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Q: Flexible Shapes not working with ONNX to MLModel conversion using coremltools 4 I cannot get flexible shapes working with an ONNX model I am converting to a MLModel using coremltools 4.0. The source model is from PyTorch, but I cannot use the new unified conversion because coremltools at this time does not support a reflection_pad2d layer used in the model.
coremltools compiles the model without any warning or error and shows that flexible shapes are supported:
input {
  name: "input"
  type {
    imageType {
      width: 1024
      height: 1024
      colorSpace: BGR
      imageSizeRange {
        widthRange {
          lowerBound: 256
          upperBound: -1
        }
        heightRange {
          lowerBound: 256
          upperBound: -1
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
output {
  name: "output"
  type {
    imageType {
      width: 1024
      height: 1024
      colorSpace: RGB
      imageSizeRange {
        widthRange {
          lowerBound: 256
          upperBound: -1
        }
        heightRange {
          lowerBound: 256
          upperBound: -1
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

But running a prediction on the model fails with the message:
MyApp[5773:4974761] [espresso] [Espresso::handle_ex_plan] exception=Invalid X-dimension 1/814 status=-7
MyApp[5773:4974761] [coreml] Error binding image input buffer input: -7
MyApp[5773:4974761] [coreml] Failure in bindInputsAndOutputs.
prediction error: Error Domain=com.apple.CoreML Code=0 "Error binding image input buffer input." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Error binding image input buffer input.}

Enumerated shapes will function with the model, but that is not adequate without having like 10k+ enumerated shapes which just doesn't seem like a solution.
The model is a fully convolutional network, it does not appear to use any fixed shapes (see spec output), and it works with different shapes in PyTorch, so it seems like it must be possible to get flexible shapes working somehow.
I've tried using flexible input shapes using image input/output:
input_names=['input']
output_names=['output']
channels = 3
input_shape = ct.Shape(shape=(channels, ct.RangeDim(), ct.RangeDim()))
#also tried:
input_shape = ct.Shape(shape=(channels, ct.RangeDim(256, 4096), ct.RangeDim(256, 4096)))
#and:
input_shape = ct.Shape(shape=(channels, ct.RangeDim(256, -1), ct.RangeDim(256, -1)))

model_input = ct.TensorType(shape=input_shape)
mlmodel = convert('torch_model.onnx',
            [model_input],
            image_input_names=input_names,
            image_output_names=output_names,
            ...
)

spec = mlmodel.get_spec()

#tried with and without adding flexible shapes
spec = add_flexible_shapes(spec)

def add_flexible_shapes(spec):
    img_size_ranges = flexible_shape_utils.NeuralNetworkImageSizeRange(height_range=(256, -1), width_range=(256, -1))
    #also tried:
    #img_size_ranges = flexible_shape_utils.NeuralNetworkImageSizeRange(height_range=(256, 4096), width_range=(256, 4096))
    flexible_shape_utils.update_image_size_range(spec, feature_name=input_names[0], size_range=img_size_ranges)
    flexible_shape_utils.update_image_size_range(spec, feature_name=output_names[0], size_range=img_size_ranges)
    return spec

I also tried first converting the model as a multiarray, then convert to image, then add flexible shapes.
 torch.onnx.export(torch_model, example_input, 'torch_model.onnx', input_names=input_names, output_names=output_names, verbose=True)
 mlmodel = ct.converters.onnx.convert(model='torch_model.onnx',
                                 ...
 spec = mlmodel.get_spec()

 input = spec.description.input[0]
 input.type.imageType.colorSpace = ft.ImageFeatureType.RGB
 input.type.imageType.height = 1024
 input.type.imageType.width = 1024

 output = spec.description.output[0]
 output.type.imageType.colorSpace = ft.ImageFeatureType.RGB
 output.type.imageType.height = 1024
 output.type.imageType.width = 1024

 spec = add_flexible_shapes(spec)

I've looked at all the layers in the spec, and I don't see any that use a fixed shape (other than the input/output layers):
specificationVersion: 4
description {
  input {
    name: "input"
    type {
      imageType {
        width: 1024
        height: 1024
        colorSpace: RGB
      }
    }
  }
  output {
    name: "output"
    type {
      imageType {
        width: 1024
        height: 1024
        colorSpace: RGB
      }
    }
  }
  metadata {
    userDefined {
      key: "com.github.apple.coremltools.source"
      value: "onnx==1.7.0"
    }
    userDefined {
      key: "com.github.apple.coremltools.version"
      value: "4.0"
    }
  }
}
neuralNetwork {
  layers {
    name: "Pad_0"
    input: "input"
    output: "63"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 4
          endEdgeSize: 4
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 4
          endEdgeSize: 4
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_1"
    input: "63"
    output: "64"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 16
      kernelChannels: 3
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 9
      kernelSize: 9
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_2"
    input: "64"
    output: "65"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 16
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_3"
    input: "65"
    output: "66"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_4"
    input: "66"
    output: "67"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_5"
    input: "67"
    output: "68"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 32
      kernelChannels: 16
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 2
      stride: 2
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_6"
    input: "68"
    output: "69"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 32
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_7"
    input: "69"
    output: "70"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_8"
    input: "70"
    output: "71"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_9"
    input: "71"
    output: "72"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 32
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 2
      stride: 2
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_10"
    input: "72"
    output: "73"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_11"
    input: "73"
    output: "74"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_12"
    input: "74"
    output: "75"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_13"
    input: "75"
    output: "76"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_14"
    input: "76"
    output: "77"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_15"
    input: "77"
    output: "78"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_16"
    input: "78"
    output: "79"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_17"
    input: "79"
    output: "80"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_18"
    input: "80"
    output: "81"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Add_19"
    input: "81"
    input: "74"
    output: "82"
    addBroadcastable {
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_20"
    input: "82"
    output: "83"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_21"
    input: "83"
    output: "84"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_22"
    input: "84"
    output: "85"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_23"
    input: "85"
    output: "86"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_24"
    input: "86"
    output: "87"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_25"
    input: "87"
    output: "88"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_26"
    input: "88"
    output: "89"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Add_27"
    input: "89"
    input: "82"
    output: "90"
    addBroadcastable {
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_28"
    input: "90"
    output: "91"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_29"
    input: "91"
    output: "92"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_30"
    input: "92"
    output: "93"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_31"
    input: "93"
    output: "94"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_32"
    input: "94"
    output: "95"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_33"
    input: "95"
    output: "96"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_34"
    input: "96"
    output: "97"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Add_35"
    input: "97"
    input: "90"
    output: "98"
    addBroadcastable {
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_36"
    input: "98"
    output: "99"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_37"
    input: "99"
    output: "100"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_38"
    input: "100"
    output: "101"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_39"
    input: "101"
    output: "102"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_40"
    input: "102"
    output: "103"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_41"
    input: "103"
    output: "104"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_42"
    input: "104"
    output: "105"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Add_43"
    input: "105"
    input: "98"
    output: "106"
    addBroadcastable {
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_44"
    input: "106"
    output: "107"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_45"
    input: "107"
    output: "108"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_46"
    input: "108"
    output: "109"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_47"
    input: "109"
    output: "110"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_48"
    input: "110"
    output: "111"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_49"
    input: "111"
    output: "112"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 64
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 1
      stride: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_50"
    input: "112"
    output: "113"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 64
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Add_51"
    input: "113"
    input: "106"
    output: "114"
    addBroadcastable {
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Upsample_52"
    input: "114"
    output: "123"
    upsample {
      scalingFactor: 4
      scalingFactor: 4
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_53"
    input: "123"
    output: "124"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_54"
    input: "124"
    output: "125"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 32
      kernelChannels: 64
      nGroups: 1
      kernelSize: 3
      kernelSize: 3
      stride: 2
      stride: 2
      dilationFactor: 1
      dilationFactor: 1
      valid {
        paddingAmounts {
          borderAmounts {
          }
          borderAmounts {
          }
        }
      }
      hasBias: true
      weights {
      }
      bias {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "InstanceNormalization_55"
    input: "125"
    output: "126"
    batchnorm {
      channels: 32
      computeMeanVar: true
      instanceNormalization: true
      epsilon: 9.999999747378752e-06
      gamma {
      }
      beta {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Relu_56"
    input: "126"
    output: "127"
    activation {
      ReLU {
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Upsample_57"
    input: "127"
    output: "136"
    upsample {
      scalingFactor: 4
      scalingFactor: 4
      mode: BILINEAR
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Pad_58"
    input: "136"
    output: "137"
    padding {
      reflection {
      }
      paddingAmounts {
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
        borderAmounts {
          startEdgeSize: 1
          endEdgeSize: 1
        }
      }
    }
  }
  layers {
    name: "Conv_59"
    input: "137"
    output: "138"
    convolution {
      outputChannels: 16
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Dec 16, 2016Biology, Health and Medicine
Professor Naoko Tanese and her research team at New York University School of Medicine investigate transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulatory pathways. Specifically, Professor Tanese is interested in identifying the post-transcriptional functions of the Huntington's disease protein huntingtin and how they differ in the disease state.
Huntington's disease is a rare, but devastating hereditary disease that causes the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain over time. The average age of onset is between 30 and 50 years; however, the disease can occur earlier or later. The result is a progressive decline in cognitive, psychiatric and motor abilities. Most literature reports motor impairments occurring early in the disease followed by cognitive/psychiatric dysfunction. Cognitive impairments include difficulty in prioritising and focusing, lack of impulse control and self-awareness, and difficulty learning new information. Memory can also be severely compromised. This decline is accompanied by the development of psychiatric symptoms, typically depression and anxiety, but other symptoms such as obsession, compulsion and irritability can also occur. Another hallmark of Huntington's disease is the development of involuntary and unwanted movements in early stages of the disease. Clinical diagnosis occurs by the onset of motor symptoms. These movements start out as small, muscle twitches in the face and extremities that eventually progress to the rest of the muscles in the body, causing movements to become more rigid and difficult to initiate. Particularly aggressive forms of the disease display symptoms early in life. When Huntington's disease develops before the age of 21, it is known as Juvenile Huntington's disease or JHD. While very similar to the adult form, JHD differs from Huntington's disease in that specific motor symptoms develop at different times during the progression of the disease and seizures can also occur. Some studies also suggest that JHD progresses more rapidly than the adult onset disease. While there are treatments available to manage the symptoms, there are currently no cures that prevent the decline associated with the progression of the disease.
Huntington's disease is caused by an inherited mutation in the Huntingtin gene, HTT, that results in over 40 repeats of the amino acid glutamine in the encoded huntingtin protein (Htt). A typical huntingtin protein has between seven and 35 repeats. Huntington's disease is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, meaning that just one of the two genes that are inherited from one's parents needs to be mutated for the disease to arise. HTT is widely expressed throughout the body and is essential for normal development. It has also been implicated in many cellular functions. In her latest project, Professor Naoko Tanese and her research team have discovered novel functions of Htt in gene expression. Understanding these new Htt functional roles and how they differ in the case of mutant Htt may reveal novel pathways and targets for future therapeutic interventions.
Post-transcriptional Regulation of Gene Expression
Gene expression is the process by which information encoded by a gene is used to synthesise a gene product, typically a protein. Protein synthesis occurs in three main steps: transcription, posttranscriptional processing, and translation. During transcription, an enzyme called RNA polymerase reads DNA of the gene and creates a copy called messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) or a transcript. The transcript then undergoes post-transcriptional processing to improve recognition of the mRNA by the translational proteins and remove any portions of the sequence that should not be translated. During translation, the transcript is decoded by a multi-protein structure called the ribosome to generate a string of amino acids known as a peptide. The peptide then folds into secondary and tertiary structures to form the protein.
Gene expression can be regulated by several factors at different steps in the protein synthesis process. Gene expression is regulated post-transcriptionally by RNA binding proteins or RBPs. Some RBPs interact with one end of the transcript called the 3' untranslated region (UTR) to affect its stability or distribution in the cell in a number of ways. RBPs can influence gene expression by sequestering mRNA in processing bodies. Processing bodies (P-bodies) are small granules or aggregates of mRNA-degrading proteins in the cytoplasm. Through degradation or storing of mRNA, the P-bodies reduce the amount of protein that can be made and thus downregulate gene expression. Gene expression can also be regulated post-transcriptionally through mRNA localization, or transportation of the transcript to specific locations in the cell.
Localisation of mRNA is particularly important in nerve cells, or neurons. Neurons send signals to other neurons through a gap between the two cells called the synapse. This interaction is strengthened or weakened based on how much activity the synapse experiences over time. This change in strength is known as synaptic plasticity. Synaptic plasticity is vital for learning and forming new memories. Mounting evidence suggests that the transport and translation of mRNAs to the synapse contributes to synaptic plasticity by rapidly replenishing proteins to branches of the neuron that are far away from the cell body, especially following synaptic transmission.
Htt in RNA Transport and Translation
Professor Tanese and her research team have extensive experience in transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulation. More recently, they have turned their attention to the function of Htt. Because the normal function of Htt and the mechanism by which its mutant counterpart contributes to Huntington's disease is still largely unknown, they became increasingly interested in the role of Htt in post-transcriptional gene regulation as a novel approach to understanding the function of Htt normally and in the disease state.
The team began their investigation by determining where the Htt protein was located in neurons. Using advanced imaging and microscopy techniques, the research team discovered that Htt could be found near neuronal RNA granules and P-bodies. RNA granules are large RNA-protein complexes responsible for transporting mRNA to specific areas in the cell. To determine whether Htt influences mRNA localisation, the research team reduced the level of Htt in neurons grown in culture and examined its effect on transcript transportation. They found that the reduction of Htt in the cells disrupted mRNA localisation, suggesting that Htt may contribute to the structure of RNA granules during RNA transport.
To obtain a better picture of the processes that Htt is involved in and how they may differ for mutant Htt, Professor Tanese and her team identified proteins that interact with each Htt form. By identifying the primary functions of the proteins that interact with Htt, the team could gain a better understanding of the processes that Htt may influence. Analysis of Htt protein binding partners revealed that both normal and mutant Htt interact with proteins related to RNA metabolism and protein synthesis, including complexes involved in translation. 'It is difficult to tease out various functions of Htt in this context,' Professor Tanese explains, 'but we have evidence supporting its role in RNA metabolism.' The mutant Htt associated with RBPs and translation factors more than the normal Htt, suggesting that dysregulation of post-transcriptional gene regulation and translation may contribute to the development of the diseased state in Huntington's disease.
Now that the research team knew that Htt interacted with translational proteins, they wanted to determine the function of the association between Htt and these proteins. To determine its function, the team examined translation in cells with normal and high concentrations of Htt. They discovered that translation was inhibited in cells with a higher concentration of Htt. Taken together with additional experiments the data support a role for Htt in mRNA transport and translation.
'Understanding the mechanism of disease is critical to identifying targets for therapeutic intervention and treatment especially for HD for which there is no cure'
Visualisation of BDNF mRNA with huntingtin and argonaute proteins in the cortex of rat brain. Ma B, Culver BP, Baj G, Tongiorgi E, Chao MV and Tanese N, Mol Neurodegener., 2010, 27, 22.
Htt Self-Regulation
During their investigation, Professor Tanese and her team noticed that, in addition to proteins, Htt also associates with mRNA for ß-Actin – a protein essential for cell structure and rearrangement. This led them to ask whether Htt post-transcriptionally regulates gene expression through interaction with mRNAs and if so, what mRNAs did Htt regulate. To answer these questions, the research team strove to identify all other mRNAs that the protein associates with using a technique called RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA-Sequencing. To their surprise, they found that both the normal and mutant Htt protein strongly associated with their own HTT mRNA. The function of this association was investigated further by determining whether Htt regulates its own expression by inhibiting its translation through interactions with the HTT 3' UTR. This is not uncommon, as many other proteins, such as TDP-43 (a protein whose mutation leads to the development of ALS, another neurodegenerative disease), regulate their own mRNA through interactions with the 3'UTR sequence. Professor Tanese found that when she linked another gene to the HTT 3' UTR, there was a decrease in the linked protein's expression level. Increasing the level of Htt protein further decreased the expression of the linked protein while reducing the Htt concentration had the opposite effect and increased the linked protein's synthesis. This series of experiments provided strong evidence that Htt does in fact regulate translation of the HTT mRNA via the 3' UTR sequence.
'I am passionate about basic science research in which we strive to define molecular pathways and players that sustain cell homeostasis'
Mutant Htt and Mis-spliced mRNA
Examination of the huntingtin protein's association with its own mRNA also revealed that mutant Htt associates with a mis-spliced HTT mRNA. Splicing is a common post-transcriptional modification that mRNA transcripts undergo to remove unnecessary strings of sequence. During the process, RBPs recruit proteins to remove the extraneous sections of RNA (introns) and splice together the remaining sections (exons). The RNA can be spliced in several different ways to produce multiple transcripts from one gene. The mis-spliced HTT mRNA has been incorrectly spliced resulting in a truncated protein encoded by exon 1. The fact that this association only occurs in the presence of mutant Htt and not normal Htt brings up the possibility that it may play a role in development of Huntington's disease. Understanding the function of this truncated mRNA and its relationship to the mutant Htt could reveal a new target pathway for future Huntington's disease treatments.
Dissecting Htt's Post-transcriptional Functions
Professor Tanese continues to tease out the role of Htt in the regulation, transport and translation of its own normal and mis-spliced mRNA. Currently, her lab is investigating the relationship between the mutant Htt and the mis-spliced mRNA further by identifying the mRNA sequence that allows them to associate, identifying any other proteins that may be involved in the interaction, and determining whether the 3' UTR sequence of the mis-spliced mRNA has a function similar to its function in the normal HTT mRNA by regulating its translation.
In addition to its own mRNA, the research team confirmed that Htt associates with other mRNA. This led them to hypothesise that Htt may regulate the transport and translation of mRNA that are vital to neuron survival. Upcoming studies by this group will focus on identifying the other mRNAs that associate with Htt and mutant Htt during translation, the function of Htt in these relationships and how it differs between the normal and mutant protein. 'In addition to investigating the nature of Htt protein – Htt mRNA interaction, we would like to identify other mRNAs selectively targeted by normal and mutant Htt protein.' Professor Tanese explains. 'We want to test the hypothesis that they have a role in the survival of neurons in the striatum, a brain region most susceptible to mutant Htt toxicity. We shall see what new direction the next discovery will take us.'
The team has uncovered novel roles for the normal and mutant Huntington's disease protein huntingtin in post-transcriptional gene regulation and translation in neurons. These novel functions have several implications for the development of Huntington's disease. Through understanding how Htt supports neurons with these novel functions, she and her team could reveal more accurate and effective pathways to target for Huntington's disease treatment development.
Professor Naoko Tanese
Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences
Director, Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences
Professor Naoko Tanese is a Professor of Microbiology, Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at New York University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree in Chemistry at the University of Chicago in 1981. She went on to obtain her masters and PhD in biochemistry at Columbia University. She continued her postdoctoral training in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkley. She then made the transition to quite a different field of research, and now focuses on transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulatory pathways with an emphasis on the role of the huntingtin protein in these pathways and its influence on Huntington's disease pathogenesis. In addition to her research, Professor Tanese is highly dedicated to student mentorship. In 2014, she was appointed Dean of the Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. Her responsibilities include recruiting prospective students to the graduate program and providing oversight in the PhD training process.
E: tanesn01@med.nyu.edu
W: www.med.nyu.edu/microbiology-parasitology/faculty/tanese-labmicrobiology
National Institutes of Health Grant R01 NS061917
CHDI Foundation, Inc.
Dunah AW, Jeong H, Griffin A, Kim Y-M, Standaert DG, Hersch SM, Mouradian MM, Young AB, Tanese N, Krainc D, Sp1 and TAFII130 transcriptional activity disrupted in early Huntington's disease, Science, 2002, 296, 2238–43.
Savas, JN, Makusky A, Ottosen S, Baillat D, Then F, Krainc D, Shiekhattar R, Markey SP, Tanese N, Huntington's disease protein contributes to RNA-mediated gene silencing through association with Argonaute and P-bodies, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2008, 105, 10820–5.
Savas JN, Ma B, Deinhardt K, Culver BP, Restituito S, Wu L, Belasco JG, Chao MV, Tanese N, A role for Huntington's disease protein in dendritic RNA granules, J. Biol. Chem., 2010, 285, 13142–53.
Culver BP, Savas JN, Park SK, Choi JH, Zheng S, Zeitlin SO, Yates III JR, Tanese N, Proteomic analysis of wild-type and mutant huntingtin associated proteins in mouse brains identifies unique interactions and involvement in protein synthesis, J. Biol. Chem., 2012, 287, 21599.
Culver BP, DeClercq J, Dolgalev I, Yu M-S, Ma B, Heguy A, Tanese N, Huntington disease protein huntingtin co-purifies with its own mRNA in mouse brain, J Huntingtons Dis., 2016, 5, 39 –51.

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text:
Јокнам Илит () је град у Северном округу државе Израел. Налази се у брдовитом пределу доње Галилеје у подножју Кармелских планина, из њега се пружа поглед на долину Јизраел, удаљен је 21 km од Хаифе и 80 km од Тел Авива. Јокнам је познат под надимком израелско "стартап село", јер је његово високотехнолошко средиште окружено шумом и малим насељима.

Јокнам Илит је основан 1950. године, локална самоуправа постао је 1967, а град 2007. Налази се поред главних аутопутева државе - аутопута 70 и аутопута 6. Град је 2018. имао 23.311 становника.

Почевши од 1989. када је изабран нови градоначелник Симон Алфаси, економска структура Јокнам Илита се потпуно променила, од зависности о две велике фабрике у разноврсну групу многих малих високотехнолошких компанија. Како су број и величина компанија расли, Јокнам и мала насеља око њега почели су да привлаче младе предузетнике и програмере који су тражили мање урбану алтернативу подручју Тел Авива. Данас броји преко 100 високотехнолошких компанија, чији је извоз око 5 милијарди америчких долара годишње.

Политика општине је изградња пространих кућа, које нису густо збијене, како би се очувао пејзаж и поглед из сваког дома. Иако су цене некретнина ниске у поређењу са облашћу Тел-Авива, његова висока стопа раста последњих година је допринела повећању цена некретнина брже него у градовима сличне величине.

Историја

Јокнам је забележен на списку од 119 градова које је освојио египатски фараон Тутмос III након победе у Бици код Мегида (1469. п. н. е.).

Јокнам се спомиње у хебрејској Библији као град Левита на територији израелског Зевулуновог племена. Налази се у близини Тел Мегида (Армагедон). Крсташи су Јокнам назвали "Каин Монс", или "Маунт`н оф Каин", у складу са традиционалним веровањем да је Каин, син Адамов, био убијен на овом месту.

Јокнам је био насељен током персијског, хеленистичког, римског / византијског, арапског, крсташког, мамелучког и османског доба.

На месту Јокнама налазило се палестинско арапско село звано Кира, напуштено пред почетак Арапско-израелског рата (1948).

Јокнам Мошава је основана 1935. Јула 1950. основан је и шаторски логор (маабара) у коме је смештено 250 нових имигрантских породица, и који је био део Јокнам Мошаве све до 1967. До почетка 1952, још 400 нових породица је смештено у шаторски логор. Крајем 1951. године, првих 285 породица преселило се из шаторског логора у стално насеље на брду изнад Јокнам Мошаве. 1952. године Јокнам је сматран необичним по томе што је имао јединствену школу за све, без обзира да ли су били верници или секуларни Јевреји, или из мошаве или шаторског логора.

Јокнам је 1964. године имао 4.300 становника, од којих је 160 породица живело у мошави. Године 1967. Јокнам је подељен на два локална савета (Јокнам и Јокнам Илит).

Током осамдесетих година у Јокнаму су постојале две фабрике, које су запошљавале 90% становника. Једна је пропала и незапосленост је значајно порасла створивши озбиљан проблем становницима града.

Деведесетих година Јокнам је примио велики талас имиграната из Етиопије и бившег Совјетског Савеза. За то време, индустријски паркови Јокнама постали су магнет за високотехнолошке компаније.

Јокнам Илит је званично проглашен градом 2006. Године 2009. Јокнам је повезан са израелским Аутопутем 6) и такође је у глобалном такмичењу "Такмичење чиста технологија" () добио признање "зелени град", чиме је постао први израелски град који је добио то признање. Ова два догађаја су значајно појачала привлачност Јокнама као центра за привредна друштва која се баве медицинским, чистим технологијама и развојем производа.

2011. године око 16.000 радника је било запослено у индустријским парковима Јокнама. Од укупног броја запослених само 4.000 су били локални становници.

Демографија
Јокнам је 31. децембра 2014. године, имао 21.100 становника са густином насељености од 2.576,5. Стопа незапослености била је 5 одсто, што је ниже од националног просека. Медијална старост у области Јокнама је 32. Док је 76% становника Јокнам Илита старо 40 година или млађе. Осамдесет процената средњошколаца у Јокнаму дипломира са сертификатом о матури, једном од највиших стопа у Израелу. Становници Јокнама који су завршили колеџ чине 40% становништва.

Друштвени и економски екосистем

Од педесетих година 20. века када су Јокнам Мошава и Јокнам Илит делили заједничку школу, друштвена интеграција и суживот су саставни део локалне културе. Први талас досељеника који су се населили у маабару (шаторски логор) највећим делом потиче од јеврејских заједница из 6 различитих земаља (Ирана, Ирака, Курдистана, Румуније, Јемена и Индије), сви они су насељени у Мошаву коју су 1935. године населили Јевреји из Немачке и Холандије.

Следећи талас нових имиграната уследио је 1960-их из северне Африке, а 70-их следе имигранти из Совјетског Савеза. Деведесетих година 20. века Јокнам Илит је примио велики број имиграната из Етиопије и бившег Совјетског Савеза.

Почевши од деведесетих година 20. века, раст високотехнолошких компанија у Јокнам Илиту донео је и прилив становника рођених у Израелу заједно са све већим бројем имиграната из западне Европе, Јужне Африке, Северне и Јужне Америке. Током овог периода, економски проблеми у кибуцима и мошавима довели су до тога да се многе младе породице из оближњег Регионалног савета Мегидо преселе у Јокнам Илит.

Убрзана потражња за дневном боравком и вртићима у Јокнам Илиту довела је до недостатка простора у локалним вртићима и дневним боравцима, а истовремено је било и недостатка деце у неким од кибуца. Како не би слали своју децу у друга мања насеља у том подручју, дечји вртићи у кибуцима почели су да прихвају децу из оближњег Јокнам Илита, па је у неким случајевима број деце из Јокнам Илита вишеструко био већи од деце из кибуца. Овај феномен се касније проширио и на основне и средње школе све док изградња нових школа у Јокнам Илиту није успела да задовољи потребе у граду.

Многа деца из Јокнам Илита и њихове породице остала су у школском систему Мегида, док су породице које су прешле из Мегида у Јокнам Илит школовале своју децу у школском систему Јокнам Илита. Породичне везе и школска пријатељства довели су до тога да су створена мешовита Јокнам-Мегидо удружења родитеља у оба насеља и скоро све спортске активности и многе друге активности након школовања потпуно су интегрисане. Данас је изузетно ретко пронаћи локални тим који представља само Јокнам Илит или само Регионално веће Мегидо.

Програм Партн`ршипТуГед`р (), који је удружио Јокнам Илит и Регионално веће Мегида на израелској страни, са јеврејским заједницама из Атланте и Сент Луиса, са америчке стране, помогао је институционализацији сарадње између општине Јокнам Илит и Регионалног савета Мегида. Утицај на заједничко вођство заједнице није утицао само на Јокнам-Мегидо, већ је створио и стални однос између јеврејских заједница Атланте и Сент Лоуиса.

Ово "унакрсно опрашивање" довело је до интегрисаног економског екосистема који подржава високо технолошке компаније у Јокнам Илиту Примери ове сарадње могу се видети у активностима југоисточног огранка Привредне коморе САД-Израел у Атланти и успеху компанија попут Гив`н Имеџинг ().  Гив`н Имеџинг, који је почео као мали стартуп у Јокнам Илиту, искористио је свој посебан однос са југоисточним огранком Америчко-израелске привредне коморе када је отворио седиште за маркетинг у Атланти.

Економија

Чињеница да је Јокнам близу два главна универзитета (Техниону — Изрелском технолошком институту и Универзитету у Хаифи), да се налази на раскрсници између северног Израела и главних урбаних подручја Тел Авива и Јерусалима, постојање пореских олакшица и инвестиционих грантова што је повезано са његовим статусом "Националног приоритетног подручја А", као и да је окружен малим градовима и да су трошкови становања нижи, заједно су допринели стварању највеће концентрације компанија посвећених истраживању и развоју изван Тел-Авива и дали му надимак стартап село Јокнам.

Према израелском закону о подстицању капиталних инвестиција, предузећа у Јокнам Илиту којима је то одобрено уживају највиши ниво пореских олакшица и грантова (тренутно до 20% инвестиције или 10-годишње ослобођење од пореза). Поред тога, компаније које се преселе у овај регион могу поднети захтев локалној самоуправи Јокнам Илита за ослобађање од плаћања локалних пореза током трогодишњег периода.

У Јокнамовим индустријским парковима послује више од 100 високотехнолошких компанија, а њихов извоз износи око 5 милијарди америчких долара годишње. Компаније се баве великим бројем различитих делатности, укључујући биотехнологију, производњу полупроводника, лекове и медицинских уређаја. Неке од њих су: Intel, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Medtronic, Given Imaging, Naiot Venture Accelerator, Mellanox Technologies, Marvell Technology Group, Biosense Webster и Lumenis. Већ је у току изградња додатног високотехнолошког парка, који се зове "Мево Кармел јеврејско-арапски индустријски парк", који ће бити заједничко предузеће Јокнам Илита, Регионалног већа Мегидо и друских села Далијат ал-Кармел и Исфија.

Раст високотехнолошких компанија у Јокнаму привукао је предаваче и чланове специјализованих професија, попут техничких писаца, да дођу из других делова Израела како би се упознали и размењивали идеје.

Поред индустрије засноване на технологији, Јокнам има низ производних погона, укључујући погон Осема (прехрамбена индустрија), који је 1974. основао фабрику у Јокнаму; и винарију продавницу "Винарија Морад", познату по својим специјалним винима од нара, маракује, црвеног грејпа, кафе, кокоса и многих других воћа. У почетку је фабрика производила углавном производе од тестенине, али је асортиман временом проширен. У 1997. години, постројење је удвостручено и постављене су три производне линије за пециво, као што су крекери, кекс, колачићи и переце. Бамба, популарна израелска верзија смокија, такође се производи у Јокнаму. Многи становници Јокнама запослени су у фабрици, која је због својих атрактивних просторија освојила награду коју додељује "Веће за леп Израел".

Високотехнолошке компаније
Преко сто високотехнолошких компанија има седиште у Јокнаму или у њему има постројења за истраживање и развој (). Неке од њих су:

Стартапи
Неке од стартап компанија су продате за велике износе, неки од примера су недавна БиТиЏи−ова () аквизиција Галил Медикала () у износу од 110 милиона долара, Амазоново () преузимање компаније Анапурна Лабс () за пријављених 350–375 милиона долара, ИЗиЧип Семикондактор () је продат компанији Меланок Технолоџиз () за пријављених 811 милиона долара, затим Ковидиенова () куповина из 2014. Гив`н Имеџинга () за пријављених 860 милиона долара, Интел () је 2005. године откупио Оплус Технолоџиз Инк. () за скоро 50 милиона долара, а Марвел () је 2000. преузео компанију Галилео Технолоџи Лтд. () за 2,7 милијарди долара у акцијама. Поред ових преузимања, Луменис () се недавно спојио са подружницом кинеске ЕксАјОу групе () за пријављених 510 милиона долара.

Технолошки инкубатори
Како број хај-тек (високотехнолошких) компанија у Јокнаму расте, технолошки инкубатори су започели отварање или пресељење у Јокнам, а сваки од њих се специјализовао за различите врсте технологија.

Паркови и рекреација
Јокнам је веома зелен град. Не само у смислу еколошког активизма, већ и у физичком окружењу. Отприлике две трећине земљишта унутар Јокнамових градских граница представља зелени простор (паркови, археолошке ископине, баште, игралишта). Има пет великих јавних паркова, амфитеатар на отвореном и преко 80 игралишта распоређених по целом граду. Тел Јокнам, који садржи рушевине крсташке цркве и њен замршени водоводни систем, користи се као место едукације где деца из Јокнама врше рестаурацију под руководством Управе за старине и Управе за националне паркове. Близу 13 километара бициклистичких стаза повезује све паркове и јавне просторе. Град је такође окружен "резерватом биосфере Рамот Менаш" (на територији регионалног већа Мегидо), који је тренутно у процесу да га Унеско призна као резерват биосфере.

Сваке године хиљаде Израелаца учествује у спортској манифестацији коју организује град Јокнам, трка у брзом ходању ("Шетња Јокнамом"), која је први пут организована 1991. и чија је популарност расла, па је 2013. број учесника достигао број од 35.000. Манифестација се одвија у пролеће, са кратком рутом од 6 km и дужом трасом од 11 km кроз брда и долине које окружују Јокнам. Јокнамска трка у брзом ходању за 2014. годину организована је 17. април 2014. године.

Саобраћај
Јокнам се налази на раскрсници израелских аутопутева аутопута 70 и аутопута 6, који повезују све делове Израела са Тел Авивом и Јерусалимом. Једна од главних станица нове железничке линије, која је у функцији од 2016. године, од јорданске границе до луке Хаифа, налази се на само 5 минута од високотехнолошких паркова Јокнама. Јокнам је удаљен 20–25 минута од Аеродрома Хаифа и 12 минута од војног аеродрома Рамат Давид, за коју се извештава да ће највероватније бити локација на којој ће се наћи нови међународни аеродром који ће допуњавати аеродром Бен Гурион.

Аутобуске услуге у Јокнаму пружају 3 аутобуске компаније. Супербас () пружа услугу градског превоза у Јокнаму и међуградски превоз са линијама до Хаифе и Афуле. Супербас такође вози ноћне аутобуске линије (укључујући петком увече) до Хаифе, Кирјат Тивона и Рамат Јишаја. Све аутобуске станице су доступне хендикепираним особама. Егед и Натив Екпрес пружају услугу међуградског превоза на експрес линијама до Тел Авива, Бнеј Брака и Јерусалима.

У шопинг центру на источном улазу у Јокнам Илит налази се такси стајалиште за такси превоз.

Општина Јокнам Илит подстиче употребу бицикала у граду. Тренутно има 13 км бициклистичких стаза које повезују све јавне паркове и зграде.

Образовање

Јокнам издваја 42% свог буџета за образовање. С обзиром да је 75% студената положило државне испите зрелости и да је стопа одустајања само 0,8%, Јокнам Илит је неколико последњих година награђиван Националном наградом за образовање и Регионалном наградом за образовање. Предшколско од 3. године живота бесплатно је у Јокнам Илиту већ 20 година.

Општина Јокнам развила је посебан однос са јеврејским заједницама Атланте и Сеинт Луиса, при чему све три заједнице заједно раде на стварању програма за премошћавање јаза између заједница и култура, као и пружању једнаких могућности свим ученицима.

Министарство заштите животне средине је многим јокнамским вртићима и основним школама доделило "зелену ознаку" због начина на који су интегрисали проучавање животне средине у локални наставни план и програм. Од трећег до шестог разреда ученици основних школа проведу читаву недељу кад су на школском распусту у градском Музеју науке.

Генерал који је на челу директората за људске ресурсе израелске војске, недавно је доделио граду посебну награду за изврсност због постизања степена одзива у војску од 87%, као и осмог највишег степена регрутовања у елитне јединице и одзива на курсеве за официре у целом Израелу.

Готово је завршена изградња новог образовног кампуса, који ће располагати образовном инфраструктуром од вртића до средње школе и која ће елиминисати прелазе који утичу на животе ученика. Кампус ће имати спортске дворане, дневне боравке, вртиће, основне и средње школе, те академске курсеве пре одласка у војску.

Поред чињенице да се Јокнам налази у близини Техниона (23,8 км), Универзитета у Хаифи (22 км) и академског факултета Ораним (7,5 км), Јокнам има подружницу Отвореног универзитета за основне и мастер студије. Општина тренутно покушава ову ситуацију додатно да побољша, радећи са главним универзитетима с циљем да их убеди да отворе огранке у Јокнаму.

Култура

Становници Јокнам Илита страствени су посетиоци позоришта, којих у Јокнаму постоје три. То су Градско позориште у Јокнаму (475 седишта),, позориште Тарбута (200 седишта) и аматерско позориште МиксАрт.

Израелске најпознатије позоришне групе долазе да наступају у Градском позоришту у Јокнаму, које ради 6 дана у недељи. Комплети карата за 8 различитих представа годишње најпознатијих позоришних група Израела, нарасла је од једног дана недељно на пет како би се сместила сва публика која броји преко 2.000 људи, односно 10% становништва града. Позориште такође нуди два комплета карата за децу, за које има укупно 600 претплатника, један за узраст 3–6 и други за узраст од 6 до 10 година. Посебни комплет карата под имено "Фринџ" има 200 претплатника за појединце или мале позоришне групе и нетрадиционалне позоришне представе. Нискобуџетне и субвенционисане представе за које се не продају комплети карата, укључују наступе на јидишу које изводи позоришна група "Јидиш Шпил", догађаје за етиопску заједницу, дечије концерте и анимацијско позориште. Јеврејска федерација субвенционише претплату за дечије позориште за чланове етиопске заједнице како би смањила трошкове детета у пратњи једног родитеља на 100 шекела (приближно 30 $) за цео комплет карата. Локална уметничка гилда користи позориште за приказ уметничких дела домаћих и страних уметника.

Породични центар за оснаживање такође води драмско терапијску групу за етиопске жене која наступа на хебрејском и амхарском језику. Током летњих месеци, музичари из целог Израела наступају у отвореном Амфитеатру.

МиксАрт је аматерски студио основан 2017. под покровитељством градског "Одељења за апсорпцију" Јокнама и изводи представе на руском и хебрејском језику. До данас ова група нема своју сцену.

Много је плесних представа које се одржавају у кибуцу Ејн ХаШофету, у непосредној близини Јокнама. Једна од највећих израелских филмских кућа, Јес Планет () је удаљена од града само 15 минута.

Јокнам Илит нема барове и пабове. Млади људи који желе више од вина или пива у ресторану или кафићу одлазе у оближњи Рамат Јишај.

Религија
Јокнам је познат по својој верској толеранцији, многе проширене породице из града се састоје од мешавине секуларних и верских Јевреја. Упркос својој малој величини, Јокнам Илит је етнички разнолик град, са имигрантима из свих делова света и њиховим потомцима и многим активним синагогама, а свака има свој посебан карактер.

Спорт

Јокнам има две затворене кошаркашке дворане (Спортски центар Дахари и Спортски центар Хапоел), Тениски савез, нови кантри клуб који има базене на отвореном и затвореном, додатни јавни базен, и фудбалски терен под управом спортског друштва Хапоел, које је врло активно са децом школског узраста. Локални тимови се такмиче у кошаркашкој, фудбалској, бејзбол и ватерполо лиги, као и на бициклистичким тркама. Затворени кошаркашки терен у Хапоелу има 500 места, док на фудбалском терену на отвореном има 200 места.

Регија Јокнам-Мегидо има две бејзбол екипе које представљају своје сестринске градове (Атланта Брејвс и Сент Луис Кардиналс). Ове екипе су учествовале на многим турнирима: Јр Макабија Гејмс, европским турнирима и израелским јуниорским олимпијским играма, где су освојили бронзану медаљу. Један од локалних кибуца је поклонио земљу потребну за изградњу новог бејзбол / софтбол стадиона у сарадњи са "Израелским софтбол савезом" и "Јеврејским националним фондом". Израелски софтбол савез помаже у покретању "посебног програма образовања" за породице у окружењу. У сезони 2012-2013, Јокнам је имао играча који је ушао у састав јуниорског националног тима и који је тог лета путовао у Данску.

Почев од 2012. године, 12 младих из Далијат ал-Кармела почело је да учествује у недељном програму заједничког живота у Израелском тениском центру у оквиру школе тениса коју финансира Фреди Кривајн Фондација ().

Први "зелени град" Израела

Израелско Министарство заштите животне средине (одељење задужено за Клинтех) је 2009. године граду Јокнам Илит доделило награду за укупну стратегију заштите и неговања зелених површина и подстицања еколошке свести и образовања. Поново је му је 2014. године додељена награда "Зелени град", када су мерени параметри обухватали: енергетску ефикасност, смањење емисије гасова са ефектом стаклене баште, рециклирање и одвајање отпада, воду и канализацију, еколошку "зелену" градњу, јавне баште, образовање о животној средини, лепота града, еколошка "зелена" трговина и индустрија, брига о јавним градским површинама и природи, као и управљање градом.

Град има свој одбор за заштиту животне средине који је одговоран за дефинисање и спровођење свеобухватне стратегије за унапређење квалитета живота и заштите животне средине. Стратегија наглашава: плански развој, управљање животном средином, образовни програми заштите животне средине, одржавање чистоће града, управљање узроцима и последицама и очување енергије и воде. Активно промовише шетњу и употребу бицикала за превоз, а све аутобуске станице су доступне хендикепираним лицима.

Јокнам Илит са својих 500 дунума јавних паркова и 50 m² по особи отвореног простора у граду има 5 пута већу површину предвиђену у ове сврхе од минимално препоручене за урбано планирање. Поред годишње "Шетње Јокнамом", која привлачи хиљаде учесника, Јокнам блиско сарађује са Израелским националним фондом (Керен Кајемет) на даљем унапређењу заштите природе.

Јокнам Илит једна је од 31 општине која раздваја смеће на извору, а такође има и центре за одвајање отпада који су дистрибуирани широм града. Дренажни системи добро раде и складиште воду за поновну употребу у градским парковима и баштама. Град такође користи компјутеризовани систем за наводњавање како би уштедео воду и постигао оптималне резултате. Канализација се третира у постројењима за пречишћавање воде која се налазе у оближњем Кирјат Тивону.

Као део посвећености града Јокнама прихватању зелене енергије, ускоро ће постати један од прва два града на северу Израела у коме ће саобраћати електрични аутобуси.

Општина улаже и време и новац у одржавање природних лепота својих зелених површина. Њени грађевински прописи постали су строжи и "зеленији" како се повећавала тражња за становима. Тренутно се гради "зелени кварт", што подразумева еколошко осветљење, наводњавање и управљање отпадом. Истовремено, општина је активно радила на томе да старије четврти учини привлачнијим.

Град води радионице о управљању заштитом животне околине, док јеврејски имигранти из Етиопије воде програм подучавања и очувања традиционалних метода пољопривреде. Образовање је дефинисано као "зелено", при чему су еколошке студије уграђене у наставни план и програм.

Општински буџет и управљање финансијама
Током година, општина Јокнам је освајала финансијске награде за правилно управљање, које су уложене у градске службенике и побољшања на локалном нивоу. Општина је приватизовала низ услужних делатности, укључујући градско зеленило, одвоз смећа и наплата пореза, што је резултирало значајним уштедама које су усмерене у реинвестирање. Годишњи буџет града од 112 милиона шекела је уравнотежен и прикупља се од 95% становника и 97% предузетника и предузећа.

Општински буџет за 2014. годину је износио 135.889.000 шекела.

Медији
У граду постоји једна радио станица, Радио Кол Рега 96.фм, и пет локалних (хебрејских) новина које редовно објављују вести о Јокнам Илиту.
 Зе Ма Јеш (То је оно што постоји)
 Кол Јокнам (Глас Јокнама)
 Кохав Јизраел (Звезда долине Јизраел)
 Хаир - Рацуи Вемацуи (Град - тражен и доступан)
 Индекс Хадашот (Индекс Вести)

Клима
Јокнам у просеку прими 650 милиметара падавина годишње због близине планине Кармел. Температуре су исте као и у осталим насељима у долини Јизраел. Зими се минималне температуре обично крећу од 1 - 7 °C. Температуре могу пасти и испод 0 °C када хладни ветрови стигну са севера са ведрим небом. Јутарња магла је честа у Јокнаму и широм долине Јизраел.

Лета у Јокнаму су врућа и сува, а максималне температуре достижу 32 - 39 °C. Од увођења метеоролошке станице, највиша забележена температура била је 40,3 °C и измерена је 7. августа 2010; а најнижа забележена температура била је 0,3 °C и измерена 15. децембра 2013.

До 50 cm снега је пало у Јокнам Илиту 1950, 1992, 1999. и 2000.

Рекордна количина падавина последњих година:
 2009-2010 552,9 mm (85% просека)
 2010-2011 486,9 mm (75% просека)
 2011-2012 575,8 mm (82% просека)
 2012-2013 668,1 mm (103% просека)

Збратимљени градови
Градови збратимљени с Јокнам Илитом су:

  Ла Гаран Коломб (Француска)
  Луго (Италија)
  Мјенјанг (Кина)
  Пожега (Хрватска)
  Сан Педро де Атакама (Чиле)
  Вил  (Немачка)

Референце

Спољашње везе

Partnership 2000 Yokneam-Megiddo
Regional Development Unit for Yokneam-Megiddo
Population figures from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics
The official Yokneam Illit municipality website
The news Yokneam Illit website
The football childrens yoqneam team website
Startup Village Yokneam site
 Arch. Eran Hamo, Tel Yoqne'am: Adopt a Tell, Israel Antiquities Site - Conservation Department

Градови у Израелу

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Sustainable brands for a positive change
In an era of growing consciousness and concern about the strain mass consumption is placing on the planet and its resources, we need more brands to be sustainable and maximise growth at the same time. Here we select for you our favourites of June. Get to know our sustainable wishlist for a positive change this month.
Charlotte by In-Grid
Why to buy: Made from 100% white sheer polka dot cotton with an under layer of 100% white English woven cotton, this garment is handmade in England by a skilled craftsmen and women. By keeping proximity to suppliers to its minimum, the brand is able to closely monitor the well-being of the individuals making its garments. The designer believes all designers and brands alike have a responsibility to produce the best garments with as little unnecessary damage to the planet as possible.
What we love: This brand is built on the principles of fine white shirts for women. Its values take hold and inhabit the very identity of this brand, they help shape its attitudes and inclinations within the design studio and help it to craft a beautiful yet quiet message for an over stimulated world.
Price: 1.214 € - £1,080
Shop it now: In-Grid
Albiva Luxury Skincare
Why to buy: Inspired by nature and powered by science, Albiva is a revolutionary luxury and organic skincare brand that goes beyond skincare and beauty to develop organic wellbeing products for the face and body. These next generation products are results driven, and have been designed to repair the effects of daily damage to the skin. Albiva prides itself on working with Gemmotherapy, an advanced branch of phytotherapy, using 31 active ingredients, 97% natural ingredients, 81% certified organic ingredients, 100% cruelty free and no plain water as a bulking agent/ filler.
What we love: Albiva's products are condensed' nutrient-dense formulations made without fillers, chemicals and synthetic compounds. They contain many ingredients delivered at the highest levels of concentration. Active ingredients are added using cold processing technology to ensure all ingredients retain maximum effectiveness. They are unisex and suitable for all skin types. We also love that Albiva is one of the few cosmetics brands with a packaging that is not plastic coated. This is one of the most difficult challenges of the cosmetics industry. Our recommendation of the month is the ECM Advanced Repair Lift & Firm Moisturiser.
Price: 185 € - £165 | Shop it now: Albiva
Guayarmina Dress by Wiwi
Why to buy: Wiwi is an ethical and sustainable fashion project born of the commitment to the environment and a dream to create beautiful, durable and sustainable garments that respect nature and people. The designs and manufacturing methods intend to generate a positive social impact and offer people the possibility of dressing in an ethical, aesthetic and sustainable way. The company looks for the best European fabrics to create exclusive, unique and durable garments that respect nature and people.
What we love: The Guayarmina dress is made of Oeko-Tex Certificated linen cultivated and woven in France. Designed and made in Galicia (Spain), Wiwi is a slow fashion brand that produces locally and creates decent work. They are Zero Waste (with the remnants that they obtain, they make the accessories of the collection –belts and bows–).
Price: 160 € - $ 180 USD
Shop it now: Wiwi
Arousa Eco Shirt
Why to buy: This 100% organic cotton shirt certified by GOTS boasts a basic garment aspect that makes it last over time. Versatile and timeless, the shirt has been designed, manufactured and embroidered locally in Galicia. Its denim look makes it perfect to combine with a wide range of colors and styles. It is a modern and flattering garment that can be worn as a shirt or overshirt, with pants, legging...
What we love: Xiro clothing, besides being 100% organic, is made a few kilometers away from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia). It is a small workshop located in the middle of a rural environment. Proximity production not only supports the creation of employment and fair working conditions in Europe, it also helps to reduce the emission of CO2 caused by the thousands of kilometers traveled by the goods for transport.
Price: 82€ / $92
Shop it now: The Circular Project
Sneakers Wayz
Why to buy: Ethically made in Porto (Portugal) the sneakers Wayz are 100% made using recycled and biodegradable materials. The brand, actually in crowdfunding campaign, will display on their website the real cost of each shoe, including materials, labour and packaging costs. In addition, Wayz funds solutions to help socially vulnerable and homeless people (1% of the sales will be donated to a local NGO, SAOM).
What we love: Wayz's first collection has 4 models (16 different styles) made of recycled and biodegradable premium materials. Upper and lining are made out of Biocouro, a biodegradable and hypoallergenic cow leather and RPET (recycled plastic). The outsole is made of recycled rubber. Wayz has launched its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, with shoe sizes from 36 to 46 in 4 models and 16 different styles. The launching price is 89€ for those who have subscribed to their newsletter on the website. That is 44% off the future retail price (160€).
Price: 95 € / $106 USD | Shop it now: Wayz
elliot footwear sneakers
Why to buy: Taking sustainability to a whole new level, elliot footwear is reinventing the footwear industry by creating a sleek, 100% cruelty-free sneakers aiming to create a climate positive impact. Made with vegan-friendly fabrics, one pair of elliott footwear helps the planet by removing 1 metric tonne of co2 emissions.
What we love: These vegan sneakers are a must-have for climate change warriors. Every pair of elliott footwear is made with upcycled fabrics protected with 100% eco-friendly nano coating and are produced and manufactured in the European Union to ensure fair conditions for the workers.
Price: 70 € - 195 € | $89 - $220 USD
Shop it Now: elliot footwear
Ugly Studios T-shirts
Why to buy: Ugly Studios plays on the idea of the fashion industry being "UGLY" – the fashion industry is the most polluting industry in the world, second only to oil. They want to turn the ugly industry on its head and create clothing that is "clean and beautiful" at every stage of its production, from the sourcing of raw materials and manufacture to the finished product, and challenge those traditional ideas and conventions, without compromising on quality or design.
What we love: All the t-shirts in the collection are carbon neutral, made from GOTs certified organic cotton and manufactured in a factory that uses renewable energy & ensures safe and ethical working conditions in accordance to the Fair Wear Foundation. They are donating 10% from each t-shirt to the charity Plastic Oceans UK. The brand uses its design and branding to make a statement against fast fashion and temporary clothing. They've create a 'Care Label' tee that brings the information you'd usually find hidden on the inside to the forefront of the design.
Price: 44 € / $50 USD / £40 | Shop it now: Ugly Studios
tom àdam boxer shorts
Why to buy: These boxer shorts have been sewn from premium quality Italian shirt fabric with a small twist from tailored trousers. The swim shorts are produced with a concern for the environment – recycled Ocean plastic is used making the fabric, combined with Japanese snap buttons. They are the perfect fit to take a dip in the Ocean and after, head straight for an aperitivo. In production of the briefs modal is used. The production of this fabric requires 20 times less water than cotton making it the ideal fabric for the underwear collection, as sustainability and ethics are at the core of this brand.
What we love: tom àdam was born in 2015 in Paris with a raison d'être of creating men's underwear and swim shorts that allow ethics and aesthetics to co-exist. It is a family business. Above all, it's a story of friendship between the creative designer Tom & his dad. Finding a balance between natural textures and earthy colors, to make you love whatever you do and let you be yourself wherever you are.
Price: 35€ - 150€ / $39 - $168
Shop it now: tom àdam
Luxiders Magazine Print #2
Why to buy: The first sustainable luxury magazine made of waste (recycled paper) aspires to expand the responsible consumption worldwide, building a culture of respect, with positive effects on the economy, society and the environment by reducing poverty, hunger, pollution, climate change and inequalities and increasing well-being, justice and peace. Issue #2 invites you to take a deep dive into the big blue, our oceans, and learn how to save them by doing little things. It also gives you the antidote to overtourism and explains why veganism is on the rise or introduce you to Zero Waste pioneers and Design Futurism Innovators, and much more...
What we love: Luxiders Magazine Issue 2 is a real labour of love. Each word, each image, each garment featured has been carefully selected to embrace your soul and take it to a better comfort zone, where sublime imperfections disrupt the established codes. It is all about emancipation from common-sense, for the good of our future.
Price: 12€- $13 USD | Shop it now: Luxiders Shop
Helsinki Fashion Week promises an inspired sustainable narrative
A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe


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A Twitter employee in his early 40s who earns $160,000 says it is a "pretty bad" income for raising a family in the Bay Area. The biggest cost is his $3,000 rent – which he said was "super cheap" for the area – for a two-bedroom house in San Francisco, where he lives with his wife and two kids. He'd like a bigger house but groups of young people are happy to pay up to $2,000 for a single room in a shared house and this makes prices higher for everyone.
"Families cannot afford to live here," he said. He also said that cafés that welcome families and restaurants are closing and there are "hip coffee shops" instead. Silicon Valley's most recent tech boom, combined with not enough houses, has caused rents to soar in the last five years. The city's rents are now the highest in the world.


You can contact Double Glazing Sheffield to give you advice on the best solution to your locks problem. Double Glazing Sheffield has been providing time-tested and efficient window locks solutions for decades. At times a key might not turn or go all the way in and this could be due to wear and tear, the handles being forced up or it could be a case of the windows and the frames not fitting in properly.
Just like cameras and alarms, an efficient locking system is a major boost to the security of your home. We offer a wide variety of double glazed window locks in Sheffield and they come in different designs.To repair your damaged lock'we will first'examine all possible faults'before presenting an appropriate lock solution.
We offer an asbestos survey and give your double glazed windows a brand new lock to make them more effective. We handle the overseeing of the planning for you so you don't have to worry about it. Instead of calling just the locksmith to solve your window lock concerns, contact Double Glazing Sheffield to take control of the whole process for you.
As a name to reckon with, Double Glazing Sheffield is professionally equipped to'provide double glazed window solutions. The size as well as the strength of the lock that you will need will be hinged on the size and weight of your window.Sometimes, key locks are not convenient to operate although they can allow for more discreet window installations.
Often, burglars are reluctant to break windows to avoid drawing attention to themselves. Even in cases whereby the window glass is shattered, Double Glazing Sheffield double glazing locks will'help the window'retain its whole form.Intruders will'be deterred from entering your property once they discover you have'secure window locks,'due to'the risk'of'injury from the'broken glass that smashing a window would cause.
We advise you to install toughened laminate glass if you are thinking about replacement windows As Double Glazing Sheffield can attest, breaking glass that has been toughened and laminated is quite a challenge. Window locks could help to avoid the chances of your children being involved in the most dangerous accidents at home.
We can handle your damaged locks here at Double Glazing Sheffield. We can repair your window lock in no time and with extreme efficiency since we have the most advanced Sheffield Double Glazed locks.
Call Sheffield locksmiths if you are looking for swift, inexpensive, consistent, and professional locksmith services. Consult our'Double Glazing Sheffield locksmiths for a free estimate. So pick up the phone and call us on 0114 437 2428!.


As we all know, KIIAN ink is a famous ink brand in Italy. At this time in Berlin, Germany, we also saw KIIAN's exhibits.
How to select sublimation ink?
Many people ask me about how to select sublimation inks? thermal sublimation printing applications are very broad, especially in the rapid development of the domestic thermal sublimation pictorial technology.
What we need to do if sublimation ink clogging your printer head?
if you meet sublimation ink clogging your print head, what you need to do?
Do you know the best way to store sublimation ink like epson ink?
Subtextile CO.,LTD can supply all kinds of sublimation ink,like EPSON ink, MIMAKI ink, PAPIJET ink, KIIAN ink, INKTEC ink and so on ,welcome to consult.
We are one-stop of sublimation transfer printing supplier. we can offer sublimation paper,sublimation printer, sublimation ink and system solution.
Sublimation ink warehouse we save enough, waiting your order.
The kind of sublimation Ink: KIIAN , EPSON, INKTEC, J-TECK and so on.
The warehouse is full of enough goods.
How to save the Dye sublimation ink?
Sublimation ink is very expensive during the printing ! How to save the sublimation ink is the key to make profit during the sublimation transfer printing ?


We're trying to use this plugin to send text messages on an iPhone. The CheckSMSPlugin action returns True and the same application works fine on Android but on an iPhone we get the error message in the title. Does this plugin not support iOS devices or are we just using it wrong?
This Plugin only works for Android.
I thought the description was updated but it seems that i haven't updated the Plugin description.
Ok, thanks. Do you know of any that do work on iOS?
Sms plugin is unavailable. how do I make available?
Nonopha, Cordova Plugins are not availble on PC you need to use a Mobile Device!
This is how the logic and actual Preview works.
Thank you Very much:-). I'm new at this. Still tying to figure things out.


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AOC Suggests Smash-And-Grab Robberies Aren't Happening, Despite Recent Videos
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) received a fair share of criticism following comments in which she suggested smash-and-grab robberies, some of which have been captured on video, aren't actually happening.
In an interview with the Washington Times, AOC claimed "a lot of these allegations of organized retail theft are not actually panning out."
"I believe it's a Walgreens in California cited it, but the data didn't back it up," she added.
Walgreens announced this past October they were closing five stores in San Francisco due to an uptick in "organized retail crime" in the Democrat-dominated city.
RELATED: Walgreens To Close Stores In Democrat-Run San Francisco After Rise In 'Organized Retail Crime'
AOC: Smash-and-Grab Robberies Aren't Happening
Walgreens spokesperson Phil Caruso made an announcement last month: "Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco, and we are not immune to that."
He added, "Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average."
The spike in organized theft and subsequent closings come despite the fact that Walgreens, according to Caruso, "increased our investments in security measures in stores across the city to 46 times our chain average."
A video surfaced over the summer showing retail theft at a San Francisco Walgreens in action.
"In June, a masked man was caught on video at a Walgreens, stuffing items into a trash bag before cruising out of the store on a bicycle," the Associated Press reported.
Videos of more sophisticated robbery attempts have surfaced more recently.
Even CNN, just two days ago, reported that "Retail stores across the country are dealing with a wave of robberies conducted by large groups of people."
The Washington Post noted that there has been a "spike" in "flash mob" robberies that have "shaken the retail industry" and is "traumatizing workers."
Walnut Creek, a city in California, saw smash-and-grab looters stealing about $125,000 in merchandise from a Nordstrom, leading to the city council approving $2 million in funds to increase police department and security.
RELATED: AOC Smears Justice Brett Kavanaugh With Claims He Was 'Credibly' Accused Of Sexual Assault
Lawmakers, Business Leaders Mock AOC Over Comments
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore, according to the Washington Times report, revealed that during one 10-day stretch in November the city experienced 11 crimes that would constitute the smash-and-grab variety.
The thefts involved methods "where groups of suspects, working in tandem, worked to steal from high-end clothing stores, often using weapons and physical force to overwhelm and intimidate store employees and other patrons," Moore stated.
In one instance, a security guard and former police officer was shot dead as he tried to protect a news crew that was reporting on the crimes. Perhaps AOC should speak to that officer's family and find out if the smash-and-grab robberies are real.
Republican lawmakers and business leaders mocked AOC for her comments.
"I don't know what data she is talking about," said Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), something that could be classified as an evergreen comment when it comes to Ocasio-Cortez.
Jason Brewer, RILA senior executive vice president of communications, was a little more detailed in his response via email.
"Respectfully, the Congresswoman has no idea what she is talking about. Both the data and stack of video evidence makes fairly clear that this is a growing problem in need of solutions," Brewer said.
"If she is not concerned with organized theft and increasingly violent attacks on retail employees, she should just say that."
Walgreens and Nordstrom aren't the only retailers combating a rise in crime in Democrat-run cities.
Target announced over the summer that they were cutting store hours in San Francisco to address the rise in shoplifting.
"With the safety of our guests, team members, and communities as our top priority, we've temporarily reduced our operating hours in six San Francisco stores," a spokesperson in July.
"For more than a month, we've been experiencing a significant and alarming rise in theft and security incidents at our San Francisco stores, similar to reports from other retailers in the area," Target said in a statement.
None of this is "actually panning out" according to AOC.
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Tags: Alexandria Ocasio CortezAOCCaliforniacrimeDemocratretailRobberySan Franciscosmash and grabstoreWalgreens


Sachi Kojima, Toshihiro Inoue, Nakashima Kei-Ichi, Ayako Fukushima, Hidenobu Tanihara; Short-term prospective investigation of filtering bleb by three dimensional anterior-segment optical coherence tomography. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2013;54(15):81.
Purpose: To quantify filtering bleb parameters using three dimensional anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (3D AS-OCT).
Methods: Prospective observational study. Patients who underwent trabeculectomy with mitomycin C were assessed 2 weeks and 3 months after trabeculectomy. At each visit, intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured and 3D AS-OCT images of the bleb were obtained. Total bleb height, fluid-filled cavity height, bleb wall thickness and bleb wall intensity were measured using custom software. Filtration openings in the 3D AS-OCT image were defined by pits and/or troughs in fluid-filled cavities in both horizontal and vertical rasters and corresponding C-scan images of scleral flap margin in the blebs, and the number and site of filtration opening were analyzed. The localizations of filtration openings were recorded as the distance between the top of the scleral flap and the filtration opening (TFD).
Results: Forty-three eyes of 43 subjects were examined. IOP were 10.1 ± 5.0 and 15.7 ± 8.9 mm Hg, total bleb heights were 0.84 ± 0.29 and 0.89 ± 0.42 mm, fluid-filled cavity heights were 0.35 ± 0.28 and 0.36 ± 0.30 mm, bleb wall thicknesses were 0.47 ± 0.25 and 0.51 ± 0.26 mm, bleb wall intensities were 166.6 ± 33.5 and 158.4 ± 39.0 optical density, numbers of filtration openings were 1.4 ± 0.6 and 1.1 ± 0.7, and TFDs were 1.9 ± 0.6 and 1.9 ± 0.6 mm in the right side and 1.9 ± 0.6 and 1.9 ± 0.5 mm in the left side at the visits 2 week and 3 months after trabeculectomy, respectively. IOP value was significantly increased (P <0.001), and number of filtration opening was significantly reduced (P = 0.025). Every bleb parameter at 2 weeks was positively correlated with that at 3 months after trabeculectomy. TFD at 2 weeks was also positively correlated with that at 3 months in both right and left sides (P = 0.032 and 0.005, respectively). Among all measured bleb parameters at 2 weeks, only bleb wall density and number of filtration openings were correlated with IOP at 3 months after trabeculectomy (P = 0.017 and 0.042, respectively).
Conclusions: 3D AS-OCT was useful to quantify time-dependent changes in bleb morphology after trabeculectomy. Bleb wall density and number of filtration openings at 2 weeks after trabeculectomy may be a prognostic factor of IOP at 3 months.


Some people assume that they live in a super safe neighborhood that will never experience crime. This is not the safest mentality to have, however. At any time, a criminal can break into the home of a neighbor or yourself and shatter that image. Read these tips for home security ideas.
Protect your spare key by using your dog. This can be done if your dog can come outside. Latch the key on his collar and voila–you have a spare key available!
Carefully consider where you hide your outside spare key. Doormats and door frames are predictable places that burglars will always check. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.
Consider changing your locks as a part of your home security program. Whether an old roommate left or a relationship ended, changing your locks is a good idea. It does not cost much, and can be handled very quickly.
Rather than leaving your door unlocked at night and assuming that you will always remain safe, take the steps to protect yourself and your family. You do not have to secure a home security system, but be smart about your safety. Remember the tips in this article to secure your home.


text:
Bulls win to help Highlanders into playoffs
6:23 am on 16 June 2019
New Zealand will have four teams in the Super Rugby playoffs after the Bulls beat the Lions 48-27 in Pretoria.
Waisake Naholo. The Highlanders have scraped into the quarter-finals and will play the Crusaders in Christchurch. Photo: Photosport
The Bulls overcame an early scare to overwhelm their neighbours and seal their place in the quarter-finals.
The home side outscored the Lions by seven tries to two, despite going behind after 16 seconds.
The Highlanders needed the Lions to lose and not score any bonus points to stay in the top eight.
Also this morning the Sharks edged the Stormers 12-9 in Cape Town to ensure they'd be playing finals rugby.
Last night the Hurricanes came from behind to beat the Blues 29-24 in Wellington and the Brumbies outgunned the Reds 40-27 in Canberra.
In next week's quarter-finals - top qualifiers the Crusaders host the Highlanders, the Hurricanes host the Bulls, the Chiefs travel to Argentina's Jaguars and the Brumbies host the Sharks.
Having already qualified for the postseason, the 2016 champion Hurricanes fielded a B-team at the 'Cake-tin' and it showed in the first half as they went to the break 24-5 down.
But after coach John Plumtree activated some experienced substitutions, the Hurricanes roared home with three unanswered tries while keeping the Blues scoreless.
"It was a bit of a tale of two halves, that's for sure," said Hurricanes captain Dane Coles, who made his first start since mid-March following a prolonged injury battle.
"Proud of the effort of the lads... We can kick on into the quarter-finals next week."
Centre Peter Umaga-Jensen grabbed a try in each half, with playmaker Fletcher Smith and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere crossing after the break.
Plumtree was beaming through the second half rally, safe in the knowledge that regular first-five Beauden Barrett and a raft of rested stars will be fresh for the quarter-final.
For the Leon MacDonald-coached Blues, their 10th defeat was a fitting ending for another underwhelming season.
Despite another coaching shakeup in the offseason, the Blues finished bottom of the New Zealand conference with five wins and missed the playoffs for a ninth successive year.
The Brumbies conceded an early try in a slow start in Canberra but fired up after their skipper Christian Lealiifano was flattened 15 minutes in by a high tackle from Reds prop Taniela Tupou.
The 'Tongan Thor' was shown a yellow card and the referee cancelled a Reds try that came seconds after the tackle.
Reds enforcer Scott Higginbotham drew another yellow card after the half-time siren, only minutes after being injected when a groggy Lukhan Salakaia-Loto came off in the wake of a head-knock.
Andy Muirhead scored a try while Tupou was in the sin-bin, with Rory Arnold getting another while Higginbotham was off.
Lachlan McCaffrey, Tom Wright and Murray Douglas also crossed for the Brumbies, the only Australian team to qualify for the playoffs.
Bryce Hegarty, Duncan Paia'aua and Liam Wright scored the tries for the Reds, who finished fourth in the Australian conference with six wins and farewelled Japan-bound skipper Samu Kerevi.
"Obviously a dangerous game but I thought we turned up with a real nice mindset," said Lealiifano.
"I think there's still some improvement within us so we're pleased with how we're performing at the moment ... Hopefully we've got another few weeks left."
-RNZ/Reuters
Australia outclass Sri Lanka to go top of Cricket World Cup


BS.Player seems to be best choice for me so far, although I'm not sure is it supporting the feature I require.
I have LAN resource, where my movies are, let's say 192.168.1.1/Movies.
So I can see files there and that's great.
What is more, I can play them.
But subtitles from remote location (LAN mode) aren't loaded.
If so, could they have .txt extension?
I have now Asus Transformer Prime. Is there hardware support of it, since one MKV file was extremely lagging.
Also option to manually load subtitles from LAN will be implemented in the future.
The BSPlayer access well to the folder and reproduces the video. But the subtitles, even being into same address where the video is, cannot be "seen" by the BSPlayer and are not shown.
What is more...if I go to "search for online subtitles"...nothing happens.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE NAME OF THE SUBTITLES FILE.
There is any provisional solution for this situation, waiting for an update?
BSPlayer running on an Android based TVBox.


Cleaning Tank After Fish Death?
Discussion in 'Cleaning and Maintenance' started by Laudine, Apr 11, 2017.
A week ago my first betta suddenly died I really have no idea why he died. At first I thought it was a freak accident with heater, but now I'm not so sure. He may have been sick, since he was really lethargic a few days before passing.
I do want to get another betta someday, however, I'm not sure what is the best way to clean my tank?
I read several people recommended regular bleach to sanitize the tank, however, would that be safe to the fish? Or should I just use vinegar?
If I followed the article, would that be okay? I planned to rinse it 8-10 times and then overdose with prime just to be safe.
I have also boiled and cleaned my gravel with vinegar, is that enough?
I was going to say if you use bleach just fill it up with water dosed with prime, since its (I assume? ) a small tank you may be able to dunk the whole thing in a 5 gal bucket of water laced with bleach and then a bucket with prime laced water.
I am at work so I cant see that article but hopefully it tells you to use a dilute solution of bleach in water, 1 tablespoon per gallon is more than enough to kill anything, no need to use pure bleach.
I do not know if bleach affects silicone, so I would not let it soak for a long time in bleach, that is not needed either, it kills stuff fast.
Does your tank have a filter? Be sure to keep that moist so you dont kill your cycle. If you get everything back up and running and you wait to get a fish toss a bit of food in there to keep your cycle fed.
Hope that was helpful and all the best!
As for the bleach+silicone question, it won't be absorbed permantetly. A good rinse can help neutralize any left over, and in a short time, the bleach will evaporate anyhow into water and leave a chlorine salt (sodium hypochlorite) that can be rinsed away.
You can also clean the tank with vinegar, rinse well, and then let everything sit out dry for a week. That should kill most anything that might have been affecting your betta.
Thank you so much for your advice guys!
Yes my tank is 5 gal. I'll definitely do the bucket method, probably dip in bleach mix for 10-15 mins and then I'll rinse the whole thing like no tomorrow The article mentioned 9 parts water with 1 part regular bottled bleach, but I wasn't sure about the measurement per gallon. Glad to hear one tablespoon per one/two gal is enough, I'll make sure I'll do that.
Ah yes my tank has a sponge filter, but I foolishly let it dry ^^; I don't mind redoing the cycle again though!
I'll also clean my decors with vinegar, rinse em real good, and dry them for a week. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Thanks once again Fingers crossed my new betta will live a long, healthy life this time!
I used the 1TBS per gallon because that is a pretty standard dosage for disinfectant at places like restaurants. 30 sec to a minute should be more than enough to sanitize it. Dont use warm or hot water however, bleach breaks down/loses its effectiveness very quickly in hot water. In addition to a rinse I would suggest you dose that rinse water with prime, will make it easier to know its good and gone!
As for the vinegar smell you mentioned you boiled your rocks, vinegar smell is pretty volatile (I think thats the right word, I mean it evaporates into the air pretty easily), if you boil those rocks in water the smell should offgas pretty much instantly I would think.