping patients on the heart-lung machine improved survival, study found
Edward Edelson
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2009 (HealthDay News) -- Longer-term outcomes for people who had coronary bypass surgery "off-pump," meaning without the use of a heart-lung machine, were worse than for those undergoing the conventional procedure, a major study finds.
One year after surgery, about one in 10 patients getting the off-pump procedure had died, suffered major complications, had heart attacks or required repeat bypasses, compared to 7.4 percent of those who underwent operations using heart-lung machines, researchers report in the Nov. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
And the hoped-for advantage of off-pump bypass in other areas, such as less effect on mental function, did not show up, said study co-author Dr. Frederick L. Grover, chair of surgery at the University of Colorado, Denver.
"We thought they would end up doing better neurologically, or that other organs would do better, or they would get out of the hospital faster -- and that did not pan out," Grover said.
Follow-up scans also showed that fewer of the off-pump grafts remained open after a year (82.6 percent vs. 87.8 percent). The percentage of grafted blood vessels that became narrower and less able to supply the heart with blood was also higher in the off-pump group, the researchers reported.
The study included more than 2,200 adults, almost all of them men, who had bypass surgeries at 18 Veterans Administration medical centers across the country. The research was needed because initial enthusiasm for the off-pump procedure has since been "tempered by concern" about the long-term effectiveness of the operation, the report's authors explained.
About 20 percent of bypass operations in the United States are done off-pump, Grover estimated.
There still is a role for off-pump bypass surgery, he said, based on individual surgeon's expertise and patient characteristics, but the study indicates that the procedure's role will be limited.
"Some surgeons around the country do off-pump bypass and they are very accomplished at it," he said. "Most haven't done the long-term follow-up that we have done, but they have pretty good results, and I would doubt they would change their practice. But those who haven't taken it on are less likely to take it on."
Grover said he would continue to do off-pump bypass surgery for some patients -- those who are elderly, who have major disabilities or have suffered previous strokes. "I would do it for Jehovah's Witnesses, who can't take [donated] blood," he said.
Another expert agreed. Off-pump bypass surgery will continue to be done, said Dr. Eric David Peterson, a professor of medicine at Duke University, even though the newly reported study, which he noted is larger than any done before, does not show the expected benefits.
"Surgeons who use it would say the results are about the same, and in their hands it would be an attractive alternative," Peterson said. "But for the physician who has not yet mastered it, this [off-pump surgery] would not be necessary because conventional means are at least as good, if not better."
The verdict in the study for bypass surgery in general was favorable, Peterson said. "Both methods look remarkably good, with very little effect on neurocognitive function," he said.
The study does not disprove the possible benefits of off-pump surgery for older, sicker people, Peterson said. The men who had bypass operations in the study were "a bit younger than average, and their risks are a little lower than what you see in the general bypass population," he noted.
"Those populations thought to be at most risk for complications probably were not enrolled in this study," Peterson said. "Off-pump bypass may have a role there."
The basics of coronary bypass surgery are explained at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
SOURCES: Frederick L. Grover, M.D., professor and chair, surgery, University of Colorado, Denver; Eric David Peterson, M.D., professor, medicine, Duke University, Durham, N.C.; Nov. 5, 2009, New England Journal of Medicine
Consumer News Language Surgery Surgery: Misc. News types Heart / Stroke-Related: Heart Attack Heart Attack: Management / Prevention Topics Products English News

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


God has placed within youEverything you need to live life.
"Wake up! See the world in a new and different way You have all you need to live your life today- All the light, All the guidance, All the resources"
The transfiguration account in the gospels falls right in the middle of the action- maybe 2 years into Jesus' 3 year run.
This mountaintop experience marks a turning point for Jesus.
There's a distinct change in Jesusa after this incident.
After the transfiguration Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem- Toward suffering, Toward sorrow, Toward death and glorious resurrection.
What did the transfiguration mean for Jesus?
The key to the transfiguration Is not some flashy spiritual experience- Or something external to who Jesus is And who we are.
The light of the transfiguration lies within Jesus himself.
But such change only results from what's in here- Within ourselves.
How many times have you and I pined away for some positive change in our lives?
If only I had more money. If only someone loved me. If only he or she would change. If only If only If only Then everything would be different and life would be better.
Real change- Lasting change starts from within- with the realization that we have within our own selves everything we need.
That same light shines in each one of us- even when we can't see it.
That very same light is what enables us To cope with whatever life brings- To move out with confidence to share ourselves and God with others.
That same light Shines in every single person every single creature- If our eyes can only be opened to perceive it.
That is true change. True transfiguration.
Thomas Merton was a Trappist monk famous for his wisdom and insight into God and people.
Every so often the Trappists allow their monks to leave the enclosure of the monastery for brief periods of time.
And so Thomas Merton's turn came To go to downtown Louisville, The nearest town to his monastery- Which by the way is named Gethsemani.
There he was allowed to shop for socks and sandals Or some such monkish things and have a soda t the local soda fountain.
It was on one pf those trips That Thomas Merton e experienced his own Transfiguration.
Here's what he wrote in his book Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander.
I have the immense joy of being human, a member of a race in which God Godself became incarnate. Now I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this!


College of Mind-Body Medicine PhD student, Ramona Rolle-Berg, Completes Practicum Placement in Chiropractic Clinic.
Ramona Rolle-Berg, a PhD student in the Saybrook University College of Mind-Body Medicine, recently completed a practicum placement with chiropractor Mark R. Marquardt, JD, DC, FACO. That placement was filled almost to-the-brim with copious learning opportunities that smoothly mixed the experiential with the didactic. Dr. Marquardt opened his office and practice to her, bringing her into patient interactions multiple times each day of her placement, exposures which afforded her the opportunity to develop a good understanding of the broad range of presenting complaints in a practice that caters to an array of afflictions and ages.
As in the time-honored Socratic method, Dr. Marquardt posed questions after patient encounters, questions that Ms. Rolle-Berg had to seek answers to using her laptop and the internet as her resource during between-patient times. He also provided her with an introductory exposure to the use of TENS Units (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) in the management of chronic pain, Stim Units (Muscle or Neuromuscular Electrical Nerve Stimulation) for preventing disuse and atrophy of musculature, Cold Lasers for bone and muscle regeneration, and Spinal decompression units for herniated disc relief.
Dr. Marquardt taught Ramona how to read an MRI using actual patient films, discussed the importance of patient compliance in the overall management plan he develops for each patient, and spoke about nutrition and its importance to the maintenance of overall well-being.
They spoke at length throughout the practicum about chiropractic technique, including the critical importance of a detailed history during patient intake. He showed her how to take and develop X-rays, and provided examples using patients she had met, so that she could connect the resulting X-ray films with her knowledge and her visual representation of the injury as presented by the patient. As Dr. Marquardt has earned an additional chiropractic specialization in orthopedics and a certification in acupuncture, his questions to her ranged broadly, and thereby expanded her understanding of chiropractic considerably.
As a lawyer, he is often called as an expert witness, and in that vein, Dr. Marquardt and Ramona discussed not only the historical animosity between chiropractors and the AMA, but also the type and extent of oversight needed to protect patients from spinal injury when opting for the increasingly popular laser spine surgery provided by for-profit laser institutes. The hours sped by, and provided her with an experience of inestimable importance.
Three specific learnings: (1) pain is the last thing to show up, the first thing to leave, (2) patients hear on conscious and subconscious levels – the treatment team must therefore be very vigilant of word choice, and (3) taking a good history is critical to the onset of treatment.
Three insights struck her as particularly impactful: (1) the simpler the solution toward health, the greater the likelihood that patients will attempt and stick to a new regime until a habit sets in, (2) "I could be one of the richest doctors on the planet if I could get my patients to love themselves as much as they love their pets." This verbatim statement illustrates how self-care isn't valued by many patients, and (3) if you don't like your health, change your diet. Dr. Marquardt believes that much of pathology can be traced to poor nutrition choices.
Ramona reports that this was a great practicum experience!


Introduction: Cervical lesions are generally screened(1) with Pap smear test. However, the procedure is quite intensive and takes time. An effective alternate method is proposed by WHO with visual inspection of acetowhite areas in acetic acid test, which can be used in developing countries as it is cheap and results can be given immediately. Biopsy is considered confirmative test for same cervical lesions. Study was conducted to compare all these methods for diagnosis of cervical lesions and study the effectiveness of acetic acid (VIA) test.
Materials and Method: A total number of 543 cases of Women with unhealthy cervix, aged between 20 to 70 years who fulfill the selection criteria were included in the study. Pap smear and VIA were done in these cases. Cervical biopsy was done in positive cases. All these methods were compared.
Results: A total of 543 women between age groups 20- 70 years were included in the study. Out of 543 women 29 (5.34%) found to be positive with acetic acid test (VIA).
Conclusion: The acetic acid test found to be 93.5% accurate when compared with Pap smear, so acetic acid test can be used effectively for screening the cervical lesions. For further diagnosis, Pap smear shall be used. However, biopsy is confirmative.


So I'm sitting here, watching the Patriots/Broncos game and thinking how quiet my night has been. Mr. Twingle bathed and put Pickle to bed, then we both put the twins down. I guess he went to our room to watch the hockey game, while I watched the Toronto Rock lacrosse game; and he fell asleep...at 7:30pm! So it's been just me and the fur babies, enjoying the quiet.
Yet, I somehow feel short changed. Mr. Twingle is so rarely home evenings that I was hoping to have a relaxing night with my honey. Sadly, not the case.


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IX Meeting
World Network of Island and Coastal
Biosphere Reserves ABOUT
Clayoquot Sound (Canada)
The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve is situated in Vancouver Island on the west coast of British Columbia, within the Pacific Northwest Coast ecoregion. It is ecologically defined by coastal mountains, temperate rainforests, networks of riparian areas and wetlands, a rugged coastline, coastal sand ecosystems, estuaries, a thriving marine environment and healthy human communities. The coastal landscape's fjords, sounds, headlands and sand ecosystems have been shaped by the advance and retreat of glacial sheets as recently at 15,000 years ago. The mild climate in the BR is moderated by the Pacific Ocean. The landscape receives heavy rainfall which supports the growth of dense coniferous temperate rainforests and delivers freshwater down mountains and through riparian forests, lakes and wetlands to empty into the Pacific Ocean mixing with the saltwater forming productive estuarine complexes.
Declaration Date: 2000
Surface Area: 349,947 ha
Resident population: 6,462 inhabitants
Contact: Laura Loucks Laura@clayoquotbiosphere.org
BR website
BR zoning map
World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves The World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves was launched in 2009 by UNESCO MAB Programme to foster sustainable development in islands and coastal areas and to promote adaptation and mitigation strategies on climate change. ABOUT
Menorca Biosphere Reserve
Jeju Biosphere Reserve
MAB-UNESCO
Contact us You can use this form to send us a question or comment. We will answer as soon as possible. Thank you very much. Name:
World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves
Legal Accessibility XHTML 1.0 CSS 2.1 Contact


Sustainability is crucial to the continuing growth of the cruise industry, which needs to "behave as an important sector" according to Ann Sherry, executive chair of cruise line Carnival Australia.
Speaking at the World Tourism Forum in Lucerne earlier this month, Sherry said it wasn't good enough for "big white ships to just turn up and sail away".
Sherry said other areas of the travel and tourism industry needed to measure the impact that their activities have had on destinations too.
Sherry said she could demonstrate the benefits of cruising to South Pacific island communities where more tourists arrive by cruise ships than by air, and where local people have built businesses based on the patronage of the cruise industry.
Sherry said many of the communities visited were aid dependent, and the cruise line could demonstrate how communities in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands had been lifted out of poverty and given educational opportunities.


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North_America
Home » Ranking by Areas » Europe » European Union
401 749 University of Glamorgan Glamorgan Business School 712 862 555 432
402 177 University of Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law 214 278 204 86
403 85 University of Helsinki Hanken School of Economics and Business Administration 9 133 163 291
404 1194 University of Indianapolis Athens School of Business 1161 1182 1116 511
405 791 University of Kalmar Baltic Business School 689 908 545 511
406 252 University of Leipzig, Faculty of Economics and Management 383 453 145 115
407 36 University of Ljubljana Faculty of Economics 42 158 7 74
408 556 University of London Centre for Financial and Management Studies 592 653 489 313
409 56 University of Manchester Manchester Business School 229 60 95 54
410 164 University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business 61 621 30 66
411 1215 University of Oulu, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 1202 1165 1145 511
412 745 University of Regensburg International Real Estate Business School 955 737 579 511
413 461 University of Salzburg Business School 411 431 491 511
414 663 University of Stirling Department of Management 531 725 708 511
415 1135 University of Strathclyde Department of Management 1242 842 1145 511
416 282 University of Tartu Faculty of Economics and Business Administration 297 487 144 224
417 1171 University of Warsaw Faculty of Management College of Business University of Illinois 1138 1205 987 511
418 1245 University of Warsaw Faculty of Management International Business Program 1194 1245 1145 511
419 258 University of Warwik Warwick Business School 282 180 438 345
420 272 University Vienna Modul 170 331 406 238
421 1066 US Business School Praha 1222 648 1145 511
422 578 Vienna Business School 471 724 433 511
423 483 Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration Executive Education 481 400 595 511
424 947 Vienna University of Technology and The Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration - Professional MBA 830 982 904 511
425 806 Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Faculty of Business Management 477 1087 363 511
426 266 Vilnius International School of Law and Business 190 516 255 77
427 6 Warsaw School of Economics 22 13 8 5
428 257 Warsaw University School of Management 320 450 165 151
429 815 Warszawska Szkoła Zarządzania - Szkoła Wyższa 950 770 760 511
430 1140 Wbss Warwick Business School Society 1093 1123 1116 511
431 807 Webster University Webster Graduate School London 885 714 886 511
432 945 Weller International Business School 1044 968 894 432
433 630 Wesford Ecole Supérieure de Commerce et de Management 805 537 636 511
434 1240 Whu - Otto Beisheim School of Management Bucerius Law School 1207 1243 1083 511
435 97 WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management 161 130 78 135
436 942 Wielkopolska Business School MBA 1100 693 1083 511
437 209 Wirtschaftsinformatik Münster Executive Program Information Management 293 351 123 188
438 495 Wittenborg Business University 503 399 618 511
439 19 Wroclaw University of Economics 24 54 6 43
440 629 Wrocław College of Management and Finances 913 615 618 398
441 359 Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu Gorzów Wlkp 416 420 322 229
442 1169 Young Business School 1209 1029 1145 511
443 532 Zaragoza Logistics Center 483 568 525 511


"Comes with a full 5/8"" tear-off leg that is one of the largest in the industry. The tear-off leg acts as a guide for the taping knife as well as a protective masking for mudding and painting. When finished, simply tear off the leg for a clean, sharp look. "


The family of a 29-year-old man who died in a crash in the early hours of this morning have now been told.
The accident happened at around 2.50am on the A38 in Devon when a black Mercedes A180 hit a parked lorry and left the road near Newton Abbot.
When police and the ambulance service went to the scene, the driver was unconscious.
A spokesman from Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A doctor shortly after declared the driver deceased.
The accident happened on the eastbound carriageway, just before the Drumbridges exit.
Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident. Please call 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk quoting log 82 of 12 May 2017.


This invention discloses an aliphatic spray polyurea elastomer comprising an (A) component that includes an aliphatic isocyanate and a (B) component that includes (1) an amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol and (2) a cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender, wherein between about 20% to about 80% of the primary amines have been converted into secondary amines.
Field of the Invention This invention relates to aliphatic polyurea elastomer systems.
Back=und Information Polyurea elastomer systems are commonly recognized as suitable for coating materials, with sprayable polyurea elastomer systems being particularly useful when employed in this capacity. One of the shortcomings associated with aromatic polyurea elastomer systems, which generally are prepared by reacting an aromatic isocyanate with an active hydrogen component in the presence of an aromatic chain extender, is that they exhibit poor stability when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. This becomes particularly problematic when the substrate to be coated is continuously subjected to ultraviolet exposure, as is the case, for example, with a rooftop. The resulting ultraviolet degradation of the elastomer system typically is manifested by a change in color; a general loss of product integrity, such as cracking; and an adverse reduction in properties, such as tensile strength, tear strength and elongation, to name a few.
provides a rigid elastomer system which, because of its rigidity, has difficulty in assuming the detail or contour of the substrate to be coated. However, polyurea elastomer systems fabricated from, among other things, DETDA generally exhibit good processing characteristics. Thus, there is a recognized need for a polyurea elastomer system that exhibits ultraviolet stability and increased flexibility, i.e., less rigidity, while exhibiting good processing characteristics.
It is known to increase ultraviolet stability by using non-aromatic, i.e.
aliphatic, active hydrogen components. For instance, Rowton, in "Cyanoethylated Polyoxypropylene polyamines: Polymer Formers of Unique Reactivity", Journal of Elastomers and Plastics, Vol. 9, October 1977, describes the use of cyanoethylated polyoxypropylene polyamines as the active hydrogen component in polyurea systems to provide light stable systems. But Rowton is silent with respect to employing aliphatic chain extenders.
In previous two-component aliphatic polyurea elastomer processes, low molecular weight polyoxyalkylene polyamines and cycloaliphatic diamines have been used quite successfully as chain extenders.
Previously known primary amine aliphatic chain extenders include trans-1, 4-diaminocyclohexane; 1,2-diaminocyclohexane; and 1,6-diaminohexane. These and other previously known primary amine aliphatic chain extenders work well, but because they react very rapidly with isocyanate, they are difficult to use in spray systems, inasmuch as polymerization occurs so rapidly that the polymer can be virtually unsprayable. Other previously known low molecular weight, linear primary amine chain extenders exhibit a rapid reactivity that result in poor mixing and elastomer cure. Previously known secondary amine aliphatic chain extenders, i.e. sym-dialkylethylenediamines, are too slow for practical, commercial applications. Additionally, elastomer systems prepared with previously known aliphatic chain extenders have exhibited processing characteristics notoriously inferior to those exhibited by systems fabricated from DETDA.
Several attempts have been made to develop polyurea elastomers and process using aliphatic chain extenders. U.S. Patent No. 5,480,955 describes aliphatic spray polyurea elastomers comprising an (A) component that includes an aliphatic isocyanate and a (B) component that includes (1) an amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol, and (2) an amine-terminated aliphatic chain extender.
In addition applicant has previously discovered that the properties and processing characteristics of sprayable polyurea elastomers may be improved by using a cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender selected from the group including cis-1,4-diaminocyclohexane; isophoronediarriine; m-xylylenediamine; 4,4'-methylenedicyclohexylamine; methanediamine; 1,4-diaminoethyl-cyclohexane; and alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof, as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent 5,162,388.
This invention relates to a process for preparing a sprayable polyurea elastomer.
methanediamine; 1,4-diaminoethylcyclohexane; and substituted derivatives thereof.
The cycloaliphatic diamine chain extenders of the present invention provide the requisite reactivity to yield good cure and good spray processing characteristics, while avoiding the problems associated with the highly reactive primary amine chain extenders of the prior art. Moreover, the polyurea elastomers produced in accordance with the present invention are ultraviolet stable and exhibits improved flexibility so that it can be effectively sprayed onto even the most intricately shaped substrate.
methanediamine; 1,4-diaminoethylcyclohexane; substituted derivatives thereof; and mixtures thereof.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sprayable polyurea elastomer, prepared by reacting at least one aliphatic isocyanate with at least one amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol in the presence of a cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender, wherein the secondary amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine have been converted from primary amines, wherein the cycloaliphatic diamine is isophoronediamine or substituted derivatives thereof.
The present invention relates to the use of aliphatic diamine chain extenders to produce aliphatic polyurea elastomers having surprisingly improved characteristics and properties. The aliphatic chain extenders of the present invention comprise aliphatic diamines having both primary and secondary amines. The resulting system reactivities are significantly slower than previous systems that use cycloaliphatic amine chain 4a ~ 2151672 extenders having predominately primary amines; however, the resulting system reactivities provide excellent cure properties to the elastomer system.
The desired chain extender can be produced from previously known primary amine cycloaliphatic diamines, such as isophorone diamine (hereinafter referred to as "IPDA"), by converting some of the primary amine groups to secondary amines.
For example, an IPDA having both primary and secondary amines can be produced in a reaction with a dialkyl ketone, preferably acetone, and then reducing the product. This amine chain extender has improved reactivity and cure performance in sprayable aliphatic polyurea elastomer systems.
preferred range for the reaction is from about 110 C to about 160 C and from about 100 psig to about 2000 psig. An especially preferred range for the reaction is from about 120 C to about 140 C and from about 100 psig to about 1500 psig. In addition, one mole or less of the dialkyl ketone should be used per mole of cycloaliphatic diamine.
The preferred cycloaliphatic diamines are those selected from the group consisting of cis- 1,4-diaminocyclohexane; isophoronediamine; m-xylylenediamine; 4,4'-methylenedi-cyclohexylamine; methanediamine; 1,4-diaminomethylcyclohexane; substituted derivatives thereof; and mixtures thereof. Laromine C-260, available from BASF Corp., is representative of an alkyl-substituted 4,4'methylenedicyclohexylamine derivative. In a more preferred embodiment, the cycloaliphatic diamine chain-extender of component (B) is isophoronediamine.
secondary amine groups. In an especially preferred embodiment, the cycloaliphatic diamine has about 50% secondary amine groups. It should be understood that the percentage of secondary amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine is determined on the basis of the entire quantity of chain extender used in accordance with the present invention. Some individual molecules of the suitable cycloaliphatic diamines may contain only secondary amines while others may contain only primary amine groups. Example 1 below shows a chain extender having about 47 percent secondary amine groups.
Using the chain extenders of the present inventive process, isophorone diisocyanate may be used. In previously known aliphatic spcay polyurea elastomer systems, only m-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate (m-TMXDI ) could be used, due to its slower reactivity. But using the process of the present invention, physical properties are not adversely affected by the faster reacting isophorone diisocyanate. In fact, physical properties are improved due to the improved mixing characteristics that result from the slower reactivities observed. Improved residual tack also is noted. The materials of the instant invention have exhibited excellent impact resistance at -30 C.
This invention is useful in the preparation of sprayable, aliphatic polyurea elastomers. These systems can be used in protective coatings, "paint"
applications, membranes, barrier coatings, road marking coatings, decorative coatings, automotive instrument panel applications, etc. As a result of improved thermal properties, the polyurea elastomer systems of the instant invention produce excellent candidate materials for automotive interior trim applications (e.g., instrument panel skins, door panel skins, air-bag door skins, etc.).
The aliphatic polyurea elastomer systems of the present invention generally include two components, an (A) component and a (B) component. In particular, the (A) component comprises an aliphatic isocyanate. The aliphatic isocyanates employed in component (A) are those known to one skilled in the art of polyurea and polyurethane elastomers and foams. Thus, for instance, the alipbatic isocyanates are of the type described in U.S. Patent 4,748,192.
Accordingly, they are typically aliphatic diisocyanates and, more particularly, are the trimerized or the biuretic form of an aliphatic diisocyanate, such as hexamethylene diisocyanate, or the bifunctional monomer of the tetraalkyl xylylene diisocyanate, such as the tetramethyl xylylene diisocyanate. Cyclohexane diisocyanate also is considered a preferred aliphatic isocyanate. Other useful aliphatic polyisocyanates are described in U.S. Patent 4,705,814.
They include aliphatic diisocyanates, for example, alkylene diisocyanates with 4 to 12 carbon atoms in the alkylene radical, such as 1,12-dodecane diisocyanate and 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate. Also useful are cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, such as 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexane diisocyanate, as well as any desired mixture of the following isomers: 1-isocyanato-3,3, 5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane(isophorone diisocyanate); 4,4'-, 2,2'- and 2,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; as well as corresponding isomer mixtures, and the like.
The aforementioned isocyanates can be used alone or in combination.
It is to be understood that the term "aliphatic isocyanate" also includes quasi-prepolymers of aliphatic isocyanates with active hydrogen-containing materials. The active hydrogen-containing materials can include a polyol or a high molecular weight amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol, also described herein as amine-terminated polyethers, or a combination of these materials.
The polyols include polyether polyols, polyester diols, triols, tetrols, etc., having an equivalent weight of at least about 500, and preferably at least about 1,000 up to about 3,000. Those polyether polyols based on trihydric initiators of about 4,000 molecular weight and above are especially preferred. The polyethers may be prepared from ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or mixtures of propylene oxide, butylene oxide and/or ethylene oxide. Other high molecular weight polyols that may be useful in this invention are polyesters of hydroxyl-terminated rubbers, e.g., hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene. Hydroxyl-terminated quasi-prepolymers of polyols and isocyanates also are useful in this invention.
Especially preferred are amine-terminated polyether polyols, including primary and secondary amine-terminated polyether polyols of greater than 1,500 average molecular weight, having a functionality of from about 2 to about 6, preferably from about 2 to about 3, and an amine equivalent weight of from about 750 to about 4,000.
Mixtures of amine- terminated polyethers may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the amine-terminated polyethers have an average molecular weight of at least about 2,500.
These materials may be made by various methods known in the art.
The amine-terminated polyether resins useful in this invention are, for example, polyether resins made from an appropriate initiator to which lower alkylene oxides, such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, butylene oxide, or mixtures thereof, are added with the resulting hydroxyl-terminated polyol then being aminated. When two or more oxides are used, they may be present as random mixtures or as blocks of one or the other polyether. In the amination step, it is highly desirable that the terminal hydroxyl groups in the polyol be essentially all secondary hydroxyl groups for ease of amination.
Normally, the amination step does not completely replace all of the hydroxyl groups.
However, the majority of hydroxyl groups are replaced by amine groups.
Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the amine-terminated polyether resins useful in this invention have greater than 50 percent of their active hydrogens in the form of amine hydrogens.
If ethylene oxide is used, it is desirable to cap the hydroxyl-terminated polyol with a small amount of higher alkylene oxide to ensure that the terminal hydroxyl groups are essentially all secondary hydroxyl groups. The polyols so prepared are then reductively aminated by known techniques, such as described in U.S. Patent 3,654,370, for example.
In the practice of this invention, a single high molecular weight amine-terminated polyol may be used. Also, mixtures of high molecular weight amine-terminated polyols, such as mixtures of di- and trifunctional materials, and/or materials having different molecular weights or different chemical compositions, may be used. Also, high molecular weight amine-terminated polyethers and simple polyether amines are included within the scope of this invention, and may be used alone or in combination with the aforementioned polyols. The term "high molecular weight" is intended to include polyether amines having a molecular weight of at least about 2,000.
D-4000, JEFFAMINE T-3000 and JEFFAMINE T-5000. These polyether amines are described with particularity in Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp.'s product brochure entitled 'The JEFFAMINE Polyoxyalkyleneamines".
The (B) component of the present polyurea elastomer system comprises an amine- terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol and certain cycloaliphatic diamine chain extenders. The amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol preferably is selected from diols or triols and, most preferably, includes a blend of diols and/or triols.
The particular polyols, i.e., diols and/or triols, employed in component (B) are the same as those described hereinabove in connection with the quasi-prepolymer of component (A).
In the cycloaliphatic diamine chain-extender of component (B) has been described hereinabove. Preferably, about 20% to about 80% of the amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine chain-extender are secondary amines. These cycloaliphatic diamine chain-extenders give the elastomer system the requisite activity to yield good cure and good spray processing characteristics. Additionally, the thus formed aliphatic system is ultraviolet stable and exhibits improved flexibility so that it can be effectively sprayed onto even the most intricately shaped substrate. Preferably, the spray elastomer system has an effective gel time greater than about 4 seconds.
RSi[O-(R2SiO),,-(oxyalkylene)mR]3 wherein R is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; n is an integer of from 4 to 8; m is an integer of from 20 to 40, and the oxyalkylene groups are derived from propylene oxide and ethylene oxide. (See, for example, U.S. Paatent 3,194,773).
Pigments, for example, titanium dioxide, may be incorporated in the elastomer system, preferably in the (B) component, to impart color properties to the elastomer.
Reinforcing materials, if desired, that are useful in the practice of this invention are known to those skilled in the art. For example, chopped or milled glass fibers, chopped or milled carbon fibers, and/or other mineral fibers are useful.
Post curing of the elastomer of the invention is optional. Post curing will improve some elastomeric properties, such as heat sag. Employment of post curing depends on the desired properties of the end product.
The (A) component and (B) component of the present polyurea elastomer system are combined or mixed under high pressure; most preferably, they are impingement mixed directly in the high pressure spray equipment which may be, for example, a GUSMER VR-H-3000 proportioner fitted with a GUSMER Model GX-7 spray gun.
In particular, a first and second pressurized stream of components (A) and (B), respectively, are delivered from two separate chambers of the proportioner and are impacted or impinged upon each other at high velocity to effectuate an intimate mixing of the two components and, thus, the formation of the elastomer system, which is then coated onto the desired substrate via the spray gun. The volumetric ratio of the (A) component to the (B) component is generally from about 30 to about 70 percent to about 70 to about 30 percent. Preferably, component (A) and component (B) are employed in a 1:1 volumetric ratio.
While the aliphatic polyurea elastomers of the present invention also are useful in reaction injection molding (RIM) systems, it should be noted that the advantage provided by the present invention is more noteworthy in spray systems, relative to other elastomer systems where sprayability is not at issue, such as in RIM systems.
Advantageously, the (A) and (B) components react to form the present elastomer system without the aid of a catalyst.
765, and 2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylphenyl)benzotriazole, known as TINUVIN 328.
The preferred antioxidant additive is 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate, known as IRGANOX 1076. The additive mixture preferably contains about 40% bis-(1,2,2,6,6-_ 2151672 pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate, about 40% 2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylphenyl)benzotriazole, and about 20% 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate.
The following examples are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the claims.
JEFFAMINE T-5000 Polypropylene oxide triamine of about 5000 molecular weight; a product of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
JEFFAMINE T-3000 Polypropylene oxide triamine of about 3000 molecular weight; a product of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
a procTuct of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
JEFFAMINE T-403 Polyp ropylene oxide triamine of about 430 molecular weight; a product of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
JEFFAMINE D-400 Polyp ropylene oxide diamine of about 400 molecular weight; a product of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
JEFFAMINE D-230 Polypropylene oxide diamine of about 230 molecular weight; a product of Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corp..
m-TMXDI m-tetrameth lxylene diisocyanate from Cytek Industries (American Cyanamid).
VESTAMIN IPD Isophorone diamine from Huls America.
VESTAMIN A-139 Blocked isophorone diamine from Huls America.
TIPURE R-900 Titanium dioxide from Dupont.
TINUVIN 765 bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate from Ciba-Geigy corporatit)n.
TINUVIN 328 2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylphenyl)benzotriazole from Ciba- Geigy corporation.
IRGANOX 1076 3 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate from Ciba-deigy corporation.
GUSMER VR-H-3000 Proportioning unit (plural component).
The resulting experimental cycloaliphatic amine-terminated chain extender has a molecular weight of 194.
For all the spray work described in these examples, a GUSMER VR-H-3000 Proportioning unit (plural component) was used, fitted with a GUSMER GX-7-400 spray gun. The equipment was set so as to process each example at an isocyanate to resin blend volume ratio of 1.00 (1.00 weight ratio). Spray processing pressure was maintained at 1500 psi to 2500 psi on both the isocyanate and resin blend components.
Block heat, as well as hose heat, was set at 160 F.
This spray polyurea application used a system with the A-Component, a quasi-prepolymer of m-TMXDI , 50 parts; and JEFFAMINE D-2000, 50 parts; reacted with a B-component (resin bed), a blend of JEFFAMINE T-3000, 10.0 parts; JEFFAMINE D-2000, 58.6 parts; Experimental Amine #1, 27.4 parts; and TiPure R-900 (titanium dioxide), 4.0 parts. The"resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 40 seconds, with a tack free time of approximately 3 minutes. Some foaming of the elastomer was noted and physical properties were not determined.
This example used a system with the A-component, a quasi-prepolymer of isophorone diisocyanate, 45 parts; and JEFFAMINE D-2000, 55 parts. This component was mixed with the same B-component as mentioned in Example 3. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 20 seconds, with a tack free time of 60 seconds. No foaming was noted in the elastomer.
(isophorone diamine), 12.45 parts; Experimental Amine #1, 12.45 parts; and TiPure R-900, 4.0 parts. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 8 seconds, with a tack free time of 20 seconds. No foaming was noted in the elastomer.
(isophorone diamine), 22.2 parts; and TiPure R-900, 4.0 parts. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 1.5 seconds, with a tack free time of < 5 seconds. No foaming was noted in the elastomer.
This comparison example used a system with the same A-component (isocyanate quasi-prepolymer) as mentioned in Example 4. The B-component used was the same as that mentioned in Example 6. Reactivity of this system was instant, with no acceptable elastomer being prepared.
- Not reported (not tested) IPDI - isophorone diisocyanate 2151 G'7 2 This example used a system with the A-component, a quasi-prepolymer of m-TMXDI , 50 parts; and JEFFAMINE D-2000, 50 parts; reacted with a B-Component (resin blend), a blend of JEFFAMINE T-3000, 10.0 parts; JEFFAMINE D-2000, 60.8 parts; Experimental Amine #2, 25.2 parts; and TiPure R-900 (titanium dioxide), 4.0 parts. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 7 seconds, with a tack free time of approximately 20 seconds. Formulation and elastomer physical properties are detailed in Table II.
This example used a system with the same A-component (isocyanate quasi-prepolymer) as mentioned in Example 8. The B-Component used was a blend of JEFFAMINE T-3000, 10.0 parts; JEFFAMINE D-2000, 62.4 parts; VESTAMIN IPD, 11.8 parts; Experimental Amine #2, 11.8 parts; and TiPure R-900, 4.0 parts.
The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 5 seconds, with a tack free time of 10 seconds. No foaming was noted in the elastomer. Formulation and elastomer physical properties are detailed in Table II.
and TiPure R-900, 4.0 parts. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 2.0 seconds with a tack free time of approximately 10 seconds.
Formulation and elastomer physical properties are detailed in Table III. This system was applied to a textured steel tool to simulate an instrument panel skin. A sodium oleate based mold release agent was applied to the tool so that the skins could be removed for testing.
The A-component of Example 10 was used. The B-component used was a blend of JEFFAMINE T-5000, 15.4 parts; JEFFAMINE D-2000, 61.4 parts; VESTAMIN IPD, 19.2 parts; TiPure R-900, 4.0 parts; TINUVIN 765, 0.48 parts; TINUVIN 328, 0.48; and IRGANOX 1076, 0.24 parts. The resulting aliphatic polyurea elastomer had an effective gel time of 2 seconds with a tack free time of 10 seconds.
Formulation and elastomer physical properties are detailed in Table III. This system was also applied to the same steel tool described in Example 10.
stabilizers and one antioxidant from Ciba-Geigy were incorporated into the resin blend of half of the aliphatic systems at 1.2 weight % (0.6 wt % in the polymer).
The materials used and their ratios were Tinuvin 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox (20%). This additive package had little effect on system reactivity and a slight effect on elastomer physical properties.
For Dynamic Mechanical Spectroscopy, a Rheometrics DMS was used and samples characterized at 1 Hz and 0.2% strain over a temperature regime from -to 250 C.
Change in Y + 0.49 - 1.95 + 7.37 + 0.39 SAE J-1885 Atlas Sun Test 488 KJ/mZ fail pass fail pass 1500 KJ/m 2 pass pass glossy dull NC = No visible change in appearance 'Blend of Tinuvin* 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox' 1076 (20%).
2Herseus SUNTEST CPS, 765 W/m2, 700 hours exposure.
Change in Y + 2.99 - 0.67 + 2.93 - 0.28 SAE J-1885 Atlas Sun Test 488 KJ/m2 fail pass fail pass 1500 KJ/mZ pass pass dull glossy NC = No visible change in appearance 'Blend of Tinuvin 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox 1076 (204b).
ZHeraeus SUNTEST CPS, 765 W/m'-, 700 hours exposure.
Change in Y + 2.42 + 0.51 + 3.31 + 0.36 SAE J-1885 Atlas Sun Test 488 KJ/m2 fail fail fail fail NC = No visible change in appearance 'Blend of TinuviO 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox'o 1076 (20%).
ZHeraeus SUNTEST CPS, 765 W/m2, 700 hours exposure.
Change in Y + 2.17 + 0.11 SAE J-1885 Atlas Sun Test 488 KJ/m2 fail fail NC = No visible change in appearance 'Blend of Tinuvin 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox'o 1076 (20%).
2Heraeus SUNTEST CPS, 765 W/m=, 700 hours exposure.
Laboratories). The instrument was set such that the samples were exposed to an output of 765 W/m2 . A window glass filter was also installed so as to simulate the inside of an automobile. After 700 hour of exposure, the samples were evaluated for physical appearance as well as the "yellowing" index. An X-Rite 968 Spectrophotometer was used to compare unexposed samples to those exposed in the Xe Arc with respect to yellowing.
Samples were backed with a flexible polyurethane instrument panel foam system for testing. A bulb intensity of 488 W/m2 was used with cycling in humidity, according to SAE J-1885 (Atlas Xe Arc).
After 1993 KJ/m2, only Examples 11 and 15 passed with no polymer degradation.
All other Examples passing at 1500 KJ/m'- (Examples 13, 15 and 17) exhibited microscopic cracking but did not fail. All samples were still very flexible.
The results of Example 11 and 15 are summarized in Table VII.
It should be noted that the Examples which reached the 1993 KJ/m2, surpass the SAE J-1885 requirements for materials used in automotive interior trim applications.
2Blend of Tinuvin* 765 (40%), Tinuvin 328 (40%) and Irganox0 1076 (20%).
'Heraeus SUNTEST CPS, 765 W/m2, 700 hours exposure.
reacting an aliphatic isocyanate with an amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol in the presence of a cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender, wherein about 20% to about 80% of the amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine are secondary amines.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein about 50% of the amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine are secondary amines.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the secondary amines cycloaliphatic diamine have been converted from primary amines by reaction of the cycloaliphatic diamine with a dialkyl ketone.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the volumetric ratio of the aliphatic isocyanate to the sum of the amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol and the cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender is from about 30:70 to about 70:30.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the aliphatic isocyanate comprises a quasi-prepolymer of an aliphatic isocyanate and an active hydrogen-containing material.
6. The process of claim 5, wherein the active hydrogen-containing material is a polyol, a high molecular weight amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol, or a mixture thereof.
9. The polyurea elastomer of claim 8, wherein the cycloaliphatic diamine is isophoronediamine.
10. The polyurea elastomer of claim 8, wherein the about 50% of the primary amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine that have been converted to the secondary amines have been converted by reaction with a dialkyl ketone.
11. The polyurea elastomer of claim 10, wherein the volumetric ratio of the aliphatic isocyanate to the sum of the amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol and the cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender is from about 30:70 to about 70:30.
12. The polyurea elastomer of claim 8, wherein the aliphatic isocyanate comprises a quasi-prepolymer of an aliphatic isocyanate and an active hydrogen-containing material.
13. The polyurea elastomer of claim 12, wherein the active hydrogen-containing material is polyol, a high molecular weight amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol, or a mixture thereof.
14. The polyurea elastomer of claim 12, wherein the active hydrogen-containing material is a polyether polyol selected from the group consisting of: polyols based on a trihydric initiator having a molecular weight of at least about 4000; amine-terminated polyether polyols having an average molecular weight greater than 1500, a functionality of from about 2 to about 6, and an amine equivalent weight of from about 750 to about 4000; and mixtures thereof.
15. A sprayable polyurea elastomer, prepared by reacting at least one aliphatic isocyanate with at least one amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol in the presence of a cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender, wherein secondary amine groups of the cycloaliphatic diamine have been converted from primary amines, wherein the cycloaliphatic diamine is isophoronediamine or substituted derivatives thereof.
16. The polyurea elastomers of claim 15, wherein the resulting polyurea elastomer has an effective gel time of at least about 4 seconds or greater.
17. The polyurea elastomers of claim 16, wherein the volumetric ratio of aliphatic isocyanate to the sum of the amine-terminated polyoxyalkylene polyol and the cycloaliphatic diamine chain extender is from about 30:70 to about 70:30.
18. The polyurea elastomer of claim 16, wherein the aliphatic isocyanate comprises a quasiprepolymer of an aliphatic isocyanate and an active hydrogen-containing material.


text:
The Warren Buffett Way
Robert Hagstrom
The Warren Buffett Way: Investment Strategies of the World's Greatest Investor
The Warren Buffet Way provides an in-depth look into the investment and business strategies behind the spectacular success of the investing icon Warren Buffett. The book draws on the new field of behavioral finance to explain how investors can overcome the common pitfalls that hinder them from investing like Buffett. Tracing Warren Buffett's career from the very beginning, Robert Hagstrom writes the greatest challenge to emulating Buffett: not in the selection of the right stocks, but in having the fortitude to stick with sound investments in the face of economic and market uncertainty. Ultimately, this volume gives the readers the finest roadmap for mastering both the ideas and behaviors that have made Buffett the greatest investor of our generation.
More about The Warren Buffett Way
Ben Graham
Charles Munger
Philip Fisher
Child Publications
"[This] book's popularity is a testimony to the accuracy of its analysis and the value of its advice."
— Bill Miller, Chairman and CIO, LMM, LLC
"A comprehensive primer on applying Buffett's investment strategy to the new economy."
— Fortune
"For readers of The Warren Buffett Way, I hope I can provide a very personal look into an important piece of investment history and some thoughts on how to best use this wonderful book. There is little I will say about Mr. buffett since that is the subject of this book and Robert Hagstrom covers that ground with grace and insight."
— Ken Fisher, from the Introduction
"The Warren Buffett Way outlines his career and presents examples of how his investment techniques and methods evolved and the important individuals in that process. It also details the key investment decisions that produced his unmatched record of performance."
— Peter S. Lynch, bestselling author, One Up on Wall Street and Beating the Street
"An extraordinarily useful account of the methods of an investor held by many to be the world's greatest."
— The Wall Street Journal
"Robert Hagstrom presents an in-depth examination of Warren Buffett's strategies, and the 'how and why' behind his selection of each of the major securities that have contributed to his remarkable record of success. His 'homespun' wisdom and philosophy are also part of this comprehensive, interesting, and readable book."
— John C. Bogle, founder and retired CEO, The Vanguard Group
"It's first rate. Buffett gets a lot of attention for what he preaches, but nobody has described what he practices better than Hagstrom. Here is the lowdown on every major stock he ever bought and why he bought it. Fascinating. You could even try this at home."
— John Rothchild, bestselling author, The Bear Book and The Davis Dynasty
"Nobody has described what Buffett practices better than Hagstrom."
"Simply the most important new stock book ... If you think you know all about Warren Buffett, you have a lot to learn from this book."
— Forbes
"Almost anybody curious about the relationship between the behavior of economics, the performance of firms, and the ups and downs of the stock market will find something of interest here."
— The Economist
"The Warren Buffett Way is accessible to average readers because Mr. Hagstrom reduces the billionaire's techniques to some easily understandable tenets ... the book demonstrates the rewards that can come down the road."
— The Dallas Morning News
"Thank you, Robert Hagstrom, for the finely honed thinking, the clear writing, and the simple strategies that help all of us be more successful at one of life's most intriguing and intimidating tasks: investing our money."
— Janet Lowe, bestselling author, Warren Buffett Speaks
"By placing Buffett's approach into a broader context, Robert Hagstrom captures not just the key ideas of this century's investing giants, from Ben Graham to Phil Fisher, but also lucidly explains the theoretical foundation of their insights, including probability theory and psychology. This is not simply an investing book; it is an investing library."
— Chris Davis, Portfolio Manager, Davis Advisors
"Robert Hagstrom shows how 'the world's greatest investor' can help us navigate."
— Kay Booth, Managing Director, Cappello Waterfield & Co., LLC


text:
Candlelight Vigil Held For Murdered Columbia Toddler
Family and friends remembered a Columbia toddler, who police say was murdered, in a candlelight vigil.
They gathered at Visions in Columbia to remember and honor Daviion Tripp, who was taken too soon.
His mother, Verna Tripp, said he was a "happy, mischievous and outgoing" little boy. His favorite toy trucks and cars were placed next to pictures of him.
According to police, Timothy Lee Brooks Jr. told the family the child was napping after playing. When family members tried to wake up Daviion approximately an hour later, they realized he was unresponsive.
The next day, September 12, he was pronounced dead at the hospital. Tripp suffered severe internal injuries including damage to his head, spinal injuries and liver damage.
Brooks Jr. was arrested and charged with murder in the case.
Tripp said she wants to see justice in her son's case.
"He didn't deserve this at all," she said. "I think it's going to be along time before peace comes along - before I can cope."
A gofundme account was created to help the family pay for his funeral and burial expenses.
The funeral has been set for Saturday at 11a.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia. Visitation is before and begins at 9a.m.


text:
Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news of the Great Lakes region
Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/2016/01/27/round-goby-a-good-news-bad-news-great-lakes-invader/)
Round goby a good-news, bad-news Great Lakes invader
By Eric Freedman | January 27, 2016
Subscribe to Wildlife
The long term effects of round goby in Lake Erie are still unknown. Image: Michigan Sea Grant
By Eric Freedman
Capital News Service
The round goby is one of the nastiest aliens in the Great Lakes — with what the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) calls its "voracious appetite and an aggressive nature which allows them to dominate over native species."
But smallmouth bass find them yummy chow, and that's also good news for crayfish that used to top the smallmouth bass menu.
"Changes in growth seem to be occurring to the greatest extent with the youngest bass," said Derek Crane, a fisheries biologist who works with Lake Superior State University's Aquatic Research Laboratory. Female growth increased more than male growth.
Those findings likely apply throughout the Great Lakes, Crane said.
Crane, who teaches at Carolina Coastal University in South Carolina, is the co-author of a new study of changes in the diet and growth of smallmouth bass since the round goby invaded eastern Lake Erie. The other author, Donald Einhouse, is with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation's Lake Erie Fisheries Unit.
Following its invasion of Lake Erie, the shallowest of the five Great Lakes, the round goby "quickly became the dominant prey item of smallmouth bass." replacing crayfish, the study said.
"Invasive species can have substantial effects on population characteristics and life histories of native fauna," the study said. It appeared online in the Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Scientists first identified the round goby in 1990 in the St. Clair River. Since then it's become "one of the most successful invaders of the Great Lakes and its tributaries," the study said. Its arrival is blamed on ballast water.
According to DNR, the round goby holds "a competitive advantage over native species due to a well-developed sensory system that allows for enhanced water movement detection and the ability to feed in complete darkness."
A DNR invasive species alert notes that it "can spawn multiple times in a single season," And the new study notes that it can "successfully occupy a variety of habits" that have different temperatures, salinity and levels of dissolved oxygen.
Although the round goby is responsible for a "decreased abundance" of some bottom-dwelling Great Lakes native species, the study said other species have benefited, in addition to smallmouth bass.
Crane said the beneficiaries include burbot and the Lake Erie water snake, both of which dine on the round goby.
And DNR says that in Lake Michigan, the round goby population "has skyrocketed, and they are now being eaten by almost every predator except Chinook salmon."
But the situation isn't all rosy for smallmouth bass. That's because the round goby feeds on smallmouth bass eggs, the study said.
It noted that resource managers examine fish growth to evaluate the productivity of bodies of water and to assess fish management practices.
More research is needed to explore such questions as "ecological trade-offs" and the long-term implications of changes in how long smallmouth bass live, it said.
We're a project of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University.
One thought on "Round goby a good-news, bad-news Great Lakes invader"
Miguel on March 6, 2018 at 2:58 pm said:
this is horrible information. trump is trump.
From Miguel Moncada
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Touring is the winter art of enjoying the woods and the company you're with. You just happen to do this on cross-country skis.
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KaleidonKep99 was an Italian member of the Black MIDI Team who creates MIDIs, SoundFonts, and edits. He is very proficient in the skills of SoundFonts, programs, coding, and MIDI programs. He has been in the Black MIDI Community for well over a year, and decided to go into Black MIDIs again when he saw Gingeas' videos.
Although he is not an explicitly exclusive MIDI maker, he has blackened some MIDIs, some of which are Bad Apple!! and Plain Asia, both are in the Touhou Project soundtrack. Some of the SoundFonts he has created are Riky's Ultra-HD Piano (Now Keppy's Steinway Piano), Farfisa (many versions), Bosendorfer, and Steinway ERxx/EVx9.
He was one of the better SoundFont makers of the team as he knows his way around programs such as Viena, Polyphone, etc. He also has a site where his projects can be downloaded from. His first channel, Riccardo Loi, was removed after copyright infringements were taking place, while the second one, Keppy Studios (Now here), has been deleted by he himself in January 17th, 2015. Now he continues to upload videos in the newest channel.
He's not in the BMT anymore since November 27th, 2014.
KaleidonKep99 has played the piano since he was 4 years old, for nearly for ten years. He devoted himself to music from middle school until high school, where he devoted himself to information technology (IT).
He regained interest in piano during 2012 when he saw some of Gingeas' videos about black MIDIs, and began producing his own videos on his computer.
He is considered a strange character, well-liked by the team (except by few members). He dislikes solitude, even if he chooses to isolate himself. He especially dislikes it when he gets blamed for things he did not do.
He loves potatoes, computers, piano, and whatever is linked to those interests.
This soundfont is not supported anymore, since the release of the Keppy's Steinway Piano.
In the 2013, KaleidonKep99 started a soundfont series (Ported on FL Keys too) called "Farfisa Grand Piano", now dedicated to classical music and not to Black MIDIs.
The logo used for the series since the release of the 4.1 version.
"The first version is, really, the last version able to play Black MIDIs, but sadly isn't able to play The Anti-Chlorobenzene 8.1 or Bad Apple 5.1 without skipping notes.
Now the project is being developed by SynthFont Ltd.
Other soundfonts can be found here.
Warning: KaleidonKep99 is blocked from this wiki. He won't be able to respond to messages.


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The State of Working Connecticut 2011: Wages, Job Sector Changes, and the Great Recession
Back • Publication Date: December 21st, 2011
Authors: Sarah Esty and Orlando Rodriguez, M.A.
Downloads: Download #1 Download #2 Download #3
The overview of wage trends for Connecticut workers before, during, and after the economic recession finds wage gains for the highest-paid workers, along with stagnation or losses for many other workers.
Among the report's key findings:
In recent years, wage gains have largely gone to those who were already doing better than most workers, and wage gaps have worsened. The last five years (2006 to 2010) – including the Great Recession and its aftermath – have resulted in gains for those who were already doing better than most, but stagnation or decline for many of the rest. Wages rose most for the highest-paid workers (90th percentile wages grew an inflation-adjusted 14.4 percent), while the lowest-paid saw virtually no increases (the 10th percentile wage increased by only 1.3 percent). In 2010, women earned 76 percent of the median wages of men, somewhat worse than the 2007 gap of 79 percent and worse than the 2010 national gap (81 percent). Similarly, in 2010 blacks in Connecticut earned 67 percent of whites' median wages as compared to 72 percent in 2007. Nationally, blacks earned 78 percent of whites' median wages.
While median wages have risen in the last few years, the change in this measure of average wages may simply be the result of higher unemployment at the lower end of the wage scale. Data suggest some positive overall trends — in particular the 10 percent rise in statewide median weekly wages from 2006 to 2010, and the 18 percent growth in median wages for Hispanics, which has reduced the Hispanic-white wage gap. However, these trends may be more of a statistical anomaly than evidence of widespread improvements in wages. The large rise in unemployment from 4.3 percent in 2006 to 9.2 percent in 2010, and even greater increase for Hispanics (8.2 percent to 17.7 percent), suggests that rising median wages could be due to job losses among low wage workers that artificially inflated the median, rather than broad wage increases.
Educational inequality is a key factor driving wage inequality. Workers with bachelor's degrees earned twice the median wage of those with less education, and saw an 8 percent increase in wages from 2006 to 2010, while those with only a high school diploma suffered a 5 percent reduction in wages over the same period. Forty percent of Connecticut's whites have a bachelor's degree, compared to only 18 percent of blacks and 14 percent of Hispanics.
Wage levels and trends vary dramatically across the state. Average weekly wages in the Bridgeport-Stamford Labor Market Area (LMA) are more than twice those in the Willimantic-Danielson LMA ($1,532 versus $739).
In response to the findings Connecticut Voices called on state policymakers to strengthen the state's educational system and establish a comprehensive state economic strategy.


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DEMOCRATS SUE OVER TEXAS VOTING LAWS
January 13, 2020 | The Epoch Times
Lord, we just ask that your hand be on the U.S. District Court in Texas.
The Texas Democratic Party and the party's campaign arms in the U.S. House and Senate are suing Texas, claiming the state is violating the U.S. Constitution and federal and state law by rejecting voter registration applications that lack an original signature.
Once ruby-red Republican, there are signs that Democrats are making electoral inroads in the state and that it will be an important battleground in this year's presidential election. President Donald Trump beat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in Texas in 2016, winning 52.2 percent of the popular vote there.
The Lone Star State has 38 out of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency. . .
The legal complaint in the case, cited as Texas Democratic Party v. Hughs, was filed Jan. 6 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
According to the complaint, five days before the voter registration deadline for the 2018 midterm election, the Texas Secretary of State instructed county registrars to reject more than 2,400 voter registration applications that were collected and submitted by Vote.org, a third-party organization, in connection with its efforts to expand voter participation and increase turnout in Texas.
Vote.org is a left-wing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Oakland, California. Its founder is San Francisco-based electoral strategist Debra Cleaver.
The secretary claimed the applications were incomplete because they lacked an original, so-called wet signature, even though Texas law makes no reference to wet signatures and permits voters to register by faxing, and then mailing, a copy of their voter registration application to their county registrar, the complaint states.
Texas is reportedly one of 13 states that don't offer online registration to voters. Republicans and electoral integrity activists say online registration opens the door to voter fraud.
At the time, a spokesman for the secretary's office said voter registration applications submitted through Vote.org weren't valid in Texas, because state law requires that registrants physically sign their applications before filing them.
"There are very specific codes in the Texas Election Code that authorize digital signatures," the spokesman told The Rivard Report, a San Antonio-based independent media outlet. But these instances don't include online registration.
"At a [Department of Public Safety] office when renewing your driver license, the DPS has to inform you the digital signature is used for voter registration," the spokesman said. "Military and overseas voters also have that option in specific circumstances."
According to the legal complaint, the decision by the secretary to reject the applications "left thousands of Texas voters scrambling to register to vote before the midterm elections, and many were unable to do so," violated the Texas Election Code, and "contradicts the State's longstanding recognition that electronic signatures carry the force of law."
The Secretary of State's office already "accepts electronic signatures on some voter registration applications submitted through state agencies," the complaint states.
"This unconstitutional ban does not make an ounce of sense, and it is the kind of arbitrary voter suppression that we're working to tear down right now before even more harm is done to our Democracy," said U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, who chairs the DCCC, in a statement.
As of press time, the office of Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs, a Republican who is named as defendant in the legal proceeding, didn't reply to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
(Excerpt from The Epoch Times. Article by Matthew Vadum.)
5 Replies to "DEMOCRATS SUE OVER TEXAS VOTING LAWS"
Brenda B says:
Father I pray in agreement with my fellow prayer warriors. Intervene as only YOU can at this most urgent time, in Jesus name, amen.
Rochelle says:
Father God,
We pray that all aspects and details of voting in Texas and the other 49 states will be completely accurate and honest so that only living American citizens cast a vote and each person casts only one vote.
We ask that You be in complete control of our election process and its integrity. We ask also that You COMPLETELY disable all attempts to use dishonest methods and manipulation to control the outcome of elections.
Thank You so much for Your love and faithfulness to Your people! Thank You that righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. We invite and welcome Your rule over our nation in the name of Jesus. Amen.
John Chico says:
Amen. . . praying in agreement with you Rochelle. Thank you for expressing the cry of my heart.
Lois Tusant says:
Father, may every effort to subvert our wise voter laws in Texas and sabotage just voting be rendered powerless by the Spirit of Holiness. Thank you for giving wisdom to those on the District Court concerning this case. In the Holy Name of Y'shua.
A prayer warrior says:
I pray our Almighty God will flip every detail mentioned to perfectly match His perfect will!! Praying in Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen!


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Media focus on issues such as identity theft have led data privacy and the protection of personal information to become buzz words for the average citizen. The challenge that organizations face is to comply with regulations and also manage their brand and reputation while maintaining customer confidence. Many approaches are used throughout he world. This month's session focuses on the results of a global information security and data privacy survey conducted by Deloitte and Touche and focuses on privacy in practice at HBO. Attendees will learn trends and challenges that organizations face as well as learn the very pragmatic implementation process employed by HBO.
Risk/Compliance Officers who are responsible for the overall risk management of meeting compliance regulations and standards for their organizations.
Chief Information Officers (CIOs) who are concerned with the deployment and operation of privacy compliant systems and IT-related processes.
Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) who are concerned with the overall information security program and compliance with data privacy regulations worldwide.
Chief Privacy Officers (CPOs) who are responsible for the implementation of policies that relate to the management of personal information, including policies that support compliance with privacy and data protection laws.
Consultants and partners who implement privacy and security best practices to achieve regulatory compliance objectives for their customers.
Register Today: Registration for this event is handled by cvent.com. Full session details and registration information is available at http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?5S,M3,f255b5b3-5e03-4832-9083-b1e0a5886526.
Important Announcement: This meeting will be free to paid members of the New York Metro ISSA Chapter only. There will be a $25 fee for all other attendees, payable by credit card at the time of registration. If you are not a New York Metro chapter member, you must register in advance; no on-site registration will be allowed.
If you have a question about your membership status, please email membership@nymissa.org. You may join the New York Metro chapter by applying at http://www.issa.org/Join/Join-Online.html.


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