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Booker introduces bill that would reshape livestock farming
By Leah Douglas, December 16, 2019
Sen. Cory Booker, who's seeking the Democratic nomination for president, today introduced new legislation that would reshape how livestock farming operates in the U.S. The Farm System Reform Act includes some changes that Booker and other legislators have proposed in the past, like a moratorium on new concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Other elements of the bill are new, like a plan to phase out large CAFOs in the next 20 years.
The bill was written in response to concerns heard by Booker and his staff from farmers and ranchers across the country, according to a senior Booker aide. As consolidation has reshaped the food system, and especially livestock production, producers say they are at a disadvantage in their dealings with massive meatpackers and they want a more level playing field.
Booker's bill would attempt to address those concerns by making meatpackers legally and financially responsible for the environmental and quality-of-life problems of large-scale livestock production. And it would alter some mechanics of how livestock are raised and sold to strengthen producers' hand in the marketplace.
"Our independent family farmers and ranchers are continuing to be squeezed by large, multinational corporations that, because of their buying power and size, run roughshod over the marketplace," Booker said in a press release. "We need to fix the broken system — that means protecting family farmers and ranchers and holding corporate integrators responsible for the harm they are causing. Large factory farms are harmful to rural communities, public health, and the environment and we must immediately begin to transition to a more sustainable and humane system."
Those large factory farms would cease to exist under Booker's bill. In addition to a moratorium on new or expanded large CAFOs, the bill would require the phase out of all large CAFOs by 2040 and subject any noncompliant entity to a $10,000 penalty "per violation, per day." Large CAFOs are defined in the bill as those with at least 1,000 cattle, 2,500 hogs, or 82,000 laying hens.
To assist farmers in making the transition away from large animal confinement, the bill would allocate $100 billion over 10 years to buy out farmers who wish to cease operating a large CAFO. The money could be used to pay off debt or fund a transition to other production systems, like pasture-based livestock farming or organic commodity production.
The bill would also change the Packers and Stockyards Act to address ranchers' concerns about how much power meatpackers have over livestock markets. It would eliminate the tournament system, in which meatpackers or poultry processing companies rank producers in a payment structure wherein a raise in one farmer's pay comes at the expense of another's. It would also require that forward contracts, a common way that meatpackers buy animals from ranchers, are competitively bid.
The legislation deals with a major concern of communities living near large CAFOs: the pollution and waste that the animal operations produce. In some states, neighbors of such farm operations are restricted in whether and how they can hold CAFOs legally accountable for reduced quality of life, decline in property value, and other negative outcomes stemming from mismanagement of manure and other waste. Booker's bill makes meatpackers legally accountable to these outcomes and allows anyone to bring a civil suit against a packer to address issues of waste, pollution, and adverse health effects.
"Small policy changes are not enough to reverse years of factory farm policy," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Action, in a statement. "As agribusinesses grow even more powerful, our communities, our climate, and our planet is facing disaster. It is time for a bold and sweeping solution like Senator Booker's bill." Food & Water Action is one of the bill's endorsing organizations.
The bill would also reinstate country of origin labeling for beef and pork and additionally require it for dairy products.
Booker has introduced legislation in the past that would tackle food system issues. His 2018 and 2019 bill, the Food and Agribusiness Merger Moratorium and Antitrust Review Act, which was also introduced in the House by Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, would have implemented an 18-month moratorium on food system mergers and acquisitions. In 2019, he co-sponsored the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act, which would reform checkoff programs. Neither piece of legislation has advanced in either the House or Senate.
And agricultural issues remain a priority during Booker's presidential campaign. His recently-released plan, "Building Wealth and Opportunity in Rural America," includes the M&A moratorium, a CAFO moratorium, and several other farm and food policies.
The story has been updated to correct the number of laying hens in a large CAFO as defined by the bill.
CAFOs
Packers and Stockyards Act


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The Grief Centre has a Korean counsellor (Eunice Goh Woon Choi) on our team to provide culturally appropriate support for all forms of loss and grief, including losses related to migration.
If you can't speak English very well, please email the office in Korean to book your appointment or arrange for Eunice to call you.
유니스 (최고운) 상담가와 상담예약 혹은 전화통화를 한국어로 하기 원하시면, 위의 'email the office in Korean'을 클릭하셔서 한국어로 이메일을 보내주십시오.
Call the centre on 09 418 1457 anytime between 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. We will ask what location you are in, briefly discuss your circumstances to determine the best counsellor for you and then discuss the counselling fees (these are based on your household income and what you can afford to pay, our goal is to provide counselling to everyone who needs it. We also help WINZ clients apply for grief counselling under the Disability Allowance).


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Anthrogenica > Human Population Genetics > Mitochondrial (mtDNA) Haplogroups > T > T2b33
View Full Version : T2b33
Fungene
I'd like to hear from other T2b33s.
The origin of T2b33 is still marked as undetermined on Haplogroup dot org. That may still be so. Nevertheless, the earliest appearance of which we know, unless I am mistaken, is in the sole sample from Königsbrunn Ampack, Lech Valley, Southern Germany, dated between 2450-2310 cal BCE. He (it was a male) had private mutation 16296T. (Supporting Info., Knipper et al. (2017). "Female exogamy and gene pool diversification at the transition from the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in central Europe." PNAS. 10083–10088.)
Ancestresses along my maternal line hail from Salzburg, less than 225 km away from Königsbrunn. What a happy coincidence.
Following ancient DNA breadcrumbs, it is not hard to imagine the path T2bs forged from their currently earliest recorded location in northwestern Anatolia to southern Germany: from Barcin and Aktopraklik (roughly the Bursa Area in Turkey) around 6500-5500 BCE, through to Dzulyunita (perhaps), Malak Preslavets, the Iron Gates area, then Hungary, Austria, Germany. They must have travelled up the Danube to the Lech, and followed the course of the Lech (which is not navigable) southward. Today, the distance between Bursa and Königsbrunn can be covered in less than 24 hours by car. Back then, what an adventure it must have been!
A bit more information about the currently earliest known identification of T2b33 (please correct me if I am wrong):
The sample, labeled Königsbrunn, Ampack Grave Number 1, is first discussed in Stockhammer et al. 2015. Rewriting the Central European Bronze Age Chronology. PLOS ONE. The sample from Königsbrunn Ampack 1 was dated to 2476-2310 cal BCE (Table 2).
The conclusion of the article is the following: "We have demonstrated that the transition from the LN to the EBA happened without a significant gap or overlap in southern Germany around 2150 BC" (29).
The identification of the haplogroup to which this sample belongs as T2b33 is in the Supplement to Knipper et al. 2017. Female exogamy and gene pool diversification at the transition from the Final Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in central Europe. PNAS.
Thus, the mutation that led to T2b33 occurred before the transition from the Late Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in southern Germany.
This looks like the most recent update on the origins of T2b33.
T2b33 subclade origin in southern Germany?
That the earliest sample of T2b33 found so far is in southern Germany doesn't necessarily mean T2b33 originated there.
It would be interesting if people could find evidence that either strengthens or weakens support for the hypothesis that this specific subclade of T2b originated in southern Germany. (Why? It's totally useless information. But fun, at least for some of us, and my username is Fungene, after all).
T2b in Europe is certain —as certain as it gets in these things— to have spread with the arrival of Neolithic Anatolian farmers.
Going forward in time, T2b individuals show up all over Europe, and sometimes they surprise us. Some of them were in the wrong place, like Pompeii, when things went really bad. One T2b lady dug up in Sweden turned out to be a Viking warrior. Some T2bs ended up in the steppe as consorts (?) of Scythian pastoralists-warriors.
What about T2b33? For the moment, we know that T2b33 shows up in Bavaria, south of Augsburg, in Königsbrunn, in a grave identified as belonging to the Bell Beaker culture.
Today, there are T2b33s all over Western Europe, but I haven't found many. And there are still some in southern Germany; one, for instance, a mere 125 km away from Königsbrunn. Coincidence? Maybe.
Do we have more T2b33s who know something about their ancestry?
Because we like pictures and I have a weakness for factoids:
https://i.imgur.com/74FoPD8.jpg
http://www.lechrain-geschichte.de/HiO_Reg_AGL%20Koenigsbrunn-Museum.html
https://www.koenigsbrunn.de/kultur/museen/archaeologisches-museum/
"The skeletal material from … Königsbrunn (Obere Kreuzstraße; Ampack)…is kept in the Archäologisches Museum." (Stockhammer et al. 2015. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0139705&type=printable)
There were five individuals from Ampack, one of which was sampled. It doesn't say how many were male and how many were female.
The individual found at Obere Kreuzstraße, Ampack and sampled is our T2b33. (presumably the same one that was carbon-dated was also sampled for DNA.)
Knipper et al. 2017. Female exogamy… (http://www.pnas.org/content/114/38/10083/tab-figures-data) tells us that the one sampled individual was a male at least 21 years of age.
The individual in the illustration looks male and all grown up. Nice teeth, which you can see in some of the pictures online. Who knows, this could be what our currently oldest dated T2b33 looks like (at least a 20% probability he's the one.) Wonder what his autosome was like.
Bollox79
Hmm I am T2b2b - apparently most common in Ireland (lines up with my MDKA for my maternal line 3rd GGM was born in Ireland)... also T2b (and T2b2b) seems to have a connection to Scandinavia? Also I noticed there was a fair bit of T2b in the Steppe remains from the most recent papers... I think some T2b was also found in Italy - at Pompeii? I think with mtDNA the mutations happen so rarely that it's hard to trace accurately unless you have recent mutations and closer matches with someone? I am not as familiar with mtDNA as I am with Y-DNA (the most familiar) and autosomal (fairly familiar)... but I was given the T2b2b haplogroup designation from my National Genographic results and transferred them to FTDNA. An interesting match the T2b2b shares is the Outlaw Jesse James who was T2b2b haha - I believe his maternal was Irish - which would make sense from the research I've done including my own MDKA and the overall T2b2b itself in reported MDKA origins (mostly Irish/Scan).
Edit: I think I remember from a recent paper - that one male close relative to King Bela of Hungary - the male that was buried near him... had a maternal line that was T2b2b1 for what it's worth... I'll have to look into that as I suppose I am closer to that line than the lady from Birka ;-)? According to Bela paper: T2b2b1 for person II/52 buried in same tomb.
The T2b's appear to have been pretty successful, on the whole (hanging around Pompei for too long was not a good idea.)
Do you know what the earliest reported T2b2b is? What have you seen in supplements to recent papers?
Hmm two T2b ancient or medieval results off the top of my head (other than the T2b from Pompeii - maybe some T2b or T2b2b has been found in relation to Steppe Bronze Age?) is the relative (Y-DNA and autosomal match) of King Bela III of Hungary - this unknown male match buried near Bela has the maternal DNA T2b2b1.
We just got another T2b2b result from the Icelandic early settler paper - sample SSGA-3 who appears to have mixed Norse/Gaelic ancestry (possibly Scandi on his father's side as he is haplogroup I1 and Gaelic on his mother's side T2b2b?) and has the maternal haplogroup T2b2b. He is listed as a non-local migrant on his isotope markers and is buried near other Gaelic males who were buried with weapons etc. Supplemental here Fungene if you want to take a look! http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/suppl/2018/05/30/360.6392.1028.DC1/aar2625-Ebenesersdottir-SM.pdf
Thanks! I did take a look. Interesting information. I also thought T2b2b is a haplogroup that first showed up in the BA.
But I just realized there is another sample hiding in plain sight. In Mathieson 2018.
ANI159-ANI181/VAR117-I, 4711-4530 calBCE, Bulgaria_Varna_Eneolithic2, T2b2b, G2a2b2b. There is a picture of the fellow in the Supplementary Information. Not the Golden Man himself, but buried in very good company.
No doubt about it, T2b2b started out as a farmer lineage.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
// see https://github.com/fiji/Auto_Threshold/blob/master/src/main/java/fiji/threshold/Auto_Threshold.java
// Shanhbag A.G. (1994) "Utilization of Information Measure as a Means of
// Image Thresholding" Graphical Models and Image Processing, 56(5): 414-419
// Ported to ImageJ plugin by G.Landini from E Celebi's fourier_0.8 routines

export default function shanbhag(histogram, total) {
  const normHisto = new Array(histogram.length); // normalized histogram
  for (let ih = 0; ih < histogram.length; ih++) {
    normHisto[ih] = histogram[ih] / total;
  }

  const P1 = new Array(histogram.length); // cumulative normalized histogram
  const P2 = new Array(histogram.length);
  P1[0] = normHisto[0];
  P2[0] = 1.0 - P1[0];
  for (let ih = 1; ih < histogram.length; ih++) {
    P1[ih] = P1[ih - 1] + normHisto[ih];
    P2[ih] = 1.0 - P1[ih];
  }

  /* Determine the first non-zero bin */
  let firstBin = 0;
  for (let ih = 0; ih < histogram.length; ih++) {
    if (Math.abs(P1[ih]) >= Number.EPSILON) {
      firstBin = ih;
      break;
    }
  }

  /* Determine the last non-zero bin */
  let lastBin = histogram.length - 1;
  for (let ih = histogram.length - 1; ih >= firstBin; ih--) {
    if (Math.abs(P2[ih]) >= Number.EPSILON) {
      lastBin = ih;
      break;
    }
  }

  // Calculate the total entropy each gray-level
  // and find the threshold that maximizes it
  let threshold = -1;
  let minEnt = Number.MAX_VALUE; // min entropy

  let term;
  let totEnt; // total entropy
  let entBack; // entropy of the background pixels at a given threshold
  let entObj; // entropy of the object pixels at a given threshold
  for (let it = firstBin; it <= lastBin; it++) {
    /* Entropy of the background pixels */
    entBack = 0.0;
    term = 0.5 / P1[it];
    for (let ih = 1; ih <= it; ih++) {
      entBack -= normHisto[ih] * Math.log(1.0 - term * P1[ih - 1]);
    }
    entBack *= term;

    /* Entropy of the object pixels */
    entObj = 0.0;
    term = 0.5 / P2[it];
    for (let ih = it + 1; ih < histogram.length; ih++) {
      entObj -= normHisto[ih] * Math.log(1.0 - term * P2[ih]);
    }
    entObj *= term;

    /* Total entropy */
    totEnt = Math.abs(entBack - entObj);

    if (totEnt < minEnt) {
      minEnt = totEnt;
      threshold = it;
    }
  }
  return threshold;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home » » StableTalk: "I'm really happy with him and there is no reason why he won't run a big race"
StableTalk: "I'm really happy with him and there is no reason why he won't run a big race"
Dan Skelton | 08.04.2016
1.40 Aintree – Virgilio
Virgilio will really love the ground. He's off a high mark which isn't ideal but he's won twice at this track, he's in good form and missed Cheltenham; you can ignore what happened to him on New Year's Day as our horses just weren't in form. I'm really happy with him and there is no reason why he won't run a big race.
2.15 Aintree – North Hill Harvey
North Hill Harvey ran a good race in the Supreme where he just hit two out and that stopped him, otherwise he might have been second or more likely third. He didn't have a hard race after that mistake as it halted his momentum and Harry then wasn't hard on him. He's been working well at home, we're really happy with him, and two miles around this track on this ground is just about perfect. Obviously Limini is in the race as are a couple of others with good form but I think we'll run well; I'm not saying we'll definitely win but he'll run well.
Coming out of Cheltenham I thought we'd have about 20 runners at this meeting but it's going to be more like 7 or 8, which shows how hard it is to run them back after Cheltenham so quickly. There will probably even be a couple I run which it turns out I shouldn't, but that will be the same for all the other trainers; all you can do is make the right decision based on the information available. North Hill Harvey is well and I'm happy with him. Yes, you train the horses to peak at Cheltenham but some come out of the Festival with an excuse where they don't have such a hard race, and North Hill Harvey is one of those. I think he's got a good chance, but it's been a long season for all of them.
3.25pm Aintree – Al Ferof
Al Ferof's run at Cheltenham was just magical for a horse that's now eleven years old. If Vautour hadn't turned up then he would have won, so it's simple maths really. If Vautour doesn't run his race or falls today then we should win, and if Vautour runs to form then we'll likely be second . I could have saved him for Sandown on the last day of the season but that race isn't going to be uncompetitive. Also if you win at Sandown its £28k to the winner and yet if you're second here you win £42k. We thought we'd have a go and John and Lisa Hales, the owners, are keen to come here.
It's getting to the end of the season for him, and I know he's only had three runs but he does run really well when fresh. I have kept him as fresh as I can, we haven't done much with him and I'm really happy with him. If Vautour wasn't running I'd think we'd have a great chance of a Grade 1 victory. After Aintree I'm going to keep him going for a bit and he may end up going to the Prix La Barka.
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Dan Skelton
Dan has worked with horses for his whole life and spent nine years as Assistant Trainer to Champion National Hunt Trainer Paul Nicholls. With that invaluable experience under his belt, he has embarked on his own training career and now has almost 200 winners under his belt, including Willow's Saviour's memorable victory in the 2013 Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot. Dan will be providing a unique insight into his horses and their chances exclusively for Coral.
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Newmarket preview: Royal Lodge Stakes (14.00)


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Mensching: Can Yasiel Puig help the Tigers?
Kurt Mensching
Special to The Detroit News
The Dodgers placed former All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig on revocable waivers, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported on Sunday.
And though you might be tempted to craft some narrative around this fact, coupling it with Puig's frequent negative press and demotion to Triple A, you shouldn't. Teams place most players on waivers only to pull them back if no agreement is reached if a team wins the claim.
In all likelihood, Puig's going to remain in the Los Angeles organization for now, though whether he's still a Dodger when the team arrives at spring training next year remains to be seen.
Still, it raises the question: Should the Tigers be interested in Puig? Should anyone?
Puig, 25, is the kind of player that makes video editors salivate, whether because he just did something amazingly good or because he just did something incredibly bad. His athletic talent is unquestionable, how he's used it is open to interpretation.
As a 22-year-old rookie, he batted .319 with a .925 OPS. A year later, he earned an All-Star nod but slipped to a .296 average and .863 OPS.
He was sent to the minors at the end of this July, sitting on a .260 average and lowly .706 OPS.
After putting up more than 10 WAR in his first two seasons, he posted 1.8 combined in 2015 and the first four months of 2016, per Baseball Reference. That's not exactly the kind of arc you're looking for.
Initial reports at the trade deadline that Puig threw a fit upon learning he might be traded were proven false, but reports of Puig's lack of maturity have been commonplace in his major league career.
So on first brush, the temptation is there just to outright reject the idea of Puig playing for the Tigers. They don't need another underachiever and headache, do they?
Wojo: Streaky Tigers deliver baffling outing
The other side of the argument is that Puig is young, the Tigers' clubhouse is strong and Puig has a club-friendly contract.
Puig is owed about $18.2 million through 2018. He can opt into arbitration eligibility after this year because he'll have accrued three years of service time, but the result would likely would cost him money. It's not a big financial risk to see what Puig can do.
Puig is showing he might be ready to get back to hitting like when he was a rookie. As young as he is, that shouldn't come as a big surprise.
In Oklahoma City, he had a .375 average entering play Sunday with .420 on-base percentage and .641 slugging for 1.061 OPS.
The Tigers' outfield has also been a surprising liability this season, combining for 3.4 wins below average, per Baseball Reference. That puts them only ahead of the Orioles in the AL.
The bulk of the problem lies on the shoulders of Justin Upton, as left field is nearly two wins worse than average. But both center field (manned by everyone from Cameron Maybin to Andrew Romine) and right field (thanks both to a disappointing season by J.D. Martinez and even worse ones by his replacements) have been costly for the Tigers, too.
Maybin and Martinez are free agents after 2017, and Upton has the potential to be, as well, should he decide to opt out.
Finally, any clubhouse with the likes of Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera has the potential to bring Puig back into the fold after a change in location. While there's no guarantees, if Puig wanted to make the most of a second chance he'd have strong leadership around him and one of the best right-handed batters in history to help his cold spells.
As always, the devil is in the details. Could Puig really do much to save this year? And it's hard to find a starting spot for Puig with Upton and J.D. Martinez in the corners. The price in prospects might not be right, as other teams are likely to be intrigued by the potential Puig possesses, too.
But there's enough there to wonder what if.
If the opportunity arises, the Tigers should probably go for it and worry about the rest later.
It's a gamble, but which player isn't?
Kurt Mensching is the editor of Bless You Boys, a Tigers blog (www.blessyouboys.com). He can be reached at bybtigers@gmail.com.


Tips on Parenting a teenager.
Homemaking Domestic: gardening, cooking, child rearing, etc.
Well that time has come. My son,who is 16, has finally come to the realization that he knows it all. He's not going to school and he is getting involved with pot.
I know whats its like to be in the same position, obviously. I now understand what my parents went through with me.
Any tips on how I should handle this situation I now find myself in with my son and his attitude.
Re: Tips on Parenting a teenager.
This is advice coming from someone who was 16 not that long ago (turning 18 soon). I never got into drugs or vape or anything of the sort, however I have seen people I dearly cared for turn to the such. I don't know 100% as of why they turned to those awful things but I can give some insight.
The reason your teenager turned to pot is probably because of somebody at school having a bad negative influence on him. Your teen is probably involved in some bad crowd now if they are able to get their hands on pot.
I would think maybe your teen is trying to find a way of escape or maybe just wants to fit in.
If it were me as the parent, I would sit with my child and talk to them about the harmful effects of pot. I would also try to find the source as in where he is getting it from and who he is hanging out with and crack down on these people.
Overall, I would try my best to connect with the teen and also make sure this sort of thing does not happen again.
I have a question,though, what if the bad influence is pop culture. Also, the friends of his could be influenced by the same things. Peer pressure is a helluva thing for teenagers, I get it. Experimenting is apart of growing up.
My problem is how I can deal with the attitude towards me,and his mother. And the lack of respect. Her and I are to blame for this,I think, as we split up over 8 years ago. But since that time his mother has brought two different men into his life. I wonder if this has anything to do with it. To add to the fact were no longer together, like we were for his first 8 years.
Pop culture may be a big part of this. I wonder what it would have been like if I was home schooled? You don't hear too often of a white boy in Detroit schools becoming a WN/NS.
If pop culture really is a part of this then you have to convince him that this "culture" is not really a culture. You mention you and his mother have been split apart for about 8 years now. I feel maybe as if this is a part of the problem because everyone should have a mother figure in their life, especially as a teen.
I would try to get the advice of more of our senior members here, such as Merlin.


Counselling provides clients with an opportunity to discuss their lives in a confidential and non-judgemental environment. People may decide to start counselling for a variety of reasons - relationship or work problems, anxiety and depression. Or perhaps it is a sense of feeling stuck - that they are looking for more from their lives. Above all, clients are often looking for an opportunity to be listened to by an someone who is empathic and attentive.


text:
The South Hills Crossbill in Idaho (left) has a deeper beak than the Red Crossbill (right), thanks to its preference for a unique type of lodgepole pinecone seeds. Photos: Craig Warren Benkman; Adam Ciha/Great Backyard Bird Count
How Crossbills and Other Birds Are Rewriting the Rules of Evolution
A possible new crossbill species is the latest example of how genetic research is giving us surprising insights into the ways animals evolve.
By Jesse Greenspan
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Loxia curvirostra
song & calls
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calls #1
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yank calls #1
ik & ik-up calls and tapping
Island Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma insularis
rattle (repeated twice)
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Every year when the American Ornithological Society (AOS) rolls out its latest checklist updates, birders get downright nerdy.
This is especially true when the AOS decides to split a species, adding new options to the birding menu. After all, it's the only way to pick up a lifer while watching Netflix in bed.
In 2016, for example, the Western Scrub-Jay was divided into the California Scrub-Jay and the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay. Birders who'd seen the Western on both sides of the Sierra Nevada got an extra tick for their North American lists.
The AOS doesn't take these splitting decisions lightly; it can take years of vetting to weigh all the evidence and opinions. Two of the biggest points it considers are how genetically disparate the groups in question are, and whether they interbreed. (Species will sometimes mate with each other and hybridize, but the area in which they do is always small and stable.) The scrub-jays, along with every other species split in AOS history, were decided on this premise.
Biologists once thought the divergence of a species largely resulted from geographic isolation. But now, thanks in part to recent advances in DNA analysis, they're realizing that species can evolve even while living in close quarters. It's a phenomenon known as sympatric speciation. "Clearly, geographic barriers (like oceans and mountains) are still very helpful," says J. Albert Uy, a tropical ecologist at the University of Miami. But other factors, including preferred food, migratory behavior, and mating turn-ons, can also propel birds along "different evolutionary trajectories," he says.
Still, not every trajectory leads to a clean split; there are debates over how big the rift needs to be for two neighboring populations of the same species to be deemed unique. The AOS may have to weigh in on this hot-button topic soon with the discovery of a potential new crossbill species. A paper published at the end of last year in Molecular Ecology argues that the South Hills Red Crossbills of Idaho should be carved out as a separate species, even though they've always shared their evergreen forest with other Red Crossbills. "It's a slam dunk," says co-author Craig Benkman, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Wyoming. "It's by far the most genetically distinct of all North American crossbills."
There are at least nine other varieties of Red Crossbills across North America; each has a slightly different call and bill, designed to ravage its conifer of choice, be it Douglas fir, Western hemlock, or ponderosa pine (all of which can occur next to each other). "The genetic differences between them is related to how different their bill sizes are, not geographical distances," Benkman, who has been studying the crooked-beaked finches for more than three decades, explains. He found that the South Hills Crossbills hardly ever interbreed with other crossbills, even though they run into each other regularly.
While all Red Crossbills eat seeds from cones, only the South Hills birds have beaks perfectly suited for feeding on their local lodgepole pines. These trees, which are in danger of being wiped out by climate change, bear uniquely shaped pinecones that differ from lodgepole pinecones elsewhere—the result of a lack of squirrels in the area, Benkman believes.
Using playback tapes, he and his colleagues discovered that crossbills were more likely to respond to calls that matched their own. This goes back to the pines: Previous studies show that calls vary based on the the bird's beak size, which is ultimately shaped by its choice of food. "When you have two-tenths of a millimeter difference in bill depth, that might not mean a lot to certain species, but in crossbills it does," Benkman says. "They treat each other like they're on different planets." Because physical proximity didn't always lead to physical attraction, the two groups grew apart.
The same pattern is unfolding in the sky islands of Arizona, where researchers uncovered genetic differences among neighboring White-breasted Nuthatch populations. Much to the scientists' surprise, two nuthatches occupying oak trees hundreds of miles apart tended to be more similar than two nuthatches living on various points of the same mountain. Lead author Joseph Manthey, who has a Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Kansas, explains that some force is driving them to become genetically different based on habitat. "It's not speciation," he says, "but it could very well be the beginning of it." The Island Scrub-Jay, which lives on a single island off the coast of California, appears to be diverging in a similar way.
Sympatric speciation is being noticed on other continents as well—most notably in indigobirds, a group of African brood parasites. Rather than location, their divergence appears to be driven by the vocalizations of their hosts, which they imitate as a ploy to get free childcare. Because they only mate with birds with the same vocalizations, a separate indigobird gene pool is formed with every new host species. In addition, research shows that Medium Ground-Finches in the Galapagos, Band-rumped Storm-Petrels in the Azores, and the Nesospiza buntings of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago might also be straying from their not-so-distant counterparts. Other animals, especially insects, have adopted similar routes to speciation.
The takeaway from these cases is that animals can evolve remarkably fast. The South Hills Crossbills, for instance, must have come into existence over the last 6,000 years or so. (According to the pollen-fossil record, that's when lodgepole pines first appeared in the region, Benkman says.) The changes don't have to be exponential either. In some bird families, "there's very, very little genetic difference between any of them," says Geoff LeBaron, an ornithologist and Audubon's Christmas Bird Count director. Even small tweaks in DNA might go a long way in terms of evolution.
The crossbill saga, however, is still up for discussion. Splitting the species could lead to several distinct crossbills, which is why people are looking to take it slow. "We want to get all the details figured out before we start splitting off a few here and a few there," Kenn Kaufman, birding expert and Audubon's field editor, says. But it's up to the AOS to make it official, perhaps as soon as this summer. If it does, it will give birders a new lesson on evolution, along with a new lifer—on the house.
New Study Doubles the World's Number of Bird Species By Redefining 'Species'
A modified definition of 'species' suggests there are nearly 20,000 different kinds of birds, but the model is controversial and difficult to apply to conservation.
This New Species Went Extinct Before It Was Even Discovered
An exciting find on the Galapagos ends in a tragic twist, inspiring scientists to take a closer look at the islands' diversity.
Here Are the Biggest Changes to the AOU Checklist of North American Birds
Hold onto your scrub-jays (or don't)—this update is shaking up taxonomies and putting a lot of new species up for grabs.
"The views expressed in user comments do not reflect the views of Audubon. Audubon does not participate in political campaigns, nor do we support or oppose candidates."


Part of the much larger Conciergerie complex, this extension of the Palais de Justice was built between 1857-68. It faces a small tree filled square – Place Dauphin which was intended to be a market square with two identical terraces of houses. The remainder of the building is much earlier and contains several courtyards and the celebrated Gothic church of Sainte Chapelle.


Burnley manager Sean Dyche has once again played down reports linking him with the vacant position at Everton.
Since Ronald Koeman was sacked by the Toffees on Monday, Sean Dyche has remained as one of the favourites to succeed the Dutchman at Goodison Park, but the Clarets boss has maintained that his focus remains on trying to keep Burnley in the top half of the Premier League table.
The 46-year-old told reporters: "I'm respectful of all clubs and all situations, but I am equally respectful of my situation here.
Next week, Dyche will mark his five-year anniversary at Turf Moor with a home meeting with Newcastle United.


Somehow such mystery lingers, for once the world's most powerful warship nearly wrecked herself upon a drowned island one hundred miles west of San Diego. Chris Dixon, who masterfully chronicled the origin of giant-wave surfing in his 2011 book Ghost Wave , surfaced this sea story of the USS Enterprise's 1985 encounter with the Cortes Bank, where rock, water and wind collide to form sea monsters.
The Channel Islands of Southern California make up the visible heights of a vast submerged mountainous region nearly the size of the Sierra Nevada—the Southern California Borderland. Reaching from Point Conception to the north coast of Baja California and stretching hundreds of miles out to sea, the Borderland forms a huge landscape of peaks, ridges and basins up to a mile deep.
But the great shoal really should be named for the first ship to notice its wondrous effects: the USS Constitution. On January 5, 1846, as war loomed with Mexico, the Constitution was cruising off Southern California when crew members spotted a large patch of white spume and the roar of breakers. This is the first record of the waves that would enter history as the largest ever surfed. Under certain conditions of wave, wind and current, the seas piled up on Cortes Bank and Bishop rock into eighty-foot-high mountains of perfect curl, whose roar could be heard for miles in the middle of the deep blue sea.
One of the few U.S. Navy ships to rival the Constitution for fame, the USS Enterprise encountered Cortes Bank and Bishop Rock on November 2, 1985. The carrier and her air wing were conducting an Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) out of San Diego, and the skipper, Capt. Robert L. Leuschner Jr., wasn't pleased with how things were going.


Where are the heat blower, driverside door locks, and window fuses in a Jeep Cherokee 1997?
Where is the fuse box for a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
There are three. One under the hood and one on the right wall sideof the lower front passenger side dash.
This free video shows you how to replace a blown interior fuse on a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Country 4.0L 6 Cyl. EN. ... 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee TSi 4.0L 6 Cyl.
Where is the radio fuse in a 1997 Grand Cherokee?
The 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee power door lock fuse can be found inthe fuse box. The fuse will be in the first column, third from thebottom. share with friends.


Cape Town - Try-scoring ace Siviwe Soyizwapi will lead a talented SA Rugby Sevens Academy squad to the Dubai Sevens tournament on November 30 and December 1 in Dubai.
Soyizwapi, who scored 29 tries for the Blitzboks last season, headlines a squad containing a number of players who helped the Springbok Sevens to glory in the 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Selvyn Davids, Ryan Oosthuizen, Stedman Gans, Zain Davids and Dewald Human were all part of the Blitzboks' effort last season. They will be joined by JC Pretorius, Sako Makata, Mosolwa Mafuma, Impi Visser and debutant, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, from the Currie Cup winning Western Province side.
Notshe, who was part of the Western Province team that won the Currie Cup last month, was a high-profile recruit to the Blitzboks' set-up and will have the ideal opportunity to showcase his skill-set and appetite for sevens rugby in the Arabian desert next weekend.
Pretorius, Makata, Mafuma and Visser all represented the SA Rugby Sevens Academy before.
SA Rugby Sevens Academy manager, Marius Schoeman and coach, Paul Delport, are both looking for strong performances in Dubai.
"We have a lot of tournaments lined up this season, so each of them will help us to get better for the next one," Schoeman said.
Delport said the experience of Soyizwapi and the likes of Gans and Zain Davids will help in their pool matches against the Monaco Impis, Canada Maple Leafs and Samurai Select.
"We will be up against national teams from the countries outside the series and experienced players in some of those invited teams, so will have to be at our best," said Delport.
"We have a good record at this tournament and venue and having won here before, we are aiming for nothing less.


HURRAY!! Seancitygh.com , a new king is born !!!
After years of successfully promoting artiste, music, event and re-branding on social media in a more positive way, management of Seancitygh.com concept decided to have it official launch of a website.
Our personality profile will comprise of Showbiz Personalities , Radio & Tv host , Movie Stars , Musicians , Entrepreneur and finally Politicians .
We interview them and give you what you didn't know about your favourite Personalities an what you should known .
Hello, Am Yeboah Gilbert , known as Busumuru Sean Kingston , a blogger and online marketer..


text:
Pender's Blog
Google Dumping Windows: What a Crock
OK, we're calling BS on this one. (Can we say BS here? We'll find out…) Apparently Google is going to make it very difficult for its employees to get Windows on their machines from now on, a move that has led many press outlets to say that Google is dumping Microsoft.
Why, pray tell, would Google do something like this? Because it is developing its own operating system now and wants to, as the old saying goes, eat its own dog food? Maybe it's because Microsoft is a huge competitor to Google, and it's best not to pay a competitor to run everything on its software. Or maybe Google wants to embrace the open source community by moving to Linux. Maybe Google just wants to make Microsoft look bad -- old, tired and not ready for Web 2.0 or whatever the hipsters are calling it these days.
Actually, all of those reasons for Google dumping Windows would make sense. But then there's this: One of Google's approved non-Windows operating systems is the Mac OS. Google competes with Apple, so why would it buddy up to Steve Jobs and his gang? It wouldn't…and it isn't, according to folks at Google.
Oh, no. People at the search giant say that the reason for ditching Windows is…security. Specifically, they're upset about a hack from China that hit the company pretty hard back in December. Evidently, they're blaming Windows and Internet Explorer for the breach. To that, we say: Whatever, Google.
Sure, Windows has security issues, but so do all operating systems, including Apple's vaunted OS and Linux. Most companies -- you know, the 90-plus percent of companies worldwide that use Windows -- manage to find ways to protect their Windows installations and fend off serious attacks. Google, did it ever occur to you that the reason somebody in China hacked you was because you pulled out of that country (a decision we at RCPU actually support) and that the hackers who got you would have found a way to hit you whether you were running Windows, Mac, Linux or OS2? Maybe the whole China hack was a Google problem and not really a Windows problem. Ever think of that?
Google, you don't have to use Windows. In fact, you probably shouldn't. Load everybody out there with Chrome OS and see how it goes. Seriously. But, for heaven's sake, if you're going to restrict access to or use of Windows, at least be honest about why you're doing it. We're not buying the "security" excuse (and neither are a lot of other people), and you shouldn't be selling it.
Google, we at RCPU like a lot of things about you, but this is pretty lame. Please try to do better next time.
What's your take on Google's excuse for dumping Windows? Do you buy it? Have your say at [email protected]
Posted by Lee Pender on 06/02/2010 at 1:23 PM


KCS 2016 – Rahul Tapsay, AGM, IDBI Bank.
Home Magazine April 2016 KCS 2016 – Rahul Tapsay, AGM, IDBI Bank.
We are also going to launch Forex services where the customers will be sending inward and outward remittances as well as discounts. All the trade finance activities can be routed up through our bank. Once we are able to take up the technology platform which passes the basic criteria we can take it to the higher level.


Looking for the best Bike trails around Edison?
Find the top rated bike trails in Edison, whether you're looking for an easy short bike trail or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a bike trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.


text:
U of T Physics Climate Change Scientists Fight to Save PEARL
Without funding, atmospheric research station at Eureka, Nunavut, set to be mothballed in the spring
Sept. 26, 2017, By UT Physics
Some of Canada's leading climate change scientists are fighting to keep the country's northernmost research station in operation.
The Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL) in Eureka, Nunavut, tracks atmospheric data that no other research station can, given its High Arctic latitude, only 1,110 kilometres from the North Pole.
But with PEARL's core funding set to run out this year, scientists are warning if PEARL closes, there's no filling the void.
"You're in this part of the world that's very significant for all these different global environmental challenges," said Dan Weaver, a PhD student at the University of Toronto who has conducted research at PEARL since 2012.
"From climate change to ozone depletion, to even transport of pollution — we have that unique piece of the puzzle to offer the world."
PEARL has been funded for the last five years by the Climate Change and Atmospheric Research Initiative, but the federal government has not renewed that program.
Scientists say there aren't other funding sources that PEARL can tap into because its work is so specific in terms of its atmospheric research mandate.
Weaver is part of Evidence for Democracy, a not-for-profit group that's launched a petition calling on the federal government to commit to $1.5 million in annual funding for PEARL.
Scientists say if they can't get more funding, they will have to pull the plug on the research station in May.
Read the full article on the CBC website:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/polar-research-lab-eureka-funding-shortfall-1.4303979


A man of religious beliefs, a crusader for the social justice , a philanthropist, successful businessman, an advocate for rights of under priviledged, a politician, and a sportsman par excellence…that's how Anand Shukla is known among family and friends .
A man of myriad talents, Aanand stands out for his sense of commitment, responsibility, dedication, honesty, integrity and sheer passion in all his undertakings.
He was born on 2nd , Januray, 1975 at Allahabad. His parents Shri S.K. Shukla and Smt Soma Shukla were widely respected in the society for their simplicity, social services and philanthropy which was passed on to him since his childhood.
Aanand did his schooling from prestigious Boys High School, Allahabad. His penchant for leadership became evident during his student days.. He was elected as the School Boy. He completed his schooling in the year 1993.
Because of his interest in social and political matters, he joined Allahabad University in the year 1993 to do his graduation with Political Science, Philosophy and Economics and successfully completed it in the year 1996. During his graduation days at Allahabad University, he was actively involved in many student's movements notably among them were Swadeshi movement etc. He was actively involved in social services like literacy program for elders, organising relief camps during natural calamities, issues pertaining to student's problems in campus etc. Also participated in organising arts and cultural programmes. Was always available for organising and participating in games and sports events.
Aanand has special fondness for his ancestral village at Chitrakoot and whenever, he got an opportunity, visit it and get soaked in its spiritual, simple and evergreen environment. But the poverty in and around it saddened him. As a youth, he tried to do awareness and educational programmes with whatever little resources he may manage during his graduation days.
In the year 1999, shifted his business from Allahabad to Delhi for better growth and diversification. He consolidated his entire business under Midas Group. The Group has diversified presence in the field of infrastructure and real estate, media , digital marketing, hospitality etc. Apart from MIDAS, SAFFRON, DIGIBONTY and LA ROYALE are the well recognised brands in the respective industries. As of now, the Group has several renowned Corporates, Government Departments, PSUs, Institutions etc as its clients. Group has several notable accomplishments to its credit like SMART CITY COMPAIGN done for Aligarh Municipal Corporation resulted in its no.1 government rating.
On one hand Aanand was relentlessly devoted to establish his business conglomerate and on the other hand was involved in social and religious works. He was very active in public life. He was deeply influenced by the works of Swami Vivekanand, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. He always found himself very close to the ideology of Sangh and BJP. In the year 1998, he took primary membership of BJP.
As a primary member of BJP, he never aspired for any post. Since 1998 he was actively involved with several programmes of the Sangh and BJP at gross root level mostly in the Chitrakoot district like enrolment of new members as membership drive, associated with Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (Manikpur Centre), organising youth and mahila sammelan etc.
As part of socio-economic upliftment, Aanand helped villagers especially women to form Self Help Groups resulting in mutual community development. He also encouraged rural masses to avail technology benefits to their daily life resulting in more exposure, hassle free life. BETI PADHAO, BETI BACHAO is very dear to him and this subject is always touched by him in all his campaigns at Chitrakoot.
Chitrakoot has great spiritual and religious sanctity and that is why he is working on a project to bring it to international tourism destination. He is trying so that maximum rural population should be benefitted out of it.
He often arranges Bhajan Sandhya and lectures by renowned spiritual gurus at Chitrakoot.
Aanand strongly believes that corruption is one of the core problems faced by the country which needs to be handled not only politically but also socially. He further believes that political fight against corruption can not achieve the success unless until the politician fighting it is economically independent. Realising it, he worked rigorously with dedication, hardwork and honesty so that he should be able to carry forward his mission on his own, if required. This made Midas Group not only achieve greater success but also widely acclaimed for the highest level of ethical standards. These days his business enterprise is being run by team of professionals and Aanand devotes most of his time in social, philanthropic and political movements.
Since 2nd Januray, 2016, Aanand has dedicated fully to cause of Sangh and BJP. Presently he is Member, Pradesh Karyakarni, UP, BJP. In last 18 months, he has conducted around 100 public meetings in and around Chitrakoot. Recently, he was the Prabhari, Municipal Electections, Chitrakoot.
Aanand is a charismatic, dynamic, and a down-to-earth human being who lives life intensely. He is sincerely determined to reach out to the masses and bring about a positive change in the lives of those he touches.


text:
Environmentally benign Drugs by Design
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Volumes not published by MDPI
Special Issue "Environmentally benign Drugs by Design"
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinal Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2023 | Viewed by 424
Dr. Simone Brogi
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: in silico pharmacology; computational toxicology; computer-aided drug design; modeling and simulation; infectious diseases
Special Issue in Molecules: Computational Approaches for Drug Discovery
Special Issue in Computation: Computation to Fight SARS-CoV-2 (CoVid-19)
Special Issue in Viruses: Novel Antiviral Agents: Synthesis, Molecular Modelling Studies and Biological Investigation
Prof. Dr. Vincenzo Calderone
Interests: preclinical pharmacology; cardiovascular pharmacology; drug discovery
Special Issue in Antioxidants: Protective Effects of H2S and H2S-Releasing Drugs in Cardiovascular Diseases
Special Issue in Biomolecules: Novel Evidence about Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)-Donor Molecules as Innovative Therapeutical Tools
Special Issue in Biomolecules: Novel Evidence about Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)-Donor Molecules as Innovative Therapeutical Tools (Volume II)
Dr. Alberto Manganaro
Kode Chemoinformatics. Lungarno Galilei, 1 - 56125 Pisa, Italy
Interests: machine learning; chemoinformatics; molecular modeling; molecular descriptors; QSAR/QSPR; research informatics solutions development
We are preparing a Special Issue in the computational ecotoxicology field, which is attracting the attention of researchers due to the possibility of designing novel potential drugs while avoiding any harmful effects to the environment. In fact, active ingredients from medicines and their metabolites can get into the environment through various routes, and once there they can prove harmful to wildlife and ecosystems.
In the EU, new medicines are required to undergo an environmental risk assessment for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that is typically performed at the end of the development process and so far only a few thousand APIs in use have been assessed. The challenge is to identify the potential environmental risks of new APIs during the early stages of the drug discovery process. This can be realized by using existing and new quantitative structure–activity relationships (QSAR) models for environmental endpoints as well as in silico models based on machine learning algorithms. By using these computational techniques, it is possible to rationally design environmentally safe molecules and replace critical functional groups without affecting the biological activity in humans.
For this Special Issue of Molecules, we invite researchers in the computational toxicology/ecotoxicology field to submit original research articles, short communications, and review articles related to the development and application of predictive toxicological tools.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
This special issue is now open for submission.
Molecules, EISSN 1420-3049, Published by MDPI
https://www.mdpi.com/si/100582


text:
Why top chefs take their choice of the humble pepper so seriously
They glean valuable insights into a highly favoured selection of Asian peppercorns and their delectable versatile qualities.
Aged Duck, White Beetroot Tarte Tatin, Chicory (Photo: Cloudstreet)
Don Mendoza
By Don Mendoza
16 Jan 2023 06:43AM (Updated: 16 Jan 2023 06:43AM)
Its reign as the queen of spices has been unchallenged for millennia. This fact alone says a lot about the peppercorn, not least its ability to influence so much, from politics to prophylactics to gastronomy, with predominately two variants — black and white — and in some cases green hoarding the limelight. Thoughtful gourmands might even say that time and opportunity have not only allowed this delectably pungent, and yet surprisingly versatile, spice to consolidate a righteous rule across a global plethora of cuisines, but also define many of these cultures' most iconic dishes.
Surely, to say that pepper has travelled well is an understatement. But oddly enough it isn't as widely cultivated as one might imagine. Native to the Malabar Coast, a tropical region on the western coast of southern India, quality production of peppercorns — specifically the fermented and dried berries of the piper nigrum vines — are only famously harvested across selected regions in Asia, Australia and South America. What's more, sources preferred by some of the world's best kitchens number less than a handful. And yet the call to add freshly ground pepper to our foods remains synonymous with the need to salt to taste.
UNEXPECTED GAMECHANGERS
This obsession with adding pepper, though obvious, is quite often so in hindsight. As such it pays to remember that unlike salt, adding pepper not only improves but also alters the taste of the dish. And this it does with an aromatic flair that's hard to beat. This is even more apparent when pepper is used freshly ground to one's preferred texture and flavour intensity, and when used in spice rubs and marinades, as well as when seasoning the dish at the end of the cooking process.
Jordy Navarra, chef-owner of Manila's acclaimed contemporary restaurant Toyo Eatery. (Photo: Toyo Eatery)
The food festival that is putting Malaysian and regional gastronomy on the map
To boot, peppercorn can also be used whole in pickling recipes for example, or as part of a bouquet garni for stews and soups. There's even the option to simply toss a small bunch into a number braised dishes to take advantage of the spice's piney and citrusy notes.
The adobo, a quintessential Filipino dish of braised pork or chicken in a mix of vinegar, soya sauce and garlic, is a prime example of how the qualities of premium black peppercorns shine in a dish that isn't led or defined by the pepper's unique picante flavour. And, as Jordy Navarra, chef-owner of Manila's acclaimed contemporary restaurant Toyo Eatery, recently affirmed, it's an advantageous ingredient that several Asian cultures regularly exploit. Even so, it was surprisingly a chance encounter that led to an opportunity for the team to sample Malaysia's feted Sarawak peppercorns, when chef Gary Anwar of Kuala Lumpur's restaurant Ember paid a visit with extra in tow.
The two were undoubtedly excited to discuss the similarities between Filipino and Malaysian food, which eventually led to the topic of peppercorn's importance in their respective cuisines. "We decided to use (the Sarawak peppercorns) in the pork adobo," Navarra shared, which he duly pointed out is also a mainstay meal in the restaurant's staff meal rotation. He added: "Having whole black peppercorns is essential in traditional adobo; and using Sarawak pepper adds a spicier aroma. (On the palate) woody notes shine through with hints of burnt citrus, which is an interesting take on the usual garlicky and savoury adobo we are used to." Aromatic peppers, he imagined, would taste good in so many things. And in dishes where the sauce base is the star, he said that the starring protein (be it chicken or pork) becomes the supporting act.
A post shared by Ember (@ember_kl)
Whatever life throws at us, these top chefs know there is a right citrus for every occasion
Navarra was admittedly excited about using it in an updated take on the daing na bangus — where fatty milkfish that is marinated in a similar combination of vinegar, crushed peppercorn, garlic and salt is deep-fried to a golden crisp.
CLASSICS ELEVATED
Quality peppercorns from Sarawak are also favoured at Singapore stalwart Red House Seafood restaurant, whose fans of its ubiquitous black pepper crab dish have been returning for since 1976. "We also prefer to buy the raw peppercorns for both the black and white varieties we use, then take the time to roast and grind them," said Chen Khay Boon, the restaurant's executive chef. "This way, we can control how deeply the peppercorns are roasted and how finely or coarsely we grind the peppercorn. It takes more time, effort and attention, but it allows us to understand every batch of peppercorn and make better use of it to prepare and season each dish accordingly," he continued.
The already sun-dried peppercorns are fried dry and over low heat to ensure a gradual, even roast. Chen explained that this removes any residual moisture, and allows the peppercorns to develop "a smoky aroma and a full-bodied profile that is mildly spicy with a slight nuttiness". This, of course, contributes to the black peppercorns' more robust flavour, which he aptly pointed out is the perfect foil to the mud crabs' richer taste that he prefers. Chen added: "The sweet succulence of the crab is balanced beautifully against the distinct fragrance and spice of black pepper. Furthermore, the shell of mud crabs are thicker and tougher than many other species of crabs, and black pepper's flavour and aromas penetrate slightly better."
Black pepper crab (Photo: Red House Seafood)
Love seafood? Here's where you can enjoy some of the finest in Madrid, Spain
In contrast, his choice pairing with Sarawak white pepper are Alaskan king crabs — harvested from some of the planet's coldest and deepest seas, they are often praised for tasting of the ocean. These crustaceans also boast a more delicate showcase of characteristic flavours, which shine brighter alongside a more subtle expression of peppercorns. Chen elaborated: "The right white pepper should be aromatic, and have a mild peppery taste without being too pungent. It should not overpower the seafood's natural sweetness and umami flavours."
It may seem a lot to ask from the humble peppercorn, but such nuanced attributes are not uncommon in the highly prized varieties. "Premium Sri Lankan peppercorns have different layers of flavour and aroma to them, and that includes a citrus, floral, berry notes and a milder heat that rounds out their flavour and makes it more balanced," shared Rishi Naleendra, the maestro behind acclaimed modern outfits Cloudstreet and Fool wine bar. He is also the brainchild behind Kotuwa, which specialises in the foods of his native land. And as one might rightly expect, local peppercorns are preferred here. "As a whole, Sri Lankan peppercorn has a more harmonious flavour and is a lot more aromatic than other alternatives," Naleendra asserted, highlighting how peppercorn is mainly cultivated in the central, low and mid country, like in Matale, Kandy, and Kegalle, where it is hilly and also wetter in climate. It's used in most of the dishes at Kotuwa but also shines in a few unexpected recipes — such as the black pepper Kithul pork dish (not currently on the menu) — as well as more obvious stars like the garlic butter crab. The latter features compote butter made with Thai garlic that's used to fry the aromatics. He explained that the mixture of cooked black pepper as well as freshly roasted and coarsely-ground black pepper helps provide a different dimension and complexity of flavours.
Black Pepper Kithul Pork (Photo: Kotuwa)
Meet the Singapore chef who wants you to feel at home in his restaurants
NUANCED ADVANTAGE
The heightened scrutiny of modern gastronomy requires a uniquely critical eye — well, taste to be accurate. This is also where the appreciation of the humble peppercorn is consequently elevated. It is particularly true with Odette's signature celebration of pigeon from Brittany, France, which is encrusted in organically grown Cambodian Kampot peppercorn from Norbert Binot's Kampot Jewels.
It is a dish that has evolved over the last six years, though it continues to epitomise chef-owner Julien Royer's love for exploring quality produce from near and far via his inspired French cuisine. "Kampot pepper has a very distinctive flavour profile — an intense spice yet mild sweetness, as well as a delicate aroma; regular black peppercorns do not have the same complexity," Royer shared, noting as well how his preferred variety works very well with game meats, and so it was instinctive to flavour the pigeon with it. It was the most suitable variety of peppercorn among the few the kitchen had experimented with. That included the long pepper from Java, which the team felt boasts a fruitiness and floral note that's a bit too distinctive, almost distracting. Others like peppercorn from Sarawak and Sri Lanka "tend to taste a little too aggressive for our dish", Royer declared. Though he did also elaborate on the advantages of the Kampot pepper's unique profile, how its spiciness for example helps reduce the perceived gaminess of the pigeon. He added: "The sweet and floral notes also work well with the other garnishes that go with the dish. For instance, we (once) served our Kampot pepper pigeon with figs cooked in mulled wine during the late summer and the different elements really complemented each other, making it a very balanced and flavourful dish."
Le Pigeon Fabien Deneour En 3 Services (Photo: Odette)
What it takes to be Asia's Best Restaurant: Inside the workings of Odette
Over at Cloudstreet, black Kampot pepper is used to provide a similar contrast, not to mention an overall balance of robust flavours, in a course of aged duck that's roasted and glazed, and served with a white beetroot tarte tatin and some chicory. "We use the pepper in a spice mix to season the skin, as the pepper is so fragrant and herbaceous," revealed Naleendra, whose cuisine style here espouses a contemporary amalgamation of culinary influences and seasonal ingredients. "It compliments well the syrup used to glaze the duck skin," he clarified, highlighting how the duck is first aged for 14 days, and then roasted to a medium doneness and finished with a glaze of maple syrup and freshly ground Kampot pepper.
SWEET SURPRISE
As widely consumed as it is, not all Asian cuisines boast a long established relationship with the peppercorn. That's not to say that it hasn't already planted roots with the more adventurous of gourmands and chefs alike. "The flavour of black pepper is a familiar taste in Japanese cuisine but it is still considered a relatively new ingredient in traditional Japanese food," assured an inspired Akane Eno, chef-owner of refine kappo restaurant Ichigo Ichie. She shared how intrigued she was by the idea of salting fresh pepper after tasting some many years back. "A Sri Lankan friend had brought the product back from his hometown and shared it with me; I was surprised with the flavour, which paired very nicely with Japanese tamago kake gohan dish. Several years later, she discovered the "stronger and more aromatic" Kampot pepper, and tried her hand at making salted pepper — which is essentially black pepper that's boiled and then cured with salt. These days, it's served alongside a seasonal dish of rice with ginkgo nuts, dashi and caviar, as it pairs very well with Japanese glutinous rice and the briny egg flavour of salted sturgeon roe, Eno continued, adding how the pairing tastes even better with the use of maguroboshi stock and seasonal ginkgo nuts. "We recommend guests to first enjoy half of the dish without the salted peppercorn, then take a bite of the peppercorn before continuing with the second half; it's an entirely new experience," she mused.
Akane Eno, chef-owner of refine kappo restaurant Ichigo Ichie. (Photo: Ichigo Ichie)
What does celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa like to eat when he returns from his travels?
To boot, the same could surely be said about featuring pepper in a dessert. In perhaps something as bold as Cloudstreet's pairing of black pepper yoghurt with grapefruit salsa, complete with tamarillo sorbet and zorri cress. "When used mildly, black pepper has a floral and citrus note to it," Naleendra concurred, but noted in particular how the fat in yoghurt helps "negate the spiciness and rounds out the flavour of black pepper".
Salted Kampot pepper (Photo: Ichigo Ichie)
Peppercorn also works well with milk and dark chocolate, Royer contended, affirming as well the welcomed fact that varieties with fruitier profiles work better in such cases. He added: "It can add a little surprise in a ganache or mousse, and be especially delightful when included with fruits such as pears, strawberries, prunes and plums cooked in a light syrup."
Anyone can taste and appreciate wine, it's just a question of memory, says Champagne Pol Roger's director
On the hunt for truffles in Italy – and where to find them in Singapore
Source: CNA/bt
Fine dining food & drinks


Two big fundraisers are being planned for October, and we hope you'll be able to come join us!
On October 7th, there will be a Pig Roast at the Meadow Breeze Park Pavilion in Washington Township [Warren County]. Details to be announced shortly.
On October 27th, we will have the second annual "Be a Superhero for Kids" 5K Run. (This year we are hoping that there will not be any snow storms in October!) This event will be also be held at Meadow Breeze Park, and in partnership with CASA SHaW.
Details will be announced shortly on both events. We are also looking for volunteers to assist at the 5K run, so please contact Bob and Deanna at 908-453-2194 if you are available to help out.


If you need to fix your leaky faucets or enhance the look of your entire bathroom, we can do it. We install water heaters, sump pumps and faucets. We can also clean drains, fix leaks or simply upgrade your home's old plumbing. Our skilled technicians can install a new high efficiency heating system in your home or quickly diagnose and fix your heating problems. We also install indoor air quality equipment to improve the air your family breathes. Our air conditioning systems can make your home more comfortable this summer. We can also tune up your existing equipment so you're cool when its hot outside.
S. M. Pynn and Sons, Inc. is a family owned and operated company. Three generations of Pynns have helped Western New Yorkers with their plumbing, heating and air conditioning needs.
Our technicians wear clean uniforms and drive marked company trucks. We pride ourselves on completing each job with professionalism, courtesy and efficiency. The job is not done until the customer is satisfied.
Go Green with S.M. Pynn and Sons Inc.
Tankless water heaters, low flow faucets, low consumption toilets and high efficiency heating systems.
We are a proud sponsor of the Sweet Chalk Festival 2014!


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1880 F V Greene Large Antique Map Location of the Water Mains in Washington DC
Cartographer :Lieutenant Francis Vinton Greene
Title : City of Washington Statistical Map No 6 showing the lines of Water Mains...Compiled by Lieut. F V Greene, US Engrs. Asst to the Engr. Commr. to accompany the annual report of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia for the year ending June 30th 1880
Size: 30in x 23in (767mm x 585mm)
Condition: (A) Very Good Condition
Ref #: 16263
This large original lithograph map, a city plan of Washington DC, showing the location of the Water Mains very early in the cities growth, by Lieutenant Francis Vinton Greene, was published in June 1880, dated.
General Definitions:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color : - off white
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Blue, pink, red, green, yellow
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 30in x 23in (767mm x 585mm)
Plate size: - 30in x 23in (767mm x 585mm)
Margins: - Min 1/2in (12mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - Light soiling L&R bottom corners
Plate area: - None
Verso: - Bottom L&R bottom corner backing canvas loose
The history of Washington, D.C. is tied to its role as the capital of the United States. Originally inhabited by an Algonquian-speaking people known as the Nacotchtank. the site of the District of Columbia along the Potomac River was first selected by President George Washington. The city came under attack during the War of 1812 in an episode known as the Burning of Washington. Upon the government\'s return to the capital, it had to manage reconstruction of numerous public buildings, including the White House and the United States Capitol.
By 1870, the District\'s population had grown 75% from the previous census to nearly 132,000 residents. Despite the citys growth, Washington still had dirt roads and lacked basic sanitation. The situation was so bad that some members of Congress suggested moving the capital further west, but President Ulysses S. Grant refused to consider such a proposal.
In response to the poor conditions in the capital, Congress passed the Organic Act of 1871, which revoked the individual charters of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, and created a new territorial government for the whole District of Columbia. The act provided for a governor appointed by the President, a legislative assembly with an upper-house composed of eleven appointed council members and a 22-member house of delegates elected by residents of the District, as well as an appointed Board of Public Works charged with modernizing the city.
President Grant appointed Alexander Robey Shepherd, an influential member of the Board of Public Works, to the post of governor in 1873. Shepherd authorized large-scale municipal projects, which greatly modernized Washington. However, the governor spent three times the money that had been budgeted for capital improvements and ultimately bankrupted the city. In 1874, Congress abolished the Districts territorial government and replaced it with a three-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the President, of which one was a representative from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The three Commissioners would then elect one of themselves to be president of the commission.
An additional act of Congress in 1878 made the three-member Board of Commissioners the permanent government of the District of Columbia. The act also had the effect of eliminating any remaining local institutions such as the boards on schools, health, and police. The Commissioners would maintain this form of direct rule for nearly a century.
Greene, Francis Vinton 1850–1921
Greene was a United States Army officer who fought in the Spanish–American War. He came from the Greene family of Rhode Island, noted for its long line of participants in American military history.
Greene was born in Providence, Rhode Island on June 27, 1850. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1870. He first served in the U.S. artillery and then transferred to the Corps of Engineers in 1872. He next served as an attaché from the War Department to the U.S. legation in St. Petersburg, Russia. While there he served in the Russian army during its war with Turkey. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1874 and captiain in 1883. He returned to the U.S. and was a civil engineer to the city of Washington, D.C. and was a professor of artillery at West Point before resigning from the Army on December 31, 1886.
When the Spanish–American War broke out he raised the 7th New York Volunteer Infantry and was commissoned as it colonel on May 2, 1898. He was quickly promoted to brigadier general of Volunteers on May 27, 1898. He commanded the second Philippine Expeditionary Force which became the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, VIII Corps. Greene took a prominent part in the Battle of Manila in 1898. He assisted in the surrender negotiations for Manila. In August 1898 he was promoted major general of Volunteers and resigned on February 28, 1899.
After the war, he pursued a variety of occupations. He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1900. He served as the New York City Police Commissioner from 1903 to 1904. He was president of the Niagara-Lockport and Ontario Power Company, along with other business ventures with Buffalo businessman John J. Albright. He died on May 13, 1921 in New York City.
1785 De Vaugondy & Jefferson Antique Early Map of The United States...
1768 Robert De Vaugondy Large Antique 2nd edition Map of Colonial United...
1613 Mercator Antique Map of America & The Great Southern Land -...
1756 J B Nolin Large Rare Antique Map of North America, Great...
1639 J. Jansson Antique Map of North America Virginia to New York...
1783 R. De Vaugondy Large Antique 1st Post Revolutionary Map of North...
1720 Johannes Baptist Homann Large Antique Map of America
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I Am Love may refer to:

 "I Am Love" (The Jackson 5 song), 1975
 I Am Love (Jennifer Holliday song), 1983
 I Am Love (album), a 1981 album by Peabo Bryson, and the title track
 I Am Love (film), a 2009 Italian film

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Java memory Mapped File from Windows system I'm trying something new,
There is an application who send data to a memory-mapped file located at Local\MemFileName
I would like to read it in java,
I tried some tutorials like https://www.baeldung.com/java-mapped-byte-buffer, https://howtodoinjava.com/java7/nio/memory-mapped-files-mappedbytebuffer/
But all seem to read a file in JVM, or I did not understand...
How can I read the content of the file Located in windows system Local\MemFileName
Thanks!
Following: Example code of what i tried
public class Main {

private static final String IRSDKMEM_MAP_FILE_NAME = StringEscapeUtils.unescapeJava("Local\\IRSDKMemMapFileName");
private static final String IRSDKDATA_VALID_EVENT  = StringEscapeUtils.unescapeJava("Local\\IRSDKDataValidEvent");

public static final CharSequence charSequence = "Local\\IRSDKMemMapFileName";

public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, InterruptedException {

    System.out.println(charSequence);

    try (RandomAccessFile file = new RandomAccessFile(new File(IRSDKMEM_MAP_FILE_NAME), "r")) {
        //Get file channel in read-only mode
        FileChannel fileChannel = file.getChannel();

        //Get direct byte buffer access using channel.map() operation
        MappedByteBuffer buffer = fileChannel.map(FileChannel.MapMode.READ_ONLY, 0, fileChannel.size());

        // the buffer now reads the file as if it were loaded in memory.
        System.out.println("Loaded " + buffer.isLoaded());  //prints false
        System.out.println("capacity" + buffer.capacity());  //Get the size based on content size of file

        //You can read the file from this buffer the way you like.
        for (int i = 0; i < buffer.limit(); i++) {
            System.out.println((char) buffer.get()); //Print the content of file
        }
    }

}

}

A: To read a memory mapped file:
Open a FileChannel on the file using FileChannel.open.
Invoke the map method on the FileChannel to create a MappedByteBuffer covering the area of the file you want to read.
Read the data from the MappedByteBuffer.

A: The solution for me was to use a WindowsService.class implementing methods from JNA library, as you can see:
My Library
With this I could open a file mapped in Windows system.
All the previous answers was correct for a file accessible from JVM, but from outside the JVM it was impossible.
Thanks !

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In western societies, skin cancer incidence has increased dramatically over recent decades, due predominantly to increased sun exposure habits. Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and individual light sensitivity of the skin constitute two important factors affecting the risk for skin cancer development. Individuals with a heightened propensity to get sunburnt have a higher risk for skin malignancies, and need to protect themselves more systematically from the sun. Individual UVlight sensitivity can be determined either by self-estimation of tendency to burn and tan, as in the Fitzpatrick's classification, or by use of a phototest. Although phototesting constitutes a considerably more objective method, it is only sparsely used, chiefly due to financial and resource related factors, and is mainly limited to investigation of photodermatoses or dose-management in photo therapy.
The general aim of this thesis was to develop and improve aspects of the phototest procedure in rder to broaden the utilisation of phototesting within the fields of research, clinical practice and skin cancer prevention. As a first step, a new phototesting technique, using a divergent UVB beam was evaluated. The principle of the method is to provoke a circular UVB-erythema in the skin, the diameter of which is related to the administered dose and thus the Minimal Erythema Dose (MED). In a test group of healthy subjects, naked eye reading by a trained observer resulted in a more exact, estimation of UVB-sensitivity, compared to traditional phototesting. Since the diffuse border of the provoked erythema was challenging for the untrained observer to read, the need for an objective, bio-engineering technique for test reading was clear. In this thesis, Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) has been used. This data also enabled an objective description of doseresponse for the reaction, an outcome not possible in traditional testing. The divergent beam method was also shown to be useful as a model for evaluation of the effect of topically applied substances.
In order to broaden the utilisation of phototests in general, a test procedure built on patient performed self-reading of skin tests (a traditional phototest and an irritant patch test) was evaluated. The reliability of these self-readings was shown to be substantial when compared to the control readings of a trained observer.
Using the self-reporting procedure, phototesting was evaluated as a tool in primary prevention of skin cancer. The study focussed on sun habits and sun protection behaviour, and also on investigating the impact of different forms of presentation of the preventive information. Results showed significantly higher impact for a personally mediated preventive message than by letterform. For individuals with heightened UV-sensitivity the performance of a phototest led to a greater tendency to adopt sun protection behaviour than for subjects with a lower UV-sensitivity, suggesting that phototesting is a useful way to improve the outcome in terms of preventive behaviours for this group of susceptible, at-risk individuals.
Divergent beam phototesting, patient-performed self-reading, and the application of phototesting in skin cancer prevention emerge as three novel, previously little investigated, aspects of phototesting, for which promising results could be demonstrated.
Under de senaste årtiondena har insjuknandet i hudcancer ökat dramatiskt i västvärlden, detta till stor del beroende på förändrade solvanor. Exponering för solens ultravioletta strålning (UVstrålning) samt den individuella ljuskänsligheten i huden utgör två viktiga faktorer av betydelse för uppkomsten av hudcancer. Individer med ökad benägenhet att bli rödbrända i solen löper också ökad risk för hudcancer av solexponering, och behöver således vara extra noga med att skydda sig mot solen. Hur känslig man är mot solljuset kan bedömas antingen genom självskattning (klassificering enligt Fitzpatrick), eller genom att använda ett ljustest. Det sistnämnda är en betydligt mer objektiv metod, men används ändå relativt sparsamt, sannolikt ofta beroende på brist på resurser, tid eller klinisk rutin.
Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen var att utveckla och förbättra aspekter på ljustestningsförfarandet med inriktning på att kunna bredda användningen av ljustest inom forskning, klinisk verksamhet och hudcancerprevention. Som ett första steg undersöktes och utvärderades en ny ljustestteknik, baserad på en divergent (spridd) UV-stråle. Genom att belysa huden med ett cirkulärt UV-ljusfält framkallas en cirkulär rodnad (erytem), där diametern på rodnaden står i relation till den individuella ljuskänsligheten i huden. I jämförelse med traditionell ljustestningsmetodik visade sig metoden resultera i en noggrannare uppskattning av ljuskänslighet, samt möjligheten att beskriva ett dos-responsförhållande inom det rodnade hudområdet. Eftersom kanten på den framkallade rodnaden tenderade att bli ganska diffust avgränsad framkom dock, med undantag för speciellt tränade avläsare, svårigheter att läsa av testet med enbart ögats hjälp. Av den anledningen krävdes mer objektiv, hudfysiologisk mätmetodik. I de genomförda studierna användes så kallad Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) för detta. Förutom uppskattning av ljuskänsligheten testades den divergenta UV-strålen också som modell för skattning av anti-inflammatorisk effekt av ämnen som appliceras på huden, exempelvis cortison, och visade sig användbar för detta.
I syfte att öka förutsättningarna för bredare användning av ljustest, genomfördes en studie där försökspersonerna själva fick avläsa ett traditionellt ljustest och rapportera in testresultatet. Resultaten jämfördes med avläsningar utförda av en kunnig avläsare, och visade på god tillförlitlighet.
Slutligen, med hjälp av den beskrivna självavläsningsproceduren, undersöktes i en primärvårdspopulation, om ljustestning kan vara användbart för att förebygga hudcancer, med inriktning på att påverka individers solvanor, solskyddsbeteende och attityder gentemot solning. I studien jämfördes även olika modeller för att presentera ett preventionsbudskap, och där ett muntligt sådant, förmedlat vid ett läkarbesök, hade ett betydligt bättre genomslag än motsvarande, enbart skriftlig, information. För individer med hög ljuskänslighet bidrog ljustestet till ökat solskyddsbeteende, vilket indikerar att ljustest skulle kunna vara ett användbart verktyg i eftersträvan att förebygga hudcancer speciellt i denna grupp av individer med förhöjd hudcancerrisk.
Sammanfattningsvis utgör ljustestning med divergent UV-stråle, självavläsning av ljustest samt användning av ljustest vid hudcancerprevention tre nya, tidigare sparsamt undersökta aspekter på ljustestning, för vilka den här avhandlingen visar lovande resultat.
Avdelningen för Dermatologi och Venereologi, Institutionen för Kliniska Vetenskaper, Sahlgrenska Akademin, Göteborgs Universitet.
Linköping University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Biomedical Engineering. Linköping University, The Institute of Technology.
In a previous publication from our group, phototesting based on a single exposure to a divergent UVB beam with radially decreasing irradiance values was suggested. The aim of the present study was to evaluate technical, practical and biological aspects of the suggested method in normal subjects. Twenty healthy volunteers were provoked on the back with both a collimated beam (four fixed doses, in circular areas with a diameter of 1.5 cm) and the divergent beam (a continuous, radially attenuating dose spectrum covering an area with a diameter of 4.5 cm). Eleven of the subjects were subjected to double provocation with the divergent beam. Assessment was carried out at 6 and 24 h after exposure by measuring the diameter of the reactions both visually and by mapping the skin blood flow change with laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI). Minimal erythemal dose (MED) was determined for both the collimated and the divergent provocation. The reaction diameters were used to decide MED by combination to a mm for mm mapped dose spectrum of the divergent beam profile. Dose-response curves were plotted using the quantitative response data of the LDPI-images against the corresponding dosimetry data. No systematic difference could be proven between LDPI and visual diameters and a 95% confidence interval for the mean difference was calculated to (-0.8, 2.0). Slightly greater diameters were found at the visual assessment performed at 6 h compared to 24 h (95% confidence interval (-0.1, 2.8)). Double provocation showed a good reproducibility both for the visual and the LDPI assessment (P<0.05). The divergent beam provocation allowed a more detailed discrimination of MED compared to the collimated beam provocation. The MED values determined with the divergent beam were, however, generally higher, especially in the lower range of MED values. Technical factors related to the beam divergence and the correct measurement of erythemal effective irradiance are believed to be the explanation for this phenomenon, which is thus correctable. In conclusion, the results from this study support our belief that the phototesting protocol based on a divergent beam constitutes a good opportunity for improved phototesting, since MED and dose-response characteristics may be extracted in more detail from a single UV exposure.
Background: Phototesting based on a single exposure to a divergent ultraviolet B (UVB) beam with radially decreasing UVB doses can be used to determine an individual's minimal erythema dose (MED). Laser Doppler perfusion imaging (LDPI) data can be combined with dosimetry data to produce objective dose–response plots in addition to the MED. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the divergent beam protocol could be used to demonstrate and quantify the anti-inflammatory effects of clobetasol diproprionate (Dermovate®), pharmaceutical-grade acetone and a gel vehicle, applied after skin provocation by UVB.
Method: Sixteen Caucasian subjects were illuminated with the divergent beam on three areas close together on the left side of their upper backs. Two of the provoked areas on each subject were treated with acetone, gel vehicle or Dermovate®, and one area was left untreated as a control. Skin blood perfusion was assessed 6 and 24 h after UVB illumination using LDPI. The reaction diameter, the mean perfusion, and the average dose–response plots for each group and treatment were extracted from the LDPI data.
Results: Application of the topical steroid clobetasol diproprionate after UVB provocation markedly decreased the inflammatory response. Acetone and the gel vehicle also showed mild anti-inflammmatory effects in two of the parameters but not for the mean perfusion response. The mean diameter differences between controls and treated reactions had predominantly positive 99% confidence intervals. Analysis of the dose–response data at doses higher than the MED showed a linear relationship (0.89≤R2≤0.98) for all reactions but with lower gradients in treated reactions, mostly marked for clobetasol diproprionate.
Conclusions: The divergent beam protocol can be used to demonstrate and quantify the effects of topical agents on the UVB reaction, in terms of reaction diameter, mean perfusion and changes in dose–response characteristics. The dose–response approach seems to be applicable even in diagnostic testing of an individual patient's response to UVB.
acetone, anti-inflammatory effects, clobetasol diproprionate, erythema, gel vehicle, laser Doppler perfusion imaging, phototesting.


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An EU Anomaly – European Diplomacy in one minute
In the EU, defence and diplomatic services are mixed, it is unique and cause different problem; let's open the debate. http://defence-diplomacy.eu/en/
Hillary Clinton Discusses Energy Diplomacy at Georgetown
Energy diplomacy is a necessary component of national security, human rights and global economics, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her …
"The Rise Of Hydro-Diplomacy" – Interview with Benjamin Pohl, adelphi, at the World Water Week
The new study "The Rise of Hydro-Diplomacy" has been launched and discussed at a side event at the World Water Week 2014 in Stockholm. In this interview …
What is 'Climate Diplomacy'? The role of foreign and security policy in addressing climate change
Implementing the Paris Agreement and supporting nations to achieve their national climate targets remain a strategic priority of foreign and security policy.
Nuclear Energy Option in Germany
Germany is by many considered as one of the leading countries when it comes to supporting the development of renewable energy. Having this in mind, the latest report according to which Germany would extend the life of its nuclear reactors by 12 years on average, came as a rather big surprise.
Nuclear energy is always a controversial issue, and Germany is no exception so it's really no surprise that this decision raised plenty of critics towards Chancellor Angela Merkel. Environmentalists and many energy experts believe that this decision was step backwards, and a hard blow for the future development of renewable energy.
Merkel defended her decision by saying that the decision to prolong life of nuclear reactors in Germany would really serve as a "bridge" until renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power can produce more of Germany's power as it seeks to reduce dependence on coal. Merkel also highlighted that without the nuclear power Germany could may as well forget about its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. On the other hand many environmentalists argue that this decision is all about yielding to powerful nuclear energy lobby.
Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said that the nuclear reactors in older plants will be extended by eight years and those of newer ones by 14 years, and he also added that nuclear utilities would have to pay part of their extra profits boosted from the extension to develop renewable energy.
The recent polls and surveys in Germany have shown that majority of Germans opposed the idea of postponing the date that the country goes nuclear-free which makes this decision even more surprising.
Austria's environment minister Niki Berlakovich was also very disappointed with such decision saying that "nuclear energy will not answer the problems related to climate or be a solution to reducing CO2 emissions because the future of energy supplies lies indisputably in renewable energy".
The time period of 10-15 years may not seem so long, but this also means that in the next 15 years renewables will not only have to compete with fossil fuels but also with nuclear power, which will make things very difficult for renewable energy industry , and may seriously slow down the development of wind and solar energy in Germany.
Source by Ned Hall
Nuclear energy is always a controversial issue, and Germany is no exception so it's really no surprise that this decision raised plenty of critics towards Chancellor Angela Merkel. Environmentalists and many energy experts believe that this decision was step backwards, and a hard blow for the future development of renewable energy.
Merkel defended her decision by saying that the decision to prolong life of nuclear reactors in Germany would really serve as a "bridge" until renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power can produce more of Germany's power as it seeks to reduce dependence on coal. Merkel also highlighted that without the nuclear power Germany could may as well forget about its target of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. On the other hand many environmentalists argue that this decision is all about yielding to powerful nuclear energy lobby.
The recent polls and surveys in Germany have shown that majority of Germans opposed the idea of postponing the date that the country goes nuclear-free which makes this decision even more surprising.
Austria's environment minister Niki Berlakovich was also very disappointed with such decision saying that "nuclear energy will not answer the problems related to climate or be a solution to reducing CO2 emissions because the future of energy supplies lies indisputably in renewable energy".
The time period of 10-15 years may not seem so long, but this also means that in the next 15 years renewables will not only have to compete with fossil fuels but also with nuclear power, which will make things very difficult for renewable energy industry, and may seriously slow down the development of wind and solar energy in Germany.
by diplomatickkhari December 7, 2018