text
stringlengths 24
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#@ def delete_deployment(env):
task: delete-deployment
file: cf-deployment-concourse-tasks/bosh-delete-deployment/task.yml
input_mapping:
bbl-state: relint-envs
pool-lock: pre-dev-pool
params:
BBL_JSON_CONFIG: pool-lock/metadata
IGNORE_ERRORS: true
attempts: 3
#@ end
|
Q:
How to do a scatter plot with empty circles in Python?
In Python, with Matplotlib, how can a scatter plot with empty circles be plotted? The goal is to draw empty circles around some of the colored disks already plotted by scatter(), so as to highlight them, ideally without having to redraw the colored circles.
I tried facecolors=None, to no avail.
A:
From the documentation for scatter:
Optional kwargs control the Collection properties; in particular:
edgecolors:
The string ‘none’ to plot faces with no outlines
facecolors:
The string ‘none’ to plot unfilled outlines
Try the following:
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
import numpy as np
x = np.random.randn(60)
y = np.random.randn(60)
plt.scatter(x, y, s=80, facecolors='none', edgecolors='r')
plt.show()
Note: For other types of plots see this post on the use of markeredgecolor and markerfacecolor.
A:
Would these work?
plt.scatter(np.random.randn(100), np.random.randn(100), facecolors='none')
or using plot()
plt.plot(np.random.randn(100), np.random.randn(100), 'o', mfc='none')
A:
Here's another way: this adds a circle to the current axes, plot or image or whatever :
from matplotlib.patches import Circle # $matplotlib/patches.py
def circle( xy, radius, color="lightsteelblue", facecolor="none", alpha=1, ax=None ):
""" add a circle to ax= or current axes
"""
# from .../pylab_examples/ellipse_demo.py
e = Circle( xy=xy, radius=radius )
if ax is None:
ax = pl.gca() # ax = subplot( 1,1,1 )
ax.add_artist(e)
e.set_clip_box(ax.bbox)
e.set_edgecolor( color )
e.set_facecolor( facecolor ) # "none" not None
e.set_alpha( alpha )
(The circles in the picture get squashed to ellipses because imshow aspect="auto" ).
|
List of products by manufacturer HQ
<div > <p><span><span ><span><big><small>The world`s first and only water relaunchable trainer foil. Extremely stable and easy to fly, this closed cell ram–air foil has no bladders to inflate or replace, yet it floats on water. A third line provides the safety system and the ability to reverse launch, making it... |
Q:
Various Sums, grouped by Establishment Only
I have the following query, and I can't figure out how to get the desired result set to display.
I need this exact information, but grouped by Establishment ONLY, so that each row will have an Establishment and an appropriate sum and counts for that specific establishment. My query gives me all the correct numbers, except that it's also making me group by typeg, wdl and wdlr, which creates multiple rows for each establishment .
SELECT
'2014' ,
t6.Establishment AS 'establishment id' ,
CASE WHEN wdl > 0 THEN COUNT(wdl) END AS 'Days away cases' ,
CASE WHEN wdlr > 0 THEN COUNT(wdlr) END AS 'Days transfer cases' ,
SUM(WDL) AS 'days away',
SUM(wdlr) AS 'transfer days',
CASE WHEN typeG = 1 THEN COUNT(typeG) END AS 'Injury Count'
FROM
cairs.gics t1
LEFT JOIN
lkuEstablishment t6 ON t1.org = t6.org
WHERE
Establishment IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY
Establishment ,
t1.typeG ,
t1.WDL ,
t1.WDLR;
A:
You are not using the CASE expressions correctly. You should use them inside the aggregration functions:
SELECT '2014',
t6.Establishment as [establishment id],
SUM(CASE WHEN wdl > 0 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) as [Days away cases],
SUM(CASE WHEN wdlr > 0 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) as [Days transfer cases],
SUM(WDL) as [days away],
SUM(wdlr) as [transfer days],
SUM(CASE WHEN typeG = 1 THEN 1 ELSE 0 END) as [Injury Count]
FROM cairs.gics t1
LEFT JOIN lkuEstablishment t6
ON t1.org = t6.org
WHERE Establishment IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY t6.Establishment;
|
674 F.2d 618
109 L.R.R.M. (BNA) 3244, 93 Lab.Cas. P 13,355
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD, Petitioner,v.ILLINOIS BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, Respondent.
No. 80-2629.
United States Court of Appeals,Seventh Circuit.
Argued Sept. 28, 1981.Decided March 17, 1982.
Paul J. Spielberg, Elliott Moore-N.L.R.B., Washington, D.C., for petitioner.
Stephen S. Schulson, Ill. Bell Telephone, Chicago, Ill., for respondent.
1
Before BAUER, Circuit Judge, FAIRCHILD, Senior Circuit Judge, and BROWN, Senior District Judge.*
2
WESLEY E. BROWN, Senior District Judge.
3
Now before us is the application of the National Labor Relations Board for enforcement of its Order against the Respondent, the Illinois Bell Telephone Company. The Board found that the Company acted unlawfully in denying requests made by two of its employees for union representation during interviews conducted by the Company during an investigation into the billing of charge calls made from the Vandalia, Illinois Rehabilitation Center, a facility housing state prisoners.
4
Following an evidentiary hearing on the Complaint, the Administrative Law Judge found that the Company had violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1), by denying the rights of its employees, Hatfield and Wimberly, to be assisted by a union representative of their choice during investigative interviews, contrary to standards set out in N. L. R. B. v. J. Weingarten, Inc., 420 U.S. 251, 95 S.Ct. 959, 43 L.Ed.2d 171 (1975).1 Upon such finding the Administrative Law Judge ordered the Company to cease and desist from conducting such interviews in the absence of employee representatives when requested, ordered the posting of usual notices, and in addition ordered reinstatement, with back pay for the employee Cary Ann Hatfield.
5
The National Labor Relations Board adopted the findings of the Administrative Law Judge, including findings based upon credibility, ordered reinstatement with back pay for Hatfield, and in addition, ordered the Company to expunge from its files all records and references relating to the unlawful suspension and discharge of Ms. Hatfield. In this action, Illinois Bell has cross-petitioned to set aside the Board's Order, contending that its due process rights were violated when the Board found that it violated the National Labor Relations Act in a manner not alleged in the Complaint; that the Board erred in applying N. L. R. B. v. J. Weingarten, Inc., supra, to the situation in this case; that Section 10(c) of the Act prohibits the Board from ordering reinstatement of an employee discharged for cause; and that there is no substantial evidence to support the findings that Hatfield did not waive her right to union representation, and that Wimberly requested union representation.
6
Giving full effect to the credibility findings of the Administrative Law Judge, as adopted by the Board, the following pertinent facts give rise to this proceeding. Cary Ann Hatfield and Rebecca Wimberly were employed as long distance operators at the telephone exchange operated by the Company in Centralia, Illinois. Switchboard operators there are represented by the Communications Workers of America, Local 5008. In March, 1978, James Lawshe of the Company began to investigate information received from prison officials at the Vandalia Rehabilitation Center to the effect that operators at the Centralia exchange were "adjusting" charges on long distance calls made by prisoners at Vandalia. Inmates there were permitted to make "collect" long distance calls out of the facility through the Centralia exchange. On February 28, Rebecca Wimberly told Cary Hatfield that she had received a call from a Vandalia inmate who told her that a Bell Company investigator was coming from Chicago to talk to the Centralia operators and that Hatfield and another employee might lose their jobs. Hatfield then phoned her union steward, Jan Kirwan, who advised her not to go into any interview alone, and that any union member could serve as her representative. On March 1, Hatfield was interviewed by James Lawshe, a security agent for the Company, who informed her that he was investigating toll calls being placed by Vandalia prisoners through the Centralia exchange. Hatfield informed him she wanted a union representative to be present, he assented, and she went in search of one. The union steward Kirwan was not available because she worked another shift, but Hatfield requested that Cheryl Simonton, a former assistant union steward, be allowed to attend the interview. When Lawshe learned that Simonton was not a current union steward, he refused to allow her to represent Hatfield. The interview then proceeded without a union representative or member being present, and Hatfield ultimately signed a written statement admitting that she had reduced time charges on five or six calls for Vandalia prisoners and that she had made about five long distance calls to a friend in California free of charge.
7
The following day, March 2, Lawshe interviewed employee Wimberly. After Lawshe advised that he was investigating toll calls placed for Vandalia prisoners, Wimberly then asked, "Should I have someone in here with me, someone from the union?", Lawshe replied, "No, it is not necessary as long as you are honest with me." (Tr. 55). The interview then proceeded for approximately two hours, without representation for Wimberly. No disciplinary action was taken against Wimberly.
8
On March 7, the District Manager for Illinois Bell reviewed the Hatfield case and decided she should be discharged. On March 9th, Hatfield was called in and formally discharged by the Company.
9
Based on these facts, the Board found that the Company had violated Section 8(a)(1) by requiring employees Hatfield and Wimberly to participate in investigatory interviews without the presence of a union representative, despite the requests of the employees. The Order sought to be enforced requires the Company to cease and desist from engaging in these unfair labor practices or coercing its employees in the exercise of statutory rights. In addition, the Order requires the Company to offer Hatfield reinstatement, with back pay, and to expunge from its records all references to disciplinary action arising out of the events of the March 1 interview, including the statement Hatfield gave at this interview. The Order also requires the posting of appropriate notices.
10
We uphold the findings of Section 8(a)(1) violations in the case of both Hatfield and Wimberly, but remand to the Board for further consideration the remedy to be imposed in the case of Hatfield.
11
Initially, the Company contends that it was denied due process of law because the Complaint filed in the proceeding did not raise the issue of whether or not an employee was entitled to the presence of a fellow union member-as opposed to a union official-at an investigatory interview. A review of the transcript of the administrative hearing establishes, however, that the Company was in fact aware that this was an issue before any evidence was introduced at the hearing, because counsel for the Company raised the issue in his preliminary statement. Under such circumstance, the Company was not prejudiced and its constitutional right to due process was not violated.
12
The Company contends that Hatfield waived whatever rights she may have had to representation by agreeing to continue with the interview after it appeared that the union steward was not present on the premises. On this issue the Administrative Law Judge credited Hatfield's testimony over that of Lawshe, concluding that:
13
Under the facts in their record, when Miss Hatfield's selection of a representative was refused, she was not informed that she might terminate the interview or suspend it until a Union officer could be present. She was detained alone in the locus of managerial authority, peppered repeatedly with hostile questions, and threatened with criminal prosecution.... Such elements in this interview do not support a contention of waiver. They smack of oppression in the face of a studied reluctance to proceed. Accordingly, there is utterly no foundation for the Respondent's argument that Miss Hatfield freely and voluntarily waived her right to representation by continuing to answer the questions which Lawshe posed to her.
14
The Board accepted and adopted these findings. They are supported by substantial evidence and therefore the finding of no waiver must stand.
15
The Company further contends that it did not deny the employee Rebecca Wimberly the right to union representation because she never requested it. In this respect it appears that after Lawshe announced the purpose of the interview, Wimberly asked him; "Should I have someone in here with me, someone from the union?" To this Lawshe replied: "No it is not necessary as long as you are honest with me." We find this to be a sufficiently direct request for union representation. Lawshe knew or should have known that Wimberly had a right to the presence of a union official. Wimberly's question was sufficient to put him on notice of her interest in having "someone from the union" present during the interrogation.
16
Under the circumstances recited above, we find that there is substantial evidence in the record as a whole to justify the findings of the Board that Hatfield and Wimberly were denied representation at a meeting which they had reason to believe might result in disciplinary action by their employer. Clearly a union employee has a right to the presence of a union officer at an investigatory interview. N. L. R. B. v. J. Weingarten, Inc., supra, 420 U.S. 251, 95 S.Ct. 959, 43 L.Ed.2d 171 (1975). In Weingarten, the Court pointed out that this right is protected under the provisions of Section 7 of the Act, 29 U.S.C. § 157 (95 S.Ct. 959, at 965):
17
The action of an employee in seeking to have the assistance of his union representative at a confrontation with his employer clearly falls within the literal wording of § 7 that '(e)mployees shall have the right ... to engage in ... concerted activities for the purpose of ... mutual aid or protection.' .... This is true even though the employee alone may have an immediate stake in the outcome; he seeks 'aid or protection' against a perceived threat to his employment security. The union representative whose participation he seeks is, however, safeguarding not only the particular employee's interest, but also the interests of the entire bargaining unit by exercising vigilance to make certain that the employer does not initiate or continue a practice of imposing punishment unjustly....
18
In the case of Hatfield, the Company contends that she was not entitled to representation by Cheryl Simonton who, at the time of the interview, had no official status with the union. It is the Company's view that Hatfield's selection of a "rank and file" union member, who could not be expected to have the knowledge or expertise that union officers have, would have offered no protection during the interview, and hence, Hatfield had no right to request the presence of Simonton at the meeting. It should be noted at this point, however, that Simonton did have some expertise, in that, she was a former union officer, and since the actual union steward did not work an evening shift with Hatfield it was reasonable for Hatfield to request her aid. Furthermore, there was no evidence that the collective bargaining agreement applicable to the Centralia facility contained any provision which would waive an employee's right to request a representative other than a union officer. In any event, the facts establish that Lawshe refused to terminate the interview, and made no effort whatsoever to locate a union steward once Hatfield clearly invoked her right to have a union representative present. According to the testimony of Cary Hatfield, which was credited by the Board, the following transpired (Tr. pp. 23-24):
19
I told Mrs. Neipoetter I would like Cheryl Simonton in the meeting with me. She said, 'O.K. I'll ask her. Go back to the meeting.' So I went back to the room; the phone rang; Mr. Lawshe picked up the phone and he said, 'No, Cheryl is not a designated union representative. She will not be allowed to enter the room.' I said, 'Well, that is not the way I understood it. I was told that any union member can come in and take notes and serve as a representative,' and he goes 'Well, that is not the way I understand it to be, o.k. Well, back to the subject' .... he proceeded with his questioning, asking me my association with the inmates at the Vandalia Correctional Center. He asked me how many I knew. I said I knew three or four ... I wasn't given an opportunity whether to proceed with or without representation or to not proceed at all.
20
Under the circumstances described above, we find that there is substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the findings of the Board that both Hatfield and Wimberly requested appropriate representation at their interviews, but that their requests were denied by the Company, in violation of Section 8(a)(1) of the Act.
21
We believe, however, that the determination of the Board that the proper remedy in the case of Hatfield should include reinstatement and back pay is incorrect upon this record. It is clear that Hatfield was not discharged for requesting union assistance during the interview. If this had been the case, an order of reinstatement with back pay would be an appropriate remedy for denial of rights of employees protected by Section 7 of the Act, 29 U.S.C.A. §§ 157, 158(a)(1). See International Ladies Garment Wkrs. U. v. Quality Mfg. Co., 420 U.S. 276, 95 S.Ct. 972, 43 L.Ed.2d 189 (1975). Instead, the record here establishes that the Company discharged Hatfield for cause, upon a belief that she had been dishonest in the matter of billing toll calls.
22
Section 10(c) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 160(c) specifically provides that:
23
No order of the Board shall require the reinstatement of any individual as an employee who has been suspended or discharged, or the payment to him of any back pay, if such individual was suspended or discharged for cause. (Emphasis supplied.)
24
In the recent case of N. L. R. B. v. Potter Electric Signal Co., 600 F.2d 120 (8th Cir. 1979) the Court denied enforcement of that part of a remedial order which provided for reinstatement and back pay for employees who were discharged for fighting on the production line. In that case, the Board found that the Company had violated Section 8(a)(1) of the Act by requiring the two employees to attend investigatory interviews following the fight, without the presence of their union steward after they had requested his presence. The Court found that while the Company had violated the Act with respect to the interview, the employees were not discharged because they requested union representation, but because of the fight which resulted in shutting down the production line. See also Montgomery Ward and Co., Inc. v. N. L. R. B., 664 F.2d 1095 (8th Cir. 1981) where employees were discharged for theft, reinstatement with back pay was found to be an inappropriate remedy.
25
In this case, the Company had a legitimate concern in the integrity of its toll system, and was entitled to fully investigate the security of its billing procedures at the Centralia Exchange. A review of the evidence suggests that Hatfield's discharge was not based solely upon her written statement which was obtained during the unlawful interview, for it does appear that the Company had independent evidence obtained from prison officials at the Vandalia Rehabilitation Center.
26
In order to balance the need of the Company to maintain an honest and efficient workforce, with the duty to enforce the polices of the Act, we believe that Illinois Bell is entitled to show that its discharge of Hatfield was not solely dependent upon evidence obtained from her during the unlawful interview, but that that discharge is and was supported by other independent evidence which was available to the Company at the time of the discharge. Upon this record, we can not say that there is substantial evidence to support a finding that Hatfield's discharge stemmed solely from the Company's unfair labor practice of forcing her to participate in an interview without representation.
27
For these reasons, we enforce the Board's Order in all respects except as to reinstatement, back pay, and expungement of Hatfield's discharge record. Enforcement of those portions of the Order relating to Hatfield is denied, and the case is remanded to the Board for such further proceedings as may be required to determine whether independent evidence sufficiently supported the Company's discharge of Hatfield for cause.
*
The Honorable Wesley E. Brown, Senior District Judge of the District of Kansas, is sitting by designation
1
In the Complaint filed by the Director, the Board alleged that the Company had violated Section 8(a)(1) and (3) of the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1) and (3) in that Illinois Bell unlawfully denied union representation to two of its employees during disciplinary interviews, and that it suspended and then discharged Cary Hatfield because she insisted upon union representation at a disciplinary interview. The Company contended that both employees waived their rights to representation at the interviews in question and that Cary Hatfield was discharged for cause
|
Nugget's news #2
I asked Nugget yesterday what he was going to talk about. I was genuinely interested in the answer as Nugget is not really a 'foodie' (an anomaly in our family) and therefore he doesn't really talk about food much, or request it. He's fussy but has enough of a repertoire for it to be manageable (if you know what I mean?).
Me: "So, what IS your favourite food, Nug?"
Nugget: "That's easy. Chips."
Me: "Chips? What sort of chips?"
Nugget: "Not fish 'n' chips but the ones Nanny gives me".
The ones Nanny gives him? Methinks.
Me: "You mean cold ones? From a packet? Crispy ones?"
Nugget: "Yes."
Me: "And they are your favourite food? You can't have had them very often?" |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease caused by motor neuron degeneration and resulting muscle wasting. The ~6,000 new cases of ALS in the US each year afflicts those >40 years of age. There is no effective treatment for ALS and those who contract the disease die 2-5 years after diagnosis. Most causes of ALS are unknown, but the most common known genetic cause is an aberrant C9ORF72 gene. Within this gene, a DNA GGGGCC hexanucleotide sequence is reiterated perhaps thousands of times, which causes the disease. This G4C2 expansion is transcribed into RNA that in turn generate dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), whose toxicity is thought to promote motor neuron degeneration. We have identified regions in C9ORF72 RNA that are the start sites for DPR synthesis. These start (ribosome initiation) sites can be occluded by binding to complementary DNA antisense oligonucleotides (AS-ODNs), which are modified to readily enter cells of the nervous system and stably and specifically bind their target sequences in C9ORF72 RNA. Such AS-ODNs would inhibit DPR production, thereby slowing or inhibiting disease progression. We propose to use human disease neurons in culture and C9ORF72 model mice to test the efficacy and specificity of AS-ODNs to inhibit DPR synthesis and mitigate ALS pathophysiology. |
This invention relates to a phase shifter for electromagnetic traveling waves and especially to an optically variable phase shifter for traveling waves of microwave, millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths.
Conventional phase shifters are electrically variable, that is, the control signal applied to the phase-shifter is electrical. The most common phase shifters use ferrite, diodes or PIN semiconductors as an interaction material to induce phase shifting.
The operation of the ferrite phase shifter is dependent upon the interaction between a slab of ferrite material and a magnetic biasing field for its phase shifting effect. However, the relatively high attenuation of microwave signals by ferrite material at millimeter wavelengths has precluded this method of phase shifting in this frequency range.
The diode phase shifters employ one or more diodes mounted inside a waveguide. The diodes are responsive to a D.C. bias voltage applied across the diode electrodes. The field produced by the bias voltage induces a change in the electrical characteristics of the diode, which in turn affects the microwave impedance at various points within the waveguide. The change in impedance causes a change in phase shift in a microwave signal transmitted through the waveguide. At millimeter wavelength frequencies, the internal dimensions of the waveguide are relatively small so that accurate positioning of a diode is a problem. Also, the attenuation of a microwave signal by a variable reactance diode increases with increasing frequency.
A PIN semiconductor phase shifter is a slab of variable-conductivity semiconductor material in contact with substantially the entire surface area of one of the internal narrow-dimensioned waveguide walls. The microwave conductivity of the semiconductive slab is responsive to the polarity of a D.C. bias voltage applied across the slab electrodes. The polarity of the applied bias voltage changes the conductivity of the slab and causes the phase-determining broad wall dimension of the waveguide to electrically change.
These conventional phase shifters require the application of an electrical signal by either inductive coupling, such as by coils, to the ferrite, or by wiring to the diode or PIN semiconductor. Such applications require structures and circuitry, some of which must be attached to the interaction material and which may cause spurious interference and insertion loss to the phase shifting performance. The circuitry typically includes isolation networks to prevent such interference. The structures and circuitry are costly and may be inconvenient for specific applications where space is limited.
The response time, that is, the time for the traveling wave to shift in phase in response to the electrical signal applied to the phase shifter, is slow for conventional phase shifters because the response time is dependent on the medium which conducts the electrical signal. The response time for the PIN semiconductor phase shifter is further dependent on the traversal of electron-hole pairs across its entire intrinsic region. |
The story of us ..
I need to first explain how my finance and I met.. We work in an emergency room of one of the biggest hospitals in New York City. During Hurricane Irene our entire hospital was closed and evacuated. However a hand full of medical staff was needed to stay behind incase any patients came to our door for help. We didn't really know each other and for 4 days we were locked inside the Emergency Dept riding out the storm.
When our four days were over , we were in love and inseparable ever since ;
Recently we planed a trip to Las Vegas. It was my birthday present to her. My biggest concern was getting the ring there unnoticed and undetected. I sewed it into a boxing glove key chain and managed to get it there no problem.
;
Once landing at Las Vegas airport we were greeted by a limo driver waiting for us. But rather than take us to our hotel. He took us to another terminal where our helicopter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon west rim was waiting. She was totally surprised. Once we landed 3200 feet into the Grand Canyon. I got behind her while commenting how the canyon and river go on forever. Mentioned how we should go on forever as well and gave her the ring . She was surprised we celebrated with champagne next to the river before boarding the helicopter back to Las Vegas
I couldn't have pulled it off without the help and knowledge of the amazing blue Nile staff who guided me with the ring while I planed everything else |
Q:
User input from editText to a String
I looks like a simple question, but i can't manage to get it to work.
I'm trying to make weather app, and im using Yahoo API, And like this the app works:
service.refreshWeather("Dallas, TX");
I wanted to make the user input the city, so i made this:
mButton = (Button)findViewById(R.id.mDugme);
mEdit = (EditText)findViewById(R.id.unesiGrad);
String userInput11;
mButton.setOnClickListener(
new View.OnClickListener()
{
public void onClick(View view)
{
userInput11 = mEdit.getText().toString();
}
});
service.refreshWeather(userInput11);
Why isn't it working?
A:
Take this code
mButton.setOnClickListener(
new View.OnClickListener()
{
public void onClick(View view)
{
userInput11 = mEdit.getText().toString();
}
});
service.refreshWeather(userInput11);
and reorder it to look like this
mButton.setOnClickListener(
new View.OnClickListener()
{
public void onClick(View view)
{
userInput11 = mEdit.getText().toString();
service.refreshWeather(userInput11);
}
});
It may demand to declare service as final. I am not sure. Just follow IDE instructions.
|
France national field hockey team
France national field hockey team may refer to:
France men's national field hockey team
France women's national field hockey team |
Log cabins are generally low-maintenance houses since they are located in far out places and it is obviously not easy to get maintenance staff or equipment there. Log cabin plans tell the whole story. Most of the building material including the floor textures used in a log cabin requires very basic maintenance and it looks as good as new. The exterior of a log cabin has to face the nature’s wrath and thus is very simple to maintain.
However, some people might like to keep the interiors of the log cabin in a very good condition and might use professional maintenance and restoration services. These services provide detailed maintenance services for the log cabin and do not come cheap.
Some of the steps of maintenance for a log cabin include staining of the interior and exterior wood, chinking repair and replacement, borate treatment to safeguard against pests, stay dry, chemical strip and cob blasting. Deck cleaning and sealing are also important since that is where most of the time of the log cabin residents is spent.
Log cabin plans should include inspection of the entire log cabin along with finishing of rough edges is part of the maintenance procedure. If you are a log cabin owner and rent it out on frequent occasions to holiday-makers then good maintenance will go a long way to fetch you an attractive rental income. Apart from that, the overall value of log cabins tends to be higher if they are well maintained and clean.
A quick search online will provide you with details of a number of agencies who deal in maintenance services for log cabins. It is advisable that you narrow down your selection to a few companies in the region where your log cabin is situated and take comparative quotes for them for the maintenance requirement and then make a decision. |
Arson Suspected In State Fair Barn Fires
Louisville, KY – Public Protection Cabinet spokesperson Dick Brown says arson investigators looked into the pattern of the fire, and also learned there had been a small fire the day before that had been extinguished. Brown says two fires in two days is a suspicious event.
"The investigators from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms brought in a team of dogs that could alert to accelerants, and they did that. They did alert to accelerants."
Brown says investigators are conducting interviews with people who work at the fairgrounds. That's proving to be a challenging process, because many of those workers were seasonal employees for the state fair. |
The present invention relates generally to battery charging apparatus and methods therefor, and, more particularly, to a battery charger having gripper arms for gripping surfaces of a battery pack to maintain the battery pack in position at a charging position, thereat to permit application of a charging current by charging circuitry of the battery charger to the battery cells of the battery pack.
Oftentimes, an electrical device is constructed to be of a design to permit powering thereof by one or more batteries. In some instances, the use of a battery to power the electrical device is necessary when the electrical device is not, or cannot be, positioned proximate to a permanent power supply. In other instances, a battery is used to power the electrical device to increase the portability of the device as no power cable is required to interconnect the electrical device to a permanent, power supply. Typically, the one or more batteries used to power the electrical device are carried directly with the electrical device.
However, because a battery stores only finite amounts of energy, operation of the electrical device is limited by the energy storage capacity of the battery. Powering of the electrical device by the battery discharges the battery, and, once the battery becomes discharged, replacement of the battery is required to permit continued operation of the electrical device. Increasing the size (and weight) of the battery, while increasing the energy storage capacity of the battery, reduces the portability of the electrical device when the battery is carried therewith. Accordingly, a compromise is made between increased battery energy storage capacity and reduced portability of the electrical device.
A portable or transportable radiotelephone is one such electrical device which is typically powered by a battery power supply. The battery power supply is typically carried directly with the radiotelephone, and is of a size and weight which does not unduly constrain the portability of the radiotelephone.
When the radiotelephone is operative to send or to receive a modulated signal, the radiotelephone typically dissipates power at a rate of up to three watts. Conventional battery power supplies constructed to power such radiotelephones are of energy storage capacities permitting power dissipation at such a rate (i.e., operation of the radiotelephone) for approximately a one hour time period. If the battery power supply operative to power the radiotelephone is not initially fully charged, the operational period during which the radiotelephone may be operated at such a power level is, of course, commensurately reduced.
Once the battery power supply has been discharged beneath a certain level, the battery powering the radiotelephone must be removed and replaced with a new battery power supply to permit continued operation of the radiotelephone.
Rechargeable batteries have been developed and are commercially available. Some of such commercially-available, rechargeable batteries are of constructions designed for use to power radiotelephones. The use of rechargeable batteries is advantageous as, after discharge of the batteries, the rechargeable batteries may be recharged, and then reused. Some constructions of rechargeable batteries may be recharged, and reused, up to, and even in excess of, five hundred times.
A rechargeable battery construction used to power a portable radiotelephone is typically comprised of several discrete battery cells, connected in a series (or other) connection, and housed within a common housing. The housing, together with the battery cells, is sometimes referred to as a battery pack. For purposes of simplicity, such a construction is most times referred to simply by the term "battery." The present disclosure utilizes such simplified terminology except when the more precise terminology is required.
The batteries may be constructed to be of various energy storage capacities. For instance, by appropriately increasing the number of battery cells disposed in a single battery pack comprising the battery, the energy storage capacity of the battery may be increased.
Rechargeable batteries of various energy storage capacities for powering a portable radiotelephone are commercially available. When selecting amongst these various batteries, a user makes the aforementioned compromise between increased battery energy storage capacity and reduced portability of the radiotelephone. That is to say, a user selecting a battery power supply of increased energy storage capacity does so at the expense of an increase in the size and weight of the battery power supply so selected. Conversely, a user selecting a battery power supply of reduced size and weight does so at the expense of a decrease in the energy storage capacity of the battery power supply so selected.
A battery used to power a portable radiotelephone (or other electronic device) is usually device-specific. That is, the battery is constructed to permit the battery terminals thereof to be connected readily to corresponding contacts of a radiotelephone of a particular construction (or of an other electronic device of a particular construction). The battery terminals are positioned to facilitate connection with the contacts of the radiotelephone (or other electronic device). Typically the housing of the battery also includes structure to affix the battery to the radiotelephone to permit carriage of the battery with the radiotelephone. Batteries constructed to power other electronic devices are oftentimes similarly constructed.
Battery charging apparatus is also commercially available to permit recharging of rechargeable batteries. A battery charger comprising such battery charging apparatus is typically comprised of support structure for supporting one or more batteries, and charging circuitry for supplying a charging current of desired characteristics which charges the rechargeable battery when suitably positioned upon the support structure to connect the batteries to the charging circuitry of the battery charging apparatus.
Most frequently, a battery charger is coupled to an external power supply (typically, a conventional, electrical outlet of a household power supply). The battery charging circuitry is operative to convert the electrical characteristics of the externally-supplied power of the external power supply into a charging current of desired characteristics to be applied to the battery. The energy of the charging current applied to the rechargeable battery is converted into chemical energy which is stored by the battery. Application of such charging current to the rechargeable battery over the elapsed period of time permits the rechargeable battery to become fully recharged. The time period required to charge fully the rechargeable battery is dependent upon the battery type and energy storage capacity, the extent to which the battery has been discharged, and the magnitude of the charging current applied to the battery.
Certain battery chargers are of constructions which supply a relatively small magnitude current (such as, for example, C/10 value wherein C is the 1-hour capacity of a battery) to the battery, and battery chargers of other constructions supply a significantly larger current (such as, for example, C value) to the battery. Application of the large magnitude current to the battery is referred to as fast charging of the battery. Application of a small magnitude current to the battery is referred to as trickle charging of the battery. Several battery chargers are of constructions which permit the application of either the large current (i.e., the fast charging current) or the relatively small current (i.e., the trickle charging current) to the battery to recharge the battery thereby.
With the continual reduction in the physical dimensions of many electronic devices, the convenience of use of such devices has increased. In the particular instance of portable radiotelephones, the continual reduction in the dimensions of the portable radiotelephones has permitted convenient carriage of such radiotelephones by a user.
However, and as noted hereinabove, all battery power supplies are of finite energy storage capacities; accordingly, operation of such radio telephones by a single battery power source, even one of an increased energy storage capacity, is limited. After an extended period of use (such period of operation dependent upon the energy storage capacity of the battery), the battery must be replaced with a fresh battery or the battery must be recharged. In order to recharge the battery, a battery charger is required to supply the rechargeable battery, once depleted of stored energy, with a charging current. For the same reasons for which a reduction in the physical dimensions of electronic devices are desirable, a reduction in the physical dimensions of a battery charger operative to recharge a rechargeable battery is also desirable.
The battery charger must also be capable of receiving a battery of any of various energy storage capacities and, hence, physical dimensions.
What is needed, therefore, is a battery charger construction of minimal dimensions permitting recharging of any of many differently-sized rechargeable batteries. |
Greek women earn 12.5% less than men, Eurostat data reveals
Mar, 07 2018
Author: Thema Newsroom
Germany is one of the EU countries with the highest gender pay gap
Female employees in Greece earn 12.5% less pay on average, compared to men, according to Eurostat data published in 2014 on occasion of World Women’s Day. However, the indicator showed a decrease compared to 2010, where the deviation of work pay between the two sexes stood at 15%.
On an EU level, the gender pay gap narrowed slightly by 0.6 percentage points from 16.8% in 2011 to 16.2% in 2016. Overall in the EU, the gender pay gap was less than 10% in Romania (5.2%), Italy (5.3%), Luxembourg (5.5%), Belgium (6.1% ), Poland (7.2%) and Slovenia (7.8%) and Croatia (8.7%), based on 2014 figures.
In contrast, the gender pay gap was over 20% in Estonia (25.3%), the Czech Republic (21.8%), Germany (21.5%), the United Kingdom (21.0% ) and Austria (20.1%). |
Early termination of spiral wave reentry by combined blockade of Na+ and L-type Ca2+ currents in a perfused two-dimensional epicardial layer of rabbit ventricular myocardium.
Modification of spiral wave (SW) reentry by antiarrhythmic drugs is a central issue to be challenged for better understanding of their benefits and risks. We investigated the effects of pilsicainide and/or verapamil, which block sodium and L-type calcium currents (I(Na) and I(Ca,L)), respectively, on SW reentry. A two-dimensional epicardial ventricular muscle layer was created in rabbit hearts by cryoablation (n = 32), and action potential signals were analyzed by high-resolution optical mapping. During constant stimulation, pilsicainide (3-5 microM) caused a frequency-dependent decrease of conduction velocity (CV; by 20%-54% at 5 Hz) without affecting action potential duration (APD). Verapamil (3 microM) caused APD shortening (by 16% at 5 Hz) without affecting CV. Ventricular tachycardias (VTs) that were induced were more sustained in the presence of either pilsicainide or verapamil. The incidence of sustained VTs (>30 s)/all VTs per heart was 58% +/- 9% for 5 microM pilsicainide vs. 22% +/- 9% for controls and 62% +/- 10% for 3 microM verapamil vs. 22% +/- 8% for controls. The SWs with pilsicainide were characterized by slower rotation around longer functional block lines (FBLs), whereas those with verapamil were characterized by faster rotation around shorter FBLs. Combined application of 3 microM pilsicainide and 3 microM verapamil resulted in early termination of VTs (sustained VTs/all VTs per heart: 2% +/- 2% vs. 29% +/- 9% for controls); SWs showed extensive drift and decremental conduction, leading to their spontaneous annihilation. Blockade of either I(Na) or I(Ca,L) stabilizes SWs in a two-dimensional epicardial layer of rabbit ventricular myocardium to help their persistence, whereas blockade of both currents destabilizes SWs to facilitate their termination. |
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Introduction {#Sec1}
============
In ageing societies, the demand for joint arthroplasty repairing osteoarthritis in the proximal and distal femur continually increases. In Germany, a total of about 450,000 primary hip and knee arthroplasties due to arthrosis are performed every year \[[@CR1], [@CR2]\]. At the same time, there is a growing incidence of revision surgery after joint replacement. About 10,000 revisions of knee arthroplasties are performed, with an annual increase of about 10 % in Germany caused by the growing number of patients with long standing implants \[[@CR1]\]. Periprosthetic fractures (PPF) after knee arthroplasty occur in up to 2.5 % mounting up to 38 % after revision surgery \[[@CR3]--[@CR7]\].
The localization of PPF less frequently concerns the tibial component than the distal femur amounting up to 4 % of the cases. Felix showed in his work in 1997 that 19 % of these periprosthetic (PP) tibial fractures are brought forth intraoperatively during implantation of the prosthesis \[[@CR8]\].
Important complication rates of up to 41 % and revision rates of 29 % of cases are recently reported for surgical treatment of periprosthetic fractures \[[@CR9]--[@CR14]\].
Various reasons may eventually lead to postoperative problems:Bone quality is poor due to pre-existing osteoporosisStable fixation is difficult to achieve in areas with an intramedullary implantFracture healing is significantly delayed in aged patientsProsthesis loosening may facilitate the resulting fracture
Typical complications after internal fixation of periprosthetic fractures are the following:Loss of fixationNon-union and implant failureInfectionMalrotation and malunionLoosening of the prosthesis
Within this paper, we would like to present and discuss the modern strategies in classification, planning and treatment of periprosthetic fractures around knee arthroplasty.
Femur {#Sec2}
=====
To date, a variety of strategies for periprosthetic fracture fixation is described in the literature. The results of conventional non locking implants have generally been poor, with complication rates up to 53 % \[[@CR15]\]. Therefore, locking plates have become more commonly used in complicated osteoporotic fractures. Although fixation is tighter, the complication rates of this technique, nevertheless, remain high with up to 29 % failures \[[@CR9]--[@CR14]\]. The development of polyaxial screws and anatomic (periprosthetic) plates might be an advantage in improving fixation of PPF fixation \[[@CR16]--[@CR18]\].
In order to preserve the blood supply of the bone and to diminish local soft tissue complications, minimally invasive strategies are recommended by some authors even for periprosthetic fractures \[[@CR11], [@CR13], [@CR14]\]. Other authors still recommend the open approach \[[@CR9], [@CR10], [@CR12], [@CR16], [@CR19]\]. Although the revision rates in the papers describing minimally invasive techniques (0--12.5 %) seem to be lower than in studies on open approaches (7--29 % revisions), direct comparison is not possible, because fracture types, treatment strategies and implants are different.
Nevertheless, MIS strategies in PPF fixation remain challenging with respect to reduction and fixation techniques. Within this publication we will give additional tips on the less-invasive techniques in the fixation of PPF.
Diagnostics {#Sec3}
-----------
Standard anteroposterior and lateral views are the basis of fracture analysis and classification. Before classifying the fracture, the stability of the prosthesis should be assessed with respect to the patients' history before the trauma (a history of pain around the prosthesis may indicate previous loosening) and the situation evaluated on conventional X-ray. Typical signs of loosening like displacement of the shield from the distal femur or separation of cement may be detected. In ambiguous cases, a CT-scan may help find signs of loosening, particularly around the femoral component (Figs. [14](#Fig14){ref-type="fig"} and [15](#Fig15){ref-type="fig"}).
It is not always possible to establish a definitive diagnosis of a loose implant since, particularly, in a fracture situation, the loosening may be merely partial. Therefore, the surgeon should be prepared to eventually change to a revision prosthesis when an osteosynthesis was initially planned.
Sometimes, septic loosening may precede the PPF. Therefore, a microscopic (microbiological) analysis of the intraarticular fluid for white blood cells and bacteria is recommended in patients with clinical signs of infection.
Classification {#Sec4}
--------------
Periprosthetic fractures in the distal femur generally are classified by the Rorabeck classification \[[@CR20]\]. The Rorabeck classification discerns loose and unloose implants according to the level of displacement. Although other classifications considering the quality of the bone stock \[[@CR21]\] or the underlying implant (component with or without stem) have been published, their superiority still has to be proven.
The main advantage of the Rorabeck classification is its simplicity, but it is not always the best treatment guide, because other factors like the quality of the bone stock (e.g. osteoporosis), the underlying implant and the fracture type have to be considered when planning fracture fixation or replacement. In Figs. [7](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"} and [10](#Fig10){ref-type="fig"}, it is shown how fractures that are classified as Rorabeck type II can differ with respect to the type of prosthesis and type of fracture.
In order to plan the surgical approach, the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) classification of femur fractures (no. 32 and 33) may additionally be applied (see '[Surgical techniques](#Sec10){ref-type="sec"}').
### Rorabeck I {#Sec5}
Undisplaced fractures (less than 5 mm of displacement and less than 5° of angulation) around a stable fixed prosthesis in the distal femur are classified Rorabeck I.
Historically, periprosthetic Rorabeck I fractures have been treated conservatively. Some authors have reported good results in terms of fracture consolidation following conservative methods, but, in the majority of cases, their results don't report any data regarding knee function or systemic patient complications after the conservative treatment \[[@CR22], [@CR23]\].
In the 1970s to 1980s, the results of surgical management of these fractures with invasive techniques and conventional systems for osteosynthesis were, in many cases, inferior to conservative treatment. Therefore, conservative management was generally recommended for this type of fractures.
To date, both the improvement of implants (retrograde locked nails and locked plates) and the development of less invasive surgical techniques have substantially reduced surgical complication rates \[[@CR24]\].
Because of the high risk of secondary displacement and other complications, along with the need for early mobilisation, nonoperative treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the femur may not be favourable in most patients \[[@CR15]\] (see Figs. [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"} and [2](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 1Anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view of a Rorabeck type 1 and OTA 33-A1 fracture around a resurfacing TKA; by Jordi ThomasFig. 2Postoperative anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view after mini open fixation with lag screws (through the plate) and a monoaxial locking plate (LISS Synthes®)
### Rorabeck II {#Sec6}
In this category, all fractures with a stable prosthesis but dislocated fragments are summarised. The treatment of choice is an open or closed reduction and internal fixation by plate or nail. Nevertheless, a revision prosthesis (see [Rorabeck III](#Sec7){ref-type="sec"}) can be a choice in selected cases of very low fractures and/or severe osteoporosis.
### Rorabeck III {#Sec7}
Fractures around a loose prosthesis with an undisplaced or displaced fracture situation are assigned to this category. Rorabeck III fractures require a prosthetic replacement with stable fixation of the stem in the central part of the femur.
Implants {#Sec8}
--------
Among a variety of possible implants, nails or plates are mostly used for the fixation of fractures with a stable prosthesis (Rorabeck I and II). In Rorabeck III fractures, the exchange to a prosthesis with a longer stem, providing proximal diaphyseal fixation, is the treatment of choice.
### Nails {#Sec9}
For intramedullary fixation of periprosthetic distal femur fractures, retrograde nails are used. Antegrade nails are not recommended, because distal fixation of these nails is not reliable.
Before planning a retrograde nail osteosynthesis, it has to be proven that the distal entry point between the condyles of a resurfacing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is 'open' (Figs. [3](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"} and [4](#Fig4){ref-type="fig"}). In prosthesis with a box (e.g. posteriorly stabilised) or with a stem, a plate should be preferred. According to a recent analysis of the literature, there seems to be no difference in clinical outcome using a nail or a plate \[[@CR15]\].Fig. 3Anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view of a Rorabeck type 2 and OTA 32-B2 fracture around a monolateral TKA in a 77-year-old female patient; by Florian GebhardFig. 4Posoperative anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) views after minimally invasive stabilisation with an intramedullary nail (DFN with twisted plate; Synthes®). The lateral view shows a mild retroversion of the distal fragment
Surgical technique {#Sec10}
------------------
For surgery, the patient is placed in the supine position on a radiolucent fracture table. It has to be considered that the knee should be flexed to 90° to allow the nail to pass behind the femoral shield. Reduction and fixation is performed after a mini open or minimally invasive reduction (see: '[Plates](#Sec11){ref-type="sec"}---[Surgical technique](#Sec12){ref-type="sec"}'). For retrograde nailing, the following tips could be respected:To allow optimal proximal fixation, the nail has to be long enough to pass the isthmus of the femoral intramedullary canal.Distal fixation of the nail is preferably done by locked bolts or a locked twisted plate (e.g. distal femur nail; Synthes®; Figs. [3](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"} and [4](#Fig4){ref-type="fig"}).Proximal locking should be performed after distal fixation of the nail. Only thereafter the jig can be removed and the knee extended. Before proximal locking, the optimal rotation of the femur has to be evaluated.
### Plates {#Sec11}
Plates may be applied in nearly all PPF situations. Because of the concomitant osteopenia or osteoporosis, locking plates should be applied. The authors suggest that at least four locked screws (eight cortices) should be set in both the diaphyseal and the metaphyseal area of the femur. If this cannot be achieved with all four screws because of an intramedullary prosthetic stem or box, additional techniques (like cerclage or a locking attachment plate; Synthes®) are needed.
#### Monoaxial locking plates {#d30e631}
Although monoaxial locking plates usually provide high primary stability, resisting high pull out forces, the application in situations with an intramedullary implant may be difficult. Therefore, additional devices like cerclage or additional plates (e.g. locking attachment plate; Synthes®) have to be applied at the level of the prosthesis to provide stable plate fixation (Figs. [5](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"} and [6](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 5Anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view of a Rorabeck type 2 and OTA 32-A1 fracture around a resurfacing TKA and a proximal femur Nail (PFN A) in an 87-year-old female patient; by Florian GebhardFig. 6Postoperative anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) views after open fixation with a monoaxial locking plate. For fixation around the intramedullary implant, a locking attachment plate (Synthes®) was applied
#### Polyaxial locking plates {#d30e672}
In order to pass by an intramedullary implant, polyaxial locking screws (e.g. NCB® - System; Zimmer®) might be of advantage. These implants offer the possibility of a polyaxial locking screw fixation in up to 15° in any direction to the plate level (full range of 30°). Some designs allow a reduction of the fragments in direction to the plate by the screws before they are locked. With the NCB®-System, angular stability is achieved by fixing the head of the screw with an additional cap turned into the plate (Figs. [7](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"}, [8](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}, [9](#Fig9){ref-type="fig"}, [10](#Fig10){ref-type="fig"}, [11](#Fig11){ref-type="fig"}, [12](#Fig12){ref-type="fig"}, and [13](#Fig13){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 7Anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view of a Rorabeck type 2 and OTA 33-A1 fracture of a hinged TKA in a 76-year-old female patient. Because of the stem and the box, there is only limited bone stock in the distal femur (**b**); by Steffen RuchholtzFig. 8Intraoperative pictures demonstrating the Mini open technique of open reduction with cerclage fixation (**a**) and stabilisation by a periprosthetic polyaxial locking plate (NCB PP; Zimmer®; **b**). Three distal locking screws were placed around the stem (**c**)Fig. 9**a, b** Follow-up X-ray pictures at 6 months after surgery. Because of the fixation with three distal screws, one additional cerclage was set around stem and plateFig. 10Anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) view of an interprosthetic Rorabeck type 2 and OTA 33-A 3 in an 87-year-old man; by Steffen RuchholtzFig. 11Intraoperative picture of a minimally invasive insertion of a periprosthetic plate (NCB PP)Fig. 12Intraoperative X-ray pictures demonstrating the minimally invasive technique of closed reduction with temporary proximal plate fixation (**a**) and reduction of the fragments by the screws through the plate (**b**)Fig. 13Postoperative anteroposterior (**a**) and lateral (**b**) views. The plate was selected to be long enough to over lap the tip of the THA in order to prevent stress raising at the 'inter implant' region. **c** shows the dimension of the needed incisions
Specially designed periprosthetic plates (NCB-PP®; Zimmer®) have a broader metaphyseal area augmenting the possibilities in PPF fixation especially around uncemented implants (Fig. [8c](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"})
### Surgical technique {#Sec12}
Plating may be performed in different techniques of reduction and fixation. Reduction can be achieved either directly (forceps and lag screw/cerclage) in two-part long spiral fractures (OTA Type 32 or 33-A1) or by bridging the fracture zone when direct reduction cannot be achieved (e.g. multi-fragmented fractures). These principles should be respected independently from the selected approach (see below).
Although 'open' techniques allow for direct visualisation of the fracture, impairment of the local bony perfusion after manipulation of the soft tissue is of some concern. Since fracture healing is already impaired in geriatric patients, especially when there is an intramedullary implant, soft tissue-preserving strategies like a 'mini open' or a 'minimally invasive' technique might be of certain advantage.
The 'open' technique is a common procedure for PPF fixation. Using a lateral subvastus approach after ligation of the perforator vessels, the bone is exposed. The incision has to be long enough to allow for the application of a plate that is sufficiently long (Figs. [5](#Fig5){ref-type="fig"} and [6](#Fig6){ref-type="fig"}). Bony fragments have to be managed with care to avoid impairing the soft tissue that provides the local blood supply.
The 'mini open' technique is an alternative in two-part spiral fractures classified as OTA (Orthopeadic Trauma Associoation) type 32-A1 or 33-A1. For this technique, an incision at the level of the plate insertion is made, sufficiently long to expose the fracture region. The two fragments are reduced by the help of a forceps until an optimal contact with anatomical alignment of axis and rotation is achieved. The reduction forceps is then replaced by cerclages or a lag screw (Figs. [7](#Fig7){ref-type="fig"}, [8](#Fig8){ref-type="fig"}, and [9](#Fig9){ref-type="fig"}).
After this step, the plate is inserted and temporarily fixed percutaneously with K-wires proximally and distally. Before the screws are set, a lateral view to control the plate position is performed by use of the intensifier.
The screws in the diaphyseal region are inserted percutaneously. The femur is not exposed in the diaphyseal area.
The concept of the 'minimally invasive' technique is a totally closed reduction. Reduction is achieved by either ligamentotaxis and/or the application of the plate as a template. Therefore, maintaining the correct alignment by axial traction throughout the whole procedure is of essential priority. Traction can be exerted throughout the procedure by the assistant surgeon. After closed reduction, the plate is inserted on the level of the prosthesis after a short 3- to 4-cm incision (Fig. [11](#Fig11){ref-type="fig"}). After this step, the plate is temporarily fixed with K-wires proximally and distally, length must be restored at this point (Fig. [12](#Fig12){ref-type="fig"}). Before the screws are set, a lateral view to control the plate position is performed with the intensifier.
By setting the shaft screws, the plate can be used as reduction tool (Fig. [12](#Fig12){ref-type="fig"}) if no primary locking screws are applied. Locked screws can be set when the plate is running parallel to the diaphysis.
Before the screws are placed in the metaphyseal area, the axis has to be controlled. Some institutions use the 'cable-technique' where the straightened cable of the electric coagulation device simulates the mechanical axis. Correct reduction is achieved when the intensifier proves that the straightened cable is projected on the centres of hip, knee and ankle. Thereafter, the screws are set in the metaphyseal region (Fig. [13](#Fig13){ref-type="fig"}).
### Revision prosthesis {#Sec13}
n patients with prosthetic loosening, the whole implant has to be exchanged to revision prosthesis with diaphyseal fixation (Figs. [14](#Fig14){ref-type="fig"} and [15](#Fig15){ref-type="fig"}). For revision, mostly modular systems are applied that are implanted by a lateral or standard parapatellar incision (in short distal fragments). In general, a hinged prosthesis has to be implanted because of the involvement or the resection of the collateral ligaments. Therefore, the whole implant including the tibial component has to be exchanged (Fig. [15](#Fig15){ref-type="fig"}) in most cases. In patients with severe bone loss around the implant, partial replacement of the distal femur (e.g. resection prosthesis) may be considered.Fig. 14Preoperative X-ray (**a**) and CT (**b**) view of a partially loose PPF type Rorabeck III, OTA 33 C1; by Steffen RuchholtzFig. 15**a, b** Postoperative x-ray after implantation of a hinged revision TKA
Tibia {#Sec14}
=====
Periprosthetic fractures around the tibial component are rare, with an incidence of \<4 %.
Diagnostics {#Sec15}
-----------
Analogous to fractures around the femoral component, the stability of the prosthesis is evaluated with respect to the patients' history before trauma and X-ray diagnostics. Typical signs of loosening like displacement of the shield from the distal femur or separation of cement may be seen on x-ray in cases of prosthesis loosening. Nevertheless, in difficult cases, a CT-scan may be helpful in order to detect loosening around the tibial component.
Classification {#Sec16}
--------------
Felix et al. have suggested a classification based on a study on 102 tibial fractures around total knee implants \[[@CR8]\].Type 1:Fracture partially involving the tibial headType 2:Fracture involving the whole tibial head around the implantType 3:Fracture lying below the distal part of tibial componentType 4:Fracture with an isolated involvement of the tuberosity
The four fracture types in the classification are combined with a suffix:A---stable prosthesisB---loose prosthesisC---intraoperative fracture
Conservative treatment {#Sec17}
----------------------
Fractures without displacement around a stable prosthesis may be treated conservatively. This strategy is recommended for most undisplaced partial fractures of the tibial head (Type 1A and 1C fracture). Fractures involving the whole tibial head may be treated conservatively, particularly when they occur intraoperatively during the implantation of the prosthesis and do not show any displacement in neither of the planes on X-ray (Type 2A and 2C fracture). Conservative treatment includes cast fixation and non-weight bearing of the knee for 6 weeks.
Surgical treatment {#Sec18}
------------------
Surgical revision is recommended in all displaced tibial PPFs. Even undisplaced fractures below the prosthetic component (Type 3A or 3C) should be considered for internal fixation because of a high risk for pseudarthrosis (Figs. [16](#Fig16){ref-type="fig"} and [17](#Fig17){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 16**a, b** Preoperative X-ray of a periprosthetic fracture around the tibial component of a TKA type Felix 3A; by Morten Schultz LarsenFig. 17**a, b** Postoperative X-ray 6 months after stabilisation with a locking plate (LISS; Synthes®)
All types of fractures that are accompanied by a loosening of the tibial component should be treated by a revision of the implant.
### Plates {#Sec19}
For fractures with a stable implant (types 2A and C; types 3A and C), monoaxial or polyaxial locking plates are the treatments of choice. They can be applied either in open or in a less invasive technique. Because of the relatively thin soft tissue layer, percutaneous fixation of the distal plate to the diaphysis after 'mini open' or 'minimally invasive' reduction is easy to achieve and allows a maximum preservation of the local blood supply.
The risk of soft tissue complication, including deep infection is much higher than on the distal femur, and the surgeon must have this in mind when planning the treatment. Fractures of the tuberosity (type 4) may be fixed either by isolated lag screws (big fragments) or by plates.
### Revision prosthesis {#Sec20}
In a loose prosthesis (fractures with a suffix B), the whole implant has to be exchanged to revision prosthesis with diaphyseal fixation. For revision, modular systems are applied that are implanted by a lateral or standard parapatellar incision (in short proximal fragments). In general, a hinged prosthesis should be implanted because of the involvement or the resection of the collateral ligaments. Therefore, the whole implant including the femoral component has to be exchanged.
In cases with severe bone loss around the implant, partial replacement of the proximal tibia (e.g. tumour prosthesis) should be considered.
Postoperative care {#Sec21}
==================
It is of great importance for the aged patient to be mobilised out of bed early in order to prevent the health problems of immobilisation. Nevertheless, primary stability that allows full weight bearing cannot always be achieved by plating or nailing. In most of the cases, partial weight bearing is recommended using the aid of frames during the first 6 weeks after surgery.
In well-fixed revision prostheses with a cemented stem, early full weight bearing might be allowed. In uncemented revision stems, care must be taken out within the first 6 weeks after the operation. After consolidation of the soft tissue, all PPF surgery patients should be treated with continuous passive motion of the knee.
Special Issue: Periprosthetic Fracture Treatment
Open Access {#d30e1015}
===========
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits any use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and the source are credited.
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OPINION
Somebody say something
In this season of motion picture accolades, Alabama’s “best actor” award goes to Chief Justice Roy Moore, starring in a continuing saga of abuse of power. However, Moore’s “performance” is facilitated by the neglect manifest in the failure of other entities to address his professional lunacy.
The Cast. The cast includes present and former justices of the Alabama Supreme Court. As Chief Justice, Moore is the administrative head of Alabama’s court system, but he, like each of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, has but one vote in the cases they decide. His individual, personal view of the law is not binding on any other Alabama judge or lawyer. Since the justices are independently elected to office, Moore is not their “supervisor.”
Associate Justices have an affirmative professional duty to reject (1) Moore’s extrajudicial positions on a legal issue pending before the Court, (2) his continued affiliation with a Foundation (chaired by his wife, Kayla) that is a litigant in the Supreme Court on an issue upon which Moore has publicly expressed an opinion, and (3) his directive to probate judges to repudiate a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
How? By exercising their power under Section 12-5-20 of the Code of Alabama, which grants them “the power and authority to review, countermand, overrule, modify or amend any administrative decision by either the Chief Justice or the Administrative Director of Court.” Thus, the justices may lawfully rescind Moore’s administrative directive to probate judges to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Surely they must understand the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Constitution. Surely they must place the integrity and reputation of the court above political fealty to a colleague. And yet, the justices are silent.
The Producer. That would be the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which has neglected its duty for 12 months. The pending complaint against Moore alleges wrongdoing associated with specific acts. Moore does not dispute the facts. JIC’s sole responsibility is to determine whether the allegations are sufficient to support a recommendation to the Court of the Judiciary. That is not a 12-month undertaking. And yet, JIC is silent.
The Director. The Court of the Judiciary controls the action. In March 2013, citing “serious violations of judicial ethics”, the Court of the Judiciary publicly reprimanded and censured a district judge in Walker County for essentially the same violations alleged in the Moore complaint. The Court found that he violated specific provisions of the Canons of Judicial Ethics which govern the professional conduct of Alabama’s judges. It took 45 days to conclude the complaint. And yet, the Court of the Judiciary is silent.
The Theaters. The Alabama State Bar is the parent organization of the theaters (lawyers) where the patrons (the public) are viewing Moore’s movie. The Bar enjoys the legislative privilege of managing and policing lawyers and is specifically charged in Section 34-3-43 (a) (7) of the Code of Alabama to “do such things as in its judgment may tend to improve the educational and ethical standing of bench and bar.” The State Bar also administers the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct which define a lawyer’s obligations to the judicial system, to the public, and to the profession. Rule 8.4 assigns “professional misconduct” to any lawyer who (1) engages in “conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice,” (2) “knowingly assist[s] a judge or judicial officer in conduct that is a violation of applicable ... law, or (3) engages in “any other conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law.”
While the state bar does not discipline judges, its duty to fulfill the aforementioned responsibilities justifies condemnation of Roy Moore’s conduct from its leaders, former presidents, and members. Protection of the public is a paramount duty of the state bar and the 67 county bars. Their silent acceptance of willfully unprofessional and unlawful conduct by the state’s highest-ranking judge is an abandonment of their duty to serve the public. And yet, the state and county bars are silent.
We have seen this movie before. In the 1960s, its star was an executive, not a judicial, demagogue. Back then, as now, the cast, producer, director and theaters were silent. Today – 50 years later – his performance is still an embarrassment to Alabama.
Somebody say something.
Vanzetta Penn McPherson is a retired U.S. magistrate judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Send email to [email protected]. |
BRAINTREE, Mass. -- For the first time since being drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010, punter Zoltan Mesko will face competition for his job.
Former Louisiana Tech punter Ryan Allen, who went undrafted last week, tweeted on Saturday that he will be joining the Patriots.
"Ready to take my talents to New England!" Allen tweeted. "Excited to compete and be a part of a first class organization! ... Cannot wait to grind toward success as a Patriot!"
Last season, Allen became the first back-to-back winner of the Ray Guy Award, given annually since 2000 to the best punter in college football.
Meanwhile, Mesko enters the final year of his rookie contract. Statistically, he saw a slight drop in his gross punting average last season (43.1 yards per punt after posting a 46.5 mark in 2011), although that may have been offset in part by a career-high 28 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
On Wednesday, Mesko told ESPNBoston.com that he is ready to embrace the competition.
"I'll control what I can control," he said. "It's healthy competition and that's what got us here in the first place. So I welcome whatever the coaches feel is best for me."
This is the first time in his NFL career that Mesko, who was selected in the fifth round out of Michigan in 2010, could enter training camp battling with another punter on the roster.
"If Ryan has any questions, I'll be happy to answer them," Mesko said. "Get him caught up to things."
Mesko and special teams captain Matthew Slater were in Braintree on Wednesday, speaking to students at Ross Elementary School about the importance of physical activity.
"What better way to form your habits as a kid when you're a sponge and will absorb things from your role models?" Mesko said. |
<?php
/**
* Contains \jamesiarmes\PhpEws\Type\TrackingPropertyType.
*/
namespace jamesiarmes\PhpEws\Type;
use \jamesiarmes\PhpEws\Type;
/**
* Represents a name and value pair of strings that is used to create properties
* for message tracking reports.
*
* @package php-ews\Type
*/
class TrackingPropertyType extends Type
{
/**
* Defines a name for the message tracking report property.
*
* @since Exchange 2010 SP1
*
* @var string
*/
public $Name;
/**
* Defines a value for the message tracking report property.
*
* This element is optional.
*
* @since Exchange 2010 SP1
*
* @var string
*/
public $Value;
}
|
Some people think that cats have an independent nature that can stand alone without a human companion. This perception might be true and applicable to those felines who are just roaming the streets and seemed no one or home to turn to. But, if you own one or have a... |
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Seamus Coffey - Lecturer in Economics, UCC
According to this latest daft.ie report, the first quarter of 2012 provided the
least change in the property market since the middle of 2007. Asking prices
continued to fall, but the drop of 1.7% is the smallest quarterly drop since
the market collapse began in earnest in 2008. Meanwhile, in the rental sector,
stabilisation has been present for almost two years and nominal rents at the
start of 2012 are no different than they were at the start of 2010.
Measuring the fall
Measuring prices in the Irish property market continues to be an art rather than
a science. Using mortgage market data, the Central Statistics Office reports that
house prices fell by over 4% in the first two months of the year. When looking at
falls from the peak, though, a different picture emerges. The daft.ie report shows
a total fall of 53%, compared to 49% in the CSO index. The scope for divergence
in estimates of falls from the peak will hopefully be put to an end when a National
House Price Register is launched later this year.
House prices are always and everywhere a function of bank lending, but they do
have a fundamental value to which they must eventually return. This can be given
as a ratio to household income or, more usually, annual rents. A good guide is
that house prices should be somewhere between 12 and 15 times the annual rent
that a property can generate. This is a range that should never be ignored but
often is.
A market that has normal level of activity would be near the top of this range
but a malfunctioning market will be towards the lower figure and possibly even
below it. And Ireland does not have a properly function property market.
A depressed market
Data from the Irish Banking Federation show that there are fewer than 4,000 mortgages
being drawn down each quarter, with around half of these going to first-time buyers
and a further third to mover-purchasers. The remainder is largely accounted for by
re-mortgages and top-ups. The residential investment borrower has virtually disappeared.
Anecdotal reports suggest that around 30% of all purchases are by cash buyers. This
cannot be independently verified but a figure close to it would suggest there are
around 4,000 residential property transactions a quarter. Ireland has a housing
stock of around 2 million units. An annual turnover rate of less than 1% is indicative
of a market that continues to be distressed.
The stock of properties for sale on Daft.ie in March 2012 was 54,000, which is
the lowest level in four years. This could be because properties on the market
are selling quicker or because the number of properties being offered for sale
is declining. The speed at which properties on Daft.ie found a buyer did increase
slightly in the first quarter but two-thirds of properties remain on the market
for four months or longer before finding a buyer.
Thinking like investors
The average asking price for the first quarter of 2012 was €176,000. In order to
justify that price using the above range, the monthly rent should be somewhere
between €1,000 and €1,250. Averages do not provide the necessary insight and this
must be done on a town-by-town or even a street-by-street basis.
For example, a three-bed house in Cork City had an average asking price of €189,000
in the first quarter. The average asking rent for a similar property is €850 a month.
The annual rent is still more than 18 times the asking price. At a ratio of 15 times
annual rent, a monthly rent of €850 should equate to a price of around €155,000. By
this metric, asking prices for three-bed houses in Cork City are still around
one-sixth over-valued. This can be repeated right around the country. With the
inability and unwillingness of banks in Ireland to issue loans a fall below this
level is all but guaranteed.
The importance of lending
Just as the banks are almost certain to cause an undershooting of property prices
relative to their fundamental value they must accept the responsibility for the
market bubble that peaked almost five years ago. The banks based their lending
model on the prices that people were willing to pay for properties, but seemed
to ignore the fact that the price someone was willing to pay was based on how much
a bank was willing to lend to them.
A house in a particular estate may have sold for €350,000 because one bank was
willing to lend one purchaser the money for such a transaction. The other banks
provided similar mortgages to other buyers on the basis that the first transaction
provided the "market value".
The price reflects the amount of money that someone is willing to pay for a good.
Value reflects the benefits that a good can offer. In most cases, these are the
same but this does not have hold. Residential property provides accommodation
service. As a result of the madness of the boom, we now have thousands of households
paying a price for accommodation far in excess of the value they are receiving.
This reality must be addressed and the burden of the mortgage debt is largely a
function of the actions of the banks so they must offer what ever forbearance is
necessary to assist households. The banks must also realise that there are
thousands of homeowners who will never be able to repay the huge loans they
issued to them. It is very difficult to gauge the number of unsustainable
residential mortgages that need to be ended but it could be anywhere between
15,000 and 30,000. These are households who are in deep mortgage arrears and
negative equity and have little prospects of recovery.
The banks must face up to losses that exist on these loans. The homeowners must
accept that they will never be in a position to repay the loan and that by
surrendering the property they will be able to make a fresh start. Households
with unsustainable mortgages must be allowed to do so.
The recovery in the housing market will not be when prices start to rise; the
recovery will be when activity starts to rise. With our ailing banks still in
no position to lend and the many problems created by the bubble still outstanding
there is no sign that this is about to change. |
Aledmys Diaz fouls a ball off, but it bounces off the dirt and back up into his face and forces him out of the game in the 9th inning |
Facing domestic heat over the increasing oil prices, India is reportedly in talks with China for setting up a body that could negotiate better terms with sellers.
According to a PTI report, India discussed with China the possibility of forming an ‘oil buyers club’ for negotiating better terms with oil sellers as well as getting more US crude oil to Asia to cut dominance of the oil producers’ cartel OPEC.
Related Stories
The move comes after a realisation in government circles that OPEC’s actions were playing havoc with oil prices.
The idea was actually floated by Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s at the International Energy Forum (IEF) meeting in New Delhi in April this year.
As a follow up, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) Chairman Sanjiv Singh travelled to Beijing this month to meet Wang Yilin, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), PTI quoted a top source as saying.
On discussion table was debottlenecking infrastructure to facilitate more US crude oil comes to Asia so as to cut the dominance of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which supplies about 60 per cent of India’s oil needs.
Production cuts by OPEC have led to international oil prices hitting a four year high last month that forced a Rs 3.8 per litre hike in petrol and Rs 3.38 a litre increase in diesel prices. Rates started to cool towards month end and retail prices have been cut thereafter.
In a throwback to 2005 when the then oil minister Mani Shankar Aiyar had proposed an alliance of the oil consuming nations, Pradhan wants to form an oil buyers club with China, Japan and South Korea to take up issues like premium being charged from Asian buyers.
At the IEF meeting, India and China agreed to join hands to have a collective bargaining power against cartelisation of oil producers. Singh’s visit was to take this forward with concrete proposals for cooperation, the source said.
So far, India has not been able to bargain better rates from the Gulf-based producers of the oil cartel, OPEC. Instead of getting a discount for bulk purchases, West Asian producers, such as Saudi Arabia, charge a so-called ‘Asian Premium’ for shipments to Asian buyers, including India and Japan, as opposed to Europe. According to Prof Yoshiki Ogawa of Japan, the Asian Premium annually costs somewhere around USD 5-10 billion for Asian importers.
The source said possibilities of joint sourcing of oil as well as combined bargaining to bring down Asian premium was discussed. Similar collaboration will be proposed to Japan and Korea as well.
With CNPC or its affiliates selling in the overseas market a large portion of oil produced from fields it owns in third countries, India expressed interest in buying the Chinese firm’s equity oil directly, the source said.
India is the world’s third-largest oil importer after China and the US. Japan is the fourth largest importer and South Korea is right behind it. The four nations account for over a third of the oil imports in the world.
“Why should biggest consumers pay more. Why should these countries pay more in name of Asian premium,” Pradhan had said in April. “All the four major Asian economies should come together. And India will try to create a network for that within the four countries.”
He had stated that like producers have a say in pricing and supply, consumers should also get a say.
This is India’s third attempt to unite major Asian energy importers to beat the producers’ cartel.
The then oil minister Aiyar had in 2005 hosted two ministerial roundtables to impress upon the need for a reasonable oil pricing and getting rid of discriminatory Asian Premium—the first involved major Asian consumers such as China, Japan and South Korea and the other roped in alternative oil producers of North and Central Asia.
Aiyar proposed a common front on oil to China’s National Development and Reforms Commission vice-chairman Zhang Xiaoqing. That proposal resulted in a memorandum of understanding in 2006 but it was lost in the complexities of bilateral ties.
Another attempt for joint energy sourcing with Japan was made towards the end of the UPA government when M Veerappa Moily was the oil minister. It, too, failed to see the light of day.
At the 16th IEF ministerial meet in April this year, India and China, which together accounted for 17 per cent of world oil consumption last year, agreed to look for ways to leverage the combined size of their imports for a better bargain from West Asian crude producers.
By 2023, oil demand will hit 104.7 million barrels per day, up 6.9 million bpd in 2017, according to the International Energy Agency. “As has been the case for some years, China and India together will contribute nearly 50 per cent of global oil demand,” the agency had said in a report. |
Q:
How to change two properties in two different classes on hover?
I have made two classes in a SVG-file to decide the fill color of many many different shapes. The different shapes are grouped and now I want them to change differently on hover. On hover I want all the fill in class "test1" (that are inside the groupe) to change to e.g. #000000 and to set the opacity in the class "test2" to 0.8.
<style type="text/css" >
.test1 { fill: #006600;}
.test2 { fill: #0000FF; opacity: 0.3;}
g:hover { ????? }
</style>
Any leads?
A:
Assuming a markup such as...
<g>
<rect class="test1" ... />
<rect class="test1" ... />
<rect class="test2" ... />
<rect class="test2" ... />
</g>
Your CSS would be...
.test1 { fill: #006600;}
.test2 { fill: #0000FF; opacity: 0.3;}
g:hover .test1 { fill: #000; }
g:hover .test2 { opacity: 0.8; }
|
// Copyright (c) Lex Li. All rights reserved.
//
// Licensed under the MIT license. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
namespace Microsoft.Web.Administration
{
public enum PipelineState
{
Unknown = 0,
BeginRequest = 1,
AuthenticateRequest = 2,
AuthorizeRequest = 4,
ResolveRequestCache = 8,
MapRequestHandler = 16,
AcquireRequestState = 32,
PreExecuteRequestHandler = 64,
ExecuteRequestHAndler = 128,
ReleaseRequestState = 256,
UpdateRequestCache = 512,
LogRequest = 1024,
EndRequest = 2048,
SendResponse = 536870912
}
}
|
Load characteristics following transfemoral amputation in individuals fitted with bone-anchored prostheses: a scoping review protocol.
The main purpose of this scoping review is to characterize loading information applied on the residuum of individuals with transfemoral amputation fitted with an osseointegrated fixation for bone-anchored prostheses.The objectives of this scoping review are: i) to map the scope of loading variables, and ii) to report the range of magnitude of loads that has been directly measured using a portable kinetic recording apparatus fitted at the distal end of the residuum during rehabilitation exercises, standardized and unscripted activities of daily living, and adverse events.The specific review questions are. |
Munenori Kawasaki doesn't always give English interviews, but when he does, they are among the best in history.
First, let's set the stage. Sunday started off as just an ordinary day. Baseball games were being played, and the struggling Toronto Blue Jays trailed the Baltimore Orioles, 5-2, heading into the bottom of the ninth.
But the Jays rallied for four runs off closer Jim Johnson, with the ball-of-energy shortstop providing the game-winning two-run double.
Mark De Rosa, who scored the winning run, began the postgame interview but quickly stepped aside so Kawasaki could have his awesome moment in the spotlight.
He didn't disappoint:
"My name is Munenori Kawasaki. I am from Japan. I am Japanese!"
After those spectacular first words, he went on to thank his teammates for giving him the opportunity to secure the clutch hit. Shortly after, he was nailed with the shaving-cream pie and Gatorade bath.
Let me just say this.
I am (sadly) a Seattle Mariners fan. I was sad when Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson and Alex Rodriguez left. I've been sad about this team pretty much my entire existence.
But when the M's let go of Kawasaki, I shed more than a single tear.
He isn't going to tear the cover off the ball, although he now has his average up to .247 after Sunday's 3-for-5 day, but he is always this excited. Always playing with passion, always giving everyone high fives.
As we now know, he gives some of the most entertaining interviews of all time.
It's always apparent that Kawasaki simply loves the game of baseball and is ecstatic to be playing it for a living, and with moments like these, he can put a smile on anyone's face.
Kawasaki wins—at everything. Forever.
Follow @t_keen |
Q:
Printing Glossary entries without ever referencing them in your work
I am yet to create my list of abbreviations and symbols using the package Glossary. Since i am done with my thesis, i wont be referencing the glossary entries in the text where i used them. Is it possible that with the glossary package i can still print my abbreviations without ever referencing them?
A:
Is there a really good reasen why you want to use the obsolete package glossary? If not, I would suggest switching to the newer package glossaries. Using this package you can add entries, that were never referenced in you text, to your list of abbreviations using the following command.
\glsadd{}
|
Warren Buffett is Buying Stocks
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The NY Times just ran an interesting Op-Ed piece from Warren Buffett. In it, he talked about his current view of the market, and how he’s been handling his personal investments:
I’ve been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I’m talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds… If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.
So… Why is he wading into stocks given the current market turmoil?
A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense.
He goes on to argue that:
I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.
What about holding cash for safety?
Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.
Interesting thoughts from a guy who knows. I tend to agree with him on all accounts, though I admittedly didn’t have the foresight to move into a 100% bond position like he did. Anyway, I highly recommend clicking through and reading the full article.
6 Responses to “Warren Buffett is Buying Stocks”
True cheap doesnt always equal growth, but I do think that VALUE=GROWTH and that Buffett is not saying that we are headed back to growth but a return to norm. This is almost the invert as 1999-2000 when everyone said its different this time. Stocks are simply oversold from a historical perspective.
Cheap doesn’t equal growth, but apparently Buffett believes the US economy is headed for growth. Few has predicted the extent of this crash, and I believe fewer can predict how long it will take to get out of this position. The past has shown the rise after such massive selloffs to be substantially longer, especially if there are no pockets of growth.
I agree. Don’t forget that he predicted both the internet bubble and the current one:
In 1999 when everyone was busy buying internet stocks he said:
“After a heady experience of that kind, normally sensible people drift into behavior akin to that of Cinderella at the ball. They know that overstaying the festivities… will eventually bring on pumpkins and mice”.
At that time everyone thought he was an old fool who doesn’t understand the “new economy”. He turned out to be right – we got pumpkins and mice….
Then in 2003:
“We’ve found it hard to find significantly undervalued stocks. The shortage of attractively-priced stocks in which we can put large sums doesn’t bother us. Our capital is underutilised now, but that will happen periodically. It’s a painful condition to be in but not as painful as doing something stupid.”
Also in 2003, about mortgage-backed securities and derivatives: “financial weapons of mass destruction, carrying dangers that, while now latent, are potentially lethal.â€
In both cases he turned out to be right. Listening to him in 1999 and 2003 would’ve saved many of us a whole lot of money.
Warren Buffet is the King Solomon of our day. I think that his philosophies should be defined and broadcast to anyone that would like to listen. I am not surprised at all that he is investing so heavily in stocks. If he had the time, I’m sure he would be heavily involved in local real estate markets too.
I think more investors should follow in Buffet’s foot steps. Everything is at a astronomical level right now and there are a lot of great buying opportunities that present themselves. Most people think a recession is a bad thing, but if you are a true investor, you will beg to differ.
Disclaimer:
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Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the savings offers
appearing on this site are from advertisers from which this website receives compensation for being listed here.
This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). These offers do not represent all deposit accounts available.
Editorial Disclosure: This content is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of the bank advertiser, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. This site may be compensated through the bank advertiser Affiliate Program.
UGC Disclosure: These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered. |
NFL: Tight Ends with the Most Postseason Receiving Yards
Jason Witten? Not yet. This weekend, though, he’ll crack the list of top 20 tight ends with the most postseason receiving yards.
Witten – one of the better offensive tight ends to ever hit the grid, one of only four TE’s with over 10,000 career receiving yards and a possible Hall of Famer – has only been in six playoff games in his 12-year career. Tony Romo‘s Dallas Cowboys have been up and down during the regular season and mostly down in the postseason. Witten’s got 356 yards, just four off the pace. |
Excessive load shedding hits Naudero hard
Naudero: Excessive electricity load shedding than the announced schedule has crippled daily life and trade activities of Naudero.
The local Sepco authorities had announced daily outage of 8-hours but they are carrying out 16-hours load shedding daily.
As per announced timings they have to close supply from 3.45 am to 5.45 am, ... |
Ethanol sensitivity of recombinant human N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.
In this study, the ethanol sensitivity of human N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors stably expressed in L(tk-) cells, or transiently expressed in HEK 293 cells and Xenopus oocytes was determined. NMDA receptor function was measured using fura-2 calcium imaging for L(tk-) cells, whole cell voltage-clamp for HEK 293 cells, and two-electrode voltage clamp for oocytes. Ethanol inhibited NMDA receptor function in all three expression system, but was less potent for receptors expressed in L(tk-) cells. NMDA receptors composed of NR1a/2B subunits were inhibited to a greater extent by ethanol than NR1a/2A receptors when expressed in L(tk-) cells and HEK 293 cells, but not in oocytes. These results suggest that the method of receptor expression and assay system used may influence the degree of ethanol inhibition of recombinant NMDA receptors. |
Momo is so cute in this video with her anime maid clothes and the pink hair and freckles. If you like anime or hentai, it's a pretty neat interpretation in live action. It's fun, it's got a story, and the sex is wonderful. If you like cute and sexy with real b/g action, this is the one to get.
D wakes up oneday to find his childhood friend Momo dressed as a maid. Turns out she was sent by his family member to take care of him for the week. There is lots of comic anime-style beatings and of course hentai style sex - but without the censorship!
Outfit: Pink Loli Maid
This video was based off the hentai "My TsunTsun Maid" as an experiment for a live action hentai |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a steerable ground drilling device, which comprises a body destined to be attached to a flexible pipe, a rotatable head which is mounted on the front extremity of the body and is provided with at least one spraying device to which fluid under pressure can be supplied through a pipe which extends through the head and the body and means for rotating the head.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Such steerable ground drilling devices are especially utilized for making for tunnels in the ground into which the laying of so-called public utilities, such as cables and such and the like, is accomplished.
The steering of the ground drilling device can occur in various ways.
It is known to attach the head of the steerable ground drilling device to the body by means of a ball and socket joint, such that it can be fitted in relation to the body.
It is also known to provide the head with a guidable spraying device and to alter the spraying direction of the spraying device if required.
In yet another known ground drilling device the spraying device or a hammer drill is directed asymmetrically in relation to the axis of the body.
With continual rotation, the drilling device will move straight forward. With a stationary head the spraying is asymmetric and the drilling device will alter direction if it is pressed further rotatingly or hammered rotatingly.
With all these ground drilling devices the head must be stationary with alteration of direction.
Ground drilling devices are known whereby the head can rotating, even during the alteration of direction. In this way ground drilling devices are known whereby laterally directed spraying devices are provided in the body in order during the alteration of direction, to press the body away from the wall of the already formed opening.
All these known ground drilling devices are, however, relatively complicated and the steering of them is not easy. |
Background {#Sec1}
==========
Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), especially in patients with severe coma, has a high mortality and disability rate. The pathophysiology of ICH is incompletely understood; there is general agreement that the acute formation of a parenchymal hematoma produces tissue disruption and displacement \[[@CR1]\]. Mortality in the early stage after ICH is attributable to increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and tissue shifts \[[@CR2], [@CR3]\]. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is utilized as an indirect measure of ICP because higher ICP causes characteristic changes of decreased end-diastolic flow velocity (Vd) and increased pulsatility index (PI) in the Doppler waveform \[[@CR4]\]. Several studies have confirmed that the PI of the unaffected hemisphere may be a predictor of death in acute ICH, suggesting that intracranial hypertension is the most likely cause of death in patients with ICH \[[@CR5]--[@CR7]\]. However, compared to patients with supratentorial cerebral infarction, patients with supratentorial cerebral hemorrhage are more prone to disturbance of consciousness; that is, changes in consciousness state after ICH, which are not always easily explained on the basis of increased ICP, mass effect, or herniation \[[@CR8]\]. Relief of elevated ICP by ventricular drainage is commonly performed, and may improve the level of consciousness of patients with ICH with coma. Notwithstanding, coma often persists, implicating other causative pathology \[[@CR9]\].
The secondary pathophysiological processes of ICH include progress in cerebral edema \[[@CR10]\], activation of apoptotic processes \[[@CR11]\], and the toxic effects of hematoma components \[[@CR12], [@CR13]\]; these factors can cause severe, persistent damage. Functional imaging with PET indicated that surrounding the hematoma was a region of reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO~2~), and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) \[[@CR14]\]. Combined application of Xenon CT and PET in previous studies on CBF and CMRO~2~ has also shown that EEG changes can reflect the coupling of CBF and brain metabolism \[[@CR15]\]. In comparison with primitive EEG, quantitative EEG (QEEG) has an advantage in quantification and interpretation. Delta power measures had the strongest negative correlation with CBF, and alpha power had a relatively strong positive correlation with CBF; increased power in slower frequency bands (delta and theta) and decreased power in faster frequency bands (alpha and beta) are seen with reductions in CMRO~2~ \[[@CR15]--[@CR17]\].
In this study, we sought to investigate whether it is possible to comprehensively evaluate brain function by administering TCD combined with QEEG in patients with severe acute supratentorial (SAS)-ICH, and to assess outcome at the 90-day follow-up; and to explore a new basis for pathophysiological changes in severe ICH.
Methods {#Sec2}
=======
Patients {#Sec3}
--------
In this prospective study, we consecutively enrolled patients with ICH with coma who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, First Hospital of Jilin University, China, between June 2015 and December 2016. The patients were included in our study if they met the following criteria: admission time ≤ 72 h after onset; presence of supratentorial hemorrhage; and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 points on admission, as assessed by an experienced neurologist. Exclusion criteria were the following: ICH secondary to aneurysm, vascular malformation, tumor, and cerebral infarction; deficient temporal acoustic bone window; scheduled surgical treatments, including ventricular drainage, clot removal, and craniotomies; middle cerebral artery or other intracranial and extracranial major vascular stenosis/occlusion; previous ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease; pathological changes that affect intracranial EEG activity, such as intracranial infection, ischemia anoxic encephalopathy, cerebral trauma, and others; presence of marked environmental turbulence, such as low temperature (core body temperature \< 32 °C), hypoglycemia (\<50 mg/dl), hyponatremia (\<116 mg/dl), and others; and central nervous system depressant use, including sedative, narcotic, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptic drugs, and others. Fifteen age and sex-matched healthy controls (64.3 ± 13.5 years old, eight men) were recruited. Written informed consent was obtained from each patient's immediate family members before the beginning of the study. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University, China, and conformed to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Clinical data {#Sec4}
-------------
All patients received routine monitoring of vital signs and intensive nursing care in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit. We recorded and analyzed the following variables: demographics (age and sex); stroke risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation, previous acute coronary event, smoking, excessive drinking); admission GCS score; time from ICH onset until the time monitoring commenced; whether blood pressure and glucose management were in accordance with current ICH management guidelines \[[@CR18]\]; other admission laboratory tests (serum potassium, calcium, and sodium, white blood cell count, platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), International Normalized Ratio (INR)); neuroimaging variables (for regular hematoma, ICH volume was measured using length × width × depth/2; for irregular hematoma, length × width × depth/3 was adopted \[[@CR19]\]---head CT with hematoma location and volume on admission was evaluated by a neuroradiologist blinded to the clinical and brain function data); and clinical outcome assessed using the 5-point Glasgow Outcome Scale score 90 days after ictus.
TCD-QEEG measurements {#Sec5}
---------------------
Patients were in the supine position during quantitative brain function monitoring. TCD was performed using 2-MHz pulsed-wave Doppler probes fixed to each temporal window with a helmet. The depth of acquiring optimal middle cerebral artery signals was 50--60 mm from both sides. Simultaneous EEG was obtained with standard 16-channel electroencephalography with silver chloride scalp electrodes placed in accordance with the 10--20 system; electrode impedance was maintained below 10 KΩ. The healthy control group remained with their eyes closed and awake during the process. Data were recorded for over 30 min until a stable recording was established; the recorded data were stored for further analysis.
Data analysis {#Sec6}
-------------
Blinded analysis was performed for each patient. All clearly readable TCD waveforms were used in the calculations. The following variables were analyzed: systolic flow velocity (Vs), diastolic flow velocity (Vd), mean velocity (Vm), and PI from the affected and unaffected hemispheres. Vm was calculated using the following equation:$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$ \mathrm{Vm}=\left(\mathrm{Vs}\hbox{--} \mathrm{Vd}\right)/3+\mathrm{Vd}, $$\end{document}$$
and PI was calculated using the following equation:$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$ \mathrm{PI}=\left(\mathrm{Vs}\hbox{--} \mathrm{Vd}\right)/\mathrm{Vm}. $$\end{document}$$
Offline QEEG analysis was performed using MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, MA, USA). After data filtering (high pass 0.3 Hz, low pass 30 Hz) and all segments of artifact-free EEG were analyzed, spectral power was calculated using Fast Fourier transform (FFT) for each electrode over the 1--30 Hz range. The relative power of the delta (1--3 Hz, RDP), theta (4--7 Hz, RTP), alpha (8--13 Hz, RAP), and beta (14--30 Hz, RBP) frequency bands over all channels were used to calculate the global delta/alpha ratio (DAR) and the (delta + theta)/(alpha + beta) ratio (DTABR). The brain symmetry index (BSI) was calculated according to the following formula:$$\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$ \mathrm{BSI}\left(\mathrm{t}\right)=\frac{1}{M}\frac{1}{N}\sum \limits_{j=1}^M\left\Vert \sum \limits_{i=1}^N\frac{Rij(t)- Lij(t)}{Rij(t)+ Lij(t)}\right\Vert $$\end{document}$$
with the power of the signal obtained from a particular hemispheric bipolar channel pair *i* (with *i* = 1, 2, ..., *N*) at frequency *j* (or Fourier coefficient, with index *j* = 1, 2, ..., *M*), *N* being the number of channel pairs, *M* being the number of Fourier coefficients, *Rij*(*t*) and *Lij*(*t*) for the right and left hemisphere, respectively \[[@CR20]\].
Statistical analysis {#Sec7}
--------------------
All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and MedCalc version 11.4.4 (MedCalc Software, Mariakerke, Belgium). In the univariate analysis, data were reported as mean and SD for normally distributed variables and as median and interquartile range (IQR) for nonnormally distributed variables. Categorical variables were presented as percentages. Student's *t* tests and median two-sample tests were used for normally distributed variables. Nonparametric Wilcoxon (Kruskal--Wallis) analysis of variance was used for nonnormally distributed variables. The comparison of categorical variables was performed with the chi-squared test. From these analyses, we could select the variables with some prognostic significance (*p* ≤ 0.001). Then, we performed a backward stepwise logistic regression analysis with death at 90 days as the dependent variable. If a TCD or QEEG measure was statistically associated with survival, we calculated its separated and united sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve with the aid of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. ROC curves were compared by applying DeLong's test. Calculated two-tailed *p* \< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results {#Sec8}
=======
Basic data {#Sec9}
----------
During a 1.5-year period, 76 consecutive patients were diagnosed with severe, acute, spontaneous supratentorial ICH. The following patients were excluded: admission beyond 72 h from onset of symptoms (*n* = 4), surgical procedure (*n* = 2), macrovascular stenosis (*n* = 7), previous cerebrovascular disease (*n* = 5), deficient temporal window (*n* = 6), signal artifacts (*n* = 3), and loss to follow-up (*n* = 2). Finally, we enrolled 47 patients, of which 26 (55.3%) died during the 90-day follow-up period. The median age was 67.3 ± 12.6 years, and 23 (48.9%) of the patients were male. The first TCD-QEEG was performed a mean of 31.0 (19.0--59.0) h after the onset of symptoms. No statistically significant differences between survivors and nonsurvivors were noted for clinical baseline data, including age, sex, risk factors, blood pressure, serum glucose, serum potassium, calcium, and sodium, white blood cell count, platelet count, APTT, INR, and hematoma location. Only larger hematoma volume (*p* \< 0.0001) and higher Glasgow Coma Scale score (*p* = 0.001) were associated with mortality (Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}).Table 1Demographic and baseline characteristicsCharacteristicAll patients (*n* = 47)Survivors (*n* = 21)Nonsurvivors (*n* = 26)*p* valueDemographics Age (years), mean (SD)67.3 (12.6)68.8 (12.5)64.1 (12.4)0.21 Male, *n* (%)23 (48.9)9 (42.9)14 (53.8)0.45Risk factors, *n* (%) Hypertension41 (87.2)18 (85.7)23 (88.5)0.77 Diabetes mellitus7 (14.9)3 (14.3)4 (15.4)0.91 Hyperlipidemia13 (27.7)8 (38.1)5 (19.2)0.15 Coronary heart disease13 (27.7)6 (28.6)7 (26.9)0.90 Smoking15 (31.9)5 (23.8)10 (38.5)0.28 Excessive drinking11 (23.4)4 (19.0)7 (26.9)0.53Time from ICH onset to monitor (h), median (IQR)31.0 (19.0--59.0)39.0 (19.0--65.0)26.0 (18.8--46)0.21GCS score, median (IQR)7 (6--8)7 (7--8)6 (4--7)0.001SBP (mmHg), mean (SD)168.4 (30.0)175.3 (25.9)162.7 (32.4)0.16DBP (mmHg), mean (SD)85.2 (21.3)90.5 (18.1)80.9 (23.0)0.13WBC (×10^9^/L), mean (SD)13.0 (3.5)12.5 (4.2)13.3 (2.8)0.44Platelet (×10^9^/L), mean (SD)198.3 (78.9)205.4 (74.5)192.5 (83.2)0.58APTT (s), mean (SD)29.1 (3.4)29.1 (3.7)29.0 (3.1)0.96INR, mean (SD)1.01 (0.09)0.98 (0.09)1.01 (0.10)0.28Glucose (mmol/L), median (IQR)7.6 (6.9--9.4)7.2 (6.8--9.6)7.7 (6.7--9.2)0.86Potassium (mmol/L), mean (SD)3.6 (0.4)3.6 (0.4)3.7 (0.4)0.33Calcium (mmol/L), mean (SD)141.3 (5.5)141.6 (6.2)141.0 (4.9)0.74Sodium (mmol/L), median (IQR)2.2 (2.1--2.3)2.2 (2.1--2.3)2.2 (2.1--2.3)0.40Hematoma side, left, *n* (%)30 (63.9)14 (53.8)16 (76.2)0.11Hematoma location, *n* (%)0.65 Lobe8 (17.0)3 (14.3)5 (19.2) Deep39 (83.0)18 (85.7)21 (80.8)Hematoma volume (cm^3^), median (IQR)45.5 (25.0--75.9)25.0 (19.6--39.6)62.8 (44.1--90.1)\<0.0001Intraventricular hemorrhage, *n* (%)37 (78.7)22 (84.6)15 (71.4)0.27*SD* standard deviation, *ICH* intracerebral hemorrhage, *IQR* interquartile range, *GCS* Glasgow Coma Scale, *SBP* systolic blood pressure, *DBP* diastolic blood pressure, *WBC* white blood cell count, *APTT* activated partial thromboplastin time, *INR* International Normalized Ratio
Evaluation of brain function with TCD-QEEG {#Sec10}
------------------------------------------
Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"} shows the CT and TCD-QEEG findings of representative patients.Fig. 1Examples of representative patients. **a** Nonsurvivor patient. QEEG shows the slower delta frequency band significantly increased and the faster alpha frequency band significantly decreased. Moreover, DAR, but not BSI, also increased. TCD shows the PI of bilateral hemispheres significantly increased. **b** Survivor patient. QEEG and TCD show similar changes, but not as significant, to those seen in (**a**). BSI did not increase either. **c** Healthy control patient. QEEG and TCD normal. DAR delta/alpha ratio, DTABR (delta + theta)/(alpha + beta) ratio, BSI brain symmetry index, VS systolic flow velocity, VM mean flow velocity, VD diastolic flow velocity, PI pulsatility index, TCD transcranial Doppler, QEEG quantitative electroencephalography
Regarding TCD relevant indicators, Vd of unaffected hemispheres was lower in nonsurvivors (UVd *p* = 0.018) and the PI of both hemispheres was higher in nonsurvivors than survivors in patients with SAS-ICH (API *p* \< 0.0001, UPI *p* \< 0.0001) (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} and Fig. [2b, c](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). Vm in the affected hemisphere and Vd and PI in both hemispheres showed significant differences (all *p* \< 0.0001) between patients with ICH and healthy controls (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} and Fig. [2a--c](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}).Table 2TCD and QEEG parametersNonsurvivors (*n* = 26)Survivors (*n* = 21)Healthy controls (*n* = 15)TCD parameters VS (cm/s), mean (SD) Affected side85.6 (23.9)84.9 (18.4)Overall88.6 (21.4) Unaffected side91.2 (23.0)89.5 (21.8) VM (cm/s), mean (SD) Affected side43.8 (13.6)^\*^46.3 (10.5)^+^Overall56.8 (14.8) Unaffected side48.0 (12.9)51.7 (12.7) VD (cm/s), mean (SD) Affected side23.6 (9.9)^\*^27.6 (7.0)^+^Overall41.3 (12.0) Unaffected side26.6 (8.7)^\#\ \*^33.0 (8.9)^+^ PI, mean (SD) Affected side1.5 (0.2)^\#\ \*^1.2 (0.2)^+^Overall0.9 (0.2) Unaffected side1.4 (0.2)^\#\ \*^1.1 (0.2)^+^QEEG parametersRDP (%), median (IQR)74.4 (72.5--78.2)^\#\*^70.0 (67.7--73.1)^+^49.7 (40.0--55.9)RTP (%), median (IQR)8.4 (7.2--10.1)^\*^9.5 (8.2--12.0)^+^7.1 (6.4--8.8)RAP (%), median (IQR)9.5 (8.4--10.8)^\#\*^11.9 (10.2--13.2)^+^27.0 (24.8--38.2)RBP (%), median (IQR)6.4 (5.0--7.5)^\*^7.1 (4.2--8.7)^+^12.9 (9.3--15.7)DAR, median (IQR)7.8 (6.8--9.4)^\#\*^6.1 (5.4--6.9)^+^2.0 (1.2--2.6)DTABR, median (IQR)5.1 (4.6--6.0)^\#\*^4.3 (3.7--4.8)^+^1.6 (0.9--1.8)BSI, median (IQR)0.38 (0.33--0.40)^\*^0.36 (0.31--0.40)^+^0.33 (0.29--0.38)*TCD* Transcranial Doppler, QEEG quantitative electroencephalography, *VS* systolic flow velocity, *SD* standard deviation, *VM* mean flow velocity, *VD* diastolic flow velocity, *PI* pulsatility index, *RDP* relative delta power, *IQR* interquartile range, *RTP* relative theta power, *RAP* relative alpha power, *RBP* relative beta power, *DAR* delta/alpha ratio, *DTABR* delta + theta)/(alpha + beta) ratio, *BSI* brain symmetry index^\#^*p* \< 0.05 for nonsurvivors vs survivors^\*^*p* \< 0.05 for nonsurvivors vs healthy controls^+^*p* \< 0.05 for survivors vs healthy controlsFig. 2TCD and QEEG parameters in patients with ICH compared to healthy controls. TCD parameters: **a** affected hemisphere systolic flow velocity (AVS), mean flow velocity (AVM), and diastolic flow velocity (AVD); **b** unaffected hemisphere systolic flow velocity (UVS), mean flow velocity (UVM), and diastolic flow velocity (UVD); and **c** pulsatility index (PI). QEEG parameters: **d** relative band power of delta, theta, alpha, and beta; **e** delta/alpha ratio (DAR) and (delta + theta)/(alpha + beta) ratio (DTABR); and **f** brain symmetry index (BSI). ^\#^*p* \< 0.05 for nonsurvivors vs survivors; \**p* \< 0.05 for nonsurvivors vs healthy controls; ^+^*p* \< 0.05 for survivors vs healthy controls
Regarding QEEG relevant indicators, higher relative delta power (RDP *p* \< 0.0001), lower relative alpha power (RAP *p* \< 0.0001), higher delta/alpha ratio (DAR *p* \< 0.0001), and higher (delta + theta)/(alpha + beta) ratio (DTABR *p* = 0.002) were associated with mortality in patients with SAS-ICH. All indicators except BSI showed significant differences (all *p* \< 0.0001) between patients with ICH and healthy controls (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} and Fig. [2d, e](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}). There were no significant differences in BSI between survivors and nonsurvivors or between patients and controls (all *p* \> 0.05) (Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"} and Fig. [2f](#Fig2){ref-type="fig"}).
Multivariate analysis {#Sec11}
---------------------
All *p* ≤ 0.001 variables in the univariate analysis were entered into a logistic regression model with mortality at 90 days as the dependent variable. The result showed that only DAR (OR 5.306, CI 1.533--18.360, *p* = 0.008) and UPI (adjusted OR 2.373, CI 1.299--4.335, *p* = 0.005) were identified as independent predictors for mortality at 90 days after SAS-ICH. The results of the logistic regression analysis remained unchanged when we excluded the GCS score and hematoma volume to verify model stability.
Comparison of ROC curves {#Sec12}
------------------------
To determine whether the combination of TCD and QEEG variations in the model improved outcome prediction, we compared the ROC curves of five models: the first model was obtained by the GCS score, the second model contained the hematoma volume, the third model was obtained by the independent predictors of TCD with UPI, the fourth model was obtained by the independent predictors of QEEG with DAR, and the final model included both UPI and DAR. All models could predict mortality in patients with ICH at 90 days. The final model attained a high prognostic power, as the area under the ROC curve was 0.949 when UPI and DAR were combined. The contribution of the final model was significant, while each variable alone did not seem to be significant (Fig. [3](#Fig3){ref-type="fig"}).Fig. 3Comparison of ROC curves to predict outcome in this cohort between five models: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), AUROC 0.776 (0.630--0.884); hematoma volume, AUROC 0.816 (0.676--0.914); unaffected side pulsatility index (UPI), AUROC 0.822 (0.683--0.918); delta/alpha ratio (DAR), AUROC 0.860 (0.728--0.944); transcranial Doppler (TCD) + quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), AUROC 0.949 (0.842--0.992). *p* \< 0.05 for TCD (UPI) + QEEG (DAR) comparison with GCS, hematoma volume, UPI (independent predictor of TCD), and DAR (independent predictor of QEEG). AUROC area under the receiver operating curve
Discussion {#Sec13}
==========
To our knowledge, this is the first study that focused on combined application of TCD-QEEG to assess the brain function of patients with SAS-ICH, and its prospective design could provide 90-day prognostic information. The results mainly suggested that TCD parameters of response to ICP and QEEG parameters of response to CBF and brain metabolism were significantly changed; UPI in TCD and DAR in QEEG were two independent predictors for 90-day mortality. Moreover, the area under the ROC curve after the combination of UPI and DAR was 0.949, which was superior to any single variable.
In previous studies, a variety of scales based on clinical data have often been used to assess ICH mortality and prognosis; variables that enter the scale usually include age, NIHSS score, GCS score, blood glucose, location of ICH, hematoma volume, intraventricular hemorrhage, and others \[[@CR21]--[@CR23]\]. After analyzing these clinical variables, we found that only GCS score and hematoma volume were associated with mortality. However, after entering these factors into the multiple regression model, they were not independent predictors. The reason may be that we enrolled patients with coma with GCS score ≤ 8, where GCS score and hematoma volume no longer have significant advantage in predicting prognosis in severe ICH.
TCD can assess intracranial compliance and, to some extent, reflect the level of ICP when it increases. The reason for the increase in ICP may be through a rise in intracranial volume, or secondarily through acute obstructive hydrocephalus \[[@CR24]\]. The progressive increase in ICP and the decrease in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) significantly affect the Doppler waveform; typical changes include decreased Vd and increased PI. Mayer et al.'s \[[@CR5]\] study showed that alterations in PI more reliably reflected intracranial lesion volume, and TCD could assess the asymmetry of intracranial hemodynamics. Martí-Fàbregas et al. \[[@CR6]\] suggested that TCD is effective for assessing intracranial hypertension, and elevated UPI can predict 30-day outcome in patients with ICH. Kiphuth et al. \[[@CR7]\] found that early PI monitoring by TCD correlated with ICP, and may be used to predict the outcome after 6 months. Our study on TCD drew a similar conclusion; decreased UVd and increased bilateral PI were significantly correlated with 90-day mortality, and API and UPI were the more significant predictors. Multivariate regression analysis showed that UPI was an independent prognostic factor.
QEEG is capable of quantitatively reflecting changes in intracranial neuronal activity, CBF, and metabolism. Powers used PET-measured CBF and CMRO~2~ in patients with ICH, and found that both perihematomal CBF and CMRO~2~ were significantly reduced compared to the contralateral side \[[@CR25]\]. QEEG changes after ICH have not been reported; many QEEG studies of ischemic stroke have confirmed that QEEG correlates well with CBF and brain metabolism (CMRO~2~) in early subacute ischemic stroke. Finnigan et al. \[[@CR26]\] assessed patients with acute supratentorial infarction, and suggested that DAR and RAP were positively correlated with the 30-day NIHSS score. Cuspineda et al. \[[@CR27]\] reported (sub)acute ischemic stroke RDP to be the most significant and RAP the next best predictor of the 3-month outcome. Finnigan et al. \[[@CR28]\] found that DAR showed maximal accuracy for discriminating between patients with acute ischemic stroke and controls. Our study also showed that the slower frequency band delta power increased and the faster frequency band alpha power decreased with the aggravation of brain injury. RDP, RAP, DAR, and DTABR were all significantly correlated with 90-day mortality; DAR and DTABR were the most significant among them. Multivariate regression analysis showed that DAR was an independent prognostic factor.
Many questions remain regarding the pathophysiological changes in ICH. Severely impaired consciousness is more common with acute supratentorial ICH than with supratentorial infarction ischemic stroke \[[@CR8]\]. Alterations in consciousness following ICH are not always easily explained by increased ICP or herniation. We also found that in some patients with severe supratentorial ICH, clinical indications, state of consciousness, and QEEG indicate that the patient is in a state of exhaustion, but the TCD waveform is normal, and PI is not high in the last few hours of monitoring. Additionally, we found that there was no difference in BSI between severe ICH and healthy controls in QEEG. The BSI is an indicator of bilateral hemisphere damage symmetry, while in ischemic stroke the BSI or pairwise-derived BSI significantly increased, and the degree of increase was significantly related to prognosis \[[@CR29], [@CR30]\]. It may, therefore, be assumed that brain damage in hemorrhagic stroke is diffuse, unlike in ischemic stroke. Neuroimaging has provided objective evidence of damage to the contralateral hemisphere in unilateral ICH. Zazulia et al. \[[@CR31]\] reported swelling of the bilateral hemispheres during the first week following acute supratentorial ICH.
Our study aimed at evaluating the brain function of severe supratentorial ICH using TCD combined with QEEG, and obtained good results, which can be utilized in future research in numerous ways. First, we hope to expand the sample size and obtain the boundary value, which could better guide clinical applications. Second, we could compare brain function of TCD-QEEG with functional imaging, and intensively study the mechanism of ICH. Third, a series of studies have confirmed that there are many similarities between acute ICH and TBI in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. If TCD and QEEG monitoring of these two groups of patients are performed simultaneously, perhaps we can provide a new basis for the disease pathogenesis. Finally, with the undergoing intensive studies on the pathophysiological mechanisms that follow ICH, new treatment methods are bound to appear. TCD combined with QEEG can dynamically, rapidly, and in a timely manner respond to the changes in brain function before and after treatment.
This study has some limitations. First, this was a single-center study in a university hospital setting, and the sample was relatively small. Thus, prospective validation in different settings and with larger samples is needed. Second, we only monitored the patients in the acute phase, and did not perform dynamic monitoring, which is helpful in comprehensively understanding the changes of brain function with disease progression. Well-designed multicenter TCD combined with QEEG dynamic monitoring studies with a larger sample are urgently needed in the future to provide more information for understanding brain functional changes after ICH.
Conclusions {#Sec14}
===========
This study demonstrated that in patients with SAS-ICH, brain damage caused diffuse changes, evident with multimodality neuromonitoring of TCD combined with QEEG; UPI and DAR were independent predictors of 90-day clinical outcome. Diagnostic power after combined use of TCD-QEEG is statistically superior in performance to any single variable, whether clinical or neurophysiological.
APTT
: Activated partial thromboplastin time
BSI
: Brain symmetry index
CBF
: Cerebral blood flow
DAR
: Delta/alpha ratio
DTABR
: (Delta + theta)/(alpha + beta)ratio
GCS
: Glasgow Coma Scale
ICH
: Intracerebral hemorrhage
ICP
: Intracranial pressure
INR
: International Normalized Ratio
PI
: Pulsatility index
QEEG
: Quantitative electroencephalography
RAP
: Relative alpha power
RBP
: Relative beta power
RDP
: Relative delta power
RTP
: Relative theta power
TCD
: Transcranial Doppler
Vd
: Diastolic flow velocity
Vm
: Mean flow velocity
Vs
: Systolic flow velocity
The authors thank Qiang Zhang and Ying Wang for providing technical assistance in TCD-QEEG monitoring.
Funding {#FPar1}
=======
There are no funding sources to declare.
Availability of data and materials {#FPar2}
==================================
The datasets collected and/or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
YC contributed to study conception and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, and drafting of the manuscript. YqX and JcF contributed to study conception and design, analysis and interpretation of the data, and revision of the final manuscript. WhX contributed to study conception and design, analysis and interpretation of the data, and revision of the manuscript. LjW contributed to data collection and revision of the manuscript. XmY contributed to study conception and design, data collection, and analysis and interpretation. JC and FD contributed to study conception and design and revision of the manuscript. All authors gave final approval of the version to be published.
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of Jilin University, and written informed consent was provided by each patient's next of kin/participant.
Consent for publication {#FPar3}
=======================
Written informed consent was obtained from each patient's next of kin/participant for publication of their individual details and accompanying images in this manuscript.
Competing interests {#FPar4}
===================
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Publisher's Note {#FPar5}
================
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
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Another New Character for this November! |
Facade
(185) Provide a unified interface to a set of interfaces in a
subsystem. Facade defines a higher-level interface that makes the subsystem
easier to use.
Flyweight
(195) Use sharing to support large numbers of fine-grained
objects efficiently.
Proxy
(207) Provide a surrogate or placeholder for another object to
control access to it.
Behavioral Patterns
Chain of Responsibility
(223) Avoid coupling the sender of a request to
its receiver by giving more than one object a chance to handle the request.
Chain the receiving objects and pass the request along the chain until an
object handles it.
Command
(233) Encapsulate a request as an object, thereby letting you
parameterize clients with different requests, queue or log requests, and
support undoable operations.
Interpreter
(243) Given a language, define a represention for its
grammar along with an interpreter that uses the representation to interpret
sentences in the language.
Iterator
(257) Provide a way to access the elements of an aggregate
object sequentially without exposing its underlying representation.
Mediator
(273) Define an object that encapsulates how a set of objects
interact. Mediator promotes loose coupling by keeping objects from referring to
each other explicitly, and it lets you vary their interaction independently.
Memento
(283) Without violating encapsulation, capture and externalize
an object's internal state so that the object can be restored to this state
later.
Observer
(293) Define a one-to-many dependency between objects so that
when one object changes state, all its dependents are notified and updated
automatically.
State
(305) Allow an object to alter its behavior when its internal
state changes. The object will appear to change its class.
Strategy
(315) Define a family of algorithms, encapsulate each one, and
make them interchangeable. Strategy lets the algorithm vary independently from
clients that use it.
Template Method
(325) Define the skeleton of an algorithm in an
operation, deferring some steps to subclasses. Template Method lets subclasses
redefine certain steps of an algorithm without changing the algorithm's
structure.
Visitor
(331) Represent an operation to be performed on the elements of
an object structure. Visitor lets you define a new operation without changing
the classes of the elements on which it operates.
Head First Design Patterns
Our focus is on the core patterns that matter from the original GoF patterns,
and making sure that you really, truly, deeply understand how and when to use
them. You will find a brief look at some of the other patterns (the ones
you're far less likely to use) in the appendix.
The GoF patterns discussed in detail:
Strategy (p24)
Observer (p44)
Decorator (p88)
Factory Method (p131)
Abstact Factory (p153)
Singleton (p171)
Command (p201)
Adapter (p241)
Facade (p264)
Template Method (p286)
Iterator (p325)
Composite (p356)
State (p410)
Proxy (p460)
The GoF patterns briefly introduced:
Bridge (p612)
Builder (p614)
Chain of Reponsibility (p616)
Flyweight (p618)
Interpreter (p620)
Mediator (p622)
Memento (p624)
Prototype (p626)
Visitor (p628)
Design Principles
Encapsulate what varies (p9)
Program to interfaces, not implementations (p11)
Favor composition over inheritance (p23)
Strive for loosely coupled designs between objects that interact (p53)
Classes should be open for extension but closed for modification (p86)
Design Patterns Explained
A customer review @ Amazon ... "I picked up this book after reading through the
original GoF Design Patterns. Although they discuss similar topics and this
book refers to the GoF book quite frequently, I wouldn't necessarily associate
the two with each other despite having similiar book titles. There isn't much
code or elaborate examples in this book, but it is easily read and understood
by any level of programmer. In my opinion though you should probably read this
book first before you read the GoF book despite this one actually being the one
that is supposed to explain the other. To me it felt more like a synopsis and
is too brief in many places. More or less it makes a good introduction into
design patterns, but it is not the book that will give you a full understanding
of patterns."
The authors do not introduce all 23 GoF patterns. Those discussed are:
Abstract Factory
Factory Method
Singleton
Adapter
Bridge
Facade
Decorator
Observer
Strategy
Template Method
UML and GRASP Patterns
The critical design tool for software development is a mind well educated
in design principles. It is not the UML or any other technology. — Craig Larman
GRASP (General Responsibility Assignment Software Patterns) are
guidelines for assigning responsibility to classes and objects in OO design.
They are really a mental toolset, a learning aid to help in the design of
object oriented software. The patterns and principles specified by GRASP are ...
Information Expert
Look at a given responsibility, determine the information needed to fulfill
it, and then determine where that information is stored. Information Expert
will lead to placing the responsibility on the class with the most information
required to fulfill it.
Creator
Creation of objects is one of the most common activities in an
object-oriented system. Which class is responsible for creating objects is a
fundamental property of the relationship between objects of particular classes.
In general, a class B should be responsible for creating instances of class A
if one, or preferably more, of the following apply:
Instances of B contains or compositely aggregates instances of A
Instances of B record instances of A
Instances of B closely use instances of A
Instances of B have the initializing information for instances of A and pass it on creation.
Controller
Assign the responsibility of dealing with system events to a non-UI class
that represents the overall system or a use case scenario. A Controller object
is a non-user interface object responsible for receiving or handling a system
event. It should delegate to other objects the work that needs to be done; it
coordinates or controls the activity. It should not do much work itself.
Low Coupling
Refers to the degree of direct knowledge that one class has of another.
This supports: low dependency between classes, low impact in a class due to
changes in other classes, and high reuse potential.
High Cohesion
Keep objects appropriately focused, manageable and understandable. High
cohesion is generally used in support of Low Coupling. High cohesion means that
the responsibilities of a given element are strongly related and highly
focused. Breaking programs into classes and subsystems is an example of
activities that increase the cohesive properties of a system. Alternatively,
low cohesion is a situation in which a given element has too many unrelated
responsibilities. Elements with low cohesion often suffer from being hard to
comprehend, hard to reuse, hard to maintain and adverse to change.
Polymorphism
Promote common interface to a base class, and bury peculiar implementation
details in derived classes. The client of the abstraction hierarchy should
then couple itself only to the base class. Another way this has been descirbed
is: the responsibility of defining the variation of behaviors based on type is
assigned to the types for which this variation happens.
Pure Fabrication
Invent a class that does not represent a concept in the problem domain.
It is conceived to achieve low coupling, high cohesion, and reuse potential
across the classes that represent domain concepts.
Indirection
Assign the responsibility of mediation between two elements to an
intermediate object. An example of this is the introduction of a controller
component for mediation between data (model) and its representation (view) in
the Model-View-Controller pattern.
Protected Variations
Protect elements from the variations on other elements (objects, systems,
subsystems) by wrapping the focus of instability with an interface and using
polymorphism to create various implementations of this interface. |
Biochemical aspects of inner ear fluids and possible implications for pharmacological treatment.
Inner ear fluids are in dynamic equilibrium with surrounding fluids, namely blood and cerebrospinal fluid. It is known that substances injected into the blood stream or cerebrospinal fluid are transported into the inner ear fluids. The rate of transport from blood into perilymph is inversely related to the molecular weight or molecular size. There appears to exist a blood-labyrinth barrier. In general, the morphology of capillaries in the spiral ligament and stria vascularis is similar to that of brain capillaries which contribute to formation of the blood-brain barrier. Information on the volume of the inner ear fluids is necessary for estimating the toxicity of the drugs as well as the effective concentration of systemically injected substances. Recently, alteration of the levels of arachidonic acid metabolites, especially the prostaglandins, in perilymph under experimental conditions has been reported. The responses of prostaglandin levels in perilymph to these experimental conditions (aspirin injection, antidiuretic hormone or epinephrine infusion) suggest that prostaglandins may play an important role under physiological conditions. Possible mechanisms of auditory dysfunction due to abnormal prostaglandin metabolism in the auditory system are discussed. |
Rambling Reporter
WME's Political Debate: Ari Emanuel's WME not only got his brother Rahm Emanuel and Karl Rove in the same place at its annual agency retreat Jan. 11 to 13 at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. -- they got them to engage in a 75-minute debate. Moderated by PBS' Need to Know host Jeff Greenfield, "it was very heated," according to an insider. WME declined comment on the chat. THR also hears the getaway boasted a passel of other heavyweight panelists including Al Gore, former Google chief Eric Schmidt, former Morgan Stanley head John Mack, former White House counterterrorism czar Richard Clarke, Michael Milken and Napster co-founder Sean Parker.
David Cross Gets Cross
THR has learned that Karen Rosenfelt is the unnamed Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked exec producer who was the subject of actor-comedian David Cross' rant about "the most miserable experience that I've had in my professional life" on the Jan. 9 episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Cross complained of being "forced -- at 'legal-point' -- to spend a week on a cruise ship" while dressed head-to-toe in a rubber pelican outfit. "You cannot see any of my flesh [in the film]," he told Conan O'Brien. "Nor do I have any dialogue." Cross, noting he should have been allowed a stand-in and that "everyone else had my back" on this issue, claimed he was overruled by Rosenfelt, whom Cross described as "the personification of what people think about when they think negatively about Jews." (Cross was raised Jewish but is now an atheist.) O'Brien quickly changed the subject. Neither Rosenfelt nor Cross could be reached for comment.
Even Young Adults Dig Downton Abbey
Patton Oswalt, the Young Adult star who played sci-fi geek Spence Olchin on The King of Queens, has outed himself as the most prominent fan of PBS' aristocrats-and-servants drama Downton Abbey. "It reminds me of The Wire," he tells THR. "You can easily have 15 favorite characters on the show." Oswalt has been riffing about Abbey to his half-million-plus Twitter followers ("It's Star Trek for tea drinkers!"; "If they remake Escape From New York, I elect Maggie Smith to play Snake Plissken") since its second-season debut Jan. 8, which he took in at a viewing party with Aimee Mann and Adult Swim mainstay Tim Heidecker. Oswalt notes that the series' class-consciousness feels current: "The Earl of Grantham's daughters are like trust-funders who don't have jobs and are looking for something to do with themselves."
The Artist: Lost in Translation
Hollywood has more than embraced the Franco-centric film The Artist, but its country of origin has not -- at least not to the extent its French producer would like. "For Hollywood, it's a 'French film,' " Thomas Langmann tells THR. "But to the French, it's a 'Hollywood film.' I think they feel it wasn't French enough." Artist has sold 1.5 million tickets in France, but Warner Bros., which released the film there Oct. 12, will rerelease it Jan. 25, expanding it from 80 theaters to 200. "We created a whole new poster, a new trailer, a new ad campaign," reveals Langmann. "It seems the French are more open to it now that America has embraced it so much." |
Episode Info:
.On today's experiment of The North Lab Podcast, the boy's come together to talk about, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (4:45), Tory Lanez Quarantine Radio(11:30), Melz's Girl Problems (16:10), Bhad Bhabie Gets Called Out (26:23) & more. |
YMCA (Columbus, Georgia)
YMCA in Columbus, Georgia, located at 124 11th St., was built in 1903. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
It is a building of YMCA of Metropolitan Columbus. It is a three-story building, Classical Revival in style.
It was funded by donation from George Foster Peabody and was believed to be the only marble YMCA building in America.
References
Category:YMCA buildings in the United States
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Muscogee County, Georgia
Category:Neoclassical architecture in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1903 |
While speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Monday, President Trump declared that Obamacare doesn’t exist anymore and that when premiums increase, it is the Democrats’ fault because they voted for Obamacare.
Trump said, “Republicans are meeting with Democrats because of what I did with the CSRs, because I cut off the gravy train. If I didn’t cut the CSRs, they wouldn’t be meeting. They’d be having lunch and enjoying themselves, alright? They’re right now having emergency meetings to get a short-term fix of health care, where premiums don’t have to double and triple every year like they’ve been doing under Obamacare. Because Obamacare is finished. It’s dead. It’s gone. It’s no longer — don’t — you shouldn’t even mention it. It’s gone. There is no such thing as Obamacare anymore.”
He later added, “I do believe we’ll have a short-term fix. Because, I think, the Democrats will be blamed for the mess. This is an Obamacare mess. When the premiums go up, that has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that we had poor health care, delivered poorly, written poorly, approved by the Democrats. It was called Obamacare. But I think we’ll have a short-term fix, and then we’ll have a long-term fix and that will take place probably in March or April. We will have a very solid vote. It’ll be probably 100% Republican, no Democrats. But most people know that that’s going to be a very good form of health insurance.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett |
Ziad Abu Amr tells reporters in Austria, 'I believe that at this time we don't have an Israeli partner anymore'
Associated Press Published: 04.04.07, 14:59 / Israel News
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is not ready for "serious negotiations" with the Palestinians and other Arab leaders on efforts to forge peace in the Middle East, the Palestinian foreign minister said Wednesday.
"I believe that Mr. Prime Minister Olmert is not ready to enter into real negotiations, serious negotiations with the Arabs, with the Palestinian side," Ziad Abu Amr told reporters after meeting with Austrian counterpart Ursula Plassnik.
"And I also believe, I can say here, that at this time we don't have an Israeli partner anymore."
On Sunday, Olmert said Israel would show up for a peace summit with Arab leaders if invited.
During a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the prime minister said, "I want to take this opportunity of being here with the European Union president in order to invite all Arab leaders, including the Saudi king.
"I am telling the heads of Arab countries that if the Saudi king initiates a meeting of the moderate states' leaders and invites both me and the Palestinian Authority president, I would gladly come there and speak our mind."
In Saudi Arabia's first comment to Olmert's call, an official sais Israel should withdraw from Arab territory and allow the creation of a Palestinian state before Arabs recognize it.
The Saudi official told The Associated Press that "before any meeting could be considered," Israel should accept the 2002 Arab peace initiative that would recognize Israel in exchange for withdrawal from captured territory and a just solution for the Palestinian refugees. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
At a summit in Saudi Arabia last week, the Arab League renewed its commitment to the peace initiative, which was initially proposed by Saudi Arabia. Olmert welcomed the decision but said Israel did not accept all parts of the plan. |
Man United eye Icardi and Miranda, Real Madrid return for David De Gea
The winter window might have shut, but the rumour mill rolls on. As always, Transfer Talk has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest rumours and gossip. See the latest deals here.
Man United eye Inter duo
Manchester United may be relying on kids right now, but things will change in the summer. Harry Kane is a known target, but there is also a chance that whoever is in charge at Old Trafford next summer is keeping an eye on things at Inter Milan.
That's because, as the Daily Express claim, the Italian side don't see a future with Mauro Icardi and Miranda.
Icardi, 23, is Inter's skipper but has been linked with a move away from the club for some time and the striker would certainly fit the bill for United. While Miranda is on a two-year loan from Atletico Madrid and could cost just £8.6 million due to a clause in his contract.
If Jose Mourinho does land at Old Trafford this summer, then expect movement. Possibly even before then!
Madrid back in for De Gea
The news that every Manchester United fan doesn't want to hear: Yes, Real Madrid are still keen on goalkeeper David De Gea, reports the Daily Star.
The United star signed a new contract after almost moving to the Bernabeu in the summer, but Madrid don't give up easily. Despite the fact that Keylor Navas has become one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this season, Real Madrid are still after Spain's future No. 1.
Without Champions League football (and possibly not even Europa League either), United will struggle to ward off Madrid's advances a second time. One can only hope the saga is not as dramatic as the last one ...
Will Real Madrid be able to sign David De Gea from Manchester United this summer?
Juve plot Alexis swoop
With just two years remaining on Alexis Sanchez's contract, Arsenal are working tirelessly to tie down the Chilean to a new four-year deal. Should the North London club be unable to come to terms with the former Barcelona man, however, there are suitors waiting to strike a deal, according to the Mirror.
Juventus are reportedly keen to bring Alexis to Turin following their Champions League round-of-16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, and they are willing to offer the same £35m that the Gunners paid Barca two years ago for the attacker's services. And if that doesn't work out, Atletico Madrid are also reportedly interested in the electric Chilean.
Liverpool eye Sule move
Becoming a regular for your team in the centre of defence at just 20 years old is pretty impressive, and Liverpool have certainly taken note of the progress made by Niklas Sule at Hoffenheim. The centre-back has made 53 appearances for his side since making his debut in 2013, and he has caught the attention of Jurgen Klopp, according to Sport Bild.
The Germany under-21 international has a bright future ahead of him. With the Reds already having lined up Schalke's Joel Matip on a free transfer this summer, Sule could be part of a new-look Liverpool back line next season.
Tap-Ins
If Arsenal dip into the transfer market for another striker this summer, Olivier Giroud could head to Juventus.
- Juventus are keen on Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud if the Gunners decide to upgrade their striking services over the summer, according to Tuttosport.
- Manchester City are ready to go head-to-head with Barcelona and Bayern Munich for young Rennes winger Ousmane Dembele, according to the Mail. The 18-year-old has a host of suitors, and no doubt Tottenham will join the race to add another Dembele to their squad list, while also chasing Fulham striker Moussa.
- Twenty games after a 1-0 loss to Swansea prompted Aston Villa to sack manager Tim Sherwood. Another 1-0 defeat to the Swans will push the Midlands club to oust current boss Remi Garde, report the Star. |
Q:
VBA other Workbook Doesnt close Properly
Hi there My VBA code does not want to close my Raw data File properly.
I have a data capture form then , When I hit Submit, Opens another Excel File, Copies all the data into it and is supposed to save and close the workbook.
My code is as follows:
Private Sub submit_Click()
'Open Workbook
If MsgBox("You are about to Submit, Are you sure?" & vbCr & "Please make sure that the OUTCOME box is complete", vbYesNo) = vbNo Then Exit Sub
Dim wb As Workbook, sh As Worksheet
Set wkb = Workbooks.Open("\\ServerName\Reports Folder\Team Name\Manager Name\RAW\RAW QC data.xlsx")
'Make Daily_Tracking_Dataset active
'Determine emptyRow
'Transfer Information
Set wb = Workbooks("RAW QC data.xlsx")
Set sh = wb.Sheets(1)
cAry = Array(Me.QCBX, Me.CallBX, Me.INBX, Me.AgntBX, Me.VoxBX, Me.ClntBX, Me.PolBX, Me.DateBX1, Me.AuditBX1, Me.TextBox7, Me.TextBox8, Me.OUTBX1, Me.Cbx1_1, Me.Cbx1_2, Me.Cbx1_3, Me.Cbx1_4, Me.OUTBX2, Me.Cbx2_1, Me.Cbx2_2, Me.Cbx2_3, Me.OUTBX3, Me.Cbx3_1, Me.Cbx3_2, Me.OUTBX4, Me.Cbx4_1, Me.Cbx4_2, Me.Cbx4_3, Me.OUTBX5, Me.Cbx5_1, Me.Cbx5_2, Me.Cbx5_3, Me.Cbx5_4, Me.Cbx5_5, Me.Cbx5_6, Me.Cbx5_7, Me.Cbx5_8, Me.ACBX, Me.QTBX, Me.QFBX)
With sh
For i = 1 To 39
.Cells(Rows.Count, i).End(xlUp)(2) = cAry(i - 1).Value
Next
End With
'Save the Raw data
wb.Close SaveChanges:=True
End Sub
What is happening is that it looks like it is working but when I try to submit the next one, It gives me the SAVE AS window
A:
You have both wkb and wb in your code. Probably this is not what you intend. Just try changing wkb to wb in your code. That's a good reason to start using Option Explicit - What do Option Strict and Option Explicit do?
In general, something as simple as this should be working:
Public Sub TestMe()
'Dim wb As Workbook
Dim wkb As Workbook
Dim sh As Worksheet
Set wkb = Workbooks.Open(ThisWorkbook.Path & "\Testing.xlsx")
'Set wb = Workbooks("Testing.xlsx")
'Put your loop instead of the TEST later:
wb.Worksheets(1).Cells(1, 1) = "TEST"
Application.DisplayAlerts = False
wkb.Save
Application.DisplayAlerts = True
wkb.Close
End Sub
|
Sev. Park coach to appeal his suspension
Purpura was suspended for using ineligible runner
Cross country
High Schools
October 05, 2003|By Edward Lee | Edward Lee,SUN STAFF
Severna Park cross country coach Ed Purpura is appealing a ruling by the Anne Arundel County board of arbitration that suspended the 15-year coach for the rest of the fall season for using an ineligible runner.
Purpura, The Sun's Anne Arundel County Boys Coach of the Year in cross country last season, said yesterday that he filed an appeal Thursday with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, asking the state organization to reduce the terms of the suspension.
Purpura, who admitted allowing the ineligible runner to compete in two races last month and reported himself to school officials, said the county board's decision Monday to suspend him for the rest of the fall season was too harsh.
"I thought it was a miscarriage of justice," said Purpura, who will be replaced by assistant coach Mary Seidel. "I served a one-meet suspension the week before, and my principal thought that would be adequate, along with whatever censure was handed down. ... Everybody I have talked with has felt it was too severe."
Purpura said he turned himself in two weeks ago when he learned that the athlete in question had run in two JV races - at a county meet at Arundel High and at the Knights Invitational at Baybrook Park.
Purpura, whose boys team forfeited all of its points from the two meets, said the runner had been told he could not represent the school in meets until his grades had improved. Somehow, Purpura said, the athlete managed to run in the races until an assistant informed him of the error.
Purpura said the county board's ruling sets a bad precedent.
"I think this sends a bad message that if you make a mistake and you report yourself, you will get hammered for it," he said. "He was a JV runner who had never run before. It's not like I tried to pull something on anyone."
Marlene Kelly, the county's coordinator of athletics, was unavailable for comment.
Broadneck coach Dana Dobbs, one of Purpura's closest friends and toughest rivals, said that while the head coach is "ultimately responsible" for preventing ineligible runners from competing, he did not agree with the length of the suspension.
"I learned much of what I know about cross country from Ed," Dobbs said. "He produces nothing but winners. ... I don't know all the details, but it does seem heavy." |
Franklin Labs caused a kerfuffle in Oct. 2017 when it quietly put its Reading grow permit up for sale — including property and other assets — with a price tag of $20 million. A senior executive explained at the time that the company wanted to pursue an even more lucrative research license that would allow it to produce marijuana in conjunction with a Pennsylvania university — and sell cannabis at five dispensaries. |
Q:
How to assign linq anonymous type variable
I have a linq query that gives me an System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable(of <Anonymous Type>). Actually I wanted to create a class to get better access to what I want form that query but I fail aready with declaring a member variable that should hold the query outcome. The query I use in the Sub New() of my class is (explained and c# version here:)
Dim jan1 = New DateTime(DateTime.Today.Year, 1, 1)
Dim startOfFirstWeek = jan1.AddDays(1 - CInt(jan1.DayOfWeek))
Dim weeks = Enumerable.Range(0, 54).[Select](Function(i) New With { _
Key .weekStart = startOfFirstWeek.AddDays(i * 7) _
}).TakeWhile(Function(x) x.weekStart.Year <= jan1.Year).[Select](Function(x) New With { _
x.weekStart, _
Key .weekFinish = x.weekStart.AddDays(4) _
}).SkipWhile(Function(x) x.weekFinish < jan1.AddDays(1)).[Select](Function(x, i) New With { _
x.weekStart, _
x.weekFinish, _
Key .weekNum = i + 1 _
})
My Class should look like:
Public Class WeekInfo
Private _weeks as ?????
end Class
Could anyone tell me what is the usual procedure to accomplish that task and how to put the find a type for my member to access the weeks variable?
A:
VB.Net anonymous types are exposed as type Object so you're variable would be:
Dim weeks As IEnumerable(Of Object)
You will not get intellisense on the anonymous type's fields outside of the function you created them in but you can access them dynamically, i.e.
For Each week In weeks
Console.WriteLine(week.weekStart + " " + week.weekFinish)
Next
If you need to expose the type externally you should define a concrete class or struct instead.
|
89 Wn.2d 321 (1977)
572 P.2d 1085
BURLINGTON NORTHERN, INC., ET AL, Respondents,
v.
KEN JOHNSTON, ET AL, Appellants.
No. 44056.
The Supreme Court of Washington, En Banc.
December 8, 1977.
*323 Christopher T. Bayley, Prosecuting Attorney, Norman K. Maleng, Chief Civil Deputy, and William C. Severson, Deputy, for appellant King County.
Donald Herron, Prosecuting Attorney, and Terrence F. McCarthy, Deputy, for appellant Pierce County.
Robert E. Schillberg, Prosecuting Attorney, and Elmer E. Johnston, Jr., for appellant Snohomish County.
John C. Merkel, Prosecuting Attorney, and W. Daniel Phillips, Deputy, for appellant Kitsap County.
Patrick McMullen, Prosecuting Attorney, and William H. Nielsen, Deputy, for appellant Skagit County.
Craig Ritchie, Prosecuting Attorney, for appellant Clallam County.
David Thiele, Prosecuting Attorney, for appellant Island County.
H.N. Woolson, Prosecuting Attorney, for appellant Columbia County.
Woodrow L. Taylor, for respondent Burlington Northern, Inc.
Cummings, Durkan & McCabe and James B. McCabe, for respondent Cascade Natural Gas Corporation.
Lane, Powell, Moss & Miller and G. Keith Grim, for respondent Burlington Northern, Inc., et al.
Slade Gorton, Attorney General, and Matthew J. Coyle, Assistant, for respondent State.
ROSELLINI, J.
Before the Board of Tax Appeals, eight county assessors challenged the Department of Revenue's 1972 equalization of real and personal properties of utilities and private car companies (hereinafter called the companies). They contended that the method used was unconstitutional and that it was not authorized by RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.110, which provide for equalization of such *324 properties. Under that method, instead of equalizing company real property at the same level as locally assessed real property and company personal property at the same level as locally assessed personal property, the department used what it termed an "indicated ratio." This percentage figure was computed by dividing the total assessed value of the two kinds of property by their total indicated market value.
It appears that in a period of inflation such as we have been experiencing in recent years, the 4-year cycle of revaluation of real property provided for in RCW 84.41.030 and approved by this court in Snohomish County Bd. of Equalization v. Department of Revenue, 80 Wn.2d 262, 493 P.2d 1012 (1972), results in a declining ratio of assessed to true value with respect to each property during the interim between valuations. Personal property, which is valued every year, maintains a consistent ratio of 50 percent of true and fair value; but the ratio of assessed value to true value, with respect to any one piece of real property, falls below that ratio after the valuation has been made. Consequently, the average ratio of assessed value of real property is less than 50 percent of true value. Because there is more taxable value in real property, generally, than in personal property, the declining real property ratio causes the composite ratio of real and personal property to fall below 50 percent and closer to the real property ratio than to the personal property ratio.
Company operating property is predominantly personal property. If all of the property which is classified as personal property under the statute is equalized as such, the equalization will be at a higher ratio than the composite ratio adopted by the department. Use of the indicated ratio means that the companies' tax liabilities are less than they would be if the real and personal properties were equalized separately. Consequently it results in a loss of revenues to the counties.
The board held that the method used violated Const. art. 7, §§ 1 and 2.[1] In its opinion, it found that the method was *325 not authorized by statute. However, it did not base its decision on that finding.
The board ordered that the department certify all of the operating property to the counties at 50 percent of its true and fair value, and that the property be assessed at that value. Realizing that the case would probably be appealed to the Superior Court and anticipating a possible reversal on this holding, the board adopted as its alternative decision the dissenting opinion of its chairman, who concluded that the department should equalize the values of real and personal property separately, according to the average ratio at which such property was valued locally.
The Department of Revenue and intervening utilities petitioned the Superior Court for Thurston County for review of this decision.[2] After reviewing the record, that court reversed the Board of Tax Appeals. It held that the use of the indicated ratio did not violate constitutional provisions and that it was authorized by statute, giving conclusive weight to the fact that the legislature had not seen fit to amend the provision relied upon as authority, *326 after the method of equalization was adopted in 1963. The county assessors have appealed from that decision.
[1] The first question before us is one of statutory interpretation. It is settled that an administrative agency has only those powers which are expressly granted to it by statute, or necessarily implied in the grant. Ortblad v. State, 85 Wn.2d 109, 530 P.2d 635 (1975). While such an agency has some discretion in interpreting ambiguous statutes, it may not alter or amend an act, and its interpretation must be within the framework and policy of the statute. Allen v. Employment Security Dep't, 83 Wn.2d 145, 516 P.2d 1032 (1973); see Smith v. Greene, 86 Wn.2d 363, 545 P.2d 550 (1976).
[2] In interpreting a statute, it is the duty of the court to ascertain and give effect to the intent and purpose of the legislature, as expressed in the act. The act must be construed as a whole, and effect should be given to all the language used. Also, all of the provisions of the act must be considered in their relation to each other and, if possible, harmonized to insure proper construction of each provision. Publishers Forest Prods. Co. v. State, 81 Wn.2d 814, 505 P.2d 453 (1973).
The equalizing of company property is one of a series of duties enjoined upon the Department of Revenue under RCW 84.12 and RCW 84.16, with respect to the valuation of such properties and the apportioning of the value of the operating property of any such company to the state and to the counties within which it operates. Those duties include: (1) determining the true cash value of the operating property of each company operating in Washington (RCW 84.12.270 and RCW 84.16.040); (2) apportioning to Washington that part of the value of each interstate company which represents the value of its property in Washington (RCW 84.12.300 and RCW 84.16.050); (3) apportioning the value of the operating property of each company equitably to the counties in which it operates (RCW 84.12.350 and .360, and RCW 84.16.110 and.120); (4) determining the equalized value of the property apportioned to each county *327 (RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.110); and (5) certifying the equalized value to the local assessors for placement on the tax rolls (RCW 84.12.370 and RCW 84.16.130). It is the fourth duty, that of equalization, with which we are concerned here.
For purposes of assessment of the operating properties of public utilities, and the apportionment and taxation thereof, the legislature has expressly classified such properties as either personal or real in RCW 84.12.280. For example, all railroad equipment which is stationary is classified as real property, while all movable property is classified as personal property. All of the operating property other than lands or buildings of electric light and power companies, telephone companies, gas companies, and heating companies is to be "assessed and taxed" as personal property. Under RCW 84.16.010 all of the operating property of a private car company is deemed to be personal property.
Factors which the department may take into consideration in valuing the operating property of a company are set forth in RCW 84.12.300 and RCW 84.16.040 and .050, and the department is authorized to take into consideration the value of the property as a unit.
The controversy before us focuses upon the term "general property", as used in RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.110.
Upon determination by the department of revenue of the true and correct actual cash value of the property appearing on such rolls it shall apportion such value to the respective counties entitled thereto, as hereinafter provided, and shall determine the equalized assessed valuation of such property in each such county and in the several taxing districts therein, by applying to such actual apportioned value the same ratio as the ratio of assessed to actual value of the general property in such county: Provided, That, whenever the amount of the true and correct value of the operating property of any company otherwise apportionable to any county or other taxing district shall be less than two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need not be apportioned to such county or *328 taxing district but may be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county or taxing district.
RCW 84.12.350.
Upon determination by the department of revenue of the true and correct actual cash value of the property appearing on such rolls the department shall apportion such value to the respective counties entitled thereto as hereinafter provided, and shall determine the equalized or assessed valuation of such property in such counties by applying to such actual apportioned value the same ratio as the ratio of assessed to actual value of the general property of the respective counties: Provided, That, whenever the amount of the true and correct value of the operating property of any company otherwise apportionable to any county shall be less than two hundred fifty dollars, such amount need not be apportioned to such county but may be added to the amount apportioned to an adjacent county.
RCW 84.16.110. It will be seen that these two provisions are substantially identical and that the general purpose and scheme of the two statutes are the same.
To summarize their pertinent provisions, RCW 84.12 and RCW 84.16 impose upon the state, rather than upon the counties, the duty of determining the value of the operating properties of companies covered by their provisions and apportioning that value among the counties. They declare that for purposes of assessment and apportionment, some operating properties of the companies shall be classified as personal and others as real property. While they authorize the department to consider the operating property as a unit in arriving at its value, they expressly require that the property be apportioned to the counties as real or personal property and that it be assessed as such.
After the apportionment, the statutes require the department to determine the equalized assessed valuation of such property in each such county and in the several taxing districts therein, using the ratio of assessed value to actual value of the "general property" in such county. In each of the two chapters, this is the first time that the term *329 "general property" is used. It is not defined in the "definitions" sections of the statutes. It does, however, with respect to public utilities, reappear in RCW 84.12.370, which provides:
When the state board of equalization shall have determined the equalized assessed value of the operating property of each company in each of the respective counties and in the taxing districts thereof, as hereinabove provided, the department of revenue shall certify such equalized assessed value to the county assessor of the proper county. The county assessor shall enter the company's real operating property upon the real property tax rolls and the company's personal operating property upon the personal property tax rolls of his county, together with the values so apportioned, and the same shall be and constitute the assessed valuation of the operating property of the company in such county and the taxing districts therein for that year, upon which taxes shall be levied and collected in the same manner as on the general property of such county.
(Italics ours.) Again we find it in RCW 84.12.380 which reads:
All property of any company not assessed as operating property under the provisions of this chapter shall be assessed by the assessor of the county wherein the same may be located or situate the same as the general property of the county.
RCW 84.16.130 and RCW 84.16.140 contain essentially the same provisions, with respect to private car companies. RCW 84.16.130 expressly directs the county assessor to enter the assessment upon the personal property tax rolls, there to be taxed the same as "general property" of the county.
It would seem evident that the legislature was much concerned with the classification of operating property as either real or personal in these statutes, although it recognized the practicality and desirability of determining the value of the property as a unit, before segregating it as real and personal property for tax purposes. The legislature's possible motivation in prescribing these classifications is *330 not explained in any of these briefs. We must assume that it had in mind the constitutional requirement of uniformity and that the classification was directed toward this end.
The constitutionality of these classifications is not challenged. Moreover, the respondents concede, and in fact rely upon the legislature's right to classify property for purposes of taxation. We have acknowledged the right in State ex rel. Atwood v. Wooster, 163 Wash. 659, 2 P.2d 653 (1931); Puget Sound Power & Light Co. v. Seattle, 117 Wash. 351, 201 P. 449 (1921).
It is the respondent's theory that in this instance the legislature created a class of property which is neither real nor personal, for the purposes of valuation and equalization; although they are forced to admit that for purposes of taxation (the main object of the statute), property must be placed upon the tax rolls as either personal or real property. The intent to create such a class, it is suggested, can be found in the provision requiring that company property be equalized with the "general property" of the county. As they read the statute, it conveys a legislative intent that all of the property of the companies shall be treated as one class called "general," and equalized with all of the property of a given county, which is likewise treated as one class called "general."
It is obvious that such an intent is not expressly stated in the statute. If it can be found there at all, it must be derived by implication from the word "general" as it is used in describing the property with which company property is to be equalized.
The term "general property" is not one commonly used to describe a class of property. Black's Law Dictionary 1382 (4th ed. 1968) gives only this definition: "The right and property in a thing enjoyed by the general owner." Obviously, that definition has no relevance in this context.
[3] The parties have drawn our attention to no court decision in which the meaning of the term has been explored. The respondents do, however, point out that it has been used by the Washington Legislature in previous *331 statutes, and that in one of them, Laws of 1925, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 130, § 36(7), p. 246, the following provision can be found:
7. The term "general property of the state" shall be deemed to include all real and personal property appearing upon the assessment rolls and tax rolls throughout the state, upon which the state, county and local taxes are levied and collected, with such changes and corrections made by the tax commission as hereinafter provided.
The quoted provision does not reveal a legislative intent to reclassify real and personal property, combining them into one homogeneous class. Rather it suggests that the legislature intended to employ a shorthand expression, to avoid the necessity of repeating the words "real and personal" and the modifying words which follow them in the quoted section.
All of the parties to this action are agreed that the term "general property," as used in this context, means "real and personal property." The dispute centers upon the question whether the legislature intended that real and personal property should be lumped together and their ratios of assessed to actual value averaged to compute the equalizing factor, or whether it intended that personal operating property should be equalized at the ratio of assessment to actual value in the counties, and real operating property should be equalized at the ratio of assessment to actual value in the counties.
[4] Reading the statute in its entirety, giving effect to all of the provisions and seeking to harmonize them, we cannot find expressed therein any intent that the classifications established in RCW 84.12.280 and RCW 84.16.010 should be abandoned for purposes of equalization. Such an interpretation would require us to disregard entirely the legislative declaration that in the case of utilities, the classification is made for the purposes of making the assessment, and apportioning the values and the taxation thereof. *332 (RCW 84.12.280.) Also, in the case of private car companies, it is declared that for the purposes of that chapter, all of the operating properties "shall be deemed personal property." RCW 84.16.010. The purposes of that chapter include equalization. Under RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.110, apportionment is done before equalization is undertaken. By the legislative directive, the property has already been classified as personal or real before the department turns to the question of equalization.
The department gives as its reason for treating the real and personal operating property of a company as a homogeneous whole for purposes of equalization its belief that the legislative classification of certain property as personal rather than real, results in a lack of uniformity of tax burden. Although this argument was made before the Board of Tax Appeals, that body did not find that it was established by the evidence. We are not shown that the record supports the respondents' contention. The chairman's partial dissent, adopted by the majority as its alternate decision, expressly states its author's belief that the separate equalization of real and personal property results in greater equity and uniformity than the other methods or procedures presented before the board. The Superior Court did not find that such an equalization procedure would be inequitable.
It would appear that the department disagrees with the legislative judgment upon this subject. It is nevertheless bound to carry out the legislative directive. As we have observed earlier, the validity of the legislative classification of company operating property is not challenged in this action.
Our understanding of the legislative intent with respect to the use of the term "general property" in the equalization provisions of the two statutes accords with the obvious meaning of the term as it is used in RCW 84.12.370 and .380, and RCW 84.16.130 and.140. In each of these contexts, the county assessor is told to enter the property on the tax rolls as real or personal. Each provides that taxes *333 shall be levied and collected the same as on the general property of the county. The respondents do not suggest that the term "general property," as used in these provisions, means anything but that real property shall be taxed as real property and personal property shall be taxed as personal property.
We are told that because the legislature has not, by statutory amendment, rejected the department's interpretation, it has impliedly approved that interpretation. The apportionment and equalization provisions of RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.110 appeared in the statutes as early as 1933, in chapter 146, section 11 in substantially the same language. The "indicated ratio" was first used in 1963. Thus it appears that for 30 years, the department understood the provisions the same as we now read them. If the length of time during which the legislature has remained inert is a determinative factor, there is more reason to assume that the legislature approved the original interpretation than to assume that it has approved the later one, a period of 30 years having elapsed under the prior interpretation and only 10 under the one now contended for, at the time this action was brought. In any event, an administrative agency cannot alter or amend a statute by interpretation, even with legislative acquiescence, and the court must give effect to the plain meaning of the language used.
The Board of Tax Appeals correctly found that the legislature, in enacting these two statutes, did not intend to create a new class of property for purposes of equalization,[3] but rather intended that company operating property should be classified for all purposes of taxation, other than valuation, as real or personal, as prescribed in the statutes. This determination was sufficient to support its holding that company operating property should be equalized according to its classification in the statutes.
*334 We do not agree, however, with the board's further conclusion that company operating properties should be assessed at 50 percent of their true and fair value, without regard to the value at which other county property is assessed. It was the clearly expressed legislative intent that the properties should be equalized at the local ratios, even though the department values them every year at their true and fair value.
[5] The legislative purpose was obviously to achieve as much uniformity as possible in the distribution of the tax burden. We have recently recognized that the constitutional requirement of uniformity, Const. art. 7, § 1 (amendment 14), is more insistent than the requirement that property be valued at 50 percent of its true and fair value, Const. art. 7, § 2 (amendment 17); and legislation directed toward the achievement of this end should be given effect. Snohomish County Bd. of Equalization v. Department of Revenue, 80 Wn.2d 262, 493 P.2d 1012 (1972). We approve, therefore, the minority opinion of the chairman of the board, which was the board's alternate decision.
Inasmuch as we have found that the statute does not authorize the method of equalization employed by the department, it becomes unnecessary to consider whether the method used is unconstitutional, as contended by the appellants.
The judgment of the Superior Court is reversed, and the alternate decision of the Board of Tax Appeals is reinstated. The Department of Revenue must equalize the assessed values of company operating property as real or personal property according to the classifications provided in the statutes.
WRIGHT, C.J., and HAMILTON, STAFFORD, BRACHTENBACH, HOROWITZ, and HICKS, JJ., concur. DOLLIVER, J. (dissenting)
The majority has based its decision solely upon an interpretation of RCW 84.12.350 and RCW 84.16.130. The Department of Revenue has *335 interpreted these provisions to allow the use of a combined indicated ratio. Contrary to the majority, I not only believe the interpretation of the department is accurate but I also believe the rules of construction previously adopted by this court lead to the conclusion that the position of the department is correct.
The history of RCW 84.12.350 demonstrates that the term "general property" was intended to include both real and personal property. RCW 84.12.350 was derived from the Laws of 1935, ch. 123, § 14, p. 367, which provided:
The assessment rolls of companies assessed under the provisions of this act shall be reviewed, examined and corrected by the state board of equalization at its annual meeting held in September for the purpose of equalizing the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the state and said state board of equalization may correct the valuation in such manner as may in its judgment make the valuation thereof just and relatively equal with the valuation of the general property of the state.
That section in turn was taken almost in whole from Laws of 1925, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 130, § 46, p. 256, which provided in relevant part:
The assessment rolls of railroad and telegraph companies shall, by the commission, be submitted to the state board of equalization at its annual meeting held for the purpose of equalizing the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the state; and any railroad or telegraph company interested shall have the right to appear and be heard as to the assessment of the property of such company, and as to the value and assessment of the general property of the state, and the said board of equalization may, on application or of its own motion, correct the valuation or assessment of the property of such company, in such manner as may in its judgment make the valuation thereof just and relatively equal with the valuation of the general property of the state.
The phrase "general property" of the state was defined in section 36(7) of the 1925 statute at page 246, as:
*336 The term "general property of the state" shall be deemed to include all real and personal property appearing upon the assessment rolls and tax rolls throughout the state, upon which the state, county and local taxes are levied and collected, with such changes and corrections made by the tax commission as hereinafter provided.
The majority argues the purpose of defining "general property" was "to employ a shorthand expression" to avoid repeating certain words and phrases. While this notion understandably possesses a certain charm for the majority, I am not persuaded of its validity.
Although section 36 and many other sections of the 1925 act were repealed by the 1935 act, use of the original legislative definition is appropriate, particularly since the section of the original statute which contains the defined term was reenacted without significant change. See State v. Herr, 151 Wash. 623, 628, 276 P. 870 (1929).
In Great Northern Ry. v. Cohn, 3 Wn.2d 672, 687, 101 P.2d 985 (1940), we stated:
In the construction of statutes which reenact with certain changes, or repeal, former statutes, or which contain revisions or codifications of earlier laws, resort may be had to repealed and superseded statutes in pari materia.
See also 2A C. Sands, Statutes and Statutory Construction § 51.04 (4th ed. 1973).
In any event, the property tax laws have been subject to continuing interpretation by this court during the past 10 years. See Sator v. State, 89 Wn.2d 338, 572 P.2d 1094 (1977). During that same period, the same statutes have gone through a substantial reformation by the legislature. The majority points out the Department of Revenue has used the combined ratio only since 1963 while the statute has been in effect since 1933. Thus, by a ratio of 3-to-1, the former interpretation must have been correct. Although this is acceptable arithmetic, I do not believe it is good law. The record does not disclose the reasons for adopting the combined ratio in 1963. It just as reasonably could be argued the pre-1963 interpretation of the statute was in *337 error and that only in 1963 did the department finally interpret the statute to accord with legislative intent.
At no time since 1963, however, has the legislature seen fit to alter the language in question in RCW 84.16.110 or RCW 84.12.350. The Department of Revenue has used the combined indicated ratio for approximately 14 years. In interpreting these statutes, the decisions of the administrative agency should be afforded considerable weight. Smith v. Northern Pac. Ry., 7 Wn.2d 652, 110 P.2d 851 (1941). Indeed, it may be said the legislature has acquiesced in the department's interpretation of these statutes. As we stated in State ex rel. Pirak v. Schoettler, 45 Wn.2d 367, 372, 274 P.2d 852 (1954):
This [acquiescence by the legislature] is particularly true when, as here, the section is subsequently (1) considered by the legislature, (2) amended in some other particular, and (3) the administrative construction of the section is not repudiated.
This is precisely what occurred here. Compare Laws of 1961, ch. 15, § 84.12.350, p. 1118, with Laws of 1967, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 26, § 17, p. 1525, and Laws of 1961, ch. 15, § 84.16.110, p. 1125, with Laws of 1967, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 26, § 18, p. 1525.
While the statutes may require interpretation, the rules of construction and the circumstances to which they should be applied are clear. The judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
UTTER, J., concurs with DOLLIVER, J.
NOTES
[1] Const. art. 7, § 1 (amendment 14), requires that all taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of the levying authority. At the time of the equalization and the assessment of these properties, Const. art. 7, § 2 (amendment 17), required that property be assessed at 50 percent of its true and fair value. Const. art. 7, § 2 has been amended three times since 1972. 1971, S.J.R. 1, approved 11/7/72 (amendment 55); 1971, H.J.R. 47, approved 11/7/72 (amendment 59); and 1975-76 (2d Ex. Sess.), S.J.R. 137, approved 11/2/76 (amendment 64).
[2] It is agreed that the use of the department's indicated ratio resulted in a loss of tax revenues to the counties. The board's holding portended no loss of revenue to the state. It would appear debatable, therefore, whether the Department of Revenue is a "person aggrieved" within the meaning of RCW 34.04.130(1), the statute under which the right to petition for review was claimed, or that its substantial rights could be shown to have been prejudiced. Proof of such prejudice is required under RCW 34.04.130(6) before a reversal can be ordered. See Bitney v. Morgan, 84 Wn.2d 9, 523 P.2d 929 (1974). RCW 82.03.180, providing for judicial review of decisions of the Board of Tax Appeals, allows the Director of Revenue to appeal only from decisions made pursuant to RCW 82.03.130(1). We need not decide whether the department had standing to seek judicial relief in this action, however, since utilities and car companies, whose tax liability is involved, have intervened.
[3] We note that the department has been given the authority to classify property for equalization purposes in RCW 84.48.080. The concisely expressed intent found in this statute stands in sharp contrast to the vague term upon which the department supports its authority in this action.
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Family reunions just got more interesting for Larry David and Bernie Sanders
See the 'Unbelievable' Moment Bernie Sanders and Larry David Learn They're Related: 'You're Kidding!'
Family reunions just got more interesting for Larry David and Bernie Sanders.
On a preview for the season 4 premiere of the PBS show Finding Your Roots, — a series that helps notable people track their lineage — the Vermont senator and the actor who flawlessly portrayed him on Saturday Night Live learn that they’re distant cousins.
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The clip shows both Sanders and David flipping a page to find a picture of their newly uncovered relative: each other.
“I hope it’s a good athlete,” the Curb Your Enthusiasm star joked before seeing Sanders’ photo.
“What the hell?” David, 70, said with a smile upon seeing that it was the politician, amazed to find out about “Cousin Bernie.”
Sanders, 76, reacted with the same joyful surprise.
“You’re kidding!” he exclaimed, putting his hand to his forehead. “That is unbelievable!”
Sanders added, “People say to me, they talk about Larry David, and I say, ‘He does a better Bernie Sanders than I do.’ ”
David told the audience at the Television Critics Association panel for Curb Your Enthusiasm in July that he was “very happy” to learn of the genealogical connection, saying that Sanders is “like a third cousin or something.”
“I thought there must be some connection,” he said, according to CNN. “I love Bernie.”
The star, of course, channeled the senator and Democratic candidate in several episodes of Saturday Night Live leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Sanders even made a surprise appearance alongside David in a history-themed 2016 skit. |
FOR PUBLICATION
JUDICIAL COUNCIL
OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT
IN RE COMPLAINT Nos. 09-90276,
OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT 09-90277
and
09-90278
ORDER
Filed January 12, 2011
ORDER
KOZINSKI, Chief Judge:
Complainant, a pro se prisoner, filed a judicial misconduct
complaint against two district judges and a magistrate judge.
Instead of a brief statement of facts, he attached what appears
to be a complaint for a civil rights “tort action suit” he had
earlier tried to file with the Ninth Circuit’s clerk of court.
Complainants may not initiate a civil rights suit via the mis-
conduct procedure. The Judicial Council is not a court and has
no jurisdiction over civil actions. Compare 28 U.S.C.
§ 332(d), with id. §§ 1331, 1343(a). And, because the brief
statement of facts required to file a misconduct complaint
“must be prepared specifically for the misconduct proceed-
ing,” a complainant may not submit a document drawn up for
another purpose in lieu of such a statement. In re Complaint
of Judicial Misconduct, No. 09-90239, 2010 WL 5300813, at
*1 (9th Cir. Dec. 28, 2010).
Because complainant submitted no statement of facts set-
ting forth his allegations of misconduct, he has made no alle-
gations of misconduct and the complaint must be dismissed.
667
668 IN RE COMPLAINT OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT
See 28 U.S.C. § 352(b)(1)(A)(i); In re Complaint of Judicial
Misconduct, 2010 WL 5300813, at *2.
The sole purpose of the misconduct complaint procedure is
to identify and investigate allegations of misconduct against
federal judges. The only possible outcome of the proceedings,
should misconduct be shown, is corrective or disciplinary
action against the judge. Complainant may not obtain any
kind of personal relief such as a change to the judge’s ruling,
even if misconduct is ultimately shown. His request for
appointment of a “Philadelphia lawyer” therefore is dismissed
as beyond the purview of these proceedings. See 28 U.S.C.
§ 354(a)(2); Judicial-Conduct Rule 11(a). The charges against
a state judge are likewise dismissed. See Judicial-Conduct
Rule 4.
DISMISSED.
|
'Burt' Readies For Election Debut
CANBERRA -- The name “Burt” conjures, for some, a certain hirsute 1970’s movie heartthrob, but it is making a comeback in 2015 for political nerds.
The Australian Electoral Commission has been working through a population redistribution in Western Australia and has proposed, in time for the next election, a new federal electorate in the south east corner of Perth.
Provisionally called “Burt”, it would be WA’s 16th electorate, cover 172 sq/km and be a tribute to the late legal leaders of the state's Burt family, which included Sir Archibald Burt, Septimus Burt and Sir Francis Burt.
Strong rivals for Burt included the political suggestions, "Beazley" and "Court", but they were rejected as there was “some potential for confusion with other living family members who are prominent public figures.” |
Eruptive keratoacanthoma with an internal malignant neoplasm.
A 65-year-old woman had hundreds of tumors on the sun-exposed portions of her body and similar lesions in her mouth. All biopsy specimens showed changes consistent with the diagnosis of keratoacanthoma. Further examination of this patient disclosed an asymptomatic ovarian carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of the rare disorder of eruptive keratoacanthoma to occur in a patient with an internal malignant neoplasm. |
On Saturday we kicked the "Kris Versteeg to the Flyers" rumors to the curb, questioning their source while still mentioning the plausibility of the deal. After all, while the source on the record was less than reputable, the speculation in that report made sense.
Versteeg's a nice two-way forward who won a Stanley Cup just a year ago against our boys. He has a relatively decent cap hit and he'd be a nice fit on the wing with these Flyers. Most of all, he's young and still has a ton of upside, and you could say that he was in less-than-ideal situations in both Toronto and Chicago to start his career.
Well, it's happened. The Philadelphia Flyers have traded for forward Kris Versteeg today, sending a first round pick and a third round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the 24-year-old winger. If you're thinking that's a bit of an overpayment, you'd be correct.
This is a weak draft coming up this summer, but this will now be the third straight year in which the team lacks a first round pick. That is, unless they acquire one via another route before June. For now, we're still going with the assumption that the Flyers hate draft picks.
Here's the thing, though. Tim Panaccio reported that the Leafs were after James van Riemsdyk in this deal and that they settled on the two draft picks. It might be an overpayment, but if you consider the weak draft thing, can you be sure that the Flyers' first round pick this year would be a 20-goal scorer (or better) in the NHL? Up for debate.
Versteeg is under contract through the end of the 2011-2012 season at a cap hit of $3.083 million. With the trade on the books, the Flyers are again over the yearly salary cap -- albeit by just $19,383 according to CapGeek.com.
The biggest question in this move, as it pertains to the future, is what the Flyers do with Ville Leino. He's still an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season, and as the Flyers add over $3 million to their pay roll for next year, you have to wonder where they're going to get the money to fit No. 22. Leino's expected to earn about $3 million per season on his next deal, as well. A lot depends on how much the salary cap goes up for next season.
We'll have plenty of time to analyze what this means for the future, but what does it mean for the current team? If you thought there were an excess of forwards before, the Flyers now have 15 on the NHL roster. FIFTEEN!
It bumps somebody else out of the roster immediately -- looking at you, Dan Carcillo or Jody Shelley -- and it makes you wonder if another move is coming. It's clear that Nikolay Zherdev, already a healthy scratch, is not liked by Peter Laviolette and the coaching staff. If they're not going to put him in the lineup, the best thing to do is trade him, and perhaps the acquisition of Versteeg is a precursor to that move.
Full team press release with quotes from Paul Holmgren ("he's an exciting young forward") and Kris Versteeg ("excited") after the jump.
FLYERS ACQUIRE RW KRIS VERSTEEG FROM TORONTO The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have acquired 5-10, 182-pound right wing Kris Versteeg from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a first-round and a third-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. "Kris is an exciting young forward," Holmgren said. He's 24 years old and he'll fit in with our group of players here. He's a quality forward that can play in a lot of different roles for our hockey team. He can move up and down our lineup. He can kill penalties. He can play on the power play. We think he's a guy that over the last few years, particularly in Chicago, has really blossomed into a good forward and we think he's going to be a really good addition to our team." "Right away I was extremely excited to join this team," Versteeg said. "They've had a lot of success this season. They had a great playoff push last year and I'm excited to try and have a good one this year. I like to make plays and score goals at the same time, maybe go out there and be an agitator at times too. I'm going to try and do it all and have fun doing it." Versteeg, 24 (5-13-86), was a fifth-round selection of the Boston Bruins (134th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. In 53 games for Toronto this season, Versteeg has posted 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points. He was acquired by Toronto on June 30, 2010 in a five-player trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. Versteeg was part of Chicago's Stanley Cup championship team last season, contributing 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 79 regular season games and adding six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games. In 223 NHL games with Chicago and Toronto over parts of four seasons, Versteeg has career totals of 58 goals and 78 assists for 136 points. The Flyers return to action on Tuesday night when they visit the Tampa Bay Lightning in the start of a four-game road trip. The game will be broadcast in high definition on Comcast SportsNet and also will air on 610 WIP. Puck drop is 7:30 PM. Individual game tickets for the 2010-11 season are still available exclusively through ComcastTIX at philadelphiaflyers.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200 or in person at the Wells Fargo Center box office. Fan-favorite All You Can Eat packages including hot dogs, popcorn, chips with salsa and/or cheese, ice cream, and soda (or water) are also available exclusively through ComcastTIX, at philadelphiaflyers.com, by phone at 1-800-298-4200 or in person at the Wells Fargo Center box office. - FLYERS - |
Synthesis and chemosensing properties of indole based donor- Π-acceptor dye material.
In this work, we have designed and synthesized a new chemosensor for the detection of various metal ions. The chemosensor named 2-[2-(1 H-indole-2-ylmethylene)-3-oxo-indan-1-yliden]- malononitrile was synthesized using 3-formyl indole and 2-(3-oxo-indan-1-yliden)-malononitrile. This chemosensor has been investigated the properties which are able to detect and recognize the detection function of heavy metal ions. D-π-A system of dye chemosensor between electron withdrawing malononitrile and electron donating indole moieties provides the functions to interact with target metal ions. These recognizing sensing effects were studied using the absorption behaviors. Furthermore, cyclic voltammogram was used to determine HOMO/LUMO energy levels from their redox onset points. Measured energy levels of HOMO/LUMO were compared with computational calculation and discussed in details. Finally, the interaction type of metal ions binding was determined by Job's plot measurements. |
The Department of Veterans Affairs may be in total violation of Office of Special Counsel (OSC) policy not to use monitoring technologies to retaliate against whistleblowers.
The Washington Examiner reported last week that the department has maintained a secret list of whistleblowers, whose emails are all being covertly forwarded to the office of Robert McDonald, the Secretary of the VA, for observation.
The Office of Special Counsel, an agency which investigates federal government whistleblower complaints, anticipated this practice of spying all the way back in 2012 and instated a policy to nip it in the bud.
“We strongly urge executive departments and agencies (agencies) to evaluate their monitoring policies and practices, and take measures to ensure that these policies and practices do not interfere with or chill employees from using appropriate channels to disclose wrongdoing,” Carolyn Lerner, head of the OSC, wrote in the memo.
Lerner also reiterated the policy in an interview with The Washington Post a week after the OSC issued the memo, saying, “We are also doing our best to get the word out to all government agencies that whistleblower retaliation in any form is unacceptable and against the law. For example, I recently sent a memo to all federal agencies explaining that it is retaliatory and unlawful to monitor the communications of an employee because that employee has engaged in whistleblowing.”
The reason targeting with monitoring technologies is dangerous is because it undermines the ability of whistleblowers to disclose serious problems in the federal government.
Further, Lerner also added that monitoring communication of VA employees with the OSC or the inspector general was highly suspect. But according to one whistleblower, after he reached out to Congress and met with congressional staff, he was immediately placed on leave without pay.
In other words, that memo does not appear to have dissuaded the VA. The list of monitored whistleblowers was labeled “Sec Divert Internal.” Officials at the department immediately scrambled for a response, stating that the reason the office was reading all whistleblower emails was so that the department could more readily address their concerns.
“As part of the Secretary’s commitment to changing the culture of VA to provide better customer service to Veterans and to empower employees, because it is their work that makes VA better for our veterans, certain emails received by the secretary and deputy are immediately forwarded to VA’s client relations team for priority review and quick action,” a VA spokesperson told The Washington Examiner.
Whistleblowers didn’t buy the department’s explanation for a second.
Follow Jonah Bennett on Twitter
Send tips to [email protected].
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected]. |
Q:
Return a JSON result after deleting an item
I'm developing a web application with MVC 3 and want to return a message to the user after he has deleted an item successfully.
MyWallController method looks like this:
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult DeleteAlbum(Guid albumId)
{
try
{
this.albumService.DeleteAlbum(albumId);
return Json(new { success = true, msg = "Album successfully deleted" }, JsonRequestBehavior.AllowGet);
}
catch (FPSException e)
{
return Json(new { success = false, msg = e.Message });
}
catch (Exception)
{
throw new HttpException(500, "Error while deleting album");
}
}
The link:
<a class="open-DeleteAlbumDialog" href="http://localhost:2941/MyWall/DeleteAlbum?albumId=0f49b1ad-8ec1-4fca-b8e2-28bdbf47824e">Delete</a>
The JavaScript:
$(function () {
$(document).on('click', '.open-DeleteAlbumDialog', function () {
var answer = confirm('Are you sure you want to delete this album?')
if (answer) {
$.post(this.href, function (data) {
if (data.success) {
// do something
} else {
// do something else
}
});
}
else return false;
});
However the function defined inside post is never called and what I get is a "the resource cannot be found". But the item has been deleted successfully.
All kinds of help is appreciated.
A:
Your link is still working. You need to preventDefault:
$(function () {
$(document).on('click', '.open-DeleteAlbumDialog', function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
var answer = confirm('Are you sure you want to delete this album?')
if (answer) {
$.post(this.href, function (data) {
if (data.success) {
// do something
} else {
// do something else
}
});
}
});
|
All God's children need traveling shoes
Drive your problems from here
All good people read good books
Now your conscience is clear
I hear you talk girl
Now your conscience is clear
In the morning I wipe my brow
Wipe the miles away
I like to think I can be so willed
And never do what you say
I'll never hear you
And never do what you say
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
We just poked a little empty pie
For the fun people had at night
Late at night don't need hostility
Timid smile and pause to free
I don't care about their different thoughts
Different thoughts are good for me
Up in arms and chaste and whole
All God's children took their toll
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
Cup of tea, take time to think, yea
Time to risk a life, a life, a life
Sweet and handsome
Soft and porky
You pig out 'til you've seen the light
Pig out 'til you've seen the light
Half the people read the papers
Read them good and well
Pretty people, nervous people
People have got to sell
News you have to sell
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
Look my eyes are just holograms
Look your love has drawn red from my hands
From my hands you know you'll never be
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety
More than twist in my sobriety |
Spatial scale of autocorrelation of assemblages of benthic invertebrates in two upland rivers in South-Eastern Australia and its implications for biomonitoring and impact assessment in streams.
Spatial autocorrelation in ecological systems is a critical issue for monitoring (and a general understanding of ecological dynamics) yet there are very few data available, especially for riverine systems. Here, we report here on assemblage-level autocorrelation in the benthic-invertebrate assemblages of riffles in two adjacent, relatively pristine rivers in south-eastern Victoria, Australia (40-km reaches of the Wellington [surveys in summers of 1996 and 1997] and Wonnangatta Rivers [survey in summer of 1996 only], with 16 sites in each river). We found that analyses were similar if the data were resolved to family or to species level. Spatial autocorrelation was assessed by using Mantel-tests for the data partitioned into different sets of spatial separations of survey sites (e.g. 0-6 km, 6-12 km, etc.). We found strong small-scale (< or =6 km) autocorrelation in the Wellington River, which is consistent with known dispersal abilities of many aquatic invertebrates. Surprisingly, there were strong negative correlations at longer distance classes for the Wellington River in one of the two summers (20-40 km) and the Wonnangatta River (12-20 km). That two largely unimpacted, adjacent rivers should have such different autocorrelation patterns suggests that impact assessment cannot assume dependence or independence of sites a priori. We discuss the implications of these results for use of "reference" sites to assess impacts at nominally affected sites. |
Last week, the American Humanist Association released the results of a poll they conducted about the phrase “Under God” in the Pledge. The poll showed that when people are told about the history of the phrase — how it was added to the Pledge in 1954 during the Cold War — more than a third of respondents supported removing the phrase.
The AHA is following up those results today with what’s sure to be a controversial national campaign. They’re urging students to remain seated during daily recitations of the Pledge of Allegiance to show solidarity with the non-religious people who are being discriminated against — and that means educating everyone about the history of “Under God.” The campaign includes bus ads in Washington, D.C. and New York City as well as 15-second ads on YouTube:
In addition to teaching people about when “Under God” was added to the Pledge, the AHA also wants to remind students that the Supreme Court, in the 1943 case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, made clear that no one can be punished for staying seated during the Pledge.
“Through the daily Pledge exercise, our public schools are defining patriotism by promoting god-belief while stigmatizing atheist and humanist children,” said David Niose, legal director of the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center. “This violates the principles of equal rights and nondiscrimination, which is why we are currently challenging ‘under God’ in the Pledge with a lawsuit in New Jersey.”
You may recall that Niose lost a recent case in Massachusetts in which he was trying to get the state Supreme Court to declare the Pledge unconstitutional for reasons of discrimination. They’re trying it once again, as he said, in New Jersey.
The big question regarding their campaign is whether any students will refuse to stand as a result of it. You can be fully educated about the history of the Pledge and know your rights, and that still may not be enough for students to take on the role of class lightning rod. Hell, if I were in their shoes, I’m not sure if I’d want to do it. But it would be an amazing thing to see groups of students — including religious ones — remain seated in solidarity with atheists so that one of their classmates isn’t singled out.
The AHA is also offering legal resources to students who are punished in any way for remaining seated.
In case you think that never happens, I would point you to a student in New York who was punished for not standing for the Pledge earlier this year. It happened in 2012 in New Jersey, too.
On the flip side, when a couple of elementary school students remain seated last year, one of them convinced most of her classmates to join her.
Let’s see more brave students lead a similar charge.
|
Great fit. Stays put. Moves with me through out the day. Also great for jogging. Does not keep moisture next to my body. Great day time control of tummy and thighs. Almost forget I am wearing it because it feels so good.
I wear tights every day in the winter and these are a total game-changer for me!
Great stretch -- the fibers are very resilient and I don't feel like I am going to rip or put a hole in the fabric. The waistband construction is the best I've ever encountered: the very wide, soft waistband does not cut or dig in, but also does an impeccable job keeping the tights in place. Unlike every other pair of tights I've ever owned, with this pair I do not need to adjust or pull them back up throughout the day.
I have had numerous surgeries on my midsection and these are the first pantyhose that does not hurt the scars and does not roll down to make a huge muffin top! Also very comfortable in the legs all day long.
These are lovely... thankfully, I ordered two sizes.. the measurement chart said I was an "easy" medium, but thank God, I ordered a medium AND a TALL as I live in Ireland. I first tried the large (Tall) on and was very disappointed as to how small they were. I will never get into the mediums (sadly). I am an American size 8-10 and the tall is STILL super tight on me. Not sure I'll be able to tolerate them all day, but will let you know.
I'm new to Berkshire and experimenting with different styles. While I'm happy with all of them, I'm not sure of the point of 'no waistband'. This isn't meant as a criticism, the hose are terrific, but for me the no waistband style is neither better nor worse than the other Firm All the Way styles.
The best benefit to me of all the Firm styles is their comfortable firming without too much constriction - and they are easy to put on.
I ordered the black - they are a high quality denim that you can wear as "leggings" or just skinny jeans - great fit and very comfortable. Absolutely love the side zipper. I am going to order another pair in a different color.
This tank does exactly what it says it does; it shapes and smoothes your abdomen really nicely. It doesn't cut you off anywhere and it also doesn't smash 'the girls'. Quality is nice and not too heavy. I wish the length was just a tad longer than hip length (i'm 5"6 and 135 lbs), but other than that it's a nice piece and a great (all purpose) slimming and layering tank.
I would wear this everyday if I could. This is the perfect length for layering. I love it and it doesn't feel constricting or too tight. I even wear it to bed. I subtracted 1 star because the pricing is ridiculously expensive. As others have mentioned, it is very lightweight and I'm sure there will be limited mileage on it with frequent use but I still love it.
I am 5'6, curvy, purchased a medium.
I am a size 2x and no shape product in this world will flatten my stomach, But I do love this product. It firms and shapes my torso and I do feel much more confident in light weight clothing. I have 2 Yummy Tummy tanks in nude and have no regret about ordering them. I like the way they come down long and stay tucked in.
This fits great and is comfortable to wear. My old one had softer and less elastic fabric around bust and around the bottom. At first I was concerned about this. I thought it would constrict across the bust, but it doesn't. It stays in place and does not ride up. Overall pleased with it
I am a size 2x and no shape product in this world will flatten my stomach, But I do love this product. It firms and shapes my torso and I do feel much more confident in light weight clothing. I have 2 Yummy Tummy tanks in nude and have no regret about ordering them. I like the way they come down long and stay tucked in.
Our apologies...We are experiencing a technical issue with this page. Please call us at 1.877.728.9272, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we'll gladly help you complete your order.
If you prefer, you may also email us at [email protected]. Please include: Your name, where on our site you received the error, any questions you may have, and how and when you'd like us to contact you. Our business hours are Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm EST.
Our apologies...We are experiencing a technical issue with this page. Please call us at 1.877.728.9272, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we'll gladly help you complete your order.
If you prefer, you may also email us at [email protected]. Please include: Your name, where on our site you received the error, any questions you may have, and how and when you'd like us to contact you. Our business hours are Monday-Sunday 8am-6pm EST. |
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Periodic table of the elements
From Conservapedia
The periodic table of the elements is a diagrammatic tool to illustrate the scientific theory of periodicity in chemistry, in which the elements have similar properties based on their position on the table. For example, the elements on the far left of the table (Group one) all demonstrate similar properties, such as softness and high reactivity. The table has a lot of predictive power, although there are many exceptions to the periodic properties.
The modern periodic table was first developed by RussianchemistDimitri Mendeleev. Its layout accurately arranges elements by their electron configuration, atomic number, and chemical properties. Using the structure he created, Mendeleev predicted the existence and properties of several yet-undiscovered elements; when those elements were discovered, his estimates proved to be quite accurate, vindicating his theory which had previously been criticized. Other chemists, such as Antione Lavoisier, and Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner had attempted to create periodic tables by grouping similar elements, but Mendeleev was successful because he left empty spaces for undiscovered, but predicted elements.
Organization
Elements in the periodic table are ordered by number of protons, and rows are arranged by number of electrons in their outermost electron shell. Since farther out shells have more orbitals, this means that there will be more elements in the lower rows of the periodic table than in the higher rows. For example, for principal quantum numbern=1, there is only one s-orbital available, which will fit only two electrons (due to the Pauli exclusion principle, which states that no two electrons can have the same quantum numbers). Therefore, only two elements can be in the top row of the periodic table. As the principal quantum number increases, the number of electrons per shell rises, so the farther-down rows hold more elements.
The group number tells how many electrons an element has in its outermost electron shell. For example, every element in group 8A, the noble gases, has its outermost electron shell completely full.
External Links
Interactive Periodic Table You've seen it before, but what do all those symbols and numbers really mean? You're about to find out. |
3 - 63 + 1 + 3*c - 1 + (-4 + 2 + 1)*(0*c + 4*c - 2*c) - c + 4*c - 2*c - 3 + 3 - 2*c - c + 3 - 3 + c + 0*c - 3*c.
-5*c - 16
Expand (2 - 36*h - 2 + (-5 - 4 + 4)*(-1 + 2*h + 1))*(0 + 0 - 2*h**2).
92*h**3
Expand (-478 - 438 + 260 - 116)*(n**4 - n**5 - n**4).
772*n**5
Expand (-n - n + 7*n)*(-9 - 7*n + 9) + 6*n**2 + 4*n**2 - 5*n**2.
-30*n**2
Expand (25 + 17*r - 25)*(0 - 4 + 2) - 33 - 33 - 41*r + 66.
-75*r
Expand (5*s + 0*s - s)*(-1 - 2*s + 1) - 7*s**2 - 6*s**2 - 1 - s**2.
-22*s**2 - 1
Expand (0 + 2 + 0)*(14*a**5 - 7*a**5 - a**5).
12*a**5
Expand (-3 - t**3 + 3)*((2*t + 4 - 4)*(-4 + 2 + 0) - t + t + 2*t + (-5 + 2 + 5)*(18 - 18 - 27*t) + 3*t - 4*t - t).
58*t**4
Expand (-21 + 21 + 35*a**2)*(-4*a**3 - 4*a**3 + 6*a**3).
-70*a**5
Expand 14*v**2 - v**2 - 2066*v + 2070*v + 4*v**2 - 7*v**2 + 4*v**2 + (2*v + 4*v - 5*v)*(-2*v + 4*v - 3*v) + 2*v**2 + 2 - 2.
15*v**2 + 4*v
Expand (2 - 2 + 5)*(0*z + 0*z + 2*z + (3*z + 2*z + 0*z)*(23 + 27 - 21)).
735*z
Expand y**3 + 0*y + 0*y - 3*y**2 + 3*y**2 - 4*y**3 + (0*y**2 + 0*y**2 - y**2)*(-3*y + 5*y - y) + 6*y**3 - 12*y**3 - 14*y**3.
-24*y**3
Expand -11*g - 5*g + 9*g + (3 - 2 + 1)*(-3*g + 2*g + 3*g) + g - 1 + 1 + 43 - 43 + 10*g.
8*g
Expand (-3 - 1 + 3)*(-1 - b + 1) + 299*b + 601*b - 1634*b.
-733*b
Expand (-4*y + 5*y - 4*y)*(21 - 99 + 241).
-489*y
Expand ((4*f - 3*f + f)*(2 + 1 - 1) + 0 - f + 0)*(-f**2 + 3*f**2 + 0*f**2) - 782*f + 782*f - 950*f**3.
-944*f**3
Expand -4*b**3 + 4*b**3 - b**3 + (52*b**2 - 14*b**2 + 68*b**2)*(b + 0 + 0).
105*b**3
Expand 7*l + 2*l**2 - 4*l + l + (-3 - 2 + 2)*(-6*l**2 - 2*l**2 + l**2).
23*l**2 + 4*l
Expand (1 + 4 - 3)*(-2*f + 1 - 1) + 3 - 11*f - 3 + (2*f + f - 2*f)*(3 + 1 - 6) + (-3 + 1 + 1)*(0*f - 2*f + 0*f).
-15*f
Expand (3 - 2*l - 3)*(5 - 3 - 4)*(7 + 5 - 1)*(-2 - 2*l**2 + 2).
-88*l**3
Expand (-2*b + 3*b + b)*(2*b - 2 + 0*b - 2)*(-2*b - 13 + 13).
-8*b**3 + 16*b**2
Expand (-2*l + 4*l - l)*(-l + 0 + 0) + 10*l**2 - 12*l**2 + 3*l**2 + 31*l**2.
31*l**2
Expand (40*s**2 + 34*s**2 - 29*s**2)*(-3*s**2 + s**2 + s**2) + (-3*s - 2*s**2 + 3*s)*(0 + 5 - 2*s**2 - 10).
-41*s**4 + 10*s**2
Expand -44*f**2 + 8*f**2 + f**2 + (-2*f + 0*f + 0*f)*(-2*f + f + 0*f) - 1 + 1 - f**2 + 3 + 3*f**2 - 3.
-31*f**2
Expand (-60*k - 71*k + 36*k)*((4 - 4 - 2*k)*(5 - 2*k - 5) + (3 - 4 - 1)*(-5*k + 4*k + 0*k)*(-2*k + 0*k + 3*k)).
-570*k**3
Expand (-20*f**4 + 37*f - 36*f - 33*f**4)*(-4*f + 3*f + 3*f).
-106*f**5 + 2*f**2
Expand (5*h**3 + 9*h**3 - 3*h**3)*(14521*h**2 + 1 + 0 - 14474*h**2).
517*h**5 + 11*h**3
Expand (1 + 5 - 4)*(58*d + 53*d - 731 - 110*d).
2*d - 1462
Expand (3*n**3 - n**3 - n**3 + (n**2 - 4*n**2 + 2*n**2)*(0 + n + 0) + n**2 - n**2 + 2*n**3 + 0*n**3 + 0*n**3 + 2*n**3 - 98*n**3 + 2417*n - 2417*n)*(-4 + 2 - 1).
282*n**3
Expand (-2*a**4 - a**2 + a**2)*(4*a + 0*a + 0*a) - a**2 + a**5 + a**2 + (-3*a**2 + a**3 + 3*a**2)*(-3*a**2 + 2*a**2 - 2*a**2).
-10*a**5
Expand (-6*x**2 + 13*x**2 + 81*x**2 + (-x + 2*x + x)*(2 - 2 + 2*x) - 5*x**2 - x**2 + 4*x**2)*(9*x - 3*x - 2*x).
360*x**3
Expand -2*r - 4 + 4 + (1 - 3 + 3)*(-2*r - r + 4*r) + 1 - 1 + 2*r - 42*r - 59*r + 169*r.
69*r
Expand -5*m**3 + 4*m**3 - 2*m**3 + (-4*m**2 + 2*m**2 - 7*m**2)*(-16*m + 3*m + 2*m).
96*m**3
Expand (-13 + 15*b**3 + 13)*(3*b + 5*b - 2*b).
90*b**4
Expand j**3 + 0*j**3 + 4*j**3 + (3*j**2 + 0 - 2 + 0)*((4 + 0 - 2)*(1 - 3 + 1) - 4 + 3 - 1 - 2 - 3 + 3)*(-2*j + j + 0*j).
23*j**3 - 12*j
Expand (-8 - 98 + 38 - 45)*(t**4 + t**4 - t**4).
-113*t**4
Expand (-8 - 2*m**2 + 8)*(3*m - 2*m**3 - 3*m)*(126 - 164 + 90).
208*m**5
Expand (-5*u + 0*u + 4*u)*(0 + 3 - 2 - 3 + 3 - 1 + (-4 + 5 - 3)*(-5 - 1 + 4)) - 2 + 2 - 2*u.
-6*u
Expand 2*k - 7 + 7 + (-4 + 5 - 3)*(-2*k + 4 - 4) + (-3 - 2 - 2)*(-3*k + 5*k + 6*k).
-50*k
Expand (1 - 1 - x)*(-2*x**2 + 2 - 2) - 1 - x**3 + 1 - x**2 - 100 - 4*x**3 + 100.
-3*x**3 - x**2
Expand ((2 - 4 + 3)*(1 - 2 + 0) - 1 + 7 - 1)*(-1 + 0 - 4)*(6*j + 5*j - 2*j).
-180*j
Expand (2*v + 2 - 2)*(1 + v - 1)*(-71 + 18 - 90).
-286*v**2
Expand (0*p + 0*p + p)*(5 - 2*p - 5 + 0*p - 4*p + 3*p + 0*p + 3*p - p + (2 + 2 - 2)*(1 - 1 + 2*p) + 17*p - 22 + 22).
20*p**2
Expand (-s - 5*s - s)*(-4*s**4 + 4*s**4 - 2*s**4) + 2*s**5 - 2*s**5 - s**5.
13*s**5
Expand (2 - 2 - l)*(l**3 - 2*l**3 - 2*l**3) + (1 + 79*l - 74*l + 0)*(3*l**3 - 2*l**3 - 3*l**3).
-7*l**4 - 2*l**3
Expand -q**5 - q + q + (-10*q - 6 + 6 + (2 - 1 - 2)*(0 + 0 + q))*((15*q - 3*q**2 - 15*q)*(q**2 + q**2 - 4*q**2) + q**4 + 3*q**4 - 2*q**4).
-89*q**5
Expand 430*n**5 + 19053*n**4 - 19053*n**4 + 2*n**5 + n**5 - n**5 - n**5 + 0*n**5 + 0*n**5 + (-6*n**4 + 4*n**4 + 0*n**4)*(-4*n + 5*n - 3*n).
435*n**5
Expand -h - 4*h + 4*h - 2 - 2*h + 2 - 3 + 3 + h + (-1 - 3 + 2)*(h + 4*h - 3*h) + 0*h - 2*h - 4*h + 4*h + 2*h + 7*h.
h
Expand (1 - 4 + 6)*(5*u**2 - 7536 + 7536 - 26*u).
15*u**2 - 78*u
Expand (-17*i + 2*i - 13*i)*(-3*i - 4 + 4 + (-2 + 5 - 4)*(-i + 2*i - 3*i))*(-i**3 - i**3 + i**3).
-28*i**5
Expand (19*h**4 - 39*h**4 - 38*h**4)*(-8 + 0 + 0).
464*h**4
Expand -p**4 - 4*p**4 + 0*p**4 + (10*p**4 + 9*p**4 - 10*p**4)*(4 + 4 - 4).
31*p**4
Expand (1 - 1 + 6*a)*(4*a**2 - 4*a**2 + 9*a**3)*(-3*a + a - 1 + 0).
-108*a**5 - 54*a**4
Expand -484*b**3 + 40*b**3 + 6*b - 6*b + (3*b - b - 3*b)*(3*b**2 - 3*b**2 - b**2) - b**2 + b**2 + b**3.
-442*b**3
Expand (-12*d + 46*d - 13*d)*(-4 - 4*d**2 + 4).
-84*d**3
Expand -143*n + 55282 - 55282 + (-1 + 0 + 0)*(3*n - 4*n - n).
-141*n
Expand 206*b**4 - 414 + 414 + 2 - 2 - 2*b**4 + 2*b**4 + 0*b**2 + 0*b**2 - 2*b**4 + 3*b**3 - 3*b**3 + (0 + 0 - b**2)*(6*b**2 - 3*b**2 - b**2).
202*b**4
Expand (2*d**2 + d**2 - 1 + d**2)*(1 - d - 1)*(54 - 14*d - 54).
56*d**4 - 14*d**2
Expand (-2 - 1 + 1)*((8*w**3 + 6 - 6)*(-4 + 4 + 8*w) - 3*w**4 + 4*w**4 - 2*w**4 + (-w + 4*w - 5*w)*(2*w**3 - 3*w**3 - w**3)).
-134*w**4
Expand -5*i + 4*i + 0*i + 0*i + 0*i - 4*i + (3*i - 3*i + 2*i)*(3 + 1 - 3) + i + 0*i - 3*i - 3 - 5*i + 8 - 13.
-10*i - 8
Expand 3*j**2 + 25 - 25 - 2*j**2 + j**2 - j**2 + (4*j - 3*j - 2*j)*(-3*j + 3*j - 2*j) + 2*j**2 + 2*j - 2*j + 15*j - 15*j - 3*j**2.
2*j**2
Expand (3*n + 3*n - 4*n)*(3 + 1 - 3 + (-3 + 6 - 1)*(0 - 5 + 3) + 19 - 1 - 4 - 1 - 1 + 4 + (-1 - 2 + 4)*(-6 + 2 + 2) + 1 - 4 + 2).
20*n
Expand 3*b**3 - b**3 + 0*b**3 + (-2*b**2 + 7*b**2 - 3*b**2)*(-2*b + b + 3*b) - 59 + 59 - 12*b**3.
-6*b**3
Expand (-3041*t**2 - 2758*t**2 + 6275*t**2 + t - t - 3*t**2 + (0*t + 4*t - 6*t)*(t + 0*t + 0*t))*(t**2 - 3*t**2 + 4*t**2).
942*t**4
Expand (4*a**2 - 3*a**2 - 3*a**2 + (a - 2*a + 0*a)*(-a - 1 + 1))*(192*a - 525*a + 217*a)*(-2 + 3 + 0).
116*a**3
Expand (-283*v**3 - 696*v**3 + 114*v**3 - 34*v**3 + 2)*(2*v - v - 3*v).
1798*v**4 - 4*v
Expand (0 + 0 + 3*a)*(20*a - a - 15*a - 112 - 5*a).
-3*a**2 - 336*a
Expand (-13 + 8 + 7)*(-4 + 0 + 5)*(-j**2 + 4*j**2 + 0*j**2).
6*j**2
Expand (-1 + 0 + 0)*(c**3 + 0*c**3 + 0*c**3)*(-7 - c**2 + 10 + 9).
c**5 - 12*c**3
Expand (3 - 3 - 2*b)*(-1314 + 165 - 422 - 765 - 2015).
8702*b
Expand (2 - 2 + i)*(-4 + 4 - 8*i)*(2 - 2 + 13)*(2*i**3 + i**3 - i**3).
-208*i**5
Expand -n + 0 + 0 + (-4 + 0 + 2)*(-22*n - 69 + 69 + (-1 + 4 - 4)*(-3*n + 0 + 0)).
37*n
Expand -24*l**2 - 9*l**3 + 24*l**2 + (6*l - 3*l - 2*l)*(-43*l + 43*l - 9*l**2).
-18*l**3
Expand ((-3 + 1 + 0)*(3*b - 3*b + 2*b) + 4*b - 4*b + b)*(26*b - 13 - 17*b - 15*b).
18*b**2 + 39*b
Expand t - 3*t + 3*t + (-48 + 48 + 26*t)*(1 - 3 + 0) + (-6*t + t + 3*t)*(-3 - 2 + 3).
-47*t
Expand -1 + n + 1 + 27 - 15*n - 27 + (2*n - 3*n - n)*(-1 - 2 + 2) + 1 - 1 + n.
-11*n
Expand (-h + 4 - 4)*(531 - 531 + 219*h).
-219*h**2
Expand (17*c**2 - 213 + 432 + 12*c - 217)*(1 - 1 + 3*c**2).
51*c**4 + 36*c**3 + 6*c**2
Expand (l - l + 2*l)*(12*l**2 - 15*l**2 + 10*l**2) + (2*l + 14 - 14)*(-4*l**2 + 0*l**2 + 3*l**2).
12*l**3
Expand (-90 + 26 - 28)*(12*a - 93 + 93).
-1104*a
Expand (2 - 2 - 3)*(1 + 2 - 5)*(4 - 4 - 2*p) + (-2*p - 4 + 4)*(-1 + 0 + 2) - 41*p + 23*p - 27*p.
-59*p
Expand (5*q + 13*q - 6*q)*(-4 + 3 + 0)*(6 - 4 - 5)*(0*q - q + 0*q).
-36*q**2
Expand (-238*r + 12*r**3 + 238*r)*(-2 + r + 2)*(0 - 2 + 3)*(-2 + 9 - 2) - 2*r**4 + r**4 + 9*r**4.
68*r**4
Expand (0*p**5 - 2*p**5 - p**5 + (-4*p**3 + p**3 + 2*p**3)*(3*p**2 + 3*p**2 - 5*p**2))*(1 - 2 + 3)*(2 - 3 - 2)*(0 + 4 - 5).
-24*p**5
Expand (i - 7*i + i)*(-1 - 107*i + 374*i - 176*i).
-455*i**2 + 5*i
Expand (17*z + 11*z - 7*z)*(-z + 3*z + 0*z)*(0 - 2 + 1).
-42*z**2
Expand (2*l + 0 + 0)*(-6*l + 4*l + 0*l) - 2*l**2 + 733523*l + 30*l**2 - 733516 |
Down Syndrome
Topic Overview
What is Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a set of
physical and mental traits caused by a
gene problem that happens before birth. Children who have
Down syndrome tend to have certain features, such as a flat face and a short
neck. They also have some degree of
intellectual disability. This
varies from person to person. But in most cases it is mild to moderate.
Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. But with care
and support, children who have Down syndrome can grow up to have healthy,
happy, productive lives.
What causes Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is caused
by a problem with a baby's
chromosomes. Normally, a person has 46 chromosomes. But most
people with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes. In rare cases, other chromosome
problems cause Down syndrome. Having extra or abnormal chromosomes changes the
way the brain and body develop.
Experts don't know the exact
cause, but some things increase the chance
that you'll have a baby with Down syndrome. These things are called risk factors.
Your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is higher if:
You are older when you get pregnant. Many doctors believe that the risk increases for women age 35 and older.
You have a brother or
sister who has Down syndrome.
You had another baby with Down syndrome.
If you've had a baby with Down syndrome and are planning another pregnancy, you may want to talk to your doctor about genetic counseling.
What are the symptoms?
Most children with Down
syndrome have:
Distinctive facial features, such as a flat
face, small ears, slanting eyes, and a small mouth.
A short neck
and short arms and legs.
Low muscle tone and loose joints. Muscle tone
usually improves by late childhood.
Below-average intelligence.
Many children with Down syndrome are also born with
heart, intestine, ear, or breathing problems. These health conditions often
lead to other problems, such as airway (respiratory) infections or hearing
loss. But most of these problems can be treated.
How is Down syndrome diagnosed?
Your doctor may
suggest that you have tests during pregnancy to find out if your baby has Down
syndrome. You may decide to have:
Screening tests, such as an ultrasound or a blood test during your first or second trimester. These can help show if the developing baby (fetus) is at
risk for Down syndrome. But these tests sometimes give
false-positive or false-negative results.
Diagnostic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. These can show if a baby has Down syndrome. You may want to have these tests if you have abnormal results from a screening test
or if you are worried about Down syndrome.
Sometimes a baby is diagnosed after birth. A doctor
may have a good idea that a baby has Down syndrome based on the way the baby
looks and the results of a physical exam. To make sure, the baby's blood will
be tested. It may take 2 to 3 weeks to get the test results.
What kind of care will your child need?
Starting soon after birth, a
baby with Down syndrome will be tested for health problems, such as eye, ear, or
thyroid problems. The sooner these problems are found,
the better they can be managed. Regular doctor visits can help your child stay
in good health.
Your doctor will make a treatment plan that meets
your growing child's needs. For example, most children with Down syndrome
need speech therapy and
physical therapy. Teens and adults with Down syndrome may need occupational
therapy to learn job skills and learn how to live on their own.
Counseling may help with social skills and emotional
issues.
Many professionals will help you and your child through life. But you are vital to your
child's success. To help your child:
Learn all you can about Down syndrome. This
can help you know what to expect and how you can help your child.
Find out what type of financial help you can get by contacting
your state's Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Check into
resources in your area. For example, many states provide free
early-intervention programs for children with Down syndrome up to age 3 to help
them get off to a good start.
Look into school options for your
child. Federal law requires public schools to provide services to all children
with disabilities who are ages 3 to 21.
Raising a child with Down syndrome has both challenges
and rewards. Remember to take time for yourself. And ask for help when you need
it. Talking to other parents who are raising children with Down syndrome can be
a big help. Ask your doctor or hospital about parent support groups, or contact
a group like the National Down Syndrome Congress.
Cause
Down syndrome
is caused by abnormal cell division in early
embryo development. Normally, a child inherits 46
chromosomes, 23 from each parent. Each chromosome carries DNA, called genes, which tell how the brain and body should develop.
But a fetus with Down
syndrome has extra or abnormal chromosomes. Having extra genetic material changes the way the brain and body develop. The type of Down
syndrome depends on how many cells have the extra or abnormal chromosomes.
Medical experts believe the cell changes most
often start in a woman's egg before or at conception. Less often, the error
occurs in sperm at conception. It is not known what causes the cells to divide
abnormally. One type of Down syndrome, called translocation-type, may be
passed down through families (inherited).
Symptoms
There are more than 50 features of
Down syndrome. But not every person with Down syndrome has all the same features or health problems. Some features and problems are common.
Body shape and size
Short stature (height). A child often grows slowly and
is shorter than average as an adult.
Low muscle tone (hypotonia) throughout the body. Belly muscles
with low muscle tone can make the stomach stick out.
A short, wide neck. The neck may have excess
fat and skin.
Short, stocky arms and legs. Some children also have a wide
space between the big toe and second toe.
Face shape and features
Slanted eyes. The doctor may also notice small spots on the colored part of the eye
(iris).
A
nasal bridge that looks pushed in. The nasal bridge is the flat area between
the nose and eyes.
Small ears. And they may be set low on the head.
Irregularly
shaped mouth and tongue. The child's tongue may partly stick out. The roof of
the mouth (palate) may be narrow and high with a downward curve.
Irregular and crooked teeth. Teeth often come in late
and not in the same order that other children's teeth come in.
What Happens
Although every child is different, you may find it helpful to understand some patterns of Down syndrome as your child grows. It also helps to know that most people who have Down syndrome can flourish and live healthy, happy, and productive lives.
Many of the challenges for people with Down syndrome are related to
intellectual disability and health problems. Problems may come up at different ages.
Teens
Puberty starts
at about the same ages for teens with Down syndrome as for other teens.
They may face social difficulties and vulnerabilities, such as abuse, injury, and other types of harm. They may also have a hard time handling strong emotions and feelings. Sometimes these struggles can lead to mental health problems,
especially depression.
Adults
Men with Down syndrome most often are sterile and
cannot father children. Many women with Down syndrome can have children, and
they usually have early
menopause.
What Increases Your Risk
Certain things increase the chance
that you will have a baby with Down syndrome. These are called risk factors. Risk factors may be different based on the type of Down syndrome.
Trisomy 21
Trisomy 21 is the most common type of Down syndrome. People with this type have an extra chromosome (47 instead of 46) in every cell. Risk factors for this type include:
Being older when you get pregnant. The risk of having a baby with a genetic problem increases as a woman gets older. Many doctors believe that the risk increases for women age 35 and older. This risk keeps rising the older a woman gets.
Having a previous pregnancy in which the fetus had Down syndrome. Women who
have had a pregnancy with trisomy 21 Down syndrome have a 1-in-100 chance of
having another child with the condition.footnote 1
Mosaicism
This type of Down syndrome is caused by only some cells producing 47 chromosomes. Mosaicism affects up to 3 out of 100 people who have Down
syndrome.footnote 2 Risk factors for mosaicism are similar
to those for trisomy 21.
Translocation
Translocation type is the only type of Down syndrome that may be passed through families, but most of the time it happens randomly. A person with this type has 46 chromosomes, but part of one chromosome breaks and then attaches to a different chromosome. Up to 5 out of 100 people with Down syndrome have the translocation type.footnote 2
If you are thinking about becoming pregnant and you're at risk for having a child with Down syndrome, you may want to see a geneticist or genetic counselor. They can help you understand your risk and work with you on genetic testing.
When To Call a Doctor
Call a doctor immediately if:
Your baby or very young child with
Down syndrome shows signs of:
Intestinal blockage, such as severe
belly pain, vomiting, and possibly swelling of the
stomach.
Heart problems, such as bluish discoloration of the lips
and fingers, difficulty breathing, or a sudden change in eating or activity
level.
A person of any age with Down syndrome shows
symptoms of dislocated neck bones. This condition often occurs after an injury. Symptoms may
include:
Neck pain.
Limited neck
movement.
Weakness in the arms and legs.
Difficulty
walking.
A change in bowel or bladder control.
Call a doctor if a person with Down syndrome:
Acts differently or stops doing things that he or she used to. These may be a sign of pain or an illness.
Shows signs of mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression. Depression may be triggered by a big change or
loss, such as the death of a family member or a change in a caregiver.
Who to see
The following health professionals can diagnose and/or
treat a person who has Down syndrome:
Exams and Tests
Testing during pregnancy
There are two types of tests for birth defects: screening and diagnostic.
You may decide to have:
A screening test. This can show the chance that a baby has Down syndrome. It can't tell you for sure that your baby has it. If the test result is "positive," it means that your baby is more likely to have Down syndrome. So your doctor may want you to have a diagnostic test to make sure. If the screening test result is "negative," it means that your baby probably doesn't have Down syndrome. But it doesn't guarantee that you will have a normal pregnancy or baby.
A diagnostic test. This test can show if a baby has Down syndrome.
The decision to have a test for birth defects is personal. You have to think about your age, your chance of passing on a family disease, your need to know about any problems, and what you might do after you have the test results. Your spiritual beliefs and other values also may affect your decision.
Diagnosis after birth
If Down syndrome
was not diagnosed before your baby was born, doctors can often get a clear sense of whether your child has Down syndrome by how your baby looks and by doing a physical exam. But traits can be
subtle in a newborn, depending on the
type of Down syndrome that he or she has.
To confirm a diagnosis, a newborn will have a blood sample taken for
chromosomal analysis, called a karyotype test.
Waiting for a formal diagnosis can be stressful.
Try to focus on caring and bonding with your newborn and getting the help you
need. Your doctor or hospital may also be able to refer you to local resources and support groups. For more information, see Treatment Overview.
Telling others
Another challenge parents may face is finding a way to
tell family members and friends about their child's condition. If you don't
learn that your baby has Down syndrome until after he or she is born, you will
have little time to absorb the information before you need to answer questions
from excited family and friends who are eager for news.
The best approach may be to simply state the facts, such as, "Our baby was diagnosed
with Down syndrome." If you aren't ready to talk about your child's condition
beyond that, say so. You may feel able to tell only one or two people. If this
is the case, consider asking them to share the news with others. Of course,
there is no right or wrong way to tell people. Know that there are resources to help you.
Regular checkups throughout life
Like all children, your child needs well-baby and well-child visits. He or she also needs regular checkups so your doctor can look for early signs of health issues that are common in people who have Down syndrome. The sooner health issues are found, the more easily they can be managed.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines about when and how often to check for certain health issues in children who have Down syndrome. The Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group also has health care guidelines for people who have Down
syndrome.
Treatment Overview
It is common to experience a
wide range of emotions when your baby is born with Down syndrome. While you have joy from your child's birth, you will also need to learn about and care for his or her special health care needs. Most families choose to raise their
child, while some consider foster care or adoption. Support groups and
organizations can assist you in making the best decision for your family.
Treatment for Down syndrome focuses on making sure that your child has
regular medical checkups, helping your child develop, watching for early signs of health problems, and finding support. With treatment and support, you can help your child live a happy, healthy life.
Get your child regular medical care
You can help your child stay
healthy by scheduling routine checkups. This will help to identify, manage, and
monitor any diseases and health problems that people with Down syndrome have
a higher chance of developing.
Doctors look for
specific problems at various ages, such as
cataracts and other eye conditions during a baby's
first year. These checkups are also a good time for you and the doctor to talk about any concerns you have. Many parents have
similar concerns as their children grow, including:
Newborn concerns, such as where to get
emotional support and learn about Down
syndrome.
Infant concerns, such as what therapies your child may need and how to prevent colds.
Help your child to develop
Although it may take
extra time for your child to learn and master skills, you may be surprised at
how much he or she will be able to do. With encouragement, your child can learn important skills. You can help your baby learn to walk, talk, or eat by himself. You can help your child make friends and do well in school. Later you can help him or her learn job skills and maybe live independently.
Find resources and support
Your doctor or local hospital can refer you to community resources to help you learn what to expect and how
to care for your baby who has Down syndrome.
You may also want to think about joining a
support group. Talking and sharing with other parents
of children with Down syndrome can help you manage difficult feelings. It can
also help you know what kinds of challenges to expect, as well as help you to
discover the joys other parents have experienced with their children. To learn more about support groups, see the Other Places To Get Help section of this topic.
Families of children who have Down syndrome
may need other types of resources, such as:
Financial assistance. Children with Down
syndrome have special needs that may create additional expenses for the family.
In the United States, some state and federal government services help cover the
costs of certain programs. The amount your child receives depends on different
things such as your income and your child's level of disability. To find out
about financial assistance in your state, call your state's Department of
Developmental Disabilities.
Estate planning. Become familiar with
tax issues and estate planning to ensure that your child will have proper care
and necessary resources available if you die.
Family counseling. This therapy involves
regular sessions with a qualified counselor who has experience working with
families who have children with Down syndrome.
It's also important to take time for yourself. Common frustrations and frequent highs and lows can all lead
to exhaustion.
Take good care of yourself so you have the energy to enjoy your child and
attend to his or her needs. For more information, see the topic
Caregiver Tips.
What to think about
There are several
controversial treatments (including supplements,
surgery, and medicine) for Down syndrome that either have not been proved helpful or have questionable benefit. Some treatments may even cause physical harm or have ethical
implications. Talk with your child's doctor before
you try treatments that you and the doctor haven't yet discussed.
Prevention
Down syndrome
cannot be prevented. There are many things you can do to help your child live a happy and healthy life. For more information, see Treatment Overview.
Home Treatment
As a parent of a child with
Down syndrome, you play an important role in helping
your child reach his or her full potential. You and your child will have challenges and
accomplishments.
Babies and young children
Your child will likely take more time than
other children to reach certain milestones. But his or her achievements are just as
significant and exciting to watch. Be patient, and encourage your young child as he or she learns.
Self-feeding. Help your child
learn to eat independently by sitting down together at meals. Use gradual steps
to teach your child how to eat. Start with allowing your child to eat with
his or her fingers and offering thick liquids to drink.
Dressing. Teach your child how to dress himself or
herself by taking extra time to explain and practice.
Communicating. Simple measures, such as looking at
your baby while speaking or showing and naming objects, can help your baby
learn to talk.
Grooming and hygiene. Help your child learn the importance of being clean and looking
his or her best. Establish a daily routine for bathing and getting ready. As
your child gets older, this will become increasingly important. Gradually add
new tasks to the routine, such as putting on deodorant.
Encourage your child to learn, socialize, and be physically active. For example, enroll your child in
classes with other children of the same age. Think of ways you can stimulate
your child's thinking skills without making tasks too difficult. But know
that it is okay for your child to be challenged and sometimes fail.
Enroll your young child (infant
through age 3) in an early-intervention program. These programs have staff who
are trained to monitor and encourage your child's development. Talk with a
doctor about programs in your area.
School-age children
Keep encouraging your child to learn, socialize, and be physically active. Here are some tips:
Be involved with your
child's education. Most children who have Down syndrome can
be included in a regular classroom. Your child may need an adapted curriculum
and may sometimes attend special classes.
Know that your child has a legal right to education. These laws also protect your rights as a parent to
be fully informed about or to challenge educational decisions concerning your
child.
Be active with your child. This will help your child feel better, whether or not he or she has weight problems. To learn more, see:
Adolescents and teens
Socially, teens who have Down
syndrome have the same needs as everyone else. Most will want to date,
socialize, and form intimate relationships. You can help your child develop healthy relationships by teaching appropriate social skills and behavior. Peer
acceptance and
self-esteem are affected by how well your preteen or
teen addresses these issues.
Encourage your child to take part in school and community activities.
Teens usually graduate from high school,
unless their disabilities are severe. Provide opportunities for your child to form healthy friendships. This is critical for your
child's happiness and sense of belonging.
During your child's teen years, you may also want to start planning for your child's future jobs and living
arrangements. Many people who have Down syndrome live
independently as adults in group homes or apartments with support services. But
most group homes and community centers require a basic level of
self-sufficiency, such as being able to eat, dress, and bathe independently.
Vocational training helps many young adults learn how
to work in many settings, such as stores, restaurants, and
hotels.
Adults
Most adults who have Down
syndrome function well in society. They often have regular jobs,
have friends and romantic relationships, and take part in community
activities.
An adult with Down syndrome benefits from working outside the
home and having social activities. Having an active lifestyle with continued
learning makes anyone, including a person with Down syndrome, feel more vibrant
and feel that his or her life is meaningful.
Adult day care may be an option. Or the Special Olympics and other activities that emphasize exercise might be options. Encourage
an adult's interests, such as in art or in hobbies such as drawing.
Other Works Consulted
American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine (2002). A consensus statement on health care transitions for young adults with special health care needs. Pediatrics, 110(6): 1304-1306.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. |
/**
*
* Copyright (c) 2014, the Railo Company Ltd. All rights reserved.
*
* This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
* modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
* License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
* version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
*
* This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
* Lesser General Public License for more details.
*
* You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
* License along with this library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
*
**/
/**
* Implements the CFML Function arrayswap
*/
package lucee.runtime.functions.arrays;
import lucee.runtime.PageContext;
import lucee.runtime.exp.ExpressionException;
import lucee.runtime.exp.FunctionException;
import lucee.runtime.exp.PageException;
import lucee.runtime.ext.function.BIF;
import lucee.runtime.op.Caster;
import lucee.runtime.type.Array;
import lucee.runtime.type.util.ArrayUtil;
public final class ArraySwap extends BIF {
private static final long serialVersionUID = 4539191577529273165L;
public static boolean call(PageContext pc, Array array, double number, double number2) throws ExpressionException {
ArrayUtil.swap(array, (int) number, (int) number2);
return true;
}
@Override
public Object invoke(PageContext pc, Object[] args) throws PageException {
if (args.length == 3) return call(pc, Caster.toArray(args[0]), Caster.toDoubleValue(args[1]), Caster.toDoubleValue(args[2]));
else throw new FunctionException(pc, "ArraySwap", 3, 3, args.length);
}
} |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless transceiver and, more specifically, to power-saving method and circuit for a wireless transceiver in a wireless communication network.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a radio communication system, power-saving control is necessary for a base station and a terminal, especially a battery-powered terminal. As an example of such a power-saving method, a power control system for use in a radio mobile terminal has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 1-280931. According to this conventional system, a radio receiver and a reception detector are intermittently supplied with power in a constant period, resulting in approximate a half the power consumption for reception. On the other hand, in the case where the power is off-hook, power is supplied to at least a response signal generator and a transmitter so as to allow transmission. |
/* -*- Mode: C++; tab-width: 4; indent-tabs-mode: nil; c-basic-offset: 4 -*- */
/*
* This file is part of the LibreOffice project.
*
* This Source Code Form is subject to the terms of the Mozilla Public
* License, v. 2.0. If a copy of the MPL was not distributed with this
* file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
*
* This file incorporates work covered by the following license notice:
*
* Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one or more
* contributor license agreements. See the NOTICE file distributed
* with this work for additional information regarding copyright
* ownership. The ASF licenses this file to you under the Apache
* License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file
* except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of
* the License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 .
*/
#include <config_folders.h>
#include <com/sun/star/xml/xpath/XPathAPI.hpp>
#include <com/sun/star/xml/xpath/XPathException.hpp>
#include "updateprotocol.hxx"
#include "updatecheckconfig.hxx"
#include <com/sun/star/deployment/UpdateInformationEntry.hpp>
#include <com/sun/star/deployment/XPackageInformationProvider.hpp>
#include <rtl/ref.hxx>
#include <rtl/bootstrap.hxx>
#include <osl/diagnose.h>
namespace container = css::container ;
namespace deployment = css::deployment ;
namespace uno = css::uno ;
namespace task = css::task ;
namespace xml = css::xml ;
static bool
getBootstrapData(
uno::Sequence< OUString > & rRepositoryList,
OUString & rGitID,
OUString & rInstallSetID)
{
rGitID = "${$BRAND_BASE_DIR/" LIBO_ETC_FOLDER "/" SAL_CONFIGFILE("version") ":buildid}";
rtl::Bootstrap::expandMacros( rGitID );
if ( rGitID.isEmpty() )
return false;
rInstallSetID = "${$BRAND_BASE_DIR/" LIBO_ETC_FOLDER "/" SAL_CONFIGFILE("version") ":UpdateID}";
rtl::Bootstrap::expandMacros( rInstallSetID );
if ( rInstallSetID.isEmpty() )
return false;
OUString aValue( "${$BRAND_BASE_DIR/" LIBO_ETC_FOLDER "/" SAL_CONFIGFILE("version") ":UpdateURL}" );
rtl::Bootstrap::expandMacros( aValue );
if( !aValue.isEmpty() )
{
rRepositoryList.realloc(1);
rRepositoryList[0] = aValue;
}
return true;
}
// Returns 'true' if successfully connected to the update server
bool
checkForUpdates(
UpdateInfo& o_rUpdateInfo,
uno::Reference< uno::XComponentContext > const & rxContext,
uno::Reference< task::XInteractionHandler > const & rxInteractionHandler,
const uno::Reference< deployment::XUpdateInformationProvider >& rUpdateInfoProvider)
{
OUString myArch;
OUString myOS;
rtl::Bootstrap::get("_OS", myOS);
rtl::Bootstrap::get("_ARCH", myArch);
uno::Sequence< OUString > aRepositoryList;
OUString aGitID;
OUString aInstallSetID;
if( ! ( getBootstrapData(aRepositoryList, aGitID, aInstallSetID) && (aRepositoryList.getLength() > 0) ) )
return false;
return checkForUpdates( o_rUpdateInfo, rxContext, rxInteractionHandler, rUpdateInfoProvider,
myOS, myArch,
aRepositoryList, aGitID, aInstallSetID );
}
bool
checkForUpdates(
UpdateInfo& o_rUpdateInfo,
const uno::Reference< uno::XComponentContext > & rxContext,
const uno::Reference< task::XInteractionHandler > & rxInteractionHandler,
const uno::Reference< deployment::XUpdateInformationProvider >& rUpdateInfoProvider,
const OUString &rOS,
const OUString &rArch,
const uno::Sequence< OUString > &rRepositoryList,
const OUString &rGitID,
const OUString &rInstallSetID )
{
if( !rxContext.is() )
throw uno::RuntimeException( "checkForUpdates: empty component context" );
OSL_ASSERT( rxContext->getServiceManager().is() );
// XPath implementation
uno::Reference< xml::xpath::XXPathAPI > xXPath = xml::xpath::XPathAPI::create(rxContext);
xXPath->registerNS( "inst", "http://update.libreoffice.org/description" );
if( rxInteractionHandler.is() )
rUpdateInfoProvider->setInteractionHandler(rxInteractionHandler);
try
{
uno::Reference< container::XEnumeration > aUpdateInfoEnumeration =
rUpdateInfoProvider->getUpdateInformationEnumeration( rRepositoryList, rInstallSetID );
if ( !aUpdateInfoEnumeration.is() )
return false; // something went wrong ..
OUString aXPathExpression =
"/child::inst:description[inst:os=\'"+
rOS +
"\' and inst:arch=\'"+
rArch +
"\' and inst:gitid!=\'"+
rGitID +
"\']";
while( aUpdateInfoEnumeration->hasMoreElements() )
{
deployment::UpdateInformationEntry aEntry;
if( aUpdateInfoEnumeration->nextElement() >>= aEntry )
{
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XNode > xNode( aEntry.UpdateDocument.get() );
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XNodeList > xNodeList;
try {
xNodeList = xXPath->selectNodeList(xNode, aXPathExpression
+ "/inst:update/attribute::src");
} catch (const css::xml::xpath::XPathException &) {
// ignore
}
sal_Int32 i, imax = xNodeList->getLength();
for( i = 0; i < imax; ++i )
{
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XNode > xNode2( xNodeList->item(i) );
if( xNode2.is() )
{
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XElement > xParent(xNode2->getParentNode(), uno::UNO_QUERY_THROW);
OUString aType = xParent->getAttribute("type");
bool bIsDirect = !aType.equalsIgnoreAsciiCase("text/html");
o_rUpdateInfo.Sources.push_back( DownloadSource(bIsDirect, xNode2->getNodeValue()) );
}
}
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XNode > xNode2;
try {
xNode2 = xXPath->selectSingleNode(xNode, aXPathExpression
+ "/inst:version/text()");
} catch (const css::xml::xpath::XPathException &) {
// ignore
}
if( xNode2.is() )
o_rUpdateInfo.Version = xNode2->getNodeValue();
try {
xNode2 = xXPath->selectSingleNode(xNode, aXPathExpression
+ "/inst:buildid/text()");
} catch (const css::xml::xpath::XPathException &) {
// ignore
}
if( xNode2.is() )
o_rUpdateInfo.BuildId = xNode2->getNodeValue();
o_rUpdateInfo.Description = aEntry.Description;
// Release Notes
try {
xNodeList = xXPath->selectNodeList(xNode, aXPathExpression
+ "/inst:relnote");
} catch (const css::xml::xpath::XPathException &) {
// ignore
}
imax = xNodeList->getLength();
for( i = 0; i < imax; ++i )
{
uno::Reference< xml::dom::XElement > xRelNote(xNodeList->item(i), uno::UNO_QUERY);
if( xRelNote.is() )
{
sal_Int32 pos = xRelNote->getAttribute("pos").toInt32();
ReleaseNote aRelNote(static_cast<sal_uInt8>(pos), xRelNote->getAttribute("src"));
if( xRelNote->hasAttribute("src2") )
{
pos = xRelNote->getAttribute("pos2").toInt32();
aRelNote.Pos2 = static_cast<sal_Int8>(pos);
aRelNote.URL2 = xRelNote->getAttribute("src2");
}
o_rUpdateInfo.ReleaseNotes.push_back(aRelNote);
}
}
if( !o_rUpdateInfo.Sources.empty() )
return true;
}
}
}
catch( ... )
{
return false;
}
return true;
}
bool storeExtensionUpdateInfos( const uno::Reference< uno::XComponentContext > & rxContext,
const uno::Sequence< uno::Sequence< OUString > > &rUpdateInfos )
{
bool bNotify = false;
if ( rUpdateInfos.hasElements() )
{
rtl::Reference< UpdateCheckConfig > aConfig = UpdateCheckConfig::get( rxContext );
for ( sal_Int32 i = rUpdateInfos.getLength() - 1; i >= 0; i-- )
{
bNotify |= aConfig->storeExtensionVersion( rUpdateInfos[i][0], rUpdateInfos[i][1] );
}
}
return bNotify;
}
// Returns 'true' if there are updates for any extension
bool checkForExtensionUpdates( const uno::Reference< uno::XComponentContext > & rxContext )
{
uno::Sequence< uno::Sequence< OUString > > aUpdateList;
uno::Reference< deployment::XPackageInformationProvider > xInfoProvider;
try
{
uno::Any aValue( rxContext->getValueByName(
"/singletons/com.sun.star.deployment.PackageInformationProvider" ) );
OSL_VERIFY( aValue >>= xInfoProvider );
}
catch( const uno::Exception& )
{
OSL_FAIL( "checkForExtensionUpdates: could not create the PackageInformationProvider!" );
}
if ( !xInfoProvider.is() ) return false;
aUpdateList = xInfoProvider->isUpdateAvailable( OUString() );
bool bNotify = storeExtensionUpdateInfos( rxContext, aUpdateList );
return bNotify;
}
// Returns 'true' if there are any pending updates for any extension (offline check)
bool checkForPendingUpdates( const uno::Reference< uno::XComponentContext > & rxContext )
{
uno::Sequence< uno::Sequence< OUString > > aExtensionList;
uno::Reference< deployment::XPackageInformationProvider > xInfoProvider;
try
{
uno::Any aValue( rxContext->getValueByName(
"/singletons/com.sun.star.deployment.PackageInformationProvider" ) );
OSL_VERIFY( aValue >>= xInfoProvider );
}
catch( const uno::Exception& )
{
OSL_FAIL( "checkForExtensionUpdates: could not create the PackageInformationProvider!" );
}
if ( !xInfoProvider.is() ) return false;
bool bPendingUpdateFound = false;
aExtensionList = xInfoProvider->getExtensionList();
if ( aExtensionList.hasElements() )
{
rtl::Reference< UpdateCheckConfig > aConfig = UpdateCheckConfig::get( rxContext );
for ( sal_Int32 i = aExtensionList.getLength() - 1; i >= 0; i-- )
{
bPendingUpdateFound = aConfig->checkExtensionVersion( aExtensionList[i][0], aExtensionList[i][1] );
if ( bPendingUpdateFound )
break;
}
}
return bPendingUpdateFound;
}
/* vim:set shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4 expandtab: */
|
Q:
Scala multivariate array sum
I am calculating confidence interval of some ratios using bootstrapping for multi variables, and each variable has different confidence intervals.
case class Limits(lowerLimit: Double, upperLimit: Double, confidenceInterval: Double)
case class CI(c85: Limits, c90: Limits, c95: Limits, c99: Limits)
For bootstrapping, I am running a loop for 100 times.
val arrCIRatio: Array[CI] = Array()
var ci85: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var ci90: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var ci95: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var ci99: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
val a = Array(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
val rg = new scala.util.Random(100)
for(iteration <- 1 to 100){
val i= rg.nextInt(10)
ci85 = getInterval(a(i), 0.85)
ci90 = getInterval(a(i), 0.90)
ci95 = getInterval(a(i), 0.95)
ci99 = getInterval(a(i), 0.99)
arrCIRatio(iteration) = new CI(ci85,ci90,ci95,ci99)
}
After the loop finishes, I would like to take average of each upper and lower limits inside the CI array for all the ci85, ci89, ci95, ci99.
I can use foldLeft to calculate the sum
x.foldLeft(0.0)( (x, y) => x + y.lowerLimit, x.foldLeft(0.0)( (x, y) => x + y.upperLimit
or in naive way:
var avgci85: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var avgci90: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var avgci95: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
var avgci99: Limits = new Limits(0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
for(ci <- arrCIRatio){
ci85 = ci.c85
ci90 = ci.c90
ci95 = ci.c95
ci99 = ci.c99
avgci85 = new Limits(avgci85.lowerLimit + ci85.lowerLimit, avgci85.upperLimit + ci85.upperLimit, 0.85)
avgci90 = new Limits(avgci90.lowerLimit + ci90.lowerLimit, avgci90.upperLimit + ci85.upperLimit, 0.90)
avgci95 = new Limits(avgci95.lowerLimit + ci95.lowerLimit, avgci95.upperLimit + ci85.upperLimit, 0.95)
avgci99 = new Limits(avgci99.lowerLimit + ci99.lowerLimit, avgci99.upperLimit + ci85.upperLimit, 0.99)
}
But I have to do the same process for atleast 10 variables, and all the CI inside the array.
So in the end, for 1 variable it will be a 3 dimensional array of 10000 x 4 x 3.
I don't know how to sum all the variables inside that array e.g. summing all the lower limit of ci85 in the array. It would be great if someone can help with it.
A:
Maybe just create method/operator for your CI and Limits which would allow you to combine two instances? Something like that:
case class Limits(lowerLimit: Double, upperLimit: Double, confidenceInterval: Double) {
// operator |+| would allow us to combine two limits
def |+|(l: Limits): Limits = Limits(l.lowerLimit + lowerLimit, l.upperLimit + upperLimit, confidenceInterval)
// I don't know what should be done in case of attempt of combining two limits with different confidenceInterval.
// Maybe it's a sign that every kind of Limits should be separate case class extending the common trait
}
object Limits {
val Zero = new Limits(0,0,0) //zero element for convienience
}
case class CI(c85: Limits, c90: Limits, c95: Limits, c99: Limits) {
//same operator for CI, we use |+| from Limits to combine them
def |+|(c: CI): CI = CI(c.c85 |+| c85, c.c90 |+| c90, c.c95 |+| c95, c.c99 |+| c99)
}
object CI {
val Zero = new CI(Limits.Zero, Limits.Zero, Limits.Zero, Limits.Zero)
}
Then you'd be able to fold your CI easily:
arrCIRatio.fold(CI.Zero)(_ |+| _)
What we did is called monoid. Instead of implementing |+| and Zero inside cases classes you could implement it using typeclasses (as described in the article).
|
Q:
if $\int_{0}^{1}|f_n(x)-f(x)|dx\to 0$ then $f_n\to f$ uniformly on $[0,1]$: True/false
Let $\{f_n\}$ be a sequence of continuous real valued functions on $[0, \infty)$. Suppose $f_n(x)\to f(x) ~~~\forall x\in [0,\infty)$ and $f$ is integrable. Then
if $\int_{0}^{1}|f_n(x)-f(x)|dx\to 0$ then $f_n\to f$ uniformly on $[0,1]$: True/false
Im not able to find a counter example ?
Pliz help me
A:
False .. $x^n$ is not uniformly convergent on $[0,1]$. Here the limit function is $f(x) = 0$ when $x \in [0,1)$ and $f(1) = 1$
But $\int_{0}^{1}|x^n-f(x)|dx\to 0$
A:
Here is an example where $f_n(x)$ does not converge at any point! Let $I_n=[\frac {i-1} {2^{n}},\frac i {2^{n}})$ for $1\leq i \leq 2^{n}$ and $n \geq 1$. Arrange the characteristic functions of these intervals in a sequence by first listing those with $n=1$, then the one's with $n=2$ etc. Then $\int_0^{1} |f_n(x)-0|\, dx \to 0$ but the functions do not converge even at one point.
|
/*
* OpenClinica is distributed under the
* GNU Lesser General Public License (GNU LGPL).
* For details see: http://www.openclinica.org/license
*
* Copyright 2003-2008 Akaza Research
*/
package org.akaza.openclinica.control.submit;
import java.text.MessageFormat;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Locale;
import core.org.akaza.openclinica.bean.core.Role;
import org.akaza.openclinica.control.SpringServletAccess;
import org.akaza.openclinica.control.core.SecureController;
import org.akaza.openclinica.control.form.FormProcessor;
import core.org.akaza.openclinica.domain.rule.RulesPostImportContainer;
import core.org.akaza.openclinica.i18n.core.LocaleResolver;
import core.org.akaza.openclinica.service.rule.RuleSetServiceInterface;
import org.akaza.openclinica.view.Page;
import core.org.akaza.openclinica.web.InsufficientPermissionException;
/**
* View the uploaded data and verify what is going to be saved into the system
* and what is not.
*
* @author Krikor Krumlian
*/
@SuppressWarnings("serial")
public class VerifyImportedRuleServlet extends SecureController {
Locale locale;
RuleSetServiceInterface ruleSetService;
@Override
public void processRequest() throws Exception {
String action = request.getParameter("action");
FormProcessor fp = new FormProcessor(request);
// checks which module the requests are from
/*
String module = fp.getString(MODULE);
request.setAttribute(MODULE, module);
resetPanel();
panel.setStudyInfoShown(false);
panel.setOrderedData(true);
setToPanel(resword.getString("create_CRF"), respage.getString("br_create_new_CRF_entering"));
setToPanel(resword.getString("create_CRF_version"), respage.getString("br_create_new_CRF_uploading"));
setToPanel(resword.getString("revise_CRF_version"), respage.getString("br_if_you_owner_CRF_version"));
setToPanel(resword.getString("CRF_spreadsheet_template"), respage.getString("br_download_blank_CRF_spreadsheet_from"));
setToPanel(resword.getString("example_CRF_br_spreadsheets"), respage.getString("br_download_example_CRF_instructions_from"));
*/
if ("confirm".equalsIgnoreCase(action)) {
// session.setAttribute("crf", new CRFBean());
RulesPostImportContainer rulesContainer = (RulesPostImportContainer) session.getAttribute("importedData");
logger.info("Size of ruleDefs : " + rulesContainer.getRuleDefs().size());
logger.info("Size of ruleSets : " + rulesContainer.getRuleSets().size());
forwardPage(Page.VERIFY_RULES_IMPORT);
}
if ("save".equalsIgnoreCase(action)) {
RulesPostImportContainer rulesContainer = (RulesPostImportContainer) session.getAttribute("importedData");
getRuleSetService().saveImport(rulesContainer);
MessageFormat mf = new MessageFormat("");
mf.applyPattern(resword.getString("successful_rule_upload"));
Object[] arguments =
{ rulesContainer.getValidRuleDefs().size() + rulesContainer.getDuplicateRuleDefs().size(),
rulesContainer.getValidRuleSetDefs().size() + rulesContainer.getDuplicateRuleSetDefs().size() };
addPageMessage(mf.format(arguments));
ArrayList pageMessages = (ArrayList) request.getAttribute(PAGE_MESSAGE);
session.setAttribute("pageMessages", pageMessages);
String redirect = request.getContextPath() + Page.LIST_RULE_SETS_SERVLET.getFileName() +"?read=true";
response.sendRedirect(redirect);
}
}
private RuleSetServiceInterface getRuleSetService() {
ruleSetService =
this.ruleSetService != null ? ruleSetService : (RuleSetServiceInterface) SpringServletAccess.getApplicationContext(context).getBean(
"ruleSetService");
// TODO: Add getRequestURLMinusServletPath(),getContextPath()
return ruleSetService;
}
@Override
public void mayProceed() throws InsufficientPermissionException {
locale = LocaleResolver.getLocale(request);
if (ub.isSysAdmin()) {
return;
}
Role r = currentRole.getRole();
if (r.equals(Role.STUDYDIRECTOR) || r.equals(Role.COORDINATOR) || r.equals(Role.INVESTIGATOR) || r.equals(Role.RESEARCHASSISTANT)|| r.equals(Role.RESEARCHASSISTANT2)) {
return;
}
addPageMessage(respage.getString("no_have_correct_privilege_current_study") + respage.getString("change_study_contact_sysadmin"));
throw new InsufficientPermissionException(Page.MENU_SERVLET, resexception.getString("may_not_submit_data"), "1");
}
} |
Direct plaque removal by a pre-brushing dental rinse.
A study was conducted to evaluate the ability of a dental rinse to remove dental plaque. The hypothesis was tested that plaque, as a complex soil comprising microorganisms, cell debris, salivary deposits and other ill-defined organic and inorganic components, would be susceptible to removal by a rinse with high detersive action. A rinse was prepared based on the principles applied to formulation of products for cleansing biologic surfaces, including anionic and nonionic surfactants, sodium benzoate, and auxiliary cleansing agents. Subjects randomly selected from a dental clinic population were scored for plaque area on the lingual and buccal surfaces of the Ramfjord teeth using the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein Index. The subjects then rinsed 30 seconds with 15 ml of product, and stainable plaque area was scored again. The rinsing reduced average plaque scores by an average of 13-20%, a very high level of significance. A placebo rinse and a conventional mouthwash removed 2.0% and 1.3% stainable plaque, respectively. The experimental rinse substantially increased the number of surfaces that were totally free of plaque. |
Portland Harbour, in between Portland and Weymouth, is one of the largest man-made harbours in the world. The harbour was made by the building of stone breakwaters between 1848 and 1905. From its inception it was a Royal Navy base, and played prominent roles during the First and Second World Wars; ships of the Royal Navy and NATO countries worked up and exercised in its waters until 1995. The harbour is now a civilian port and popular recreation area, and was used for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Portland (steam tug 1875)
Career
Portland was launched on April 9, 1875 in Portland, Oregon. The vessel was operated for 15 years on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and then was transferred to Puget Sound. From 1891 to 1895, the Portland operated out of Everett, Washington, piloted by Captain James Hastings.
Drift and recovery
In 1897, the Portland was hauled out at Ballard, Washington, for repairs. Somehow she broke free from the shipway and floated off unoccupied. Eventually, the Portland drifted north into Canadian waters, where she was recovered as a derelict by the B.C. Salvage Company. She came under the control of R.P. Rithet and Company, a prominent British Columbia shipping concern that repurposed her to a passenger steamer. She was renamed Clayoquat and ran on passenger routes out of Port Renfrew, on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Clayoquat later passed to the H.Bell-Irving Company, and was used by them as a cannery tender under the name Phoenix.
Latest News for: portland lighting
You might glimpse the migrating southern right whales coming into Warrnambool to calve or if you were further up the coast towards Portland, colonies of seals. And all along that coastline, the tiny marks in the sand, made by the light feet of the hooded plover....
Sacramento is a sleepy side street in NortheastPortland’s Eliot neighborhood ... The Mayo house appealed to him because demolition and lost opportunities are a big part of his family’s story — and part of the African-American experience in this part of Portland. “I thought saving this house could bring light to the whole situation,” he said....
Portland, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego all landed near the bottom of the list ... Even urban-planning model Portland, now with five radial light rail lines and a population now growing largely at its fringes, carries a smaller portion of commuters on transit than before opening its first line in 1986....
Hardesty entered PortlandCity Council with a primary goal to end the city's relationship with the JTTF... In 2011, shortly after the FBI revealed a Muslim man had tried to bomb Portland's Christmas treelighting ceremony (not without with the FBI's encouragement), the city was convinced the to re-join the JTTF on a case-by-case basis....
City officials in Portland were worried last year that their city, like many others, could face a deluge of uninvited e-scooters on their streets ... "The e-scooter pilot showed the potential of a small, light, electric, shared vehicle to move people quickly and easily without adding to Portland traffic," the DOT said in a press release....
A newly-elected member of the PortlandCity Council in Oregon says some who come to speak before the body exude “white male privilege” — and make others afraid to attend because of their loud interruptions ...And I don’t take that hope lightly,” Hardesty said, according to The PortlandMercury....
Nancy Rommelmann, a journalist who's married to the owner of Portland coffee company Ristretto Roasters, has kicked-off a web series that seeks to analyze—and, mostly, delegitimize—the #MeToo movement and modern feminism as a whole ... But, in this case, Rommelmann's words are directly impacting Portlanders she works closely with....
Rylan hit back at a man who hurled abuse at him in Central London (Picture. Rex/Shutterstock) ... ‘To the prick on GreatPortlandStreet that just shouted “Fuck Off You F****t” at me ... Good on Rylan for trying to make light of a situation that is clearly quite troubling. To the prick on Great Portland Street that just shouted “Fuck Off You Faggot” at me ... .... |
// Author: Scottie Austin (@checkymander)
// Project: SharpSploit (https://github.com/cobbr/SharpSploit)
// License: BSD 3-Clause
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Timers;
using Threads = System.Threading;
using Forms = System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using SharpSploit.Generic;
using SharpSploit.Enumeration;
namespace SharpSploit.Tests.Enumeration
{
[TestClass]
public class KeyloggerTests
{
[TestMethod]
public void TestKeylogger()
{
string results = "";
Threads.Thread t = new Threads.Thread(() =>
{
results = Keylogger.StartKeylogger(3);
});
t.Start();
Forms.SendKeys.SendWait("test123");
t.Join(3000);
Assert.IsTrue(results.Length > 0);
Assert.IsTrue(results.Contains("test123"));
}
}
} |
Disconnection of the cerebral hemispheres. An alternative to hemispherectomy for the control of intractable seizures.
A boy with intractable siezures that had progressed to about 30 a day underwent complete disconnection of the cerebral hemispheres in January 1972. Using microsurgical technique, we followed the path described by Bogen and Vogel requiring division of the corpus callosum from rostrum to splenium, the anterior commisure, one fornix, and hippocampal commissure. Postoperative recovery was complicated by aseptic meningitis, which was treated with dexamethasone and, later by hydrocephalus, which was reduced by ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The patient improved rapidly and remains well. We believe that disconnection is a preferred alternative to hemispherectomy for control of intractable seizures arising from early damage to one cerebral hemisphere. |
Supreme Court's Defense of FERC Jurisdiction Leaves Questions for States
Related Service:
For the second time this year, the U.S. Supreme Court has defended the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to regulate interstate wholesale energy rates. In Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, handed down April 19, 2016, the Court held that a state of Maryland incentive program designed to encourage construction of new in-state power plants unlawfully invaded FERC’s exclusive jurisdiction over wholesale electricity rates. However, the Court’s overt intention to narrowly affirm the lower court’s holding may be as notable as the decision itself, in that it leaves open other means by which states can pursue legitimate goals.
The Challenge
As the Court reiterates in an 8-0 opinion, the Federal Power Act assigns jurisdiction over interstate wholesale power sales to FERC and reserves regulation of retail electric markets to the states. Functionally, FERC exercises its authority to ensure just and reasonable wholesale power rates in one of two ways: (1) review of bilateral contracts between load serving entities (LSEs) and power generators to ensure the contracts contain just and reasonable rates, or (2) regulation of the competitive wholesale auctions administered by regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators.
In Hughes v. Talen Energy Marketing, the plaintiff, an incumbent generator, challenged Maryland’s new incentive program, asserting that it invaded FERC’s exclusive regulatory domain. The program required that in-state LSEs sign 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with new in-state generators, which effectively guaranteed those generators a subsidized rate regardless of what the generators received in the FERC-regulated wholesale auction. Following such auction, the program contracts required either the LSE or the generator to make payments to the other party based on the difference between the agreed-upon contract rate and the regulated wholesale auction price. This requirement enabled the new generators to bid low into the auction, thereby artificially lowering the clearing price to all other generators. Even though these payments occurred after the wholesale auction process, the Court’s decision focused primarily on its effect on FERC’s authority, as well as Maryland’s role in mandating LSE participation in the program.
Not-So-Incidental Effect
The Court acknowledged that the states may, through the course of exercising their regulatory powers, incidentally affect FERC’s regulatory domain; however, the Court held that the structure of the program contracts had more than an incidental effect on FERC’s authority. According to the Court, the compensation payments enabled program participants to disregard the wholesale auction clearing price, thereby hindering FERC’s ability to control the regulated wholesale rate.
Notably, the plaintiffs also argued that Maryland’s program threatened to disrupt FERC’s ability to use the wholesale auction clearing price to read market signals for power supply and demand. But the Court declined to resolve whether this issue alone could be considered more than an incidental effect.
Coming on the heels of its January 2016 decision in FERC v. Electric Power Supply Association (for more information, read our previous alert), which held that FERC has authority over demand response payments that might affect retail loads regulated by states, the Hughes decision affirms FERC’s broad authority to fashion interstate rules under the Federal Power Act in response to evolving market needs. But the Court was careful to note that this decision was program- and fact-specific and did not signal that other state efforts to encourage generation or ensure resource adequacy would necessarily be struck down. In fact, the Court seemed to go out of its way to point to the exact program details that caused the Maryland program’s demise.
What This Means to You
While the Court’s decision directly affects the Maryland program and a similar program in New Jersey, a broader question remains for how it will affect energy companies operating in other states. What does a state incentive program for power generators look like that does not invade FERC’s jurisdictional authority?
The Court unfortunately does not provide states much direction. On one hand, the decision appears to call into question the traditional power of states to regulate state-jurisdictional utilities – if that power affects wholesale energy markets – and to address issues such as environmental harm. On the other hand, by emphasizing the particular flaws of Maryland’s program, the decision creates a warning list of program elements to be avoided, perhaps enabling a carefully tailored state resource incentive program to succeed. That state program must not impede FERC’s ability to effectively review the rates of the wholesale power being sold by the generators. The program should not force private actors in the market to enter into contractual agreements with one another. And the program should not condition its benefits on the generator clearing the wholesale auction.
Thus, the Court answers only a few questions while leaving industry participants asking several others. How broad are the powers of FERC under the Federal Power Act, and how should states judge whether an incentive program’s effect on FERC’s power is more than incidental? How would the Court have responded to the Dormant Commerce Clause argument raised by the respondents if the Court had found it relevant? How much does FERC’s refusal to extend the New Entry Price Adjustment (NEPA) duration limit a state’s ability to encourage long-term PPA agreements with rate guarantees? These are just a few of the questions the industry must analyze moving forward.
Contact Us
Husch Blackwell’s Energy Regulation group provides a full range of legal services and guidance to clients subject to FERC, state public utility commissions and competitive wholesale electricity markets. For more information on state incentive programs or FERC jurisdiction, contact Linda Walsh at 202.378.2308, Kyle Barry at 217.572.1208 or James Hoecker at 202.378.2316.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
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The interactions of the 5-HT3 receptor with quipazine-like arylpiperazine ligands: the journey track at the end of the first decade of the third millennium.
The 5-HT(3) receptor (5-HT(3)R) occupies a special place among the serotonin receptor subtypes because it has been shown to be a ligand-gated ion channel, which is involved in a number of physiological functions and important pathologies. 5-HT(3)R antagonists have shown an outstanding efficacy in the control of the emesis induced by anticancer chemotherapy and few adverse side-effects, so as to revolutionize the treatment of nausea in cancer patients. This review covers the authors' work performed during the past decade in the development of 5-HT(3)R ligands belonging to the class of arylpiperazine derivatives related to quipazine (quipazine-like arylpiperazines, QLAs) and represents the extension of the review previously published in Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry in 2002. The discussion is focused mainly on the most significant structure-affinity relationships emerged in the progress of the work and shows how the original ideas have evolved in the recent years. |
Transfer of proinflammatory cytokines across term placenta.
Increased concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines in amniotic fluid indicate the presence of intra-amniotic inflammation and increase the risk of preterm birth, cerebral palsy, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to find out if the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1beta, and IL-6, transfer across the placenta, and thereby determine whether intra-amniotic inflammatory response, measured from the amniotic fluid, is of maternal or fetal origin. Nineteen placentas from healthy women undergoing elective cesarean delivery at term with intact membranes and without labor, were dually perfused ex vivo in an open circulation system for either 30 minutes or 2 hours. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6 were added to maternal or fetal circulation in a concentration usually found in chorioamnionitis. As a reference, placentas without added cytokine were also perfused. The concentrations of cytokines were determined by enzyme immunoassays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]). After the addition of the cytokine to the arterial perfusate, the venous concentration on the same side of the placenta increased rapidly and reached a plateau at 10 minutes. No transfer of any cytokine in either direction was detected. Some endogenous release of IL-6 was observed in response to the perfusion. Proinflammatory cytokines do not cross normal term placenta. |
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Sunday, July 06, 2008
The Quinta Via and its Bearing on the Spiritual Life
The Quinta Via and its Bearing on the Spiritual Life
From St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I.2.3c:
The existence of God can be proved in five ways.... The fifth way is taken from the governance of the world. We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result. Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they achieve their end. Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God.
It would require the genius of a mathematician to invent and construct a bee-hive; and no chemist has yet succeeded in making honey from the nectar of a flower. Yet the bee is obviously not itself intelligent: it never varies its work or makes any improvement. From the very beginning its natural instinct has determined it to perform its task in the same way, and it will continue to do so forever, without in any way bringing it to perfection. On the contrary, man is continually perfecting the implements of his invention because, through his intelligence, he recognizes their purpose. The bee, too, works with an end in view, but unconsciously; yet it works in a way that excites our admiration....
Is there not a great moral lesson in this proof for the existence of God from the order prevailing in the world? Yes, an important one that is taught us in the Book of Job and more clearly later on in the Sermon on the Mount.
It is this lesson that, if there is such order in the physical world, much more must it be so in the moral world, in spite of all the wickedness human justice allows to go unpunished, as it also leaves unrewarded many a heroic act giving proof of God's intervention in the world.
It is the Lord's answer to Job and his friends. As we shall insist later on, the purpose of the Book of Job is to answer this question: Why so often in this world are the just made to suffer more than the wicked? Is it always in expiation of their sins, their secret sins at any rate?
Job's friends declare that it is, and they blame this poor stricken soul for complaining. Job denies that the trials and tribulations of the just are in every case the result of their sins, even their secret sins, and he wonders why so much suffering should have befallen him.
In the latter part of the book (chaps. 32-42), the Lord replies by pointing out the wonderful order prevailing in the physical world with all its splendors, from the life of the insect to the eagle's flight, as if to say: If there exists such order as this in the things of sense, much more so must there be order in the dispositions of my providence concerning the just, even in their most terrible afflictions. There is in this a secret and a mystery which it is not given to men to fathom in this world.
Later on, in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord speaks more plainly (Matt. 6: 25) : "Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat.... Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap... and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they?... Consider the lilies of the field:... they labor not, neither do they spin. But I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field... God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith." If there is order in the world of sense, a providence for the birds of the air, much more so will there be order in the spiritual world and a providence for the immortal souls of men.
And lastly, to the question put in the Book of Job, our Lord gives the final answer when He says (John 15: I-2): "I am the true vine: and My Father is the husbandman... and everyone that beareth fruit, He will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit." God proves a man as He proved Job, that the man may bring forth the splendid fruits of patience, humility, self-abandonment, love of God and one's neighbor—the splendid fruits of charity, which is the beginning of eternal life.
This, then, is the important moral lesson taught us in this sublime proof for the existence of God: If in the world of sense such wonderful order exists, much more must it be so in the moral and spiritual world, in spite of trials and tribulations. There is light enough for those who are willing to see and march on accordingly to the true light of eternity. |
Up-to-the-minute advice, information, resources, and, on occasion, commentary on federal and New Jersey state income taxes, and the various New Jersey property tax rebate programs, and insights and observations on tax policy and professional tax practice, by 40-year veteran tax professional Robert D Flach.
“A
2015 law changes requires an individual to have received a Form 1098-T from the
university in order to claim the tax benefit.”
The purpose of this new requirement is to
enhance the IRS matching program.
Thankfully, the required 1098-T also must now include an entry in Box 1 to indicate
the amount of payments received “from any source” – basically by the student
(or the student’s family) or for the student (such as student loan proceeds) for
qualified tuition and related expenses during the calendar year. Previously most colleges only reported the
amounts billed – making the majority of Form 1098-Ts as useful at tax time as
tits on a bull.In preparing the tax
return I don’t give a rat’s hind quarters how much the college billed – I need to know how much was paid by or for the student.My clients are, after all, cash-basis
taxpayers.
However, the American Opportunity Credit is
based on qualified tuition and fees paid during the year, now properly reported
on the Form 1098-T, and required books
and supplies, which are not reported on the Form 1098-T.
The issue that Annette brings up goes like
this –
You cannot claim an American Opportunity
Credit for 2016 unless the college issues a Form 1098-T.If a student who is graduating in May of 2016
was billed, and paid for, Spring 2016 tuition (the student’s final semester) at
the end of 2015, then there will be no payments made to the college in 2016
and, I expect, no Form 1098-T issued for 2016.But the student will still be purchasing books for the Spring 2016
semester in 2016, an expense that is eligible for the AOC.It looks like the student will be screwed out
of a legitimate AOC for 2016, based on qualified book purchases, because no
Form 1098-T was issued.
Annette illustrates the problem with a
recent court case.
The problem would be fixed if colleges were
required to issue Form 1098-T for all students enrolled at a college at least
half-time during the year, regardless of whether or not any tuition or fees
were paid.
It also occurs to me that a matching
problem might also appear.Since
qualified book and material expense are not reported on a Form 1098-T the
amount of expenses, if less than the maximum $4,000, reported on the tax return
could be more than the amount reported on the Form 1098-T.An extra line on the Form 8863 to separately
identify tuition and fees per Form 1098 and nor-reported books and materials
would fix this potential FU.
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AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH!
DONALD T RUMP HAS NOT DONE A SINGLE THING THAT IS "APPROPRIATE" OR "ACCEPTABLE" FOR A CANDIDATE OR A PRESIDENT SINCE THROWING HIS HAT INTO THE RING.EVERY SINGLE DAY TRUMP PROVIDES MORE PROOF THAT HE IS AN IGNORANT, SELF-ABSORBED, UNFIT, MENTALLY UNSTABLE IDIOT, AND A DEPLORABLE AND DESPICABLE HUMAN BEING.TRUMP MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE FOR MENTAL INCOMPETENCE ASAP! PLEASE READ AND SHARE THIS - THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUMP'S MENTAL CONDITION
Donald T Rump has not done a single thing that anyone with intelligence would consider “appropriate” or “acceptable” for a President since deciding to run for office.
Every single day Trump provides more proof that he is an ignorant, self-absorbed, unfit, mentally unstable idiot, and a deplorable and despicable human being, who must be removed from office ASAP.
VERY IMPORTANT -
(1) Before contacting me with questions about how a blog post relates to your specific situation, please be aware that I do not give free tax advice to non-clients by e-mail, comment response, or phone. So don't waste your time and mine.
(2) I am winding down my tax practice, and I will not, under any circumstances, accept any new clients. Period. I am actually trying to "thin the herd". |
A surfer has died after wiping out at Gnaraloo yesterday, 150km north of Carnarvon in Western Australia. It’s believed that the 55-year-old made contact with the coral reef, and was pulled from the water with what was described by witnesses at the scene as significant facial injuries. Ambulance officers were called at 8:50am Sunday morning, and police were notified around 9:15am.
Gnaraloo is very remote, making it difficult enough to get cell phone coverage, let alone being reached by emergency services. Getting in there is an hour-and-a-half drive over corrugated track… luxury travel, this ain't. It’s the start of the season up there and yesterday, sets were six to eight feet, breaking over big fingers of coral heads, which are visible at low tide. For context, imagine the power of a mini Chopes, but less perfect, less predictable, and less user-friendly. In many ways, a recipe for disaster.
Stab's thoughts go out to the victim's family. Stay safe out there. |
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The Kingdom — Now or Later?
Content
Key Words
Title
Author
By Royce Frederick
The apostle Paul says Christians are in the kingdom NOW:“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13). Paul wrote those words from prison about A.D. 64. He is clearly talking about something which had already happened. God “has delivered us” and “conveyed us” into the kingdom. He and the Christians were in the kingdom of Christ when Paul wrote the letter.
The apostle Peter says faithful Christians will enter the kingdom LATER:“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:10-11). Peter wrote those words about A. D. 66. He is clearly talking about something which will happen in the future. He told “brethren” — Christians — that they must be diligent and grow spiritually (verses 5-9). If they do that, an abundant entrance “will be supplied” to them into the everlasting kingdom of Christ.
Who is right, Paul or Peter? Are Christians in the kingdom now, or will they enter it later?
Both are right! Paul is talking about the people of the kingdom — citizenship in the kingdom. Peter is talking about the eternal place of the kingdom.
In the Bible, and in our languages today, one name can refer to certain people OR the place where they live. For example, someone says, “I plan to go to India.” It means he plans to travel to the geographical place called India. Someone else says, “India voted.” The rivers, mountains, and fields did not vote. It means the people of India voted.
In the Bible, “Jerusalem” sometimes means the place: houses, shops, and streets. But it sometimes means the people of that city. For example: “...wise men from the East came to Jerusalem [the place],saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem [the people] with him” (Matt. 2:1-3).
Also, a person can be a citizen of a country without being inside its territory. A citizen of Nigeria who is visiting Australia is still a citizen of Nigeria.
When we obey the gospel, we become Christians, children in God’s family, members of the church of Christ, and citizens of the kingdom of Christ. Paul wrote, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord JesusChrist” (Phil. 3:20). We are subjects of the King, Jesus. But we are not yet in the eternal city. We are still in the field, where there is much work to do before we go home.
All who obey the gospel are kingdom people. And all who remain faithful will enter the kingdom place after this life is over. |
/*!
* Copyright (c) 2017 by Contributors
* \brief External function interface to cuBLAS libraries
* \file tags.h
*/
#ifndef TOPI_CONTRIB_CUBLAS_H_
#define TOPI_CONTRIB_CUBLAS_H_
#include "tvm/tvm.h"
#include "topi/detail/extern.h"
namespace topi {
namespace contrib {
using namespace tvm;
using namespace topi::detail;
/*!
* \brief Create an op that multiplies lhs and rhs with cuBLAS
*
* \param lhs The left matrix operand
* \param rhs The right matrix operand
* \param transa Whether to transpose lhs
* \param transb Whether to transpose rhs
*
* \return The output tensor
*/
inline Tensor cublas_matmul(const Tensor& lhs,
const Tensor& rhs,
bool transa,
bool transb) {
auto n = transa ? lhs->shape[1] : lhs->shape[0];
auto m = transb ? rhs->shape[0] : rhs->shape[1];
return make_extern(
{ { n, m } }, { lhs->dtype }, { lhs, rhs },
[&](Array<Buffer> ins, Array<Buffer> outs) {
return call_packed({
Expr("tvm.contrib.cublas.matmul"),
pack_buffer(ins[0]),
pack_buffer(ins[1]),
pack_buffer(outs[0]),
transa,
transb });
}, "C", "", {})[0];
}
} // namespace contrib
} // namespace topi
#endif // TOPI_CONTRIB_CUBLAS_H_
|
Anna Anvegård
Anna Elin Astrid Anvegård (born 10 May 1997) is a Swedish footballer who plays as a forward for FC Rosengård in the Swedish top flight Damallsvenskan as well as for the Swedish national team.
Anvegård's prolific goalscoring for Växjö brought her to the attention of Sweden's national team selectors and made her a transfer target for several bigger clubs, in Sweden and beyond. She made her senior national team debut in June 2018, against Croatia, and was praised by coach Peter Gerhardsson for her striking instincts: "She has the classic nose for the target and knows where it is".
Anvegård was a part of the Swedish squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. In August 2019, she completed a transfer to the Swedish top club FC Rosengård.
References
External links
Profile at Swedish Football Association (SvFF)
Category:1997 births
Category:Living people
Category:Swedish women's footballers
Category:Sweden women's international footballers
Category:Damallsvenskan players
Category:Växjö DFF players
Category:Women's association football forwards
Category:People from Värnamo Municipality
Category:2019 FIFA Women's World Cup players
Category:FC Rosengård players |
Good morning.
(If you don’t already get California Today by email, here’s the sign-up.)
When Chia Youyee Vang heard about Sunday night’s horrific shooting in Fresno, she pictured her brothers.
The authorities said gunmen sneaked into a backyard in the city’s southeastern section and opened fire on a group of friends and family members gathered there. Four men, including the well-known singer Xy Lee, were killed. They were all members of Fresno’s Hmong community. Six others were injured.
“They get together to watch Sunday Night Football, too,” said Professor Vang, the director of the Hmong Diaspora Studies Program and a history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “It was so tragic because it was part of a normal routine in life — you’re not hiding in the jungle, you’re not in a war zone.”
On Monday, Hmong leaders in Fresno told my colleagues that they were preparing to mark the new year.
“We are supposed to be celebrating,” said Blong Xiong, a former City Council member. |
*"All models are wrong, but some are useful."* -- George E. P. Box.
The challenges of glioblastoma multiforme {#s2}
=========================================
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumour. Most cases arise sporadically. There are no effective therapies, and multi-modality treatment with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy provides only ∼1 year median survival ([@DMM040386C100]). Because GBMs often arise in young adults and have poor prognosis, they account for more years of active life lost than any other cancer ([@DMM040386C16]). Together with medulloblastoma -- the most common paediatric brain tumour -- GBMs therefore now account for more deaths in the under 40s than any other cancer.
Gliomas are categorised as astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas based on the predominant cell type observed on histological analysis. GBM, the most aggressive form of astrocytoma, is also, unfortunately, the most common. Its defining features are abundant mitotic cells, extensive necrosis, nuclear pleomorphism, and hyperproliferation of endothelial cells ([@DMM040386C61]). A subset of patients harbour gain-of-function heterozygous mutations in isocitrate dehydrogenase (*IDH1*/*IDH2*) ([@DMM040386C74]). These IDH-mutant GBMs are the 5-10% of cases previously termed secondary GBM ([@DMM040386C61]).
In children, GBMs arising in the cerebral hemispheres are often termed paediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG). When arising within the midline/brainstem, they are termed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Paediatric GBMs harbour different genetic drivers than adult tumours (e.g. *H3F3FA*, encoding histone H3.3, is mutated in pHGG and DIPG) ([@DMM040386C64]; [@DMM040386C91]; [@DMM040386C18]). Fortunately, these paediatric and young-adult tumours are rare.
Why has it been so challenging to develop effective treatments for GBM? There are many inherent challenges ([Fig. 1](#DMM040386F1){ref-type="fig"}): (1) GBMs are often detected late and display extensive cellular and genetic heterogeneity; (2) driver mutations occur at many levels within canonical cell-growth and -survival pathways, undermining the approach of 'drugging' a single oncogenic protein; (3) tumour cells disperse widely in the brain parenchyma, limiting possibilities for surgical resection; (4) tumour cells interact with diverse and complex brain microenvironments ([@DMM040386C84]), often existing in dormant or quiescent states that are resistant to cytotoxic therapies ([@DMM040386C20]); (5) the blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits drug bioavailability and facilitates immune evasion; and (6) branched Darwinian evolution within the tumour creates diverse subclonal variants that undermine targeted therapies and drive relapse. Many other factors, including those related to how we operate as a research community, have also hindered progress, with barriers to progress across the whole research and clinical pipeline ([@DMM040386C6]). Fig. 1.**Important challenges in understanding the biology of GBM.** GBM stem cells exist in various states (dormant/quiescent, activated/quiescent or proliferative) that are influenced by diverse tumour microenvironments (TMEs). Complex niches, immune interactions and physical forces/mechanosignalling are all poorly understood areas of GBM biology. How these influence tumour cell signalling circuits and the subsequent transcriptional and epigenetic changes in GSC fate is an area of active research. Targeting both the quiescent and proliferative tumour populations will be vital for any successful therapeutic strategy.
Here, we discuss the range of experimental models and tools that can be deployed both to study the biology of GBM and to underpin the search for new therapeutics. We summarise the contributions that current models have made to our understanding of these tumours and the avenues being explored to develop new therapies, focussing on mammalian models. Non-mammalian models also clearly have value in helping to dissect the key mechanisms and are summarised in [Box 1](#DMM040386B1){ref-type="boxed-text"}. We do not attempt to provide an exhaustive review of GBM biology and preclinical studies; rather, we aim to present exemplars of the available models and strategies, which increasingly can be combined and readily deployed by individual labs. Box 1. Non-mammalian models of glioblastomaNon-mammalian models also provide great value in exploring glioblastoma, although space constraints have limited our discussion here. The fly and worm -- *Drosophila melanogaster* and *Caenorhabditis* *elegans* -- provide a cost-effective alternative to mammalian studies that are easy to handle and have an armoury of established and high-level genetic tools. These have particular value for applications in unbiased genetic screens and related clonal lineage analysis. Many molecular pathways are conserved between *Drosophila* and human, and models of glioma have been generated in *Drosophila* in which EGFR-Ras and PI3K pathways drive neoplastic glial growths that are transplantable ([@DMM040386C86]). *Drosophila* researchers have a long history of making key discoveries in developmental neurobiology, particularly the mechanism of cell fate and differentiation by neural stem and progenitor cells ([@DMM040386C48]; [@DMM040386C98]).Zebrafish also provide unique opportunities for exploring GBM ([@DMM040386C83]). The transparency of the fish allows elegant imaging studies, visualising tumour cell behaviours and host tissue interactions, e.g. microglia--tumour-cell interactions ([@DMM040386C39]). Zebrafish is also an incredibly valuable vertebrate model for performing forward genetic screens, and recent CRISPR tools ([@DMM040386C89]) are opening up possibilities for reverse genetic approaches. In coming years, the ability to perform chemical and genetic screens in zebrafish embryos and young adults in medium throughput should complement the drug discovery efforts. It is noteworthy that zebrafish is well suited for applications along the drug discovery and development pipeline, particularly during the hit-to-lead stages where assessing compound delivery, toxicities and target specificity can all be rapidly and cheaply explored in a whole vertebrate organism at scale ([@DMM040386C99]).
We also look ahead to the many new and emerging tools. The advent of CRISPR-based genome engineering, stem-cell-culture paradigms and high-content phenotypic screening are stimulating new approaches to functional genetic dissection and drug discovery efforts ([@DMM040386C70]). Few other human cancers have such a wealth of tractable experimental models as GBM does. These will now need to be exploited to drive new discoveries and innovations in therapeutic strategies.
The need for tractable experimental models {#s3}
==========================================
The question of why we need models is perhaps self-evident: to explore the fundamental biology and test therapeutics in a way that is not possible by working directly with human patients. It is perhaps useful to draw a distinction between two types of experimental model: those designed from a reductionist viewpoint, or alternatively those that embrace and try to recapitulate the 'real' disease complexity. Reductionist models provide a shortcut to decisive mechanistic insights by focussing on specific aspects of tumour biology (e.g. cells in culture as material for biochemical studies), but thereby risk having limited disease relevance. An ideal reductionist experimental model benefits from being as simple as possible to ensure reliable mechanistic and functional insights; these might often focus on one particular feature (e.g. *in vitro* studies can provide new insights into cell cycle control, even though host-tumour interactions or infiltration cannot be explored). By contrast, when the goal is testing of therapeutic strategies, it often becomes critical that models closely mimic the human disease situation, with all the associated complexity. The more complex the model, the less straightforward it will be to dissect clear mechanisms because of increased heterogeneity and diversity of signals, and a larger range of tumour cell states. Investigators therefore need to balance the inevitable trade-offs in selecting a model that best fits their research question.
Knowing your enemy: the molecular and cellular aetiology of GBM {#s4}
===============================================================
In order to model GBM effectively, we must understand both the mutations and the epigenetic disruptions that lead to tumorigenesis and engineer these into a disease-relevant cell of origin. GBM has been extensively characterised using large-scale sequencing of its exome, genome, transcriptome and epigenome ([@DMM040386C14]; [@DMM040386C17]; [@DMM040386C18]; [@DMM040386C101]; [@DMM040386C111]). These and related studies have revealed the simultaneous disruption of core cell cycle, growth and survival pathways as major drivers of adult GBM. Frequent gain-of-function mutations resulting from amplifications, insertions/deletions or somatic activating point mutations are seen for *EGFR*, *MET* and *PDGFRA*. These alterations stimulate the downstream RAS/ERK and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signalling pathways. Loss of the tumour suppressors *CDKN2A*, *TP53*, *RB*, *PTEN* and *NF1* is also frequently observed. More recent work identified mutations in the *TERT* promoter across the majority of GBMs (76% of IDH wild-type GBM cases) ([@DMM040386C32]).
Epigenetic regulators -- chromatin modifiers, remodellers, histone variants and the DNA methylation apparatus -- are also a category of frequently disrupted genes in adult and paediatric GBM ([@DMM040386C14]). These were initially overlooked due to low-frequency mutations across many individual genes that nevertheless disrupt the same multiprotein complexes (e.g. BAF/PBAF) ([@DMM040386C14]). Disruption of the core transcriptional and epigenetic machinery therefore seems to be a general feature of GBMs ([@DMM040386C63]). GBMs also invariably display chromosome instability, with whole-chromosome gains and losses, and are therefore highly aneuploid with diverse and dynamic karyotypes.
GBM has a high degree of genetic heterogeneity, both within and between tumours. Distinct oncogenes are amplified in a mosaic and often mutually exclusive manner within a single tumour, co-existing within intermingled subclonal populations ([@DMM040386C96]). This formidable level of heterogeneity has inevitably hampered targeted therapies against these pathways. Also, EGFR, as well as other oncogenic drivers (PDGFR and MET), are often activated in different ways within the same tumour ([@DMM040386C34]). Branched evolutionary processes further contribute to the heterogeneity ([@DMM040386C78]), and so interventions against key molecular targets may well need to be focused on truncal mutations. Oncogene amplification often takes the form of extrachromosomal DNA, which underlies rapid shifts in copy number ([@DMM040386C108]). Tumour cells are therefore neither monoclonal nor monogenetic and exploit strategies that enable rapid adaptation due to constant genomic diversity -- this is more akin to prokaryotic-like mechanisms ([@DMM040386C112]).
Researchers have also used transcriptional profiling to catalogue the diversity of GBMs in an attempt to understand tumour heterogeneity. This work led to the proposal of three tumour-cell-intrinsic transcriptional signatures -- classical, proneural and mesenchymal -- with a fourth previously reported 'neural' subtype dismissed ([@DMM040386C113]). However, single-cell analysis of GBM specimens has shown that these subtypes are not mutually exclusive, with cells from the same patients\' tumours expressing distinct expression signatures ([@DMM040386C76]). Therefore, instead of thinking of these subtypes as discrete disease entities, it is perhaps more helpful to view them as shifting developmental states, with differentiation biases influenced by extrinsic or intrinsic cues. Thus, while very valuable for exploring the biology of the disease, transcriptional signatures are currently less valuable as clinical or prognostic markers.
A major shift in our views of the aetiology of GBM resulted from an improved understanding of the biology of neural development, particularly the identity of neural stem cells (NSCs) and progenitor cells. Many of the key markers that emerged in the 1990s, such as nestin (*Nes*) ([@DMM040386C58]), were found to be widely expressed in gliomas ([@DMM040386C27]). CD133 ([@DMM040386C110]), a cell-surface epitope enriched in NSCs, was also used in critical functional studies that isolated a subset of GBM cells with enhanced tumour-initiation capacity compared to the CD133-negative population ([@DMM040386C94]). These findings support the cancer-stem-cell model for GBM, with subsets of tumour cells displaying NSC markers and these being more aggressive than their more differentiated progeny. Recent studies, using *in vivo* genetic-lineage tracing in xenografts, lend further support to a differentiation hierarchy of GBM cells, and a subset of cells have higher clonogenic output ([@DMM040386C54]).
These discoveries raise the related question of whether NSCs are a likely cell of origin ([@DMM040386C21]). Human subventricular zone (SVZ) astrocytes with germinal activity have been reported in the adult forebrain ventricles ([@DMM040386C88]); however, whether NSCs persist into adulthood within the human hippocampus remains controversial ([@DMM040386C68]; [@DMM040386C97]). Analysis of primary human GBM specimens suggests that truncal driver mutations are indeed present within the adult NSC niche -- the SVZ -- in many patients, in tissue that is macroscopically normal ([@DMM040386C57]). Several mouse studies have also indicated that SVZ stem cells are more easily transformed than astrocytes (discussed in the sections below). Unfortunately, much confusion has arisen due to the fact that differentiated astrocytes and endogenous adult NSCs ('type B' cells) share many markers, including GFAP ([@DMM040386C31]). Additionally, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), glial precursors and astrocytes can also be transformed under certain experimental conditions and are present in the SVZ. Furthermore, it should be noted that there is not a single type of NSC; this is a general term that encompasses diverse cell types with different transcriptional and epigenetic profiles, spatial and temporal identities, and associated differentiation biases ([@DMM040386C69]). How these distinct 'flavours' of an NSC relate to the features of the resulting tumour or their differentiation behaviour remains a major area of investigation. Another consideration is the cell-cycle status. A continuum of distinct cell-cycle states (dormant, primed quiescent, and activated) have been found in single-cell analysis of the mouse SVZ ([@DMM040386C60]). However, the range of quiescent states and their relationship to normal differentiation programmes remains unknown.
Regardless of their origin, it is clear that GBM cells frequently express a range of NSC markers, many of which also have key functional roles: for example, neurodevelopmental transcription factors (TFs), e.g. SOX, HOX, bHLH, ZF-TFs and FOX family members. These have emerged as key effectors of the unconstrained self-renewal of GBM stem cells (GSCs) that drives the disease ([@DMM040386C36]; [@DMM040386C15]; [@DMM040386C62]; [@DMM040386C95]; [@DMM040386C104]). Induction of their expression may be one of the key outputs of the receptor tyrosine kinase signalling pathways ([@DMM040386C59]). Elevated activity of these master regulatory and reprogramming factors may therefore explain the limited terminal differentiation capacity of GSCs ([@DMM040386C19]). They may be locked into a perpetual cycle of self-renewal ([@DMM040386C15]; [@DMM040386C103]).
Comparison of single-cell profiling data suggests that GSCs have transcriptional profiles similar to those of the outer SVZ/radial glia foetal progenitors, which are a specific subset of amplifying progenitors in the developing human cortex ([@DMM040386C81]; [@DMM040386C76]). Transcriptional resetting to a foetal-like state may therefore be a feature of GSCs. Stemness-associated neurodevelopmental pathways and transcriptional/epigenetic programmes are therefore an area ripe for identification of therapeutic targets, defining new biological vulnerabilities that might not be uncovered through genome sequencing alone ([@DMM040386C63]).
GBM arises in the most complex organ in our bodies. The elaborate tumour microenvironment (TME) influences tumour cell fate in many ways. NSCs exist in a range of proliferative and non-cycling/quiescent states ([@DMM040386C76]), and local niches regulate this balance ([@DMM040386C38]). The acquisition of a quiescent state by GSCs may explain resistance to cytotoxic and anti-mitotic agents ([@DMM040386C9]; [@DMM040386C20]). The vasculature in GBM forms a key niche that supports brain-tumour stem-cell self-renewal ([@DMM040386C37]) and mediates signals that impose a quiescent state ([@DMM040386C73]). The vasculature in the tumour margin also comprises endothelial cells with specialised tight junctions, pericytes and astrocyte processes; this is a selective barrier, termed the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This protects the brain, but limits delivery of drugs or biological therapeutics to the infiltrative tumour cells. Although the BBB is disrupted in the main tumour mass, cells within the infiltrative margin, which is responsible for tumour regrowth, often infiltrate widely into macroscopically normal surrounding tissue.
We still have a limited understanding of how the microenvironment shapes cell quiescence, proliferation, differentiation and infiltration. Do subsets of cells in the tumour's infiltrative margin harbour distinct genetic or epigenetic disruptions ([@DMM040386C78])? How can they thrive and propagate in the absence of paracrine growth factors or niche signals? Do they exist in different states when infiltrating via endothelial versus white-matter routes? Is the balance of these fates determined mainly by certain oncogenic drivers?
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has not proven straightforward for GBM, although encouraging results have been reported recently ([@DMM040386C47]). There is evidence for the presence of T cells, macrophages and immune cytokines in the GBM TME, and a glymphatic system exists -- a peri-vascular network dependent on glia with a pseudo-lymphatic function ([@DMM040386C79]). Much research is also needed to understand how this tumour immune microenvironment operates in the context of GBM and how it can be exploited therapeutically.
In summary, GBM models must be suitable to study diverse processes, including: neurodevelopmental transcriptional and epigenetic programmes; the balance between dormancy, quiescence, proliferation and differentiation; infiltration via endothelial, white-matter or other routes; the BBB; immune regulation; mechanosignalling; and responses to standard of care (radio- and chemotherapy).
Current models encompass five major categories that we discuss below: (1) GBM cell lines and primary cultures/explants (primary-tumour derived); (2) *in vitro* engineered tumour-initiating cells (e.g. transformed cultured NSCs); (3) *ex vivo*, brain/tumour slice culture models; (4) *in vivo* mouse transplantation of tumour-initiating cells; (5) genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), often referred to as *de novo*, or autochthonous, models (via breeding strategies and/or delivery of somatic mutations).
*In vitro* models: an abundance of choice {#s5}
=========================================
*In vitro* models are tractable and cost effective. They enable a reductionist approach that is best suited to the dissection of cell-intrinsic properties using biochemical, cell-biological and reverse-genetics approaches. This views the cultured cells as autonomous renegade cells, with features more akin to a microorganism in terms of growth and self-sufficiency. Researchers can generate large populations, which simplifies experimental approaches such as chemical/genetic screens, transcriptomics and proteomics. Clonal experiments or other single-cell analyses are straightforward, providing rigorous information without the potentially confounding complexity of diverse extrinsic signals. A major risk of working with cultured cells is that they may diverge, genetically or epigenetically, to the point of being non-relevant to the human disease. Thus, to validate findings, careful consideration and controls must be in place to ensure the disease relevance of any new findings, and *in vitro* discoveries always need to be complemented with *in vivo* models.
There is a choice of working with established 'classic' cell lines versus more recently developed patient-derived models grown in NSC culture conditions. Widely used 'classic' cell lines, such as U87MG, U251 and T98G, are grown in serum-supplemented media, but these culture conditions promote astrocytic differentiation. Inadvertently, investigators have therefore forced cells into a differentiated astrocytic state, with transcriptional and epigenetic programmes that do not reflect the neural stem/progenitor pathways that underlie GSCs ([@DMM040386C56]). The tumours that develop upon xenotransplantation of such serum-grown cell lines do not resemble GBM ([@DMM040386C56]). This casts doubt on the value of any study that has relied on these models. Furthermore*,* recent research has shown that the U87MG cells distributed by ATCC -- one of the most popular cell lines ([@DMM040386C82]) -- was in fact likely switched with another cell line, as it does not match the original Uppsala stocks ([@DMM040386C7]). Although they are popular, our view is that classic cell lines have limited utility, either for reductionist mechanistic studies or for preclinical testing of agents. The field must move away from these, as also advocated by Westermark et al. and Xie et al. ([@DMM040386C7]; [@DMM040386C115]).
Primary-culture conditions to expand neural stem and progenitor cells from the adult and developing CNS were first reported around 1990 ([@DMM040386C106]; [@DMM040386C87]; [@DMM040386C85]). These studies described long-term culture of mouse NSCs from both foetal brain tissue and from the adult SVZ using suspension culture, as neurospheres ([@DMM040386C87]). The key features of this approach were a lack of serum and presence of EGF in the culture media.
Patient-derived primary GBM cells cultured under similar conditions can be sustained long term, either in suspension or adherent (on laminin) culture ([@DMM040386C35]; [@DMM040386C40]; [@DMM040386C80]; [@DMM040386C93]). These retain the genetics and transcriptional state of the parental tumour, unlike the serum-grown 'classic' cell lines ([@DMM040386C56]). The GSCs that emerge in these culture conditions also more faithfully recapitulate the features of primary tumours when transplanted into rodent brains, even after many passages. Thus, they provide a human, disease-relevant, *in vitro* model with stem-cell-like features. Genetic disruptions in the parental tumour are well retained following long-term culture, as well as within the resulting xenografts -- including the previously mentioned variable extrachromosomal elements carrying oncogenes ([@DMM040386C28]). Repositories of such cells are now being developed to make these models accessible to the research community ([www.gcgr.org.uk](www.gcgr.org.uk); [@DMM040386C115]). It is important to reiterate that these cultures are established without any genetic manipulations or cell sorting: the culture conditions 'capture' the GSC state, which enables experiments that encompass some degree of genetic diversity of the original tumour.
NSCs and GSCs were originally expanded in suspension culture as neurospheres. However, growth in suspension culture is not a defining feature of stem cells and is not essential for their long-term expansion ([@DMM040386C26]; [@DMM040386C102]). Working with cells in adherent monolayers offers many experimental advantages, particularly with regards to culture homogeneity, imaging approaches, clonal propagation/picking, screening and quantitation ([@DMM040386C26]), thereby overcoming some inherent limitations of working with suspension culture ([@DMM040386C75]). Our own group and others have also reported a much greater success in deriving new GBM cell lines when using adherent culture, with \>90% success for IDH wild-type GBM ([@DMM040386C80]; [@DMM040386C115]).
In 2014, Lancaster et al., building upon previous ES-cell self-organisation studies of the Sasai lab ([@DMM040386C51]), described a method for the generation of neural tissue from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) with some of the organised features of the developing cortex ([@DMM040386C55]). These have been termed 'organoids' to highlight their similarities to existing organoid systems defined for endodermal stem cell cultures, like the use of Matrigel in suspension ([@DMM040386C45]; [@DMM040386C109]). Organoid culture paradigms enable the *ex vivo* growth of primary GBM specimens to a large size ([@DMM040386C44]). This allows modelling of the necrotic and hypoxic features of human tumours, alongside the corresponding greater range of quiescent, proliferative and differentiating cell states ([@DMM040386C44]). However, generation of cerebral organoids is highly variable and takes months of culture. Choosing between growing cells in an adherent monolayer versus suspension culture, either as spheres or organoids, is therefore influenced by whether working with purer populations and homogeneity is essential (reductionist questions), or whether researchers need the complexity and heterogeneity (necrosis, quiescence/proliferation and differentiation) that is triggered in suspension culture and is more reminiscent of the patient tumour.
In summary, GBM researchers are in the fortunate position of being able to expand primary patient cells routinely from fresh patient tumours, and classic cell lines are no longer required. Cells can be grown as pure adherent cultures or in suspension or organoid culture conditions to recreate more complex 3D models. Normal neural stem and progenitor cells can also be isolated and expanded in culture or generated from PSCs (i.e. iPSCs or hESCs). Arguably, for no other human cancer are we in such a favourable position in the choice and flexibility of mouse and human *in vitro* models.
Engineering GBM *in vitro* {#s6}
==========================
GSCs display many features of foetal NSCs, such as many of the molecular markers that are expressed within a specific progenitor cell termed the outer SVZ radial glia ([@DMM040386C81]). Human foetal NSCs can be easily derived, and retain a diploid karyotype and differentiation capacity over multiple passages ([@DMM040386C102]). Comparison of GSCs to 'normal', non-malignant human foetal NSCs has provided insights into the differential molecular programmes underlying acquisition of the malignant phenotype. Adherent human NSCs can also be obtained via *in vitro* differentiation of hPSCs ([@DMM040386C26]), although primary human foetal NSCs arguably provide a more reliable starting source for comparison to GBM.
NSCs can be expanded *in vitro* and differentiated into astroglial and oligodendrocyte progeny. These NSCs, and perhaps also their immature precursor-cell descendants, are a likely cell of origin for GBM and can be readily genetically manipulated in culture. An obvious experimental strategy is therefore to model GBM by engineering driver mutations stepwise and in combinations *in vitro* and subsequently transplant the cells *in vivo* (see below).
A range of standard molecular biology approaches have been used to deliver oncogenes and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), including plasmid transfection and lentiviral or retroviral transduction. Bachoo et al. showed that postnatal primary cortical astrocytes and NSCs from *cdkn2a* (encoding Ink4a and ARF)-null mice can be transformed *in vitro* using retrovirus to induce constitutive expression of the GBM-associated oncogenic protein EGFRvIII ([@DMM040386C8]). The transduced primary cortical astrocytes and NSCs formed tumours when transplanted into the brains of immunocompromised mice.
NSCs derived from differentiating PSCs have also been transformed into glioma-initiating cells. Funato et al. derived neural progenitor cells from human ESCs to model DIPG *in vitro* and to study the effects of the histone H3.3K27M mutation on cellular growth kinetics and tumorigenicity ([@DMM040386C33]). They used lentiviral transduction to introduce activated PDGFRA and wild-type or mutant H3.3 along with an shRNA against *TP53*. Instead of viral transduction, researchers can also use transposases (e.g. the PiggyBac system) for stable random integration of oncogene expression cassettes ([@DMM040386C30]).
Precision engineering: genome editing with CRISPR {#s6a}
-------------------------------------------------
The emergence of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has transformed many areas of biology, including cancer research ([@DMM040386C43]; [@DMM040386C114]). Genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 now enables not only genetic knockout of tumour suppressors (preferred over RNAi-mediated knockdown), but also a range of more complex and precise genetic changes such as knock-ins or engineering of complex alleles ([Fig. 2](#DMM040386F2){ref-type="fig"}). These CRISPR-based techniques have also opened up possibilities for new genetic screening approaches, both *in vitro* ([@DMM040386C107]) and *in vivo* ([@DMM040386C24]), and, importantly, allow researchers to generate isogenic cell line pairs for precisely controlled experimentation. Fig. 2.**Sources of GBM tumour cells and their capture *in vitro*.** Tumour tissue and tumour cell populations can be obtained from rodent models (see [Fig. 3](#DMM040386F3){ref-type="fig"}) or patients (adult or paediatric). Tumour-initiating cells can be maintained in culture using neural-stem-cell culture conditions (serum-free media with growth factors EGF and FGF2). These can be expanded in suspension as spheres or organoids, or in an adherent monolayer. Clonal cell lines can be obtained, and cells plated in microtiter plates for arrayed genetic or chemical screens. Cells and tumour explants can also be engrafted on brain slice cultures to model tumour-host interactions.Fig. 3.**Engineering NSCs and GSCs with CRISPR-based genome editing.** A variety of different genetic or epigenetic manipulations can be introduced using CRISPR/Cas-assisted gene engineering, either mutations (bottom left) or knock-in alleles (bottom right). ex1/2, exon 1/2; NSC, neural stem cell; GSC, glioblastoma stem cell; eGSC, engineered glioblastoma stem cell; GFP, green fluorescent protein; LOF, loss of function; TV, targeting vector.
CRISPR/Cas9-induced cuts to genomic DNA can be repaired by cellular mechanisms that result in efficient gene disruption with knockouts via formation of insertion/deletion mutations. They can also be repaired by homologous recombination combined with gene targeting to introduce specific point mutations or more sophisticated modifications, such as the knock-in of epitope tags, protein fusions or reporters ([@DMM040386C29]). Bressan et al. demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting by homologous recombination is efficient in mouse and human NSCs ([@DMM040386C117]). In the coming years, we will see them deployed for lineage tracing (CreERT2 knock-in), label-retaining assays for quiescence (H2B-GFP pulse-chase experiments), conditional alleles (*loxP* or *frt*-based recombination), knock-in of degrons \[e.g SMAsh-tag ([@DMM040386C25])\] and engineering of more complex chromosomal structural changes ([@DMM040386C22]).
Recently, independent groups have used CRISPR/Cas9 technology in human organoid culture systems to engineer oncogene constructs or disrupt tumour suppressors such as the *TP53* locus ([@DMM040386C12]; [@DMM040386C71]). Cells isolated from these organoid tumours bear the molecular signature of mesenchymal GBM samples, express markers of heterogeneous cell types and can be transplanted into mice, where they form tumours ([@DMM040386C71]).
Such isogenic panels of engineered transformed cells and their parental controls provide the critical models that can improve target identification and validation in drug discovery efforts. This overcomes the obstacle of genetic variation in mechanistic studies. Rigorous functional genetic studies probe the genes and pathways regulating key facets of GBM biology and can address some of the common pitfalls in preclinical cancer-target validation studies ([@DMM040386C52]).
*In vivo* modelling: transplantation and genetically engineered models {#s7}
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Despite their many advantages, *in vitro* cellular models have limited scope for exploration of extrinsic signals regulating GBM stem-cell fate, such as tumour-host interactions and immune control. *Ex vivo* modelling approaches include organotypic brain slice cultures. These are useful for bridging the gap between *in vitro* cell culture studies and the *in vivo* animal studies, and have been extensively used in neuroscience to explore neuronal electrical activity ([@DMM040386C46]). Slice culture methods offer opportunities for imaging and tracking cell responses with great precision over microanatomical location in the correct brain-tissue architecture, such as GBM cell interactions with the SVZ niche ([@DMM040386C66]). However, whole-animal models undoubtedly provide the key disease-relevant models for GBM.
Mice are by far the most experimentally accessible mammalian model. This is primarily due to their ease of genetic manipulation, short breeding times, and shared organ systems and physiology. Transplantation of tumour-initiating cells into mice provides a relatively low-cost model for the rapid interrogation of tumour biology and for identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities. These can be either transformed/engineered cells, or cancer cells from primary tumours. However, the downside is the disruption of tumour tissue architecture and potential selection events that occur within the transplantation procedure, and so these approaches are complemented by autochthonous models in which *de novo* tumours are formed by using genetic approaches. Mutations can be either introduced via the germ line and breeding strategies, or through somatic cell mutation ([Fig. 3](#DMM040386F3){ref-type="fig"}). These complementary strategies for studying tumours *in vivo* ([Fig. 4](#DMM040386F4){ref-type="fig"}) are discussed in detail below. Fig. 4.***In vivo* mouse models can be generated through transplantation of cells or tumour tissues, or through engineered driver mutations (by breeding or somatic mutation).** (Top panel) Shown are foetal, postnatal and adult brain injections of either tumour explants, cells, CRISPR ribonucleoproteins, plasmids or viral vectors (viral delivery of genetic material). Bottom panel: *in vivo* mouse models can also be generated by breeding animals that carry germline mutations.
Transplantation of tumour-initiating cells {#s7a}
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Transplants can be allografts, in which the implanted cancer cells are from the same species as the recipient, e.g. mouse into mouse, or xenografts, where implanted cells are from a different species, e.g. human into mouse. The resulting grafts can be orthotopic -- i.e. transplanted intracranially, typically into the brain with stereotactic surgery -- or heterotopic, most typically subcutaneous. The former is clearly more attractive, as it provides the correct tissue/organ context. Subcutaneous injection has been widely used because it is easy technically and therefore enables larger throughput, but cannot be used to explore brain infiltrative behaviour and lacks appropriate brain microenvironments ([@DMM040386C59]). Subcutaneous transplants are hence undesirable; investigators should avoid using this approach if possible.
An advantage of orthotopic xenografts is the precise control of spatial and temporal tumour initiation. Large cohorts of tumour-bearing mice can therefore be generated with consistent tumour sizes and sites. Monitoring of the transplanted tumour cells using bioluminescence *in vivo*, which requires stable expression of a luciferase cassette in the transplanted cells, is now widely used and enables longitudinal tracking of tumour growth. The downsides are that this approach typically requires large numbers of cells for injection, and there is limited ability to control events during engraftment and seeding steps. Also, the injection procedure itself inevitably creates an injury, thereby disrupting normal tissue architecture and physiology.
Transplantation into syngeneic hosts has the advantage of modelling immune interactions. Originally, GBM cell lines were generated from carcinogen-induced rodent gliomas or from transgenic mice, cultured, and transplanted into syngeneic hosts. This approach was used to generate the GL261 cell line, which is often used for immune studies ([@DMM040386C1]). However, GL261 has genetically drifted and does not model an authentic GBM-like tumour ([@DMM040386C105]). Histologically they do not match GBM, and they have accrued mutations, such as in *KRAS*, a mutant allele that is not associated with GBM. With the advent of CRISPR technology, as discussed above, researchers can achieve specific genetic alterations through stepwise engineering of adult mouse NSCs, rendering them tumorigenic when orthotopically transplanted into the brains of isogenic mice with a fully functional immune system. So, a new range of models will soon emerge, enabling studies of GBM immune regulation.
Human cell lines or patient-derived cells require transplantation into immunocompromised mice to prevent immune rejection. Direct implantation of freshly isolated tumour cells or tissue fragments, without intervening cell culture steps, has been used to create patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) models. This has the advantage of capturing genetic diversity, as well as aspects of the TME, e.g. vessels, the extracellular matrix and likely some immune regulators, providing the most direct attempt to capture disease-relevant features of the tumours without any *in vitro* selection. Maintenance of PDOX models is costly and labour intensive, limiting access to a few institutions. These models also cannot sidestep the inherent problem of selection and drift that inevitably occurs as the tumours are propagated through mice -- both for distinct subpopulations of tumour cells and for the loss of human TME as murine stroma takes over. Ben-David and colleagues assessed copy number alterations (CNAs) in patient-derived xenografts from multiple cancer types across serial *in vivo* passages and found a striking rates of CNA ([@DMM040386C11]). So, in prolonged *in vivo* culture, direct patient xenografts may actually perform no better than GSC cultures expanded *in vitro* prior to transplantation ([@DMM040386C28]). GSCs have the advantage that cells can be fully characterised, archived and distributed to the community.
Genetically engineered mouse models: germ-line and somatic mutation {#s7b}
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Before the sophisticated modern tools of molecular biology emerged, researchers used chemical mutagenesis, e.g. with N-ethyl-nitrosurea (ENU), to develop glioma models ([@DMM040386C90]). Such tumours harbour mutations found in human GBM, display genetic heterogeneity, and arise within a disease-relevant microenvironment in an immunocompetent host. However, the efficiency and reproducibility of tumour formation is low. Polyclonal origins and lack of control of the specific genetic drivers are also an issue. For these reasons, GEMMs have become the favoured option.
GEMMs are created by introducing defined genetic alterations in the germline and using breeding strategies that generate compound mutants with alterations in both oncogenes and tumour suppressors. Such autochthonous models can provide valuable insights into early initiation events. Inevitably, mutations in some of the relevant genes are early lethal and therefore must be engineered using conditional approaches (e.g. Cre-*loxP* recombination strategies). CreERT2 driver alleles result in tissue-restricted and temporally controlled tumour-suppressor deletion through Cre recombinase induction with tamoxifen.
A key mouse breeding model for primary GBM was reported by the Parada group by combining *Trp53* loss and conditional loss of *Nf1* ([@DMM040386C116])*.* This important study demonstrated the functional importance of *Nf1* loss in driving malignant astrocytoma. In fact, this preceded the realisation that *Nf1* loss is a recurrent driver in GBMs ([@DMM040386C17]). Using this fully penetrant mouse model and combining it with various Cre drivers, this group has been able to explore, using elegant mouse genetics, the candidate cell of origin for GBM ([@DMM040386C3], [@DMM040386C4], [@DMM040386C2], [@DMM040386C5]) and the importance of the quiescent GBM stem-cell-like population in driving relapse ([@DMM040386C20]). NG2-CreER mice demonstrated that the proneural subtype was likely derived from OPCs, whereas other GBM subtypes resembled tumours generated in *Nes-CreER* mice, suggesting a CNS progenitor cell of origin ([@DMM040386C3]). Similar studies using autochothonous models and *de novo* tumour formation also suggested a lower barrier to malignant transformation in the NSCs than in astrocytes ([@DMM040386C23]). For *IDH*-mutant GBM, Bardella et al. used conditional expression of the *IDH1*^R132H^ allele in the adult SVZ to model the early events of gliomagenesis ([@DMM040386C10]).
A related approach is to initiate tumours by delivery of a Cre-expressing virus, thus spatially restricting mutations to specific brain regions (e.g. cortex or SVZ). This has provided evidence that, following ablation of the key tumour suppressors *Rb*, *Trp53* or *Pten*, SVZ NSCs are more easily transformed than parenchymal differentiated astrocytes ([@DMM040386C49]).
Viral delivery can also be used to introduce GBM oncogenes *in vivo*. A lentivirus-based delivery system for HRas and AKT overexpression also indicated that cells within the NSC-containing regions were more easily transformed than cells in other brain regions ([@DMM040386C67]). A popular approach has been the RCAS-TVA system. Cells producing TVA, the receptor for subgroup A avian leukosis viruses, are susceptible to infection with replication-competent avian sarcoma-leukosis virus long terminal repeat with splice acceptor (RCAS) viral vectors. RCAS-TVA has contributed to our understanding of the potential cell(s) of origin of GBM ([@DMM040386C42]). Holland et al. developed transgenic mouse lines expressing the TVA in *Nes-* or *Gfap-*expressing cells, presumed to be progenitor cells and differentiated astrocytes, respectively, and bred these with *Cdkn2a*-knockout mice ([@DMM040386C41]). *Nes*-TVA mice were more susceptible to tumour formation than *Gfap*-TVA ([@DMM040386C42]). However, endogenous human and mouse NSCs with self-renewal and differentiation capacity also express GFAP ([@DMM040386C31]), and so this marker alone does not distinguish differentiated astrocyte populations. Jiang et al. also used RCAS with lineage-restricted promoters and confirmed a significant impact of differentiation state on tumour aggressiveness, with more restricted progenitors being less malignant ([@DMM040386C50]). Recent research demonstrated the utility of combining CRISPR/Cas9, as this system can deliver oncogenes and/or also induce loss-of-function mutations in tumour suppressors ([@DMM040386C72]). A limitation of the RCAS-TVA system is the need to breed specific TVA-expressing mouse strains. Moreover, there are viral cargo limitations (maximum 2.5 kb), which poses some restriction (e.g. the *EGFRvIII* oncogene is 2.8 kb long).
A further constraint of all of autochthonous models -- either those developed via breeding or somatic mutation -- is the possibility for polyclonal tumour initiation. For the models generated by the Parada group (discussed above; [@DMM040386C20]), this was indeed an issue, as survival data were complicated by the emergence of spontaneous tumours in the hindbrain. So, although providing a useful tool to generate highly penetrant autochthonous tumours, this approach is likely to become superseded by CRISPR- and PiggyBac-based approaches that can deliver combinations of oncogenes and tumour suppressors in multiplex, directly *in vivo*, and with high enough efficiency for tumour formation ([@DMM040386C77]). These plasmid-based approaches do not require mouse breeding or virus production, and enable the delivery of larger cargo sizes.
Future prospects {#s8}
================
What are the potential improvements in GBM models in coming years? The lack of a human immune system is a limitation for patient-derived xenografts. Given the importance of cancer immunotherapy in the clinic, immunocompetent models are urgently needed to understand how to overcome the immunosuppressive mechanisms in GBM. Strategies to develop mice with a humanised immune system are emerging ([@DMM040386C13]; [@DMM040386C65]; [@DMM040386C92]).
CRISPR-based approaches could be used to engineer multiplex inducible GBM drivers in human NSCs, which could then be engrafted into a foetal mouse brain, enabling the generation of a *de novo* chimeric tumour. Also, with improvements in iPSC culture and differentiation protocols, it will become possible to produce homogeneous populations of isogenic primary human cells (e.g. microglia, macrophages and endothelial cells). These could be studied in co-culture with tumour cells *in vitro* or following transplantation to explore host-tumour cell interactions. iPSC technology combined with genome editing can therefore create complex *ex vivo* models that will likely be helpful in the triage of compounds in small-molecule drug discovery programmes.
Advances in genome editing technologies now mean that, to some extent, all animals have the potential to become genetically manipulable, and in the future this will drive a new range of large animal models to complement and support mouse and human studies. Immunocompromised strains of the Yucatan minipig have been used as a host for human-cell-line xenografts ([@DMM040386C53]). The size and gyrencephalic structure of the porcine brain, along with a BBB physiology similar to that in humans, makes it a more comparable model to the human brain than are rodent brains. Dogs also provide a useful model of GBM as the disease arises in them spontaneously, generating, in an immunocompetent host, similar heterogeneous infiltrative tumours to those found in humans ([@DMM040386C118]). Preclinical testing of new therapeutics -- whether small molecule, biologics, or gene or cell therapy -- should therefore have a much greater quality and diversity of available models. This will underpin better-quality clinical trials based upon strong scientific evidence. It is also clear that testing of new therapeutics in models needs to incorporate the current standard of care to ensure therapies are tested in a manner that will closely relate to existing clinical care and clinical trials design; i.e. treating the mouse in 'mouse hospitals' with surgical debulking, radiotherapy (using small-animal radiation research platforms) and temozolomide regimes. This will be expensive and logistically challenging; even more so when one considers that these control tests would ideally be performed in large animal models.
Conclusions {#s9}
===========
Our knowledge of the origins and molecular programmes underpinning GBM has steadily expanded. GBMs are driven by simultaneous disruptions to 'classic' cancer signalling pathways that operate in the context of a neural stem or progenitor cell state. These mutated pathways cannot easily be blocked or reversed with targeted therapies due to pathway redundancy and extensive intra-tumoural heterogeneity. New approaches will be needed that focus on functional studies and deep understanding of the tumour biology. No single approach will suffice. Fortunately for GBM, we are witnessing the emergence of a range of high-quality and complementary mammalian and human models. The community will need to share these and associated tools to stimulate a new era of greater cross-collaboration between the fundamental research, translational and drug discovery effort, and clinical studies. We are optimistic that the long-awaited new discoveries, new validated targets and new therapeutic strategies will emerge.
The authors thank Val Brunton and Noor Gammoh for helpful comments on the manuscript.
**Competing interests**
The authors declare no competing or financial interests.
**Funding**
S.M.P. is supported by a Cancer Research UK Senior Research Fellowship (A19778) and The Brain Tumour Charity Quest for Cures Collaborative Team Award (GN-000358). S.M.P. and G.M.M. are supported by Cancer Research UK Centre Accelerator Grant \[A21992; The Glioma Cellular Genetics Resource ([www.gcgr.org.uk](www.gcgr.org.uk))\]. F.L.R. is supported by the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Clinical Research Fellowship.
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Dorian Gray (actress)
Maria Luisa Mangini (2 February 1928 – 15 February 2011), better known as Dorian Gray, was an Italian actress.
Biography
Gray made her stage debut in 1950. After five years she left the world of the theater and devoted herself to cinema.
The role she played most often in films was that of a seductive sex kitten. She played the titular "bad girl" in Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina. She also appeared in Michelangelo Antonioni's Il grido. In 1957, she took part in The Nights of Cabiria by Federico Fellini.
Death
On February 15, 2011, Gray committed suicide by gunshot at her home in Torcegno. She was 83 years old; some media, however, reported her age as 75, since she herself claimed to have been born in 1936.
Partial filmography
Accidenti alle tasse!! (1951) - Margot
Il mago per forza (1951)
Amo un assassino (1951) - Vandina
Anema e core (1951) - Amica di Cocciaglia
Vendetta... sarda (1952) - Columba Porchiddu
The Queen of Sheba (1952) - Ati
Lo sai che i papaveri (1952) - La guardarobiera
Io piaccio (1955) - Doriana Paris
Totò lascia o raddoppia? (1956) - Ellen
Totò, Peppino e la malafemmina (1956) - Marisa Florian (the 'malafemmina')
Guaglione (1956) - Nadia Lanti
Totò, Peppino e i fuorilegge (1956) - Valeria
Le notti di Cabiria (1957) - Jessy
Il grido (1957) - Virginia
Domenica è sempre domenica (1958) - Luciana
Mogli pericolose (1958) - Ornella
Racconti d'estate (1958) - Dorina
Vacanze d'inverno (1959) - Carol Field
Brevi amori a Palma di Majorca (1959) - Hélène
Le sorprese dell'amore (1959) - Desdemona aka Didì
Il Mattatore (1960) - Elena
La regina delle Amazzoni (1960) - Antiope
Crimen (1960) - Eleonora Franzetti
Il carro armato dell'8 settembre (1960)
Mani in alto (1961) - Pupina Micacci
Gli attendenti (1961) - Lauretta
(1962) - Marie-Louise Jörgensen
Peccati d'estate (1962) - Irene
The Legion's Last Patrol (1962) - Nora
Avventura al motel (1963)
Thrilling (1965) - Veronique (segment "Sadik")
I criminali della metropoli (1967) - Denise (final film role)
References
External links
Category:1936 births
Category:2011 deaths
Category:Italian film actresses
Category:People from Bolzano
Category:Suicides by firearm in Italy
Category:Italian actresses who committed suicide
Category:Nastro d'Argento winners
Category:20th-century Italian actresses |
Trump has used his considerable public platform and megaphone to highlight crime at a time when violence is rising in some places -- in some cases speaking inaccurately about crime rates. Trump remarked during the campaign and after his victory -- including, most recently, during a rally last week -- that the murder rate is the highest it has been in 45 years. This is untrue. (When Trump has referenced the biggest year-to-year increase in murders in 45 years, that is accurate, because that is what occurred last year, but the murder rate is not at a 45-year peak.) |
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a computer device and a method of controlling an optical disk drive of the computer device.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, a computer device is usually equipped with an optical disk drive for reading optical storage media. The optical disk drive in the computer device also provides a function for playback of a musicoptical disc loaded therein.
In order to effectively reduce power consumption of the above computer device when used to play music, a conventional computer device 200, as shown in FIG. 1, has been proposed. The conventional computer device 200 includes a processor 21, a system controller 22, a power managing controller 23, an optical disk drive 24, an optical disk drive controller 25, a keyboard controller 26, a hard disk 27, and a keyboard unit 29.
The system controller 22 is coupled to the optical disk drive 24 via a multiplexer 28 and an IDE bus 30. The IDE bus 30 is further coupled to the hard disk 27.
The processor 21 is coupled to the system controller 22.
The power managing controller 23 is coupled to the processor 21, the system controller 22 and the hard disk 277 via a first switch (S1), which interconnects electrically the processor 21 and a power supply 20, a second switch (S2), which interconnects electrically the system controller 22 and the power supply 20, and a third switch (S3), which interconnects electrically the hard disk 27 and the power supply 20, respectively, and is further coupled to the power supply 20. The power managing controller 23 is operable in a normal mode, where the first, second and third switches (S1, S2, S3) are turned on by the power managing controller 23 such that electric power from the power supply 20 is supplied to the processor 21, the system controller 22 and the hard disk 27, and a suspend mode, where the first, second and third switches (S1, S2, S3) are turned off by the power managing controller 23, such as when the system controller 22 is idle, so that electric power from the power supply 20 to the processor 21, the system controller 22 and the hard disk 27 is disrupted.
The keyboard controller 26 is coupled to the system controller 22, the power managing controller 23 and the power supply 20.
The keyboard unit 29 is coupled to the keyboard controller 26.
The optical disk drive controller 25 interconnects electrically the keyboard controller 26 and the multiplexer 28, and is coupled to the power supply 20.
In actual operation, the keyboard controller 26 generates an interrupt request in accordance with operation of the keyboard unit 29 and received by the processor 21 through the system controller 2 when the power managing controller 23 operates in the normal mode so as to enable the processor 21 to generate an ATAPI control signal corresponding to the interrupt request and received by the optical disk drive 24 through the system controller 22, the multiplexer 28 and the IDE bus 30 for controlling operation of the optical disk drive 24 in accordance with the interrupt request.
On the other hand, the keyboard controller 26 generates a control request in accordance with operation of the keyboard unit 29 and received by the optical disk drive controller 25 when the power managing controller 23 operates in the suspend mode so as to enable the optical disk drive controller 25 to generate an ATAPI control signal corresponding to the control request and received by the optical disk drive 24 through the multiplexer 28 and the IDE bus 30 for controlling operation of the optical disk drive 24 in accordance with the control request.
In the above configuration, the multiplexer 28 and the optical disk drive controller 25 are needed, thereby resulting in increased costs. |
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<color name="white">#ffffffff</color>
<color name="gray">#e0e0e0</color>
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Q:
web agent can redirect to the top target?
I'm calling from an iframe an agent that should redirect the user to a given page on the whole page.
It's a lotus script agent that do his stuff and then redirect using a common:
Print "[http://www.server.com/db.nsf/simpleForm?OpenForm]"
How could I mention the TARGET (_top in my case) ?
thanks,
A:
Since no better response had been given, I share my Javascript solution (comment welcome):
Print |<html>
<head>
<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
<!--
window.top.location.href = "/myDB.nsf/MyFullRedirectedPage?OpenForm&L=|+lang+....+ |";
// -->
</script>
</head>
<body "style=\"margin:0 ; background:transparent\"">
processing... please wait! N.B. this text will appear very short time.
</body>
</html>|
I put a background:transparent since I'm in a iframe.
I don't love this code almost flashing before the whole page is being refreshed.
|
Bug Description
Both internal speakers and headphones play sound at the same time unless booted with headphones plugged in. Needs rebooting with headphones unplugged to get sound back to internal speakers again. Internal microphone doesn't work. External microphone doesn't work. Both will pick up no sound. Toshiba L450 laptop. Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, fresh install from official release iso image Oct. 29 2009. Same problem on 9.04 and 9.10 Beta, except on 9.04 the speakers were also muted. Kernel: 2.6.31-14-generic.
Both internal speakers and headphones play sound at the same time unless
booted with headphones plugged in. Needs rebooting with headphones
unplugged to get sound back to internal speakers again. Internal
microphone doesn't work. External microphone doesn't work. Both will
pick up no sound. Toshiba L450 laptop. Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala, fresh
install from official release iso image Oct. 29 2009. Same problem on
9.04 and 9.10 Beta, except on 9.04 the speakers were also muted.
Kernel: 2.6.31-14-generic.
--
Both internal speakers and headphones play sound at the same time unless
rebooted with headphones plugged in. Needs rebooting to get sound back to
internal speakers again. Microphone does'nt work.https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/463696
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Audio Team, which is subscribed to alsa-driver in ubuntu.
Status in “alsa-driver” package in Ubuntu: New
Bug description:
Both internal speakers and headphones play sound at the same time unless
booted with headphones plugged in. Needs rebooting with headphones
unplugged to get sound back to internal speakers again. Internal microphone
doesn't work. External microphone doesn't work. Both will pick up no sound.
Toshiba L450 la... |
“Um, Mum, we are coming with you, aren’t we? Because (and sorry to have to tell you this), we actually have more fans than you do on this blog.”]
Well, it snowed AGAIN yesterday (is this grating on your nerves as much as it’s grating on mine?* I mean, it is now March 19th. Like, what’s up with that? Snow is just. . . so. . . wrong at this time of year. In either hemisphere).
I am yearning for spring like the Tin Man yearns for a heart, like the artist formerly known as “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” (now known just as “Prince”) yearns for purple, like Hillary yearns for the nomination–but it’s all for naught. It’s still miserable outside. I’m still miserable inside. Oh, woe, oh boo hoo, oh woe is me (shouldn’t that actually be “woe is I”? Ach, whatever.)
Well, if I can’t have a dip in a pool, I’ve decided to just have a dip.
Dips evoke warm weather in my mind. I love me a good hummus, smoothed languidly over falafels on outdoor patios, or lolling atop baby carrots as the HH and I enjoy a relaxed preprandial interlude, watching The Girls fightwrestle frolic on the lawn during summer evenings. Traditional spinach and onion dips, bean dips, veggie dips, even sweet fruit-and-nut dips–they’re all served at outdoor Bar-B-Qs, weekend picnics, or summer wedding buffets.
(“We love dips too, Mum. Especially skinny-dips. How long till we can play in that wading pool again, Mum?”)
Still, the dip that beguiled me the most was the Creamy Aspara-Dip from Chocolate Covered Vegan. Brilliantly green and smooth; glossy, even–how could I resist that emerald harbinger of springtime after all these months of desolate winter wasteland?
“The Ugliest Food You’ll Ever Love,” trumpeted the blog entry, and “If you aren’t a vegan, this dip will most assuredly NOT convince you to become one.” I remained undeterred, and not just a little entranced by the radiant, grassy hue. Katie promised to share the recipe with those who asked, so I asked away.
I should pause at this juncture to explain something. I feel extremely fortunate to have begun cooking and baking quite early on, and equally fortunate to have developed a concomitant ability to virtually “taste” a recipe just by reading the ingredients. This sense comes in handy when I want to decide whether or not to try something I’ve never eaten before (pears and balsamic vinegar? Yes. Smoked tofu? Yes. Kale and seaweed salad? Okay. Goji berries and mint? Not so much.)
The HH, on the other hand, was not blessed with this particular brand of sensory imagination. On Sunday mornings (okay, more like afternoons), we’ll sit across from each other at the brunch table, leisurely perusing the National Post, Globe and Mail and Toronto Staras we sip on our respective hot beverages (his: hazelnut-flavored coffee with 10% real cream; mine: Krakus coffee substitute with chocolate flavored almond milk–like a mochaccino!). We’ll occasionally pause to read something of interest to the other across the plates and mugs.
Mostly, the HH reads me stories from the Business section, about how an economic disaster (the likes of which we’ve not seen since 1929) looms, say, or where to find the latest ultra-exclusive audio gadgets (did you know you can buy stereo speakers that cost over $100,000, for instance?). I read to him from stories in the Arts and Life section, about how workplace bullying is more harmful to employees than sexual harrassment, say, or how women who rate their relationships as happiest are the ones whose spouses share at least 50% of the household chores.
Every once in a while, though, I’ll forget that he lacks an ability for conceptual cooking and may emit a remark such as, “Oooh, listen to this: watermelon and basil salad. Doesn’t that sound fantastic?” To which he’ll counter with a response such as, “Bwwwffffzztttt!” (that’s a spontaneous spraying of hazelnut-flavored coffee and 10% real cream over the Business section of the newspaper). Of course, he simply can’t imagine it.
Well, as soon as I read the list of ingredients in Katie’s dip, I knew I’d enjoy it, despite her dip-deprecating comments. And it was, indeed, lip-smackingly, lick-the-spoon delicious: creamy, with a citrusy tang and sweet, green undertones. Though he couldn’t imagine it beforehand, the HH was happy to consume a hearty portion. And it provided us both with a little dip into virtual springtime.
Because this recipe contains not one, but two veggies, it’s the perfect dish to submit to Cate’s weekly ARF/5-A-Day event, over at Sweetnicks. She posts the roundup every Tuesday evening, so feel free to check it out then!
Katie’s Creamy Aspara-Dip
TO VIEW THE COMPLETE RECIPE, PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE ON THE NEW DIET, DESSERT AND DOGS, BY CLICKING HERE.
This dip is quick, easy, and, as Katie wrote, “this stuff tastes terrific.” While it’s great on crackers or crudités, I bet it would make an excellent pesto-like dressing for a summer pasta salad as well. If summer ever arrives, that is.
TO VIEW THE COMPLETE RECIPE, PLEASE VISIT THIS PAGE ON THE NEW DIET, DESSERT AND DOGS, BY CLICKING HERE.
16 Responses to “Virtual Spring: Katie’s Creamy Aspara-Dip”
Okay, this made me laugh several times pretty hard! You are too funny. SOrry you’re still experiencing winter!! We actually got mild cool front today, which is nice cuz we didn’t have much of a winter. I think the high today is still 70. Hang it there. It’ll make it your way.
Glad you got Katie’s asparagus dip recipe! That sounds delicious. And springy. There’s all kinds of asparagus in the grocery stores here.. love this time of year!
I can’t believe how much snow you guys are getting! While over here in the West we haven’t seen snow in ages… it actually feels like Spring for once when spring rolls by. (The world is just upside down..)
I’m so happy to see asparagus! One of my favorite foods. =) I’m going to try this because I can never get enough.
I’m still amazed at how you were able to make the aspara-dip look yummy, instead of looking like a bunch of green goop! And your post is so well-written! (I should’ve known that it would be, considering how eloquent of a writer you are.)
I had to laugh at the Goji berries and mint part!
Never fear, summer IS coming (it’s just taking its gosh-darned time!).
This looks like a wonderful dip to banish winter blues – but it is so many months til we have asparagus I can’t even think about making it right now! Maybe when spring rolls around! Glad you liked the look of my spicy carrot bean dip – although not my favourite –
sometimes I wonder if I do have the ability to taste a recipe but reading as I am often surprised but I guess I have some foodie intelligence as I am always sizing up recipes in the way you check out clothes in a store (sometimes when you try them on they fit and there are a few that look ridiculous!)
Oh yuuummmm…I am obsessed with dips! That sound so good–thanks for sharing! And I just got some asparagus today at the store–I think it was meant to be!
And I feel you pain with the snow–we had a storm yesterday and we are supposed to get another big snow fall on Friday (4-6 inches)!! What?! Tomorrow is the first day of spring for heavens sake! Hopefully spring will come soon…
thanks Ricki but I don’t mind which one you pick – different people, different experiences and different days bring out differet favourites – the carrot dip is not my favourite because it wasn’t the recipe I thought it was (hence my uncertainty about my foodie intelligence) but I think my favourite dip today might be the smoky sweet potato and bean dip for creamy comfort food. Ask me another day and I might tell you another one! And I am making the pea pesto this afternoon which I have been dying to repeat
Oh my goodness this looks gooooooood. Oh, tell me when you want me to stop doing these nutritional breakdowns–I just figure that people visiting a blog with “diet” in the title might wanna see it? I know you’re not a calorie crazie and more just into the health, but yeah–again just let me know!
Ok, so since its a dip let’s say a serving is 1/3 of a cup?
Calories: 37 Fat:1g Sodium:56mg(2.3%) Carbs:5g Protein:2g
Yeah. That’s right. Say you want a full cup of the stuff? That’s just 110. Go wild!!! *knows what she’s stuffing into her pita tomorrow.* |
In some ways this series of lunchtime strolls round Kennington in South London represent the missing chapter from my book This Other London – adventures in the overlooked city. Chapter 9 was originally built around seeking out the location of the classic, but overlooked sitcom 15 Storeys High, written by and starring Sean Lock. I would write in the evenings after the family had gone to bed, fueled by cheap IPA in the last hour at the pub, and push through till around 2am. As this routine gradually took its toll, I got myself through the night by rewarding every 200 words written with an episode of 15 Storeys High. So it seemed fitting to use it as the basis of one of the final walks in the book.
Brandon Estate, Kennington
I can’t quite remember why this never happened, I think it had something to do with wanting to head out in the company of my old City Poly room-mate from his flat in Camberwell, and him continuously delaying. Something like that anyway. But now, serendipitously, these walks around Kennington, that include a visit to Brandon Estate where 15 Storeys High was shot, coincided with the paperback publication of This Other London.
We didn’t get too far with the first walk, simply walking past the ground that was once occupied by the palace of The Black Prince, and taking in the pub named in his honour that was used as a location in The Kingsmen. We had a look at one of Charlie Chaplin’s two Kennington homes before looping through the backstreets and grabbing some lunch.
Walk two took us down to the Imperial War Musuem and then to Elephant and Castle. But Keaton lost the windmuff from the Edirol meaning we had to backtrack to the Imperial War Museum where it lay on a path like a lost Tribble.
The final walk was by far the most productive, taking in the second of Chaplin’s homes, Cleaver Square, The White Bear, Kennington Park, Brandon Estate, the Oval Cricket Ground, and the Oval gasometers. It would have made a great chapter in This Other London, but these things happen for a reason and I’m glad it was still waiting to be explored in the company of Keaton to celebrate the publication of the paperback edition.
Here’s some footage from the walk I did for Chapter 2 of my book This Other London in the summer of 2012, just before the London Olympics – starting in Leytonstone then going past West Ham Church and the site of Stratford Langthorne Abbey onwards to the site of Beckton Gas Works where Stanley Kubrick shot much of his Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket.
I’ve been sitting on over 4 hours of footage shot on the 10 This Other London walks slowly filtering out a few short videos but much of it remains unseen. The video footage, photos and notes took on an almost entirely different form once processed into a book, they’ve served their purpose and can stay in the bottom drawer. But every now and again I’ll dip back into that archive and release some of those raw video notes back out into the world.
This is an extract from a 20-minute talk I gave the other day stood on a soapbox in the KERB food market on Kings Boulevard, Kings Cross. Stood there amongst the rising towers of mammon you see parallels with the same landscape where Blake saw the golden pillars of Jerusalem rising in the field beneath Islington.
THE FIELDS from Islington to Marybone,To Primrose Hill and Saint John’s Wood,Were builded over with pillars of gold;And there Jerusalem’s pillars stood.
I naturally talked about the Pen Ton Mound and Merlin’s Cave, the legend attached to St Chad’s Well just over the road from the station and also about Tooting Crater on Mars named after an area of South London. All from my book This Other London.
Map illustration by Nicolette Craven from This Other London – adventures in the overlooked city
This is the walk I did on Remembrance Sunday in 2012 following a neolithic trackway from Sudbury Hill to Hanwell. A walk that takes you over the summit of Horsenden Hill, according to legend the final resting place of the Saxon chieftain Horsa. Then down through Perivale where Sylvester McCoy’s Dr Who kept visiting in the late 80’s with one episode spookily referencing Horsa’s ghostly steed as told in The Legend of Horsenden Hill. Perivale was also where Horsa’s wife consorted with the little folk giving the name of ‘Fairy Vale’ (ok, there are more prosaic and plausible explanations for the name such as ‘Pure Vale’ for the quality of the corn grown there – or ‘Pear Vale’ due to the orchards).
Through the lychgate of St Mary’s you find this ancient church dating from 1135 with a C16th white weatherboard tower.
You pass through ‘Blood Croft’ where the bodies of seven Saxon warriors were excavated still wrapped in hemp cloaks fastened by bronze brooches (did they die in the epic battle between Horsa and his rival Bren who had married then dishonoured Horsa’s daughter Ealine? The point where Bren forded the river and was slain in battle took his name – Brentford)
The walk ends beneath the great cathedral of the Industrial Age – Brunel’s Wharnecliffe Viaduct opened in 1837 – the first Grade I listed building in the country. Stand beneath its cavernous arches and hear the whoosh of the turbo trains bound for Slough.
New dates announced
Join John Rogers as he ventures out into an uncharted London like a redbrick Indiana Jones in search of the lost meaning of our metropolitan existence. Nursing two reluctant knees and a can of Stella, he perambulates through the seasons seeking adventure in our city’s remote and forgotten reaches. Reviews ‘We’d rather think of him... Continue reading... |
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use with a computing device for generating a substitute acknowledgement to a first input signal when the computing device is in an operational hiatus. Specifically, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for generating an artificial hold acknowledge signal in response to a hold request signal on behalf of a computer processing unit when the computer processing unit is disabled or otherwise in an operational hiatus.
Generally, a hold acknowledge signal is required in response to a hold request signal before a computer processing unit will yield access to a data bus. If a computer processing unit is in an operational hiatus, such as responding to a disable signal, or experiencing a clock stoppage, or the like, then the computer processing unit cannot generate a hold acknowledge signal. Despite the fact that the computer processing unit cannot operate and, therefore, has no reason to maintain control of access to a data bus, the fact that no hold acknowledge signal can be issued by the computer processing unit in response to a hold request signal nevertheless precludes access to the data bus by another device.
Accordingly, it is important that there be a means for freeing access to a data bus by generating an artificial hold acknowledge signal during periods of operational hiatus by the computer processing unit. In such manner, monopolization of access to the data bus by a quiescent computer processing unit by default may be precluded.
Such a capability to allow access to a data bus during periods during which a computer processing unit is in operational hiatus is of particular importance where certain functions of the computer system must continue during such quiescent periods. For example, it is a common practice to save power by halting clock signals to a device which is normally clocked, thereby precluding repeated strobing to check status according to a clock signal when such repeated checking of status is not necessary. That is, to conserve power a device may be rendered quiescent. However, such devices often require refreshing of memory devices, especially dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices, and certain other functions must continue despite the stoppage of clocking signals to the computer processing unit.
The present invention provides an apparatus for accommodating such continued operational requirements during times when a computer processing unit is quiescent. |
The city of Toronto is considering a legal challenge.
Justin Tang/CPOntario Premier Doug Ford speaks at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in Ottawa on Aug. 20, 2018.
TORONTO — As Toronto mulls a potential legal challenge against Ontario's decision to slash the size of the city's council, Premier Doug Ford has told politicians from other municipalities across the province that he has no plans to cut their governments.
Speaking at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's annual conference on Monday, Ford said he has been getting questions about whether the province will chop the size of other civic councils.
"No, we do not —I repeat — we do not have plans for similar legislation in our near future," Ford told the gathering in Ottawa.
The premier's remarks came as Toronto politicians and staff were meeting Monday to discuss whether to turn to the courts to oppose the legislation that will cut the number of city councillors from 47 to 25 ahead of a fall municipal election.
The Progressive Conservative government's legislation — known as Bill 5 — passed last week and aligns Toronto's ward map with federal ridings. Ford has said the move will help council make decisions and deliver services "more efficiently and effectively" and save taxpayers $25 million over four years.
The legislation also cancels planned elections for the head of council position in the regional municipalities of Muskoka, Peel, York and Niagara. Instead, the head of council in each region will be appointed.
Ford stressed that his time as a former Toronto councillor gave him insight into the problems of the city's government, noting that its challenges are unlike those of others in Ontario.
"I would say that many of Toronto's issues are specific to Toronto," he said.
The city's legal team has filed a confidential report with advice on a potential court challenge on the issue, and the document is expected to be debated behind closed doors Monday.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said the timing of the provincial legislation — coming before the Oct. 22 municipal election — has put the city in an unprecedented situation.
"The process by which this monumental change was made was wrong and unacceptable," he said.
"It is our duty to represent the people of Toronto and the best interests of this city at all times — and to make our position clear when we do not believe the actions of other levels of government are in our city's best interest."
Chris Young/CPOntario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor John Tory take part in a candlelit vigil to honour the victims of a deadly shooting in Toronto on July 25, 2018.
Ford, who lost the 2014 Toronto mayoral race to Tory, stunned local politicians and residents last month when he announced the council-cutting plan, which was not part of his election platform.
The premier has said Toronto's council can debate a potential legal challenge if it wishes but noted that his government had already moved on the issue.
"They can talk about Bill 5 all they want," he said Friday. "At the end of the day, we made a decision to make government run more efficiently here in the city of Toronto." |
Film
February 3, 2004
Iceland’s chief exports include fish and woolen goods; the country might do worse than to add domestic dramas to the list. In The Seagull’s Laughter, screenwriter-director Agust Gudmundsson offers the sort of keenly observed, art-house fodder that Brits have lately specialized in. Through a lens drably, Gudmundsson charts the return of Freya (Margret Vilhjalmsdottir) to her native fishing village. Freya’s years in America, which concluded with the mysterious death of her young husband, have transformed her from small-town chub to leggy glamour girl. Surly ‘tween Agga (Ugla Egilsdottir) resents her prodigal cousin and grows suspicious when men who get in Freya’s way meet untimely ends.
Seagull has the air of wanting to introduce more weighty themes—provincial mores, post-WWII feminism—than it actually confronts. Nevertheless, it provides some swell roles for actresses and intriguing local detail, as when Freya, recounting a lover’s tryst, says, dreamy-eyed, “Then we took the path up through the fish-drying racks.” |
Subsets and Splits