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Case history: Narges Mohammadi
About Narges Mohammadi
About the Situation
On 8 October 2020, in the early hours of the morning, woman human rights defender Narges Mohammadi was released from Zanjan prison.
On 11 July 2020, Narges Mohammadi was informed that the results of her COVID-19 test taken on 8 July were positive. The woman rights defender, imprisoned in Zanjan prison, had been displaying symptoms since late June. She is currently in quarantine with 11 other prisoners who have tested also positive.
10 July 2020: Woman human rights defender Narges Mohammadi, who is currently serving a 16 year sentence in Zanjan prison, is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, according to her husband Taghi Rahmani. The defender's health condition places her in a high risk category regarding COVID-19, which, combined with the overcrowding in the prison, is cause for concern.
In late December 2019, following her participation in a peaceful sit-in protest in Evin prison, Narges Mohammadi was physically abused by security agents and transferred to Zanjan prison located over 300 km from Tehran.
On 13 August 2018, human rights defender Narges Mohammadi was transferred from her cell in Evin prison in Tehran to Imam Khomeini Hospital due to the intensification of her illness and muscular spasms. The defender had been suffering from severe pains for weeks before the date of her transfer, however her applications for transfer to hospital for treatment were previously refused.
On 18 May 2016, the Revolutionary Court of Iran sentenced human rights defender Narges Mohammadi to 16 years imprisonment on several counts including for "membership in the [now banned] Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty" group, for "taking part in assembly and collusion against national security" and "committing propaganda against the state". Intelligence ministry officials arrested her at her home on 5 May 2015.
Narges Mohammadi is Deputy Director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC). She was elected as President of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Peace in Iran, a broad coalition against war and for the promotion of human rights. She has campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, and was awarded the Per Anger Prize by the Swedish government for her human rights work in 2011.
Meet Narges Mohammadi
8 October 2020 : Narges Mohammadi released from prison
10 January 2020 : Ill-treatment of imprisoned women human rights defenders Narges Mohammadi and Atena Daemi
23 August 2018 : Deteriorating health of human rights defender Narges Mohammadi
28 September 2016 : Tehran Court of Appeals Upholds Narges Mohammadi's Sentence
13 July 2016 : Narges Mohammadi Threatened While on Hunger Strike
20 May 2016 : Revolutionary Court sentences Narges Mohammadi to 16 years in prison
8 January 2016 : Ongoing judicial harassment of Narges Mohammadi
8 May 2015 : Human rights defender Ms. Narges Mohammadi arrested
Narges Mohammadi released from prison
On 8 October 2020, in the early hours of the morning, woman human rights defender Narges Mohammadi was released from Zanjan prison. Her release comes after the ratification of a law on 11 May 2020, reducing prison sentences for political prisoners. According to Ismail Sadeghi Niaraki, chief justice of the northwestern Zanjan province, the defender was made eligible for release under the law.
On 28 September 2016, Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to 16 years in prison for "forming and managing an illegal group" among other charges. According to Islamic Penal Code, she was to serve the conviction with the longest sentence, which stood at ten years. UN human rights experts made repeated calls for the release of Narges Mohammadi, most recently on 22 July 2020, after she fell ill with COVID-19.
Ill-treatment of imprisoned women human rights defenders Narges Mohammadi and Atena Daemi
In late December 2019, following their participation in a peaceful sit-in protest in Evin prison, two women human rights defenders were subjected to ill-treatment by the prison authorities. Atena Daemi was put in solitary confinement, where she was physically abused and denied medical assistance. Narges Mohammadi was physically abused by security agents and transferred to Zanjan prison located over 300 km from Tehran.
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Narges Mohammadi is the Deputy Director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC). She was elected as President of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Peace in Iran, a broad coalition against war and for the promotion of human rights. She has campaigned for the abolition of death penalty in Iran, and was awarded the Per Anger Prize by the Swedish government for her human rights work in 2011. Atena Daemi is a human rights defender who has advocated for the rights of children in Kobane and Gaza, for women's rights and against death penalty.
On 21 December 2019, a group of prisoners, including the two human rights defenders, started a peaceful sit-in protest in Evin Prison Political Bureau against the violent state response to the recent protests in the country. On 25 December 2019, Narges Mohammadi was called by the prison guards to meet with her lawyer, but once she left the ward, several agents from the Ministry of Intelligence violently handcuffed her, causing her wrists to bleed. She was then forcibly put in a vehicle and taken to Zanjan prison located over 300 km from Tehran. During the transfer, the human rights defender was physically abused by the intelligence officers, while she kept bleeding from her wrists.
On 28 December 2019, Atena Daemi was transferred to an unknown location. After 4 days, on 31 December 2019, she was allowed to call her family and inform them that she had been put in solitary confinement in Evin prison's ward 2A, which is controlled by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. While in solitary confinement, Atena Daemi was physically abused by the intelligence officers, and was denied medical assistance. On 8 January 2020, she was transferred back to the ordinary prison ward.
Both women human rights defenders have faced restrictions on family and lawyer visits. Moreover, Narges Mohammadi had previously been threatened by the Evin prison director with physical abuse and solitary confinement, if she did not stop her human rights activism.
Atena Daemi was sentenced in May 2015 to 14 years' imprisonment for "insulting the Supreme Leader" and "assembly and collusion against national security". In September 2016, her prison term was reduced to seven years following an appeal.
Narges Mohammadi is currently serving a 16 year prison sentence for "membership in the Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty group", "collusion and assembly against national security" and "spreading propaganda against the system". Her conviction is linked with her activities at the DHRC, interviews she conducted with foreign media outlets, establishing the Step by Step to Stop Death Penalty group (also known as LEGAM) and her work with Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the ongoing imprisonment and ill-treatment of Atena Daemi and Narges Mohammadi, and it believes that they are being targeted solely as a result of their peaceful and legitimate human rights activities.
Deteriorating health of human rights defender Narges Mohammadi
Narges Mohammadi was previously transferred to hospital to undergo a gallbladder removal surgery on 1 July 2018, but was returned to prison immediately after her surgery, despite the fact that she was in need of an urgent medical parole. After her surgery, doctors found a growth in her stomach, however the defender was not offered further medical tests. Narges Mohammadi also has a neurological disorder which causes muscular paralysis. Due to her medical condition, she has required treatment regularly since May 2015, when she was imprisoned.
Narges Mohammadi is Deputy Director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre (DHRC). She is currently serving a 16 year prison sentence for her activities at the DHRC, interviews she conducted with foreign media outlets, establishing the Step by Step to Stop Death Penalty group (also known as LEGAM) and her work with Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi.
On 28 September 2016, Tehran Court of Appeals upheld Narges Mohammadi's sentence of 16 years' imprisonment, confirming a 10 year sentence for "membership in the Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty group", a five year sentence for "collusion and assembly against national security" and a one year sentence for "spreading propaganda against the system".
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Narges Mohammadi and calls upon the Iranian authorities to quash the convictions against the defender, immediately release her, and provide her with all necessary medical treatment. Front Line Defenders believes that Narges Mohammadi has been convicted solely on the basis of her peaceful and legitimate work in the protection of human rights.
Tehran Court of Appeals Upholds Narges Mohammadi's Sentence
On 28 September 2016, Tehran Court of Appeals upheld Ms Narges Mohammadi's sentence.
On 17 May, Narges Mohammadi received a 10-year sentence on for "membership in the Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty" (also known as LEGAM). LEGAM is a group campaigning against death penalty in Iran that Ms Narges Mohammadi founded and which has been closed since her arrest. In addition to her 10-year sentence, she received five years for alleged "collusion and assembly against national security" and one year for "spreading propaganda against the system." While in jail, Mohammadi has faced various medical challenges due to ill health, including heart trouble. She also went on hunger strike to protest the authorities' refusal to allow her to have phone contact with her young son and daughter.
According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the appeal court provided that Mohammadi must serve the highest sentence given, which is 10 years of imprisonment for membership in LEGAM. The article states that in the cases 'where the offenses committed are not more than three, the court shall impose the maximum punishment provided for each offense'.
Narges Mohammadi Threatened While on Hunger Strike
Ms Narges Mohammadi has been on hunger strike since June 27, 2016 to protest the authorities' refusal to allow her to have phone contact with her young son and daughter who live in Paris with their father, Taghi Rahmani.
A judicial representative stationed at Evin prison threatened her in order to force her to end the hunger strike.
Revolutionary Court sentences Narges Mohammadi to 16 years in prison
On 18 May 2016, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Ms Narges Mohammadi to 16 years imprisonment on several counts including for "membership in the [now banned] Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty" group, for "taking part in assembly and collusion against national security" and "committing propaganda against the state".
Narges Mohammadi, who is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison, was arrested at her home by intelligence ministry officials on 5 May 2015. At the time of the arrest, intelligence ministry officials stated that Narges Mohammadi was being taken into custody in order to serve the remainder of the six-year prison sentence she had received on 22 April 2012, from which the human rights defender was released on bail on 31 July 2012 for medical reasons. Her sentence had originally been for 11-years' imprisonment, based on charges including the spreading of propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran, supporting the families of political prisoners, membership of the DHRC and conspiring against national security.
On 3 May 2015, additional charges of "assembly and collusion against national security" and "propaganda against the state" were brought against her. They were based on her activities at the DHRC and her cooperation with the Nobel Laureate Ms Shirin Ebadi, on interviews she conducted with international media outlets, and on establishing the Step by Step to Stop Death Penalty group, which was considered by the authorities to be illegal and to be posing a risk to state security.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned by and strongly condemns the sentencing of Narges Mohammadi as it is solely related to her peaceful and legitimate work for the promotion and protection of human rights in Iran. We urge the authorities in Iran quash the conviction against the human rights defender and release her.
Ongoing judicial harassment of Narges Mohammadi
Human rights defender Ms Narges Mohammadi is currently facing further criminal charges while in detention in Evin Prison.
A hearing for Narges Mohammadi was reportedly scheduled by Iranian authorities on July 6, 2015, before Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court of Tehran. A request was made by the Ministry of Intelligence to the judge for the issuance of the maximum punishment against the human rights defender, on the basis of the charges presented against her on the hearing on 3 May 2015. These charges included "assembly and collusion against national security" and "spreading propaganda against the State." The hearing did not take place and has thus far not been rescheduled.
The human rights defender was arrested at her home by intelligence ministry officials on 5 May 2015. At the time of the arrest, intelligence ministry officials stated that Narges Mohammadi was being taken into custody in order to serve the remainder of the six-year prison sentence she had received on 22 April 2012, from which the human rights defender was released on bail on 31 July 2012 for medical reasons. Her sentence had originally been for 11-years' imprisonment, based on a false conviction for offences including the spreading of propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran, supporting the families of political prisoners, membership of the DHRC and conspiring against national security.
Days prior to her arrest, on 3 May 2015, Narges Mohammadi had attended the first hearing of her trial at Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court, where prosecutors laid down a new indictment against her. The human rights defender now faces charges of assembly and collusion against national security on the basis of her activities at the DHRC and her cooperation with the Nobel Laureate Ms Shirin Ebadi, propaganda against the state based on interviews she conducted with foreign media outlets, and establishing the Step by Step to Stop Death Penalty group, which is deemed anti-security and illegal. A rescheduling of the trial followed the indictment by the prosecutor, in order to give her lawyers an opportunity to read the prosecution's file against Narges Mohammadi.
Attempts to stifle Narges Mohammadi's human rights work have been frequent since her release on bail in July 2012. The human rights defender was banned from travelling after she met Ms Catherine Ashton, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on 8 March 2014 at the Austrian Embassy in Tehran, and has faced interrogation about their discussion on several occasions.
Human rights defender Ms. Narges Mohammadi arrested
In the early morning of 5 May 2015, Iranian intelligence ministry officials arrested human rights defender Narges Mohammadi at her home. She is currently detained in Evin Prison.
At the time of the arrest, intelligence ministry officials stated that Narges Mohammadi was being taken into custody in order to serve the remainder of the six-year prison sentence she had received on 22 April 2012, from which the human rights defender was released on bail on 31 July 2012 for medical reasons. Her sentence had originally been for 11-years' imprisonment, based on a false conviction for offences including the spreading of propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran, supporting the families of political prisoners, membership of the DHRC and conspiring against national security.
Violations #Arrest / Detention / Imprisonment #COVID-19


COPD is characterised by loss of alveolar elastic fibers and by lack of effective repair. Elastic fibers are assembled at cell surfaces by elastin binding protein (EBP), a molecular chaperone whose function can be reversibility inhibited by chondroitin sulphate of matrix proteoglycans such as versican. This study aimed to determine if alveoli of patients with mild to moderate COPD contained increased amounts of versican and a corresponding decrease in EBP, and if these changes were correlated with decreases in elastin and FEV1.
Lung samples were obtained from 26 control (FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted, FEV1/VC >0.7) and 17 COPD patients (FEV1 ≥ 40% – <80% predicted, FEV1/VC ≤ 0.7) who had undergone a lobectomy for bronchial carcinoma. Samples were processed for histological and immuno-staining. Volume fractions (V v) of elastin in alveolar walls and alveolar rims were determined by point counting, and versican and EBP assessed by grading of staining intensities.
Elastin Vv was positively correlated with FEV1 for both the alveolar walls (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and rims (r = 0.41, p < 0.01). Versican was negatively correlated with FEV1 in both regions (r = 0.30 and 0.32 respectively, p < 0.05), with the highest staining intensities found in patients with the lowest values for FEV1. Conversely, staining intensities for EBP in alveolar walls and rims and were positively correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.43 and 0.46, p < 0.01).
Patients with mild to moderate COPD show progressively increased immuno-staining for versican and correspondingly decreased immuno-staining for EBP, with decreasing values of FEV1. These findings may explain the lack of repair of elastic fibers in the lungs of patients with moderate COPD. Removal of versican may offer a strategy for effective repair.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by loss of elastin in the alveolar walls [1–3]. Recently, we reported that in patients with mild to moderate COPD (GOLD stages 1 and 2) the decreased elastic fiber content of alveoli and small airways strongly correlates with decreased FEV1 , consistent with a central role for the loss of elastin in the airflow obstruction in COPD.
In COPD, elevated levels of the elastin degrading proteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been found in lung tissue [5, 6], alveolar macrophages , and sputum of subjects with COPD [8, 9] and may contribute to the loss of elastic fibers in COPD. There is evidence from animal studies that repair processes are also activated in the parenchyma of lungs affected by emphysema, and that synthesis of extracellular components, including elastin and collagen, is increased. The elastin, however, is abnormally organised and distributed, and not laid down in functional networks of fibers [10–12].
Recent studies on the assembly of elastic fibers point to an inhibitory role for the matrix proteoglycans. Assembly of elastic fibers occurs in the extracellular matrix immediately adjacent to the cell surface and is mediated by the 67 kD cell surface receptor elastin binding protein (EBP). EBP, an inactive splice variant of β galactosidase, chaparones tropoelastin through the Golgi and endosomal compartments of elastogenic cells to the cell surface where it delivers tropoelastin to growing fibers . This process is inhibited by a high concentration of pericellular galactosugars, such as the chondroitin sulphate (CS) chains of the proteoglycans versican and biglycan. Chondroitin sulphate chains bind to EBP and cause premature shedding of EBP from the cell surface. As a result, tropoelastin is not presented to the microfibrillar scaffolds and fiber formation is impaired [14, 15].
Versican-mediated inhibition of elastic fiber assembly may also occur in lung tissues. In lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), thickened alveolar walls and expanded interstitial tissues stain strongly for versican, as well as biglycan. These proteoglycan-rich regions are notably devoid of elastic fibers and stain weakly for EBP . Total elastin content of LAM lungs, however, is not reduced and interstitial regions that have a low content of proteoglycan stain strongly for EBP and contain bundles of elastic fibers. These fibers, however, are not arranged in a network, indicating a problem with functional architecture rather than impairment of synthesis.
These findings raise the possibility that elastic fiber repair processes in COPD may be inhibited by an increased content of matrix proteoglycans. In this study, we asked the questions, do the lungs of patients with mild to moderate COPD stain more intensely for versican and less intensely for EBP, and does FEV1 predict those changes?
The lung tissue used in this study has been described previously . The study was conducted using archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from patients who had one or more lobes resected for bronchial carcinoma. The specimens were identified using the computerized records of the Department of Pathology, Green Lane Hospital. The operations were performed between January 1992 and September 1996. Further information, including smoking history, past medical history, medication and preoperative lung function, were obtained from the patient's hospital notes. The patients were classified as control subjects or COPD on the basis of their lung function. The control subjects had FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted and FEV1/FVC ≥ 0.7. Patients with FEV1 <80% and FEV1/FVC ≤ 0.7 were classified as COPD. (For characteristics of subjects who provided archival tissue see Table 1, reference 4.) Patients with a diagnosis of asthma, bronchiectasis or interstitial lung disease were excluded and there were no changes seen in the tissue sections from the included subjects to suggest these diagnoses. Samples were obtained from 26 control and 17 COPD subjects ranging in age from 58 to 90 and 61 to 84 years respectively. Approval was obtained from the Auckland Ethics Committee to conduct the study.
All samples had been fixed in neutral buffered 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Histological- and immuno-staining was performed on 4 μm sections mounted on glass slides. Elastic fibers were visualised by elastin van Gieson staining as previously described , and versican, and elastin binding protein (EBP) by immuno-staining with monospecific polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits. Proteoglycan antibodies (versican LF99, biglycan LF121 and decorin LF122) were kindly provided by Dr Larry Fisher, Craniofacial and Skeletal Disease Branch, National Institutes of Dental Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. Anti- EBP antibody, raised to the synthetic peptide reflecting the elastin binding domain of the spliced variant of human β-galactosidase was previously described by Hinek and colleagues .
Deparaffinised sections were hydrated in tris buffered saline (TBS) for 3 × 5 mins, incubated with 0.03% peroxidase block for 10 mins, washed in TBS 3 × 5 mins, and incubated with primary antibodies (versican, biglycan and decorin at 1:1000, and EBP at 1:500) for 1 hr and 1.5 hr respectively. Following primary incubation, sections were washed 3 × 5 mins in TBS, incubated for 30 mins in secondary HRP rabbit polymer, washed 3 × 5 mins in TBS and stained with DAB chromogen for 6 mins. Sections were then washed twice in distilled water, counterstained with Harris' Haematoxylin and differentiated in tap water for one minute, dehydrated and mounted in hystomount. Control sections for immuno-staining received identical treatment, except for incubation for 1 hr in TBS in place of the primary antibodies.
The volume fraction % (Vv) of elastic fibers was determined as a percentage of total tissue volume by point counting using a 100 point grid as described previously . For each lung sample, 10 random sites were sampled and mean elastin Vv determined for alveolar wall and alveolar rim regions separately. The analysis was performed by an investigator (PC) who was blinded to the patient's lung function. The sections were examined under a light microscope at 40× magnification linked by a video camera to a computer screen. The on-screen magnification was 400×. A 100 point grid (covering 2,500 sq microns) was overlaid on the computer screen and the volume fraction percent calculated from the number of times a darkly stained elastic fiber registered as a hit (i.e. fell on the grid). This was expressed as a percentage of the total number of times that alveoli walls, alveolar rims registered as a hit on the grid. For each patient 10 sites were randomly sampled for alveoli and for alveolar rims. For each patient the mean number of alveolar tissue points sampled was 420 ± 118 (SD) and for alveolar rim regions 520 ± 98 (SD).
Immuno-staining intensities were scored on a scale of 0 (no staining) to 5.0 (intense) under a light microscope (Olympus U-PMTVC) with half grades (eg 3.5) assigned if there was indecision in applying a whole integer. Generally, staining intensities for EBP were less than for versican, but with the most intense assigned a value of 5 so that the range in intensities could be fully assessed. Assessment of intensities was carried out under a 20× objective lens with a minimum of 10 random sites sampled for each patient. The scorer (PC) was blinded to the patient codes. For each lung sample, the alveolar walls and alveolar rim regions were scored separately. To validate the grading system, versican scores for all subjects were collected from two independent observers (PC and BB), both blinded to the patient codes, and the scores compared using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test. The concordance between the observers was high with rS = 0.857 (p < 0.001).
Data were analysed by Students T test (between groups) and by least squares linear regression (with FEV1 % predicted, FEV1 /VC or elastin Vv the independent variable); p of <0.05 was taken as significant.
Elastin van Gieson staining (Fig 1a,b) showed reduced elastic fiber staining in the both alveolar wall and alveolar rim regions of COPD lungs compared with control lungs. As reported previously  the mean alveolar wall elastin V v in COPD lungs (18.6% ± SD 5.5) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in control lungs (32.8% ± 7.6). The elastin content of the alveolar rims, which was higher than in the alveolar walls, was also reduced (Figure 1a,b), but to a lesser extent. The mean elastin V v in the COPD group (31.5% ± 6.3) was significantly lower (p < 0.002) than in controls (39.0% ± 7.9). The higher Vv of elastin in the alveolar rims of controls, compared with the alveolar walls of controls, is consistent with the visual concentration of circumferentially arranged elastic fibers around the rims of alveoli.
Lung sections stained for elastin, versican and elastin binding protein. Control (upper panels) and COPD (lower panels) lung sections stained for elastin (a,b)(x250), versican (c,d) (x100) and elastin binding protein (EBP) (e,f) (x100). Arrow heads indicate elastin and the boxes in a and b indicate alveolar rim regions. Staining patterns demonstrate the reciprocal relationships between versican and elastin and EBP. Inserts show segments of alveolar wall (× 500). Staining intensity values are 1 for c and f and 5 for d and e.
In our previous study  we also found that a decrease in FEV1 was accompanied by a decrease in elastin Vv (Figure 2a,) for alveolar wall (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). We report here a similar relationship between FEV1 and Vv of elastin in alveolar rims (Figure 2b) (r = <0.41, p < 0.01). Similar correlations were found for FEV1/VC and elastin Vv (data not shown).
COPD lung samples stained more strongly for versican than control lung samples (Figure 1c,d). Mean staining intensity scores for alveolar wall of COPD samples were significantly (p < 0.002) higher than control samples (3.5 ± SD 1.5 vs 2.1 ± 1.3), as were scores for the alveolar rim regions (3.6 ± 1.5 vs 2.1 ± 1.3; p < 0.001). The stronger staining for versican and the emphysematous nature of COPD lung compared with control lung was evident on low power images of lung parenchyma (Figure 3a,b).
Versican staining intensities for both alveolar wall and alveolar rim were significantly and negatively correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.30 and r = 0.32 respectively, p < 0.05) (Fig 4a,b), with the highest staining intensities occurring in COPD patients with FEV1 less than 60% of predicted. Similarly, versican intensity was negatively correlated with elastin Vv in alveolar rim regions (r = 0.32, p < 0.05) (Figure 5b). For alveolar wall this correlation was again negative but did not reach significance (r = 0.20) (Figure 5a).
Relationship between versican and FEV 1 . Relationship between versican immuno-staining intensities for alveolar wall (a) and alveolar rims (b) and FEV1% in control (closed circles) and COPD (open circles) patients.
Relationship between versican and elastin. Relationship between versican immuno-staining intensities for alveolar wall (a) and alveolar rims (b) and elastic fiber volume fraction % in control (closed circles) and COPD (open circles) patients.
Immuno-staining of alveolar walls with anti-EBP antibody was significantly (p < 0.003) more intense in control lungs (mean 3.7 ± 1.3) than in COPD lungs (mean 2.4 ± 1.3). EBP intensity in the alveolar rims of controls (3.9 ± 1.1) was similarly higher (p < 0.001) than in COPD patients (2.8 ± 1.3). As for elastin volume fractions, EBP showed a reciprocal pattern to versican; intensities for both regions were significantly (p < 0.01) and positively correlated with FEV1 (r = 0.43 alveolar wall, r = 0.46 for rims) (Figure 6a,b). This reciprocal relationship was evident in low power images of control and COPD lung (Figure 3c,d) as well as in higher power images (Figure 1e,f). EBP similarly showed a positive relationship with elastin Vv for alveolar wall (r = 0.40, p < 0.01), and a non-significant trend for the alveolar rims (Figure 7a,b).
Relationship between elastin binding protein and FEV 1 . Relationship between EBP immuno-staining intensities for alveolar wall (a) and alveolar rims (b) and FEV1% in control (closed circles) and COPD (open circles) patients.
Relationship between elastin binding protein and elastin. Relationship between EBP immuno-staining intensities for alveolar wall (a) and alveolar rims (b) and elastic fiber volume fraction % in control (closed circles) and COPD (open circles) patients.
Immuno-staining was also undertaken for two other matrix proteoglycans, biglycan and decorin. Although present at low levels in the walls and rims of alveoli, staining intensities were similar in both control (biglycan 1.0 ± 0.6, decorin 2.0 ± 0.8) and COPD patients (biglycan 1.2 ± 0.9, decorin 2.1 ± 1.3) and neither proteoglycan showed any relationship with FEV1 or with elastin Vv.
A reciprocal relationship between versican and elastin and EBP has been previously demonstrated for vascular  and dermal tissues , and also for the rare lung condition lymphangioleiomyomatosis . The findings of this present study show that the same relationship occurs in lung parenchyma of patients with mild to moderate COPD, and may explain, at least in part, why restoration of a functional elastic fiber network does not occur in lungs affected by COPD, despite a demonstrated capacity of emphysematous lung tissue to re-synthesise elastin and other matrix components.
In proposing a functional relationship between versican content and deposition of elastic fibers it is recognised that the immuno-staining approach used here does have limitations. For the samples available it was not possible to determine protein levels for versican and EBP and an assumption is made that staining intensities reflect content. Unmasking of epitopes with progression of COPD, however, could result in increased staining intensities without an increase in versican, although other studies, for example on human vessels, have shown a good correlation between immuno-staining intensities, precursor incorporation, and extracted amounts of proteoglycan [20, 21]. Additionally, the versican antibody recognises all forms of versican, including the chainless variant V3, and it could be possible that V3 is upregulated in COPD. Other studies however, indicate that this is highly unlikely as V3, when present, is expressed at low levels , and attempts to understand possible functions have been through overexpression studies [18, 19, 35]. Further, we also recognise that our method of quantifying the amount of elastin does not provide a measure of the quality of the elastic fibers. The confocal images, however, indicate significant changes to the elastic fiber network that likely affect alveolar function.
Several experimental studies, reviewed by Snider et al , and by Chambers and Laurent  have reported that matrix proteins, including elastin and collagen, are re-synthesised in emphysematous lungs in animal models but that deposition of these components does not result in restoration of physiological function. Morris et al  showed that an elastase insult to hamster lungs resulted in new deposits of elastin close to cell surfaces, but a failure to form fibers. Osman et al  similarly demonstrated re-synthesis of elastin through measurement of incorporated 14C into desmosine and isodesmosine in a hamster model and additionally showed that re-synthesis was decreased by cigarette smoke which inhibited lysyl oxidase activity. Similarly, investigations on human emphysematous lungs have reported re-synthesis of matrix proteins, but with changed distribution patterns of collagens and elastin. An early study by Belton et al  and a later study by Fukuda et al  suggested that new elastin deposits may have been formed but that they were abnormal and included clumping of fibers in the free edges or rims of alveolar walls.
Recent evidence points to versican as an important inhibitor of elastic fiber formation and our findings of increased versican in COPD and decreased EBP provide for a mechanism. It has been previously established that tropoelastin present in endosomal and Golgi compartments is escorted by the 67-kDa EBP which protects this non-glycosylated and hydrophobic precursor of elastin from premature intracellular self-aggregation and association with serine proteinases . Of particular importance was the observation that 67-kDa EBP also has a separate galactolectin domain and that binding of galactosugars to this site induces conformational changes in the EBP molecule, resulting in its dissociation from tropoelastin [28, 29, 14]. This led to the paradigm, that the release of newly secreted tropoelastin molecules from their EBP transporters, is highly coordinated and occurs on the cell surface, following the interaction between EBP and galactosugar moieties, presumably those protruding from carbohydrate chains of glycoproteins forming the microfibrillar scaffold of new elastic fibers [30, 31].
On the other hand, it has been also established that such coordinated assembly of tropoelastin into elastic fibers can be disrupted by pericellular accumulation of galactosugar-bearing moieties, such as chondroitin sulfate or dermatan sulfate, which induce premature shedding of the EBP from the cell surface and release of tropoelastin, away from microfibrilar acceptors [14, 17, 32–34]. Thus, high levels of versican in the pericellular coat could inhibit fiber assembly even though there may be adequate synthesis of both tropoelastin and EBP. Interestingly, under normal circumstances, the efficiency of elastogenesis does not generally exceed 40–60% (unpublished data of AH) with proportionately more tropoelastin than EBP. The recycling of EBP likely mitigates against this imbalance, but displacement of EBP by versican would affect recycling. We do not know the minimal concentration of versican required to completely inhibit elastic fiber assembly.
Evidence suggests that impaired elastic fiber assembly, caused by pericellular accumulation of galactosugar-containing moieties could be reversible. Recently, it has been demonstrated, for vascular smooth muscle cells, that tropoelastin synthesis and elastic fiber assembly can be enhanced by reducing the amount of versican in the cell coat. This has been achieved by two methods, by overexpressing the glycosaminoglycan deficient variant of versican, V3 , which is believed to displace the larger versican variant V1 from its attachment to hyaluronan, and by reducing all versican variants at source by overexpressing a versican antisense sequence . In vivo, neointima formed from smooth muscle cells overexpressing either V3 or versican antisense, is enriched in elastin. Significantly this elastin is organised as parallel arrays of circumferentially arranged fibers and lamellae that resemble those in developing media, indicating that a functional arrangement can be achieved in vivo by manipulating levels of versican. In this model, the level of EBP in the neointima was reciprocally related to the level of versican, as found for this present study of COPD lungs. Overexpression of V3, leading to decreased cell-associated chondroitin sulphate, has also been used successfully to restore elastic fiber formation in cultures of skin fibroblasts from Costello Syndrome patients who have a deficiency of elastic fibers due to over production of CS proteoglycans .
There are reports of increased glycosaminoglycan content in emphysematous lungs [36, 37] although with dermatan rather than chondroitin sulphate being increased. In severe emphysema, the interstitial proteoglycans decorin and biglycan are reported to be decreased  but this was not found in this present study which examined patients with much milder emphysema. Increased versican has been reported for various lung diseases including fibrosis , granulomatous diseases , asthma [41, 42], and LAM . In the latter the total amount of elastin was increased, consistent with re-synthesis, but the fibers were often aggregated into bundles between elastin-free myxoid regions rich in versican and biglycan. In a recent study it has been demonstrated in developing lung that versican levels are initially raised and correlated with high tissue volume, and as development and alveolarization proceeds the levels of versican decrease, accompanied by a decrease in hydrated tissue volume. Significantly this decrease in versican precedes the rise in elastin content .
The findings from this present study raise a testable hypothesis, namely that repair of the elastin network in lung parenchyma, and restoration of physiological function, might be achievable, at least in mild COPD, by reducing the versican content of alveolar wall. Lowering of versican in such lungs might be particularly effective as alveoli would still be subjected to the mechanical movements of ventilation that likely have a role in determining the pattern and placement of elastic fibers during repair. The elastic fibers in the alveolar rims may be particularly important. These fibers are thicker and more prominent than those forming the elastic fiber network in the alveolar wall  and are important developmentally in defining the septa between alveoli . Restoration of fibers in this region may be crucial to lung function. Moreover, more efficient assembly of the secreted tropoelastin may lead to a decrease in the level of free tropoelastin-derived peptides that are capable of inducing production of elastolytic MMP's . Notably, in our study, the loss of elastin in the alveolar rims with decreasing FEV1 was less than for alveolar wall (Fig 2), possibly indicative of repair and maintenance despite degradative processes. Interestingly, the synthesis of elastin is greater in this region after an elastase challenge .
The loss of alveolar structure in more severe COPD clearly presents a much greater challenge for effective remodelling and the argument for proteoglycan-modulated repair that is proposed here may only apply to mild COPD where the architecture of the lung is not greatly changed.
We wish to gratefully acknowledge the patients who provided the lung samples for this study. We thank Lorraine Rolston, histologist in the Department of Anatomy with Radiology at Auckland, for preparation of the lung sections. The proteoglycan antibodies were kindly gifted by Dr Larry Fisher, National Institutes of Dental Research, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. Financial support for this study was provided by the Auckland Asthma Society, and the Marsden Fund, New Zealand.
MJM conceived and helped design the study, supervised the data collection and analysis, and drafted the manuscript. PSTC was responsible for collecting and analysing the morphometric data, for carrying out the immuno-staining, and for preparing the figures. BB supervised the morphometric analyses, developed the immuno-staining techniques, and helped prepare the final figures. AH raised and characterised the EBP antibody, helped interpret the findings, and assisted in drafting the manuscript. TNW contributed to the design of the study, to critical analysis of the data, and helped draft the manuscript. PNB was involved in the conception and design of the study, sourced the lung tissue, provided the clinical expertise for interpretation of the data, and helped draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


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Q: What is the proper location of properties files for a java web service? This question isn't in regards to how to get/read the properties files, but instead what is the standard or accepted location to keep them. Specifically, I've got two types of properties, one that is sort of a server config file and a couple that are written to and read from to contain information sent to/from a client. So where should these be placed?

A: What do you see as the options?
Config files should be on the classpath, unless they need to be trivially modifiable. If they do, then they should be in a location external to the app, and the location set by either default, a JNDI string, a system property, or whatever.
Files that are regularly updated as part of system operation must be external, and configured in the same way. Although I'd question whether or not it makes sense to do that kind of persistence with a file.

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The Very New LASSTOKKI Face Mask Pack! Updated with much better mask sheet and more functional essence.
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Prime Minister Hun Sen's government is expanding its efforts to muzzle speech as it prohibited a Cambodian-born Australian lawmaker from entering the country and escalated its legal war against its domestic political opponents.
On Wednesday the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified Victoria lawmaker Hong Lim as persona non grata after he referred to the Hun Sen's government as a "savage regime."
While the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh defended Lim's freedom of speech, saying in a statement that "Australia has a robust tradition of different views being aired," it also pointed out that Lim is MP for the state of Victoria and "does not speak on behalf of the Australian Government."
"We recognise the concerns this particular matter has raised," the embassy wrote in a statement. "Australia values its strong and enduring relationship with Cambodia and we look forward to this continuing."
In 2014 the two countries signed a controversial agreement allowing refugees from Australia to resettle in Cambodia. The deal was met with protests as Cambodians wondered how their country could afford to take care of the refugees when a rich country like Australia can't or won't.
The deal was also widely condemned by human rights organizations and Antonio Guterres, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees at the time, called it a "worrying departure from international norms," adding that countries must not shift their refugee responsibilities among themselves.
While Hun Sen's government was busy keeping a foreign lawmaker critical of the regime out of the country, it is also ramping up legal pressure on domestic lawmakers critical of the regime.
Her attorney, Som Sokong, told RFA's Khmer Service that he will show up for the court hearing, but is unsure if Thak Lany will attend.
While Hun Sen hasn't been shy about bringing the force of the Cambodian legal system to bear on his opponents as a way to mute their criticisms, they often attempt to speak out when they can.
Jailed CNRP Lawmaker Um Sam An accused Hun Sen of staging a "constitutional coup" on Wednesday as he was being ushered to a prison vehicle following a supreme court hearing on his request for provisional release.
"Hun Sen and his Cambodian People's Party (CPP) have staged a constitutional coup by putting me behind bars while I am protected by parliamentary immunity," he told reporters. "Ironically, he who fights to reclaim the ceded land is incarcerated while he who cedes the land is at large."
Um Sam An was jailed after Hun Sen ordered police to arrest anyone accusing the government of using "fake" maps to cede national territory to neighboring Vietnam.
The lawmaker says he found a map in the United States' Library of Congress that he claims is different from the one Hun Sen and the government used to represent the final say on the border issue.
Um Sam An's counsel Hem Socheath told RFA that he has the right to speak his mind as an elected official with parliamentary immunity.
"As an elected MP, my client enjoys his parliamentary immunity and freedom of expression. This right is guaranteed in the constitution," Jem Socheath said. "He did not commit an in flagrante delicto crime as accused. He was arrested in 2016 for a Facebook comment he made in 2015."


It's undeniable that we live in an age where data is the new currency. Everything is connected to some sort of data management mechanism and delivered to a specific audience, whether that's a group of specific web users or customers looking for a specific product. Increasingly, how we manage that data or information, can drastically affect our business for better or worse.
The reality is that the nature of modern data is complex and becoming increasingly difficult to manage – hence the term "big data." As a result, it's incredibly difficult to manage all of this data, hardware and computing resources in-house. This is why more and more companies are reaching out to third-party managed IT providers.
According to an article on eWeek, managed IT was up by roughly 23% since, and that number is expected to increase dramatically each year as more managed IT services become accessible. In short, the future of in-house IT is looking bleak.
Let's take a look at five big reasons to make the jump from in-house to third-party IT support.
Efficient cost management – If we're being completely honest, the big reason you'd even be considering a jump to a third-party IT company is to lower costs. Incidentally, this is among the chief reasons for a company of any size to make the switch.
Share the risk burden – Another major benefit is that with a third-party IT support provider, you're offloading some of the infrastructural risks. As a result, you become more flexible, agile and dynamic as an organization, which allows you to deliver a better product in the long-run.
Reap the benefits of freed up resources – Since you have limited resources as an organization, you also have limits to the type of things you can accomplish in an IT context. Offloading your IT support to a third-party frees up internal resources that can be allocated to processes that can expand your business.
Access to data management expertise – Odds are you don't have a massive enough IT budget to hire a panel of experts to guide you through the rapidly changing world of big data. With a third-party, IT support service you have access to high levels of technology and resources that you would otherwise have no access to. This helps you stay competitive in your industry.
Re-focus your priorities – Lastly, but certainly not least, offloading your IT support responsibilities lets you focus more on your business. When you're handling all of your IT support internally, your focus is often divided by a bunch of different technical priorities to keep your site, product and/or application up and running. Outsourcing IT lets you focus on what matters: growing and supporting your business – not troubleshooting software, hardware, and user issues.


"I use this recipe quite often on a spiced pound cake it compliments quite well. My grandparents love it; I make it with cake every time I visit them. This is a basic buttercream recipe with rum extract and a few extra spices added to it. I prefer a stronger rum flavor, so you should adjust the amount of rum extract to your liking."
Whisk butter in a large bowl until fluffy. Gradually add 1 cup of the sifted confectioners' sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in the salt and cream. Gradually beat in the remaining 2 1/2 cups of confectioners' sugar. Continue to beat until the frosting begins to thicken; whisk in the vanilla and rum extracts, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Allow to sit for 15 minutes before using.
Watch how to make a quick and tasty buttercream.
4 stars only b/c I added 2 tsp rum extract and still thought it was a touch strong, but great consistency and flavor....will use 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 tsp rum extract next time. Thank you!
I used actual rum, rather than rum extract. Turned out great nonetheless!
Yummy! Made exactly per recipe and it was fabulous!


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<scenarioConfiguration  domain="ISAnalytics" name="SameAccountMultipleUsersLoginAlert" scenario="SameAccountMultipleUsersLoginAlert">
    <description>Send alerts when authentication requests from a particular user is coming from two different regions within a certain time period</description>
    <parameterMap>
        <entry>
            <key>minRegionSwitchTime</key>
            <value>1000</value>
        </entry>
    </parameterMap>
</scenarioConfiguration>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Senior Archbishop warns: Church could face legal action for opposing gay marriage
The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland has issued a long message to churchgoers tonight.
By Daragh Brophy Saturday 2 May 2015, 6:00 PM
May 2nd 2015, 6:00 PM 17,629 Views 152 Comments
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THE LEADER OF the Catholic Church in Ireland has issued a long message on the issue of same-sex marriage this evening – urging churchgoers to exercise their vote in the May 22 referendum, and to "speak up courageously for the union of a man and a woman in marriage".
The intervention is the first major contribution to the debate from a senior Church figure since a spokesperson for the Irish Catholic Bishops last month warned that priests may no longer perform the civil part of wedding ceremonies, if marriage is extended to gay couples.
"Until now, Ireland has accepted that it is in the best interests of children and of society to promote and protect the model of children being born and raised in a family with their biological parents," Archbishop Eamon Martin said, in a statement emailed to news outlets.
"The proposed amendment to the Constitution will remove the unique and privileged status in society for the marriage between a man and a woman.
It is worth noting what Pope Francis has said recently: 'When the stable and fruitful covenant between a man and a woman is devalued by society, it is a loss for everyone, especially the young'."
Archbishop Eamon Martin Source: Niall Carson
Later, in the lengthy statement, Martin asks whether Catholics who speak out publicly against gay marriage in the future will be met with lawsuits, and questions what children will be taught about marriage, and about homosexuality.
"Some commentators have said that 'sacramental' or 'religious' marriage is not affected by the proposed amendment."
He adds that "freedom of religion is linked very closely to freedom of conscience and freedom to express publicly our values and beliefs in daily life".
"If society adopts and imposes a 'new orthodoxy' of 'gender-neutral' marriage, being defined simply as a union between any two persons – including a man and a man, or a woman and woman – then it will become increasingly difficult to speak or teach in public about marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Will there be lawsuits against individuals and groups who do not share this vision? What will we be expected to teach children in school about marriage or about homosexual acts? Will those who continue to sincerely believe that marriage is between a man and a woman be forced to act against their faith and conscience.
Campaigning in the same-sex referendum stepped up a gear in the past week – with a number of high profile debates. And while the Iona Institute-backed Mothers and Fathers Matter has been the most active campaign group opposed to the constitutional change – as the debate continues, the Catholic Church will likely be the most influential voice on the No side.
A number of senior church figures have weighed into the debate recently. Back in March, Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran came in for criticism for saying that gay parents of children were not necessarily parents. Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin later described it as an "unfortunate phrase" and Doran expressed his own regret.
The 'Yes' campaign responds to accusations of pulling down 'No' posters http://t.co/QQ1Od4Hw2I pic.twitter.com/JtUWrWokM5
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) April 24, 2015
Source: TheJournal.ie/Twitter
Voters will be asked in the 22 May referendum whether civil marriage rights should be extended to same-sex couples. Churches will retain the right to marry who-ever they wish.
The Children and Family Relationships Bill, which for the first time allows same-sex couples to adopt children together, was enacted last month – and that legislation will remain in place, regardless of the result of the marriage vote.
Speaking earlier this year, during the public debate on those changes – Bishop Doran said the Bill sought to "redefine the meaning of parenthood and, in so doing, seems designed to prejudge the outcome of the forthcoming referendum on the meaning of marriage".
Read: Monsignor Eamon Martin appointed Coadjutor to Cardinal Brady
Read: This audience member's reaction was clear … what did everyone else make of the Late Late debate?
Daragh Brophy
@DaraghBroph
daragh@thejournal.ie
See more articles by Daragh Brophy
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Tracey Mackay is a Wellington born and bred property manager and has been involved in property management since she was 15, helping her family manage their own trust portfolio.
Backed with this knowledge, she bought her first investment property in 2001 at the age of 23.
With diverse experience buying and selling real estate, project managing major renovations, new builds and interior design, as well as privately buying rental properties to manage, Tracey truly knows her game.
"Clients want their most valuable assets looked after by someone who cares," she says.
Excellent communication skills, matched with her intuitive ability to couple the right tenant to the right property, ensures long term and successful relationships between all parties.
Tracey believes a Property Manager has a great sense of responsibility and every single property is treated as her own. From advertising a vacant property to meeting and selecting tenants, she can establish the agreement, register the bond and is cost conscious when researching maintenance and repairs. Her administrative abilities using accounting software and spreadsheets also enable her to remain proactive within all budgets.
Tracey's genuine interest in her client's property both as a rental and an investment partnered with finding quality tenants, makes her the right professional to trust for the job. With her strong sense of integrity, Tracey's aim is to be the best property manager Wellington has ever witnessed.


Chinese Checkers the world classic!
Invented in Germany in 1892 as a simplified version of the American board game Halma, then re-christened with its more recognizable name by The Pressman Toy Company in 1928, Chinese Checkers is a classic the world over. Its traditional star shape and colored marbles are instantly recognizable, and its simple, pick up and play mechanics and six-player game play are instantly addictive.
This board, cut from all natural wood, is 11.5" in diameter and features 60 wood marbles in six bright colors. Each of the 121 holes is expertly drilled for consistent depth and smoothness, ensuring each marble fits snugly, but is still easily manipulated. And as with any classic wooden toy, no batteries required!


text:
DiDomenico continues to push for free school meals, partners with Project Bread, files new legislation
Senator Sal DiDomenico joined forces with the anti-hunger organization Project Bread in sponsoring new legislation to provide free school meals to all children in the Commonwealth. SD519/HD1161, An Act relative to universal school meals, would allow every student who wants or needs a school breakfast or lunch to receive it—at no cost to their family and with no requirement to sign up or provide income or other information. Just as no student is required to pay fees at public schools when they enter the classroom, there would be no financial barrier in the school cafeteria.
Senator DiDomenico partnered with State Representative Andy Vargas, his former co-sponsor of Breakfast After the Bell legislation, in filing this legislation to provide universal school meals. Last week, the legislative duo joined with Project Bread and the Feed Kids Campaign– a state-level legislative campaign comprised of the most influential and dedicated anti-hunger partners in the state– to officially launch the campaign, announce their newly filed bill, and emphasize the need for this critical legislation.
Right now, 1 in 5 Massachusetts families with kids is hungry, and 27 percent of children experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts are not eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. However, as a result of flexibilities granted in response to the pandemic, every student in Massachusetts currently has access to free school meals. The barrier presented by cost and paperwork was temporarily removed at the federal level because this crisis put a spotlight on the need to ensure the right to the most basic of necessities—food—for all kids. Consequently, for the past 10 months, thousands more Massachusetts children and teens have been able to get free breakfast and lunch at hundreds of meal sites across the Commonwealth.
Despite this important step forward, without state-level legislation in place, there is a possibility that barriers to school meals will return once the waivers expire post-pandemic. To keep school meals accessible for all students, Senator DiDomenico, Representative Vargas, and the Feed Kids Coalition joined forces seeking a bold solution to end childhood hunger by ensuring that every student receives the nutrition they need while they are in school.
This is the first legislative session this bill has been filed.
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Le phare de l'île Booby est situé sur l', face à la péninsule du cap York, dans le détroit d'Endeavour, dans le Queensland en Australie. Il marque l'entrée ouest, pour la navigation dans le Détroit de Torrès. Il est inscrit à l'inventaire du patrimoine du Queensland depuis 1990.

Histoire
Huit ans avant la construction de son phare, l'île Booby avait déjà une fonction d'aide bien particulière. Dans un article du Journal des Voyages N°252 (Dimanche , pages 272 à 274), intitulé "De Newcastle du Sud à l'île Booby", un rédacteur signant Mac-Carthy"explique :

"L'île Booby est aussi célèbre que le détroit de Torrès ; ce rocher aride et nu où l'herbe elle-même pousse difficilement est connu des navires des deux hémisphères ; les capitaines et leurs officiers viendraient à l'oublier que leurs instructions maritimes le leur rappelleraient. L'île Booby n'est pas seulement un lieu de pèlerinage ; c'est l'île des Naufragés et leur providence ; c'est l'île de la Charité maritime internationale. Chaque navire voyageant dans ces parages se détourne de sa route et se rend à l'île Booby pour recueillir les naufragés s'il y en a, et pour déposer son offrande, qui consiste en provisions de toutes sortes. Aucun bâtiment ne voudrait s'affranchir de cette visite d'humanité. Dans cette île se trouve une grotte spacieuse, bien aménagée, dont les parois sont cimentées. Elle contient une grande citerne en fer avec de l'eau douce, des barils de biscuits, des sacs de farine, des légumes secs, des boites de conserves, des haricots, du lard, du poisson salé, du vin, de l'eau-de-vie. Les naufragés sont fréquents dans ces mers; les marins, au lieu d'errer à l'aventure à la recherche d'un navire qui passe le plus souvent sans les apercevoir, se dirigent en toute sécurité sur l'île Booby. Ils y trouvent l'existence assurée pendant quelque temps, et attendent avec patience et en toute sécurité l'heure de la délivrance."

Source

Références

Liens externes

  Liste des phares d'Australie

Phare de l'océan Pacifique
Phare en Australie
Phare du XIXe siècle

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The Bronx Defenders is a public defender office located in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City. At the Bronx Defenders, criminal defense lawyers work together with civil lawyers, family defense lawyers, immigration lawyers, non-attorney advocates, social workers, and investigators to help their clients address the full range of legal and social issues that can result from criminal charges. The Bronx Defenders are a contracted public defender for New York City, along with the Legal Aid Society, New York County Defender Services in Manhattan, Brooklyn Defender Services in Brooklyn, Queens Law Associates in Queens, and the Neighborhood Defender Service in northern Manhattan.

History
Founded in 1997 by a team of eight advocates, including its former executive director Robin Steinberg,  David Feige and criminal defense attorney Daniel Arshack, the Bronx Defenders is responsible for developing holistic defense, an interdisciplinary model of criminal defense lawyering. The Bronx Defenders is also host to The Bronx Freedom Fund, the first charitable bail organization in New York State. In recent years, the Bronx Defenders has received national attention and praise for its work providing holistic defense to indigent residents of the Bronx, including the National Legal Aid & Defender Association's Clara Shortridge Foltz Award.

As of early 2016, the office had 250 employees working in it.

See also
 The Legal Aid Society
 The Bronx Freedom Fund
 New York City Criminal Court

References

External links
Official Website

Criminal justice reform in the United States
Criminal defense organizations
Non-profit organizations based in the Bronx
Legal advocacy organizations in the United States
Public defense institutions
Legal aid in the United States
The Bronx Defenders


Holistic Select Chicken Pate is a unique wet food formula which can be used as both a mixed or a complete and balanced diet for your feline. Packed full of protein in this case chicken it promotes optimal lean muscle mass while providing prebiotic support from added chicory root for healthy digestion. Combining premium quality ingredients including pumpkin, papaya and pomegranate it provides the required vitamins and minerals required for a healthy diet.
This formula is not only grain free but contains no wheat, soy, corn and no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives making it the perfect wet food for cats of all life stages.
Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Turkey, Ground Flaxseed, Tricalcium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Apple Powder, Cranberry Powder, Pumpkin Powder, Chicory Root Extract, Taurine, Cassia Gum, Xanthan Gum, Salt, Choline Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Blueberry Powder, Papaya Powder, Pomegranate Powder, Magnesium Stearate, Vitamin E Supplement, Peppermint Leaf Powder, Cinnamon, Fennel Powder, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Niacin, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid.


Banners of the Sea Bandits: the Jolly Rogers and Other Pirate Flags!
British admirals in World War I had to face situations for which their experience did not prepare them.
The British navy of the Age of Sail didn't always get it right - and why DID Nelson attack Tenerife?
An update on our atlas - and a question for you: were stirrups key to the rise of knights?
Democracy has been rare throughout world history, but the upheavals in the Middle East may show that it is now the only viable way to govern.
The Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin may have been the finest naval commander in world history - but we in the West know nothing of him.


text:
title: "Julia's House for Lost Creatures"
written_by:
isbn: '9781596438668'
binding: Hardcover
link_to_buy_page:
image_path: 'https://images.booksense.com/images/668/438/9781596438668.jpg'
---


The UK's Royal Society has published a report on the potential of pharmacogenetics - drug treatments tailored to a person's genetic make-up - following a year-long investigation into the subject. It concludes that although 'personalised medicines' have a promising future, it will be at least another 15-20 years before their use is widespread. The report, entitled 'Personalised medicines: hopes and realities', says this is down to the many gaps in our current understanding of how genetics relates to the causes of disease.
It is hoped that advances in pharmacogenetics will eventually lead to a drop in the number of adverse drug reactions, and an end to the 'trial and error' approach currently used to prescribe medicines. However, some scientists have expressed reservations about whether such technology will ever live up to the hype, what it might cost, and how it would impact on healthcare systems. There are also fears that since drug company profits depend on 'blockbuster' drugs taken by millions of people, it may prove too costly for them to develop a vast array of individually tailored medicines.
Sir David Weatherall, chair of the working group, said: 'Personalised medicines show promise but they have undoubtedly been over-hyped. With the human genome sequenced, some people are expecting personalised medicines within a few years, but the reality is still many years away. There are some examples around today, but the complex multiple causes of diseases mean it will be at least 15 to 20 years before a patient's genetic make-up is a major factor in determining which drugs they are prescribed'.
The report says that the development of personalised medicines is being held up by a lack of knowledge amongst healthcare professionals, and also a shortage of scientists trained to carry out pharmacogenetic research. 'With the NHS expected to spend £11billion on drugs in 2005-6, there is a need to invest in gathering data on how genes influence drug response in the patient population', said Weatherall, adding 'investment needs to come from both the public and private sectors'.
The report highlights the need for financial incentives level to encourage drug companies to work on developing personalised medicines with relatively small potential markets. Sir David also called for pharmaceutical companies to make 'better use' of genetic data collected during clinical trials, and to continue monitoring drugs once they are launched. In addition, further private sector input should come from companies that produce DNA tests, he said.
A report on the ethical and policy issues surrounding pharmacogenetics, published by the Nuffield Trust in 2003, identified reduced availability of some medicines as a potential area of concern. Meanwhile, a report on pharmacogenetics carried out by the Department of Health entitled 'My very own medicine: What must I know?' cautioned that 'media excitement about genetic applications may be exaggerating investment and research activity' in this area.


In the fall of 2014 O&S found its home at 1628 Fatherland Street in Nashville, TN.
When presented with the idea of relocating the the factory, we knew that we wanted a building that told a story. Prior to being the home for Olive & Sinclair, 1628 fatherland Street began in 1890 as an H.G Hill Grocery Store, serving Nashville & the neighborhood for many decades. The building later continued its life in the food business when it was occupied by Archway Cookie Company. After an unknown hiatus from the food industry, O&S was excited to begin returning 1628 back to its roots, where we knew our Melanguer from the same era would feel right at home.
Peppered with antiques, the building was gutted and left as bare bones as the FDA would allow. Our Roaster, Tempering units and other machines were laid outand the search began for antiquated pieces that would make it the permanent home. Upon entering the factory you are greeted by relics peppered throughout the factory reinforcingthe antiquated methodsused in making Southern Artisan chocolate™. This can be seen in the antique pendent factory lighting, rescued from an old army barrack outside of Atlanta, the 200-year-old heart pine was used to replace rotted support beams, glass candy cabinet that houses our new line of Chocuterie™, lit by the glow of the vintage EAT neon diner sign we scored out in Virgina. . This is only a nibble of the rarities and antique musing you will find in and around the O&S FACTORY but you'll have to come for a TOUR to find out more!


text:
Posted on January 15, 2020 by sdshamshel
I find that my favorite manga tend to finish in groups, and now following Teasobi is the news that the rap battle-themed series Change! is done. This was clearly not the intended way to go out, as it basically leaves off with an "our fight goes on!"-style non-ending. Despite that disappointment, I think it's a really worthwhile manga that does its subject justice.
Change! revolves around Kozono Shiori, a meek girl at an elite high school who also has a love of the art of the Japanese language. She discovers that a classmate of hers, Miki, has been sneaking out to a club (how scandalous!), only to find that it's a hip hop club where rap battles are the main event. While she initially writes it off, Shiori (now MC Shiorin) realizes that rap resonates with her deep fondness for Japanese poetry, and enters a new world.
One of the main themes of Change! is that while Japanese rap could be seen as just an importing of American culture, it is just as much a part of Japanese (and international) culture as classical poetry. There are elements of the Japanese language, such as the combination of onyomi and kunyomi ways of pronouncing kanji, that make rapping in Japanese a unique experience. Shiori also draws comparison between rap battles and an old Japanese type of poetry competition called uta-awase. While this can come across as an attempt to justify rap's existence, Shiori's role in the story emphasizes the idea that the lyricism of rap can be enjoyed by those with an open mind and an appreciation for good wordplay. In this respect, she's somewhat similar to Tupac, who could be inspired by things like Shakespeare and the music of Kate Bush.
The manga puts more emphasis on the artistry of rap and hip hop than how it grew from specific cultural circumstances, and there's relatively little notion of its origins in African-American neighborhoods or its ability to give a voice to those who might not have one otherwise. Despite that, there's a clear and genuine love for rap that permeates the series, and I can understand why a series that's probably introducing a lot of people to the world of hip hop in the first place might not delve into deeper topics—especially because it ended before its time.
Speaking of, another sign that the manga was in trouble was that the digital versions of Change! started to get a new title: Waka no Ojou-sama Rap Hajimemashita, or A Japanese Poetry Princess Gets into Rap. Titles usually only get this when it seems like not enough people are even giving it a chance. See Edge of Tomorrow (aka Live, Die, Repeat) and Gundam Sousei (aka The Men Who Created Gundam) for examples.
There's an episode preview in the first Genshiken anime where one of the characters talks about how all the best series get canceled early. Sometimes, I really believe it—because while manga can be an avenue for very unique and off-kilter comics, many ambitious series never get the chance to keep flourishing. Chances are slim, but I hope Change! can come back in some form (it would make for a great anime!). I wish the best of luck to Soda Masahito, Tomiyama Hiromiya, and lyrics supervisor Shinpeita on their future projects, and thank them for a fine piece of art.
This entry was posted in manga, review and tagged change, hip hop, masahito soda, rap, rap battle, shinpeita. Bookmark the permalink.
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One thought on "Our Rap Battle Goes On: "Change!" Final Review"
Akumetsu (@kaekurono18) says:
WOW Soda Masahito is pretty prolific huh? i'm not surprised this manga is so good since it has his involvement i've yet to read it tho.


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Basic Information on Health Reform in Louisiana
Louisiana is not expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income adults, as of January 2015.[i] Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Plan) are safety net health benefit programs available in Louisiana.[ii]
Health Insurance Exchange Information: Louisiana has a Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM).[iii] People can use the FFM to compare plans, purchase low-cost insurance, and take advantage of federal tax subsidies that apply.
Enrollment: People can apply for and enroll in Medicaid or CHIP any time of year and coverage can begin immediately. They can purchase and enroll in marketplace plans during the annual open enrollment period, which begins November 15th of each year and extends through February 15th. If they meet certain criteria, such as having been released from custody in the last 90 days, they may be able to enroll in private coverage outside the open enrollment period. There are two ways to see if they meet eligibility requirements and apply for or enroll in these benefits:
1) They can use the online application on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace.[iv]
2) They can call for assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (1-800-318-2596 / TTY: 1-855-889-4325).
Louisiana Medicaid and Health Insurance Links
Link to the state Medicaid agency website[v]
Link to important contact information and telephone numbers[vi]
Link to a map with contact information for local application centers[vii]
Link to a summary of Louisiana's basic eligibility guidelines[viii]
Link to information on Louisiana's Medicaid State Plan[ix]
Link to a chart on covered services[x]
Link to contact information for the state Medicaid director[xi]
Link to information for Medicaid providers[xii]
Where do you apply for coverage on Louisiana's health insurance exchange? Louisiana currently does not have its own health insurance exchange. Visit Healthcare.gov to apply.
Where can you find help to enroll in health coverage and get answers to questions? Link to enrollment help [xiii]
How many people in Louisiana are eligible to participate? According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 12% (563,800) of Louisiana's population was uninsured in 2013.[xiv] The total number of potential marketplace participants is 524,000.[xv]
How many are enrolled so far? 137,142 have selected a marketplace plan, as of January 2015.[xvi]
How many of the state's uninsured population are eligible for Medicaid? 55,000 of Louisiana's uninsured are eligible for Medicaid, as of January 2015; 13,000 of them are adults.[xvii]
Is Louisiana a Medicaid health home state? No.[xviii]
House: Rep. Scott M. Simon (R-District 74) chairs the House Health & Welfare Committee.[xix]
Senate: Sen. David R. Heitmeier (District 7) chairs the Senate Health & Welfare Committee.[xx]
Other Related Information and Links for Louisiana
Link to information on the Louisiana Department of Corrections[xxi]
Link to the Office of Behavioral Health-Addictive Disorders Services
Link to the Office of Behavioral Health-Mental Health Services[xxii]
Link to specific health data and insurance coverage information for Louisiana [xxiii]
Link to a calculator for possible subsidies available to people who purchase coverage on the exchanges [xxiv]
Link to information about health insurance exchanges in each state [xxv]
InsureKidsNow.gov offers general information on the CHIP program.[xxvi]
Healthcare.gov offers links to local enrollment help and information on coverage for incarcerated people and answers to questions about health benefits.[xxvii]
Medicaid.gov offers general information on the Medicaid program and a breakdown of mandatory benefits all plans must include. [xxviii]
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) offers an online directory of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in each state that offer free or low cost care.[xxix]
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) offers a directory of substance abuse and mental health treatment facilities in each state at: SA-Treatment Facility Locator and at: MH-Treatment Facility Locator.[xxx]
SAMHSA also offers the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, which has information on substance abuse treatment facilities by state, the types of programs available, and services they offer for justice-involved populations.[xxxi]
[i] See Medicaid.gov, Medicaid by State, Louisiana, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:30 a.m., http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-State/Louisiana.html.
[ii] See supra at 544.
[iv]See Healthcare.gov, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:31 a.m., https://www.healthcare.gov/.
[v] See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:34 a.m., http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/subhome/1/n/331.
[vi]See supra at 549.
[vii]See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid Application Centers, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:38 a.m., http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/262.
[viii]See CMS, State Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Standards, (For MAGI Groups, based on state decisions as of July 1, 2014), last viewed on January 6, 2015, at 10:40 a.m. (Provides data for all 50 states.)
[ix] See Medicaid.gov, State Resources, Medicaid State Plan Amendments, last viewed on January 5, 2015, at 1:58 p.m., http://www.medicaid.gov/State-Resource-Center/Medicaid-State-Plan-Amendments/Medicaid-State-Plan-Amendments.html?filterBy=Louisiana. (Provides State Plan Amendments and Summaries).
[x] See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, Medicaid, Common Questions, What does Medicaid Cover?, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:42 a.m., http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Making_Medicaid_Better/Medicaid_Services_Chart.pdf.
[xi] See National Association of Medicaid Directors, About Us, State Directors, last viewed on January 6, 2015, at 10:43 a.m., http://medicaiddirectors.org/about/state-directors. (Includes contact information for the State Medicaid Director of all 50 states.)
[xii] See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, For Medicaid Providers, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:42 a.m., http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/1450/n/24.
[xiii]See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, About Medicaid, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:56 a.m., http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/220/n/20.
[xiv]See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Health Facts, Health Insurance Coverage of the Total Population, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:50 a.m., http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-population/?state=LA.
[xv] See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Marketplace Statistics, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:50 a.m. http://kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/state-marketplace-statistics/.
[xvi]See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Marketplace Statistics, last viewed at January 6, 2015, at 10:50 a.m., http://kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/state-marketplace-statistics/.
[xvii]See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Health Facts, State Profiles: How Will the Uninsured Fare Under the Affordable Care Act?, last viewed on January 6, 2015, at 10:51 a.m.: http://kff.org/health-reform/fact-sheet/state-profiles-uninsured-under-aca-louisiana/.
[xviii]See The Henry Kaiser Family Foundation, Health Home State Plan Option, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 10:58 a.m., http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/health-home-state-plan-option/.
[xix] See Louisiana Legislature, House, Health and Welfare Committee, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 11:01 a.m., http://house.louisiana.gov/H_Cmtes/H_CMTE_HW.asp.
[xx] See Louisiana Legislature, Senate, Health and Welfare Committee, last viewed on January 6, 2015 at 11:02 a.m., http://senate.la.gov/Health&Welfare/Assignments.asp.
[xxi] See Louisiana Department of Corrections, last viewed on January 6, 2015, at 11:04 a.m., http://www.doc.louisiana.gov/.
[xxii]See Louisiana.gov, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Behavioral Health, last viewed on January 6, 2015, at 11:05 a.m., http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/subhome/10.
[xxiii] See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Health Facts, last viewed January 8, 2015 at 1:38 p.m.: http://kff.org/state-category/health-reform/?state=LA.
[xxiv] See The Henry Kaiser Foundation, State Health Insurance Marketplace Profiles, January 8, 2015 at 1:38 p.m.: http://kff.org/state-health-marketplace-profiles/.
[xxvi] See InsureKidsNow.gov, last viewed on January 8, 2015 at 1:37 p.m.: http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/chip/index.html.
[xxvii] See Healthcare.gov, last viewed on January 8, 2015 at 1:38 p.m.: https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/ and https://www.healthcare.gov/incarcerated-people/.
[xxviii] See Medicaid.gov, last viewed on January 8, 2015 at 1:38 p.m., http://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/medicaid-and-chip-program-information.html.
[xxix] See Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Find a Health Center, last viewed January 8, 2015 at 1:40 p.m.: http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov/.
xxx See SAMSHA Treatment Facility Locator, last viewed January 8, 2015 at 1:40 p.m.: http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/TreatmentLocator/faces/quickSearch.jspx and http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/MHTreatmentLocator/faces/quickSearch.jspx
xxxi See SAMHSA N-SSATS last viewed January 8, 2015 at 1:45 p.m.: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/substance-abuse-facilities-data-nssats.


FREE Art / Craft / Music Show at The Pickering Creek Inn - Saturday May 11 - OneNineFourSixZero - Phoenixville Reviews, Events, + more!
This Saturday May 11th, the Pickering Creek Inn will host a free art and music show from 1pm to 5pm. Sidney Joseph and the Orgnanic Reverb will be providing the tunes.
A self described late bloomer, Sidney didn't pick up the guitar until he was 16. "Nobody in my family played anything except maybe the lotto." It was at a friend's house when Sidney noticed an electric guitar sitting in the corner collecting dust.
Sidney's lyrics are bold and powerful, clearly influenced by old school hip hop like KRS-1 and Big Daddy Kane. His styles range from Hip-Hop to Folk, Pop to Jazz... It's all frequencies. Check em out!


Hahaha. My sister, abeg make somebody's pikin no laff fall from chair o. Lol.
Lol…my sister. We will do so in the fullness of time.
Na so Bro ..e sure for you.
Lmao…Na so Baba. But God pass them sha!
Lol…no be small thing Baba!
I love sorrow; I love sadness. In my despair, I get to appreciate the things I don't value except I am at my lowest ebb.
Kai, how can I forget!
…with slippers on both elbows???
Lmao, I give up Baba..
Aswear, you pass me jare. Hahahaha!
Throwing cashew nuts! Now that was another game wey I be pro for am. Hahahaha!
Chairmannnnnn, I bestow the title on you ASAP…Lord of the Streets!
You be half kpako, half ajebutter. Lol!
Lol, Bishie, kai mehn, those days…thank God say my legs still dey intact!
Lol, no be small thing, aswear. That yam story ehn!


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The Elder Scrolls: Legends beta now available
Yesterday Bethesda announced beta registration for its upcoming strategy card game, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, has now opened.
As the name suggests, Legends will borrow heavily from Elder Scrolls lore, featuring deities, characters and creatures popularised in Bethesda's fantasy franchise.
The free-to-play game will feature a variety of deck types and strategies, plus game modes including a full solo campaign, quick skirmishes, and arena matches versus other players.
Check out the trailer below for an overview of Legends' gameplay.
If you're interested in participating in the closed beta, then you can sign up over at the game's official site. Legends will also be playable at Bethesda's booth during PAX East, which takes place this weekend in Boston.
Legends is being developed for PC and iPad in conjunction with strategy card game specialists Dire Wolf Digital. Other platforms will be announced sometime in the future, along with a release date for the full game.
Let us know your thoughts on The Elder Scrolls: Legends over in the forums.


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Q: Can I measure if current is on or off in cable with 24v DC (in a cheap way) I have a number of valves that control the heating in rooms in our house. The valves have a pin on top which opens or closes the valve. The position of the pin is controlled by a regulator that sits on top of the pin and can be seen in the image below. The valves are either open or closed. I would like to monitor the valve position. I assume the only way to to that is to measure if a regulator is getting any current.
According to what I have found from the net it seems the regulators are getting 24V DC and using 1 W. Would that mean A=W/V => 1/24 => 42mA? On another place it says that "start current is <300 mA during maximum 2 minutes". The whole product name is Roth A5 24V Nc 1W. I assume A5 is the product name and does NC mean "normally closed"?
I don't know how regulators like these work, do they get current all the time they are open or only part of the time, but let's assume the get current all the time they are open.
Question:
What kind of non-intrusive sensor can I use to monitor if the regulator is open or closed?
I would like it to be non-intrusive because I'm not sure what the company that has delivered the system says if I cut the cords and install something. Since I have eight cords to monitor I would prefer if there was something costing like max 10€/sensor.
Update I changed the picture to ones from my own system where the regulator is open. I can also confirm that the regulators that are open are very hot on the top.
Update 2 Added a picture of the cables to the regulators.
Update 3 The original task was to log when the valve was open or not. Since the valves are either open or closed and not purposely in between I ended up ordering some micro-switches that the regulator will trigger when it opens.

A: from what I've read of these they get current that makes them hot then their inside swells up and pushes on the pin, and also switches them to a lower power mode where they use less current.
it looks they are normally powered from 24V AC
for determining their operation you've got two options, either you fit a split core current transformer around only one of the conductors in the cable,(brown or blue doesn't matter which)  or you connect a voltage sensor (eg: optocupler arranged for 24V AC operation) across to the same terminals that the brown and blue wires go to.

A: [Edit after Jasen's answer.]
These are like TRV - thermostatic radiator valve - actuator heads but are (as the later added photos show) installed on a manifold for under-floor water heating system. The valve appears to be sprung open. Placing the regulator on it closes the valve. When current is applied to the coil the actuator expands and allows the valve to spring open. This has the advantage that over-expansion of the regulator will 'leave the valve behind' rather than apply excessive force to it.
The most basic 'mechanical' version of these TRV valves use a wax plug inside the head arranged so that on expansion with heat the valve is closed.
Your device has only two wires and this means there can not be any feedback to the controller. If the valve defaults to closed then applying current to the coil will cause expansion and open the valve. Proportional control can be achieved by varying the heating current.
The statement "start current is <300 mA during maximum 2 minutes" may mean that when starting from cold it gives 300 mA for up to 2 minutes to get things moving quickly. It would then reduce current to a maintaining value. That number is important because your power supply would have to provide enough current for all the valves to run full power simultaneously.
If it is a thermal expansion unit I would expect the controller to control the valve by monitoring room temperature and adjusting the current to the coil to get the desired heating. Normally this would be done by pulsing the unit on and off and increasing the power by increasing the on-time. Your '6/12/18 24V DC' comment is confusing in that regard.

simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Figure 1. Simple home-made voltage probe.
If you don't have a multimeter it's unlikely that you have a bunch of LEDs and resistors lying around but if you do you could make a simple 24 V probe using the circuit of Schematic 1. Touch the red lead to the brown on your regulator and black to the blue. If the green lights up you've got DC supply. If red lights up the supply is reversed. If both light you've got an AC supply. You may also be able to deduce pulsing and reduction in voltage by the LED brightness. If you report back on your findings we can help further.
You could contact Roth-Nordic and ask for a data sheet and post a link here.

Additional details on TRV valves (which I originally thought these were).
There are many available for home heating control including wireless units with temperature feedback. The wireless units are battery operated and use motors with worm-gear drive to move the valve pin. The motor solution means that battery life can be extended because no power is required to maintain position. See OpenTRV for the hacker's version under development. See HomeMatic for an example of a commercial unit.


Oxfam's Ripe for Change report on supermarket ranking for global supply chains came out the end of June. A lot of paperwork has been produced to convey the idea that supermarkets don't take their responsibility for making the supply chain more sustainable socially. My overall impression after reading is that Oxfam is being significantly non-transparent and insignificantly relevant.
One big non-transparency is that Oxfam is using expert interview without naming the people interviewed (see http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/ripe-for-change-methodology-and-datasets-620478) and showing the content of those interviews related to those names. Oxfam claims this is for protection purposes, but it also kills the possibility to validate that content.
Another source of non-transparency, more indirect, is the way the scorecard is set up (http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/ripe-for-change-methodology-and-datasets-620478). If you want to check the sources Oxfam uses for scoring, you hit upon a block. So you need to type the link they give you in your address bar to get to those sources. Also, the scorecard is not editable, making it impossible to create your own version including Oxfam's omissions.
All that leads me to the conclusion significantly non-transparent and insignificantly relevant because Oxfam makes it almost impossible to validate their conclusions on both the major themes they address and the company scorecards. That leaves with a report that shouts out without knowing if Oxfam's shouting is actually significant. All the issues are relevant, but that in itself doesn't make them significant. Why is that important? That's next.
Oxfam is mixing up what you can expect from retailers and manufacturers. Retailers have thousands and thousands of products to take care of. For most manufacturers we are talking a hundred or so and then very focused most of the time on some specific ingredients.
Why is that important? Because Oxfam expects the same action from retailers as from manufacturers. Look at the scorecard for workers under W4, 5 and 6. Again I need to type what that ask for there because their scorecard is copy protected. They talk about supplier engagement, human rights risk assessments, engagement with unions and living wage action. If you are familiar with retail and try to understand what they are facing, you would know that these expectations are totally unrealistic. No retailer, not even Walmart, would have the capacity to fulfill all that for all those thousands of products. That is exactly the reason that retailers are using standards like Fairtrade and Rain Forest Alliance to make sure the sustainability basics are in place in any supply chain. And yes, they are always issues going beyond those standards. Take living wage. Oxfam expects retailers to close the gap between current wage levels and living wage. It looks like Oxfam forgets about the work of ISEAL (https://www.isealalliance.org) with Fairtrade, Rain Forest Alliance, and others on that issue. Of course, the way to go is that in one way or the other standards include living wage requirements in their protocols. And NGOs support them in that effort. But you can't expect retailers to arrange that for all those thousands of products. Again Oxfam shows that it is ignorant about what can be expected from retailers. Let's assume that a retailer has 5,000 products sourced from different supply chains. Could be fruits, vegetables, flowers, chocolate, coffee, tea, wine, textiles etc. If a retailer wants to do all that Oxfam expects you would probably need 1 FTE per supply chain to be able to that. Of course, Oxfam wants to support, but my guess is that that is not for free and you would still need the internal capacity to handle that support. No, that's why we work with multi-stakeholder initiatives like IDH (https://www.idhsustainabletrade.com/), TSC (https://www.sustainabilityconsortium.org/), etc.
What does this boils down to is that what you can expect from retailers is to jointly work with manufacturers of grocery products, who usually have significantly more capacity per product, in their efforts to make supply chains more sustainable. And retailers can then be expected to organize their private label supply chains. Oxfam expects them also to take responsibility for branded products. It beats me how why that would be a logical thing. It's simple: every brand is responsible for its own products. Brand for their brands, supermarkets for their private labels. I hope Oxfam will be able to understand that. And then. For product groups like fruits, vegetables, flowers you don't have a lot of branded products. That's where retailers will have to devote a lot of effort already. So let's leave it at private label only, please.
I think it is fair to say that the report of Oxfam needs serious editing. In terms of validation and in terms of expectations. Especially the latter creates expectations that can never be met. I challenge Oxfam to come up with a revised edition based on proper validation and realistic targets. If Oxfam wants to know more about retail, please come visit me. I'll be happy to explain.


Owners George Tsiropoulos and his brother, Chris created a casual dining place where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, anytime of the day. The restaurant is warm, inviting and comfortable. Come with family and friends and choose from the extensive menu which has traditional classics and contemporary dishes, all served in large portions. The Avenue Cafe has an upscale ambiance and truly affordable prices. The bar is a fun place to celebrate the end of a day with a selection from the list of martinis, a glass of wine, or one of their great mojitos.
With more than 30 years combined experience in this business, George and Chris along with their culinary trained chef are very particular about the ingredients that go into making all the dishes - from freshly baked bagels to the great meat and fish dinners. Everything here is made to order. We started our dinner with a basket of challah garlic bread, hummus and olive tapenade. The signature cranberry chicken was sweet with a walnut-cranberry stuffing; and the flatiron steak was tender and juicy. Tilapia was a favorite, stuffed with sweet, delicate crabmeat. For dessert we enjoyed selections from The Bakery at The Avenue Cafe: Tres Leches Cake, a Latin delicacy, made with butter cake soaked in three kinds of milk was a rich indulgence.