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HAZON, PrecisionHawk Partnership Increases Safety for Commercial Drone Operators
Virginia Beach, VA, October 25, 2017 (Newswire.com) – HAZON Solutions (HAZON), the national leader in drone inspection services, and PrecisionHawk, a provider of advanced commercial drone technologies, announced a partnership today to integrate their technologies to provide better drone safety for commercial drone operations. Starting in early November PrecisionHawks Low Altitude Traffic and Airspace Safety (LATAS) platform will be accessible within the HAZON drone fleet management software, HAZON Drone Management System (DMS).
LATAS is the only platform to link drones, 3D ground data and live manned aircraft data from global aviation authorities into a single system that tells commercial or hobbyist drone operators when and where its safe to fly.
HAZON DMS represents the highest level of professional grade drone fleet management software in the industry, said HAZON CEO and co-founder David A. Culler, Jr. CAPT USN (ret). We are extremely excited to partner with PrecisionHawk and bring LATAS to our customers. The platform represents a fantastic capability for safety of flight and operations management, and I have no doubt that this partnership will help our customers maintain extremely high margins in both regards.
HAZON DMS was launched as a fleet management software in May of this year with features such as operations planning, flight logging, maintenance tracking and field team reporting. HAZON leveraged decades of manned aviation experience to build the system from the ground up as a commercial operator focused program on a software as a service model.
Operating over worldwide cellular networks and satellites, the LATAS platform connects leading airspace management technologies, such as sense and avoid, geofencing and aircraft tracking, into a service package for commercial and recreational drone operators, as well as regulators and air traffic controllers. LATAS allows users to request, track and verify all flight operations from a central location and automatically report flight paths back to aviation authorities.
Hazon DMS provides a comprehensive platform for businesses to easily manage operations as they begin building out fleets of drones, said Tyler Collins, VP Airspace solutions for PrecisionHawk. By adding the capabilities of LATAS, DMS users can now deliver the level of visibility and safety that commercial clients expect when deploying drone technology.
HAZON remains focused on adding features that will help our users increase their safety margins or their operating efficiencies, hopefully both, said Culler. A partnership with PrecisionHawk was a natural next step, we believe LATAS adds value today and will add outsized value as beyond line of sight flying transitions out of research and into production.
About HAZON Solutions
Based in Virginia Beach, HAZON Solutions is the leading U.S. developer of small unmanned systems operations, capability development, training, safety and testing programs. The mission of HAZON Solutions is to conduct, support, develop and validate small unmanned systems operations. Our goal is to provide unmatched quality, safety and value to our customers. HAZON has deep roots in naval carrier aviation and intelligence systems. The company's leadership team has more than 100 years of cumulative command and operations experience in the most challenging and hostile aerial environments in the world. Its members share a common background of flying fighter jets from aircraft carriers. HAZON CEO David Culler, Jr., spent 26 years flying for the United States Navy, capping off his career as the Commanding Officer of Norfolk Naval Station, the world's largest naval base. For more information visit www.hazonsolutions.com.
About PrecisionHawk
PrecisionHawk is a leading provider of advanced commercial drone technologies. The company, founded in 2010, is privately held and located in Raleigh, NC. PrecisionHawks client list of Fortune 500 companies and market-leading innovators spans 150 countries and the company has existing operations across six continents. PrecisionHawk is funded by leading venture capital firms and global technology investors including Intel Capital, Millennium Technology Value Partners, Verizon Ventures, a subsidiary of USAA, NTT Docomo Ventures, Yamaha Motor, DuPont and Indiana University. More information about PrecisionHawk can be found at www.precisionhawk.com or on Twitter @PrecisionHawk.


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<title>11 nips-2012-A Marginalized Particle Gaussian Process Regression</title>

nips nips2012 nips2012-11 nips2012-11-reference knowledge-graph by maker-knowledge-mining

11 nips-2012-A Marginalized Particle Gaussian Process Regression

Source: pdf

Author: Yali Wang, Brahim Chaib-draa

Abstract: We present a novel marginalized particle Gaussian process (MPGP) regression, which provides a fast, accurate online Bayesian filtering framework to model the latent function. Using a state space model established by the data construction procedure, our MPGP recursively filters out the estimation of hidden function values by a Gaussian mixture. Meanwhile, it provides a new online method for training hyperparameters with a number of weighted particles. We demonstrate the estimated performance of our MPGP on both simulated and real large data sets. The results show that our MPGP is a robust estimation algorithm with high computational efficiency, which outperforms other state-of-art sparse GP methods. 1

reference text

[1] C. E. Rasmussen, C. K. I. Williams, Gaussian Process for Machine learning, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2006.

[2] E. Snelson, Z. Ghahramani, Sparse gaussian processes using pseudo-inputs, in: NIPS, 2006, pp. 1257–1264.

[3] M. L.-Gredilla, J. Q.-Candela, C. E. Rasmussen, A. R. F.-Vidal, Sparse spectrum gaussian process regression, Journal of Machine Learning Research 11 (2010) 1865–1881.

[4] S. Reece, S. Roberts, An introduction to gaussian processes for the kalman filter expert, in: FUSION, 2010.

[5] R. M. Neal, Monte carlo implementation of gaussian process models for bayesian regression and classification, Tech. rep., Department of Statistics, University of Toronto (1997).

[6] D. J. C. MacKay, Introduction to gaussian processes, in: Neural Networks and Machine Learning, 1998, pp. 133–165.

[7] M. P. Deisenroth, Efficient reinforcement learning using gaussian processes, Ph.D. thesis, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (2010).

[8] J. Liu, M. West, Combined parameter and state estimation in simulation-based filtering, in: Sequential Monte Carlo Methods in Practice, 2001, pp. 197–223.

[9] P. Li, R. Goodall, V. Kadirkamanathan, Estimation of parameters in a linear state space model using a Rao-Blackwellised particle filter, IEE Proceedings on Control Theory and Applications 151 (2004) 727–738.

[10] N. Kantas, A. Doucet, S. S. Singh, J. M. Maciejowski, An overview of squential Monte Carlo methods for parameter estimation in general state space models, in: 15 th IFAC Symposium on System Identification, 2009.

[11] A. Doucet, N. de Freitas, K. Murphy, S. Russell, Rao-Blackwellised particle filtering for dynamic Bayesian networks, in: UAI, 2000, pp. 176–183.

[12] N. de Freitas, Rao-Blackwellised particle filtering for fault diagnosis, in: IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, 2002, pp. 1767–1772.

[13] T. Sch¨ n, F. Gustafsson, P.-J. Nordlund, Marginalized particle filters for mixed linear/nonlinear o state-space models, IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing 53 (2005) 2279 – 2289.

[14] J. Ko, D. Fox, Gp-bayesfilters: Bayesian filtering using gaussian process prediction and observation models, in: IROS, 2008, pp. 3471–3476.

[15] M. P. Deisenroth, R. Turner, M. F. Huber, U. D. Hanebeck, C. E. Rasmussen, Robust filtering and smoothing with gaussian processes, IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control.

[16] I. DiMatteo, C. R. Genovese, R. E. Kass, Bayesian Curve Fitting with Free-Knot Splines, Biometrika 88 (2001) 1055–1071.

[17] S. A. Wood, Bayesian mixture of splines for spatially adaptive nonparametric regression, Biometrika 89 (2002) 513–528.  9

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Die Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG mit Sitz in Ennepetal ist ein familiengeführter Hersteller und Lieferant von Autoersatzteilen. Unter der Dachmarke Bilstein Group verbindet das Unternehmen die Produktmarken Febi, SWAG und Blue Print.

Organisation und Geschäftsfelder
Die Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG leitet sämtliche in- und ausländischen Niederlassungen und Produktionsstätten (aktuell 21 internationale Tochtergesellschaften). Geschäftsfeld ist der Automotive Aftermarket, den das Unternehmen derzeit mit mehr als 60.000 verschiedenen Ersatzteilen für PKW und NKW beliefert. Als eigener Geschäftszweig stellt die bilstein group Engineering, die Präzisionstechnik der Ferdinand Bilstein, neben Produkten für den Automotive Aftermarket auch Bauteile für verschiedene Industriezweige her, darunter Antriebs- und Getriebetechnik. Die Leistungsbereiche umfassen  Materialbeschaffung und -analyse, Werkzeugbau, Zerspanung und Härterei bis hin zur computergestützten Qualitätsdokumentation. In der Serienproduktion werden pro Artikel jährliche Stückzahlen zwischen 500 und 200.000 gefertigt.

Geschichte
Das Unternehmen wurde 1844 von Ferdinand Daniel Bilstein unter dem Namen "Ferdinand Bilstein" gegründet. Produziert wurden zunächst Spezialwerkzeuge und Gerätschaften für die Eisenindustrie. Ab 1882 wurden auch gedrehte Schrauben, Muttern und Façonstücke hergestellt. Mit der Fertigung des patentierten "febi Federbolzens", der auf der Automobilmesse in Berlin 1921 erstmals vorgestellt wurde, gelang der Einstieg in den freien Ersatzteilmarkt und die Erstausrüstung der Automobilindustrie. Ab 1937 entwickelte und vertrieb Ferdinand Bilstein erste Reparatursätze für Achsschenkelbolzen. In den 1950er Jahren wurde der  Ausbau der Produktionsstätten für PKW- und NKW-Teile verstärkt betrieben. Neben Federbolzensätzen wurden am Standort Ennepetal auch Rad- und Achsbolzen gefertigt.

Im Jahr 1956 wurde das selbständige Zweigwerk Bilstein & Siekermann GmbH & Co. KG durch Ferdinand Hermann Bilstein und Arnold Siekermann in der Eifel gegründet. Noch im gleichen Jahr begann die Errichtung der ersten Fertigungshalle, für deren Bestückung Maschinen aus Ennepetal ausgelagert wurden. Mit ihnen wurden vor allem Verschlussschrauben und Muttern für namhafte Automobilhersteller gefertigt.
Die Eigentümerfamilien Bilstein & Siekermann entscheiden sich 2003, ihre Anteile an der Bilstein & Siekermann an die Indus Holding zu verkaufen.

Durch die ständige Ausweitung der Handelswaren fokussierte sich das Unternehmen zunehmend auf den Aftermarket. Rolf Bilstein intensivierte das Handelsgeschäft, nachdem er 1971 die Geschäftsführung übernommen hatte. Zusammen mit Dieter Siekermann erweiterte er das Produktangebot kontinuierlich. In den folgenden drei Jahrzehnten wuchs das Unternehmen stetig und die Umsatzzahlen stiegen von 5 Millionen D-Mark (1971) bis zu Rolf Bilsteins Eintritt in den Ruhestand (2007) auf 250 Millionen Euro. Sein Nachfolger war Karsten Schüßler-Bilstein, dem seit 2010 Dieter Siekermanns Sohn Jan Siekermann zur Seite steht.

Durch den Zukauf der SWAG Autoteile GmbH im Jahr 2000 konnte das Unternehmen eine gleichwertige Alternative zur bekannten Marke febi etablieren. 2011 wurde das britische Unternehmen ADL (Automotive Distributors Ltd.) mit der Marke Blue Print übernommen. Zum Start der Automechanika 2012 implementierte die Ferdinand Bilstein die Dachmarke bilstein Group, unter der die drei Produktmarken febi, SWAG und Blue Print gleichwertig nebeneinander stehen.

Im Sommer 2017 übernahm die Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG die im baden-württembergischen Durmersheim ansässigen Kupplungshersteller KM Autotechnik Kary + Mangler zu 100 Prozent. Dessen Kupplungskompetenz "wird unter den Produktmarken febi (für NKW) und Blue Print (für PKW) konsolidiert".

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks
 Offizielle Website – Bilstein Group
 Website – Febi
 Website – SWAG Autoteile
 Website – Blue Print

Automobilzulieferer
Großhandelsunternehmen
Produzierendes Unternehmen (Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis)
Organisation (Ennepetal)
Gegründet 1844
Handelsunternehmen (Deutschland)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Honda recently issued a recall concerning 344,000 Odyssey minivans from model years 2007 to 2008, according to USA Today. Reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) state that issues with the Vehicle Safety Assist System (VSA) in the minivans can cause the brakes to be applied unexpectedly.
Problems with both the software and system's components have been found to be the cause of the malfunction. After the engine is restarted, hydraulic pressure can build up within the braking system. When this pressure is suddenly released, the vehicles can brake hard without the driver pressing on the brake pedal. Additionally, brake lights will not illuminate during this unwanted braking, increasing the likelihood that the vehicle will be rear-ended by other drivers.
Honda has stated that it has not currently received any reports of crashes or injuries related to the defect.
To remedy the defect, the automaker will replace a sensor within the car. However, the parts needed for the recall will not be available until Spring 2014. As such, Honda will send owners a letter with instructions concerning how to prevent the braking issue in December 2013. A second notification will be issued when the parts are available.
Honda can be contacted about this recall at: (800) 999-1009. This recall is identified by recall number JC5.
In the event that you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a vehicle defect, it is important that you better understand your legal options. Call for a no-cost consultation with the brake defect lawyers at Blume Forte at (973) 635-5400.


This summer, I introduced the Quick & Kosher Summer Recipe Series. The response to these seasonal recipes was so fantastic, I've decided to keep the momentum going with Quick & Kosher Cooking for Autumn. After all, the breezes are cooler, the leaves are turning, and we're packing up our sukkahs for the year. OK – some of us are diligently packing away our sukkahs. The rest of us are nagging a certain someone to get around to it. The goal is to get the s'chach stashed before the first snow.
Fruits: Apples, cranberries, figs, grapes (early fall), limes, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, and quinces.
Vegetables: Artichokes, arugula, beets, Belgian endive, broccoli, broccoli raab (rapini) Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac/celery root, celery, chard, chicories, chiles, curly endive (frisee), edamame, eggplant, escarole, fennel, garlic, green beans, green onions (scallions), horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lemongrass, lettuce, wild mushrooms, okra, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radicchio, radishes, rutabagas, shallots, shelling beans, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatillos, turnips, winter squash, zucchini, and herbs including rosemary, parsley, thyme and sage.
Have you been cooking with Autumn produce yet? Let me know what delicious dishes are bubbling on your stovetop!


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Electrochemical and optical biosensors for early-stage cancer diagnosis by using graphene and graphene oxide
Aditya Balaji1 &
Jin Zhang1,2
Cancer Nanotechnology volume 8, Article number: 10 (2017) Cite this article
Conventional instruments for cancer diagnosis including magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography scan, are expensive and require long-waiting time, whilst the outcomes have not approached to the successful early-stage diagnosis yet. Due to the special properties of graphene-based nanocomposites, e.g., good electrical and thermal conductivity, luminescence, and mechanic flexibility, these ultra-thin two-dimensional nanostructures have been extensively used as platforms for detecting biomolecules and cells. Herein, we discuss the development of two types of graphene and graphene oxide-based biosensors: electrochemical and optical, aimed for tumor detection and early diagnosis of cancer. Moreover, we highlight the challenges of their use as biosensors for cancer detection. Efficient surface modification and suitable bio-conjugation of graphene and graphene oxide is discussed, including key role in improvement of the biocompatibility, and improved performance in terms of selectivity and sensitivity towards the early diagnosis of cancer.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), over 8.8 million people worldwide died from cancer in 2015, and it represents the first main cause of death in the United States (Forouzanfar et al. 2016). Cancer is caused by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer cells can evade apoptosis as these malignant tumor cells keep dividing and undergo different stages (Herr 2011). Firstly, there is proto-oncogenesis that initiates the cell division and mutation of these genes that generate cancer-related genes. Secondly, mutated tumor suppressor genes lead to the cancer formation. Thirdly, mutations of gene regulated on apoptosis tend to be carcinogenic. Lastly, mutations of the DNA repairing genes also increase the chances of leading to cancer. These mutations that occur may arise from deletion, duplication, or insertion of the nucleotides (Ecsedy and Hunter 2008). General cancer treatment techniques are normally associated with delineating the cancer cells at the early stages like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Therefore, diagnosis of cancer is vital for timely individuating an effective cancer treatment. However, traditional diagnostic tools, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and X-ray scan, are expensive and normally require a long-waiting time to access fullstop. Furthermore, traditional diagnostic tools require several million cells for accurate clinical diagnosis, which is far to reach the success for any early diagnostics of cancer (Hsieh et al. 2016). The challenges of early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer requires a sensitive sensor to detect small amount of samples with high sensitivity and selectivity. For instance, an ideal molecular imaging is expected to correctly diagnose early-stage tumor of approximately 100–1000 cells (Ecsedy and Hunter 2008).
Nanoparticles with average particles size in the range from 1 to 100 nm have been considered as an alternative tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy at early stage as they have special physiochemical size-dependent properties (SalmanOgli 2011; Chinen et al. 2015). Quite recently, graphene and graphene oxide, the ultra-thin two-dimensional nanomaterials, have attracted extensive attention because of their unique structure and remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical properties. More studies have shown that nanoparticles incorporating with graphene or graphene oxide could show great potentials for sensing cancer biomarkers or cells at very low concentration, and realizing targeted treatment (Feng et al. 2013; Ma et al. 2013).
In this review, recent key findings of the hybrid graphene-based biosensor for detecting cancer cells are summarized. Surface modification of hybrid graphene/graphene oxide used in electrochemical biosensors and optical biosensors for detecting cancer biomarkers or cancer cells is addressed.
Graphene and graphene OXIDE and surface modifications
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon which forms a 2D, atomic scale hexagonal lattice and it is able to effectively conduct heat and electricity. The electron configuration of carbon is1s 22s 22p 2. In the excited state, four equivalent quantum–mechanical states are formed through the sp n hybridisation, which plays an essential role in four covalent carbon bonds. The stability of graphene is dependent on how tightly packed carbon atoms are from the sp 2 hybridization. Graphene is a zero-gap semiconductor due to the conduction and valence band meet at the Dirac points (Nair et al. 2008). Fascinating properties of graphene arise from its high surface area combined with electronic and thermal conductivity and its mechanical strength. Due to the material's high surface area-to-volume ratio and high conductivity, it leads to significant improvements in many applications (Zurutuza et al. 2014).
Due to the unique microstructures, graphene demonstrates special and always enhanced physiochemical properties. For instance, the Young's modulus and the intrinsic strength of graphene are around 1 TPa and 130 GPa, respectively. The room temperature electron mobility of graphene is 2.5 × 105 cm2 V−1 s−1. The thermal conductivity of the graphene is above 3000 W mK−1 (Nair et al. 2008). Graphene has been used to fabricate flexible electronics (Gorbachev et al. 2012), high-frequency transistors, and logic transistor (Britnell et al. 2012). In addition, single-layer and double-layer graphene products normally show optical transparency of 98% (Li et al. 2008a). With suitable design, graphene layers can become transparent simultaneously at high drive voltage. Recent studies show that graphene can be applied in electrochemical and optical biosensors to detect small amounts of cancer biomarkers (Ma et al. 2013).
Hummer's approach is the most common one for the synthesis of graphene sheets from graphene oxide as shown in Fig. 1 (Yin et al. 2015; Li et al. 2008b; Chen et al. 2013; Toh et al. 2014; Zhu et al. 2010). The reduced form of graphene oxide is graphene through an oxidizing agent, like hydrazine or ascorbic acid.
(The copyright permission is obtained from Wei et al. (2015))
a The chemical process of graphene oxide and Graphene. b Schematic illustration where a low graphene oxide (GO) concentration exhibits a high adsorption of proteins in the left depiction. The right depiction illustrates a high GO concentration with low adsorption of proteins
The oxygen functional groups on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) provide good sites for myriad of interactions for linking molecules such as polymers, nanoparticles (NPs). In GO, the associated functional groups are epoxy bridges, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups. Due to the disruption of sp 2 bonding, it acts as an electrical insulator. The advantages of using GO for enzyme immobilization induce many explorations of its properties and applications where techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), could be used to view the immobilized structure (Yin et al. 2015; Li et al. 2008b; Chen et al. 2013; Toh et al. 2014; Zhu et al. 2010). Different enzymes have been used to modify the surface of graphene oxide. The adsorption efficiency is dependent on the material concentration and the protein concentration as the correlation (1)
$$\text{AE}= W_{\text{ad}} /W_{\text{g}},$$
where AE represents the adsorption efficiency, W ad represents the qualitative measure of the adsorbed protein, and W g represents the qualitative measure of GO (Wei et al. 2015).
The relationship between the material and the protein complex is shown in Fig. 1b. The synthesis of graphene sheets can be done using the Hummer's approach (Yin et al. 2015; Li et al. 2008b; Chen et al. 2013; Toh et al. 2014; Zhu et al. 2010). Graphene Oxide (GO) is produced from graphite oxide and can be derived from one of the famous processes via the Hummer's Method as shown in Fig. 1. The reduced form of graphene oxide is graphene through an oxidizing agent, like hydrazine or ascorbic acid. Overall, using the Hummer's approach achieves the yield of both compounds.
Graphene and graphene oxide with suitable surface modifications have been applied in the bio-conjugation studies aimed for cancer cells detection. Table 1 lists major recognizing elements modified on graphene-based nanomaterials and targeted molecules related to cancer cells.
Table 1 Target molecule and common recognizing elements modified on graphene/graphene oxide for detecting cancer cells
Graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for cancer cell detection
Electrochemical mechanism
The electrochemical design consists of a three-electrode system: the working electrode (WE), the counter electrode (CE), and the reference electrode (RE). The electrolyte plays a vital role in having a chemical substance conjugating and doping onto the specific material. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) is where the voltage gets tested between the reference electrode and the working electrode Another electrochemical technique involved is the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) where the applications range from studying the corrosion of metals, adsorption, and desorption to electrode surface, electrochemical synthesis of materials, catalytic reaction kinetics, and ions mobility in energy storage devices such as batteries and supercapacitors (Chang and Park 2010). EIS technology can distinguish the electrochemical behavior between the coating and the metal substrate through the use of built in electrical circuits such as resistors and capacitors (Gan et al. 2015; Chang and Park 2010; Orazem et al. 2011).
Graphene-based biosensors for detecting cancer cells by using electrochemistry
Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA 1) gene is a tumor suppressor gene that is expressed in breast cells and other tissues. Mutations associated with this gene lead to high risk of breast cancer. This technology implemented can detect the concentration level of BRCA 1 levels within the human body. Breast Cancer 2 (BRCA 2) gene is another tumor suppressor gene that is expressed. Mutations associated with BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 resulted in 54 and 23% for ovarian cancer, respectively (King et al. 2003; Futreal et al. 1994).
Figure 2 indicates the electrochemical sensor for detecting BRCA 1 gene, the target DNA (DNA-t). First graphene-decorated glass carbon electrode (GCE) is modified with single-strand DNA sequence (DNA-c) to hybridize the target DNA (DNA-t). The hybridization of probe DNA (DNA-r) modified on Au nanoparticles (NPs) will occur on the surface of graphene-decorated GCE. The amount of Au NP conjugated on the graphene modified electrode can result in the increase of the oxidation peaks in CV measurement (Rasheed et al. 2014). This designed electrochemical sensor could detect 1 fM BRCA1 gene which is the biomarker of breast cancer.
(Copyright permission is obtained from Rasheed et al. (2014))
CV results from different concentrations of DNA-t
Another design on the three-electrode cell is established where the working/sensing electrodes consist of modified MDEAs, Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, and BSA/anti-CRP antibodies/MPA/rGO-NP/ITO on the counter electrode. Eight circular electrodes are immersed onto one Indium Titanium Oxide electrode (Feng et al. 2011).
Using the chronoamperometry analysis, the redox current had a linear proportion with increasing DNA-t concentration. When 10 fM of DNA-t was deposited, it showed a high current value as opposed to 3 mM DNA-t. This system proved that the sensor is selective towards DNA and can be utilized for detecting mismatches in BRCA 1 gene mutations as shown in Fig. 3 (Rasheed et al. 2014).
(Copyright permission is obtained from Feng et al. (2011))
Schematic illusion of the biosensor made by aptamer/DNA depositing on graphene
The detection capability of the GCE/Gr/DNA-c|DNA-t|DNA-r.AuNP with different DNA-t concentrations was monitored at 1.1 V. With an increase in concentration of DNA-t, the change was detectable up to 100 aM DNA-t (Rasheed et al. 2014).
The EIS technique helps in detecting the electrode surface composition by monitoring the electron transfer resistance (R et). From different compositions involved where Nafion was used to immobilize the nanocomposite layer, a lower R et value was achieved compared to the involvement of using an aptamer. With higher impedance value, cancer cell detection based on aptamer-graphene-modified electrode is suited the best as shown in Fig. 4. The technique implemented provides the high binding affinity of AS 1411 to the nucleolin surface of cancer cells. The EIS assists in indicating the affinity level of the aptamer to the cancer cells compared to normal cells (Feng et al. 2011).
(Copyright permission is obtained from Yagati et al. (2016))
Schematic illustration of the graphene oxide with surface modification used as an electrode in a three-electrode cell
HeLa cells, K 562 cells, MDA 231 cells, and NIH 3T3 cells were tested in this work. The cells were measured using EIS and found that the breast cancer cell line, MDA-231, had the highest R et value. From this, the conclusion is that the MDA-231 cells monitored the cancer cells much better than the other type of cells using the cell culture technique (Feng et al. 2011).
The EIS technique is also essential for the impedance detection of C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Different concentrations of the CRP were coated onto the electrode with respect to anti-CRP antibodies. The increase in binding affinity of CRP with anti-CRP instigated the increase in R ct. With a higher impedance value, it can be driven that the surface-modified species is immobilized onto the electrode as shown in Fig. 4 (Yagati et al. 2016).
The detection capability of the GCE/Gr/DNA-c|DNA-t|DNA-r.AuNP with different DNA-t concentrations was monitored at 1.1 V. With an increase in concentration of DNA-t, the change was detectable up to 100aM DNA-t (Rasheed et al. 2014).
Graphene-based optical biosensors for cancer cell detection
Mechanism of optical biosensors
For optical sensors, different types of mechanisms involving energy transfers are involved such as Forster Resonance Energy Transfer, Fluorescence Energy Transfer, Resonance Energy Transfer, or Electronic Energy Transfer (Chang and Park 2010). Theodor Forster developed this technique where the mechanism influences energy transfers between two light-sensitive molecules. The energy transfer mechanisms involve when a donor chromophore is in its high excitation state and energy is transferred to the acceptor chromophore through dipole–dipole interactions (Chang and Park 2010; Orazem et al. 2011). The criteria for the stated energy mechanisms involve the distance between the donor and acceptor chromophore, and the orientation of the chromophores. The methods used in these energy transfers help in identifying how surface modification will take place. The FRET mechanism is between two fluorophores used as donor (D) and acceptor (A). The energy transfer efficiency (E, i.e., the fraction of energy transferred) is reverse proportional to the distance of two fluorophores as shown in Eq. 2.
$$E = \frac{1}{{\left[ {1 + \left( {\frac{r}{{R_{o} }}} \right)^{6} } \right]}},$$
where r is the distance between two fluorophores and R 0 the distance at which 50% E was achieved. R 0 is a characteristic parameter for given partners at given medium.
Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (CRET) is another technique used when non-radiative energy source is used to transfer energy from the donor chromophore to the acceptor chromophore. Chemiluminescence (CL) is one of the techniques implemented to generate electromagnetic radiation by which the excited product initiates back to its original state before the excitation. Using the CRET methods, immunosensors can be established in receptiveness to the C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. CRP measure levels can differentiate between the normal and serious conditions. (Gupta et al. 2014; Masters 2014; Beljonne et al. 2009; Zhu 2015; Huang et al. 2006). This is one of the other unique techniques implemented on the surface modification on graphene oxide or graphene.
The other technique implemented to explain the use of the optical sensors is the photothermal therapy, often referred to as PTT. It uses electromagnetic radiation within the infrared region to treat medical conditions, such as the elimination of the tumor cells. Using PTT has better advantages than using PDT as oxygen is not involved to interact with the target cells or tissues and lower energy is used, thus minimizing the cytotoxicity of the cells. Photothermal therapy has been a novel technique in eliminating the defects of chemotherapy (Chen et al. 2016).
Design of graphene-based optical probe for cancer cell detection
Here, we are focusing on two major optical biosensors, i.e., Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), Chemiluminescence Energy Resonance Transfer (CRET).
FRET and CRET are non-radiation fluorescence. The distance-dependent energy resonance transfer between donor and acceptor makes them offer great benefits in accurately detecting biomolecules/cells in vivo and in vitro.
Fluorescent amino acid (histidine)-functionalized perylenediimide (PDI-HIS) is a technique where the "turn-off and turn-on" can detect Cu2+ ions. The disaggregation of PDI-HIS-Cu2+ of the fluorescence quenching helps detect the PPi levels (Muthuraj et al. 2015).
A unique optical approach on detecting the concentration of pyrophosphate (PPi) has a direct correlation with the cancer diagnosis. The fabrication technique of using the fluorescent probe of PDI-HIS, copper ion, and graphene oxide (GO) which enhances the selectivity and sensitivity for detecting PPi, a cancer biomarker (Muthuraj et al. 2015). The results show that the self-assembled nanocomposites made of PCG (PDI-His + GO + Cu2+) have a low detection limit (LOD), 1fM, for PPi in comparison to PDI-HIS-Cu2+.
The B16F10 cells were used with GO-based composites to detect the concentration of PPi. After incubation time, the B16F10 cells treated with 300 μg mL−1 of PDI-HIS give a red fluorescence. The addition of Cu2+ and GO will quench the fluorescence. PCG is much more sensitive in detecting the level of PPi than only PDI-HIS + Cu2+ (Muthuraj et al. 2015).
The overexpression of MUC1 has been noted in cancer cells with regard to features associated biochemically and functionally (Papadimitriou et al. 1999). MUC1 consists of MUC1-N and MUC1-C regions where MUC1-N is composed of proline, threonine, and serine-rich domain. In the mitochondria and nucleus, there is a detection of MUC1-C in the mitochondria and nucleus, whereas MUC1-N is detected in the nuclear speckles as shown in Fig. 5. Looking at a comparison between a normal epithelial cell and a cancer cell, one can distinguish that the tumor cell has lost its polarity where the and the increased expression of the hypoglycosylated form of MUC1 (Yu et al. 2015; Yang et al. 2013; Nath and Mukherjee 2014; Pouilly et al. 2000; Beatson et al. 2010; Mukherjee et al. 2003; Bitler et al. 2009; Sahraei et al. 2012). MUC1 is present on the surface of the tumor cells, close to the growth factors surrounding it (Chen et al. 2015). Antichemotherapy drugs are inaccessible to the targets as the glycosylated MUC1 inhibits from reaching its targets. MUC-1 has a correlation with the increase in tumor cells related to breast, ovarian, colon, lung, and prostatic cancers (Chen et al. 2015). The new novel immunotherapy instigated that the increase in MUC-1 would have to diminish by attaching it to the NK cells which makes this an anticancer method (Yu et al. 2015; Yang et al. 2013; Nath and Mukherjee 2014; Pouilly et al. 2000; Beatson et al. 2010; Mukherjee et al. 2003; Bitler et al. 2009; Sahraei et al. 2012).
(Copyright permission is obtained from Yu et al. (2015))
An amphipathic nanoparticle is attached to MUC1 and CD16 aptamers. These aptamers attach to the MUC-1 positive tumor cells and CD16 positive tumor cells that can help bring the NK cell to the vicinity of the MUC-1 positive cancer cell which acts as an anticancer cell
In addition, FRET technique by utilizing quantum dots for the chemotherapy of ovarian cancer has been reported. The FRET technique transfers energy to the drug molecule from the quantum dot (QD) as they are attached on graphene. The fluorescence emission was recorded and the quenching indicates the release of doxorubicin (DOX) from QD. A more innovative modified structure shown in Fig. 6 exhibits high anticancer efficiency by conjugating DOX on to the QD modified with a glycoprotein, e.g., MUC 1 which realizes the targeted delivery (Savla et al. 2011). Some reports show that graphene or graphene oxide-based FRET sensor incorporating the design with antibody-DNA-Au NP can be used for detecting cancer cells (Jung et al. 2010).
(Copyright permission is obtained from Li et al. (2016))
Schematic reaction of the synthesized nrGO-PEG/PEI/DOX
CRET techniques apply luminescence organic chemicals to excite an acceptor in CRET pair. The graphene-based CRET sensor has been developed for detecting the interaction between anti-C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and the C-Reactive Protein (CRP). Such immune sensor can accurately detect the C-reactive protein level. The amount of CRP with respect to the normal levels is usually less than 3 mg L−1. The concentration of CRP significantly increases when there is an infection associated with cardiovascular disease, in this case, the primary issue is focused towards Lymphoma Cancer. Higher CRP concentrations have been reported towards lung, pancreatic, breast, ovary, esophagus, liver, biliary tract, stomach, and multiple myeloma (Heikkila et al. 2007).
The new stepping stone of surface-modified Apt-PBMC and the CRP-capturing ability is examined (Hwang et al. 2016). The new innovation which drives as a stepping stone fluorescence imaging towards the detection of CRP has been examined. The new surface-modified engineering application is a new innovative idea towards cancer treatment. The Apt-PBMC complex had a recognition towards different concentrations of CRP and had an impact towards the fluorescence intensity levels. As the concentrations of the CRP increased, the fluorescence intensity increased (Hwang et al. 2016).
Conclusions and perspectives
This paper reviews the recent development of graphene and graphene oxide used for detecting cancer cells. Graphene oxide/graphene can be used as the transducer towards the application in cancer treatment because of their superior properties in terms of electronic/thermal conductivity, and special luminescence and mechanical properties. Two major biosensor systems addressed here include electrochemical and optical Sensors. The electrochemical technique delves into concepts with CV, EIS, and amperometry, the cells involved for the design to study the properties of the surface modification. The fluorescence and chemiluminescence biosensors produce different properties when exposed to the surface-modified graphene oxide/graphene. In general, graphene/graphene oxide with suitable surface modification can detect the specific interactions between the recognizing elements and target molecules for certain cancer cells. Though numerous studies on the surface modification and the different capping concentration levels have been performed, it is still not clear what are the optimal conditions for the best detection and target for cancer cells. In addition, the in vivo behavior of graphene oxide and graphene with surface modification is still under investigation. The major challenges outlined with these nanomaterials: (i) biocompatibility in vivo distribution, (ii) chemical modifications for sensing applications and cell membrane penetration, (iii) understanding of in vitro and in vivo toxicity profiles. In conclusion, with the challenges addressed properly to produce the optimal design, the graphene-based nanomaterials will significantly benefit to the early diagnosis of cancer cells.
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AB worked on the draft of the manuscript. JZ outlined the manuscript and was responsible for design and coordination. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
Aditya Balaji & Jin Zhang
Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada
Jin Zhang
Aditya Balaji
Correspondence to Jin Zhang.
Balaji, A., Zhang, J. Electrochemical and optical biosensors for early-stage cancer diagnosis by using graphene and graphene oxide. Cancer Nano 8, 10 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12645-017-0035-z
Protein–protein interaction (PPI)
Electrochemical sensor
Optical sensor
Nanoparticle design and manufacturing in cancer nanotechnology: challenges of drug delivery, targeted treatment and selective detection

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Have you heard about the crazy that went down on the Napa Valley Wine Train over the weekend?
So the wine train is a real thing, and my husband and I were on it about 21 years ago for our anniversary, about a decade too early for my tastebuds to fully appreciate what I could've been drinking. It's literally a train that goes through Napa Valley, and you can eat and drink your way through it. It is a bar on wheels. How loud do you have to be to be too loud on a bar on wheels, especially if you are with a group of your reading besties enjoying a good book discussion?
Well, apparently it's not about being loud. It's about WHO is being loud and WHO thinks you are too loud. This is not surprising to some of us, but that doesn't make it any less humiliating, wrong, and racist.
The CEO has issued an apology, and here is where I brought in my love for manuscript Bible study and intersected it with … my life as a Korean American woman of color who pays attention to what happens to other women of color. I looked at the apology and started marking it up with comments, questions, observations. I'm sorry for the quality of the photo, and you may see that the text didn't fully print on the right margin – user error. But you can get the gist of it. Public relations folks might call it spin. I call it #codeswitching – where otherwise neutral words are used to describe a situation where more precise language connected to race, gender, sexuality, etc. could be used.
For example, when a group of women of color are referred to as "those people" as a way of minimizing the negative racial/ethnic implications of the comment without actually pointing out the obvious.
So that apology to the Sistahs on the Reading Edge Book Club? There is a lot of code-switching going on.
I haven't figured out my emotions in response to this situation and to the apology. What I know is that growing up as one of the few Asian Americans in my community I had a different standard of behavior I needed to live up to – for my parents and my Korean American community and for the white community. I had to behave and respect the norm in whichever situation I was in, aka respectability politics. Many times I still believe this is true.
Such was the case for the Sistahs of the Reading Edge.
As you read the apology, what do you read? What are the underlying, unspoken messages that stand out to you? What are the questions you have about my manuscript?


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UCCRO hosted in Kyiv a delegation from the World Council of Churches
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations met with a delegation of the World Council of Churches headed by the acting General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr. Ioan Sauca.
The meeting took place on August 3, 2022, at the St. Catherine's Lutheran Church in Kyiv.
Ukrainian religious figures spoke about the challenges to religious freedom that religious communities in many regions of Ukraine are experiencing as a result of Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. The participants discussed the problems of war crimes against religious figures and buildings. They discussed the abduction and torture of clergymen of various faiths by the Russian military, the shelling and destruction of religious buildings by Russian troops, the murder of church volunteers and activists, etc.
The meeting participants also exchanged experiences in interfaith dialogue and cooperation. The WCC General Secretary informed Ukrainian religious figures about the WCC Assembly scheduled for September this year and invited the UCCRO delegation to take part in this event with the status of observers. The Ukrainian Council of Churches accepted this invitation and delegated three representatives to participate in the WCC Assembly.
The meeting ended with an exchange of commemorative gifts and informal communication.
On the part of the UCCRO, the meeting was attended by: UCCRO Chairman, Bishop of the Ukrainian Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church Marcos Hovhannisyan, Archbishop of Chernihiv and Nizhin of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Yevstratiy (Zoria), Head of the Religious Administration of Ukrainian Muslims Sheikh Akhmed Tamim, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ukraine Stanislav Nosov, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches, the Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church, Ukrainian Pentecostal Church, and German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine.
The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Dniprov, General Director of the Directorate for internal and humanitarian policy of the Office of the President of Ukraine Pavlo Bilash, and Board Chairman of the Institute for Religious Freedom Oleksandr Zaiets.
#UCCRO #international relations


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Home/Magizhvan
Magizhvanweb-tasveer2022-04-15T06:52:46-07:00
SecondStory Hideaway, Redmond – Friday, October 23rd – 9:00 PM
Magizhvan, Mani Shankar Iyer, 2015, Tamil, 57 min
Logline: Magizhvan is the first Tamil Feature film made for LGBT community awareness based on some realistic sensible feelings prevailing among the gay community.
Synopsis: Magizhvan is the tale of two gay lovers, caught in a situation where coming out (about their relationship) seems to be the only way out. The biggest issue – they belong to different religions and come from 'orthodox', middle class families. The movie realistically journeys through their lives post this decision, emphasizing on the need for confidence, perseverance and limitless love in such relationships.
Mani Shankar Iyer has a B. Com. in Direction and Screenplay Writing. He has also worked as a Guest Lecturer in Direction department at MGR Govt. Film & Television Institute, Chennai for one year. Mani has also made four short films and four academic film projects. His short films are: I am a Gay (Hindi), Mayaathirai (Tamil), Azhagana En Charupriya (Tamil) and Maargam (Tamil).
Big Time: A Doodled Diary, Sonali Gulati, 2015, English, 12 min
Logline: A personal diary of a 13-year old girl named Maya dealing with puberty, pop culture, and her parents getting divorced. Doodled diary entries sketch an intimate journey of a teenager growing up in the 80's in India, negotiating her independence and freedom, and discovering the complexities of gender and sexuality.
Synopsis: As "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" dominates the pop charts, Maya writes in her diary everything that rocks her teenage world, from the assassination of Indira Gandhi and her parents' divorce, to the latest pimple that made its appearance. But suddenly not much else seems to matter when a new girl arrives at school. A delightful and intimate exploration of youthful obsession, budding sexuality and what it means to be a teenager, which all too often sucks, big time.
Sonali Gulati is an independent filmmaker, a feminist, grass-roots activist, and an educator. She is an Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Photography & Film. She has an MFA in Film & Media Arts from Temple University and a BA in Critical Social Thought from Mount Holyoke College. Ms. Gulati grew up in New Delhi, India and has made several short films that have screened at over three hundred film festivals worldwide.
Her films have screened at venues such as the Hirshhorn Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and at film festivals such as the Margaret Mead Film Festival, the Black Maria Film Festival and the Slamdance Film Festival. Gulati's award-winning documentary, Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night, was broadcast on television in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, The Middle East, South Asia and North Africa.
Her most recent film I Am has won 12 awards and continues to exhibit extensively in the film festival circuit. Gulati has won awards, grants, and fellowships from the Third Wave Foundation, World Studio Foundation, the Robert Giard Memorial Fellowship, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship, the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), VCU School of the Arts Faculty Award of Excellence and most recently a Guggenheim Fellowship in Film and a grant from the Creative Capital Foundation.


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cimr.eu #CIMReu
CIMRex 2019
The EU Arctic Policy
CIMR orbit (vids)
Home /The Team
MAG member
Patricia de Rosnay is leading the Coupled Assimilation Team of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Her interest is in interface observations data assimilation for NWP and reanalysis. Her Team is in charge of the developments of coupled Earth system assimilation, land surface assimilation and ocean and sea ice assimilation in the ECMWF NWP systems. She has a Ph.D degree in physics on climate modelling. She has been involved in SMOS soil moisture data assimilation activities and member of the H SAF project Team for more than 10 years. She is also a member of the WMO Global Cryosphere Watch Steering Group and co-lead of the WMO SnowWatch Team.
Georg Heygster has lead for many years the group Remote Sensing of Polar Regions at the Institute of Environmental Physics of the University of Bremen, Germany. He is now a free consultant for the same institute, continuing his activities on remote sensing sea ice and atmospheric parameters form satellite observations such as passive and active microwave sensors, and optical sensors. Many of the parameters are daily available. Their development has been funded in many EU, ESA, and national funded projects.
Jacob L. Høyer works at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in Copenhagen. He has worked many years with satellite observation of sea surface temperature, ice surface temperatures and sea ice in the high latitudes within Copernicus CMEMS and EUMETSAT OSI-SAF. Recently he has been responsible for developing the first European global climate data record of SST from Passive Microwave (PMW) observations (AMSR-E and AMSR-2) within the ESA CCI program. He is a member of the Sentinel 3 SLSTR Quality Working Group, S3 Cal/Val Team and the GHRSST science team. In the Copernicus CMEMS SST TAC project he is responsible for producing operational SST products for the Arctic ocean and occasionally goes to the field (Arctic) to collect some in situ observations. Follow Jacob on twitter: @JacobHoeyer
Thomas Lavergne is at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute in Oslo. Thomas is engaged in several operational polar sea ice monitoring services including EUMETSAT OSI SAF, Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) where he processes near real time satellite Passive Microwave data into maps of sea ice concentration, and sea ice drift. His main interest is in designing and improving algorithms to yield better operational sea ice products. Follow Thomas on Twitter: @lavergnetho.
Maria Piles is at the Image Processing Laboratory, Universitat de València. She is a Telecommunication Engineer, and has a Ph.D. in signal theory and communications (2010), from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, mastering in remote sensing. She has wide experience in the retrieval of the water content in soils and vegetation from low-frequency microwaves, and has been actively involved within the scientific activities of the ESA's SMOS and the NASA's SMAP missions. She is now a member of CIMR Mission Advisory Group. Her research interests include microwave remote sensing, estimation of soil moisture and vegetation biogeophysical parameters, and the development of multi-sensor techniques for enhanced retrievals with focus on agriculture, forestry, wildfire prediction, extreme detection, and climate studies. Since 2015, she is leading the Spanish chapter of IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society.
Catherine Prigent is a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris Observatory. She is a telecommunication engineer and has a PhD in physics. She worked at NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, for several years. She is affiliated scientist at the Water Center at Columbia University, New York. Her research covers satellite remote sensing of the Earth, for both surface and atmosphere characterization at global scale, using multiple satellite observations. It includes 'all weather' retrievals of land and sea surface temperatures, inundation extent, or soil moisture with passive microwaves. She has been involved in many NASA, ESA or CNES projects. In the CIMR project, her interest is in the development of retrieval methods that fully benefit from the large range of observed frequencies, for ocean, ice, and land parameters.
Nicolas Reul is an oceanographer at IFREMER/ Laboratory for Ocean Physics and Satellite remote sensing (LOPS), France. Since 2000, he has been leading research and development activities around the satellite remote sensing of sea surface salinity from low-frequency microwave radiometers. He is co-principal investigator of the ESA/Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) mission since 2014, leading Expert Support Laboratories dedicated to the ocean side of the mission for ESA and for the CNES/Centre Aval de Traitement des données SMOS (CATDS), the French ground segment for the SMOS Level 3 and 4 data. He also conducts research on ocean surface measurements from space in extreme wind conditions (Hurricanes), Air Sea Interactions, Sea Surface Waves, fluid Mechanics and electromagnetism. See his CV here.
Gunnar Spreen works at the University of Bremen, Germany, were his research group is developing new methods for satellite remote sensing of polar regions. A strong focus is on remote sensing of sea ice properties from microwave radiometers. Currently sea ice concentration, thin ice thickness and multiyear ice concentration data are produced on a daily basis in addition to melt pond fraction from optical sensors (www.seaice.uni-bremen.de and http://www.meereisportal.de). Satellite measurements are validated using ground-based and airborne field observations. Gunnar's main interest is improving remote sensing datasets and use them for a better understanding of climate processes in Polar Regions.
Rasmus Tonboe is at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in Copenhagen. Rasmus is engaged in the development of the operational polar sea ice monitoring service the EUMETSAT OSI SAF processing near real time satellite data. His research interests include microwave and infrared remote sensing of sea ice in particular modelling of thermal emission and backscatter from sea ice and the use of forward model inversion for estimating sea ice snow cover, and other properties. He has field work experience, operating radiometers in the field, snow and sea ice sampling, and installing meteorological monitoring stations on sea ice. He is a member of ESA's MetOp SG MWI and ICI science advisory group and he is part of the ISSI virtual sea ice mission project for building a community sea ice emission model. During the one year 2015/16 he was a visiting scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Follow Rasmus on Twitter: @RasmusTonboe
ESA member
Craig Donlon is the Principal Scientist for Oceans and Sea Ice at the European Space Agency, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. He received a Ph.D. Oceanography (1994) Department of Oceanography, University of Southampton, UK and a B.Sc. First class (Hon) in 1998 at Department of Environmental Science, University of Lancaster, UK. He worked at the Met Office UK for 5 years in the Oceanography Section, the University of Colorado, USA as an Assistant Research Professor, and at the European Commission Joint Research Centre Italy for 5 years in the Institute for Environment and Sustainability. He was coordinator for the WMO/IOC Joint Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology with expert teams in sea ice, Ocean forecasting systems, wind waves and storm surges, marine safety information services, Marine emergency and response. His main interests in remote sensing of oceans and ice, operational oceanographic service delivery, oceanographic application of satellite data, development of satellite era climate data records of sea surface temperature and sea ice, design, construction, calibration and deployment of sea-going infrared radiometer systems, and validation of satellite ocean data sets. Craig is the Mission Scientist for the Copernicus Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 Missions, and for the CIMR mission. Find him on Twitter.
Dr. Felice Vanin studied electrical engineering and have a Ph.D. in applied electromagnetics; in 2004, he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship issued by United States Department of International Education to study at the University of Maryland. He is now with the European Space Agency Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Noordwijk, The Netherlands, where he is a part of the Copernicus program of the Earth Observation directorate. Dr. Vanin is working for Sentinel 3 and CIMR satellites as the instruments manager of the Sentinel 3 microwave altimeter (SRAL) and microwave radiometer (MWR), and as CIMR system engineer. His main interests are in the area of design and techniques of microwave passive components (e.g. filters, multiplexers, OMT) and satellite payload architectures.
This website is a focal point for scientific community support to the CIMR mission. It is run by MET Norway, with input from the CIMR Expert Team.


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Popular topic:
Stephen Hawking quotes
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
Life would be tragic if it weren't funny.
I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.
The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired.
Science is not only a disciple of reason but, also, one of romance and passion.
The universe is governed by science. But science tells us that we can't solve the equations, directly in the abstract.
We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.
Quiet people have the loudest minds.
Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe? The usual approach of science of constructing a mathematical model cannot answer the questions of why there should be a universe for the model to describe. Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?
It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination. Its a crazy world out there. Be curious.
I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization that there probably is no heaven and no afterlife either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe and for that, I am extremely grateful.
The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away.
So long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator. But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator?
Stephen Hawking - Biography
Stephen William Hawking (born 8 January 1942) is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge
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Once you master the techniques of creating and optimizing evergreen content, you'll enjoy SEO and marketing perks that will last a lifetime.
The cyber world is fixated on buzzwords like "trending" and "hype." We're obsessed with the now and eager for the newest tidbits of information. A phrase heard less often is "evergreen content" – the concept of content that never loses relevancy. Evergreen content is the golden standard for marketers, as its value doesn't depreciate with age.
Every good marketer will argue for evergreen content on a site to boost search engine optimization (SEO) and increase site traffic. Creating evergreen content – and knowing how to use it effectively – is an unsung skill. Once you master the techniques of creating and optimizing evergreen content, you'll enjoy SEO perks that will last a lifetime.
Evergreen content stays relevant over time, without the need for major updates. An example of evergreen content is a page with the title, "What is SEO?" The definition of SEO won't change, so the website owner can leave this content up without making any significant changes. A page with the title, "SEO Best Practices," is not evergreen, as the author has to update it after each Google algorithm update.
Content that needs minor changes can still be evergreen. For example, if you write a blog post about how to download data into the cloud, the content would most likely remain the same. However, if a new cloud development came out, you may want to update one section to include the update. You can date stamp your change or introduce it as an editor's update. It's fast and easy to refresh evergreen content, and it stays relevant to readers.
Evergreen content is sustainable and long lasting, giving website owners returns on investment for the foreseeable future. Content such as news articles, statistics, seasonal or holiday blogs, current fashion trend articles, or other information that will become obsolete in the near future has its uses, but it doesn't have the sustainable power that evergreen content enjoys.
While updating your content to meet new standards is important to stay relevant in your field, it's also wise to incorporate solid pieces of content that will never get old. Evergreen posts should be more detailed and comprehensive than newer posts, giving readers greater value. This content presents experts with a resource to keep in their toolboxes while giving amateurs a chance to get a better grasp of topics that interest them. Evergreen content drives all types of consumers to your site – loyal customers and cold leads.
Evergreen content is more effective and efficient than standard content. Writers and content managers have to write the piece once, yet many users will read and enjoy it over time. It lightens the workload for site managers by giving value to users without having to create new content. At the same time, readers benefit from accessing information that is important and will stay relevant to them in the future.
It's important to understand that there is more to good evergreen content than simply providing content that won't become dated. Evergreen content should typically be longer than other types of content and more detailed. With longer content, you can elaborate on your subject and use more keywords, boosting SEO. You can link to more sources, which are helpful for outreach campaigns in the future. With longer posts, your content can go from a helpful blurb to the ultimate resource on the topic – one users will reference again and again.
The best evergreen content will be on a topic highly relevant to your site's niche. It should address the interests of your target audience and work as a guide on a particular subject for readers. Blog managers write evergreen content from places of authority, as experts on their subjects. It's typically better to write evergreen content for an audience of beginners instead of experts, as most people reading older content will do so to gain basic, essential information about a topic.
A great example of evergreen content is Content Marketing Institute's "What Is Content Marketing?" post. It comes up at the top of the list when you Google search the same phrase, even though the post itself is old – relatively speaking. Though the information is old, the content isn't dated; it maintains credibility due to its succinct definition of content marketing, as well as the definitive insights it gives into the topic. This post will never go out of style or become irrelevant because the definition and basic elements of content marketing will not change.
You can write a piece of killer content, but that still doesn't mean it will give readers long-lasting value. The secret to evergreen content is writing a message that will stay relevant for the long haul. You can also turn videos or infographics into evergreen content – there's nothing in the rulebook stating that evergreen content has to be a blog post or article.
The first step toward creating evergreen content is to brainstorm a topic. Your content should address a need within your industry. If you have a question and you can't find a detailed answer to it, address it in your post. If information about a topic in your niche leaves out important details, rewrite the piece with your own additions. There is always room for improvement – make your piece the new go-to for beginners in your field.
Next, develop a compelling headline. Use a resource such as Copyblogger's article on how to write magnetic headlines (an example of evergreen content!) if you need a refresher course. Your headline should explain the content within while being descriptive and catchy. If this seems like a tall order, it's because headlines are one of the most important aspects of your content. Starting with the headline instead of ending with it can help shape the rest of your article.
Write your content with SEO in mind. Make a list of topic goals and relevant keywords, using keyword research best practices to ensure you're using the best terms and phrases for your industry. Support your evergreen content with internal links embedded with keyword phrases to other pages on your site to send a signal to Google. For example, if your topic is social media marketing, optimize your headline accordingly and internal link it to anchor text to gain a position in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Be comprehensive. It should elaborate on a subject and use keywords.
Be useful. Readers can take action immediately after reading.
Make itself clear. You should outline your key points clearly.
Have a friendly but professional tone, as an expert.
Be shareable. Users can easily bookmark it for future reference or share with friends.
Contain only information that will not change over time.
Since the definition of evergreen content is content that stays relevant, you should periodically reread and update these posts. If you have a resource list, for example, check your links to ensure the resources are still active. If you learn of a significant change about a topic on which you've written, make a simple update to keep information on the cutting edge without having to write a brand new piece.
Content with consistent value helps site managers because it delivers leads and traffic for years after publication. It establishes a site as an authority on its subject and can deliver returns without much of an investment. While evergreen content may be difficult to create, it's well worth the time and research.


text:
UPDATE sourcetype SET name='ARM' WHERE name='UM';

ALTER TABLE tenant ADD COLUMN tenantConfig MEDIUMBLOB;

ALTER TABLE itemassoc DROP KEY unique_itemassoc;
ALTER TABLE itemassoc ADD UNIQUE KEY unique_itemassoc (tenantId,itemFromId,itemFromTypeId,itemToId,itemToTypeId,assocTypeId,sourceTypeId);
ALTER TABLE itemassoc MODIFY sourceInfo VARCHAR(250);


To prepare Andhra famous Purnalu, we need to gather rice, black grams and red grams and clean them with water and soak for half day.
Then grind the rice and black gram together by adding some water. Make it into semi solid batter.
After that boil the soaked red grams and keep it aside.
Now take the jaggery and grate it with the help of a grater. Then add the grated jaggery to the boiled red grams and mix everything until it is made into a paste.
Now take a thick bottomed vessel and pour oil enough for deep fry into it. Let the oil heat.
While the oil is heating keep the dishes with batter and red gram jaggery paste near the stove.
Once the oil is hot enough, take the red gram and jaggery paste into your hand and make it into a small ball, then dip it in the rice batter and then transfer it to the hot oil.
Fry the purnam until it turns brown, stir it with a ladle so that it will not burn.
You may fry around five to six stuffed sweet balls at a time depending on the size of the vessel you are using.
Repeat the same process until the stuffing paste is finished.
Place the fried balls on tissue papers to absorb the excessive oil.
Transfer them to a plate and serve.
Note : Purnalu may be served as a sweet snack. They are usually prepare for festivals as offerings to gods.
About : Purnalu consists of cereals and pulses which are rich in carbohydratess and proteins. Hence it may be considered as one of the healthy foods.


text:
Alliance Data Included in FTSE4Good Index Series for Second Consecutive Year
Ranking highlights Alliance Data's commitment to embracing change and overall business strategy in areas such as governance and risk mitigation; responsible banking and the data-driven economy; workforce development and community investment
Submitted by Alliance Data
Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced the Company has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the second consecutive year. The Index Series is designed to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, and is used by global investors interested in companies' ESG-related performance.
Alliance Data's Governance and Environment practices each received ratings of 4.0 and its Social practices received a rating of 3.0. Further, Alliance Data received a green ranking for labor standards, the highest ranking on a three-tiered scale in this category. The Company sees all of these aspects as key to long-term value creation for Alliance Data shareholders and its partners.
Created by global index and data provider FTSE Russell, the FTSE4Good Index Series uses the overall Rating from FTSE Russell's ESG Ratings and data model to select companies for inclusion. The Index Series is used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products. FTSE Russell evaluations are based on performance in areas including but not limited to sustainability, corporate governance, relationships with stakeholders and employees, health and safety, anti-corruption, and climate change. Businesses included in the FTSE4Good Index Series meet a variety of required environmental, social and governance criteria.
"In an ever-changing world, it's not enough to react – you have to fully embrace what's new and next. Our focus on embracing changes in consumer privacy, improving safeguards in credit and lending, building a diverse and inclusive workplace and using data to drive community investment are just a sample of our most recent ESG priorities," said Melisa Miller, president and CEO of Alliance Data. "2019 marks the second time Alliance Data has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series. This valuable recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to operate with integrity, transparency and purpose."
To learn more about the Company's sustainability initiatives addressing top priorities, future goals and progress, view the Alliance Data 2018 Sustainability Report.
About the FTSE4Good Index Series
Now in its 18th year, the FTSE4Good Index Series provides investors with a transparent and objective benchmark to measure the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. Companies meeting specific thresholds in relation to ESG practices are included in the Index Series. There are around 300 Indicators in the FTSE Russell ESG methodology. On average approximately 125 are applied to a company. The FTSE4Good indexes are used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.
About Alliance Data
Alliance Data® is a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. An S&P 500, FORTUNE 500 and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Alliance Data consists of businesses that together employ over 10,000 associates at more than 50 locations worldwide.
Alliance Data's card services business is a provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, and business credit card programs. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES® Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. In July 2019 Alliance Data completed the sale of its Epsilon business to Publicis Groupe. More information about Alliance Data can be found at www.AllianceData.com.
Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements.
We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise.
Contact: Shelley Whiddon, 214-494-3811, shelley.whiddon@alliancedata.com
Alliance Data® (NYSE: ADS) and its combined businesses is North America's largest and most comprehensive provider of transaction-based, data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and other emerging technologies.
Headquartered in Dallas, Alliance Data and its three businesses employ approximately 11,000 associates at more than 70 locations worldwide.
Alliance Data consists of three businesses: Alliance Data Retail Services, a leading provider of marketing-driven credit solutions; Epsilon®, a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services; and LoyaltyOne®, which owns and operates the AIR MILES® Reward Program, Canada's premier coalition loyalty program.
For more information about the company, visit our website, www.alliancedata.com, or follow us on Twitter via @AllianceData.
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